**Wow. It's been forever since I've updated this story and yet, Chapter Ten is still not complete. However, let's say it is for sanity sake. This chapter focuses mainly on Serena and Darien and takes place later on during the same day the last chapter ended. To make things clear, this story takes place during SMR, during the Ann/ Allen part. Allen and Ann are mentioned in this chapter, and a basic understanding of the SMR season will be needed around the middle of this chapter for it to make sense. If things are unclear, let me know. Either way, please review and let me know what you think! **

Evening Star

With the Coming of the Dawn

Chapter 10, Part 2

*** That same day***

            "Serena, you can't possibly be hungry! We just ate an hour ago!" Rei's high-pitched, incredulous tone caused several innocent bystanders to wince.

            "Oh, come on Rei!" Serena all but whined, "Its just a little ice cream! Everyone has room for ice cream! It melts so quick, it's just like drinking a soda!"

            Amy shot Lita a sidelong glace.

"Interesting logic," Amy whispered to her tall friend, both trying valiantly to hide their smiles.

Mina, engrossed as she was in the volleyball sports magazine she was reading, only heard the tail end of Serena and Rei's argument.

"Hey, ice cream sounds good!" Mina said with a sunny smile. Rei shot her a venomous look. Shrinking back with wide scared blue eyes, Mina gulped, "Err, maybe not." 

Trying to keep her somewhat over zealous friends from making a spectacle of themselves, Ami spoke up.

"How about we go to the arcade. That way we can sit down, relax, and," Ami emphasized, looking directly at Rei to make her point clear, "each get a bit of a snack."

Rei rolled her eyes as Serena gave a cute squeal of delight.

"Thanks Ames!" Serena gushed, "You're the best!" Latching on to Ami's arm, Serena stuck her tongue out quickly to Rei's turned back. The quick action did not escape the trained observant eye of Ami, however, and despite herself, couldn't help but smile softly.

Watching as Serena skipped happily ahead of her to read over Mina's shoulder, Ami reflected on the wonderful change that come over Serena as of late. Each of them had heard, in detail and several times over, about what had happened between the reborn princess and prince that day on the street's side. Serena had been practically walking on air by the time she made it back to the temple, gushing for hours about how kindly he had treated her, how he had promised to help as best he could, but most importantly, how he had hugged her back when she'd thrown her arms around him in excitement. The light that had been steadily fading from Serena's eyes was back with full force, brightly shinning and warming the lives of all around her. Even Rei was pleased to see the change in her Princess, though Ami doubted she'd ever admit to it.

The entire day out had been Serena's idea. Rei had been told by the nurses at the family clinic that she no longer needed the sling for her arm, but would have to keep her shoulder bandaged for a few more days. In celebration, Serena had dragged them all out for a day of gluttony and shopping. Ami had to admit to herself however, none of the others including herself had had any qualms in having a 'girl's day out.' It was a welcomed break from her endless hours of study.

Serena's excited squeal brought Ami out of her reverie.

"We're here!" Serena all but barreled through the doors of the Crown Arcade, dragging a hapless Mina in her wake.

"Serena, will you stop that! You're such an embarrassment!" Rei huffed, her arms crossed.

"Oh, get of it Rei!" Serena stuck her tongue out, yet again, then steered Mina towards the ice cream bar. What Serena failed to notice, but neither Ami nor Lita missed, was Rei's smile and small shake of her head. The Priestess was indeed quite happy that Serena was back in working order.

 "Come on Ami, Rei," Lita called, "Lets grab this back booth." Lita indicated with her head the booth in the far corner, just back far enough to provide the girls with much needed privacy. Steeling one last look at Serena, Rei followed.

Leaning up against the bar, Serena and Mina happily chatted to Andrew as he prepared their double fudge sundaes. Mina was carrying the conversation, having found out Andrew was a volleyball fan. Humming contently to herself, mouth watering at the prospect of the sundae being prepared before her eyes, Serena nearly jumped off her stool when a smooth voice called out from behind her, "Hello Serena."

Serena knew that voice. Back somewhat stiff with tension, she turned to face the young man behind her.

 With a weak smile and nervous laugh, "Hi Allen."

Allen was one of the new students in her class this semester. In fact, he'd arrived with his sister, Ann, just a few weeks before. Allen was a tall, slim young man with shaggy brown hair, who at first Serena had considered to be rather handsome. For a reason Serena couldn't fathom, however, shortly after his arrival at her school, Allen began showing her a disconcerting amount of attention. It made Serena uncomfortable, and for a brief second, found herself sending up a prayer that Mina, however oblivious, was standing right next to her.

Giving her an appreciative smile, Allen nodded towards Andrew behind the counter, "Getting a sundae? What kind? I think I might like to have one."

Laughing nervously once again, and silently berating herself for doing so, Serena tried to act nonchalant and gave a shrug.

"Oh, just a plain old chocolate sundae, nothing too special," Serena fidgeted as Allen stepped up close to her, moving to sit on the stool to her left. Cringing at his close proximity and at the thought of the next subject she was about to broach, Serena visibly gulped, "So, how is… ahh, your sister Ann, Allen? I haven't seen her in class recently."

Serena put on a smile of fake concern. Ann was not a person Serena well liked, a loathing based less on any sort of dislike for her personality than on the fact that Ann, from the first time she meet him, seemed to attach herself to Darien whenever he happened to be around.

"She's well, just a bit tired," Allen lied. He doubted Serena would understand the reason Ann had been absent from school was because the Doom Tree was failing to provide her with the needed energy to survive. Deciding to keep that point to himself, Allen was about to ask Serena's opinion of what sundae he should try when he heard her exclaim, "Darien!"

Allen turned with a look of disgust at the tall dark handsome young man entering the Arcade. Allen had realized quite quickly that this man Darien, who Ann for some unfathomable reason was obsessed with, was his greatest competition in winning Serena's heart.

"Darien!" Serena called out once again, this time a little bit frantic. Mina, sitting just beside her Princess, picked up on the edge in Serena's voice and turned to find Allen sitting next to her and Darien entering the Arcade. Recognizing the source of Serena's discomfort to be Allen, Mina pushed Serena towards the door Darien was entering through with a hiss, "Go talk to him!"

Looking back over her shoulder with a little bit of surprise at Mina's adamancy, Serena allowed her friend and Guardian to push her away from the ice cream bar. Moving with the push's momentum, she stumbled over to where Darien was standing, seemingly looking for someone. 

"Hey stranger," Serena tapped Darien on the shoulder, a bit breathless with excitement and released tension.

Startled, Darien looked sharply to his right only to find a small dumpling headed girl with her hand on his arm.

She can be so adorable…Darien caught himself thinking, a small smile on his lips.

Catching sight of the smile, Serena brightened, the hovering, disconcerting shadow of Allen promptly forgotten.

"Looking for someone Darien?" Serena asked with genuine interest, looking around the arcade as if she could pick out the person Darien was searching for. She wanted to look busy, hoping Allen would take the hint and leave her be.

"Yes actually," Darien spoke, his smile widening, "you."

Serena looked up in surprise, a blush staining her cheeks.

"Me?"

"Yes you," Darien said with a chuckle, "I found some information on the girl you asked me to find and thought you might like to know. Want to sit down?"

Serena's eyes brightened with enthusiasm as she followed Darien to a quiet booth, "You did? What did you find?!"

Sitting down opposite of Serena, Darien settled in for his explanation.

"To pay for university, I work part time for a company that specializes in computers: computer engineering, software, and installation among other things. A few days back, three of our technicians were called out to the city's outskirts to connect several massive computer labs to the Internet, labs located in a highly elite private school called Umbrae Academy."

Serena's ears perked up at the mention of the name.

"Umbrae? That sounds familiar somehow. I think Amy was talking about that the other day."

"That wouldn't surprise me. Umbrae Academy is the school for the children of the Elite. It has campuses in over a 75 countries worldwide. Every 6 months, after each semester, the Academy relocates to another one of its campuses in a different country in a different part of the world. It's done as a means to provide the students with a culturally enriched education - to make them more aware of the world around them."

Darien shook his head, "It has incredible facilities if nothing else. It provides for every level of learning: from elementary to university. From what the technicians told me, the campus is astronomical. Apparently, Umbrae relocated here, at its Tokyo campus, a few months back."

Darien looked down into Serena's wide blue eyes, "If the young girl you ran into was as you described her, a foreign rich girl," Darien chuckled humorlessly, "then she must have been a student from the Academy. I can't think of who else she could be or where else she could come from."

"Well," Serena stated with determination, "then it's settled! I have to go to this Academy and try to find her!"

Darien held up his hand, his face grim, "Hold on there, Serena. Unless you're a family member or invited guest, there's no getting near to the Academy. The children of many of the world's most influential people attend school there. The security is unreasonably tight. Besides," Darien spoke, his tone somewhat bitter, "I attend university and work with many people from that sort of rich background and not one of them is a pleasant individual to speak to. They are pompous and condescending. I don't mean to think ill of a person I don't know, but I can hardly imagine this girl being much different. If anything, she'd be much worse. The students of Umbrae lead pampered lives Serena."

Darien sighed as he watched a heavy disappointment settle on Serena.

"Even if you were able to find her Serena, even if you were able to get on campus, I hardly doubt she would appreciate your heartfelt apology."

Serena looked down at her hands clasped together on the booth's table. She found herself thinking back to the morning when Sailor Moon and the other Scouts had first met the new Sailor, Sailor Star.

She had seemed so kind, so genuine in her desire to help – to be friends. She couldn't possibly be like Darien thinks. Someone that kind as a scout couldn't possibly be so cruel in real life…could she?

            Lost in thought, Serena all but forgot about Darien sitting across from her, and as such, failed to notice his close scrutiny of her. Darien was trying to gauge how much his words had disheartened her but found he was at a loss. Her head bowed, he couldn't she her eyes. Serena's eyes, he found, were beautifully expressive. If only she'd look up, he'd know…

            "Serena," Darien spoke softly as he laid his one big hand over both of her own.

            Serena all but jumped at the contact, and looking up into his eyes, felt her cheeks flush with heat.

            "I know you never meant to hurt that girl and I'm sure you're friends know that too. You've already proven how sorry you are just by trying to locate this girl to apologize. You've done what you could now leave it at that."

Darien paused, "I don't want you getting hurt by this girl's possible insensitivity and pompous attitude."

Serena stared in wonderment, fighting to keep tears from her eyes as hope for the survival of their ancient love flared to life again in her heart. Trying to keep her voice level, Serena lowered her eyes to her hands and his, whispering, "Thank you Darien. That means so much coming from you."

Darien felt a cold dark part inside him warm at her words.

"Well, I mean it Serena. I'm sorry though, that things weren't different and that you can't meet this girl in person. However, seeing as how Umbrae will be here in Tokyo for at least another 4 months, you may run into her again. Hopefully," he added with a smile, "not with so much force this time?"

Serena laughed, her smile warm, "Yeah, hopefully." Continuing to look down at his hand over hers, Serena added, "Thank you for helping me Darien." Looking up at him, "It meant a lot to me to have your help."

Slowly, Darien withdrew the warm comfort of his hand, and looking down at his wrist, grimaced.

"Any time Serena, and I mean that. But, if I don't get going now, I'll be late for my afternoon class."

Getting up and out of the booth, Darien smiled down at her and added with a wink, "See you around, Meatball Head."

            This time, as Serena turned to watch him go, she didn't take offense.