Dear Sailor Moon fans, Hello, Blu Wynd Faerie here with another fanfic! Yeah! I'm so happy! This one is a little bit different than all my previous fanfics. Oh yeah, and how's that? Well, it's a mystery and a romance in one! That's different! And there's a whole new character I made up all by myself. Am I getting a little bold? No, just trying some- thing new for a change. It was about time. Disclaimer - The show Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon and all its characters and plots aren't mine. They belong to the wonderful, smart, fun, creative mastermind also known as Naoko Takeuchi (she made me say that). So don't sue me. I'd like to say thanks much to everyone who wrote about previous stories of mine, to Andrea Hui for putting this up and making this kick @$$ site, to all you fanfic writers for doing such an awesome job, and to you (yes, you! I'm talking to you) for reading this now! A standing ovation for all! Now let's start the story! Blu Wynd Faerie ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "The Matchmaker" - Prologue By Blu Wynd Faerie Rated PG-13 *Math's boring,* mused Serena as her teacher droned on one day about some sort of factoring or equation. *I hate it! How is it going to do me any good later on in life?* She sighed tiredly and her bangs blew up from her face. Serena wasn't paying the least bit of attention. The words of the teacher seemed to flow into one another to make one unmasterable blob of useless information. She lay her head on her crossed arms and sighed. It had been a long, long, long day. She looked over at her friend, Amy, who was watching the teacher with wide, unblinking blue eyes. Amy looked down at her blue spiral notebook and scribbled a few notes, then looked back up to watch and listen to Ms. Haruna. Serena laughed inwardly. Amy had always been the brain of her circle of friends. Serena wondered how she did it. *Oh, Amy, you can be so much all at once and never break a sweat,* Serena thought to herself as she watched her friend. *Don't you ever tire? What drives you? What's your secret, Amy?* She looked to the person in front of Amy. This person was the tomboyish yet beautiful brunette Lita. Lita was chewing on some gum, doodling on her page, while at the same time watching the every move of the blonde young man sitting two seats down. And somehow she still managed to get good grades. Serena was in awe of Lita almost as much as she was of Amy. The bored blonde tapped her nails against her desk as she watched Lita. *You, too, Lita, how can you do it all? Don't you ever get bored of it? Don't you ever wish for something more, like I do? Don't you ever wish to break free of the circle that is your life?* she thought with a sigh. Serena glanced at the clock for the fourth time. It was 2:47 PM. "Just 13 more minutes," Serena muttered anxiously. She looked at her teacher while pretending to pay attention. Really what she was doing was thinking, something she seldom did seriously. She had been feeling rather forlorn lately, yet there was nothing wrong. Her friends were kind to her and they loved her, her family was caring and nuturing, school .... well, it was as well as she could hope for. Oh no, there was nothing wrong at all, yet she felt an empty void, like she was missing something, like she had forgotten something but could never remember just what she had forgotten. There was a piece of the puzzle missing and it was lost. Serena wanted something more of her life, but she didn't know what. She felt so confused, like a kitten all alone with no place to go. "2:53 now. I'll be free in a few minutes .... just a few ...." Serena sighed in a barely audible voice as she watched the clock on the wall. Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock. Time was too slow for her. How she wished to get away. Away from this tiny cramped room out to the world, out to the big, free world where she could breathe right. To find a place to relax her mind and body would be heaven for her. She needed to be someplace where she could let go. Specifically, the arcade, her only refuge. There was food there, and friends, and those nice comfy booths that one could just fall asleep laying on. She was heading there that afternoon with her new friend who had moved from the States. *It'll be perfect,* thought Serena. *We'll slide in a booth, get something to munch on, sit and talk all afternoon. Oh I can't wait. And maybe, just maybe I will be able to forget about ... about everything. Oh yes, that would be perfect.* The teacher glanced at the clock. "Okay, class, it's 3:00. You're dismissed," she said with a relieved yawn. With that Serena promptly got up and headed for the hall, for her freedom from tests and lectures for at least a few precious hours. Salvation at last! She waved to Amy and promised to call Lita later, talked to Molly about a slumber party that weekend, and then looked about for her friend who she was taking with her to the arcade. She glanced a familiar face. "Hey, Daniella!" Serena called to her friend as she ran down the hall. A girl turned toward her. The girl was fairly tall with extremely long, bright red hair that fell past her waist when it was out. Her red locks were wavy and moved like silk rustling in an autumn breeze, like a pool of blood spreading across a marble floor. Right now it was up in a high ponytail, the ends reaching to her lower back and curling up in soft ringlets. Her eyes were bright blue, tinted slightly green. They changed color in the sun. The girl's eyes were lively, dancing as they watched with keen attention. Her face was cheery and happy, her grin wide. The girl had her ears pierced twice, the first hole with a black metal hoop and the second a black post earring. The girl's uniform was slightly crinkled because it was folded incorrectly. She had rolled her long sleeves up, making her look more casual. Her nails were painted in the fairest of pale pinks, her lips glossed meticulously. A silver ring with a blue stone adorned her middle finger, gleaming in the dim hallway lights. The girl waved to Serena and skipped over to her. "Hey, Serena," the girl replied. "Ready to go?" "Sure," Serena replied. "Great," Daniella, the redhead, said, a wide grin on her face. A wistful look came to her eyes. "I can't wait to see that hottie who works at the arcade again! What's his name? I forget." "Andrew," laughed Serena. "You have such a huge crush on him, don't you?" "Oh yeah," Daniella giggled. "I mean, I can't help it! He's so cute!" She laughed, her voice high like bells tinkling. Serena rolled her eyes. Daniella caught the action and scowled. "Just come on, let's go!" She grabbed Serena's hand and ran, pulling her through the hallways. The two ran out the building down the street. Well, it was more like Daniella was running and Serena was being dragged. No matter how much the blonde protested, Daniella kept on going like the Enegizer Bunny, trucking down the sidewalk and nearly bowling over all those in her way. Serena was praying for her life the whole time. Sunshine fell onto them as they burst forth from the school, sending darker highlights and shadows through their hair. Daniella laughed, throwing her head back. This was what life was all about, about feeling the wind in your face and the sun in your eyes and knowing you were totally free. Her red hair flying around her, her eyes glimmering, the bubbly girl burst into the arcade with her friend behind her. A few startled people looked at them, but then turned back to whatever they were doing. The regulars had grown to expect hyper teenage girls running in after school. Especially with all the young men working in the arcade at this hour. Both girls slid into stools, panting. Serena began thinking maybe she should have taken someone else with her. Someone who wasn't quite as hyper active, someone more mellowed out. Someone she could *relax* with and talk to seriously. Serena glanced at her friend. *And in that case, man I definitely brought the wrong person,* thought Serena. No, that wasn't Daniella's type. Daniella belonged to a different race, a race in which life was pure fun and there were no worries. If you looked in her eyes hard enough, you could see it. It seemed her life was perfect, almost sickeningly perfect. How could she understand Serena's problems? Her thoughts? How was a person like Daniella expected to relate to that? Serena's thoughts were interrupted as a blond young man came up to them. She grinned at the familiar face. "Hello, girls, what can I get you today?" asked Andrew. While Serena ordered a hot fudge sundae with extra Cool Whip, Daniella just sat there staring lovingly at Andrew. Her eyes never wavered as she stared at his handsome green eyes and the blond hair that was slightly curly, and his beautiful smile and ... oh wasn't he just perfect?! "Okay, Serena, got it." He called the order back into the kitchen. Then Andrew turned to the lovesick Daniella. *He looks really cute in that apron,* she thought. "Um, miss, for you?" "Oh, yeah, a Pepsi's great if you have one, baby," said Daniella, rather seductively. She started to fiddle with her bra strap out of habit. She crossed her long, shapely legs, causing her uniform skirt to flutter. A few young men watching gulped and eyed the pretty redhead. "Oh brother," mumbled Serena. "Here she goes again." Though Serena hadn't know Daniella very long, it hadn't taken a long time for her to figure out how Daniella was about guys. Daniella loved to flirt. It was a secret passion that drove her, one could even call it her day's excitement. Serena herself hadn't done much of it. "Gotcha. What's your name again? I know Serena introduced me to you before, but I forgot." He laughed. "Serena brings in so many of her friends I can't remember who's who sometimes!" Daniella laughed, a light, airy giggle. "I'm Daniella." She reached out to shake his hand. "And I'm *very* pleased to meet you." She grinned, flashing her perfect teeth at him. Serena groaned again. *How long is she going to keep this up? I want to sit down and talk,* thought the blond teenage girl. "Same to you." He slid two glasses, one with a sundae the other with a soda, toward the girls. Easily catching the glass of soda, Daniella slid her fingers around the cup, which was cold from the drink. She sipped her drink from the straw, watching Andrew all the while. Her lip gloss left a pink stain on the once white straw. "I wish I could stay and chat with you two ladies, but it's getting really busy now," said Andrew watching another crowd of customers come through the door. He sighed. "See you two around, have a nice day!" Andrew said to the two. "Buh-bye!" Daniella waved as the blonde young man went his way. Serena grinned and giggled. She'd seen this display of Daniella's before with many other guys that she knew. But everytime it still managed to amuse her. Right now Daniella was nearly drooling into her soda. "Come on, Daniella, let's go get a booth," said Serena, wanting to talk to Daniella about her problem, whatever it was. Daniella nodded and took her drink to the nearest booth. They both slid into the cushioned seats. Daniella kept glancing over to Andrew while they had their treats. "I ought to be asking him out right now," Daniella said with a longing sigh. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. For one, he has a girlfriend. A very steady girlfriend," said Serena with a mouth full of sundae. Daniella handed her a napkin for her to wipe off her face with. Serena took it and began to clean the chocolate off her chin and nose. "How steady?" "Steady enough for them to be going out for 3 whole years," said the napkin. "Damn, just my luck." "Oh, there's other guys out there for you and me, I'm sure," said Serena, her mouth full again. "You're pretty enough to have all sorts of guys wanting you for a girlfriend." Well, it was the truth. Daniella was absolutely gorgeous. After she swallowed, she glanced at the near full glass of soda and asked, "Are you going to drink that Coke?" "Yes, and it's Pepsi." "Whatever, Daniella. It's the same thing." A new voice entered the conversation. A male voice. "Well, well, what do you know, meatball head's shoving her face full again. Surprise surprise." Serena turned menacingly towards a demon from hell disguised as a gorgeous blue-eyed college guy. Otherwise known as Darien Chiba. Daniella looked at the dark, handsome man. *And who might this be?* thought Daniella. She didn't know who this strange man was but he obviously knew Serena. *And what's with the nickname? Kinda cute.* "I am not shoving my face full, Darien!" cried the blonde angrily. *Oh, so that's his name,* thought Daniella. She watched the two glare at each other. How friendly. Serena angrily shot up from her chair to stare at Darien in the eye. Daniella almost laughed out loud at how short her friend was compared to him. *This is not happening!* thought Serena in a rage. What had happened to her perfect arcade treat, and her talk? And all her problems getting worked out? And a fun yet relaxing night? It just wasn't right. Why was it that Darien Chiba, the devil himself, had to come and bother her today? Not today! Please! Not today! Her fury mounted as she thought of all the injustices he'd caused her just by his presence. "You're going to get fat," retorted Darien, shoving both hands into the pockets of his black slacks. "But don't you even say I didn't warn you when you turn into a giant chocolate blimp." "I am not going to get fat! And I am not going to become a chocolate blimp!" Serena wailed, her face squinched up in anger. She felt like crying right then and there, but she wouldn't let Darien see her cry. She would never ever let herself cry in front of him. She knew that was just what he wanted, he wanted to see her cry, and she'd never give him that satisfaction. He took some sort of pleasure in fighting with her, and in knowing that he had won. Did it give him some odd twisted self confidence? Ever since she had met him a few months ago, they had constantly tormented one another, like it was destined to be this way. She wished it wasn't. He always put her down and made her feel bad. Her hate suddenly turned very bitter and she felt like beating him to a pulp right then and there. *I hate him! I hate him! I hate him!* she thought. Serena turned quickly to her silent friend beside her. "Do I look *fat* to you, Daniella??" "No, you don't look fat," said Daniella. "Not all." Daniella could see the pure hatred burning passionately in Serena's eyes, like a candle in a church, like a campfire, like a reserve of hope when all was lost. She could see pain and a tension, a fear of the other, a competition greater than any competition known before. Why was it this way between them? What had caused them to be so cruel to each other? Daniella knew Serena was not a cold person usually at all, yet why did this dark side of her show around him? "She says I am not going to get fat, so there! And don't you *ever* say that about me again!" she said with fury. "You're such a jerk, Darien! Why don't you ever leave me alone? Do you come here just so you can piss me off?" Darien laughed. "Must be her time of the month," he said to some unseen companion. "Shut up Darien!" she said. She was beyond angry. Beyond fury, beyond black rage. She felt a sense of helplessness. How could she make him go away? She would do nearly anything to make Darien go away, just about anything. Walk on coals, sleep on nails, jump the Grand Canyon, anything just to get him away. Serena needed to be away from him, away from life, away from everything just for some time so she could let it all out. She needed alone time. Then Darien began to imitate his blonde oponent. He walked back and forth in front of their booth, walking as if he were wearing high heels. "Like, shut up, Darien!" he said in a high pitched voice. He fluttered his lashes in a very feminine manner and in the same voice squealed, "Oh my God, do I look *fat* to you?" This went on for a few moments. Daniella personally thought it was hilarious but she wasn't about to laugh when she saw Serena's bright red face. Darien started laughing at his little joke. Serena didn't think it was funny. She glanced down at her sundae. Suddenly an idea popped into her head. She chuckled evilly and scooped a little whipped cream out onto her spoon. Then Serena pulled back the spoon then released it, firing the sweet whipped cream at Darien. He was laughing too hard to notice what she was doing. He didn't see the whipped cream coming for him until it was too late. It hit him right in his left eye. "Hey! What ..." he saw Serena smile up at him sweetly out of his other eye. A number of swear words came to mind but there were little children around so he refrained from using them. Instead he wiped the whipped cream from his eye so it rested on the tips of his fingers. He flung it back at Serena. It hit right on her lower neck and slid down into her shirt. "Oh my God, it's in my bra! Darien you little..." Serena shrieked. The last word was unheard as she dashed off to the bathroom to get the whip cream out of her clothes. Darien started laughing hysterically. Daniella's eyes widened in shock and she took off after her friend to the bathroom. Serena was crying when Daniella got to the bathroom. She was leaning up against the wall sobbing. Daniella had never seen Serena crying before. She had never seen Serena angry before either. She had always seen Serena in a good mood, happy and laughing and joking around. Now here she was leaning against the wall in a bathroom sobbing her heartache out. Daniella felt pity for her friend. She didn't know why Serena was letting this guy get to her so much. She herself had learned long ago to ignore what remarks people made. You had to forget the meaning of the words; ignore them completely. Yet Serena was letting herself fall apart over some strange man in the arcade. Daniella walked over and put her arm around her blonde friend. Serena leaned against Daniella and sobbed into the bow on her uniform, letting the tears flow and flow and flow. Daniella whispered comforting words in her ear and rubbed her back in an attempt to make her feel better. Pity overflowed from Daniella's heart, yet confusing and lack of understanding clouded her mind. "Damn that man," said Serena between her sobs. "Who is he?" Daniella asked curiously. "That's Darien Chiba. He's probably the biggest bastard on the face of the planet. He seems to be at the arcade all the time and I keep seeming to run into him somehow. Every single time he makes fun of me and every single time he tries to put me down and every single time he acts like he hates me. In that case, if he hates me, I hate him." "I'm sorry, Serena. I'm sorry," said Daniella in a hushed whisper. "That's too bad. He's really cute." "Whose side are you on anyhow?" Serena asked, ticked off. Daniella gulped and said nothing, ashamed she was thinking of guys at a time like this. When Daniella didn't answer, she sighed quietly. "Oh, I'm sorry Daniella, I'm just so ... angry. It's not your fault, no, not your fault at all." "It's okay, I know how you feel. I've had my share of anger, but it died somewhere a long time ago when I left my own home. I left my anger back there. But I know how that feels, when you're so angry you just can't contain it," said Daniella. "Like a volcano erupting, like surge of water over a waterfall, like an avalache, like blood pouring from a wound...and like a million other things that I just can't think of right now." "That's exactly how it feels," said Serena, still buried in Daniella's shirt. "You know that you can come to me for anything, you know. I'm always going to be here for you, even if I move away sometime. I'll be here for you." Daniella tried to lighten up the moment by singing "Lean on Me," which sounded horrible because Daniella wasn't a very good singer. Serena laughed at all the wrong octaves and pitches and Daniella could feel her laughing shaking her thin body against her friend. "Let's get you something to wipe those tears away, shall we?" she said. She got some tissues and Serena wiped her face off with them. "Oh, and get the whipped cream out of your bra." Serena ducked into a stall and did just that. Then the two of them headed back out to their booth. Serena felt ready to face Darien if he was there still, but he wasn't. He had left. Serena sighed with relief. Then Serena and Daniella sat down and started talking. Serena finally released all the tensions that she'd been holding in. She told Daniella about the empty void, and about the cold icy fear that gripped her when she woke up in the night. She told her about the wrenching frustration that came when she couldn't fix her problem. She told her about how many nights she had cried with anger and pain. Serena also told Daniella about other things - trouble with school, her family, her other friends. She told her about how angry Darien made her. She told her about what a klutz she was, and how stupid she always felt. She released all her grief. Daniella was a good listener in Serena's opinion and Serena was actually glad now she had brought her. She knew how to be a good friend and help carry the weight of Serena's problems, even though Daniella didn't have those kind of troubles. At least that was what Serena thought. After they were all done their talk, Serena and Daniella headed their separate ways home. The whole time, Serena felt relieved that she had someone to talk to, someone to lean on. Daniella's horrible singing echoed in her mind and she laughed. She had forgotten Darien for the time being. Daniella, however, on the way home, began thinking of her brilliant scheme. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Soooo, did everyone like it? It's just the prologue and I know it's so short but chapter 1 is gonna be longer. Trust me. I know you probably don't think much of Daniella - isn't she a huge, huge flirt? - but I'm going to develop her character more. So don't you worry! It's going to get very, very interesting! Please e-mail me, please please please! My e-mail address is bluwyndfaerie@hotmail.com. Tell me whatcha think of this. I need to know what I've done that you like and don't like so I can fix my stories to make 'em better. Especially tell me about what you think of Daniella! And if ya'll haven't read any of my other fanfics, they're on this site too, under the same name. One is a poem, titled "Leave the Memory," which is about emotions of Serena is the R season when Darien dumps her. People seem to like that one. The other is "Rose Petal in the Wind," a song/story about that same time frame in the R season. Standing ovation for Kitty Kat who sang the song in this story and sent it to me! Yeah! Also read "Rain" which is my sad romantic story about - you guessed it - the R season. Hmmm, do we sense a theme? Also a poem "Lover, Princess, Savior" which is the most random poem ever. And last, but surely not least, "The One She Hates The Most" written by me, Blu Wynd Faerie, and my dear friend Alex, a diary-format story about Amy, my fav Sailor Scout. Please read them all! So, thanks 4 reading! Ciao!