"Ugh! God, just let me die…"

            Serena's eyes widened, unable to move. 'MOVE!! DAMN YOU, MOVE!!!' Serena's mind shouted at her but she was rooted to her position, her lips touching Darien's. Warm numbness filled her body. 'Who's that?' she mentally asked when she heard another voice speak. Then she slowly came into realization… 'No… Wha… no, kami, not now!!!' She saw Darien, who is still lying on his back under her, blink at her in utter shock.

            That finally made Serena's muscles to move. She stood up almost in a second and immediately looked to her suspected source of the voice, unconsciously crossing her fingers in hope that what she just heard was a hallucination.

            But there she is, looking at her, almost in disgust, or rather she imagined Haruka looking at her that way.

            "Haruka-chan!!!" Serena exclaimed as if nothing happened. She let the feeling of excitement from Haruka's recovery take over her and forget about what happened for a while. She will have to deal with Darien, or most likely with herself, later.

            "Yeah…" Haruka muttered weakly.

            Serena practically threw herself at Haruka, tears of joy flowing from both eyes, "I thought I already lost you. I didn't know what to do. I'm so happy you're okay now," she sobbed uncontrollably, at the same time having a smile on her face.

            Haruka knew that she should be angry but then again, she also know very well that she was never good at being angry at Serena. Instead, her heart melted as she looked at Serena's huge concern, "Stop that, crybaby, I'm okay now," somehow, she managed to think of a little tease. Serena looked at her with teary-red eyes and choked her tears back. That look made Haruka think of a 5-year old child who was about to lose a mother.

            "Are you…mad at me?"

            Again, Haruka thought that she should be, "No." She saw Serena smile in relief. Then, "But after what I saw, I think I should be," she looked at Darien who suddenly looked down with embarrassment.

            Serena's insides panicked, "No… that's not… it isn't what… I can explain…"

            "It was an accident. She tripped over me and we just ended up like that. You just woke up at the wrong time," Darien immediately filled in.

            "So it's my fault then?"

            "No, I was just saying that it was an accident."

            Serena stood up, "Stop that, you two." She turned to Haruka, "He's right, 'Ruka, it was just an accident. I tripped on one of the cables."

            Haruka grunted, "Okay, whatever."

            "Welcome back," Darien told Haruka in a wide grin.

            Haruka couldn't help but smirk, "Thanks." And they broke into a laugh.

            The door suddenly opened, "Serena, I—oh…you're already awake, thank God," it was Seiya who came from school. He smiled at Serena and placed a basket of fruits on the table.

            "Why are you here?" Haruka grumbled. Seiya looked in confusion.

            "Oh," Serena spoke before Seiya could answer, "He's here because he's helping me with schoolwork. He's my classmate, remember?"

            "Yeah," Seiya spoke anyways, "and I care too, you know. And I care about Serena. She's been here since you were brought in and she never ate…" Seiya got a glance on the smashed cake on the ground, "oh, I guess she already did."

            Darien grunted and decided to go outside to have coffee. If there's something he and Haruka share at the moment, it's discomfort towards Seiya's existence. If this doesn't stop, he'd actually hate the man. Why? –he asks himself, but it seems that it's plain intuition.

            He stared at his coffee for a long moment— one would even think that he's expecting a demonstration on the parting of the red sea in his cup. He's thinking about the kiss… until now he could feel Serena's soft lips. Darien thought, he should be confused by now. He should be! He loved Richelle, didn't he? But no, there is only one statement that shouts in his ears.

            'I love Serena…' he could hear it, loud and clear.

            'I love Serena… ugh… this must be it. This must be the reason why I can't ask Richelle to be my girlfriend; why, for so many years, he felt destined to protect her, covered by his *best friend–in–shining–armor* front; why, when Seiya kissed Serena, he felt a tingling urge to punch the man and claim Serena as *his* possession; why, the image of Serena always haunts his mind whenever he thinks of love; why… so many why's and now I know the answer!' Darien laughed at himself. An old woman who saw him quickly stood up and got out of the building, in fear that Darien is a crazy patient who got away from the nurses. 'Fate has its way to play with humans like me, ne?' he gave off a scary grin.

            'But how should I tell her? Or should I even tell her? Did you forget that you're afraid to be dumped?' Darien mentally talks to himself. 'Oh well… I just have to worry about that later. At least now, I'm not confused between Serena and Richelle anymore.' He stood up without even touching his coffee and strode away laughing almost maniacally. "Thanks sweet kiss, you've got me all drunk…"

* * *

            "I told you, Sere, you better get home."

            "And I told you, 'Ruka-chan, I'm not going home. You just woke up!"

            "I'll be okay. I just need some sleep."

            "What if you need to pee in the middle of the night?" Serena said pointedly. Haruka couldn't do anything but shut up in embarrassment. Serena might have forgotten that Seiya is just sitting beside her.

            "That'll be okay, Sere. I'll take her if she needs to," Seiya popped a grape in his mouth, "You must be tired."

            "Don't you dare touch me!!!" the patient shouted irritably.

Seiya cringed, "Okay, okay!!" his hands are brought up in surrender.

"Fine," turning to Serena, "you can stay but you promise me to go home tomorrow. I'm sure I'll be okay by that time."

            "Promise!" and Serena happily ate on her second cake.

* * *

            Serena gazed silently at the full moon from behind the shades of Haruka's room. Seiya has already gone his way home and, after a 'strenuous' day, Haruka resigned herself to sleep while Serena had made her way at the window. She unconsciously brought her fingers to touch her lips. Gasping, she closed her eyes as she remembered her 'accidental kiss' with Darien. Not that she didn't like it. It brought her odd sensations even from that very small time span. It was as if time stopped to allow her to feel what she longed to feel.

            "I give up…" she whispered to the unseen entities who she has been long struggling with since she felt again her growing love for Darien. 'It's inevitable, this love…' she sighed, shifting her gaze to the dancing lights of automobile and neon lights from below. 'Yes… I do love him… I do…'

            "Mmm… Sere-chan…?" Haruka sleepily mumbled from behind her.

            "What is it? You need anything?" Serena assisted Haruka who is trying to get up. She smiled sheepishly, "I think I need to go to the bathroom."

* * *

            "Tadaima!!" due to Haruka's insistent demand, Serena got home. She thought of dropping her clothes for laundry and getting new ones and then perhaps get a short nap before going back to the hospital. She has to get some of Haruka's belongings too, now that she's awake.

            "Okaeri, Serena," her mother greeted her from the kitchen. She quickly removed her apron and gave Serena a short hug. "Hey, I missed you."

            "Really?" Serena isn't very sure about that.

            "Sure, honey. The house has never been quiet and the refrigerator's never been full in a few days," her mom let out a laugh before continuing her delicious job in the kitchen. "Don't worry; I'll prepare your favorite!"

            Serena pouted with a sound "hmmph" and them stomped her way to her bedroom. Her blue eyes widened as she opened the door, "Wow! I missed you." Her room bathed in early morning sunlight, giving her room a bright touch of pinks and whites. She threw herself to bed and cuddled a white bunny stuffed toy, "I hope Haruka gets home soon," and she let sleep take over as she dozes off…

            "Serena, can I talk to you for a moment?" after a hearty lunch, Kenji decides to tell Serena about moving. He could have told her over lunch but seeing how she enjoyed it, he didn't want to spoil it, just in case.

            'Wha..!! I didn't do anything, did I? Oh kami, let it be not because of Seiya!' Serena nervously followed her father to the den. They sat on opposite sides and she cringed when Kenji gave her a serious look. "So… what is it?"

            Kenji is not a man of long words. He pinned it right at the center, "We're moving."

            Serena sighed in relief, "Really? Oh I'd love to get some place out of here. But I'll definitely miss my room."

            Kenji was surprised, "Great. I thought it would be hard for you."

            Serena shrugged, "Oh well, it's not like we're going very far right? I can still see my friends at school and Haruka of course."

            "Ummm… Serena… you got it wrong there. We're going far from here, particularly in Shinukawa—"

            "WHAT!!!" her father wasn't even able to finish his sentence, "Shinukawa?! That's way far from here! It would take a long train trip and a 4 hour car ride. Why does it have to be so far? I mean, I'm in a university and I have already adapted with the system and I have friends and all…" Serena babbled. Surely, her dad was right when he first thought that this would be hardest for his daughter.

            "Serena… please understand. This is my long awaited promotion. It's been 10 years. You're growing up and your schooling needs more expenses. The poor economy isn't helping either. I have to have this promotion."

            "Then I'll work. I'll take some part time job after school," Serena isn't taking this all too well. She only has Haruka now and if she leaves, she'll be alone. Not that she has a problem with befriending people, but then, having close friends who have known her for years is different. She thought she can already make up for Haruka but if this happens, how can she?

            "I cannot allow that. You already have trouble with school without work, how much more if you have one? Serena…" he placed his firm hands on Serena's quivering shoulders, "I promise it will turn out good for you and for all of us. I already have a university where you can transfer and a good school for Sammy too. Moreover, we have a nice home there where you can keep a bedroom of little white bunnies." He hugged his daughter then silently went up to his own bedroom, leaving Serena in silent tears.

            "Why? Why now? Why now that I'm ready to love Darien again? Is fate playing with me once more?"

* * *

            "Ugh! Serena, I don't wanna eat anymore!" Haruka complained as she threw her blanket over her head to block the impending spoon that is ready to invade her mouth if she would let her guard down a bit.

            "Haruka, you have to eat! You have to strong so you can get out of here soon. Now, come out now and take this," Serena is hyped-up being Haruka's personal nurse. When she had gotten back at the hospital, she offered to read a book for Haruka and now she insisted on spoon-feeding *her* patient.

            "But Sere-chan…" Haruka has a good grip on the blanket, "if I take one more spoonful, I'd throw up. That's my second plate owready!"

            Serena gave up, "Oh… second plate already? Ehehe… sorry." Finally, she managed to put the plate down. Haruka, having heard the clank of the plate on the table, drew the blanket down her head. She saw Serena's saddened face.

            "Hey, why the sad face? I finished up my food, didn't I? Well… almost."

            "I just want you to be strong so you can get out of here soon. I know you miss being outside…" she looked up with excitement "When you get out of here, we'll have picnic at the park and then probably a nice day at the beach will do just fine. We'll bring along Darien and Seiya and whoever you like to come with us," her gaze fell on the portrait of everyone in high school when they went to the beach for their graduation party, "Hey! We can call-up minna. Raye, Amy, Lita, and Mina then that would make up a grand reunion! Wouldn't that be great 'Ruka-chan?"

            Haruka didn't know whether to be happy, flattered or worried. "That's great Serena. But I think we don't have to do all that. Maybe a picnic will be nice enough."

            Serena threw herself to Haruka in a hug. She buried her face in the blonde's chest and quietly sobbed. She cursed herself inwardly, she knew she shouldn't have cried but she lost control over it. "I'm sorry Haruka-chan…"

            Haruka was confused and worried, "Hey Koneko, stop that… you don't have to be sorry for anything. I already told you, I'm not mad."

            "But I've been a bad friend. I know, I know…" Serena looked up in tears, "even though you told me that you aren't mad, I haven't said sorry yet. I'm sorry Haruka. I'm really, really sorry." Deep inside Serena, she's being sorry for two things: for all that she has done to her in the past and for what's going to happen.

            "I forgive you Serena. Just stop crying already, you're making me guilty. I promise I'll finish my food the moment I digest some of what I had earlier. I swear, I'll throw up if I move!" she laughed to ease up the tension in the room. To her relief, Serena already looked up and wiped her tears while laughing with her. Haruka sure hates sentimental moments!

* * *

            Two days after, Haruka was already allowed to go home. They took Darien's car to Haruka's annoyance. "They wrecked my baby!!" Haruka cried as she saw her car in the repair shop before they go home.

            "That wouldn't happen if you were more careful in driving," Darien pointed out.

            "It's that slow-poke's fault!" Her own car was in a wreck and though it can still be repaired, she already decided to sell it and buy another one. They headed home after.

            "Ahh! So nice to be home again, ne? Hey Darien can you bring my baggage upstairs? I'm kinda… lazy to bring them myself." Haruka spun around to give a wink at Darien, hoping to tease Serena in the process.

            "Yes ma'am…" Darien picked up the baggage of what seemed to contain rocks. "Hey, you've been to the hospital, right? Why so many baggage?"

            "Girls can't pack light," Haruka answered as a-matter-of-factly.

            Darien groaned at that, "But you're not even a girl!" With that, he quickly ran upstairs to avoid the line of fire.

            "Why you—"she moved to run and teach that jerk a lesson, when she noticed Serena. She looked cute in her yellow jumper but noticed her sad eyes. "Hey Sere-chan, what's the gloom? Aren't you happy I'm home? Hey, I remembered our picnic and we'll prepare for that later after I settle some things. Cheer up!"

            "Umm…" Serena decided, she should tell them the news now or have to suffer by keeping it inside, "have to tell you guys something."

            "Oh? Are you… don't tell me you're…" Haruka cringed in horror then backed away and pointed a finger at Serena, "You're pregnant?! What? Who's the father? Tell me! I'm going to kill him!!!"   Serena let out a giggle. "See? You laughed now." She saw Darien cautiously peeking down the stairs, getting ready for any assault from Haruka. "You can come out now, Darien. I won't hit you… yet."

            "Ahehehe…"

            "Umm… I really have to tell you something, guys," Serena nervously stood on her ground. She doesn't know why but maybe she's just scared of letting down Haruka again and having to go away from Darien once again.

            "Shoot!" Haruka said with a wide grin.

            'Here goes nothing.'

            "Guys… I'm leaving." There. Done.

            Haruka's grin faded.

Author's Notes: hehe… it's sem break so I have time to work on this. It's a bit longer than usual. Thanks for the reviews, by the way, they keep me going. Keep reviewing! Regarding Richelle… umm… she's a made-up character, though after a few chapters did I realize that I can use Michiru in that character. But then, it's too late for that now. I'm thinking of a suitable part for Michi because I cannot leave her behind! And then I have a nice idea about Serena's moving. Hehehe…. Review, review, review!!! Bwahahahaha!!!!!!!!