Heya everyone! *gets onto knees and starts kissing random feet* I deeply apologize for the incredibly and obnoxiously late update. I do have my excuses, but they are trivial, and I will not bother you will them. So, as a plea of forgiveness, I have written an extremely long chapter. Before the incredibly lengthy and insanely insane chapter though, I have few things:

1) This is my first fic, and I am struggling with length. It is much harder to come by than I first thought. It's an extremely tricky tricky thing, and I still fail to understand completely the art of it all. Any hints, suggestions, and such are gladly and gratefully accepted.

2) I wish I could take the time to reply to every reviewer individually, but do trust that I read every single review and cherish them greatly. I take into account every word.

3) Unfortunately my horses, obviously, kinda died there. Through careful nursing, and such they are back on track, but still staggering a bit. I will try to keep the health of these vital forces up, and hopefully this won't happen again.

4) Please review, because reviewing can be FUN!

5) I don't own Sailor Moon

I think that that is all. Onwards!

CHAPTER 4

*earlier battle*

Sailor Jupiter led the way, running full speed. Sailor Mars and Venus were not far behind, Mercury the slowest as she tried to type into her computer and sprint at the same time.
"Where is it, Sailor Mercury?"
"Close now-"
"Ahhhhh!" A woman's scream shattered the tranquil evening. The four girls caught each others eyes, and nodded curtly. Luna and Artemis, who had alerted to the attack, followed, but stayed in the shadows.
"Where is Sailor Moon?" Artemis asked, concerned.
"It's a long story. I'll tell you after the battle." Luna said, not even looking at him as she gracefully leaped ahead.
"What? Did she eat too many donuts or something?"
Luna continued to ignore him, but seemed to express a certain muffled word, "men". The scouts were somewhat ahead, the talking having slowed the cats down, and Luna sped up until they were even. As they rounded a corner a hideous monster came into view.
"You there!" Sailor Mars called tauntingly, an attempted to spare the woman it held.
"Huh?" It wheezed, "Moon brats? I see you are one short. Where is your precious leader? No matter, I'll just have to finish you off for her."
"You sure can talk, but how about some action?" Sailor Jupiter asked as she cracked her knuckles.
"You order, I deliver!" It wheezed as it attacked them, dropping the woman.
"Mercury Bubbles Blast!" Immediately everything was covered in dense fog, that only the scouts seemed able to see through.
"Where am I?" It wailed.
"In hell." Raye harshly whispered, "Mars Fire Ignite!"
A loud shriek erupted from the monster, but it recovered and went for Sailor Jupiter.
"Oh no you don't!" Sailor Venus cried as she prepared her attack. The monster managed to get a good punch in before she was ready. Venus shrieked.
"Venus!" All three girls screamed as they ran to her.
"You alright?" Ray asked.
"Yeah!" She said, determinedly, "Go get him!"
Sailor Jupiter nodded and ran up to it.
"Jupiter Thunder Blast!"
The attack hit, but the monster persisted. It attacked Jupiter while she tried to recover from the energy she had just suspended.
"Jupiter!"
"All together guys!" Venus shouted.
"Venus Crescent Beam Smash!"
"Mercury Bubbles Blast!"
"Jupiter Thunder Blast!"
"Mars Fire Ignite!"
A twisted scream erupted from the monsters hideous mouth. It slowly disintegrated, until a mere pile of dust remained on the sidewalk. It suddenly blinked to nothingness.
"With no thanks to Sailor Moon!" Sailor Mars said under her breath.
"Or Tuxie." Sailor Venus agreed.
"I can't believe that he didn't show up." Mars complained, "Honestly, why would he come only for her? Like she's worth it."
"I continue to dwell on what Darien said," Mercury softly whispered.
"Yeah, talk about weird," Jupiter said as she detransformed. The others followed suit.
"I believe that we have a problem." Amy warned.
"Yes?"
"The monster noticed that Sailor Moon wasn't there. Not only did she notice, but she noticed immediately. Is that not a bit strange?"
"Now that you mention it.." Lita mused.
"I wouldn't worry about it," Mina said, "I mean really, so she missed one battle. As long as we get this figured out before the next one, it wouldn't be an issue."
"If we can do it before then." Raye pointed out.
"Amy?"
"I am on it."
The cats walked beside them, Luna deep in conversation with Artemis. A loud gasp came from his direction, and the girls guessed that he had been informed of the dreadful news.
They arrived at Serena's house, each with a wrinkled brow.
"It seems as if we were just here." Lita said with a roll of her eyes.
"I wonder why," Mina asked her voice full of sarcasm.
Or so they thought.
"No really, why?"
"Are you serious?" Raye asked, as she knocked on the door.
They heard footsteps, and Serena's mom answered.
"Hey, you girls back?"
"Yes, sorry about that Mrs. Tsukino."
"Oh, that's no problem. I am just glad that you take your schooling so seriously." She said with a light laugh, then in a deep evil voice, "Unlike someone we know."
"And love," Mina added, laughing.
"Come in, dinner will be ready in a few." Her voice was once more light and cheery.
"Thank you."
They stepped in and made their way up to Serena's room, suddenly exhausted, and starving.

*And back to where we left off*

"But that is the-" Serena screeched, being abruptly cut off by Amy. Serena mumbled the rest of her sentence into Amy's hand.
"This is urgent." Amy said, pointedly looking at Darien, then at her
fellow scouts, "We can't talk about it in terms of soccer this time."
The others, judging by Amy's tone of voice, realized that this was a desperate situation.
"What is it this time?" Darien demanded, "I knew it wasn't soccer." He received no reply.
"Well, I am not leaving."
"You forget one thing, Darien." Raye taunted, stressing his name in a rather uncomplimentary way.
"And what would that be?" He asked, rather confidently, with an edge of cockiness that was so alien in Serena's voice.
"You forget," Lita began as she and Raye attempted to push him out of the room, "That you are," they strained against Serena's petite body, now strengthened by Darien's stubborn will, "No longer Darien," finally some progress! Now Darien was gripping the doorframe madly, "The human rock." With that they had him out and the door in his face. He heard a faint clicking noise. The fact that he had been, once again, physically removed from the room took a few minutes to sink in. He was just about to start banging on the door frantically when-
"Wow Serena! You've packed on a few pounds recently!" Raye commented.
"Quite a work out, I must admit!" Lita added.
"You forget one thing, you guys." Serena drawled.
"And what would that be?" Mina asked, in a perfect imitation of a few moments earlier.
"That I am Darien, the human rock! On Guard!" She yelled as she pounced on her friends. They were a mass of giggles.
"You got that all wrong! Not to mention that it is a term for fencing," Lita said, between bouts of laugher, "Not fighting. I am ashamed of you."
"You're asking for it!" Serena challenged.
"Whoa there Serena! He's stronger than you, remember."
"I like this being threatening stuff! Ahahaha!"
Darien groaned into the door. He'd never get his body back at his rate.
"Guys, we have important things to discuss! Can we please get on track?" Amy piped in.
"Oh! Right Ames!"
"This is serious Serena! Obviously you didn't catch that part."
"Alright, alright."
"Now-"
"Serena?"
Darien whipped around.
"Uhh.. hi.. mom." He tried no to cringe, but it proved impossible. Using that simple word directly in context managed to shred his heart. The word mother echoed in his hollow being.
"You alright?" She asked, noticing the confusing set of emotions that flickered through her window-like eyes.
"Yeah."
"Why are you eavesdropping outside of your own door?"
"Umm, well the girls are planning a surprise party for me."
"Serena, you birthday isn't for another five months!"
"Yeah, I know! That's why I was so curious, it seemed a bit odd."
"Why couldn't they just talk about it some other time?"
"I don't know. Another odd thing. Those girls.."
"Well, tell 'those girls' that dinner is ready."
"Will do."
"Come down as soon as possible, ok?"
"Ok, ill see how quickly I can get in," He said, then darkly, "They locked me out."
Serena's mother laughed, as she walked downstairs. Darien immediately put his ear to the door, and resumed 'listening in on another person's conversation without them realizing it'. He preferred not to call it 'eavesdropping'.
"The enemy did this on purpose?" His own voice said, unbelievingly.
"I believe so."
"Why him?"
"Possibly because he is her 'enemy'."
"But how would the have known? They don't know our identities!" Mina said, then less confidently, "Right?"
"I don't know. We will have to be extremely careful. Everyone we are close to could be in danger."
"Maybe it was just some sort of spell that chose the person at random." Raye suggested, "I mean that is feasible, right?"
"Yeah, I guess it wouldn't matter, as long as they handicapped her, and us." Lita reasoned.
"The important thing is that they know that we are without her right now. This could be very bad." Luna warned.
"Lets get Darien back; Mrs. Tsukino told us that dinner would be ready soon."
"YAY! FOOD!" Serena practically yelled.
"Don't work yourself up too much, Meatball Head, "Raye smirked, "You can't come down and eat with us."
"I WHAT?!? This is the worst thing EVER!"
"Well bring you something."
"You better, and it better be good."
"Any food is good to you."
"Not true! Carrots are disgusting!"
"One whole hated food item, amazing." Lita said, with a sigh.
They opened to door. Before them knelt a guiltily faced Serena. Raye face contorted with fury.
"You LISTENED to our CONVERSATION!?" She demanded.
Darien tried to resisted the urge to run away. She looked absolutely terrifying. Had he not been trying to make sense of what they had been saying, incredibly deep in thought, he might've had the sense to move away.
"Look, I only heard the last part of the conversation, but whatever it is that you have gotten yourselves into, and dragged me into as well, sounds serious. If you and your families are in danger you should report this to the police."
Mina tried not to laugh, she really did, but the honest look of concern on his face was priceless. They all had the same melancholy thought, "If only we could report this to the police, if only."
"Sorry Darien, but no can do." Raye said, her features having softened, "Don't worry about us for one minute. Were fine."
At his look of pure doubt, Lita added "Honestly."
"Come on! Let's chow down!" Serena said, exuberantly.
"You forget one thing," Raye teased.
"Aw, not this again." She complained.
"You can't eat with us!"
Serena gaped at her in shock, then retreated sadly into the room saying, "You better bring me something good, and grab me some aspirin too, I've got a killer headache."
"Its called caffeine withdrawal," Darien said with a smirk as he closed the door.
"Their all so cruel!" Serena pouted behind the closed door.
"I can't believe she forgot, we were just talking about it like 5 minutes before." Mina said, with a shake of her head.
"You forget one thing," Lita said as everyone groaned at the old expression, "She's Serena."
The mood had lightened amazingly as the group descended the stairs, and entered the dining room.

WOOO!!! All done! Ok, so maybe it wasn't that long, hut hey, it's a definite improvement! I think I think. Chapter six is a comin'! Brief outline (for now): missed part of conversation, dinner, discovery, and more that I haven't come up with yet. Till then! Don't forget to review! *starts waving a little watch thingy in front of the computer* *in scary spooky freaky voice* "You are getting sleepy! Sleepy! When I snap my fingers you will have the unquenchable need to review this story!" *snap* Mwhahahhaa! Note: the 'unquenchable need' is only able to be quenched by reviewing.. just in case that wasn't already totally and completely obvious. Note Number Two: Yes, I am insane, and proud of it! ^-^