Chapter Ten: Letters

*Hiiro couldn't take it any more. This fight was driving him mad. He drove the sludge hammer down hard onto the post as he pounded it into the ground. Besides, what had this whole misunderstanding been about? He couldn't even remember. Two weeks had passed by, and if he had to survive any longer this way, he was going to go crazy from the dull ache that had settled in his chest.

"Damnit!" He threw the hammer down. Storming from the fields, he made for the house.

Serena thought she had heard someone scream something, but from her position on the couch near the fireplace she couldn't be sure. She sighed and looked down. She was wearing a light blue dress. She had gotten desperate… all breeches were all too dirty to be worn, and she still wasn't able to move enough to do the wash. The long silken material and thin layer of ruffles below it felt thick and heavy, completely confining, especially in the heat. Sighing she once again picked up her sewing and practiced in vain to improve herself. Suddenly the door flew open. She gasped and turned around.

When he walked straight for her, she worried slightly. Was he alright? "Hiiro? What are yo…" She was cut off as he crushed his lips to hers in a long, solid kiss. After her complete shock wore off, she tried to pull away, only to find his hand had moved to hold her head firmly in its place. But it didn't matter soon, because she submitted and leaned in to participate.

The moment his lips had touched hers, he knew what he was doing was right. He felt her try to escape, try to break their connection, but he forced her to stay, and soon he felt her begin to softly respond. Her gentle lips pressed back against his and his head clouded, all reasonable thought dripped from his mind. He heard her moan softly and lean in ever more, pressing herself to him as much as she could sitting down.

Serena had long since given up trying to explain away the feelings that surged through her lips. She could feel every sweet sensation as Hiiro's lips devoured her own. He was so desperate in his kiss, in his desire for her, but completely controlled at the same time. How could one man be so wonderful at kissing? Her entire body felt languid and she moaned, wanting more. When the kiss finally broke, they stared at each other intently for a few moments.

"Why did you do that?" she asked him quietly.

"Because." She blinked. She should have expected him to answer with something like that. He was such a mystery to her… No, she couldn't let him get to her- she wouldn't sign his death certificate.

"Just because you felt like it? Is that all then?" She replied haughtily, trying to dissuade him. He knew that tone of voice. She was pushing him away on purpose. But it wouldn't work this way, not again.

"This fight has to end."

"I don't see that it does." She replied indignantly.

"I do. I'm going crazy." He told her firmly.

"Tough."

"No." He grabbed her shoulders gently. "It doesn't have to be. Why are you fighting me?"

"You need to leave this room Hiiro." She wanted to pull away, but his gentle hold on her shoulders prevented it. Even when he was this mad he was being tender... it brought tears to her eyes.

"No. I want an answer Serena."

"I can't give you one." She cried out. "I can't…"

"What are you hiding from me? What is it that you can't give me a reason as to why you avoid me?"

"Leave." She choked.

"No." He was so stubborn! She shook with tears threatening.

"Please?" She was reduced to begging…

"No. Serena, you have to tell me why-" His sentence was cut off by a knock at the door. He sighed in exasperation, but stood and released Serena. She quickly brushed her skirts off and tried to blink away any traces of tears that might have lingered.

When Hiiro was sure Serena was ready, he readied his hand near his gun in case their visitor became unfriendly. Opening the door, he was greeted with a face he had seen before in the town.

"Yes?" He asked.

"Ms. Kemmer in?" The young man asked. Hiiro opened the door and the man stepped inside.

"Hello Jack, what can I do for you?" Serena asked in the most upbeat voice she could muster. It must not have fooled the man.

"Are you feeling well Ms. Kemmer?"

"I'm feeling fine thank you. Are you here solely to inquire of my health?" The man blushed.

"No, I am afraid not. The stage coach came in this morning, and with them came a letter for you."

"Letter?" Hiiro grunted. The man eyes Hiiro warily.

"A letter for Ms. Kemmer." The man stated again to Hiiro. When he turned to look at Serena again, he shot her a glance, and her heart broke. She knew whom the letter was from.

"Thank you Jack." Serena managed to give him a small smile. The boy smiled grimly back and handed her the letter.

"Ms. Kemmer, you need only thank me if the letter brings you good news." He responded. Then he tipped his hat to her, and Hiiro, and then left, closing the door behind him. Serena simply stared at the letter, knowing what it surely had to read.

"Are you going to open it?" Hiiro prompted her. She meant simply to glance at him, but her eyes lingered longer than she had wanted.

"No… not now."

"Serena,"

"Hiiro, did you finish the fence?" He picked up his hat.

"I'll be back in around five." He gruffly stated and then walked outside. As he left, Serena looked at the letter again, and then she looked out the window. She could see Hiiro's form disappearing into the distance. How could she ever face him if he knew? And though her heart broke inside, Serena tucked the letter away and picked up her sewing again. The wild west was a dangerous place; she couldn't afford heartbreak- it would only destroy her faster.

Dinner was silent, more so than usual. Neither of the two ate much, if at all. Each both wondered what the other was thinking, but neither was willing to break the silence. After the meal was finished, Serena calmly turned to Hiiro.

"Would you please help me back to my room?"

"Hnn." But he did walk over to her side of the table and helped her to stand. He supported as she walked to her room and then helped sit her on her bed. "Do you need your nightclothes?" His heart skipped a beat as she blushed… her innocence never seemed to fail to attract him.

"No thank you." He nodded, and then left. As Serena sat on her bed in the silence, she watched the sun set from her window. When it had gone too low and the light left was minimal, she lit a candle and continued to sit and stare into the dark.

Finally she could take it no longer. Pulling out the letter, she carefully ripped it open. She pulled out a page of messy, scripted writing. Taking a deep breath, she began to read.

"Dearest Kitten;

Do you miss me yet Kitten? Have ached to have my arms around you as mine have ached to hold you? Do you miss our daily interludes in the barn? In the field? By the well? I miss running my arms over your delicate skin, kissing your soft lips, only to have you slap me. Long have I been away, but rest assured Kitten, I will return…"

Serena read the rest of the letter and her fear and rage grew. She hated him! Oh how she hated him! How dare he write such things? How dare he assume so much! Then her mind fell. How would she prevent him from doing such things? If he knew she detested it, he would only do it more. And now… he was coming back… coming… home.

A lone sob escaped her throat as she dropped the letter to the floor and it slipped beneath her bed. No! She couldn't do this! Hot tears welled up in her sapphire eyes and spilled over down her porcelain cheeks. She sobbed silently as her heart broke with the realization that there was no hope left.

Hiiro lay on his bed, eyes closed. But he was not asleep. He was not even dressed to sleep. How could he sleep after today? In his mind the memory of the kiss her and Serena had shared played over and over, and he could still feel the heat of her soft lips pressed against his in their lethargic and passionate moment.

Then slowly his mind registered a noise. It began softly, then got louder and more desperate. Hiiro sat up and walked over to the wall across from his bed. Through the wall he could hear Serena sobbing. Never before had he heard a sound worse than he crying. This was not the same as her crying because of pain, this was the heartfelt sob of a woman whose spirit had been broken. And his own heart cracked and shattered to hear it.

Hiiro spent a moment more listening to her cries, then decided he needed to act. He opened his door and walked to hers. Knocking gently, he opened it without her permission.

Serena did not hear the knock, but she did hear the door open. Frantically she tried to wipe her tears away, tried to hide her pain. But when she looked up and met Hiiro's stormy eyes, she broke down again. Hiding her face in her hands, she let the warm arms that encircled her comfort her. Leaning in closer to him, she grasped at his shirt, hoping he was not going to disappear.

"Please tell me what is wrong?" Hiiro asked.

"I can't. You don't understand…"

"Because you haven't explained it."

"You'll hate me."

"No."

"And even if you don't… it would be like signing your death certificate. I cannot do that to you." She sobbed harder and held onto him tighter. He looked down at her tight-lipped.

"The letter did this to you."

"No." She shook her head as her sobs quieted.

"Serena." He looked at her.

"I know Wild Shields." She whispered. Hiiro pushed her away slightly.

"What?" his eyes narrowed.

"Darien was born in this town." She whispered. "Our parents were old friends."

"No." Hiiro growled. "He was born in Philadelphia!" She shook her head.

"A fabrication."

"He wrote you the letter. Why? What did it say?" Hiiro couldn't decided whether to be livid with her for leading him on and not telling him, or to be worried about what exactly about Wild Shields had made her cry.

"Darien and my father came to an… arrangement when I was twelve. My father wanted to do business with Darien's family, and Darien… Darien wanted me."

"What are you saying Serena?"

"In exchange for the business, my father promised Darien my hand in marriage." *

~~~Aren't I evil? Actually, I don't know what I want to happen next! I know what I want to happen, just not the order of events. Hmm, one day I really should try planning a fic first. No matter! REVIEW S'il vous plait! –Vixen ~~~