"Oh Tuxie, what would I do with out you? Oh please is more like. Give me a break for nothing in this script is anything like my real interactions with Sailor Moon." Darien pinched the bridge of his nose and removed the wire rim glasses to rest his tired eyes. He placed the script on the coffee table and took a gander at the VCR clock, 'Midnight already?' he silently asked himself. He pushed up from the dark blue couch and walked to the lamp, flicking it off his room was emerged in darkness. Walking into his room he set his alarm clock for five thirty and fell into bed with a prayer that no youma would attack this evening. His prayers went unanswered.
"Mercury what do we need to do to kill it?" Mars screeched as she avoided a razor sharp knife headed for her abdomen. The knife embedded itself into the tree just a foot to her left, "And where the hell is Sailor Moon?" she screamed into the night as she watched Jupiter let a Thunder Clash strike the youma.
"It's a human and he draws his powers from being the famous culinary chef Devin Blundell. That explains the knives and the white clothes." She mumbled as she studied her little palm computer.
Venus shrieked as she noticed Mercury's absent mindedness towards the impending knife. Mercury looked up and cursed before rolling out of the way, her palm computer falling to the ground. "Thanks." She cried before releasing a wave of fog on the scene.
Suddenly a loud clatter sounded from the entrance of the restaurant. "Ow!" A high pitched female squealed as more ruckus was heard.
"It's about time Sailor Moon!" Mars cried, "Flame Surround!" fire scorched the kitchen and Sailor Moon shrieked in reply.
"Hey Pyro watch it! How do we kill it?" she mumbled as she crept through the fog and bumped into something warm. That thing wrapped two arms around her waist and held her up in the air. She felt a feeling of cold and fear travel up her spine when she noticed she was glowing.
Sailor Moon started screaming as the youma began to drain her energy, "Let me go you big buffoon! Release me," her voice started to fade as the youma continued to drain her energy.
"More! More!" it screamed. Sailor Moon started turning blue from her lack of energy and the youma in a fit of rage threw her across the restaurant towards the large glass windows.
"Sailor Moon!" Jupiter's voice resonated through the debris filled room. She started running towards the front to try and catch her best friend when a tall man cloaked in a black tuxedo caught her in his arms.
"I got her, focus on the fight scouts and I'll revive her so she can destroy the youma." He commanded as he knelt down and rested her head in his lap. "Sailor Moon can you hear me?" he whispered softly stroking her face. "Come on Sailor Moon, the others need your help to destroy this thing, wake up." He brushed his hand over her head and felt the cool temperature of those who had their energy drained. "Damn," he swore softly and then removed his white gloves.
Glancing around himself he noted the scouts were preoccupied with destroying the latest youma from the Negaverse and would pay no attention to him. He rubbed his hands together before placing them on the sides of her forehead with the fingers over the tiara and laced into her golden silk hair. "I hope this works," muttering he closed his eyes in concentration and called his power to help revive her.
He felt a tugging at his head and heart and he knew he had successfully given her enough to wake up but not nearly enough to be healed, so he continued to transfer his energy to her. His eyes pinched shut even tighter as he felt the need to stop grow larger inside of him but he paid no attention to it and focused on healing her. Her tiara faded under the brilliant gold light resonating from his hands and bathed her in warmth. A gold crescent moon glimmered in the center of her forehead where the tiara once covered.
Suddenly Venus let out a wild scream as a knife missed her by mere centimeters. He lost his concentration and slumped over Sailor Moon as his breath grew shaky and hands started to shake. Sailor Moon's eyes opened and fluttered a few times revealing dark blue silver eyes with a rested gleam. She looked at her savior in wonderment as he looked at her with awe.
"Yes?" she stuttered softly as she brought her hands up to her forehead where she felt extreme warmth and comfort.
"You're all better now," he watched amazed as the beautiful gold crescent faded and the tiara replaced it, "I believe your friends need some help." He finished softly as he helped her to a seated position.
"Thank you Tuxedo Mask. Are you alright? You look a little pale?" she gazed into his deep blue eyes and smiled warmly.
"I'll be fine, go help your friends get rid of this thing." He finished strongly and got to his feet and then helped pull her up beside him. She stumbled into his arms not expecting him to pull her up so quickly. Automatically his arms wrapped around her tiny frame and he smiled down at her but with her face buried in his chest she failed to notice it.
She could hear the steady beat of his heart through the thin fabric of his silk dress shirt and she blushed. She had never been this close to anyone before, besides Darien but he didn't count since she did not have a crush on him. She loved being in Tuxedo Mask's arms since she felt so protected. She felt him shiver slightly and looked up only to bump his chin.
"I'm going to go help my friends but please don't leave yet." She whispered as she pulled away from his arms.
"I'll be there if you need me." He replied and then gestured for her to go into the battle.
Sailor Moon walked confidently towards the youma and aimed her wand at it with determination blazing in her blue eyes. "No one takes my energy and gets away with it! I am Sailor Moon and in the name of the Moon I will right wrongs and triumph over evil, and that means you!" She took a deep breath and grinned, "Moon Healing Activation!" White and pink light emitted from her wand and bathed the youma in its healing power of light.
Tuxedo Mask smiled seeing there was no more imminent danger. She rushed forward as the scouts surrounded the chef and lowered him to the ground carefully. "You stayed like I asked."
"But of course I did." He smiled at her petite frame and then turned from her towards the doorway to leave. "I must go though, that little energy transfer has made me a little tired so I am going to retire for the evening. Adieu," he whispered as he tossed the expectant Sailor Moon a rose, "Sailor Moon."
"Wait!" She cried rushing up to him with the rose clutched in her hand, "Thank you for everything." She smiled and pulled on his tuxedo jacket's lapels and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. "Good night." She blushed and released his jacket from her hold and fingered the rose with her gloved hand.
"Think nothing of it. Till we meet again Sailor Moon." He called as he left the restaurant with his cape swishing behind him. She sighed softly and then looked to the scouts whom had gathered around her.
"Guys," she whispered a red blush blossoming in her cheeks, "I think I'm in love." The scouts burst into laughter and then proceeded to walk out of the restaurants before the chef woke up. They went their separate ways and soon all were asleep in their beds, all except for one.
Serena sat on her bed with the rose lying on her nightstand beside her. "Why can't you be real?" she mumbled as she started to drift into dreamland with images of the masked man filling her head.
Darien woke and had large bags underneath his eyes. He was so tried from giving her his energy and getting such little sleep after that. He had tried showering to make him more alert but it didn't seem to help at all. Finally he had conceded to forego his ritual of running ten miles every morning and crashed back into his warm bed for another hour and a half of sleep before he would officially get up for his morning classes.
Serena woke up feeling more refreshed than ever. She woke up before her alarm and smiled at her parents and brothers shocked faces. She actually had time to sit down to a nice breakfast with her family and walk at a leisurely pace to school. Stopping at the corner to cross the street she spied Darien walking towards her practically dragging his feet. She smiled viciously at this rare once and a lifetime opportunity.
"Hey Darien! You tired?" she cried out in jest. He looked up startled and she felt a twinge of worry pull at her heart, his face was pale and he looked utterly exhausted. "You okay?" she asked slowly as he came to a stand still beside her.
"Yeah. I'm just really tired today. I had a long night and did some things I don't normally do." He smiled softly, the smile never reaching his eyes.
"Well feel better and do you want to meet up later or do you want to nap?"
"As nice as a nap would seem I don't have time for it. What time are you done with classes if you don't get detention?"
"Hey!" she mocked as she put her hands on her hips and glared at the older man before her. He chuckled and then patted her on the shoulder. Suddenly a bolt of power surged through his hand to his body and he let her go immediately. He shook his head slowly and was suddenly aware that he did not feel nearly as tired as before. "Besides, if Ms. Haruna gives me detention I will get out at three thirty so is four good for you? Where do you want to meet up to study lines?"
"What were you saying?" he asked slowly.
"Geesh, you are tired. I asked if you wanted to work on lines this afternoon at four. I also asked where, so what do you think?" she asked as she heard the chiming of the clock in the distance. "Oh no! I'm gonna be late now! Bye Darien! See you later!" she called over her shoulder as she raced down the streets to school.
Darien smiled faintly at the girl racing away from his tired form, "Bye," he called softly. He looked at his own watch and counted the hours till he would see her again. Only eight hours of torture until he could see her again. He silently prayed that no youma would attack before then, he would be of no use to the scouts with his own energy drained. That thought led him to thinking of the strange jolt of energy from Serena. 'Is this a new power' he wondered as he looked at his hands in awe, before he could only transmit or give it but now it seemed he could take it as well. He would have to be extremely careful when touching people in the future if the occasion should arise. Slowly he started walking towards his own classes feeling tired as ever and with a heavy heart.
Serena jumped for joy as the last bell rang and she had escaped school without a detention form her dreaded teacher Ms. Haruna. She smiled at Molly, Ami, and Lita before grabbing her backpack and making a beeline towards freedom.
"Serena Tsukino," Ms. Haruna's voice commanded stopping the girl in her tracks.
Serena turned slowly and looked at the teacher with wide innocent eyes. "Yes?"
"Aren't you forgetting something?" A few of her classmates snickered at her bewildered expression.
Serena racked her brain for anything she had done over the school day. Cautiously she shook her head no since she could not come up with any reasons as to why she should stay. "I can't think of anything Ms. Haruna," she said earnestly.
"Well then, you can march your self back to your desk and have a seat since you don't remember." Serena started to protest but Ms. Haruna shook her head in dismay and frowned. Suddenly she smiled before turning to Serena's friends, "She has to finish her detention from the other day since I know Mrs. Dunmore let her out early the other day. She will see you all later in about twenty minutes. See you tomorrow girls." Ms. Haruna had walked towards the bunch and ushered them out. She closed the door with a click and about faced to see a miserable Serena seated before her.
Serena sighed, this ruined any chances she had of looking over her script or getting to see Darien before their meeting. She looked up hesitantly at Ms. Haruna who walked towards her and sat down.
"Out with it." Ms. Haruna commanded.
"With what?" Serena asked snapping her head up and looking into her teachers menacing eyes.
Ms. Haruna looked at her with curiosity, "What's got you so exuberant and energetic today? You seem different in many ways, why the change?"
Serena smiled tentatively, in her heart and mind she knew the reason was because Tuxedo Mask had helped her out last night. Plus she realized she was in love with him, but what to tell her teacher was another story. "Nothing Ms. Haruna, I've just been distracted with life lately."
"How so? Is something going on at home or with your friends? A boy possibly?" Ms. Haruna raised an eyebrow and smiled as she witnessed Serena's blushing face. "A boy," she paused, "Tell me about him."
Serena sighed, "He could never like me the way I like him, well last nights actions may have changed that..." her voice trailed off and she got a faraway look in her eye. Ms. Haruna cleared her throat and Serena giggled a little before finally continuing. "He's handsome, smart, athletic, charming, selfless, an all around amazing guy who I am completely gone on. I can't concentrate on anything else!" she buried her head in her hands and Ms. Haruna smiled kindly.
She rested a hand on her student's back and tapped lightly, "I know what you mean. Don't worry about it, you never know what will happen in the future. But please," she smiled as a friend who was counseling, not as a teacher or authorities figure, "Do try to focus a little while on school work. Maybe he can tutor you," she winked and then stood up. "You're free to go Serena just promise me you'll work on it, okay?"
Serena nodded and smiled warmly before standing and impulsively hugging her teacher. "Thanks Ms. Haruna and I will try! I promise!" She released the startled woman and skipped away with nothing more.
She looked at the door with apprehension, it was plain and unwelcoming but it was her destination. She knocked twice and waited patiently for the answer. After a minute or so with no answer she knocked again, feeling slightly concerned. "Darien?" she called. She reached for the door handle and found it to be unlocked. Turning the handle she stepped into the quiet apartment.
"Darien? You in here?" she whispered as she removed her shoes and shut the door behind her. Walking into the spotless apartment she frowned as she noticed the script open with a highlighter keeping it open. He had been highlighting his lines obviously, something she had yet to do she realized. "Darien? I'm a little creeped out here! Where are you?"
She walked down a dark hallway and pushed open the door at the end. Darien was sprawled on the bed, shirtless, and sleeping peacefully. He was pale, but some of his color had returned from when she had first seen him this morning. He was adorable and she couldn't help but blush and smile at the cute sight.
Suddenly his whole body lit up with a faint gold light and it flared for a few moments. Her mouth widened in shock but as soon as it came it was gone, but now Darien was his normal color and he looked well rested. He rolled over and clutched the pillow in his hand tightly. He seemed to be struggling for he started to toss and turn slightly.
"Darien?" she whispered as she took a few steps closer to the bed.
"Serenity." He mumbled into the pillow and her mouth dropped open in shock.