Chapter 10- Serena and Darien's Confessions

The bus drives to Juuban District bus stop as the bus driver releases the passengers to the bus stop. The Earth Generals leave first by order: Malachite, Zoisite, Nephrite, and Jadeite. Then, the Sailor Scouts leave next by order: Trista, Michelle, Amara, Lita, Raye, Amy, Mina, Hotaru, Rini, and Mini Mini. Finally, Darien gets off the bus, as Serena is about to get off last. Raye asks, "Serena, are you okay?"

Serena turns around to get back inside the bus, but Darien stops her and says, "Stop. You don't need to run anymore. –A is gone. Come on."

Serena gets off the bus as the bus driver drives away from them. Lita says, "Look, we talked about this."

Mina says, "You know it's the right decision."

Serena suggests, "Maybe I should go home first. Speak to my family."

Amy reminds her, "Serena, the Dark Moon buried you."

Raye says, "Look, I think it's more important that the police know you're alive before your family does."

Rini says, "Hey, yeah."

Mini Mini copies Rini, saying, "Hey, yeah."

Amara says, "You need to walk in there and tell them everything."

Michelle says, "What Amara is saying is that you need to start with the night you disappeared."

Serena hesitates and says, "I can't do this. I can't."

Trista says, "Yes, you can."

Hotaru says, "Okay, you're not in this alone. –A tortured all of us, and what happened to Diamond…"

Iris interrupts, "Happened because of me. And I can handle that part. I think."

Jadeite says, "Don't worry, Iris. We will all be here for you and Serena."

Nephrite says, "Yeah, and there's a saying that if they take one of us, then they will have to take all of us."

Zoisite says, "Promise us that you two will be there for all of us when we need you."

Malachite says, "Serena should do all the talking, but we will answer questions if being asked."

Darien turns to Serena and says, "Serena, look, you're gonna have to cover the rest.

Iris talks to Serena and asks her, "Serena. Are we in agreement?"

Serena nods at everyone as she leads her friends to the police station. In order, Serena is escorted by Darien who is holding Rini's hand and Serena's hand as Iris is holding Mini Mini's hand and Serena's hand. Next, Malachite escorts Mina and Hotaru. Then, Zoisite escorts Amy and Michelle. Next, Jadeite escorts Raye and Trista. Finally, Nephrite escorts Lita and Amara. As they enter in the police station, Serena looks at the detective who is staring at her and walks to her. Serena asks, "Are you Detective Seiya Kou?"

Seiya answers, "I am."

Serena says, "I think you've been looking for me. I'm…"

Seiya interrupts, "I know who you are. I'm glad you're with you friends. Welcome home. I'm guessing you have a lot to tell me. Maybe we can begin with the night that you disappeared."

Serena says, "I'm ready to tell you guys everything, but I need two conditions in return."

Seiya asks, "What's that?"

Serena says, "I need a bodyguard in case if my stalker comes back for me, and I want every one of my friends with me while I'm being interrogated. If it weren't for my friends, I wouldn't be standing here. They saved my life. "

Seiya nods and says, "Sure, whatever you need."

Meanwhile, in the interrogation room, Seiya brings his brothers into the room, and Seiya shows Serena a picture of when Serena visits the girls at the temple. Seiya asks, "We don't know who took this photo, but it is dated, so I'm assuming this wasn't your first visit home."

Serena looks at Seiya, Taiki, and Yaten, and then looks at her friends who are determined to listen to Serena confessing everything. Seiya asks, "You have any memory of this night?"

Serena nods as she says, "It was the night that I visited the girls after they went to a costume karaoke party at Crown Arcade and Café. It was the night that I escaped from him."

Taiki asks, "From your stalker? How?"

Serena says, "I wore a disguise."

Yaten asks, "While you were still being stalked?"

Serena asks, "Yeah, I wore a mask and a different outfit, and I ran straight to the arcade and café, so that he couldn't catch me."

Seiya asks, "But on the night of this photo, you managed to make it back to Juuban District of Tokyo and you found your friends?"

Serena says, "I asked them to keep it quiet until the time was right."

Seiya says, "You thought that they would be more helpful than the police? Your parents?"

Serena says, "I was scared. Okay, I was scared that if I came back home and I was out in the open that he'd find me again."

Taiki asks her friends, "So, how did you protect her?"

Iris answers, "I contacted her, saying that she's in danger and she called me and gave us a place to meet her."

Yaten asks, "Where did you guys meet her?"

As Serena's friends are about to answer, the door opens and Serena turns around and sees her family come in. Serena sighs and says, "Mom, dad!"

Ikuko and Kenji say, "Oh, my God!"

Serena runs to them and says, "Mom, dad!"

Serena hugs her parents as the police detectives finish interrogating Serena and her friends.

Darien walks up to her parents as Kenji sees Darien. He shakes Darien's hand and says, "Thank you for saving my daughter. I don't know how can I ever repay you. Maybe I can let my daughter date you."

Ikuko says, "Dear, when did you support her dating? I though you would always protect her."

Kenji says, "I know, honey. But I realize that Darien fought hard to find our little princess, so this is how I repay him."

Serena tells her parents, "I don't know."

Suddenly, Serena just leaves the police station and runs back home where she feels safe. As she goes into her room, she looks into her closet and sees all the clothes she wear before she disappeared. Then, she goes to her bed to sit down, but Kenji knocks on her door and brings Darien into her room. Serena asks Darien, "Would you stop bothering my dad?"

Kenji explains, "I ask him to come here, Serena."

Serena asks, "Why?"

Kenji answers, "Because I'm allowing you to date. I just wanted to let you know if you're alright."

Serena says, "Well, I 'm better than alright. I've been dreaming about this moment for a long time, sleeping in my own bed."

Kenji says, "I understand. I just I don't think I can ever let you out of my sight again."

Serena asks, "Where's Sammy?"

Kenji says, "He is sleeping over at a friend's house. I can't say how worried, because I am."

Serena says, "I'm sure he's fine."

Kenji says, "I know this is maybe asking for too much, but um… I want you to feel safe that I offered Darien to look over you."

Serena looks at Darien and says, "Well, he must've done some job on you, huh?"

Kenji asks, "What do you mean?"

Serena explains, "I mean I didn't think you were that impressionable, Dad."

Kenji tells her, "He was never trying to impress me, Serena. He was trying to impress you."

Serena argues, "Oh, no. He is just trying to get you to like him."

Kenji tells her, "Oh, well I already like him, and he knows that because I told him so."

Serena says, "Well, I hope you two will be very happy together once you get to know each other."

Darien says, "He knows everything about me."

Serena asks, "How so?"

Kenji answers, "Because I like him."

Kenji puts his hand on Darien's shoulder as he continues to say, "But I love my family more. I want this boy near my family now that I accept his blessing to date my daughter."

Kenji walks to Serena and continues to explain, "I want him near you."

Darien starts talking to Serena, "Serena, I had nothing to do with this."

Kenji says, "Honey, we need to talk about how I met your mother."

Serena says, "No."

Kenji says, "Serena."

Serena says, "No! I am not fourteen years old anymore. You're not going to tell me that 'we're going to talk about it.' And I don't want to talk about it in front of Darien."

Darien walks towards Serena and says, "Serena, I understand."

Serena sighs as Darien continues talking, "I understand about the love between your parents. And I understand why you're afraid of our relationship."

Serena starts talking to him, "There is no relationship between us, Darien. Look, you don't know what you are talking about."

Darien says, "Hey. He told me, okay?"

Serena starts to panic and says, "Oh no. How could you do that?"

Darien asks Serena, "How could you've not told me?"

Serena says, "That my mother was destined to be with my father just like how you were destined to be with me."

Darien says, "Yes. Don't you think I would've understood? Don't you… think that would've brought us closer together?"

Serena explains, "Yes. I don't want to be closer together."

Darien asks, "Why not?"

Kenji interrupts and agrees Darien, "Yeah, why not?"

Serena starts to sob and tells Darien, "Because I don't want to hurt you."

Darien happily scoffs and tells Serena, "Well, what are you talking about? You're already killing me."

Darien asks Serena again, "How are you going to hurt me more if you love me?"

Serena says, "I can't love you."

Darien asks her, "Why not?"

Serena sobs and says, "Because…"

Darien goes closer to her and asks, "Because why?"

Serena looks at him in tears and says, "Because you'll hurt me again."

Serena starts to walk away in tears, but her dad stops her. Kenji says, "No. Do not surrender to this. I did not raise my daughter to surrender."

Serena looks at him in tears as her dad calms her down. He tells her, "You are not your mother. You're you. The difference between your mother and you is that she loves me since college, and you are in middle school."

Serena says, "Daddy, I'm so sorry."

Kenji kisses her hands as he says, "It's okay. I'm okay. But this is about you. I just want you to be happy. And how could you ever be happy if you're afraid to tell the man you love that you love him?"

Serena looks at Darien as she walks up to him and confesses in tears, "I love you, Darien! I love you so much!""

Darien hugs Serena as Serena hugs him back. Serena continues talking, "I just don't want to hurt you anymore."

Darien confesses, "I love you too! I always have!"

Kenji looks at Darien and says, "You take care of my daughter, young man."

Darien says, "Thank you, Mr. Tsukino."

Kenji says, "You can call me Kenji."

Serena hugs her dad and smiles at him. She tells her dad, "Thank you, daddy!"

Kenji kisses her on the forehead as he tells her, "Thank you, sweetheart. You get some rest, okay? You had a long day, and we're just glad to have you back in town, Serena."

Kenji leaves them alone to talk. Darien starts to have a conversation with her. He asks, "You had the same dream as me on the same day that I broke up with you?"

Serena nods and ask, "How could you have not told me?"

Darien says, "I thought I was protecting you, but I was wrong. Please forgive me."

Serena says, "I forgive you."

Darien begs her, but he says, "You what?"

Serena explains, "I forgive you. You didn't really break up with me. The voice in your dream made you. You were scared that you love me, but know that something dangerous will keep us apart. Sound familiar?"

Darien nods as he makes a vow, "I promise I will always protect you at any cost."

Darien leans into her face and kisses her lips. Serena places her left hand onto Darien's right shoulder as her right hand goes to his neck. Darien puts her hand on the back of her head and her waist. As they stop kissing each other to breathe air, they both go into bed as Serena lays her head onto Darien's chest as Darien puts his left arm around her as his other arm on the back of his head. He caresses her hair as she kisses him on the forehead and they both drift into sleep.

Meanwhile, the Earth Generals stay over their girlfriends' houses like Malachite stays with Mina at her house, Zoisite stays with Amy at her loft, Jadeite stays with Raye at her temple, and Nephrite stays with Lita at her apartment. The Sailor Outer Scouts are in their homes because Rini and Mini Mini with them to have a slumber party with Hotaru.

Suddenly, three figures are watching them, revealing them to be the Sailor Starlights. Sailor Star Fighter asks them, "You ready to face the scouts and generals yet?"

Sailor Star Maker replies, "Fighter, none of the scouts and generals don't know who we are."

Sailor Star Healer says, "Let's get out of here and do this another time. Can't you see that they're sleeping?"

Sailor Star Fighter says, "Yeah, you're right. Maybe tomorrow if danger is coming."

Then, they flee into the night and detransform themselves, revealing to be the police detectives of Juuban District: Seiya, Taiki, and Yaten. Then, they walk away on the streets in the moonlight.