We do not own "Sailor Moon" nor any of the characters.
SAILOR MOON ETERNAL
"The 6th Season of the Sailor Moon Saga"
By Haruka Kou
Chapter 12: Tentatively, We Begin
Out in the cool night air, Sayer feels the wind rustling through his hair as he and the woman next to him, seem to aimlessly wander through the reception hall's oversized parking lot. A word not passing between them, since they deftly escaped the myriad of onlookers, Sayer timidly glances over at her. Her arms folded across her chest in a "no-nonsense" position, her eyes directed straightforward, her mouth set in neither frown nor smile, he wonders what exactly was going on in her head.
I know something is happening. That when we were dancing she felt something too, then maybe...maybe-his hopes soaring, his thoughts are suddenly cut off by her words.
"This is my favorite time of day," Alex states simply, her low voice still indistinguishable as she stops walking. Closing her eyes, she turns her face towards the last rays of the setting sun, seeming to bask in it. Gazing at her, all aglow golden in the sunlight, Sayer feels his breath catching in his throat. Wanting to speak, but unsure what to say now, now that he might actually have a chance...
"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" her expressionless face now smiles widely, turning to him as the sun slowly melts into the treeline behind her. His unusual silence deafening to her uncertain ears.
"Uh, no,uh, I...I mean, I was just thinking about that music we just danced to," he stumbles covering for himself.
"Oh," Alex lets him off the hook easy. Aware of his sudden shyness towards her, she smiles to herself, looking over to him, but still not meeting his eyes, then she turns away again.
"It was great, had beat and style and rhythm" Sayer's eyes go spacey for a moment as he recalls the thrill of the dance, the sensation of holding her in his arms. Of when our hands touched, and I didn't want to let you go...whoa! Back to reality! He quickly shakes off the urges, focusing back on her now bemused face.
"I liked it a lot. Where'd it come from?" Sayer searches for words, not wanting to say the wrong things, desperately not wanting to make her angry and let this chance slip away. But still he was genuinely interested in the question.
"Actually," Alex's smiles turns a bit embarrassed now too, as she unfolds her arms and leans against the bumper of her sporty yellow Ferrari to which they had mysteriously drifted to. "I wrote it myself," she finishes, her eyes down.
"You did? Wow. That's-that's great." Sayer says, impressed, shocked in this tough lady's seemingly endless abilities.
"We all wrote our own music-you know, the girls I mean. At Kitten's request," Alex now covers for herself, not wanting to be the only one singled out, for some unknown reason.
"Yeah. But yours was the best." Sayer truly believed it, it was no con job, no buttering her up.
"What's it called?" He asks, his professionally musical interest piqued.
"Called?" Alex's eyes widen in a question. "Oh, there isn't-" she starts to explain.
"You gotta have a title, Ally! Even something simple, like a number or a letter, just so you don't get mixed up, which is which when you write more," he says excitedly, glad to find they share something in common at long last.
"Write more?" Alex chuckles at the thought of her, of all people, being a songwriter. "I don't think I-" she shakes her head dismissively.
"You kidding! If a no good lout like me could do it..." he trails off, a wicked grin on his teasing face. Sayer laughs and Alex joins in with him.
It feels good just to be able to laugh with you, to converse with you civilly. You're not the man I took you for when we first met (that certainly made an impression-in Michelle's hair!) she silently steams, then a smirk crosses over her face. He's really quite warm...and funny...Losing herself, she smiles at the expression on his face, able to see the wheels turning in his head. How cute you are. (When you actually do think, she can't help but add sarcastically) A good-looking man, her mind reflects back wistfully to before. And a damn good dancer too. She smiles realizing his many unnoticed (or more likely ignored) attributes.
"U!" His loud voice suddenly erupts through the empty parking lot.
"What?" Alex wonders what he means. "'You'? Are you talking to me?" she asks, confused.
"No, the initial U!" he draws the letter in the air with his finger. "I think it'd make a great title for your song, don't you think?" he pauses, "Sailor U?" he elbows her in the ribs, smiling at the new inferred nickname for her.
"You are the strangest man I know," she shakes her head at his silly outburst, but the sweetness of his thoughts for her hit home poignantly. At Sayer's discouraged look, Alex smiles. "U, it is then," she concedes.
"You," his smile turns serious suddenly, and Alex could not distinguish exactly which "U" (or "you") he meant. The look in his eyes changing to that spacey expression again. The unlit parking lot now pitch dark with only the stars and the bright full moon shining down on them. Alex feels those strange feelings again, uncertain but still...There was that racing in her heart, of the blood rushing through her veins. Was it only dizziness making her strangely lean towards the man in front of her? Wanting to wrap her arms around him again, wanting to...Both their eyes slowly waver closed as Sayer and Alex tentatively move towards each other.
Dazed, Susan can no longer see the audience around, can no longer hear their thunderous applause as the world of reality slips away. She could only feel him. His arms so strong, his chest so warm, his scent so overpowering, Susan feels her body weak as he holds her closer. Terry leads her from the dance floor to somewhere far away-far away from the commotion of the crowd, out onto a darkened balcony, replete with classically stylized columns, giving it a romantic Italian flair.
Just like you, my Roman goddess. Terry leads her to a marble bench, stroking her hair as he sits her down. Looking into her eyes, her sad eyes, he feels the need to comfort her, to hold her, to take her as his own. Finding Susan's eyes inviting, her soft lips willing, Terry tastes them once again, gently sweetly. But he could sense there was a sadness behind the kiss.
As their lips part, he gazes into her lovely fuschia eyes, still bewitching though filled with tears.
"Why these tears, my Lady?" Terry reaches out, caressing her cheek, wiping them away.
Susan presses her face against his hand, drawing strength from it, and she closes her eyes, blinking back the tears.
"No tears, my love," she forces a smile at him, the very words escaping, a vivid reminder of what could not be-Time her only true ruler.
"Susan, you need not worry, " Terry begins, wanting desperately to tell her, to calm her fears. He takes a deep breath, fully prepared to share with her everything he holds in his heart. She must be so frightened, Terry tries to read into her thoughts, please forgive me, I am so sorry to be putting you through this, Susan, my Love. But still, I am not sorry that we...His emotions surge at the mere thought of their being closer than close, and of what would come of this joining. "I will take care of you, I swear it," Terry takes both of her slender hands in his, "and anyone else who comes along."
At first not comprehending his words, Susan suddenly gasps in understanding. He thinks that we...That I'm going to...She blushes at the forbidden thought, knowing such wonderment as a child, a husband, a family, could only ever be a distant dream. He doesn't know this. He thinks that I am a normal woman. A normal woman would be so fortunate to belong to him and him alone. A normal woman could deserve his love and attention and return it to him, truthfully, honestly. I am not a normal woman. She thinks, depression sweeping over her, but a brave smile for his sake, forms on her lips as she shakes her head. "It's nothing like that," she says meekly in a whisper, looking down embarrassed she could not give him everything he wants, not be the woman he deserves.
"Oh," Terry says simply, a bit disappointed, for in his mind, a child assured his chances to be with Susan, for her to want to choose him. Because a beauty like Susan could have her choice of any man she wanted, Terry was certain. Preparing himself, Terry was now determined more than ever to discover the source of her sadness, no matter what it meant. Susan, what have I done to you? Wary to ask the question, Terry feels he must know.
"Susan," Terry takes her hands again, squeezing them tentatively as he looks directly into her eyes. "When we...that is...did I?..." For a man of great knowledge, Terry finds it hard to speak, stumbling over the words, it being quite unimaginable that he could ever do anything to hurt this gentle creature, especially when they were...Courage, man, he steels himself, I must take responsiblity for my actions. "Susan," he starts over, "you seem so sad since..." he pauses, not quite knowing how to address the subject without causing her further pain. "Have I done anything to offend you?" he asks, wanting the truth for his conscience's sake as well.
"No!" Susan exclaims suddenly, never wanting him to think that. None of it was his fault. All of it's mine. Everything is my fault. "It's nothing you've done," she chokes out the words, on the verge of tears again. "It's me. It's me," she whispers, wrenching her hands out from his as she runs from him, turning her face away. Terry jumps to his feet, chasing her, clutching her arm as he turns her to face him. Tears cascading down her beautiful face, Terry feels his own heart breaking.
"Susan, I don't understand. If it's not something that I've done...why are you?..." She lowers her eyes at his words, avoiding the questions. Determined to say what's in his heart, Terry lifts her chin, locking his eyes with hers. "Susan whatever it is, we can overcome it-together. I know we can, because Susan," his eyes become soft, "you are the one for me. I lo-" She cuts off his words, putting a finger to his lips, knowing what he was about to say and knowing that if he said it, her heart would split asunder, there could be no turning back then.
"Please, Terry, don't. Don't ask me why, please no more questions. I won't cry anymore, I promise," she smiles reassuringly, hiding her true feelings. "Today is my day, mine and yours. Please I can't explain anymore, let us just think only of today...Tonight...right now. That is all I ask of you. Please forgive my silly tears," she removes her finger from his lips, her soul silently weeping, for she had to stop the man she knows that she loves from saying the three most important words she has eternally longed to hear.
"My lady, if only I could kiss away all of those tears," Terry concedes to her wishes as he would always to this woman he worshipped so. Enveloping her in his arms, pressing her body against the column gently, he kisses her tearful eyelids, caressing each blushing cheek.
"Terry! Susan!" Suddenly voices break through the darkness, interrupting a passionate kiss hidden behind an ivy covered column on the scenic balcony. "Terry! Terry!" Lita calls out again, waiting for a response as she and Amy scan the supposedly deserted balcony.
"Where else could they be?" Amy asks, her search party partner.
"We've look everywhere!" Lita grumps, her time schedule being sent askew. "Ter-!" she begins to call again, ready to leave the balcony as they round one last corner and she and Amy both spot Susan's purple gown peeking out from behind the column, giving the couple away.
"There you guys are! Why didn't you...?" Lita starts to grump again on why they were in hearing range, but did not answer. But she changes her mind, realizing full well why neither responded, as Susan just finishes removing the lipstick from Terry's lips with his handkerchief, the guilty expression on her usually serene face trembles into a dreamy smile as he catches her hand. She still holding the handkerchief, and bringing it to his lips, kisses near her wrist tenderly.
"Oh," Lita says, as Amy blushes next to her, pretending not to notice the little exchange. "Well come on, Terry. You've got an appointment onstage," Lita winks, pointing a finger at him with a smile at the blooming novel-like romance taking place between her friends.
Susan on his arm, Terry obediently follows Lita and Amy back to the reception hall.
"Oh, I don't suppose you know where Alex and Sayer got off to," Amy asks pleasantly, still wrapped up in each other's eyes, neither Susan nor Terry seem to hear her small voice.
"I guess not," Lita elbows Amy with a knowing look.
"Sayer! Sayer! SAYER!" Rei's piercing voice comes through the darkness, bouncing off each car in the parking lot, rudely interrupting any romantic advancements between the hesitant couple.
Alex pulls back quickly, collecting her wits. She guilty, moves around to the driver's side of the car, feigning her interest was solely on her automobile and nothing to do with the man standing behind it.
"I'm sick of looking for him! That good-for-nothing-" an annoyed Rei and an uncomplaining Mina peek down the last row of cars in the lot, almost ready to give up the hunt. "What have you two been doing out here!" Rei barks angrily, running up to them, when she spots them. Angrily with a face on that could melt steel, a stark contrast to Mina's happy-go-lucky expression still humming her tune, on Cloud 9.
"We've been looking for you everywhere! Don't you know what time it is?" Rei feels the urge to grab this immature baby by the ear and drag him off to his duties (as she has done dozens of times to that stupid Serena) but restrains herself. After all, I am a lady in a ballgown tonight. She sticks her nose up in the air haughtily.
"Well," Sayer shoots a wicked glance at Alex, making her furrow her eyebrow, wondering what he was going to say. "Ally thought something might've been wrong with her car here. So we had a look," he smiles, motioning towards the car, shrugging innocently.
"What was wrong with the car?" Rei asks suspiciously, knowing with Sayer, there must be some sort of wickedness going on.
"Well, um..." Sayer stumbles, his knowledge of the parts of an automobile almost as extensive as his knowledge of oh, say, spatial geometry. "The car's, um...umm.."
"Fan belt," Alex suddenly fills in, seeing where he was going. He lies and I swear to it. Nice of him to try to cover for me though, she thinks to herself. A gallant knight defending his lady fair's honor? Yeah, right. She smirks at his sorry attempts. But I'll play along anyway.
"Yeah, the fan belt," Sayer grabs onto the word like a life preserver. "It just uh, broke," he offers.
"Snapped," Alex reaffirms his story, the two look to a disapproving Rei, innocent as doves.
"Well, whatever!" Rei huffs, knowing she was getting a snow job. But I can't imagine Alex collaborating anything with the likes of Sayer!
"Come on!" having enough, Rei grabs his arm, dragging him along, with no explanation.
"Robin's been looking for you!" Mina sings out dizzily, attaching herself to his other arm. As he's pulled away, Sayer turns his head and winks conspiratorially at Alex, who smiles that dazzling smiles of hers at him, now certain that he was half insane most of the time. (And all insane the rest of the time!) But she was just a certain that she was just as crazy for wanting to be with him. Scary thought.,she smiles as she follows them, watching his dangling ponytail flap in the breeze, his scent rushing through her.
"Where've you been, Sayer?" Robin demands of his errant brother in a scratchily irritated voice as Rei and Mina drag Sayer to the bottom of the stage well and then hurry off to join their escorts' in their seats.
"None of your business, Rob!" Sayer snaps back at Robin, continuing their long-running feud. Then his sour face turns totally around as he looks to his other brother. "Ready, Ter?" he asks, pleasantly enough & shoots Susan, who was still hanging on Terry's arm, a crooked smile.
"Of course," Terry looks to his lady, kissing one cheek sweetly, caressing the other with his hand, his parting gesture as he ascends the steps leading to the stage.
Saluting Alex with a two-fingered salute, Sayer dashes up as he always does after his "big" brother.
"Well, finally!" Robin says with a sigh, going up after them, always feeling like they leave him behind holding the bag.
"Robin, dear," he suddenly hears Michelle's melodious voice with a slight touch of annoyance in it. "Your brothers didn't pass up the chance to bid 'adieu' to their ladies," she says whinily feeling quite left out. "Have you forgotten someone?" she looks up at him expectantly, her eyelashes aflutter.
'How could I forget you?' Robin descends the stairs, landing a kiss on Michelle's forehead, squeezing her hand as he leaves for the stage, as after over a year's absence, the Three Lights' make their first appearance back in the spotlight.
The lights come up on the darkened stage, revealing the three statuesque figures known as the Three Lights, each man at his own microphone. The silver-haired idol placed at the left of the stage, the violet eyed movie star opposite him on the right, and the wickedly smiling lead singer standing poised in the center, all three with their eyes closed in their signature opening fashion. The sight of the famed trio sends screaming shrills and cheering through the audience, mostly from the women that is. Sayer's smile widens as his eyes still closed, he takes an extra moment, savoring the roar of the crowd, the thrill of being under the spotlights, ready to perform in front of an adoring audience once again.
A good feeling, he thinks to himself, especially since there were dear friends and two very special ladies in his eyes in attendance. Reaching out, he takes the microphone with his hand, pulling the familiar object to him as the audience quiets down, eager to hear him speak.
"Hey, everyone! Great party, huh?" Sayer says, congenially, "it's nice to be back, seeing all of you again! You girls out there are all lookin' pretty hot!" He winks, in true Don Juan style, sending some of the girls in the crowd swooning, others giggling, and one particular golden-haired one lifting her eyes to the heavens. "Especially you, Meatball, especially now," he directs his attention to Serena, with the nickname everyone knows, who smiles back at her beloved friend sweetly.
"Hey, hey, Dar, don't go getting all excited," ever the jokester, Sayer can't help but tease the new groom, the whole room laughing along with the newly-wed couple. "That's right, it's good to see you smiling," he says, looking at his 'Meatball' again, then looking to Darien, "Keep her smiling, Dar. Keep her smiling." Looking at the pair, Sayer feels glad inside, Serena's happiness assured at long last. "So-!" he stretches the word, remembering that he was onstage, "to commemorate this occasion-hey big word! You'd think Ter was making this speech!" he laughs at himself, in a jovial mood, teasing his more polished brother.
"Seriously, we wrote this song as a wedding gift to you, just a little bit back for the gift you gave to us," he pauses his eyes going serious. "My life would be so different," he says with intense feeling, though no one but Serena, Darien, and the other scouts could fully comprehend his words.
"'Endless Moment'." he finishes dramatically, with a wispy smile on his face. Exchanging nods with Terry and Robin, the orchestral music begins to play. A keyboard's velvety strains, a French horn somewhere in the distance, drums beating rhythmically, then sweet guitars gently strum the beautiful slow melody, soft and full, of a love song the three of them wrote together, expressing their true gratitude, their great friendship, their deep love for this special young woman. Beginning the song, Robin's high pitched voice takes the first verse:
"'It is you'," His first glance to Michelle, he then gives a nod to a smiling to Serena.
'You said, and then stopped speaking." Robin closes his eyes, bringing his hand to his heart, Michelle feeling him close.
"You suddenly became so quiet." Robin softly sings as the spotlight now brightens on him. "I'd be safe, but half as real," he emphasizes the word "half" feeling that his soul was indeed split into two parts of a whole. To which this Moon Princess was responsible for bringing the pieces of the puzzle together.
"The silence had frightened me." he continues on, singing to Serena again, acknowledging her important role in making him the unafraid yet emotionally connected man he is today,
"Because I could not always see your heart clearly, it made me want to cry." Robin Starr had never felt an emotion as this before, as his soul slides right in place beside Michelle's, it was almost painful to imagine the days when he didn't anymore.
"Watching the sands of time cascading." Terry reminisces on all the good memories they made together here as he swoops in here with his low mellow voice.
"Turn them back around." He feels sure to himself that she is the one, as he gazes across the room to Susan's eyes, that he has found the one to fill the void in his empty soul.
"Before it's too late." As he sings Terry's eyes focus at the dark-haired beauty in violet. A blush on her delicate cheeks, her hands go to them, recalling his sweet kisses, realizing with a tinge of sadness, that his words were meant for her too.
The music changes and Sayer's silky voice breaks in.
"Forever," his perfect toned voice was filled with emotion, strong and true, "My breath catches inside." and Sayer's eyes smile back at his cherished friend as he holds his chest full of sentiment.
"Forever, as I search for words to say." Sayer feels himself bursting with love and pride and caring, and things he never even knew existed, before he met his sweet 'Meatball'.
"Before one second more, Goes by without. " He holds on to the last phrase, his eyes locked with Serena's, his heart speaking directly to hers.
"Eternity I can't feel unless we're together!" And finally, with a sweeping exit Sayer sings, as he does everything, with passion in his voice. This Fighter smiles lovingly at his Eternal Sailor of a best friend.
"I knew that you and I were meant to be," once upon a time these would be strange words for Robin, but not anymore... Robin's high pitched voice sings as the spotlight now brightens on him.
"Long, long ago in the past." He emphasizes the word "past" feeling that his soul was indeed split into two parts of a whole in the lonely past before he met Michelle. To which this Moon Princess was responsible for bringing the pieces of their puzzle together.
"No one can take away our light." Robin's mind, his heart, his soul now reach out to that other brilliantly shining half of his being, as he sings these words to her. Proudly smiling, tears behind her eyes, Michelle welcomes him in and both of them glow warm inside.
"Even if the stars turned into dust, we wouldn't fade!" His soul locked with Michelle's, Robin turns back to Serena, though thinking it was not enough to express his true gratitude for her opening up his eyes and his cold, closed soul. "It makes me tremble, but that's the way I feel when we're together."
"Inside the stream of stars was destiny, our first meeting was meant to be!" Terry takes over here, no one closer to the stars than he and his destined lady from a distant star.
"Forever, I've been searching for you." Then Sayer begins the chorus as he sings of her shine, but his gaze trained on Serena diverges to a certain golden sparkle glimmering at him in the audience.
"A forever, I would change everything for." His trembling eyes meet Alex's across the open air, their past tensions rising and falling in his hopes.
"When in that first second all revolved around, that one moment in Eternity when I met you!" All Three Lights harmonize together, making it apparent to all in the audience why they had become such a popular trio, though all three brothers each had a new inspiration in their respective mind's eye, as the three lovely ladies seated in the crowd look on proudly.
"Forever!" Robin interjects with feeling, his scratchy voice filled with remorse at what he once was - cold and unfeeling, in the dark.
"I'll keep closing my eyes." Sayer belts out meaningfully. Grateful as he sums up all that he was before fortune and fate brought him to this green star.
"Forever, I'll be inside of your kiss." Terry's lower registered voice overlaps in true Three Lights style as his mind recalls Susan's exciting kiss.
"When in that first second it all changed around." In normal life, thoughtful words were sometimes difficult for him to say, but when he sang, Sayer could wear his heart on his sleeve.
"That one moment's," Terry continues under his brother's strong voice, making a sweet melodious background.
"Eternity when I met you!" Sayer's voice booms, carrying the melody throughout the room as he shakes his head in disbelief of what his life would've been like if his shooting star had not landed on this planet and met this sparkling girl who had a heart big enough to embrace even the distant stars...
All three of them finish singing with a flourish, meaning behind their grateful smiles, in every word, as they look down upon a tearful Serena, their overwhelming gratitude adding to the joy in her bursting heart.
As the applause erupts through the hall, as one, Sayer, Terry, and Robin gesture with their hands to Serena, showing that she was the one to receive the adulations, not them. Obediently the audience turns from the stage, to face the wedding table, applauding this amazing girl with a standing ovation, each guest reflecting on the way she had touched every one of their lives in her special way for the better.
Tears of sheer joy rush down her cheeks, as Serena puts her hands up to quiet the crowd.
"Thank you, Sayer, Terry, Robin." She smiles at her three friends onstage, "It was beautiful. Thank you all for making this wonderful day everything I wanted it to be," she gazes around the crowd, at old friends and acquaintances. Then at her mother and father next to her, her dearest of dear friends all seated around and onstage, and at last, at Darien, her beloved, who squeezes her arm as she sits back down next to him. "Thank you, God, thank you," she silently prays, to the One who made all of this possible for her from above, as tears stream down her happy cheeks.
Soft orchestral music plays in the background as the wedding guests begin to drift off. Saying their farewells to the happy couple, wishing them the best their new life together has to offer, as Darien and Serena to leave themselves, eager to get an early jump on their honeymoon. (Just like every young newly-wed couple!) Serena bids farewell to her dearest friends, after her parents have kissed and cried over them both. And now Serena finds more than a few of them giving her just a few last minute "tips".
"Be careful where you eat," Lita warns her best friend off. "Remember how sick we all got at that resort last time we went to the hot springs."
"Yes, Lita," Serena obediently nods as Lita gives her a peck on the cheek, and then in a conspiratorical whisper adds in Serena's ear, "Lizz is going to sleep over with me tonight. So, Andrew's going to drive us home in his new car! Exciting, huh?" she giggles, happily leaving with the pleasant brother and sister, who already have come and said goodbye to her and Darien.
"Bye Bye!" Mina simply waves from across the room, seemingly more interested in her escort, whom she had obviously appropriated to take her home as she rushes out on Ken's arm.
"Don't make a show of yourself pigging and clutzing out, okay? You don't want people up there to think all of us here in the city are like you, Serena," Rei can't stop herself from taking a few final snipes, her strange way of expressing her affection for her dearest friend.
"Rei..." Serena shakes her head at her ill-tempered buddy.
"Good luck," Rei's pinched face turns into a gorgeous smile. A hug and a kiss later she's running off at the mouth again, a hen-pecked Chad at the butt of her complaints. But as the two of them walk out the door, when she thinks no one is looking, Rei takes Chad's arm, for once contented with what she has.
"You going too, Amy?" Serena indulges her curiousity about her quiet genious friend, interested in her reawakening romance with her longtime sweetheart Greg.
"Oh, well, Greg's going back home early tomorrow morning, so we thought we'd just go to the cafe for coffee and talk a bit," Amy whispers shyly as Greg comes up to them.
"I guess you two have a lot to talk about," Serena was never one to hold her tongue as she prods the meek couple a bit, making Amy blush, but not Greg this time, surprisingly he actually speaks.
"Yes, we do," his confidence seems to be slowly building, as he and Amy say their farewells and walk out together.
"I hope you two enjoy yourselves," Michelle sidles up to them, Robin of course at her side. Something in her tone, as always with Michelle, added a little bit more to what she was saying.
"Not to worry about that," Darien was a pro at matching Michelle's flirtatious wit, his arm around Serena, closing in more, making her giggle at his touch.
"Robin and I are off to the opera. 'La Boheme' is premiering tonight," Michelle's upper-class breeding shines through. "Would you care to join us, Amara?" Michelle pauses, seeming to think Sayer, though admittedly quite dashing, would still be out of place in such a sophisticated event as a opera. But, feeling generous, she offers anyway.
"Sayer?" she adds, turning to him with the invitation.
"Do they sing any good tunes?" he asks, innocently enough, only vaguely knowing that in operas, people sing.
"Tunes?" the word rolls off Michelle's cultured tongue distastefully.
"Uhhh...no, Michelle, I think we'll pass on that," Alex says simply, taking control of the conversation. "I'm sure we can find some other diversion more to our liking," she adds, a sideways glance at Sayer, whose eyebrows raise at her not too subtle words.
"Ooh, what's a guy supposed to do with an open invitation like that?" he asks rhetorically, an amorous smile pasted on his face.
"Enter freely and at your own discretion," Darien calmly interjects, one who has dealt with Alex in the past and could not imagine any man crazy enough to want to take her head on.
"I could say the same to you," Sayer's sharp wit bites Darien back, a mischievous grin aimed at Serena, Alex rolling her eyes at that male macho thing.
"What do you boys mean?" Serena's wide-eyed naivete is obvious.
"You'll find out soon, dear!" Michelle gives Serena's shoulders a squeeze. "We'd better be leaving, don't want to miss the first act," she attaches herself to Robin's arm.
"Princess," Robin lowers his eyes, deferring to her, "it's been good seeing you again," he smiles that beautiful rare smile as he and Michelle leave, hand in hand, making a darlingly cute couple.
"My pretty girl," Alex runs her fingers through Serena's long golden hair affectionately. "Don't let him get away with everything," her advice coming through in a teasing smile.
"I won't," Serena's time with Alex giving her a bit more backbone in the dealing with the men department. "Alex?" Serena looks to her tall friend seriously,
"Take care of him," she whispers, so only the two of them could hear as the men next to them suddenly eye them suspiciously.
"What do you think they're talking about, Dar?" Sayer folds his arms, considering the two of them.
"Secrets already, Mrs. Shields?" Darien looks to his new wife with a smile. '
"No secrets!" Serena giggles guiltily, "Just saying goodbye." She looks up at Alex, whose smile never wavers, she knowing expressly who that 'him' was her princess was referring to.
"All right. We'll buy that, this time," Sayer winks one eye at Darien, a familiar smile on his face.
"Meatball," his eyes shine at her, bright and warm.
"It's not goodbye!" Serena beams up at him, a hopeful expression on her face.
"No...I don't think it is," he says, a bit spacily for a moment, his eyes flitting to Alex.
"What do you say, Terry, Old Man?" Darien brings the last of the couples into their conversation circle, though neither Susan or Terry seemed to mind being left out unnoticed as Susan hangs on Terry's arm and he presses her to his chest, the two of them lost in their own world.
"Mr. Shields," Terry suddenly realizes he was being spoken to.
"Darien, Terry, Darien," he stresses again, but actually enjoying the man's politeness for a pleasant change. Terry nods, smiling.
"Farewell, Miss Serena," he says, "Darien," he nods his head to them respectfully.
"Prince, Princess," Susan breaks her silence, her voice reverent. "I wish you much happiness."
"For you too, Susan," Serena leans forward, kissing Susan on the cheek, elated that her lonely friend has finally found someone to share her heart with.
And Terry too. She thinks as he kisses her hand sweetly, as he and Susan leave the room.
"Just us chickens left," Sayer says, "See you around, Meatball. Got a hot date!" he winks boldly to Alex, pops Serena playfully on the nose and then rushes to the door, holding it open for his hesitant lady.
"This is NOT a date!" Alex explodes, her voice bellowing across the room as embarrassment tinges slight red on her cheeks. "Kitten," she turns back to Serena, whose statement before still remained unanswered, "No promises," she smiles. But the look in her eye told a different story to Serena as she watches the two defiant souls stride out the door into the moonlit night, the last of her friends' gone. That left only her and Darien behind, which sounded pretty good to both of them right at the moment.
"Do you think the party's over yet?" a pajama Rini asks her silent friend as she puts down her brush on the dresser, just finishing undoing the cones on her pink head. She hums happily, pleased with the day's events.
"I don't know," Tara feels her mind adrift, finding it hard to focus on Rini's happy chatter. I can't get what I said to Susan out of my head., Tara holds her throbbing head, a pitiful look on her sad face as she recalls the harsh words she shouted at her docile guardian.
"What's wrong, Tara?" Rini jumps off the bed to where Tara was sitting on the floor, sorting through her night clothes.
"It's nothing, Rini. I'm all right, just tired," Tara holds back from even her closest friend, not wanting anyone to know just how mean she was to poor Susan. But I had a right to be mean! The little devil on her shoulder whispers in her ear, justifying her actions. She's using Terry cruelly. I can't let anyone hurt him like that!
"You can tell me anything, right, Tara? We're best friends forever." Seeing the look on the pink-haired cherub faced angel at her side makes Tara feel remorse for her words again.
"Rini..." Tara begins, thinking that if she told Rini all her troubles maybe she could fix everything all right again. Just like she always has for me., Tara remembers fondly. But before she could continue the two girls jump at the noisy clattering thunder beneath their feet.
"Rini!" Sammy's high-pitched whine calls from the first floor all the way up to the attic loudly. Wondering what could be wrong, Rini races down the stairs, Tara close on her heels, until the reach the source of the ruckus in the kitchen. There, seated in the middle of a pile of pots and pans, silverware and all sorts of dishes, not to mention several different kinds of cookies and cakes, with little Daria a scared look of shock on her face.
"What happened!" Rini yells at Sammy, flying to her tiny sister. Rini's responsibility for her was a direct order from her hesitant parents to whom Rini swore up and down before their journey here, assuring the midget's safety.
"I don't know!" Sammy shouts back. "I was just...just..." his cheeks flash bright red for a moment, as if embarrassed to reveal what he was doing.
"Just what!" Rini, the little sergeant scoops up her frightened, but thankfully unharmed baby sister, whose eyes threatened to open the floodgates as the shouting match continues. "Look at this mess!" Rini was angry.
"I was just making some tea and cakes for you two..." Sammy finally admits, backed into a corner, his eyes avoiding Tara's. "But then the little terror who you were supposed to be watching, Rini," Sammy throws at her, "came in and ruined everything!"
"Well, what're we going to do? They'll be home soon," Rini panics.
"Don't worry, Rini. If we work together, we can clean it up," Tara's sweet voice says calmingly, smoothing over the situation as she picks up a pan lid, the three of them hurriedly cleaning up. (After Daria is safely mopped up and deposited back in her bed.) One final cup on the floor, Tara reaches for it, and finds Sammy with a similar idea holding onto the other end. "It was very nice of you to think of us before," Tara smiles shyly at him, touched by his thoughtfulness.
"Oh, well, I..." Sammy stumbles at her pretty violet eyes. "I just messed it all up anyway," he sighs, feeling dejected as he lets go of the cup.
"That doesn't matter. After the first shock, actually it was a bit funny, seeing Daria with all of that cake on her face, buried in the pots and pans," Tara giggles sweetly, her old self for a moment again.
"Yeah, I guess it was," Sammy giggles along as the two of them join forces to wash up the dirty mountain of dishes. Tara laughing for the first time since she arrived, Rini smiles too.
"Guess you're really not all that worthless Sammy," she says under her breath, to the wet mop in her hand.
Finding the moonlight and the flowing night air breeze inviting, Terry decides to stroll through the park with Susan on his arm. Quietly contented with each other, soft caresses and gentle kisses along the way, Terry loses all track of time. He looks up to the heavens to determine the hour. The night is still young, Terry muses to himself as he leads his lady through the deserted tree-lined park. Just one more stroll through and we'll start home...At the thought of their returning home, alone, together, Terry feels something fluttering inside of him, his face turning warm. Terry gazes down on the dark head pressed against him, her beautiful eyes closed in total submission, letting him lead her where he will. Her lovely shoulders...Terry finds he can't keep himself from these thoughts. Stroking her hair, Terry guides Susan down the well-kept paths in the beautiful park, as the stars look down on him. Gazing back up at them, Terry can't help but feel a tinge of sadness. I know my brothers and I have to return to our planet, but...I don't want to leave you anymore. I can't just forget you.
If only, Susan...if only...
Indulging herself in this ephemeral fantasy world, Susan opens her eyes languidly, wanting each moment of time this night to pass as slowly as possible. The stars greet her, flickering like distant candles, alight as if just for her. How beautiful the stars are. How dazzling in the night sky. But tomorrow the sun will rise and these stars will fade away. Her dreamy mood is cruelly extinguished by her guarded soul. What am I to do? Her heart breaking, tears springing to her eyes, Susan can no longer withstand the forces lashing from without and within. But turning to face him, Susan looks up wanting to lose herself in his eyes once more.
Gazing into her troubled sad eyes, so beautiful, so breathtaking, Terry feels a song rising in his chest, the music she has brought to him he wants to share with her, serenade her with the love he has. Music and poetry composed the way he best could express his true feelings.
"Here you are, this dream still," Susan darling you are my dream, Terry takes her hands in his, as he sings to her directly from his heart.
"Scattered pieces we're sharing together," I'll pick up those pieces, hold it all together, no matter what it takes, his gorgeous eyes send these sweet messages to Susan, who feels her heart tearing apart at the seams.
"Complete only if I hear your voice," Susan, tell me what's wrong. My love will wipe it all away.
"Our friendship looks like it's becoming more, with all that's within me, I'll protect and hold onto this," Terry squeezes Susan's hands in his even tighter and her eyes fill with tears.
"I need to fight this leaving you," Softly, tenderly his strains of love flow, created a melody so beautiful Susan longs for time to stop for her, for she could love no stronger, no greater than that she feels for this wonderful man.
"Because only once in a lifetime could I have found you."
The tears stream down her face as his poetry speaks directly to her soul, stunning her with the genuineness in his eyes, as his gentle hands caress her face, wiping away the tears.
"Only," he sings.
Only you, Terry, my beloved. Only you. Susan kisses the strong hands pressed to her cheeks, lovingly, adoringly, and Terry's eyes glow with an inner warmth.
"This love I won't forget," Terry sings determinedly, his heart never to leave hers, he is certain.
"Through my body all the way down to my fingertips," sang the passionate words he smiles as Susan kisses those fingertips, wanting so much for this fantasy to be real, stay real, forever. But remembering herself, the pain she is sure she will cause this gentle man, Susan turns tightly shutting her tear-stained eyes, wanting to just fade away, never intending to hurt her sweet Terry.
"Don't be afraid of the passion we feel now, though your heart cries," Terry takes hold of his lady's arms, pulling her close to his chest, it apparent in his deep voice he too was aching for her pain, her fear, wanting desperately to make it better.
"These painful feelings have started already," he sings softly, trying to ease that sad look in her eye, needing to tell her all his romantic heart yearned to say.
"For inside of my heart, I long for you alone," holding Susan's head softly to his beating heart, Terry feels her tears through his suit jacket, but he is glad to have told her all he feels for her to now that she will be his everything. You are now, Susan. My beautiful lady. But I want to share in your sadness as well as your joys. What is it? I'll promise you a lifetime and more, Terry vows to himself, wanting to calm her, to ask her, but he remembers his promises earlier to her not to pry, not to ask anymore questions. Anything you ask, my lady, I will do anything for you. Terry closes his eyes, landing gentle kisses through Susan's hair and on her tearful cheeks.
"What do I do?" Susan's thundering heart asks aloud, to the soft breeze. I have to be honest with him. He deserves so much more than that. But what else can I do? Terry, I love you. I love you desperately, but...Susan pulls back, looking up through her tears, into Terry's crystal jewelled eyes. She can no longer keep from him the sad tortures behind her sorrows.
"Terry, there are things you don't know about me." She tries to control the overwhelming tears as she explains her role as a soldier.
"I need not know anything more, my lady," he smiles, trying to convince her of his sincerity.
"You don't understand. I'm not...I can't..." she stumbles, trying to find the words, "I'm not a normal woman."
"You are all I've ever dreamed of, that's all I know," he says, gripping her shoulders.
Trembling, Susan looks into his eyes, "Terry," she whispers. I love you! I love you! Her mind longs to say the words as her soul explodes with this only emotion. His words so beautiful, so perfect to her ears.
"Susan, I lo-" Terry begins to say, Susan stopping him once again, this time flinging her arms around his neck, kissing him longingly, tragically, passionately. Lost in the kiss, neither one notices a dark figure spying down disdainfully on this tender moment from atop a stately oak tree.
"Mimi!" The man clutches a dying woman in his arms, and bursts into tears over his lost love's tragic end.
Watching this moving scene onstage from a specially sectioned off balcony seat in the darkened opera house, Robin engrossed in the opera, feels the warm touch of a feminine hand wrapping around his arm. Sensing Michelle's overwhelming emotions over the climactic scene, Robin smiles. Moving to comfort her, without looking, he strokes the arm on his hand lovingly.
"I'm glad we saw this together," he whispers into the darkness.
"So am I," a female voice answers, dreamily, timidly. It was a voice familiar to Robin, but to his dismay, he finds it was not Michelle's. Just then the opera finishes it's final act and the lights in the house come up.
"What were you saying, Robin, dea-" Michelle turns, wiping her tears with a handkerchief to find Robin seated next to her, with a strangely dressed blonde woman hanging on his arm. Michelle jumps to her feet, her temper rising as well.
"Who is this woman!" Forgetting her place, Michelle's raised voice echoes down into the departing crowd, who all look up in shock at this unseemly display. Michelle turns crimson red, dragging both Robin and the clinging woman out from the balcony to a more secluded spot behind the curtains.
"Oh, dear, I've gotten you in trouble." The woman in question states to Robin as she's pulled along, her wide lime-green eyes opened even wider in surprise. Her sweet voice had not a bit of sarcasm in it.
"Who are you!" Michelle whispers angrily, but not before removing the girl's attachment to Robin.
"Well, I...I'm..." she stumbles, and fiddles with her long blonde hair, fixed in a single braid, suddenly nervous at Michelle's demanding tone.
"Evelyna." Robin inserts for the poor girl after a long wait.
"You know her then?" Michelle turns to Robin, a hurt suspicious expression on her face.
"Of course, she's a friend of mine from-" he starts to explain.
"And you never told me?" Michelle on the verge of tears, feels betrayed in some way.
"What's to tell? We're just friends, Michelle," Robin says slightly annoyed at her quickness to jump to conclusions. The crowd moving around them on their way to the crush bar, Michelle takes both of them by the arm.
"Let's go somewhere we can talk," as she maneuvers the three of them into an empty office in the front of the building. Knowing the owners of the opera house perfectly, Michelle was sure they would not mind. Taking a look at the girl now in a better light, Michelle sees she was nothing more than a teenager, sixteen perhaps seventeen years old. And that she looked rather scared at the moment. "Now, Evelyna, that's a very pretty name," Michelle smiles at the pretty girl, really not intending to frighten her. "Forgive my rudeness before. You just...surprised me," Michelle smiles coaxingly. "My name is Michelle Moreau, if you're a friend of Robin's then you're a friend of mine as well."
"Miss Moreau," Evelyna nods, still nervously playing with her braid. A pretty girl, though not very tall, she came only to Michelle's shoulders in height, no more than 4' 9" in stature. Her alien clothing was similar in style to Princess Fireball's. Though not half as elaborate, Michelle now reflects. But there was something familar about her, something about her eyes...
"You are from the Star Healer, as well. Aren't you?" Michelle says suddenly.
"How did you..?" Evelyna asks, her surprise evident at Michelle's keen knowledge.
"I can see it in your eyes," Michelle lightly touches the girl's cheek, suddenly feeling an almost...motherly...affection for her. "Robin has the same eyes," she smiles up at him, everything forgiven between them.
"Yes. Every inhabitant of the Star once known as Healer had these same green eyes." Evelyna answers spacily, a sadness in her small voice.
"Had?" Michelle feels a sense of foreboding as she asks.
"Yes," she closes her eyes, "Robin and I are the last of our people. The rest fell to a plague."
So that's the part of his soul Robin has still closed off to me. My poor baby. Michelle reaches out to Robin's mind, caressing it gently. The two of them gaze into each other's eyes, things unsaid passing between them. Evelyna watches the pair closely, as she has been all day from a distance. Knowing from what her 6th sense told her, that there was a..certain link...between them. But it was not only her uncanny sense that told her this. It was also the aching in her heart. For Evelyna believed that she was from the first moment she saw him, on their new planet of Janus, in love with Robin.
Her majesty Princess Fireball had introduced us to one another, knowing that as the last two survivors of our country men, Robin and I would share a special bond. So I joined the training to be a soldier in the Royal Army Guard of Janus, just to be with him, though others said he was cold and unfeeling. I didn't believe them, for he has always been kind to me, teaching me on how to fully use my newfound powers, helping me develop my sixth sense. But right now, she thinks sadly, that sixth sense is telling me that it's all too late. Too late, she sighs the sigh of a teenager, dejected.
Hearing the soft sigh, Robin turns to his protegee, unaware of the hidden aspects of her feelings for him. "Why are you here, Evelyna? Has the Princess a message for us?" he asks curiously, suddenly realizing she was not supposed to be here, so wrapped up with Michelle he was.
"Well, I..." she stops in midsentence. I'm so weak, she thinks meekly, confused. Her self-esteem was always low. I don't want to. Truly I don't! But...the one thing Sailor Star Healer has taught me, more important than anything else- I must complete my mission. I must stay with the mission... She summons her powers up and then reaches her hand out towards him...
Miles away, clear across the other side of town, a yellow Ferrari races through the busy streets. This part of the city teeming with every kind of night life imaginable. Neon signs electrifying the darkness as the regular Saturday crowd hurry in and out of the various nightclubs and discotheques that line the landscape.
Considering this as she pulls her car into a particular club's parking lot, Alex herself being in Michelle's upper-class company most of the time rarely visited these sorts of places before. Once or twice before Michelle friends had brought her, but always the loner, Alex never stayed long, much preferring a date with her motorcycle than the company of anyone else.
Until Michelle. And again until now. Unbuckling her seatbelt Alex turns to the dashing figure in the passenger seat. Unusually quiet during the ride here, she could sense a new shyness about the man. How cute, she smiles letting herself discover new things about him awhile. Though his eyes were seemingly fixated on the stars above. I wonder what he's-Alex begins to ask herself.
"Ally," Sayer says suddenly, breaking the silence.
"Yes," she answers, guardedly, the serious tone of his voice, making it seem he was about to ask her something important.
"Do you really mind that I call you 'Ally'?" he asks, the serious look on his face enough to make a cat laugh.
"Is that what you've been sitting there brooding about all this time?" she asks, incredulously.
"Yeah. Mostly. " His smile at her was enigmatic. Then he returns to the "pressing" subject. "I could call you 'Alex', like everybody else does if you'd like. And Shell calls you 'Amara'. What's that all about anyway? Or maybe I can think of something else to call you, or..."
"Just shut up, and get out of the car," she shakes her head at his foolishness. He is strange, but I suppose he's trying to please me, in his silly way. Watching Sayer jump out of the car, discarding his suit jacket into the back seat, Alex's mind suddenly recalls something he had said earlier. "Starr," she says a question in her eyes.
"Yeah, Ally?" he says, yanking off his tie, throwing it casually into the car, then his eyes, his deep blue eyes focus on her.
"Never mind," she changes her mind, looking away.
"What?" he pries, smiling at her encouragingly, his dark hair gleaming in the moonlight as he undoes the top buttons of his shirt.
"Nothing," she shakes off the question, still hesitant to be open with him. "Let's go inside." Alex pulls off her own jacket and ruffled tie, tossing them into the car on top of Sayer's.
Entering the crowded discotheque, Sayer and Alex mingle their way into the room, towards an empty booth in the back of the building. Multicolored lights flash throughout the dance floor, rhythmic music blares loudly as everyone on their feet move to their own style of dance. Ordering some drinks, Sayer and Alex both simply watch the action for awhile, enjoying the liveliness of the evening. Secretly stealing glances at each other as they sip their drinks, both were more than a little uncertain of their standing with one another.
Is this a date? Alex asks herself, hiding in an orange twist. Alex looks up to find Sayer studying her.
"Ready to blow these people's socks off?" he asks, standing as he gestures to the dance floor.
"Do you think they can handle it?" Alex says smugly, always ready with a witty reply, as she rises to her feet, following Sayer out into the crowd. Amid the chaotic flickerings of light and music, playing in true disco fashion, Alex and Sayer begin to dance, the dramatic style and sleek movements soon captivating their fellow dancers, everyone giving the dazzling pair space on the dance floor.
The lively audience applauds as the couple returns to their seats, Sayer going to the bar to get some more refreshments, leaving Alex alone at the booth, stretching her arms as she does not notice a silent figure eyeing her carefully from afar.
"They were all out of orange twists, so I just got us both these instead," he plants a glass in front of her as he sits down.
"What is it?" she asks, suspiciously. Sayer shrugs innocently.
"Nothing special, just some tropical juices, and some...club soda, and um..." he takes a sip of his own. "It's good, try it!" he smiles, hiding his own mouth on fire.
"Are you trying to get me drunk?" She asks knowingly, eyeing the beverage in her hand.
"
Ally! Why would you think that?" Sayer's guilty eyes pop open wide at the thought of being caught.
"Don't know," Alex smiles, taking a long sip from the glass anyway. Amazing I can be enjoying his company, she wonders at herself. The dancing the music, and the alcohol loosening her up, Alex decides to try her question again, this time determined to get the answer. "Starr," she says, her "tough guy" name for him, and he turns to her, beating his fingers on the table like a drum. "Starr!" she says again, a bit louder, she could tell he wasn't listening in the noisy room filled with people.
"Yeah, Ally?" he answers nonchalantly, his musical soul humming along with the music playing.
"Earlier, what you said to Meatball, about not saying goodbye," Alex pauses in midsentence, still uncertain whether she should ask this right now or not. Or why she even wants to know. But she plunges forward anyway. "Did you mean it?" her deep green eyes search his for an honest answer.
Sayer stops his humming and gives his full attention, meeting Alex's eyes, then lowering his thoughtfully. "I think..." I need words! How do I tell her how I feel? Sayer agonizes to himself.
"It could be hard to be a galaxy away if...if I had a reason to stay," he finishes truthfully, looking up into her eyes, hope filling his own.
"I-" Alex starts to say when suddenly a man seated in the booth behind them, turns, easily catapulting himself over the divider between them, landing on his feet directly in front of Sayer.
"How can you just callously say that! When you know how Her Majesty, the Princess, feels for you!" The dark sepia haired man shouts, enraged at a surprised Sayer.
"Jarrod!" Sayer jumps to his feet, obviously recognizing the angry man as everyone else in the room watches the confrontation with a spectator's interest.
"CAD! I always knew what you are-that you would break her heart one day!" he continues his tirade, an upper-class foreign accent pervading his every battering word.
"What are you talking about!" Sayer asks in confusion, his own temper beginning to flare.
"I followed you here in order to return your worthless self back to Janus, back to the Princess' arms," he adds with emotion in his voice. "After you deserted her, and now are about to discard her for another woman! You ungrateful wretch!"
"Why would I be in Fireball's arms!" Sayer's high voice fills with incredulous anger. "That's ridiculous!" His words only serving to outrage this man more.
"You disrespectful little... You don't deserve her!" Sent over the edge, this towering man raises his previously concealed laser rifle to Sayer's head and takes aim as the gasping crowd at the sight of a weapon, especially one as big as that, race for the exits and pandemonium breaks loose...