Chibi moon (sailorangel52@hotmail.com)

A Clumsy Author's Note: Konnichiwa minna-san! Okay this is my very first

attempt at any fanfic whatsoever. Well, I just... I guess I just feel inspired

at this moment. ^_^ I want to thank all those absolutely wonderful authors

out there that strive towards excellence and write those incredibly romantic

stories! And the most inspirational of all to me: Crystal Heart!!! Her

fanfiction is very impacting on me.

Well, I don't really know what kind of story this is going to turn out to

be.. Maybe a little action.. a little romance.. And hopefully the

introduction of a new scout, that I drew a picture for recently ^_^ So,

The Love That Lives On

Serena hummed happily to herself as she shuffled down the street, a pile of

papers in her right hand. She glanced down at the top one and let out a

squeal of joy."Oh wow... I still CANNOT believe I aced all my exams! Muffin'll

be so proud of me!", Serena said in a light and happy tone.

Serena was now in her senior year, and nearing graduation. She always

managed to hold onto that bubbly, and really excited attitude of hers, but

over the years had acquired an air of dignity and responsibility that had

been unseen in her younger years. Her grades had drastically improved, and

that monstrous appetite of hers had somewhat subsided(just somewhat though).

Serena's appearance had also seemed to change. Instead of a 4"11 blonde

child, she had profusely heightened quite a bit, now standing a bit taller

at 5"4, with a mature, adult face. In the eyes of her friends, the vision of

the whiny, young girl had been replaced with a now developing, future queen.

Serena turned the corner, and made her way into the burger shop. She licked

her lips and a sheepish grin appeared on her face. She walked over to the

counter and leaned over inhaling the delicious aroma,now having a quite

intoxicated look on her face,with dribble rolling out the corner of her

mouth. "Hey meatball head! Whatcha doing over there? Come sit down at let's

order!!! You're late ya know?" ,grumbled a voice from a nearby table.Serena

noticed the drool slipping out of her lips and blushed. She composed herself

and made her way through the bustling crowd and sat herself down at a

table,folding her arms. "Number 1 Raye, I'd so very much appreciate you NOT

calling me meatball head... 2, If you'd so KINDLY check the time, you'd notice

that you're the one that's early here. We were supposed to meet at 4:00. It'

s 3:30 right now." Serena smirked.

"Sorry Serena... I didn't realize how early I arrived here.." A sweatdrop

appeared alongside Raye's head. "So what'd you wanna talk about Raye?"

Serena blinked curiously. Raye bit her lip. She didn't want to upset Serena,

really... But what choice did she have? It had been so peaceful for the past

three years, why did it have to be ruined now? "Umm.. Well, A few days ago,

I was doing some fire readings, a routine thing to just check the Tokyo

area... Just to be sure nothing was wrong ya know?" Raye shrugged. "Well,

what is it Raye?" ,Serena stuttered and swallowed hard. Raye continued,

"Well, my impression is that Darien is in some kind of peril, I just can't

be sure what yet. All my vision revealed was Darien being enveloped in some

kind of dense, dark cloud, and then... then... nothing at all...." Serena's face

turned pale... She put her hand up over her face and shook her head quietly...

"This is not going to happen... I will not allow it Raye..." Serena muffled out

from underneath her hands. "There is nothing, no power at all, no one being

that will ever separate me from my love!!! I've come to far, struggled so

hard and for what?!? To be torn apart? NO!" Serena's frame began to rack

with seemingly endless sobs. It wasn't the kind of cry Raye was accustomed

to seeing, not the annoying cry that usually escaped Serena's lips.. No,

this one was a cry from the deepest corner of her soul... Serena bolted out of

her chair startling the surrounding tables. She dashed out the door of the

hamburger shop, and towards Darien's apartment...

"Serena! Hold on a second!! We haven't finished talking yet!" Raye shouted

out, but soon realized her effort was in vain because Serena was already out

of reach. Raye noticed that Serena had forgotten her bookbag,along with a

few scattered papers. She curiously picked one up and peered closely at it.

Serena had scored a 100%. A tear escaped the corner of her eye. "Oh, Serena...

Look at how far you've come.. I pray for you, and truly hope this

approaching evil doesn't shatter your dreams". At that moment, the lights

had gone out, and people had begun talking loudly amongst

themselves,wondering what had happened. Raye's muscles tensed and her eyes

narrowed. "Something isn't right... Someone is coming.. And they're looking...

for... Serena!" Raye gasped. But who would be after both the prince and

princess?

But that was the last word Raye had a chance to whisper. Soon enough, a

descending black cloud engulfed the entire crowd.It twisted in anger and

fury swirling around its victims in a hasty manner...The entity taunted them,

somehow knowing their deepest anxieties and sorrows...Knowing what scared

them, and what more or less terrified them to a point of utter madness. Raye

's piercing scream had not been heard by anyone other than herself and the

evil presence surrounding her. She knew what it wanted,and struggled against

giving it that satisfaction of triumph. "I swear, by my loyalty to the

princess, I will never kneel down to the likes of you!" Raye screamed, with

angry tears streaming down her cheeks. "Please be safe Serena...". Raye had

ceased struggling and closed her eyes defeatingly.After only moments, the

cloud had dispersed, leaving not a single human being in sight...

Serena quietly made her way to the elevator. Her cheeks were chapped from

her recent crying. "Darien... I won't let anything happen to you...", Serena

whispered absently to herself. The elevator door opened and she stepped in.

Serena pressed the button for Darien's floor, and leaned up against the

wall, and waited while the elevator began its steady,upward climb...

"Darien will be just fine, Darien will be just fine..." Serena repeated to

herself in a soothing manner. She hugged herself tightly and slowly slumped

to the floor. She rested her head between her knees and once again began to

cry quietly. Of course, she hadn't noticed the tall shadow looming over her...

"Serena?? Is that you?" a familiar voice asked. Serena gazed up and squinted

with blurry vision. She hadn't realized the elevator door had opened

already.

"Oh Darien! Thank Serenity you're alright!" Serena leaped up and into Darien

's awaiting arms. "What's wrong Serena? You don't look so good..." Darien

asked with a caring, but worried expression on his face. Serena only buried

her face into Darien's warm chest and hiccupped. "Serena,if there's anything

wrong, maybe we can talk about it.. I mean, I'm always there for you, you

know that don't you... my meatball head?" Darien grinned after saying this,

expecting some sort of retaliation from Serena, but surprisingly received

none. She had slowly drifted asleep snuggled her face on his obviously cumfy

chest.She may be 18 and a senior in high school now, but Serena would always

be the Serena she was at heart. Darien lifted her up into his strong arms

and slowly stepped out of the elevator and made his way towards his

apartment. He paused when near the door and smiled down at her sleeping

face with an admiration only he could offer her. He then gently brushed

away a few strands of her hair that had matted themselves on her wet cheeks.

Darien bent down his face slowly to hers, brushing her lips softly with his.

"We'll talk when you wake up, my beautiful princess..." He then quietly

pushed open his apartment door and made his way inside with Serena

comfortably asleep in his arms...

~End of Chapter 1~

So.... What'd ya think? Kinda sappy huh? Well, things are gonna take a

dramatic twist from here on, but romance will definitely increase, now that

Darien's in the picture ^_^ Oh yeah, and Raye is NOT dead. This was a really

short chapter I know.... But it was sort of an introduction to the main plot

of the story.

Coming next week: Chapter 2 Please send me any comments!!! I'd love to hear

from you guys out there!

And once again, Crystal Heart, you're the best!!!!!