Destiny or Fate: The First Road Taken

Chapter One: Searching for a Guardian

Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon.

Her coat was black, yet in the light a purple tint was noticeable. She was patiently waiting outside the same house, the only white one on the block with blue shutters. She had been staking out the house for the past week. A strange vibe kept her watching over the house and its occupants. It all began Friday.

Luna was wandering the streets of Tokyo, Japan, as she had been in months, in search of… well, a feeling. She knew she would know what she was looking for when she found it. Lost in thought, roaming the streets, she found her way into an arcade – The Crown Arcade. Immediately, she was swooped into very warm protective arms.

"Hello there kitty, don't you know that little furry ones like yourself aren't allowed in such establishments, hmm?" The man with strong arms asked, as he began to pet her behind the ears.

"Meow," was all Luna said as she began to purr.

"Darien, don't startle the little one. Aw, it's so cute! Maybe some milk would be nice, yeah?" Another man spoke close to Darien

As Luna opened her eyes and looked up at the man holding her, she realized he was a young man, very attractive, and very … familiar. He was looking down at her with cobalt blue eyes and hair that was as dark as night. His cheek bones were defined.

"Darien," the man holding Luna turned his head to whoever was addressing him, "bring the furry over here, I've got some milk."

Darien walked over to the counter, still scratching Luna, who was very content. "Andrew, you can't let the cat stay. It's got to be a safety hazard, right?" Luna was carefully put onto the counter. Upon seeing the milk, she glanced at Andrew. He had a cute baby face with wild green eyes, and carefree dark blonde hair. He was smiling gently at her. The smell of milk soon was the only thing Luna could think of and gracefully walked over to the bowl and began to drink.

"Maybe a little violation, but no one is really here anyway."

"Oh Andrew, what are you going to do with her then? Let her drink some milk and then throw her back out onto the street?"

"No . . . maybe someone will want to take it." Andrew replied, just as Luna suddenly looked up from the milk toward the front door. Watching the cat, Andrew and Darien's gaze followed the cats'.

A girl walked into the arcade by herself. Luna gasped, she knew that aura. The girl was a little on the shorter side, with long bright blonde hair that was styled into the oddest pigtails. She had light azure blue eyes, and she an inner glow that shined.

Around her Luna felt vibrations changing. The girl looked a little down. But Luna could feel Andrew smile, and Darien's heart skipped a beat, without even looking at them. None of them took their eyes off the girl.

"Hi Serena! What's wrong?" Andrew asked with concern.

Serena brightened up a little when Andrew addressed her. "Oh, it's nothing I really want to talk about."

"I'm sure talking about it might make you feel better but if you really don't want to then . . . how about a free double chocolate milkshake?" Andrew offered with a smile.

Serena gave him one of her dazzling smiles. "Really Andrew!?!? You are the best!"

"Drew, does she really need double chocolate? You know Meatball Head, eating like that is going to make you fat." Darien stated with a smirk on his face.

Serena's eyes noticeably turned a shade darker as she turned to Darien. Luna could just feel the tension and how odd it was she thought to herself. "Listen Jerk, my name is SER-EN-A. You're in college, right? It shouldn't be that hard for your large head to gather. AND I have had a really bad day so why don't you just lay off!"

Andrew had returned with Serena's milkshake however it seemed Serena's attention was tunneled to only notice Darien. Luna could feel Andrew's calm – maybe this always happened Luna thought.

Darien's smirked increased slightly, his stance relaxed as he saw Serena's eyes darken. "Aw, what happened Meatball Head, you failed a test, got detention and realized at the rate you eat you are going to get fat? You know all of that is changeable – if you weren't such a lazy klutz maybe I would even offer to help."

Serena's jaw dropped and tears began to form. "WHY YOU INCONSIDERATE -"

"Hey Serena, look what Darien brought in off the street." Andrew interjected as if the argument of the century was not about to happen, again.

Darien and Serena both turned, there breathing slowly calming down, their heart beats slowing, and focused their attention to Andrew who was stroking Luna affectionately. Serena's demeanor changed considerably. Her eyes softened and a warm smile brought a light blush to her cheeks.

"Hello little kitty. Can I pet her Andrew?" Serena asked like an excited five year old.

"Sure you can." Andrew replied as Serena reached to pet Luna.

"It's okay, kitty, I won't hurt you." Serena felt Luna's fur and immediately the feeling of comfort overtook her, almost bringing her to tears with the familiarity of it. "Where did you come from little one?" Serena asked more to herself than anyone else still Andrew responded, "I don't know where she came from, Darien brought her in off the streets."

Serena looked up at Darien with a radiant smile and cheerful blue eyes, "I can't believe you actually had a human feeling in your capacity, Jerk."

Darien looked captivated, but the emotion only lasted for a moment, it appeared that Luna was the only one to notice with Serena turning back to Luna and Andrew looking at Serena. "Well, I – how . . ."

"Hey Serena, do you think your parents would let you take the furry thing home?" Andrew asked before Darien could respond to Serena and possibly start another argument.

"Really, you would let me take her?" Serena asked in a state of awe. The comforting feeling still holding its grip on her.

"Well, I can't keep the cat here at the arcade," Andrew stated.

"Darien, you don't want here?" Serena asked without looking up at him.

Darien looked thoughtful before he said, "I'm not sure my landlord would be happy with a cat in the apartment as well." He was going to say more before deciding to drop it.

"Oh I hope so. What will I do if I take her home and my parents say no, though?" Serena looked down at Luna with a worried expression.

"I somehow think that if you ask, your parents won't be able to say no," Andrew replied with a smile.

Serena looked up at Andrew and smiled brightly, "Yeah! There's no harm in asking," still stroking Luna, "I'm sure that they will say yes, how could they not, she's so cute!" Serena seemed pulled out of her tranquil state and leapt to grab her school bag that she had dropped on the stool by her double chocolate milkshake. In all the commotion she had completely forgotten about it.

"Thanks Andrew! Bye Darien, see you tomorrow!" Serena ran out of the arcade gripping Luna in her arms.

Andrew and Darien both looked uncomfortable and taken aback.

"Poor cat," Darien said feeling sad for the poor cat now in Serena's clutches.

"She'll take good care of it," Andrew said turning to clean up the double chocolate milkshake, "You want this Darien?"

"No thanks. You know I wonder how she knew it was a girl," Darien thought out loud.

"Probably just guessing, Dar. You guys actually got along there for almost a whole minute," Andrew said nonchalantly.

Darien rolled his eyes. "Don't start Andrew. She's a lazy junior high klutzy ditz."

"Who you would probably like if you actually talk to her."

"I doubt it. Anyway, I should be heading home. I have a major Physics test on Monday."

"But it's Friday, you have the whole weekend," Andrew knew that Darien was going to spend it studying at the library or his apartment studying, but he never gave up trying to make the guy have a social life.

"What else is there to do this weekend, anyway, if I want to get into a get med program I have to do well now. I'll take a break and be in this weekend." With that Darien left the Crown Arcade.

"There is never a dull moment between the two of them," Andrew said more to himself, as he moved on to other customers.