"No, but she's leaving for America tomorrow."

"What!? Why!?"

"I don't know. I thought you guys were about to, you know..."

I didn't answer, horrified.

No, what have I done?

Damn it, I can't blow it again this time.

Serena, wait for me. Please.

I grabbed my jacket and headed out the door.


Uncertainty II
by Phantasy Star
--------------------

Part Four: Anxiety


CHAPTER NINTEEN

I flung the door to the office open to find myself face to face with Serena.

"Serena!" I exclaimed, taking her hands in mine.

"What-?" she protested, "Darien, what are you doing?"

"Serena, you can't leave."

"Leave?" she echoed.

"For America," I said.

"I..." she stammered, "I've made up my mind. I came to say goodbye."

"No, Serena," I said desperately, "You don't understand."

She waited.

"I... I..." I looked down on the floor, though my hands still gripped
hers, "I can't let you go again."

I could feel her looking at me.

"But, you said, over the phone..."

"I'm sorry. But, I met up with Alan the other day, and... I just sort
of got lost."

"Darien," she said, pulling away from me, "I've already booked a ticket."

"Then cancel it," I said.

"Darien, don't you see? We..." she moved her hand between the two of us,
"We, can never work out. It just wasn't meant to be."

"What are you talking about?"

"Darien, we've known each other for five years, but nothing's happened.
Do you know why?"

I stared at her.

"When we first met, there was something between us, but somehow we both got
hurt. When I came back this time, I felt something for you and I somehow
got hurt. Now it's happening again. I'm sick of getting hurt!"

"But Serena," I protested.

"Darien, you refused to start anything with me just because Alan didn't
want you to. Doesn't that say something about how deep this relationship
would be?"

"Serena, it was a mistake. It'll work out this time, I promise."

"How would you know that?" she whispered.

"Because, because..." I said frantically.

There was silence for a few seconds.

"I have to go," Serena said softly.

She turned and headed for a car in the parking lot I did not recognize.

"Serena, wait. Please," I begged.

"Darien," she said turning to face me, "Let's remember each other as friends,
okay?"

I shook my head silently.

"I really care about you, Darien," she said quietly, "You're one of the most
important people in my life. I don't want us to lose that. Please..."

She headed for the car, but I grabbed her arm.

"Serena, look me in the eye and tell me you don't want this to happen."

"Darien..."

"Serena, we were meant for each other," I said firmly.

Then, Serena looked past me, towards the office building.

I turned to see Ann, looking at us worriedly.

Before I could realize it, Serena had pulled away from me and I heard the
car door close behind me.

"No, Serena!" I cried.

"I'm sorry, Darien," she whispered through the window, "This is just better
for the both of us."

"Serena!"

The car began to move.

I felt like all my energy had been drained from me. I collapsed on my
knees on the parking lot pavement.

Was it really over?

"Darien..." Ann said softly behind me, "Her flight is tomorrow. There's
still a chance, but we're going to have to work fast."



CHAPTER TWENTY

"What do I need to convince Serena I care enough to be with her?"

Ann sat thoughtfully, then said, "We need Amy."

"What?"

"Call her in."

Reluctantly, I buzzed my secretary.

"What is it, Mr. Shields?"

"I have an emergency."

The door to my office opened, but to my surprise, it was Andrew and not Amy.

"What are you doing here?" I demanded.

"I came by to tell you Serena's flight time. You may still be able to catch
her at the airport."

I nodded gratefully.

Then Amy came in and Ann filled her in on the situation.

"Mr. Shields," Amy said quietly, "I believe you need a big gesture to let Serena
know how much you want this to happen."

"She's right," Andrew spoke up, "From what I've gathered, Serena doesn't think
this is very important to you."

"You sure proved that when you rejected her over the phone," Ann said rolling her
eyes.

I groaned. She was right. Why was I such an idiot.

"Okay, what's a big gesture?" I asked.

"Ask her out to dinner?" Andrew suggested.

Ann laughed, "That's a big gesture?"

Andrew glared at her, "What do you suggest? It's my little sister we're talking
about here."

"Buy her flowers," Amy said, "Thousands of them."

I glanced at my secretary, surprised, not knowing the romantic side to Amy.

"Not big enough," Ann said, shaking her head.

She looked out the window, speaking thoughtfully, "Something to make a girl feel
wanted..."

"Argh, forget it," I muttered angrily, "Amy, watch the office for me, I'm
leaving."

The trio stared after me as I walked out the door.



CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

I turned and tossed in my bed.

Maybe a quick jog will help me sleep.

Stop thinking about Serena, I yelled silently to myself, it's over.

You've had your chance, and you blew it.

I got up and changed into my short-sleeved shirt and sweat pants, and headed
out to the park.

* * *

I breathed in the night air heavily.

Tonight, I really needed to relax.

As I passed by the lake in the middle of the park, I noticed someone sitting on
a bench at the far end of the trail.

Frowning, I wondered what someone would be crazy enough to be out at 2 A.M.,
aside from me, of course.

Curious, I jogged over to the figure.

I squinted my eyes to see if it was someone I knew.

Alan.

He turned to look at me, "Shields?"

"Hey..." I said quietly.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked.

I was surprised that he didn't try to attack me, "Just taking a stroll."

"I wanted to thank you for the other night," Alan said, staring straight ahead
at the lake, "I'm glad I didn't kill myself."

I was even more surprised than before, "No problem..."

"And," he turned to face me but offered no smile, "You can have Serena if you
want."

I gave a pained laugh, "It doesn't matter now."

"Oh?"

"Serena's leaving town tomorrow afternoon."

"So that's why she moved out of the hotel..." he said.

"Darien," he said, in a commanding tone.

"What?"

"You go get her," he said, "You guys are supposed to be together. I know that
now."

I smiled grimly, "Serena doesn't seem to think that."

"Then you make her," he said, "When I was going out with Serena... there was a
part of her that I couldn't reach. As if it had already been reserved for
someone else. Heck, I practically forced her to be my girlfriend in the first
place. Don't you see, you little loser, she's been waiting for you."

Was it really time to give up?

"I..." I said, still uncertain.

"If I can't have Serena," Alan said, "You'd better go get her, or I'll hunt you
down and kill you."

I looked at my former rival and nodded, "Thanks."

He got up and began walking away.

"Hey," I called.

He turned around.

"You're not a bad guy."



CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

I didn't sleep that day. Instead, I was on the internet, searching for a
particular item that I would need the next day.

Early in the morning, I went downtown and stopped by a certain store to find it.
If this didn't work, nothing else would.

Two hours before Serena's flight, I drove down to Tokyo Airport.

My heart pounded against my chest.

This was it. The moment of truth.

Come on, Serena, don't turn me down again.

At the airport, I paced back of forth between the entrances.

To my surprise, I saw Andrew sitting at the food court, with a burger in his
hands.

"Hey man," he said, "I thought you might need some help covering the entrances.
Aren't you afraid you'll miss Serena? I mean, there's a whole lot of people
here."

"Thanks," I said gratefully, "All right, call me on my cell if you see her."

"No problem," he said, munching on his Big Mac.

I walked off, starting to get worried. There were only fifteen minutes before
take-off. Where was she?

Had she gone on the plane already?

I said a silent prayer and hoped that I'd be given this second chance.

My eyes scanned through the crowd quickly, looking for the distinguished meatball
hairstyle.

Come one, Serena, where are you?



-------@

A beautiful girl walked into Tokyo Airport, carrying a handbag and a small pink
suitcase.

She looked like she had been crying the night before, and still had a pained
and seemingly regretful look in her eyes.

She suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Had she made the right decision?

Dozens of people passed by her as she stood there, frowning.

Then she shook her head and continued on, with renewed confidence.

Yes, she would be happier if she leave.

She continued to walk, alongside the crowd, heading for the gate.

Suddenly, a bouquet of red roses appeared in front of her.

She looked up, and met up with a pair of pleading dark eyes

Her own eyes began to fill with tears.

"Serena," the gentleman that had stopped her whispered.

"Darien..." she said back softly, "Please... don't do this..."

"Serena," the man with black hair repeated, then got down on his knees.

He put the flowers aside and took out a small, blue box from his pocket.

"Serena Tsukino," he said as he opened it to reveal a ring,

"Will you marry me?"



Author's Notes:


Thank you for all the reviews last chapter! :)
You people are awesome!

I really hope you liked Part Four. I worked extra hard on it.

Now I have to make a decision. I don't know whether to give this
story a happy or sad ending... I had originally worked out a sad
ending, but now I feel so bad for our two main characters.

I'd really, really like some feedback regarding Part Five. I think
most people would like it to be happy? But there are people like
me who like depressing, angsty stuff.

Anyway, please tell me. Or just review, that's great too :)

"Part Five: Feelings" is the last, by the way.

Thanks a lot for reading!