Ten years had past from that dreadful day. Darien Shields had forged a successful life as a feared man. He was, after all, the leader of the largest mob family in his area. Everyone knew, that a person would need to be desperate to do business with the likes of Darien Shields for he had no conscious; his blue eyes were empty and his heart cold. In fact Darien had no heart, no amount of begging could sway him from his convictions. Business was business to him, a game of supply and demand; he supplied, and demanded a return. His ability to do the dirty work was what put the fear in people's faces, Darien never sent his goons out to do a job he wanted done, no, he himself would often take care of it. It didn't matter who was on the hit list either many a woman who thought she was immune to him simply because she was a woman had been slain by his hand.

He lived not far from his friend's old house. The home of Darien Shields was his personal sanctuary; everyone knew to leave him alone while he was home. One-day things were different. Darien woke from his sleep early in the morning as usual and walked to his bedroom window. It was a cold winter day as he thrust the curtains open to let the dampened sunlight in to cast dirty looking beams of light across the floor. Glancing just once at the old Tsukino house infuriated him. Ten years he'd been alone. Ten years he'd driven past that house ignoring what it had once been. 'No longer.' He thought, bitterly twisting his face in disgust. He quickly turned away and marched into his large closet; his bare muscular chest rose and fell rhythmically as he searched through his suits in frustration. He wanted to look good for this; finally his eyes fell on one of his suits as he froze and a chilling smile spread across his chiseled face. Taking his time, Darien dawned the suit, which fit his tone body perfectly, many women wished for him to cast his eyes upon them with admiration but those eyes rarely fell upon anyone who was not to be undone by his hands. Black hair gently fell over his forehead accenting his deep blue eyes, as he walked out of his suite of rooms and downstairs to the phone where he dialed a number.

"Hello? Andrew? Yeah, I'll be there a little later today… I have something I feel like doing." That was all he said before hanging up the receiver and marching into his garage. He grabbed a large can of gasoline and loaded it into his car then took off at a voracious speed.

The cold air greeted him as he stepped out of the fast sports car he enjoyed so much and into the shadow of the house that had sat so empty for ten years. Grabbing the gas can violently he marched up the large steps and stopped in front of the grand doors, A brief warming sensation washed over him as he touched the doorknob that had once lead him into a safe world. Anger returned as he found the door locked, though it was solid and strong it couldn't stand against Darien's determined kick which he quickly administered once right below the lock. A deafening crack echoed within as the door swung open revealing the large, dark, and empty corridor.

He walking into the main hallway and looked around. It was the same as it had been so long ago, except now it was empty and cold, much like him. Absentmindedly he began to walk throughout the house letting his memories flood back until he found himself in front of familiar doors… Serena's room. Feeling his heartbeat quicken Darien's fingers brushed the cold metal of the handle and turn it to release the lock, allowing door to slowly creak open and reveal an untouched room. He stared in utter disbelief at the space that seemed as though she'd been in it only a few minutes earlier, half expecting her small frame to roll out from under the bed and inform him the past ten years were only a nightmare. He slowly stepped in, penetrating the sense of timelessness that enveloped the dim and musky room the floor moaned its opposition to the intrusion. As his cold eyes scanned the room his eyes caught on the faint glitter of an object sitting on the nightstand. Cautiously he stepped across the floor and took the object in his hand then held it up to the faint light that seemed to permeate the air. Sudden sadness welled up in his chest as he gazed at it; it was his gift to her on her tenth birthday. A solid silver frame containing a picture of what had been the two of them, engraved into the shiny silver were the words together forever, and at the bottom it said meatball head. He smiled knowing that the identical frame he'd had made for himself still sat beside his bed at home. His smile soon evaporated when he noticed his image had been ripped from the photo inside; suddenly he realized his cheeks felt wet and he reached up to touch his face.

One tear was all it took to send him into a fury; one tear, welled up inside for many years brought great pain into Darien's life. Upon the realization that the water droplet had come from his eye Darien began ripping the room apart. All of the loneliness he'd felt these many years, all of the hatred for Ken Tsukino, all of him… was suddenly released upon the room. Nothing save for the silver frame which he has tucked into his pocket was spared, this would be the last moment he would feel vulnerable, and after he'd finished ripping through the small area he emptied the gasoline over the many possessions his friend had so cherished and let a single match fall do destroy it.

Emerging from the blazing house with a calm demeanor Darien peacefully got into his car and left. "Next time I see you, you will be a pile of ash… nothing." He recited to himself.

"Do you think he's okay Andrew?" A raven haired man named Seiya asked Darien's best friend Andrew.

"He's okay… he said he might be late. He told me he had something to do." Andrew pondered his friend's mood that morning.

"Good morning gentlemen." Darien greeted in a cold tone as he entered the meeting room. "Let's get down to business."

"You look flustered Darien… are you sick?" Seiya dared to venture.

"I'd say so. Wouldn't you think only a sick man could do what I do?" He snapped.

"I guess… so what was it you had to do?" Another man asked boldly.

"Whatever I want… I don't have to explain anything I do… do you have an issue with that?"

"No sir!"

"Okay. So, what do we have on the agenda for today?"

"Well… It looks like Kevin is stirring up some trouble on the east side of town." Andrew smirked.

"What kind of trouble?"

"He's running cocaine."

"Is he? That's not very good for us. What do the police want to do?"

"They just want us to take care of it."

"Wonderful. Okay, I'll pay good ol' Kevin a visit after our meeting today."

"Why don't we just kill 'em all?" One guy asked.

"Why? Let me ask you this. Who is the lesser of two evils in this town according to the police?"

"Us."

"Right. I want to keep Kevin around so we can do what we want."

"I just think…"

"I don't care what you think!" Darien growled and pulled out his favorite gun. "Why do I keep you around? Give me one GOOD reason."

"I… I um do what you want me to do?" The man shuddered.

"Hmm." Darien shrugged and pulled the trigger leaving a large oozing hole between the man's eyes and a large blood stain on the wall. "I hate it when I get a yes man response. Now, if we're done here I'll go meet with Kevin."

"We're done." Andrew said solemnly as he looked at his fallen comrade. Darien nodded and walked out.

"Wow! What was that about? He seems rather testy today." Seiya whistled.

"Yes… yes he does."

"What do you mean you're leaving me?" A silver haired man yelled at the back of a beautiful blonde's figure.

"I thought I spoke clearly. I'm leaving you! I want nothing to do with you and now that daddy's gone I don't have to pretend to like you."

"Oh so now daddy's gone. You have his money and now you decide that I'm not the man you want?"

"Diamond you were never the man I wanted. This isn't a sudden realization."

"Where are you going then?"

"None of your business Diamond."

"Serena! If you leave you can't come back."

"I won't come back! You can drop dead for all I care!" She turned and handed her ticket to the security guard. "Good bye Diamond. Don't try and call me." She smiled sweetly and entered the large crowd of people attempting to find their air terminals.

"You'll regret this! I'll hunt you down Serena!" Diamond's words died over the noise of talking people.

Serena Tsukino was happy to be away from Diamond, but mostly she was glad to be free of her father. He'd always been controlling. Telling her whom she could befriend, what she could wear, what school she would go to, and especially where she could go. Over the past ten years she'd grown into a lovely woman of twenty. Her golden hair shone with the light of the sun and smelt of fragrant roses, her blue eyes glittered as if the stars themselves inhabited them, and her body was that of a perfectly shaped sculpture. She made her way confidently through the airport and onto her plane where the flight attendant directed her to her first class seat and ask her if she needed anything. Serena gave a warm smile, politely denied the offer then reached into her wallet pocket to retrieve an old an wrinkled photo. "I hope you haven't forgotten me." She sighed softly and gazed at the one item she'd been able to save from her old home. Half of a photo she used to stare at, the half she wished was real.

A fantasy world was the world she preferred to the incomprehensible world around her. She often thought that sitting in an empty room would make her more real than she felt, more real than her empty heart. Though a beautiful angel Serena was devoid of emotion, numb to the world and the people in it; but in her hope still lived. Her eyes sparkled with the light they always had and her walk still had that innocent bounce to it, and leaning back into the comfortable seat she hoped so much that she would be well received when she arrived.

"So… it was all over the news." Andrew smiled over the phone.

"What?"

"Someone burnt down that house you hate so much."

"Really? Hadn't noticed." Darien said unaffected by the amused tone in Andrew's voice.

"Why did you have to burn it down? It was a perfectly nice house."

"Not for me. I hated looking at it every morning"

"It used to be the home of a very rich man you know?"

"Yes I know, and I don't care. Now if you'll excuse me I would like to take a few laps in my pool."

"Okay. Have a good night Dare."

"Yeah." He huffed and hung up.

"I can't believe he burnt down a multi million dollar home." Seiya shook his head. "Because he didn't like seeing the roofline from his bedroom?"

"I doubt that's it. Darien doesn't destroy things because he doesn't like looking at them. He destroys them when they bother him. Something about that house bothered him… I wonder what it was."

Andrew, Seiya, and a few other mob members were walking down the road the next day observing the quiet peace Darien had managed to secure from his meeting with Kevin the previous day. "He's good." Seiya smiled as his eye caught a stunningly sexy woman a few blocks up. His jaw dropped as he gaped at her walking slowly down the sidewalk with her light silky sundress fluttering in the slight breeze. "Look at that!"

Andrew turned his head and smiled wildly. "Well, that is a sight for sore eyes." Her long blonde hair fell lightly down her back in two long strands that reminded him of spaghetti, as she walked slowly over to a phone booth and flipped through the pages of the phone book attached to its base. The men watched as she gracefully ran her hands down the pages and frowned when she didn't find her desired party. "I think we ought to help her boys." Andrew smirked and licked his lips; the men nodded and followed Andrew over to the lovely woman. "Excuse me miss. May I help you find who you're looking for?"

"I doubt it." She sighed and tilted her face up towards the sky letting the men take in her beauty.

"Try me. I know a lot of people."

"Okay. Do you know Darien Shields?" She asked with a silky voice. Andrew was taken aback slightly then smirked.

"I do, what do you want with him?"

"To talk to him. Why do you care?" She became defensive which made her more attractive.

'Of course just another girl hoping to sleep with the dangerous Darien Shields.' Andrew laughed in his mind then smirked.

"Are you going to help me or do I have to track him down myself?"

"Feisty aren't we? I like feisty. Just for that I'll call him for you."

"Really?"

"Yes." He shook his head and dialed Darien's number.

"Why are you calling me Andrew?" Darien's angry voice filled the phone.

"I'm calling because there's a woman standing in front of me asking to talk to you."

"I care why? You're wasting my time for this?"

"My point exactly."

"Let me talk to him!" She demanded.

"Chill woman. She's pretty insistent Dare."

"I don't care. You can tell her what you tell every other woman who tries to bombard me with attention. In fact to can have her for your own amusement."

"Give me that phone!" Serena demanded loudly. Andrew cringed and glared at her.

"Listen pigtails! You don't give orders around here I do. Now shut up or…"

"Or what? You'll what? Hurt me? Arrest me? Try it!"

"Wait! Andrew. Did you say pigtails?" Darien's tone changed.

"Yeah… why?"

"Let me talk to her."

"But…"

"Now!" Darien demanded.

"Fine! Good God! Here lady, knock yourself out." He tossed her the phone.

"Darien? Is that you?" She ask causing Darien's breath to catch in his throat. He knew that tone, that same innocent voice from the past.

"Serena? What are you doing here?" Darien's voice softened for the first time in ten years."

"What I want." A large smile spread across her face as she twisted her foot into the sidewalk childishly.

"Hey why don't you come over? The address is 1502 S. Cherry Drive."

"That's right by the old house."

"Not anymore really… I mean it though, just leave those loosers behind."

"Will do. The blonde in kinda nasty. See you in a while." She smiled and hung up. "Here you are sir. See, never mess with me."

"What just happened here?" Andrew asked.

"I won. You lost." She hailed a cab. "Good bye boys. Have a wonderful day. Oh, and thank you for your help." She loaded her bags into the car and soon she was gone.

"I wonder who she is. I mean she just got a personal invitation to see Darien." Seiya wondered.

"Whoever she is she's bad news."

Darien paced back and forth in his entryway nervously awaiting Serena's arrival. His mind was racing through what he was going to say to her. What could he say to her? Serena had always been a kind and loving person and here he was the grim reaper of the town. Soon his nervousness turned into panic as he wrung his hands together and stared at the clock. 'I can't do this… not anymore…'

Serena lightly bounced out of the cab and thrust a hundred dollar bill at the driver and smiled. "Keep it!" She grabbed her bags and rushed up to the large front doors, ringing the doorbell like a ten year old. That's how she felt here, like a child again. So many memories filled her mind as she waited nervously for the young boy she remembered to open the door. It was silent for a long time until finally the door started to inch open to reveal a man she hardly recognized, but hardly was the word. She smiled and squealed as she leaped into his open arms. "Oh! Darien I've missed you soooo much!"

The ice broken Darien wrapped his arms around her tightly and buried his face into her soft hair so afraid that she was going to disappear; so afraid he was dreaming. "I've missed you more. It's hard to believe you're actually here." His voice cooed softly.

"Well get used to the idea because I am here! God! Look at you! Let me down so I can see what you've become." He gently put her down and stood back letting her scan him up and down quickly. "You sure got sexy on me didn't you?"

"I ought to say the same to you." He grinned taking the same liberty.

"Thank you Darien. I always thought we looked great together and now I think we look phenomenal together. Now, help me with my bags please?"

"I wouldn't have it any other way." His heart had practically melted when she had talked about them together. He quickly grabbed all of her bags and led her into the house. "How long are you here for?" He asked hopefully.

"Well… I guess as long as you'll allow me to stay. Daddy's gone and I got rid of my emotionally abusive boyfriend."

"Oh? So you're single, homeless, and standing on my doorstep huh? What did I do to deserve such a great thing?"

"Heh, yeah. If you don't want me here just say so."

"I want you here. I think you know that. I'm just excited that once in my life there's nothing keeping me from being with you."

"Not at all. Plus, not only is there nothing keeping you from me, there's nothing stopping me from being with you."

"Gee, you've been here a whole ten minutes and the sexual tension is already pretty apparent."

"It'll get worse." She winked as Darien opened a door and put her bags into the room next to his.

"Here you go. Meatball head."

"Thank you crow boy."

"You relax and unwind and I'll cook up some lunch before giving you a tour."

"I noticed that Daddy's house was freshly burnt down."

"Yeah… sad thing really. See you in an hour." He smiled and walked downstairs. She unpacked her clothes, took a bath and changed into another silk dress before walking down to the large dining room. The aroma of food invaded her senses as she entered the room and looked over the large beautiful room. "Look at that. An hour exactly."

"What did you decide to cook me?"

"I made you your favorite. Grilled cheese and tomato soup."

"It's funny that that is still my favorite." She giggled. "Not to mention amazing you remember that."

"Hard to forget anything about you." A slight blush filled his cheeks.

"You are such a charmer. I bet you have a million women around you."

"Not a one. I've always loved you and you're the only woman I've ever thought about. I've waited for you to come back to me you know?"

"Well, was it worth the wait?"

"So far as I can tell, every moment."

Serena woke the next morning in a strange bed but she felt oddly at home. It had been years since she'd slept so soundly but she knew what to contribute it to. For the first time in years she felt safe. Rising from the soft pink silk sheets she wrapped a robe around her bare body and walked into the long hallway then floated lightly past Darien's doors wondering if he was awake or asleep before descending down the stairs. She walked through the halls gazing at all of the fine artwork Darien had collected, pausing in the front hall by the entry table. Her eye caught on the familiar silver frame Darien gave her so many years ago. "Sneaking around I see?" Darien's voice made her jump causing her robe to open slightly.

"You startled me!" She exclaimed and turned toward where he was standing.

"Uh huh." A smile spread across his face. He was standing with a bare chest in the doorway to the poolroom with the water dripping off of his tone body. "Well…" He stepped closer to her and tugged her robe closed. "If you keep walking around like that I will startle you…" He was so close she could feel his warm breath on her face. "Now, what would you like for breakfast?"

"What don't I want is the question." She mumbled in a low tone so he could hear it.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that because I need to be in a meeting in an hour and don't have time to play with you. So, what would you like?"

"Does that mean you'd play with me if you had more time?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I've never turned down a play date from you before and now that it's gotten interesting I'd have to be an idiot to start."

Darien had no choice but to quickly make his way out of the house to avoid the thoughts that were spreading over him like a terrible virus. His drive was short lived and full of thoughts of the woman in his home at that very moment. The meeting house was a welcoming sight and yet it was a sad sight. Knowing that his life had led him down this path made him wish he'd chosen something different but it was his job and his followers were waiting for him inside.

"You're early Darien." Andrew smirked.

"Don't get used to it."

"I won't."

"So Darien… spill the beans. Who's the chick?" Seiya was practically salivating over the thought of Serena.

"That chick is my best friend. I haven't seen her for quite some time now. It's kinda nice to be able to catch up."

"I'm your best friend though!" Andrew shot.

"No your not. She is."

"Is she single?" Seiya pursued.

"As far as any of you are concerned no. I don't need you guys trying to date her. That would be strange for me."

"Fine." The young man pouted.

Andrew sat watching Darien as a small smile crept onto his normally blank face and his normally perfect posture relaxed into the plush leather chair as he put his feet on the table. "So, what's on our agenda today Andrew?" He asked casually and stretched.

"We wanted to go over the improvements on the street since you talked to Kevin."

"Okay, what about that?"

"I think it's going well. Kevin's goons have almost completely disappeared off the streets."

"I figured that after a few threats he'd straighten up."

"Threats? What type of threats?"

"Just because I downed one brother doesn't mean I won't down the other." Darien smiled.

"Darien! You threatened to kill the guys other brother? That's great!"

"I figured. He could hardly stomach what I did to the first brother. I did feel somewhat guilty as I took that drill to the poor man's eyes."

"Evil. Pure evil." Seiya laughed.

"Yeah… well I think I'm going to go home. I left something unattended to."

"Like your best friend? I'd hit that!" One guy laughed. Darien's face when blank as his angry eyes glared at the man. "I mean… she's a very nice girl."

"Nice save… I'm leaving." Darien stood and walked briskly out the door. Andrew glared at the now closed door and slowly leaned over the table.

"I want to know who the hell she is. I want the full report on who she is and how Darien knows her by the end of the week. Anyone who doesn't have something… well, I'll make something up so Darien takes care of you."

Serena sat calmly in the cozy library reading an old version of Candid when she heard the door open and footsteps over the white marble floor of the entryway. She could feel her heart beat heavily in her chest as the door slowly swung open to reveal a smiling Darien. "I'm back."

"I can see that… I don't think I've ever heard of such a short work day."

"Normally it wouldn't be so short but I decided to come home and take you out on the town. It would be rude of me not to you know?"

"Yes, I am aware of that small fact. I wanted to play though."

"I know that but I can't play until I've properly welcomed you home."

"That would be a proper welcome home." Her wide smile was almost devious. "You want me to play like a good girl."

"I want to do what I want to do meatball head. We can either go out or we can stay here and stare at each other all day… up to you."

"I'll go out with you then." Her breath was long and drawn out making him smile childishly.

"Good, We can go out to eat and get you some new clothes. I know you still like to shop, you must."

"So? Who cares if I like to shop?"

"I care. Now, let's get a move on so we can be back at a semi decent hour."

"Okay, let's go then." She sighed and let him pull her out of the house and into his shiny black sports car. They sped down the driveway and onto the road making Serena giggle profoundly. When they arrived down town she smoothed out her wind tossed clothing and hair as Darien came around to let her out and onto the semi crowded sidewalk. For those who noticed which was practically the whole town it was shocking to see such a beautiful woman with the town's most dangerous man. Many people thought that she was yet another target to be eliminated. "Where to?" Her voice sang as she threaded her arm through his and placed her head onto his shoulder.

"Let's go to lunch."

"Who's that hot little number with Shields?" A very attractive brown haired man asked to his lunch partner.

"I don't know… I don't think she's on his hitlist." I would know about her.

"He's being nice to her?" The mans eyes narrowed.

"It appears so Kevin."

"hmm… so, after all this time; Darien Shields does have a weakness and the best part is it's a woman."

"Who would have known?"

"Looks like bringing him down won't be so hard afterall." Kevin grinned and leaned back in his chair and started to eavesdrop on the conversation between the blonde and his enemy.

"I'm not so sure you can afford me Dare."

"What makes you think that Meatball head?"

"I just do."

"I've got more money than you'd think. I'm quite successful with what I do; the best even."

"And what do you do?"

"Public safety enforcement. I have contracts with the police to keep the town safe."

"Sure you do. Obviously I don't want to know what you really do so I won't ask. I love you too much."

"I love you too much to tell you." Kevin smiled as the two kissed.

"Oh yeah, she's the key to taking him down."