When Trowa came back, Heero was the first to greet him.
"He wants to see you."
Trowa just nodded and headed for Duo's room. It's been three days since Quatre left this world.
The first thing Trowa did was to take Quatre's remains to his family. He told Quatre's sisters that he wasn't there for him and that he was the one to blame. But no one blamed him.
"Trowa kun, why did you bring him here? He belongs to you and his friends. We are the ones who weren't there for him.... Let him stay with his true family, ne?"
Instead, he was advised to take Quatre back.... To his family...
"You wanted to see me?"
Trowa closed the door behind him.
"What? No how are you or anything?"
Duo scolded, crossing his arms.
Trowa chuckled.
"Sorry... It feels as though... I've been seeing you all this time..."
Trowa searched for Quatre in Duo's eyes, but sighed when he found none. Quatre was gone.
"Where were you for three days?"
Duo patted the chair beside his bed, signaling him to sit. Trowa obeyed.
"I went to see Quatre's family.."
Duo's smile faded.
"...What did they say?.."
"They asked me to take Quatre where he belongs.."
Silence.
Finally, Duo nodded his head.
"I see."
Duo looked down.
"Anyway.. you wanted to talk about something?"
Trowa quickly changed the subject. He didn't want to discuss about Quatre right now. Especially with Duo...
"..Oh, yeah! This..."
Duo took the familiar red cap from the side table.
"I found this beneath my pillow when I woke up.. I asked both Heero and Wufei... But they didn't know about it..."
Duo wore the cap, which was a perfect fit.
"It's you right? Thanks, I like it."
Duo hugged Trowa, and Trowa hugged back. He closed his eyes and smelled the familiar scent of Duo's hair.
"You're welcome.."
"Who knew I looked good in red?"
Duo took the cap in his hand and spinned it with his index finger.
"Trowa, my man. You have good taste."
"I was afraid you wouldn't like it since it wasn't black."
Trowa chuckled.
"But, I'm glad you like it."
Trowa patted Duo's head.
"..Don't..."
Trowa stopped. Duo was glaring at him.
"Duo?.."
"Don't do that.."
Duo whispered.
"...What?.."
"Don't smile like that!!!"
Duo slapped Trowa's hand away from his head. Trowa was completely taken aback.
"Why are you smiling like I'm an idiot?! Shit! Don't lie to me, Trowa!"
Duo shouted and threw his head violently back on the pillow. He covered his eyes with his hand.
"...I saw.. everything..."
Trowa's eyes went wide. That would mean... Duo knew...
"..Duo..."
Duo removed his hand from his face and looked at Trowa.
"..I was watching... From the moment Quatre opened his eyes..."
Trowa closed his eyes. Duo knows.
"...Why?..."
Duo beamed. Trowa sighed.
"...I'm sorry... I couldn't.. control myself..."
"That's not what I meant!!"
Duo quickly got up and grabbed Trowa's collar.
"Why did you let him go?!"
Duo shook Trowa fiercely. Trowa couldn't stop Duo.
Because he didn't know why himself.
"It was my fault Quatre died!! It was me who was supposed to die!!"
Duo wept and slid down from Trowa's arms.
"..It's because of me..."
Duo leaned on Trowa's legs and cried. Trowa knelt down and held Duo in his arms.
"It's not your fault.. Quatre said so himself.."
Duo shook his head.
"We all know damn well that it was my fault! I killed him!"
Trowa lightly but firmly slapped Duo's cheek. Duo stopped screaming and looked up at Trowa.
"Don't ever say that. Quatre was satisfied with his life. If you think it was your fault that Quatre died, than embrace your life. Hold it as long as you can, or it will be a disgrace to Quatre."
Duo stared wide-eyed at Trowa. He slowly crept his arms up around Trowa's neck and dug his face in Trowa's shoulder, and started to weep again.
The two squeezed each other tightly for a long time, as if they were reassuring each other that they were alive....