Chapter 6

"Sis! Come here!" His happy voice drifted around her, but she was lost in the fog, "Come here quick!"

"I'm coming!" She called out, trying hard to find him. She ran in a circle, calling out his name, "Where are you?"

"Sis, come quick!" His voice was fading, but she still couldn't pinpoint his exact location.

"Shingo! Where are you?" She called out again, once in every direction.

"Sis!" One last cry and his voice disappeared. Fearful, she turned slowly around, trying hard to penetrate the fog.

Slowly, the haze lifted. In front of her was his battered body, "Shingo!"

Serena bolted up with her brother's name still ringing in her ears. Taking in a deep shuddering breath, she buried her face into her knees, "Shingo." She breathed, forcing air into her lungs and swallowing loudly.

------

Seiya looked up at Serena came down stairs, a frown appeared on his face, "Serena, are you okay?"

Serena gave a soft startled moan, "Yeah." She said quietly, "Yeah, I'm fine." She continued louder for his benefit, "Just didn't sleep well, that's all." She ran a hand through her blonde locks and sat down for breakfast. When she failed to get excited about the smiling plate in front of her consisting of two sunny side up eggs, bacon and a strawberry for a nose, Seiya knew something was wrong, but he also knew better than to ask. Instead, he quietly handed her lunch to her and watched as she walked listlessly out the door, stopping with a small "Oh." She turned towards him, "I'm going to Mamoru's after school. Can you pick me up?"

"Of course."

She gave him a short wave and was out the door, leaving Seiya to clean up the kitchen. He wanted to wait until she felt comfortable enough to tell him face to face, but it seemed like he would have to find out on his own. Walking to his room, he picked up the journal.

One slender finger ran along the face of the book. Black in color, he questioned whether he should open it to read or not. It was the closest his bunny had to ever opening up to him. With a hard sigh, he settled into bed and flipped it open.

------

When her last class was over, Serena let out a long, tiring breath. It's been a long day for her. She couldn't concentrate on the lectures and she was sure she bombed her Physics quiz. Packing up, she was almost out the door when Ami called for her to wait up.

"What's up with you today?" They walked side by side towards Ami's car and when Serena failed to give an answer, Ami grabbed her elbow. "Serena?"

Serena's face was blank and gave nothing away. Not used to her bubbly friend being so morose, Ami was shocked into silence. The drive to Mamoru's apartment was made in silence. Serena said a small thank you before getting out the car, but Ami didn't have a response for her, too lost in thought about her friend's odd behavior.

Serena looked at the building in front of her. She knew that out of all the places she could be right now, this was the only place that could offer her the silence she needed to think. When she entered, the elevator's short ding startled her. "So it's finally fixed." She moved to press the up button, but thought better of it. She didn't want to meet anybody at the moment and her feet shuffled themselves towards the stairs and began their arduous climb up.

Knocking on Mamoru's door, she fidgeted with her t-shirt. Pink in color, it did little to help her complexion. When the door opened, Serena graced Mamoru with a small smile that didn't quite meet her eyes. Mamoru said nothing, he ushered her in and closed the door.

Dropping her backpack on the floor, Serena took up a seat. The silence in the room grew thick and uneasy, but Mamoru did little to remedy that. Instead, he walked towards the closet and drew out a long white dress, tiny pearls stitched on in an intricate pattern. Silently, he handed it to her and started assembling his paints and brushes, his head turning towards the bathroom when he heard it open. Out stepped his muse. Her face pale, she had clipped up her hair with two small pearl barrettes. It flowed loosely down her shoulders with one long strip of blonde hair draping down the front.

Mamoru gestured for Serena to take a seat, "Look towards the window." He instructed softly, hating himself for breaking the silence. Serena sat delicately on the seat, her ankles crossed to the side and her hands were folded demurely on her lap. She followed his instructions, the only indication she had heard him.

Slowly Mamoru began to paint, but as the colors came together, the bright sunny look he was aiming for turned very pale to suit the expression on her face. It was devoid of the mischievous spark that he came to know. The hours flew by and as he painted the last stroke, he broke the uncomfortable silence that was draped around her, "What's wrong?"

"No questions asked, remember?"

As an artist, Mamoru could detect the subtlest changes in a person's body. When she asked that question, not only was her voice soft and pliant, but her body seemed to withdraw into itself. He fought the urge to comfort her. It wasn't his place. "Forget it." He started to get up just as she spoke.

"It's because of a man. His face was pale, his hair bleached bright. His eyes were the very color of the sky during sunset, a brilliant shade of deepest red against blue. He was everything I wanted in a man, but his heart was not mine to own. His name is Diamond Furuhata, a British and Japanese mix. Like me, he takes after his mother."

Mamoru noted her starry eyes and soft tone, wincing when he heard the name of the man, but did not interrupt her.

"He went to the same school as me, the same classes, the same group of friends, but we knew nothing of each other. When one was there, the other was not. I met him finally on the most cliché's of cliché's – a rainy day." Her lips curved up into a smile as the memory surfaced, "I did not bother to bring an umbrella because it was suppose to be the hottest day of summer in Japan. But when the bell finally rang and school was let out, the skies opened and poured. Standing under the shelter of the school, I stared morosely out the door, not knowing how I was going to get home in time.

"He was there when I needed someone to be. An umbrella in hand, he called me a damsel in distress." Serena laughed quietly as the memory of that day played across her mind. "The walk home was filled with laughter and smiles, but flirtation was not there, instead, at the end of the journey, I found myself a friend; my best friend. He told me that his father had died when he was three and he worked two jobs to help his mother and brother."

Mamoru shook his head, wondering what other lies Diamond had told her. Serena sat before him, still looking out the window, a soft smile still painted across her face.

"Sadly enough, my parents took an instant dislike of him. When I introduced him to my family, my father shook his head and did not bother to try to be courteous; instead, he shook off any of my protestations and escorted Diamond to the door. My father was usually very courteous to my friends. This was the first time that I saw him fly into such a fit. I couldn't understand why he didn't like Diamond."

Mamoru nodded. He was well aware of what circles Diamond ran with when he was still in Japan. In fact, Mamoru had once wanted to join Diamond's gang. Luckily there was an intervention. He broke himself from that memory and focused in on what Serena was saying.

"I followed my father's demand and tried to steer clear of Diamond, but the fact that we went to the same school made it hard for me to avoid him. We even lived on the same street! It couldn't be avoided. Diamond and I would meet again and again, regardless of my father's expressed wishes. And day by day, I would fall more in love with him. But he saw me only as a friend, nothing more."

Tears were streaming down Serena's face now and she whispered the last sentence with a choking tone.

"How I wished he would see me as more."

---

Seiya slammed the diary shut, bitter disappointment written on his face. "Why do I torment myself?" He asked himself as he ran a hand through his dark hair; because it was his Serena that wanted him to understand. He let out a deep sigh before opening the diary again. Not wanting to read any more of his Serena's love for another man, he flipped the pages until the neat lines were replaced with angry red lines, the color of blood that was streaked across the paper. This was no longer part of the story she was writing. This was her actual diary. Disturbed, Seiya read on.

September 29, 2001

The funeral was today. Mom's favorite roses were there, I didn't cry. She wouldn't have wanted me to. Shingo sat next to me all day; neither of us spoke, but his hand gripped mine tightly, the only sign of his grief.

Everyone was saying how strong we were. What are we going to do? I'm not old enough to work yet. Mom and Dad were only childs. Our grandparents are all dead. There's only Seiya. He's only older than us by a few years, but Mom and Dad decided to give him custody of us and our trust funds. I don't want to go with him and leave Japan. I know Shingo feels the same way.

What are we to do?

September 30, 2001

Diamond came to me. He's going to be taking us in.

October 13, 2001

I now know why Dad didn't want me to be with Diamond. He lied to me. His father and mother are both dead. He survived on his own. Leader of the fiercest gang in Japan. Diamond Furuhata. If that's his real name.

Shingo took a great liking to him right away. Shadowed him almost like they were brothers.

Why did he lie to me?

I would not have minded. What else did he lie about? Why didn't he tell me sooner?

I'm back at school now, but it's different somehow. My friends shy away from me. The teachers never call on me anymore.

Is it because of Diamond?

October 14, 2001

It should have been me that died. I was the Wiseman's target.

Because of the stupid gang wars, my parents were dead. Diamond didn't want me to know. He felt that what was past should be in the past. But because the Wiseman wanted to be top, he tried to pressure Diamond to hand over his territory for me. An insignificant little girl. Why did my parents show up? Why did they try to save me? How did they know I would be there?

There was something between my father and Diamond, something that they don't want me to know. Diamond wouldn't admit to anything. One day, I'll find out. They can't keep it a secret forever.

February 14, 2002

Diamond took me out to dinner. It was very romantic and I thought he was trying to tell me something. All through the night, he was very attentive and charming. As he always was. But my dream was not to be. Emerald Green. They're engaged. I'm very happy for them.

April 29, 2002

I couldn't stop crying today. Always the tears would fall. Angry, hurt, the tears wouldn't stop. Blood would stop it. Pain would stop it. I must be strong. I must. For Shingo if not for me.

I'm getting to be so weak. The pain is almost comforting. The silence is welcomed.

----

Seiya's fingers touched the drops of dried blood that splattered through the pages as Serena wrote that entry. She never liked talking about her scars. But her scars were too many to have been a product of self-mutilation. What else was there that he did not know?

----

September 21, 2002

It's their one year anniversary. Shingo and I went to visit them. White roses were always her favorite. A dash of pink in the middle to signify the beginning of romance between innocents.

It's funny. I can't cry when I should be. Yet I cry all the time.

When will the pain stop?

October 3, 2002

I can't do this. I can't do this anymore. I just can't. I can't. Why? Why me? Why can't it be me that's laying in that bed? Why am I still standing? Why me? WHY!!!

TELL ME!! WHY!

The Wiseman. Why can't he leave my family alone? Why not Emerald? She's the one he loves. She's the one that he's going to marry. Why my family? Why me?

----

Seiya's heart ached as he read that entry. It was probably the day Shingo was sent to the hospital. Seiya was given custody of Serena and her brother after their parent's died, but they disappeared almost immediately after the funeral and he couldn't find them no matter how hard he searched. When Shingo was admitted into the hospital with severe head trauma, Seiya was notified immediately that one of his wards was found. While Serena was nowhere in sight, Seiya stayed in Japan to wait. Every day he went to visit, but he never saw Serena there, no matter how early he came or how late he stayed, she never came to visit.

Now he knew where they were. If only he searched for them harder, he might have been able to prevent all of this from happening. But business was pressing and it was all he could do to rush back to Japan when Shingo was injured.

----

October 15, 2002

I know he's there waiting for me. I can't go back now. Shingo, I'm so sorry. Diamond has been more and more obsessed with finding the Wiseman. For me, he said. Why does the Wiseman come after me when Emerald is in Diamond's heart?

October 22, 2002

The Wiseman's dead and Diamond's gone. What am I to do? I've lost so much already and now I lose my only friend? It's only a matter of time before Rubeus and the others get violent with me. They never did like me. Tolerated me because of Diamond. I know, even if they never voiced it.

November 3, 2002

This is the last that I will write. Rubeus made his mark on me. I'll live with it all my life, but at least I still have my life.

I went to visit Shingo today. He still hasn't woken up yet. He's the only one I have left in this world now.

Seiya came in when I was there. He asked me no questions and I offered him no answers.

We're going to America with him. Hopefully, Shingo will be able to wake without all this violence.

-----

Seiya laid the diary down, his hand pinching at the bridge of his nose. He knew Diamond wasn't good for Serena. Emerald was just a ruse. The Wiseman wouldn't have gone after Serena if Emerald was what Diamond cared about. Does Serena still love him?

This diary only painted a picture of the true horror that Serena went through and she wasn't opening up to him with the rest of it. Tired of the questions, Seiya felt it was time he knew some of the answers.

Making up his mind, he dialed a number, "This is Fighter. Get me all the information on Diamond Furuhata."

A/N – This chapter hasn't been edited yet, but I figured I'd give it to you guys now and replace it later. I've been adding and taking out things for this chapter, adding more work for my beta. You know I love you!

Anyways, I'm in the middle of midterms and any reviews would really cheer me up and maybe get me to write faster for chap. 7. Keep a look out, I hope to finish it over Spring Break and maybe have it up by next month.