Chapter 1 Sailor moon
"You want me to do what?" Serena stared incredulously at the tall man before her. It wasn't that he was ugly. It was quite the opposite. But she couldn't get along with the raven-haired Adonis. And as far as she knew, he hated her. So the fact that he was asking her to do –well – anything was just incredible. And highly suspicious.
"I know what you're thinking-"
"Which is why I'm wondering why you even bothered to ask." She said still in shock.
"Look, if I had anybody else to ask, I'd ask them." He said with an edge in his voice.
"You go to college. You should have tons of girls just waiting for you to ask them to-what did you say this was?" she said narrowing her eyes.
"Annual Ball." He supplied.
"Yeah. Why don't you ask one of them?"
He sighed and ran a hand through his black her. Serena recognized this as agitation. Even nervousness. "I don't socialize much with girls at my school. My only friend in this town is Andrew."
"And I thought I was pathetic." She muttered. "So why ask me? Out of all the random girls that literally idolize you, why pick the one girl you can't stand?" By now, Andrew was tuned in to their conversation and biting back the laugh. "Why not ask Rei? She would love to-"
"I'd prefer to go with someone who didn't expect me to be the attentive date for the whole evening. Or even a boyfriend the next day."
"Well, you're tight about that one. But give me one good reason I should do this." She stared him down while Andrew was chuckling behind the rag he was just using to wipe the counter.
Darien glared at his friend then looked back at the blonde girl before him. He'd know her for two years now and this was the first time they had a conversation that didn't involve spiteful or teasing words. It just seemed natural for him to tease her though he hadn't meant for it to turn into an ongoing war. At the age of seventeen, she was a blossoming beauty. Her long blonde hair swayed with her every movement. Her body had long ago filled in at the right places and was even more pronounced now in her late teens. Those blue orbs of hers pierced him and emphasized the innocence that abounded in her. He blinked trying hard to remember the question she had just asked him. He searched his brain and when he found it, he wondered what answer would entice her into agreeing to attend the stupid ball with him.
"I'll purchase all your treats here for one month." He said and Andrew gasped.
"Are you serious? You must be loaded to even think you could pay for my stuff for a week."
"I promise one month." He said while Andrew shook his head vigorously in the background.
"One month?"
"Yes."
"Anything and any amount I want?"
"Yes."
"You must be desperate to offer that to me." She said. She was silent then she smiled at him. "Fine. You have yourself a deal." He sighed in relief.
"I'll take you to buy the dress right-"
"I'll take care of my own dress. You're already gonna be flat broke at the end of one month. Maybe sooner." She smiled. She took up her bag and books then rose, heading for the exit. She turned and looked back at him with a frown and he thought for a second she had changed her mind. "I should warn you though, my father might not like you. Be prepared." She sauntered out and Darien turned to face his friend.
"Did I just make a huge mistake?"
"You'll be fine."
"But broke."
"Indeed." Andrew said. "You should go home and prepare yourself for meeting Serena's father. He's pretty crazy when it comes to boys. Given that your three years older than Serena, you have a lot of explaining to do. You better hope her mom's home to help you out." With that, Andrew went to deal with a customer and Darien left to contemplate his last moments.
When Darien came to pick Serena up the next day, Serena's father opened the door.
"Who are you and what do you want?"
"Oh, Daddy, don't be rude. I told you I had a date tonight." Serena said loudly from somewhere in the house. He assumed it was upstairs.
"With this clown?" he said eyeing Darien carefully.
"Ken, dear, why don't you invite the young man in." Serena's mom said sweetly. "You must be Darien."
"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Tsukino. Mr. Tsukino."
"I'm trusting you'll take good care of our daughter." Serena's mother added before her husband could start a tirade.
"I will." He said hoping Serena would soon make an appearance. He sighed when he heard footsteps on the stairs. He rose and looked towards the door. His mouth hung open in an embarrassing fashion. He tuned out the excited chatter of the mother and the mutterings of the father. Serena looked nothing like the school-girl he teased incessantly. She still wore that meatball hairstyle. He suspected to comb it any other way would mean it would drag on the floor. Her dress was a sultry slip of white that clung temptingly to her curves. At her throat, he traced a delicate gold chain that disappeared beneath the plunging neckline of the halter-top dress. He figured the pendant would be just as delicate. The hem of the dress floated past her knees and ended just above the straps of the silver and impossibly high-heeled shoes she wore.
"Well, say something, Darien." She said teasingly.
"oh-uh-uhm-you look beautiful." He said extending a hand to her, which she took then smirk. "Are you ready?" he said ignoring her obvious delight at his discomfort.
"Sure. Just let me get my coat and purse." She stepped away then came back with a cover that Darien seriously doubted could keep her warm. They said their goodbyes and Darien drove them to his school.
At the school inside the lavishly decorated hall, Darien shifted nervously while he and Serena circled the room meeting all the top-notches of the school.
"Calm down." Serena said once she had him on the dance floor away from prying ears.
"I don't like these events." He said simply as he moved her effortlessly around the floor.
"You mean events where you can't act like a barbarian and actually socialize." She smirked then grimaced when he pinched her back.
"Watch it." He said.
"Pinch me again, and I'll break your fingers." She said glaring at him.
"Don't insult me."
"Why not? I do it every day."
"Just pretend to be nice for one night." He sighed.
"I am nice." She protested. "But I'll cut you a break for tonight." She said. "Maybe we should get some air then get back to mingling." She suggested.
"Sounds like a plan." He said then effortlessly guided them over to the balcony.
Outside he breathed deeply and watched her as she stared up at the moonlit sky. "Beautiful isn't it?" she said.
"The moon?" he said and she nodded. "Sure." He didn't really like the moon since he kept having head-hurting dreams about some moon princess.
"Mysterious." She breathed then looked back at him. "Ready to go back inside?"
"Not yet. They won't miss two people so quickly."
"So, I guess you really don't like these balls or whatever."
"I prefer to keep my social circles small." He said.
"You have one friend."
"I choose to have one friend. And a sparring partner." He added.
"Jerk." She said. She was about to take him on when the balcony doors opened. "Huh?" She looked at the angry young woman and stepped a little closer to Darien.
"Marika?" Darien said. "Are you-"
"Is this the little tart you decided to take instead of me?"
"Excuse me? Tart?" Serena said highly offended.
"She's just a child." She said to Darien. "What? You can't find boys your own age?" she said to Serena.
"What? Can't attract men your own age?" Serena said mimicking her tone. "Maybe if you weren't such a possessive witch, Darien would like you. As it is, he doesn't want to be seen with you. So instead of embarrassing yourself, why don't you go back inside and get yourself a nice cool drink." Before Darien could stop her, Marika slapped Serena. There was a stunned silence before Serena retaliated with a fist that connected with Marika's nose.
"Touch me again, and you'll be using a wheelchair for the rest of your life." Serena turned her back to the girl and the stunned girl ran away in horror. Darien was speechless.
"And here I thought you were harmless flower. Remind me to never completely piss you off." He said.
"She had some nerve. Your choice in women is interesting." She said calmly.
"I didn't choose her. Like you said, she's one of those obsessive girls I can do without." He said with a chuckle.
She turned to him. "I guess we should go back inside." She said adjusting her dress.
"The ball's almost over. Let's just stay out here."
"Are you sure?" He nodded and she leaned on the railing.
"You really do look nice tonight." He said out of nowhere. She looked at him and he was staring up at the moon.
"Thank you." She said then blinked. "Don't get all mushy on me." She said walking over to him and poking him in the chest. Even in her high-heeled shoes, she didn't come near his chin. He looked down at her and smirked.
"What? Afraid I'd make you blush?" he teased.
"You? Make me blush?"
"I bet you I can." He said stepping closer to her and smiling. She wasn't entirely comfortable with his nearness and yet she refused to step back.
"Oh pleas-" the sound came out on a breath as he angled his body downwards and wrapped an arm around her waist. She could feel the warmth already suffusing her face. "Don't you dare." She said knowing exactly what he meant to do.
"Afraid you might like it?" he said and. She shivered when his breath whispered across her lips.
"Dar-mmm" his name was lost when he fused his lips to her. She stiffened slightly bringing her hands up to fist on his lapels. She refused to participate but it was hard not to follow the lips of someone so experienced. She gasped when he squeezed her waist and he took full advantage of her open mouth. She couldn't stop the tides of sensations that washed over her. She allowed her hands to circle his neck and move slowly up to his head. It was a while before either tired to break the intimate contact.
"You blush beautifully, Serena." He said before kissing her again.
"I hate you." She breathed.
"Hmm. I should get you home. You must be tired." He said as she pulled herself together.
"Yeah. Maybe I should let my father punish you for stealing that kiss."
"Serena-"
"Don't worry. I don't hate you that much." she hid a yawn then smiled. "Let's go."
They said their good byes and made their way home. Serena decided to start her sleep early and fell asleep during the car ride.
Instead of waking her up, he lifted her from the car, surprised at how light she was. He rung the bell and almost dropped the girl in fright when he came face-to-face with the barrel of a gun.
"What did you do to her?" the crazed man asked.
"S-s-s-she fell asleep on the way over."
"Come now, Ken. You know that isn't even loaded. Just take your daughter and thank the young man for taking such good care of her." Ken followed his wife's command but Serena decided having Darien carry was a better idea. He chuckled nervously when Serena refused to let go or wake up.
"I can just take her up if that's okay." Ken nodded grudgingly and gave him the direction to Serena's room while he left to hide his gun.
He put her down gently then froze when she whispered what sounded like his name. He knew he shouldn't but he couldn't resist placing what was supposed to be a chaste kiss.
"Endymion…"
He knew he wasn't asleep but the vision was strong.
"Please find me... "
The kiss he had initiated deepened and his mind called out. "Who are you? Where should I find you?"
In the vision, he moved closer to her and she stepped out of the shadows. It was Serena.
"Endymion…"
She moved to him and drew him into a kiss he couldn't resist. He moaned and it catapulted him back to reality where Serena was surfacing from her sleep.
"Princess." He said to the now wide awake girl.
"What-what are you doing you pervert?" she said shakily.
"I-I was just leaving." The vision confused him. Why did his princess look like Serena? He rose and strode determinedly to the door. Thankfully she didn't try to stop him.