"You're awake," Serena smiled. "Are you okay?"
"I've got an unbearable migraine, but it'll go away." Trista looked up at her. "How'd I get here?"
"Solar came, and she made you pass out. Darien carried you in here after that."
"Solar came?" Trista echoed. "With Luna and Artemis here?"
"I guess so," Serena said with a light shrug. "Are you sure you're alright?"
"I don't know." Trista shuddered. "It just isn't fair! All I want is to be with them again." Tears welled up in her eyes again.
"Why do the cats hate Solar?" Serena asked gently. "What did she do to make them so angry?"
"She saved your life." Trista stared at the wall. "Back in the Silver Millennium, when you were around fifteen in earth years, you went into the room where the Silver Crystal was kept. Apparently Solar was walking past and saw you about to pick up the Crystal. She rushed in -despite the fact that only Moon royalty could enter it- and grabbed your arm, then the Crystal. She was putting it back when Luna and Artemis happened to go by and see her. They wouldn't believe hers or your tale because they didn't trust her. They had just arrived from Mau, after all, and only knew that Saturn could be an evil planet. They thought she was trying to use the Crystal to kill you."
"Like Rini in the future," Serena whispered, nearly horrified.
"Exactly. Only, no one was there to stop her."
"So what they're saying is blasphemy?" Serena was shocked that her guardian would think such a thing.
"M-hm. Solar loved you and would never kill you. The queens and council knew that and brushed the matter away, but Luna and Artemis would not -could not- get over it. They don't like Ocean, Sky, or Lia because they're her family. And they don't like me because I'm her best friend."
"So, then, basically, they never gave her a chance?"
"You are so right, princess."
The two cats had heard the story before, but never in the manner of the tone Trista was using. It made Luna feel almost uncertain, and Artemis suddenly wanted to throw himself down and beg to be forgiven. In unspoken agreement, they moved away from the door.
Since none of the senshi or their schools were directly affected by the tornado, things proceeded normally in their lives for the next few days. School was postponed for nearly two weeks. No monsters appeared during the time, and they were left to anxiety.
Darien walked into the college uncertainly. Things appeared to be fine, but he could feel the tension in the atmosphere. The students were still shaken. But there was one person in particular he just had to find...
He put his backpack and things in his locker, then walked into his homeroom. There, where her heels on the desk and a nail file in her left hand, sat Atia. He was so relieved to see her he nearly collapsed. "You seem to have weathered the storm well."
"Darien!" The nail file went flying, and Atia jumped to her feet and rushed over to him. "I was so worried about you and the others!"
"We're all fine," he replied with a smile. "How's your cousin?"
"Autumn? She's fine. She stayed with me." The girl smiled, and the boy noticed her eyes looked hazy, as though she were tired. Or in pain. Of the two, he couldn't decide. "That was some freak storm, huh?"
"It was. Hey, speaking of which...where'd you get off to? I couldn't find you anywhere," Darien chastised her lightly, reaching out and grabbing her arm as she wobbled on her feet.
"You know, I don't know. I just...sorta...blacked out. I don't remember anything - just being at home with Autumn. And wondering where you'd gone." Atia had the look of one who didn't understand what had happened but accepted what had happened.
"Are you okay? You're going pale," Darien frowned.
"Just...cold. Isn't it cold to you? The main furnace must've been hit by the tornado." Atia grinned meekly. "Just cold."
"Here." Darien put his coat on her, and she truly did look a sight. Unheeding the difference, she hugged the warm coat around her, giving him a look of gratitude as the bell rang. As the time passed while they were supposed to be reading, Darien noticed the newcomer just staring blankly at the page of the book, as though she weren't really seeing anything. He waved a hand in front of her face, but she didn't respond. He elbowed her, but she didn't notice. Frowning now, he put an arm around her.
Atia started, looking absolutely petrified. She looked around almost frantically, then stared at Darien quizzically, as thought she didn't remember getting to the school. Her lips looked blue, and she was trembling. But the longer his arm was around her, the more color returned to her, the less she stirred. The bell finally rang.
"Atia, what's wrong?" he asked immediately.
Atia blinked, like she didn't understand the question. "I don't know. Everything just went...black." He stood and stared up at her quietly. She glanced up at him, put a hand on his arm. "Don't leave me, please."
Serena looked out the window frequently but saw no butterflies, nor did Autumn seem in an especially good mood. She wasn't paying attention and got firmly reprimanded many times. When the bell for lunch rang, Serena hurried to catch up with her. "Autumn? Are you okay?"
"Fine. Just...thinking." Autumn spared her a smile, but Serena saw trouble in her eyes.
"Is it your cousin? She okay?"
By the girl's staggered look and slight stumble, she knew she had hit home. "Yes, it is and no, she's not. She just tends to blackout a lot, and she's not well at all."
"Well, if she's going to the same college as Darien, he'll watch out for her. And you could talk to my friend Amy...she's studying to be a doctor. Oh, that's right! You never met my friends! Sit with us at lunch and I'll introduce you!" With that, Serena sat out to look for Mina, Lita, and Amy. "My friend Raye goes to another school but I'm sure she'd like to meet you too. And you already know Darien and my...sister...Rini. Hey, what are you doing after school?"
Autumn couldn't help from smiling at the peppy girl's chattering. "Nothing that I know of."
"Well, you could come to study buddies with me. The girls'll be there, and Darien is too. We just do our homework, and the others try and help me but it never does much good." Serena giggled at her own fault as they waited in line.
When they got their trays, Serena led Autumn to a table in the cafeteria that consisted of three girls - another long-haired blonde with her hair back in a red bow, a brunette with green eyes, and a figure with short blue hair and blue eyes.
"Hey, guys! This is Autumn. She's new and going to sit with us today," Serena announced as she sat, closely followed by Autumn.
"Hi!" the other blonde chirped. "I'm Mina."
"I'm Lita."
"I'm Amy. Nice to meet you," Amy smiled.
"Hi," Autumn grinned, feeling almost shy. She was soon caught up the maelstrom of chatter between the four girls, and they all got along amiably. When Serena brought up the fact that Autumn was coming to study buddies, none seemed to mind. And that, in turn, brought on a long daydream fact that Darien was to be there as well.
The bell rang, and the five girls went back to their classes. Autumn smiled when she had a moment to herself; she'd found all the Inner Senshi already. And yet, from what she'd said, she wasn't quite certain she wanted to the meet the Outer Senshi.
Darien slung his backpack over his shoulder and waited quietly for Atia at the doors. All day she had seemed in a daze, and he had to watch out for her constantly. Her reflexes had seemed thicker than mud, and she had almost ran into too many doors, walls, and other students than he cared to count. But, as he watched her flounce down the hall, joking with a few other girls and laughing, it was impossible to tell so.
"Ready to go?" he asked as she paused beside him.
"Uh-huh." She shifted her backpack to her other shoulder, sparkling eyes staring into his. "You know, I feel a lot better now. It's almost like being around you makes me well." Her gaze turned up towards the heavens. "But that's a little silly, isn't it?"
"It's impossible to say," he replied with a smile, gently touching her elbow. "Come on, we're going to be late." She followed him obediently, seeming perfectly content to obey his commands. For some reason, with her behind him, he felt safe, although there was nothing to be afraid of.
Darien unlocked his car and climbed in, Atia on the passenger's side. She looked around admirably, smiled at a key chain picture of him and Serena. "She's a sweet girl." Watching her watch the picture, he could've seen he saw a ripple of pride flash across her face.
"That she is." As they drove down the highway, Darien glanced at her. Atia was leaning out the window a little, ponytail gliding behind her. With the sun shining down on her, she almost seemed to glow. Her hand nonchalantly loosened the tie around her neck, letting the article flap in the wind as well. She's so beautiful. Darien immediately blushed at the thought; Serena was his girlfriend. Was it wrong for him to think so of Atia? But he didn't love her like he loved Serena; he loved her more like a sister or a best friend, even though he'd known her for a remarkably short amount of time.
Or had he?
