Told you they would get longer.
The next day Serena walked down the street, her destination? The gym. She needed to exercise badly so might as well take it out on some poor innocent kid that's looking for a fight. Sammy was shopping with Jadeite and the others were either training or sleeping. She let the past few day's go through her head.
She let out a sigh; she didn't want to be in Tokyo. She wanted to be in the nice little apartment in L.A tending kids wounds or fighting for her gang, not seeing Darien and the scouts everyday, not staying in a house that reminded her so much of her abusive father who's whereabouts were currently unknown, not fighting Metallia and her own feelings. No, just some peace.
Shake it off, she told herself. This is the way things are whether you want them this way or not. She walked in the gym and went to the women's locker room to change. When she came out her hair was up in a tight ponytail braid with a pair of gym shorts and a T-shirt on.
She walked over to the fighting arena and waited in line. Much to her amusement and pleasure when she got up there she found her opponent was Darien.
'Oh crap' Darien thought when he entered the arena and seen Serena as his opponent. I'm in for a whole lot of pain. He was right. Serena played fair and even though Darien was a black belt, Serena did and always had mixed her fighting with her street fighting reflexes.
He put up a good fight, the best she had in years; but he still lost with many bruises and very damaged pride. When the ref blew the whistle to end the match and name Serena the victor, she went over and held out her hand to Darien. He took it and she helped him up.
When he was standing she looked directly into his eyes and said in a low voice, "that was exactly how I felt after you beat me every single time, except I didn't have any dignity left. Think about it."
With that she turned and left the arena and headed for the rings. Darien watched her for a second, and then took his battered body to the Men's locker room.
About an hour later he was walking through the park when he seen Serena's brother sitting on the bench. Well I have no pride left and I need advice. Darien walked over and sat down beside Sammy. Sammy glanced up and Darien saw his eyes harden slightly,
"What do you want?" Sammy asked. Darien sighed "Advice" "What kind of advice. Before you answer that answer this. By the look of it you've had a run in, a painful on by the looks of it, with my sister, am I right?" Darien nodded, "That's why I'm here. I severely regret what I did to her all those years ago.
I realized beating up on kids was stupid and wrong a few years ago and I don't beat up on them anymore. I want Serena to forgive me or at least say one kind word to me but I don't know how to make her see I've changed." He looked pleadingly at Sammy, "Please any kind of advice would help me".
Sammy looked long and hard at Darien's bruised and pleading face before saying, "I don't know my sister as well as I would like to know her but I can tell you this, Serena was mistreated badly back then.
So she left to friends in L.A. Those friends are here now and they know the extent of her wounds. She won't forgive you easily Darien but if you can show her that you changed I'm sure she will forgive you.
You hurt her bad Darien but if you show that you've changed them she might forgive you." Sammy looked up as a man with white hair approached. "Whose your friend Sammy?" he asked, "Malachi this is Darien, Darien this is one of Serena's friends I was talking about.
I was just giving Darien some advice that might help him avoid another run in with Serena. Well see ya Darien." Sammy stood and him and Malachi left the park.
Sailor Moon moved swiftly over the rooftops as she scanned the area making sure it was secure. She stopped on top of a roof that over looked the park, "What do you want Tuxedo Mask?"
She had felt his presence a little while back. "To talk" He needed to talk to her, badly. He had made a mistake by agreeing with the scouts of sending her away. "About what Tuxedo Mask?
It was clear five years ago that you didn't so much want to speak to me again?" "I don't how to ask your forgiveness for what I did. It was stupid to send you away and I was stupid to listen to the scouts.
We needed you Sailor Moon. We still need you and no matter how much the scouts deny it its true. After you left, we were barely managing the monsters that were attacking.
I realized the mistake I made in agreeing with them and I'm all for getting down on my knees and beg for forgiveness."
She laughed, a musical note to his ears, and said, "No that isn't necessary. I accept your apology Tuxedo Mask, but not without doubt." She turned to him, "it was hard enough having the scouts send me away, but with you agreeing with them it broke my heart because your approval meant the world to me.
Why I don't know but it tore me when you agreed with them. If you try anything like that again, I won't run away and you won't like what becomes of it. More likely than not I will end up burying you alive.
This will be a trial until I can trust you. Understand?" Relief spread through Tuxedo Mask. She accepted. "Yes I understand thank you Sailor Moon" He walked up to her and kissed her on the cheek.
"Your approval means the world to me also, good bye, for now," and with that he leapt away and disappeared in the night.
Sailor Moon put a hand to her cheek where he had kissed her and smiled, "its never really good-bye Tuxedo Mask." And with that thought she disappeared in the shadows.
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Chrys