Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters.
Author's Note: Can you do me a favor? Review...yep...they're awesome!:)
Bright down, your review made me laugh. Thank you! Haha! Here we go! Siruishoshi-you flatter...I'm hurrying!
Rushing writing is not wise. Rushed a story I was loving, now I'm loathing it. Go check out "To Love Again"-tell me what you think. Darien and Serena fan? Go read a lot of short stories called "Just One night." Hope it's worth your time!
Are you enjoying Sailor Moon Crystal? I'm hooked...literally...ha ha ha!
If That's What It Takes
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Dinner was quiet. Spoons clanked against the bottom of the bowls. Soup seemed like an easy enough meal. Lita, with her head resting on her hands, had let her eyelids droop. It had been a long few days. All of the scouts were exhausted.
Ray finished off the last of her soup. Her eyes glanced at Mina. It had been a rough week. On more than one occasion, she had lost her temper with her friends. Maybe it was better dinner was eaten in silence.
"I'll take this watch." Ray patted her mouth with her napkin and stood. Her friends were worn out. And silly Serena...her princess...I wish I knew how to comfort you, Serena. I swear I will do my best to protect you.
Luna glanced up from Mina's lap,"Sailor Mars, I thought you just had watch?" Her feline eyes turned towards Lita. Her arms were now crossed across the table, her head resting in her arms.
Ray smiled,"I can handle it. Let her rest."
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Darien shifted his weight on his foot outside of the master chamber. He knocked again. Exhaustion had finally got the best of him. Sleeping on the ground was slowly driving him insane. Every noise Serena made, he would jump up near her door and wait. Artemis finally ordered him to sleep in the guest quarters. Tuxedo Mask finally obliged him.
Amy pulled open the door. A smile crossed across her face when she saw the food on a tray the guest offered. "I am so glad you brought that," she murmured. Even Amy was tired. Her eyes were full of life, but her shoulders slumped from exhaustion. Every noise Serena made, Amy was also up.
"Go rest, Amy...I'll call if she needs you."
Amy nodded. Before she could open the door fully, she stepped closer to her friend,"She may seem calm on the outside Darien, but she is trying to hold it all together. Please, please be gentle with her."
"What do you mean be gentle?"
"I don't see an broken Serena in there today, I see a Queen Serenity who wants to end this and protect those she loves..."
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And there she was.
Darien felt his throat clog with emotion. His beautiful angel was there right in front of him. A clean, fresh gown had been placed on her fragile frame. Her hair, now shining gold and freshly brushed, was pulled into a side braid. Her eyes were clear, her cheeks with a hint of color. "Bunny..."
Large blue eyes turned to look at the man she had loved. Worry creased her forehead as he stepped closer to the bed. Worry lines had been added to his forehead. His body worn from an imaginary weight he carried. How much sleep had he had?
"I've been so worried..." Coming beside the bed, he kneeled next to her on his knees. His cape and hat had been disposed of for days now. His white shirt had wrinkles, his top buttons undone. The preppy college jock looked like a bum almost.
Serena lifted a single finger and traced it over the whiskers that shadowed his face. She hated facial hair. Once when Darien has refused to shave a mustache, she drew on her own facial hair until he finally shaved it. It lasted only three hours. "This is new..."
Even when life was difficult, his princess smiled. "Does it make me look more dashing?"
"More like a hobo..." And for the first time in days, they laughed.
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Prince Diamond grinned at himself in the mirror. If he was going to retrieve his Queen, he wanted to look the part. His white hair now held a single black strand down the front of his part.
Wise man had requested one thing for his new powers: his heart. What benefit did his heart have anyways? It was already as black as the night. His body felt rested and recovered. His anger? It had grown into a desire not only to retrieve his Queen, but to kill anyone or anything that got in his way.
An when I do get my hands on her...she will be punished for this hell she has put me through.
His arms opened widely. The doors to the palace obeyed. Off he went. Todah was a good day to spill blood.
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Fingers slowly raked through Tuxedo Mask's hair. His forehead rested on the bed as he continued to sit next to his bunny. After their laugh, both of the young lovers only sat next to each other not saying a word. What could they say? Guilt weighed heavily on both of their hearts. Their breaking point had been reached. What more could they endure?
"None of this was your fault, Darien..." His head snapped up from the words. Not his fault? Not his fault?! If he would've been more attentive or quick! If he would've been fast enough!
"...I wasn't there to protect you! Not my fault?! This entire thing is my fault!" His fists became entangled in the sheets. The way sh looked at him drove him to the brink of insanity. His sweet bunny had been abused and here she was...looking as calm as could be and soothing his guilt. Amy was right...this wasn't his Serena...this was a queen.
"...If I was there faster, he wouldn't have..." The bruises flashed through his mind. Her cries and screams. The blood he saw. Tears now spilled from his eyes. "...but I wasn't!"
Serena felt her heart squeeze. Was it guilt he was feeling...or was it disgust? Her calm demeanor slowly began to shift. Amy was wrong, Darien did find her repulsive. He had yet to even say he loved her...he hadn't even kissed her...! "I am ruined, Darien, that has been established. Please forgive me for not being strong enough."
The atmosphere grew tense. Darien had stood tall as he looked down at her. The calm Queen was gone, his angry Serena was back. Tears now threatened to spill down her cheeks.
"Bunny," he whispered,"You are the strongest person I know. You put aside your hurt and your emotions...and put on a smile...to make me feel strong and to encourage your friends...you have every right to scream and cry and yell...and here you are, trying to comfort me...when I don't have a clue how to comfort you."
"...I feel so scared..."
It was the breaking point. Amy had told him to keep it simple, to not stir her emotions, to not touch her. His arms wrapped around her waist like a vice. His love buried her face in his chest and let out a gut wrenching sob. "I'm right here, bunny, I will never leave your side again..."
"Darien...do you still love me?"
He almost laughed. How could he stop loving her? "I will always love you, Serena."
She pulled away, a look of reassurance needed. Her lips were parted. Oh, he knew that familiar look. She wanted to be kissed. There was nothing more he wanted to do. His eyes caught sight of the bite mark on her lip. Slowly, Darien, its not the time...He kissed her cheek lightly.
Something inside of Serena stirred. Their kisses had always made things better. Why had he not kissed her? If there was one thing Serena desired, it was a clarification her love still wanted her...accepted her...soiled and all.
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Ray squinted her eyes. Terror shot through her veins. Turning on her heel, she ran inside the palace. Within a minute, her cries of "intruder" alerted every single person in the castle.
Prince Diamond landed on his heel easily. A look of delight crossed his face as he saw all of the sailor scouts at the main entrance of the Palace. This would make his job much easier. At least he didn't have to waste the time looking for them.
"I see I have a welcoming committee," he smirked.
Lita stepped forward instantly. She had a look of pure hate in her eyes,"WE ARE JUST READY TO SEND YOU BACK TO HELL WHERE YOU BELONG, YOU SNAKE!"
"JUPITER THUNDER-
MARS FIRE-
MERCURY BUBBLES-
VENUS LOVE CHAIN AND CIRCLES-"
Each of the scouts found their energy renewed as they began to call their power attacks. Luna and Artemis stood and watched. As powerful as the attacks seemed, maybe it would lessen Diamond's energy levels.
"I don't have time for this. I only came for my Queen, not for your silly games...!" Prince Diamond let out a maniacal laugh as he raised his arms above his head. A black cloud surrounded him.
"-CRASH
-IGNITE
-BLAST
-SURROUND"
Each of the scouts sent their attacks at him at full force. The black cloud absorbed each of the attacks. Rumblings in the cloud could be heard. Like a wave at the beach, the attack was sent crashing back to the scouts.
"OUT OF MY WAY!" Diamond laughed. Each of the scouts had been thrown to the ground. Their own attacks had been fired back. they lay motionless on the ground, their bodies marked with black.
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Darien shook her with full force by her shoulders,"You're not strong enough, Serena!" His cape and hat had returned instantly on his form as soon as he called for a transformation.
Both of them heard the threats of the Prince. They both heard the Scout's screams. He was coming...and they knew it...time wasn't their friend. Physically, none of the Scouts or Tuxedo Mask were ready to fight.
Serena traced a single finger against Tuxedo Mask's bottom lip,"Darien...will you kiss me...?" Her body was wrapped in a blanket. Her frail state more obvious now thst the color of her face was drained.
It wasn't a request...it was a plea. "Damn it, you stubborn ox!" Darien dug his fingers in her flesh as he pulled her to him. His lips assaulted hers. Her hands clung to him as his tongue slipped past her lips. It was a passion neither had known. A small moan caused him to release her.
Darien looked at Serena once more,"I will protect you..."
Slowly, she backed away from his arms with a knowing smile.
"MOON PRISM POWER!"
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The devil was here...and he wanted his Queen.