5/20/03

Title: To Love Again

Author: DragonLow

Chapter: 6/?

Disclaimer: I don't own Sailormoon!

Okay, okay, I'm back! I actually got the computer back about a week ago, but I found myself very busy and without ideas. So don't expect a lot from this chapter. It's just to get me going again. Thanks to Meatsy, kalinda, Mystical Angel, Aqua Rhapsody, Fellow, Lady Tristana Rogue, Usagi Usako Chiba, videl621, princess20000204, lil-popcorngurl, leeta-starr, LadySiri, Rainhe, Demon-Mystique, kirei*snow*tenshi, nadja and mackenzie for reviewing! And if you have more ideas for me, please tell me! This is getting hard

***

Serena entered the small café, fuming. Who did that prick think he is? He had no right to just carry her off like he had, and in front of the whole staff, too! They would surely talk about her now. Darien led her to a small table in a corner by a window, before leaving to get her something to eat. Serena fumed even more. Not only had he forced her to come here, he hadn't even asked her what she wanted to eat!

Serena took a few deep breaths to calm herself. It wasn't until afterwards that she took a look at her surroundings. She was in a small, elegant café, which looked quite lovely. All of the tables and chairs looked to be made of redwood, and the walls were painted a bright yellow, making the place look cheery and comforting. Slowly, Serena relaxed, just as Darien arrived with two lattes and two pieces of chocolate cake.

She looked at him suspiciously, before realization hit her. "Oh, I get it. You're trying to make me fat so you can kill and eat me, right?"

He looked at her like she was an alien from another planet. "No, I simply thought you'd enjoy a piece of chocolate cake."

"It's poisoned, isn't it?"

"What are you talking about? It's not poisoned."

"You do know that this isn't lunch food, right?"

"Yes, but wouldn't you like desert first?"

"Ha! I knew it. You're up to something!"

"How does that comment mean I'm up to something?" he asked, still looking at her strangely.

She shrugged. "I don't know. It just does. My brother told me about you. I've been warned."

"Oh? So he spoke of me often?"

"No. I just kept asking him questions. I was stupid, thinking that I would have a new brother who I could love and actually loved me back. He wouldn't have said anything, but he told me so I wouldn't try to hunt you down or something. He was protecting me. Like brothers do."

For some reason, her words hit him. They were spoken off-handedly, and without much emotion, but he could tell she was serious. He almost wished he'd been there for her from the beginning. Then he remembered why he was doing this. He composed himself.

"So, what have you been doing with your life, Serena?"

She looked at him hesitantly. She had slowly started to eat the cake and had to admit it was delicious. He'd never know she thought so, though. "Why is it any business of yours? Anyway, don't you already know?"

"I am your brother--" he said. She snorted at this. He continued. "--and I don't already know. I know everything about your business, not your personal life."

"Well, then, you'll have to do some checking into my personal life, because I'm not about to tell you."

He grinned devilishly at her, a grin he knew melted many women's hearts. On Serena, however, it seemed to have no effect. "Is that an invitation for me to stick around?"

She huffed at his interpretation of her words. Inside, though, she was struggling. Darien Chiba may be an insufferable jerk that she wouldn't stay around for more than 1 minute, but she wasn't blind to how handsome he was. His smile was definitely sexy. "Look, thanks forwhatever this was," she said, gesturing to the food, "but I think I've spent enough time here with you. Make an appointment and we'll talk about your building, okay?" Without so much as a good-bye, she walked out of the café.

Darien wasn't about to let her go that easily. He went after her, leaving a tip behind. He caught up with her and grabbed her arm, spinning her around. She looked at him angrily.

"Look, what--"

He didn't let her finish. He bent down and crushed his lips to hers. For a moment they stood there, kissing. Well, Darien was kissing her. She wasn't responding. She was too surprised, which was why she let it go as far as she did. As soon as she got her senses back, she pulled away.

"What the hell is your problem!" she screamed.

Darien looked surprised himself for a moment, but composed himself. "What do you mean?" he asked innocently.

Serena sputtered. "You know exactly what I mean! First, you're completely rude to me, then you're sort of nice, then you say you want to be the brother you never were before, then you're rude again, and then you KISS ME!"

Darien smirked. "I was just seeing which I liked best. I think I like kissing you best."

"YOU ARROGANT BASTARD! Get the hell away from me! Forget the job, forget the money, forget my mo--" Serena stopped herself. Reminded herself why she was really doing this job. Then glared at him with all the hatred in her heart. She saw a taxi out of the corner of her eye and quickly hailed it, leaving Darien standing there, watching her.

***

Darien entered his office, silently cursing himself. What had possessed him to kiss her? What had possessed him to say he liked it? 'Darien, you're going to ruin your plan before it gets started,' he thought. The plan had been to become friends with her, and then slowly but surely make her fall in love with him. And then he'd break her heart. But he wasn't supposed to kiss her. Seeing her, on the street, angry, had done something to him. She'd looked beautiful. Not that she wasn't already. But when she was angry, her composed façade fell, and he saw the real Serena, who was much more beautiful than anything he'd imagined. He sighed. He had to stop this. He had to just follow the plan. Yes. Just follow the plan.

***

Serena paced her own office, thinking. About Darien Chiba. And his kiss. That wonderful, sensual--"No, Serena! Stop thinking that! It was rude, and uncalled for, and totally unromantic!" she said to herself. 'But that doesn't really matter, does it?' she thought. 'It was still the best kiss you've ever experienced.'

"AH! STOP IT, SERENA!" she yelled. Instantly the door burst open.

"Serena, what's wrong?" Lita, Serena's friend and business partner exclaimed.

Serena sighed. "I'm sorry, Lita. I've been having a really bad day, that's all."

"You want to talk about it?"

"Not really, no. Thanks, though."

"No prob. I'll be around if you change your mind."

"Thanks, Lita."

As Lita left, Serena thought, 'What have I gotten myself into?'

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That was easier than I thought. Once I got started. It was very very very hard to get started. I still need help, though! REVIEW!!!!