Disclaimer: I don't own Gundum Wing. I don't own any of the songs used in this fic.

Warning: Sap/ Fluff

Mindless babble: This is the sequel to "And This Too Shall Pass" making this part two of Duo's Trials.

A Simple Question

Duo sat on his bed contemplating a question that had been bothering him. On the bed with him sat his best friend, listening to him intently. Well maybe not intently. Her eyes were closed. Was she even listening? Was she even breathing?

Duo reached for her neck to check for a pulse. What he got instead was a rumbling purr. Tora open her golden eyes and looked up at her "Daddy". It seemed that she was answering every question he had ever asked her in her cryptic way that was gifted to all cats.

"Okay! I'm going to do it!" he exclaimed. "I just need some help in doing it!"

"Meow?'

"Sorry, Sweetie. I need help from the guys." Duo stretched out to pet his fur ball and winced slightly as his shoulder muscle gave a twinge of pain. " Geez! Will it ever stop hurting?"

He got up from his bed and planed his attack. He would start with the easiest one and work his way up to the hardest. So that would mean his first victim would be

"Quatre! Buddy! Did you need any help with dinner?"

"Uhh, no Duo. That's okay." Visions of the last time Duo had helped with dinner flooded into Quatre's mind. The smoke, the fire department, and the restaurant they had to go to instead. "Did you need something?"

"Well, actually, yes." Duo explained his situation and made his request.

"Sure, I'll help you with that! Sounds like fun!"

"Only you would think that this would be fun, Cat." Duo replied, smiling. "Ok then. Off to find my next victim. Do you know where I can find "

"Hey, Trowa? You in here?"

The boy with the hair of doom closed the cabinet that held the wind instruments. "What did you need, Duo?"

"I need your help with something," replied the American. He again explained his plan and asked for the Trowa's help. He held his breath while waiting for a reply.

"Catherine would want me to do this, so in her honor I will help you."

"Hey, Thanks, Trowa. I owe you one!"

Duo walked outside after picking up Tora and her leash from his room. He knew she would enjoy the fresh air and watching the fish in the koi pond. That would be where he would find Wufei. He sat down on a rock to watch the Chinese boy finish his katas. Ever since he returned home from that fateful mission, he had enjoyed watching the graceful movements and had even attempted to learn a few of them.

Wufei finished and picked up a towel to wipe the sweat from his face. "Did you want something, Maxwell?"

Duo knew that this would be difficult, so he carefully chose his word to make clear what he needed. He got the expected result.

"Ha! Not in this lifetime!"

But Duo had come prepared and replied, " Ok, if you're not strong enough, then I will just have to ask the others. Come on, Tora."

"Wait one second! Are you calling me 'Weak'?"

Duo paused. (Actually, he couldn't get Tora away from the pond.) "Well, it doesn't seem like that difficult of a task for me to ask of you, but you don't think you can handle it, I'll just find someone else to do it. I'll ask Quatre. I'm pretty sure he could do it."

That was the last straw. "I will do what you ask me to only if the others will help."

"Perfect! Quatre and Trowa have already said that they would! Thanks Wu-man!"

"Wha- but I thought Maaaaaaxweeeeeellllll!

But Duo had already scooped up a protesting Tora and was jogging towards the house.

Heero was easy enough to find. He was where he usually was, in the privet hanger that housed the Gundams, working on his Wing Zero. He had been obsessed with finding out how the Symbiotic system worked since it had almost killed Duo.

"Hey, Heero? Can I talk to you?" asked the braided pilot from the foot of the Gundam.

"Hn."

"I kinda have a favor to ask you. Like you asked for on that colony when you asked me to hit you?"

That actually got Heero's attention. He jumped down from the Gundam and looked at his friend for an explanation. When he got it, he frowned.

"Duo I can't. It's too- " He was cut off by Duo.

"Just think of it as your next mission!"

"Ack! Grr- All right. Mission accepted."

Duo quickly hugged his friend and then ran back to the house to make a couple of phone calls. Then his plan would be set into motion.

A few days later

"How did Duo talk us into this, again?" asked Trowa, looking around at his surroundings. It was a bar with only a few other occupants. Unfortunately, they were all people who knew them. Relena had joined them at their table, while her brother sat at another table with Noin. Dr Sally Po sat with the captain of the Maganac chatting about who knows what. Even Dorothy was there, talking with Lady Une and Mariemaia. A small stage with a microphone on it sat on wall across from them.

"I want to know how he got all these other people to come," commented Wufei, also looking around.

"He just told me to come here for a really neat 'surprise'," said Relena.

"Did he have you come up with one, also?" asked Heero.

Relena shook her head. "Just told me to sit back and enjoy the show."

"That baka!"

Duos picked that moment to make his entrance. With him was a surprised Hilde. She looked around the bar in shock.

"A karaoke bar?"

Duo grinned from ear to ear. "Yep! Lets go sit with the guys!"

He held a chair few Hilde and then flopped down in the seat next to it. "Hey, Cat! Let's put plan 'A' into action, 'k?"

"Sure, Duo!" The young Arab stood and walked to the stage. He typed in the song he wanted and picked up the mic. And thus, to the song "Walk Like An Egyptian" he became the first victim er Gundam pilot to 'sing' karaoke.

Trowa followed with "Danger Zone'. He ended his time on the stage by saying, "If there is a merciful god listening, may he grant me amnesia one more time."

"Aw, come on, Trowa! Kenny Loggins would have been flattered to hear ya!"

"I truly do not believe that, Maxwell," Wufei said, rubbing his temples.

"Then let's see you do better, Wu-man!"

"Duo, I swear!" Wufei got up and stalked up to the stage. "Nataku, give me strength!"

Duo had to pike the song out for him, just before they left the house. Wufei still could not believe that the braided baka could find a song that was just so wrong! But it was all he had, so sing it he must.

Never, in the history of music, had 'Kung Fu Fighting' been so butchered.

Then it was Heero's turn. He had found a song that seemed to have been written for him. After he had found it, he'd shown it to Duo. The boy had laughed and told the perfect solder that it was perfect. It was also the theme song To M*A*S*H*, an old American show, that had been quite popular in it's day. So Heero Stood on the stage and sang.

Suicide is painless

Through early morning fog I see visions of the things to be the pains that are withheld for me I realize and I can see...

that suicide is painless it brings on many changes and I can take or leave it if I please.

I try to find a way to make all our little joys relate without that ever-present hate but now I know that it's to late, and...

that suicide is painless it brings on many changes and I can take or leave it if I please.

The game of life is hard to play I'm going to lose it anyway the losing card I'll someday lay so this is all I have to say

that suicide is painless it brings on many changes and I can take or leave it if I please.

The only way to win is cheat and lay it down before I'm beat and to another give my seat for that's the only painless feat

that suicide is painless it brings on many changes and I can take or leave it if I please.

The sword of time will pierce our skins it doesn't hurt when it begins but as it works its way on in the pain grows stronger...watch it grin but...

that suicide is painless it brings on many changes and I can take or leave it if I please.

A brave man once requested me to answer questions that are key is it to be or not to be and I replied 'oh why ask me?'

that suicide is painless it brings on many changes and I can take or leave it if I please.

'Cause suicide is painless it brings on many changes and I can take or leave it if I please

...and you can do the same thing if you please.

Stunned silence followed Heero back to the table.

After a few minutes, Duo got his voice back. "Good one, Heero. Umm.. You ready?"

He got a nod in response. Duo grinned. He kissed Hilde's hand and jumped up. "This one's for you!"

And so it was Duo's turn. He had picked out something from Eagle Eye Cherry.

Death Defied By Will

He only thought he was going for the thrill of a ride Wasn't in the plan to be gone for long But he keeps looking back over his shoulder He knows that something might go wrong The ride it ain't smooth that is for sure Strange mood what is the cure He's got that feeling of impending doom Like being trapped in a casket inside a tomb

Death defied by will Like a drug that doesn't kill Boy you gotta learn what's true Death defied by will Like a drug that doesn't kill The joke is on you You ought to know better You ought to know better

He is determined to outsmart this snake With conviction he will stand his ground Feeling invincible like death itself His immortality won't be found What should he say at his own wake That he refuses to fulfil his fate He doesn't know that this is his last drive On the road we call alive

Death defied by will Like a drug that doesn't kill Boy you gotta learn what's true Death defied by will Like a drug that doesn't kill Now the joke is on you

Now the time has come You can't play around And you ought to know You ought to know better You ought to know better

Death defied by will Like a drug that doesn't kill Boy you gotta learn what's true Death defied by will Like a drug that doesn't kill Now the joke is on you

"Because Death needs to ask you a simple question." Duo got off the stage and walked over to the young woman. "Hilde Schbeiker, will you marry me?"

Heero had pushed a white rose with a small box towards her. He opened the box, revealing the beautiful diamond ring that it held.

"Oh, Duo!" Hilde threw her arms around the pilot. "Yes! Of course I'll marry you!"

"I guess all the humiliation was worth it, then," said Wufei, with a smile.

Everyone in the small bar clapped their agreement.