Chapter Ten: Accidents Happen

*A week had passed since their date, and still the situation between Serena and Hiiro was just as grim. The entire office staff loved to find any and every excuse to visit Relena’s office to watch the verbal war between Serena and Hiiro as it escalated daily. No one knew precisely why they fought so much. Everyone knew about Serena’s complex with killing, but she had never acted upon it in such an obvious manner before. As for Hiiro, they all knew he had been a key role player in the Eve Wars, and there was always some speculation as to who, or what, he had truly been, but no one really knew for certain. They simply liked the fact that he was able to keep up with Serena, matching her insult for insult- a feat not many had been able to accomplish.

“Why don’t you go somewhere else so I don’t need to put with looking at your blood-tainted face!”

“Is it red? Yesterday you told me it was green with jealousy. How do I manage it?”

“I don’t know- you are the only freak I’ve ever known! Far be it for me to tell you the true extent of your utter weirdness!”

“Yesterday I was also a pervert. Does this mean that I’ve changed professions?”

“Shut up!” Serena finally screamed. “All I wanted were the personnel files you promise to give me! And now, here they are, written on, torn up, dirty, what in the world could you have possibly done to them! I said I wanted them back in pristine condition! You ruined them!”

“That is an old copy. Half the men and women on that list have been fired over the course of the week.”

“What! Why? Since when is this office laying off people? If anything, we could use more help!” God she hated him!

“Safety precautions.” Hiiro simply shrugged. “They weren’t trustworthy enough.”

“How could possibly have known that? You hardly speak, how would you have found out about them?”

“Their past records showed…”

“You judged them based on their pasts?”

“You judged me based on my past!” Silence. Usually when Hiiro brought up his past, there was a moment of silence between the two, as if they had mutually decided that they would avoid the subject and that mentioning it crossed some type of boundary. Then they would begin over, slightly less cruel to each other and work their way back up. It was a cycle that they followed, one that strangely suited them.

“You told me the lists would be perfect. Now what am I going to do if I need to reach someone?”

“Give me a minute.” Hiiro growled gently. God, she was such a walking hypocrite!

“A minute? You’ve had a week!” He looked up at her from his desk and glared. Serena was startled by the intensity of his eyes. Maybe she had pushed it a little too much this time… “Fine. You have a minute.” She conceded gently.

“Thank you.” His low voice rumbled; sending familiar shivers up her spine. Every time he used that tone of voice… she truly felt so… lost, empty. It was such a hollow sound, but it was backed by so much emotion that it overwhelmed her.

“Sure.” She muttered. Shaking her head, she wondered what she was thinking. He was such a dirty jerk in his past… how could she possibly give him anything?

“Here.” Hiiro stated coolly, handing her a fresh bunch of papers that had just come out of the printer.

“What is this?”

“Personnel list, updated. It also has their address and home phone numbers in case of an emergency.” Her jaw dropped, and Hiiro smirked. Well? What did she think he’d been doing with them? Having fun simply ripping them up and firing people? She was such a skeptic. In fact, she reminded him of himself during the wars.

He himself had always been partial to the whole ‘I’m not coming back, so my life doesn’t matter’ ideal. She thought along the same lines, as far as he could tell. Her entire life seemed to be based upon the concept that ‘No one will ever love me, so I will never love or trust anyone either.’ Such a sad way to live, waking up each day and beginning the day by thinking you were hated by the world. He knew that feeling… God, he knew that feeling and hated it so much…

“This… this is…” Serena stuttered, trying to save face. But she knew she couldn’t. She had lost this round. However, she would not lose this war! She could not let this killer win; she needed to teach him who really succeeded in life- the good, honest and moral people. She needed to teach him physical violence was never the answer. She needed to…

“Serena! Oh Serena, it’s your parents!” Hiiro and Serena’s heads flipped up to see Mina breathing hard and standing in the doorway.

“What happened to them Mina?” Serena cried, worried.

“Oh Serena, they were in a car crash…” Hiiro watched Serena’s anxious face freeze, and then contort in fear and worry.

“The hospital just called, their car crashed going around a curve on the highway. They wanted to talk to you, but I thought you would want to hear it from me… Oh Serena! I’m so sorry!” Serena couldn’t speak, all she could do was nod and gulp numbly.

“I need to get to the hospital.” She finally managed to collect herself. No tears. She would be strong. Her parents…

“I’d lend you my car, but you know it’s in the shop with yours…” Mina told her exasperated.

“I’ll call a cab, don’t worry about it Mina.” Serena stated quietly.

“Oh Serena! This is horrible! I’m so sorry!” Mina broke down sobbing. Serena looked at her friend and then opened her arms. Mina ran into them, and Serena stood there, petting her head and whispering soothing shushes to her dearest friend.

“It’ll be ok Mina. It’ll be ok, I promise.” Serena repeated, over and over, fighting back her tears. She could no cry. She would be strong. Her parents…

As Hiiro watched Serena holding Mina, his eyes widened. They shared such a deep friendship that Mina was more deeply affected by the accident that Serena’s parents were in… or… Wait. They were Serena’s parents, and even after she had complained about them and moaned about them, he knew she truly had to love them. So why was Mina the more emotional one here? Serena was the one doing the comforting, and he knew she should be the one crying. Why? And why?

Why wasn’t she crying? And why did he even care? She hated him. She called him a bastard, worthless, a murderer and a killer everyday. She couldn’t stand his very presence, but he cared so much that it was paining his chest. It was suddenly hard to swallow, and he could feel the hot tears blurring his vision. She was making him cry, because she wasn’t crying? This wasn’t right! It wasn’t supposed to happen this way! He was never supposed to, well, care for someone who hated him! But she was so hurt… her eyes, though tearless, radiated her pain.

Hiiro nodded to himself. Standing up, he slipped into Relena’s office, closing the door behind him. After a few moments, he slipped back out, more collected and less emotional.

“Serena?” He stated quietly. He saw her look up at him, her eyes withholding nothing. “Come on.”

“What?” She asked, numbly.

“Come on.” He repeated. She glared at him, but he let it wash over him and roll off of him.

Serena saw that there was no use. Hiiro Yui had to be heartless, regardless of any situation that came up. It was like he was a damned machine! Did he truly feel nothing? He certainly appeared that way. It was as if he had been raised by animals, the way he behaved with other humans. She reluctantly let go of Mina, who was still sobbing.

“I’ll tell Relena if you want to leave Serena.” The other blonde offered.

“Thank you Mina.” Serena mumbled.

“Come on.” Hiiro repeated one last time. He grabbed her hand and dragged her off, through the door and into the elevator.

“Where are we going? You’d think you could have given me a few more moments Hiiro!” She glared, the pain felt good when she was yelling. Venting on Hiiro always felt good.

“You don’t know they’re dead yet Serena.” He told her in his classic monotone voice. She gasped.

“I never said they were! I was trying to be very optimistic.” Her voice, which had started out loud and angry, ended in a soft whisper.

“But that is hard to do when you are used to being a pessimist, isn’t it?” He asked. It was a rhetorical question, he had never meant for her to answer.

“Of course.” Was her response. He felt like… No, he couldn’t. He just… The elevator dinged and they stepped out into the lobby of the building. Then they walked right out and onto the street. Into the company parking lot he dragged her, with her protesting and questioning the entire way.

“Hiiro! I need go back inside and call the hospital! Or at least tell Relena! Let me go!” She struggled. He was glad when they finally reached a motorcycle- a classic Harley Davidson with red, black, and silver chrome trimmings. He picked up the helmet that hung on the handlebars and handed it to her.

“Put it on.”

“What?” He eyes gapped.

“We’re going for a drive. Put it on.” He told her, climbing on and putting the key in the ignition.

“But Relena…”

“Put it on.” By now Serena had learned if he simply repeated himself it meant he wasn’t going to tell her why he was doing something, but that it was ultimately for a good reason. She gingerly took the helmet and stuffed it onto her head over her golden pigtails. “Get on.” Hiiro told her. She hesitated, but climbed on behind him and very carefully wrapped her hands around his waste.

“Serena, I’m only going to tell you this once. Never touching me in the office is fine, but when you are on this motorcycle with me, you will need to hold on more than that. Unless you would like to go flying off and end up with your parents?” She gasped and he smirked. “That’s what I thought. Hold on.” He warned her as he revved the engine. Her petite arms snaked around and wrapped themselves about his waste, and Hiiro smirked again. If the situation wasn’t so grave… But it was. So he quickly stepped on the gas and speed off in the direction of the hospital.

When they arrived in front of the large brick building, Serena jumped off the bike and threw off the helmet.

“You, you took me here? To the hospital?” She turned and looked at him in awe. Hiiro felt very… important. It was like she was, for the first time, realizing that he too could feel sympathy for others. It felt nice to be recognized as a human.

“I thought you would want to see your parents.” He told her gently.

“Hiiro, I…” She stuttered. But she said no more. And he needed no more. The look in her eyes was enough. But it only lasted for a brief second before she had taken off, running into the hospital. He watched her for a moment longer, then let a slow smile play across his usually straight lips. And then a deep chuckle arose from the back of his throat. He had done it!

Yes sir, Hiiro Yui had officially made himself the biggest fool in the universe! He should be put on display at a carnival for Christ’s sake! He had really out done himself this time. Not even Duo could have made this big an idiot of himself. Hiiro Yui had fallen in love with a woman all right. And she hated him. Oh, this was one for the records! He shook his head and let a small tear trickle down his face. Then he quickly wiped it away and strolled inside, after Serena.

>>>)(<<<

When he found her, she was in a small, white room that seemed to permanently smell like old macaroni. The curtain that separated the room was pulled aside, and she was sitting in-between the two people in the beds, holding both of their hands.

“The doctors won’t tell me much, only that they aren’t dead.” She snorted. “OF course they aren’t dead! But I want to know more…” Hiiro didn’t know what to say. “I mean, they’re my parents! I deserve to know more! Isn’t there some kind of law against the withholding of information? I’ll have them arrested!” She yelled angrily. Hiiro could see the frustration in her eyes. He nodded.

“They should have told you more.” And then he turned and strolled out of the room. He went down the hall and found one of nurses’ stations.

“Can I help you sir?” One of the women giggled.

“May I speak to the doctor who is dealing with the Kennington cases?” He asked darkly, ignoring the woman who was winking at him and giggling.

“Oh? Doctor Zimmerman? I’m afraid he’s quite busy at the moment.” She laughed coyly.

“With?”

“Another patient I should think…” He caught the nurses’ laugh and nodded. More like the good doctor was busy with another nurse.

“Page Doctor Sally Po here then. I’ll speak to her.”

“Doctor Po?” The woman paled. “Let me get Doctor Zimmerman!” She replied quickly. Hiiro smirked. Obviously Sally kept them on a tight schedule when she was around… they must not have enjoyed it too much.

“Paging Doctor Zimmerman, please report the ninth nurses’ station, Doctor Zimmerman!” She called out nervously. Three minutes later a tall man with bleach blonde hair and light green eyes strolled casually into the lobby.

“What’s this about Carmon? I thought I said no interruptions?”

“This man wouldn’t take no for an answer sir. It was either you or Doctor Po…” The nurse told him. The man’s eyes widened when she mentioned ‘Doctor Po’.

“Good choice Carmon. Now then, what can I do for you sir?” The Doctor turned to face Hiiro.

“I want to know the details regarding the Kennington cases.”

“Kenningtons? Ah yes, the old, rich couple that was brought in early this morning. They have the most beautiful daughter I have ever seen! Long, golden, silky hair, legs up to her chin, nice rack… And her eyes… she’s…”

“A good friend of mine. I would like to know about the condition of her parents.” Hiiro growled darkly. He did not appreciate this man drooling over Serena.

When the doctor heard “good”, “friend”, and “mine”, in the same sentence, he stopped instantly and sized the boy up. No, it wasn’t a boy. He may have looked young, but he had the hardened face of an experienced man who knew what he was doing. The doctor gulped.

“Of course!” He laughed nervously, pulling out the clipboard with the Kennington’s names written on it. “Well, they were brought in around eight this morning, with sever bruises and cuts, a few of which required stitches. They also both received blows to the head, which resulted in concussions. They could be waking up anytime, or never again depending on how serious the trauma was, but we won’t know for sure, even with the CAT scans we took. At the moment they are considered to be in serious but stable condition.” Hiiro nodded as he took in the information, committing it to memory so he could relay it to Serena.

“Good. One more thing.” Hiiro told the doctor.

“Yes?”

“From now on, you are to tell Miss Kennington of any new information you have regarding her parents… do not make me come back here and threaten you again.”

“Yes sir.” The doctor gulped again.

“Good.” And Hiiro turned and headed back towards the room. When he returned, he found Serena, still sitting and holding both of her parents’ hands.

“Serena?” She looked up, and he saw clear, beaded tears lessening down her porcelain cheeks. His heart skipped a beat.

“They’ve never been so quiet when I’m in the same room. Usually they’re telling me to date, or to just get married. Usually they’re telling me to quit my job and learn to cook like a real woman. But they aren’t this time. They aren’t because they can’t…” Her voice was hoarse with the tears and pain that she felt. “They can’t!” She yelled, sobbing harder.

Hiiro was at a loss. He had known this was affecting her more than she had let on. He had known she was going to break down. But he didn’t know what to do now that it had come to pass. His memory went back to the way she had opened her arms for Mina and held her, rocking her and telling her everything would be all right. So Hiiro opened his arms. Then he watched in awe as Serena dropped her parents’ hands and threw herself into his arms, holding onto him tightly and crying hard.

“Cry Serena. Just cry.” He told her before going silent and just holding her. *

~~~I just realized. I’ve done a lot of symbolism in the fic for some reason. Kind of funny, actually. So here’s the challenge for the day: find the most prominent symbolism in the fic so far! Lol! PLEAZE REVIEW! Much love- Vixen~~~