A while later found Duo and WuFei sitting next to each other on the floor. Duo was guiding his friend through the movements of sewing.

"Okay, WuFei, there ya' go... Think ya've got the hang of it yet?" Duo asked.

"I think so..." WuFei replied, sounding unsure of himself. Duo grinned.

"Come on, Wu-Man... I'm sure you'll be great at sewing! Go ahead!" the American said encouragingly.

The Chinese pilot stared at the needle in his hand. The look on his face was confused, almost scared; Duo looked at him and couldn't help but giggle.

"What?" he asked as WuFei glared at him. "You look cute!"

WuFei blushed hot pink and turned away from his friend. He re-threaded the needle in his hand and shakily pulled it through the material.

"That's right, you're doing fine. Just make sure the stitches stay small and close together." Duo encouraged him.

Confident that WuFei would be okay sewing the simple pattern he had left with him, Duo went back to sewing a fancy, ruffled, black and scarlet dress for the doll. With colors and a design like that, there could be no mistaking that he had made the clothes himself.

Everything remained peaceful in the room for a few minutes. Then disaster struck.

"Injustice! Dishonor!" WuFei bellowed angrily, springing to his feet. "Weakling onna!" He glared at the needle he was holding, then at the finger he had just pricked. A tiny drop of bright bred blood was welling up to the surface, and seemed to anger him all the more.

"Uh... Wu-Man... That's not a girl. That's a needle." Duo protested, struggling to keep himself from laughing.

"Quiet! Sewing is only for women and weaklings!" WuFei shouted. The smile faded from Duo's face, although slowly.

"OK, WuFei... Sure. Now just calm down. Give the needle to me and sit down." Duo said calmly. The sad look lurking in his eyes didn't reach his voice, which he was thankful for.

Grudgingly, WuFei did as he was told. He thrust out his hand, holding the needle for Duo to take it.

"Thank you, WuFei." Duo said quietly. This time, some of what he was feeling was apparent in his tone.

WuFei turned away, a stubborn look on his face. "Stupid American... Getting upset over nothing..." he thought to himself.

Looking over his shoulder, he was concerned by the look on Duo's face. He definitely wasn't acting like his normal, cheerful self anymore...

After the silence ensued for over a minute, WuFei started to get worried. When a muffled crying sound filled the air, he was worried.

"Duo," he began, turning around to apologize. What he saw made him feel horrible. Beyond horrible, in fact. Duo was slumped over a pile of material scraps, crying into his hands. WuFei had no idea what to do.

"Duo... I, I'm sorry..." he stammered, looking guilty and confused.

"Go `way." Duo muttered, flinching away from his friend.

"Duo, please don't. I'm sorry!" WuFei protested, look as if he wasn't sure whether he should comfort his friend or not.

"Yeah. Whatever... Now go `way an' leave me `lone." the American muttered, sniffling.

"Duo, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that... I mean, you aren't..."

"WuFei, please. Just go away." Duo uncovered his face, revealing the tears streaming down it. He looked both sad and angry at once, but who the anger was directed at, himself, WuFei, or both, was uncertain. Even to the braided boy himself.

WuFei found himself staring again. This was completely unlike Duo's normal attitude. And it was his own stupid actions that had caused his friend to get into such a state.

After a few more moments, WuFei decided that Duo was serious: he really just wanted to be left alone. Sighing, he took a step back.

"All right, Duo... I'll leave you alone now. But I really am sorry. I wasn't thinking." WuFei apologized quietly. With that, he turned and left the room quietly, glancing back one last time as he closed the door.

After the door was firmly closed, Duo looked up. Sniffling, he wiped the tears off of his face.

"And the joker mask crumbles... Duo no baka..." he whispered to himself. Sighing, he began to gather up his sewing supplies. He didn't want to be in WuFei's room when the other boy came back.