*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Forgive Me
Forgive Me Not
~*~
I
Stealing into the Night
*
Tokyo Rabbit
*
Looking across the table, Darien smiled softly at his fiancée who all throughout their date seemed extremely thoughtful. He had tried to coax her into telling him what was burdening her so obviously, but she just smiled and winked saying that it was nothing but tests coming up that were occupying her mind that night.
"I'll help you study then," he leaned across the table and placed his warm hand upon her soft one.
She smiled at him, however the show of happy emotion never quite reached her eyes, "I'd like that."
His smoky grin faltered for only one second, not unnoticed by her. Something hung thickly in the air like Death, causing the atmosphere surrounding the lovers to be tense and unnatural. Bunny was hiding something, Darien knew that much, but what was it? Was she fighting with the girls? No, that couldn't be it. Perhaps she sensed some great evil brooding in over the horizon, but if that were the case he would as well. He hated it when secrets came in between them, even if it made a hypocrite for thinking so; there was plenty an occasion where he kept something important from her that really only hindered the solution from appearing than helping.
She excused herself from the table, smoothed the unseen wrinkles in her black, sleekly styled dress and walked to the restrooms. When she closed the stall door behind her, her body came immediate contact with the cool metal door as she leaned against it in an act of desperation. This was the last night with the love of her life for who knew how long and she was ruining it. The burden of her life-altering secret was weighing down upon her heart like a mountain of boulders. Her body shook as she suppressed her sobs at the thought of having to leave him, but it was the only way. Darien's dreams were important to her and if she told him the secrets she withheld, he would toss them aside like yesterday's paper and never look back on them. Bunny knew that much, so as to protect their future and his happiness she had to leave.
Slowly she sunk to the floor along the chilled door. Putting her pretty head in her pretty hands she tried to put every thought that was even remotely depressing behind her. 'Make it special, make it special,' she repeated over and over again in her head as if sending a prayer to the Moon Goddess, her mother, and the God above her. Taking deep breaths, she stood on shaky knees and slowly opened the door to give herself a look over in the lavatory mirror. The labor she exerted from keeping herself from tears was apparent.
Bunny opened her tiny black purse and pulled out a small compact of powder, puffed some of the substance over the blotchy parts of her face, replied her lipstick, placed disheveled parts of her cream hair back into place, tugged on her dress here and there, and she was ready to return to the table. Heaving a great sigh, she imagined putting a mask of elation over the face of utter despair she currently wore. It was usually Darien protecting her from something, not the other way around. She didn't know how he did it.
Walking out with a radiant smile on her face, she pulled her mental resources on being a Princess to dazzle him with her sudden 'recovery.' Looking up, he saw her and smiled as she waved cutely at him. Only God knew how much she loved him, no, that would lead to thoughts of leaving him again. Too late.
He stood like the gentleman he truly was and pulled out her chair for her. When they got settled again, she smiled at him again, "I love you Darien."
His lips quirked as he gave her a handsome smile in wonder from where that sudden sentiment came from, "I love you too, Buns."
The eerie mood that seemed to keep their company earlier thinned and dissipated all together as they began to carry a light and natural conversation with them. Their food came shortly after.
~*~
"What is it? You've been staring at me all night," Darien quipped when he shut his apartment door behind him as they entered the small condo.
"Just admiring you," Bunny winked as she plopped down on the couch.
"Is that so?" He grinned sitting next to her.
"Yes. Is it a crime to check you out once in a while? It's just a small reminder that I'm engaged to the most handsome man in all of the Galaxies," she pouted playfully as he kissed her bare shoulder.
"Well, soon I'll have my doctrines and we'll be wed. You can admire me all you want then," he growled, nibbling on her ear.
She huffed, "You conceited jerk. I swear. Besides, why can't I do it now?"
"Because," he kissed her full on the mouth, "I have other plans."
Keeping her from protesting, he wrapped an arm around her waist and laid her back, kissing her soundly over and over again with a passion that made her giggle as she realized his intentions. Between kisses and giggling she breathed out, "I need to--call my mother--and tell--her-- I'm staying at a friends-"
Bunny fumbled for the phone on the long, wooden coffee table while her lover moved down to speckle her silken neck and collarbone with kisses.
"Hi Mom--yeah, tee-hee. Yeah, I'm fine. I'm going to stay at a friend's house, okay? Sure, see, hee, you in the morning. Love you."
Click.
Irene Tsukino hung up the phone and shook her head as she deleted the latest call from caller ID:
Chiba, Darien
Didn't her daughter know of the little box's function? As always when her only daughter called from that particular number, she prayed to the Heavens above for the couple's safety from whatever twists and surprises Fate had in store for them.
"Honey, was that Bunny?" Irene heard her husband call from the kitchen.
"Yes dear," she answered as she returned to the supper table.
"Is she still out with that boy?" Ken asked angrily as Sammy rolled his eyes at his father's usual antics.
"No dear, she's staying at Rei's," Irene sat back down to her dinner almost sadly, 'Please Lord, protect them.'
~*~
Bunny's eyes flew open as the Moon filtered in through the patio curtains and warmed her skin in a way only her mother star could do. Carefully she slid out from underneath the strong arm that embraced her in slumber. Shivering slightly, she got dressed quickly and looked upon her sleeping lover. She smiled as her eyes adjusted to the silvery darkness. Darien always looked like a boy when he slept, that was one thing she adored about him.
Before she walked out of the bedroom, she contemplated on whether or not she should give him a goodbye kiss as there was a slight chance of him waking. After a few moments of silent deliberation, she decided to risk it, as he was quite exhausted. She made sure it would be that way for when it was time for her to leave.
Tiptoeing over to his designated side of the bed she leaned over and pulled back her hair. Her lips came in contact with his softly in sweet bliss. Their last kiss in years, or possibly forever. A silver tear escaped her left eye and she had to stand and catch it quickly before it landed on his iron figure.
Not delaying a moment more, she stealthily moved through the darkened apartment, grabbed her black heals, unlocked the door, opened it, and stepped out into the building hallway. However, before she closed the door behind her, she whispered into the slumbering chambers, "I love you, Endymion."
And with that, she closed it silently and locked it behind her as her only love stirred in the bed they often shared with one another.
~*~
Looking upon the two-story house where most of her memories and years had been made and spent, she was beginning to second-guess herself. Was this the right thing to do, or was there another solution that she was over looking? No, she saw no other way. Weeks of pondering over her dilemma had proved that.
Hopping with angelic ease over the stone fence--a product of years of being a Soldier--she ran through her backyard and then flew to the highest branch on the Maple tree that grew in her back yard. Sliding her window open, she slipped inside easily, only almost tripping once. Quietly she searched her closet for her luggage and began to pack all of her necessities: clothes, hygiene products, the money she had saved up over a long period of time, a few personal things, photographs, and so on.
Before she hauled the suitcases to her window to drop them to the soft ground below, she looked at the sleeping figure on her bed. Luna... her best friend and confidant for as long as she could remember. 'Forgive me for this Luna,' Bunny thought and let the luggage drop.
Hopping down afterwards, she landed perfectly and then tossed the normally impossible to toss objects over the fence.
"Watch it Dumpling Head!" A voice hissed from the other side.
Lifting herself up with heart racing, she looked over the stone to see a priestess mere inches away from where her bags had landed, "Sorry Rei."
The fiery Shinto girl began to pick the immense baggage up, "Let's just get going."
Nodding, Bunny hoisted herself the rest of the way over and helped her friend. They walked in awkward silence for a couple blocks distance in a sad way. They finally reached a bench on a corner; sitting the bag she held down, Rei exhaled, "Geez, with the way you pack, you'd think you were going away forever."
Looking up, her violet eyes widened as she saw a silver stream pouring from each of Bunny's eyes. Quickly reprimanding herself, she placed calloused, but delicate hands on her friend's shoulders, "Hey, it's not forever, Bunny. It's only for a couple of years, right?"
The blonde nodded slowly and tried vainly to brush away her tears, "Yes, that's right."
"And the girls and I will be there for the big event, okay? I promise on my mother star," Rei smiled kindly, "Not to mention, you call for anything, understand? And I mean anything!"
Without another word, Bunny launched herself in Rei's arms, sobbing, "I love you Rei."
The priestess' arms hesitantly wrapped around the sobbing figure, "I--I love you too...."
"Tell everyone I send my love," the princess sobbed.
"I will--"
Their sentiments were cut short by the bus pulling up to the stop. Bunny quickly fished a silver palm-sized mirror out of her purse and handed it to her friend, "Lock this away for me?"
The girl nearly had to shove it in her friend's hands as the brunette looked upon it sadly, hands outstretching slightly. They both knew that if Rei took it, Bunny's life link with Darien would be blocked. If she took it, the prince wouldn't be able to feel his lover's existence, wouldn't be able to contact her through their dreams, or feel her emotions. In other words, he wouldn't be able to find her, which was exactly what she wanted. However, during her whole time of absence, she would be able to feel him and contact him if need be. In a way it was torturous but it would keep her going when the times would get tough, and they most definitely would. Pouring that power into a possession of Bunny's would enable that act to be passed.
Rei took it and jammed it into her red and white robes, "Are you not going to tell him at all?"
"No, not until this is done and over with," Bunny stated firmly.
The Shinto girl admired her friend for this bout of strength; she tried to imagine herself in her princess' place, but it could not be done.
Rei helped her on the bus with her baggage and much to the traveler's dismay, paid her bus fair. Which reminded her.... Fishing into her vast pockets, the Martian princess pulled out a parcel and handed it to Bunny who looked up at her in wonder from her seat, "Grandpa and I have raised some money for you. We know that your budget will be tight enough as it is moving out on your own...."
Bunny hesitantly took it and then jammed it into the small duffle bag that sat next to her. She knew better than to refuse something so great from the priestess. It was a kind act and it would dishonor Rei if it was not accepted.
"Call me when you arrive," was all the Soldier of Fire said before she stepped off the bus.
Driving away to her new life, Bunny waved for as long as possible to her dear friend and fought back the tears sure to come until she could be seen no more.
Rei's trek home was miserable. She had just committed an act of treason for letting her princess out of the Soldiers' range, but there was nothing to do to change the fact that she was leaving. She reached her temple as the moon began to droop near the night's horizon. Walking into the room where the Sacred Fire was constantly burning, she fished out the small mirror as an idea of where to hide it came to mind.
Shoving it into its resting place for the next couple of years, the link from Bunny to Darien broke. After doing so, she prayed for her best friend's safety through her tears.
~*~
Darien's eyes flew open instantly. Something wasn't right. Rolling over he found Bunny to be gone. Donning some boxers, he walked to the kitchen to see if she had gotten up to raid, he found her not. Walking back to his room, he looked for some sign that she was in the bathroom, but found none.
The Moon's silver light filtered into the room in a perfect beam and just like magic, small diamond-like particles began to manifest and swirl gently where the light hit on his nightstand. Slowly an envelope appeared. Picking it up, he recognized the silvery blue writing to be Bunny's. It was addressed to him. He tore it open and read frantically by the Moon's giving light but could not believe what he read.
Falling back onto the bed, he sat reading it once more to see if his eyes were not playing tricks upon him. The second read though proved what he had feared he had seen.
Heart plummeting, he crumpled the letter slightly and ran his free hand through his untamed hair, "She's gone...."
*====================================
Wee! What could Bunny's big secret be? And how will everyone react when they get their letters via-moonlight? Wee! Find out in the next chapter.
~ TR
6.14.03
(unedited)