Chapter Five: Laugh it Off

*As Serena hurried into Relena’s office, she did not stop to even wave goodbye to her parents as they disappeared. In fact, she was so glad to get away from them that she didn’t notice that she was pacing about the room like a madwoman on a rampage.

“What were they thinking? Honestly! Let’s marry her off to the next imbecile that walks on two legs and bathes every other week, shall we? The nerve! If they weren’t my parents, I’d, I’d…”

“You’d?” Hiiro asked, settling himself on the couch and watching the ranting blonde as she paced.

“I would… I don’t know, but whatever it would be, it wouldn’t be too nice, I can bet you that!” Serena snapped.

“I’m sure they’re scared.” Hiiro joked.

“It’s not a laughing matter.” Serena clipped.

“I wasn’t laughing. Merely making an observation.”

“Have you any idea what they just said? They said they arranged a marriage! Picked a husband for me!”

“I heard.”

“Well?”

“Well? Well what?”

“Don’t you agree that that’s a horrible thing to do? I mean, I know I’m going to end up having to marry some old man who won’t even be able to remember my name in three years, let alone someone I can love!”

“I thought you didn’t believe in love?”

“Who told you that?” She stopped and looked at him. Her wide, frightened eyes reminded him of a deer caught in headlights. So this woman knew fear… She was human after all.

“Mina I believe she said her name was?” He told her.
“As sweet as Mina is, she has a big mouth. She talks too much.” Serena sighed, relaxing slightly. Then she went rigid again. How could she possibly relax at a time like this? For crying out loud!

“Do you believe in love?” Hiiro echoed himself.

“Sure. Say, sure I do! I just have a pessimistic view about it really. I say it doesn’t exist, but I know it does. Otherwise, why would a mother die for her child?”

“Why do some mothers drown their children?”

“Why do people get married?”

“Why do people get divorced?”

“Stop baiting me!” Seren cried in frustration. She stopped pacing and looked at where she was. Then she blinked, very hard. “You!”

“Me?” Hiiro asked. This was too interesting! The woman was a walking contradiction. First she hated him, now she was spilling her beliefs out to him, and now she was about to yell at him some more. Never before and he met anyone with such a range of emotions that could be switched on and off at the drop of a hat. He hated it. Or rather, he liked it. He didn’t know. He was impartial to it, really. After all, just because her eyes lit up like molten sapphire when she was passionate about something didn’t mean anything.

“Yes, you! I told you I never wanted to see you again!”

“And here I am.”

“Well then. Go away!”

“Can’t.”

“Why ever not?”

“Relena asked us in here. Have to stay and find out why. Don’t worry angel, she’ll be back soon.”

“Angel? Angel! How dare you! You murderer! Stay away from me!” Serena looked at him, disgust written in the lines on her porcelain face.

“I am away. I’m three feet away. I could be closer. Are you still not satisfied?” Hiiro smirked as her face went red. He knew exactly which buttons to push to make her angry. He would just ignore the stab about his… past.

“You evil swine!” Serena gasped. “I’m going to-” Just then the door opened and in stepped Relena.

“I’m sorry I took so long. Mina and I were sorting out a few things. Is everything all right in here? Serena, you look flushed. Sit down dear! I know your parents must have given you an awful shock with their err, news.” Relena finished as she crossed the room and plopped down gracefully in the leather chair behind her mahogany desk.

Serena looked at Relena for a brief moment. The woman whom she admired so much had the most peaceful expression she had ever seen. How did Relena stay so clam with a murder in her midst? Did she honestly trust the man that much? But he was a killer! And Relena stood for pacifism and all good… honestly!

“Serena? Serena?” She vaguely heard Relena’s voice calling her. Blinking, she shook her head and then refocused.

“I’m sorry. I’m just… frustrated I suppose.” Serena sighed. Relena smiled at her secretary. So young, so inexperienced- just as she had been before the Eve Wars. Everything had been so simple back then. Back to the subject!

“That’s fine. Take a seat next to Hiiro, and we can chat a bit. It should help you to relax.”

“N, next to Hiiro?” Serena stuttered.

“Next to me.” Hiiro smirked. Relena raised her eyebrows. So much inflection in his once void voice. His transformation was amazing to her.

“Why don’t I sit near the window?” Serena suggested.

“Nonsense. Sit near Hiiro so I can see you both.” Relena waved her hand, not realizing just why Serena wanted to be away from Hiiro.

“Yes M’am.” Serena agreed.

“Sere!” Relena laughed at the name. “You’d think I’d just asked you to take out the garbage!”

“Well, you certainly just asked me to sit next to it.” Serena muttered under her breath.

“You smell lovely too.” Hiiro whispered to her as quietly as he could. He didn’t want Relena hearing him. Then he could feel those hot azure eyes burning holes in him and he knew Serena had heard him.

“Serena? Tell me. Are you going to go through with this marriage?” Relena’s voice drew Serena away from her glaring at Hiiro. That was a good question. Was she going to go through with it?

On one hand, it was just wrong! She was living in an age when women were free to make their own opinions, work, have equal opportunities, and everything. In fact, she herself had a wonderful job working in something she was passionate about; making a change in the government. And even if it wasn’t the most powerful job, she knew Relena listened to her advice. Yes, she was happy as a confirmed bachelorette- she didn’t need some man coming into her life a screwing everything up.

On the other hand, she was tired of being labeled as ‘single’. People saw her and thought she was inadequate, or not good enough to get a man. She hated every Valentine’s Day when she had to stay home and watch the sappy romantic movies because he couldn’t go out and see the real life sappy romantic couples. She was tried of coming home to a lonely house every night. She was tired of dreaming about a mysterious man who would one day sweep her off her feet and carry her off into the sunset.

So maybe she just needed to get married. Maybe this was the push she needed. And even if she never fell in love with the man, at least she wouldn’t have to come home to an empty house. But was she ready to give up her freedom for a man she didn’t even know?

“Relena, I don’t know.” She finally answered truthfully.

“You, you mean you’re considering it?” Relena sputtered. “I thought you hated the idea, and the fact that your parents were doing it for you.”

“I do.” She paused. Both she and Relena temporarily forgot Hiiro was in the room. “But Relena, I’m tired of being lonely. I don’t want to be an old lady with regrets.”

“But you don’t know the man!” Relena exclaimed.

“And that’s the draw back. Marrying a total stranger just to get married? Seems rather idiotic and degrading. I want to marry for love. But…”

“But?” Hiiro whispered.

“But I have a feeling, deep in my gut, in my heart, that I’m never going to find love. So what the hay?”

“Serena!” Relena gasped. “You need to be less pessimistic!”

“I should work on that, huh?” Seren laughed it off. But the thought still stuck with her. In fact, it burned and stung her heart to know she would always be lonely.

“On the other hand,” Hiiro spoke loudly, alerting both women in the room to his presence. “If you were to marry him, maybe you would fall in love with him over time.” Serena wanted to turn her nose up at him, but she stopped herself short. Instead, she chose to answer his suggestion.

“But that’s only a maybe. And that’s a huge assumption.”

“Maybe you need to take that assumption and run with it.”

“Maybe.” Serena looked thoughtful for a moment, and Hiiro savored the angelic halo that framed her peaceful face. Then he saw it dissipate and her eyes darken. “But I don’t want your opinion.”

“Serena!” Relena gasped. But Serena simply stood.

“I’m sorry Miss Relena. I cannot stay here. A killer is still a killer.”

“But Serena!” Relena sighed exasperated. “Didn’t I already explain he killed to save life?”

“Does violence really need more violence to solve it?” Serena asked. Then she left before she could hear the answer. Relena simply looked at the door where Serena’s petite form had disappeared.

“I don’t know how I’m going to convince that girl otherwise! It is true that violence is not always the answer; that talking and compromising are often the best way to get things done. But sometimes…”

“Humanity was built on violence Relena. They needed to learn to control those primal urges, and they did. But every so often, a generation arises where they struggle with the sublimation. Ours happened to be one of those generations. And we overcame that struggle, but it took violence. It couldn’t be solved any other way. She’s young yet. One day your secretary will understand.”

“You seem old Hiiro. And young. You’ve lightened up a great deal.”

“I took a vacation to find some humanity.”

“Oh? Where had it hidden?”

“Behind those schematics of Wing I memorized years ago.” He smirked. Relena laughed.

“Tell me how you’ve been Hiiro Yui. I’ve missed you.” Relena leaned forward across her desk, propped her elbows up, and placed her chin in her hands.

“Well.”

“You left me.” Relena’s smile dropped.

“I wasn’t ready Relena.” Hiiro’s smirk dropped as well. He was not ready for this chat either. But if she wanted the explanation, she deserved to hear it.

“You weren’t ready? I could have understood that if you’d told me. I loved you Hiiro. In fact, I still do. And I always will.” Hiiro gulped. Not good…

“Relena. You were… my first friend. My first…” Hiiro had problems saying the next word. He could never say it without shuddering. “My first love Relena.” He took a deep breath. “But…”

“But. But you don’t love me anymore.”

“No.”

“But you did at one point?”

“I did.” Relena sat back in her chair. *

~~~AHHH! Vixen updates! I’ll bet you all thought I had fallen off the face of the Earth, huh? Nope! But I’ve been dead on my feet lately… But I am BACK! And I’ll be staying! I feel guilty, I left this fic and the other for a month and only worked of my Harry Potter fic… but now that that one’s done, this one is first priority! I’ll be updating soon, I promise! Much love and PLEASE REVIEW- Vixen~~~

~~~PS: If you know what cokemusic is, come on and find me! AngelVixen is my v-ego’s

name!~~~