Hey everybody! Yes I'm back with the next chapter of KOTU. Thanks for votes!

Revised

Disclaimer: I don't own sailor moon or it's characters, but you all should know that. So don't sue me because I only have two dollars to my name which was already spent on a bag of skittles and a bottle of sprite. Sad? Tell me something I don't know.

Chapter 3

She sat in the cute cushioned chair in the hallway, patiently waiting until the employer was available to see her. She recalled several rumors of the new entrepreneur that just moved into the city a month ago; how no other man could compare to his good looks and charm, how his smile could set any woman on fire as well as make them weak in the knees.

Opening the compact containing make-up powder and a little oval mirror, she began to look over her appearance to perfect herself. Dabbing on more rouge and lipstick, she ran her hands through her long, straight blonde hair and when she was satisfied, closed the case and returned it to her purse.

"Ms. Sinclair, I am prepared to see you now," a voice came through the now open door. She stood up from her seat and straightened her clothes to get the creases that developed out. Plastering a smile on her face, she walked into the office putting a little more emphasis in her walk.

"Please take a seat," he said, pointing to the empty chair in front of his desk. She sat crossing her legs slowly causing her skirt to ride higher on her thighs. He raised an amused eyebrow, knowing that her intention was to seduce him, not only for a job, but also for a little personal fun.

His violet eyes moved up to her face, a flash of recollection was displayed as he immediately recognized her well well well, we meet again, Minako

Her blue eyes traveled over his face as she licked her lips, the lust clearly shown through her actions.

"Now Ms. Sinclair….," she sat up quickly, interrupting him.

"Please call me Mina."

He nodded, "Mina. You do understand that the job you applied for is secretarial work?"

"Yes, as it shows on my application I have had practices in typing and speech, after all I will be answering phones and doing data input as is required." She answered.

He had to admit, she was smarter than their first encounter almost 100 years ago. Then her name had been Minako and what a talent she possessed. She had reduced herself to a prostitute who lived and worked in a whorehouse filled with other women like herself, just trying to survive in the cruel world. The way she was acting at that moment showed that she had brought some of that scandalous charm to the life she now lived.

I wonder if she's going to that annual ball tomorrow night

"well I don't see any reason why you should not have the job, your hired."

She stood up and leaned over his desk with her hand held out in front of her. He grabbed the offered hand and shook it lightly.

"I promise you will not be disappointed." He smiled back at the airhead's enthusiasm

indeed I won't be, that is if you play your cards right he thought and motioned for her to take her seat once more.

"Off the record, I was wondering if you were going to the annual ball tomorrow night?"

she shook her head, "No. I never received an invitation."

He put his elbows on his desk, clasping his hands together as he leaned forward. "How would you like to accompany me to the ball as my date?" he asked without any nervousness in his voice.

A small but alluring smile spread across her face, "I would love to."

"I already know where you live, since your application already gave me that information. So I'll just pick you up at 7."

She nodded rising out of her seat for the last time, "Thank you Mr. Diamond….,"

"Please, call me Nicholas."

She smiled again, impressed by his boyish charm when it came to women; it sure did work on her for he was not a boy and soon he would have the chance to prove that. "Until tomorrow night, Nicholas."

She said with a wink and exited the office, making her way to the elevator.

I'm definitely going to have fun with him she thought to herself as the elevator door closed.

**********************

The high heel boots clicked against the polished floor making the sounds bounce off the walls. She adjusted the black hat she wore on her head, pulling it further down in the front to cover her eyes, which were already concealed by the dark sunglasses. It didn't seem suspicious to the people and other officers in the room as the outfit and headgear she wore was the style that all females were modeling.

Once she reached her destination, she opened the door with neither hesitation nor a knock for permission to enter. The short blonde haired man looked up from the file of papers carelessly scattered amongst his desk. When he recognized the stranger, a smile played on his lips; he instantly knew her reason for the visit.

"What information do you need from me today, Serena?"

Serena took off her hat and sunglasses and flung them on the untidy desk. She sat in the empty seat in front of him and crossed her legs giving the detective a peek at her creamy legs through the slit of the skirt she wore. Even with the calf high leather boots, she still looked sophisticated.

It wasn't until she got comfortable when she answered, "How do you know that I'm not here just to say hi?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Ok!! So I need information, but I could be here just to see how you're doing too." She said with a pout. He rolled his eyes playfully, yes!! Serena's famous pout! she was so well known for and he could never resist it.

"Come on Justin!! I'm dying here. Will you tell me what I need to know?" she sighed exasperatingly.

"Yeah I guess so, since you can't take no for an answer anyway."

This girl is so frustrating, but so damn beautiful

If any stranger would see them together, they would mistake them as a couple because of the comfortable energy they gave off indicating that they trusted one another. Though they did date in the past, they both decided that the relationship would never be serious, as most commitments should be. It was more her idea than his but he went along with it anyway; he partly believed she was right, so they separated but gratefully remained good friends.

Every now and then they would help each other in certain situations without any one's knowledge of course. She would give him information and he would give her some in return, ignoring the restrictions against it, seeing that he was a detective and she was a reporter.

"Where's your partner? If I didn't know any better, I'd say you two were joined at the hip."

She rolled her eyes, "Isn't it obvious? He's not here."

He cleared his throat trying to stifle the laugh that was building up, "What is it that you want to know?" he asked giving her his full attention.

"Do you know about the homicide that was discovered yesterday?" his eyebrows creased as her concentrated on the report

"You mean about the girl with the weird markings in the shape of a meat fork?" she nodded.

"Why?" he asked curiously.

"I have a gut feeling about it, that's all. I just wanted to see if you knew what was in her purse." He took a deep breath before answering,

"Actually I have her file around here somewhere." He said shuffling papers around his desk trying to find the manila folder that had 'unsolved' in black letters written on the tab.

"Here it is." He said opening it.

"Well?" he held up a finger as he continued reading some of the writing on the papers. He put the contents back in the folder and stood up.

"Where are you going?" she asked confused.

"I'll be right back, what you want isn't in the folder. I don't know why the hell you want to go through her purse anyway, her house maybe, but her purse?"

With that he walked out of the office, 10 minutes passed before her returned and by then Serena was not a happy camper. The one thing about being a New Yorker is impatience (AN: I don't want anyone to get offended by this because I'm from NY myself and we are very impatient, I get rude when I have to wait!)

"Took you long enough," he grinned, he liked making her wait, he knew that was her weakness.

"Ok, answering your question from before, there was a cell phone, a business card, some makeup and……tampons! I didn't want to see this!" he said covering his eyes from the pile of items on his desks concealed in plastic zip locked bags. Serena rolled her eyes and began searching through the stuff.

The only thing that clued her in on what her life was like was from the business card from her purse that only read Diamond Enterprises.

Diamond Enterprises? Where have I heard that from?

The name sounded familiar but it didn't ring a bell and nothing in the pile could tell her anything either which disappointed her even more. It was strange though, this should have given her a reason to stop digging deeper but like she said earlier, she had a gut feeling and she couldn't just stop.

"What was her name, anyway?" she asked ripping a sheet of paper from a small pad she had in her purse

"Jennifer Martin, she was a representative for Greene Tech, you know that computer company."

She wrote the information down on the pad and replaced it back in her purse. Placing her hat on her head and sunglasses on her face, she stood up.

"Well I better be going, thanks again Detective Bryce," she said with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. He chuckled at her retreating form.

"Oh! before I forget, I just thought you would like to know that Miss Martin was the third victim this month having those markings."

He sat up, "third? How is this possible without my knowledge." He asked.

"Well Darien found out something from a doctor who worked in a morgue, she said that all the victims each had the same punctures, most of them in the neck area, but she was told not to tell anyone who was not a doctor."

He leaned back in his chair absorbing the information she fed him

how strange

"Wait! Speaking of Darien, did you fuck him yet?" She gasped and blushed,

"I swear! That's all you think about. Pervert!" he laughed out loud, knowing that they would eventually face their true feelings, but until then he would have his fun. Before he could ask her anything else she was already gone.

"I hate when she does that, next thing you know she'll be using smoke and reciting abracadabra spells," he muttered under his breath.

***********************

*Clank*

"Damn," she muttered under her breath as she the mascara brush slipped out of her hand, falling into the sink. She scooped it up and rinsed the white surface, ridding it of the black ink. It was 7:20 and Serena was in her bathroom standing in front of the mirror in her robe trying to at least look decent for the ball that required her attendance.

Fifteen minutes later and she was still adding rouge to her already rosy cheeks; she frowned at the result, sticking her tongue out of her mouth making an even funnier display. She took a wet wash cloth and started to rub the make-up off, starting the process over again.

Serena was not used to putting on make-up, she never actually needed it as many have told her, though it didn't hurt to add that she didn't have a clue on how to apply it either.

I hate putting make-up on!!!

*then why are you?* her sub-conscious asked her.

because I freakin' feel like it!! she snapped back.

*you don't need it*

Who asked you?

*your face did. It's clearly crying out for my help….listen* like the idiot she was, she stopped to actually try and hear if her face was crying for mercy.

*mercy!…mercy!* she rolled her eyes,

you're doing that, not my face She continued to scrub her face and applying more rouge, but lightly this time.

*I'm telling you, you don't need it*

She let out a frustrated sigh

Shut up!! I'm going to put this stuff on right if it's the last thing I do, even if it is a pain in the ass!!

When she finally got the blush to look right and blend with her features as the many infomercials suggested, she added her lipstick. She checked her self one more time

"Told you so!!" she said sticking her tongue out at her reflection. Her sub-conscious blew a raspberry at her and disappeared.

The phone rang as soon as she left the bathroom.

"Hello," she rushed. There was chuckling on the other end, she immediately knew who it was,

"Did I interrupt you with something?" he asked mockingly.

"Actually you did, I was just having an interesting conversation with myself, just a few seconds ago." She replied.

There was a slight pause on the other end as Darien pondered her statement, "Oooookkkkk. Anyway I'll be there in fifteen minutes, eight o'clock right?"

"Um hm." She answered looking at the clock, which read 7:45 in big read numbers.

damn

"Serena. You'll be ready right?" he asked hopefully.

"Yeah." She said absently.

"No, seriously."

She sighed, "Um hm."

"Don't have me waiting for you like you always do." He scolded

"Ok, bye Darien." Before he could say anything else, she hung up.

Before walking into the bedroom she turned on the television to see what the news said that night. The woman was talking about something that didn't interest Serena at all, so she walked into her bedroom, leaving the door open so she could hear the TV.

"In breaking news Nicholas Diamond of Diamond Enterprises is attempting a merger with one of the major computer companies in Manhattan, Greene Tech. It was just a month ago this young businessman opened his corporation in the city. With his quick and prospering rise to the top, I wouldn't be surprised if Greene Tech was the first of many to merge with the new company."

Usagi ran out her room in her bra and silky underwear staring at the tube.

"That's where I've heard that name from. Diamond Enterprises. Hmmm, why did she have their business card in her purse?" she questioned herself.

At eight exactly, the doorbell rang. She ran into the living room quickly, tripping over the carpet, she managed to balance herself before she hit the floor. Straightening her dress she opened the door, then ran back into the room leaving him at the doorway.

"I knew she wasn't going to be ready." He mumbled and took a seat on her soft couch.

He looked over her apartment, he had to admit she could blend colors well as the living room gave off a comfortable warmth.

I wonder what the bedroom is like? his eyes widened at what he had just thought.

She's your partner. Your not supposed to think of her like that.

*You know you want to see that bedroom*

Shut up! No I don't! This is Serena we're talking about

*So? Like that's really going to stop you* he was fuming at himself, at least he knew what Serena meant about arguing with herself, even though he hopes she wasn't serious.

He was too wrapped in his thoughts to notice Serena step into the living room.

"Ahem!" his mouth fell open as he took in her appearance. She was wearing a burgundy dress that sparkled under the light fixtures; the front drooped down loosely. When she turned around, he got a glimpse of her smooth back as the dress was cut low with thin straps going across the curve of her back.

Her naturally curly hair, reached her shoulders laced with two sparkly burettes on each side of her head. Standing in her burgundy heals she waited for Darien to say something smart.

"Um Darien? You ok?" she asked him. He snapped out of his trance and nodded,

"Yeah, it's just that you look beautiful."

She raised an eyebrow

That's a first! I was sure he was going to try and find something wrong with this dress

"Uh Thanks, you look great too." And he did with his black tuxedo, which blended well with his black hair and brought out his piercing blue eyes.

"Are you ready?"

she nodded and they both headed to the door, with her purse and matching shawl they left the apartment.

"You combed you hair for the first time." She said, locking the door.

"I always comb my hair, it just doesn't stay like that through the day." He shrugged.

"It looks cool when it's not combed, it's like that 'messy neat' style." She said.

"How can something be messy and neat at the same time?" he said cocking an eyebrow.

"It's messy but it looks good at the same time, it's neat. You know what I mean." She tried to explain.

"Actually I don't, but that's ok I'll just take that as a compliment even though it could be the opposite!" her giggles echoed the hallways as they made their way to the lobby of the building.

****************************

With their usual hassle of finding a cab, they finally reached the building. Seeing all the limousines made them a little uncomfortable, not because they were in a cab, but because the hall would be filled with well-known men and women from all over the city. That can be a little nerve racking, especially when they find out that they're reporters.

They walked up to the entrance where a guard stood, "May I see your invitations please?"

Darien and Serena took out the tickets and showed the guard the proof that would give them the permission to enter. He nodded and waved them along as another pair went through the same procedure.

The hall was decorated with the colors of silver and white shear cloth that hung on the walls and doorways, which gleamed with glitter as the bright lights reflected off of them. Chandeliers adorned along the high ceiling, giving lighting to every section of the massive room. Guests littered the floors conversing with one another while drinking from champagne glasses; those who weren't drinking were dancing with their partners on the sleek and unscathed floor.

Serena frowned as the music hit her ears

Great!! Ballroom dancing

She could never get used to these public functions, she just couldn't adjust to the slow and melodramatic music.

Darien chuckled, "I know what you're thinking."

Her lips formed a thin line, "I hate these things, Andrew must be mad at me."

She cursed to herself as Darien began to drag her to the refreshments, knowing that he was going to torment her until the night was over

Serena turned her attention to the floor where most of the guests were dancing. She happened to come across a couple that was doing a little more than just dancing, more like foreplay as she watched the woman move her hips against her partner's thigh. With the long slit on her side, her dress gave the woman enough space as his right leg was comfortably positioned between her legs.

His hands held her waist tightly, hinted by the bunched up material. Serena's mouth fell open, as the woman's hand traveled down the man's chest, past his waist to grip his already throbbing member. His eyes widened and abruptly closed to enjoy the shocks of pleasure that his body was experiencing.

With her eyes still glued to the item, Serena's arm stretched to her side giving her partner a few impatient pats to get his attention from whatever gained it.

He turned around annoyed, "What?" he stared at her agape expression, then followed her finger, which pointed to the aroused couple.

His eyes widened as the man placed his hand on one of the female's breasts; Darien gave a little cough when his hand gave a little squeeze. By then Serena had her hands covering her mouth as she frantically searched the room to see if there were other witnesses besides them.

She turned to look at Darien, who had a goofy grin on his face, "Why the hell are you smiling like that?"

he tore his eyes away just for a moment to answer her, "What is her name?" he said in amazement.

She lifted an eyebrow, "why?"

hHe smiled deviously. "I want to know if she'll come over to my place and give me a little session of my own."

Serena made a disgusted frown, "You're such an ass!!" she hissed.

"You know you felt slightly excited watching that little display. How long has it been anyway?" she scowled at his smirk.

"None of your business!" she hissed.

"That long, huh? My list is full for the next six months, but I'm sure if you ask right, I may be able to fit you in." he whispered in her ear.

She frowned openly at him, "kiss my ass! Do I look like a whore to you, Darien? I wouldn't touch, none the less, fuck your conceited ass if you were the last man on earth! And even then I'd have to disinfect you first!"

Darien watched her walk away as his stunned expression remained on his face. He didn't expect her to react the way she did, he was only joking

or was I flirting?

If he was flirting, he wasn't doing a very good job at it, he was thankful that no one heard those colorful words that come out her mouth.

Sorry Serena he knew she was mad, he'd just have to apologize when she cooled down.

Nicholas Diamond watched as his date walked in the direction of the restroom. He rolled his eyes the moment she disappeared down the adjacent hallway.

That girl hasn't shut her trap since we got here

He cursed himself for bringing her and hoped that she was more pleasant in bed, his bed to be exact. He began to scan the party to see if he could find any familiar faces, a raven-haired beauty dancing with a white haired man, came into view.

He smirked and nodded at her when their gazes clashed. She winked one stormy violet eye at him and turned her attention back to her partner.

well it seems I'll be getting what I want very soon

He reached up to grab a glass of champagne as a waiter walked by with his tray, before he could sip from the glass his eyes fell upon a blonde that made his breath stop.

It can't be

He started over to her, not really looking where he was going. As he got closer, her features began to become more clear

God. It is her his veins began to pound, he was sure every one could hear it.

Serenity!!

Serena stood off to the side still scowling over what Darien said. She knew he was partly right about the lack of sex she had in her life. She wasn't like him who went off and slept with the first female who fluttered her eyelashes. The fact that he threw that in her face made her upset, but she couldn't figure out why.

Am I jealous? she shook her head, denying that fact.

"Are you having as much of a bad time as me?" Serena turned around to meet the violet eyes of a white-haired man. She couldn't get over his good looks, there was just something about him.

"Excuse me?"

he chuckled. "I was asking you if you were having as much of a terrible time as I." He repeated

"Well I'm not one for such formal affairs." She said.

He stared at her, he couldn't believe that she was standing in front of him. He has searched for so long and when he thought that they would never meet again, she shows up and proves him wrong.

It has to be fate

She scrutinized him with her baby blue eyes, he was quiet for sometime since his question, which she didn't really mind, this gave her a chance to think.

"May I ask what your name is?"

she smiled. "Serena Kyle. Yours?"

he took her hand and kissed the back of it, his soft lips sending shivers up and down her spine

what is wrong with me?

"Nicholas Diamond and it is a pleasure to meet such beauty." She blushed, which is something she never does, she was always the indifferent one, but he was something unexpected.

Her eyes widened once his name settled in,

"Did you say Nicholas Diamond?" he nodded.

"I heard about your attempted merger with Greene Tech."

He smiled at her, "I didn't know I was so well known." He said giving her one of his sexy grin.

damn

"well that's what was said on the news tonight," she said, trying to avoid his eyes.

"Serena Kyle? Now that I think about it, your name sounds familiar." He asked, concentrating on her name and where he had heard it from.

"I'm a reporter from The Daily Globe." She said abruptly, she just knew that he was going to push her away because she could release anything about his life in the newspaper. She held her breath waiting for the outburst, but it never came

"You did that column on the scandal that involved the mayor and his mistress." It was more of a fact than a question.

"If I'm not mistaken, don't you have a partner?" she nodded.

"Actually I do, Darien Reid."

She gave him a confused look, "You don't feel intimidated by my presence, Mr. Diamond?" he shook his head,

"Why? You thought that your occupation would make me reject you?" he chuckled as a simple nod affirmed it. "I could care less what you do, you are too wonderful to dislike and please call me Nicholas."

"Hello Nicholas! I trust you two are having a good time?"

Serena kept her blushing under control as she turned to the voice.

Oh God!!

She tried to stifle her giggles as the couple who just moments before were doing the forbidden dance, stood in front of them.

"Raychel Landry and Michael Greene, this is Serena Kyle." Raychel gave Serena a knowing smile, almost as if she was seeing an old friend.

Serena didn't help but catch the name of the white-haired gentleman, he was after all the owner of Greene Tech, but she decided not to mention it. She could feel Raychel's eyes on her, while she spoke to Diamond, it wasn't glaring, but more like observing. She couldn't help but feel connected to them, they gave off this familiar energy, that either made people comfortable around them or uneasy.

She didn't know what she felt at that moment.

"Serena? I've been looking all over this room for you."

She let out a deep breath, "Well as you can see I'm right here, Darien." She answered coldly.

Darien winced at the coldness in her voice and looked at the man she was talking to, he automatically didn't like him, he didn't have a reason, he just didn't.

Nicholas gave him a glare, which Darien didn't miss

Endymion

Darien managed to stop scowling at him, long enough to see the sex crazed people standing to the side of the group.

"Darien Reid, meet Raychel Landry, Michael Greene and Nicholas Diamond."

Darien frowned inwardly as she motioned to the new businessman that had the city hypnotized by his charm. He needed to get her out of there before Nicholas asked her out or something.

"Serena, are you ready to go?" She was about to say no, but she could feel his hand squeeze her shoulder, which meant he needed to talk to her.

probably to apologize

"Sure. Well it's nice meeting you all."

Darien gave a defeated grin toward Diamond, the entrepreneur just shrugged lightly and grabbed her wrist,

"It was very nice meeting you Serena, I'm hoping you and I cross paths again." He said kissing her hand.

Darien scowled under his breath, he couldn't believe she was actually considering seeing him again, he needed to get her out now, before he asked for her phone number.

"Well gentlemen I hope everyone has a safe drive home tonight." He said dragging his blonde partner in the direction of the exit.

When she disappeared, Raychel whispered in his ear, "Well it looks as if the mysterious, dark and handsome fellow has struck again." She taunted.

All he did was smirk, "It was only our first meeting, now that I know who she is, I can have her anytime."

I will kill him if he tries to interfere. Endymion will not be a nuisance this time

"Hey guys did I miss anything?"

Diamond growled under his breath, he almost forgot about the irritating ditz who hung on his arm like he was some sort of cute fuzzy animal.

Just get through the party, then the fun will begin

You know what to do R&R. Thanks for reading!!!!!