AN: whew!*wipes sweat from forehead* finally....notes at bottom, as usual.
Enjoy!!!!
Chapter 2: Men
"Post!" a postman's loud voice carried through the huge house.
Serena heard his call and went excitedly to the front doors.
"Sir?" she asked, opening the door.
"Here's your delivery ma'am," he said. "Have a nice day," he tipped his hat at her as he walked down the steps to continue his route.
As she flipped the envelopes around to the back of the pile, reading who they were addressed to, her smile faded. In her hand she held one addressed to her with the symbol for the Confederate Army.
"Oh, no," she whispered, bringing a hand up to her mouth in shock as she dropped every letter but that one.
She tore it open swiftly and unfolded the letter.
"Dear Ms. Tsukino, we regret to inform you that a Mr. Darien Shields has been wounded on the battle field. Although we believe his wounds are not mortal, he has requested for you several times throughout his sleep and rest. It would be best if you could join him and aid in his recovery at the encampment as soon as possible. Thank you, Sincerely, The Confederate Army Hospital Staff"
"Oh! Rei!" Serena called throughout the huge house as she collapsed to the floor.
"Serena! What is it?" Rei asked as she ran down the huge french stairs in the front room.
"It's Darien," Serena said, breaking out into tears. "He's been hurt. I have to go to him."
"We'll go now," Rei said and ran to pack her and Serena a bag of things.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
"Where are you going?" Chad asked his sister.
"Darien's been hurt somehow and Sere needs to go to him," she said coldly, still packing.
"When do you leave?"
"As soon as we can," she said, not stopping her actions.
"Take care of yourself Rei," he said. "And her."
"I will brother," she said, looking up at him.
"I'll be here waiting for you two," he said, placing a kiss on her forehead. "Have a safe trip and don't get in a spat with any of them Yankees without a soldier around," he said, smiling.
"Why, Chad!" she said, surprised. "Them Yankees? Well, if I recall correctly, you are a Yankee yourself."
"Well, when it comes to the safety of my family," he said.
"I must be off," she said, walking past him, carrying her bags and Sere's with her.
"I know," he called after her. "Be careful."
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
"Name?" the guard at the confederate camp asked the approaching carriage as the day came to a close.
"Serena Tsukino and Rei Hino," Rei said. "We're here for Darien Shields."
"Ah yes," the guard said. "We've been expecting the both of you for a few hours now. Private, take these horses. Ladies," the man said. "This way if you please."
They entered a small tent that was dimly lit. There was a bed and a body resting on it. The black hair was a dead give-away that it was indeed Darien.
"Oh Darien!" Serena whispered loudly and put a hand up to her face. "Oh no! He's... he's... is he?"
She ran over to his side and brushed a hand against his haggard face. That's when she notice it. Slowly his chest rose and fell.
"He almost died," the medic said. "Had it not have been for one of them damn crazy Rangers he would have."
"What happened?" Rei asked, quite curious and concerned.
"Oh, he got caught in enemy fire, in other words, one of them damn Yankees shot him right in the shoulder and beat him up pretty good," the doctor explained. "He was about to strike him down with a bayonet and out of nowhere this Ranger comes shooting his guns at them Yankees and knocks the hell out of that damn Yank that was gonna kill him. They fought hand to hand, the Ranger with a Bowie knife and that Yankee with the end of his bayonet. I'll reckon by now that Yank's already met his maker," he finished. "Damn luck he was."
"What happened to the Ranger?" Serena asked.
"Oh, not much," the doctor said. "Not much happens to any of 'em. But anyway, the got cut up pretty good in one or two spots. Nothin' serious. He's in the tent right next to this'n. I'll tell ya," he said, leaning in closer to Rei. "He refused any treatment until this man here got it."
"I think I'll go pay a visit to him," Rei said as she walked out of the tent, keeping her suspicions of the identity of the Ranger to herself.
"Brave gal she is," the doctor said and walked out to tend to other patients in different tents.
"That she is," Serena said. "That she is."
(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)
"Good evening gentlemen!" a charismatic young blonde woman called out to the thick crowd of men in the only saloon around with a stage.
she received many cheers from the whole house as she strutted out on stage.
"Have I got a show for you!" she said with a dazzling smile as she narrowed her eyes and pointed out into the crowd and winked.
"I've got fifty bucks!" a drunk man called out from the back.
"Oh silly," she giggled and the whole of the men laughed as well, enchanted by her and completely under her spell. "We all know Mina's rules now don't we," she said like a parent or a teacher would.
Every man in the saloon nodded their head.
"Show first and then the biding! So sit back and enjoy!" she cried. "The drunker the better," she muttered to one of her stagemates as she walked back through the curtains.
the lights shut off. Dead silence fell on the crowd. A single spotlight shined on the back of a woman with long, flowing gold hair tied back with a red satin bow as she began singing a high energy, quick paced song to which her and her stage mates danced.
as she hit her last note and took a bow, the house lights came on and the entire saloon erupted in cheers. She smiled, bowing again, giving them a spin and striking a pose.
"Who's gonna be a lucky man tonight??" she cried out.
"Me!"
"No, me!!"
"Me!!"
"Fifty!!"
"Sixty!!!"
She heard offers and begging throughout the entire place. And then her eyes locked with one handsome individual who stood apart from the rest. His platinum hair and hard stance with unwavering indifference, with the exception of a bit of intrigue, made him stick out like a sore thumb. She tilted her head to the side and grinned wickedly.
"I choose......you," she said and pointed right at him.
The entire place fell silent as every man turned to get a good look at the one she had chosen for that night. Like the red sea split, so did the crowd as she slowly sauntered her way toward him. Standing only less than a foot from him, she looked up into his eyes, realizing their huge height difference instantly. He looked down at her, confusedly. What did this woman really want?
"Let's go mister," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck.
In that instant he knew exactly what she wanted.
"Hmm. as you wish, milady," he said as he whisked her off of her feet and up the winding wooden stair case to the rooms upstairs, contrary to the moans a groans of disappointment erupting from the crowd.
@~^~~~@~^~~~@~^~~~@~^~~~
Rei entered the tent slowly as though not to startle one of the most dangerous men in the South lying there, appearing to be asleep. That was the thing about the rangers that made them so dangerous. They could convince just about anyone of their current situation and then strike. As she drew closer she slowly recognized gold. Blonde hair. A strong jaw line. That infuriating smirk.
"You," she growled as his fiery blue eyes shot open and he snatched her arm.
"You," he said back, trying to conceal his injury but couldn't help but wince as a sudden pain shot through his body.
"You need to lay back down," she said, pushing him gently back down. "That wasn't very smart," she chided.
"Neither was making a woman mad," he said.
She gave him a dirty look.
"Now, where's this wound you have?"
"I'm guessin' it's right here. Going on that this is what hurts the most," he said hinting toward his side opposite the side the was on.
she semi-glared at him as she pulled open his shirt and unbandaged the wound to see it.
"It doesn't look too bad," she commented. "Just a little bit deep."
"Just a little deep?" he asked. "It felt like the son of a bitch sliced me wide open."
"I'll bet," she said, still checking him over. "And you hauled a nearly dead man on and rode a horse yourself the entire way back to this encampment with that kind of wound."
"Yeah," he said. "I guess I did."
"Why?"
"I don't abandon anyone," he said and she rolled her eyes at him, scoffing.
She rebandaged it and he caught her slender wrist in his large hand. He gave it a quick yank and she fell forward on top of him. he cringed, adjusting to the abrupt sensation of pain Her face stopped a few inches from his, her heart pounding in her chest. He smoothly slid his other hand up her spine and onto the back of her neck as he pulled her down to him to kiss her. Their lips collided in and instant and fire ran through her veins.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Rei," she choked out.
"Hmm?" he asked, not being able to understand her first reply.
"Rei," she repeated, swallowing hard. "My name is Rei."
"Rei," he repeated. "That's a beautiful name."
She let out a tiny squeak as he slipped and arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. He placed another kiss on her lips and brushed his hand lightly against her cheek as he deepened it.
She put her hands up to his chest and pushed herself off of him.
"What?" he asked, rather confused.
"I am not your harlot," she stated, straightening herself out.
"Of course you aren't," he said trying to stand but having to be satisfied with just sitting up.
"No," she said. "I am not just some flippant little girl trying to get in the sack with you just so I can say I slept with a Ranger."
"Rei," he said, slightly recoiling. "Why would you think this of me? what have I done to you?"
"Nothing yet," she said firmly. "I just heard-"
"Oh, yes," he said, dropping his head back against the soft pillow. "Rumors."
"Is that all they are? Isn't there truth to every rumor?"
"I'm not like that," he said in defense.
"It's not that I don't believe you," she said. "I just have to be careful."
"Because-"
"Because I'm a spoiled little rich girl," she finished.
"I wasn't going to say that," he said, sitting back up. "I was going to say that you held a high spot in society and couldn't risk burning your reputation into the ground by being known with the likes of me."
"Oh," she said. "That's...that's correct."
"Is that why you won't have me around you?" he asked.
"Precisely."
"There's something else," he said. "There always is."
"I don't have the slightest of any idea of what you speak," she stated firmly.
"You have family," he said as she looked off. "Yeah, I can tell. And someone doesn't like me, or actually, the likes of me and my kind," he said with emphasis on the last part.
"I still don't know what it is you speak of," she said, holding her ground.
"It's got to be male," he said. "A dominance thing. A brother maybe?"
Rei stiffened.
"I don't have a brother."
"You lie," he said. "You do too."
"I do not!"
"Well, if you don't then why are you acting like you've got something to hide?" he asked.
"I don't have anything to hide!" she yelled. "And if my brother wasn't such a controlling bastard, then I'd have no prob....." she trailed off at the sight of his wide, victorious grin.
"I knew it," he said.
"Men," she scoffed.
AN: hello, hello!!! finally got some Mina in there, been dying to do that. anywho.....like it? hate it? i wanna know!!! please review!!! you've been so good so far!!! love ya'll!!!! till next time!!! ~MarsFire
Chapter 2: Men
"Post!" a postman's loud voice carried through the huge house.
Serena heard his call and went excitedly to the front doors.
"Sir?" she asked, opening the door.
"Here's your delivery ma'am," he said. "Have a nice day," he tipped his hat at her as he walked down the steps to continue his route.
As she flipped the envelopes around to the back of the pile, reading who they were addressed to, her smile faded. In her hand she held one addressed to her with the symbol for the Confederate Army.
"Oh, no," she whispered, bringing a hand up to her mouth in shock as she dropped every letter but that one.
She tore it open swiftly and unfolded the letter.
"Dear Ms. Tsukino, we regret to inform you that a Mr. Darien Shields has been wounded on the battle field. Although we believe his wounds are not mortal, he has requested for you several times throughout his sleep and rest. It would be best if you could join him and aid in his recovery at the encampment as soon as possible. Thank you, Sincerely, The Confederate Army Hospital Staff"
"Oh! Rei!" Serena called throughout the huge house as she collapsed to the floor.
"Serena! What is it?" Rei asked as she ran down the huge french stairs in the front room.
"It's Darien," Serena said, breaking out into tears. "He's been hurt. I have to go to him."
"We'll go now," Rei said and ran to pack her and Serena a bag of things.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
"Where are you going?" Chad asked his sister.
"Darien's been hurt somehow and Sere needs to go to him," she said coldly, still packing.
"When do you leave?"
"As soon as we can," she said, not stopping her actions.
"Take care of yourself Rei," he said. "And her."
"I will brother," she said, looking up at him.
"I'll be here waiting for you two," he said, placing a kiss on her forehead. "Have a safe trip and don't get in a spat with any of them Yankees without a soldier around," he said, smiling.
"Why, Chad!" she said, surprised. "Them Yankees? Well, if I recall correctly, you are a Yankee yourself."
"Well, when it comes to the safety of my family," he said.
"I must be off," she said, walking past him, carrying her bags and Sere's with her.
"I know," he called after her. "Be careful."
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
"Name?" the guard at the confederate camp asked the approaching carriage as the day came to a close.
"Serena Tsukino and Rei Hino," Rei said. "We're here for Darien Shields."
"Ah yes," the guard said. "We've been expecting the both of you for a few hours now. Private, take these horses. Ladies," the man said. "This way if you please."
They entered a small tent that was dimly lit. There was a bed and a body resting on it. The black hair was a dead give-away that it was indeed Darien.
"Oh Darien!" Serena whispered loudly and put a hand up to her face. "Oh no! He's... he's... is he?"
She ran over to his side and brushed a hand against his haggard face. That's when she notice it. Slowly his chest rose and fell.
"He almost died," the medic said. "Had it not have been for one of them damn crazy Rangers he would have."
"What happened?" Rei asked, quite curious and concerned.
"Oh, he got caught in enemy fire, in other words, one of them damn Yankees shot him right in the shoulder and beat him up pretty good," the doctor explained. "He was about to strike him down with a bayonet and out of nowhere this Ranger comes shooting his guns at them Yankees and knocks the hell out of that damn Yank that was gonna kill him. They fought hand to hand, the Ranger with a Bowie knife and that Yankee with the end of his bayonet. I'll reckon by now that Yank's already met his maker," he finished. "Damn luck he was."
"What happened to the Ranger?" Serena asked.
"Oh, not much," the doctor said. "Not much happens to any of 'em. But anyway, the got cut up pretty good in one or two spots. Nothin' serious. He's in the tent right next to this'n. I'll tell ya," he said, leaning in closer to Rei. "He refused any treatment until this man here got it."
"I think I'll go pay a visit to him," Rei said as she walked out of the tent, keeping her suspicions of the identity of the Ranger to herself.
"Brave gal she is," the doctor said and walked out to tend to other patients in different tents.
"That she is," Serena said. "That she is."
(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)
"Good evening gentlemen!" a charismatic young blonde woman called out to the thick crowd of men in the only saloon around with a stage.
she received many cheers from the whole house as she strutted out on stage.
"Have I got a show for you!" she said with a dazzling smile as she narrowed her eyes and pointed out into the crowd and winked.
"I've got fifty bucks!" a drunk man called out from the back.
"Oh silly," she giggled and the whole of the men laughed as well, enchanted by her and completely under her spell. "We all know Mina's rules now don't we," she said like a parent or a teacher would.
Every man in the saloon nodded their head.
"Show first and then the biding! So sit back and enjoy!" she cried. "The drunker the better," she muttered to one of her stagemates as she walked back through the curtains.
the lights shut off. Dead silence fell on the crowd. A single spotlight shined on the back of a woman with long, flowing gold hair tied back with a red satin bow as she began singing a high energy, quick paced song to which her and her stage mates danced.
as she hit her last note and took a bow, the house lights came on and the entire saloon erupted in cheers. She smiled, bowing again, giving them a spin and striking a pose.
"Who's gonna be a lucky man tonight??" she cried out.
"Me!"
"No, me!!"
"Me!!"
"Fifty!!"
"Sixty!!!"
She heard offers and begging throughout the entire place. And then her eyes locked with one handsome individual who stood apart from the rest. His platinum hair and hard stance with unwavering indifference, with the exception of a bit of intrigue, made him stick out like a sore thumb. She tilted her head to the side and grinned wickedly.
"I choose......you," she said and pointed right at him.
The entire place fell silent as every man turned to get a good look at the one she had chosen for that night. Like the red sea split, so did the crowd as she slowly sauntered her way toward him. Standing only less than a foot from him, she looked up into his eyes, realizing their huge height difference instantly. He looked down at her, confusedly. What did this woman really want?
"Let's go mister," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck.
In that instant he knew exactly what she wanted.
"Hmm. as you wish, milady," he said as he whisked her off of her feet and up the winding wooden stair case to the rooms upstairs, contrary to the moans a groans of disappointment erupting from the crowd.
@~^~~~@~^~~~@~^~~~@~^~~~
Rei entered the tent slowly as though not to startle one of the most dangerous men in the South lying there, appearing to be asleep. That was the thing about the rangers that made them so dangerous. They could convince just about anyone of their current situation and then strike. As she drew closer she slowly recognized gold. Blonde hair. A strong jaw line. That infuriating smirk.
"You," she growled as his fiery blue eyes shot open and he snatched her arm.
"You," he said back, trying to conceal his injury but couldn't help but wince as a sudden pain shot through his body.
"You need to lay back down," she said, pushing him gently back down. "That wasn't very smart," she chided.
"Neither was making a woman mad," he said.
She gave him a dirty look.
"Now, where's this wound you have?"
"I'm guessin' it's right here. Going on that this is what hurts the most," he said hinting toward his side opposite the side the was on.
she semi-glared at him as she pulled open his shirt and unbandaged the wound to see it.
"It doesn't look too bad," she commented. "Just a little bit deep."
"Just a little deep?" he asked. "It felt like the son of a bitch sliced me wide open."
"I'll bet," she said, still checking him over. "And you hauled a nearly dead man on and rode a horse yourself the entire way back to this encampment with that kind of wound."
"Yeah," he said. "I guess I did."
"Why?"
"I don't abandon anyone," he said and she rolled her eyes at him, scoffing.
She rebandaged it and he caught her slender wrist in his large hand. He gave it a quick yank and she fell forward on top of him. he cringed, adjusting to the abrupt sensation of pain Her face stopped a few inches from his, her heart pounding in her chest. He smoothly slid his other hand up her spine and onto the back of her neck as he pulled her down to him to kiss her. Their lips collided in and instant and fire ran through her veins.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Rei," she choked out.
"Hmm?" he asked, not being able to understand her first reply.
"Rei," she repeated, swallowing hard. "My name is Rei."
"Rei," he repeated. "That's a beautiful name."
She let out a tiny squeak as he slipped and arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. He placed another kiss on her lips and brushed his hand lightly against her cheek as he deepened it.
She put her hands up to his chest and pushed herself off of him.
"What?" he asked, rather confused.
"I am not your harlot," she stated, straightening herself out.
"Of course you aren't," he said trying to stand but having to be satisfied with just sitting up.
"No," she said. "I am not just some flippant little girl trying to get in the sack with you just so I can say I slept with a Ranger."
"Rei," he said, slightly recoiling. "Why would you think this of me? what have I done to you?"
"Nothing yet," she said firmly. "I just heard-"
"Oh, yes," he said, dropping his head back against the soft pillow. "Rumors."
"Is that all they are? Isn't there truth to every rumor?"
"I'm not like that," he said in defense.
"It's not that I don't believe you," she said. "I just have to be careful."
"Because-"
"Because I'm a spoiled little rich girl," she finished.
"I wasn't going to say that," he said, sitting back up. "I was going to say that you held a high spot in society and couldn't risk burning your reputation into the ground by being known with the likes of me."
"Oh," she said. "That's...that's correct."
"Is that why you won't have me around you?" he asked.
"Precisely."
"There's something else," he said. "There always is."
"I don't have the slightest of any idea of what you speak," she stated firmly.
"You have family," he said as she looked off. "Yeah, I can tell. And someone doesn't like me, or actually, the likes of me and my kind," he said with emphasis on the last part.
"I still don't know what it is you speak of," she said, holding her ground.
"It's got to be male," he said. "A dominance thing. A brother maybe?"
Rei stiffened.
"I don't have a brother."
"You lie," he said. "You do too."
"I do not!"
"Well, if you don't then why are you acting like you've got something to hide?" he asked.
"I don't have anything to hide!" she yelled. "And if my brother wasn't such a controlling bastard, then I'd have no prob....." she trailed off at the sight of his wide, victorious grin.
"I knew it," he said.
"Men," she scoffed.
AN: hello, hello!!! finally got some Mina in there, been dying to do that. anywho.....like it? hate it? i wanna know!!! please review!!! you've been so good so far!!! love ya'll!!!! till next time!!! ~MarsFire