A/N: This chapter is especially written for Trish1573. The idea of it came to me as a response to her reviews on Chapter 21:Breakfast In Bed & Baseball Game and Chapter 22: Past Silhouettes & Birthday Celebration of TOBITF which was dated November & December last year. Since her birthday is in January, I had initially intended to write it as a birthday dedication but I got too sick to write it at the time. Trish, my dear readers, like so many of you, hated the way Darien and Saori greeted each other! ;)
So Trish1573, this one is for you. It's over 8 months too late but I hope it makes you smile as so many of your reviews, messages, faith and support makes me! ;) And how wonderful that the first person to review the last chapter was you! LOL. Thank you! I hope you're feeling a lot better now. Rest and get well soon! ;)
JJen.A: LOL. Even I had to reread it again before I was able to write the new chapter! I'd love to know what you thought of it. :) Your reviews for some reason, always makes me feel warm inside. It's been too long, I know. But yes I will finish TOBITF. As you said, I did promise! Thanks again, ever so much! ;) nickybluejess: Thank you! I had fun writing their scene and plan to do so more often. ;) catgirl505: LOL. I'm glad you thought so. Thanks! ;) escape-reader.13: Thanks! I'm so glad! Your review for TOBITF's latest chapter triggered an idea for an S+ss scene which I plan to write for the next TOBITF update. I'll dedicate the scene to you ;) Nancy67: Thank you! LOL. It was updated and will be updated again before the month is up :) SerenityShield: I'm glad I'm writing again too! LOL. Funny you should mention it, but that is the way I write. I see them in my head and write what I see. There willbe more of Amy & Zachary (Zoicite) in TOBITF's next chapter. :) LoveInTheBattleField: Thank you. Here's a new chapter! ;) AngelEye: Oh wow, I don't think I'm worthy of that compliment but thank you. LOL. You really aresweet! And I'm really glad that you're able to feel and see my characters. That means a lot to me. ;) Have you read TOBITF? These drabbles are set in that world. I hope you give it a chance and let me know what you think! ;) Moonprincess998: Thank you! I love their loyalty too. :) AngelEye&Moonprincess998: Mina, Jason and Amara are my favourite characters to write besides S&D. Jason and Mina being playful, Kevin being so serious and Raye with her temper and sarcasm, I don't really know which one of them is my favourite couple ;) kbtjmandy: Thank you! I really love all your reviews and always look forward to them and am terribly glad that you're still reading my stories! LOL. Was that a not so subtle hint to update TOBITF? I updated several days ago. Have you read? LOL. I will try and update more frequently ;) UsagiCarter: Ahhhh! I love how kind and supportive you are! And I'm glad you liked the chapters. Thank you, thank you sooo much! :)
TOBITF ALERT:A new chapter titled Of Hearts & Crystals, Past & Present was uploaded last week and was edited slightly the day before yesterday. So to those who read the chapter earlier when it was posted, you might want to re-read it. Based on several feedbacks, I'd also suggest for you to re-read the Prologue & Character Index chapter which does have an extended summary and background (added on July last year). Chapter 8: Scouts & Generals and Chapter 10: Sailor Moon & Tuxedo Mask also contain some relevant background which some of you may have forgotten due to my long hiatus from the story.
I honestly don't expect my readers to review every chapter they read, but considering TOBITF have been on hiatus for nine months and that is how long since I've written a proper chapter, it really would be nice to get some feedback to Of Hearts & Crystals, Past & Present (even via PM) to know if I'm on the right track, that I haven't lost all ability to write a decent chapter and that you're still interested in the story. Besides, I'm almost certain that a 4000+ chapter takes longer to write... ;)
Either way, thanks for reading everyone! ;)
Telepathic communications/Thoughts are in Italics.
(Standard disclaimer: I do not own any of the Sailor Moon characters. All characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi.)
S plus D equals little s squared plus little d squared (S + D = ss + dd)
12.Tit for Tat
Timeline: takes place right after the baseball game at the end of Chapters 21 and before the birthday celebration in Chapter 22 of TOBITF (short scene to show Serena's response to Darien and Saori's method of greeting each other)
Rating: T
No. Of words: 1041 words
Raye was cursing in between laughter as she struggled to get free from Mina and Serena, both of whom were holding her captive by the arms and ankles while Jason chased a laughing Amy with a bottle full of water with Zachary acting as her moving shield.
Darien and Kevin watched with smiles on their faces.
"Children! All of you are! Every single one of you," Darien couldn't help commenting.
"What?" Serena turned towards him, momentarily distracted, giving Raye the chance to escape and get back on her feet.
"Did he just called us children?" The raven haired beauty asked.
"I think he just did," Mina answered as she straightened up.
"Jason, if you give me a spare bottle of water, we could call a truce," Amy said very calmly.
Jason grinned wickedly as he passed both her and Zachary water bottles while Mina, Serena and Raye got one for themselves. Together, the six children turned on the reincarnated Prince of Earth and slowly advanced towards him as they each uncapped the water bottle they were holding.
Darien slowly backed away, "Now kids..."
"I don't think calling them kids is any better, Darien," Kevin commented drily, impenitently moving out of the way when his friend attempted to use him as a shield.
"Good game, Dumpling! Amy, Mina, do you all want to come and celebrate with us?" Seiya called out as he walked towards the group of friends, inadvertently saving Darien from the pending attack.
Impossibly graceful on four inch heels, his sister moved smoothly next to him. Yaten followed closely behind his cousins, a characteristic frown on his face.
How could anyone wear white silk and high heels to a baseball game and not look out of place? The errant thought crossed Serena's mind as she looked at the beautiful blue eyed brunette.
"I'm sorry, Seiya. We can't," she said softly as he came to stand next to her.
"We already have plans," Amy explained.
"Lita's waiting for us at home," Mina added.
Seiya raised his eyebrow. "You're going home? On our last day of high school? After our last exam and after we've just won our first game?" he asked incredulously.
Serena drew in her breath sharply, her gaze occupied as Saori embraced Darien warmly. The gesture was as familiar to the two as the brief meeting of the lips that followed in their customary greetings to each other.
"It's my birthday today," she answered quietly, "Lita and the others are setting things up at home. I'd invite you..."
"But it's a family thing," Jason cut in firmly.
Darien listened to Saori halfheartedly. His replies were absent as he watched his girlfriend from the corner of his eyes. Seeing Seiya standing so close to her, he wasn't even aware of one of Saori's hand that rested so familiarly on his chest. Unfortunately for him, Serena was.
A weary sigh escaped her as her hand lifted to her heart, unconsciously trying to soothe the ache, completely oblivious to the frowns on her friends' faces.
Before Mina, Jason or Raye could intervene, Seiya shifted as he followed her gaze.
His hands instinctively went to the small of her back, pulling her even closer to him. Walking her slightly away from the others, he turned her to face him and bent his head to her, effectively making it seemed as though they were sharing secrets. "Let's give him a taste of his own medicine, shall we?"
The muscle in her stomach twisted as confusion and hurt swelled inside her. "Huh?"
"Smile," Seiya murmured and touched a hand to her cheek, "You can make him feel what you feel right now."
The idea was so ridiculous to her that Serena's lips curved in a rueful smile. "Darien doesn't get jealous or insecure." She didn't even bother to hide how she felt. Was too upset to do so and he was her friend after all.
He bent his head so that his forehead touched hers, "Care to bet on that?" He shook his head as he stared at her for a moment, "You really have no idea how precious you are, do you?" he asked, almost in wonder.
Before she could even respond, his mouth fixed warmly on hers.
Darien's eyes flashed dangerously as he felt the same lethal heat he felt earlier spread through his gut. Kevin quickly put a restraining hand on his Prince's shoulder to prevent a repeat of the earlier incident.
Serena would have protested but was too shocked to do so. And then the kiss was over.
"I think I just won the bet," Seiya murmured when he lifted his head from hers and with his arms still around her, he discreetly turned their positions so Serena could see Darien glaring daggers at the two of them.
"Happy birthday, Dumpling," he said out loud and was wise enough to step away from her.
"That's twice you stole a kiss from me," she hissed out under her breath at him.
Grinning widely down at her, he simply replied, "You're welcome," and as he stepped even further from her and walked towards his sister to stand next to Darien, "My birthday is exactly a month away from now and I'll definitely be collecting my birthday kiss then," he said for all to hear.
"What was that?" Darien growled out after the Kou siblings left.
"What was what?" Serena asked back innocently though she had a pretty good idea what he was referring to.
"You. Were. Kissing. Him." He gritted out the words slowly.
"As you were kissing her," she retorted back simply.
"She's my friend. I kissed her in greeting."
"He's my friend. He was kissing me happy birthday."
"Meatball Head."
She met his gaze evenly.
"Darien."
"I don't want you kissing other guys."
"I don't want you kissing other girls."
"Fine."
"Fine."
"I'm not done," Darien said as he curled his fingers around her wrist, surprising her with the intensity in his eyes.
He brought her up against him and gave her a long sizzling kiss.
"Well," Serena caught her breath and tried to steady her heart, "Competitive, are we?"
Darien laughed, the tension forgotten. He bent and captured her lips again.
This time the kiss was sweet and tender.
Non-TOBITF Readers:
The incident referenced above (the one Kevin was trying to prevent from happening again):
Scene from TOBITF's Chapter 21: Breakfast In Bed & Baseball Game.
The ball came at her and Serena imagined a beautiful face with smooth golden skin, bright blue eyes and straight brown hair that passed her shoulders. She took a deep breath and gave a mighty swing that caught the ball on the meat of the bat with a loud crack.
The ball flew above the leaping gloves of infielders, midfielders and rose beautifully over the outfield grass and the crowd went wild as the pitcher groaned out loud at the sight of his two-strike pitch sailed out of the field.
Darien leaped to his feet with the rest of the crowd. "That's the way, Meatball Head!" he shouted proudly.
Jason and Raye rose and slapped palms, wiggled and bumped their hips together in a victory dance and the Archer brothers clapped their hands approvingly as Serena rounded the bases and turned for home.
As her feet stepped back onto the home plate, Serena's annoyance faded, replaced by a childlike pleasure in hitting the long ball.
Her teammates crowded her and patted her back in congratulations. Seiya picked her up in a hug that left her feet hanging from the ground, "Leading off with a homer in the first inning!" he shouted exuberantly spinning around with her in his arms.
Darien's jubilance gave way as he felt something hot and lethal spread in his gut. His eyes flashed a dangerous, edgy glint.
Noticing this, "I'm sure it's just the spur of the moment, Darien," Raye said, and nearly blanch when his eyes turned hard and cold.
When Seiya brought Serena closer into his arms instead of putting her back down on the ground, Darien saw red and when the idol moved to kiss her, the Earth Prince's eyes glowed golden.
The breezy wind became still air, the speed and energy concentrated on two points.
As though shoved by an invisible force, the bat that was in Melvin's hand whipped towards Seiya's face and the earth opened just slightly to trap his feet between its cracks, causing him to stumble.
His fast reflex allowed Seiya to dodge the bat but not the fast incoming fly ball from the opposing team's right fielder who had finally managed to retrieve Serena's homer and threw it back to his pitcher.
As if of its own accord the ball shifted direction, picked up speed and headed towards Seiya just as he shifted to avoid Melvin's bat.
"Darien," Kevin put a hand on his Prince's shoulder, hesitated for a second, and then tapped into Darien's emotions to subdue its effect on the power of the golden crystal inside him.
The green light of jealousy faded to the background but the damage was done.
Posted on fanfiction: 17 September 2014
A/N: LOL. If you're not a TOBITF reader, you'll just have to read the full chapter to find out what the damage was. Also, in case anyone's interested, the first time Seiya stole a kiss from Serena occurred in Chapter 19 which was aptly titled Saori & Seiya.