Fragments of the Crystal By Sue-Riley. Disclaimer: (Hmm, how do you right one of these things anyway?) Um... All characters belong to the- er owner of Sailormoon This is writen just after Sailor V makes the scene, and before Tuxedo Mask gets offered that deal from Zoisite- for the crystals. Technically this is a 'what if' but aren't all fanfics? This fanfic is written in several parts- I'll post them as soon as I finish- kay? ---------------------------------------- Chapter 1- The Moon Princess. Serena's eyes flew open, her body bolting upright, a small gasp of alarm escaping her lips. Her eye's turned to her bedroom window. Something about tonight, a voice screaming to her to wake up... a woman- a lady whom called her name. No, not just called -commanded. Serena clasped her hands over her ears, her breathing grew slow. "Sailor Moon, I need you help me... bring me the crystals... please. Hurry, and come alone!" Her face deepened with emotion, she carefully drew her feet from under the covers. She turned her attention down to the sleeping form of Luna. Should I wake her? But the Princess said come alone, she sighed confused. Isn't it mutiny not to obey the princess, but just say it's a trap- quit it Serena you're becoming as paranoid as Rei. It was a scream of light from chaos, maybe a chance to rescue the one who would free the Earth from Beryl's wrath. It was in that fierce loyalty to the Moon Princess that she had to obey, and her choice was clear. Though something felt wrong like... she shook the thought away with a nod as she stood. Scribbling down a note she exited the house before transforming. * * * * * * * * Serena took a roof top view, she turned nervously ahead to the dimly lit park. A feeling of rightness- this is where the voice had commanded her to come. It was a full moon though nearly impossible to tell. Only a small glimpse of the bright Luna moon was visible through the thick clouds. Ahead she spotted a dark figure, Tuxedo Mask? Her curiosity lets her sense of duty propone, she slowly approached. "Hello?" the small tap of her boots told of her arrival. Tuxedo Mask spun around. "Sailor Moon, what are you doing here!?" She took an irascible step back, racking her shoulders and holding her head high. "The princess called me, I am the sensei of the moon." "Yes, but I was hoping that I would meet her alone." he stated, he turned back to her after a few seconds of thought. "However since you do have one of the seven crystals, I guess you'll have to be here." He sighed, she could see from the side he had a rose secured in his gloved hand. She turned up to him surprised, and he shrugged. "Never can be to cautious." ----- Sailor Moon stood tacit- her eye's carefully focused on the park bench ahead. She stayed in anticipative wait for the next few minutes, something rare for her -Tuxedo Mask commend. He turned his attention from her- trying to completly focus on the park grounds. "Tuxedo Mask?" her voice was meek. "Yes?" She turned her attention towards him, then hesitantly started. "The Princess what... what does she mean to you?" He didn't stop to think, not even of her. "Everything." "Oh. Why..." her eye's were teary, he failed to notice. "Why does she mean so much... I mean you don't even know her... do you?" He blinked twice, facing the Sailor scout. He allowed his thoughts to drift from the one who he had devoted his life to search for- to Sailor Moon. She was loving, caring and thoughtful- most of the time. Admittedly a little.. well a 'lot' klutzy but he was sure it was nothing she wouldn't grow out of. Nevertheless whatever he may feel for her, the Princess came above all others. "I've meet her before... I know I have, every night I go to sleep she calls out my name begging me to help, I love her Sailor Moon more then life itself." She allowed herself a small sob, "okay... you probably won't want me around and I..." Without another word to make the situation any more inappropriate, she pulled his free hand from his side. He turned up to her, bewildered. With tender hands, which brought a small blush to his cheek she opened his fist. And the lone crystal dropped into his palm, along side the three others it made a magical glow. He shuddered to think what it would look like whole. She smiled weakly before she turned around and ran. "Sailor Moon." She turned back to him for a brief instant. "Thankyou." She nodded, and was in seconds out of his sight, he turned back down to the park. A woman dressed in the gown- yes that gown that his princess had worn so long ago. He allowed himself to turn to the place where sailor moon had stood, was it really worth it? He frowned, even to think of it, today he may have just lost one of his greatest friend. He felt a deep churning feeling from within him, he gulped uneasily, the sensation going as quickly as it came. He turned back to the white figure in his sights. Show time. * * * * * * * Sailor Moon took another leap of faith, her hands just managing to grab onto the tree branch as the rest of her body dangled below. She quickly pulled herself into a stable position. Her eyes were teary as she pondered the night's event. Why... why does she get my Tuxedo Mask. 'He loves her baka! And always will.' Serena wiped her tears away, a tingly at the back of her neck... the crystals! What was it...? Something was defiantly wrong. Her eye's flew ahead, she frowned, a nega verse trick? * * * * * * * Tuxedo Mask leapt down to the dimly lit streets, under the light his princess stood, or what he thought was her. Yes of course it was her, her hair was done up in two buns on top of her head, like sailor moon's, must be a moon kingdom trait. She wore a long princess gown, white which scraped along the ground. Her eye's were a dark blue, her hair an almost tacky yellow. She smiled, though he remained still, he should have felt something. His frown depend, but he refused to let her see it show. His pulse raced as his eyes fixed on hers. Something... "Do you have the crystals tuxedo mask?" she asked a small hint of enthusiasm lined her voice. He nodded, "I have three of them." She didn't seem surprised with his answer, she walked up to him and threw her arms around his neck. "Oh my love I'm back." This isn't right, hug her, kiss her anything. But he could not will himself to any such act. It felt wrong, like he was cheating on his dream princess... or something else he couldn't explain. He avoided it instead with a peck on her cheek, he stepped back, and smiled slightly. "Well, my love the crystals." She encouraged her voice slightly edgy. He let it pass, he nodded again, and held the three in his gloved hand, she observed them with awe. And reached out to touch them, take them. "Freeze --err... Princess." Tuxedo Mask snapped his attention to the voice- the figure of sailor moon stood, the moon lighting her path, her presence brought a smile to his frowning lips. But his duty was to the princess, at the sight of her wand he took a defensive step in front. As he took the crystal, tucking them securely back into his suite pocket. The Princess let out a small squeal of horror. "It's sailor moon, oh tuxedo mask don't let her hurt me!" "Well Sailor Moon? Care to explain," Tuxedo mask challenged, he drew a rose though never pointed the tip. "Of courseeee." She drew her words. "Lets just rethink the situation, girl calls out in our dreams telling us to bring the rainbow crystals, claiming to be the moon princess and we just give her our crystals? Like even! I've worked to hard to get my crystal just to hand them over- to who could be a complete stranger!" Tuxedo mask eyes narrowed as he took an uneasy step forward, now in the center. "Tuxedo Mask you can't be serious." The moon princess screamed, she threw her arms around him and he silently choked under the grip. Sailor Moon focused on her, those eyes... the name became clear and she uttered under her breath. "Zoisite." Sailor Moon drew a deep breath, this was up to her. She turned to her tuxedo mask... well until the real princess laid claim, he was hers. That was when she noticed it, the dagger, or knife she wasn't quite sure. Which Zoisite held to the unexacting Tuxedo Masks back. No! "MOON TIARA MAGIC!" she intoned- removing the Frisbee from her forehead The weapon shot to tuxedo mask, wiping him down unaware, she had a few seconds to act. She fastened her pace, aware of how little time she would have to complete the attack. Forming a circle around herself she chanted. "MOON - Owe!" A rose cut her finger tips, she refused to stop, screaming. "HEALING." She would not give up now. She never would, not when her Tuxedo Mask was at stake. "NO SAILOR MOON!" His voice cut through the air like an icy blade. 'Zoisite you shall pay.' "ACTI--." Her blood flow stopped, or she thought it would, she turned down to the rose penetrating the skin, her heart. Her eyes flew to Tuxedo Mask, a tear fell down his cheek but it was hidden seconds later. One last word... one. "ACTIVATION." The brilliant flow of energy hit Zoisite full power, the general was flung against the wall like a rubber band. A loud crunch could be heard as the dark energy around the general dissipated, the dagger dropping from his hands. Its tilted blade didn't leave Tuxedo Masks gaze, he couldn't bear to face up to what he had done. Zoisite laughed pitifully at Tuxedo Mask move. Tuxedo mask lifted his gaze from the dagger, his eyes painfully glided to Zoisite then Sailor Moon. "Haha... looks like the nega verse didn't have to kill the moon brat after all." The light around the third general dissipated as he vanished into thin air. A soft echo drifted through the park, the moon wand dropped to the ground. Tuxedo Masks face was a wave of despair, his mind screaming out, he had committed the worst possible act imaginable. 'Please Sailor Moon don't die, please...' Sailor Moon still stood partially, her body in shock, with her wand dropped by her side, tears erupted from her pale blue eye's. She dropped down to the ground. "SAILOR MOON!" Tuxedo mask fell down beside her- lifting her head and cradling it in his lap. "Please, I'm sorry don't..." he choked on the words. "Don't... please." His body protectively covered her as his hand caressed over her bloody cheek. It had all happened to fast... "Sailor Moon!" a blue hared sensei pushed past him, she dropped down to her side her scanner in hand. She turned questioningly to him, "what happened?" He didn't answer, she quickly turned back to sailor moon as the scout let out an inaudiable moan. Sailor Mercury's eye's filled with newly found tears, she quickly whipped them away with the back of her sleeve. "Oh god, no sailor moon don't... what have they done to you, was it dark energy tuxedo mask? What hit her, the wound looks empty I can't find anything in it..." He pulled a rose, refusing to let his eye's move from Sailor Moon. The rose turned white in his hands, the petals disappearing into the wind. Mercury turned surprised, she could ask him why his attack was used in harming Sailor Moon later. There would of course be a rational explanation. Whether she liked it or not they needed to get her to the hospital. Jupiter leapt down to her side, panting. "I came as soon as Luna called-- Oh my god, Sailor Moon!" "Tuxedo mask, Jupiter good," Mercury stood, "you two lift her up, careful now we've got to get her to hospital!" The two nodded, Tuxedo Mask took her head and neck, and turned uncertainly to Jupiter. The brunet sensei almost fell back under his gaze, those eye's so cruel... almost as if he was weighing up her abbility. Making sure she was skilled enough to take on this task, he obviously didn't think she was up to task. Tuxedo mask pushed past her, lifting Sailor Moon from the hard ground surface. Jupiter scowled. "Let me help!" "I can do it a lot faster on my own Jupiter." He growled, in a leap he was heading swiftly towards Jurban hospital. Mercury turned to Jupiter, fear visible on her pale features. "Go get Venus and Mars inform them what happened, meet me at the hospital." "Hei!" * * * * * * Tuxedo Mask cradled the injured figure of Sailor Moon in his arms, her breathing was almost non-existent and every minute or so she would gasp his name. "Please hold on," he breathed- as he was briefly aware of the bloodstain covering her uniform. He felt a small tingle of blood slide down his shirtsleeve, and gasped at the feel. He approached the front desk, a nurse sat nervously, she was staring distressfully back to him. He shot her a look, she stood. "Ah sir..." "She needs medical treatment, immediately!" The woman nodded her head, "may I ask your and her name?" He growled under his breath, a useless question. "No!" She turned her attention to the nearest doctor, whom hadn't noticed the new presence. "Doctor Andrews!" The woman turned to the couple, the look of horror on her face dissipated in seconds with a professional frown. She approached. "If you wouldn't mind putting her down, there on that table. Now go with this nurse we'll handle your friend." There were a series of vague shouts, Tuxedo Mask took Sailor Moon's hand in his own and the doctor Andrews turned up to him. "Let go please sir, now if you'd just go with the nurse-- His mask didn't even try to hide the feelings which flowed so deeply through him, "No! I won't --." "Sir I need you to let go." The masked man paused, and for an instant doctor Andrews was sure he would never release his hold. Reluctantly his hand slipped from hers, and he turned his head from the nurse and doctor, he steadied himself and took a seat. Nobody approach him again that evening. ***** Sailor Mercury came to a sliding halt she could see through the door reporters were gathering, she took another more convinent way. She ran to the next building, the fire escape of the old apartment block. Her breathing slowed, she had to keep focused. She sighed in relief as she reached the top. Mars, Venus, Jupiter... they all stood in waiting. "No way in through the front." Mars said at once, the other three nodded. "There is a patient window slightly ajar, a small jump-" Venus was the first to respond, with an enthusiastic "lets go!" It was not that it was a particularly far jump, nor was it a particularly far drop, no further then they could manage. Each was worried on what it would reveal, the fate of Sailor Moon lay in the balance. And they would all be helpless to act. * * * * * * * "Life support!" Dr Andrews shouted, a full team surrounded her, every medical doctor, and student alike had rushed at the opportunity of treating the "super human." As she had been so dubbed. She was sure anyone else would have died hours ago. A small breath escaped the girl's lips, a name she was trying to say a name. "Dari--Tuxe..." Dr Andrews strained to hear, she was awake? No it was impossible she was highly drugged how could she be...? "Get this girl knocked out! Nurse!" An oxygen mask was pushed over the scouts mouth and soon her cries were silenced. She was stable partly, she needed to get this hole stitched up. She need the uniform gone- she wouldn't be able to operate with it there. The nurses earlier had tried pulling it off- though they could barley rip it. "I can't get this off... call that man through- maybe he'll have an idea!" Dr Andrews shouted a nurse jumped to the job and minutes later she returned with the masked man. "Well?" Dr Andrews snapped, her temper seemed to be running short- this girl was to young to be able to give up on life yet. "I..." the man approached, his hand traced down the girls face, he pulled his hand away as if his touch could harm her. He reached forward and touched a broach on her chest. A flash of light, ribbons evaporated from her body and a teenage girl lay in her place. The masked man recoiled in both fear and confusion. If she had thought he looked bad earlier it didn't compare to now. He staggered back, the words "her" formed on his lips. 'Serena is sailor moon. 'Meatball head' ...how could she be? How...' A male nurse touched his shoulder, he jerked sideways- spinning around expecting an attacker. He wanted the nega-verse hurt just like they had hurt him. Worse, a hundred times to the fold. "Please sit down sir." He was going to refuse, stand by her door, but he lost the energy and partly fell on the man. Before a strong grip took him by the wrist. "Well I hope you carried sailor moon a little better." Jupiter scowled, as Mars and Venus tried to move past him. He held his hand up stopping the two. "Don't go, nothing you can do. You'll only slow them down from their jobs." He drew a deep breath, Jupiter fortunately was able to level him to the ground as he fell. Mars and Venus ignored the warning. Mercury bent down to his side, "he'll be fine" she informed. He nodded, sitting upwards on the floor. He pulled himself into a stable state and produced one of the three crystals. "She gave this to me earlier..." Mercury turned to him, "what happened earlier Tuxedo Mask?" He explained as best he could. ****** Jupiter's eye's were green/brown pools of gray, she threw her fist into his chest and screamed unforgiving. "How could you." Mercury too turned away, and he heard her whisper to Jupiter. "Please... if it hadn't been for him I'm sure we wouldn't have made it this far..." No he would have preferred them hate him, he hated himself he was a complete and utter foul! How could he let this happen! He deserved any punishment, Mars who he had only just noticed had been looking over his shoulder. He saw her bend down a hand slap across his face. She whispered softly, "I forgive you." He held his hand over his burning cheek and nodded slowly, Venus stood beside Mars she didn't seem to want to move. He stood up without help, and stabled himself carefully on a rolling bed. The four scouts stood up in turn, they turned to him. Mars spoke first, "I guess you know who Sailor Moon is?" He nodded reluctantly, Mars frowned. The one thing they had tried to prevent. "The whole world probably knows by now." He added simply. She turned to Venus, "get in touch with her parents, Mercury I want you to stay here and Jupiter you two are playing body guard. Tuxedo Mask you if you want can stay." "What about you Mars?" Mercury asked. The black hared sensei turned away. "I will consult the flame," Tuxedo Mask pulled himself from the bed, as Venus and Jupiter accepted their duties, Venus frowned and turned to tuxedo mask. "Tuxedo Mask?" "Yes?" "What will you be doing?" She asked. He turned back to the emergency room. "Waiting... * * * * * * Venus leapt down to the front door of the Tskuino house, her hands were clasped down to either side of her body and hesitantly she lifted one arm, ringing the doorbell. There were a series of shouts as the family woke up, a man answered the door. He frowned and asked yawning. "What is this Halloween?" Venus blushed slightly as she omitted herself in, she dropped down to the couch unaware until now how low on energy she had become. "Well care to explain what your doing in my house?" the man asked, she turned up as a woman along side a boy entered. Serena's mother, and little brother Sammy she recognized from her brief encounters with Serena's family. "I... well, I have some bad news." The little boy was the first to recognize. "Sailor V?" She nodded, letting out a small yawn, "I'm sorry about the late hour," she apologized, "it's just that..." a voice was telling her 'Tell them before someone has too' she took a breath. "Serena is in hospital." Serena's mothers head jerked up, "what do you mean- she's asleep in bed... just..." Venus persisted. "She was out fighting, tonight, with 'us'." Serena's father's voice broke into the discussion, her brother to shocked to speak. "I don't know what kind of people you are, but our girl was in bed and couldn't possibl-." She wanted to just run from here and never come back, but she needed to help Sailor Moon. She turned her head down ashamed. "Serena is Sailor Moon- she was injured tonight- in battle, she's in hospital." Serena's mother ran to her room, as Serena's little brother turned up to her in disbelief. He muttered. "You have got to be kidding." Serena's mum returned from upstairs, minutes later her focus centered on the blonde hared girl. Hesitantly Venus nodded, "I'll take you to hospital." ***** Tuxedo Mask pulled his head from the bed pillow as he winced in pain, owe- what a headache. He turned down to his watch before realizing it wasn't on his wrist. He turned up shocked, the slight weight of the mask resting on his nose brought awareness to the entire situation. He lifted his head from the padded pillow, Sailor Moon she was all right, she had to be well. How did he know that, maybe it was just wishful thinking but he had to believe that she was okay. He jerked his head upwards, an echoing pain shifting through him. He recognized the ceiling, and the black hared woman hovering over him. He jerked backwards. "Rei?" The woman turned down to him, a glimmer of recognition flickered in her eyes before she regained her usual composure. She hesitantly replied. "Tuxedo Mask? You're awake, the sailor scouts dropped you in here last night..." she yawned, her lack of sleep showing. "Serena is she ok?" he asked, she nodded her head. "She's fine a little beaten up- she- would really appreciate your company." He jumped from his bed discovering all the hidden pains that suddenly surfaced through his body, he staggered slowly towards the door. Rei waved a quick goodbye- his walk quickly turned into a run. * * * * Jupiter yawned, she had not gotten a wink of sleep since last night, she had to be alert with the amount of people trying to get in and someone had to guard Serena. Mercury had come and visited every hour or so to check on Serena, and Mars would come about every two offering to relive her of her duty. Jupiter still thought she was more capable. Luna slept soundly at her feet, and occasionally the black cat would swat an invisible fly. Jupiter shifted in her seat, she had to stay alert never know when any of those generals are going to show up. She had stopped several members of the press already this morning, and didn't fantasy having to do it again. An hour ago Serena's parents had tried to gain entry, she had allowed them to see her for a few short minutes at Venus wish and then escorted them out. She wouldn't put it past the Nega -Verse to pose as one of Serena's family members, now that they knew who she was. She turned her head upwards reliving a cramp she had gotten by her sitting position. A meter away the figure of Serena slept, life support and various tubes hocked up to her body. "Jupiter." Serena murmured, Jupiter turned back to her a small smile crossing her lips. Serena had woken a few short hours earlier to talk to her parents, though fallen to sleep before Jupiter could get a word in. "Yeah meatball head," the brunet replied, her hands took Serena's in a warm grasp. Serena giggled slightly. "You sound like Mars, I don't remember much Li-- Jupiter, I... Where am I?" "Your in hospital, Tuxedo Mask brought you in here last night. Tell me what you remember?" Serena shifted her position, trying to turn to face Jupiter. She failed in the attempt, and began. "Well... the princess called me... and I followed up on it." She paused. "This is were it got kinda vague- I... Zoisite was going to stab tuxedo mask!" Her eye's widened, "so I knocked him out of the way and..." she frowned. "I don't remember the rest, only a lot of pain." Jupiter leant over her, to the blonde's surprise she said. "You better sleep now." "But I wanna stay up and talk to you..." Jupiter nodded a silent, 'okay' a soft smile crossing her features as she promised all the chocolates Serena would soon receive. * * * * * * * >From afar he approached the hospital, below he spotted the many reporters gathered round the entrance, he turned upwards and spotted an apartment block. It looked like it would gain him easy access to the hospital. He opened the roof door, it sealed slowly shut behind him. In front he noticed the figure of Mercury, her head turned down to a small computer in her lap, and facing in the rough direction of the hospital. He bent down and tapped her shoulder, she spun around as if just woken, her head bent up- tired eye's facing him. "Your back-" were her only words, he looked concerned. "Get some sleep- I'll check on her." Mercury nodded weakly, "I'll be fine." She held her computer up to him, his eye's scanned the conceal quickly. Life signs, he made a note of it, Serena seemed to have a little above normals. He guessed an after affect of being sailor Moon, she also showed especially low energy readings- two things which Sailor Mercury was able to define. He didn't have the eye focus this early in the morning to check on it all. "She should make a full recovery." Mercury confirmed, "these are un-tranformed -she can probably take a lot of extra energy back when she does transform." "I'll go check on her now." He patted the blue hared sensei shoulder. "Be careful." "You too," she whispered behind him. * * * * * * * Tuxedo Mask walked slowly through the hospital hall, he was surprised at the little amount of attention that he was getting. Guess these people have seen it all tonight, he had been careful to avoid the press though. He crept through into a storage room, and heaved a window open. He pulled out onto the window ledge, it should only be a couple of windows over till he reached Serena's room. --- "No Jupiterrr..." Serena let out a low laugh, "you just go to sleep- Luna here will guard me." The Luna cat on cue let out a low "meow" and Jupiter took another sip of her coffee. "It will be fine Serena, so tell me what else you remember." Jupiter stood distracted and slowly walked over towards the bedroom window. "Well... I... um, Jupiter?" Jupiter held her finger to her lip, "shh-- just keep talking." "Well okay-- umm... I remember -TUXEDO MASK!" Almost seconds after the window opened a masked figure stumbled into the room, Serena let out a low chuckle. "Er-- Hi Serena." He sheepishly held his hand up, the black cat Luna jumped down to his heel and hissed. "Luna!" Serena bit, the cat settled back, "she's just upset cause she didn't get to sleep on my bed." He nodded and from behind his back pulled out a bouquet of red roses. Sailor Moon gracefully accepted and turned from Tuxedo Mask to the roses, she blushed. "Could you give us a minute Jupiter." Serena asked, as she painfully crossed her arms over her chest. The brunet hesitated, and nodded quietly. "Okay... but you just call if you need any help." "You too Luna." Serena ordered. The cat let out an innocent 'meow' and Serena continued with a scowl "go on scat." With a down face the cat turned towards the door, and hesitantly followed Jupiter out. Tuxedo Mask kept a distance, and Serena finally spoke. "Well you owe me big time for this one!" she smiled, and held her hands out, still unsure he stepped closer and took her into a light embrace. "What is it Tuxedo Mask?" "You don't hate me?" he asked doubtful of his own moves. She nodded negatively, "hate you, why would I?" He blinked disbelieving, taking her into a warmer embrace as he breathed into her ear an almost incoherent apology. What more could he say, confess an undying love perhaps? There were more important matters to be discussed at this moment in time. So it came with great difficulty before he stepped back a few paces, and coughed into his closed fist. "Serena," he turned to a more important matter. "What are we going to do about your current status." She let out a small giggle. "Maybe Sammy will give me some respect for once," she sighed. "But I have no idea where to go from here." She painfully sat up vertically in her bed, before continuing. "Mars is looking after the last ginstone, since I will become an obvious target for the Nega-Verse." He winced at her words, when he stuffed up he really stuffed up. She turned up to the silent masked man and joked. "So now that you have my identity, do I get yours?" He focused completely back to her, turning to her in such a way that he was actually considering her proposal, he let out a breath. "No, best not." "Oh- why?" she chimed, her small blue eye's trying to focus onto his. "Two reasons, now your an obvious target you could be caught by the nega-verse and secondly you'd think of me worse then before." -'meatball head. She grinned, "so I know you- okay let me see. I would say Andrew but your hair is way darker. Or maybe." She got a deviously look in her eye's. "You're my brother Sammy and every time you transform you grow about 8 inches and well- a total change! Hey ingenious disguise... no way to weird!" He chuckled, and took a seat by her bed, she seemed to be enjoying herself at least. "Hmm besides for that, I... well... no you couldn't be him" she glanced back to him, her eye's making quick observations. "No way couldn't be, he's way too moody." Even if they are physically alike, bet there are hundreds of men who look like Tuxedo Mask. "Who?" He asked, as he crocked an eyebrow. "Oh real pain he always call me meatball head-" He hid his obvious surprise, and quickly added. "Hey good name!" "Argh! Your my dream date you can't tease me, anyway no one could be as bad as Darien... its like he has PMT every day of the week!" He choked on the words, unfortunately he was in no position to return the compliments. "No." She continued. "How bout Melvin... but he already tried the Tuxedo Mask gig..." she yawned, and rested back on her pillow, she still felt to drained from the surgery. He stood up by her side with a concerned look, he pulled the pillow from under her head and fluffed it up a bit before placing it back under her neck. "So how are you feeling princess?" She turned up to him, "a little soar- those roses really sting, and Luna wont stop yapping, she says next time we think we've found the Moon Princess we run it past her first." He smiled, "well- hey think on the bright side." He said in a tone that surprised her. "I owe you my life now, got any requests?" She lifted her head for an instant. "Well since you failed my identity one... hey I know who you are, one of my teachers, they always say it is the people you least suspect. Well at least that's what Sammy's been murmuring about for the past hour." He stood up, and turned to her strangely "me a school teacher? A stylish guy like me- never." "Huh- you're just disguising the facts! I knew it, should it now be Mr. Mask?" He smiled, and melodramatically turned his head away. "Found out! When I'm not defending the Sailor Scouts I'm writing math's assignments..." "Math's... ewwww!" "Okay... I'll be lenient with your math's." "Tuxedo Mask?" He nodded, "yeah," "About the Princess..." He had well anticipated this part of the conversation. "I'm sorry, I let it cloud my judgement, I was just so eager to find her..." "I understand, and I think it was really sweet how you tried to protect her, even if it was that slime Zoisite." He turned to her again unsure, "you think it was sweet that I stabbed you?" Her laugh was like angle song, she beamed warmly up to him- her hands taking his own. "In it's own sweet way, hey don't laugh!" "Sorry meatball head," -she gave him a face. "It's just that ...only you could think it was sweet." "Okay then- I'll never forgive you, that is unless you beg for forgiveness." She closed her eye's raising her head high as she folded her hands over her chest. She waited an instant before opening her left eye to peak out at what he was doing. He positioned himself at her bedside, his hands clasped together in a prayer like fashion, he rested on one knee. "My lady Serena, would you find it in your heart to accept my sincere apology for my outgoing actions, and if you could find it in all my failings to forgive me? " She threw her arms around his neck, "forgiven," she kissed him warmly on the cheek and it took him an instant to work out the situation. This is the little girl Serena, the one you always tease about failed test scores, is also the fighter for love and justice Sailor Moon. He touched her cheek with the back of his hand, and also the most beautiful caring woman you've ever met. "So am I forgiven," he asked sweetly as he caressed her cheek. She smiled a tear falling down her cheek as she spoke. "I can forgive love, I want you to hold me forever- but... you love her don't you? And that's something I will never compare with, no, no hush- it's something we will never compare with. When you threw that rose it was just a glimpse into your love and the sacrifices you will make for 'her'. And I respect that... find your princess, bye tuxedo mask." He dropped a clasped fist to his side, as he stood. Her teary eye's both begging him to stay and leave, it was agonizing. He whipped around towards the window, once he left- once he committed that deed he would think over it. He would decide a course of action, his main concern was the moon princess, but does Sailor Moon make a mark in his mission? Shouldn't he help, he bluntly refused to think on the matter as he pulled out of the window and made a departure. Jupiter pulled open the hospital door, and came stalking in towards Serena. "Well out of all the self centered--- Serena what is it?" She wiped away teary eyes, and pulled back under her covers. I know who tuxedo mask is... it makes sense it makes so much sense why did I miss it? "Huh- Sailor Jupiter?" "Oh- er- nothing I just thought it was pretty slack how tuxedo mask left you like that-- are you sure your OK?" "I'm fine...um- just need a little rest," "Oh- sure okay night Serena." To be Continued.. in one of those really bugging series things.. All comments etcccc mail to- zone123@hotmail.com Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Lot/2115/ Ciao- Sue Riley.