We all begin with good intent

Love was raw and young

We believed that we could change ourselves

The past could be undone

But we carry on our backs the burden

Time always reveals

The lonely light of morning

The wound that would not heal

It's the bitter taste of losing everything

That I have held so dear.

- Sarah McLachlan (Fallen)

Fifteen:

Controversy and chaos were his middle names. They always seemed to seek him out whether he required their presence or not. He welcomed them with open arms and an open mind. And forever the consummate host, he never failed to disappoint those that awaited his actions afterwards.

Today was no different, except for one small detail – he had little to nothing to do with the current situation this time around. And, to be honest, things couldn’t be looking any better for the Peacecraft heir.

He eyed the small object still in his hand and slowly wrapped his fingers around it before lifting his gaze to stare at the man that had walked out from a smaller room. Clever blue eyes flickered with interest as they watched the gamut of expressions flash across the handsome visage. Call it intuition, but Milliardo could sense the concern, worry, fear and anger that rolled off the other man. He took in the long chestnut-colored hair that was done in a neat braid – well, it would have been neat if it wasn’t for the slightly tousled look of the long bangs across his forehead.

Hmm, has someone been naughty back there?

Milliardo’s gaze then fell to the cheap cream-colored suit that looked hopelessly inadequate on the physique of a man he figured was well built but not too muscular. And then he caught sight of…

His hands.

They were long and slender but beneath that, he had the rather disconcerting feeling that they had been through a lot. He could sense the power within them. He imagined those slender fingers wrapped around his neck, choking the life out of him and somewhere deep down inside, he realized that such an action would not have surprised him. This man had strong hands…no, powerful hands.

He wanted to touch this man.

Whoever the hell he was.

“What in the world are you doing here?!”

Relena’s shrill question broke the spell as Milliardo cocked his head towards the bickering women. The door to the den opened, and his future brother-in-law walked in. Heero had the same range of emotions he had noticed on the mystery man’s face. He also noticed that the Japanese boy had given the braided man a quick look that spoke volumes and Milliardo was unable to stop the small smile that came to his lips.

Oh, dear brother-in-law, what a tangled web we weave.

Keiko Asawa, on the other hand, was positively bristling with barely suppressed fury. She could deal with Heero and his attitude. She could handle Duo Maxwell any day, but when it came to that damned family called the Peacecrafts, her hatred was beyond anything anyone could ever imagine.

“Why are you asking me that?! Heero is my cousin!” she screamed back at Relena, causing the males in the room to wince at the volume of it. “I should be asking what you are doing here! I don’t recall him inviting you!”

“You moron! What’s this ring on my finger for?!” Relena held up her left hand to show the simple but rather expensive-looking diamond encrusted engagement ring, that she had had for about a year. Heero had given it to her (at an official Christmas dinner party in front of a hundred other socialites) last year and she had barely let it out of her sight since then.

Keiko, however, was far from impressed, she huffed and sneered before replying coldly. “Oh, please. Do you think that a simple ring is enough to do much these days? You might as well put a sign on your forehead with the words ‘I am getting married to stupid’ on it.”

Heero opened up his mouth to protest. “Hey…I am not…”

“Heero is not stupid!” Relena interrupted angrily as she stepped a bit closer to the smirking dark-haired girl.

Unconsciously, Duo had stepped closer as well, his arms slowly stretching out ready to pull the two apart if things got out of hand. Yet, another part of him wanted to see the outcome of this little squabble. Perhaps his innermost demon longed to see the girl that had sent him to hell and back, squashed to the ground like the snake she was. It was a petty feeling to have, but it was there nonetheless.

A movement on his left had him turning around quickly to meet amused blue eyes that seemed to be staring right into his soul. Unable to stop the rush of color that filled his cheeks, Duo’s eyes widened as the man raised a familiar small object, only to hide it again quickly within his palm. This made Duo wonder if he had actually imagined seeing his lubricant in the first place. He wasn’t even aware he had had the damn thing with him to begin with. Why in the world would he bring a tube of lubricant to his classroom to teach? He rubbed a hand across his face and shook his head slowly.

I am beginning to hallucinate. This…everything…I’m going crazy…who…who is he?

Relena was still talking. “I can’t imagine how a sweet, wonderful…”

Heero blanched. Milliardo snickered. Duo couldn’t help smirking…a little.

“…kind boy like Heero can end up being stuck with a…a…”

“Go on, say it!” Keiko taunted as she watched Relena’s face redden with the effort it took to blurt out the word.

“With…with…a…a…”

“I believe that the word you are looking for is ‘slut’, dear sister,” came the low drawl that had every one spinning around to stare at the smiling blond who had given his gracious reply. For all they knew, he could have very well been at a pool party instead of being in the middle of a brewing storm. Milliardo looked too damned relaxed for his own good and this seemed to aggravate Keiko to no end.

“You should talk, you good for nothing fag!”

Duo and Heero stiffened at the insult, while Milliardo’s amused smile turned icy. His fingers tightened around the lube in his hand as he pinned his calm, yet cool gaze on the heaving girl before him.

“What did you just call me?” he asked in a tone that had Relena faltering a bit in growing concern. She stole a quick glance at Heero for help. The boy in question gave an inward sigh of resignation. And seeing that things could get even uglier, the young heir stepped between them with a small frown on his visage. He didn’t like either of the two, but it wouldn’t do to have his psychotic cousin get into a physical fight with his demented future brother-in-law. And besides, he was supposed to be studying his Biology for Kami’s sake.

“Break it up…all of you,” Heero said coldly. His eyes were narrowed slits of irritation as he dared anyone to start up again. “I am supposed to be studying right now and you are all interrupting my lessons.”

Relena rolled her eyes. “So, what is she doing here in the first place? Cousins are allowed and we aren’t?”

“I did not invite her here…”

“Because I don’t need to be invited here,” Keiko finished with a smug grin. “As long as he is my cous…”

“Ah, for fuck’s sake, could you cut the ‘cousin’ crap now?” Milliardo interrupted flatly as he stuck the lube into the pocket of his black slacks and moved away from his position beside the window. He walked closer to Duo and stood beside him with a winning smile on his visage.

“It’s clear that Heero doesn’t want any of us around, so why don’t we just leave them alone in peace, hmm?” He turned to stare into Duo’s surprised features, his smile suddenly becoming a bit more seductive as his gaze fell to the moist parted lips before him. Something unreadable flashed in his blue depths for a moment before he finished huskily. “It is what you want, isn’t it?”

Heero watched the ‘conversation’ with his hands clenching into tight fists at his side. He bit his lower lip so hard that he barely tasted the blood that filled his mouth from the painful action. This was one of the reasons he couldn’t stand Milliardo. The blond just didn’t know when to quit, did he? And Duo…why wasn’t he resisting the other man’s charms? How could he just stand there and not do anything!

Like pull away or something, damn it!

However, it seemed like someone else didn’t like what was going on. “Stay away from him, you fag!!” Keiko screeched as she dashed towards the couple to push the blond away from Duo. Unfortunately, Milliardo had spent a few years training in the Martial Arts and Keiko’s rash movement somehow ended up with her being held prisoner with her wrists pinned behind her back.

“Let me go, you bastard!”

“And why should I?” He twisted her wrists a little harder causing her to scream out in pain. “Looks like everyone here wants you out of their lives. Why should we have to deal with your whining?”

“Because…because….”

“Save it for someone who gives a fuck, Keiko dear,” Milliardo whispered softly into her ear. “Let’s go…” He began to lead her out of the room, when she turned around and screamed desperately.

“Tell them, Duo!! Tell them about us!!”

For a moment, every one seemed frozen at the vehement cry. It was Heero who finally broke the silence as he turned widened and questioning eyes on his teacher. “Us? What…what does she mean by us?”

He remembered how casual Keiko had been when she had walked in earlier with Duo. He had wondered if the teacher had known about his cousin and if so…why hadn’t the older man said anything about that up before now?

Despite her blasé appearance, Relena was more than curious now as she darted glances between the teacher and the girl. Milliardo, on the other hand, made no effort to hide his interest as he stared solely at Duo, even though he hadn’t released Keiko yet.

And as for the tutor, he was sure the world was beginning to spin around a bit faster. A dull throb had begun in his head. His mouth had gone dry, his hands beginning to tremble as the memories came rushing back. This was déjà vu. It had to be déjà vu. There was no way she was going to start this all over again. This was the same thing that had happened a year ago at Morton High. The very same scene…

Tell them about us, Mr. Maxwell!! Tell them!!

Things were coming full circle again.

It was turning out to be another beautiful day. The fresh, crisp autumn air filled her with a sense of serenity and peace she had not felt in a long time. As she walked down the gravel path, her flat black shoes made a ‘crunching’ sound that was not unpleasant as its soothing sound joined nature’s cacophony. The azaleas, orchids and wild roses to her left bloomed and waved towards her in greeting and she replied with a warm smile to them. To her right, the large expanse of lush green lawns that made up the estates seemed to stretch out for miles. She walked closer to the stiles and stood watching the fifteen or so horses graze peacefully. She had never ridden a horse before. She had been too frightened at the thought of breaking a bone or embarrassing herself.

“Oh come on, it won’t hurt! I promise!”

“But, I can’t, Master Odin. I’m not supposed to be riding in the first place.”

“Don’t be such a cry baby. Daddy says I own all the horses, so you can come ride with me if you want.”

How can I tell him that I haven’t been on a horse before? He will think I am even more naïve.

“Yuki-chan?”

She lifted her gaze, her wide green eyes huge in her face as she tried hard not to cry in front of him. She wanted to make him proud. Why did she always seem to screw things up?

“Are you crying, Yuki-chan?”

She shook her head rapidly, wiping her eyes quickly. “No, no I’m not Master Odin…”

“Baaaaka! I told you to stop calling me, Master! You make me sound like I am soooo old!”

He tugged her braid and grinned. “Now what are you to call me?”

She mumbled it so softly, he had to crane even closer to hear it. “Speak up, Yuki-chan. Or I am going to tickle you until you say it!”

She finally smiled and stepped away shyly. “Odin. Your name is Odin.”

“Hai, hai! And don’t you forget it either!”

He leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on her cheek before running off towards the stables.

She had remained frozen in that spot for a long time afterwards, her mouth agape, her face as red as the rose flowers that had swayed in the breeze. It had been her first kiss. And it had been with her master.

“Always. I have always…”

Her words trailed off as she felt something wet fall to her palms. She stared at the tears in mute fascination, wondering just how and when they had started. She had been ten years old at the time. A ten-year-old in love with a boy who was four years her senior. Her breath hitched in sharply as the tears began to fall a bit faster. She could barely see her hands anymore, but she was sure they were trembling just as her body was.

She had refused to believe it. Even now, the entire ordeal in the dining room seemed like something that had been happening to someone else. She had been on the outside looking in. It couldn’t be her Odin, her master, the one she had put on a pedestal all these years, talking to her about…infidelity? The very thought of it was preposterous and it just didn’t sink in for the young woman. Hikari was the one who cheated. Hikari was the one who had been going for the teacher. Odin Yuy was not capable of committing adultery. His family had taught him about the evils of such an act. There was no way. It. Just. Wasn’t. True!

How could you? How could you do that to her…to me? After all this time!

But she knew what she had to do now. She couldn’t deny him anything. After all this time, she was still enamored by his very presence. There was nothing she could do now. She was going to have to make some sacrifices or lose…everything.

The ache that seared through her chest at the final thought had her hitching in a louder sob and with a small wail, Yuzuki fell to the cold earth and cried out her loneliness and misery to the world.

“Take a look at this, Quatre…”

The Arabian did not reply.

“Quatre…take a look at this.”

Still no answer. With a sigh of exasperation, Trowa turned around in his chair and leaned forward. He removed the headphones from the sitting blond’s ear and spoke louder into it.

“Check. This. Out. Quatre.”

“Ow…not so loud, Trowa,” Quatre protested, but he got to his feet obediently and moved closer to the computer screen that his partner had pointed at. For a moment, the information on the screen didn’t make sense to him and his bemused frown confirmed as much. “What’s this?”

“It’s Duo,” came the simple reply as the Barton heir typed a few more things into the laptop. Another screen popped up and this time, it was a series of…

“Criminal records?!” Quatre cried out in surprise as he fell to his knees to stare at the screen in fascination. “What in the world…?”

Trowa gave a soft nod and leaned back in his chair. “It was purely by accident mind you,” he added quickly as he noticed the wary look his partner gave him. “I was only doing research for child abuse in poorer nations and I happened to stumble across data from a local police station.”

“And then his name just showed up, huh?”

Trowa’s brows creased at the frank question. “Do you think I would willingly go around snooping into other people’s affairs like that? What do you take me for?”

Quatre said nothing as he sat back on the floor. He raised his knees to his chin and wrapped his arms around them. There was a frown on his handsome features now as he asked carefully. “Then how did his name show up?” he finally asked.

Trowa shook his head and got to his feet. He made his way towards the large window that graced his rather Spartan bedroom and looked out of it. Besides the few dogs that chased his elder sister’s children on the playground, there was really nothing else worth admiring. He gave a weary sigh and rubbed a hand across his forehead.

“As I told you before, I was just doing a general search for cases of child abuse in poorer nations or countries. I wanted to start locally, so where better than in the rural areas here. Instead of paying the inland district a visit, I decided to go online instead.” He stopped and spun around to face his partner, his eyes now filled with earnest intent. “I typed in ‘typical case studies’ for search and came up with some cases that were either tried or brought to their attention over the past fifteen years. Needless to say, I got more than I bargained for and was a bit overwhelmed by everything. But what struck me was the number of times a Maxwell showed up.”

He brows furrowed in thought as he moved towards the bed and sat on it. “I mean, not once, not twice, but about ten times, Quatre; if not more. I wanted to dismiss it as perhaps there being a lot of Maxwells in the area, but Quatre…” He lifted his gaze to pin them on his rapt listener. “The name Duo was in front of every one of them. There were several ‘Ds’ alone, but it didn’t take me too long to realize who it was.”

The blond worried his lower lip. “So…you are saying that…”

“I am saying that Duo might not be what we think he is, Quatre.”

The Arabian was already shaking his head in denial. “I don’t think we should jump to conclusions like that, Trowa. We should just…”

“Why don’t you go ahead and read it for yourself, since you think I am making all of this up.”

Quatre frowned at the snappy reply before shrugging lightly. He rose to his feet and took Trowa’s spot in front of the computer. He didn’t want to get into an argument with his lover and friend, but his conscience kept telling him that what they were doing was wrong. They had no right to snoop into Duo’s past…if it was the real Duo, that is.

But, as the list of crimes scrolled down the screen, Quatre could feel his heart sinking somewhere into the pit of his stomach. He gave an audible gasp at one in particular before spinning around sharply to stare into the knowing look on his partner’s features.

“Trowa…” he began weakly, not really knowing what to say at this point.

The taller boy got to his feet and gave a curt nod. “We have to talk to Heero about this, and then let him decide.” He noticed the look of uncertainty on the blond’s visage and smiling softly, he fell to his knees beside him to cradle his cheeks within his palms. “It’s for the best, Quatre. Trust me. This is all for the best. Heero deserves to know the truth and that’s exactly what we are going to do.”

He placed a soft kiss on his lover’s lips before rising to his feet again with a warm smile. “I will go get our jackets. Be right back.”

And as he watched his life-long friend walk away from him, Quatre couldn’t help feeling that they were about to lose someone just as close to them really soon.

I just hope we are doing the right thing…

“What is she talking about, Duo?!” Heero asked in an uncharacteristically bewildered voice. If Duo didn’t say anything soon, he was going to go insane. He might punch someone out, anyone at this point. It felt as if things were happening all around him and he was always kept in the dark. He didn’t want to be left out anymore. He needed to know the truth and no one was telling him anything.

“Why won’t you talk to me?!” His voice broke with unmistakable pain as he noticed the shuttered look that had come to his lover’s face. Completely ignoring everyone else in the room, who were now beginning to stare at the couple as if they had grown extra heads, Heero ran up to Duo and wrapped his arms tightly around the older man’s waist. He buried his face in the cool cotton shirt, fighting desperately to hold the tears at bay. “Why, Duo?” he asked in a muffled voice against the strong chest. “Why can’t you trust me?”

“What…what is this?” Relena asked in a slightly shaky voice as her eyes widened at the rather intimate display. This wasn’t the way a teacher and a student ought to be acting. No, there was something seriously wrong with this picture. She took a step towards them, not believing what she was seeing. Heero couldn’t be…Heero wasn’t actually…

“Don’t do it, Relena,” Milliardo said softly even though his gaze was still pinned on Heero and Duo. That unreadable look had returned to his eyes again and his hands, unconsciously, tightened around Keiko’s wrist.

“What?! What do you mean ‘don’t do it’?” The girl cried out in disbelief. “Can’t you see what they are doing?!”

Keiko shrieked even louder ignoring the pain that laced up her arms from the blond’s twist. She knew already. The damned tube of lubricant had sealed the deal and she hated to know that reality was about to bite her in a cruel way. “You stay away from him, Heero! He is mine!!”

“Talk about living in denial,” came the soft mutter from Milliardo. “Can’t you just shut up?”

“Tell them about us at Morton High, Duo!!” Keiko bellowed with a sharp bark of laughter that was a bit too high-pitched. It sounded maniacal and this had Relena backing away slowly. Keiko really was beginning to lose it and to make matters worse it seemed as if the girl wasn’t finished yet.

“You and I, Duo! You and I were a hot item, weren’t we? Remember how you would come to me after classes in the locker rooms when no one was around and you would tell me how much you loved me and…ooooooooowww! You’re breaking my arm, Milliardo!”

Heero stiffened against the teacher’s body, his eyes widening with each word.

She is lying. She is making this up. She has to be. God damn it! Deny it, Duo! Say something! Call her a bitch! Tell her she is lying! Please!

The pain. Oh god, the pain was too much.

“Haha! See? He can’t deny it because it’s the truth, isn’t it, Duo? Look at me, Duo! These lips you have kissed a million times over want you all over again…”

SMACK!

It was loud, so loud that the silence that followed soon after was deafening. Keiko’s hands flew to her mouth, her eyes widening in shock as she fell to the floor in a boneless heap. Her left cheek now bore the imprint of Duo’s right hand. No one had seen the teacher move. Heero was the most surprised for he had been pushed aside so quickly, that he barely had time to steady himself. Milliardo had released Keiko on impact, his brows furrowing in thought as he kept his gaze pinned firmly on the blank expression on the older man’s face.

Who are you really, Mr. Maxwell?

Relena backed away a little, unable to believe that kind, sweet and goofy Duo had actually slapped a girl and not just any girl, but Keiko of all people.

Duo stared at his hand, still feeling the light tingle of the slap within his palm. He had done it. Something he should have done a long time ago, but had been too afraid of the consequences. No, he wasn’t out of the water yet. He was sure that this wasn’t going to be the end of it, but this was vindication. A little act that had to be done to stop the barrage of lies.

He slowly lowered his hand, while staring coldly at the whimpering girl on the floor. Falling to his knees, he placed a hand on her shoulder and forced her to meet his gaze. She flinched from the touch, but Duo could see that fear was now in her eyes. There was still a tiny hint of defiance, but he could see that most of the fight had gone out of her now.

“How…how dare you…” she tried to say, but the words trailed into harsh sobs as she saw the pitying look in his eyes. She lowered her head, refusing to allow him to see her tears.

She didn’t want his pity!

“Give it up, Keiko,” Duo finally said softly. “I think you have done enough damage for a life time, don’t you?”

She didn’t say anything. Her only indication of having heard him was her fingers digging into the plush rug and fisting it tightly.

She would make him pay.

“I know you can hear me and to be quite honest, I don’t really care if you listen to me or not because I will say it now and never again. Let’s leave the past behind us and move on with our lives, okay, Keiko?” He paused as he felt her shoulders shaking beneath his hand. For a second, he wasn’t sure if she was still crying, but the answer soon came as her low rumble of laughter filled his ears. “Kei…Keiko? Are you alri…?”

“You fucked him last night, didn’t you?”

Duo sucked in a harsh breath, his face paling considerably as he heard Heero’s sharp intake as well. Getting to his feet quickly, he gritted his teeth and bit out harshly. “You had better leave my class now, Keiko.” He turned to face Relena and gave a polite bow. “Miss. Relena, if you wouldn’t mind escorting her out…”

“Like hell I will!” came the shrill retort from Heero’s future bride. “I too would like to know what just happened here. Heero…” She bit her lower lip and took a few tentative steps towards her pale-faced fiancé. “Heero…what did he do to you?”

The Japanese boy turned haunted eyes on the girl. “What are you talking about…?”

“Just admit it, Heero,” Keiko muttered coldly as she rose to her feet to move as far away from Milliardo as possible. “Where were you last night, huh? Because you sure as hell weren’t in your bedroom.” She held her cheek, glaring daggers at Duo, who was now doing the same to her.

“So what if he wasn’t in his bedroom?” Milliardo reasoned with a light frown as he leaned against a door with his hands buried deep within his pockets. His fingers brushed against the tube of lube and he smiled softly to himself. “Where’s the crime in taking long walks at night?”

Heero and Duo stole quick glances at the blond, each wondering what the other man could be up to now.

“Long night walks?” Keiko stared at him in disbelief. “Have you lost your damn mind? He was out with his teacher having some extra lessons, dimwit!” She spun around to face Relena with a smug look on her features. “Yes, Miss ‘I am going to marry Heero Yuy’. Your precious husband to be is a queer.”

At Relena’s look of confusion, she gave a short bark of laughter. “Queer? Get it, Miss. Prude? Q-U-E-E-R as in, I do not like to sleep with girls, I would rather prefer a guy’s cock in my ass?”

“Shut up, Keiko,” Milliardo began in a dangerously soft tone as his eyes hardened to chips of ice.

“Oh and you are going to stop me?!” she taunted, while backing away from the room slowly. “You too, aren’t you, Mr. Playboy! I wonder how long before everyone knows who you would really like to fuck!”

“Just shut the hell up, Keiko!” Heero finally bellowed in fury and frustration. He had had enough. “Yes, so what? So what if I am gay, huh? What if I like to be with other guys, so what?!”

Relena felt her world spin out of control and she had to hold on to the edge of a couch to steady herself. This wasn’t happening. No, this was all one bad dream. One in which she would soon wake up from and it would all disappear.

Yeah, that’s it. It’s just one big horrible dream and I will make it go away by force, if I have to!

Duo groaned and closed his eyes at Heero’s confession while Milliardo looked as if he was the one going to give Heero a beating now. “What the hell is wrong with you, Heero? You can’t say that in front of my sister for crying out loud! Damn it, have some decency in you!”

“Don’t talk to me about decency, Milliardo,” Heero replied with a smug grin. He felt a bit lighter somehow now that he had said it. It felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted off his chest. He had finally told others what he really was. Well, it didn’t help that Keiko had instigated it in the first place. But still, this felt really good and as he caught the blond’s eyes, his own spoke volumes.

Touch Duo, you prick and you die.

A small smirk stole across Milliardo’s visage.

Challenge accepted, kid.

Duo needed fresh air. He began to stalk his way out of the room, while Keiko panicked and skittered even closer to the door.

“Don’t you dare come any closer!” she cried out. “If you do, I will…I will…”

Duo gave a weary sigh of resignation and stared at the door as if wishing it would open up on its own and take him far, far away from the chaos surrounding him right now.

“I just want to leave the room, Keiko. Don’t worry, I am not going to touch you again.”

“Then let me leave the room first,” she replied quickly, as her fingers sought for the doorknob behind her. “Once I leave, you can do whatever the hell you want. But don’t you dare think for one moment that everything is over. You will pay for hitting me!”

Duo gave a wan smile. “I’m sure I will, Keiko. Can I go now?”

Why wasn’t he apologizing to her? Didn’t he care about his job anymore? Maybe she hadn’t threatened him enough.

“Keiko…”

She lowered her head and mumbled softly, but loud enough for everyone else in the room to hear. “I still love you, Duo. I always have…always will. I don’t…I just don’t understand…” She couldn’t finish her words as they seemed stuck in her throat. And hardly giving any one else another glance, she opened up the door and fled from the room.

Duo closed his eyes and tried to will away the feeling of guilt and regret that threatened to wash over him. Wasn’t a teacher’s job to peel away the layers of his students to get to the real person beneath? So, he had succeeded in a way. Keiko had finally shown a little of what really lay underneath the coldness and bitterness on the surface.

“She’s just a teenager who has her priorities a bit screwed up, that’s all.”

Duo turned his head a little to stare at the small smile on Milliardo’s visage. To be honest, the blond hardly looked like Relena but there was no denying the certain Peacecraft aura he seemed to exude. The man looked like he could be about his age and as their eyes finally met, an unspoken understanding came between them.

The teacher shook his head slowly, replying in a soft whisper. “Perhaps…”

“I’m coming with you,” Heero interrupted curtly, more to break the tension he had sensed between the older men, as he began to make his way towards Duo. “I have no intentions of…”

“Stay where you are, Heero,” Milliardo said coldly, holding out a hand to block the boy’s path. He met the icy glare that was thrown at him with a small smile. “Don’t you think there is someone you need to have a talk with?”

“What are you…?”

“Relena, Heero,” Duo added with a weak smile as he nodded towards the girl that was still leaning against the couch with an empty look on her beautiful features. “You both need to talk and sort out what to do now that you have…confessed.”

Heero shook his head stubbornly, silently pleading desperately with Duo. “I don’t know…I wouldn’t know what to…”

“You will do just fine, Heero,” the teacher reassured him with a warm smile that left Milliardo feeling a pang of something eerily close to jealousy fill his being. It was an intimate look. A look that only those who had shared more than just lesson notes would give each other. So had Keiko been right then? Had Heero and Duo actually been with each other? His fingers tightened around the small tube in his pocket again and he frowned.

Damn it.

With a tremulous smile, Heero gave a soft nod and reluctantly began to back away. Duo’s eyes had said every thing his lips couldn’t. He was proud that Heero had finally had the guts to admit the way he felt and that even though things were going to be difficult, they could pull through this…together. He stole a quick glance at the frowning blond and shrugged lightly. As long as Duo didn’t fall into Milliardo’s charms, things were already beginning to look up. He turned to face Relena, taking a deep breath to steady his racing nerves. He hated to admit that Duo and the other man were right. He had a lot of explaining to do and he fervently hoped that he would be able to convey his feelings without alienating Relena even further. As he got to the couch, he stood before her with his gaze lowered to the floor. He didn’t even know where to begin. He could feel the older men’s gazes on him and it made him feel even more conscious of his awkwardness.

“Hee…Heero?” came the soft whisper from the girl. He lifted his eyes and tried to muster up a smile to give to her. Fortunately, it seemed as if it wasn’t necessary as she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist and sobbed helplessly against his chest. He stared at the soft, brown-colored locks beneath his chin, feeling an immense emotion of guilt. And closing his eyes slowly, he wrapped his arms around her and allowed her tears of sorrow to echo within the large room.

Duo had quietly left the room as soon as Relena had fallen into Heero’s arms. He didn’t need to stay around for the conversation, since he was sure his presence there would have made the situation so much worse.

He sank his hands into the pockets of his pants, absently kicking a stone on the ground as he walked through the mini-avenue of Sakura trees. A lot of the white and pink petals from the flowers had fallen to the ground and Duo stared at them in mute fascination. The steady rise and fall of some of the sweet-smelling petals on the ground, due to the breeze, cast a soothing hypnotic effect on him.

A world so beautiful filled with such darkness. I am darkness after all. With a heart that can be filled with hatred. Isn’t that right, Wufei?

You’ve changed, Duo. You don’t need to think of that anymore. You are a different person now.

Am I really? I hit her today.

He stared at his hands as if seeing them for the first time. It had felt good. Yes, a sick feeling of pleasure at the sound of flesh against flesh had filled his being for a brief moment back then. It had been so long since he had gotten into a fight of any kind. Was that what this was? A need to lash out his frustrations with a need to inflict pain? Was that the only way he could ease the turmoil within him?

Then perhaps it is best you leave.

His hands trembled at the thought. Leave. That would solve everything, wouldn’t it? He could just take up his things and disappear from sight and never have to deal with anyone else and their issues.

/I love you, Duo. Why won’t you tell me anything?/

He squeezed his eyes shut to block out the voice. That voice that made his heart want to bleed in a million places. That voice that he had sworn would never make him feel so weak.

And then the thought of leaving or should that be running away…again.

What am I, Wufei? You say you know all the answers, friend. Why don’t you tell me now? What kind of man am I?

“So, you are Heero’s teacher. I won’t lie and say I had been expecting someone different.”

Duo didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. He had sensed someone watching and following him for a while now. He closed his hand and smiled softly to himself.

Yet another clown to join the fucking circus.

“Mr. Peacecraft,” he greeted with a small nod, still not turning around to look at the long-haired blond. “An eventful morning, wouldn’t you say?”

Milliardo’s smile became a smirk of confidence as he walked closer to the older man. He stood beside Duo and refused to say anything for a while as they stared at the sparkling lake a few feet away. The sounds of several ducks quacking and the low hum of another lawn being mowed, coupled with the soft breeze that sent even more petals of Sakura to the ground, filled the welcome silence as each remained lost in his thoughts.

Suddenly, Milliardo said quietly. “In a world filled with darkness…where is my light?”

Duo gasped and turned his head sharply to stare at the smiling blond. “Where…where did you hear that?” he asked quickly, his heart beginning to pound with an emotion he had only felt in the presence of Heero. Only one person had said that sentence to him before. Only…him…

Who was this man? What was Milliardo?

But all he got was a smile that was nothing short of seductive as the blond moved closer to him. Duo could now see his reflection in the other’s darkened blue depths and feeling like he was about to drown within them at any minute, he was stunned into silence at the husky words that were whispered into his ear.

“I have been waiting for you for so long, Duo. Let me…let me be your light…”

David…

And before the teacher could open his mouth to say anything, his lips were claimed in a desperate kiss.

The past continues to haunt us even though we plead for its disappearance…