Disclaimer:
I don't own Sailor Moon or anything related to it. Please don't sue.
Thanks to all my reviewers! =]
- Chapter 9 -
"Sir, I've heard, around the palace, that there is to be a ball. Your 'goddess' will be in attendance."
"Excellent. Where will it be held?"
"From what I've heard, it's going to be held on the magnificent ship that will be in port tomorrow, Eden."
"Well, it looks like we have a ball to attend, then. Great work. Please let Shane know I'd like to have a word with him. You may leave."
"Yes Sir!"
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She turned around slowly, looking at herself in the mirror. The dress was absolutely gorgeous. It was a strapless, pale lavender gown that was fit to accentuate her modest assets. The bodice was pearl encrusted, and the bottom half came down in graceful folds, falling past her ankles. She turned again, to get a view of the back in the three-paned mirror. It dipped low, exposing most of her back, stopping at the curve of her back.
"You and that dress go perfect together!" Rei exclaimed as she walked out of her bathroom, toweling her hair dry.
Serena turned away from the mirror, towards Rei, and smiled. "Thanks." She said. "But I need help on my hair."
"No problem."
When Rei was finished, Serena had her hair in a simple up-do, with a few tendrils of hair framing her face. Her make-up wasn't much, just a touch of lip-gloss and other "natural" make-up. But still, it added to the whole effect. And to finish it off, Rei lent Serena a silver necklace that held a single teardrop shaped amethyst pendant. She looked stunning.
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The ball was about to begin in twenty minutes, and the girls still hadn't come down. Darien paced back and forth in front of the staircase, Jed pacing right along with him. Somehow, this nitwit had managed to persuade his sister to go to the ball with him. Darien eyed Jed suspiciously. If he did anything to hurt Rei, Darien would be the first in line to hurt him.
The sound of descending footsteps caused his and Jed's attention to turn towards the grand staircase. There, walking down with a smile on her face, was his little sister. She outdid herself tonight.
He saw Jed take her hand as she reached the last step. They walked arm in arm and were almost out the door, but still no Serena.
"Wait." He called towards his sister. "What happened to Serena?"
"She's coming. Just last minute details." Rei hid a knowing smile. "We'll wait for you in the gardens."
As Rei and Jed stepped outside, Jed pulled Rei off to a private corner of the garden. She stood in front of him, eyes shining. He let his gaze slide down her body, taking in anything and everything. Her beautiful, long, ebony hair was pulled back with a floral clip, the moonlight shining on it. An intricate ruby bauble hung down her neck on a golden chain, nestling between her breasts. The dress she wore, a deep red gown that went down to her toes, complemented her perfectly.
"You look beautiful." He told her, as his gaze rose back up to her eyes.
She smiled, secretly basking in his appraisal.
Back inside, Serena had just stepped onto the first step atop the staircase. Darien turned his gaze towards her, and his eyes widened. His expression was priceless and just what Rei expected.
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The ball was in full swing by the time they got there. The dance floor was packed, people were chatting and laughing, and basically having fun. The girls took their respective men onto the dance floor and began to blend into the crowd, having as much fun as the rest of them.
"Ah...I haven't danced like that in ages." Serena quipped, as she took a break.
"Me too." Darien replied, laughingly. "Are you thirsty? Do you want me to get you something?"
"Oh, yes, please." She said, gratefully. "I'll be out on the deck."
She walked through the doors into the cool night air and breathed it in. The moonlight lit the water below, candles were glowing on board the ship, and everything looked so romantic. Not many people were out here taking advantage of it though. She was glad for that; she just may be able to have some time alone with Darien. She sighed at the thought of him and their relationship. It was going too fast for her liking. 'But that's just how it goes,' she thought, 'You don't get a say when it's love.'
Someone had approached her from behind. She was pretty sure it was Darien, but turned around to be sure. Whom she saw surprised her to no end and scared her, too.
"D-D-Derek!" She stuttered. "What are you doing here?"
"Why, looking for you my sweet." He smiled. "I know we're meant to be. Please, give me another chance." He held out his hand to her.
"N-no." She shook her had vehemently. "No! We're over! The restraining order!"
"Come on Serena. I love you. And I know you still love me." He reached for her arm. "Besides, that doesn't work here. It's out of its jurisdiction."
"I said, No! I never loved you!" Her eyes flashed with conviction, as she backed away. "Our parents just set us up. It was arranged."
He made one more attempt at her arm.
"Don't come any closer! Don't touch me! Or I'll scream!"
This caused him to back off a little. By the time he attempted to make another move, Darien was already there, by her side, with their drinks. She was relieved.
He put an arm, free of her drink, around her waist in a possessive manner. "Everything okay here?"
"Just fine. I was just having a little chat with my fiancée." He eyed the arm around his Serena's waist.
"Fiancée? I am not you fiancée! That was over long ago!"
"Now, now dear. I know how you like to have your flings, but—"
"Hold on," Darien cut in, "I don't see a ring, so I don't believe she's engaged. Besides, her parents wouldn't try to set her up with me if she was already engaged."
"Yes, but we hadn't decided to tell them about our engagement, so they were not aware."
"Well, I'm sorry you make such poor decisions, because now she and I are engaged."
"Where's the ring?"
"We're still shopping for it. We were just about to announce our engagement tonight."
Meanwhile, Serena had been watching this ping-pong conversation. She hadn't been able to get a word in, but now was her chance. She couldn't believe they'd been talking about her as if she wasn't there.
"Excuse me, but I can make my own decisions. Thanks." She said, huffily. "And, I don't appreciate being talked about as if I'm a possession."
She pulled away from Darien's arm and ran away as fast as she could.
"You better stay away from her." Darien said threateningly before he ran after Serena.
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He found her by a sparkling fountain on the first floor of the ship's seven-story atrium. She was staring into the water, a saddened look on her face. He approached tentatively.
"Serena?"
She turned to him, but remained silent.
"Listen," He rubbed the back of his head in a nervous manner, "I just wanted to say, I'm sorry. I didn't mean...He just...I don't know what came over me."
She still said nothing.
"He just made me feel angry and jealous. And I'm really sorry!"
She sighed. "But do you know exactly what you're sorry for?"
"For being a guy, I suppose?"
Serena laughed at this. "Well, I guess that too. But that's not the reason I'm angry at you right now."
"Okay. Then, I believe it's because I talked about you as if you were a possession. In which, I am really sorry. It's just I was—"
"I know, jealous. But all my life, most men—my father and most of my suitors—have only thought of me as a prize or possession. Only few—my brothers and cousins—have thought of and known me for me. I thought you were going to be one of the few. But now..."
"I didn't mean to!"
"I know, but it still doesn't change the fact that you did. It might seem strange for me to make a big deal about this. But it's not strange, not to me, because it is a big deal."
"Look, I'm sorry. I wish I could change your opinion, but..."
"Darien, darling. We've just heard the wonderful news."
"Mother? What 'wonderful news'?"
"Why, your engagement of course. A Mr. Derek James told us."
"I see."
"What's wrong?"
Darien rubbed the back of his head again. "Nothing. We just wanted to tell you ourselves."
"So it's true?" She looked skywards. "God has answered my prayers. Congratulations to you both. We'll start planning you're engagement ball tomorrow."
"But—" Serena interrupted, only to get cut off by Darien's lips pressed upon hers.
"That's so sweet. You two make a marvelous couple."
When they still hadn't let up, the crowd dissipated, and went back to the ball. Which was just what Darien was waiting for.
"They're gone," he whispered against her lips, as he ended their kiss.
"Great." She said breathlessly. "Now you can inform me why you lied."
"Well, think of it this way: I don't want to get married, and you don't want to get married. But we still have to court or be courted by suitors. What better way to stop that by announcing we're engaged? And we can try to postpone the wedding until years from now, claiming we're too busy with things. Or I can claim that I don't want to overwhelm you with Royal life. We'll find a way. Then, I can go one with my practice, and you can continue with your business and still gain your inheritance. Not only do we get to stop the courtships, but we can also still enjoy each other's company."
"Yeah, but there's just one flaw with your logic. I need to be married to get my inheritance. Not engaged, married! And if I pretend to be engaged to you, someone who doesn't want to get married, then how will I be able to find someone I like enough to actually consider getting married to?"
"Well, maybe we can persuade your father? Or con him into believing we're so in love that the wedding will go without a hitch—when we're ready."
"I don't know..."
"Just give it a try. We'll by a ring and everything. Make it as real as possible."
"Right..."
"Besides, this engagement can have other benefits." And then he kissed her again, with more passion.
She pulled away after a moment, and said, "If this blows up in our faces, I will make your life a living hell."
A/N: So what do you think? Good? Bad? Needs improvement? Please review, and/or leave some constructive criticism. =] And I'm really sorry it took so long to get a new chapter out. Hopefully it won't take as long now that it's summer break.