I don't know where this update came from, but alas, it did. Again any plot ideas are VERY welcome…I don't own SM, please Read, enjoy, and ultimately, review. Thanks oh so much to those have reviewed already and I hope I can keep attracting your reviews, good or bad.
Business on the Catwalk of Silver
It was cold with the threat of snow in the near hour. People were happy. Christmas music was blazing. Serena hated it. Sourly, Emerald was posing, as well, and for once, the women hadn't said anything to each other in the hours together. Finally, they were wrapping up, and changing into real clothes. Emerald was softly smiling, as she was leaving. Again, she was standing at the door, doing nothing. Serena didn't have the heart to tell her to get out. "Do you need something, Emerald?" Serena felt sudden pity for Emerald, whose green hair was the Christmas focal point for most. "Yeah." She began to dig around in a plastic store bag. In her blue polished nails, a dimly wrapped gift was marked for Serena.
In surprise, Serena couldn't say anything. Emerald was looked ashamed. A hand stopped her from fleeing. "No, no. Thank you." Serena searched for something to give to her. Money would do nothing. A disguise would be good, from the looks of negative Christmas bearing energy. "I don't have anything immediately for you…"Serena eyed her fleece hooded poncho, and a sun glasses that she carried for no reason, during the year. Serena faced emerald. "But I can imagine that you hate this season, for more than your hair. This can cover it, hopefully."
Emerald had a surprised flash of gratitude in her eyes. "Actually, the season does make my hair irritating. Thank you." Finally, satisfied, emerald went towards the door. "Happy holidays, Serena." Serena waved. "Happy holidays, Emerald." The gift turned out to be a silver haired angel, with a suspicious looking senshi gown of the past. It would go on the center of the kitchen table when she got home.
"Jadeite, you're unusually happy today." Darien looked up from his desk just as a near bouncing Jadeite hopped through his office door. "I know. Rei has her powers back." The little sub office that Jadeite claimed swallowed him up then, not allowing Darien to get his question out. Sailor Mars was back in her full glory then. How depressing, Darien thought as he went back to the paper he was reading.
Not a moment later, Kunzite came in, his grey eyes sparkling with happiness. It meant he either had gotten laid, or Mina was back. Dryly Darien greeted Kunzite. Kunzite was about to explain his good mood when Darien accidentally used his weak lunar linked ESP. Venus was on his mind. "Sailor Venus awakened, right?" Kunzite stopped and stared for a moment at Darien's private knowledge of his Venus. Darien was back to reading though, and clearly not in a mood to be questioned. Kunzite took his happy mood into his office.
Luckily, Nephrite wasn't in a happy mood, Darien saw sardonically. He was rather…confused, and partly depressed. It was refreshing. The refreshment disappeared upon Zoi's entering, and before any pleasantries, Darien caught him. "Amy is back and as frosty as ever?" Zoisite shook his head, not at all repulsed by Darien's tone. "Actually, she wants to meet Lita." Darien sighed and gently slammed his head against the nearest wall a few times. It began to hurt after a minute. The generals had found their queens. The King had yet to see his queen. Maybe it was not a good thing that the trip started in less than a week.
The morning kept getting happier as the day wore on. Darien really wanted a quick getaway. It came in the form of a client's complaint of poor service from the fashion wing. The complainer was Beryl, a super model who had tried and succeeded several times in corning men, getting their money, and then forgetting them. She had tried to pick up on Darien several times before as well. In the end, he had pissed her off, saying he was taken already, and would only touch her if Wiseman sieged Tokyo again, with Galaxica running assassins against him, and the only way to save Himself, and Tokyo, was to touch her. She had gotten confused, then angry that she was confused, then angry at Darien for realizing that he just dumped from the one date they had. When she had tried to take the generals to her dark side, again, they had laughed, and made an utter fool of her. There was a feeling in the back of Darien's mind that she would come back to bite him someday.
But, that was a side issue. Her complaint meant he had to go investigate the fashion wing of his empire. Almost gleefully, Darien continued on his day until the set time to visit at 2. He was appearing even happy as he left his main building gleefully, and scaring even the most senior members of his staff. Well, leaving the building was a rare opportunity for him. His staff actually could go home at night, for the most part. They seemed to forget their ever efficient boss that in the same breath was questioned of even existing.
Half way there, standing in the middle of the streaming crowd of Tokyo, and standing in his Armani suit and expensive trench coat of young modeling years (of course attracting stares), Darien realized something. On all times when a manager is supposed to visit, the said place acts too perfect. On the top of the food chain, it is often used as an ego boost or is done to get a good review for magazine x. When the workers are viewed under stress and action, more is gained. It may not be good. It may not be bad. It is truthful that way though.
Conveniently, the favorite high class clothing chain was to his right. The items in the window were what he was wearing then though, and would do nothing in any way of a disguise. On the opposite way of the oddly small high traffic Japan highway and crowds, was a lower quality place that just barely made the top 10 of the nation of best clothing lines. A male teenager that walked with a definition of a young model left. Darien smiled. A young woman fainted. Luckily, she provided enough of a distraction to allow him to cross the street in under 5 minutes. Her boyfriend wasn't happy, but Darien was.
It was the first time in years that Darien bought and wore a pair of jeans. It was liberating. He knew that he wasn't that 'hide-able', and so did the sales clerk helping him. Under the grungy rock band appearance of Chad the sales clerk was actually a very fashion conscious young man. Hell, if his hair was even brushed out, he would look part. Sort of. Chad the sales clerk recommended a black turtleneck, and a horrible, horrible green jacket. Something in Chad the sales clerk's blue eyes sparked with recognition of the man, and his purpose.
In the unattended dressing room, Darien frowned slightly. He liked the green jacket despite the ugliness of the outfit. Was that saying something about him? Maybe, now that he remembered, the fact that he owned it might make a big trend. He did a strong man pose. At the same time, a random wind opened the door, and revealed it to the masses that were mulling around the store. Judging by the laughs, Darien concluded that his theory was wrong. Oh well. To cover any psychological damages, he actually paid for the clothing.
The business of modeling was called Silver Catwalk, Darien remembered. Entering the place, he saw no one at the desk. There was someone there barely 20 minutes ago, though, judging by the still steaming coffee. He peered over the desk. It was amaretto espresso. This was a Starbucks style worker. Approval from the higher ups was very evident. A raise perchance, was possible. Or a resistance of firing could be arranged. Through his fellow soul mate of Starbucks thoughts, a shark, tense in the same time, exhausted, voice broke through. It was coming from a side office. There was only a long hallway and no doors so no spying could be done with the eavesdropping.
This maybe was Nephrites cold and effective manager that popped into the Silver Catwalk years back. "Louisa, Your fired. Don't bother coming into work today." A muffled voice of exclamation and begging with a twinge of pleading answered her. "No, you don't have a sick mother, disabled father, and a sister's funeral to plan andto pay for because you uncle was laid off. You are filthy rich, and spoiled and do not know how to type at all." A loud angry voice responded. "There was no photo shoot planned in a cemetery. It's not that hard to type 'a photo shoot with commentary' on a stupid flyer. Your last check will be available in two days."
The phone went click, and a heavy sighed followed. A short silver haired woman walked out, ignoring Darien for a moment. Faint phrases were muttered under her breath in a variation of…Latin? In a quick swipe the full amaretto espresso cup was drained and bright alert eyes looked over him, to her schedule book, and then to the hallway again, and sharp clicks of boot heels of doom started trailing her quick pace towards that hallway. They disappeared into a room. Silence reigned. A tense silence reigned.
Was Darien Chiba just ignored? He doubled checked that he was a tangible human at the moment. He was dumbfounded for a moment, and was contemplating anger. It never had the chance to bloom though. Hurried walking pace clicks were leading back into the desk. At first, the woman still ignored him, and nearly left again.
She turned back, and just as she was about to type something into the computer, it dawned on her. A dark haired, very attractive male model was in front of her. Slowly, she looked up to dumfounded man. At that moment, blushing would be very accurate of her description. Serena Tsukino never blushed though. She smiled. "Hello, may I help you?" Dark blue met dark blue irritated eyes. Silver hair was taken in, as was the familiar features of man. Serena wanted to cry.
Does he remember her? Did you catch any symbolism in the title? Does anyone have plot ideas? Do you have badgers on the brain? HMMM! Thanks for reading, please review, and See above groveling. Thanks all!
This FINALLY is a remotely useful update by Saturns Darkness