Secret of You
Chapter 3

Author:  silent moon
Mail:  silentmoonstar@yahoo.com
Rated:  R
Genre:  Romance/Alt. Reality
Disclaimer:  standard

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Serena awoke early the next morning--as the sun only barely peeked over the horizon, as
Darien slept peacefully beside her, one possesive arm draped gently across her body.

She turned and tucked his arm back to him, watching his soft breathing for a while.  She was
tempted to wake him but noticed the dark hollows about his eyes that spoke of worry and late
nights and thought the better of it.  

She knew, by some instinct granted her by the intimacy of their friendship?  By the depth
of their love?  By some unspoken force between them?  that there had been relief in his
lovemaking.  That all the tension he'd been holding in for God knows how long had slipped
out and let sleep overtake him at last.

But she didn't know why.

She brushed the hair from his forehead gently aside and leaned over to kiss him lightly 
before slipping restlessly from bed and tying a robe about her own bare body.  Then she 
crept softly from the room and walked down the hall to the living room where the beautiful 
colours of sunrise lay in pools across the floor to the piano.  She sat down on the bench 
and fingered the keys without playing them......then she looked up at the lyrics and 
started.  Scrawled in Darien's familiar pen was another verse......he'd added a verse?  
When?

~I wanted you as I ran
	Falling love even as I am.
Seeking and unsure
	I found that you endure
You haunt my love with your own....~

She bit her lip.  

This was one of those beautiful things life gave you.....sacred, precious, too sweet so that
it ached into her.  She traced his writing with her fingers.  Then she picked up the pen
and finally wrote the rest of the song.....

~So here I am
	With every touch
I'm falling and I'm feeling
	I'm searching for the secret
		of you
Answer to me
	Answer to you
Haunting my love
	Secret of you.......~

And then the song's title was easy, obvious..........'secret of you'

Whether it was the soft sound of the keys that woke Reggie or perhaps that the wretched man
did not sleep at all Serena would never know.  But suddenly he was behind her.

"You are up early Tsukino-san."

She jumped.

"Gomen,"  He apologized smiling cooly, "I didn't mean to startle you.  It was lovely 
listening to you...play...."

She turned around and tried to fashion her mouth into a smile, but she could feel the hairs
on her neck standing on end.

"Good morning Masako-san."

She stood and moved to leave when he caught her arm, "There is no need to be afraid of
me, I will not hurt you."

She frowned at where he held her arm.  He followed her gaze and let go.  Then he smiled a 
rather terrible smile.

"I don't need to."

"Wh-what?"  She managed, edging towards the door.

"In this case, Darien will do all the dirty work himself."  His eyes roved over her slender 
body so obviously bare beneath the robe and her eyes narrowed angrily, "He's already hurting
you with his secret.  And when you find out the truth....."

"That's enough!"  She hissed, "Stop talking to me!"

Now his eyes narrowed, "You're on the wrong side you silly girl, Chiba-san has himself in so
deep he'll never get out!  He's in way over his head!"

She walked out of the room and never looked back.

That wretched man.  It was all a lie--wasn't it?  

~Oh Darien, please tell me this isn't all about money!?~

She slipped quietly back in to his room and locked the door firmly behind her before
slipping off her robe and back into bed.

Just seeing his handsome face comforted her thoughts.  This was Darien.  Her best friend.
Her lover.  He must have a reason.  Some reason...??

He began to stir then and reached for her, curling her into his arms with a satisfied sound
as he woke.

"GmorningUsako."  He murmured adoreably into her hair.

She smiled, "Mamo-chan..."  She sighed, "You're too cute!"

He only squeezed her tighter and she slipped her arms and one leg about him in response.

She heard him sigh and let his hand wander down her soft back, changing the mood with 
startling swiftness.

Darien.....

Her first, her only.  

He rolled her gently onto her back and leaned over her, kissing her neck and bare shoulder,
murmuring in japanese.

"I love you.  Only you.  It's always, always been only you Usako....."

She smiled and then let out a soft sigh herself as his hands became more persistent.  And
then she discovered how sweet it was to make love in the morning.  To feel the pressure
of Darien's warm, relaxed body press her into the soft bed as the mornings warm light drifted
across them.

Then he picked her up, still wrapped around him and carried her into the shower till they
were both cool and soothed, lips lost in endless kisses as the water ran over them

And how delightful it was to climb out of the shower and wrap a soft towel around the man
you love!  To see his hair ruffled and watch him go through the motions, shaving, dressing,
fixing his hair....

She teased him, ducking in and out of his arms as he tried in vain to get ready for the day.

"Mamo-chan don't you look cute!"  She would giggle, or "Mamo-chan, ashiteru." followed by
a kiss that made him forget what he was doing--again.

He came out as she finished dressing and touched up her hair......dabbed perfume gently 
behind her ears making him ache with love for her.

He knelt down beside her, "Usako....you are so lovely."  He said in japanese, making the 
words sound sweeter...

He turned her to face him, "I want nothing more than to call you my wife."  He said, choking
a bit over the words as though they hurt him somehow, "I want to ask you again....."

He pulled out a little velvet box and her hand flew to her mouth.  
The ring nestled inside was exquisite....small and fine with a generously winking sparkle
to the delicately cut stone......

"Darien, where did you get this?"  She gasped, shocked back into to english.

He smiled, "I had it made."

"Doesn't that take months?"  

He smiled, "I pulled in a few favours."

He watched her expectantly as she gaped at it a moment.  Then her eyes met his and she 
flushed, offering her small hand and letting him slip the ring onto it with an expression of
the sweetest bliss across his face

"Say yes..."

She smiled, "Yes.  Because I would do anything you asked me to.  Because I want to.  Because
I love you."

Serena watched Darien's blue eyes well up with tears and moved to reach for him when a sharp
knock at the door made them both jump.

It was Reggie.  And he simply arched an eyebrow at them, narrow eyes darting from Darien's 
still emotional face to Serena's glittering finger.

She quickly tucked her hand away and eyed him warily.

"Yes?"  Darien said, his voice suddenly tired.

"Gomen nasai Chiba-san,"  Reggie intoned, smiling his glittering smile, "But your presence is
required in the study.  Some last documents must be signed concerning the will--all but one 
ofcourse."

Now he looked directly at Serena with an expression of such malicious satisfaction her blood
ran cold.

Darien rolled his eyes, "Fine, fine."

He turned to Serena, "Keep getting ready, I'll be right back."

He looked so worn suddenly that she felt her heart grab and as he stooped to kiss her cheek
she tilted her chin and caught him on the mouth instead.

His eyes closed involuntarily a brief moment before he gave her a half confused, half dazed
look and left.

Reggie eyed Serena with something akin to respect a moment and she arched one challenging 
eyebrow in reply.

He nodded and left without a word.  His eyes said it all.
~You are a worthy advisary.~

Alone, sun streaming in to catch the love still echoing in the room from the night before, 
Serena fingered her new ring tenderly.

She tried hard to hold onto optimism.....to believe that she and Darien would make it through
all this and build a good life together.

But her mind was filled with doubts and questions.  

Would they go home or stay here?  What about her friends, her career?  

And what was Darien's secret?

She was haunted by the sense that she ought to have figured it out.  That she should be able
to piece it together.

Japan.  Why Japan?

She thought back to the first time Darien suggested they learn Japanese together.  Had he 
been planning it all along?  But why include her if he planned to come alone?  

Her stomach grabbed, because they had only been friends then.....he'd never planned on their
sleeping together....
But now he said he loved her and hadn't wanted to leave?  

Her thoughts spun violently.  What did it all mean?

Darien reentered at this moment and caught the chaotic look on her face.

"What is it?"  He asked in english, forgetting everything else......

She tried to smile, "oh, nothing!"

He frowned, "Usako, please don't keep things from me."

Then he winced as he realized what he'd said.

She arched a wry eyebrow, "You're one to talk."

"I'm sorry."

"I know."

They looked at one another a long moment before he pulled her out the door, "Come on, let's 
go out for a drive before the wedding."

She turned frowning on him with all the scorn of a woman, "Mamo-chan, I NEED to get my hair 
done!"

He chuckled at her, "My goodness, how COULD I have forgotten?!"  He caught her up in his 
arms, "I'll drop you at the hair salon then!"

She slipped into his embrace and kissed him warmly, "Alright."

They headed out arm in arm, passing Reggie quietly and waving goodbye to Molly.  But as they
headed out to the car park Serena realized she'd left her purse and ran back for it.  Darien 
waited patiently, trying to sooth the rush of emotions mixing strangely in his mind.  The 
sight of his beautiful financee as she skipped out to meet him helped.

They headed over towards the car again when she suddenly looked down at his shoes and stopped
him, "Mamo-chan, your shoelace is untied!"

He bent to tie it as she tossled his hair playfully and stooped to kiss him, distracting him.
They were lost in one another a long moment before it was abruptly shattered by an explosion.
The explosion of Darien's car.

Serena screamed as they were both thrown back, clutching one another on instinct.  Darien 
pulled them both to their feet and they stared in shock at the charred remains of his car.

If she hadn't forgotten her purse, if he hadn't stopped to tie his shoe???

She shook him roughly by the shoulders, hysterical, "You'd risk our lives for this?!  Your 
life!  MY LIFE?!"

Tears welled up in his eyes.

"I've had it!"  She cried and made to run back to the house when he caught her hand, "Wait!  
Please!  Please don't go Serena!"

"Are you mad?!  They're trying to KILL US!  What could possibly be so important?!  You would 
risk my life!"

The tears streamed down his cheeks, "Nothing, nothing is more important to me than you--but 
Usako, please, I'm asking you to help me.  I've worked these past two years, given up 
everything for the chance to have this.  All we have to do is get married this afternoon.  
I promise I'll keep you safe until then--I swear it!  Then we can leave, stay somewhere else, 
somewhere safe!"

She stared incredulously at him.  What could it be?  What meant so much to him?

Reggie appeared at this moment, all fake-concern, "My goodness, are you two alright?  I 
heard the explosion and--"

He was cut off as Darien slammed his fist hard into the shorter man's face.

"Damn you!"  Darien cried, "Telling might vito me out of the will, but hitting you doesn't! 
You--"
He let out a string of curses in Japanese the Serena didn't recognize save for his tone of 
voice.

Then he pointed to the manor, "Go, go back to your 'manor' and leave us alone!"

Reggie stared coldly at him, "There is no need to overreact Chiba-san.  I can assure you *I*
had nothing to do with the distruction of your car."

"Like hell you didn't!"

"It would be a terrible tragedy if something were to happen to you,"  He looked at Serena, 
"Or your lovely bride, before the wedding.  Perhaps you would like to postpone it, until it 
is safer?"

Serena watched Darien waiver a bit, as if contemplating bending to the wretched man's wishes.

Her resolve hardened, "I can assure you Mr. Masako, *nothing* will stop Darien and I from 
marrything this afternoon."

Both men turned to look at her incredulously.  For indeed, every trace of fear was gone from 
her features, replaced by something fierce and unwavoring.

Her hold on Darien's hand tightened, "Come along darling, let's catch a cab to our errands."

He raised his eyebrows at her and she pulled him back into the manor, stuffing their things 
into suitcases, grabbing her dress and calling them a cab before his shock wore off.

Then he regained control and directed them to a local hotel--right next to the police 
station.  They left their bags and headed by foot to a nearby hair salon, then a floral 
boutique, staying together until they were both ready and dressed for the wedding.

Then they caught a cab back to the manor, to marry on the beach.

They were met at the entrance by Darien's lawyer and several police officials called to see 
that the wedding proceeded safely without interuption.

Serena arched an eyebrow at Darien who muttered, "I'm not taking any chances."  and held 
her hand a little tighter.

Reggie and his lawyer were present along with some other officials from the company--not 
the people Serena had expected to attend her wedding.

The Priest was there as well, looking nervous at all the officers and criminals alike 
gathered to watch the two young people before him wed.

He stumbled over the words of the ceremony as Serena and Darien held hands, side by side.
Serena looking beautiful in her white dress with white flowers through her braided hair, 
Darien looking like a dashing hero in his tuxedo (an:  couldn't resist!)

It was a strange thing, this true love in the midst of the people and circumstances around 
it.  The Priest noticed it, so did the guests--even Reggie saw it shining in their eyes as 
they said 'I do' in both english and japanese.

One soft kiss and an exchange of rings and they were man and wife, rushing to their cab 
with the glares of Reggie and his co-workers, the raised eyebrows of lawyers and police 
and the brief sprinkling of rice from Molly, the only one smiling--at their backs.

They drove silently as the cab driver smiled at them.

"Almost over."  Darien said so softly Serena couldn't tell if he was saying it to her or 
just to himself.

They had a quiet dinner, Darien still looking about suspiciously until Serena reached over 
and squeezed his hand, "Stop worrying."

He took a deep breath and tried to relax, giving her a shaky smile.

Then she pulled him to his feet and led him upstairs, "It'll all be over tommorrow my love."
She soothed, standing in the doorway, "For tonight, let's just be together, the way I've 
always wanted us to be."

His eyes clouded with love then and she felt blessed to catch such emotion in them, and 
want it so badly too.

"Me too."  He said softly, "I've always loved you...."

He swept her into his arms and lost his hands in her beautiful hair, "My wife..."  he 
murmured, "My beautiful wife..."

"I love you..."

Her arms slipped under his shirt, tugging at his clothes until they were gone and his soft 
skin was all that was left. In the night, in the middle of Japan, in a crowded city they 
had only one another left.

And desire.

Serena gave into hers, letting it overtake her body and mind.  And she felt Darien lose 
control....and between their blissful lovemaking and the half-bottle of wine he'd absently 
drank at dinner, he lay afterwards completely open and vulnerable.

And that's when Serena asked--though she knew she shouldn't--she could no longer bear it.  
She leaned over and whispered ever so softly in his ear,

             "Is it a lot of money?"

And Darien, relaxed and dazed, replied sleepily, "Enough to live comfortably I guess....."
He mumbled the rest and drifted off to sleep, pulling her close.  But Serena was wide awake 
then, in complete horror.

And she lay awake thinking for some time before making her decision, tears in her eyes, 
heart shattered.

And when Darien awoke the next morning, it was to an empty bed.  In fact, every last trace 
of Serena was gone from the room.  And he knew.  Knew she was gone.  From the room, from 
the country, from his heart.

"No,"  He gasped, falling to his knees, "Oh no."

He struggled to piece together the previous night.  The sweet pleasure of their 
lovemaking....and something else, she'd asked him something....something about the 
will....but what...

Suddenly he paled, and the 'oh no' was silent this time, deafening in his own mind.

~What have I done?~

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