The light of the sun beckoned the world to awaken. Finally, it's message had reached the eyes of one certain braided boy, currently residing in a safehouse.
The American pilot frowned. "What time is it?" His response was a digital clock being thrown at him. "Seven. Why are you up so early?"
"Well, unlike you, when the sun comes up, I wake up. We have a new mission."
"What are we supposed to do? Huh? Huh? Infiltrate another OZ lab? Destroy another OZ base?" The excitement in his voice was hardly contained.
"See for yourself." Heero casually tossed him a printout with one hand, the other still typing.
"WHAT?!!" The whole house shook at his voice.
The other three residents of the apartment ran in. "Duo, what's wrong?"
The American couldn't even answer, he just kept on stammering. Finally, he spoke. "Q-man, _how_ did I end up having to dress up like a girl?"
"Well," Quatre stated matter-of-factly. "OZ officials will be checking their sponsored facilities for two boys, not a boy and a girl."
Duo was stammering from this shock. "How is this POSSIBLE?! I'm gonna kill the man who thought of this mission assignment!"
"I'm just waiting for you to go and change. Then we can leave." Heero closed his laptop and pointed to the packed duffel bag next to him.
Duo sighed. "Fine. At least lemme take a shower first. This is definitely not a good way to wake up."
Duo left the four of them eating breakfast in the kitchen while he took a shower. The warm water felt good against his skin after the horrible news. He undid his braid expertly and starting washing it. When he reached for his shampoo, it was empty. It was a bottle of country apple shampoo. He had liked the way it smelled and stole it. He wasn't about to pay money for this kinda thing. Besides, he never usually bought this type of stuff from Bath and Body Works. He took Heero's shampoo bottle, which smelled like strawberries, and used it. He couldn't help but smell the bottle's contents some more. He didn't know if it was because he liked the way it smelled or because it smelled like Heero.
Ten minutes later, Duo came to the kitchen with his hair still in a messy tangle and a towel draped at his waist. He scanned the room for the alleged articles of clothing he had to don for the next few weeks of school. He scowled when Wufei smirked at him and casually pointed to his camera.
"Okay. What am I supposed to wear as a girl?"
"We got it covered. Quatre borrowed some clothes from his sister that they said would look good on you. He also borrowed some other stuff from them for your little act."
"So what have we got?" Duo stared at the pile. He picked up a thong and sweatdropped. "I have to wear these kinda clothes everyday?" Everyone nodded almost simultaneously. "This is not gonna be a fun mission."
"Come on Duo, we don't have that much time left. First, take this bra and stuff it, we have to make your body more feminine."
Duo blinked blankly at the article of clothing. "You don't really mean that I have to wear that do you?" Quatre nodded. "Oh, man."
After around another fifteen minutes of Quatre putting make-up on Duo and finding the right clothes, the blond boy came out to the kitchen. Quatre did a little cough to get everyone's attention.
"Presenting Ms. Duo Maxwell!" He threw in arms in the direction that Duo was supposed to come out of but nothing came. "Er-hem! I _said_ presenting Ms. Duo Maxwell!"
"No way! I'm _not_ coming out like this! Shinigami should not look like this!"
The blond sweatdropped. "Eh-heh-heh. Gimme a second please." Quatre rushed back into the room and pushed Duo out with all his might. The smaller boy was indeed stronger than he looked. "Ta-da!" Duo, who did not look very happy, was dressed in the girl's uniform of the boarding school they were to be attending.
"Oh, man. The things I have to do for missions." He smacked himself on the head. He sighed. "I guess we can leave after I do my braid. I'll be quick." Duo reached behind him and started to do his hair, only to be stopped before he could touch another strand.
He looked up to meet the intense cobalt gaze of the Japanese pilot. "Don't. It looks good like this." Duo couldn't stop his face from blushing and was only able to whimper out a response.
"I agree, Duo. I suggest that you let it brush it first, it's such a mess!" Quatre pulled the still stunned boy and made him sit on the bed so that he could brush his cascading hair.
Duo snapped out of it and pouted. He wanted to look into those eyes longer.
"Okay! All done! You're all set to go!" Quatre patted his friend's back encouragingly.
"Okay! Let's go!" The formerly braided boy, now long haired girl, jumped towards the door.
"Wait. There's one more thing."
"Oh come on, I look like a girl now so what else do I have to do?"
"Your voice. It's too deep to be a girl's." Heero held out a choker. "Here."
"What's that?"
"It's supposed to look like a choker but the machine on the back of it should regulate the vibration of your voice box to make you sound like a girl." Quatre took the choker and put it on Duo. "Also, you will have to wear this scarf."
"Why all the neck wear?"
"Duo, you have an adam's apple. Girls do _not_ have that. Just lemme put it on." Quatre reached up to the Shinigami pilot and wrapped the soft silk scarf around his neck. "There. And the choker will make you sound more like a girl and raise your voice a few octaves."
Duo opened his mouth to speak and try this new voice. "Duo Maxwell desu. Yoroshiku." His voice was high and airy.[1] "This voice is going to take some getting used to. So's this whole situation actually."
"Don't worry, Duo. It's temporary. Now get outta here! You guys are gonna be late for school!" Quatre shoved Duo out the door, where Heero was already waiting.
End Part I
[1]I was thinking of Akino Arai's voice then and decided to use it. It would sound good on a female Duo.