Chapter 28: The Advice

Serena had left to spend a shopping date with Mina, and he'd been left to a laptop full of ideas of where he should bring them on their honey moon.

They were all the same.

Beaches, seclusion…sunshine…tropical.

It wasn't that that wasn't enjoyable, but really…he wanted something that meant something…or fit for Serena. He sighed. He needed some air.

He went out to the balcony and felt the summer air run past him. It wouldn't be like this for long. If Tokyo established themselves as one of the most powerful places in the world…well other places might cause a fuss. They wanted peace, but becoming political…well…

He shook his head. He needed to worry about that after. He needed to focus on-

"Funny seeing the world from this perspective."

He turned to see Malachite on the balcony over from him.

"Yea, its beautiful on a day like today." Darien agreed. He'd found it less strange than he'd expected to be living around the Shitennou.

"But it seems you have more than just the weather on your mind." Malachite turned his eye to Darien.

"I thought you lived on the upper level?" Darien said, not sure how he should mention his problem.

"I used to. It turns out Zoicite and I needed two apartments. We really do seem to have more differences as ourselves, then we did with the nega-verse."

"I've never had a sibling…or any relatives…but I guess that's what's good about having freedom. You'll work it out."

"I'm sure we will. So do they always shop so much?" Malachite asked.

"Well considering they're out of school, and their more famous now, so I'm not that surprised?"

"That has Mina all over it." Malachite laughed a little. "So what got you on your balcony? Something with Serena?"

Darien sighed.

"I know we were enemies only a few years ago…but in another life we were also your attendees. I hope to make up for our mistakes…we owe our lives to you and the scouts now. We are the cause of the terror the Moon befell and the Queen of the Moon's death. Your own Moon Princess Serena is too kind letting us live another life so freely."

"She is took kind." Darien agreed, looking into the distance. "Well, I mean, not towards you or the others its just I of all people neglected her…I decided to put the…or rather completely forgot the Honey Moon, because I was so focused on the politics of the matter."

"Earth has always been indebted to its politics…and while I agree that is the logical thing to do, being accustom to the ways in which love works and what we owe to your Princess, it would be seemingly befit to provide a vacation to which she can escape this if not for a short while."

Darien nodded. She did mention that she was overcome by all that had happened over the last while. It had been a lot for everyone to handle. "But what can I give to her, what can I provide that she'd enjoy to relax but also to mean something? I mean I owe it to her."

"Well if you really want to know, under Beryl's rein you probably messed up quite a bit of the scouts outings trying to get that crystal."

"As apposed to you?" Darien gave him a smirk.

"Prince, I can't deny our debt to the scouts grows longer than our lives could give, but there was a single time amongst them all that you truly attempted to outstretch your own boundaries and worked alone to retrieve the crystal."

"What did I do?"

"Well if I remember correctly, when,you did decide to go rogue in an attempt to outdo me, you awakened a demon from her slumber at a hot springs resort in the woods. I watched as you tried to take control of it, but it decided to go after a young girl. Only now do I realize that girl was in fact-"

"Serena. Parts are coming back to me." Darien said putting his head in his hand. He remembered. His memory found itself recalling those days, now that the shitennou were back. Maybe they reminded him.

"Amongst other times, of skating, a hair salon and a few more incidents, that was the one to which you put both her and her family in danger. I'd like to say you were more successful in your endeavours, but your want to keep the scouts safe was a problem I ran into with you. Luckily so at that." Malachite questioned his own thoughtless actions in harming the scouts.

"Look, you've helped a lot. At least I have more to think about to go off of. Thanks."

"Well at the least I'm glad to help. If you need help with the politics side of things, I pride myself in my logic, so leave some of it to us. The building of Crystal Tokyo, as you call it, will take time, but it will also be less problematic now that there is much less of a threat with the Dark Moon kingdom abolished."

"I'm happy to know I can count on you, and your men." Darien said, feeling a kind of strange deja vu in the words, as if he'd said them before.

"We are now your men." Malachite said turning to the door to his apartment. "Let us repay our debt one favour at a time."

Darien watched him walk back into his apartment. He looked to his computer. Maybe he could find more inspiration elsewhere.


"So hows life living with Darien?"

"What do you mean?" Serena admired the small charm she had bought for her phone. A rose and a bunny, perfect.

"Well I mean come on Serena, as the Sailor Scout of Love you have to tell me everything." Mina turned to her stopping her from walking, as they caused abrupt stares as the two identified Scouts. Serena couldn't help but notice the police cars that had more frequented their areas. It just wasn't the same being an outed Sailor Scout and Princess of the Moon. Strangely less glamorous than she had thought…other than the bold people who asked for their autographs , who were mostly kids and some guys, and the discounts they got at stores.

She looked to Mina. "*Gulp*…Everything?"

Mina nodded before her attention was directed past Serena.
"Hey, isn't that Darien in that shop?"

"What?!" Serena said as she turned around to see Darien through the glass window looking at a bunch of travel brochures.

"Do you think…" Mina started. "…did you end up dropping that hint to him Serena?"

She recalled the night before and felt her face start to turn red at the thought of the towel incident.

"You did didn't you? Where are you guys going to go on the honeymoon?"

"I…I'm not sure." Serena said.

"I bet he'll pick somewhere super romantic!"

"Why do you say that?"

"Common Serena its Tuxedo Mask we're talking about here. Can't you remember how you and Rei totally fell for his suave roses? Oh I wonder if it will be secluded to?" Mina fantasized.

"You really think so?" Serena's voice squeaked in excitement.

"I'm so jealous Serena, maybe I should convince Malachite to go on a little getaway?"

"But you guys aren't even married yet?"

"So? I had him once, I gotta keep an eye on him so no psycho queen like Beryl takes him away again?"

"Speak for yourself." Serena mumbled at Mina's negligent statement.

"So did you give him any requests Serena?"

"No, not really…" Serena said.

"Really? If it was me I would have gave a list of things."

"Well I know Darien will pick a vacation spot just fine." Serena speculated. "Somewhere romantic. Somewhere charming. A beach. Classy. Just the two of us…Fit for a Princess and her Prince."

Mina and Serena imagined the scene.

Serena sighed. "I wonder which place he did pick."

"Well it seems we lost that chance."

"Huh?" Serena asked.

"Look." Mina pointed at the red sports car driving off.

"Oh now I'll have to wait." Serena sulked.

"Oh come on, it adds to the suspense. But you better tell me if he tells you tonight!"

"Deal!" Serena said as she was anxious to return home to see what Darien had in store for their Honey Moon.