Disclaimer! Don't own any of the characters in this story!
Serena ran up the temple steps as fast as her legs would allow her. She rushed through the temple doors and down the hall, passing by the other Senshi who were in the meeting room. She went straight towards the bathroom and slammed the door shut, not bothering to lock it. She stopped and breathed in a gush of air to fill her aching lungs and to calm her thumping heart.
She went over to the sink, dropping her bag and sleeping bag down on the floor and placed the palms of her hands on the sink counter, leaning her body forward. She suddenly shifted her form, moving her elbows to rest them on the counter and placed her forehead on the palms of her hands. Breathing heavily, she raised her head and looked into the mirror for a moment. She then straightened herself and turned around so that her back was facing the mirror. She raised the back of her shirt and winced, seeing that her wounds had indeed re-opened.
"Damn it," whispered Serena under her breath. She took off the shirt and was grateful that she wore a black shirt so no one can see the blood seeping through it. She opened a medicine cabinet and smiled when she saw a first aide kit. She quickly took off her blood stained bandages from her back and threw them away. She did the best she could on cleaning her wounds and re-bandaging them.
She smiled in triumph when she finished the task at hand. It wasn't the best of work, but who cares, it was something. She jumped down from the sink counter and looked at her shirt, realizing that there was no way in hell she was going to put that back on. Her eyes widened, seeing that a t-shirt was what she had worn, meaning her wrists were exposed…
'Did mom see my cut marks? Did Amara and Michelle…even worse, did Darien?' thought Serena frantically.
"How could I be so stupid," groaned Serena in a berating way.
"Oh well I guess I'm going to have to deal with it if that situation occurs," she whispered. She went over to her book bag and looked inside it, grabbing a hold of a dark blue t-shirt and matching sweat shirt. She put on the t-shirt and raised her heard when she heard a knock on the door. Serena took a hold of the sweatshirt and brought it over to the door.
She was pulling the sweat shirt over her head when she opened the door. Rei stood in the doorway, looking at Serena for a moment as her eyes momentarily scanned over the blonde's wrists before it was hidden by the sweatshirt.
"Yes Rei?," questioned Serena. Rei's head quickly shot up and looked at her blonde headed friend.
"Oh, um, everyone is waiting for you," replied Rei. Serena nodded as the miko turned to leave but was interrupted by Serena's voice.
"Oh, hey Rei! Can I use your phone to call my mom?," questioned Serena.
The raven smiled. "Yeah, of course you can," replied Rei, before she turned and left.
"Thanks," called out Serena, at the priestess's retreating back. Serena fixed her sweat shirt, as she mused that she hadn't missed the look Rei had gave towards her exposed wrists. Serena turned and went to gather up her sleeping bag and back pack. She left the bathroom and made her way over to the kitchen where the phone was. She quickly dialed up her home number and talked to her mother, purposely not telling her of her fall and of the re-opening of her wounds.
When the conversation ended, Serena hung up the phone and gathered her things once again. She went to the living room where everyone was situated. She set her things in the corner and waved to everyone as she took a seat in between Ami and Lita.
Throughout the entire meeting, Serena could feel the eyes of Amara, Michelle and Rei burning into her. She had been shifting uncomfortable and avoided their eyes the whole time. She as well kept quiet throughout the meeting and kept her gaze to her hands, which were wringing together rather painfully.
She was happy when the meeting was over and Amara and Michelle left with Setsuna and Hotaru. The only person left she may possibly have to confront is Rei. The Inner Senshi chatted happily amongst themselves as Serena kept to her self and stayed quiet. Lita turned to her friend and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"What's wrong Serena?," questioned Lita and the blonde shrugged her shoulders.
"Nothing is wrong," she replied. Lita quirked an eyebrow as everyone halted from their conversation to tune into Lita's and Serena's.
"Well you don't seem okay…you've been quiet the whole time," replied Lita. Serena turned her head to look at her friend, giving her a small smile.
"Really… I'm okay," replied Serena. Lita frowned a bit, she didn't like that smile….she didn't like it not one bit! She suddenly grinned and grabbed a hold of a pillow the was beside her as she whacked the object upside Serena's head and started to laugh. Serena held a stunned look for a moment before she too grabbed a pillow and whacked Lita back. The rest of the Senshi laughed and joined into the pillow fight.
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Amara drove her beloved sports car home with Michelle sitting beside her and Setsuna and Hotaru sitting in the back. Hotaru had fallen asleep sometime during the ride and classical music was playing softly. Amara's hands gripped the steering wheel, her mind revolving around the blood that came from Serena's back.
Amara shook her head, snapping out of her reverie when she felt someone place a hand on her forearm. Startled, she looked over and saw that Michelle was staring back at her with concern.
"Amara, we will get to the bottom of this but right now, please keep your attention on the road," replied the aqua haired woman.
Amara nodded with a deep sigh and turned her attention back onto the road, slamming her foot down on the gas peddle and speeding off down the road.
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Darien sat in his apartment in the dark, his face resting in the palms of his hands. He couldn't stop thinking of Serena! Ever since that day he had seen her at the mall, the bruises she tried to conceal with make up, he couldn't get her off his mind. No… this wasn't the first time he couldn't keep his mind off of the blonde, this has been happening for sometime not, but nothing like this!
He couldn't ignore the visions of her in his mind…the taunting images of her sweet smile, her gorgeous green eyes, of him holding her in his arms and bringing his lips to hers. But now….now he couldn't see those images in his head; the images of the fear that was held in Serena's eyes when he touched her …the look of panic etched across her face before she took off down the halls of the mall is now haunting his mind.
Darien shook his head in an attempt to clear it. He couldn't think normally anymore, every little thing reminded him of Serena. He sighed and slouched back into his black leather couch. Oh how that meatball headed girl made him feel every time he saw her running down the street like a lunatic and how she devours food like she does; he couldn't possibly see where she put it all!
A small smile etched across his face, thinking of her. He knew he liked the girl, no …that would be an understatement. He loved the girl, is in love with her…but he couldn't bring himself to tell her. With the way he has been treating her, the girl probably hates his guts.
Darien laid down and stretched himself along the length of the couch. He was determined to make her his. To express his love to her. Though, he frowned as the thoughts of those bruises came back to him. He was going to find who is hurting her and when he does he's going to make that person pay dearly.
Running his fingers through his soft black locks, he sighed deeply, deciding that he was going to have to talk to her tomorrow. If he didn't, he'd probably drive himself to the brink of insanity with all of the questions and emotions he held for her.
His frown suddenly deepened as the thought of Sailor Moon, the fighter of love and justice came to mind. He had deep feelings for her as well. He felt a deep connection with Sailor Moon, and she was somehow connected with his past, the past he only remember in dreams, of a time long ago, the Silver Millennium.
He stood to his feet and went to the kitchen. He grabbed a cup from a cabinet and went to the refrigerator. He pulled out a pitcher of cold water and poured himself some, and then placed the pitcher back where he got it from and leaned back against the counter and drank down the ice cold water within a few gulps.
He tossed the cup into the sink and headed to his bedroom. Upon entering he went over towards the bed, shedding off his clothing until he was only clad in black silk boxers. He went over climbed onto his bed and covered himself into his thick warm blankets. He rested his head on his fluffy pillows and closed his eyes, bringing his hands behind his head and fell asleep; dreams filled with him and Serena together.
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The Senshi were having a blast and Serena laughed as her friends pinned her to the ground and began an tickling assault. She giggled uncontrollably, trying to get away from her friends hands as the girls then brought out the pillows and playfully whacked the blonde.
Serena turned to her stomach and tried to climb to her feet, leaping forward she was captured by Rei, who held onto her tightly. From Serena's struggling and Rei's tight grip, the girl's shirt began to rise. The rest of the Senshi continued the pillow attack, all with the exception of Amy.
The blue haired genious froze as she saw a long scar along the side of Serena's ribs. Amy scooted forward and her hand gently ran the length of it and with curiosity getting the best of her, she raised Serena's shirt a little more and saw the bandages on the girl's back. Serena stiffened and her eyes widened, causing Rei look down at the blonde curiously as the girl started to violently struggle out of her grasp. The girls stopped swinging the pillows and looked at Serena, then to Amy confused.
They looked at the blue haired genus and looked to the direction her eyes were staring at. They dropped their pillows and a chorus of gasps could be heard. Serena struggled even more, wanting to escape the looks…the judging eyes. Rei tightened her grip a bit more and looked down at Serena with wide eyes, not really sure of what to say.
'Oh my God, Oh my God,' thought Serena. 'I have to get out of here!'
Lita lifted the sweat shirt and looked at the bandages and the scars, old and new, startling the girls into a moment of silence.
"Serena, where did you get these?," questioned Mina, eyes scanning over the wounds in sheer horror. Serena turned her head from them, burying her face into the crook of Rei's neck, desperately trying to shield herself from the questioning gazes. Rei grabbed a hold of Serena by her shoulders and pulled her back firmly.
"Serena, who?" demanded Rei, wanting to get to the bottom of this right now! Serena turned her head away, tears filling up in her eyes, causing the raven to shake Serena a bit.
"Serena tell us," pleaded Rei. The blonde looked upon Rei with tear filled eyes, shaking her head negatively.
"I can't tell you." whispered Serena.
"Why, you can tell us anything Serena! We're your best friends…" replied Mina as Serena shook her head once again.
"No, I cant tell you…you don't understand…you'll never understand," whispered Serena.
