AN:So here are a few things everyone should know before reading this. This idea came to me about twenty years ago when I first watched Sailor Moon as a very young girl who had never even heard the term fanfiction. I, literally, watched the episode where Darian breaks up with Serena and the very next day the tv station I was watching it on replaced it. I, therefore, had to come up with my own ending because the show could not end like that. I have never written a fanfiction centered in Japanese culture so if I cause offense, please tell me and I will fix it. I do not own the characters but this story is my own. Rini/ChibiUsa or whatever does not exist in this universe I've created. Also this story gets angsty. I tear apart friendships and relationships; but I also love me happy-ish endings. I'd love feedback and as I have no one betaing this for me lemme know if I've misspelled, misgrammared, miss-whatevered. Please enjoy!

Prologue (A peak 3 years into the future)

She gripped the door handle for a moment mustering the courage to open it. She'd been away from Tokyo for three years. The thought of re-entering the halls of her old school was almost more terrifying than any monster she'd ever had to face. The autumn wind was blowing her shoulder length blonde hair and the green ribbon she was using as a headband. Shutting her eyes, she chanted a soothing mantra to herself working to slow her breathing.

Further reassurance came as she felt his hand on her shoulder. It spread a calmness to her fears, reminding her she wasn't alone. Though he would be attending the University down the street, just knowing he would be close helped ease the nerves that had threatened to undo her moments before.

Upon entry she made her way to the school's office to file the last remaining paperwork. The secretary handed over her new schedule and after a brief thank you she made her way to her class. She was thankful for the empty hallways. Her heels echoing down the corridors accompanied only by the sound the swish of her school uniform's skirt was keeping further butterflies from rising up from her stomach.

"You will call if you need anything," he finally said when the room came into view.

"I will be fine," she said quietly playing with her glasses and not looking up.

"If it gets to be too much, we can go back to tutoring and…"

"No," she said firmly, her blue eyes meeting his. "I have to do this. You know I have to do this."

He was quiet for a while, seemingly looking for a solid argument, but finally sighed and whispered, "Be careful. This isn't the same school you left and the people…"

"You mean my friends?" she interrupted quickly.

He grimaced, a million silent apologies pleading in his eyes

"I know," she whispered sighing and shaking haunting memories from her head.

Resolute, she stepped forward, throwing him a smile over her shoulder, "I don't have any friends here."

With that she entered her new homeroom.

Chapter 1 (Back to the present)

Three months had passed since Darian had abruptly broken up with her. Despite the constant ache nagging in the back of her heart, Serena was doing fairly well. She was putting more time into her homework, spending more energy practicing her sailor skills, and avoiding any conversation that had anything to do with how she was 'feeling.' She knew if she broke that one barrier, even for a moment, she would be back where she was that heart wrenching day, lying in a heap on the floor of that phone booth.

Her friends all wanted to help, but lately they had learned to avoid asking any unnecessary questions knowing Serena would deflect or disregard them completely. Seeing it was straining their friendships Serena tried to make up for her emotional distance by putting the focus on her friends and their well being. She also was keeping her interactions limited to group outings and sailor training. She made sure she was never alone with one of the girls for fear all the strength she'd built up would crumble under their scrutiny.

Today the five of them were heading to a cafe not far from the arcade. Ami was busy talking about cram school to Rei and Mina kept commenting to Lita on the shops as they passed. Serena let the sound wash over her and walked without saying a word. She merely smiled and nodded when it seemed appropriate.

Currently she was lost in the memory of a dream she'd have the night before.

She never saw his face, but his familiarity pushed just beyond the boundaries of her recognition.

"We have to run Serena," he whispered in her ear. They were in the shadows, he held her from behind against the pillar as to avoid the guards patrolling the walls. "Darian and the others will be here soon and they cannot find us."

"But..." she said biting her lip. She didn't know what to do. Everything about this felt wrong, but she could see no other course of action.

"You know what will happen if they do…." In his grasp she could feel the sincerity of his words. She knew the unspoken consequences and she trusted him entirely. "I fear most of all that I won't be able to see you again. It's forbidden."

Closing her eyes, the tears on the surface threatening to pour, she smiled sadly, "I know."

Turning her to face him and lifting her chin and meeting her eyes, he avowed, "I have to protect you."

"Serena?" Lita said pulling on her sleeve.

"Oh yeah…" she said, the mist of the dream receding and realizing she'd stopped halfway down the block behind the other girls.

"You are such a space cadet…" Rei called to her rolling her eyes.

"Sorry," she mumbled embarrassed.

"Everything alright?" Lita asked tentatively

"Of course," she replied smiling brightly.

Lita started walking ahead and Serena cursed herself for getting distracted.

Hearing her name again, this time behind her, she turned around. She'd inadvertently stopped right in front of her favorite arcade.

"Serena! It's been forever since I've seen you!" Andrew exclaimed running up to her and giving her a big hug.

"Oh," she responded not sure what to say. She'd been avoiding the place since...well since Darian… Mustering up a brave face she smiled and said, "Sorry I've been so busy."

"I've missed that smile of yours," he said patting her head playfully.

She laughed and was about to respond when his companion walked up. She felt his presence even before she looked up. An intoxicating scent of red roses and cedar overwhelmed her. His midnight blue eyes were unmistakable and still after all this time she had to control her breathing as her heart sped up.

"Hello Serena," he said barely looking upon here.

"Darian," she half choked out before turning back to Andrew, "I have to go, but I will try to stop by sometime soon, okay?"

With that she ran up to the other scouts, all with varying degrees of concern marked on their faces. This, as far as any of them knew, was the first time she'd seen Darian since the breakup and they weren't wrong.

Before anyone could say anything, she said, "I just remembered this big test tomorrow. I still have a ton of studying to do. Raincheck on dinner?"

She didn't wait for an answer just hurried across the street and once out of eyesight ran til she was out of breath. She almost had made it home, but she wasn't ready to be there either. Luna had stopped asking if she was alright but had a nasty habit of lingering around Serena if she felt something was amiss. She knew she had to get her emotions under control first.

She felt the buzzing of her cell phone in her pocket but turned it off without looking at the messenger. Everyone wants to help but how could anyone understand. He was supposed to have been the love of her life...technically the love of her multiple lives. And he was gone.

/

"I have to protect you!" he whispered kissing his princess on the forehead.

The scene dematerialized and he was left alone in darkness and shadows.

"Do you honestly think you can hide her from me forever?" the dark voice echoed in the black.

"I would give my life before I let you anywhere near Lady Serenity." he said reaching for his sword.

"And I will take it. Your life….their lives...whatever it takes."

"No!" he cried to the empty apartment.

Damn! he thought. The same dream again. Andrew couldn't shake it. Why did he keep having that same dream? Why was it always this Lady Serenity? Her likeness to Serena was really affecting him.

The pull to her was getting worse. Today when he ran into her he was so reluctant to let her go after their hug. It didn't make any sense. He'd known her for years and never felt anything but friendship toward her. Now it was everything to him to see her safe. He'd tried to ask nonchalantly to her friends how she was, but he'd had to stop when Ami started questioning his increasing interest in her blonde best friend.

He'd chastised himself for his increasing obsession with Serena. He knew how Darian felt about her. Even though he'd broken up with her, something inside told Andrew that Darian was far from over her. She was beyond off limits to him. He had to do what he could to be a good guy and repay the loyalties of his dearest friend.

So, why with all of that, was he having to fight so hard against throwing everything away to be near her just one more time?

/

Darian stared across the Tokyo skyline, a glass of red wine in his hand. Neon lights lit the darkness below like fireflies.

Serena loved this view, he thought sadly.

What he wouldn't do to share it with her again…

Once more he felt her collapse in his arms, lifeless and cold.

Frustrated he stared at his bed. Curse his dreams. Curse his heart.