I think I might change the title of this story to Union of Love. You think I 
should?

Also, do you suppose I should take the 'Important Read' off?

UNION OF HATE
Chapter 5
Sailor Galaxy

Serena opened her mouth and then closed it again. Vaguely she heard Seiya 
swear under his breath but she didn't wonder why. It was obvious. What the 
hell were Darien and Lita doing here? Were they following them? Serena 
immediately rolled her eyes mentally at the thought. Lita and Darien were way 
too sophisticated to follow any-one anywhere.

Seiya stood up. Serena wanted to remain sitting but not only was that 
childish, it would just serve to amuse Darien. Besides, as far as she knew, 
Lita hadn't done anything to her. So Serena stood up as well.

Seiya inclined his head and Serena could feel the waves of dislike coming off 
Seiya. She silently prayed that Seiya wouldn't say anything to Darien about 
the unusual circumstances of the marriage.

" Mr Refatalki. Ms Larina. It's a surprise to see you here."

Darien shook the hand that Seiya held out but Serena could see the frosty look 
in his eyes. He turned towards her and she frowned as she saw that he was 
smiling at her. Coming over, he reached out a hand and put it on her shoulder 
to pull her closer. Serena blinked as she felt the soft brush of lips on her 
forehead. It lasted for only a second but... why had Darien kissed her? Okay 
so it wasn't a proper kiss but he had no right-

' He has a right. He's your fiancé.'

' Yeah but he's not like a real fiancé would be-'

' You're getting married aren't you? That would qualify him as being your 
really fiancé.'

' Still, did he have to kiss me?'

' For show's sake.'

' But Seiya knows that this isn't a usual marriage. And I expect that Darien's 
told his mistress the truth too.'

' Maybe.'

Serena shook herself out of her reverie to find that Darien had been talking 
the whole time and that Seiya was looking at her with a strange expression on 
his face. It could have been bitterness but there was no reason why that 
should be. So it was probably just annoyance at Darien's and Lita unexpected 
appearance.

" The surprise is ours. I hope you do not mind if Lita and I join you?"

Darien didn't wait for an answer. He pulled out the spare chairs and after 
Lita sat down next to Seiya, took the chair beside Serena. An uneasy silence 
fell over the table and as Serena looked at Darien, she noticed that he was 
staring at her with anger in his eyes. Why was he so angry? Darien held her 
gaze for a little while longer before turning to Seiya.

" So, what are you and Serena doing here?"

Seiya smiled.

" Oh me and Serena usually have breakfast, lunch and dinner together. This is 
quite usual. And we felt like... talking so we came here."

Serena saw Darien's mouth tighten and she shifted uneasily. Oh why had Seiya 
chosen this particular cafe for today? Why did Darien and Lita have to show up 
here right when Serena and Seiya were there? Speaking if Lita, Serena glanced 
at her. She was taken aback when she noticed that the other woman's regard was 
fixed unblinkingly on her. Once again Serena wondered about Lita. Who was she? 
She knew who Lita was as a person. But she couldn't help feeling that Lita was 
hiding something and that something was important and it had something to do 
with Serena.

Turning her attention to the two men again, she detected an air of reserve in 
their manner. Darien and Seiya were looking at each other. It wasn't a 
friendly look but held a hint of antagonism and an underlining trace of... 
abhorrence? 

Serena looked at the table top as the uncomfortable silence continued. This 
was dispelled however, by a waitress who came and gave two menus to Lita and 
Darien. In her mind Serena thanked the woman for breaking the tense 
atmosphere. 

Darien and Lita buried their heads in the menus. Serena let out a sigh of 
relief as the tension abetted slightly and looked at Seiya. He just shrugged 
and Serena rolled her eyes. Men were so predictable in some cases. They could 
never admit that they were being bull headed. Seiya grinned at Serena ruefully 
and she returned it, with fondness in her smile. Darien lifted his head and at 
witnessing the shared look between the two, a slight frown appeared between 
his brows.

" So, any food that you recommend?" 

Seiya's head turned towards the drawled question. Darien lifted his eyebrow 
when Seiya didn't say anything. 

" You did say that you and Serena frequently eat together?"

As Serena watched, a faint sneer twisted Seiya's mouth. It surprised her. 
Seiya was never but always so good natured with other people. But not with 
Darien. He was different with him. More rude. More unfriendly. More hostile.
And somehow, his change of feelings had occurred today. After she had told him 
about the real reason she was getting married to Darien.

" We eat together but who says that we come to this cafe? We go to other 
places and occasionally we stay at home."

Serena stared at Seiya and wondered what had come over him. Looking towards 
Lita, as she saw her menu waver a little, Serena caught the edges of an amused 
smiled which slashed the woman's beautiful mouth. Even the ice queen found 
this dialogue entertaining. She looked over at Darien and saw that his lips 
were compressed together  tightly. Shooting a reproachful glance at Seiya, she 
turned to smile politely at the man who was her fiancé. The man who was going 
to marry her. It didn't seem real somehow. 

" I suggest the light pickled Italian soup followed by the cooked fish in 
French sauce. And for dessert-"

Serena pressed her lips together as she pretended to think about it.

" I'd go for the chocolate soufflé. Very tasty."

Darien didn't say anything but Lita lowered her menu and smiled at Serena.

" Sounds delicious. I didn't have any breakfast, so an early lunch won't 
matter. And I'm anxious to see whether it's as tempting as you make it sound. 
I'd also be interested to acquire the recipes if they live up to the high 
standard that you think they merit."

Serena frowned.

" Recipes?"

Darien spoke before Lita could do more than nod her well groomed head.  

" Lita is a well renowned International Chef. And I have to say that her fame 
is well deserved."

Serena stared at Lita. She couldn't imagine that cool beauty ever slaving in 
the kitchen. Lita caught her eyes and maybe she sensed what Serena was 
thinking. Before she veiled her eyes, Serena saw something in the depths of 
the green eyes which moved her. 

It wasn't exactly sadness, but more like the feeling of something lost. The 
feeling of something that she could have had, but had not because of things 
she had done. Serena frowned as she thought about that. Is that why Lita was 
so distant? It could be that she didn't know Serena and Seiya but it could 
also be the fact that she was still suffering from something that had happened 
in the past. Serena would bet the something happening in the past. Lita didn't 
quite seem the quiet, silent, mousy type. She seemed more of the straight 
forward, blunt type who did things impulsively.

An uneasy silence buzzed around the group again as Serena stared at the 
tablecloth. Why did Darien and Lita have to show up here? Well, there was no 
other way of getting an answer but by asking it.

" Darien?"

His head jerked up at the sound of her voice. Serena could see Seiya looking 
at her but she refused to look his way. She could sense that Lita was also 
listening to the conversation. 

" You haven't told me what you and Ms Larina are doing here."     

He stared at her for a while before turning to smile gently at Lita.

" We were thinking of having a light brunch."

Seiya spoke up.

" Oh? And you just happened to be by this cafe at this exact time?"

Darien turned his icy gaze on Seiya and Serena's lips twisted as she swallowed 
back a groan. Seiya was really sweet, willing to argue with Darien for her 
sake. But maybe he shouldn't pick up the other man on every word. It seemed... 
childish.

" I do not understand what you are implying Mr Granger."
 
Seiya leaned forward, towards Darien with an aggressive scowl on his face.

" Let me spell it out for you then. I think you're following Serena. Stalking 
her actually-"

Darien shot up in his seat and glared at Seiya. Turning to Serena, he bent 
down and pulled her up by her arm. Ignoring Seiya completely, he looked at 
Lita and smiled.

" I am sorry but maybe you can see yourself home? Serena and I have to talk 
and I think we should do it now. I do not want to talk here with him-"

Darien jerked his head towards a scowling Seiya.

"- as a witness."

Without waiting for an answer, he pulled Serena along behind him and before 
she turned to face the way they were going, Serena saw the astonished and then 
slightly hurt look on Lita's face. She didn't dare to look at Seiya. 

But the rat! How dare Darien do that to Lita? How could he be so insensitive 
as to just leave Lita there? Didn't he have any feelings for others? Obviously 
not. Serena was about to give her opinion of his behaviour but before she 
could, Darien opened the door of a limo and swept her inside. She opened her 
mouth but closed it again without uttering a word as Darien leaned in and 
bodily shifted her over. Then, sliding into the space next to her, he closed 
the door and tapped on the glass pane in front of them. It was probably a 
signal because the limo's engine purred and it joined the main stream traffic. 

" What was that?"

Darien turned his attention to Serena. He didn't pretend to misunderstand her.

" I am your fiancé. I have a right to talk to you whenever I want."

Serena gritted her teeth in the face of such chauvinism. Because it couldn't 
be anything else. That 'you belong to me and I'm your master' attitude was 
something she had an idea that all Greeks viewed as being right.

" Does that right include you ditching your mistress?"

Darien lifted he eyebrows. 

" My mistress?"

Serena pursed her lips together.

" Yes. Lita Larina. You just left her, with no concern for her feelings. And 
do you have any idea about how rude you were to Seiya?"

Darien's eyes began to burn and Serena could see that he was angry. Livid 
actually. Hell, he had been furious the whole time they had been sitting in 
the cafe. He had just hid it. Well, he had hid it when he could. But when he 
was talking to Seiya...

" Ah. Seiya Harris. That black haired, black eyed man who you have breakfast, 
lunch and dinner with."

Serena stared at him but didn't say anything. What was Darien getting at now? 

" You care for him?"

Darien's enquiry was stilted as if he'd forced himself to ask it. 

" Yes. I do."

He nodded and stared out of the window. Serena looked at his profile and by 
the clenching of his jaw, she knew that her answer had angered him further. 
But why should it? It wasn't his business to know her feelings for Seiya. 
Serena said as much to him and his head jerked around to stare at her.

" You think not? I am your fiancé. I will soon be your husband. How can you 
say that your feelings for another man have nothing to do with me?"

Another man? Is that how he viewed Seiya? Serena bit back a grin at the 
thought. He wouldn't appreciate her laughing at his expense.

' Since when do you care what he thinks?'

' I don't. I just think that I wouldn't prefer him angrier. I just know that I 
wouldn't prefer him angrier.'

That's what prompted Serena to use a gentle tone of voice when she wanted to 
hiss and spit at him. 

" Seiya is just a friend-"

Darien interrupted her before she could carry on.

" Yet there is something between the two of you."

Serena thought about it. There had been something between them but it was gone 
now. They had agreed to be friends. Just friends. So maybe she should tell him 
about it. It might ease his mind a little about the 'other man'.

" Seiya and I used to date. Used to. We broke up and became just friends."

Darien froze. 

" You used to date him?"

He said it in a tone of voice which suggested that he found the notion 
unbelievable. Immediately Serena's defences went up. 

" What's so amazing about that?"

Darien shrugged.

" He does not seem your type."

Even though Serena agreed with him, he had no right to declare such comments.

" Oh? And what would you consider my type to be?"

She meant voice to be cutting but evidently Darien didn't take it like that. 
He just lounged back in his seat and Serena saw an amused gleam his eyes.

" Me."

Serena's eyes widened and she stared at him. He stared right back at her and 
even though the beginnings of a smile twisted his mouth, she could sense his 
anger building at her look of shock at such a thought. He knew that she had 
never even thought about it. And that didn't make him happy. But why shouldn't
it? Didn't he want a wife who wouldn't complicate his life? After all, Serena 
didn't intend being a real wife to him. He'd get joint custody of Diana but 
she'd live in another house with her niece. The two wouldn't even be living 
together.

As the staring match continued, Serena asked herself what she was doing.

' You're being such an idiot, letting him boss you around.'

' Am not. And he's not bossing me round. I'm going because I haven't got 
anything else to do.'

' Then why haven't you even asked the man where you're going?'

The thought made her snap out of her stupor and shake her head slightly to get
rid of the disturbing thoughts that had been residing in her mind while she 
had gazed into the dark blue orbs of her fiancé's eyes. Her fiancé. She needed
to get used to the fact. 

" Where are you taking me?

Darien briefly glanced at her, looked out of the window, and then turned his 
eyes on her again.

" We are going to get the marriage license to get married."


What is going on between Seiya and Darien? What is Lita and has it got 
something to do with Serena? Why is Darien getting the marriage license so 
soon?

Sailor Galaxy

sailorprincessuk@yahoo.co.uk