Once Upon A December

Chapter One

Rating: PG13 for later chapters

Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon, DN Angel, or the song Once Upon a December.

On a cool December night she strolled out onto the palace balcony, covered with flowers and illuminated by the many fireflies floating about. Ballrooms were just too stuffy for her, the heat emanating off of all of the people was just a bit much.

The Earth palace sure was pretty at this time of night. The vines that crawled up the walls made it seem so surreal, flowers blooming on each stem.

'Just like home,' she thought as she took a deep breath of the night air. Carefully, with tender hands, she picked a rose up from the balcony railing, many strewn across in random patterns. The soft petals tickled her as she buried her nose in the small red flower.

The music inside flowed out to the balcony through the light curtains. The young girl held out the flower and began to twirl around, humming with the tune. She was surprised to hear it for it was a song that her mother usually sang her to sleep with.

"Hmm…mmm," she hummed, closing her eyes briefly. "Dancing bears, painted wings…" she tucked the rose behind her ear and placed her arms out around an imaginary partner. Twirling again, she practiced the steps her mother had taught her. "Things I almost remember…"

Using the whole balcony as her dance floor, seeing as no one else was there, the young girl continued to sing and dance.

'Dance as if no one's watching,' she thought to herself which was strange because no one was watching. Or that's what she thought.

"And a song someone sings…" she had yet to notice a boy, around her age, standing by the curtains, watching her every move with a small smile on his face.

"Once upon a December…" her imaginary dance partner turned real for a moment in her mind. It was a boy, around her age, with bright, kind eyes and a soft smile. He held his hand out to her, asking for a dance. Blushing, she took it and placed her hand in his.

"Someone holds me safe and warm…" together they began to dance elegantly for such young children. The slight wind tossed their hair about making the rose from the girls' ear fall to the ground, immediately dissolving her imaginary dance.

She stood for a moment, just staring at the rose, hoping that her imagination would come alive once more but sadly enough, it didn't. She sighed and bent down to pick it up, but a different hand reached it before hers.

Gasping, the young girl looked up to see her best friend. "Daisuke!" she cried, clutching her chest in surprise. "Goodness, you scared me!"

The boy laughed. "I was standing here the whole time, Mako-chan."

Makoto gulped. "The…WHOLE time?" she asked as they both stood straight.

Daisuke laughed again took his best friends hand. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone," he said as he pushed back her hair and placed the rose behind her ear once more. "Now, dance with me Mako-chan!" he smiled.

"Oh Daisuke," she smirked. "You know that's no way to ask a lady," she turned around so her back was facing him, looking at him over her shoulder.

"Oh, of course," Daisuke cleared his throat. "Lady Makoto, would you honor me with this dance?" he asked, bowing and holding out his right hand. Makoto giggled.

"Of course Sir Daisuke," she replied taking his gloved hand. She curtsied as he bowed and they began to dance.

They had danced together many times, since they were young children. In the Silver millennium, if you were royalty, you were expected to learn how to dance at a very young age. They learned at the Moon Palace, not far from Daisuke's home; Earth.

"Can you believe it, Mako? I'm going to knight training soon. Remember, my birthday is coming up soon," Daisuke said, giving her a wide, happy smile.

Makoto frowned and looked down. "Yes…" was all she said. Sure, she was happy for him but something was nagging at the back of her mind.

"Aren't you happy for me, Mako-chan?" Daisuke had noticed her smile waver. She now had a plastic one plastered on her face. He didn't get the immediate answer that he had hoped for. She looked around, as if trying to find a way to tell him some deep, dark secret.

"Suke-chan," Makoto started, using a long time nickname.

"Yes?"

Makoto was quiet as she looked at their constantly moving feet, not daring to meet his eyes.

"What is it Mako-chan?" They kept dancing silently until Daisuke stopped, Makoto stopping along with him. Still she wouldn't look up. He placed a finger under her chin and lifted it up. "Mako…?" he was surprised to see that there were tears in her eyes.

"I know…" she took a big gulp of air. "I know that your fourteenth birthday is coming up. And, well, as much as I'm happy for you…Daisuke-chan, I dread the day that it comes around!" she ended quickly.

Daisuke placed a hand on her shoulder. "Why, Mako-chan?"

"Because I don't want you to have to go to that stupid knight training!" she screamed, picking up her dress and running back into the ballroom.

"Mako-chan, wait!" he cried, reaching a hand out towards her, but stopped. Why hadn't she wanted him to go to knight training?

Daisuke hit his own head. 'Don't be stupid,' he thought to himself. It was the 4 year training process that she didn't like. "Mako…" he mumbled as he hurriedly walked into the ballroom, in search of her. But as soon as he walked back through the curtains the prince of Earth was immediately grabbed by his parents and pulled to the side.

"Daisuke, we have a surprise for you," his mother said happily clasping her hands in front of her chest.

"A surprise? Well mother, can it wait? I have to find Mako-chan, it's impor—."

"Not as important as this," his father cut him off, dragging him towards his destination.

"But father—!"

"Son, I'd like you to meet Lady Risa Harada, your wife to be," his father stepped to the side showing off a beautiful girl about a year younger than he.

"My WHAT?"

"Daisuke! That's very impolite, apologize now," his mother commanded.

"Please forgive me," he said shortly to the girl and her parents. "But mother, I have to find Mako—."

"Mako?" Lady Risa's mother asked. "Who is this Mako?" she frowned.

"Oh, nothing to worry about, it's just his best friend…" Daisuke could tell that his father was uncomfortable.

"His best friend is a girl?" the woman questioned.

"Yes, and I really need to find her right now!" Daisuke cried. He needed to set things straight between them.

"Daisuke Niwa! You are being very impolite to your guests and betrothed! Makoto will see you tomorrow before she leaves for the Jupiter Palace. Right now you need to focus your attention here!" Daisuke's mother chastised him. But Daisuke wasn't paying much attention; he was looking in the crowd for Makoto. Soon he found her; red tear stained faced; staring at him with such anger it made Daisuke cringe. She lifted up her dress and ran out of the ballroom.

Daisuke started after her but his mother grabbed his arm. "Daisuke!" she cried. "You stay here or you will not be able to see Makoto off tomorrow!" at this Daisuke sighed and turned his apologetic stare towards the Harada family.

"I'm sorry for my rudeness," he bowed in apology.

"Yes, now as we were saying…" his mother began, but Daisuke's mind was somewhere else.

Mako-chan…

Hello! I am out with another story ; I know, I know, I really need to finish my other ones, but I just couldn't help it. I had to let this one loose. It's a strange crossover, I know, but I hope that's what makes it unique. If you don't know about DN Angel, just let me know and I'll explain it. Alright, now go ahead, you know you wanna review .

EternalHime