AN: Hey guys! Thanks for sticking it with me for so long, only three chapters to go! The end is near; ahh! ^_^ This chapter, as I warned you in the last chapter's AN is a little on the short side, but don't worry! The last two chapters are decent lengths ;) In the meantime, why don't you run over to my profile and read up on some drabbles? Once you've read something that short, a chapter like this will seem epically long! Haha, wink.

Thanks to Kaitlyn Fall, who has beta'd every chapter and more. Without her, guys, you wouldn't be reading such brilliance! Well... not brilliance (I sound so stuck up saying that -_-), but Tangled up in High Society would not be as good as it is today!

Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon or the characters, and Scott and Daniel belong to Alicia Blade.


When Darien got home, he went and had a long shower. His muscles were all tight and he needed to relax so he could think clearly. What did it mean if Serena wasn't working for Gleam anymore? Had she been fired? Had she lied? He wouldn't put it past her now. Had she passed notes about Raye's party and those who had attended to a colleague? All these questions swirled around in his head, and he needed to clear his head. He never should have picked up that magazine; he never should have listened to Raye. Stupid boat outing – it had been her idea in the first place.

Just as he was turning the silver taps off, an idea came to him. He dressed hurriedly and stumbled to his computer. He opened up his favourite search engine and typed in Serena Tsukino.

It returned many results.

He opened up about ten windows, all of articles she had written previously. His suspicions were confirmed when he noted that they were all written for Gleam, something she had admitted to, but had come up inconclusive in his mind.

He read though all her stories quickly, pausing longer on her last one about Tamara Mitchell, written two months ago. He frowned. Her writing style wasn't the same as he'd thought... She was witty and interesting and... flattering. It surprised him.

She was kind in her words, and objective to other critiques of her subjects. She had a story for everything, although she seemed to have a knack for interviews – he supposed that was why Bruce Spork had given her that job.

He went back to the engine and searched Gleam. Clicking onto their official site, he looked around for the Contact link. Finding it, he narrowed his eyes. He didn't want to speak to that low life. That scum-bag, Bruce Spork.

Cringing at the thought of having to actually exchange words with Leader of the Snakes, he picked up his phone. Dialling the digits on the screen, he waited no more than several seconds before the other line was picked up.

"Yes?" yelled a nasally voice, as if the owner didn't realise the phone had a perfectly fine microphone.

"I'm looking for a Serena Tsukino, a journalist of yours?" Darien asked in full politeness, mentally crossing his fingers, hoping that there had been some kind of mistake in the printing.

"Who?" the snarky voice asked loudly, bored.

"Serena Tsukino. She writes on celebrities and their –"

"Ah," Bruce realised, somewhat angrily. "That little brat."

"Excuse me?" Darien meant to sound polite, but the outrage fused with his words, crossing it into some disbelieving question.

"No, got rid of her ages ago.," Darien could hear the man eating something, the chewing and sloppy sounds right in his ear. "Failed her most important assignment. Couldn't write the article. No," he stopped, before laughing harshly, "wouldn't write the article, which is just a pathetic excuse for couldn't."

"She... doesn't work for you anymore?" Darien struggled to comprehend the fact, trying to focus on the man's words rather than his insistent chewing. He could just see him now, leaning back in his chair, feet up on the desk, licking his fat fingers clean...

"No, and good riddance I say!" Bruce barked again. He paused.

"Say, who is this?" Darien could hear the chewing stop and a seat squeak. "This isn't the Union is it? If that brat has gone and –"

"No," Darien cut in smoothly. "This is Darien Shields." He smirked in satisfaction as Bruce seemed to choke on something. "Anyway, I was just calling to set up an interview with Serena like we had previously discussed, but since she no longer works for you..." He trailed off, letting the implication sink in. "That's okay, maybe I'll try Faux." He was of course, referring to a rival magazine.

"Like bloody hell you will –" Darien cut Bruce Spork off by disconnecting the call.

Serena had lost her job for him. He felt guilty about that at least, he wasn't totally heartless. But that didn't lesson his anger towards her by much. He wondered if she was working for another magazine or newspaper... If only he knew how to find her.

"You know, you don't have to go to all that trouble," a female's voice remarked from his shoulder. Darien jumped in his seat and spun around to find his sister straightening to her full height.

"Raye?" he asked. "What are you doing here? How did you get in?"

"The front door was unlocked..."

The front door was unlocked? He must have been really distracted.

"What are you doing here?"

Raye smiled and began to walk out the door, and Darien had no choice but to follow her. "I just wanted to see you, bro. See how you were holding up."

"Holding up?"

They made their way down the grand spiral stairs and turned into the kitchen. Raye dumped her bag and keys on the island bench and gestured for Darien to take a seat. When he didn't move, she pointed to the stool, "Sit."He did so; unsure as to why he was taking orders in his own house.

"Listen, if you're trying to find Serena," she began as she opened the fridge and pulled out the orange juice, "I know where to start."

"I'm not looking for her, I was just... checking up to make sure she hadn't lied about who she worked for."

Raye nodded. "Right, sure. I believe you." Her tone clearly implied she did not.

"Really, Raye," Darien took the jug of juice from her hands and began to shake it while she reached for the glasses, "I wasn't looking for her."

His half-sister shrugged. "Okay then. But if you ever want to find out, all you have to do is ask." She smiled to herself in a secretive way as she took the jug back and began pouring the drinks.

They drank in silence for several moments, each regarding the room as if it were the most interesting thing they'd ever seen. After some time, it was Darien who broke the silence.

"Fine." He heaved a sigh. "Where can I find her?"

Raye grabbed her keys.


Amy put the last book on the shelf and rubbed her temples. Today was just one of those days; uninteresting and long. Goodness, it was long. As Amy wandered the store, looking for anything she could do, she approached the magazine stand. She looked for any sign of disturbance, wondering which magazine Raye Hino had been looking for, but she wasn't stupid; she knew what she would have bought.

A couple entered through the door and stood behind her, talking together in hushed voices. Amy pretended she was busy rearranging the magazines in the stand, trying not to listen to their conversation. Whatever it was, it sounded like the woman wanted the man to go in and find something. Amy heard him stumble, and snap at her for pushing him, but she just snorted and told him she was going to do some last minute shopping before closing time. He muttered something darkly under his breath and the woman giggled. High heels clicking on the linoleum floor outside the shop told Amy that the woman was leaving. The man groaned and swiftly headed to the back of the shop. Amy smoothened her apron, tucked her hair behind her ears and straightened her shoulders, before turning around to find the man. She decided to start at the obvious, and peek into the first aisle, the medical, self-help and home remedies section. Amy could see the retreating figure of a tall, dark haired man, and she quietly jogged to catch up.

When she had finally caught up to him, she cleared her throat and pasted on a smile. "May I help you? Are you looking for a certain book?"

The man paused mid step and turned around to face her. Amy felt herself pale. Oh, this day was just getting even worse by the second.

Because standing in aisle one of Nook and Cranny Books, was none other than Darien Shields.


Please don't forget to review, I really do love them (and your opinion does matter!).

xx

Carmen