Blueeyedevil06 thank you for being my beta and my encourager.

I love prompts. Head over to Finding Love I have gotten some wonderful ones. It is fun to puzzle through and to, hopefully, come up with a new angle on a story line someone loves. Let me know what you think.

I hope you are enjoying my story!


Chapter 45 - Five Days

What followed was the week of Sapphire attacking every day. Everywhere Molly went, youma attacked. People in school started talking like she was cursed. They would ask her the plans she had and then head across town from where she would be by the third day. That day it was a joke. After five days, even the principal asked her where she was going.

Rui was beside herself. She had been ignoring Sapphire's calls and spending more time away from home so she wouldn't be there when he knocked on her door. She was heartbroken that her soulmate was trying to kill her oldest friend.

Darien was angry that he missed the fact that Beryl would want Molly dead after they destroyed her cousin. He could admit that he was so worried about Serena that he didn't think of the other consequences.

Andrew was growing upset. He had to work after school, and he tried to convince Molly to not go out or to go to the Arcade. He was horrified that she had become a target because of him. Two evenings he even managed to sneak into her window, and they held each other while they slept. He wanted her to feel safe. She had promised him she did feel safe in his arms. After all, he had defeated Bazzite and saved her life. He was so elated that she felt safe with him.

The only benefit of Molly being the target was that he never attacked her at school. They all knew there would come a day they had to explain why they all skipped school. Darien didn't look forward to the disapproval from his teachers.

And so, Serena destroyed youma after youma with her tiara. She was growing exhausted and her body was having a hard time recovering after so many fights being back to back. At night, when she was alone with her husband, they would soak in the large tub to ease their muscles, and he would hold her. He would tell her how amazing she was and how powerful. She loved those times together.

She would then tell him about how much he was her hero. She would thank him for saving her time after time from danger and how much she liked being in his arms. Even in the middle of a battle. His hands would caress her warm, wet skin. They would then get lost in each other. Night after night, they would fall in bed together, safe in each other's arms.

One night, in their post orgasm glow, they were lying on their bed. Darien propped his head on his elbow, looked down at her and said, "Even with all of the battles going on, I am happier now than I was before."

"That is because you are getting laid. A lot. Who would have known that battles could be such an aphrodisiac?"

He chuckled, "I am not discounting that. But really, it's having you in my life that makes me so happy."

She kissed his arm. "That is very sweet. I have to agree with you. I love even the little things we do together. I am so happy right now."

He gave her a heated look, "Now, don't get me wrong. The sex is amazing, and I am all for having lots of it."

"It's a good thing that I completely agree with you. Why don't you use your superhero stamina and show me how much you like it?" she challenged him.

That night, as he made love to her again, he became concerned about the ability of the bed frame to hold up to them having sex. He heard it creaking a few times and made a note to check on it the next day. The next day, he made sure to add some more bolts to keep the bed from falling apart. Some of the ones they had were already loosening.

It was established very quickly that Sapphire was, in fact, under the thrall of dark energy. Serena and Raye could tell. Raye because of her priestess abilities and Serena because of her Silver Crystal. The purity of the Crystal was easily able to sense the dark energy possessing Sapphire once Serena concentrated on it. Amy analyzed it with her Mercury computer and realized that the dark energy signature was different than they had all expected. They all ended up concluding that while he was possessed by evil, it probably came from a different source than Beryl and Metalia.

The second battle was hard for them all. After that battle, Kunzite was barely able to walk away from the confrontation. Mina had to help him limp off. Darien had just set Serena down when a blast from a youma came at her from behind them. Kunzite dove in front of Serena to take the full force of it's attack as the others attacked the youma. Serena spun and yelled, "Moon Tiara Action." The youma turned to dust and Mina raced to Kunzite to keep him from collapsing.

That night, Darien showed up at Kunzite's place. Kunzite was resting in his bedroom, so Mina let Darien in. She was wearing Kunzite's bathrobe by the look of how big it was on her.

Mina went to get something to drink and left Darien alone with Kunzite. He went in and said, "How are you healing?"

"Don't worry about me. I will be fine." He replied gruffly.

"You should've let me heal you. I offered before, and now I am considering doing it without your permission." Darien confessed.

Kunzite shook his head, "I will be fine. I am not going to die here. Also, I meant it when I said that I would protect her when I asked you to put her at risk. I am proving that I knew what I had promised." He then lowered his voice and said conspiratorially, "I am a lot better than I seem. Mina has taken very good care of me. I really like the way she plays nurse."

Darien choked on his laugh, "I will reward you for protecting Serena by not healing you then. I take it whatever she is wearing under your bathrobe is part of the healing process?"

Kunzite nodded, "I may have to get hurt more often."

Darien chuckled, "Well, I will let Serena know you are doing just fine."

After Mina let Darien out and closed the door, she dropped the bathrobe that she was wearing on the floor, and walked into Kunzite's room. She leaned against the door frame and said, "Now, back to me kissing it and making it better."

He groaned and said, "You look so sexy in that naughty nurse outfit."

"I am glad you approved." She winked at him. "I think I need to give you a through check up, again."

"I couldn't agree more." He replied.

Darien went back to the penthouse and assured Serena that Kunzite was going to be fine.

On Saturday, Rui finally broke down in Serena's arms. She had seen how they had looked after the battles. Many of the times, they had convened at the penthouse to discuss strategies afterwards. She had been there, seen them injured, and heard about the battles. She was distraught when she heard about Kunzite's injuries after the second battle.

"I know he is my soulmate, but is that worth all of this?" Rui asked, sniffling.

Serena replied saying, "You are asking the wrong woman. Races of people died because of Endymion and Serenity's love. Beryl unleashed Metalia out of jealousy. What I do know is that I have always fought for true love, and there isn't a reason to stop now."

Darien looked at his wife and marveled at her. How she could comfort Rui and himself at the same time, he didn't know. She was right. They fought for true love. If he stopped now, what did that say about his commitment to her? He didn't want Serena to doubt that he would do anything to preserve their love.

Rui nodded at her and squared her shoulders. "You agree that love is worth fighting for?" Serena nodded. "Then call me to the next battle."

"Are you sure?" Serena asked.

Rui looked her in the eye, "He keeps trying to contact me. Let me be there, and let me try to get through to him."

"But, he could link you to us." was Darien's comment.

Rui shook her head, "I won't use your names, and you shouldn't use mine. Pretend like you don't know me."

"I don't want to put you in danger." Serena stated.

Rui smirked, "I don't want to put you in danger either. Let me try. You can't really think he would kill me."

Serena's shoulders sagged, "I don't think he would injure you. I don't want you to see the battle."

"Let me be strong enough to be there."

Darien thought about it and said, "Serena, you need to let her do this. She is strong, and you can't hold her back."

"Fine. But, you will be careful, and if you get injured, I will be mad." Serena stated with conviction.

Rui smiled. "I promise."

Darien chuckled and said, "Maybe you and Molly should go hang out at the park this afternoon. That way, we don't have to call you for the attack."

Rui sighed, "Beryl really wants her dead, doesn't she? I am having a hard time with the fact that she is using Sapphire to do it."

"Just remember that it isn't him. You attacked Sailor Moon. You didn't want to do that either." Darien said.

Rui smiled at him, "Thank you. I am always glad you don't hold that against me. Everyone knows how protective of Serena you are."

Darien looked at Serena and Rui and said, "I will gather the troops. It's time for a planning meeting, again."


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