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Michiru Reann:

MoonWriter

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I'm Not Playing Anymore

Chapter 3         Anything You Ask

Recap: "Welcome back Darien." Serena whispered her face lightened and she was grinning.

***

Seiya made a noise, which grabbed their attention. He stood up and walked over to Serena. "I wasn't aware that you were acquainted with Darien here, Ms. It was you last Monday right?" Seiya asked giving her his full time attention.

Serena slightly blushed. Andrew coughed too, waiting to be introduced.

"Sere, meet Andrew, Seiya, Taiki, and Yaten. Guys meet Serena." Darien introduced.

"Charmed, but we've met before." Seiya spoke giving her one of his dazzling smile and grabbing her hand making a gallant display of kissing it.

Darien scowled inwardly. "What was this leech doing with his best friend?" He thought as he schooled his face into a mask of nonchalance.

"Yes." Serena answered looking over to her friends blaming them for this awkward moment. Before anything else could happen…

The Arcade doors burst open. Bryan, one of Serena's most persistent admirers entered, He was nice really just nerdy and disgusting, seeing he never seems to change clothes wearing the same plaid shirt and overalls since the beginning of the year.

"Serena!" She heard her name being called then winced.

Darien looked amused. "I guess things are the same even for so long."

"I heard you don't have a date for a dance yet! Would you like to go with me?" Bryan asked eagerly.

Serena looked at her friends then at Darien with a look that screamed, "HELP!"

Seiya looked entertained, "Look, whoever you are…why don't you leave Serena alone, see she already has a date for the dance." Seiya spoke smoothly giving the guy a look up and down in a put down way.

"Who?" Bryan asked confused finally driving his eyes away from the object of his attentions and unto the strangers.

Before Seiya could claim her for his own, Darien beat him to it. "Me." Darien spoke curtly, slinging an arm around Serena's shoulders casually.   Serena breathed a sigh of relief and leaned in to him.

"Oh, and who are you?" Bryan asked wonderingly with a hint of bitterness in his voice as he stared up towards Darien's tall lean frame.

"Her boyfriend." He answered briskly. Seiya and Andrew raised their eyes in question. Serena nodded eagerly.

"He's the one I told you about Bryan, remember?" Serena cooed with an innocent smile. "He's name is Darien Chiba, you remember right?" Serena asked with that cute little pout again. "I'm sure I told you lots of times about him."  Darien tightened his hold.

Bryan nodded sadly. He gave them once more a look. "Bye Serena, see you tomorrow."

"Bye." Serena echoed. When he left, Serena giggled. She turned to Darien and gave her a big hug. "Thanks! You're such a lifesaver!" Serena breathed.

Darien smirked. "I guess things are like before…"

"Whoa…you're like his girlfriend, girlfriend?" Seiya asked eyes slightly wide. Then he broke into a grin. "No surprise I guess, who would've thought that the Ice King of Winchester have a long- time girlfriend! He's not such a loner after all!" Seiya mocked. Darien glared. "The newspaper would die to have a story like this!" Seiya teased.

"How come you never told me, man?" Andrew whined staring at Serena inspecting. "She's very beautiful too!" Andrew nodded in appreciation.

Serena blushed at the compliment. "Oh! I guess you misunderstood it all!" Serena gave a little laugh that charmed its listeners. She nudges Darien. "Why don't you tell them?" Darien scowled and didn't say anything. Serena sighed. "Alright, I will."

"See it's all a game really, if someone bothers me, and I don't like him I just say that I have a boyfriend and he will leave me alone. And when someone bothers Darien he'll just say that he's taken and have a girlfriend which of course is me." Serena explained.

"So you're not really girlfriend and boyfriend?" Seiya asked slowly.

Serena shook her head. Seiya's smile got even wider. ""Well, that explains a lot." He spoke casting a glance at Darien who just remained expressionless.

"Damn, she likes him." Darien though mentally frowning, not wanting this lecher rival/friend all over his best friend.

"I'm his best friend!"  Serena added, declaring proudly.

"Funny, he never told us about you." Andrew spoke making Darien cringe.

Serena's eyes widened and she turned to Darien. Her lips trembled and her eyes were watery. "You never told them about me!" She wailed accusingly.

Mina, Amy, Lita and Rei left their seats and went over to their friend.

"Tsk, tsk, shame on you Darien Chiba! Making Serena cry after she had waited for you and spoke very highly of you." Mina spoke in a condescending tone. "I guess you're not such a great friend after all like the person she told us you would be." Lita nodded with a nod making Darien feel terribly guilty. 

"Come girls." Serena commanded giving Darien one last hurt look before trying to leave.

Darien looked torn. His friends were watching him carefully, while Seiya and his brothers expected him to snort and act like nothing, Andrew had on a different theory on what would happen next.

Darien froze and ran outside after them. Seiya, Taiki and Yaten watched gaping at the scene outside the window and Andrew stifling a laugh. When they entered again, Darien was looking at the floor hands on his pocket, while Serena was chatting a triumphant smile on her face. They sat by the stools on the counter. Serena talk animatedly to the bartender while Darien took out his credit card.

Several minute later, the bartender returned with a huge chocolate parfait, a couple of sundaes, and an ice cream cone.

"Just charge it." Darien spoke with a sigh, sitting beside Serena on the stool. He watched amused as she gobbled the parfait, an ice cream cone in her right hand as her friends casually ate their own sundaes without sparing her a glance. On the other table, Darien's friends were gaping. Darien Chiba seemed to CARE! Well, that was news.

Serena saw their baffled expressions and she gave them a conspirational wink. After eating, Serena dragged them back to the Starlights.

"Do you always eat that much Serena?" Andrew asked with amazement.

"Well I did add little more, it's not always that Mr. Darien Chiba here is to finance my food endeavors." Serena joked. The all laughed with the exception of Darien. Serena nudged him with his elbow hard which made him flinch and he put up a slight smile for her expense. It's not even 24 hours and now he's back following her around and a sucker for her every whim.

Serena glanced at her watch. "Oh no! I promised Momma, I'd take you home with me. She missed you too I guess." Serena spoke worried.

She grabbed Darien's hand. "Let's go!" She declared impatiently.

When they were gone, Andrew broke into a laugh. "Never have I seen Darien treated as such!" He choked.

"Better get used to it, she stares at us with that lost puppy-eyed look and you'll never guess what she let us get into." Mina grinned.

Andrew gave her a once-over. "Hey what's your name?" Andrew asked grinning cheekily.

"Looks like Serena forgot to introduce as." Mina sighed.

"That can be relieved." Andrew answered with a cock of his head. He held out a hand. "I'm Andrew, these are Seiya, Yaten and Taiki." Andrew pointed.

"I know." Mina murmured with a dream like gaze as she nodded. "I'm Mina." She spoke accepting his offered hand.

"Rei."

"Lita."

"Amy."

***

 At the Tsukino's house, "That was a delicious dinner mom!" Serena spoke patting her stomach in child-like glee.

"Of course! We have a guest tonight." Her mother answered with a modest smile.

"So Darien…where are you staying for the moment?" Ken Tsukino asked drinking his liquor.

"At the hotel for the moment, till we find an apartment." Darien answered his gaze continuously drifting over to his best friend every so and so.

"Why don't you stay here? We have a spare room and Serena's friends are always welcome here, especially you Darien." Irene Tsukino spoke with kindness.

"I really don't wish to intrude…" Darien started embarrassed.

"Nonsense!" Ken spoke with a shook of his head.

"But I really…" Darien again began when Serena placed a hand on his arm.

"Oh Please Dare? We have a lot to talk about! And you'll only be here for a few days." Serena spoke her eyes wide with plea. "Please…?" Serena asked again with a whimper.

Darien sighed, "Alright." He finally agreed.

"Yeah!" Serena squealed as she hugged him tight. Darien stiffened as emotions going haywire were affecting his senses every time Serena touched him. He was grateful when she let go.

That night, Darien was already at bed when a knock and a knob turned stop him. The lights were already off. "Darien?" A sweet voice asked in a whisper at a dark room. Not able to ignore her… "Yes?" Darien answered as he flicked the night light on revealing Serena in her cute bunny pajamas and night coat.

"At least she didn't come to seduce me." Darien thought wryly. He had been thinking before about his weir feelings for Serena and summarized it as lusting after his best friend and banging himself for the betraying thought.

"I can't sleep." Serena muttered as she crawled into bed next to him. Darien hardened as she cuddled up to him, wrapping her arms around him and yawning against his ear.

"Are you sure it's okay for you to be here? What would your parents say?" Darien asked nervously. 

Serena gave him a look before sighing. She reached up and touched his hair, her hands caressing his face a tender look on her eyes. "I missed you so much when you were away you know?" Serena spoke softly hugging him. "And you've grown so much I almost didn't recognize you." She spoke wistfully.

"So have you." Darien countered.

"We always helped each other out hadn't we?" Serena spoke remembering.

"Yes we have." Darien answered his heart beating irrationally fast.

"I need a favor." Serena spoke after a thought suddenly sitting up.
"What is it?" Darien asked curious.

"Could you ask Seiya Kou to be my date for Saturday night?" Serena asked grinning cheekily.

"Huh?" Darien spoke his eyes wide not hearing clearly.

"You heard me." There was that pout again and Darien groaned. "I'll see what I can do. Now go back to your own bed." He muttered.

"Thanks!" Serena chirped and kissed him on the cheek.

A/n: Review! I think that there's something off with this chapter…but I did the best that I can so please no Flames! Just point things out you want to improve.