Seeking Salvation

by TropicalRemix

Part Two of Simple Sweetness. A new life, A new beginning yet the journey remains the same. Loving, Living and Losing what matter's most...But perhaps this time they will find their Salvation. I did not write this story. Shaydoe did.

2. Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I do not own Sailor Moon

Author's note: As with all my fic's I do a little research for my scenes in Japan. So the area's they visit are based on real places you can look up to get a better picture.

It took half a day by train to get to Osaka from Tokyo. Jumping on the Silver Bullet along the J.R line they were pulling into Osaka station by twilight. Each of the guys were prepared for an all nighter of clubbing and bar hoping. Dressed to impress, being single, young and very much out to score. All except for Darien. Who never really put much effort into attracting women, not that he needed it. The female masses seemed to flock his way anyway.

Kane strode out of the sliding metal doors of the train, in a pair of tight worn out jeans with the knees ripped out. A tight black muscle shirt that showed off his well defined chest and abs, with a leather vest over top for flare. His rust red, curly, shoulder length hair flying wild and loose in the hot summer breeze. With black metal studs in his ears and a dusting of a full days growth upon his square jaw. Looking every bit the tough, bad ass, he truly was.

Hollywood was the next to leave the obscurity of the train. In white dress pants, held up with a black belt. A silver silk button up shirt tucked in smartly with a white stylish scarf tossed stylishly around his neck. His silver blonde hair tied back in a long pony tail, with a thin piece of black leather wrapped tight around the very end. He was a gorgeous man, who carried him with a sense of high style. Meticulously groomed, screaming of refinement and good breeding.

Then Jed made his appearance on the long cement dock, in a pair of jean board shorts that hung low over his knees. A bright yellow belt wrapped around his hips, with a dusty blue button up short sleeve shirt tucked in. The collar open as well, showing a red and white t-shirt underneath. The last piece of flare was a flame red ascot tucked into the collar of the dress shirt. The casual playboy, sporting a fun if flamboyant outfit. He carried himself with an assured amble that spoke of an over blown confidence in himself that wasn't based entirely on facts. He flashed his charming smile, of shining white teeth. He had a very pleased look on his now clean shaven face, as he nodded in approval at the brightly lit train station before him. Brushing a hand through his light blonde hair, giving off a 'I am way to cool for this place' aura.

His brother Zac followed him out. Also in board shorts of a crisp white, with a pink belt and black and white tank top. Hanging some what slob like around his waist. His average muscled arms exposed to the breeze. A faded jean vest was haphazardly draped over his shoulder's providing no protection in the least. He had his own dusty blonde hair tied back in a smaller pony tail with an elastic band. The Yin to Jeds Yang, he was far more timid. He adopted a bored look, not wanting to come off as a gawking tourist. A cool, unassuming aura wrapped around him like a comfortable blanket. He might dress with flare, enough to stand out as a separate entity to Jed's overwhelming pressence. But he never drew attention himself in public if he could. At least not unless Jed was teasing him, then all bets were off. He would do just about anything to make sure he wasn't seen as the silly sidekick or the easily dismissed satellite to Planet Jed!

Last was Darien, who trudged out of the train. A sour, not impressed scowl on his now shaven face. Wearing all black as if he was in mourning. In a pair of trim, well worn black wrangler jeans that cupped his butt and hugged his toned legs. A black t-shirt was layered beneath a pewter grey button up dress shirt. The dress shirt was open, the sides flapping in the breeze as he moved down the cement pad behind his friends. His t-shirt was just tight enough to flaunt his well muscled chest and stomach. The short sleeves showing off his strong arms, with a couple silver chains hanging around his neck. He looked handsome but low key, not wanting to draw attention to himself. Like Jed and Zac who were so brightly dressed they could have powered a city block. Hollywood was the perfect gentleman, and Kane was the bad boy out to party hard.

After leaving the train station, the guys caught a cab for Nanba city. A large inner ward in Osaka that held a great deal of the night life and commercial district. Heading down the glowing boulevard, full of huge, flashing kanji billboards. Cluttered with vendor carts, with hawker's shouting out to them. Trying sell all kinds of food and swag. Restaurants and pubs littered the narrow streets near the main river that flowed through the city. They departed the cab and weaved into the congested sidewalk traffic, heading into a side market. Well dressed young folk were flocking and departing in droves from the stores and restaurants around them. It was an eclectic barrage of lights and moving crowds, that quickly put Darien on edge. Always there was some stranger hovering at his periphery, or brushing against his shoulder's. A constant irritation of unwanted touch, was souring his mood even more. Shoving his hands deep into the front pockets of his jeans, he flanked his friends. Glowering down at his shoes, a proverbial storm cloud now billowing over his head. Eager to get out of the cluttered street and into their first destination. A sports bar called Balabushka that had pool tables and darts to help pass the time since the club didn't open till midnight.

A couple hours later, Darien was happily holed up at some random bar in the smokey lighting of a Izakaya. Admiring the huge red lanterns that hung just outside the main glass window. Black kanji painted over the paper promoting this establishment. They of course had gotten lost and ended up here at this afterwork bar. The small cafe style restaurant was already stuffed with locals, enjoying their leisure. Eating, drinking and visiting in japanese. Sitting in all manner of work attire from the well dressed business man to the overalls of the tradesman.

Darien took turns between ease dropping on the locals conversations, to watching Jed strike out with a hot little Japanese high school girl near the back hall. She was a cute little thing in a grey uniform jacket and black skirt of a private school. The only color to her uniform was a bright red ascot tied around her neck.

Jed had been fumbling with japanese for a good ten minutes now. The girl had been intrigued at first, but soon was becoming irritated and then plain frustrated. As he kept screwing up his sentences, finally shaming and humiliating her by accusing her of sleeping with goats. Darien had much better comprehension of japanese, chuckling under his breath as the last nasty comment left Jed's lips in the most complementary tone.

Bowing his head and laughing softly as the resounding smack of a small hand to flesh resounded through the restaurant.

"Strike one..." Hollywood stated, putting down his cell phone that he had been playing with to watch the show.

Then Jed tried to repair his damage, with a poorly articulated apology. Followed by another fierce slap connecting with his other cheek.

"Strike two..." Darien snickered, watching Jed's further degradation with growing amusement.

The man stood prone, an utterly shocked and bewildered look upon his face. Holding both of his red cheeks, clear confusion on his face. He attempted one last complement. Receiving a knee to the groin for his trouble. With a pathetic whimper he crumpled to the floor near the back hall. As the clearly furious and humiliated young lady stormed out of the restaurant. Her group of fellow schoolmates who had been hovering near by, once thinking it was so cool their friend was getting hit on by a Gaijin, now chasing after her sending Jed the nastiest looks.

"Strike three..." Kane mumbled, sitting on the other side of Darien on a worn out stool. Jotting down his first course with a pencil on a small photocopied menu.

"He's outta there..." Zac laughed, leaning against the bar casually at Kane's elbow. Enjoying his arrogant brother's brutal rejection.

Jed bounced back quick enough. It took a lot more then a high school girls rejection to dent his super powered ego. Within the first hour Jed and Zac had found new entertainment. Betting with a couple young local men at a near by table over a game of dice. While Hollywood sat mutely on his stool, busy playing on his phone. Kane was just polishing off a platter of edamane, grumbling about how slow the service was and that a chicken could eat more then what they put on a plate. How he missed real food, like BBQ ribs and fully loaded baked potato's.

Darien smirked at the bitterness in his voice, as the dissatisfied man tossed a handful of soy beans into his mouth. As Darien turned back, Hollywood spun a small white ceramic bowl his way. Offering him a shot of hot Saki from his Tokkuri. A large beige ceramic flask, decorated with painted kanji symbols.

Darien declined, spinning the bowl back to the older man.

"I am staying sober tonight. I don't plan on waking up again with some strange girl in my bed for a while." He commented, receiving a surprised look from Hollywood.

"So you did take the little kawaii home." He chuckled, shaking his head in astonishment.

"I was so drunk last night I could have taken anything home and had sex with it." Darien growled back, thankful he knew what Kawaii meant. Thinking back, the girl did kinda resemble one of those cute little cartoon character's on t.v. Shuddering at the thought of how out of control he had been, he had been so incredibly smashed. Honestly a hole in the wall would have been appealing to him at that point.

Hollywood raised his eyebrows in mild surprise, then merely nodded pouring himself his first drink of the night.

"Motherfucker!" Jed cursed at the top of his lungs. With the harsh sound of chair legs scrapping along the old wood floor.

The tension in room rocketing up to the roof.

Darien spun in his stool in sudden alarm, his heart now in the throat. Body coiling for a fight, if Jed needed back up then he was there. With Kane and Hollywood following a few seconds later, all prepared for battle if need be. Confronting a tense scene, they held back waiting to see what the outcome might be.

Jed and Zac were looming over two smug young men, easily spotted as local gang member's. Dressed in white overalls, with their thin under developed adolescent chests laid bare, as the overalls were open in the front. Black bands hanging off their upper arms, with rolled up red bandana's wrapped around their heads. Their greasy black hair hung low over their ears, with young faces that looked barely out of high school.

"Ochitsuku, Gaijin." One raised his hands in a calming gesture, never losing his cool. While his companion merely smiled knowingly, flipping their ill gotten yen defiantly in Zac's face before standing up and pocketing it.

"You think you can cheat us!" Jed shouted, balling his hands up into fists.

"Watashi-tachi wa subete no junbi ga shita." One of the boys taunted, as they both scrambled to their feet and dashed out of the restaurant.

Jed made to race after them, intent of beating them bloody. When Zac grabbed his shoulder and forced to stay still. Jed was fuming when he stormed back to the bar and slammed himself down on a stool.

Darien had been getting rather fluent in the language, so made out the gist of what the boy had said.

(We already did.) Shaking his head with a chuckle he regarded the pissed off Jed a few stools away.

"It was just a bit of fun, bro." Zac soothed.

"Really how much did you blow?" Darien leaned into the counter.

"About ten thousand yen." Jed sighed, brushing a hand down the side of his head, racking his fingers though his hair.

Darien started laughing more loudly, while Hollywood grinned and shook his head in disbelief.

"Your bitching over five hundred bucks?" Kane stated gruffly, tossing a edamane peeling at Jed.

It bounced smartly off the side of his head.

Jed snarled and flipped him the middle finger. He just hated losing, the money didn't matter. He felt foolish for even getting involved in that scam. He had better sense, truly he did.

They hung around the all you can eat restaurant, watching Kane eat them into bankruptcy for a good three hours. Then wandered around the markets, inside the Shinsabashi. Amusing themselves at the various stores in this outdoor mall. Darien admired the giant sky light that ran the length of the stores. The starlight sparkling just behind the thousands of panes of square glass. He had to admit he really enjoyed Japanese artistic architecture, it was so elegant yet modern. Blending seamlessly into the metal and glass world as if it was grown instead of constructed.

Jed and Zac were busy cracking jokes and commenting on all the very in your face advertising out front of some of the stores. Such as a crazy chef face, roaring at customers or a huge hand hovering over the crowds holding a sushi roll. For such a seemingly reserved people their consumer culture was extremely loud and abrasive. They were able to kill the rest of the night, just window shopping and people watching. As midnight neared they headed back to the main street.

Not wanting to get lost again, they took a cab directly to the club. Moving away from the malls and markets, deeper into the great towers of downtown. The streets were alive with giant electronic billboards, flashing their icon's and advertisements. As they passed through traffic, Darien was pleased to have claimed the front seat. Casting his uncomfortably squished friends, crammed in the back seat a laughing smile. He craned his head out of his open window awe struck by the majestic tower's alight with living neon colours.

The cab started to slow near the end of a set of twin tower's, with an expansive green space tucked in between. With huge blue pines, elms and cherry blossom trees framing the outskirts, obscuring the park like atmosphere within.

"This is it?" Zac stated proudly.

"What is it...it's a park..." Darien commented lamely. Tossing the cab driver a wad of yen bills, before exiting the shiny banana yellow economy car.

"No, its the front gates." Zac tossed back, waving his hand over his shoulder petulantly at his comrades. Before moving off through the lush trees, disappearing down a narrow stone path.

The four men shrugged then followed Zac into the lush green space. They moved down the winding path flanked by all manner of with round lawn lights that cast the path in a gentle light that mimicked that of a full moon. Feeling as if they were being drawn into another world, full of magic and wonder. Even the sharp sounds of the city was fading away the deeper they traveled into the makeshift forest.

"Where's the white rabbit?" Kane commented with a low chuckle.

"I bet we'll find him when we find the tea party?" Darien bantered back over his shoulder.

"Yeah...or the Queen of Hearts?" Jed stated. "Off with their heads!" He cried out in a shrill womanly voice.

"I would rather run into the White Queen...she's hot" Kane threw out with a half smile. Thrusting his hips in a highly suggestive manner.

"Don't ruin the atmosphere children." Hollywood chastised, patting a n ow pouting Zac on the shoulder.

All three just started laughing harder, not taking either of them seriously at all.

The path ended abruptly before a huge lake, the water shimmering under the true moonlight. They could barely make out a long structure in the distance, dead center in the water.

"Now what?" Darien yawned, starting to really feel tired. It was way past his bedtime and he really wasn't into having an adventure in the middle of the night.

"Oh, grandpa's getting tired. " Jed cooed, poking Darien in the shoulder with a smirk. Receiving a back hand to the back of the head from Darien.

"No, Grandpa is damn bored!" Darien complained, not caring that Zac looked hurt. He never wanted to come in the first place. None them ever asked if he wanted to participate in their little night time field trips. They just dragged him along like some beloved pet! He would much rather be at home curled up with a good book, drinking some soothing tea and relaxing. Instead of trudging through some obscure forest to the middle of nowhere.

"Passports." A deep monotone voice echoed to them from the shoreline.

Zac's sulking perked right up, with a broad grin plastered over his face once more. He darted down the grassing decline towards the rocky shoreline.

The three followed mutely, finding the annoyingly excited dusty blonde handing their tickets to what looked like the boat man to Hades? A large solid white gondola was moored upon the shore, with a very tall man enshrouded in a white robe. With a long pointed cowl pulled up over his forehead, obscuring his features in shadow. He was leaning against a very long steering pole with a huge paddle on one end. He now had braced on the shore line. The pole rose high over his head, gleaming in the soft light of the full moon hovering over the lake. A warm breeze heavy with the scent of roses wafter around them, the whole surreal, dream like scene was casting a spell of awe over them all.

"Wow..." Darien breathed the image was impressive. With the mysterious boat man standing in the moonlight, it was all very immersive. He was really starting to feel like he had left earth far behind. This exclusive party Zac had gotten them tickets for took the term cosplay to a whole new level.

They all climbed into the elegant boat, sitting stiffly on the benches near the stern. As their robed guide climbed up to straddle the stern's sweeping nose. Pushing off with his pole, till they were rocking deep in the water. With out a single word he paddled the boat into the lake, meeting up with a fleet of similar gondola's all packed with awe struck passengers. All dressed in their best clubbing outfits, all ready to party the night away.

The dark shape in the distance slowly began to show itself as a great palace, with grande rotundas and vast archways and battlements. Built from solid white stone that glowed under the moon, sitting upon the highest crest of a man made island. Majestic columns rose out of the water as they drew near, in long corridors that provided a means for the gondolas to separate and dock at the new shore.

"Wow..." Darien breathed again, craning his neck to attempt to see the top of the corinthian style pillars, that were spouting water in gentle waterfalls back into the lake.

Not paying any attention to the amazed looks of his friends, to immersed in the majestic scenery himself. When the boat was secured the boat man waved a heavy sleeve forward. Pointing silently for his passengers to continue on their journey.

A thick grove of trees lay ahead, with the white stone walls of the palace rising far behind, the giant central rotunda ascending towards the floating moon. As if the palace and the celestial body were eternal companions.

Darien passed Zac an approving grin as they walked down another cobble stone path into a smaller garden of cherry blossom trees. Rose bushes and lilacs were scattered amid the trees, giving the feel of a much larger landscape beyond. The path wound slowly through the lush gardens, stopping before a curving staircase of carved white stone, with metal guard rails of an iron rose pattern. Ascending upward to a massive stone patio. They could see the waving columns of blue lights shooting up into the sky, announcing that the club lay just above them.

"Wow..." Darien breathed again, the first to take to the stairs. Leaving Zac laughing happily behind him.

Darien mounted the last step his mouth falling in wonder, a huge hallowed version of a grande palace stretched out on either side of the vast stone patio. Like the set on a movie stage, it was just stone walls the only real building was the central ballroom with the rotunda ceiling. He moved across the patio and under a looming archway into the outer courtyard area. Silver tables with floral patterned central columns were bolted to the stones. With matching chairs surrounding each table. Tuxedo dressed waiters and waitresses in ballroom attire milled around the cafe tables taking orders. Glancing up he could see the vastness of a star scape, it was surreal to see so many stars in the middle of a huge city.

He moved past the tables through another smaller archway, into an inner courtyard that held only a massive bar. Set up in a giant circle of white granite, with white leather stools. Several bartender's stood preparing drinks, also in full tuxedo's. A glowing blue neon tube light was mounted just below the counter, giving the bar a futuristic appeal.

"Wow..." Darien stated to himself only, since he had left his companions far behind now. He knew he sounded like a broken record, repeating the same word over and over, complete with an overwhelming awe struck expression. But the whole experience was blowing his mind. This club was just amazing!

Moving past the bar area, his sneaker's squeaking embarrassingly upon the polished stone floor. Practically stumbling into the main club through another massive archway. The glass doors to the main building moved aside as he entered. To engrossed in admiring the white sand stone architecture that covered the inside walls, of the main foyer. He barely noticed the entourage of black suited handlers, ushering a small silver blonde away down a side hall. The protected girl was completely shielded by her guards, only a the very top of her head could be seen. Which was done up in a very unique hair style. Of two small odango's and long flowing tails, with most of her hair still free to cascade around her shoulder's and down her back.

Darien gave the retreating group a disinterested look before returning to his investigation of this very unique club design. The front foyer looked similar to any other club he had been to, with high ceilings lit by hanging crystal chandelier's and long couches set up on the periphery walls. On the other end of the large room was a series of archways similar to what lay outside. Drawn forward yet again, he ambled through the threshold and into the main dance floor.

He was quickly over come as it took in the pure magic of the room. Gawking at the crystal like walls that made up the central rotunda. Their was no windows only clear glass facets ascending far above in a giant circle. Along the north wall was a set of stairs the led up to a second floor balcony. He quickly jogged up the marble stairway to check out the view from up there. Finding to his further delight that there were several archways leading back outside to a massive patio. Heading outside and over to the stone railing, to scan the expansive garden's below. The outer balcony wrapped around the main club, stretching back towards a descending staircase to the front courtyards.

He remained out in the fresh air for several minutes, admiring the white cushioned couches set up on the balcony.

Listening to the mutes voices of the crowds now gathering into the main club.

With a resigned sigh he strode out of the solitude through the main archway. Back to the inner balcony astonished by the rotunda above. He could make out the vast frame work of spot lights, spidering all over the dome.

"Wow..." He repeated yet again, finding his sneaker's were now slapping against white marble of the balcony, as he moved in small circles gawking at the roof.

This was the 'Silver Millennium'. The most popular night club in all of japan...

On the far side of the massive room was a grande white stage, flanked by pillars of pure white. The DJ booth looked like it was white marble, with the phases of the moon etched upon the stonework. The booth was tall and all enclosed in a semi circle. Set on a large dais above the main stage. The crowds began to converge before the stage, a murmur of excitement was humming in the air. He could see men in black suits patrolling the dance floor before the stage, keeping the mass of surging fans from getting to close.

Pretty soon the main floor was packed shoulder to shoulder with eagerly waiting clubbers. Scantily clad women, bedazzled and shimmering in their barely their outfits. Some men dressed just as flashy with skin tight leather pants and copious amounts of bling. Most of the males thank god were dressed more reasonably, in various styles of jeans and

shirts. Darien was pressed up tight against the balcony railings as the crowds started converging upstairs hoping to get a birds eye view of this popular idol level, DJ.

Slowly the house lights dimmed away to darkness, the crowds below went wild. Screaming and jumping in a sea of insanely excited humanity. Darien cringed as the cries hit painful decibels, gripping the cool stone railing of the balcony.

Then slowly the dance floor was bathed in soft silver light from the overhead spot lights. Giant wall screens pulled down behind the DJ booth, set between the pillars in a semi circle. An animation of clear water rippling from some unseen disturbance beneath, flashed to life upon the massive screens

Then the slow beats of trance rhythms echoed out from the hidden speaker's around the cavernous room. It was just loud enough to gain the crowds attention but not over whelm them. The crowds fell to a hush, while the people on the balcony now pressed in all around him, seeking to get a good look at this 'Serenity Moon'.

Darien had the wind knocked out of him instantly, as the crowd amassing behind him pressed into the balcony. He was quickly swallowed by the surging tide of humanity. Gripping the railing tight as his claustrophobia over crowds started a stress sweat over his face and body. A massive headache began exploding behind his eyes. Violent thoughts of pushing the crushing crowds back with Mui Tai strikes with his elbows started teasing his thoughts.

"Welcome, one and all to the celestial court of the Silver Millennium." A baritone voice called out from the back of the dance floor. High up upon a smaller balcony stood a very regal middle aged man. Everyone turned to find a man dressed in a twilight suit, embedded with small diamonds sparkling like starlight. A long white cape was draped over his shoulder's, the lavender silk beneath glowing like the dawn. He repeated his phrase once more but this time in Japanese. Spinning a long white sceptre over his head. With a royal bulb at the end, the crest twisting in sharp angles with a golden crystal at the very top. He had thick dark hair, dusted with grey and amber eyes hidden behind a white Harlequin mask. As his staff came down, an elegant woman in an elaborate white silk gown moved forward from the shadows at the back of their private balcony. She had extremely long silver hair, knotted up in twin odango's and tails. With cool soft blue eyes angled downward, a gentle yet regal countenance to her face. With a majestic silver crown, dusted with diamonds perched above her long bangs. That brushed just above her eyes in a curtain, giving her blue eyes a mysterious quality.

"May all our honoured guests find the magic within tonight, to make all their dreams come true." The Queen raised her own sceptre above her head, a more feminine version of the kings with a twisting bulb of royalty on top. The very tip embedded with a solitary silver crystal. She repeated in japanese, then both would be royalty moved out of view in their balcony.

"Hail, Hail, Hail!" The crowd began to call to the king and queen. "Long live the Silver Millennium!"

The music changed to a magical tonal beat, as the screen's faded then exploded into a image of falling feather's made of pure light. The crowds lost their minds at that point, screaming at the top of their lungs.

"All, Hail!" They roared. "Princess Serenity Moon!" They surged towards the stage, like a massive wave. Lost in the madness of their excitement. Repeating her name in a chorus of mass hysteria.

"Serenity!"

"Serenity!"

"Serenity!"

The guards held their ground against the fierce tide of fans, pushing them back as best they could. Linking their arms and forming a human barrier that prevented the mob from approaching any farther then the bottom edge of the stage.

The whirl of a motor thundered out over the crowds, as a mini circular platform spun slowly up from the stage floor. A young woman stood upon the platform, dressed in a simple, yet elegant white gown. Made of silks and satins the fabric shimmered, with if made of starlight as it caught the spot lights. With long flowing skirts that hung low near her ankles, fluttering in the wind as the nightclubs electronic fans kicked in on the sides of the stage. Small floral sleeves hung low on her upper arms, leaving her shoulder's and crests of her modest breasts bare. Her dress was sweet and sexy, covering her lithe form in an alluring yet dignified way. The bodice hugged her bosom, in a wrap style with the long skirt tucked under her breasts in a princess hem. The dress could have easily been a regal style night gown, so simple yet elegant.

She had her head raised up to the glowing silver lights now falling down upon her. Her incredibly long, pale, silver blonde hair hanging free, dusting the turning platform. With small odango's and tails, like the queens on either side of

her head. Her hair glowed under the black lights, sparkling as if covered in glitter. She was the personification of moonlight, gentle and soothing. The platform stopped high above the stage, then began to descend slowly back towards the mixing booth.

Darien squinted in the darkness, trying to make out any detail to her features. But the stage was just to far away, she was short though...barely five foot. Her proportions all tiny and dainty, a cute little slip of a woman.

When the moving platform locked back into place, the screens flashed to a close up of Serenity's face. The woman had a gentle, sweet face with slightly rounded cheeks, glowing pink with exhilaration. From being on display before such a massive crowd of adoring fans. A silver headset covered her ears, with a tiny mic attached to her headgear. Angled over her full glossy pink lips

Darien held his breath, his eyes widening in complete shock. His heart was now hammering in his chest as he was greeted by his one and only dream girl. Her angelic face shone in the spot lights, innocent cerulean blue eyes gleaming with an unfettered joy. Her mouth turning up in a broad smile, literally beaming towards the roaring crowds. The inner light she shone far brighter then the meager spot light cast upon her, could compete with.

"Welcome to my Kingdom!" She exclaimed then bent over her mixing board, bathing the club in her heavenly music. The club instantly reverberated with tonal music and rainbow of flashing and cascading lights.

(Anything could happen...) the fast beats grabbed the crowds instantly, pulling them under her musical trance, as she then changed songs. Increasing the rhythm and volume, making the crowds start to jump and surge against the stage. Each and every one instantly losing their minds to the excitement of the building crescendo.

Darien couldn't breathe, frozen in place just staring at her face upon the huge screens. All the years he had wondered if she was real, or just a figment of his lonely mind. In that instant all the doubt and uncertainty he had lived with concerning her was washed away. Leaving such a profound euphoria to warm him to his very depths. So powerful and all consuming he soon felt it was overwhelming him. Somehow the universe had been communicating to him. It had sent him those dreams, to keep his hope alive that one day he would find her. That she would cleanse the darkness he harboured in his soul and heal his flagging heart and keep him strong.

As she worked the dance floor, her magic was casting a spell over him as well. Lost in a trance of blissful fantasies, with her as the star. He watched her sway and spin eroticly upon the stage. Her body moving in all the familiar ways he had seen for years in his mind. The lights were strobbing to the beats as a smoke cloud was then cast over the dance floor, adding to the excitement. Then a rapid staccato of lasers flashed and cut through the haze of smoke accentuating the writhing bodies, dancing on the floor below. In time he was able to reclaim some of his senses, pulling his eyes away from her gorgeous face on the screens, to her graceful form dancing behind the booth. As she was lost to her own music, dancing in world of her own creation.

"Your real..." He whispered, then slapped his hands upon the railing in triumph. Suddenly in motion, devising a plan to meet this mysterious girl, who meant everything to him. He dashed away down the stairs, weaving into the dance floor.

She mixed in some japanese dance rhythms and traditional drums drawing not only the Gaijin crowds but also her countrymen as well. She was amazing, both in looks and in ability. The most original DJ he had witness to date. Calling to the crowds in both english and Japanese as well, totally fluent in both. Her voice sweet and soft as a summer breeze,her movements graceful yet full of a childish exuberance that mystified him. She was so naturally charming, entrancing him instantly.

Every part of his mind and body was humming just being around her. His life finally falling into focus once more. He needed her...needed to speak with her...to touch her.

(Bring me to life...in your arms...in your eyes I am alive.) After a long time, Serenity pulled the crowds intensity back down. Spinning slow trance love songs, the low mystical tones settling the crowds screams to silent reverence. As the mob mentality of frantic dancing, changed to couples grinding against one another. Fawning and hanging off one another as if having sex upon the dance floor.

Darien ignored the mass clothed orgy, moving along the outskirts towards the stage. The crystal glass wall were refracting the lights, twinkling down upon the dancers like fragments of a thousand shimmering lights.

Serenity was just starting to bring the crowds back up with louder, faster beats as Darien finally neared the stage. Confronted by the living wall of black suited guards, standing shoulder to shoulder now. Glowering threateningly at the ebbing and surging crowds.

(This night is crazy, tonight feels like we can do anything we like.) The tonal vibe was growing more frantic.

He moved with the jumping crowds, using his fighter's agility to side step and twist around the surging mass around the main stage. Blending into the dancing euphoria, as he slowly made his way to the fringe. She would have to leave the stage somewhere? He needed to get back stage before the performance was over.

(Everyone has to live for something...allow your light to shine and make yourself stronger.) The songs became more filled with hope and destiny. Inspiring the spectator's with intense beats and rhythms. Small groups forming circles free styling inside the protection of their friends.

As Darien was faced with the back wall on the side of the stage. Their was a simple metal door with a glowing exit sign above in kanji.

(I am going to party for the rest of my life...stuck in this moment and out of my mind, I have found my inner peace.) Spinning through several dance songs, beats and rhythms, weaving and mixing them into her own personal tonal flow. Serenity controlled the crowds emotional states building them ever upward to a total climax of pure sound.

Darien nodded, resolved that he would do absolutely anything no matter what it took to meet her. He charged the door, paying no heed to the fact he looked like a crazed fan. As soon as he opened the door, he was greeted by a living mountain dressed in a black suit and tie. The crisp white dress shirt barely staying closed, the buttons straining to contain the man's immense girth. The jacket looking far to small for him, stretched tight over his broad shoulder's and the sleeves barely reaching his thick wrists. Darien figured one good flex and that flimsy jacket would be ripped in half. He looked like a gorilla dressed up in kids clothes.

"You think we're stupid...kid?" A rumbling voice responded from the darkness beyond the door. Then a fist the size and shape of a huge block or granite, gripped him around the shirt collar and lifted him up as easily as a child. Grunting in surprise and dangling off his feet, Darien glowered up at his assailant with a defiant sneer. Without further delay the guard tossed him right back out the door, back into the chaos of the dance floor.

As Darien picked himself up off the floor, he was greeted by the largest ape he had ever seen. An absolutely impossible over proportioned man, that could have passed as a sumo wrestler or human tower. He was at least seven feet tall, and close to four hundred pounds of fat and muscle. With a round almost neanderthal face, his black hair hung thin and plastered with sweat around his thick neck. Being cooped up behind a stage door all night was not for the faint hearted. At least if one was the sheer size of an african elephant.

"Consider this your warning, Gaijin. Stay out here and enjoy the show, if I catch you trying to get back stage again. I shall personally escort your stalker ass to the boats." He grumbled in heavily accented English, before turning an lumbering through the back stage door. His broad back barely making it through the narrow doorway, having to turn is body slightly to squeeze through. Closing the door softly behind him.

Darien stood glowering at the door,

"ok, that was pretty dumb...like they wouldn't have a bouncer hiding back there." He mumbled, not knowing what to do for the moment. He turned his head up to admire her exquisite beauty upon the wall screens. Her clear blue eyes shone with such passion for her music. As she nodded her head subtly to the rhythmic melody. Watching her filled him with courage, it was an impossible task but he wasn't going to give up.

(So close I am scared we might explode if we unite...) Her next mix was slowing down again, filled with a yearning he felt deep down inside.

"I will not give up...I will meet you." He balled a hand into a fist and shook it near his chest, promising to himself that he would do what ever he needed to. He had to get back stage before her set ended tonight. Having her so close, yet just out of his grasp was killing him inside. After all those years he thought he just made her up to soothe his days of loneliness. The girls seemed to be the only ones on his side that believed she actually might exist. At that thought he pulled his phone out of his back pocket and directed it towards the screens, taking a quick glance around for anymore guards hiding in wait. Taking a picture of the star performer would most definitely get him kicked out. Finding only the swaying masses around him, all dancing in complete oblivion to the world around them. He snapped a quick picture, turning the phone screen back to view his work. Finding bitterly that being this low and this close to the stage the massive screen was a blurry mess of lights.

"Well crap..." He dashed away, fighting the crowds back up the stairs to the side balcony.

"Dar!" An unwelcomed voice shouted in his ear as he waded through the blocking bodies near the staircase. Ignoring whom ever was now flagging him down, as he swept past the glowing crystalline pillars at the edge of the dance floor, he was moving through the crowds with a singled minded determination. Pushing up the staircase like a bull. Nothing mattered right now but getting an image of her... he needed to prove she was real. If nothing else happened tonight he

would always have an image of her on his phone. The thought of only that as a prize tonight was more then a little depressing. It was unbearably sad, the weight of it could very well crush him. So after several frustrating minutes he had pushed enough people aside to reach the white marble railing of the upper balcony. Positioning himself, leaning over the edge, he braced himself with one hand on the railing. Raising his phone to take a quick flash picture, as a hand tapped him on the shoulder lightly killing the action instantly.

"Fuck..." he growled, tucking the phone away in his jeans pocket. His heart sinking, thinking the bouncer's had caught him and he would soon find himself on his ass outside of the club. With absolutely no way of ever meeting her! Anger and despair took turns battering his heart, the battle so ruthless it left his whole body shaking with fear. Whirling around to face Jed's shit eating grin and drunken bleary blue eyes.

"Dar...where have you been?" He asked, as Darien's frustration level soared, balling a hand into a fist he cocked it to punch his annoying friend in the face. Jed back stepped his eyes widening in fear and shock.

Darien took a deep breath, quelling his rage at his dumb ass friend unconsciously scaring the shit out of him. He had thought his one chance to meet her was up in smoke, that he was about to be escorted away to the boats. When Jed had tapped him like an idiot on the shoulder. The fear and disappointment at failing his chance to meet her had been a crushing weight upon his chest. Now lifting with overwhelming relief.

(You have brought me to my knees and now I am falling to pieces) A lovely upbeat dance mix flooded the club.

Darien raised a finger asking him to wait, before turning back to the railing. Leaning out as far as his body could stretch. Jed waited in confusion, glancing to the screens as understanding dawned upon him. Darien raised his phone and took the most important picture of his life.

With a glowing smile of pride, he turned the phone back to his eagerly awaiting eyes. Finding a perfect snap shot of her gorgeous face. All glittering blue eyes and beaming smile of pure delight, her hair a silver cascade glowing around her perfect face. "Yes..." he hissed, quickly tapping through his phones menu.

Sending the image to his four girlfriends back in America with the caption.

-I've found her-

With out even acknowledging Jed, he turned on his heel and waded back into the throng, slipping back down the stairs. Devising a new plan, the straight on approach wasn't going to work. He would never be able to live with himself if he failed tonight. He needed something more sneaky...more stealthy...

(They said this day would come...Hypnotized by drums, we are chasing ...) Serenity was sending the crowds into an trance rhythm, as he left the club for the inner courtyard. He needed a way into the back rooms behind the stage.

"Dar, what the hell!" Jed stormed up beside him. As he planted himself at the circular bar, needing to think things through.

"Sorry Jed, Its way to crazy in there to talk anyway." he commented absently, as the bar tender turned to ask what his drink may be. He politely declined, while Jed ordered a beer.

"So what do you think?" the blonde asked, a huge grin on his face.

"She's pretty amazing, this place is just...wow." He admitted, now nursing an ice water.

"The women are pretty hot to, what kinda picture did you need to get. That was so god damn important you had to make a brother wait?" Jed took a long swig from his long neck beer. Passing Darien a meaningful look.

Darien chuckled pulling out his phone and passing it over to him. Jed wasn't surprised just amused.

"She's..." He started.

"The one!" Darien proclaimed, his eyes brimming with thankful tears. "I've been dreaming about Serenity Moon for the last five years." Darien nodded, taking a long sip. Enjoying the cold burn of the ice doing down his throat, the pain clearing away the moisture in his eyes. His whole body felt over heated, his skin humming as if an electric charge had gone off in the very core of him. All the excitement and exhilaration at finally finding her was somewhat overwhelming. His mind was still buzzing, as he felt his whole body trembling from the pent up adrenaline and emotions.

He could still hear the music blasting out of the large ballroom behind them, the multi coloured lights flashing upon the far stones out on the courtyard.

"I need to see her...tonight." He regarded Jed, his face serious, eyes fierce. A determination burning through him like never before.

"Good luck on that one." Jed laughed, taking another drink then quieting down when Darien remained staring strongly at him.

"Right...I'll go round up the boys, then." Jed nodded, understanding that this girl meant more to his buddy then any girl before. Darien had never had a relationship in his life. He never sought out women, he was not interest in pursuing them. He had accidentally slept with a great deal of women over the years. Even two or three at once, due to one drunken sexcapade after another. But nothing came of it, it was just mindless sex with no emotions involved. Because his heart as already taken. By a devastatingly beautiful woman who only lived in his dreams. The only woman he had ever loved was a figment of his imagination, kinda made him look a little crazy. Which is why only his closest friends knew of it.

Jed, swallowed hard staring at Darien with wide, astonished eyes. Finding out that these obsessive dreams his buddy kept having about some mystery girl, were actually based on a real person. That was just blowing his mind right now. He gave Darien a curt nod, then gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze before taking his leave. His mind spinning, coming to grips that she was a living breathing woman an ocean away...well that was just twilight zone city. But Jed went with it, love was love right. He had no experience with it, personally. But from the intense and passionate descriptions he got from Darien about this girl over the years. The man was head over heels for her. He would do anything and everything to get to know her. Like any good friend, he and the boys would help him anyway they could.

In less then a half hour they were all huddled around the bar, speaking softly as they planned their assault on the back stage of the club.

"I can't believe it...Serenity Moon is the girl you dream about." Kane chuckled in awed, disbelief, as Zac began to hum the Twilight Zone theme. The red head sent the dusty blonde a annoyed glare, before sliding the phone back down the bar to Darien.

"Pretty intense..." Hollywood agreed, keeping a watchful eye on the waiter's wandering around the outer courtyards. Scrutinizing their body types and monitoring their routes. Trying to find a suitably quiet, out of the way area that they visited to jump them.

"Well lets track down our clones, gentlemen." Hollywood rubbed his hands together, with a very amused yet sinister gleam in his eyes. "We will need tuxedo's that fit properly. If we plan on sneaking back stage." He gave both Jed and Zac a pointed look, not wanting either of them to flake out and screw this all up. Then with a resolute sigh and a curt nod he heading off to scout the attending men. Zac and Jed wandered away after him, casting each other nervous glances, none of them had ever attempted to do anything like this. It was as exciting as it was nerve wracking.

"You guys don't have to do this." Darien stood, stuffing the phone away and paying Kane a bitter smile.

"We know." Kane clipped out, downing the remainder of his beer in one gulp.

"We could all end up in jail tonight." Darien advised with a somber frown.

"We know." Kane agreed with a laugh. Slapping him on the back, reassuring him that each of his buddies knew what kind of trouble they had signed up for and that they were fine with it. They were as close as brother's, had been for more years then he could count, they would do anything to ensure Darien's happiness. Kane flashed the apprehensive man a confident grin before heading off to find his own body double.

Darien finally grinned, hope and confidence gleaming in his eyes. In the end they were a great bunch of guys and he could always count on them. To have his back or do their part in what whatever crazy, harebrained scheme they managed to get involved in.

One by one the guys lured their respective waiter's away from the main courtyard. With a few precise and quick punches to the head, they were knocked out cold. Quickly striped and piled up in their underwear behind a grove of rose bushes just off from the outer most stone patio. As Kane, Darien, Hollywood and Jed strode from the bushes. Looking far more dapper and refined then before. Flipping their long suit tails with a cocky flourish and adjusting their high collars smugly.

Then Zac had to kill their moment of glory, by exiting the bushes like a dumb ass. Waddling behind them with his arms stiffly braced at his sides, penguin style.

Jed palmed his face in humiliation, while Hollywood and Kane avidly ignored them both. Darien gave Zac an incredulous look.

For such an intelligent man, is sense of humour was rather juvenile.

They then retrieved their clothes, stuffing them in commercial plastic bags they swiped from the bar. Heading, now incognito back into the clubs main foyer. They tucked them under the toilets in the men's bathroom just off a side hall. Needing their change of clothes to be easily accessible, to await their escape whenever that was warranted. Then proceeded with the first phase of the plan, one by one they grabbed silver round tray's from behind the bar. Then ordered a set of fake drinks from the harried looking bartender, dealing the current crowds pressing in on all sides of the counter. Once having an excuse to prowl the busy tables and keep a close watch on the guards positioned around the outside of the club.

"We got 45 till the princess leaves the stage." Zac muttered a while later, as he passed Darien before the lower staircase to the upper patio style balcony. They had canvassed the whole of the club and were now just waiting for an opportunity to sneak back stage.

Zac moved off, as a table of hot girl flagged him down to order drinks.

"Hollywoods checking out the back quarter of the club, he should be back soon." Jed stated, as he passed Darien, heading off to the other side of the open courtyard. Intending to circle absently for their missing in action buddy.

Darien had just dropped off his empty tray at the bar when Kane appeared at his elbow with a freshly picked bouquet of roses.

"You just vandalized one of the bushes for these, didn't you?" Darien commented with an approving smile, noticing his usually quite gruff friends fingertips were painted red with his blood.

"Yep, you need an excuse to get back there when Hollywood returns." He stated, thrusting the roses at him.

Darien took them with a grateful nod, setting the thorny stems on his tray. Watching them fan out upon the metal plate. One of the bartender's gave him an odd look. When Zac appeared having pulled out his elastic from his hair and was tying the stems together with out comment.

"Hollywood is officially MIA, so go around back and see if you can find a way in. Then we'll figure out how to get you inside from there." He stated, a worried strain to his voice, as he repeatedly cast concerned looks over his shoulder. As if hoping the silver haired man would just appear like magic, since he was being talked about.

"Probably fucking some waitress against a tree out back...stop worrying everything is fine." Jed exclaimed, as he pressed into Darien's other shoulder. Giving his younger brother a disgruntled look. " God! You are such prissy bitch some times. Would you just relax.?"

"Fuck off, Jed." Zac retorted.

"Thought that up all on your own?" Jed smirked. Receiving a more threatening glare from Zac

Darien nodded ignoring the bickering brothers. He grabbed his roses, heading off past the tables and back into the garden landscape that surrounded the club. Circling around back, following the outer white washed stone walls of the rotunda shaped building. The hallowed walls that framed the rest of the palace, fading at his back. The glass three story walls that resembled crystal rose up, then slowly gave way to plain white stone again.

The moon was setting towards the trees, the stars sparkling in the thousands upon the dark sky. Darien paid no heed to the universe spanning over his head. His heart was a painful ache in his chest, doubt and worry now replacing his eagerness to meet her from before. Would he be able to handle rejection from her? No woman had ever rejected him to date? It was an arrogant thought, but there was always a chance when confronting a beautiful woman. That fact that she meant everything to him...only made him more nervous. If she rejected him would he be able to survive it?

His agonizing thoughts were stilled for the moment when he smugly found the back of the building was totally normal. Pushing through some thinning bushes, he stumbled out onto a semi circle drive way. That held a huge cement fountain in a central garden. The building now resembled an modern complex. With three stories of plain square windows and a large front foyer. With double oak doors and side viewing windows.

Darien started laughing at the absurdity of it all. Who would think to build a magical night club on the back end of a normal looking office building. Who would fund this? This whole island must be private property, for some ungodly rich business man or maybe old money? Either way the silly eccentricities of the this building was in spades!

"Well, I'll be damned." He wiped away some tears of mirth before striding for the front doors.

All this hassle thinking that there would only be a small cramped back stage and instead its a huge palatial building.

He made it a few steps around the fountain, when a parked patrol car froze him in place.

Hollywood was already packed nicely into the back seat, sitting stoic and unresponsive to the cop. Currently hovering over his side, shackling him in cuffs.

"Oh...shit." Darien cursed, catching Hollywoods attention. Who was now darting his cold blue eyes towards the bushed wanting him to retreat.

Darien dropped his roses and dove behind the fountain instead, as if avoiding a barrage of bullets in some action movie. Not thinking to straight, He groaned and palmed his hand in mortification. Hiding behind the ground reservoir of the central fountain was pretty lame cover.

Hollywood thumped his forehead against the window glass, muttering

"Dumb Ass..." in disgust.

Darien crouched low behind the cement bowl, watching as the police officer slowly left the back seat. Returning to his partner's side at the front doors to help finish the statement currently being made by a really ancient looking gentlemen in a custodian's grey overalls.

It was then that both Twiddle-dee and Twiddle-dum came parading out from the other side of the building. Arguing loudly and making a very big deal of their appearance.

Both cops stopped and turned in unison to confront two very surprised and very unnerved young men.

"Well, aw fuck..." Jed commented darting back around the building. Not looking suspicious at all...

"Wait up!" Zac shouted, backing up nervously with his hands raised in a placating manner. Then turned around abruptly, to break into an all out sprint back towards the night club. Not really remembering they were dressed as waiter's and if they were smart they might be able to talk themselves out this pinch. By pretending to actually belong to the night clubs staff. Hadn't worked for Hollywood though, but he had been playing cat and mouse with the janitor inside the building for the last half hour. So the authorities had already been alerted to a suspicious waiter, skulking round. He was sneaking through the back halls hoping to find a way into the club. Finally managing to slip out an open office window, only to get caught by a patrol of guard's put on alert by the janitor minutes before. Quickly being subdued and then escorted less then gently to the cops waiting out front.

Those very same cops that were now in hot pursuit of Jed and Zac. Shouting in japanese and pulling their tasers pistols off their belts.

"Well that ain't going to be to good in a few minutes. " Darien muttered, then bowed his head and cringed in sympathy. Recognizing his buddies twin voices screaming in pain a few seconds later. Their sharp cries accented by the crackle of electricity.

"Ouch..." Darien sighed, moving around the fountain as the old man shut the front door.

Once the janitor was out of view, he crouched low and moved in a mad dash for the cop car.

Hollywood had an alarmed look crossing his face, as he kept track of Darien. As the raven haired romeo moved around the patrol car. Glancing up to the back window giving the dumbfounded man a double thumbs up and a huge confident grin. Before staying in his crouch and ducking around the building as if he was part of some military special ops team.

Hollywood blinked in disbelief, the level of his buddies stupidity just kept surprising him. He thumped his forehead against the window, in frustration. Then continued to thump his head against the glass...it was soothing in an odd way.

Darien was about to get caught by the patrolling guards the same way he had over an hour ago.

"I am surrounded by idiots." Hollywood muttered to himself.

Darien pressed himself against the rough stones against the outer wall, ducking just under a window sill.

"I need to get inside?" He mused, his deep azure blue eyes scanning the shadows around this side of the mansion.

Finding several elm trees growing nearby. Their branches just brushing the second story windows.

"That could work?" His eyes narrowed with scrutiny, as a smug smile pulled at his lips. Then he pushed away from the

wall, surveying the windows above hoping to see at least one open. When the soft rustling of footsteps alerted him to coming guards.

"Fuck..." Darien blurted out angrily, leaping for the nearest branch to find cover. Pulling himself up deftly into the canopy as two guard's dressed in all black kevlar suits came into view along the outskirts of the back gardens. With full black helmets and night vision goggles. Passing by underneath him, thankfully oblivious to his pressence.

"Shui wa chekku OK." A guard spoke gruffly into his mic, affixed inside his helmet.

As the guards headed off, Darien scowled at their back. Still crouched on his tree branch high above.

"Well, they're a little over dressed for guarding a simple club...what the hell is going on here?" He questioned. As they wandered into the front of the building, he leaped back down to the ground and darted off down the tree line. Getting inside was no longer a priority, a heightened awareness began to pulse deep inside of him. A sense of doom, hovering over his mind swarming like a hoste of angry bees. The feeling was to loud and to strong to ignore. Buzzing anxiously, through out his very skin, making him nervous and jumpy, spurning his actions. Pushing him to get back to Serenity's side as quickly as possible.

Glancing over his shoulder to make double sure he wasn't being tailed by any of those intimidating looking guards. He had noticed heavy assault rifles on their belts, he doubted he would survive being mowed down by one of those guns. Those guys were just over kill city...

Things were getting serious now, this wasn't just some simple exclusive club something much more serious was going on here.

Circling around back through the garden's, an inner charge now vibrating through his soul. His body was becoming more alert, more aware of his surroundings. His sight became more clear, as if suddenly enhanced until he could peer through the darkness as keenly as he could in daylight. His hearing became magnified, as he rounded back along the crystal walls of the club. He could hear the dance music slamming pure and unmuffled into the night. A undefined heat was building inside his muscles as his speed hit new levels. An intense anxiety was increasing in his mind concerning Serenity. He needed to get back to her side, something real bad was about to happen.

A unearthly roar howled out over the garden as Darien leaped over the last rose bush before a large archway that would lead back into the inner courtyard. Craning his head up to the bell shaped rotunda, he could just barely make out three shadow's dancing upon the roof.

"What the hell is going on?" He whispered, barreling down the open patio. Feeling hot and stuffy in his cotton tuxedo, a fine sheen of sweat now coating his rapid dash across the sprawling club outer grounds, had over heated his body and the roar of his heart thundering in his ears only added to his high level of stress.

Kane caught sight of him as he raced past the bar, his long coat tails flapping madly, as he charged for the clubs main entrance. The red head was soon giving chase as he barely cleared the sliding glass doors behind Darien. Watching in confusion as the dark haired man barrelled back into the strobbing lights and billowing smoke on the vast dance floor. As Serenity began her exciting finale.

The club reverberated with frantic electronica, a mirage of lights cascaded over the writhing crowds. With all his senses now heightened, Darien was briefly stunned by the cacophony. His ears felt like they were going to explode any second and a his vison swam for a moment as the rapid staccato of flashing lights made him intensely sea sick. Having to widen his stance, lest his feet buckle out beneath him suddenly having no sense of balance. He gathered himself quickly, the urgency to get to Serenity fortifying him.

"I have to get to her side...NOW!" He shouted, sensing Kane before the man fully reached his side.

"So sneaking in wasn't an option." Kane commented, arching a sarcastic brow. His humour evaporating at Darien's dark glower. "How quickly we talking about getting to her side?" Kane inquired in a shout to be heard over the music.

Darien was to busy scanning the rafter's of lighting and catwalks, sensing that sinister force prowling high above the dance floor. It was primal, like a predator? Single minded and focused upon Serenity only. The very thought of someone or something hurting Serenity had him trembling with barely contained rage. The violence now boiling inside of him was wild and fierce, like a storm building on the horizon ready to break at any moment. With enough power to lay down a swath of destruction in it's wake. Holding it all back and striving to think clearly was battle in itself.

(Were did we go wrong...can we work this out...) Her final intense dance mix was taking the crowds to new heights of wild excitement. Surging and slamming against one another, the fringe of the dancers bumping against him repeatedly.

So self involved and completely drawn in by the music to pay attention of their surroundings. He eventually got knocked back a couple steps. Violent thoughts of casting his roses as dagger's into the brainless masses surged through his mind. He stood seething for a moment, his hands balled into white knuckled fists at his sides. Cursing the mindless horde and his own indecision that had kept him grounded for so long.

"Kane you need to get me up there." Darien pointed up to the balcony above in which the king and queen were sitting priming on their white thrones, enjoying the end of the show.

"There's a locked door in the foyer that might lead up there?" Kane offered pedantically.

"No time!" Darien shouted, as a bulky shadow caught his eye far above in the rafter's. Spot lights began to sway sharply, showing that someone or something was leaping from one to another.

"How!" Kane ranted back harshly, sucked in my Darien's panic his own heart was now pounding in his chest. A charge of frantic energy bolting through his large frame. Darting his gaze over the looming shadows of the roof high above, looking lost and hopeless for a way to get Darien up there. As Darien merely leaped upon his shoulder's with out any warning.

"Oh, fuck me..." Kane growled holding his position and snapping his legs rigid to hold Darien's hundred plus weight. As he leaped straight up, soaring high above Kane. Achieving a totally impossible height for a mere human, reaching up with his arms. Latching onto the stone balustrade, that jutted out as a Corinthian embellishment at the bottom of the structure. He swiftly began to scale up the balcony using the front pillars.

"Never let go of your dreams!" Serenity called to the crowds. "With a strong heart and a courageous spirit you will always persevere! Always believe in yourselves. "

The lights flashed a brilliant silver announcing her set had come to an end. The screens shifted back to the rippling water. As her platform began to spin her back into the air.

The crowds roared in a crescendo of ultimate euphoria. As she raised her arms over her head, angelic wings of pure light exploding from her back. It was the most astonishing finale any of them had ever seen, the wings of light was a mind blowing effect to watch. They stood in hushed awe, all sound falling dead as the wings evaporated as quickly as they appeared. Serenity bowed her head down, regarding her humbled fans with a huge grin of sheer delight.

"I love you all!" She shouted through her mic. Then her eyes flew wide in alarm catching sight of the hulking shadow in the rafter's.

Darien was now standing firmly on the Royal viewing balcony, casting a determined eye above to a set of cat walks that hung high over head.

"Hey!" The king jumped for him, his sparkling twilight suit shimmering in the silver lights. Darien regarded him briefly before using his superior strength to leap up into the very rafter's themselves.

The king and queen could only watch in muted shock, mouths agape. As a strange man dressed in the black and white tuxedo uniform of a waiter. Began to dart and leap from one set of lighting cages to another, high above the vast dance floor. Moving across the expanse in great leaps and bounds, with a sense of balance and agility that was beyond human.

Darien was half way across the club, as Serenity's platform started descending slowly. The princess was now standing in a defensive pose with a determined glare in her eyes. As she regarded something dangerous high above her.

The crowds stood spell bound, wondering if there was going to be anymore to the finale. Waiting with held breath as the sudden heavy silence deafened the club. Then the thunder of booted feet, echoed from behind the clubs main area. The large back archway that led from the dance floor to the front foyer was filled with soldier's all dressed in black kevlar and tinted helmets.

"Alright folks, shows over now if you please leave the club in an orderly fashion. Your boats await you. " One of the men moved forward, the squad leader no doubt.

Kane paid the swaying lights a concerned look before obeying the guards and leaving the club along with the now confused, yet satisfied clubbers.

"We have unfinished business. Moon!" A beastial voice growled out over the near empty club. A few of the straggler's stopped to stare in confusion over their shoulder's trying to place the strange guttural sounding voice.

"Hey, no loitering now. Time to leave." A guard called out commandingly, as several other black suited men then ushered the last of the crowds out of the building.

Darien was nearly there, he could just make out a very broad back, it was bare and powerful. With thick corded muscles the rippled and bunched as he navigated through the maze of lighting cages and metal beams. The man had a long wild golden main of hair. That hung down his back and over his thick shoulders in unruly waves. The intruder's hips were clothed in black leather pants, with bare feet, his hairy toes gripping the dusty wood of the rafters. He was standing on a cross beam set between a cluster of spot lights, clutching a wide electrical cord for safety. The cord was providing a series of lights with power. That were now flickering weakly every time he adjusted his grip. Aggravated at the cheap spot lights betrayal, not wanting his pressence known to his prey below. He ripped the cord out with a low growl, killing a cluster of lights. Then leaped away to another beam close by, dashing with unnatural agility down the length of the girder. Tearing more cords out as he went. As the dance floor began to wink out into darkness, one cluster at a time.

"Shit..." Darien cursed, his blood running cold. As a great deal of the dance floor was now sent into darkness. He had acquired many skills over the years with his strange, new powers but seeing in the dark was not one of them.

Serenity's platform then stopped descending. Leaving a very concerned DJ half way down from the roof. Her eyes darting over the shadowed roof in a calm, calculating way. Keeping track of what ever was hunting her. Years of training kicking in. Her muscles primed to defend herself. As she caught sight of a flash of golden fur, darting out of view behind a electrical bulk head.

"I thought we worked this all out...Tiger's eye?" Serenity calmly called up, into the darkness. Her slightly frightened eyes moving about the beams and light cages. Searching for any disturbance to give away the location of the highly agitated Soldier that was out to kill her.

"Hardly..." Tiger growled out, the lights suddenly winking out behind the stage. Serenity spun around, in alarm. Feeling she had no choice, she began to call forth her own Transcendent Genetics. The burning white hot fire that filled her inner most being quickly flooded through her body. Surging from the mental cage she kept it sealed in. Her eyes began to glow silver, as her flowing long hair began to flutter in her rising power wave.

"I don't want to fight!" She shouted to the ever darkening roof. Seeking to some how negotiate this coming battle. Tiger had been a relentless adversary for the last few years. Causing her more aggravation then anything else. She really did not want to deal the extent of the property damage they would inflict upon her club if they fought here.

"We'll I do!" Tiger's eye screamed, as a long electrical cord snapped out of the dark oblivion above her head. As a huge catch of spot lights then plummeted upon her.

Serenity screamed in surprise, wrapping her arms over her head to protect herself. Unable to grasp her transformation completely her power sank back down to a low simmer beneath her skin.

Darien cleared the last few meter's leaping like a graceful gymnast from beam to banks of spot lights. Landing with a forward flip before her on the platform. He wrapped protective arms around her, bending over her now trembling body. She arched backwards in his arms, her hands clutching tightly at the lapels of his dress shirt. Her expression one of shock and alarm as their eyes locked and held firm. He took the thick cord of the lighting cage to the back, it tore through his black suit jacket and white shirt. Slashing deep into the skin on his back drawing one long bloody wound. The spot lights crashed into the corner of the dais, splintering the wood and finish. The bulbs shattering inside their tin hoods as the cage continued it's wild descent towards the stage below. Smashing into her DJ booth like a wrecking ball, the white plaster was a pathetic barrier to protect her equipment. Her mixer board was totalled. Sparking and crackling sadly.

Darien gritted his teeth unwilling to cry out, even though his back felt like it was one fire. Smoothing his pained expression back to a stoic mask, he regarded her tenderly.

His serene blue eyes were gleaming with such a wealth of love, they held her firmly, like a lovers caress. His expression was heavy with relief, his arms tight around her waist. His sudden appearance took her breath away, leaving her a quivering mess on the inside. After nearly five years of separation some how he had found her again. The magnitude of this fated reunion sat like a suffocating weight upon her chest. Try as she may to control the overwhelming surge of emotions, at finally being in his arms again. They washed over her in powerful waves of both exhilaration and torment. With his adorning face now mere inches away from hers, she felt completely breathless. Light headed and swooning in his embrace. Her face was pale and full of both shock and deep emotional pain.

"Hi..." He breathed, his lips brushing against hers sensually. His heart was thundering in his ears, his whole body feeling incredibly charged from his quick save and finally having his dream, real and alive in his arms.

"Hi..." she whispered back, her voice barely a whisper so overcome by the intensity of her feelings. Her sweet face was

burnished pink, as a solitary tear fell down her cheek.

"Who the hell are you!" The attacker roared in frustration, shaking the rafter's in his fury.

Darien snapped his attention back around to glare death up at the mysterious voice out of view high above.

"Her Mamoru!" He declared with out thinking, the name exploded out of his mouth like a gun shot, it just felt right.

Turning back to her, he found her staring wide eyed up at him in disbelief, her chest heaving with great pent up sobs. He never recognized it for what it was, understanding it only as fear. Not as a broken woman who had lost everything, who had spent the last few years trying to pick up the pieces and repair herself. Now shattering all over again, at being confronted by the one man who had meant everything to her. Bringing with it a torrent of fond memories she had spent years trying to forget. The sincerity of his love for her that shone so pure and unguarded in his eyes. Tore down her barriers and left her raw, vulnerable and exposed. She had no reserves to hold herself together while being cradled in the protection of his arms. The sense of security he provided was beyond measure, she felt as if she had been lost in the cold and had finally found warmth again.

God she had missed him!

Quickly he gathered her up in his arms and leaped off the pillar towards the large side balcony. She was stunned and taken completely off guard. Clutching at him in sudden panic, as he raced out onto the veranda and leaped over the stone railing and into the night. In mere moments thanks to his greater agility and strength he carried her off from the club. Dashing like some well dress crusader into the trees.

Leaving her attacker roaring in disappointment and frustration, as his prey was rescued and then escaped into the vast wilderness of the island.

Tiger's eye attempted to make chase, jumping from the rafter's. Landing with a cats grace upon the marble railing of the inner balcony. Then leaping out of the open archway to the outer patio beyond.

The soft light of the descending moon, now sinking into the tree's. Cast the man-beast known as Tiger's Eye in a cold light. He had the body of a man, with broad, well defined shoulder's, a heavily muscled torso and thick arms of a body builder. His legs sprouted down from his well muscled hips like twin tree trunks. Yet his skin was covered in a thick layer of golden blonde fur, with dark stripes a subtle dusting here and there. His face was not that of a man's, but of a wild, ferocious cat. With almond shaped yellow-green eyes, that mirrored the dark. A short mussel with a pink nose twitched as he took in the various scents of the human's still lingering in the air. A long maine similar to a lion's hung around his face and down his powerful back. With two rounded cat ears pointed out through his hair, swivelling to catch any small sounds. His thin lipless mouth pulled back in a sneer of disgust, growling low in his throat as his sharp canines were displayed.

He stood scowling out over the garden in the relative direction that Serenity had been taken. By that puffed up, over dressed, pompous piece of man flesh that had disappeared in with his prey.

"Go home, Tiger's eye." A cold, smug voice alerted him. He growled threateningly as he sensed the pressence of one of Ido's soldier's who had delayed his arrival to challenge Moon earlier that night.

"No...I want a rematch!" he snarled, his guttural voice sounding whiny like a disgruntled child.

"She'll beat your ass down, like she has over and over again for the last year. " The woman responded, Tiger's eye turned to confront the taunting Soldier.

A tall slender woman in an all white pants suit with a navy tube top underneath. That showed off her flat, very toned stomach and ample breasts. With black expensive black leather dress shoes on her feet, that tapped upon the stones not hiding her annoyance. Her dusty blonde hair was cropped short in a masculine way around her ears. Her face was androgynous, looking strong like a mans yet possessing soft lines around the chin and cheek bones. To give her the elegance of a very gorgeous young woman. Her sky blue eyes gleamed with a hidden amusement, at his blustering. She absolutely unfazed by his apparent threat, he did not intimidate her in the least.

"Go home, Tigers-eye." She repeated in a tired bored tone, crossing her arms over her chest.

Her companion moved from behind her, a deadly cold look in her soft green eyes. A beautiful, graceful woman with long aqua green tinted blonde hair. With a very regal looking face and full lips. Wearing a very simple yet sophisticated white ball gown. With a low rounded collar that showed off the upper portion of her full breasts. A long layered flowing skirt the hung near her knees, and long white leather strap boots with a chunky heel.

"I will avenge my honour, Haruka-san!" Tiger's eyes retorted, clawed hands balling into frustrated fists.

"And I will avenge my boot up your ass, if you don't back off!" Haruka shouted, losing her temper.

"What are you thinking, you nearly showed half the young people in the country our secret?" She huffed, rolling her eyes in disgust.

"I was...impatient." Tiger glanced away ashamed.

"We have a truce, right now. Does Tomoe know your out here starting fights again?" She stated, as her companion clutched at her arm. Suddenly feeling very overwhelmed by all the rage in the air.

Haruka paid her a knowing look, pressing her hand soothingly over hers. As she held onto her upper arms tightly, her eyes gone wide and haunted, as a flood of more overwhelming emotions began to invade her mind.

"No..." Tiger's eyes muttered, sensing a very familiar, very sinister pressence closing in. He didn't want to get caught and pulled back into her twisted schemes. He escaped Tomoe's leash and had no intention of going back under his thumb. He had been staying ahead of Tomoe's blood hound for far to long, so to remain free, he had to give in and retreat.

Finally he felt defeated, his ambitions to have it out again with the Soldier of Sanctity evaporating. His chance to prove he was the stronger soldier, dashed again.

"I'll be back...though!" he growled, before lunging away on all fours. The claws on his hands and bare feet digging into the earth as he charged away at full speed.

"Michi?" Haruka's attention was then fully on her true love.

Michiru was finally able to collapse to the stones, her chest struggling for breath as the full force of Moon's tortured emotions washed over her. Tears began to flow, as the woman clutched onto Haruka's lapels for support.

"Who was that man?" Haruka demanded, suddenly very frightened. Moon could handle herself on most occasions.

Usually the trouble she got into, she had created for herself anyway.

Michiru cleared her tear stained face, then pressed her finger tips against Haruka's heart. The blonde grimaced, she missed Michi's voice so much. She had known Kaioh, Michiru since junior high. Had fallen in love with her long before they found out they were Genesis Soldiers. The girl had been traumatized so badly when she manifested her Genesis Powers for the first time. She lost her voice and has never spoken since.

They had learned over the years how to communicate, in this silent way. Michi and Haurka both knew sign language, but when alone they had their own language all their own.

"That was her Mamo-chan?" Haruka breathed, casting another worried look over her shoulder.

As Michiru nodded sadly.

They had endured many nights in the early years, comforting the lost and heart broken girl. In time she found her way back to a tentative happiness. It wasn't as pure as it once was, tempered by bitter memories and far to many regrets. She was forced to enlist in Ido's war, as they all were. She had stubbornly refused to fight at first. But the old man could be quite convincing, in his own ways. Leaving her old names and life behind her, she had decided to start a new life with a clean slate. Calling herself Serenity Moon. She became a very resourceful and powerful soldier. Slowly making a dual life for herself. Finding new goals to focus on, living for the little joys she found in life back in Japan. A year ago she caught Haruka watching the latest pay per view UFC fight in Las Vegas. In the main living room back at Ido's mansion. A huge estate the old man had purchased just for his army to call home. It was a european manor, three stories of white washed stone resembling a dukes palatial manor. Built in a open concept of many large rooms, with tower's and balconies that made it look like a castle. Huge expansive windows took up most of the lower level. That gave lots of natural light during the days and beautiful views of the moon and stars at night. The main living room was filled with large plush arms chairs. With large bookshelves flanking the giant segmented windows on either end of the high ceiling room. A large stair case curled down along the far wall, with deep wood railings and soft white carpeted steps. The overly large flat screen was bolted into the side of that staircase, with a single long soft grey L-shaped corner couch sitting before it.

Haruka was lounging in a pair of black spandex shorts and a white t-shirt tied in a knot at her side. Sipping on a flavoured water, as she waited for the fight to begin. Watching American cage fights had been a guilty pleasure of her's for many years. Only willing to purchase the entertainment when the big names were in combat.

Serenity had been in route back to her room, dressed for bed. In a tiny plush pink shift that barely covered her hips, with a pair of matching pink silk boy shorts underneath the skimpy night shirt. Carrying a huge bowl of popcorn from the kitchen, when she caught Haruka screaming and cursing at the screen. Curious she had sat down beside her, munching her popcorn happily. Slowly recognizing the dark haired gladiator fighting in the cage. His powerful muscles glistening with sweat, coiling and rippling as he fought. Moving with that same ferocity and determination that had scared her so long ago. It was then she realized that her true love had survived somehow. Had finally accomplished his dreams.

Haruka sat spell bound soon more focused on Serenity then the fight. As the young woman now just graduating high school, sat stunned, the depths of her sorrow a painful torment mirrored in her eyes. Her popcorn bowl forgotten on the low wooden coffee table before the couch. Sitting on her hands, as silent tears rolled down her face. Her eyes were haunted, glistening with such a twisting mixture of relief and agony, Haruka was instantly curious. Serenity never moved, never spoke, barely breathed as she watched the brutal fight from start to finish. Her watching a fight was totally out of character, she never tortured herself that way.

Serenity was not a violent soul, or aggressive in any way. She appalled fighting of any sort, yet accepted that as Soldier she had no choice but to engage in combat from time to time. To maintain the peace and keep Tomoe's unwavering plots against Ido at bay. But it tore at her heart and soul every time she had to fight another Genesis Soldier like herself.

Haruka had found her overly passive and quiet personality kinda strange but utterly compelling. She was an enthralling contradiction of sorts. Possessing a sweet, gentle vulnerability yet also as will and determination that was as strong as steel. The fact that she would only call forth her powers in defence, attacking only if one of her comrades was in dire trouble. She would defend herself but reluctantly, preferring to dodge and counter till her aggressor gave up and retreated.

She never went for the kill, not ever...unless it was Beryl. But even then she had struck the death blow only after being cornered and having no other way to save herself or the people she was protecting at the time. But to kill the Soldier of Discord.

Haruka never knew the original Serenity, she had just been a baby back then. But she had heard stories about what a fierce and passionate person she had been. With a bold, over the top personality that everyone fell in love with instantly. While that Serenity seemed to be a raging river, this new version of herself was barely a gentle stream to what she once was.

Ido professed her more gentle personality was due to how violent her birth had been. That this new Serenity was no less of a courageous and strong soldier as her previous self had been. When it counted most they could depend on her. Haruka had accepted it, and began to trust her more in battle.

Ido had an uncanny wisdom that had proven true many times in the past.

After the UFC match, she caught the young woman re-watching that fight up in her private rooms. Many a time in the evenings, finding her sitting curled in her black leather executive chair, hiding in her study. Watching the fight on her computer screen. Hugging her fuzzy hot pink pillow and crying softly. That pillow Haruka fondly knew as her comfort friend. Serenity snuggled with it a-lot when dealing with hard stuff.

Each Soldier currently in residence at Ido's compound, had a set of rooms all to themselves. A bedroom, a study, a private bathroom and a living room. They were expected to eat their meal's as a family in a large dinning room though. That was were Ido discussed their current mission's and future plans, as if he was their god given father. It was a strange relationship, built as much on respect as it was by fear.

Serenity's rooms were decorated in whites and pinks. With white floral wallpaper with pink stripes. Accented with the typical english warm wood panelling segments, and large sitting windows over looking the mansion's half acre of lawn and trees.

Her study was warm and inviting with a simple wooden computer desk in the corner, a tall bookcase filled with manga and novels. A large sitting bay window took up one wall with a large white lounge pillow draped over the bench. Two european sitting chairs flanking the bookcase and her large white drawing desk pushed up against the joined wall between her study and living room. All her materials and tools sorted and stored in a large muti drawer Tupperware compartment set beside it.

Haruka had come to check on her that night, Serenity was acting oddly aloof and quiet for the last week.

As the years had passed they had cultivated a relationship based on friendship and comfort. She could sense her little Serenity was out of sorts, dealing with inner demon's that were not leaving her conscience alone.

"Do you want to see him?" She spoke softly, leaning against the door frame casually.

"Yes...more then anything. If only to say how sorry I am." Serenity responded meekly, unashamed of her tears. Merely brushing them away with her fingertips. Leaving much more unsaid.

"Then it's settled, first chance we get. We escape to America, so you can make amends." Haruka stated, with a determined voice. She had formed a very close friendship with the warm hearted, overly idealistic young blonde. Who could always make her smile, with some corny joke or cute little antic. Never allowing her to brood for to long. She had come to love this silly girl, as much as she loved her precious Michiru.

Serenity turned in her chair to regard Haruka with a cautious look. Her smile of gratitude spreading over her face as she saw the sincerity in her older friend's face.

Weeks past and Tomoe's assaults against them were not ebbing. They had been in the middle of some heavy skirmishes at the time and an opportunity to run off didn't come about.

The nightly talks of excited planning of taking off to America and hunting this Darien Shields down soon fell silent. As they were to caught up in the intensity of the war to just disappear with out a trace. Unwilling to leave their comrades. Soon the weeks passed into months, the current truce was contracted and life returned to normal.

It had given Serenity lots of time to think, concluding it was better just to leave him alone. She never wanted to get him involved in her battles ever again. Now he had managed to find her...

Haruka stared off at the moonlight garden, gripping the stone railing at the edge of the patio. Her face lost in grim contemplations. This was her sweet girls most secret dream come true, to have him back in her life. No matter how hard she had tried to move on, Haruka knew the young woman would always love him. He was the only one to hold her heart, as Michiru held hers.

He seemed more then human now, she could sense the energy of Genesis within his body. Perhaps this time they would both be strong enough for their love to flourish.

Serenity couldn't form coherent thoughts, her mind was swimming with both joy and fear. Melting into his embrace, she wrapped her arms around his neck. Pressing her face deep into the cotton of his dress shirt against his chest, taking in his heady scent. Her most cherished fantasy's suddenly coming true. He was back...

She was in his arms again, his comfort and strength once more coursing through her trembling body.

The grey world she had been attempting to live in since his death was now back in vivid color. She felt alive again!

Basking in the steady sound of his heart beat, she cuddled into his arms. As he carried her off through the trees, the soft moonlight caressing the woodland surrounding them. She was having a hard time grasping the fact that he was finally here. Worried that this would turn out to be a cruel dream, that she would wake up back in her bed. Having to face life without him again, the burning ice like pain she lived with returning to replace the loving warmth she felt now.

"Mamo-chan..." She nuzzled into his neck, as he slowed his frantic pace. She sounded so grateful and loving, hope ignited in his heart. Grinning with pride that he managed to save her, coming off like some romantic hero. Instead of insanely nervous as he truly felt inside. So far this first meeting was going great!

Then he stumbled onto a grassy decline before the rocky shoreline. Not prepared for the sudden drop he quickly lost his footing. Like a bumbling idiot he fell forward, off balance and totally out of control.

She screamed in fright, as he fell forward into a ungraceful belly flop. Still holding her, yet now over his head, as they slid down the slick grass down to the tiny stone beach below. The moon was shimmering and reflecting serenely over the dark water of the lake, lapping tranquilly in the background.

"Ouchies..." She moaned, gathering her feet and looking disgustedly at the huge green grass stain now adorning her butt. Her gorgeous pearl white gown totally ruined.

Darien chuckled, slowly rising off the beach his face hot with humiliation. His whole white shirt front was a ghastly green stain.

"Gomen..." He muttered, knowing a bit of Japanese.

"It's alright." She sighed, in perfect english. Crawling away a few paces then planting herself on the gritty stones. Folding

her legs demurely and brushing down her skirts, as she stared at him with awe. Her own heart, beating out of her control. Awash with doubt and uncertainty, she was unsure how to talk to him. So she remained silent, picking at the stones nervously, fighting desperately with herself to come up with something...anything to say.

She hadn't seen him in years, so much had happened to her in the mean time. She needed to repair the damage she had done to him, had so many questions as to how he survived. If he had been happy...or if he had missed her as dreadfully as she missed him.

Yet here she was a damn mute, only able to stare at him like some love struck groupie. He was absolutely gorgeous! Gone was the boy she knew. Replaced by a truly magnificent specimen of male prowess. His body was perfectly formed, well muscled chest and broad shoulders. With slim hips and a narrow waist. She could see his six pack, the tight bundles of muscle that hid beneath his thin dress shirt. As the cotton material rippled over his washboard abs, when he adjusted his position on the uncomfortable stones. His legs were thick with muscle, biceps bulging...strong large hands. His body was solid and absolutely glorious.

His face had matured, with strong cheekbones and jaw line. His dark hair was thick and standing up in a sexy rumpled manner. Calling to her to run her finger's through it. His lips perfectly formed and curving in that secret smile he only bestowed upon her. Totally unguarded and completely comfortable in her pressence. His blue eyes as mesmerizing as she remembered, perhaps a bit more wise. His stare as soulful and all consuming as before.

She was having a hard time breathing right, the yearning to be held again filling her with a discontent. Making her fidget and squirm anxiously.

"Are you alright?" He questioned, returning to confront her now that his face was under control.

"Yeah, I think so." She giggled, resisting the urge to leap atop him. She just wanted to be in his arms again. Feel his hot breath upon her lips, his body pressed up tight against her's.

Oh, god she missed him so much.

"Oh, good." He responded lamely, mentally smacking himself. He needed to say something more substantial, more suave...instead he felt like a goofy school boy with his first crush. Not knowing what to say or what to do with his hands.

"Your amazing..." He finally breathed, the pathetic complement grating against his ears.

"Thanks..." She sighed, casting her gaze timidly off to the side. Unable to within stand his passionate gaze, with out breaking out in a huge blush.

A heavy silence hung between them again, as they each weighed their next few words to each other.

"Why was that guy after you?" Darien jumped in, lightly reaching for her hand. Wanting to offer comfort if she needed it. It had been pretty scary back there, most girls would be in hysterics right now. But she seemed calm and cool about nearly being attacked by some maniac.

She merely shrugged, "Some fan's have issues, thats why security is so tight." She lied with a soft smile. The extent of her security was not for her protection but for those who attended her club. In the case like tonight one of Tomoe's crazy Soldiers decided to crash one of her parties.

Darien merely nodded accepting it.

"You sure have gotten strong." She grinned, finding some courage. Her hand moving from picking at the stones to massaging his thick bicep in wonder. As her forehead wrinkled in contemplation. Sensing more to him then just a human man.

"Yeah...I'm a Mixed Martial Arts fighter so I work out a-lot." he lied, not knowing if she would be ready to accept a guy with weird powers. Yet this time his heightened abilities had reached a whole new level. The fact that he was capable of moving that quickly, of seeing and hearing so acutely amazed him. He wondered if even more secret powers still lay deep within him.

"I know..." She stated, pulling back to kneel before him. Giving him an odd look.

"You've watched my fights!" he was suddenly very excited, to hear she might be a fan. If that was true, breaking the ice would be a lot easier.

"Just the one." She admitted with an indulgent smile, as her trembling hand slowly crept up to caress his cheek. So

desperate for contact she couldn't control her shaking. Needing to touch him, to make sure he was real, swallowing hard as she felt the heat of his skin.

He smiled, closing his eyes and basking in her touch. Trying very hard to stay still and not nuzzle into her caress.

"I dream of you..." he admitted in a breathless tone. Unable to hold back his true feelings.

"I've missed you..." She blurted out in a whisper, holding back tears.

Darien's eyes flew wide in confusion. "Missed...me?"

Serenity tearful expression twisted into confusion as well. As she saw absolutely no recollection of her in his eyes. He adored her, but he had no idea who she was. The disappointment and sense of loss stabbed her straight in the heart and she was having trouble breathing again.

"Have we met before?" Darien frowned, as she suddenly drew her hand away, as if his skin had shocked her.

Wondering if she was at that one fight, she claimed she saw. But he figured he would remember her, if they had met.

She wasn't someone easily forgotten to him. Perhaps he had been really drunk at the time...

Oh fuck if he had ruined things then with her by being an intoxicated ass!

The sudden dread that he had already destroyed his chance, struck him like a physical blow to the gut.

"I'm sorry...I am so sorry." He jumped to his knees in a panic. Grabbing her hands and pleading for her to forgive whatever nasty indiscretion he had caused a year or so ago. If she was going to reject him, cast him aside he didn't know if he could survive it. She meant everything to him, he wanted only her. His life would have no meaning again if she wasn't with him. He had to repair things, the desperation in his eyes was overwhelming.

She was startled, as he started to apologize his eyes filled with an unbridled panic. In his haste to fix things, he lost his balance accidentally pushing her backwards. They fell back onto the beach, as she accidentally pulled him down on top of her.

"I'm sorry...please forgive me..Mamo-chan." She hiccuped falling into heart wrenching tears. His astonished face was inches away from hers, his breath mixing with her desperate pants for air. He didn't know were this conversation was going, it was making no sense now.

Not knowing what to say, he followed his desires instead. Quieting her sobs with a passionate kiss, his lips moved softly over hers. Seeking and demanding, devouring her lips with out mercy. His large hands cupping the sides of her head possessively. Holding her in place as he deepened the kiss. He stroked his tongue along her lower lip, silently demanding her to open for him. She gave in with a soft sigh, her entire body trembling under the force of his demands. His fingers worked into her hair, grasping and releasing her silken locks. As his tongue drove relentlessly into her mouth. Twirled and stroking, taking her breath as he seemed to make love to her with just his mouth. Heat surged into her cheeks, as she leaned into him. Craving his love, his intimate possession of her body. Already the memories of his touch, his hands and mouth exploring her body had her quivering from head to toe.

She was quite simple overwhelmed.

His whole body caught on fire as she responded to him as if her body remembered how to move with his. She was moaning in need for more, her tongue duelling with his. Her small hands clutching the sides of his dress shirt desperate to keep him against her. Her warmth infused his body, sizzled along his skin and burned a path all the way down to his very core. She felt so right, familiar and utterly perfect. As if being in his arms was fated...meant to be...a miracle reborn. He was flooded with want, a need to make love to her, so incredible. It echoed in his heart, vibrated through his soul, leaving him shuttering violently inside. As if his body had just endured a traumatic physical blow. It was so intense and unexpected he had him reeling backwards, as if a bolt of lightening had shot through him.

He swiftly pulled away from her, sucking in cold air to calm himself. She was pushing him over the edge of reason with only her kisses. She tasted sweet like candy, her body so tender and willing against his. He knew with out a doubt if he had taken it further, started undressing her. She would have allowed him, given herself to him freely. As swept away by their passion a he was, she would go as far as he wished. They would have ended up having sex right here in the middle of no where. But they had just met. He respected her to much, had far to much self control, refusing to give into his lust in only a few minutes. Unwilling to cheapen such a pivotal moment between them. If and when they made love it would be special. She would know with out a doubt how devoted he was to her. How much he cherished her, how he lived and breathed only for her.

"Did we meet at the UFC? " He stated, rising fully off her body and sitting himself back down on the shore. Physically distancing himself from her, not fully trusting himself not to leap back upon her and resume making out.

Serenity blinked in astonishment, wondering what the hell was going on. One minute they were hot and heavy, their kisses wild and unrestrained. Now it was as if a cold bucket of water had struck him. He had pulled away...his demeanour cold and controlled. Her heart seized for just a second, that he put the brakes on their rising passion. Focusing on the lapping sounds of the lake, she swallowed her disappointment and confusion. Slowly gathering herself, feeling sorta foolish for nearly throwing herself at him.

"No..." She admitted, picking at her dresses hemline. Adjusting her skirts for a moment to gather her composure. Then slowly raised her eyes to meet his, needing a moment to fortify herself before confronting him. While her eyes held a clarity of memory. His remained blank and uncertain as he regarded her. Perhaps a hint of remorse and shame was clouding them as well, as if he regretted kissing her so passionately.

"I have a very bad memory you see. I have blank spots, encompassing about three or so years before some homecoming dance in High School. I had some kind of episode, a total black out. I found myself in a strange situation after that dance, I have no idea what happened." He chuckled, wanting to be truthful even though it made him come off as a nutcase. He really wanted a relationship with her, a true one. He wanted it so badly, he would say anything, do anything to make sure it would happen.

"So if we have met before I might have forgotten you...but I don't think I ever could." He admitted.

Serenity's mouth dropped in shock, finally understanding that he was suffering from some kind of amnesia. Probably from having a building land on his head...Cringing and ducking her head down in shame. She nodded resolved that Darien not remembering her, might be good. Things might be better this way.

"Do you believe in soul mates?" He suddenly blurted out, attempting to reach for her hand again.

Serenity shot her gaze up to his once more. Startled and frightened all over again. Her hands flying out of his reach and up to her breast in surprise.

"Yes..." She whispered. Her heart pounding in her chest, heat blossoming through out her body.

"So maybe you can understand something. I dream of you almost every night. We love a lifetimes worth in those few hours. Then you are torn away from me every morning." He stated softly, his eyes searching hers for clarity. Perhaps understanding, even pity anything to give him hope that she wasn't going to flee in the opposite direction.

She remained silent, stunned by his sudden admission of love. Some how he still had a deep connection to her, she wasn't totally forgotten.

"I need you to give me a chance..." He grabbed her shoulder's suddenly, his eyes penetrating deep into her own. So fierce and pleading it was taking her breath.

"A chance?" She whispered uncertainly. Her heart soaring to new heights, he still wanted her. But could she be in his life again, with out causing him more trauma?

Darien felt like ripping is hair out, he was so frustrated with himself. He couldn't formulate exactly what he wanted to say.

He sounded clumsy and desperate. His mind and body felt like it was about to explode all over the place.

"A chance to show you how I feel, to love you, cherish you, spend time with you like I do in my dreams. I'm giving you my heart here..." He stuttered out, his voice sounding desperate, pleading. Unable to look at her, to scared to find out how she truly felt, staring at the sand of stones. Swallowing and trying to calm down, uncertain if he should continue. Having bared his soul to her after only a few minutes in her company. He felt exposed, vulnerable and utterly at her mercy. His body chilled by sudden dread that he was coming off way to strong, that he was scaring the shit out of her.

By sheer force of will he pulled his eyes up from the ground, finding her staring utterly shell shocked at him. Barely breathing with more tears beading in the corners of her eyes.

"Even if you don't want my heart...I think I gave it to you years ago..." he chocked out. "I know this...my dreams tell me this." he stopped unable to finish. The knot of despair forming in his throat choking him silent.

The pain in his face was killing her, she wanted to say something. To tell him yes...you have my heart too. But that would be selfish, she had agreed to allow him to live his life safely away from her war.

She could not drag him back into her troubles again. That had been the biggest mistake of her life. She needed to push

him away, to keep him at a distance, to keep him safe.

She ripped her eyes away from his, afraid that she would start weeping again. For a moment they stayed like that, with Darien holding her by the shoulder's and her avoiding his gaze. Staring to the ground off to the side. Looking shamed and uncertain.

"I would be grateful for anytime spent with you...no matter how brief." he was sounding more then desperate now. It grated against his strong persona but she wasn't speaking and he was grasping. Like a man drowning, needing anything to stay a float no matter how small and insignificant.

"Serenity!" A strong, rash voice called down to them.

Pulling them both from their intense emotional confrontation. Darien was furious at this interruption, glaring over his shoulder and up the grassy hill towards the intruder. A dusty blonde woman in a white suit. Stood staring stone eyed down at them.

"We got trouble..." She stated, ignoring Darien completely.

Then his gaze snapped back to Serenity, as she quickly gathered herself up from the ground. Politely pulling his hands off her bare shoulder's. She gave him a small regretful smile, her eyes misting with unshed tears.

"Please don't go..." He whispered in haste, slowly rising to his feet, not meeting her eyes. Feeling so very humiliated, as she quietly took her leave from his crushed, pathetic pressence. Pushing his love away with out a single word, showing him quietly she wanted nothing to do with him.

"I have to...I am sorry. But I think it's better this way." She gave him a bitter sweet smile, rising up on her tip toes. She pressed a final sweet kiss to his lips. Thumping her forehead against his chest soon after, his lips were still tingling as she spoke again.

"You are the piece of me, I can never let go of. A piece I need to learn to live without..." She sobbed. "This love...it's a tragedy." Then she dashed off up the hill leaving him completely stunned. Confused by her words, he watched her disappear into the trees with her mysterious companion. He felt detached, floating unaware and uncaring about anything.

He stood there feeling colder and more lonely then ever before. Swallowing his own tears of utter despair, he had found his love and lost her in the matter of a single night. He didn't know were to go from here, part of him just wanted to fall to the ground and never move again.

Then his phone buzzed, calling him back from his morbid thoughts.

With a growl he pulled his phone out angrily from his pocket. Confronting her blissful countenance, smiling serenely upon the screen. So vibrant and effervescent, her beauty clenched his gut and twisted his heart painfully. Knowing that that picture was the only thing he had left of her. Swallowing and taking a deep breath he swiped a finger across the screen wiping out her image as he answered the call.

"Dar...if your not dead. Please come down to the Nanba station and bail us out!" Jed roared impatiently on the other end.

"I'm coming, keep your panty's on!" He snarled, hanging up the phone and storming up the hill. He was now in the most bitter, nastiest mood ever. The dawning light was just warming the sky, as he entered the last gondola towards the mainland. He was resolved to a certain course of action, when he hit the stone path on the other side of the lake. He wasn't one to just give up and disappear. If he had a goal and wanted something bad enough, he would work hard and diligently to succeed.

This was only strike one...