A/N: I'd just like to give a shout out to my lovely reviewers:
The caffeine fairy: Thank you so much! I'm happy you like it.
Crystal-Moon13: Sorry on both accounts. I hadn't actually meant for it to be cliffhanger, and of course I have to apologize for taking forever to update. I'll try to do better next time.
Kajino-san/Marie-san: ~Grins~ Do I want to know what's better than hot chocolate (other than reviews, of course)? Secondly, being a huge fan of technology I am happy for your computer. I'm glad you like the story do far and that's a great idea about Aphrodite. I may have to work that in (
Hot Cuttie: I'm trying, I really am. I think it should just take a couple more chapters after this one. And thanks for the email. It gave me the prod I needed to get this chapter up.
Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon and am making no profit off of this work. I also do not own any of the mythological characters mentioned or anything else that may strike you as familiar. Any characters, ideas that you do not recognize do belong to me.
Rated: PG-13.
Cupid's Stay: Chapter 6
Serena was in heaven. Kunzite's face was a mere inch from hers. Their breath mingled. She leaned forward and . . . He gave a sharp howl and pulled back. She wanted to cry, how could he pull back? "You bit me," he said incredulously. ~What? No she hadn't.~ Then she realized he was talking to Luna.
Kunzite reached down to rub his ankle. "I can't believe you bit me," he grumbled. But he was glad she did. What had come over him?
Luna let out a hiss. Lashed her tail. Glared at both of them. Serena had never seen her cat so upset. "Luna? Is something wrong?"
"Wrong?" Luna screeched. "What could possibly be wrong when you're getting together with Kunzite, breaking Darien's heart, and messing over one of the scouts not to mention upsetting the future order? Everything's peachy keen."
"Well you don't have to shout," Serena whined.
If looks could kill Serena would have been pulverized. Kunzite could actually see smoke coming out of the feline's ears. She paced back and forth mumbling to herself. Kunzite started to speak up in his defence, though he knew damn well he had none. Luna waved her claws at him and he promptly shut up. She paced around some more. After what seemed an eternity Luna stopped and gave them both a hard look. "You are both to stay in your individual rooms until we can figure this out."
"What's to figure out?" Serena asked defiantly. "We're in love."
"Not helping," Kunzite muttered to her. "And speak for yourself."
That got Luna's attention, fast. "If you're not in love, what's your excuse?"
He winced and offered, "I was caught up in the moment?"
Luna shook her head. "Of all the idiot things."
Serena took umbrage on his behalf and told Luna to lay off.
Luna then turned on Serena and told her in no uncertain terms just what she thought of her. "Idiot" would have been kind compared to the list of adjectives Luna hurled at her.
Kunzite was starting to get upset. Yes they'd been in the wrong but there was no call for Luna to talk to her princess like that. Especially when she was probably under the influence of some youma. And he said so.
Serena of course objected to the youma theory, but that was to be expected.
It did have the desired result of ending Luna's tirade. "That's why it would be best if you could just stay in your separate rooms while we work this out. That way no one," and he understood that to mean Darien and Mina, "will be hurt while the scouts figure this out."
Serena started to protest but Luna persevered. "It should only take a couple of days to rest our doubts, and if it's true love it will last."
"There's no if," Serena said but she acquiesced.
Luna then turned to Kunzite who nodded his agreement.
"Amy did you understand what I just said? Now is not the time to go shopping." Leeta paused to try on a hat. "Amy?"
Amy had kept going. "We're not shopping," her voice floated back.
Raye rolled her eyes. "Of course not," she muttered. "We just came in this store to. . ."
"To buy batteries."
~And that wasn't shopping?~ Cupid had been following Leeta and tried to follow along as she talked about a youma. What was a youma?
"Well what do we need batteries for?" Raye snatched the hat off Leeta's head.
"Hey!"
"It was ugly."
Cupid agreed.
Leeta didn't. "It would go with the dress I'm wearing tonight for my date with the pool boy."
~Pool boy? Date? What about Darien? Were women so fickle in every century?~
"Pool boy?" Raye smirked, "You don't even know his name?"
Leeta glared. Amy averted the argument by returning with a set of batteries.
"What are those for?"
"My new energy scanner. It reads energy levels in the body."
"So?"
"So, magic is basically a big pile of energy right? If anything magical's been used to influence Serena. . ."
"Then it'll show up on your energy scanner," Leeta finished excitedly.
~Not good. This was so very not good.~ Cupid flew in circles trying to come up with a plan to stop them. Amy was the one with the scanner. If he could distract her. . . He pulled out one of his lust arrows. They were very powerful, only to be used as a last resort. He eyed Leeta then Raye. Leeta he needed for Darien, except she was going out with the pool boy and why was nothing going his way? The girls reached the counter and Cupid saw the solution to his problems. In the form of a stout balding little man aged about 50. He placed the arrow in the bow and let it fly.
Leeta and Raye watched in shock as their rational, level-headed friend jumped behind the counter and began a steamy interlude with the storekeeper.
Cupid grinned. Problem solved. He flew away, pleased that something had gone right.
In the store Leeta and Raye could do nothing but stare.
"We can't just . . ."Lita broke off and started gesturing wildly to the two on the counter.
"Let's throw some water on them," Raye suggested.
"From where?"
"Well let's hear your suggestion."
Leeta didn't answer, but transformed. When she was in scout costume she shouted, "Jupiter thunder. ."
The ground shook, the objects in the store shifted but the two on the counter didn't pause.
Leeta de-transformed and watched them with a mixture of awe and horror. "Man." Then she turned to Raye. "Your turn."
Darien and Mina caught sight of each other at the same time. Both slowed down and stopped seeing in the other a heartbreak that mirrored their own. Two shattered souls, they recognized each other. Unable to walk away, unable to look at one another they were gripped to the spot.
"I'm leaving," the words were softly spoken in fear perhaps that they would be rejected.
And perhaps if another were there they would. But Darien understood. Understood what she was telling him, and understood why. "Where will you go?"
She shrugged, uncaring.
"Mina."
"I don't know," she admitted. ~And if I did I wouldn't tell you, because you might say something to the others and I couldn't bear that~
He sensed it - even in his misery he was perceptive. "What aren't you telling me?"
She didn't want to answer. She wanted to leave, to start fresh.
"When are you coming back?"
"I'm not. Ever."
That he wasn't expecting. "What about the others?" ~What about me?~
"They can take care of themselves." The words were defiant, daring him to argue. And he would have but she looked so tired and defensive. If she wanted to leave after everything that had happened wasn't she entitled? Was it fair for him to stop her just because concentrating on her misery made him feel his a little less? Was he really that selfish?
He wasn't. So, he nodded, accepted her statement and took a step back.
She'd been prepared to argue and his response shocked her into making an excuse. "It's just that. . ."
"You don't have to explain." And he smiled at her. A soft supportive smile that undid her like nothing else could have.
And she blurted out the truth. "It's just that I'm pregnant."
Darien blinked. His mouth dropped open, snapped shut, opened again. Emotions tumbled through him. Shock followed by a stab of pain and guilt as he thought of Renee. In his misery over Serena he had forgotten his child. What kind of father did that make him? ~No father, no father at all.~ He had lost Serena, their child would never be born.
Was he destined to remain alone? He looked at Mina who was staring at him expectantly, waiting for him to say something. He thought of the ring in his pocket. The pink diamond the woman in front of him had helped him pick out for another. That woman was gone but this one was still here. She needed someone. And maybe he wasn't her first choice but he was all that was left. The question was could he do it? Could he give up all the hopes, all the dreams he had cherished for Serena over the years? Could he move on and try to make a life without her? With another? He looked at Mina and made his decision.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Please review.
The caffeine fairy: Thank you so much! I'm happy you like it.
Crystal-Moon13: Sorry on both accounts. I hadn't actually meant for it to be cliffhanger, and of course I have to apologize for taking forever to update. I'll try to do better next time.
Kajino-san/Marie-san: ~Grins~ Do I want to know what's better than hot chocolate (other than reviews, of course)? Secondly, being a huge fan of technology I am happy for your computer. I'm glad you like the story do far and that's a great idea about Aphrodite. I may have to work that in (
Hot Cuttie: I'm trying, I really am. I think it should just take a couple more chapters after this one. And thanks for the email. It gave me the prod I needed to get this chapter up.
Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon and am making no profit off of this work. I also do not own any of the mythological characters mentioned or anything else that may strike you as familiar. Any characters, ideas that you do not recognize do belong to me.
Rated: PG-13.
Cupid's Stay: Chapter 6
Serena was in heaven. Kunzite's face was a mere inch from hers. Their breath mingled. She leaned forward and . . . He gave a sharp howl and pulled back. She wanted to cry, how could he pull back? "You bit me," he said incredulously. ~What? No she hadn't.~ Then she realized he was talking to Luna.
Kunzite reached down to rub his ankle. "I can't believe you bit me," he grumbled. But he was glad she did. What had come over him?
Luna let out a hiss. Lashed her tail. Glared at both of them. Serena had never seen her cat so upset. "Luna? Is something wrong?"
"Wrong?" Luna screeched. "What could possibly be wrong when you're getting together with Kunzite, breaking Darien's heart, and messing over one of the scouts not to mention upsetting the future order? Everything's peachy keen."
"Well you don't have to shout," Serena whined.
If looks could kill Serena would have been pulverized. Kunzite could actually see smoke coming out of the feline's ears. She paced back and forth mumbling to herself. Kunzite started to speak up in his defence, though he knew damn well he had none. Luna waved her claws at him and he promptly shut up. She paced around some more. After what seemed an eternity Luna stopped and gave them both a hard look. "You are both to stay in your individual rooms until we can figure this out."
"What's to figure out?" Serena asked defiantly. "We're in love."
"Not helping," Kunzite muttered to her. "And speak for yourself."
That got Luna's attention, fast. "If you're not in love, what's your excuse?"
He winced and offered, "I was caught up in the moment?"
Luna shook her head. "Of all the idiot things."
Serena took umbrage on his behalf and told Luna to lay off.
Luna then turned on Serena and told her in no uncertain terms just what she thought of her. "Idiot" would have been kind compared to the list of adjectives Luna hurled at her.
Kunzite was starting to get upset. Yes they'd been in the wrong but there was no call for Luna to talk to her princess like that. Especially when she was probably under the influence of some youma. And he said so.
Serena of course objected to the youma theory, but that was to be expected.
It did have the desired result of ending Luna's tirade. "That's why it would be best if you could just stay in your separate rooms while we work this out. That way no one," and he understood that to mean Darien and Mina, "will be hurt while the scouts figure this out."
Serena started to protest but Luna persevered. "It should only take a couple of days to rest our doubts, and if it's true love it will last."
"There's no if," Serena said but she acquiesced.
Luna then turned to Kunzite who nodded his agreement.
"Amy did you understand what I just said? Now is not the time to go shopping." Leeta paused to try on a hat. "Amy?"
Amy had kept going. "We're not shopping," her voice floated back.
Raye rolled her eyes. "Of course not," she muttered. "We just came in this store to. . ."
"To buy batteries."
~And that wasn't shopping?~ Cupid had been following Leeta and tried to follow along as she talked about a youma. What was a youma?
"Well what do we need batteries for?" Raye snatched the hat off Leeta's head.
"Hey!"
"It was ugly."
Cupid agreed.
Leeta didn't. "It would go with the dress I'm wearing tonight for my date with the pool boy."
~Pool boy? Date? What about Darien? Were women so fickle in every century?~
"Pool boy?" Raye smirked, "You don't even know his name?"
Leeta glared. Amy averted the argument by returning with a set of batteries.
"What are those for?"
"My new energy scanner. It reads energy levels in the body."
"So?"
"So, magic is basically a big pile of energy right? If anything magical's been used to influence Serena. . ."
"Then it'll show up on your energy scanner," Leeta finished excitedly.
~Not good. This was so very not good.~ Cupid flew in circles trying to come up with a plan to stop them. Amy was the one with the scanner. If he could distract her. . . He pulled out one of his lust arrows. They were very powerful, only to be used as a last resort. He eyed Leeta then Raye. Leeta he needed for Darien, except she was going out with the pool boy and why was nothing going his way? The girls reached the counter and Cupid saw the solution to his problems. In the form of a stout balding little man aged about 50. He placed the arrow in the bow and let it fly.
Leeta and Raye watched in shock as their rational, level-headed friend jumped behind the counter and began a steamy interlude with the storekeeper.
Cupid grinned. Problem solved. He flew away, pleased that something had gone right.
In the store Leeta and Raye could do nothing but stare.
"We can't just . . ."Lita broke off and started gesturing wildly to the two on the counter.
"Let's throw some water on them," Raye suggested.
"From where?"
"Well let's hear your suggestion."
Leeta didn't answer, but transformed. When she was in scout costume she shouted, "Jupiter thunder. ."
The ground shook, the objects in the store shifted but the two on the counter didn't pause.
Leeta de-transformed and watched them with a mixture of awe and horror. "Man." Then she turned to Raye. "Your turn."
Darien and Mina caught sight of each other at the same time. Both slowed down and stopped seeing in the other a heartbreak that mirrored their own. Two shattered souls, they recognized each other. Unable to walk away, unable to look at one another they were gripped to the spot.
"I'm leaving," the words were softly spoken in fear perhaps that they would be rejected.
And perhaps if another were there they would. But Darien understood. Understood what she was telling him, and understood why. "Where will you go?"
She shrugged, uncaring.
"Mina."
"I don't know," she admitted. ~And if I did I wouldn't tell you, because you might say something to the others and I couldn't bear that~
He sensed it - even in his misery he was perceptive. "What aren't you telling me?"
She didn't want to answer. She wanted to leave, to start fresh.
"When are you coming back?"
"I'm not. Ever."
That he wasn't expecting. "What about the others?" ~What about me?~
"They can take care of themselves." The words were defiant, daring him to argue. And he would have but she looked so tired and defensive. If she wanted to leave after everything that had happened wasn't she entitled? Was it fair for him to stop her just because concentrating on her misery made him feel his a little less? Was he really that selfish?
He wasn't. So, he nodded, accepted her statement and took a step back.
She'd been prepared to argue and his response shocked her into making an excuse. "It's just that. . ."
"You don't have to explain." And he smiled at her. A soft supportive smile that undid her like nothing else could have.
And she blurted out the truth. "It's just that I'm pregnant."
Darien blinked. His mouth dropped open, snapped shut, opened again. Emotions tumbled through him. Shock followed by a stab of pain and guilt as he thought of Renee. In his misery over Serena he had forgotten his child. What kind of father did that make him? ~No father, no father at all.~ He had lost Serena, their child would never be born.
Was he destined to remain alone? He looked at Mina who was staring at him expectantly, waiting for him to say something. He thought of the ring in his pocket. The pink diamond the woman in front of him had helped him pick out for another. That woman was gone but this one was still here. She needed someone. And maybe he wasn't her first choice but he was all that was left. The question was could he do it? Could he give up all the hopes, all the dreams he had cherished for Serena over the years? Could he move on and try to make a life without her? With another? He looked at Mina and made his decision.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Please review.