Chapter Nine:
Serena/Sailor Mars* gazes up at the moon--- It is full and warming, like a smiling face that's beckoning to her, reminding her of the world's many possibilities. Leaning over the metal railing lining the four sides of the mall roof, she smiles up at the night sky, luxuriating in the cool breeze that caresses her face, and the comfortableness of this night-time setting.
Darien/Tuxedo Mask watches Serena through his peripheral vision: she looks beautiful. She seems completely at ease, staring out at the stars, and he feels his own tension slip away. It's like her emotions are spilling into him, like her heart is pouring out to his own. He shakes off these wistful thoughts, and composes his expression before turning to face her. "I'm glad you came."
"Of course, Darien," she glances at him, but does not prompt a conversation.
Finally, "It's a beautiful night."
"Mhmm," she murmurs in agreement, "The view from up here is amazing, but why did you want to meet at the mall?"
Darien chuckles, "I guess, I didn't want to do anything too... obvious."
Serena takes note of their position--- atop one of the highest buildings in Tokyo, their silhouettes clearly visible against the moon. An innocent giggle escapes her lips, "Uh, Darien, I don't know how to break this to you, but---"
"I didn't mean it like that," Darien grins, but continues, "This is just between us... for now. The girls would get suspicious if we started 'hanging out' as Darien and Serena all of a sudden."
"I guess you're right--- but, can't Rei sense when you transform?" Darien looks at her curiously, so Serena rushes to explain, "Even before we knew each others' civilian identities, you always came to our rescue. You said that you could tell whenever Sailor Moon transformed, and that's how you knew when we needed your help... I was just wondering if the bond worked both ways."
He sighs, running frenzied fingers through his dark hair. "No, Rei can't tell which form I'm in, unless she actually SEES me." He hesitates, "That's part of the reason I wanted to talk to you... I haven't been able to "sense" Sailor Moon* since the battle against Rubeus and his cronies."
Serena's eyes widen, "Really?"
Darien nods, "And it can't all be a coincidence, right? I mean, something's happened... Ever since that fight, so many things have stopped making sense..."
He pauses, and begins counting with his fingers, "One--- they left us alive. Why? Two--- Rei's powers are failing, and I can't feel her consciousness like I used to. Three---"
Serena cuts him off, "Three--- My powers seem weaker too. Do you think the enemy has diluted them somehow?"
"That's exactly what I'm afraid of... At least it's not affecting everybody--- Ami even got a new power yesterday! But that doesn't make the threat any less dangerous. We need to figure out what's going on."
"What can I do?" Darien glances at Serena, whose large blue eyes shine with both determination and kindness.
He takes off his top hat, and white half-mask (which really doesn't hide his identity at all), so that she can see his face. "I don't think we can do much right now... We'll just have to see what happens; wait until we have more to go on." He smiles, "Meatball head."
Serena laughs, and play-smacks him across the arm. Darien pretends to look hurt, but it's hard to miss the teasing glimmer in his eyes. Finally, they both settle down and enjoy a few minutes of companionable silence.
Not for long... Soon enough, Serena starts rambling about school, and Rini. Darien listens to her animated chatter, nodding in the appropriate places and adding a few comments here and there.
Darien grew up as a solitary person. He didn't participate in social events, or date much... But there is something about Serena's enthusiasm that draws him in. He can't help but grin when she describes one of her recent klutz-attacks.
Sometime after she finished complaining about her younger brother, Sammy, she mentions Andrew. "And Andrew was acting really strange the other day---"
"Andrew?" Darien's brow furrows, "What did he do?"
"For some reason, he thought it would bug me that you and Rei were spending the day together."
"Did it bug you?," Darien questions, looking down at the cement floor. He feels his cheeks grow warm--- To his horror, he realizes that he's BLUSHING!
Serena looks at him. Shadows obscure most of his face, so she spies nothing unusual, "Um, well, no--- of course not. You guys need to spend time together. Especially, if Rei is going to conjure up the Moon Spiral Scepter..."
"The what?" Darien's face jerks up, and he stares straight into her eyes.
Serena squirms around uncomfortably, "She didn't tell you?"
"No,"
Serena hesitates, but Darien's gaze is locked on her own. She knows she can't lie, and there seems to be no means of escape. Quickly, she recaps the events from the Scout meeting before he arrived, even explaining that it was her job to teach Rei about his likes and dislikes.
He stares, incredulously, at the girl who is trying to make herself smaller under his continued scrutiny. Finally, Darien sighs, "I'm glad you told me. At least it explains some things." He thinks back to the episode in the park. He realizes that, for Rei, their relationship might be less about love than power.
Serena knows what Darien is thinking, "That's not true."
Darien glances up at Serena, "I didn't say that out loud."
"I can read your face... Rei does love you, with all her heart, I'm sure. She's ambitious, and a little crazy sometimes, but she's a natural born leader. I don't think she'd want to rule with anyone but you at her side."
Darien considers this, still unsure, but he nods his head anyway. He turns to a lighter topic, "So how do you know so much about me anyways---?"
They spend the rest of the night, talking and laughing, until the first yellow-and-pink rays of light streak the sky.
At this point, Serena bounces towards home--- leaping from rooftop to rooftop. "Won't Mom be surprised? She won't have to wake me up this morning." She creeps into her bedroom, and de-transforms just as the sun begins its' climb into the heavens.
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Author's Notes: I'm sorry I've taken so long to update, but, to me, this chapter is very pivotal to the story. Nothing of great importance is said, but it sets the tone for other meetings between Darien and Serena. Plus I wanted to make lots of contrasts between this scene, and Rei/Darien's date from Chapter Six. I hope you like it. Shout-outs to: DragonsFlame86, xo Usako ox, Ange de L'aube, and Dragonwitch250. Also, I want to say "thanks" to all the other people who have made this story a "favorite" or an "alert".
