Disclaimer: I don't own Sailormoon.
A/n: Thank you so much to those who reviewed.
Kirei*snow*tenshi
Beloved
Dozenrose
Hatami
Lil-popcorngurl
Dreamlover
I'm Not Playing AnymoreChapter 1 Innocent Game Of Pretend
6th Grade Junior high, Darien Chiba got down fro his black limousine a block away from his school and resumed walking like any other child. It was no use of course, no matter how hard he tried to hide it. His background of wealth was well known throughout the school, and even knowing that he likes to keep it hidden, it still doesn't stop the countless of students including teachers in treating him different. Except of course one other person, his one and only best friend Serena Tsukino.
Darien walked up the steps of his school, ignoring everyone who shot him glances. He was still only 14 years old but showed promising features of the handsome man that he was going to become, teachers adore him, half of the boys wanted to be like him, half detested him and half of the female population in the school are in love with him.
He was walking in the hallways, his backpack slung over his shoulder when someone tapped him on the back. Turning around, 2 giggling girls were facing him, a letter in hand. Darien rolled his eyes not bothering if they see him do it or not. The thrust the letter into his hands and sauntered off, sneaking glances at him as they went away. No doubt they would follow him and see what he would do with their declaration of lifetime love and adoration and of course have their hearts broken when he throws it carelessly on the garbage.
Halfway towards his class, the letter on his hands not having seen a trashcan yet, someone tapped him on the behind. With a muttered groan he faced the person with a scowl on his face. But that scowl instantly changed when he saw who that person was. A small smile crept over his face due to the only person in the world who could ever make him smile.
"Hey Dar! Whatcha have there?" Serena asked grinning eyeing the letter in his hands mischievously. She was nearly as tall as him and quite beautiful inside and out, making other girls jealous especially when she was the only other girl Darien willingly talks to.
Darien suddenly remembering the letter in his hands mentally groaned. Desperately trying to find a wastebasket before Serena got her prying fingers over the letter and have to face the consequence of her teasing him endlessly, Darien sidestepped away out of her reach.
Serena tried reaching again, only to have Darien move away from her. She tried several attempt and found them fruitless. A wicked idea formed in her mind. Last year she found out his weakness, "Her" and though she doesn't usually use it there were times when she does. She was really set in her mind in finding out what that letter contains. "Sorry Dare…" Serena thought devilishly.
Serena stopped moving, her head bent down. When she looked up again her eyes were watery and she was pouting cutely. "C'mon Dare! Let me see!" Serena begged, giving him her famous puppy-eyed look that she considers her best weapon in getting whatever it is she wants.
Darien looked away from those manipulative eyes and stubbornly shook his head. Those eyes cost him a super fudge Sundae last weekend!
Several probing attempts later, Serena got frustrated. "Alright Darien Chiba, if you don't let me see it I'll never speak to you again!" Serena declared crossing her arms together and sticking out her chin defiantly.
Darien paled and turned towards her, seeing her willful stature means that she meant business. The last time she said that she wouldn't speak to him, it lasted for about a month and Darien was miserable not missing her company terribly. He sighed and handed it out defeated.
Serena grinned and snatched it away just as the bell rang. "Bye Dare! See ya later!" Serena yelled blowing him a kiss and went off into her own room.
Lunchtime, Darien cautiously went over to the lunch table where he and Serena usually sits. Darien found her grinning to him, nudging her other best friend Mina with her elbow. Some of Serena's friends whom Darien doesn't know were there too.
Warning signals went off Darien's head. Serena waved him over. The moment he sat, Serena began quoting the contents of the letter in a mocking voice. Her eyes were twinkling with peals of laughter and enjoyment.
Darien reddened as Serena reread the lines on him and the girl…whatever her name was being married and having a gazillion children. After finishing it, Serena and Mina erupted into a verge of laughter. Darien's expression was stoic. The other occupants in the table were hesitant in joining in the laughter, since Chiba Corps, employ most of their parents and earn them a living.
"Sere…why are you embarrassing Darien so? Seeing you received a similar letter yourself just yesterday." Amy interrupted in a soft voice looking up from the textbook that she was reading.
Serena stopped. Darien shot the smart, quiet girl with interest. "What was it about Amy?" Darien asked interested.
"Want me to recite it from memory?" Amy asked grinning.
"Ames!" Serena protested in a half-whine. No sooner did she speak; a mean looking boy approached their table and tapped Serena's shoulder.
"Serena!" the boy spoke loudly in a scratching voice.
Serena cringed. "What is it Deamando?" Serena asked as she looked up to the guy.
"So do you realize how lucky you are to go with me to the dance Friday night?" Deamando asked leaning over to her in a leering way.
Deamando was your regular bad-boy heartbreaker. He was the second handsomest boy in the whole school next to Darien. He was constantly on probation, rarely attends school, smokes cigars and was rumored not to be a virgin.
"I still haven't decided yet." Serena spoke carefully.
"Why is there else who asked you?" Deamando demanded. "Or do you have anything else planned?"
Serena was running excuses in her head. "Ummm…well you see…" Serena started flustered.
"She already promised to go with me months ago." Darien spoke up coming to her rescue.
"You?" Deamando sneered.
"Yes, me." Darien replied calmly. They locked gazes with each other a challenge passed between them when Deamando backed down. "Then I guess I'll ask you some other time." Deamando tossed over to Serena before leaving.
Serena gave out a sigh of relief. "Thanks Dare I owe you one!" The bell rang signaling for them to get back to class. Serena stood up and gave him a hug. "Sorry for teasing you about the letter and all…" Serena apologized her voice sincere. "I'll see you after class."
***
Darien waited patiently for Serena in the school steps, when an annoying voice made him flinch.
"Darrrrriiiieeeennnn." Beryl a 7th grader drawled, approached him with what she perceived a sexy stroll. She fluttered her eyes at him in a seducing manner, which made him wince.
"Are you taking anyone to the dance Friday night? I still haven't got a date you see." She sighed dropping hints.
"As a matter of fact…" Darien started.
"He's taking me!" Someone piped up behind them.
Both of them turned to look at the newcomer. "You?" Beryl spoke in a snicker.
"Honey, why would you ask her when you could've asked me?" Beryl asked her voice dripping with sweetness.
"Well…perhaps because of better taste?" Serena supplied her eyes wide with innocence.
Beryl's eyes glittered with hatred. Before more catfights ensued, Darien grabbed Serena's hand. "Let's go there's my ride." He spoke rushed.
Beryl watched them go a sigh escaped her lips. "Why do you choose her over me?" Then she shrugged and went back inside to search for her next victim.
***
At Darien's house, they were at the playroom playing with videogames when Serena voiced out a question. "Are we really going to the dance together on Friday night?" Serena asked. Starting Jr. high they made a promise not to let their friendship become anything more. They treated each other like a lost sibling all of their life and just because they discovered that they belong to a different sex wouldn't change their relationship to the least.
"Sure, unless of course you want to go with Deamando!" Darien joked.
Serena made a face. "Thanks for what you did there Dare. Really appreciate it." Serena nodded giving him a brotherly hug. "Hey maybe you wanted to go with Beryl!" Serena spoke aloud, standing up and imitated Beryl's walk.
Darien laughed and threw some chips on her.
"Hey! Don't waste good food!" Serena protested indignantly munching the chips.
"Do you want some ice cream?" Darien asked.
"SURE!" Serena yelled dragging him to the kitchen.
***
When Serena was gone, a servant approached Darien. "Sir, your father wants to speak to you."
Darien nodded and went up to his father's office. As usual his father was talking on the phone. He waited patiently till his father acknowledges him. He wanted his father to be in a good mood today since he wanted to ask if he could attend Serena's birthday party in the weekend.
"Darien come here." His father, Darien Chiba Senior spoke putting the receiver down. Darien obeyed coming closer.
"How is school?" His father asked with a smile.
"Fine…" Darien answered slowly. What was the deal? He wasn't usually summoned to see him father just to ask how his day was.
"You see Darien, I've been thinking a lot. You will one day become the head of my business organization and I don't want you graduating in an unknown public school." His father spoke eyes serious.
"Where is this getting at?" Darien asked his voice not betraying anything.
"I want to enroll you to a prestigious private school a bit far from here." His father spoke with a brightening smile as though Darien should be ecstatic for such a privilege. "You will be immediately transferred on Monday."
"What?! But I don't want to be transferred. I like my school just fine!" Darien protested in a stricken face.
"Believe me…you will thank me one day. You will be able to make friends with boys and girls your age that will help you one day in your business. Their fathers are also head in several businesses and they will inherit it too. You will have lots of connections." His father spoke brightly.
"I don't care!" Darien shouted. "What about my teachers? I don't think they agree to have a student pulled out in the middle of the school year."
"Everything is arranged." His father spoke stiffly not liking the tone of disobedience in his voice.
"But…but what about my friends!" Darien sputtered.
His father's eyes softened. "You'll be able to visit them at least once a month if you wish. But I doubt you'll have the time. This new school of your s is going to be very demanding. But I know that you'll handle it just fine." He spoke proudly. "So is everything understood?" 'Silence' "Is everything fine?" He repeated his voice taking a harder edge.
"Yes father." Darien answered dully. He wouldn't be able to do anything really against his father's wishes. He must make the most of it.
***
Darien picked up the phone and called his best friend.
"Hello? Is Serena home?" Darien asked his voice tired.
"This is Serena speaking. What's up Dar?" Serena asked cheerfully.
"Can you come over to the park? I need to tell you something." Darien asked.
"Sure. Is anything wrong?" Serena asked concerned.
"I'll tell you later." Darien promised before hanging up.
***
At the park, Serena hugged her white jacket tightly as the spring breeze blew. She was wearing shorts, t-short and a pair of sneakers that she put on in a jiffy. Darien was already there. They met on the same tree where they met 7 years ago when Serena handed him the melted ice cream cone, they became best buds later on.
Darien was sitting down on the ground his head on his hands. Serena sat beside him looking at him with worry. "Hey, I'm here." Serena spoke softly.
Darien looked up. "Hey." Darien spoke looking at her.
"So…" Serena trailed off waiting for him to continue.
"My father is going to transfer me to a different school by Monday." Darien spoke his eyes faraway.
"What?! But that's too soon!" Serena shrieked in disbelief.
"Yeah. That's what I told him too." Darien laughed bitterly.
Serena quieted. "Where is this new school?"
"I haven't asked the name yet. But I know it's one of those stuck-up school for brats." Darien answered negatively.
"It won't be that bad." Serena consoled.
"It's going to be a bit far too. So I wont be able to see you everyday." Darien added his eyes were suspiciously red. But Serena cried before he could.
"I'm going to miss you Darien! Who's going to be my bestest pal in the school now that your gone?" Serena asked tears streaming down her cheeks.
"You'll still have Mina and Amy, and Thea and Anna… and all of your numerous friends." Darien spoke hollowly.
Serena hugged him. "But you're special." Serena murmured. "Who would help me get out of those mess that I always get myself into?"
"Not to mention getting you out of the grasps of your determined admirers." Darien spoke with a smirk wiping his eyes with the back of his hands.
"Hey! I help you out to just fine! And you have more admirers than me!" Serena huffed. Then truth dawned again upon them and Serena started bawling. "Who's going to help me now?" Serena sobbed. "I'm going to miss you sooooo much!" Serena cried.
"What about me? I heard that the school was co-ed." Darien paled.
After a few moments when their sadness have finally subsided and they finally accepted their situation, "Hey I have a great idea! We can still help each other out. What if we pretend that we're dating?" Serena suggested eyes sparkling.
Darien looked at her weirdly.
Serena punched him lightly. "I mean, if someone tries to bother you just tell her you have a girlfriend in your old school so that they'll leave you alone. And of course I could do the same." Serena explained grinning.
"Well…I don't know." Darien started.
"Just use it if you're desperate. I know that I will. Especially if Deamando will keep asking me out again." Serena shuddered.
Darien finally agreed. "So I guess you wont be able to come to my birthday party on Saturday right? And on the dance on Friday?" Serena asked.
Darien shrugged.
Serena patted him in the head standing up. "Don't worry. I'll help you pack." She held out a hand to help him up.
"I wonder what's my new school like?" Darien mused softly.
Serena glanced at him. "Don't worry, it's going to be alright. And I'll always be here if you need anything."
"I know." Darin answered as they waited for his ride outside of the park.
"Um…Dar? I know that we wont see each other as much and you would be pretty busy…" Serena stated her eyes cloudy. Darien looked at her wondering if she's going to cry again.
"Don't forget me okay? And promise to visit." Serena spoke staring at the ground.
"Of course I wont forget you." Darien responded shock that she would be worried.
Serena looked up smiling. "Good." She spoke satisfied. She took something from her back pocket. "Here, this is for you." She handed. "It's a picture I took last summer of us."
Darien looked at it for a moment and smiled. "Thanks." Headlights then picked up from the corner. They hugged one more time before Darien entered his car. "Would you like a ride?" He asked.
Serena shook her head. "Us normal folk like to take a stroll once in awhile." Serena joked.
Darien smiled and waved goodbye.
A/n: Review please!!!