Disclaimer: Sailor Moon belongs to Naoko and DIC. This is only a fanfic.

Moonlit Secrets and Love: Chapter 7

When Darien reached Mina's apartment, he set her down. Serena was unnaturally quiet. Darien could understand that she needed some time to herself to absorb what she recently learned. He just hoped that her thoughts wouldn't lead to her leaving him.

Even though he only knew her for a few weeks, he could honestly say that he was falling in love. He never wanted their time together to end. He knew he was being selfish, pleading her to stay with him even though she could be in danger.

He would never forgive himself if she got hurt.

"Why are you so quiet?" Serena asked him, breaking him from his reverie.

She was standing in front of him, peering into his eyes with a nerving stare.

"Because I can't bear to lose you," Darien spoke truthfully. Life without you would be horrendous.

"Do you have reason to lose me?" Serena questioned, without moving her gaze.

Oh, so many things to say. But not while they were in this precarious situation. "You have to figure that out yourself, sweetheart. My opinion is unreliable because I'm afraid I would say anything just to keep you."

Serena blinked, and looked away. Emotions ran through her. What should she do? Should she tell the girls?

No... Serena steeled her gaze as she came to a conclusion. She would first found out what she had to, and if that failed, then she would go to the girls.

"Well, goodbye then," Serena replied abruptly. Unfortunately, Darien took her words to mean trouble, and he had a wounded look. Serena was too disheartened to correct his thinking.

"Farewell," Darien said. He paused for a moment, waiting for her to make any indication that she had changed her mind, but she didn't budge. After another long pause, he finally left with a heavy heart. As soon as he was hidden from her view, Serena began crying her heart out. Hadn't she thought he wouldn't hurt her? Now, she was losing her trust in him.

--M--S--L

"Thank you," Darien said, referring to Kunz and Jed. The biting sarcasm in his voice was evident.

Jedite shrugged, as though he could care less. "She was bound to know sooner or later. And she only knows a half-truth."

Unlike Jedite, who seemed careless, Kunzite was quiet and contemplative. "You can't go back to Metallica, or else she will hurt you."

Darien leaned back against the while, scoffing. "You didn't seem to care whether or not I got hurt when you both were tracking me."

"We had to keep up a show," Kunzite answered back. "Someone else might have followed us."

"If Metallica wants to kill me, I have no problem with it. She cannot kill me. It's Serena I'm worried about."

"Don't you mean Serenity?" Jed asked with a grin.

Everything went cold, as both Kunz and Jed felt a chill in the air, and the walls freeze over with ice."

Darien stared coldly at Jed, "What did you say?," he whispered softly. At that moment, both Neph and Zoi decided to join in. They arrived from the staircase adjacent to where Darien was leaning rigidly.

"Well we're safe for now--"Zoicite began.

They both stopped abruptly as they came to the conclusion that they had come at a bad time.

"What's going on?" Nephrite spoke up.

Finally Darien moved his eyes from Jed to glance at Nephrite, "Nothing, continue." For probably the first time in his life, Jedite sighed in relief.

Zoicite hesitated, but thought it was a good time to follow his leader's orders. "As I was saying, we are safe now. However, if Ma-- I mean, Metallica finds out that we are hiding you, she will most likely try to kill us. Just in case she finds out, we must have a plan."

Kunzite opened his mouth to speak, but Zoicite cut him off.

"Lucky for us, I have just the plan."

--M--S--L--

Serena didn't know what she should do. For the past day, she just loomed around the apartment. Mina had noticed and asked her if she was alright, but Serena cheerily replied that she was fine. That was a lie of course, she was anything but fine.

Why did it always feel like she was doomed to fail in all her relationships. Serena frowned as she came to this conclusion. She could be right. Ever since she started dating back in high school, something went wrong. Her first boyfriend and her were happy until he realized that everytime he came near her, he started sneezing. Apparently, her boyfriend was allergic to her perfume. After that, he had stopped seeing her.

Now Serena sat at her table, with her chin and arms lying on the table. She was so depressed, nothing felt right anymore. Darien was the only thing that felt right since... Alan.

She didn't know why she was feeling this way. Ever since she had left Alan, she always felt refreshed because she knew there were so many things she could do now. She never expected to meet Darien. Sweet, charming, loving Darien.

What was the big deal anyway? So what of Darien's boss (Metallica was it?) was in love with him. She knew Darien would never cheat on her.

But she knew the real reason. The real reason was that she felt like Darien wasn't telling her the truth. She knew he wasn't lying, but it felt like he was keeping something from her. Why should she be afraid of his boss?

If she was able to survive an abusive relationship, surely she was stronger than anyone ever gave her credit for. Even Darien knew that. So why was he acting like Metallica was a big deal?

Something didn't match up.

+M+S+L+

Serena decided to meet Darien at their picnic spot.They were both standing on top of the hill. Darien seemed anxious and Serena seemed... confident?

"Well," Serena sighed. "Here we are again."

"Yes-- and I hope for another happy occasion." Darien added, trying to sound cheeky.

"There are many things I want to say to you, but most of them start with questions."

At that, Darien sighed. He expected as much. "I'm willing to answer any questions have."

"Even if they involve exposing yourself?" Serena asked boldly. She knew she wasn't being fair but she didn't want to build a relationship with a man based on a foundation of lies.

!!Change in Scenario!!

"Everything's set Madame Metallica," Pluto replied to Metallica.

They were both currently sitting at a dinner table, but neither touched their food.

"So the girl will break his heart!" Metallica giggled, her small frame shaking. "Excellent! And I'll be there to stitch every single piece of it into my own evil companion."

Pluto just smiled, her hair shimmering, yet her violet eyes were void any emotion.

"Not yet," she whispered. "Patience is a virtue."

:!! Back to Serena and Darien :!!

"Who is Metallica, really?" Serena asked.

Darien raked his fingers through his hair. "She's someone I'd rather not talk about."

Serena stared at him squarely, clearly not accepting his answer.

"She's an enemy. And I am really a prince," he replied somewhat reluctantly. When he said he would do anything to keep her, he meant anything.

"Wha--?!" Before Serena could answer, she felt that presence again. The same one that had broken the bridge in half during Alan's suicide attempt. Thunder roared and she felt her world turn upside down.

Thanks, all you guys are sooo great!! This one might have grammar mistakes because I didn't have time to check it over, so please don't mind. Next one might be later than usual because of dreaded finals. Just please keeping supporting me and this story. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, the end is a semi-cliffhanger! Soon, the climax will come, so be prepared.