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 to Home

Part 10

Heero never knew his mother. Not to the point he could remember her. He had always known that he was different from Milliardo and Relena. The dark hair was a dead giveaway. His two siblings were as blond as blond can be. The only thing that was remotely alike between the three was their vivid blue eyes. Even then, Heero could see the difference in hue. His was like the deepest ocean, or that was how his sappy boyfriend tend to describe it. Mill's and Relena's were ice blue and it felt like being doused in icy cold water if there was displeasure in them. He had a distinctive Asian cast to his features while his siblings were completely Caucasian. At first he was too young to realise anything, not even understanding why his stepmother hated him and how his own siblings were forbidden to ever play with him.

It was then he heard the whispers. It was gossip, servant talk, but coupled with the latest beating from his stepmother, he had to believe it was true. He was the son of his father's mistress. At first he didn't understand what mistress meant and had innocently asked who he thought was his mother. He would never forget what happened next, though he would never allow himself to dwell on it. Suffice to say, he never asked that question ever again.

The only one that he thought even remotely cared for him was his father. Even then, he was never home, work having taken him away for weeks on end. He knew Relena wanted to at least play with him, if her overtures of friendship were anything to go by but she was also his age and had to listen to her mother or risked being punished.

It was then he realised, he would always be alone. He had lived a large portion of his young life in that manner. He ate on his own, he studied on his own, basically did everything on his own. No one cared if he lived or died. Over the years, he had gotten hostile, easily angry at everything and everyone. It had gotten so bad to the point where everyone had started ignoring him, not out of habit but more to save their own hide. They knew how destructive Heero Yuy could be on a good day, much less a bad one.

Heero Yuy, even his name was a slap to him. His father had never found the time to give him a new name. So, he was left with the name his mother gifted him with. It was a Japanese name, as was his mother and another burden to him.

He just wanted someone to love him, someone to notice him, but no one ever did.

He was spiralling into an abyss of despair for the longest time, that was, until he met Treize Kushrenada. He was Milliardo's friend from high school. When friends came over, his stepmother made sure he was as far away from eyes as possible and Heero found refuge under his favourite tree in the garden. He knew the drill. If he wanted dinner tonight, he would listen.

And that was where he made an acquaintance of Treize Khusrenada. He looked very much like he did now, tall, elegant, polite and a hundred times less perverted than he was now. He had snuck out of the house for a cigarette break. He had always been a bad boy under the veneer of elegance even back then. He had seen a little boy huddling a huge tree, staring longingly in the direction of the house.

"Hello," he greeted the dark haired boy who was looking absolutely lost.

Heero started. He hadn't noticed someone next to him. He looked up at the tall, urbane man. "Y… you're talking to me?" He couldn't believe it and his tone bespoke it rather clearly.

Treize's brow furrowed in confusion as he hunkered down next to the boy. "Yes, I am. You're Mill's little brother Heero aren't you?"

And that had been the start of a beautiful friendship. Treize was the one who introduced art to Heero, allowing him to release his pent up feelings. It was an outlet for him, and he was rather surprised to find that he was rather good at it as well. It was from then he started writing his message all over the canvases he found. He told of his life, his sorrow, and one day, someone deciphered and answered that message.

That person was Duo Maxwell.

He couldn't remember a better time in his life. He was actually cared for, loved and had all the attention he wanted. He had friends and he had fun. And most of all, he had Duo. They were happy, fulfilling days and days he never wanted to end.

But one would always need to wake, no matter how beautiful the dream was. That was the cruelty of reality. And they were all in its vicious grip.

Heero stared at his barren ceiling, his mind a turmoil of thoughts. He couldn't deny the pain he was in now, at the very thought of separation from Duo. It hurt, very much. Perhaps it was better that they had never met. It took him this long to realise that while they had been virtually living as one person for the past two years, it was blatantly clear now that they were two separate people.

It hurt.

He has decided.

XXxxXX

"Hey, there you are!" Ian Maxwell greeted his son exuberantly. He opened his arms wide as Duo almost leapt into his father's arms.

Helen and Hilde both smiled at the childlike demeanour Duo showed in the presence of his father. Father and son always had an amazing relationship, one that Helen didn't really understand. But when it came to Ian, Duo was willing to sacrifice everything. When it came to Ian, Duo was also five. Ian laughed, ruffling his son's hair, which was amazingly like his own in hue and length, although the father had a much shorter length than son. Helen had insisted on it.

Duo pulled back, quickly pulling his glasses down and surreptitiously wiping at his eyes. He smiled happily at his father and took a seat on the hospital bed, next to him.

"Are you alright?" Duo asked, concerned written all over him.

Ian smiled. "I'm more than alright, I'm just peachy."

"Peachy?" Duo repeated, exchanging looks of horror with his sister, who had a similar expression across her face. He really found it funny when his parents tried to be 'hip'. More often than not, it hurt. His face caught a fluffy pillow. His heart lifted immeasurably. It was true, his father was alright. Or getting there. "What did the doctor say?"

"Everything is okay, this idiot here," Helen shot her husband an affectionate look, "Merely overworked himself."

Ian shrugged. "Business got good. I can't turn customers away right?"

Duo smiled. Perhaps he was wrong, perhaps his father wasn't working himself to the bone because of him?

"And I am going to jump right back in the saddle as soon as those freaking doctors release me from this bed," Ian groused, crossing his arms over his chest indignantly. "The next thing they are going to do is feed me Jell-O."

"Well, on the upside, you do get sponge bathes from really cute nurses," Hilde winked at her father.

"Oi!" Helen and Duo exclaimed in unison.

"Oh, Duo, since dad is alright, isn't it time you went back to school?" Hilde hinted none too subtly. She knew despite the love her brother had for his family, he was truly miserable without Heero.

Duo shot his sister a death glare. It was a look that simply say 'shut up'.

"Oh yes!" Ian exclaimed. "You shouldn't miss school too much. It isn't good for you, and you're on scholarship." He made shooing motions. "Go, go!"

"Hilde!" Duo yelled, forgetting for a moment he was at the hospital. He couldn't believe what his sister was doing. Sure he wanted to be at Heero's side at the moment but his family needed him more.

"Seriously, Duo," his father cut in, sombre. "I am serious, go."

Helen nodded. "That's right, Duo. Someone needs you now."

Duo started. God, did even his parents knew what was going on in his life? Another sharp glare at his sister, which was returned by an impish grin and a nonchalant shrug. Damn her. Was nothing sacred?

"I'm needed here!" He insisted.

Ian reached forward and placed a heavy hand on his son's shoulder. "Duo, I'm fine. You have your own dreams, son. And I don't think it involves being someone who checks other people's eyes." His smile was filled with gravity.

"We love you, son and I think you are happy now, and with someone else," Helen piped in, unable to hold back a giggle as his son turned a rather interesting shade of red.

"Hilde, your yaoi collection is so gone!" Duo threatened.

"Ya… what is that?" Helen asked,

Hilde shot from her chair and proceeded to drag his brother out of the room. Duo was screaming bloody murder all the way.

Helen turned to her husband looking utterly confused. "Our children are insane. Must be from your side of the family."

"Hey!"

XXxxXX

Duo knew something was wrong the moment he stepped back into school. Knowing he was rather infamous around campus, well, truthfully him and Heero, he ignored the whispers that started to spread like wildfire. At first anyway. Soon it got a little too loud to ignore. He looked around, confused. But as he tried to catch someone's eye, he found that none would meet his. This was really getting odd.

He had only left for two days but now the world seemed to have a secret that he didn't know about. When he made his way to his class he noted that the whispers had escalated even more.

He finally had it. He turned to the entire class. "What is going on? If you want to say something, say it to my face!"

Silence fell over the class like a shroud as they stared at Duo in shock. Very rarely did Duo do something like that, call out in class in that manner. He much preferred to let Heero keep the gossiping and whispers at bay. But… Heero wasn't around! Shocked blue/violet eyes swung around the room, trying to find the one person he most desperately wanted to see.

"Where's Heero?" He called out.

"You don't know?" Trowa asked in shock, pulling their friend back into their normal huddle.

Duo shook his head mutely.

"Heero hasn't been coming to school for the last few days," Quatre offered, now looking concerned. "Could he be sick?"

Duo shook his head again.

"How is it that you don't know?" Wu Fei incredulously.

Duo shrugged, looking absolutely miserable. "He wasn't picking up my calls. I thought he was busy with school and stuff." A slight pout started to form on his lips.

"We don't know what happened, but we thought he didn't want to come to school since you weren't around," Quatre said.

"I… I need to speak with Ms Une," Duo pulled away from the group, distraught. He took off, ignoring the calls of concerned from his friends. His footsteps pounded along the quiet hallways. He had to be quick before a teacher picked him up for running when classes were being conducted. He practically slingshot into the teacher's lounge, one hand holding onto the frame of the door for support.

"Ms Une," he gasped.

The brown haired teacher looked up in shock. "Duo, welcome back," she greeted amiably, brushing her hair away from her shoulders. Right, nice Ms Une today. This might be a little easier than he expected. "Why aren't you in class?" She looked at her watch. "Which have started."

"Where…" He gasped. "…Is… Heero?"

Ms Une's smile dimmed. "Oh, I thought you knew."

Something like horror shot through Duo. Was Heero sick or something? Was something wrong with him? He didn't realise he was shouting those questions at an increasingly shocked Ms Une.

"No… Duo," she strove to calm the distraught boy down. "It's just that Heero… well, Heero is considering a transfer from Sanc Academy."

Transfer… Heero might leave him? Heero was going to leave him? Why? Did he do something wrong? Didn't he say that he wanted to stay with Duo forever? Was everything about Heero a lie? He was running out of the room even his brain connected with the rest of his body.

"Duo, wait!" Ms Une called from the door, watching the boy disappear down the hall.

Duo continued running even as he left the school, his mind churning with disturbing thoughts.

Heero never said anything. Heero never lied to him. Heero had been keeping things from him. Heero was leaving him, Heero was leaving him, HEERO WAS LEAVING HIM!

WHY?

All too soon he was panting outside Heero's apartment building, gasping for breath. He was finally here, he would finally get some answers. He ran toward the bell and rang Heero's apartment. To his surprise an unfamiliar voice called out.

"Hello?"

"Uhm… this is Heero's friend, I'm Duo. Is… is Heero there?" Duo waited for a reply but there was only silence from within the apartment. After a long time, a stranger came to the door. He was dressed in a suit, and looking very much like the yuppies Duo saw around town.

"Mr Maxwell?" The man greeted.

Duo nodded.

"I'm sorry but Master Heero has informed me that he has no wish to see you. I would request that you leave." The man, sensing Duo's protest added, "Before I am required to call the authorities to physically remove."

Duo jerked back as if slapped. Heero didn't want to see him? Why? Before he could another word, the door slammed in his face. He backed away from the apartment, feeling his heart shrivel in his chest. His Heero didn't want to see him. His Heero asked him to leave. His Heero never wanted to leave his side, ever. This was wrong, this wasn't his Heero. His Heero would never ever do this to him. Something had definitely happened. He must find out what.

And there was only one person who could tell him.

XXxxXX

Otto sighed, walking back into the living room. The pain in the other boy's face was difficult to face. But he guessed it was for the better. Master Heero needed to leave his old life behind him. His expression dimmed even more when he saw the young boy staring blankly at the other side of the wall.

There was more to these two than friendship and both of them were hurting.

"Master Heero…" He began

Heero got up abruptly. "I'm going to take a nap. There is no need to wake me for lunch." He walked back into his room, closing the door quietly behind him. Once in the sanctuary of his own room, he crumpled to his feet, hugging himself in pain. He had done it, he had severed part of his soul from himself.

Now he wished he would just die.

XXxxXX

"Ah, Duo," Treize smiled impishly, ushering the boy into his home. "It's odd that you came here alone. Where's Heero?" Then his expression brightened. "Aaah, decided to dump him and go for a real man?" He sidled closer to the shorter boy, looming over him.

"Treize, stop it!" Duo exclaimed.

Treize winced mockingly. "Yes, I know Duo has his Heero."

"Yes, it is about Heero, he left… he left school and he is never coming back!" Duo swallowed the lump that threatened to form in his throat. This was no time for tears, besides, boys don't cry! "Do you know what is going on?"

Treize frowned, though he didn't seem surprised.

"Please, you must know what's wrong!" Duo grabbed the taller man's shirt in anxiety.

The older man stared down at Duo for a moment, speechless. Then he signed in resignation. Might as well tell him. "Look, this isn't from Heero alright? I haven't spoken to him in a while now. But apparently, his brother Milliardo called off his wedding with his fiancée and ran away from home. So his father, in need of an heir has asked Heero to return home to name him the new heir." Demanded would be more like it, he thought but kept it to himself.

"Oh, I see…" Duo muttered, not really 'seeing' anything.

"You do understand what that means, don't you?" Treize pressed.

Duo nodded. Yes, Heero, who he knew wanted his father's love more than anything was willing to give him up to get just that. Would Heero be happy? He didn't blame Heero, he knew how much despair his lover, his former lover had went through to attain that. Now that it was so close in his grasp, Duo wouldn't blame him for accepting it.

"Yes, thank you," Duo nodded, leaving Treize's apartment, his shoulders slumped.

Treize watched the door close softly behind Duo. This was turning out wrong. They two belonged with each other. Why did this happen? Why did this have to happen? He sighed again and headed toward his room. He opened the door and walked in, taking in the man that was huddled under the covers.

"Well, Milliardo, are you happy now?"

tbc…

Queue music. Betcha thought I forgot about this little baby… or thought I was dead… or extremely lazy… or extremely evil… or extremely useless…

Anyways, enjoy. Nope, didn't forget Reflections. Going up soon.