Author's Note: Hi, folks, sorry to keep you waiting. But I promise, this chapter was worth the wait. I think so, anyways. I had a lot happen since the last time I posted, but I won't bore you with it. Just a word of reccomendation. Parents, love and protect your children with everything you are. You never know when they will be called to join the angels. And if they have already gone, then I am deeply sorry for your loss. To everyone, thank you for reading and reviewing my story. And yes, I am a parent, but thankfully I have not felt that loss, personally.

Tension

Chapter Nine

He had lied to her. He wasn't in love with anyone. The truth was, he probably wouldn't know love if it hit him upside the head. Darien didn't know what had possessed him to tell Bunny that, other than the fact his life was too complicated to involve her.

Darien briefly thought of Sailor Moon and the princess. He felt an over whelming urge to protect the first, while the latter had always been in his dreams. He felt love for the princess, on that he had no doubt. But to go so far as to say he was in love with one… that was pushing it. Neither Sailor Moon or the princess made him feel the range of emotions that Bunny did. He never knew if he was going to kill her or kiss her.

He scowled.

The latter hadn't been a problem, until recently. He was, if he was honest, quite astonished by her behavior. It wasn't like Bunny to be so…forward. No, that wasn't right. She was always forward. And vocal. But she was quite now too. He didn't know how she could be on opposite ends of the spectrum. She was an enigma he was still trying to figure out.

He scowled harder.

The fact that he wanted to figure her out grated on his nerves. She was still the annoying kid he was forever trying to escape. Only now, thanks to her little confessions, he was forced to look at her differently. After that day in the alley, after his lack of self control, he had resolved to stay away from her.

It hadn't been hard, at first. Bunny seem to have the same thing in mind, because when ever he would arrive at the arcade after her, she would leave with her friends a short time later. And then, after her friends had left on vacation with the exception of Rei, she had started to stay longer. School was out now, so she was there everyday. Which only made his resolve that much harder.

He snorted in frustration.

So why was he sitting here, in the arcade, with Bunny just a few feet away?

Darien cringed as yet another teen hit a sour note.

Ahhh, that was right. His friend, Jed, had formed an obsession with Rei. He had sworn up and down to Darien that she was following him. Darien thought that was wishful thinking on Jed's part, because he couldn't see the miko trailing after any guy, much less his friend. And if she had been interested in Jed, she would have said something by now, instead of retreating from him.

Jed had been begging Darien to go to Karaoke Night at Motoki's for over a week, and he had finally relented. Now he wished that he could just slink off into the shadows. To think, he was actually praying for a youma to show it's face.

So far, the karaoke music hadn't been all that great. Not to mention the Odango kept shooting glares in his direction, from where she was sitting in a booth with Rei. As if he had done something wrong. Darien really wanted to bang his forehead on the counter in front of him. This was all her fault. Since that day in the alley, she had driven the princess from his dreams only to insert herself in the princess' place, using the most erotic displays.

Oh sure, it hadn't started out that way. At first, it had been the usual "please find me, please remember me, help me with the crystal" kind of dreams, to the princess finally stepping out of the mist in her usual long white gown, but with Bunny's face. Then it had turned into "please help me, just kiss me, I want to touch you" with her slipping the gown from her shoulders to pool around her feet. And now it was "touch me, take me, I'm yours" with Bunny spread out on red silk sheets, her silvery-golden hair spilling free from her odangos to frame her naked body.

Darien broke out in a light sweat, just thinking about it. Who knew he had such an imagination when it came to her? It seemed like the more he tried to avoid her, the more persistent the dreams became. Even now, he could hear her breathless cries as he…

He shook his head as he shrugged off his light jacket. It was getting awful warm in the arcade.

Sixteen, man. Sixteen, sixteen, sixteen…

It had become a steady chant inside his head. He glanced in her direction, only to let out another frustrated breath.

Honestly, what was she wearing? He hadn't seen her out of her school uniform for the longest time, and was extremely grateful that on the few occasions that he had, after the alley incident, that she hadn't been wearing anything too revealing. Tonight, however, that was not the case. It just wasn't fair…She had no idea what that tight, little, white halter-top dress was doing to him. It fell to her mid thigh, giving it a respectable length, but hugged her breasts and hips. The neck line was on the long side, ending between her breasts, yet still modest. And supporting it all were two strings tying behind her neck, leaving her shoulders and arms bare. There was no way possible that she was wearing a bra… In short, she looked delectable.

Where the hell was Jed?

Usagi wanted to scream. He was watching her, she knew. Her skin was flushed and felt too small for her body, too tight. It really didn't help the fact that he had just taken off his jacket to reveal the tight black shirt that clung to him. Darien was in all black, and he looked so hot.

She and Rei had already sang their songs before Darien and his friend had arrived. Thank God. She wasn't all that bad, decent even, but Rei put everyone to shame. Nobody wanted to go after her.

Usagi was steamed. He hadn't shown up that night, after what had happened in the alley. Which really sucked, because Mina had picked the perfect song to punish him with. And he hadn't bothered to come. The ass. She really missed her friends and she was going nowhere fast with Darien. He was being too stubborn.

She had stayed away from him after the "incident", thinking he needed some space and he would come to senses and realize he wanted her. Now she saw that it had been a tactical error. He had used the time to gather his forces and retreat. The ass.

He wouldn't even let her get a good night's rest. He haunted her every sleeping moment. Before, she had dreamt of Endymion. Endymion had begged her not to give up, he promised to find her, to help her with the crystal. Now Darien was seducing her in her dreams.

She snorted.

Yeah, right.

Her gaze found his blonde haired friend, Jed. Darien might have retreated, but it looked like one of his generals was rebelling.

Why can't he be more like that…?

Jed was steadfast in his pursuit of Rei. Relentless even. Rei completely ignored him, most of the time, and opted for professional politeness.

Usagi felt Darien's eyes on her and she turned to glare at him.

Keep your hot eyes and lustful dreams to yourself!

She railed at him, in her head.

"What has Darien done to you now, Usagi-chan?" Rei questioned from beside her.

"Nothing." she said, in between gritted teeth.

"So what's the problem?"

"That is the problem." Usagi responded hotly.

Inwardly, she cursed. She hadn't meant to say that part out loud, but she couldn't take it back now. She wasn't so stupid as to believe Rei hadn't heard her, either.

"I want a soda." Rei announced, after a brief pause.

Usagi gave her a quizzical look.

Wha…She's not going to say anything?

Rei met her gaze, amused, then looked to the bar.

"I want a soda," she repeated. "Will you get me one?"

Usagi followed her gaze to the bar, where Darien was still seated.

"Uhh, no. I'm pulling rank. You can get your own soda."

She saw Rei smirk.

"Why, Serenity, you're afraid of a mere mortal man?" her friend teased her.

Usagi snorted.

"I really can't see how you of all people are teasing me about a guy. Last time I checked, you were trying to avoid a certain blonde Aussie."

'Ha ha." Rei replied, dryly. "Are you Sailor Moon, or aren't you? Don't let a guy jerk you around, Usagi-chan. You're better than him, anyhow."

Okay, so Rei was a little bitter towards the male populace. Given her experience with them, she had good reason. Usagi shrugged off the man hater comment and sighed.

"Fine, but I can't be responsible for my actions if he so much as opens his mouth, Rei-chan."

"I'll cheer you on from the sidelines." she offered.

Usagi rolled her eyes as she got up from the booth and made her way through the people to the bar. Onto the battle field she went.

When she reached the bar, she greeted Motoki and placed Rei's order. Then she drummed her fingers on the surface of the counter when Motoki told her he had to go back in storage to refill the syrup in the cola. What would have taken a few seconds was stretching into long, intense minutes.

Usagi had every intention of ignoring him, ignoring the tension, she really did. Only, when he gave her another once over, she couldn't help but snap at him.

"Stop looking at me!" she snapped, with a glare in his direction.

Darien gave her a startled look, that was quickly replaced with a cool and afloat mask.

"So sorry, Odango." he said sardonically, as he rose out of his seat.

He pushed past her, and she lost it. Snapped. Flat out couldn't take it anymore. She picked up the nearest thing to her off the bar, which happened to be a metal napkin holder, and flung it at his retreating back.

With some kind of sixth sense, he turned and knocked it out of the air with his forearm, saving himself from what would have been a killer head ache. The napkin holder clanged against a table and bounced harmlessly under a booth. He met her fuming gaze with disbelief, then anger.

"This is all your fault!" she wailed, stomping a white, platformed sandal foot in frustration.

"You," he jabbed a finger at her, taking a step in her direction, "just threw something at me. How is that my fault?" he asked in a dangerously low voice. With each emphasis, he had brought himself closer to her.

Usagi gulped. How had she forgotten how intimidating this man could be? Well, she couldn't back down now…She was a princess, damn it! She gripped her hands into fists and remembered all the reason she was so…upset with him.

"This is all your fault!" she accused, stomping her foot again. "You've been staring at me all night!"

Usagi took the final step, closing the distance between them so that their bodies lightly touched. Heat arched between them, which only spurred her on. She jabbed his chest with a finger, as she glared up at him.

"Are you trying punish me, or something? You haven't said a word to me, you haven't touched me, all you do is stare." she hissed at him.

Somewhere in the back of his brain, he was amused. She was mad because he hadn't touched her? But it was buried deep, and he shoved it aside. He must have not been quick enough, because her gaze narrowed and she took aim at his chest with her fist, with an angry growl. He caught her hand before she could land a blow, of course, and all she had succeeded in doing was piss him off.

"I've had enough of your attempts to do me bodily harm, Odango." he snapped at her, gripping her fist in his, bodies pressed against each other. The tension that was rolling back and forth between them was so thick, a knife could cut it.

"Ohh, you have no idea, you ass!"

"Are you threatening me?" he asked, menacingly.

Not for a minute did he think that the little shrimp of a girl could actually hurt him. That's probably why he was so surprised when she did, by bring her foot down on top of his, hard.

"That's it!" he snapped, angrily. "It ends, now."

Darien turned hard, jerking her after him. He half drug her through the arcade, and to the doors that read "Employees Only." Usagi dug her heels in, and he shoved her a bit more rough than gently through the doors of the bath room.

"I know you did not just push me!"

"I know I just did, what are you going to do about it?" he taunted.

Usagi threw herself at him. Did he have to look so incredibly sexy when he was angry with her? His face was tinged red and he seemed to have trouble drawing breath. Just like her. And he was right. It would end tonight.

Darien saw Usagi lunged at him and caught her around the waist, pushing her non too gently into the wall so that she was just below eye level with him. The air in her lungs left in a whosh, but to be honest, she had had problems breathing before than. She fisted his hair in her hands and yanked. Hard.

Outside of the bathroom they could hear Britney Spears' "Crazy, Stop Re-Mix" playing, and Usagi recognized Naru's voice. Darien was wincing from where she had pulled his hair and their gazes collided.

"Kiss me." Usagi demanded, her voice had gone to sultry in three seconds flat.

Darien saw the need in her eyes, and couldn't resist. Surely a kiss couldn't hurt anything more…

She took the choice from him when she yanked his head down to her, her hands still buried in his hair. This time, he didn't resist and went willingly.

Their lips met in a glorious flash of heat, every nerve standing on ends. Usagi gasped as she felt lightening in her lower belly. Tugging. Darien took her open mouth as an invitation and slid his tongue in smoothly. Inwardly, Usagi melted. He tasted…indescribable. Like coming home. Like hot sex outside in the garden, under the moonlight. Everything she was missing…

Usagi anchored one of her legs around his hip while her tongue tangled with his in the most erotic dance ever. Her blood pounded and her heart thundered in her chest. The kiss deepened and she was falling. Her heart and soul reached for his. She felt his thumbs caressing her hip bones in circles, where he still held her, pinned to the wall.

She felt more than heard his growl of need. Darien swung her around, so that she was sitting on the edge of the sink's counter, with him in between her legs. He was pressed so intimately against her, she could feel him, even through their clothes. Her breast ache and grew heavy. Her body responded to his, as a wick to a flame. She felt the damp eagerness in her deepest parts, and her mind clouded with even more passion.

Some sane part of his mind tried to speak to Darien, but Bunny's mouth was unlike anything he had ever tasted, and he wanted more. She was addicting. Her hand slipping underneath his shirt nearly undid him. Her finger tips were brushing against his abdomen in a teasing carress, driving him mad.

Before he could even think of what he was doing, one of his hands left her hip to travel up her stomach, up the valley of her breast, and behind her neck, to untie the knot that held her dress up. Usagi felt him undoing the knot, but she didn't stop him. The air felt cool against her flushed, bare skin and she gave a light whimper when Darien's mouth left hers. He was right, she wasn't wearing a bra. She drew his head down to her, wanting him. No, needing him.

His lips wandered down her throat as one hand caressed the swell of her breast. Usagi cried out as his finger tips circled her nipple, before giving it a gentle tweak. She pressed closer to him, wrapping her legs tightly around his waist in an effort to ease the terrible aching emptiness, wanting to fill it with him.

She cried out again when his mouth settled over her breast, drawing her sensitive nipple into his mouth. He suckled strongly, his tongue flickering. Bunny had started murmuring in the strange language he had heard her speaking to Mina in. He had never heard it before, but he thought she was saying "please" and "more". Her sensual voice was driving him crazy.

Her breast rose and fell as her breath grew more ragged. Heat emanated from her. His mouth moved her over her, hungrily. It seemed the more he touched her, the more he wanted her. He knew he should stop, but he couldn't. Need was on him, making his control shaky, as he felt her press against his groin. He switched to her other breast, cupping it before he brought it to his mouth. Usagi gave a soft, tormented cry as she leaned back, bracing herself with her hands on the small counter behind her, still perched on the edge. Her new position brought her tighter against his erection, while her breasts were pushed against his face. She was half laying across the counter, and she looked like a virginal sacrifice, with her white dress pooled around her waist.

"Please, you have to do something." Bunny pleaded, looking down at him at her breast. It was the most erotic thing she had ever seen in this life time.

Satisfaction lit his dark, dark blue eyes, but she didn't care. She felt his other hand leave her waist, to slowly trace down the top of her thigh until it reached the hem of her dress. Usagi unclasped one of her legs from him, and he moved back, slightly. Then, in a slow, deliberate movement, he slid his hand to the inside of her thigh. He skimmed his fingers upwards, towards her core, as his thumb brought the hem of her dress up, exposing her to him. Nerves in her thighs jumped, and she opened her legs a little further, squirming against his thick erection.

Darien felt the desire race through him, his body jerking. He reached her core, outlining her folds through her panties. His mouth was still on her breast, pulling. She arched against him, mewling. He could feel her dampness, even through the cloth. Only a thin scrap of material separated her most intimate parts from him. He pressed against the fabric, bringing forth more moisture from her, and a startled cry.

"Darien…"

Her desperate plea in the form of his name was the final undoing. His hand and mouth left her breast, so all that remained was his hand between her legs. He braced his other hand palm down on the counter, near hers.

He looked up, and saw his reflection in the mirror behind Bunny. He didn't recognize the man staring back at him. He saw someone more aggressive, more possessive, more…everything. And more than anything, the man wanted Bunny. Totally and completely. The pull was so strong, Darien had never really stood a chance against it. He meet his own eyes in the glass, and something clicked, moved into place. His decision was made. This girl was his. He would make it so.

Usagi whimpered as she felt his hand leave her.

"Pick up your hips, Bunny." he ordered, hoarsely.

He could have sobbed in relief when she did as he bade her, and he slipped her panties from her hips and down her long legs. Darien let them fall to the floor as he turn his attention back to the girl on the counter. He pushed her dress up so that it bunched at her waist, and he began touching her. He parted her thighs and without warning slid a finger inside her, stretching.

Shocked sensation hit her first, then a winding tension. Her whole world narrowed to his hand, his finger moving inside her. Slick and hot, her tight body welcomed his intrusion, the ache inside her increasing a hundred times more. She arched her back, bring him further into her. He was stroking in and out of her, and she couldn't help the cries of pleasure from escaping. Darien caught them by bring his mouth to hers, once again.

Without thought, Usagi bit down on his bottom lip. He pulled back slightly, licking the small wound. Then he was kissing her again, adding a finger to her torment. She bucked her hips at the insane pleasure. She was falling, she knew she was going to burst, any second, in and out, in and out. And then she did.

Usagi came with a sharp cry of his name.

Darien's hands were shaking as he reached for the zipper of his pants. And it hit him like a bucket of cold water. His hands were shaking…and he was reaching for his zipper. His harsh breathing echoed in his ears, bring reality back.

For the love of the gods….He was about to take her in a bathroom.

He felt tugging on his pants and he snapped back to attention. Bunny was trying to unzip him, only her hands were shaking too. He couldn't explain the immense satisfaction he felt in that. To know that she was just as crazy in lust as he was. His body still burned for her…

Darien covered her small hands with his, stopping her attempt. She let out a frustrated breath and tried to continue, only to have him stop her again.

"Stop." he ordered, gently.

Usagi looked up at him. He was still in between her legs, aching for her. She could feel him through his pants. She felt tears of frustration burn her eyes.

"Don't leave me so empty…" the soft plea was out before she could stop it. She saw the uncertainty flicker in his eyes. "Please…"

Darien looked into her clear eyes, darkened by desire. He knew, with a startling clarity, that what ever he decided would effect his life in a dramatic way. In the your-life-will-never-be-the-same, kind of way. He felt the weight of un-named events weighing heavily on this one decision. He didn't know the why or the how of it, he just knew. The decision was his, and he had already made it, looking into the mirror, when the other had been there.

He reached down to her waist, bringing her dress back up to cover her. He tied the strings together behind her neck, and reached down to the floor to retrieve her panties. He helped her stand and shimmy back into them, saw the crushing disappointment in her eyes. Darien straighten her dress back up, the virginal sacrifice still intact. He placed his hands on her bare shoulders and took a deep breath.

Usagi looked up at him, trying not to let the tears of rejection out. Because, in short, that was what it was. Rejection. She bite her lip in distress. What was she going to do now? Was he so lost to her that she would never reach him?

Her thoughts scattered when he finally spoke.

"Come home with me."