Hello, and I'm back again. I'm glad you all liked the last chapter, cuz it's about to get better. Anyway, I'm not going to waste time up here, except for the fact that maybe I forgot to define a little Japanese in the last chapter. But you're smart people, I'm sure you'll figure it out. Anyhow, enjoy.
Disclaimer: No, I do not own any of the characters from Sailor Moon although I desperately wish I did.
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Darien sensed her discomfort as a couple consisting of a long-haired male and an unhappy short-haired brunette approached them. Her eyes were locked on the boy and Darien's heart hardened against whomever it was walking over to them. He hoped that she did not have interest in the silver-haired youth. It didn't matter to him anyhow; if she did, he could arrange to have that small problem fixed. As the couple came closer, he could see the boy's face in more detail. 'There isn't much to him besides his almost clear white eyes, strong build…alright. So he is competition…Not for long if I have my say.'
"Well, well, well. Look who came out to play."
He decided that he did not like the tone of voice that the piece of trash in front of him was taking up with his companion.
"And looking sexy at that." A pause. ""Serena, I hardly see you around anymore. You don't even talk to me or smile when you do see me. Are you so busy you don't have time for old friends anymore? What's been going on?"
Serena's eyes were full of hate. "You tell me." Her voice was strained and cold.
"Ooh, tou-chy." Hands went up. "Take is easy, will you?"
By now he could see that this person, for whatever reason, was upsetting her very much. He slipped an arm around her waist and held her left hand. Darien gave the youth the coldest glare he could.
"Excuse me," his voice as hard as stone," I didn't quite catch your name."
"I'm sorry. I was so preoccupied with the beautiful Serena I forgot she had an escort."
Darien ignored the insult. Serena…So that was her name. It was perfect….
"The name is Diamond."
"Don't you have a last name? I'm not one of your familiars."
"Obisun. Might I say, Chiba, that your attitude isn't exactly friendly."
Diamond smiled wanly.
"Good. Because yours isn't exactly rubbing me the right way either. Now if you'll excuse us…"
He all but shoved his way past the couple.
"You are upsetting my partner and besides that we were heading to the ballroom when you obstructed our path."
"So I'll see you later, Serena?" Diamond called after her.
She didn't respond. She was too bust looking into Darien's stony face with an expression of respect and wonder.
* * * * * *
He'd saved her. That's what he had done. He'd saved her, and he hadn't even known who she was.
"Are you okay? I noticed that you were uncomfortable and, well, I couldn't stand to see you standing there looking like you were stuck between a rock and a hard place."
"I don't know how to thank you." Her voice was full of gratitude. "I thought I was on the chef's chopping block and you stepped in and got me out of there."
He smiled and shrugged it off.
"It was nothing. It was something any righteous man would do. Care to dance?"
She laughed lightly.
"I'm afraid I'm not that much of a dancer."
"That's okay. I'll show you."
"I'm not so sure."
"I promise you, it's easier than you think."
He showed her the steps, and soon she was gliding with ease around the dance floor.
She was having the time of her life, and to think she might have missed it all had she stayed home. She was lighter than air, feeling giddier that a young schoolgirl. Everything seemed too good to be true. She'd met a god, been told she was beautiful, Diamond was nowhere in sight after his earlier confrontation with Master Chiba, and now she knew how to dance. She sighed and leaned into the arms that led her in the waltz and laid her head on his chest. His arm tightened around her waist. The music ended, and they walked off the floor very slowly, not wanting it to have ended so soon.
"Is the food on the other side of the room?", she inquired. "I'm feeling rather hungry and…"
"Say no more. I am your knight in shining armor."
He was off and halfway across the room when she spotted Naru, sitting glumly, chin in hand, about two tables away from her. She got up and went to her.
"Hi Naru." Naru jumped, startled.
"Hey."
"How's it going between you and Diamond?"
The girl slitted her eyes.
"Fuck off. What do you care? You probably think it's hilarious anyhow, with the fact that I supposedly took your boyfriend from you."
Serena was hurt by the girl's outburst.
"What in heaven's name are you babbling about? I have never been openly revengeful or spiteful towards anyone, and you know this. You were my best friend before you became hell bent on getting Diamond for yourself. So now you're only reaping what you sowed!"
Naru looked away, ashamed.
"I'm sorry Serena. It's just that all night Diamond has been dancing, chatting or flirting with any other girl but me. It's as though I'm not here!"
"It's a party.", remarked a voice behind them. "That's what you're supposed to do; mingle. It's called socializing. "Diamond sat between them and flashed a smile at Serena. "Did you come to see me?"
"No, I was speaking to Naru, who, if you've forgotten, is your date for the night, and you're neglecting her."
"I'll have plenty of time to speak to her later. She is, after all, my present kitsune."
Naru got up and looked around, thoroughly upset. Tears sat on the rims of her eyelids.
"I'm going home. Serena, it was lovely talking to you. I'll see you in school, hn?"
The girl turned and made a beeline for the door, trying to maintain her poise as she made her escape.
That smile again. Two rows of bleach-white teeth, set in like rows on hybrid corn. She thought that if he smiled again she'd knock all his damned teeth out.
"So that's how it is. You get a girl, you get bored, you glide to the next and it goes on, a never ending continuum."
He shrugged. "If you must see it that way, I find it to be a very negative point of view. I see it as getting on with my life. In with the new, out with the old. Modification, if you know what I mean."
He leaned back in his seat.
"Only you modify very often." Darien sat down by Serena's left, obviously not pleased with her choice of company. "Here's a little something to wet your throat, Serena."
She thanked him and took the cup from his hands. Diamond observed in silence, slightly annoyed by Darien's intrusion, putting a slight bump in his plans.
"Well, Darien, as blunt as you state it, I cannot deny it. Although I might have phrased it better myself."
"I despise men like you. No heart—"
"No, no, correct that—We have hearts, we just don't use the frequently."
"—no regards for other people's feelings. Picking up women and throwing them away like yesterday's garbage when you become bored with them. Why do they fall for bakas…onis like you anyway?"
"Who knows? But you look like you could do pretty well on my side of the fence yourself Chiba. A born womanizer."
"True. Only I would never lower myself to your standards."
"That's a shame. Serena probably would proven to be a sweet fuck for you at any rate."
Darien flew out of his seat and was about to beat the offending bastard into oblivion when her heard someone call him. He turned around, pissed with the interruption.
"WHAT?", he roared, ready to obliterate who stood between him and Obisun.
Aunt Momo stood frozen, terrified that if she moved this man, her nephew, would flay her within an inch of her life. She relaxed and waited a few moments. "Ah…" her voice trembled slightly. "I'd like to introduce you to Madame Kaibe, if it's not too much."
Darien turned back to Obisun and Serena.
"I'll be right back."
He was gone amidst a sea of laughing faces. While Serena had been observing Darien's departure, Diamond deftly took a small silver packet from his pocket and shook the contents into her drink and swirled it so that the powder dissolved completely. She'd hardly turned around when the last of the floating white specks liquefied. She watched the churning liquid settle and then eyes him suspiciously.
"What did you do to my drink?"
"Nothing." He replied innocently, his eyes becoming puppy-dog puddles of gray. She scowled at him.
"I don't believe you. What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything and whether you believe me or not is your business."
"Prove it, then. Drink some."
Diamond hesitated for a moment but then spotted a napkin standing untouched in a wineglass on the table. She watched him take a swig from her glass but did not see that he didn't swallow. Instead, moving his Adam's apple up and then down, making it seem as though he'd gulped down the drugged concoction, he picked up the napkin, spewed the stuff into the cloth with the appearance of patting his lips to dry them. Smacking his lips, he told her, "You see? Nothing wrong." She cocked an eyebrow at him but downed the entire glass. Diamond grinned inwardly. If what he'd purchased was as potent as promised, she'd be a sitting duck within the next fifteen minutes or less.
