Here comes chapter three. So far I seem to be doing all right…I think. I've notioced that no matter what I try though, my scene dividers aren't showing up. They haven't really been needed so far, but I like to put them between the chapter and the Author's notes, because otherwise the beginning just seems so…abrupt. So between scenes I will be putting a single capitol Z and we'll see how it works. Sorry for the inconvenience. I'm going to try to update on Mondays, so we'll see how that goes for a while.

Many, many thanks to all of my wonderful reviews: Abyssinian (great name. Are you by any chance a weiss fan, or do you just like cats?), Random, Duos Deathscythe, Feanturi Dindel (You're on the right track there!), alonleyshadow, Lolly Sister, and Keeosu (Your reviews always make me so happy!) I hope that's everyone. If I missed you, please accept my most sincere apologies.

Warnings: Yaoi. Oh, and the space monster just ate the sun. Prepare for complete darkness in around eight minutes.

Perfect World

Chapter 3

Z

Duo stared numbly out the car window, in a state of dazed misery he had never imagined possible.

As soon as he could after breakfast he had searched the house until he found the family's slow, out of date computer and set to hacking into every government database he could think of, desperate to find the sadistic bastards who had kidnapped him…or something. He had long forgotten his reasoning.

According to the computer, it was the exact day after yesterday. Yesterday he had been with Heero, today he was in hell. It was the right date, right year, but…

According to everything he could find, the war had never happened past a few initial skirmishes. The original Heero Yuy had never been assassinated. The gundam scientists had long ago been tried and executed for "threatening the peace."

There was no record of anyone by the name of Duo Maxwell. Trowa Barton was a man he didn't recognize. And Heero…his Heero…with eyes like glittering, fiery jewels and a soul burning for love…he had never existed. Duo found Quatre and Wufei…but those had been their real names all along.

And there were records…marriage certificates, birth certificates…dental and doctor records...old school report cards…all stating that Tony and Susan Hunt were the parents of Samuel, Aaron and Gracie Hunt and for all appearances he was Samuel.

Almost the worst blow of all was the discovery that he was on the same L2 colony he had grown up on.

He had still been staring in terror and despair at the computer screen when the woman, Susan, had found him and scolded him gently, insisting he get up and get ready for school. He doubted she would have been able to read the encoding anyway, but he had nevertheless closed all the windows so quickly he was fairly certain he had crashed the equipment.

It was possible, he mused, that he was in a time when the war hadn't happened…or at least his mind was. His body was probably in a coma somewhere and his mind was trapped in a dream based on the conversation he and Heero had had before the accident.

After all, according to records Tony had been an army doctor and Susan a nurse (it was, disgustingly enough, how the two had met.) Duo's mind could have easily made this up, knowing how in the early days of the war the medical bases were often targets. Either could have been killed very easily, leaving their orphaned children to raise themselves in the war-torn colony of their birth. Aaron could have died of hunger or disease or something while Sam survived to become Duo. It was all very convenient, very rational – his mind searching for answers. After all, when he was a child Duo had often dreamed up such scenarios to explain why he was alone. He was orphan because his family was dead, not because they hadn't wanted him.

A too-cheery voice broke into his brooding.

"Cheer up, Sam, I'm sure you'll get your memory back soon."

He rolled his eyes, tired of trying to convince his "mother" that she was a figment of his imagination. "I still say I shouldn't have to go to school." He grouched. Talk about making a bad situation worse.

"Now, Sam, you love school." Susan informed him. "Besides, I'm going to talk to the principal and make sure all your teachers know all about your little problem. I made you a doctor's appointment for right after school, and we'll find out how to fix you then. There's absolutely nothing to worry about."

"Unless the team decides to stuff him in the garbage again." Aaron snickered from his seat in the front of the "family van."

Duo scowled, turning his attention back out the window. "They can try." He mumbled, confident that he could handle any trouble from some bully sports team. His real concern was how big his ego must be, inventing an extra one of himself. What did he need with a twin?

Duo tried to concentrate on the fact he was in a coma somewhere, hoping to wake himself up, but all it did was make him worry about Heero.

Really, he wanted to cry.

Z

"No one knows the answer?" The teacher asked with a sigh. "No one at all? All right, Samuel, why don't you tell us. I'm sure you, at least, know how to diagram this sentence."

Hearing someone address him by his imaginary name, Duo drowsily lifted his head. He was being called on in class? That was a new one. Teachers in the real world knew better.

"You want me t' do what?" He asked flatly.

"Diagram this sentence."

"Diagram it yourself, y' old bat." He mumbled, laying his head back down.

She blinked a few times, clearly confused. "Excuse me?"

Burying his head in his arms, Duo shot her the bird and cheerfully set to continuing his nap, ignoring the whispers and the idiot teacher's nervous fluttering. The young ones never did know what to do when shown blatant disrespect. When the bell rang he got up with the other students but left his books in his desk – wasn't like he'd be using them anyway.

He napped through each of his classes until lunch, changing locations with the ringing of the bells. At lunch he cut to the front of the line, charmed his way into receiving extra fries, and chose a table in an out-of-the-way corner where he could watch people and no one could sneak up on him.

He had barely sat down when a tall, angry looking boy with a flat, ugly face approached followed by a few girls, two rather large, burly boys, and Aaron.

"You're in my seat, runt."

He offered the group a wide grin and suggested that their leader bite him.

"What'd you say!"

"Something wrong with your hearing?" Duo asked lazily. "I said you could bite me; I ain't getting up."

The boy's face grew an unattractive shade of red and he lunged forward toward Duo, stopped abruptly as Aaron grabbed hold of his shoulders.

"Come on, man." He hissed. "It won't hurt anything for us to sit somewhere else today; I told you Sam has gone a little crazy and !"

"A little brain damage doesn't make a man crazy, mister figment of my imagination." Duo interrupted, sliding out of the booth. He had to stand up on tiptoe to look into his challenger's face, but he thought he Heero-imitating glare should still work just fine. "And you. Why don't you stop acting like some spoiled child and find something important to do with your life?" He suggested, annoyed. "There's a hell of a lot more to life than high school, and much, much more than where you sit at lunch." He punctuated "lunch" with a jab to the boy's face, secretly hoping they would have to fight. Once he had the chance to prove himself, then no one would dare challenge him. "And, you know, if you would have asked nicely, then I would have gotten up right away. But you didn't, so guess what? I'm staying put."

A low, bovine-like sound came from the boy's throat, and Aaron tightened his grip on him.

"Nate…don't!"

Jerking free, the boy took a wide swing at Duo, his momentum pulling him into the table as the small former pilot easily dodged his clumsy attack. As the would-be bully rounded on him for another embarrassingly clumsy attack, Duo caught one of his arms and pulled it around behind him as he dodged yet again, twisting it painfully and effortlessly until the boy cried out. Duo could feel stares all around him, and the cafeteria had gone strangely silent, but that was just fine. Better to get his message out quickly – Do. Not. Mess. With. Duo.

"You see what happens when you don't play nice?" He demanded, his voice carrying in the unnatural quiet. "Even the braided baka gets pissed sometimes, neh? Now, I suggest you apologize and so to find someone else to irritate, and it wouldn't be wise for you to attempt shit like this again. I've got more than enough experience protecting my turf t' be intimidated by an ass like you."

"Bastard…" The boy managed.

Duo twisted the arm a little harder until it was just on the verge of breaking. "Do you really wanna be so rude when you're in the position you're in? I mean, I can seriously injusre you if you insist, but I was planning on just…letting you go. Show Shingami some respect or pay the price, you understand? Now apologize."

"I…I…"

"Say it, bitch!"

"Mr. Hunt! Mr. Trailes!" A sharp, authoritative voice snapped. "What is the meaning of this?"

Aaron was suddenly, unexpectedly at his side facing down a very upset looking teacher.

"My boys were just having a little fun, Mr. Macley." He told the teacher quickly with a smile Duo knew all to well. It was the smile that kept Wufei from killing him every time he dyed his ponytail pink. "Rough housing, you know. Male bonding?"

"I don't wanna bond with him!"

"Shut up, Sam."

"School is no place for such behavior." Mr. Macley scowled. "And Samuel! I never expected such behavior from you."

"I ain't no fuckin doormat."

Aaron gave a loud and nervous laugh in an attempt to cover up the naughty word. "Don't listen to old Sammy, Mr. Macley! He's not himself today, you know. Gone a little crazy, that's all."

He appeared to think about this a moment. "Very well." He said finally. "I'll let it go this time. Just see that this kind of disturbance doesn't happen again."

"Yes sir!"

Z

To Be Continued

Okay, that's it for this chapter. Short (sigh) yes. I can't help it – it's some kind of mental block. I hope the chapter was all right though…please don't give up on this fic!

Please please PLEASE review! I have very low self esteem! I need your input!