A Trap for A Truce: Chapter 6: "Tuxedo Salsa and Sailor Limbo???" AN'S: Alright alright minna! Here it is! Now please stop flaming my inbox kay? kay. *hee* like I mind! I'm glad you're reading my fic! ;) Disclaimer's: Here's a shocker....guess who doesn't own Sailormoon?? Rated: G Thanks: Thanks to all my pals online! Gracie-chan, soon to be publishing authoress, Silver Bunny, also soon to be publishing authoress! Read their fics minna! They rule! I know cause I got to read them already ;P *giggles* annnnnnnd all the wonderful people that post me! Lady Spring-chan, Alicia and Lady Starra, Lazuli (I like your new fic!) and Mako-chan (finish Magic Tricks or I'll hunt you down Mako!!! ^_^) Enjoy, I'm gonna try and finish this soon promise!!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~&~~~~~~~@ Now, let me see, where did I leave off?? *dodges rotton tomato* Oh yeah, the almost kiss scene! *hee* ^_^; Whence last we left the famous couple we all adore........ Darien felt his heart thudding loudly in his ears and a strange rush filling him from toes to ears....the only thought he could clearly make out in his dazed brain was the one pointing out that this wouldn't be the first time he'd kissed Serena....though that provided no comfort whatsoever to his nervous body....he dipped down until their noses touched, aching to complete the moment, overwhelmed by a base, gut instinct that this was destiny....but unfortunately, someone foreordained that this particular kiss was NOT to be....curse whatever spiteful fate THAT was! (natia runs, dodging roses and shoes, "Please mamo-chan! Stop throwing those! ouch! gomen gomen, I'll get you two together soon! ahhhh!") Because..... CRASH! A blast of thunder and lightning cut through the air! SHRIEK! A woman nearby yelled as she *thought* she spotted a snake! TRIP-YELP-SPLAT! A man, distracted by the shrieking woman didn't look where he was going and fell. And Serena? silly minna, I don't even have to say.... AIEEE! Cried Serena at the sudden blast of lightening, jumping back, Meatballs lifting off her head. SNAKE?! Yelled Serena as she heard the woman explaining as she helped up the fallen, bruised man "I HATE SNAKES!!!!" Oof! Exclaimed Darien as she leapt into his arms He sighed heavily (throwing sidelong glares at natia) and carried her in. Back in the room, neither talked about the almost-kiss, both utterly embarrassed. Serena brushed it off as "all part of the act" and Darien figured Serena was just going along with it for the same reasons......siiigh.... "So, salsa huh?" Said Serena, attempting to be chipper and break the tension. Darien nodded, putting the last of their school books away (they were studying before going out so they could just sleep when they got back). "Yup....do ya know how to salsa?" He asked uncertainly. Her eyes grew fearful as he turned to meet them, "No..." And for once, his expression matched her own, "Neither do I..." Ballroom dancing as Tuxedo Mask was one thing.....salsa a la Darien spelled disaster. "But you seem to dance fine." She said with confusion, "I've seen you fast dance AND ballroom dance as Tuxedo Mask!" He shook his head, "Club dancing I've done before, and besides, it doesn't take much to learn. And as for ballroom....well, when I'm Tuxedo Mask it just comes naturally......." He trailed off but then suddenly his eyes lit up, "Wait a sec!" "What? What?!" "When I'm Tuxedo Mask I just *know* how to ballroom dance, and fight and a bunch of stuff right?" "Yeah.." "And when you're Sailormoon, you just *know* how to--" "Yes yes," she cut in, "throw my tiara, jump, dodge, what are you getting at?" "Don't you think as our alter-selves, we might be better equipped to handle the salsa?" He asked her with a wicked gleam in his eye, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. She caught on, "Ohhhh....I see....yeah, yeah I do heh heh heh." she gave a rebellious chuckle. If Luna were here she'd have a total cow! "But we can't go as Sailormoon and Tuxedo Mask...hmmm...Serena, how did you disguise yourself at the masquerade?" "Oh, I used my disguise pen!" She exclaimed excitedly, "I have it in my bag, just a sec!" She hopped over to it and pulled it out gleefully, "Let's do it!" She pulled out her brooch and held it up next to his rose, "Moon prism power!" FLASH! A bright while light enveloped them both from her brooch and for just a moment, a strange sense of remembering came over them, they looked into each other's eyes....recognized... But then it was over and Sailormoon and Tuxedo Mask stood side by side. "Okay, now the pen!" Cheered Serena happily, turning to face him, she stopped short a moment, staring at him with awe. "Wow..." She couldn't help but exclaim softly. He grinned, for once, by a girl, highly flattered...He tipped his hat and pulled out a rose, "Charmed." He said offering it to her, smiling divinely. She giggled and took it....~This'll come in handy later....~ (natia winks conspiratorially at Usagi and giggles...yup...) Then she held up the pen, "Disguise Pen, turn us into a salsa dance couple!" Another bright light burst forth and when it ebbed away, Darien stood with Serena tilted back in his arms, adorned in a salsa tuxedo (eep, is that what salsa dancers wear? gomen! I'm so dumb! *sweatdrop*) Serena glanced up at his handsome face, dark hair tousled. She reached behind her ruffly salsa dress and pulled out the rose, giggling, and placed it sideways in his mouth, "Now we're ready!" He chuckled and pulled her up, tucking the rose in his pocket, "Do you think we'll be able to?" She laughed and dragged him towards the door, "Who cares? We look great!" He had to enjoy her carefreeness. But as they hurried down the hall, he swung her out and spun her back into his arms. He grinned into her upturned face, "I think we'll do just fine..." And with even more enthusiasm then they previously had, they burst into the dance hall. And wouldn't it have been perfect if they HAD been the best salsa couple there? And won? Maybe it was their overenthusiasm, maybe the fact that the salsa didn't exist in the Silver Millenium, maybe the fact that the spiked punch took it's effect on them after they obliviously drank close to five glasses each......hmmm.... ;) Whatever the case, they did not win, but they had a lot of fun. They danced around, all decked out in full costume, and the rhythm they seemed to share was flawless--even punch drunk! And Darien made a great show of the rose between his teeth, dipped her with real flare and amused the other couples......but another couple won, and deservedly so. By the time the limbo contest began, our heroes were rather giddy. And Darien's lanky, lithe frame DID make for a rather comical sight bent unnaturally under the limbo bar....but when he fell, Serena couldn't help the gales of laughter she professed rather loudly. They exited the dance hall afterwards, laughing all the way to their room. "Y-you looked s-so f-funny falling down!" choked Serena between giggles. Darien was laughing too hard to answer but as they grinned at one another, they both tripped over his books and fell, landing on the bed. This was the cause of yet MORE laughter and then Darien's dazed realization, "Hey Serena.." "Hmm?" "I think we're drunk..." They stared seriously at one another a moment before REALLY laughing. Laughing was the last thing Darien remembered before they passed out.... moonstarmoonstarmoonstarmoonstarmoonstarmoonstarmoonstarmoonstarmoonstarmoonstarmoonstarmoonstar Day 6 "Uuuuuugggggghhhhh...." Groaned Serena, spitting out a mouthful of pillow and wrinkling her eyes at the wretched light of the sun. She pulled herself up to a sit and then immediately regretted it. "Ohhhhhh...." She poked Darien, who lay similarly beside her, "Darien, Darien...." He stirred as she cleared her eyes and realized they'd detransformed sometime during the night. "Whatssmatter?" He mumbled, untangling himself from the sheets that were stuck to his face in a very unpleasant way. "I feel awful! What's wrong with us?" She moaned. He pulled himself up to sit next to her, "Hangover..." He managed painfully. Then he stumbled up, threw on a sweater and headed for the door, "Need coffee..." He explained, pulling sunglasses on, oblivious to the rooster like quality of his hair at that moment. Serena was too nauseous to laugh. Pity. He returned with two cups of coffee and some aspirin. She tried the coffee and made a terrible face, "Uggghh! This stuff tastes like dirt!" He tried to smile but his face hurt too much, "issokaymeatballhead, it'll help....drink." She obeyed, but her face scrunched up admirably as she swallowed the liquid she was now thoroughly convinced was poison. The aspirin helped too. After the headache and dizziness were dispelled, recovery was possible. They each showered--Serena had to giggle at the yell Darien let out upon catching his reflection in the mirror "Serena! How could you let me go out with my hair like this?!" And then settled in their comfiest clothes, too finish up their studies for the week. The hours slipped by unnoticed......on this their sixth day together....had it only been six days? Darien stole a glance at Serena as she worked out her algebra, chewing her pencil thoughtfully. Could everything between them really be the result of a mere six days together? Amazing.... Serena looked up, "What?" "Can you believe it's been six days?" "Only six?" "Yup." "Feels like a lot longer..." "I know." "Darien?" "Yeah?" "I feel stupid asking this...but....will we still be friends when we go home?" Her eyes looked vulnerably into his, hopeful, a little soul-hungry. He smiled, how could one girl be so adorable? "I certainly hope so!" She grinned happily and for once, he really had said the right thing, and meant it too. Then he chuckled, "I can't believe we got drunk together!" She giggled, "Me neither!" He smiled, Serena was pretty funny drunk....then again so was he....but he was older, that was probably her first time drinking--he blanched, "S-Serena, you won't tell your parents will you?!" She stared incredulously at him, "Look at my face, do I have 'I want to be grounded for life' written across my forehead?" He shook his head. "And somehow I don't see you enthused over the idea of running for your life from my enraged father and his shotgun." He got paler at this comment, for she'd guessed his train of thought exactly. She laughed, "Don't look so frightened silly!" He managed to relax, although the image of Serena's enraged father was not an easy one to banish.... They continued to study in silence until Serena spoke, "I guess we make a pretty good pretend couple." She said as though speaking her thoughts out loud, and he realized how much he liked that about her... "You make a pretty great pretend girlfriend." He smiled. "You're not a bad pretend boyfriend either." She blushed. He held her gaze another moment before breaking the spell, "How's algebra coming?" Her expression changed with breakneck speed, "Ugh." "Ugh?" "Yes, in the dictionary, next to that word, is the definition 'word used to describe unpleasant things ESPECIALLLY algebra!" He chuckled and then got up, "Well, it's our second last day together, we shouldn't spend it just studying. Do you feel up for something?" "Anything that's NOT studying!" "Alright, fun fun and only fun. Let's go!" He offered her his arm and she took it gallantly. "Al--RIGHT!" And where did fun take our two lovers?........... Serena glared across at Darien, trying hard to keep a poker face. She managed to look intimidating and even a little imposing, until she spoiled the effect by taking a thoughtful bite of her ice cream and getting a big gob on her nose. She leaned across the table and made her move, "Check." Darien raised a mock eyebrow at her, stroked his chin thoughtfully, and moved his King to safety, "Good move." He admonished, "But not as good as this--check mate!" "Whhhhaaaaatttt?!??? DAAAAAAARRRRIIIIIEEEEN! NO FAAAAAIIIIRRRR! It's impossible to beat you! Arrrrrgggghhhh!" Darien chuckled. They'd gone for a stroll, gotten ice cream and found a set up of chess tables in a nook of the ship. Now Serena was waving her arms dramatically, ice cream still on her nose. "You have ice cream on your nose." He informed her. She was cut off in mid wail, "(W)AAAAHHHH--huh? Oh." She wiped it away and frowned at his laughter, "Don't you laugh at me Darien Chiba! That could happen to anyone!" He laughed anyway until she suddenly corked him in the nose with her ice cream, leaving a cold spot of chocolate chip on it. "Hey!" He said but then the chase began. "No! No! Ahhhhh! Truce! Truce!" She cried, weaving her way back to their room, hair trailing behind her. He tackled her on the bed and pinned her, ice cream poised to bop her back in the nose, but she suddenly began to laugh and laugh, "It-it's empty!" She choked out. And to his dismay, he found that indeed, all he had left was the cheap, sugary cone. Who knew WHERE the ice cream had gone. Serena caught his half-pout and softened, "Awwww, here, you can have some of mi--" She slipped and splatted him in the face with it, "Oops! Oh! Sorry! I d-didn't mean it that time! OH!" She couldn't help it, she started laughing all over again. Darien just sighed comically. This was what came from involving himself in the Meatballhead's life. She pulled herself up and got a towel for him. "Here, maybe we should stick to homework. It's less treacherous." He smiled, "I guess....you didn't want to do anything else?" "OFCOURSE I want to do something else!" "What then?" She paused thoughtfully, with a mischievous smile, and walked over to him, "Hmmm...how about.. TAG! You're it!" She shrieked poking him and running out the door. He smiled to himself, ~Tag? Ah, why not?~ And with that, he took off after her. They made an afternoon of it. Chasing through the tennis courts, weaving through the dance hall, the chess nook, the various decks. She was fast, he couldn't catch her! Finally, he cornered her by the pool. "Hah! Now I've got you Meatballhead!" he gasped out as he realized she was running towards it. But she surprised him by jumping in, fully clothed, with a delightful shriek and a cannonball. He only hesitated for a fraction of a second before cannon balling in after her. "Gotcha!" he cried victoriously, tagging her at last. "But now you're all wet!" She pointed out with a laugh. He indulged her, knowing what a sight he must make. Then they sloshed back to their room, Sopping meatballs and all. After they dried off and changed they headed for the diner, for their last dinner together. Darien got their soda's in wine glasses and proposed a toast, "Here's to the cruise, it's been a lot of fun hasn't it?" She tapped his glass with her own, "Totally!" They sipped their pop and ate amiably, chatting lightly about school, and friends, and living double lives. They lingered long over dessert, Serena couldn't bite back the sadness that this was their last dessert together, in the dining hall--~Why am I so sorry this is ending?~ She thought, ~It's not like I--I.....uh oh....~ Darien watched the strange play of emotions on her face. He was trying vainly to memorize every detail, every precious second of this cruise. Maybe it would help fill the emptiness that would greet him when he returned home to his vacant apartment..... ~If only....if only WHAT Chiba? Snap out of it! What are you thinking? Be realistic!~ But his thoughts would not obey his heart, and his heart was busy hungrily drinking in the way Serena's eyes looked when she was thinking....when she was eating.... They walked slowly back to the room. Serena caught Darien's hand, "I've had a good time." She said softly, "In case I forget to tell you later." He smiled sincerely at her, "Me too." They crept into their respective beds that night and bid one another soft good night's. But Darien did not sleep much that night, he stayed awake many hours watching Serena sleep. Watching her sweet, pale face like a starved man, reveling in sensations that washed over him for her. The urge to protect, the urge to be tender, the urge to fall at her feet.... Finally he went to bed, sadly drifted into sleep.... Serena woke early and perched herself beside him, sketchbook in hand, to capture the sleeping face of this man she'd hated just last week. This man who had become her best friend and partner. This man who she feared she was falling for.... Then she too returned to slumber.....and if our two heroes dreamt at all, they never remembered. Perhaps because they barely remembered their dreams of the silver millenium....save for brief snatches mostly caught by Darien..... They never knew that they danced together in their dreams that night.....that Darien finally got to see the mysterious Princess's face.....that she called him Endymion..... No, our two heroes slept oblivious to their dreams for once, weighted down by the sadness that tomorrow, was the last day of the cruise..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~&~~~~~~~~~~~@ Phew! Almost done minna! I promise I'll finish soon kay? kay. ;P E-mail e-mail e-mail dahlings! ;)