Chapter Twenty-One: Keep the Wolves at Bay

 

            *They were here. Serena visibly shivered as she thought of having her parents over. Thinking over her friends and their girlfriends, she had to admit she felt like she had the advantage. Having so many of her friends near her helped remind her and give her strength to face those whom she had once though of as omnipotent. Hiiro had been great about helping her so far, and she knew she could get Ben to play along easily, but what of the rest? Would they slip and mention something about her ‘night job’ or Darien? For certain Hilde and Duo would play along. The inseparable pair had spent many a minute practicing improv., and she was sure they would be able to pull anything off without a hitch. The others were a bit different. She had only just met Catherine, Trowa’s girlfriend, along with Sally, Wufei’s girl, and Dorothy, Quatre’s girl, but already she had a keen sense they would be able to keep up.

Catherine had a natural talent for performing, Serena could tell in the air she carried herself with. Catherine’s reddish curls and gray eyes gave an innocence and poise of someone who could never tell a lie. Trowa had told her Catherine had once been a skilled gymnast as well as loved performing on stage. Trowa, as well, seemed the type to either keep silent, or help play along with the carefree appearance that usually came packaged with the truth.

It was Sally whom Serena thought would add spice to their elaborate scheme. From her short discussions with the tall and strong blue-eyed blonde, she could tell Sally had a knack for brazen and often inspired truths. Sally seemed to be a loyal sort, one who would not be easily deterred from her duties in any situation, and Sally herself had told Serena while winking she would play along. And, if Sally followed, Serena was sure faithful and prideful Wufei would follow, not to be outdone in any area by his own ‘woman’, as he liked to refer to her.

Dorothy slightly chilled Serena to speak with. Her low and melodic voice had a certain enthralling quality to it that had not been lost on all those who had ever spoken to her, past or present. Her knee length sun whitened hair and light blue eyes did little to improve the still air that hung in heavy smog around her disposition. But, if she dated Quatre, the most innocent of the guys, how could Dorothy possibly be that… unusual. Quatre had saved her before, and Serena trusted that he would keep Dorothy in line. And even she had to admit, While Dorothy seemed aloof, she had been nice all the times she had spoken to her.

“You ready?” A low voice whispered into her ear. She shivered. And then there was Hiiro. Ever since he had called himself her husband, she had been thinking non-stop about him. Not that she had stopped thinking about him since they had first met, but these thoughts were different. She found herself wondering how it would feel to kiss him… to have him kiss her. She wondered how it would feel to have him hold her, hug her randomly. She had to stop these thoughts, they were beginning to eat away at the core of her soul, creating an almost irresistible huger for a passion she had never known before.

“No. Then again, there is no ready.” She smirked. He smirked back. So her sense of humor hadn’t suffered through her fear. At least that was a plus. He was, despite her pessimistic view upon readiness, completely set for anything her parents or brother decided to throw out at him tonight. He had even had Quatre help him draw up a marriage certificate, just in case. And Duo, who had disappeared after learning about the situation, had returned ten minutes earlier with two simple silver wedding bands. The rings. He had almost forgotten those.

“Serry, Duo got us a little ‘wedding present.’”

“Did he now? And what would that be? And Hiiro, I’m warning you, if this has any sexual reference, I will take your gun and shoot both you and him without hesitation.” He gave a short laugh. That was the Serena he knew, innocent to the core.

“No, it’s decent. Care to see them?”

“Them? How many of whatever it is are there?” She asked skeptically.

“Only two. This is mine.” He held out his hand to reveal the simple silver band. She gasped and choked back a slight giggle. Seeing the laughter in her face and eyes, another idea struck him. What if he were too… no. It might be funny, but the full implications of it… what the hell? After all, it was only in good fun. The Perfect Soldier persona could take a backburner for a while. He bent down on one knee and clasped her hand gently within his own.

“Serena my darling sweet, you are my sunshine, my light. Without you, birds do not chirp. Without you, flowers do not bloom. Without you, grass is not green. Could you, would you, honor me with your hand in marriage?” Though he had been shaking during the entire proposal with laughter, when he finished, the air hung in a heavy smog about them. Each could feel the tension form from what had been meant as a joke.

Serena knew it was a joke. She knew it. Yet even while knowing it, and hearing how corny he had sounded while professing his ‘undying love’, she still felt obligated to give him a true answer. It felt good to be as relaxed, as happy as he made her. But she knew in her mind that she couldn’t. She wanted it with her heart. But she couldn’t. Smiling to try to calm the thick atmosphere, she giggled slightly.

“Alas my fair sweet,  though I do wish I could, I cannot. My father would forbid it!” She told him, waving her hand in the air, much like a damsel in distress might. Hiiro caught her true intention of the lines, but he had also caught the starry eyed and content look that had crossed her face before she had answered him.

“Very well then my dear. At least take this token as a symbol of my love.” He asked her gallantly, slipping the ring onto her finger. Duo had done a wonderful job in picking the ring; it suited her well. It was a simple silver band that, at the top, had a tiny diamond crescent moon and a silver star next to it. He liked how it looked on her slim fingers, and how he looked while slipping it on.

Serena gasped in shock. The ring was gorgeous! How had Duo managed to find such a ring? Her favorite items, a moon and a star, in silver, and diamonds. Added to all that it wasn’t big enough to overly garish, neither small enough to be completely overlooked. As Hiiro slipped it onto her finger, she felt blithe. Looking up at Hiiro, who was now standing, she trembled with a cascade of wild and mysterious emotions. Not knowing how to respond, she simply stood on her tip toes and very lightly placed her rouge lips against his. After only a few seconds, she pulled away slightly breathless.

Although her soft lips only pressed against his momentarily, heat rushed through his face and suddenly it was hard to breath. Though he knew the room remained stationary, the walls spun to his eyes. When he finally focused back on the petite though engaging woman in front of him, he found himself trapped in her shimmering ageless orbs. 

“We had better go, I can hear my father’s voice.” She told him, turning away and avoiding eye contact.

“I hear it too. Figures he would be the type to disapprove of Duo’s braid.” Serena laughed slightly.

“Well then, what are we waiting for? Let’s go greet the guests before they tear Duo apart.” She put on the façade of happiness.

“Let’s.” He agreed. As they stepped out of the small bedroom they had been in and down the stairs, he stopped her briefly. “By the way. We started something. And what I start, I always finish.” With that, he smirked and pulled her along with him down the stairs, regardless of the fact that suddenly she was blushing an insanely red color and dragging her feet more than even.

“Serena! Oh my baby girl!”

“Hi Mom, Dad, Sammy.” Serena greeted her mother, still a little off kilter from Hiiro’s promise- threat. Promise. Oh, what did it matter anymore? She was so flustered she couldn’t make heads or tales of hers and Hiiro’s true relationship anymore. Were they friends? More? Less? Scratch that. Certainly not less. But they weren’t dating. And yet, they were ‘married’. What the hell had she gone and done now? Complicated her life more than ever, that was what.

“Serena, why don’t you introduce us to your friends?” Her mother asked. Serena could tell her father was in one of his sulking moods, but was interested enough to perk up slightly when he learned he would be meeting his baby girl’s friends.

“Sure.” She began with the two closest to her.  “This is Quatre Raberba Winner and his girlfriend Dorothy Dermail. Next to them is Duo Maxwell with his girlfriend and my best friend Hilde Shibeiker,” she could hear her father mutter about how boys shouldn’t have hair longer than shoulder length. “Then is Wufei Chang and his girlfriend Sally Po, and last but not least is Trowa Barton and his girl Catherine Bloom. Everyone, this is my Mom, Dad, and little brother Sammy.” She took a breath and prepared for the booming welcomes she knew would follow. She was right. Suddenly the foyer was filled with warm welcomes, loud laughter, and talking. She noticed Hiiro talking with Sammy and smiled. Then frowned remembering his promise… threat… never mind, she was going to try to forget that now.

“So who owns this house then?” She picked up on her father’s voice. She trailed it to a small group of Quatre, Trowa, Dorothy, Sally and Wufei. Catherine had gone to check on the food, taking Serena’s mother and Hilde along for the ride.

“I do sir. My Uncle left it to me in his will.” Quatre spoke up. She watched her father size the boy up and give a nod of approval.

“So you come here often then?” Kenji kept it up. He still had slight issues with the fact that his daughter was back and married. And she had a son. That really irked him. Though he had to admit, Ben was the cutest grandson he could have ever hoped for. Kenji sighed as he spotted his daughter leaning against the stair railing watching them all. He noticed his wife and a few other women had left for the kitchen, and that Hiiro and his son were speaking quite amiably now.

“So how long have my sister and you really known each other?” Sammy was asking Hiiro quietly.

“What do you mean?” Hiiro kept the innocent look about him. Sammy grinned and winked.

“Come on. Ben is Serena and Darien’s son. I’m young, not stupid. Besides, he looks nothing like you or Serena. Except maybe the eyes. But seriously, tell me. I won’t let on I know.” Hiiro sized the boy up. Well built, good looking, semi-serious expression placed across his face, along with the mild interest of knowing a secret. This was a split second decision Hiiro had to make. Then again, he was quite used to those.

“Three weeks.” He told Sammy.

“And you’re not married, are you?”

“No. Though…” Hiiro stopped. What the hell was he thinking? He had almost told the boy too much information! This was exactly the kind of downfall he knew he would suffer if he had stayed with Serena, and here it was, coming to pass before his eyes. But somehow, it wasn’t as important anymore.

“Though what? Though you wish you were? She does, I’ll tell you that! She’s gone on you.” Sammy told him.

“And you would know this how?” Hiiro lightly played along.

“She’s my sister.”

“You haven’t seen her in five years.”

“Ok. Let me put it this way. She’s also a girl, and if there’s any one subject I’m good at, it’s girls, trust me. She’s gone on you. Not that that’s a bad thing. I happen to like your style. And Dad’ll come around eventually. Give him a little more time. Hell, even my Mom likes you. She usually hates the guys Sere brings home.”

“Darien included?” Hiiro asked, mildly interested.

“Darien included.” Sammy finished.

“Dinner is served!” Ilene called. The conversations all halted and they left for the table.

“So Hilde. Were you Serena’s maid of honor in the wedding?”  Ilene asked Hilde, trying to make conversation.

“Yeah. And Duo was the best man. We were only friends back then.”

“That sure was a while back, huh babe?” Duo added in-between smiling and inhaling food.

“Were the dresses pink?” Serena, Hilde, and Hiiro visibly choked. Ilene must have noticed, because she tried to explain the reasoning to her question. “I remember when you were younger Serena. You used to dream of having pink bridesmaid dresses and a huge white dress for your wedding.”

“Oh, that! Mom, that was so long ago! How do you remember that?”

“I remember everything about my babies. Like the time when you were six and you swore your cat Luna could talk. We got a good laugh out of that one.” Serena blushed. Sally, Hilde, and Duo burst into laughter.

“And pink on top of it!  Mrs. Tsukino, you have got to tell us more about Serena when she was little!” Hilde squeaked in-between laughing.

“Yes yes, of course dear! But the dresses?” Ilene had a huge smile on her face.

“They were blue Mom, light blue.”

“Oh. Well then dear, what about yours?” Her mother grilled her.

“White.” Hiiro answered for her. “She had a lovely white wedding dress that came off the shoulders and fell to her feet. And a long veil as well.” Snickers could be heard from all four of the boys plus Hilde, Dorothy, and Sally when they heard Hiiro Yui, of all people, describing a wedding dress. A fake wedding dress nonetheless.

“It sounds lovely dear. Do you have a picture?”

“Sorry Mom. Left those at home.” Serena covered quickly.

“That’s a shame. I wanted to see my little girl’s wedding picture.” Her father added quietly.

“Daddy…” Serena started.

“I think we’ve heard enough. Ilene, Sam, dinner’s over, let’s go.”

“We haven’t even had coffee yet.” Serena tried to deter them.

“Serena. I see all that you have now, a child, a husband, loyal friends, and it makes me wonder. If you were so happy, why did you bother coming home?” With his last blow dealt, Kenji picked up his coat and strolled through the front door.

“Serena dear, he didn’t mean it like that. He’s just upset at knowing you’re all grown up and on your own now, that’s all. Good night dear, call me in the morning.” Her mother kissed her cheek and went to the car.

“Hey sis, don’t feel so blue. You know how dad is. He was so broken over you missing that it did more than a little damage to his ego. It hit him hard psychologically too. Just take it one step at a time. He’ll come around. Bye sis!” And Sammy left the house as well, closing the door behind him.

>>>)(<<<

            She stood at the window. It wasn’t that she was sad, no. She had been expecting something like this to happen. But for some reason, she just couldn’t sleep. Guilt? Depression? No, those words were not correct to describe the feel she felt. But then, what word was? All a word could do was give someone else a general idea of the vague emotional distress she had been thrown into. And then, worst of all, her mind was clamped upon one figure who would not stop haunting her, no matter how many times she closed her eyes and wished it would.

            “Can’t sleep?” The low voice wafted through the room and sent small jolts of heat and electricity to warm her ice encased heart. The figure had materialized as flesh and blood. Now she would have to face it.

            “No. How did you get in?”

            “I slipped in while you were thinking.” She felt her hands tremble and willed them to stop. They didn’t.

            “Oh? Ever heard of knocking?” She pegged him.

            “ Never liked the concept much. Upset over dinner?”

            “No, not really. I was expecting it. I’m sorry I didn’t warn you sooner. I was going to, but I guess… I… just, forgot.” Her mind was numb, she knew she was stuttering.

            “You’re shaking.”

            “No I’m not.”

            “Lie to them. I’m not them. You’re tense.”

            “Lie. I hate lying.” She shuddered, hoping to deter what she knew was inevitable at this point in the game. They had come too far, done too much, something had clicked and now she was stuck.

            “Hn.”

            “Are you related to a cave man by any chance? I could have sworn…” Hiiro was close to laughing. He couldn’t help it. Earlier that night, when he had ‘proposed’, he had near laughed himself mad simply because she had put him in the mood for it. Serena always managed to surprise him into a new emotion every time he spoke with her. Moving around behind her, he began to rub her neck, trying to lessen the tension. He vaguely remembered the first time he had done this, her standing in the kitchen doing dishes, him behind her, distracting her from her work.

            “Are you trying to drive me insane?” She muttered to him softly.

            “Maybe. Is it working?”

            “Hmm. Keep going and I’ll let you know.” They stood in silence for a while, Hiiro kneading the knots from her neck and shoulders and Serena with her eyes closed in bliss. When he stopped, he brought his arms around her shoulders and pulled her close into him.

            Serena lay back, knowing Hiiro would catch her if she fell. But that was a scary thought for her she realized. She knew she could trust Hiiro, meaning she was making herself more vulnerable than ever.

            “There’s no moon tonight.” She reported to him.

            “We don’t need one.” He murmured in her ear.

            “Hmm. Why not?” She asked, half asleep and dreaming. Hiiro did not respond verbally. He instead spun her around to face him, waking her completely.

            “Hiiro?” She asked meekly. He always did this to her! She felt helpless, like for once she wanted some one to take care of her instead of the opposite way around.

            “I gave my word on something before dinner.”

            “You, your not… serious, are you?” He smirked.

            “I just worked those knots out of your shoulders. Don’t undo all my hard work.”

            “But, I… I…”

            “What? You don’t trust me?” He asked her abruptly. “Do you not trust me? What is the matter? Are you scared of me? Have I hurt you? Ben? What is wrong with me?” It didn’t come out in a frantic and mad screech, more just a low and dejected tone.

            “No! That’s not it at all, and you know it!” She denied.

            “Then what? Tell me so I can fix it! Please?” Serena looked up and gasped. Raising her hand gently, she wiped the salty tear from the path it had been trailing down his cheek. Was he begging her? She looked in his eyes and saw innocence. The same innocence she saw in Ben’s when he fell over and bumped his head; the same innocence she had seen when she had first looked into her son’s eyes. Hiiro was soiled with filth beyond comprehension, yet here he was, the most innocent of all creatures God ever created.

            “No. Hiiro, listen to me.” She began. She had to fix this here and now. “You are perfect the way you are. No, I don’t mean as a soldier. As a human, a person with feelings and emotions. You are far more innocent than I ever will be. There is nothing wrong with you, trust me.”

            “I want to trust you, I do trust you. But you need to trust me. I am not perfect. I am lonely. I push people away because form the very beginning I was taught that it hurt to much when those I cared for were hurt because of me. Well, you did it. None of them, not Duo, Quatre, Trowa or Wufei could do it, but you did. You broke me. And now I ask that you at least acknowledge that!” Serena turned her head away slightly, weighing the consequences to any actions she might take. Then she lifted her head.

            While he watched her turn her head in thought, he inwardly screamed. What was she thinking about? Was she trying to think of a nice way to turn him down? Was she scared of him? All he knew was the most simple sensation any one human creature could possibly feel, the most basic of all emotions. It was indescribable for words, yet it boiled over, giving him heated hope that she might understand, might finally submit to him. Then he saw her head turn back his way and that was the last he was consciously aware of anything.*

 

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