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Disclaimers, I don't own Sailor Moon...but I really wish I did, oh well. Here's the next chapter, hope you like it please read and review, after this chapter, I won't be updating for a while, my brain is fried and besides I have to get to studying...That's ok, though, it'll give me some time to come up with some more great stuff, right? Enjoy!
Back in Tokyo in the Tsukino residence Serena was still unconscious, but soon came to. She slowly opened her eyes and saw Rei, Amy, Mina, Lita and Darien looking down at her with worried expressions. Serena quickly sat up, but as she did she felt a searing pain shoot through her body so she fell back down and looked beseechingly up at her friends. "What happened?" She asked as they rose but then sat down again.
Mina looked at her curiously. "You tell us." She said plainly.
Serena looked at her in a puzzled way and calmed herself. "What are you-What do you mean?" Serena stammered.
Amy leaned forward just a bit to put a cool hand on Serena's forehead. "Well Serena, we were all knocked senseless and when we awoke we found that the enemy had fled and you were unconscious." Amy said simply.
Serena looked at Amy in disbelief. "What?" She said dumbfounded.
Lita decided to ask Serena. "Serena, do you remember what happened? How did the enemy leave? And who or what made them decide to go away?" Lita asked.
Serena put a hand to her head and slightly shook it. "I don't know... I just don't know. No matter how hard I try to I, I just can't remember." Serena said with a little panic in her voice.
Darien leaned forward, pulled Serena to his chest and into his embrace. "Its okay, Serena. It's not your fault. It's okay if you don't remember. We don't remember that much about the battle either and I guess we're a little edgy. Don't worry about it." Then Darien released her. "You should get some rest. You were hurt pretty badly."
Serena nodded. "Okay, Darien." She said softly.
Then Darien turned to the girls with a solemn look upon his face. "We should leave. Serena needs her rest."
The girls all agreed and said bye to Serena on their way out. Darien was the last to go and before he left he turned at the door. "I hope you feel better tomorrow Serena. And if you remember anything be sure to call me, okay?" Darien said looking at Serena with concern.
Serena blushed at his concern for her. "I will and thank you."
Darien smiled at last and relaxed. "You're welcome, Serena." And with that he left.
Serena felt at ease and slowly dozed off.
The next morning Serena felt much better. She got out of bed, got dressed and left the house. She decided to walk around the shopping district to find her friends.
Meanwhile back in the demon world, Lord Akio had noticed that if Serena was the one he needed, then he would have to be sure that he could be able to make her join his side, which meant he would have to deal with everyone close to her so they could not interfere in his plans. He paced back and forth until he had thought up the perfect way. "I know. I'll simply convince her to avoid them. I will find a way into her heart and lead her astray. It's perfect!" Akio said quite pleased with himself. "Then when she least expects it I will use the power my bracelet and she will be under my control. By then it will be far too late for anyone to interfere. I should send the boys to keep a close watch on her and report back to me about all her loved ones. It must all fall into place perfectly." Akio said thinking hard about all the possibilities.
He paced until he had thought it through and called for his bounty hunters. They did not hesitate to arrive and were at his feet when he turned around. "I want you to find all of... all of..." Akio began.
Takashi stepped forward. "The girl is called Serena, my lord." He said trying to be helpful.
"Yes Serena. Thank you Takashi." Takashi inclined his head. "I want you to watch her and find out who all her loved are and report back to me on your progress. It's very important that no one is left out. I want to know who her friends are, her family, and if she has a lover, I want to know everything. Do you understand?" Akio said trying to make his orders precise.
They all bowed in turn. "Yes, my lord." They all said in unison and disappeared.
Akio turned and smiled wickedly. "So Serena, the time is nearing for you to join me. You and your precious powers will belong to me alone. I will have my revenge after all..! And I can't wait for that to happen." Akio said eagerly and let his horrid laughter ring out through the depths of the demon world.
Back in Tokyo the four bounty hunters caught sight of Serena and followed her to find that she had four very important friends who meant a lot to her. As they continued to follow, they found that she had a boyfriend who meant the world to her. They already knew that she had a mother, father and a little brother, but she cared more for her friends than for her family.
Then as their search neared completion they returned to Lord Akio. Takashi bowed before Akio and made his report. "There are three members in her family, a mother, father and younger brother. She also has four best friends if my memory serves me right. And she has a lover whom she adores. That is all we could find out about her, my lord."
Akio smiled and laughed triumphantly.
The very next day Akio ascended to earth in the guise of a really hot high school student. He dressed accordingly as his warriors' information presented. There was no way he could go wrong. With all the information his warriors had gathered he managed to find Serena's house but wasn't sure if she was there or if she was alone. He teleported into the sky and peered into each of the windows with his special sight and was glad when he found that Serena was alone in her room taking a nap. With his powers he sent a small orb of energy into her window and into the bracelet. "Excellent," He grinned as his plan was working. The bracelet glowed and with his power he created a vision in her mind.
Serena was lost in a dark void of nothingness. There was a thick mist that hovered above the ground and stopped at her thighs. In her dream the bracelet was the only light she had and it spoke to her. "Serena..." It called.
Serena swung around frightened and looked for the voice. "Who's there?" She called into the darkness.
"Serena..." It called again. Serena began to sweat. "Do not be afraid of me. I am here to warn you, to protect you." The voice echoed.
"Where are you?" Serena called frantically running in whatever direction she could think of to get away from the voice. "Who are you?!" She exclaimed.
The bracelet's light intensified and forced Serena to look down at it. "It's only me, Serena." It said more clearly.
Serena stared at the bracelet in wonderment. "What?! You can-My bracelet can talk?!" Serena exclaimed confused and shocked.
The bracelet's glow softened. "I am your soul protector and I am here to warn you, Serena. Your friends are going to betray you. You mustn't continue to be close to them or you'll hurt them before they hurt you." Serena's eyes widened. "Tragedies lie ahead for you, my dear."
Serena looked taken aback. "What, but I don't understand! Why are you saying this, you're lying!" Serena cried into the endless void.
"I know it will be very difficult for you, but you must keep your distance from them or terrible things will happen. You must believe me; I'm telling you this for your own good. Forces stronger than love or friendship will turn you against each other and they will covet your precious crystal, you must stay away from them and they will respect you when you are stronger and you will be united. But if you stay with them you will grow weak and they will not survive." The bracelet echoed.
Then the bracelet shone brightly and almost blinded Serena but she shielded her eyes with her arms. When she lowered her arms she saw Darien and the others waiting for her. She called out to them and they beckoned her to come. She ran towards Darien and he welcomed her with outstretched arms, she hugged Darien but as she did he disappeared. She slowly backed away from where he stood and turned to the scouts but they also began to disappear before her very eyes and she was alone.
As she hugged her body a sound of church bells rang and she turned to see graves lined at her feet. She dared to go look at the inscription and was horrified when she read what it said.
She screamed and woke up in a fright, panting and covered with sweat. "What a crazy nightmare," Serena said as she raised a hand to her head.
"You must stay away from them, you must believe me..." The voice echoed in her head. She looked at her bracelet and it shone and dimmed. She gasped. "I guess it wasn't a dream after all. Oh no, then that means I can't stay or be with them any more." She shuddered as she thought of what might happen. "They won't survive." She repeated and shut her eyes against the tears that were welling up within.
She hugged her blanket and tried to think. "How am I going to avoid them? How can I make them understand that this is for our own good? They won't believe me and the warning will be for nothing." She bit her lip as she tried to think of a solution. "I'll just have to make them hate me. That's the only way they'll stay away from me, but they will live. Oh, how am I going to do this?" She sobbed. "Either way I'll be left alone. But I have to do this. As long as they survive I can get through this. I can't risk their lives so I guess that this is the only way. But how am I going to be able to stay away from Darien? I love him so much, I will have to make it seem like I've moved on and just hope he can forgive me." She said as tears fell from her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Darien. But you must live."
Serena ran down stairs, slipped on her shoes and left the house with a heavy heart.
Lord Akio smiled at his accomplishment. "It worked, now all I have to do is try to trick the little fool into becoming my... What was the word? Oh yes, my girlfriend and then as soon as her heart is in my hands I will have complete access to her power." He laughed and returned to the demon world.
Back in Tokyo Serena was walking off her troubles when Darien spotted her and called out to her. "Hey, Serena," He said as he made his towards her. "You're looking a lot better today. How do you feel?" He asked kindly.
Serena fumbled for the right words and couldn't meet his eyes. "Yeah, I'm feeling okay, Darien. But I have something that I... I have to tell you." She managed at last.
Darien shrugged lightly and smiled. "Sure, Serena, fire away." He said teasingly.
Serena hesitated for a moment but then summoned up her courage. "Darien I-I don't think we should see each other anymore..." She said in a tumble of words.
Darien's expression quickly changed form cheerful to quizzical. "What, but why? What's wrong, Serena?" He asked concerned. He wanted to know why.
Serena clenched her fists tight so that her knuckles turned white. "I just think that we shouldn't see each other that often. It would be better for both of us if we took a break."
Darien misuderstood Serena. "Huh, that's okay, I can still see you after school and I could walk you home everyday and-" But Darien was interrupted.
Serena shook her head so violently that her hair swished back and forth in her face. "You just don't get it!" She exclaimed.
Darien's face grew solemn. "What then? What are you trying to say?" He asked looking at her with his piercing ocean blue eyes.
Serena clenched her fists even tighter until they felt as if they were going to bleed. "Darien, it's over between me and you! I just can't see you anymore! It's over!" And with that she ran from him as fast as she could with tears streaming from her eyes. As she ran her thought caught up with her. Now maybe Darien will be better off without me, at least he'll still live. She thought miserably as she ran all the way home and into her room.
Meanwhile Darien stood shocked by Serena's harsh words and couldn't believe she meant what she said. "Why? Why did she say that it was over between us?" He asked himself as his heart felt torn to pieces. "Oh, Serena, what's happened to you?" He said as he looked sadly up into the sky.
There it is ladies and gentlemen, Chapter 5! What do you think so far? Things have gotten a little out of hand, will this warning be enough to keep Serena away from her loved ones? What will Akio's next move be? Find out next time, whenever that may be, but first please read and review.