Hey, I posted two chapters in one day! I'm glad you are back. I guess some of you are wondering where is the next installment of 'Can Love That's Lost Be Found'? Well I'm doing the final edits and I am typing up the next chapter of 'Tangent in the Future'. And no Takai, it won't be a slow chapter. Now please refer to the endnotes for the vitals and remember… REVIEW
Homicide: The Death of Serena
A work by Crystaldove
~ Chapter 2 ~
9:20- Tsukino Household
Mr Tsukino had been worried about his daughter since he saw her shaking a few hours ago. He also thought that Ilene, his wife, was a bit too harsh on their daughter. He also knew that denying her dinner would only make her concentrate less. His wife was helping Sammy with his homework and he wondered if she favored Sammy to Serena. He never saw Sammy asking for help; Ilene would just volunteer. She never did that for Serena, even the few times that Serena asked. She would just tell Serena that she was lazy and told her to do it herself.
'I hate that I am not home much these days…by the time I usually get home, Serena is already asleep and she is gone before I can talk to her in the morning. I think I'll take her a sandwich and see if she needs any help with her work'
Walking to her room, her father gently knocked on her door.
"Serena, its Dad are you ok?" 'Hmm, no answer'
Opening the door, Mr Tsukino finds that his daughter is not there. Her books are gone and by the extra disorganization in her room it seems she was very upset.
"Ilene, Serena is 'not' in her room. I told you that your approach was too harsh. Hopefully she is at one of her friends, but if she comes home before I do, 'don't' say anything to her!"
"What do you mean she isn't here? That girl has defied me once again!"
"Hush woman! This is our daughter. I don't even think you love her that much1"
"Ken how can you say that, I love Serena"
"Then why don't you act like it, you know that she is having a hard time in school, instead of helping her, you shun her and humiliate her."
"Well she is just lazy and…"
"And what, she has asked you for your help and you turn her away, yet you help Sammy when he doesn't even ask for it. I may not be home much, but I do notice your favoritism in him over her. This is probably what her problem is, she asks for help only to be humiliated. It appears that her teacher is the same way. You then compare her to Melvin and Amy. Amy is in the top of her class and Melvin is well a nerd. I have sat here and let you put down our child for the last time! I hope nothing has happened to her, she was shaking for goodness sake, like she was afraid of you…her own MOTHER!"
Ilene stood in shock about what her husband said to her…she was in more disbelief that Ken raised his voice than what he actually said. When he left she sat and pondered what she said to Serena and her treatment of her compared to Sammy.
'Was he right, have I made my own daughter afraid of me? I just want her to excel, but I don't even ask if I can help her…maybe she really doesn't understand and is not lazy. Oh Serena, I didn't mean to be so harsh… oh please be ok. I know you left because of me.'
Ken searched his daughters' usual hangouts. He went by the arcade, the fruit parlor…not there.
'I guess I will go back home, it's pretty late…after 10 she should be home now'
All over town her friends thought about her. Lita was the one most worried. She knew how it felt to be shunned due to others' beliefs. She was like Serena before she transferred to Juuban.
'I'll make her some muffins, she will like that'
Amy also was concerned about her friend. She saw her face after Miss H passed back out the latest tests.
'Miss H shouldn't done that to her' Amy thought.
2:45 that afternoon- Juuban Junior High
"Well, it's time to past back the tests. You all did relatively well"
Miss Hurana said as she passed back the tests…that was until she came to Serena's.
"Serena Tsukino…well you did better than usual…you actually got over 20 points this time" giggles and snickers were heard from the class "And to think if you studied more than the 5 seconds before I passed the test out, you would have made a what; a 30 perhaps. You are a true disappointment to the class. How you made it to grade 8 is a mystery in itself."
Serena took her paper without looking up…tear streaming down her face. Once again she had become the joke of the class.
"It appears the usual detention isn't enough, so you mother will be here in an hour!"
Amy sat in awe of what was happening, her teacher was just harsh, embarrassing her. Around her Amy heard the taunts and teasing of their classmates.
"Boy Serena is a real dummy" one boy said.
"Yeah, and she hangs with Amy, you would think that she would have learned something" she heard another say.
"She is just your typical ditzy, dumb blond." a last one said. Now if Amy heard all of this, she knew that Serena did too. Even Molly couldn't help calm her down and Melvin constant ramblings didn't help.
10:40 p.m.
Raye thought about going to the sacred fire to see if Serena was ok, but her pride prevented it. She tried calling Darien but received his machine.
'Where is that boyfriend of mine?' she thought.
She thought she was sooo lucky to be dating a hot college guy like Darien. And she wouldn't admit it but she liked making the other girls jealous by talking about their 'dates'. She would usually embellish the truth but what they didn't know didn't hurt. She went to bed. Luna on the other hand wondered the streets of Tokyo looking for a temporary spot for the night. She knew that Serena wasn't one to hold a grudge for long and she would resume sleeping on that soft warm bed tomorrow. Luna decided to sleep outside the Crown arcade, Andrew left some decent scraps and there was a heat vent to keep her warm. While looking for something to eat, Luna thought she saw Serena's father standing in front of the arcade. But she knew that her father wasn't into games and that Serena was home sleep. So she went back to her rummaging. Still at the park sitting under the gazebo, Darien wondered if he had gone over the line with Serena. He didn't notice it at the time but when thinking about it, he remembered that she was already crying. Her eyes were puffy and red and her face was glazed with tears. He just thought she was having another reprise from klutz attack.
'I shouldn't have started with her…it is late, I should have seen if she was ok. She is just a kid, like she said, and all. I don't know why I even started with her; to make me feel better, like I said of course.'
Walking back to his apartment Darien noticed the message light on his machine was blinking.
'I hope this isn't another message from Raye. I don't even know why I put up with her clinging on me. Well I know she is a friend of Serena, so I have a reason to be in the same area as her. I guess it is bad of me to hang around Raye just to be near Serena. But even if Serena wasn't the issue, Raye and her rambling is nerve racking. I mean she thinks that she is 'perfect'. She is never wrong…if she wasn't so spooky, I would tell her about herself…and I would be telling her the truth. Then she might attack me, and I can't fight a girl…oh well, I hope Serena will be ok.'
11:05
"Ken did you find her?"
"No, she isn't here, I thought she would have come home by now!"
"Did you check with her friends?"
"No, I don't know where they live, maybe she is at one of their houses, she did take her books."
"Oh Ken, I didn't know I was being that harsh with her. I didn't realize I was giving more attention to her brother when she needed me. I am a bad parent, you tried to tell me but I was being stubborn and wouldn't listen. I hope she will let me make this up to her.'
"Don't worry dear, she has a kind, loving heart. She will realize that we only want the best for her and I know she will understand and forgive you. Come on, let's get some rest"
September 18 8:30 a.m.
Darien started off to class at KO University. No one ever noticed that he walked opposite of the school every morning since he got hit on the head with a failed test paper. Since he first met Serena, he made it a point to be in a central location whenever she was around, so her daily morning run-ins with him were purposely orchestrated by the Conceited Jerk himself. 'Hmm, she's later than usual' Darien thought to himself. He was extra early this morning because he wanted to make sure she was ok after last night. After 15 minutes of waiting he was about to be late for school himself. 'Maybe she was on time this morning' he thought as he walked to school.
8:45 a.m.
'Hmm, Serena should be here by now' Amy questioned while looking at her watch.
"Serena Tsukino? Late again I see, humph, that is not a shock"
Miss Hurana said as she marked the roll.
"Miss H, I don't think she is feeling too well today" interjected Molly "She's not coming to school, can I take her assignment to her?"
Molly couldn't stand the way Miss H was speaking about her best friend, true Serena wasn't the best student but the constant abuse she received was totally personal.
"Ok, you may take her assignment. Take out your homework everyone. William answer number 1…"
12:20 p.m.
"Hey Amy where's Serena?" Lita asked, "I brought her some muffins to cheer her up."
"She's not here Lita and I'm really worried about her. Hey Molly could you come here a minute?"
"What's up Amy? Hi Lita."
"Molly, did you talk to Serena this morning?"
"No, we spoke last night after the conference with Miss H. I really think Miss H has some personal vendetta out on Serena. She was so distant on the phone; she talked with such despair. I tried to cheer her up but I could tell by her voice that she dreaded coming to school today. I guess her mom let her stay home, that's why I spoke up for her."
"Ok, I was just wondering, thanks Molly."
"Anytime, and if you talk to her before I get to today, tell her I hope she is better and that everything will be alright."
As Molly resumed eating lunch with Melvin, Amy sat with bleak expression on her face.
"What's the matter Ames?"
"It's what Molly said. How Serena sounded yesterday. That phone call happened before her mom's lecture since she was able to speak to her. And it was also before her confrontation with Luna and the chewing out she got from Raye. Then she didn't come to school today. I doubt that after what we were told, her mother would let her stay home. I think something has happened to her."
"Amy don't think like that, I'm sure everything is ok. Maybe she 'is' sick."
Those were the words that Lita said on the outside but she felt the same concern as Amy on the inside. Their lunch was completed in silence.
3:35 p.m.- Crown Arcade
"Hey Darien what's wrong? You seem dejected?"
"Well, don't try to make anything out of this Andrew, but I saw Serena last night. As usual I had my fun with her but she didn't act her normal self."
"You 'saw' Serena last 'night'; where?"
"At the park under the gazebo. I know I should have been concerned about why she was there, it was late for a girl her age to be out, but I couldn't help it…she had this test; she failed another one. I know I shouldn't have teased her about it but I just...er did."
"Darien! Boy you never quit do you? Well what else happened?"
"I didn't notice it at the time but she was crying…not the usual tears; these were silent if you can believe it."
"Was she o.k.?"
"I don't know, that's what I was wondering. Have you seen her yet?"
"Hmm, no which is strange. She's usually already here by now. Hey there's Raye and the girls they should know. By the way what's up with you two?"
"What are you talking about, me and Raye? She is a friend, I go places with her…"
Andrew noticed that the spark that was Darien's eye when he spoke of Serena diminished when speaking of Raye. 'That's very fascinating' Andrew thought.
"Hey girls, isn't someone missing?"
"Hey Andrew, hello Darien" Raye said running to Darien's side still free of guilt or remorse in her actions with Serena last night.
"Serena didn't go to school today. She's been having a hard…" Lita jabbed Amy in the ribs, who then realized her mistake and covered by saying "time with a cold, she stayed home"
It wasn't anyone's business what was going on with Serena, especially Darien, her tormentor.
"Darien where were you last night? I called you around 10"
"Why are you asking?
"Why, cause I'm your girlfriend, that's why?"
"Since when? I wasn't aware that I had a girlfriend or a parole officer for that matter."
"I'm 'not' your girlfriend! How can you say that? We do all of those things together, you've met my grandpa and everything!" Raye's friends sat in awe; she told them that Darien was her boyfriend and would invoke jealousy by telling them about their 'dates'.
"Yes Raye, we did some things together, but if 'any' of your friends asked me to do the same stuff, I would have gone…even Meatball Head."
Andrew watched as that spark came back when his friends' eyes. Raye on the other hand was embarrassed yet unnerved. She knew that Darien thought of her only as a friend, but she didn't think that he would deny that fact in front of her friends. 'I'm glad Serena isn't here, she would have never let this one go' Raye thought.
"So Meatball Head is sick…of what failing tests!"
Watching the girl's uneasy glances Darien knew that there was something more to Serena's 'sickness' than they were going to let on, so he didn't push it.
4:00 p.m.- Tsukino Household
ding- dong
"Uh yes?"
"Mrs. Tsukino, I'm Molly Baker a friend of Serena."
"Yes Molly how are you doing dear?"
"I'm fine, I was just bringing by Serena's homework, is she feeling better?"
"Feeling better? Wasn't she at school today?"
'Uh-oh'
"No, ma'am, we thought she was sick."
"She isn't here, I was really harsh with her yesterday and she left. We thought that since she took her books with her that she was staying at a friends and would go to school from there. Oh no, what have I done?"
"Is everything o.k.?"
"I just made her feel horrible then just shunned her…"
"Mom, what's wrong?"
"Oh Sammy, Serena wasn't in school today."
"That Meatball head, Mom why do I have her as a sister? First she runs away now she is skipping school…she's such a disgrace…"
"Sammy shut up! Don't you realize what this means. I had your sister shaking last night…and I heard that comment you said to her; I just didn't say anything. My baby is gone…and…it's my fault!" On her knees she broke down "She's run away, what if something happens to her? What if she doesn't come back?"
"Mrs. Tsukino, don't worry she's probably ok. I'll go to the arcade…knowing her she is playing Sailor V."
"Would you? I would appreciate it; maybe she is just avoiding school too. I will call her father and the police I guess."
4:25 p.m.- Crown Arcade
The topic of Serena had halted when Andrew offered some tokens for the video games. Lita and Amy decided to play Sailor V while Raye tried to casually talk to Darien.
"So Darien, Mika and her mom are having another doll show this weekend…um do you want to go?"
"Not really, since you misunderstood our 'relationship' I don't think that would be in my best interest." 'This girl doesn't quit' "Anyway why don't you ask that Chad guy…I hear he likes you."
"That Serena, she can't keep her mouth shut, I know she told you that! She gets on my last nerves! My life would be much better without her…"
"Raye what is your problem!" Lita interjected dragging her rant away from a very relieved Darien. " She has endured enough already. Between school, her family, Darien and especially you, you say something like that. You know that you really hurt her feelings last night and you act as if nothing is wrong…"
Lita tried to whisper but Darien heard her.
'No wonder she was upset last night. Then I had to go and make it worse by teasing her about that test. I got to find out what happened' Darien thought. At this time Molly entered the arcade.
"Hey Amy can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Yeah Molly sure. Did you see Serena?"
"That's what I want to talk to you about. She isn't home, her mom thinks she ran away. Her mom chewed her out really bad last night and her parents thought that she stayed with one of us and went to school. I should have known something; Miss H was too harsh on her. I know she is usually in a fowl mood when she doesn't have a date but she just embarrassed Serena out of spite, almost."
Darien watched as extreme worry appeared on Amy's face while he strained to hear the conversation. 'Something has happened to Meatball…Serena…what did she say, she ran away from home? Oh no, I saw her last night, I could have helped her'
"Serena ran away!" Amy said louder than she meant too.
"Raye I told you to apologize to her, both you and Luna. What do you have to say now, what if something terrible happens to her!"
Lita shouted, at that moment she didn't care about tact or respecting a fellow scout, their leader had run away and the actions of both Luna and Raye could have pushed her over the edge. She did resign as the leader as well as being a scout last night…now she was gone. Lita couldn't stand it anymore, Serena was strong yet fragile at the same time and Lita thought of her as a little sister. She broke down into sobs from thinking the worse. Andrew helped her to a booth.
"Did you say she is missing?"
"Yeah Darien, she ran away last night."
"Darien, oh you are that guy that she talks about; the conceited jerk!"
"Yeah, that would be me…have her parents called the police?"
"Mrs. Tsukino was doing that when I left, I told her I was coming to see if she was here. 'Oh Serena, where are you?'"
End chapter
I hope this didn't put you to sleep. I started writing this story after the episode in the Super S season when Reeny was being a brat and was causing conflict between Serena and her mother. I felt bad how everyone was ganging up on her and how Reeny always forgets that Serena is her mother and if something happened to her, there will be no more Reeny. Anyway, I hope you are intrigued? Where is Serena? Does this meant that Luna is homeless, that Raye will now be the leader. Well, I hope you enjoyed this and stay tune for the next chapters.
My little readers
My only readers
You'd make me happy
If you'd reviewed today
You'll never know dear
How much I'd love you
If only you would review
My story today…
Dove