@--}--- @--}--- @--}--- @-}-- --{-@ ---{--@ ---{--@ ---{--@ Title: Rivers Run Threw It Author: Golden Usagi E-mail: Serena_S_moon99@yahoo.com Konnichi wa minna, Golden Usagi here. I hope everyone enjoys this short story. I came up with the idea for it when I thought of how awful it must be to be truly in love with someone and not being able to show how you feel to that person. I suppose everyone’s been in the same ordeal, but Serena and Darien have always had troubles dealing with these sorts of situations. I hope you like this new story, and please please please please pllleaaaaassssseeee write me and tell me what you think ^_^ (E-mail addy is just at the top!) Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon….darn it! But I am writing a story using the characters in a romantic story. Yoshi? @--}--- @--}--- @--}--- @-}-- --{-@ ---{--@ ---{--@ ---{--@ Rivers Run Threw It: A Short Story It was a beautiful calm early spring night. The weather was still slightly crisp and the moon shown down slightly from it’s lightly clouded sky. On this day a young college man stood alone on a bridge looking down into the water as it flowed easily under it’s wooden planks. He sighed slightly, jealous of the peaceful bliss the water seemed to have and yet he thought he would never be able to possess. Imagine the feeling of no worries, and lack of studies to go over and over that allowed him to have those high scores he was so known for. His ebony hair fell slightly over his eyes as his featureless face hardened slightly. He just couldn’t seem to keep his mind straight. It had always been so easy before. Just turn away and be cold to everyone. Mind you there were a few that he allowed close to himself…but never to close. Darien Chiba, 20 years old, studying law at Tokyo University. That’s the way everyone thought of him. Focused, and always reaching for the strong goal of a good career. Another way people thought of him, unknown to himself, was that he was a cold individual, also lonely, but that was mostly only known by those closest to himself. All those close to him thought he would never let anyone close to, though they wanted him to be happy so much… Darien closed his eyes for a moment, sick of the beauty around him, when he felt so ugly and unworthy of all the loveliness surrounding him. There was only one thing that could give his surroundings any kind of competition. It was his little bunny. Though she didn’t know she was his…in fact, she really wasn’t. Not to mention she would never want him, most especially after today… She was a young girl, of about 14 years. She went to nearby Juuban Junior High. Serena Tsukino. She was fresh and innocent, always happy, and bouncy, constantly wearing a smile. She seemed to brighten everything around her. She simply radiated happiness, calm, joy and…..serenity? ‘Why do you bother thinking of her…it’s useless, she’s far to young… not to mention you are way to cold and useless to her…’ Darien thought to himself irritated. He had fallen for her…not even on purpose. Something about her… he desperately needed, to bring himself back from his personal darkness that had he had allowed to swallow him up. His insides feel like a crisp, sharp ice. He didn’t like the feeling. It made him unhappy and sharp with people. He thought of the way he treated people and sank down slightly, allowing his shoulders to slump over and his elbows to rest on the bridges rail. Not only was he cold with strangers…but always Serena, his little bunny. Even her name sounded like some rare and wonderful flower. Something that is ached to be picked, but left to grow and flourish because it is far to precious, and would wilt away and die. She was a bitter reminder of his icy personality. He knew that she was his only refuge…he could tell her Anything… and she wouldn’t take pity in him, she wouldn’t do that to him as so many had before. She would care for him gently and promise to be there for him…and he wanted that so much from her. Darien sighed again and looked up to the glowing orb in the sky that was the moon. So beautiful…and how it reminded him of the goddess that lived in his dreams. The radiant princess that called out to him every night, and each time she became more desperate and pleading for him to free her and bring her the silver crystal. Darien knew he loved the princess in his dreams…he’d do anything for her, but it was a loyal love, not the same as that of Serena, but it was the loyal love that he seemed to feel toward Sailor Moon. ‘Fool…how can you love more then one person…and everyone of them is so far beyond you, you’ll be alone forever…’Darien thought restlessly for the millionth time just that week. God knows he thought about it all the time. His princess…that’s what he called the girl in his dream, she always had a beautiful glow around her, showing her goddess like features, yet shielding away her face that he so ached to see. Then there was Sailor Moon… She was stunning. She was always fighting for the simple cause of protecting the earth and trying to bring goodness to the world. Maybe the world didn’t deserve her kindness and gentle protection, but she was always there, and loyal to her cause. He, as Tuxedo Mask, was destined to save her when the time came. Only two hours before Sailor Moon had been blasted by a monster’s sharp aim and I had only had seconds to dive down and take her into my arms and get her to safety. She looked so distracted…as if she had something troubling her mind enough to allow herself to get slammed around by the nega-verse creature, she was usually at least careful enough not to get hurt. I have to admit that was the closest I’ve ever come to getting us both killed, though she didn’t seem to notice. She only smiled and blushed slightly as she stood back up and I placed her back down upon the ground. She was visibly shaken though she followed her duty and proceeded to moon dust the nega-verse monster. It was right after the monster had been defeated that I looked at the end of my cape. I had come so close that my capes edge was actually slightly singed though at the end just inches from being any harm to Sailor Moon or I. I really did mess up everything. Then of course there was Serena. She was such a complete angel. But he had completely ruined any chances he would have ever had with her *small as they may have been* and had gone way to far in his insults toward her that day. He could clearly remember the glossy tears fill her eyes as it seemed her heart had been shattered. Yet her words had become even sharper then they had ever been before in their little verbal battles. *Flashback* “Give me a break Serena, you have to be one of the most ditzy girls in the entire universe, you never work hard in school and you never bother to be on time to anything. You’re always running around crashing into people on the streets in your insane mad dashes and you disregard anything that makes any kind of logical sense.” Darien shot to Serena as her face flashed with angry eyes and flushed cheeks. “What do you know Darien, you always have the perfect grades and perfect life, everything about you is perfect, and you don’t give anyone else the time of day to be kind to you.” Serena shot back at the calm and cool looking Darien. “Have you ever thought that maybe it’s just you I’d rather ignore.” Darien said icily. “I haven’t time for foolish school girls with little minds…” Darien mentally was beating the hell out of himself. How could he say these things to her. She didn’t deserve it, and he knew it. He just couldn’t understand the amazing amount of emotions she would shoot through him whenever she was near, and he was scared to be near her…so he simply pushed her away… Serena’s eyes widened slightly in surprise at his comment…that was the first time he had completely…killed her insides…broken her little heart… “I can’t believe you….” Serena stopped herself and a rage rushed over her in self defense mode, she couldn’t seem to stop herself. “You cold heartless man…do you enjoy hurting those younger then you! How could you actually think you know me, you call me a ditz and you don’t even know me…” Serena’s rage began to take her over and her shoulders slumped over as she began to explode… “You know nothing, you’ve always had everything perfect, nothing ever goes wrong for you, and you just show it off and make others feel like nothing. Yet you can’t even show any respect to anyone, or care about others feelings for that matter!! I hate you Darien Chiba…I’ve always hated you… I don’t see how anyone can bother to care for you, you are nothing!!” Serena screamed out, but seemed to become shocked at her own voice. Her hand flew to her mouth, which was now wet from tears that had fallen unnoticed down her crimson face as she had yelled at Darien all the anger that could possible be held in her… Darien stared at her tearstained face in shock, at this point he had lost all of his normal cool composer. The whole arcade kept their eyes focused on the two angry figures that both looked so hurt… Yet for everyone in the arcade…it was like a terrible car-accident that is passed by…you can’t help, but look…and what an awful site they were seeing… as well as hearing… Darien’s eyes seemed to well up…as if on the verge of tears…but he seemed to keep himself under just another composure to grab his jacket and rush past Serena out of the arcade… Serena simply stood there… her hands stiff in fists at each side of her body and her body looking ridged with anger, that had now left her…she stood there motionless…not sure of what to do next. She simply silently watched as Darien exited the arcade…and possibly…her life…? *End of Flashback* Darien shivered slightly in remembrance. She had hurt him…and he knew he deserved every word of it, he had never treated her with any kind of respect or decency… why should she treat him that way…? His face fell into his hands in frustration. He wanted to cry…but he had always believed crying was useless…so he held back his tears and stared out at the water before him. It was glistening beautiful and the moon continued to rain down it’s intense beams of light across the little river. He stood there in his pain…his agony for another half an hour, each second playing back the incident at the arcade over and over again… But he heard a small noise behind him, a slight clearing of a small someone’s throat. He turned around to face a small fragile looking creature…little Serena. Her eyes were bright red from what appeared to be crying. She gave a weak smile and looked up to him in her own agony and sorrowful pain. Her voice cracked slightly, dry from her tears as she spoke to him. “Da..Darien…I need to talk to you…” She spoke weakly…her tiny body shivering from slight nervousness or fear, or even perhaps because of the simple reason she was wearing a sleeveless shirt and the night air was still crisp. On impulse Darien took off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders and left his hands on her shoulders for a slight moment to stare into her crystal clear blue eyes. She gazed back longingly into his deep sapphire gaze and they both remembered themselves and blushed as he released her from his hold. “Y..yes, I need to talk with you too…” Darien stuttered. They both stood over the bridge and looked down at the bubbling gurgling water for a few minutes and Serena finally spoke. “I’m sorry Darien…” Serena broke the heavy silence. “I shouldn’t have said those things…I was angry…but that’s no excuse…” But Darien cut her off. “No Serena…I should be sorry. I’ve never treated you like the wonderful girl that you are. You aren’t a ditz, you’re an amazing person…I’m sorry I haven’t taken the time to be nice to you and get to know you better…” Darien said before Serena cut him off this time. “No…I am a ditz, I do everything on impulse…I do everything you said I do…but the things I said about you were wrong. I didn’t take the time to talk with you and get to know you well...I could never hate you…” Serena spoke up before Darien cut her off once again. “No, I was wrong to say those things…I care a great deal for you and everything I said was wrong of me… I am cold and harsh, I know that…you’re very different from me, I wish I could be more like you…” Darien finished as he looked down at a slightly shocked looking Serena. ‘He cares a great deal for me…he wishes he could be like me…. why…?’ Serena thought her herself as she looked up at Darien who suddenly looked very uncomfortable. “I care a great deal about you to Darien…I wish I could be as dependable, smart…and all around suave like you are…” Serena said as a small blush crept across her face. Both Serena and Darien stood quiet, not sure what to say or do, they simply returned to looking down at the water rushing under the bridge, evenly, splashing small droplets of water on the bridges’ planks. Then both knew what they wanted to say, and turned toward each other, face to face and said straight out. “I’m sorry!” They both announced to one another in unison. A small smile gave way on Serena’s face and a small giggle escaped her lips while Darien chuckled slightly. Darien’s hand came up behind his head in his usual casual style and Serena foldered her hands in front of her. Both stared down at the bridge boards and continued to laugh for a moment then Darien looked up slowly, a serious and determined expression on his face. “Serena…why were you crying…before you came here…?” Darien asked, noting the continued tear stains on her cheeks. Serena bit her lip slightly as if trying to contemplate how to explain herself when she too turned her face up to his eyes and answered him. “Well…I thought I might have lost you…out of my life back there… as I said, you mean a great deal to me…I wouldn’t want to lose you…” Serena said nervously as her face fell back to the floor boards of the bridge. Darien placed a shaky hand under her chin and lifted her face up gently. Could his dream be coming true…could life be turning around for him? Maybe he hadn’t lost her… “I don’t think I could get up every morning if I couldn’t see your smiling face every day Serena… The reason I’m so mean to you is because I care about you so much…I was afraid to be nice or close to you…” He said unsteadily as his eyes looked into hers trying to search for what she may be thinking. Her eyes revealed a surprise… He seemed to see something illuminating her eyes that he knew must be shining in his as well. Could that be… love, in her eyes? “What…I’m trying to say is…I’m falling in love with you…Serena…” Darien slipped out. By this time Darien’s mind was a complete whirl. Had he just said… what he thought he said…out loud…and to…Serena???! He looked at Serena’s eyes in complete panic, this could be where she said she wanted nothing to do with him, and say that’s he’s crazy, or simply say nothing, and avoid him from here on out. But he just couldn’t seem to read her eyes, her beautifully shining eyes. But she did something he hadn’t expected… “I…I’m falling in love with you to Darien…” Serena said slowly…and her face fell once again to the bridge floor boards. Darien’s heart jumped a beat…he wondered if she had any idea how happy she had just made him. Most definitely one of the most happy moments of his entire life…and he planned on many more happy days like this in the future…with her… He gently placed his hand under her chin lifting her face back up to look into her eyes once again. Soft tears fell from her eyes and she smiled softly. “I know I’m to young…and naïve…” She started…but Darien placed to fingers gently over her lips to silence her. “I want only to be with you…” He said in a hoarse whisper. He leaned down gently, pulling her small figure close to himself…slowly he bent down and placed his lips to her soft pink lips and held her close. He kissed her gently, his hand planted gently on the small of her back and his lips softly caressing hers in a long tender kiss. Both of their minds wandered over how beautiful everything about this evening was. His lips were strong and authoritative, yet slow and gentle, and his hand ran through her hair slowly. He began to pull up from their kiss, leaving a few small butterfly kisses upon her lips before he pulled up completely and looked down into her slightly opened and glazed over eyes. Her eyes opened slowly the rest of the way as their gazes rested on one another gently. He brushed away her tears and a small smile fell upon her lips. They stood like that for a long time. Serena, still wearing his jacket, with Darien’s arms wrapped around her gently. She was smiling with her head against Darien’s chest and his face lay on her head, immersed in her golden threads of silken hair. She realized she would never forget the smell of his intense pine, yet, rose scented cologne and Darien realized he would never forget the smell of vanilla that simply engulfed her… Darien’s mind flashed for a moment to his princess and Sailor Moon… and he smiled, nothing could make him more happy then Serena…and this very moment. It seemed the stars in the sky and the moon itself shined brighter that night on these two young loves. The river ran under them softly trickling under the bridge and it was a symbol, of the peace and love that was now the calm within them. @--}--- @--}--- @--}--- @-}-- --{-@ ---{--@ ---{--@ ---{--@ *The End* ********************************************** Hello again, I hope you liked my little story, please write and tell me what you think, should I stop writing, am I that bad? I know this wasn’t the greatest story, but please send some feedback, thank you, ja ne. “Our love is like a rose, beautiful when it’s in bloom, but it can’t last forever…@--}---“