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Chapter Six: Home Cooked Love
~Tokyo Rabbit
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Why?
As soon as the next dawn peeked, I was on a jet leaving Earth. Dr. Conway tried to reason with me, but I ignored him. My heart was a mere stone sitting in my chest and would not respond to his pleas.
Why?
We passed the Moon and it's silver light seemed to sympathize with me. My eyes were constantly glued on the stars seen out my window. My thoughts drifted to Dr. Conway, and then later to the shuttle that had just recently disappeared. Would that happen to me? At that point in time I really didn't give a flip.
Why?
My little one room apartment on Phoebe, one of Saturn's many moons, was a strange sight indeed. It was somewhat clean with only a few cluttered piles; I had left in a hurry last time I had been here, which was a while back. My fish seemed to be doing fine; the tank was in the wall and inside was a mechanism that kept them fed. I had eleven total, one each for the old Vieux-Soldiers (including the Vieux-Knight Tuxedo Mask and Small Lady).
Why?
Sleep never came to me at night in my twin bed that could be pulled out from the white wall in my room. Thoughts kept me from it. Awful, saddening, painful thoughts....
Why?
Why had I let him get close to me? Why had the Silver Counsel agreed with him when he appealed for my deportation? Why had I been pried away from the one thing that I truly could throw my whole being into?
Currently I was in the shower. Thoughts of Dr. Conway made my legs feel like rubber and my heart like a pincushion. The tile felt cool as I slid down to the bottom. My gold hair was acting like a drape, hiding me from those thoughts, but they wouldn't quit pounding in my head. Bringing my knees under my chin, I watched the clear, cool water pool around me and drain away.
My hope was this water would cleanse me as a whole, washing away those painful thoughts, but I knew it was impossible. Like it was to hate Dr. Conway. I hated that. He had betrayed me. He took my vulnerability and turned it against me. He claimed it was for my 'own good,' but I was too stubborn to believe that.
I finally worked the will to get out of the shower and get dressed. What frozen meals I had left in my fridge were gone due to consumption (what else?) and I needed to go to the market place to stock up. I was going to be here for a while.
If anything could cheer me up, it was the Phocia (the city I lived in) market place. Bustling with life, one could find almost anything one needed and then have the fun of haggling. I liked haggling. The constant flow of energy always had a positive effect one me. Instead of vying for the meals in a box, I went for the fresh stuff. Venusian greens, Urpian fruits, everything. Tonight I would have one of my first ever 'I'm depressed so I'll eat away my sorrows' dinners.
With a smile on my face, I made my way down the hall that lead to my apartment door and stopped short. Sitting in front of my door was a man. I couldn't see his face because he had it buried in his arms, which were crossed and resting on his knees. However, that didn't cover his head of raven black hair. I'd recognize that hair anywhere. THAT, he was most obviously asleep.
A wicked smile spread across my face. Revenge.... Placing my grocery sack on the floor next to me, I kneeled down and looked him over. Brushing an ebony lock of hair out of his face, I sighed.
'He looks so innocent when he's sleeping,' I thought, 'who knew he would be such an ASS!'
My thought turning sour, I leaned forward. He smelt like roses. Only a few hairs away, an urge hit.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.
"What the-!!" He sprung up, nearly slamming into my door.
Ah. I felt so much better. Standing, I gave him a some-what satisfied, evil smirk.
"Rena," Dr. Conway gasped.
Picking up my bag, I unlocked my door with a touch, stepped inside, and then said over my shoulder in what I knew to be a cold way, "Would you like to come in, Dr. Conway?"
Without a word he followed me inside allowing the door to close behind. I walked into my kitchen/dinning room and began to unpack my bag's contents for preparation. I felt his eyes on me, watching my every move like he was evaluating my health. No more circles under my eyes, no more clammy skin, no more tears.... Let him evaluate that.
"So what brings you here, Dr. Conway?" I asked indifferently.
"You."
"Oh really?"
He paused, "Rena, will you at least look at me?"
I did and he looked like hell. Well, for Dr. Conway that is. Under his eyes, which were usually as deep as the seas of Uranus but where now as murky as a lake on Pluto, were hints of sleep deprivation. But, that could just be an effect caused by his ebony hair falling into his eyes. That wasn't the point though. What his body language wouldn't tell me, those pitiful looking eyes would. In them I could see a desperation. What kind, I didn't know.
"There. I'm looking at you." I stated.
"How have you been?" He asked softly.
I gave him the most plastic smile I could muster, "Great."
His eyes narrowed skeptically as he looked me over, knowing that that was probably not the case. After a while he shrugged slightly, however his cynical eyes did not ease.
"You're still mad at me though," he stated.
My mouth quirked at the understatement, "I don't know what you mean by that, Dr. Conway."
He sighed and leaned back in his chair (he was sitting at my table), "First of all, you keep calling me Dr. Conway."
Really? Oh wow, I was. It must be some sort of physiological thing of how I HATE him. Okay, okay, not hate, but extremely close.
"I don't expect you to run into my arms just at this point in time," I gave him a sour look, "But Rena, it really was for your own good."
He continued while taking something out of his bag, "Besides, I do know what it means to you. It's not permanent, but in the meanwhile...."
I nearly flew across the room when I saw what he sat on the table. It was a pearly pink box. My hand instinctively came up to the necklace hanging around my neck as I approached the box. Hands shaking, I opened the contraption and sure enough, inside was all of the letters.
"I still need your help with this." Darren said, eyes brightening noticeably.
Now sitting across from him, I fingered the ancient paper carefully, tears welling up in my eyes, "I don't understand...." "Rena, you're not my enemy, nor am I yours. My feelings towards you are still the same as when we spent that night on the pool table," he smiled at me and at once Darren returned in my mind; instead of seeing a toothy, purple maiden-eating monster I had envisioned ever since that day in the garden, I saw the handsome Darren Conway whose affectionate company I had grown to depend on; those lengthy, real conversations and sweet kisses-all two of them.
"A little something to keep you busy while you recover," he added, taking advantage of my speechlessness.
Something inside of me melted and in a flash I launched clear across the table and into Darren's arms. He seemed to be prepared for it. Having his arms wrapped tightly around me, I was in heaven. But what was that sound I heard? It was me... sobbing.
"Oh Rena," Darren breathed into my hair, "Love, don't cry."
We stayed like that, me sobbing uncontrollably into his broad chest and him soothing me, forever it seemed. My meal was waiting, but I really didn't care at that point in time.
Pulling away from his chest, I laughed hoarsely at his nearly sopping shirt, "Sorry."
"Don't be," he laughed as well, tucking a rouge strand of gold behind my ear.
"No," I looked down at my lap in shame, "Not only for the shirt, but for hating you-well, almost hating you."
Brushing away my remaining tears, Darren smiled, "I don't blame you."
Standing from my warm, comfortable chair (i.e. his lap) I bristled over to my bags and continued to unpack. Taking some greens in my hand, I turned to face his curious gaze, "When do you leave for Earth?"
"Uh-tomorrow at 2," he said, "Why?"
I smiled, "Would you like to stay for dinner?"
Grinning, he gave his response-standing, he walked over to me, kissed me, and then began to help me unpack. That night was burned into my memory--no--existence for all eternity and a forever....
Forgive me Father, for I have sinned-- several times....
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TR- Super short chapter but I'd thought that'd it was a good spot to stop at. And let me just say WOW! Thank you everyone! Your response to this story has been so incredibly warm! EVERY-SINGLE-ONE of you kept this story alive and kicking. You deserve a pat on the back. ::gets all teary eyed:: Well... sniffle... keep those reviews coming. Maybe we can get to 100? Too much to ask, ne? And I know that some of you were getting worried about the letters. Don't worry. They'll be the main focus next chapter and soon they'll figure out their past... maybe.... Keekee. It's not really a secret any more b/c everyone of you has said something about it. Even so, that still leaves the question of 'Why did they leave in such a hurry?' Muwhahaha! Intriuge and mystery! Oh well. Hee! Luv you! Ja minna-chan!
3-24-03
(Unedited)