Emotions

Full Summary:

Serena and Darien are both juniors; her in high school, him in college. Serena's grown into a beautiful young woman, (you know, all slender, muscular, and cute?) and Darien's still Mr. Bachelor of Tokyo. He's currently looking for a girlfriend, FYI. Anyways, Serena's been Sailor Moon and Darien's been the infamous Tuxedo Mask for 4 years, but they're still trying to find out the other's secret identities. The Sailor Team has been together for a couple years. This story is mostly Serena/Darien romance. Serena earns the heart Transformation Brooch.

Chapter One: Introduction

She remembered the first time she had seen him, over three years ago in her best friend's family-owned jewelry store. That was when she had first transformed into Sailor Moon, the Champion of Love and Justice, and had defeated her first Youma.

He was handsome; the black-and-white silk tuxedo that hugged his lean and toned body, the white felt mask that covered his gorgeous midnight blue eyes. She giggled when she thought of his top hat, which at first looked silly on him, and sighed when she remembered his red-and-black silk cape that he always wore that made him look heroic. In short, she thought him her superhero.

She couldn't stop thinking about him; she hadn't stopped since she had first met him. She winced as her ankle throbbed again, and recalled last night's encounter with him, when she had been injured after defeating a difficult Youma.

(Flashback)

She sat between two rosebushes, her ankle sprained and swelling underneath the leather of her bright red knee-high boots. For once, she cursed the footwear; she couldn't wriggle off the wretched thing, and her leg throbbed with more pain. She whimpered softly.

He found her there; huddled and biting her lip in obvious pain. He raised an ebony eyebrow; time as it was, he remembered the wailing or screaming she did when she was in pain, but that had been over three years ago. She was grown up, mostly, in mental standards, but most definitely in physical measures.(A/N: no dirty minds, people. Although I'm a hentai myself.)

He quickly composed himself before emerging from the shelter of the tree he was in. By the way she was looking at him when he was in eyesight, she had heard his graceful drop and his footsteps.

"Are you okay?" he asked her softly, his deep voice sending shivers down her spine. He knelt beside her outstretched leg, gently moving her ankle this way and that, checking it as thoroughly as he could.

She shook her head. "That stupid Youma caught my leg just before I dusted it," she replied, her sweet voice equally as soft. "Only thing is, this wretched boot won't come off, no matter how much I try to get it to!" Her voice acquired a twinge of frustration, but otherwise stayed calm.

He raised both eyebrows, making her flush in spite of herself. "Oh, really, then?" he asked her, placing both silk-gloved hands on her knee. Warmth came from his hands to be absorbed by her cold skin, for Tokyo was beginning to thaw from winter to early spring. She appreciated it just now.

She nodded, a smile touching her full mouth. "Could you help me?" she pleaded, a puppy pout coming on her face. He thought she looked cute, for her golden hair in its buns on her head made it look like she had curved puppy ears. He gently brushed the hair of the ponytails coming off of her buns out of her sparkling sky blue eyes and agreed to help her.

After twenty minutes of struggling, they finally got the boot off. She smiled and punched her fist in the air, almost toppling over. "Yes!"

He only chuckled, a deep sound that sent more shivers down her spine. She loved his voice, for it was so lulling and gentle. "Excited, are we?" he prompted, holding her eyes with his own gorgeous midnight blue ones.

She only nodded, and a rich, sweet smile lit her face, which made him catch his breath. Shaking his head at her folly, he looked at her ankle and hissed.

It was swollen, all right, but to the size of a grapefruit. She would have trouble walking, let alone standing. Digging into his Sub-Space pocket, he drew out bandages. If only he had ice. If only.

"What's that for?" she asked him, curiously pointing at the thing in his hand. He removed his top hat, which revealed soft, thick ebony black hair. He said nothing. Slowly, his hands worked gently on her ankle, while her gloved hand tight on his shoulder kept both of them from falling over. Finally he finished, and rocked back on his heels with a sigh.

"That'll keep your ankle from swelling anymore. Change it at least once a day, and add ice. Ice works." He looked at her with a stern eye, and she saluted him like a soldier, smiling happily.

"Yes, sir!" She scooted closer to him. When he raised an eyebrow, she enthusiastically hugged him, saying in his ear, "Thank you, Tuxedo Mask!"

He returned it, holding her closely. "It was needed. Plus," he drew back, grasping her shoulders tightly, "I didn't want to see you hurt. I care about you."

She blinked. He cared about her? Seriously? Since when? Ever since she had seen him, Luna had warned her to stay away from him, convinced that he was an enemy. The other Sailor Scouts agreed, but they couldn't say he was an enemy, for he was always saving Sailor Moon when she was in danger. Her eyelids grew heavy.

He snugly put the boot back over her long, slender leg. "There you go," he was saying as she drifted into dreamland.

(End Flashback)

That was all Serena Tsukino could remember about last night. Her ankle still throbbed whenever she put too much weight on it. She remembered his lulling voice and his warm, strong arms when he had lifted her and brought her back to her friends.

She sighed as she walked down the street. A car sped by, full of yelling college boys. As they passed her, some saw her and yelled, "Lookin' good, sweetheart!" as they drove through a red light. The others catcalled as Serena made a face.

She was generally good-looking; hot and sexy if she wore the right clothes. She had started working out and eating good food after entering high school as a freshman. She had a fit figure, and now more of the male species started looking at her. (A/N: I'm evil, I know!)

She reached the Crown Arcade, her favorite place to hang out. Opening the doors, she heard the jingle jingle of the bells that announced every entry. Most heads didn't move from the arcade screens; others glanced up, just to see, then went back to their game.

Serena made her way to the counter, where a blonde-haired teenager was cleaning a milkshake glass while whistling a merry tune.

"Hey, Andrew," she called softly when she sat in a stool. The said person turned around and smiled when he saw it was his best friend.

"Serena!" Andrew exclaimed merrily. "Long time, no see, my friend. You are looking especially well today." He looked closely in her sky blue eyes. "Or maybe not. What's wrong?" he asked her, a little worried.

She smiled at his concern, but lied to him, as always. "I tripped, as always, and sprained my ankle. You know me, 'Queen of the Klutz Clan'. And," she added with a touch of anger, "plus college boys were yelling at me again. Third time this week!" (A/N: my friend said "Heck yes!" when she read this!)

Andrew shook his head slowly. "You know they only do that because you look good, Sere. And that's a compliment."

Serena blushed a little and muttered thanks. As a thought popped in her head, she perked up. "Andrew?"

"Hm?"

"You think you can make me some cherry lemonade? Please?" Serena asked him politely, sitting up straighter.

Andrew looked at her through the corner of his eye, but shrugged. "Okay, but only for you, Sere."

In a matter of minutes, Serena was calmly drinking a big glass of Andrew's famous cherry lemonade. She absolutely loved it, loved it so much that she it liked better than a chocolate milkshake.

Jingles sounded; someone was entering the Arcade. Serena felt the coldness coming off of the new person, and knew it was him.

"Hey, Darien!" Andrew called to his other best friend, momentarily forgetting that Serena was sitting there.

Darien Shields, known as Mr. Bachelor in Tokyo and to young girls and women, also known as Jerkface to Serena, made his way to where Serena was sitting. He gently tapped her shoulder, and leaned close enough for his breath to tickle her ear. "Hey, Meatball Head," he said softly, "You're sitting in my spot."

Serena swiveled and looked up. Darien's six-foot-two-inch broad-shouldered frame towered over her, his thick ebony hair veiling his midnight blue eyes. He might be handsome to everyone else, but to Serena he was a big, humongous jerk. However, she stood calmly, drink in hand, her sky blue eyes fierce. His nickname didn't affect her as it used to, but she was still prone to physically hurting him.

"Hello, Darien," her sweet voice held ice in it, and she stood stiff, watching the emotions in his eyes shift. Darien's face was thoroughly surprised, and his ebony eyebrows raised as his eyes widened.

"No nickname from you, Meatball Head? No 'Hi to you, Jerkface'?" he asked her, bewilderment showing on his face now. He placed a hand over his heart. "I am thoroughly hurt and shocked."

Andrew snickered at his friend's theatrics, but was silenced when Serena's cold eyes flicked over to him. "I don't feel like fighting you today, Shields." Serena's fingers came to rub her temple as a sigh escaped her lips. Her leg throbbed, making her wince in pain.

Darien widened his eyes even more, noticing her wince and pained face. "Don't want to fight me today, Meatball?" He walked around her, looking over her as he settled down and occupied the stool she had vacated. "That makes me sad."

Serena whipped around, placing her drink near Andrew's hand on the counter. She leaned on the armrests, her face close to Darien's, her nose bumping his. Darien swore that if he moved a fraction of an inch closer, he could have kissed her. Not that he wanted to. She was the Meatball Head, after all.

"Try staying up all Friday night, have a brother pester you all day yesterday, stay up all last night accidentally klutz around this morning, and walk five blocks to the Crown to hang out on a sprained ankle the size of a grapefruit? Just try me. Humor me even, I dare you. Or are you too so all 'high and mighty' to not care? Think about that, Shields," Serena whispered, her voice holding slight venom in it. She moved away, placed some money on the counter, and with a last, almost longing look at Darien, she left, limping.

Darien noticed her limping and swiveled the stool to face Andrew, a worried look on his face. "What's wrong with her?"

Andrew only shrugged, and Darien found himself sprinting off to find Serena.

Next chapter: Serena and Darien begin to feel their true feelings for each other, and Zoicite wrecks havoc. DIE, ZOICITE!

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