Chapter 25

Broken China Doll

Rei Hino was a beautiful girl. A clever girl. A broken girl. Her reflected un-lipsticked mouth folded into a grimace as she studied the bruises on her neck and swelling beginning around her cheekbone in Serena's mirror. A mosaic of reddish purple welts, sensitive to touch, mocked her for her foolish passion; and she had been foolish. She let the scarf fall back over the marks and sighed while sinking slowly into the vanity table's chair. She had been foolish to believe that she could get Darien by using lies and deceit. She had been foolish to believe that Diamond would help her, or that he could feel anything for her. Tears started in her ruby eyes and she bent closer to the mirror, staring deep into her eyes. There was nothing in them, they were plastic, fake, expressionless rims of red. With a steady finger she flicked one of the coloured contacts out of her eyes, her own chocolate brown eye filled with emotion and moisture looked back at her with pity.

"You sad girl, Rei. Why have you been hiding?" She whispered to herself and flicked out the other contact, this was who she really was, it had been a while since she had looked at her own eyes, the red contacts had no optical advantage they were just coloured plastic, but they had become a curtain closing off the deeds that were better left unseen and untouched. Now, without the fake smokescreen, she had to face who she had become. Bitter and alone, sad, sad little girl. A mocking hiccup of a laugh broke out, passed trembling lips, and hit the glass of the mirror with a suddenness that it stopped. There remained nothing of the laugh, just Rei.

"I can make this right." Rei said to herself a hint of a smile curving her lips, it filled her eyes with a soft hopeful glow and caused the girl to stare, awed by the sight, "this is why I'm here." She turned around in the chair and looked around Serena's room.

It was exactly the same, her old friend had changed nothing since primary school. There was pink everywhere! Pink curtains, a small pink rug, pink pillows and picture frames, but the one thing that really made Rei smile was the pink bunny covered bedspread, and masses of cute, big and small bunny plushie toys. She got up and walked over to the bed, running her hand over one of the cute rabbits on the bedspread, then picked up a small pale pink bunny plushie. Tears sprang to her eyes, it was a present from her! A birthday present; Rei couldn't even remember which of Serena's it was, it was so long ago. There were worn spots in the fur of the toy and her heart warmed at the evidence that it had been loved and played with.

She hugged the bunny to her and closed her eyes relaxing for the first time in months.

00000

The night was getting colder, but neither of us felt it. Darien still hadn't let me go; we had remained, sitting on the bench, in the embrace. I had started off feeling nothing, but now I was beginning to feel resentful.

Will it always be like this between us? The thought struck me painfully, will we always be together, and then be ripped apart? Be reconciled and have to forget all the pain we caused each other? My eyes opened with a sudden disloyal thought, is it worth this? I closed my eyes tightly against such a piercing question and hugged him tighter. I was not willing to let him go yet, even if I had to hold on to him all night. Still the thought haunted me. If I wasn't with Darien Shields my life would be normal, I could be with another guy that isn't noticed, our relationship wouldn't have all the pressure of being noticed and watched by everyone. Not that its noticed in school, I thought thankfully, we hadn't shown to much togetherness in school, in fact when we were last in school Diamond was courting me and Darien was avoiding me.

The fight over me in the hallway seemed so long ago. Had it only been yesterday since we had made love for the first time? I had lost that security, we had lost that togetherness and even though we were still embracing, still together, still feeling each other's hearts beat against our chests, we were not in the oneness we had been earlier today. I wasn't feeling resentful anymore it had turned into a deep aching sadness.

I think I stiffened up slightly, and Darien felt it. He pulled back with his arms still loosely around me and looked intently into my face. I couldn't keep my eyes up, they kept drifting down away from his intent blue eyes that looked black in the darkness. He released his arms from around me and reached for my cheek. Gently he raised my chin up and the movement forced my eyes to look up at him.

"Stop thinking," he said quietly, he knew where my thoughts had been, maybe his had been there too. He leant forward, his lips so tantalizingly close to mine, but he didn't kiss me, "stop thinking, Sere." He said again, his hair had fallen forward and some strands tickled my face.

I had stopping thinking the moment his face became so close, his presence overwhelming me. I was aware of my heart thudding loudly in my ears, my eyes couldn't draw away from his, already I could taste him, like a piece of candy on the tip of my tongue. Kiss me, my eyes begged silently, but he didn't. I saw his eyes soften and I knew his mouth was curved into an amused smile. It seems he had one more thing to tell me, before he would give in and give me the suspended kiss.

"I love you."

A small sound escaped my throat and I launched forward, unable to stand the waiting, kissing him. His hand moved around the back of my head as he kissed me back. It wasn't a gentle kiss, it was desperate and raw and full of need. My need and his, we had made love for the first time yesterday and all I wanted now was to feel the press of his naked body against mine, I craved intimacy. Then I realised I hadn't replied to his declaration. His was still echoing in my ears, the most wonderful thing I had ever heard, not once had we said it to each other. Now it was out in the open and he had been the one to say it. I pulled away from the kiss and hugged him around his neck, my head resting on his shoulder.

"I love you." I said my voice echoing into the still night. I was not ashamed and wasn't going to hide it. "I love you." I said again as I pulled back and smiled at him, captivated by the grin he couldn't seem to stop. He pulled me back into a tight hug and I buried my face into his neck, happy.

"Let's go to my house." I whispered against his neck and unable to resist the temptation I nipped the sensitive skin, "I need you." I confessed and smiled against his neck loving the way his skin flushed with warmth.

"Won't your parents still be up?" he glanced at his watch, removing his arms from around me to turn on the watch' light. I sat up, but still kept a hand on his shoulder. The numbers read 10:30 pm. "See, still early, your parents will still be up, and you know your dad."

"Please, Darien." I pleaded, "let me handle my parents. Besides my mom likes you, I will go in first and if she can distract my father I will bring you in." I pouted with wide eyes, batting them slightly, Darien laughed and I giggled knowing I had won this victory. We stood up, but didn't walk away. Darien wrapped his arms around my waist and brought me against him, "I just wanted to tell you how sexy you look in that dress." He let heat enter his voice as he looked down at me and I felt my knees threaten to give way and drop me right there. I wound my arms around his neck as he leant down and kissed me. This kiss was more controlled, more passionate, more warm. I sighed against his lips and felt a thrill go up my spine when he slipped his tongue between my lips in little flicks. We needed to get to my room, very soon. I broke the kiss but didn't pull away.

"Come on, I will do you right here if we don't get back to my room!" I pleaded now pulling away and grabbing his hand pulling him hard. An abrupt laugh of surprise left Darien and he sped up to keep up with me as I all but ran for the apartment building.

We behaved ourselves until we got into the lift, the moment the doors closed we were kissing again, we couldn't stop. It was so much fun knowing that at any moment the lift could stop on a floor and we would be caught. Who cares? Was our thought as we got bolder with each other. All too soon the lift doors opened and we sprang apart hurriedly fixing our clothing and hair. It was my floor, and a neighbour was standing at the lift door looking at me with undisguised amusement. I blushed in mortification, this woman was a friend of my mother, and I knew what the topic of their next conversation would be.

"Good night, Serena." The woman laughed and got into the lift as we hurried out.

"Good night, Mrs. Hanaku." I replied and prayed for the lift door to close quickly, they didn't close fast enough and I pulled Darien's hand to get him out of sight of the meddling woman.

"Wow, that was embarrassing," He exclaimed rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, he glanced at me and started laughing. I threw him a look, I was well aware my face was burning bright red.

Suddenly the mood between us changed, "nevermind that." Darien said huskily as he pushed me up against a wall, the length of his body full against mind and kissed me again. My laughter hitched, "Yeah, who care what that old woman thinks?" I raised my face for another kiss and Darien supplied it. We needed to get to my bedroom, I couldn't restrain myself much longer, Darien looked like he was having the same problem. It thrilled me to see the untamed lust in his eyes when he kissed me and the barely controlled trembling in his hands as he ran them over my bare arms and over my dress covered thighs.

We reached my door and I pulled away and fixed my appearance, trying to look as normal as possible. I used a framed glass picture opposite the door to make sure I didn't look like I had been making out for the last half hour. I tried to fix Darien up as much as I could as well. His shirt was a little wrinkled and his hair was very mussed. When I thought we looked presentable enough I took my key out of my clutch purse and opened the door quietly. The hallway was dark, so was the lounge, for a moment I thought my parents had gone to bed, then I heard a clattering from the kitchen and a snore came from the lounge. My father had fallen asleep in his armchair again and my mom was still cleaning up the kitchen. This wouldn't be too hard.

I snuck Darien in and then motioned that I would go and talk to my mom and he would keep going to my room. I gave him directions, Darien had never been to my room before.

"Hi mom," I said as I walked into the kitchen.

"Serena! You're back so early, I didn't expect you back for another 2 hours at least."

"The party was boring and I'm very tired. I'm just going to go to bed okay?"

"No wait, don't go yet," my mom smiled at me and grabbed my hand, she dragged me to the table in the centre of the room and sat me down.
"So tell me, how was it?"

"It was filled with people getting drunk and dancing, it was boring." I replied nonchalantly.

"Was Darien there too?" she gave me a sly look and I wondered exactly what she was getting to.

"Yes Darien was there, Mom," I laughed, "we had a good time, dancing and talking with friends."

"Is that all?" My mother was so freaking sly, she was giving me that look and I knew I hadn't tidied up my appearance enough to fool her.

"No I suppose not," I laughed again a little embarrassed. "We did kiss," I prayed she wouldn't ask if we did more.

"Aha! I knew it!" my mother punched the air in triumph, "so tell me how was it? Is he a good kisser?"

"Yes, he is." I decided to leave it at that, she had to know we had kissed lots before, I wondered why she would think this was our first time kissing. Maybe Mothers really did think of us as small children still.

"Ok then," she winked at me, getting up she kissed my cheek. "Good night, Sweetheart." She was just leaving the kitchen when something occurred to her.

"Oh, Serena! I just forgot, how horrible of me. Rei Hino is in your bedroom and has been waiting for you. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner…" but I was already gone with a quick "Thanks Mom!" over my shoulder, I didn't want her following me. My heart was in my throat, Darien was in my room alone with Rei, this could be bad.

I ran full tilt down the passage and burst into my room shutting the door tightly behind me. I turned slowly afraid of what I would see. I was admittedly surprised not to see blood and gore spewed over my feminine pink room. Instead, Darien was sitting far away from Rei on the vanitytable's chair, watching her like a hawk. And Rei was sitting on my bed with one of my stuffed bunnies in her hands. I noticed really quickly that she was wearing a scarf and she wasn't wearing any contacts, and with a jolt of realisation, the suffering in her brown eyes was real. I also couldn't help but notice the faint bruising and swelling of her cheek.

"Oh Rei," I breathed, pity instantly taking a grip on my heart. "What happened to you?" I crossed the room and sat on the next to her. I felt the awkwardness in the room ease, they had obviously dreading what I would say. Darien was still emitting a hostile presence but I ignored him as I focused on the obviously hurting girl on my bed.

I touched her shoulder and she turned her pain-filled brown eyes to mine. Then she launched herself into my arms sobbing. "I'm sorry, Serena, I'm so sorry!" she repeated over and over as she cried and I held her rubbing gentle circles on her back. I didn't know what to do, I sent a glance over to Darien, and he met my glance with one of warning. He still didn't trust her and this could be another of her plots to break us up. I however, knew these tears were real, she was broken, something terrible had happened to Rei.

"It's okay, its okay." I repeated as she sobbed how sorry she was. I looked up at Darien and he made a motion asking if I thought he should go. I shook my head, I didn't want Darien leaving me alone with Rei. He nodded and relaxed against the vanity table his eyes showing sympathy for the crying girl. I smiled as I watched him, he looked beautiful with a sympathetic look on his face, like a dark avenging angel. Rei seemed to be slowing down now and it drew my attention back on her. I saw she was beginning to compose herself, she lay almost across my lap sniffing quietly an odd tear sliding down her cheek.

"Darien can you please go to the bathroom and get a cold face wash?" He nodded and stood up at his quizzical look I added, "It's just outside the door to your right." He nodded again and quietly left the room.

Rei was quiet; I stroked her hair idly trying to be comforting.

"I'm sorry for coming here, Serena," she sniffed, "I know you must hate me for what I've done."

"It's okay, Rei. Darien and I are okay, and you are in pain. I don't mind you being here." At my words she burst into a fresh outbreak of tears, I felt pity constrict my throat, and I was having a hard time keeping my own tears at bay. Darien came back into the room and handed me the rinsed cold cloth. I handed it to Rei and she sat up and wiped her face.

"Now, will you tell us what happened?" Darien asked sitting down again at the table. His tone was sympathetic and not judging, I looked at him in appreciation. It seemed he wasn't such a brainless male after all.

Rei sniffed again and I reached over and grabbed a tissue from a box beside my bed. She smiled gratefully and blew her nose. She pressed the cold cloth against her sore eyes and took a deep breath.

"It was all Diamond."

"Diamond?" I asked not understanding.

"Diamond wanted to break you two up, he wanted Serena, he was forcing and manipulating me into helping his plans."

She pulled the cloth away from her eyes, "don't get me wrong, I'm not putting all the blame on Diamond, I behaved horribly. I wanted Darien, and I wanted to break you up. Well at first anyway…" she trailed off and looked down at the wash cloth in her hands idly playing with the corners, squeezing water onto her lap.

"At first?" Darien pressed and I sat silent filled with doubt, how could it be Diamond? My friend. My champion?

"I wanted to break you up so I could have you," she said looking at Darien, then her brow crinkled in confusion, "but then it got confusing, I still wanted you but I wanted Diamond too. Then it changed to wanting to break you two up so that I could hurt you, and Diamond would get Serena, get bored and come back to me."

We looked at her in silence, how was such a depth of hatred to be answered?

"I hated you for raising my hopes before the summer holidays and then coming back with her! I felt betrayed, and Diamond was so full of darkness that I immediately trusted him to help me. I was such a fool."

I put an arm around her but said nothing, Darien shifted in his chair his eyes going dark with anger, at whom I didn't know.

"It turns out he really is full of darkness, he is so dangerous." She looked at us with scared eyes, "we had sex tonight but it wasn't pleasant," she looked at her hands and blushed, "I enjoyed it, and I thought I wanted more but…" her voice trailed off remembering the pain of his forceful hands and bruising kisses. "He used my body against me and I was addicted to him. He wields his power like a blade, he hit me to prove he had power over me." She looked up shame glimmering in her eyes. "Will you ever forgive me?"

"Forgiven." I declared immediately, and looked pointedly at Darien, he didn't reply. He was so filled anger at what had happened to Rei, Serena and himself because of Diamond. But there was doubt too.

"How do we know that this isn't another one of your tricks?" He stood up running a frustrated hand through his hair.

"Darien!" I exclaimed running to Rei's defence. I didn't hate or doubt Rei, but I hated Diamond.

"No its okay, Serena." Rei said she pulled away from me and stood up facing Darien head on, "I don't expect you to believe me, hell I would have been a little surprised and even scornful if you didn't have any doubts. But I am for real, I want Diamond brought down. I don't want his sword hanging over my head and his threat of ownership over my life!" She ended with her hands on her hips defiantly and her eyes on fire.

Her words hit something deep within him, his own feelings of his father. He felt exactly the same way about his father and the threat he held over his life, that Rei felt about Diamonds ownership. He let out his breath in a long whoosh and smiled sheepishly at her.

"I believe you now. I understand completely where you are coming from."

Surprised she bowed her head, "thank you."

"Now what are we going to do about Diamond?" I asked standing up to join them in the centre of the room.

"I don't know." Rei confessed, "I just don't know." She walked over to the window and opened the curtain looking out. Serena had a very pretty view.

"I could get him beaten up." Darien suggested hopefully.

"I think we should try and get him arrested for rape." Everyone stopped and looked at me.

"What?" I asked looking pointedly at Rei, who looked down uncomfortably, "look at yourself! They could get him easily."

"I doubt Rei wants the stigma of a girl that's been raped, she would have to go down to the police station and that would get her parents involved." They all were silent for a moment thinking. "Wait!" Darien said suddenly, "I think we should just get him to switch school, leave this one in disgrace."

I smiled that was a good idea, what was one more school on a record? Besides with Diamond's money he could get that record erased.

"Just humiliate him in school and force him to switch schools?" Rei asked thoughtfully, still looking at the beautiful lights of the never sleeping city, her mind mulling it over.

"How?"

I sat back down on the bed, Darien joined me. Funny that every thought we had previously about the bed had stayed outside my room. Rei took Darien's old seat at the vanity table. We all thought about a plan that was plausible, vicious and would hopefully embarrass him so much he would leave the school. It meant we had to do something in front of the school, and maybe in front of some of the teachers.

I smiled suddenly, I had an idea. Darien probably wouldn't like it but it was probably the best way.

I told them my idea, as I expected Darien kicked up a fuss.

"No, no, no, no. We are not doing that."

Rei however gave me an appreciative look, "I think it's perfect." She said her old purr coming back into her voice.

"It is perfect, it will work, but I don't agree with it." Darien said annoyed.

"Great then its settled!" I said happily.

"Serena, its not settled!" he objected again and I rounded on him.

"If it works and we get rid of him then it's settled. Darien, don't mess it up."

Darien remained silent, annoyed and defeated. Rei got up and smoothed her clothes.

"Well I had better go now, you guys came into the room for a reason I assume," she hinted winking and I blushed standing up quickly, I reached for her hand.

"No, don't go home, stay here, its late and dark outside."

Darien sent me an irritated look and Rei caught it.

"Don't be silly Serena, I wasn't going to walk home!" she laughed and pulled out her cellphone. "I'm going to get our chauffeur to pick me up." She made a quick call and waved goodbye, opening the door she hesitated on the threshold.

"Thank you for everything, Serena." She said to me, Darien shifted and she smiled at him, "thank you, Darien." We smiled back at her and she slipped out, I followed her and locked the front door. I went back into the room and went to the window, lifting the curtain I looked down. Darien came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me, I leant back and sighed, together we watched as a car arrived and a small figure dashed out of the apartment building and got into the car. It pulled away and I watched until it was out of sight. I closed the curtain and turned in his arms, wrapping mine loosely around his neck.

The passion was gone but I could feel the pounding of my heart just for being so close to him. He lowered his head and I lifted mine, "now where were we?" he whispered before he kissed me. His lips touched mine and all at once I felt the fire burn of lust flash down my body and I knew there were no stops this time. There was nothing left to interrupt, I smiled against his lips and kissed him back whilst nimbly unbuttoning his shirt as we started moving backward.

A/N: Hey I finally got some inspiration to write this, its been half written for a long time but i just didnt know how to finish it.

let me know what you think!

Thanks to all my beautiful readers and reviewers:

Sakura Ai, Eoz,Chibi Babe, serenitatis417, Lady Tristana Rogue, katblue, Eternal Cosmic Sailor Saturn, rosebudjamie, usakomamo4ever, Champion of Justice, Princess of the Rogues, ViscountessKiera, ffgirlmoonie, merangelgal, raye85, MikiUsako90, supersaiyanx, Baby Luna Kitty, Usagi Tora.