Dangerous Seduction

By TriGemini

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or its characters they belong to Naoko Takeuchi.

Chapter Three

It was finally three in the afternoon and Serena was on her way to the Waterfront Café to meet up with her friends. She had called Diamond before she left, just to let him know that she was going to be out of the house for a while. He on the other hand, seemed to be pleased with the idea that she had decided to get out of the house. Apparently, he thought the same things as she did, about her needing a distraction from everything that was happening. He just reminded her to be careful and to make sure that she had her cell phone on and with her at all times. As soon, as that conversation was over, she hung up the phone. Afterwards, Serena grabbed her purse, her car keys, and head out to her car. While driving in her brand new Mercedes, Serena wondered about what would happen when she met up with her friends. It had been awhile since; she'd seen all of them. For the last time they'd gotten together for some actual fun, it had been before she had gotten married. In an instant, Serena's mind began to drift back to a particular moment.

(Flashback)

Mina had just called her for the hundredth time that afternoon. Insisting that her cousin needed to get out and have some fun. She also, reminded Serena that just because she was dating Diamond, it didn't mean that she couldn't be around other guys either. Serena always figured that this came from Mina's personal experience in dating, seeing as how Mina was always one to have a million boyfriends. Therefore, it was possible that a person could do it. For Mina always said to her and their friends, "It's too much fun and it's better than being tied down to just one person," at least, that was Mina's philosophy when it came to men. Anyways, after two hours of persistent begging from Mina, Serena finally gave in to the plan of going out to a nightclub for a 'Girl's Night Out.' Besides, it wouldn't just be the two of them; the other girls had agreed to go, also, although, Serena suspected that Amy had been coerced into joining them for the evening, since she wasn't the type who enjoyed those sorts of places. Nevertheless, in the end Serena had agreed thinking that there couldn't be any harm in just going. After all, she wasn't planning anything too outrageous. She only planned to have a few drinks, maybe a few dances, and nothing else. Therefore, it couldn't hurt right. Besides, Serena knew she could use the distraction and it proved right after following five hours of conversing with her friends, some drinking, and a lot of dancing it proved that it had been a good time.

(End of flashback)

In some ways, Serena missed those times. Because after everything that had happened she wasn't sure anymore if she could ever have a good time again. In putting those horrid thoughts aside, Serena pulled into the Waterfront Café's parking lot. There she got out of her car and entered the café heading towards the back tables since that was where they usually sat when they met up.

"Hey, Serena!" yelled an excited Mina, who was waving her hand to show where they were at.

"It's about time you showed up!" said Raye impatiently.

Serena turned to look at Raye Morgan one of her good friends. She just smiled and nodded at her. "Hello, to you too Raye it's been awhile." Serena said casually.

Raye just nodded back and cocked her head to the left to show that Amy's head was stuck in a book, as always. Serena smiled at the view before and decided to see if she could surprise her friend.

"Hey, bookworm didn't you know that this is a non-reading event?" At hearing that comment, the young woman snapped up and looked up to see Serena standing before her. Amy Azure had always been the quiet one out of all them. When she lifted her head, everyone had noticed the slight embarrassed look on her face, "Sorry this book is quite fascinating I couldn't put it down and since you were late, and Mina and Raye were arguing. I didn't have that much to do except to read and wait," she said. Serena just laughed at that comment, for she couldn't blame Amy for being bored and for wanting to stay out of range while Raye and Mina argued. Because when those two fought, it was endless. As for Lita Gray, she just sat there with an amused look on her face.

"Yeah, Ames, I can't blame you for not wanting to get involved. Those two never know how to act their age especially, in public," she said amusingly. With that comment, she got glares from both Mina and Raye. Then to justify Lita's point Mina stuck her tongue out at her. Serena again had to laugh at the scene before her. She certainly missed the interaction between them. Ordering lunch proved to be another entertainment. Since Mina had decided to flirt with the waiter at their table and Raye, being the so considerate one out of all them had to put a stop to it by telling the waiter, he had to go and get their order. After he'd gone, Mina just glared at Raye once more and then told her to next time mind her own business. At that comment, Raye huffed with annoyance and just sat there in silence. Everyone else just looked at each other and thought times sure hadn't changed. However, things had changed and it was just then when the unpleasantness started. A few moments had passed until Serena saw something. Better yet, she saw someone. Someone she hadn't seen in over two years. At first, she thought she was imagining it. However, after looking up once more from her place, she saw him. Right in front of her, a few tables from where she and her friends were, he was sitting at there at a table starting in her direction. That was when she noticed that he wasn't alone either, that there was another person with him, another man. She didn't want to believe that he was here, that he was in the same restaurant as her. After two years, she couldn't understand what had brought him back. At this point, Raye had noticed Serena's discomfort and wondered what could be wrong so she asked, "Serena what's wrong?"

After hearing Raye's question, the other girls stopped eating and turned to look at Serena, who in retuned looked ready to jump out of her skin, for she was pale, and shaking. She looked as if she had seen a ghost. When Serena didn't answer, Raye began to worry. She wondered what Serena had seen to make her act like this, so she asked again, "Serena what's wrong? Tell me?"

Serena on her part just continued to shake and finally stuttered," It's...it's him."

After speaking, she pointed over to the table where she had seen him. The girls turned around to look at the person she was pointing to and in doing so Raye's eyes went wide with disbelief. She herself couldn't believe who was sitting at the table either. Lita turned around to Serena and asked, "Who's that Serena?"

Without even answering, Serena jumped out of her chair and made a move to go the restroom. Raye however continued to stare at the two men who were sitting there at the table. When she did so one of the men raised their glass to her and smirked. At this Raye began to seethe, 'Of all the nerve,' Raye thought, as she glared directly at the man. However, this only seemed to amuse him even more. Although, Raye just ignored the look he was giving her and turned back around to her friends. At that moment, she noticed that Serena was missing.

"Where's Serena?" she asked in a demanding tone.

"I think she went to the ladies room. She didn't look very well. Raye do you know what's going on?" asked Amy curiously.

"Yeah, who are those guys?" asked Lita while cocking her head in the direction of where those men were.

"It's Serena's story to tell. Either she'll explain it to you or I'll tell you something. However, it'll have to wait until later, all right! I need to find Serena first and make sure that she's okay. Especially, after seeing those two." said Raye in a fuming voice, as she rushed to go looking for her friend. Since Raye was really, the only one that understood what was going on with her best friend at this precise moment. About a few minutes, later Raye found Serena sitting on one of the benches that was situated in front of the mirrors in the ladies room. She then noticed that Serena was also crying. In seeing, this Raye instantly went to go sit next to her.

"Are you all right?" asked Raye in a worried tone. Serena for her part gave Raye a withering look that simply said, 'How do you think I feel.' At the response, Raye was getting she simply said in a comforting tone,

"I can imagine it was a nasty shock at seeing him again. Wasn't it?"

With those words, Serena let out a sarcastic laugh and said to Raye in a bitter voice,

"Nasty shock doesn't seem to quite describe what it feels like Raye. I believe the correct term is positive dread, actually."

Serena then turned towards Raye to look at her straight in the eye and said, "You know exactly what I'm talking about Raye. It's surprising that the other girls didn't recognize at least one of them. You would think they would…right?"

At these words, Raye pondered and thought to herself, 'It's true. It's somewhat surprising that none of the other girls recognized them. However, the matter at hand is that Darien is back in town and the problem is, is that we don't know why, though.' She then looked at Serena and could tell that Darien's little performance from his table had caused Serena nearly to have a breakdown.

"What are you going to do Serena? Are you going to tell Diamond that you saw Darien again?" asked Raye worriedly.

Serena immediately looked at her and hesitated at the question. However, inwardly she knew what she had to say though.

"Raye, you know I've got to tell him. As much, as I don't want to tell Diamond this piece of unfortunate news. He's got to know about Darien being back in town, once more," she said in a serious tone.

Raye on her part had to agree with that, as well. If there was, one thing that Diamond would like to know most in this world. Is that is worst enemy was back in town, once again. The worse scenario that Raye could picture at this point, on how Diamond would react was that in the end he wasn't going to be very happy about this bit of news at all. In fact, she was certain that he wasn't going to like this piece of news one bit. Particularly, if he still was dwelling on what happened the last time he and Darien ran into each other. Then again, Raye supposed that Diamond would react just as badly to it this time, as he had done the last time. However, what worried her right now was Serena. She knew how badly things ended up the last time. Especially, with what happened between Serena and Darien. She really hoped this time around that she could keep Serena out of this. In fact, with this last thought of hers it gave Raye an idea.

"Look Serena let's do this. The girls are curious as to what's going on and if I know Lita, she'll want to talk to those two guys before the day is out. Not to mention, Mina won't stop asking questions until her curiosity is sated. So we'll have to tell them something and frankly at this point the truth is the best option to go with," said Raye in a blunt tone.

Serena on her part just nodded her head in agreement with what Raye had said. She knew that Raye was right. Besides, Serena knew that she wasn't going to be able to keep this to herself for long as it was.

"All right, I'll tell them the truth. Maybe then things won't look so bad," Serena said in a lighten tone.

With all that said and done Serena and Raye left the ladies room together. However, Serena went back to the table where she'd been sitting and Raye decided to go towards where the two gentlemen sat for she had decided to do something else at this precise moment. It didn't take long for Raye to make her way to the other table with a venomous look on her face that was meant for the two men that sat there.

One had coal-black hair with startling blue eyes and the other had short blond-hair with icy blue eyes.

As she continued to glare at the two men, she finally broke the silence by saying, "I cannot believe that out of all the places in this entire city you had to show your faces here."

The one with the dark hair just smirked at her and said sarcastically, "Well if it isn't my loving sister, Raye…and what brings you to our table? I know it wasn't to say hello?"

At this remark, Raye just gave him a contemptuous glare and answered back in a scathing voice, "You certainly have nerve dear brother. However, it's half-sister or have you forgotten. Anyways, back to the question. What the hell are you two doing here?"

Raye was certainly seething by this point. It was bad enough, as it was the situation. However, to add the fact that Darien was her half-brother wasn't helping at all. Unfortunately, for Raye so far she'd been completely ignoring the other man with her brother to realize that soon enough, this little gathering was going to get worse…or at least unpleasant for her.

That was when another voice spoke up, "It's a free country Raye, or have you forgotten that. Besides, what does it matter? We were just enjoying the lovely view we have from this cozy spot that we seemed to have accommodated for ourselves."

Instantly Raye turned in the direction in which the voice came from and finally noticed the other man who was with her brother. If she wasn't already upset with seeing her brother, she was a lot worse off in seeing her brother's friend. With a menacing glare directed towards him, she began to rant,

"Listen here, Allbright! I wasn't talking to you," then she turned once more to her brother's direction and continued on, "As for, you dear brother you better be careful. I'm quite sure there are plenty of people who won't be happy to see that you've returned. Also, stay away from Serena, you've been officially warned…so, goodbye!"

With that said and down Raye stormed off in the direction of her own table. Leaving behind two people to dwell on what she had said.

"It seems like your sister hasn't changed at all Darien. I wonder if she still lives in the same apartment building?" asked Jeffrey Allbright in a thoughtful tone.

At hearing his friend Darien chuckled, 'it seems like someone's going to get an unwelcome house call tonight,' he thought to himself. Therefore, Darien thought he would save his friend the trouble and agony of having to deal with Raye any further tonight.

"You better just stay away from her for the moment. You know how she gets when she's upset. Besides, I hardly doubt she'd want your company tonight, or any other nights to be honest," he said in hopes that his friend would listen to reason. However, Jeffrey wasn't going to listen for he had his own problems to deal with and Raye was officially one of them.

"Don't worry about me Darien. You just worry about Diamond not finding out that you're back in town. Because he's not going to be happy one bit," said Jeffrey bluntly towards Darien.

At the mention, of Diamond's name Darien rolled his eyes and sarcastically said, Of course, why hadn't I thought of that idea?" He than paused for a second to take a sip from his drink after he finished it, he continued the conversation with Jeffrey in a more serious tone, "Besides, I first have to deal with Serena. She and I have unfinished business to settle first.

At this piece of news, Jeffrey scowled and said, "Why don't you just do everybody…including Serena a huge favor and not talk to her. You already heard what Raye said. Please Darien! It's only going to cause more problems. You even saw the way she reacted when she saw us. You honestly believe that she'll willingly talk to you. I'm serious… think about it before you do something you'll end up regretting."

"Damit, it Jeffrey don't you think I don't know what the risks are in pursuing this? Well I do. However, I need to talk to her. She needs to understand some things and I'm going to make sure she understands. So don't talk to me as if I don't know what I'm doing…all right!" Darien growled in complete anger.

With that last statement from Darien, the conversation was over between the two for the night. As for, Jeffrey he just looked at Darien in shock. He knew the situation between Darien and Serena had been left unclear. Moreover, it was quite clear that Darien seemed intent on clarifying the matter. Therefore, he guessed he would have to trust Darien on what he was doing on the matter. As for Raye, she was his problem and he was going to deal with her personally.

Now back to where the girls had been sitting at. While Raye returned to the table, Serena had been observing the dispute between the two men and even though she couldn't understand what they were saying. She had an inkling of what was being discussed between them. As for Raye, she didn't look like she was any happier than beforehand. Because it seemed that whatever put off mood she had been in before, was somehow ruined by the conversation she had with the two men. Seeing as she came back fuming.

As Raye plopped down into her seat, she didn't notice the intent looks that she was getting from the other girls. Seeing as how nobody was going to say anything at first Mina decided to break the silence.

"What the hell is going on? Who are those two men Serena? And Raye why are you in such a bad mood all of sudden?" she asked bluntly.

At this point, Raye groaned in frustration. Somehow, she should have known that Mina was going to ask all those questions right away. Therefore, to answer she said, "Listen Mina, for the moment this isn't the place or the time to talk about it…Okay! As for those gentlemen, they're nothing but a nuisance."

Mina on her part just huffed, for she hadn't been satisfied with the answers she had gotten out of Raye. Lita and Amy glanced at one another and just shrugged. For neither of them had a clue what was going on. However, they were also curious about what was going on and wondered if either Serena or Raye would talk about it. By this point, Serena had decided the best course would be to just come out and tell her friends what was going on. Given that, she unintentionally just dragged two of her best friends (aside from Raye) and her cousin into this mess.

"All right, given that everybody is wondering what's going on I might as well, tell you the truth about something that happened two years ago. Something that I wish everyday I could just forget. Well in actuality, I have forgotten some things. However, that was due to the accident I had during that time. What I can't tell you I'm quite sure Raye will be able to fill in the blanks. Especially, on what happened after the accident and during some of the time I wasn't around," said Serena calmly.

This particular statement startled Raye and she had to wonder to herself,' Is Serena going to tell the girls about what happened? Will she tell them the entire story?'

Once more, Raye just sat there in silence with a look of total disbelief on her face. She couldn't believe that Serena was going to tell them after such a long time and that she would willingly tell them. Knowing how important this was to Serena and that most of what she was going to say was meant to be kept secret, Raye decided to interrupt,

"Uh, guys!"

With that, she shook everyone out of their reverie and they all looked straight at her.

"Why don't we continue this elsewhere…away from prying eyes and ears?" Raye said.

At this, the girls just nodded their heads in agreement. They decided the best place to go would be to Serena's house. There everything would be explained, from the beginning to the very last detail of what happened in the present moment at the café.

About a half hour later, the girls had finally arrived at Serena's house. Each of them was waiting in anticipation of what was to come. For as soon as they entered the magnificent house that belonged to Serena and Diamond, they were ushered into the living room. There each of them sat down on one of the pieces to the expensive furniture that decorated the living room. Serena sat on one of the comfortable armchairs. However, she found herself to be extremely nervous. Therefore, to soothe her nerves she got up from the chair and began to walk about the room. As a result, it was starting to annoy her friends, because she was stalling. For that reason, Raye called out in an irritated voice, "Serena just sit down and tell them."

At this action, Serena just glared at Raye for a moment. However, she realized instantly that Raye was right, the sooner she told her friends, the better it would all be in the end. Once again she sat down in the chair and began,

"Okay, guys…you all remember my wedding, right?" Serena asked uncertainly.

The girls just nodded their heads to say, yes.

"Do any of you remember something happening that night? Specifically, do you remember anything out of the ordinary? At all?" she asked. Once more, she was being careful in how she was stating her questions. At this, the girls sat there pensively trying to remember the events of that exact year. After a moment of silence it was interrupted when Mina's voice suddenly chimed in,

"Come to think about it I do remember something happening. You were taken. Wasn't that what happened?"

"Yeah, I'm beginning to remember that night. It was awful! Who could forget what happened that night," Lita said as she shuddered at the remembrance of that specific night. She then turned to Amy who was sitting right next to her and asked, "Amy don't you remember it…that night?" Amy nodded her head and said, "Yes, of course I remember that night. As Mina had mentioned earlier, it was simply quite awful. Although, what I do not understand is what do the two gentlemen at the café have to do with all this?" She asked in a confused tone.

"They have everything to do with it. In fact, one of them in particular has something to do with this situation. I don't really know how to explain the whole thing. However, there are two versions of this story. The cliff notes version and the whole version. Which one do you guys want to hear?" Serena asked.

"The whole version, we want to know everything that happened," answered Lita. It was apparent that she felt that she was speaking for both, Amy and Mina. Because she assumed that, they wanted to know everything as much as she did.

'Okay, they want to know the whole version. That's all right they're my friends and I know I can trust them with anything,' Serena thought to herself.

"All right, before I start…mind you I'm going to begin at the very beginning. Meaning some of this happened before I was even married to Diamond. Okay! It includes many things. For one it involves those two guys from the café and two there is a lot more than just what I'm going to tell you, all right!" Serena said seriously to her friend.

Again, the girls just nodded their heads and waited patiently for Serena to start.

"It all started when I got back from Europe that summer..."

A/N: Okay, here is how this going to be played out. The story of Serena and Darien's past will come into play. How I am going to write it though is by telling it as if it is presently happening. Meaning in the next chapter it is going to start with Serena returning from her trip, and so it will go on then after I tell the tale of the past. This is going to be in chapters, and in some details, so some people will have a feel of what is going on all right.