Chapter 9: A friendship reborn (prt 3)
Author's note: Contain's a little lemon.
Lyric's by Kelly Clarkson:People like us
People like us, we have to stick together.
Keep your head up, nothing lasts forever.
Here's to the damned, the lost and forgotten.
It's hard to get high, when your living on the b ottom.
"Now, now. My dear." Bella's voice invaded their private moment. Serenity darted her eyes beyond Darien's shoulder. Finding the strawberry blonde viper, striding out onto the hotel sidewalk. A blunt, black steel, semi-automatic pistol aimed right at her head. Serenity quickly scrutinized the gun's shape and size. Learning the types of weapons world armies used was all part of Ido's extensive training for his soldiers. He wanted them to have the knowledge and capabilities to handle any situation. Bella was flaunting a U.S military issue Beretta, it would have five to six rounds ready to fire. Her energy discs would be no protection against that kind of fire power. The two guards now felt more confident again. Taking a step back they trained their rifles back towards Darien.
Serenity glanced briefly at Darien who shook his head slightly, his expression was tight, wary even. She knew he was debating their odds, if he fought back. Then she bent her head upward briefly acknowledging the girls. Who were hanging from the balcony, none in the position to save themselves if bullets started flying. Not wanting to give away their precarious position she snapped her eyes back down to confront Bella. With a resigned sigh she recalled the glowing weapons back within herself.
"Let go of me, Venus." She called up, not wanting to use Mina's name in front of Bella. It was prudent to try and remain anonymous as long as possible with 'The Agency'. It was too late for her and all of Ido's soldier's. They had been engaging with the rogue military group for far to long.
Mina caught the use of her old street name, her face falling into confusion. Soft blue eyes turning to steel, as she sent Bella a hard look. Reluctant to let her friend fall into enemy hands with out a fight.
"Let me go..." Serenity commanded again, her voice pleading. Never looking up at Mina, demanding her obey and recall her Genesis weapon.
Forced to make a split second decision. Mina nodded, with a dark scowl not liking this situation at all. They were out gunned, out numbered and not in an advantageous position to defend themselves. So she reluctantly recalled her whip of light. As it faded away Serenity fell right into Darien's waiting arms.
Serenity's arms instinctively wrapped around his neck, giving him a thankful smile. His own expression was severe, lacking in any sort of warm emotion. She could see him glowering at Bella and her guards, having come to the same unsavoury conclusion. But his eyes held a dangerous ferocity to them, that he might throw caution to the wind and try to take them all on anyway.
"Don't." She forced him to look at her. To acknowledge how fatal attempting to fight back right now would be.
"Sere..." He growled, never taking his eyes off of Bella. His eyes narrowing, his whole body seething with the need to fight. To shove that gun right down Bella's throat. He never liked the agent, even when they were kids the woman had set off all kinds of alarms inside his head. He had known on some unconscious level that she had a hidden agenda with his girl. But at the time he had played nice, what could he do with out evidence. He regretted so much about how he had handled things back then. But right now he would make up for it all! He could protect her like he should have back then.
Serenity felt his muscles coil, he was about to do something really reckless if she didn't get control. A jolt of panic vibrated through her, gripping his shoulder's firmly as if she could hold him back.
"I know...but if we don't go with them then they will open fire upon the girls." She stated tightly. Agents didn't mess around, it was success or death with them. They used anything and anyone to gain leverage over their targets. They would have absolutely no issue with taking hostages or gunning down their friends just make a point.
Darien glanced up noticing Mina and Raye slowly working their way over the iron railings of the third floor balcony. Falling out of view in a matter of moments, in a flutter of yellow and red lace.
He adjusted his stance, curling his finger's brutally into her thigh. His blue eyes fierce and agonized at the same time as he forced himself to stand down. She cringed slightly at the incredible strength of his grip. "Fine." He sighed, setting her down on her feet. Her strap sandals clicking against the pavement as she stood tall before the agents. Glaring heatedly up at all of them in defiance.
"The squad is reformed and awaiting orders." Randy burst from the double doors. Giving Bella a quick salute.
"Good, any casualties?" Bella inquired, never taking her eyes off Serenity.
"None, sir." Randy responded, inadvertently giving the half naked Serenity a double take of complete surprise.
"Survivor's?" Bella stated with more force. Snapping Randy out of his bewildered, some what appreciative stare at Serenity.
He cut his eyes away and refocused his attention on Bella. Clearing his throat to compose himself before answering.
"None." Randy nodded curtly.
"We have our cover up in place, already the staff believe a bomb had been detonated in the pent house. Endymion's attempt to reinvent himself as a rehabilitated gangster turned philanthropist is up in smoke. Literally." Randy smirked. "None of the finical elite would trust him now, after this massacre. Soon his continued ties to the yakuza will surface again and destroy his legacy completely. If he miraculously survives, he will have absolutely no way to rebuild his financial empire. " RAndy assured her. "They are calling in the emergency crews." He continued with out hesitation, cutting his eyes back to Serenity. Unable to take his eyes off her. Finding her glaring daggers at him, her eyes holding a promise of retribution for his part in Endymion's death. He received her silent threat stoically, taking in her nearly naked figure with no outward leering. His stare was more clinical, evaluating her as if she was something amazing. A rare specimen, he had difficulty rationalizing the existence of.
The staff never questioned any of the soldier's evacuating the building, all dressed as guards for Endymion's party. Even as they spoke the agency was disappearing back into obscurity again. They were an independent force of assassins, with no ties to any world government. They moved from country to country, tending to their own agenda. The slow annihilation of every Genesis Soldier on earth.
"Good. " Bella acknowledged absently. Raising her eyebrows in irritation, glancing up to the balcony wanting to know who was holding the other end of the that energy whip. Finding the balcony empty, her jaw clenched in added frustration. The towers of the hotel rose out of view into the red haze of the city lights, the penthouse now gutted and up in flames. Remained hidden from view from down on the street. Only the dark smoke billowing downward like a sinister fog, announced the inferno now engulfing the upper stories of the hotel.
The mystery of who aided, Serenity. Gnawed at Bella, biting deep with a edgy sort of anxiousness. She didn't need any unknowns putting a proverbial wrench in her plans. Spinning on her heel she cracked the butt of her pistol across Randy's face. Leaving a nasty cut down his cheek that was oozing blood.
"Check again! Then clear out before the authority's show up. Report in as soon as that's done." She shouted, her ire a booming explosion of rage. Quickly cooling as she regarded her two hostages once more with a small satisfied smile.
"Lets go!" She shook her gun at them.
Serenity and Darien complied with out resistance. Slowly raising their hands above their heads and walked off the sidewalk. Heading into the valet drop off area. Walking slowly out of the warm lights of the cement overhang, casting each other thoughtful glances. The guards led them away, with Bella a few feet behind. Escorting them down the poorly lit block towards a very familiar, rusted out white service van with no back windows.
"Things never change." Serenity growled in distaste, remembering bitterly how she and her brother were kidnapped by Bella and her partner years ago. Her reminiscing brutally interrupted as she was shoved violently into the back of the van, with the butt of one of the soldier's rifles. Her knees buckled, scraping against the rough metal flooring. She never made a sound, unwilling to give her captures any sort of satisfaction that they had hurt her.
"Don't you fucking touch her!" Darien roared, bending low and charging his shoulder viciously into the stomach of the guard who had shoved Serenity.
Serenity cringed as she heard the harsh scuffling of two men, double teaming an enraged Darien to the ground. A few
minutes later Darien begrudgingly climbed into the back of the van. Grunting and cursing at the guards. She briefly got a look at his bloody nose and swollen left eye. As they pushed him at gun point inside, slamming the door shut behind them. He no doubt got the butt of a rifle square in the face for defending her.
He stumbled once, never able to get his feet in time before being plunged into total darkness. Tripping over Serenity's prone body, with a curse. As his weight crushed her, making her yelp.
She was now once again laying on her back and now he was sprawled over top of her. Crushing her hot skin into the freezing cold metal of the floor.
"Well isn't this familiar." He commented in a dark comical tone.
"Not helping..." she moaned painfully, pushing her palms against his shoulder's seeking to dislodge him. His knee was uncomfortably digging into the tender part of her hip.
Darien caught on to the painful strain in her voice and quickly moved off of her. Planting himself against the wall just behind the tech monitors.
Serenity sighed heavily, moving into the opposite wall just before the musty, now slightly torn up old couch. The many rips cleverly sealed with silver duck tape.
Bella moved into the dilapidated beige driver's seat, with one of the guards moving into the passenger seat. The last remaining guard rolled the side door open and slipped inside. Slamming the door shut and collapsing onto the couch, his rifle never leaving them in it's sights. Serenity smiled slightly when she caught sight of the young soldier's twin black eyes. His eyes looking bleary and were swelling up nicely. As he glared death back at Darien. It looked like Darien had given both men a good beating before they had threatened him with their guns.
The van lurched forward, the low rumble of an old engine a dull white noise thrumming in the background. As they were taken out of Ropongii, headed gods knows where. For questioning, torture perhaps even imprisonment? These guys were American Military, trained and true. Darien had no clue why they were involved, he had been led around Tokyo so far on a need to know basis.
Pulling his knees up, rocking back and forth to free his tuxedo tails from the floor. He leaned his arms casually over top of them. Staring at Serenity in a silent accusing way, that made her avert her eyes shamefully to the floor. Sitting as modestly as she could against the opposite wall in nothing but a pair of silk panties. Her once flawless skin now dusted with grey smudges from the floor, her left knee glaring red were she'd scraped it.
Refusing to meet his eyes or even to speak, looking guilty and demoralized under the his hard unwavering stare. He heaved a great sigh, the sting of her betrayal still a brutal gash upon his heart. Pain and misery radiating through out his chest. Making his whole body ache, bone deep. But unable to bear watching her look so stricken and defeated. He tore his eyes off of her, settling his disappointed fury squarely upon their guard.
"So we headed out to get some food, or is this just a pleasure ride?" Darien mocked the guard, with a fearless smart ass smirk.
"Shut up!" He responded gruffly.
Darien merely shrugged, non-pulsed by the man's gruff attitude. While he continued to ignore Serenity out right. With his feelings still so raw and unfocused. Confronting her wasn't safe, it was just to painful right now. To many intense emotions were at war deep inside of him. He knew his temper would get the best of him and all they would end up doing is fighting. When all he wanted was a simple explanation. So he continued to annoy their capture, with small talk. Avoiding everything...
Serenity swallowed several times, licking her lips uncertainly. With Endymion gone and Darien furious with her, she was an emotional wreck. Her eyes stung with tears, her throat felt raw and sore from fighting back her sobs. Her heart was stuttering weakly in her chest, knowing how deeply she had hurt him. Worried that they couldn't fix this, that she had ruined everything. Her breath was unsteady, as panic took hold. She felt light headed and close to fainting. Unable to handle anymore she drew her knees up against her chest. Folding her arms around them and leaning her forehead down upon her knees.
"I'm sorry..." She whispered brokenly, her voice choking in her throat.
Darien's skin prickled with a unnerving awareness. His body so attuned to Serenity's, to her emotional and physical well being. That as she soon as she became overwhelmed, his own body surged with ill feelings. Turning back to face
Serenity his breath caught, as guilt washed over him. He felt like a total asshole, for ignoring her. For acting so childish and uncaring.
She was now huddled into the corner, her knees drawn up against her bare chest. Her forehead resting against her knees, her body limp and rocking slightly with the movement of the van. The tone of her skin was pale, almost grey. She honestly looked close to fainting and it was worrying him greatly.
Bella noticed the abrupt silence and glanced up from the road, smiling knowingly through the rear view mirror at Serenity's sickly, frail countenance.
"Sere..." Darien shifted forward, now wanting desperately to hold her. Comfort her and find out why she was suddenly looking so sick, so vulnerable and weak. With his heart in his throat, confusion hammering through his head. Darien reached for her, responding to her need with out question.
"Move again and I'll shoot your knee caps off!" The guard lunged, thrusting his rifle in Darien's face. Making the raven haired man backup against the wall once more. Glaring dangerous at the guard as he settled himself on the floor again.
"Big talk from the little man with the gun." Darien shot back, adjusting himself more comfortably against the wall. When in reality he was coiling his muscles, positioning himself to attack if he needed to.
"I'm fine...just a bit car sick is all." Serenity groaned, lieing smoothly. Never lifting her head. Her voice faint and muffled. She had used a-lot of her energy trying to save herself from that horrendous fall. Her emotional upheaval wasn't helping. Her body felt so drained, weak as a kitten they say. Her head was spinning in a dizzy haze, as if her blood pressure was dropping. What was worse was that she was also dealing with the grief of losing Endymion. He had professed his love for her at the end, the honest misery she had seen in his eyes had broken her heart. She knew that now, that she had loved him back. Not in the same earth shattering way she loved Darien. But love all the same, a tempered affection built on a shared connection, a deep friendship and a sordid past. She wished for just one more chance to talk to him, so express to him that he wasn't alone, or hated. That she truly cared for him, forgave him for all the lies and manipulations in the past, that he needed to forgive himself. Now she would never get that chance, her heart ached for all the wasted moments.
She wanted to cry, to let the hot tears cleanse her grief. But it wasn't the time to allow weakness to show. She had to figure out a way of escape. She figured Bella's intention's this time were not to protect her, but to kill her. To finish the job she started up in the Penthouse.
But why? What was Bella's connection to Endymion, to the Genesis Event that unfolded down in the ballroom? What the hell was going on!
Slowly raising her head, she paid Darien a considering look.
"Can you believe him." Darien cocked a thumb towards the scowling guard. A young man that looked right out high school. Dressed in a tuxedo of all black, as all the guards were at the party. His dull brown hair in a crew cut to the scalp, with milky brown eyes that regarded them impassively.
"Fuck'in space monkey." Darien goaded, smugly watching the guard flinch.
"What are ya, Marine? Army?...from the looks of you. I'd guess Cub Scout!" Darien continued. "Your just a kid, I doubt your balls have even dropped. If you didn't have that gun, I'd beat your ass into the ground!"
Watching happily as the man's face began to redden at holding in his anger.
"What the hell are you doing?" Serenity hissed in warning.
"Relax...I got this." Darien flashed her his perfect white teeth.
She was taken a back by the arrogance nearly dripping off of him. He was trying to infuriate the man holding the gun! It was suicide! He was insane! Yet she was so startled by the sheer fearlessness of his tactic, she could only sit and stare with wild eyes.
Darien narrowed his eyes, as if taking the man measure. Then nodded with some secret understanding.
"I smell something foul, back here." he scrunched up his nose.
"When my girlfriend here nearly sliced your throat back there. Did you piss yourself, you little prick." He snarled out, followed by mocking laughter. That was quick to ignite the soldier's indignant rage.
"Shut your god damn mouth!" The man raised his rifle, flicking the safety off. His face glowing red with humiliation.
"Do we need both of'em?" He tossed to the front of the van. "I seriously need to blow this guys head off!" he insisted with a very snide, insidious sort of grin that was all teeth.
Bella glanced up from her driving, her eyes widening as she finally recognizing Darien. Not only at Serenity little boyfriend from long ago but as the Genesis Soldier who had flew past her on the Pagoda roof of the Buddhist shrine a week back. She didn't know the extent of his abilities but knew he could be ungodly fast.
"Just stay away from him!" She warned her underling.
"I am gonna make you my bitch, just like I did your mother last night." Darien responded in a low promising voice. Curling his hand into a fist and pumping it against his crotch in a vulgar gesture. Insinuating crudely that he had fucked the man's mother.
"FUCK YOU!" The young soldier roared, jumping off the couch in a blind fury.
His partner in the front seat, bellowed in alarm. Not able to move fast enough to stop him.
As the enraged guard closed in, aiming his rifle. Darien raised his hand, calling a steel tip rose to life in a cloud of smoke. He shot it from his hand like the bullet from a gun. His movement precise and swift. The guard crumpled to his knees before him, rifle clattering to the floor, with an elegant rose now protruding from his jugular. Clutching his neck piteously, gurgling around the blood now drowning him. Darien caught sight of his partner training his rifle. The woman who commanded them was screaming order's, her voice echoing and discordant as if she was trapped under glass. His body was humming, moving at incredible speeds. The whole world was once more shifting awkwardly behind his movements as if stuck in slow motion. He snatched the young guard around the collar with both hands. Pulling him off his knees and into the line of fire.
Serenity screamed out to him. "NO...Don't. He's only human!"
But Darien was in the moment, his Genesis powers manifesting in the state of fight or flight reflexes. It was life or death now, and he was not going to die and neither was his girl.
The man's face was stunned and pale, frozen in fright. As Darien held him up, within the next instant he was spasming in Darien's hands as his back was riddled with bullets. The van was lit up with sparks and thunder from the other soldiers gun, the bullets echoing around them in a deafening crescendo.
Serenity was in motion, pulling the back door open. It flew off it's hinges, sucked away by the great speeds the van was traveling at. Bella was on the freeway, charging at top speed past the guard rail. Heading south on the Shuto Expressway. The wind was buffeting Serenity's face, her blonde hair snapping angrily against her neck.
What the hell was his plan now!
She could just make out the dark outline of towers that was Ropongii Hills, just below the over pass, they were currently driving over. The faint blinking lights of the Tokyo Tower, a constant reminder of her mortality. The traffic behind them was casting sharp ambient yellow light upon her, making her skin look almost bronzed.
Bella was shouting, but Serenity couldn't hear due to the roaring of the wind. The second guard was closing in, replacing the clip as he went.
"Mamoru!" She shouted, grabbing at wild locks of golden hair currently whipping in her face and pulling them back behind her ears. Desperate to keep a close eye on the two combatants.
Darien cast her a determined look, crouching low and moving towards her. Hauling the dead body in front of him like a shield. Keeping a wary eye on the approaching guard.
The guard never noticed the rose vine snaking across the floor until it was to late. Darien jerked it like a whip, it snapped up and wrapped around the guards' ankles. Locking them and sending him crashing to the floor. The thorns biting into the cotton material of his pants, holding tight as it pulled him down and then wound around his body, binding him solidly.
Darien then tossed the dead guard on top of the prone one, who was now cursing on the floor of the van.
Bella was livid, screaming orders, her face so red it looked purple. Trapped driving she could do nothing, but shoot her pistol blindly over her shoulder.
Darien gave her a mock salute, pushing the other back door aside. It snapped off like the previous door, the wind suctioning it off it's hinges. Left bouncing down the freeway, making cars and trucks weave out of their lane. Then he pulled Serenity into his arms at the open back door, casting another of his whip like rose vines out of his hand, snagging a huge silver lamp post as they cruised by. Serenity screamed in fright as he leaped from the van, commanding his vine to shorten and pull them up out of on coming traffic.
Serenity tucked her legs up around his waist, as she hung from Darien's neck, pressing her head into his shoulder. The clean, fresh scent of soap and roses filled her. Instantly calming her nerves and leaving a pleasant reassurance in her soul. Her Mamoru once again came to her rescue, fearless and commanding. His heroics once again leaving her breathless. Even through she loved the feeling of security he gave her. She was beginning to think this was getting to be a dangerous habit.
Giving him a rueful look, as they hung high up over the freeway, from the thick pedestal of the lamp post.
"This is number three..." She called up to him, with a fond smile.
He gave her an odd look, his arm squeezing her tighter against him.
"Three...what?" he asked.
"Saves." She stated with a small laugh.
"Oh...no. Sweetness, this is far past three. Honestly, I have lost count of how many times I've saved your butt." He responded with a charming grin.
"Arrogance doesn't become you." She shot back with a growl.
"Arrogance and Honesty are to separate things." He explained, casting his gaze around him searching for a safe way down. The traffic was roaring below them like a river of metal and lights. They were hanging a good ten feet off the highway and the cars flying past them underneath paid no notice. They couldn't go down to the highway with out causing a major accident. That crazy woman would be turning that van around fast enough and be back for them anyway. The other side of the meridian was the north bound lanes. The only divide in this part of the wide Shuto Expressway being a set of cement divider's that ran for miles. Over his shoulder he could faintly make out the paved embankments of some of Tokyo's storm channels. The canal was still filled with water from the spring run off, it was only mid June so it hadn't all reached the bay yet. Hopefully there would be enough to cushion them. They needed to get out of here before that maniac showed up again. Hanging here like trapped animals wasn't an option.
"Going to swing us over the side and into that storm sewer...ok." He advised, bending his head down to confirm his plan near her ear.
"Are you asking me or stating a fact?" Serenity spat sarcasticly, her tone laced with indignation that she was at his mercy. She shivered unintentionally when his hot breath puffed against her ear. Her body responding to his, as dutifully as a dog to it's master. She loved him and only him, there was no denying that.
Darien thinned his lips, she could be such a smart ass when stressed out.
He began to swing his legs, turning the vine along the steel column and building momentum. At the peek of his swing, he released the vine. It disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving them falling towards the black water twenty feet below the overpass.
Darien kept his peace as he fell into the unknown. His face set in stone, accepting what ever fate may await him in the untold darkness below. While Serenity was unable to control her fear and plummeted screaming into the freezing wet abyss. The world and Darien, twisted away from her grasp. Her stomach flipping nauseously as she found herself plummeting. Her arms pinwheeling, loosing all control of the situation yet again.
A black shimmering surface rose up beneath her feet, like the surface of a liquid mirror. Shrieking, her arms fluttering over her head along with her golden hair. She hit the water, it's frozen temperature stabbing her all over like a thousand knives. Quickly going under into a world of total blackness and lung stinging suffocation. Fighting with her panic to hold her breath and not take in any of the icy current. Kicking feebly, the brutal cold sapping her already waining energy. Agonizingly pushing inch by inch up through the blue black void towards the surface. Breaking the top of the water, sputtering and moaning, her arms slapping the water in frantic motions. That soon turned to gasping and gagging, as the freezing water burned her skin, black spots filling her vision. Finding herself trapped in the raging current, floundering in the pitch black world.
She could only shout. "DARIEN!" Over and over like a panic filled mantra. Only to have her voice echo back in lonely desperation.
Her skin slowly going numb, her movements less controlled. She was moving a good clip through the water, she could not see the cement banks or even the expressway. Even the barren sky above, filled with heavy cloud gave her no solace. Trapped in a freezing void with no way of escape she could help the sense of desolation that entered her soul. Darien had yet to respond to her calls, dire thoughts of him knocked out or dead upon the embankment screaming in her mind.
"Mamo-chan!" She screamed, her voice now hoarse and shrill. Holding her head above the waves was getting to be a struggle, she felt so drained she barely had the stamina to tread water.
"Mamo-chan! Darien!" She cried out again, her voice an echoing plea upon the night. Craning her head back, she could make out a sprinkling of stars. She had moved far from the expressway she couldn't even hear the hum of traffic any longer. It felt like she was in the middle of no where. The warm gentle light of the moon had finally moved out from cover. The rain clouds having retreated once more on the horizon, it's light now cascaded along the sides of the cement embankments in the distance. Making the etched pavement look like frozen ice.
Her throat was raw and sore from calling, her body ached painfully from the cold and her mind was reeling viciously at the continued silence.
Were was he...was he dead, unconscious...oh dear kami. I can't loose him too! Not again! Not like this!
Her inner dialogue was fuming, cursing and blaming the fates for always making her life so god damn harsh, so wretchedly complicated.
"Darien, Shield's you Insufferable Asshole, Baka...Baka yarou... say something!" She screamed to the dark water. Her rage getting the better of her worry. She was chilled to the bone, her teeth chattering and unable to move right. Yet her mind just kept screaming in agony that he might be gone...that he had left her again. Thinking she had cheated on him, betrayed their love in the heat of a passionate kiss to another.
Then she finally heard the faint slapping of dress shoes, thundering down the side of the canal. It was the most glorious sound she had ever heard. With hope now burning brightly within her, she felt she had the strength to fight the current once more. Waving her arms high over her head, screaming for him with the last of her reserves. But the burst of energy was fleeting, as the bitter cold and her utter exhaustion quickly dragged her back down.
"Mamo-chan!" She screamed, it was uncertain if it was him since she could barely see two feet around herself. But she just prayed it was, her stomach hurt from dread and her body was totally exhausted. If he wasn't here to save her yet again, she might just go under the water forever. At this point she was just to weary to go on.
She felt the vine snap around one of her flailing arms, it pulled tight then began to reel her in. Her frantic breathing instantly began to calm, thankful for the sharp pain of the thorns digging into her flesh. Feeling anything was better then the numbing cold that had been slowly consuming her.
In a matter of minutes, she had been hauled out of the icy water and up the slick cement of the embankment. Up to the flat narrow service pathway that ran the length of the storm channel.
Darien had been so scared, when he had surfaced and didn't see her. He had began to swim, confronted by the pitch black void that surrounded him. When he had finally reached the edge of the storm channel and pulled himself out of the water. He had scanned the black water, a hot panic crawling like lava through out his body when he found no trace of her. All the anger and resentment he felt for her had fled. Replaced by such a profound sense of dread. He had no time to wallow in his own personal issues, in regards to her. He had been compelled to just run. As fast as he could down the service ridge of the storm drain. His very soul willing her to call out, to scream, anything to tell him she as alright.
When her furious screams had finally hit shore, he had sped up using his Genesis speed to catch up to her. Refusing to loose her in the darkness. When he had pulled her safely to shore, able to ascertain for himself that she was still breathing. Soaked to the bone, her eyes blazing a fierce bright blue. Tears threatening to fall as she quickly took in his own damp, wrinkled appearance. He finally felt like he could breath again, a profound sense of accomplishment washed over him. He had truly saved her, for the first time. He had saved her when it had counted most! He had come to her rescue as flawlessly and selflessly as any hero. He had achieved many great laurels over the years as a professional MMA fighter, but never had he been more proud. Then he was at this moment, watching his girl heave for breath. Her hair wet and plastered to her shoulder's, her perfect bare breasts rising and falling as she shivered before him. Alive and unharmed, thanks to him. The relief that washed over him next was so immense, his knees began to shake and he wondered how long he was going to be able to stay standing. But he didn't have to wonder about standing for very long.
Drenched and so very relieved she launched herself at the vague shape that was Darien. Colliding with his chest and sending him sprawling backward onto his back. Laughing in immense relief, he wrapped his arms tightly around her, as she proceeded to kiss every inch of his face.
"Don't you ever do that again!" she chastised, tears flowing down her face. Bathing his neck in salty moisture, as she shivered and huddled against him. Burrowing her face into his neck, sobbing loudly with joy and relief. Basking in the steady sound of his heart and the comforting warmth of his body. His heat penetrating through the icy cold of her skin, as she began to melt against him.
He was panting and out of breath, his chest rising and falling in shuttering gasps. With her cheek pressed tight against his chest, her broken sobs quieting slowly. She could hear the powerful thundering of his heart, from his exertion and fear. It was the most beautiful sound she had ever heard, a brilliant smile of gratitude lit up her face as she held him. Sprawled over his chest like a human blanket, her arms wrapped securely around his shoulder's, legs curling up over his waist. He was trapped in her embrace and she promised that she would never let go of him again. Releasing a weighty breath, she muttered tearfully into his chest.
"I can't loose you...I can't...I can't." Grinding her face even harder into his chest, as broken, desperate sobs ripped from her throat again. Curling herself even tighter against him, her arms and legs gripping him with all the strength she had left.
"Sorry, Sweetness." He sighed remorsefully, petting his hand down the back of her wet hair. He had never seen her so unhinged, she was shaking violently not just from the cold but from the extent of her fear. She had been scared, more scared then she had ever been in the last five years.
"I made it to the side of the canal and pulled myself up. I had hoped you were swimming behind me, but I guess the current was to strong for you. By the time I got myself up here, I couldn't see you..but I heard you screaming. I knew you were fighting the water. I ran after you, it took me this long to catch up. " he finished, holding her even tighter, as if she was going to disappear if he didn't anchor her to him.
She absorbed the comfort and security, his embrace offered. It chased away the fear and brought a gentle, peace to her soul. His tux was still very damp, her white underwear soaking it anew. Yet, she refused to move from her sprawled position on top of him for a long time. As they just held one another, basking in the relief that they were both alive.
"I thought I'd lost you..." She croaked, her voice strained and raw from screaming his name.
"The feelings mutual, when I couldn't find you. I was terrorfied you'd gone under." He answered back, pushing at her shoulder's gently, drawing her face away from his neck. Staring deeply into the wet pools of her eyes for a moment, seeing the fear, the regret at how events had played out. But most of all, he saw that sweet warmth of her love, just for him. That fierce devotion she held just for him...it stopped his heart. Even as his mind reeled painfully, an insidious seed of doubt blooming in the darkest corner of his soul. But it was her pain that broke him. He couldn't stand to see so much misery upon her face, in that moment all he wanted was to take it all away, to protect her from all the hurt she held far to close to her heart. Not knowing what to say or what to do, following only his instincts. He braced his palms on either side of her head, threading his finger's into the wet strands of her hair, holding her face steady. Then leaned up hesitantly, as he drew near. He felt her draw in a breath then hold it. Her eyes were shimmering with confusion, with worry. Unsure of his intentions at first. But when his lips fell upon her's, gently exploring every inch of them. His pressure wasn't demanding or ravenous. But tender and imploring, a much needed balm to sooth the torturous burn of anger and regret that she felt inside. She felt the tension between them begin to ebb. As the kiss became more heated, filled with a passion and eagerness to claim more then just lips. He swept his tongue possessively into her mouth, relishing the taste of her. Soaking up every nuance of her willing body, her eager kisses and restless desire. How her nipples hardened against his chest, how her lithe little body unconsciously started undulating against him. Seeking that pleasurable friction of his stiff erection against her now hyper sensitive sex. She needed him, craved him, the passion and desire was undeniable.
He slipped his hand down her arching back, gripping her hips and attempted to hold her steady. Serenity moaned plaintively, worried he was going to push her aside and reject her love. Desperate and pleading she began diving her own tongue deep into his mouth. Licking and sweeping with his as if seeking his forgiveness. But he couldn't help the vile little fragment of doubt that lay hidden in the depths of his heart. That he couldn't trust her, that she was reacting to his advances in the very same way she did with Endymion's. A groan of arousal mixed with frustration rumbled from his throat. He swore he was going to lose it right here and take her brutally against this embankment. Just to prove to himself that she belonged to him. The need to brand her in some way a seething burn in his gut. Desperate to have some way to force her hearts loyalty to only him. With one hand still holding her waist, he retraced his other hand back up her spine. Fisting her hair at the back of her head and pulled her down harder against his lips. Licking ravenously through her mouth, revelling in every moan, every subtle movement she made against him. How his touch excited her,
coaxing her desires to the greatest of heights. Her breathless pants and lusty moans echoed in his ears. But instead of finding fulfilment, those beautiful sounds seemed so fake. They mocked him, malicious in their untruthfulness. His self doubt and insecurities eating away at the joy he should feel in this wonderfully intimate moment.
With a low snarl, he tore his mouth from hers. His hand still gripping her hair, staring up at her. Overwhelmed and bewildered, he took in several long breaths trying to reclaim his emotional control. Before he did something reckless, or stupid that he would regret later. They needed to talk, to clear the air before he would allow himself to indulge in her again. He needed to know where they stood and what her real relationship with Endymion was. He refused to be the runner up!
Serenity sucked in a great breath of cold air, her eyes wide and worried. Fear of his complete rejection now trembling through out her body. She felt tense and agitated. Her eyes locked with his, pleading, searching, desperate to find any hint that he still loved her. That she hadn't ruined everything.
"We can't, not here...not now. " Darien fought with his words. "We need to talk." he finished with a small smile. Brushing a hand down from her temple to the point of her chin, then palming her cheek. Needing her to understand, to accept that things between them right now were rocky. That there wasn't some quick fix. Having sex right now wasn't going to solve anything, that he wasn't willing to fall of that cliff again with out a damn good reason. They needed to cool off until they got everything straightened out.
"Ok..." She nodded, her fear soothed but not completely gone. Sighing and smiling weakly down at him. She attempted to crawl off of him, accepting that perhaps he wanted some space.
"Were are you going?" he laughed, pulling her back down and adjusting her against his side. "Your cold and you feel damn good, so just stay here until you feel warm again. Then we will talk." he offered, refusing to allow her to leave. She nodded again, gratefully accepting his comfort. After the amazing kiss they found themselves laughing off the stress of their escape, so very thankful to have gotten free. As their joy calmed into a reflective silence. Serenity finally crawled off of him, clammy, but no longer chilled to the bone. She hugged herself tightly, still feeling the chill in the air. Since all she had on was a pair of skimpy lingerie panties. Rubbing her arms in an attempt to warm them. As Darien gathered himself to his feet.
Oh woah, oh, oh. woah, oh.
We are all misfits living in a world on fire.
Oh woah, oh, oh, woah, oh.
Sing for the people like us, the people like us.
He was lost in her unearthly beauty once more, when she was bathed in the somber light of the moon. Her skin still glistening faintly from the water, glittering as if dusted by starlight. Her long hair, once golden in the daylight had been faded by the night, glowing a elegant silver. Her eyes far more clear and stunningly blue then he had ever witnessed. As she gazed upward towards the silent companion to the stars, he felt he was witnessing a subtle communion between her and that celestial body. It was such a profoundly spiritual moment it took his breath and left him feeling humbled and some what insignificance.
He was spell bound by the sheer majesty of her beauty, in the moonlight. Just as he was so very long ago when they had first made love. She held such a serene, angelic countenance. As if she was once a child of the gods, now fallen to earth and yearning for home once more. Her sweet beauty matured into an incomparable grace. Still small in every way, lithe and shapely. She was more pure and gorgeous in the moonlight then ever before. The night they made love for the first time, he realized that she was the better half of him, the part of his being he could never live with out. Gazing at her now only solidified those intense feelings once again.
"Tell me everything." he commanded kindly.
Serenity nodded, pulling her eyes reluctantly away from the moon. To stare up him, her face calm, eyes full of stern resolve. She would see this through, no matter how awkward or painful it may be. She would lay it all out, because he meant everything to her. From this point on there would be no more secrets, no hidden agenda. He deserved to have all of her...warts and all.
"From the beginning." She ascertained, turning on her heel, knowing they needed to keep moving. To find a way back to the hotel or at least a clock. She had know idea what time it was, figuring she was most definitely going to miss her appointment with Haruka. The woman was going to blow a gasket...literally.
"The very beginning." Darien reminded her, as he pulled off his long dark jacket, leaving himself in only his white dress
shirt and black vest. Draping his tuxedo jacket over her small shoulder's. She slipped her arms into the long sleeves. That flowed over her wrists, having to curl her fingertips around the fabric to keep them from swallowing her hands up completely. The long tails, flapped over her bum as she deftly button up the coat with just her finger tips.
Darien couldn't help but admire her sweet, yet sexy demeanour once again. Wearing only his jacket now, her slender dancers legs striding beneath the short hemline. White strap heels clicking smartly along the pavement She now looked less like a sexy bunny and more like a sexy stripper. Darien gave her alluring backside a cocky, lopsided grin. Appreciating how smooth and sultry she moved. Her hips swaying alluringly in those high heels. She never noticed his leering approval and he was thankful. Knowing he would receive a smart punch in the arm, for being such a hentai. She merely cast him a small smile of gratitude before starting her story as far back as she knew.
The Genesis research project over twenty years ago.
Then they headed off, both casting uneasy looks to the crest of the canal worried that Bella was going to suddenly appear and start shooting at them. Knowing she was out there, hunting for them like some vengeful phantom. It left them both anxious and on high alert.
"It all started with the discovery of a new Sanskrit scroll, written on palm leaves. A very ancient piece of scientific protocols and philosophic concepts. It was strange to even have those two theories written down on the same scroll. Written in Brahmanical text, dating back to the mid second century BCE. Which is unheard of, it was the oldest text ever found, most scholars believed none..." She began.
"oh, ok...I don't need a full history lesson." Darien chuckled.
Serenity past him a confused look. "I thought you wanted to know everything?"
"Yes, everything relevant." He smirked. "Just give me the cliff notes version."
She gave him a thin lipped grimace of irritation. How pompous! How did he know what was and what wasn't relevant? She rolled her eyes and relented, they really didn't have a lot of time.
"The scroll spoke of something called the Seeds of the Gods. They never listed how many, just that they exist. That the seeded bodies of the cosmos had powers to elevate normal human's to the feet of the gods. " She began to condense her information.
"So basicly it explained human's with our abilities?" Darien nodded.
"Yes...but they had the knowledge of planets, of solar systems and suns that was far to early. That kind of scientific knowledge didn't arrive till much later in our history. " She countered.
Darien frowned.
"Japanese scientists sought to understand how to activate those genes." She sighed. "It was during the last great war, so we were in the middle of an arms race...that we lost." She finished with a soft sigh.
"So the scrolls and research was buried." She continued. "But over twenty years ago a promising Geneticists; Soichi Tomoe, found it. With Ido Takahashi's funding the research was started up again. "
Darien listened intently as she described the testing and inoculations they did in Japan, finding the children with dormant Genesis Genes and the brutal testing that followed. Of the government closing them down for inhumane practices and how they relocated to France. It was the confession of her first life that had him completely stunned.
"This is your second life?" he gasped, giving her a look of such bewildered confusion it made her feel like some kind of strange scientific fluke.
"Don't look at me like that!" she shoved him hard, making him cry out in alarm as he nearly fell off the narrow walkway and back into the water.
"Hey...If you wanted me to go for another swim you just had to ask" He laughed stiffly, trying to hide his unease.
"I know it's strange...I know I'm strange. You don't have to throw it in my face by looking so horrified." She moaned, it was unsettling to see him look so stunned. She never wanted to see that twisted look of confusion and shock ever again.
"Sorry, I...its just. Well, wow. Sere...do you remember your first life?" He stuttered, trying to cover up his nervousness.
"No, not really?" She sought to explain. "At least not on a conscious level." She shrugged, receiving a humorous, puzzled look from Darien. She laughed and nodded. "I have weird dreams sometimes, it like I'm someone else. I see places I've never been too, people I have never met. "She sighed and rolled her eyes talking about her dreams gave her a queasy uneasy feeling deep in her gut. " But from what Beryl and Endymion have told me. I don't even light a candle to the first me. She was this amazing young woman, full of passion and the most entrancing personality. Everyone loved her instantly. She was found at fourteen in the city of Caen, Serenity Durant. Who became kinda a mother to all the children locked up in the research compound. Ido's personal pet, he loved her most out of all the research subjects. Treated her like the daughter he never had. Tomoe never approved of how personally involved Ido got with the test subjects, lest of all with her. He remained scientific, detached from them, treating them more like test monkey's then children. The testing was of course brutal both mentally and physically. Tomoe was a cruel, calculating task master. Out to prove his theories without a shred of humanity. I am thankful I don't remember that time, clearly. Beryl does and she's not right in the head anymore. " Serenity shuttered in revulsion. A bloated silence fell between them, as Darien digested the atrocities she had confessed to him so far. As they crossed under the thick shadows of a cement bridge that spanned the canal.
Darien followed the access bridge with his eyes, wondering idlely when they would find a set of stairs or a ladder to get themselves back onto street level.
"Serenity Durant was the first Genesis Soldier to awaken. She also had a tumultuous love affair with Daiki Shinoda, who was also part of the project's test subjects. And who was also the catalyst of her ascension and her suicide." She stopped and cast her head down, becoming pensive and thoughtful.
"That was the guy I caught you kissing." Darien snarled back, hating that man even more now that he knew the truth. Of what a truly despicable bastard he was.
"I never kissed him, he kissed me!" Serenity shot back, defensively.
"A kiss is a kiss." He crossed his arms stubbornly.
"If you would have hung around for a half second longer, you would have seen me slap him!" She cried back, resentful of his victimized tone. Her rage over Endymion's horrific death finding a temporary target in him. He was the last person to be playing the victim card. Compared to what happened to Endymion. Who had been manipulated for years by his grandfather. Used and marked for death, when he became a liability. All thanks to her...meddling a year ago. She should have just let him go...like Ido had asked. Instead she allowed her sense of justice sway her and now he was dead.
"Good! Nice to see a little loyalty. " Darien responded, feeling justified.
"Oh, like your one to talk about loyalty. Shields." She spun around and mockingly laughed in his face. How dare he question her loyalty to him! She had shown far more solidarity to him over the years then he ever had to her!
Darien's face fell in sad confusion again.
"What are you getting at?" He asked quietly almost regretting his words before he spoke them. Seeing the justified half smile crossing her lips, her eyes burning with a righteous fury he had never seen in her before. He had just opened a can of long festering emotions, that she was about to unload on him with both barrels and it wasn't going to be pretty.
"Like how loyal you were to me...with Amelia!" She shouted back, hands balled into fists at her sides. Her face once pale with guilt and worry, now flooding with heat from long held anger. She had been way to submissive to speak her mind back then. Far to understanding and complaint when it came to pleasing Darien. But not now and not ever again. She had to give that abusive bastard, Daniel some props. After surviving him and enduring five years of servitude to a zealot like Ido. She had managed to grow a spine and some self respect. No one would ever make her feel, ashamed, victimized or subservient ever again!
Darien nodded bleakly, knowing she was going to throw that back at him. Accepting her anger towards him with humility. Knowing he deserved a bit of a tongue lashing, that it was long over due. He had been a manipulative bastard back then. Placing poor Amelia in a sickening position of emotional ransom. While he had been totally irresponsible with Sere's feelings and completely immature about the whole thing. The blackmail, the games he had played only ended up hurting everybody involved and solved nothing.
"Seeing you kiss her, that hurt me deeply. More then I ever let you know. Then you go and start dating both of us!" She raged, her voice rising in incredulity. "I should have never just let you do that. I was a pathetic love sick fool to give you permission to do that!" She sniffed, bowing her head. Her pride refusing to allow him to see how broken up she still was over the past.
"Trust me, I got the message back then. Little miss passive aggressive!" He threw back. His temper and feelings of
inadequacy concerning Endymion finally getting the better of him. Causing him to lash out irrationally, trying to hurt her as brutally as she had hurt him.
"What!" She cried back, aghast he would just turn it around like that. Fury was boiling in her stomach. Her whole body was trembling with the intensity of the emotions she was holding in.
"What..." He tossed back to her yet again, his face showing only mocking shock. "Were you waiting all this time just to hurt me back! Was this all some well devised plan of revenge? To show me how painful it would be to see the woman I love kiss another man?" He accused bitterly, his own fury rising. Hating that she just kept resurrecting how much he had devastated her, back then. As if he hadn't earned any forgiveness or even a shred of understanding for his immaturity and pompous behaviour back then. His accusation was unfounded and brutally hurtful but at this point he didn't care.
She tore out from beneath the bridge, storming down the cement walkway. Tears streaming down her cheeks, making the bland, grey world ahead waver and blur.
"We're not done yet!" Darien called behind her. Lunging into an all out jog, refusing to allow her to bolt. Which had become a rather frustrating habit of late.
She never even stopped, so full of unjust fury she merely flipped him the bird over her shoulder never turning back. Her strides lengthening and becoming more urgent as she tried to put some distance between them. Soon she was running, with Darien in hot pursuit. His stride determined, even though his eyes gleamed with fond amusement. Chasing a pissed off rabbit was a treasured game, he remembered clearly from his youth. The last time he had gotten her this mad, she had stormed out Hobson's gas station.
"Were are you going...we are in the middle of now where. Storming off in a huff is only going to get you and me further lost." He called, his voice was light almost teasing.
As if she was the one acting childish...perhaps she was. But to hell with him and his over blown sense of superiority. She screwed up! But so did he, why was she expected to hold all the guilt and all the blame with their relationship breaking down.
"Bastard!" she screamed back defiantly, increasing her speed yet again. Angrily swiping away her tears with her fingertips and valiantly keeping one foot in front of the other. When all she wanted to do was curl up and cry.
He finally caught up to her, beneath the next cement overpass, having to practically run the last few paces. Grabbing her by the elbow and spinning her around. He wore a lopsided smirk, as if he was proud about pissing her off. When in reality he was nervous as hell, that he had totally ruined their relationship with his arrogant pride.
"You are still so gorgeous when your mad as hell." He cradled her to his chest, wrapping his arms around her back refusing to let her go.
"Baka..." She hissed as she thumped her forehead against his chest in defeat.
With a heaving sigh of relief that she wasn't fighting against his embrace. Darien slowly brushed his fingertips up the side of her chin, cupping her cheek tenderly. Swiping the pad of his thumb under her eye, wiping away the moisture of her tears. He busied himself with wiping away the rest of her tears and the smudges of mascara allowing them both time to cool down. Then he took a step back, giving her some space.
"Are we even now?" He offered quietly, with out a trace of malice or anger. Panting and breathing heavy from his run.
She tossed him a cold, glacial stare. Her chin jutting out impertinently.
"What?" She stuttered out completely bewildered. "It wasn't revenge?"
"Then what was it?" He pleaded, gripping her shoulder's more firmly and giving her a slight shake. He was desperate for answers, anything that might give him hope to believe Endymion meant nothing to her.
"A mistake." She groaned, pushing away from him and pinching the bridge of her nose. She felt fed up and frustrated with this endless round of questioning over her hearts loyalty. He should know with a single doubt that she belonged to him and him alone.
"How about me then...was I a mistake too?" He blurted out, cringing at how pathetic he sounded. "Is that why you went running back to him?"
She stood awe struck for a moment just staring up at him. His doubt and insecurities about how much she loved him
was unfathomable. With her emotions already running so wild, she couldn't find any compassion for his jealous little pity party. Instead she grit her teeth and stared unflinchingly up at him.
"What do you want, Darien? An apology? An omission of guilt? Do you need me to confess to you, lie to you, perhaps stroke your ego? So you can feel better about yourself? Cause I will do none of that, because I haven't done anything wrong!" She raged back in a breathless rant.
Darien's eyes narrowed, scrutinizing her cautiously. He had never witnessed this level of pure, unrivalled fury from her. The kid gloves were off and she wasn't holding back. Her strikes were cold, calculated and precise. Cutting his heart right to the quick, if he didn't tread carefully. She would verbally shred and tear him to pieces. He wondered grimly how much of a verbal beating he could take before her cruel words obliterated his heart completely.
"What ever issues your dealing with, concerning your own personal short comings or insecurities in regards to Endymion. They are your's! I have given you all of me! My heart, my soul and my body! I have confessed my love for you, my devotion...I can't offer you any more certainty. That I love you and only you, then that!" She snarled, snapping her fist down to her side. Hurt and frustrated by the back and forth of this blame game. Her emotions were now crashing violently inside of her, raging out of her control.
"You killed me, Sere." He whispered, his voice was low and full of hurt. An undertone of anger still very clear in his tone.
She stood impassively, searching his eyes. Chewing on her lower lip nervously. Still so stubborn and obstinate, refusing to submit to him. As hurt as he was, his fury at her betrayal was still stronger. Something snapped inside of him, at her complete disregard to his pain. He roared and spun, throwing a fist at the cement wall behind him.
She gasped, in shock and confusion. As with out hesitation he rocketed his other fist into the cement. His Genesis State humming through his muscles giving them far more strength then a normal man. The cement cracked and spider webbed out from his fists. Dust and fragments of concrete puffed and rained down from the impacts. Her eyes widened in fear, her breath shallow as she pressed trembling fingers to her mouth. She had never witnessed him lose control like this. He was so enraged, so frustrated and heart broken. It cracked through the barrier of anger and resentment she had erected around her heart. Her emotions finally softening towards him again.
"It may be arrogant, selfish even, but I can't stand that I'm not the sole person to occupy your heart. " he snarled, then sighed wistfully before continuing." For the longest time, I thought you were mine and mine alone. I never wanted to share you? Knowing that this Endymion held a piece of your heart, a piece I could never lay claim to." He started to laugh bitterly. " It tore me up inside." He turned racking his hands, now decorated with bloody knuckles through his hair. "You kept secrets, left me behind again and again. You pushed me away and crawled into the arm of another man." He growled, "How did you think that was going to make me feel?"
She was silent for a long time. Staring down at her feet, uncertain if she wanted to continue this painful confrontation.
Then squaring her shoulder's she glowered up at him, needing to state her case as honestly as she could.
They had stopped to argue under another bridge. The solid darkness masking their forms, all he could make out clearly was the moist blue of her eyes. Full of fury and hurt as she finally released all her pent up angst over what he had done so long ago.
"That was exactly how I felt back then. The whole time it was killing me inside, wondering what you were doing with Amelia. That you might be saying the same sweet things to her, that you say to me. She was older, more beautiful and obviously more experienced. I couldn't compete with her, I was totally out classed in every way. I lived in fear that you might actually fall in love with her and leave me. I felt dismissed, unworthy and helpless in fighting for what I wanted. I am sorry if I made you feel that very same way. It was never my intention." She gave him a small regretful smile.
Darien paused, swallowing hard as the impact of what he had done to her hit him squarely in the chest.
"I was so afraid back then, so timid and had no confidence in myself at all. And you took advantage of all that..." Her wavering voice was cut off.
Darien slowly closed his eyes, realizing ruefully that the universe... or karma what ever it was. Had just given him a bitter taste of his own medicine. It was time to own up to what he had done and make things right. He couldn't stand the pain he had caused and grabbed her by the shoulder's. Doing the only thing he knew to remedy that long weeping wound. He spun her around and pressed her up against the rough cement of the support pillar at the side of the bridge.
"I'm sorry..." He breathed, before crushing her lips with his once more. Sealing her further words with the heat of his kiss.
The kiss was full of a fever, harsh and demanding. His lips stole from her, demanded from her. With his hands clasping
tight to the sides of her head, fingers locking tightly into her long blonde hair. Holding her firmly, as his tongue dove deep. Sweeping and licking inside her mouth. Needing her to feel his passion, his unrestrained desire for only her. He took her breath, leaving her stunned and heaving for air. As he nuzzled into her neck, mouthing the soft skin hungrily. Nipping and lapping at the tender spot behind her ear. Making her arch and moan lustily into his ear.
"I love you..." She whimpered, driving her finger's into his hair.
"Say it...it need you to say it!" he growled, suckling hard at her skin. Making her cry out, as a sharp burning pain jolted through her.
"I'm yours..." She breathed, her nipples hardening at the conviction of that confession. Her belly knotting and swirling with desire and nerves. Her breathing shallow and full of need.
He continued to bathe her neck in sweet, succulent kisses. Soothing the pain he had inflicted there. When he finally pulled himself off of her, his face was wet as well.
"I will never...never...fall in love with another woman" His voice was low, a breathless rumble that stilled her heart.
She had never seen Darien break before and never as completely he was right then. His emotions always restrained, solid like a rock. He maintained a stoic control over himself, never allowing true emotion to come forth. Earlier that night when she revealed what Daniel had done to her. He nearly lost his cool, she had seen a mirage of unmeasurable pain, blame, and loathing all cross over his face. Quickly contained, then lost to the currents of their love making. Now though, now he was shattered, tears flowing down his face unrestrained.
"Darien..." She breathed, whipping away his tears with trembling hands.
Her face falling into more tears as well.
"I love you...Sere. You mean everything to me. I will never stray, I can promise you that!" He stated, with such certainty she caught her breath. Suddenly feeling even more battered by how deeply she had hurt him by kissing Endymion.
"I'm sorry..." she broke into heavy sobs. As he drew her close, holding tighter then ever. "I never meant to hurt you. I can't undo what happened, but I love you...only you...You are my forever..." He took several deep breaths before bearing even more of his heart. "I lost everything when I was eight years old...you know that. I've told you the story about my parents, the years of foster care." He started, feeling her nod against his chest. He softly stroked his hand down the back of her head, soothing her as much as he was soothing himself. "What I never told you, was that I shut down. I locked everything I felt away and built walls to keep everyone out. I wasn't comfortable with any kind of intense emotion. I was fine with anger, bitterness and angst. Those darker emotions kept me from having to deal with the fucked up mess that lived in my subconscious. I was never comfortable feeling attached to people...to caring or giving anyone a chance to get to know me. I couldn't deal with ever losing anyone I loved ever again. So I didn't want to really get to know anyone either. I thought I was happy being alone, I didn't need anyone. Andrew was fun, he was a good friend but we never connected on any deeper level." He hugged her even tighter as she cried softly against his chest. "Then I met you...you saved me Sere. In all the ways a person can be saved, you did it. You showed me that life still had meaning. To appreciate all the wonder and sweetness of every moment. I finally allowed my heart to open and allowed another person in." He smiled down at her, soaking up the joy now shimmering in her eyes as she looked up at him. "I fell in love with you instantly. You know that." He laughed at his final admission, his heart lighter.
"I know..." She sighed, gently pulling out of his grasp. Taking a shaky breath, as she clasped his hand tight, leading him out of the darkness and back into the moonlight on the other side of the bridge.
"Endymion was from my first life. I don't love him...at least not in the same way that I love you." She gave him a sorry smile. Having a hard time explaining her feelings over the strange and convoluted situation.
"In this life, you are my one true love. Endy ruined his chances with me nearly twenty years ago. It doesn't really matter anymore anyway." She choked, forcing back the last of her sobs. "He saved me back at the hotel, tossing me out of the penthouse just as it exploded. I doubt he survived, his armour isn't that strong." She finished in a quite whisper her voice to shaky and uncertain to sound strong.
"I'm sorry." Darien squeezed her hand, sympathizing and consoling her.
"Thanks, Mamo-chan." She gave him a bitter sweet smile over her shoulder.
Taking a long deep breath, seeking to quell the last of her sobs, she continued on track once more. Beginning to work out her next words, as Darien interrupted her train of thought yet again.
"So, you killed yourself?" Darien voice was grim. They were right back were they started, their hearts and minds once more at ease. With the hard emotional turmoil between them now behind them. They could focus once more on the hard facts.
"Yes, Endy explained to me what happened. That he played games with me. Always testing my loyalty to him, in one way or another. Manipulating my emotions and torturing my heart. All to help Tomoe create turmoil inside of me. He would have done anything for Tomoe, I think he idolized the man. I don't know why. I guess he just loved him, more then he loved me. " Her voice was hoarse, filled with a barely remembered misery. "They forced an ascension, due to great trauma. It's called a wild ascension. When the subject loses all control of the Genesis state. I was so full of rage at his last betrayal that I snapped. I was sixteen and very much in love with him. I had just given him my body the night before, when I went back to his room on the compound to get him for breakfast. I found him in bed with another girl from the city. Some nameless local who meant nothing to him. I ran to the courtyard, were they served our breakfast during the summer months. He followed me, intent on finishing the final blow. He told me that I didn't matter either, that loving me was meaningless. That he had enjoyed the chase, the courting but he got his prize. Frankly once he had bedded me, I became boring, a notch on his belt so to speak. He had gotten what he wanted from me and now he was moving on to a better women. He publicly shamed me, belittled me in every way. That was enough to finally push me over. I fell into a fit of blinding rage, wanting to kill him and everyone else who had ever hurt me. My mother who had sold me to the project, the scientist who tortured me. Daiki for not loving me, for being so cruel and unforgiving in the end. " She took a deep breath, her brow furrowed in troubled thoughts.
"Ido tried to calm me down, but my Genesis was consuming me. I blasted him back with my power, shattering his left leg. As I sent him flying to the far side of the courtyard. I was becoming a living nuclear bomb at this point, my power was surging out of control. I just wanted it all to end. " Serenity's true memories of her past life began to resurrect themselves, like the fleeting images of a faded dream. She could now lay claim to the faint images and murky feelings of her last moments. She had never wanted to delve to deeply into her past life, not truly wanting to remember. This pain hidden so deep inside of her was like drowning in ice. Enduring thousands of razor sharp cuts, slicing through her very soul.
But with Darien holding her hand so tightly, she felt far braver then ever before. He deserved to know everything and she would hold nothing back again. He was the healing balm that fixed every one of those deep wounds.
"My last thought before I destroyed the city and myself, was that I just wanted to be human again." She took a deep breath.
"Wow. " Darien breathed, amazed by the misery she had undergone in her first life.
They were silent for a long time, before Serenity found her voice.
"I truly don't know who I am anymore." She gave him a bitter sweet look.
"The real Serenity Durant is dead only a fragment of her lives in me." She stared up at him, her eyes holding such a blunt honesty that it was startling.
"I am merely her second chance, version 2.0 if you wish." Serenity chuckled with amusement at her little joke. Trying to lighten the severity of what she was confessing. She felt no connection to this woman, at least not on a conscious level. She had spend the last five years valiantly trying to separate herself from the atrocity her former self had committed twenty years ago. If she allowed herself to believe she truly was this all powerful Genesis, who had laid waste to thousands. It would most likely crush her soul with guilt. Pretending that she had no tangible link to that time and place kept her sane.
"The U.N created 'The Agency' to keep tabs on all surviving test subject and all the children confirmed to have Transcendent Genetics. Wanting a task force trained and ready to deal any Wild Genesis in the future. My former self killed thousands that day. A few survived, Tomoe and Daiki had evacuated by helicopter with Ido. Beryl had been pushed into a wild ascension because of me. She lived by absorbing the dieing to keep herself alive. She was only a young child at the time. She was the one to find my infant body and hand me over to the first people she met. It was the only honourable thing she has ever done." She cleared her throat, a suffocating lump forming as the weight of her guilt sought to crush her. She was a mass murderer, even if in some odd way it wasn't truly her. The harsh feelings of blame still plagued her.
"Ido placed me under the care of Ikuko, a nurse that worked on the project back in Japan. He wanted to keep tabs on me while I grew up again. I thought she was my mother...but now I don't even know if she even loved me. Or if I was just a responsibility? You don't say no to Ido. He could have ruined her new husbands career. Kenji Tsukino, who I thought was my father was a reporter in Tokyo. I felt they both loved me, but I never seemed to live up to their expectations like my younger brother did. Perhaps that was because they honestly loved him. He was their flesh and blood. " She groaned,
brushing away a few tears. Unable to ever get over the hurt, the sense of not really belonging to a family. The realization that one was some strange anomaly, separate from this world...like some kind of alien being. It was more then she could handle at times.
That understanding was what tormented and devastated her the most.
"Sere..." He pulled her close, wrapping an arm around her shoulder as they walked onward down the narrow cement walkway along the canal's sloping barrier walls.
"She named me Usagi, which I found out was my nick name back in Caen. I don't know why, I was french in my first life. I don't think I wore my hair any different then I do now. Ikuko gave me that hairstyle of Odango and tails, to symbolize my name." She finished, clutching onto his dress shirt as they walked pressed up against one another.
"I wonder if she thought I was cute, or just making fun of me." She pouted, now completely absorbed in self pity.
"I believe she thought you were cute, when I saw you for the first time you were the sweetest, most cutest creature I had ever seen." He grinned down at her, brushing her long hair back over her ears with his strong fingers. His sincerity making her smile brightly, chasing away all the dark clouds of despair once converging in her heart. She felt warm again, content and completely accepted by him. She was his girl, now and forever. He didn't give a damn about who she was in the past. That past and all it's karmic baggage didn't matter. To him she was just...
Sere.
They enjoyed the embrace for a few more minutes, just staring lovingly at each other. Before she finally moved out of his arms to continue her tail. Walking ahead of him, maintaining contact by holding his hand. Ensuring his subtle support as she bared more of her painful history.
"Then my father put his nose into Tomoe's business with the Yakuza.'The Agency got involved and I went into hiding in the States, they named me Serena and I lived as her for nearly three years." She finished.
"So how did you end up back in Japan." He pushed on.
"Yes, " She responded, pondering her words for a moment before continuing. This was the hardest, most painful part of the story to tell and she needed to take a deep breath. "Beryl kidnapped my brother after the school was destroyed, so I followed." She faltered and bit down on her lip to stop from crying. Thinking about the horror her little brother had endured always tore her up inside. She could already feel the burning sting of tears, the lump of guilt slowly choking her. Needing a second to gather herself before she started again. "She had tortured him relentlessly, taking out her revenge against me on him." She breathed out harshly, close to sobbing. "My fellow soldier, Michiru has the ability to wipe minds. Ido and Michi, gave Shingo a new life, as they did for me. With a family out of Osaka who was loyal to his cause. " Her voice was more steady now, but still wavered just a bit with emotion. "I've lived and trained out of Ido's mansion just outside of Tokyo ever since. But I was always curious as to what happened to my brother. So I found him years later, against Ido's better judgement." She smiled grimly, before continuing.
"It was during the time that I was on a undercover mission against the Yakuza, I met Endymion then. Tomoe was up to no good, trying to over power Ido on his own turf. He had flooded the streets with Genesis Serum. I worked with Daiki to purge Tokyo and Osaka, of the drug. But nothing really significant happened. Beyond him revealing my past life and betraying me yet again." She groaned. "I sent him to prison for his crimes. He ultimately created the Onii arena, by claiming the serum for himself and creating an army of super soldier's for his grandfather."
"After all that, I was sent to China. Beryl had defected from Ido's side to Tomoe's. Ido and Tomoe's relationship had been destroyed upon my suicide. They've been bitter enemies ever since, using their soldier's to achieve their petty ambitions in a never ending war to wipe each other out. " She nibbled on her lower lip nervously. Before continuing on topic yet again.
"Beryl had been messing around with me for the last five years. " Serenity stared at her striding feet, giving them a pained frown. Beryl always ignored the Soldier's pact of not killing if one was under age, concerning her. She had been trying to kill her since she arrived in Japan at sixteen. This time the maniac had finally succeeded, it had been only a matter of time before one of her crazy plans worked out.
"Messing around as in?" Darien sought to clarify, knowing her better now. She was holding back again and he wouldn't have it.
"Trying to kill me." Serenity sighed.
"Because you nearly killed her in another life? Or because she just doesn't like you, much?" Darien was feeling a bit over whelmed. Making light of the grim impact of her words.
"She blames me for becoming a Genesis Soldier, I forced her ascension when she was to young to handle it." Serenity thinned her lips, understanding the woman's loathing towards her. Yet unable to feel truly guilty, at what had happened in her first life. It just wasn't real to her. She wasn't that woman, it felt unfair that Beryl hated her so much, wanted her dead.
"How young was she?" Darien squeezed her shoulder, seeing the pain upon her face.
"About eight or so." Serenity began. "Children who take on the Genesis State usually lose their minds. A young girl, Hotaru Tomoe was forced into her Genesis State at ten. She lost her mind, we have had her under quarantine for the last five years or so."
"That was the little girl who killed your father, at the courthouse." Darien nodded.
"How do you know that?" Serenity spun out of his grip stunned that he knew that.
Darien suddenly looked very guilty. "Well, Amy found a new's feed back when we were kids. She was trying to figure out what happened to you back in Japan. She was trying to prepare us all to protect you."
"Really and you never thought I might want to know my father was dead?" She was irritated now, bordering on all out anger. Her face twisting into a barely masked frustration with him. She had hated her father for a whole year, thinking he had been a coward and left her and Shingo to fend for themselves. It wasn't till she reached Japan she found out the truth, but Ido hadn't been compassionate or understanding. He just explained what had happened as if it was old news that didn't matter. Giving her no time to grieve, eager to have her trained and in combat since Tomoe was making moves to discredit him in the Senate.
"It wasn't the right time, you had a lot of other issues going on then. I was just trying to protect you. " Darien started, raising his hands up in defence. She looked ready to strike, standing so stiffly with her her hands balled into tight fists at her sides.
"That was cold!" She shouted. "I might have dealt better with everything if you had told me...instead. I lived a whole year despising him. Wondering what happened...worrying and fantasizing of seeing him again. Of yelling at him and telling him how much I loathed him." She growled. "I never learned the truth till it was to late! He was trying to protect me, died trying and I could only hate him! I felt like the worst daughter ever! " She could feel the sting of tears forming in her eyes, her face heating up with her ire.
Darien felt horrible. She had lost everything in the course of a year, left all alone to deal with it all. It had strengthened her a great deal, but it had also hardened her heart and left her soul jagged. She was still loving and kind, but the sweet care free nature she had one possessed was gone. Tempered by a harsh reality of fighting for ones life for years on end. Of a created past of lies and hidden agenda's that made trusting difficult. She had changed so much, but he still loved her. No longer innocent or meek, she was a warrior now.
"I'm sorry." Darien started, hesitantly reaching for her. Wanting permission this time to comfort her. She looked so closed off, with her arms wrapped protectively around her stomach. Staring down at the dark water of the canal. Brooding over how cruel the past had played out.
"I still can't forgive him for leaving me." She clenched her arms tighter around her belly, glowering down at the dark water, reflecting the moon in a silvery shimmer.
"I can't forgive my parents either." Darien nodded, settling down on the narrow cement pathway. Accepting that she didn't want to be held right now, she was dealing with some very painful resentments and didn't want to be consoled. Hanging his legs over the edge, allowing them to dangle down the paved decline of the storm barrier.
Serenity sat down heavily beside him. Her shoulder's drooped, her body slumping forward feeling so very mentally and physically exhausted.
"They left me all alone, in a world that didn't care if I lived or died. I had no one to count on, no one that truly loved me." He smiled down at her. "Until a silly little blonde girl with the craziest hairstyle entered my life." He pulled her willingly against his shoulder then. Sensing that their shared bond, was pulling her barrier's down. That she was ready to be held and reassured that everything was going to turn out right. Holding her close as she giggled, her anger at him melting away. This shared grief connecting them on a deeper level. He could understand her pain, share in it even.
"I learned to depend on me. For everything, I had no one guiding me but me. I supported myself, confided in myself and
ultimately learned to live all alone. " Darien sighed, a bleak loneliness thick in his tone. "I learned to be strong and self confident with out the aid or support of others. " He finished, holding her tighter. "But I wasn't happy or fulfilled with life until you were in it."He finished, grinning down at her contentedly.
"But you had your goals?" She was confused, she thought he would be happy with all the success he had back in America.
"My goals meant nothing with out you to share in my success." He sighed heavily, a grief clear in his lingering release of breath.
"You would have left me too, after graduation." She stated nervously, playing with her fingers.
Darien was shocked that she thought that way. "Never...I had changed my goals after we got together. I wasn't going to leave the city. I might have kept fighting in local competitions for extra money. I had you and Shingo, I had my family again. I wouldn't have joined the UFC. " He admitted. "All I truly wanted was a future with you."
She was taken a back yet again, her heart swelling, yet feeling guilty as hell. For disappearing and wasting all the happiness they could have had. She had wasted a whole year fighting with herself about going to see him and in the end had talked herself out of it.
"I should have found you sooner." She sighed regretfully.
"Yes, yes you should have." His words poking her with a bitter humour. "But we have a new start now. I figure we met for a reason then and again right now. I think we both needed time to grow up, to understand how brutal being apart could be. So we would appreciate each other more, and the second chance we have." He admitted, his eyes filled with an honest hope.
Serenity moaned softly, she couldn't bear to break his heart. "We have right now, Mamo-chan." She offered, reaching up to cup his face with both hands. Drawing him down lovingly into her passionate kiss.
Oh, woah, oh, oh, woah, oh
We are all misfits now in a world on fire.
Oh, woah, oh, oh, woah, oh.
Sing it for the people like us, the people like us.
Darien's heart lurched at the sad acceptance he heard in her voice, but his worries were soon fading as she continued to entice his lust. Her supple body climbing into his lap, her breath falling away as she stared down into his face. His eyes such a rich mysterious blue, gazing up at her with an honest affection. His love for her could never be measured, but it was as stead fast and strong as ever. Yet there was confusion and worry hiding in their depths, a bleak sort of understanding that she was still holding something back. Something important, something cruel and grim that she could never voice.
"Sere..." He pleaded. She pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him. "We have now, Mamo-chan. Let's live for right now, over thinking the future only breeds disappointment, remembering the past brings only sadness.I need us to live for right now, because that's all we have." Not wanting to look at the pain in his eyes any longer, she leaned down and pressed her lips against his. Her kiss was sweet and tender at first. Her lips barely brushing against his, her breath intoxicating him as she applied more pressure. With a soft whimper she gave in to her need. Unable to contain her desires, she deepened the kiss, her tongue flicking wantonly into his mouth. Her hands creeping behind his head and griping his hair tight. Pushing her slight weight against him, pressing him backward. To recline against the cool rough cement of the canal's embankment. She soaked up the familiar taste of him, as their tongues duelled. Each stroke of their tongues building the excitement, coaxing the sweetest of moans from her. The most primal of growls from him. Crossing his arms behind her back, he pressed his palms against her shoulder blades. Forcing her more firmly against him, holding her against his chest possessively. Trailing his fingers down the arch of her spine, making her shiver with anticipation. The promise of further pleasure coursing through them both.
"I'll never let you go..." He vowed, between passionate kisses. Serenity offered him a sweet grin before reclaiming his lips with her own. Her kisses now eager and demanding. His cock was painfully hard, rubbing against the wetness between her legs. His pelvis was tucked beneath her, straddling him as she was, she was cradling his groin against her sex. Every time she shifted, she would moan into his mouth as her clit would brush against the tip of his erection. Sending the most delicious sensations through her body.
It was the most erotic and exhilarating experience of his life. He had been with many women. But none excited him so intensely like his Serenity. She was an amazingly sensual creature when she sought to seduce him. So attuned to how her body moved, she knew exactly how to intice him, how to drive him completely wild. With a roll of her hips she had him begging, an arch of her back and he was lost to the desire. Her supple body weaving the most sweet and erotic dance he had ever seen, had ever felt in his life.
The path of one of Darien's hands came to rest upon her ass. Cupping the alluring swell of one cheek, massaging it briefly. While his other hand traveled even lower along the curve of her butt. Squeezing the soft underside of her thigh, as he slipped his hand between her legs from behind.
"Oh god..." She gasped, as the tips of his finger's brushed against the sensitive skin along the seam of her sex. His other hand gripping her hip painfully, as she ground herself against his erection. A low, rumbling groan issued from his throat. When he slipped a finger inside her panties to touch her more intimately. She jackknifed against him, her stiff nipples poking him through the cotton fabric of the tuxedo jacket.
"God Damn, Sweetness." Darien heaved for breath, he felt half lucid. Drunk upon the lust now consuming him. The rush of her wild seduction out here in the open air of the canal coursing through him like wild fire. Serenity allowed him only a brief moment to gather his breath, before plunging her hands into his thick dark hair. A sweet sensual smile pulling upon her full pouting lips. She wasn't done with him, this was only the beginning. Drawing him back to face her, their eyes locking for only a second. The hunger he saw in her eyes stole his breath. It was primal and wanton, a piercing stare of pure, dominating lust. She needed him, craved him...then she crashed her lips against his. Taking what was her's and claiming possession of him heart and soul once more. Her tongue darted inside, tasting him, devouring him. As he submitted to her, sweeping his tongue even deeper, savouring her in every way. She moaned and sighed with bliss. As her intentions were soon clear, that she wanted more from him then just a heavy make out session under the moonlight.
Her nimble fingers began to unbutton the first few buttons of his dress shirt. As he was lost to her wiles, her small hands darting under the fabric, caressing his chest in smooth fluid motions. Drawing out the most languid moans from him. Lost to her eyes, that shone a brilliant ocean blue under the soft gaze of the moon. Her long hair falling like curtains of liquid silver around his face. As she smothered him in long, lust filled kisses. Her lips brushing his tauntingly, for mere seconds before taking his breath in a heated kiss. Her tongue was tangling and teasing him. As her finger's crept lower, slowly pulling down the zipper of his pants. "I want you..." She breathed in his ear, before suckling his earlobe loudly. "I need you..." She moaned into his mouth.
His mind was spinning, he was having a hard time processing this intense shift in her. They had been existing on a knifes edge for the last hour. On the run, with nerves stretched tight as guitar wires. Glancing over their shoulder's wondering if Bella was going to suddenly appear out of no where and recapture them. The vastly emotional ebb and flow of their conversation thus far, had left him mentally spent. Swinging like a pendulum, from melancholy, to anger and back towards a pensive thoughtfulness of a shared loss.
And now she was seducing him in the middle of nowhere. Wanting to distract him from questioning her further, or spurned by the moment. He couldn't figure out what, but as she pulled his stiff member free, adjusting herself above him. All thoughts were cast aside upon the currents of raw desire, as she reached beneath her hem of the tuxedo jacket, pulling her underwear aside enough slip him deep inside of herself.
Darien sucked in a cold breath, as he felt her moist, tight warmth surround him. She was still for just a second, cupping his face with her small hands. Gazing down at him, her eyes sparkling with utter contentment, a profound happiness glowing in her beautiful smile.
"No...protection..." Darien panted, barely able to form coherent thoughts. She felt so amazing! Her tight muscles gripping his cock. His eyes were dazed, fighting desperately to maintain his control. He was barely hanging on right now. If she was to move right then he was so insanely aroused right now. That he knew he would come inside of her.
This was the most incredible moment of his life. He had never felt so complete, so whole. Then she started to wiggle, impatient for him to move. "You feel so good..to good...please stop or I am going to come." he pleaded, both hands gripping her waist holding her steady.
"I need you...to move." She moaned back, her hands braced flat upon his chest.
"I could get you pregnant..." He heaved out in one great breath. His eyes tightly closed as all of his focus was falling inward to control his raging libido. God he wanted to just say to hell with responsibility, with consequences and fuck her long and hard right here, right now! God she was driving him completely insane!
"That would be absolutely wonderful!" she sighed wistfully, with that same hopeful innocence she had held for the idea,
back when she was just a tender hearted fifteen year old girl.
Darien snapped his eyes open, finding her glistening, kiss swollen lips now inches away from his. A tender, loving smile pulling upon her perfect mouth. Her forehead resting against his and her gorgeous blue eyes staring deeply into his. The passionate aura of her love was shimmering there, penetrating down deep to his very soul. It was possibly the most profound look she had ever gave him. Her love was fierce, all consuming and timeless. It stole his breath and caused his heart to stagger in his chest. She was absolutely stunning...
"Forever..." Was all she said, before pressing her lips against his. Teasing her sweet tongue against his lower lip. Coaxing him to open for her, sweeping her tongue inside. With a long, lusty sigh he began to thrust softly into her. Slowly gaining momentum, pushing harder, faster. Feeling those tell tale contractions of her inner muscles gripping his cock as she got close to orgasm.
This would be one of many, Darien promised.
He slid a hand between them, grazing her clit with his thumb. Pushing her over that edge into those blissful waves of pleasure. Serenity bucked and cried out, arching her neck backward towards the night sky. The moonlight captured her rapture and left him utterly mesmerized by it.
It was breathtaking, watching her unravel in that gentle silvery light, trembling and convulsing above him.
Slowly she bowed her head from the heavens and regarded him. Her face was serious, her eyes boring into his. "I am going to make love to you now and you will know with out a doubt that I am yours." She deftly unbuttoned the tuxedo jacket. The front of the jacket parted, the collar falling away down her shoulder's. Bearing her gorgeous breasts and toned stomach to the moonlight. She rolled her hips, her inner muscles pulsing around him. Leaning down over him, her silvery blonde hair pooling around his head. Secluded behind the curtain of her long hair, she pressed her mouth sweetly against his. "I promise...no other man will ever kiss these lips." She whispered softly. Then rose back up in one fluid motion. Then she reached down to her hips and gathered his hands in hers. She slowly drew them upward, his fingertips skimming over her silky skin. Molding them to her breasts. Darien stared up at her, taking one ragged breath after another. This moment was so profoundly sensual, the intensity of her eyes and the calculated movements she was making was taking his breath away.
"These belong to you." Arching her back, she forced more of her breasts into the palms of his hands. He cupped them, kneading them slowly. His thumbs brushing over the turgid nipples. Darien moaned, pushing himself deeper inside of her. With a very pleased grin, she arched her back, slipping her hand seductively down her flank. Ghosting her fingertips across her taunt belly and proceeded lower until she was rubbing her sex. With her eyes locked on Darien she whispered. "This is yours...no other man will ever touch me here, in this lifetime." Her hips bucked and rolled upon him. Her breath hitching, her voice trembling. As she began riding him with a wanton abandon, as if she truly was astride a wild pony. He could only grip her hips, as she bounced upon him in nothing but his tuxedo jacket. Crying his name to the heavens, as she took him in long steady strokes.
"...Mamo, please...oh god." She cried, her whole body trembling upon every powerful thrust.
He accented her calls with low groans as she rode him hard and fast.
"Harder...oh...I love you..." She urged him, her voice shallow and breathless. "I love you...I love you..." She repeated, her confession of love a mantra she accented upon the completion of every thrust.
His whole body was shuddering with the immense fight to control his impulses. The need to pound himself inside of her was mounting and he was having a hard time staying still. He didn't want to destroy her rhythm or her sense of sexual power. She seemed to need to feel a bit of control right now. He was totally fine with her leading, using him like a toy to quench her desires. To obtain a temporary high and escape into a mindless oblivion of pure ecstasy.
Reclining back he watched her with heavy lidded eyes, as her graceful figure rose and fell upon him. Her breasts bouncing, arching and writhing upon him as she sought her pleasure. Silvery toned hair tossing wildly as she bucked in his flagging grip. Rocking her hips and riding him madly. The sex was hot and mindless, fuelled not only by love but by a need to feel free...if for just a little while.
All the worry was draining from his mind, drowning in the euphoric haze of near climax. His body trembling beneath her, eager to finish but unable to claim said prize. He cherished her to much and wanted to please her. He needed to hold on till she came again. Biting his lower lip as he struggled to hold on, watching her face move into indescribable bliss as she finally found her temporary heaven. He cried out with her as they completed together.
Slowly she bent down to face him, moving her head lazily from it's craned position against the night sky. Flushed and
relaxed, with a euphoric, shy smile spreading upon her face. Tears slipping down her cheeks, dripping from her chin. "Do you understand now...how much you mean to me?" She shuttered. Pulling him upward against her sweat dampened breasts. Trembling and sobbing quietly. Darien buried his face between her breasts, nuzzling them tenderly. Before his lips latched onto a nipple, suckling softly, swirling the beaded nub with his tongue. Her fingers gripped fistfuls of his hair, her body warm and relaxed with a stated desire. Then he drew away, reclining back on his elbows. Coming down from his own euphoric high, he found himself admiring her sweet beauty once again. It was remarkable how the gentle beams of moonlight from the bloated half moon, seemed to make her pale skin shimmer as if an inner magic was glittering upon her whole body. The tuxedo jacket, that was several sizes to large for her, hung loose over her slender bare shoulder's. Giving her such an innocent, erotic allure he felt himself coming alive again between her legs.
The wide cuffs overwhelming her tiny hands now clutching his own broad shoulder's. They were both out of breath, grinning like fools and laughing at how completely taken they had been in the moment. Having sex out in the open like this, with the expressway humming only a few miles over head on the far side of the cement canal was so risky. Which had perhaps added to the excitement of it.
"You are all that I see, all that I think about, dream about. Now that I've found you again, I am never letting go...do you understand? Sere?" He vowed, his eyes boring into hers. Reaching up to cradle the nape of her neck, his thumbs rubbing up and down the slender column soothingly.
She nodded, panting softly from her exertion her heart pounding in sync with his. Then slowly she curled herself over top of him. Her head fell in exhaustion towards the crook of his neck, pressing her forehead against the hot skin of his shoulder. She had never felt closer to him then she did right now. Every sense was attuned to him, she swore she could feel his very pulse humming inside of her own body. His breath was her breath, his thoughts, his feelings, they shivered just beneath the surface of her mind. All the hurtful words, accusations they had flung between them melted away. Leaving only a sense of peace and utter contentment in their wake.
She felt that she accomplished her goal concerning Darien. She was on borrowed time now, but she knew she had used it well. He would know with out a doubt how much he had meant to her, how fiercely she had loved him. She felt his strong arms encircling her, his breathing shallow against the top of her head.
"I can't believe I just did that..." She giggled. Her lips quietly brushing against his skin, sending a wave of shivers down his whole body.
He laughed softly, brushing a hand down the back of her head. Soothing her with his touch, stroking her hair as if she was a contented kitten now curling up for a long nap upon his chest.
"But boy did I need it..." She finished, enjoying the adrenaline coursing through her. Dulling the ache of the intense emotions and the fatigue now dragging her down from the poison.
"I don't mind at all, happy to donate my body to the cause." He responded with a low rueful chuckle.
Which caused her to laugh rather brightly all over again. He was feeling highly satisfied, but guilty as hell. She had totally derailed his questioning. Things were getting serious and instead of being up front with what was going on with her. She had seduced him into a wild sexcapade here on the canal. She felt just as guilty about holding things back, unwilling to lift her head to meet his face. She settled herself more firmly against him, needing a few more moments to gather her courage. She couldn't just avoid this topic, or delay it any longer.
"You don't want me here." Darien voiced her recent feelings clearly.
"No, I don't." She responded quietly.
"You can't get rid of me, though." He continued.
"I know. " She moaned.
"So are you ready to accept that I am not going anywhere?" He raised a speculative eyebrow. Watching her face crumple into tears, not of humility or acceptance but of fear. A cold agonizing terror that clawed at her heart, seeking to rip it to shreds. He still had no way of grasping what he would become under Ido's thumb. Because he had yet to experience what it was like to be a living weapon. To be used like a soulless thing, reaping penance, retribution or murder on all those who threatened Ido's so called peace.
Darien huffed, his expression tightening at the abject misery upon her face. Realizing morbidly that she would never willingly accept him risking his life on a day to day basis just to remain at her side. He clasped her chin in his fingers and tilted her head up to confront the fierce determination in his eyes. "You have challenged my attempts to be with you at
every turn. You have tried everything to push me away. You've rejected me, avoided me, belittled and antagonize me. When none of those tactics worked, you tried to leave me behind again and again. Kept me in the dark about your life, the danger's you were taking on all by yourself! Tried to make me feel useless, or just in the way...hoping I would become so fed up with your bullshit, I would leave?" He asked matter factly, his tone holding no anger or sadness just acceptance.
"Yet, I'm still here!" He stated stubbornly an ingratiating smile upon his lips.
She leaned back, the somber light of the starlit night playing off the moisture upon her cheeks. The thin trails gleaming like liquid glass. The pain he saw was breaking his heart and stealing his breath. She looked utterly and completely broken.
"I'm a weapon!" She shouted to the heavens, her thin delicate finger's gripping into the thin fabric of his dress shirt so tightly he felt her scratch his skin. Cursing her fate with all that she was worth. Ido had destroyed her and rebuilt her in the image he wanted. Through training, torture and uncompromising missions that had changed her forever. He had made her a killer, either by circumstance as it was with Fish-eye or by association. Concerning his two most prized hunting dogs, Haruka and Michiru.
"I never wanted that life for you!" She shook him by the shoulder's fiercely. "I knew you were alive a year ago. I never found you because I wanted you to be free of this. I choose to live without you, to give you a chance at a normal life. " She growled, staring down at him with such pain he could barely find his voice. "Something that will forever be denied me." She whispered faintly. Expelling those fateful words out through clenched teeth.
"This is my Hell...not yours." She snarled vehemently, punching him half heartedly in the chest with her tiny fists.
Darien grabbed her hands, seeing the impotent fury burning in her eyes and wanting to make sure she would not harm herself next.
"Now you have taken a life in cold blood..." She whispered brokenly. The sheer depth of her horror and misery at what he had done, shaking him to the core.
"Sere..." He moaned, wrapping her up in his arms. "Heaven or Hell, I just want to be with you." He whispered desperately, as she curled against his chest shivering and sobbing in breathless gasps.
"It was him or us...I don't feel guilty about what I did...I don't feel anything really?" He was being honest. He had no opinion about killing that man, it had been part of his plan all along. To use him as a shield enabling them to escape. A calculated risk...a known casualty he had accepted in his heart and mind before he went into action. Sarge had spent years conditioning him and the other guys along military lines. He understood such consequences on a logical, strategic level. He wondered if the more emotional issues with killing would happen later after all this was settled and he could think about things more clearly. But right now he was a warrior, his sworn duty to protect her..until his dieing breath. He would do everything he could to keep her alive.
She fell silent, biting her lip hard and drawing blood. Before slowly drawing back up to sit on his lap, facing him. Her expression was somber, a wisdom born of experience shimmering in her eyes.
"The guilt and loathing will come." She stated. Knowing it was only big talk from him. If he ever allowed himself to think purely about what he had done. About that man's life, what he might have left behind upon his death. A family? Perhaps a wife or child who now had to deal with the fact that he was never coming home. That he would never see another sunrise, never enjoy any of the simple joys of life ever again. Never know the love of his wife, or girlfriend. Never hold his child, or bear children of his own. Darien had taken his future from him and that guilt alone could drive one mad.
"I am so sorry for dragging you into all this." She finished, her face now frozen and emotionless again. She rose off of him and proceeded away, quickly adjusting her jacket back in place. Leaving him to scramble after her yet again. He zipped up his pants but didn't bother to button up his shirt, allowing it to billow at his sides.
"You need to get one thing straight in that stubborn brain of yours. You never dragged me into anything. I willingly joined your cause. " He closed the distance between them and gripped her shoulder. Twirling her around to face him. " I know your strong, I know your independent, a fighter...I respect all that. But you are also mine. I take care of what's mine. Just like when we were kids." He caressed her cheek lovingly, forcing her to look up at him. "I can't just let you leave me behind again. I need to be by your side no matter what the outcome will be. We face this together." He vowed, his eyes firm, filled with that same fierce, single minded determination that had driven him to succeed at all costs through out his life.
Darien waited for her to argue, searching her eyes. Still wet with more tears, soon cascading down her cheeks silently.
She bit her lower lip, holding back sobs.
"Don't cry." He whispered, pleading with her not to dwell so deep in the darkness of her thoughts. "Just let me do my best to keep you safe this time."
"This is so hard..." she muttered, spinning out of his grasp and walking away swiftly. Not wanting to break down completely in the middle of no where.
A suffocating silence reigned for a long time. He was left to stare morosely at her swaying backside in his coat tails, her incredible long blonde hair swishing like a lifeless flag. She held herself tightly, struggling with her heart ache.
"So...China?" He probed, he needed her to accept that he was never leaving her again. That he would rather die at her side, then live a long safe life without her.
"An archeologist team uncovered a secret room within the tomb of Emperor Jingdi, in Hanjangling. A part of the province of Xian. Hidden deep within the joint tomb of his Empress, Wang. It is the most important discovery in the last twenty-five years. In a series of rooms holding terracotta warriors, all in full dress and in battle formation. Amid the thousands of male warriors was a single contingent of women. All dressed in similar battle armour, more highly detailed then the rest. With one standing out in front grasping a simple clear crystal bead in her hand." Serenity took a deep breath, casting him a concerned look. As he had remained silent not interrupting her so called history lesson.
"A seed of the Gods, I get it." Darien threw back, glancing anxiously about as old brick warehouses began to ascend towards the sky just beyond the embankment of the canal. They were moving out of the commercial area's and into a more run down industrial section of Tokyo. Lots of places to hide out in, to many for his liking. It was as much of a blessing for them as a curse. Bella could easily be lying in wait somewhere up there.
"Which goes back to the Sanskrit scroll's teachings. The crystal is some kind of power source that is linked to our Genetics. Some believe it is extraterrestrial, some believe it's magical, some even think it's the crystallized heart of the first Buddha. Beryl went after it, for herself or for Tomoe a year ago after it was rediscovered. Having been secreted away to a remote temple high upon Mt. Huashan after the tomb had been uncovered. I was sent to make sure she didn't get it. I nearly killed her in our last battle, buried her under tones of earth and mortar in Wang's tomb. The crystal went into hiding with the Shang monks, again. I never saw it again until tonight. " She finished her story, reaching back to clasp his hand. He was mere inches behind her now, as they reached a set of simply build cement stairs that led upward towards the avenue above.
The dull glow of street lamps cast a halo at the very top of the stair case, the faint illumination greeted him like a beckon. Announcing that this part of the long journey was over. They were lost in the middle of no where, but their bond was now closer then ever.
He gave her a questioning glance, as they finally hit street level again.
"I met three sister's who have defected from Tomoe. They stole the Seed, from the monks and want to keep the crystal out of Beryl's hands as well." She answered leaving much unsaid again. There was no way for him to help or save her now, so why worry him with the details.
"So what did you have for breakfast this morning?" He asked with a mischievous smile.
"Nothing, " She answered, tossing him a beaming smile over her shoulder.
"That's not to healthy...Sweetness." He chastised in good humour.
Oh, woah, oh, oh, woah, oh
You've just got to turn it up loud when the flames get higher.
Oh, woah, oh, oh, woah, oh
Sing it for the people like us, the people like us.
"Lemme...go!" Jed struggled in Hollywood's vice like grasp. His mask long discarded on the dance floor. The taller, broad chested man had grappled him against his chest. His powerful arms like metal bars, pinning him against him. As he wedged them out of view behind a plain white pillar in the dark ballroom next door. When the mayhem of shooting started. The elder fighter had moved on instinct alone, dashing from cover and bolted across the dance floor after Jed. Grabbing the shorter more panic stricken comrade under an arm and darting out a side door. That led them down a narrow caterer's corridor around to the neighbouring Ballroom. He had tossed his own mask in the back hall, fed up with wearing the device that encumbered his periphery vison.
Hollywood slapped a large hand over Jeds mouth, sealing away his protests. Listening to the low voices of the military surveying the dead next door. Their voices were not calm or controlled in the least, a major argument was going on between the ranks. Which did not bode well...
"We got to find better cover..." He growled, all of Sarges training coming alive in his mind. The old man had extensive military training from his time serving his own country as a young man. To which he had bestowed upon his students. Hollywood knew how to evade enemy soldier's. He had also studied the tactics and protocols used by the American Military. Being quick of mind and naturally stealthy he had full confidence he could keep Jed and himself safe. As long as the idiot stopped talking!
Hollywood swung Jed around and into the pillar, hard, cracking his hot head against the marble. Bending down threateningly, right in his face.
"You say one more word and I will rip your tongue out. I am not getting killed because your a loud, dumb ass!" He snarled in his face.
Jed paled and nodded. Then meekly followed Hollywood back across the dark ballroom towards the back door. Slipping into the faintly lit narrow hall, heading further on towards the last doorway.
They had to keep one step ahead of the soldier's. If they were caught they could be taken in for questioning or merely disposed of. Hollywood didn't know what the hell was going on, but he was not getting involved if he could help it.
"Fuck..fuck..fuck..." Mina's voice burst out of the bathroom stall, in growling pants as she practically poured herself into her tight jeans. The rips in the knees widening more as her toes caught briefly in the holes. Hopping and cursing as she dressed at a break neck speed.
"Military's back!" Kane's voice boomed into the girls dressing room. He and Zach had been standing guard while the girls dressed. Hiding out of view down the side hall to the washrooms. They peeked into the foyer from time to time keeping tabs. But mostly staying out of view, hearing the officer's fighting amongst themselves in the ballroom.
Zac maintained his position before the plain white door, while Kane crept back to the opening of the short hall. Leaning around the archway, paying the dead barmaid now sprawled on her stomach over her counter a grim look.
Her curly red hair now fanning over her face, hiding the deadly slash to her throat that had been her undoing. Kane guessed that a soldier had slashed her throat before his death squad had entered the ballroom to finish off the possessed people within. He had no idea what happened or why the american military was involved. But he wasn't leaving his brunette goddess behind in this mess. He would see her safely taken out of this dangerous situation before leaving her side. It was a tired macho sentiment, he knew it. She had strange super power's to call down lightening itself. As scary as that prospect was, his feelings to cherish and protect her were far superior.
Raye dashed past the series of stalls, tapping Mina's curtly. "Hurry it up!" She cried, already dressed back in her wine red dress, black pantyhose and heels.
"Not helping!" Mina shot back, grunting into her sexy white over the shoulder shirt.
"Amy, you think we should take Sere's clothes?" Lita offered, rounding around the stalls in her black leather vest and pants. Finding the shorter girl sitting upon the single plush red bench in the luxurious bathroom. Dressed once more in her navy dress pants and white form fitted sleeveless shirt. Digging into a small cardboard box. She had stashed everyone clothes and belonging into the stolen box that once held their lingerie. Now the only items left inside were a pair of jeans and a loose pink shirt and a pair of really beat up retro style pink headphones.
"No, just the headphones and I-pod. Those mean the most to her." Amy blinked back tears, her mind still flooding with forgotten memories of the golden blonde woman.
All of them were feeling more then a bit upset and unsettled by the sudden onslaught of new memories.
"All right lets get the hell out of here!" Mina exclaimed darting out of her stall and rushing the bathroom door.
Amy slipped the headphones around her neck and tucked the i-pod into a pants pocket, dashing of after the girls. When a heavy vibration echoed from the box. She had totally over looked Serenity's cell phone.
They had all reclaimed theirs, but she had just not thought of Serenity's. Rushing back to the box she snatched up the silver phone. Seeing a very nasty text glaring up at her.
-Where the hell are you, Koneko!
Amy pocketed the phone, then launched herself from the couch. It was going to be a perilous journey getting out of here undetected by the soldier's. She had no time to deal with Serenity's angry friend just then.
She crept up behind a long line of friends hiding out in the hall. Kane was in the lead scanning the empty foyer for an avenue of escape. Zach was hunched over top of him, squinting into the dark recesses of the ballroom as if his keen eye sight could make out the soldiers movements inside.
Mina had crawled ahead of the men, cowering under Kane's hunched body, aiding in the search for an exit. Lita hovered around Zach's back while Raye merely stood behind her. Back pressed up against the wall, struggling to keep her breathing even. As Amy caught up to them her pocket buzzed loudly, jarring Raye who yelped in surprise then gave her a furious glare.
Lita hushed absently, while the rest ignored her. Amy growled and pulled out the new phone.
-Don't ignore me!
Amy read the text, groaning and pocketed it again.
"Ok, we have got to get to the stairs. " Kane ducked back into the alcove, as a soldier came into view at the mouth of the ballroom.
"Stairs...right. Got it!" Mina leaped to her feet, preparing to make a mad dash for the winding staircase hidden behind the silver tube of the elevator shaft.
Kane growled and lunged out with a meaty hand, snagging her by the back of the collar and dragging her back into cover.
"When the coast is clear!" He amended, twisting her behind himself and Zach.
Mina was more then a bit disgruntled by his man handling. Glowering down at his back, her palm igniting with inner light.
Raye calmed her with a hand on her shoulder, shaking her head. Urging her to keep cool, Mina could be a hot head sometimes. Especially if some man was trying to handle her like a little girl.
"Does he think I'm a moron?" She snarled back at Raye in low tones. "Of course I'd check to see if any of the soldier's were watching."
Raye sighed, then grabbed her hand as Kane and Zach darted out of hiding. They all moved as a solid unit towards the bar, crouching low and pressing their backs against the blonde highly polished wood.
They had just lined up to dash for the stairs when voices echoed from the elevator shaft that was directly in front of them.
"Shit!" Lita cursed, flipping around and peeking her head above the counter. Pushing the sight of the dead bartender aside to deal with later. Looking over the woman's corpse towards the ballroom, finding the doorway clear. Then noticing the open doors to the neighbouring ballroom a few meters down the foyer. Now also echoing with voices.
"There's a Shinto Shrine, set up in a small room at the very corner of the third floor." Amy offered softly. Lita pointed vaguely past the second ballroom to the far left, her eyes beseeching Amy hiding behind the bar for a less vague answer.
Amy merely nodded back, confirming her directions.
Lita acknowledged with a frantic hand gesture then broke cover, her leather boots thundering away as she ran down the length of the foyer. The group running at her heels, just as a set of soldier's walked out of the first ballroom hearing the footfalls.
"Hey!" A solider bellowed. His partner lifting his rifle to aim.
"We got company!" Mina screamed, spinning around to face the two men. Her left hand glowing to life as a whip of light coiled out, snapping as if alive in her hand.
Raye stopped and backed her up, pulling her bic lighter out of her bra. Flicking the fire to life in one smooth motion, swiping the blaze off the device with the fingers of her free hand.
Passing the men now training their weapons a deadly smile, as the fire roared to new heights upon her fingertips.
"Genesis!" The first soldier screamed, suddenly very frightened.
"I've been called worse." Raye admitted, tucking her lighter away before swiping her other hand over the living torch. Creating twin balls of flame, their wild, untamed light flickered over her flawless, pale skin. Creating a deadly, unearthly effect to her stunning beauty that made the soldier's swallow in dread. She looked so much more like a vengeful goddess then a mere human.
"Wanna play catch...boys?" Raye teased, while Mina began to laugh mockingly, noticing how the men's knees began to buckle. Raye was scaring the shit out of them. But it was only a matter of moments before more guests entered the party. With the ding of the elevator across the way signalling the arrival of more unwelcome adversaries.
Lita lead the charge down the foyer with Kane and Zach in the back. Amy was a few feet behind when Raye and Mina stopped to deal with the new threat.
The remaining four of them just passed the second open double doors of the neighbouring ballroom when Serenity's cell phone buzzed again.
Amy was regretting not turning the blasted thing off now.
"Hey!" Another soldier exploded from the doorway, alerted by the phone's incredibly loud buzz. The lights overhead flickered then died, casting the foyer into total darkness.
Lightening streamed out beside her, crackling and strobbing like a possessed spirit. Amy leaped backward in fright, barely containing her scream.
As Lita rounded back, her arms becoming living canons of arcing electricity.
"Get out of here!" Lita commanded, thrusting her chin over her shoulder.
Amy moaned then obeyed, turning to run just as the lumbering silhouette of Kane came into view. His face set in a firm scowl, fists poised for battle. The wild, deadly light of Lita's powers casting his powerful form in a ghostly relief. Creating a terrifying effect that made him look like some avenging spirit.
Amy swallowed hard and continued to run, finding Zac waiting for her at the edge of the foyer.
"Lets go!" he called, his hand outstretched to receive her.
"We can't leave them?" Amy complained, casting a worried look over her shoulder as Zac guided her away.
"They'll catch up. I'm sure. " Zac replied positively, giving her a thin smile that offered little comfort.
He ushered her ahead of himself, turning down into a small alcove from the main foyer. Finding a simple double oak set of doors with a fake stone Torrii adorning the doorway.
Zac was practically pulling Amy after himself at this point, as the girl was franticly looking around for something.
"Water..." She moaned, as he pushed the heavy doors open. Casting her a very confused frown.
The room set beyond the doors was a somber, humble sanctuary. The tambata floor accented with bamboo rugs for prayer. Lit faintly by simple lamps set against the side walls, illuminating just enough of the room to see the main shrine at the front. A long platform sat beneath a simple half moon shaped ornament. It looked very much like a tear drop with a hole in the rounded end. Or perhaps one half of the yin symbol. Known as the Magatama, a shinto talisman of good fortune. Beneath it the table held a modest offering box.
Zac noticed an iron bell hanging in a tiny alcove, off in the corner of the room, with a frayed hemp rope hanging from the wooden beams. Set beside the bell was a quaint stone basin filled with water, with a metal ladle resting against the side. It was a simple and highly spiritual little room that filled him with peace. He didn't know how to pray to these Kami, but he sent a silent prayer that his brother had found a safe place to hide and hadn't gotten himself killed. When Kane had told him on the balcony, about the massacre out in the dance floor, he had felt his heart crack at the thought of losing Jed. When they had been forced to leave the balcony, having to travel through the gloom of the ballroom littered with the dead. His heart had sunk with dread, suddenly intense doubts of ever seeing his brother again began to eat him whole. The guy drove him nuts and annoyed the hell out of him. With his arrogance and constant need for self promotion, but he couldn't see a future with out him in it. Jed had always been the only family he could count on, the one constant in his life.
His prayers were rudely interrupted, as the back door hiding off to the side of the offering table burst open. With Hollywood and Jed tumbling into the room in a state of barely restrained panic. Zac's heart leapt to life and soared at the sight of his brother. Ready to run and embrace the flustered blonde. When Amy made a bee line for the stone basin with
a triumphant cry. Twisting Zac's focus back upon her, as he watched her summon the whole basin of water into her hands then race away. The giant globe of rippling water held between her hands, her eyes shimmering with a fluid power embedded deep in her genetic code.
"What the hell was that! A Water Bender!" Jed exclaimed in sudden fear, having to stay quiet for long had built up quite a pressure inside him. Once having an excuse to vent, it was like a cork exploding from a bottle.
Zac, rolled his eyes. Now wondering if he could live with out Jed...he was an idiot after all. He paid his brother no mind simply raced after Amy. Expecting both Hollywood and Jed to follow.
"Do you smell smoke?" Raye stated absently. Getting an incredulous look from Mina, since she was standing like an insane pyro, with two balls of fire in either hand.
Mina said nothing, spinning towards the two new soldier's racing from the elevator towards them.
"We are going to have the whole platoon playing target practice with us at this rate." She growled, cracking her whip threateningly towards the newcomers in all black uniforms.
"Get out of here, I can handle this." Lita shouted at Kane. Her rage clear in her blazing green eyes and fierce expression.
"I am sure you could, I have no doubts about that." He smiled pedantically, "But I have no intention of letting you fight alone. Sweet cheeks." He added with an even cockier grin, it that was possible.
Lita growled.
"Don't like Sweet cheeks...more of a Honey Muffin then?" He chuckled, feeling her rage shifting from the soldier's to him.
"Ah, I got it! Baby Doll!" He cried out as if he just had an epiphany.
"You are a real Ass." She shot back, not realizing he was stalling her rage giving her time to reign it in with some humour. She had looked ready to kill, now she just looked plain annoyed towards him. To him her intense power's seemed to have only one frequency...sudden, very furious, very painful death. He did not want her to unleash it upon any human, innocent or not he understood the consequences all to well about taking a life.
A sharp click of the soldier's releasing their safeties brought them back to the seriousness at hand. Then a cannon of water slammed between them, knocking the two soldier's back down the foyer. They tumbled away like so much flotsam in a maelstrom. Amy rushed past them, gathering back up as much of her water as she could from the floor and soggy unconscious bodies of the two men. Leaving them prone and dry behind her charge.
"Wow..." Jed gasped in awe as he arrived with Hollywood and Zac in Amy's wake. Lita and Kane turned in mild interest.
Jed leaped back in terror as he noticed the lightening writhing up Lita's arms.
"Holy Hell!" He shouted in fear, recoiling from her as if she was about to explode.
Lita huffed, while Kane paid him a threatening look. Jed swallowed and held his tongue before dashing off after the group now heading back up to the main foyer. Uncaring at this point about the soldier's or stealth just wanting to get to the stairs and out of this insane situation.
The simple white stucco roof began to scream and writhe as if coming alive as some strange ocean.
"What..." Mina gasped in confusion, the two new soldier's had stopped in their tracks to gaze up in horror as well.
"I knew I smelled fire!" Raye shouted smugly, her dark brown eyes tracking the roof's movement cautiously. With the heat rising in the room to a suffocating level, she could feel her skin start to blister.
"BACKDRAFT!" Raye screamed, as the roof exploded above them in a descending inferno. The two soldier's in front of her were blasted back, destroying the bar into splinters as they connected.
Raye raised her hands above her head, calling the fire down upon herself. Seeking to save her girl and any other innocent people who may be on the floors below. The unending flames above them roared like a tempest in response, moving as a living current of flame towards her. Surging to consume her, swirling and flaring with the powers of hell itself. Forming a pillar of living flame all around her. Raye screamed in agony, as the fire battled against her will. Like a starving beast it wanted to devour her, unwilling to be tamed by a mere human.
"Raye!" Mina screamed in terror as she was brutally tossed away towards the elevator's. Sent flying by the sudden
combustion of the roof. Hitting the two soldier's full force, sending them all sprawling to the floor. Struggling off their unconscious bodies. Mina could no longer see her beloved, only the pillar of an all consuming inferno that remained.
