DESTINY'S PAST
By Princess Destiny 
[ princessdestiny@hotmail.com ]
 
***
Chapter One
***
It'd started out so well that day. Serena got a 45, which-though admitting
 it was bad for most-was quite good for a certain blonde. A blonde who had 
studied with the help of her cat. ["Which would have mom carting me to 
therapy, if I told her HOW I got the grade"] She mused silently. Lunch was 
great with Amy and Lita. Miss Haruna had even skipped giving Serena a 
double detention for being late. Thanks to her newest boyfriend, Steven. 
She should have KNOWN the day would have a bad end. And it did. In the 
form of one Darian Chiba.

Serena glared up at him now, all these thoughts going through her head 
rapidly. "Great" She muttered. Of course, she HAD to bash into him, of all 
the men in Tokyo. Now, being spiraled on the pavement before him, she felt 
a truly rational anger. How dare he ruin her day-by just being there. 
What, did he follow her around or something. Like clock-work, every single 
day, she crashed into his chest.

"Great going Meatball Head" Darian said in annoyance.

Serena's glare increased as it became apparent that he was not going to 
help her up from the ground. She quickly scrambled to her feet herself, 
keeping anger in check. After all, she sort of had expected this 
encounter. "And can't you say anything original, jerk? Meatball Head is 
getting a little old, don't you think?" She said testily, brushing the 
dirt from her skirt carefully.

He laughed low, the sound sending shivers along her skin. It always had 
that-annoying affect on her. "But I LIKE Meatball Head. It's so apt" He 
mock-protested.

"Get a life, Chiba" She told him haughtily, stepping past and breezing 
down the sidewalk. She was about five feet from him when she sensed, 
rather than saw, him turn to follow her. She glanced behind, frowning. 
"What now?" She demanded as he fell in beside her.

Darian grinned. "I just happen to be heading for the Arcade myself"

Serena's eyebrows rose in disbelief. ["He couldn't do better than THAT?"] 
She questioned herself silently. ["He was heading in the other 
direction!"]

"So, how's school?" He asked her innocently.

"None of your business"

"Oh come on, I'm just making idle conversation" He coaxed.

She stared straight ahead sighing loudly. Serena made it very clear that 
she was suffering his company. Suddenly, she remembered her good grade. 
"As it do happens, I got a good grade in math today"

"Oh?" He questioned, incredulity in his tone. "That's a first"

"Oh shut up, Chiba" She snapped, incensed. "I got a 45 and I'm really 
proud-"

"A 45?!" Darian laughed mockingly.

Serena stopped dead, turning to face him. Her eyes blazed wrath. "Yes! And 
don't you dare make fun of it Darian Chiba! I studied very hard-"

"And FAILED" He taunted, grinning. He turned and continued on, leaving a 
fuming Serena standing there.

"Oooh! You are SO annoying, Darian!" She shouted after him. She paused, 
then ran after him quickly. She reached the Arcade just as he was entering 
the glass sliding doors. He looked back at her and smirked. Serena glared 
angrily and pushed past. But Darian apparently had been expecting 
something of the sort and when she pushed him, he pushed back. She fell 
back into the door, which chose that moment to slide shut. It pushed her 
rapidly back the way she had fallen. Serena shrieked and flailed wildly, 
loosing her balance. She had a moment to see Darian's startled eyes before 
she was flung bodily into him, sending them both crashing to the floor in 
a tangle of limbs.

Shoes came into her vision. Familiar. She followed up the grey trousers to 
a white apron and orange shirt and then to Andrew's grinning face. "I 
didn't know you two were such good friends" He said in amusement, 
motioning with one hand to Serena and Darian on the floor.

Serena realized how they looked, her on top of Darian on the floor. "Oh my 
head. Very funny Andrew" Darian groaned, touching the back of his head 
gingerly. he paused, looking at Serena pointedly. "You can get off of me 
any time now, Meatball Head"

"Ouch. Jerk!" She said, laying there a moment more. Her head was spinning 
and her shoulder hurt a little from the door. ["I KNEW it! I just knew if 
Darian came along my day was totaled!"] She thought in resignation, 
pushing herself up. She used Darian's chest as leverage. He groaned as she 
boosted herself up, grinning at Andrew in embarrassment.

"Hurricane Serena strikes again" Darian said teasingly, getting to his 
feet.

Serena stuck her nose in the air, flouncing off towards the games section.

"Exactly how did that happen?" Andrew asked, almost eagerly.

Darian gave him a scornful look. "You ask that? This is SERENA we're 
talking about here, Andrew!"

"Uh huh" Andrew said, walking his friend over to the bar. "What was it 
like?" He asked slyly.

"What?" Darian asked, perplexed. He slid into a chair before the counter, 
while Andrew went behind to pour a coffee. he slid the cup across the 
counter and waited until Darian had taken a mouthful before answering.

"Being crushed under the little Meatball Head! Did you enjoy it?"

Darian spat the coffee out, all over the counter. "WHAT?" he roared.

"Keep it down, you jerk!" Serena shouted in response. "Some of us are 
trying to win a game here!"

"Like you could ever win at a game, Meatball for brains" Darian said 
loudly, not turning. A fuming silence was his answer. He turned his 
attention back to a madly grinning Andrew. "Are you NUTS?" He exclaimed.

"Had you there, huh?" Andrew grinned wider, reaching into the sink for a 
cloth. He wiped the coffee from the counter quickly, eyes amused. "Sorry. 
Couldn't resist there, Dar"

"You know" Darian said as slyly as Andrew had a moment before. "Serena has 
a major crush on you"

"What?" Andrew's eyes flew up to Darian's, completely startled. "You have 
to be joking, she's just a kid"

"Love Scouts" Darian snorted, laughter in his deep blue eyes. He shook his 
head as he remembered Lita strangling him. Really, those girls WERE 
trippy!

"What was that?" Andrew demanded, eyes curious.

Darian smiled slowly, debating whether to tell Andrew of the length's 
Serena and Lita went to get his friend's attention.

"Hey Andrew" Serena's voice broke into his thoughts cheerfully. He turned 
his head to see her standing next to his chair. She completely ignored 
him, sliding into a chair. "Can I have a chocolate shake?"

"Coming right up"

Darian watched this exchange quietly. Then he watched as the blonde 
practically slurped the drink down in one gulp. "You know" He said 
conversationally. 'You're going to get a Meatball body to go with your 
Meatball Head"

"Have you been talking to Raye?" Serena demanded. Her eyes narrowed. "And 
don't CALL me that, you jerk!"

"Don't call me jerk then" He stated calmly.

"But you ARE. Right Andrew?" She appealed, looking at the guy.

He held his hands out, backing away. "Leave me out of this Serena. What 
can I say? He's my best friend"

"And MY worst enemy" She muttered.

"Ditto there...Meatball Head" Darian smiled at her charmingly.

"Why you-" She began. A beeping noise came from her bag. She frowned, then 
turned swiftly towards Andrew. "I have to go. Bye Andrew. Bye jerk!" She 
ran out of the [place.

"Since when did that Meatball Head have a beeper?" Darian demanded.

"Search me" Andrew said innocently. 

A moment later, Darian stiffened and leapt to his feet. "I uh-have to go!" 
He shouted, running quickly out the door.

Andrew looked after him, then picked up his cloth and wiped the bench 
slowly, thoughtfully. "Mmm. Bat signal"

***

"Oooh, my stomach hurts!" Sailor moon whined, clutching at her stomach as 
she ran. Having that milk shake was a definitely bad idea. 'I mean, how 
was I supposed to know Zoisite would pull something?!" She yelled out 
loud, sprinting over the roof-tops like a pro-despite her difficulties.

"Are you okay, Sailor Moon?" someone asked. 

She shrieked, immediately tripping over something. "Ugghhhh!"

Someone sighed, then she felt arms scoop her up. She blinked as the person 
ran with her, warmth enveloping her form. She already had a pretty good 
idea who it was. "Er-high Tuxedo Mask" She said weakly, clutching at his 
shoulder.

"Glad to be of service, of course" He said with a slightly sarcastic tone. 
"But don't you think you should tell me where the fight is?"

"Oh right. The fight. Umm-" She thought a moment, trying to ignore the 
feeling of his arms around her, she pressed firmly to his chest. "The 
park!"

"Why AM I not surprised? Can't Nephrite pick another spot?" He muttered.

Sailor Moon stared at him as Tuxedo Mask leapt to the next building, then 
down to the ground level. He put her onto her own feet, rushing ahead. She 
scrambled after him, wondering what he was so irritated about. ["It's not 
like him at all"]

"Come on, Sailor Moon" He said, exasperated. He reached back a gloved hand 
and yanked her forward. She kept her balance with difficulty. "Are you 
meant to-I don't know-" She flapped a hand about expressively. "Appear at 
the last moment....Say a speech?"

"Speeches are your forte" He said curtly, flinging her forward ahead of 
her. Sailor Moon came face-to-face with sailor Mars.

"Where have you been?" The Scout demanded. She saw Tuxedo Mask and seemed 
astonished. "Umm, Tuxedo Mask-"

"Later. The monster?" Tuxedo said impatiently.

"Mercury Bubbles Blast" 

The area was filled with fog. Sailor Moon's eyes narrowed, forgetting Mars 
and her caped hero. She saw a monster ahead, with the usual ugliness that 
came with it. This one had tentacles. "Eww. Gross" She said, creeping 
forward.

"Mars Fireballs Blast!"

"Moon Tiara-Arrgghhhh!" Sailor Moon's words gurgled off into surprise as 
the monster loomed in front of her, drooling. She blinked, totally 
grossed-out.

"Sailor Moon!" Tuxedo Mask called out.

"Give me your energy-then die!" The monster growled. Sailor Moon fell back 
onto her butt, eyes wide. The monster advanced, tentacles shooting out. 
"Arrgghhh!"

For the second time that day, warm arms came about her and Sailor Moon was 
swept away from harm. She smiled readily, pressing her face against his 
cloak. "Tuxedo Mask, you saved me"

"You know Sailor Moon, you really have to work on your technique" He 
growled at her. Tuxedo landed, placing her firmly on her own feet.

She gaped at him. "What?!"

Sailor Moon, your tiara!" Mars yelled.

Sailor Moon blinked at Tuxedo Mask, then Mars and drew her tiara off. 
"Moon Tiara Magic" The Monster was dusted. Just before she turned back to 
Tuxedo Mask she heard him mutter something.

"Sorry, someone irritated me. Gotta go" Then he was gone. She looked at 
the ground. "Way weird"

The sound of clapping filled the clearing. The Scouts looked up to see 
Nephrite floating there. He smiled. "Maybe next time" He commented, 
leaving in a swirl of green light.

"Ooh, that creep. I'd like to bash him out!" Sailor Jupiter growled, 
clenching her hands together.

"Ditto on that" Mars yawned, then grinned sheepishly at them all. "Sorry. 
I had a long night"

"Yeah" Sailor Moon frowned. It was strange, that Nephrite had attacked 
only the night before. A least, they THOUGHT it was him. Not that they had 
seen him, just a monster. A quickly dispatched monster.

Sailor Mars looked around. "Where's Tuxedo Mask-or should I ask? He always 
disappears like that" She complained.

The girls all looked around, then de-transformed when they saw the coast 
was clear. Raye yawned again and turned to leave. "I'm going back to the 
Temple, guys. Remember the Scout meeting tomorrow. Don't be late Meatball 
Head!"

"I won't!" Serena shouted back, sticking her tongue out at her friend's 
back.

Amy left next, mumbling something about only being three Chapters ahead.

Lita and Serena looked at each other. "Was it my imagination, or was Tuxie 
a little testy today?" The brunette asked curiously.

Serena shrugged, wondering herself. "He said someone had irritated him" 
The blonde smiled. "Anyway, I'm heading back to Andrews to catch a few 
games before home"

"Okay, see you at School tomorrow, Serena" Lita waved, then jogged off.

Serena checked her watch, eyes widening in panic. "Oh no! I only have 40 
minutes. Outta my way!" She yelled to no one, charging out of the park and 
down the sidewalk.

A meter from the Arcade, she bashed head-first into something solid. They 
both went down, her on top. ["Darian....Right?"] She groaned mentally.

"Great going Meatball Head!" He groaned from under her. "Twice in one day. 
Unbelievable" He pushed her off of him, standing up.

Serena followed more slowly, she was having a BAD day! "Jerk" She 
muttered, stalking ahead of him into the Arcade. She headed straight for 
the counter, sitting down and laying her head in her hands.

Andrew looked up at her approach, eyes wide. He saw Darian follow slowly 
and copy Serena's movements, head in hands wearily. He stared at them 
both. "A bad day?"

Serena murmured something.

Darian just growled.

"A shake Serena? Coffee Darian?"

There were two nods. Andrew got the required items and slid them in front 
of the blonde and his best friend. Serena picked up the straw and fiddled 
with it meditatively.

"Thanks" Darian said, picking up his mug. 

Andrew watched with amazement as his friend chugged the strong brew down 
in one go.

Serena yawned, taking a slight sip.

"What is with you two? You went out fine and come back looking like you've 
been in a war"

Two pairs of startled blue eyes looked at him for a moment. Then Serena 
laughed nervously. "Don't be silly Andrew"

"The only battle Serena could get into is with her homework" Darian said 
dryly. "IF she did it, that is"

"I do it-Sometimes" Serena said indignantly. "If Luna forces me. She 
should have more respect for a fighter for justice" She added more 
quietly.

"What was that?" Darian said sharply, eyes on her.

"Er-what?"" Serena said nervously, eyes wide.

Darian shook his head frowning. "Nothing Meatball Head"

"Oooh, jerk. Just don't TALK to me, okay?" She said furiously, turning 
back to her shake.

Andrew watched in amusement. "I know this is a bad time, but I need your 
help with something" he said.

"Oh?" Darian questioned. 

Andrew quickly poured another coffee and set the cup in front of Darian.

"What is it?" Serena asked eagerly.

Darian rolled his eyes. "ANYTHING he wants, I'm sure you'll be more than 
happy to do, eh Meatball Head?" He taunted.

Serena blushed red, glaring murder at her hated enemy. "Shut up, you" She 
muttered.

"Guys, a truce?" Andrew exclaimed.

"What was it you wanted, Andrew?" She asked him sweetly, smiling. "I'd be 
happy to help" She shot a look at Darian, who barely managed to restrain 
himself. A gasp escaped him, lips twitching.

"This" Andrew pulled a piece of paper from his back pocket, thrusting it 
under Serena and Darian's noses. 

Darian moved closer to get a look, snatching it from his friend's hand as 
Serena reached for it. He frowned. "A play?" Darian questioned, 
bewildered.

Serena squealed, snatching the paper from Darian's hand. "Oooh! I love 
plays!" She exclaimed excitedly. She looked up, frowning slightly. "What 
has this got to do with me though?"

"Both of you" Andrew explained., He grinned. "It's a fund-raiser for the 
hospital. All the stores around here are chipping in. The famous artist 
Loni Lonni wrote a play and they're having a contest to see who plays what 
part. If we do great, we get awarded $15,000 for the hospital! She's 
donating, but is adamant we do the play"

Darian frowned deeper at Andrew, eyes suspicious. "And?"

"And, as friends-" Andrew leaned closer, smiling appealingly. "I thought 
you might both want to enter to do a good deed"

"No way" Darian held out his hands, fending Andrew off. "Uh, uh!"

"I LOVE to!" Serena squealed. "The other girls will do it too"

"Come on, Dar. It's for charity! The hospital needs the funds" Andrew 
coaxed.

Darian sat in silence for a long moment. "Fine" he sighed. "I'll do it for 
the hospital"

"Eww! I have to try out with that jerk there?" Serena scrunched up her 
nose, staring pointedly at Darian as if he were a bug.

"I'm not thrilled about you either, Meatball Head. But it's for the 
hospital"

"Right" She bit her lip. "Just stay away from me!" She walked from the 
Arcade, head high.

Darian's hand curled around the piece of paper she had left behind. "Ditto 
Meatball Head!"

"Arrggghhh!" The shriek of annoyance could be head from outside, just 
before the doors slid shut.

"Do you guys have to fight ALL the time?" Andrew grinned. "You're like an 
old married couple"

Darian stared at him warningly, handing the paper back to Andrew. He got 
to his feet and stretched. "Don't even GO there, my friend" He turned to 
leave. "Meatball Head and I are like water and oil. They do NOT mix" 
Darian seemed a little confused as he said this, a weird look in his eyes.

Andrew sighed as his friend left. "More like petrol and a lit match. One 
little spark and poof-an explosion!" He shook his head, looking down at 
the flyer in his hand. "This had BETTER be a good idea to get them 
together. Nothing ELSE has worked" he smiled slyly. "It's just a matter of 
time"

***

To Be Continued...

***