CHAPTER NINE

Serena, Amy, Raye, Lita and Mina were all at the Moto Cross race tracks that morning to watch Michelle's friend Amara compete. They were all very excited and hoped that he would win, but as they were getting off the bus when it pulled up at their destination Serena had a start.

"Hey you girls. I could swear I saw Darien over there in the crowd for a split second. Then he quickly turned and disappeared."

"Darien!" exclaimed Mina.

"Are you positive it was him?" asked Lita.

Serena sighed. "No. I admit it looked like him, but I suppose I could have been mistaken. Come to think of it though, it's been a long time since he's participated in any of our battles. Why?"

Serena almost had a fit when Raye said, "Remember Serena? He wants you to significantly improve your grades first. That's why we've been trying to help you studying together at my place."

Amy quickly put her arm around her shoulders to calm her saying, "There there Serena."

Then she turned her head to say to Raye, "But don't you think it is rather strange that he won't fight with us Raye? Just because he's not dating Serena he could still do that."

Lita said, "Hey that is true. Remember even when he broke up with Serena for some time over that misunderstanding with her father he still gave us help?"

Mina agreed and Raye rubbed her chin and said, "Hmm. That makes sense. So why is he keeping his distance?"

Serena hugged Amy and buried her face on her shoulder about to cry. "H-h-has he abandoned us b-because I'm such a l-l-loser acedemically? Is it all my f-f-fault?"

Her friends, including Raye, all quickly consoled her and said not to begin crying.

"We came here to watch the race and cheer for Amara."

"Don't spoil our day over this. We will all get together and go to Darien's apartment later to talk to him heart to heart."

"Yeah. We'll say we want to know the answer to this mystery and we won't leave until he tells us." It was Raye who said this last line with her strong determined facial expression and Serena cheered up thanking her friends.

Then they all went to find a good spot to stand and view the big race. It was very close but Amara crossed the finish line first just beating the cyclist who had been neck to neck with him in the lead by a couple of inches. As the rest of the racers finished one by one Amara took off his helmet and smiled as Serena and her friends cheered. His opponent also removed his helmet and muttered, "Nuts," though he did give a curt smile to Amara.

Serena said, "That was an awesome victory for Amara," and the others were agreeing when Amy said, "Oh dear."

"What's the matter Amy?" asked Mina.

Amy sighed as she held up a textbook. "While I was cramming in some extra study I missed seeing Amara winning the race."

"WHAT?" Serena almost fainted and the others groaned.

"I don't believe you!" exclaimed Raye.

"But Greg would want me to keep striving to pass my exams despite my sorrow at recently losing him. Every moment I can I'm studying one of my books."

Lita said, "I can understand. I saw you reading the whole time on the bus today."

Mina said, "We will save Greg somehow. Let's go find Amara and congratulate him."

Meanwhile Amara had driven his bike to a secluded spot around the corner where Michelle met him with a towel and a flask of water. As he was accepting them Serena and her friends appeared from behind. "Well done Amara."

He turned his head and said, "Oh hello there. So you all came today." Michelle smiled and waved as Serena replied.

"That's right. We saw you leave them all in the dust."

But another voice said harshly, "Now we will leave you in the dirt."

To everybody's surprise four men in biker uniforms with their helmets on and big, menacing wrenches in their hands came from all directions. The one who had spoken said, "We're friends and supporters of the man you beat at the finish line. Kevin Yardman is the best motorbike racer in our city. How dare you humiliate him?"

"Hey! I won the race fair and square!" Amara sounded very peeved.

Michelle was a bit nervous. "Are you threatening my friend?"

The girls were horrified and Lita ran in between angrily saying, "What are you? A bunch of sore losers?"

One of the other men was telling her to get out of the way and mind her own business when another new voice shouted.

"CUT THIS NONSENSE OUT AT ONCE!"

"Mr. Yardman." One of the men said as he turned.

The man who had come in second and had given Amara a curt smile was standing there with his helmet under his arm. "I won't tolerate any violence against Amara just because he beat me. It was a fair and honest race and I'll beat him next time. Now come with me and leave him alone."

As he turned they followed but two of them looked back shaking the wrenches in their hands before walking away.

The girls were enormously relieved. "Thank goodness!" cried Serena.

"If that man hadn't stopped those creeps I would have taught them a lesson," said Lita.

"But then there would have been trouble with security. It would have been an awkward situation," said Raye.

Amara nodded. "I agree. But I'm grateful for your support Lita."

"So am I. Thank you," Michelle concurred.

Later the girls were leaving to catch the bus home. However as Serena was following them she overheard a man calling out from a market stand. "Action figures! Get your limited edition motorbike racing action figures! Only $10 each and in a variety of colours!"

Serena loved dolls of many kinds and so she turned to have a browse at the display. The figures were very attractive and she picked one up laughing as she held it.

Suddenly she heard a sound that startled her. Dropping the figure back on the counter she turned and beheld to her horror that the bus had arrived just as her friends reached the bus stop and thinking she was right behind them, they had all entered and it was driving away.

"Wait! Stop! Come back!" She called out and ran wasting her breath. She'd been left behind because of her distraction.

Inside Mina suddenly realized she was missing. "Hey! Where's Serena?"

Amy lifted her glance up from her book to look around. "Oh! I can't see her!"

"I thought she was with us," said Lita.

Raye grumbled. "For whatever reason the silly meatball-head must have lagged behind and missed the bus."

"Oh dear," said Mina.

"Now she'll have to wait an hour for the next one," said Lita.

"Her own stupid fault." Raye folded her arms in her seat and harrumphed unsympathetically.

Amy just returned to her book. Studying was very important and besides there was nothing any of them could do. The other three sat back in their seats with blank expressions as the bus disappeared from Serena's dismayed sight. She stopped running and leaned against a pole puffing and panting.

Just then who should pull up on his motorbike but Amara. "Hey Serena. Did you miss your bus?"

"Oh hi Amara. Yes I did."

Amara held out a spare helmet. "Do you want a ride home?"

Serena was relieved but slightly hesitant. "Why thank you. Er, but why isn't Michelle with you?"

"Well she has gone ahead to take care of a most important task that requires her attention."

"Okay then," Serena put on the helmet and sat behind him.

"Hold on Serena. I'll take you for a ride through the countryside before I take you home. Would you like that?"

"Really? That sounds like loads of fun, thank you."

"Here we go then."

But as they sped off a huge truck appeared and began tailing them from a distance. Two of the four men who had accompanied Mr. Yardman were inside it, still wearing their helmets with visors down. Their two companions had suggested to Mr. Yardman that if he wanted to win the next race, they would take him to a perfect hilly area by a waterfall where he could get some training in. He thought it was a marvelous suggestion. Little did he know though that while they were making sure he was safely out of the way, their companions were intending to give Amara such a bashing that he would not be able to compete again. They were savouring the experience with sadistic joy as they drove in pursuit.

Meanwhile Michelle was secretly keeping a close watch on Mr. Yardman as Sailor Neptune. She and Amara had been talking privately to each other after he had stepped in to prevent his sore loser fanatics from ganging up on them. Amara had said, "Kevin Yardman is very passionate about motorbike riding and he must have a very good heart to do what he did."

Michelle understood. "He's just the sort of person these Heartsnatchers may be likely to set their sights upon."

"Precisely. We should keep a very close eye on him."

"Leave it to me Amara. If they attack him I'll be ready to steal the heart for us."

"And we will use it to persuade them to lead us to the one we are seeking. Remember if necessary we must sacrifice him to prevent them succeeding in their wicked schemes."

Michelle had bowed her head and concurred. "I hope not, but if things come to the worst I will do whatever I must."

So while Mr. Yardman and the other two members of the terrible foursome were zooming up and down the hills together, Sailor Neptune was concealed in the nearby bushes watching out for anything suspicious. After fifteen minutes they were all giving their bikes a rest at the cliff edge overlooking the much taller cliff where the waterfall gushed over into the river below.

Quietly Eudial emerged from the water and slowly rose up towards the cliff inside one of their magic bubbles. She held a pod in her head and Germatoid was speaking to her. "Our target is accompanied by two others Eudial. So we can get three hearts captured at once. Plant the pod into his motorbike and we shall capture his companions first."

"As you command mighty master."

Eudial sent the pod up by itself when she was only one foot away from the top. One of Mr. Yardman's companions caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye as it broke against the front of Mr. Yardman's motorbike. He blinked his eyes for a second wondering if he was hallucinating, when suddenly Mr. Yardman was thrown off his bike as it raised itself up on its back wheel before splitting into two halves. Both pieces changed into an identical figure. They were tall ladies with grey skin, pink hair, green lips and had one of the two bike tyres embedded in the lower half of their bodies where the belly buttons would be. As Mr. Yardman scrambled to his feet, the other two barely had time to scream as the twins each turned to face them respectively. Under Germatoid's control a black star appeared on each twins' forehead and their hearts were pulled out of their bodies. Mr. Yardman gasped and turned to flee in panic as Eudial rose to the top and exited the bubble.

Germatoid commanded, "Take the creatures and pursue him Eudial. I'll place bubbles over these two zombies and their floating hearts."

"I won't let him escape Germatoid."

They had known there'd be two of them. Professor Tomoe had announced that this pod was interesting because there were actually twins formed inside it when Kaori's blood was added to the test tube. That was fascinatingly unique and now they ran with Eudial after the fleeing Yardman. Sailor Neptune prepared to rush out of her hiding place while the two bubbles floated down and into the water taking their victims with them.

Getting back to Amara and Serena, while this was happening they were being followed by the truck that was catching up to them. The driver beeped the horn as if they wanted to get past and Amara moved his bike over to the side of the road courteously. However instead of passing the truck pulled up alongside and began nudging the bike off the road towards the edge of an upraised hill. Serena screamed.

Amara yelled. "What are those idiots doing? Hold on Serena!" In desperation Amara swerved down the hill and Serena hung on for dear life as the bike bumped along down the incline. The pair of louts in the truck drove away laughing assuming the bike would crash at the bottom. It did not. It took all of Amara's skill and concentration to keep it upright as it bounced up and down. Serena felt as if her stomach was pushed up into her chest, but Amara managed to raise the front of his bike into the air as it neared the ground below. The back tyre hit first with a sickening jolt. However he successfully stopped the bike without it falling on its side, even though Serena fell off sideways with a groan. Amara shook his fist in anger. "I must check for any damages at once."

Serena was starting to say, "I do feel a little sick and dizzy," but Amara cut her off.

"Of course you're okay. You'll recover. I'm talking about my bike."

Serena could barely crawl aside with a groan feeling slightly offended but in no mood to argue as Amara began to examine the battered vehicle.

In about ten minutes she did indeed start to feel better though. But unfortunately the same could not be said of Amara's bike. He tried to rev the engine a couple of times. "Something's wrong."

"What do you think it is?"

Amara stood up. "I think the spark plug may be damaged."

Just then Amara's watch began to beep. She held it up to her face and saw Michelle's face. "There's trouble Amara. Come as fast as you can. I'll send a direction signal to your watch."

"Roger." Turning to Serena, Amara said, "I'm sorry. I just received an urgent call and my bike is dead. I'm afraid I won't be able to take you home after all. But if you wait by the road I'm sure a bus will be coming by."

Serena said thank you and took Amara by surprise by suddenly running at him and giving him a big hug. While she had him up close her nose caught a faint whiff of something. Could it be perfume?

"Hey! Is that perfume you're wearing?"

Amara made no comment. Just kept his composure and gently withdrew from Serena saying "Okay. See you later then," before turning and running away.

Serena was perplexed. "That smelt like perfume. But why would he be wearing it? No surely it must have been cologne. Come to think of it I wonder what was so important? It's none of my business of course. But what the heck. I'll follow and find out."

As Serena began to follow quietly at a safe distance, from up above a car parked carefully in an alcove by the side of the road. The door opened and Darien climbed out. Leaving his vehicle he proceeded to make his way down the hill to secretly follow Serena while she secretly followed Amara.

However he made no attempt to stay at a distance from her, but rather closed in the gap steadily until she sensed she was being followed. Turning around warily she gasped. "Darien!"

He held out his arms with a pained expression on his face. "Serena. I've missed you and I'm very sorry for separating myself from you."

Upon hearing these words she ran into his embrace and deeply hugged him. "Oh Darien. I'm sorry too for being so hopeless in my studies. But I really have been trying harder."

This was true in its own right. Serena had been recently attending the study sessions with her friends fairly regularly. Even though her heart was not exactly completely in it, all the same it was tremendous commitment for her part.

Darien hugged her back, looked down into her eyes and smiled. "Of course you have. My sweet Meatball-Head. I shall begin dating you again soon. First in a few days I shall buy you a special birthday present, then we will make a new date."

Serena looked back up and beamed with some tears of joy. "Oh thank you Darien. The others will be happy to know you'll be fighting with us again as Tuxedo Mask as well."

Darien became uneasy and he pulled away blushing. "I'm really sorry I haven't been coming to help you fight any battles recently Serena."

"But that's in the past now Darien."

"Er. The fact is I won't be Tuxedo Mask anymore Serena."

"WHAT?" Serena was dumbfounded. "But that doesn't make any sense! I thought we were reconciled?"

"We are and I love you dearly. It's just," Serena could see he was crying now. "I love you with all my heart Serena. But it's too difficult to explain. I had better go now. See you on your birthday."

The sobs and tremors in his voice and expression were so vivid that Serena did not even cry herself. Speechless she watched him turn and run away pulling a handkerchief from his pocket. She couldn't believe it and for a few minutes after he was gone stood still as a statue.

Then she remembered Amara and snapping back to attention she said, "I can't understand this, but I want to be with Amara for companionship at this awkward time. Oh dear. Now which way did he go?" So saying she desperately tried to find his trail.

As she burst through some shrubbery she quickly pulled herself up short and ducked back undercover. She hadn't found Amara, but not too far ahead of her was a distressing sight. Serena crouched down peering through the bushes thanking her lucky stars she had not been spotted. First Sailor Neptune was tied to a thick tree trunk with stout ropes. Eudial stood beside her holding a magic scepter in one hand and a pulsating heart in her other. The heart belonged to poor Mr. Yardman who stood next to Eudial, a mindless zombie. Finally Sailor Uranus was leaping about to dodge getting hit by the twin creatures. Eudial was using her magic to transform them into spinning wheels. Their bodies kept disappearing leaving only the tires that had belonged to Mr. Yardman's motorbike. Sailor Uranus was very agile but sometimes they only just missed hitting her by inches.

Serena acted at once pulling out her locket. "MOON CRYSTAL POWER!"

Thus transformed she boldly announced herself. "I stand for love and justice. I'm Sailor Moon."

"Sailor Moon is it?" Eudial sneered as she spoke and Germatoid laughed.

"We'll destroy all three of these strange girls." With these words he directed the twins to fly spinning at Sailor Moon. She gasped and gave a tremendous bound through the air above them to land next two Sailor Uranus.

"Uranus! Let's fight together."

However Uranus was not impressed at all. "Buzz off Sailor Moon. I've told you we're not allies. I can handle this myself."

But she did push Sailor Moon out of the path of an attack while she was protesting. "LOOK OUT!"

Uranus was clipped as she shoved Moon aside. The two of them sprawled together and Sailor Moon noticed the uniform of Sailor Uranus was torn at the left shoulder and the top layer of her skin was bruised and scraped. Uranus was still telling her to get out while she reached out instinctively grabbing her wrist. "No Uranus. You're hurt. We must work together."

Before Uranus could pull away from her grip they both gasped as a pair of wrist cuffs joined by a small chain suddenly appeared securing them together.

Eudial had waved her scepter once more. "Now you'll stick together and be easier to attack," she laughed.

"Good work Eudial," said Germatoid and Uranus had no choice now.

She and Sailor Moon desperately dodged and weaved as the twins relentlessly flew at them one after the other.

Eudial was maniacally gleeful. "They look like somebody walking an untrained dog Master Germatoid. But I'm not certain which one is the dog."

All this time Sailor Neptune could only watch helplessly with baited breath where she was firmly bound to the tree.

Desperately she called out to her friend. "Uranus! Never mind about me! You must escape to survive and carry out our mission!"

Hearing these words Sailor Uranus resolutely stood up on her feet and grabbing hold of the chain, pulled Sailor Moon along with her protesting. "No stop Uranus! We must help Neptune and Mr. Yardman!"

Sailor Uranus was unrelenting and as she picked up speed, Sailor Moon desperately struggled to keep her footing. "Like it or not you're coming with me Moonshine."

The tyre twins resumed their humanoid shapes and Germatoid commanded Eudial. "Put this heart victim safely away with the others and then follow as I send the creatures running after them. This girl called Neptune can stay tied up meanwhile.

Eudial sent Mr. Yardman and his heart floating down the cliff and into the depths of the river in another bubble. "I am ready to go Master."

Sailor Neptune watched fearfully as the enemy pursued her friend. "Run Uranus," she muttered to herself. "I hope that Sailor Moon does not interfere with your escape. Even if I'm killed you must send word to Pluto so she can help you find our long lost leader."

Sailor Uranus dragged Sailor Moon into a cave. "What are you doing? Why run away?" she protested as Uranus pulled her around a protruding wall of rock on the cave floor.

Ducking down out of sight she forced Sailor Moon to hide beside her. "I have my reasons. Now be quiet."

They heard movement at the opening. Eudial was standing in front of the tyre twins waving her scepter around shining light from it. "I can't see them in here Germatoid."

"Then let's get back to our prisoner. If they don't show up to try to save her soon, just kill her and leave. That will be one less of these girls to interfere with our affairs."

"As you command evil spirit."

Of course Uranus and Moon could not hear what Germatoid was silently saying to Eudial's ears alone. But as soon as she was gone she tried to urge Uranus to action. "Ow! Stop pulling on the chain. Come on! Let's give them a surprise attack."

"If I go out there they'll kill me."

"What about Neptune? She could be dead in the next thirty seconds. Isn't she your friend? Don't you care about her?"

Sailor Uranus stopped attempting to get the manacle off her wrist and stood up on her knees to look down upon Sailor Moon.

Raising her voice a couple of decibels she stormily declared, "You don't know what you're talking about!"

Sailor Moon gasped taken aback, then Uranus turned her back to her, still speaking. "Sailor Neptune and I made a solemn vow that if anything ever happened to one of us, the other would try to escape and survive. The survivor must contact Sailor Pluto to replace the other and carry on searching for our missing leader Sailor Saturn. All three of us made this joint promise to each other."

"But what's the sense in sacrificing Neptune? What if the same thing happens to you or Pluto? Why not fight and protect each other as a trio?"

"We work the way we choose to work. If only one of us is left when Saturn is found that will be victory."

Sailor Moon was almost crying. "This doesn't make sense. It isn't true unity. I can't understand."

"You're emotionally weak. We're all positive that Saturn is somewhere to be found here on earth in this time period, but there's also an ominous dark force present. In order to have the best chance of destroying it we must make sacrifices, even ourselves. I hate the thought of innocent people dying but if an entire planet will be saved at the cost of a few lives, then it's my duty. Wouldn't you do anything it takes to vanquish evil?"

Realizing that Sailor Uranus would never back down Sailor Moon made no reply. But then she noticed something. Uranus had kept her back to her all the time she'd been talking and the wound on her left shoulder had begun to bleed. "Your shoulder's bleeding."

Uranus turned in reaction. "Oh great."

Sailor Moon had a clean handkerchief out of her pocket. "What are you doing?" Uranus asked as she soaked it in some handy water which had formed a pool in a rocky basin trickling through a small hole in the cave wall.

"I'm going to wash your wound."

"No. I'll look after myself."

"You can't. Not while we're chained together. You must let me help you or you'll get infection. Please."

Uranus looked defiant, but then she realized what she said was the truth. Reluctantly she grunted. "Very well."

As Sailor Moon gently applied the cool, wet hanky, Uranus' shoulder felt tremendous relief and she almost smiled, but resolutely kept a stone face. Sailor Moon tied the hanky in place around her shoulder. "There. That should help temporarily.

"Thank you," said Sailor Uranus after slight hesitation.

"Can I ask you something now?"

Sailor Uranus was slightly curious to hear this. "Sure you can."

Sailor Moon giggled nervously. "This is rather crazy, but I just can't stand it any longer."

"What is it?"

Sailor Moon turned away from her. "I hope you won't mind, but my back has been getting rather itchy and I can't reach it very well because of our chain. Could you please scratch it for me?"

Uranus was taken aback. But she thought about the kindness Sailor Moon had shown to her. To ease her discomfort was the least she could do. "I will."

Sailor Moon directed her as she scratched. "Move to the left a little. That's it. Oh that feels good. Thank you."

Sailor Uranus did finally half smile. "You're most welcome."

Suddenly they both heard the sounds of footsteps running into the cave and Uranus automatically grabbed Sailor Moon pulling her towards her protectively. As Sailor Moon turned her head sideways for a split second she thought she sensed a smell similar to Amara's cologne. Before she had time to fully register it though she cried out in joyful surprise as a figure she knew well ran around the rock. "Darien!"

"Neptune!" cried Uranus.

"Look out!" Darien shouted as he and Sailor Neptune grabbed them both and pulled them out of the way as the tyre twins came smashing through the rock.

"Let's get out of here!" Sailor Neptune urged dragging Sailor Uranus to her feet. Darien did the same to Sailor Moon and the four of them raced out of the cave followed by the twins.

Eudial was floating in midair looking down. "There they all are Master Germatoid. Now those creatures can mow them down for us."

"Darien! Take cover!" shouted Sailor Moon as she and Sailor Uranus moved to intercept the twins.

"You must move in union with me since we're chained together Meatball-Head. As I attack watch my movements carefully and follow them," said Sailor Uranus.

"Okay," answered Sailor Moon and she did her very best to give Uranus enough slack on the chain in order not to hamper her attack.

"WORLD SHAKING!" Uranus sent her ball of energy straight at the twins startling them and making them veer off in different directions.

"Something's different Germatoid! They don't seem to be hampered by the chain anymore."

"The one called Uranus is co-operating with the other now Eudial. She wasn't before. That's the difference."

Neptune was sending her attack at one of the twins. "DEEP SUBMERGE!"

Meanwhile Sailor Moon had produced her scepter and Uranus was taking her turn at co-ordinating with her movements. It was difficult, but she managed it and together they attacked the other twin. "MOON SCEPTER ELIMINATION!"

Sailor Moon's attack was deflected however, as Eudial placed one of the magic bubbles around the creature. Meanwhile Germatoid was shielding the other twin from the brunt of Sailor Neptune's giant wave of water. She was laughing like an infant at the wet sprays flying around her, never perceiving what it would have been like to be knocked off her feet and half-drowned.

"Retreat Eudial," commanded Germatoid and as the other bubbles containing Mr. Yardman and the other two victims rose up out of the water and disappeared so too did the tyre twins. Eudial remained long enough to shout down, "We'll destroy you next time. Then as she vanished so did the chain connecting Moon and Uranus.

They looked at their wrists comprehending what had happened. Then Uranus said, "My opinion of you is higher now. But it doesn't change the fact that Neptune and I have our mission and I must remind you not to needlessly involve yourself in it."

Sailor Neptune said, "Thank you both very much for your help this time. Please leave us alone now." They both ran away leaping and bounding.

Darien said, "Go figure. If I hadn't doubled back after I left you earlier sensing something wrong was going to happen Neptune may have been killed. I untied her from the tree while the enemy was after you and Sailor Uranus. They are both rather strange, even though they did express gratitude."

Sailor Moon quickly transformed back into Serena and said, "So Darien. You still sense when we're in trouble?"

"Yes and I've felt bad at not coming to help you Serena. I've wanted to but I just can't be Tuxedo Mask anymore. Please don't ask me why. It will make me cry once more."

"Very well Darien. Let me just say thank you for coming this time." She hugged him affectionately and he smiled returning her embrace.

"Thank you Serena. I knew you would probably need assistance without any of the other girls present. Tell you what. Why don't you come with me on the trek back to my car and I'll drive you home?"

At the thought of both getting home at last and being driven by Darien Serena forgot all about Amara, where he had disappeared to and about the cologne he'd been wearing. She took her Darien's hand as he led her through the countryside. She missed her Tuxedo Mask, but at least she had her sweet Darien once more.