In the Buff Chapter 4 "Tug of War....and more!" Rated: PG Disclaimer: la la la.....I don't own Sailormoon....just the big kick the romance between Serena and Darien gives me *grin* Author's Notes: Minna, go see "Centre Stage" it was AWESOME, now I want to be a dancer...waahhhhh! ^_^hee p.s. Alllriiiight, *cracks knuckles*, some recommended reading by nat-chan *evil grin* you asked for it! What's that? You didn't ask for it? I didn't hear that! heh heh okaaaay so I just finished reading the first two chapters of what might just be one of the funniest fics I've ever read: "Two Gentlemen In Tokyo" by Endymion no Magami it's at http://www.moonchronicles.com but I'm begging the author to post here!!! ^_^hee, go read minna, the guy characters are great! Speaking of funny fics, also read "Truth or Dare" by my pal Silver Bunny, quite possibly the funniest fic since--dare I say--Lilac Summers "The Big Wish"!!! *gasp* A MUST read minna! *wags finger at minna-chan* also on my funny list: "A School Masquerade" by Grace McMoon for anyone who ever wanted to hear Serena call Darien "satan" heh heh Grace is amazing at Darien's inner dialogue--plus she needs some *cough cough* "encouragement" to finish that fic....yeah...that's it.. encouragement....*nat-chan hides giant boxing gloves behind back and grins sheepishly at grace* speaking of great inner dialogues: Medical Miracle By the Rose Society (also at moonchronicles...also begging author to post at Spring's....) A great story line with hilarous inner dialogue for Mamoru and an interesting twist on "the spore" Eeps, this list is getting way out of control....better add some more *diabolicial laugh* Authors I recommend reading ANYTHING by: Rinoa (Eyes on You....siigh...need I say more? Has anyone NOT read that fic? GASP! Hang your heads in shame!!!!) Lady Aurora (Marrying a Killer is ONLY the best Murder Mystery EVER) Loralei Fairhill (her new shorts are cool) Meredith Bronwin Mallory (cue the fanfare and British ladies drinking tea and murmuring "mmmmyes, Miss Mallory's fic-tions are simply *smashing*"--which they are!!!!!!!) Ashley and Suoh *nat-chan bows in awe* Isis--a long read but a good one!!! Thanks: This thanks goes out to Endymion no Megami for inspiring me to inject some funny into this downward spiralling fic....sigh.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It seemed like an innocent tug of war. *Seemed* being the operative word. Serena began to be a little suspicious when she was unceremoniously shoved in front of Darien so that he was forced to put his long arms around her and grab the rope with her. Darien himself had spent a long night and morning trying to deny his feelings for Serena. He'd logically attributed it to all the ridiculously tense moments they'd found themselves in. And being so logical, he'd concluded that water was the enemy and must be avoided at all costs for sanity to be regained and maintained. He'd stumbled along with the group and eyed the mud puddle over which they'd have the tug of war with wary eyes.... ~Hmmmm....mud....sorta water...but not entirely....~ His brain tried to weigh out the best course of action....but then he was grabbed by Andrew and Chad and thrust behind Serena....she was so small he had to wrap his arms around her to grasp the rope..... His thoughts became an incoherent jumble of ~Grrrmmumblegrowlmudsputtertugofwarmumblesnarlkill andrewandchadlatermumblemumblegrrrrhmmmmm.......Serena smells so nice......~ He glanced down at Serena who shot him a sharp glance and then whispered, "It's a conspiracy.." Making him laugh. They broke off into groups and Serena and Darien found themselves at the front, directly at risk of the dreaded mud. Darien rolled his eyes....obviously his friends were *trying* to torture them....and a quick glance to Andrew's wicked face confirmed it. They stood poised and ready and Rei counted down. Serena suddenly threw a glance from one side to the other: ~Hmmmm.....Me and Darien and Ami and Greg.....against.....Chad and Rei and Andrew and Mina... and Lita and Ken???!!!!~ "GUUUUUYYYYYYYSSSSS! THIS ISN'T FAIR! WAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Her wail was cut short as the tug of war began and all her efforts were necessary just to avoid being mudified. She'd be yanked just far enough to have the tips of her toes soaked and then wail plaintively "DARRRRIIIIEEEN!!!!!" And the aforementioned Darien would try valiantly to prolong the inevitable...hauling back with as much strength and desperate willpower as he could muster. But Lita was tall....Ken was strong.....Chad was too....they were out-numbered.... With a final tug it was over....Ami and Greg let go of the rope in desperation and Darien and Serena were launched full into the mud....Darien on top of Serena as she went in....face first....ahhh fate. Darien scrambled off and pulled her up quickly, "Serena! Serena are you okay?" He shook her as her dazed muddy face focused dangerously...into rage...the expression was all too familiar to him and he quickly let her go as she stood. She turned on the group who had so unfairly won the tug of war, "HOW MANY TIMES DURING THIS TRIP DO YOU PLAN ON RUINING MY HAIR????!!!!!! ARRRRGGGGHHHHH!" And then she was storming off towards the lake, a muddy and defeated Darien at her heels. Back to the dreaded water. This lake was rapidly becoming the icon of humiliation for him. He watched Serena splash in--still enraged--and valiantly scrub her hair and face. He splashed in after her and washed off his own face. "Grrrrmuttermumblegrowl...." He could make out as she tried to untangle her hair and get the mud out. He looked out across the sparking blue lake, winking generously beneath the sun.... "I hate this lake." He proclaimed. Serena looked up and suddenly laughed, he looked so uncompromisingly sincere. "Me too!" She agreed and they looked at one another and laughed again. Darien shook his head, "This is the weirdest camping trip I've ever been dragged into!" "Dragged?" She said with an air of 'that's nothing', "I was bribed, tied and forced against my will!" He laughed, "I was blackmailed!" She splashed him, "Oh alright, you win!" He splashed her back, "Hey!" And then it was an all out splashing war as they ducked and dodged and fell. Finally he held up his arms, "Alright alright! Truce! I've met my match!" She giggled and waded over to him. He *was* awfully handsome sopping wet like that....but that didn't mean anything! She didn't, she couldn't.....he would *never*.....they'd only called a truce because something embarrassing had happened--not because he really *liked* her or anything....right? All the same she couldn't resist reaching up and touching his hair, "You've still got mud in your hair!" She teased. He raised an eyebrow at her, "So do you!" He informed her smiling wickedly. "WHAT???!!!" She shrieked, "Oh, I'm going to KILL those guys!!!" And she stalked out of the water to get her shampoo---AGAIN!!!! Upon returning she sudsed up her hair and tossed the bottle to Darien, "Here." He caught it but then looking at her sudsed up hair couldn't keep from laughing. He did his own hair up and they made quite a pair. She laughed right back at him. "You look ridiculous!" "Look who's talking bubble queen!" But then he jumped into character and approached her gallantly, taking one of her hands and bowing--soap suds and all. "May I kiss your hand oh Queen!" She laughed at the image he made and splashed him, half-embarrassed, "Oh Darien, get a life!" The splash toppled him over backwards but he still had a hold of her hand and took her with him. They laughed dunking under and rinsing off most of their shampoo. Meanwhile! Back at the tug-o-war site, Ami was furious. "Guys! That was awful! They're our friends!" Everyone just laughed it off, "Aw Ami lighten up, it's all for a greater good!" "Yeah, and besides, it was funny!" "Well, I won't have ANY part of it anymore!" She cried, "You just go ahead and tell Greg whatever you want!" And away stalked Amy, cheeks flushed red. Greg looked from the dumbstruck group, who quickly returned to their chuckling banter, and then after Amy's retreated figure. He ran after her. Amy burst from the trees onto the beach and Serena, spotting her, opened her mouth to call out to her friend when Darien suddenly clamped a hand over her mouth, he'd spotted Greg some ten feet away come bursting out too. Serena muffled a shriek of dismay but then spotted Greg too and ducked down with Darien. Greg spotted Amy, "Amy! Amy wait up!" He cried out after her. Amy stopped but didn't turn around, her face flushed red. He caught her up and put gentle hands on her shoulders, "Amy..." "Did they tell you?" "Tell me what?" "What I said during Truth or Dare?" Serena sucked in her breath from the lake. Darien leaned down to her ear, "What did she say?" He whispered. "That she liked him." Serena whispered back. "They didn't tell me anything." He said softly, "I ran after you right away.....but..will you tell me?" Amy stiffened and Greg slowly turned her around, blushing himself, "I want to hear it from you..." He said quietly. Serena sighed, "So romantic..." And Darien had to smile at her, his hands on her shoulders. Amy and Greg glanced out at the lake and Darien quickly dunked them both underwater....oblivious to the obvious spread of suds that clearly gave them away....fortunately so were Greg and Amy... Greg turned Amy back, one hand under her chin, the other hand on her shoulder. Amy trembled a bit, "I-I....I said that I...." He never let her finish.... Darien and Serena finally came up for air and spotted the kissing pair. "Oh! Oh! We should--we--!" Stammered Serena as they both looked wildly around for something to hide behind...not wanting to spoil the moment....but the wretched dock was gone... "No more dock..." Whispered Darien cursing the treacherous sanctuary...... So they simply glided down as far as they could...staying low and then quietly walked out.... Serena led him back to the camp and got her comb before climbing up on the picnic table to begin the wretched task of untangling her hair....Darien climbed up next to her and they let their clothes dry in the sun...still a little muddy..... He watched her work at the ends and then gradually move up. Even sitting on the table, her hair brushed the ground it was so long. He blushed at the pretty picture she made, hair long like a Princess and turned away....trying to think of something to say.... "owwwww!" She cried, trying to yank a knot, "Waaahhhhhh!" He shook his head. Serena was such a striking mix of opposite qualities. "Don't pull so hard Meatballhead!" He teased lightly. "What would *you* know! You have short hair!!!" He turned grinning at her and shrugged. She 'hmphed' and returned to her tangles. After a moment she spoke, "Wow, so Amy and Greg are together now...." Darien raised his eyebrows, "That makes Mina and Andrew, Rei and Chad and now Amy and Greg." Serena laughed, "This camping trip seems to be very romantic for everyone!" "Everyone but us!" He pointed out, laughing too. Serena felt her heart grab a little painfully. ~Everyone but us.....~ Echoed strangely in her thoughts..... She shook her head, masking her feelings with a smile, "Well, you and I have always been a recipe for disaster!" "True, very true." He replied, his own feelings hidden as well. Did she really mean that? Was that all they were? A disastrous combination? "Lita and Ken still aren't together." Serena observed. "Give them time." Darien said, rolling his eyes. Soon everyone would be together but them. As if on cue Lita and Ken came strolling into the campsite, hand in hand!! Upon spotting Serena and Darien they quickly let go but it was too late. "Well well well!" Serena chided, "I *KNEW* it!" Lita flushed, "Now Serena...there's...er...no reason for you too...." "HA!" Serena cut in, "REVENGE IS SWEET!" Darien chuckled, shaking his head, "You've done it now." He commented, enjoying having that temper aimed at someone else for a while. "Please Serena....we don't want to tell anyone yet..." Ken pleaded and now Darien laughed. "Well well well! I don't believe *we* owe you anything now do we?" Ken hung his head. So did Lita. The others burst in at this moment rowdy and hungry for lunch. They took to barbecuing while Serena and Darien smirked at their secret over a blushing Lita and Ken. But as the other's were oblivious, they continued on with the plan, bumping Darien into Serena and vice versa until....with one last shove from Mina, Serena ended up falling flat on top of Darien as he pitched over backwards. It was the last straw. Serena could only take so much embarrassment. Darien already thought she was a klutz....but now it seemed so much worse! She jumped up enraged, "That's IT! I can't TAKE IT ANYMORE! What's WRONG WITH EVERYONE! HAVE YOU ALL GONE CRAZY!???!!!" She turned on Darien, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry I ended up NAKED IN THE LAKE WITH YOU! And I'm sorry I fainted on you in the volleyball game and then the dock collapsed! I'm sorry I ended up falling in the mud with you and I'm sorry I keep getting smashed into you!" She glared around at the guilty faces of her friends. "I'm sorry any of it ever happened okay? Just everyone LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!" And she stalked off alone, angry tears starting at her eyes. Darien watched numbly after her. She was sorry anything had happened? But they wouldn't be friends if...if....maybe she was sorry they were even friends? He swallowed painfully. Afterall...he wasn't very much fun....he teased her.....she still hated him! And now he was hopelessly in love with her! Oh curse camping forever!!!! The group looked after Serena and then to Darien's sad face. He looked as though someone had just trampled across his heart.... Amy grabbed the girls and dragged them after Serena, "Come on, we ALL owe her an apology!" The girls followed meekly leaving the boys to face Darien, who'd flung himself onto the picnic table and buried his face in his arms. Life was over. Chad ambled over with the other three at his heels, "Sorry man." He mumbled. "Yeah sorry Dare." Andrew said softly. "We got carried away." Agreed Ken. It was Greg who caused Darien to look up, "I think she likes you." Darien's eyes as his head shot up caused everyone to take a step back, everyone but Greg. "She hates me." He said quietly. Greg shook his head, "I don't think so." "I know so." He replied and buried his head in his arms once again. The boys just shrugged at one another. What were they supposed to do? Amy found Serena sitting by the lake crying softly. She approached her friend and touched her shoulder softly, "Serena...." Serena looked up, "I'm sorry I ever got involved in this whole thing." "What whole thing?" "Trying to get you and Darien together." Serena just stared dumbly at her. Amy gestured behind her, "And there's some other people who are sorry too." Serena looked to see Mina, Lita and Rei standing sheepishly by the woods. They walked over and joined them. "Sorry Serena." "We thought it was a good idea..." Serena shook her head, "You're wrong. It's not like that between me and Darien...." ~He doesn't like me.....~ "And now I can't even look at him...it's all so embarrassing!" "Sorry." They said. "I'm sure you two will be fine....you just need to....talk things out...." Serena looked out to the lake again. "We're going out rowing....do you want to come?" Serena shook her head...knowing how the rowing partners would pair off... "No thanks...I just wanna be alone for a bit okay?" The girls nodded and left her. They were joined by the boys....save Darien....and off they went. Darien sat at the picnic table....Serena by the lake...both thinking the same thing.... ~He hates me....~ ~She hates me....~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ nat-chan dodges heavy objects! Ahhhhh! Stop!!! *woosh* wait! *clunk* I have the ending allll planned out and I PROMISE I'll write it RIGHT NOW OKAY?! *crunch* This minute I swear! *clunk* nat-chan starts typing madly.....