I don't own sailor moon

Hotaru didn't fancy following Amy around. She said Serena would be back soon and not to breathe a word about it to anyone. Mama was always listening, she warned. Hotaru helped scrub the floors, not amused that Amy was shutting her out of the gossip. She wanted to know where her older sister was.

Amy kept mama busy, helping her do math and checking the books. She didn't want her mind on Serena. Mama had been impressed by Amy's performance from last night. That weekly allowance would catch her up in her debt sooner. Amy was supposed to go out with Ray's high baller tonight. She'd make another two grand tonight guaranteed because it would be a party. The blue haired girl only owed seven grand left this week.

The thirteen year old found Lita. Lita was in the kitchen, stewing up something that smelled really good. "Hungry?" Lita questioned. Her green eyes shun with concern. Hotaru found Lita to be motherly. Lita was always looking after others.

Ray was sitting with Mina, whispering in hushed tones. "You're playing with fire." Ray's eyes hardened. Mina was being careless by leaving Serena. Ray didn't agree with it. She didn't trust anyone to take care of her.

Mina rolled her blue eyes at her best friend. "You'd know. You play with it better than all of us."

The geisha's temper was as legendary as her grace. The classic beauty stormed out of the room, not being able to stand her unreasonable friend. Mina didn't care at this point. She didn't think Ray had any standing when all she did was keep secrets. The blonde knew that Ray was hiding something.

Blues eyes fluttered open, and smiled. Serena felt her heart skip a beat as she awoke next to Darien. She blushed as she realized they were both fully in the nude. He looked peaceful in his sleep. The nineteen year old kissed him tenderly. It was nice to sleep in and wake up to his face. He had a strong hold around her waist.

"Darien," she whispered. She didn't want to wake him, but she just had to get home. His eyes twitched begrudgingly. "Wake up," She tried again. He groaned and opened his eyes. He couldn't stop the smile on his face. He liked waking up to her.

"Good morning," he yawned. Serena smiled.

"You're cute." She blabbed. At this point she felt comfortable with him. She remembered the night kissing him. She never made out with anyone or exposed herself.

Geisha didn't sell their bodies. They entertained men, but it was taboo. Only in ancient times Geisha sold their virginities. Nowadays sex was their choice. Serena had never given herself to a man.

Darien couldn't help himself. He knew she was very young. Although she was old enough, he felt like he was taking advantage of her. The blonde watched his reactions to her. He liked her. But he didn't feel right about it. He didn't want to hurt her.

"We should go." He stated. He wanted to do the right thing. He knew taking her to her house was the best option.

Serena completely dropped her face. "Don't do that. Don't act like I was the only one that wanted it last night..." she felt embarrassed. "If I were a couple years older it wouldn't matter. I'm nineteen, Darien. I'm not that fragile." Her eyes hardened. She didn't want to be treated like a child. Before he knew her age, he was fine with it. Plus, he had to know she was young.

"Serena it's a big age gap."

"Eleven years." She finished his train of thought. "When I was eleven I was more of an adult than most girls my age now. I'm sorry it sounds bad but I am not a normal nineteen year old. Please don't look at me differently." Her eyes brimmed with tears. She refused to look back at her horrible past. She never wanted to revisit it.

Darien watched her. Her expression changed. He saw pain in her eyes. "I need to know something about you." He confessed. "You don't have to tell me everything, but why do you do this job?"

The blonde turned her back on him. "I was fourteen when I went to the geisha house." He watched her tiny body tremble. "At the time, it was safe option." The geisha balled her fists up. "I didn't have anyone." She turned back and met his eyes.

"Tell me." He begged. He held her in his arms as she sobbed.

"My mother... she loved us. I had a brother. My dad was a doctor too." Serena let out a big breath. "My Mom was sick. She didn't recognize us sometimes." The blonde gulped, not knowing what he would say. "Some say she was insane. One night I woke up to hearing my dad screaming. She shot him." Serena began crying more. Darien held on tighter. "She killed him. And she went and killed Sammy. She... she came for me." The blonde continued crying. Her lips quivered as she spoke. She hadn't opened up about her past in so long.

Serena described running for her life. She described how death was close to her. Seeing a bullet enter her father's chest haunted her. Watching her brother's peaceful face disturbed with a bullet in his forehead made her run away faster. Serena wanted to survive. She had only been eleven at the time. The blonde explained to Darien that the only reason she survived is because she had run.

Her mother was caught. Serena never saw her again. She knew her mom was in an institution. The blonde was put into the foster care system for three years before running. In it, she had been beaten, harassed, bullied, and threatened. She ran away when one of her caretakers tried to touch her. At fourteen, she began to look womanly, and it attracted attention from men. She ran and never looked back.

The blonde found the geisha house as a last resort. Mama took her in, after finding her. Serena was told she'd be safe. She wouldn't be harmed. The blonde stayed because she had no where else to go. She never looked back into her past. She didn't want to think about it.

Darien was shocked at her story. In that moment, she was raw and honest. The little blonde couldn't fathom her life the way it was. She was damaged from it. She wasn't just a nineteen year old. She was a warrior. She ran and saved herself.

"I'm glad you're here." He responded, not knowing what he could say to make it better. She continued to weep. Darien couldn't help but feel bad for asking now. But at the same time, he was happy she finally let it out.

She huffed. "She is still alive." She was talking about her mother.

Darien was shocked she kept up with her mom. It was something that very much haunted Serena to her core. He could see why she was to herself now.

"I haven't seen her since that night." Serena took another big breath in. "I don't have a family. I don't know how to do other jobs. I'm sorry you don't like mine. But it's the only thing I have. And I'm debt free now. I worked hard. And I don't need you to like it. But it has saved me so many times."

It clicked for the doctor then. She didn't want to be a geisha. None of the girls did. They used their looks to have their human needs met. They were trying to stay alive. The sweet woman in his arms never looked so strong.

"Get out of it." He broke the silence. "I'll help you. You can stay with me." He didn't want to see her anymore hurt.

Serena blushed. "That's too much Darien. I don't want you to do that. I have to figure it out." She didn't want to use him. She didn't want his money or to be a charity case. Serena really liked him.

Darien rolled his eyes. "I want you to trust me."

Serena looked into his eyes studying them. She had people depending on her. Her family compromised of geisha now. She couldn't leave them behind. "I have nothing to offer you." She whispered softly. She couldn't take care of herself.

The doctor leaned in and kissed her softly. "You're everything I need."

Ray moped in her room. She was still upset with Mina. She wanted what was best for all the girls. She knew men. They weren't good. They never lived up to their promises. She checked the time and saw that Serena was late. She had already prepared a dozen lies to cover for any one of the girls.

Worried, she headed to Lita's room. All the girls were gathered, gossiping. "And Serena?" The hot headed woman demanded.

Mina's eyebrow perked up. Her face was unreadable. "She's sleeping in her room."

Lita could tell they were fighting. "Serena lost her virginity to him." She wanted to keep Ray in the loop and no exclude her.

"She told us it was great," Amy added. "She thinks she is in love with him."

"Everyone loves their first," Ray robotically dismissed it. She took a moment to appreciate that Serena was unharmed. She noticed Mina was fidgety.

Lita hated the tension in the room. She knew that they were stronger together than apart. "Who's going out tonight?" She changed the subject. They all knew Serena wasn't going, it was completely out of the question after her busy night.

"I have a client." Ray offered. "Amy has to go. Who else wants in?"

Mina ignored Ray's request, still upset with her.

"I'll go." Lita sighed knowing this feud wouldn't die anytime soon. They were both hard headed.

Mina rushed to Serena's room as soon as the other girls left. The blonde was asleep, snoring lightly. Mina studied the nineteen year old with caution. She noticed their similarities in that moment. She saw Serena as a younger sister. "Wake up," Mina urged her.

Serena whined in response but opened her oceanic eyes to see Mina. "I think we should go see them." Mina explained. "They could be our way out of here."

The younger geisha furrowed her delicate brows in confusion. Mina huffed. "Darien is falling in love with you and Kunzite loves me, I know it. We can leave here forever and be with them." Mina explained.

Serena shook her head. "What makes you think they're good if our own families put us here?" Serena convinced herself constantly that she was unlovable. She couldn't get her hopes up, no matter what anyone had said. At the same time, she knew she had feelings for Darien. She had given herself to him and opened herself in every possible way.

"Kunzite told me. He and Darien want us there. We could leave tonight and never have to look back." The blonde attempted to reason with her friend. The truth was, Mina was scared to make this move. Once they left they couldn't return again. She didn't want to be a geisha anymore. Mina wanted more for herself. She needed Serena's strength to convince herself to actually go through with it.

"What about the others?" Serena thought of Hotaru. She thought about Amy. She thought about Lita. She knew Ray could handle herself. But the others relied on each other for everything.

Mina placed her hand softly on the younger girl's face, tenderly holding it. "If they love us how we love them they'd be pushing us out the door. They all want this and we only have this one shot. We can't help them if we can't help ourselves."

Serena knew Mina was right but she couldn't help but think about her friends. The nineteen year old knew she was still young and could get her life together.

"Let's go."