Konnichiwa, minna! Stuff at bottom! Proud Member of Project STAR (Story Teller's Association of Romantics)! Join up!!! Proud member of RAH (Readers Against Hentai), too. So I don't get flamed, I will say this - RAH is NOT out to diss the writers of hentai or flame them in ANY WAY!!! LET IT BE KNOWN!!!!! *raises wooden staff above head and ends up looking like a complete and total idiot* Er.. heh heh.. just get the point ^_^ *~!~**~!~**~!~**~!~**~!~* Love Will Still Live On *~!~**~!~**~!~**~!~**~!~* It was a balmy Spring day. Melody and Darien had opted to walk the 2 miles to the hospital. Despite the deep sorrow in his eyes, Darien seemed to be enjoying himself. For this, Melody was thankful. The conversation between the two died a peaceful death, and they walked along in comfortable silence. After awhile, Melody started humming a cheerful tune. Darien looked at her. She had her face tilted to the sun, her long, thick black hair cascaded down her back. Darien immediately looked away, scolding himself for looking at her as.. more than a friend. "Nice song," he said. "What is it?" She stopped humming and looked at him. "I'm not sure, it's just a song," she said cheerfully. "My mother used to hum it.. when.. before.." The smile slowly faded from her face. Those green eyes, which captured the gazes of many men, regained the haunted darkness that was usually in them. "Do you want to talk about it?" asked Darien softly. Melody nodded slowly. "Yeah.. I need to tell someone, I guess.. It's like this.. I'm an orphan. I.. well, you're gonna think I'm crazy, but I can't remember anything between the ages of 6 and 18.. I remember before 6 and after 18, but in the middle is a big blur.." Darien nodded, encouraging her to continue. "My mother hated my father with a passion. They were forced to marry, and he raped her. She got pregnant with me. He left her before I was born. She raised me well, she was a loving mother. When I was about five and a half, she was killed.. in a fire.. The last thing I remember was a man in purple who wore a mask.. it may have been an illusion.. "The first thing I remember afterwards was waking up in my apartment. I was 18 years old. I had an education, up through college. I tried to get a job, but I found out I needed a degree. So, I got a masters degree in chem and went to Professor Tomoe's lab. He gave me a job there. "So.. here I am. It's a crazy story, I know.. but it's the truth.. as far as I know it." Melody stared at the sidewalk. "I bet you think I'm crazy. You have a right to." Darien smiled. "Not at all. You know, I'm an orphan too. My parents were killed in a crash when I was young. I survived, but had permanent amnesia. I lived at an orphanage until I could get a job. It never bothered me much that I didn't know who I was until.. "I started having a dream about a princess. I knew she could help me know who I am.. all my life, I've been alone.. until I found.. Serena.." His voice trailed off. Melody grabbed his arm. "Darien.. Serena will be alright.. don't lose hope.." "Darien! Melody!!" They both looked up. They'd just about reached the hospital, and Hotaru was racing towards them. "Serena is awake!!" *~!~**~!~**~!~* The group rushed into Serena's room. She smiled weakly at them. Darien slowly walked over to her bedside, sat down in the chair, and took her hand. "Serena.." His voice cracked and he fell silent. "There's.. something you should know, Darien..," Hotaru whispered. "She.. she can't hear you." Darien spun around to face Hotaru. "WHAT?? What do you MEAN, can't hear me?" Hotaru closed her eyes. A single tear slid down her cheek. "She's deaf," she said flatly. "Serena will never hear again." Darien saw his old life shatter before him. Never again would he be able to tell her, verbally, how much he loved her. He wouldn't get to apologize for not being there for her. His soul felt like it had been ripped in half. Melody put a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?" "I... yeah, fine." Darien's gaze was locked to Serena's. "Give me.. give me a minute alone with her.." The two women nodded and silently left the room. Darien looked into Serena's eyes, those eyes that were always cheerful, always laughing.. to imagine, she'd never hear again.. "D..Darien.." she whispered. He blinked, then nodded. "Hotaru told you I can't .. can't hear. I know how you feel, Darien," she whispered. "I love you more than anything, Darien, ANYTHING! And it hurts me to know I'll never hear your voice again.." Darien's eyes filled with tears. He nodded to show he understood. He raised her hand to his face, still gazing into her eyes. She smiled faintly. "I'll be.. fine.. we'll do something." Darien was forced to look away. A tear rolled unheeded down his cheek. He didn't know what to say, didn't know what to do. Everything he'd wanted to say, everything he'd wanted her to know.. she would never, not now, because.. "Serena," sobbed Darien. "I.. I.." Still holding her hand to his face, he lowered his head to her bed. She gently removed her hand from his grasp and stroked his hair. "Se..re..na.." he choked. Sobs shook his frame. He couldn't stop them, no matter how hard he tried to regain control. There was nothing he could do for her, and that hurt more than any wound inflicted in battle. "Don't cry.." said Serena softly. Her voice was full of love, but it was strange because she couldn't hear herself. This only fueled his agony, and he cried even harder. Serena didn't know what to do, and looked on, helplessly. The door opened slowly, and a raven-haired beauty stuck her head inside. The girl was Melody. Serena studied her carefully, then looked back at Darien. Melody's eyes filled with tears and she left, closing the door behind her. *~!~**~!~**~!~* Outside the room, Melody leaned against the door. She slowly slid to the floor and brought her knees to her chest. She put her head to her knees and cried softly. It hurt her to see Darien so sad. Hotaru was crying, too, standing by the door, leaning against the wall. Her head was in her hands. The thought of not being able to help her Princess was simply too much. She cursed herself. she screamed silently. *~!~**~!~**~!~**~!~* To be continued.. *~!~**~!~**~!~**~!~* I know, I know, it's short. I feel really bad. I've been sooo busy with the play and other things. I PROMISE you that part 5 will be longer. I swear it! Muchas gracias to.. Lianne-sama, Razzz-sama, Sidnei, pinai7, Kaos95, Jade, Allie, and probably a whole army of others whose names escape me. ^_^ Tiga Shadow http://members.tripod.com/~PaladinStar/index.html Tiga2@hotmail.com Konnichi wa, minna! In case you didn't figure it out, this story won't really have alot of action in it. I decided to mention that now, rather than in part 1, because I wasn't sure what I was gonna do with it then =^.^=