Emotions
Chapter Five: Presents And Secrets
A week after the ball, Serena strolled into the Crown, humming a section of a song she was learning in choir. Many other girls had joined, totaling the treble group to thirty-four girls. Professor McHall was pleased that so many girls wanted to join.
Looking around, Serena saw Mina flirting with Andrew, Lita and Raye in a hot discussion about biology projects, and Amy trying to teach a science lesson to Chase, who was looking at the blue-haired genius as if she were from outer space.
She adjusted the strap of her gymbag, looking for a particular ebony-haired college boy. Not seeing him in the Arcade yet, she sighed and settled herself in the darkest booth in the Crown, laying her head on her arms for a short nap.
Darien walked in, spotting Mina and Andrew. He walked over, smiling as Andrew greeted him and Mina, being the good person she was, hugged him.
"Hey Dare," Andrew said as Darien took off his duffel gymbag. "What's up?"
"Nothin' much, Drew," he replied. "What's up with you?"
"Andrew just asked me to be his girlfriend!" Mina said, sheer joy radiating on her face. "I'm so happy!"
"Good for you," Darien replied. "Now you'll have to be stuck with him."
"Hey!"
"It's true," Darien retorted. "You see," he whispered to Mina, "at night, he sleeps with a bear named Tutu and a blue blankie."
"I do not!" Andrew said, almost yelling. His cheeks were red from embarrassment. "Dare! Do you want me to tell someone your secrets?"
"I don't have any," Darien replied. "That's the only good part of being your friend."
Andrew pouted. "You're so mean, Darien!"
Darien only laughed.
Serena woke up as she heard Darien's deep laugh. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she saw him conversing with Andrew and Mina. Andrew was pouting sadly, Mina was trying not to keel over in laughter, and Darien was grinning.
She straightened and started humming. She knew Darien was the only one with hearing sharp enough to hear it.
Darien heard gentle humming and knew it was Serena. He looked around as Andrew and Mina started talking again. He saw movement in the darkest booth, and caught a glimpse of her golden hair and sky blue eyes.
He stretched, standing up. Making his way to the booth, he heard the leather creak and saw slender legs. Stopping at the table, he saw her faint outline.
"Mind if I join you?" he asked her, placing his hands at the edge.
She shook her head. "I don't mind at all. I was getting pretty lonely," Serena's sweet voice answered him.
He scooted close to her, and she moved a bit to make him comfortable. Slinging an arm over her shoulders, he drew her closer to him.
"You were, were you?" he said, friendly teasing. "I guess I'll have to fix that, won't I?"
She nodded. "Yes, you will," she replied.
Darien grinned. Putting two fingers under Serena's chin, he raised her lips to his. He closed his eyes as he gently kissed her.
Serena closed her eyes as she kissed Darien back. He didn't go deeper, even though he wanted to. He hadn't seen her in a week; he had been busy writing a medical internship paper for college.
When he drew back, Serena snuggled her face into his shoulder, feeling his body vibrate as he chuckled. "Comfy?" he asked her, and she nodded. His arm tightened around her shoulders, and she looked at her watch.
"I've gotta go, Darien," she said, gathering her bag. "I'm going to the gym. I need to work off those cookies I ate. Plus," she added as she stood, "they have a new martial arts class Lita asked me to check out."
Darien shrugged and grabbed his stuff. "I'll go with you. I haven't gone since…" his voice trailed off, and Serena laughed.
"That's why you're so fat," she retorted as she walked out. "You haven't worked out in a while."
"I'm not fat!" Darien exclaimed. "I just haven't been there in forever," he added sheepishly, walking out after her. He had to swerve in order to not run into Serena, who had stopped outside the door. Looking where she was, he grinned. "Like it?" he asked, and she nodded wordlessly.
She was looking at his motorbike. Shiny dark blue, it was a Kawasaki Z750 model. It had two leather seats with helmets on them and a excellent running engine system. It was a birthday present from his uncle, who lived in another part of Japan.
Serena walked up to it and ran light fingers across the dark blue paint. "When d'you get this?" she asked him, examining the motorbike. He shrugged, placing his bag on one of the seats.
"It was a birthday present. Come on," he beckoned, giving her a helmet, "I'll take you to the gym."
She gaped. "Me? On this thing?" She stepped back.
He sighed. "Fine," he retorted as he put on the other helmet. "Guess you'll have to walk."
"Wait!" she took the helmet and put it on. Gingerly she got on behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Ready!"
The next week was Serena's birthday. She was finally turning seventeen.
"Yay!" Serena exclaimed at the Arcade. "It's finally my birthday! I'm so happy!"
"Jeez, keep it down, Meatball Head," Darien's voice floated behind her. She turned to see him wearing sweatpants and a tank top.
"Nice to see you too, Jerkface," she retorted, her voice icy. "Here I am enjoying myself, and you just had to come spoil it. Thanks a lot."
He smirked. "That's my job," he replied as he sat next to her. She was drinking a cherry lemonade, and by her hand was a bottle of Mountain Dew. Andrew was nowhere to be seen.
He pointed. "Is that for you?" he asked her, directing his gaze to her sweet face. She smiled.
"I asked Andrew to give me one to give to you," she replied, sliding it over to him. "He was going with Mina to go birthday shopping. They went with the others."
"So you're here, alone, watching the Arcade?" Darien asked her, sipping the soda.
She shook her head. "In case you haven't noticed, which you haven't," she retorted hotly, "today is Saturday, and you know as well as I that the Crown Arcade is not open on Saturdays."
Just then a scream sounded. Serena and Darien looked up sharply, straining their hearing to find the direction. Without a word, Serena jumped up and ran out the door. Darien waited a few seconds, then ran out as well.
"Great," Zoicite said lazily as the Sailor Scouts showed in her sight, "I wait for you brats to think I'm gone for good, and then I show up and you're here." A Youma stood by her side. "How splendid."
Raye rolled her eyes. "Give it a rest, will you, Zoicite?" she asked, agitated. The others nodded. "We'll kick your Youma's sorry butt, and then we'll deal with you."
The Youma came at full force, knocking the breath out of Sailor Mercury. Amy coughed, trying to regain breath while Lita held her up, emerald eyes glittering.
"Venus Love Chain Encircle!" A whip made of glowing gold hearts wrapped itself around the Youma, firmly rooting it in place while Mina held it down. Raye put her hands together for her Mars Fireball, but yelped when a beam of black magic hit her fingers. It had been from Zoicite.
Venus' attention distracted, the Youma broke the Love Chain and reached for the Scout. Venus quickly recovered and darted out of the way.
Serena watched Zoicite as she ducked the Youma's advances. She hit it squarely with a 720-degree kick. The Youma screamed as it fell backwards.
Lita moved in with her Supreme Thunder Crash. As the lightning burned the Youma, Zoicite moved in with a snarl, throwing bits and beams of black magic at the Scouts. They dodged them nimbly.
Serena cleared, Moon Scepter in hand. She aimed it at Zoicite's unsuspecting back with cold eyes.
The Youma grabbed her, lighting up as it sucked her energy. Serena struggled, growing weaker. Zoicite grinned at the object in her hand.
"You know," Zoicite remarked as Serena's sight grew darker, "I'll leave you sailor brats alone if you give me the Moon Scepter, Sailor Moon."
Serena abruptly straightened, vaguely aware. "Never!" she cried as the Youma tightened its hold.
Zoicite reached for the Scepter, only to stop as a steel-tipped red rose grazed her fingers. She leveled icy eyes to stare at Tuxedo Mask, who stood on the streetlight.
"What do you want, cape boy?" Zoicite asked him, voice irritated. Serena stopped struggling, and the Youma, transfixed by his appearance, slightly loosened its hold. The Sailor Scouts drew nearer to their leader.
Tuxedo Mask smiled coldly. "I just wanted to see Sailor Moon dust you," he remarked as Serena exploded to life. She elbowed the Youma, who let go with a yowl. Twisting as she jumped in the air, she aimed the Scepter at the monster.
"Moon Princess Halation!"
The Youma dusted, Serena fell, landing on one knee and hand. She looked up just as Zoicite ran to Tuxedo Mask.
Zoicite's hands glowed black as she tried to punch the masked man. Tuxedo Mask moved with amazing swiftness, dodging her attacks and landing some of his own. While they fought, Serena looked on with rage and fury.
How dare she attack Tuxedo Mask! Serena leveled the Moon Scepter at the General, ignoring the fact that Mercury had come running to her.
"Serena," Amy whispered hurriedly, "you can't do this. You risk hitting Tuxedo Mask, and you know what our powers do to normal people."
"Tuxedo Mask isn't normal," Serena replied cold-heartedly.
Zoicite held Tuxedo Mask in a death grip, choking the life out of him. The masked man struggled, growing unconscious from lack of air.
"Moon Princess Halation!"
Zoicite screamed with pain as the moon beam hit her back. Tuxedo Mask dropped, landing on his knees, and he gently grasped his throat, gasping. Sailor Venus and Sailor Mercury came and held him up as Sailor Moon faced Zoicite.
"How dare you attack him?" Serena gasped, her energy at its ebb. She stalked closer to the fallen Zoicite. "How dare you lay one finger on the people I love? How dare you think that you can do this to my friends, or me?"
Zoicite sat up, a trickle of blood on her chin. Serena lifted the Scepter and aimed it at Zoicite's face. Her sky blue eyes were cold aquamarines in the bright light.
"Go ahead, Sailor Brat," Zoicite tempted, a malicious grin on her face. "Go ahead and kill me. I dare you."
Serena saw something flash before her eyes; she didn't know if it was sympathy or cold fury, but her hand lowered the Scepter, and she turned her face away.
"As I thought," the General taunted as she stood. "You can't kill. Your heart's too weak to take a big responsibility like killing a person in cold blood."
Serena faced Zoicite. "No. I feel sorry for you, for you have no one to care about, or people to care about you," her voice was deadly soft, her vision growing darker.
"I don't need care. I have no use for humans' stupid emotions," Zoicite retorted as she disappeared in a flurry of cherry blossoms. Only when she was gone did Serena collapse, the Moon Scepter disappearing.
The Scouts ran to their leader, Tuxedo Mask already gone. "Serena!" Amy gasped as she drew near to Serena.
"Is she gone?" the blonde asked wearily, her eyelids drooping. Her golden hair was sweat- matted, and her eyes looked dull and lifeless.
Lita nodded. "Raye," the Scout of thunder called. "Let's get her to the Temple."
"YAY!"
Serena tore through the presents, strewing wrapping paper and ribbons everywhere.
She felt better than yesterday, having been healed by Raye at the Temple. The girls had watched over her while she slept. They told her, when she was awake, that Darien and Andrew had come to check in on her frequently, and that Darien seemed worried.
Serena's parents, Ikuko and Kenji, watched their daughter with smiles on their faces. They had a special surprise for her, but they would wait.
"Thanks Andy!" Serena rushed up to hug Andrew with one arm, the other carrying a bottle of cherry-scented body soap and a bottle of cherry-scented body lotion. Those were Andrew's birthday gifts.
"You're welcome, Sere. I knew you have had an eye on them for some time, so I thought I would get them for you," Andrew replied, a smile on his face.
Serena thanked him again and sat back down. Lita had given her a cookbook, Mina a cute-but-sexy-bikini swimsuit (Oo, lala!), Raye a book on meditation, Amy a thick reading book that Serena would enjoy reading, and Andrew the cherry-scented bath essentials. All that was left was the present from her parents.
A knock sounded on the Tsukino's front door. Kenji, puzzled, opened it and admitted Darien himself. Andrew grinned and the girls smiled.
"Serena," Andrew prompted, "Darien has a present for you too."
Darien smiled gently at the girl before him. "Come on, see outside," he gestured, and when Serena looked, she squealed at the top of her lungs.
In the driveway, on a specially made trailer connected to Darien's motorbike, was a ruby red Kawasaki Z750 motorbike. The light from the house glinted on its glossy surface, and Serena ran to it, running gentle fingers over the beautiful deep red. Her parents and friends gasped.
"I love it," she said softly, suddenly glad that she had gotten her driver's license a year ago. She looked at Darien, gratitude and affection shining in her eyes. "Thank you, Darien."
She walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him. He placed his arms around her waist and, as to not upset the adults, Serena gently kissed the base of his throat, making it look like she was burying her head into his chest. He almost growled with the contact.
The girls trampled down the steps, rushing up to run gentle hands on Serena's bike. Andrew followed leisurely, hands in pockets, with Serena's parents behind him.
"Where'd you get this?" Andrew asked his colleague, shaking his blonde head at the crowd of chatting girls.
Darien shrugged. "Serena liked mine," he ran a gentle finger over the dark blue surface of his motorbike, "so I figured she'd like one. After all," he added with a sly smile, "someone suggested to get her one, and Serena had gotten her license a year ago."
Reminded of something, Darien reached into a bike pocket and withdrew a shiny black helmet. "Serena," Darien called softly.
She came over, letting her parents inspect the bike. "Yes, Bearer of the Greatest Gift Ever?" she said, her sweet voice making him shiver.
He handed her the helmet. "Here," he said. She turned it in her hands, and grinned when she saw the small white bunny decal on the back. She lifted an eyebrow.
"Also," he added, reaching into the pocket again. He drew out two large twin cherry decals. "For your bike," Darien explained.
Serena smiled. "Thanks," she whispered as she took them. She trotted back to her bike and promptly put the decals on, one twin cherry on each side.
"Where did you get this, young man?" Serena's mother, Ikuko Tsukino, asked him, voice awed. Kenji followed suit.
Darien explained while the girls said goodbye to Serena. Andrew also said goodbye, looking at his two friends with meaningful looks. When Serena's parents disappeared inside the house, Serena grabbed his hand and said, "Let's go."
Some time later, they found themselves at the park. Serena laced her fingers with his as they skirted the edge of the pond. Serena looked up and saw the stars.
"Look, Darien," she said softly. He looked up as well.
"They're beautiful, aren't they?" Serena asked him, eyes shining. He nodded.
Seeing Darien so calm, so himself, made Serena feel happy. She placed his arms around her waist and hers around his neck. His eyes questioned her actions as she leaned forward.
Her kiss held all the tenderness and love for him in her heart. She was thanking him and telling him, without words, that she wanted to be his. Darien returned it.
"Well, looky here," Zoicite's voice floated. Serena and Darien broke apart to see Zoicite hovering above the pond, face expressionless. "A young couple. How sweet."
A Youma popped out of nowhere, landing below the Dark General. "It makes me sick. Don't you think so?" the Youma asked, eyes glinting. Zoicite nodded.
Serena braced herself as the Youma came toward them. When it drew near, she drew her leg up and swung it in a scissor cut. The Youma grimaced as her leg hit its stomach, then neck. Darien's eyes widened as he watched Serena execute perfect karate and martial art moves.
Only when Serena faltered did Darien jump in. His feet and body moved in rhythm as he landed punches and kicks. Serena took this opportunity to sneak away and call the others. She pulled the communicator from her pocket.
"Guys! Come on," Serena said when they showed up on the screen.
"What now?" Raye asked, agitated.
"Youma attack at the park. Right now, Darien's keeping it busy," Serena replied, eyes on the duel. The girls chorused, "We're coming."
Darien grunted when a punch landed in his stomach. Serena ran up and hit the Youma with a drop kick. She helped Darien while the Youma recovered.
"You okay?" she asked him, checking him over. He seemed alright, although he would have bruises. He nodded.
"I'm ashamed of you, Zoicite," Sailor Venus' voice floated. Both turned to see the Sailor Scouts standing there, minus Sailor Moon. "Attacking two people in love? That's lower than low, even for you."
While the Scouts took Zoicite's attention, Serena helped Darien to a bench. "Wait here," she told him, and laid a gentle kiss on his forehead before running off.
"Where's Sailor Moon? Wimped out again?" Zoicite taunted, grinning evilly.
The Scouts smiled. "No," Lita stated simply.
Serena executed a perfect spinning kick on Zoicite. The General fell, not suspecting the surprise attack. Serena landed perfectly, bowing for the Scouts' applause before summoning the Moon Scepter.
Zoicite recovered. She rushed at Sailor Moon with a snarl, black edging her fingers. Serena gave the Scepter to Mina and ran to meet the General.
When they met, fingers interlocked, sparks flew as the two women struggled.
"Weak," Zoicite spat in Serena's face as she towered over the blonde. When Serena pushed back, Zoicite disappeared, and Serena looked around, accepting the Scepter from Sailor Venus as the other girls destroyed the Youma.
"Looking for me?" Zoicite called from atop a streetlight. Serena looked up and paled. In Zoicite's grasp was Tuxedo Mask, struggling.
"Still want to kill me?" Zoicite taunted, tightening the death grip her arm had around his throat. "I think you'll have to kill him first. Although," the Negaverse General remarked, "I've always wondered what's been behind the mask."
Tuxedo Mask and Serena froze.
"Let's have a look, shall we?" Without another word, Zoicite ripped off Tuxedo Mask's mask. The Scouts gasped.
It was Darien.
Next chapter: Serena earns the new Transformation Brooch! Malachite comes and gives Serena a warning of betrayal. I love mysteries! And cliffys!
Plz R&R!