A/N: Hey guys! Here it is! Chapter 11 is now yours :) As promised, this chapter is a little longer to make up for Chapter 10. I'm so glad you all are enjoying the story so much and I value all your comments. Everybody's been asking for more interaction between Syrus and Serena, Serena and Darien, and Darien and Syrus; so I tried to make that happen in this chapter. Hope I did a good job! I've been reading your comments and taking them to heart, I promise :P
A big thank you to CaseClosed621, mangamania, Moonlight Pheonix, TropicalRemix, Aizawa Li Syaoran Vessalius, and Lady Vee for reviewing chapter 10! I also wanna thank everyone who added the story to their favorites of subscribed to it. I never imagined anyone would find this story this interesting!
I used another song in this story so I hope you enjoy that too! I do not own the song or Sailor Moon.
Still in disbelief that Serena had come to the battle, the scouts changed back to their civilian forms and ran the short distance to the Tsukino house. When they arrived, Mina stepped ahead of the group and decided to face the girl…if she answered. With the others behind her, she rang the doorbell and waited patiently for an answer. A moment later, the door swung open.
"Hey Mina." Sammy stood before them and his voice was just over a whisper.
"Hey Sammy!" the girl replied cheerfully. "Happy Thanksgiving!"
"Happy Thanksgiving!" the group repeated.
The boy nodded. "Thanks guys." He fidgeted. "What's up?"
"Oh, well, we know it's a little late but is Serena here?"
He nodded. "She's asleep though."
"How long ago did she go to bed?" Lita asked.
"Well, she didn't really go to bed. We put on a movie an hour ago and she fell asleep on the couch."
"What?"
"See?" He moved and Mina peered in. Sure enough, Serena was asleep on the couch in Syrus's arms. He was also sleeping. Luna was curled up next to them, watching the movie.
Mina looked to Luna and cleared her throat. The feline glanced up and saw the blonde in the doorway. She jumped off the couch and approached the girl. Mina picked her up and backed out the house.
"I see; she is asleep. Thanks Sammy."
He nodded.
"Hey, I'm gonna take Luna for tonight, okay?"
Sammy nodded again. "Good night."
"Good night!" they all chimed. The group walked away from the house before they began talking.
"Luna," Mina began, "how long have you been at Serena's?"
"Mrow? I just got there as Lita left. Why?"
"Where's Artemis?"
"Here!" a voice called. The group turned and saw the white cat heading toward them. He jumped up and Lita caught him. "I decided to keep watch on the house just in case something happened."
"And I stayed with Serena as soon as Lita left to make sure she was guarded. What happened? You all sound frantic!"
They looked at each other.
"Let's get the cars and head back to my apartment," Darien said. "We can talk there."
Thirty minutes later, the felines and the fighters were gathered in the privacy of the young prince's living space. For a moment, they sat around silently staring at each other. Again, Mina broke the silence.
"Luna. You're certain you never left Serena's side?"
"Yes, I'm positive," she replied. "I passed Lita as she left."
"Someone tell us what is going on!" Artemis demanded. "What happened in the battle?"
They were soundless. This time, Raye spoke up.
"We were nearly done for. That giant octopus had us all. We didn't think we'd be able to break free…but…" her voice trailed off.
"But what?" the white cat asked.
Lita finished the thought. "Sailor Moon saved us." The room was quiet again as the two guardians looked to each other with uncertainty.
"You must be mistaken," Luna finally said. "That's impossible! She was home the whole time!"
"She didn't remember me or Haruka," Michelle told them.
"And her attitude was cold and cruel," Raye added.
"In fact," Amy said, "the only one of us she seemed interested in was Tuxedo Mask."
Luna raised an eyebrow and wrapped her tail around her body. "That is strange," she agreed.
"Her outfit was totally different," Mina said. "She had a crown on and her hair had grown back…long and blonde."
Lita nodded. "She fought with a sword. It was wicked dangerous."
"Maybe it wasn't her," Artemis suggested. "Maybe it's some kind of ploy sent by the enemy."
"No," Darien said in a stern tone, surprising all of them. "It was her. When I held her…I felt her energy pass through me. I felt Serena…I can't explain how, but I know it was her."
"So what the hell does this mean?" Haruka inquired, slamming her hand into her fist. "That there are two Sailor Moons?"
"I don't think that's quite it," Luna replied. "But I don't know what to make of it. What do you think Artemis?"
The other feline looked up reflectively. "I don't know. Did anything else happen?"
"Oh yeah," Mina said slowly. "Lepius and Troy."
"Who, what now?"
"Two goons we encountered today," Haruka explained. "They were able to control the monster."
Michelle continued. "They said they were Phoebe's nephews and they were looking for 'a lost sheep', which appears to be someone who either turned traitor or ran away."
"And it looks like they're with her for the long haul," Lita added.
Luna began to pace. "This is not good. If Phoebe has nephews, there's no telling what they want. Think about it. They say they're looking for a traitor now but what if he or she went on their own to find the Silver Crystal?"
Mina's eyes widened. "Oh, I see what you're saying now."
"If that traitor gets their hands on the Crystal, they could easily use it against them," Amy reasoned. "And if they have their own agenda, they could use it against us if we try to stop them."
"Precisely!"
Artemis gave them a stern look. "You guys are going to have to hurry if you're going to find the Crystal before Phoebe and her nephews do!"
Serena sat in the back of the classroom with her head buried in her hands. The day was only half over and she felt herself aching with boredom. Two weeks had passed since Thanksgiving and now there was only one week of school left until the Christmas break began. The teacher was going on and on about mathematical equations but she could feel herself slipping as she cared less and less. She had taken her exams already and the teachers were using the remaining time to prepare the students for college entrance exams. Most of them were happy for the opportunity but Serena was in pain. She looked out the window and sighed. It was a beautiful day.
She turned to the front of the room and saw Amy taking in all the teacher said. Her textbook was open and her hand was going a mile a minute as she wrote notes in her notebook; a calculator by her side.
'What a bookworm,' she thought. 'How were we ever friends?'
Serena gazed at the clock and tried to picture being somewhere, anywhere else than this boring class. She stifled a yawn and looked at the board dejectedly. Suddenly, she felt her phone vibrating. The girl pulled the device out her of pocket and hid it beneath her desk. There was a text. She opened it and saw a message from Syrus.
Syrus: You look so bored. Wanna skip?
The girl looked up in shock. How did he know she was bored? She texted him back.
Serena: I am. How do you know?
The response came quickly.
Syrus: I see all. LOL Meet me outside after that class and we'll skip.
Serena bit her bottom lip and looked around. Should she really be cutting class? What about school? Then the girl grinned. 'I haven't cared about school since the accident,' she told herself.
Serena: I'll be there in 10.
Ten minutes later, class ended and all the students stepped out the classroom and into the hall. The girl went quickly to her locker and grabbed the rest of her books. She shoved them into her bag and then proceeded to the school entrance. She had just reached the gate when she heard a voice call to her.
"Hey Serena!"
'Dammit!' Serena turned around and saw Mina standing there. She was in her volleyball uniform, getting ready for the game by the looks of it.
"Hey Blondie."
"Urk! It's Mina!"
"Anyway, I got things to do. Whaddaya want?"
"Where are you going? We still have classes. School's not over."
Serena laughed. "You think I care?"
Concern crossed Mina's face. "Serena, you can't just leave! What if you get caught?"
"The only way I'll get caught is if I keep talking to you!"
The blonde said nothing as she could only manage to stare at the girl before her. Syrus then poked his head around the corner.
"Hey! Sweets, we gotta go!"
"I'm coming!" She turned back to Mina. "Later Blondie!" She turned to walk away but Mina latched onto her shoulder.
"Serena…I care about you…I really do. You're like my sister. Please don't do this. This isn't you!"
Serena lifted Mina's hand off of her. "Look. I have no interest in you and those friends of yours, okay? Why don't you guys get a new friend and buzz off?" With that said, the girl took her caller's arm and walked off.
Mina watched her leave sadly. "I can't believe it…she really is gone." She stared at the gate for a moment, lost in thought, but snapped back when a yell broke her free.
"Help! Someone help us!"
"Oh no!" The girl ran around the side of the school and saw a volleyball shaped monster attacking her team.
The monster curled itself into a ball and then volleyed itself at the other students. Mina ducked behind the wall and shook her head. "Looks like my job is never done," she grumbled.
+Meanwhile+
"I am SO glad you called me out of there!" Serena said. "School was majorly boring."
Syrus laughed. "I saw you in your class. You were dying."
"How did you see me?"
The tangerine haired young man smirked. "With my powers."
She giggled. "Really now?"
"Mmm…maybe? Let's just say I have a connection to you."
She wrapped her arms around his waist. "Looks like we're really connected now!"
He looked down at her and kissed her nose. "I love you," he said.
"I love you."
Syrus wrapped an arm around her. "You wanna get something to eat?"
"Of course I do! But I should change first. I don't wanna get caught skipping by wearing my uniform. Do you have any of my clothes at your place?"
"Yeah…I think."
"Well if not I can just wear one of your shirts with my skirt. No big deal."
"Serena?"
The two took their eyes off each other and focused them on the new voice.
"You again?"
Darien stood before the couple. His glasses were in one hand and his school case was in the other. "Serena, what are you doing here? Don't you have class?" He tucked the eyewear into his pocket.
"What am I doing here? Minding my own damn business, that's what!"
"Serena, I don't want to fight."
"Then leave me alone!"
He stood there, contemplating the right thing to say.
"You heard her pretty boy, get lost!"
Darien glared angrily at Syrus. "And I suppose you're the one who talked Serena into ditching school?"
Syrus smirked. "Suppose I am? She didn't wanna be there anyway; isn't that right Sweets?"
"Of course it is! Besides, what do you care?"
"Of course I care! Serena, I want you to be prepared for your future!"
"Pft! What future? Everyone's been telling me what a bad student I am! Face it; I've got no future…especially one that requires me to know anything in school!"
Syrus stepped in. "Besides, now she's as smart as the brains in that place. She's fine where she is!"
Darien felt his anger rising. "Serena, I love you and believe me when I say that you should be in school!"
She shook her head incredulously. "You love me? You love me?" She laughed. "Give me a break! If you and I were really that serious, you would know that I don't give a fuck about school!"
"Serena, you do care about school! It didn't come easy to you but you always tried!"
"Why don't you just leave her alone?"
The prince turned to his adversary. "If you love her like you say you do, why are you encouraging her to ditch school?"
"Why do you keep trying to run her life and tell her what to do?"
"I'm trying to make sure she's prepared for a happy and fulfilling future!"
"Oh! With you?"
"You're damn right with me!"
"You don't make her happy!"
Serena had had enough. "Don't talk about me like I'm not here!"
Syrus looked down at her. "I'm sorry Sweets."
She clutched his hand. "I don't blame you." Then she turned to Darien. "Leave me the fuck alone!"
Darien shook his head. "I won't. I won't ever leave you alone. I love you and I know you're coming back!"
"Oh yeah? What makes you so sure?"
An image of Rini with a bright smile identical to Serena's flashed through the young man's mind. "I just know…and deep inside, you know too."
"I don't have time for this. Sy, let's get out of here."
She proceeded to leave but Darien grabbed her arm. "You need to go back to school and stop acting out! Stop pushing away the people who love you!"
"You don't tell me what to do!" the petite girl shouted, yanking her arm back. The three were now attracting attention. "And I don't love you!" Serena stormed off.
The two men now stood alone. They were both glaring at each other.
"It would be wise of you to leave her alone," Syrus said lowly.
"Is that so?" the prince retorted. "And what if I don't?"
"You'll have to pay the price!"
"Is that a threat?"
Syrus smiled and pushed his hair back. "I don't make threats when I intend to keep my word."
"Nice to know but it means nothing to me. I love Serena and I will never stop fighting for her, you understand?"
The green-eyed man laughed. "You stopped fighting for her the day she had the accident! Probably before then! Ask yourself, before the accident when was the last time you fought for her? I mean really fought for her?" He paused. "I found myself fighting for her before I even knew her! I love her and I'll be damned if I let someone like you have her!"
"Someone like me?" Darien was hot with anger now. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"You know exactly what it means! If you love her, let her make her own decisions. Let her find her own path and move on without you."
"That's not what she wants! I know her inside and out!"
He laughed again. "Oh, do you? Then why did she run off just now? Hm? What is she afraid of? Why does the thought of you and your friends scare her so much? Answer those questions!"
Darien glared at him angrily. As furious as he was, he had to admit that he didn't know the answers to his inquiries.
"That's what I thought! Do yourself a favor and get lost!"
"She will come back to me; it's just a matter of time. She and I have gone through much worse than this and we've always found our way back to each other!"
"Hold onto that then. It should help you sleep at night." Then he gave a small smile. "Don't underestimate me, Darren. If you come at Serena again, I will deal with you personally."
Having said his piece, Syrus pushed past Darien and took off in the direction the dark-haired girl had gone.
Darien groaned in anger and continued walking. Who the hell did this guy think he was? And what did he mean when he said he had been fighting for Serena before he had met her? That made no sense. The more he thought about it, the more confused he found himself. The world and academic work were all things he could understand easily. Matters of the heart were not so easy.
"I love you. My heart belongs only to you."
"Serena?" The young man looked around. There was no one familiar to be seen but he had heard her voice, clear as a bell. The last words that Serena had said to him at the only battle she had been in. There had been several battles after that Thanksgiving fight, but Sailor Moon had not returned to fight again. Were those words she had said true? Or was what she had just angrily yelled the truth?
He was racked with so many feelings he didn't know what to think. He loved Serena with all his heart. They were together in a past life and their future held promise of them being together. He was missing something, he knew it. Not just Serena, but something about her. How could he make her fall back in love with him if he didn't know what it was?
Darien sighed and stepped into the Crown Arcade. He looked about to see if the arcade's attendant, Andrew, was anywhere to be found. After a quick glance around, he was met with disappointment. He could use his best friend at a time like this.
The young man decided to wait for his blonde friend and took a seat at the bar. He drummed his fingers against the counter to help him think. Let's see…he could kidnap Serena and help her remember by…locking her away? 'What are you thinking Darien? That's insane. And how would that help? Hm…then again…maybe you need to do something insane.'
"Hey Darien," a quiet voice uttered.
He looked to his side and saw Sammy sitting next to him. That was it! Maybe whatever was missing was tied to the day of the accident. He had heard that Sammy was the only one who had seen it all. Maybe if he could get Sammy to tell him what happened, he could figure out what to do.
"Hey Sammy. How are you?"
"Good."
Darien twiddled his thumb. Sammy was still very fragile. He would have to be especially careful in dealing with him.
"You here with some friends?"
Sammy nodded. "They thought I should get out but…it feels so wrong."
Here was his opening. "Is it because of the accident?"
Sammy looked down shamefully. He nodded again.
"You know Serena would want you to enjoy yourself, memories or not. She wouldn't want you to be like this."
"I know."
"I really miss her," he continued. "But I can't get through to her…do you know how I could?"
Sammy shook his head. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay. Do you think…do you think you could tell me what happened that day? The day of the accident?"
Sammy looked up at him, his eyes as wide as saucers. He shook his head. "I can't…" He lowered his head again.
"You don't have to tell me everything. Just a little…to give me an idea."
The boy looked up once more. "She was…she was trying to save me."
"To save you?" His eyes widened in alarm. "Save you from what?"
"We were on a bridge…" his voice trailed off.
Darien put his hand on the boy's shoulder. "What happened on the bridge?"
"Sammy! Sammy, come on! Dad says it's time for dinner!"
The view from Sammy's eyes turned and the pig-tailed blonde came into view. Sammy was apparently on an old, wooden bride that connected two cliffs. Serena was standing at the opening of the bridge on the side opposite of the boy.
"Why don't you come on and make me!"
"You little spore!"
The scene warped and the next thing Sammy saw was Serena looking up at him.
"Hang on Serena!"
"I—I can't!"
There was a tightness in his body as the boy struggled to keep his grip. Without warning, the siblings' grip broke.
"Serena!"
Darien pulled his hand back in shock but the boy hardly seemed to notice. He was just shaking his head. "The bridge…"
"Hey Sammy, it's okay. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, okay? Besides, I'm sure Serena has forgiven you, right?"
He nodded. "That's what she says but it's like she's not Serena anymore. You can't deny it."
"That's true," the young man replied. "She isn't the same…but she'll get her memory back."
The boy wrung his hands. "The doctors don't think so. They said it's unlikely."
"Unlikely doesn't mean impossible. She will remember!"
Song: I Walk Beside You
Artist: Dream Theater
Serena and Syrus were now in Syrus's apartment. The dark haired girl was carrying on angrily as the young man prepared some tea for them in the kitchen. Since they had arrived, she had been pacing after having thrown her things irritably across the living room. Every now and then, she vocalized her anger but that was all that came from her.
Syrus hadn't spoken to her yet. He was thinking about Serena and what the right thing to say to her was. He didn't know what that was exactly. He poured the tea and sighed. Was their love really supposed to be this hard? He had known that she had a past life when they met. He knew she had amnesia. Syrus had gone into this relationship with his eyes wide open.
There's a story in your eyes
I can see the hurt behind your smile
For every sign I recognize
Another one escapes me
The young man spooned some sugar into the tea and then placed the cups onto a small wooden tray he had.
"Tea!" he called as he walked out of the kitchen. He entered the apartment's one room where he found Serena sitting on the couch. "Hey Sweets, tea?" He sat down next to her and handed her a cup. She took it and stared at it. "Come on Serena, don't let that guy get to you."
Let me know what plagues your mind
Let me be the one to know you best
Be the one to hold you up
When you feel like you're sinking
"I can't believe him! How dare he tell me what to do!" She put the cup down and walked over to the bed. Then she flopped face down onto the pillow. The girl let out a scream.
Syrus furrowed his brow and walked over to the bed. He sat down at the edge and pulled Serena up. "Come on, forget about him!"
"I'm trying but it's like he's in my head! He wants me 'to be prepared for my future'? It's like he knows something about me I don't!"
Tell me once again
What's beneath the pain you're feeling
Don't abandon me
Or think you can't be saved
The green-eyed young man looked up reflectively. He pushed himself onto the bed and rested his back along the wall. Serena crawled up to him and nestled herself between his arm and his chest. Syrus kissed her forehead and rested his head on hers.
"I'm sorry I'm being like this," she told him. "I don't know why, but every time I see that guy it makes me so mad! Everything he says is so…so…"
"So right?"
I walk beside you
Wherever you are
"What?"
Syrus sighed. "He was right. I shouldn't have taken you out of school and you know it. What if your parents find out?"
"Who cares?"
Whatever it takes
No matter how far
"What about your future?"
"Again, who cares?" She clutched his shirt. "It's like I'm back at the hospital all over again," she said in a lower tone.
Through all that may come
And all that may go
I walk beside you
I walk beside you
"Everyone expects me to remember and to do what I would normally do, but I don't know what that is. Everyone wants me to do the right thing but it just doesn't appeal to me. Nothing does. And every time I see that guy or those girls, it just…it just makes me angry." She was silent for a moment. "Maybe…maybe it would have been better if I had just died in that accident."
"What?"
"Come on Syrus! They're harassing me, practically! Sammy is so depressed, he can barely speak and my parents are so transparent! They put on a brave face in the day, but at night, late, late at night when they think I'm sleeping, I can hear my mom crying over me. My dad tries to comfort her but nothing changes. And then there is you."
Summon up your ghosts for me
Rest your tired thoughts upon my hand
Step inside the sacred place
When all your dreams seem broken
"Me? What about me?"
"Look where you are! Look what you did just because I told you that you didn't have to go back home. You work all hours of the night just to support yourself and you go to school every morning. Then I see you after school and we waste time that you could be using to sleep. I know your life wasn't this hard before."
Resonate inside this temple
Let me be the one who understands
Be the one to carry you
When you can walk no further
Syrus looked around his small apartment. He lived in a studio with a separate kitchen and bathroom. When he had first moved in, he barely had any money to furnish the place but in time, he was able to pick up a few things from hand-me-down and bargain stores. He had the basics but that didn't bother him.
"Serena, none of this upsets me. Yes, it was easier when I lived with my family but it was…complicated."
Tell me once again
What's below the surface bleeding
"You were right when you told me I didn't have to go back. They're terrible people. You saw me at the hospital. They're the ones who did that to me."
She looked up at him. "I thought you had the ability to heal yourself."
If you've lost your way
I will take you in
"I do but…it's weak. I haven't fully developed the ability to control it. I can usually only heal minor injuries of my own freewill. My body usually handles anything major without me even being aware of it. "
"I know your family treated you bad. I'm sorry."
I walk beside you
Wherever you are
Whatever it takes
No matter how far
"It's not your fault babe." He hugged her. "Don't ever say that you should have died in that accident. If that had happened…I probably would be right back with my so-called family. You saved me Serena. Whenever you think no one else understands, whenever you think that no one else cares, just remember that I do."
Serena's eyes glazed over and she blinked to hold in her tears. "I love you Syrus."
Through all that may come
And all that may go
I walk beside you
I walk beside you
He shifted slightly and pulled her closer. "I love you too." He gently dragged his thumbs across her eyes and wiped away her now falling tears. "I don't want to be without you." Syrus gently caressed her. Serena gripped his arms and laid her head on his chest.
Oh when everything is wrong
Oh when hopelessness surrounds you
Oh the sun will rise again
The tide you swim against will carry you back home
So don't give up
Don't give in
The young man looked down at his mate sadly. He knew that he loved her and that she loved him. The problem didn't lie within the two of them; it was with the people in their lives. He had known that she had been involved with someone before the accident…she had told him. It wasn't too hard to believe; she really was wonderful and he couldn't blame Darien for putting up a fight over her. Who wouldn't want her back?
"Do you remember what you told me the day we met?" he asked her calmly.
She nodded. "I told you that you didn't have to go back to where you came from if you didn't want to."
Syrus nodded to this response. "You did. And do you remember what I told you?"
I walk beside you
Wherever you are
Whatever it takes
No matter how far
"Yes." Serena sniffled. "You told me that I didn't have to go back to who I was if I didn't want to."
"Right." He kissed Serena's head affectionately. "You can be whoever you want to be…just like I can go anywhere I want to go. I never went back home after that day. I didn't…because I had someone who believed that I could be better if I wanted to be, that I could go somewhere better if I wanted to."
Through all that may come
And all that may go
I walk beside you
I walk beside you
She sniffled again. "Mhmm."
Syrus pulled her away from him so that he could look at her. "Sweets, you got that from me. I told you that you could be whoever you wanted to be and I meant it. I believe you can be better if you want to be, okay? So please, don't let that guy hurt you anymore."
She nodded solemnly as he gave her body a gentle nudge. Serena nuzzled her head against his chest and he tightened his hold on her. He kissed her head affectionately as she pulled his free hand to her lips. They sat in silence, lost together in their own world.
life705: There you go! Did you all enjoy that? It looks like Serena and Syrus just keep getting closer while she and Darien keep getting farther. And what of the accident? More to come soon! Please comment, review, leave your questions, concerns, feelings, or whatever! I value your input!