Hiya again peeps! Just to let you know EB stands for 'Ego Boy'.  Once
again this will be a short series of fics pertaining to my all time fav
couple...Serena and Darien!!!  There's not really any
romance in it and there's definitely no action. hehe...but read it
anyways. Please? And please visit my site at http://ficmaze.cjb.net and
Neo Queen Serenity's at http://crystaltokyo.cjb.net  PLEASE
email about your comments and ::shivers:: criticisms...I'll accept those
too!! lol Much love to my imouto's, Violet Ice, SailorTwin, Cutie (aka
Gen Zelda)  Hoyden, Jlala, Alicia and my other online
family! you can see the site at the Animegals page at
http://www2.crosswinds.net/santa-barbara/~animegals/
 I'm Sailor Pluto!  ::gigglez:: everyone there is SO Incredibly sweet
and nice!!!!

Just because...part 3
By: Twilight
Editor: SailorTwin

     "Oh NO!!!! I'm late again!"  Running full speed out of her house,
Serena sped along the empty sidewalk praying Miss H. was in a good
mood. 'Oh, I hope she had a hot date last night.'  Too busy thinking
about getting to school, she turned around the corner and collided with
another body.  Falling forward she yelped as the person below her
broke her fall.  Quickly getting off the man (she assumed) she bumped
into, she frantically apologized,  hoping whoever it was wouldn't
be too angry at her. 'Good way to start the day.'

     Darien was walking to school and before he knew it, he was on the
ground with someone on top of him.  Glancing at the person above
him, he sighed. 'I should have known.' Shaking his head, he cracked a
smile as Serena quickly got off him and automatically started spewing
apologies.  'Doesn't she ever look up?'  He silently questioned,
amusement playing on his handsome features.
     "You know, Meatball Head,"  stopping her in the middle of her
apologetic tirade, she finally looked up to see the familiar face.  "It's
getting pretty old, meeting you like this...and don't
you ever look to see who you've bumped into, instead of just
apologizing over and over again?" Rolling her eyes she grabbed her
briefcase she dropped when she fell and stuck her tongue out at
him.
     "Oh shut up. Ego boy!!"  Looking at her watch, she let out another
piercing wail, "AAHHH!! Miss H. is for sure going to kill me!"
Temporarily forgetting about Darien she ran away like a lunatic
escaping from an asylum.  Dashing around another corner she quickly
stopped, glanced back at Darien and once again stuck her tongue out
at him before completely turning around.  The sound of Darien's rich
laughter could be heard fading behind her, making her smile.

     After class, Darien made his way to the small cafe next to the
arcade to say hello to Andrew.  Holding his books tightly at his side,
he grumbled inwardly at the thought of his English professor. 'Doesn't
he know the meaning of break?!'  Cursing the old man in his mind he
stopped short when he felt someone grab his free arm, making him
drop one of his books unnoticed.
     "Hey Darien!" An all too familiar voice cooed, "You wanna go out
tonight?"  The young girl with long black hair asked, clinging tightly
to him.
     "Uh....hi Raye."  Hesitating to answer, he looked around panicked.
He thought Raye was a sweet and very pretty girl but she just wasn't
his type and he didn't know how to tell her.  She scared him, kind
of....she was just so...so FORWARD.  Suddenly the sweetest voice he
had ever heard rang loud in his ears as a vision of beauty approached
them.
     "Hiya Raye!  What are you doing here?  I thought we had a study
session at your place?"  The young blond asked gracefully walking up
to them.
     "Huh?"  Still holding tightly to Darien's arm, she turned her head
to look at the new comer. "Oh, hi Serena.  No, I don't remember
having a session today, are you sure?"  Raye asked peering
closely at her.
     "What, really? Hmmm...I thought we did.  Oh well, anyway I think
Chad was looking for you.  I passed him heading towards the store,
mumbling something about replacing a....door?"
Serena said in a confused manner, tilting her head slightly.
     "NANI?!  I gotta go, maybe another time Darien!"  Raye yelled
hastily, making her way towards the temple.
     Darien smiled secretly as Serena cleverly made up an excuse for
him.  'Man, I have to thank her.'  Breathing a sigh of relief, he smiled
slightly, watching Raye run like crazy back to her house.  Bringing his
attention back to the beautiful girl before him, he smiled charmingly
but then frowned when he didn't see her.  Looking up and down the
street he found her slowly walking away, heading home he supposed.
Forming a rose he quickly caught up to her, calling her name.
     "Serena!"  Turning around,  she looked at Darien, slightly annoyed.
"I just wanted to say arigato."  Handing her the flower, she smiled as
she carefully took the rose from him.  "But," Suddenly he sounded like
the old Darien she was used to. "....it wasn't like I couldn't handle it
myself."  Walking proudly away, he tried to understand the emotions
welling up inside of him.  He didn't mean to be rude but she stirred
feelings in him he didn't know how to handle, and so he reverted back
to jerk mode.
     Serena watched, wide-eyed as Darien's form grew smaller and
smaller in the distance. 'I should have seen that one coming.' She
thought, curtly turning away from him.  Bringing the rose
to her nose, she smelled it's sweet scent, 'Still....the roses he always
gives me are the most beautiful I've ever seen.'
     "Excuse me, miss?"  A young man asked, walking up to her.  "I
believe you dropped this back there."  Handing her the book, he stared
at her for a moment before blushing and turning away.
     "Arigato."  Looking at the book in her hand, she briefly glanced at
the cover and noted that it wasn't hers. Opening it, she found a name
clearly written on the front page making her groan.  "And he
complains about me dropping things."  She mumbled to herself,
stuffing it in her briefcase.
     Skipping home, she immediately went up to her room and locked
herself inside.  Plopping down on the bed, she lazily looked up to the
ceiling with one arm resting on her forehead.  'I wish I knew who he
was.'  Last night, another youma had appeared but luckily for them it
was easy to defeat and was dusted in no time.  Tuxedo Mask didn't
help fight but she knew he was there, she could feel him, hidden
somewhere amongst the deep shadows of the night.  Closing her
glazed eyes, she happily pictured Tuxedo Mask in her mind and
sighed out dreamily.  Giggling to herself, she stopped when suddenly
his image melted away to be replaced with no one other than Darien.
Snapping her eyes open, she abruptly sat up in disbelief.  'Why did I
picture him?!'
     Glancing around her personally decorated room, she eyed her
briefcase lying on the floor near her door.  Standing, she walked over
to it remembering the small book she found.  Digging through her
briefcase she quickly found it, pulled it out and walked over to a small
cozy chair near her window.  Making herself comfortable, she finally
was able to look at the cover and read the title: Poetry.
     "Hmph...I didn't know he had a romantic bone in his body!" She
said smartly, opening the book.  Skimming through the many different
types of poems she suddenly had to the urge to
write one herself. 'Well, why not? It's not like anyone will read it.'
Grabbing a piece of paper and pencil she started to write, never
stopping till she was done.
~~~~~~~~~~
Stronger than you know, a bond that's unbreakable.
One's everywhere one goes, a relationship so stable.
A love that's so true, it's power is strong.
What would one do, if one was gone?
Together they stay, never to part.
And to their dismay, it's all from their hearts.
Two souls lost, but united as one.
There is no cost, when love is won.
Like a solid rock, their love is strong.
Like a ticking clock, that goes on and on.
Never to end, together they stay.
Each one they defend, in every way.
Like a dove, that soars up high,
it's one's true love, that shall never die.
          Serena Tsukino
~~~~~~~~~~
     Serena stared dumbfounded at the poem before her.  'Where did
that come from?!'  She wondered, unable to believe she actually wrote
it..  Honestly, she didn't think she had it in her.
     "Serena! Dinner's ready!!"  Ellen called from downstairs.
     "Coming!"  Folding the paper, she placed it in the book and set it
on the night stand beside her bed before leaving to eat.

     Serena lazily opened her worn eyes and groaned inwardly at the
thought of school.  Slowly sitting up, she threw the sheets off her body
to the floor which sent Luna flying.  Looking sheepishly, she
apologized giggling nervously bringing a hand up to her head.
     "Uhm...hehe....gomen Luna."
     "Sure you are!"  She grumbled, jumping back onto the bed and
falling fast asleep.
     "Serena, are you up yet?"  Ellen asked, knocking on her door, then
opening it. "Oh good.  Don't forget today is Tuesday."  She reminded,
popping her head through the cracked door before disappearing.
     Suddenly wide awake, Serena seemed to be full of energy and
bounded out her room, getting ready for school.

     "Finally."  Serena breathed, walking out of the school grounds, her
backpack slung loosely over her shoulder.  Glancing at her watch she
squeaked quietly and started running. 'I'm glad I changed at school.'
She thought, leaving for her destination.
     "Ahhh!!"  She suddenly screamed falling backwards.
"Ohhh....ouch."  Whimpering, she painfully stood up rubbing her sore
bottom.
     "Geez, Meatball Head!"  Darien huffed bending to pick up his
scattered papers, "Don't you ever look?! You're such a klutz!"
     Almost as if he had physically lashed out and struck her, she
flinched, stepping back.  He  might as well have, for his words stung,
deeply.  More so than anyone else she had ever known.
Not even her closest friends' own harsh words had ever hurt this much.
Blinking back oncoming tears, she quickly zipped open her backpack
and threw his book back to him on the ground.
     "Here.....you dropped this yesterday."  Quickly closing her
backpack, she turned and fled into a large white building a few blocks
away.
     Looking up, Darien watched with apologetic eyes as her form
disappeared, 'I shouldn't have  said that.' Picking up the last of his
belongings, he walked back home with a guilty conscience.  Passing
the mall he stopped, and found himself looking into a small jewelry
store's window display.  There, in the center of all the beautifully
designed and expensive rings sat one golden simple one.  A tinted red
rose extended slightly upward with dark green leaves stretching
from either side.  Staring at it, he recalled a time when he saw Serena
a few days back, standing in the exact same spot.

~Flashback~

     Darien sat idly under the shade of a large cherry blossom tree,
reading a book.  It was too beautiful a day to spend indoors.  Suddenly
having the feeling to look up, he saw Serena strolling across the street
by the mall.  He watched as she stopped at a few window displays
smiling; he could see it in the reflection.  Tilting his head a little, he
carefully closed his book and stood.  She had been standing in the
same place for a good 10 minutes now.  Having the urge to go to her,
he slowly walked up to the unsuspecting girl.  Standing behind her, he
looked to see what she was staring at and rolled his eyes upward when
he saw. 'Figures, she would be looking at expensive rings.'
     "Hey Meatball head!"  He said, grinning madly.
     "Ooohhhhh"  Turning around she stared defiantly at him, "Don't
call me that!"  She huffed staring back at the window and their
reflection, though trying not to.
     "You know you'll never be able to afford any of those because you
always spend your money eating and playing games.......And you
couldn't possibly have a boyfriend......”  He joked, chuckling at her
angry expression.
     "I KNOW that ego boy!"  Serena screamed, trying to hide how
deeply his remarks hurt her,
"You don't have to remind me."  Pausing for a second, she remained
quiet, appearing to be deep in thought, ".....and besides, I don't want
those expensive rings,"  She commented quietly, "I just like
the one with the rose."  Turning and walking away, she left Darien as
she walked into a building.
     All laughing ceased when he heard the low melodic tone Serena
was speaking in.  It sounded so unlike her, almost mature?  Stepping
closer to the encased jewelry, he nearly hit himself when he saw the
ring. It was beautiful and surprisingly.....cheaper than anything else
displayed. Glancing in the direction Serena left, he sighed and walked
back to the park.

~End Flashback~

     Blinking his eyes, he looked to the near distance and noticed it was
the same building she had entered before, when he realized that it was
the ice skating rink. ‘What would she be doing there?  She can hardly
walk, let alone ice-skate.'  Shaking his head, he headed back for his
apartment but accidentally bumped into someone.  'Great. I'm turning
into Serena' he thought dryly, picking up the book that he dropped.
     "What's this?"  He mumbled to himself, pulling out the folded
paper.  Slowly, he carefully stood, shoving the book back under his
arm.  Skimming over the poem, he noted it was very touching and
nearly choked when he saw who wrote it.  'I guess you never really
know a person.'  Cautiously, he folded the flimsy paper and placed it
in his pocket before walking through the glass doors.

The following Tuesday

     Darien waited impatiently around the corner where he and Serena
usually 'met.'  Looking around nervously, he fidgeted with the small
object in his pocket.  Pacing, unable to stand still, he pulled it out and
idly opened it.  Still looking intensely at the content of the box he
let out a startled yelp when he felt another body bump into his.
Quickly, he grasped tightly to the velvety box within his hand to make
sure he wouldn't lose it.
     Falling backwards to the hard pavement, he braced himself for the
inevitable impact but two small hands quickly grabbed onto his wrists.
Sighing with relief, he looked up to thank whoever saved him and was
a bit surprised to find it was Serena. 'I never knew she was that
strong.' He remarked to himself, curiously looking at her, 'I wonder
what else I don't know'  He pondered.
     "Uh....I have to go."  Serena stated, still angry at him from before
but blushing none the less.  Pushing her way past him, she stalked
away as quickly as she could.  She felt kind of bad for being so rude
but shook her head as she pushed back the guilty feeling. 'He deserves
it...for being so mean.'
     "Serena!"  Darien yelled from the same spot behind her.  Turning
around reluctantly, she gave him an exasperated look with her hands
resting on her hips.  Throwing the small box to her, he quickly turned
and walked away.
     Naturally, she easily caught the small object flying towards her.
Upon catching it, she looked up quickly when she realized what she
held.  Frowning a bit, she watched as Darien walked away, apparently
never intending to explain.  With shaky hands, she carefully opened
the soft box and let out an amazed gasp.  Looking up again, only this
time more eager, her bright blue eyes frantically sought to find Darien,
knowing he was long gone.   Staring, her eyes were fixated on the
beautiful ring. She blinked as it glistened brightly in the sun making
the crafted rose look real.  Gently plucking it from the velvet case, she
read the tiny note attached and smiled slightly. 'Just because'
Leisurely, she slipped the elegant ring onto her finger, a smile
illuminating her delicate face.  'Perfect fit.' Dazedly turning around,
she skipped the rest of the way to the rink, all angry
thoughts of Darien, diminished.

     Stepping out from behind the corner where he had hidden, he
smiled to himself as she happily skipped away.  Breathing a sigh of
relief, he leaned up against the brick wall, pleased at her
reaction.  Darien remained standing there until her petite figure
disappeared through the glass doors of the rink. Maybe some day he
would have enough courage to follow her, but that day was
yet to come. Turning on his heel,  he strolled home, whistling to
himself.

The End!!!
Well? Well?  What do you guys think? It's longer than the other
ones..but I couldn't cut it down and I didn't want to take anything out.
Gomen if it was boring...::looks at Jlala threateningly:: but I
tried.  The ring I wrote about is a ring I WANT!!! I saw it at the mall
here and nearly cried when I couldn't buy it! ::sniff sniff:: damn these
bills! ::poutz:: but I WILL...oh yes I WILL get that ring.
Anyone wanna give me a late birthday present? ::snickers:: Just
kidding.  Anyhoo....many arigato's to everyone who emailed me!!
SUKI DA YO guys SO much!!! Oh and a favor if you're
up to it ::blushes:: I wrote a story called 'How Strong is Our Love'
awhile back...my first story actually, and I was wondering if anyone
read the alternate ending to it? If someone has could you
please email me and tell me what you thought? I know it wasn't a
happy ending, but anyone??? ::begs:: oh yes and PLEASE feel FREE
to email me.....it's what helps keep me going, you
know?? :gigglez:   ~SmTwilight@aol.com~
*hugz n kisses*
Twilight