And there, in my Dream Reality, I fell in love with my Dream Heero, and never wanted to wake.  Because as soon as I did, he was back to his normal self again.  Rough.  Unyielding.  Uncaring.  And I would look at him, wishing that fire would spark, wishing his words would flow into and through me... but they didn't.

    I began to get depressed.  I know, it was only two weeks, but you don't understand.  Those two weeks were an eternity for me.  The nights were... wow... and the days were... heartbreaking.  Disappointing.  

   Nothing.

    I got to the point where I would wake up late in the day, and stay in bed hoping I could fall asleep again.  Then I could see Heero... my Heero.

    I know what you're thinking.  I'm nothing but a sex-crazed maniac, right?  I want to give up my life just because I'm having a few good wet dreams.

    But you wouldn't be more wrong.

    It wasn't the physical acts Heero and I engaged in that made it so addicting... it was the feeling behind them.  It was his words, his movements, and most of all his expressions.  It was knowing without a doubt that deep behind those Persian blue eyes a light burned for me, and only me.  And... I felt... loved.  I mean, -really- loved.  Cherished.  I felt like... like I was the world and he was the universe, holding me safely and securely in his diamond-studded arms.

    It was Heaven.

    Maybe that sounds stupid of me... but I hadn't known too much about love, REAL love, in my life.  So, I guess, when I got the chance to see it firsthand, I became overprotective and ... well, I said it before, but it's very appropriate...  Addicted.

    After that infinity of two weeks where I stayed inside all day, I finally pushed myself out of the house.  That was great because outside Heero's scent didn't follow me everywhere I went.  The problem was, though, his memory did.

    I would see the trees move and think, What would Heero think of that?  I would watch the sun glint off some roof and decide that was what Heero's hair must look in the sunlight.  I was obsessed, which embarrasses me to admit, because it was obviously a one-sided feeling.  The Heero outside, the REAL Heero, didn't give a shit about me.  He barely glanced at me when I talked to him, and would probably continue ignoring me even if I got myself brutally murdered and thrown at his feet.

    It wasn't a pleasant thought.

    Can you imagine knowing someone so incredibly intimately you want to hand over your soul with a little pink ribbon and heart balloon, but also knowing that the real person you're fantasizing about would never notice your existence if you didn't continually bother them...?  It's disturbing, I can tell you that much.

    So when I left the house I automatically wandered by the book store.  I mean, there were worse places I could have gone. The bar, the strip joints, even Hell.  But I was walking toward the book store, which I am partially glad about now, way after the fact.

    I paused at the doors, heaving a great sigh and wishing I could just cease to exist like the characters in a story do when the author gets tired of writing them.  Finally deciding I never wanted to think again, I found myself sitting at that same table as before, with probably the same latte-thing, staring into my steaming cup.

    I have no idea how long I sat there but by the time I was aware again my latte was almost chilling to the touch.  I felt a presence next to me and glanced over just in time to see one short red-brown haired cutie pull up a chair and sit down.  Dori leaned forward, staring intently at me.  I only glanced over at her, then went back to regarding my drink.

    She sighed finally, laying her head on her hands as she continued to stare at me.  “They started, didn't they?”

    This time I didn't need to ask.  “Guess so,” I replied morosely.

    She moved around, but I wasn't watching so I don't know to this day what she did exactly-be it glance around, shift her weight, pull something out....  “Listen, Duo, I don't have time to... explain... right now... but you got my card, right?”  She paused a moment for a response but I was only half-way listening, thinking instead of how Heero would probably like a latte like this and I really should go ask the café server the exact name so I could recommend it to him, or better yet, I could buy him one, or even two, and then he'd be happy and that fire would light and he'd smile at me and say, “You know Duo, you're not such a bad guy” ... and then he'd hug me and it'd be like flames dancing along my skin, reaching straight to my very core. Seeming to realize I was only partially listening, she spoke in a slow, meaningful tone to give me more time to digest.  “Use the information you have.  I can only tell you this much, Duo: They aren't what you think, or more correctly, they are EXACTLY what you think.... and don't give in.”  I listened but didn't hear... I remember the conversation now only because I'd been paying enough attention that later on I could piece it together.  But that day, all I heard was her voice.  And...

    I suddenly looked up, my eyes widening in surprise.  I looked quickly over to where she'd been sitting but the chair was empty.  I had no idea how long I'd been daydreaming, how long it was before I finally realized...

    She called me Duo.

    I never told her my name.

    I spent three hours re-evaluating my situation.  Fact 1: there was this chick, Dori, who predicted strange dreams coming my way, and gave me a card with some weird stuff written on it.  Fact 2: said dreams appeared to have manifested themselves considering I don't EVER remember having any dreams before as shittily realistic and... powerful as those.  Fact 3:  that same chick knew my name, and personal information (the dreams) enough to realize I would be highly distracted right now. Obviously I was in trouble.  I had no idea if she was enemy or ally, and was afraid to return to the safehouse for fear of being tailed.  What if she WAS with Oz?  The last thing any of us wanted was our safety compromised.  

    Feeling decidedly stupid, I finally chucked that damn latte and wandered onto the streets.  So what should I do?  I couldn't just disappear without making the others think something dreadful had happened to me.  At the same time, I couldn't run home licking my wounds.  I couldn't call for fear of the number being traced or a bug on me....  Shit, I hadn't been paying attention the majority of the time.  She could have planted a fucking BOMB on me and I wouldn't know until the damn thing went off.  I had no fucking clue what to do and, honestly, I would have been a lot more pissed at myself if I wasn't still so distracted by those damn Heero dreams.  Now I had no way of telling the guys where I was, aside from....

   I stopped as a thought came to me, and redirected my destination.

    It was early evening when I wandered into the Cyber Café.  I bought a latte to look constructive, but it tasted like shit so I barely touched it.  Pulling up the internet, I sent a filtered email to Heero, hoping that the idiot was still pulling that 24/7 shit, regularly checking his mail.  Satisfied with myself, I left the café immediately and looked for a room for the night.

    It was another hour later before I finally found something that suited my needs: seedy enough to be cheap but not too dirty, with enough local distractions an all-out assault on me was unlikely.  Beyond all-out, I could probably handle anything thrown my way.

    I closed my window and drew the shades, locking everything in sight, giving myself as much protection as I possibly could.  I didn't have a gun with me, but I was fine with improvising weapons if the need came.

    I threw the card on the nightstand and eyed it a moment.  So many memories, real and non, were screaming through my head I knew I had to consider them finally.  Settling myself on the bed where I could watch the window and door with equal attention, I finally relented to my thoughts.

    Ok, so, Heero didn't like me.  At least, not the real Heero.  And it never bothered me before those fucking dreams.  But now every moment I wasn't directly interacting with someone or something, and sometimes even when I WAS, I was thinking of him.  Heero Yuy.  Sex idol, nurturing dream lover, seducer extraordinaire.  His touch, his words, his... -life- ... they got to me like nothing ever had before.

    But that was all a dream.

    I had to face reality.

    In reality, Heero didn't give a shit about me... if anything he probably hated me.

    Think about it, Maxwell: Heero is actually doing work like we're all supposed to be doing.  He doesn't have time to daydream about fucked up fantasies with some other guy, let alone you.

    It was time I faced the music, and the music was laughing at me.

    Feeling even less enchanted with real life and all the baggage that was attached, I slowly fell asleep... my last thoughts of Heero and how this would never, ever work.

~    I was lying on my bed, feeling a strong sense of déjà vu running through my veins.  I looked over at the door, expecting Heero to break through any moment.  Instead, I slowly became aware of something in the background...  Was that... music...?

    /I've just closed my eyes again
    Climbed aboard the dream weaver train.../

    Confused, I stood and followed the sound to the door.  I pressed my ear to it but heard no other noise... just that light melody.  Frowning, I slowly turned the doorknob and peeked around.  

    The door opened to a very large, brilliantly white room that had no other color in it.  Feeling almost like I was staring into a white hot star's center, I flinched and covered my eyes a moment.  The music continued.

    /Driver take away my worries of today
    And leave tomorrow behind/

    I slowly slipped into the room, listening intently.  The voice was male, light, as was the music.  I felt so... attached.  It was the god damned weirdest thing... I felt like _I_ was singing that...!

    /Ooh dream weaver
    I believe you can get me through the night
    Ooh dream weaver
    I believe we can reach the morning light/    

    I walked into the center of the room, where something I'd never seen before was belting out the song.  It looked like... I don't know... a warped trumpet attached to a huge slab of wood with a huge spinning black disk on it.  I stared as the words went straight to my brain.

    /Fly me high through the starry skies
    Maybe to an astral plane.../

    I reached out quietly, wondering what exactly was happening after all my other dreams had been so different.  My hand hovered maybe a few centimeters off the freaky machine.
    
    /Cross the highways of fantasy
    Help me to forget today's pain.../

    On impulse I grabbed the wooden block, feeling the vibrations of the music as it filtered through my fingers.  I felt a blissful smile cross my face as the white world around me fell away and I was standing with my back against something warm, something strong and lean holding me in place.  Surprised at the sudden change of scenery, I glanced back.

    Heero stood directly behind me, his arms holding me securely against his strong presence, a small smile brightening his face.  I studied his face intently, knowing that this was my Heero, and not the imposter who lived in the real world... who denied his feelings and pushed me away.  No, this had to be the way Heero should be, standing behind me... it just felt too right to be wrong.

    My Heero smiled at my expression and kissed the top of my head.  His arms tightened and heat blossomed deep within my being.  I leaned against him with a lop-sided grin, wanting his warmth and smell and feel to last forever.... ~

(Meanwhile, back in reality)

    While Duo slept in an upstairs room three doors down on the right hallway, several professionally dressed men and even a few women avoided the front desk and walked straight to the second level.  They glanced at each other occasionally, sometimes nodding in reply, but none of them ever made a noise.  Quickly filing down the right hallway, stopping at the third door, one of the females looked back questioningly.  One of the men nodded.  The woman turned back to the door and, using a non-descript key, unlocked the door to the hotel room.

    Nodding to each other again, the five men and three women filed into the room one by one.  The first female approached the boy immediately.  He was sprawled out on the bed sleeping, a blissful smile covering his face as he slowly lolled his head around in happiness.

    The second female placed something around the boy's neck as two of the men carefully pulled him to a sitting position....

~    Leaning against Heero, I thought for a moment I felt two pairs of light hands gently moving me.  I glanced up at Heero quickly and he smiled down at me, his beautiful eyes dancing just for me.  I lost my breath a moment, unable to react to such a beautiful scene.

    Smiling larger now, Heero hugged me tighter.  Ignoring those phantom hands, I turned in Heero's grip until I was hugging him back, my head resting against his powerful chest.  I could feel him tighten his grip even more-it never was suffocating but always amazingly, wondrously tender and loving.  I sighed happily, closing my eyes and drinking in his presence. ~

(Meanwhile....)

    Pausing to be sure the boy wouldn't prematurely wake, the men and woman held their breath.  The boy only shifted, a look of shock crossing his face before he moved as if turning around, then relaxed completely with a sigh.  They waited a few more moments.

    Finally satisfied, the men and women fitted some more things to the youth before they injected him with something....

~    I have no idea how long I stayed in Heero's grip before I felt it... a tiny prick on my inner left arm.  Surprised, I started to pull from Heero's arms, but he yanked me back with full force.  His scent was so overpowering I soon completely forgot about the insignificant poke.  It was probably just a bug... knowing my luck, even in my dreams there were mosquitoes.

    I paused, thinking a moment.  No, I was going to change some things.  This would be my reality now... where I could be happy with Heero anytime I wanted and he wouldn't mind at all.  Content, I let my thoughts completely dissipate as I felt and knew only Heero Yuy, my love.~

(Meanwhile...)

    The boy was taken with the utmost of care to an armored black limo.  Another man wearing very similar clothing to the others helped them all into the back seat.  The boy was situated with a seat belt in the very center of the back.  The men who had lifted him sat on either side.  One of the women eyed the boy, specifically his ridiculously long braid, and shrugged indifferently. <Too many to care about anymore.>

    As they drove, the business men and women stared with expressionless faces first at each other then their charge.

    The boy never woke up.

    “Have you seen Duo?  I was going to order some pizza.”

    Trowa glanced over and shook his head.  Quatre sighed, closing the door behind himself as he moved to the next room.  He knocked politely and waited until Wufei appeared.  The same question resulted in a quick shake of Wufei's head and a slightly annoyed look before the door was shut quite firmly.

    <One left...>

    Quatre knocked, not entirely expecting an answer.  To his surprise, Heero opened the door and looked down the hallway with a searching expression.  Quatre blinked, “Heero...?”

    “Duo,” he simply said.

    “Uh... he's not...”

    Heero nodded in acknowledgment then said curtly, “He's hiding.”

    “Hiding?!  Why-?  We need to-“

    “We will.”  Heero firmly shut the door behind himself, leaving a stunned Quatre to cope.

~    I think I spent a few good hours just leaning into his warmth.  Nah, I KNOW I spent at least that long... he was so comfortable... it was like we were made to fit each other.

    Damn, I love my Heero.

    Sometimes it felt like I was moving, or being moved, but those feelings were always ignored in the light of Heero's life.  It was so weird... I honestly didn't care what was going on as long as the drug of my Heero could continue.  He was so... so everything to me.

    Everytime I talk about it, I repeat myself... repeatedly.  I mean it.  I keep saying the same words.  Drug.  Addictive.  Sexy. Everything.

    Perfect.

    But you gotta understand-that was the fucking freaky thing.  It was like...

    It was like...

    ...a dream come true.... ~

(Meanwhile)

    He shook his head.  “I don't know... he seemed upset lately.  I thought it would be good for him to get some air.”

    Heero nodded as he strode through the streets, Quatre close behind.  They had already visited the book store Duo mentioned once and were told he hadn't been in for awhile.  Now they had very few clues to go by, but Heero was a master of finding information based on shadows.

    Turning a corner sharply, Heero strode up to the squat, dingy building as if he owned it.  Quatre straggled behind, looking around nervously.  Something about the place had him on edge....

    Just as he was about to tell Heero what he was feeling, he noticed the Japanese boy had stopped at a front desk.  A few quick questions later Heero rejoined Quatre with a scowl.

    “No good?” Quatre asked with a suspicious glance around, “He didn't come here?”

    “No... he did come here.”  Heero began walking toward the stairs, so Quatre followed.

    “What?  Then where is he?”  Quatre felt his sense of alarm growing by the second.

    Heero frowned, taking a quick right to enter a hallway and watch the room numbers.  At the correct number he pulled out the spare key he'd been given and swiped it through.  “The man thought in here.”

    Quatre frowned but followed Heero into the washed up hotel room.  Everything was normal, with absolutely no signs of struggle... which would have been reassuring, but Duo didn't go down that way.  And he wasn't in the room.

    The bed was indented as if he'd been lying there.  Beside the bed, on a nightstand, lay a single item.  Heero approached the stand immediately, picking up whatever that object was.

    “What...?” Quatre began.

    Heero stared at the item in his hands, then showed it to Quatre with a frown.

    Quatre read the small white card in confusion, “What's Somnium Recondo?”

    Heero narrowed his eyes.  “And under that....”

    Quatre reread the card and blinked.  “A name... Dori M. U. Shokkou?” Heero nodded seriously.  “So...?”

    Heero shook his head slightly.  “It's not a name.  It's Japanese.”

    Quatre blinked in surprised.  “Dori is something in...?”

    Heero curtly shook his head and answered as he was already turning, “Dori-mu shokkou.”  

    “Which means...?” Quatre prompted as he shut the door behind them.  Heero stopped, watching Quatre with a certain intensity before he answered.

    “Dream weaver.  Dori-mu shokkou means dream weaver.”