2002 Valentine's Special: Waiting for You

Part 8: Identity revealed

By: Ghostwriter

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            Serena hummed happily towards her room, her mind replaying the memory of dancing with Darien. He had looked so dashing in his tuxedo and his eyes…Serena sighed happily, those twin sapphires were enough to make any girl swoon at his feet.

            'Serena,' a voice called out sleepily from behind one of the doors as she skipped down the hallway. She stopped and walked back to the door and slowly turned the knob. Sticking her head through the gap, she saw a woman with dark green hair trying to sit up on the bed. She quickly walked over and helped her.

            'How was the party dear?' she asked kindly as she held Serena's hand.

            'It was great…nice food, great music,' Serena supplied enthusiastically.

            'Did you meet any charming young man who went ballistic over you and shot murderous looks at Henry all night?' her aunt teased.

            Serena blushed at the thought of Henry's words. 'My dear, Mr. Shields was undeniably jealous this evening,' Henry drawled. 'If looks can burn, I'll be toasted by now, and I do think that Setsuna likes me better the way I am now.'

            'You're blushing, my dear,' her aunt continued unmercilessly.

            'Aunt Setsuna!' Serena gasped as she tried to hide her hot face behind her hands.

            Setsuna only laughed. 'Please assure me that me fiancé is in one piece and breathing.'

            'I assure you ma'am, he is.' Serena replied primly. 'In fact, he was well enough to drive me home and in the process complained of my lack of suitors.'

            Setsuna raised an eyebrow quirkily at her. 'Is that so? I shall have to confirm that for myself tomorrow.'

            Serena dreaded at what her aunt's fiancé will say. Henry was a nice man, handsome too with his tall and dark frame. Setsuna had nearly murdered him when for some unknown reason; he had gone and grew that beard of his. He said it made him more matured. And it was then, did he propose to Setsuna.

*****FLASHBACK*****

            Setsuna gasped as Henry entered the drawing room earlier that evening. His handsome face was covered with a beard and his silver grey eyes were laughing. He kept his face straight as he approached his girlfriend. She had called him earlier and told him she had came down with flu and was having a terrible headache and would not be able to accompany him to the ball that evening.

            'How are you my dear?' he asked as he solicitously kissed her cheek. Her skin made contact with the brown hair growing from his face, confirming that it was not an illusion.

            Setsuna could not believe her eyes. He had gone to Milan for three weeks to check on the progress of the upcoming show in August and he had gone all out and grew a beard. 'What have you done to your face?'

            'I assume you would not believe if I told you I was so busy for the last three weeks I did not even have the time to shave,' he began. 'But I doubt you would take my explanation. Actually, I had done this on purpose, a pretty good disguise I believe; nevertheless, the press had managed to identify me and caught a lot of shots in the last three weeks. I cannot believe you have not seen my pictures in the papers or magazines.'

            'Henry, you know I don't like to read those magazines because I have enough of gossip in my working life. What will my brother say?' Setsuna exclaimed despairingly as she flopped back into the couch. 'You know how he disapproves of your attire.'

            'What can he say?' Henry asked in an amused tone. 'I am not his son, or any of his relatives. I'm only his sister's boyfriend. However, I think this,' he said as he fingered the bush on his face, 'is quite becoming of me. Makes me look more matured, don't you agree? And I am getting along in years.'

            'A lot of men who are older than you do not grow such an absurd looking beard,' Setsuna commented dryly, noticing where this conversation is leading too.

            'Ah – but those men have a wife to take command on what they should wear and how the should act. I am however, an eligible bachelor,' Henry said as he sat down beside Setsuna.

            'Why don't you get a wife to look after you, then,' Setsuna suggested mischievously, refusing to rise to his bait.

            'Alas, the one woman I love rejects me over and over again.'

            'Sir, you can only blame yourself for not trying hard enough.'

            'Madam, surely you do not expect me to wait for you until my beard grows long enough to sweep the floor,' Henry asked in mock horror. 'I'll be the laughingstock in the fashion world!'

            'Well, I do suppose I can save you from ruin by giving you my hand,' Setsuna finally said laughingly, 'on one condition.'

            'What is it, my dear?' Henry said joyously. 'I'll do anything in my power to please you.'

            'You will have to get rid of that hideous beard.'

            Henry sighed dramatically. 'I've grown fond of it. In case you change your mind at the very last minute, I shall only shave it after the ceremony.'

            Setsuna shook her had firmly. 'You will shave it this instant.'

            'I don't have a shaver,' Henry protested.

            'You can use Kenji's.'

            'What, are you trying to murder you future husband?' Henry teased lightly. 'Your brother would most probably have my head when he hears of our engagement, and you are trying to get me to provoke him further by using his shaver?'

            'Alright, but I want to be able to see your chin tomorrow,' she said. 'Or I won't ever kiss you again.'

            'Lady, I'll just have to prove you wrong,' Henry declared dramatically as he tilted his face onto hers.

            'No Henry, I still have the flu!' Setsuna's protests were muffled as his lips met hers. His beard tickled her and his kisses were feather light. Before long, it had grown into a full blown passionate one that numbed Setsuna's mind and body. Every nerve in her body tingled deliciously as his tongue skillfully invaded her mouth.

            They were brought back to reality by the sounds of someone clearing their throat. They broke apart but Henry held Setsuna in his arms as he turned to unleash his anger on whoever who dared interrupt them at such a crucial moment. His fury abated at the sight of an embarrassed blond.

            'Oh, hello Serena,' he grinned at her. 'You grow more beautiful each time I see you.'

            'Henry, you better mind that glib tongue of yours,' Serena grinned back. 'My aunt might not like your overfriendly attentions on other ladies.'

            'Ah – but she has specifically instructed me to flatter you more to give you some confidence.'

            'Serena,' her aunt began. 'I have a favor to ask of you. Will you go with Henry to the ball tonight?'

            Serena stared blankly at her aunt. 'Oh no, oh no. I am not going to stand around like a peacock in front of an entire roomful of people the whole night!'

            'But Serena,' Setsuna implored. 'I'm sick, and I am afraid your future uncle might forget he is engaged,' she shot him a dirty look.

            'Who me?' Henry put on his best expression of innocence. 'My heart belongs to you and only you.'

            Setsuna snorted. 'Please Serena.'

            'Future uncle?' Serena stared dumbly at the couple on the couch.

            'My darling future niece, do not look so shocked,' Henry grinned at her reaction. 'People get engaged every single day.'

            Suddenly Serena came out of her state of shock and gave a squeal of laughter. 'I want to be the bridesmaid!'

            'Of course you'll be,' Setsuna agreed. 'Oh dear, we must go and see the dresses.'

            'Women,' Henry muttered as he continued to listen drone on and on about the perfect wedding.

*****END OF FLASHBACK*****

            'I can't believe Henry grew a beard just to get you to marry him,' Serena shook her head as she laughed at the recount of her aunt's tale.

            'He will do anything to save himself from going onto his knee and said or sorts of mushy mushy stuff,' Setsuna informed her. 'He told me after you left to get ready that "Predictability is so very dull",' she quoted.

            'But he compliments every female in sight.'

            'I hope he has not been doing that at the ball just now,' Setsuna said.

            'Oh no, he was the image of a perfect gentlemen. Although many people commented on his err – facial hair.'

            Setsuna smiled. 'What did he say?'

            'He said it was to gain the attentions of a certain beautiful lady he was infatuated with.'

            Setsuna blushed. 'I'm so very happy. I was waiting for him to pop the question like forever,' she confessed to her niece.

            'And your waiting paid off.'

            'Yes,' Setsuna said as she leaned onto the pillows contentedly. 'I love him very much.'

            'I wish you two a happy marriage,' Serena said sincerely.

            'I hope you'll find the perfect man too,' her aunt said quietly. 'I can feel it; he is out there, waiting for you.'

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Disclaimer: I'm a ghost and ghosts can't really own anything beside their thoughts. Besides, you can't file a legal lawsuit because there is no way you can sue a dead person.

Hey People!

            How is everyone doing? Happy? I don't know exactly why I wrote this chapter, but I think it is because I want Henry to shave later without arousing any suspicions. However, I hope you'll forgive the shortcomings in this fic. After all, I'm not a professional.

            I finally revealed Henry's real identity, though some of you have already guessed earlier on. Bummer, I wanted to keep it a secret until the end of the fic, but heck, I'm no good at keeping other people in suspense.

            So keep those reviews/mail/comments/flames/compliments/encouragements coming in. Flood my mail box with them if you have to, kayz?

Haunts of Love,

GHOSTWRITER…