Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing.

"Well well well..." Duo breathed in deeply the good, fresh air of the European countryside. All the stuff he had had to do at the airport had been quick thanks to Relena's intervention. He was supposed to be a retired militar, and everyone seemed to treat him with high respect and such. Duo's language skills were awful, as they had always been. But with English alone he could travel to the end of the world at the moment.

He grinned cheesely, and walked through the irregular path that was supposed to lead to a small town called Aivan, while he whistled a song he had learnt time ago. It was mid autumn, and the leaves of the trees were shades of reds, maroons and ambers. His combat boots were too heavy, so he was almost dragging his feet. Soon enough, they were covered with the brownish dust of the path, and he decided that, as soon as he got to the funny-named town, he was going to buy a pair of decent, comfortable shoes. In order to keep up the militarish look, it was enough for him to wear some medals, a beret and a gun hanguing from his belt loop. People who joined the army were usually young, and Duo was already 18, so the age wasn't a problem. He was taller than years ago, and if he tried hard, he could appear to be 21.

Finally in Aivan, he had arrived to find that there was a reservation with his name in a good-looking hotel. The little town looked charming, the sun was setting over the tree tops, and the fine weather got all the villagers out of their houses, and it all became alive.

It looked like the towns described in fairy tales.

Already in his room, he contemplated the people going chatting friendly, drinking something in a bar or just sitting there and enjoying the light of the streetlights. He was sitting on his single, comfortable bed.

The air there seemed to smell like tea and fresh-cut wood.

The small lamp on the bedside table emitted an amber ligth, which helped to create a calm and cozy atmosphere. Duo wasn't used to that kind of things, as the Sanq Kingdom was already cosmopolitan, being the centre of the World's pacifist ideology, one of the richest crowns in the world, and the source of great new artistic movements, such as the Detailism in literature, and the NeoRomanticism, in painting.. That meant, all the old traditions were long mixed with the ones of other countries, and at the time, life day-to-day, wasn't possible without technology. Inhabitants of the little Aivan managed to go by with few commodities, and that was a change Duo noted since he came across the small notice on the road that said: "Welcome to Aivan". He figured he was going to have a hard time getting used to that, but he was only staying in the village for a week. A couple of days more, if he wanted, but not longer than that.

His trip was scheduled, as he then found out going through papers and stuff he had ignored. But it seemed to him that Relena had made it all more a vacation than a crucial undercover mission. She had made sure that Duo was kept... entertained for the month he was off. He made sure to remember to thank her later.

His clothes had been especially chosen, and were carefully lain on a chair for him to see them. It was a classic clothing- something he had never wore in his life. Beige trousers and a bourdeaux sweater with a V-shaped collar. He also spotted a little note that simply read: "Don't wear stocks". Duo chuckled. "For a month"- he said, chuckling to himself- "I'll make the sacrifice..."

/Relena has paid attention to all the details. I wonder.. if it was her alone... oh god, I should just stop thinking and do something useful... /

Dressed in the classic clothes, and having conveniently traded his black cap for a maroon beret as planned, Duo strolled down the street. No one stopped to look at him, because he blended in with the crowd. The only think remarkable about him was the long braid, but anyone paid attention to that detail. Some teenaged girls even giggled when he passed by. He finally decided to have something in a small bar.

It was decorated in a very rustic style. Some heads of animals hanged from the walls, most likely old trophys from the times when there wasn't a tax on hunters. There was a wooden counter, the bartender was chatting with a chubby woman in her thirties, and behind there were shelves with bottles and jugs of all alcoholic drinks imaginable. There was also a barrel of beer, and many jars and cups.

Duo sat in a table next to the window, and asked for "Whatever hot you have, it's chillin' out there." Then, minding his manners, he added, "please". The waiter smiled at the young man, and dissapeared into a door that Duo supposed to be the kitchen.

The one who brought the tray was the same waiter. He left it on the table, smiled, and left. /Either they're hiding something, or people in this town are really nice.../ Duo thought as he tried to gues what he was about to drink. After some seconds, he gave up, and took a small sip. What he recognised to be some kind of tea, was delicious. It had a rich and deep fruity flavour.

"Blackcurrant and apple" said a voice behind him- the chubby woman.

"Never heard of it... what are blackcurrants?"

The woman smiled warmly: "Berries that grow in the forest. Are you in a hurry?"

Duo told her that he wasn't. That he had all the time of the world. And that he'd enjoy a conversation, and the woman started talking. She began with: "My name is Grethel, yours is..."

"Duo"

"Duo?" she seemed to taste the name for a while, and then said, smiling- "it's a nice name. You're not from here, are you?"

He thought that she should know every person in that small town. "Oh, no, I'll just be here some days. "

"Really?" she looked interested in whatever he had to say.

"Yes...although I have just arrived, I already think people here are very kind."

The woman grinned with satisfaction: "I'm glad you think so, young man."

They kept chatting until Duo felt it was already too late. He said "see you" to Grethel and paid the "meal". He went back to the small hotel.

But he was certain that he would be back to the little bar. At least, only to talk... and maybe, to enjoy some blackcurrant and apple tea.

- There's no town named Aivan. I own a character named like that, but there's no town U

-Those artistic movements were invented by yours truly. I don't know if they really exist... I don't think so. -"

Review!

Marine...