IT'S SO GREAT TO BE BACK!!!! Thank you so much everyone who has reviewed my story, it's been great to hear from all of you. Those of you who have been with me from the very beginning it's like hearing from old friends, and I feel alive again. I tried to get this next chapter out as soon as possible, and hopefully I'll have the free time to finish this fanfiction. I don't think I'll be able to work on the other until my spring break, but I haven't forgotten about them. If you have reviewed don't forget to check for my response to you. Thank you so much everyone! Enjoy!

I don't own Sailor Moon.

AnimeHanyou39: Yeah, I know it was a little short, but in my defense it was a prologue and those things are never very long. This chapter is however 6 pages long, so I hope the length is pleasing to you.

x.spanish.eyes.x: I'm glad you liked it; hopefully I can keep your interest.

MoonPrincessMagic: Thank you so much for the review I'm glad you liked it!

ViscountessKiera: Oh! I'm sooooo happy to be hearing from you, it seems like it's been forever! (Well it kind of has been, anyway) I'm always looking forward to reading your reviews

GirlofDarkness: I'm glad I've captured your attention; hopefully this chapter is good enough to keep it. It's really great to hear from you!

rosebudjamie: Thank you so much for reviewing my story, I can't wait to read your next review.

starangel07: Here's the next chapter, I got it out as fast as I could

TokyoLi: Thanks for the support

Dertupio; It's great to hear from you after all this time, it truly warms my heart. I will finish the other stories, but not right away I'm afraid, but they will be finished!

Chapter 1: The Fissure

Serena walked into her room feeling like she was floating on a cloud, everything seemed hazy and surreal in a wonderful and magical way. She flopped onto her bed hugging one of her pillows to her chest to make sure she was still real, and alive. Her features still held an expression of extreme awe and wonderment that had taken root fifteen minuets ago, when Serena had come back to life.

For once in…years Serena had felt the blood pump through her veins with renewed vigor, her senses had buzzed with awareness, and her every breath had energized her. Color had bloomed in her cheeks and she'd yelled at the top of her lungs; not to mention she'd done battle with the most handsome, arrogant, infuriating man she'd ever met.

After finally getting some air into her lungs after the fateful collision, she'd sat up trying to get her bearing and collect herself enough to respond to the inane and rude comment, made by unfortunate person she'd run into. She really didn't blame them (at first) for being so angry, she had been running down the middle of a public sidewalk, frankly they had a right to be angry.

"I-I'm r-really really sorry," she'd mumbled trying to screw her head back on.

"You should be, you can't be running on the sidewalk when you're that clumsy."

Serena frowned at his comment which was bordering on being inappropriately mean, but then she realized the man had been carrying a bunch of books which were now scattered about. "I'm sorry," she repeated more softly beginning to scoop up as many books as she could. "I didn't mean to bump into you, but there's no reason to be…"

Her sentence had gone unfinished because her eyes finally landed on the best looking specimen of manhood that she had ever seen, and she'd knocked him flat on his back. Striking features adorned his face, creating the illusion of perfection that could only be chiseled from stone. Black bangs feel over a pair of eyes that were a deep dark blue, they seemed to see into her soul, a little chill went down her spine, so she adverted her gaze to his other admireable features. He had the thick eyelashes girls dreamed about, but they made him look the very opposite of feminine. He a strong nose, which actually looked a little crocked, as if it had been broken before, his lips were full and sinful, Serena blushed knowing she'd stared way to long at them.

"Looked your fill then, blondie."

Serena face which had been rosy red instantly turned beat red her arms tightened involuntarily around the textbooks in her arms. Her anger flared surprising her, "That was unnecessary." She said her voice clipped, as she handed his books back to him.

"It sure as hell was, if someone doesn't bring your head out of the clouds you're liable to run down some old lady next time," he said brushing cement dust off his pants as he stood, looking down at her with a arrogant condescending look.

Serena's mouth had dropped open in outrage, "H-How dare you!" She said surging to her feet, glaring up at him even though he had more than a four inch advantage on her. "For you information, my head was not in the clouds, I was…emotionally distraught. I'm very sorry that I knocked you down, but that's no reason to insult me."

"It is in my book."

Serena's hands curled into fists, the beat red blush on her face, had changed to a pinkish hue of rage. Despite his incredibly handsome appearance, he was as cold and refreshing has the winter wind around her. She opened her mouth to reply but he beat her to it.

"But I guess I should've suspected it, judging by the color of your hair."

Serena had never been one to let her impulses or her emotions rule her actions, so while she managed to restrain her voice from screeching her at the top of her lungs, her low body had other plans. Before she could even reason with herself to maintain a semblance of control her leg shot out and landed a hard kick right in his shin.

He cursed with a grunt and mumbled something else uncomplimentary about blondes and she exploded.

"YOU are the most insufferable arrogant ASS I've ever met!" She stomped away before he gave her another reason to hurt him.

Just thinking about the incident brought about a flurry of thoughts about the stupid man. He didn't even know her, yet he felt that he could judge her on her hair color. But the more annoyed she became as she thought about him, the more appalled she became with her behavior. She'd inflicted physical harm on a man she didn't even know, and yelled at him.

Serena shot up in her bed reflecting on the scene in horror; she had acted just as bad as he did!

Now miffed at the fact that she had stooped to his level, she endeavored to make it right. If anything she would make sure that she was the more mature one out of the two of them. As she began to bundle herself back up for another journey into the winter elements, a picture popped into her head. She was walking in a dark tunnel that seemed never ending and the intense dark frightened her so, sending shiver up and down her spine. After an eternity she saw a small glow at the end of the tunnel, and she ran to it, ready to grasp onto any kind of hope that she could escape this place. To her surprise as she came up to the light she saw it was a candle and the man she'd bumped into was holding it, looking at her with an arrogant, self-satisfied smirk. Even as that look on his face made Serena mad she found that she had never been happier to see him.

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Half way down her street it occurred to Serena that she had no way of finding this man she was looking for. She didn't know his name, where he went to school, and definitely not where he lived. Serena frowned considering her dilemma, but then began walking with renewed purpose to the arcade.

The jingling bells on the arcade door, sounded foreign to her ears, for once she wasn't here to sit in the corner booth and pretend that she belonged here; this time she had a purpose. She steered herself to the front counter were Andrew the owner of the arcade worked. Just about everyone passed through the arcade at one point or another, and everyone loved Andrew. From what she heard he was the friendliest guy around; she wouldn't know, she'd never actually talk to the guy. A fit of nervousness suddenly creped over her, as she approached him, but it dissipated as he gave her a warm welcoming smile.

"Hi Andrew."

"Hello…S-Sarah?"

Serena shook her head feeling a blush of embarrassment heat her cheeks. It wasn't his fault; she'd never actually introduced herself to him.

"Sereina?"

She shook her head again.

"Serena."

"Yeah."

"Oh, I'm really sorry about that," he said with a genuine apology.

"Please, don't worry about it. I don't talk that much, you probably already know that."

He nodded, but didn't seem unfazed by the fact that she'd never said a word to him until now. "What can I help you with?"

"This is going to sound kind of odd," she warned that telltale blush creeping into her cheeks, "I'm looking for this guy, but I don't know his name, or anything else about him."

His eyes little up with interest, "What's he look like?"

"Um, he's tall with black hair and blue eyes. About 6ft, probably in college, and he had a bunch of books about crystals," she said remembering some of the textbooks he'd dropped.

"What do you want with Darien?"

Her heart gave a peculiar leap at the sound of his name, but Andrew had a funny little smirk on his face. Serena put up her hands in defense and shook her head feverishly, "No, No, No, I assure you it's nothing like that. I just ran into him…well it was more like a collision, and I didn't get a chance to apologize to him."

This time he raised an eyebrow appraising her again, "I can't imagine he took that well, he's been having a bad day."

"Tell me about it," Serena muttered, but not softly enough because Andrew began to laugh. The blush was back in full force, and she cursed her too pail skin. "Anyway, we got into a little bit of a squabble, and I never apologized for knocking him down, and it was kind of my fault."

"Don't worry, he's right over there," he said pointing to a booth on the opposite side of the arcade. Serena looked over and sure enough saw him sitting there with four other girls. As she examined them more closely she realized the four girls went to her school; she couldn't recall their names.

"Hey Darien! Someone over here wants to talk to you!" Andrew called. Darien looked over and since he didn't subject Andrew to one of his annoyed looks, Serena assumed they must be good friends. It seemed that he hadn't seen her yet, probably because of her inferior height, and he started walking over to the counter. Serena felt a root of panic begin to settle within her, up until now she hadn't been quite sure how she was going to approach him, but if anything she wasn't going to be intimidated by him. She stood up straight and tilted her chin up as she saw him throw an angry glare at her when he'd finally realized who was waiting at the counter for him, Serena returned his with one of her own. Andrew had settled back, interested in watching the show.

"Hello blondie, come to bulldoze me down again?" he asked.

Wow we're even more civil than before, Serena thought to herself sarcastically.

"No, actually I've come to apologize."

He raised a mocking eyebrow.

"I'm sorry I ran into you—

"You already said that three times already," he said referring to their earlier conversation."

Serena grit her teeth in response, "And I'm sorry I kicked you and yelled at you. It was rude and uncivilized of me—

"Yeah, just like your hairstyle, your mom must've done it for you when you were five."

Serena bristled knowing he was referring to her rather odd hairstyle on the top of her head. The fact that her mother had done her hair the exact same way when she was a child, only made his remark even worse. Her hands were curled into fists again, as if she was getting ready to punch the guy.

"That was again, uncalled for," she said trying to control the volume of her voice, "I've heard you've been having a bad day, but that's no reason to take it out on me."

Darien threw an accusing look at Andrew then looked back to her, somehow even more annoyed than before, what was it that she did that made him hate her so?

"Whatever, you've said what had to say, so why don't you go home and play with your stuffed animals or something."

"STOP DOING THAT!" Serena yelled, immediately attracting the attention of everyone in the arcade, but she was too far gone to care. Darien had a look of surprise on his face at her outburst. "You have barley known me for an hour and yet you continue to judge me on common stereotypes and my hair color!" she said pointing an accusing finger at his chest.

"Yeah," he said swiping her hand away, meeting her face to face, "It's not like you haven't done anything to prove me wrong."

"That is irrelevant since I don't even know YOU, and YOU don't even know ME!"

"Well I already know that you run people over, are emotionally unstable, physically hurt people, and attract unwanted attention to yourself!"

"You're twisting the situation around! It's not my fault you have a silver spoon shoved up your ass that makes you think you're above everyone!"

The whole arcade seemed to hold it's breath for a moment, as Darien's face took on a real expression of anger. Serena could only feel satisfied; it was only what he deserved."

"YOU, don't know anything. You are just a child."

SLAP!

The sharp staccato sound rang out like a siren in the dead silence of the arcade. Serena's eyes were filled with tears, she was so angry. The crowd they'd attracted look upon the scene with shock, Darien had a hand on his cheek, looking just as shocked as everyone else.

"You know nothing about me," Serena said in a low ragged and broken voice. Her mind whirled back to a time long ago, parentless and homeless she'd had to fend for her brother and herself, while trying to keep them from becoming separated by the foster care system. She'd had to grow up in more ways than one in a very short time.

Before she turned and stalked out of the arcade, determined to never ever lay eyes on him again, she thought she saw a flicker of…regret in his eyes, but she immediately dismissed it. Darien was a cold man, if she never said a word to him for the rest of her life, it would be too soon.

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Darien was having a horrible day.

Today was the anniversary of his parents' death.

Bitter tears stung his eyes as he collapsed onto his bed, he threw an arm over his eyes to hide them even though there was no one else there. After visiting his parents' grave and well…basically reliving that whole horrible day in his memories, he'd been a jack ass to everyone. Most people knew he was off on this day of the year, only Andrew knew the real reason why. Most people tended to avoid him, but today a little blond girl had been extremely unlucky. His intense grief had turned into wayward anger, which he'd taken it out on her.

He could punch himself for the things he's said to her, he wouldn't be surprised if she never forgave him, and it would be no less than he deserved. He knew he should apologize to her, god knows she deserved one from him, but…just not today. Guilt was a lead weight in his stomach, a blackness eating him inside out; he was such a…there really was no insult great enough to describe him at this moment.

"I'm sorry Serena," he whispered before sleep claimed him, he'd learned her name from Andrew after he'd left, and he would get her to hear his apology if it took him the rest of his life.

Darien was awake in his sleep. This might seem rather confusing and impossible for most of us, but it was sometimes normal for Darien. When he was awake in his sleep everything felt real, real he enough he could be awake, but he wasn't. Whatever vision played out before him during these moments had a 100 guarantee of coming true. He could shake himself awake to stop these visions, but they always came back. His first experience with them had been when he was six and for weeks each night he'd seen his parents die. Scared and confused he'd paid them no attention; he'd learned a cruel lesson.

With a small sigh Darien closed his eyes and let the scene take shape around him. When he opened his eyes he was standing on a sidewalk, and it was dark. The only light was the lamppost above him enshrouding him in a circle of yellow glow, and ten feet away from him there was another lamp post, and under it was…Serena?

He was so surprised he almost jerked himself awake, but there she was. There was a gentle snow falling and it was cold as heck. She was wearing a practically transparent gossamer dress that barley covered her lithe little frame. Darien felt a small blush heat his cheek, it wasn't as if he hadn't seen a naked women before, but Serena seemed too innocent for him to ever think of her in that way. Her hair was down; it fell in waves of gold around her, reflecting the light of the lamppost above her.

She turned to him, and instead of a look of hate and anger, her eyes looked uncertain and tentative; like she didn't quite know how to approach him.

After a few moments, she seemed to have finally summoned enough courage, and she began to approach him, with tiny little steps. A chill of unease curled up Darien's spine. Between there two lampposts there was only darkness, a vast unending darkness; something didn't feel right.

She about to step out of the light of her lamppost.

"Serena don't!" He warned, but his warning came too late.

The second she stepped away from the light, the darkness moved with a cackling laugh and enveloped her and Serena let out a bloodcurdling scream that chilled the blood in his veins. He called out to her and took off in a dead run to where she had been, his light seemed to follow him where he went so he had no fear of the darkness.

When he finally reached the spot where she had been, the darkness fled and he saw her lying on the ground still and unmoving. When he gathered her to him she was cold, her neck lolled back over his arm like a broken flower stem, and her eyes gazed dull and unseeing; she was dead.

Darien yelled feeling as if something had been rent from his very soul. "NOOOOOOOO!"

He expected himself to wake up, usually that would be the case, but not this time. The scene reset itself, and he was unable to speak, to call out until it was too late. The second time he ran to her hoping he wasn't to late…but he was. She was lying there, but this time a bullet wound was right between her eyes.

It kept getting worse, each time he was unable to save her, and her deaths got crueler and crueler. Her neck was broken, she was shot in the chest, she'd been suffocated, she'd been beaten to death, someone had stabbed her multiple times, she'd been burned to death, she'd been tortured…

Darien thought he would go mad with grief and self-hatred, why couldn't he save her, why couldn't he change things? The worst was when he found her with a gaping hole in where her heart had been and she was still alive. He held her close to him whispering to her, desperate tears falling from his eyes, but she still died, and he still screamed his agony to the heavens.

This time the scene didn't restart, and he remained there cradling her dead body and crying over her. He heard footsteps and looked up to see Prince Endymion step from the shadows. His face beheld and expression of the utmost anguish and torture as he gazed upon Serena's dead body. He fell to his knees across from Darien, tears falling from his eyes as well.

Prince Endymion was his past self, when they'd finally united as one soul; they'd been able to use their power to defeat Queen Metallica of the negaverse. Most of the time they were as one, but there were things Prince Endymion knew that he did not, and when it was time for Endymion to reveal one of those things to him, they separated once more.

"Why?" Darien croaked his voice hoarse and cracked. He didn't need the vision to know that Serena's death would be devastating to both him and Endymion; the death of a girl neither of them really knew.

"Death comes for her," Endymion said stroking her cheek with such tenderness it made Darien think that maybe…Endymion knew Serena somehow.

"It will not stop…we must protect her." Endymion said eyes blazing with determination and sorrow, Darien felt similar feelings fill himself.

"So be it," Darien said clutching Serena's body even closer to him; he would die before he let her go.