MOONLIGHT MIRAGE
By:  Lady M Harris
Editor: Sun Princess

 

Part Three

 

"Sure, Melissa, no problem," Darien said slowly, as his gaze fell on 
Chad and Rei.  His eyes remained on Chad, frowning.  The fog of desire 
was steadily being replaced by a growing anger.  Serena's new boyfriend 
seemed, familiar, somehow.  He was sure that he had met him before, if 
only he could remember where.  The notion pulled at the cords of his 
mind until Chad spoke to him, breaking him out of his thoughts.

"Dude!  Perhaps, you should pay attention to your own date, Darien," 
Chad began. "Maybe then, she wouldn't be so quick to leave your 
company." Chad smirked.

"Like the way your eyes always seemed to be glued onto Rei every 
minute?" Darien retorted, his voice sharp as he tried to keep his temper 
under control.  Rei gasped,  a blush erupting on her cheeks. 

"Some boyfriend you are.  You don't deserve Serena," Darien grounded 
out, harshly.  Who does this guy think he is, he thought, he seems like 
nothing more than a two timing snake.

"Do you know this girl, Darien?"  Melissa piped up, interrupting Darien 
and Chad's heated debate.  She didn't care for the way they kept 
ignoring her presence.

"You mean, you haven't told your date who Serena is?" Chad goaded 
Darien, again.  Darien's eyes grew hard and they shot daggers back at Chad.

"No, and she has no reason to know, either," Darien replied, refusing to 
look at Serena.  He knew he was going to hurt again.  Damn it all, he 
angrily thought to himself.  Why is everything always so difficult?

Serena could feel her face drain of color at the rejection.  Oh, he 
always knew how to hurt her!  Her chest ached, the emotional pain 
slicing through her heart like a sharp knife, twisting.  Her eyes began 
to water and she furiously blinked back the tears that threatened to 
fall for the second time that evening.

"I would appreciate if you two would quit talking about me as if I'm not 
standing here!" Melissa huffed, angrily. "And I don't care to know who you
are," Melissa said as she directed her glare back at Serena. 

Instantly, the tearing pain dissipated and Serena could feel her ire 
raise up like a steaming ship for the first time that evening.  "Well, 
maybe you should!" she spat out to Melissa, glaring back at the pale 
blond, her normally warm blue eyes hard and flashing.   "Darien doesn't 
give a damn about you.  He's just using you to get back at me," she 
finished, feeling terribly ugly at that moment.  It went against her 
nature to act so bitter.

Oh, she was hurting!  That he would replace her so quickly after dumping 
her.  Perhaps, he had already planned it, Serena thought, horrified.  
Just so he could be with her, this pale blond.

Serena and Melissa measured each other for long moments, each angrily 
trying to stare other down before Melissa spoke up again.

"So, you're Serena," Melissa acknowledged calmly, then spoke again 
before Serena could get a word in edgewise.  "Well, he IS with me and 
NOT you.  The same way he was with me, yesterday and I didn't see you 
anywhere!  If he really was just trying to make you jealous . . ." 
Melissa trilled triumphantly, letting the sentence trail off; she had 
made her point.  She then turned and grabbed Darien's arm, pulling at 
him.   With an annoyingly cute pout, she turned her face up to Darien 
and asked, "I still would like it very much, if you came over tonight, 
Darien?" She said it softly, but clearly enough for everyone to hear.  
She smiled smugly as she anticipated Serena's reaction to her words.  
She wasn't disappointed.

Darien could practically feel Serena's indrawn breath of shock.  He felt 
his heart splatter to the floor as it was slowly being crushed under the 
leaden press that was Serena's pain.

Just in the nick of time, Chad came over to her and enveloped her in his 
comforting embrace, saying audibly, "Come on, Serena."  He began moving 
them away from Darien, Melissa and Andrew. "I don't know why you let him 
hurt you that way.  Don't worry.    I'm here, babe and I'll never hurt 
you like that moron." To add more salt to Darien's wounds, Chad suddenly 
lifted Serena's chin so that she was looking directly into his face and 
softly kissed her open lips.

Serena didn't know who was more shocked: her, Darien or Rei.  Chad 
winked mischievously as he lifted his face from hers.  Serena's cheeks 
flushed a becoming pink hue as the shock began to wear off.  Out of the 
corner of her eye, she could see Darien's entire frame shake with fury 
as he tried to prevent his anger from exploding and lashing out 
physically Chad.  How dare he kiss her?!  Andrew pulled him back, 
furiously talking to him in hushed tones. 

Rei was strangely quiet next them, but Serena knew Rei was fuming 
inside.  She just expressed her feelings, differently, and any moment 
now, if she didn't let out some steam, Rei was going to explode.  Serena 
had a feeling that the charade between her and Chad would come to an end 
tonight.  At least, the agreement with her and Chad would.  She just 
couldn't keep doing this to her best friend.  Serena decided that 
perhaps, Rei and Chad should get some time to talk, alone.  She blushed 
again as she thought about Chad's kiss.  God, If I were Rei, I would 
have slapped myself, Serena thought.  The kiss had meant nothing to her; 
it hadn't stirred her the way Darien's did.  It was more like a kiss 
between good friends.





"Rei, I don't think tonight's a good night for me to stay the night with 
you," Serena began quietly as they began walking toward the doors to 
leave the club. "I-I mean, seeing Darien with that girl . . ." she 
struggled for the right words. "I think maybe, you and Chad should just 
take me home," Serena said, bowing her head.

"If-If that's what you want, Serena?" Rei replied.  She was surprised to 
find her voice so steady.  Especially, since all she wanted to do was 
scream and rant at the top of her lungs.  Chad kissed Serena!  How dare 
he kiss her, when he's supposed to like me!  The tender look that 
crossed his face when he . . . Rei didn't even want to think about it.  
He didn't like Serena!  Did he?  No, no, no, her mind screamed, 
especially since she was in --!  Rei shook her head, trying to head off 
the forbidden thought.  Was she in love with Chad?  Oh, God!  The raging 
jealousy she felt every time Chad would hold Serena's hand or touch her 
the way a boyfriend would; was it because she was in love with him?  
Those secret daydreams she would have in the bathtub, refusing to 
acknowledge that she was fantasizing about Chad holding her in his arms, 
of the caress of his lips, and the feel of his hard body pressed against 
hers!

She squeezed her eyes shut, unaware of Chad watching her under the cover 
of his lowered lids.  

A slight smile played at his lips as he continued to gaze at her.  By God, 
she was beautiful, Chad thought.  His eyes caressed the long, luscious 
blue-black mane of her hair as he had done in the past a thousand times 
over.  It flowed like wave after wave of ebony silk.  His hands ached to 
feel the thick strands flowing over his fingers, liquid softness.  The 
red dress flowed over her soft, curvous figure as if it had been made 
exclusively for her.  And how many times had he daydreamed about her 
legs?  Long, creamy, shapely legs wrapped--!  He groaned quietly, trying 
not to think in that direction.  Oh, I have it bad for her, he thought 
laughing silently--if a little painfully--to himself.

Chad hoped that Rei wouldn't be too upset over that kiss with Serena.  
Perhaps, she'll understand someday why he did it.  It had only been to 
get her and Darien jealous.  Well, mostly her.  He was even glad to a 
certain extent, though he knew he was being unfair.  He was testing her 
feelings for him and the results appeared positive so far.  Perhaps, 
tonight's plan would prove fruitful.  He knew that, pretty soon, whether 
or not she was ready to admit her feelings for him, he was ready to 
admit his to her.

It had taken him nearly two years to open himself up to love again.  
Living at the usually peaceful temple with Rei and her grandfather had 
given him the time he needed to heal from all the loathing and self-hate 
he had felt toward himself.  Time to come into grips with reality and to 
take responsibility of his past actions and the implications it had 
caused, including the grief.

That had been the hardest part, the grief he had felt, the faces he used 
to see at night.  The same faces who had haunted his days and chased after 
him in the night with nightmares for years.  They slowly faded with time, 
to be replaced with the beguiling face of Rei.  It had been a long and
hard battle with himself, the remorse, pain and guilt easing away slowly.
Forgiving  himself had been the hardest part and took the longest.

Yet, time was pressing.  Pretty soon, he would have to leave Rei's 
temple and return home.  He was being called and he couldn't push off 
the responsibilities that were pressing him much longer.  He needed to 
know where he and Rei stood.  Would she accept him and his feelings for 
her, or would she be too young to understand what he would be asking of 
her?

 

 

"Please Rei," Serena began looking down into the passenger seat of the 
car at Rei.  They had just pulled up in front of Serena's dark house, 
all the lights being out except for one in her parent's room.  
Earlier, Serena was sure that Rei had been impressed with the car that 
Chad was driving.  Seeing as to how upset she was, it was understandable 
that Rei didn't say anything, but Serena did notice the way Rei's eyes 
had widened in shock as they passed over the car's interior and the 
puzzled expression that settled on her face as she looked over at Chad.  
The same expression--Serena was sure--that had crossed her own face 
earlier that evening.

"Please understand, Rei, that kiss meant nothing!" Serena whispered to 
Rei.  Rei continued to ignore her. "Chad's in love with you, Rei!  Just 
hear him out tonight, 'cause I know he's going to talk to you, okay?" 
When Rei didn't reply, she asked again a bit more loudly. "OKAY?"

"Alright, already! I heard you the first time!" Rei retorted, still 
looking forward.

"Good.  I'll see you tomorrow, then," Serena said, smiling at Rei even 
though she still refused to look at Serena.

"Smell ya later, Serena," Chad grinned at her from the driver's side. 

"Yeah, Chad," Serena said, smiling again as she backed away from the 
luxurious car.  It screeched away from the curb, and disappeared into 
the night.

 

 

 

"What are we doing here, Chad?" Rei asked, frowning as she stared at the 
black-glass skyrise that they stopped in front of.  She recognized the 
building name, 'Takashiro Residential Gates'.  It was one of the most
prominent and wealthy flats in Tokyo.

Chad got out of the car, and one of the bellmen opened Rei's passenger 
side door for her.

"Good evening, Mr. Takashiro," one of the bellmen said to Chad, 
apparently familiar with him. "Nice evening, sir."

"Yes, it is, isn't it?" Chad said quietly as his gaze wandered up to the 
stars shining in the night sky.

Rei looked over at Chad, not quite believing what she was hearing.  It 
never occurred to her to link the building's name with Chad's surname.  
When they got into the evaluator she watched as Chad took out a keycard 
of sorts and slipped it into a slot by the lighted numbers for each 
floor.  The top floor number lit, even though she could tell that it was 
not actually a number you could just press with your finger.  Rei's mind 
began to swirl rapidly, trying to remember everything that was 
associated with Takashiro Heavy Industries Corporation.

A mammoth corporation, it dipped their hands in all aspects of 
technology, from computer chips, fiber optics, designing automobiles, 
communications to government artificial intelligence.  The founder of 
Takashiro, Mr. Hitosi Takashiro and his wife, Katsumi Takashiro had 
passed away about two years ago, leaving behind their heir, Yuuichirou.  
He was given an English name by his friends in America during his 
college years, and was fondly known as Chad.

Rei's eyes bulged for a moment as the name became apparent to her.  No 
way!  He couldn't be the Yuuichirou Takashiro; he had to a relative or
something, Rei thought.  Yet, everyone knew that Yuuichirou went fondly
by the name of Chad.  Rei then recalled the scandal that surrounded the 
Takashiros' deaths. 

Apparently, Yuuichirou had been home visiting from the American 
Christmas break.  Newspapers had printed that Yuuichirou was a spoiled 
and selfish young man, not caring about his family or reputation and 
drank excessively.  His friends and he had arrived, rip roaring drunk, 
at a party where his parents were entertaining important delegates and 
corporate executives from around the world, and literally crashed it, 
humiliating his parents.   Afterwards, Mr. and Mr. Takashiro could be 
seen following their drunken son in their Benz.  Yuuichirou swerved to 
miss an on coming truck and the truck, trying to avoid the first 
vehicle, crashed head-on into the Takashiros' Benz; both died 
instantaneously.  After the accident, Yuuichirou seemed to disappear 
from the face of the earth.  Reports had leaked to Japan that Yuuichirou 
finished college at another university in America and then no more 
reports on him surfaced.

No other stories had surfaced because Yuuichirou was quietly living at 
her grandpa's temple.  To say that Rei was amazed would be a massive 
understatement.  The Chad she knew was quiet, helpful, respectful and 
funny.  She did remember when Chad had first arrived at her 
temple--aside from the fact that he claimed to like her--he seemed to be 
seeking solitude.  At the beginning, she had a feeling it was genuine 
friendliness.  She wasn't so sure now.  Her feelings had definitely 
changed, she would acknowledge that much.  She was very sure about one 
thing; everything mysterious about Chad now made sense. But, why were 
they here now?  What was he up to? 

"And to answer your question, Rei, I wanted to show you something," Chad 
said, breaking into her thoughts as they stepped out of the evaluator and 
onto plush carpeting.

"What question?" She had completely forgotten what it was she had asked.

Chad chuckled and unlocked the door to his flat.

Rei's eyes widened and she clasped both hands over her mouth to stifle 
her gasp of astonishment as she trailed behind Chad.  She was in a 
large, spacious hallway that allowed her to see beyond it and into a 
large sitting area that opened to a balcony.  As they walked into the 
sitting area, her gaze took in the creamy richness of the large, 
overstuffed chairs, fluffy pillows, and elegant glass tables.  The 
sitting area had a comfortable fireplace, floors done in whitewashed, 
wood flooring, and polished to a soft shine.  An area rug covered the 
floor in the sitting area which was surrounded entirely by large French 
doors and glass, making it an appropriate place to ensure privacy when 
conducting meetings.  The sitting area opened into an even larger living 
room, also done in creams and golds.  A touch of  hunter green and 
burgundy here and there gave the room a more distinct character than the 
previous one.  Large, fashionable paintings graced the walls, rare 
artifacts and green plants were placed tastefully throughout the room.  
Heavy, cream brocade curtains hung on the windows and large pieces of 
armoire and tables in light maple color completed the area.   An open 
hallway peeked into what looked like an elegant dining area and beyond a 
pair of closed doors was probably the kitchen.  Standing by the balcony 
doors, Rei could see more French doors that opened to what looked like a 
master bedroom.  Rei couldn't actually make out the bed.

"I wanted to show you this, Rei," Chad said as he walked onto the 
balcony and pointed to the scenery below them.  Rei's breath caught as 
she gazed at all of Tokyo's dazzling lights, surpassing the stars in 
their brightness and tinting the horizon a deep violet.  The view was . 
. . words just couldn't justly describe the vision before her.

"It's beautiful, Chad," Rei said looking over at him, smiling. "But, how 
did Yuuichirou come to be living at our humble temple?" she asked, 
watching his shoulders stiffen at the use of his real name.

"Yuuichirou doesn't exist anymore, Rei," Chad replied quietly, shrugging 
his shoulders and leaned against the railing.  He looked away from her, 
treating her to his hard profile.  The Tokyo lights played along the 
planes of his face, the shadows defining the contours while the lights 
shined in his eyes and gleamed softly off his hair. 

Rei couldn't help, but let her eyes caress his features as she listened 
to his solemn words.

"Yuuichirou was a spoiled, selfish and ruthless boy.  He was never 
denied anything and never went without.  He cared for no one, except for 
himself and it showed in every action he did, every word he spoke.  
Yuuichirou died the same day as his parents did and good riddance to 
him.  If it wasn't for your temple, Chad would have died, too," Chad 
finished, smiling dryly.  Her lovely eyes steadily watched him from 
where she perched against the railing.  The moonlight shone in her hair, 
giving it a luminous sheen of midnight violet highlights.

"I'm glad you didn't, Chad.  Because, I like you very much," she said, 
blushing slightly as she said the words.  Oh you more than like Chad, 
very much indeed, her mind retorted to her sarcastically.

"Do you?" Chad asked, disbelieving her words.  He reached up to touch 
her cheek with his fingers and he watched her lovely eyes close as her 
face leaned into the caress, one of her hands enclosing his fingers.

"Did you come to the temple to forget, Chad?" she asked after a moment.  
He released her cheek somewhat slowly.

"At first, I did.  I hated myself for a long time.  I needed the 
solitude and the peacefulness of the temple to help rebuild my 
confidence and finally forgive myself.  No one at Takashiro blamed me 
for the deaths; they were too respectful of my father to do that.  In 
spite of the rumors of me being a spoiled child, everyone was confident 
that the son of their most admired figure in the company would step in 
and run the company the way my father had done.  The way I was then . . 
. " he paused for a moment, shaking his head and clenching his hands 
into white-knuckled fists, and then laughing sourly at himself, "I would 
have ruined the company, shamed my family's name--worse than I already 
had . . ."

"Don't be so hard on yourself," Rei said quietly, understanding his 
anguish.

"I have to be, Rei.  It took the death of my parents to finally wake me 
up to the type of person I was," he said, looking at her intensely.

"Yes, and look at you now.  I would have never guessed you to be 
Yuuichirou.  Everything I know about you is good and thoughtful, and I'm 
proud to know you," she said honestly.  She reached over and took his 
now limp hand into hers and kissed the knuckles softly.  She couldn't 
believe that she was being this bold, but . . . It just seemed so right.

"You're the most beautiful person I know, Rei," Chad said softly to her.  
His hand tingled where her lips had been.  The warm, night breeze 
shifted his dark locks as they fell over his brow. "I have to leave the 
temple," Chad said suddenly, changing the subject.  He felt her body 
stiffen in shock and  knew that he had to ask her; he needed to know how 
she really felt about him.

"Why?" she said as she raised her eyes up to him.

"I can no longer put off my responsibilities at Takashiro.  The board is 
expecting me to start filling my father's shoes.  Also, I have to leave 
for Kobe to take care of more immediate business soon," he said as he 
continued to gaze at her.

"What-what are you trying to get at?" Rei stammered, her legs trembling 
at the thought of Chad leaving, never to return.

"I---Ah, Christ!" Chad exclaimed, at loss for words to explain his 
feelings for her.  When had he forgotten how to talk to a girl?  In college, 
they had all flocked to him like birds.  Yet, none of them had been Rei.  
This fiery, hotheaded temptress of beguiling beauty.

Unexpectedly, Rei felt herself hauled into Chad's arms as his lips came 
down hers, hard.  Stunned by the force of his emotions, Rei went slack, 
her mouth opening to the onslaught of his tongue.  His  arms tightened 
around her, pulling her even closer than she thought possible, her young 
body pressed intimately against his hard frame.  Swirling heat washed 
over her as his tongue expertly traced the curve of her lips, only to 
plunge deeply into her honeyed mouth again and again.  His tongue 
enticed and captured hers into submission, and before long, she was 
kissing him back just as fiercely.

So this is how it feels to be carried away by the wings of desire, her 
incoherent thoughts sung to her.

Her fingers had somehow tangled themselves in his hair, delighted with 
the strands' silky softness.  She just couldn't get close enough to him.  
One hand held her head to his lips, while the other, wrapped tightly 
around her waist, held her fast against him.

"This is how I feel about you, Rei," Chad uttered hoarsely as he broke 
the kiss.  Their breaths mingled as one as they continued to regard each 
other, lips hovering inches apart. "Be mine, Rei," he implored her, 
gazing into her flushed face intensely. 

Rei could feel the thrill of rapture running through her veins at his 
words. 

"I'll be back in a month, maybe sooner, I promise," he said, softly 
kissing her temples, eyelids, cheeks, nose and, finally back to her 
swollen lips.

"I'll be here for you, Chad," Rei whispered as she opened her eyes and 
gazed back into his.  She reached up and pulled his head back down towards
hers. "Kiss me, again."

 

 

 

Like a phantom of the night, Tuxedo Mask raced silently above the 
suburban houses in Juuban.  He
leaped from house to house, like a floating apparition, his black dress 
shoes never seeming to touch the roofs.  His black cape swirled and 
danced to the music of the swift wind as he all but flew from one house 
to another.  Being Tuxedo Mask certainly had its advantages, such as 
leaping off homes with the strength and agility of a large cat.

Tuxedo Mask had one burning destination.  A certain bewitching girl, 
named Serena.  Anger burned
brightly within Tuxedo Mask, masked by another, deeper emotion.  The 
aching need to see, touch, and be with her, despite his promise to 
himself to stay away from her.

His anger had continued to simmer up to a slow boil when he accidentally 
witnessed Serena's new boyfriend in a car, driving away with Rei.  And 
they weren't heading back to the temple.

He finally spotted Serena's dark house.  When he was a home away from 
hers, he slammed to a halt, his eyes catching sight of a silhouetted 
figure standing in front of the full moon on top of Serena's house, two 
long, silky streamers of golden hair brushed the back of her knees as it 
drifted in the wind. There was no way he could not recognize that 
imperial pose from where he stood.

"Sailor Moon!"




Stay tuned for part 4.  Just a little note to all of you readers out there, 
the stories May come out slower as the summer months press on.  Work again
is pressing for Most of my time as well as all of the courses I'm taking, 
so please, please be patient For each chapter.  Thanks again for all of
your support and encourging comments!

Yours truly!

Lady M. Harris