Thank you to all my reviewers! I'd just like to tell you all that I realize my 2nd chapter was a little weird so I made this new chapter and mixed it with the 2nd chapter. In other words this is kind of like an edited version of Chapter 2. Also I tried, and am trying, to incorporate as many ideas of your ideas as I could into this chapter and future chapters. I'm aware that this chapter is very long but I didn't have time to put it into 2 separate chapters; sorry. I would also like to say that No, I don't own S.M. but Oh how I wish I did. Also, if any of you have any questions about my story I would be glad to answer them. And now onto the next chapter!
Last time in Realizations: She brought her legs up to her chin and rested it on her knees. She started to cry into the lonely night, when hearing a noise she turned to her side and looked up into the face of Darien!
Realizations
Chapter 2: Secrets in the Garden
Serena's POV
"Darien? Oh......uhhh......umm hi" Serena said, shocked at his being there, while staring at Darien's questioning face.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, turning her head to hide the tears from his prying eyes.
"I thought you wouldn't want to even be in the same country with me after what I did to you." she mumbled while catching the last stray tears in her hand but still keeping her face turned away.
Darien just kept looking at her, not even giving the slightest notion that he was going to speak. She waited a couple of minutes for his answer, until she finally realized he wasn't going to say anything. She contemplated leaving at that second but her body refused her mind and she turned to him.
"So?" she asked.
Darien surprised her when he spoke up and said "Why were you crying?"
Serena looked at him quizzically for a few moments, registering what he asked and trying to think of a reason that would involve her crying.
"I...I fell...when I was walking home and I scraped my knee. It hurt a lot so I was crying." Serena stuttered while glancing around nervously hoping he would accept that.
Darien's POV
Darien looked her in the eyes. He could tell she wasn't giving the truth but he wanted to know what was really bothering her so much that she had cried.
"Are you sure?" he said while keeping his face blank as to not let her know he was curious.
Serena's POV
Serena's face whipped around to stare straight at him.
'Did he know? Did he hear what she had just said? Or was he just teasing her again; acting like she had memory loss or something?' She decided against the latter, seeing the questioning look in his face once again.
Serena took in a breath and let it out, while saying a slow "Yeah..."
She didn't like the way questions were always going towards her so she decided to turn the tables on him.
"Why are you here, to tease me, call me meatball head? Or did you come to get revenge on me for slapping you back at the arcade? If you are then by all means do what you want because there's no doubt in my mind that I don't deserve it" Serena yelled while closing her eyes and bracing herself for the oncoming slaughter. But it didn't come.
Darien stared at her bracing herself for his punishment and saw a look of guilt on her face. He quickly took his hand and brought Serena's head back up, making her look him in the eyes.
"For your information Ser-e-na" he said while emphasizing her name "I didn't come here to bother you. I didn't even know you were here. This just happens to be my favorite thinking spot in all of Tokyo." he said softly while letting go of her chin.
Serena's face turned to shocked. 'His favorite spot? This was her favorite spot, her tree, her alone time! She came here to get away from everything Darien not snuggle up against a tree that he leaned upon. However, she didn't want him to be any madder at her then he probably already was so she would just have to find another spot'. She looked up back up at him while pasting a small, fake smile on her face.
"I never realized that I had taken your spot. I'm really sorry. I'll just find some other spot and leave you alone. Goodbye Darien". And with that she stood up and started to slowly walk away, leaving Darien in a state of shock.
Darien's POV
'What is she doing? She has never in her life been nice to me, why the sudden change? Does she hate me so much that she had to leave? No, Serena's not like that. She would never be that mean. She thinks she deserves a punishment for slapping me. I deserved that slap, not her. I never should have called her those names, but its like every-time I see her some kind of defense mechanism goes on and I close up. It's like I'm afraid to let her or anyone be my friend so I shun her and everyone else to keep me safe. Safe from the pain of friends leaving, the pain of telling all your secrets and then having them know who you are, the pain of knowing......me' besides why would I want friends? Friends slow you down. Everyone is better off without friends...but, I guess it would be nice to just talk to Serena. Have a normal conversation with her. She's not like the rest of the girls I know, she has this look in her eyes that somehow shows me that she understands what I'm going through, that she cares. Even though she shows her understanding by throwing shoes at me and insulting me every day. However, I still want to be her friend, but...can I let myself? I'm so busy looking for the imperial silver crystal that I don't have times for friends. And with Sailor Moon needing my help more and more in the youma attacks, I barely have time for me.'
Darien's face saddened knowing that soon the battles with the negaverse were going to get a lot harder and one of those times he might not make it. He thought about that and decided that if he ever did die he wanted to die knowing there were no bad feelings towards anyone, from him.
Serena's POV
After Serena had left Darien under the willow tree, she had no idea where she wanted to go. She tossed out going home because she wasn't really ready to deal with Sammie's teasing. She didn't want to go to the arcade because Andrew would probably yell at her for disturbing the customers, besides; they were probably getting ready to close up for the night any ways. Realizing she didn't have anywhere to go, she decided to just stroll around the garden.
She wandered aimlessly through the garden, passing the daisy's, strolling right by the cherry blossom trees, and not even stopping to look at the rabbit in the field. Normally Serena would have stopped to smell the flowers or gawk at the rabbit but tonight she had too many things on her mind to concentrate on the life around her. She had been thinking about how Darien had been nice to her.
'This is weird. I go and slap him and he becomes nice to me?!' Something's up, he wouldn't do this normally or for the fun of it; Darien doesn't even have fun. He just stays by himself and yells at people. The only person who is actually close to him is Andrew and even then Darien doesn't open up fully to him. I can see in his eyes that he's hiding something. Every time I talk about a dream that I had he gets this dazed look on his face like my dreams are so stupid that he has to think of his own. But then again I have the exact same problem. My dreams are starting to take over me too. My dream prince, Endymion, is always calling my name but I can't find him and now every time I fall asleep I have the same dream. I wonder what it all means? And to add to the strangeness, Tuxedo Mask is now helping us, well ...helping me. I don't see why Luna doesn't trust him. If he saves me then why not trust him? Ohhh he's so cute too! He's my knight in shining armor or my knight in a black tuxedo. I wonder who he is. Maybe he lives right here in Tokyo! Oh my gosh! Maybe I know him. Oh how that would be exciting.'
Darien's POV
Meanwhile Darien was still back at the willow tree arguing with himself about whether or not he should find Serena and apologize to her. His heart was saying yes but his body said no. Knowing that this could be a long time Darien just gave into his heart and stood up, intent on finding Serena and apologizing for his being mean to her.
Serena's POV
Serena kept walking, still trying to figure out who Tuxedo Mask was, when she stopped, noticing something was not right. Looking around she saw that she had somehow ended up in the rose garden. She bent down and smelled one of the roses when a thick mist began to swirl around her feet and head upwards. It soon surrounded every thing and Serena couldn't see 3 feet in front of herself.
Darien's POV
Darien started walking in Serena's direction while trying to figure out how he should apologize to Serena.
'Maybe I should just say I'm sorry and leave? No, that wouldn't be the right thing to do. Hey! Since when do I care about apologizing to the meatball head? She's always acting like a child, stuffing her face with food, and....and...being gorgeous. I know! I'll see if she'll let me take her to dinner or something to make up for it. WOAH!! I did not just think that, me taking Serena to dinner?? That's impossible! We're not even friends and I'm thinking of taking her on a date? Not that I wouldn't date her, I mean she's a goddess; that blonde hair of hers in those cute buns, those cerulean blue eyes that are always shining, and her bubbly personality. What's not to like? Damn it! There I go again. Geez I've got to stop this, I mean she's 17 and I'm 21.Besides she doesn't even like me. She left today because she realized she sat in the same spot as an idiot did. I probably disgust her'.
Serena' POV
She tried calling out to a park attendant or a near by person but no one heard or answered her. She tried coming back the way she came but everything looked the same and she couldn't tell which direction to go in. Stopping, Serena sighed and was about to just sit down and wait it when she saw a faded outline of a person walking slowly towards her.
Darien's POV
Darien was arguing with himself, again, but he still kept his feet going in the direction that he saw Serena leave. He turned the corner and went through the gate that led to the street. Looking up and down the roads, Darien searched for her blonde hair but he couldn't see anything or anyone.
'That's weird' thought Darien 'she couldn't have gone that far and there's no other way out of the park other then this gate. She must still be in the park'.
Serena's POV
"Hello?"
"Sir?"
"Can you help me, I can't see through the fog to the exit" Serena asked the man but he didn't answer, he just kept walking.
His outline was still foggy but Serena could make out that it was a man. She was about to yell at him to get his attention when she heard a soft sound floating in the wind.
"Sailor Moon....." said the voice softly.
Serena paused and listened to the voice, wondering what it was.
"Sailor Moon....." the voice said again, getting louder.
"Yes?" Serena answered, too scared to care about giving away her identity.
"Sailor Moon....." the voice called again.
"I'm Sailor Moon, what do you want?" Serena yelled back, getting angry.
Then there was silence. There were no voices, no foggy outlines of people, no fog, nothing. Serena looked around. There were the roses. She bent down and smelled one just to be sure. The smell brought a smile back to her face when she realized she was home.
She stood up and turned to leave when "SAILOR MOON!!!"
"EIIIIIIIIIII" screamed Serena, jumping into the air.
She settled her heart and reached into her purse. There on her pink communicator was the face of Sailor Mercury.
Relief flooded her body and she smiled at Amy and said "Sorry about that I was....a...in the bathroom and I forgot to take my purse with me."
Amy's face told Serena that she'd heard better and Serena blushed a little then asked Amy what was wrong.
"We have a youma at the subway station and its one of the most powerful yet. We haven't even scratched it. Jupiter, Venus, Mars and I are trying to weaken it but we need Sailor Moon badly." Amy's voice showed a bit of fear as she said the last part.
Darien's POV
Darien was still looking up and down the rows of benches and trees, searching for her but not seeing anything, when all of a sudden he heard a beeping noise coming from the rose garden and then followed by a short scream. He turned in that direction, following the beeps, noticing that they were getting louder which indicated that he was getting closer. He sped up a little, worrying that the beeping would stop, which it did, but Darien was already at the rose garden fence.
He came to a corner and stopped, poking his head around; there he saw something that he wouldn't forget. Amongst the roses, in the middle of the garden, stood Serena talking into a communicator of some sort. He could hear a voice coming from the object but he couldn't tell whose it was.
He was just about to sneak a little bit closer to listen in when he saw Serena nod her head and quickly say "Okay Mercury I'll be there as soon as I can"
'Mercury?' Darien thought 'who's Mercury?'
Darien didn't have time to think about that question because when he looked back up he saw Serena glance around nervously and then grab a locket of some sort, thrust it in the air and yell "MOON COSMIC POWER!"
Serena' POV After her transformation, Serena was no more and Sailor Moon stood in her place. She checked one more time for people, thinking she heard a sound, but when she couldn't see anyone she ran and jumped over the rose garden gate, heading towards the battle.
Darien's POV
"Oh my gods" was all that Darien could say.
He stood there dumbstruck.
'Serena, Sailor Moon, the same?! Oh my gods I'm going crazy! No way, no freaking way. I can't believe this.'
'Oh but you can and you do' Darien's inner voice replied.
'You saw it happen right before your eyes and trust me buddy you aren't at the movies. Now that you know who Sailor Moon is it'll be 10 times easier to protect her, besides now you have a reason to talk to her outside of the battle zone. Go for it! The scouts need your help.' And with that Darien's inner voice faded away.
"He's right. I mean I'm right. Just because I know Serena's Sailor Moon doesn't mean I shouldn't stop rescuing her. She could get hurt badly if I'm not there. I have to get to her." Darien said, agreeing with his inner voice.
He pulled a red rose out from his pocket and closing his eyes, Darien held the rose and felt himself leaving his body and letting Tuxedo Mask take it over. Tossing his cape over his shoulder Tuxedo Mask remembered where the subway station was and bolted off into the night to rescue Sailor Moon and hopefully have a little talk with her when the battle was over.