Darien Chiba lives in America, with his rich parents. He had always got whatever he wanted. To his friends he is stubborn and bossy. To his parents he is sweet and gentle.
Then on his birthday vacation to Japan he meets someone. Someone special... and she is the only one who knows of this spilt personality.
~~~
Gaia led Darien through the streets of Tokyo. His father, Damian right behind them. Gaia was happy. She had returned to her birth place from being gone for almost ten years. It was her son's 19 birthday and she wanted it to be very special. Although both Gaia and Damian were born in Tokyo, Darien was born in America. He had never visited it before and shared his mother's excitement.
Darien's friends and peers would think of him as a ruthless rich person. Stubborn and bossy. But to his parents he was a sweet, gentle guy, who always cared. Nobody knew of this split personality. They all just assumed he acted the same way.
Gaia led Darien to a neighborhood which he thought was very plain. Unlike the rich and fancy things he used to see back at his home. Gaia and Darmian stopped in front of a house. There eyes looked like two gleaming light bulbs showing how happy and excited they were.
"Mother, I thought we were going out to a restaurant for my birthday?" Darien asked Gaia.
"Yes we were Darien. But yesterday I looked up my best friend. And this is where she lives! So I thought we would celebrate your birthday with her and her family. If that is alright with you."
"Yes, Mother, it's quite alright." Gaia and Damian smiled at each other. They walked up to the front door of the house and rang the doorbell. Instantly it was opened by a women about as tall as Gaia. She had dark hair that matched her dark eyes.
"Gaia, Damian! You made it! Oh, come on in! Please!" The women said.
"Ikuko it is so good to see you!" Gaia said running up to her friend and hugged her. Wondering what was making all the noise Ikuko's husband Kenji came to see what was going on. He walked out and his eyes brightened up!
"Gaia, Damian! You're here." He said walking up to them. Ikuko led the three into the living room where a small boy about the age of 10 sat. He had brown hair and blue eyes. When he saw everyone walking in he instantly turned the t.v. off, which he was watching, and stood up.
"Gaia, Damian, I would like to introduce you to my son Shingo." Ikuko said.
"Hello! And I would like to introduce you to my son Darien." Darien put on a smile and nodded.
"We also have a daughter
named Usagi. She is your age Darien!" Ikuko said, "She is driving up from
the University she is at. She should be here any minute." The three adults
talked about what there life had become. Darien and Shingo stayed off to
the side bored. Shingo was too afraid to talk to the dark and tall stranger,
Darien just didn't want to talk to a puny kid. After awhile everybody heard
a car pull up into the driveway. They heard the door slam as the anonymous
stranger walked into
the house. Then at the doorway stood a petite girl. Her long blonde hair
followed gracefully behind her. Her blue eyes shined with happiness
as she put on a bright smile that showed perfect gleaming teeth.
"Usagi!" Shingo yelled. Jumping up to hug her sister. He nearly jumped on her which made her drop the bag she was carrying.
"Hello Shingo!" Usagi said with a giggle, "Since I know how much you like getting presents I got something for you in that bag." She gestured to the bag that she had dropped. Instantly Shingo let go of his sister and grabbed the bag running off. "Shingo you better come back with that. Not everything in there is yours." Usagi yelled to her brother. She looked to the way of her parents and the three people she didn't know. Her parents got up and greeted her. Happy to see her.
"Everyone this is our daughter Usagi. Usagi, this is Gaia, Damian, and their son Darien." Usagi's mother said. The three said hi. "Now why don't you go and get changed and then we will go out to celebrate Darien's birthday!" Usagi nodded and left. She walked up the stairs and turned left to her room. When she got in, it was just as she left it. It had pink wallpaper. And her bunny and moons bed cover was still there. Nothing had changed except the part that it seemed cleaner. Her mother probably never stopped cleaning it.
Usagi walked to her closet to pick out something to wear. Her eyes fell on a dark blue dress. She had bought the dress for her now ex-boyfriend right after she graduated from highschool. She wore the dress to his house so they could go to the graduation party together. He had asked her to it the night before. When she got there she was greeted by no one. Nobody was in the house. Her boyfriend was no where in sight.
Usagi picked up the dress and put it on. It still fit perfectly. The dress hugged her upper body and then flowed freely down to her knees. She then brushed her hair and put on a dab of make up and made her way down the stair. In the living room everyone was dressed up nicely. When they saw Usagi they all smiled except for Kenji. His mouth dropped. Everyone went out to the car . Kenji and Usagi were one of the last.
"Usagi! You can't wear that dress. It is too revealing!"
"Daddy! I am 19 years old. And isn't to revealing," Usagi said. She kissed her dad on the cheek and got into the car with everyone else.
In the car she sat
next to Darien. On the drive to the restaurant she took in his profile.
She just noticed at how attractive he seemed. She thought he was
very sweet and kind. While looking at him Darien's eyes flowed to meet
hers. She instantly looked the other way, slightly blushing.
At the restaurant
everyone piled out. The restaurant was a fancy and expensive place. At
the table everyone sat down. Usagi sat across from Darien. The adults talked,
while waiting for their food. Shingo and Usagi talked about her life at
the University. When there food arrived everyone grew silent. While eating
her food Usagi's gaze kept drifting back to Darien. Every time she was
greeted by him gazing at her. She always blushed and looked the other way.
After the meal ended Usagi excused herself and made her way to the restroom. She checked her makeup and hair. And then headed back to the table. When leaving the restroom she bumped into someone. Looking up she saw Darien.
"I am sorry Darien!" She said with a laugh.
"A sorry doesn't count! Next time watch where you're going!" Darien yelled and walked off. Usagi looked confused. She thought how could a person that she just saw and thought was sweet act so mean a minute later. Settling with the solution that the conversation at the table made him mad, Usagi made her way back to the table.
Eyeing the restrooms, Usagi saw Darien making his way back. She expected to see him mad and mean looking. Like she did when she bumped into him. But instead she saw a guy that looked like he was happy, with a sweet look in his eyes. Usagi was now again confused.
After awhile of talking everyone stood up to go home. When they piled in the car Usagi made sure she didn't sit next to the stranger that confused her. They made their way back to the house to sit down and talk more.
"I feel like some tea! Darien could you please get me some?" Gaia said. Darien stood up.
"Oh course mother." He said putting on a smile.
"Usagi, why don't you help Darien. Show him where all the stuff is." Ikuko said. She agreed and showed Darien into the kitchen. She showed him where the pot and tea mix were. And then looked back at him and saw he wasn't even moving.
"Well... what are you waiting for? Make the tea!" He said. Usagi drew back at his aggressiveness and started making the tea. She put the pot filled with water onto the stove to heat up. She then turned to face Darien, a look of confusion and anger on her face.
"What is up with you, Darien? I mean one second you were sweet, the next you're mean! What is the matter? Why do you have this spilt personality?" Usagi said.
"I do not have a split
personality!" Darien yelled. Fortunately not loud enough for the parents
to hear. Usagi was about to continue but the pot screamed saying the water
was boiling. Usagi poured the water into seven different cups. She then
mixed the tea mix into the water. Picking up the tray with the cups on
it Usagi turned around ready to head back. Suddenly Darien grabbed the
tray from her rather harshly and said, "I will take that!" and then headed
off.
Usagi followed his
footsteps back. Darien entered the living room all smiles. He put the tray
down and handed everyone there teacup. When Usagi sat down in her seat
Darien thrust the cup at her making some of the contents spill out. She
gasped while taking the cup. Usagi looked around hoping somebody noticed
what Darien did. Unfortunately nobody did. Usagi put her cup on the table
and got up a little whimper on her lips. She headed for her room. At the
stairs she looked behind her and saw that Darien was watching her a satisfied
look on his face.
Usagi raced to her room, slamming the door behind her.
~~~
The next morning Usagi got up and went downstair. She was dressed in her pink pajamas with a robe around her. In the kitchen she saw her mother and father up and still dressed in their pajamas. She went to the refrigerator and plucked out a apple. Eating it she went to the living room. To have found Gaia and Damian still there. They were eating and reading the newspaper. Shocked Usagi ran back to the kitchen.
"Gaia, Damian, and Darien are still here?" She asked.
"Yes they are. We stayed up so late talking we didn't want them to have to walk back to their hotel. So we let them spend the night." Ikuko said. Usagi ran out of the kitchen and up the stairs. At the top she ran smack hard into someone. Usagi nearly fell down the stairs, if it weren't for the handrail that she grabbed onto. Usagi regained her balance. She looked up into Darien's angry eyes.
"God why do you keep running into me! Like I said before watch where you are going! Next time I hope you fall down those stairs!" Darien yelled and walked off. Usagi just ignored him and walked to her own bedroom.
~~~
"Usagi! Gaia, Damian, Shingo, and you father and I are going to the store to shop. You stay here with Darien!" Ikuko yelled. Usagi heard what her mom said from her room. It took awhile to register what she just said. Finally realizing it she jumped up and ran to the driveway. She didn't want to be stuck in the house with Darien. At the driveway Usagi found out she was just a second late. They were already on moving down the street. She walked back up and into the house just to be greeted by Darien. As if he was reading her mind he said, "Look I am not at all happy about them leaving us here, together, like you. So to keep things simple why don't you just keep away from me. We wouldn't want you to run into me again." Darien said. Usagi turned red with anger.
"Look I didn't run into you. You ran into me. And anyway I am not the one with the split personality here!" Usagi yelled back. Before Darien could even respond, Usagi ran up to her room.
It was really late and still Usagi's and Darien's parents had not yet returned. Usagi, worried got up and went downstairs to the living room. She found Darien sitting on the couch watching t.v. He looked up with disgust when he saw her.
"What are you doing here?" he said.
"This is my house!" Usagi spat back. "Anyway I was worried. Our parents still haven't came back. I know my dad and doesn't like shopping this long even if it is for him self!"
"That's great!" Darien said shutting off the t.v. and standing up.
"What!"
"It gives me a reason to get out of this house fr..." Darien said before interrupted.
"Yea, that's a good idea. I will go with you! Wait here a sec." Usagi said dashing up the stairs to put on her shoes.
When she returned she found Darien was no where in sight. "He left without me! That arrogant beast!" Usagi said yelling and then dashed out the door to try and catch up with him! Still she saw no sight of him.
"Gosh! It's either he can run fast or he can walk fast!" Usagi said stopping to breath. She walked the rest of the way to the store.
Darien was along the aisles of the store looking for the familiar faces of his parents. He then saw a door that had no sign to it. He walked to the door thinking it led to another part of the store. He opened it and walked in. It was just a storage room. Suddenly the door slammed shut. Darien raced to the door and tried to open it. It apparently only opened from the outside. Darien banged and banged on the door hoping someone would open it only to be disappointed.
Usagi walked into the store. She looked around for both her parents and Darien. At first she found no one. Walking to the back of the store she heard banging noises. She walked up to the storage door and listened. She heard the banging noise again and then it stopped. She opened the door and walked in only to find Darien sitting at the other end of the room on a box.
"What are you doing in here?" Usagi asked.
"I got stuck in here and was trying to get out. Anyway what do you care?" Darien yelled back. Suddenly the door flew shut again. Usagi turned around in surprise.
"Great! Now I am stuck in the storage room again with you this time!" Darien yelled.
"Hey look! I am not as fond about this as you are!" Usagi just yelled back. She turned around and started screaming and banging on the door.
"It won't work. I already tried it. We are in the back of the store. Anyway you are giving me a headache with your screaming!" Darien said. Usagi was mad. She spun around and walked to Darien, giving him a big slap on the face. Darien stared at her. He was surprised the slap actually hurt.
"Look, Mr. Hot Shot, what is your problem. You act all sweet to your parents but then when they are not around you are mean! What is up with your split personality?!? I know you don't want to admit you have one! But can't you just at least be nice while we are stuck here."
"What are you talking about. You never have been tortured by anybody before! You probably never have had any real heart break!" Darien yelled back. Just then the memory of the graduation night came back to Usagi. It brought tears to her eyes. She sat down on a box and let the tears flow.
"Yes, yes I have had a real heart break," she said, her voice barley above a whisper. She looked up at Darien. His gaze soften and he looked down at her. Pleading with his eyes to tell him what happened.
"It was the night of my highschool graduation. I bought that navy blue dress just for the party afterward. I was going with my boyfriend, Jake. He was a sweet guy. He always said that he loved me. And I always said I loved him. He would talk about how we would get married and everything. After I was handed my diploma I raced home to get ready for the party. I put the dress on and my makeup, grabbed my purse and walked to his house. When I got there he just walked out the door. I started to walk to him but then another girl came out. He walked her down to his car arm in arm. And then before opening the passenger door for her, he kissed her! Kissed her! He replaced me without even telling me. I keep saying, that I didn't see him that night. That I never saw him at his house. I can't bare to think about what happened. So I made up a story to try and cheer me up." Usagi said. The tears still rolling down her cheeks. She looked up at Darien whose eyes were gleaming with understanding.
"I guess I misunderstood you." Darien said, his voice more soft.
"I guess you wondering
why I act so cruelly to people and so nice to my parents. When I was in
seventh grade you wouldn't say I was all that. I had glasses and braces
and no one really liked me. I had a couple of friends. At first I didn't
really care about it. Then one day, the most beautiful and popular girl
named, Cathy, came to me and asked me out. I mean me! We went out and everything.
We did homework together and stuff. Then I found out later that she was
only dating me because I was smart. I soon realized that I was the one
who did all the homework when we were doing homework. She just stood by
the side pretending to be doing it. I was heart broken. I never told anyone
that. Then in highschool I wore contacts and I didn't have my braces and
you would say I was rather attractive. All the girls were goo goo for me.
I dated a lot of them. But then after awhile I soon found out that they
were interested in the way I look. They were interested with my money.
I also never told anyone that. I never told my parents either. My parents
they were so nice to me. They always found time for me. So since my third
year in highschool I treated every single person cruelly! And then I treated
my parents nicely. Soon after awhile I just got used to it and it just
came naturally!" Darien said finishing up his story.
"Oh wow. I guess we
are in the same boat, huh?" Usagi said.
"Yea! I guess we are. Hey sorry for being so mean! I guess I acted like a real jerk!" Usagi got up and walked to him.
"No! You have just been tormented that's all. I would say that you just don't trust anybody. That's your problem." Darien looked into Usagi's eyes. He understood her and knew she was right. Without even thinking Darien reached up pulling Usagi toward him. Until there lips met. Darien kissed Usagi with all that she was worth for and was surprised when she responded.
Suddenly light filled the room and the couple heard someone's voice.
"Hey what are you kids doing here. The stores closed ya know!" Darien and Usagi looked up. Usagi stood up, followed by Darien. Both had a blush on there face.
"Sorry Sir!" Darien said and ran out with Usagi right behind him. Usagi and Darien walked back to the house hand in hand. When they got there they were greeted with hugs and kisses from there parents. They both just noticed how long they were trapped in the storage room.
~~~
Usagi and Darien both said bye to each other. While Gaia and Damian were saying bye to Kenji and Ikuko. Usagi and Darien both promised to write to each other. Then the intercom sounded.
"All Passengers boarding flight I18 to America please board now!" Darien and Usagi hugged once more. Before Darien left to catch up with his parents he planted a soft kiss on Usagi's lips. Usagi joined her mother and father who both were smiling at her. They watched Gaia, Damian, and Darien board the plane. Usagi wasn't the least bit sad that Darien was leaving. She knew that in the future she would hold a life with Darien right beside her.