@)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>>> Eclipsed By Crystal and Mosha Mosha:Why is my name after yours!? Crystal:Alphabetically ordered! Mosha:oh...oh...oh okay... Crystal: We're BAAAAA-AAAACK!!! Mosha: The Sailorcaffienes, a.k.a Crystal Aino and Mosha Swirl! Crystal: ^^...Swirlies...heeheehee... Mosha: Ohhh, she had too much *whisper snicker teehee*... Crystal: WHAT?! Mosha: ^_-; Uhhhh...nothing... Crystal: Hey everyone, guess what?! I GOT THE LUNAROCK CD! IT HAS MOONLIGHT DENSETSU AND AI NO SENSHI!!! :) I'm SOOO HAPPY! EAT YOUR HEART OUT, MINNA! Mosha: O_O... Crystal: What?! Mosha: Just get on with the story. Crystal: I'm getting to that. Okay, don't ask us why we called it Eclipsed. No reason...it just sounds good, ne? Mosha: *Walks off* Seeya. The newly Canadian Serena Organa walked into her small apartment, noting the mail on the floor. She picked it up and put it on the counter absentmindedly as she opened the fridge door and grabbed the six inch Subway she had saved from her romance splurge last night. She had lain on the couch, half watching "Gone With the Wind," and half dreaming that she had gotten an invite to the Alderaanian masquerade, (Alderaan being the company that published her novels,) and she had met the rich prince of her dreams, and they had fallen in love and gotten married. She sighed. Serena was twenty-five now, and though she still dreamed, she had given up the idea that love was out there for her. After all, miracle romance only existed in books like hers and TV shows like "Gone With the Wind". Wait, that hadn't had a happy ending. Although there was a sequel, though she hadn't rented it. It just wouldn't have been the same without the original actors. She flipped through the mail uninterestedly. Bills, bills, bills-wait a second! That-that was from the Alderaan Publishing Company! Her shaking fingers tore open the envelope, and she pulled out-a ticket to the masquerade! So she had made enough money for the company with her sappy books that they'd sent her an invitation! Serena carefully placed the ticket on the counter, and then pretended to waltz around the kitchen with an imaginary partner, laughing. Maybe-maybe even if it wasn't a miracle, she'd find romance at the ball! Crystal: *Sigh* This sounds like Cinderella! Its so lame!!!!! Mosha: Why are you telling them that? Crystal: *Drags her aside and whispers fiercely* BeCAUSE, it's reverse psychology! It makes them e-us and they say stuff like, "Ohhhh your story was good," etc, etc!!!! Mosha: Oh. Hey, did you know that the attention was centered on you when you did that? Crystal: *Looks up* Oh sh...nit. Shnit, yeah, that's it! Mosha: -_-;...whatever. @)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>>> Her Canadian friend Molly, an ex-Naw Yawker, who was from out of the country, just like her, volunteered to help her pick a nice dress. Serena had saved up money for this, hoping against hope that she'd get an invitation, and it had paid off. Molly worked at the company as a secretary, and so she'd been able to come too. Serena stopped at her favorite dress store, Cayley's, as Molly walked in briskly, her chest-length, red ringlets swinging gracefully. "My friend here would just like to look around," she said to an approaching salesman whose nametag read "Andrew", dismissing him. "Certainly, ma'am," he grinned, the splashing of freckles on his nose wrinkling, and Serena had to laugh with him. He was just so friendly looking, he must get a lot of girlfriends, she mused. "Over here, Serena!" Molly called, interrupting her revelry. "This is perfect for you!" Serena glanced at the green dress carelessly and then looked again. It was so nice! A simple spaghetti-strap that started with a deep forest green and faded to a lovely turquoise green, with a slit in the side. If she put some ivy or roses in her hair, then she would look just like a character from her latest novel, Laniata, a half-enchantress in a legendary kingdom on the moon, who was also part fairy-sprite. "And look at this, Serena!" Molly held up the price tag. "Twenty percent off! You can get this and then some flowers for your hair or something!" "Ya read my mind, Moll!" Serena laughed. "This is so great!" She lifted the dress down and brought it over to the cashier. The woman who was at the desk caught Serena's attention, even though she was in a hurry. She had no nametag, and wore a lovely yellow dress with layers of light black material, that appeared to be almost floating. She had a feline appearance, and had her hair styled similarily to the old Usagi odangos, but she had three where Usagi would have only had one, and her wavy black hair flowed loosely down her back. She had a crescent moon necklace and-even stranger than her queer appearance-a crescent moon tattoo on her forehead! Serena glanced strangely at it, but it had to be a tattoo, didn't it? Even if it shone with every movement of the catlike woman's head. Luna's blue eyes glinted with almost unseen tears as she rang up the price and asked Selenity for seventy-ninety five. She practically shoved seventy-one dollars in Luna's face. Luna tucked it into the cash register and watched wistfully as the Princess raced off.* Serena ran to the florist's, "The Rose Garden," owned by a friend of hers, Tyra, and got five thornless white roses for her hair. Tyra even threw in a bracelet, a lovely sterling silver one carved so it seemed roses were entwined in the pattern, and told Serena, winking, that it was for the prettiest customer. Mosha: You made me look like Haruka!!! Making a play on Serena! Crystal: At least you got a cameo appearance! BE GRATEFUL!!! *Whacks Mosha upside the head with a fan like Jessie from Team Rocket uses(it's a Pokemon thing). Mosha: OWWWW! Jeez, that thing stings! Crystal: Humph! Serves you right! "I just can't WAIT until tomorrow!" Serena bubbled to Molly as they left the mall. "This is going to be SO great!" Molly grinned along with Serena, getting caught up in her enthusiasm. "Hey Serena, maybe Mr. Solo will ask you to dance!" Serena's eyes went wide. "Darien Solo? The OWNER and MANAGER of the publishing company! You've got to be kidding me!" Molly shoved her playfully. "He's not that bad, Serena! I'm his secretary, after all. He's not evil! And besides, you'll be masked! You won't even know if he asks you or not!" "I know, and I have the perfect mask!" Serena thought of the deep green, glimmering, curved mask that she had bought beforehand and smiled. It was like heck to find it, but it was worth it. She had gotten a local artist, Peggy Jones, to make it. She must have been a Lonnie Lanai fanatic, as she had Lanai's paintings everywhere. Molly gave Serena a lift home, as Serena's car was in the shop. She was to drive Serena to the masquerade as well, her boyfriend Melvin was already getting a ride with the boys. Molly had showed Serena a few pictures of Melvin in his high school days with Molly, and Serena had had to laugh. His glasses were then big round lenses instead of the squarish ones he wore now, giving him a rather spacey look, and his hair was a bird's nest, instead of the long shiny ponytail he had grown as of late. Melvin was still a bit of a space case, but was nuts over Molly as anyone with eyes could see. "Bye Moll! See ya tomorrow night!" Serena called to Molly as she drove away, waving from the window. Serena sighed and walked to her lonely apartment. Molly was going home to have a long chat with Melvin, Serena knew. There was only one person Serena had ever been interested in, and he was back in Japan with the old Usagi Tsukino days. Her eyes glazed over as she dumped her tote bag on the couch and sat down wearily. If only she had ever seen that boy again-the only one who had ever made her heart thump like a marching band. She had only known him for one blissful day, but in her heart he would always be her Mamo-chan. @)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>>> Usagi walked down the street on a warm summer's day, the exact kind that suited her appearance. Shiny golden hair, sky blue eyes with a hint of green in them, and lovely creamy skin that had been the envy of every acne-ridden girl in the school. Usagi was daydreaming again, a habit that was becoming less apparent with her fourteen years but still there. She was thinking about the dreams she had occasionally, about the happy king and queen in a lovely palace on the moon. She was always the queen, and very much in love with her king. The dreams always showed a different scene, though they always seemed to make sense, unlike most dreams. Once she had a nightmare about when the queen and king were princess and prince, and they were attacked by an evil demoness. The prince almost died, but they beat the demoness queen with their love and the crystal that restored peace, and the nightmare was gone. Immediately she bumped into a firm chest and was embarrassed to see that the man-boy-whatever he was had caught her in his arms and helped her regain her balance. "Are you okay?" His comforting voice asked her. "Oh, I'm fine! Are you okay?" Usagi flushed. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I'm so clumsy, I was just thinking about the funny dreams I've been having and wasn't watching where I was going-are you okay? Oh wait I asked that already-" she bubbled on. Chiba Mamoru smiled at the blonde as she talked to herself, unaware that she was prattling on and on, although he liked the sound of her melodic voice. Almost like wind chimes, Mamoru thought. Usagi dug into her purse. "I have some extra money. How 'bout I take you out for an ice cream to make up for it?" Mamoru's smile widened at her young, eager face looking up at him. "Sure," he said. "A double chocolate fudge and a-what do you want?" Usagi asked Mamoru, looking away from the vendor in the park. "Black forest," Mamoru nodded to the ice cream vendor, and as Usagi took the cones, he paid the vendor quietly. "Hey!" Usagi said indignantly. "This was supposed to be my treat for crashing into you, remember?" Mamoru smiled at her. "But I'm very happy that I met you, Usagi, and so I think that ice cream is just a small way for repaying you for brightening up my day!" Usagi blushed and looked down, but of course couldn't stay quiet for long. "Oh look! A pond with baby ducks! Let's go eat over there!" She tugged on Mamoru's sleeve. Normally she wouldn't be so forward, but she felt like she had known this guy for a million years. Poor Mamo-chan, having to put up with her! Her blush deepened. Already she was calling him Mamo-chan, a pet name that implied she was more intimate with him than she was. Mamoru (who, by the way, would not have minded at ALL if the lovely young Usagi called him Mamo-chan out loud,) couldn't help but think he had fallen in love at first sight. He had supposed that that sort of thing only happened in bad movies, but he couldn't help it! Motoki always claimed that it was that way with him and Reika, and the sappy romantic books always implied it did, so why couldn't it happen with him and his little Usa? No, that wouldn't work, it wasn't quite right-ah, Usako-that would be perfect for the bouncing fairy beside him. Now, he just had to get to know her a bit better so that she would LET him call her that. Usako. Mamoru rolled the name around in his mind. No, not bad at all. Usagi kneeled by the side of the pond and watched the baby ducks quietly, adoration apparent on her face for the tiny birds. One noticed her and swam over to her hand, nibbling on her finger in the hope of some bread crumbs like other humans gave it. No, none-but it liked this girl, with the sunny presence. It swam beside her hand and nudged it-the equilavent of a duck hug. Crystal: Kawaii! ^^;; Usagi giggled in delight. "Look, Mamo-chan, this one likes me!" AHHHHHHHH! shrieked her mind. Baka, baka, baka! You just called him Mamo-chan! Mamoru seemed to take it in stride, though inside he was jumping for joy. "It'd be pretty hard not to like you, Usako." She turned her head and blue met blue, little worlds floating within each, the aqua and stormy denim blue. Blue and blue inched toward each other, until mouths touched and caressed. Usagi lost herself in the kiss, and Mamoru had been gone without a map since they met. Faces turned away, and back again. Mamoru smiled at her, barely able to contain the ecstacy and wild joy exploding in his mind in rainbow fireworks. He took her hand and kissed it, knuckle by knuckle, and then just held it. @)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>>> Serena sighed wistfully. That was the best day of her life. Of course, she was younger then. She'd grown much taller and her hair had lightened to a white-silver color, the color of most blonde babies' hair, and most of all, she wasn't as naive. Mamo-chan, at the end of the day, had told her that he loved her, but he had never come back. Serena's eyes filled with tears. She couldn't help it, still loving a man that she had known for only a day-! But no matter how hard the sensible side of her tried, the romantic lived on. She sighed again and got up from the couch. Enough daydreaming for one day. After all, love wasn't a necessity of life, and she only needed the money her books made for her. @)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>>> Serena's eyes sparkled enticingly as she entered the ballroom. She scanned the room for Melvin, noticing that he was dressed as Robin Hood even as he headed for Molly. "Bye Serena!" Molly called, giggling, as Melvin lead her away to dance. Serena sat down on the chairs at the side of the room, put there for those who weren't dancing. Her skirt slid smoothly across her skin as she crossed her ankles and decided to just watch the dancers. A lot of the women writers who wrote the novels that were supposedly romance but were filled with more sex than anything were there, wearing extremely low cut, revealing outfits with small skirts, laughing flirtatiously at the men who flocked towards their displayed charms. Serena almost giggled at the panting looks the men gave those-for lack of a more fitting word-sluts. She could tell that SOMEONE was going to be going to the women's apartments before the night was out. She laughed out loud as she saw the fawning puppies lead the sluts toward the doors, and then noticed the man who was also laughing a few metres away from her, on one of the chairs, his legs crossed nonchalantly. Ebony wisps of hair waved as he shook his head. He was dressed as a prince, complete with cape, the typical tunic and leggings, and, of course, a mask. Serena caught her breath. He looked so much like Mamo-chan that she almost cried out. But it couldn't be him, her mind told her thumping heart, Mamo-chan was a lone college student at K-O Uni in Japan. What would he be doing in Vancouver, and more importantly, at the Alderaanian masquerade? It would be just too much of a coincedence. Darien Solo was watching the blonde who had laughed at the leaving whores, just like him. She looked a lot like the Usako back in Japan, but he refused to think about his Usa then. She probably hated him for never coming back, but he couldn't help it. His inheiritance had yanked him to Canada the next day, to take over the Alderaan publishing company that had been his grandfather's. Anyways, that blonde woman looked much too serious to be even related to Usagi. Besides, her hair wasn't in odango, and it was much lighter. Still...there was something about her, the same warmth that Usagi seemed to have, an understanding feeling enimating from her. Darien got up and walked over to her, noting that she was watching the dances a bit sadly. "Would you like to dance?" He asked her carefully, watching as her eyes widened and she smiled at him. "Certainly, I would." He took her in his arms and they waltzed away gracefully, almost a mimic of what Serena had done two days before. Many of the people sitting by the walls looked at the couple with envy, several of the women at Darien with lust. Serena looked up at the man and quietly said, "I'm Serena Organa. I write for the Alderaan Publishing Company." "I'm not telling you who I am," Darien smiled evilly down at her. "If I did, there would be several different reactions from you and none of them are as nice as you are now, Serena. Just call me Dare." "Okay, Dare," Serena said, "so what's your job? You have to be connected to the company, or else you couldn't come." Small talk, she thought to herself. "Not telling." "Fine," Serena said with just a hint of the curiosity behind her eyes. Hmmmm, who IS he? Her mind raced, she could never ever resist a secret. "Perhaps, if you would like to go out to dinner with me, I would tell you." Serena looked up, startled, into the mysterious eyes of her partner, Dare. "Um, okay! When?" "Now." Serena floundered helplessly. "But-but the masquerade?" He grinned at her. "I don't intend on letting anyone else get their hands on you." @)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>>> Serena laughed at one of Dare's jokes. They were at a Pizza Hut, (she had said that she didn't really want to go to anyplace fancy,) and the waiter came up with Serena's small cheese pizza and Darien's medium Canadian. "Gotta have leftovers! It's a pizza tradition!" He told her, smiling, when she asked skeptically if he could eat the whole thing. The pizza dinner seemed to fly by, and afterwards, walking around, (and getting some looks from their strange clothing,) Serena thought that she hadn't had such a good time in ages. "Hey," Darien said, "you want to get some ice cream? There's a really great ice cream parlor near here called Northern White. They sell the greatest waffle cones ever!" "Sure," Serena agreed, "but I'm buying." at Darien's questioning look, she added, smiling, "I owe you for dinner!" @)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>>> Crystal: The next part'll be out soon, and Mosha'll write it! Mosha: What?! Crystal: Well, I'll help. Seeing as we all know you can't write worth sh...nit. Shnit! Mosha: .... Crystal: JA! Oh, and btw, please email me! (as I wrote this part. In your face, Mosha-chan!!! HAhhahahahaha-hack hack cough-ahahaha!) If you didn't like it- Mosha: Which is going to be the situation of 90 % of the readers... Crystal: Shut up! If you didn't like it, email me and tell me what you think I should do better! Seeya! Remember, crystal_aino@hotmail.com! *V is for victory sign* Wow. I made you come all this way down just to read what I wrote? Seriously? Cool. Are you still reading this? Don't you have something better to do with your time? STILL? Wow, I can feel the power. Power! POWER! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Whheeeeeee high off of air...STILLLLLLL READING? Jeez, YOU must be pretty pathetic to be reading something that I, Crystal Aino, wrote as a bit of a gag! Huh. Some peeps.