Chapter 5
We Meet Again
Artemis called everyone to a meeting later on that week.
"So what did you find out?" Mina asked snuggling up to Kunz. Serena was still wondering about that relationship.
"Well, the scout there are faring badly, and Zoicite, uh I mean the evil Zoicite" He gave a sheepish grin to the glowering Zoi, "has just found out where the crystals are at. Sources say that she plan to retrieve the first one soon. The problem is that when she does extract the crystal, the negaverse monster has to be defeated and the crystal holders have to be healed and turned back into humans. Sailor Moon is the only one that can wield the Crescent Moon Wand to heal them."
"But how can she do that when she's here?" Nephrite asked.
"I came up with a plan." Artemis jumped in the air and did the little flipy thing and the Crescent Moon Wand appeared. Serena held out her hand and it floated to her. "We can use astral projection. You can astral project yourself to Japan and use the wand to heal the crystal carriers. But when you do, you'll return here quite tired. Do you think you can do it?" He asked anxiously.
Serena was thoughtful. If I do this I'll get to see Luna and the scouts again. I'll even see.....Tuxedo Mask. Am I ready to face them and tell them the truth of my departure? Will they forgive me? Will HE forgive me?
"Serena? What are you thinking about?" Mina asked.
Serena snapped out of her thoughts and slowly nodded her head. "Okay. What do I have to do?" She asked Artemis.
"It's really quite simple. You use this." He did the little flipy thing again and a silver metal object landed on the floor. "All you have to do is touch it and take three deep breaths and you will be transported to the battle." He explained. Sounded simple enough, and Serena could keep track of the battles with her communicator, which, by the way still worked even though she was so far away.
~ ~ ~ ~
A week later, it was time to go back and heal someone. Serena was a little nervous about going back. She transformed and touched the metal astral project disk and she felt herself floating away from her body. She concentrated and pretty soon she was zooming over the water. She arrived just in time. The mechanic monster was weakened by Mars's and Jupiter's attack. Zoicite took the floating red crystal and left with an evil laugh. Serena wasted no time.
"Moon healing....activation!" She called out the magical words. Energy from the circle she created emanated and hit the monster head on. It cried out in pain and then disappeared. The victim was a young man with baggy clothes and glasses. He fell to the ground unconscious. The scouts whirled their heads around. Their eyes went wide.
"Sailor Moon?" Mars whispered not believing her eyes. It was her! She came back! Her eyes filled with tears of unbelief, relief and happiness. Her heart seemed to soar.
"I figured that you would need me again." Sailor Moon said to them. Her voice seemed to echo.
"You're back!" Cried Mercury and ran to hug her.
"No!" Sailor Moon said, but Mercury was already sailing though her body.
Mercury blinked from her place on the ground and then looked up. "Sailor Moon?" She asked.
Serena smiled softly at her friend. "I'm sorry Mercury, but I'm not really back. This is just my astral form. My spirit. I'm not dead, but I'm not here either. I just came back to help you."
"Then where are you?" Jupiter asked, her green eyes shimmering with tears. Serena wanted to wipe them from her and give them all a big hug.
"Somewhere that I need to be."
"We are so sorry Sailor Moon! We should have never said those mean things to you!" Mars wailed and took a step towards her.
Serena shook her head. "I'm kinda glad you did kick me out. I needed to think my life through. Don't worry you guys, I'm not mad at you. You're not the reason I really left."
"When are you coming back?" Mercury asked.
Serena shrugged. "I'm not sure. But I'll be here when you guys need me." She started to shimmer away.
"Wait!" They all called out, but she was already gone.
~ ~ ~ ~
"Please, find the Imperium Silver Crystal Tuxedo Mask. I want to be free again. Set me free........" Then the familiar voice of the princess was gone. Darien awoke with a start. Why did he keep having these dreams? What was the Imperium Silver Crystal she wanted him to find? He went to the bathroom to splash water on his face. Everything was so confusing. The princess was someone familiar to him. Some one he loved long ago. But he couldn't love her. He loved Sailor Moon right?
"Ahhhh!" He clutched his stomach. Intense pain began to grow. Sailor Moon called to him. He resisted transforming. Where ever she called him from, he had no way of getting to her. But his transformation persisted. He finally gave in and went to the call. But he stopped. There were two calls. One from across the water and one close by. He frowned and headed to the call close by. He landed on top of a building. The scouts were down there talking to some one. Curious he inched closer.
"When are you coming back?" Mercury asked.
"I'm not sure. But I'll be here when you guys need me." The voice tore at his heart. It was Sailor Moon! He stood shocked at seeing her. She haunted his dreams so often, it was torture. His heart began to beat rapidly. She was leaving! No! Please! He silently begged her. But she didn't notice he was there.
"Wait!" He called out, only to be drowned out by the scouts saying 'wait'.
~ ~ ~ ~
Mina waited until Serena's eyes began to flicker awake. She and the others waited by Serena's bed. Tension filled the room. Then blue eyes peeked out from under long, thick lashes.
"Hey guys." She whispered. There were sighs of relief.
"How did it go?" Jadeite asked helping her up.
"Good I think." She replied and held up a hand to her head. The room was spinning. Probably the after effects of the astral projection she thought. "But Zoicite got the crystal."
"That's okay. We still have a chance to get the others." Artemis reassured her.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Serena held up a shirt to the image in the mirror. She frowned. "Does this make me look fatter?" She asked Mina who was shuffling through more maternity shirts.
She glanced up and grinned. "Not any more fatter then you look."
Serena groaned and put the shirt back. Couldn't she find at least one shirt that would cover, and hide her growing belly?
"Serena, how about this one?" Mina held up a hideous shirt of orange and green.
"Uh! Mina! That shirt is so ugly!" She screeched.
Mina laughed and put it back. "There's nothing in this store. Let's go shoe shopping. At least your feet aren't fat." Serena swiped at her playfully.
The mall was bustling with early Christmas shoppers. They went to a shoe store called Journey's and browsed around. (AN: my all time favorite shoe store in Arizona. Do they have a Journey's in Cali?) Serena absolutely loved shoe shopping. She had at least twenty pairs of shoes. Some she hadn't worn yet.
They shopped some more and found gifts for the guys. "How come guys are always hard to shop for?" Serena groaned, finally resting in the food court.
"They have weird things they like?" Mina suggested and took a sip from her soda pop. Serena looked longingly at the soda.
"Just a little?" She begged Mina who banned soda from Serena's diet.
"No. Drink your milk." She said and pulled her soda closer to her.
Serena looked in distaste at her white drink. "Can I put chocolate in it?" She asked hopefully.
Mina hesitated. "Fine, just a little though." She warned. Serena smiled and almost ran to the food place that would put chocolate syrup in her drink.
Serena returned with dark, dark chocolate milk. She shielded her milk from Mina.
"Hey girls!" Said a cheerful voice behind them. Serena didn't have to turn around because Mina grinned madly and her eyes took on dreamy look to them.
"Hey Kunz. Care to join us?" Mina asked never taking her eyes from him.
Kunz and the other guys pulled up chairs and joined them at the table.
"Hey fat girl." Jadeite greeted Serena who glared at the comment.
"Look how big you got! We just saw you three days ago!" Zoicite exclaimed.
"I didn't get bigger! You can't even tell I'm pregnant yet! It's the shirt. It makes me look big." She grumbled then gave all the guys a cheeky smile. "I get to hear it's heartbeat on my next doctor's appointment!" She said happily, chugging down her chocolate milk.
"Who gets to go with you this time?" Nephrite asked. Since they all became good friends, the whole group took turns going to her doctors appointments. The doctor looked a little strangely at her when she brought in a different guy each time. Serena had to explain to the poor elderly man they weren't the father, but good friends.
"Me." Mina said and she and Kunzite held hands across the table. Serena stifled a giggle at the lovebirds. Mina had told her that she and Kunzite had been lovers back on the Moon Kingdom. Artemis told Serena that they got a little memory back when they first met. The other had been lovers to the other scouts. But Artemis told her that they wouldn't meet until later in the future when they were ready. When Mina had to go back to Japan with her, she and Kunzite would have to sever ties until the time was right. Serena was a little saddened at that thought. Mina and Kunzite were so happy together. But as always, duty calls.
"Hey, what did you buy?" Jadeite asked trying to peak into their shopping bags.
"Oh no you don't! If you so much as TOUCH one of those bags, you won't get your presents on Christmas." Serena warned. The guys snapped back their hands and sulked.
~ ~ ~ ~
They went back to the apartment. They guys had to go, so they said goodbye and Mina and Serena were left alone.
Serena plopped down on the couch and kicked off her shoes.
Mina approached her friend. "Serena? Can I ask a question?"
She shrugged, her eyes closed. "Sure."
Mina sat next to her. She had been meaning to ask the question for some time, but was a little embarrassed by it to do so. "Who is the father?" She asked gently.
Serena snapped open her eyes. Mina tensed.
"T-the father?" Serena gulped. She knew this would come one day. She sighed. "His name is Darien Chiba."
"Where did you guys meet?"
Serena sighed again and thought back to the time she and Darien met. "I was on my way home and freaking out because I got a bad grade on my algebra test. So I crumbled it up and threw it behind me. Unfortunately, Darien was behind me and it hit him in the head. 'Hey watch it meatball head' were his first words He un- crumbled and read it. He said. 'A thirty, admirable. Are you stupid or just incredibly lazy?' I grabbed my test back and stomped away. But I had to admit to myself that he was pretty cute. Then ever since then we were always at each others throats."
"Then how did you get pregnant by him?" Mina asked confused.
"You see, Darien had and alter ego like me. While I was Sailor Moon the super hero, he was Tuxedo Mask the superhero. Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask liked each other, while Serena and Darien annoyed each other. Tuxedo Mask was always saving me. I think that without him, I would have probably been dead. Eventually, I kinda fell in love with him. One night, there was a yomen attack and I had called the other scouts to come, but they were a ways away, so I had to take it on myself. That monster was particularly hard, but lucky for me, Tuxedo Mask was there to save me. After the battle was over with, he took me aside and yelled at me for not calling the scouts. I tried to tell him that I did, but he didn't listen to me. Then all of the sudden he wasn't mad anymore. He told me that he could have lost me that night. He said I was strong and he liked me for the courage I had. Then we kissed, and one thing led to another. After it happened, the scouts DID show up (right afterward if I may point out) and I had to go see them. We talked and they left. I looked up and I saw Tuxedo Mask leap off somewhere, so I decided to follow him. That's when I found out who he was." She finished quietly.
Mina blinked. "Wow." Was all she said. "Does he know about you?"
Serena shook her head. "I was such a jerk. I started avoiding him afterwards. I should have faced him like a woman instead of acting like a childish girl. I know that night meant something to him. But-but...." She trailed off.
"But?" Mina prodded.
"I was afraid. Darien is older that me, and being with a minor....and Darien is so smart! He always studies. How can I ruin his life? Even though I disliked him for always teasing me and calling me meatball head, I, SERENA, liked him. But he thinks I'm just a big baby. Which I am! How could I tell him who Sailor Moon really was?" Serena protested feeling tears threaten.
"Amazingly I understand where you're coming from Serena. But I think it's only fair if you tell him about the baby. He deserves to know if he has a child." Mina told her.
Serena leaned down. "I know. But I have to see him first!"
Mina smiled wickedly. "I have a feeling you'll see him on your next mission."
Serena narrowed her eyes. "How do you know that? Mina, tell me!" She yelled at her departing friend.
What would she say to him when she finally got to see him?
We Meet Again
Artemis called everyone to a meeting later on that week.
"So what did you find out?" Mina asked snuggling up to Kunz. Serena was still wondering about that relationship.
"Well, the scout there are faring badly, and Zoicite, uh I mean the evil Zoicite" He gave a sheepish grin to the glowering Zoi, "has just found out where the crystals are at. Sources say that she plan to retrieve the first one soon. The problem is that when she does extract the crystal, the negaverse monster has to be defeated and the crystal holders have to be healed and turned back into humans. Sailor Moon is the only one that can wield the Crescent Moon Wand to heal them."
"But how can she do that when she's here?" Nephrite asked.
"I came up with a plan." Artemis jumped in the air and did the little flipy thing and the Crescent Moon Wand appeared. Serena held out her hand and it floated to her. "We can use astral projection. You can astral project yourself to Japan and use the wand to heal the crystal carriers. But when you do, you'll return here quite tired. Do you think you can do it?" He asked anxiously.
Serena was thoughtful. If I do this I'll get to see Luna and the scouts again. I'll even see.....Tuxedo Mask. Am I ready to face them and tell them the truth of my departure? Will they forgive me? Will HE forgive me?
"Serena? What are you thinking about?" Mina asked.
Serena snapped out of her thoughts and slowly nodded her head. "Okay. What do I have to do?" She asked Artemis.
"It's really quite simple. You use this." He did the little flipy thing again and a silver metal object landed on the floor. "All you have to do is touch it and take three deep breaths and you will be transported to the battle." He explained. Sounded simple enough, and Serena could keep track of the battles with her communicator, which, by the way still worked even though she was so far away.
~ ~ ~ ~
A week later, it was time to go back and heal someone. Serena was a little nervous about going back. She transformed and touched the metal astral project disk and she felt herself floating away from her body. She concentrated and pretty soon she was zooming over the water. She arrived just in time. The mechanic monster was weakened by Mars's and Jupiter's attack. Zoicite took the floating red crystal and left with an evil laugh. Serena wasted no time.
"Moon healing....activation!" She called out the magical words. Energy from the circle she created emanated and hit the monster head on. It cried out in pain and then disappeared. The victim was a young man with baggy clothes and glasses. He fell to the ground unconscious. The scouts whirled their heads around. Their eyes went wide.
"Sailor Moon?" Mars whispered not believing her eyes. It was her! She came back! Her eyes filled with tears of unbelief, relief and happiness. Her heart seemed to soar.
"I figured that you would need me again." Sailor Moon said to them. Her voice seemed to echo.
"You're back!" Cried Mercury and ran to hug her.
"No!" Sailor Moon said, but Mercury was already sailing though her body.
Mercury blinked from her place on the ground and then looked up. "Sailor Moon?" She asked.
Serena smiled softly at her friend. "I'm sorry Mercury, but I'm not really back. This is just my astral form. My spirit. I'm not dead, but I'm not here either. I just came back to help you."
"Then where are you?" Jupiter asked, her green eyes shimmering with tears. Serena wanted to wipe them from her and give them all a big hug.
"Somewhere that I need to be."
"We are so sorry Sailor Moon! We should have never said those mean things to you!" Mars wailed and took a step towards her.
Serena shook her head. "I'm kinda glad you did kick me out. I needed to think my life through. Don't worry you guys, I'm not mad at you. You're not the reason I really left."
"When are you coming back?" Mercury asked.
Serena shrugged. "I'm not sure. But I'll be here when you guys need me." She started to shimmer away.
"Wait!" They all called out, but she was already gone.
~ ~ ~ ~
"Please, find the Imperium Silver Crystal Tuxedo Mask. I want to be free again. Set me free........" Then the familiar voice of the princess was gone. Darien awoke with a start. Why did he keep having these dreams? What was the Imperium Silver Crystal she wanted him to find? He went to the bathroom to splash water on his face. Everything was so confusing. The princess was someone familiar to him. Some one he loved long ago. But he couldn't love her. He loved Sailor Moon right?
"Ahhhh!" He clutched his stomach. Intense pain began to grow. Sailor Moon called to him. He resisted transforming. Where ever she called him from, he had no way of getting to her. But his transformation persisted. He finally gave in and went to the call. But he stopped. There were two calls. One from across the water and one close by. He frowned and headed to the call close by. He landed on top of a building. The scouts were down there talking to some one. Curious he inched closer.
"When are you coming back?" Mercury asked.
"I'm not sure. But I'll be here when you guys need me." The voice tore at his heart. It was Sailor Moon! He stood shocked at seeing her. She haunted his dreams so often, it was torture. His heart began to beat rapidly. She was leaving! No! Please! He silently begged her. But she didn't notice he was there.
"Wait!" He called out, only to be drowned out by the scouts saying 'wait'.
~ ~ ~ ~
Mina waited until Serena's eyes began to flicker awake. She and the others waited by Serena's bed. Tension filled the room. Then blue eyes peeked out from under long, thick lashes.
"Hey guys." She whispered. There were sighs of relief.
"How did it go?" Jadeite asked helping her up.
"Good I think." She replied and held up a hand to her head. The room was spinning. Probably the after effects of the astral projection she thought. "But Zoicite got the crystal."
"That's okay. We still have a chance to get the others." Artemis reassured her.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Serena held up a shirt to the image in the mirror. She frowned. "Does this make me look fatter?" She asked Mina who was shuffling through more maternity shirts.
She glanced up and grinned. "Not any more fatter then you look."
Serena groaned and put the shirt back. Couldn't she find at least one shirt that would cover, and hide her growing belly?
"Serena, how about this one?" Mina held up a hideous shirt of orange and green.
"Uh! Mina! That shirt is so ugly!" She screeched.
Mina laughed and put it back. "There's nothing in this store. Let's go shoe shopping. At least your feet aren't fat." Serena swiped at her playfully.
The mall was bustling with early Christmas shoppers. They went to a shoe store called Journey's and browsed around. (AN: my all time favorite shoe store in Arizona. Do they have a Journey's in Cali?) Serena absolutely loved shoe shopping. She had at least twenty pairs of shoes. Some she hadn't worn yet.
They shopped some more and found gifts for the guys. "How come guys are always hard to shop for?" Serena groaned, finally resting in the food court.
"They have weird things they like?" Mina suggested and took a sip from her soda pop. Serena looked longingly at the soda.
"Just a little?" She begged Mina who banned soda from Serena's diet.
"No. Drink your milk." She said and pulled her soda closer to her.
Serena looked in distaste at her white drink. "Can I put chocolate in it?" She asked hopefully.
Mina hesitated. "Fine, just a little though." She warned. Serena smiled and almost ran to the food place that would put chocolate syrup in her drink.
Serena returned with dark, dark chocolate milk. She shielded her milk from Mina.
"Hey girls!" Said a cheerful voice behind them. Serena didn't have to turn around because Mina grinned madly and her eyes took on dreamy look to them.
"Hey Kunz. Care to join us?" Mina asked never taking her eyes from him.
Kunz and the other guys pulled up chairs and joined them at the table.
"Hey fat girl." Jadeite greeted Serena who glared at the comment.
"Look how big you got! We just saw you three days ago!" Zoicite exclaimed.
"I didn't get bigger! You can't even tell I'm pregnant yet! It's the shirt. It makes me look big." She grumbled then gave all the guys a cheeky smile. "I get to hear it's heartbeat on my next doctor's appointment!" She said happily, chugging down her chocolate milk.
"Who gets to go with you this time?" Nephrite asked. Since they all became good friends, the whole group took turns going to her doctors appointments. The doctor looked a little strangely at her when she brought in a different guy each time. Serena had to explain to the poor elderly man they weren't the father, but good friends.
"Me." Mina said and she and Kunzite held hands across the table. Serena stifled a giggle at the lovebirds. Mina had told her that she and Kunzite had been lovers back on the Moon Kingdom. Artemis told Serena that they got a little memory back when they first met. The other had been lovers to the other scouts. But Artemis told her that they wouldn't meet until later in the future when they were ready. When Mina had to go back to Japan with her, she and Kunzite would have to sever ties until the time was right. Serena was a little saddened at that thought. Mina and Kunzite were so happy together. But as always, duty calls.
"Hey, what did you buy?" Jadeite asked trying to peak into their shopping bags.
"Oh no you don't! If you so much as TOUCH one of those bags, you won't get your presents on Christmas." Serena warned. The guys snapped back their hands and sulked.
~ ~ ~ ~
They went back to the apartment. They guys had to go, so they said goodbye and Mina and Serena were left alone.
Serena plopped down on the couch and kicked off her shoes.
Mina approached her friend. "Serena? Can I ask a question?"
She shrugged, her eyes closed. "Sure."
Mina sat next to her. She had been meaning to ask the question for some time, but was a little embarrassed by it to do so. "Who is the father?" She asked gently.
Serena snapped open her eyes. Mina tensed.
"T-the father?" Serena gulped. She knew this would come one day. She sighed. "His name is Darien Chiba."
"Where did you guys meet?"
Serena sighed again and thought back to the time she and Darien met. "I was on my way home and freaking out because I got a bad grade on my algebra test. So I crumbled it up and threw it behind me. Unfortunately, Darien was behind me and it hit him in the head. 'Hey watch it meatball head' were his first words He un- crumbled and read it. He said. 'A thirty, admirable. Are you stupid or just incredibly lazy?' I grabbed my test back and stomped away. But I had to admit to myself that he was pretty cute. Then ever since then we were always at each others throats."
"Then how did you get pregnant by him?" Mina asked confused.
"You see, Darien had and alter ego like me. While I was Sailor Moon the super hero, he was Tuxedo Mask the superhero. Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask liked each other, while Serena and Darien annoyed each other. Tuxedo Mask was always saving me. I think that without him, I would have probably been dead. Eventually, I kinda fell in love with him. One night, there was a yomen attack and I had called the other scouts to come, but they were a ways away, so I had to take it on myself. That monster was particularly hard, but lucky for me, Tuxedo Mask was there to save me. After the battle was over with, he took me aside and yelled at me for not calling the scouts. I tried to tell him that I did, but he didn't listen to me. Then all of the sudden he wasn't mad anymore. He told me that he could have lost me that night. He said I was strong and he liked me for the courage I had. Then we kissed, and one thing led to another. After it happened, the scouts DID show up (right afterward if I may point out) and I had to go see them. We talked and they left. I looked up and I saw Tuxedo Mask leap off somewhere, so I decided to follow him. That's when I found out who he was." She finished quietly.
Mina blinked. "Wow." Was all she said. "Does he know about you?"
Serena shook her head. "I was such a jerk. I started avoiding him afterwards. I should have faced him like a woman instead of acting like a childish girl. I know that night meant something to him. But-but...." She trailed off.
"But?" Mina prodded.
"I was afraid. Darien is older that me, and being with a minor....and Darien is so smart! He always studies. How can I ruin his life? Even though I disliked him for always teasing me and calling me meatball head, I, SERENA, liked him. But he thinks I'm just a big baby. Which I am! How could I tell him who Sailor Moon really was?" Serena protested feeling tears threaten.
"Amazingly I understand where you're coming from Serena. But I think it's only fair if you tell him about the baby. He deserves to know if he has a child." Mina told her.
Serena leaned down. "I know. But I have to see him first!"
Mina smiled wickedly. "I have a feeling you'll see him on your next mission."
Serena narrowed her eyes. "How do you know that? Mina, tell me!" She yelled at her departing friend.
What would she say to him when she finally got to see him?