Title: "I'm Bringing You With Me!"
Author: Marie J.W.
Chapter: Ten
Email: mariejwchan@yahoo.com
Hello, Minna-chan! I'm here with the tenth chapter! ::Sigh:: I can't
believe I finely am getting this out! Well, I hope to finish this story
soon since I have some others I want to work on! I hope you like this
chapter!
Have fun reading!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena's POV -
Darkness swam before my eyes... Where am I? I fought to turn my aching
head. Everything felt like it was moving. The sound below me made me
think of a motorboat skimming the water. Darkness... Fear gripped my
heart! Not the dark! Where's Darien? Where's Mr. Yatsen? Am I dead?
Have I died?! I can't die yet, ...not yet, ...not when I just found my
parents! It's so dark... Am I in hell?
I bounced up before landing on my back. What was that?
My thoughts concentrated closer on the feel and the sound. I'm in a car!
I felt relieved. At least I'm not dead. I wonder what happened. Did
Mr. Yatsen change his mind? Is Darien still alive? Darien!
I moved my head and squinted into the darkness. I still couldn't see
anything but at least now, I could feel the material covering my head.
I reached my hands up and found an opening before pulling the blanket
down.
Well, I 'was' in a car. My head faced the window so I could see right
up into the sky. The stars were bright and the sky was pitch black. I
changed my attention to the rest of the car. I could see the drivers
sleeve through the darkness.
Leaning up on my elbow, I moved to get a better look at the drivers
face but it was just too dark! Could it be Darien? Did he find a way
out for us? How did he get this car?
"Darien?" I asked cautiously.
"Just lay back and relax, Miss." The voice answered. It wasn't
Darien.
"Who are you?"
The man didn't answer.
"Where am I?" I started to panic, "Where are you taking me?"
"All I'm to tell you is that Mr. K.T. and D.C. want you safe and that
they'll meet up with you later."
"Do you really think I'm going to believe you?" I sat up and leaned
toward him.
"Believe whatever you want, Miss, I'm just doing my job."
Job? Yeah, idiot, remember...you're just a job to everyone! I can't
believe Darien...and Dad! I can't believe that the only two men I love
are doing this to me! They just think they can shut me out of their
life whenever they want! Well, I don't think so!
"Turn around."
The man was silent as he kept driving.
"Turn around!" I demanded.
"Can't, Miss, I have orders not to let you out of my sight till you're
home."
"Well, I don't want to go home!" I glared at him through the darkness,
"Just turn around and I promise you won't lose your job!"
The man refused to reply!
I sat back against the seat and folded my arms, "Fine." If they want to
shut me out then I'll just shut them out! I refuse to be treated like a
dog! I'm not going to just show up whenever they feel like they want to
give their 'oh, so special' attention to me!
I grabbed the blanket, pulled it up to my shoulders, and stared out the
window. You're going to wish you never saw me again, Darien Chiba!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sun streaked through the window, slowly waking me up. I opened my eyes
and groaned. My back hurt from sleeping, sitting up. I leaned forward and
rubbed my hands over my face trying to wake myself.
"We're almost there, Miss." The man turned the wheel.
I looked out the window. The sun was just coming up; I was guessing it
was around six in the morning.
"What time is it?"
"Six-fifteen."
"Oh..." I leaned back and waited for my mind to start up. I felt so
tired!
Fifteen minutes later the car stopped. I looked out the window. We were
right in front of my house. The sun shown down on the light blue paint
and glass windows. It looked better than anything I'd seen all week!
"I'll tell K.T. that you arrived at your home safely. Would you like me
to deliver a message?" the driver asked.
"Sure." I smiled sarcastically, "Tell him...tell him that I just can't wait
for him to get home and that I will make his favorite meal for dinner when
he gets here!"
The man nodded, "I'll make sure he gets it. Good luck, Miss."
I quickly opened the car door and stepped out, shutting the door behind me.
The car pulled away leaving me alone in front of my house. If the driver let
me cook for him, I doubt he'd be as happy to tell Dad that.
I exhaled I'm taking a bubble bath and I'm eating all the chocolate I can
find while I watch a really sappy movie!
I walked up to the door and turned the doorknob. It was locked. I can't
believe this! I threw my head back and stared up at the sky. This isn't happening!
Sighing, I looked around for another way in. Ooo, I got an
idea! I walked over to a big tree that shaded my balcony. I jumped up,
climbed up the tall sturdy tree, and jumped onto my balcony.
Well, that wasn't hard, especially after hanging off a building before
hand! I opened the unlocked glass sliding door and entered my room. It
was fresh and clean, just how I left it. Well, almost clean. There was
still the bowl from my cereal and a box of cheerios on the floor near
my bed.
I flipped off my shoes and shut the glass door.
"Hello, is anybody home? Sammy? Luna?" I yelled.
Silence.
"I guess no ones home yet." I pulled out some clothes from my dresser and
laid them on the bed. I wonder where Luna is. I thought for sure she would
be here!
I went to the bathroom in the hall and switched on the light. I looked in
the mirror and grunted at my reflection. My hair was a mess, out of its
buns, and in knots. I had dark circles under my eyes and my face looked
pale. I might as well call myself a witch! I smiled then went about
getting my bath ready.
A ton of bubble suds and a big heap of towels later, I lay comfortably
in the hot bathtub. Ohhh...did this bath feel good! My shoulders relaxed
and my head went light. I felt so tired...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Luna's POV -
Startled, I perked my ears up to listen.
Artemis yawned beside me, "What is it, Luna?"
I shook my head, "I don't know. I just...felt something."
"Go back to sleep...it's too early to get up." He sighed before falling
asleep once again.
There's something wrong...
"Artemis, I have to go." I shook him awake, "Alright?"
"Sure..." he fell back to sleep.
I jumped out the window of the Cherry Hill Temple. I have to get to
the Tsukinos!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wiped the fog off the mirror and looked at my reflection. I looked
much better than I did before my bath. At least my face looked
healthier! Wrapping my towel tighter around me, I drained the tub and
picked up my dirty clothes.
Having walked into my room, I dropped my clothes on the floor and
quickly got dressed.
The house was so quiet; it was so strange. Even with Sammy and Luna
in the house, it was much louder. I sighed and plopped down in front
of my vanity and started pinning up my hair.
Click.
I froze. What was that?
"Hello?" I yelled.
Silence.
I stood up and opened the door. I looked both ways before walking out
into the hallway. Maybe it's just your imagination. I shook my head and
walked back in my room. However, before I could shut the door I heard the
same sound again. I stopped breathing, turned around, and looked out into
the hallway again. The halls were empty and silent. I couldn't have made
up a sound twice. This is silly! This is home.
I stepped back, shut the door to my room, and sat back down at the vanity.
I pulled my hair up and pinned it in my traditional hairstyle. My hair was
still wet but like I cared. Maybe I should take a nap before eating.
Yeah, right!
I jumped up and quickly walked downstairs to the kitchen. The place was
a mess! Cereal boxes, candy wrappers and pencils littered the kitchen
table. The counters didn't look any cleaner.
"What was Sammy doing in here?" I sighed, "He's going to clean this up
when he gets home!" I opened the fridge to find a half a gallon of
milk, sandwich meat, cheese, grapes and carrots. Well, I guess I can
make a sandwich with some of this!
Click.
I gulped. All right, someone was definitely in the house!
"I know you're in here!" I yelled, "Stop hiding!"
Click.
I spun around. My eyes widened, "I thought you were-"
"What? With those losers, rotting in jail?"
"Prison."
"Well, you thought wrong." Mr. Leader smirked. Yep, the man that
thinks his gun is his life! What is he doing here?
"I bet you're wondering what I'd want with you." He smiled,
"I know who you are. The little Sailor brat, that defeats the
only good evil around! If it weren't for you I'd be rich!"
"What?" I stared at him confused. What does he mean rich? Who's
going to pay him?
"You heard me. The nega-verse would gladly give me money, all
they want is power!"
"Money?" I smiled, "What would you want money for?"
"Power!"
I nodded, "Okay... I get that part but if you can't get money
why are you here?"
"Because if I kill you they'll be more than happy to give me all
the power and money I'll ever want!"
"Kill me?" I wasn't smiling anymore.
"That's right, Miss Sailor Moon, now don't move. I want this to be
quick and clean." He started walking toward me.
This is the second time this week that some one has pointed a gun
at my head! What is wrong with me? I'm defiantly attracting the wrong
kind of men! Mr. Leader came closer and I backed up a couple feet.
"Well, if I'm going to die I might as well know your name." I backed
up some more.
"Jerry Mamga."
"That's a strange name." I giggled nervously.
"I don't care."
"Well you should!" I grabbed the fridge handle and swung it up against
him, knocking him to the floor. He groaned.
I quickly jumped over him, ran out of the kitchen to my bedroom, and
locked the door firmly behind me. He's in sane! The nega-verse wouldn't
pay him squat!
I searched around my room for something to defend myself. However, what
was I going to find in Serena Tsukino's room? What can I say? I'm not
violent!
Feet pounding on the stairs brought my attention back to the door.
He's coming up here!!!
Okay, the doors locked. I'm fine! Nothing is going to happen! Then
why is my heart beating so fast?! Get a grip, Serena, you've been in
worst situations then this!
Mr. Leader started to pound on the door, trying to bust it down!
I ran to the glass siding door.
Silence.
I stopped and tried not to breathe.
A loud explosion made me jump. The doorknob fell loose on the soft
carpet floor. I stared at the door frozen to my spot! He just shot
my doorknob off!!! What is going to happen?
The door swung open and Mr. Leader appeared. He sneered at me,
"Nice try, moon girl!"
I gulped and backed up against the glass door. Could I get out
without getting myself shot? I whimpered. I know I couldn't. Without
my Sailor Moon powers I wouldn't be able to run five inches without
getting a bullet shot through my head!
I reached out a hand; I'd just have to reason with him some how.
However, how do you reason with a man who has a gun pointed at your
forehead? "Mr. Mamga, can't we just talk about this?"
"Sorry, sweetie, but I have an agenda to keep!" he cocked his gun,
"Bye, bye..."
"Moon Prism Power!" I yelled out franticly. I couldn't die like this!
My jeans and t-shirt quickly turned into ribbons before I magically
appeared in my Sailor Fuku.
The man stood in the same place wide eyed.
"Get out!" I demanded.
"What?" he came back to the present.
"I said, get out!"
He started to chuckle, "I can still kill you." He repositioned his gun
at my head.
"You wouldn't dare! I could kill you before you had the chance to pull
that trigger." I pointed out.
"But you won't, will you?" He smiled cunningly, "Didn't you once say
that you wouldn't kill a human being with your powers?"
My mouth dropped open. He was listening in too!
"Don't look so surprised."
I need a distraction! Oh, please! Someone!
"Hello?"
My heart leapt in my throat. Luna!
Mr. Mamga turned his head towards the door. I grabbed his head and
quickly hauled it down on my knee before running for the door.
Lun-akk! I fell to the floor, my face eating the carpet. What the?
I turned my head. Mr. Mamga gripped my ankle between his hands.
"Let go!" I yelled, "Luna, get out of here!"
I struggled and kicked to get away but he wouldn't let go! I couldn't
believe that one human was giving Sailor Moon this much trouble!
Once again, I heard that familiar click and I knew, without looking,
that he had his gun pointed at my back.
"Ahhh...! Get off me!"
My ankle came loose. I quickly pulled away and stood. I looked behind
me. Mr. Mamga was on the floor trying to get Luna, who was clawing at
him, off him!
"Luna!"
Luna looked up giving the man plenty of time to knock her off. Luna
flew up against the wall, knocked unconscious!
"No, Luna!" I ran to her, "Luna..."
"That stupid cat!" Mr. Mamga bit out, "I'll shoot it next, after I'm
through with you!"
My body stiffened, "You won't touch her!"
"Try and stop me!"
The blast of the gun went off. I won't let Luna die! I leaned down
just as the bullet went over my head before spinning around on the
floor and throwing my tiara towards the man.
The disc left my hands before I even knew it. I watched wide-eyed as
the tiara went through the man then quick as lightening come back to
my forehead.
Mr. Mamga fell to the floor his eyes wide in shook and pain.
My heart and breath stilled. What have I done? I'm a murderer! I've
killed him... I've killed him... I've killed him...
Mr. Mamga chuckled, blood spilling out of his mouth, "I'm not the
only one... my love will get revenge! You'll die, you will (cough)
see!" his eyes slowly shut. I could almost hear his heart beat its
last and his breath leave his body forever, never to return.
I've killed him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Darien's POV -
"You want us to stay?! Are you nuts?" Philly glared at Roger from
across the room.
Roger sighed, frustrated, "I need you to stay! That's why I didn't
tell you about the contracts!"
"You could have just asked us to renew our contracts, Roger." I.T.
explained.
"What? With you having two kids at home! Not a chance!" Roger bit
out.
I.T. glared at him.
I couldn't help but feel anger growing in my chest! He almost killed
Serena! If it weren't for this mission Serena wouldn't even been in
that mess in the first place! If I hadn't pulled her down in time, we
would both be dead! How could Roger put that on our shoulders! How could
he take me away from Serena, how could he take K.T. away from his
daughter, how could he do something as unfeeling as that?
"D.C. you understand, right."
I stared up at him, quickly striding across the room, "You think I
understand?" I asked as calmly as I could.
He backed away.
I quickly grabbed onto his collar before he could get very far, "No!
That's your answer! Serena almost is killed, I almost was killed and
all because of you!! I could have lost the only girl that I cared for
in this world! You can't even comprehend how much she means to me! If
she died, even if I lived, I would die! So, no! I don't understand!"
Roger stared up at me, fearful of what I might do to him next.
"Stay out of my life, Roger, 'cause if I ever...ever see your face
again I just might not be so lenient." I dropped him and turned. I.T.
was staring at me with awe. I would have been embarrassed if it had
been any other time but right now, I didn't care! All I wanted to do
now was to find Serena and make her happy, and make her feel safe.
She was most likely feeling betrayed right now.
"You better do something about her." I nodded my head toward Marlo; who
was tied up to a kitchen chair in the living room. She was the traitor
among us! Philly caught her giving CASA Tokyo Secret Service
information.
"We'll take care of her." Roger replied.
The door burst open. L.L. and J.T. came stomping in with muddy boots
and a cloud over their heads.
"Oh, you back already." I rubbed it in.
L.L. glared at me before turning to Roger, "We found a trail leading
south. However, we couldn't go after them fast enough on foot. We'll
need some heavy machinery."
Roger nodded, getting back some of his old power, "I'll take you to
site 9."
L.L. nodded and looked at me, "Are you coming?"
"I'm going home."
L.L. gave me a questioning look.
"My contract expired."
He smiled sarcastically, "Oh, really? Well, I'm sorry you have to
leave but you know, I'm really not going to miss you."
"Understood." I gave one last look at I.T. before walking out the
door, never looking back. I wasn't sure what to do now. I didn't have
an apartment anymore, I didn't have a job, and I am not enrolled in
collage. No one would know about the last two years of my life. To them
I might as well have retired. I suppose I could do that, it's not like
I don't have any money but what would life be doing nothing. Maybe I
should be a doctor like I planned.
I walked out the front door and out into bright morning light.
A new day-
My chest tightened in a familiar way causing my breath to leave me!
Sailor Moon! She's transformed!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mars POV -
"This is ridiculous!" Venus complained, "We have the crystal,
we have two bad here guys so where are the good guys?!"
I leaned against the door and looked over the room. We were at the
Huge House, the one that Serena gave directions to, but it seems like
we showed up a little too late!
"What are we going to do with them?" Lita frowned at the two men tied
up to the armchairs.
I shrugged my shoulders, "What can we do? The phones dead and there
isn't a house for miles. Is Sammy still ticked off?"
"Probably." Jupiter sighed, "I think he's still a little shook up
about us. I guess finding out that we're not liars and with the gun
shots in the wall..."
"Do you think Serena's all right?" Venus felt the holes in the
wall.
"There isn't any blood." Jupiter instilled hope.
Venus inhaled and looked away from the wall. She obviously didn't
like the thought of gunshots puncturing our friend's body.
"It looks like a big load of data was sent twelve hours ago." Mercury
stared at the computer screen, "I'm going to try to figure out what it
was."
Venus leaned over Mercury's shoulder, "How can you even see what you're
doing? It takes me forever just to open a file and you're just popping
up files like that!" Venus snapped her fingers.
"Its just practice." Mercury smiled at the compliment.
Venus shook her head in wonder.
"Wait!" Mercury stopped and stared at the screen, "Oh my! This is all
the information on the CASA organization! And there's another one sent...
this one's much smaller."
"What does it say?" Venus pushed her face up against Mercury's.
I rolled my eyes, "Venus, give her some room."
Venus stuck her tongue out at me before looking back down at the
screen.
I sighed.
"This is from Darien!" Mercury smiled, "He sent it toooo...
K.T.!"
"K.T.?" Venus asked.
"As in Ken Tsukino."
"Ohhh! Great! So what now?"
"He told him to get his... blank here and save their...blanks...
he needs to work on his language." Mercury sat back and stared at
the screen.
"So you're saying that Mr. Tsukino came and saved Serena."
"I guess so."
"Then lets get out of here!" Jupiter smiled, "Where do you think
they took Serena?"
"How should I know?" Venus sighed and leaned against the computer
chair.
"I wasn't asking you. Mercury?"
"I have no idea. It doesn't say where they're going next."
"This 'is' Yatsen's house, so maybe it's over."
"Over?" Venus echoed.
"Yeah, over. Let's go home."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Serena! Serena! Wake up... oh, please be all right! Serena..." I
turned my head and looked up into two big lavender eyes.
"Luna...?"
"Oh, thank goodness, you're all right!" Luna stared down on me with
worry.
My thoughts were blank, "What happened? Why am I on the floor?"
Luna's eyes sparked in sympathy and relief.
I sat up. The body, the blood, the tiara, and his last words... they
flooded back into my mind, creating a whirlwind of regret and
guilt!
"His soul's gone, Luna." I replied dully.
"Don't do that, Serena, don't you dare!" Luna screamed at me in
panic.
"Don't do what?" I turned on her, "I KILLED HIM!" I yelled, tears
coming to my eyes, "I did and nothing's going to change that! I
killed a human with my-own-powers!"
What could she say? I was right.
The sound of the door busting open rung up-stairs, "Sailor Moon!"
I didn't move. I didn't want to hear. I didn't want to see him.
"Sailor Moon?" feet tromped up the stairs before slowly, walking
to my door.
Luna looked up at me, "Say something to him."
I looked away and let the tears fall silently down my face,
"I killed him..."
"Sailor-" his voice was right behind me. I could just imagine his
thoughts. She killed him, how could she do such a thing? Such a
horrible, blasted thing?!
How 'could' I? I only wanted to protect Luna, not kill anyone!
I've never killed anyone... any human! What's happening to me?!
I killed him!
"You...you didn't. Did she...?"
Luna looked past me at the man behind me, and nodded.
"Oh...no..."
I felt like dying, I just want to sink into the ground and never
exist!
Warm arms wrapped around my shoulders and pulled me to him. I cried
harder and tried to move away but he wouldn't let me go.
"I killed-"
"Shhh... don't say it..."
I stopped, and tried to let myself relax. Tuxedo Mask held me with
one arm and buried his other hand in my hair.
"I'm so sorry..." I sobbed.
Tuxedo Mask just rocked me back and forth. What could he say? I just
killed someone! Mom, Dad, Sammy... the scouts! What will they say?
Tuxedo Mask stopped, "Serena... you're bleeding..."
I turned, surprised, and looked up at him. He was holding his hand out,
staring at the blood on his hand.
"The blood..."
"It's yours... it came from your head."
My eyes widened, "The gun shot!"
"He shot a gun?!" he sounded relieved and scared at the same time.
"Why did this man want to shoot you?" Luna's voice was quaky.
"Money. But, that doesn't matter! He's dead! I killed him!"
"You almost got shot!" Tuxedo Mask yelled at me.
I stared up at him, shocked.
"I... even when this is over you're in danger!" he glared through me,
"This is the third time you've been in a near death experience!"
His hand tightened on my arm, I winced.
"Darien, get a hold of yourself! This isn't the time to vent your anger!"
Luna scolded.
Tuxedo Mask glared at Luna, "You were here, what happened?"
he accused.
THAT WAS IT! I snapped out of my shock and violently pulled away from
him and stood up, "Stop it! She's the reason I killed him!!! He was
going to kill Luna! I couldn't let that happen and so I reacted! I am
sorry, so sorry that I killed him! However, that can't be changed,
can it? I don't know where you get off yelling at her or where you get
the idea that, we're still friends! 'Cause the last thing I remember
hearing was that you and 'my' Father stuck me in a car to go home on
my own...with out 'any' knowledge of what happened to you! For all I
knew you were dead! So, so just leave!"
Tuxedo Mask stared at me, beyond surprised.
I took a deep breath. I felt my heart give and tears started to flow
into my eyes. I won't cry! I meant everything I said!
He took off his mask, giving me a full view of the hurt in his deep
blue eyes. I had never seen Darien so open with his feelings!
"Serena..." Luna begged me to take it back.
My heart begged me as well, to take back everything I said to him but
my mind refused the thought. I couldn't! Both him, and Dad were wrong
in treating me the way they did! He didn't need to be here...
I looked behind me at the lifeless body. My stomach flipped
uncomfortably, making me feel nauseas. I closed my eyes and tried
to wish the memory away but it stayed engraved in my mind forever.
When I opened my eyes, again Darien stood in front of me, standing
his full height, "I'm sorry... but I was afraid of loosing you all
over again. I couldn't loose you again, I just couldn't." he looked
at me for one full minute, looking for some sort of hope that I didn't
mean what I said. However, I stared back at him with determination; I
wouldn't let him see my doubt.
He gave a short nod before swiftly walking to the door. He stopped,
"I'll have someone take care of his body."
I winced.
Darien's footsteps echoed around my head. I let him go... I just let
him go...
Pluto was right; I shouldn't have let him into my heart. He's only
there to save me, nothing more...
"You should go after him, you'll regret it later."
"I know, Luna." I turned my head away as a tear escaped my eye.
I know.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I pulled Sammy's blanket over my head, and tried to think of better
days but only the bad ones would arrive in my mind. I tried to shut
out all the thoughts of the last two weeks but they just wouldn't go
away! They wouldn't leave me alone! The fights, the reunion with my
parents, the kiss, and the games, everything until the two weeks
end!
Mom and Dad were home. Mom came up and knocked on Sammy's door. I
didn't reply. I didn't want to talk; I didn't want to see anyone! I
missed Sammy and I missed the scouts but I just couldn't bear to see
the disappointed looks on their faces!
My life would never be the same...ever.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sammy's POV -
I ran into the house yelling, "Mom! Dad!" They had to be here! Where
else would they go?
"Sammy?"
Mom appeared in the living room doorway, she stopped and stared at
me.
"Mom..." my heart was beating so fast! She looked beautiful!
"Sammy!" she ran to me and wrapped her arms around my neck. She was
just as tall as I am! Has it really been this long? It's been sooo
long!
"Ilene, what are you-? Sammy!"
I looked over Mom's shoulder to see Dad coming down the stairs.
"My boy! You're all grown..." his voice choked up before he could
finish. Mom stepped away so Dad could give me a hug.
"Dad... it's been a long time."
"Too long, son, too long..." he wrapped his arms around me and gave
me a big hug. A lump formed in the back of my throat and tears started
to make their way into my eyes. Family! We were together again!
"I missed you, Dad!" My chin trembled, "I missed you so much!" I broke
down crying. I can't believe I'm doing this! Men don't cry!
"We're together now...all of us..." Dad patted me on the back before
pulling away and looking at me. I was almost as tall as he was. About
two more inches and we would be the same height.
Mom smiled at me with tears streaming down her face.
I hugged her again and she returned the hug ten fold, "I'm so proud of
you!"
I pulled away this time, "Mom...is Serena?"
"She's...in your room." She looked at Dad, "She's...not talking to anyone.
Now even us."
I looked at Dad then Mom, then Dad again, "What do you mean?"
"Are we interrupting something?" Mina popped her head in the doorway,
"We wanted to give you some time...but-"
"But she doesn't have any patience." Lita finished for her.
"Oh, I haven't seen you girls in years!" Mom smiled.
"Hi, Mrs. Tsukino, is Serena home?" Mina asked.
Mom swallowed and nodded.
Mina sighed, relieved and quickly walked in all the way. Lita stepped
in as well before waving to Ray and Amy to come in.
"What do you mean...she's not talking to anyone?" I asked again.
Dad looked at the stairs, "If anyone is to tell you that, it would
have to be Serena."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Knock...knock...knock...
I rolled over in bed and tried to block out the sound.
"Serena! Serena its Sam...Sammy, can I come in?"
I slowly pulled back the covers from my face and looked at the
door.
"Serena, this is my room, you know." He laughed, "Come on, let
me in!"
I bit my lip, should I let him? He is only going to ask questions.
He will want to know what happened...
However, I really need someone to talk to. I stared at the door for
a second longer before sighing and getting out of bed. I unlocked the
door and opened it. Sammy looked at me and smiled, "How're you doing?"
I looked down and opened the door all the way, so he could come in.
I walked back to the bed and sat on the end of it, "Did Mom and Dad tell you...?"
"They said I should talk to you." He sat down next to me, "Serena,
this isn't like you..." he sighed, "I don't know, maybe these last
few weeks have given you a make-over or something 'cause the Serena
I know wouldn't lock herself up in 'my' room and not talk to our
parents who you haven't seen in years."
"You lied to me." I remembered.
"Huh? Oh..." he took a deep breath, "I'm sorry?"
"I forgive you." I smiled up at him.
"Thanks... now do you mind telling me why you're in my room, of all
places?"
I took a deep breath, "It's complicated."
"Okay... I'm pretty good at math."
"Very funny." I started to fiddle with my hands. What would he think
if I told him? This just happened a few hours ago, could I tell him
without choking up. Can I trust him to think of me the same way? No...
I guess I can't.
"Serena, no matter what you have to say...I won't laugh."
"I'm sure you won't." I deadpanned.
"Serena..."
"I know, I know... maybe... maybe later. Can we talk about something
else?"
"Sure..."
"How have you been?" I looked up at him.
"Oh, okay." He leaned back on his hands, "I learned a few things,
like number one, never look for your sister in hotels, never tell
your sisters friends that they're liars and never run around town
on motorcycles, you will not believe the ton of dirt you'll get in
your hair!" he dusted his hair to make his point.
"Motorcycles, huh?"
"Your friends told me that you were staying at a hotel with a friend,
I didn't believe it at first but later I went around looking for you
in every hotel in Tokyo!"
"You did?"
"You bet! You gave me quite a scare!"
"It wasn't my fault! It was that stupid Darien Chiba's fault!"
"Yeah, the one that you used to hate but really had a huge crush on!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"You're crazy! I didn't have a crush on him then, I fell in love
with him later."
"In love? My sister, in love?" Sammy laughed, "Let me get this strait,
you are in love with your kidnapper! You should make a novel out of that!"
"Maybe, it's adventurous enough!"
"Anyway..."
"So what else happened?"
"I learned your secret." He quieted down.
"Secret?" my heart sped up. Did he know already? I thought Mom and Dad
didn't tell him!
"Why didn't you tell me you were a Sailor Scout?"
I felt my eyes go wide, "What? What are you talking about?"
"The girls told me, they even went so far to tell me their early days
when they first started, and it was pathetic!"
"Are you serious? They trusted you with that?!" I asked, I never would
have thought! Especially Ray and Amy!
He nodded, "So... do you like being a scout?"
My throat went dry. I looked away, "I was starting too."
"Was?"
"I don't want to talk about it right now." I looked further away.
"Serena, what aren't you telling me?"
I looked at him in the eye, "Something so horrible, even you wouldn't
forgive me."
He was silent as he just stared at me, thinking.
I sighed and looked away.
"Tell me."
I bit my lip, tears coming to my eyes.
"Tell me, Serena. If it hurts you this much then...I want to know,
it's going to kill me if you keep this to yourself." Sammy put his
hand on my shoulder. "Tell me."
"I killed someone." I sobbed. I pulled my legs up to my chest and
buried my head in my arms. "With my powers...I killed him with my
power!"
Now he knows. He'll never forgive me! He'll leave, he hates me, and
he'll never want to see me again!
"You didn't mean to..." he breathed.
"No I...yes...I.........I don't know!" I looked up at him, "I just
don't know anymore! That scene has gone through my head so many times,
that I have no idea if I shot him first or he shot me first!"
"Sere, oh, thank goodness you're okay!" he grabbed me and wrapped his
arms around my shoulders, "You're okay, that's what matters..."
I stiffened. He does not hate me; he doesn't want to leave?
"Sammy?" I sniffed, "Do you hate me?"
"Do I sound like I hate you?"
I laughed lightly, "No...but..." I felt a sob erupting in my throat,
"...but I killed a man."
"I know." Sammy pulled away and looked at me in the eye, "Serena,
there's a different between that man and you."
I stayed silent.
"You feel regret and he wouldn't have."
"But that doesn't change anything. I still feel-"
"Shhh, I know, it 'will' take time to get over this." Sammy smiled,
"We've been through tough times before, the only way we're going to
get through this is by hanging on to each other. No one can do this
alone. Especially you, Serena."
My heart went out to Sammy so fast my head felt dizzy! He didn't hate
me, he didn't despise me, he only wanted to protect me! He loved me!
Thank goodness, for younger brothers!
Yes, that hollow feeling was still there, that guilt, that over
whelming guilt was still there but...now I had some hope, some
future.
"What about Mom and Dad? They might-"
Sammy shook his head, "Mom, Dad, and a ton of your friends are down
stairs, are waiting to comfort you and to tell you that they love you.
Let them do their job."
I started crying again, "They don't hate me?"
"No." he smiled.
I smiled back through my tears, "Thank you!" I jumped at him, giving
him my biggest hug ever!
"What for?"
"For being the best younger brother any older sister could have!" I
pulled away and wiped the tears from my cheeks, "Can you go down,
and tell them I'll be down in a sec, I kind of want to freshen up."
Sammy nodded and stood up, quickly giving me a kiss on the cheek.
"Are you sure you will be all right?" he asked.
I sighed, "No...but...like you said, maybe I can be with some help
from my friends and family."
He gave me a big smile before leaving.
"I'll be alright." I heaved a sigh, "I'll be alright."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mom cleaned up the house until I hardly recognized it! My friends
were over 24/7 for about three weeks before my Father practically
kicked them out of the house telling them to get back to their jobs!
Sammy went back to work but neither Mom nor Mina would let me go back
to the Wedding Shop until Mom was sure I was feeling better.
I sat around the house, trying to chase unhappy thoughts away with a
book or the television but nothing ever worked for long.
I didn't sleep in my room; instead, I slept in the living room. I
don't know when I'll be able to face my room; maybe I won't ever be
able to take it. Even without sleeping in my room, I have nightmares
galore!
Finely Mina came over with something to take my mind off things.
"Andrew has been waiting three weeks to see you!" Mina jumped on the
other side of the couch in the living room, "It's about time you went
and visited."
"I can't, Mom won't let me out of the house." I replied, dejectedly.
The idea was more than pleasing! It would be great to see a face someone
that didn't have anything to do with last month!
"Well...maybe I can convince her." Mina smiled wickedly, "I'll be right
back!" Mina jumped off the couch and ran into the kitchen. Mom had taken
up cooking again; even now, I can smell chocolate chip cookies hot from
the oven wayfaring into the living room. Enticing? You bet! However, with
the promise of Andrew's chocolate and cherry topped Sundays, I can miss
it just this once.
Mina ran back in, "Lets go before she changes her mind! You're Mom is
getting harder to please by the year!"
I smiled and jumped off the couch, quickly running out the door with
Mina, yelling an even quicker goodbye to my Mom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Andrew's POV -
"Did you know that McDonald had a farm in Tokyo Zoo?"
"Uhm..."
"And did you know that I lost my head while having tea with the Queen
of England?"
"Uhmm..."
"Did you know that Serena just walked in with Bill Gray?"
"What?" Darien looked up and quickly scanned the arcade. He turned
back to me and glared, "That wasn't funny."
"Lighten up!" I laughed, "You have been staring into space for the
last fifteen minutes! What's up with you?"
"Bad week."
"Don't give me 'bad week', you're had a bad two years!"
He sighed, "I think I just ran out of second chances."
"Huh? Explain."
"Serena."
"Ohhh...so what did you do this time?"
He looked up at me, "This isn't a game, Andrew. I just lost Serena!
She practically said 'goodbye' and 'I never want to see your face
again'. There's no way I can win her trust back." He bent his head to
stare down at the counter.
"I beg to differ. She's not like that."
"Well, she is now."
"You may not have been with her these last two years but I have.
She's the same girl; she's just...more stubborn. Give her time, I
know she still loves you."
"Loves me? Andrew, I just said-"
"I know what you said and you're wrong! She loves you like crazy! You
didn't see her when she thought you were dead! She cried for months!
She loves you, you just have to let her know that you love her."
"It's not that simple, I'm not a teenager anymore."
"And neither am I, so from one old man to another, it never pays to
give up, it only pays to keep trying."
He sighed, "You're right...but it's been so long, and I haven't been
exactly fair with her."
"You never have been."
"Stop being so cocky." He gave me a half smile, "And get to work."
The sliding doors opened, I looked up, "Well, I guess I do have some
friendly work to attend to."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As soon as I sat down in the arcade/café Andrew sat down next
to me.
"It's about time you came by!" he smiled.
"Andrew!" I smiled back, feeling refreshed already.
He rumpled my hair, "So what is it, ladies?"
"The usual." Mina and I chorused.
Andrew's eyebrow rose, "So, be it." He stood up, leaving me alone
with Mina.
"Awww, it feels good to be back. I was getting sick of seeing
home!"
"Sick of seeing home?! But you've only been there three weeks!"
"Yeah, I know but when you just see your Mom and Dad for three
whole weeks it can feel like a life time!"
Mina smiled before talking, "So, where do you want to go next?
The mall, the theater, or do you just want to go for a jog."
"No jog!" I laughed, "I've had enough running to last me a while!"
"Okay, then shopping."
"But what about my Mom?"
"You're eighteen girl, deal with it when you get home."
"Oh, thank you!" I replied sarcastically.
"Hey, there's Darien!" Mina nearly jumped out of her seat.
I quickly grabbed Mina's arms before she could wave him over here,
"Keep in down!" I looked over my shoulder. Darien's back was to us.
"But...I thought-"
"Don't think anything, Mina."
"What happened?"
I bit my lip and looked away.
"Look at me. What happened?"
"Why is everyone trying to get information out of me? Can't I have
any privacy?"
"No."
"Why?"
My hands threw up in frustration, "Why can't you just let me keep a
few secrets?"
"Cause we care about you too much, now spill."
I leaned my head back and stared at the ceiling before looking at Mina,
"I said...a few...a lot...of really mean...unreal...untrue things to him...
a few weeks ago. I was mad...and angry and confused and...not myself or
I wouldn't have said those things! But Mina, in a way he deserved it! And
I can't help but think that."
Mina shook her head, "I can't believe this. After all these years of...
of agony over him you just let him go."
I sighed.
"Two Sunday's at your finger tips!" Andrew slipped the ice cream under
our noses.
"Thanks Andrew!" I quickly put on a smile.
"Hey, Andrew." Mina indicated for him to take a seat next to me. He sat
down.
What is Mina up to? I watched her carefully.
"How's Darien been doing lately?"
That's what Mina's up to.
Andrew sighed, "Not good... he's just a little bumbed out. But he'll get
his head back on soon." Andrews glace toward me, didn't go unnoticed.
"Oh, well I hope he feels better."
"Yeah, hey, I better get back to work!" Andrew stood up, "And I'm glad
you okay, Serena, it's good to have you back."
I immediately hated the seriousness in his voice. Why is everyone so
serious?
Andrew left, to take care of some other customers.
"You need to talk to him." Mina voiced her opinion.
"What am I supposed to say, Mina?"
Mina frowned, "In your case, absolutely nothing. If you just think
about one corner, Serena, you'll never discover what else is in the
room." She stood up, "I'm going to play some video games."
I watched her go. I wished I never left the house! Mina is right.
I'm so one minded that I'm never looking around for any other options.
Darien is a good guy, weather I acknowledged that or not. However,
I've given him plenty of chances! He's taken every one of them and
crushed them into pieces. What do you say to a guy like that?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
"I get it, I get it!" I moaned. I searched around for the alarm clock
but found none. Where is that blasted noise?! I opened my eyes to see
my communicator on the floor, slighting sticking out of my jacket pocket.
The red light blinked madly. I picked up the pick device and pushed the
red button, "Moon here."
"It's about time! I've been trying to get you for five minutes!"
"I thought it was my alarm clock!"
"So what!"
"Did you want something?"
"Oh, yeah, there's an attack on Mount Street, near the old buildings."
"Wonderful, I'll be there in fifteen minutes."
Mars broke the connection so I pushed the 'off button' and leaned back
into my pillow. AN ATTACK! I jumped out of bed and raced to the
bathroom, upstairs before realizing I didn't need to go into the bathroom
to transform. I ran back down stairs and out the front door, running down
the street in my PJ's.
I stopped at an alley way and quickly transformed, "What a time for an
attack!"
Mars is going to vaporize me if I'm late!
Wait. I stopped dead in my tracks. I can't fight... I felt my chest
tighten in pain as flashes of only a few weeks ago went through my head:
a fall, words, and blood...
I felt frightened of my power, more frightened then I have even been in
my life! It was worst than being alone... it was worst then
death...
I just couldn't fight... not now... not ever...
"You are going to face your fears."
I quickly turned around. "You!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To Be Continued...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Come on?! Who do you think it is?!
Nice cut off, nei?
Have a good week!
Thanks for read'in!
Author: Marie J.W.
Chapter: Ten
Email: mariejwchan@yahoo.com
Hello, Minna-chan! I'm here with the tenth chapter! ::Sigh:: I can't
believe I finely am getting this out! Well, I hope to finish this story
soon since I have some others I want to work on! I hope you like this
chapter!
Have fun reading!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena's POV -
Darkness swam before my eyes... Where am I? I fought to turn my aching
head. Everything felt like it was moving. The sound below me made me
think of a motorboat skimming the water. Darkness... Fear gripped my
heart! Not the dark! Where's Darien? Where's Mr. Yatsen? Am I dead?
Have I died?! I can't die yet, ...not yet, ...not when I just found my
parents! It's so dark... Am I in hell?
I bounced up before landing on my back. What was that?
My thoughts concentrated closer on the feel and the sound. I'm in a car!
I felt relieved. At least I'm not dead. I wonder what happened. Did
Mr. Yatsen change his mind? Is Darien still alive? Darien!
I moved my head and squinted into the darkness. I still couldn't see
anything but at least now, I could feel the material covering my head.
I reached my hands up and found an opening before pulling the blanket
down.
Well, I 'was' in a car. My head faced the window so I could see right
up into the sky. The stars were bright and the sky was pitch black. I
changed my attention to the rest of the car. I could see the drivers
sleeve through the darkness.
Leaning up on my elbow, I moved to get a better look at the drivers
face but it was just too dark! Could it be Darien? Did he find a way
out for us? How did he get this car?
"Darien?" I asked cautiously.
"Just lay back and relax, Miss." The voice answered. It wasn't
Darien.
"Who are you?"
The man didn't answer.
"Where am I?" I started to panic, "Where are you taking me?"
"All I'm to tell you is that Mr. K.T. and D.C. want you safe and that
they'll meet up with you later."
"Do you really think I'm going to believe you?" I sat up and leaned
toward him.
"Believe whatever you want, Miss, I'm just doing my job."
Job? Yeah, idiot, remember...you're just a job to everyone! I can't
believe Darien...and Dad! I can't believe that the only two men I love
are doing this to me! They just think they can shut me out of their
life whenever they want! Well, I don't think so!
"Turn around."
The man was silent as he kept driving.
"Turn around!" I demanded.
"Can't, Miss, I have orders not to let you out of my sight till you're
home."
"Well, I don't want to go home!" I glared at him through the darkness,
"Just turn around and I promise you won't lose your job!"
The man refused to reply!
I sat back against the seat and folded my arms, "Fine." If they want to
shut me out then I'll just shut them out! I refuse to be treated like a
dog! I'm not going to just show up whenever they feel like they want to
give their 'oh, so special' attention to me!
I grabbed the blanket, pulled it up to my shoulders, and stared out the
window. You're going to wish you never saw me again, Darien Chiba!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sun streaked through the window, slowly waking me up. I opened my eyes
and groaned. My back hurt from sleeping, sitting up. I leaned forward and
rubbed my hands over my face trying to wake myself.
"We're almost there, Miss." The man turned the wheel.
I looked out the window. The sun was just coming up; I was guessing it
was around six in the morning.
"What time is it?"
"Six-fifteen."
"Oh..." I leaned back and waited for my mind to start up. I felt so
tired!
Fifteen minutes later the car stopped. I looked out the window. We were
right in front of my house. The sun shown down on the light blue paint
and glass windows. It looked better than anything I'd seen all week!
"I'll tell K.T. that you arrived at your home safely. Would you like me
to deliver a message?" the driver asked.
"Sure." I smiled sarcastically, "Tell him...tell him that I just can't wait
for him to get home and that I will make his favorite meal for dinner when
he gets here!"
The man nodded, "I'll make sure he gets it. Good luck, Miss."
I quickly opened the car door and stepped out, shutting the door behind me.
The car pulled away leaving me alone in front of my house. If the driver let
me cook for him, I doubt he'd be as happy to tell Dad that.
I exhaled I'm taking a bubble bath and I'm eating all the chocolate I can
find while I watch a really sappy movie!
I walked up to the door and turned the doorknob. It was locked. I can't
believe this! I threw my head back and stared up at the sky. This isn't happening!
Sighing, I looked around for another way in. Ooo, I got an
idea! I walked over to a big tree that shaded my balcony. I jumped up,
climbed up the tall sturdy tree, and jumped onto my balcony.
Well, that wasn't hard, especially after hanging off a building before
hand! I opened the unlocked glass sliding door and entered my room. It
was fresh and clean, just how I left it. Well, almost clean. There was
still the bowl from my cereal and a box of cheerios on the floor near
my bed.
I flipped off my shoes and shut the glass door.
"Hello, is anybody home? Sammy? Luna?" I yelled.
Silence.
"I guess no ones home yet." I pulled out some clothes from my dresser and
laid them on the bed. I wonder where Luna is. I thought for sure she would
be here!
I went to the bathroom in the hall and switched on the light. I looked in
the mirror and grunted at my reflection. My hair was a mess, out of its
buns, and in knots. I had dark circles under my eyes and my face looked
pale. I might as well call myself a witch! I smiled then went about
getting my bath ready.
A ton of bubble suds and a big heap of towels later, I lay comfortably
in the hot bathtub. Ohhh...did this bath feel good! My shoulders relaxed
and my head went light. I felt so tired...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Luna's POV -
Startled, I perked my ears up to listen.
Artemis yawned beside me, "What is it, Luna?"
I shook my head, "I don't know. I just...felt something."
"Go back to sleep...it's too early to get up." He sighed before falling
asleep once again.
There's something wrong...
"Artemis, I have to go." I shook him awake, "Alright?"
"Sure..." he fell back to sleep.
I jumped out the window of the Cherry Hill Temple. I have to get to
the Tsukinos!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wiped the fog off the mirror and looked at my reflection. I looked
much better than I did before my bath. At least my face looked
healthier! Wrapping my towel tighter around me, I drained the tub and
picked up my dirty clothes.
Having walked into my room, I dropped my clothes on the floor and
quickly got dressed.
The house was so quiet; it was so strange. Even with Sammy and Luna
in the house, it was much louder. I sighed and plopped down in front
of my vanity and started pinning up my hair.
Click.
I froze. What was that?
"Hello?" I yelled.
Silence.
I stood up and opened the door. I looked both ways before walking out
into the hallway. Maybe it's just your imagination. I shook my head and
walked back in my room. However, before I could shut the door I heard the
same sound again. I stopped breathing, turned around, and looked out into
the hallway again. The halls were empty and silent. I couldn't have made
up a sound twice. This is silly! This is home.
I stepped back, shut the door to my room, and sat back down at the vanity.
I pulled my hair up and pinned it in my traditional hairstyle. My hair was
still wet but like I cared. Maybe I should take a nap before eating.
Yeah, right!
I jumped up and quickly walked downstairs to the kitchen. The place was
a mess! Cereal boxes, candy wrappers and pencils littered the kitchen
table. The counters didn't look any cleaner.
"What was Sammy doing in here?" I sighed, "He's going to clean this up
when he gets home!" I opened the fridge to find a half a gallon of
milk, sandwich meat, cheese, grapes and carrots. Well, I guess I can
make a sandwich with some of this!
Click.
I gulped. All right, someone was definitely in the house!
"I know you're in here!" I yelled, "Stop hiding!"
Click.
I spun around. My eyes widened, "I thought you were-"
"What? With those losers, rotting in jail?"
"Prison."
"Well, you thought wrong." Mr. Leader smirked. Yep, the man that
thinks his gun is his life! What is he doing here?
"I bet you're wondering what I'd want with you." He smiled,
"I know who you are. The little Sailor brat, that defeats the
only good evil around! If it weren't for you I'd be rich!"
"What?" I stared at him confused. What does he mean rich? Who's
going to pay him?
"You heard me. The nega-verse would gladly give me money, all
they want is power!"
"Money?" I smiled, "What would you want money for?"
"Power!"
I nodded, "Okay... I get that part but if you can't get money
why are you here?"
"Because if I kill you they'll be more than happy to give me all
the power and money I'll ever want!"
"Kill me?" I wasn't smiling anymore.
"That's right, Miss Sailor Moon, now don't move. I want this to be
quick and clean." He started walking toward me.
This is the second time this week that some one has pointed a gun
at my head! What is wrong with me? I'm defiantly attracting the wrong
kind of men! Mr. Leader came closer and I backed up a couple feet.
"Well, if I'm going to die I might as well know your name." I backed
up some more.
"Jerry Mamga."
"That's a strange name." I giggled nervously.
"I don't care."
"Well you should!" I grabbed the fridge handle and swung it up against
him, knocking him to the floor. He groaned.
I quickly jumped over him, ran out of the kitchen to my bedroom, and
locked the door firmly behind me. He's in sane! The nega-verse wouldn't
pay him squat!
I searched around my room for something to defend myself. However, what
was I going to find in Serena Tsukino's room? What can I say? I'm not
violent!
Feet pounding on the stairs brought my attention back to the door.
He's coming up here!!!
Okay, the doors locked. I'm fine! Nothing is going to happen! Then
why is my heart beating so fast?! Get a grip, Serena, you've been in
worst situations then this!
Mr. Leader started to pound on the door, trying to bust it down!
I ran to the glass siding door.
Silence.
I stopped and tried not to breathe.
A loud explosion made me jump. The doorknob fell loose on the soft
carpet floor. I stared at the door frozen to my spot! He just shot
my doorknob off!!! What is going to happen?
The door swung open and Mr. Leader appeared. He sneered at me,
"Nice try, moon girl!"
I gulped and backed up against the glass door. Could I get out
without getting myself shot? I whimpered. I know I couldn't. Without
my Sailor Moon powers I wouldn't be able to run five inches without
getting a bullet shot through my head!
I reached out a hand; I'd just have to reason with him some how.
However, how do you reason with a man who has a gun pointed at your
forehead? "Mr. Mamga, can't we just talk about this?"
"Sorry, sweetie, but I have an agenda to keep!" he cocked his gun,
"Bye, bye..."
"Moon Prism Power!" I yelled out franticly. I couldn't die like this!
My jeans and t-shirt quickly turned into ribbons before I magically
appeared in my Sailor Fuku.
The man stood in the same place wide eyed.
"Get out!" I demanded.
"What?" he came back to the present.
"I said, get out!"
He started to chuckle, "I can still kill you." He repositioned his gun
at my head.
"You wouldn't dare! I could kill you before you had the chance to pull
that trigger." I pointed out.
"But you won't, will you?" He smiled cunningly, "Didn't you once say
that you wouldn't kill a human being with your powers?"
My mouth dropped open. He was listening in too!
"Don't look so surprised."
I need a distraction! Oh, please! Someone!
"Hello?"
My heart leapt in my throat. Luna!
Mr. Mamga turned his head towards the door. I grabbed his head and
quickly hauled it down on my knee before running for the door.
Lun-akk! I fell to the floor, my face eating the carpet. What the?
I turned my head. Mr. Mamga gripped my ankle between his hands.
"Let go!" I yelled, "Luna, get out of here!"
I struggled and kicked to get away but he wouldn't let go! I couldn't
believe that one human was giving Sailor Moon this much trouble!
Once again, I heard that familiar click and I knew, without looking,
that he had his gun pointed at my back.
"Ahhh...! Get off me!"
My ankle came loose. I quickly pulled away and stood. I looked behind
me. Mr. Mamga was on the floor trying to get Luna, who was clawing at
him, off him!
"Luna!"
Luna looked up giving the man plenty of time to knock her off. Luna
flew up against the wall, knocked unconscious!
"No, Luna!" I ran to her, "Luna..."
"That stupid cat!" Mr. Mamga bit out, "I'll shoot it next, after I'm
through with you!"
My body stiffened, "You won't touch her!"
"Try and stop me!"
The blast of the gun went off. I won't let Luna die! I leaned down
just as the bullet went over my head before spinning around on the
floor and throwing my tiara towards the man.
The disc left my hands before I even knew it. I watched wide-eyed as
the tiara went through the man then quick as lightening come back to
my forehead.
Mr. Mamga fell to the floor his eyes wide in shook and pain.
My heart and breath stilled. What have I done? I'm a murderer! I've
killed him... I've killed him... I've killed him...
Mr. Mamga chuckled, blood spilling out of his mouth, "I'm not the
only one... my love will get revenge! You'll die, you will (cough)
see!" his eyes slowly shut. I could almost hear his heart beat its
last and his breath leave his body forever, never to return.
I've killed him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Darien's POV -
"You want us to stay?! Are you nuts?" Philly glared at Roger from
across the room.
Roger sighed, frustrated, "I need you to stay! That's why I didn't
tell you about the contracts!"
"You could have just asked us to renew our contracts, Roger." I.T.
explained.
"What? With you having two kids at home! Not a chance!" Roger bit
out.
I.T. glared at him.
I couldn't help but feel anger growing in my chest! He almost killed
Serena! If it weren't for this mission Serena wouldn't even been in
that mess in the first place! If I hadn't pulled her down in time, we
would both be dead! How could Roger put that on our shoulders! How could
he take me away from Serena, how could he take K.T. away from his
daughter, how could he do something as unfeeling as that?
"D.C. you understand, right."
I stared up at him, quickly striding across the room, "You think I
understand?" I asked as calmly as I could.
He backed away.
I quickly grabbed onto his collar before he could get very far, "No!
That's your answer! Serena almost is killed, I almost was killed and
all because of you!! I could have lost the only girl that I cared for
in this world! You can't even comprehend how much she means to me! If
she died, even if I lived, I would die! So, no! I don't understand!"
Roger stared up at me, fearful of what I might do to him next.
"Stay out of my life, Roger, 'cause if I ever...ever see your face
again I just might not be so lenient." I dropped him and turned. I.T.
was staring at me with awe. I would have been embarrassed if it had
been any other time but right now, I didn't care! All I wanted to do
now was to find Serena and make her happy, and make her feel safe.
She was most likely feeling betrayed right now.
"You better do something about her." I nodded my head toward Marlo; who
was tied up to a kitchen chair in the living room. She was the traitor
among us! Philly caught her giving CASA Tokyo Secret Service
information.
"We'll take care of her." Roger replied.
The door burst open. L.L. and J.T. came stomping in with muddy boots
and a cloud over their heads.
"Oh, you back already." I rubbed it in.
L.L. glared at me before turning to Roger, "We found a trail leading
south. However, we couldn't go after them fast enough on foot. We'll
need some heavy machinery."
Roger nodded, getting back some of his old power, "I'll take you to
site 9."
L.L. nodded and looked at me, "Are you coming?"
"I'm going home."
L.L. gave me a questioning look.
"My contract expired."
He smiled sarcastically, "Oh, really? Well, I'm sorry you have to
leave but you know, I'm really not going to miss you."
"Understood." I gave one last look at I.T. before walking out the
door, never looking back. I wasn't sure what to do now. I didn't have
an apartment anymore, I didn't have a job, and I am not enrolled in
collage. No one would know about the last two years of my life. To them
I might as well have retired. I suppose I could do that, it's not like
I don't have any money but what would life be doing nothing. Maybe I
should be a doctor like I planned.
I walked out the front door and out into bright morning light.
A new day-
My chest tightened in a familiar way causing my breath to leave me!
Sailor Moon! She's transformed!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mars POV -
"This is ridiculous!" Venus complained, "We have the crystal,
we have two bad here guys so where are the good guys?!"
I leaned against the door and looked over the room. We were at the
Huge House, the one that Serena gave directions to, but it seems like
we showed up a little too late!
"What are we going to do with them?" Lita frowned at the two men tied
up to the armchairs.
I shrugged my shoulders, "What can we do? The phones dead and there
isn't a house for miles. Is Sammy still ticked off?"
"Probably." Jupiter sighed, "I think he's still a little shook up
about us. I guess finding out that we're not liars and with the gun
shots in the wall..."
"Do you think Serena's all right?" Venus felt the holes in the
wall.
"There isn't any blood." Jupiter instilled hope.
Venus inhaled and looked away from the wall. She obviously didn't
like the thought of gunshots puncturing our friend's body.
"It looks like a big load of data was sent twelve hours ago." Mercury
stared at the computer screen, "I'm going to try to figure out what it
was."
Venus leaned over Mercury's shoulder, "How can you even see what you're
doing? It takes me forever just to open a file and you're just popping
up files like that!" Venus snapped her fingers.
"Its just practice." Mercury smiled at the compliment.
Venus shook her head in wonder.
"Wait!" Mercury stopped and stared at the screen, "Oh my! This is all
the information on the CASA organization! And there's another one sent...
this one's much smaller."
"What does it say?" Venus pushed her face up against Mercury's.
I rolled my eyes, "Venus, give her some room."
Venus stuck her tongue out at me before looking back down at the
screen.
I sighed.
"This is from Darien!" Mercury smiled, "He sent it toooo...
K.T.!"
"K.T.?" Venus asked.
"As in Ken Tsukino."
"Ohhh! Great! So what now?"
"He told him to get his... blank here and save their...blanks...
he needs to work on his language." Mercury sat back and stared at
the screen.
"So you're saying that Mr. Tsukino came and saved Serena."
"I guess so."
"Then lets get out of here!" Jupiter smiled, "Where do you think
they took Serena?"
"How should I know?" Venus sighed and leaned against the computer
chair.
"I wasn't asking you. Mercury?"
"I have no idea. It doesn't say where they're going next."
"This 'is' Yatsen's house, so maybe it's over."
"Over?" Venus echoed.
"Yeah, over. Let's go home."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Serena! Serena! Wake up... oh, please be all right! Serena..." I
turned my head and looked up into two big lavender eyes.
"Luna...?"
"Oh, thank goodness, you're all right!" Luna stared down on me with
worry.
My thoughts were blank, "What happened? Why am I on the floor?"
Luna's eyes sparked in sympathy and relief.
I sat up. The body, the blood, the tiara, and his last words... they
flooded back into my mind, creating a whirlwind of regret and
guilt!
"His soul's gone, Luna." I replied dully.
"Don't do that, Serena, don't you dare!" Luna screamed at me in
panic.
"Don't do what?" I turned on her, "I KILLED HIM!" I yelled, tears
coming to my eyes, "I did and nothing's going to change that! I
killed a human with my-own-powers!"
What could she say? I was right.
The sound of the door busting open rung up-stairs, "Sailor Moon!"
I didn't move. I didn't want to hear. I didn't want to see him.
"Sailor Moon?" feet tromped up the stairs before slowly, walking
to my door.
Luna looked up at me, "Say something to him."
I looked away and let the tears fall silently down my face,
"I killed him..."
"Sailor-" his voice was right behind me. I could just imagine his
thoughts. She killed him, how could she do such a thing? Such a
horrible, blasted thing?!
How 'could' I? I only wanted to protect Luna, not kill anyone!
I've never killed anyone... any human! What's happening to me?!
I killed him!
"You...you didn't. Did she...?"
Luna looked past me at the man behind me, and nodded.
"Oh...no..."
I felt like dying, I just want to sink into the ground and never
exist!
Warm arms wrapped around my shoulders and pulled me to him. I cried
harder and tried to move away but he wouldn't let me go.
"I killed-"
"Shhh... don't say it..."
I stopped, and tried to let myself relax. Tuxedo Mask held me with
one arm and buried his other hand in my hair.
"I'm so sorry..." I sobbed.
Tuxedo Mask just rocked me back and forth. What could he say? I just
killed someone! Mom, Dad, Sammy... the scouts! What will they say?
Tuxedo Mask stopped, "Serena... you're bleeding..."
I turned, surprised, and looked up at him. He was holding his hand out,
staring at the blood on his hand.
"The blood..."
"It's yours... it came from your head."
My eyes widened, "The gun shot!"
"He shot a gun?!" he sounded relieved and scared at the same time.
"Why did this man want to shoot you?" Luna's voice was quaky.
"Money. But, that doesn't matter! He's dead! I killed him!"
"You almost got shot!" Tuxedo Mask yelled at me.
I stared up at him, shocked.
"I... even when this is over you're in danger!" he glared through me,
"This is the third time you've been in a near death experience!"
His hand tightened on my arm, I winced.
"Darien, get a hold of yourself! This isn't the time to vent your anger!"
Luna scolded.
Tuxedo Mask glared at Luna, "You were here, what happened?"
he accused.
THAT WAS IT! I snapped out of my shock and violently pulled away from
him and stood up, "Stop it! She's the reason I killed him!!! He was
going to kill Luna! I couldn't let that happen and so I reacted! I am
sorry, so sorry that I killed him! However, that can't be changed,
can it? I don't know where you get off yelling at her or where you get
the idea that, we're still friends! 'Cause the last thing I remember
hearing was that you and 'my' Father stuck me in a car to go home on
my own...with out 'any' knowledge of what happened to you! For all I
knew you were dead! So, so just leave!"
Tuxedo Mask stared at me, beyond surprised.
I took a deep breath. I felt my heart give and tears started to flow
into my eyes. I won't cry! I meant everything I said!
He took off his mask, giving me a full view of the hurt in his deep
blue eyes. I had never seen Darien so open with his feelings!
"Serena..." Luna begged me to take it back.
My heart begged me as well, to take back everything I said to him but
my mind refused the thought. I couldn't! Both him, and Dad were wrong
in treating me the way they did! He didn't need to be here...
I looked behind me at the lifeless body. My stomach flipped
uncomfortably, making me feel nauseas. I closed my eyes and tried
to wish the memory away but it stayed engraved in my mind forever.
When I opened my eyes, again Darien stood in front of me, standing
his full height, "I'm sorry... but I was afraid of loosing you all
over again. I couldn't loose you again, I just couldn't." he looked
at me for one full minute, looking for some sort of hope that I didn't
mean what I said. However, I stared back at him with determination; I
wouldn't let him see my doubt.
He gave a short nod before swiftly walking to the door. He stopped,
"I'll have someone take care of his body."
I winced.
Darien's footsteps echoed around my head. I let him go... I just let
him go...
Pluto was right; I shouldn't have let him into my heart. He's only
there to save me, nothing more...
"You should go after him, you'll regret it later."
"I know, Luna." I turned my head away as a tear escaped my eye.
I know.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I pulled Sammy's blanket over my head, and tried to think of better
days but only the bad ones would arrive in my mind. I tried to shut
out all the thoughts of the last two weeks but they just wouldn't go
away! They wouldn't leave me alone! The fights, the reunion with my
parents, the kiss, and the games, everything until the two weeks
end!
Mom and Dad were home. Mom came up and knocked on Sammy's door. I
didn't reply. I didn't want to talk; I didn't want to see anyone! I
missed Sammy and I missed the scouts but I just couldn't bear to see
the disappointed looks on their faces!
My life would never be the same...ever.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sammy's POV -
I ran into the house yelling, "Mom! Dad!" They had to be here! Where
else would they go?
"Sammy?"
Mom appeared in the living room doorway, she stopped and stared at
me.
"Mom..." my heart was beating so fast! She looked beautiful!
"Sammy!" she ran to me and wrapped her arms around my neck. She was
just as tall as I am! Has it really been this long? It's been sooo
long!
"Ilene, what are you-? Sammy!"
I looked over Mom's shoulder to see Dad coming down the stairs.
"My boy! You're all grown..." his voice choked up before he could
finish. Mom stepped away so Dad could give me a hug.
"Dad... it's been a long time."
"Too long, son, too long..." he wrapped his arms around me and gave
me a big hug. A lump formed in the back of my throat and tears started
to make their way into my eyes. Family! We were together again!
"I missed you, Dad!" My chin trembled, "I missed you so much!" I broke
down crying. I can't believe I'm doing this! Men don't cry!
"We're together now...all of us..." Dad patted me on the back before
pulling away and looking at me. I was almost as tall as he was. About
two more inches and we would be the same height.
Mom smiled at me with tears streaming down her face.
I hugged her again and she returned the hug ten fold, "I'm so proud of
you!"
I pulled away this time, "Mom...is Serena?"
"She's...in your room." She looked at Dad, "She's...not talking to anyone.
Now even us."
I looked at Dad then Mom, then Dad again, "What do you mean?"
"Are we interrupting something?" Mina popped her head in the doorway,
"We wanted to give you some time...but-"
"But she doesn't have any patience." Lita finished for her.
"Oh, I haven't seen you girls in years!" Mom smiled.
"Hi, Mrs. Tsukino, is Serena home?" Mina asked.
Mom swallowed and nodded.
Mina sighed, relieved and quickly walked in all the way. Lita stepped
in as well before waving to Ray and Amy to come in.
"What do you mean...she's not talking to anyone?" I asked again.
Dad looked at the stairs, "If anyone is to tell you that, it would
have to be Serena."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Knock...knock...knock...
I rolled over in bed and tried to block out the sound.
"Serena! Serena its Sam...Sammy, can I come in?"
I slowly pulled back the covers from my face and looked at the
door.
"Serena, this is my room, you know." He laughed, "Come on, let
me in!"
I bit my lip, should I let him? He is only going to ask questions.
He will want to know what happened...
However, I really need someone to talk to. I stared at the door for
a second longer before sighing and getting out of bed. I unlocked the
door and opened it. Sammy looked at me and smiled, "How're you doing?"
I looked down and opened the door all the way, so he could come in.
I walked back to the bed and sat on the end of it, "Did Mom and Dad tell you...?"
"They said I should talk to you." He sat down next to me, "Serena,
this isn't like you..." he sighed, "I don't know, maybe these last
few weeks have given you a make-over or something 'cause the Serena
I know wouldn't lock herself up in 'my' room and not talk to our
parents who you haven't seen in years."
"You lied to me." I remembered.
"Huh? Oh..." he took a deep breath, "I'm sorry?"
"I forgive you." I smiled up at him.
"Thanks... now do you mind telling me why you're in my room, of all
places?"
I took a deep breath, "It's complicated."
"Okay... I'm pretty good at math."
"Very funny." I started to fiddle with my hands. What would he think
if I told him? This just happened a few hours ago, could I tell him
without choking up. Can I trust him to think of me the same way? No...
I guess I can't.
"Serena, no matter what you have to say...I won't laugh."
"I'm sure you won't." I deadpanned.
"Serena..."
"I know, I know... maybe... maybe later. Can we talk about something
else?"
"Sure..."
"How have you been?" I looked up at him.
"Oh, okay." He leaned back on his hands, "I learned a few things,
like number one, never look for your sister in hotels, never tell
your sisters friends that they're liars and never run around town
on motorcycles, you will not believe the ton of dirt you'll get in
your hair!" he dusted his hair to make his point.
"Motorcycles, huh?"
"Your friends told me that you were staying at a hotel with a friend,
I didn't believe it at first but later I went around looking for you
in every hotel in Tokyo!"
"You did?"
"You bet! You gave me quite a scare!"
"It wasn't my fault! It was that stupid Darien Chiba's fault!"
"Yeah, the one that you used to hate but really had a huge crush on!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"You're crazy! I didn't have a crush on him then, I fell in love
with him later."
"In love? My sister, in love?" Sammy laughed, "Let me get this strait,
you are in love with your kidnapper! You should make a novel out of that!"
"Maybe, it's adventurous enough!"
"Anyway..."
"So what else happened?"
"I learned your secret." He quieted down.
"Secret?" my heart sped up. Did he know already? I thought Mom and Dad
didn't tell him!
"Why didn't you tell me you were a Sailor Scout?"
I felt my eyes go wide, "What? What are you talking about?"
"The girls told me, they even went so far to tell me their early days
when they first started, and it was pathetic!"
"Are you serious? They trusted you with that?!" I asked, I never would
have thought! Especially Ray and Amy!
He nodded, "So... do you like being a scout?"
My throat went dry. I looked away, "I was starting too."
"Was?"
"I don't want to talk about it right now." I looked further away.
"Serena, what aren't you telling me?"
I looked at him in the eye, "Something so horrible, even you wouldn't
forgive me."
He was silent as he just stared at me, thinking.
I sighed and looked away.
"Tell me."
I bit my lip, tears coming to my eyes.
"Tell me, Serena. If it hurts you this much then...I want to know,
it's going to kill me if you keep this to yourself." Sammy put his
hand on my shoulder. "Tell me."
"I killed someone." I sobbed. I pulled my legs up to my chest and
buried my head in my arms. "With my powers...I killed him with my
power!"
Now he knows. He'll never forgive me! He'll leave, he hates me, and
he'll never want to see me again!
"You didn't mean to..." he breathed.
"No I...yes...I.........I don't know!" I looked up at him, "I just
don't know anymore! That scene has gone through my head so many times,
that I have no idea if I shot him first or he shot me first!"
"Sere, oh, thank goodness you're okay!" he grabbed me and wrapped his
arms around my shoulders, "You're okay, that's what matters..."
I stiffened. He does not hate me; he doesn't want to leave?
"Sammy?" I sniffed, "Do you hate me?"
"Do I sound like I hate you?"
I laughed lightly, "No...but..." I felt a sob erupting in my throat,
"...but I killed a man."
"I know." Sammy pulled away and looked at me in the eye, "Serena,
there's a different between that man and you."
I stayed silent.
"You feel regret and he wouldn't have."
"But that doesn't change anything. I still feel-"
"Shhh, I know, it 'will' take time to get over this." Sammy smiled,
"We've been through tough times before, the only way we're going to
get through this is by hanging on to each other. No one can do this
alone. Especially you, Serena."
My heart went out to Sammy so fast my head felt dizzy! He didn't hate
me, he didn't despise me, he only wanted to protect me! He loved me!
Thank goodness, for younger brothers!
Yes, that hollow feeling was still there, that guilt, that over
whelming guilt was still there but...now I had some hope, some
future.
"What about Mom and Dad? They might-"
Sammy shook his head, "Mom, Dad, and a ton of your friends are down
stairs, are waiting to comfort you and to tell you that they love you.
Let them do their job."
I started crying again, "They don't hate me?"
"No." he smiled.
I smiled back through my tears, "Thank you!" I jumped at him, giving
him my biggest hug ever!
"What for?"
"For being the best younger brother any older sister could have!" I
pulled away and wiped the tears from my cheeks, "Can you go down,
and tell them I'll be down in a sec, I kind of want to freshen up."
Sammy nodded and stood up, quickly giving me a kiss on the cheek.
"Are you sure you will be all right?" he asked.
I sighed, "No...but...like you said, maybe I can be with some help
from my friends and family."
He gave me a big smile before leaving.
"I'll be alright." I heaved a sigh, "I'll be alright."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mom cleaned up the house until I hardly recognized it! My friends
were over 24/7 for about three weeks before my Father practically
kicked them out of the house telling them to get back to their jobs!
Sammy went back to work but neither Mom nor Mina would let me go back
to the Wedding Shop until Mom was sure I was feeling better.
I sat around the house, trying to chase unhappy thoughts away with a
book or the television but nothing ever worked for long.
I didn't sleep in my room; instead, I slept in the living room. I
don't know when I'll be able to face my room; maybe I won't ever be
able to take it. Even without sleeping in my room, I have nightmares
galore!
Finely Mina came over with something to take my mind off things.
"Andrew has been waiting three weeks to see you!" Mina jumped on the
other side of the couch in the living room, "It's about time you went
and visited."
"I can't, Mom won't let me out of the house." I replied, dejectedly.
The idea was more than pleasing! It would be great to see a face someone
that didn't have anything to do with last month!
"Well...maybe I can convince her." Mina smiled wickedly, "I'll be right
back!" Mina jumped off the couch and ran into the kitchen. Mom had taken
up cooking again; even now, I can smell chocolate chip cookies hot from
the oven wayfaring into the living room. Enticing? You bet! However, with
the promise of Andrew's chocolate and cherry topped Sundays, I can miss
it just this once.
Mina ran back in, "Lets go before she changes her mind! You're Mom is
getting harder to please by the year!"
I smiled and jumped off the couch, quickly running out the door with
Mina, yelling an even quicker goodbye to my Mom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Andrew's POV -
"Did you know that McDonald had a farm in Tokyo Zoo?"
"Uhm..."
"And did you know that I lost my head while having tea with the Queen
of England?"
"Uhmm..."
"Did you know that Serena just walked in with Bill Gray?"
"What?" Darien looked up and quickly scanned the arcade. He turned
back to me and glared, "That wasn't funny."
"Lighten up!" I laughed, "You have been staring into space for the
last fifteen minutes! What's up with you?"
"Bad week."
"Don't give me 'bad week', you're had a bad two years!"
He sighed, "I think I just ran out of second chances."
"Huh? Explain."
"Serena."
"Ohhh...so what did you do this time?"
He looked up at me, "This isn't a game, Andrew. I just lost Serena!
She practically said 'goodbye' and 'I never want to see your face
again'. There's no way I can win her trust back." He bent his head to
stare down at the counter.
"I beg to differ. She's not like that."
"Well, she is now."
"You may not have been with her these last two years but I have.
She's the same girl; she's just...more stubborn. Give her time, I
know she still loves you."
"Loves me? Andrew, I just said-"
"I know what you said and you're wrong! She loves you like crazy! You
didn't see her when she thought you were dead! She cried for months!
She loves you, you just have to let her know that you love her."
"It's not that simple, I'm not a teenager anymore."
"And neither am I, so from one old man to another, it never pays to
give up, it only pays to keep trying."
He sighed, "You're right...but it's been so long, and I haven't been
exactly fair with her."
"You never have been."
"Stop being so cocky." He gave me a half smile, "And get to work."
The sliding doors opened, I looked up, "Well, I guess I do have some
friendly work to attend to."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As soon as I sat down in the arcade/café Andrew sat down next
to me.
"It's about time you came by!" he smiled.
"Andrew!" I smiled back, feeling refreshed already.
He rumpled my hair, "So what is it, ladies?"
"The usual." Mina and I chorused.
Andrew's eyebrow rose, "So, be it." He stood up, leaving me alone
with Mina.
"Awww, it feels good to be back. I was getting sick of seeing
home!"
"Sick of seeing home?! But you've only been there three weeks!"
"Yeah, I know but when you just see your Mom and Dad for three
whole weeks it can feel like a life time!"
Mina smiled before talking, "So, where do you want to go next?
The mall, the theater, or do you just want to go for a jog."
"No jog!" I laughed, "I've had enough running to last me a while!"
"Okay, then shopping."
"But what about my Mom?"
"You're eighteen girl, deal with it when you get home."
"Oh, thank you!" I replied sarcastically.
"Hey, there's Darien!" Mina nearly jumped out of her seat.
I quickly grabbed Mina's arms before she could wave him over here,
"Keep in down!" I looked over my shoulder. Darien's back was to us.
"But...I thought-"
"Don't think anything, Mina."
"What happened?"
I bit my lip and looked away.
"Look at me. What happened?"
"Why is everyone trying to get information out of me? Can't I have
any privacy?"
"No."
"Why?"
My hands threw up in frustration, "Why can't you just let me keep a
few secrets?"
"Cause we care about you too much, now spill."
I leaned my head back and stared at the ceiling before looking at Mina,
"I said...a few...a lot...of really mean...unreal...untrue things to him...
a few weeks ago. I was mad...and angry and confused and...not myself or
I wouldn't have said those things! But Mina, in a way he deserved it! And
I can't help but think that."
Mina shook her head, "I can't believe this. After all these years of...
of agony over him you just let him go."
I sighed.
"Two Sunday's at your finger tips!" Andrew slipped the ice cream under
our noses.
"Thanks Andrew!" I quickly put on a smile.
"Hey, Andrew." Mina indicated for him to take a seat next to me. He sat
down.
What is Mina up to? I watched her carefully.
"How's Darien been doing lately?"
That's what Mina's up to.
Andrew sighed, "Not good... he's just a little bumbed out. But he'll get
his head back on soon." Andrews glace toward me, didn't go unnoticed.
"Oh, well I hope he feels better."
"Yeah, hey, I better get back to work!" Andrew stood up, "And I'm glad
you okay, Serena, it's good to have you back."
I immediately hated the seriousness in his voice. Why is everyone so
serious?
Andrew left, to take care of some other customers.
"You need to talk to him." Mina voiced her opinion.
"What am I supposed to say, Mina?"
Mina frowned, "In your case, absolutely nothing. If you just think
about one corner, Serena, you'll never discover what else is in the
room." She stood up, "I'm going to play some video games."
I watched her go. I wished I never left the house! Mina is right.
I'm so one minded that I'm never looking around for any other options.
Darien is a good guy, weather I acknowledged that or not. However,
I've given him plenty of chances! He's taken every one of them and
crushed them into pieces. What do you say to a guy like that?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
"I get it, I get it!" I moaned. I searched around for the alarm clock
but found none. Where is that blasted noise?! I opened my eyes to see
my communicator on the floor, slighting sticking out of my jacket pocket.
The red light blinked madly. I picked up the pick device and pushed the
red button, "Moon here."
"It's about time! I've been trying to get you for five minutes!"
"I thought it was my alarm clock!"
"So what!"
"Did you want something?"
"Oh, yeah, there's an attack on Mount Street, near the old buildings."
"Wonderful, I'll be there in fifteen minutes."
Mars broke the connection so I pushed the 'off button' and leaned back
into my pillow. AN ATTACK! I jumped out of bed and raced to the
bathroom, upstairs before realizing I didn't need to go into the bathroom
to transform. I ran back down stairs and out the front door, running down
the street in my PJ's.
I stopped at an alley way and quickly transformed, "What a time for an
attack!"
Mars is going to vaporize me if I'm late!
Wait. I stopped dead in my tracks. I can't fight... I felt my chest
tighten in pain as flashes of only a few weeks ago went through my head:
a fall, words, and blood...
I felt frightened of my power, more frightened then I have even been in
my life! It was worst than being alone... it was worst then
death...
I just couldn't fight... not now... not ever...
"You are going to face your fears."
I quickly turned around. "You!"
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To Be Continued...
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Come on?! Who do you think it is?!
Nice cut off, nei?
Have a good week!
Thanks for read'in!