Chapter Nine: A New Home?

 

            *His head was spinning. He groaned and deepened the kiss. This was no small matter anymore. Of course, somewhere in the back of his brain the signals reached him and he realized what was really happening, but he didn’t care anymore. Soft lips crushed his for only a brief minute before they pulled away. His wide-open eyes shut, then blinked and tried hopelessly to refocus on her face. When he did he wished he hadn’t.

            A light blush graced her pale rain streaked face. His gaze couldn’t lift from her eyes. They drew him in, drowning him within their sorrow-filled depths. They quivered with tears and fear. He let his emotions completely override the rest of his senses, figuring they would know what was best. He saw his own hand reach up and run through her hair. Then it traced the contour of her porcelain face, and stooped under her chin. It pulled her in closer towards him as he tried to recreate the incredibly sensation he had felt just a mere minute ago.

            As his warm hand fell against her face, she shivered. The difference was just symbolic of the difference between the two. While he was warm and full of life and passion, she felt cold and dead inside. At least, she used to. Now when she found herself around him, she noticed she too, felt more alive; she actually cared for things whole-heartedly while he was near. She acquiesced when he pulled her toward him. She wanted to forget everything, to just escape reality, and she had just found the perfect hideout.

            When his lips brushed hers, she melted. He teased her with tiny butterfly pecks down her cheek from her eyes. Finally, he returned to taunt her lips with more chaste kisses. She wanted more of his spirit, his life force, so she deepened the kiss. Soon she needed air, but was unwilling to let him go. She wanted to be in her dream world so badly…

            He had to break the kiss. Pulling his lips away from hers, he rested his forehead against hers and breathed heavily, a light smile playing on his lips. She was so sweet. And to think that this innocent angel was being abused. She was too perfect, to pure and inexperienced to have been used in such a rough manner.

            She stared at him, running one hand through his thick, silky, chocolate locks. He was breathing heavily from their kissing, and his endless eyes sparked with such fervor that she could not place any rational thought to how they could hold so much. Serena felt his hot breath against her lips and thirsted for more still. Were they both getting too caught up in the heat of the moment? What would happen the next day? For some strange reason she cared if Hiiro hated her. She couldn’t careless if her parents hated her, if her chem. teacher despised her, but it killed her inside the very core of her being to think he would push her away. Why?

Hiiro wondered along much of the same lines. Was Serena only turning to him out of desperation to feel wanted, loved; or was she serious in her feelings for him? He didn’t think he could withstand it if she was only toying with his heart. Then again, this was Serena. She wasn’t capable of causing such unimaginable pain consciously, he was sure of that much. He just had to know, which was it?

“Serena…”

“Hiiro…” The began simultaneously. Both backed off in order to allow the other to speak what was on their minds, and then the room fell to silence once more. Well, someone had to break the silence sometime.

“Hiiro.” Serena gave out first. “I’m sorry.” His heart fell.

“I, well, I… why did you kiss me first?” She blushed. Now what was she supposed to say?

“Well, I.” ‘Here goes nothing!’ she thought. “I kissed you like that because I wanted to thank you. But then, Stars, I don’t know. It was like a drug. You’re awful addicting, you know? But I don’t know. I don’t want you to think I only kissed you because I wanted to escape. There’s something else. I just am not sure, and I don’t want to ruin our friendship with whatever it is.” She crossed her fingers and held her breath, hoping he didn’t push her away in disgust.

“Now I know why you’re one of the smartest girls in school. You figured out a way to express your feelings without being definite. I like it. Maybe I’ll try it…” He smirked. Just like he had feared… she had only come to him through desperation. But she had said she didn’t want to harm him because there was something else. That was start. He saw her confused frown and couldn’t contain himself any longer. Grabbing the back of her head, he pulled her in closer to him and kissed her, good, long, and hard.

She nearly had a heart attack when his lips met hers again. In a frenzy unknown to her before, she hungrily kissed him back in a dizzying set of kisses. Why she kept kissing him, she didn’t know. Maybe if he was the one doing the kissing it meant that if she did it, it wouldn’t ruin their friendship either. Soon the kisses became longer, more drawn out, and included more than just lips. She ran her hands up and through his hair while his arms trailed up and down her back, hips, and shoulders, pressing her body in closer to his own.

“Hiiro! Hiiro are you in here?” A worried voice rang through the apartment. Quatre.

“Damn.” Hiiro swore as he was forced to break his activities. Serena moaned slightly; she was a little frizzled at having to give up the make-out session.

“Hey, Hiiro-man! Come on dude! Don’t be like this, there’s an emergency!” Another voice rang out.  Duo. Hiiro sighed. But if there was an emergency… He stood from his position on the bed and walked to the door, unlocking and opening it to respond.

“I’m here. What’s the emergency?” He stood monotonously.

“Serena was missing, and then the hospital called on Quatre’s cell phone to say she had been in the hospital for blood loss and that she was suicidal, and that she had run away! We have to find her, the girls are going nuts, even Lita!” Duo cried out, almost all the information in one breath as fast as he could. Hiiro took in all the information smirking on the inside.

“Hey Hiiro?” A small voice filtered through the room. The figure that owned the voice stepped into the light and Quatre and Duo gasped. “If Lita and the girls are so worried, maybe I had better let them know I’m alright…” There, in the doorway to Hiiro’s room, right behind him, stood the missing Serena!

“Serena! You’re alright! You’re here! In Hiiro’s room! And in a… men’s dress shirt? Whoa, this is a strange twist of events…” Duo remarked. Serena looked down at what she was wearing, and all three boys could see the blush that graced her white and bruised cheeks.

“You know where the phone is. I’ll deal with them.” Hiiro nodded his head in his comrade’s direction. Duo and Quatre both had the feeling they were missing something here…Serena stepped from behind him and wobbled slightly. Hiiro reached forward and picked her up, princess style. Her blush grew deeper. He placed her down on the couch in his living room, he handed her the phone.

“Thanks.” Taking the receiver from his hand, she felt almost giddy when their hands brushed and the electricity shot through her spine. What were these new feelings? She had never felt so alive and happy with anyone else. She was almost on the verge of feeling relaxed for a change.

“Hnn. Duo, Quatre, kitchen.” He gave a glance that said ‘don’t worry, your secret is safe’ and then left her to call her friends. Hiiro would fix everything.

>>>)(<<<

            “So Hiiro? How’d she get here?” Duo asked him, winking all the while.

            “Hnn.” Hiiro knew he should tell his friends what was going incase he should need help watching her later, but he didn’t want to betray her trust when he was on such shaky grounds.

            “Hiiro, you know if it is as bad as her being in the hospital we have the right to know too. She’s our friend as well, and we don’t want to see her get hurt either.” Quatre told him gently. Huh. Quatre, always the voice of reason.

            “Look. There was an incident in class today. She ran out, and when I found her in her apartment, she had slit her wrists. The ambulance took her to the hospital, but she ran away when she woke. I found her and brought her here.”

            “Oh my…” Duo was in slight shock. Nice, happy Serena had attempted suicide? But she had shown no signs, no unhappiness, nothing but joy.

            “Is she alright?” Quatre asked in a whisper, the same thoughts running through his head.

            “Somewhat. There’s more. She’s been abused. Her own parents hit her constantly, and she’s almost anorexic because she eats so little.” Hiiro told them, tears coming to his eyes as he spoke. Knowing it and repeating the knowledge out loud were two different things. It hurt physically to tell his friends the pains she went through.

            “She’s staying here from now on.” Duo said, slamming his fist down on the table.

            “I agree. We are not sending her home.” Quatre nodded.

            “She stays with me.” Hiiro told them, sending his infamous death glare to his opposers. No one dared even think it. Then he thought of something else.

            “She doesn’t trust us. Any of us. Nor does she trust the your girlfriends anymore. She trusts no one. If she found out I told you all of this, she would lose whatever trust in us she has. Do not tell her I told you what happened. Clear?” Both Quatre and Duo nodded in consent, understanding why instantly.

>>>)(<<<

            “Ami? Hi, it’s me, Serena.” She spoke over the phone.

            “Serena? Oh my Lord! How are you? Are you alright? Where are you? Do you need help?” Came the worried girl’s voice over the phone.

            “I’m fine. I’m with Hiiro, Quatre, and Duo right now in their apartment. I’m just really tired.” She told her friends, hoping they wouldn’t want to come by and see her.

            “Serena? Is that you meatball head?” Rei had confiscated the phone from Ami’s hands.

            “Hey pyro. Look, I’m perfect, just tired. I’m at the guys, and I’m going to crash here the night.”

            “Maybe we should come over there to make sure you’re al…” Rei started.

            “I’m honestly fine. Don’t come over, I don’t look so nice. You know, the hair, clothes, face and makeup aren’t nice. Would want you to catch me with blackmail evidence…” She tried to joke. It worked, cause she could hear the laughter of all of her friends on the other side of the line.

            “Alright, if you’re sure you feel better…” Lita started.

            “Positive. I’ll send Duo out so you can all finish your date, ok?” She told her.

            “Sounds good girl!” Lita cried.

            “Hey Serena! Tell Quatre to get his butt in gear too, alright?” Mina came on next.

            “You got it V-babe! Your wish is my command!” She tried to sound happy. It was hard… she was so tired… “I have to go, I’m about to fall asleep. See you tomorrow!” Before she could hear them say bye, she hung up the phone. Just then the boys walked back into the room.

            “Was that the girls?” Duo asked her, cheerful smile pasted on his face.

            “Yup. They say, and I quote: “get your butts in gear!” That means they want to see you soon, so you’d better go to them.

            “We did kind of leave them high and dry, didn’t we Quatre?” Duo scratched his head, feeling a little guilty. Quatre smiled sheepishly.

            “Yeah, we did. We’d better get going then.”

            “You alright here Hiiro?” Duo asked him.

            “Hnn.”

            “Ok then, let’s move it out!” And with that, Duo and Quatre left through the door. As they left, Hiiro heard a giant yawn coming from Serena.

            “Tired?” Yeah. But I don’t want to go home tonight. My parents, they’ll hi… err, they’ll be mad with me. Can I stay here?” So she still wouldn’t tell him that her parents hit her.

            “Of course. In fact, I want you to live here from now on.”

            “What?” She was in disbelief. Why?

            “I want to know that you’re safe.” He told her bluntly.

            “But I don’t want to impose…”

            “Serena. I’ve asked you to stay. You wouldn’t be imposing.”

            “My parents…”

            “Screw them. Serena. Stay here, with me. I want to help protect you. Please?” This was a new low for the Perfect Soldier… begging a girl to stay with him… scratch that, that came out wrong.

            “Protect me from what?” She didn’t want him to know what went on at home.

            “Serena. Please. I won’t force you, but please, just tell me what happens every night when you go home. Do your parents hug you? Do they make you dinner and congratulate you on getting an A on a test? Do they tuck you in and sing you songs? Or help with your homework? Do they?” Her head hung low. Even though she knew he had known something was going on, it hurt to think he had found out her embarrassing little secret. She wondered just how much he did know about her situation…

            “Hiiro, I’m really tired. Can you please just let this go?” She begged him. He sighed. What else could he do? And besides, it had been such a long day that he figured he wouldn’t push it anymore tonight.

            “Fine. Come on, I’ll show you where you’ll be sleeping.”

            “Lead the way.” She said tiredly. Then she stood and stumbled after him. Following him down a familiar corridor, she found herself entering the same room as she had been in when she had woken up.

            “Hiiro, isn’t this your room?” She asked him skeptically.

            “Our room. I’m the only one without a roommate; therefore you are bunking with me.” He said without emotion in his voice. It was hard to train the emotion out of it, just the thought of her sleeping in the same room as him made him want to… no. He would not even think of starting this now. It was too late, both of them were physically and mentally drained for the day, he couldn’t start this now. It wouldn’t be fair to either of them.

            “Oh. Um, don’t you feel strange sharing a room with a girl?” She asked him, slightly blushing and now fully awake.

            “No. As a soldier I was taught to ignore all ‘lustful’ desires.” Ha balked at what he had just said. How dumb was he?

            “Oh really?” She smirked. This was going to be fun…

            “Hnn. Go to bed.” He told her sternly. She simply giggled as she pulled back the covers to the bed she had been in before.

            “Where will you sleep?” She asked him.

            “In the bed next to this one.” She looked, and, indeed, there was another bed next to the one she lay upon. Yawning, she snuggled deep into her new covers and sighed. While Hiiro did push her to tell him some things, he was a good friend through and through. So why wasn’t she satisfied with that? She tired to focus on her thoughts, but she only drifted deeper into that land of Winkin’, Blinkin’, and Nod.

            As he watched her drift away to sleep, he kissed her forehead. Such an angel deserved the rest she was final going to get. He pulled his own shirt over his head and rustled through his drawers to find pair of old sweat pants to sleep in. changing quickly in the bathroom, he too, slipped under hiss covers and fell into a deep sleep.*