A/N: Hi guys! New chapter is up so read it and enjoy...and then when you're done...REVIEW...cuz its fun! Hahahaha. Oh yea...and don't forget that I don't own Sailor Moon, just the plot...and my newest character...the very sexy Dirks Cowell...mmmm...
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A Woman's Will: Chapter 3
Serena knocked on the door to the Women's Shelter and waited patiently for someone to answer it. The house looked small and rundown. It appeared to be a dull puke green color with gross yellow trim, the wooden stairs were old and even had holes in places. The fence that surrounded the house was broken in places and rotten in others. The grass needed a definate cut as it was almost three inches tall. She could tell that there used to be some sort of a flower garden in the front yard, but it was obvious that no one had tended to it in years.
The door, when it opened, made a creaking noise like in a horror movie. Serena, half expecting a Zombie, or an old hag, was suprised when she came face to face with a beautiful woman. She was older than Serena, somewhere in her thirties, she guessed. The lady had mid length, beautiful red hair that fell to the lady's mid back in soft, lazy curls. She had bright green eyes that held a wisdom that made Serena feel a little uneasy.
"Hello." the lady said, her voice low and husky, almost like a man's deep voice. Not expecting it, Serena was silent for a minute, almost frightened of the voice. The lady, noticing Serena's discomfort, smiled even wider and laughed, "I know, its the voice, I get the same reaction every time."
Serena smiled, feeling comfortable in this lady's presence. "I'm sorry," Serena apoligized and held out a hand, "I didn't mean to be rude. My name is Serena Tsukino, I saw your help wanted sign."
The lady took Serena's hand and shook it firmly, "The name is Joan Scott, and I run the shelter here. Why don't you come inside and we'll talk?" she offered.
Serena followed the lady inside and dropped her bags by the door. She followed Joan down a long hallway to a room that she assumed was an office. Joan took a seat at her desk and waved a hand to the chair across from her to Serena.
"Alright Serena, tell me about yourself, where are you from?" Joan asked, pulling out a pen from a elephant shaped coffee cup that was home to many pens and pencils. She jotted down notes as Serena talked.
"Alright, well I'm from Tokyo, I'm nineteen years old. I have a mom, a dad, and a little bratty brother. Um, I have a boyfriend back home..." Serena trailed off, not knowing exactly what to say.
"Why did you leave home, Serena? From the look on your face, I'd say you miss it." Joan asked, as softly as her husky voice would allow.
"I do miss home, very much. I miss my family and friends. I left so that I can better myself. I need to learn how to become mature, and smarter, and well...just better than what I am now. Then maybe they'll stop treating me like some fragile little baby." Serena said firmly, her eyes determined.
Joan was silent for a long moment as she stared at Serena, considering her seriously. "This is not an easy job, Serena. I'm not sure you will be able to handle some of the serious cases that come in to this home. Women who have been raped, beaten, emotionally and physically abused. You look too innocent."
"Ms. Scott, please-"
"Call me Joan," she spoke firmly.
"-Joan, please, I just want to learn. I want to help these women. I can handle anything, I will handle anything." Serena pleaded.
Joan smiled and nodded her head, "I believe you can, Serena. Welcome aboard. I'll set you up with a room downstairs and we'll get you settled in."
Serena grinned and followed Joan down into the basement of the house into what was to be her room. It wasn't very large, but it would do. A small bed rested in the far right of the room, and a dresser sat against the wall, adjacent to the bed. A nightstand sat beside the bed with an old lamp. She dropped her bags onto the bed and turned to Joan. "I love it." she grinned.
"Well, its not much, but it'll have to do. I'll bring you down some clean sheets and a comforter. Then, if you're up to it, I'll show you around." Joan finished.
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They dealt with mostly teenage run aways, Joan had told Serena a couple days later. Most had no where else to turn, all wanted to be protected. Joan had sat down with Serena to tell her the rules of the house, the rules of any woman that needed use of the house. It was understood, that for the first few weeks, Serena would merely be an observer. She was not allowed to approach or interact with any of the girls that asked for the protection of the house, and she was to inform Joan of any new arrivels.
Serena understood and promised to follow the rules no matter what.
Since Serena wasn't allowed to interact with any of the girls that came to the Shelter, she decided to take it upon herself to fix up the outside of the house a bit. A little hard labour wouldn't hurt her. Besides, if Rae could do it, Serena Tsukino sure as hell could.
There was little money for the shelter, and even less for materials needed for repairs. So Serena pitched in her own money, she still have over five grand left and she decided to put most of it into the repairs needed for the house.
It was her own little project and it forced to put all thoughts of friends and family out of her mind for a little while, and to just focus on this project. She stood outside the house and took a good long look at the ugly looking house. The windows needed good sturdy shutters and it definatly needed a new paint job. The stairs were a safety hazard, and the fence was rotting. The grass needed mowing and the flower gardens needed tending.
'The stairs', Serena thought to herself, looking into the holes the rotting wood had caused. 'I think I should pick up a book on making stairs, if there even is one, and then I should pick up the materials needed. Yes, that seems like a good idea.'
"Howdy neighbor." a smooth, definatly sexy male voice spoke from behind Serena.
Serena wirled around so fast and ended up tripping on her own feet, falling flat on her buttocks. She could feel her face heat up in embarassment as she heard the male's soft chuckle.
She slowly looked up, her eyes running over the mans body. Her wore scruffy, muddy, old brown work boots with the laces untied. His legs seemed to run forever, lean, but well muscled, perfectly accented in a snug, form fitting pair of dirty blue jeans, a large ratty hole sat over his kneecap. A not-so-white t-shirt covered his nicely built torso and chest. His arms were big, not grotesquely so, but big enough to intimidate and to protect. His face was gorgeous. All rugged and manly. It looked as if there was two or three days growth along his jaw, and his chocolate brown hair was cropped short, only two inches or so in length and was messed up, as if he had ran his fingers through his hair a lot. His eyes were a friendly, and oddly sexy color of creamy milk chocolate. At an impressive six foot three he was an impressive male specimen. One thought ran through Serena's mind. Well two, she admitted. The first was that he was one hundred percent all male, and two: he wasn't hers.
"Uh...hi." Serena spoke timidly.
The man grinned and Serena felt a shot of lust shoot straight through her young body. The man could seduce any woman with that grin. And when he held out a hand she could only stare at if for the longest time. After a long moment of trying to get herself under control, she finally accepted his callused hand and jumped to her feet.
"Sorry 'bout that, I didn't mean to scare you," he said, the devestating grin still on his face, as if he knew just how uncomfortable Serena was in his presence. As if he knew just how much he could affect girls like her.
Serena shook her head, her face still beat red, "No, don't worry about it. That happens more often than I would like to admit."
He nodded and let out a little chuckle, "Well I'll be sure to make some noise next time. Hopefully I don't scare you as bad. I'm Dirks Cowell, your neighbor." he introduced himself.
Serena smiled, glad to meet someone as friendly, open, and as cute as Dirks Cowell. "I'm Serena Tsukino, its a pleasure to meet you." she shook his hand.
"The pleasure is all mine, Serena. So what are you lookin so intently at?" he asked curiously, turning with her to look at the old house.
Serena pointed to the old stairs leading up to the front door, "Those. They are old, rotten, and I'm sure I've just about killed myself like, twenty times trying to get up them. I was deciding on what stuff I would need in order to build a new set of stairs." she told him.
Dirks raised an eyebrow and glanced at Serena, "And you would build the stairs?" he asked, resting his hands on his lean hips.
Serena nodded, determined, "Absolutely. I want to help out Joan, and the shelter. This is the only way I can think of right now. I don't exactly have enough money to higher someone to build on for me, so I have to do it myself." she explained.
"This is a shelter? What kind of a shelter?" Dirks asked curiously, taking a new look at the house.
"A Woman's Shelter. Its a place where abused women can go for a safe place to stay," When Serena caught Dirks apprasing look she shook her head, "No, I didn't come here for a place to stay. I wanted to work here." she told him.
Dirks nodded his head, trusting the girl and her very innocent and trusting eyes. He took another appraising look at the house, then back down to Serena, "I'll tell you what. Why don't I help you out with you plans? I mean, I am a Carpenter, its what I do." he offered.
"Really!" Serena asked, suprised. "Are you sure?"
He nodded his head, his eyes serious, "Of course. And in exchange, maybe you could invite me over for supper?" he asked.
Serena grinned, "I think you have a deal, Dirks. WWWHHHHOOOPPPPIIIIEEEE!" Serena screamed, and pumped a fist up into the air.
Dirks laughed and shook his head, it was definatly going to be an interesting day.
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"Its definatly Serena's energy." Darien confirmed, running his hands over the invisible energy barrier.
Ami shook her head as she read the information off her computer, "I had no idea she could do something like this. How could she control her powers like this, she's never done it in the past unless she was using the Imperiem Silver Crystal."
"You can't get through this thing, Darien?" Setsuna asked curiously, while holding Rini's small hand.
Darien shook his head, "Even if I had all my powers back I wouldn't be able to. She has the power of the Imperiem Crystal on her side. Serena's will commands and controls the Crystal. Its obvious that she didn't want to be followed." he rubbed his temples with his fingers, "Which could also explain why I can't seem to find her exact location."
Haruka leaned up against her Aqua colored sports car and sighed, "I can't believe this. This is absolutely retarded! What good are the Sailor Scouts if we can't follow out leader and protect her?" she growled, and was silenced by Michiru.
"This is Serena's wish obviously. We will stay here and protect the city untill her return." Michiru stated softly and closed her eyes, "Untill then we must pray for her safe return."
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Darien paced back and forth in his apartment, angry and depressed at the same time. He missed her desperatly, he needed her in his arms, and at the same time he was angry because she was shutting him out. He needed to get his powers back. He was tierd of being usless. It was time for him to be the King he was meant to be. King Endymon of Earth.
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Alright guys, what do you think? Good? Maybe? Not so good? Let me know, and REVIEW! The more people review, the faster I'm inspired to update my story. Either way enjoy. Peace.