Disclaimer: I really shouldn't have to tell you what goes here.
"" Talking
Italics thoughts/thinking
Chapter 5
Mina took to planning at a furious pace that sent the others to have a massive headache. She tossed around clothing trying to find the perfect outfit to wear for when she would go and see Serena. As she tossed her twentieth dress Lita had finally had it with Mina and her indecisiveness.
"Mina, wear the red dress right here. The cloak that goes with it is currently in your hand and your hair is fine." Lita threw the dress at the stunned girl and stormed out of the room.
"Well Mina." Raye smoothed her dress down a bit as she smirked at her friend. "I would say that you have about ten minutes to get ready and go hitch that ride!"
Mina pouted at Raye and Amy, who were currently picking up the discarded dresses. Finally she submitted to their will and went to go and change. As Mina was busy changing Lita had returned to wherever she had gone and with a package in her hands.
The three of them walked Mina down towards the marketplace where there were carts leaving to go to the different towns. One cart though was not part of the others; it appeared that the two people were waiting for another person to join them. As Mina approached the cart she scrunched her eyes to try and get a better look to see who the two people were.
"No! Lita how could you!" Mina turned sharply to face her smirking friend.
Lita for her part shoved the package she had been carrying and gave to Mina. "Well, Mina. I had told your brothers that you missed them and you ALWAYS wanted to go and travel a bit with them."
Mina shook her fist at the three laughing women and marched over to the cart. Her brothers were laughing as well as they helped their baby sister into the cart.
"Well Mina look at it this way." Jerome said as he took hold of the reins. "We can keep an eye on you for at least awhile."
"Yes, and make sure that no shop comes within 5 feet of you!" Jonathan joined in the laughter as he sat on the opposite side of Mina. "You are a self-proclaimed shopping monster!"
"I am not that horrible!" Mina's face turned red as she stared at Jonathan. "Anyway, I am on a mission, no a quest and it concern's neither of you two. This quest is so important, I shouldn't even be talking about it."
With that said Mina adjusted the package and sat back in silence. Jerome and Jonathan looked at each other, then at their little sister. As they looked back up both held smirks on their faces and mouthed, 'The quest is shopping.'
The Marketplace
Finally after what had seemed like hours the trio finally arrived in the town. The minute that their cart had stopped Mina had jumped off and practically ran. As she was running she shouted over her shoulder that she would meet up with them later on in the day tomorrow.
The search seemed to her a bit hopeless. The shops were closing up for the day and not many people were out still. Some mothers were trying to get their children inside to eat their dinners. Others were vigorously trying to make a last minute sale of an item to a few straggling customers. As Mina walked the streets she looked around at all of the inns and drinking houses.
"Which one is she staying in?" Mina clutched her package tighter to herself as she wandered some more. A person's voice broke her free of her thoughts.
"Serena, is that you?" Mina turned around at the sound of the voice. An old woman carrying a basket of corn was headed in the same direction. "Oh my, I'm sorry dear, but I thought you looked just like a nice young lady at the local inn. Her name is Serena Marquis."
Mina smiled at the old woman and stopped walking to wait for her to catch up. "So madam, do you know where I can find her? She is a friend of mine and I came to give her something. I'm afraid sometimes it is hard to keep track of where she is always going."
The old woman nodded her head and guided Mina towards the inn and talking with her. As they reached the door Mina held the door open and let the woman pass. As Mina stepped inside she went up the stairs and turned left. Coming to the fourth door that the old woman had told her was Serena's Mina took a deep breath.
Knocking on the door she heard a mumbling sound and footsteps. As the door opened Serena who was yawning greeted her. As Serena opened her eyes and saw who was on the other side, she immediately hugged Mina and dragged her inside to find out what was going on back at home. Also to see how her brother and parents were doing as well.
As Serena shut and locked the door behind her she ushered Mina to sit on the bed. As Mina sat down Serena lit an oil lamp to bring more light into the room.
"Mina! Let me guess Raye told you guys." Serena yawned again as she finished her statement.
"Yeah, and Lita sent this to you." Mina handed her the package that she was holding. "It's an early birthday present for you. That is from all of us to you, but Lita was the actual person to make it. She had said that I would bring disaster upon it."
Laughing Serena opened the package and smiled at what was inside. As she carefully lifted out the contents of the box she looked at it. It was delicately decorated with care and skill by a steady hand. Serena set it down on the table and admired it.
"Mian, the cake is lovely." Serena raised her eyebrows. "But I think that you should get some rest as I should as well. So now Mina what are you doing here really? Is something wrong back at home? Well come on and spill already!"
Mina laughed as she held her sides. "Settle down! No everyone's doing fine and I'm here to see how you are, I will be leaving tomorrow around well I'm not sure. But there is something Serena, your brother has left to come and find you."
Turning around she looked wide-eyed at her friend and knew she was telling the truth. "Well then I guess that we must come to that when it comes my way. Now then lets get some sleep, I'll show you were I work in the morning."
"All right Serena!" Mina stood up then looked around. "But where will I sleep?"
The bright sun in the morning brought a smile onto Serena's face as she stretched in the morning's rays. Though she immediately regretted her stretching when a sharp pain ran down her right arm. Having given Mina her bed the other night had proven just how painful the floor truly was.
Slowly standing she walked over to the bed and hovered over the sleeping occupant. She took one look and an evil smile overtook her face as she yanked the sheets off the bed. In tow with the sheets was Mina who tumbled to the floor and was by that time trying to wake up.
"Serena…why did you just toss me out of a wonderful sleep?" Mina smoothed her hair down as she stood up yawning and made the bed. "What is the big rush this morning?"
"Well if you remembered from last night. I told you that I am going to show where I work. Also you are going to be able to meet my oh so 'generous' boss." Serena punctuated as she roughly fluffed the pillows on the bed.
"Well now it is time to bring Operation: Ants into action! Oh is this going to be fun and I can't wait for his reaction to this little stunt!" Mina stared at Serena as she gathered clothing and other materials.
Mina decided that it would be best to follow her princess' example. Getting up she took her bath and got dressed and headed out to wait for Serena outside and to watch the part of town to come to life. As Mina waited she saw her one of her brothers walking towards her and not to happy at that either. She quickly forced a smile to come onto her face as she continued to stare at her impending doom. Just then, Serena exited a large jar of ants in tow with her tucked under her arm and then placed into a bag. Walking over to her friend and touched her shoulder.
Mina broke eye contact and quickly grabbed Serena's hand and literally ran in the direction that Serena was throwing out to her. As they made it towards the path with the woods on the side Mina finally started to walk at a much slower pace.
"By the way Serena, what in the world are you doing with a jar of ants, and a very large jar?" Mina slowly took in deep breaths after she finished asking her question.
Smiling and still staring straight ahead Serena just simply replied, "It's for my boss for a little bit of pay back for making me feed some pigs and getting trampled in the process. Really he was the one that started this war. Mina you know that I was raised to finish what I started, and I assure you I didn't start this he did…but I intend to finish it!"
Shaking her head thinking that her friend has finally matched her rival in the revenge department. "Well just tell me how your prank went all right!"
"Sure thing Mina!" Serena took a quick look at Mina who was smirking at her and had her eyes narrowed. "Mina, why are you staring at me in that creeping way?"
"Well Serena, never before have you let a man get you so angry." Mina placed her hands behind her back. "In fact this is the first time ever that you are not backing down. In fact you seem to enjoy making him all angry."
Serena just stared at him as they walked. "Mina, I will admit that he may have some soft spots. Which of course I have yet to see. But I don't want to have him as my enemy. I admit he is rather cute…in a evil, self-absorbed kind of way."
"Evil? Serena I thought you thought that evil is actually is a prank that went wrong." Mina glanced at Serena, whose eyes started to narrow slowly into slits.
"Well let me correct myself. Mina evil is not a prank gone bad, it is a twisted plot that has Heero as my employer."
Heero's Manor
"Wait right here Mina I'll be right back. I just need to hide the ants until night time." Serena said as she walked out of the room.
"No problem." Leaving Mina in the den Serena went to the garden house and hide the ants there already with food, water and air for them.
Meanwhile in the house Mina was looking around at the pictures in the den when she felt a poke in her ribs. Turning around she came face to face with a man with dark blue eyes. Seeing that she wasn't answering he decided to start the conversation. "Serena it seems that you're starting off your day by being lazy as always."
Tilting her head she thought 'Oh this must be Heero! He is so handsome for Serena! They must get together! Of course I agree with Serena why not play along with his thinking!'
Straightening up she finally replied to him. "What is it Heero, I was just admiring your pictures." Turning back to them and continuing to talk, "Did you pick them out yourself? They are very lovely."
Playing along he sarcastically responded, "Yes I did pick them out myself, of course someone as you I wouldn't figure the type to have an interest in art." Heero stared at her, there was something off about her this morning.
Walking by him she shot back a remark. "Oh, I just wanted to know because a man like you has no taste in art what so ever and it's surprising that you can actually match colors. Almost as good as…no, no better than you match your clothes! Have a nice day!" Walking rather fast she could hear him bite a remark for her to come back.
Walking outside she found Serena coming towards the house. "Serena I do believe that Heero is spitting mad at you, well me actually!" A perplexed look crossed her face and when she was about to speak she just responded, "I told him he had a little bit better taste in art than he does in matching his clothes!"
Shocked she approached her friend and said, "You didn't!" Nodding her head a smile spread on her face, "Mina! That is good of you! Don't worry I won't mind whatever he has in store, I just wish that I could have seen his face!"
"Serena!" Melody came running towards the two. "Serena! Heero is looking for you, he is very mad right now!"
Turning her attention she nodded her head, "Thank you Melody, I'll be right there in a moment."
Facing her friend she said, "Well then Mina shall we!"
"Oh but of course we shall!" Mina mocked bowed to Serena.
They walked back into the house Mina in the lead so that Serena could walk in and see his face. "You yelled for me I believe?"
Taking three steps towards her he responded, "Yes and you are right now in more trouble than before!"
"Is something going on here that you needed me here for? I really need to get back to my work." Serena replied walking into the room.
He stared back and forth between the two. Finally facing Mina he asked, "Who are you?"
Giggling she skipped a couple skips away from him and stood beside Serena. "My name is Mina! I'm a friend of Serena's and she has talked about you a lot! I just had to meet you and see if it was all true."
He gave an agitated look to Mina. She reminded him of Serena, long beautiful hair. Both of them were about the same height, and nearly the same eye color. Also they both had an air of mischief about them. He was thinking more so on Mina's part than Serena's. In short to sum up what he thought of Mina, he didn't trust her one bit. If she was just like Serena, then he already didn't trust Serena. Well now that would be lie, he trusted Serena a lot, though he would choke before he vocally told her that.
Keeping his cool an idea formed in his mind and that smirk of his, as Serena saw, crept onto his face. "Well I guess you thought that was a nice joke Serena. Well I have one and you'll like this one. Your job for today along with dinner is to clean this house top to bottom by sundown." Walking out of the den to his office, "Oh and by the way it must be done by you and have fun!"
Fuming mad Serena's face turned beet red and she stomped her foot. "Oh that is one arrogant man! Why do I let him get to me so!" Mina's chuckling caught her attention.
Mina sighed and placed one of her hands on Serena's shoulder. "Because you like him Serena, and it could easily turn into love!"
Slowly turning to face her friend she just stared, "I'm not going to question your judgment, because for some odd reason you're right on the matters of the heart."
"Of course now come on! I'm going to help you clean; after all it was my fault." Mina smoothed her dress as she stared around the room she currently occupied.
Serena smiled and shook her head as she pointed to a flight of stairs. "Alright, you can take care of the third floor, its not that much I'll take the second floor and we can split the first floor."
"Sounds like a plan to me Serena!" With that said Mina was off up the stairs in a heartbeat.
By the time sundown came they had finished the work and it was nearing sundown, facing her friend they gave each other a hug. "I have to go now Serena, if I want to be there before the carriage comes. Take care of yourself alright!"
"Of course and I'll admit this to you Mina. Heero…is really…I meant it…he is handsome." Serena mumbled the last part of her sentence. "I do like him and I hope that he does like me in return."
Mina smiled at her friend and gave her another hug, while whispering, "Then Serena…all you have to do is go for him. Show him your charm how you really are. Erase what you placed into his mind and show him who you really are. But skip your status and as they say 'Way will love to find.'"
Laughing she corrected her friend, "You mean 'love will find the way' right Mina." Nodding her head she left and Serena watched her leave until she couldn't see her anymore.
Unseen tears that she didn't noticed started to roll down her face. It seemed that she really didn't think her plan thoroughly enough. If she missed her friends this much, then she would cry when she saw her parents again.
"It seems that you Serena are nothing but another weak female. Crying for your friend Mina's departure until she visits again." As he finished talking he came and stood beside her. His head was slightly tilted in her direction as he looked at her.
Wiping the tears off her face she whirled around to bite a comment back but then stopped and just walked away from him. "I'll go make your dinner it will be ready in an hour."
Finishing up in his bedroom and putting the now empty jar back in her bag she smiled and said her goodnight to the boss of the house and left for the night. For once hoping that after her little stunt that night that she will start on for herself Operation: Love. Heero why must we be difficult to one another?
She exited his house and began the trek back to her room in the town. As she neared the edge of the woods or forest, really it didn't make a difference to her she paused. This part of her journey always seemed to nerve her and it sent a chill down her spine. But still she was tired and she had wanted to get some rest, especially for tomorrow and her chores.
Meanwhile, Heero was staring out of his bedroom window watching Serena make her way home. He didn't fail to notice her pausing at the edge of the woods. But she still continued, even after a moment's hesitation. When he could no longer she her, Heero left the window to prepare for rest.
Climbing into his bed he closed his eyes he had to go travel somewhere he had been holding it off for over a little bit of about 3 weeks. That Serena is getting to me. But why, she is not like the other women that I've dated? Feeling an itching feeling over his skin he pulled the cover back and turned the lamp on beside him. He gasped and jumped out of the bed, which was covered with ants crawling all over it. Grumbling he took care of the ants and went to sleep in one of the other rooms. Morning came all too soon for him and he left to go to England to sell some more of his wine and to check on his investments in there as well.
Morning came all too soon for Serena as well as she entered the manor and placed a smile on her face. She kept looking around her seeing where he could be hiding. Heero would try to get her back for that little stunt she pulled on him last night.
"Hello there Melody and where is the boss of ours?" Once again Serena was looking around her, especially towards were his office was located.
Putting down her basket of herbs Melody looked at her questioningly "You don't know Serena? He is on a business trip he'll be gone for a week."
Her face drooping a bit she shook her head and got to do her daily chores and thought of what she could do to be put on his good side. Well my birthday is coming up and I can request that day off.
"So Serena," Melody looked down at the basket in her hands. "What exactly do you think of our employer?"
Serena scrunched her face as she started to dust a nearby lamp. "Well, he is an arrogant man, never one to pass out compliments to anyone. He seems to have an air of something." She moved onto another piece of furniture, "I don't know how else to explain it. There is just something about Heero that makes me…makes me want to run but at the same time I want to be with him."
Serena dropped her duster and covered her mouth with her hands. Her eyes were as wide as they could humanly open. She slowly turned towards Melody who was still fiddling with her herbs. A smile playing across her lips as she looked up to stare at Serena.
Melody quirked an eyebrow up and started laughing. "So, something about Heero has you thinking about him then? I wonder if our Serena has feelings for our boss?"
The week was spent in total peace and Serena would talk to Melody about Heero. She had told Serena that she indeed was falling in love with him. "Well then Melody I must be kind to him from now on and no more jokes!"
Even then Melody warned her that Heero always lived a certain way and that it would be heartbreaking for Serena. But being her, she already knew that and welcomed the consequences that would undoubtedly come with her decision.
Before she knew it the week was over and Heero would be returning that night. She fixed him one of his favorite dinners that one of the others said what it was and waited to see him. The other servants asked her to come and go with them so that they all could walk home together. But she declined claiming that she needed to do the kitchen after he finished eating. A little after ten she heard the door open and then laughter coming from the doorway. Picking up the broom she pretended to sweep when in came Heero with a lady attached to his arm.
"Really Dina why don't you stay here for the night. I'm sure that the servants have left some food in the kitchen."
Then hearing the lady talk sent daggers through Serena's heart, "Why Heero! Thank you so much and I'll take you up on your offer after all. Why wouldn't I take a handsome mans offer after all?"
Walking into the kitchen he came face to face with Serena and stopped in his tracks. "Serena what are you still doing here?" He had a scowl on his face instead of a biting remark that she normally gave, even when he had guests.
Instead she refused to look at him and preferred to find something interesting in the carpet. "I was just finishing your dinner and sweeping, I was going to do the dishes after you ate and then I was going to leave." She managed to keep her voice steady and to keep the tears at bay.
"Thank you Serena you can just do the kitchen in the morning and just put the food away after we get some." Nodding she turned and left to go fix both of them a plate and pour them something to drink.
After setting the food down she hurriedly put the food away and wiped the tears that couldn't be held back anymore. She didn't see Heero come in behind and then felt him poke her in her ribs. Turning around he saw that she had been crying, "Is something wrong Serena?"
Shaking her head no as tears still continued to fall from her eyes, "No, it's just the dust in this kitchen! I must have forgotten to dust the kitchen today."
Not buying her story he asked again "Serena tell me what's wrong?"
"Okay, I lost something and I need to find it. It means a lot to me right now." Nodding his head he placed the dishes in the sink and told her once again to go home.
She didn't bother to face him and opted instead to nod in response. As she heard his footsteps leave the kitchen, she let a few sobs escape her lips. A few of her tears fell from her clouded eyes as she hurriedly put the food away. Placing the last pot of food away she quickly exited the kitchen and went to the entrance to get her cloak.
Turning slightly to the sound of a woman's laughter Serena shakily opened the door and exited. As she closed it she leaned her head against the door, and brought a hand up to touch it. She knew that she had no right to feel this way towards him, but she couldn't help it. Finally she was able to leave and go to her room in the town.
The next day while Serena was doing the rooms upstairs she was talking aloud to herself. She had a feeling that she would start to do that a lot. Especially self conversations about someone in particular.
"It seems that I am just making a fool of myself. Crying each time he does something that tears at my heart!" Wiping a tear from her face she thought about how her life was going, "I don't have that much more time if he keeps up the search at this rate. But I can't risk it, I have to find out before it's too late."
Turning around she saw Heero standing in the doorway with a worried look on his face. "Serena what is the matter?"
Laughing and crying at the same time she responded to him, "I was sure that you would give me something impossible to do for the ant trick. I just want to say that I'm sorry and I give you my word that I won't pull another trick on you again."
He was astonished that this was coming from her, but still she had tricked him before. "What were you talking about, not having enough time to find out what?" He watched her as she abruptly stopped what she was doing and stared at him.
Paling in her face a bit she just cautiously replied, "Nothing, some silly dream that I have. Now coming to realize that maybe my parents were right in the first place about it and about everything in my life." Folding a blanket she approached him, "Heero would it be alright if I could have a day off on Friday?"
Thinking that she was plotting something he gave her a smirk smile and told her his answer. "No, in fact you on Friday have a lot of chores for you to do. To make up for the ant trick that you pulled. This one is going to take you a long time on Friday." He watched as her face crumbled and she ran out crying and mumbling that she had work to do.
He stared at her retreating back wondering why not getting a Friday off would cause her to cry. Then he simply walked out of the room and went to his study to continue to do business.
As Serena rounded a corner she wiped the tears from her eyes and willed herself not to cry. She had been taught that she must not cry, and here she was crying her eyes out. As her tears subsided she started to walk to another part of the house and bumped into Melody. She broke again into tears and told her why she was crying again.
On Friday Serena wasn't her cheery self and the other staff saw this and tried to cheer her up and Melody didn't know any other reason why but one. Minus the fact that she really thought Serena harbored feelings for their boss. Heero was being selfish for having Serena to work on her birthday and that was not right, he gave the others their day off on their birthday and it wasn't right.
Approaching his door she knocked and then entered, looking up from his papers he nodded at Melody. "What is it Melody is something wrong?"
Walking towards his desk she carefully replied, "Yes Heero something is and Serena is very sad today. She's been crying and frankly I don't know why you made her work today."
Indicating for her to take a seat he simply replied, "I'm sure she has told you about her ant project. That is the reason, after all it is just another day."
Her mouth fell open as she glared at Heero, stating it like it was some nuisance. Shaking her head Melody got up and started to exit the room. Turning around she told Heero, "Well Heero you have won out over Serena. This stunt of yours was a low blow. Some birthday present that you gave her today on her own birthday." With that said she completely vacated the room, leaving Heero to his thoughts.
He immediately shot his head up and tried to call her back but she had already left his office to go and finish up her chores for the day. 'It was Serena's birthday today. No wonder she wanted the day off today. I should have let her have the day off and Saturday, since to show a little truce.'
Getting up to walk over towards the window. "Well after all she is just a childish, rude, self-centered, beautiful…How did that get in there?" Picking up his jacket he went to say that he was going to go into town and buy a few things. Passing briefly by Serena who was finishing dusting and was headed out the door and glanced at her.
He stopped on his way and turned towards Serena. "Serena, I'm going to be gone for awhile. I need to go and buy something."
Serena turned to stare at Heero; he could see that her eyes were red from her crying. His heart for a change twisted a little at the sad expression that she gave him. He saw someone who looked almost defeated, and he hoped that she wasn't.
"Yes, Heero. I will tell the others of your whereabouts." Averting her eyes, she went back to her task at hand.
She was starting to sigh, it really was late and she knew that from what Sarah told her. It didn't take that long to find something to buy, even if it was on a crowded day, only one place Serena could have imagined for him to visit. A man like that probably was out playing cards night and making jokes about her, the very thought of it made her cry even harder.
"I am not in love with that arrogant jerk!" Seasoning the steak in front of her and then placing that to fry which would take sometime. Getting the potatoes that she had boiled she intended to have put butter over them with the water but instead felt like he should have mashed potatoes. "Oh well, at least I can relieve my anger with cooking. I am not in love with that man! We are complete opposites for crying out loud! All he is is just some arrogant, narcissistic, conceited, handsome jerk!"
The potatoes were finely mashed after she had completed her task and she stared at them. She closed her eyes as she concentrated on trying to find a calming thought. The one that came to mind was when she had thrown a pig pie on him. Another was when she managed to turn his tongue green when she made him that soup. 'I almost forgot about that one! So funny really, and he just knows what to do to upset me.'
Placing the pot back on the stove and got his plate and piled it with green beans, mashed potatoes and went and placed his steak on the plate after checking to make sure that it was done. Finished putting the food away and doing the kitchen she placed his plate in the warm stove and left a note telling him where she placed his dinner.
Leaving the house she looked up into the night's sky and saw the full moon high above with all of the stars twinkling brightly in the open sky. Pulling her coat tighter around her she started to walk the long walk home.
After about fifteen minutes of walking she caught sight of the town which was still far away. "Not that much farther to go now." Hearing a twig snap behind her she turned around and was confronted by two men. One holding a blunt object and the other standing to his right.
The man holding something started to talk to others. "Well, well look what the night has brought for us today!"
It was clear to her what their intentions where and she slowly backed away from them towards the town. "You will leave me alone and at peace!"
Running towards her before she even had a chance and grabbed her. "Now why would we want a lovely lady like you walk alone to your house!"
Pulling and kicking him hard she was restrained by the other man. With them trying to stop her from resisting bruises started to form, she was for once truly afraid. She kicked him where it counts and he toppled down onto the ground. She kicked the other man in the same fashion and running none stop to her house.
As she ran she could here them cursing and running from behind her. In response Serena hiked up her dressed and started to run even faster. Silently thanking her cousin for making her run for miles on end, whenever she came to visit. Finally after what seemed forever she made it into town and the running footsteps had long since ceased. But she didn't stop running for a moment.
As she ran through town the few people that were out stopped to stare at the running beauty. As she approached her lodging she ran all the way to her room. Closing the door and then looking it behind her she leaned against it and sobbed for an hour. After which she finally went to bed and feel into a troubled sleep that offered very little comfort.
With the sun rising in the sky Serena slowly opened one of her eyes and saw the light come pouring into her room. Sitting up she cried out in pain and removing her nightgown she saw that there were bruises everywhere, even one on her face along with a scratch, which she didn't see.
No wonder she felt horrible, getting up and ready she got out another gown and mentally reminded herself to repair her other one that she tore while running into the trees. "Oh boy another day at work and being as sour as I am! It's going to be a long, long day."
AN: Sorry for taking so long, but now it's back, so please enjoy.