Chapter 11
It was afternoon in L.A. when Serena woke up. She quickly put on a pair of jeans. She had grown a lot since high school and her old clothes didn't fit anymore. It had been a good thing she and Jordan had been able to get odd jobs here and there. Even without an education. "Jordan, you up yet?" she asked, stepping out of her room.
"Yeah," she heard a voice call from the room next to hers. "Hang on." A few minutes later, Jordan stepped out of his room dressed in a T-shirt, and jeans.
"Let's take a walk," Serena suggested.
"Fine," Jordan said. The duo left the apartment building together and walked outside in the sunshine.
Walking the streets of downtown L.A., Darien and Terence were passing an electronics store, when Darien heard familiar news. He and Terence stopped and looked at the TV screen. On the TV's in the windows were about ten different reporters all reporting the same thing. "Last night two people rescued a woman who was about to be robbed," one reporter said.
"Yesterday, a woman was walking down a sidewalk when she dragged into an alley and was about to be robbed, but she was saved by a dark haired man and a blonde haired woman who saved her life," another reporter said.
"The supposed-to-be victim is offering a ten thousand dollar reward to her rescuers," a black haired reporter said. "She would like to reward them for saving her life."
Terence looked at Darien. "This is the hunch you brought me to L.A. for?" he asked.
Darien nodded. "This is the hunch."
Together, they stared at the screens hoping to get more information.
Serena
and Jordan were walking down a sidewalk when they heard a tv. It was
coming from Timmy's Television Stores. They walked across the street
to see what the TV's were saying. Once they were almost close enough
to hear the screens, Serena tried to hide her embarrassment. The
reporters were talking about the rescuers last night. Jordan was
staring at the TV. Suddenly, Serena's body froze as she heard two
familiar voices talking.
"This is the hunch you brought me
to L.A. for?"
Then a different, but familiar voice replied, "This is the hunch."
Fear flooded through Serena and she paled. Then, she grabbed Jordan's arm. "Jor, let's get out of here," she said. "But Serena," Jordan complained.
"Jor, please?" Serena asked him.
Seeing the look on Serena's face, Jordan gave in and started to walk away from the store.
"I can't believe we may have found Ser..." Terence started, but stopped when he heard a familiar voice.
"Jor, let's get out of here," it said.
Darien was trying to get Terence's attention, but Terence silenced him. "Darien, sush," Terence said. "Recognize the voice?"
The person spoke again. "Jor, please?"
"That's Serena," Darien almost gasped.
Terence nodded. "I know," he said. "I know."
Darien looked to where the voice was coming from. A blonde haired woman and a tall dark haired man were just starting to walk away from the crowd in front of the store. "Ter, let's follow them," Darien said.
Terence nodded. "If it's Serena," he began, "Then we can talk to her and try to straighten things out."
Darien was about to walk away, but he heard his cell phone ring. He answered it. It was Raye. "Raye, hi," Darien said.
"Thanks for letting me come with you," she said, sarcastically. The anger she felt showing in her voice as she spoke.
"Raye," Darien began. "We didn't want you to find out. I just saw the news on TV and didn't want to give anyone false hope. Look, I have to go now. We may have found her here. See ya." Darien hung up on Raye (who was still steamed that Darien hadn't even phoned to take her to America with him).
Terence looked at Darien. "She's not too steamed at us, is she?" he asked.
Darien shook his head. "Nah," he lied. "Now let's go." He put his cell phone in his pocket and went to go and find the couple.
Serena and Jordan were nearing there apartment when Jordan turned to Serena. "Why did you want to leave?" he asked.
"I saw someone from my past," was all Serena said. "Someone I don't want to see again."
Jordan nodded. Obviously, he understood. "I know how that is," Jordan commented. "I'm gonna go out and get us some food. Bye, Serena." Jordan walked out of the apartment and closed the door behind him.
Serena sighed, and sat down on the couch. Tears started running down her cheeks as she remembered her life back home in Japan. She stood up and walked outside to where the pay phone was. She had made a decision.
Darien and Terence were walking around the streets. "We had to lose her," Terence mumbled. "I could probably get us a good enough room with the money I have."
Darien sighed. He had found Serena, then lost her. He shook his head in despair.
"Can you get us two rooms at a hotel?" Darien asked. "We'll keep searching tomorrow."
Terence nodded, and together they walked to the nearest hotel.
Sammy was sitting on the couch watching tv. He was wondering about Darien and if he had found his sister yet. He jumped when the phone rang. He ran to the phone, hoping it was good news. "Hello?" Sammy asked.
"Sammy?" a voice that was not really familiar asked.
"Who is this?" Sammy asked. He couldn't place the voice. "How do you know my name?"
The girl on the phone laughed. "You always were weird. I can't believe you don't recognize my voice," the girl said. "It's me! Serena."
"Whoever this is, get lost!" Sammy yelled angrily into the phone. "It's not funny!"
"Sammy," the voice said softly. "It really is me. Your sister. Serena."
"Serena," Sammy said. "If it's really you, how old are you?"
The voice laughed. "Twenty-one, stupid," Serena laughed into the phone. Her voice softened. "Is mom or dad home?" she asked.
"No," Sammy replied, still slightly shocked that his sister had actually called home after so many years. "They're still worried about you, though. I'm guessing you're okay?"
"Yeah,"
Serena said. "Look, tell mom and dad that I'm okay. I have to
get going. See ya."
"Serena, don't hang u..." Sammy
began, but stopped when he heard the click of the other phone hanging
up. Tears were streaming down his cheeks. Not from sorrow, but from
joy. Serena was alive! She was okay!
Serena sighed and hung up the phone. Tears were beginning to form in her eyes.
"Happy?" a voice asked. She turned around to face Jordan and nodded.
"I phoned my brother," Serena said. "I haven't spoken to him for so long." Jordan nodded.
"I know how that is," he said. Then, "Can you take this bag?"
Serena took the bag from Jordan's arms, and helped him carry it into their apartment.
"If you don't mind me asking," Jordan said. "Who was it that you saw?"
"I do mind, Jordan," Serena said, sharply.
Jordan was taken aback by Serena's angry tone. "Hey," he said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "I'm sorry."
Serena sighed, and looked outside. She was surprised to see the sun setting. "I guess we should eat, then get ready to go out, huh?" Serena said.
Jordan nodded, and started taking the food out of the bags. He put them in the fridge (even though it barely worked). He took out some meat, and bread, and quickly made two sandwiches. He passed one to Serena. She thanked him and ate it.
Twenty minutes later, Jordan and Serena were outside the apartment building.
"Where should we go tonight?" Serena asked. Jordan shrugged. It was dark already, but they had no trouble seeing because the moon was full. Serena gazed across the street. She froze as she recognized two familiar figures.
Terence and Darien! Don't let them see me, she thought, panicking inside.
"Jor, let's g..." Serena started but was interrupted by a, "Hey!"
Serena turned her head to look at the other sidewalk and was surprised to see that she no longer saw Terence or Darien. Suddenly, she felt Jordan grab her arm."Come on," he said to her. "Duty calls." He started running across the street.
Serena ran after him. She caught up with Jordan, and then passed him. Please let both of them be okay, Serena prayed. If it wasn't for me they wouldn't even be here. Please let them be okay.
Jordan had caught up with Serena. They stopped running and quietly started walking towards the alley.
Serena looked at Jordan and nodded. She looked into the alley and almost cried.
A man who looked about eighteen had Darien on his knees. A knife was to Darien's neck. Terence was being told to hand over all his money.
"Now," the other one ordered.
Serena and Jordan walked quietly into the alley, their figures hidden by the shadows.
Darien grunted as the man with the knife pulled harder on his hair.
Quickly, Serena kicked the man who had Darien. The knife fell and the man let go of Darien. Meanwhile, Jordan overpowered the man who held a gun on Terence. Serena twisted the man's arm, and put her foot on the back of the guy's head forcing him to lay down. "Call the cops," Serena said.
"Terence," Darien said. "Go and call the cops. I'll stay here and help."
"There's nothing you can do, buddy," Jordan said, as he dragged his man towards a fire escape.
"There's some kind of cord over there, Jor," Serena said.
"Thanks, Serena," Jordan said.
Darien's eyes widened, knowing that he had recognized the female voice. "Serena," he said, letting out a breath he didn't know he had been holding.
Serena ignored him.
"Buddy, if you want to help get that cord, okay?" Jordan said. "Serena, bring that guy over here."
Serena nodded, and pulled the man that she held up to his feet, then forced him over to where Jordan was. Darien handed them some kind of cord that had been lying in the shadows. Jordan grabbed it and with Serena's help, tied the partners in crime together.
Suddenly, Terence came running into the alley. "The cops are on their way," he said.
"Good," Jordan said. Then to Serena, "Let's go."
Serena nodded, and started running towards the back end of the alley.
"Serena!" Darien cried, but she ignored him and kept running with Jordan. She jumped over a garbage can that had been knocked over. Darien was surprised by her agility. "Ter, we can't wait for the police to get here," Darien said. "We found her. Let's not lose her again."
Terence nodded and followed Darien who was running after them at high speed.
Serena and Terence stopped in an alley that was near their apartment. "One of those guys recognized your name," Jordan said. "Were those the people who you never wanted to see and brought back your memories?"
Serena was surprised that Jordan knew that memories had been brought back of her past. Serena nodded. "That was Darien, my old boyfriend, and Terence, my twin brother," she said.
"Oh," Jordan said. He looked down the street, and his eyes widened in surprise. "Maybe we should get going," he said.
"Why?" Serena asked.
Jordan motioned to the two figures running up the street.
Serena sighed, and held back tears. Quickly, before Jordan could see them, she wiped them away. "No," Serena said, trying to steady her voice. "I'm going to talk to them once and for all."
About three minutes later, Darien and Terence were near Serena and Jordan.
Jordan had his arms crossed over his chest, protectively.
"Serena," Terence said, tears of joy running down his cheeks. "Serena."
Serena held back her own tears. She didn't want to cry. Not now. Not in front of them.
"I think you own us some sort of explanation," Darien said, his voice deeper than she remembered.
Serena shook her head. "I don't owe you anything, Darien," Serena said, remembering how he had hurt her.
Jordan put his hand on Serena's arm. "Serena," Jordan said. "He wants to know why you ran away. You don't have to answer him. Just look inside yourself and see what you want to do."
Serena closed her eyes, and remembered all the happy times she and Darien had had. Both on the Moon and back in Japan. She knew that she owed him the truth. Especially after all that they been through together. "Darien, you know why," Serena sighed. "You know why."
Darien nodded. He knew that what he had said must have stung Serena. "I didn't mean what I said, Serena," Darien said. Tears were now going down his cheeks. "I really didn't."
Suddenly, Terence's cell phone rang. He answered it. "Raye," Terence said, surprised. "What's up?"
"They're back," was all she said. "You can fly back to America tomorrow. Right now, we need Sailor Sun and Tuxedo Mask."
"We'll bring somebody new, too," Terence said. "See ya soon." He looked at Darien and Serena. "They're back," Terence said, hoping that Serena would understand his coded message.
Serena's mouth opened in surprise.
"Let's get going," Darien said. He looked at Serena. "You coming?"
Serena shook her head.
"Stubborn," Terence muttered. He and Darien turned and ran towards the farthest alley, where they quickly hid inside. A light flashed.
Jordan shielded his eyes. "What the hell was that?" he asked.
Serena shrugged. "I don't know," she lied.
Jordan nodded. "Let's get going," he said.
"I'll catch up with ya later," Serena said, making up her mind. "I have something take care of."
Jordan nodded, and started walking in the opposite direction that Terence and Darien had.
Serena started walking towards the alley. Once in the alley, she sighed. "I have to," was all she said, as she reached into her sub-space pocket and took out her long-ago locket. She held it up, and quietly whispered, "Moon Prisim Power!" Energy beams surrounded Serena, and in a few minutes Sailor Moon was standing there. She took her communicator out, and pressed the "battle" button. A light flashed and once it disappeared, no one was in the alley.
