by Setsuna
posted October 2000
Besides her holding one of the three golden statues was a very prominent figure. Wrapped around her waist was his left arm as he lazily held the statue in his right hand. Entirely dressed in black he made a stunning figure from his black shoes to his black tie. The only thing he wore that was not black was a red rose in the lapel of his black jacket. Despite the dark night that had covered the sky he was wearing dark sunglasses with frames that were as dark as night. The thick black hair that crowned his head gave him the final touch, and made him look like a creature of the night.
As she stopped smiling for the cameras the man beside her gently leaned his forehead against her temple. Black hair fell over his glasses as they continued to walk slowly towards the limo. Ever so gently like a butterfly he kissed her cheek. The gaze of her brilliant blue eyes shifted from the crowd to the mysterious figure beside her. Her red lips parted into a smile that was for him and him alone. The two started to walk towards the limo slightly faster.
Finally after what seemed an eternity under the flash bulbs of the cameras, they reached the limo. The female dirty blond driver ran around the side and quickly opened up the door for the other two to enter. They sat down on opposite sides of the limo. A resounding thud was heard as the driver shut the door. Gazing out the window the two saw the driver run to her seat and start the car. A sigh of relief was heard from the two in the back as the limo pulled away from the theater.
“Looks like we did good tonight, right Serena?” said the driver as she caught a glimpse of the statuettes in the rear-view mirror.
“You bet we did Haruka,” said the dramatic woman in reply as she smiled. “I’m sorry to have kept you out so late tonight though. We can go straight home I’m not really in the mood to party all night, and I think Michiru will be happy if you are home early.”
“Well why not you won three Grammy’s on your first album. I would think any person would want to go out and flaunt it,” said the dark figure as her took off his glasses to reveal a pair of deep sapphire blue eyes.
“Not when I have an old bet to make good on, Darien,” she said as she pushed the button to place the divider between the driver and passenger parts of the limo.
Nimble fingers made quick work of his tie and unbuttoned the top button on his shirt. Mock innocence covered his face as he said, “What bet?”
Serena laughed as she looked with her penetrating blue eyes at the man across from her. “You might be my bodyguard now Darien, but you are still my best friend,” she said looking into his eyes. “You remember that bet, you said that if I ever won anything for my lousy singing you would plant one of the rose bushes you spent so much time taking care of, when we were younger, for me.”
“Oh yeah I remember that bet,” he said as feigned recollection. Gentle laughs were heard as he recalled the scene between them over ten years ago…
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lost in a small garden amidst many rose bushes was young man of 13 and sitting close to him on a bench was a beautiful young girl of 12. The two were laughing amongst each other as the young man tended to the many rose bushes. His gaze returned to the rose bushes. Almost staring at him from the bush was a brilliantly white rosebud. With out a second thought he clipped it off with his shears. Turning suddenly he looked at the young woman with the rose held behind his back.
She smiled as he walked towards her with a devilish glint in his eyes. Her gaze was cautious as he inched towards her. Then when his face was only inches away from hers he quickly kissed her on the forehead and pulled the rose out from behind his back. She gently took the rose away from him and smelled the soft aroma that drifted from the rosebud.
He walked away and went back to tending the rose bushes as the young girl started to hum the beat to a song. Then the young man said, “What’s that awful noise, Serena?”
Stopping suddenly Serena looked over at the young man as she put the white rose in her long blond hair. “If you don’t like it, Darien, get earplugs,” said Serena as she looked over at Darien.
Darien stopped pruning the rose bushes and turned to look at Serena. “I bet that you will never win an award for your singing,” said Darien.
“You wanna bet?” said Serena as she stood up and walked over towards Darien. “If I do win an award for my singing you have to plant one of your rosebushes for me.”
“Deal, and if I win you have to buy me a pair of earplugs,” he said looking at her as he held out his right hand.
“You got yourself a deal,” said Serena as she grabbed his hand and shook it. Sitting back down on one of the benches in the garden Serena asked, “so how are things going on in the flower shop?”
Turning around to continue work on the bushes he said, “things are going all right. My parents say that they could be better but it’s ok.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lost in her memories of when she was young and growing up, remembering Darien and her always-pulling tricks on each other. Gazing out the window lost in her dream world Darien snapped his fingers in front of her eyes.
“Huh?” she said as she looked over at Darien in alarm.
Gentle laughing was heard as Darien said, “We’re home.”
She looked out the window of the car and saw her mansion. Haruka got out and opened the door for Darien and Serena. Darien got out first and held his hand out for Serena. Taking his hand she pulled herself out of the limo. She looked over at Haruka and said, “You can go now, oh tell Michiru that I’ll see her in the morning.” Nodding as she shut the door, Haruka went back over to the driver’s seat and drove the limo away.
Serena looked over at Darien and the two walked over to the mansion entrance. Opening the large wooden doors of the mansion was a young woman with short blue hair. She was dressed in a short sleeved, knee length black dress and a white apron. She held the door open as Serena and Darien walked in.
Turning to the woman Serena said “Thanks Amy. Did I get any messages while I was out?”
Amy closed the doors to the mansion and said in a quiet voice “Yes you did. Raye, your agent, called and congratulated you on the Grammy’s you won. She also wants you to call give her a call tomorrow morning. Your parents called and were also very excited, they want you to call them as well. The Make A Wish Foundation also called and want to talk with you.”
“Ok. Thank you very much Amy,” said Serena. “Unless there is anything else you can go now.”
Amy nodded toward Serena and walked off toward the direction of her room in the mansion. Darien walked off towards the garden that was behind the mansion. Serena saw him walk off and silently followed after him. He opened a large glass door that was on the back of the mansion and continued to walk on. Serena watched as he continued to walk on, following him. He walked along a stone path that lead to the garden from the patio that was at the back of the mansion. Closed off with walls of hedges was the garden. An arch was formed for an entrance into the garden. Within the garden were two stone benches and between them was a fountain with water lilies growing in it. Along the edges of the walls of hedges were many different flowers, irises, birds of paradise, peonies, vivid orchids, morning glories climbing along the walls of hedge, and many other brilliantly colored flowers. Placed amongst the flowers were space lights that gave a luminescent glow to the area. He looked around the large garden and saw three vacant spaces, all in the corners of the garden. Sitting down on one of the benches he watched the water flow from the top of the fountain into the pool where the water lilies were floating. As he continued to watch his mind drifted off to previous memories.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
He was sitting with Serena in the garden, as they almost always were, the two of them just enjoying the company of one another. He was 16 now and she was 15. The time was soon after school ended for the day so Darien did not expect his parents at home for a few hours. Serena and him were laughing at what had happened to them that day at school. Darien’s parents walked over to where the two were sitting in the garden.
His mother came forward and said with a heavy sigh, “Darien you know that we have been having problems with the flower shop lately. Well, we have to close the store; we are not making enough money to keep it running. I am really sorry but there was nothing more that we could do.”
His jaw dropped as he heard this. That store had been his whole life, and now it was gone. As his mind was trying to absorb all of this it seemed like all of his body had shutoff and was no longer under his control. Stumbling backwards a few steps he found himself sitting on the bench besides Serena. She pulled him close to her, letting his head fall gently on to her shoulder, wrapping her arms tightly around him she whispered softly in his ear. Feeling his stuttering breaths as he tried to breath, she slowly moved back and forth. Slowly he moved his arms around her trying to hold on for something in his mind. Hearing her whispers in his ear and feeling her hand as it held him close to her, of all the things in the world that was what he needed the most.
Silently his parents left the garden and the two alone. Pulling herself closer to him she gently lifted his head up. Bloodshot eyes looked back at her despite the fact that no tears were falling. The dark blue eyes just stared vacantly at her she held him.
Darien straightened himself up while still holding on to Serena. His eyes continued to stare into hers, both of them conveying the emotions they had always felt in the depths of their hearts but never had the strength to let the other or themselves know. Ever so slowly they drew the other closer to them. Softly closing her eyes she felt his lips touch hers. Sensations ran rampant through her body. Minds and emotions collided in a frenzy as they kissed. All they could think about was this moment, nothing else mattered for the one brief flash. It was the most magical thing either of them had ever experienced. For that fleeting moment they both knew what the other was thinking, feeling, and sensing.
Both of them suddenly pulled away from the other at the exact same time. They did not look at the other as their breaths came out heavy and stuttering. Their breathing slowly became normal and their thoughts began to collect. Among the many questions that were going through their minds at that moment, as clear as bell to both of them, they both felt it couldn’t be. They looked into each other’s eyes and saw the other had drawn the same conclusion. Part of them felt comfort that this would not be acknowledged but a greater part of them cried out in anguish.
Holding him close to her again Serena placed her head on top of his. Tears ran down from Serena’s eyes, unconsciously, into Darien’s thick black hair, for the hurt she felt in her heart. Gently placing a hand on his neck she could feel the racing beat of his heart. With his head on her shoulder Darien stared out into the world he no longer seemed to know. Closing his eyes one solitary tear ran down his cheek for his wounded soul.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Closing his eyes as he felt her arms sliding tenderly around him, he felt the memories drift away. As she laid her head in his shoulder he smelt the light perfume she was wearing tickling his nose. Darien felt her warm breath against her neck as she softly exhaled. Her hands were placed over his heart, and she felt the gentle beating of it against her palms. He gently put his arms over hers holding her hands in his own.
“So Darien what were you contemplating so intently?” said Serena as she looked towards his eyes.
He closed his eyes in an attempt to close in his emotions. “Just thinking about the old times Serena,” Darien said as he opened his eyes.
“I remember them well, so carefree, and innocent. Sometimes I felt like we grew up too fast. But then I remember times like now and know we didn’t,” said Serena as she held Darien in her arms.
The two looked into the fountain and the feelings of that one-day came flooding back. They continued to feel that the other did not feel the same way as they did.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Storming into her mansion with her flaming red hair streaming after her, and eyes as red as blood, was the angriest woman of the night. Screams of rage rang through the mansion; the servants remained hidden so as not to be in the way of her wrath. Slamming her hand into a glass table causing it to shatter into a million pieces, cutting her hand as she withdrew it from the broken glass. A man followed after her, platinum blond hair covered his shoulders in a shower. As he gently took her bleeding hand in his, ever so softly, he began to wrap it in bandages. Rage was still evident in her eyes as her demeanor calmed down.
“You shouldn’t have done that over something so insignificant as this. Next time you will win and then everyone will know what a wonderful singer you truly are,” said the man as he wiped the blood off her hand.
“Sweet words will get you no where all that I want is her blood running through running through my fingers. Then will I be happy,” said the woman as her rage started to grow again.
He finished bandaging her hand and stepped away from the woman, turning away from her he closed his eyes and sighed. “I understand it is difficult, you being such an experienced singer and her being the new kid on the block. I also know that you have wanted to get rid of her for a while now, and now you are willing to do anything to be rid of her. I can help you. Being a bodyguard I know someone for everything. But you are the one who has to make the final decision. I don’t want the blood of that woman on my hands.”
“I understand and I want you to make the call to your friends. Money is no object and it is the decision I made I want to be rid of the brat Serena for good!” said the woman as she walked over to the man.
“It shall be done, Beryl, let’s just hope that you are ready and willing to face the consequences of your actions,” said the man as he looked at Beryl.
“Malachite why would I have made this decision if I was not ready to have that thorn removed from my side,” asked Beryl as her eyes glowed.
Malachite just looked away from her not saying anything. All he could hear was the racing beat of his heart pulsing with the anxiousness of the job he was going to undertake now.