Querida Usagi

Are we going to find out who the blackmailer is? :P

Astrid Sillviena: Thank you very much; I appreciate that. Yes, I do think Serenity would look good in multiple pairings, and I actually considered her and Kunzite seriously before I started to get into the story. Ah, well... maybe in my next one.

Smfan4ever72: I know, so many triangles! Hopefully, some of them will be out of the way by the end of this chapter though. They're hard to keep track of! And, don't worry, Endy's about to get his act together really soon (not in this chapter though).

AM: This chapter is a little darker (dark being a relative term). I certainly hope you're surprised by the ending. And thank you so much for that correction! Hopefully I've covered all bases in this chapter, but I'm always happy to have someone looking out for me, especially someone who is such a gifted writer herself.

To everyone else, thank you for all of your wonderful reviews! You're amazing.

Soundtrack: The Future Will Destroy You - Viva Voce

There weren't a lot of things that Endymion could honestly say were real in his life right now. His whole relationship with Serenity seemed extraordinarily unreal in a number of ways, despite wanting her in just as many ways. His relationship with his parents – well, that was just nonexistent since his mother left him as a child and his father died years ago. As for work - work was just... work. He was always working no matter where he was and that was just the tedious truth of it. Truly, he felt like he was walking around in a daze of monotony most of the time, and so the stark contrast of everything happening at this moment to him was surreal.

But his resentment towards Kunzite, that was real.

He'd known that the fire pit in his stomach, the pit that burned angrily but quietly from the very moment he'd met Kunzite as a child, was not something totally innocent. It had taken him a while to pinpoint exactly what that feeling was, but he had eventually. The day that Kunzite and his mother had shown up on Endymion's doorstep, demanding to see his father and announcing their love child with Endymion only inches away, was the day that his own mother had decided she was leaving. Oh, it took her longer than that day, of course, but he could see it in her eyes. There was a firmness in her eyes that revealed her anger at the betrayal – at the result. He'd known, even at ten years old, that she was going to go. He'd known.

Kunzite's gold-digging mother hadn't stayed around for long, leaving Kunzite behind when she'd secured a good amount of his father's wealth. It wasn't surprising; they'd all known what she'd been after when she'd first appeared. Endymion was, safe to say, a little underwhelmed with his new family. Still bitter over the departure of his mother, he had never really warmed up to his brother. He loved him; he knew that for sure. It was hard not to love Kunzite because he was his brother. He was his blood, and Kunzite had been in his life longer than he hadn't. The issue was, he'd never really allowed himself to like Kunzite very much, and this whole situation with Serenity was not helping.

He didn't know what on Earth had compelled Kunzite to begin a relationship with Serenity under his roof, much less. He was no fool – he knew Serenity didn't want Kunzite. He could see it in her eyes. She never looked at Kunzite the way she... well, the way she looked at him. The fact that Kunzite had even tried, that was what was so irritating. His brother had a habit of sticking his nose in where it didn't belong. And while he was happy that Serenity had at least one person to comfort and to give her love while he was figuring all this shit out, he wished it could have been just about anyone else.

And then, back there in the coffee shop, she had looked so goddamned beautiful in her apron with her hair pulled back. His eyes had locked on hers immediately, soaking her in, in all of her natural beauty. He didn't even mind it when she'd smashed herself into her co-worker in her haste to get away from him. Such a clumsy girl, he laughed to himself as he strolled out of the coffee shop and towards the car waiting for him. Opening the door, he slid into the back of the car, his hand gripping his coffee firmly.

He didn't mind because it was the first time he'd laid eyes on her in a week, and it was heavenly. Plus, now he knew where she'd been hiding away.

Endymion smiled, taking a sip of his coffee as he peered out of the window of his sleek, black Escalade. He nodded to the driver, and he was once again in motion.

Hours later, Serenity stood in that very coffee shop, looking at her guest in complete shock.

"You didn't think I would leave without getting a real answer, did you?"

Recovering quickly, Serenity spoke, her voice emerging huskily. "I didn't –" She cleared her throat. "I need water."

Diamond chuckled as she scurried behind the counter, grabbing a water bottle and ripping the cap off. She eyed him as she chugged half of the water. Placing it down with finality, she pointed at him accusingly. "Don't you ever do that again!"

Diamond grinned. "Do what, exactly?"

"Sneak up on me like that!"

"Can one really sneak up on someone else when there are bells to signify one's entrance?"

"That was creepy!"

Diamond stepped back in mock-offense. "Well, I thought it was romantic."

Smoothing the hairs around her face in frustration, she conceded. "Yes... yes, I suppose it was romantic."

"Say that again, it didn't look quite as painful as it should have been."

Serenity laughed, her shoulders shaking with the outburst. "I'm really sorry, Diamond."

"No apology necessary. I only want a date."

She half-smiled, bashfully tilting her head. "I don't know."

"Come on – you must be hungry. How about dinner?"

Serenity closed her eyes momentarily, weariness passing over her. "Tonight?"

"Do you have any other plans?"

"Well," Serenity glanced at the clock. It was 8:05PM. Her clothes were not suitable for dining out, what with the many stains she had incurred during the day. She would have to stop home to change and, while there was a tiny sliver of a chance Endymion and Kunzite would both be out, it was a risk she wasn't sure she wanted to take. "No, but..."

"Ah. I see."

But he didn't see. And she knew that. It wasn't that she was turning him down because she didn't like him; he seemed like a perfectly nice fellow. He certainly knew how to make her laugh. He was very charismatic. It was just that something didn't feel quite right. She knew what Mina had advised her to do, but that just wasn't her. As much as she'd love to explore her options, it wasn't the right thing to do.

"Listen, Diamond. I think you should know something. I'm... not available."

"You have a boyfriend?" Diamond raised an eyebrow, the smile dropping from his face. He placed the bouquet of flowers on a table nearby, his attention fully on her.

"Not quite. I have a husband. I'm married." She expected him to yell at her – curse at her even for leading him on thus far. It wouldn't have been completely shocking. She would have understood completely. What was completely shocking, however, was his lack of reaction.

"Oh. Wow." He simply said, looking pensive.

Serenity waited for him to say more. And then she waited some more. Until – "That's it? That's all you have to say?"

"Are you unhappy?"

"I'm sorry – what?"

"It's just, I have a hard time believing that a woman who is completely happy in her marriage would be this... accommodating."

"Accommodating?" Serenity's eyebrows hit her hairline. What the fuck was that supposed to mean?

Diamond realized his mistake immediately. "That was the wrong word! You just... You seemed like you were considering the date, and I thought..."

Serenity waited for him to finish, a guilty flush coloring her cheeks. He was struggling for words, his eyes not quite meeting hers.

"Can we just start over?"

"Diamond –"

"How about dinner as friends? You look hungry."

And just as she was about to say no, she wasn't hungry, her tummy let out THE most embarrassingly loud growl. Sweet baby Jesus, she thought. There goes that. Diamond curled over in laughter at the chagrined expression on her face.

"Hungry enough to eat an ox."

Serenity sent him a piercing look as she grabbed her black peacoat off of the counter, shrugging it on. "Fine. But we're stopping at my house; I need to change."

By the time they'd reached the Shields mansion, giggles had overcome them. Diamond kept a bottle of wine in his car just for that reason and little got to her quite so much as sweet red wine. Two glasses later, and she was feeling buzzed on her empty stomach. She laughed as Diamond regaled her with stories of his many escapades. He was very entertaining, she thought to herself. And she quite liked him.

As they made their way to the door, Serenity began to fish her keys out from her purse. She was unsuccessful and so she leaned her body in a relaxed manner against her door, searching lazily. "Gotcha!" She said, smiling as she looked up at Diamond. The smile fell away from her face when she was met with his heated expression. The dim lighting overhead did him no favors, turning the heat up in his face markedly. So much for that, she sighed internally. I guess it would be silly to think we'd be friends, she thought to herself, a bit miffed – it certainly would be uncomfortable, even with the truth laid bare; however, she'd conceded to this dinner because she was hungry and she thought he was cool. Unfortunately, it seemed that his attraction for her wasn't going to be quelled anytime soon. Seeing as they were already at her house, she would have to go with him and just make the best of it. She changed the subject to one of his previous stories, successfully lightening the mood as she jammed her key into the lock.

They burst through the front door, laughing uproariously about something or another, with Serenity making a feeble attempt at shush-ing them. She could barely hold her own laughter back. Once she noticed the attention she was gathering from the household staff, she sobered up considerably. And, if it were possible to sober up even more, she did so the moment she spotted Endymion.

"Shoot." She muttered. Diamond looked at her in surprise.

"Follow me." She whispered, walking before him. "Endymion," She greeted, casually. "I didn't think you'd be home."

Endymion, in turn, was silent. He was looking at Diamond in the most peculiar manner. A little disconcerted, she felt the need – and she couldn't understand why – to explain herself. "This is my friend Diamond. We're grabbing a bite to eat."

Still, he was silent. His eyes hadn't reached hers the entire time she'd been talking. "Okay..." She looked back at Diamond, who was peering at the two rather innocently. "I'm going to go change. I'll be down in ten." She began to move past Endymion and was nearly startled out of her skin when he grabbed her arm and pulled her off to the side.

"What are you doing?" He hissed at her, his eyes drilling into hers.

Serenity blanched in pain, yanking her arm back. "What do you mean? I just told you."

"I mean, what are you doing going out with him?"

Serenity rolled her eyes, looking back at Diamond, who was lingering several feet away, pretending to mind his own business. She returned her attention to Endymion. "You can't be serious. Now you're telling me who I can and can't go out with? Get real! You don't even know him."

"Do you?"

That question made her pause. "I'm just eating dinner with him, Endymion. Don't be ridiculous. Besides," She backed away from him, flipping her ponytail over her shoulder. "You lost the right to tell me what to do once you decided not to tell me what's going on. Maybe even before that." Walking away, another thought occurred to her. She paused and pointed an accusatory finger into Endymion's chest. "Don't antagonize my date." And then she was off.

Okay. So he wasn't her date, but hey – she could have a little fun, couldn't she?

Endymion was shocked to say the least. He watched Serenity as she made her way to the staircase, her round behind swaying sensually. That little...

He would deal with that later. Right now, he had something to take care of – or rather, someone. Slowly making a 180, he returned his icy gaze to the stranger in his house. Diamond stood against the wall, lazily returning the gesture. "Well, hello." He offered, the words sluggishly tumbling from him mouth. "Lovely woman, isn't she?"

Endymion gave him a tight smile. He listened for the sound of footsteps and, hearing none, moved closer to his target.

"You're here to take my wife out?" Only a foot away, Endymion was already towering over Diamond. If Diamond, however, felt intimidated, it didn't show. "This is your revenge?"

"We're just going to dinner. You know, as friends." Was that a hint of mockery he detected? That bastard.

Serenity moved swiftly down the hall, whistling to herself. She didn't trust Endymion for one minute with Diamond. Diamond was a total sweetheart, but she wasn't sure she trusted Endymion, especially in his current mood. Dressed demurely in a lilac blouse and black, knee length pencil skirt, she strode out of her room, confidently. Her get-up was attractive, but in no way inviting. That was how she wanted it. No funny business, not on her watch. Speaking of watches... She glanced downwards at the rose-gold watch adorning her wrist. Ten minutes – not bad. And just as she was about the turn the corner, someone yanked her backwards, pulling her into a dark room. She squealed, frightened.

The lights flickered on in – Oh... In Kunzite's bedroom. Kunzite's bedroom was large and practically fit for a king, in her opinion. The bed itself was majestic; it was neatly made with striking satin, royal blue sheets that matched the dark blue décor of the room itself. Inside stood Mina and Kunzite, both looking at her as if she'd grown another head.

"You scream like a girl." Mina clucked, laughter in her voice.

"I am a girl, you monster." Serenity's voice came out in a breathy, indignant puff.

Kunzite was not one to dawdle and got straight to the point, placing himself directly in her line of view. She stumbled back a step. "You have a date tonight?"

"How do you - ?"

"Mina was downstairs."

Serenity glanced sharply at her friend. Mina looked towards the window, pretending not to see her. Sliding her eyes towards Kunzite, she forced herself to stand to her full height. It wasn't much – a mere 5'4" – but she wasn't going to let him make her feel any smaller than she already was. "It's not a date, Kunz."

"Then why didn't you tell me about it? And why have you been avoiding my calls?"

"I've been so busy." She responded, wearily. It wasn't the full truth, but it was part of it. Part of it was better than nothing. Plus, what was she supposed to say with Mina standing right there?

"I don't believe you." Kunzite's face was red – cherry red with anger. That was the most baffling part. Honestly, where did he come off, attacking her like this?

"You don't have to believe me, Kunzite." She snapped. "And I don't have to answer to you. You aren't my husband."

"So that's it, is it? That's all? God, I've been waiting for you so patiently – wondering when it is that you would finally come to your senses, and now you're off with this – this –"

Serenity stopped him before he found the words. "Stop." She looked over to the corner of the room, where Mina stood awkwardly. "We're not having this discussion right now. I'll see you later."

"Serenity, please don't go." Kunzite's attitude changed instantly. Serenity ignored him, adjusting her blouse and moving away. "Serenity!" He called to her again, hopelessness coloring his voice. "I love you!"

Shocked, Serenity turned back, catching the dark look on Mina's face. Grabbing him by the collar, she moved them into the hallway and slammed him against the wall.

"How can you even say that," She hissed at him, angry as can be. "With Mina here? In your bedroom, no less. Have you no heart? You fuck her nearly every day, and you have the nerve to tell me that you love me?"

"You're a naïve fool," Kunzite spat. "If you can't tell the difference."

"I may be naïve, but you're the fool. You have a woman in there who loves you. Stop wasting your time."

She wrenched herself away from Kunzite, leaving him to stare after her in the shadows of the hall.

"This is a dangerous game you're playing, Diamond."

Diamond regarded Endymion unperturbedly, a smile creeping onto his face. Pushing himself off of the wall, he moved to the other side of the hallway, tracing a dark painting of a sunrise with his eyes. "This is beautiful. Is it a Monet?"

Quickly becoming angry, Endymion clenched his fists. "Leave right now. Leave this house and don't come back. And if I find out you've contacted my wife, I'll kill you."

Diamond chuckled, his hands raised in surrender. "Now, now, Endymion. Don't have a hissy fit." He smiled, exuding smugness. "I promise I won't come on to your little angel."

"In fact," Diamond bated Endymion, speaking as if they were conversing about something as simple as the weather. "I don't even think I need to. Looks to me like she'll be begging to ride me by the end of- "

CRACK.

Diamond stumbled back into the painting, rocking it as he hit the ground. Bewildered, he touched the corner of his lip, feeling the warmth of his own blood. "Big mistake, my man." He rasped, the both of them picking up the damning sound of heels clicking furiously down the hall.

Fuck.

"Endymion!" Serenity shrieked, outraged. Endymion stepped back, not believing his awful luck. "What the hell! God, what is with you all today?" Serenity helped Diamond up, her arms encircling him. "Are you okay?" She asked urgently, turning his cheek to examine the damage.

"I'm fine," He assured her, gently. "It's only a little blood."

Breathing a sigh of relief, Serenity nodded. She glanced back at Endymion, who was looking stubbornly unapologetic. Choosing to ignore him, she tapped Diamond on the shoulder. "Let's get out of here."

Throwing his arm over her shoulder, Diamond and Serenity made their way to the door, leaving Endymion in their wake.

Not being able to resist a little taunting, Diamond looked back, his eyes catching Endymion's. He smiled arrogantly, the door closing behind them.

Serenity and Diamond sat inside of his apartment, containers of half-eaten Indian food scattered around them. She held an ice pack to his lip as she kneeled in front of him.

"You know," Diamond began, amusement sparkling in his eyes. "You don't need to do this."

"I know that," Serenity responded, her eyes downcast. "It's just that I feel somewhat responsible."

"And why is that?"

"Because I knew if Endymion were home, all hell would break loose. You're lucky that's all you got."

Diamond smiled at that. "I have to confess, I had it coming."

Serenity's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. She put the ice pack down. "How could you have had that coming?"

"I knew you were married from before you told me."

Serenity was stunned into silence.

"That tan line on your ring finger gave it away."

Her ring was currently sitting on her bedside table, right where she'd left it this morning. It was the first time she'd taken it off.

"I also," He began again, after taking a deep breath. "Know Endymion. We have competing businesses." Diamond chuckled, harshly. "Had. He eventually put me out of business when he merged with Silver Star Corp."

She didn't flinch at the mention of her father's company, choosing to ignore that piece of information. "So," Serenity drawled, connecting the dots on her own. "You were using me to get back at him?"

"No." He shook his head, almost offended by the question. "I meant everything I said to you. I didn't expect that you were married to Shields, of all people. I just decided to make the most of it when I saw him there, looking like a big, jealous bear."

Serenity laughed despite herself. "That's not okay, Diamond."

"No. No, it isn't."

Playing with a silver strand of her hair, she was silent. "I have to go home."

He smiled. "I figured you would eventually."

She returned the smile, brushing herself off as she got up. "I'll let myself out."

Diamond nodded, mutely. He opened his mouth before speaking, faltering with the hesitation of someone who didn't truly want to share his next thoughts. "He really loves you, you know."

Serenity froze in her steps, before recovering. She pulled the door closed, softly calling out a goodbye.

Quietly moving up the shadowy, winding staircase, Serenity could only think of her room. Her room, her bed – all she wanted to do was strip off her clothes and dive headfirst into her bed. She realized the moment that she flicked the light switch on that that was not destined to happen.

Endymion sat comfortably at her vanity, as if he'd been waiting for her that entire time.

"How did you know I was back?"

"I asked Molly to let me know when you arrived."

"Oh," Serenity yawned, not feeling up to the impending discussion. Today had been entirely too much for her to swallow. "Of course. Can we talk tomorrow?"

He couldn't help himself. Even as the words emerged from his mouth, he knew this was probably (unquestionably) not the right route to take, but was so eaten up by jealousy that he couldn't help it anymore than he could help breathing. "Did you sleep with him?"

She was appalled – and now, very much awake. "Excuse me?"

"Did. You. Sleep with him?"

"Get out." Serenity said, the words gravelly and heated. "Get out!" Picking up a nearby vase, she clumsily tossed it at him, missing him by an inch.

Fearing for his life, Endymion ducked out of the room, muttering a quick apology to his wife. He really was dense sometimes. Of course she didn't sleep with him; it was Serenity, for goodness sake. Hearing another object shatter against the door, he ran a hand through his hair. There was no way he'd be able to sleep now.

He bounded down the stairs and towards his office. As awake as he was, there was no point in staying up and not getting any work done. He could barely think, but he could definitely type. Anything to get his mind off of his near fatal blunder. He realized he was being slightly dramatic, but that vase had very nearly smashed into his head – he was thanking the gods for her lack of hand-eye coordination or it certainly would've. Wasn't he supposed to be winning her back? And look how well he was doing – saying stupid shit like that.

He pushed his key into the lock of his office door and was perplexed when he heard a click. Hadn't he locked the door? Turning the key in the opposite direction, he pushed open the door. A silky voice greeted him immediately from the darkness.

"I thought they'd never go to sleep."

Endymion closed his eyes, unsurprised. He'd known that this was coming – it was only a matter of when. Light flooded the room as he locked the door.

"Mina."

:-O!

So much excitement in one chapter. Review!