HEAD GAMES-A SERENA AND DARIEN LOVE STORY
by Jupiter Princess
Hentai version

Author's Note:
        Hello all!  Thank you for taking the time to come and read my 
fanfiction.  This
particular story is an alternative ending to the whole Darien and Serena
break-up thingy during the time of the Dark Moon Family.  I did not care for 
the
way Serena pined over Darien when she didn't do anything wrong and then he
didn't even apologize to her and acted like he was the one taking her back.  
So,
I turned the tables and tweaked the plot a little.  I tend to do that.  :)  
In
all honesty, I tweaked it a lot!  Those of you who found Darien acting like 
a
total jerk in the anime get- back together scene, will find this story to 
your
liking ------> I hope!!
        If you have read any of my other stories, you  will note that I 
consider Darien
to be sweeter than DIC and the television series portrayed him.  It really 
got
me angry the way the jerked around Naoko Takeuchi's character in the manga.  
So
I prefer to write Darien with the manga version's characteristics.
        Want to write me about my stories?  Great!  My e-mail is
Emilywaldon69@hotmail.com.  Feel free to write me about any subject.  And I 
WILL
ANSWER YOU!!  It really steams me when people are nice enough to write to
authors about their stories and they never get answered.  And don't worry.  
If
you thought my story sucked, tell me.  I'd like constructive criticism so 
that
way I can improve.  If you are a writer yourself, feel free to send me your
stories if you need someone to proof read them.  I do ask that most of what 
you
send me is related to Darien or Serena.  Others are fine, but I would 
probably
not be the best person to give constructive advise about things that aren't
Darien or Serena driven.  I might be putting up a website soon myself, so 
I'll
keep you posted on that.
        Finally, I would like to make it known that I was not in any way a 
part of the
creation of Sailor Moon.  The show and Manga were brought to you by Naoko
Takeuchi, Bandai, Kodansha, and all their related company.  If you were a 
part
of the creation, and would like credit, I will add your name gladly.  Any
characters I made up and were not part of the original series are mine and 
the
story is mine, but other than that, it is not owned by me at all.  Well 
thank
you for your time!  Now, on with the fanfic!



Prologue...

        Darien glanced down at the lifeless body in the coffin, HER coffin 
and felt his
heart rise to his throat.  It was the first time his eyes had been forced to
look upon this girl, this child.  He desperately tried to hold back a sob, 
but
couldn't seem to manage.  The noise he produced wasn't loud, but it was 
there;
and the anguish he felt as he stared down at her lovely face, now lifeless, 
and
slightly blue, had filled that noise.  Darien's body was tense and rigid, 
hands
clenched, one of them gripping the life out of a handkerchief, and arms 
clung to
his sides.  His muscles ached from their stiffness and constant strain.  His
eyes stung from the tears that had consumed him the night before, and the 
night
before that, and the night before that... all the way back until the night 
she
died.  It was his fault, he knew.  He knew it was because of what he'd done, 
as
good intentioned as he had been.  But what was the point of carrying good
intentions if it had ended up with her in a coffin?  The finality of her 
death
began to set in as he gazed at her, laying there.  Dead.  He couldn't 
believe
that was it.  That couldn't be it.  There had always been something he could 
do,
could say, could think that would make events turn out favorable.  Was it
possible that at the early age of eighteen, the best part of his life was
already over?  Yes.  The best part was over.  What did he have left?
        Darien bent his head further over her stirless body.  He felt 
another pang of
guilt clout his unfed stomach.  She was beautiful in white.  He sucked back 
a
sob and slowly dipped down and kissed her cheek.  It was like brushing his 
lips
against ice itself.  A cold chill swept through him and he rose back up.  He
sobbed loudly now, unable to stop it, then lost control. He felt his body
collapse over her, head pressed against her icy chest and listened for a
heartbeat in vain.  He sobbed and screamed her name, begging her to come 
back.
Didn't she understand?  She couldn't just leave!  Not now!  Not EVER!...  
And
what of the others?  They wanted her back, too.
        But it was over, Darien knew.  He slowly lifted his head from her 
body and
sobbed a few times more, not wanting to leave.  The others had allowed him 
to be
alone with her, although they secretly thought he despised her, now.  He
couldn't blame them.  His actions had articulated just that.  Until now.  
Darien
took one last glance at her and touched her cheek with the back of his right 
hand
and stoked it gently.  "I will visit you everyday, and make sure that you 
always
have fresh roses on your grave, my love.  I will love you eternally, even 
though
you're not here.  There will never be another.  These are promises I make to
you, and I will keep them, unlike the others I made.  Please, forgive me for
that, Serena."  With that, Darien turned and ran out of the room in sobs.

@)>------<<---------

Chapter 1

                Prince Darien gathered Serena in his arms.  They had just 
made love for the
first time as a married couple.  They were honeymooning on Venus and they 
were
in the most elaborate and exotic hotel room either of them had ever seen.
Although the lights were off, their room was illuminated by the soft glow of
vanilla candles burning all around them.  Their satin sheets, a deep red, in 
the
most romantic and exquisite room on Venus.
Now, they just laid there next to each other as they ran their hands over
each other's bodies.  Darien whispered sweet nothings to his Princess and 
she
giggled with delight.  They made love until the candles burned low and
eventually out.  They fell asleep in each other's arms.  The last thing 
Serena
heard before they drifted off was Darien whispering, "I love you, Princess.  
I
have loved you since the first time I saw you, and I will love you forever.  
Not
even death could separate us.  My feelings will run eternal." ~~~~~

        "If only that were true." Serena spoke aloud bitterly to herself as 
she rested
uncomfortably in her bed.  She felt yet another warm tear swell in her eye 
as
she laid there.  She was surprised that she still had tears left.  She had
practically cried all night, every night since Darien told her that he did 
not
want to see her anymore.  She turned onto her side and leaned her head into 
the
pillow, her feet accidentally bumping the sleeping cat at the edge of her 
bed.
        Light from the city and the moon filtered in through the window, 
casting a
slight glow on her pink covers.  Serena tossed and turned, unsettled in a 
bed of
rocks as she tried desperately to think of any reason that Darien... HER 
Darien
was treating her the way he was.  He and she had been so in love on the 
Moon...
She knew Darien did not yet remember the details of their love on the Moon,
though.  He did not remember the passionate nights they had spent in her
chambers, being careful not to alert anyone of their lovemaking.  He did not
remember the way they had fallen in love, even though it was forbidden at 
the
time.  He did not remember the way that she had faked her death to run away 
with
him when he was exiled for treason, for loving her.  The Prince Darien had 
lost
his memory and both he and Serena thought that he was but a commoner when 
they
first met.  This was how he had been presented to the Court when her abusive
fiancé caught them sleeping together.
        Serena couldn't help but wonder if things would be different now, on 
Earth, if
he did suddenly remember.  Serena felt a strangled cry escape her throat.  
She
managed to bury it in the pillow, leaving her guardian on the bed none the
wiser.
        'What did I do?  Why does he reject me now?' Serena silently 
wondered in her
head.  She felt the sweat on her neck get cold as a rush of cool air swept 
by
when she turned, once again.  She thought back to when this entire nightmare
started.

Never mind the exact details of the day.  Serena couldn't recall them if her
life dangled by a hair on that very task.  That day was the worst of not 
one,
but two of her lives.  The only semi-accurate comparison she could attempt 
was
that she felt worse than the day Queen Serenity had banished her beloved 
Tuxedo
Mask from the Moon Kingdom for treason.  But even that feeling paled in
comparison to the feeling of true abandonment.  As he had been ripped from 
her
before on the Moon, he now left voluntarily.  It was no longer the stubborn 
fact
of 'couldn't', but 'wouldn't' or 'didn't want to'.  That day she knew a 
piece of
her died that would never come to life again under any amount of healing.  
The
thought that even for a second, Darien believed he no longer loved her, was
enough to bring a lifetime of heartache to Serena.  She had asked him if she
should change, she remembered that.  She was desperate to find a reason, 
because
he produced none other than, "I just don't have the same feelings for you
anymore."
        Practically Serena's whole life had flashed before her eyes.  She 
saw Prince
Darien and her speaking their wedding vows of commitment.  She felt the 
tingle
of Darien's kisses as they had been bestowed upon her when Darien had 
recently
regained his memory.  She recalled also the pain and suffering she had 
endured
when he could not remember her and she had to fight with Ann.  It had all 
been
for nothing, she realized with a small gasp.  She had won, saved his life 
yet
again, and gotten his memory back... And it was for nothing.  Unappreciated.
SHE was unappreciated.  The fact that she had spent most of her life trying 
to
help him meant nothing.  Tears flooded her blue eyes.  Then she saw him 
being
torn away from her when Queen Beryl had tried to blast her and Darien took 
the
blow.  She felt herself floating up to him reaching out for him to grasp her
hand.  Except this time, he did not take her hand in his.  He did not tell 
her
how much he loved her.  When they were blasted again, Darien did not scream 
her
name as she did for him.  She felt her body cripple as it had done from 
Queen
Beryl's blast now, on the side walk.  She sank to the ground and could 
barely
breathe.  She was sure she was going to die.  Somehow, she managed to lift 
the
head of her now lifeless body and look into his face.  He avoided her eyes, 
as
to not see her cry.  "Is this a joke, Darien?" she asked innocently.  He
eventually walked away, leaving her there.
        Serena recalled spending an uncountable amount of time in a phone 
booth, crying
until her body was too exhausted to cry anymore.  Finally, Serena glanced 
out of
the booth and spotted a small flyer that had landed by her in a gust of 
wind.
It was an add for a new beauty salon.  Serena decided she would try the 
place
and see what she could do to her appearance to make herself more appealing 
to
Darien.  She forced her tired muscles to work, despite their desperate pleas 
to
stay in place.  Her throat sore, cheeks puffy, and eyes red and scratchy, 
she
dragged herself down the street until she came to the address shown.  She 
sighed
bemusedly at her actions and entered the salon.
        It was just Serena's luck that this happened to be the new focus of 
the
Negamoon's attacks.  She attempted to defeat the droid, but found it too 
hard to
concentrate, her body too weak to fight.  Then, to her relief and misplaced
bliss, Tuxedo Mask saved her and helped her to defeat her attacker.  Of 
course,
Serena took this as a sign of his love for her, which Tuxedo Mask quickly
quelled by telling her that he did not love her but was rather doing what 
needed
to be done for the safety of the planet.  This crushed Serena but she vowed 
to
try to get him back.  After all, in her mind, they were destined to be
together... forever.
        However, Darien did not think so and he made that quite clear 
through his cold
actions the next time they met in battle.  Tuxedo Mask had kept a concerned
Sailor Moon from jumping into a fight and helping Sailor Mars.  Sailor Moon 
felt
a small ounce of anger begin to rise in her, for he seemed more confident in
Mars than he ever did in her.  He had never pulled anyone back from helping 
her.
Feelings of hurt and angst extirpated this emotion posthaste, however.  She 
felt
tears once again build in her eyes and she nibbled on her index through it's
glove in nervousness.  With a shaky voice she thanked him for his help,
considering the way he felt about her.  The comment seemed to anger him more
than anything else, to Sailor Moon's astonishment.  Both she and Mars stood
there dumbfounded for several minutes as Tuxedo Mask growled and exited.
        Mars sensed there was something amiss, but said nothing.  She knew 
Darien still
loved Serena deeply, but for some reason felt the need to hide it and push 
her
away.  'She's too young now.  On the Moon, their age difference was normal, 
but
now, unacceptable in the eyes of other people.  Poor guy.  He's trying to
protect her.  But why doesn't he just explain that, or see her in secret?' 
Mars
thought to herself.  Then realizing that her ears were throbbing, Mars 
jolted
off of her train of thought.  Serena had now fallen on the ground and 
wailing
for all she was worth.  Raye rolled her eyes.  "Thanks a lot, DARIEN." Raye
muttered in an annoyed tone that only she could have pulled off.  The 
comment
was inaudible to the screaming one, who was now quieting and wiping her 
eyes.
She bent down and helped Serena to her feet.  She led her back inside, only 
then
fathoming the hurt that Serena felt at this moment.  Raye almost wanted to 
cry
herself, remembering the way she felt when she discovered Serena was the 
Moon
Princess and Darien was rightfully hers.  And her pain had only been of 
someone
losing a crush!  Raye realized she couldn't begin to understand the misery
Serena was feeling.  'Poor girl...  Must be heartbroken.' Raye thought to
herself.
        Serena's heart an unending spiral of misery.  Rini had taken over 
her life.
Rini came just before all of these happenings began; two events that Serena 
was
sure were not unrelated.
        The day Darien broke up with her, she had gone to his apartment to 
see what
could be done to save their relationship.  She had seen Rini's shoes at the 
door
and felt a flood of new emotions consume her being.  She was angry at Rini 
for
imposing on her home, her life, and now her boyfriend.  She felt a jealous 
rage
as she realized Rini was closer to Darien than she was now.  Then there was 
the
agony of knowing that Darien would abandon her and replace her for this 
child.
She told Darien she felt like Rini had replaced her and then regretted the
statement, for she realized Rini was probably eavesdropping on their
conversation.  Darien told her not to be ridiculous and threw her out.
Rini now taunted Serena by throwing Darien in her face at every available
opportunity.  Although Serena realized what Rini was doing, she drank in 
every
minuscule detail about the man she loved.  It was her only way to know how 
he
was, considering Darien would not even speak to Serena unless Rini was the 
topic
of conversation.
        Rini was spoiled by her parents, who seemed to favor the child over 
their own
offspring; both Sammy and Serena.  Sammy got along better with Rini than 
Serena,
which was not always due to Serena's attitude; although Luna only scolded 
Serena
on her behavior, you really couldn't blame Serena.  Rini behaved worse for
Serena than anyone else, in so doing winning over the scouts by behaving for
them.  Serena had no one to turn to, no confidant.  She felt alone in the 
world.
The only one who might have listened was not even aware that Serena had the
burdens of being a Sailor warrior; Molly.  Rini took over Serena's life and
Serena got the blame consistently.
        Serena spent her nights tossing and turning in bed, unable to reach 
even the
threshold of sleep.  Her cat was not unaware of Serena's pain.  Sometimes 
she
would try to comfort the girl, others, merely leave to rest on the 
comfortable
and quiet sofa of the living room.  Serena would most of the time be able to
stifle her cries of loneliness and heartbreak, but once or twice a night at
least, she would make audible noises of agony that were too pained to be
contained by her pillow.  Serena got very little sleep
        One day Serena returned home, only to be informed by her cat that 
Rini had not
been picked up yet.  Serena groaned and rolled her eyes.  'Let the brat 
suffer
in the rain, for once.' Serena thought bitterly, but quickly scolded her 
self
for thinking such a thing.  She glanced out the window and saw the rain 
picking
up.  She was not particularly thrilled at the prospect of having to face the
weather again.  Serena slowly managed to move from the sitting position she 
was
in and rise to her feet.  She thumped to the door and reached for her green
raincoat.  She sighed as she reluctantly opened the door and ventured out 
into
the storm.  She was hit with a gust of cold air as the door opened.  The
temperature had dropped even lower than before, but she continued on her 
way,
towards the day care school, despite her shivers.
        Serena finally reached the school, after what her mind considered to 
be an
eternity.  She scanned the area for Rini.  She was not in her usually 
assigned
pick-up spot.  'She probably went inside to escape the cold.' Serena
rationalized.  Serena climbed the few steps and ventured inside the school.  
It
was dark, to Serena's surprise.  "Hello?  Rini?  Are you in here?" Serena 
called.
Serena looked around a bit before giving up and heading back outside.  She
glanced at the surrounding area one last time before calling again.  "Rini?"
        "Great.  I have to look for her out in the rain?" Serena huffed 
bitterly as she
searched her rain coat for a coin.  Maybe she could use a pay-phone and see 
if
her Mother had already picked Rini up and was now home.
        However, Serena was rudely informed by her brother Sammy, that Rini 
was not
back yet.  Serena kept having Sammy repeat himself because the sound of the 
rain
drumming was so loud that she was unable to hear.  She was sharply ordered 
to
not call again because she had made him loose his Sailor V video game.  
Serena
hung up the phone and stepped out of the phone booth, once again feeling a 
chill
from the fierce wind.
        Serena groaned in frustration with the child as she now had to, once 
again,
search for her, now under harsh conditions.  'Why can't she ever just do 
what
she's told?' Serena silently pondered.  Puddles began to form on the 
concrete
sidewalks.  Every so often Serena would step in one and end up soaking her 
legs.
Normally, Serena would have loved splashing in the puddles, but now it was a
nuisance.  She focused her eyes on the ground, as she was trying to avoid
further splashes when she bumped full force into someone on the street 
corner
with an umbrella.
        Serena began to apologize profusely when she looked up and focused 
on who she
had crashed into.  Darien.  (~ Like we all didn't see THIS coming! ~)  She
stumbled a little ways back, almost loosing her balance.  Her mind flooded 
with
emotions and thoughts, all very different in nature; sadness at the
remembrance of the way he used to feel with his arms around her, frustration 
at
her inability to unmask the reasons why he had to distant, angry because of 
his
betrayal, and the uncontrollable urge to throw her body against him and 
bring his
lips to hers.  Serena was in such a fuss that when a large thunder crash
sounded, she jumped... right into Darien, for support.
        To her relief, Darien held her.  'Maybe he does care about me.  
Maybe
every thing's as it was.'  Serena's light began to return to her, but then 
Darien
pushed her away coldly, returning her being to it's previous state.  Serena 
held
back a few tears.  That's when Darien spoke, "Serena we can't do this 
anymore...
Yadda Yadda Yadda" Darien's words fell unheard upon Serena's ears.  She knew
what he was trying to say.  She tuned back in to the lecture just as he 
started
spouting how a little girl was missing and she shouldn't be worried about 
who he
liked more.  Serena, unknowingly, had spoken her mind as far as her 
suspicions
of Darien's betrayal.  Darien took off down the street before Serena could 
stop
him.  She ran after, to look for Rini together.
        They found her much later, in a building that the scout's occupied.  
Droid
Thunder Clap was attempting to get Rini, but Sailor Moon, the Scouts, and 
Tuxedo
Mask saved her.  "Always have to get hurt because she gets herself in 
trouble."
Sailor Moon silently complained.  The scouts transformed back to their 
normal
selves and they all began to take a walk under the now bright sun.  Tuxedo 
Mask,
still in warrior form, walked ahead of them with Rini.  To Serena's dismay, 
she
saw Tuxedo Mask drink in every movement, every sound, every stupid song that
Rini produced.  Serena looked on with intense jealousy and a strong sense of
dereliction.  She sighed and decided to head home.  She knew she was going 
to
break soon and she didn't want any lectures, groans, or looks from the 
Peanut
Gallery.
        Serena ran up the stairs to her bedroom, ignoring the seemingly 
endless
questions from her cat and locked herself in.  There, in the safety of her 
room
she sobbed.  She felt her body convulse and she collapsed on her bed, face
buried in her pillow.  It was going to be a long night.
        This type of behavior continued.  Rini continued to be a brat and 
cause
friction between her and her parents.  Serena was constantly paying for 
things
that Rini did or started.  It was certainly not the kind of TLC a broken 
hearted
Serena needed right then.  Rini continued pestering and it only worsened.  
Soon
Rini befriended the scouts and Serena had nobody to complain about her to,
nobody to coifed in.  Serena desperately needed someone in her corner, to
emotionally support her weakened and battered soul.  But the more Rini acted
out, the more Luna would lecture Serena on what she was doing wrong.  Serena
began to cry herself to sleep at night, not sure if anyone even cared about 
her.
She was so broken inside.  Her muscles were always exhausted from the 
constant
strain of tension they were kept in.  Her stomach began to cause her sharp,
stabbing pains, an ulcer, she was sure.  She could do nothing for it though.
Every time she tried to tell someone, she'd either be balled out by Luna for
exaggerating, or get interrupted by Rini when she told her parents.
        If that wasn't bad enough, Rini became very close with Darien.  
Serena saw
herself slowly being replaced by Rini as far as Darien's time and thoughts 
were
concerned.  Whenever they happened to meet, he would ask about Rini's well
being rather than hers.  "If you only knew the pain I feel, Darien." Serena
screamed one night in her sleep.  She awoke in a cold sweat, her nightgown 
wet
and sticky, clinging to her skin.  Her hair damp, the slight odor of
perspiration reached her nose.  Serena dragged herself up, slowly, forced to
take extra time due to the now severe pain in her side.  She took a shower,
knowing full well she would not sleep anymore.
        The next day, Serena ran into Darien on a bridge by his apartment.  
She had
wrestled with possible reasons as to why he had distanced himself from her.  
Was
it her hair?  Her looks?  The way she ate?  Her laugh?  Her clumsiness?  Now
Serena confronted him.  He avoided her eyes and merely turned around, 
annoyed by
her presence, or so it seemed to Serena, as was his intent.  Darien took off
running in the opposite direction and left Serena sulking on the bridge.
        Later that fay, Serena couldn't concentrate.  She kept thinking of 
they way
Darien had just shut off his emotions to her.  She was going through 
internal
agony at the informal meeting.  Eventually Serena blurted out, "Hey you 
guys,
why do think Darien no longer cares for me?"  This comment only elicited
scolding from Luna and various, "What?" 's from her friends.  Serena put her 
head
down in shame and was about to cry.
        The sound of a motorcycle cut through her thoughts, enraging her.  
She was
already to the boiling point.  Her nerves were gone, completely burned out 
from
the last months of constant, never ceasing emotional trauma that she had 
been
unable to express to anyone.  Now it exploded, "How am I supposed to THINK 
with
all that noise?  STOP THAT RACKET!!!" she yelled in annoyance.
Darien lifted up the visor on his helmet, revealing he was the one on the
motor bike.  Serena felt anguish rush over her as she realized she had just
scolded the man she was trying to win back.  To make matters Darien had 
already
seemed to have moved on.  There was an attractive young red head tightly
clinging to his waist on the back of the motor cycle.  Serena couldn't 
think.
Her world caved in on itself over again.  She wanted nothing more than to 
crawl
into a black hole and close the opening, leaving the agonizing emotions 
outside.
Then came the worst blow of all.  Unknowingly she had said Darien's name
out loud.
        "Who is she Darien?" the girl asked.
        "Just some girl I know." he replied.  How COULD he be so cold?  I 
had saved him
from a life of poverty on the Moon.  I was his wife on the Moon.  I gave my 
life
for him when Beryl attacked the Kingdom.  I had gently tended him before he
was kidnapped by the Negaverse.  I healed him from the spell Beryl had put 
on
him, never once considering that giving up was an option.  I saved his life 
by
defeating Queen Beryl.  I pined away for him and fought Ann for him.  I let
his memory once again be restored, and I'm JUST some GIRL HE KNOWS?!?!?!
        Serena's heart raced with both anger and depression as she looked 
into Darien's
now stone cold eyes.  She had seen that expression on his face before.  It  
was
the same look he had given her the first time they met on the Moon after his
memory loss.  He had hated everyone back than and she was no different to 
him.
He had warmed up eventually but it had taken some work.
        Now he glared at her, as if mocking her with this, this, this... 
bitch clinging
to him.  She felt every nerve in her body, no matter how already frayed, 
crumble
worse, and she broke down.  As he drove away with the girl, she heard her
friends gasp in horror as they gained a glimpse of the pain that she was 
feeling
at that moment.  They finally understood but a portion of what Serena had 
been
through these past months.  Serena gathered every last bit of energy she had 
in
her and took off down the street, tears flooding down her cheeks.  She must 
have
tripped and fallen eight times before reaching her home.  She managed to 
stumble
up the stairs and get to her room.  Sammy was the only one home.
        Sammy was the only one in the household to hear Serena's cries and 
low screams
for her love at night.  Rini, now had her own room, despite the fact she
preferred Serena's bed.  Luna occasionally slept with Serena now, but mostly
spent her nights outside somewhere.  His room was next to Serena's, his
headboard touching the same wall as hers did on the other side.  Sammy felt 
so
sorry for his sister.  It was out of character for Sammy to care this much, 
but
he had seen the way his sister had lost the gleam in her eyes and had been
grabbing her side.  He knew something was terribly wrong having to do with
Darien.  Although he kept it to himself, Sammy had long ago learned of 
Serena's
secret identity of Sailor Moon.  He figured that Darien and Sailor Moon had
shared something deep, that he could not yet comprehend.
        Now Sammy sat on his bed listening to his sister scream in almost 
unearthly
wails and he could barely keep from crying himself.  He decided enough was
enough.  Serena obviously had nobody else to turn to so he got up the 
courage to
leave his room and go to her door.
        Hesitantly he knocked on the door.  Serena didn't hear.  He knocked 
again a
little louder.  Serena was crying so loud that she couldn't hear, Sammy 
knew.
Bravely, he slowly turned the door knob and opened the door a crack.  The 
full,
no longer muffled, sound of Serena's desperate cries filled his ears.  He 
winced
as they were so loud.  He finally opened the door all the way and took a few
steps inside.  His sister still did not know of his presence and she 
screamed,
"Darien!  Why did you leave me?  What did I do?"
        Sammy walked over to her writhing and shaking body and touched her 
back gently.
Serena jumped and cried out, startled by Sammy's touch.  Serena looked into 
his
face.  For the first time Sammy saw Serena not as his older sister but as a
woman who had been hurt.  He had never seen such a look before and he felt 
his
throat tighten.  To think she had been going through all this unbearable 
pain
alone, and had still managed to face the world everyday brought Sammy a 
whole new
respect for her.  She was stronger than he, or anyone, had ever given her 
credit
for being.  Now, Sammy felt as if her were looking into the face of agony
itself.  He crawled up onto the bed with Serena.
Serena was holding back her screams now that Sammy was there.  Then, to her
surprise, Sammy put his arms around Serena's shoulders and brought her face 
to
his chest.  He held his sister as she cried and he shushed her and told her 
that
he would be there for her.  Serena calmed and eventually looked up at Sammy.
Sammy glanced around the room and at last found the tissue box sitting on
Serena's window sill, by her bed.  He pulled one out with his shaking hand 
and
handed it to Serena.  She dried her face and looked at him for a long 
moment.
        "Thank you, Sammy." she almost whispered, her voice uncontrollably 
shaking from
crying.
        "Serena, why are you sad?  It's because of Darien, huh?  He doesn't 
deserve
you, Serena.  Anyone who would treat Sailor Moon like this is..."  Sammy 
trailed
off, realizing his mistake.
"You... How did....  Hold on a second here, Sammy.  How did you know I was
Sailor Moon?"
        Sammy shrugged, looking away.  He began to fiddle with the quilt and 
he bit his
lower lip.  Then, he rolled his eyes up to hers and slowly began to explain. 
  "I
was playing hide and seek with Rini." he started.  He noticed when he said
Rini's name, Serena winced.  Another sore spot, he realized.  "I was under 
your
bed.  But then you came in with Luna.  She started talking to you about 
focusing
more on being Sailor Moon rather than a normal teenager.  I'm sorry.  I- I
didn't snoop through your stuff, honest." he spoke pleading for almost
forgiveness.
        Serena sighed.  She looked for a long time at her brother.  She 
rolled her eyes
and then looked at him with a half smile.  "Just don't tell Mom and Dad." 
she
said with a smile now starting to form across her face.  It wasn't a real 
smile
though.  At least not one of his sister's smiles.  It held no joy.  Sammy 
felt
an ache in his throat.  He smiled back.  He realized Serena already knew 
that he
would not tell.
        "So how did you get to be Sailor Moon?" Sammy asked curiously, 
trying to change
the subject from Darien.  Serena's eyes had confirmed that Darien was in 
fact
the cause of her pain.  It made Sammy angry that he was doing this.
        Serena laughed slightly.  "How much time you got, Sam?" she giggled 
rolling her
eyes heavenward and twisting the tissue in her hands.  She crossed her legs 
and
looked at her little brother's expression.  For once, she felt like she and
Sammy could talk.  He had said some of the most mature things she had ever 
heard
him say earlier.  Sammy gazed solemnly back at her,
        "All the time you need, Serena."
        For the next two hours Serena explained.  Sammy grabbed a pillow and 
sat hunched
forward, cross-legged, holding the pillow in his lap and under his chin.  
Serena
put another pillow against the headboard and leaned back.
        "Well, it all started several millenniums ago in a place called the 
Moon
Kingdom.  It was during the time called the Silver Millennium.  This was 
when all
the planets were populated and the Moon was the Supreme ruler over the 
entire
galaxy.  The Moon ruled because it alone possessed the ability to channel 
the
power of the Empyrean Silver Crystal.    My Mother was the Queen of the 
Moon.
Her name was Queen Serenity.  She was warm, loving, and very beautiful.  Her
husband, my father was killed in a battle with the Negaverse when she was
pregnant with me."
        "You were a Princess?" Sammy said stunned.  Sure, he respected 
Serena now but
she was really not Princess material.  Serena giggled as she read Sammy's
thoughts.
        "Honestly Sammy, I was a lot more graceful on the Moon than now!  
Anyway, I was
raised to not only be a Princess, but the Supreme Princess Serena of the 
Moon
Kingdom, for I too, would one day rule the galaxy.  With my title came 
strong
powers and strict rules."
        Sammy sat intently listening to his sister speak of the Court 
structure and how
Lita, Mina, Amy, and Raye had all been Princesses as well.  He could hardly
believe that he had fought with the Princess of the entire galaxy over a 
waffle
before.
        "Then there were two Princes.  One from Saturn and one from Earth.  
Their names
were Micah... and Darien."  Serena's voice faltered.  She looked heavenward 
and
quickly fanned her eyes with her hands.  Then she continued.
        "Prince Darien disappeared when he was nine.  I was five.  Nobody 
could find
him.  Because of this, at the age of thirteen it was of course decided that 
I
would marry Micah.  I was upset by this... Because he abused me." Serena 
stated
looking toward the window with a gleam of bitterness in her eyes and a hint 
in
her voice.
        "Then, one day he attacked me in a theatre and a man the cast all 
called,
'Tuxedo Mask' saved me.  He was supposedly a ghost, but now I knew he wasn't
anything more than a man who lived there.  He had no memories of his past 
and
was very intriguing.  To make a long story short, we fell in love, even 
though it
was forbidden for me to love anyone but a Prince and for him, to love the
Supreme Princess.  However, it didn't stop us from seeing each other and..."
Serena blushed.
        "Oh!  Gross, Serena!  I don't want to hear about THAT part."  Serena 
smiled.
        "Well one night, Micah found us together.  The Court exiled Tuxedo 
Mask to a
distant planet and I, being completely in love, agreed to fake my own death 
and
run away with him.  The next thing I knew, I was living with Tuxedo Mask, 
now
known as Skyler on a planet called Trysidia.  The people there embraced us 
and
we built lives there.  After a year, Skyler remembered who he really was.  
He
was Darien, Prince of Earth.  We returned to the Moon Kingdom and were wed.  
It
was not long after that, that the Negaverse attacked the Moon Kingdom with a
vengeance.  They destroyed all of the planets except Earth.  The Court was
slaughtered.  My Mother, the Inner planetary Scouts, Darien, and I were the 
only
one's left on the Moon alive.  Queen Beryl attempted to kill me but Darien
stopped her.  When Beryl offered him a position at her side, he declined,
sending her into a rage.  She blasted Darien into he air, ripping him away 
from
me.  I could not bare my life without him so I ran off the balcony and 
jumped
into the swirling winds.  We grasped hands for a moment before Beryl blasted
us both and killed us.  We died screaming each other's names.  My Mother 
used the
power of the Silver Crystal to send all of the royalty, populations, and 
Court
to the future to be reborn on Earth, as humans."
        "You were born here, then.  On Earth.  So technically, you are still 
my
biological sister, right?" Sammy asked tentatively.
        "Yes Sammy." Serena replied smiling at him.  She leaned forward and 
reached for
another tissue.  She had managed to effectively shred the first one.
        "It wasn't until a almost year ago that Luna found me.  My Mother 
had sent her
and her male friend, Artemis, to be our guardians and to revive us in case 
the
Negaverse attacked again.  Unfortunately, they did.  Luna then gave me a 
locket
with which I was to transform into a warrior named Sailor Moon.  I fought 
evil
for a while alone until we eventually found Sailor Mercury.  Not long after 
that
we found Sailor Mars.  It was just the three of us for a long while until 
Sailor
Jupiter was discovered.  Sailor Venus later found us in a battle.  None of 
us
had any memory of the Moon Kingdom.  Then there was Tuxedo Mask who always
showed up to save us.  We never really had contact with him, he just 
appeared.
        Now the next big thing that happened was when Darien got challenged 
by Zoisite,
a Negaverse general.  She kidnapped both him and me in the process.  We 
learned
of each other's identities just in time to have him get mortally injured.  
When I
began to cry over his body, the seven rainbow crystals, which had been 
coveted
by both the Negaverse and the Scouts, joined together forming the Silver
Crystal.  It transformed me into Princess Serena and that's when, I regained 
my
memory.
        The Negaverse kidnapped Darien and kept sending monsters to try and 
destroy me
and get the Crystal.  They brainwashed Tuxedo Mask and had him fight us 
because
they knew I couldn't kill him.
        The Scouts and I finally launched a counter offensive.  We defeated 
Beryl
after a long battle and were sent back to Earth, only Luna and Artemis
remembered anything.  I was revived a second time when two aliens began to
attack people in Tokyo again.  Needless to say, the others were revived as 
well.
Darien took a long time getting his memory back.  He finally did, recently.  
We
could at last live happily ever after.  But then, he spontaneously dumped 
me.
No reason.  No explanation.  Just left me.  After all that."
        Serena burst into tears.  Sammy couldn't believe his sister's story. 
  Anger
rose in him as he wanted to condemn Darien for doing this to not only his 
sister,
his Serena, but to a girl who Darien has sworn unending love.  How COULD 
he!?

        That night Serena was in a battle and came near death.  Tuxedo Mask 
showed up
and saved her, as always, but this time, he saved her life with a kiss.  A 
kiss
of true love, so the droid had yelled.  But when Serena asked Darien if his
feelings had changed, he merely turned from her and told her that, "Our love 
is
like a rose; beautiful when it's in bloom, but it can't last forever."
        Serena felt as if Darien had taken that rose and shoved it's thorns 
through her
already bleeding heart.  She collapsed on the ground, tears escaping her 
already
puffy eyes and began to gather the rose petals in vain.  "Come back, 
Darien."
        Serena later found out that the girl clinging to Darien was not his 
girlfriend,
but Andrew's sister.  Serena felt a wave of relief wash over her as she sat 
back
into the booth.  She picked up the cold milkshake.  She took a long sip and 
felt
the icy cold on her hands, making her fingers go slightly numb.  She 
realized
she still had a chance with Darien and practically announced it to the 
entire
restaurant.
        She managed to live through her life.  As it ended up, the Scouts 
were able to
convert the four sisters from being evil to nega-energy free.  Serena was
overjoyed when she heard that they would be opening a make-up shop.  Free
discounts!
        Through all of this, Serena felt the pain of Darien's neglect.  She 
was not as
good at fighting as she normally was.  Serena was even more distracted at
school.  Instead of 20's she was now scoring in the 8's.  Even with the 
worry of
her friends, Serena felt totally alone.

        Now Serena was laying in bed, crying.  That was where the nightmare 
started.
All of it a never ending; an eternal progressively worsening nightmare.  She 
was
touched by the way Sammy had cared for her.  She pulled the covers up to her
chin.  She heard Luna sigh at the end of the bed.  'A sigh in peaceful 
sleep'
Serena thought enviously.  Serena had not slept well in weeks.  When she did
sleep, she saw Darien.  Pushing her away.  Rejecting her, despite her calls 
to
him.
        Serena pondered for a while more before a realization finally hit 
her.  'What
if he really did just love me on the Moon because of my power and looks?"
Serena remembered how The King of Neptune had stood up and proclaimed to the
court that, "He's manipulating her.  Of course he LOVES her.  Have you 
looked at
her?  She's gorgeous!"  Serena recalled that for this statement the Queen of
Neptune had beat her husband upside the head.  'I always had liked her 
style.'
Serena thought almost laughing.  'But what if he had been right?  What if 
Darien
only loved me because I was rich and powerful?  It would explain why he's 
all of
a sudden dumping me and hanging out with Rini.  She's supposedly a Princess,
right?  That explains a lot."  Serena's eyes began to swell, but there were 
no
tears left in her eyes to cry.  She let out an agonizing wail and buried her
face in her pillow, now pulling the covers completely over her head.  She 
curled
up into a ball and felt her stomach scream in agony.
        Her whimpers finally alerted the snoozing cat on the bed.  Luna 
sighed as she
awoke.  She felt sorry for poor Serena.  Luna knew all that the poor thing
wanted was to be a normal girl, but she simply couldn't have it.  And if 
that
wasn't bad enough, her boyfriend of a whole Millennium was now pushing her 
away.
His reason was, as Luna recalled, "Because."  She had confronted Darien when
Serena was near death, thanks to the droid who had tried to banish her to 
sleep
eternally.  Luna didn't understand any of their relationship, other than 
they
had been very much so in love on the Moon, and now Serena was the only one 
with
apparent feelings.  Luna arched her back and spread her claws.  She yawned
loudly as she glanced at the clock.  6:30 it read.  She would need to rouse
Serena soon for a school.
        Luna pounced on Serena at 7:00.  Serena let out a agonizing yelp as 
Luna had
landed on her stomach.  She rubbed her eyes and reached for her clock.  Only
7:00?  "Luna." Serena growled.  "I wanna sleep in a little."  Serena 
couldn't be
blamed.  She had just barely fallen asleep not even a half hour ago.
        "Time to get up Serena.  You have school to go to.  You really need 
to take
being a student more seriously."
        'Ahhh.  The morning lecture.'  Serena had often considered locking 
Luna out of
her room.  She tried it once, but her Mother had let Luna in.  Serena 
couldn't
stand to be ragged on before she even had time to let her eyes adjust to the
light.  Serena threw her feet off the side of the bed and sat up, allowing 
the
covers to slip down her body.  Serena shivered as the cold
first-out-of-bed-in-the-morning draft encased her body.  She stood up slowly 
and
leaned back, hands supporting and cracking her back.  Serena proceeded to 
meet
the new day with very little enthusiasm.
        Serena drawled through the day.  She could barely stay awake in her 
classes.
She put her head down on her desk and moaned.  She ached from tossing and
turning all night.  Her side felt like it had a knife in it and she was 
weary
from constant stress.  Finally during her last period, she conked out on her
desk, unbeknownst to her teacher, Miss Haruna.  When the bell rang, Serena
didn't even stir.  Miss Haruna rushed right out, not even noticing Serena.  
She
had a hot date that night and was eager to get out of school.  Serena was
awakened by the sound of the door shutting.  She stretched and glanced up at 
the
clock.  Her eyes stung as they adjusted to the light.  3:30!?  She was 
supposed
to be at the temple by 3:45!  Serena dashed out of her seat and raced home.  
She
greeted Rini in the stairway as she ran into her room to change.  Then she
dashed out the door again, ignoring her Mother's inquiry about her exam.
        Serena was as always fashionably late to the meeting.  When she 
arrived, she
saw that Lita had baked cookies and this was delight to Serena's taste buds.
Serena ate happily for a while.  The Scouts began to talk about Rini being 
in
danger and the new threat of Rubeus.  Serena heard some of the talk, but it 
was,
for the most part, drowned out by the content sounds of her munching.
                        Meanwhile
        Rini had discovered Serena's secret identity of being Sailor Moon.  
She had
seen her and the Scout's transform when they were going to fight Prisma and
Avary.  Now she also knew the location of the Silver Crystal.  Rini had 
mixed
feelings about stealing the crystal now that she knew that Serena needed it 
to
transform into Sailor Moon.
        Rini was in the kitchen with Serena's Mother.  They were going to 
have a tea
party and Mrs. Tsukino was making pancakes.  She ran over to her 'aunt' and
asked if she could help.
        Rini jumped up and down in delight.  Then she looked at the tall 
stack of
pancakes sitting off to the side.  "Why are you making so many?" she asked.  
She
knew that she and her aunt could not possibly be for just the both of them.
Serena's mother explained that she was making some for Sammy and Serena, 
too.
Rini realized what a good Mother Serena had and felt angry that Serena 
didn't
appreciate her Mom.  At least, that's what Rini thought.  Serena wasn't
unappreciative, just preoccupied now that her life was a mess.  Rini never
really gave much mind to Serena's pain and in fact rubbed Darien in Serena's
face as much as possible.  She wandered up the stairs to Serena's room and 
found
her locket laying on Serena's school uniform.  "How could she just leave it
there?"  Rini also commented how Serena was a brat and how she didn't 
appreciate
her Mother like she should.  Rini then decided that Serena wasn't worthy of 
the
crystal and unlatched it from the uniform.  The locket was surpassingly warm 
from
the crystal's power.
          It was then that Serena came in through the front door.  "Hi 
Serena.  I made
pancakes if you want some." Mrs. Tsukino called.
        "No thanks Mom!  I got totally stuffed on Lita's cookies.  I can't 
eat another
bite!"
        Rini left the room and Serena rushed in.
        "Locket's gone!"
        "This is bad!" Luna yelled, hair standing on end.
        Serena felt rage sweep through her.  She was no longer more 
concerned for
Rini's welfare, only in retrieving what was rightfully hers.  She had begun 
to
feel sorry for Rini during the meeting but now...  Other than the scepter 
and
memories, the locket was all she had left of Queen Serenity.  Not to mention
that now she could not transform into Sailor Moon.
        There was a big run around for the rest of the day trying to find 
Rini.  Serena
checked the parks, her school, friends houses, all turning up nothing.  
Later
she joined up with the scouts who had, to Serena's surprise, already saved 
her
from one of Rubeus's attacks.  They couldn't find her though.  They claimed 
she
took off running through the traffic, almost getting hit by three cars.  
Serena
was angry.  Rini had taken off leaving Serena helpless to an attack.  'That
child has no mind for reasoning, does she?' Serena thought fuming.  Then it 
hit
Serena where Rini probably was.  As she suspected she found Rini that night 
at
Darien's place... just in time for her to escape by way of the balcony.  
Serena
was perturbed.  Her legs ached from walking all day all over Tokyo.  Her 
mind
raced with thoughts of the Rubeus attacking and her not being able to help 
her
friends fight.
        Finally all of her nightmares came true.  Serena left the apartment 
and began
to scour the streets again, for Rini.  She had no idea where to look this 
time.
She now had to go and try all of her usual places again.  Serena rounded a
corner of a building just in time to see the Scouts in a last desperation
attempt.  They were trying to save 'that brat' from some sort of a gravity
amplification beam.  Tuxedo Mask rushed in and saved Rini but the scouts 
were
another story.  Serena stood by, helplessly watching.  She felt her fists
tighten in fury at Rini and Rubeus.  It was in her right mind just to give
Rubeus the spore without the crystal.  "Screw saving the brat.  She brought 
this
on herself by stealing my locket!  And now MY friends could die!"
        The Scouts were lifted up into the Dark Fortress.  Serena screamed 
for them,
but of course it did no good.  She ran under where Rubeus was and looked up 
at
him.  He demanded Rini and the Crystal in return for the Scout's release and
gave Serena three hours to make a choice.  Serena felt her side worsen and 
she
collapsed in pain.  Rubeus disappeared and the Dark Fortress lifted into 
space.
Serena managed to get to her feet, with no help of course, and walk into a
sheltered area where her legs finally gave out.  Darien and Rini walked over 
to
her now, but stayed a good fifteen feet away.  Serena burst into tears.  
Just
when she thought things couldn't get any worse, they found a way.  Luna came
over to her and she felt a warm paw touch her leg.  Serena looked down at 
the
cat, who was obviously concerned for her.  Serena noticed Darien comforting 
a
crying Rini off to the side.
        'She should cry!  Let her cry, Darien.' Serena thought angrily.  
Luna followed
Serena's infuriated gaze over to the two.  Serena got up by pulling herself 
up
on a trash bin and walked over to them.  All she could do was glare.  As she
approached, both Darien and Rini's gaze lifted to the most murderous look 
either
had ever seen.  Serena was furious.  All Serena did was reach out her hand
toward Rini and she handed Serena the locket without protest.  Serena turned 
and
began walking the other way stiffly.
        "She was just trying to save her Mother, Serena.  Have a heart." 
Darien spoke
scoldingly, still holding Rini, who now had her eyes glued to Serena's back. 
  It
was the wrong thing to do.  Serena clenched her fist and a small flash of 
red
light emanated from within her being and out her hand.  The powers she had
possessed as Supreme Princess were still inside her, but she managed to be
rather controlled on Earth.  But now she couldn't help herself.  Darien had
finally pushed her to the point of no return.  Serena slowly pivoted, her 
head
low.  Her eyes fixated on the man who had just spoken.  She marched over to 
him
and looked him dead in the eye.  Even the cats were frightened at this point 
and
scooted back away from her.  Darien gulped nervously and wished he had not
spoken.
        "What?" Serena asked with an eerie calmness to her voice.  It was 
almost a
growl.  "This little brat     moved into MY house.      Disrupted MY life 
and
made it a living HELL.     Stole MY locket, got MY      friends captured, 
has
put all of us     in a very bad position by letting THEM," Serena pointed to 
the
Dark Fortes, "have hostages.    I do not GET an apology OR an EXPLANATION 
from
either of YOU TWO about ANNN-Y-THING           and YOU,         MISTER Chiba
have the FUCKING AUDACITY to SIT THERE AND DEFEND HER??????" Serena roared 
in an
almost unearthly tone.  She was disgusted by Darien behavior towards her and 
his
sweetness toward Rini.  "No.  I REFUSE to do this BRAT ANYMORE FAVORS!!!" 
Serena
took a breath and calmed down.  She could see she was frightening the both 
of
them.  This gave her a feeling gladness, guilt,.... and power.  Now she 
looked
directly at Rini's terrified and shocked face.  "I have been patient with 
you
and quite tolerant.  But no more.  You crossed the line Rini.  You are a
spoiled, disobedient, selfish, ill-mannered, ungrateful little worm and you 
do
not DESERVE my help.  But I don't really have a choice now, thanks to you, 
DO
I??"  Serena raised her eyes from Rini, who now had tears running down her 
face,
to the general both of them.  "I am going back with Luna and Artemis.  I 
take it
they are going to your guys's place (that's right.  Darien and Rini's) to 
try to
plan our next move.  So Darien you can sit here, and comfort the one that 
you
love so very dearly, even though she CAUSED the whole mess, but you cannot 
and
WILL NOT expect me to comfort her."  Serena pointed an angrily trembling 
finger
at Darien.  "Don't scold me.  Don't speak to me.  Don't even look me in the 
eye,
or else I will NOT be held responsible for what happens."
        Serena once again turned, this time not called back by anyone and 
turned to the
cats hiding under a board.  "Come on guys." she said in her normally sweet 
and
what was now her normally incredibly hurt voice.  She took a deep breath in 
and
sighed with heartache and release.  It felt good to yell at them, finally
releasing her anger and frustrations.
        Luna would have scolded her under any other circumstance, but not 
now.  In
Serena's entire existence, she had never seen Serena anger so.  Up until 
that
point Luna never even considered that Serena still possessed her old powers.
But now she knew otherwise.  That flash of red light had only been used once
during the entire existence of the Moon.  That red light was the energy of 
all
the anger and hatred that a Moon person felt towards another person or 
thing.
Normally, the amount of anger was not enough to even come close to flashing, 
but
Serena had been pushed and pushed and pushed.  Luna knew that she was right 
as
far as it being Rini's fault and that Rini was rather spoiled.  But Luna did 
not
think Serena should have told her.
        Serena and the cats sat in Darien's apartment while Darien and Rini 
were up on
the roof.  Darien had told Luna that he was going to try to figure out what
exactly happened to Rini's Mom.  Luna and Artemis sat on Darien's bed facing
what was now an angry, hurt, but under control Serena.  Serena sat on the 
coach,
slumped forward, clutching the locket in both hands.  Her eyes fixated on 
the
star formation of the brooch.  Serena growled and took the locket into her 
left
hand and squeezed so hard that her knuckles turned white.
        "Ooooh.  I could throttle that miserable brat!  My friends are in 
big trouble
because of her.  She's never been nice to me.  She's nothing but trouble!  
Why
do I always have to save her?"  Luna and Artemis gasped and raised their
eyebrows.
        "Serena!" Artemis said in a way that meant, "Come on!  Stop it!"  
Serena looked
up at the cats.
        "I have to make a choice between four friends I love and an 
ungrateful,
spoiled, and manipulative little brat.  Guess you can tell which way I'm
leaning.  This is too hard for me.  I don't know what to do."
        The cats sat forward in astonishment and reproach.  "Serena, you 
know you can't
abandon Rini.  You can't mean it!"
        Serena looked away for a moment.  "You're right, Luna.  I don't get 
it." Serena
looked up with stars of thoughtfulness in her eyes.  "Part of me wants to 
blast
that rotten kid into outer space and part of me wants to protect her."
        The cats looked at her in sudden understanding.  Serena was not only 
fighting
with Rini and Darien, she was fighting with herself.  It made it rather hard 
to
choose sides.
        "Your choice is hard." Luna mused.
        "I'm sorry.  I'm just too tired to think straight." Serena finished. 
  Luna and
Artemis told her that they would try to think of a plan.  Serena thanked 
them
and slowly brought herself to be able to get up.  She told Luna and Artemis 
she
just needed some fresh air.  As she left, the cats moaned pity - laden,
"ohh."'s on Serena.
        It did not take long for Serena to realize what her only course of 
action was.
She decided to go alone.  Her friends needed her and she thought Rubeus 
might
just accept the Silver Crystal as payment.  She figured that there must be a
reason Rubeus wanted Rini and it would not be wise just to hand her over.
Further more, Serena knew she could never put Rini in danger.  I was one 
thing
to think about giving her up, but she could never allow Rubeus to torture 
any
child.
        Serena gazed into the starlit sky and whispered.  "Hang on, guys.  
I'm coming."
Serena took off her shoes and tip toed by the cats.  She hurried down the 
hall,
hoping the cats wouldn't notice she was missing until she was already gone.  
She
ran to the elevator and pushed the cold down key.  It seemed to take ages as 
she
waited and ended up pressing the key repeatedly.  When the door finally 
opened,
she pressed the ground floor button before she was even all the way in the
elevator.
        Serena raced down the street and transformed into Sailor Moon.  It 
was three
hour and Sailor Moon was going to attempt to make a trade.  The Silver 
Crystal
for the Scouts.  What choice did she have?
        Unfortunately, Rini had other plans.  Just as Rubeus appeared Rini 
ran up
behind Sailor Moon and Rubeus took this as Sailor Moon was giving up.  
Sailor
Moon whirled around in frustration and glared at Rini.  "What are you doing
here?" she demanded.  "This is my fault.  I'm going to help." Rini answered.
        "No.  Go away.  Don't you see?  You're giving Rubeus exactly what he 
wants!"
But it was too late.  The two of them were lifted off the ground and taken 
into
the Dark Fortress.  Upon arrival, Rubeus began to toy with Sailor Moon by 
making
her float and then drop by using a gravity beam.  A large black crystal fed 
his
power and Sailor Moon could do nothing to fight.  Finally, Rubeus put on the
full force of the gravity beam pinning Sailor Moon to the ground.  Sailor 
Moon
could do nothing.  She felt so heavy.  That's when she saw the face of Queen
Serenity standing in front of her.  Serena looked at her and thought, 'If I
don't get up and fight, Mother will have died for nothing.  She gave her 
life so
that I could live, and I'm not going to let Rubeus make that sacrifice 
become in
vain.'
        "You are such a coward.. and a vicious monster." she gasped
        Serena groaned, but felt a surge of energy tear through her body.  
She slowly
began to stand up, although her body was shaking with effort, defying Rubeus 
and
his power.  Rubeus looked on with awe as she stood.  "How can that be?  You 
are
standing with the G force at maximum capacity!" he spoke in astonishment.
        "I'll never give up.  As long as there are people I love in danger, 
I will
stand to defy you.  I'll battle you and fight for love and justice, because 
I'm
Sailor Moon." Sailor Moon spoke, rushing the words as if she was not sure 
how
much longer she would be able to talk.  Rubeus lifted the beam off of her 
and
she stood normally once again.  "Take your best shot, Sailor Moon." He
challenged.
        Sailor Moon raised her scepter and blasted.  Rubeus met her power 
with his own
and they fought, for a moment before Rubeus amplified his and hit Sailor 
Moon,
sending her body flying across the room, slamming him into the wall.
        Rini, in the mean time, was watching all these goings on, unable to 
help
because of an invisible force field around her.  Luckily, the Dark Crystal, 
that
fed Rubeus's strength, was within her reach.  She ran and jumped onto it.  
The
Crystal blasted her, but she kept pulling, trying to dislodge it.  Rubeus 
looked
back at her.  "I turn around for one minute and she already destroying my 
power
source." Rubeus growled.  He raised his hands and was about to attack when 
he
heard, "Moon Scepter... Activation!"  He turned in time to fire back.  "Pull
harder Rini!" Sailor Moon screamed as she continued her stream of fire.  
Rini
began to scream with pain and frustration,. thus releasing her energy and 
giving
her the strength to destroy the crystal.  Sailor Moon blasted Rubeus as his
power ceased.  The scouts were released and they teleported back to Earth, 
just
in time for the Dark Fortress to explode, killing Rubeus.
        The next day, Serena saw a real change in Rini.  She was no longer 
disobedient
and not quite as rude as she had been to Serena.  This came as a great 
relief to
Serena as it also allowed her to be nicer to Rini and therefore not harbor 
any
ill will.  Further more, Luna no longer lectured Serena for being mean to 
Rini
because she wasn't.  Although things seemed to be improving for Serena, she
still carried over half of her original pain.  She felt a slight anger 
directed
at the Scouts and Luna for neglecting her when she needed them most.  She
remembered Rini's bad attitude and was still upset that her Mother and 
Father
seemed to favor her more than their own children.
        Then there was of course Darien who was still acting aloof as ever, 
now more so
in ignoring Serena.  Now Serena finally understood why he was doing this 
though.
He only cared for her as a Princess he loved in a past life.  Darien saved 
her
only because he felt inclined to save the Princess he USED to love.  Kind of 
a
guilt and obligation thing.  If he had actually loved her for who she was 
now,
he would have felt it immediately as she did for him.  He had just exhausted 
of
pretending to love her in this world when he did not in fact even love her 
in the
last one.  He had used Princess Serena for her money, beauty, power, and
influence and never actually cared for HER, who she WAS.  This realization
brought Serena more pain than she ever had before when she thought of how he 
had
used her.  At least before, she had the illusion that he cared for her... 
once.
But now, she recognized the full truth in it's gruesome whole.  She was 
unloved.
        Rini fell ill and Serena called her friends over.  That was when 
they all had
the privilege of meeting Luna P, a.k.a. Sailor Pluto.  Luna and Artemis sat 
in
complete shock, as there was another Sailor Scout.  Although Luna and 
Artemis
retained the memories of the Moon Kingdom, they did not remember that the 
Moon
Court did not just consist of Mars, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and the Moon.  
The
Court evidently had included the outer planets as well, as Serena already 
knew.
        This turned out to be one of the Scout's more interesting adventures 
because
they were not fighting an actual enemy, per se.  They were fighting a man in
Rini's dream and would have been unable to stop him from killing Rini if 
Sailor
Moon had not convinced Rini that they could win, if she believed they could.
Once Pluto returned the Sailors to reality, Rini woke up and saw Luna P and
asked if she could go home.  Luna P told Rini that she had to stay, evoking
tears from Rini who then turned and buried her face against Serena.
        Just when Serena thought that things were going to calm down as far 
as the
Negamoon was concerned they were attacked by another commanding general, 
this
one a lady and more powerful than Rubeus.  Her name was Emerald.  After
defeating her, the scout stood around and exchanged words and insults.  
Emerald
stated that, "I did not expect to have such young children be my 
adversaries."
To this Jupiter replied, "We're not children, and we could beat you any day 
ya
old hag!"  That was when Emerald divested her official rank and just how 
highly
she thought of herself.  The Scouts groaned and finally she left.  "Thank
Goodness!" Serena breathed.
        Serena was in her room, not even attempting to sleep.  Luna was down 
stairs on
the couch and Rini was in her room.  Serena hugged her pillow and sighed.  
She
glanced at her clock.  3:48 it read.  She glanced back down at her covers 
and
nightclothes and then got an idea.  She wiped her wet eyes and reached for 
her
disguise pen.  She didn't necessarily have to become someone else, but this 
was
a great way to try on new clothes.  She went and stood in front of the 
mirror
and scowled at how unattractive she looked in these P.J.'s.  Serena raised 
the
pen and made her nightgown into a beautiful red dress.  It was Japanese.  
Red
with little intricate flowers on the fabric.  The dress reached her ankles 
but
had giant slits up the sides, reaching her hips, exposing her beautifully 
slim
but curvaceous legs.  The sight brought a sideways smile to Serena's lips.  
'I
look beautiful.' she thought as she turned from side to side, running her 
hands
down and across her firm belly.  The dress made her bust look even bigger 
and
her waist smaller.  She posed repeatedly as if modeling for the mirror.  She
giggled.
        Then her happiness came to an end as she realized she no longer had 
anyone to
appreciate her in this dress.  Serena raised the pen again, now back in her
normal night attire.  She glared at her appearance and thoughts of 
determination
crept into her mind.  'If Darien wants to toy with my emotions, fine.  I'll 
try
one last time to see if there was anything between us, but after that, I'm
setting out and getting the greatest guy on this planet.'  She steeped 
lightly
over to the window and glanced up at the Moon and then out over the city.  
'One
last chance, Darien.  For our love's sake, you had better prove yourself to 
me.'
Serena closed her curtains and collapsed on the bed, once again feeling
abandoned, but now she had more of a feeling of loss and bitterness than 
anger.
What they had on the Moon was so beautiful, at least for her.  She wanted 
more
than anything to travel back through time and just spend one more night with 
her
Prince.  She let her mind travel back to when Tuxedo Mask and her had run 
away
to a planet called Trysidia.  Serena wondered what it would be like if she 
and he
had not come back to the Moon Kingdom and just stayed there... Got married,
raised a family, never died, always existing in total happiness.  Serena 
wished
she had now.  If they hadn't returned to the Moon, she and Darien would 
still be
in love, still alive on Trysidia.  She huffed loudly and got up from her 
bed.
She knew Darien had no idea that they had run off to Trysidia.
        Now 7:00, Serena got dressed for school and raced off.  She was 
tired, sad, and
lonely, and she didn't feel like being yelled at by Miss H today for 
tardiness.
Serena sighed, cried, and groaned through the day.  Miss H was too excited 
about
her date that night to notice Serena's outright unhappiness, but her 
classmates
sure did.  Especially Molly.  She and Melvin talked to Serena during lunch 
about
her problems.
        Serena confessed that she was having guy trouble with Darien and 
Molly
suggested that she go to a new love bracelet store.  Serena grinned.  
Wouldn't
it be great to be able to have a bracelet that would solve everything.  She 
knew
that the bracelet couldn't possibly work, but she figured it couldn't hurt 
to
have one.
        Serena was silent as she walked home with Amy and Lita that day 
after school,
alerting her friends to her present stated of genuine joylessness.  They
inquired Serena as to her problems, but she shook off their worry and simply
changed the subject by asking them if they wanted to visit the new love 
bracelet
shop.
        It was then the Darien rounded their corner.  Serena turned and 
stood in awe
for a long moment.  "Darien." whispered to herself.  The night before she 
was
sure she would be able to just walk away from Darien forever, if he rejected
her.  But now, looking at his face... a face that once held an expression of
love for her, she knew that would never be possible.  She would die with him 
or
die alone.  Ger heart would never belong to another man as long as she 
lived.
Serena felt her heart leap as she took a few careful steps forward, and then
felt it race with alarm as Darien started to turn away.  She tried to run to
him.  "Darien, wait!"  Her body wouldn't respond to her and she tripped and 
fell
on the side walk.  She began to cry and she saw Darien turn back.  Was that
concern on his face?  No.  He's just being polite.
        Serena looked up at him, and although she couldn't remember her 
exact words for
the life of her, she asked him why he had deserted her.  She told him she 
would
change for him... Even cut her hair if her wanted.  Darien told her not to
change, that wasn't it, and walked off, leaving Serena crying and her 
friends in
shock.  Lita began to feel anger rising in her bones.  She clenched her 
fists.
"Jerk.  Why can't he pick on someone his own size?" she growled, speaking to
nobody in particular.  Then kneeling by Serena she placed a comforting hand 
on
her back.  "You're too good for him, Serena.  He's a heartless clod!  Sure 
he
was great in the past, but now...  You gotta take him like he is now.  Don't
base your feelings on what he used to be.  Base them on the now.  This is 
who he
is and you can't change him no matter how much he needs to be changed.  
You're
so sweet and beautiful, you could get any guy you wanted.  Get a guy who 
will
treat you the way you deserve to be treated.  If Darien doesn't know how to
court a lady, that's his loss.  Don't blame yourself and let yourself be 
brought
down.  You deserve BETTER!" Lita finished.
        Amy half agreed with Lita but half didn't.  Lita was right that 
Darien didn't
treat Serena right.  She even agreed that Serena should give up on him and 
find
someone better.  But Lita was very short sighted.  She was the type of 
person
who acts before she thinks things through and lets her emotions dictate her
life.  This characteristic sometimes proved to be a flaw, while others, it 
saved
their lives.  What Lita failed to realize this time was that Darien must be
acting this way for a reason.  Amy was not convinced Darien was TRYING to 
hurt
Serena, but yet he was doing a bang up job of it.  Amy, always the 
insightful
one knelt down on the other side of Serena's crying body.  "Just follow your
heart, Serena." she offered.
        Serena groaned and lifted her head.  "The problem is, I don't know 
what my
heart is telling me." she informed Amy.  Lita decided to get Serena's mind 
off
Darien.  "How about heading to that store, Serena." she suggested.  The 
girls
got up and continued down the street.  Amy and Lita tried to talk with one
another, to create a feeling of normalcy for Serena, but Serena remained
basically silent.
        That night Serena was trying hard to concentrate on the bracelet.  
However her
lack of sleep would not allow her to focus and soon she drifted off into a
restless sleep.  That was when it happened.  Serena dreamed the dream Darien 
had
been having for the last few months.  Serena felt the pain in her side 
worsen as
she awoke.  She looked around and was rather startled by the vividness and 
the
intensity of the dream.  She reached over and grabbed the picture of her and
Darien.  It shattered.
        Serena ran out of the house, with sudden understanding.  She bolted 
down the
streets of Tokyo until she reached Darien's apartment.  Rather than wait for 
an
elevator, she dashed up the stairs to his apartment.  Finally, she reached 
his
level and opened the door to the stair case.  She reached his door and
straightened her hair.  She lifted her hand to knock on his door.  But then 
she
stopped.  She lowered her hand and turned away from the door.
        'Serena.  You stupid girl.  You know better.  It was just a dream.  
It doesn't
MEAN anything.  Darien won't care and will probably just think you made up 
an
excuse to come over to his place.  Leave while you have SOME dignity left.'
Serena headed for the elevators, no longer in any hurry.  The fatigue of her
legs and the intensity of the pain in her side, she now acknowledged, taking 
it
slow and easy.  The elevator arrived and she headed down to the ground floor
again.  When she stepped out of the building , Rini and Luna were outside... 
and
Rini was being attacked by a love bracelet?  She screamed, although not 
emitting
her energy this time and Luna grabbed the bracelet with her teeth and saved 
her.
Serena ran to Rini to see if she was all right.  When she said she was, 
Serena ran
to the love bracelet store.  Everyone there was being attacked and Serena
transformed into Sailor Moon just in time, before a droid appeared.  The 
scouts
arrived and so went a battle.  The droid was some sort of emotion droid that
attacked the scouts, threatening to destroy them with intense and painful
emotions.  Tuxedo Mask made an appearance and encouraged Sailor Moon with
unusual warmness.  This show of emotion slightly confused Serena, but she 
pushed
it away from her mind and defeated the monster.  After the fight Tuxedo Mask
gave a short speech on how the scouts are stronger together.  'Blah blah 
blah.'
Serena thought as she rolled her eyes.  'Together is great for you, except 
when
it comes to me.'  He left and Serena couldn't help but look longingly upon 
his
departing figure.  His speeches may have been cheesy, but sometimes, they 
were
all that brought Serena through.  The scouts glance at Tuxedo Mask and then
returned to Serena.
        "Follow him." they coaxed.  "You look so beautiful after our 
battle." Mina told
her.  "Just don't trip and fall on your face." Luna warned exasperatedly.
"Yeah, impress Darien. " Raye agreed.
        Serena left the place and ran down the street.  She was now in human 
form and
vulnerable.  Little did Serena know that this last monster was not dead.  It 
had
merely been released from the confines of it's body.  It's spirit and power
still lived.  It hovered above Serena recognizing who she was and suddenly
plummeted into her body, knocking Serena down.  Serena shrieked, unable to 
reach
her locket.  She felt like someone was holding down her hands and legs.  She 
was
helpless!  She screamed again, but nobody came.  Then she felt powerful and
painful energy blasts being released against her body.  Serena's side 
screamed
with pain and her body convulsed and shook with pain.  She felt tearing
sensations inside her body and then everything was black.

        I stirred.  The strange thing was I felt no pain.  I slowly got up 
and looked
around for my attacker.  The pain in my side was gone.  Completely gone!  
Was
this entire thing with Darien a dream?  Had it a really happened.  I felt so
weird.  Lighter somehow.  It was only then that I looked down and began to
scream.
        I let out a shrill shriek and stood up.  My body lay on the ground, 
completely
still.  Lifeless.  I was confused.  Dazed.  I didn't know what to think or 
how
to explain what was happening.  I struggled for an explanation.  It was then
that I realized under normal circumstances I would have felt my heart 
pounding
and heard it in my ears.  But there was silence.  'Is this a dream?  Some 
sort
of illusion?' I thought to myself.  That's when I saw Luna come running 
towards
me.  I figured she heard me scream.  I looked at her and called out to her.
        "Okay Luna!  What do we do about this?  I would like to get back in 
my body
now!" I yelled.  Luna didn't respond and ran over to the body, MY body 
laying on
the ground.
        "Serena, get up!  Serena?  What happened?  Serena!?  GET UP!  
SERENA!!!" Luna
yelled.
        "Luna, it's okay.  We can fix this.  We just have to destroy to 
droid that
attacked me.  Wonder where it is, anyway." I stated, kneeling by the cat.  
Luna
still didn't respond to my words and I began to scream.  "LUNA!  Look at 
me!"
        "HELP!!!" Luna screamed.  She turned to me and ran at me... then 
through me.
She passed right through me!  It was only then that I realized the truth.  I 
was
a ghost.  I turned to watch her run.  I felt so many emotions now that I
couldn't think.  I was dead?  That's it?  Gone?  Rubeus had said he didn't 
see
me in the future but THIS is how I die?  No I'm too young!!  It can't be 
over!
I started to cry.  'Ghost tears.' I thought.  I didn't know ghosts felt
emotions.  I always thought there were no such things as ghosts.  My mind 
was on
total overload.
        I saw Mina, Raye, Lita, Amy, Artemis, and Luna come running up to my 
body.  I
watched in horror as they desperately tried CPR.  Raye kept calling my name, 
in
almost a terrified chant.  "SERENA!  SERENA!  SERENA!" she yelled until Amy
hugged her and she began to cry.  Lita was still doing CPR as Mina watched 
on,
holding Artemis, tears escaping both their eyes, neither saying a word.  I
wanted to comfort them.  I wanted to tell them I was all right.  Then I got 
an
idea.
        Raye could sense things others couldn't she talked to her ancestors. 
  Maybe she
could sense me?  I called her name.  "Raye!  Raye?  Can you hear me?"  
Nothing.
She had let go of Amy and was now standing with one arm across her belly and 
the
other over her mouth.  I walked over to her.  I got very close and stood 
right
beside her.  I yelled into her ear.  "Raye!  I'm right here!  It's me!  
Serena!
I'm RIGHT HERE!"  Still nothing.  I tried something I saw in a movie once.  
I
walked through Raye to see if she'd sense my passage.  She shivered but 
there
was no other response.  No inclinations.  I tried again.  This time not even 
a
shiver.  Amy ran to call an ambulance.
        "Come on Serena!  Hang on!" Lita called to me.  In between breaths 
and pumps.
        "Come back, Serena!"
        "You just gotta pull through."
        "You can't leave us!"
        "You can do it girl!"
        And I wanted to!  Oh how I wanted to.  I wanted to crawl back into 
my body and
become alive again.  I wanted to open my eyes and be able to hug all of 
them.
But I knew I couldn't unless my body began to function again.  The ambulance
pulled up and I was rushed to the hospital.  I climbed in the car with my 
body
and watched as the paramedics tried in vain to rescue me.  Bring me back to
life.
        But it was no use.  I was gone.  Dead.  They tried to revive me for 
a whole
three hours.  But nothing worked.  I watched as my family came in.  Of all 
the
things I've had to watch, this was the most painful.  My Mother and Father 
came
in the room with Sammy.  My Mother didn't say anything.  She burst into 
tears
and clung to my Father.  He was not crying, although I could tell that he 
wanted
to.  He was trying to be strong for Mom.  I watched as Sammy walked over to 
my
body and kiss my cheek.  He had tears running down the sides of his face.  
"I
love you, Serena." he stuttered.  Dad escorted Mom out of the room, not 
wanting
her to have to endure the sight of her only daughter laying dead on a table.
Sammy followed shortly after.  I sighed.  I was alive!  Sort of.  I was 
still
here, anyway.
        I was gazing at my body when I saw a flash of light behind me.  I 
turned slowly
around and was greeted with a beautiful sight.
        Queen Serenity!
        Mother.  I turned completely around and ran to her.  I threw my arms 
around her
neck and spoke her name.  "Mother!"  I could hardly believe it.  'I never
thought I would see her again.  That is, until I died... Oh yeah.  I'm dead.
That explains it.'
        Serenity laughed as if reading my thoughts.  "Hello, Serena.  It is 
good to see
you.  I have missed you."
        I smiled, ghost tears now glistening in my eyes.  "It is good to see 
you too,
Mother." I told her.  We embraced.  She was wearing her usual white dress.  
I
looked down to find myself now dressed in Princess Serena's attire.
        "Mother, what is going on?" I asked, assuming she would know the 
answer.
        "Dear Serena.  You were attacked by a droid from the Negamoon, and 
it killed
you.  You became a ghost, as do all souls.  Once the soul has realized what 
has
happened and has dealt with their own death, they enter the afterlife."
        Serena looked skeptically at her Mother.  "Afterlife?  What's that 
like?" she
asked cautiously.
        "Oh it is wonderful place, Serena.  Better than the Moon even was!  
You will
love it.  If you come with me, I can take you there."
        I gasped.  I thought for a long moment.  I had mixed emotions.  'If 
I leave
here, I will not be able to watch my friends.  I want to be here for them, 
even
if they can't see me.'  I turned back to my Mother.  "Not yet.  Someday.  
But
not yet." I said dutifully.  Mother nodded.  "I will be here for you when 
you
are ready.  I will help you cope with this, my dearest daughter." she warmly
expressed.  I nodded and smiled.  "Thank you Mother, for understanding." I 
said.
        I turned to see the door open again and my friends came in.  They 
were all
crying and upset.  It pained me not be able to comfort them.  My Mother came 
up
behind me.  "You might want to come with me sooner than you think.  You will 
be
upset watching them cry like this, dear.  Believe me, it is no fun seeing 
the
people you love in pain."  I nodded in agreement.  "Not yet." I stated.
        They all spoke their goodbyes, some saying they were sorry that they 
couldn't
be there to help me.  That's when Darien came in.
        Every head in the room shot back at the door and glared angrily.  
Lita was the
first to speak.  "Wait outside until we're done, Darien!  This time is for 
the
people who LOVE Serena." she ordered threateningly.  Darien merely backed 
out of
the room and shut the door, no words spoken.  They stayed a few minutes 
more,
now mostly commenting on Darien.
        "The clod doesn't care about her when she was alive, but now that 
she's dead he
thinks he was close to her." Lita growled angrily.
        "Honestly, he made Serena's last months a living HELL!" Raye spoke 
condemningly
        "Yes.  One should consider not inviting him to the funeral." Amy 
added.
        "You all didn't even see the way she cried every night.  The poor 
girl." Luna
mused.
        "Come on you guys.  Serena just died.  Lets not be criticizing 
anyone right
now." Mina suggested.  The others seemed to agree and they headed out of the
room.  Shortly after this Darien came back into my room with Rini.  Rini 
crawled
up on the bed and began to sob.  I felt bad for her and wanted nothing more 
than
to comfort her.  Darien stood watching for a moment.  Then he came over and
touched Rini's back.  He stroked her hair and let her cry for what seemed 
like
an eternity.  Then he slowly picked her up off me and told her to go out 
with
the girls.  She nodded and kissed Darien's cheek.  Rubbing her eyes, she 
left
the room and went to the waiting area.  Darien turned beck to me.
        "Well Serena, I guess this was meant to be.  I'm sorry it had to be 
this way.
Now who's going to lead the Sailor Scouts?  Sailor Mars?  Jupiter maybe?  
Venus
probably considering Venus was especially close to Serenity."  Wait.  I 
didn't
think Darien remembered details of the Moon Kingdom!  Apparently I was 
mistaken
for he would have only know of my Mother and Cyprian (Queen Venus)'s close
relationship.  Mother had married her bother Delian.  'I guess Darien DID
remember details about our past.  Figures.  He really I cold that he could
remember our love on the Moon and not love me!' I thought angrily.
        "Seen enough?" Serenity asked, still behind me, now touching my 
shoulder.
"No." I replied.

        I sat in the front row.  Obviously nobody knew I was there.  My 
parents, Sammy,
Rini, my grandparents, my aunts, uncles, and cousins were all there, 
completely
filling the first four rows.  Until now, I hadn't even realized that I had 
this
much family.  The music was sad and slow.  Irish I thought.  I heard 
bagpipes
and an organ in the composition.  The organ was live.  I looked around 
occupying
the second row across from her was Amy, Mina, Lita, Raye, Luna, Artemis, and
Darien.  All in black.
        There was a woman next to Darien I didn't recognize.  Probably some 
long lost
cousin of mine or something.  As I glanced around the church I noticed lots 
of
faces I didn't know.  Molly and Melvin were there, in the third row behind 
the
girls and Darien.  The people around them, strangers as well.  'Hey, why 
doesn't
my family realize that there are no parents for Rini, now that I'm dead and
everyone's here.  Why would she not be sitting with her family.  I hope they
don't figure that out!' I silently hoped.  It did seem odd that they DIDN'T
notice, though.
        The minister stood before the people.  The place became silent 
except for
random sniffles and choked sobs.  It was an open coffin, and my body lay on 
the
stage behind the minister.  It was on a stand and only open half way.  The
bottom half was covered in white flowers.  I looked down.  I was now wearing 
the
same dress as my body did in the coffin.  I was a long white dress that
resembled the one I wore when I was a Princess.  Except this particular 
dress
had no sleeves or ringlets of gold across the top.  Instead, it was white 
lace.
I looked up when I heard the minister, my Father's friend, begin.
        "Dearly Beloved, we are gathered her today to mourn the loss of a 
friend,
sister, cousin, niece, and daughter by the name of Serena Tsukino.  She 
brought
joy to all who knew her.  Lighting up a room no matter what the 
circumstance.
Goodness radiated from this child like no other person I had ever met.  She 
was
always there to give someone comfort, putting herself... after others.  To 
loose
this girl at such a young age is a tragedy of giant proportions..."
        He continued.  It almost felt good to hear all the nice things he 
said about
me.  Under any other circumstance I would have been blushing and giggling 
with
modesty at these words.  But in this situation, it was only mildly 
flattering, as
I thought of how nobody had ever told me these things in life.
        "We will now hear from people who loved her.  The microphone is 
open."  He left
the pulpit and sat down in a chair off to the side of the pews.  I glanced 
up
briefly at Queen Serenity, who had appeared next to me a short while ago.  
Molly
was the first to stand.  She approached the mic with trembling hands.  I 
wanted
nothing more than to call out to her that I was there.  I wanted to stop her
sadness, but I knew I couldn't.  "Serena was the best friend I ever had.  
She
and I grew up together.  We met in the sandbox in the park when I was two.  
The
thing I liked most about her was that she always cared about me when I was 
sad.
She'd talk to me and comfort me no matter how busy she was.  She even helped 
me
to get through the death of someone else I loved.  I never thought I would 
need
someone to help me get through hers.  At least not so soon in life."  She
finished with a sob and returned to her seat.
        Next was Sammy.  I already had tears streaming from my face and now 
knew it
would only get worse.  My Mother was sobbing and my Father tried to comfort 
her.
        "Serena was my sister.  I knew her better than most people thought I 
did.  I
knew all about her.  Everything." Sammy said as he glared bitterly at 
Darien,
who completely avoided Sammy's gaze.  "I know she was going through a hard 
time
when she died, and I am almost happy for her.  She must feel very relieved.  
I
loved her very much and I didn't like seeing her in pain.  She was always so
cheerful.  She was the best older sister I could ever hope to have." Sammy
declared as he wrung his handkerchief in his hands.
        After he sat down Lita stood and approached the mic.  "Hi.  My 
name's Lita.
Serena and I were really good friends.  I just wanted to say that Serena was 
the
kindest person I know.  When nobody else in school would come up and talk to 
me,
she did.  She got to know who I was and didn't just accept gossip.  She gave 
me
a chance.  But that was her.  That was who she was.  She would have done 
that
for anyone.  And I loved her for it." Lita rolled her eyes heavenward.  "I 
will
always remember you, Serena." she told me before stepping down.
        Mina rose.  It would be the first time I heard Mina speak since the 
hospital
room.  Mina adjusted the mic from where the tall Lita had placed it and 
spoke.
"Serena," she started.  She winked and smiled and did the piece sign.  
"You'll
get that, Serena." Mina said resuming her frown.  'I do get it,  Sailor V.' 
I
thought.
        Others spoke.  My relatives, my friends, my parent's friends, Amy, 
Raye, even
Miss Haruna said a piece.  I watched as everyone who had ever had an impact 
on
my life came to the mic and sat down, saying the most wonderful things about 
me.
Except Darien.  Darien remained seated, not flinching, not crying, not 
saying a
word.  'In denial?' I wondered.
        Then it was over.  There was music and the mass of people left to a 
reception
hall that was serving drinks and showing a video of me that my parents had
assembled.  That way the mass could watch the video as my parents and close
friends said their last, private goodbyes.  I stayed and watched people as 
they
approached my coffin.  I had moved to right beside my body's head.  My 
Mother
was first, then my father.  Then Sammy came in, followed by Amy.  Raye was 
next.
Lita came in and then Mina.  All of them saying such wonderful, yet sad 
things
that I couldn't help crying out to them replies.  I told them I loved them 
and
that I would be there for them whether or not they knew it.  Queen Serenity
stayed in the first pew.  I occasionally glanced at her.  She was watching 
me and
nodding to me with a knowing smile on her lips.
        Then Darien came.  It was the guest that I had been waiting for with 
the most
anticipation.  He slowly sauntered up to my coffin and looked inside.  He 
sighed
loudly.  He placed a single red rose under my hands and above my chest.  
"For
old time's sake, Serena.  You shouldn't have had to die.  You were so young.
Serena," Darien paused.  I stood in silence for this speech.  He didn't even
seem that sad.  I had hoped I meant SOMETHING to him, even a little love?
Slight sadness?  None of these emotions rang true as I examined Darien's
features.
        "Well, I guess I should tell you in death what I withheld from you 
in life.
It's not that you weren't attractive Serena, or not a good person, but I 
just
lost interest in you.  You had nothing to offer that I couldn't get from 
someone
else.  Besides, I wanted someone who wasn't always in danger.  I knew it was 
a
real possibility you could die in any one of the battles, and I didn't want 
to
put myself through the probable pain of losing someone I loved in a battle.  
I did
appreciate you, Serena and I must have loved you when you were the Princess 
and
I was Prince Darien.  Maybe you were more interesting then, being the 
Supreme
Princess and all.  I don't remember anything, any details from that time,
though.  Maybe things would be different if I did." I stood for a minute
thinking, 'Didn't Darien say something about Cyperian before?  He had some
memories!  Now he says he has none?  Make up your mind Darien!'  I shook my 
head
in disgust and annoyance.  He continued.
        "I did care about you Serena.  I didn't LIKE hurting you.  I really 
never meant
to make your life miserable, but I couldn't keep pretending to love you.  
Surely
you must have noticed that I never opened up to you or said the exact words, 
"I
love you."  You must have had SOME clue.  You may not be the brightest in
school, but you're not THAT dense!  Please try to understand that I saved us
both from a one sided marriage.  But now you're gone.  You were a truly good
person, Serena.  I'm sorry to see you go."
        I felt like I was going to die again.  I felt so much pain inside of 
me.  I
collapsed in anguish and sobbed.  Darien stood there a while longer talking 
to me
but I didn't hear his words.  'At least now I know the truth.' I thought.  I 
was
startled only by the sound of the door opening.  To my surprise, in walked 
the
woman who had been sitting by Darien in the funeral.  She walked up to 
Darien
and touched his shoulder lightly.
        "Come on Dar-bear.  We'll be late for the movie." she told him, a 
stern
expression on her face.  'DAR-BEAR???' I thought.  Then the realization of 
what
had happened, and who this woman was sunk in.  This was his new girlfriend.
They had obviously dated for a while for him to let her call him as hideous 
a
name as 'Dar-bear' and not smack her across the face.
        "All right, Danielle.  I'm coming."  He kissed Danielle and she took 
his arm.
They walked out of the room leaving me with wide eyes and jaw on the floor.
        "How dare he!?!  He knows how much he meant to me and all he could 
muster was
THAT pitiful speech???  It was more like a lecture!  That boy is a... a....
MONSTER!!!  Then he kisses another girl IN FRONT of my COFFIN???  Hasn't he 
ever
heard of respecting the dead?!!"  I was fuming with anger and affliction 
that
Darien could be so heartless.  I knew I had spoken to him cruelly that night 
with
Rini, but this was MORE than punishment!  I began to cry uncontrollably.  My
Mother came to console me.  She wrapped her arms around my trembling body as 
I
proceeded to sob away in her arms, burying my face against her dress.
        "Shhh, Serena.  It is going to be all right.  I am here.  Shhh.  Oh 
dear.  This
is just what happens after people die.  Their friends and families move on.
They get over it.  It is not that they do not care, it is just that they 
cannot
dwell on the past.  That is what you did with me.  You never forgot me, but 
you
got over me.  And that is what the living are supposed to do, dearest."
        Mother was right.  Maybe I should just... Cross over.

@)>-------<<-----------

        Luna ran to Serena's body.  "That girl!  She's collapsed!  Probably 
from
exhaustion.  I need to get her in better shape." Luna commented as she ran
towards Serena's body.  "Serena?  Serena?  Get up, you lazy girl!  This is 
no
time for a nap!  Come on now!  SEREEEEENAAAAA!"
        Luna was now next to Serena's body.  Luna realized instantly that 
something was
wrong.  "She's not breathing!  Oh NO!!!!  HELP!  SAILORS!  ANYBODY!  HELP!" 
Luna
shrieked.  She didn't want to leave Serena, but if nobody came soon, she 
would
need to find the girls.  Luckily she saw Lita round the corner, heading 
towards
them at a full sprint.  She was at least five yards ahead of Raye who was
closely followed by Mina, Artemis, and Amy.  "Serena!" they yelled as they 
saw
her laying across the sidewalk.
        "Amy!  Call for an ambulance!" Luna ordered.  Amy took off the other 
way,
heading for the nearest phone.  The others approached and tried to wake her.
        "She's not breathing!  Do something!" Luna cried.  Lita got down on 
her knees
and started doing CPR, with no luck.  The air wouldn't go into her mouth and 
she
couldn't get her heart going.  "Serena!  You gotta make it, you just GOTTA!"
Mina screamed, now in tears.  Right along side of her was Raye and the two 
of
them watched in horror as they couldn't revive her.  Two minutes...  
Three...
Four.... Ten minutes past and still no ambulance.  Amy had returned four 
minutes
ago, saying that the paramedics were on their way.  It was at this time that
Darien rounded another corner.  He had heard screams, but doubted that they 
were
Negaverse related so he took his time in getting there.  When he saw Serena
laying there, lifeless, his entire body became wracked with tremors of 
horror.
He bolted towards the scene.  Lita had stopped CPR.  If it hadn't worked by
now... and she was exhausted.  Not many people understand how much energy it
takes to do CPR.  Darien reached the group in tears.  "What happened?!" he
asked, but nobody knew.  "Serena?  Wake up!  SERENA!!!" he cried her name in 
the
most desperate tone any of them had ever heard.  "You can't leave me!"  He
gently lifted her body and lightly brushed his lips against hers, like he 
did
the last time she had been almost dead like this.
        "Why not?!" Lita demanded through pain ridden sobs.  "You left her, 
Darien!  You
made her miserable!  She cried every day and night because of YOU!  She died
trying to get to you, Darien.  She was coming to see YOU!  Now she's dead!  
It's
all your fault Darien.  It's    all    your    fault!"  Lita choked out that
last few words before she began to bawl.  Raye looked over at Lita.  "That
didn't need to be said right now, Lita." Raye whispered through her 
teardrops.
They saw Darien collapse over Serena's body.  Everyone turned and watched as
Darien convulsed in sheer agony.  His cries were unearthly.  Never before 
had
any of them seen a man shamelessly display such raw emotion.
        "I'm sure Darien had his reasons, Lita.  We'll ask him about it 
later." Amy
told them.  Her arms were folded in front of her chest and small cries and
squeaks escaped from her throat.
        Mina had dropped down beside Lita and the two embraced, both crying 
out in
uncontrollable wails as the reality hit them.  Serena was dead.  She wasn't
coming back.  This was not like before when she was still breathing, had a
pulse, and was still moaning.  No.  She was dead.
        Finally they heard the sounds of an ambulance approaching.  When it 
arrived,
they practically had to pry Darien off Serena.  He insisted on going with 
her,
but the paramedics said that they would need him out of the way if they were
going to try to revive her.  Mina walked over to Darien and took his arm.  
He
fell against Mina's shoulder and began to cry.
        "I loved her.....  I only wanted to protect her! .......  Those 
dreams!......
I never wanted this......  I love her so much!.......  I want her back, 
Mina."
Darien wept these things into Mina's hair.  Mina did not understand, but she
knew one thing... Darien DID still love Serena.  She could just feel it.
        The hospital tried desperately to revive Serena, without success.  
After three
long hours, she was pronounced dead.  Her family had been called and they 
were
at the hospital with the girls, cats, and Darien.  When the doctor came into 
the
waiting room and spelled out the bad news, the entire room it seemed 
screamed,
cried, and wailed.  Darien sat silently in the corner, though.  Amy wanted 
to
approach him but then thought better of it.  He probably wanted to be alone.
Serena's family went in her room first, Rini included.  After a long while 
they
left.  Her Mother came tearing out of the room and her husband chased her.  
Rini
came out next and crawled in Lita's lap.  Mina held Artemis and Amy held 
Luna,
all of them sitting next to each other in chairs.  Raye paced back and forth
across the room, muttering prayers aloud for Serena's soul to rest in peace.
Sammy finally emerged.  He had an angry look across his face.
        He walked straight over to Darien and claimed the notice of the 
whole room,
which had emptied to Serena's friends only.  He marched straight up to 
Darien
and looked him in the eye, un-intimidated by the fact that Darien was twice 
his
age AND size.
        "You...  I know what you did.  Why did you have to toy with my 
sister like
that?  Huh?  You two were so in love, once!  WHY???"  Sammy choked up and 
turned
and ran out the door, shocking everyone.  Sammy knew about Darien and 
Serena's
relationship?  Well not all of it... obviously.  Did he?
        "Well?" Lita asked as if expecting an answer even though Sammy had 
run out.  She
glared at Darien through her puffy red eyes and waited for her explanation,
impatiently tapping her foot.
        Darien sighed and gathered his strength.  He slowly spoke, as if 
every word
caused him severe torture.  "I was having dreams.  Visions, more accurately.
They told me that if I didn't stay away from Serena, something terrible was
going to happen to her.  I shook off the first one, but after the second 
one, I
knew that I had to keep her away from me, or else...." Darien couldn't 
finish.
He just lowered his head and cried.  His whole body shook and the girls all 
just
let forth in, "Ohhh"'s.
        "Why didn't you just tell her?" Raye asked.  "You know Darien, she 
actually
believed that you hated her.  There are so many other ways to keep her safe.
NONE as painful as what you did to her!  I mean, look.  If you had been a 
great
lover BEFORE you started pushing her away, she wouldn't have so easily 
believed
that you hated her.  But Darien, you never treated her right.  You were 
always
so aloof, so secretive, so distant.  When you two were in public you didn't 
even
touch her, not even to hold her hand or something.  You never opened up to 
her
the way she opened up to you.  She let you see her soul for what it was.  
She
didn't hold back.  Now, Serena was one of the most giving people I knew, but
even she couldn't have continued to give so much of herself to you without
getting any of you in return.  She was convinced that you only loved her on 
the
Moon for her power, and now that she was a clumsy, unrefined, low grade 
getting,
regular person, with no substantial money, you dumped her for the next 
Princess
who came along... Rini.  She wouldn't have thought that if you hadn't been 
so
terrible to her.  You always kept her at arms length and now, she's gone."
        Raye finished in a huff and watched Darien crumble before her eyes.  
She had
never seen such a broken expression before... except on Serena.
        Darien wanted to escape these words.  He wanted to be able to deny 
everything
that Raye had just told him.  He wanted to feel the comfort of knowing that
Serena knew the way he felt about her before she died.  But he knew the 
words
were true.  He had never told Serena how much she meant to him.  He never 
told
her how gorgeous she was, how he loved her humor, how she always made him 
feel
all right again no matter the circumstances surrounding the situation.  He 
had
kept her away from him, never giving so much that if she left, he would feel
violated.
        But she had done that for him.  She had told him everything, holding 
back only
what he didn't ask.  He now realized the way she must have felt when the man 
she
had confided all of her secrets into, just up and told her he didn't love 
her.
'She had given everything to me and because of my stupid actions, she 
thought it
wasn't enough.'  Darien realized he would never forgive himself... Never.  
For a
girl so sweet to think she was unloved, and for her to die with that belief,
brought Darien heavy chains of guilt that he was sure would never be lifted.
Anytime anyone would mention Serena, Sailor Moon, the Moon Princess, Queen
Serenity, the Moon Kingdom, the MOON itself, he would remember the way she 
died
without ever understanding what a difference she made in his life; the 
knowledge
that would have meant everything to Serena.  She had lived to love him, and 
she
accomplished her task...  But she would never know.
        Darien cried.  He didn't feel that crying was enough to express his 
sadness
and sense of loss, but he had nothing else to do.  Mina came over to him and
gently embraced him, whispering words of encouragement.  Mina had a deeper
understanding of love, Darien knew.  She could see his genuine misery in his
tears.  He embraced Mina back, letting his teardrops be lost within her 
hair.
She put her arms around his neck and stroked his hair with her hand.  The 
other
scouts looked on as Mina did this, all feeling sorry for Darien.  He had 
only
been trying to protect her, conceal her from grave danger... but he failed.
They could see now, just how much Serena had affected him, his life.  This
little blonde who was quite a clumsy, not too good at school, sometimes 
major
air head, care free girl, had somehow managed to affect this man so much 
that
without her there, as self-sufficient as he was, he couldn't go on living.
        Each of Serena's friends took their turn saying goodbye to Serena 
before
exiting the hospital.

        "We are gathered here today to mourn the loss of a daughter, sister, 
niece, and
friend by the name of Serena Tsukino..."  The minister opened the ceremony, 
but
Darien really didn't hear much of it.  He just sat there in silence.  He was
unable to move, for fear if he did, his world would crash in around him.  He
looked up and stared at Serena's coffin.  It was an open casket.  Serena's
parents figured that she would want it that way, since they had no idea what
Serena wanted done.  You don't ask your teenage daughter what she wants at 
her
funeral!  The coffin was a beautiful red tinted oak or something.  The 
bottom
half, covered in white roses.  Darien thought back to the last time he had
kissed his love.  It was right before Rini had shown up.
        'Far too long.' he thought.  'And now, I never will again.  That is 
to be our
last kiss ever.'
        Before he knew it, the minister had sat down and left the mic open 
for whoever
wanted to say something.  Darien had so much to say that he knew it would 
take
him hours.  He could never summarize what Serena had done for him.  Just 
when he
thought he would have finished, he'd think of another way she had affected 
his
life.  She WAS his life.  He wasn't Darien Chiba, he was Princess Serena's
lover... that is all.  He would have done anything for her.  But she'd never
know.  Darien knew he couldn't speak.  That mic was for the people who had 
given
her joy, not ones who gave her agony.  He didn't deserve the honor of 
speaking
at her funeral.
        Molly stood first.  She spoke of her and Serena's childhood.  How 
they were
best friends.  Next went Sammy.  He cast several dirty looks in Darien's
direction that only the people who knew what happened would have understood.
Darien avoided his gaze, unable to face her flesh and blood.  Lita spoke, 
then
Mina, followed by many relatives and friends.  Amy and Raye spoke also.  
Luna
and Artemis would have had something to say, but the scouts didn't think 
talking
cats would go over too well.  Darien sat listening to all of these people,
unaware until now of just how many people Serena had reached, had changed.  
He
never thought that even Serena could have had this kind of effect on people.
The church was packed with people even standing in the back and on the 
sides.
It was no small church either.  There were at least three hundred, maybe 
four
seated, many more standing.  All of them felt close enough to this girl to 
come
to her funeral?
        And it occurred to Darien that out of all these people, her heart 
had belonged
to only him... And he knew that none of these people would have hurt her the 
way
he had.  'And I thought I loved her the most...' Darien thought sadly.
        Now Darien was waiting to see Serena privately.  Finally it was his 
turn.  He
entered the room and the door shut behind him with a loud bang.  It was 
silent.
Darien didn't even breathe.  The light above the coffin was the only one lit 
up
in the room; the buzz from that light, the only sound audible.  Darien felt 
his
legs begin to give way but he desperately kept them in check.  Now, he 
strode up
to the coffin and climbed the five steps it took to get to her.
        Darien glanced down at the lifeless body in the coffin, HER coffin 
and felt his
heart rise to his throat.  It was the first time his eyes had had been 
forced to
look upon this girl, this child.  He desperately tried to hold back a sob, 
but
couldn't seem to manage.  The noise he produced wasn't loud, but it was 
there;
and the anguish he felt as he stared down at her lovely face, now lifeless, 
and
slightly blue, had filled that noise.  Darien's body was Tecnu and rigid, 
hands
clenched, one of them gripping the life out of a handkerchief, and arms 
clung to
his sides.  His muscles ached from their stiffness and constant strain.  His
eyes stung from the tears that had consumed him the night before, and the 
night
before that, and the night before that... all the way back until the night 
she
died.  It was his fault, he knew.  He knew it was because of what he'd done, 
as
good intentioned as he had been.  But what was the point of carrying good
intentions if it had ended up with her in a coffin?  The finality of her 
death
crept in as he gazed at her, laying there.  Dead.  He couldn't believe that
was it.  That couldn't be it.  There had always been something he could do,
could say, could think that would make events turn out favorable.  Was it
possible that at the early age of eighteen, the best part of his life was
already over?  Yes.  The best part was over.  What did he have left?
        Darien bent his head further over her stirless body.  He felt 
another pang of
guilt clout his unfed stomach.  She was beautiful white.  He sucked back a 
sob
and slowly dipped down and kissed her cheek.  It was like brushing his lips
against ice itself.  A cold chill swept through him and he rose back up.  He
sobbed loudly now, unable to stop it, then lost control. He felt his body
collapse over her, head pressed against her icy chest and listened for a
heartbeat in vain.  He sobbed and screamed her name, begging her to come 
back.
Didn't she understand?  She couldn't just leave!  Not now!  Not EVER!...  
And
what of the others?  They wanted her back, too.
        But it was over, Darien knew.  He slowly lifted his head from her 
body and
sobbed a few times more, not wanting to leave.  The others had allowed him 
to be
alone with her, although they secretly thought he despised her, now.  He
couldn't blame them.  His actions had articulated just that.  Until now.  
Darien
took one last GlcA at her and touched her cheek with the back of his right 
hand
and stoked it gently.  "I will visit you everyday, and make sure that you 
always
have fresh roses on your grave, my love.  I will love you eternally, even 
though
you're not here.  There will never be another.  These are promises I make to
you, and I will keep them, unlike the others I made.  Please, forgive me for
that, Serena."  With that, Darien turned and ran out of the room in sobs.
        The scouts saw Darien's exit and became eminently worried.  They had 
never seen
Darien in such a state of chaos.  He tripped and stumbled outside and rushed 
to
his car.  The scouts tried to follow, but they could not keep up with a 
running
vehicle, at least not without being transformed.  They decided to check of
Darien later that night.
        Now it was Raye's turn with Serena.  She entered the room in much 
the same way
Darien did.  She reached Serena and began to speak.
        "Look, Serena.  I know you and I haven't always gotten along great.  
I was
jealous that I had worked so hard for everything I have ever gotten and 
there
you were.  A completely, care free girl, who was handed everything I wanted. 
  I
wanted to be leader of the scouts, I wanted to be in charge of the Crystal, 
and
I wanted Darien.  I always felt like it wasn't fair, and I was determined to
hate you, to mock you.  You see, I couldn't like you.  But you know what
Serena...  I couldn't help liking you.  I found myself enjoying our little
arguments and the way you would steal my comics.  I liked hearing your laugh
and seeing the way you were impressed with the smallest things.  You were so
full of life and saw everything and everyone with such beauty that I no 
longer
found myself jealous of you, but wanting to learn from you.  I wanted to be 
that
carefree and happy.  So you see Serena," Raye reached out and touched the
coffin.
        Raye was suddenly hit by a strange sensation.  She saw red and 
Serena crying
out for help.  Then it was gone.  Raye no longer sensed anything, like the
vision had been extinguished.  Raye looked down at her body.  Serena was 
still
in the same position, still lifeless.  Her body seemingly unaware that 
anything
of importance had just occurred.
        Raye finished her speech, but decided to return to the temple and 
speak to the
fire about her vision.

        Lita and Mina arrived at Darien's apartment.  They knocked on the 
door, lightly
at first, but he didn't answer.  "Darien?  You in there?" Lita called,
concerned.  They got no response.  Lita and Mina exchanged worried glances 
and
Mina banged on the door with her fist.  They had seen his car out from in 
the
lot so they knew he was here.  "Darien?  Open the door please!" Mina 
pleaded.
        That's when they heard a slight crash in the apartment.  Mina gasped 
and
hurriedly tried the doorknob.  It opened but was stopped quickly by a small
chain.  Lita and Mina looked at each other once more realizing what they had 
to
do.  Mina backed away and Lita took a few steps back before throwing herself
against the door.  Lita grunted as she hit the door with great force, giving 
her
body a small amount of pain on her right side.  She managed to break the 
lock
and the door swung open.  Lita had merely pulled the dead bolt out of the 
wall.
        They quickly entered the room and looked around for the bathroom.  
They stopped
dead in their tracks and glanced around Darien's normally clean and orderly
apartment.  Tables upturned, lamps broken, glass everywhere, fabric that 
were
most likely once his clothes lay strewn about, couch cushions looking as if 
they
had been slashed open with a knife had stuffing scattered everywhere.  Lita
gasped as she saw the crack that went across the picture of Serena and 
Darien,
still resting on the mantle.  Both girls were stunned until they heard a 
loud
sob escape from the bathroom.  Their eyes fixated on the door and they 
cleared a
way to it.  Lita and Mina raced to the door and opened it.  Neither of them 
were
prepared for the sight that greeted them.
        Darien sat against the sink cabinets on the floor, in a jersey and 
boxers, pills
strewn everywhere.  Darien had a handful of medication in his hand and was
looking down at them, ready to shove them in his mouth.  Lita didn't have 
time
to think.  She had accessed the situation immediately.  Darien was going to 
end
his life.  She did not know how many pills Darien had already ingested.  She
hoped it wasn't many, or any at all.  She dove for the hand with the pills 
and
hit his body with full force.  "No Darien!" Mina screamed frantically.  "No!
No!  No!  No!  NO!"  Her screams became a tortured chant as she watched Lita 
and
Darien struggle.
        When Lita knocked the pills out of his hand it was like it was the 
first time
he had noticed her presence in the room.  He was so lost in his task, he had
failed to hear their knocks, hear their calls... But now he cried out with
horror and ire as he now had to fight to complete what he had started.  He 
tried
to wrestle away from her grip.  Darien was in a daze of emotional pain.  He
desperately tried to grab as many pills as possible and shoved them in his
mouth.  Lita groaned.  Darien's struggles were hard for her to contend with. 
  In
the state he was in, he was stronger due to an adrenaline rush.  She had 
pinned
him to the floor, she was laying on his back, his stomach pressed into the 
cold
tile.  Lita, unable to reach both of his arms.  Darien grasped at the 
scattered
pills, starting to shove them in his mouth and swallowing.
        "No!  Darien, NO!" Mina still screamed.  With him pinned, she now 
went over to
him and grabbed his arms and brought then to where Lita could pin them as 
well.
Lita took his arms and raised herself off Darien, bringing both of them up 
into
a kneeling position, with her holding his arms behind his back, Mina 
kneeling in
front of him.
        "Let me go, Lita!  Mina, make her stop!  Let me finish!  I have to 
be with
her!!  I      can't     live      without her." Darien voice broke and he 
sobbed
openly.  Darien struggled against Lita a bit, but she held him firm.  Slowly 
she
led him to his room and laid him down on the bed.  Darien now exhausted and
quite out of it due to the meds he had swallowed stayed there without fuss.  
He
laid there about fifteen minutes, thus giving the girls a chance to regain
their barrings.
        "My Baby.  Serena?"  Darien had turned his body upwards, and he 
became excited
and grabbed Mina's face and kissed her.  "Oh Serena," he said soothing 
Mina's
hair, "Oh I just wanted to tell you that I love you.  I love you so much, 
Baby."
He took Mina's face in his hands.  His eyes were glazed over and Mina felt 
tears
stream down her cheeks as she realized that Darien thought she was Serena.  
She
wailed in squeaks.  "And now you've come back to me, my Love." Darien 
finished.
        "No.... No.... No...." Mina whispered through her whimpers, shaking 
her head
slightly.  Darien laid back down on the bad and took Mina with him, turning
them both on their sides, Darien placed his arm around Mina's waist and 
pulled
her close.
        "I'm never letting you go, Serena." Darien chokingly whispered.  
Mina broke and
began to cry, her high pitched voice squeaking as tear drops rolled down 
from her
blue eyes that were now squinted shut.  Lita held back tears as she saw 
Darien
clinging to a girl who he thought was his love.
        Soon, Darien drifted to sleep, despite Mina's whimpers and she was 
able to get
up and seek comfort in Lita.  "We had better take turns watching him."  Lita
said.  "He might try to hurt himself again."
        Mina nodded, wiping the tears from her eyes.  "Can you do it first?  
I need
some time." Mina squeaked out.  Lita placed a hand on her shoulder and wiped 
the
tears from her friend's eyes with her other hand.  She nodded towards the 
door
and said, "You go home and get some rest.  I'll watch him.  Just do me a 
favor
and tell Amy to come relieve me tomorrow morning.  K?"  Mina said she would 
and
headed out.
        Lita sighed and began trying to clean up Darien's apartment.  She 
could stand
being in a big mess and she needed something to take her mind off of recent
happenings.

        Raye returned home and changed from the black dress she had worn to 
Serena's
funeral and decided to take a shower.  Her muscles ached all over from her
persistent crying and it was now taking it's toll on Raye.  She dropped the
dress out side the door and climbed under the warm, soothing water.  She let 
the
water wash over her and enjoyed the way it seemed to wash away her troubles 
as
well, and relax her.  She needed to be relaxed after all that had happened 
these
past days.  Raye's Grandpa had become increasingly stubborn about taking the
medication the doctor gave him and Chad didn't help by praising him on his 
good
condition.  When Serena died, it hit home for Raye that death was a real
possibility for anyone.  Especially Grandpa.  Raye washed her hair and 
retreated
from the soothing waters.  She dressed comfortably in her priestess gown and
slowly sauntered out to the temple room with the sacred fire.  Raye knew she
must prepare for a long, tedious session due to the fact that she knew 
something
was blocking her visions.  Or at least, blocking that one in particular.
        Raye reached for a pillow and sat it in front of the fire.  She 
lowered herself
on the pillow and folded her hands and chanted for the fire to gain 
strength.
The fire responded by growing in height and intensity and Raye slowly lifted 
her
head and began to chant for visions, simple at first, allowing the fire to 
build
up to the task she would soon set before it.  First she asked for a vision 
of
Serena's family, how they were doing.  She saw Sammy appear very angry and 
very
upset, Sensing his extensive knowledge about Darien and the Sailor Scouts.  
Raye
was shocked and decided to take this vision further.  She asked the fire to 
show
her how Sammy found out.  The fire obeyed and revealed a vision of Serena, 
alone.
Raye knew then that Serena had told her brother because she felt abandoned 
by
everyone else, including the Sailor Scouts.  Raye felt a pang of guilt as 
she
knew if she had been there for Serena rather than scold her, Sammy would 
have
never found out and Serena wouldn't have told him anything.  Raye put her
emotions aside and concentrated on the task at hand.
        The next vision Raye got was of what had just transpired with Lita, 
Mina, and
Darien.  She now fully sensed how deeply Darien was hurt.  She hadn't 
realized
that his love ran that deep for her.  From the way he acted, you sometimes
thought he didn't even like he, much less have such deep seated emotions 
such as
this!  She felt Lita's presence, sad but all right.  She had pushed her 
feelings
down and away from her, not dealing with them and doing the Lita thing of 
not
admitting she was hurt.  Raye knew that wasn't good for her, but could do
nothing to stop her from dealing with death this way.
        Raye concentrated, again asking for a different vision.  She wanted 
to check on
Mina.  She immediately got a vision of Mina on her bed, curled up, crying,
inconsolable.  'Well, at least she's letting it out.' Raye thought.  Raye
refocused and then began to chant vigorously with specific intent.  She 
chanted
for the fire to show her the vision she had received earlier.
        Raye focused on the moment before she received the vision and 
brought the fire
through the course of events with her, until she got to the vision.  She saw
herself reaching out and touching Serena's coffin and then the vision began.
Raye felt an evil presence trying to block her mind.  Raye chanted but 
louder
and began using her power to over ride the block.  She began to see images.
Images of Serena's body laying on the street.  Then in a flash she saw the
attack.  She Serena pinned and convulsing and screaming with pain as she 
felt
like she was ripped to shreds.  Raye then saw the body of Serena rise, back
turned to Raye in her vision.  A light opened before Serena and Raye saw her
start to walk towards it.  Just before entering, Serena turned her face to 
Raye,
except it wasn't Serena's face!  It was the face of the droid they had 
killed
earlier.  The droid face cackled mockingly and turned back to the light.  
She
walked Serena in, only for Raye to hear Serena scream with agony on the 
other
side.
        Raye came out of the vision with a flash.  Her head felt as though 
it had been
hit.  She reached up and rubbed her temples groaning softly.  Raye was tired 
and
sweating with effort.  It had taken a lot of energy to keep that vision 
going.
Raye stared confusedly at the fire, now having returned to it's normal size.
Raye did a chant of thanks and slowly was able to regain control of her 
limbs.
She got up and walked to the temple's sacred text room.  She was not sure 
what
to make of the vision.  She walked across the room to a large book shelf.  
These
were all the books on rules of the temple, sacred fire how-tos, prophesies,
legends, and texts on the gods of the old.  Now Raye looked to these books 
for
guidance as she tried to interpret her vision.
        She turned to the section of books that contained legends.  Often 
times, the
droids they faced had been seen before and they were recorded in these books
from when they first attacked.  Until recently, Raye had been unsure as to 
how
these books, from Earth, contained the goings on of the other planets during 
the
Silver Millennium.  She had figured that they were kept on Earth, and since 
Earth
was never destroyed during the battles with Queen Beryl, the texts just got
buried or pushed aside, forgetting the Silver Millennium, until someone 
found
them and sold them to the temple.  But now Raye figured that Sailor Pluto
probably saved them and gave them to the temple, knowing that the Scouts 
would
have access to them there, considering Raye was a Scout.
        Raye browsed through the legends of one book.  She could never tell 
the
monsters that were just that, legends, from the ones she would have to face.
There must have been thousands upon thousands of monsters, demons, and such
written in these books.  Maybe if she could somehow find one that fit the
description of the droid they had faced, she could better interpret the 
vision.
        Raye stayed up through the night, skimming one book after another, 
repeated
motions of flipping pages and glancing at hand drawn pictures.  She knew 
that
the droid had something to do with emotions and decided to skim the texts 
for
that.  She found information about several attackers from previous battles,
including the lion that had attacked Lita's friend Ken a while back.  She 
also
found something about two lonely children that wandered the galaxy with a 
tree
that gave them life.  'Alan and Ann' she thought to herself.  The book 
talked in
more detail about the history of their home planet, but Raye couldn't stop 
to
browse now.
        Finally in the seventeenth book she was reading she found a group of 
legendary
beings that were known as "Polydectes's Thieves".  Raye knew the Polydectes 
was
another name for Hades, and from the looks of the text, it would have been
written by a Latin man from Earth.  There were fifteen men in the small 
picture
next to the legend, one of them highly resembling the droid.  Raye read on 
and
was shocked at what she found.

@)>--------<<--------
        My Mother asked me if I wanted to leave now.  I thought about it for 
a long
moment.  'If I leave now, I won't be there for my friends.  Darien might not
need me, but I know that they will.  I would feel like a lousy friend if I 
don't
stay.'  Finally, I looked back up to Queen Serenity's face.  "My friends 
need
me." I told her dutifully.  "I will stay a while longer, whether or not 
Darien
needs me."  My Mother got a strange scowl on her face, but then quickly 
smiled
with understanding.  "Very well, Serena.  It is your decision."
        I thanked her and headed out to the reception hall.  I watched the 
video my
parents had assembled.  They had started it over for late comers.  I saw my
first birthday party, my first lost tooth, my first ice skating lesson...  
wait.
Ice skating lesson?  In this life?  I didn't remember having ice skating
lessons.  But there it was on the video.  I figured I had just forgotten and
continued to watch.  There were pictures of Rini and me, Sammy, with my Mom 
and
Dad, with the girls, even a picture of me and Darien.  Slow music played in 
the
background and I watched as many people had tears in their eyes by the end.
        After the funeral, I went home with Luna and Amy.  They went up to 
Amy's room
after her Mom questioned Amy a while on the funeral.  Amy went upstairs and 
the
two settled on her bed.  Amy cried a bit but then dried her face.  She blew 
her
nose in a tissue and sat up.  She reached for the TV remote and clicked it 
on.
"Amy's watching TV?  That's not like her." I giggled.  Maybe I had rubbed 
off on
Amy more then she or I realized.  She and Luna watched a comedy or something 
and
began laughing.  They were already showing signs of recovery.  'Rather 
fast.' I
thought.  'Oh well.  I guess Amy and Luna are just better at dealing with 
pain
than I am.'
        I turned to Queen Serenity as I knew she would be behind me.  She 
was.  "May I
visit Mina?" I asked.  Queen Serenity nodded.  "Of course."  She raised her
hands and as she did so the objects in the room swirled.  When they stopped, 
we
were in Mina's room.  Mina, Raye, Lita, and Molly were sitting on the floor
drinking tea and playing a board game.  They seemed to be fine too.  "You 
see
Serena, your friends will be all right without you around.  They can't sense 
your
presence.  They need to move on as much as you do.  Now, why do you not come
with me and I will take you to a place of glory that you will be so happy 
in,
you will not feel any pain, ever again?  Hmm?"
        "I want to see Darien.  Show me Darien." I begged her.  I needed to 
at least
see him one last time.  "You will not enjoy the sight that greets you, 
Dear."
She brought me to Darien apartment.  I was in his bedroom as was he... and
Danielle.  They were under the sheets and were obviously in the act of 
something
that Darien and I had never done in these bodies on Earth.  Tears stung my 
eyes,
yet again, and I ran from the room.  Serenity was outside waiting for me.  
She
had known I wouldn't be long.  I felt so betrayed.  Even more so than 
before.
        "My family.  I wish to see my family." I demanded as I cried.  I was 
brought to
the dinner table where Sammy, Rini, Mom, and Dad sat.  Rini occupied my 
usual
chair and now her old chair had been removed.  They were eating and having a
normal conversation about work and school.  'They don't even miss me.' I 
thought
sadly.  I felt my legs give way and I fell to the floor in a heap of tears.
        Serenity came over to me and cradled me in her arms.  "I know Dear, 
I know...
Shhh.  It's all right.  I'm here for you, my daughter.  I know this hurts, 
but
this is just what happens to people after someone they love dies.  They get 
over
it.  As you should.  Come with me and all your tears will be gone.  I 
promise."
Serenity told me.  I looked up at her and nodded.  "All right."
        Serenity opened the portal and I moved towards it, a brilliant light 
showed
through.  I felt the heat of the light on my face as I edged closer.  I 
would
leave this world forever. Never again feeling pain.

@)>-------<<-----------
        Raye read the entry.  I was written as follows.

Polydectes's Thieves
Polydectes, god of the underworld, husband to Persipina, goddess of
Spring, daughter of Ceres.  Polydectes ruled over the souls of the dead,
a right given him by Jove himself, the supreme ruler of the gods.
However, it has been said that not all of the souls have arrived at
Polydectes or Mount Olympus.  Instead, they were kidnapped and taken
to a place of far worse punishment than Hell.
These were the stolen souls of the dead.
The thieves of the dead angered Jove and he threatened them and ordered them
to appear before him so that he may cast verdict upon their behavior.
The thieves showed and Jove questioned them saying, "Why have you stolen the
souls that belong to Polydectes."  The thieves answered with,  "That is how
we survive."  Jove was an understanding god and did not see fit to
sentence the thieves to death.  Instead he passed judgment that they would 
not
take a soul, unless the soul wished to follow them, rather than die, but 
that
they
could no longer steal the soul.  They may use powers of persuasion
but they may not steal.  If the should refuses after five days, the thief 
must
then
send the soul to Polydectes.  Such was the decree.
It is said that the thieves would attack a person and then will their soul
back to the world of the thieves.  There have been many who have fallen into
the thieves' trap and have so suffered there the unimaginable tortures.
Reader, beware of the light.  It will be an eternal mistake to follow a 
thief.

        Raye sat up and realized that the droid they had faced did not die, 
but instead
merely escaped from the body it inhabited.  The spirit of the Polydectes's 
Thief
stayed with Serena and attacked her when she was vulnerable.  If Serena 
hadn't
given up her life yet, maybe they could revive her?  Raye didn't see 
anything
that said that you could bring back a soul once it was dead, but if her soul 
was
still with her body...?
        Raye looked up at the extensive number of books above her.  If she 
was going to
find a way to help Serena, she was going to need all the help she could get.
Raye decided to call the Scouts.  She glanced at the clock.  9:00!?  Raye
realized she had worked through the night!

        Mina and Artemis were playing Sailor V.  Mina was loosing from lack 
of effort.
She had hoped the game would cheer her up, but it didn't.  Artemis was 
equally
sad, but also concerned for Mina.  He knew none of the Sailors would be able 
to
fight in their present state.  That's just when Mina's communicator sounded.
Mina took a minute to realize what the sound was, or even that there was a
sound.  She finally jumped and was brought back to reality.  It was Raye.
        "Hey you guys, I think I can save Serena, but I need your help."
        "What about Darien?  Should I bring him.  He's really out of it." 
Mina heard
Amy's voice say.
        "Bring him, Amy.  Maybe if he feels better, he can help too.  Until 
then, I'll
lay out a mat for him." she heard Raye answer.
        "You sure this isn't some form of denial, Raye?  You really think 
there's a
chance to save her?" Lita asked worriedly.
        'Understandable that Lita would ask.  After all, NOBODY knew what to 
expect
after what happened with Darien.' Mina thought.
        Raye said she was sure and everyone headed over to the temple.

        Everyone arrived with in a half hour.  Lita was first.  She came in 
and Raye
took her to the room with the texts.  Lita was appalled at the sight of 
disarray.
Raye had books everywhere.  Raye put a hand behind her head and laughed
nervously.  A teardrop appeared by the side of her forehead.
        "Uh, sorry.  It's kind of a mess."
        "Kind of?!" Lita exclaimed.  "Looks like one of my lightning attacks 
went
through here!"
        Lita cleared a place on the floor and sat down.  She was followed by 
Mina who
came in clutching Artemis.  She wandered slowly over to where Lita was and 
sat
down.  Luna, Amy, and Darien were the last to arrive.  Darien was still 
wearing
his boxers and jersey and Raye led him to a futon.  He laid down, not 
closing
his eyes, with a blank expression on his face.  Amy sat herself down by Mina 
and
Raye proceeded on filling everyone in.
        "When I was talking to Serena alone yesterday, I had a vision.  I 
saw Serena
calling for help.  I decided to investigate and came home.  When I consulted 
the
fire I found out that there was something evil inside her body, giving her 
the
appearance of death.  That's when I started going through books and I found
this."  Raye handed Mina the book with the entry about Polydectes's Thieves.
        "That's her!  Amy exclaimed, pointing to one of the fifteen in the 
drawing.
        "Yeah." Lita agreed, glancing up from the entry itself.
        "The only problem is, it doesn't say how to bring back her soul.  I 
need your
guys's help to find any information about Polydectes's Thieves in these 
books.
Lita and Mina developed huge teardrops on the side of their faces as they 
looked
up at the extensive library.  Amy, on the other hand, seemed delighted.
        They read, and read, and read, and read.  Mina found a little 
something in her
fifth book, but it was only as a mention of attendance to a social event.
        Amy found out they only prey at night, although they can show 
themselves in the
daytime.  They just prefer the night time for the cover of darkness.
        Finally Raye stumbled on what she was looking for in her twentieth 
book.
        "Hey you guys!  I found something!" she called.  It was a book that 
described
gods.  The other girls stopped their reading and came to look over Raye's
shoulder.

...She was attacked.  Her body was filled with the negative energy of a
Polydectes Thief
By the title of Jocrast.  Her husband did not wish his wife to die.  Thus he
gathered the power of a thousand angels and began cleansing her body.  The
Angels spoke of encouragement, glad to be saving a soul.
Jocrast was cast out of her in an instant and his wife was returned
to him because of her power and the Angels around.  Although she was
dead by a mortal wound, the Angels took pity on her and healed her.
Thus life was restored to her.

        "So basically we need to get her body, get some angels, and heal 
her.  Piece of
cake!" Lita commented.
        "Lita, these are legends.  We can bend the rules a bit." Mina 
stated.
        "That's right." Raye confirmed.  "Amy.  You and Lita head over and 
get Serena's
body.  Bring her back here and Mina, Luna, Artemis, and I will try to figure 
out
a way to save her."
        Lita and Amy agreed and transformed into Sailor Jupiter and Sailor 
Mercury.
They could move a lot faster and they wouldn't be questioned in this form.  
They
headed out the door of the temple and ran down the streets of Tokyo.
        After what seemed like several miles, Jupiter and Mercury arrived 
where
Serena's body was being kept until burial.  They tried the doors, but they 
were
locked.  It was a Sunday and the place was closed until tomorrow.  "Perhaps 
we
should come back tomorrow." Mercury suggested."
        Jupiter shook her head.  "We don't have time for that.  Tomorrow 
will be
Serena's fifth day, and if we don't finish by sunset tomorrow, we will have 
lost
her anyway.  I just hope she hasn't already gone with that Thief!"  Jupiter
jumped to the roof.  There was a stairwell up there, but the door was locked 
as
well.
        "We'll see about that!" Jupiter cried.  "JUPITER.....  THUNDER 
CLAP..... ZAP!!"
        The door was blown in.  "We're in!" Jupiter sang as she steeped in.  
Mercury
groaned at the thought of her friend being able to destroy public property 
with
out a second thought.
        'It's amazing the city doesn't send us a bill with her around!' 
Mercury
thought.  But she followed Jupiter inside.

        "What if we used the power of the sacred fire to cleanse her body." 
Artemis
suggested.  He was laying down by Luna and had his feet tucked under him.  
The
cats sat atop a pile of books.
        "Won't that burn her?" Mina asked, shocked at the suggestion.
        "Yeah, it will.  So unless you all want crispy fried Meatballs, we 
should think
of another option." Raye giggled.
        "Has Darien tried kissing her yet?  True love thing again?" Mina 
questioned.
They all remembered when Serena was about to sleep forever, but became 
Sleeping
Beauty when Tuxedo Mask kissed her and healed her.
        "Yes.  He kissed Serena before when we found her." Luna reminded 
them.
        "What about a Sailor Planet Power.  I bet that would work." Mina 
threw out.
        "Maybe if you girls all gave your strength to Raye, she could beat 
the
attacker.  After all, her being a priestess, she is the closest to an angel 
that
we've got."  Raye blushed at Luna's comment and smiled slightly.
        "Worth a shot." Raye told them.  Just then Lita and Amy returned, 
Lita carrying
Serena's body in her arms.
        Darien perked up.  "Serena!"  He yelled, running to Mina.  Mina 
burst into
tears again and just hid behind Raye.  Darien snapped out of it and 
collapsed on
the floor amidst the wealth books.  "What happened?  How did I get here?" he
asked.
        "You tried to over dose, remember?" Lita reminded him.  He looked at 
Lita
briefly and then seemed to remember everything.  He nodded and glanced up 
and
Mina.  In a dejected voice he said, "Sorry Mina."
        Mina crawled back out from behind Raye and moved to hug Darien.  
Lita had taken
Serena and laid her in front of the fire, head closest to it and feet facing
away from it.  They explained to a now normal Darien what had occurred.  
They
all joined Lita around Serena and Raye began to chant to the fire for 
strength.
Raye and Darien sat on opposite sides of Serena's head, closest to the fire.
Mina and Lita sat down from them a ways by Serena's waist.  Amy sat by Mina 
and
the cats across from her.  They had said they wanted to try to help too.
        The girls and Darien transformed and sat back down.  Now they joined 
hands (and
paws) around her body.
        "Mars... Star.... Power!!!" Mars yelled.  She began to glow and had 
asked the
fire to allow her to send a message to Serena saying to help Mars fight the
demon within her.  Mars glowed and started to draw power from the others.  
But
as soon as Raye had opened the link, she felt a surge of energy racing 
towards
her.  Mars was hit and blasted across the room.  Flashes of what seemed like
lightning traveled through her body and the other scouts came running.
        Mars sat up and rubbed her head and groaned.  "The Thief blasted me. 
  He
BLASTED me?  Why that
NOGOODLOUSYEVILSOULSTEALINGGOODFORNOTHINGBLOODSUCKINGCRAPEATINGSONOFANEGAWEASEL!!!!"
        "She's fine." Jupiter called back to the cats.
        "But you guys, I don't know what to do.  It didn't work.  There's 
nothing more
we can do.  The legend might not have even been true.  Maybe there is no way 
to
defeat a Polydectes's Thief.

@)>--------<<-----------

        I turned away from the light.  "No.  Mother, I know that my friends 
do not need
me.  But, they are my friends.  I want to see what happens to them.  Will 
Rini
find her Mother?  Will Lita get her date with Andrew and open a restaurant?
Will Darien marry Rini or Danielle?  Will Raye become a Priestess?  Will 
Luna
and Artemis FINALLY hit it off?  What will Sammy be?  Will Mina go back to 
being
a Sailor V dream?  What will Amy become?  She's qualified for EVERYTHING!  
What
will happen to the Nega Moon.  What will Crystal Tokyo be like?  You see, I 
want
to watch them.  I wanted to be there on their wedding days, to see my 
friends
have children, to grow up with them.  It doesn't matter that they can't see 
me.
I want to be with them, Mother."
        Queen Serenity glared at me intently.  "Honey, they don't need you.  
You will
only be torturing yourself.  If they get hurt, you will not be able to help 
them.
When they're crying, you will not be able to comfort them.  You will become
frustrated and you will tire of just being an onlooker, and no longer a
participant in their lives.  Come with me Serena."
        I shook my head.  "If tire, I will leave then.  Until that time, I 
wish to
stay.  I thank you for your concern, Mother."  I pivoted back to watch my
family.
        "Serena!"  She yelled.  I turned around stunned.  My Mother had 
never once
raised her voice to me.  Why would she now?  Surely she understood that this
would be difficult for me.  Her hands clutched to her sides, she forced a 
smile
and spoke through gritted teeth.
        "Serena, Dear, I would really like you to come with me."

@)>-------<<---------

        "Okay, here goes."  Mars began to chant for the fire to allow them 
to see what
was going on with Serena and the Thief.
        A apparition appeared in the fire and they saw Serena talking with 
Queen
Serenity.
        "Serena's scared.  She knows something's not right.  But she doesn't 
know what.
The thief is trying to convince her to come with her.  The thief is 
disguised as
Queen Serenity!" Mars called out.  The other watched as they saw Serenity 
become
angry.
        "She's distracted!  Try to send another message!" Luna yelled.
        The scouts quickly resumed their places and Raye started over, 
chanting,
attempting to enter Serena's mind.
        Mars could feel herself getting through.  "Serenity evil.... Don't 
go towards
light!" she tried to communicate.

@)>-----<<---------

        "Mother, why are you so desperate for me to go now?" I asked.
        "Because..... I-I just don't want you to go through what I did after 
my
funeral, Serena.  It's easier this way, Dear."
        I stood there for a moment, accepting this answer and about to go 
with her when
it hit me.
        "Wait a minute.  You didn't HAVE a funeral.  You died on the Moon 
when everyone
else went to the future.  There was nobody to give you funeral."  I 
hesitated.
Who are you?"
        "Don't argue with me, Serena, just COME!" Serenity screamed angrily.
        "No!  You're not real.  Come to think of it, there have been a lot 
of things
not right...  Darien's memory of the Moon Kingdom, your temper, everyone
recovering so quickly, the ice skating lessons that I never took on Earth, 
Raye
not Senning me... This isn't real!  Is it?  This is all some sort of dream.  
An
illusion... That YOU made!  That's it, isn't it?  Where are you REALLY 
trying to
take me?"
I heard Raye's voice like a loudspeaker in the dream.  "Serenity... Evil....
Don't go towards light."
        "Raye!!"  Can you hear me?  Raye?!!"
        "NOOOOOO!!!  GET OUT OF HERE!" Serenity yelled furiously.  I saw 
Serenity glow
and pulse a light.
        "WHAT ARE YOU????" I screamed.
        Suddenly, Serenity turned into the droid that I had defeated before. 
  My eyes
widened with fear.  I bolted from the dining room and ran into the street.  
I
was able to pass through the walls like air and I just ran.  I could not 
defend
myself from this.... this... thing that had disguised itself as my Mother
considering I couldn't transform into Sailor Moon.  I was helpless.

@)>-------<<---------

        "We gotta help her defeat this thing!" Jupiter yelled.
        "Try Sailor Planet Power!" Artemis ordered.
        "Mars Star Power!"
        "Mercury Star Power!"
        "Venus Star Power!"
        "Jupiter Star Power!"
        "SAILOR PLANET POWER!!!" they yelled.  Light shown around all of 
them and the
power initiated.  After a few long minutes they stopped after Darien told 
them
he saw no difference in Serena's situation in the fire.
        The scouts came out exhausted.  They had no affect on the droid.  
Luna had
taken off somewhere, and they could only watch as Serena ran through the 
city.
Then suddenly, it was black.  They saw Serena look around in wonder.  The
Polydectes Thief stood behind her, laughing.

@)>------<<----------

        I turned around and faced the droid.  She laughed at my expression.
        "What did you expect Serena?  I control this whole thing!  If you 
come with me
peacefully, I will not painfully force you into going."  The light opened up
between us.  The droid became surprisingly close to me, causing me to cry 
out.
        "Go on Serena...  If you go now, I will not harm you."  I looked 
into the light
again.  Raye had told me not to go in.  I was going to listen to her.  I 
could
trust Raye.  This creature, I could not.  Then something occurred to me that
hadn't earlier.
        "No.  I don't think you CAN make me.  Or else you would have made me 
a long
time ago.  Why waste time with this charade if you could simply force me to 
go
with you.  I have to go willingly, don't I?
        "You are not making this any easier, Serena."
        "That's the idea, Negascum!" I screamed.
        "I might not be able to force you to go with me Serena, but be sure 
I can still
send you somewhere else!"  The droid suddenly stood there with a sword.  
"Now
get in!  Or I'll slice you up so bad, you'll wish you had!"

@)>---------<<------------

        "No serena!  Don't do it!"  Venus cried.
        "Serena, come back to me!" Tuxedo Mask yelled in desperation.
        "Fight it Serena!" Mars screamed.
        "Kick the broad's ass!" Jupiter encouraged.
        Just then Luna returned... holding Serena's locket in her mouth.  
She set it
down at the Scout's feet.
        "Put this on Serena.  Maybe the locket will appear in her dream."
        Jupiter lifted the locket and placed it in the middle of Serena's 
chest.
        They turned back to the fire and waited.  They watched for the 
locket to
appear.  The droid got closer to Serena, but she stayed put, not moving 
towards
the light.
        "It didn't work!" Venus cried in dismay.
        "Now what'll we do?" Mercury asked, tears once again forming in her 
blue eyes.
        "Look!" Artemis called out.  They all turned towards Serena's body.  
The locket
began to glow.  The Silver Crystal rose up out of it and hovered there for a
short while before shooting itself into Serena's chest.
        The droid was right above Serena now, ready to send her to wherever 
it was she
wanted her to go, when the Silver Crystal appeared in front of her.
        The scouts cheered as Serena transformed into Supreme Princess 
Serena and once
again held the Crescent Moon Wand.  The droid stumbled back in surprise a 
few
paces.

@)>--------<<-------------

        "Back off, Demon!" I yelled.  I didn't know how the scouts did it, 
but I was
grateful.
        "Put that thing away." the droid ordered.
        "Cosmic Moon Power!" I screamed.  The Silver Crystal glowed and shot 
several
blasts at the droid.  The droid fell back and laid there a minute.  I could
almost hear my friend's cheers of joy.  But I knew she wasn't dead.  Sure 
enough
she rose again.
        "If not today Princess, some other day.  You will be mine.  You WILL 
follow me,
mark my words."
        "Go to Hell." I ordered narrowing my eyes.
        A new portal opened and in an instant, she vanished.  I felt an 
intense
floating sensation.  I felt dizzy, ready to collapse.  Then I experienced a
sensation that I haven't had in days.  Boom.  Boom.  My heart.  It began to
beat.

@)>-------<<----------

        I blinked once, then again, my eyes desperately readjusting to the 
light.  My
body completely stiff, I awoke to loud cries of triumph and tears of 
incredible
joy.  I slowly lifted my head and sat up, examining my garment.  It was the 
same
as the one the droid had created.  I glanced up in time to find myself 
embraced
by Mina, who had streaks running down her cheeks.  She grabbed me, almost
roughly and held me.  She nestled her face in my hair, which was down.  Her
voice broke as she talked.  "Oh, hey there pumpkin!  I am so glad you came 
back
to us!" she whispered shakily.
        I held Mina tight in my arms.  Something told me Mina had taken my 
death the
hardest.  I released her only to be immediately embraced by Lita.  "I am 
going
to make you the BIGGEST dinner, Serena!" she giggled.  My belly leapt at the
thought of food.  I had not eaten in almost five days.  Next Amy hugged me
briefly.  "Welcome back, Serena." she told me warmly.
        Finally, Raye lifted her face to mine.  She gently placed her arms 
around my
neck and I held her for a long moment.  "Thank you, Raye." I breathed.  She
tightened her grip and said, "Anytime you need it Serena."  We held each 
other's
embrace, not wanting to let go for fear we would emotionally separate as 
well.
I finally understood Raye and I sensed that she was somehow supplied with 
the
same new awareness.
        Raye broke away.  I glanced down and saw the cats smiling up at me.  
"Serena."
Luna breathed.  She didn't need to speak anymore words for that one was 
filled
with chapters of emotion.  Artemis just nodded and went to go find Mina 
outside.
Raye also stood and left the room.
        I did not understand why until I felt his arms creep around my 
waist.  My heart
leapt as he began to kiss my exposed collar bone and worked his way up my 
neck.
I felt warm tears falling against my skin.  His warm tears.  Tears now shed,
rather than before.  I reached my arms back and placed them around his neck 
and
leaned back into his chest.  He dipped his head and kissed my lips tenderly 
at
first.  He kissed me again and again, for the first time since Rini had 
arrived,
causing me to cry out with surprise, excitement, and relief.  These were the
sweetest kisses he had given me during our lives on Earth.  He moved so that 
his
chest pressed against mine and he brought me into a close and tight embrace. 
  He
pushed me backwards, once again laying on my back.  He laid beside me, one 
arm
across my stomach, the other supporting his weight.  He kissed me more
passionately and more.
        But no.  As wonderful as this felt, I could not allow it to 
continue.  I broke
our present kiss and pushed his body off of mine.  He cried out in protest 
and
confusion, but when he saw my expression he ceased all fussing.  I sat up 
and
looked him in the eyes.
        "We can't do this Darien.  *I* can't do this.  I can't let you just 
kiss me and
pretend you never dumped me!" I exclaimed, anger and pain rushing back to 
me.
He sat there stunned for a moment.  He lowered his ead and nodded knowingly.
        "Serena, I know.  I messed up.  I was having nightmares, Serena.  
They told
me... They told me..." Darien bit his lower lip, but it quivered.  I saw 
tears
well in his blue eyes again but he continued.  "They told me, if I was 
around
you, if I loved you, you would die.  I wanted to protect you, Babe.  
Really... I
never meant to abandon you."
        Sharp knives slashed my heart to pieces as I watched the person who 
meant most
to me in the world cry over a mistake he committed.  But I knew it wasn't a 
count
of just one mistake.  It was many.  He had made so many mistakes that most 
women
would have dumped him long ago.  He never opened up, even to me, he never 
held
my hand, rarely showed physical interest, insulted me, I was sure he said 
nasty
things about me to the scouts behind my back...  Now he had to 'protect' me? 
  I
wasn't sure I bought the story.  After all, he had been so COLD!  I could 
have
never turned away from him the way he did from me.  Never treated him like 
dirt,
never make him think I didn't love him.  I would never abandon him!  But 
this
emotional crying with remorse could easily be faked.  Whether he meant to or
not, he abandoned me.  I had nobody there for me.  He could never understand 
my
pain.  The only thing that kept me from killing myself was the plain and 
simple
fact that the Scouts needed me to fight.  That was it.
        Anger swallowed my pity and my sadness and I glared at him through 
my tears.
"Why didn't you call?  Why not write a letter, Darien?  Why not ask one of 
the
Scouts to give me a message... Or give the letter to one of them?  Huh?  At
least then I wouldn't have spent every single night, hour after hour, crying
myself to sleep trying to figure out WHY  !  Why is my lover doing this to 
me?
Why did you have to pretend to have a new girlfriend?  WHY DID I HAVE TO DIE
FOR YOU TO REALIZE IT WAS WRONG??????"
        I was screaming and crying in a fit of rage, agony, and confusion.  
I didn't
often throw fits like this.  But now, I stood up and paced, pushing the hair
continually out of my face.  Then I let my accusations fly.
        "You never loved me, did you?  This... These kisses are from guilt 
aren't
they!?  You used me on the Moon and you finally got sick of pretending for 
'old
time's sake' after you got your memories back!  You left me, Darien.  Let me
tell you something!" I yelled, now glaring at his pained but understanding 
face.
I was uncontrollably shaking and I shook my finger at him as if scolding a
child.  "I worked my butt off saving you from Beryl, only to die and lose 
you
again.  Then I had to start over, but that time, I had to fight Ann for you.
When I finally won and you got your memories back, Rini shows up and you run 
off
with her!  You left me after I fought for you!  I have gone through nothing 
but
death, pain, fights, and grief for you Darien Chiba!" I let my finger fall 
and I
sucked in air as I rolled my eyes to heaven.  After a moment I looked back 
into
his face and threw my arms up in frustration.  Now I spoke with a choked
whisper.  "And this was how you repaid my love for you.  By leaving me and
making me cry more....  You left me."  I slumped to the floor a few feet in
front of him.  Looking in no particular direction I said, "You don't know 
what
it's like to be abandoned by your lover, Darien."
        Darien's face turned from attentive to serious.  "I do too, Serena.  
You left
me for five days.  I thought you had left forever when you died."
        My head shot over to him faster than light.  I narrowed my eyes.  
"That's not
at ALL the same.  First, I didn't leave you voluntarily.  It was a matter of 
I
'couldn't' be with you, not 'wouldn't' be with you.  Second, You didn't lose
anything.  You didn't have someone walking around knowing everything about 
you
on Earth.  The little that you've opened up to me about died with me.  There 
was
no vulnerability.  No possibility that I would tell secrets or say nasty 
things
about your faults.  Third, you don't even love me!" I finished, succumbing 
to my
body's urges and fell forward in uncontrollable wails, screams, and tears.  
I
felt Darien's movement across the floor.  He was moving towards me.  His 
hands
touched my face and they lifted it to be inches away from his own.  "I do, 
too
Serena.  I love you more than life itself.  When you died, I tried to die 
too.
To be with you!  I love you so much, Serena, it scares me, Love!" Darien's 
eyes
searched mine looking for a response to his words.
        "I wish I could believe that, Darien.  But right now, I need to sort 
out my own
feelings about you."  I glanced to the side and refused to look back at him.
        "Surely, you must still love me Serena?  Right?" Darien said, 
suddenly
panicked.  My eyes raised to his and I sighed.
"Would it really be that surprising to you if I didn't?  It shouldn't be.  
How
can you possibly be asking me to feel an emotion you never show?" I managed 
to
whisper.
        "Serena, NO!" he called.  Then quieting, "No.  Serena how can I 
prove myself,
my love to you.  Tell me what to do and I'll do it.  Anything.  I'll do 
anything
for you, Serena."  Eyes burning I stared into his pleading eyes.  I cried 
out
from the sheer pain apparent in them.  He was hurting.  That was obvious, 
but
from what?  Had Danielle left him and now he was crawling back?  Was this 
pain
desperation?  Was I his second choice?  After Danielle?  Or Rini?  What of 
Rini?
Darien and she always tormented me and said such cruel things about me...  
He
meant them all... didn't he?  Such feelings, such utter annoyance, could not 
be
faked.  But now he looked at me like his life hung on my every word.  Tears
dropped on the floor from us both.  I didn't know what to believe.  My world
spun.  I had a headache.  The insistent pain in my side had returned along 
with
my heartbeat.  I reached out to his face with my right hand.  Darien pressed 
his
cheek against it and put his hand over mine, holding it there.
        "I want to believe you, Darien.  I hope so much that what you're 
saying is the
truth.  But, I can't.  You left me once.  How do I know you won't do it 
again?
I can't tell you how to show your love for me.  Your love, if it's there, 
comes
from your heart.  Your show of love should come from there, too.  Not from a
command."
        I rose from my siting position and pulled my hand away from his 
face.  I was
going to head home, but how would I explain coming back from the dead.  I 
gasped
and rubbed my temples.  I couldn't think right now.  I needed to take a hot
shower and lay down.  I crossed the room, ignoring Darien's small cries of 
my
name.  My heart felt as if it were actually bleeding.  I opened a door at 
the
back of the temple that led to Raye's room.  I didn't think she would mind 
if I
showered there and laid down.  I had so many emotions.  It was impossible to
sort all of them out now.

        Darien opened the door to the front of the temple to leave.
        BANG!!!  "Ahhhh!"  "Auch!"  "Get off my arm!"  "You have your elbow 
in my
side!"
        The girls fell forward into the fire room at Darien's feet as he 
opened the
door.  They had all had their ears pressed to the door, listening to every 
word.
Darien sighed, rolled his eyes, and shook his head.  "Why don't you just 
install
hidden cameras, Raye?" he asked sardonically.  The girls glanced up, ashamed 
and
beat red.
        "Well, you know what they say... Curiosity killed the cat." Mina 
tried smiling
guiltily.
        "I'll say!" Artemis yelled from under the whole pile of females.  
The girls
quickly untangled themselves to find two squished cats underneath.
        "Um, Raye, could I talk to you for a while?" Darien asked quietly, 
almost
embarrassed to make the request.
        Raye looked up confused as the question sunk in.  A small 'huh?' 
escaped her
lips before she realized what the topic of this conversation would be.  She
nodded silently and turned to the others.  "Why don't you guys go for a 
dessert
or something and I'll call you when we're done.  That way we can all visit 
with
Serena."
        The others jumped at the mention of sweets and they headed down the 
street, all
fully aware of what was going to be said.

        Darien and Raye retreated to the room with the texts and she began 
cleaning up
the books.  Darien knelt beside her and picked up a few for her.  He handed 
the
books to her as she found where they went.
        After every book was in it's rightful place Raye turned to Darien 
and sighed,
brushing off and wringing her hands.  Darien looked intent upon her but 
obeyed
when she motioned for them to sit on the couch.  Darien avoided her eye 
contact
as he sat down and felt sweat begin to develop on his neck.  Raye herself 
was
not the Queen of Cool either, although her perspiration was a combining of 
using
the fire and now the questions she knew would be asked of her to answer.  
They
sat in silence for a long moment or two until Darien finally cracked.
        "Raye...  I know that you heard everything that just happened with 
Serena and
me.  I was thinking that because you have a deeper insight into everything, 
you
could help me understand why she thinks what she does.  I mean, all she has 
done
for the past few months is beg me to come back, and now that I have she 
wants me
to grovel?  I don't get it, Raye!" Darien finished.
        Raye cursed Darien and his unfeeling, unobservant, clueless 
perceptions in her
mind's eye and looked into his eyes and puffed out a sort of sigh.  She 
didn't
even know where to start with this boy.  If he didn't start being a better 
lover
for Serena, he would permanently ruin their relationship and most likely 
loose
her or at least have a volatile marriage.
        "Darien, do you love Serena?" Raye asked.  To help him, she was 
going to have
to know definitively one way or the other.
        "Of course I do, Raye!  What kind of a question is that?" Darien 
spat, utterly
shocked by the inquiry.
        "The kind of question Serena has been asking herself since you got 
your memory
back.  The kind of question nobody in the Sailor Scouts has been able to 
figure
out...  And the kind of question that you should be asking yourself if you
truly don't see what you're doing wrong!" Raye defended.
        Darien thought for a long moment.  "Is she just playing hard to 
get?" Darien
quietly queried.  Raye could hardly believe her own ears.  She thought for a
long moment on how to go about this.  She had to make him realize for 
himself
that the way he treated Serena was wrong.  Just merely explaining the 
problem
wouldn't help.  It wouldn't hit home or be real to him.  It would always be,
"Just crazy Serena's mind," unless he knew that he was actually a clod.
        "Darien, let me ask you a question.  Why do you think that Serena 
believes you
don't love her anymore?"
        Darien answered quick.  'Too quickly' Raye knew.
        "Well, I have spent the past few months telling her I don't.  That 
MIGHT have
something to do with it." Darien growled, to him he was stating the obvious.
        "But shouldn't she have doubted you?  I mean, she believed you when 
you said
you didn't love her.  Sure, she was bound and determined to get you back and 
to
be with you forever, but that's what she was doing.  Trying to get you to 
love
her AGAIN.  Not KEEP loving her, but trying to regain your love.  She would 
sit
around wondering, 'Why doesn't Darien love me anymore?',  not, 'Why is 
Darien
pretending not to love me?"
        Darien was clearly confused.  "I see what you're saying, but I don't 
get the
point." he vocalized, rubbing his chin.  Raye groaned.
        "LLLLLLUH...  Darien, if you had been a good lover to her before you 
dumped
her, she wouldn't have believed it.  At least not right away.  You have 
treated
her badly all along, not just after your break-up.  The scout's and I have
wondered if you even like her on occasion.  You never kiss her, hug her, 
hold
her hand, or even walk close to her when you're in public.  And I have 
deduced
that you aren't very affectionate with her alone either, because she would 
make
mention of kisses or times you spent together.  Or she would come in one day 
all
giddy from making out with you.  Further more, if you had ANY type of 
physical
relationship with her, it would have been harder for you to convince her of 
your
hatred.  Why do you keep her at such a distance?" Raye lectured.  Darien sat 
on
the couch like stone.
        "I...  I don't know.  I guess it just never occurred to me that she 
would want
to do those things with me the way I do with her anymore.  I don't know 
where
her mindset is, Raye.  I can't tell if I'm pushing her to do things with me 
that
doesn't want to do.  Just between you and me, Serena and I have been 
intimate
before, but that was when we didn't remember anything about the Moon 
Kingdom.  I
didn't know if I'd live to see the next day or not because I was Tuxedo 
Mask.
The time I spent with her could have been the last time I saw her.  And I 
wanted
her so badly...  I know that she'd never tell me to stop if I was going to 
far
for her, so I don't do anything at all.  I don't want to hurt her."
        Raye scoffed.  "Hurt her, or hurt YOU?  She would never have a 
problem with a
more physical relationship, and I think you know that as well as everyone 
else.
She's always reaching out to you, touching you...  And YOU'RE always the one 
to
pull back.  You are afraid of getting to close, not for her sake, but your 
own.
You have grown up your whole life trying to suppress and hide your emotions.
You were afraid to befriend anyone for fear they would one day leave and 
hurt
you.  The problem is that you have trained yourself TOO well.  You have gone
through life with Andrew as your only close friend.  And now that you have
someone who loves you, you don't know how to tell her how you feel.  You 
still
hold back...  Suppressing emotion as well as desire.  She needs YOU 
Darien...
ALL of you!  Not just this cold outer shell.  She needs the warm love of the
Darien she had on the Moon.  She deserves someone who will love her to the
fullest extent of his abilities, not someone who treats her like a half
interested hobby.  She is a real person Darien, with real feelings.  Those
feelings have been ripped, slashed, mangled, beaten, bruised... you name it! 
  A
girl as sweet as Serena deserves to be loved.  Not just told it on special
occasions but shown it constantly.  You of all people should know how 
insecure
she is...  She needs the true love support of the person she loves, not his 
luke
warm shoulder."
        Darien felt tears sting his eyes.  He didn't know what to say or do. 
  The
reality of what he'd done to Serena set in for the first time.  He had 
damaged
her, perhaps beyond any hope of repair.  Serena had needed him, his love, 
during
these past months especially.  He had turned her away, practically making 
her a
orphan herself.  He had never heard Serena talked about as if she were 
fragile.
Serena had always been the seat of jokes and mockery with him.  Now he 
realized
how painful it must be for her to have such low self esteem and then to be
unceasingly criticized by the man who supposedly loved her.  Serena had been
burned so badly by him that he could waste no time in finding a way to prove 
his
love.
        "So what should I do, Raye?" Darien choked out.  "How do I make 
things right?
I have treated her so badly.  I have never opened up before, to anyone."
        Raye shook her head.  "But she tells you everything, with holding 
not a detail.
You should cherish that, Darien.  She trusts you.  Don't you think that she 
sees
you rolling her eyes or hears your sighs of boredom just like the rest of 
us?  It
hurts her so much!  I see her face when you do that.  She quiets and stops
immediately.  You see, Darien, Serena walks around in fear of you."
        "In fear of me?"
        "Yes.  She is so afraid of messing up or saying the wrong thing or 
of being too
naive that she's not herself around you.  It's heartbreaking.  And you need 
to
stop!  Nobody can give themselves to someone forever without getting that 
person
in return.  No more games, Darien.  No more toying with her feelings.  If 
you
break her heart again, the scouts, the guardians, and ~Serena~ will never be
able to forgive you.  As for making things right, that's for you to decide.  
I
can't tell you what to do.  You need to do something to convince her that 
you
are truly in love with her, and not just out of guilt.  I wish you luck.
You're gonna need it!" Raye finished.  She got up and showed Darien the 
door.
        On his way out Raye called after him, "She trusts you, Darien!  
Return the
favor!  There is no such thing as love without trust!  So, do you love her?"
Raye shut the door.  She turned back to the fire and bowed before exiting to 
her
personal quarters.  She called the scouts on the way over to her place, 
knowing
Serena was there.

        Serena was pacing the room in a towel waiting for Raye.  She knew 
Raye would
come alone first, and she wanted to borrow some clothes.  Raye came in just 
as
Serena was contemplating getting back in the shower to keep warm.
        "Oh.  Hi Raye.  Could I borrow an outfit or something?  I don't mean 
to be
trouble.  And I'll wash them before returning them.  Is it all right?"
        Raye smiled sweetly at Serena.  After just having thought about 
Serena's
emotional pain, she was extra tolerant and sympathetic.  She nodded.  "Help
yourself to anything you want, Serena."
        Serena gave a slight smile back, as if forced through pain and 
murmured,
"Thanks Raye."  She changed into a Baggy red sweater and some black stretch
pants.  She returned to Raye and Raye smiled at her.  "Good to have you back
Serena." Raye mused.
        "I'm happy to see you too, Raye.  Thanks for everything."
        Their moment was cut short by Amy, Mina, Lita, Luna, and Artemis 
bombarding the
door.  "We're here!" Mina chirped happily.
        The girls transformed from graceful, well mannered people to a 
frenzy of
squeals, tears, and cries of joy.  The cats looked on and pondered.  "Is 
this
really the same group of girls who defeated uncountable monsters, Queen 
Beryl,
Rubeus, and healed the Four Sisters?" Artemis grunted questioningly.  Luna 
and
he both sighed and shook their heads, forming huge teardrops on the sides of
their heads.  Lita heard their comment and heaved a pillow at them, sending 
the
cats shrieking away from their positions on the floor.
        The girls piled on Raye's bed and they proceeded to attend to the 
problem at
hand.
        "We believe we might have formulated a plan that would let you go 
back to your
family, without raising any questions." Amy informed Serena and Raye.
        "Really?  How?" Serena questioned with some hope.
"Well, we were thinking that you could get Rini use her Luna ball and erase 
the
memory of your death just like she added the memories to your parents and 
Sammy
of her, "First Visit." Lita explained.
        "We would be unaffected of course because we know you're Sailor 
Moon.  Her
spells seem to not work on people who know the truth." Luna added.
        "Well, it's worth a shot." Serena admitted.
        "I'll go get Rini." Mina offered.  "I'll be back!" she called, 
bouncing out
Raye's door before anyone could agree or protest.  The others sat on the bed 
and
giggled.  Mina was always so full of life and quick to jump into anything.  
She
would do anything for anyone, a quality that was one of her most appealing 
as a
friend.  Mina was always there if you needed someone to count on.  You 
couldn't
help but love that bouncy blonde beauty who was Sailor Venus.
        "So what was it like while you were dead, Serena?" Lita finally 
asked the
question that had plagued everyone's mind since they had revived Serena.
        Serena became lost in her thoughts, staring off into space, as 
images of her
friends recovering, Darien not caring, his beautiful new girlfriend, her own
death, flashed before he eyes.  She shook her head returning to her body and
fidgeted with her hands.  She looked at he fingers.  "It wasn't painful, I
guess.  The droid allowed me to see what was happening out here, for some of 
it
at least.  I saw my own death.  I saw everyone crowd around me and try to 
wake
me up.  We went to the hospital where I was officially pronounced dead.  The 
my
family came in followed by you all.  Everyone was so sad, but I couldn't 
comfort
you.  I told you I wouldn't leave, even if you didn't know I was there, hat 
I'd
be there for you guys.  Then Darien tried to come in but Lita threw him 
out."
Serena giggled at the memory, now finding it to be hilarious; so Lita-like.
However, she did not notice Lita's confused face.  "Queen Serenity came and
tried to make me cross over, but I refused.
        Next I saw my own funeral, everyone's confessions and comments.  It 
was nice to
hear what you thought, but I couldn't bear the circumstances under which I 
heard
them...  All the pain and sadness in everyone.  Then Darien came in and 
didn't
even shed a tear.  He was more lecturing me in my coffin than saying 
goodbye.
Then his new girlfriend Danielle came in and told him they were late for a
movie.  I was going to leave with Mother, but I wanted to stay and make sure
everyone was all right.  I went home with Amy and Luna and I saw everyone
recovering.  Raye, Mina, Lita, Rini, my family, Artemis, especially 
Darien...
Then Serenity made a mistake.  She talked about her funeral.  But...  she 
never
had one."  Serena stopped short, remembering that she had never given her 
Mother
a funeral.  A feeling of guilt and sadness spread over everyone.
        "We should give her one." Serena stated calmly.
        "For sure.  Out of anyone I have ever known, she deserves one the 
most." Lita
added.
        "Yeah.  Let's plan one soon." Raye suggested.
        "But Serena." Amy opened, in her own thoughts, pondering about the 
events she
described seeing.  "Darien didn't have a girlfriend named Danielle."
        Serena breathed a broken sigh.  "You don't have to cover for him 
Amy." she
choked out.
        "She's not!  I had to wrestle him away from killing himself.  We had 
him on a
suicide watch.  The poor guy, when he found you on the ground, dead, clung 
to
you and wouldn't admit you were gone.  He just kept screaming your name...   
You
didn't see any of that?" Lita informed Serena.
Serena gasped and searched Lita's eyes for a long moment as if trying to 
decipher
if the words had actually been said by her, or if she only imagined them.
        "He completely blamed himself, Serena." Amy added.
        "Lita didn't help that belief." Raye bluntly stated.  Lita wrinkled 
her nose at
Raye, but it was all in good humor.
        "Well, it's not like it was unjustified guilt I was placing on him.  
A lot of
Serena's pain, if not all of it, was his fault." Lita defended herself.
        "SERENA!!!" Rini cried in delight and tears as she ran over and 
bounded into
Serena's arms.  She buried her sobbing features against Serena's chest and
stomach and Serena just held her.
        "I am glad to see you too, Rini.  I missed you."
        "You did?" Rini asked, looking up in astonishment.  "I missed you 
too, Serena!
It hasn't been the same.  Everyone's so sad all the time.  I'm glad you're 
back
and can be Sailor Moon again." Rini stuttered through small wails.
        Serena smiled down at the child and welcomed in Mina.  "Did Mina 
tell you what
we wanted you to do for us, Rini?" Serena asked.
        Rini nodded emphatically.  "Uh-huh.  I can do it, too.  All I gotta 
do is tell
it to erase everyone's memory about your death and order Luna P to replace 
it
with other memories.  The only one's to remember your death will be us and
Tuxedo Mask because of our powers.  Guess I should do that now, right?"
        "Give it a whirl, munchkin." Mina encouraged, setting Rini down in 
front of the
bed.
        Rini ran in circles, bouncing Luna P.  "LUNA.... BALL!  KITTY 
MAGIC!"  Rini let
the ball bounce high in the air and it spun.  Finally it began to glow, 
going
faster and faster, becoming a steady ball of white light, allowing little
miniature balls of light circle it.  Then, all of a sudden it sent out a 
pulse
of light that stretched for as far as the scouts could see.  The ball slowed 
and
returned to it's normal coloration.  It dropped before Rini and she looked 
at
Serena.
        "It should have worked.  Can we go home now?" Rini asked yawning.  
It had
gotten late and Serena was surprisingly feeling tired herself.  She nodded.
"I'll see you guys tomorrow.  Bye!"  Everyone said their farewells and slept
better than they had in days that night.

        It snowed that night.  Darien knew that school would have been 
called off for
the day.  It was beautiful outside, but Darien was in no mood to enjoy it.  
Amy
had called him the night previous and told him Serena was able to go home 
and
that their plan of wiping everyone's memories had worked.  Her parents and 
Sammy
thought Serena had just fainted on the sidewalk from an ulcer they found in 
her
stomach.
        "An ulcer?  How long had it been there?" Darien asked, realizing it 
was
probably due to him.  Not only had he managed to cause her mental anxiety 
but
now he was hurting her physically, too?
        "Weeks.  Well over two months the doctor said.  The poor girl hadn't 
said
anything."  Amy chattered on a bit and Darien hung up with her after about 
ten
minutes.  He sat down to think.
        He was at a disadvantage.  He did not hold all of the memories of 
the Moon
Kingdom, and was still unaware that Serena did.  He remained seated until he
just decided the best thing for him to do was to just go and talk to her.  
Blame
this all on the dreams and memory loss.  Yes.  That was what he would do.
        Darien felt an actual kick in his side, but when he looked around he 
saw no
one.  He realized he couldn't scapegoat his way out of this one.  Serena
deserved the truth.  She didn't deserve to be treated the way Darien had 
treated
her.  Darien realized that any other girl would have dumped HIM a long time 
ago.
He didn't deserve Serena...  So loving, caring, affectionate.  He vowed to 
make
things right...  To treat her better from now on.  Now he had to think of 
how he
could prove what his intentions were.
        Darien dressed in a pair of blue jeans, a white button shirt and a 
brown
leather coat.  It was cold out so he wrapped a scarf around his neck and 
headed
towards Serena's house.  He needed to see her, to talk to her.  Maybe she 
would
understand?
        Darien trudged through the snow on the sidewalks.  His nose was red 
and his
ears felt as if they were about to fall off.  When he finally reached her 
house,
he stopped and looked.  Rini was outside building a snowman by herself.  
Darien
smiled slightly.  Rini always made him feel better.  With her childish 
antics
and her bright smiles meant only for him, she just seemed to bring a light 
into
his life.  He watched quietly, unnoticed by the little girl as she packed 
some
snow onto the snowman's second part.
        Darien took a step forward crunching the snow, causing Rini to 
alerted of his
presence.  Darien awaited her usual greeting; running at him full force and
jumping into his open arms.  But Rini's face lost it's joy.  She scowled and
just stood there for a moment in uncharacteristic silence.
        "What are YOU doing here, Darien?" she demanded accusingly.  Darien 
was caught
completely off guard and decided to act like he had not heard the 
maliciousness
in her voice.
        "Hi there, Rini.  I want to talk to Serena.  Can I come inside?"  
Rini
maintained her scowl and merely turned and went inside without saying a 
word.
He heard the child call to someone and he stepped closer to the door, 
stepping
up on the porch.  He heard louder footsteps approaching the door and it 
opened
suddenly, a very angry Sammy on the other side.
        "Go away Darien.  Your not welcome here." he ordered plainly.  
Darien looked
down at the boy a moment, in almost extreme shock.  He had never considered 
that
Sammy would be angry with him.  He always seemed to tease and torment his
sister.  They didn't appear close at all.  Why would he be angered by 
Serena's
pain?  And further more, how did he know her pain was related to Darien?  
Serena
would never have told Sammy her problems.
        But now it seemed as if Darien was going to have to prove his 
intentions to
Sammy as well as Serena.  Darien shoved his hands in his pockets and sighed
loudly.  "Sammy, I really need to talk to her." Darien tried again.
        Sammy's features deepened with anger.  He shook his head.  "All you 
ever do is
hurt her, Darien.  She needs someone who will love her.  Not just break 
promises
and mistreat her.  She hasn't stopped crying for months.  I hear her call 
you
and cry for you all night.  You don't feel the same way for her as she does 
for
you.  And I am NOT going to let you hurt her again!"
        Sammy went to close the door, but Darien caught it with his hand.  
Sammy
growled but Darien pleaded with him.  "Sammy, please.  I beg you.  I HAVE 
GOT to
talk to her.  Please.  I need to make things right.  I never meant to hurt
her..."
        "But you did.  Nothing you can say will ever change that!  Prince or 
not, you
have no right to treat Serena the way you do."  Sammy's gasped as he 
realized he
had slipped what he knew.  Darien's eyes popped out of his head and he 
pushed
his way into the house, shutting the door behind him, his back pressed 
against
the closed door.  Darien smelled fresh cooked brownies as he stood there.  
He
heard a shower running and the TV on in another room.
        "How did you know about that?  How much do you know?  Sammy, what do 
you
know!?" Darien hissed demandingly.  Sammy shrank back.  "Nothing...  I- I 
don't
know what you're talking about...  I..." Sammy was panicked now.  Darien 
kneeled
down and took Sammy's shoulders.
        "Does Serena know that you know about our past?" Darien asked in 
earnest.  Sammy
looked away but nodded his head slightly in an answer of yes.  Darien took 
his
hands off of Sammy.  He motioned for them to enter the living room.  Sammy
obliged Darien and sat down in a chair at one end of the coffee table.  
Darien
sat at the end of the couch nearest Sammy.  Sammy continued to evert 
Darien's
prying eyes, but Darien proceeded.  He was appalled that Serena would have
permitted Sammy to find out about their past.  Now he wanted to know exactly 
how
Sammy knew, what he knew, and who he had told.
        "How much do you know Sammy?" Darien asked calmly, not intending to 
alert the
boy to his anger and vulnerability.  Sammy fidgeted with his hands.
"Everything." he admitted.  Darien threw his hands in the air and groaned.  
"How
could Serena be so irresponsible!?" He growled to himself, forgetting Sammy 
was
even in the room.
        Sammy had a surge of protectiveness race through his veins.  He 
turned his head
sharply to Darien and narrowed his eyes.  Here the guy was begging to speak 
with
Serena when all he could do was insult her?!  Darien could forget seeing his
sister now.  He didn't have much of a chance before, but with that said...
Sammy rushed to Serena's defense.
        "How DARE you!  She wouldn't have had to tell me anything if she had 
someone
who was willing to listen to her!  Rini was giving her so much grief and you
encouraged it!  Mom and Dad wouldn't listen to her when she told them her 
side
hurt.  Her friends all thought her pain wasn't that serious, and YOU!!  You, 
who
was supposed to love her forever, like you promised, abandoned her the first
chance you met someone more powerful!  And now you're sitting here in my
living room...  HER living room, criticizing her for needing to confide in 
someone
who wouldn't lecture her on being immature or selfish!!!  If you really 
loved
her, you'd feel bad for her, and not tear her apart the way you do.  She may 
be
a little scattered sometimes, but she'll grow out of it!  And YOU'RE 
supposed to
love her unconditionally!  But I guess, in a way I should thank you.  
Because
now, when I get a girlfriend I'll know first hand what NOT to do to someone 
you
love!"
        Darien was astonished.  Sammy had risen to his feet and was now 
staring Darien
right in the face.  He seemed completely un-intimidated by Darien and was 
talking
to him as if he was talking to a child who had done something wrong.  Darien
started to speak but the upstairs bathroom opened.  Sometime, during Sammy's
lecture the water had stopped.
        "Sammy, have you seen my bathrobe?  I was sure it was sitting by 
the..." Serena
had traveled all but three steps of the staircase before she looked up and 
saw
both Sammy and Darien in the living room.  She was wrapped in a short pink 
towel
and had let her hair down for washing.  She shivered both inside and out 
when
she saw Darien sitting there.  She stood there silent, unable to move, 
rather
embarrassed to be seen like this.
        "I put it on your bed Serena.  Rini spilled some water on it and I 
put it in
the dryer while you were in the shower."  Sammy told her.  He turned to 
Darien's
face and then back to Serena's.
        Darien's eyes were transfixed on Serena.  He drank in the sight of 
her small
figure barely covered by the towel.  He wanted to run to her and wrap her in 
his
arms right then and there, but he knew he didn't dare.  "Don't worry Serena. 
  He
was just leaving." Sammy stated.
        Serena's eyes pleaded with Darien.  "What do you want from me?" 
Serena asked
shakily.  Darien felt his heart crack as he heard her words and how wrong 
they
were.
        "Nothing Serena.  I want to do something for you."  He rose from his 
place on
the couch and walked towards her until he was at the bottom of the stairs.
Serena moved back as she watched his movements draw him nearer and she moved 
up
to the fifth step.
        "I- I'll talk to you in a minute." she stumbled out as she turned 
quickly and
retreated up the stairs.  She did not want to talk to him right now.  She 
had
spent the night in her room, glad to be back, but sobbing because she knew
Darien did not understand her at all.  Who she was, her feelings, her 
memories,
all totally unfamiliar to Darien.  She had cried herself to sleep as it 
seemed
to be her normal routine and Sammy had come in to comfort her.  Serena did 
not
explain the exact events that had transpired, only that Darien didn't 
appreciate
her or what she'd been through.  Sammy did not remember Serena's death, but
instead told her that he hoped her side was feeling better and that she 
should
stop stressing before the ulcer worsened.
        Serena threw on a dark pink robe.  It was sleeveless, almost a tube 
top on the
torso part and had a waist tie that she pulled in tight.  She gently combed
through her tangled mess of hair but did not bother putting it up.  She 
stood in
the mirror for a moment before sitting on the bed and pulling a stuffed 
bunny in
her lap.  She sat there for a minute pondering upon what Darien could 
possibly
have come up with.  This unannounced entry into her home was not quite what 
she
had in mind.  Serena wanted flowers, diamonds, love notes...  And Darien.  
She
wanted him to SHOW his love, not to merely say it and then go back to the 
way he
always was.  Serena would love Darien unconditionally always, but did he 
have to
abuse that fact?
        There was another ruckus down stairs and Serena sighed.  She sensed 
the familiar
feeling of tears running down her cheeks.  She laid on her bed and tucked 
the
bunny against her stomach and rested her face against it and the pillow.  
When
she heard yelling, she placed the bunny down on the floor by the bed.  
Serena
crushed her face against the pillow and let loose her sobs of confusion as 
she
had the night before.  Maybe Sammy would succeed in getting rid of Darien 
for
now.  Serena just didn't see how Darien could have realized so fast all of 
the
mistakes he had made.
        Sammy stood in the stairway.  "She's a person Darien.  Not your 
personal play
toy that you pick up when you want it.  She needs you all the time or not at
all.  I hope you understand that." Sammy spelled out.  Darien nodded 
knowingly,
trying to ignore her little brother and just appease him so that he would 
get
out of the way.  He tried to push past Sammy but Sammy didn't move.  Darien
looked at him now angering.
        "Sammy, I need to talk with her.  Please.  Move."
        Sammy stayed put.  Darien never realized until today just how 
protective this
young boy could get.  An understanding crept through Darien, as he too felt 
the
need to protect Serena.  He had always felt the need to shelter, protect, 
and
care for Serena.  It was that very feeling that had made Darien push Serena
away.  Darien could hear Serena crying and wanted to get to her more than 
ever
and hold her, comfort her.
        Sammy looked up at his sister's room.  While he did, Darien seized 
the
opportunity and pushed past Sammy and scaled the stairs quickly as he could.
Sammy didn't dare grab Darien as he was bigger and Sammy knew that Darien 
was in
a position that he could push him down the stairs.  Hey, if he made teenage
girl's lives no longer worth living, who knows what he'd do next!
        Darien looked down the hall and found the room where Serena's soft 
cries
emanated from.  He knocked on the door and the cries softened.  He knocked 
again
but as his hand was wrapping the door it opened.  He stopped to look down at
Serena who had stepped back into her room.  She had her back to Darien, hair
pulled off to her right shoulder.  Darien watched her shoulders and body
shaking, her bare back exposed.  Darien went with his first instincts.  He 
often
suppressed his initial urges, but he needed to show Serena what he wanted to 
do,
and not just tell her.
        He came up behind her and gently placed his arms around his waist.  
She shocked
him by jerking out of the grasp, not allowing him to hold her for more than 
a
second or two.  She turned to him and gave him a glance that said everything 
she
needed to.  Darien realized instantly that she could not allow him to be 
close
to her until he proved himself.  She couldn't bare being forsaken anymore or
ever again.  Darien let out a choked sigh and motioned for Serena to sit on 
the
bed.  "Please." he invited simultaneously.  She sat cautiously on the bed 
and he
pulled the chair from her nearby desk in front of her and seated himself.  
She
grabbed her bunny again and hugged it tightly.  'Only she could grab a 
stuffed
bunny for comfort and come across as something other than a child.' Darien
thought to himself, half smiling.  Serena put her head down as to hide her 
face
from Darien behind her falling hair and bangs.  Darien wanted to reach out 
and
force her eyes to meet his, but thought better of it.  He didn't know where 
to
begin.
        "Serena..." he stopped, pondering where to go with this.  How to 
start, what to
say, how to say it.  Their very relationship dangled upon his next choice of
words.  He looked at Serena, who did not look back and began his confession.
"Serena, I have nowhere to start but the beginning.  My problems started 
before
I even knew you were alive.  After the car crash, I was placed in an 
orphanage.
I was scared, sad, and confused.  I didn't even know if my real name was 
Darien.
All I felt for the first three years of my life, the part of my life that I 
can
remember, was sadness, heartache, and agony.  I was emotionally a wreck and 
all
I did was cry into my pillow.  But then, the people there wouldn't have it
anymore and they enrolled me in school.  They forced me out of bed in the
morning and made me study in the afternoons.  But the funny thing was, after 
a
few weeks, I began to take refuge in the books, in facts.  I was no longer
concerned with emotion and anything intangible.  I found relief in not 
having to
sit and ponder about my past, immersing in fact rather than fantasy.  I no 
longer
had imagination.
        I became desperate to be alone, not to interact with people, for 
fear of being
hurt again and faced with the task of having to consider my emotions again.  
I
didn't want to be hurt and it became my goal in life to avoid human 
interaction.
All I wanted to do was to be left alone with my books and facts.  I 
succeeded.
But with no friends, I found myself with a lot of free time.  Sometimes I 
would
start to wonder about my past and the pain would come back.  So I'd pick up 
a
book and study until the urge left me.  I couldn't allow myself to think of 
my
childhood.
        I did a good job of keeping people at not one but two arm's lengths. 
  I mean, I
can count the number of people I have exchanged friendly words with on one 
hand.
This was partly due to my wanting to keep people at bay and partly because 
the
minute I'd open my mouth, people wanted nothing to do with me.  I could do
advanced math equations, and yet the concept of having a simple, friendly
conversation alluded me.  Just ask Andrew!  He's the only one who stuck with 
me
long enough to get me to the point where I'd acknowledge his presence.  I 
have
never really had a very deep conversation with Andrew.  I mean, he knows a 
lot
about me because of little things I'd say and he put them together.  He'd 
talk
about his problems, but I never was able to return the favor.
        So you see, Serena.  It's not that I don't love you.  I in fact love 
you more
than life itself.  You've changed me in ways that I can't describe.  But I 
just
dont know how to show you...  How to tell you.  I listen to every word you 
say
and drink it up, remembering everything that you like and all the things you
despise.  And I am so sorry for hurting you!  But I just don't know what to 
say.
I can't express it.  It's not that I don't want to.  I would love to be the 
most
romantic guy you ever met, but I'm not.  I don't know how to be.  It's not
something that I can read up on.  It's a matter of the heart and I don't 
know
what to do with those.  They're a mystery to me.  It's like having a letter 
and
not being able to crack the code it's written in.  I'm sorry I can't tell 
you
more."
        Serena had stopped crying but still had her face hidden.  Slowly she 
looked up
at Darien and sniffed.  "But that's what hurts.  That's what hurts me, 
Darien.
I never know how you feel.  My telepathic powers aren't what they used to 
be,
being out of practice and all.  Sometimes I wonder if you even tolerate me, 
much
less love me!  I NEED you to show me love.  To tell me what you're thinking. 
  To
tell me what you think about me, other than the insults you come up with.  I
need you to be a boyfriend, not a mystery.  I feel like you don't trust me
enough to talk to me and that... breaks my heart." she whispered and 
squeaked
the last words before crying into her bunny.
        Darien moved from his place on the chair and sat beside her on the 
bed.  He
picked up the sobbing girl and placed her side against his chest.  This time 
she
did not jerk away.  She rested her face against his chest and cried as he
wrapped his arms around her shaking body.  He shushed her and stroked her 
now
partially fry hair.  He rested his chin on her head and rocked her slightly,
trying to banish her tears.  Soon she quieted and rested peacefully.
        "Serena, I do trust you.  I trust you more than I trust myself, 
even.  It's not
that I don't want to tell you how I feel, it's just that I can't articulate 
what
I'm feeling.  It always ends up coming out wrong or not coming out at all.  
And
when I do say things, I feel embarrassed because I don't feel like the words 
even
come close to letting me express how much I really love you.  I'm not good 
at
planning romantic dinners or anything, so I just give up."
        "You don't have to speak to me to tell me you love me, Darien.  It's 
the things
you do that are more important.  I don't care if you were mute.  As long as 
you
aren't ashamed of me and hold me every now and then, I'd be fine."
        "Ashamed of you?!  Oh Serena..." Darien's voice trailed off.  
Droplets clung
to the sides of his eyes. He brought her in tight, her face against his 
chest and
his own nuzzling her hair.  "I have messed up.  If you think I am ashamed of
you...  Serena I love you so much!  I would like nothing more than to post
billboards up all around the world, telling people that you love me and I 
love
you.  But, then people would wonder what my motivation for being with you 
was.
Am I really an eighteen year old in love with a fourteen year old, or do I 
get a
thrill from raping children?  If I felt like I could, I'd be making love to 
you
right now, but I don't want to force you into anything.  We did it before
because I told you I might die, and that the next day I could be gone 
forever.
I thought that I had pushed you and forced you into doing that with me, and 
I've
beaten myself over the head for it time and time again.  The truth be known, 
I
don't touch you a lot in public because I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to 
stop
myself from going too far."
        "I thought you just weren't attracted to me like that anymore." 
Serena
mused against Darien's chest.
        "Oh no, Serena.  How could I not be attracted to you?  Sometimes 
it's more
than I can bare!"
Serena's soul began to smile, breaking through it's vulnerable and badly
beaten shell.  She had no idea that Darien still harbored the affection he 
had
bestowed upon her before.  It came as a relief to Serena's ears and aching 
heart
that he still loved her as the person she was and not only the person she 
used to
be.  Serena still carried the pain and feelings of injustice that she had 
been
smart, beautiful, powerful, graceful and talented on the Moon but here, on 
Earth,
she was regarded as a dumb blonde with no grace and no future.  Serena sank
at these thoughts.  If only Beryl hadn't attacked the Moon Kingdom.  If only 
she
had stayed on Trysidia.  If only they had fought off the attacks on the 
Moon.  If
only...  If only... If only...
	Darien sensed these emotions within Serena and sighed
dishearteningly.  How could he tell Serena what a good person she was?  She
IS?  Through Serena's eyes she was a clumsy misfit; through Darien's, and
angel.  She was out going, caring, sensitive, loving, gorgeous, truthful...  
But
nobody ever remarked on these qualities.  Including himself.  Instead he had
teased her about her low marks and clumsiness.  He had called her names and
made fun of her laugh; a laugh he actually found adorable but everyone else
thought sounded like a hyena.  He had only meant to joke with this beautiful 
girl,
but instead had helped bring her into a state of depression.  That a girl 
this
sweet would cry over anything was an outrage.  She should never cry.  She
didn't deserve it.  And to know that he had brought the most pain to her out 
of
anyone else on this planet, he knew he'd never forgive himself.  He would 
devote
his life to making it up to her; this angel.  HIS angel.  She really had 
saved him
from a life of sadness and grief.  He owed her everything and now, even more
than that.
	"But Darien, you don't have to say these things to me if they're not true.
I'm not the Princess I used to be and I know that I am not your idea of the 
perfect
woman.  So don't feel inclined and like you HAVE to do this.  I want you to 
love
me for me and what I used to be.  ALL of me!  Not as just the Princess or 
just
Serena or Sailor Moon.  All of me..."
	"And I do Serena!  I was just thinking that I do love you for who you are
now.  Serena, I have done wrong by teasing you.  I should be telling you 
what I
love about you.  Do you know how much you have affected me?  Not only in the
past, but in the present.  I can remember only snippets of the girl you were 
on the
Moon.  But I know all of you here, on Earth.  And I love everything about 
you.  I
love your smile and your laugh, I love your eyes and your 'meatballs'.  I am
envious of the way you can easily talk to people.  I love you because you 
have
an un-namable something that let you make people feel better.  Anyone who's
down in the dumps can't be as miserable if you're around.  You have brought 
a
light to my life Serena.  Without you, I don't know where I'd be..."
	Serena had never heard Darien talk this way before in her life.  This
outpouring of his mind, his thoughts.  She liked this side of Darien and 
wished
she saw it more often.  It's the man she always knew was in there, but had 
never
been able to bring out into the open. Still hurt, and still not too sure of 
whether or
not this would last, she looked into his eyes.
	Midnight blue stared back into baby blue as they held each other, gazing
into the windows of each other's souls.  The coldness that had been there in
Darien's eyes was gone.  Serena reached out and touched his cheek, curving 
her
open hand against his face.  Darien closed his eyes and leaned slightly into 
her
hand, eventually maneuvering so that his lips grazed the skin of her wrist.
	His lips began to reignite a long burned out fire within Serena.  She let
out a small coo of ecstasy that was music to Darien's ears.  With that, he
removed her hand from his face and carefully placed it around his neck.  He 
lid
his hands down the extent of her arms and came around to her back and gently
eased her down onto her back.
	He settled on top of her halfway, on of his legs thrust between hers and
his arm across her chest and back underneath her.  He kissed her lips and 
she
responded to his advances even more so than he expected.  They brushed their
lips back and forth over and over, and then finally sinking into the kiss.  
Darien
groaned as the excitement of what was happening took over.  He eased her 
lips
apart and caressed her tongue against his own, reveling in the taste of her
mouth.  So sweet, like candy and so familiar as if having your favorite 
dessert for
the first time in years.
	Her hands roamed over his back and up into his dark hair.  She knew he
loved to have his hair played with during sex, something she remembered from
both her experiences on Earth and back in the Moon Kingdom.  She felt his 
body
responding to her movements over his back and neck as he began to thrust 
ever
so slightly against her thigh.  Darien crawled completely on top of her, 
spreading
her legs apart so that he could get both of his legs between them.
	Serena came to a state of enraptured bliss.  She had dreamed of
Darien so often in this situation, and now it was happening.  Serena moved 
her
hands slowly out of his hair and down his shoulders, finally coming to his 
chest.
Darien breathed into their kiss and raised slightly off of her when she 
realized
what her task was.  Not breaking their kiss, she undid each of the buttons 
on his
shirt, taking her time and not rushing as to savor every detail of what was
happening between them.
	Finally, the shirt bared his shoulders and then the rest of his back.  They
broke their kiss and met each other's gaze  Serena could feel her pain 
melting
away when she saw the look of love in his eyes.  He had used his arms to 
push
above her body, enough so that Serena broke the eye lock and focused on his
chest, running excitedly trembling fingers over his skin.  Darien took in a 
sharp
breath and held it.  He slid his arms out of the shirt and came back to 
lower
himself onto her body again.  He buried his head against her pillow a 
moment,
allowing her hands to trace over his well toned and newly bared back and 
down
to gently touch the lining of his boxers that poked out from within his 
pants.
	He responded to her by first kissing her cheek and then slowly moving
down her neck.  He went back shortly to nibble her ear.  "Mmmmm..." Serena
vocalized, a small sound of enjoyment escaping her throat.  Darien hadn't
realized how much he had actually missed hearing those little treasured 
sighs
and squeals.  He kissed his way down her neck again, but this time brought 
his
arm behind her back around to her front.  He laid a kiss on the tiny crevice 
that
started her cleavage.  Then Darien tugged the fabric slowly down to expose 
her
breast.  Then pulling the other side down as well, sat up and worked on 
pulling
the robe completely off.  Untying the belt of the robe, he discarded the it 
as
soon as she lifted herself up high enough to pull it out from underneath her
body.  He threw it on the floor next to his shirt and sat back and examined 
her
body.
	Serena made a beautiful sight.  Long blonde hair beneath her naked
form.  Breasts that had grown since the last time they had graced Darien's 
eyes,
smooth stomach and a blonde mound made Serena look as if she were a
goddess.  Darien groaned and he wanted to see more of her.  He placed his
fingertips ever so lightly on her thighs and spread her legs apart.  He lost 
it when
he got a glimpse of her innermost part spread wide before him, a sight that 
only
he had ever seen, never to be seen by any other man.
	"Oh how I've missed that sight!" Darien sighed.  Serena smiled at the
compliment and quickly sat up and pulled him back down on top of her, 
surprising
him with her actions.  At her will, he raised himself again to the full 
extent of his
arms, locking his elbows as Serena went down south to undo his pants.  She
took them off with ease followed by his boxers, all of their clothes now in 
a pile
on the floor.  She stared down at his hard on with wonder and happiness.  
She
had wanted for so long for nothing more than for that very thing to be 
thrust deep
within her.  Darien again, settled his weight atop her.  She felt his 
hardness right
outside of her opening, very tempted to just impale herself on it without 
stopping
for foreplay.  But after all the time she had waited for this, she was not 
about to
rush the job.
	Darien kissed his way back down her breasts until he got to the dark ring
of skin around her hardened tit.  The areola tasted slightly different to 
Darien's
tongue from the rest of her skin as he took her breast in his mouth a began 
to
suck.  Serena's hands rushed to his hair and she held him against her breast 
as if he was doing the best thing anyone had ever done to her.  She moaned 
as he
flicked the pebble back and forth with his tongue and cried out with 
exquisite
agony as he mock nibbled it.  One of his hands torturing the other breast by
making circles around the areola and ignoring the tit.  Finally, Darien took 
it
between his thumb and his index and rolled it between them, pinching it and 
at
last kneading her breast with his hand.  He continued this a while before
switching breasts.  Serena felt a strong dampness form between her legs and
she wanted so badly for Darien to put his fingers inside her.
	After some time, Serena couldn't take it anymore.  She grabbed Darien's
hand from her breast and put it down against her mound.  "Well well...
Someone's eager..." Darien mused.  He did as his angel commanded and she
opened her legs wide once again.  He lifted off of her body and although 
Serena
felt a pang of loss at the divestiture of body heat a top her, she knew what 
he
wanted to do.  Serena managed to get into a sitting position, placing both 
hands
at her sides and leaning back on the pillow against the head board she 
spread
her legs wide and bent her knees.  Darien laid on his stomach, propped up by
his elbows and proceeded to look at her beauty below.  He knew that Serena
loved to watch his movements and facial expressions and he for himself, got 
just
as turned on watching her suck him off.  Darien licked his fingers so they 
were
wet before touching the surface of her lips and she gasped at the heat waves 
he
sent through her body when he first touched her.  He slid his thumb over and
over her clit, rubbing gently back and forth.  Serena squirmed with joy as 
he
proceeded to penetrate her with his index and middle fingers.
	Darien remembered the movements she liked best as if he had made
love to her only yesterday.  He quickly thrust his fingers in quick motions 
against
her g-spot and Serena sank down, once again laying on her back, totally
overwhelmed by the sensations Darien was bestowing her.
	"Oh...  Darien!" she cried.  her hips thrusted into his hand, driving him
but deeper within her.  He came up to meet her face, laying out beside her 
body
now, still with his hand deep inside.  He didn't let upon his movements and 
she
thrashed insanely around, enjoying this treatment immensely.
	Darien, for himself relished the sight of Serena, hair undone, rising and
falling with the movements of his hands.  Sweat beaded along her forehead 
and
he noticed it in the valley between her breasts.  Darien groaned with the
eroticism of her body, breasts quivering but firm, displayed only for him.  
Darien
felt incredibly blessed that he, someone who had treated this child so 
badly, was
now the sloe heir to this beauty.  He had never known true beauty until he 
saw
Serena naked.
	An orgasm ripped through Serena and she fell back against the bed.
Darien had curled his arm under her neck and pulled her to his body, 
bringing
her onto her side as well.  But Serena wasn't about to just lay there.  She
recovered quickly and crawled away from Darien, making the motion for him to
lay on his back now.  She took the time now to examine Darien's body fully
through the art of massage.  She ran her fingertips over his chest and arms,
carefully avoiding his nipples.  She ran them across his shoulder blades, 
down
the center of his chest to his stomach.  She circled his belly button and 
moved
her hands back away from there.  Darien silently wished she would go lower,
grasp his throbbing hardness and give him the relief he so needed her to 
give
him.
	Serena bent over Darien and licked one of his nipples and then crossed
to the other.  Darien gasped as she finally gave contact to the places that 
she
had so purposefully ignored.  Simultaneously he felt his other region 
satisfied as
Serena took hold of his shaft.  Then she sat back between his legs and began 
to
massage his shaft, caressing it and rubbing it.  Kneading it and squeezing 
as
she pumped him up and down.  She kept it up for quite sometime, watching his
head grow more red and more red and more red.  Darien screamed for Serena
to touch his head, to grab it, or press it.  But Serena continued to ignore 
his
head.
	Just when Darien thought he was going to drown with agony, she
squeezed the head with her thumb and index.  The cried out with ecstasy as 
she
worked with it and pleasured it.  Then she took it into her mouth and licked 
it
over and over, around and back.  Darien's hands embedded themselves within
Serena's golden tresses.  Serena moved her lips down and up, sucking him 
hard
and then soft, alternating everything she did.  Darien felt as if he was 
going to
cum right there, but he knew that he couldn't until he had made love to her.
	He moved her head away from his hardness and brought her back up to
his face.  He kissed her deeply, tasting himself in on her tongue.  He 
flipped her
over onto her back so that he was between her legs.  Finally, he plunged 
into
her, causing both of them to cry out from the sudden joining.  Darien began 
to
pump his hips, penetrating Serena deeper and deeper.  They were in a state 
of
total bliss.  Serena returned his thrusts and they looked into each other's 
eyes
as they kissed.  Darien raised a hand from the bed to caress one of her 
breasts
and Serena closed he eyes and moaned.  "Oh, Serena.  I love your body.  I 
love
your breasts.  Your skin is like silk.  I love you."
	"I love you too, Darien.  My handsome Prince." Serena returned as she
thrust back into him once more before cuming a second time.  Darien came 
with
her and they screamed each other's names before falling back against the
pillows and bed.  Darien pulled out of her, only now realizing that he 
should have
worn a condom.  But as hard as he tried at the moment, he could not find it 
in his
heart to dislike the idea that Serena could be carrying his baby.

	I rolled over to be on top against Darien's chest.  I laid My head against
him and listened to his steady heartbeat.  I felt his fingers running 
mindlessly
through my hair and I smiled at the thought of waking next to Darien like 
this
everyday.  Then the pain came rushing back in a pang, but not nearly as 
severe
at it had been before.  'What if we never get married because he changes his
mind again.' I thought scared.  It would take a while for me to heal 
completely I
realized.  One time of making love wouldn't change what had happened and
make the pain disappear.  But it was a good start.  If he keeps on acting 
like he
had today, I think we're gonna make it.



The End

So, did it suck? Was it good? Let me know! Emilywaldon69@hotmail.com.
I am very interested to see what you all thought about this particular 
story.  I
might have gone a bit overboard in the other direction, but I can't tell.  
Well, at
any rate, I hope you liked it!  Until next time...