Never Look Back - Three
Usagi-chan
Usagi@tuxedomask.com
I don't own Sailormoon or anything pertaining to.

~~~

The next morning, Serena woke bright and early.  She stretched lazily in
bed and glanced around.  She was extremely comfortable, a drastic change
from the orphanage.  Slowly, she sat up in bed and pushed the covers 
off.  Her feet touched the plush carpeting and Serena stood up.  Stretching
again, she looked at the clothes that Darien had lent her the night before.
Among them was a white tank top, and a pair of blue jeans.

Serena pulled on the jeans and tank top.  Looking at herself in the mirror,
she laughed.  The clothes were way to big on her.  Taking them off, she 
put on the dress shirt again and her own black jeans.  

"Better." She nodded before brushing her hair.  Once she had finished, she
opened her door and headed down the stairs.

Serena could smell something cooking, and followed her nose to the kitchen.
She pushed open the kitchen and was greeted by the site of an unfamiliar man.
The cook was tall, with long brownish red hair.  His eyes were green and he
was singing to himself.  Serena cleared her throat and the singing stopped.
The man turned too look at her.

"Oh.  Hello there!  You must be Serena.  I'm Nathan." The cook said.  Serena 
nodded.

"Can I get you anything?" Nathan asked.

"No.  I'll just grab a glass of orange juice." Serena glanced at the clock.
"Do you when Darien will be getting up?" 

"He was down here about an hour ago.  He went into his study.  I'm sure
you'll find him there." Nathan said, handing her a glass of orange juice.

"Thanks, I could have done that myself."

"Yes, but I'm getting paid to do it." Nathan told her, laughing.  Serena
smiled lightly.

"Where is his study?" 

"Whose study?" Another voice asked.  Serena turned, only to find herself face to 
face with Darien.

"Yours." She said, stepping away from the two men.  She sat at the table and 
drank her juice.

"Are you ready?" Darien asked, once she had set her glass on the table.

"Yes.  Where exactly are we going?" Serena asked.

"Those boutiques along Cherry Hill." Darien told her.  Serena looked at
him incredulously.

"And do you know the prices in those places?" She asked.

"That's not an issue." Darien told her, leading her out of the kitchen.

"Not an issue?  I will not shop in those stores!" Serena told him.  Darien 
turned to her and laughed.  

"Fine, give me your sizes and I'll shop for you." Darien told her.  Serena 
glanced down at what he was wearing.  Dressed casually, Darien had on a pair 
of black khakis and a blue dress shirt.  She was sure that if he did select
her clothes, she would be quite stylish, but not herself.

"That's okay." Serena muttered, following Darien to the front hall.  Slipping
on her shoes, Serena opened the front door.  In front of the house was a black
limosine.  Serena raised an eyebrow.

"Parking down there is awful.  Come on." Darien ushered Serena out of the house
and shut the door behind them.  He opened the door and helped Serena into the
car, before getting in himself and shutting the door.  The car began to move
without a word passed between Darien and the driver.

As they turnd onto Cherry Hill, the car slowed to a stop in front of the Hikawa
Shrine.  Serena raised an eyebrow at Darien.

"A dear friend of mine lives here.  She and I were more or less raised together.
She's your age." Dariend explained.  A raven haired girl opened the door and 
slid in.

"Hi Darien.  Hi Serena." She said, smiling.

"Serena, this is Raye." Darien introduced.

"Hi." Serena said, blandly.

Raye didn't seem to notice.  The car continued along Cherry Hill until it reached 
the first of the long stretch of boutiques.  Raye, Darien and Serena got out.  

"Where would you like to start?" Darien asked.

"It's up to you." Serena replied.  Darien looked at Raye who led the way into the 
first store.

"What exactly are you looking for?" Raye asked Serena, who shrugged.

"I don't know.  Clothes?"  Raye rolled her eyes.

"Formal?  Casual?  School clothes?" Raye asked.

"Yes." Darien replied.  Raye laughed.

"Yes to which?" 

"To all of them.

"I don't need that much clothing you know." Serena told them.

"Don't you like shopping?" Darien asked her.  This time it was Serena's turn
to roll her eyes.  She glanced around and her eyes fell on a gorgeous blue skirt.  
She picked it up and looked at it, her hand automatically reaching for the price 
tag.  Darien caught her hand before she could see the price.

"Forget it.  Just take what you like." He told her.  Serena held the skirt up
to herself and turned to where Darien and Raye stood.

"What do you think?" she asked.  

"I like it." Raye told her, nodding.  "It suits your eyes.  Oh!  And I saw
the cutest little top that would go with that next door."

"Is this one your size?" Darien asked.  Serena nodded and Darien took the skirt 
from her.  

"Come on Serena.  There are some nice summer dresses over here." Raye grabbed
Serena's hand and pulled her over to the far corner of the store.  Serena began
to peruse the dresses, while Raye stood watching.  As discreetly as possible, Raye
began to look at Darien.  Quietly, Serena looked at her and spoke.

"You are in love with him."  

Raye, albeit startled, remained silent.  She looked at Serena for a minute before
speaking.

"You are very intuitive."  Serena shrugged.

"Sometimes.  Depends." Serena lifted a short white dress from the rack.  "What do
you think?"

"Perfect." Raye smiled.  "I also like that pink one."

Raye handed Serena a pale pink sundress, with tiny roses embroided all over it.  
Serena took it and held it up to herself as she stood in front of the mirror.

"I like this a lot." She said.  Darien came up behind to two girls and took both
dresses from Serena as she was comparing them.

"Hey!" Serena exclaimed.  "I don't know which one I want yet."

"Then get both.  I'll go pay for these and you two can start next door, okay?" Darien
said.  

"Gotcha!" Raye smiled and led Serena out the store and into the next.  

The three spent the day traipsing through store after store, stopping only 
for lunch in a small French restaurant.  Finally, as the stores were starting
to close, Darien pulled out his compact cellular phone and called for the 
car.  Loaded down with packages, boxes and bags, the three were happy to 
pile into the limosine for the brief ride home.

~~~