Forever and A Day

By Kukaburry

Sailor Moon Disclaimer (& Dirty Dancing Disclaimer)

Chapter 6- Dirty Dancing

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(You know you loved that movie. ;-) )

Serena returned to her room, glowing with a new-found radiance. She felt needed by Preston, and she wouldn't give up until one of the two girls fell for him; this was her goal. She began to think about which of the girls would fit Preston's personality.

Lying on Serena's bed was a very lavish pink satin dress; almost too daring for Serena to wear. Why would her mother give her this dress to wear? It resembled a party dress more than a formal dinner dress. 'Most curious'.

Nevertheless, Serena primped her hair, bathed herself in perfume and covered up any unsightly blemishes (which were few) then threw on her dress. She was just adding her favorite silver necklace to the attire when a servant announced that dinner had been served.

Serena hurried down the stairs and at the bottom collided with an unsuspecting victim. "Honestly, are you sure you're not trying to make my stay as unpleasant as possible Princess Serenity?" A very gruff and very unwelcome voice muttered from beneath her.

"Yes, I always enjoy running into obstinate jerks on my way to dinner," she said sarcastically, "My day wouldn't be complete otherwise." Darien, being the perfection of courtesy, rolled his eyes, pushed Serena off of him and said in a sneering voice, "Excuse me, I have a dinner to attend to. Go back to the circus you belong to."

"At least I have people who like me!" She yelled lamely at his back. 'Can anyone get more conceited?' She looked around at all the elegantly dressed people chatting calmly with one-another. 'I don't think so', she decided.

"Dinner is served!" A voice rang from the dining room.

Serena crossed the hall, smiled cheerfully at everyone and found a seat near the end of the lengthy table. Seconds later, she was berated by kisses from the person who sat down next to her. "Hello to you too," she giggled, turning her misty eyes on Raki, "Behave yourself, my mother is watching". She saw Darien wrinkle his nose in disgust out of the corner of her eye, but was immediately distracted by another savory kiss.

"Of course, I won't let her see," Raki spoke deeply into her ear. "With all of these guests arriving, I haven't seen you at all today," Raki pouted, giving Serena his most pitiful look.

Serena bashed her eyelids flatteringly. "I'm sorry. I promise I'll make it up to you," she said in her most seductive voice.

Raki's upper lipped curved in a smirk, "I look forward to it."

Tal and Ami walked into the room holding hands, causing Queen Serenity, Queen Nixida and Darien to furrow their eyebrows in puzzlement. 'When did this happen?' Darien shot Serena a questioning look, but she merely stared back blankly. Serena's attention was drawn to a light-haired man wearing a silver tuxedo. 'Who is that?' she wondered while the mysterious man took a seat near the end of the table.

Finally, when everyone had settled down in their seats, Queen Serenity stood up and tapped her glass lightly. "Welcome friends, tonight is to honor all of those competing in the Inter-planet Sword-fighting Championship this coming Tuesday." A mild applause followed this announcement. "As a treat," her eyes gleamed mysteriously, "I have hired a famous singer to perform at the surprise ball tonight." Every person in the room, besides Tal and Queen Nixida, sat in stunned silence.

"As soon as you all have had your fill, I will open up the ballroom. Please, enjoy yourselves." With that, Queen Serenity sat down daintily and began to devour the meal before her. Serena stared at her mother in awe. "Serena dear," Serenity called, smiling warmly at her, "Your food is getting cold! Eat up." Shaking her head, Serena began to chew her steak, looking up every once in a while to catch her mother grinning at her knowingly.

Soon, every person in there was full and Queen Serenity stood up and announced that the ball was about to begin. The scraping of chairs could be heard throughout the house as a hundred people stood up and followed Serenity to a pair of bleach-white double doors. Two dark men dressed in pure white suits stood on either side of the doors. "If you would please," she stated calmly to the two men. They nodded their heads and pushed the great doors open to reveal a stunning ballroom with polished, black marble floors and a crystal chandelier.

"Your parents have style," Raki muttered into Serena's ear and placed his hand on her lower back.

"They like to show off," she whispered back pointedly, making Raki laugh. He slid his hand even lower, and Serena blushed uncomfortably, but quirked a small smile anyways.

Darien watched this exchange with narrowed and dangerous eyes. There was something about Raki. He just knew it. He was not a person to hold grudges, and he definitely did not feel angry at Raki for beating him. Darien still could not understand why so many guys were interested in Serena. She's not pretty and she's definitely not very coordinated! 'Oh no, not Preston too,' He thought wonderingly to himself.

Preston strode up to Serena and Raki with a dignified air and said calmly, "May I borrow you for a moment Princess Serenity… errr… Serena?" Raki's eyes flashed mutinously for a moment, but he managed to reply stiffly, "Of course you may." Serena flashed him an apologetic smile and sauntered off with Preston.

"Preston, that outfit is perfect," she said to him immediately. His green velvet coat hugged his broad chest flatteringly, and his black trousers and loafers gave him a confident vibe. The outfit was polished off by his unruly brown curls that sat on top of his boyish face. "You'll be a true heart-breaker in no time," Serena chirped, patting him on the shoulder.

Preston looked slightly disconcerted. "I… I don't want to break their hearts," he said, confused. Serena giggled and explained that it was an expression. "How odd," he replied, looking like a lost (and adorable) puppy. "Ah, Darien, good to see you."

Darien, Serena noticed, was wearing a tailored blue (almost black) suit that matched his eyes perfectly and complimented his neat hair. Preston and Darien seemed to be antithesis of each other, yet they appeared to be very close friends. Darien, pompous, clean-cut dim-witted, too confident for his own good and charming (to everyone except Serena) whereas Preston seemed to be on the slightly sloppy (but still cute) side, shy, smart and easily tongue-tied.

"Hello Preston," he smiled fully at Preston, "Princess Serenity," he refused to even look at her. "Of all these pretty ladies my dear Preston, why are you with Serenity?" He asked, smiling calmly while Serena fumed.

Preston looked slightly taken-aback. "She is…is giving me hints on catching a lady's eye," he mumbled just loud enough for the three of them to hear.

Darien, who had hoped for a scandal to report against the Princess Serenity, was fully disappointed. "Oh, so she wasn't trying to take your fancy?" He questioned only semi-hopefully.

"Of course I wasn't, you pig-headed jerk. Just because I'm being friendly with a man does not mean I am trying to seduce them," Serena snapped and clenched her jaw angrily. "I am not a bed-hopper." Darien couldn't help but snort a laugh.

"Oh is that right Princess Serenity? What about Prince Tal?" Darien asked with a gleam of triumph in his eye.

"What about me?" Darien jumped and spun around and looked where Tal was now standing with Ami wrapped around his arm. "What about me?" He repeated, looking from Serena to Darien questioningly.

"You're with Ami now?" Darien asked the obvious, beginning to feel his face heat up.

"Of course I am," Tal answered, squeezing Ami's hand and looking at her adoringly. "Serena and I decided that our own desires are more important than our mother's intentions," he laughed, and Serena joined him.

Serena turned her gaze accusingly to Darien and asked, "Did you think that I would be unfaithful to Tal with Preston?"

He had the grace to look ashamed. "No…no of course not Princess Serenity." Darien had the distinct impression that Raki had been listening intently to the entire conversation. But why?

A thunderous applause caused all of them to turn towards the stage set up near the rear of the room. Chad Sunn, a galaxy-wide heart-throb, had jumped up on stage. Lita and Rei began to cheer loudly. Chad began to sing a slow song meaning Ami and Tal fluttered off to join the many couples dancing. Darien and Preston continued to stand there looking thoroughly uncomfortable. Serena saw a man with bright green hair ask Lita to dance, leaving Rei alone. "Why don't you go ask Rei to dance Preston?" She suggested, raising her eyebrows suggestively.

"Yes…yes…Maybe I will," he stuttered, wringing his hands nervously.

"Just, don't mention what happened yesterday unless she brings it up," Serena warned.

Preston, slightly shaky, waded through the crowd towards Rei. "So suddenly you're the queen of romance?" Darien chided with suddenly renewed cockiness.

"I'm just trying to do him a favor, and if you don't like it then you're obviously not his friend." She stared moodily at him, but he didn't even flinch. "And if you'll excuse me," she snarled, "I have someone I want to dance with myself."

"Of course. Go find your precious Raki," Darien sneered, feeling his blood pressure rise uncontrollably. "You don't know him at all Princess Serenity. He's not a good person. You'll deserve what you get from him." With that, he turned abruptly and stalked towards the refreshments table. Eyes brimming with tears of hatred, Serena continued to stand rooted to the floor, wondering what he meant.

She still couldn't shake off a prickling feeling when she came upon Raki talking to a maid. The girl giggled and Serena felt her jaw clench. "Hello Raki," she said coolly as he whipped around.

"Oh Serena! You scared me," he turned to the girl and said, "That will be all Jezzel."

"What was that about?" She asked, watching 'Jezzel' saunter off, "and since when have you been on a first-name basis with the maids?"

Raki shifted uncomfortably. "I was just asking her if there were going to be refreshments brought out," he answered evasively.

It wasn't a good enough answer for Serena since Darien's warning was still resounding in her mind. 'He's not a good person'. "Okay, well do you want to dance?" She thought she might get on better if they were dancing.

Raki shifted his eyes very briefly towards the door. "Yes, maybe the next song? Perhaps your mother will be occupied by that time and won't notice." Serena nodded and saw Mina sitting near the stage swinging her legs. She left Raki and zigzagged her way over to Mina.

"Hey princess of love," Serena greeted her solemn friend. Mina looked up and giggled, "Hello moon child." They had always called each other these names since they were toddlers. "So, have you noticed any change of feelings in Raki since a few days ago?"

Mina sat up straighter and looked Serena over. "Why? Is he acting weird?" Serena shrugged her shoulders. "That's the thing, he is too serious too soon, and I just caught him talking very friendly with the maid."

Mina nodded wisely. "I haven't been feeling any bad vibes from Raki, but he doesn't seem to feel as strongly as he shows." That's exactly what Serena was worried she would say. "Wait, where is Raki?" Mina asked, looking around the dance floor.

"He was just there by that door," Serena sputtered, wondering where he might've hurried off to. "That wouldn't happen to be the same door the maid left through would it?" Mina questioned, raising her eyebrows in Serena's direction.

Serena's heart skipped a beat, "Yes, but… he wouldn't would he?" She stood up staring at the door, unsure of what she should do. She looked to Mina who nodded in encouragement, "Go check."

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Hehe. Sorry, the next chapter will still be during the ball, I just needed to split the two up. :D Ciao -Kukaburry