Lost and Found: Chapter 3

"so you'll let me know what you find out?" Relena stated

I nodded, stepping away from her as I turned walking towards the lounge; hoping that Duo would still be there…

"Duo…" I muttered. I'd have to tell him that I was thinking of asking Relena out.

You see he may think I'm oblivious but I've seen the way he watches me, I've seen the way his eyes follow me around the room, and although I don't care.. I'm not going to encourage him. After all he's my best friend, room mate, partner, and above all… I'm not gay. I can't be because I'm attracted to Relena, right?

I enter the bar, my eyes adjusting to the dimmer light, as they immediately scan for Duo. I spot him, sitting at the bar, an empty glass to his right, and then I look up straight into his eyes. Man, those eyes of his are so damn gorgeous, that deep blue violet is unlike anything I have ever seen before, and right now those pools of violet, are on fire, telling me how pissed he is.

Shit… Duo mad is not fun.

I stood in impassive silence, waiting for the storm to unleash itself upon me.

"Come on…we should be getting home" he stated brushing past me. I merely nod, following after. My eyes watching his long rope of chestnut hair as it swung from side to side…

The entire drive back he fumed silently, and I knew I was in for it… sure I'm physically stronger, and have gotten good at ignoring Duo, but when he's mad he gets very intense, and his eyes flash, even as he moves around pacing…basically its impossible not to look at him.

The silence stretches onwards as he pulls up in front of our place, and we get out, the tension now thick between us, I wait… I know he's going to burst once we're inside... and as usual I'm right.

"What the fuck took you so long?" he demands right on schedule

"I had to talk to her… about the leave I'd be taking" I state calmly, watching as he glowers beneath his bangs.

"oh.. now I get it.. you kissed her because you're going to miss her?"

"….. no.. not really" I state just waiting,

"fuck Heero… what's going on between you guys? I'm your room mate and I want to know" I take a deep breathe, as I prepare my answer "I'm taking a leave of absence" I restate…"and I won't be able to protect her…"

Duo looks at me funny, I don't know how he does it, but he always seems to know when I'm not completely honest with him.

"bull shit, there's something else going on here…"

oh shit… I'm going to have to spill. most likely. I stare at the floor to avoid looking into his accusing eyes.

"there's no way in hell you were crying yesterday over a leave of absence! Come on Heero look at me!" he yells

"Look at me! no secrets, no lies.. where the fuck are you going?" I make my first big mistake and look straight into those imploring eyes of his, and I feel my heart race, Shit. I'm powerless now, as they plead with me to tell him

"… I'm going to Earth… I… I have family there" I tell him. standing quietly under his scrutiny. Then as if he's come to a decision he mutters,

"well I'll be damned" while turning to walk out of the room. He pauses at the door "so, you won't be rooming with me any more?"

I didn't know what to say, to not room with Duo? What a bizarre idea, not to see him asleep in the morning, not to watch him braid his hair… what the .. where had that come from.. Yuy you're not gay… think about Relena… yes that's right… tall blonde hair, blue eyes… there we go…

"ah forget it… Yuy.. if you don't wanna room with me, then so what!" I can hear the hint of pain in his voice. I'm leaving him for people I don't know, and both he and I know that I wanted to do it without him knowing… "go live with you're pathetic family" his harsh words stuck needles in my heart,

"Duo.. please this is important to me… you and the other pilots are the closest thing to family I have, don't take that away just because I've found my real parents"

I watched Duo turn around to look at me… this funny expression on his face. then as if he'd reached a decision his anger melted into irritation,

"so you're staying?"

I nodded,

"well good… just make sure you let me know where you're gong to be staying Earth… don't want Quatre all worried"

"hn…" I grunted … at least I'd avoided a major argument… not to mention I'd succeeded in not telling him that Relena was going to be coming with me.

Five days later, I left on a shuttle to Earth, Japan district. Relena was flying to meet me there from Sanq in a week. Myself, I was more than a little nervous, after all this would be my first contact with urban family life style, and to think… it was going to be with my family the ones I should have stayed with after I was born. The weird thing is that I don't remember them at all, and I definitely don't remember being taken away or kidnapped, I really don't remember anything about these people, as my first memories are of my life with Odin Lowe, my mentor, and the man who used to refer to me as kid, or Junior. After that my life became dominated by my training, until all else became irrelevant, and I stopped thinking about a family in my single minded focus on missions.

The vid-screen ahead of me lighted up the words, "Our Heroes" flashing across the screen. I shrugged, yet another Hollywood remake of the Gundam pilots, fighting against Oz; of course it's totally unrealistic and the people used to play us are at least twenty years older. Silently I switch the channel, while opening a box of Pocky, which Duo loves, and I am secretly partial too.

I sigh as I turn my attention back to the film. Quite frankly I'm glad that I convinced Relena to allow us pilots to fade into the background, then of course my hacking skilled had successfully deleted our personal records from all files. Now the only people who knew whom the Gundam Pilots really are, is the Preventers and the few who knew us during the wars, and we were just civilians, working to make enough money to survive from day to day. Well… almost, we had after all hoarded large amounts of money, stolen from Oz accounts, which non of us really considered stealing, but the price paid for the freedom of humanity. Hmm… another mistake in the film, the Deathsythe pilot is hideous, too bulky, too tall, wrong eye colour, and his hair is all wrong, nothing at all like my graceful, pretty room mate. Oh well I guess they can't get it perfect, might as well turn it off and sleep, the movie is "a pile of crap" as Duo would say.

Finally I'm here, standing in front of my parents house. Well mansion would be a better description, as the house is definitely as big as one of Quatre's, and just as impersonal in my opinion. I pick up my suitcase, and walk towards the door, after a quick look around I press the doorbell. I'm not waiting for more than a moment when the door flies open, and a young man appears.

"oh.. how can I help you?" he asks, the car keys in his hand making it obvious that he was on his way out.

"ms. Lowe please" I state in my usual monotone. The guy stares at me for a moment, and I know he's giving me what Duo's dubbed the once over. I glare at him, after all this guy could be my brother for all I know, and besides. I am not gay.

I watch him wilt under the force of the Yuy death glare, then duck back inside to call,

"MOM some kids at the door to see you"

I remain silent, and wait, Kid? Yeah right… I've never really been a child. The young man walks past me to his car, and soon drives off leaving me standing at the door.

At least a minute passes I hear footsteps sounding down the hall.

She's coming. I feel my body tense in preparations, all senses on high alert as I listen to the foot steps; only one set. I relax a bit, seemingly casually against the house. Then I see her, a small fine boned, middle aged oriental woman, I watch her approach, taking in the way she moves, everything about her. Until she speaks,

"can I help you" then its as if I can see her thoughts being processed, and the next thing I know I'm forced to quell my bodies reaction to physical contact, as I am held in a tight hug.

For once I just let myself speak, "Hello mom" I whisper awkwardly placing my arms around her.

I need her to accept me, I need her love. The love I didn't know I was missing my entire life. Slowly I feel that empty whole inside me fill as she holds me closer and whispers,

"I'm so glad you found us" in my ear