A/N: I guess I lied. I am posting a new chapter this week. I am conceding defeat with this chapter; it has beaten me black and blue. But ignore my drama queen antics. Perhaps the cause for my frustration with this chapter was that fact that my sister and I watched a bunch of Sailor Stars episodes over the weekend, and I got really angry because 1.) not only does Seiya get quadruple the screen time Darien EVER got, but 2.) he also gets way better lines, and 3.) a way better voice! As I watched it, I was actually thinking, Hey, you know, Seiya and Usagi act just like Sere and Dare in STC – ARGHHH! Do you know how WRONG that is? I felt like such a traitor…(sobs)
Disclaimer: Good morning, world! (EightofSwords jumps out of bed and heads to the kitchen, where she scarfs four Twinkies and opens the newspaper) Hmm…where are the Classifieds…here they are! Hmm…Hmmm… (scanning columns and frowning) hmm…. Darn it! Sailor Moon's still not for sale! Ooh, but look, here's a diamond toilet seat! (picks up phone and starts dialing) Yes, I'm calling about the toilet seat? What? It's already sold? Crap!
Subject to Change
Chapter Twenty-One: It All "Clicks" Together
"Mercury." Luna leapt down from the bed Ami had made for her on the top of her dresser. The black cat landed on a pile of the young erudite's biology notes, sending them flying to the floor.
"Leave them," Luna commanded sharply as Ami let out a sigh and leaned down to pick the papers up. "There's more important things to consider right now."
"Y- yes, Luna," stammered Ami, sitting straight up in her seat. "I apologize."
Luna inclined her whiskered head, accepting her ward's apology. "I've just returned from the mall."
"The mall?" Ami's forehead creased. Where she sat at her desk, the harsh light of her study lamp gouged deep shadows into the confused furrows.
"Yes, the mall." Luna paced impatiently across Ami's desk. Ami flinched back as the cat's restless tail whipped within two centimeters of her nose. "I was following the traitor and her new little friend. Waiting to see her communicate with the Dark Kingdom."
"Did she?"
"No, not this time." Luna hissed for a moment, eyes boring into space. Then she calmed herself. "But I discovered something equally important. That new girl, the tall one – "
"You mean the new student?"
"Yes, her – she has an aura, Mercury."
Ami gasped. "You mean she hails from the Dark Kingdom?"
"Possibly." Luna's pacing sped up. "Or – she could be something else. But she has an aura, and either way, that means we need to learn more about her. I want you to talk to her at school tomorrow. Strike up a conversation, have lunch together. I want her history, Mercury. In fact, if you can scan her with your comp – "
"But!" Ami gasped out.
Luna stopped pacing to shoot her an expectant look. "What? It's not a difficult task, Mercury, it won't take away from your precious study time – "
Ami flushed, self-consciously pushing her reading glasses up on her nose. "It's just…Luna, this new girl…the rumor in circulation at school is that she was kicked out of her last school because she got into so many fights. She has a black eye, which supports that supposition, and in my already tenuous social position, I can scarcely afford to risk offending a bully such as her with nosy questions – " Ami broke off as Luna thrust her furry face into Ami's own.
"You," hissed the cat lowly, "are Sailor Mercury, member of the Imperial Senshi. This girl could be a threat to your princess. Your welfare does not matter. Do you understand that, Little Miss Cram School?"
Ami quivered. "Yes. Yes, Luna, I do, I'm very sorry… "
Predictably, Serena woke up late Friday morning. In her preoccupation last night she had forgotten to set her alarm clock – as usual – and her mother wasn't home to shout her out of bed. Consequently, Serena woke up fifteen minutes before the tardy bell rung. Which meant that she had no time to eat breakfast. And which also meant that she had not time to grab something for lunch. And which ALSO meant that she had no time to take a shower. Which meant that she still smelled like a man. A very nice-smelling man, but a man nonetheless.
But that's okay, Serena told herself. Life was still good. After all, she was alive, she had a house and food – very important – she was passing geometry – although that might change very soon – and she had made a new friend yesterday, not to mention that she had Motoki, Asanuma, and Darien, and Tuxedo Mask had been very nice and saved her again yesterday – and so far, the Dark Kingdom hadn't attacked her or any of her friends or family despite knowing who she was –
Really, what did she have to complain about?
The sun shone so brightly that morning that Serena began to sweat immediately. As she zoomed down the sidewalk, she wondered half-heartedly if she'd rather smell like sweat or like men's cologne. She decided that the latter was better. That wish, at least, came true, for she could still smell the musk thick in the air around her as she hurtled through the school gates with a minute and fifty-two seconds to spare. Man, I could have taken the time to grab a Twinkie… Her stomach growled angrily.
"Hungh…" she stooped over in the doorway of her first period class, hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. Her eyes flicked around curiously from beneath her golden bangs, and widened when they landed on a shock of blue hair in the corner of the room.
Only one person in all of Azabu High School had blue hair. That person was Ami Mizuno, i.e., Sailor Mercury. And it absolutely, positively could NOT be good news that she was bent in front of Lita's desk, talking rapidly in a hushed voice to the willowy brunette.
Still in slight shock, Serena shuffled back out of the classroom into the hallway. I can't lose Lita… Not like I lost Ami and Rei! Please Ami, don't make Lita hate me. Don't make her hate me…
Serena took a deep breath, forcing her breathing to calm. There was nothing she could do now about Ami and Rei believing that she had betrayed them. She could, however, still keep Lita from believing that – at least, she could try.
She squeezed her eyes shut and started back into the classroom. Only to fall heavily onto the linoleum floor after a bone-jarring collision with another body.
Serena forced her eyes open and blinked the stars from her vision. A pair of dark blue eyes – Ami – wide with fright, stared back at her. Then Ami scrambled to her feet and fled the classroom.
She was afraid of me, Serena realized with shock. These past couple of days, I've been tiptoeing around like a mouse because I thought they would hurt me – and Ami's been doing the same thing. Oh, Ami… I wish I could tell you the truth. I wish you would believe me.
A hand clasped Serena's wrist. Serena blinked timidly up at her brown-haired friend, flinching slightly.
"Up you go," grunted Lita, hauling the blonde to her feet. "That little idiot. Didn't even stop to say sorry."
"Ami…an idiot?" Serena's eyes widened hopefully. She felt slight guilt for thinking such a thing, but if Lita was calling Ami an idiot, that must be good…right? It meant she didn't buy whatever Ami had told her – right?
"Yeah, an idiot." Lita plopped back down in her desk, chewing absently on a straw. "I can think of a couple better things to call her, but I'll restrain myself." She smiled wryly, then shot Serena a glance, green eyes searching. "So you know that chick?"
"Ami? Yeah. I guess you could say that." Serena wiped her sweat-beaded forehead with an arm. "She used to be one of my best friends."
"Did she, now." Lita continued to chew thoughtfully on her straw. "She seemed pretty interested in what you've been up to lately. She kept asking me questions about you."
"Like what?" asked Serena warily, laying her cheek on the cool, hard surface of her desk and staring at Lita.
Lita shrugged. "Stuff. Like how long I'd known you, and stuff. I didn't really pay attention to much of it, to tell you the truth." Lita made a face, pointing at her black eye. "She kept staring at this sucker."
Serena smiled faintly. "You probably scared her."
Lita smirked, baring her teeth like a wolf. "Good." She paused a moment, eyes drifting back into focus to center on Serena. "Once she finished grilling me, she started telling me all this crap about you."
Serena stiffened.
"She was telling me how you acted like you were her best friend in the world and then you turned your back on her. Like, you abandoned her for some guy? And then started hanging out with her enemies!"
Serena's stomach writhed. She hoped it didn't show in her face.
"And get this!" Lita continued, letting out a bark of laughter. "She says you've been hanging out in a gang that beat her up!"
Serena smiled sadly to herself. Poor Ami. You never were good at making up lies. Unlike me.
"And…do you believe her?" Serena's voice rustled out softly, like a leaf in an autumn breeze. She stared at Lita, blue eyes pained.
Lita made the most wonderful sound Serena had ever heard in her life. She let out a snort. A beautifully contemptuous, disbelieving snort.
"Are you kidding me?" Lita grinned amusedly. "Like I'm gonna swallow that sort of crap. Even if I hadn't been able to tell she was lying – and that girl can't lie worth a damn from what I saw – I wouldn't've believed her. You wouldn't stab someone in the back like that."
Lita snorted again. "And come on – you? In a gang? I'd have to be high to believe that." She paused abruptly and sniffed the air, frowning. "Man, what is that stink?"
Words could not describe how elated Serena felt as she floated into the P.E. locker rooms. She had tripped over a crack in the sidewalk and gotten gum on her school shirt (now she had a shirt to match Darien's), and seventeen people (and a lot more if you counted the people who sniffed the air but were too polite to say anything) had commented on how manly she smelled that morning, but nothing could dampen her spirits now. Lita believed in her. Lita believed in her! She trusted Serena – she had deemed Serena worthy enough to place her trust in.
She stripped off her school fuku with much enthusiasm, then shimmied into her skort and shirt. She was actually looking forward to PE today. Hey, why not? She had the class with Darien and Asanuma, who could always make her laugh, and it was a beautiful day outside!
She skipped outside, humming happily. She tripped over a tuft of grass poking up out of the sidewalk, but there was no harm done. She bounced back up to her feet.
"Hey, Tsukino!" She turned to face the owner of the voice; it was Toriyama-san, a senior. He grinned at her. "I left my Old Spice at home, can I borrow some of your cologne after class?"
"Ha ha," replied Serena dryly. She couldn't help the smile that curved her lisp, though – it really was funny. Only a klutz like herself would ever have gotten herself soaked in what so far seemed to be permanent cologne. It NEVER would have happened to someone as careful as Ami or as graceful as Rei. "You'll have to follow me into the girls' locker room for it."
"You've got yourself a date." Toriyama winked good-naturedly, then turned to someone shuffling out of the guys' changing room. "Hey, how 'bout you, Shields? You gonna give me some of that cologne you drowned yourself in?" He sniffed suddenly. "Hey, yours smells exactly like Serena's – dude." He lifted his eyebrows suggestively. "What have you two been up to?"
Serena's head snapped around. Her eyes met Darien's, which were staring at her with something akin to horror in their dark depths.
Her knees trembled. That means…that means… She was overcome by a strange sense of detachment as she watched him trip towards her. It was as though she was watching the scene unfold from very far away.
Darien stopped when he was only a few centimeters away from her. The cloying odor of cologne intensified, knotting her stomach. Uncertainty sat upon his creased forehead, and she tilted her head back to stare up at him in growing alarm. In spite of herself, she found Luna's words floating into her mind – he's someone who wields some sort of power that we don't know anything about. If he has the power to destroy a youma on his own, then he has more than enough power to take on one of you…
Darien's hand met her chin. The feeling of detachment vanished as she was yanked back down into her own body and found herself staring up into his dark, dark eyes…
He pulled her head forward slightly. She froze, heart racing. Now her face was practically smushed into his neck, and she was looking at the lapel of his blue school blazer. She wondered bewilderedly what he was doing – then she heard the unmistakable sound of a deep inhalation – he was sniffing her hair!
"Sailor Moon?" she heard him breathe – right into her ear. She shivered first – his voice was just like Tuxedo Mask's, breathy and tenor – then remembered that that was because Darien was Tuxedo Mask.
She let out a wail. Darien jumped away from her. His face was flushed, as though he had just realized what sort of position they had been in, and WHO he had been in that position with.
"THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!" Darien yelled and Serena wailed at the same time.
Their classmates' heads turned around in interest to focus avidly on Serena and Darien. Class was always such a soap opera when those two were together.
"You…" Serena's mouth wouldn't work properly. Heat was creeping up her neck, her cheeks, her entire face. Oh God, she had been in love with this guy….she had been held by him – he had seen her in a skirt that revealed almost as much as her underwear! Oh, the humiliation!
Darien wasn't in all too great a condition himself. Good God, all this time, he had been flirting shamelessly with – with – with Odango! She had seen him skipping around in a tuxedo and a top hat like a pansy – she was going to milk this for all it was worth! He'd never be able to show his face again!
A thunderous frown crossed his face when his eyes – still sweeping across her in disbelief, meticulously cataloguing every detail of her features and wondering how in the hell he hadn't noticed – found a collection of scrapes on her knees. Maybe they were from last night's battle, an maybe they weren't, but they served as a reminder to him of all the times Sailor Moon had gotten injured or nearly killed – and now he knew that all those times, that had been Serena who was nearly choked to death, or who almost got flattened, who had bled and cried and flinched and killed –
"Serena," he hissed, stalking towards her.
"BREAK IT UP! BREAK IT UP!" Coach Etoukou bumbled his way out of the boys' locker room, brandishing his clipboard and blowing his whistle shrilly. He pushed his sunglasses up on his glistening head to search for the perpetrators of the fight he had heard, then saw Serena and Darien.
"Oh." The coach put down his whistle and shoved his shades back down. "Never mind. It's just the lovebirds again. OKAY, everyone LINE UP! We're doing discus today, and you better bet that I'm gonna be on the lookout for any of you to do well – "
he looked pointedly at Serena, "So that I can snag a coaching job in the 2008 Olympics – "
Serena paid no attention to the coach. All her concentration was devoted to avoiding Darien, who was stalking after her. To others, it resembled a rather bizarre dance – Darien took a step forward, Serena took a step back, Darien went forward, Serena went back, Darien feinted left, Serena darted right, Darien dove towards her, Serena squeaked and dove behind someone else – unfortunately, Asanuma, who grinned devilishly and stepped out of Darien's way. Then the dance began all over again, forward, back, forward, back…
"SHIEEEEEELDS!" Darien's head whipped around along with Serena's to look guiltily at Coach, who shook his clipboard at them. "I know that on Monday I said I was glad to see you two back to fighting as usual, but just because I support your relationship DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU CAN SLACK OFF IN MY CLASS!"
Coach harrumphed and turned back to face the rest of the students. "Like I was saying – today we're doing discus. This means everyone's going to need to find a partner – "
"Odango and I!"
Coach turned his head very slowly and deliberately to look at Darien, who had finally latched on to Serena. Serena was very pale-faced, and Darien was glaring fiercely at the various boys who were staring mournfully in Serena's direction.
"Good! Good for you, boy!" Coach slapped Darien on the back. "Finally taking some initiative! I'll make a quarterback out of you yet! Go out there, get in the game!" He pushed a discus into Darien's hands and shoved him out into the field.
"But – " Serena blurted out, throwing panicked glances every which way. Her eyes landed on Asanuma, and she looked at him pleadingly. "Asanuma – "
"Come ON, Tsukino," gritted out Darien in a fakely sweet voice, smiling forcedly for Coach's benefit. He yanked her along down the track. "Let's go have some FUN."
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH," said the class.
"Click," said Asanuma's camera.
By the time Darien let go of Serena, they were in the very, very far corner of the P.E. field. Serena dropped down in the grass, shoulders heaving, and Darien bent over, hands propped on his knee, chest heaving.
Eventually, they regained their breath. Serena lifted her head to squint up at Darien and Darien shielded his eyes to look down at her. Time ticked past as they stared at each other. Then Serena lurched to her feet and stomped a couple dozen meters away from him.
"What are you waiting for?" she shouted. "Throw the darn discus already!"
"Fine!" Darien picked up the discus from where he'd dropped it on the ground. "I'll bet you're pretty good with a discus, aren't you? After all, you throw tiaras every night!" He hurled the heavy disc at her and was quite incensed to see her catch it effortlessly in her fingertips.
"So? You throw flowers every night!" Serena flung the discus back. It spun so swiftly through the air that Darien ducked instead of catching it. He flushed angrily as Serena laughed, bending over and clutching her sides.
"I can't believe you didn't tell me!" The discus sailed back through the air, thunging dully into Serena's hip.
The blonde looked down, hand blurring as she caught the discus before it fell to the grass. She wasn't laughing anymore.
"Why would I tell you?" The leaden disc slammed right into Darien's gut. All the air left his lungs in a whoosh, and not just because of the discus, either.
He staggered back and stammered for a moment. "Because – because – "
"Because what?" Serena crossed her arms belligerently. Again, Darien was struck by how similar she looked to Sailor Moon. How could he not have noticed? "Because I liked you? Because I flirted with you?"
"You – you – what?" Darien's hand raked through his hair several times. His eyes were wide. This heat must be making me hallucinate. I'm sure she didn't just say that.
Serena sighed, kneading her forehead. "Nothing. Just forget it." She held out a hand. "Can we go back to throwing the discus, please?"
"Fine." With no little amount of annoyance, Darien picked up the discus and threw it to her. Tell him to forget, would she? As if he hadn't forgotten enough already in his life! Oh, he wasn't about to let this go, not by a long shot. "While I'm at it, do you want me to forget that you're Sailor Moon, too?"
"It would be nice!"
"Ah!" He hissed as the force of her hurled discus bent his fingers back in their sockets. He threw it back. "Why are you doing this, Serena?"
"Why not?"
"I don't know, maybe so that you don't KILL the only ally you've got?" He got this out just before the discus slammed into his ribs again.
"ARGH! I can't believe I had a crush on you!" Serena cried out, eyes flashing.
Darien froze. So he hadn't been hallucinating. "A – a – what?"
"I had a crush – no, not even a crush!" Serena stomped her foot in the grass. "I practically worshiped Tuxedo Mask, and now – now – now you have to go and ruin it – "
"Hey! You can stop right there," said Darien angrily. Not that he wanted Serena to have a crush on him, but he was more-than-slightly insulted by her apparent repulsion of him. "It's not MY fault you had to go and get a crush on my alter ego – "
"It's ALL your fault! Any idiot knows that if you run around in a tuxedo snatching girls out of death's path, they're gonna fall in love with you – "
You think I CHOSE to wear a tuxedo!" shot back Darien. "Did YOU choose your super-short hooker skirt?"
"NO!" shrieked Serena, eyes bulging.
"Did you choose to be Sailor Moon?"
"NO!"
"Well, I didn't CHOOSE to be Tuxedo Mask!" Darien bellowed. "Sorry if I'm not the dreamboat your crazy dumpling head conjured up! I can't help who I am, okay? I can't change who I am! Did you ever stop to think that maybe I didn't WANT to be Tuxedo Mask?"
He left out the inconvenient fact that ever since he had met Sailor Moon, he had begun to mind his night-job less and less. He left this out because it would be admitting the same thing Serena had – that he had had a crush on her alter ego.
"Well!" Serena's voice sounded weird. Strained. Like it was being stretched. It took a moment for him to realize that this was because she was fighting not to cry. "I'm so sorry that you have to transform every time I do. And that you have to find me every time and save my sorry butt every time I get into trouble – " Her voice broke and she began to cry.
Alarmed and internally cursing himself, Darien took a step towards her. Great job, Shields, make the kid cry – as if she doesn't already have enough on her plate. He stopped, unsure. If this was Sailor Moon, he would comfort her like he had at the museum. But this wasn't just Sailor Moon. It was Serena, too – and she might just as soon turn his feet into Swiss cheese as let him pat her on the shoulder (the day of the youma attack at the movies aside, that is.)
"I…would get rid of it…if I could," Serena choked out, smothering another sob. Her blue eyes glared across the expanse of grass at him. "But I can't change it either. Sorry for ruining your life!" she spat these last words out.
Darien rocked back on his heels, taken aback. Then realization washed over him – Serena wasn't angry with him. She was angry with herself. First, for having a crush on a guy who turned out to be her worst enemy (well, sort-of worst enemy), and second, for being the reason Darien couldn't live a normal life. He remembered what he had told Sailor Moon – I don't have a choice. Every time you transform, I feel it, Sailor Moon. And I have to transform and find you.
She probably felt guilty, now – just like she'd felt guilty for not returning Seiko's affections. Stupid. Stupid Odango.
Stupid Shields, you mean. How could you not have NOTICED? Now he understood why Serena had trudged into school so many days looking so haggard, so lifeless, so drained. She had probably lost as many hours of sleep as he had – if not more – fighting monsters that kept coming back, searching for a crystal that never appeared, risking her life again and again for a princess that had so far done nothing other than take away her chance at a normal life.
Just like me.
He wished he could change it. The Odango didn't deserve to lead the same kind of life he lived. She had enough on her plate with Ami and Rei being idiots to her – but it was a vain hope. He couldn't even control his own life; he had no way to change hers.
The only thing he could do was protect Serena vigilantly – even more vigorously than he had protected Sailor Moon.
Because now it wasn't some loveable but distant superheroine whose soul belonged to the princess. It wasn't a gorgeous angel who was going to hell.
It was Serena.
"You know what?" Darien crouched down next to Serena. He wanted her to trust him. He didn't want her to hate him. He wanted her to talk to him. He wanted to be able to talk to her. The prospect of having someone else to talk to about youma and generals was…a humungous relief.
But before he could persuade her to talk to him, he had to convince her not to be mad at him. Or herself.
The only problem was that the only way to do this required him to hang up his dignity.
He took a deep breath. "Tuxedo Mask…Tuxedo Mask had a crush on Sailor Moon, too."
Serena looked up and squinted at him suspiciously.
"You're lying."
"Do I look like I'm lying?" Darien grinned at her uncertainly. "Would I look this embarrassed if I was lying?"
"Hmph. Now it's embarrassing for someone to have a crush on me. Thanks a lot," she huffed.
"Well – I just – I mean – it's you, and we're – friends," he finished lamely. "Anyway, what I was trying to say is that…it's not your fault I feel every time you transform. Actually, it really comes in handy, because you have the weirdest knack for sniffing out youma – "
"You're not bad at it yourself," returned Serena wryly.
"Only when I'm in the same place you are," noted Darien. "But, um – I don't mind savng you, Serena. At all. So don't you dare feel guilty about it, or I'll have to…hmm…go tell the Chinese Food Guy that you thought he was hot."
"Like he'd care," said Serena dejectedly. "He swings the other way, remember? Why does it always have to be the hot ones…"
"Would you cheer up already?" Darien kicked her in the shin. "You were on Cloud Nine yesterday, what happened?"
"You have to ask?" repeated Serena disbelievingly. She pursed her rosebud lips for a moment, forehead creasing in thought. "Actually…actually – no, this is good, isn't it? I mean, now you know my secret, and I know yours, so I don't have to bop you in the head with the Luna Pen anymore to keep you from seeing me transform – "
"That was YOU?" roared Darien. "That HURT – "
"And we'll be able to fight youma and search for the princess and the crystal together," Serena ignored Darien's outburst, her eyes beginning to sparkle as she ticked off the possibilities on her fingers. "And I don't have to worry about whether you're from the Dark Kingdom or not, because duh, you're Darien, I know I can trust you – "
A broad smile unfurled on Darien's face. He hid it quickly behind a hand before Serena could notice it. The insane pleasure he felt seemed utterly ridiculous, though knowing her, she'd sooner hug him than tease him about it.
"And we can make corny speeches together and gang up on Zoicite, and trade information – "
"So you really had a crush on me, huh?" Darien interrupted. Ooh, he was going to milk this for all it was worth…
"I had a crush on Tuxedo Mask!" Serena corrected hastily. "I have pretty horrible taste in guys, huh?"
"Ha ha. I guess we both got caught up in the – uh, well, like you said, skirts and tuxedoes – "
"Plus roses," added Serena. "Can't forget the roses."
"How could I forget the roses?" Darien rolled his eyes.
Serena watched him curiously as she traced circles on the tarnished surface of the discus. "What's wrong? Don't you like them?"
Darien scowled. "Don't get me wrong, they come in handy sometimes – but they seem so wimpy…"
"Wimpy?" The blonde snorted. "You, who can kill a youma with just a toss of your cane? Please. Believe me, I of all people know wimpy, and you're not wimpy."
"Odango – "
Serena cut him off quickly before he could say anything. "How'd you get stuck with the roses, anyways?"
Darien sighed and let her change the subject. He sat down Indian-style and propped his cheek on his hand. "Search me. I don't even know where the tux comes from."
"Same here." Serena fingered the bejeweled gold brooch that she had pinned at her waist. "I mean, Luna gave me this, but I don't know where exactly the fuku comes from and all…"
"This Luna. What's her deal? She's the psycho talking cat from the museum?"
"Luna." Serena's eyes hazed over. "How can I explain Luna? She's – well, she says she comes from the moon. Like, she was sent to find all us Senshi and awaken us so that we could carry out our mission of finding the Moon Princess and the Silver Crystal." Serena paused for a moment and lifted her thoughtful eyes to his. "She was pretty freaked out when she saw you could kill youma with that cane. That was when she started acting weird. She told us – the Senshi, I mean – that if you had enough power to take care of a youma, you had enough power to defeat one of us in a fight. She said you must be from the Dark Kingdom – oh, but I already told you that."
"Yes," murmured Darien, his mind reviewing the memories of that battle. She had been so frightened by that damned cat… "Why were you so scared of her?"
"Um…well…" Serena wound her arms tighter around her legs, hugging them to her chest. "That time…at the movie theater…did you hear what Zoicite said?"
Finally! I'm going to get some answers! Darien leaned forward intently. "Yes."
Serena averted her eyes from his intense gaze. "I…well, that night, after you drove me home, Luna was in my room – which I didn't expect, because, you know, she and the Senshi were mad at me for letting all those people die – "
"WHAT!" snarled Darien. "They told you that was YOUR fault!"
Serena winced. "Darien…it's okay – here, just let me finish – Luna was in my room, and I was trying to convince myself that Zoicite had just been lying, but then I saw Luna, and I remembered how she had kicked me out of the temple, and – "
At this point, Serena's fists were clenched, and she seemed to be seething to herself more than to Darien. " – then she was trying to make out like I had been riding around with boys instead of fighting, but that's not true, I've fought more youma than Ami and Rei ever will, I and I just got so mad, and I realized that I shouldn't trust her anymore than I trusted Zoicite, so I asked her when she was planning to tell us that we had sold out souls to the princess? She just froze up, and that was how I knew that it was for real. I mean, I hadn't believed it before, but – "
Serena let out a shaky breath. "Anyway, then she wanted to know who had told me that. I told her Zoicite, and then – stupid, stupid, stupid me – I asked her if she'd told Rei and Ami yet. She didn't answer, just, like, teleported or something, in this big cloud of smoke and…disappeared. And I'm assuming she told Mars and Mer – well, I don't care if you know, they're Rei and Ami – because they've stayed away from me ever since."
"Wow," said Darien softly. "But you don't know how you've…sold your soul to the princess?"
"I have no clue." Serena shook her head, eyes darkening. "And it's not – I mean, it doesn't seem to affect me at all – "
"Maybe it doesn't do anything until the princess is actually found?" Darien mused. "Either way, it sucks. I – I wish I could change it – "
Serena gave him a strained smile. "It's not so bad. They're probably safer now, without my klutz attacks getting them into trouble all the time."
"Mmm." Darien grunted noncommittally, thinking back to the youma battle at which that new general, Malachite, had shown up. Speaking of which, he needed to update Serena on that new general's presence, since she hadn't been at that battle, and it seemed that her Senshi hadn't been talking to her… "I propose that we meet at the arcade after school today and have a sort of tactics meeting. There was a battle the other night that I think you need to know about – "
"Really?" Serena's eyes widened. "No one was hurt, were they?"
"No, no." Darien shook his head. "It's just – well, I'll tell you after school."
"Now who's keeping who in the dark?" grumbled Serena. "You better not – "
"SHIIIIIIIEEEEEELDS! TSUKINOOO! GET YOUR BUTTS OFFA THAT GRASS! IF YOU TWO DON'T STOP YAKKING AND START TOSSING, I'M GONNA MAKE YOU CHANGE PARTNERS!"
"NO!" shouted Serena and Darien, springing to their feet and automatically leaping for each other.
"OOOOOOH," said the class.
"Click," said Asanuma's camera.
"THUNK," said Darien's skull as it collided with Serena's.
"Owwww," moaned Serena and Darien, crumpling to the ground.
Ten minutes later:
"I swear, I see the two of you more in one week than I see of anyone else in a year!" muttered the nurse as she handed Serena an ice pack. She returned Serena's grateful smile with a severe frown, bustling over to hand Darien an identical ice pack. As she turned away from him, Darien made a face at her back, making Serena laugh.
"I don't see why you're laughing," said the nurse crossly when she heard Serena. "You're going to have a bump the size of Tokyo on your forehead for the next couple of days. Not very attractive." She propped her clipboard on her hip. "I'm going to take these accident reports to the office, but don't you dare move. I'm going to keep the two of you in here during lunch so that I can make sure neither of you sustained concussions."
Once the nurse was gone, Serena began to laugh again. "Between my forehead and Lita's black eye, we really are gonna look like we're in a gang."
"Hmm." Darien tapped his chin, smiling at Serena's infectious laughter, but thinking intently. He had so much he wanted to ask her, but where to start? The matters weighing heaviest on his mind were the most depressing ones: asking about hell and selling her soul and Mars and Mercury – Ami and Rei, rather – aw, why bother with it? He'd ask later. "When'd you first find out you were Sailor Moon, 'dango?"
Serena swung her legs back and forth where she sat atop one of the nurse's filing cabinets. Her short legs just barely skimmed the floor. "Hmm…it was at the beginning of this school year – oh, yeah. Remember that day after school when Motoki snuck potato salad into Numa's chili dog and Numa freaked out and – "
"Knocked it off the table and all into my hair," finished Darien dryly. "Yeah, how could I not remember that?"
"Yeah, well, I stayed and helped Toki clean up, so I was late going home. Mom got mad cause I told her I had been at the arcade – she thought I'd just been playing video games, you know – and sent me to my room. I fell asleep and had this really weird dream – " Serena flushed bright red suddenly.
"What?" Darien looked around. What could cause Odango to look so embarrassed? "What is it?"
"N-n-nothing," stammered Serena. "Anyways, I woke up, and there was Luna in my room. She gave me my transformation brooch – "
"That?" he pointed at the gold locket on her chest.
"Yeah, this. Anyway, she said I had this duty to find the princess and her crystal and to protect her. I thought I was going crazy, but then I transformed, and I dusted this youma attacking Molly – and that was the first night I saw you – " She darted a glance at him. "Do you…remember?"
"How could I not?" Darien grinned. "Klutz like you stumbling around in high-heeled boots ."
"Love at first sight, right?" she said sarcastically.
"Basically."
She shot him a glance. "You're serious!"
Darien shrugged. "I told you Tuxedo Mask had a crush on you. Why, weren't you stunned speechless by my dashing hero attire?" He struck a pose.
Serena blushed and mumbled something inaudible, then said crabbily, "Stop acting like Asanuma."
Darien laughed delightedly. "You WERE! Ooh, I have blackmail material now…"
"And I don't?" inserted Serena slyly. "What would Toki and Numa think of your midnight escapades?"
"They'd be jealous," replied Darien without hesitation. "At least – Motoki would, I'm don't know about Asanuma. If he found out I was Tuxedo Mask, he'd probably try to glomp me."
"Aw, don't worry, Sailor Moon will protect you," teased Serena.
"Hey, guys."
Serena and Darien turned at the voice to see Lita standing in the doorway.
"Lita!" Serena exclaimed happily. "I was just talking about you! Look, now we match!" She pointed at the huge bruise forming on her forehead.
"Now all you need is a bandanna and a coupla tattoos and you'll be gangsta," replied Lita, lips curved in amusement. "What happened, were you guys trying to kiss and Serena slipped or something?"
"LITA!"
"Sorry, sorry," chuckled Lita, holding up her hands to block Serena, who jumped for her. "No, no, don't hurt me – look, I brought food! Here!" She shoved her bento at Serena, laughing. Serena gave her one last reproachful look and retreated back to the filing cabinet to eat some of the goodies Lita had brought.
"Are you sure you're not related to Asanuma?" asked Darien warily, watching Lita perch on the side of the nurse's desk. "That sounded suspiciously similar to something he would say."
"He might have asked me to say it…" Lita grinned. "But you two did sound like you were getting pretty friendly in here…"
Serena made a strangled noise of protest that caused Lita to laugh again, but Darien did not miss the warning glance the brunette shot in his direction.
The nurse let Darien and Serena leave shortly before lunch ended. The rest of the day passed by quite uneventfully, aside from Serena walking face-first into Lita's locker door. (Serena laughed off Lita's concern, chirping something about now having a bruise on her nose to match her forehead.) Motoki saw them as they were walking out of the English hall and waved them over to where he, Darien, and Asanuma were.
"Hey, Usa-chan!" he greeted the young blonde, then fell into step with Lita. "Hey, Lita, I tried making the zucchini bread the way you said last night, and I am quite proud to say that it worked!"
Serena exchanged a wide grin with Darien and Asanuma was Motoki puffed out his chest.
"Oh – and I brought that recipe for the French silk torte…"
"Sweet! I'm so trying it out this weekend…" Lita took the index card from Motoki, slipping it carefully into the front pocket of her school bag. "I'll have to go grocery shopping after the arcade…"
"If you wanna wait till my shift ends, I could go with you," offered Motoki. "I mean – my mom asked me to pick up some milk this morning, and I could show you the best brands to get for the most delicious torte – "
"He's trying so hard," whispered Serena to Darien, laughing.
"Isn't he forgetting one thing?" Darien whispered back out of the corner of his mouth, leaning down so that Serena could hear him. "What about Reika?"
"You guys are a little behind," whispered Asanuma loudly, popping up between them. "Oh, well, I guess that's what happens when you spend lunch in the nurse's office. What happened, did Serena-chan find out that she was pregnant or something?"
"ASANUMA!"
Asanuma flapped a negligent hand. "Don't you worry, Serena-chan, I'll make sure Darien pays his child support. Anyways, as I was saying, Toki broke up with Reika at lunch."
"No way!" Darien's eyes bulged out. "After all that time he spent trying to get a date with her…"
"I told you so," hissed Serena.
"I don't see what you're complaining about." Asanuma stretched. "I mean, sure, Lita looks like a juvenile delinquent, but I like Toki's crush on her much better than his obsession with Reika. With Reika, he made us help him with all those harebrained schemes, but with Lita-chan, he just makes lots of yummy food! Like pineapple crumble…yum…"
"Ew, stop drooling on me, Numa!" exclaimed Serena, jumping out from underneath the rope of drool beginning to drip from Asanuma's mouth. "And pineapple crumble is GROSS."
"Aw, so young and naïve." Asanuma sighed and patted Serena's shoulder. "Someday you will see the light, Serena-chan. Pineapple crumble is the best dessert on the planet."
"No, it's not! Tiramisu is!"
"Nope, nope, nope. Pineapple crumble."
"Tiramisu!"
"Pineapple crumble!"
"Tiramisu!"
"Pineapple crumble!"
"Tiramisu!"
"Pineapple crumble!"
"TIRAMISU!"
"PINEAPPLE CRUMBLE!"
"DARIEEEEEEEN! TELL HIM THAT TIRAMISU IS BETTEEEEEEEER!"
Darien shook his head. "You're both stupid," he informed them. "Motoki's brownie-fudge milkshakes taste twenty times better than pineapple crumble and tiramisu put together."
"Duh," said Serena, rolling her eyes. "Tiramisu mixed with pineapple crumble would just be gross."
"Vomit-inducing," agreed Asanuma.
"Oh, good God…"
"I'm kind of jealous that they're arguing over your cooking and not mine," Lita commented to Motoki, hitching up her ponytail. The two of them had been observing the conversation since Numa and Serena started yelling at each other.
"That's just because they haven't tasted any of your desserts yet," Motoki reassured her, adjusting his backpack strap. "But once they do, your pantry will never be full again. Those kids are vacuums – well, not so much Darien, but Numa, and Usa, especially, she's a black hole."
"I've noticed," Lita replied wryly. "She practically inhaled the fried shrimp I gave her yesterday. But she's a little ball of energy, so it's not like she doesn't use all that food."
"Exactly." Motoki chortled as he watched his friends bicker – Serena and Asanuma had ganged up on Darien with their schoolbags, whapping him in the head. "You know – don't think I'm gay or anything – but I like mothering them."
"Mothering like how?" asked Lita curiously, tucking some hair behind her ear.
"Well, like – like whenever something's bothering them, or they're not feeling good, I want them to feel like they can come to me. That's why I keep that stash of soda in my locker – I know it's totally weird and dorky and stuff, but…"
Motoki rubbed his neck, a blush suffusing his freckled face. "It make me feel more important, you know? Like I'm doing something. I mean, Asanuma's always doing crazy stuff to crack us up, and Dare helps us with homework and keeps us out of trouble, and Serena-chan – well, Serena-chan's Serena-chan, and we'd love her even if she hadn't been the one who dragged Dare out of his shell last year – but I don't really do anything special. I'm not funny or especially smart… I just like to cook. And see my friends smile."
Motoki shrugged suddenly, shaking his head. "Ah, sorry about all that. You don't care about any of this, I shouldn't have started babbling your ear off – "
"No!" Lita blurted out. She blushed and scratched her head, not looking at him. "I mean…" she began more gruffly. "I don't get why you'd spill your guts like that to a perfect stranger like me, but – " Her voice squeaked, and she cleared her throat. "I'm glad you did. And I don't see why you think you don't do anything special. Serena jabbers about you nonstop! Almost as often as she mentions Shields. It's Toki baked this, Toki says that – it sounds to me like you're a pretty important part of your little group, Motoki."
Motoki glanced at her. "Our little group? Don't you consider yourself one of us too?"
"Well – I – uh – " Lita kneaded her forehead with a knuckle, frowning slightly at him. "I know I come off as a crass bully, but I wouldn't be THAT presumptuous – "
"Are you kidding?" Motoki made a Darien-like snort. "Any friend of Usa-chan's is a friend of ours, and you are definitely Usa's best friend right now. Well, except maybe Darien," he added as an afterthought. "Who knows what their relationship is now, it changes by the hour. Anyways, we haven't seen Usa this happy-go-lucky in months! We're in your debt! And…" his face colored slightly. "You don't come off as a crass bully, Lita-san."
"Not to you guys, maybe." Lita's lips twisted sardonically. "Since you actually took the time to talk to me." Her fist clenched. "Tell me, though – would you have ever bothered to talk to me if it weren't for Serena?"
"Ah…well…tough question." Motoki watched the blonde in question; she had a streamer of blonde hair looped around Darien's throat like a leash and was dragging him down the sidewalk while giving Asanuma a high five. "Probably not."
Lita's shoulders slumped, and she let out a sigh. Motoki opened his mouth in an attempt to redeem himself – he was quite aware that no girl would have wanted to hear him say that answer, but it was the truth…
"What's wrong with your face? You look like you've got a stomach ache – from all the zucchini bread you probably pigged out on last night, huh?" Lita winked at him.
"Wait…but…" Motoki fumbled. "Aren't you mad?"
"Nah." Lita twirled an errant strand of chestnut hair around her finger. "I like that you're honest. If you made up some crap about how we would have met no matter what because we're meant to be, then I would've known you were full of sh – " Lita's eyes widened suddenly, and she coughed, turning bright red. "Oops…I mean – ah – "
"Meant to be?" Motoki sprouted imaginary devil horns, a grin stretching his freckled face. "Why, Lita-chan, could it be that you reciprocate my feelings?"
Lita sighed, sweat-dropping. "You're a lot more like Asanuma than you think, you know that?"
Motoki drooped. "Ouch."
"Ooh!" Asanuma bounced over. "REJECTED!"
"I didn't say that!" shouted Lita, pinning Asanuma with a glare. The jokester keeled over, swirly-eyed from the force of her scowl.
Darien sighed and moved forward to catch him, only to have his moment arrested by the leash of Odango-hair around his neck. He gagged and jerked backwards, only to be yanked in the opposite direction again as Serena rushed forward to catch him herself.
"Numa! Are you okay?"
"So…scary…" mumbled Asanuma, lifting a hand slowly. "Need…a…healing…kiss…"
"Whoah!" Serena stumbled away from Asanuma's puckering lips, backing straight into Darien and knocking him to the ground. She let out a yelp as her hair (which, remember, was still looped around his poor neck) yanked her down as well. On top of him. "Why does this sort of thing always happen to meeeeeeeeee?"
"Click," said Asanuma's camera.
"Odango, if you don't untie my neck this minute, I'm going to saw your hair off."
"Don't blame me!" Serena groused, crawling awkwardly off of Darien to the sidewalk on her hands and knees. "Geez, Mr. Grumpy…you don't even have any scissors! What are you gonna chop it off with, your teeth?"
"And get a hairball the size of China?" Darien retorted. "I don't think so." He sat up as Serena unwound the last of her hair from his neck. "You're lucky I didn't get impatient and decide to break out my roses…"
"Just try it, grandpa. My tiara could take your overgrown carnations any day!"
"CARNATIONS?"
"That's what I said, grandpa! Where's your hearing aid?"
"You ungrateful little brat!"
"You mooching senior citizen! Taking all our social security!"
"We live in JAPAN, blondie!"
"SO?"
"AHEM!" Motoki stomped over and whacked them both on the back of the head. "I'm trying to flirt here!"
"Trying is right!" chortled Asanuma. "Because you just got REJECTED!"
"I did NOT reject Motoki," denied Lita, patting a now sobbing Motoki on the back. "There, there, Toki – I like you a lot. I think you're adorable. I just don't want to go out with you when you're on the rebound."
"But I'm not on the rebound!" protested Motoki. "I dumped Reika for YOU!"
"How about this?" Lita crossed her arms across her chest and shuffled over to Serena, who beamed up at her. "I'll go to prom with you, Toki. And if we like how that turns out – well, then we'll go out. 'Kay?"
"You've got yourself a deal!" Motoki pumped Lita's outstretched hand vigorously. "Shall we seal it over a milkshake?"
"Separate ones."
"Aw…Lita…"
"Toki…"
"Lita…"
"Toki…"
"Lita – oh, fine! C'mon!"
"Wow." Serena blinked as Motoki sped down the sidewalk, yanking Lita along with him. "I've never seen that side of Toki before!"
"Yes, he's a lecherous man, our Toki." Asanuma sighed and patted Serena on the back. "Well, I'm following them so I can make fun of Toki…" He cackled and rubbed his hands together greedily. "Do you two promise not to have any Kodak moments while I'm gone?"
"Cross our hearts, hope to die, stick a needle in your eye," grumbled Darien. HOW had he gotten stuck with a friend like this?
Asanuma lifted an eyebrow. "Wrong, Mr. Genius. It's 'stick a needle in my eye.'"
"Exactly," retorted Darien.
"You're mean, Dare-Bear." Asanuma sniffled. Then he brightened. "Actually, if you stuck a needle in my eye, I'd have to get an eye patch like a pirate. Arrr! And then all the girls would forget about Johnny Depp and fall at my feet – oh, the POSSIBILITIES!" Asanuma swooned and fell to his knees in front of Darien. "Stab me, Dare-Bear, stab me!"
The hair on Serena's neck prickled. She glanced around her and saw that nearly every pedestrian on the sidewalk had stopped to watch Asanuma's theatrics. But just that wouldn't cause her neck to prickle like a youma was present, would it?
She scrutinized the faces closer. Maybe it was a youma in disguise?
Her gaze was snagged by a pair of flashing violet eyes. Rei, standing on the curb across the street, her long hair whipping in the wing like black wings. And there beside her was Ami, who was trying to tug Rei away. Her eyes were wide and frightened, like they'd been that morning.
Rei locked her gaze on Serena. Serena felt a bead of sweat trickle down her neck. What would they do? Her hands crept subconsciously to her brooch.
Ami saw the movement and let out a cry. The sound distracted Rei, enabling the bluenette to yank her away into the crowd.
"Was that them?" Darien's voice penetrated Serena's racing mind. She nodded.
"Was that who? What are you guys talking about?" Asanuma gripped Darien's shoulder, looking at Serena.
"Ami and Rei…" Serena breathed, still staring at the spot where they'd been.
"Rei was here?" Asanuma turned to Darien for confirmation.
Darien pulled his eyes from Serena's inscrutable expression to look at his friend's hopeful face. He suddenly knew the rest of the question Asanuma had been about to ask Serena at the museum café.
"What was she doing?"
"She was – well, she was watching you, of course!" Darien did his best to sound sincere for his friend's sake. "Who wasn't? You were being quite a drama queen."
"Was she laughing? Did she like it?"
"Of course she was, Numa," said Serena, suddenly, snapping out of her trance-like state. She smiled reassuringly up at him. "Rei loves your jokes."
"You're lying, Serena-chan." But Asanuma wore a huge, silly grin. "She does not."
"She does!" insisted Serena, waving her hands around to emphasize her point. "Remember that time you put frog legs left over from your dissection project into her iced tea?"
"How could I forget that?" Asanuma's shoulders drooped. "She gave me a bloody nose."
"Yeah, but when me and Ami were at her place that night, she almost busted a gut because she was laughing so hard over it!"
"Was she laughing because putting frog legs in her tea was such a funny prank or because she drew blood from me?"
"Oh." Serena fell silent. "I guess that's probably more likely…"
Asanuma sighed. "Thanks anyways, Serena-chan…I think I'll go take a walk or something…maybe go buy some Chinese from the hot guy at the mall and drown my sorrow in lomein noodles…"
He shuffled off down the street.
"Oh…" Serena's hand found Darien's sleeve and gripped it tightly. "He's so sad," she whispered. "Darien, I thought he was going to cry."
"I can't believe he likes Rei." Darien watched Asanuma turn a corner and vanish from sight. "He never said anything…"
"I'm going to set them up," Serena decided, voice determined. "Someone like Numa would be so good for Rei – he'd take her mind off the temple and her grandpa for once and make her laugh – "
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Darien said skeptically. "Rei thinks you're a Dark Kingdom flunkie. She's not going to come within ten feet of you without burning you to a crisp, much less let you set her up with someone."
"I don't care," Serena said fervently. She let go of his sleeve. He looked down to see her glaring fiercely into the sunset. He felt himself smiling, and on a whim, squeezed her hand.
She turned and flashed a smile up at him. "She can hate me and want to kill me as much as she wants, but I'm going to make her happy!
A/N: I think I jinxed it when I said last chap that I couldn't wait to write this chapter. No matter how many times I re-wrote it, it wouldn't come out right. Sorry, everyone! (clasps hands and begs forgiveness) Anyways… Here are the revplies. Look 4 your name.
Cendari: I LOVE that Sere, Dare and co. remind you of your friends – that was my main goal when I started the story (well, my main goal apart from getting Sere and Dare 2gether.) No offense to the canon, but whenever I watch SM, I always think two things, 1.) Man, this could be so much FUNNIER, and 2.) I love Sere and Dare together, but they need to show us WHY they belong together.
Hmm. I think I just sort of drifted off onto my own tangent there. Ah well. As for the whole "reserving myself" to only a chapter a week, the truth is that that's all I have TIME for.
Neonlights: Hello again, my friend. I'm rather sad, because everyone was so psyched up about the whole Sere-Dare smelling each other thing, and I just couldn't make it as funny as everyone was expecting…(falls to her knees) Please forgive me!
Ka0ri-chan: You are now one of my favorite reviewers. Why? Because you left the LONGEST REVIEW THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN!I actually had to scroll down to read it – you rock!
Anyhow, I can see how you were unable to get past the first couple of chapters at first. I myself only think the story's started picking up in the past two or three chapters. I also totally agree with your view of Darien. I HATE when fics make him nothing but a wussy love interest. Darien can kick butt (like in S. Wright's fics, have you read those?), AND his crystal is just as powerful as Serena's, if not more so because he's still on his home planet. As for Lita – I'm REALLY glad you like her, and that you saw the motives behind her personality.
Digitaldawn: Lita's still got some choice to makes ahead of her…but I won't ruin the story. : X
Midnight-Nemesis: I will. I think a flame from you would scare me. (trembles)
Angelgrl185: I agree! Lita and Motoki all the way! (Nephlite's too girly.)
Serena and Darien7: Lita's black eyes will be explained…as will Luna's scary fits.
Sailormoonhannah: I beg to differ. There is NO ONE hotter than Hatori. Kyo is pretty sizzling himself, I'll give you that, but not as hot as Hatori, who looks like a cross between Darien and the guy who played Robby in the new War of the Worlds movie (drool…so good…) Thanks for the review!
fallenavalon: I'm digging the name. I have a lot of errors in the fic, but I'm planning to go back and fix 'em once the story's done. I'm not sure if Lita WILL have old boyfriends at this point…but if she does, I won't be able to resist slipping in the joke!
Palikani: THANKS YOU SO MUCH for posting my as one of your Authors of the Week! It was a thrill, lemme tell ya – now I've got something to brag about!
IssaLee: Asanuma's just crazy. We like him the way he is, but he'll probably need an anchor sometime in the near future…people like that are always hiding something. I'm glad you like Lita's less-open character…another of my attempts at realism…
P.S. Loved your poem!
Bera-Moon: Your reaction was almost identical to my sister's. I think it's really awesome that Luna makes you guys so mad! I, too, wish Sere and Dare would hurry up and just get together already…but it's more fun this way. At least, it would be if I was a reader and not the darned WRITER…
CharmedSerenity3: I'm afraid that the answer to your question is classified information…
Sirenic Griffin: Female friends are ESSENTIAL. Even if you've got a perfect guy like Darien.
Legolover: I shall continue with Lita's character. Like your name.
MysteryLady-Tx: Psst. What does LMAO stand for? Who says Asanuma wants to go to the prom with a GIRL? Ha ha, just kidding. (It's a slow day, please forgive my attempts at comedy.) Asanuma will probably go to prom alone, but he won't leave it alone, if you get what I'm saying.
Hmm, WHY did Sere feel something from Miss Lanai? All shall be revealed in good time, my young Padawan…
Poisonmoon: I always love your reviews. I also love the fact that you like how clean my story is. I have a lot of innuendo (glares at Asanuma), but I try not to write anything that I wouldn't let a sixth-grader read. Or something that if your parents caught you with it, they'd ban you from the internet forever.
BLiberalQuestionAuthority: Tell me if you think this is weird, but you kind of remind me of Lita. At least, the motherly Lita you advised me to write. You're always so nice, and polite, and – or maybe it's just because you called me hun. Either way, I always look forward to your reviews. I've definitely taken (or tried to) your words about Lita to heart.
Quietcoloredmusic: THAT is a unique name. It kind of makes me think of that Pocahontas song – Colors of the Wind? I like it. Arigatou!
Nimbirosa: Another wonderful name. Anything even slight resembling 'nimbus' is cool in my book. You're right about Ami seeming uncertain – but she's very dutiful, our Ami. As for Asanuma, you're entirely right that he should be way more respectful to Darien. But that's the manga Numa, not mine. Actually, my Numa is an entirely different person than he was in the manga (he doesn't even look the same.). He's older and crazier. And – well, I'll see what his relationship with Lita is. Anyways, I was quite impressed by your story! I kept thinking about it for the rest of the day after I read it… I LOVE it when stories do that to me!
As to the queen of SM fanfiction, I TOTALLY have to agree with you that Princess Destiny is best, closely followed by Draegyn and S. Wright. I LOVE Pricness Destiny's stories – especially Spin the Bottle and True Sight, and Teddy Bears Are Not Self Defense and Senshi Wars and – actually, ALL of her stories. (I especially love her portrayal of Ami in Spin the Bottle's Book 3.) My only complaint for ANY of these authors is that they haven't finished their fics! (sobs) ITAIIIIIIIII!
Whitey9h: How could I get kidnapped by crazy monkeys? I AM a crazy monkey! Chunky monkey, funky monkey, hunky monkey – wait, that's Daniel Radcliffe – anyways. I love food. Especially Chinese food. Especially Chinese food served by hot guys. I'm tickled pink by your intended use of "I was just showing him my zucchini bread." I started thinking about other 'dirty' food innuendo, and I was quite appalled by what I came up with. Someone should write a fanfiction about that. It would be so FUNNY!
Shrouded Mist: Lita doesn't have a defect. I really wanted to give her one; when I first started the fic, I was going to give her the nickname "Klepto Kino," but it just wouldn't work with the story. Not to mention that you guys would all crucify me if I made Lita like Ami and Rei…I'm really sorry I left you guys hanging for so long! But I'm glad you felt tortured. (I'm a SADIST!) Arigatou!
Jojodacrow: I was starting to feel sad for Serena, too. I intended to wait a little bit longer before bringing in Lita so that Dare and Sere could grow a bit closer, but it didn't work out that way. (sigh) I hope I didn't burst your bubble with this chapter, though.
MunChixD: I LOVE IT! You guys all want to kill Luna! Who's the stupid one now, huh, Luna? Not Usagi!
Wizardemon: (wipes away tear) Your review is so sweeeeeeeeeeeet! I'm so happy that you love the story….as soon as possible, I am planning to check out your story and leave a review. Gomen, I've been rather tied up this week…
Oxostardustoxo: Luan may be telling the truth as SHE sees it…which might be right, and might be wrong. XOXOXO!
SilentAngel101: Horoscopes! I LOVE horoscopes! Mien says that I will meet my true love in late July – the same time Harry Potter and the Half Blood Princes comes out. Coincidence? I think not.
Hmm. Throughout most of the story, Motoki has called Serena "Usa," so it was deliberate. It probably confuses some people, but I did it to show a bit of extra familiarity between Toki and Sere- you know, Toki's known her since she was little and stuff. In my fic, anyways.
Ishq: Always love to see your review. I like Lita, too – she's been one of my fave Senshi even since I saw the beginning of Sailor Stars. Thank goodness you liked my speech! I was kind of iffy on it, I was thinking it was corny, but I put it in anyways.
I'm getting kinda sick of Dare and Sere's relationship going so slow, too. I really need some mush. But I will be strong, I must resist. Because the thing I wanted most when I started this story was to show how friendship could turn into love….must…resist...urge…to write…WAFF….
Meg-of-the-Moon: MEG-CHAAAAAAAAN! How ya doin? Are you okay, after the bombings? When I saw the story on CNN, I thought about you. You're okay, right?
As for your crush on Asanuma – lemme say you're not the only one. Several of my friends have asked if they could have him, and I myself wouldn't mind a piece of him – but I guess it's Numa's choice. (sigh) And there's someone he's had his eye on for a while…
elianthos: Heeeheehee...smell the truth. That was a good one. HIGH FIVE! Wouldn't you love to ruffle Darien's hair? It looks so silky. I was worried thtat might be too significant an action for Serena to make this early in the story, but it seems like it worked okay…?
I think that you might be the second reader to have noticed the subject to change aspect of the story. RIGHT ON! I've been trying to stress it…it will become more prominent later, I think. Beryl's words to Malachite will DEFINITELY affect the plot… good job!
JESSEK: Thank youuuuuuuuuuuu!
A Tye: Well, the cologne wasn't an aphrodisiac, or a pheromone of some sort…(sigh) Pity.
Hidden Sovereign: I had a dream once about a Chihuahua on the side of the road and kept barking at me. Its head inflated, and then its barking was REALLY loud. I wonder what story inspired that? oO
I'm glad that you're "just loving" my story. It makes me feel like a McDonalds! Ooh, now I'm hungry…
Red-Rose18: ARIGATOOOOUUUU!
Terri14: I'm really sorry I couldn't post the new chapter b4 you left…but I'm really glad my chapter made your day! (Don't you LOVE stories like that? Wait, that sounded really egotistical…but I was talking about ANY story!)
Starlit Warrior: Thankssssssssssss.
Shortygirl333: We shall see if Lita stays with Sere or joins Ami and Rei…Lita doesn't particularly like either of them, but will she feel duty-bound to join them once she finds out that she's a Senshi? WILL she find out that she's a Senshi?
Alicia Blade: Again, I'm so thrilled that you even READ my story. Your name is as well-known in the Sailor Moon universe as, well, Usagi's!
Ami and Rei drive me crazy, too. Their disorders…argh! I wished I'd never given them those disorders in the first place! But from here on out, no more of that nonsense! Just plot and romance! And Asanuma. Can't forget him!
Lady of Masbolle: It's fun to fangirl. Especially in public, where people turn around and stare at you – OMGSQUEEE! It's so FUN!
Rose Zen: You can no more stop Asanuma than a hurricane. He's not REALLY gay, though. I promise he likes girls. I just hope I can continue his humor…
Nanie-san: Love ya! Thanks for the awesome review; this was one of my fave battle scenes also!
Raine of the Darkness Clan: Aw is always right when it comes to Serena and Darien.
Neo Djii: I. Love. You. Your review was one of the first I came home to, and I practically fainted when I saw its length. (I know it's a cliché, but I love long reviews!) I can't believe you think that I'm such a great author – that's really, really nice of you! (EightofSwords' little sister sighs as EightofSwords' head begins to inflate – "Not AGAIN…")(I think I might know where that Chihuahua dream came from now…) And thank you for being so patient – update when I can. I love your name, too. How'd you come up with it?
Dark Hamadryad: Hmm…I would like to know your theories about Numa-kun…they're prob'ly right on the money. There IS a reason for everyone's quirks – well, Luna's, at least. I'm extremely pleased that you think my characterizations are accurate – thank your for giving me an opinion on them. A lot of readers just ignore my pleas. But I'm insecure! I need opinions!
Little TinkerBell Girl: Yay! You think I've found a balance between drama and humor – thank you SO much. Seriously, it really worries me sometimes when one minute Serena's in tears and the next Numa's laughing his head off about something. Did that make sense?
Lady dove of the green eyes: 'ot Boy is all mine. This is because Sailor Cosmos left him in my care. You see, she had to go off a kick the butt of yet another alien lady who wears a size Double J bra – or would wear a size Double J, if any of those vain villainesses ever WORE bras – and was trying to kidnap Darien and make him her love slave. When are they going to understand that Dare-Bear doesn't go for the dominatrix type?
FluffieGirlie: Merci!
Kimra: Hey! I love you stories to pieces, too! Although I've only read some of them…I need to rectify that. Anyways, thank you SO MUCH, Kimra-san, for your wonderful feedback!
Eternalsenshicosmos: You're going to France this summer? Take me with you! I want to meet hot guys… (sniffles). Ah, well. Let me give you a little piece of advice before you go – whatever you do, don't say Je suis chaud, okay? As always, thanks for your awesome reviews! (Ooh, ooh, ooh, you should, like, draw on a little mustache like Miss Lanai when you go! That would be so FUNNY!)
SerenityChild: Don't die! Then you can't review! NOOOOOOOOO!
Sailorceb: I really really really want to have Serena yell back at the scouts, too. But she feels like everything's her fault, so that doesn't fly, darn it.
Asocial: Now THERE'S a name I can relate to. I don't care if you're crazy. I'm GLAD that you want to kill Luna – don't repress these primordial urges. Take them out on the closest dentist! ; )
Serenity-hime: Every shade of puce is deadly. Unless Daniel Radcliffe is wearing it, and then it's merely ugly. I wish I had been there with those guys you sat with in freshman year! They sound awesome…taking over the world…wish the guys at MY school talked about that…all they talk about is Halo 2 and how Padme didn't look hot in Episode III because she was pregnant…
Mmm, I just read your review for Chapter 2 of Don't Want U2C. Long-lost sisters! How cool would that be! The reason I used the whole Leo thing (and the only reason I even KNOW that Darien's a Leo) is because when I was in my mega-Moon phase, I looked for characters whose birthdays were close to my own. Darien's birthday is August 3, the day after my own – yay! And in all my horoscope books, it talks about how self-centered Leos are, so that fit with the way I'm trying to portray Darien here. I know that he seems like he's oscillating wildly from encouraging to icy, but that's often how I myself feel when I'm talking to the people I like, so I tried to use that…do I make any sense at all?
MintChocolate5: Thank yooouu!
MegTao: I'm glad to be the one to re-introduce you to the genre! Merci beaucoup!
Seren Lunar Echo: Hmmm….please?
AidanPryde001: Yes! I'm glad you think my story's got such a mix – mixes are good. Like, when you pour Mountain Dew in with cola….yummmm….
chibimoonEmEm: Yeeeeeesssss…. :
Becx: I TOTALLY agree with you on the whole Mars, Merc thing. Even since the – I dunno, fourth chapter, I have regretted making Rei and Ami the way they are. But now I've done it and I've gotta finish it, so…(sighs, then brightens) I'm glad Dare and Sere are going good, at least! Thanks you for all your wonderful reviews AND your constructive criticism. That's more important that just saying what you liked.
Rayne StarDust: Thank you soooooooo much!
Mord-Sith Rahl: Um, no. A tomato is most definitely a fruit. Which makes no sense to me, since most fruits taste good and tomatoes DON'T (aside from ketchup), but it's true. You can look it up. I want a pencil-on mustache, too. I gave myself one with black lipstick in my English class once…that was the same day I stuffed a pillow up my shirt and spoke in an Italian accent…aw, memories. : )
Sincerely,
Madamoiselle Asticot
P.S. Wouldn't it be horrible if you were both? A maggot AND a hooker, I mean. (shudders) A maggot hooker… Eeeeeeewwww.
Cherry-Dmy: I saved you for last because your review was so….incredible. I mean, of course I think that because basically you were just out and out complimenting the story, but – um – well, that's why I liked your review. (scratches neck sheepishly). Um…I can't thank you enough for what you said. It really, really made my day – no, not my day, it made my WEEK!
As to your confession – (grins) I'm in love with Numa, too. Which is kind of wrong in an incestuous sort of way, since basically I'm his mother – well, his adopted mother, at any rate – but yeah, he is hot, isn't he? Guys who can make you laugh are THE BEST.