Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or her characters, and have no right to it except as a long time fan.
Title: Overworked
Darien x Serena
Rated: T
Romance
Summary: Darien is stressed and strained, and this leads to consequences he didn't see coming; both bad and good.
Darien sat on his couch in his living room in the early evening trying to read one of his textbooks. He was feeling awful, and in fact had been feeling that way all day.
It had actually started days before. It had only been a slight headache, feeling a little warm, and a lack of appetite, which were things he had easily ignored. They were not going to stop him from going on about his daily schedule, but as the days passed they grew worse.
The headache spread and grew more painful, the warmth grew until he was hot, and the lack of appetite turned into nausea.
He hadn't known what was going on. Well, obviously he knew that he was sick, but he had never actually been sick before and couldn't understand why it had suddenly happened now. Still, he suspected he might have the flu, the stomach flu considering the nausea he felt, but even with all his symptoms he wasn't sure.
Today he had woke up feeling achy on top of his symptoms, but he had still got up and readied himself for his day and went to school. That had been a mistake that he barely admitted to himself. He had silently struggled to make it through all of his classes, thankful he only had three that day, and hurried home as quickly as he could.
There was no stopping off at the arcade to visit with Andrew or to wait for Serena so he could mess with her while trying to avoid Raye if she was with her. Those usual events in his day had not even crossed his mind with his focus on making it home.
As soon as he arrived home he dropped his school things on his desk and made his way to his bedroom where he changed his clothes and climbed into bed. He had thankfully fallen asleep quickly, and when he woke up a few hours later he had felt so much better.
Still, although he had felt better he was suspicious that his symptoms would come back so he stayed home. Instead, he had sat at his desk which was located in his living room, sitting along the stretch of wall behind his couch and next to his balcony, and began to work on his studies.
Unfortunately, his suspicions had been right and as he sat at his desk his sickly symptoms had gradually yet quickly returned. He had tried to ignore them, he had studying to do after all, but they grew worse and eventually made sitting at his desk extremely uncomfortable.
He couldn't sit at his desk and he didn't want to go back to bed, so he compromised with himself and just moved to his couch. Of course it didn't help, but he had known it wouldn't help. He had just wanted to be able to continue his studies since he didn't want to get behind. It was so easy to get behind, something he had learned during the pass few months, and it was the last thing he wanted.
Darien groaned miserably and finally allowed his book to drop to his lap as he breathed through his mouth to try to settle his stomach. He felt terrible and seemed to be losing energy by the second judging by how he couldn't keep his book up anymore.
His head was pounding from all sides, his stomach felt like it was rolling, and he was tired.
I can't do this anymore. He thought, miserable and irritated. He hated feeling weak, and he hated that he couldn't just make this go away and go on with his life.
He huffed tiredly and tossed his book on his coffee table and slowly stretched out on the couch. He looked at his blank TV and then the remote control, but decided against turning it on as the pain in his head pulsed from the left side.
Why? Why is this happening? How did I get sick? He asked himself as he closed his eyes.
He hadn't been around anyone that was sick that he knew of, and even if that was the case he had been around people who were sick many times in his life and had never caught it himself. So why now? Why when he had so much going on, and so much that he needed to do?
Darien lay still as he slowly breathed in and out through his mouth, trying to control his stomach and keep it from getting worse.
Maybe that's why. He thought after a while. He could admit that he had a lot of things he was trying to juggle. A part time job, school, trying to find the silver crystal his dream princess was begging him to find, and his identity as Tuxedo Mask.
Each of those may not seem like a lot when they were listed, but actually doing them all at once was. He only had a few classes a day each weekday, but he always had either homework or studying to do. His part time job was on the weekends, but again he had homework or studying to do afterward.
A lot of his free time was used to search for the silver crystal, and that actually wasn't much since his free time was also the time he used to do his homework and study. On top of that he never knew when he was going to be needed as Tuxedo Mask, and that was a job all on its own. A high risk high responsibility job at that.
It was like a full time job where you were on-call twenty-four hours a day seven days a week.
Speaking of on-call jobs. He thought with a wince as his head suddenly pulsed insistently with the need to get to Sailor Moon.
Darien groaned as he pushed himself up and got to his feet. He stood for a few moments, trying to concentrate, before he was surrounded in red light. When it cleared he stood as Tuxedo Mask, and was ready to go.
Thankfully his transformation seemed to give him a boost of energy and he easily made it to his balcony. He slid the glass door open and stepped out and closed it behind him before he began to make his way down the balconies and gradually down the building.
He moved along the rooftops of the buildings leading away from his apartment building, and had managed to make it a few buildings in the direction his senses were telling him Sailor Moon was when his energy boost began to fade.
Oh no. He thought in dismay as his movements slowed, his weakness almost eagerly making itself known once again.
Still, he continued on despite his returning weakness because he knew Sailor Moon needed him. He had never failed to show up to aid her before, and he wouldn't let his sickness stop him now. He refused!
He leapt rooftop after rooftop, careful when he saw that there was a large space between buildings, and when his senses told him Sailor Moon wasn't far he began to look around from his height above ground. Monster attacks didn't usually happen up on rooftops after all.
What immediately caught his attention was a large winding park. He couldn't remember ever having been to that particular park, and as he reached the ground and began to move through the park he understood why that was.
It was a wooded exercise park.
There were wooden park benches and beams with metal bars as well as different types of actual exercise equipment that looked like they were made either of plastic or metal. Either way it was clear they were made to be outdoors and withstand different types of weather.
Soon he could hear blast sounds and yells as he laboriously made his way through the park ignoring the paths as he went toward the sounds and where his senses and instincts told him Sailor Moon was. Eventually he came in sight of the fight scene and saw Sailor Moon, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, and Sailor Jupiter fighting a monster that was part female and part snake.
The top half was a young looking woman with pointed ears, blue and yellow eyes, long white hair, and wore a sleeveless blue and white kimono. The bottom half was a thick snake tail with blue scales that stretched almost twelve feet in length. The transition point between woman and snake was obviously hidden beneath the kimono.
Darien's eyes focused on Sailor Moon as she watched her fellow scouts launch attacks at the monster, and then she began to run off to the side in a way that he could somehow tell would allow her to attack the monster from the side.
Unfortunately for her the monster was also aware, and although she was out of range of the monster's hands she wasn't out of the way of its thick tail. It slammed into her stomach so hard she was sent flying through the air in his general direction.
He moaned quietly as his headache chose that moment to pulse in two different locations. He winced and squinted his eyes as if that would ease the pain, but ran forward as fast as his weakness would allow and managed to catch Sailor Moon in his arms.
Unfortunately it didn't go as smoothly as it usually did, and he nearly lost his balance and fell.
Sailor Moon bit her lip to keep from crying out, and immediately knew something was wrong when Tuxedo Mask caught her and stumbled and nearly collapsed with her.
He managed to regain his balance and stabilize himself, and she quickly got out of his arms and put her own arms nearly around him to help hold him upright.
"Are you okay?" She asked in concern. "Are you hurt or sick?"
"Don't worry. I'm okay." Tuxedo Mask said quietly even as he fought not to lean into her hold.
Sailor Moon looked at him skeptically and ran her eyes over him from head to toe and back.
"No you aren't, but I'm not going to argue with you right now." She said with a frown. "Take it easy okay. Don't worry about catching me anymore. I'll be okay to fall; it'll hurt but I won't break. I don't want you making yourself worse trying to catch me every time I go flying."
"If you feel the need to help then help from the sidelines," She said as she looked around quickly. "but no more trying to catch me while you aren't well." She finished as she began to guide him to an area behind him.
"Here, stay right here." She said as she helped him lean against the side of a thick tree. "You should be out of the line of fire here, and the other scouts hopefully won't see you."
"Why shouldn't they see me?" Tuxedo Mask asked curiously as he gratefully rested his weight against the tree. He didn't think it would help him for long, but the current relief as slight as it was was appreciated.
"Because you usually leave after a fight is over or at least get out of view, and if they decide to come talk to you you might not be feeling well enough to leave." She answered. "It should be your choice if you want to talk." She added quietly.
Tuxedo Mask listened in surprise and appreciation. She was right after all. He usually left after fights or at least stayed out of view while he watched what the scouts did next to make sure Sailor Moon was going to be fine. He fully admitted that he wasn't feeling well and might not be able to leave, and the last thing he wanted was to unwillingly undergo an interrogation.
"Thank you for being so considerate of my choices." He said.
"No problem." Sailor Moon said before she looked back to the fight. She looked back to him and took in his weak stance, leaning against the tree, and his tired eyes, and her own eyes lit with determination.
"You rest. I'll finish this quickly and come check on you." She said, her tiara unknowingly glowing white, and dashed away before he could say anything.
Sailor Moon looked to the female snake monster as she ran. She needed to take care of this situation quickly and get back to Tuxedo Mask. She was so worried about him. He didn't usually show up to fights sick, but this time he did and had nearly collapsed under her weight when he usually acted like she weighed nothing.
She needed to make sure he could get home okay, and she wouldn't put it pass him to try and leave while she was busy with the fight. She couldn't let him do that without being sure he could travel safely, and she already wasn't sure he could do that considering it took him longer than usual to make an appearance.
After all, that wasn't the first time she had been hit by the monster and gone flying through the air. He had missed out on catching her twice since she arrived at the attack, so he was either very far away when he found out about the attack or wasn't feeling well enough to travel with his usual speed.
I'm betting on the latter. She thought as she stopped back in range of the fight. She glanced back and saw that he was still there, but now he was sitting on the ground as he leaned against the tree.
She looked back to the monster with determination. She knew it could use its tail really well and could send energy blasts from its hands, but that was all she had seen it do. Nothing any of them did worked against it. The girls attacks either missed or didn't effect it much, and it always dodged her tiara with its flexibility.
But that was obviously when I threw it. What if I didn't throw it? It couldn't dodge then. She thought as she narrowed her eyes watching as Mars sent a fireball at the monster.
Sailor Moon reached up and pulled off her tiara, barely noticing that it was already glowing, and willed it to shift into the familiar glowing white disk. As soon as it hovered spinning above her fingertips she ran forward toward the monster.
The monster flicked its tail at her as it avoided Mars' attack and she jumped over it and continued forward. It aimed its hand at her and launched a blue beam of energy but she ducked under it and didn't stop until she was nearly standing in front of the monster.
She swung her arm forward and shoved her tiara into the monster's kimono clad chest, and listened as it screamed in pain. Her tiara spun rapidly and seemed to grow brighter as she continued to push it further into the monster, and after long moments of listening to the monster scream the tiara punched through it.
The monster convulsed before it slowly stopped moving and began to turn gray and crumble to dust.
Sailor Moon stepped back and caught her tiara as it returned to her, and willed it to release its charge as she watched the monster continue to turn to dust.
"What was that about? You've never done that before." Sailor Mars asked as she walked over to Sailor Moon.
"I just figured since nothing else was working getting up close would do the trick." Sailor Moon said as she placed her tiara back on her forehead.
"It was amazing. That's what it was." Sailor Jupiter said with a grin. "Way to go!"
"It's a good thing that monster wasn't a rainbow crystal carrier or that method wouldn't have worked." Sailor Mercury noted.
"True." Sailor Moon agreed as she forced herself not to look behind her and draw attention to where she hoped Tuxedo Mask still was. "But it was just a regular monster so it did work. Now we should get going; I still need to start my homework and I'm hungry." She said, trying to get them moving.
"Yeah. I need to start mine too." Sailor Jupiter said with a sigh. "I'll see you guys tomorrow if nothing else happens today." She said before she took off running.
With that Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury took off in different directions and Sailor Moon watched them disappear before she looked to where she had left Tuxedo Mask. To her relief he was still there, and she ran toward him and knelt at his side.
"Good job out there." Tuxedo Mask said with a small smile. And he meant it. She really did do a good job. Attacking the monster in a straight forward logical manner, because he had seen her stop and watch the monster before taking off her tiara.
He had known before her attack that she must have been determined because her tiara had started glowing and her eyes had shun with determination. She had avoided all attacks coming her way and defeated the monster all on her own.
Just like when it was only the two of us out fighting. He thought quietly.
"Thanks." Sailor Moon said with a blushing smile. "I had to finish it quick, so I could get back to you just like I said I would."
"Now! How are you feeling?" She asked, all concerned business. "And don't give me that nonsense about being okay." She added, and he sighed.
"Nauseous, weak, and I have a hideous headache." Tuxedo Mask answered, not feeling strong enough to deny how he was feeling.
"Do you think you can make it home okay?" She asked with a frown, and he pressed his lips together in a tense line.
No. He thought, but remained silent. It was why he was still sitting there instead of halfway home. He was feeling completely weak, he had no energy to speak of, and his nausea was worse than before. Not quite to the point of feeling like he was going to throw up, but he was sure he would be there soon.
"Do you have anyone at home to help you?" Sailor Moon asked, taking his earlier silence as an answer.
"No." He said with a weary sigh.
Sailor Moon hummed quietly. She didn't like this at all. He couldn't get home on his own, and on top of that there was no one there to help him when he got there. She couldn't leave him like this; she wouldn't! He had helped her so much, been there for her since day one, and she would be there for him now that she had the chance.
"Okay. Okay." She said as she looked at him, seeing his weary droopy eyes, and determination flared once again. "I'm going to need you to trust me Tuxedo Mask."
"What do you have in mind?" Tuxedo Mask asked wearily. He just wanted to lay down and sleep if he could.
"I intend to take you to your home and take care of you if you'll let me." She answered seriously.
"And you have nothing you need to be doing instead?" He asked as he eyed her serious face.
"Nothing that can't wait or can't be done at your place." She answered easily. "You've been helping me since day one; helping me and keeping me safe. Let me do this for you. Let me take care of you. We can stay transformed. We won't have to know who the other is. This can work like that."
Tuxedo Mask sighed heavily and leaned his head back against the tree. He couldn't believe he was even considering her words, but he knew very well with how he was feeling that he did need help. He could not make it home on his own, and he knew he couldn't contact anyone else.
For one he didn't have the means out here in this park, and for another he couldn't tell anyone that he was Tuxedo Mask. The only person he would even consider contacting was Andrew, and even though he was his best friend he wasn't willing to tell him his secret.
But I trust her. He thought as he looked at her patiently waiting for his response. She had already proven that trust by making sure he was in an out of the way location of the fight yet still in view, and made sure her fellow scouts didn't see or notice him and try and talk to him in his weakness.
"You think you can really help me get home?" He asked, and watched her smile softly and her eyes brighten, which let him know she was happy he had accepted her help.
"Yes. It'll be no problem at all." Sailor Moon said assuringly.
"Alright." He said with a sigh as he reached up and removed his top hat. It disappeared before his hand could even finish lowering.
"Alright." She repeated before she stood and began to help him up. "Up you get." She added and frowned as she listened to him moan lowly. "Now, climb on." She said as she turned her back to him.
"What?!" Tuxedo Mask blinked in surprise as he stared at the expanse of her back and long thick streams of hair. "This is how you plan on helping me?" He asked.
"Come on Tuxedo; I can do this, and this is the best way to get to our destination." She said calmly as she looked over her shoulder at him.
Tuxedo Mask sighed but stepped forward and placed his hand on her back to help steady him before he moved his hand to her shoulder. He then wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and carefully around her neck, as he pressed himself against her back and did the same with his other arm until he had a comfortable grip.
"Lift one of your legs." Sailor Moon said, and watched as he lifted his left leg along the side of hers. When it was high enough she grabbed it around the back of his knee, and leaned forward to support his weight as she prepared for the moment she had all of him.
"Alright, next one." She said and heard him sigh before he tightened his grip on her and slowly lifted his leg.
She grabbed it behind his knee and tightened her grip on his legs as she steadied herself. He was heavy, no doubt there, but she was fine and knew she could carry him where they needed to go without a problem.
"Lead the way." She said and listened as he told her to head straight and exit the park.
Tuxedo Mask hung on as Sailor Moon took off running, seeming to have no problem holding his weight, and breathed through his mouth as his stomach rolled uncomfortably. He sincerely hoped he didn't throw up unexpectedly on her; that would be nasty and beyond embarrassing.
"I'm surprised you're having no problem with my weight." He said next to her ear, trying to distract himself.
"I'm not. I figure if I can run on high rooftops, jump long heights, and take strong blows from monsters without a problem then I should be fine carrying heavy weights." Sailor Moon replied as she ran.
"That doesn't mean I want to try catching you, so don't go getting hit and flying through the air like I usually do. I have no idea if I would succeed at that, and don't want a situation like that to find out." She added.
"Alright." Tuxedo Mask agreed with a quiet laugh.
The pair reached the end of the park in no time and Tuxedo Mask began to direct her through the streets, and then along the rooftops once she managed to make it up to one. They traveled along rapidly with Sailor Moon occasionally asking how his stomach was, and slowing depending on his answer to give his stomach a chance to settle as much as it could.
Nearly fifteen minutes later they came to his neighborhood and he pointed her in the direction of his apartment building. When she saw it her eyes widened at how tall it was, and her confidence faltered when he told her which floor he lived on. However, feeling his weight resting on her and knowing he needed her shored up her confidence and she continued forward.
When they reached the building she tightened her grip on him, and carefully began to make her way up the multiple balconies. Sooner than she thought she would she landed lightly on the railing wall of his balcony and hopped down onto the floor.
Sailor Moon toed the glass door open with her foot and stepped inside before she did the same to close it. Looking around she found herself in a living room and moved further in and saw a hallway next to a kitchen, so she began to step down the hallway trying to find his bedroom.
"All the way at the end." She heard Tuxedo Mask say in a low tone, and she walked more confidently instead of pausing at every door and stepped into the open bedroom to see a large bed with a few other pieces of furniture and another balcony.
She moved toward the bed and turned around and lowered herself enough for him to drop onto his bed and then lowered his legs. She turned around and saw him just lying there looking tired as if he had done all the work.
I wouldn't put it pass him to be tired from holding on to me. She thought as she knelt down on the carpet floor and took his shoes off.
Once she had his shoes off she lifted his legs and shifted him until he was laying in the center of his bed. She then knelt one knee on the bed and began to unbutton his vest and loosen his shirt.
"Can you sit up for me so I can take off your jacket and the cape? That should make you more comfortable." Sailor Moon asked and listened to him moan.
The last thing Tuxedo Mask wanted to do was sit up but he would because he knew she was right, so he shifted his hands and began to sit up with her help. He pulled his arms out of his sleeves as she pushed his jacket off his shoulders and down his arms and then rolled to the side so she could move the garments out his way.
Sailor Moon placed them at the end of the bed and moved back to him and untied his bow tie and pulled that off, and then paused as she looked him over.
"Do you want to take off the vest?" She asked as she bit her bottom lip. "I think you would be more comfortable, and it's the last thing you can take off with me in the room."
Tuxedo Mask sighed wearily and sat up once again and shifted as she pulled his vest off him. He collapsed back on his bed and brought his hands over to rub his stomach as he watched her take his garments and place them on a side chair he had sitting in the far corner of his room. She came back to the side of the bed and seemed to look him over before her eyes widened.
"Oh! I forgot about these!" She said before she reached down and grabbed one of his hands and began to pull off his glove.
He sighed and closed his eyes as he focused on breathing in and out through his mouth. He had actually forgotten about his gloves too, but his mind was understandably elsewhere. He would actually rather be back in his casual clothes since they were more comfortable. His pants, shirt, and mask weren't at all comfortable, but he did appreciate the effort she had made to try and make him as comfortable as she could without risk of discovering his identity.
"Okay." Sailor Moon said with a sigh, and he opened his eyes to see her looking at him in concern. "What can I do to help you? Do you know what exactly is wrong with you?" She asked.
"I'm fairly certain I have the stomach flu." Tuxedo Mask said with grimace as he shifted his aching body.
Sailor Moon grimaced as well at that news. She had never had it but her little brother had, and it did not at all look pleasant to have. Luckily for Tuxedo Mask she had helped her mom take care of her brother, so she thought she knew what to do.
And this is definitely going to get worse before it gets better. She thought as she bit her lip.
"Alright. I've never had it myself, but I've helped take care of someone who did." She assured him.
"You're going to need fluids, plenty of them, and a clear path to the bathroom. Do you know if you have a fever? If it's not high enough I might not feel it through my glove, and these are so snug I don't think I can actually take them off." She said as she lifted her arms and looked at her gloved hands.
"I'm sure I had one before I left. I doubt it's gone anywhere." He answered as he opened his eyes.
Sailor Moon placed her gloved hand lightly on his forehead and listened to him sigh and lean into the cool cloth around her hand. His forehead was radiating heat very clearly through her glove.
"You need a cold compress." She said, pulling her hand away when the cloth of her glove was no longer cool. She looked around and spotted his attached bathroom.
That's convenient; especially with how he's feeling. She thought as she stepped toward the door. She pushed it open as she flicked on the light. Looking around briefly she spotted a washcloth hanging on one of the racks. She pulled it off and turned to the sink only to pause as she looked at her hands.
Oh! I can't do this with gloves on. She thought before she looked over to Tuxedo Mask quietly lying on his bed yet shifting as if he was in pain.
I'll just have to deal with wet gloves. She thought before she turned on the cold water and placed the cloth under the flowing liquid.
Her gloves were instantly soaked but she did her best to ignore it as she thoroughly wet the washcloth. She turned the water off and wrung out the cloth, and flicked away as much of the water droplets as she could before she returned to her masked patient.
Sailor Moon gently placed the cloth on his forehead and watched his eyes open looking glassy and tired. She placed her hands, covered with her wet gloves, on his cheeks and gently moved them down to his neck as she tried to cool as much of his skin as possible with the cold wet cloth.
She didn't like seeing him like this. She was used to seeing him being mysterious and a pillar of strength; confidence and assurance always in his voice. He should always be that way. Always look strong and confident.
And I'm going to help him get back to that. She thought firmly as she watched him close his eyes as if he could not keep them open. But I'm going to need to make some arrangements. She added as she looked through the glass door to his balcony and saw the sky beginning to darken.
It was one thing to sneak out of the house to fight a monster, and another thing entirely to just not return home without a word. She didn't want her family to think she had been kidnapped or worse. Luna might think the same if she was there, but with her she didn't need to worry. Luna had zero authority over her regardless of what she might think.
However, her parents did, and she was going to need to come up with something to tell them that they would accept and not question.
But what? What can I say, what can I tell them, that would work? What would be reasonable? She wondered as she pulled hands away from her sick companion. Perhaps something close to what I'm actually going to do. She considered as she looked down at him.
"Tuxedo Mask?" Sailor Moon said quietly and watched his eyes open slowly. "Do you have a phone?" She asked, not having looked when they arrive since she had been more concerned with getting him lying down.
"Yes." Tuxedo Mask said as he rubbed his stomach. "Why?" He asked, slightly curious.
"I need to make arrangements to stay here. I don't want my family thinking something happened to me when I don't show up at home." She answered.
"It's by the kitchen." He said as he closed his eyes, his curiosity over.
"Thanks. I'll be quick, and I promise not to snoop." She said as she turned the washcloth over to the cool side.
With that said she hurried out of the room and down the hallway and paused at the kitchen. She looked around quickly and saw the phone sitting on the long counter that separated the kitchen from the front door and some of the kitchen. She grabbed it and quickly dialed her home number.
"Tsukino residence." She heard her mom's voice.
"Hi mom!" She said cheerfully even as she smiled in light amusement.
Here she was transformed into Sailor Moon in Tuxedo Mask's apartment talking on the phone with her mom like she hadn't just been in a fight against a monster and intending to stay the night at a mystery man's house.
"Serena. Where are you? Dinner will be ready soon." Her mom asked.
"Oh mom! I'm with Molly." She lied easily; the life of a scout having given her that skill. "That's why I'm calling. I wanted to ask if I could spend the night, so we can go to school together in the morning."
"Well..but you don't have any pajamas. What will you wear?" Her mom asked, and she could practically hear the frown in her voice.
"You know I can borrow a pair of Molly's." She said reassuringly. "It's been a while since we've shared clothes but we're still close in size, and it's not like anyone will see me in them."
"Alright dear." Her mom said with a sigh. "You can stay the night."
"Yes!" She said, playing up her usual cheerful tone. "Thanks mom! You're the best."
"You're welcome dear. Don't stay up too late tonight." Her mom said.
"I'll try not to." She lied, intending to stay up as long as she could to help Tuxedo Mask through the night. "Bye mom."
"Goodbye dear." Her mom said and she pressed the button to end the call before she dialed another number.
"Baker residence." She heard a mature feminine voice answer.
"Hi Mrs. Baker, it's Serena. Is Molly home?" She asked quietly as she glanced down the hallway. She wasn't really talking loud and she doubted her sick companion was trying to eavesdrop, but she didn't want to chance him finding out just by overhearing her because he had good hearing.
"Yes. Please hold on a moment." Mrs. Baker said before the line went quiet.
"Serena?" Molly's voice came through a few moments later.
"Hi Molly. Sorry to be so abrupt, but can you cover for me?" She asked. "I just got permission from my mom to sleepover at your house tonight, and if I don't show up at school tomorrow can you get my homework for me please?"
"What's wrong? What will you be doing instead?" Molly asked.
"Tuxedo Mask showed up to a fight a little while ago seriously sick, and I'm taking care of him since he doesn't have anyone to do it. It's the least I can do for all he's done for me all these months." Serena said seriously, not at all worried about the references she was making.
She had told Molly about her being Sailor Moon when Luna started to make noise about distancing herself from her best friend. She wasn't about to let that happen, but Luna didn't need to know that. She could lie to more than just her mom after all.
"Oh oh! And if I'm able to get my homework done I'll drop it off with you tonight." She added.
"Sure no problem." Molly agreed. "I'll leave my window open for you."
"Thanks. I seriously owe you." Serena said.
"That's okay." Molly said dismissively. "You just focus on taking care of that masked man."
"Thanks. I'll talk to you later." She said.
"Alright. Bye!" Molly said.
"Bye." Serena replied before she pressed the button to end the call.
She put the phone down and hurried down the hallway and stepped into Tuxedo Mask's bedroom to see him lying there rubbing his stomach with a grimace on his face.
"Hey." She said softly as she reached him and watched his eyes open tiredly. "We're all clear. I'm good to stay the night and well into tomorrow evening."
"Thanks." Tuxedo Mask breathed out before he wince as pain pulsed behind his right ear.
"What's that for? Where's the pain?" Serena asked in concern.
"My headache." He answered, and heard her hum softly.
"Do you think you can take something for it?" She asked as she removed the washcloth. "I mean you haven't thrown up yet, so maybe…"
"I can try, but with the way my stomach is feeling it won't be long before I actually do throw up." He replied.
"Alright. Let's forget that then. No use wasting medicine if it's not going to have time to work." Serena said with a sigh. "I'll be right back. I'm going to refresh this cloth." She added before she walked into his bathroom.
She turned on the light and then the cold water tap and placed the cloth under the flowing water. She moved it around to make sure it was completely soaked before she turned the water off. She wrung out the cloth and was flicking off the water droplets from the cloth and her gloves when Tuxedo Mask suddenly appeared in the doorway.
One look at his face had her skittering back and away from the toilet as he rushed forward and dropped to the floor in front of the commode. She grimaced as he heaved and heard the sound of splashing in the toilet bowl.
Serena shook her head and tossed the cloth into the sink as she moved toward him. She knelt at his side and rubbed his back; not worried about her wet gloves as she tried to offer what comfort she could to her ailing companion.
She closed her eyes as he heaved and gagged, feeling the muscles in his back tense. She put her free hand on the back of his neck thinking he would appreciate the cool feeling. She knew if she had the stomach flu she would, and she knew her little brother had liked the cool feeling since he had been hot all over during his illness.
"All done?" She asked softly when he had not heaved or gagged for a few long moments.
Tuxedo Mask nodded slowly and she helped him up as she flushed the toilet. They walked out the bathroom and she helped him lay back down on his bed before she hurried back to the bathroom and grabbed the cloth.
She returned to him and gently wiped and patted his face and neck, trying to help cool him, before she folded it and lay it across his forehead.
"You need liquids." Serena said, knowing that now that he had thrown up it would keep happening until the sickness passed. "When was the last time you drank something?" She asked.
"I don't know." He replied as he rubbed his stomach.
"The person I helped before drank water and juice." She said thoughtfully.
"I think water would be best." He said as he grimaced and rubbed his stomach more. "Flavors might make my nausea worse at this point."
"Okay. I'll be right back." She said before she left the room and headed down the hallway and into the kitchen.
Serena flicked on the light and began to open cabinet doors looking for a cup, and when she found one she filled it halfway with tap water and returned to her companion's bedroom.
"Here you go." She said softly as she reached his bedside.
Tuxedo Mask opened his eyes and looked reluctantly at the cup before he sat up with a groan and accepted the cup with one hand as he used the other to keep the cool cloth on his forehead. He took a few cautious sips before he lowered the cup, and smiled slightly as Sailor Moon took it from him and placed it on his nightstand within his reach.
He sighed and lay back down as he closed his eyes, grimacing slightly as he began to rub his stomach again. Now he was not only nauseous but his stomach was starting to hurt.
I just wish I could sleep this away or at least escape in sleep for a little while. He thought with a groan as he shifted uncomfortably on his bed.
Serena frowned slightly as she held her hands at the sight of her masked companion in such discomfort. She hated this. She wished she could take this illness from him, to make him feel better.
Not just because she wanted to pay him back for all the help he had given her since they had known each other, but because of her feelings for him. After all, she may be focused on taking care of him, but she had in no way forgotten her crush on him.
And this situation was only making her feelings stronger. She didn't know his true identity, but she was still getting to see a side of him she had never seen before. He was allowing himself to be weak in front of her, but despite that she could still see his strength; both physical and his strength of will.
He was quiet in his suffering, as if he didn't want to disturb or alarm her, even though she was there to take care of him. Beyond that he was trusting her. He had allowed her to carry his weight and trusted that she wouldn't drop him or falter. She was here in his home, in his bedroom, and he trusted that she wouldn't snoop to try and discover who he was.
That made her happy. That she had managed to earn his trust, and she was absolutely determined to keep it.
How can I help him more than I have? She wondered as she watched him shift in his discomfort. His stomach is hurting, which clearly means the cramps have started, so he's got cramping and nausea to deal with. Headache and fever also on top of feeling weak.
I don't think I can. The only thing I can do is keep him as comfortable as possible, keep him hydrated, and feed him when his stomach can handle it. She told herself unhappily, but then a thought suddenly popped into her mind.
The locket. Maybe the music will soothe him. She thought as she nibbled slightly on her bottom lip.
Serena nodded to herself and gestured with her hand, and watched the star locket appear in her palm.
It had not been long since she had tried to give it back to him when they were dealing with the winged angel the artist Yumemi Yumeno had become and he had instead insisted on her keeping it. It had brought her comfort many times since then, and even before then when she had first picked it up after he dropped it, and it had also been her hope.
Hope that he felt something for her if he was allowing her to keep what she felt was a precious item.
She silently knelt down and placed the locket on the side of the bed in front of her and opened the locket. Instantly a glow appeared from the open latch and a soft soothing melody drifted out to fill the room.
Tuxedo Mask turned his head toward the sound as he opened his eyes, and was greeted by the sight of Sailor Moon kneeling at his bedside looking at him while the locket he had placed in her keeping serenaded them.
Her eyes were soft as her hands cradled the locket as if she wanted to make sure it didn't move away from them. They reminded him of a fact that had escaped his mind with his sickness.
Her feelings for him.
He had always known of her crush on him, and that her feelings grew the more they interacted with each other. He didn't ignore it, however, he also didn't act on them or his own growing affection. His affection was the reason he had allowed her to keep the star locket in the first place.
He just could not bring himself to do anything with the dreams of the mystery princess begging him to find the silver crystal. He felt that for her to send him the dreams, beg for his particular help, there must be some connection between them. He couldn't see her clearly enough to really know what she looked like, but he sensed that they were in no way related so he assumed it was a romantic connection.
How could he have a possible romantic connection with the mystery princess and start something with Sailor Moon? What would happen when the princess appeared outside his dreams? Would she expect them to be together if he was right about the romantic connection?
I don't know, and I don't know how to feel about my theory about that connection. He thought as his eyes unconsciously softened as he gazed at the sailor scout in front of him.
"Thank you." Tuxedo Mask said quietly, despite his thoughts he understood she was trying to comfort him in his obvious discomfort.
"I hope it helps." She said with a smile. "I was actually hoping it would make you feel better, and maybe help you sleep."
"It is helping, and it would certainly be nice to sleep through this illness if I can." He replied as he held in a groan of pain as his stomach cramped.
"Well, you do your best to focus and listen to the music." She said as she picked up the locket. She shifted his cup of water aside and placed the locket on the nightstand. "You must be tired even with how you're feeling, so hopefully you'll be able to drift off." She said as she folded her arms on his bed.
"Are you going to watch me sleep?" He asked in slight amusement as he blinked slowly, doing his best to let the music soothe him. Thankfully it was working on his headache.
"At least until you fall asleep." Serena said with a grin. "After that I'll get started on my homework."
"Ah." He said in quiet understanding. That let him know that she was school age. Although, he didn't know if that meant junior high school, high school, or university.
Oh course she could be home schooled. He considered thoughtfully. Somehow he doubted that.
She also didn't seem mature enough to be his age, in university. Not with the way she ran around screaming and crying sometimes. Then again he was much too mature for his age.
And to be fair he had noticed that she seemed to switch from immature crying to mature and focused depending on the situation. He had noticed the pattern, but had never put much thought into it because that felt too much like trying to figure out who she was.
But right now this is keeping me distracted from my sickness and pain, so I don't care. He thought as he thought back to all the previous fights, and tried to figure out the pattern to her back and forth switch in behavior.
Ah..she shows her immaturity when she is scared and in danger, but when it is someone else imminently in danger she becomes serious and focused. He thought as he closed his eyes. Or rather mature and focused. She's serious when she's in danger and scared, but it's like her immaturity is magnified because she doesn't know how to protect herself.
That was something that had been clear to him since day one. He had only just recently figured out that he was Tuxedo Mask, but once he had he remembered all of the fights he had been a part of.
She just needs help, training, to be better able to protect herself. He told himself quietly. Yeah. Why hasn't she been trained? He wondered as he began to drift off to sleep.
Serena was watching Tuxedo Mask so closely that she saw the moment his breathing deepened and his body relax and realized that he had fallen asleep. She smiled but waited a few minutes to make sure he was deeply asleep and wouldn't wake up before she carefully took the damp cloth from his forehead.
She stood up and walked into his bathroom and placed it on the sink, and then went to the chair she had placed his clothes in and pushed them to the side before she sat in it. She looked around and nodded.
This is good enough. There's enough light coming through the balcony that I can see fine, and I can use this little table to do my homework on. She thought as she looked at the little round table that was placed in front of the chair.
She pulled out her school bag from her subspace pocket where she had placed it before she transformed to head to the fight, and began to take out her homework and a pen. She glanced over to Tuxedo Mask and the star locket still playing, and hoped he would sleep easy and escape his symptoms for as long as possible.
=oOo=
Darien drifted awake hearing soothing music and feeling slightly uncomfortable because of his clothes. A moment after that registered his face shifted into a grimace as his stomach cramped sharply.
He groaned and rolled onto his side and cracked his eyes open as he began to slid toward the side of his bed, nausea rolling through his stomach as he trained his eyes on the open door to his attached bathroom.
As he gained his feet he could feel the bile rising up his throat and he slapped a hand over his mouth as if that would stop it from coming out instead of making a disgusting mess all over his hand and chest.
Hurrying across the floor and into the bathroom, ignoring the light switch, he dropped to his knees in front of the toilet and heaved as he opened his mouth and closed his eyes. His stomach cramped somewhere on his right side and he gagged as more bile drifted up his throat.
As busy as he was he was aware, though his eyes were closed, when the light turned on, and a moment later he felt a gentle hand touch his back and start to rub up and down.
Sailor Moon. He reminded himself before he heaved again, feeling terrible and embarrassed that she was witnessing this.
Serena knelt at Tuxedo Mask's side as she gently rubbed his back, silently comforting him as he threw up. She hated that he was feeling so bad, and was sad to see his suffering. She shouldn't be seeing him this way, shouldn't be seeing him while he was weak, but at the same time she was glad he trusted her enough to allow her the sight.
He sat back a little after a while, almost panting, and she flushed the toilet with one hand as she rubbed the back of his neck with the other.
"Do you still feel like you're going to throw up?" She asked softly.
"Yes." He groaned as he wrapped an arm around his cramping stomach.
"Okay." Serena said as she continued to rub his neck and back. "Are you still feeling hot?" She asked after a few quiet moments, trying to tell if he still had a fever.
Tuxedo Mask nodded and she got up and grabbed the cloth she had used earlier, and turned the cold water on in the sink. She soaked the cloth all the way through, ignoring the feel of her gloves getting soaked as well, before she turned the water off she wrung out the cloth.
She shook off the excess water before she knelt back down next to her masked crush, and gently pressed it to the back of his neck and listened as he sighed and leaned toward her slightly.
Serena moved the cloth around to the front of his neck and he lifted his head, and she took the opportunity to gently bathe his face before she pressed the cloth to his forehead. He gasped suddenly and she quickly moved the cloth away, and watched as he nearly put his whole head in the toilet and heaved.
She grimaced at the sound but didn't hear anything, which wasn't surprising since it had been a while since he had eaten. He had nothing left to come up since he had already threw up the little water he had drank and his body hadn't absorbed.
Which means his poor stomach will be hurting more from dry heaving. She thought sadly.
A few minutes passed as she rubbed his back and gently pressed the wet cloth to the back of his neck as he heaved and gagged every once in a while.
"Do you think you're finished?" Serena asked as he sat back on his heels, and watched him nod slowly.
"Alright. Let's get you up and back to bed." She said before she got to her feet.
She placed the cloth back on the rim of the sink, and helped her masked crush back to his feet; practically hauling him up. He leaned against her and they slowly walked the few feet back to his bed before she eased him onto the bed.
Darien sighed heavily as he lay back down and settled on his back as he closed his eyes. He smiled weakly as he felt a wet cloth settle across his forehead a few moments later, and allowed his mind to drift to his helpful companion.
Sailor Moon was being so helpful to him, so concerned, so caring, and considerate that he couldn't help thinking of how refreshing it was.
He had never had that, at least that he could remember since he assumed his parents had been that way before they died, and wanted to experience more of it. And the only one in his life to act that way with him was Sailor Moon, and that left his mind drifting to one consideration.
Maybe I should act on the feelings growing between us. He considered thoughtfully as he opened his eyes and looked to her where she was puttering around in his bathroom. Realizing in that moment that she must have closed the star locket while he was in the bathroom since it was now closed and silent.
He didn't know who she really was and he didn't know who the mystery princess in his dreams was, but what he knew was that Sailor Moon was here in front of him while the princess was only in his dreams.
All I'm doing is holding myself back, essentially putting my feelings aside, just because I have a theory about who the princess could be to me. He thought as he closed his eyes once again, idly rubbing his sore stomach.
That wasn't fair to him. What if the princess just wanted his help and that was it; not to mention what if he didn't like her when he met her? He would have held off on acting with Sailor Moon for nothing.
And he liked Sailor Moon. There was no denying it. It was nice to experience having someone taking care of him, and actually caring for him enough to want to do it, and he imagined what it would be like to be in a relationship with her away from their secret lives; to see her every day and spend time with her.
Of course he would have to learn who she was, but he had a feeling that if he spoke of his feelings and wanting to act on them she would consider, if not mind at all, revealing their identities to each other. He was sure that she trusted him enough, and he knew that he trusted her.
I let her come to my apartment, my home, take care of me, and even slept in her presence. If I could allow those things then revealing my identity should be no big deal. He thought, but then something occurred to him.
I don't know how old she is. He thought with a small frown.
Just before he fell asleep he had been thinking about what level of schooling she was in since she had revealed she would be doing her homework, which would have given him an age range if he was able to figure it out.
Hmm..the fact that she had to call her family so they wouldn't worry tells me she lives at home with at least one parent. That could mean she's young enough to need permission to stay out at night, but it could also just mean she was letting her family know so they wouldn't worry if she didn't come home. He thought.
But she said she needed to make arrangements in order to stay here with me, and she wouldn't need to do that if she didn't need permission to be out at night, which means she's likely between the ages of thirteen and eighteen. He reasoned, which meant she was either in junior high or high school.
I can't imagine Sailor Moon being thirteen, so for my own piece of mind I'll consider her to be between fourteen and eighteen. He told himself as he rubbed his stomach a bit harder as the cramping began to grow stronger again. Now all I have to do is decide if I'm willing to date her if she does turn out to be fourteen.
Serena looked at Tuxedo Mask as she returned to her seat near the balcony. She wanted to suggest he eat something, but she didn't think he would be able to keep it down; especially after throwing up as he had.
Plus, he was rubbing his stomach and even as she watched his hands were starting to press harder and harder as if he was trying to relieve his discomfort. There was no way he could focus on eating if his stomach was cramping and he was nauseous.
But maybe he should drink some water so he has something in his stomach. She thought as she watched him thoughtfully. Maybe he could stomach some soup. At least if it's liquid enough. She thought as she watched him start to almost squirm on the bed.
Serena's eyes widened as she watched bright red light suddenly flare and surround Tuxedo Mask. She knew that look and knew it could only mean one thing; he was releasing his transformation.
Before anything else could run through her mind the light faded leaving her masked companion no longer masked, dressed casually, and looking familiar.
Darien! She thought in shock, her eyes widening as she stood up.
She stepped along the end of the bed and toward the side closest to the bathroom and closer toward him as she gazed at him. He was wearing a t-shirt, sweat pants, and socks, and definitely looked more comfortable than he did in his tuxedo.
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly as her eyes flickered over him and she worked to calm herself. His eyes were closed so he hadn't seen her yet, and she didn't want him to know that she knew him. That was the same reason why she hadn't made a sound, so he wouldn't know that she recognized him.
Does he even realize that he released his transformation? She wondered as she reached out and grasped the damp cloth and turned it over before placing it back on his forehead.
Darien was Tuxedo Mask. Darien was the guy she had been crushing on for months. Darien was the guy that had been saving her and encouraging her.
And now he's the same guy that clearly rushed out to help me this evening even though he was seriously sick. She thought quietly. The same guy who allowed me to bring him home and is trusting me in his personal space, trusting me to see him weak, and now obviously trusting me with his true identity.
"Now, why did you go and do that?" She asked him softly as she gently ran her fingers through his hair.
"I couldn't focus on keeping it anymore, and I was tired of being uncomfortable." Darien answered as he opened his eyes. Her eyes were still soft and now they had a touch of awe in them.
"So did you get much homework done?" He asked, not acknowledging his revealed identity anymore, and wanting a distraction from the headache that was starting to come back in force.
"I got some done, but I realized that I couldn't do some of it without some of my textbooks." Serena said with a sigh even as she continued to run her gloved fingers through his hair, barely aware of what she was doing. "I'm going to have to go get them. It won't take me long, but I'm worried it will be long enough for something to happen to you."
"Don't worry. I'll be fine." Darien assured her. "I'll likely sleep while you're gone." He added as he enjoyed the feel of her fingers moving through his hair.
Serena hummed uncertainly and nibbled on her bottom lip. What if he threw up again, what if he didn't make it to the bathroom, what if he got hungry and didn't have the energy to make it to the kitchen, what if…
"I'll be alright." He said as he gently grasped her free hand.
"Are you sure?" She asked as she squeezed his hand.
"Yes. Don't let your studies suffer because of me." He said.
"Mmm…okay." She said with a gusty sigh before she became determined. "I'll be as quick as possible. Drink as much water as you can, so if you feel like you're going to throw up it'll hurt less because something is going to come out."
Darien nodded, knowing she was right.
"Maybe when I get back you can try some soup to help keep your energy up." She suggested.
"As long as I'm not feeling nauseous I'll try." He agreed as he nodded slightly.
"Okay. I'm going to go." She said as she pulled her hand away from his hair.
"Good luck." He said as he released her hand.
"Thanks. I'm definitely going to need it." She said before she reached over and opened the star locket.
Soothing music instantly drifted from the locket, and she smiled at him before she waved lightly and headed for the balcony. She slid the glass door open just enough for her to slip through before she closed it behind her. Then she quickly yet carefully made her way down the balconies before she leapt to the ground and took off running.
Now that she was on her way she was totally focused on getting to her house and getting her books. She knew she might have to deal with Luna when she got to her room, but she would tell her the same thing she had told her mother; that she was sleeping over at Molly's place.
Hopefully she won't be there, and I won't have to deal with her at all. She thought as she raced through the streets and along sidewalks.
About twenty minutes later, which was too slow in her opinion even though she had sprinted the entire time, she arrived at her house and saw that the light was on in the living room. She slowed and tried to move through the shadows to avoid being seen since the curtains were open, and quickly jumped up onto her balcony and eased the glass door open; having long since learned how to open it from the outside.
She stepped inside and closed the door and paused as her eyes flickered around. There was no sound, which let her know immediately that Luna wasn't in her room and likely wasn't in the house.
Perfect. She thought before she moved over to her desk.
Serena quickly looked through her textbooks and grabbed the ones she needed and placed them in her subspace pocket. After double checking the remaining books to make sure she didn't need them she slipped out of her balcony door and back out into the night air.
She leapt down to the ground and carefully made her way away from her house before she took off in a dead run. She needed to hurry back to Darien and make sure he was okay. Beyond that she didn't want to take too long and make him doubt she was coming back because he had revealed his identity to her.
She wasn't sure how much time had passed but as she reached the high rise apartment building she thought it took less time to get back then it had to get to her house. She quickly yet carefully climbed the balconies making sure she remembered which one was the one she was headed for.
Her feet touched down on her target balcony and she peered in through the glass, and smiled lightly to see Darien. Although it faded as she saw that he was curled up on his side with his legs bent and almost up to his stomach.
Serena slid the door open just enough to slip through before she closed it. She saw his eyes open slightly and she hurried around the bed to his side and placed her hands on his shoulder and side.
"Are you okay? What hurts? Do you still feel nauseous? Do you still have a fever?" She asked rapidly as she moved the cloth still on his forehead to check for a fever, her eyes moving to look at the glass on his nightstand.
"I see you drank all of the water." She noted as she also noted that the locket was still open and serenading them with its soothing melody. "That's good and it's sure to help."
Darien smiled sleepily as he turned his head and looked up at her. She was so concerned and quick to try and find out what was wrong with him so she could help.
"I'm okay. My stomach is just cramping." He said slowly and sleepily, and to her ears it sounded like he was trying to make sure she understood the words as they came out of his mouth.
"Okay." She said as she nodded. "You still feel too warm so I'm going to refresh this cloth. You go ahead and sleep." She added as she ran her gloved fingers through his hair.
Serena watched his eyes close and she turned and took the few steps into the bathroom and flicked on the light before she turned the cold water on in the sink. She soaked it in the water and turned off the tap before she wrung out the cloth.
She flicked the remaining water droplets from her gloves and turned off the light and returned to Darien. He looked sleep so she carefully placed the folded cloth across his forehead and made sure it wouldn't fall off with him being on his side.
She nodded when she was sure that placing the cloth hadn't disturbed him, and went to walk toward her seat next to the balcony but paused as she looked at her wet gloves. She couldn't turn pages in her textbook with what gloves, and definitely couldn't write on a sheet of paper.
Hmm…I can't dry them like I would if I wasn't wearing gloves on my hands, so what can I do? She asked herself as she realized touching his fevered skin and rubbing his back through his shirt had taken most of the moister since it hadn't affected her homework papers earlier.
Serena looked around as if the solution was in sight, but she saw nothing that could help her. Then her eyes landed on Darien and she wondered if releasing her transformation would help. Her sailor uniform had been dirty, scuffed, ripped, and damaged before, and came out looking brand new every time she transformed the next time. There was no reason the same thing shouldn't work to dry it.
She looked to the bathroom and decided against using it, and then looked to Darien once more before she walked out of the room. She moved down the hallway and into the kitchen. That was far enough away that the light shouldn't disturb Darien, and she wouldn't be seen from the living room balcony she had originally come through if anyone was able to see through the glass door.
Pink light surrounded her and flared brightly as she released her transformation before it cleared leaving her standing in her school uniform.
"Moon Prism Power." Serena said quietly as she touched the golden brooch on her chest.
Once again pink light flared and surrounded her, and when it cleared she once again stood as Sailor Moon; her gloves thankfully completely dry.
With that done she walked back down the hallway into Darien's bedroom, and sat in her previous seat and got back to her homework using what light she could that was come from outside.
=oOo=
Darien opened his eyes and found himself standing in a nondescript foggy area. It was a familiar place, one he had seen many times before when he fell asleep and found himself in dreams of the mysterious princess.
He sighed and began to walk forward idly aware that he no longer felt sick or weak. He thought if nothing else this was a nice bonus to falling asleep, and that he would enjoy it since he knew he would feel terrible once he was awake again.
As he walked misty fog swirled around his legs occasionally revealing the white marble ground he was walking on before it was obscured again. Eventually a balcony began to become visible in the slight distance.
He continued walking and stopped a few feet from it and looked up as he waited for the princess to appear as usual. Long moments passed before he heard faint footsteps, the light clacking of a woman's high heels, and in the next moment she appeared.
She was facing him, looking down at him as she reached the thick railing, but she looked like she was in silhouette. A light gray as if the fog was obscuring her and making sure he couldn't clearly see her features.
The only thing he could tell was that she was wearing a long dress, had long hair, and a petite slender figure.
"Please, please find the silver crystal." She begged in a soft yet lifting tone. "You must find it. You are the only one who can."
Darien listened silently as she continued to plead to him and implore him to find this silver crystal that was so important to her. He heard her but he was a little preoccupied with trying to see her face.
Hmm..I've never actually tried to get up close to try and find out who she is. He considered as he gazed up at her and the balcony.
He didn't know if this would work, if the dream would suddenly stop and he would wake up instantly from the attempt or if she would suddenly disappear or remain obscured if he tried, but that wasn't going to stop him from trying.
He called on his experience as Tuxedo Mask and jumped up onto the balcony, bypassing the shadows and fog and lighting that concealed her face, hearing her words stop abruptly and a surprised gasp escape her. He shifted and looked at her, standing with one delicate hand resting on the marble railing, and the other hand covering her mouth in surprise.
Now it was his turn to gasp in surprise, which he did, as he finally saw her clearly for the first time since the dreams had started. The mystery princess looked identical to Sailor Moon. The only difference was she looked a little older, had longer hair, and it was silver white instead of the golden blonde he was used to.
"Can..can you see me?" She asked hesitantly as she lowered her hand, and he nodded and watched her smile.
"Do you know who you are in the waking world?" Darien asked, because obviously she knew who she was in this dream world otherwise she wouldn't know of the silver crystal she had been begging him for.
"I do, however, in the waking world I do not know of this identity." She answered as she gestured lightly to herself.
"And the silver crystal would make it so you knew who you truly are when you are awake." He replied.
"Yes." She said as she nodded.
"Is there no other way since the silver crystal is turning out to be incredibly hard to find?" He asked, and watched as she looked away thoughtfully and gazed off into the fog below.
"Maybe if you can remember who you truly are then you can help me recall somehow." She suggested as she looked back to him.
"Who I truly am." Darien repeated as he blinked in surprise. Then he recalled his theory about there being some kind of connection between them; that there was a romantic connection that could only be there if he too had some other identity to match hers.
"Yes." She replied as she nodded. "You are my prince. My Endymion. My eternal love."
Darien stared at her wide eyed as she very clearly confirmed their connection. He was glad he had already decided to start dating Sailor Moon or he didn't know how he would have felt about being told he was the eternal love of this version of her.
"And that's why you have been sending me these dreams?" He said. "Because we were in love…whenever it was I became your eternal love?"
"Yes." She answered. "Out of everyone I chose you, because I trust you the most." She explained simply.
"Wow." He breathed. That's some trust. He thought as he gazed at her. He could see the resemblance in her personality to Sailor Moon since the scout was just as trusting of him.
"How am I going to remember?" Darien asked in the next moments, because he was curious about this other identity and he did want to remember this version of Sailor Moon in front of him.
He watched her look thoughtful before her eyes drifted down at herself. She lifted a hand and looked at it as if she was considering something vital. He was extremely curious, but he didn't want to disturb her thought process. He would find out when she spoke again.
"I am part of the young woman you know in the waking world, essentially a piece of her soul that can appear in your dreams through her power." She said as she looked to him before looking back to her hand.
"That means I am connected to her. I can use her power." She said before her hand began to glow with a white light.
A few moments later her hand seemed to become the white light, and she raised her other hand and watched it do the same. She nodded and stepped forward until she stood directly in front of him.
"This will not hurt." She said.
Before Darien could ask what wouldn't hurt he watched her put her light hands through his chest. He gasped and watched her close her eyes and he got the sensation of hands searching through him, spreading throughout the depths of his being.
This is surreal. He thought as he closed his eyes. He actually had a part of Sailor Moon's soul reaching inside him. He thought this was the closest they could ever be; no one else would ever be this close to him.
He didn't know how long he stood there with her searching inside him and him feeling her searching. But he eventually started to feel a warmth begin to pulse inside him. She was warm inside him, but this was a different warmth. It pulsed slowly at first but quickly picked up speed as the warmth spread through his body.
He didn't notice when the princess' warmth left his body, so focused was he on the warmth that was being produced by something inside him. It felt comfortable and familiar, but before he could notice anything more his mind was suddenly flooded with images, thoughts, and emotions.
It was almost a chaos and was confusing, but only moments passed before he began to understand. Before he began to remember. Before he began to know.
He opened his eyes, ignoring the golden light surrounding him, and looked at the princess in front of him. His princess. His Serenity.
"My love." Darien breathed, smiling softly as the emotion flooded him and overflowed.
"You remember?" She asked as she stepped closer.
"Yes my Serenity." He answered and watched her smile brilliantly. "Come. Let me kiss you." He said as he cupped her face in his hands. After all, when would he get another chance to kiss her very soul.
He pressed his lips to hers and savored the soft warm feel of her lips. It was a sweet yet incredibly intimate kiss given the nature of where they were, which made it more romantic and deeper than anything they had ever shared in the past.
"Thank you for helping me remember." Darien said after their lips parted.
"Thank you for jumping up here." Serenity said in return. "It would have likely taken infinitely much longer for us to find each other again."
"Very true, and I still need to help you remember in the waking world before we can truly be together again." He said, and watched her nod. "Do you think you will remember this once I help you remember?"
"I would like to think so." She said thoughtfully. "I should since I am a piece of her soul. I will return to her once you wake up, so the knowledge I have will be there."
Darien nodded as her logical words reassured him.
"Go on." Serenity urged him as she placed her hands on his chest. "The sooner you wake up the sooner you can help the waking me remember."
"And the sooner we can be together without interruption." He added.
"Yes." She agreed, knowing full well where her waking self was.
Darien nodded as he finally released her face, and then closed his eyes. He had never tried to wake himself from a dream before, but he was confident he could do it.
He focused and just as he willed himself to become Tuxedo Mask when he transformed and willed himself off and on planet in the past when he was traveling to and from seeing his princess he willed himself to wake up.
oOo
Serena looked over as she saw a light out of the corner of her eye, and gasped as she saw Darien glowing with a bright golden light. She cried out lightly in shock and stood abruptly, dropping her pen onto her open book, and hurried to his side.
What's going on? Is he okay? She wondered frantically. She couldn't even connect this with his abilities as Tuxedo Mask since she had never seen him use any power that was gold. Even releasing his transformation hadn't produced a gold light.
Before she could think of anything more he shifted, his body turning onto his back, and then his eyes opened.
The first thing Darien saw after he opened his eyes was Sailor Moon looking down at him, her eyes full of worry and concern. He could guess why since he could see the gold light coming off him, courtesy of his golden crystal which his princess had kindly awakened from its dormancy.
"Are you okay?" Serena asked as she hovered her gloved hands slightly over him as if afraid to touch him.
He sat up, looking at her he realized, now that he knew who he truly was, that Sailor Moon was actually Serena. And that meant Serena was his princess.
Darien could see it so clearly now. Serena actually looked more like his princess, but the maturity she displayed as Sailor Moon had caused him to identify her scout identity as his mystery princess first.
But now I can see all of her identities when I look at her. He thought, which made him realize it was Serena who had been considerate of his choices, Serena who had been determined to bring him home and take care of him, Serena who had arranged to stay the night with him, and Serena who had been caring for him.
"I'm fine. In fact, I feel better than ever." He finally answered her.
It seemed his crystal didn't want its guardian and holder being sick, because all of his stomach symptoms were gone. He was no longer weak, tired, and nauseous. There were no more painful stomach cramps, headaches, or body aches. Even his fever was gone.
"You're fine? Really?" Serena asked, wanting to be sure.
"Yes really." Darien assured her.
"Okay." She said as she nodded. "You seem to have acquired a golden glow." She said as she gestured at him.
"Yes." He said as he lifted his hand and looked at it before he looked down at himself. "It's something I discovered or rather remembered while I was sleeping." He added as he moved to sit at the side of the bed.
Serena stepped back to give him room even as she stared at him curiously, wondering at his casualness.
"Is it permanent?" She asked.
"Yes." Darien answered and watched her eyes widen. "Not the glow, I just haven't made it go away yet, but the source is permanent."
Serena blinked in confusion. So he has something inside him that causes a golden glow? She asked herself.
"I want to thank you for caring for me and staying with me when I had no one." Darien said as he stood up.
Serena dropped her eyes as she helplessly blushed.
"I'm just..returning the favor." She said softly. "You've helped me a lot. This was the least I can do."
"Then let me help you again." He said, and watched her lift her head and her eyes up to him. "Close your eyes. It will help." He said as he cupped her face in his hands, the sensation the same as when he performed the movement in his dream.
Serena blinked in confusion, but closed her eyes anyway. He was acting strangely since he woke up, but she still trusted him. Just because he had revealed himself to be Darien didn't mean her trust in him had disappeared.
Darien smiled at the clear sign of trust. Knowing she was Serena meant that she obviously recognized him when he released his transformation, but she hadn't said a word. She hadn't even reacted differently. She continued to care for him and stay with him.
He couldn't do for her what her royal side had done for him, considering she was made up of energy, memories, and soul, but he would do what he could.
Please, help my Serenity remember herself. He asked his golden crystal. Bring out the princess dormant in her soul. Help her become complete as I have become.
The golden light around his hands flared and he watched intently as Serena stood patiently with her eyes closed and a light blush across her face.
Serena stood in confusion with her eyes closed and her cheeks steadily growing warmer at the feel of Darien's hands on her face. She didn't know what he meant by 'helping her again'. As far as she knew she didn't need any help.
Since she couldn't think of anything she let her mind drift to the fact that Darien was miraculously cured of his stomach flu. She didn't understand how he could fall asleep and then wake up some time later and be completely better.
It's probably something to do with that golden light. She thought, and before she could continue she felt extra warmth on her face.
It was coming from beneath Darien's hands, but just when she was thinking it was his heat she felt the warmth spreading. It traveled across her skin and down her body before it seemed to sink inside her.
She gasped at the feel. It was comfortable and somehow familiar, and now it was somehow moving around inside her. She didn't understand what was happening, and the only reason she was remaining calm was because of the comfortable familiar feeling it gave off.
Suddenly emotions, feelings, were filling her mind and body, but before she could try to figure out why they were joined by random thoughts and images. More and more they came, rapidly and randomly, before they started to shift into some kind of order.
Order quickly led to understanding, and understanding soon led to remembering.
Darien watched Serena's face intently as his crystal did what he asked, and waited almost with baited breath for her to remember. He couldn't help wondering how she would react. Would she be happy? Would she immediately remember their time in his dream? Would she…
His thought stopped abruptly as he watched the golden light of his crystal fade away and her tiara do the same. As soon as it was completely gone a golden spark appeared on her forehead that grew into a glowing crescent moon.
Her eyes snapped open with a light gasp and he found himself staring into her bright eyes in the dark of his room. All was perfectly still between them before her eyes softened and she smiled sweetly.
"My Endymion. I remember the dreams. I remember the last one." Serena breathed out, and watched Darien's eyes light up and a handsome smile grace his face before he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.
