-Chapter 9-

Darien took Serena back to the arcade the next day.

"S-She's not gonna pee again is she?!" an alarmed Andrew greeted them.

"No. We made sure she used the bathroom before we came here." he assured him.

"Good... 'Cause, if she were to pee again... Oh-hohooo, boy...I might just quit my job..."

"Sermima!" Serena implied.

"Is she trying to say her name?"

"Yes, unfortunately... I keep telling her it's wrong, but..."

"Ah. Why don't you two go to the mall? I happen to know for a fact that Serena loves it there. It's like her sanctuary! And, she's an experienced mall troller. It'll be easy for you."

"Wait, wait, wait! What do you mean 'you two'?"

"Oh, um... Lita told me you two hooked up. Isn't it true?"

"NO!!! I'm gonna kill Lita!"

"What'd she do?"

"She said she wouldn't tell anyone!"

"About what?"

"Look, all I'm doing is simply taking care of Serena for the time being! Nothing else!"

"Did you kiss her yet?"

"WHAT?! Didn't you hear what I just said?!"

"Yes, but you're blushing."

Darien turned around and groaned. 'It's exactly what Lita said, too...' he thought silently.

"So, you don't have feelings for her?"

"Well, uhm... T-That's-"

"So you do?"

"No! Not one! Why does everyone assume that?! Do you want to take care of her?! Huh?!"

"I'm good!"

"Okay then! Stop going to that conclusion!"

"Will do! Understood! Yes, sir!"

Darien, who was furious, grabbed Serena's arm and jerked her towards the door.

"Ow!!!" she whined.

"Sorry... Darien's just a little mad right now, sweetie." he said. Then catching himself, he thought, 'Did I just call her 'sweetie'?'

Darien trailed off in thought, leaving Serena to slowly fall behind. It was too late when Darien realized he'd lost Serena. 'How do you lose a person?!' he thought to himself.

Meanwhile, Serena wandered off, trying to find Darien. "Darien! Darien! D-Darien!" she kept calling out. Scared out of her socks, Serena wandered even further away from Darien's present location.

Darien was at the park, which was where he knew he once went with Serena. What he was doing was retracing his steps. Pretty smart.

"Da-ri-en!!!"

"Serena!" Darien came running to find her hidden under a park bench. "H-How on Earth did you even fit under there?!" he asked, knowing she didn't understand him anyway. He took her back to his apartment.

When he turned on the TV, the first station it was on was on a music station. He didn't turn it because he noticed something. Serena was dancing to the music. It was a song called "I'm Sorry". It went like this:

There was a small musical opening, then the words started.

Who made up all the rules? We follow them like fools,

Believe them to be true... Don't care to think them through...

I'm sorry... So sorry... I'm sorry... It's like this.

I'm sorry... So sorry... I'm sorry... We do this.

Then there was a musical intermission. Then the words started again.

And it's ironic, too... 'Cause what we tend to do...

Is act on what they say.... And then it is that way.

I'm sorry... So sorry... I'm sorry... It's like this.

I'm sorry... So sorry... I'm sorry... We do this.

Who are they? Where are they?

How can they possibly know all the rules?

Who are they? Where are they?

How can they possibly know all this?

Then there was another musical intermission. And the words started again.

Do you see? What I see?

Why do we? Live like this.

Is it because it's true?

That it knows what this is.

Who are they? Where are they?

How do they... Know all this?

I'm sorry... So sorry... I'm sorry... It's like this...

Do you see? What I see?

Why do we? Live like this.

Is it because it's true?

That it knows what this is.

Who are they? Where are they?

How can they? Know all this.

I'm sorry... So sorry... I'm sorry... We do this...

Then there was a musical ending and the song itself ended.

Somewhere in the first part of the song, Serena made Darien dance with her.

'Why would she like a song like that?' he wondered. 'But, then again, she does have amnesia... So she doesn't actually know what she's dancing to. But. This song has some truth to it. What we tend to do is act on what they say... I thought Serena and I couldn't be friends or even girlfriend and boyfriend because we both hated each other... But who made up all the rules? And why do we live like that? Why do we have to follow these rules? Is it possible for enemies to become lovers? I don't know...'

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stop thinking that perhaps Serena was trying to tell him something. She couldn't speak, so... Was she letting the song speak for her? Or did this all happen by chance? Or was it Lita? It had to be Lita... She knew this song would get him thinking. She must still be playing matchmaker, trying to make them get together... He was thinking too hard. How would Lita know what time they'd get back? He picked up the remote and checked the Guide. This song was on all day long. 'L-LITA!!!' was his first thought.