The Center of my World - Part One
Usagi-chan
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Serena stepped out of the long, sleek car carefully. Holding
her head high, she walked gracefully up the front stairs of the mansion.
Somehow, David had managed to obtain a ticket to a party hosted
by one of Darien Shields better friends. It was rumored that the tycoon
himself would be there, and so Serena was in attendance as well.
She and David had worked on a story for her to tell any of the
busybodies who ventured close enough to a newcomer to ask questions.
She was the favourite niece to an extremely rich man who had recently
died. Coming into such a grand inheritance, Serena had decided to make
her debut on the social scene.
The large doors opened for her without question as she carried
herself the way any youthful rich woman would. She never cast second
glances, even though the glamour of the house astounded her. The place
seemed to reek of money and wealth.
Following the people who had entered before her, Serena went
into the large ballroom. Again, she was awestruck at the way the room
seemed almost magical. Candles were everywhere, glowing brightly and
casting an unearthly light about the place.
Suddenly Serena was glad her parents had forced her to go to
all her father's company balls. Not only did she have the clothing
from them, but she had the dancing experience and manners expected
of a young woman at such a function.
Sighing with a mixture of relief and delight, Serena headed
over to one of the empty tables at one end of the room. She wanted a
few minute to collect herself and to observe the others at the party.
"You must be new around here." Someone said softly near her ear.
It nearly caused Serena to jump, except the deep voice had her completely
mesmerized. Turning slightly, Serena smiled at the young man who now
moved next to her.
"I'm not quite sure I know what you mean." She replied, a slight
smile playing on her lips. She had played this game before, well,
before her father had scared all the boys at the parties.
"Beautiful women like you shouldn't be sitting alone." The
man grinned at her, and Serena found herself smiling back. The tall
man had dirty blond hair and friendly brown eyes.
"I'm Andrew Furuhata." He told her, offering Serena his hand.
"I'm Serena Tsukino." She replied, accepting his hand.
"May I sit here?" He asked, gesturing to the empty seat next to
Serena.
"Of course." She nodded.
"Thank you." He sat and looked at her. "Tsukino, sounds
Japanese."
"It is." Serena smiled. "I'm originally from Japan."
"You certainly don't look Japanese, but it explains the name."
He smiled. "I'm from Japan myself. Where in Japan are you from?"
"Tokyo, the Juuban area." Serena replied. "You?"
"The same, actually. I grew up running the arcade there,
until my family moved here." Andrew told her, before glancing around the
room. He seemed to spot someone he had been looking for because he
excused himself and made his way across the floor to another blond.
The woman seemed to recognize him, and Serena turned attention
away from the couple. She scanned the ballroom for Darien Shields.
Although she had never seen him in person, she was familiar with his
appearance through the many pictures she had seen of him.
Finally her gaze fell on a tall dark haired man, dressed
impeccably in a tuxedo. Taking a deep breath, Serena tried to prepare
herself for the initial confrontation.
'This is all for David, and the church.' She reminded herself as
she headed over to where the hard, emotionless man stood. As she moved
closer to him, she observed his every gesture. She took in the way he
held his glass in one hand, and had his other hand casually in his
pocket. And somehow, as she watched him, Serena realized exactly how
dangerous this game was. If Darien ever saw through the charade, and
realized what was happening, she would be dead! That's all assuming
she even got close to him, that she was able to trick him the first
time round.
She was so near when Darien suddenly turned and looked at her.
His midnight blue eyes gazed into hers, and Serena was sure he could see
through her.
Without thinking, she veered off her original course and left
the ball room through the first exit she saw. Serena tried to act
nonchalant as she walked swiftly down a dark corridor. The long white,
satin skirt of her dress inhibited her walking despite the thigh high
slit, so Serena was forced to slow her pace. She turned slightly to
glance behind her, and saw that no one was there.
"Why are you so spooked, Serena?" She asked herself. Glancing
around, Serena found herself in a room that was obviously not a part of
the party. There was no furniture, and there was little light. As she
studied the room, Serena realized there was a collection of paintings on
display in the room. She had never seen such a magnificent collection
of paintings before. Unable to stop herself, Serena found herself
gazing at one of the paintings. She was so entranced by the picture she
was studying, that she never heard the footsteps come into the room, and
pause several feet away from her.
"Stunning piece of art, isn't it?" A voice asked. Serena
whipped around,and found herself face to face with the man she had
been trying to escape.
"I guess..." She tore her eyes from her face and focused on
the painting. Darien leaned against the wall casually, as though
nothing could perturb him. His hand was in his pockets, and he had
taken off the jacket of his tuxedo. It was slung across his shoulder,
suspended by two fingers.
"You guess?" He asked. "You seem positively bewitched by it."
Serena turned away from him, and moved to a different painting.
Although Darien stayed where he was, his eyes followed her every move.
"One of my favourite artists, Lonnie Lanai." Darien told her
from where he stood.
"It's incredible..." Serena breathed, stunned by how perfect
the piece seemed. There was something about it that drew her to it.
Serena shook her head to clear it. She needed to focus on
Darien, not on the paintings hanging around her. Suddenly it occurred
to her that Darien had followed her here, and she had no clue as to why.
There was no way he could know what she was planning. Only she and
David knew...
"I noticed you in the ballroom, and when I looked in your
direction, you fled as though the hounds of hell were after you." He
commented, as though reading her mind.
Serena whipped around to face him, causing the skirt to flip,
revealing her long, slender legs.
Darien shoved himself off wall so that he was standing straight.
Standing upright, Darien seemed to tower over Serena, despite her own
incredible height. Unnerved by the man she had just met, Serena turned
and continued along the wall of the room, her eyes scanning each picture
in turn. Darien followed her as she examined each painting. Serena
tried to ignore him, but Darien had a presence that demanded attention.
Serena glanced at him, and found that he was studying her with his deep
blue eyes. She found she wanted to blush under his gaze, but wouldn't
allow herself to.
"You seem rather found of art." Darien commented. Serena nodded.
"My mother worked part time as an art curator." She told him,
turning far enough to glance at him again.
"And your father?" He asked, curious about any information this
woman was willing to reveal. Although he didn't want to admit it, he
found her vaguely intriguing.
"He ran a newspaper, he was the editor." Serena told him, with
a fond smile. Serena loved her father dearly, despite his over anxious
behaviour where his daughter was concerned.
"You seem very close to your parents." He smiled wistfully.
"Do you and your parents not get along?" She asked, curious at
the man behind the mask, so to speak.
"I never really knew my parents. They died when I was very
young." He told her, surprising himself at being so open with a woman
he barely knew. A woman whose name he didn't know.
"I'm terribly sorry for your loss, Mr. Shields." And Serena
genuinely was. If anything had happened to her parents, Serena would
never have made it on her own.
"What's past is past, Miss...?" He raised an inquisitive eyebrow.
"Tsukino. Serena Tsukino." Serena offered her hand in way of
introduction, and Darien took it, bringing it to his lips for a soft
kiss.
Startled, Serena almost jerked her hand back. As his lips
brushed her skin, tiny tingles seemed to run up and down her arm.
Darien himself seemed startled as well, but masked the shock well.
"You must be new, and the one causing all the worry back in
the ballroom." Darien commented.
"Trouble? What do you mean?" Serena asked, alarmed. Darien
chuckled.
"They think you are going to steal the hearts of all the
eligible young men. Those women want to get their daughters married
off, you know." He told her. Serena laughed, somewhat in relief.
"I don't intend to marry just anyone." She told him.
"Oh? And who do you intend to marry?" He asked.
"I want someone who will sweep me off my feet with romance and
love." She replied, telling him the ideals she never even told David.
David....
Even her wonderful fiancé didn't stir the feelings she had
dreamed the man she would love would. He was a sweet, gentle man,
whom she loved dearly, but he wasn't... passionate, and impulsive.
Standing in the art room, alone with Darien Shields, Serena
began to doubt her engagement, and she began to doubt David. Simple
David, who was nothing like Darien. Darien Shields who made her heart
flutter with a look, or a brush of his lips.
Serena turned away from Darien, and her thoughts. She would
try to figure everything out once she was home, away from Darien and
the emotions he caused in her.
"Romance and love…. What an ideal." Darien smiled slightly.
"What do you mean ideal?" She asked, turning back to the painting
before her. It was another piece by Lonnie Lanai.
"It's an ideal, Miss Tsukino. There is no such thing as true love
and romance. Everything is based on an ulterior motive." Darien told
her.
"Not true!" Serena exclaimed.
"I'm sorry to disillusion you, but it is true. The majority of
those women out there are looking for a man who will support them in the
same lifestyle daddy did. They claim to love the man, but they only
love his wallet."
"What an awful idea! I don't believe that for an instant." Serena
told him.
"Are you saying you would marry a poor man over a rich man?"
Darien asked. He looked at her with one eyebrow cocked.
"I would marry a man based on my feelings for him, and his
feelings for me. Not money. Money is irrelevant."
"But love does not exist."
"It does! Take this painting for example. It's another one by
Lanai. It speaks great volumes of love and passion. Those two love
each other so much, its almost as thought they would die to be
together..."
Serena's voice softened as she spoke. She continued to gaze at
the painting, while Darien studied her.
"I guess your right…" He relented. "They do seem happy."
"Mmm…" Serena didn't know what to say. She wasn't sure what
Darien was really thinking, so she decided to keep quiet until he
spoke.
"It's certainly been interesting, Miss Tsukino-" Darien began.
"Serena, please." She interrupted him.
"Alright, Serena, but I do have to return to the ball room.
Andrew will be looking for me, and I did promise Mina a dance. Shall
I escort you?" Darien asked.
"No thank you. I'm sure I can find my way back." Serena replied.
"Very well. Perhaps we will run into each other again."
"I certainly hope so." Serena smiled. With a final nod, Darien
turned and left the room as quietly as he had entered it. As soon as he
was gone from sight, Serena fled to one of the small balconies leading
from the room. She sucked in the cool night air, trying to calm her
frazzled nerves.
"Oh David... What had I gotten myself into?" She asked the
silent night sky. Darien was nothing like she had expected. If he
had been the heartless, cruel business tycoon all the papers made him
out to be, stealing his money wouldn't have been so hard. But Darien
was a man, a real man, who had revealed part of himself to her tonight.
And had set a part of her on fire. Despite what Serena wanted to
believe, a brush of his lips sent more electricity through her than
David's most passionate kiss. Sighing, Serena turned back inside,
deciding that her work was done. She had made an impression on Darien,
and now she would have to wait.
"Miss Tsukino!" A voice called as Serena was almost at the door.
She turned to see Andrew Furuhata waving her over. Pasting on a smile,
she headed in his direction.
"Hello." She greeted.
"I don't believe you've met my beautiful wife Mina. Mina, this
is Serena Tsukino." Andrew made the introductions.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Furuhata." Serena shook the
proffered hand.
"Oh, please! Call me Mina." The lady smiled. "You know, we
look an awful lot alike. You aren't, by chance, my long lost sister,
are you?"
Serena laughed.
"No, I don't believe I am."
Just then, another person joined their small circle. Andrew
smiled at the newcomer.
"Have you had a chance to meet Darien Shields yet?" Andrew asked.
Darien smiled at Serena and answered in her place.
"Serena and I ran into each other earlier this evening, in your
art gallery." Darien replied.
"Oh! Did you like it? Andrew's always telling me how useless
the art is, but I love it so." Mina exclaimed.
"It was a lovely collection, Mina. I really adored it." Serena
smiled at the sweet woman.
"I'm so glad."
"Perhaps, Serena, you would be willing to dance with me now?"
Darien asked, surprising Serena. She turned to him, with a look of
shock on her face, and nodded slightly. Darien took her hand and led
her towards the dancing floor.
"Do you know how to dance?" Darien asked quietly in her ear as
he pulled her against him.
"Of course." Serena replied, barely able to speak. The feel of
Darien's body pressed tightly against hers as he whirled her around the
room was almost more than she could bare. The pair danced in silence
for a while, before Darien spoke again.
"You dance well." He commented.
"Thank you."
"You intrigue me, Serena." Darien whispered in her ear. "Tell
me about yourself. What do you do for a living?"
"I'm studying to be an English teacher." Serena told him. "I
want to teach at a high school level."
"Only studying? How old are you?" He asked.
"Twenty two." Serena replied. "And yourself?"
"I run a few businesses, here and there. And I'm twenty eight."
He replied.
"A good age to marry." Serena commented.
"Are you hinting at something?" Darien asked, chuckling at
Serena's blush.
"Of course not!" She exclaimed, suddenly wishing for the song
to be over so she could leave Darien's arms. Despite the feelings of
warmth and security, she wanted to be as far away from the man as
possible.
It seemed eternity before the music slowed and Darien released her.
She pulled away almost too quickly, barely remembering to mutter her
thanks before disappearing into the clusters of people.
"Are you leaving already, Serena?" Mina asked as she saw the
young blond heading towards the exit.
"Yes, I'm afraid I am." Serena replied. "I have a class
tomorrow morning, and I need to be well rested."
"A class? What are you studying?" Mina asked.
"English." Serena replied, with a polite smile. She was
anxious to be out of the house, and wished Mina would just shut up
and let her go.
"How wonderful! Are you going to teach once you are done?"
"I hope to." Serena replied.
"That's quite fabulous. Well, I supposed I should let you go,
but you must join us for brunch. Tomorrow! What time are you finished
your classes?" Mina asked.
"My class runs until ten thirty."
"Wonderful! Then we can expect you for eleven or so?" Mina
asked.
"Oh, I really couldn't impose…" Serena began.
"Not at all!" Mina interrupted. "I insist. We'll see you then!"
Mina turned and bustled away in a flurry of gold hair and
blue silk. Sighing, Serena turned as well, and headed towards the exit.
She hadn't meant for innocent people to be involved in her little plot.
She just hoped no one got hurt.
The end of part one. What did everyone think? Let me know! Should I
continue it? Again, thanks to Klutz, Miaka, Serena Moon and Antigone,
who replied to the prologue. Special thanks to everyone else who
replied, whose name I couldn't remember off the top of my head who
replied as well ^_^
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geocities.com/minako_usa)