Chapter 7
"Hey Shields, wait up!?" Darien slowed as he heard his last name being shouted across the park, only one person called him Shields; and she only did it to annoy him. The one benefit to it was he always knew who was shouting at him across open areas and it told him how much time he had to escape. Molly had been one of the first people he literally bumped into in America. She was almost as big a klutz as Serena, she'd nearly plowed right through him at the airport when he landed. As fate would have it she was a nurse at his new hospital and she was more then willing to attach herself to him and give him a tour. Now nearly two years later she was one of the only friends he'd made not for her lack of trying. "I thought I'd find you sulking over here in the rose garden." she puffed as she tried to catch her breath.
Sulking was about the only thing Darien excelled at anymore. He worked his shift and when Molly left him alone he'd sit in the park and remember better days. Before she had intrupted his thoughts Darien had been thinking about how even with his memories and the interaction of the negaverse he was still drawn to Serena. Alan and Anne had proven that to him, there had been memory of who he was in his past but some part of him had created the moonlight knight and sought to protect Sailormoon. These was the things he spent much of his time thinking of. Times that he had come through for Serena even when he had no idea what they shared and yet here he was memories intact a world away.
Darien shrugged, "What can I say;" He glanced around at the dozen roses that they considered a rose garden and gave her a weak smile. "Guess it's the only place in this city that reminds me of home." Sure he'd managed to make a life for himself in America or at least what could pass for a life but not a day went by that Serena didn't cross him mind, "It's the only place I feel close to her."
"No wonder we can't find you a girl! You're so depressing Darien." Molly gave him a gentle shove "This is your home now! Come on Melvin called wanted us to meet him at the cafe." Darien had unwilling found himself with Molly as a friend; this was only after she realized any hope of a romantic relationship was impossible. Granted she still hadn't given upg what he'd be interested in if it smack him in the face. "So you said Melvin wanted to see us?"
Molly shrugged and latched her arm with Darien's "I'm sure its nothing important" Molly and Melvin had been dating for over a year now and it was common knowledge to everyone but Melvin that she was waiting for Melvin to propose. Melvin's mind was always somewhere else going a mile a minute. In truth Darien couldn't stand being around Melvin he was overly obnoxious but there was benefit that had come of Molly's relationship with Melvin; and that was Sailormoon.
Melvin was obsessed with Sailormoon and the Sailor Scouts and Darien was shocked when he arrived in America and there was barely any knowledge of the scouts and the acts they'd taken to save the world. Darien spent his entire first year in America trolling the newspapers trying to find something that would give him even the faintest idea of what was happening with Sailormoon. Then one day Molly introduced him to Melvin and he had an endless supply of articles and news reports about the scouts. Darien had quickly realized that Melvin was head over heels for Sailormoon which was comical because if Serena ever met this man she would have been extremely annoyed by his attentions.
"It's been a while since Melvin had anything solid on Sailormoon." He tuned out Molly who was happily going on and on with out a care in the world. "What was it Andrew had said last time" Darien was horrible at keeping in touch with Andrew between the time difference, crazy hours he kept at the hospital and the constant reminder that his life in Japan was over he managed to get in touch at least once a month. Darien ran the conversation he'd had the month prior with Andrew through his mind.
"Hey, Dare! Been a while. I've got great news I got a contract to open a new arcade." Andrew had always dreamed of having a second location and Darien was thrilled for him.
"That's great Drew. I know you've worked hard to get that, congratulations!" They exchanged more small talk and then Darien had asked about Serena and he noted the hesitation before Andrew said anything further.
"Well truth is I haven't seen her in a few weeks, She doesn't come around like she used to. I see the girls about once a week same as usual they sit in that booth and gossip. Serena will join them maybe every other week." Andrew paused and after a lot of prompting from Darien he had continued. "She's real distant, but news reports keep saying that thanks to Sailormoon crime is still down. Granted things have been eerily quiet compared to have they were years ago. I'm sorry I don't have more to say, maybe try calling one of the girls. They might know more." Darien thanked him for what he was able to tell him and said he had to run.
"Darien! Are you listening?" Molly tugged on his arm, jerking him back from his thoughts and to the present where he stood at the door step of the cafe. "I don't know why i even bother telling you about my day, you're head is always somewhere else."
"Sorry Moll, I got distracted thinking about a case at the hospital." He hated to lie but there was no truth that he could tell her that didn't end in more questions. "I promise I will listen to what ever you have to say at lunch." He gave her one of his best smiles that he could muster. Which given that fact he was only half himself in America it was a pitiful smile. The reaction it warranted from Molly only reinforced how terrible it was. "Come on lets see where Melvin is." She obliged and they entered the cafe. Melvin spotted them immediately and was waving them over to the booth he occupied like a raving lunatic. "What is wrong with this guy! He's got to be on something."
Molly led the way over to the booth where she and Melvin exchanged some words, Darien didn't really pay attention and missed what they were saying. He watched as Molly's expression stilled and Melvin handed her a newspaper clipping that he'd been holding. Melvin looked at Darien "This is the latest reports out of Tokyo." He took article from Molly's hands who continued to stare with her eyes fixed as though she still held the article.
Darien reached for the article and he knew they would notice his trembling hand but he didn't care. "Could something really happen to Serena and me not feel it?" Darien held the article in his hand still pressed to the table. Two years ago when he'd come to America he thought their bond would give him an idea of how she was doing. Several months into his internship the urges to transform and rush to her rescue were nearly unbearable. Only once did he actually transform and that was just to release the pressure that was building inside him. Then one day a year or so ago it was as though their bond had broken. He could no longer sense when she transformed, he had no idea what was going on but the news reports kept saying Sailormoon fights on and to him that was enough. Andrew said she was different but she was alive. In the end he really just believe that their bond was one that needed to be fostered and the distance and lack of communication was what had caused the rift.
"Aren't you going to look at it?" Molly asked still staring at the table. "You are almost as obsessed with her as Melvin." her tone was harsh but it carried no heat behind the words. Darien glanced up from his hand and looked at the only person he'd let into his small world in two years. "Darien? Did you know Sailormoon in Tokyo?"
Darien just blinked at her, she'd never once questioned his interest in Sailormoon and she seemed pleased when Darien and Melvin found something that they had in common. It had made her life easier when they could all three go to lunch even when that lunch involved talks about the blonde hair beauty that was Sailormoon. He didn't know how to respond, he just kept glancing from Molly to the article in his hand. "I did my duty I left Serena, I'm sure the article is just like the rest." Molly covered his hand and the article. "Darien are you ok?" there was so much kindness and concern in her eyes; for a brief second he wasn't staring into brown eyes but deep blue eyes that shown like diamonds. Pulling his hand and the article free of Molly he nodded. His world came crashing down when he read the headline that was printed across the article.
"SAILORMOON PRESUMED DEAD, SAILOR SCOUTS FIGHT ALONE"
Darien sat frozen in place, all he could manage to do was read the head line over and over again. His mind raced "No it cant be real, I did exactly what was asked of me!" It was like losing her on the moon all over again except this time there were would be no second chance, no queen serenity to send her to another time to be born again. There would be no Neo Queen Serenity to unite the universe as her mother once had. "This is all your fault!" He ridiculed himself still clutching the article. He was aware that Molly and Melvin were both staring at him with concerned looks but he couldn't speak, not while his heart was being demolished. "If you would have just left Tokyo as soon as the dreams began. You could have stopped this."
It was then Darien heard a voice that he hadn't heard in years. It was Endymion. "This is not like the moon kingdom. Evil will not prevail, the sailorscouts still fight. They are broken with out Sailormoon, As their prince you must go to them." With that he was silent. Darien rose from the table and headed for the door. Before he could reach it Molly gripped his elbow. For the first time in years Darien felt a part of his old self awaken. He had been wrong to leave Serena, distance would not have kept her safe and in turn she died thinking he no longer loved her. Died believing that what they had was nothing more then a fling centuries ago.
"Darien, where are you going?" Molly's voice finally broke through to him and he met her gaze, it was touching to see the pain and concern she felt for him. "The Sailorscouts will keep fighting in her place, it will be ok."
"They will keep fighting, they have always kept fighting" He paused and cupped his friends cheek. "But Molly it will not be ok."
She looked taken aback by his words, Melvin came to stand beside her sliding his hand in hers. "How can you say that? She was only one person, there's still four of them left."
Darien did something he hadn't done in over a year, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a single perfect red rose. Melvin's eyes lit up but he said nothing, confusion spread across Mollys face. "Sailormoon was the glue that held us together, we will fight on in her name but without her in the end there is no victory." He handed the rose to Molly and pulled away from her grasp. Rushing out the door he headed to his apartment he need to get to the bottom of this. He needed to talk to the only people that would know the truth.
"Melvin? Who is he?" Molly watched as Darien disappeared into the park, a single tear rolled down her check for somehow she knew she would not see him again.
"I think he was tuxedo mask." Melvin whispered in disbelief. They stood there in the cafe in disbelief until well after he was no longer in sight.
