Note: I do like Sailor Moon. Really. I even do a stupid little dance whenever one of the movies comes on. So don't ask why I did this. I'm a hopeless romantic, and I like to believe that love is great. But I've been giving it some thought, and frankly, love just sucks sometimes. It's time Sailor Moon realized that, too.

Summary: Tuxedo Mask always comes running when Sailor Moon calls. But how does Darien feel about that?



The Chains of Duty



The box was heavy, he realized now. Maybe a little too heavy for him. Fortunately, he only had to lug it from the car to the front door.

He'd forgotten, of course, about ringing the doorbell.

With a sigh, he put the box down, rang the bell, and picked the box up again.

The door opened, and someone asked, "Is that you, Darien?"

He took an uncertain (the box wasn't too good for seeing anything in front of him) step forward. "Haruka?"

She laughed. "Need some help?"

"Oh, no. Just keep laughing at me. I'm sure THAT will make the box easier to carry."

She kept laughing, but all the same, he felt soft, strong hands sliding over his. "C'mon, this way."

He followed her instructions as best as he could, and in the end, only stepped on her foot twice.

"So what is it, anyway?" Haruka asked.

"You'll find out when she does," Darien replied, trying to get some circulation back into his fingers.

"Fair enough. She's been asking for you all day."

"Then I won't keep her waiting any longer." Darien stepped into the living room…

…and was promptly tackled by an energy source eons old, cleverly disguised as an eight-year old girl.

"Papa!" she squealed, clinging to his neck as if they were both made of glue. "I missed you!"

He smiled, cradling her thin frame to his chest with one arm. "I have something for you."

Her entire face lit up. "Gimme!" she demanded at once, pulling on his neck for emphasis.

"It's in the kitchen. Why don't you go see what it is?"

She instantly released him and latched onto Haruka's hand, dragging the woman into the kitchen by sheer force of will (and perhaps a little of the aforementioned eons-old energy).

Darien sighed and collapsed across the couch.

"Long day?" Michiru asked, sitting down next to him.

"I think," he reasoned, "it was the night that got me in trouble."

She smiled down at him and held out a glass of water. "Maybe your back just can't take those high-impact hugs like it used to."

Darien gratefully accepted the water. "Maybe not. But don't tell Setsuna; she'd be terribly disappointed."

Michiru giggled. "I imagine she would be." She glanced toward the kitchen. "So what's in the box?"

Darien shook his head and drank the water. "Wait for it."

The joyous shout originated from the kitchen a second later.

"WOW! THE SAILOR V MEGA MAGICAL DREAMHOUSE SET!"

Michiru shook her head. "You didn't."

Darien handed the glass back to Michiru. "I did. Brace for impact."

There was a blur of black, pink, and violet, and Darien suddenly found an eight-year old sitting on his chest.

"Oh, thankyouthankyouTHANKYOU, Papa!" she cried, hugging him tightly. "This is the best birthday present EVER!"

He gently pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. "You're welcome, sweetheart."

She beamed and kissed the tip of his chin. "I love you, Papa."

It shouldn't have made his stomach do flip-flops or caused his heart to skip a beat, but it did. Of course, she'd said the words many times before, almost on a daily basis. Only now, as he stared into her innocent, trusting eyes, did Darien truly understand what the words meant.

The simple act of cuddling his precious daughter suddenly took on a completely new importance. Time stopped, and he was made aware of how perfect the moment really was.

And in the space it took to blink, the moment was cruelly torn away.

By her.

The indescribable pain assaulted his senses mercilessly. Clearly, having been away from the horrid sensation for so long had weakened his resistance. His body, as always, responded only to her commands, her needs, and her desires. His mind, though, was vaguely aware of how angry he was.

The damnable rainbows slowly faded from his vision, and there she was, looking absolutely radiant in her white evening gown.

He hated her.

A huge, featureless creature of black towered over them, howling in rage as the power of the Scouts and her cursed crystal struck it.

Against his will, his arms raised and wrapped around her shoulders, adding his own strength to the collective.

Selfishly, instinctively, wistfully, she smiled and leaned against him, her golden hair brushing against his chin. It was the same spot that his daughter had kissed.

He shuddered in rage, watching with a blank expression as the creature was destroyed, defeated for good.

The power left her and she collapsed against him, gasping for air that just wasn't there.

Automatically, he held her close, inhaling the luxurious scent of her hair.

And suddenly, his body was his own again, and he shoved her away, forcing her roughly into gentle Mercury's arms. He stepped back quickly, trying to put distance between them.

Her perfect blue eyes came to rest on him. "Darien," she whispered, reaching for him, still expecting the comfort she'd grown used to so long ago. However, finding nothing but coldness, tears trickled down her face, and she sobbed quietly into Mercury's shoulder.

"No more, Serena," he whispered, the anger unmistakable in his voice. "Never again." His heart thudded in his chest, as if trying to resist the words, but he knew them to be right.

Mercury's eyes filled with tears, but not one of them fell.

Serena wouldn't let go so easily, though. "Please," she begged. "I—we can…"

"There is no we!" Darien snapped, willing his armor away with a thought. "It's always been about you, Serena. Everything has always been about you." He looked away. "But I'm sick of everything. I'm sick of having no control over my own life."

Serena could sense where he was heading. Even now, there was a certain telepathic link between them. "No…Darien, please…don't say-"

"I'm sick of you, Serena." He turned to look at her, daring her to challenge the statement.

Her head dropped, and she said nothing.

"I don't want anything to do with you—any of you—anymore. I just want my life back."

Silence.

He could feel the attack coming before he actually saw it.

"BASTARD!" Mars screamed, throwing up her hands. The unforgiving flames seemed to erupt out of thin air, racing toward him at breakneck speed. But he made no move to defend himself. He merely closed his eyes.

Instead of the burning anger of Mars, it was the soothing mist of Neptune that bathed his face. He opened his eyes, not surprised to find her in front of him. She always had been the motherly one of their group.

"That will be more than enough, Mars," Neptune said quietly. "We don't want to have to hurt you."

"Speak for yourself, Neptune."

Darien almost smiled as Uranus appeared at his side. Almost.

"You're making a big mistake, Darien," Venus said, throwing a worried glance at her whimpering cousin. "Think about the future."

He laughed bitterly. "The future? I HAVE no future!" He pointed at Serena. "Ask HER about the future! Tragedy has stolen my past, and she has my present! And if she has her way, she'll have the future, too!" He suddenly realized that he was crying, but he didn't care anymore. "Don't you get it, Venus? Don't any of you see? Nothing truly belongs to any of us. We all belong to her. We're…slaves! And you don't even realize it!"

"We fight," Jupiter said calmly, "because we care about Serena."

"You THINK you care. I used to. But now I DON'T care, and I still show up every time you five need help. You think I want to be here right now?"

"You showed up," Mars muttered.

"I HAD NO CHOICE!" Darien held back the growl building in his throat. "Do you know what I was doing…before she called me here? Do you even care?!"

None of the Scouts dared to speak.

"It was my little girl's eighth birthday, and I was holding her, like a father should. She'd just told me that she loved me, and before I could even think to say it back…THIS happened." He sighed heavily. "I and told her—no, promised her—that that would never happen again. But it did, Serena." He turned his gaze on her. "You promised me—you swore to me—that you would never call me again the last time. I see now that you can't keep that promise."

Darien stepped around Neptune and stopped a few feet away from Serena, his eyes hard and clear. "Give it to me. Right now."

Serena's head lifted, a puzzled look on her face. "What…?"

"The crystal."

She blinked. "But…why?"

"Just do it."

She seemed to sense the malice in him. "No."

Her refusal only fed his anger, and without thinking, his arm shot out and grabbed the crystal, tearing it away from the silk dress.

Serena gasped in shock, and dignity won over duty as she attempted to cover the gaping tear down the front of her dress.

He stepped back, gripping the crystal tightly in his right hand. "You will never call me again."

Serena stared at him dumbly, still in disbelief.

"Say it."

She slowly shook her head.

"SAY IT!"

She shrank back, trying to hide in Mercury's arms. "I…Darien…"

His voice was calmer this time. "Say it, Serena. Please. I need this."

Her face softened for a moment, but then she shook her head. "No. I can't." Clutching the front of her torn dress with one hand, she slowly approached him, her eyes locked on his. "I can't let you go, Darien." Carefully, as if he were a cobra ready to strike, she wrapped an arm around his neck and pulled him closer. She tilted her head up, and as always, her lips easily found his. They were, after all, made for each other.

Or at least, they had been.

"Let him go."

Two more figures emerged out of the mist. One was Pluto. And surprisingly, the other was not Saturn, the deadliest of them all. It was Hotaru who clung to Pluto's hand like the innocent girl she so obviously was now.

Serena instantly broke the kiss and stared at them.

Hotaru let go of Pluto's hand wrapped her arms possessively around Darien's leg, burying her face against the back of his knee. "Let my Papa go, Majesty," she whispered. "Please? It's my birthday."

Serena clung to Darien a moment longer, and then let her arm fall away from him. Slowly, almost painfully, she took two steps back. Then she turned around, unable to stop her tears.

Something warm and soft grabbed her hand, and she realized it was Hotaru.

"Thank you," the girl said in her quiet voice.

Serena glanced down at her, and began to smile. Hotaru was also clutching Darien's hand, almost uniting them in a way.

But then, as if she could sense Serena's thoughts, Hotaru quickly let go and was scooped up by Darien.

The smile faded instantly from her lips, and Serena could only stare as Pluto joined hands with Darien. The image was both meaningful and heartbreaking, but she knew it to be real. "Let's go," she said quietly.

Mercury placed a hand on Serena's shoulder. "But…the crystal."

Serena blinked a few times, but said nothing.

Darien passed the crystal to Neptune, who handed it to Mercury. Even so, Serena wouldn't touch it.

"It's getting late," Pluto murmured, looking at Darien. "Hotaru needs her rest."

He nodded and followed her, clutching Hotaru to his chest. "I'm so sorry, my little one," he whispered in her ear. "I broke my promise to you."

Hotaru shook her head and smiled at him. "Don't worry, Papa. I broke mine, too. I said I'd never get involved in Scout business unless Michiru- mama said it was okay."

Darien stroked her head fondly. "For once, I'm glad you didn't listen to us."

"Oh, but I did. Mama said it was okay."

He chuckled softly, and then remembered. "Pluto?"

She slowed down, allowing him to catch up. "Did it work?"

"Yes." He placed a tiny shard of crystal in her hand.

"This should be enough." She nodded to herself, and then started to raise her Time Staff.

"Mama, wait!" Hotaru cried. "Don't go!"

Pluto smiled sadly and kissed Hotaru's cheek. "I have to, sweetie. But I'll be back to tuck you in, I promise."

Hotaru didn't look any happier. "But you didn't kiss Papa goodbye."

Darien turned bright red. "Hotaru…"

"No, it's fine." Pluto leaned in and kissed him gently, then slowly pulled away.

Hotaru grinned. "Okay, now you can go."

Pluto smiled. "So glad that I have your permission, Mistress Saturn." She raised the Time Staff and vanished.

"Come on, munchkin," Haruka said, patting Hotaru's head. "Let's go home."

"After all, there's a cake waiting with your name on it," Michiru added.

"Ice cream, too?" Hotaru asked hopefully. "With sprinkles and cherries?"

"Sprinkles OR cherries," Darien said firmly, giving her a knowing look.

Hotaru ducked her head and smiled. "Okay, Papa."

* * * * *

As promised, Setsuna was indeed there to help tuck Hotaru in. Usually, only one or two of them was needed for the simple task. However, all four of Hotaru's "parents" helped this time, simply because it was her birthday.

Like he always did, Darien watched over his daughter until she was asleep. Haruka and Michiru had gone to bed themselves, and he was fairly certain that Setsuna vanished again. If he was lucky, she might appear in their bedroom before the night was through. If not, he would just have to wait.

Darien was pleasantly surprised to bump into Setsuna as he was leaving Hotaru's room. "You're still here?" He instantly realized how that sounded and started to apologize.

Setsuna pressed a finger to his lips. "I know," she said quietly. "Come sit and talk with me."

They moved to the couch in the living room.

"You're getting stronger, you know," she said. "Five years ago, you wouldn't have been able to resist her at all."

"But I wasn't strong enough to ignore the call completely," Darien pointed out.

"No, of course not. That would take an extraordinary amount of strength and focus. It will take time to do that, and I would know."

"So am I supposed to just keep breaking promises to Hotaru until then?"

"You know she'll forgive you every time," she replied.

Darien sighed. "Yes, I know that. But she shouldn't have to, Setsuna."

"That's what this is for." Setsuna held up a chain with a blue-green crystal at the end. "Wearing this should help you focus."

Darien took the crystal from her and slipped it around his neck. "Are you sure this won't put a strain on Serena? I don't want her to have any excuses."

"No, this piece has been separated from the whole, just like you. There is no connection between them."

"Then it's nothing like me. I've spent years trying to get away from her, and it'll never happen. Not the way I want it to, anyway."

Setsuna gently took his face in her hands. "You're free enough, Darien. Free to make your own choices. You chose to stay with us. You chose to see Hotaru as your own. You chose…me."

"I seem to remember liking that last one a lot," he chuckled. "How long ago was it?"

Setsuna stood up and pulled him to their bedroom. "Well, as the Guardian of Time, it's my duty to refresh your memory."

"I'll have to forget more often, then," he said, closing the door behind him.

She smiled and pressed her lips to his ear. "You just might, Darien…but after we've had our fun."



The End.