I do not own Sailor Moon.
Chapter 10
Eve trudged home, head hanging in anger. "I cannot believe this. That young girl…his girlfriend? Ugh, I suppose I should feel more humiliated than anything else," she said out loud. Immediately following Darien's departure from their afternoon coffee break, Eve felt even more determined, even insanely compelled to find Darien. It was a sad tale of unrequited affections, one that Eve had become the epitome of. The first time Eve had met Darien in person, she felt instant sparks. In fact, after quite an exquisite amount of thought, the wine-haired young woman concluded she'd loved him ever since. They met through mutual friends and hit it off completely during the school year, which to Eve was a blessing. Perhaps he would never feel the same way, but even still Eve sensed something more to their relationship.
Whether it be self-imposed or not, the young woman intended to find out. Her heart having been broken many times before, Eve realized that Darien was somehow different. He was a guiding light in a starless night sky. Darien may not have known it, but there was something between them. She knew it in her gut.
Ten minutes had passed, and still lost in her reverie, Eve came upon Juuban Park, a quaint scenario graced by the peaceful flow of a crystalic lake. It was, however, not the lake, nor its beauty that captivated her attention as she passed. "How convenient!" Eve said; her gaze locked onto something far more intriguing.
* * *
"Oh god what have I done?" Darien agonized, completely devastated. Serena disappeared without a trace to who-knows-where and now she hated him. He could just feel it. "I hate myself for this. In actuality the entire thing is purely ridiculous. Serena knows damn well that I love her." He paused for a moment, his thoughts enveloped in Serena' image. It was impressed on his mind and he could the tears streaming down her face again before she disappeared.
"Eve and I are merely friends…but how could I expect Serena to know that?" Darien paused for a moment, his thoughts now lost on Eve. Her smiling, beautiful face was in his mind, almost taunting him. Perhaps he was overlooking something. What could it be? And then realization struck him. How could Darien have missed it? The man knew quite well what it was that had forced his love away. A stray attraction.
"I'm attracted to Eve…but I wouldn't dare act on it. My future is with Serena, the woman I love and always will. But I'm merely human…how many times have I heard of Serena embarking on a pursuit of cute guys? Why not I? Even still, that's not an excuse. But how can I deny the feelings within me?" He loved Serena but this was so different, fresh, new, and appealing; like a moth to a flame.
A sudden, melodic voice ripped him back to reality. "Darien? Are you okay?" Eve said walking over with an innocent smile on her face. Mentally, Darien cursed himself and refused to allow his gaze to lift. Eve's presence became closer still as she seated herself beside him, still avoided by Darien's acknowledgement. "Darien?"
His midnight eyes slowly made their way up to meet her's.
"Eve…I don't really know what to say. But I must apologize for my actions earlier. It's just that I had to assure Serena that what she had seen was purely innocent. My girlfriend is off somewhere, probably crying her eyes out because she's gotten the wrong idea about us," Darien replied quietly, his thoughts most likely occupied by the young blonde.
"Are you sure that's what it really is?" Eve replied carefully after a short pause. Immediately, Darien's head snapped and his eyes locked with Eve's hazel.
"Eve?" he inquired, fearful curiosity claiming his expression. She, however, allowed her gaze to shift to the lake before them, and she as spoke her gaze remained so.
"Can you tell me honestly, Darien, that what occurred today was nothing more than that? A mistake? A misunderstanding?" Her voice was so serious, but calmness graced it. Darien's eyes became wide, and a slight blush accented the bridge of his nose.
"I don't understand what you're saying, Eve." Her eyes locked with his once again, and she shifted on the bench to face him completely.
"Darien…but you do understand. I know you do. You can't lie to me like this. Darien, listen to your heart. Can you deny the attraction that has existed between us since we first met?" His mouth opened as if to speak, but he stopped short and paused.
"She's my girlfriend…I love her," Darien spoke with sincere conviction. Eve looked down for a moment, but searched his eyes after a moment.
"But you're attracted…to me." They hadn't noticed at first how the space between them had dissipated until their lips locked in a precious kiss. It was deep and sensual, motivating and unbridled with passion. It seemed that it ended as quickly as it had begun.
"I love Serena I can't do this!" Darien whispered, holding Eve at bay by the shoulders.
"She's a child. Darien, she doesn't trust you. What is a relationship…what is love without trust?" It seemed that her words had an almost entrancing magic to them, and willingly, Darien engaged the kiss once again. Protest and turning back were lost on the embraced pair. The man's arms latched around her waist, and within moments their affections had become ignited with passion…whether in desperation or in hope.
However lost in one another they were, their carelessness would carry a guilty burden. Though their bliss forced away any second thoughts and so they plunged into one another's hearts. It was this that Sabrina observed as she passed by the park on her way home that afternoon, breathing in the breezy summer air. Her emerald gaze settled upon the bench and in surprise she found her sister, locked in the arms of a man.
"Darien? So this is who Eve's been after," she murmured from across the street. "I thought he had a girlfriend…Serena was her name…" The thought passed and the young woman went on her way…what Eve did on her own time was her business alone. And so the two were left alone in the midst of the afternoon sunset.
* * *
Night had fallen and nothing but the glowing sliver of the crescent moon lit Mina's way as she scoured the downtown streets for her friend. The sun had dipped beneath the horizon hours before in a glorious array of colors. Normally Mina would have enjoyed it, but of course with such matters as Serena' disappearing act on her hands, how could she?
Wandering the streets in hopes of finding the White Moon Princess, Mina sighed. If anything had happened to Serena, she would feel as if she had caused it and guilt would forever tear at her heart. Even if the odangoed girl ran off frequently, hiding away to collect her thoughts, she would be found sooner or later; if not on her own actions. But that afternoon had a different feel to it…as if a cosmic balance had been thrown off. Mina sighed again.
"Meatball Head…where have you disappeared to now?" The moon seemed to glow brighter as if in reply to her plea. Mina's eyes locked onto the glowing planetary body, and her voice too was directed at it. "Oh man…Serena where are you?" The ball of light in the sky above was a constant reminder of Serena herself. The blonde cupped her hands over her mouth in a makeshift loud speaker. "Serena!"
"Yes?" a form said from beside her. A crisp breeze suddenly whipped up and seemed to assault Mina; it's harsh force nearly scraping her delicate skin. The moon's light fell brightly onto the form, and Mina gasped as everything registered.
"Serena! I found you!" The blonde girl stopped for a moment as she watched Serena turn away and run down an alleyway, opposite of Mina's location. "Sere, come back!" The Venusian tore after her, eyes wide with disbelief; her throat was dry and her chest heaved as she continued to run. "Serena come back! I have to take you home! What's wrong?" The future queen merely continued on her wild race through the night and her laughter rang out in a taunting tone.
'This is insane. Either Darien pushed her over the edge or Serena has discovered a new, but irritating game. My god…what is something did happen? Whoa…wait a minute, where am I?' Mina's confused thoughts rang true as she had been lead into a desolate, silent, and completely empty area. She was led out to a parking lot on the edge of town…
Panting lightly, Mina watched as Serena halted in the center of the empty lot. Four tall parking lot lamps offered meager lighting in their dim glow. Serena's eyes were wide, bleak, and hopeless. "Help me," her voice came in a vacant whisper.
Mina watched from several yards away and her hand shot out to offer support. An even c wind whipped through and rustled her blonde hair violently. "Serena-
Serena turned her back quickly, a sinister sneer hidden from view as she did. "I would appreciate it if you would call me by my true name." Mina's heart stopped cold.
"What?" she replied in confusion, but mostly in shock.
"Dear friend…my name is Aria!" Without another word, Mina clutched her power wand, ready to wield the Power of Venus at any moment. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Sailor Venus!" Aria came into the flooding light of the distant lamps. The girl was much taller than Mina had realized, with long jungle green hair, huge white wings, and golden eyes. Her previous, innocent disguise of the moon Princess had faded.
"How do you--oh forget it! Venus…Star Power!" An explosion of light and energy burst around the transforming sailor scout, and soon enough Sailor Venus emerged. "Where is she?" Venus' voice was cold and hard.
Aria turned to the side, her eyes locking with Mina's in playful taunting. "Can't tell you!" the bird woman laughed. The jungle green hair that draped down her back seemed to glisten in the lamp/moon lights. Those golden eyes were fierce and reckless. The monstrosity had a kamikaze-like aura to her-as if she would stop at nothing to complete her mission.
"Where is she?" Venus continued to demand.
"You'll have to beat me in a fight to find out!" The bird flashed a vicious smile, fluttering her wings in a challenge.
Venus drew in her arms, and froze them in a strengthening pose with her legs spread apart to increase her bodily support. "Bring it on then, doe-doe bird!" A dangerous glitter entered the Venusian Princess's eyes, and smirking, she readied herself for battle.
"Fine then." Aria clasped her arms across her chest in an "X" formation, eyes closing in concentration. Without a moment's notice, she opened them out straight and a raging wind rushed at Venus. As a result, the scout was pushed far back, sliding on the rough ground, first on her back and then on her stomach. With a satanic laugh, Aria flew up into the air and dove down feet first as her eyes gleamed, but Venus evaded the assault by rolling out of range. Not even a single second later, Aria's clawed feet slammed into the broken pavement, forcing through the surface with enough power to send them straight through the concrete.
Flipping back up onto her feet, Venus took advantage of Aria's position within the concrete, her feet being pressed in so deeply. "Venus Love Chain Encircle!" she cried. The golden chain lashed out and caught the bird by the neck, but in response Aria merely smiled and grabbed the chain. Aria began to manipulate the chain in a spinning motion and simultaneously, Venus clung to the end. Just as Aria stopped spinning, the chain broke and Venus flew twenty feet away into a lamp.
"Serena…I'm sorry." Venus reached up and clung to the faded, wrought iron post. The lamp's bulb flickered incessantly from the impact. Aria continued to laugh uncontrollably, and flew over, her golden eyes glowing. Upon landing, the bird launched her self forward headfirst and rammed Venus in the stomach. The scout grimaced, her hands shooting down to her abdomen as she desperately tried to catch her breath. Venus bent over on her knees, releasing the post as she felt every ounce of her strength being sapped.
"You made quite a mistake by following me, baka," Aria giggled. Her monstrously strong hands shot out and grasped the lovely but wounded blonde scout by the neck. Aria held her with one hand tightly over the ground and walked out to the middle of the lot, Venus beginning to choke. The bird-woman's sandals clicked against the pavement, her wings fluttering angelically despite her demeanor. In desperation, Venus tugged at the bird's grip, praying for salvation, or at least to breathe.
"Can't get out of this one, honey!" Aria laughed and squeezed tighter. "I have a mission to complete and ridding myself of pestilent children like you is apart of it!"
"Help me…" Venus choked out just as things started getting fuzzy. Her hair draped behind her like a curtain, and Venus kicked her legs about in hopes of freeing herself. But Aria squeezed tighter yet, the sailor solider was beginning to loosen up…she was almost limp. Her hands clawed again and again at the strength of the bird, and it seemed that all was lost. Venus was going to die…and Serena remained lost.
An amazing, perhaps divine, intervention occurred. When it seemed that all was lost, a shower of light-filled, razor-sharp crystals rained down on the monstrous woman, hurtling her back quite a few yards as her screams echoed on the night air. Venus fell to the ground where Aria had been holding her, and in pain her hands went to her sore neck. "Ugh…" Venus moaned falling to the ground onto her right side and looking up. A tall, slim form stood about ten feet away. "Who is that?" she sputtered, rubbing her neck gently.
The form seemed to smile at Venus, and the injured scout wanted desperately to return the gesture. Perhaps this new comer had just saved her life. Immediately, the form's attention returned to the task at hand. Even in spite of the bright moon's glow, the form's face remained obscured. "Sunrise Eternal Gleam!" the feminine voice cried. Immediately following, a painfully bright curtain of light fell over the bird, causing her to scream out in agony, her vision blinded. Venus shaded her eyes with her free hand.
"What's happening? Stop it!!!!" Aria roared scratching at her eyes, trying to rid herself of the blindness. Though blind, the light bounced inside of her skull like a crazy floodlight bulb. The tall girl suddenly turned her gaze the Sailor Venus and ran over. Her face was vaguely familiar, but Venus failed to place it. She was dressed in a Sailor scout uniform, her long hair whipping behind her.
"Are you all right?" she asked a bit worried. Her voice was gentle, but focused and seemed to hold a strong aura to it. She held Venus and helped her sit up.
"Yes…thanks for saving me," Venus answered weakly, a thin smile on her face. "You came just in time. But…who are you?"
"A friend. Please just rest, Sailor Soldier. Let me take care of this one!" The other girl rose quickly and faced the pained bird once again.
"But my friend Serena…" Venus said before losing her strength completely. She fell back onto her side quietly, fatigue overcoming her.
Seeing that Venus had been tended to, she glared at the oversized bird-woman. "Leave this girl alone, you overgrown bird from hell!" Her right hand shot up into the air and a ball of orange and pink light materialized in her palm. "Gorgeous Sunlight Supreme!" the helpful woman called out. With a fluid motion the power was released upon the bird as a ray of pure light entwined with vivid color. On impact, it ripped through the bird's body and within seconds she had reduced to unrecognizable fragments of burnt feathers and dust.
'Could she be one of us? A long lost counterpart? Is she truly a Sailor Scout? Wait is that Neptune or Uranus? No! Her coloring is like the powers she has. Bright and beautiful like a sunlit morning…yes a Senshi of the…'
Sailor Venus blacked out.
* * *
Sabrina walked along late that evening rubbing her head. A major headache had sent in, not to mention severe fatigue. Upon entering her house, Eve was already asleep on the couch, with a happy smile on her face. 'Well at least one of us is in a fabulous mood,' Sabrina thought bitterly. Wandering down to her own room, Sabrina quickly threw on a pair of pajamas and collapsed into bed. Sleep soon came.
Eve, however, in her own room, was entertained by a wild panoply of dreams. The events of that afternoon had not only shocked her, but filled Eve with a sort of triumphant glee. Not in her wildest dreams, how cliché, did she think any of this would come true. After all, it had been years since they had seen each other, and after returning to Tokyo, everything had fallen into place so perfectly. The burgundy-haired young woman wondered if perhaps she had made a mistake. But his kisses remained on her mind and she could still feel their intensity. They were sweet and gentle…but had a hidden passion just below the surface.
A thought suddenly struck her-one of remorse. "He has a girlfriend…but a child none-the-less. Could his reaction have been a result of his disparity?" Eve pushed it out of her mind, refusing to believe it. Only time would speak the truth of that afternoon-and all of the motives behind it.
Sabrina in her own bedroom, however, had far less complexities to ponder concerning her own personal life. Since leaving her original home with her parents, she had left behind a love she never thought she'd find again. Sabrina's heart forced her away, even if it had been devoted. But it had not even been weeks after she left that her supposedly "devoted" significant other had moved on. What a shock that was. They all moved on and left her. All of them. But that was the first time she walked away from them before any true pain had been inflicted.
It seemed that both of the Jenkins sisters had experienced much heartbreak in their few years. Yet they were college students, leading careers, and balancing their lives to boot. That had to say something…right? Nevertheless, currently single and waiting for the one, Sabrina lay awake in bed that night. Her body was tired, her mind racing wildly. What a combination. Sabrina and Eve Jenkins had moved to Tokyo about 8 months before, in search of truths and of destiny. In spite of it all, they had traveled a great distance to accomplish this task. There wasn't a minute that they regretted it. A new life had set in upon them, and their first priorities were to enjoy it…wherever it may lead them.
"Broken hearts…broken promises…and broken hope?" Sabrina whispered aloud, pondering her situation over and over again. Her life was wonderful, and she enjoyed it fully. And yet, she felt something missing. It seemed not even a few months after arriving in Tokyo that Sabrina had met him. The face of sandy-haired, brown-eyed young man remained in her mind.
--The Following Morning at 11---
Sabrina woke up slowly the next morning, sunlight flooding her bedroom until it looked like a sunshine palace. The sky, as she observed through her bedroom window, was cloudless and clear. To her relief, her headache had dissipated throughout the night and finally a new day could begin.
Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she glanced around her bedroom thoughtfully. "Someone needs to clean this place. I don't think I was ever so disorganized…"
A quick look towards the clock showed that not only had she slept in, that her day was on a late start as it was. Another thought entered her mind regarding the child she had met not long ago. "Rini, I wonder how you're doing. I wonder how any one is doing. I suppose I have nothing to do today but enjoy my freedom." Sabrina smiled at the thought and went to take a shower.
* * *
Mina lay on her bed in her pajamas and blinked continuously until everything came into focus. The night seemed almost a blur because it had occurred so fast. But in light of it all, she slowly remembered everything from the night before, except she had returned home. Another thought, one of pressing importance shot into her mind. Serena was still missing; the White Moon Princess that had guided them through life with her grace and power was missing. What was to be done? Without a trace of her trail, the remaining scouts were stuck.
It became apparent that the Infinite Storm Sisters were involved. How else would Aria have impersonated Serena? An exasperated and fatigued sigh escaped Mina's lips as she sat up in her bed. Not only this, but a Sailor Senshi had arrived in town. Not to mention she's saved Mina's life. "I owe my life to that girl's intervention!" Perhaps she knew where Serena had gone to, or was taken. That, however, wasn't important. Reiterating the previous night's events, as well as their consequences, to the girls was far more urgent. The thought of her beloved future queen's disappearance made the Princess of Venus physically ill. And speaking of injury and illness, Mina's neck was just a tad bit bruised and sore while her stomach hurt a lot but less than last night. The pain was still quite imposing, but none-the-less weaker than before.
"Aria really got her butt kicked…but not by me," Mina added sorrowfully. "I'm just lucky that girl showed up in time." The pretty blonde slowly left her bedroom and eased into a warm, muscle-relaxing shower before downing an energizing breakfast. Immediately after, her hands gripped the phone to alert the others, and soon an emergency meeting had been scheduled.
Once all of the scouts were assembled, Mina's nightmare had been told. Amy was wringing her hands nervously as her mind faded into a spiral of worry. Raye and Lita remained quiet, their thoughts as well occupied with both fear and worry. Raye's eyes, however, betrayed her quiet expression and conveyed deep-seeded rage.
"Serena is not so scatter-brained that she would disappear without a trace and never speak a word of her leaving to us!" Amy exclaimed. "It's totally unlike her to not consult one of us for advice…girls I have a terrible feeling about this."
"I'm really upset. You know I am and we have to do something. I feel totally responsible for losing and finding her…but the real reason I called you here is because we're not alone."
"What are you talking about Mina?" Lita piped up with her arms folded, a strange hope in her expression.
"Last night I swore I found Serena. I followed her all the way across town to a parking lot and I ended up getting jumped."
"Jumped? Well then I think we can safely assume that those twisted sisters are involved. Who else would it be besides them?" Raye exclaimed matter-of-factly.
Mina returned to her story after Raye had confirmed her only suspicions. "It turned out that the sisters sent another freak out, and it almost terminated me! I feel so foolish for having fallen into its trap like that. I mean, it grabbed me by the throat with one hand, and squeezed until I was almost a goner. Then suddenly out of the blue these brilliant crystals rained down on the thing and made her drop me. She had incredible power and looked exactly like a Senshi. You guys, I'm positive we have a new ally in town! She came to my rescue, as I was Sailor Venus. All of her power was like the brilliance of a sunrise and the sun," Mina finished.
"A Sailor Senshi of the Sun. It's quite possible. Every planetary being has a Sailor Scout to protect it. But we can't worry about that now. Our main concern is to find Serena. Who knows what could've happened to her."
"I rather not think about it…" Mina trailed off quietly, her unbelievably blue eyes falling. Lita's expression contorted angrily and she slammed a fist into one of the beams of the shrine.
"We must begin our search for her now. Any delay could quite possibly cost Serena her life. And if our suspicions are correct, those sisters are involved like you said, Raye. Let's get started," Lita announced, taking charge.
"Oh Meatball head," Raye whispered sadly. Balling her fists in anger, she tore her gaze from the others, forcing back tears. With moments, the remaining four nodded their heads in agreement and immediately began devising their plans.
* * *
It seemed that Sabrina's mood had taken a turn for the better. After acquiring a few extra hours of sleep and indulging in a streaming cup of coffee, she embarked on a relaxing afternoon. But to say the least, that day was unlike any other. Something wonderful and life changing had been confirmed. Finding Eve was a top priority, but not before she engaged in a bit of small talk with the epitome of her affections. She could see his smiling face from a ways away, and at this she too smiled. There he was, standing in the arcade talking to two young girls, who seemed about the age of Serena. Raye and Amy.
'What are they doing there I wonder?' The delightfully orange-haired young woman quickened her pace.
* * *
"Andrew, so you haven't seen Serena at all?" Raye questioned him seriously. Her raven hair rustled gently in the breeze that swept through the town carrying the pleasant scent of summer rain. Amy beside her forced a polite smile, but her mind was elsewhere.
"You must understand, Andrew, that finding her is imperative. Any help at all that you can give us will be appreciated," the shorthaired young woman added, her gaze locking with Andrew's for a moment.
The older young man seemed lost in thought for a moment, but shook his head slowly. "Nope, that's so odd too! Serena has been away from the arcade for more than a few days. Now I'm starting to get worried. Maybe you should check with Darien." Raye grumbled impatiently at hearing the name, looking back to Amy for a moment.
"He's no where to be found at the moment," Amy remarked cautiously.
"When was the last time you saw her?" Raye continued. Her amethyst eyes were filled with concern and anger. Andrew quickly took note and told them what he could as he thoughtfully swept the sidewalk with his broom.
"I'd love to help you girls, but I really have no idea. That last time I did see her, although…" he answered, thinking back. "…was yesterday or the day before. She and Mina were passing by and stopped to talk for a minute. Then I saw her a second time alone and she came flying through like a bat out of hell…she looked pretty upset." The two girls exchanged glances.
"Which direction was she heading?" Amy inquired, feeling the warmth of a new trail just beyond their grasps. Andrew pointed to his left and immediately they took off.
"If you see her somewhere, please call us ASAP!" they called back as they headed in the direction he'd given them. He waved and went back to his work.
"I hope Serena is alright," he murmured quietly.
"Has something happened to her?" a concerned voice inquired from beside him. Andrew looked up, smiling upon whom he saw.
"Sabrina, good morning," he replied gently.
"I'm sorry to have been eavesdropping…but I met Serena Tsukino. Quite a sweet girl," Sabrina commented quietly, watching Andrew's eyes.
"She really is. Well I'm sure she'll be all right. Anyhow, how have you been? I shouldn't drag everyone down like that."
The emerald-eyed young woman waved away his worries. "No problem. But I'm wonderful…now." There was an uneasy pause for a moment, and the bright-haired young woman looked away, running a hand through her locks nervously.
"Sabrina, I should be heading inside," he said motioning over his shoulder. "Why don't you come in, you can keep me company. Maybe we could catch a movie or something later?"
"I'd…I would love to." A glorious smile graced her pretty features and she followed him inside.
Chapter 10
Eve trudged home, head hanging in anger. "I cannot believe this. That young girl…his girlfriend? Ugh, I suppose I should feel more humiliated than anything else," she said out loud. Immediately following Darien's departure from their afternoon coffee break, Eve felt even more determined, even insanely compelled to find Darien. It was a sad tale of unrequited affections, one that Eve had become the epitome of. The first time Eve had met Darien in person, she felt instant sparks. In fact, after quite an exquisite amount of thought, the wine-haired young woman concluded she'd loved him ever since. They met through mutual friends and hit it off completely during the school year, which to Eve was a blessing. Perhaps he would never feel the same way, but even still Eve sensed something more to their relationship.
Whether it be self-imposed or not, the young woman intended to find out. Her heart having been broken many times before, Eve realized that Darien was somehow different. He was a guiding light in a starless night sky. Darien may not have known it, but there was something between them. She knew it in her gut.
Ten minutes had passed, and still lost in her reverie, Eve came upon Juuban Park, a quaint scenario graced by the peaceful flow of a crystalic lake. It was, however, not the lake, nor its beauty that captivated her attention as she passed. "How convenient!" Eve said; her gaze locked onto something far more intriguing.
* * *
"Oh god what have I done?" Darien agonized, completely devastated. Serena disappeared without a trace to who-knows-where and now she hated him. He could just feel it. "I hate myself for this. In actuality the entire thing is purely ridiculous. Serena knows damn well that I love her." He paused for a moment, his thoughts enveloped in Serena' image. It was impressed on his mind and he could the tears streaming down her face again before she disappeared.
"Eve and I are merely friends…but how could I expect Serena to know that?" Darien paused for a moment, his thoughts now lost on Eve. Her smiling, beautiful face was in his mind, almost taunting him. Perhaps he was overlooking something. What could it be? And then realization struck him. How could Darien have missed it? The man knew quite well what it was that had forced his love away. A stray attraction.
"I'm attracted to Eve…but I wouldn't dare act on it. My future is with Serena, the woman I love and always will. But I'm merely human…how many times have I heard of Serena embarking on a pursuit of cute guys? Why not I? Even still, that's not an excuse. But how can I deny the feelings within me?" He loved Serena but this was so different, fresh, new, and appealing; like a moth to a flame.
A sudden, melodic voice ripped him back to reality. "Darien? Are you okay?" Eve said walking over with an innocent smile on her face. Mentally, Darien cursed himself and refused to allow his gaze to lift. Eve's presence became closer still as she seated herself beside him, still avoided by Darien's acknowledgement. "Darien?"
His midnight eyes slowly made their way up to meet her's.
"Eve…I don't really know what to say. But I must apologize for my actions earlier. It's just that I had to assure Serena that what she had seen was purely innocent. My girlfriend is off somewhere, probably crying her eyes out because she's gotten the wrong idea about us," Darien replied quietly, his thoughts most likely occupied by the young blonde.
"Are you sure that's what it really is?" Eve replied carefully after a short pause. Immediately, Darien's head snapped and his eyes locked with Eve's hazel.
"Eve?" he inquired, fearful curiosity claiming his expression. She, however, allowed her gaze to shift to the lake before them, and she as spoke her gaze remained so.
"Can you tell me honestly, Darien, that what occurred today was nothing more than that? A mistake? A misunderstanding?" Her voice was so serious, but calmness graced it. Darien's eyes became wide, and a slight blush accented the bridge of his nose.
"I don't understand what you're saying, Eve." Her eyes locked with his once again, and she shifted on the bench to face him completely.
"Darien…but you do understand. I know you do. You can't lie to me like this. Darien, listen to your heart. Can you deny the attraction that has existed between us since we first met?" His mouth opened as if to speak, but he stopped short and paused.
"She's my girlfriend…I love her," Darien spoke with sincere conviction. Eve looked down for a moment, but searched his eyes after a moment.
"But you're attracted…to me." They hadn't noticed at first how the space between them had dissipated until their lips locked in a precious kiss. It was deep and sensual, motivating and unbridled with passion. It seemed that it ended as quickly as it had begun.
"I love Serena I can't do this!" Darien whispered, holding Eve at bay by the shoulders.
"She's a child. Darien, she doesn't trust you. What is a relationship…what is love without trust?" It seemed that her words had an almost entrancing magic to them, and willingly, Darien engaged the kiss once again. Protest and turning back were lost on the embraced pair. The man's arms latched around her waist, and within moments their affections had become ignited with passion…whether in desperation or in hope.
However lost in one another they were, their carelessness would carry a guilty burden. Though their bliss forced away any second thoughts and so they plunged into one another's hearts. It was this that Sabrina observed as she passed by the park on her way home that afternoon, breathing in the breezy summer air. Her emerald gaze settled upon the bench and in surprise she found her sister, locked in the arms of a man.
"Darien? So this is who Eve's been after," she murmured from across the street. "I thought he had a girlfriend…Serena was her name…" The thought passed and the young woman went on her way…what Eve did on her own time was her business alone. And so the two were left alone in the midst of the afternoon sunset.
* * *
Night had fallen and nothing but the glowing sliver of the crescent moon lit Mina's way as she scoured the downtown streets for her friend. The sun had dipped beneath the horizon hours before in a glorious array of colors. Normally Mina would have enjoyed it, but of course with such matters as Serena' disappearing act on her hands, how could she?
Wandering the streets in hopes of finding the White Moon Princess, Mina sighed. If anything had happened to Serena, she would feel as if she had caused it and guilt would forever tear at her heart. Even if the odangoed girl ran off frequently, hiding away to collect her thoughts, she would be found sooner or later; if not on her own actions. But that afternoon had a different feel to it…as if a cosmic balance had been thrown off. Mina sighed again.
"Meatball Head…where have you disappeared to now?" The moon seemed to glow brighter as if in reply to her plea. Mina's eyes locked onto the glowing planetary body, and her voice too was directed at it. "Oh man…Serena where are you?" The ball of light in the sky above was a constant reminder of Serena herself. The blonde cupped her hands over her mouth in a makeshift loud speaker. "Serena!"
"Yes?" a form said from beside her. A crisp breeze suddenly whipped up and seemed to assault Mina; it's harsh force nearly scraping her delicate skin. The moon's light fell brightly onto the form, and Mina gasped as everything registered.
"Serena! I found you!" The blonde girl stopped for a moment as she watched Serena turn away and run down an alleyway, opposite of Mina's location. "Sere, come back!" The Venusian tore after her, eyes wide with disbelief; her throat was dry and her chest heaved as she continued to run. "Serena come back! I have to take you home! What's wrong?" The future queen merely continued on her wild race through the night and her laughter rang out in a taunting tone.
'This is insane. Either Darien pushed her over the edge or Serena has discovered a new, but irritating game. My god…what is something did happen? Whoa…wait a minute, where am I?' Mina's confused thoughts rang true as she had been lead into a desolate, silent, and completely empty area. She was led out to a parking lot on the edge of town…
Panting lightly, Mina watched as Serena halted in the center of the empty lot. Four tall parking lot lamps offered meager lighting in their dim glow. Serena's eyes were wide, bleak, and hopeless. "Help me," her voice came in a vacant whisper.
Mina watched from several yards away and her hand shot out to offer support. An even c wind whipped through and rustled her blonde hair violently. "Serena-
Serena turned her back quickly, a sinister sneer hidden from view as she did. "I would appreciate it if you would call me by my true name." Mina's heart stopped cold.
"What?" she replied in confusion, but mostly in shock.
"Dear friend…my name is Aria!" Without another word, Mina clutched her power wand, ready to wield the Power of Venus at any moment. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Sailor Venus!" Aria came into the flooding light of the distant lamps. The girl was much taller than Mina had realized, with long jungle green hair, huge white wings, and golden eyes. Her previous, innocent disguise of the moon Princess had faded.
"How do you--oh forget it! Venus…Star Power!" An explosion of light and energy burst around the transforming sailor scout, and soon enough Sailor Venus emerged. "Where is she?" Venus' voice was cold and hard.
Aria turned to the side, her eyes locking with Mina's in playful taunting. "Can't tell you!" the bird woman laughed. The jungle green hair that draped down her back seemed to glisten in the lamp/moon lights. Those golden eyes were fierce and reckless. The monstrosity had a kamikaze-like aura to her-as if she would stop at nothing to complete her mission.
"Where is she?" Venus continued to demand.
"You'll have to beat me in a fight to find out!" The bird flashed a vicious smile, fluttering her wings in a challenge.
Venus drew in her arms, and froze them in a strengthening pose with her legs spread apart to increase her bodily support. "Bring it on then, doe-doe bird!" A dangerous glitter entered the Venusian Princess's eyes, and smirking, she readied herself for battle.
"Fine then." Aria clasped her arms across her chest in an "X" formation, eyes closing in concentration. Without a moment's notice, she opened them out straight and a raging wind rushed at Venus. As a result, the scout was pushed far back, sliding on the rough ground, first on her back and then on her stomach. With a satanic laugh, Aria flew up into the air and dove down feet first as her eyes gleamed, but Venus evaded the assault by rolling out of range. Not even a single second later, Aria's clawed feet slammed into the broken pavement, forcing through the surface with enough power to send them straight through the concrete.
Flipping back up onto her feet, Venus took advantage of Aria's position within the concrete, her feet being pressed in so deeply. "Venus Love Chain Encircle!" she cried. The golden chain lashed out and caught the bird by the neck, but in response Aria merely smiled and grabbed the chain. Aria began to manipulate the chain in a spinning motion and simultaneously, Venus clung to the end. Just as Aria stopped spinning, the chain broke and Venus flew twenty feet away into a lamp.
"Serena…I'm sorry." Venus reached up and clung to the faded, wrought iron post. The lamp's bulb flickered incessantly from the impact. Aria continued to laugh uncontrollably, and flew over, her golden eyes glowing. Upon landing, the bird launched her self forward headfirst and rammed Venus in the stomach. The scout grimaced, her hands shooting down to her abdomen as she desperately tried to catch her breath. Venus bent over on her knees, releasing the post as she felt every ounce of her strength being sapped.
"You made quite a mistake by following me, baka," Aria giggled. Her monstrously strong hands shot out and grasped the lovely but wounded blonde scout by the neck. Aria held her with one hand tightly over the ground and walked out to the middle of the lot, Venus beginning to choke. The bird-woman's sandals clicked against the pavement, her wings fluttering angelically despite her demeanor. In desperation, Venus tugged at the bird's grip, praying for salvation, or at least to breathe.
"Can't get out of this one, honey!" Aria laughed and squeezed tighter. "I have a mission to complete and ridding myself of pestilent children like you is apart of it!"
"Help me…" Venus choked out just as things started getting fuzzy. Her hair draped behind her like a curtain, and Venus kicked her legs about in hopes of freeing herself. But Aria squeezed tighter yet, the sailor solider was beginning to loosen up…she was almost limp. Her hands clawed again and again at the strength of the bird, and it seemed that all was lost. Venus was going to die…and Serena remained lost.
An amazing, perhaps divine, intervention occurred. When it seemed that all was lost, a shower of light-filled, razor-sharp crystals rained down on the monstrous woman, hurtling her back quite a few yards as her screams echoed on the night air. Venus fell to the ground where Aria had been holding her, and in pain her hands went to her sore neck. "Ugh…" Venus moaned falling to the ground onto her right side and looking up. A tall, slim form stood about ten feet away. "Who is that?" she sputtered, rubbing her neck gently.
The form seemed to smile at Venus, and the injured scout wanted desperately to return the gesture. Perhaps this new comer had just saved her life. Immediately, the form's attention returned to the task at hand. Even in spite of the bright moon's glow, the form's face remained obscured. "Sunrise Eternal Gleam!" the feminine voice cried. Immediately following, a painfully bright curtain of light fell over the bird, causing her to scream out in agony, her vision blinded. Venus shaded her eyes with her free hand.
"What's happening? Stop it!!!!" Aria roared scratching at her eyes, trying to rid herself of the blindness. Though blind, the light bounced inside of her skull like a crazy floodlight bulb. The tall girl suddenly turned her gaze the Sailor Venus and ran over. Her face was vaguely familiar, but Venus failed to place it. She was dressed in a Sailor scout uniform, her long hair whipping behind her.
"Are you all right?" she asked a bit worried. Her voice was gentle, but focused and seemed to hold a strong aura to it. She held Venus and helped her sit up.
"Yes…thanks for saving me," Venus answered weakly, a thin smile on her face. "You came just in time. But…who are you?"
"A friend. Please just rest, Sailor Soldier. Let me take care of this one!" The other girl rose quickly and faced the pained bird once again.
"But my friend Serena…" Venus said before losing her strength completely. She fell back onto her side quietly, fatigue overcoming her.
Seeing that Venus had been tended to, she glared at the oversized bird-woman. "Leave this girl alone, you overgrown bird from hell!" Her right hand shot up into the air and a ball of orange and pink light materialized in her palm. "Gorgeous Sunlight Supreme!" the helpful woman called out. With a fluid motion the power was released upon the bird as a ray of pure light entwined with vivid color. On impact, it ripped through the bird's body and within seconds she had reduced to unrecognizable fragments of burnt feathers and dust.
'Could she be one of us? A long lost counterpart? Is she truly a Sailor Scout? Wait is that Neptune or Uranus? No! Her coloring is like the powers she has. Bright and beautiful like a sunlit morning…yes a Senshi of the…'
Sailor Venus blacked out.
* * *
Sabrina walked along late that evening rubbing her head. A major headache had sent in, not to mention severe fatigue. Upon entering her house, Eve was already asleep on the couch, with a happy smile on her face. 'Well at least one of us is in a fabulous mood,' Sabrina thought bitterly. Wandering down to her own room, Sabrina quickly threw on a pair of pajamas and collapsed into bed. Sleep soon came.
Eve, however, in her own room, was entertained by a wild panoply of dreams. The events of that afternoon had not only shocked her, but filled Eve with a sort of triumphant glee. Not in her wildest dreams, how cliché, did she think any of this would come true. After all, it had been years since they had seen each other, and after returning to Tokyo, everything had fallen into place so perfectly. The burgundy-haired young woman wondered if perhaps she had made a mistake. But his kisses remained on her mind and she could still feel their intensity. They were sweet and gentle…but had a hidden passion just below the surface.
A thought suddenly struck her-one of remorse. "He has a girlfriend…but a child none-the-less. Could his reaction have been a result of his disparity?" Eve pushed it out of her mind, refusing to believe it. Only time would speak the truth of that afternoon-and all of the motives behind it.
Sabrina in her own bedroom, however, had far less complexities to ponder concerning her own personal life. Since leaving her original home with her parents, she had left behind a love she never thought she'd find again. Sabrina's heart forced her away, even if it had been devoted. But it had not even been weeks after she left that her supposedly "devoted" significant other had moved on. What a shock that was. They all moved on and left her. All of them. But that was the first time she walked away from them before any true pain had been inflicted.
It seemed that both of the Jenkins sisters had experienced much heartbreak in their few years. Yet they were college students, leading careers, and balancing their lives to boot. That had to say something…right? Nevertheless, currently single and waiting for the one, Sabrina lay awake in bed that night. Her body was tired, her mind racing wildly. What a combination. Sabrina and Eve Jenkins had moved to Tokyo about 8 months before, in search of truths and of destiny. In spite of it all, they had traveled a great distance to accomplish this task. There wasn't a minute that they regretted it. A new life had set in upon them, and their first priorities were to enjoy it…wherever it may lead them.
"Broken hearts…broken promises…and broken hope?" Sabrina whispered aloud, pondering her situation over and over again. Her life was wonderful, and she enjoyed it fully. And yet, she felt something missing. It seemed not even a few months after arriving in Tokyo that Sabrina had met him. The face of sandy-haired, brown-eyed young man remained in her mind.
--The Following Morning at 11---
Sabrina woke up slowly the next morning, sunlight flooding her bedroom until it looked like a sunshine palace. The sky, as she observed through her bedroom window, was cloudless and clear. To her relief, her headache had dissipated throughout the night and finally a new day could begin.
Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she glanced around her bedroom thoughtfully. "Someone needs to clean this place. I don't think I was ever so disorganized…"
A quick look towards the clock showed that not only had she slept in, that her day was on a late start as it was. Another thought entered her mind regarding the child she had met not long ago. "Rini, I wonder how you're doing. I wonder how any one is doing. I suppose I have nothing to do today but enjoy my freedom." Sabrina smiled at the thought and went to take a shower.
* * *
Mina lay on her bed in her pajamas and blinked continuously until everything came into focus. The night seemed almost a blur because it had occurred so fast. But in light of it all, she slowly remembered everything from the night before, except she had returned home. Another thought, one of pressing importance shot into her mind. Serena was still missing; the White Moon Princess that had guided them through life with her grace and power was missing. What was to be done? Without a trace of her trail, the remaining scouts were stuck.
It became apparent that the Infinite Storm Sisters were involved. How else would Aria have impersonated Serena? An exasperated and fatigued sigh escaped Mina's lips as she sat up in her bed. Not only this, but a Sailor Senshi had arrived in town. Not to mention she's saved Mina's life. "I owe my life to that girl's intervention!" Perhaps she knew where Serena had gone to, or was taken. That, however, wasn't important. Reiterating the previous night's events, as well as their consequences, to the girls was far more urgent. The thought of her beloved future queen's disappearance made the Princess of Venus physically ill. And speaking of injury and illness, Mina's neck was just a tad bit bruised and sore while her stomach hurt a lot but less than last night. The pain was still quite imposing, but none-the-less weaker than before.
"Aria really got her butt kicked…but not by me," Mina added sorrowfully. "I'm just lucky that girl showed up in time." The pretty blonde slowly left her bedroom and eased into a warm, muscle-relaxing shower before downing an energizing breakfast. Immediately after, her hands gripped the phone to alert the others, and soon an emergency meeting had been scheduled.
Once all of the scouts were assembled, Mina's nightmare had been told. Amy was wringing her hands nervously as her mind faded into a spiral of worry. Raye and Lita remained quiet, their thoughts as well occupied with both fear and worry. Raye's eyes, however, betrayed her quiet expression and conveyed deep-seeded rage.
"Serena is not so scatter-brained that she would disappear without a trace and never speak a word of her leaving to us!" Amy exclaimed. "It's totally unlike her to not consult one of us for advice…girls I have a terrible feeling about this."
"I'm really upset. You know I am and we have to do something. I feel totally responsible for losing and finding her…but the real reason I called you here is because we're not alone."
"What are you talking about Mina?" Lita piped up with her arms folded, a strange hope in her expression.
"Last night I swore I found Serena. I followed her all the way across town to a parking lot and I ended up getting jumped."
"Jumped? Well then I think we can safely assume that those twisted sisters are involved. Who else would it be besides them?" Raye exclaimed matter-of-factly.
Mina returned to her story after Raye had confirmed her only suspicions. "It turned out that the sisters sent another freak out, and it almost terminated me! I feel so foolish for having fallen into its trap like that. I mean, it grabbed me by the throat with one hand, and squeezed until I was almost a goner. Then suddenly out of the blue these brilliant crystals rained down on the thing and made her drop me. She had incredible power and looked exactly like a Senshi. You guys, I'm positive we have a new ally in town! She came to my rescue, as I was Sailor Venus. All of her power was like the brilliance of a sunrise and the sun," Mina finished.
"A Sailor Senshi of the Sun. It's quite possible. Every planetary being has a Sailor Scout to protect it. But we can't worry about that now. Our main concern is to find Serena. Who knows what could've happened to her."
"I rather not think about it…" Mina trailed off quietly, her unbelievably blue eyes falling. Lita's expression contorted angrily and she slammed a fist into one of the beams of the shrine.
"We must begin our search for her now. Any delay could quite possibly cost Serena her life. And if our suspicions are correct, those sisters are involved like you said, Raye. Let's get started," Lita announced, taking charge.
"Oh Meatball head," Raye whispered sadly. Balling her fists in anger, she tore her gaze from the others, forcing back tears. With moments, the remaining four nodded their heads in agreement and immediately began devising their plans.
* * *
It seemed that Sabrina's mood had taken a turn for the better. After acquiring a few extra hours of sleep and indulging in a streaming cup of coffee, she embarked on a relaxing afternoon. But to say the least, that day was unlike any other. Something wonderful and life changing had been confirmed. Finding Eve was a top priority, but not before she engaged in a bit of small talk with the epitome of her affections. She could see his smiling face from a ways away, and at this she too smiled. There he was, standing in the arcade talking to two young girls, who seemed about the age of Serena. Raye and Amy.
'What are they doing there I wonder?' The delightfully orange-haired young woman quickened her pace.
* * *
"Andrew, so you haven't seen Serena at all?" Raye questioned him seriously. Her raven hair rustled gently in the breeze that swept through the town carrying the pleasant scent of summer rain. Amy beside her forced a polite smile, but her mind was elsewhere.
"You must understand, Andrew, that finding her is imperative. Any help at all that you can give us will be appreciated," the shorthaired young woman added, her gaze locking with Andrew's for a moment.
The older young man seemed lost in thought for a moment, but shook his head slowly. "Nope, that's so odd too! Serena has been away from the arcade for more than a few days. Now I'm starting to get worried. Maybe you should check with Darien." Raye grumbled impatiently at hearing the name, looking back to Amy for a moment.
"He's no where to be found at the moment," Amy remarked cautiously.
"When was the last time you saw her?" Raye continued. Her amethyst eyes were filled with concern and anger. Andrew quickly took note and told them what he could as he thoughtfully swept the sidewalk with his broom.
"I'd love to help you girls, but I really have no idea. That last time I did see her, although…" he answered, thinking back. "…was yesterday or the day before. She and Mina were passing by and stopped to talk for a minute. Then I saw her a second time alone and she came flying through like a bat out of hell…she looked pretty upset." The two girls exchanged glances.
"Which direction was she heading?" Amy inquired, feeling the warmth of a new trail just beyond their grasps. Andrew pointed to his left and immediately they took off.
"If you see her somewhere, please call us ASAP!" they called back as they headed in the direction he'd given them. He waved and went back to his work.
"I hope Serena is alright," he murmured quietly.
"Has something happened to her?" a concerned voice inquired from beside him. Andrew looked up, smiling upon whom he saw.
"Sabrina, good morning," he replied gently.
"I'm sorry to have been eavesdropping…but I met Serena Tsukino. Quite a sweet girl," Sabrina commented quietly, watching Andrew's eyes.
"She really is. Well I'm sure she'll be all right. Anyhow, how have you been? I shouldn't drag everyone down like that."
The emerald-eyed young woman waved away his worries. "No problem. But I'm wonderful…now." There was an uneasy pause for a moment, and the bright-haired young woman looked away, running a hand through her locks nervously.
"Sabrina, I should be heading inside," he said motioning over his shoulder. "Why don't you come in, you can keep me company. Maybe we could catch a movie or something later?"
"I'd…I would love to." A glorious smile graced her pretty features and she followed him inside.
