Hello, hello…… Yes, yes, I know, it's quite a bit later than the last couple of chapters. I'm very busy at uni… consider yourselves lucky you got it at all… nah, I take that back. I'll consider myself lucky if you read ti :-)
Reviewers: To my reviewers and emailers… thankyou once again :) And… yes she's bacj… no, she's not… yes she is… no she's not…. Errrr.. ummm… ignore me :-)
Story Notes: got none this chappy
And now… here comes the story…
{From Chapter Three…}
As the others got up and headed towards where Mercury and Jupiter had left the victims earlier, Venus began to shake Darien. "Hey Kamen… Darien… Wake up. Please?"
Having called the police and moved the unconscious forms back near the park bench, Mercury, Mars and Jupiter headed back towards Venus. "Are we going to have to carry him?" Asked Jupiter. "Coz, I think my arm might be broken."
"No." Came a slurred but welcome answer. All eyes now focussed on him, Kamen, with Venus's help managed to slowly stand.
The five warriors slowly hobbled out of the grove together. A sorry sight, but welcomed by those involved, considering the fact that they had all worried that they would never be able to see the sun rise again, let alone walk away from the fight.
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[AN: The girls have all grown up and have jobs. Ami is a doctor, Raye a priestess, Lita a chef, and Mina a business woman. Darien is surgeon at the same hospital as Ami, Dare is closest to Ami out of all the girls.]
{{{ Chapter Four }}}
Seated in various comfortable positions in Darien's family room, the girls chatted quietly as they waited for Darien to finish in the shower. Though all still sore, as the girls sat chatting quietly, with a cup of hot chocolate in hand, they each considered how fortunate they were to be in the shape they were in. Alive, and fairly well.
Having crashed at Darien's the night before after helping him home, they each rang in sick to work today. "Pity that the only time I ever get off work is when I really am sick or injured." Grumbled Lita, smiling slightly.
"We're lucky that we don't get sick very often, or our number of sick days would get suspicious." Raye added.
With a thoughtful look on her face, Ami ventured an answer, "I think perhaps that's probably to do with our Senshi backgrounds. Though part of it is to do with the fact that we all eat well and are really fit."
"Blast it!"
Turning towards the mumbled sound of Darien's voice through the bathroom door, the girls all responded with "Darien?"
"Are you okay?" Asked Mina.
The girls gasped as Darien stumbled out of the bathroom. Seeing his pale face, and still bleeding leg, Ami jumped up quickly. "Over to the counter Darien. Quickly. I have the first aid kit out still."
"It just started again. I thought it had stopped." He mumbled as he carefully hopped up onto the counter.
Looking closely at his leg, the doctor sighed. "You have to tell us when it's like this. There is no point in hiding it, it only gets worse. You should know that."
"Yeah, yeah." He agreed, having heard her lectures before, and knowing that she was correct. "Sorry. I had other things on my mind."
Looking up at him curiously for a moment before she reached over for the needle and sterile string, she mentioned, "At least the wound is clean Dare." Adding more quietly, "What have you been thinking about?"
Flinching as she began the stitching, Darien looked quickly over at the others. Seeing that the girls were preoccupied with their conversation, he answered slowly. "Its Sere," he answered quietly.
Finishing the stitching, Ami looked back up at Darien. "Really, why? I mean, any particular reason why?"
"Because…"
Hearing his pause, Ami finished the bandage and looked carefully into his guarded eyes. "Even without your mask on, your eyes are always guarded. Why?"
"Simple, I don't want people to see what's in there."
"Anyone ever get through your defences?"
"You girls each do sometimes, in your own way. Lita sees my pain sometimes. Raye can, if she concentrates see some things. Mina sees the burden of leadership and love. And you see a lot. I guess because I'm closest to you. You see more than you should sometimes. And Serena, she used to see through."
Smiling lightly, she asked, "You love her don't you?"
"Hah," he exclaimed quietly. "See what I mean about you seeing too much."
"So?" She questioned again.
"Aren't you supposed to be bandaging my leg or something?" Darien asked, trying to change the subject.
Giggling softly she answered, "It's done."
"Yes." He replied quietly to her earlier question. "I do. And I always have."
Thoughtfully she asked, "How come you never told her?"
"The time wasn't right. She wasn't ready. I mean, think about it, she was way too young."
"True," agreed Ami. "Well then, we're all done." She finished a little louder.
"Don't mention it to the others please. Mina I think knows, but…"
Smiling, Ami nodded her head. Pausing quickly before walking back to the others, she asked quietly, "Why now? Why are you thinking about her now?"
"Because," he said as he slowly got off the counter. "That was her last night."
Completely forgetting to keep quiet, Ami lost her composure. "Who… Who was that?…Sere? As in Serena? That was Serena?"
Startled out of the conversation the three girls stared at Ami in disbelief and confusion. "Who was… what was Serena?" Asked Lita.
"Did someone see Serena?" Questioned Raye. "Who, Where?"
Sighing loudly, Darien glared half-heartedly over at Ami. "Way to go," he mumbled to her.
"Darien… he… she… there… us and… ummmm." Stuttered Ami.
"Huh?" Asked Mina.
"Yeah." Added Lita and Raye, motioning to Mina. "What she said."
"Well," began Darien. "I was planning to get my thoughts sorted out a little more. But here goes." Sitting down on one of the couches, he smiled as Lita handed him a hot chocolate. "I'm not sure what you guys remember of the end of the fight last night, while we were all semi conscious." Pausing for a minute he waited to see if they had any memories.
"There was peace…"
"A white light. Or something bright…"
"A blast of light and the evil was gone… I think."
"Someone said something. A female…"
"There was another warrior wasn't there. Yeah, a female warrior."
"Was she a Senshi?"
"Not one of ours… but senshi does mean warrior."
"Serena!"
"Yes, Ami," answered Mina. "We heard you. But you're not making any sense. Serena what?"
"Girls," interrupted Darien and the girls all quieted down their comments and reminiscences. "Everything you guys remember is true. And what I think the bewildered Ami is trying to get out is that we know the mysterious senshi. And Mina she is one of ours. That person got rid of the monster and we owe her our lives."
"Yes, but who…" mumbled Lita.
With a furrowed brow, Raye repeated, "We know her…"
Amazed, Mina asked, "Surely… surely not… you don't mean." Getting her act together, she said, more clearly, "She came. You were right. I kept hoping." She said with a happy look. "So she's back?"
"Who…"
"Serena, guys. It was Serena last night. She appeared and saved us." Answered the now more composed Ami.
"A…" Bump. "Uhhhh…" groaned Raye from where she had fallen to the ground in surprise.
"Wow…" muttered Lita. "She's back," she added with a dazed look on her face.
"No."
As all heads swung in his direction, Darien continued. "I don't know exactly what happened. But I don't think she's back. I don't think she's here at all. I think she just came from wherever she was to the battlefield just to finish the fight."
"If she finished the fight…" began Raye. "I mean, I know she had a lot of power. But her power must have increased a lot. Unless she was borrowing someone's power.
"No," disagreed Darien. "It was definitely her power."
"How do you know?" Asked Lita.
With a smile, he continued. "Simple. I could feel it. I could feel her."
With a sad look on her face, Mina followed up on an earlier point. "What makes you think she's not here?"
"The look she gave me right as she was leaving."
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{{PREVIEW}}
{{{ Chapter Five }}}
After discussing the actual fight for a few hours the girls all went home, with the intention of getting some more much needed sleep. However as luck would have it…
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Okay, so I realise the preview is short… at least I put one in this time ;)
Next chapter… will she come, or not??????
Hhhmmm… let me think :-) The answer is yes… eventually… maybe not next chappy though…
Stay tuned people…. And feel free to review and email… I appreciate all comments, demands for updates, and constructive criticism and ideas…