Us
by Phantasy Star
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Chapter Sixteen


"I wanted to apologize to you about earlier, Darien..." Serena said.

He didn't answer.

"I... was so happy to see you, that... I didn't notice you were in a bad mood..."

He finally spoke, but refusing to look at her, "No, that's not it..."

"What?" she whispered.

"I just... don't have the same feelings for you anymore..."

She was silent. Then she looked at him anxiously, "But Darien... I promise I'll
study harder at school."

"Don't make me say it again!" he said, "Our relationship... is _over_!"

"But how can I believe you?" she said desperately, "You can't have forgotten
how... you were Prince Darien, and I was Princess Serena! Even if we weren't
meant to be, it just... feels right..."

She paused, "Doesn't it?"

"I don't want to hear anymore!" Darien said, "Why should my whole life be guided
by what happened in the past?"

Serena looked down.

"You're right," she whispered, "I'm sorry, Darien. I guess we weren't meant to be
after all..."

She slipped out the door and let the tears fall.

"Serena..."

She stopped.

Darien?

"Serena..."

* * *

"Serena, wake up."

"Huh?" she exclaimed and opened her eyes.

"Hey," a gentle voice said beside her.

"Oh, Ryan..."

"For a second there, I thought I was going to have to carry you in," Ryan joked,
but his voice was filled with concern.

Serena smiled, "Uh, thanks for the ride home... Sorry I fell asleep..."

"It's all right," he said as he returned her smile.

"Thank goodness my parents are out of town..." she said, "Well, I guess I'll see
you next Monday then... Thanks again."

She was about to leave when Ryan took hold of her arm, "Wait, Serena..."

She turned around.

"What happened back there?"

Serena hesitated.

Then she gave him a nervous smile, "I'll... tell you later, okay? It's late and
I'm really tired."

Ryan nodded, "All right, good night."

Serena thanked him again and got out of the car.

When she was out of earshot, Ryan sighed.

'I can't believe how crazy I am about her,' he thought, 'If only she had the
same feelings for me...'

He waited for her to reach the doorstep and waved goodbye, 'I care about her so
much...'

* * *

Serena sighed as she slipped under the covers.

'Why do I always get these nightmares?' she thought, 'I don't want to remember
these things anymore...'

She pulled the covers tighter around herself, 'I should be mad at Darien right
now, but I'm still so scared about the fact that he almost left me...'

She frowned, 'Am I still... do I still like him?'

She took her pillow away from her head and hugged it against her body, 'I don't
want to go back there... I'm not ready to be with him again. Not yet...'

* * *

Darien stared at the cup of coffee he had put in front of himself.

It was three o'clock and he still couldn't sleep, even though he knew he should
be tired.

'I want you back so much, Serena,' he thought, 'But I know I can't...'

He leaned his head against the table.

'I know it won't work out... I know you can never love me again.'

He felt a couple of tears wet his arm sleeve, 'I'm so sorry, Serena...'

'I'm sorry for making you love me... I want you to be happy, so... I'll have
to let you go.'

* * *

"That's right. And I will rule the universe... with Prince Darien at my side!"

Serena gasped when she saw Darien kissing Beryl's hand.

"Destroy Sailor Moon!" the evil queen commanded.

"Yes, my queen," Prince Darien said monotonously.

With horrifying speed, he appeared in front of Sailor Moon and threw her down.

"No, Darien!" Serena cried.

"You are the enemy," Darien whispered, his eyes blank.

He raised his sword to strike her.

She closed her eyes.

* * *

"No!" she cried out, as she sat up on her bed, breathing hard.

She didn't move for a second, waiting for the room to stop spinning.

Then she shuddered.

"Not more... dreams..." she whispered to herself.

She finally calmed down and sighed, looking at her alarm clock.

5:30.

Luna was still asleep, completely oblivious to what had happened the night before.

She stepped on her bunny slippers and walked to the living room.

'Wow,' she thought, 'The sun isn't even up yet... Mom and Dad would be proud of me,
if they were here...'

She looked out the window when she saw a familiar figure walking towards her door,
with the usual black shirt and green jacket.

She watched silently as Darien came to her door and put the letter on her doorstep.

He had an expression she couldn't quite read. As if filled with... regret?

'Should I open the door?' she wondered, 'Whatever's on that letter may as well be
told to me in person...'

Besides, she didn't like reading.

She opened the door as Darien turned away.

"Darien, wait!" she called.

"Huh?" he said as he turned around.

Serena gave him a careful smile.

"I didn't think you'd be up," he said, surprised, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay," she said as she stood aside to let him in.

He stepped in almost cautiously, still looking at her strangely.

"I..." he began, "I came to apologize..."

"It's okay, Darien," Serena said, realizing how guilty he must have felt, "You
didn't know. I didn't believe it myself for a second..."

Darien shook his head, "I'm sorry for leaving so soon... I just... too ashamed...
to stay and talk to you."

"It's all right," Serena said again, "I'm just glad everyone is okay... You don't
have to be sorry..."

Darien shook his head again, "Not just last night, Serena. I'm sorry for
everything before that too. All the things I've done to you..."

Serena didn't answered, feeling a little overwhelmed.

As far as she knew, he had never admitted to any of his mistakes.

Darien looked deep into her eyes, as if trying to memorize every detail on her face.

"I... came to say goodbye, Serena," he said quietly.

Serena blinked in surprise, "What?"

Darien looked away, "I'm leaving for America tomorrow."

Serena didn't answer.

"I've applied for a university there," he explained, "I don't know when I'll be
back... But if you ever need me for anything... if a new enemy shows up or anything,
I'll come right back."

Serena was still silent.

Finally, she looked up at him and whispered, "Tomorrow?"

Darien nodded.

"I hope that you can forgive for everything that's happened..." he said softly,
"I know I'll never have another chance with you, but I still want to be friends."

Serena lowered her gaze.

"I was so stupid to think that we could really last forever," Darien went on, "You
deserve someone better than me, Serena."

She shook her head, "That's not true, Darien. It's just..."

Darien gave her a sad smile, "It's okay. You don't have to explain..."

Serena wanted to cry. She didn't want him to leave, but she didn't want him to
stay and be with her either.

"I..." she said, not knowing herself what she wanted to say.

"Goodbye, Serena," he whispered as he walked to the doorway, "I hope we'll see
each other again someday."

Serena blinked away tears.

"I hope you know that... I love you," he said.

She blinked.

"What?" she asked softly.

"I... love you," he repeated.

"You do?" she whispered.

He nodded seriously, "It took your leaving me to realize it... and I'm sorry."

Serena shook her head, "I..."

"I think I always have," he said gently, "Just didn't want to admit it. I'm
sorry for wasting your time, Serena. I know that... it's impossible to love
an arrogant fool like me..."

She turned her back to him, not wanting him to see her face.

"I can, Darien..."

Darien opened his mouth to speak, but he was too shocked.

"You mean..." he began, his voice suddenly hopeful, "Can we...?"

Serena turned back to him and shook her head, "Not now... Too much has happened."

Darien didn't try to hide his disappointment, "Serena..."

Serena bit her lower lip.

"I understand," he said quietly, "But... where does that leave... 'us' now? What
do you think should happen?"

"I can't ask you to stay, Darien, because I know nothing can happen right now..."

Darien nodded.

"I'll wait for you, Serena," he said, voice filled with emotion, "So long as I
have a chance, I'll wait for you. Even if it takes ten years... twenty years..."

"Darien..." she whispered, "You have to go... to America..."

Darien blinked away tears.

They stood there for a minute, just looking at each other, not wanting to say
goodbye.

Finally, Darien spoke up.

"I know, Serena."

He closed his eyes.

"I'll miss you," Serena said, as she stood on tiptoe and gave him a quick kiss
on the cheek.

But he moved his face at the last second so that he could cover her lips with
his own.

Serena wanted to protest, but finally sank into his desperate kiss.

In that second, everything faded away. Nothing else seemed to matter.

Serena felt light-headed, as if she was floating away somewhere, letting him
have what he wanted, maybe for the last time in a long while.

Meanwhile, fear gripped Darien, afraid that she may push him away like last time.
He knew it was wrong, but he just couldn't resist...

Finally coming back to reality, Darien opened his eyes and gently pulled away.

"I..." she whispered, dazed.

"Sorry," he said, "That shouldn't have happened."

Serena shook her head and gave him a small smile.

"Goodbye, Serena," he said, and gave her a forced smile, "Take care, okay?"

Serena nodded and her eyes watered ever more.

"Goodbye, Darien..." she said with her voice breaking.

Darien walked away without looking back. He didn't want to make it any harder.

Serena stared after him for only a minute, before going back into the house,
resting her back on the door and crying softly.

'I'll miss you, Darien... so much...'

* * *

Darien's shoulders felt heavy.

He knew he had made the right decision.

Putting his hands into his pockets, he looked back one more time at Serena's
house and started down the street.

He suddenly felt something light on his shoulder.

"Luna?" he exclaimed.

The black cat purred.

"It's all right, Darien," she said, "I'm sure it'll happen _one_ of these
days..."

Darien nodded.

"I know..." he said.

"This will give you both some time to grow up," Luna said, "You still have a lot
to learn, Darien."

Darien nodded again, "Yeah... I'll come back and be a better person... for
Serena..."

"That's the idea, Prince Darien," the cat replied, "We'll miss you while you're
gone, Tuxedo Mask."

Darien chuckled.

"Why don't you come to my apartment and I'll fix you a salmon?" he suggested.

Luna gave him an appreciative smile and shook her head, "No thanks. Serena
promised me a tuna casserole today."

Then she stared wistfully on the road, "Just wait for her, Darien. Wait till
she's ready."

They walked on for a few minutes, before Luna turned to him.

"Take care now, Darien."

Before Darien could respond, she had jumped off of Darien's shoulder. She landed
elegantly behind him. Turning around one more time to give him a reassuring smile,
she ran back home.

Darien sighed.

'Yes,' he thought, 'I'll wait for you to come back to me, Serena.'

He looked at the sun rising beside him.

'And when you're ready... I'll be right here, with my arms opened for you...'

He looked up into the sky and closed his eyes.

'We'll be together again one day...'



Author's Notes:

That was the last chapter minus the
epilogue!

This was the ending I had planned
since the beginning of the story,
but in many reviews, people were
asking that they get back together.

I'm starting the epilogue, which may
lighten things up a bit, but no
promises there. Whether it makes the
situation better or worse depends on
my mood, hehe :)

Thank you for reading and please drop
me a review!