CHAPTER NINE

Serena stared out her bedroom window lost in thought. It had been nearly a week since she and Luna had come to stay with her folks and although she loved them with all her heart she didn't think coming here was such a good idea. They all wanted to talk to her and spend time with her and all she really wanted was to be left alone.

She needed time by herself away from everyone. Even Luna was starting to get on her nerves now a days she watches her like a hawk and about every five minutes wanted to know how she was feeling and what she was thinking. It got so bad she had to order her to leave the house and not to come back until it was time for dinner. And the girls they were no better all they wanted to talk about was Beryl's new soldier the Dark Prince and she just wanted to go one day without thinking about him.

"Serena dear are you listening to me?"

Serena blinked and looked at her mother in confusion. She hadn't even noticed that she had come into the room

Mrs. Tsukino looked at her in concern "Honey I'm glad you decided to stay for awhile but is their anything wrong you've seemed distracted lately is everything ok at school?"

"Schools fine mom I'm getting to all my classes on time and the work is not as hard as I thought it would be. Besides Amy's there to help me if I get stuck."

Mrs. Tsukino gave her a sly smile "Than it must be a boy."

Serena flushed and Mrs. Tsukino smile widened. It was a boy and for that she was glad. It was time for her daughter to have a steady boyfriend. She was so beautiful and kind she could have almost any boy she wanted but her daughter didn't seem very interested in any of them especially lately. Of course she went on dates but she could tell that none of those boys touched her in that special way and they always became just good friends. She just wished her daughter could find what she was looking for but then again maybe she has.

"I'm glad Serena it's about time for you to start dating a boy seriously."

Dating Serena echoed and her thoughts once again returned to the man calling himself the Prince of the Negaverse. And her mind flashed to the time in her bathroom when she could have sworn he was their with her staring at her as if she were the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. She could still remember the nervous excitement she had felt as she watched that dark head lowering as if to kiss her bare shoulder but then he had disappeared.

Maybe she was going crazy. It had seemed so real the heat in his eyes the way they had caressed her as if he knew her intimately and he had finally come to claim what was his. Serena raised a hand to throat feeling flushed. It had seemed real but was it? She always did have an overactive imagination and why would the Dark prince of the Negaverse of all people be in her bathroom?

"Serena? Are you going to tell me about this young man of yours?"

"Ummm listen mom I have to go I promised the girls I'd meet them at the beach and then I'm planning to go over to Raye's so don't expect me for dinner ok."

Before Mrs. Tsukino could say another word her daughter was out the door running. Mrs. Tsukino sighed she really wanted to hear about this boy who had her daughter all tied up in knots but at least now that she knew why her daughter was acting so weird she could finally stop worrying and relax. She left the room and went down stairs. Now came the hard part. Telling her husband that his little girl had finally met someone who touched her heart.

At the beach Serena sat back and listened to the girls talk about boys. Everyone that is but Amara and Michelle who just sat back in their chairs observing them all with amusement. But after awhile Serena was getting tried of putting up a front. She was tired of smiling and acting as if everything was all right when it wasn't. It was tiring. Finally deciding she needed a break she got to her feet.

" I'm going for a walk," she said quickly and before they could stop her or offer to come along she sped down the beach towards the cliffs.

"What's up with her?" Raye asked but everyone looked just as confused as she did

Serena didn't stop running until she reached the cliffs sitting down on the rocks she sat there for a while thinking. And something occurred to her that changed everything. With everything that had happened with the dream and his image appearing in her mirror she realized that the only time she had felt any fear was when she thought she might be losing her mind.

"I think it's time to tell the girls everything" she said to herself she didn't know what was happening but she knew that she needed her friends by her side. She got up and was just starting to head back to the others when she heard a scream. She scrambled over the rocks to the other side of the cliff and that's when she saw them. A young woman was getting her energy drained by a yoma with Jedite standing by watching.

Serena called the girls on the communicator and transformed

Jedite jerked to attention when the Tiara appeared out of know where turning his yoma into dust. He looked up and on the cliffs was Sailormoon.

"How dare you attack innocent women trying to have a fun day at the beach. I'm Sailormoon and in the name of the moon I will stop you."

"Lets save the speeches and get on with it."

Sailormoon was startled when he turned and faced her it was only then that she noticed his mask.

"Prepare to die Sailormoon" Jedite cried but just as he was about to attack Prince Darien appeared before him

"I'll take it from here Jedite report back to Beryl with the energy you've gathered"

"Why you-"

But Darien wasn't listening he was busy starring up at Sailormoon

Sailormoon couldn't believe it he was here. Now what? Where they going to fight? Gang up on her? She knew the girls would be here shortly but could she stand against both of them until they did? Making a quick decision knowing that the young woman was safe now that the yoma had been destroyed and that the other girls would be here soon she turned on her heel and ran

"How disappointing" Prince Darien sighed as he watched her take off

"You can't do this she's mine" Jedite hissed.

"Report back to Beryl as ordered" Darien snarled, "I'll take care of Sailormoon."

Before Jedite could say another word Darien was off after Sailormoon with a growl he followed but stayed out of sight.

Sailormoon ran into the cave knowing she was to vulnerable out in the open

"Come now Sailormoon lets not play these games just give me the Crystal and you can go."

Sailormoon swung around and saw that he was alone it was decision time did she fight him or did she wait for help to arrive? He answered the question for her when he sent an energy wave straight at her. Dodging it she stopped thinking about the dream and everything else and sent her tiara flying.

Outside Jedite listened to the fight he was so intent on what was going on in the cave he didn't notice when the other scouts showed up but his head jerked up when he heard the words

"Uranus world shaker"

As the battle intensified outside so did the one inside. Sailormoon leaned on the cave wall gasping. He was so strong and quick so far he had evaded all her attacks. She might have to use the Crystal but she didn't want to hurt him. Torn in two different directions she didn't notice him until he was right on top of her.

"Got you." he stated smugly then their world crumbled

Jedite knew he had no chance against all of them so he had to act quickly. He gathered his energy together and sent it flying but not at the Scouts he aimed for the cave and hit it dead on.

"Ahhh" Sailormoon screamed as the ground shaked beneath their feet then before they could even react the ground split open and swallowed them.

Jedite looked at his handywork and grinned. Good-bye Sailormoon and good riddance Prince Darien.

The Scouts looked on in confusion but before they could ask him what he was about he disappeared

When Sailormoon woke up she had no idea where she was it was pitch black and she couldn't see anything. She moaned in pain when she attempted to move. Her whole body ached but she could detect no serious damage. Sighing in relief she sat up. She had to figure out where she was. She rembered the ground opening up and falling through. She could remember falling for what felt like ages. She wondered how deep she was.

A noise off to her left had her crying out frantically "Whose there?"

She Wondered who or what else was down here with her. Pictures of fury little animals danced in her head making her already jumpy so when he spoke she almost screamed but all that escaped was a small ekkkkk

"Who do you think" came an angry reply

Relieved but trying hard not to show it she said sharply "I don't know but I think it might be a big rat."

Silence meet this statement and Sailormoon was starting to regret her sharp come back when a sudden light temporialy blinded her. She raised her hand to shield her eyes. When her eyes finally got use to it she could see him. He was propped up against a wall and he was looking right at her.

Her hand went to her hair she knew she must look horrible. Blushing she lowered her hand and looked away from him instead concentrating on the light coming out of a long black baton he was holding. A light she was very grateful to have. She didn't know how long she could have stood being in the dark with thoughts of what she couldn't see playing around in her head. She looked around but there didn't appear to be anyway out. They were trapped. Trapped under who knew how many tons of rocks and debrie they were lucky to be alive. She turned back to see how he was taking it and he appeared to be- sleeping?

"Hey" Sailormoon yelled instantly worried even she couldn't fall asleep at a time like this was he simply sleeping or unconscious. They both started coughing as dust and dirt started falling from the ceiling

"Will you keep it down" he said angrily "are you trying to kill us this place is unstable and unless you want to bring the ceiling crashing down on or heads I suggest you keep it down."

"I'm sorry but why don't you just morph out of here or something? That's what you Negaverse soldiers do don't you when the going gets tough and you retreat by vanishing in thin air?

He glared at her "I can't. Between are fight and the fall I don't have the power or the strength to morph as you call it." He leaned forward "And I don't retreat. You should also know that I never stop until I have what I want."

Sailormoon ignored his threat too busy trying to reach her friends on her communicator but she must have damaged it in the fall. It was totally useless.

"Great" she grumbled than she realized the significance of what it meant. She was stuck down here all alone with the enemy an enemy who she had been having not so quite pure thoughts about and there was no way for her to contact the other scouts. She didn't even know if they knew she had entered the cave.

"What?" He asked sharply as if sensing something was upsetting her

Surprised Serena looked at him "I can't reach my friends" she admitted with some reluctance

He chuckled darkly "Well that's a shame. I guess I'm stuck with you then."

Serena shot him a dirty look but didn't respond in kind no matter how much she wanted to. There was something else she wanted to know. Trying to act nonchalant she asked, "Are you and Beryl close?

The look he sent her told her she wasn't totally successful

"Why should it matter to you what my relationship with Beryl is?

"It doesn't" she snapped nervous that he might guess just how interested she was about his relationship with Beryl "I was just wondering if your Queen will be as worried about you as my friends are no doubt worrying about me."

"I really couldn't say" he mused

"Well you and she are-um" she bit her lip unsure why she was continuing with this line of questioning

Before she could finish her question he broke out into laughter than he smiled at her mockingly "Are you asking me if were dating?

Sailormoon flushed and lowered her eyes totally embarrassed which seemed to delight him because he started laughing even harder but it was when that laughter ended on a grunt of pain did her head shoot back up to look at him. His face was twisted in a grimace of pain as he shifted around on the ground.

"Your hurt" she gasped

"Well" he stated sarcastically "and here I thought Mercury was the smart one"

"Oh you" she fumed "Its no wonder that Beryl has left you down here to rot how can anyone stand to be around you for more than five minutes is beyond me."

"Well now" he smiled "I see our princess has claws well let me assure you princess that when Beryl discovers my absence she will not hesitate to begin looking for me. But I'm sure by the time she finds me my strength will be restored and I can leave here of my own free will."

"I didn't think beryl could love anyone but herself"

"Love" he snorted "who said anything about love?"

She started to protest "But you just said she-"

"I said she wont waste any time finding me" he snapped "but love has nothing to do with it. She's going to rule this planet soon and the universe along with it. She's going to need someone powerful at her side and that someone is me.

"You don't love her?" She asked in disbelief not understanding how he could be thinking about marrying someone he didn't love

He shot her a look of disgust "Love is a weakness I want no part of. There is only only power and the quest for more power."

Sailormoon shiverd "that's so sad" she murmured rubbing her arms briskly to ward off the chill that his words had wrought "Haven't you ever loved anybody?

"No" he barked "and I don't plan to. Now be quiet and get over here."

She looked at him in confusion not understanding what he meant

The look he shot her was one of impatience "It's cold and its only going to get colder we need to stay close"

When she continued to look at him in bewilderment he began to talk slowly as if to a child "we need to share body heat to stay warm. Unless you prefer to freeze."

She blushed looking uncertain she asked nervously "How close?"

He looked at her intently for a moment and then he smiled and she felt her breath catch in her throat. She had thought he was handsome before but when he smiled really smiled he was breathtakingly so

"I'm fine" she gulped even more nervous now than before

"Really" she stressed when he gave her an unconvinced look. She tensed expecting him to argue with her and determined not to give in but he just said fine and closed his eyes.

Sailormoon bit back a groan. What was she thinking? Already it felt like it had just dropped another several degrees and there was no other way to get warm. She began rubbing her arms and legs trying to keep warm.

She looked over at him and was very tempted to go over to him and let his body warm hers but she was afraid. Not that he would hurt her or try and take the crystal but that she enjoy it too much she was already having fantasies about the man she didn't need to tempt herself but after awhile she realized she had no choice it was becoming unbearably cold.

Trying to be quiet so as not to wake him she got on her hands and knees and started to crawl over to him. His arms were at his side and his legs were stretched out and spread apart. She sat down at his feet and then backed up between his legs and very carefully leaned back against his chest. She let out a small sigh of relief that quickly turned into a loud shreech when his arms shot out, closed around her and a husky voice whispered in her ear "Relax"

Fat chance Sailormoon groaned to herself. But already she could feel his warmth seeping into her body. Hesitantly she turned halway in his arms. She placed her hand on his chest and snuggling up against him she rest her head next to it. Breathing deeply she fought to steady her pounding hear and to allow her body to go limb. To distract herself from the way he felt and how good he smelt she concentrated on the sound of his heartbeat.

Soon her body relaxed and she snuggled closer he was so warm. Totally relaxed now and just a little bit sleepy she rubbed her cheek against his shirt and inhaled his scent. He smelled faintly of roses and cologne. She almost giggled she never would have associated that scent with him but it seemed to fit perfectly.

She didn't know when she noticed the change at first but suddenly his heartbeat was pounding in her ear. Startled she looked up and their eyes met and she gasped at the look in his. She licked her lips nervously and his eyes watched the movement with such intensity she blushed.

She tried to move out of his arms but they were like bands of steel around her. "Let me go she pleaded pushing against his chest. But he didn't he just stared down at her unblinking than without thinking she licked her lips again and his eyes flickered.

She gasped as his arms tightened around her drawing her closer than she watched with disbelief as his head began to lower towards hers.