This takes place in the GW world and this prologue deals with Duo's past with a small twist. Enjoy..

Prologue: Memories of the Past

Duo stared shocked at the blonde girl beside Hilde. Memories flashed through his mind and he stood motionless as they came.

A gang of three kids raided another street vendor and Duo laughed in victory holding up a rather large watermelon.

"Duo, how could you do that?" Demanded a small girl around Duo's own age. Her appearance as were the other childern's was ragged and her clothes were filthy. Her golden blonde hair seemed to be the only clean part of her and she stood hands on hips glaring at him through crystal blue eyes.

Duo sighed and moved his free-flowing hair out of his face. "Usa, I've told you before we steal in order to survive. I even got this for you. You're too scrawny you know."

Usagi shook her head sending her golden hair arranged in an ingenious style of pigtails flying. A pout covered her childish face as she stared at her slightly taller friend. "No, Duo. I'm not going to eat anything that was stolen. I'll get some money somehow and buy some food."

One of the other children scowled and stepped towards the girl then glanced at Duo, "Duo, shut your little girlfriend up before we do it for you. We have no room in this gang for little wimps and creampuffs like her."

Duo sighed and grabbed Usagi's arm, "Come on," He urged dragging her away.

Usagi looked up at him her eyes a mixture of tears. "Duo, if you keep stealing you're going to be caught. I don't want to see you get hurt or thrown in jail. Let's leave this area," She pleaded.

Duo frowned, "Usa, I've been looking after you ever since we could walk. Ever since..." He let his words trail as he remembered.

After watching the death of Solo a four year old Duo had been ready to give up and die when he found a small toddler around the age of two. She was standing between two people Duo could easily tell where dead and she was wailing. She had looked up at him her blue eyes seeming to stare into his very soul and her tears stopped and she toddled towards him. Duo remembered he had gently picked the girl up tears in his eyes and walked away with her. The only word the girl could say was her name Usagi.

Usagi placed a slender hand on his shoulder as she saw the tears gathering in his idigo eyes. Her blue eyes held wisdom that shouldn't have present in her six year old body. She smiled at the boy only a year older then her. "Duo, we can get by without stealing. We have to it isn't right to do such things."

Duo glanced at her and grinned, "You know you don't act your age, Usa." The girl began to laugh as Duo tickled her.

The three boys frowned at the scene, "Duo, were you serious about earlier?"

Duo stopped and frowning pulled away from Usagi. "Yes, I want to go to the army warehouse tomorrow."

He instantly realized his blonde companion was frowning deeply at him but he made an effort and ignored her. Usagi glared at his back and with the still angry frown on her face went to bed. Duo glanced over at her and closed his eyes, 'Usa, you're too pure to be here. I wish there was some way to protect you from all this.' he thought.

The next morning him and the three other children left leaving Usagi by herself in the hideout. Usagi watched them go and as Duo vanished from sight she suddenly had a sinking feeling in her chest. "No, Duo come back," She whispered while curling into a ball.

Duo led his small rag tag band into the warehouse and the boys took all they could carry. The sound of bullets being shot however soon had them running. "They don't even care if they shoot women and kids," one of the boys commented.

Duo scowled, "Damn, we have to get back to the hideout now!" He ordered.

The others agreed and he led them back in record timing. He grinned as he saw Usagi's worried face. He quickly hid the loot they had stolen and at the same time a group of men surrounded the house.

While Duo was busy the other boys nominated Usagi to go out. She agreed and smiled softly at the men who scowled at what they assumed to be another thief. "Can I help you gentleman with anything?" she asked in a soft sweet voice.

The men scowled and one reacted by slapping the girl with such force she fell to the ground with a bruise rapidly forming on her face. "Don't try to fool us, you little thief! You little fools stole from the army and we want the stuff back before they attack us for your crime!"

Usagi struggled to her feet. She blinked away tears of pain and walked up to the man that had hit her, "I do not know what you're talking about. I have not stole anything I swear it."

The man growled and grabbing Usagi's shoulders to hold her steady shoved his knee into her stomach with enough force to leave her gasping for breath. Tiny droplets of blood pearled on her lips.

Duo finished his task and left the building to see what was going on just as Usagi was punched hard. "No! Usagi!" He cried rushing to her as she fell to the ground. Her breath was coming in gasps and her body trembled.

"Duo, get out of here," She whispered softly as the older boy held her.

Duo glared at the men and setting Usagi down went after one his fists raised. Laughing the men restrained him and one by one the other boys were caught. "You're lucky the Maxwell Church has taken you in," Sneered the voice of one man. "Otherwise we'd have done the same thing to you as that little friend of yours."

Duo fought and struggled but he couldn't get free. He turned and with tears in his eyes watched Usagi be picked up and carried off. "Usa..." He whispered softly.

Duo was taken in by the Chruch and dressed in a priest's outfit. His hair had been combed and was revealed to be a chestnut brown and not the black color everyone had assumed it was. They had tied it into a braid and the boy attended school regularly. A month passed by and he had never forgotten the blonde angel he had used to protect. 'Usa, if you're still out there I'll find you one day,' he thought to himself.

Usagi walked to school head lowered. Her body had not grown much during the year. Her hair retained it's unique style and for that she was thankful. She walked to school and noticed a group of boys ahead. She sighed softly and remembered her adopted mother telling her to make friends. Taking a deep breath she raced forward with a hopeful smile on her face.

One of the boys beside Duo turned and scowled as the cheery little girl neared. He stuck his foot out and laughed as she tripped and fell into the gravel the dirt staining her clothes and the rocks scratching her face and hands. Duo heard the girl's soft cries and bent down beside her not noticing the girl's odd hairdo. "Are you alright?"

Usagi looked up startled her eyes widening. "Duo!" She cried flinging herself at him and hugging him. "I thought I'd never get to see you again!"

Duo held the small girl close to his body and his brain finally realized Usagi was alright. He grinned at her, "Usa, what are you doing here? I didn't notice you all dressed up and all."

She blushed and giggled at him, "I have a mommy and daddy now, Duo," She explained her eyes twinkling.

Duo winced. 'She doesn't need me anymore,' he thought. He sighed and got up, "I have to get to school now, Usagi," he told her before walking away. He didn't look back or he would have saw the confused and hurt expression on her face.

From then on Duo avoided the girl. 'She's too good to be my friend. I don't deserve anyone,' he thought as he would sometimes watch her sitting on a swing and staring up at the sky. 'I'm sorry, Usa. You have a good life now and you don't need me anymore,' he thought before walking away from the girl.

A year later Usagi followed her adoptive father as he was supported by two strong men. They were headed towards the Maxwell Church and Usagi wondered if she would see Duo again. The memories were a bit fuzzy in her mind because she hadn't seen or heard from him in an entire year. She looked up as they entered the Church and she saw Duo standing beside one of the sisters. "Duo!" She cried as she ran at him and threw herself in his arms sobbing.

Duo flinched as he realized she had returned to him. His eyes lifted towards the man that had been brought in and he frowned as he realized it was Usagi's adoptive father. "Don't worry, Usa; it will be alright," He assured her with a hug.

Usagi cried against Duo's chest as she heard the sounds of arguments around her. She suddenly felt Duo tense and his eyes were filled with hatred as he glared at a man that had hit the priest. Serena turned and saw a nun get slapped when she attempted to protect the fallen man. She heard Duo growl in fury and she looked up at him in confusion.

Usagi listened as a group of men talked about the Church being a front for spies and she could feel Duo's rage grow with each word. "Wait! One mobile suit is enough, right?" He asked as he untangled Usagi from his arms and pushed her behind him. As the men looked at him confused he stepped forward and away from Usagi, "I'll steal one for you! In exchange for that, you guys are out of here, right? This is a place for peace."

Usagi frowned, "Duo, no!" She objected grabbing his arm in protest. Duo shrugged her off his gaze steady on the men.

"Stupid kid thinks this is a game," One muttered.

Duo scowled, "I run, and I hide, but I never lie, like you guys do!"

Usagi grabbed his arm again, "Duo, stop you're talking nonsense! You're going to get hurt!"

Duo ignored her protests. 'Sorry, Usa, I have to do this,' he thought. "I'll get a Mobile Suit and bring it here for you!" He heard the cries of both Usagi and the nun but he ignored them. He grabbed Usagi's arm and pulled him after her.

Usagi looked at him her eyes shining with tears, "Why, Duo? You're going to get yourself killed!"

Duo looked away from her, "I'll be back soon, Usagi. Stay out of the Church and go home and be safe. It's too dangerous here." He saw her about to interrupt and he shook his head, "Just do it," He commanded. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek before turning and running away.

Usagi watched him go and tears in eyes fled. Duo glanced behind him and watched as Usagi followed his instructions and got away. 'Be careful, Usa,' he thought before continuing on his mission.

It had been the last time Duo had seen Usagi and he had always thought of her as dead. Duo stared silently at the young woman beside Hilde. The eyes studied his and he could tell she didn't harbor any resentment towards him at all. "Duo, this is Usagi she'll be staying with me for a while. Oz attacked her home and destroyed it," Hilde explained.

Duo didn't take his eyes off the person from his past. "Usa," He whispered softly as he stepped towards her.