Title:The Music Box Author:Tapestry E-Mail:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com Rating: PG URL: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Teahouse/5879 Standard Disclaimer Apply I made up the song name,'Love me Forever'....so any similarities to the title of the song,is purely coincidental. I stare at the music box in my hand...it reminds me so much of her.... I miss her....I'm 25 this year...I miss her so much... I open the fragile music box.....from it,comes a sad sweet melody.She loved the music box so much.I had bought it for her on her sixteenth birthday.I was nineteen that year...the year I bought this for her... "Oh Darien!!Look at that beautiful music box!!"squealed Serena. I gave a laugh."What is it Meatball Head??"I asked. Serena merely pouted and pointed at a silver box.The design on the lid had been carefully carved.It had a beautiful crescent moon design with roses entwined.On the sides was a planet...it was Earth.Roses were intricately carved onto the whole box. I smiled.It was beautiful...No wonder Serena had fallen in love with the music box.I looked down at her sweet face.Her eyes still locked on the box. She gave a sigh."What I wouldn't give to own it!!!But it looks so expensive...I might as well forget it."she said sadly..walking away. Seeing her sad,made me sad.I followed her away from the shop,but I had made up my mind I would give the little box to her..since she desired it so. Besides...her birthday was coming up and I needed to get her a birthday present. "There there,Serena..it's just a music box..."I comforted. Serena gave a sniffle."Yes...I suppose you're right."she said.She then looked up at me and smiled. "Lets go get a sundae!!"she exclaimed. I laughed."Okay,okay..let's go."I chuckled at her antics. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serena chattered on as she ate her sundae.I sat there smiling at my angel. "Darien,why are you staring at me like that??"asked Serena. I snapped out of my stupor and grinned."Because you're so beautiful, Serena..."I drawled lazily. Serena blushed."Darien...you're exaggerating."squeaked Serena. I just smiled at her."Well...to me you are.."I whispered.Serena gave me a heart warming smile that could light up the gloomiest of my days...I was so lucky to have someone like her. Andrew,my best friend gave me an encouraging smile.I nodded back.I walked towards the counter and paid for the ice creams. "Be seeing you,Andrew."I told him. Andrew just smiled and nodded. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We walked out of the arcade,hand in hand.Serena rested her head on my arm. I smiled down at her.Her golden hair was so shiny and silky.It never ceased to amaze me. "So,Meatball head...where to??"I asked. She smiled up at me."I promised I'd meet Raye and the girls at the mall.. So...I.."she began. "Say no more.I'll drop you off at the mall."I laughed. Serena threw her hands around me,giving me a hug."Oh thank you,Darien!!" she exclaimed. "Okay...Serena...you can let go now...I can't breathe..."I managed out. She gave a nervous laugh and released me."Sorry..."she mumbled. "It's okay Sere,I'm still here.."I joked. She swatted my arm playfully."Come on!!Otherwise Raye will murder me!!" she exclaimed. She broke into a run towards the mall. I sighed and shook my head.I quickly ran after her."Wait up!!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After I left my Meatball head at the mall,I returned to the shop,where the music box was... I entered the shop and purchased the precious little item.I then headed back to my apartment to put the music box in a safe place... ~At the Apartment~ When I reached the apartment,I quickly wound up the box.Opening the lid, a soft sweet melody floated out...but surprisingly,it was a slow sad song. The shop keeper said it was a song that told a tale... The song was called 'Love me Forever.' It told the story of two lovers... a prince and a princess.They were both forbidden and had perished in a war between their nations.... I smiled as I thought about my Meatball head's reaction to my gift.She'd probably squeal and hug me. I chuckled at the thought.Anything that made my Meatball Head happy,made me happy.I absolutely adored her.I always wondered how I ever lived without my angel. Hiding the music box away,I walked to the living room,settling on my couch and reading a physics book. After an hour or so,my eye lids started to feel heavy.Yawning,I slowly nodded off to peaceful slumber... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A knock on the door woke me from my sleep...It was 8.00pm already. I rubbed my eyes and shuffled towards the door. Opening the door,Serena entered cheerfully. "Hi Darien."she exclaimed brightly. "Hi Serena.." I chuckled at her sunny disposition...how could someone be so happy all the time?? "Were you sleeping Darien?? I'm sorry to wake you if I did,but I bought you dinner when you didn't answer the phone."she rambled on. "Sigh...It's okay Meatball Head,..thanks for dinner...you saved me a night of cooking or splurging money on dinner."I teased winking at her. She blushed."You old miser..."she laughed entering the kitchen with the food... I smiled and followed her... She was taking the food out of the containers and putting them on plates. I sneaked behind her and wrapped my arms around her slender waist,kissing her neck. She gave a giggle."Darien,I'm trying to take our dinner out of the cartons!!"she exclaimed. I chuckled nuzzling her neck."I thought I was having it already."I teased her again. "Flattery isn't getting you anywhere,Muffin."she smiled. I arched my eyebrow."Really??"I asked. "Really."she said flatly."C'mon,I got you some a burger."she coaxed.I sighed,planting a small butterfly kiss on her cheek and releasing her from my arms. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We ate dinner slowly.Serena chattering about her day at the mall.I smiled and cleared the plates away. Serena checked her watch."It's 9.30pm already??Sigh...I have to be home before 11pm."she said. I chuckled."How did you get your parents to agree to you having dinner with me anyway??"I asked. She blushed."I told them the girls and I were having dinner over at Lita's place."she admitted. "One day,your parents are going to find out the truth,Meatball Head." I warned her. "Well then,I'll take all the time we have together until my parents find out."she smiled. I smiled back and kissed her lightly. She sighed and snuggled closer."Darien,...you're coming to my birthday party at Raye's temple right???"she asked. I looked down at her and touched her little upturned nose,"Of course I am,Meatball head,I would't miss it for the world."I grinned at her looking like the devil himself. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Days passed.... "So Raye,how are the preparations coming along for Sere's birthday??"I asked. "So far so good..."she smiled."Lita's baking a cake and Mina said she'd bring ice-cream."answered Raye. "Uh-huh..."I said not really listening.My mind being somewhere else... "Hello!!Darien!!"shouted Raye. "Huh??" "I asked what did you get her???I got her a pair of silver crescent moon earrings!!"exclaimed Raye. I grinned."It's a secret."I replied sardonically. "A hint??"she pleaded. "Nope."I stated firmly. "Fine."she huffed."But don't weep when it turns out to be something she hates!"goaded Raye. "We'll see Raye."I laughed walking away. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The days flew by quickly... "Whew,finally it's 30th of June already.I was going to go nuts waiting for Serena's birthday!!"exclaimed Mina. Raye let out a laugh."Mina,you know Meatball Head gives a care about whether we have a birthday party for her as much as she cares for socks." I merely smiled at all the girls bickering on Serena's birthday party. "Molly and Melvin should be arriving with Serena soon...they promised to pick her up."said Amy. At that moment... "Hi everybody!!"exclaimed a cheerful voice.. "Happy Birthday Serena!!"every chanted. Serena gave a little squeal of delight.Behing her,Molly and Melvin entered the temple. "Thanks for the birthday party guys!"said Serena happily.Serena stared at me,her eyes shining. I smiled back and walked over to her. "Told you I'd be here.."I whispered in her ear.I gave her a peck on the cheek.She giggled and hugged me. I stared down at the mass of golden curls below my neck.She looked up and stared at me earnestly with her sky-blue eyes. "Ta-da!!My masterpiece!!"called Lita from the kitchen,carrying a delicious looking chocolate cake with chocolate icing and strawberries on top... Serena smiled as she looked down on the cake..reading,'Happy Sweet 16 Serena!!' "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, Happy birthday Serena.... Happy birthday to YOU!!!" sang everybody with glee. Serena promptly closed her eyes and blew on the candles,putting them out with one blow.... Lita quickly cut the cake and served a slice to everybody.Serena sat down on a rug.I sat next to her. Serena smiled up at me and cuddled even closer.She gave a sigh. Everybody ate their cakes greedily.Even Raye,helped herself to a second piece. Mina then gave some cd's to Raye so she could put them into the player... ( you all know how bad Mina is with electronics...) A lively tune was soon heard over the speakers...everybody smiled and started to dance. Serena laughed and pulled me up from our sitting position and started to dance to the rhythm and beat. Everybody was having a good time dancing to the songs until of course.... Chad started to sing.... Raye her usual fiery self,smacked and yelled at him for 'killing' the song...I gave a low chuckle. Raye whacked him again and Chad gave a yelp and stared at Raye with an injured puppy-dog look... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Soon...it was time to open presents... Serena smiled at her friends."The first present is from,Molly..." Slowly,Serena tore off the wrapping and opened the small box,it was a beautifully crafted glass figurine holding a rose. "It's beautiful Molly!!"exclaimed Serena. Next came Melvin's present,...a giant stuffed bunny with an ID tag naming him Moondancer... Amy's present,a silver bracelet made out of tiny crescents..Serena hugged her friend for the gift. Mina's present,a beautiful rose pin made out of paste rubies and emeralds. Serena gaped.."Mina it's beautiful!!Even if tthe stones aren't real..Thank you so much!!!"she cried out. Raye's present...a pair of silver crescent moon earrings.Serena smiled at Raye,.."Thanks Raye,this will match nicely with the bracelet,Amy gave me." Raye smiled."Hey anything,Meatball Head, you're welcome..." Lita's present..a beautiful wooden jewelry box and a box of her favourite cookies,extra chocolate chip. Serena's eyes lit up at the sight of the cookies..."Lita!!Your chocolate chip cookies!!!They're the best!!!"she squealed. I stifled a chuckle at my Meatball Head's reaction to the cookies,Lita had baked for her...she was so adorable sometimes. Chad gave her a wooden paper weight which he had hand crafted it himself. It was designed with crescent moons and clouds which covered some of the crescent moons,giving it the illusion on a moon peeking out in the sky... Greg gave Serena a beautiful bead necklace which had different beads strung on.It was colourful and had her name on it.Greg had arranged the beads with alphabets onto the middle,spelling out S-E-R-E-N-A. Andrew and Rita bought her a new pink sweater which fitted her perfectly. Serena was happy because she'd seen it at the mall but didn't have time or money to spend. Elizabeth,(Andrew's sis) bought Serena a new black mini-skirt which would go perfectly with the sweater Andrew and Rita had given her. Serena snifled a little.She said she was happy to have such great friends as them.Finally....my present.... Slowly,Serena tore the wrapping,opened the box and unwrapped my present for her from the soft tissue I used to protect the fragile present.... Serena gave a squeal of delight..."Darien!!!"exclaimed Serena. "Happy Birthday Sere.."I replied smiling. Tears were begining to well up in Serena's eyes..."It's the music box... the music box I wanted..."she whispered. "Oh THANK YOU DARIEN!!"she exclaimed hugging me tightly.I hugged her back. "Yes well,but Meatball Head...mind letting go of me before I suffocate?" I asked her. She blushed a pale pink."Sorry."she murmured."It's just,I'm so happy!! This music box must have cost a fortune!!!" Serena's friends stared at the music box with admiration."It's really pretty Sere.."said Amy quietly. "Isn't it???I saw it at a shop!!I fell in love with it at first sight!!" sighed Serena opening the music box. "That's a beautiful present,Darien.."said Raye looking at the silver music box with it's unique and beautiful design. A soft sweet melody drifted out from the box.Serena sighed again."Like a dream come true...the music box is so beautiful..Oh Darien I love you so much!!!"exclaimed Serena happily. The music box's melody had everyone enchanted and envious of Serena. "Oh,you're so lucky Sere..."cooed Mina. "Yeah,..that music box is absolutely romantic.."said Lita. Raye had her eyes closed,listening to the soft slow melody of the music box. Amy just nodded in agreement. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Later... I was walking Serena home and helping her with the presents.Serena walked slowly with a smile on her face. "Penny for your thoughts Sere?"I asked. She looked up and smiled."You can have them for free..."she replied. "So,....what's on your mind??"I asked her promptly. "Just thinking...the story of the music box is about a prince and princess and well...it's so sad they couldn't be together.."said Serena. I gave a light laugh."Oh Meatball Head...but like the song,they loved each other forever....their love,...lasted forever...just like ours will.."I told her slowly. She looked up at me with tears in her eyes.."I love you,Darien.." "I love you too,Meatball Head.I swear by this music box..."I said.I then leaned down and captured her lips in a short sweet kiss. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ But now...she is gone...taken from me by fate's cruel hands..We should have had an eternity together...she shouldn't have had to die..... The car accident....She was only nineteen when it happened....she shouldn't have had to die at such an early age.. There had been so many things she wanted to do.To gain a career,start a family...all the her dreams she told me... That fateful day ended it all.....it was night... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I ran as fast as my legs could carry me...ignoring the burning pain in my lungs for holding my breath..I had to get to her.... Serena...... Her parents called me and told me she had been in an accident..a drunk driver had been driving and hit Serena when she was walking home. The driver had been arrested for drunk driving. All her friends,and her brother are there...waiting... Mina,Amy and Raye are in tears,Lita is frustrated..she doesn't want to cry because of fear she'll look weak.. I reach them and stare at them with a fearful look. Her brother,Sammy reaches for my shoulder..."Mom and dad have gone home to fetch that music box you gave her...the doctor says she might not make it through the night.."he said slowly. I stare at him for long minutes that seem like hours...a dozen thoughts and feelings fly through my head....anger,pain,sorrow,fear.... "W-Where is she???"I asked shakily. "In there...she wants to see you,Darien..."replied Sammy. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Her parents come running down the hall way...they're holding the music box I gave her... They stare at me with a sad look....slowly,they place the precious thing into my hands and beckon me to enter... Slowly,I enter the room,where my love resided... She looked up.Her face was pale from their natural rosy red.Her lips her pale and dry. "Serena..."I whispered. "Darien...."she replied hoarsely. I walk towards her and sit down next to her bedside,still clutching the music box. "My, music box......"she whispered as she noticed the silver box I was holding. I quickly placed it in her shaky hands,as she slowly lifted the lid to the box...a soft sad melody filled the room. For long minutes,I couldn't do anything but stare at her blue eyes... She looked beautiful even though she was pale..I loved her with all my heart and always would. Then,she spoke.... "Darien....I have to leave you my love..."she whispered. I looked up with bewilderment.."Don't say that...you're going to be okay!" I exclaimed franticly,grabbing her hand tightly. She shook her head sadly.."No,Darien..I'm dying..I know that.."she replied sadly. "I love you,Serena..."I blurted. She looked up at me with a look of contentment in her heart... "I love you too...like we vowed to each other 3 years ago on this music box..."she said smiling. "But...I cannot go on much longer...please love...I want YOU to have the music box...it means so much to me.."she said. "It means a lot to me too,Serena...It means I'll always love you.."I told her. "Darien....promise me,after I'm gone...don't ever think about this moment. I don't want you to be sad...I just want you to be happy...remember the good times and forget the bad..."said Serena weakly. "Serena...." "I'll always be with you...no matter where you are..."whispered Serena. We stare at each other for a long time..."I love you forever,Darien.." whispered Serena. I smiled tearfully,"Me too...forever.."I replied.. Suddenly,her hand went limp and Serena's eyes closed,her head falling to the side. "SERENA!!!"I screamed. Then the doctor and nurses burst in. A nurse pulled me out of the room,with me still screaming and clutching the music box. "SERENA!!!!!"I shoutd again. After long minutes.... The doctor came out with a sad look on his face.."I'm sorry,Mr and Mrs Tsukino...your daughter has passed away.."he said. I stood there with a look of shock and pain on my face.That's when I crumpled to the floor sobbing. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Three years have passed...and the music box still reminds me of all the promises and vows we made...I love her still...even now that she's gone. I can never love another person....nobody could replace her.....my sweet darling Meatball Head..my angel.. The cemetry... I stand in front of my beloved's grave.I hold a bouquet of red roses. Kneeling down I touch the tombstone as if I were able to caress her face. I loved her..and I always would...forever till the end of time. "Serena...I miss you my Meatball Head...I wish you were still here with me...But I guess it'll be a pretty long while before we are reunited...wait for me love...I will always remember you..."I whispered.. Slowly,I stood up and walked away.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The End. Ow!Hey don't hit me!!I know it's cruel to seperate them!!But you think it's easy for me to do it???!! I love those two lovebirds too you know!!OW!! Stop that!!!So,tell me what you think...e-mail me!!I love e-mail!!!