Sailor Moon frowned as she got ready to fight. "I can't believe you're making me do this Darien." Tuxedo Mask just laughed.
"I'm not making you do anything Meatball Head. You're the one that challenged me, remember?"
Sailor Moon just shook her head and removed her tiara. "I don't want to hurt you Tux."
"I'm glad to see you're confident." He smirked and drew out a rose. Serena growled as she charged her attack.
"Moon tiara magic!" she yelled as she threw the discus. Tuxedo Mask retaliated by throwing his rose at the glowing orb. They collided and both clattered to the ground. Without a word, Tuxedo Mask raised one hand towards Sailor Moon. A rose formed in front of it, only this one was pink. His other hand came up and he positioned both behind the rose as it started to glow. Drawing back his hands, with the rose following, he threw it at Sailor Moon's feet. The rose exploded in a shower of petals and light, forcing Sailor Moon to look away and shield herself. "What the…" Strong arms grabbed her from behind, pinning her arms across her chest.
"You didn't think throwing a single rose to distract enemies was the only thing I could do, did you?" His breath tickled her neck, but she ignored it and concentrated on a way to get free. She had to get that crystal.
Jerking out of his hold, she quickly turned and swept her foot out, tripping him backwards. He laughed as she straightened and got off his back and onto his feet. "I don't see what's so funny," Sailor Moon growled as she got into a battle stance.
"It's just, if you would have told me I'd be fighting Sailor Moon and she'd be winning, I would have thought you were crazy." Sailor Moon's lips twitched, but she didn't smile.
"I'm winning?"
"Your call." Tuxedo Mask didn't give her the chance to answer as he lunged forward and threw a punch that she managed to block. The two fought hand to hand until Sailor Moon threw a kick that landed and knocked him back. Not giving him the opportunity to retaliate, she picked up her tiara and charged it for another try.
"Moon tiara magic!" she yelled as she once again threw the discus. It expanded as it flew and when it came close enough to him, it wrapped around his chest, forcing his arms to his side. He was beaten and both knew it.
Sailor Moon detransformed and stood in front of Tuxedo Mask as he did the same. "You let me win." Serena shook her head in disapproval. "Why bother to fight if you planned to lose?"
"A test. To see if you were ready." The tiara vanished and Darien turned to go to the stairs from the rooftop. "I saw the way you were watching the clock. You and your Scouts have an attack planned." He waited for her to say something, but when no reply came, he turned and was surprised to see her directly behind him.
"You're right. I'm sorry Darien, but I can't let you follow. I care for you too much," she whispered as she raised a hand to his forehead. "Sleep," she murmured. It was an old trick. One she had learned from her mother in the Moon Kingdom. She didn't know how she knew that, but she did. Taking the Rainbow Crystal Darien had formed in his hand to give her before they got back to the apartment and leaving him where he was, she headed to the place the Scouts had picked to meet.