Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon.

Title: Love Isn't Always Deadly

Author: baby bunnie

Rated: PG-13

Genre: Romance/Horror

Episode Two: Endymion and Darien

He trailed a finger down her pale cheek, breathing in her scent of cherry blossoms and vanilla whilst caressing her hand with another. Leaning down, he kissed her lips, just a light touch, and sighed. It really was her. The one he loved, the one he knew and recognized. Now if she'll only wake up…

She was floating, floating in darkness, unable to see anything. What had happened? Serena wondered to herself. It doesn't matter. A cool voice answered in her mind. All that matters is that you're here, where you should've been in the first place.

Who are you and where am I? She asked silently.

I'm you… in another form. And as to where, you shall have to find out for yourself. It answered.

What do you mean? Serena frowned despite her situation.

Not now, all will be clear soon, but before then, I will be guiding you and I need your trust.

I… all right. Serena decided to take a risk.

Now, you need to open your eyes and wake up.

What do you mean? My eyes are already open.

Open your eyes! The sentence struck Serena as a demand and she frowned again.

All right…Serena thought, annoyed. Somehow knowing what to do, she closed her eyes. After waiting for a few seconds, she opened her eyes and blinked in surprise.

He saw her forehead wrinkle into a frown, as if struggling to do something. The movement was so familiar; he almost choked with tears. Darien couldn't help it; he had seen her die, seen her grave, mourned for her, and longed for her. Now that she was here, he couldn't move, couldn't do a thing to help her with the thing she's struggling with.

A movement from Serena startled him and he snapped his head around. She was struggling again, this time to open her eyes. He sucked in a breath and looked at her, patiently waiting.

Serena tried to get her eyes to adjust to her surroundings so she can see. As her vision slowly came into focus, she realized that the room she was in had its shades drawn, or maybe they were just that dark. The air was dead, and she had a bit of trouble breathing.

Looking around, her eyes focused on a young man sitting beside her, staring at her intently. She let out a yelp and shot up, immediately paying for her actions as the room started spinning.

Darien saw her open her crystalline blue eyes that searched the room briefly, finally focusing on him. He saw her eyes widen and spring up, letting out a small scream. At that moment, she lurched forward as if falling, and he quickly steadied her with his arms, letting her frail body collapse into his embrace. Holding her tightly, he ran a hand loosely through her blonde hair, still rich and beautiful as he remembered. Looking down, he caught her staring up at him with a dreamy, yet curious sort of look. As he stared into her eyes, his mind went blank.

Blue clashed with blue and emotions swirled through both pairs of eyes. Emotions that Serena had never encountered before. She was so caught up in trying to figure out what they meant that she failed to notice him leaning down slowly, staring at her lips. When she finally snapped out of her dream-like stance, he was so close… so close that it'll only take a slight movement to come in contact. Her eyes drooped, and she leaned in.

It was like being struck by lightening and a tingling sensation spread through her body. Serena couldn't help but lean in more, pressing her small body against his. She slowly realized that he needed her as much as she needed him, and, almost automatically, she reached with her mind for contact.

Why the hell am I trying to enter his mind?! How can a person enter someone else's mind?! More important, why am I kissing someone I have never met in my whole life?!

Serena thoughts were jumbled by trying to see his thoughts.

Sensing no gap or entrance, she frowned inwardly, or something inside her wanted her to frown. He was blocking his mind from her, there was something he didn't want her to know.

His lips parted, and she slid her tongue in. He stiffened, not used to the new emotions swirling through him. He had wanted her; every part of her was perfect to him and then, he let go accidentally. Immediately, he realized he had made a mistake. A mistake he knew he would dread for centuries. He had allowed her to enter…

Serena felt him drop his guard and she slowly reached into his mind.

Love. That was the first thing that she felt. Followed by tremendous guilt and loneliness. But there was something else... something in him struggling to get out...

Serena froze. A bubbling sensation rose inside her and she knew. And she knew that he knew. They were meant to be together, meant for each other.

Soulmates.

She felt something burn inside her, something dark and furious, like anger, but more.

Endymion struggled to close his mind to her, but she was strong in telepathy. She always had been. That was one thing he loved about her, but not right now. If he can't block her out soon, she would know everything. Even things she's not ready to know yet. Feeling helpless, he decided to end the kiss, feeling guilty and pained. Unless she still trusts him after reading his mind, there was no way for him to keep her out.

Serena felt him pull away. No! No, no, no, no… She almost cried out loud. Why…? Her heart ached as they separated. The angry feeling dispersed. He looked at her with a tenderness she's never seen and sighed out loud. He's going to say something. She thought.

But the way he said it was not at all what she had expected. She heard his voice all right… but she was confident his lips didn't move.

Serenity… do you remember? Anything?

She swallowed, staring at him with wide eyes. It was just like the way she communicated with the cool voice before.

Remember what? And my name's not Serenity, it's Serena. She suddenly understood. He never meant to kiss her, he just mistook her for somebody else. Her heart broke, and tears rolled down her cheeks, blurring her vision. Not wanting him to see, she looked down on her lap. I thought we… you… soulmates…? She wondered half-heartedly.

Oh god… oh god, oh god, oh god… she's crying. Darien felt her heart break and felt his too. He didn't understand why she was crying. Did he do something wrong? Then, with a heart-wrenching realization, he remembered that he had pulled away from the kiss. He cursed silently. Then, he heard her. Obviously she had forgotten to block her thoughts and he heard her arguing with her inner self.

Why? I thought he loved me…

Why would he love you? He said "Serenity" remember? Or are you too stupid to realize your name is NOT Serenity?

I'm NOT stupid! I just…

Goddess… you don't even know the guy! You don't know his name, you don't know where he's from, and you don't know where YOU are. You don't even know what he looks like! And he kissed you damn it! What the hell were you thinking?!

Serena sighed inwardly. Her subconscious was right, she didn't know a thing about him.

He chuckled quietly to himself. It was so familiar, her arguing with her inner self like that. "Is that why?" He asked softly, slipping a finger under her chin and tipping her head up to look at him.

Her eyes widened.

"What?" It came out as a whisper.

"Is that why you're crying?" He repeated, brushing away her tears, cradling her face in his palm.

"I-is what why?" Serena stammered.

"You thought I was talking about someone else. You thought that kiss wasn't meant for you." He put his forehead against hers. Serena felt like she was melting in his arms. "I knew you as Serenity a long time ago… but if you want, I'll can call you by your name now," He paused. "Serena."

She nodded and looked up, getting her first good look at him.

The man had locks of silky, ebony hair and bangs that brushed across his stormy blue eyes, adding to his good looks. He had a strong, muscular body that any girl would die for, and a uniform and cape completed his boyish looks.

"Serena… do you remember me?" He asked, placing his hand against her forehead.

"I don't even know you!" She exclaimed before she could stop herself.

He gave a start. "Ah… yes of course. I am D-" Serena cut him off.

"The Dark Lord Endymion of the World Beyond." She gasped and covered her mouth, suddenly realizing what she said.

Darien cocked an eyebrow. "Hm... at least it's close enough…"

Serena shook her head profusely. "I don't know what you're talking about, really, I don't." She started edging away from him.

He saw that she was quickly losing her trust in him. He grabbed onto her arm as if that will help steady her trust and saw her eyes widen. "Wha-?!" She gasped.

"Please… Serena… please trust me. I won't hurt you!" He begged softly.

She shook her head and her eyes shone with fear, beads of sweat glistened on her forehead and her long hair stuck to her neck. She brushed her hair behind her shoulders, and tried to shake Endymion's hand off. But his eyes were stuck to her neck. Oh god… oh please not now… not until she trusts me and lets me… His subconscious begged silently.

Then, he moved without meaning to. He leapt forward like an animal stalking its prey and, at the last moment, saw her eyes widen in shock.

The door slammed open and two pairs of hands grabbed him before he could reach Serena. He screamed as relief and outrage flowed through him at the same time. He had wanted her, and he had been stopped, but that was good. Good and bad.

He snarled nastily and kicked and clawed at the four hands that were holding him, eyes on Serena's neck still. Wringing his hands out of their grasp, he grabbed hold of their heads and slammed them into each other, not once removing his eyes on its target.

NO! Darien screamed as he struggled to get control of his other self. "Get away from me now!" He screamed at Serena as he threw himself against the bedpost. "RUN! And go to Amy and the girls!"

He growled as his eyes darkened to a bluish-black. He stood up and stared at the empty room, letting out a howl of rage. "How dare you?!"

Then, he finally let Darien take over.

~

Serena ran through the dark corridors, panting in fright at what happened. It almost looked as if he was struggling with himself, and he had told her to get away from him.

And he had been staring at her neck… Serena self-consciously touched her neck. She frowned. What had he been staring at her like that?

And what did he mean by knowing me as Serenity? How could he know me as someone I don't even know myself?And… GODDESS! I KISSED a guy I don't even know! Oh… mom will kill me when she finds out. Serena sighed inwardly. She knew she wasn't making any sense.

Mom! Her mind gave a jolt. They're probably worried sick about me now… Serena thought as she remembered her family and friends.

Amy…Raye, Mina, Lita… goddess… he didn't even tell me where they are! She stopped to catch her breath and leaned on a wall. Her eyes had started to adjust to the darkness now and she could tell she was in a dark hallway with no light whatsoever.

Tap… tap… tap…

What was that? Her mind started to panic as she imagined all sorts of things happening to her.

Tap… tap… tap…

A soft voice reached Serena's ears. "Serena? Are you there?"

Serena almost jumped with relief when she recognized the voice. "Raye! I'm over here!" She yelled.

She heard the soft tap of heels as Raye's form came into focus. "Serena? Are you all right?"

Serena used the last of her draining energy and lunged at Raye. "Thank god you're here! That guy… Endymion… he scared the hell out of me!" She said as the whole story came rushing out of her mouth.

Raye's eyes widened. "Oh god! We better get you to Amy and the others. You said he came at you right? Well, did he actually hit you or… um…"

"He was held back by these two guys." Serena answered.

"Whew…" Raye sighed. "That's good… Well, you're going to have to tell your story again to the others. They would want to know what happened. There's a lot you don't know about The Lord and us."

Serena frowned as memories of drinking the so-called potion she was forced to drink cam rushing into her mind. "Yeah… I'll say…" She said sarcastically.

Raye shook her head. "All will be clear soon. And it is Destiny who arranged this."

Serena looked at Raye, confused. What was Raye talking about? Destiny? She shook her head to clear her thoughts. All will be clear soon.' Raye had said. Serena decided that it was no time to think whether the girls were dangerous. It's probably best to just listen to what they have to say about making me drink blood. Serena shivered at the thought.

~

Darien literally collapsed on the floor, panting from his ordeal. He had stopped Endymion, and that was good.

You bastard! The Dark Lord hissed. She's finally back, and you could've claimed her as yours. You will regret this! Once she falls in love with another, you will regret it!

Regret? I have nothing to regret. Darien said smoothly. She will never fall in love with anyone but me. I will make sure. But she was not ready to come over, and I am not one to push her. Once she trusts me and lets me take her, I will. I have sworn.

I swore before, and I failed, you will too if you don't listen to me. Bring her over to your World, our World, and everyone and everything shall thrive. The Lord raised his voice.

No! I will not take her until she is ready, and when she is, it will be up to her to make the choice. Darien said firmly as he ended the conversation by blocking out his mind. He could feel the Lord shake with rage. Darien gazed at the ruffled bedspread grimly. "I have sworn to take her, body and soul, and I will live up to that oath."

~

Thanks for all the reviews! I really appreciate it. Just a note to tell you school is starting for me, high school, to be precise, and I'm a nervous wreck… I might not be able to update once every week or even two weeks, but I will try my best. Please leave some comments, suggestions, anything that might help improve my story. Thanks for reading! See ya next time!