Note: OMG thank you soooooooooooo much to everyone who reviewed. It means a lot to me. I got so many with my last chapter that I can't name everyone, cuz I'd be on this computer all day, but thanks so much. Again a whole lot of people gave pointers, what they did and didn't like and what they want to see. I really like that, just remember to give me reasons why.

Thanks, Danielle.

Chapter Six

Shipwrecks and Heartaches

Nephrite stomped into the large country house, the wind blew the rain inside the door just before it slammed shut. Shrugging off his coat he handed it to the nearest person, and wearily began to walk up the stairs directly to his left. It seemed fitting that at the beginning of September when the wind was howling enough to make the devil cry and the rain making it impossible to see in front of you that his father would die. Well really the man had died two days ago, but today had been the funeral, a miserable day for a miserable man.

Was it wrong that he felt nothing for the man that had sired him? Was it wrong that he merely felt relief that he could leave this place and never come back, that he would never have to hear his father's disapproval of him echo through the hallways he walked? Turing into the nearest room to the left he found a small young lady waiting near a simple bed.

"How is he?" Nephrite inquired.

"He's fine, and doesn't need a nanny any longer," came the grumble, as Jadeite entered the room from the bath area.

Nephrite smiled at his friend, glad that the younger man had managed to pull through these past few months. Still the fever that had raged through the other man's body was quite evident, he was thinner, a swallow complexion, and more surely than Nephrite could remember him ever beginning.

"Glad to see they fit you," Nephrite indicated to the clothing Jadeite was wearing, his old clothes hung loose on the other man, but it was to be expected.

"You alright?" Jadeite asked, relieved when the young nurse left, sighing he sat on the bed…he was still weak from his illness. When Nephrite nodded he continued, well aware of how his friend felt about his father, "Have you any news on my ship?"

"The repairs should be ready in a fortnight. Seems we took quite a beating, but that was mostly obvious on long it's taken to get things fixed."

"Don't know how I'll repay you."

"You won't, consider it part of my investment in your new company. After all the funds should help you get everything up and running."

"I don't like charity," Jadeite grumbled.

Nephrite rolled his eyes; this wasn't the first time in the last three months that they had been over this issue. "It's not charity, but an investment. Trust me I'm counting on you to make me a fortune in the years to come. Besides, both of us will be doing an equal amount of work." About a month after the shipwreck they had come up with this idea. True Jadeite had been high on a fever, but it had been a plausible idea and he hadn't been about to let his friend back down. Between wheat Jadeite had saved and the inheritance he was receiving from his father, they could manage a business and become rather successful in the shipping industry. That and he had another motive. The business would give Jadeite wealth…something he would need to get the woman of his dreams.

It seemed they were both chasing something of the fairer sex.

Flashback

"Running to, or running from?" Nephrite inquired, coming to stand by the captain of the Dancing Fire. He had caught the man staring at the sea for the last four weeks, something he was doing. Missing the love of his life.

Jadeite regarded him with cold eyes, and ignored the question.

"Me…" Nephrite continued as if he hadn't noticed the other man's dismissal, "Running to, but I'm hoping to be running back soon. My girl… and I can tell for you it a girl," He gave a knowing wink, completely not hindered by the angry stare of the man next to him. "Hell, she's the most beautiful thing in the world. Dark brown hair and eyes to match. Cooks like a dream…love her…hated to leave her. But then I'm sure you know what I mean." He had left then, sure he had managed to get under the captains skin.

End flashback

Two days later and a bottle of rum and both had been drunk as hell they had found a friendship.

Regardless of their friendship, it had taken him nearly two months to convince Jadeite that if he loved his girl, it couldn't hurt to ask…if she turned him down then it was her loose. Another week and they were going to sail home and try like hell to fix everything they both seemed to have messed up.

#$&())(&$#$&()(&

"HOW DARE YOU…accuse me of having an affair when mistresses are sending you love letters. LETTERS to have sexual exploits…YOU BASTARD!" Serena shrieked in the most undignified manner she could muster. Taking a leaf from Rei's book she hurled her drinking glass at her husbands head. It shattered mere inches from him, but she was to angry to notice his own furious look.

"I found you kissing him," he hissed, tossing chairs out of his way to get to her. Narrowly missing as her silverware went past him.

"AND I FOUND THIS," Serena held up the flowerily letter, shaking it rapidly in his face.

"I haven't done anything."

"Neither did I, but you won't believe me. In fact you've been punishing me for the past two weeks. Not once have you been home at a decent hour, you haven't talked to me, looked at me, you haven't even been to my bed." Serena finished her long list of complaints with a blush.

"I wasn't in the mood to bed a whore." He sneered, angry at her accusations.

"But you'll bed her."

"I haven't touched her. I haven't seen her. How many times to I have to repeat myself."

"How many times do I have to repeat myself?" Serena asked.

Darien stopped, and blinked openly at her.

"Why were you so quick to condemn me?" she asked, the hurt bubbling up inside her.

He said nothing.

"Why can't you believe in me?"

Nothing. Again.

"Darien, I swear by God that if you see her or any other woman in that way I will make your life a living hell. You will have no peace." She snapped in frustration, desperate to get any type of answer out of him. Still he continued to stare at her.

"Can't we try again, can't we pretend none of this ever happened, and start over. Please." She asked, wanting their happy life back. She wanted the Darien she had known for the past few months, not this distant monster that look at her with cold eyes across the breakfast table. She couldn't live with that for the rest of her life, she couldn't live in a marriage were not even mutual friendship existed. She would die, the life suffocated right out of her.

Dumbfounded she watched as he walked right past her, almost as if she wasn't there, a distant look covering his face. Did she really not mean that much to him? The hurt in her heart swelled, and she stomped from the room, wanting to find refuge anywhere. How dare he find her guilty with out a trail, she hadn't given him any reason to find her guilty. She hadn't wanted Sieya's attentions; she had tried to avoid them at all costs. Why would he find her guilty of betrayal so quickly? She stopped suddenly, turned around and marched into the gardens.

"REI!" she called, knowing the girl would be here. The gardens had become Rei's own refuge as place to mend her heartache.

"Over here, by the butterfly bushes."

Serena rounded the corner, and couldn't help but smile at her sister-in-law who was covered from head to toe in dirt.

"What's wrong?" Rei asked, noticing Serena's flustered appearance. Serena sat in a puff of dirt and skirts next to her, explaining the past few weeks, something that she had kept to herself. From Rei's glance, she remembered why she had kept the troubles of her marriage to herself; she just didn't want others to feel sorry for her.

"Why doesn't he trust me? He was even like this right after we got married," Serena asked, forlorn.

Rei regarded her with passionate dark eyes. As if weighing her worth, "What do you know about my parent's marriage?"

Serena looked up, "Just that they were happy, and Artemis says that they were madly in love."

Rei snorted, swallowing the lump in her throat, "They were for the first few years. You see, my mother had a hard time delivering me, it was very painful and she nearly died. Afterwards, she wouldn't allow my father to become close to her."

Serena nodded, taking in the information.

"Darien doesn't think I know that I was too little to understand their problem. But I did. I understood the fights, the anger that seemed to prevail through the house for a long time." Taking a deep breath Rei continued, "After a while they went their separate ways, barley begin able to be in the same room with each other. They had their own lives, their lovers, only the two of us kept them from separate houses. When I was about five, our father discovered her in bed with another man; not long after my mother committed suicide."

"Is that why Darien thinks I'll betray him? Because his mother betrayed your father?"

"Partly, but for a few years after my mother's suicide. Our father was a raging drunk, constantly babbling about the evils of women and how they'll betray you. I think more than anything Darien's terrified that will happen to him."

"That if he always assumes the worst, he'll never be disappointed, he'll never be that hurt," Serena finished for Rei. Plucking a piece of grass from the lawn, she twirled it in her fingers. She would just have to make him understand that she wouldn't betray him that he could count on her to be there, to love him.

Because the truth was she did. She was head over heals in love with the stubborn man.

$&()(&$#$&()(&

Mina gave a finial pat to the thick red bow in her golden locks; taking a deep breath she tried hard to calm her racing heart. With shaking hands she delicately turned the knob of her father's study, looking forward to seeing Malachite on the other side. It seemed that the day had taken so long to get to this point. She had known he was coming today, to formally ask for her hand in marriage from her father. Yet, she thought of him fondly; he had asked her last night. Had wanted her response and true feelings; tapering down her smile she glided through the oak doors.

And came to a dead stop, trying hard to keep the look of horror from cross her face.

"Mina, there you are my dear," her father said fondly, indicating for her to come stand in front of him. "I have some wonderful news for you, Lord Diamond has just asked for you hand in marriage."

"Wha…What did you say?" Mina croaked.

"Yes, of course. The two of you will make a splendid couple. What with a title and the finically backings," her father continued, not noticing her stricken look.

"My Lady Mina," Diamond grabbed her attention, tugging on her hand. Kissing it lightly he proceeded, "I know in time you will love, as I am already fond of you."

Her father beamed.

"Now however, I fear I must depart, and I know you and your father have much to discuss." Mina snatched her hand back, groping for the ring on the necklace the had hidden around her neck. She stepped back further when he tried to embrace her.

As the door closed behind him, Mina found her voice, "Papa I don't want to marry him. I want to marry Malachite. He…He asked me last night and even gave me his ring." She just needed to make her father understand, showing him the thick golden ring that hung around her neck.

Her father frowned, "Mr. Malachite? No. He can't give you what Diamond can."

"Maybe not a title…"

"Exactly." Her father interrupted, "No title, and your mother wanted a title for you. As she is gone I want to follow her wishes."

"But I love Malachite," Mina cried, pounding her hands on the desk, trying to make him understand.

"Love?" Her father gazed up at her, mist forming in his gold eyes. "No love only breaks your heart. Besides love will not take care of you. Diamond will secure your place in society."

"Malachite is not poor," Mina reasoned.

Her father purpled, "You will marry Diamond and fulfill family duties Mina, and I'm refusing to discuss this any further." Grabbing his book he walked towards the door, "You understand I want what's best for you?"

"Yes Papa."

Her dark blue eyes lingered on the golden ring she held in her hand. The question became love or duty?

&&()&&()&

Darien stood under the light pole, rubbing his sore knuckles; glancing down he tried to make out the damage. Nearly impossible in the soft glow of the light. Shifting feet he eyed the scarlet door in front of him. After his last brawl with Seiya it seemed he had one more loose end to tie up before going home. Walking up to the door he knocked, smirking when Beryl's red head peaked through. Her frown instantly turned to a bright smile.

"Can I come in?" he asked, indicating to the warm inviting living area. Seductively she smiled at him; pressing her red fingernails she grabbed his coat.

Being tugged behind her, he shut the door eager to finish what he started in the bar this evening. After all he had a score to settle.

OK remember to review and the next chapter should come out some time next week, I'm getting behind with everything a school so its going to take me a while.