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A Fall Bloom...

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~*~Two Years Later~*~

Serena took a deap breath and a slow look around her. It was fall, she could feel it! Even though her calendar said there was still another a month until it was officially fall everything inside of her shouted it's welcome to Autumn. As she looked at the trees by her the spirit of fall seemed to lie right under that leafy exterior. It must be something in the air, maybe the way it smelled or the way the wind felt against her skin, but it all cried out fall to her. She was so excited, a tenseness filled her body just wanting to laugh out and greet the new season. She looked around the small grove of trees and noticed that no one was around so she dropped her bag on the ground then plopped on the ground too, laying her head back and spreading her arms out in the grass. Staring up at the clouds, elation rushed through her as a smile spread across her face threatening to split it in two.

The clouds passed over head and the trees swayed gently in a breeze promising colder weather and pumpkins. A laughter bubbled up through Serena's chest and escaped out her mouth. Despite the green world around her, images of gold, red, orange and brown danced across her eyes. Her mind raced towards Halloween and the magic and mystery that crackled through the cool, crisp air. Her joyus laughter eventually stopped but her wide smile stayed. She hadn't felt this good in a long, long time.

As the moment faded warmth filled Serena. A new season was coming along with a freshness that made her muscles itch to run and jump. Out with the summer which had grown stale and monotonous.

She jummped up and grabbed her bag relizing that she was probably late for work. Running to her apartment, Serena tripped on herself.

"Darn school shoes!" Serena's new uniform was slightly different than the one she had been used to at Cross Road, one of the biggest differences was the fact that her shoes now made her even more klutzier.

As Serena fumbled for her key a paper fell out her bag. It was her math test, she was especially proud of it, she had gotten an A- on it. Usually she got B's but she had studied really hard for this grade, not that she didn't already study really hard. Since she had moved to Namoku she couldn't afford to be late to her job because of after school detentions so that meant she had to get better grades. School didn't come easy to her after years of neglect but finding that sleep didn't come easily either she had plenty of time for homework and projects.

Serena's bag was tossed onto her bed as she headed to the refrigerator for a snack, dropping her keys on the counter as she rummaged for a couple of granola bars. It didn't do to go to the resturaunt hungry and stare at food all night and the granola bars were easy to eat as she ran to work. Grabbing the bars she put one beside her keys while unwrapping the other and sticking it in her mouth. Pushing her shoes off with her feet, Serena flung them to the other side of the room while quickly pulling her shirt over her head. Half walking half hopping to her closet, Serena took off her skirt and socks hoping to not trip and fall on her face. Taking a quick bite out of the granola bar, she opened up her closet she pulled out the first white blouse she found and rushed to button it up. Fumbling with her last button she looked up to find her red and black checkered skirt.

"Darn!" She had forgotten to get it dry cleaned. There was a small brown stain about the size of a fingernail at the bottom from when she had leaned over a bowl of soy sauce. Being a waitress wasn't easy, especially for someone who was unusually dis-inclined toward gravity. Unfortunately, since she had had no other job experience it was all she could get. On a brighter note she had an understanding employer who had helped her avoid most of her klutz attacks, still, they did happen more often than she liked to admit.

Opening a drawer by her bed, Serena plunged her hand in and pulled out a rolled up and slightly wrinkled red and black checkered scarf. She quickly tied it on as she slipped into a pair of flat black dress shoes. Most of the waitresses at her resturaunt, The Lucky Dog,had to wear heels but seeing her adversity to gravity, her employer had made an exception.

Taking a quick glance in the mirror she shoved the rest of her granola bar in her mouth as she pinned her name tag on crookedly. She grinned at the face of a puppy right next to her alias on the tag. She had assumed the name of Rene knowing that if anyone was searching for her she would definately be discovered if she kept the name Serena. Sometimes she had to remind herself that her real name was Serena and that this wasn't who she really was, but that was only at the dark of the moon or when she felt a twinge that told her that scouts had just transformed. At those times Serena willed her spirit with them, hoping it might protect them. She had felt guilty leaving the scouts to fight the Black Moon by themselves but she figured that they would be harmless enough. Besides,it wasn't as though life had been un-eventful in Namoku, somehow yoma had appeared here also. Knowing that if she transformed she would definately be discoverd, Serena had trained her abilities so that she could attack silently and with out transforming. Admittedly, this had taken a long time and much effort but it was a necessity to be able to destroy a yoma without drawing attention to herself.

Grabbing her keys and her other granola bar, Serena brushed a braid out of her eyes as she locked up. Feeling that her hairstyle would be too eaily spotted if someone was looking for her, Serena had taken them out of her beloved pony-tails. In stead she had combed out her hair into about twenty differnt strands and braided them. The effect was something simmilar to dredlocks but was a lot silkier, nicer and stylish. The unfortunate problem with her unique hair style was that when she was running it tended to hit her head pretty hard.

Such was a predicament Serena was in, by the time she reached the resturaunt there we red blotches on her face from where the braids had hit, luckily they went away fast.

As she entered the resturaunt she looked around and noticed that she wasn't too late and could still rush behind the counter and put on her apron before her boss noticed.

"Rene!" Opps! Guess not. "Could you come here?" Serena swallowed, her boss was usually understanding if she had a good excuse but, "Sorry, but I got caught up in the changing seasons!" didn't seem like much of an excuse to her.

"Yes?" She answerd brightly as she went over to the table where her boss was sitting with... Ms. Johnson? What was her math teacher doing here?

"Hello Rene." Serena gave a quick smile to her teacher and boss as she became eve more confused.

"Hi Ms. Johnson." Serena started to twidle her thumbs. "Um... what might you be doing here?" Her teacher smiled brightly.

"Well, Rene you left school before I could tell you so I headed over here and hoped that I might catch you. Besides, I thought I would talk to your boss and run my idea by her." Now Serena was very confused."

"Uh... idea?" She looked at both women hoping for some answers. Mrs.Baisley, he employer, laughed warmly seeing her confusion.

"Student exchange?!" Serena couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"I know it's probably a shock but I think you would benifit from the experience." Ms. Johnson smiled encouragingly. "I know you are not the top student in the class but I see promise in you, that's why I'm offering you this chance." Serena blushed a little at the last comment over her grades but she was happy that her teacher thought she deserved this.

"Rene, you don't have to make a choice right away, but at least think about it. You would be staying with a girl and her family in Tokyo." Ms. Johnson had expected her student to be suprised but the reaction she was getting was very confusing. Serena had just gone very pale.

"Did you say Tokyo?" Serena's voice was a whisper. She looked stunned and possibly even scared.

"Yes... why? Is that a problem?" Ms. Johnson was now slightly suspicious, they had never learned very much about her mysterious student's past.

Mrs. Baisley was quite content to sit and watch her young waitess's reaction. Usually Serena was either completely un-emotional or very cheerful but right now her expression was quite different. Suddenly, her face was one of complete composure.

"Oh nothing, I just have a cousin over there I haven't talked to a while." Serena knew the excuse was weak and so did the others but there was nothing she could do.

"Thanks." Serena smiled warmily as she and her teacher headed towards the door. She vaguely heard her teacher laying out the details of the trip but she wasn't really concentrating. Her mind was racing, she could see them again! Lita, Ami, Rei, Mina, her family, that little annoying pip-squeak Rini and Dar... No, she couldn't go, not with him around, there were too many bad memories. Her heart dropped, unknowingly she had gotten her hopes up when she had heard the word 'Tokyo.' She couldn't go back, it wasn't worth risking it. Besides, she told herself as she reached the door, if yoma were attacking Namoku then she couldn't just leave all the people here to fend for themselves! Alone or not she was still a Sailor Scout and had a job to do.

As Serena and her teacher walked outside the a fall breeze blew by making both of them shiver. A smile ran across Serena's face as her teacher watched her face light up.

"You feel that Rene? Fall is here." Ms. Johnson observed while pulling her sweater closer and closed her eyes taking a deep breath.

"Hmm... I love fall, it's a season of change and magic." Serena's voice was far off as if in a dream. Her teacher opened her eyes and observed her student closely. 'She's not going to go,' she told herself, 'she needs more convincing.'

"Yes, change, like a trip to Tokyo." Serena's head swung around sharply and stared at her smiling teacher. She was right, it was a time for change. If she went to Tokyo she wouldn't necissarily have to see the others, but she needed a breath of fresh air. As much as she loved this new life, the seclusion was driving her slowly crazy,perhaps she wouldn't feel so lonely being closer to home. As for the yoma, they hadn't started appearing until she had arrived; it was as if the Black Moon had felt that there was an enemy there, even if they couldn't pin-point it. Serena hoped that perhaps they would leave once she left.

"I'll go." Ms. Johnson was slightly shocked to find Serena's face with a determined look on it, as if she was accepting a challenge.

"Great! I hoped you would!" The normally calm teacher was now suddenly very excited. "I've already made all the travel plans. You will leave in two days, is that too soon?"

"Um, no, it shouldn't be a problem." Serena was suddenly swept up in all the plans for her trip, but only half listening because she was making her own plans. She had to pack up all her things and make sure someone would take care of her apartment, perhaps Ms. Johnson would do that? Nervousness suddenly weighted her body down as she thought about what lay before her, what if something went wrong and there was so much to think about! Maybe she could back out of it still... No! It was time for a change and it needed to happen, life had just gotten too monotonous. Feeling burdened by all of her worry, Serena promised herself silently that she would take one day at a time and not think too far ahead. If she did that then she would surely chicken out.

~*~Later~*~

Serena flipped on the light switch as she entered her appartment and took a look around. Deciding that she wasn't really hungry, she went to a window to let some of that cool, fresh, fall air in started packing. As she packed up her clothes she started thinking about all the places she would visit when she got back 'home.'

Two hours later she zipped up the last of her bags, besides the last minute laundry and toothbrush packing that had to be done, everything else was packed. She gave a push and started to close her bottom dresser drawer when something caught her eye. It was her locket, she carefully picked it up and examined it closely as if it was knew. She pressured the clasp and it popped open as a little peice of paper flutterd out. Picking the paper up, Serena noticed it was a picture of her and...Darien! It had been so long since she had seen a picture if him, his beautiful dark hair and his deep ocean eyes made her catch her breath. He was so beautiful, a tear trickled down her cheek as she fumbled to close the clasp and shoved it back into the drawer and turned to go to the kitchen. Relizing that it wasn't safe to leave her locket here while she was gone, she quickly pulled it back out and stuffed it into a small pocket in her main bag.

She walked over to the kitchen and pulled open the freezer and grabbed a chicken TV dinner. As the dinner heated up, Serena slowly watched the plate revolve around in the microwave. She hadn't seen that photo since a couple days after she had arrived here. Somehow the photo had ended up in the pocket of the sweater she had worn. Serena had burned those clothes as if getting rid of bad memories but hadn't the courage to burn the photo. Instead she had put it in the locket and shoved it into the corner of her drawer.

Pulling out the plate after it was done she grabbed a fork and poured herself a glass of orange juice. Remebering that she had opened a window, she went over to it and sat down to enjoy the night. The stars could be vaguley seen despite the city's best efforts to keep them hidden with bright lights and tall buildings. As she ate her chicken the image of Darien kept drifting across her thoughts, at one point she even caught herself dreaming about what she would say to him if she saw him. Finally she gave in towards the end of her meal and decided that she would indulge her fantasy. She would see him, possibly even talk to him, but completely under disguise. He must never know it was her!

As Serena prepared to go to bed her plan bloomed as she thought about how she would see everyone she wanted to see but they would never know it was her. She could see Sammy and her Mom and Dad, Rini, and the girls, Darien, maybe even Andrew and his sister. She would go to the arcade and the park and even maybe run by her home...

Curling up and closing her eyes as another fall breeze blew across the room, she smiled. A sensation similar to what she had felt earlier in the grove of trees flowed through her body. She gave a soft half sigh, half laugh as sleep came over her. She was going to do something that was probably crazy and was risking discovery but the more she thought about it the more she knew she had to do this!

~*~Two Days Later~*~

Serena happily got off the bus while dragging her bags with her. Tears were threatening to burst from her eyes in happiness at being back in Tokyo. Not only that, but she knew exactly where she was. She was just around the corner from Rei's temple, apparently the girl she would be staying with lived around here. Serena shivered with excitement and the thrill from being so close to what she was hiding from, risking discovery at every moment.

As the bus drove away she relized with a sinking feeling that she was alone now, not alone like she was before in Namoku, but if she made a mistake now she would be discovered and no one could help her. Dropping her baggs on the ground, Serena took a good look around her and notice that fall had indeed come for a few leaves were begining to show a yellowy-orange color.

"Uh, excuse me, are you Rene?" A familiar voice startled Serena and she froze. She was positive it was Rei. Fear coursed up and down her back as she slowly turned around.

"Yes?" Serena's voice was tentative, she had not expected to meet any of them this early, she wasn't ready. The girl staring at her suddenly smiled and offered her hand.

"I'm Rei, you'll be staying with me for the next couple of months." Serena automatically shook her friend's hand, although it was very weak. "My temple is around the corner... Are you okay?" Suddenly relizing that Serena was showing her suprise she fixed her features and smiled.

"Oh yes, I'm fine! I just have a friend that looks a lot like you." At this Rei smiled and then picked up a bag.

"Come on, it's this way." And with that the young preistess took off with Serena following meekly behind. She wasn't ready for this. Sure she had planned to see her friends and maybe talk to them, incognito of course, but living with one of her closest friends who also had special powers was quite un-nerving. She would be walking a very fine line and would have to be very careful. Her heart sank as she thought maybe this wasn't such a good idea.

By the time Serena had gotten to her room and had washed up and then eaten dinner Serena had convinced herself that it was just too un-nerving being around Rei to stay. Sure, she absolutely loved Rei and was so happy to see her old friend again but that was the problem. She wasn't sure if she could keep herself from rushing over to her and giving her a big hug and telling her whole story. She was constantly avoiding Rei's gaze because she felt that if she looked hard enough she might find out her secret. Serena was living in a world of dread, worry, joy and exhileration. She was positive that she had to leave, she could tell Rei she had gotten a call from her mother and that her father was in the hospital.

As they both finished dinner, Rei's inceasent chatter drifted through to her.

"... and Mina's a darling although she can get rather distracted by the silliest things sometimes. As for Lita, you'll like her she's very caring and a wonderful cook! As for Andrew, well all the girls are after him but word is he had a girlfriend..." Serena smiled to herself as she listened to Rei's description of her friends, she missed the so much. They had supported her through so much, many nights she had woken up wishing they were there so that she had a shoulder to cry on.

"Rene? Are you okay?" Rei's question broke her thoughts which made Serena relize that tears had started. She quickly wiped them up while searching for an excuse. She looked tentatively at Rei to find her face full of concern. Serena smiled.

"Of course, I've just never been this far away from Namoku and the whole day's been kind of overwhelming." At this, Rei's face lit up.

"Oh, of course! I'm sorry, we can talk tomorrow." She got up quickly and started to walk to Serena's room with her. "I'm usually not this talkative, I'm really not. I don't know why but I just feel like I know you and can trust you." Serena's heart stopped, she had to leave and get out of here, Rei would catch on. Serena swallowed roughly before forcing a laugh, hoping she sounded convinving.

"I guess I'm just like-able, right?" Rei smiled, she was rather confused by her guest's odd behavior but didn't show it. Perhaps she should talk to Luna about her, perhaps the Black Moon had planted her? She quickly scolded herself for jumping to conclusions like that, she shouldn't get so suspicious.

As Serena reached her room Rei suddenly remebered something.

"Oh! Rene? I forgot to tell you. Since tomorrow's a saturday I thought it might be nice if we went to the arcade I like to go to and meet with my friends and introduce you." With that Rei said good night and headed to the meeting room room, there was a secret scout meeting going on tonight that she was already late for.

Crawling into bed, Serena reflected on what had happend with-in the last twenty-four hours and ended with what Rei had said. She smiled to herself, maybe going back could wait a little. She wanted to see the others first, even if it was just breifly.

Serena fell asleep soundly feeling more safe and secure than she had in a while.

~*~ A Little Later ~*~

A loud shout woke Serena up. Looking around the room she heard quieter shouts and the sounds of running feet. She quickly found her robe and tied it around her and left her room. The sounds seemed to have been coming from outside the temple. As she reached the door she was greeted with the sound of a large shot of electricity and a great screech. Scattered across the lawn were spikes of metal that looked like they had been flung carelessly around. In the middle of the yard was a very large, metalic yoma with spikes coming out of her every-which direction. Serena's gaze quickly travled to her friends who were heatedly attacking the monster. There was Ami who was busy tapping away at her computer looking for answers while running away from flying metal spikes. Then there was Lita who looked pretty banged up and was about to fire another attack at the yoma. Mina was over at another end help a small figure up... it looked like it was Rini, but what was she doing here? She wasn't supposed to know about the scouts! Then there was Rei who also looked pretty beat up and was struggling to stand up straight. Finally her eyes rested on a man in a black suit and cape, her heart flittered and jumped as her eyes ran down his body. She was extremely distressed to see that he was slumped over and didn't look too good either.

Her reverie was broken by Ami's cry, "She doesn't have a weak spot! At least not one that I can find!" This wasn't good, how would they beat the yoma if it didn't have weak spot? How could these monsters get so difficult? Relizing that the scouts would probably not be able to finish off the Yoma with out getting severely hurt, Serena decided to take action.

Drawing energy from some resevoir deep inside herself, Serena grabbed it and was ready to direct it straight at the yoma, all she had to do was wait for someone else to attack so that she wouldn't be discovered. Seeing Lita preparing another attack, Serena mentally directed the energy towards the yoma. Just like back in Namoku when she couldn't be discovered, the yoma discintigrated. The girl's cheers could be heard as they detransformed. Serena ran back to her room so that she wouldn't be discoverd out of bed. Just as she rounded the corner she bumped into something hard.

"Ouch!" Serena suddenly went very pale as a feeling of deja-vu spread over her.

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