Chapter Nine

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Sailor Moon stumbled to her knees. Knocked off her feet by the bolt of lightening Jupiter had sent her way. It was two days later and they were practicing just outside of Tokyo. They had been there for nearly two hours and she was really starting to get tired. At the moment, it was her, Mercury and Mars against Venus, Jupiter and Tuxedo Mask in a game of capture the flag.

"Ohhh," Sailor Moon growled. She did not get up though; she waited for Jupiter to come just a little closer. 'Just a little bit, come on Jupiter. You know me, I am a crybaby. I don't like to be hurt.' Finally, Jupiter was standing where she wanted her to be. Bracing herself on her hands, she swung her leg towards the brunette, catching her behind the knees. Jupiter pitched forward, jumping up Sailor Moon grabbed the green ribbon from her belt and took off.

"Very good Sailor Moon," Luna called. Her compliment was accompanied by Jupiter's laughter.

Sailor Moon didn't pay any attention to either of them. She may not like training but she tried to be serious about it when she was doing it. To her left Mars and Venus were evenly matched. To her right Mercury was holding her own against Tuxedo Mask. She chose to veer to her right. As she was running up, she saw Tuxedo Mask pull out his cane and sweep Mercury's feet out from under her. Before the blue-haired girl had a chance to react, he had her blue ribbon.

"That's not very nice," Sailor Moon called out to him. "Bet you you can't do the same to me." Tuxedo Mask smiled and she could tell his eyes were dancing under his mask.

"Just watch me," he said confidently, striding toward her.

He actually did try the same trick right away but Sailor Moon jumped, easily

avoiding his cane. Serena pulled the short stick, not unlike his cane, that she used for training, out of her boot. Her tiara was too powerful to be using against people, besides they had already had a separate target practice. Pushing a switch the end of the stick, it split, forming a 'T'. Watching him closely, Sailor Moon feinted to her right then dived to her left. Just as she was about to hook his foot he managed to dance away.

Coming out of her roll easily she turned and glared at him. "You weren't supposed to do that!" she cried good-naturally.

"Just like I'm not supposed to this right?" he laughed in response. With a flick of his wrist, he sent roses flying in her direction. One bounced harmlessly off her boot and one skimmed the side of her thigh, the rest hit the dirt around her.

"I'm going to get you for that!"

Neither of them noticed that they had an audience. Venus held Mars's red ribbon in her hand but was not stepping into help her partner. Instead, she too watched them, along with the other scouts and the cats.

Tuxedo Mask laughed. He knew it hadn't hurt much, Sailor Moon knew he knew. What made her mad was that he had gotten a hit on her where she had failed to get one in one him. Thinking fast, she turned and started running across the open field. "Catch me if you can!" she taunted.

She knew he took chase immediately. Glancing back, she saw him gaining on her. She was no match for his long legs. She had counted on that. Just before he reached her, but late enough that he wouldn't be able to stop himself, Sailor Moon stopped and ducked close to the ground. Just as she hoped, he jumped over her. Reaching up as he sailed over her, she managed to grab a pant leg. She smiled when she heard him land in front of her.

Quickly, before he could catch his breath. She looked up and pounced on his chest. Grabbing his black ribbon she smiled triumphantly, "Gotcha," she managed as she fought to catch her own breath. Behind her, she could hear the other scouts applauding her.

"That's what you think," Tuxedo Mask countered. She felt his hands clamp on her waist and suddenly she was the one on her back in the dirt. He was kneeling above her. As she watched he detransformed, she did the same.

Smiling up at Darien, she clicked her tongue. "Naughty boy. I already won."

"And what does the winner win?" Darien asked slyly. His fingers inching their way down her sides to her wrists.

Serena shrugged as much as was possible, "I can't think of anything I really want at the moment."

"Oh really?" he asked, lifting her arms and capturing them above her head in one of his hands. His free hand he traced down her arm.

Serena squirmed beneath him, trying to hold in her laughter.

"I think I can make you tell me."

"Just try it."

Darien took the challenge seriously. With slow, deft fingers, he found all her

ticklish spots. Much to Serena's chagrin she heard the other girls cheering him on.

"Come one guys. Help me," she pleaded to no avail. Finally, she couldn't hold it in any longer and her laughter bubbled up out of her throat.

Only then did Darien stop. "Guess I won after all," he said smugly.

When Serena could breathe again she looked over at Luna, "I guess training is

over for today."

The cat nodded, unable to hide her own kitty smile.

"I'll get you for this," she told Darien. He laughed and she laughed right along with him, but she meant it.

"Come on you two," Lita urged. "We're starving. We want pizza."

Serena pushed at Darien and he stood up, lending her a hand up. "You think I'm going to miss pizza? You're crazy."

Linking her hand with Darien's they made their way back to where his car and Lita's jeep had been parked.