TRUST ME By Aeris -> lucky.violet@mailcity.com Hiya, people! Well, I've got some news, so you better read my notes, which are at the bottom of this page. Thank you. ********************************************************************** FIVE ********************************************************************** Serena and Darien met once again. Or is it ten times, they have been having coincidental confrontations a lot of times lately, and most of them where Serena would think Darien would actually go. There was a meeting, at the office building, at a shooting... almost everywhere. And the most recent one was the craziest idea of all. Serena hated heavy make-up. She wanted a simple, light, natural look, but the spotlights forbade it. But since the shooting for another episode of the show, "Trust Me", was finally finished she was going to wash all the cosmetics off. She headed for the women's restroom. It was only a short walk from the set. When she opened the door, she gasped. She silently cursed. "Darien! What the heck are YOU doing here?" "Waiting for you. What else?" Darien replied. He was positioned on top of the cubicles, such that he was the first thing to be seen when the door is opened. "And why are you up there?" "For me to be the first thing you'll see, of course. Now, isn't that obvious?" Darien jumped down. "It's a pretty long wait, though, and I have to be rewarded for my efforts, eh, Serena?" "What efforts?" Darien knelt down. "Serena, I have thought about everything. You, Reenie, my family..." A pain shot through Serena's heart. He can't be saying this! "... And most of all, you. You are my heart and my soul, Serena. You give meaning to my dull and lifeless life." Serena covered her mouth. For an observer, it would look like a gesture of absolute shock. But, in truth, behind her hand is a smile. "Please come back to me," Darien reached out for Serena's hands. He held them gently, but firmly. Silence draped the room for a moment. Then, Serena pulled her hands for his and turned away. "Go away, Darien. I can't come BACK to you. It's YOU who left ME. I'm not that stupid to believe all this acts. I'm not your bubble-headed child anymore, Darien. Leave this room AND my LIFE. Go, and STAY AWAY!" Minutes later, Teresa went in the girl's comfort room only to see her cousin laughing her head off. Serena was having a pretty busy month, and though totally exhausted, she can't take the idea of her birthday coming up out of her mind. She was almost like a child, totally excited by the prospect of celebrating her birthday in the showbiz world. Though nobody has told her anything about the five days coming up, she's got that feeling in her bones, that it will be a grand celebration. And usually, her intuitions were right. And Serena was proven right. Three days after the previous scene, Teresa was acting weirdly. She was beginning to laugh at Serena's face for no reason at all, and she always had those funny looks when she faces her cousin. You know, the stupid look adults always give babies that they think makes the child funny when it actually doesn't? That's the one. By five o'clock in the afternoon, Serena has had enough. She cornered Teresa in the dressing room of Studio 3. "Now, don't start again with me, Tori. I know those looks you give me mean something. So tell me now!" Teresa Tsukino-Watson stared at her... then laughed out loud. "Tori..." Serena was becoming impatient. Teresa just laughed harder. She was laughing her head out, and tears were already forming in her eyes. "Y-You... HahahaHAhahaha!" Serena was getting redder and redder by the second. And she couldn't take it anymore. She walked---no, stomped---out of the room, leaving a choking-to-death-in- laughter Teresa. In the evening, Serena was given a message telling her that she had a birthday concert on the 30th of June. And the day has come. Serena's excitement (and fear, too, of course) has grown to a level where Teresa didn't know whether she should laugh, or be irritated. They were in the backstage. The show was going to start in a few minutes. And during that period, Serena had paced a million times around the room and has asked about a zillion questions: (Isn't it a wonder how it all fit in ten minutes?) "Hair up, or hair down?" "Which dress? WHICH DRESS?!?" "Light or heavy make-up?" "Don't you think I'm too pale?" "Is my dress creased? Darn, I should have worn my silk dress." "Does my voice croak?" "Are my knees trembling?" "Are you SURE people will be there?" and, "Do I look nervous?" Teresa had to laugh at that one. "What do you think?" Serena sat down next to Teresa on the couch, careful not to crease her dress. "Oh, Tori..." Teresa patted her back, and smiled. "Happy birthday, Buns." A faint smile flashed across her face. "Thanks, Tori. But that still didn't get my fear away." "Actually, it's more like horror." "HA. But, Tori... I don't even know the program!" "Relax. You'll just be taking requests from fans, and sing them. It doesn't matter what you wear. You don't even have to change your clothes. All you have to know is that you'll be in for a surprise." "WHAT? A SURPRISE?!?" Right there and then, someone informed them that the program was starting in five minutes. They went out, and Serena positioned behind the curtains. Teresa was checking for last-minute changes. Fortunately, there were none. Teresa squeezed Serena's hand. "Good luck, Buns. And happy birthday again." Before Serena could reply, her cousin was gone, and the curtains opened. Fans screamed as the spotlight focused on the lone figure onstage. She smiled. Her fear was gone. All she knew then was the song she felt in her heart, and nothing more. She was singing "In My Life", a classic duet by Paul McCartney and John Lennon... But it was not them who were singing now, but Serena Tsukino, in the person of Bunny Thompson. There are places I remember All my life, though some have changed Some for better, not for better Some have gone, and some remain All these places have their moments With lovers and friends I still can recall Some are dead and some are living In my life, I've loved them all But of all these friends and lovers There is no one that compares to you And these memories lose their meaning When I think of love as something you... Though I know I'll never lose affection For people and things that went before I know I'll often stop and think about them In my life, I love you more Though I know I'll never lose affection For people and things that went before I know I'll often stop and think about them In my life, I love you more In my life I love you more... Among the crowd, three people were not joining the roaring and yelling. They stood there, not mesmerized by the beauty of her voice, or her face, or the meaning of the song itself. They had a job to do. Two of them were partners. One was female, with her hair green and long, in a ponytail tucked under a cap. She wore a spaghetti-strapped white shirt, short denim shorts, and a pair of basketball shoes, with socks, of course. The other was a tall man, with his head covered in a bandanna and sunglasses, wearing a black leather jacket and torn jeans, with high-cut boots. The third did not belong with the other two. He was a short man, most unnoticed in his height. He had a plain white shirt, faded pants, and rubber shoes. He looked about eleven years old among the teens. They stood out like cats among the pigeons. One of them was needed for mainly support, another for a matter of life and death, and another of revenge. They neither howled nor laughed. They just watched. And the song was finished. The crowd was silent. They don't like me anymore, Serena thought bitterly. Is it my dress, or my voice? Or is it just me? More silence. Tori! It's all Tori's fault. She shouldn't have made me do this stupid concert. I KNEW nobody would appreciate this. They must think I'm a complete conceited jerk now. Silence still... And then she remembered. I'm supposed to take requests! She was about to explain it when the crowd began howling again. Neither Serena nor Bunny was ever THIS tense in her life. She thought, What's going on? A new song was being played, and she knew what it was almost instantly. It was "You're the Inspiration" by Chicago. Their song. (Guess whose it is.) On impulse, she turned around. And there she saw... Seiya Kou. Walking towards her. And he began singing. You know our love was meant to be Kind of love to last forever And I want you here with me From tonight until the end of time You should know Everywhere I go Always on my mind In my heart In my soul, baby Chorus: You're the meaning in my life You're the inspiration You bring meaning to my life You're the inspiration Wanna have you near me I wanna have you near me, say it No one needs you more than I need you Serena was stunned. He was coming closer, closer... And there he was, beside her, putting his arms around her... And there was nothing more Serena can do but sing with him. And I know (And I know) Yes I know that this has been the seed (the seed...) So in love when we're together Now I know (Now I know) That I'll need you here with me From tonight until the end of time You should know (Yes, I need to know) Always on my mind In my heart In my soul Chorus: You're the meaning in my life You're the inspiration You bring meaning to my life You're the inspiration Wanna have you near me I wanna have you near me, say it No one needs you more than I need you Wanna have you near me I wanna have you near me, say it No one needs you more than I need you (No one needs you more) When you love somebody, till the end of time... When you love somebody, always on my mind... No one needs you more than I Chorus: You're the meaning in my life You're the inspiration You bring meaning to my life You're the inspiration Wanna have you near me I wanna have you near me, say it No one needs you more than I need you One of the three spoke up. "It's time." As the song faded into nothingness, Seiya wrapped an arm around Serena's waist, and whispered, "Happy birthday, Serena." Serena smiled widely, and looked at Seiya with wide eyes. "What the heck are you doing here?" Seiya smiled at her. "What do you think?" The crowd was long forgotten, and there was nothing but Serena and Seiya. Serena was thinking, There's something in him I have never seen before... And Seiya thought, She never looked as beautiful... A new song started up, and Serena once more sang, Seiya left the stage. There were lots more that Serena sang, requests from her fans, and most were her personal favorites. But then, one song turned up that had her taken aback. Memories flashed through her mind and a pain flared in her chest. But there was nothing she could do but sing it. Yet as soon as the song began, she forgot about that request and everything else, and only the meaning of the song remained. It was so true, so realistic, that she regretted she ever entertained the thought of not singing it. It was "Don't Say You Love Me" by the Corrs. I've seen this place a thousand times I've felt this all before And every time you call I've waited there As though you might not call at all I know this face I'm wearing now I've seen this face in my house And though it feels so grave I'm still of faith That you're believing every time We've done this once and then you closed the door Don't make me fall again for nothing more Don't say you love me unless forever Don't tell me you need me if you're not gonna stay Don't give me this feeling, I'll only believe it Make it real Or take it all away In the middle of the song, a new tune turned up, and another voice came on. At first, Serena thought it was another of the Three Lights. However, she was in for a big surprise... Standing by my window... That voice sounds familiar, Serena thought. Listening for your call Can't be Seiya again... Seems I really miss you after all Yaten? Nah. Time won't let me keep these sad thoughts to myself Taiki? No, no, no, NO! I just like to let you know Serena turned around and saw... I wish I never let you go Serena gasped. "Darien?" Yeah. Darien Chiba. Singing. In a concert. Of Bunny Thompson. (Huh?) And I'll always love you "Oh, God..." Serena moaned. Deep inside this heart of mine Tears began to form in her eyes. I do Then they trickle down her cheeks. Love you Darien's coming closer, closer... And I'll always need you Fans and other media people began whispering. Y'know, something like... "Who is this guy?" Or, "Major babe!" "Click!" And if you ever change your mind I still Darien's beside Serena! Haha! I will Darien grabbed one of Serena's trembling hands and kissed the back of it. Love you They look at each other long, sweet... "Darien," Serena whispered. The song, once again, was left hanging, but the music plays on and on... Serena knows the song by heart, and she is deeply touched by the sincerity of the words that Darien has chosen. The song was continued by one of Serena's male back-ups, known as Rextie H- B Dustin. His voice was deep, and he sang the song as he knew it. It was beautiful. Wish you never left me But love's a mystery You can break a heart so easily The days and nights reveal How much I feel for you Time has come for me to see How much your love has meant to me And I'll always love you And if you ever change your mind I'd still I will Love you Then Darien sang once again, never taking his eyes away from Serena's. Time like a river keeps on going like our lives Nothing's left for me to do So I watch the river rise And I'll always love you Deep inside this heart of mine I do love you And I'll always need you And if you ever change your mind I still, I will I still, I will Love you Before the song even began to fade, Darien knelt and said with the mike near his mouth, "Serena. You are my light and my life. You give me a purpose to go on. You gave me hope. It was all just a mistake, how you and I got separated." "Darien..." It was all she could say. "Serena, I'm sorry. I give to you my heart, whole and alive. I love you, Serena. A thousand times, I love you. If there is one thing in the world I would be afraid to lose, it would be you. I love you. Please, forgive me." The crowd was suddenly quiet, and tension began to build up in her chest. Say yes, say yes, her mind screamed. Silence... The crowd was going crazy. "Say it, say it," they chanted. And Serena was silent still. "Come on," Teresa prayed silently behind the curtains. Serena's lips trembled. "Darien, I forgive you." The crowd cheered, howled, screamed, hooted... "I tried to understand, but I failed. It was my mistake, too, to ever think of leaving you behind. But looking back all that happened, everything that we've been through now, there is nothing I regret. And that is because of this moment. I love you." And Serena collapsed into hysterical sobs. In the whole place, there was one person who is not touched by the scene that just took place, one person was fuming. The other was chuckling of victory... "Now." Suddenly, the lights were blinking. People looked up to see the ceiling shaking, and the lights threatening to fall. Chunks of wood began dropping at different areas of the coliseum, and the crowd was going hysterical. People were panicking and dashing to the fire exits. "Oh no!" "Bless me, oh Lord." "Let's get out of here!" "Get out of my way." "Hey, you jerk! Watch where you're going!" "AAAHhhhhhhhhh!!!" The crowd was going crazy. Serena was stuck in her place, taken by absolute shock. Darien shouted through the noise, "Serena, let's get out of here!" Serena was immobilized by her shock and the thoughts running through her head... "I can't die now... I have to take care of many things. My money, Tori, Reenie... I have to take care of them. I can't leave them now. And Darien..." "Serena, look out!" She looked up and saw the big piece of wood falling, heading for her... "SERENA!" She was unconscious. ********************************************************************** So, now you know. I decided to stick to my original plot of this story. Therefore, you'll keep coming back to my section. Now, isn't that fun? (Hehe.) Besides, it keeps mail running, doesn't it? Have I told you that I just love receiving mail? Well, now you know. So, get my inbox filling in with mail! You guys know the address, right? Well, if you don't, it's lucky.violet@mailcity.com, okay? Oh, another thing. I've got two mailboxes, right? One in Hotmail, and another in Mailcity. I'd just like you to know that I'd rather get mail in Mailcity. Though I'd still be checking my Hotmail, it would be for misplaced messages, okay? Anyway, I gotta go. Bye! PS: Wanna know the three persons in there? Seek and email me and you shall find. Hehe:ފ