Vegas Chapter 2
Darien loved America. He sat in the Starbucks outside of the Palms hotel and casino enjoying his double espresso. This was his second medical convention he had spoken at. All of his hard work was paying off and he was now known as Dr. Chiba, the youngest surgeon in Asia. He enjoyed every learning experience he could get his hands on and these conventions allowed him to speak to the best of the best.
Everyday he was surprised at what he had become. Even with all of his alter egos he had still managed to prevail and finish medical school. He shook his head thinking about the absurd obstacles. The mid-night fights with youma, when he moonlighted as Tuxedo Mask.
It was especially hard when he had been, how do you say, dead, for over six months two years ago, he had to make up for all of that lost time. Even with the knowledge of him being the Prince of Earth, Endymion, he tried not to let the past guide his future. He never let those things get in the way of his dreams. Also, it never hurt to use his 'extra' skills, but he couldn't explain that in his speeches.
He sighed loudly as he finished the rest of his coffee. It had almost been six months since he had seen both of his angels. The Princess Serenity of his dreams had stopped visiting him and he had been so busy he had not even seen his nemesis and secret love, Serena. Falling for the very young girl was easy. She was outgoing, funny, vivacious, and drop dead beautiful. Darien shook his head and chuckled as he checked out the thirtieth blond today. A habit he had grown quite accustomed to since he had been on the road. He knew he was not going to see Serena here. She was most likely in the crown having a hot coco with a ton of marshmallows.
His mind drifted to Andy, the dark haired brunette he had been seeing a good handful of times. She had deep green eyes that were more possessive when she looked at him, but unfortunately for her his heart belonged to Serenity and was captured by Serena. This didn't stop him from seeing Andy, though. She was fun and he needed the company. Plus, she was a doctor like him and they could hold an intelligent conversation. Unlike with Serena where all they did was yell at each other and Serenity where she was just a dream.
Whoa was his messy love triangle. Looking into his empty cup he stood up and walked in to the hotel lobby. Women of all sorts stared at him as he proceeded though the sliding glass doors. He always ignored all advances. Most women were shallow and initially liked him for his looks. When they found out he was a doctor… well that always had them showing their true colors.
He could hear the pinging of the slot machines in the casino to the left. He continued in to the prestigious lobby and stopped when he heard the sound that only one voice could make to dull out the casino noise and the background music all at the same time.
"My own room! Are you serious! Oh, Thank you! Thank you, thank you!" A blond with a funny hairstyle shrieked at the top of her lungs at the concierge check in.
Darien's heart stopped. He looked toward the outburst. Big blue eyes, crazy hairstyle, loud obnoxious shriek. It was Serena, here, in Las Vegas. Wait, not only in Vegas, in the same hotel. And boy did she look all grown up. She had long legs that could go on for days. Darien sat there dumbfounded in the lobby while the whole Tsukino family left the desk. He watched as the bell guys stumbled over themselves to help Serena with her bags.
An irrational flood of anger coursed through him and he clenched his fists. All of a sudden he felt eyes on him. Looking up he saw Serena's mother looking at him with a huge smile on her face. He did a double take to see if she was really smiling at him but when he looked back up the family, and now two bell men were helping the family in to the elevator.
Serena fell back on to the bed, arms spread out wide and a big smile on her face. Yes! One week away from Tokyo and her friends. And most of all, responsibilities.
"Knock, knock. Hey honey. How are you settling in?" Ilene said sweetly, walking in to her room.
"Mom. This is great. I really needed this vacation."
Serena smiled at her. 'More than you know.' She thought.
"I know honey. You are growing up honey and your father and I just want the best for you. This is our last week together for awhile and we want you to have fun so… we got you this." Ilene handed Serena a small card. A huge smile on her face.
"Mom… is this what I think it is?" Serena was confused. Was this a joke?
"I know. It is completely unlike your father and I to be handing you a fake ID but in the United States you have to be twenty-one to drink. And, it's Vegas! Since you have to be out with your parents you may as well have some fun." Ilene said.
"Oh, wow… Mom. I don't know what to say but I don't drink at all." Serena fiddled with the card in her hand.
"Oh, I know my little bunny. But, it's Vegas and what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. So let's just all have fun as adults. Okay?" Ilene looked at her hoping she would give in.
"Okay, mom. But, don't expect me to drink tons!" Serena laughed and her mom hugged her.
"Okay, pool in five minutes?" Ilene stood up.
"I'll be there." Ilene walked out of the room. Serena looked down at the ID. Hum. Her older. If only Darien could see her now. Maybe she would indulge in a Pina Colada with her mom. She only lived once.
"Mom. You really are the best." Serena and Ilene lay out by the pool sipping on frozen beverages.
"Thanks honey. You dad said he would join us after the meetings ended for today. I guess I am going to have to get used to this." Ilene said finishing off the last of her drink with a slurping noise.
"Yeah mom, your life is going to be so hard. Sitting around pools and sipping on drinks. Skiing in the mountains. Going to beaches. The list goes on and on…" Serena looked at her mom dropping her sunglasses, giving her a look.
"Ha I know. I really am going to miss you, bunny. But look at how all these boys fawn over you." Ilene scanned the pool area.
"What boys' mom? You are nuts." Serena laid back down getting comfortable. Looking at boys was pointless when you were only destined for one person.
"Look around, Serena. The lifeguards, the bartenders are staring at you. Every time you finish a drink they play rock paper scissors to see who can come over here. But baby, these guys are not good enough for you." Ilene finished.
Serena's mind floated to Endymion. Her soul mate apparently. What if she never found him? Darien came in to her mind. Ugg, that stupid man who she dreamt about and thought about all of the time. Sometimes she envisioned him at Endymion when she needed to put a face to him.
Ilene looked over at her daughter and watched how she scrunched up her face. Then she saw him from across the pool. Darien Chiba. The plan for 'Operation get Serena Married' was being put in to play now.
"Serena. Look at that man, he is such a looker." Ilene said getting Serena's attention by grabbing her hand.
"Which one?" Then she saw him. The man that infiltrated her dreams and more so her rage. She choked on her drink. Spluttering everywhere.
"Serena, are you okay?" Ilene patted her choking daughters back trying to hide her smile.
"Yeah. Yeah, I am fine." She said gaining composure.
'What is he doing here?' Serena thought now feeling insecure.
Darien was glad the last rounds of meetings were over. Usually he could pay attention but since he saw Serena this morning he could not focus. It took every ounce of concentration he had to make it through his own presentation.
Maybe a dip in the pool would help clear his mind. It was possible that he wouldn't even see her until he left. At least, he would be heading back home to Tokyo at the end of the week and he could run in to her without her parents around.
A quick run upstairs and a change in to his swimsuit he headed back down to the pool. It didn't take him long to spot the beautiful blond. He watched as she choked on her drink when she spotted him. Who was he kidding? She would never want him. He was sure she hated him. But she was a sight for sore eyes. He had to act cool and calm.
Ilene watched as the two exchanged glances. Ken Tsukino had just thought that Ilene picked him because of how prosperous he was. She had other intentions. Ilene knew how Serena felt about the young boy that tormented her. And she suspected that he felt the same about her ever since she saw how he would time his run to make sure that he ran in to Serena every morning. She knew that this young man was her daughter's soul mate.
When Ken came up with the idea to have Serena marry it didn't take more than showing Ken a picture of Dr. Darien Chiba in the morning paper to make Ken pick him out. Of course he took credit but that was also part of her plan.
"Serena. I have to use the restroom." Ilene said.
"Sure mom." Serena said not really paying attention. She was trying to stop her heart beating so fast.
Serena sipped the last of her pina colada and stood up to jump in the pool. She needed to act cool and confident. Three servers came to ask if she would like another drink. She politely declined and headed toward the pool to clear her mind.
"No, no this won't do." Ilene said under her breath. She quickly slipped a female bartender a twenty and whispered something into her ear.
Darien watched as Serena rose from her spot in the sun. She gracefully walked across the pool deck; turning heads as she made her way to the pool. Out of nowhere a female server accidentally ran in to Serena making in to fly in to the pool. Worry immediately filled Darien and used his enhanced skills to jump in right after her.
Ilene laughed behind the bushes as Serena was dragged out of the pool by Darien.
"Are you okay?" Darien asked her concerned.
Serena coughed a couple of times and then looked up in to his midnight blue eyes. Then she pushed him away.
"What are you doing here, baka?" She said automatically. It was a reflex.
"Oh! No thank you, meatball head?" He shot back falling in to the normal conversation.
"I didn't need saving." Not realizing that he was still holding her close. He brushed her damp bangs from her eyes.
"Sure didn't seem like it to me. I'm always rescuing you from your klutz attacks." He said.
"Get off me." She pushed him away.
"Ow…" She quickly fell back in to his arms.
He chuckled loudly. "Just couldn't stay away… could you?"
Ilene was laughing at the couple from behind the bushes when Ken snuck up on her causing her to screech.
"Hun! Don't do that." She smacked his arm.
"Ilene is that who I think it is with Serena? And why are they all wet?" Ken said happily.
Ilene just laughed some more.
"You did that." He hugged her. "Well I think we should go invite our daughter's savior to dinner."
"You Baka! You are so full of yourself. I hurt my foot at the bottom of the pool. I am all better now." Serena huffed and tried to get up only to fall back down in to Darien's awaiting arms.
"Miss me again, meatball head. Now, hush up and let me look at your foot." He set Serena on the pool deck and began examining her foot.
"Oh, Serena, bunny, are you okay!" Ilene came rushing to Serena's side in a panic with Ken in tow.
"Yeah, mom, I am fine. Some girl just pushed me in to the pool and I hurt my foot." She said annoyed. Darien was surprised that she didn't whine.
"Young man, is it broken?" Ken asked with concern.
"No, Serena here will be fine. Some ice is all she needs." Darien answered a little nervous. He had heard rumors that Serena's father was crazy about boys staying away from his little girl, but here he was holding his daughters foot while she had nothing on but a little bikini. A sexy little bikini.
"Oh, thank you so much for saving my baby girl. Please, join us for dinner tomorrow night." Ken pleaded with Darien.
"He... Can't he's busy." Serena said quickly giving Darien a look.
"I insist on it! I will not take no for an answer?" Ken said sternly.
Darien looked down at her face. Annoying her would be so much fun. "Sure, I would love to join you all."
"Excellent! The ni9es at 7:00 under Tsukino." Ken said quickly clapping his hands once.
Ken bent down and picked up Serena leaving Darien dumbstruck.
Did I just agree to eat dinner with Serena and her family?
A girl with dark brown hair and green eyes stared at the exchange between Darien and the blond from a distance.
"Not again. Never again." She said under her breath.