Secret of You
Chapter 2

Author:  Silent Moon
Genre:  Romance/Alternate Reality
Rated:  R
E-mail:  silentmoonstar@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: standard

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Another rustle and Serena was up and out the door, running breathlessly down the hallway
to Darien's door.

It was locked.

~It's probably nothing....it's probably nothing...Oh God...~  She thought as she knocked,
holding back from pounding on it desperately.

Darien opened the door, standing half-sleepy--though focusing sharply as Serena pushed her 
way in and past him shutting the door behind her breathlessly.

"I-I...this is going to sound crazy...I am crazy...but I heard a noise in my room and...
....and...I just don't feel safe there.....can I stay with you?"

He was staring strangely at her....lithe figure in a short night shirt....face pale and
wide-eyed...

He nodded, shaking himself,  "Yes, yes of course."

"Thanks."  She said gazing over to his double bed and swallowing.
~Oh this is wrong....this is soooo wrong....~  Although, it occurred to her how ridiculous
that thought was considering she was marrying him.

"It was probably nothing..."

He shrugged, "You're far from home in a strange place, in even stranger circumstances."

She chuckled a little and an inkling of the tension between them dissipated.
But it returned with vehenom as she climbed into bed and so did he.  He sat back against
the pillows he had propped up, "Mind if I read for a bit?"

"Not at all."  She said yawning involuntarily.  She cuddled down into the covers and forced
herself to relax....trying desperately not to think about the last time she'd been in bed
with Darien.....but she was sleepy...her mind cloudy....her thoughts drifted back without
her...
..stumbling a little drunkenly down that beach together....laughing under the moonlight..
..the way he'd swung her round in his arms and then told her how beautiful she was....and
meant it....and then...that moment......that perfect moment had made itself between them...
left her breathless as he'd bent and kissed her....left her lost as he'd swept her back
to her place and she'd pulled him in--she'd done it....taken him....made it okay....Oh God...
But he'd been so wonderful.....laying her back and making her feel so graceful and beautiful
and natural.....and those precious moments when he was lost had been for her alone....

Afterwards he'd gathered her into his arms and run his hands softly over her, chuckling a bit
as she'd wrapped herself around him, cuddling in closer....it seemed as though he really...
that he did....lo--

He shifted suddenly reading and the sound made her jump back to awareness, disoriented and
panicked again.

"Sorry."  He murmured feeling her jump.  He chanced a glance over to her and found her
pale and trembling.  

He put down the book he was reading and reached an arm over to gather her up,
"You really did have a scare didn't you?"

His voice was so gentle it stung her nerves, she squeezed her eyes shut to stop the tears,
~Why do I always get so emotional?!~
but they escaped anyway.

He pulled her into his arms and tucked her beneath his chin, "I'm sorry I frightened
you so about this place....I shouldn't have.....I promise I won't let anything happen to you..
...and this will all be over soon."

~And then what?~  Her thoughts prompted.

"Just rest now...we'll talk more tommorrow."  He soothed gently, stroking her back.

But he felt his touch make her stiffen even more....

"I'm sorry."  He said so sincerely it hurt her.  Hurt her that he was still wonderful,
even after breaking her heart that night so long ago.

With a strength of will she knew she did not really possess she pulled herself away from
him, forced herself to turn away from him and burrow into her pillow,
"Me too."  She said, trying to sound cold and detached.

She did not see his own body stiffen, nor the pain that flashed into his eyes.
His fists clenched a moment before he let out a breath and reached for her, laying down
beside her and laying one arm around her,
"Please let me hold you..."  He choked out so sadly....so desperately....

She shut her eyes to keep the sudden tears from falling.....and caught his hand in
a tender squeeze.  Let him press his body to hers and hold her till they fell asleep....

~What am I going to do?~  She thought desperately before drifting off.



The next morning was better however.  In the light of day it was easy to distract oneself
with necessary politeness.  

Serena woke to find Darien up and showering and after she was ready she met him in the kitchen
to have breakfast.  They lingered over pancakes and caught up....like old friends.

"So tell me everything that's happened these past two years."  He said eagerly.

She smiled, "Well, my music career's kind of taken off...I don't know if you know..."

He smiled back, "I have all your CD's if that's what you mean."

She looked surprised, she hadn't expected her songs to reach here....though maybe they
hadn't....maybe he'd simply kept track of her....

"They're beautiful."

She managed to nod weakly, "Th-thank you."

"Have you been performing at all?"  He asked, sipping his coffee.

She shook her head, "No, not really.  I've mostly been in the studio mixing.  You know
I don't like to perform anyway, producing is a good excuse to avoid it."

He chuckled, "I suppose.  Anything else?"

"I've been writing a bit too...."

"Define 'a bit'?"  He prompted with amused eyes.  He knew her too well.

She blushed and looked down, "I-I've a couple of books published."

He reached over and took her hand, "I knew you could do it."

She darted nervous eyes to his a moment but he'd masked whatever expression was there a moment
and replaced it with friendly care.

"There's a piano here if you care to play."  

"Oh, really?"  She said, suddenly alight with interest.  The release of playing was
just what she needed.

He led her to the room and she smiled at the beautiful piano...expensive...high quality...why
was she somehow not surprised?

She sat down and fingered the keys.
"It's lovely."

"I have to go in town before the funeral.  Do you want to stay and play a while?"

She nodded gladly, "Yes, oh that would be great."

"I'll meet you back here in a little while then."  He leaned down and kissed her
forehead.

Then he called out to the housekeeper, "Molly?"

A young woman appeared with ruddy brown hair, "Hai?"

"This is Serena."  He gestured.

"It is very good to meet you...."  Molly struggled with the english words.

"It's good to meet you too Molly."  She returned in Japanese, "And I speak japanese if that
makes it any easier on you."

"Hai.  Arigato."  She smiled.

"Molly will be here while I'm gone."  Darien said, eyeing her knowingly.  

Serena smiled gratefully.  After last night, she felt better knowing someone was here.

And Darien.  After last night he wasn't taking any chances.  

Truthfully, neither of them would ever know how close to death she had really come that night.


Serena played and sang for several hours, grabbing some paper to scribble the lyrics down
on.

~Beautiful in the night,
	Your eyes are as black as the midnight.
		And I tremble in your wake,
		I know it's my mistake,
			To haunt your love with my own.~

She found, here, it was impossible not to write a song about him...about that night....

~Beautiful in the night,
	Your silvery skin bathed in moonlight
		The beauty in your eyes
		It's echoed in your sighs
			You haunt my love with your own.~

Molly came by the doorway and smiled, "You have a beautiful voice."  

"Arigato."  She said in return.

"Would you like some tea?"

Serena smiled gratefully, "I would love some."

Molly brought in the tray and sat--Serena insisted she stay and have a cup with her.

"I meant it."  Molly said sweetly, "I've heard Chiba-san playing your songs often and I
like them very much.  You are very talented."

"I agree."  A voice cut in from the doorway causing them both to start and look up sharply.

Reggie Masako stood in the doorway, a very insincere smile on his hard face.
He came in and joined them for tea.

Molly fled to finish her chores and Serena found herself locked in awkward conversation
with the dreadful man.

"She speaks the truth."  He commented wryly, "Chiba-san plays your music often.  I did not
realize it was you.  You are indeed blessed with a beautiful voice."
He bowed slightly at her.

She forced herself to say thank you--but did not smile.  Nervous prickles were setting the
hair on the back of her neck on end.

"You are best friends he tells me."  Continued Reggie.

"Yes.  I've known him a long time."

"You must be to do such a...favour for him."  Reggie said dryly, then leaned closer to her,
"Do you trust him?"

Serena frowned, "Yes, Mr. Masako, I do."

"Of course you must."  He smiled kindly, "I just hope your trust is not....misplaced."

~It's not for money.....he wouldn't do it for money.~  She thought wildly.

Her eyes narrowed, "It's more than trust."  She said murderously, "I believe in Darien.
I believe in him more than anything else in my life.  That's why I trust him--and not you."

Reggie just smiled, looking over her shoulder to the doorway, "I am sure he is glad to hear 
it."

And indeed, there stood Darien in the doorway, tall and handsome in his dark suit.  Hands
clenched tensely, eyes burning with a kind of admiration for her....

They exchanged grateful looks, he for her believing in him, and she for his showing up
to relieve her of this hideous conversation.

"Ready to go?"  He asked and offered her his hand.

"Yes."  She replied and let him pull her to him and lead her out. 

He shot back a deadly look to Reggie but he merely shrugged.

The funeral was odd to say the least.  Serena had never seen so many suspicious, underhanded
looking people in all her life, and having them all together, and all in black made if feel
like a movie set.

The Priest gave his speech and several people got up and spoke of their late boss's business
genius and kind professionalism--at which point she saw Darien's face harden a bit, and then
the Priest announced the reading of the will would be Friday.  It was Wednesday, and she and
Darien were getting married on Thursday.  Serena shook her head.

It was an open casket and Darien walked up to give his respects.  It seemed he had no
surviving family--save for Reggie, his nephew.  His wife had died some years earlier and he
had no children.  

Serena watched Darien walk slowly up and fix the man's peaceful face with a hard gaze.  She
slipped up and took his hand gently, giving it a soft squeeze.  To her surprise he
gripped it tightly in return, revealing the tension all this was causing him.  

He leaned a little closer to the chubby, dark haired corpse causing Serena to shiver--even
in death there was something sinister about him--and said softly, almost hoarse with emotion,
"I don't forgive you."

Serena looked at him strangely.
~Forgive him for what?  For having to go through all this?  Would he ever have called her
again if it weren't for--?~

He suddenly turned on his heel and stalked out, taking Serena with him.
Reggie tried to get his attention but he ignored the wretched man and went straight to the car.

"Where are we going?"  Serena asked nervously as Darien's dark figure slipped into the driver's
seat and revved the engine with obvious anger.

"Anywhere but here."  He muttered.

She relaxed a bit and smiled sympathetically, "Okay."

He gripped the steering wheel tightly and drove in silence through the busy streets.
The air conditioning gradually smoothed away the stifling heat.  Serena watched her handsome
friend with a mixture of curiousity and that tinge of awe she always held for him.  

Some men were easy to understand.  Some men were simple and uncomplicated.  
Darien was not.  He was strong and loyal and fiercely responsible.  But there was always
an elusive quality to him that kept her nerves a bit a on edge....it was the combination of
everything about him that lent him such a quality she supposed.  His presence.  
It was always a bit dark, something unpredictable and passionate.

It was what pulled her to him with such attraction.  He was seductive without effort.

He turned and caught her staring.  His lips curved into a half smile, "Something on your mind?"

She blushed despite herself and missed the slightly amused look on his face,
"Oh, n-nothing."

~Stop stammering!~

He chuckled a little, "You always were adorable."

She frowned, "I am NOT!"
Oh how she loathed being boxed into THAT wretched category.  Adorable girls irritated the
hell out of her....horror of horrors if SHE was one of them!  Just because she was short...
she thought in rage.

"What were you thinking about?"  He persisted.

She grew serious, "Would you ever have called me if it weren't for this?"

She watched pain flash into his eyes, "Oh Serena..."  He muttered under his breath.

"I'm sorry, I know you can't talk about this...."

He pulled into the underground parking of the shopping centre and parked, turning to face
her with deadly serious eyes, "No....the answer is no.  I wouldn't have called you."

She stared at him in shock.

He took a breath, "I never would have left in the first place...."

Then he got out of the car.  She simply sat, frozen.  
~Never would have left....?~

He came round and opened her door, offering a hand.  She looked dazedly at him as he pulled her
up to meet him.

"I-I don't understand..??"

He sighed and she noticed for the first time, with a shock of guilt, the heavy sadness she
had missed until now.

"I know you don't.  I'm sorry.  All I can do is keep apologizing...."  He said with 
frustration, raking a hand through his dark hair.

Tears welled up in her eyes, "Y-you mean...even your leaving to come here was part of all
this?"
~How much don't I know?~  Suddenly Darien felt like a stranger.

He nodded, looking guiltly, "Yes, and I should have told you when I had the chance....now
I can't..."

She turned away, "Who are you?"  She whispered brokenly.

He gripped her shoulder, "No no, it's not like that I swear.  I've told you everything, 
everything but this...."

He turned her to face him and she met his haunted eyes with her own anguished ones,
"I-I didn't want to leave."  He stumbled over the words with a sudden innocence that
cut into her heart.

"What?"  She managed as he put his arms around her.

"That night..."  He began, tilting her face up tenderly to his, "I--"
Suddenly he turned and looked suspiciously around.  He pulled her silently to the stairs and 
walked her to the mall.

"W-what is it?"  She asked wide-eyed.

"I think we're being followed."  He grumbled, "Again."

"Again?  Why?"

"They're keeping an eye on me."

Inside the mall was like a different Universe.  Bustling and bright....it seemed almost
innocent compared to their circumstances.

Darien put a protective arm around her and led her through the crowds.
"Shall we look for a dress?"

She started a bit, "Oh yes, ofcourse."

He glanced behind them a couple of times and finally seemd to relax a bit.  And--though
cautiously at first--she softly slipped her arm about him in return making him start a bit
and then give her a squeeze with an emotion she could not place.....tenderness?  gratitude?
pain?  regret?

They went through many dress stores and something of their old comraderie returned with 
the usual shopping banter.  A few hours later Darien was exhausted and walking with his
shoulders slumped.

"I just haven't seen the right one yet!"  She defended.

He shook his head, "There were a whole bunch *I* liked."

"Oh *you* liked them!"  She scoffed, "You do *not* know how to pick out a dress!"

He laughed indulgently, "Of course dear."

"Shut up."  She laughed back, suddenly her eyes lit up, "Oh, I see it!  Don't say a word!"

She dragged him into another store and walked back to a rack he couldn't believe she spotted
from the crowded mall--how did women do this?

She plucked up a white dress, simple, silky, sleevless and somewhere between short and long.
It *was* lovely.

"Perfect!"  She breathed, "Oh please fit!"

She hurried to the fitting room and he smiled taking a seat waiting.  He hadn't expected her
to pick out a white dress.....and it flattered a very silly part of him that she was.
He tried to shake off the guilty realization that if this were real she'd be shopping with Mina
and the girls and they'd have thrown her a beautiful shower.....that Andrew would be
his best man.....Andrew....he'd barely written his best friend back home....hadn't wanted
to involve any of those close to him in all this mess....could they ever forgive him?

Serena emerged at this moment and he suddenly forgot everything else in the world.....everything
but how absolutely beautiful she looked....

"Beautiful....beautiful..."  He murmured making her smile and blush, trying to diffuse the
moment.

"It *is* nice..."

"That's the one."  He smiled.

She went back in and tossed it over the door.  He took it and paid before she had chance.

"You didn't!"  She exclaimed as she came up to the counter in time to see the sales
clerk pass him the bag.

"Indeed I did!"  He chuckled.

"Mamo-chan!"  She hissed in japanese, "I told you not too!"

"Calm down Usako."  He replied, enjoying speaking Japanese pleasantly more then she could
ever know, "I told you I'd pay for everything.  And I certainly don't mind paying for
something that you look so beautiful in."

She smiled wryly, "Flattery will get you no where mister!"

"How 'bout ice cream?"  He said, grinning boyishly.

"Ice cream!"  She shrieked with her trade mark joy, then she calmed and attempted to look
serious, "I'll consider it."

He laughed delightedly and for a moment he looked relaxed.  She smiled.  They headed
for the ice cream shop nearby and he bought her a cone.  

And as they stood by the stone fountain he turned suddenly and said, "I've missed you Usako,
and everyone else too.  It's so good to be with you again."

"Like a taste of home?"  She quipped.

"Something like that."  He replied.


They headed home then and moved all her things into his room.

"I'm *not* staying in there alone."  She said seriously and he nodded, a terrible feeling
gripping his stomach at the thought of--of---he couldn't think of it.

But as he watched her unpack her clothes and hastily arrange her creams and toothpaste
on his dresser his heart grabbed.

They had some tea but Reggie joined them and Serena suggested they go to bed and rest up
for the wedding, not wanting him to set Darien on edge again.  She had a feeling his poor
nerves had taken enough.

She washed back the inner battle of doubts Reggie set off in her everytime as they closed the
door and then Darien suddenly turned on her, taking her by the shoulders as though he could
bare it no longer....

"You think....you think I left you that night because I don't love you don't you?"

She stared up into his face with shock, unable to answer.

"Well...?"  He asked, shaking her a bit.

"I....yes, I thought you couldn't face telling me it meant nothing the next morning....I don't
know!  I don't know what I thought!  I couldn't believe it!  And then I couldn't find you 
anywhere!"

Fresh tears started.

"It's not true!  I didn't leave because I don't love you..."

She wouldn't meet his eyes....couldn't as the full weight of what he was saying sunk in...

"I shouldn't have....I'm so sorry....Usako..."

She shut her eyes in pain, "D-do you...?"

He tilted her face up and made her meet his eyes so she could read the truth there,
and she could, "Yes."  He choked out.

Then he leaned down till his mouth was just a breath away from her own, and told her softly
in japanese, "Ashiteru."

"Ashiteru!"  She returned, her voice a soft cry and then he was kissing her and she was lost.

~I can't....I can't...~  She thought wildly....did this change everything?  But as the kiss
turned passionate and desire crept through her body she heard her heart whisper
~Yes, yes it does.  This makes everything okay.....he loves you and you love him....~

But as she wrapped herself around him and let him carry her to the bed her head persisted
in reminding her of one thing.....he had a secret....

But it was washed away that night by the steady rhythm of their lovemaking and the way he kept
saying he loved her over and over.....with passion, with desperation, with truth....

He had a secret.....but love was stronger than any secret....wasn't it?

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