Darien considered on returning home but knew it would only remind him of the empty life he was destined to live. If he couldn't be with Serena then there was only one other place he'd rather be. Granted it wasn't like the rose garden his mother had kept at the palace but it comforted him all the same. His favorite bench in the garden came into view and Darien nearly turned around when he saw the small figure sitting there waiting on him. This time he didn't even bother to suppress the groan that escaped when he knew she'd already seen him and there was no way out of the lecture he knew was coming.
"Yes, well I'm not happy to be here either" her tone was hard and cold but Darien noted the sadness that lingered in her yellow eyes.
"News travels fast." Darien attempted to remain indifferent, he stared blankly ahead. It was unclear how this conversation was going to go but he wouldn't be bullied into risking Serena's life just to save Luna and the others the headache of listening to Serena cry. Which there was no doubt in his mind that their would be a lot of crying and wailing on her end, it didn't make him feel any better knowing he was the cause of it.
Luna gave a weak half hearted smile and a slight roll of her eyes. "You try telling a princess her communicator is for scout business only and not a gossip line and see if she listens."
Darien couldn't help but grin, he could only imagine that it had been seconds after he left that Serena had contacted her beloved guardians. "You'll make a queen out of her yet." He tried to keep his mind from drifting down the path where he was her prince and he would be there at her side when she claimed the throne of Crystal Tokyo. That dream was gone just a memory like the kingdom he had once been set to rule.
"I had always hoped you would be there by her side, to help me guide her." Luna's voice softened, and he knew regardless of how hard she pushed Serena she loved her like her own child. "Darien, what's happened? I know Serena isn't the easiest person to get along with. She surely isn't the princess I remember, she's childish, irresponsible and a complete klutz..." Darien raised his hand signaling her to stop. Although he was not royalty in this life Luna still saw the prince he used to be; Endymion was always just below the surface.
"Please we both know Serena is the kindest and most giving person any of us know, every bit worthy of her title. I won't sit here and let you tear her down." His voice shook as he tried to keep his emotions in check. "It just isn't meant to be, our lives are different now. This world is not like it used to be, the Moon kingdom is no more. We can't changed what happened to us then but we have a second chance to live the lives we want."
"Darien how can you turn your back on your destiny?" For the first time since sitting down he met her gaze, her cat eyes seemed to search his soul for the answers he wasn't giving her. "Queen Serenity gave her life to ensure you and the princess had a second chance. A chance to live your lives together as you were meant to be. Surely your feelings for her haven't changed."
"Luna don't you see, I'm not Prince Endymion anymore. That man died on the moon." He had never told anyone, not even Serena how inadequate he felt compared to the man whose memories he shared. "I've tried Luna, I really did but now I want my own life. Not to be bound to the one I lived 1000 years ago. This isn't a world of princes and princesses, the great kingdoms have fallen and a new world has been raised on their ruins. Earth is the only planet that life continues to thrive on the scouts are the last of their kind, my home remains but it might as well be a different planet. Maybe I'm being selfish but I want to move on forget that fact that I am a reincarnated prince and just be Darien Shields; Serena deserves the same, she's so young and full of life and love don't let the past take it from her. Someday in the near future she will be forced to take the role of queen a task we all know she will not run from no matter how unprepared she may feel. But to do so she will have to turn away from any other hopes and dreams she may have, I've giving her a chance to choose her own path." Darien knew instantly that his eyes had betrayed him, and although Luna may have seen through his lies she couldn't argue with his reasoning. They had all known from the moment Serena was revealed as Princess Serenity that she would never be just a normal girl.
"What do you hope to accomplish by breaking her heart?"
"I don't know, maybe a chance to make her own choices, to not live in the past. We've done the Romeo and Juliet thing, Serena deserves a happy ending." Luna couldn't help but sigh at the reference, it had been an ongoing debate if the story was based on Princess Serenity's and Prince Endymion's own tragedy. "Luna it just has to be this way." He hoped that his honesty was enough.
She placed her small black paw on his hand and gave a simple purr. "I may only be a cat but Darien I can see you love her. I don't know what's going on but I can't deny you a chance to forget the horrible things done to you in the past and to look to a brighter future. I just pray this doesn't interfere with her duties as Sailor moon, She still may need Tuxedo Mask. Even in the worst of times he has always guarded her." They both knew she was referencing his stint with negaverse, It was a time that Darien tried never to think of. Even in his darkest hour the overwhelming urge to protect Sailor moon has remained his first priority. He could remember the hatred the rolled with in him during those dark days but even at his worst he couldn't bring himself to harm her. Now at this time he hadn't even considered his duties as the masked savior. Luna removed her paw and hopped off the bench. " I know you'll do the right thing and regardless of your decision I won't mention this talk."
"Thank you Luna." With that the black cat disappeared down the path toward the cherry hill temple. It brought Darien some comfort that Serena had her Sailor Scouts to console her. He sat alone on the bench for hours, well after the sunset he sat there staring at the moon that hung over head. This was the life he'd been meant to live, one of solitude and sacrifice. Darien felt cold and empty, not even the beauty of the roses in the pale moonlight seemed to help. He had given his life for her once before and would gladly do it again, thinking back it sure hurt a hell of a lot less then this.
Turning his gaze to the fountain that sat off to the right of the rose garden it took him back to the first time he'd ever seen Serena. She was known as Serenity then but no matter what name or what century; she had been the center of his world from that night on. He had just returned from the outer reaches of his fathers kingdom and needed a moment to himself in his mothers rose garden. He had briefly overheard the palace guards talking about a lunarian emissary that that had arrived earlier that day, having enough politics for one day, Prince Endymion said good night to his parents and made a silent retreat. Or so he'd thought but he'd barely set foot in the garden when he felt a change in the air, he brushed the sensation aside assuming it was simply exhaustion. When he rounded the row of hedges circling the center of the garden he saw her and knew she was the cause of it. She was sitting on the edge of the fountain surrounded by roses and moonlight. He distinctly remembered thinking that it was like they existed for her alone. He had never seen anything so beautiful. He wanted to approach her but he couldn't get his feet to respond, he was frozen to his spot so he remained there watching her from a distance. The prince knew instantly that she was lunarian but it would take several weeks before he discovered she was the beloved daughter of Queen Serenity. By that time Prince Endymion was hopelessly in love. "If only things could have gone differently back then" " Darien thought to himself as he started the short walk home guided by the moonlight.
That night he was visited by the nightmare once again but he was not willing to suffer through it like all the nights before. He called out to the darkness that swirled around him. "I've done what you asked! Please spare her. I only ask that you grant me the ability to protect Sailor moon." Darien pleaded and was sure his cries would go unanswered. "I can't exist with out her, if something were to happen to Sailor moon I would be no more. I've sacrificed our happiness now grant me this. Serena has to protect the earth, she has a new life don't take it from her."
The room fell deathly silent and then a voice filled the space, it was eerie and serene all at the same time. "The princess must learn to live with out you. You will only bring about her destruction. It will be allowed that Tuxedo mask may continue to watch over Sailor moon, only for the sake of her future. This is the only request that will be granted to you."
"Spare Serena and I will do what ever you ask. I once sacrificed my life for her you must know that." Darien begged with the unknown presence.
"In turn Princess Serenity claimed her own life, when yours was lost. History can not be repeated. She must survive to claim her throne, the fate of the world as you know if rest on her shoulders."
"Allow me the chance to save her, she will not take her life again. I understand she is all that has ever mattered, myself and the scouts are only here in this life to ensure she lives to claim the throne." Darien knew everything that was at stake and would not let Serena die again. A pounding in the distance broke Darien's concentration and forced him back to reality. It came again and Darien registered that it was someone at his front door, with out even moving from bed he knew exactly who it was. Pulling his pillow from beneath his head in one swift movement he pressed it hard over his head trying to block out the knocking.
"DARIEN! Let me in!" Her voice carried through his apartment and no matter how hard he presses the pillow to his ears he could still hear her. "Don't shut me out of your life!"
Darien lay there listening to her pleas, he fought with himself to go to her. He felt his heart break as he could hear her sobs, it was quickly becoming more then he could bare. After several minutes he pulled himself out of bed, deciding to save his neighbors the same headache. He hesitated at the door his palm hovering over the knob, "Be strong Darien." Pulling the door open his breathe caught in his throat when he caught sight of her; Serena's face was flush and tears streamed down her cheeks. Her brilliant blue eyes sparkled in the moonlight that streamed through the nearby window; it was as if it were seeking her out to comfort her. Clutching the door knob he fought the urge to pull her to him. "Serena, what are you doing here, I told you things are over."
"I know what you said but it doesn't make any sense!" She twisted her hands in her shirt pulling it off from her shoulders as well as unknowingly exposing the top of her breast. Darien tried not to notice the pale soft skin that she innocently taunted him with, unable to control himself he forced his eyes to the floor. "If I've done something, I'll gladly change, I'll do what ever you ask...anything. Darien please."
"Don't." His voice caught as she flung her arms around him. "Don't change Serena. You haven't done anything. I just don't feel the same as I used to." He pulled her away as she fought to maintain contact with him.
"But it's our destiny, don't you remember our life on the moon?" We were so happy, we're meant to be. After all the battles and even defeating the Negaverse just so we could be together." Her sobs broke off as she stared into his eyes, Darien forced himself to meet her stare and respond in as cool a tone as he could muster. "I don't want my life to be controlled by choices we made 1000 years ago. I'm not that person anymore, can't see you see that." He felt the shift in his voice, he paused to pull himself together. He was about to utter words he'd never imagine he could say to her. Something he never thought he'd have to say to her. Even when Darien had no clue of the past they shared he still couldn't deny the pull he felt when in her company. "I don't love you anymore, Serena move on." Serena recoiled from his as if he'd struck her and Darien instantly hated himself.
"Darien! You can't mean that please!" He closed the door before she could react any further. Much to Darien's surprise she didn't begin pounding on his door again. He stood there with his back pressed against the door, he could sense her presence on the other side of the door. "I'm so sorry." He forced himself away from the door and wandered out to his balcony. Shortly after he saw Serena leave his building only to slump down in the nearest phone booth. Darien couldn't take his eyes off her, he wished there was some other way. As his thoughts drifted the more he found himself wishing the enemy would attack so he could be near her again.
