___________________________________________________________ I Cannot Believe You: Chapter 4 By Fifi ___________________________________________________________ Darien lay down on his bed and stared at the plastered ceiling. What had happened to him over the years? Now that he recalled his conversations with Serena, he seemed a bit... desperate. Was he that anxious to be loved again? It just seems... so unlike him that he should want to be loved. What happened to the Darien before getting messed up in Serena's affairs? She killed him, he concluded. He rolled over onto his side, and rested his head on his arm. If she didn't take him back soon, she'd kill him again. The main obstacle: Seiya. He had to be taken care of, before Serena ever looked at him with a clear conscience. There was no other choice. Getting up from his bed, he quickly dressed then went to his car. ___________________________________________________________ After a few minutes, the door finally opened. On the threshold stood a dishevelled Seiya decked out in his hastily thrown on housecoat. Seiya yawned obliviously while the debonair man before him looked disgusted. "What a slob," thought Darien. After wiping away the sleep from his eyes, Seiya squinted, the sun annoying his eyes. "What are you doing here, Darien?" Slowly, he turned around, eyes searching for a clock. "It's only noon, man. It'd better be important." He walked back into his house. "Come on in." Darien warily followed him, closing the door behind him. As Seiya took a seat at his large couch, Darien sat across from him. For a while, there was silence. While Darien racked him mind as to what to say, Seiya just stared at him in annoyance. "Well? Did you wake me up just to stare at my floor?" he demanded. So Darien got to the point. "I want you to dump Serena." The younger man stared at his visitor before bursting out in laughter. "Ok, what do you really want?" "I'm being serious, Seiya." Darien stared coldly at him. "Let me get this straight. You want me to dump Serena, so you can get back with her?" "Yes," he affirmed simply. "You're nuts. Why would I do that? You lost your chance. Besides, I don't think Serena is all to happy with you." Darien stared out the window, contemplating. "You've heard of the sailor scouts, yes?" Darien asked. When he received a nod, he continued. "Well, if you don't do as I say, they'll come and convince you in their own way. There are so many reasons why Serena and I should be together, that you can't begin to comprehend." Seiya looked at Darien and didn't know whether to laugh, or to offer mental assistance. "You're seriously whacked, Darien. Sailor Scouts? Come on. I have a better chance of knowing them than you do." (Not to mention that I do know them...), he thought. "You think that they intimidate me? I should call the police on account of your threatening me, but considering your situation..." "Spare me your idle fantasies, Seiya. I'm serious. You can't have Serena. Either leave her now, or suffer the consequences," he said simply. "You know, I've heard things about you from her friends. Suave, whatever they said... but you're crazy. I mean, I always thought I'd go crazy without Serena, but that was always just talk. I didn't think it'd actually happen, but you're living proof." "Fine, fine. I'm crazy. So let Serena get with me and I'll rehabilitate over time. Ok?" he compromised. "Sorry, that's not happening. Get a psychologist, Darien. There are many good ones, just look one up." Seiya got up and ushered Darien towards the door. "Now I want to sleep. Good bye." As the door slammed in his face, Darien just stood there, mouth agape. ___________________________________________________________ As the afternoon dragged on, Darien made his way to the arcade. Perhaps a cold soda would lighten him up. As he entered the building, he caught sight of the lone Serena in the corner booth. So, naturally, he walked up and sat down, without invitation. "We need to talk." "Like hell we do," she said, turning back to her drawing pad. "Come on, Serena. I'm tired of this charade. Can't we just get back together without this hassle?" he asked pathetically. She merely looked at him oddly. "You may be playing games here, Darien, but I'm serious. Go away." "Not without a reason!" He hit the table causing both Serena and the room's occupants to turn their eyes his way. "Will you be reasonable, Darien?" she hissed. "You didn't give me a reason, and so I won't. Come back in 5 years, ok?" "I'm not stupid, dear!" he hissed back, anger finally breaking the barriers. Abruptly, he grabbed her wrist and dragged her from the booth. With a startled scream, she was dragged from her seat and outside. Darien found her waist, picked her up, and ran to the park. Going as quick as he could, he ran with a screaming Serena slung over his shoulder, and people's shocked gazes fixed on them. Once at the park, he sat down on the familiar bench, and set her on his lap, still securely held. "What do you think you're doing?" she screamed. "Shhhh! Do you want people to stare? Just be quiet for a moment, ok?" She'd cross her arms but he held her tight. While Serena sizzled in her anger, she felt a familiar light, and queasy feeling. Darien lightly pressed his forehead to hers. "Hear me out, ok?" With a frown, Serena nodded, too distracted to retort. "I want you to know that I never meant to hurt you. In all respects, I thought the only one to hurt from my actions was I, and I alone. I just wanted your safety. Believe me, I never expected that these dreams were just dreams. You know me. Hardly any of my dreams are just simple dreams." Serena sighed, trying not to think about it. "I'm sorry if I hurt you. I never meant to. I was leaving for what I thought was your own good. I was wrong. Can you believe it?" He smiled and then continued. "I know that apologies won't make up for what I've done, no matter how many times I say it even. Please, just give me another chance." "You don't deserve one," she said, her eyes trying to look away from his. "I know I don't. But I'll try to make you happy," he trailed off. "How do I know if those aren't just empty promises? How can you ask me to trust you again? Do you really believe I'm that forgiving?" "You're forgiving with everyone except me. You love everything, and you feel for your enemies sometimes. I can't stop myself from asking, even though I know how futile it may be. You're everything to me, but I can't expect you to fall for those sappy lines, can I? You're smarter than that." "Since when did you think I was smart?" As much as she tried, she couldn't stop a tear from falling from her eye. "I know you love me. I know you're finding it hard to trust me. Unfortunately, love and trust don't always come hand in hand... but can you make an exception? Trust can either build over time, or dwindle. You need only give me one chance and we'll see." He slowly wiped away her tears, which came down her cheeks. "Well?" "Idiot." She chuckled through her tears. "I asked you since when did you think I was smart? Your 'sappy lines' worked more than you thought." She paused for a while. "You know I can't stay angry for long. Perhaps that's a bad thing..." "Never. If you were angry for long periods of time, how could you enjoy the beauty of love and nature?" "Enough with the lines, Darien. Just kiss me." ___________________________________________________________ And so, dear reader, I bring this story to an end. The reason why I leave it here is to encourage your imaginations. ^_^ (maybe...) What happened to Seiya, and Tif? And Darien's relationship with Serena? The story was told, and that was my job. Think what you like, for I have accomplished what I set out to do. Thank you to everyone who had the patience to read this. I know that I'm an extremely slow writer, and not at all good in the least. I started this story in January of 1999. I went through 15 chapters before rewriting it. This story is now a mere compilation of 4 chapters. Short, concise, and better written than the original, in my opinion. This story may seem incomplete, and in many respects it may be so. But I don't have the will to write on. Serena forgave Darien but not without a fight. Although she seemed pretty tough in the beginning, it was all an act. The typical scared little girl who just wants love but doesn't want to be hurt, that's our Serena. But, who am I to tell you how to interpret the story? As for my other SM fic, 'Darien's Aim, Serena's Burden', I do intend to finish that. And to disappoint you further, I do intend to rewrite it. Unfortunately, I have nothing to offer you at the moment, but rest assured. I do intend to finish it this summer. So before September rolls in, expect to see the completed DASB. Thank you again for reading! And thank you to those people who emailed me. ^_^