A/N: Woo hooo!!!! 103 reviews!!! (Does a victory dance!) Celebrationnn! I have to give my thanks and gratitude to all of you who so faithfully review my story every time there's an update and to all you who have ever reviewed my story. You have no idea how much it means to me to hear your opinions and what you thought of the chapter/story. I never thought that people who be so into my story, but you guys have been so wonderful. Here, everyone have a round of ice cream on me! Oh wait, that doesn't work. OK fine-- Everyone, here's the next chapter:
CHAPTER 14 - Reunited
Her lungs were burning, her legs were aching, and her vision was blurring from unshed tears, but she continued to run despite her body's protests. She had absolutely no idea where she was headed or what exactly she was going to do. All she knew right now was that she wanted to get away and far away at that. She ran on for a few more minutes finally stopping in front of a floral shop. She allowed herself to lean against the white stony wall as she slouched over with her hands on her knees. Her fatigued muscles screamed out and begged for rest while her shoulders heaved as her body desperately pleaded for air. Her chest rapidly rose and fell and she could feel her heart beating wildly against her ribs. Eventually, her heart slowed down and her breathing returned to normal although the hole in the pit of her stomach remained.
She had no idea where she was as she had taken many turns not wanting anyone to catch her. Hael had called out to her when she began to run and even ran after her for a short distance, but she guessed he gave up when she ignored him as he repeatedly called out her name.
She pressed her fingertips on her temples willing the rampant spinning of her head to stop. She groaned, weariness enveloping her due to the expended energy and lack of fuel. She stood up straight and steadied her feet as she looked about attempting to figure out where she was. She seemed to be in another part of the downtown district not looking any different than the rest of the community with many dainty shops lining the streets.
She turned around and examined the floral shop behind her. Her eyes took on a look of pleasant surprise noticing that it was one of the most colorful shops she had seen yet in this realm. Almost everything she laid her eyes upon thus far was white, but through the shop's window she saw vibrant greens and radiant yellows, deep reds and bold blues. Colorful bouquets and flower arrangements adorned the inside of the shop making it stand out amidst the rest of the shops on the street.
Like a mosquito drawn to a lamp post, she entered the floral shop. She stood for a few moments in the door way simply looking around, overwhelmed by the sudden burst of coloration. She made her way over to some cherry blossoms and they suddenly reminded her of Rei's temple. She remembered the way they littered the steps and walkway of the temple as she rushed, late as usual to scout meetings. She moved on to some hibiscuses ranging in many different colors and remembered the way Mina had worn one in her hair one night on the beach as she tried to attract Andrew at the bonfire. She smiled at the memory despite herself, but her smile instantly faded when her eyes stopped on a bouquet of red roses.
Red roses. In spite of her heartache, she just couldn't bring herself to look away. Roses were always so conspicuous and displayed a strong appearance as a result of their beauty, yet if you look closely enough you would notice they were still fragile and delicate. Just like him. Just like Darien.
"Beautiful, aren't they?" A deep voice brought her out of her reverie. She turned towards the stranger who was wearing an apron, obviously the owner of the store.
"Yes, they are." She replied without taking her eyes off the stranger. Some how, he looked oddly familiar, but older. She guessed him to be some where in his mid thirties.
"Would you like to have them?" He asked already beginning to take the bouquet of roses.
"Oh, no...it's alright. I was just looking." Serena replied hastily although she felt a little rude. "I don't have anything to pay you with anyhow."
The man laughed at her last comment and she blushed, embarrassed upon remembering that everything was free in this realm.
"I take it you're new here?" The man asked with a twinkle in his eye that reminded Serena of someone. She nodded shyly.
The man grabbed the bouquet of roses anyway and brought it over to a table where he began to cut off the thorns. "I insist you have them. Besides, my son, wife and I have many growing in our backyard." It seemed Serena didn't have a choice since he was already preparing them for her.
"You have a family?" Serena asked trying to make polite conversation in exchange for his generosity. He looked up at her and beamed brightly.
"Yes, I have a family." He said those words slowly and clearly as if he hadn't said them in a very long time. "And they make me very happy."
She couldn't help but smile at the last sentence. "I'm Serena." She offered extending her hand for him to shake.
He smiled a smile that reminded her yet again of someone. "I'm David." He took her hand and firmly shook it. "It's nice to meet you Serena." He said while wrapping the stems in bouquet paper.
"Likewise." Serena said politely.
"You know," David began as he taped up the bouquet paper. "It might be ironic and selfish, but I'm happy I've got my family here with me. We both know though, that means I'm happy they're dead." He smirked and shook his head as if he couldn't believe what he had just said.
Serena couldn't help but giggle. He was such a likable man.
David then looked out the window as the sound of trotting hooves were heard and a carriage pulled up in front of the shop. "Ah, that must be my wife." David said as he handed Serena the bouquet of roses. "Please, feel free to look around some more. I'd be happy to let you have any other flowers." With that, he made his way to the door to greet his wife.
Roses in hand, Serena slowly sauntered towards to the bonsai tree she had spotted. It brought to her a strong wave of nostalgia reminding her of home in Tokyo. It looked exactly like the one that was perched atop their coffee table where her father would prop his feet while reading the morning newspaper. It was also the same coffee table that Ami would pile all her textbooks on when she came over to help her study. Not that Ami was successful in getting her to do so.
Thinking of home reminded her of her mother's home cooked meals. The smell of the food cooking would instantly perk her up when she had been given a hard day by Ms. Haruna. She smiled at the thought, thinking she could almost smell her favorite meal.
Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a baby palm tree and she shuffled over to stand in front of it. She laughed softly, remembering when Lita had attempted to teach her how to make coconut cream cake. Let's just say that didn't quite go so well. Her kitchen resembled that of a war zone at the end of the day.
She was so enamored with all of the lovely plants and flowers and the memories they brought to her mind that she hardly noticed someone had grabbed her arm. It wasn't until her arm was jerked backwards that she realized someone had a hold of her.
She whirled around to request the release of her arm, but her blood froze preventing her from making such an inquiry. Her mind turned to mush as all common sense made a break for it and abandoned her. She suddenly became very aware of her heart beating so loudly she thought her ear drums might burst. She was frozen in place, her limbs simply refusing to inch forward or backwards or in any direction at all.
Without warning, the bouquet of roses that she held in her other hand was swept away and placed on top of a counter. Immediately after, she was swiftly pulled into a bone crushing hug, two arms encircling her firmly and securely as if there was no intention of ever letting go.
She stood limp and unmoving, not knowing quite what to do or how to react. After what seemed like light years, she was finally released from the bear hug and she had to grip the edge of the counter to steady herself. "Darien." She said breathlessly as she looked up into his handsome, yet somber looking face.
He regarded her with contemplative, lugubrious, and grim eyes. She simply stared back up at him feeling exultant from their physical contact, but disconsolate from what she had seen of him earlier.
He suddenly grabbed her wrist and began to pull her towards the exit as she staggered behind. They passed David who looked at them, surprise clearly displayed on his face. "Where are you going?" He directed his question at Darien.
Darien only continued to drag Serena while briskly looking back a quick moment to say, "I'll explain later Dad."
Serena gasped, her eyes nearly bugging out of her head. "D--Dad?" She stammered.
Darien didn't seem to hear or chose to ignore her because he only continued to pull her down the street distancing them from the floral shop.
"Where--" Serena had to gulp to get rid of her dry throat before she could continue. "Where are you taking me?" Again, Darien remained silent as he kept his grip on her wrist and hauled her into what appeared to be a restaurant.
"For two please." Darien said to the hostess who nodded, grabbed a couple menus from the menu pile and began to lead them to a table. By now, Serena had given up on struggling and ceased her resistance as she simply followed Darien who still had his fingers curled around her wrist.
When they finally reached the table, Darien waited for her to sink down into her seat before letting go of her wrist and seating himself across from her. If she wasn't so nervous and shocked, she would have noticed the white lustrous table cloths and white lavish drapes that hung around the Victorian style windows. It turns out, all she could do was stare at her hands placed in her lap as she fidgeted and twiddled her thumbs. It was all she could do to prevent herself from squirming like a fool.
She dared not look up at Darien because she knew her eyes would rebel against her and reveal her thoughts and feelings of betrayal and hurt. Instead, she concentrated on her fingers, examining how they refused to stop trembling despite her efforts.
"Serena?" Darien called to her softly being very careful with his tone of voice.
The sound of her name name being spoken by him caused a shiver to travel up her spine. "Y-yes?" She answered timidly.
"What are you doing here?" He asked bleakly, not moving his eyes from her.
Her eyes shot up instantly and she almost glared at him. Why would he ask such a thing? Did he not want her here? Why would that be? So he could spend the rest of eternity with that other woman? Without thinking any further, her mouth decided to make a move before she could give it permission to. "What are YOU doing here?" She snapped back at him. She immediately lowered her eyes when she realized her retaliation had made absolutely no sense at all and she had a sudden desire to repeatedly slam her head into the table.
Darien's eyebrows furrowed in confusion not sure how to respond and uncertain of what to say next.
After a few seemingly long minutes, Darien asked gently, "Serena. Look at me please." He wanted to look into her eyes for looking into them was the equivalent of looking up at the sky.
She hesitated for a moment, but slowly raised her eyes until hers were locked with his. She didn't realize that it would take this much strength to simply look him. Nonetheless, she held her ground and kept her gaze steady.
"Serena--" Darien paused a short while, considering deeply what he should say before pressing onward. "Serena, this wasn't, no...shouldn't have happened. You shouldn't be here."
After that last sentence, it was as if a flame erupted within her and soon began to grow quickly into an inferno fueling her anger and suspicions. After practically giving up her life when she could have held on and after coming all this way and putting forth this much effort into searching for him, she couldn't help but feel offended that he didn't want her here. She felt a rush of something dangerous and threatening making its way up her throat and into her mouth, but before she could suppress them, the words spilled out of her mouth like vomit. Furthermore, once they started, there was no stopping.
"Do you know why I'm here?" She expressed in an infuriated whisper. "I came here for you!" She hissed pointing at his face with a stiff index finger. "I came here to find you! I wasn't dead yet. I was almost dead, but still living, but I chose to let go of life so I could come here to you!" Each time she said the word you, her finger pulled back and pointed at him again. But she wasn't done just yet.
"I left the sailor scouts, I left my family, and I left the world for you!" Her voice had now increased in volume and she didn't care one bit to tone it down. "How dare you tell me where I should and should not be when all this time, I have been looking for you!" Her angry eyes were spilling tears like a waterfall, but she forged ahead. "After all of this,...after everything..." She inhaled a ragged breath before asking, "Who is she Darien? Do you love her? Why didn't you tell me?" By now she had broken down and was completely sobbing, her breaths coming out uneven and her hands coming up to cover her face.
Darien sat stunned from this typhoon of words and emotions that had unexpectedly come upon him. The waiter came around, but darted away when he realized this was not the right time. "I'll give you a few more minutes to decide." He mumbled as he slipped away.
Serena suddenly felt a pair of arms enclose her as she sat in her chair and wept bitterly like a child. She didn't care to admit it, but those arms were exactly what she needed. They were really the only remedy for her currently weak and unwell heart. Those arms continued to hold her until her sobbing eventually subsided and her breathing regulated itself once more.
"Serena, my Serena." Darien murmured into her hair. "Let me explain everything to you." He said gently as he nuzzled his nose into her hair. She looked up into his face awash with concern at the sight of her puffy eyes and reddened nose. His eyes held her gaze as he knelt on the floor beside her chair keeping his arms wrapped comfortingly around her.
He didn't bother to move or go back to his seat, but rather stayed in his kneeling position on the floor embracing her as he began to explain.
"Serena you don't know how much it scared me when I first saw you here." He whispered into her ear. His breath tickled her and made her shiver slightly. "It made me realize you were dead. It made me think about how you died and the pain you suffered and what Diamond did to you." He lightly brushed his lips against her ear and she had now calmed down a great deal except for the fluttering in her stomach from Darien's nearness. "Serena, you're a girl who's so full of life. You might not know it, but you bring sunshine into so many people's dreary lives. I know that's what you did for me." He rested his chin on her shoulder and hugged her tighter. "So many people on earth depend on your brightness and cheer to get them through the day. Not to mention you're Sailor Moon. What heroine will all the young boys swoon over now?"
She couldn't help but allow a smile to burst out onto her face. She leaned her head against his not knowing the last time they had been close like this. It seemed like it had been a thousand years ago. She let her smile widen as she simply let the sensations of his closeness intoxicate her and overflow her senses.
"You wanted to know if I love her, Serena?" She stiffened in response to his question, anticipating and dreading his answer at the same time. "I do. Very much." He answered. She swallowed hard feeling as if her body had become very brittle--one touch and she would crumble into a million pieces.
"She's my mother, Serena." Darien's voice upon saying those words rang with pure joy and elation. "I found them. I found my family. I have a family!" He laughed softly into her hair so evidently overjoyed.
Her body instantly relaxed and her heart beamed at his happiness as it in turn gave her happiness and she quickly wrapped her arms around his waist. "I'm so glad." She said with whole hearted truthfulness. He seemed really and truly happy. Not that she wanted to ruin the special moment, but she felt she just had to say the next thing on her mind.
"She must have had you when she was very young. She looks young as she does right now and I suppose you didn't get much of her looks." She hoped he wouldn't take any offense, but he only laughed as he shifted on his knees.
"She's the same age as when she died which was a long time ago when I was still a kid. That's how it is here, you don't age or grow older. And you're right, I guess you could say I got most of my dad's features." He smiled unbelieving that he could now actually compare his own characteristics to those of his parents.
Serena smiled back at him remembering how he had called David Dad and how David had reminded her of someone familiar. Looking back, it irked her that she didn't realize that the someone familiar was Darien.
A low rumble broke out from somewhere and Serena's face flushed crimson. Why did her stomach have to be so loud? She sometimes wished she could turn down the volume if at all possible. Darien couldn't help but laugh as he gave her one last squeeze and got up to sit in back down in the chair across from her. Fortunately, the waiter had returned and was coming toward them and Darien motioned for him to take their order.
After receiving their food, Serena had tried, heaven knows she did to eat politely and like a lady just as she had seen Darien's mother do, but she gave up all hope when the delicious food practically begged her to be eaten. It was much, much too mouthwatering to let the food sit out any longer than it needed to. Darien watched her chow down from across the table grinning as he dabbed the corners of his mouth with a napkin. Yup, I'll never find another girl like her.
After polishing off their plates, they stood up satisfied and Darien led the way to the door. "Um..." Serena said not following his lead. Darien turned around already knowing what she was going to say.
"No need to pay, remember?" He chuckled as he watched her embarrassed face as she remembered. To her, it just felt bizarre that they would eat all that food and just walk away. She almost felt as if she had stolen that food. She suddenly felt like she was out with her friends playing truth and dare and they had dared her to dine and dash.
"Come on, Meatball head." Darien said as he intertwined his fingers through hers. "I want to introduce a very special girl to my parents." He told her with a wink.
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"So what do we do now?" A very downcast Sailor Venus asked.
Mercury sighed hating to say it, but it had been too long. "Well I suppose we should take her body home."
Everyone else remained silent unable to come up with a better solution or idea. They didn't want to, but they had finally accepted she was gone as difficult as it was to believe. Sailor Mars had to brace herself and use almost all of her strength not to take the Imperium Silver Crystal and pound it on the ground several times out of frustration to make it work, but she knew that probably wouldn't do any good.
A good ten minutes passed before anyone actually moved or took action. Finally Sailor Jupiter moved towards Sailor Moon's body, lifted her up and threw her over shoulder. "I'll need help from you all later when I get tired, but for now this will be faster." The scouts nodded in grim reply.
They began to go back the way they came, thoughts swirling in their minds about how they were going to break the devastating news to her parents and school friends. Just the thought of it made Mercury's insides shrivel up.
"Wait!" Sailor Mars shouted causing all the girls to stop abruptly. "We can't leave him here." She looked over to Tuxedo Mask's body sprawled out on the ground. The scouts glanced over pensively knowing it was going to be difficult to carry both of them back, especially since he was heavier.
"I'm sure she wouldn't want us to." Sailor Mars said with certainty and all the girls knew she was right. Sailor Mars knelt down and slid her arms under his from behind while Sailor Venus grabbed hold of his legs. Together, they lifted him up and followed the other sailor scouts out.
A/N: Whew! I can't believe there's 14 chapters of this story! Well there you go, this chapter's a tad more happier than the last few I think it's safe to say. I congratulate those of you who guessed right and thought the woman who Darien had requested to search for was his mother. I also understand there's a few more things that Darien and Serena need to discuss, but that will happen in the next chapter I suppose. For now, they're just happy to be reunited and together again. How many more chapters will there be? Beats me. But believe me, I'm trying to end it, but I don't want to rush it and have a crappy ending. Until next time! (Which will hopefully be very soon!)
Emerald124: You guessed correct! She was making assumptions, but let's not forget Serena's a VERY jealous person. We've seen evidence of it in so many episodes in the anime. Hehe...I have to say I'm kind of like her. Not always a good thing. Darien is one of my fave characters too! They've just created him to be so darn good looking...and well, perfect! Well that's Serena's plan, to get them both back to the living world, but she's beginning to get doubts now that Darien has happily found his parents.
ldsprincess: You're very welcome for updating asap. As per your request, your wish is my command, hence this chapter. (grin)
MoonPrincessMagic: That's a really good point you made there that even I didn't think of. Of course, Serena was standing behind another guy and that could have contributed to his shock upon seeing her, but in my mind I only had him shocked because he couldn't believe she was dead. But once again, good point! I'm happy that my "death place" works and although it's very different, I'm glad people aren't saying "Whaaaat...that's really weird." Even though it might be, but it works which I'm glad for. I usually write my stories on word pad, but you can use microsoft word. Then you save it and log into fanfiction dot net and click documents and upload it. What program do you use?
serenity11287: I obey your command. (smile)
empty-spaces: Aw, that's such a great compliment!
Tori Kay: Guess I threw you off there for a second right? I didn't want it to be waaay too obvious that it was Darien's mother last chapter, but now everybody knows who she is so all is well. It worked to my advantage that nobody knows what Darien's mother looks like. Yay, you got what you wanted. Darien "caught up to Serena, got her story, explained the situation to her" and made it all better.
Lady Sylver: Were you correct? Most people guessed right and it was his mother. It's ok if you didn't guess it right though because I tried not to make it so obvious.
grapesandoats: Well that actually was her initial reaction, she just didn't actually go up running to Darien and say it, she kept it to herself then she ran. Why? Well let's not forget Serena is a very jealous person. She couldn't even trust Rei when Darien had to stay at her temple once. So I suppose her choice to run was from shock because she judged too quickly about Darien's relationship with the other woman. I think if she just stepped up to him and was like "here I am, who is that?" It would've been a little too easy. But thanks for your opinion and thanks for reading!
