Author's Notes: Hello!! Look, new story! Wahoo! ^_^ I was going to make this a one parter (that's what I said about No Way Out too…) but I decided I'd rather not. It would be pretty long… It'll probably be 3-5 chapters. Hopefully I won't get carried away. Ha-ha. Oh well. Enjoy!
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Just Like a Dream
XTsukimiOdangoX
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"A-are you sure you're all right…?" Sailor Moon's eyes glimmered with genuine worry.
Tuxedo Mask griped his arm tighter. Blood began spilling over his fingers.
"I'm fine," he replied gruffly, backing away slowly. "Just a small cut…"
"Small cut?!" Sailor Moon cried incredulously. "That monster nearly sliced your arm off!"
Tuxedo Mask shrugged, then winced at the jarring it caused his arm. He cleared his throat and began to walk away. The last thing he needed was to loose his composure in front of Sailor Moon.
"T-tuxedo Mask!" the blonde super hero called.
He stopped mid-step titling his head back slightly, but not fully turning to her.
"Hmmm?"
Sailor Moon flushed. She stuttered nervously and fidgeted with her gloves.
"I… Do you… want me to… take care of--"
"I told you already," Tuxedo Mask interrupted, "it's not a bad wound. You don't have to mend to it. I can take care of it."
Sailor Moon was taken slightly aback. Sure, sometimes Tuxedo Mask was very cold and distant, but today he was being very closed-off. Almost like another tall, dark, and handsome man Sailor Moon knew…
"Goodbye," the caped hero bit out before leaping into the cool night air.
Sailor Moon took a shocked step forward, reaching out, but was too late. He had already bound off.
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Sailor Moon leapt to the next rooftop as quietly as possible. She kept her eyes on Tuxedo Mask's back, careful not to loose track of him.
I probably shouldn't be following him like this… Sailor Moon muttered mentally. But… he's got a really bad injury. I should at least make sure he gets home safely, right?
Sailor Moon gulped. What if he noticed her? Then what would she do? She lived in the completely opposite direction.
The blonde shook her head, long ponytails dancing about her face. She jumped to the next building. It was too late to turn back now, wasn't it? After all, if Tuxedo Mask knew Sailor Moon was injured he would probably do the same.
Right?
Sailor Moon was about to jump to the next rooftop but stopped. Tuxedo Mask had leapt onto a balcony and was fumbling with the door. Sailor Moon faltered slightly. Was it just her imagination or… was this the apartment Darien lived in…?
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Sailor Moon stood outside the balcony, wide eyed, lips parted in shock. Through the glass balcony doors she could see the figure of Tuxedo Mask, or more appropriately, Darien Shields.
The blonde's hands began to shake. Her bottom lip trembled the slightest, heart pounding. Was she seeing things…? She had to be! Darien couldn't possibly be Tuxedo Mask!! Her mind had to be playing tricks on her…! There was no way she just followed Tuxedo Mask home and watched him de-transform into Darien. There was no way!
Inside the apartment Darien took an exhausted seat on his bed, back facing Sailor Moon. He very carefully peeled his tee-shirt off, grimacing at the searing pain in his left arm.
It really was quite far from being just a "small cut." The laceration had yet to clot despite the pressure Darien was applying to it. He eyed the slice carefully. He silently hoped that a bandage would do the trick…
Sailor Moon watched - slinking back slightly into the dark so as not to be seen - as Darien left the room. She rested a shaky hand on to glass doors. She stared at the spot on the bed in which Darien had just occupied in disbelief.
Her arch nemesis and the man she was madly in love with was the same person?! The man she couldn't stand to talk to for more than five seconds was her caped hero?!
So why was she so happy…?
The blonde gasped as Darien came back into the room. She shrunk farther back into the dark night. She noted that his arm was covered by surgical tape and a wad of gauze.
Sailor Moon silently cursed the fact that she couldn't see his bare chest more clearly…
Darien ran a hand through his disheveled hair. He flopped down on his bed, letting out a long sigh. He rolled over on his right side, facing away from Sailor Moon again. His eyes slowly fluttered closed.
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Another minute passed.
Sailor Moon hadn't dared move an inch after she slipped into Darien's from the balcony. One false move and he could wake up.
Why the hell did she sneak inside anyway?!
Sailor Moon groaned mentally.
Hesitantly the blonde super hero took a step forward, paused, and then took another. Soon she found herself mere centimeters from Darien's bed.
Well, now what? Sailor Moon thought bitterly. You follow the guy home, find out his identity, and then break into his apartment. Now you're standing less than a foot from the most gorgeous man you've ever seen. She scowled. And what exactly is it I've accomplished here besides losing what ever sanity I had left?
Sailor Moon's stomach clenched as Darien stirred. Her eyes widened, body beginning to tremble once more. The raven-haired man turned over onto his back, a slight look of pain on his face.
His sleeping face.
Sailor Moon sighed in relief.
Thank God he hadn't woken up…
Sailor Moon's eyes shifted over to the digital clock on his night table. The red numbers glared 3:32. She sighed. She had to get going soon. Not only was she loosing valuable sleep, but Luna was probably looking for her. Not to mention that fact that her transformation would fade any minute now…
Sailor Moon gingerly reached out, brushing dark bangs away from Darien's face. His brow furrowed slightly. Sailor Moon pulled her hand back an inch in shock. She studied his face for a moment as he relaxed and then reached out to him again.
She knew she was pushing her luck, but… He looked so incredibly gorgeous…
She suddenly had an uncontrollable urge to kiss him.
Sailor Moon's cheeks flushed. She shouldn't be thinking things like this!
But still…
Her hand lingered on Darien's cheek. She very softly trailed a finger down his strong jaw line. He shuddered lightly. Sailor Moon gulped. If she kissed him, and he woke up…
Before Sailor Moon even realized it her nose was brushing his. She could feel his staggered breathing dance across her lips. If she leaned down the tiniest bit more then…
The blonde tentatively dipped down farther, her lips grazing his.
Her heart had never pounded so fast in her life.
Sailor Moon slowly let her eyes drift closed. She kissed him again, body quivering.
I shouldn't be doing this, her mind cried. He's sleeping, completely unaware of the fact I'm kissing him! I'm like… completely violating him!
Sailor Moon was just about to pull away when she felt Darien's lips respond. Her eyes flew open.
Oh my God!
Sailor Moon jerked away. Her spine straightened dramatically, eyes impossibly wide.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Darien's eyes were open now.
"Sa-sailor Moon…?" he croaked out, eyes still glazed over with sleep.
The said heroine was quaking. Her mouth opened and closed, desperately trying to find words. She fumbled backwards a step.
Darien rubbed his eyes in disbelief. He slowly sat up, staring at Sailor Moon intently.
A glowing Sailor Moon.
Sailor Moon looked down at her shimmering body in alarm. The transformation…! It was disappearing!
No! Not now!!
Before Darien or Sailor Moon could even blink there stood Serena clad in a light pink pajama tank top and matching shorts with little bunnies running everywhere.
Serena blushed furiously.
Darien's eyes widened to match Serena's.
"Serena…?!" he cried out, jumping into a standing position. He faltered slightly at the pull on his arm and collapsed back down into a sitting position on the bed.
Serena gasped. She reached out to him in surprise, fingertips grazing his bare shoulders. He jumped lightly.
Darien's head swung up to meet her gaze. His eyes quickly swept over her incredulously. Had Sailor Moon just kissed him, and then turned into Serena…?!
He shook his head doubtfully. That was not possible.
Serena was frozen in place. She gulped. Her heart was pounding dramatically in her ears. Oh God, what was she going to do?!
Darien very slowly attempted at standing again. His body brushed up against Serena's, making her tremble lightly.
"You…" Darien began. He reached a hand up to Serena's cheek. His eyes shimmered in the faint light of the room. He was staring at her so intently… His brow creased slightly. "This… has got to be a dream."
Serena's mind whirled. A dream! Yeah, she could pretend it was just a dream! Then she wasn't technically caught! He would never know!
"There's not way you're Sailor Moon."
Serena's heart sunk. She felt tears sting at the corners of her eyes.
There was no way this stupid, klutzy, crybaby was Sailor Moon…
She had been so happy when she found out Tuxedo Mask was Darien. Couldn't he be happy too…?!
"It would be," Darien whispered, "perfect…"
The blonde's eyes widened the slightest. "P-perfect…?" she managed to choke out.
Darien's lips spread into a small smile. Those perfect, sensuous lips…
Serena silently thanked the gods that the light wasn't on. Her face was bright red.
"It would be like…" he paused, trying to find the words, "a dream come true."
Serena's heart fluttered. He… he wanted her to be Sailor Moon…?!
Serena quickly brushed the sensation aside. Despite the happiness that seemed to make her heart swell she needed to get out of Darien's apartment. Fast. While she still had the chance.
"I-I'm flattered," Serena began to stutter, "but… I r-really need to go…" If only she could get out of here while Darien still thought of this all as a dream…
"No."
Serena's eyes widened.
"Please, don't go," Darien pleaded in a hushed voice. His fingers brushed along her cheek bone. The blonde shuddered. "I don't want you to go…"
Serena's breathing became heavy. He took a step closer, their bodies pressed together. She had to crane her head all the way back in order to make eye contact with him, but didn't mind the slightest.
"D-Darien…" Was it her imagination, or was he leaning in closer…? Her breath was coming in quick gasps now.
"Shhh…" The raven haired man ran his thumb across her slightly parted lips.
Before Serena couldn't even realize what was happening his lips were crushed against hers.
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Author's Notes: Whoa, that was a long chapter for me. Even though it sucks, ha-ha. Please review! I know it's stinky, but it'll get better, I swear!!