4/2/03
Title: To Love Again
Author: DragonLow
Chapter: 2/?
Summary: Darien Chiba is a cold, heartless business tycoon. Ever since his father remarried he's had almost no contact with his family. That is, until he meets Serena, his stepsisterand everything changes.
Disclaimer: I don't own Sailormoon.
Hiya! Chapter 2 is here! Thanks to: fireangel, Sailor-Kaio-Cannon, kirei*snow*tenshi, Miami-Lu, Ryoko, sadprincess2000, PixieChalk, Leigh, StarChild, hades, hulaberrie07, Kousagi-chan, Michi, and moony. THANK YOU so much for your great reviews! Love ya'll lots! I'm not sure if I like this chapter too much. It's kind of boring. I couldn't think of anything else right now. If you have any suggestions on how to improve it, let me know and I can revise it. Oh, yeah, FYI, incest is only between blood relatives! Ok! On with the story!
***
3 months later
"Oh, Serena, I'm so nervous! What if he doesn't really love me? What if he's just marrying me because I'm pregnant! I don't even look good! I look fat! I look fat on my wedding day!" Mina wailed.
"Don't talk about my brother like that! Of course he loves you! And he's not marrying you because of my precious little niece or nephew. Remember, I went with him to buy the ring 2 weeks before he had a clue about the baby!"
"I guess"
"Don't I guess' me! It's true, Mina. Believe it. Look, I know you have your doubts about this relationship, but believe me, it's not uncommon. You and Andrew love each other. That's all that matters. It'll be okay. I promise," Serena said, hugging her best friend around her shoulders.
"Why are you pounding all that love shit into her head? She's going to need a lot more than love to make a life. Especially with a child." The two women turned around to see Darien standing at the doorway, frowning.
"Darien! I'm a nervous wreck here! You're supposed to be encouraging me!" Mina glared at him through tear-filled eyes.
"I'm just telling you the truth. Maybe your nervousness is a sign."
"That's enough!" Serena shouted, anger boiling in her veins. "You will not do this to Mina or my brother! You may be Mina's friend', but you sure as hell aren't going to come near either of them!"
He scoffed. "Who are you to tell me what to do? I'll go anywhere I damned well please."
"Darien, please," Mina pleaded. "Just sit down or something? I really don't want to have all these unnecessary doubts. I want to be happy today. Please?"
Darien looked at her with an emotionless face before turning and leaving without so much as a backwards glance.
"The nerve of him! I can't believe he's Jonathan's son! They're as different as night and day!"
"Don't be so hard on him, Serena. He's just being realistic."
"More like pessimistic! It's like he's trying to sabatoge Andrew's and your happiness!"
"Well, he's not too fond of Andrew."
"It's not Andrew's fault that my mom married Jonathan! It's not my fault either!"
"I know, I know. He's justhe's always had family problems, andwell, I can't really explain it. I don't know if I truly understand myself."
Serena nodded, but wasn't really listening. She just couldn't understand Darien Chiba. She turned back to Mina with a bright smile.
"Okay! Let's get your make-up on! Remember, once I'm done you can't cry anymore! Your mascara will run! Now, I'll work my magic! Once I'm done, Andrew won't even recognize you! He'll think you look beautiful!"
"Serena!"
The laughter echoed around the small room.
***
At the reception
"May I have this dance?"
Serena looked up to see another one of Andrew's friends holding his hand out to her. They'd been at it all night, and Serena was sick of it. She had no doubt that Mina had roped them into offering to dance with her. Mina was always trying to set her up. Just because it had been 3 months since Chris
No, I won't think about him anymore. I'm just not ready to date. But, it's just a dance, and this guy is pretty cute'
Serena smiled at him and took his hand. As they danced to a slow song, Serena's thoughts drifted to random things. She was preoccupied and stepped on her partner's foot more than once. By the end of the dance, her partner's feet were sore. He quickly excused himself, and Serena watched him with indifference. She was bored. The wedding had been a dream, the reception was beautiful and the food was delicious. But there was simply nothing to do. She longed to sit with her young cousins and play cards, as they were doing right now, but her mother had warned her not to do such things as she was too old for them now.
I'm only 22. And it's not like I actually know anyone else here besides Mina, Andrew, mom and Jonathan. As if I'm going to talk to one of them.'
Serena was interrupted from her thoughts when a voice said, "Excuse me, may I sit here?"
She glanced up to see a petite young woman about her age. She was dressed in a pretty blue dress and her bluish black hair was cut very short. Serena smiled and gestured to the empty seat beside her. "Sure, go ahead."
The woman smiled at her and sat. "Thanks. You seem as bored as I am. I don't know anyone here except for Mina and Andrew. I thought maybe I could make a new friend. My name's Amy."
"Nice to meetcha, Amy!" Serena replied, shaking her hand vigorously. My name's Serena. Andrew's my brother!"
"Oh, you're Serena! I've heard all about you from Andrew. He really loves you, you know. I'm Mina's roommate. Well, ex-roommate now that she's married. I guess I have to find someone else to share the rent with. Oh, my, I never thought of it till now!"
"You need a roommate? Well, it just so happens that I'm in need of a place to stay! How big is your place?"
"Very big. It's got 2 bathrooms, 3 bedrooms, a living room and a kitchen. The rent is actually cheap for a place it's size. Do you think you could move in with me? I mean, we just met and all, but you seem like a nice person"
"Thank you! You seem like a nice person, too! Of course I'll move in with you! Like I said, I need a place to stay. Why don't you give me your number and I'll call you. We can make arrangements then. For now, we should get to know each other!"
Amy smiled at Serena's infectious mood. "Okay. It's a deal."
***
"Congratulations, Mina," Darien said reluctantly.
"Aw, come on, Darien. Pretend to be a little more happy for me. I know you don't believe in love, but I really love Andrew."
He grudgingly gave her a small hug. "Congratulations, Mina," he said again, trying to sound more sincere.
"That's better! See, I knew you could pretend perfectly! So, Serena told me you were rude to her a few months ago."
"What brings this topic about? It was 3 months ago. I'm sure she told you right after it happened. She seems the gossipy type to me."
"Darien! Don't insult my best friend like that! Serena is a wonderful person, and not gossipy at all! She was just so angry at you! How could you be so rude?"
"You know me, Mina. I'm not even very nice to you."
"That's the truth. So, what did you think of her?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. It's not like I really paid attention to what she was saying. She just yelled at me because I thought she was Andrew's whore, and then earlier when she said I was trying to sabatoge your wedding."
"That reminds meHOW COULD YOU CALL HER ANDREW'S WHORE! I can't believe you would actually think that!"
He sighed, knowing she wouldn't be satisfied until she got an apology out of him. "Look, I'm sorry, okay, Mina. It was a mistake."
"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to," Mina said pointedly.
"Oh, no. I'm not going to talk to that wench."
"DARIEN! It's my wedding day! I'm supposed to be happy! I can't be happy when two of my closest friends can't even say sorry to each other! And don't you ever call Serena such a demeaning name again!"
"Fine, Mina. Have it your way. It's your wedding day, so I'll try to make you happy."
She was all smiles now. "That's why I waited before bringing the subject up. Go on, Darien, Serena's over there, talking with my former roommate, Amy."
He sighed, then walked over to the laughing pair. Serena always seemed to be laughing. It was odd how one person could be so happy.
"Ahem."
Serena turned around to see Darien Chiba standing in front of her. Her eyes instantly turned cold. She was determined to treat her stepbrother as he had treated her: as if she didn't matter.
"Can I help you, Mr. Chiba?"
"No. Not really. I just wanted to apologize for my behavior in my office that day a few months back. It was wrong for me to assume you were Andrew'smistress," Darien said stiffly.
Serena was surprised for a moment before realization dawned on her. She narrowed her eyes. "Mina made you say that, didn't she? She used the excuse that it was her day and she was supposed to be happy and she wouldn't be happy unless you apologized to me. Didn't she?"
"That's right," Darien said coldly, looking at her with an unreadable look on his face.
She sighed. "Forget it. Good day Mr. Chiba."
He was slightly taken aback by her attitude. He'd expected her to blow up in his face or something to that affect.
As if reading his mind, as she seemed to be able to do, Serena, without even looking up said, "I'm more mature than you think, Mr. Chiba. Apologizing to me warrants no blowup at you. However, calling me my brother's whore and trying to make poor Mina nervous to death does. Good day, now, Mr. Chiba."
Darien knew a dismissal when he heard one. Hell, he was usually the one who said them! He walked away from the two women, deep in thought about his strange stepsister.
***
There's chapter 2! Please review! Thank you! (Hey, cool! All of that rhymes!!!!!)
