A/N: Okay people, a couple of days after it was posted, I went back and edited the previous chapter slightly, so those who read the chapter before the 25th of June might want to reread it. No change in the plot, just a few lines added in here and there for added effect. So it's still okay if you don't want to either! ;) To my wonderful reviewers of the previous chapter:
Princess Seraphina88: Thanks! I think Darien was already feeling guilty enough. It's more to get him to see reason. But Mina definitely gave it to both Darien and Andrew, didn't she? I hope you like Lita's chapter! ;) Nich31: Thank you! I'm glad you thought so! ;) Rose: Thank you! I'm glad my writing brightened up your day. Your reviews brightened up mine! A hug and a kiss for you as well! By the way, was I right about your name? ;) Puffgirl1952: LOL. May I know just how many happy faces the six are out of? ;) trish1573: Oh, read the leather bound book! I prefer real books to kindle. There's just something about the texture and the smell. As for sympathy for Darien, I'm actually aiming for understanding. I want the readers to sympathise but more than that, I want my readers to see his point of view. He's being stupid and stubborn but it wasn't out of malice nor was it out of selfishness.Moonprincess998: Thanks! I'm glad you thought so! It was meant to hit something in Darien! :) James Birdsong: Thank you! Glad you thought so James Birdsong! :) bunny88rosemagic: Thanks! I'll try my very best! ;) SerenityShield: LOL. Thanks! I'm glad you like my portrayal of Mina. I think Serena is lucky to have her. Also, in the anime, I saw her as the only Scout who doesn't judge or put Serena down and it made her my favourite! :) Loca8892: Oh wow! Now you've got me rather nervous! Action and violent scenes are not really my forte but I'll try my very best. I'll apologise in advance though, just in case it's not as violent as you imagined! :) Emily: LOL. Nope! I wasn't kidding! I'm glad you agree with me! Thanks! :) LoveInTheBattleField: Coming your way! Shaydoe: I'm glad you thought so Shay! Thank you! Mina's easiest for me to write for some reason. I feel like I know her and the words came easy. I'll try my very best. It's for you after all! ;) Amydali86: Thanks! I love your stories and I see we both used Shakespeare in our stories and have a certain fondness for HF Burnett as well! Hmm...in the words of LM Montgomery, you may be another kindred spirit! ;) SailorMoonForever: I'm glad! Well, Mr Shields is very strong willed, and he's got quite a bit in store for him! LOL. As usual, you're quite right. It's all for one and one for all with these girls! ;) Oh I really hope you like this chapter. You'll let me know either way right? l1s44p: Yeay! Someone else agrees with me! Thank you! Please tell me you prefer Helena to Hermia? ;) Dark-Huntress Sam: LOL. Thanks! Your wish, my command! Enjoy! :)
Without further ado, I give you the second part of Avenging Guardians.
Thoughts are in Italics.
(Standard disclaimer: I do not own any of the Sailor Moon characters. All characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi.)
Come Back to Me (Part 5(b): Avenging Guardians: Lita's Lashing)
Monday morning and Darien didn't feel like getting up, didn't feel like going for classes either. He didn't feel like doing anything. His body ached, his heart ached. His chest heavy, his spirit low.
"What you're doing is hurting her more than anyone ever has or ever will, because there is no one she loves, more than she loves you," Mina's parting words played over and over again and had made their way into his dreams at night where he kept seeing Serena on the ground begging him to give her a chance.
"Why won't you tell me what I did wrong? I'm begging you. Tell me what I have to change to get you to love me again," she had implored brokenly at his feet exactly eight weeks ago as she begged him on her knees not to leave her.
Her face flashed back into his mind until he was sick with regret and guilt. Her shattered eyes had etched themselves permanently there and he saw them when he closed his eyes and even when they were open. There was a space just under his tattered heart that felt completely hollowed out.
God, I miss her. I miss her so much. What am I going to do? Missing her was eating him alive, every bit as much as the guilt of hurting her. He woke up each morning wondering what she was doing. He went to bed each night to the sound of her voice on his answering machine. He'd tossed restlessly on his bed as rage and guilt and misery battled in him at the thought of her before the usual nightmare claimed him and he'd wake up sweating with fear that the nightmare had come true and she was gone. I have to keep her safe! I have to stay away!
His mouth was set as he pushed the door to the arcade open late that afternoon. Andrew had threatened to stop covering for him at school and won't even bother collecting his assignments for him anymore if he remained holed up in his apartment. Not that he cared for his studies that much these days but Darien was determined to resolve the threat to Serena as implied by the nightmares and no matter how long or whatever it was going to take him, the minute he did, he was going to win her back. By all that is holy, he was going to beg her forgiveness and he was going to win her back. And when he did, they'd be together again and they would marry the moment she was old enough and he was determined to be able to provide for her and present her with everything her heart desire when they do. And for that, he needed his education. He needed to get into medical school and for that to happen, he couldn't afford a suspension much less an expulsion on his record.
As he stepped into the arcade and started towards Andrew, a furious Elizabeth slapped a hand on his chest, "You used me!"
With both hands, she shoved him back, "You selfish, heartless excuse for a friend! How could you?"
"Take it easy, Lizzie." Even as Andrew spoke, the keen edge of Elizabeth's gaze cut to him, raked over his face.
The fist in Andrew's stomach squeezed tight. His little sister hadn't spoken a word to him since Saturday night when she had finally figured out that Darien was the guy that Mina was talking about who broke Serena's heart and the implication of that knowledge had hit her hard. Now she was looking at him with so much resentment, it was all he could do not to flinch. So he held up both hands in a gesture of surrender.
Not in the least mollified, Elizabeth rounded on him, "Don't you tell me to take it easy!" she jabbed him on the chest over the counter, "You're my brother. I'm your sister. How could you just stand by and let him used me to hurt someone else you claimed to love like a sister?!"
She pushed at Andrew and shoved at Darien again and continued angrily, "You made Serena think that we were together. You both watched as she welcomed me and treated me like a friend, introduced her friends to me, share them with me. You both watched as her best friends made room for me in their group, treated me with respect, spent time with me, laughed with me, never once making me feel bad or left out or like an outsider an yet all the while, they must've thought that I was responsible for her heartbreak, for hurting her, for stealing her boyfriend!"
His own emotions were a bit too raw for reason, "Neither Andrew nor I, ever said anything to anyone about you and I being together. They drew their own conclusions. You can hardly blame either one of us for it," Darien drawled out drily.
Elizabeth snarled like a virago, "You didn't need to say anything, did you? You implied by your actions and I was too stupid to realise it, wasn't I?" She rammed an elbow viciously into Darien's midsection. Her eyes scorched both Darien and Andrew in turn before she stepped back. "Why don't you both take a long walk off of a short pier," she tossed out scathingly as she stomped off to walk out of the arcade.
Andrew let out a long breath, glancing wearily around, "Alright everyone, that was fun, wasn't it? The show was free but I'm afraid it's over. So, back as you were."
"You better hold that thought, Drew," Darien said unconsciously rubbing his stomach, a slight frown on his face as he glanced and spotted another fierce face that would make Elizabeth's looked like a harmless kitten's entering the arcade just as Andrew's younger sister was leaving.
When Lita entered the arcade and walked determinedly towards him, Darien stood still, arms at his side and took the blow he saw coming, full in the face. "Okay you moron. You and I, we're having words. Right after I beat some sense into you!"
As he was launched back against the counter, Darien thought it was like being hit by a battering ram. He tasted blood in his mouth and even as he dabbed at it with the back of one hand while the other braced himself on the counter, the battering ram struck again as Lita clipped him hard enough to send him sprawling on the floor if not for his superhero strength. As it were, his vision wavered for a few moments so that he saw several Lita with fists bunched in front of her in a fighting stance.
"Just who the hell do you think you are?" she shouted, arrows of resentment shot out of her green eyes.
As she swung out again, Andrew who had hurriedly came from behind the counter lunged towards her and caught her around the waist just in time. "Hold on. Just hold the hell on," he ordered, his own patience running thin.
"I'm surprised it took you this long," Darien commented tersely, appearing unaffected even as his stomach pitched violently inside. He tucked his hands in his pockets as he straightened up. If she was going to plant another fist on him, he'd just as soon she gets it over with. It's less than he deserved anyway and a long time in coming. He doubted the brunette Scout of Thunder could hate him anymore than he hated himself.
"For goodness sake, don't provoke her, Darien!" Andrew grunted out as he hefted Lita off her feet while she cursed at him, "Lita!" he was scolding and pleading at the same time, "This is a public place."
And then sighing he dropped the brunette, "At least take it into the backroom," he motioned, defeated as he acknowledged to himself that this was inevitable.
Though her fists remained bunched, Lita lowered them a fraction before dropping them to her side altogether. "Fine!" she huffed and shoved by them both towards the backroom that was Andrew's 'sort of' office. But before she took her next step, her fist shot out quick as lightning, found its target and had Darien's head snapping back once again. She followed through with a short arm jabbed to the stomach that had Darien's breath came out in a hiss. Smiling now, she turned and walked into the backroom. Darien followed behind her and shut the door close on Andrew's face.
"Go ahead," Darien said wryly, "I'm not going to hit back."
"Oh, you aren't, are you?" she drilled a finger into his chest and sneered derisively, "And why is that? Could it be because you know what a moron you are?"
He could feel temper fighting to get out of his gut and into his throat but said nothing.
Lita shoved him back a step, "Answer me, damn you!"
As she moved to shove him again, she registered the slight wince of pain as her fist accidentally bumped his shoulder. Her eyes narrowed, "What have you done?"
"I thought you've established that I was being a moron." The voice was rigidly pleasant and didn't fool Lita for a second, "I hit you on the face and the stomach and you barely winced. What happened to your shoulder?"
Darien wiggled his aching jaw, touched it and almost did wince from the pain radiating out of it. "I imagine both my ribs and kidney are probably bruised from how sore they feel."
"Take off your shirt," she commanded.
He worked up a leer, "I thought you were here to make sure I treat Serena right. How does getting my clothes off with you accomplish that?"
Undaunted, Lita simply reached up and ripped his shirt open...and froze.
"Hey." He really shouldn't forget that the Scouts were as fast as he was, if not more so.
The dinner plate size purple bruising on his shoulder covered a recovering wound that was raw and angry.
Lita made a little sound of distress and turned away from the sight. She paced and stared at the wall until reason could make its way through the haze of temper. Taking a deep breath, she swung back towards him, "She kept herself safe to keep her promise to you. Forced me to train her harder, forced me to fight her so that she'd be a better fighter, so that she could keep her promise to you, so that she isn't less than what you expect. Please tell me that you haven't risked yourself and made all her sacrifices for nothing," her words came out slowly and her voice was quiet.
Emotions all but strangled him. Needing to move, Darien went to the locker where he knew Andrew kept a spare shirt. But when he had the locker opened, he just stared off into it for a moment, lost in his own thoughts.
"I hardly think it was for nothing. Just because I don't join you in your fights anymore, does not mean that I've washed off my hands of my duties to protect," he murmured out sardonically as he turned back to face Lita. She, he believed, doesn't need to know that he had been patrolling and scouring the city every night since the incident with Hypnotica in his effort to keep his princess safe by getting to the enemies before the Scouts could as much as possible. He had also been hunting Rubeus and the Ayakashi Sisters, hoping that one of them could shed some light into the nightmares he had been having. The mark on his shoulder was from a direct confrontation with the red head that seemed to be leader of their current enemies a few nights ago, even before his night at the theatre with Mina two days ago.
Lita stared at him incredulously, "You've been fighting with your roses? With no back up?" she asked as worry twisted painfully with temper. Her eyes flashed, a dangerous edgy glint, "Taking unnecessary risk? You selfish cow! You reckless baboon! How dare you risk yourself! How dare you when she put aside all her happiness for yours!"
Darien swallowed in a futile attempt to wash the bitterness from his throat, "I didn't ask her for any sacrifice nor was I risking my life. I have other gifts that you aren't aware of. Just as she is the Moon Princess, I am the Prince of Earth. I was merely doing my duty. As I believe, were all of you," he said in complete apathy that completely belied the turmoil within. My duty is to keep her safe. I'd do anything to keep her safe. Even if it means risking my life!
The fierce look on his face almost scared her. But it was the blaze in his eyes that had her almost recoiling. For the first time in her life, the courageous Lita felt the punch of fear. She backed up a step, all but hearing her nerves fray. And then the face of an unhappy blonde appeared in her mind's eyes, a face so dear to her it made her stood her ground and lifted her chin defiantly, letting out what had been grinding inside her, "Serena's my best friend. She taught me the meaning of true friendship, one that endures and is unconditional. If she loves someone, she'd give them everything she had. Even if they had wanted or needed more, she'd find it and give that too. It's the way she loves. It's the only way she knows how. She loves you. More than anyone, she loves you. Right now, she's holding on by her fingernails and she'll keep holding on, if only to keep her promise to you. So, don't you dare say that you didn't ask her for any sacrifice! You asked her, just by being!"
She felt the tears welled up and blinked them furiously away. "Something I noticed that we have in common, you and I, is that we are both self sufficient. We don't need anyone, do we? But she came along, opened the doors and showed me that life doesn't have to be faced alone. Before her, I didn't have anyone else to stand up for nor did I have anyone who would stand up for me. Without her, I wouldn't have known what it is to need and be needed, what it is to love and be loved, trust and be trusted. I would've missed out on a lot. I would've missed out on living. Now, tell me she doesn't have the same effect on you."
Darien stared blandly at Lita. His hands were in his pockets and there was no expression on his face to betray his feelings, "She did. Which is why I was with her. People fall out of love all the time," he said without feelings.
She still does! Which is why I'll find a way to be with her again. Hell will freeze over before fall out of love with her! I will never stop loving her! I will never stop being in love with her, his heart cried out passionately at the same time.
"Now, if there's nothing else and you're not inclined to beat me up anymore, we'd better get out of here before Andrew hyperventilate himself into passing out."
Darien started to leave but stopped abruptly at the door. His breath caught in his throat at his first glimpse of Serena in weeks. For a moment, his mind went dead. Utterly dead. As though the switch had been shut off. He couldn't feel his hands, his feet, his heart. Then, a lump of emotions swelled in his chest as he stood there mesmerised. The faint sound of her voice talking quietly to Andrew was so sweet it was all he could do not to rush out there and pull her into his arms and never let her go again. She looked so heartbreakingly, vulnerably beautiful that he ached to hold her, carry her away from everything and lose himself in her, to kiss her and touch her and caress her, to heal her pain, ask her forgiveness. Yet, with everything he had put her through, he didn't feel worthy of even looking at her, let alone speaking to her or touching her. He fisted his hands in his pockets to keep them from reaching for her and used every ounce of will he had to keep his feet from running to her.
Lita watched as Darien stood staring after Serena like a man recently struck by lightning, face full of longing and misery, eyes full of love and agony. She studied his face now, looked beyond herself and into him. Guilt, fear, worry, frustration, pain and love, so much love and longing shone through now that he was caught unaware. All that, she thought. All that in him for her. He truly does love her after all.
"So, you don't love her, huh?" she asked quietly and watched the anguish that burned in his eyes, on his face, in the set of his body.
The dazed look cleared from Darien's eyes and still they feasted on his love, noting her face that was too pale and too thin, "She's lost more weight and look pale enough to see through," he said quietly, as though talking to himself, still not taking his eyes off Serena, absorbing every detail, the silky, lustrous golden hair, the cerulean blue eyes that seemed calm and content until you looked closer and saw the heartbreak beneath.
"How did you let her get this bad?" he asked accusingly under his breath, his eyes remained on Serena.
"Excuse me?" Lita shoved him back a step. "Me? I let her get this bad?" her green eyes were burning hot now as she hissed the words out, careful not to draw the attention of her best friend.
Darien hardly noticed Lita's hissed words and jabbing fingers as his eyes stayed on Serena, hungrily savouring and treasuring his fill of her, until she kissed Andrew's cheek and left a moment later, carrying his heart with her.
Unable to clamp down on his emotions, he whirled back towards Lita, his eyes icy blue and furious, "You are her guardians. It is your duty to protect her. There are shadows under her eyes thick enough for a bunch of thieves to hide in! How could you let her get this bad?"
Lita threw out her arms. "We didn't do this to her. You did! When you called her worthless! When you said you didn't love her anymore! When you broke her heart and her pride and her spirit!"
"Of course I love her! How can I not, for goodness sake? She's my soul mate! My life! My everything!"
"You broke up with her!"
"To keep her safe! Do you think she would've stayed away if I told her that I still love her? I had to make her believe that she means nothing to me. It was the only way to get her to stay away until I can figure this out!"
"Then why are you telling me this? What makes you think I won't tell her? My loyalty is to her and not to you!"
Darien looked at Lita caustically, "Exactly. Your loyalty is to her. You also love her. You know that if you told her that I do still love her, she'd come running back to me. You also know that if she does that, I'd just deny everything and it will hurt her even more. You love her every bit as much as I do. You can't stand to see her hurt. You won't tell her," he said matter-of-factly.
Boiling inside with defeat, knowing he was right, Lita replied scathingly, "Correction. I love her more than you do. Because apparently, you can stand to see her hurt. In fact, you have no qualms whatsoever in being the one to hurt her the most! Break her heart. Break her!" she said angrily as she stomped out of the room leaving behind a broken prince, every bit as broken as his princess.
Posted on fanfiction: 9 July 2013
A/N: Confrontation, harsh words and physical violence does not come naturally for me to write as they are so against my nature and not situations I'm familiar with. But I did my best and I hope it turned out convincing and natural enough. Surprisingly, this is my longest chapter in CBTM which is almost as long as an average chapter of TOBITF.
Before anyone comment on it, I'm sorry if I disappointed some of you by not making Darien out to be the villain that some may want him to be. But I really think the anime blazed through the breakup without giving his character (or any of the Scouts) a fair treatment.
Next up will be Raye's Regret. Again, I'm not making Raye out to be a villain either. You can't help how you feel after all, only what you do about the feelings you have. But YES, Raye will lay her heart down for Darien (so that she'll have no regrets. Please don't hate me for this.). The outcome of it? Haha...wait and see! ;)
