Standard disclaimers apply. I don't own Sailor Moon, but I DO own this computer. Sorry it took so long to get this part out. Writing a story is harder than it looks. Please forgive me for anything you don't like.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

We Can't Be Friends

The hairs on the back of Serena's neck stood up as she felt someone staring at her. She knew who it was too. Attempting to ignore the sensation, she continued with her work until her stalker finally decided to approach her, or at least until she couldn't take it anymore.

Impatience won out.

"What?" she demanded, turning to look into bemused eyes. "I know you want to know something, so you might as well get it over with. We both have work to do you know?"

The man chuckled. "If you're sure I'm not bothering you."

"Well of course you're bothering me, but if it would get you to move on any faster, then tell me what you want. What is it?"

No answer or question was forthcoming. A few moments went by, and Serena, sighing, went back to her sketch. "What happened last night?" he asked finally.

"Oh, God! I knew you were going to ask me that. You're really nosy, you know that Motoki?" She rolled her eyes and caught a few stares of those straining to hear the conversation. Then she realized something. "How'd you know he was there anyway? And you can't say that you already talked to him, because then you'd already know about the situation." She narrowed her eyes as Motoki blushed and looked away. "What's going on, Motoki?"

"What makes you think anything is going on? You're too suspicious." He moved away a little bit, still avoiding looking directly in her eyes.

"Motoki," she called out warningly. She remembered the prying eyes and grabbed his arm to pull him somewhere a little more private. "Now tell me."

"Alright, alright. Must you be so rough?" he complained, rubbing his arm.

"That didn't hurt, and you know it. Stop avoiding the issue."

"I suggested he go over, ok?" Motoki answered as he examined his arm.

"Why?"

"Because I think you two need resolve your issues," he looked directly into Serena's eyes. "Fast."

"I realize that, but why at my apartment? Couldn't you think of a place that's a little more...more..."

"Public?" he suggested.

"Not public really. It's not like we're going to hurt each other and need people around to make us remember our places."

"You forget that I walked into his office the other day. If you two weren't close to coming to blows, then I don't want to be around when that day finally comes. Or was it something else I was seeing?" he hinted.

Serena uncomfortably shifted her weight. Avoiding that particular topic, she answered, "I promised Rei I wouldn't kill him."

"Couldn't you two try to be friends? Darien's really a nice person."

"Argh!" she waved him off. "Why do people keep saying that? Can't we just say that he gets on my nerves, I get on his and just let life continue? We agree to disagree."

"It's not that simple." He leaned against the wall. "Not only do you two work together, but now he turns out to be your roommate's brother."

She turned an incredulous look at him. "I know! What kind of sick joke is that?"

Motoki laughed. "Seriously," he sobered a little, "I heard that you two got along last night."

She raised an eyebrow at that. "If you knew that already, then why are we having this discussion?"

"I just want to hear your side of it."

Serena sighed. "Before or after the movie."

"After. I figured he'd be stupid before the movie, but wouldn't have the sense to leave."

"You're right. It was fine until he opened his big, fat, obnoxious, egotistical baka mouth and said something stupid as usual."

"So you're saying you had a good time." Motoki ignored the latter part.

"If you could call that a good time. I ignored his presence for a while, and then we tried to make conversation. That's when things seemed to be improving. But goes comes up, must come down, and I refuse to be pushed around. That yo-yo baka."

Motoki sighed. Darien was such an idiot. What was his problem? "Well, that's all I wanted to know about that."

"You mean there's something else?"

He grinned and put his arm around her shoulders. "Let's go back to your workstation to discuss your next assignment, which you'll have to start right away. I think you'll enjoy it."

Motoki re-entered Darien's office only to stop abruptly because of Darien's dark expression. He almost went out the way he came.

"You're pathetic you know that?" Motoki asked him.

Darien's scowled deepened. "I don't know what you're talking about." He shuffled some papers on his desk.

"You're upset because you saw me put my arm around her, aren't you?" Darien just turned away. "Darien, you either like her or you hate her." Motoki made himself comfortable in one of the leather chairs stationed in his friend's office. Some people just had all the perks. "You can't have it both ways. Make up your mind, before someone takes that choice away from you permanently. Then where will you be?"

"It's hard, Motoki."

"Actually, it's simpler than you think. The question is why do you think it's so hard?"

"Because I'm confused."

"About?" Motoki prompted.

"She really does frustrate me. But I don't know if that's frustration from her attitude or what, and at other times, I find that same attitude adorable. And I just...react."

"Meaning you bite back." Darien nodded. "Well from what you told me, last night you got along."

"What did she say?" Darien asked anxiously, remembering the mission he sent Motoki on.

"Serena? Oh, she hates you." Darien seemed to wilt. "I'm kidding, man. She's just really annoyed with you. She's probably just as confused as you are."

Darien raised an eyebrow. "What makes you say that?"

"Because of the way you act around her." Motoki could tell that Darien didn't understand a word he was saying. He sighed. Darien was supposed to be a smart guy. "If someone was fighting with you one minute, then friendly the next, what would you think?"

Darien thought about it. "I don't know. I wouldn't know what to think."

"Exactly. Serena's already wary around you, and now you've just thrown in a new complication."

"I just don't know how to act around her, Motoki."

Motoki sighed again, then grinned, "I tried to told ya, but you just didn't want to heard me."

"What?"

"Serena said that to me once. It means that you're not just hearing the good advice people are trying to give you. You're too stubborn."

"Motoki?"

"Yeah?"

"Get out of my office."

"Hey, don't get upset just because I understand the solutions to your problems and you don't."

"I'll figure something out."

"Sure you will, but in the meantime what will you do? Go on as usual?"

"What other way is there?" Then Darien grinned as he thought of something. "Besides, it's fun."

"You won't think so when you realize you went too far and Serena does something you'll regret."

"A little thing like her?" He laughed. "What could she possibly do to me?"

"Don't underestimate women, Darien. They are capable of many things. Especially a woman like Serena."

"She said something along similar lines last night."

"I'd consider that a warning from her if I were you."

"Yes, Darien?" she asked when his shadow appeared.

"You actually used my name!" he said surprised.

She turned to look at him. "That's your name isn't it? Knowing how you feel about those petnames, as you call them, I figured your name was more appropriate. Don't you?"

"Actually I liked them."

She looked at him confused then a gleam appeared in her eyes. "Alright. What do you need, baka?"

Darien winced and quickly looked around the department. "You were right the first time, let's just keep it at Darien. I need some notes that Motoki left at your desk. I assume he told you of the new project that Ito-san proposed?"

"Yeah, it sounds exciting." She handed him the stack she meant to deliver to Motoki later.

"The team hasn't officially been assigned to work on it yet because it's still in the talking stages. But everyone will know something soon."

'Shows what you know,' Serena thought smugly, 'I'm already part of the team.' "How many do you think will make up the team?"

"Could be anywhere from ten to fifteen artists. Don't get your hopes up in being part of that, Serena. It's no use."

"And just what do you mean by that?"

"No need to get defensive. I'm just trying to warn you as a friend."

"But we aren't friends," she shook her head.

"Sure we are," he replied.

She looked at him confused. "With friends like you..." she said in English.

"Who needs enemies?" he finished. "Why do you continue to talk in English when you say some snide comment? You know that I understand you, right?"

"I know," she smiled. "But the translation comes over a little stronger if I use my own language."

"You are a puzzle to me, Serena."

"Please," she held up her hand and shook her head again, "don't try to figure me out."

"Is that a demand or a request?"

"Whatever it takes for you to go away."

"I can't do that, Serena. Where would be the fun in that?"

"Making my life a misery is not fun," she stressed.

"It is to me," he sang.

"Argh! Don't you have somewhere to be? Work to do perhaps?"

He leaned on her drafting desk. "Nothing that can't wait. Don't you want to talk some more?"

"Not especially," She tried shoving him off her desk. "Get off my papers, you'll smear something." He complied.

"Then you could just do it over," he rifled through her drawings.

"I'll make you do it over if you mess anything up."

"But I'm the supervisor."

"So go supervise something!"

He laughed. "Alright, I'll move," he conceded and stood up straight again, but rested against the edge of the desk. "What are you working on?"

"I didn't mean for you to supervise me."

"One perk of this position is that I can use my job title at my discretion."

Serena realized he was right and had no answer, except, "I don't like you."

"The feeling's mutual." That certainly wasn't a lie. What he felt for Serena went far beyond merely liking her. Motoki was right, it was simple.

"We've discussed this before."

"And came to no useful solution. So what do you suggest?" he asked.

"I already suggested that we just leave each other alone."

"And I pointed out that that's impossible. Try again."

"Oh, I don't know. You're such an irritating person, I can't think when I'm around you."

"Aww! I knew you loved me, Serena." She scoffed. "How about we try to get along for the sake of our friends and my sister?"

"Again?"

"Third time's a charm right?"

"I don't believe in that. My motto is three strikes and you're out."

"Meaning you'll lower yourself to give me another chance?" he asked wryly.

"Frankly, you ran out of chances a LONG time ago."

"But I didn't know you then," he cried.

"Shh! Keep it down, would ya?" She looked around and sure enough the whole department's eyes were on them. A few actually had the audacity to smile and wave at her. Akira made sure Darien wasn't looking and held up a sign saying, "How's the tension?" Serena blushed remembering what tension he meant.

"Are you feeling alright? You don't look so good," said Darien. He saw Serena look quickly away from somewhere behind him and turned to see what unnerved her. Everyone scrambled back to work.

"I'm fine," she answered quickly. "Why do you care anyway?"

"I don't," he answered.

"Then why'd you ask?"

"Attribute it as being part of my supervisory skills."

She sighed. "Ugh, fine. Now will you leave?"

"I'm not done supervising you."

"You know, I've never seen you around any else's desk as much as you're around mine."

"That's because I feel I need to keep an eye on you."

"Don't know why. Care to enlighten me?"

"Not really."

"Fine, keep your opinion to yourself then."

"I intend to," he said.

"I don't care!"

They glared at each other then laughed at their childishness. Serena sobered quickly when she realized she was laughing with her greatest enemy.

"So what'd you do after I left last night?" he asked.

"What?" What was he up to? Darien repeated the question. "Why do you want to know?" she asked suspiciously.

"I just want to know what kind of person is living with my sister, that's all."

"Why? You think I'll harm her or something?" she asked.

"I never know when you're involved."

"In case you didn't know, or you've forgotten, we've been roommates way before you ever found out, and Rei's been doing just fine."

"That's for me to determine," he said.

"Why? She's a grown woman who's been living on her own since she was eighteen. She has her own life."

"But as her older brother, it's my job to look out for her. Watch out for her and protect her."

"And that's commendable," Serena answered, "but you don't want to smother her do you? Quit keeping tabs."

"How I deal with my sister is my business, Serena."

"Then don't try to involve me."

"Who's involving you?"

"You are when you asked what I did after you left. That's an invasion of privacy."

"Then all you had to say was to mind my own business."

"Ok. Darien, mind your own business."

"Ah, Serena, Serena. Such a puzzle." He pushed off the desk and went along purposefully supervising the other artists in the studio.

"Hey, Rena," Rei called, "how was your day?"

"I don't like your brother," Serena answered. She took off her shoes and sat her things on a nearby table.

"Well that's an improvement."

"What? What do you mean?" She walked into the kitchen to see Rei making something.

"Well before, it was 'I hate your brother,' or 'that baka!' followed by a slamming of whatever room's door."

"Have I really been that bad?"

"Worse."

"I'm sorry. But it's all that baka's fault! You know I'm really a nice person, don't you Rei?"

"I know. And you're right, Darien's partly to blame."

"Partly?!" Serena demanded.

"It takes two to tango."

"Whatever. What are you making?" she looked around at all the ingredients that Rei had set out. Whatever she was making was going to be sweet.

"Cookies!"

"Ooh! What kind of cookies?"

"Chocolate chip!"

"My favorite. Why the sudden urge to bake?"

"I don't know. I just needed a break from my designs I guess. You know since I started my own line, I get to set my own schedule."

"And so you decide to go domestic?"

"Hey, if you're going to complain, then you don't have to eat any."

"No, no. I must support the cause. When will they be ready?"

"The first batch has a little more to go."

Serena tasted a little batter. "So what else did you do today?"

"What else? Work. The designs are all there in the studio."

"Can I see?"

"Help yourself."

Serena quickly ran to their makeshift art studio and found the sketches Rei was working with. "Rei! These are awesome!"

"Thanks! I figured I'd focus on a fairytale theme, since my dream of having my own line is coming true."

Serena continued to sift through the designs. "A fairytale theme? Yeah. I can see that. Any particular story?"

"Not really. Just wearable fantasy."

"Are you planning to do a show?"

"I think so. It was fun being a part of it instead of being just a fitter."

"I bet. Thought of a name for it yet?"

"The show?" Rei asked.

"Yeah. All fashion shows have a name attached to them, don't they."

"Usually. Well, I could go with the normal name, Chiba Rei, or just REI!" She gestured as if her name was all the pizzazz needed. "Personally I like those two."

Serena laughed, "I'm sure you do."

"Or," Rei continued, "I could do something a little different like, Once Upon a Time or something like that."

"Once Upon a Time," Serena mused, "I like that."

"I figured you would," Rei smiled, putting more batter on the cookie sheet.

"You could always combine something some sort of way."

Rei turned to look at Serena. "Now there's a thought. Rei Chiba presents Once Upon a Time. What do you think?"

"I like it!"

"Me too. But I'll think of it more. What do you think the public and all those critics will think?" she asked nervously.

"With designs like these, they'll have to love them."

"You sure?"

"Positive. And I'm not saying this as your friend and roommate but as an artist. These designs are not only practical and wearable, but they're fun. I especially like the evening wear." She held up one sketch of a gown with an empire waistline and golden designs at the bodice. "What is this? A wedding gown?"

Rei looked over to see what Serena was talking about. "It could be."

"What do you mean it could be? You designed it."

"I don't mean it like that. I mean that it could be used as a wedding gown or just as a regular evening gown."

"Ooh, and the designer's creations are versatile too."

"I'm a girl of many talents."

"It's settled. I want this one to be my wedding gown. No one else can have it, I want exclusive rights."

"Possessive."

"I'm serious, Rei! I love this gown! Can I have it for my wedding gown, please? Pretty please? Please? Please? Please?"

"Oh, alright! Sheesh, just to shut you up. But I'm still adding it to the show if I have one."

"Go ahead, as long as no one else wants it. Oh," she sighed, "I'm so happy now."

"And just who is it that you're going to marry?" Serena didn't answer. "Serenity Rebecca Ann Carroll, IX! Is there a guy you haven't told me about?"

"Of course not! I don't have time for guys anyway."

"Uh huh. Sure. Why the sudden interest in acquiring a wedding gown then?"

"Can't a girl dream? Besides, a gown this fabulous only comes along once in a lifetime. It was love at first sight," she sighed looking at the sketch again. "I can't wait to see what it looks like in real life and not just on paper. Which one is your favorite?"

"I like them all," replied Rei.

"I know you do, but you must have a favorite."

Rei smiled. "Ok, I like that red gown."

Serena flipped back to the image. "Oh, I like this one too. It complements the white one. Wait a minute," she quickly looked through all the gowns. A rainbow of color. "They all complement the white gown."

"I did that on purpose. The white gown represents the royalty and the surrounding colors are it's court."

"Too cool," Serena breathed in awe. Then she squealed. "That means I'm royalty!" she jumped up and down.

"Whatever," Rei laughed.

"You know, my friends in L.A. would look really good in these gowns. That's my artist's eye talking of course, but I really do think they'd look good."

"The friends you told me about?"

"Yeah. I wish you could meet them. You'd really fit in with the crew. Now that my email's back online, I've been telling them and my family all about life in Tokyo."

"And what do they think?"

"They're just happy that I'm happy."

"Guess you haven't told them about my baka brother?"

"I didn't want to ruin a good thing. Anyway, I have work to do. Motoki gave me a new assignment and I have to use myself as the model for body shape." Twenty minutes later, she stood before the mirror looking at the finished product for the character she was assigned.

ding dong

"Will you get that, Rena?" Rei called from the kitchen. "I'm about to take another batch out."

"Sure thing." She opened the door and groaned. "What are you doing here? Weren't you just here last night?"

Darien took one look at her and burst out in laughter.

What's so funny? Boys are so dumb! Well, what did you think about this one? Please review. Just click the "GO" button & drop me a line! Oh, and I promise the next part won't take so long!