Hello! I'm back! Yes, I'm proud of myself I managed to get it here before anyone died waiting… at least I hope no-one has died (prays) ergh! Had this done on Saturday but the evil that is is once again experiencing technical errors sighs but I've finally managed to get the chapter up!

Couple special hellos today:: Kiniboshi hugs nice to see you around again, Eo just for supportive reviewing over the long term, Chikara for making me laugh, yea yea a quick update it was, and here's another , Torachi also made me laugh appreciate that and Darien's troubles just get worse, Aqua Rhapsody…1st off it's nice not to be the only person jumping crazily up n down, and 2ndly I just like your reviews (oh and your fictionpress story is gooood at least I thought so), FinalStillness of Saturn for her helpful comments (even when I'm being too lazy to put them into action) and nice words.

As for all my other Reviewrs, who's names I could sit her for hours trying to remember (I'm really bad with names), I'll just say thanks to all for your wonderfully funny, anxious, supportive reviews that brighten my days.

On with the story now and remember, I don't own any of these people except for the young Miss Lillian Van Horne.

Chapter twelve

He met the young Miss Van Horn at four pm for dinner at one of the village's more posh restaurants. It was a small Italian place with the usual red-chequered table cloths and single candle per table lighting, and although the company wasn't quite what he hoped, the food was good.

To be precise, the young Miss Van Horn, Lillian, wasn't bad company, it was just that he wasn't overtly interested in the latest high-society gossip on which families were making it, and which were breaking it.

"So Darien, how do you feel about this?" she questioned changing the topic after a particularly uninteresting babble about the Weatherbees, and how their daughter was engaged to the son of their former arch-rival's business.

"Pardon?"

"I asked how you felt about us dating again…" she restated watching intently as his brow creased slightly in thought.

"I'm all right with it I guess" he replied with tact when really all he wanted to do was run out of the restaurant and down to the street to get away from her.

"Just all right?" she pressed, flashing her perfectly even teeth in a smile that had probably made many a man catch his breath.

"Mmm, takes getting used to" he muttered yet again evading the underlining issue.

Lillian laughed daintily as she gazed at him with her enchanting green, nearly gold, eyes opening her mouth to say something else.

Fortunately for Darien the waiter arrived with the bill before she could actually voice whatever it was allowing him to interrupt stating,

"Shall we go then?" as he offered her his arm.

"Okay" she replied, her voice suddenly very quiet.

To any outside observer it was rather obvious that Miss Van Horn liked Mr. Chiba very much.

It was just too bad that he did not feel even remotely the same.

The Winter Ball as it was officially called was in full swing by the time eight o'clock rolled around, which was the time chosen by Usagi and Minako to arrive. As they entered the ballroom the two looked around in awe at the beautiful decorations and surprisingly club-style lighting.

"It's nothing like I expected" Minako commented as she watched the beautifully dressed girls, and equally well-dressed young men doing anything but the ballroom dance manoeuvres they expected. Then again, the music wasn't what they thought it was going to be like either, as the song switched from one club track to another.

"yea, at least we're not over dressed" Usagi replied casting a quick glance down at her sleek black v-neck dress that just happened to hug her curves in all the right places.

"Well, we might as well go…"

"Yep, break some hearts…"

"…and capture the rest" Minako finished their private motto with a wink as the best-friends linked arms and marched out into the crush.

He had been there since the dance started at seven-o'clock due to the social nature of his date, and the fact that he preferred Miss Van Horn's company when she wasn't speaking to him. Therefore, now, nearly two hours into the night Darien was officially bored out of his mind and privately wishing he could run away and hide in his room.

His evening was a disaster (at least by his standards). Lillian and he were dancing, her body pressed as close as he would allow her to get it to his, while she continuously sang the words to the songs in some unknown key that would have been better left undiscovered.

As the night dragged on nothing could console him, not the jealous looks of his classmates, not the energetic strains of his favourite song, nothing, especially not the knowledge that when the dance was through he would have to first, formally ask Lillian Van Horn for her permission to see her again, followed by writing a letter to said young ladies father explaining his honourable intentions. I.e. insure that he would not get her pregnant and then abandon her. Which he really couldn't see happening anytime in the near future, not that the Miss was unattractive or anything, she just wasn't his type.

Indeed not, his type he thought to himself as the music settled into a heavy rhythmic beat perfect for some of the less "appropriate" dance forms, which only served to remind him of the mysterious girl he couldn't help but wish to see again.

"Please excuse me" he quickly muttered in her ear when she once again tried to plaster herself to him.

Lillian could only agree to his request, and watch him as he wove his way through the dancers.

"Mmm, hotty at twelve-o'clock" Mina exclaimed her arm pointing through the darkness at a strobe-lighted figure weaving his way towards them through the crowd.

"Where?" Usagi asked, turning to face in the appropriate direction before suddenly going stiff, her jaw dropping open as her eyes opened wide in astonishment.

"What is it?"

"It's him" she whispered her voice anxious as she abruptly turned so that her back was to him.

"Shit, girl do you ever know how to pick them" was Mina's only comment before she resumed her dance, watching warily as he continued his approach.

Yes! I've escaped the clutches of my future ball n chain!" Darien thought to himself as he continued his retreat. Just head to the washroom; just keep going his thoughts continued when he abruptly crashed into someone who hadn't been there a moment before.

"Sorry" he muttered the rest of his apology dying on his lips as his eyes landed on the figure a short distance beyond the person he had crashed into.

Is it her? He questioned, watching the dancer move with an almost feline grace

Is it really her? The girl from the club? She turned, body twirling in a move replayed night after night upon the backs of closed eye-lids.

It has to be her!!! His mind screamed as he pushed his way through the small crowd that had gathered to admire her dance.

Then he was there, his arms wrapping gently about her waist from behind, even as he wondered if she would remember him.

It's him; I'm dancing with him again She thought as she altered her dance allowing him to have some control over their intertwined movements

The music played on in the background, but all he was aware of was the soothing vanilla scent engulfing him.

She's amazing he thought as she tilted her head to the side, giving him access to the pale column that was her delicate neck. A neck that his lips gently ravished, even as his hands began to trace along her sides, before he quickly turned her around to face him as the music changed into a slow clearly, "couples only" song.

I was facing him, him, Darien Chiba. Mr. sweet, kind, rich, devilishly handsome, best friend/room-mate and secret crush. He was holding me gently as we swayed, bodies moulded together. My arms around his neck, head resting against his chest, breathing in the cinnamon-rose fragrance of his cologne as his arms rested lightly in the hollow of my lower back. I was in heaven, soaring even higher than when he had begun his sweet torture on my throat, for we were so close it was as if he were trying to fuse our bodies together.

I wanted the moment to last forever, but knew that I was treading on thin ice as it was.

I held her like a drowning man grips a rope, like a hungry man eats his bread, like a dying husband trying to transmit all his emotions in a final glance. I only prayed that she would understand what I was trying to tell her. Hoped that she would comprehend how much I had longed for her as we drifted together, lost in the music.

Yet like everything it has to come to an end, and as I felt her slowly try to untangle herself from my embrace as the song ended I asked her,

"Who are you?"

I froze as his words sent a current of warm air ghosting over the sensitive flesh of my ear, and couldn't help but shiver as he questioned again,

"Please, tell me who you are"

I pulled back further, praying that the shadows would continue to hide my face as I gazed up at him, with a searching look, before I turned meaning to fade away into the crowd.

I could feel her eyes on me, and knew the moment that her intense gaze was gone. Knew that in that instant she would try to flee yet unlike last-time, I caught hold of her arm demanding,

"Just tell me your name."

And then the lights shifted. The bright strobes catching her beautiful face full on.

The lights blinded me, and I knew my game was up. I blinked, clearing spots from my vision even as I felt his hand drop from where he had been holding my arm.

I couldn't move, I was paralyzed by the look in his eyes, frozen in place like some giant sculpture until his voice, soft, low, filled with disbelief and a hint of betrayal whispered,

"Usagi? Is that really you?"

I ran

Author's Note

Duh duh duh! So people, happy now? Or at least momentarily satisfied?

Questions or comments or just for a random reason, feel welcome to e-mail me.

And I'll say bye bye for now, and all my love

galene