Subject: 
Propositions
By- Razzz 
E mail -  Razzzberi@aol.com


        "Would you sit down Serena!"
        "But Rei-"
        "Ow. Get off my foot Serena!"
        "Sorry Lita."
        "Clutz." 
        "You're so mean Rei! Wahh - "
        "Hey, they're opening the gate!"
        "Really Mina? Oh,  my muffin! Can you see him? Can you, can you?"
        "Calm down honey. You going ballistic won't speed things up."
        "But it's been six months Mom."
        "Hey, look Serena. I think I see-"
        "Where Ami? Where where where?"
        "Serena!" Darien called, his dark head peeking out above the crowd
of people exiting the plane. He could see her bouncing up and down, trying
to see through the crowd, and probably driving everyone nuts. Her blond
head jerked in his direction as she heard him call her name, and an
enormous grin spread across her face. 
        "Darien!" She shrieked, launching herself towards him regardless of
the people she bowled over. She crashed into him and nearly crushed him in
a tight bear hug. Darien laughed at the startled expressions of the poor
people who were staring angrily at her and wrapped his own arms around her,
holding her close. He had missed her.
        "Darien! Oh, I've so majorly missed you!" she gushed.
        "So I see. I've missed you too." He said affectionately. She
smiled. Making her smile wasn't that hard, but it still made him
unbelievably happy just to see it. 
        "What?" she asked. Darien blinked. 
        "What do you mean 'what'?" he asked. She frowned.
        "You were staring at me." she said. 
        "Oh, I was just thinking." 
        "About what?" she asked. He smiled. 
        "About how much I love you." he said. Serena giggled, her eyes
becoming starry. She leaned forward, standing on her toes, and he bent down
to kiss her sweetly. 
        "You go girl!"
        "Yee-oowww!" 
        Lita and Mina's catcalls broke the two apart, both blushing
furiously as the group of four girls and Serena's  parents approached. 
        "I guess people on the moon don't need air, huh?" Lita said
playfully. Serena blushed an even darker shade of red. 
        "They don't?" Ken Tsukino said darkly. Darien paled as the man
stepped forward with a menacing look. 
        "Uh . . . " Darien began, but the look on Ken's face was quickly
replaced by one of mirth.
        "Welcome back Darien." he said brightly, laughing at the uncertain
squirming of the young man. Ken would never object to Darien's relationship
with his daughter, but making the poor boy worry sometimes could be fun. It
was, in his own way, a sign of his acceptance, a game they played showing
how comfortably they were with each other. 
        Thanks Mr. Tsukino." Darien said, still holding Serena's hand and
grinning. It was good to be home. 
        "How was your flight in from Los Angeles?" Ilene asked, beginning
to walk to the baggage claim.
        "It wasn't that bad at all. A little long though." He said. 
        "Yeah, way too long." Serena agreed. Just waiting for the plane had
been torture. 
        "I'm glad to see you haven't changed too much. You know how those
Americans can be. I was expecting you to come back with green hair and an
earring in your nose, and in a college in the middle of the city, well you
never know." Ken said. He stopped at the baggage claim as Darien stared at
the bags rotating, looking for his suitcases.
        "That's not really fair to say sir. Although, sometimes you have to
wonder about them. I mean, that whole business of their limited involvement
with the Desert Empire is getting ridiculous." Darien said. He let go of
Serena's hand to grab a bag. 
        "I agree. I don't see why any country should even create nuclear
bombs, much less stockpile them like the Desert Empire has. Or why no one
has stopped them." Ami agreed. The other girls looked at each other in
confusion. 
        "Um, sure guys, whatever." Mina said, as the talk quickly went over
her head. 
        "Well, if you had paid attention in government, you might know what
they're talking about." Rei admonished. 
        "Well, at least I didn't fall asleep!" Mina said defensively.
        "Hey, I was paying attention - sorta. Aren't you supposed to learn
better when you sleep or something?" Serena said, putting her hands up.
"Besides, how can a girl learn if she's too tired to think?"
        "You must be sleepy 24-7 then." Rei said. Serena pouted.
        "How would you know. You don't even go to my school Rei." 
        "I just know you." Rei replied. 
        "OH yeah, well Thbbt!" 
        "Grow up Serena!" Rei said, exasperated. Serena glared at her. 
        "Tbbt tbbt thbbt!" Serena poked her tongue out at Rei harshly,
feeling very haughty for the moment. Rei, scrunched her nose up, trying to
think up a witty reply. But she found none, and couldn't help acting
childish.
        "Thbbt!" 
        "Ever wonder if they think doing that is fun?" Lita asked. Mina
shrugged.
        "Not really. But it can't hurt to try." She said, putting her
thumbs by her ears and sticking her tongue out at Lita.
        "Thbbt right back at ya!" Lita said, returning the gesture. Ami,
Darien, Ilene and Ken looked at each other, sighing. 
        "Do you think it's contagious?" Ami asked good naturedly, gaining
Lita and Mina's attention. Ami was not about to be let off that easily.
        "Ami, come on. THBBT!" Mina coaxed, grabbing the girl's arms and
dragging her towards the rest of the group of girls.
        "No way guys." Ami protested. Lita and Mina paid no attention to
her. Ami threw her hands up in defeat.
        "Thbt?" 
        "Oh come on Ami, you can do better than that!" Lita said. "Watch.
THHBBTT!"
        "Thhbt!" Mina followed. Ami furrowed her brow, then giggled.
        "THHHHHBBBBBBTTTTTTT!" Ami began to blush furiously as everyone
stared at her in amazement. Even Serena and Rei had stopped to watch their
shy, brilliant friend excel at blowing raspberries. But the shock quickly
wore off as Mina started at it again, and the rest joined in on the game.
        "Now aren't you glad to be home?" Ken asked jokingly, watching the
girls in amazement. Darien smiled. 
        'Yes.' he thought contentedly, looking at Serena, who was goading
Rei into frustration with her tongue war. 'I'm very glad to be home.'

        "Is it fun to go to college?" Serena asked, her eyes closed
peacefully as she lay sprawled out on the grass, her hair strewn
haphazardly behind her. The sunshine on her upturned face felt so nice, the
ground so soft. A perfect summer day. Nothing to worry about, no youmas for
over two years, no school for another two months and Darien back by her
side. Everything was just wonderful.
        "Yeah. It's not a bad experience." Darien said. He was sitting up
right, leaning against a tree and reading a book, with Serena lying next to
him. "But you'll find that out soon enough. Only one more year of high
school for you." 
        "Yeah. Was UCLA better than Azaba?" she asked. She fingered the
ends of a long pony tail and twisted it around in finger.
        "In some ways. But, it was missing something." he said, still
reading his book. Serena abruptly rolled over and faced him.
        "What are you reading?" she asked. 
        "Nothing. Just a book on Genetics. This doctor has some wonderful
theories." 
        "Oh. Is it hard to understand?" she asked, looking over his
shoulder to see the page with its double helix mysteries.
        "Not really." 
        "But did it used to be hard to figure out. Like when you were my
age did you know what all that meant?" 
        "No, I guess I didn't. But I'm  older and a lot smarter than I was
a few years ago." 
        "Do you think I'll be able to get this stuff when I'm older?" she
asked, pulling her knees up under her chin. 
        "I don't see why not. Are you interested in this field Serena?" he
asked. He still held the book in front of his face.
        "Not really. Just wondering." She said sadly. Darien put the book
aside.
        "Is something wrong Serena?" he asked, not quite able to place the
strange silent look on her features. 
        "Not . . . no. Nothing's wrong. I'm fine." she said, smiling
brightly. He returned the look, although there was still some doubt
apparent in his eyes. 
        "Are you sure?" he asked. Serena flopped back down on the ground
and closed her eyes again.
        "Course I'm sure." She replied lightly. "What did you mean about
LA? What was it missing?"
        "Don't you know?" he asked. She shook her head. 
        "Know what?" 
        Darien smiled devilishly and reached over, squeezing her sides
lightly. Serena squealed, her eyes flying open as she jumped into an
upright position. Darien couldn't help but laugh at her. 
        "What was that for!" she exclaimed, her nose turned away from him
indignantly. Darien laughed and, despite her protests - she wasn't about to
forgive him for tickling her that easily, well, not too easily at least -
embraced her. Grudgingly, she put her own arms around him. 
        "I still don't get it." she pouted. He smiled. 
        "No one in LA looked like you just did." Darien said softly, his
tone turning much more serious. His fingers brushed across her cheek and
she looked at him wide eyed. 
        I've missed you every second I was away Serena. I never, never want
to leave your side again. I want us to be together for always. I was going
to ask you later, someplace nicer than this but Serena," his hand dug into
his pocket, fumbling around for something, "I have to ask you. You mean
more than the world to me Serena." he pulled out a small black velvet box,
and dropped to one knee.
        "Serena Tsukino, would you make me the happiest man that ever was
and marry me?"
        Serena's jaw dropped. Shock was written all over her face. Her eyes
began to get misty as she looked into his earnest face. She had waited for
so long to hear those words, dreamed about this moment since the day she
had met him, and now, now, her dreams were a reality. 
        "Darien . . ." she began 'Ohh, he asked me to marry him!' she
thought. "Darien, I . . . ." - 'OF course. OF course I'd marry you. What
else could I say?' - "Darien I, I . . . I can't." 
        He looked at her, confused, not comprehending.
        "What?" he whispered. He clutched the box  tightly. Serena's eyes
grew wide as she realized what she had just said. 
        'Did I just say that?' she thought in alarm. Her hands flew over
her mouth. 'Why did you say that stupid Serena! Apologize, say you'll marry
him, that you love him!' 
        "Serena, what do you mean?" Darien asked again, still on bended
knee. 
        "Darien, I mean, I mean that  . . . I, I . . . .I can't!" she said,
making a small frustrated sound. 
        Darien looked up at her, his face pale. His eyes were full of
confusion, and hurt. She never knew she had the power to do that to
someone, to devastate them so wholly. 
        "Serena? Why? Was it something I did? Whatever I did that made
you-" 
        "No!" she said, wishing she could turn off her ears. His voice
sounded desperate. 'Look at him! What are you doing? Look at what you're
doing to him! Take it back!' her reason screamed. "You didn't do anything
Darien. I just, I," her eyes filled with unshed tears that stung her eyes.
"I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry." she said, turning on her heels and running as
fast as she could run, as far away as she could go. She never wanted to
have to see that look on his face. Never. She knew he was still on that
knee, still holding that box out, watching her run away from him. She knew
she had hurt him, and all she wanted to do was hold him, and take back
everything she had just said. 
        'Oh God, what have I done?' 

        Ilene looked up from her baking when she saw Serena throw the front
door open and zoom up the stairs to her room. 
        "Serena honey, I'm making cookies. Do you want some?" she called
happily. A door slammed in response to the question. Ilene frowned.
Usually, Serena could never resist freshly baked cookies. Ilene sighed, and
walked up the stairs to see what was bothering her daughter today. She
lightly knocked on the door.
        "Serena, can I come in?" 
        "No!" came the muffled response. 
        "Serena, please. I have some chocolate chip cookies downstairs" She
said, trying the door knob. It was locked. 
        "Mom, just go away. I'm not hungry" Serena said, her voice choked.
Now Ilene was sure something was wrong.
        "Serena, what's wrong?" Ilene asked, wondering what could make
Serena go into such a state. Only one thing could - no, one person.
        "Did you and Darien have a fight Serena?" A loud sob came from the
room, and Ilene knew she had hit a nerve. 'What happened now!?' she
wondered. With those two, it was always something, even if they did love
each other more than most couples she knew.
        The door opened and Serena's tear streaked face peered out from
behind the crack in the door.
        "Mommy?" she whispered. Ilene smiled knowingly. Serena flung the
door open and flew to her mother's arms, crying hard into her shoulder.
Ilene held her daughter, trying to comfort her, as she sobbed. 
        "Oh honey, I know." she said, closing her eyes. Right then, it
didn't matter if Serena was Sailor Moon, a princess of the moon, or a
future queen. Right now, she was still Ilene's little girl and she needed
her mother.
        "Would you like to talk about it?" Ilene asked after the tears had
subsided. Serena nodded her head, her blond hair falling even more out of
their buns. 
        "Well, let's go downstairs. I think there still might be batter
left over too. And then, you can tell me all about it." Ilene said, taking
the girl downstairs to spill her troubles out over cookie dough.

        "Hey Darien!" Andrew called, opening the door to his best friends
apartment. He and Rita were supposed to meet Darien for dinner, but he
hadn't showed up. And, no answer on the phone. So, Andrew and Rita decided
to go to his apartment on the way home to make sure everything was all
right.
        "Darien, are you here?" Rita called. She looked around the
apartment. Every light was turned off and two picture frames were knocked
over, as was a chair. Rita picked one up and looked at  the photo of Darien
and Serena. 
        "Andrew, do you think everything is all right?" Rita asked,
worried. Andrew looked at her with similar concern. It was totally unlike
Darien to stand them up without even telling them first that he couldn't
make it. And the state of Darien's usually impeccably neat apartment was
very odd. He looked out over Rita's shoulder, to the balcony. 
        "Shhh." Andrew said softly, placing a finger over his lips. 
        "Whaa-?" she asked, turning around quickly to see what had caught
his attention. A figure stood out on the balcony. Andrew grabbed Rita's
hand and walked boldly out in front of her, stepping quietly out to the
balcony, and grabbing a cane from the umbrella stand.
        "Don't move! Who are you and what are you doing here!" Andrew said
bravely, holding the cane out in front of him. The person whirled around on
his one heel, his arm lashing out in a powerful swing. Andrew and Rita
jumped back, losing the cane, but the guy's hand still clipped Andrew's
cheek.
        "I thought I said -Darien!" Andrew cried, recognizing the person he
had just confronted. He stood up and rubbed his face, which stung from the
blow. 
        Darien, what are you doing here?" Andrew asked. Darien looked at
him strangely.
        "I live here." 
        "No, I know that. I mean, well, your apartment was such a mess. I
thought you were a burglar or something." Andrew said quickly.
        "My apartment's a mess and so you think that I'm a burglar?" he
said darkly. Andrew was taken aback. 
        "No, no that's not what I meant. We were just worried when you
didn't show for dinner. It's not like you."
        "And what am I supposed to be like. I'm not allowed to have an off
day?" 
        "No, no. Darien, man, what is your problem!" Andrew said, holding
up his hands defensively. Darien turned back to the ledge of the balcony,
staring at something in his hands.
        "Darien, is anything wrong?" Rita asked, knowing the answer
already.
        "Anything? Try everything." Darien muttered. "I would really
appreciate it if you would go." 
        Rita stepped forward from behind Andrew and stood beside Darien,
staring out at the city with him.
        "You had a fight with Serena." she stated. Darien looked down at
the object in his hands intensely. 
        "You wouldn't understand." Darien said quietly.
        "And why not!" Rita said, hands poised on her hips. 
        "Because, because you're married!" Darien yelled, the force of his
words sending Andrew stumbling back away at the passion of them. But Rita
firmly held her ground.
        "And why does that matter? What does Andrew and I being married
have to do with you and Serena" she asked compassionately. Darien again
looked at the box he held. 
        "Because she said no!" Darien raged. He hurled the box into his
apartment, sending it crashing against the wall. Andrew went to the box and
picked it up, opening it.
        "Man, I hope this is fake." He said, eyeing the giant diamond ring
inside. Darien looked up at Andrew, spent.
        "You asked Serena to marry you?" Rita asked. Darien nodded, sinking
into a wire chair.
        "And she said no! Is she nuts? I mean, I've known Serena a long
time, but Darien, if she said no, maybe she isn't good enough for- " both
Rita and Darien shot Andrew dark looks.
        "Um, or not?" Andrew said quickly, throwing his hands up in front
of him. "So, uh Darien, nice rock!" he said, inspecting the ring in mock
fascination. 
        "Did she say why?" Rita asked. Darien shook her head.
        "No. When I asked her, she just, she said she couldn't! I just
don't get it Rita." He put his head in his hands dejectedly. "What did I
do? Why doesn't she love me?"
        "I don't think it's a matter of her loving or not loving you
Darien. I know she loves you very, very much." Rita said. 
        "Then what! I love her so much that I don't know what to do. I
don't know what I did to make her not want to marry me. I just wanted to
make her happy. It's what she's dreamed of since she was a kid." Rita's
eyes lit up, and she snapped her fingers.
        "Darien, how old is Serena?" Rita asked. 
        "17." He said without missing a beat. 
        "Had it ever occurred to you that she's still just a kid?" Rita
asked. Darien looked at her, confused. 
        "I don't get what that has to do with anything." he said. 
        "Listen, I got married when I was 21. And I was scared stiff. Now
Serena is 17. And to think about marriage at that young age can be very,
very scary. She's still just a girl. Marriage is a big step. It means
having to grow up, to move away from home, to start a whole new way of
life. I'd say, if anything, Serena is scared of that, of having to grow
up."
        "Scared?" he repeated hopefully. Rita took his hand and smiled.
        "Scared. I'll bet, if you just go talk to her, you'll see she's
still totally crazy for you." Darien jumped up from the chair, beaming. He
grasped Rita in a huge bear hug, knocking over his chair as he stumbled to
the couch to take his jacket and throw it on haphazardly. 
        "Thanks Rita. I hope you don't mind but I gotta go. Right now!"
Darien said, deliriously happy. "Serena's at home and I gotta-" Rita
laughed.
        "Go on Darien." 
        "Good luck." Andrew added. "Think fast!" he said, throwing Darien
the velvet box, with the ring still inside. Darien caught it with one hand,
flashed the couple a huge smile, then ran to the door and grabbed the
doorknob. As his hand clamped down on it, the knob turned sharply and the
door burst back, sending Darien reeling back into the apartment. Four men,
dressed in the blue uniforms of police men burst in, guns in hand and eyes
glinting in anticipation. 
        "Darien Chiba?" one asked, pointing the gun at Darien. Another guy
also aimed his gun at Darien while the other two cops positioned theirs on
Rita and Andrew. 
        "Yes?" Darien said slowly, confused.
        "You are under arrest." 

        "But Serena, I thought you always wanted to marry Darien?" Ilene
said, still shocked at the news that Darien had proposed. And even more
shocked that Serena had turned him down.
        "So did I. I wanted to say yes. I really really really did. But I
just couldn't." Serena said, beginning to cry again. "I was so scared!"
        "I don't blame you honey. Marriage, well, it's very  . . . big."
Ilene said. "But you can't run away from your fears. Darien is a good man.
I'm sure you had nothing to fear if you married him - even if your father
doesn't quite think so."
        "I know. But I couldn't help it. And now, Darien probably hates
me!"
        "Angry yes, but hate you? I doubt that."
        "But he looked so so . . ." she began to cry again, remembering his
heart-breaking eyes. She knew she could never face Darien again. "Why did I
have to do that?" 
        "I don't know. Why don't you tell me." Ilene said rationally.
Serena sniffed, looking away.
        "Mom, I'm just a kid. I'm still in high school - and not very good
at that either. And he was reading this book on genetics?" Serena looked at
her mom, who nodded, telling her she had the right word. 
        "Right, he was reading genetics, and I didn't know anything about
it, and I didn't really want to know anything about it. He's so much
smarter than I am. What would we be able to talk about? Why would he want
to be married to me? I'm nothing special at all!" she said, swallowing and
looking down at the table, tracing the small lines in the wood with her
eyes. 
        "What did you two talk about before? You've always had a very solid
relationship." She remarked. Serena sighed happily at the memories of lazy
days.
        "Lots of stuff. My dreams, his dreams. What I did, what I'm scared
of, what I'm feeling, how pretty the gardens are. Sometimes we don't even
say anything at all, and that's enough." 
        "See," Ilene said, smiling faintly. "That is what you would talk
about if you were married. I think the fact that you two have stayed
together this long shows that you are perfect for each other and that
you're marriage would be very very strong. Just like the two of you. And,
if you weren't good enough for him , which is an utterly ridiculous notion,
you two would have broken up long ago. If anything, he's too good for you."
        "Oh no he's not Mom. Darien's totally perfect!" Serena said
animatedly. "I want him to be happy. But I don't know if he could be happy
with me."  she lowered her eyes sadly again.
        "I've seen him. Nothing else makes him happier than you do Serena.
SO why don't you call him." Ilene suggested, picking up the phone and
holding it towards Serena. She looked at it apprehensively.
        "I can't. What will he say? He'll probably hang up or something. He
probably hates me!" she exclaimed. 
        "But what if he's just as miserable as you are. If he had the nerve
to propose, you can at least have the courage to tell him why you refused."
Ilene said. "Ah, but it's not my choice, now is it. Do what ever makes you
happy dear. Although, if I were you, I would call him." Ilene stood up and
began to clear away the bowls that still had a thin layer of cookie dough
stuck to them. Serena looked at her mom in awe. She was so smart! She
always seemed to have the right answer, mysteriously, as though it were
some secret mother power. Ilene walked to the door, and flashed her
daughter a quick wink before heading out. Serena stared after her, then
stared at the phone.
        "What do I do?" she wondered aloud. She shut her eyes, trying to
think more clearly. An image of Darien, smiling down at her flashed behind
her closed lids. She knew what she had to do. She grabbed the phone and
dialed the familiar number. No answer at his apartment. She tried his
cel-phone.
        One ring, two rings, three rings. Where was he!?!? Ring, ring . . .
        "Hello!" A sharp and breathless word. Serena gasped at the sound of
his voice, almost began bawling again. 
        "Hello!?" he repeated angrily. Serena finally regained use of her
vocal chords.
        "D, Darien?" she asked quietly. Were her hands really trembling?
Was she really this scared just to call him? 'Please, please don't hate
me.' she said over and over to herself.
        "Serena?" he asked, quieter now, his voice going soft. 
        "Yeah." she said, unsure of what to do, what to say. She took a
deep breath and opened her mouth again, drawing on all her strength.
        "Darien, I'm so so sorry! I-"
        "No!" Darien said curtly. 
        "Wha?" she felt her mouth go dry. 
        "Serena, I don't want to talk to you." he said. 
        "But Darien, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"
        "No! I don't want to hear it. You made it perfectly clear what you
felt. I'm sorry, but I don't want to talk to ever again. So don't call me,
don't visit me. Just go! Get out of my life!" he said. The phone was
slammed down on his end, banging loudly in her ear, the noise echoing,
ringing. She still held the phone to her ear as the  steady whine of a dead
line sounded. She was in shock. 'He doesn't love me anymore! He hates me!
No. No, no no no! Darien!' she thought, too sad to cry. 

        Rita and Andrew stared at Darien in shock as he handed the phone
back to the guards, his features stormy, dark, angry. The four cops looked
at them from the other side of the bars, mildly amused. 
        "I guess you were telling the truth, Chiba. Can't say I'd do any
different if my girlfriend did that to me though. She sounds like a real
piece of work." One remarked. Darien clenched his teeth, trying to keep his
anger in check. 'Too stupid to bother with.' He told himself. He had to
keep up the act, or else he'd lose it all. 
        "You know, this doesn't exactly look like jail." Darien said
sarcastically. One of the cops shot Darien a warning glance. 
        "You be quiet. You're benefactor will be here shortly." Another
said. Andrew snorted.
        "Benefactor?!" he hissed angrily. Rita bumped his side to shush
him. Getting four men with guns, men who obviously weren't cops, angry was
not a good idea. She pulled Andrew to the beds in their cell, which was
separated from Darien's, and sat down with him. She was scared, and didn't
understand what was going on, or why.. She sniffed, and Andrew put a
comforting arm around her, feeling the tenseness in her muscles. He looked
over at Darien, who was pacing the cell like a cat. 'What do these morons
want with Darien?' he wondered. 
        "Andrew?" Rita asked. 
        "Yeah?" he said, holding her a little closer.
        "Do you think they believed him?" 
        "Yeah, I think. He should have won an Oscar for that performance. I
hope that it's enough to keep Serena safe. Now, if only he could find a way
to get US out of this." Andrew said. 
        "I'm scared Andrew. I'm really, really scared." 
        "I know. So am I." 
        The guards suddenly jumped to attention as a large, portly man,
dressed sharply in a solid gray suit entered the room, trailed by two men
in black. His smiled as he saw Darien, obviously pleased. But, his eyes
flashed like daggers as he saw Andrew and Rita in the next cell.
        "Fools!! Where is the Tsukino girl!?!?" he roared. The guards
shrank back. The lead guard stepped forward shakily, terrified of the
imposing man.
        "WE didn't think she'd be of any use sir." He said meekly. 
        "What! Do I pay you to think? No! She's his girlfriend! Of course
she's useful. The most useful of all. Idiots!"
        "She's not my girlfriend anymore." Darien said, his voice low and
steady, an emotionless monotone. The man in gray looked at him curiously.
        "Sir, he proposed, and she said no, sir." The pretend cop said.
        "And you believed the story? How do you know he wasn't saying that
to protect her?" gray man said angrily. The two men in black eyed the four
in blue warily.
        "Sir, she called. Cel-phone." The man in blue held out the
cel-phone, giving it to the man in gray. "I heard. She was trying to
apologize. She did turn him down, I'm sure of that." 
        "If I see her again, it will be too soon." Darien added. The man
turned around, laughing as he looked at Darien. 
        "Spiteful, aren't we today Mr. Chiba. So you and Serena Tsukino are
no more. Well, that does complicate things, doesn't it." he remarked
lightly. He turned his attention back to the man in blue.
        "We thought if we brought those two along instead, it wouldn't
matter. They're friends of his." 
        "Yes, Andrew and Rita Furhata. Yes, they will work. They will work
very well." The man in gray studied Rita and Andrew under a laser like
glare. Rita cringed. His eyes were like fire and ice, all at once. He
turned to the men in black and nodded at them. The two smiled and stepped
forward, and hit the man in blue hard in the face. They moved on
systematically to the other three. Rita averted her eyes, burying her head
against Andrew's chest. 'What kind of people are they!'
        "Enough!" the man in gray called out, holding up an enormous hand.
The men in black stepped back from their victims. "I'll let you live for
bringing me those two But next time, do not disobey my orders. You will not
be given a second chance." He said. He began to walk to the door,  snapped
his fingers, then left. 
        The two men in black immediately stood up, and opened the door to
Darien's cell. One roughly grabbed Darien's arms behind him, while the
other turned his gun on Darien, aiming it straight for his legs. Darien
knew better than to try and escape, and let them lead him to wherever he
was supposed to be. Andrew and Rita jumped up from their seats and ran to
the bars.
        "Wait! Where are you taking him?" Andrew yelled. A man in blue
banged on the bars, and Andrew and Rita stepped back.
        "Don't worry. He'll be back. He's too important to kill just yet.
But you two are expendable, so sit down and shut-up." he barked. Rita and
Andrew sat back down, very angry, and very scared.

        Darien was pushed into a luxuriously furnished room, the door
clicking loudly as it locked behind him. It sounded so final - as thought
that lock was a lock on his life. In the dim light, which cast a warm glow
over the rich oak desk and maroon velvet covered chaired, he could see a
man sitting in a giant leather chair behind the desk, wearing a gray suit. 
        "Sit Mr. Chiba." He said warmly. 
        "I'll stand,." 
        "As you wish." He said, again in a warm tone, although Darien was
sure he could hear the razor edge to it underneath. "I'm sure you're
wondering why I brought you here." 
        Darien remained stubbornly silent. The man narrowed his eyes for a
moment, before again returning to his affable mask. 
        "Such spirit. Oh well, everyone has their faults. Mr. Chiba, I do
not need to tell you that you were at the top of your classes at UCLA. It
was what brought you to my attention."
        "And just who are you?" Darien asked. 
        "All in good time. You may call me Mr. Karros. That is all you need
to know."
        "So what does me going to UCLA have to do anything?" 
        "You are the most promising, original, creative student in the
United States - perhaps the world. The perfect candidate for such
important, important work. You should feel honored that we have chosen you
for this."
        "Honored!" Darien said contemptuously. "You kidnap us, threaten us,
lock us up in cells and I'm supposed to be thankful!" 
        "It's not as bad as it sounds. Are you not even the least bit
interested in why I have chosen you?"
        "Not really." Darien said. "I want to go home, and I want you to
leave my friends alone." 
        "All in good time." Karros said. He thrust some glossy pictures at
Darien. "Look at these." Karros ordered. Darien picked them up, and gasped.
        "Where, where did you get these." He said, his words choking as he
looked at the smiling image of Sailor Moon, he shuffled through the photos,
all of Sailor Moon, in battle stance. The last one was an enlargement of
the Silver Imperial Crystal. Darien looked up at Karros, truly afraid.
'What does he want with Serena!' he thought in alarm.
        "It doesn't matter where I got them. Now, you know who that is,
don't you?" Darien nodded slowly. The man smiled. 
        "Good. Sailor Moon is probably the most powerful being in the
world. True? True! But, suppose we were to create, through the magic of
science - namely chemistry and physics, your specialties-a weapon powerful
enough to destroy her? Or, more specifically, her crystal." 
        Darien could feel the blood drain from his face. "What does this
have to do with me." he said, trying to hide the fear that had come over
him. 
        "You are just the person to invent such a weapon. You will make the
weapon that can kill Sailor Moon and do what hundreds of others could not
do." he said. Darien grabbed onto the underside of the desk, trying not to
maul Karros. How could he kill Sailor Moon? Not when he loved her. 
        "I won't do it." Darien said firmly. Karros leaned back in his
enormous chair.
        "Fine. Don't. But, if you do not create the weapon, your friends
will die." Karros beamed, his eyes gleaming evilly. "Whose life do you
value more, Mr. Chiba, those of your friends, or the life of Sailor Moon?"
 
        Well, what do you think? All comments are greatly, massively and
totally appreciated.  I for sure have got to thank a ton of incredible
writers, such as Laurel Anne, Lianne, Jenn,  and a new author who's first
story 'Night and Day' is about to be posted (everyone has got to check it
out, it is soooooooo good! ) SMn Dolphin!! All of these guys are great
people, and wonderful people. Check out their stuff!! Also have to thank
all archive administrators, especially Sailor November, who always writes
the nicest things and for some odd reason actually wants to post them.
Check her site out, it is one of my absolute favorite's, and her fanfic
rocks too!! And, One last thank you! If you happen to be reading this
still, thank you reader for taking the time to check the story out. It
means a lot! And so do your comments, so please, once again, do not be
shy!! Mail me!!! Later - Razzz