When the Flamboyant Blooms by Hime D

Heero Yuy stared at the report in his hand. His face was, as usual, expressionless. However, somehow, this time his face was colder, far colder than usual.

He ripped the report apart and dumped its remains into the trashcan. He sat down before his laptop and hacked the database, erasing all trace of the report. Once he was done, he dialed up a number.

"Relena Peacecraft speaking," the person at the other end of the line answered.

"This is Heero. I need to talk..."

"It's been two months since I last saw Heero. Where the Hell is the damn Ice Boy from Hell?" Duo Maxwell complained out loud.

Quatre Winner watched through the monitor as the American boy paced. "I am guessing he is currently on a mission."

"Or not." Duo retorted. "He hasn't been sent on _any_ mission. I've checked it in our mission list."

"You did?"

"He just suddenly disappeared without a word, leaving the others damned worried! The fucking idiot boy's really done it this time."

"Maybe he's on holiday?"

Duo made a face. "Heero? The Perfect Soldier Heero Yuy on a holiday? The end of the world must be nigh."

"Heero is still a human being," the blonde Arabian pointed out. "He _does_ get tired, you know."

Their conversation was suddenly broken as Chang Wufei and Trowa Barton uncharacteristically burst into their shared room in Peacemillion. "DUO! BIG NEWS!!" Upon seeing Quatre on the communication screen, Trowa's face flushed almost unnoticeably, slightly embarrassed by the OOC act.

Duo stage-whispered to Quatre, "Maybe the end of the world _is_ nigh."

Quatre giggled.

"Duo, there's news you won't like," Wufei started.

"Whassap?"

"You won't believe this. Heero Yuy is resigning from the Preventers."

There was a long silence before the braided boy finally managed to expel a soft gasp. It wasn't too long before he screamed. "WHAAAAAAAAATT??!!!"

"Comfortable enough, Heero?" Relena Peacecraft asked as she showed him the apartment.

Heero looked around. The apartment wasn't too big. It had a small living room, a small bedroom, a bathroom, and a kitchen. "It's fine for me."

The girl looked at him doubtfully. He sensed it, so he told her, "I'll be fine. Don't worry."

"If you ever need my help, you know how to contact me," she said. "I'll be there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week-"

Heero cut her off, "-four and a half weeks a month, 365 days a year, I know."

"I'm just worried, you know." Relena insisted.

"I know." Heero gave her one of his rare smiles. "I know. Thank you."

The girl couldn't help it. Suddenly her eyes were full of tears. Losing her inhibitions, she threw her arms around him, making small sobbing sounds.

Heero's eyes widened. But they quickly softened. He just held her there until the sobs calmed down. "Relena," he said. "I'll be fine. I'm already grateful you let me take this chance."

"If I could do more...," she sobbed, "If only I could do more...."

"Ssh, it's okay. This is enough for now."

Relena pushed herself away from him. Her tears were gone, though some trace of them was still there. "I guess I'll have to be tough."

"You bet," Heero smirked.

"So, I'll be going now. You'd better call me when you have time, Heero."

"Yeah. And Relena?"

"I know. Don't tell the others where you are now."

"Relena Peacecraft!!"

Relena looked up from her papers. Apparently the braided American boy calling himself Duo Maxwell had insisted and broken into her office with her secretary doing nothing to stop the intruder than wailing. She definitely _had_ to find a new one.

"Duo Maxwell," she said neutrally, "What a pleasure to see you. Too bad I am very busy currently, so would you please-"

"Enough with the babble." The boy stormed as he slammed his hands on her desk. "Where the fuck is Heero?!"

Relena made a face. "Heero? And why would you think he's here?"

"Damn right, you bitch!" Duo raged. "We know he had a conversation with you before he disappeared, he even bought a one way ticket to Sank Kingdom. I need to talk with the damned boy, so would you mind to tell me where the Hell is he and fuck off?"

Relena scowled. She stood up from her chair and walked around the table. Once the boy was in her range, she did the only thing she thought was necessary in this situation.

Relena Peacecraft slapped Duo Maxwell hard across the face.

"Would you mind behaving yourself, Maxwell?" She barked. "_This_ is a respectable office and not an alley or a slum. If you have something to ask, please do so politely. After all, you are _asking_."

Duo was stunned. After a few seconds, he finally managed to get a grip on himself.

Relena walked back to her chair and sat down. "Please, have a seat," she gestured him to one.

Duo sat silently as the European girl ordered her secretary to bring them some tea. After the tea was served, she turned her attention back to him.

"So," she said. "What can I help you with?"

"Tell me where Heero is," he almost whispered, "...please."

The blonde girl looked back at him coolly. "I'm sorry but I am not allowed to do that, Duo."

"Why?"

The hurt in his voice was too obvious for her to ignore. "Because I promised him I wouldn't tell anyone."

"Including me?"

"Yes." The look on his face made her feel like she was kicking a defenseless puppy. "I'm sorry, Duo. But I really can't help you this time."

"...I see." The boy stood up ruefully.

As he was going to the door, she called to him. "You might want to know that he's fine."

Duo grinned weakly as he said, "I'd like to see it for myself."

Duo threw himself on the bed.

It had been four months since Heero had disappeared. The whole four months had been a living Hell for him. He couldn't sleep well, he didn't feel like eating, he didn't feel like doing anything. He just wandered around Sank Kingdom (his instinct told him Heero was there) trying to find his friend, until a direct order from his superior forced him to return to Peacemillion.

It was the deepest pit of Hell for those four months indeed.

Suddenly the communication screen blinked. A call was waiting.

Half-heartedly, Duo pushed himself off the bed and turned on the screen.

He froze.

Heero Yuy was on the screen, staring back at him. He was thinner, and somehow there's a lack of the cold gaze that used to be his trademark. But it was Heero nevertheless.

"Heero!" Duo managed to exclaim.

"Relena said you've been looking for me over the past two months."

He nodded dumbly.

"Well, drop it."

Duo burst out, "Hell, no! I'm not giving up! Where the Hell are you anyway?"

Heero didn't answer. He just stared back at him until he felt uneasy. "Duo."

"What?"

"Please leave me alone for a while. I'll explain it to you one day."

It's amazing how so few words could affect him so much. "You promise?"

Heero's nod made his world feel brighter. He had forgotten the past four months already. "I'll explain it. I promise you that, with my life."

Two months later, a letter from Relena Peacecraft arrived.

Duo peered into it cautiously. "There might be a bomb or something in it." But all he found was two folded letters, one unsealed and the other sealed with wax. As he read the first letter, his face became white.

the letter from Relena began,

Suddenly everything went wrong as he digested every single word in it. He felt like a lost child falling into the deepest abyss without anyone to help him.

His world shattered.

With a trembling hand, he unsealed the wax on the second letter and unfolded it. He quickly recognized the handwriting.