Seeing Stars
By Jason Ulloa
Original story by Moonsong
Continued with her permission.


Chapter 38

"You, of all people, are the last - the VERY last - person I want to see right now," Serena 
growled as she glared at him for a moment, then turned her back on him.

"Well, hello to you, too, Serena," Seiya replied undauntedly. "It's so nice to see your cheerful 
face once again."

"Is he being serious or sarcastic?" Darien asked Mina.

"Beats me," the blonde agent replied. "Say, shouldn't you be playing the noble hero right about 
now?"

He glanced between Serena and Seiya, then shook his head slightly. "She's more than capable of 
taking care of herself. However, the second it looks like it's getting out of hand...." He let 
his voice trail off menacingly. Mina gave him a look, then nodded thoughtfully.

"What are you doing here, anyway?" Serena said over her shoulder. "I thought you were supposed 
to be this hotshot foreign film actor now, Mr. I'm-too-good-for-lowbrow-American-movies. What, 
did the French finally get a clue? I don't even know how the hell you even managed over there. 
I blame Jerry Lewis."

The sound of snickering coming from Darien and Mina caught Seiya's attention. "You know, I 
don't think we've been properly introduced yet," he said, smiling coldly at the pair.

"Kou Seiya, right?" Darien said in an amiable tone without smiling.

"You've heard of me, I take it?"

"You could say that," Darien replied dryly.

Seiya glanced momentarily at Serena before returning his gaze. "I see. And you are...?"

"Darien Shields," he replied, slowly losing his patience with the man's almost smug attitude.

"Mina Blake," Mina added, though not as curtly as Darien.

"You haven't answered my question, Seiya," Serena snapped irritably. "What in the Nine Gates 
of Hell are you doing here? Don't tell me that you're actually working on an American movie," 
she added, loading as much sarcasm as she could layer into it.

"I am."

"Bull."

"No, really. I was offered this part in a movie adaptaion of Shakespear's 'MacBeth'. It 
seemed interesting enough, so I accepted."

"Whatever," she said, folding her arms. "So, what about your whore? I thought you two were 
happily screwing each other's brains out. Did you toss her aside when you were finished 
with her, too?"

"I didn't 'toss her aside,' as you so bluntly put it," Seiya replied, some slight irritation 
beginning to show in his voice. "There were certain issues between us that we were unable to 
resolve, so-"

"You had a big fight and she walked out on you," Serena finished, giving him a malicious 
grin. "Am I right?"

"I wouldn't put it quite so harshly...."

"Heh. Karma can really bite you on the ass, can't it?" she jibed vindictively. "Still, what 
you may have gone through is nothing compared to what you put me through, Seiya. Nothing." 
She turned back to where Darien and Mina were waiting for her.

"Serena, wait."

She stopped and wearily hung her head without turning around. "What is it, Seiya?" she sighed 
tiredly. "Don't tell me you want another chance. We already went through that. I made myself 
perfectly clear and I don't feel like repeating myself. Goodbye, Seiya." With that, she 
started toward the others again.

"Serena!"

By now, Darien was getting quite fed up. "Didn't you hear her?" he asked loudly, diverting 
Seiya's attention toward him.

Seiya frowned slightly. "What?"

"I think it's clear that Serena doesn't want to speak with you any further," he told him 
coldly. "It would be best if you just leave her alone."

The frown deepened. "Do you think so?" he asked, turning to face Darien. "And who are you, to 
butt into our business like that?"

"As far as I'm concerned, you have no business with her," he answered coolly. "And as for who 
I am, that is also none of your concern. All you should be concerned with is leaving."

Seiya was about to reply to that when he noticed something. Serena had walked over to stand 
next to Darien. That in itself was no suprise, but the way Serena was standing next to him, 
and the way she looked at him, spoke much about the relationship between the two. He recognized 
it easily; he had seen her act the same way around him before their relationship had ended.

Getting Serena back was going to be more difficult than he had originally thought.

"Well, I really should be getting back to work, anyway," he said as he gave Darien a dismissive 
look, then turned his gaze back to Serena. "In case you're curious, I'm working in studio 33. 
I'll see you around, Serena. Miss Blake," he added, nodding amicably to the agent. He then, 
turned and left, ignoring Darien as if he was of no consequence. Darien, on the other hand, was 
glaring hard enough to bore a hole in Seiya's head the size of his fist. Which is, 
coincidentally, what he wanted to use to bore said hole with.

"Wouldn't you know it," Serena grumbled.

"What?" Mina asked.

"He said he's working in studio 33," she explained. "That's right across from studio 46, where 
we're working."

"I'm sorry to hear that," she honestly replied while shrugging.

"At any rate, I'm definitely in no mood to stick around here. All right, Mina, let's go to this 
café of yours. Darien, your car's bigger than mine. We'll take that one, unless you'd rather 
drive and have us follow you," she suggested to Mina.

"No, I don't mind carpooling," Mina replied, her cheerful demeanor returning. "Come on, let's go! 
We're wasting valuable time!" She grabbed Darien's arm and proceeded to drag him toward his car 
with Serena not too far behind.

            **********************************************

Halfway though the drive to the café, there wasn't much talking besides Mina giving Darien 
directions from the backseat. Serena was staring out of the passenger side window, looking at 
nothing in particular.

"Turn left at the next light," Mina pointed out. Darien nodded and turned into the far-left lane.

"I'm sorry for butting in back there," Darien said, trying to break the uncomfortable silence. 
"With Seiya, I mean."

Serena turned from the window to regard him. "What are you talking about?"

He blinked for a moment. "You're not upset that I didn't let you handle him yourself?"

"Of course not," she replied, shaking her head and smiling. "I'm glad you thought that I was 
capable of it, but I really didn't want to deal with him right then. I'm just surprised you didn't 
jump in sooner."

"You were doing just a good job of verbally ripping into him that I figured that I wasn't needed 
yet," he said, smiling in relief.

"Turn right at the next light," Mina interrupted. "It'll be on your right hand side. It's called 
'Café Sevilla.' It's supposed to be a Spanish café. I suggest you try the paella. It's good."

Darien nodded and turned into the far-right lane.

            **********************************************

"Welcome to Café Sevilla!" the woman standing at the entrance greeted and glanced over the group. 
"Table for three, is it?"

"Yes," Mina nodded. "One by a window, please, if it's possible."

"Certainly," the woman acknowledged and went over to the podium standing to one side. After 
glancing down at the current seating arrangement, she annotated which table she would be taking 
her guests to and drew three menus from the pocket on the side of the podium. When that was done, 
she signalled to a passing waiter.

"Take these three to table 28, please," she told him as she handed the menus over to him.

The waiter nodded and turned toward the group. "Come with me, please," he requested and headed 
into the café.

"This place isn't as crowded as I thought it would be," Serena remarked, adjusting the sunglasses 
and scarf she wore to make herself less recognizable.

"Well, this place is still pretty much new," Mina pointed out. "Just barely over one month old, 
at that. I figure that will change once word of this place really starts spreading."

"Still, I'd expect more people than this during the lunch rush," she said as they reached their 
table.

"Here we are," the waiter said as he started placing the menus on the table. "Can I get you 
something to drink?"

"Pińa colada, please," Mina said, taking a seat at one side of the table.

"Same here," Serena added, taking a seat on the other side.

"Iced tea," Darien requested, sitting beside Serena.

The waiter nodded. "I'll have your drinks ready shortly." He returned a few minutes later as 
everyone was deciding on their meals. "Here you are. And have you decided, or do you need some 
more time?"

"I'll have the paella," Mina said, putting down the menu. "I really enjoyed it the last time I was 
here."

"I'll have the same," Darien added, placing his menu over Mina's.

"I'll have the Seafood Caesar Salad with the gazpacho," Serena said, placing her menu with the 
others.

"Excellent choices," the waiter said as he collected the menus. "And would you like any appetizers 
to start off with?"

"No, thank you," Mina declined.

"Very well. Your meal will be ready shortly." With that, the waiter departed.

"Amy tells me that you've been doing great work," Mina said after the waiter left. "That makes me 
so proud of you!"

"Mina...," Darien muttered as he struggled not to hang his head in embarrasment.

"What? Can't I be excited that you're gonna be contracted to play two more movies?" she asked, 
tilting her head and grinning mischievously.

"About that," Serena interrupted. "Do you know anything about the movies that he's going to be 
playing in?"

Mina glanced from Serena to Darien, then back to Serena again. "Wondering if there's a chance you 
could be able to work with him again?" she asked slyly. Her grin widened at the surprised looks on 
their faces. "Why so surprised? I may be a blonde, but I'm not stupid. You, of all people, 
should've realized that, Serena."

"Point taken."

"So, do you know anything about those two movies?" Darien asked.

She shook her head. "Not that much, to be honest. Everything's still in the planning stages. After 
all, this's only being planned because Amy's so sure that this movie'll be a big success."

"Planning for sequels, is she?" Serena asked.

"Maybe. Maybe not." Mina shrugged. "Like I said, there's not a lot of details right now. Everything 
I know, I've just told you. I'll know more as the negotiations and planning progress. I'll be sure 
to keep you both posted." She smiled. "After all, with the way you two are right now, telling one 
would be just as good as telling both." She glanced over at Darien. "Say, Darien, did you see those 
dinner mints over by the register as we came in? Could you be a sweetheart and get some for us?"

Darien blinked. "But, aren't those for after meals? They're called 'after-dinner' mints for a reason, 
you know."

She gave him a pleading look, complete with puppy-dog eyes. "Please?"

"Oh, all right," he sighed and got up.

Serena waited until he was out of hearing range before she spoke. "So, what was it you wanted to say 
to me without him hearing it?"

Mina nodded, her expression turning serious. "I heard about your big break-up with Seiya way back 
then. Seeing how you acted with Seiya back at the lot made me realize just how much that hurt you. I 
know you probably already know this, but Darien is a really great guy. I've known him for years as 
his agent and as a friend. He won't treat you like that. Ever. I'm sure of it."

"Was that all?" she asked.

"Not really," she sighed as she glanced back to see if Darien was coming back yet. "What I really 
wanted to tell you is this. Like I said before, Darien's my friend. Probably one of my best friends. 
That's why I don't want to see him get hurt."

Serena's eyes narrowed. "Are you saying...?"

"Don't misunderstand me," Mina interrputed, holding up a placating hand. "I'm sure you're not that 
kind of woman. The thing is, he's been hurt by that kind of woman before."

"Raye?"

"Among others. Raye wasn't the worst - mild in comparision, actually - but she still left him when 
things weren't looking as bright as she thought it should be. She was always wanting more than he 
could give, which was why she left him when someone she thought could do more for her than Darien 
came along."

"She says she just wants to be friends now," Serena told her. "I honestly don't know whether to 
believe her or not. My relationship with Seiya was ruined because the other woman managed to convince 
him that I would leave him for bigger and better things. The worst part of it was that she was 
supposedly just his friend, or so he had told me."

Mina nodded solemnly. "So, you're in the same boat, then. In that case, I can rest easy knowing that 
you'll do good by him. And vice versa, of course."

"You didn't say how many mints you wanted, so I brought a handful," Darien said dropping them in the 
middle of the table.

"Thanks, Darien!" Mina said happily as she popped one into her mouth as he returned to his seat.

"So, talk about anything interesting while I was gone?" he asked.

"Nothing really," Serena said, resting her hand on his lap and smiling at him. "Just girl talk."

"Oh," he said as the waiter arrived with their food.

            **********************************************

"That was great!" Mina said as she, Serena and Darien left the café. "The food was just as good as 
the last time I was here!"

"I think that waiter of ours was psychic or something," Serena remarked. "I swear, everytime one of 
us needed something, there he was, popping up from out of nowhere with whatever we needed before we 
could even ask for it. It was almost creepy."

"I think that's the mark of an experienced waiter," Darien told her. "I bet after a while, waiters 
tend to sense when their customers need them."

"A very helpful sense, if you ask me," Mina commented. "I wish every restaurant I went to had waiters 
like him."

"Which was why you left him that ten dollar tip," he replied as they reached his car.

"Can I help it if I felt generous?" she asked, shrugging.

"Well, I guess he earned it," Serena said as everyone got in the car and Darien drove back to the lot.

            **********************************************

"Back with minutes to spare," Mina said as Darien parked his car and she got out.

"Hopefully I won't have to deal with Seiya on the way back in," Serena said as she got out as well.

"Well, I'm going on ahead. I'm got negotiations to discuss with Amy. We should do this again real 
soon!" With that, Mina turned and ran off, waving back at Serena and Darien as she left.

"So, what did you think of her?" Darien asked.

"She acts too bubbly sometimes, but other than that, I like her," she decided.

Darien nodded. "You'll get used to that personality of hers. It took me a while, but I hardly notice 
it now."

"Darien, can I ask you something?" she asked quietly as she stared down at the ground.

"What's wrong?" he asked, concerned.

"Nothing, really.... I was just wondering what you never told Seiya that we were dating. Why you didn't 
say that I was your girlfriend?"

"Was that why you were so quiet on the way to the café?" he asked. "Well, to be honest, I thought that 
you were going to do it. After all, you did say that you were going to tell him that you had a 'loving 
boyfriend who worships the ground you walk on', or something to that effect."

Serena stood still, blinking a couple of times. Finally, she smacked herself in the head. "I DID say 
that, didn't I?" She shook her head ruefully. "I swear, around that man, I get so angry I can never 
think straight."

"Well, if it's any consolation, I think he already knows," he pointed out.

Serena smiled at him. "You're right." She nodded her head toward the studio and offered her arm. "Well, 
shall we?"

Darien took her arm in his. "Certainly."

"And by the way," she added in a low, sultry voice as they headed for the studio building, "the way you 
stood up to Seiya and told him that he had no business with me and that who you were was none of his 
concern and that he should leave.... That really turned me on." She gave him a very steamy look for 
added emphasis.

"Well... uh, thanks," he stammered, feeling the full force of her seductive stare. He rallied quickly 
and grinned back at her. "Perhaps later tonight, you could allow me to properly express my gratitude?"

Serena laughed low and earthily as she wrapped her arms around him. "It's a date," she whispered in 
his ear before she drew back, but not before Darien managed to steal a quick kiss. "Now, let's go back 
inside before they send someone out looking for us."

            **********************************************

"Excuse me, Miss Jenner, there's a phone call for you."

Tira sat up in her bed and smiled eagerly. "Who's it from? Jack? Diane?"

The orderly shook his head. "A woman named Christy Taylor."

"Christy?" she said as she reached over to pick up the phone by her bed.

"Press #71 to have the line transferred to your phone," the orderly instructed.

Tira nodded and quickly complied. "Hello? Christy?"

"Tira! It's so good to hear your voice again. How's your recovery coming along?"

"The doctors say that I can get out of the hospital in a couple more days. The day after tommorow at 
the earliest. So, what've you been up to?"

"Listen, Tira," Christy said, her becoming urgent. "I've got some important info for Jack and Diane. 
It has to do with that file that they had given to me to have recovered. Jack had told me that they 
would be out of the country and that if I found something, I should pass it to you first since you 
were the one that originally found the file."

Tira's eyes widens slightly. "You mean, about Project: Ginzuishou?"

There was a small pause. "You already know about it?"

"I do."

Another pause. "How much do you know?"

"I know that each crystal will increase a laser's power by 3 and combining them would give them a 
major power boost. I also know that there's a project called Total Eclipse that is supposed to use 
this power boost for something."

"Have you told Jack yet?"

"I haven't been able to reach him yet," Tira explained. "Jack's in Australia and they won't let me 
call out of country long distance."

"Do you have a number I can reach him at? I need to let him know what we found."

"Hold on. Let me get you the number." Tira reached over and picked up a piece of paper, then read 
the number off. "When you call him, please let him know that I'm doing all right and I'm going to 
try and find some more info on Project: Total Eclipse."

"Tira, where did you get this info from? I have a contact who is willing to help out in exchange 
for the URL of the place you hacked."

"Stanton Aeronautical," Tira replied. "That's where I got it from. There's a long story behind it, 
but I think I'll wait until I'm out of here before going into it."

There was another length of silence. "Tira...."

"If it's about my hacking into Stanton Aeronautical, please don't," Tira said with a patient sigh. 
"I hear enough from Jack."

"I know. But you and I both know that if anyone else were to catch you, then I can't do anything 
about it."

"I never get caught."

"You shouldn't jinx yourself by saying that," Christy cautioned. "Anyway, thanks for the number. 
I'll be sure to give him your message. Maybe I'll stop by for a visit later, too."

Tira brightened immediately. "You will? Great. I'm so bored here; it's driving me nuts!"

Christy laughed. "I'm sorry to hear that. Well then, I'll make it a point to stop by."

"Thanks. I'll see you then."

"Yeah. Bye, Tira."

"Later, Christy," Tira said, hung up the phone and turned on the TV. Hopefully there would be 
something on other than reruns this time.

            **********************************************

                              To Chapter 39

            **********************************************

Author's Note: And after yet ANOTHER forever, I finally release the newest chapter of Seeing 
Stars. And the readers rejoice. Yay. Anyway, things are about to come to a crucial point in 
the movie plot. What is Project: Total Eclipse? Find out soon as the fight for the last 
Nijizuishou crystal is about to commence very soon. Next chapter: Christy tells Jack about 
Project: Ginzuishou; late night discussions; and Jed arrives in Sydney.

Disclaimer: All original materials belong to their respective 
owners. Sailor Moon belongs to Naoko Takeuchi and a bunch 
of big companies. No copyright infringement is intended. This 
story belongs to Moonsong and myself, and I would appreciate 
you emailing her or myself for permission before posting it 
anywhere else. Thank you.

Prologue Copyright © January 24, 2000 Moonsong.
Other Chapters Copyright © August 12, 2000 Jason Ulloa. 
All Rights Reserved.