Darien woke up early in the morning and dressed in his jogging gear that consisted of shorts, t-shirt and running shoes. He took his music player and left the apartment that was on the top floor in the apartment building he was living.

Going down the corridor from his apartment, he noticed few empty boxes on the ground. Must be my new neighbours. Although his new neighbours were the last thing he wanted to think about now. In few months, Darien will turn twenty, in few days Serena will graduate high school, and not far from that is her birthday. Serena's eighteenth birthday. He still had no idea what to buy her. For both occasions.

Despite the fact that Darien was not sure if they could be considered close friends, although they were in the same group of friends. They just somehow ended up arguing about anything and nothing really at the same time. It annoyed him to no end – why must they always fight like that? He had feelings for her that were much deeper than that. But he must admit that the past month their relationship seems to have changed.

They were arguing less, Serena actually had more interest in his life, not just remarks about his doings, but actual questions, like how was his day and other small talk. Darien just hoped that we was not imagining this change in their relationship. Were they slowly turning into something more?

Minutes later he was on his usual running route, although it was a bit chilly in this early morning of June, he did not mind it. The day will warm up eventually, and for a morning run, this temperature was more than perfect.

Darien started with a light jog, and after a few minute run, he was going in a steady speed, thoughts also running in his mind. Ten minutes later, he stopped for some exercises. Not until he was ready to continue did he notice where he had stopped.

Almost a year ago, in this same place they opened a portal to Artic that lead to the fall of Beryl and her dark kingdom. He started doing the math and realised he has been Tuxedo mask for two years now, but the last time the city needed his help was a year ago. Not that the man complained.

His first year as a student in university has been hard enough, if he would have to save the city and help the girls, we would risk his future career as a doctor. And the Princess did not show up either. He punched a nearby tree in frustration. All this trouble and just she disappeared, without really talking to anyone. Darien wanted to know why he was this masked guy, and who were the Senshi. He has not seen them since then, except for Sailor Moon.

Week after the girls left after coming back from the Arctic, he was restless. Darien needed to know that the girls were fine, that Sailor Moon was fine. The last time he saw her, she was a broken doll. Darien transformed into Tuxedo Mask and went to the highest radio tower in the city, he landed on the platform after few very good jumps and was surprised to see the Moon Senshi there.

It seemed that Sailor Moon had not noticed his presence, she had her back to him, so he lightly called her name. She turned her head, her eyes big and scared. After seeing the familiar form or Tuxedo Mask, she visibly relaxed and offered him a small smile as a greeting.

He did not say anything, Mask observed her turning her head away from him to watch the city. She was standing with her legs close each other, her hands on her stomach as if she was hugging herself. Light breeze was playing in her hair, letting it flow in the air, and her short skirt was matching the breezes demand to wave around her thighs. She seemed relaxed, and in good health.

"It seems that we are free from the evil…" he heard her say in a quiet voice. "I don't feel anything." She turned fully to him and smiled. "I am sorry you did not meet your Princess. But neither did we. I do not even know how we were able to get back safely from the Artic." She looked down and Tuxedo Mask did not miss the sadness that entered her voice.

"You know that the girls almost died? It was all a trap from Beryl, she had lured us to her after merging with Chaos, or better to say Metaria. The generals had also received a power boost and had… they had become so strong…" She started to cry and Tuxedo Mask had her in his embrace seconds later.

She clenched to him and sobbed in his arms. He let her and only slowly stroked her hair. Words were not needed. After her sobs had subsided, she looked up at him with her big blue eyes and whispered a thank you. Mask cupped her cheek and wiped the tears with his thumb. They looked at each other; Tuxedo Mask leaned in and kissed her.

The kiss was short. It was not one of love, for both realised the moment their lips touched that both had a different person in their hearts. If only they knew how close to the other person were they at this very moment. So close, yet so far…

The kiss ended and both smiled at each other, look of understanding passed between them. For once again, they understood that heart can be truly happy only if you followed your dreams. And their dreams rested elsewhere. Their dreams were Darien and Serena.

They exchanged pleasantries, said their goodbyes and hoped that someday they would meet each other again, but as friends and not superheroes saving the city from unknown evil. Sailor Moon left the tower and Tuxedo Mask looked at her retreating form until she had disappeared in the night-lights. That was the last time he had seen the Moon Senshi.

Darien looked up and watched the sunrays play games with tree's branches, the leaves letting some rays through. Memories from the battle night filled his mind. That strange energy blow I received that night. It changed something in me. Darien absentmindedly touched his chest. He looked down and formed a small ball of pure and white energy in his hand.

After the energy blow he received when the girls teleported back, his powers changed. If previously he was left with only his roses and cane that could extend without end, then now he could levitate, a bit. Sometimes his temper caused involuntary energy blasts from his fingers, and then he started to train more, play with these new powers. But always in his "human" form, he never did transform into Tuxedo Mask since that night he went to the tower.

Months later, after understanding what he could do, he started to think – why and how? What allowed him to levitate, create energy balls, at times even influence nature. He still did not know why, however now he at least knew a little bit of how. He even teased Serena sometime, sending small jolts her way when she was deep in thought. Come to think of it she has been daydreaming a bit more lately. But every time she snapped out of her dreams, she awarded him with a small smile. A smile he had never seen on her before. A smile that warmed his heart.

He started to run again, still thinking about his powers. He could also create an energy shield and what Darien appreciated most was his power of healing. The man hoped that in time he would control this power even more and in his future career as a doctor save many lives and help many more. For now, he could only heal small cuts and bruises. That came in handy, since he always bruised himself when playing too much with the energy spheres.

At the other end of the park another person was enjoying her morning jog. After a year of not fighting, Serena still kept her morning runs. Although, not so frequent as before, but she had learned to free her mind during this activity. And lately her mind was full with thoughts.

The blonde had started to think more about Darien, she did after all harbour feelings for him, that now were deeper than just a teenage crush. Since there were no more fights with energy sucking youmas, maybe giving up to love now had a chance. She often drifted off in her thoughts about the dark haired man, and the girls always saw her daydream. And sometimes even Darien had caught her in action, in return she couldn't stop her to send him a small smile.

She had woken up this morning from a nightmare, but could not remember what it was about. Only the darkness in it still lingered around her, making her uneasy. It was still early and she decided to go for a run, to ease her mind. Maybe she would meet Darien on her run in the park? She laughed at her foolishness and sped up a bit. He was already in university, perhaps he had a girl there he fancies, who knows.

She sped up even more, the feeling of not being good enough for him slowly crept in her mind. Serena's grades have become better, she was now in the top ten in her class. But so where the other girls, and they were all in front of her. Even the sometimes light-minded Mina.

Serena did not know and did not feel, but there was something slowly creeping around her. A black shadow invisible to the naked eye, or to a person without spiritual powers. The darkness was around her, but not close enough to touch her.

Serena was now sprinting, her thoughts running amok of her feelings. Was she good enough? Was she pretty enough? Wasn't she too young for him? At the last thought she remembered that Andrew was older than Rika. She shook her head and silently laughed at herself. What was with her? She should not try to think her down.

The girl laughed at her foolishness and started to think happier thoughts. How she was happy that her friends were doing so great in school, her family was in good health and Darien was always hanging with her and the girls in the Arcade. She enjoyed the route she was now running, with tall trees and thick bushes in bloom around her. Forgotten flower beds spreading their roots in the park and filling it with sweet scent and colour.

The dark shadow did not like the girl's change of attitude and launched at the unsuspecting girl in full speed. She was still running fast and decided to make a quick right turn to make a circle on her way home; at the same time not far from her was Darien, sprinting at the same direction she was, not knowing she is there and thinking of making a left turn.

Without both knowing and seeing they were running at each other. Music in their ears not letting to hear any noise around them. The moment they would inadvertently collide with each other, two things happened. The shadow lunched at Serena, its reason to inhabit her. And the power still slumbering in Darien feeling the darkness and erecting an energy shield around Darien.

Everything happened so fast that neither Darien nor Serena saw what happened. But they felt the impact. The moment the darkness almost reached Serena, she made her turn and saw Darien coming full speed directly at her, only few ore steps and a painful collision of bodies would take place. They both saw each other but before they had the chance to react, the shadow was millimetres away from Serena, causing the energy shield to bring itself around Darien and pushing it away. But doing so the shield made an impact with Serena, causing her to fly backwards, hitting the nearby tree hard and very painfully.

It all happened so fast, that Darien could not stop the shield. He saw her body move backwards from the force and saw the moment her head hit the tree, at the same time his body was pushed backwards from the impact and he landed on his back, however less painfully than the girl did.

No one saw that the energy shield banished the shadow, saving Serena from it, but at the same time harming her unintentionally. The shadow did not have a choice and it left, swearing it would come back for his Princess.

Darien landed on his back and as quickly as could stood up and rushed to the blonde girl not far from him. He knelt at her body and saw her lying on the ground unconscious. He slowly reached out his hand on back of her head and his heart almost leaped out of his throat as he felt warm liquid on his hands. He pulled back his hand and saw blood on it.