* * * DAY TWO From "Olympic Journal," by Darien Chiba: The snow continues to fall over Nagano, and once again, skiing events are being canceled. But even the endless storms can't put a damper on the biggest ticket event of these games, the ratings-getter, the money-spinner: figure skating. Before a packed house at the White Ring arena, the pairs competition got underway, a display of grace and strength wrapped in spangles and flash. . . From "My Olympic Diary," by Serena Tsukino: I am a HUGE figure skating fan, and I've been dreaming about going to a live competition for a LONG, LONG time. Tonight, I finally got my chance when I went to the short program of the pairs competition, and it was everything I thought it would be. Nothing short of AWESOME. . . # And while Serena and Darien were enjoying the competition inside the arena, Raye and Lita were taking down youma outside of it. Both Raye and Darien had felt the approaching evil during dinner. They had both looked up from their plates with a start. Their eyes locked and held. They knew. Serena was talking about her failed attempt to get Tara Lipinski's autograph earlier that day. "She had about sixty thousand goons all around her, and they grabbed her and stuffed her into a van like she were a sack of laundry! They didn't even let her say two words to us! And then they were SO rude. . .Hey, what's wrong with you two?" Silence. "Oh, no. . ." "Don't let this stop you from going to see the skating," Raye said. "We'll handle it." "Are you sure?" said Darien. "At this point, guarding the Earth against the Negaverse is more important than filing our stories. We can always fake our stories from the TV reports." "Don't even think of it," Lita said. "You go do the job you came here to do. . .and we'll go do the job *we* came here to do." And sure enough, shortly after the crowds filed into the arena, the monsters began to materialize. But little did they know, two figures were waiting for them. . . "JUPITER THUNDER. . .CRASH!" Lita managed to blast three of them (gnarled, gnomelike things this time) with one bolt. She felt something start to grab her from behind. . .she whirled around and launched a karate kick. The monster reeled backwards, and Raye was able to fry it before it could hit the ground. "Is that it?" said Lita. A loud roar was their answer. They turned, and saw something that looked like a living tree rearing up behind them. . .It wrapped a branch around both their waists. Lita's arms were trapped, but Raye was able to bring hers up and launch a blast of fire. The thing dropped them, and they launched a combined attack, blowing it to kingdom come. "Okay," said Raye. "NOW that's it." They both breathed a sigh of relief as they transformed back into their everyday selves. "Gold medal performance," Lita joked. "It had better be," Raye said. "The stakes are too high for anything else." Inside the arena, Darien suddenly felt relaxed. He reached over and grabbed Serena's hand. "It's over," he whispered. "For now." * * * DAYS THREE THROUGH SEVEN From "Olympic Journal," by Darien Chiba: As we approach the end of the first full week of these Olympic Winter Games, there are some images that are already stamped on all of our minds: the jubilant face of Picabo Street, the American with the unique name and unique talent, as she finally achieved her dream of Olympic gold; the relentless optimism of Happy Harada despite his failure to achieve the same dream; the horror of the accidents during the men's downhill. Yet throughout it all, the word on the street here in Nagano has been about the weather. Grumblings are starting to surface in the skiing camp, grumblings that Nagano should never have been given these Olympics, that the weather conditions have been impossible, that some evil force of nature must be causing this relentless rain, wind and snow that has forced the cancellation of race after race. . . From "My Olympic Diary," by Serena Tsukino: Don't you just love the name Picabo Street? Isn't that the greatest name in the world? Last night was the men's figure skating short program, featuring one of my all-time favorites, the WICKED COOL Elvis Stojko. We also saw the stunning debut of the rising star in the figure skating world, Ilya Kulik, who skates like a ballet dancer and is really cute to boot! Right now, the gold is up for grabs-just about anyone could take it. . . # From the private journal of Raye Hino: Somehow, we got through the last 24 hours without an attack. Gods only know how. Maybe after what happened Wednesday, they've just worn themselves out. I've never seen Darien beat off so many youmas with his cane at one time. They all kept swarming around and attacking Serena like something out of an Alfred Hitchcock movie. They left the rest of us alone-they just went after her and after her and after her. Finally, I got REALLY pissed off and launched a Maximum Firepower attack, and I blew a good chunk of them away. Then Lita pumped up the thunder and took care of the rest. (The attack she launched was so strong, she ended up blowing up a truck from the American TV network CBS. An American who saw the explosion said, "No big loss.") This, of course, was on top of the batlike creatures we had to take care of on Tuesday, and the gorilla-type things on Monday. It's a wonder that any of us have any strength left. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm crazy for telling Lita she can go home to Ken for Valentine's Day. But my psychic senses are detecting no evil, and neither are Darien's. I just hope we're both right. . . * * * DAY EIGHT-VALENTINE'S DAY As soon as Darien woke up, he took several deep breaths and cleared his mind. He reached out with his psychic senses, trying to detect the slightest trace of nasty vibrations. . . To his relief, he felt none. Please, Gods, he thought, let it stay this way. Let it stay quiet, just for the next 24 hours or so. . .just until I get to celebrate Valentine's Day with my baby. . . He snuggled closer to the little body next to him in the bed and lay a kiss on her temple. Her eyelids fluttered open. "Good morning, Meatball Head. Know what today is?" "Mmmmm. . .men's long program?" "WHAT?" She giggled and threw her arms around him. "I know, Muffin-it's Valentine's Day!" "It sure is. And wait until you see what I got for you. . ." A wicked smile spread over her face. She had one of her famous surprises planned for that night. Oh, he was REALLY going to like what she had planned for him. . . # Because of her anticipation, that day's slate of events seemed endless. They attended one of the hottest tickets of the Olympics, the ski jumping. Japan took first and third place, and the crowd celebrated wildly. Serena barely paid attention. Her mind kept cycling through daydreams. . . First, there was the pairs figure skating daydream. Serena in a little lacy white dress, similar in style to her Sailor Scout uniform. Darien in his Tuxedo Mask costume, minus the top hat and cape. The two of them gliding hand in hand over the ice together, then him lifting her up, tossing her into the air as if she were a feather, and catching her again. . . Then, there was the ladies' single figure skating daydream. Serena in a spangly silver outfit, spinning and jumping as the crowd roared its approval. . . And then came the daydreams of that night, which made her shiver-and not from the cold. After the ski jumping, they briefly looked in on curling, which Serena decided had to be the dumbest sport she'd ever seen in her life. Who in their right mind played a game that involved a big rock and brooms? On the way to dinner, she'd spotted Tara Lipinski again. But the pursuit for the American skater's autograph turned out to be as fruitless as the last one. She was grumbling slightly when they sat down in the restaurant. But then, Darien lifted her spirits right back up again. . . After the waiter took their order, he took her hand in both of his and kissed it. "You're positively stunning, you know that? All this mountain scenery is nothing compared to your beauty." "Oh, baby. . .and words can't describe how fabulous you are." They leaned over the table and kissed. Then, he broke away from her. . . "Serena. . .did you put our press passes for tonight in your purse?" "Did I? Oh, Gods, I don't know! Let me look. . ." She opened her bag-and lying within was a small, wrapped package. "Ooh, what's this?" "Happy Valentine's Day, my love." She unwrapped the box and opened it. . .and saw a beautiful gold chain which sported a unique charm. A crescent moon, on top of which was a rose. "Turn it over," he said. "Read the inscription." She did. "To my Serena-my love for eternity." Her eyes misted over with tears. "Oh, Darien. . ." She got up from her chair and threw her arms around his neck, and they embraced tightly. "Thank you. . .it's the most beautiful thing I ever received." "Beauty for a beauty. I love you so much. . ." He put the necklace on her. She swore to never take it off. Dinner was lovely, all kisses and hand-holding and staring into each other's eyes over the food. She was sorry when they had to leave to go to that night's figure skating competition. Imagine, she thought-me, Serena Tsukino, figure skating fanatic, not wanting to go to a live competition! But if it weren't for the call of duty and the column she was required to write, she would have asked Darien to just take her to the hotel then and there. Throughout the skating, Serena's heart was pounding-partly because of what she was seeing, partly because of what she was dreaming. The skaters were, indeed, thrilling, although she was shocked to see her favorite, Elvis Stojko, struggling with an obviously painful injury throughout his program. If only "Moon Healing Activation" worked on physical injuries, she thought. . . Then, after what seemed like decades, the medal ceremony was at last over, and they were on their way back to the hotel. It was time for Serena's Valentine's Day surprise. Once back in the room, they went for each other instantly, grabbing each other, drawing into a long, hungry kiss. Oh, Darien, I've been waiting to taste your lips like this all day, she thought. And it was well, well worth the wait. . . She pulled away. "Time for your presents." "I thought you were my present." "I'm just part of it. Now, you have to light some candles. . .you can't see your presents in the dark." There were two tapers in holders on the bureau. He quickly lit them both and turned off the light, while she pulled a shopping bag out of the closet. "Now," she said, "you have to be properly dressed for the occasion. I think this calls for. . .boxer shorts. And nothing but." She grabbed his shirt front and pulled him toward her for another kiss. Both of them quickly stripped down to their underwear, and he sucked in his breath at the sight of what she was wearing-a matching black lace bra and panty set, with a little red fabric rose at the junction of her breasts. "Oh, wow," he said. "That is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life." "Now sit on the bed with me. . ." Once they were seated, she pulled the first wrapped box out of the bag and handed it to him. It was a big, traditional heart-shaped box of chocolates. "Thanks, honey," he said, kissing her. The second package yielded several chocolate roses, the third a motorcycle sculpted in chocolate. "Now you know, feeding my chocolate obsession like this could be dangerous," he told her. "Some say that chocolate is an aphrodisiac." She gave him a sly smile. "Why do you think I'm feeding it?" "Why, you little minx. . ." Their mouths came together in a long, hot, wet kiss. "There's one package left," she said, handing him something that looked like a wrapped catsup bottle. "Now what's this. . .chocolate syrup?" She kissed his neck and whispered, "Remember that Sunday we spent together a few months ago, when it was raining and we couldn't go to the beach? After we made love the second time, you told me you had a fantasy of pouring chocolate syrup on me and licking it off slowly. . ." She unfastened her bra and began to slide it off. "Your fantasy is about to come true." "Oh, Serena!" He pulled her into his arms, and their mouths collided like two runaway trains. His fingers reached for her exposed nipples, stroking them, kneading them, teasing them into hot little peaks. . . She lay on her back, reaching up to unfasten her hair, reaching down to strip off her panties. She stretched and preened, revealing all of herself to him, craving the touch of his hands, his tongue. . . He didn't know where to begin. First order of business, get rid of these damn boxers, he thought. Now, to turn her into the most delicious chocolate sundae ever. . . She felt the sticky liquid pouring over her stomach, up to her breasts, then back down. . .then his fingers began spreading it around, like a child working with finger paints. He was rubbing and stroking every part of her torso, it seemed. . . When he'd smoothed it around to his heart's content, he licked his hands clean. The taste of chocolate mixed with the taste of her. . .intoxicating. He had to have more. . . He leaned over and kissed her lips, letting his tongue slide in and out of her mouth. And then he pulled away, choosing to start his feast at a fairly safe point-her belly. Serena felt his hot tongue moving in circles on her stomach. Oh, it felt good! The touch was sending electric signals to every part of her. . .and he was moving up, slowly, slowly, by degrees. . .oh Gods, hurry, please hurry, I want you at my breasts, I want you down below. . .But he continued to lick slowly, at his leisure, and she started to whimper with need. . . "Mmmm," he said. "Delicious. . .even more delicious than in my fantasies. I think it's time to sample these two little chocolate kisses here. . ." And then, suddenly, his tongue was lapping at her left nipple, and she arched and cried out. He moved down further on her breast, cleaning the entire mound, slowly, slowly, before returning to the nipple again. . .He took the bottle of syrup, squeezed a fresh drop on her nipple, then licked it off. Squeeze, lick, squeeze, lick, squeeze, lick. . .Serena's mouth was wide open, her breathing ragged, her heart pounding. He only stopped doing what he was doing in order to move to the other breast and repeat the process as she cried his name out. "I need it. . .I need it!" she shrieked. He brought his mouth to hers and kissed her, and she tasted intense chocolate. "What do you need, Serena?" he whispered into her lips. "I need you. . ." "I know what you need. Hold on a second. . ." He went into the bathroom and came back with a glass, into which he poured some of the syrup. "Now, don't you want to taste heaven, too? I'll take the bottle, you take this. . .and we'll give each other a counting lesson." She kissed his lips deeply, knowing exactly what he had in mind. They switched positions on the bed, so that his mouth was inches from her womanhood, and his manhood was within her grasp. And grasp it she did, dipping her fingers in the syrup and spreading it all over him, thoroughly coating him from base to tip. Meanwhile, she felt something being poured into her most secret juncture. . . Her tongue touched him at the same instant his touched her. Both made an "ooh!" noise and jerked, then the tongues started to move. . . She was running hers up and down his length, swirling it around, rubbing it back and forth, back and forth. . .The texture of him never ceased to arouse her, and he tasted so good. . .even *without* the chocolate coating. . . And meanwhile, he was dipping and circling, exploring every crevice, being sure not to miss a single delicious drop. When he'd licked it all off, he poured on some more. Chocolate and Serena. . .Serena and chocolate. I could live off this, I really could. . . She dipped her fingers in the glass and reached up to coat him again, but instead of licking, this time she took him in her lips and began to suck, moving in and out, in and out. He felt so, so good, tasted so good. . .Then, she made a noise in her throat somewhere between a purr and a growl as he began concentrating his efforts on her passion-swollen jewel. He stroked it, lashed it, sucked it. . .Her hips began to buck, pushing her further and further onto his mouth. He pushed his tongue down and in, deep inside her, thrusting in and out, in and out. . .just like his manhood was thrusting in and out of her lips. He brought his fingers into play, gently and tenderly stroking her pearl as his tongue continued to probe her. . .She felt the wave within her cresting, breaking, and she shrieked her pleasure with him still in her mouth. He began to groan deep in his throat, thrash about. . .She felt his manhood start to throb, and knew he was going to come. She pulled away just before the explosion. He moaned his pleasure into her womanhood as he came, and she came again, crying his name out. Dazed, spent, they switched their bodies back around so they were heart to heart and lips to lips. Their tongues eagerly probed each other's mouths, knowing they would taste themselves. . .and chocolate. "How was your fantasy, my love?" she whispered. "Even better than I ever dreamed. You're incredible. And edible." They both laughed. "But seriously. . .this meant a lot to me, Princess. I love you." "I love you too, my Prince." The gods answered my prayer, he thought as they cuddled up and started to go to sleep. No Negaverse. Thank you, whoever's responsible. . .thank you for this beautiful evening with my love. . . Unfortunately, the idyllic peace was not to last. * * * DAY NINE From "Olympic Journal," by Darien Chiba: No Olympic sport has been plagued with more accusations of faulty judging than ice dancing. The sport which was put on the map by Torvill and Dean has now fallen in status almost to the point where people are talking about throwing it out of the Olympics. Rarely, if ever, does a competition take place without someone hurling allegations that the judges had the winners picked out before a single blade cut the surface of the ice. This year's Olympic competition looks like it will definitely not be an exception. . . # Darien looked up from his laptop when he heard the knock at the door. He hit "save" and went to answer it. There on the threshold was Raye, holding a newspaper in her hand. "We've got to talk, Tux Boy." "Sure, come in. . .what's up?" "Look at this headline. 'Mysterious Flu Sweeping Olympic Village.' Now, this may very well be a true epidemic of flu. . .but what if it's not? It means they've found a way to drain energy from people that slips past your psychic radar and mine. Neither one of us sensed the presence of any. . . " She stopped as her eyes took in the bottle of chocolate syrup on the nighttable, the severely rumpled, chocolate-spotted sheets. She raised an eyebrow. Darien blushed redder than she'd ever seen Amy blush. After a pause, Raye said, "Well. Happy belated Valentine's Day." Darien chuckled, and said quickly, "So. . .back to the topic at hand. This flu. . ." "I think it's the Negaverse, Darien. I just wish I could be a hundred percent sure. . ." "Can't you do a fire reading?" Just then, the bathroom door burst open and Serena came out. "I'm ready to go when you are, my luscious chocolate sund. . .oh, hi, Raye." She was blushing as red as Darien had. "Maybe," said Raye, "we should all get out of this room. . ." # A few hours later, they went to the train station to meet Lita-who arrived with company. "Look what I found!" said Lita as she got off the bullet train. Right behind her was- "AMY!" Serena and Raye yelled in unison, running forward to grab their friend up in a group hug. "When did you get in?" Serena asked. "I came back from my competition on Friday. Then, yesterday was Valentine's Day, and I . . .spent the day with Adam." She was turning red. The theme for the day, Raye thought, is blushing. "Then, Lita called me and told me about what's been going on in Nagano, so. . ." "So now there's only one of us missing," Raye said. "Has anyone heard from her?" Amy shook her head. "I tried e-mailing her last night, but I don't think she has Net access where she is." As Serena and Lita continued to fill Amy in on the events of the week, Raye approached Darien. "You guys go back to the Olympic area. I have to go back to the temple for a few moments." "A rendezvous with an 'old flame'?" "You might say that. . . # She was kneeling in front of the fire. She emptied and opened her mind, and soon, she heard the voice in her head, the voice of the god Mars. . . "Danger, Raye. . .there's danger." "What kind of danger?" "The Negaverse is draining energy all over the place. They're feeding off the heightened emotions of the Olympic Games. All those athletes who supposedly have the flu are really suffering the effects of being drained by the Negaverse." "So I *was* right." "And every time an athlete gets hurt, they're feeding off the pain and anguish. When somebody wins and celebrates wildly, they're feeding off the joy. And since these kind of energy drains are more subtle than their usual ones, you can't pick them up with psychic abilities-that's why you and Darien haven't been able to sense all of what's been going on." "Are they planning an attack?" "Yes. Wotite wants to reestablish the Dark Kingdom on Earth, and he figures by the end of the games, he'll have enough energy. And he's strong, Raye. Right now, he's almost as strong as Beryl was." "We can take him. I know we can." "You can. . .but I'm warning you. . .there may be sacrifice involved." "What kind of sacrifice?" "I cannot say. . .just be on your guard, Raye. . ." She heard the voice start to fade away, felt herself returning to reality. . . An hour or so later, she ran breathlessly into the cafe where they had met up for lunch most days. Four faces turned toward her, their eyes all asking the same unspoken question. . . "What are we up against?" Raye took a deep breath. "It's bad news, guys. *Real* bad."