"When I Dream At Night" A Songfic by: Natia_99 Rated: G Set: First Season Disclaimer's: I can barely afford the mangas! siiiigh. Author's Notes: Here's another shorty while I avoid writing my hiiiiideous 12 page film history paper! zzzzzzzz. Who invented papers??? Send me the name of this person, and after I dust them (with my moon sceptre) I will reward you handsomely. ;p Thanks: Phew! So many people to thank! Lady Spring, Nikki, Alicia and Lady Starra and Lazuli and Mako-chan for posting me!!! And my buds Grace McMoon and Silver Bunny--read their fics minna! Bunny's new fic "Forget-Me-Not" is super kawaii!!!!! Song: The song this is based on is called "When I dream at Night" sung by Marc Anthony. It's a song about a woman he dreams about every night!!! siiigh, sooooo perfect for a fic, hope I did it justice!!! ^_~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~&~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@ ************************************************************** "I have been in love And been alone I have travelled over many miles to find a home. There's that little place inside of me That I never thought could take control of everything....." *************************************************************** "WHY am I doing this again?" Asked a young voice bitterly. The voice belonged to Serena Tsukino--aka Champion of Love and Justice Sailormoon--and was directed at her mother, currently engaged in buttoning up her daughter's beautiful silvery white ball gown. Ilene Tsukino sighed, "Because your father and I asked you. I'm surprised at you Serena! The last time your father got to go to a ball you were besides yourself wanting to go." Serena groaned. That was the D-Land Ball. ~Yeah, then I went in disguise, almost fell off a balcony, got punch-drunk and hazily recall my first kiss....with Tuxedo Mask...~ To her mother she simply sighed, "I was younger then Mom. It's going to be so boring! I bet no one my age will be there!" "That's not true--" Her father stuck his head in at that moment, "Almost ready?" Ilene smiled, stepping back, sighing with satisfaction, "Yup. Doesn't she look splendid?" Ken Tsukino regarded his beautiful young daughter with a smile. Silvery ball gown, flowers in her golden hair, "Just like a Princess." He admonished proudly. Serena just shrugged and headed for the door, "Thanks Dad." Ilene straigtened Ken's bowtie and fixed her own dress and hair before they headed out. Serena stared unseeing out the car window. ~How did I get roped into this?~ She thought again of the D-Land ball....the romantic kiss with Tuxedo Mask..... ~Yeah right! What are the chances of THAT ever happening again!~ (natia-chan: I'm glad you asked that question.....bwahahahahaha!) `````````````````````````````````````````````&````````````````````````````@ (enter one Darien Chiba....ahhh romance) Darien Chiba stood by his balcony staring at the moon, jeans and t-shirt rebelliously in place, praying his Supervisor at the Hospital would forget him. No such luck. BRRRRIIIINNNNGGG! Went the telephone. "Oh nooooo." Moaned Darien. "Hello?" He asked miserably, knowing full well who it was. "Daaaarrriiiieeeen! You haven't forgotten about the BALL have you??!!" "Of course not Mrs. Anderson." [defeated voice] "Oh good! It'll be SUCH a delight to have a handsome young man attend! And it's an excellent chance for you to bump elbows with the big names in medicine right now--since you want to be a doctor." The hint was obvious. But Darien was bitter. Once again his looks had roped him into something he didn't want to do. How did volunteering at the local hospital equal this disaster? "See you soon Mrs. Anderson." He hung up and sighed. ~Not a boring, stuffy ball. Anything but that!~ Old ladies fawning all over him.....a sudden vivid flashback of dancing with at least FIVE such women--in gaudy flamboyant jewels and lipstick made him shudder. He checked the clock. ~Whoa! Gotta book it!~ He transformed into Tuxedo Mask and discarded the cape and mask. A definite perk to having a secret identity--especially a dressy one! And then he was off.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~&~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@ Serena made her way to the punch table while her parents chatted with various important people. The ball was a total snore! Adults everywhere and no sweets!!! She sighed as she poured herself some punch. Could this get any worse? A quick sip of the punch answered in the affirmative as she nearly spat it across the table. This punch wasn't spiked, this alcohol had a little juice sprinkled over it! "Ewww!" She grimaced and left the full glass on the table. No WAY was she drinking, at a ball, ever again!!! She looked over and noticed there were a couple of young med students chatting in one corner. They were the closest people to her own age. One of them, a tall, sandy haired guy, caught a glimpse of her and headed over. Serena looked around to make sure it was in fact HER he was approaching.....it was!!! ````````````````````&`````````@ Darien breezed in at this moment and looked around the room, chatting with Mrs. Anderson and her various aquaitences with interest. He was in the middle of a great conversation with one of the top neuro-surgeon's in the country when he spotted her. She was turned away from him, near the punch table, silvery gown and golden hair making for a very lovely sight indeed. ~Hey, someone close to my age!~ He thought briefly. She seemed pretty...though oddly familiar somehow. He took a good look at her and realized, with a sudden shock, that she bore an uncanny resemblace to the mysterious Princess in his dreams...always calling out to him, begging him to bring her the silver imperium crystal. He moved to excuse himself and head over when she turned around and he nearly tripped over himself standing still. SERENA!!!!??? What on earth was the Meatballhead doing here? Dressed like a...like a Princess?! And not just any Princess....HIS PRINCESS!!! Had the Universe suddenly gone mad??!! ********************************************************************************* But now I just spend all my time With anyone that makes me feel the way she does. Cause I only feel alive When I dream at night Even though she's not real it's alright Cause I only feel alive When I dream at night Every move that she makes holds my eyes... ********************************************************************************* Worse still was when he saw a sandy haired med student making his way towards her with an unmistakable look on his face. He watched with barely contained violence as he chatted her up and noted with simultaneous satisfaction and concern that she was totally uncomfortable with his flirting. The sandy haired soon-to-be-pounded-med-student as Darien had already mentally nick-named him, put a hand on her shoulder and she backed away a little. Darien's eyes narrowed and he excused himself from the conversation he'd been ignoring for some time now, to go pummel the afore-mentioned creep into oblivion before he touched her again.... But neither he, nor the creep ever got a chance for Mrs. Anderson suddenly picked up the micro phone and held it too close to the stage speaker....causing an ear shattering feedback to pierce the air....silencing everyone in the room. "Oops, sorry about that!" She gushed, "Well, I am the Medical Supervisor Vivian Anderson, and I would just like to thank you all for coming to this benefit ball! As you know it's supporting a great cause, and it's a wonderful opportunity for both sides of the Medical Profession to meet! I trust everyone is having a good time?" Everyone clapped and cheered a little. Darien turned his gaze back to Serena and noticed the sandy haired student still standing beside her. He bit back a growl. But as Serena leaned forward a bit, her dress swishing lightly, her hair trailing behind her, flowers crowning it....he caught his breath, his rage forgotten. What did it mean? She looked just like the Princess in his dreams....and not just that dress....the hair, the slightly melancholy look on her face.... *************************************************************************************** And I fall for her.....everytime..... *************************************************************************************** "We'd like to start the night off with a bang, so we have a bit of a spontaneous proposal!" Mrs. Anderson's over-cheery voice broke into his thoughts. "We don't have a lot of young people here tonight, but we do have one beautiful young lady and several young men...." He watched Serena look wildly about and then pale terribly. He could almost SEE her thoughts written across her face. ~She doesn't mean ME does she? Oh no....~ Mrs. Anderson gestured for Serena to come forward and yanked her on stage, "In the spirit of the benefit tonight, how about a silent auction....for a kiss from the young lady?" Now Darien paled....though not nearly as much as Serena did. The only other sound that caught his attention was the muffled outrage of a man--obviously Serena's father--being held back by a frantic woman--probably Serena's mother. His eyes went from her parents, to her own fearful face, to the suddenly smug face of the sandy haired med student now winking obnoxiously at her. Darien made a snap decision at that moment, without so much as a second thought. He waited just out of sight while everyone went up and bid, the sandy haired creep last, and THEN he went up and bid the highest. ~Poor Serena....she hates me...but not as much as that creep I think.~ All was quiet as Mrs. Anderson tallyed up the results, "We have a winner folks! Could a Mr. D. Chiba come up and collect his prize?" Again Ken Tsukino had to be held back by Ilene. Serena stood trembling in her ball gown. How had she gotten herself in this mess?? And who was D. Chiba? Not that horrid Med student she prayed, she'd never caught his name (much like she'd never caught Darien's last name *natia giggles wickedly*) ANYONE but him. Wish granted. Darien stepped onto the stage, wincing at the thought of her reaction. He couldn't cover his ears in front of such a big crowd so there was no help for the piercing of his eardrums when she spotted him. "DARIEN????!!!!" She cried in complete surprise. Her mind reeling. She could not have looked more surprise if cold water had been dashed suddenly on her. ~What is he doing here...in a Tuxedo....paying to kiss me???!!!~ He made a bit of a pained face at the volume of her voice and walked across the stage to meet her. His legs suddenly felt unsteady, his throat dry. Never in a thousand years, would he have imagined himself kissing Serena, on a stage, at a ball......wait....why did this seem....like something he'd forgotten....??? He focused on her pale face and saw the mix of emotions in her eyes....shock, distress and...fear? ~Kami-sama, what if this is her first kiss?~ He thought with guilt. (note: In case you haven't caught on by now, Darien doesn't remember the D-Land ball *wink* ahhh, the endless manipulative power of authors!! bwaahahahahaha) He vowed to try and make it nice, rather than just give her a quick, impersonal peck....that wasn't how anyone's first kiss should be... He came closer and closer and she grew paler and paler..... ~I should say something....anything....!~ He thought wildly. **************************************************************************************** I've so many things I want to say I'll be ready when the perfect moment comes my way.... **************************************************************************************** Here was the girl he constantly ran into, couldn't figure out, always found himself reacting strangely to.....and the very vision of the Princess of his dreams..... But at that moment, he saw only a trembling young girl.....afraid and most likely horrified to kiss him....to waste her first kiss on him....but he'd make it count....somehow.. "C'mere Meatballhead." He said quietly as he swung an arm around her and pulled her into a kiss. Not a short, light kiss, but not a deep, passionate one either....something inbetween. In the brief moment he had her lips Darien was careful to be tender and gentle...with just a hint of persistence....but something about the sensation startled him....like deja vu...like a soul's memory....as they pulled away, just for a moment, a look passed between their half-open eyes that revealed something neither could name. And then Mrs. Anderson was whooping into the microphone and everyone was applauding and confetti rained down like snow all around them. The music started and Mrs. Anderson insisted they share a dance. Darien sighed and took her in his arms....surprised that she could waltz. ~Where'd she learn that?~ Serena herself was surprised by the fact that she could dance....having never learned how in THIS lifetime! But she was still too shocked and overwhelmed to think of that at all. Something in that kiss..... She looked up at him with wide, inquisitive eyes and he forgot to breath. Gods but she was breathtaking with that look on her face...that deep, sweet innocence. He had an unholy urge to kiss her again. The Universe had definetely gone mad. "Why did you...??" She asked softly. He looked over and caught the sandy haired guy glaring at him and nudged her to look, "I saw that guy bugging you earlier......and then he waited till the end of the auction trying to win....so I waited a little longer...." "Oh." Was all she managed, then her eyes met the obnoxious med student's again and she shivered, "Thank you." She said sincerely. And then she blind-sided him with that incredible gaze again.....those eyes.... "...welcome.." He managed, gliding her around the floor. They just kept staring at one another....memories of arguments and teasing melting away to the soft, sweet kiss they had shared.... Serena looked at his face and saw a strange play of emotions....and to her complete surprise, a kind of innocence.....as though her were half-fearful, half-anticipating what would come next. And suddenly, all thoughts of Tuxedo Mask or any other handsome heroes were blotted out by the very real sensation of his mouth so briefly on her own. Darien Chiba, her mortal enemy....well maybe not *mortal* enemy.... She thought of how he had lingered just the barest of instants on her mouth, pulled at her lips so subtly with his own....inching the kiss past innocent and into something unfamiliar...something she knew immediately she liked. Why would he kiss her that way? She'd expected a friendly peck, especially if he'd just done it to save her from that creepy guy. I mean, this was Darien, he hated her...right? Looking at his face now....she wasn't so sure...~maybe if I just lean in a little closer....just bring my lips a bit closer to his....I'll be able to tell if...~ He watched her face inch closer, felt her arms pull him closer........and knew suddenly that he would NEVER refuse a kiss from her...no matter what his brain might scream at him....his body would betray him everytime..... Her lips just traced his when her memory decided to be particularly cruel to her, ~I know he meant something by it....the way he pulled me in close, the way kissed me, the way he said "C'mere Meatballhead." WAIT A SEC! What was that last one? Oh Gods I'm making a fool of myself!~ She pulled away abruptly, "S-sorry Darien, I-I--" and she turned and fled, totally humiliated. ~Oh I'm such a fool! What must he think of me? Trying to kiss him....the annoying junior high student he loves to hate! waaaaahhhhhhh (yes she can wahhh in her head!)~ Darien watched after her rather mystified. Trying to sort his thoughts. ~I should go after her. I kissed her! She ran into the gardens. Why again did I kiss her? I should run after her and say something. What? What does all this mean?~ He tried to reason out the ridiculousness of this night.....one kiss from the Meatballhead and he couldn't think straight? That couldn't be right. But it was. And no matter how he tried to reason it out mentally, his heart and lips were screaming something else entirely.... ****************************************************************************************** I have never known what's right for me Till the night she opened up my heart and set it free ****************************************************************************************** The only real experience of love he could remember in his life, was that of the Princess crying out to him in his sleep, begging to be set free. And now Serena was here, looking just like her....what did it mean? His feet slowly began to follow her, though he hadn't a clue what to do. Something was still missing....something.... He put his hands in his pockets and felt something in one of them......curious, he pulled it out. It was a hankerchief....finely embroidered with the words "Serena Tsukino....Crossroads Junior High" Fortunately he was outside when he read it and no one was there to see him fall to his knees with the force of the memory. The D-Land ball....the Princess....the kiss on the balcony....at that last thought he jumped up and ran wrecklessly after her....acting on impulse for once (I can never write "on impulse" without thinking of Alicia's story ne? ^_^) There was a fountain at the centre (isn't there always?) and Serena stood, back to him, watching it. But at the sound of his footsteps she looked over her shoulder at him and he froze. There she was. His Princess. The exact way she appeared in the dream. He knew it was real. He might never know what it all meant, but at that moment he knew he'd found her. "Darien?" She asked softly, now facing him. He hurried towards her, "That wasn't our first kiss!" ******************************************************************************************* And now I just spend all my time With anyone, who makes me feel the way she does.... ******************************************************************************************* "Wh-at??!!" He held up the hanky to her and she took it gently, eyeing it curiously. "The D-Land ball....you dropped this....do you remember?" He said softly. She frowned a moment before her eyes widened and she touched her lips...remembering, "But that would mean you're....you're..." He nodded. Her mind was whirling. ~He's Tuxedo Mask? And he trusted ME to tell? Me? Not even Sailormoon, but ME Serena Tsukino! Why? And why did he....why did he kiss me in the first place?~ "What does this all mean?" She asked breathlessly. He regarded her with half-wild eyes, "Every night I'm haunted by dreams of a girl, a Princess, begging me to bring her the silver crystal and set her free. That girl in my dreams is you Serena, I'm sure of it now." ************************************************************************************* Cause I only feel alive when I dream at night Even though she's not real it's alright Cause I only feel alive when I dream at night Every move that she makes holds my eyes And I fall for her.....everytime... ************************************************************************************* ~A Princess? The crystal? Should I tell him I'm Sailormoon? What does this all mean?~ She held her head in confusion. "I'm not sure what it all means either...but..." He trailed off. She looked up and blushed into the intensity of his eyes on hers, "But?" She said softly, for even in the midst of confusion she was aching for another kiss.... "I know I've found you at last." She looked meaningfully at him, "Oh Darien..." And then he was leaning in to kiss her again....to relive that one certainty in sensation... ...to have something make sense in his life....and it did....but this time, as he let his lips really wander over hers....memories ebbed forward in his mind....from some place in his heart he did not recognize.....and hers as well....until the kiss went from new, to remembered, to welcoming to grateful....and lastly, just plain passion. (as if passion could be plain *giggle*) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~&~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@ Hope ya liked chickies! I always get knee-deep in these things and then realize I have to solve the whole series in one go....darnit! ;p