Chapter Eight: Against All Sense

*Their ride was slow- Quatre had specifically told Hiiro not to go quickly, it was bad for Serena to be jostled around too much. She, of course, had protested, but when she had had a dizzy spell in the middle of the argument, she knew she had lost. But now that they were on the open trail and the subject of secrets had been left in the dust, silence over took them. But the silence did not mean Serena forgot how close Hiiro truly was to her.

Every time the horse would so much as step on a rock she brushed up against Hiiro's chest. His arm would tighten around her waist as well, and he would pull her in closer to him. She could hear his heart beating, smell the faint traces of her soap and dust, and feel his muscles as they rippled every time he moved. All of it was so new to her that she blushed almost constantly, never quite relaxing.

Hiiro wasn't fairing much better himself. He tried to ignore her. He tried to forget that there was a woman in front of him, practically sitting in his lap. But he couldn't forget. Every time the horse below them would lightly jog them, her back would brush up against his chest. His arm, which he had placed around her waist, would tighten as a reaction, and pull her in closer to him. Her sent traveled into his nose and he inhaled deeply. She, though dirty, still smelled of soap. Her petit form was tense in front of him; he could tell by the way she carried herself. Still, he couldn't help the thoughts that were running through his head.

Hiiro was not innocent in the ways of women… even a lone bounty hunter such as himself spent a night or two in a brothel. But this was, as much as he hated to admit it, better than any night he had ever had. She was so innocent of everything, so pure. And that is where Hiiro stopped.

He would not let himself corrupt her. He was a dangerous bounty hunter, one that criminals and bandits heard the name of and ran from. He couldn't let himself become attached! Yes. He had been telling himself that for the last three weeks. And now it was becoming obvious to him that it was far too late, that this went beyond even a simple attachment. He hadn't been able to sleep when she was sick! He had been so worried he had paced. And now this…

"Hiiro?" Serena asked.

"Hnn."

"You didn't even hear my question, did you?" He felt her head shake in front of him. "I asked if you had finished the chicken coop?"

"And weeded the corn, and hunted for the snake that got away- the one that bit you." What he didn't mention was how he found the snake, killed it, and burned it.

"The fence?"

"I did a little more, but I wasn't sure how much you wanted done in the southeastern corner, so I stopped."

"That's fine. I'm surprised you did so much."

"Hnn."

"That really isn't such a nice thing to keep doing; grunting and such. I thought you were brought up with some manners."

"I wasn't brought up at all."

"No? I suppose then you expect me to believe you were never born then?" She teased.

"Hnn." He froze. Did he just grunt again? "Damnit." He swore under his breath.

"Hiiro Yui." He knew that tone.

"I done here told you three time a day for the last three weeks. Do not swear in such a manner!"

"I didn't think you'd hear me." He grumbled.

"How could I not? I'm right up against your chest." She spoke without thinking. When what she had said registered in both of their minds, Serena blushed deeply and Hiiro smirked.

"Right where you should be." He whispered in her ear. She turned her head around and stared at him open mouthed.

"Hiiro? Are you feeling alright?" She asked incredulously. His last sentence had been completely out of character.

"Hnn." He grunted. When she turned her head back around, he let out a breath he had been holding. What was with him? He was smiling, laughing, flirting with her like he did with those women… she deserved some better treatment than that, she was a lady. In practice anyway.

"Hiiro." She groaned. Would he ever stop his grunting and simply speak to her?

"Serena, look up." He gently commanded. She did as he said to, and her eyes opened wide.

"Home." She sighed in blissful contentment. "You know something Hiiro? I would rather be here, at home, than anywhere in the world."

"Why?" He couldn't understand her attachment. Hell, he couldn't even understand his own attachment.

"Why? I don't know. Maybe because this here is where I was born. The soil is in my blood, it's all I've ever known."

"Will you ever leave?"

"Not if I can help it. I want to marry here, raise children here, grow old here, and die here."

"And how will you meet your husband?" Hiiro asked quietly. He watched as her gaze became vacant and her eyes stormy.

"I will." She whispered.

After they rode in, Hiiro dismounted and very gently helped Serena do the same. The fever had left her weak, but the poison had made her more sensitive to sensations. A slightly rough jostle could mean the world of pain to her. Even over-exertion could cause dizziness and fainting spells. After Hiiro lifted her off the horse, he carried her into the house.

"Where would you like to be put?" He asked and smirked. The question sounded ridiculous.

"In my chair by the front window please. I'druther watch you do your chores if I can't my own." She smiled widely.

"Hnn." Hiiro grunted. She thought she was funny. Setting her down gently, he stretched. Then he went back outside to tend to the horse. The moment Serena saw him leave for the barns she stopped smiling.

"Alright." She told herself. She was going to stand and get herself a bath. Slowly, using the wall to help pull herself up, she managed to stand. She paused when she became dizzy, but did not sit back down. After a few moments passed the dizziness went away, and she made her try for the kitchen, which she could break at and then try for the washroom.

Very slowly, step by step, she inched her way towards the kitchen. She barely reached the doorway before she felt her knees wobble and her legs practically give out below her. A few tears fell as she supported herself against the wall. The pain was almost unbearable.

"Serena?" She heard Hiiro's voice call to her. "Did you want me to…" Hiiro stopped when he walked in the door and saw Serena standing near the kitchen, a few tears falling down her cheeks. He frowned. "You were not supposed to move." He stated the obvious.

"I know." She whispered. And then her strength did give in. As she fell, she felt two strong arms wrap around her waist and back and support her. Hiiro softly cradled Serena's form against himself. She didn't resist to his light caresses, merely relaxed. She trusted him.

"Any pain?" He asked her calmly.

"Everywhere." She told him, softly letting a sob slip. He only held her closer trying to sooth her pain away. She was too important to him, it hurt him to see her hurt.

"Want to sleep?" He asked. She shook her head.

"Hungry?" Still she shook her head.

"Hiiro, I," She stuttered a bit. "I want to…" She buried her head in his chest, and he smirked.

"If I put you down, will you try to walk away again?" He lightly mocked. She laughed and shook her head. He nodded, and stepped over to the chair he had first put her in. Kneeling beside her, he wiped away the last tear that was rolling down her porcelain cheek. "I'll be back in a moment." He assured her.

"Alright then." She nodded.

Ten minutes later Hiiro strode back into the room, still smirking. He couldn't help it. Her innocence and discomfiture with him had made him laugh. If she wanted a bath, all she had to do was ask. But she couldn't. She had hidden her face, and when she had raised it, it had been a brilliant red. It was endearing in a strange sense.

"Serena?" He looked at the chair, half expecting it to be empty again. But she was still sitting in it. She must have been in more pain than he had originally thought. His smirk was replaced by a slight frown. "Ready?"

"Hiiro, I can't…"

"You're right, you can't. So I'm going to help you."

"It's not proper, that's what!" She cried out.

"It's nothing I haven't seen before…" He smiled devilishly. She gasped loudly and blushed furiously.

"That's it. Absolutely not!" She shook her head. But while she was doing that, Hiiro moved towards her and picked up the woman as she continued to spew her righteousness. Through all her verbal protests, he carried her limp form from the room to the washroom. He set her down in a chair he had placed beside the tub.

"How do you want to do this?" He asked.

"Alone."

"You'll get dizzy, faint, and drown. I'm not leaving you alone." He argued.

"Then throw me in with my clothes on!" She retorted. He paused.

"Alright." He smirked. Picking her up, he relocated her above the tub.

"Stop!" She screamed. She squirmed in Hiiro's arms, then moaned in pain. She was helpless! She couldn't move to bathe herself and she couldn't move to defend herself…

Hiiro stopped just before her feet went into the tub. He knew she would stop him before he went too far. It wasn't that he was being a disgusting man; it was just him knowing that she needed a bath, plain and simple.

"Serena, you need a bath one way or another. Now I can either help you, or be your enemy." He heard her sigh.

"If you put me on the chair and close your eyes, I'll undress."

"And how am I supposed to put you in the tub?"

"Maybe you should put me in with my clothes on." She mussed. After a few minutes of serious deliberation, she came to a verdict. "Alright." She whispered. "But if you ever mention this to anyone…"

"Serena." She looked up and her eyes met his. He was completely serious she realized. "I swear to you on the Bible I will speak of this to no one, ever." To her, to hear he was so serious he would swear it on the Bible, that was enough.

"Alright then."*

~~~While writing this I felt guilty and giddy at the same time. I think I must be the Princess of putting characters in awkward situations… but it's just too good an opportunity to pass up. I say Princess because I'm sure there's a better writer out there than me- I'm such an amateur sometimes! Review! –Vixen~~~