I think this is my favorite chapter. Dun know why … but I had fun writing this one. But from my past experiences … people don't usually like the chapters I do. o___O;; … Which I think is quite strange. I mean I'm the writer and …. Ah, forget it. Enjoy!
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Darien ran down the streets, ignoring the dark that was starting to settle around the streets. He was in the park now, almost near the lake. Without thinking, he just ran … wanting to find Usagi. Where had this obsession with the girl come? With a slight growl of annoyance at his confusion, he stopped and sighed. It was fruitless. How was he supposed to find her … all he was doing was following a gut feeling. He turned; ready to go home, when he heard a slight rattle and a sigh. With an eyebrow raised he headed under the bridge and held his breath as he saw her. There she was, standing under the bridge, arms wrapped around herself. The blowing wind was making her silver hair swirl around her, creating them to look like wings. Next to the girl's feet sat a black cat. Luna. He smiled slightly at how the creature was so loyal to its mistress.
"I know you're there, Darien." Her soft voice echoed down through the empty area, ringing in his ears. Turning, the girl gazed at the man … fighting against the tears that threatened to flow. He was disheveled and exhausted from what Serena could see.
"Usa-- "
"Serena. My name is Serena." She broke him off before he could even finish saying her old name. "Tsukino Usagi is no more." Her voice was no louder than a whisper … but it held more emotion than a tone of normal sound would have ever made. "Was there something you wanted of me, Darien?"
Darien swallowed nervously, not knowing what to say really. "I … uh … I just wanted to apologize. I promised that I would believe you, but I made it seem otherwise. I do believe you Usa … Serena. Umm … how'd you know that I was here?" He had been silent the entire time, using his skills as Tuxedo Mask.
She turned back to looking at the small river in front of her. "You believe me? Do you really believe me?" She fought against the hope that rose in her chest, almost making it hard to breath. What if he was just lying? It wouldn't be the first time that someone had done that to her.
"Yes, I do." He took a step forward towards the girl but regretted it as the cat turned and hissed at him, baring its claws and teeth. Taking two steps back, he stood, wondering why the cat was acting so strangely.
"How do I know that you're not lying?!" She whirled around, fear and anger reflecting off in her violet eyes. She refused to be hurt once more. She watched as he took another step back, stunned by her outburst. Serena looked into her sapphire eyes, seeing his many emotions. The blood drained from her face as she saw him in the shadows, only seeing his outline. With his height and slim features … he looked like Nephlite. Only his eyes were glinted off of the dim light provided by the street lamps. If it hadn't been for that … she would have thought that it was Nephlite.
"Serena are you okay?" He hurried to her side, ignoring the threatening cat. She looked like she was about to faint. As soon as he reached her, she fell into his arms sliding down to the earth. Grabbing onto the bottom of his coat, she covered her mouth her other hand. The terror that had struck through her was unbearable. Darien bent down to eye-level, grasping her shoulder. "Serena! What's wrong?"
All she did was shake her head. At the thought of Nephlite … she had invoked her powers and they showed her that all four men were here … along with Serenity. Tears slipped past her eyelids, trailing down her cheeks. What else had she expected? That Michael would just let everything go and let her live her normal life? Of course he would bring everyone … including her one weakness, her daughter.
Luna jumped onto the girl's lap and pushed her forehead against the terrified child, trying to get her attention. "They're all here." The words choked out of the stunned girl, forced threw a closed throat. "Serenity!" She screamed, her cry echoing across the silent night. With a burst of silver light, the sky lit up looking as if it was morning. As the light died down, no one stood near the bridge … they had disappeared.
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"What do you mean we'd want to kill you all off?!" Lita stood up, her protectiveness towards her leader reared, preparing her to attack the men.
"Sit down, Lita." Nephlite stood up and narrowed his eyes towards the mighty girl. He could have sworn that there was lightning surrounding her, sparking all around her. "We have told our story to the best of our ability. Now it is your turn. Explain how you know Serena."
Mina grabbed the tall brunette by the shoulder, while Ami tried to calm down an equally furious Rei. After forcing the two girls on the couch, Mina lifted her head. "You better explain to us what you meant before, Mr. Silver, but it is only fair that we explain how we know Usagi … I mean Serena." The four men sat down quickly, wanting to know as much information about the girl as possible.
Ami stood up and cleared her throat. "I'm afraid our story is not as dramatic as yours, sirs. Our story is just meeting a generous, jovial girl who offered her friendship to anyone and anything. Each of us was … an outsider as you might say. I was the snobby genius and the first one to meet Serena. Rei was the estranged Temple priestess who had special powers. They believed that she was some kind of evil witch and all stayed away from her … all except for Serena. She was the next one to join our group. Lita came next. Everybody stayed away from her because she was known to be a bully, some girl who took steroids. Serena didn't care. Mina was the last one to come. She was the strange British girl who looked a lot like the heroine Sailor V. Everybody thought that she was a cheap imitation and had surgery done on her. Serena thought that all of us were special in our own way. She always raised our spirits and showed kindness that no one can find these days."
"And if we find out that you had hurt her, all four of us will make sure you die a painfully slow death." Rei's threat hung in the air. "And believe me. You want to listen to our threats."
Mina sighed, and then frowned as something occurred to her. "Her baby … the little girl. Is she…?" She trailed off staring at the men with wide eyes. The other girls held their breath, waiting for one of the men to confirm their suspicions.
"Yes, Serenity … or Sere as we call her is Serena's daughter. The one that she left two years ago." As if by magic the little girl appeared from her bedroom, rubbing her eyes. She was dressed in one of Michael's t-shirts, the huge clothing swallowing her tiny body up.
"Me hungry."
Michael smiled softly and went to pick up the girl, but Mina beat him. The blonde-haired girl bent picked up the drowsy child and smiled brightly. "You're just like your mommy, little one. Always hungry!"
The little girl blinked and yawned, trusting the strange woman. Leaning against the stranger, a large grin appeared on her face, reminding Mina so much of her friend. "Pwetty lady play!" Then, she tilted her head as a strange word the woman said came to her. "Mommy? What's mommy? Food?"
Mina's heart dropped, knocking out her breath. The child didn't know about her mother. Taking a deep, shuddering breath she swiveled around towards the four men. "She doesn't know?!" It came out as a hiss that brushed against the little girl's silver hair.
"How could we tell her? She's only three. She doesn't even know what a father is. The closest she gets to having a father is Michael over here." Zachary shrugged and smiled sadly. "We're her only family."
"He's right, Mina. It wouldn't have made a difference. She's too young to know." Ami frowned at the notion of the child not knowing her mother, but it made sense not to tell her. Cursing her logical side, she walked over to Mina and took the girl from the trembling woman.
Sere didn't know what was happening. All she knew was the yellow pretty lady seemed mad and scared. Turning to the other pretty woman holding her, she smiled and turned back to the yellow one. "Mally give me hug when me scared! Mally give you hug!" There the problem was solved. Leaning against the blue lady, she looked over to Mally and waited. "Mally hug yellow lady!"
Michael stood there, a bit stunned. The innocence of a child, what bliss that must be. With a gentle smile, he shook his head. "No, I don't think the yellow lady would want my hug."
"But she scared." Her eyes were wide with innocence and confusion. Why didn't Mally want to make the lady happy? It always made her happy when he hugged her. Tears filled up in her blue eyes, thinking she had done something wrong. Was it wrong to ask Mally to hug the yellow lady?
Mina was ready to run if the big man even made a step towards her. She did not want a stranger hugging her, let alone someone as large as he was.
The others watched with interest, letting the mood shift to a lighter mood for just a little while. Amusement made the corners of Zachary's lip to twitch, while Nephlite just smiled at the warm picture. Jadeite just watched, as Michael seemed torn between easing the child's discomfort and preventing himself from further embarrassment.
Michael took a deep breath and smiled for the little one's benefit. Taking large strides across the room, he reached her before she could run. Wrapping his arms around the slim girl, he gave her a tight hug and let go quickly, ignoring the squeak that arose from the woman in his arms.
Mina had no idea what happened. One minute she was preparing to run … the next? A muscular chest blocked her vision and arms had somehow wrapped themselves around her. An involuntary squeak arose from her as the man tightened his hold on her and let go. Fighting the heat the threatened to rise, she straightened her hair and stepped back from the man. She swore if he got near her again she was going to scream bloody murder and hang him with her chain.
He leaned over again near her ear. "Act happy." It was an order, not a request.
Mina was about to protest when she realized that he might hug her again if she didn't. Dredging up all her acting abilities, she forced a bright smile and tilted her head. "Thank you. Malachite." Her words were like bullets, uncomfortable at the short distance between the two.
Sere smiled and clapped her hands. She turned towards the blue haired lady holding her and tilted her head. Reaching up, she pulled at the short navy tresses slightly. "Blue hair. Me have silver hair. Like Mally!"
Ami smiled a bit, biting back a yelp of pain. She opened her mouth to say something, when the child started to glow silver. Sere didn't seem to notice, she just kept playing with Ami's hair. Looking around, the entire room filled up with a silver glow that blinded everyone. Cries of confusion and mayhem filled the room, then it stopped and a slight thump could be heard coming from the center of the large living room. With a quick flash, the light disappeared and once more everyone could see.
Sere was lying on the ground, unconscious or asleep. "Sere!" Ami quickly bent down and checked for a pulse, while her mind tried to explain what had just happened. The men stood up, their eyes filled with horror and an unknown emotion.
"No … Sere can't have the power too." Michael quickly walked up to the child, followed by the three other men. Pushing aside the petite genius, he picked up the small child and turned around, only to have his gaze land on a sight that all of the men had wanted to see since arriving in Tokyo. Serena.
Serena blinked and looked around, holding her breath as she saw the men. Her gaze landed on the child and her grip on Darien's jacket grew tighter. She was sitting on the same position as she had been in the park, Luna sitting on her lap and her crouching in front of Darien. Except now … they were in a Hotel room filled with people that have affected her to life to the negative and positive.
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Dun dun Dun!!!!!! Sorry that I posted this so late, but we had a dinner party and crap. u___u I would write more, except I'm tired and I got to go to school. . Well, read and review!