Notes before I begin
I was emailing updates to those who requested for it. Unfortunately, hehe, I don't think I got everybody. Sincere apologies!
Starchick24: The last chapter was very very very confusing. Selene is actually pregnate with someone else's child, not Darien's.
Hearts' Remedy
Chapter 28
"She has forgotten," The small whisper of Ikuko came from the corner of the room. The crowd, which was gathered in the same room, wavered as they shifted restlessly.
Kenji stood tall by his wife with a hand on her stiff shoulder. He wanted to say something, but his tongue felt as heavy as lead. Shingo and Mika stood only a couple of steps behind Ikuko and Kenji, both solemn faced.
"I cannot believe she would forget this day. One of the most important days and everyone has come to celebrate with her…"
There was a commotion closer to the door.
"Yo! Would anyone like some rum!" It was Seiya's jolly voice that sifted through the heads. He and his wife were also among the many to show up. The couple brought along one of the biggest and loveliest gifts of the bunch.
"Come on! This is supposed to cheer us up."
"Darling, stop… You're upsetting everyone," the dainty voice was clear as it scolded her husband.
"Do you think Serena wants to see us all sullen like this?" Seiya asked, annoyed at everyone's jaded moods. "If we cannot come to the house of Kenji without stirring something close to festiveness there's no point in being here."
"My brother is right," Gor said, stepping past a few figures to stand next to Seiya, "I think Serena needs to see more smiles on all our faces—"
"Yes, I would."
Everyone turned their attention to the doorway, where Serena stood, glowing in the sunlight. "So why is everyone gathered in one cramped place?"
Everyone gave a lame "surprise" that did not turn the mood upside down.
Seiya turned to her, saying, "I got you a white stallion!"
"I guess you deserve a thank you, then, though I do not understand why all of you went through all this trouble…" Serena stood frowning for a minute, thinking hard. Then, suddenly, a soft smile touched her face. "Oh, it's my birthday! I can't believe I forgot."
"You were never really fond of birthdays back home…" A mellow voice broke in.
"But here I am not neglected," Serena murmured back, her spine stiffening while she still refused to face the person who spoke. "Everyone sees me and I am not forgotten. That is why I enjoy my birthdays now."
"You can never be forgotten, Serena," Selene sighed. "You are the embodiment of all the pour souls who suffer. I would know, now, wouldn't I?"
Serena spun around angrily. "I don't want to talk to you! I thought I made it clear when I left!"
"All I want is to talk to you before I marry a fortnight from now. All I want is to spend time with my sister on her nineteenth birthday. I've missed so many birthdays already. Am I to be deprived of this last chance just because you don't want it?" Selene's voice died to a whisper.
Serena glowered at her and stomped toward the door. There, her adoptive family barricaded the opening. Ikuko, Kenji, and Shingo gave her their versions of cross looks that only irritated her even more.
"Out of my way," Serena spoke through clenched teeth.
"Make me, you scaredy-cat" Shingo started.
Serena suddenly felt like socking her brother in the jaw. It had been a while since she had done it. A while back he had let her sock him because it was all part of her training in defense. Now, that urge to, was burning like the heat of the hearth.
"All you do is run. That's all you know how to do. Run… It's time to face it! This is your sister you're walking away from!"
Everyone was on the tips of their toes as the silence from the girl reached their ears. It was so quiet one could have heard a button drop.
"Stay out of this, Shingo."
"You have a choice," Ikuko forced. "If you leave, you will not enter this house again. You will not be welcomed here." Kenji's hand tightened around Ikuko's shoulder. For the sake of his daughter's sanity he swore not to speak, but it was getting harder to keep composure; especially when Ikuko suggested kicking her out of the house.
What if things did not work out? What if Serena ended up without a home? Things will work out. It worked out for six long years. It will work out now.
"Fine… I can't stand pressure anyway. How can I live in such a place that's ruled by oppressive people like Kenji and Ikuko? I guess I'm not welcomed here." Serena squeezed past her family and walked heavily, shoulders slumped.
As Ikuko watched her leave she cried softly, "Oh God."
Kenji wrapped his arms around her in comfort, stroking her midnight curls tenderly.
Selene stepped next to them. "Forgive me. I have done something wrong for coming here today."
"Absolutely not! I will not accept your apology!" Ikuko sniffed.
"What my wife means to say is that it is not your fault what has happened here today. There is no need to apologize," Kenji said without looking at her.
"I will still help. She is my sister. She is more important to me than any other priorities of the moment."
Shingo stepped forward, volunteering to follow her.
"No," Selene said, "The Lunerian family has caused enough trouble in this kingdom. It's time we settled it alone. Please understand that I do not wish to be interrupted, so leave me with my sister. If I cannot help her, I am not worthy of her love and sacrifice." Her violet eyes were ablaze, reminding everyone of the spirited blue-eyed healer that had touched all their hearts. They were definitely blood sisters even though their beauty contrasted.
Mistakes were made frequently in life. Selene learned this the hard way. When Queen Serenity had fallen ill in her deep depression, Selene had taken on the role at the head of the council. Serenity appeared rarely for conferences because she was incredibly fragile and could not get out of bed most of the time.
A cramp, chilly, dreary, sense of loneliness enclosed the eldest daughter of the Queen of Luneria. She had lost her sister and was now close to losing her mother. Nothing could ever be the same again. All she wanted to do was settle everything. Selene could not bear living the rest of her life knowing that Serena held a grudge against Serenity and her. She only wanted to settle any existing disputes or hatred that her younger sister had against her and their mother.
Clumps of the skirt were gathered in Selene's determined fists as she followed the swift shadow of Serena. She had a determined look set in the firm lines of her frowning face. No matter what the outcome, Selene was not going to yield to her spoilt sibling.
Selene's thoughts were rapidly running near enough to explode out into strident words. The dirt path turned to a green grassy area. Serene heavily landed on the earth, knees grinding into the dirt and fingers clawing at the grass. Selene nearly wept at the sight.
Instead of weeping, though, she shouted—no—screamed, "I let you run away once! I won't let it happen again!"
"Leave me alone, stupid, annoying person! You've ruined me enough!" She screamed back.
"Very mature, Serena. You're acting like such a baby." Then, Selene fell next to her sister. She imitated the wild actions of her sister, raging at the grass.
Serena stared at Selene in amazement. "What are you doing?"
"I'm angry."
"Get up."
"No."
"Sit up right."
"No." Selene did not budge.
"Sit up! It's not good for the baby and I doubt you feel comfortable in that position."
"Why do you care? Huh?" Selene stared up at Serena with her raging violet eyes. "You ran away! Why do you even care?"
"I don't!"
"Alright, then I'll just go jump off this hill over here—"
Serena grabbed Selene's hand and pulled her back gently. Selene's hard eyes softened brilliantly. "See?" She breathed.
"You wouldn't jump anyway," Serena sighed.
"Maybe not, but you wouldn't know now would you? You've changed me incredibly, Serena. I'd do anything now."
"Idiot," Serena cried. "No one told you to come look for me. No one."
"I don't need anyone to tell me to come see how my sister is doing."
"Shut up."
"You are quite the little hypocrite—you care, you don't care, you care, you don't care. You're worse than those fat, old men I talk to everyday. More pomp and circumstance."
"Why don't you go back to Darien?"
"Serenaaaaaaaaa… I'm cutting it off!"
"And when did you decide this!"
"After the goose bit me in the butt! Serena, you're so upset over all this. I'm not marrying the love of your life. I won't ruin a match so meant to be." There were stars in Selene's eyes as she spoke.
"What match are you talking about? Did someone drug your juice?" Serena asked sedately.
Selene put out a clenched fist. "I know love when I see it and you are in love. I won't watch my baby sister pawn love. Anyway, I have my own beau back home. I have promised myself to him."
Serena shook her head. "Just fifteen minutes ago, you declared yourself engaged to Prince Darien. Now, you have promised yourself to another man!" Serena gave a bark of laughter. "When!"
"Just now--" Selene said without missing a beat. With her hands on her hips she repeated her self. "--Just now when I realized your resentment towards me was because of Terra's prince."
"Any resentment at all is not derived from you and Prince Darien. Selene, I have no home to go to!"
"I hope once you get back, Ikuko turns you over on her knee and gives you nineteen spanks and an extra six for what you have done to me and Mother for six years."
"I… have… no… home… to… go… to… be… cause… of… you."
"You see? You see? You live in denial all the time. How are you supposed to figure out that the home you had all along is actually in the arms of your prince… Your Prince Darien."
"I'm happy."
"Yes, that's what Mother says, too. I'm the only one in this family who really knows!"
"It's too late…"
"What? How could it be too late? Too late for what?"
"I pushed Darien away. He won't see me at all."
"What exactly did you say to him that evening?"
"I told him that he was a "dear friend" when he confessed his love."
"Ouch! That must have left a dent in that poor man's ego."
"Much more, Selene. I'm afraid, I hurt him forever."
"You can also love him forever."
Serena rested her head on Selene's lap. "You're so corny."
Selene twirled one of Serena's golden tendrils in her pale hand. "I don't care. Corniness makes us feel better."
Serena closed her eyes and allowed tears to escape. "I missed you. It is only with you that I can talk to in this way."
"What way?"
"The sister-sister-way."
"I'm glad," Selene sighed. Then, she poked Serena in the side. Serena flinched and gave a startled yelp.
"That's for being an unbelievably annoying thorn in the hind. You have worried more people than you know. You better apologize to that family you have stayed with all these years. They were crying over how worried they were about you when I first met them."
"What do you think of them? Aren't they grand?"
"Grand? Oh, now, to tell you the truth, they make me jealous. Actually, the whole town makes me jealous. They seem to share a more stringent bond with you than I do."
"Our bonds are different, Selene."
"Well, Shingo is the one that makes me most jealous. A brother? How dare you?"
"Dare I. He makes a better sister."
"Oh no!"
"Oh yes. It took him near two years before he achieved enough guts to say "hi" for the first time to his now wife-of-one-year, Mika."
"Really!"
"But you! You are worse because you are so much more bold! Look at you. You impregnated yourself on a one night stand, even though you knew you two could not be together."
"I've told you once already, Serena. I love him and I need him."
"You're not supposed to hop into bed with him!" Serena cried in outrage.
"But I love him," Selene whispered wearily. Her cheeks were glowing a bright red.
"It is taboo to share a bed with a man before you are married!"
"Serena, please. You should understand. Please, do not be angry."
"I fret, Selene. I am not angered. Does Mother know?" Serena watched her worriedly.
"She knows how I feel about Cal. Cal, the love of my life, who is the youngest son of Prince Clarence. Prince Clarence, ruler of Lockay has seven sons and the youngest was my Cal. We met, the day you ran away. We met the day it was your thirteenth birthday. Mother met him too and adored him instantly. She approved of him. But after a year when you never turned up, Mother forced a duty on me. A duty to unite Luneria with Terra by marrying Terra's crowned prince."
"It could be broken, now. I am back."
"Are you really?" Selene asked gently.
"Really," Serena smiled as she grasped her sister's hand.
"Do not tell mother about this," Selene murmured as she touched her flat stomach. "Such news will most definitely kill her. She is already very ill."
"Why is she so ill? Is it because of me?"
"Of course," Selene said crossly. "You have been gone for so many years. She locked her self in her room most of the time and she rarely ate even though servants left food for her. She worried me..."
"Just as Amara and Michelle sang." Serena said, remembering the song from her father's birthday party.
"Amara and Michelle? They were here?"
"Never mind, Selene. How is Mother?"
"She lives I'm sure of it. But I'm afraid she is at it again. Once again she cloisters her self in her guestroom and refuses anyone. Sometimes, I believe she is mad! She says that eating takes too much of her energy. She has to preserve her energy. Such nonsense, I argue. She has no sense, Serena. No sense at all. She fasts as if all her life depends on it."
"Mother never refuses to see people. She is beyond outgoing," Serena cried, rubbing her temple.
"All I know is that Mother knows where you have been all these years. She told me about it five years ago."
"If she knew, why didn't she come for me?"
"Mother said she would not stand in the way of your happiness. That is all she said to me."
"She's crazy starving her self. I will see to her right away."
"You will! And you will meet up with Darien again. Won't you?"
Serena frowned at this. "Mother first."
"I still want you to have Darien."
"I have you, too."
"Yes, me too."
Serena smiled as she locked her hand in Selene's.
"Let's hurry and remedy this problem."