Name: Birthday RosesAuthor: Sailor HeartacheEmail: amaterasuoomikam@aol.com
Rating: PGBirthday Roses @>~~~
	The streetlights of Tokyo shimmered, and slowly became brighter. For
the many people 
under them this was a blessing, because a small storm was brewing.
Crackling and pouring the storm quickly began to flood the large city.
	Darien Chiba, was one of the unfortunate few that was stuck out in the
rain. Holding his 
schoolbooks above his head he was jogging through the jungle of people
trying to get away from the rain.
	Sighing he ran a hand through his wet hair. 'Why didn't I take the car
this morning?' A 
clap of thunder cackled, and the rain began to fall harder. Darien
jogged faster, allowing his feet to do the work and his mind to wander.
	'Why is it that the only day when I don't take the car it rains?' He
sighed again 'I'll never see Meatball Head in this weather. She hates storms.'
	Serena Tsukino was an airhead, ditz, klutz, and everything else that
was opposite to 
Darien, but there was something about her. Her stunning blond hair that
glittered in the sunlight, 
her ripe lips that threatened his sanity, her sparkling eyes that
always held a look of vitality, and 
even the infamous Meatballs attracted him to her. It's quite true, ever
since he had met Serena, Darien had been head over heels in love with her.
	'Tomorrow's her birthday…I hope it stops raining, or I won't be able
to go through with 
the plan.' He sighed, for weeks he had been planning the perfect
present for Serena, and hopefully for him too.
	The sky flashed and another rumbling noise could be heard in the
distance. The rain 
continued to pour, ignoring the man's silent pleading for it to stop.
	Darien groaned and entered his apartment building. 'Oh well, better
call Andrew. Everything has to be perfect.'	The rain continued to pour.
	Serena Tsukino sat staring silently out her window. She absolutely
hated storms. 'Why 
does it have to rain today? Tomorrow's my birthday!' Deciding the storm
held no interest for her 
she moved her view to the small picture next to her bed. It was a cute
picture of Darien Chiba, 
his hair fell in his eyes like normal, he hadn't known she took that.
	Darien Chiba was a sophisticated college student, smart, and handsome.
He was one of the few people that Serena felt she completely understood, but it
didn't matter he hated her. Oh 
yes, Darien and Serena were rivals, they fought constantly. Then again
maybe that was why she 
was so attracted to him, he was the only guy that dared to pick on her.
	Serena sighed in ecstasy, she could see him now; his hair falling over
his eyes giving her 
an erge to just reach up and brush it out of his face, his midnight
blue eyes that no one seemed 
to understand, and even his nose that always seemed to be buried in a
physics book.  Ever since 
Serena had met Darien she felt a strong force pulling her to him, as if
telling her that he desperately needed someone to love him. 'Darien….'
	"Serena will you wipe that look off your face! You need to get some
sleep it's almost 
midnight, and you'll be busy tomorrow." Luna lectured from the end of
Serena's bed.	Snapping out of thoughts she turned to he lunar cat, "Luna, it's
Saturday, I don't have to be up till 1!"
	Luna rolled her eyes and replied, "Yes, but that doesn't mean youshouldn't be."
	Groaning in surrender Serena turned off her lamp and crawled under her
warm blankets. 
'If I could have one birthday wish, it would to be that Darien would be
mine forever.'
	Swish! The sliding doors of the small arcade at the corner of Cheery
Hill and Maple Hill opened, and as normal nobody looked up.
	Darien Chiba smiled, today was the day! It had even stopped raining,
and hopefully everything would be work out…hopefully.
	"Dare! Hey man! Serena's not here yet, so why don't I get you a cup of
coffee?" Andrew asked as Darien took a seat on one of the few barstools.
	Andrew was Darien's best friend, and at the moment he was also a
co-conspirator. "Andrew, why am I doing this again?"
	Andrew chuckled, "Because my friend, you're deeply in love with a
certain blond, and you finally found a way to tell her."
	Making a face Darien replied, "What's that supposed to mean?" Not
wanting a answer he went on, "Do you have the first one?"
	Nodding he reached behind him, and pulled out a pink rose with a pink
envelope under it. "Yep, it's right here."
	"Don't let her see it till I'm gone ok?"
	"Sure. By the way, what did you end up getting her?" he asked looking
curiously at his friend.
	Darien grinned, "Now, that's a surprise. You'll find out tomorrow,hopefully."
	Swish! The sliding doors of the small arcade opened again, this time
they admitted a 
small blond girl, and boy did she have one weird hairstyle! (story
story!) Only this time both the men sitting at the bar looked up.
	"Hey Serena!" Andrew shouted, "Happy Birthday! How does it feel to be15?"
	Smiling the girl took a seat next to Darien, "Hey onii-chan! It feels
great! My mom even bought me a new outfit!"
	The two guys smiled, "You know Meatball Head, maybe it's time you
started getting 
better grades!" Not wanting to start World War III Darien took his
leave, and exited as quietly as he came.
	Serena sighed, why was it that man always had to get to her! She had
meant to tell 
Andrew about her poetry book, but instead she let Darien's presence get
to her. All thoughts of intelligence drifted away.
	"You know Serena. Someone left this for you this morning." Andrew
interrupted her thoughts by handing her the pink rose and card.
	Smiling brilliantly she picked up the rose and held it to her nose,
letting the scent 
intoxicate her. Picking up the card she asked Andrew, "Who left it?"
	Andrew held back a chuckle as he watched Serena's eyes light up, "I'm
not to sure, it was here when I arrived this morning. What does it say?"
	Serena smiled as she opened the card and read aloud.
"When forty winters shall beseige thy brow,
And dig deep trenches in thy beauty's field,
Thy youth's proud livery, so gazed on now,
Will be a tatter'd weed, of small worth held:
Then being ask'd where all thy beauty lies,
Where all the treasure of thy lusty days,
To say, within thine own deep-sunken eyes,
Were an all-eating shame and thriftless praise.
How much more praise deserved thy beauty's use,
If thou couldst answer 'This fair child of mine
Shall sum my count and make my old excuse,'
Proving his beauty by succession thine!
  This were to be new made when thou art old,
  And see thy blood warm when thou feel'st it cold."
Her smile widened as she realized that this was none other then Sonnet
II, by Shakespeare, one of her all time favorites. 
	It was so beautiful that tears ran down her face, and even Andrew had
problems holding 
his own back. Making a note to himself he made sure to remember the
poem for Rita's next birthday. 
	"The pink rose stands for beauty, keep it close and guard it. If you
wish to find the writer 
of this note continue your journey by finding a large tree with a stone
bench beneath it." Serena 
finished. Smiling to Andrew she picked up the rose and ran out the door
to find the person who had written the note.	
	Darien sighed this was taking so long. Looking down at his watch he
groaned, it had only 
been three minutes since he left the arcade. His mind was racing faster
then a hurricane destroys 
a town. Pacing around the small spot where he was concealed he watched
the bench. 	Yes, this was THE bench, the one that held a white rose and a white
card. The next step 
in Serena's path.  Now the only problem was, it was taking too long for
her to reach it.
	Butterflies nagged at his stomach, and for once the ever-so-calm
Darien was extremely 
nervous. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath, and looked around.
'There she is! And she has the rose!'
	Indeed at that specific moment Serena jogged up, her breath lagging,
but she didn't 
stop. Instead she picked up the next rose, smiling she took in the
scent of the rose. 	Darien smiled to himself.
	Wrapping the rose around her left meatball, she picked up the card. 
"My search for purity & innocence has finally ended, for within your
eyes is all I need. -
unknown." Giggling she read on, "From the time I first met you I knew
you were the one for me, 
if you wish to continue find a large lake within this park, there I
shall wait for you."
	Darien held his breath watching the delicate angel, but she did not
hesitate, she ran straight for the dock.
	Serena's legs ran faster then they ever had before, she was confused
and curious. Who 
would do all this for her? The guys at school didn't even look at her
twice, and here she was 
getting romantic poems from some unknown guy. 'I hope it's Darien…'
	Her mind was spinning there weren't that many guys who even knew her
well enough to do this. 'Oh well, you're about to find out. Here's the dock.'
	Indeed the dock lay in front of her, at the very end a bright red rose
and a red card. 
Excited she picked it up. It was perfect in every way, it even seemed
as if there was still dew on 
the fragile petals. Gently she put it in the opposite meatball as the
white rose. And picked up the small card.	It only had two words. "turn around".
	Smiling she turned around just as the card told her to.
	Darien smiled as Serena turned around and before she could even see
who he was he 
pressed his lips gently against her own. Her body went limp, and within
seconds she was 
responding to the kiss with equal passion as his own. Without a thought
he deepened the kiss. 
	Serena couldn't think everything seemed so hazy and far off. But the
kiss, it was so soft, 
so gentle, and so full of passion. Without a thought she replied to it.
 Slowly she realized she was breathing again. 
	Darien looked at her she was so beautiful, "Serena, ever since I met
you, you've been 
stuck in my mind. You're the most beautiful angel I've ever seen.
Serena, I love you." Without 
waiting for an answer he put a small silver ring, with intricate
cravings of roses, on her index 
finger. "It's a promise ring. As long as you wear it, I'll love you."
	Serena smiled, oblivious to the tears that made their way down her
face. "Darien, this is 
the best birthday ever." Pausing she gave him a huge hug and whispered
in his ear. "I love you too."