Disclaimers: Not mine, not even going to dream that they are mine. Just took them out for a spin, did a little torture and returned them home nice and slightly tortured.

Warnings: Waaaaaaaaay too much sap in this one. General warnings such as OOCs, shounen ai, slightly more graphic dreams and pre lemons that Tsu is used to writing. But don't worry, Tsu still doesn't write lemons.

A/N: This a fusion with a yaoi manga that I picked up called 'Colors'. Some parts are reflective of the manga, others are just me putting things in. Hehehe, I promised myself no fusion fics, but I couldn't help it. Even I got hyperglycaemia from reading it. Too sweet, toooo sweet. Perhaps someone who has read this can tell me if I am infringing anything by writing how I did.

Letters Back Home

Part 3

Hello Hentai Hilde, [Pervert]

Hey, it rhymes as well. I am writing to you because mom and dad have yet to master the use of the Internet and email. So I am hoping you won't be spewing too many lies about what I have been doing here. I will also count on you to censor the more interesting things that I have been doing at school. Don't forget, I do have that picture of what you did after that all night party. I told you a digital camera would be good for blackmail material.

So anyway. I have been here for a while now and I am getting used to the way of life here. Packed busses and crowded streets seem to be the way of life here. I am slowly getting used to cafeteria food. I know you are laughing when you found out I had a horrible reaction to them the first time I ate cafeteria food, so stop it. I really didn't enjoy paying homage to the porcelain god the entire day. Luckily Heero was there to take care of me.

Hmm, Heero is another matter that I have gotten used to. I didn't tell you this, but he hugged my on the first day of school. Get you mind out of the gutter, you fangirl! He was just shocked that he met me. Apparently, he has been looking for me since the art gallery. I guess this is what you call destiny or that kind of shit right? Shit being the technical term for it. So, Heero aside things are pretty well normal. Except for the part where my classmates thing Heero has a thing for me. They are pretty convinced that we are going to be a couple before the year is out. And leading that pack of 'believers' are two girls, one of them is Wu Fei's girlfriend, Mei Lan and another red head named Mareimaiea. You remember Wu Fei right? The one that has a stick up his ass all the time?

Right, Duo Maxwell, interested in a boy that way? That would be the day. Heero is a very good friend. One that can cook pretty well.

You know what is weird, he seems different from the first time I met him. Before this, he was rather cold, and aloof but recently, I have seen him opening up. He actually smiles these days. And he doesn't act like his face is going to split anytime or something. It is rather mind boggling.

Well, time for me to head off to bed now. Heero has been nagging me about waking up late and being late for class. He is such a mother hen sometimes.

Duo M.

Hilde smiled as she read through the email once again. Her brother might be oblivious but she definitely wasn't. There was something going on between Heero and Duo, even if they both wasn't aware of it just yet.

Perhaps she would call her brother up and enlighten him on the situation that he seemed to be blind to. Right after she ransacks the house for that incriminating picture.

On second thoughts, let those two idiots find out themselves. This would be payback enough for the picture. She wished she would be able to see Duo's face when he realised that he was already in love with Heero Yuy.

XXxxXX

It was always the same. It was blue, everything was blue. It was always blue.

He floated in a sea of it, weightless and comforting. He could hear a soothing thudding sound, slow and measured. It was soon accompanied by two faster pounding, but just as measured, just as soothing. He curled up feeling the warmth envelope him.

There was someone next to him, sleeping in the same small space. He couldn't see the other person but he felt him there, always. He had been there with him since the beginning of his consciousness. He really wanted to see that other person.

He hoped this time he would.

Violet/blue shot open, staring at the space next to him. He let out a disappointed sigh only to find it empty once again. Soon, the nagging beeps began to register.

Duo's hand shot out from under the cocoon of covers and slammed on the poor defenceless alarm clock. Suddenly, there was blessed silence before a groan of pain sounded from under the lump of comforters.

"I hate mornings," Duo whined, creeping out from under the bedspread. A pair of blue/violet eyes peeped out before a head covered with reddish brown hair and a severely tousled braid followed. He say up, toppling the covers to his lap, stretching. He had a dream again. As always he woke up alone, woke up seeing nothing but a lump of covers or a pillow next to him. When will he wake one day and see him?

He let out a small sigh, staring at the four walls that made up his room in the boy's dorm. Well, for the next few years, this would be a home away from home, if he didn't want one of Hilde's many friends to accidentally to crash in his room, in his bed, right next to him, without a stitch of clothing on her body. That had been a real shock and since then, he had begun to spend most weekends at school. While he was sure that his sister's friend had no intention of ridding him of his bothersome virginity, she had come awfully close. That was until he woke up and screamed bloody murder.

He had told Heero of his decision and was rather shocked to see how quickly his decision was supported. In fact, after the initial mirth of him waking up with a naked woman, Heero failed to see how it could be amusing any longer. In fact, he had insisted Duo stay away from furiously partying sisters and their shameless friends.

"Seducing minors," Heero had muttered over and over. "Have you arrested, why don't I?"

There was a soft knock on the door. "Oi, Duo, wake up."

Duo was jolted out of reverie and he smiled. It was routine for a long while now, since Heero had found out what a reluctant riser his friend was. Heero had made a pact with the other three that lived in the dorm, namely Wu Fei, Trowa and Quatre to take turns waking Duo up after nearly one week of being punished for being late. Today was obviously Heero's turn.

While he didn't live on school grounds, the Japanese boy somehow managed to make it to school extra early to wake Duo, eat breakfast together and walk him to class. Duo found his friend lived a rather militaristic life. He was always strict, proper and extremely disciplined with himself. It was only around Duo that he deigned to relax.

"Duo. You lazy ass, wake up now," Heero knocked harder, sounding a tad more irritated.

If Duo didn't open the door soon, it would be forced open. That had happened once. He scrambled out of bed and yanked the door open. "Yeah, yeah. I'm up." He let his friend in, yawning widely.

Heero smiled at his sleep-dishevelled friend and the rather chaotic room that he recognised as Duo's normal living habits. "You're going to be late for school if you don't hurry up."

Duo yawned again, climbing into bed. His eyes were drooping already. "Make me."

There was a short bark of laughter coming from the Japanese a split second before he realised the folly of challenging Heero Yuy. He felt himself being bodily lifted, the covers flying.

"Heero!!" Duo protested. "Let me down now!" He yelled as the door was kicked open and he was carried down the hallway to the showers. Oh boy, this wasn't going to be pretty.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Wu Fei open his room door at the commotion, saw a Duo totting Heero, rolled his eyes in resignation and closed the door again. While the Chinese was a good friend, he was rather uncomfortable with public displays of affection, even one such as Heero throwing him into the shower to wake him up. Trowa and Quatre had also taken to loitering around the hallways each time Heero performed a 'wake up call'.

"That is freaking cold, Heero Yuy!" Duo threw a bar of soap at Heero, who dodged it easily.

The Japanese stood at the doorway, chuckling softly at the sight of his friend shivering under the cold spray of the shower. Duo's pyjamas were plastered to his body like a second skin.

"That's what hot water is for, Duo," Heero said patronisingly, picking up the soap and passing it back to Duo. "Take you shower. You have five minutes before I return to collect you." He left the American to bathe in peace.

Duo quickly divested himself of the wet clothes, cursing Heero for his highhandedness. Then a reluctant smile curved his lips. It had become such routine, such tradition during Heero's wake up call day that the other students had stopped staring agog at the sight but instead merely kept out of the way. He shut of the shower spray, squeezing the excess water out of his long braid of hair. It was going to be soggy for the rest of the day, thanks to Heero. With a towel tucked around his waist, he stepped out of the shower, only to find neatly placed next to the sink, his toothbrush, ready with toothpaste spread over it.

"Heero, you idiot," Duo smiled, a warm feeling engulfing him. It was odd, he had known Heero for only a short while, but he felt like he had known the other boy forever. Perhaps it had started from the painting. It still startled him how alike there were.

After finishing up, he walked back to his room. The door was ajar and peeping in, he saw Heero packing his bag, stacking up his book and placing them carefully, neatly inside. His uniform was already spread out on the bed.

The door was yanked open. "Well, come in," Heero growled. "What are you doing loitering out in the hallway for?"

Duo responded by sticking his tongue out at his friend.

"Ten minutes, Duo." Heero left the room.

The American stared at his now neat room and shook his head. Sometimes he felt rather guilty for making Heero his maid. Looking at his watch, he quickly donned his uniform and picked up his bag. He opened the door to find Heero leaning against the wall outside.

"You're late," Heero complained.

"Not if you run," Duo threw back, taking off toward the school. "And thanks to you, my braid is wet!"

They managed to get to class on time, and not risk Duo standing in the hall until the next period again. In fact, the first period teacher wasn't even in yet. The two flopped into their seats, panting.

"New record," Quatre announced to the rest of the class. "Duo Maxwell is five minutes early!"

To the American's embarrassment, the entire class exploded into cheers. Heero suppressed a smile. There was a pool going about how early Duo could be to class and if he was early for that period for more than five times, the person would win all the money in the pool. On time and one minute early bets were off limits, since that was just too obvious.

"Thanks a lot, Quatre," Duo said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

The smiling Arabian was saved from further insult when their teacher walked in for class. Duo listened with half an ear, fiddling with his damp braid. It was making him uncomfortable, but he hadn't had the time to dry it earlier. So when break time came around, Duo shot out of his seat in a rush.

"Duo, where…" Heero started, then understanding dawned. "I was thinking of having that. Are you gamed?"

"No onions…" Duo answered, poking his head in.

"Extra mayo," Heero concluded. "I know. I was thinking the same thing. So two tuna sandwiches no onions extra mayo. Meet you there."

"Right," Duo nodded his head, disappearing from view. He could see the surprised stares from his friends at their rather broken communication that both seemed to understand each other so well. Quatre had mentioned something about them sounding like husband and wife, ending each other's sentences. But Duo didn't find it anything odd. It was like finding a really old friend after a long time.

He reached the roof a few moments later. He took the rubber band off his braid, spreading his damp hair in the wind. The day wasn't awfully warm and there was a pleasant wind blowing, drying his hair. He would deal with the braiding later. Heero came with lunch moments later and they ate in companionable silence. When they were done, they sat side by side, staring up at the clear blue sky.

"Want me to help you with your hair?" Heero smiled, pulling out a brush.

Duo nodded. "You know me best."

Heero knelt behind Duo, pulling the brush through the slightly tangled mass. "Hey, Duo," he said after a while.

"Hmm?" Duo mumbled, his eyes closed, enjoying Heero's attention to his hair. Who knew it was it felt so good.

"What colour do you think is most lonely?"

Duo pondered a moment. "Well, blue I think." He heard a soft sniff of laughter from Heero. He turned slightly, curious.

"I knew you would say that. In your painting, you had a splash of colour. Everything seemed so warm except for a slight corner of blue." Heero was silent for a while. "It seemed rather lonely, yet I felt it was extremely important to you."

"Lonely… important…" The braided teen was surprised. He had never expected Heero to be able to read him so well. Then again, why would he be surprised? The Japanese teen had practically read his mind and drew a near mirror image of his own painting. Perhaps he should tell Heero about his dream. "I guess you are right. I guess that small patch represents my other half that had gone."

"Other half? Gone?" Heero's hands stilled.

"Yeah, I had a twin. He died before he was born actually," Duo stared far away, into the blue, blue sky. He felt Heero's hands starting to braid his hair again but now, it felt more like petting. Heero seemed to be comforting him. "My parents named him Solo, he was my older brother. So I become Duo. Odd names I know." He laughed a little. "For as long as I have lived, I had been having these dreams. Everything in it is blue. I can't see anything, but I can hear his heartbeat, and mine and my mothers. I could feel him with me, together. But when I open my eyes…" Duo trailed off.

"You are disappointed you don't see him?" Heero stroked Duo's braid gently.

Duo turned, catching his friend's eye. "Not really, I am just disappointed that I don't see anyone."

"Well," Heero came around, hunkering in front of Duo. "I hope you find your other half one day."

They looked at each other, exchanging a smile. The silence stretched for a while as they shared a moment together.

Heero spied his watch and stood up. "Well, class is going to start soon. Let's go." He bent over, offering a hand to Duo.

Duo stared up at Heero for a while before taking the other's hand in his own. "Yeah, we probably should before Wu Fei sends out a search party for you."

"Who had ever thought he would be your best champion?" Heero chuckled, tugging Duo along. They had walked for a while now but the Japanese gave no sign of letting go of Duo's hand.

It didn't even cross Duo's mind to pull away, to retrieve his hand. It felt good having someone hold his hand like that. Heero's palm was warm, firm and strong. It felt exactly how Heero was, how Heero made him feel all the time. He could trust Heero, he was comfortable with him. It was a very good feeling.

He didn't want to let go.

tbc