Chapter Thirteen: Broken Home

*While Trowa and Quatre sat stunned by her uncharacteristic outburst, they did nothing. Hiiro, however, stood. The two other boys watched with interest as Hiiro made his way towards Serena. It was unusual for them to see the bounty hunter so open in front of people, much less open at all.

"Serena." Hiiro said behind her. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her back into him, so her back pressed against his chest. Leaning over, he kissed her jaw, right below her ear. "I won't die. Quatre won't die."

"You can't promise me that." She cried.

"I can." He smirked.

"Liar." She sniffled a slight giggle.

"Another sin I take it?" He laughed his deep laugh. Serena leaned back into him as he did, loving the feeling of being in his arms so safe and protected. His laugh made her giddy too, a deep haunting cry from his former cynical self.

"Do you promise me you won't die?" She asked him seriously. Hiiro spun her around in his arms.

"Hnn." But she knew that meant yes. He leaned in to kiss her, and she turned her head so his lips met her cheek.

"Sinful man." She pushed him away. But both were laughing.

"Well now. If you two are going to stand there all day…" Trowa cleared his throat. While Quatre had known there was something between Hiiro and Serena, Trowa had had no idea. It hurt him to see her wrapped in the arms of another man when he knew it could have been him had he had enough backbone. But he also knew that he would be able to accept this a lot easier than Quatre would.

"I'm sorry Trowa, Quatre." Serena blushed and pulled away from Hiiro, her dress swishing in the process.

"That's fine Serena." Quatre gulped. He had known it was coming. But knowing it and seeing it were two different things. It had actually stung him to see it.

"If Quatre and Hiiro are the crazy fools in here Trowa, perhaps you can talk them out of fighting Darien." Serena requested.

"Sorry to disappoint you Serena, it's the last thing I've ever wanted to do, but I'm joining them." Trowa replied curtly.

"What?" Serena screeched.

"I'm a good shot, they'll need help when Darien and his five ride into town."

"So what? I'll be left without my two dearest friends and the man I care for? Is that your purpose?"

"I swore not to die." Hiiro muttered.

"That is beside the point Hiiro." She told him.

"We could use one more man to help us out… the odds of four fighting six are better then three fighting six." Quatre mussed.

"We'll call in Wufei then." Trowa told him.

"Not Wufei too!" Serena gasped. Hiiro widened his eyes slightly. Wufei? He had already figured out that both Quatre and Trowa loved Serena, but Wufei the horseshoe man as well?

"Serena, I know you and Wufei have never gotten along well after Duo's death, but he's just as eager for revenge." Trowa told her.

"Revenge? This should not be about revenge. I understand you two and Wufei might feel the need to avenge Duo's death, especially Wufei because he was Duo's closest friend, but do you honestly think it would be what Duo wanted? Killing for him?"

"We aren't killing for Duo." Hiiro spoke up, tired of being left out. "We're fighting to protect your honor. I won't see you as that man's wife Serena. I may be a hardened killer, but what I've done is nothing compared to what he has done. I won't let him hurt anyone else, especially not the woman I love." He growled.

"He's right. As much as we would like to say we are doing this for Duo, we aren't. Serena, we don't want to see you with him. He'll kill you, if not physically while in a temper, then spiritually. I would rather die than see you dead." Quatre added.

"Why? I'm not worth this! Quatre, Trowa, you can't… and Hiiro…" She sobbed and sank into Hiiro's old seat.

"You are worth it Serena. We can't let him hurt you, or anyone else in the future." Trowa added calmly. But she said nothing.

"I want to go home now." She finally broke the silence.

"We need Hiiro to help us plan out a few things Serena." Quatre told her gently. "If you'd like, there's a bed in the back room where you can rest."

"No Quatre, it isn't that I'm tired. I'm simply homesick." She told them, a frown playing across her lovely features.

"Serena, Wufei hasn't finished the horse's shoes yet…" Hiiro began.

"Then let me take your horse back Hiiro. I'll be fine, and it will give me a chance to start dinner and take my mind off of this… mad situation… you three, four, want to put yourselves in."

"Serena, it's dangerous."

"Hiiro, I've managed just fine on my own for a while, I think I can manage another three hours or so." She stood. "Besides. This dress is getting itchy. I want it off." She smiled slightly. He followed in suit.

"Why are you wearing a dress Serena?" Quatre had to ask.

"I haven't been able to do the wash for a while what with my strength not being what it was. It is a last resort, which, I am sorry to say, is pitiful. Hiiro, don't go being later than the sun set, you here?" She ordered him as she walked out the door. Hiiro stood in slight shock at how she had been able to talk him into letting her go home alone. She had just waltzed right out…

"She's forever doing that." Trowa clapped Hiiro's shoulder glumly. "She don't much like to think about her safety, only about getting what needs to be done done."

"Hnn." He heard the dull pounding and clopping of a horse leaving at a quick pace. "Let's find Wufei." He finally stated.

)(

When Serena rode up to her home, she immediately knew something was amiss. Looking around the yard, she saw nothing wrong. Not one thing was out of place, right down to the bucket that rested on the wall of the well. But the white porch in front of the door was covered in a thick layer of dust she knew hadn't been there when she and Hiiro had left in the morning.

Dismounting silently, she reached into her saddlebags and pulled out a knife. As she approached the door, she heard sounds inside. Bandits! Was her immediate thought. How many, she couldn't tell. She gently pushed the door open and walked in, knife poised and ready to be used. But when she entered the main sitting room, she found there was no one. Had her mind been playing tricks on her or-

"Ahh!" She screamed as a dark figure grabbed her from behind. She desperately tried to stab at her captor, only to find he roughly grabbed her wrist and shook her hand until it went limp and she dropped the knife. The heavy hand clasped over her mouth stifled her screams, until she wised up and but down hard.

"Damnit!" The man swore. Then he grabbed her other wrist and put one arm around her delicate throat. And slowly he let out a deep laugh. Shivers crawled up Serena's spine. Only one man laughed as mechanically as that…

"Darien!" She gasped in fear.

"I've missed you Kitten." He growled as he kissed the back of her throat. "A dress? My, my, times change."

"Let me go Darien!" She squirmed and tried to wriggle from this grasp. He laughed harder, but let her go. She stumbled to catch herself, and moaned in pain. She was still very sore from the poison in the snakebite, and Darien's roughness had only made the pain worse.

"Darien?" Another voice called. Serena groaned. Was Darien's posse in her pantry?

"Get up here!" Darien boomed. Serena covered her ears to try to drown him out, but it did no good. Soon enough Darien grabbed her wrist again and pulled her in close to him. She shuddered in pain and revulsion. Five men entered the room, each looking dirtier and smelling worse than the last.

"You let them in the house looking like that?" She looked at Darien defiantly. When she had been younger she had fought him, but been afraid. This time she had no fear of this disgusting man, only contempt, and she was going to let him know it.

"I think you need a lesson in manners Kitten." He murmured in her ear. She sharply drew her head away from him.

"And I think you need to bathe." She countered. Darien looked angry for a moment, then he grinned evilly.

"I told you she was a spitfire!" He laughed, but yanked on her hand harder. "Serena, Kitten, these are your new sons." He mocked as he pointed to his friends. "And they are hungry."

"First of all, Darien, let go of my hand, you are hurting me. Second of all, they'll get no food from me till they're clean, and third of all, I have no sons and will never give you any!" She managed to gasp out.

"Kitten." Darien let her hand go. He looked at her as if trying to decide something. "You've gotten more opinionated without a man around the house to show you your place- but more beautiful since I last saw you." He said. She was still not sure what he was thinking. "Alright then Kitten, have it your way. I'll discuss this with you later. Draw me a bath!" He barked.

"I would." She paused. She meant it too, anything to make him smell better. "But I can't."

"What do you mean you can't?" Darien loomed over her. She looked straight on, not giving in.

"I can't. I haven't the strength to draw the water Darien."

"Oh?" He taunted her. "Why ever not?"

"I was bit by a rattler a few weeks ago Darien. Quatre tells me I barely survived I was so ill with fever. And even now I don't have my strength back… I only just started walking again today. If you want to bathe, you'll have to do it yourself."

"Quatre? That damned doctor? You let him touch you?"

"I was dying!" She argued. He brought up his hand and backslapped her. She stumbled backward, but it hadn't been hard enough to knock her off her feet.

"He saved you did he?" She didn't answer. "And I suppose that the things in the spare room are his?" Serena gasped, but quickly shut her mouth. Hiiro's things! She had forgotten about them! And now Darien thought… Quatre… Hiiro…

"Answer me damnit!" Darien said calmly.

"He saved my life, yes. But the things in the room aren't his. They're my father's. I'm cleaning them out."

"Really?"

"Am I a liar Darien?" She challenged. He backed away slightly and then smirked.

"No… never you Kitten." He backed her up against the wall and smashed his lips to hers. She tried to protest, to push him away, but when he only pushed harder, she went limp, not pushing him away, but refusing to kiss back.

"Why do you deny me Kitten?" He whispered. "We could be so good together if you would just participate more."

"It's not proper Darien." She told him coldly. "I'm not one of the whores you slept with out there, I'm a lady who has some pride left."

"I'm surprised at you Kitten. You seem to have gotten stronger, less afraid of me. We'll have to change that, won't we?"

"If you make me weak Darien, who will do the chores you are too lazy to do?" She asked sweetly. She did expect to get hit for it, but instead Darien cupped her face in his hands.

"Sweet Kitten, you have too much cynical blood in you. I'm going to care for the farm from now on, don't worry." She said nothing, and when she did not respond to any more of his touches or kisses, he pushed her away from the wall.

"Very well Kitten, play your games. But I am hungry, as are your sons… and they are your sons, because from now on they will be living here and you will be working for them, drawing their baths, making their meals, doing their wash." Serena gulped. He was serious…

"They'll wash before they eat!" She stood firm. "And if you're too lazy to draw six baths, then go down to the river and come up clean, or else no food."

"Fine." Darien growled. He and his friends strolled out the door not moments later, soap in hand.

Once she was sure they were gone, she sank to the floor. What would she do now? She was trapped all alone with Darien and the toughest bandits on the western side of the Mississippi. As she wallowed not knowing what to do, hoof beats rang in her ears. She quickly stood and ran out side.

"Hiiro!" She cried in relief. He was here, everything was going to be alright now. Unless Darien and his friends finished their baths quickly…

"Serena?" He asked. Something was wrong. She was terrified. *