Emotions
Chapter Two: Experiences
Serena wrapped her arms around herself as tears made their way down her cheeks. Why did Darien always have to be mean to her? What had she ever done to him?
Before long, Serena found herself at the park in the center of Tokyo. A cold wind sprung, making her shiver and her golden hair whip behind her. She walked around, some of the sparkle returning to her eyes as she stumbled upon the rose garden. The roses were dead, as were the bushes, but it reminded her vividly of last night's encounter with her masked hero.
Her ankle throbbed so fiercely that Serena gasped and fell to her hands and knees. The cold cement bit her bare hands and worked into her shoulders. She tried to draw herself up on her feet, but her ankle kept hurting, so she leaned against a rosebush instead. She took deep breaths, trying to not think about the pain. It didn't work, so when pain shot through her whole leg, she yelped.
Darien panted, trying to think like Serena.
She could be anywhere, he thought. Just, where?
He slowed his running at the park, remembering that Serena liked to see the roses that were here. But they're dead this time of year, he mused. Curious, he wondered through the park.
Many young girls ice-skating saw him and swooned. He ignored them and continued. It was by the playset that Darien remembered that he forgot where the roses were.
Damn memory! He cursed himself, walking past. When he reached the old sakura tree, he heard a yelp of pain. He ran towards it, and found Serena sweating and whimpering. He sighed.
Serena looked up as he approached, her sky blue eyes filled with anger. Evidently, she had heard him. "What are you doing here?" she demanded as he knelt beside her.
"I was wondering what had happened to you, and I heard you yelp," Darien retorted, looking at her swollen ankle. Just like Sailor Moon's, he thought.
Serena saw the calculating look in his eyes, and felt something faintly familiar towards him. What was that about? Why did he come after me? Serena thought as Darien shifted her ankle. Only when he touched it gently did she cry out softly. Already her vision was growing blacker from the pain.
Darien knew it. "Sorry." As she grew drowsier, Darien noticed, and gathered her slightly tall frame in his arms, surprised to feel how light she was. (A/N: Serena grew, so she's not so short anymore. She's still shorter than everyone else though, including Darien.)
"I wonder where all the food goes," he murmured to her as he started to walk in the general direction of the Hikawa Temple, where Serena's friend Raye Hino lived and resided with her grandfather.
"I work it off in the gym, lugnut," she murmured back, smiling a little. Darien grinned slightly. Being in Darien's arms reminded her of Tuxedo Mask, of how strong he was. Looking at Darien grinning, she felt that familiar feeling again.
What was that? What am I feeling for The Jerkface?
She didn't finish that thought as she finally blacked out.
Serena woke up looking at the plaster ceiling of the Hikawa Temple. Twisting her head, she saw Raye, one of her best friends, feeding her crows, Phobos and Deimos.
Raye sensed Serena awake, and looked up. Her unusual amethyst eyes glinted with worry and her waist-length raven black hair was in its usual low ponytail. Serena also knew Raye as Sailor Mars, the Sailor Scout of fire.
"Serena! I thought you would never wake up!" Raye exclaimed, walking over to her and sitting beside her as Serena propped herself on her elbows. Raye drew back the end of the blanket to show Serena that her ankle was healed completely.
"Wow!" Serena said, looking at her ankle with zeal. "It's healed. Thanks Raye!" Serena reached over and gave the Fire Priestess a bear hug. Raye only patted her back.
A head poked itself in the room. Long blonde hair fell around an adorable face adorned with sapphire eyes so bright that they rivaled the sun at the very moment.
"Serena's awake?" the other girl asked. Mina Aino, also known as the Sailor Scout of love, Sailor Venus, looked at Serena, then disappeared. Serena and Raye heard an excited, yet muffled, "Serena's awake!" behind the sliding door and Serena sighed over Mina's bubbliness while Raye shook her head slowly, mournfully.
Bubbly Mina returned with two other girls. The tallest had chestnut-colored brunette hair tied with a green hair scrunchie and cold-cut emeralds for eyes. Those eyes brightened, along with a warm smile. "About time!" Outrageous Lita Kino was the tallest and strongest of their group, thus her being known as Sailor Jupiter, the Scout of thunder. The other girl, though, was entirely different.
Quiet and shy Amy Mizuno had blue hair; she had been born with it. Her eyes reflected the calm of the ocean as they gazed at Serena. "Yeah! What took you so long?" Amy was the smartest girl, and she was Sailor Mercury, the Scout of ice. Amy attended the same high school as Serena and Lita, while Mina and Raye went to a different high school.
Serena sighed. "I had a 'fight' with Darien," she said, crooking her fingers in quote marks. "I ran to the park, and Darien found me there, sitting on the ground with my injured ankle. Then I don't know. One minute Darien was carrying me, the next I was out stone-cold."
Mina smiled mischievously. "Did you say Darien was carrying you?"
Fiery-tempered Raye sighed, agitated. "Yes, blondie. I saw Darien carry Bunny over here," she jabbed her thumb at Serena, "on the Temple grounds. In fact, he's the one who suggested I use the Great Fire to heal Serena."
Serena gaped. "But why?" she asked desperately. "Why would he do that for me?"
Mina was still smiling. "Methinks he likes you, Bunny."
Lita snorted. "Well, methinks you're crazy," she said as the others laughed uncontrollably.
Mina pouted. "I'm serious!" she said when everyone had calmed down. "I've noticed that he hasn't called her by her nickname that often, he's reserved around us, and he's been especially quiet after that Youma attack three weeks ago."
Serena thought for a while. "Mina's right," she said, almost to herself than the rest of the girls. "He has been reserved around us, including me. Andrew's even noticed. He's been worried about Darien. Frankly, I'm starting to worry, which scares me."
Mina stood, arms in a silly pose and stars in her eyes. "We've got to do something!"
Lita spoke next. "What shall we do, O Scout of Love?" Everyone giggled at the sarcastic note in Lita's voice.
Mina gazed with angry ferocity at her fellow Scout. "I don't know yet," she admitted sheepishly, dropping her arms and letting the stars in her eyes fade to puzzlement.
"I know what you can do," a new voice said.
All of the girls turned. A small black cat with an upturned crescent moon on her forehead stood there, tail poised.
"What, Luna?" Serena asked.
Luna spoke. "You can go defeat the Youma terrorizing ice-skating young girls at the park this very instant."
The girls looked at each other and ran.
Serena, Mina, Amy, Raye, and Lita arrived at the park, only to find some young girls unconscious or frantically skating from a Youma that looked like a cross between a fox and an octopus. The Youma ran after the shrieking girls, giggling as it collected energy. Hovering above it was the Dark General Zoicite, grinning maliciously as she sat on air.
Serena nodded to the others, who whipped out their Transformation Pens. Serena herself tore off the Transformation Brooch from her shirt.
"Venus Star POWER!"
"Mercury Star POWER!"
"Mars Star POWER!"
"Jupiter Star POWER!"
"Moon Crystal POWER!"
Zoicite looked up as Sailor Moon and the Sailor Scouts emerged from the surrounding trees. "'Bout time you showed up, Sailor Brats. We were having so much fun without you," she said with a snarl.
"Zoicite, don't you know that you should plan a party before having one?" Sailor Venus said, exasperated. The others nodded in agreement.
Zoicite only shrugged as the Youma attacked. Venus and Jupiter leaped to one side; Mercury and Mars dove to the other side. Sailor Moon sprang up, tucking in her legs as Jupiter and Luna had taught her in martial arts. One of the Youma's tentacles reached up to grab her, but Venus' special attack, Love Chain Encircle, grabbed the Youma just before it reached her.
"Sailor Moon!" Sailor Venus yelled at her, her chain quivering under the Youma's power and futile attempts at escape. "The Moon Scepter! Now!"
The air in front of Serena shimmered; the beautiful Moon Scepter appeared in her hand. Serena swung it up and aimed it at the struggling Youma as she landed on the cement.
"Moon Princess Halation!"
The bright crescent moon beam flew straight at the Youma, who turned to ashes when the beam touched it. Serena punched her fist in the air, the Scepter in her other hand. "Yeah! All right!"
Unbeknownst to the Scouts or Sailor Moon, Zoicite came up behind Serena. Serena only had time to sense the danger before Zoicite seized Sailor Moon, an arm around Serena's throat, the other around her waist.
"Sailor Moon. You've always been a bother to me." A dagger appeared in her free hand. The other Scouts gasped as Zoicite pushed the dagger against Serena's throat. "I think I'll take care of the problem right now." Zoicite drew the dagger across Serena's throat, releasing her after blood stained her gloved fingers.
"Feel better?" the General asked as Sailor Moon fell, blood spouting out of her throat. Serena coughed and held a hand to her throat, feeling the blood seep through her silk gloves. She was glad it was a shallow cut-Zoicite hadn't even nicked the major arteries in her neck or her windpipe- and staggered to her feet. Venus tried to approach her.
"Get out of here! You're injured!" Venus hurriedly whispered to her, her eyes containing rage and calculation as they looked at Zoicite.
Serena quietly chuckled. "And leave you guys the fun? I wouldn't dare." She stepped forward, looking up at the female General. She raised an eyebrow. "Enjoying yourself, Zoicite?"
Zoicite's eyes narrowed as she guessed she didn't apply a fatal wound to Sailor Moon. "Maybe, if you were dead!" Zoicite came so suddenly that the Sailor Scouts could do nothing and Serena closed her eyes, waiting for the blow.
It never came. Zoicite yelled with pain.
Serena opened her eyes and looked up. Zoicite clutched her arm, a red steel-tipped rose sprouting near the elbow. She directed her eyes to a nearby streetlight and saw Tuxedo Mask standing there, his cape fluttering in the scant winter breeze. Serena stayed standing, although her knees threatened to collapse, and drew her hand away from her throat. The glove was soaked in red blood.
"I'll get you later, Moon brat," Zoicite hissed as cherry blossoms swirled around her. Only when she disappeared did the Sailor Scouts gather around their leader.
"Sailor Moon! Are you alright?" they all asked, but Serena only heard Tuxedo Mask land gracefully on the cement. The girls grew quiet as he approached, moving to let him near Serena.
"Are you alright?" he asked her, voice quiet. In his hand were bandages.
She nodded. His face drew close as his hands worked deftly. His warm breath stirred across her neck, which made her head go back and sigh as she shifted her weight more comfortably.
Tuxedo Mask looked up. Her eyes were closed, and her head was tilted back, revealing the sweet flesh of her neck and collarbone. He was tempted to plant his lips there, but four concerned Scouts were watching him, so he didn't give in to the temptation.
"There," he said, stepping back a little. He backed off, letting the others crowd around her. He turned to go, but a hand stopped him. He looked down to see Sailor Moon's hand in his own.
"Thank you," she said softly, her sweet voice sending shivers down his spine. She let him go, and he left, jumping up and away.
Serena watched him go, oblivious to her Scouts' quiet chatter. Gripping her brooch, her transformation died away. She faced her Scouts.
"Let's go."
Several weeks passed without a major Youma attack, although there were several small ones. Serena was worried, for she hadn't seen Tuxedo Mask since that incident in the park.
Early March passed into April, and April was very warm that year, to everyone's surprise and delight. The girls found new outdoor jobs, but to them, Serena had found the best one of all.
One day, Andrew was working on cleaning the whole Arcade when he heard the jingle of the doors. Turning around, his jaw dropped.
The girls had walked in. Every one of them wore either a short skirt or short shorts and short sleeved shirts. Andrew did a double take in spite of himself.
Raye's hair was in a bun with tendrils framing her face. Lita's hair was down, as was Mina's. Amy's hair stayed the same, but what really surprised him was the way Serena looked.
Her hair was not in its usual buns and ponytails; it was in one big ponytail at the top of her head. Her shirt was sleeveless, showing off her muscles. It was midriff, so it also exposed her toned tummy. Her shorts reached mid-thigh, and she wore short-top sneakers. Sweat dripped on her beautiful heart-shaped face, and her perfect sky blue eyes sparkled as they lit on him.
"Andrew!" Serena said happily, sitting on a stool as her friends went to a nearby booth. "What's up?"
Andrew didn't respond.
Serena frowned slightly. "Hello? Andrew?" She waved a hand in front of his face. "Earth to Andrew?" She banged the counter. "Milkshake Boy!" She used Darien's nickname for Andrew.
That got his attention. Andrew started and looked at her. "Serena! What happened?"
Serena hid a smile and sighed comically. "Aliens attacked half of Tokyo and destroyed the cherry fields outside town, so there'll be no more cherry lemonade," she remarked sadly.
Andrew smirked. "Very funny, Sere. What's really up?"
"I'm tired and thirsty. So are my friends. Hook us up with drinks? I'm payin'."
Andrew raised his eyebrows. "Since when?"
"Since I started working at the new Minato Flower Gardens and Wildlife Preserve downtown."
As he fixed drinks, he asked, "How'd you land a job there?"
Serena blushed. "I was the only one who knew how to take care of the kinds of flowers in the Gardens. And I knew some about the animals living in the wildlife preserve."
Andrew whistled impressively. "Wow." He delivered the drinks to Serena's friends, accepted their thanks, and came back to listen to the rest of Serena's conservation. "What else?"
"I thought it would be fun to work there. It's a nice walk there, you know with all the trees growing again." Serena shrugged, accepting her cherry lemonade. She fidgeted nervously and happily. "Today's one of my free days."
Jingle jingle. The door opened, and for once, Andrew didn't greet the newcomer as he asked Serena more questions.
Darien pouted a little at his friend's inability to greet him. But then again, how could he be upset when a sexy girl was sitting on his stool and talking to his best friend?
As he drew closer, he examined the drop-dead gorgeous girl sitting there. Andrew quickly looked up to see Darien and silently laughed at his friend's calculating expression. He knew Darien was looking for a girlfriend, but he didn't know the girl he was looking at was the Meatball Head herself.
Darien liked what he saw of the gorgeous girl sitting in plain sight on his stool. Her blonde hair was in a big ponytail at the top of her head; even then, the very tips brushed the carpet from her sitting position. Her midriff sleeveless shirt revealed muscles on her slender arms and the small of her back and was tight enough to show him her slender figure. The shortness of her short shorts showed more muscles on her slender legs, and the short-top sneakers were adorned with faded little hearts.
Darien tapped the girl on the shoulder. "Excuse me," he prompted gently.
The girl swiveled, and Darien's jaw dropped. It was Serena, the Meatball Head, sitting on his stool.
"Hi, Darien!" she exclaimed, too happy to even think of fighting him. She jumped up, finished with her cherry lemonade. "Thanks, Andrew! That was good!" She looked up at Darien, who was still standing there with mouth open, and chuckled softly.
She stood really close to Darien; leaning even closer, her head brushed against his cheek, and he could smell the tropical flower-scented shampoo of her hair. Her warm finger was placed under his chin, and she gently pushed up. "Your mouth was getting dusty," she softly said to him, her sweet voice hinting at amusement as her cherry-scented breath stirred in his ear. She gave Andrew money for the drinks, and left with a smile on her face. He could hear her friends giggling.
Darien watched her go. Wow. Serena looked…hot. Darien focused. Wait a minute! What am I thinking? That was MEATBALL HEAD!
He sat in his stool, the one Serena had been sitting in. He shifted his gaze to Andrew as Serena's friends left. "What just happened?" he asked, accepting a Mountain Dew from his friend.
Andrew grinned. "You thought Serena was the sexiest girl you've ever seen."
Darien fixed Andrew with a stern look. "I did not think that Serena was sexy," he retorted hotly. Although she looked drop-dead DAMN gorgeous!
Andrew smiled. "Well, what was with the calculating look you had when you were looking at her, and your jaw dropping when you saw who it really was, hm?"
Darien's face grew surprised. "What?"
Andrew shrugged. "I'm not telling you, O Smart One. You figure that one on your own."
Darien sighed, took a large gulp of his soda, then asked teasingly, "Then where was Serena going, O Milkshake Boy?"
Serena walked happily down the street. Her first free day! Finally! She hadn't had a free day since…
What? Since winter set in? Serena thought. Concluding that statement, her thoughts wondered. Sailor business, current Youma attacks, Tuxedo Mask…
Tuxedo Mask. Her shining eyes grew worried. She hadn't seen him since late February, when Zoicite had slit her throat. She constantly worried about him. In truth, she was in love with him.
She reached the Minato Flower Gardens and Wildlife Preserve. Looking up, she heard the singing of the birds, saw the bright sun, and took a deep breath of fresh, cherry blossom-scented air.
Entering the front door, she was greeted by Alisa, the tour guide, and Mark, the animal specialist. He was accompanied by George, the florist.
"Hey, Serena!" Alisa called to her, echoed by Mark. George took her in hand as she said hello and led her to a nearby door that led to some flowers near the aviary.
"Get to work," he said gruffly, but winked to her as he left.
Serena quickly started to enjoy herself. After tending the flowers outside the aviary, she went inside and cared for some flowers there. Mark called on her to help him in front of a group of young people, for he was holding a show with the predatory birds.
Serena helped him, then finished with the rest of her job. She reported to George, and he released her for the rest of the day. However, she didn't leave; in fact, she stayed.
After a couple of hours, Serena felt a timid tap on her shoulder. Whirling around, turning her head at the last moment to avoid her hair hitting the person behind her, she came face-to-face with Darien.
"Oh, hi, Darien," she said, turning back to the daffodils she was watering. She felt him standing behind her.
"Hey, Serena," he said to her, nervously rubbing his neck. "Can I talk to you? Alone? Please?"
Oohh, I love cliffys! Next chapter: Serena's and Darien's feelings grow, and Serena gets her first kiss. But with who?
Please R&R!