A/N: 2012! The year of the dragon. Whooww guys, I did NOT expect this story to be popular, but it turns out a lot of you like the concept. I hope I don't disappoint with the upcoming chapters! And boy, a lot of you mentioned some other stories with a similar theme. I didn't realize there were so many. Three for Sailor moon alone as far as I'm aware. Maybe four? I plan to read all of them eventually. Well, nothing left to say except Happy New Year!

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or anything to do with it. This story is a figment of my imagination.

Summery: She likes being alone. She is, after all, the best pickpocket girl ever. Or so she tells herself. Then, one pickpocket trick goes wrong, and she's suddenly visiting Halifax for the holidays with overly cheery Darien. And she learns the hard way that getting under his skin is not easy, but he seems to be doing a great job getting under hers and into her heart.

The Pickpocket Girl

Chapter 2

It was six o'clock in the morning, and I felt drowsy. It was almost my bed time. I was at the start of my rounds again. People get suspicious when a figure walks around all day in a mall without buying anything every day. They get used to seeing you. I can't afford for that to happen. So today, I'm at the subway. It's not ideal. Actually, I hate the subway more than anything else. The people are in a hurry, frazzled, running late, and have no patience. It's directly underground which makes it cold but not as cold as the actual outdoors, which is a bonus. And there are cameras. Everywhere. There are cameras at the malls, too, but you'd be surprised in how much more security there is at the subway than the mall when it comes to cameras. They've got you from every angle.

To pickpocket successfully, you have to be in a really crowded space. I sit by the benches near the subway tracks because every half hour there is huge crowds. I only get to pickpocket twice a day here, though, because I don't want to raise suspicions. Mostly, I'm a beggar. Sometimes, to amuse myself, I pretend to be a mime. I have a shirt that's in stripes and white makeup in my backpack. I'm terrible, but you'd be surprised how many people want something strange and exciting to happen to them.

I begin to settle down for some sleep after stealing some guy's keys and four dimes. I dropped the keys on the floor in the crowd.

I put my glasses on my face, when suddenly I see him. Darien. He is standing there in his expensive coat with some coffee in his hands, looking like he's bored. I can't stop the smile on my face. Show time.

I get up, and sling my bag over my shoulder. Then I quietly approach him. He's staring at the tracks, waiting for his subway to take him wherever it is he's going.

I'm bad at pickpocketing? Please. I'll teach him.

I reach slowly into his right pocket and smile when I grasp his wallet. Slowly, I withdraw it from inside his pocket, making sure I don't make any sudden movement.

It's almost out of his pocket when his hand grasps my wrist and I drop it back in and curse.

"Again? Who is it this- ah, pickpocket girl." His grin makes me mad. This time, I do kick him in the shins. "Ow! What was that for?" He begins doing this thing where he holds his shin with one hand and hops on the other leg. His coffee spills out onto his free hand and he curses. I crack a small smile.

"I wanted to see you in pain."

"Look, you, I don't know who you are or why you're following me-"

"Following you?"

"-but you really need to stop doing that. I'm on my way home for the holidays, and you keep showing up everywhere! Now, please, where do you live? Do you need a ride back? Money for a plane ride home? Are you some runaway or something?"

I drew my bangs from my eyes in exasperation, and watched as his eyes widened at the crescent shaped scar on my forehead. I had gotten it when I was eighteen after I decided I hated my job and got drunk and quit. Some ghetto chick thought it would be funny. I squeezed my eyes shut from the memory. "I don't have family, and I don't need your help or your money."

"Well, then why are you going around picking people's – my – pockets?"

Just then, a rush of wind hit us, and we both stepped back from the tracks as the subway whizzed by us. We waited one minute in silence, watching this great force of machine screech and grind to a stop. The smell of exhaust hit the air, and I wrinkled my nose against it. The doors opened and people around us began flooding in.

Darien grabbed my wrist and began to drag me in with him.

"What are you doing? Are you crazy? Let go of me. You're kidnapping me!" I tried to slap his hand away.

"Look, kid, I'm not letting you go around the streets by yourself. It's either you go with me now for me to figure out what to do with you, or I'm calling the police and reporting your little attempts."

I grit my teeth. "Yeah, and then what are you going to do with me?" Despite my protests, he managed to squeeze me into the car as the automatic doors shut closed.

"I don't know. Call child services?"

"I'm 19!"

"You don't look it."

"Yeah, well I am."

We stood in silence as the car began to move. It had gotten quiet in here since everyone had settled down, and we were the only ones still standing. He must have realized this, too, since he took my hand and led me to the back, where the red seats weren't occupied. We both sat down, me leaning away from him. Now that we had both calmed down and I was sitting this close to him, I couldn't help but notice that he smelled of dark coffee and chocolate. I wasn't sure if I liked or hated it.

He sighed. "So what's your name?"

I bit my lip to keep from replying. He kidnapped me. Why would I give up my name to him?

Ugh I'm an idiot. If he had found out that I had pickpocketed him the first time, then pickpocketed me – ish, why on Earth did I think I could pickpocket him? I was delusional. This situation was ironic.

"No name? So what, should I call you pickpocket girl?"

Again, I didn't respond.

"Look, I won't give you in to child services. But I will help you." Aside, he mumbled, "Now I just need to figure out what to do with you."

"I heard that! And I don't need your help. I've been fine on my own this whole time, and this little trip is just a set back."

"Ah! She speaks."

I grunt at him.

He sighed. "It's a long trip to where I'm headed."

"Don't worry, I'm getting off at the next stop."

"Oh, no you're not. You don't want to go to the police, do you?"

"That's terrible, you know."

"What?"

"Using someone's fears to make threats to your advantage. It's sick."

That quieted him down for a little while. "I told my friend I would help someone before the year ended. You keep showing up. It's a sign. For all the money I have, I don't use it. He was right. If someone else could use it better that I can, then I'm willing to give it."

I scoffed. "So, what, do you plan to make me your charity case? Not interested, Bob."

"It's Darien."

"I know." How could I not? The note he had written me was burning a hole through my jean pocket.

He ran a hand through his hair. Then he did it again, with more force. "Where did you get your scar?"

I pressed my lips firmly together, and tilted my head back. An automatic voice came over the intercom, announcing our next stop.

"Alright, picky topic. How did you become homeless?"

I glared at him. "Hey, Dare-bear?"

He gave me a weary look. "Yeah?"

"Silence is golden."

He stayed quiet for all of two seconds. "We're heading to Halifax, if you were wondering."

"I wasn't, and we aren't going to Halifax, you are."

The subway stopped and the door slid open. I started to get up when he grabbed the strap of my backpack and pulled me back. He took hold of my wrist and held on tight.

"Let go of me."

A new set of passengers began appearing, while two or three disappeared.

"Nope."

The doors closed and we were on the move again.

"I could scream right now. I could scream that you're kidnapping me."

He took out his phone and started scrolling through it. Then he turned around and took a picture. The flash blurred my eyes, and made me agitated.

"What did you do?"

"I took a picture. You scream now and I'll show the police your picture later."

"Remember that talk we had about how horrible it is to use people's fears against them?"

He laughed. "I've never been a saint."

I sighed, realizing I wasn't going to get away from here. Oh well… it would be nice to relocate. Visit Halifax… But I kind of liked my place. The three malls and the subway were really close by to each other. I could walk there during the night. I had the pattern drilled into my head. It was perfect!

I took my bag off and put it between Darien and me. Then I kicked my legs up the other way and leaned my head against the backpack and fell asleep. I was dead tired, and the fight was lost. Might as well just go along for the ride.

TBC

A/N: Enjoy, you guys! I'll try to update tomorrow, too. Review, and please have a very happy and safe New Years!