Author's Note: This story is mainly based on the Sailor Moon anime; you can tell because the Four Sisters are alive. But, there are a few things from the manga that pop-up from time to time. Also, I'm using the DiC dub names for this story (i.e. Serena, Mina, Lita, etc.). Sorry to all the dub-haters out there, but that's just the way I'm writing this one.

Lastly, this takes place after the last episode of Sailor Moon R but before Sailor Moon S. However, there are a few spoilers for that season. They really don't spoil much. I can't explain more or it would ruin the story.

Disclaimer: All characters in this story were created by and belong to Naoko Takeuchi. I won't pretend otherwise. I can only hope she won't mind if I borrow them for a short time.

Time Enough
by Mako-clb

Chapter 1

"Mom is going to kill me! Even worse, she's not gonna let me see Darien anymore, or go to the arcade, or hang with you guys, or go shopping, or anything. I'll be grounded for life!" The finality of the young girl's dire prediction was reflected in her defeated walk. With her shoulders slumped and head down, causing her exceedingly long blond pig-tails to scrape the ground, she looked exactly like the failure she felt she was at that moment.

"Serena, you're overreacting. I mean, you did get a 'C.' That's passing. Plus, it's way better than your usual grades," encouraged the girl standing next to Serena, a girl who was practically her polar opposite. While Serena was of average height for a girl her age, with bright blue eyes and thick blond hair, her friend, Lita, was extremely tall for her age, and a bit muscular, with green eyes and reddish-brown hair done up in a ponytail.

"Doesn't matter. Mom said that if I didn't get at least an eighty percent on this math test, she was gonna ground me. She's really getting serious about my grades."

"I hate to say it, but maybe you should get serious. After all, your grades are pretty low, and we do have to start studying for the entrance exams in a couple months."

"Lita, I can't believe you just said that! Have you been possessed by Amy or something?"

"Guess I have been listening to Amy go on about the exams a bit too much," the taller girl admitted, looking slightly embarrassed.

"That's right. We should be having fun, not studying. We deserve some time off after that last battle with the Black Moon Family."

Lita stopped suddenly and stomped her foot. "Darn, I almost forgot. I'm supposed to meet Catzy and give her a cooking lesson. You don't mind if I skip the arcade, do you?"

"It's okay. I'm going to try to find Darien. His class should be out by now, and I'm pretty sure he's got the day off from work. Besides, today may be the last day I get to see him in a long time." Serena let her last statement hang in the air for a moment before following up with a long sigh.

"It's not that bad, Serena. Even if you are grounded for a couple of days, you and Darien have plenty of time to be together. You don't have to worry. We saw the future, and it's obvious you two are still together. At most, it'll be a week, not, like, years or anything."

"You're a real help, Lita," Serena replied sarcastically.

"Well, gotta go! Bye!" Lita said as she ran off towards the Four Sister's apartment.

BSSM-BSSM-BSSM

If Serena hadn't been a little glum before, she certainly was now. She'd looked just about everywhere for Darien, with no luck. The arcade had been first, since it was close by, and she wanted to play the new Capcom vs. Marvel game. When Andrew said he hadn't seen Darien all day, she tried his apartment. Serena spent what seemed like forever knocking on his door before she'd given up. And now, she was leaving the library and still hadn't found him.

It just wasn't fair, the blond decided. Darien could find her whenever he wanted, but he hardly ever tried, except when she was in danger. At least, she didn't think he did. Serena, on the other hand, would be more than happy to just be able to show up wherever Darien was, all the time, because she had some kind of internal compass, or something, trained on him.

Just as Serena was about to give it a go anyway and try to feel where Darien was, someone ran into her, knocking her down hard. That was a first, someone knocking her over instead of the other way around. Not that she was really that bad, but certain people named Raye liked to exaggerate her clumsiness. When Serena bumped into people, however, she had the decency to apologize, unlike the rude boy who had just taken off without so much as a glance in her direction. Then, she heard the screams filled with fear and panic. It could only mean one thing—Sailor Moon was needed. Sure enough, Serena saw some inhuman creature just around the corner of the library, sucking energy from innocent people.

Well, it looked like she might get to see Darien after all, or at least Tuxedo Mask, but not under the circumstances she was hoping for. Mumbling angrily to herself, Serena hit the all-call button on her communicator, and then she raced back inside the library to find a quiet place to transform.

A few moments later, a voice rang out strong and clear. "Stop right there! It isn't nice to attack innocent people. For making an already bad day worse, I will punish you!" Sailor Moon finished her speech with a flourish, satisfied at the results. As usual, the creature had been temporarily distracted by her little show, giving everyone else a chance to escape. It was one of the reasons she announced herself like that, even though she lost the element of surprise. Besides, it was one of the few fun things she got to do as Sailor Moon.

Unfortunately, as also usually happened, while Sailor Moon was busy watching to see that everyone got away safely, the creature recovered and launched the first attack. With a grace and speed that Sailor Moon envied, the monster closed the short distance between them. From its outstretched hand, the creature sprayed a fine mist towards the unprepared Soldier of the Moon. Reacting purely out of fear and instinct, Sailor Moon flung herself out of the line of fire. Before she even had a chance to sigh in relief, Sailor Moon hit the library wall, hard, leaving her slightly dazed. Her opponent, taking advantage of the situation, turned and let loose a wide spray of the strange misty substance. Sailor Moon regained her senses just as the liquid hit her. Her whole body tensed in anticipation of the pain, but it never came. Surprised, but grateful, Sailor Moon declared, "Your trick didn't work, but that's too bad. Now, it's my turn!"

Pulling her Moon Scepter from its subspace pocket, she raised it above her head and began the attack that would, hopefully, turn her enemy into dust. But, midway through the attack, Sailor Moon dropped to her knees, barely keeping her grip on the Moon Scepter. She'd hoped that the intense dizziness she felt would stop when she stopped spinning, but it didn't. Instead, it seemed to be getting worse. Struggling to open her eyes and stop the world from spinning, Serena looked up to see the creature standing over her, watching her with an almost knowing smile. Serena blinked once, trying desperately to bring the world into focus, before everything faded to black.

BSSM-BSSM-BSSM

Three blocks away from where the battle was taking place, a young man in a black tuxedo, cape, and top hat sped across the rooftops to Sailor Moon's aide. Tuxedo Mask's swift, graceful race to his love's slide was interrupted by a sudden pain in his chest. Stumbling from the sudden shock to his system, he barely managed to keep from falling over the side of the apartment complex he had been running across. An anguish-filled cry escaped his lips as he redoubled his efforts to reach Sailor Moon, praying to any god willing to listen that he could find her in time, that it wasn't already too late. But, he feared there was nothing he or anyone could do that would be enough, that would be in time, because he couldn't feel her anymore. The pain in his chest was nothing compared to the pain in his soul and the fear in his heart because he just couldn't feel Serena anymore.

to be continued