Here's another (short) chapter that will shed a tiny bit of light on the legend of Akai Ito.

Thanks to:Jessica, ScarletL, Stacey, Moon Princess Selene, Usako, TamoumatheStarWarrior, Miss Katrina Malfoy, merangelgal, Jenbunny, CharmedSerenity3, SerentiyMoonGodness and SulliMike23 for reviewing the previous chapter. xx

This chapter is for merangelgal! Thank you for reading and reviewing my stories for the past 4 or 5 years. You've left many comments of support and I truly appreciate it :) Thanks again, this one's for you.

Title: Akai Ito
Author: Crystal Saturn
Rated: T
Chapter: 4- Awakening

"I wanna wake up kicking and screaming
I wanna live like I know what I'm leaving
I wanna know that my heart's still beating"

Serena awoke to the sight of Darien at the end of her bed, staring straight at her. Feeling a little self conscious, she raised her hands up to her hair and began to run her fingers through her locks, combing out any large knots and patting down any frizzy bits.

"Did you watch me sleep all night?" She groaned as she stifled a yawn and noted that the clock read six in the morning. Grunting once again, she decided it was too early in the morning to be conversing with spooks.

"Yes and no. I played a little Sudoku." Darien shrugged as he continued to watch the disheveled girl cease all attempts to make herself look a little more presentable and slump back into the warmth of her sheets. He frowned and made his way to her side. Leaning over her, he whispered into her ear to rouse her once again. "Sere, wake up."

"Nyaaaaghh" Serena pouted as she felt a cool tingle against her ear. "Stop it. It's too early."

"You've got school today, and I'd like to visit myself in the hospital before then. And by 'I', I mean 'we'. I need you to open elevators and push buttons."

"Can't you just fall through the walls like you did last night?" Serena groaned loudly as she threw the pillow over her head to muffle the sound of his voice. He poked his head through the pillow, sticking it half way into the side of her face.

"Serena." He whispered.

"Ow! Stop yelling!" She pulled away, realizing that he was in her ear. She removed her pillow in irritation and threw it at him. It hit the wall behind the silhouetted man. Sighing in frustration, she picked up her towel and headed toward the shower. "Don't you dare start experimenting again. Stay in here and just sit still this time. The last thing I need is to have you accidentally fall into my shower."

Darien smirked, a mischievous twinkle sparkled in his eyes.

The scent of disinfectant and lukewarm hospital food filled the corridors as they walked through, passing several numbered rooms.

"709. This is it." Serena looked at the grey door anxiously. Darien passed her as he pushed through and fell into the room. Moments passed as Serena continued to stare at the door. Her feet seemed to be firmly rooted to the ground where she stood.

"What are you doing?" Darien poked his head back through the door.

"Nothing." Serena stuttered nervously. "I guess I'm just preparing myself. I'm not a huge fan of gory injuries and I feel queasy at the sight of blood."

"It's not that bad, really. If you want, you can wait out here." Darien withdrew his head. A chill ran through Serena's body as she attempted to collect her wits about her. She would go in. She had to see him, to see what state he was in. Wringing her hands together anxiously, she decided she was ready to reach for the door handle.

The soft beeping of Darien's vitals monitor echoed through the minimally furnished room. Serena stared with her jaw wide open in mortification at the scene before her. Darien's skin seemed so pale in comparison to the scarlet scars that streaked across his face. Bruises marked his arms and his right shoulder was heavily bandaged. To top it off, there was his spirit form, standing on top of the chair beside him, ready to literally dive back into his own body.

"What are you doing? Stop that!" Serena hissed as she checked to see if anybody else was nearby before closing the door.

"Why? No one else can see me, and besides, I have to figure out a way to get back in there." He attempted to slide into his body since the dive was rendered futile. Serena watched in dismay as Darien's spirit floated about, attempting in every way that he could think of to fuse back into his body. He jumped into it, floated through it, fell on top of it, slid across it and lay within it for a while. Nothing seemed to work.

Serena focused her attention to his battered and bruised body. He seemed so peaceful in his serene unconscious state. A contrast to the superficial wounds displayed all over his body. As he lay motionless on the bed, he reminded her more of the stern, silent protector; Tuxedo Mask. He and Darien seemed like two different people at times. Darien used to tease and mock her in a condescending manner every chance he could. Tuxedo mask was different. He would always come to her rescue. He was gentle and supporting. A part of Serena had hoped that her prince from the Silver Millennium was somehow trapped in Darien's body, along with Tuxedo Mask. She leaned across and took a hold of his hand.

"What- What are you doing?" Darien's spirit form paused in mid leap. He turned his gaze to Serena's hand. She had rested it on his physical hand and was holding it gently.

"I umm… Sorry." Serena removed her hand swiftly and placed them behind her back in embarrassment. Darien frowned as he glanced down at his own semi-transparent hand.

"No, do that again." His head shot up as he watched Serena gingerly place her hand back on top of his. "I can feel that." He added in astonishment as he began to feel a gentle warmth spreading across his right hand. It tingled ever so lightly. A few moments passed and the tingling subsided. Darien watched as the end of a thin red string began to materialize through the sheet near the foot of his physical form. He rubbed his eyes before watching as the red string grew longer, glowing brightly. "What is that?" He pointed, directing Serena's attention to the base of the bed.

"What's what?" Serena looked around but couldn't find anything unusual.

"There's something there." Darien leapt to Serena's side, noticing that the glowing red line was swiftly making its way toward her. It crept up against her foot before wrapping around her right ankle.

"I don't see anything." Serena glanced about her, lifting up her feet to check that she wasn't stepping on anything. The string seemed to stretch and grow, making concessions for her every movement. She checked to see if there was anything at the end of Darien's bed by tugging on the end of the hospital bed sheet. A fleeting glance of Darien's exposed his feet revealed to him the other end of the red line, which was tied around his ankle. Serena shrugged and tucked the sheets back in. "There's nothing there."

"It's a thin red string…" Darien's voice faded as he realized why it sounded so familiar to him. Akai Ito. "Serena, what is Akai Ito?"

"It's an old folktale. A popular legend in some places. The red string of fate, or the thread of destiny." She lowered her gaze as she felt the blood begin to rise to her cheeks. "They say that there's an old lunar matchmaker god called Yuelao. He ties an invisible red string around the ankles of men and women who are destined to be soul mates and someday marry each other. The belief is that an invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break."

"I see." Darien glanced down at the red line connecting his body to Serena.

"It's just a myth though." Serena lifted her hands to either side of her face in an attempt to mask her rosy cheeks and giggled in an innocent, immature teenage girl way. Darien's appearance remained solemn as he continued to stare.

"I think I just became a believer."

. . .

That's it for another week. I've just started University for the year, this week, so chapters may be short… but they will definitely be consistently posted every week. I've also got the idea for another story floating around being written bit by bit. It's a funny one and yes, once again, Darien will probably be pretty clueless haha. So between studies, watching Sailor Moon R, reading the Lord of the Rings, working through my Akai Ito writer's block, fixing up The Jinxed Journey and penning down new story ideas, I haven't had much time to enjoy the change of seasons. But anyway, please REVIEW :) and I will see you all next week.

Crystal Saturn