Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or Dragonball Z
A/N: Hi all! Well I know I have another fan fic going - for those reading Kamari's Story, don't worry, I'm still working on it! However this story has been one of my favourites I have been working on in my spare time. Since a number of chapters are already written, I'll post the first three. Please read and review! This is set after Sailor Moon Stars, and before the Buu saga in DBZ. Please, don't flame too harshly! Enjoy!
Chapter 1: Let me forget
Serena gazed moodily out the window of her apartment, pen tapping on what was supposed to be her business management essay.
She sighed, the pen dropping from her fingers to the floor. Luna picked it up in her mouth and jumped onto Serena's desk.
"Serena! You haven't written a thing! Honestly sometimes I don't know why you bother!" said Luna in a cranky voice.
Serena continued to look out the window at a busy Tokyo street, ignoring her cat. All those people, she thought, all have somewhere they have to go, people they have to see, things they need to do……and here's me. Waiting for a stupid destiny. Pointless.
She sighed again, and turned back to her essay on the principles of business management. She had been studying a double university degree on business management and hospitality for the past three years, just for the sake of doing a degree of some sort. This one had seemed the best of the ones she could choose from. But her degree would all be over in a few weeks. Then what?
Tap tap tap. Serena stared blankly at the text book open in front of her, not really taking anything in, hand absently flicking the pen down on the blank paper beside the text book.
She didn't even want stay in her part-time job as a waitress at a classy Tokyo restaurant, a job she had held since she started university. Sure, she klutzed out all the time. But the manager was a friend of her mother's, and very understanding.
Her mind shifted to her friends. Most of them had travelled overseas to study. Amy had gone to Germany to study medicine in one of the top medical schools in the world. She still had another three years of her degree to go, plus work placement. Mina had gone back to England for a year to visit her family and friends. Raye had taken over management of the temple from her grandfather, who was now getting too old to manage all the visitors who came for blessings. And Lita was backpacking somewhere around Asia getting more martial arts experience so she could open up a martial arts school in Tokyo in a few years.
As for the outer senshi, Amara and Michelle were both in Australia, Amara for the Clipsal car races, and Michelle for a musical tour. Trista just came and went like the wind, occasionally visiting each of the senshi, but often not for long, as she needed to stay guarding the Gate of Time.
But not even Trista knew what had happened to Rini the day Darian died. She just vanished, and all Trista could say was that Rini was not in the past or future - almost as if she ceased to exist.
Part of Serena had died that day, three years ago. Darian had proposed two weeks earlier, at her favourite sushi restaurant. She had cried – it was all just perfect. Until, riding home from work one day on his motorcycle, Darian had been clipped by a semi-trailer changing lanes. Both he and his motorcycle were slammed into a nearby retaining wall. He died in hospital just a few hours later. Serena had been so distraught the doctors needed to sedate her for two weeks after the accident. She stayed in hospital during that time, as the doctors were concerned the young girl would take her own life – something Serena had contemplated many times during those long two weeks.
It was no comfort to her that four weeks after she was released from hospital the driver of the semi-trailer was charged for negligent driving and DUI. Darian wouldn't be coming back. The next four months or so were a complete blur to Serena. She spent a lot of time sitting in the cemetery next to his gravestone crying.
Since then she had put on a brave front, but her eyes had lost their cheeky sparkle; her smiles were brief, few and far between. To people on the outside, she appeared the same – ditzy, clumsy, and light hearted. To her friends, part of Serena had gone, buried along with Darian. But none of them knew the depths of Serena's suffering and torment, not even Luna.
Her heart squeezed as she thought of Darian, his sweet smile, his laugh. Serena's eyes filled with tears.
"SERENA!" An annoyed Luna-sounding voice broke through her thoughts. A tear slipped down Serena's cheek.
Luna looked at her, concerned. "Serena, what's wrong? Thinking about Darian and Rini again?"
"Yeah. Guess I got a little distracted," she half laughed, wiping her eyes.
Luna jumped into her lap. "I know you miss them. And your friends. But you have to concentrate on this essay, it's the last one for the year," said Luna comfortingly.
"I know. Thanks Luna, for staying with me." Luna proceeded to curl up in Serena's lap and started purring. Serena sighed once more, and then started concentrating on her essay question. Which business principles can be adapted to suit…….
It was the day after Serena's graduation ceremony, at which her parents, Raye and Trista all came along to cheer her success. Now, after the excitement of finally finishing uni, Serena was again sitting in her room, this time looking at the degree hung on her wall.
"Hey Trista," Serena said to an empty room. "You wanna go for a burger and shake?"
Laughter echoed throughout her room as Trista materialised in front of her.
"Sure thing Serena. Although I'll just have the slim shake and no burger thanks," Trista said, smiling slightly.
"Okay but you're missing out!" Serena teased, grabbing her jacket as they walked out the door.
After wolfing down her burger with the lot, and an ice-cream sundae, Serena sat looking out the window of the café, slowly stirring her double chocolate shake.
Trista watched her silently, waiting for Serena to tell her what was wrong. After waiting almost ten minutes in silence, Trista decided to prompt Serena, who seemed to have gone into another world.
"So Serena," said Trista solemnly. "You don't normally call me out for a shake unless something's on your mind. Want to talk about it?"
Serena turned to Trista, still playing with her chocolate shake.
"I dunno. It's, well, I guess I feel a bit lost," Serena confessed. Trista blinked. That wasn't exactly what she had thought was bothering Serena.
"I see," she said. "Because you're missing everyone?"
Serena looked a little uncomfortable. "Well, yeah, and it's like, all the other scouts have gone off to do their own thing – not that I mind!" she added in a hurry. She gazed down at her shake sadly. "I miss them so much," she whispered. Trista knew she was talking about Darian and Rini.
"I need to be by myself. I need to get away from here and everything that reminds me of them," she told Trista quietly. "Everywhere I look, I think of them. Please Trista, take me away from here."
Trista watched the blonde 20-year-old, marvelling at how, despite everything that had happened to her, she still had the courage and will to keep going. She had changed so much since that day Luna had given her the brooch.
"Are you sure you want to go away?" asked Trista.
"Yes," said Serena resolutely. "I need to get away from everything. I need to find my little place in the world - I need to find me, not future Neo Queen Serenity me, but now me. I need to go. Please Trista, I just can't stand it here anymore," Serena burst out.
Trista almost started crying at the young princess' despair at losing her prince, her partner for life, even three years later. "Where do you want to go?" she asked.
"Somewhere I can train. Somewhere no-one knows me, and I can forget," Serena said softly.
Trista leaned back against the booth seat and thought. "I know of a place - and the people who can help you. You sure you want to do this on your own?" Trista asked a final time.
"Positive. It's just something I have to do," Serena said firmly. "Tell the others I'll be fine. I don't want them to follow me. Thank you Trista. This means a lot to me."
A/N: Gee, I wonder where Trista will send her? Please continue and don't forget to review!