A/N: Argh, you guys, I have so much work to do! Thus this chapter is very short and noneventful, and I wasn't even going to post it, but I feel so bad for neglecting you guys lately…so I'm posting this morsel, and if you want to read it, you can, and if you want to wait and read it with my next and hopefully more substantial posting, you can do that, too. (I would suggest the latter.)
Domo arigatou to EVERYONE for their reviews. God, those things are a huge bright spot…like brownies for the soul, except for that they're even better because they don't make me get fat. Well, actually, they may cause my ego to gain a little bit of weight… Argh! What am I babbling about? Shut up, Sword-baka!
Disclaimer: I'm too frazzled to own Sailor Moon! Or any universities!
Subject to Change:
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Surprise, Surprise
Even Darien's footfalls sounded angry as he strode swiftly down the hall, away from Miss Lana's classroom. Staccato and sharp like gunshots, they echoed through the air.
Another sound interrupted. A click of the intercom turning on, then a blaring voice. "Darien Shields, report to the principal's office. Again, Darien Shields, please report to the principal's office."
Darien snarled to himself and sped up, changing direction.
Darien's rule-abiding classmates were lucky. The bell had rung, so they were tucked safely into their classrooms, safe from his wrath.
But others were not so wise. Such as the underclassman who was slouched against the wall with a cigarette in his mouth. After one last puff, he dropped it to the ground and ground it into the grass with his foot.
Darien felt a bright hot twinge – whether from pain or anger, he didn't know, but it snapped his thin temper.
His hand shot out and grabbed the oily kid by his collar, then resumed his pace, now with the tarlung in tow.
Upon reaching the administrative building, he yanked the door open. He strode past the secretaries, throwing the kid into a hard plastic chair as he passed. The impact caused a pack of cigarettes to fall out of his jacket. A murmur rose, and several adults converged on the kid at once. Darien ignored them all and barged into the principal's office.
"Young man, wait just a minute!" protested the secretary, but Darien had already closed the door behind him.
"Mr. Shields!" The principal shot to a half-standing position behind his desk. His eyes flicked towards a man sitting in the chair before his desk before returning to Darien.
Darien did likewise, glancing at the mystery man with cool calculation. He was rather elderly, not with the white hair of kindly grandfathers and Santas but with the silver hair of professional businessmen. He wore a soft brown suit and a mildly amused smile and sat with one leg crossed leisurely over the other.
Darien returned his eyes to Principal Waishatsu. "You paged, sir?"
Sarcasm colored his tone. He hissed inwardly at himself. Idiot. Mouthing off to the principal is not the way to go!
"Yes…" The principal's voice faded off on a sibilant hiss as he lowered himself slowly back into his seat. "Ah…what was all that, ah, ruckus about out there?"
"I brought in a kid I found smoking, sir." Darien's voice was perfectly composed, now, with just the right dose of deference. He smiled lightly.
"Ah. Very good. Very good, Darien." Principal Waishatsu nodded and looked over at the man sitting in the chair. "You see, wonderful leadership skills."
The other man nodded in return and adjusted the clipboard in his lap.
"Darien, this is Dr. Ludisae." Waishatsu motioned to the man sitting in the chair. "Doctor, this is Mr. Shields."
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance." Darien bent dutifully to shake the man's hand.
"Likewise," replied Dr. Ludisae, returning Darien's grip. "I must admit that I've been waiting to meet you for quite a while, Darien."
"Well, I'm very sorry to have kept you waiting," lied Darien smoothly. "There was a matter at lunch that required my attention – if I could have a word with you about it at your convenience, Mr. Waishatsu?"
"Ah? Of course, of course." The principal looked surprised to be addressed, but waved him on. "But for now, go on, my boy, have a seat. Dr. Ludisae has some news for you that you might want to, ah, be sitting down for."
"Is that so?" Darien said with a courteous amount of interest. He sat down, but on the edge of his seat, his eyes flicking to the clock. Study hall had already started…
"Darien," began Dr. Ludisae, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. "I teach at a college in America."
"Really?" Darien lifted an eyebrow, some interest surfacing. "But your accent sounds more European…"
"Go on," prompted Dr. Ludisae, an eyebrow quirking and a small smile curving his mouth.
Darien eyed him appraisingly. "Your accent sounds Latin, actually – but of course that's impossible because Latin's a dead language, so…" He shrugged eloquently.
Dr. Ludisae sat back in his chair, passing a hand before his face and then running it down his chin. The smile had fallen from his face to be replaced by a disbelieving expression.
"Well. Well," he said again. "I can see that you do indeed belong at our university." He paused. "As a matter of fact, Mr. Shields, I was born in Europe – Vatican City, actually. I was raised by some of the priests living there, so I picked up a great deal of Latin before I actually learned Italian, and I still use it frequently. That was quite an astute observation, young man. Are you interested in linguistics?"
"It has its appeal," responded Darien mechanically. Had the man just said what h thought he had? "Excuse me, but did I hear you correctly? You want me to go to your university?"
"Another astute observation," said Dr. Ludisae dryly.
"In…America." It was not a question but a statement. It was Darien confirming it to himself.
"Right again." Dr. Ludisae chuckled. "But before we start talking business like that, tell me a bit about yourself. Languages intrigue you? Which have you taken?"
"Japanese, obviously," said Darien slowly. His mind was still wrapping itself around the proposition and its implications. To go to a college in America…
"He's quite fluent in English," inserted Principal Waishatsu hurriedly, almost panickedly, when Darien remained pensively silent. "He's taken top honors at the language festivals several years running! He's also in his third year of Latin – "
"No, it's only my second," interrupted Darien. He had come back to himself, it appeared.
"Oh. Oh! But you're in the third year Latin class."
"Mrs. Tonami wanted me to skip ahead." Darien turned back to the doctor. "I know some French…enough to get by."
"You took classes?"
"Not…exactly…" A grin tugged at Darien's lips as he thought about the unconventional method by which he had learned most of his French. This, in turn, led to thoughts of Miss Lanai, and his face turned thunderous again. "It's a long story."
"Long but impressive. So you're familiar with four languages. Yet linguistics aren't your area of interest?" Dr. Ludisae's voice held a wry note.
"Not really. I'm leaning towards the medicine field."
"Oh? What is your motivation for this, if I may ask?"
Darien smirked self-deprecatingly. "The clichéd one. I want to help people."
"Is that the only reason?"
Darien rubbed a sweaty palm down his pant leg. It left behind a tiny streak of red – paint left over from that bloody painting. He covered it by leaning forward on his elbow. "Kind of," he admitted. "Science is my favorite subject, and of course medication involves a tremendous amount of biology and chemistry. But I think that if there was a larger demand and a higher salary, I would rather go into geology or botany."
"Ah. So you're basing your decision on fiscal rewards."
"Kind of…" Darien grimaced. "But not really."
He couldn't give the man his real reason for wanting to go into medicine – his hope that he might find a way to heal others by using his golden sparks.
"There's still the helping people factor," he concluded lamely. He snorted mentally. As if he didn't do enough of that as Tuxedo Mask. I wonder if I could find a way to use my Tuxedo Mask sojourns as community service…
"I see." The doctor wrote something on his clipboard. "Well, then, Mr. Shields, I suggest that we start talking. The first thing I need to know is whether you'd actually be interested in attending our college."
"Do you even need to ask?" returned Darien dryly. Then he paused. "Well, actually, it might help if I knew the school's name." Odango's rubbing off on me.
"That it might," chuckled the doctor. "This mystery school that is so interested in you is Yale." He watched with amusement as Darien's eyes glazed over. "I take it you're impressed?"
"Very," managed Darien. "And you want me?"
"Most definitely." Dr. Ludisae leaned over and rooted around in a briefcase sitting beside his feet. He withdrew a file folder as wide as Darien's arm. "We've kept a file on you for quite a while, Darien, and contained within here are all the records of achievements you've made and newspaper articles you've appeared in over the course of your life."
"To think I was being stalked all this time and I didn't know it," quipped Darien lightly. "So just because I win a couple of science fairs I'm a prime candidate for one of the most prestigious universities in the Western Hemisphere?"
"The science fairs and a couple of other things, yes."
"So…would I have to take a test? To be accepted at the school, I mean."
"We usually require and base our decisions on your academic achievement test scores and on your cumulative high school GPA, plus extracurricular activities. However, Japan's curriculum is somewhat more advanced than those of schools in America, and by the end of this year, you will have completed all of the classes required for graduation. Correct?" Dr. Ludisae glanced up over his glasses at Darien.
Darien nodded seriously. "Yes, but there are higher-level math courses available on campus that I haven't taken yet, so I planned to take those along with Latin and English and then take some night courses."
"But those are additional classes not necessary to graduate, and they are, of course, available at our university." Dr. Ludisae straightened his papers. "So, basically, once you have finished this year, we're ready for you at Princeton. Full scholarship."
"But…" Darien fumbled for words. Leaving this year? Before finishing high school with Asanuma and Motoki? While the Dark Kingdom was still at large and the Sailor Senshi were still hostile towards Serena? "Wouldn't you rather that I finished out high school?"
"I'm sure you're familiar with the expressions carpe diem, Darien." Dr. Ludisae leaned forward. "As I said, the courses you wish to take will be available at Princeton, and – intending no insult to your institution, Principal Waishatsu – they will be taught by some of the most competent and knowledgeable professors in the world. You're clearly the one receiving the advantage here."
He withdrew a sheaf of papers and handed them to Darien. "These are some forms I need you to fill out and send to me by the end of the month if you want to take up my offer. Any information you need will be in there, although my phone number is also included in case you have questions."
"I… have to think about it, of course," Darien managed to say.
"Darien." Principal Waishatsu leaned forward. "Darien, I strongly urge you to accept this scholarship. It's a, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Darien smiled slightly. "Trying to get rid of me, Mr. Waishatsu?" he said lightly to hide his inner turmoil.
Skip senior year? To leave NOW?
Leave all his friends and go to America, perhaps never to return? Dread tightened his windpipe.
Leave Serena to deal with the Senshi and the Dark Kingdom on her own? Guilt pooled in his stomach.
The very idea of Tuxedo Mask abandoning Sailor Moon like that seemed preposterous. So did the idea of not hearing Asanuma's inane jokes or eating Motoki's decadent brownie-fudge milkshakes.
But so did the idea of turning down the opportunity to attend Princeton University.
College had always been a very serious concern for Darien. He would soon be a legal adult, which meant that he would no longer receive financial support from the government. He would have to support himself, and his grades would certainly plummet if he had to juggle a job, school, AND Tuxedo Mask. Hell, his grades were already suffering just from school and Tuxedo Mask!
Which was another reason to accept this college offer.
As of last year, Darien had been comfortably confident in his ability to gain entrance to any university in Japan.
Last year, he had not been Tuxedo Mask.
Now, his grades were falling from his nighttime activities, and chances were good that they would continue to drop. Colleges that earlier would have accepted him might very well now reject him because of his dropping GPA.
The bell rang. Darien shot to his feet.
"I've got to go," he said quickly, eager to escape the room. He knew now why Serena preferred to run from situations rather than face them. It was so much easier. "Class calls."
"Of course." Dr. Ludisae nodded. "I hope to hear from you soon, Mr. Shields."
1.) As we discussed in class, suicide is very serious in the Catholic religion. Romeo and Juliet, therefore, must have been very aware that their choices to kill themselves would land them in hell. In other works, Shakespeare said that, "Divines and dying men may talk of Hell, but in my heart, her several torments dwell." Is Shakespeare implying that there are worse things than hell and that Romeo and Juliet faced more pain by being apart in life than in being together in hell?
Serena read the words, but did not absorb them. Her mind was, understandably, preoccupied, churning like an ocean, and the dry literature question quickly became waterlogged and sank.
For the fourth time in the past ten minutes, her eyes went to the clock. And for the fourth time in the past ten minutes, she bit her lip. The tardy bell had rung fifteen minutes ago, but Darien had yet to show up.
There were myriad explanations for this, and all of them were distressing. Maybe a youma had appeared and Darien was fighting it? Without Ami's computer, Serena had no way to detect youma. But – she would have sensed if Darien had transformed into Tuxedo Mask…
Even if this was so, she still had reason to worry. Suppose Darien had done something to Miss Lanai? He had been so angry.
For the eighth time in the past twelve minutes, Serena wished that she hadn't listened to him and left. She had seen the fury in his eyes, and she knew better than anyone – well, except youmas – how terrible his wrath could be. Darien did not lose his temper often, but when he did, it was a sight to behold. And it was a sight that she had become rather familiar with in the past few weeks.
She mentally punched herself again. Why didn't you STAY, Serena? she wailed at herself.
She knew why she hadn't stayed. Because she was afraid. And who wouldn't be? she demanded of herself indignantly. Miss Lanai had been acting like a psycho – showing Serena a painting in which someone stabbed her and then asking her if she liked it? It was like something from a slasher movie! She had been only too glad to get as far away from Miss Lanai as she could!
But you shouldn't have left Darien with her! shrieked her mind. You heard him growling! Miss Lanai's probably a rose pincushion by now…
Darien wouldn't do THAT, thought Serena confidently. He's way too cautious…right?
"Miss Tsukinoooooo," crooned a voice from behind.
Serena screamed and cowered in her seat.
"Don't stab me!" Her voice trembled. So did her limbs. Bloody swords danced across her mind's eye in a sick imitation of sugar plums. Oh, God, where was Darien when you needed him! "Please!"
"Good Lord! Miss Tsukino, do stop being such a drama queen!" A ruler rapped her desk reprimandingly. Serena cringed further, then realized with growing horror that the voice had only belonged to Mr. Kumitate.
Laughter filled the classroom. Red rose in Serena's cheeks, but her heart still thumped a painful tattoo again her chest.
"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted," drawled Mr. Kumitate. "Stop staring around the room and work on your literature assignment. This is study hall, not Pencil Chewing 101."
Serena lowered her eyes bashfully to her pitiful pencil, which looked as though it had been attacked by a beaver. She offered Mr. Kumitate a weak grin. He rolled his eyes and walked away, leaning over another student's shoulder to check that she was doing her work.
Serena reluctantly returned her attention to her Romeo and Juliet assignment.
2.), it read. H.G. Adams said that "Hell is truth seen too late." The Montagues and Capulets realize at the play's end that they should not have kept Romeo and Juliet apart. Relate this to Shakespeare's quote in Question 1.
Serena made a face. The last thing she wanted to think about at that moment was hell! Not after seeing Miss Lanai's painting…
Suppose Miss Lanai was trying to warn her? That…that she was going to get stabbed by someone? But no, if she was trying to warn her, then why would she have asked if she liked the painting? That made no sense. Maybe Miss Lanai was threatening her?
Serena's light brows furrowed, and her pencil made it way back to her mouth. She chewed concentratedly on it, thinking hard.
But why would she threaten her? If she wished harm to Serena, she had already had numerous opportunities to do so.
There had to be a reason that Miss Lanai had painted Serena getting stabbed. Well, not me, amended Serena, but that princess girl who LOOKS like me.
Maybe, thought Serena with mounting excitement, I have a long-lost twin sister, and Miss Lanai is warning me that SHE's going to get stabbed with a sword!
She immediately realized the complete absurdity of this explanation. Okay, THAT was stupid. She sighed. Enough of this. Just get your homework done, Serena.
She wrinkled her nose at Question #2 and skipped to #3.
3.) In the play, Shakespeare gives Juliet the line "at lovers' vows…Jove laughs." In other works, he says that "Love is merely madness." These quotes suggest that Shakespeare believed that love was foolish. Do you think that Shakespeare did believe that philosophy? Do you believe that philosophy? Support your answer.
Serena bristled, pencil falling from her mouth. HERE was a question that she could actually answer. Of COURSE love wasn't foolish! She rolled her up her sleeves and began to scribble furiously away.
Then – the intercom crackled to life.
"Mr. Kumitate? Could we please have Serena Tsukino to the office to take a phone call?"
Serena's jaw dropped. No FAIR!
"Yes," Mr. Kumitate called to the intercom. He glanced over at Serena from his desk. "Go on, Miss Tsukino, but NO DAWDLING."
Serena grumbled, stomping out of the room. Her ire evaporated as she set foot into the hallway. Inside Mr. Kumitate's rom, surrounded by the murmur and laughter of cramming and gossiping students, she had felt quite safe.
Now, out in the empty stillness of the wide-open hallways…she felt exposed. Like a rabbit in the middle of the prairie. She could smell the hunter, hear him loading his rifle, but could not see him.
Maybe Miss Lanai had been threatening her. Maybe she was lurking behind one of these corners, waiting to jump out and stab her. In fact, now that she thought about it, Luna could be hiding, too. Lying in wait to jump onto her and claw her eyeballs out…
Serena shuddered, goosebumps crawling up her flesh. She began to tiptoe ever so quietly down the hallway, barely breathing.
It was slow progress, to be sure. Almost as slow as following the string between her and Tuxedo Mask. It took twelve minutes to get to the office. But she reached it whole and alive (though her nerves were rather shot), so she figured it was a fair trade – although Mr. Kumitate might not see it that way.
She slipped into the office, stopping in front of the counter and rocking nervously back and forth on the balls of her feet. The secretary made a 'wait just a minute' sign with her hand.
Serena glanced around. She hadn't been in the office since she gored Darien's foot with Rei's high heel…she sighed. Rei wouldn't give her the time of day now, much less lend her her precious Sailor Mars shoe.
Serena's wandering eyes happened to glance into the principal's office through the little window in his door. She saw a head of dark black hair and the back of an impeccably ironed blazer. Darien! He was in the office! That must mean that he had done something to Miss Lanai…and now he was going to get in trouble!
"Nooooooo," moaned Serena under her breath.
The secretary looked up. "Oh, I almost forgot you were there, hon." She slid a phone towards Serena. "For you."
Serena picked up the phone gingerly. It had only just struck her to wonder who was calling her in the middle of a school day.
"Hello?" she said cautiously into the mouthpiece.
"Sweetheart!"
A huge grin split Serena's face. "Mom!"
"Oh, Serena, honey, how are you doing? I miss you so much!"
"I miss you, too, Mom." Suddenly, Serena found her voice thickening. She swiped a hand at her eyes. She had been fine this whole past week, but now that she heard her mother's warm, familiar voice, homesickness tore at her insides. "I…I miss you a lot!"
"Oh, honey…" Serena could almost hear her mother's bittersweet smile. "I miss you, too."
"Are you…you're coming home tomorrow, aren't you?" Serena blurted out abruptly, mentally counting down. Yup, her parents had been gone for a week now.
A sigh. "Well, Serena…that's what I called about. We have to stay a little longer – the conference got started a couple of days late because some of the guest speakers were delayed in arriving."
"…oh." Serena wet her lips. "Well, um – that's fine. I'm doing great here at home! But, um…what about the brother from the black lagoon?"
Ikuko laughed. "His trip lasts two weeks, remember? We'll still be home before he is." Her voice grew more serious. "Are you sure you'll be alright, Serena? I can come home if you need me – "
"No!" Serena blurted out, then winced. "I mean, no, I'm fine, Mom." And you'll be better off there while the youma are so active here. "Hey, Mr. Kumitate's going to flip if I'm out of class any longer, I've got to go. Love you, Mom."
"I love you, too, honey."
"Bye," Serena choked out, then quickly handed the phone back to the secretary.
She sniffled and turned around. She suddenly found herself wishing very much for some company – but Lita was avoiding her, and Darien was in the principal's office.
She paused and peeked inside the principal's office again. Darien was leaning forward, nodding – she still couldn't see his face, but a silver-haired man in the chair beside him was apparently the one he was listening to. He looked pretty businesslike in his suit; Serena hoped he wasn't the police commissioner or something.
Her hand was turning the doorknob when she realized what she was doing. She snatched her fingers back as though they had been burned and stared down at them mournfully as though they had betrayed her. They had been about to yank open the door on an obviously very important meeting! She would have gotten in SO MUCH TROUBLE…
But… her eyes slid towards the black head again. She shook her head violently and wrapped her arms around her waist, forcing herself to walk out of the office.
In her reverie, she did not notice the brisk-sounding footsteps until they were about to round the corner, almost upon her. Terror gripped her heart. Was it Miss Lanai? She hadn't been in the office with Darien and the principal – was it Miss Lanai, come to take revenge?
Without a second thought, Serena ducked into the closest door. It was a bathroom, and she shot into the closest stall, hurriedly locked it, and scrambled up onto the toilet, crouching there so that neither her feet nor her head would be visible to anyone who entered the bathroom.
Her straining ears heard the footsteps grow closer, louder, closer, louder, closer…then continue on past the restroom. She wilted in relief, nearly tumbling into the toilet.
She climbed down and went to unlock the stall door…when she noticed a strange thing in the stall beside hers. A pair of worn red and white sneakers, far too large to belong to a girl. And they were familiar…
"ASANUMA!"
A/N: I am SOOOOOOOOOO SORRRRRYY!