Chapter 8
Darien stood numbly at the hospital doors. His whole life had just changed. Yet everything seemed as it always did. Bright red lights indicated the entrance to Emergency, there were people milling about, some carrying flowers, another in a drab blue hospital gown sitting in a wheelchair, another with an IV in smoking a cigarette. Darien shook his head and put a hand into his jacket pocket and pulled out a perfect red rose. It was blooming, but none of the petals were wilting or ready to fall off. He held it at eye level examining it closely.
This was all the evidence he had that life as he knew it was over. He'd been walking to work when he doubled over in pain. The rose had appeared in his hand and pulled him stumbling along towards the park. It was all he could do to keep his eyes open over the searing pain to know where he was going. Inside the gates, he fell behind some benches the rose relaxing its pull. That was when he heard t he screams.
He had heard about the energy attacks on the news. He even treated many of the victims in the ER, he had never been that close to one before. He stood and held the rose wishing he could help with it glowed faintly lilac in color and felt a cape blow past him. The world turned or he did, it was hard to tell which and tiny pricks of power touched him all over his body. Any pain he had felt before vanished. He tossed a top hat that appeared out of no-where which flew out and came back to him, landing solidly on his head. The world was framed in white through a mask that stayed on with no strings.
He hadn't had time to marvel at what had just happened to him because the pull that came from the rose began again, tugging at his heart as well as his arm. He ran closer to the sounds of a fight. There were two sailor scouts wrapped in branches, and one who was screaming as the youma shot attacks at her. The scout still standing was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. His heart tugged again, and he knew that whatever had just happened to him, happened to save her.
He threw the rose before he even saw the attack coming. The Sailor Scout tripped, but he was there to save her. She felt right in his arms and was reluctant to let her go. His heart had taken over control of his body by that point, his mind was just along for the ride. He didn't know where the words came from or why he took off as soon as the monster was destroyed. He wasn't in control. He'd have to practise so he was in control whenever this happened again.
And whatever this was, turned ordinary Darien Chiba into Tuxedo Mask.
Automatic doors opened with a whoosh and someone sped past him. It looked like Ami Mizuno one of the new residents. She had started on his shift last week. She was never late, he didn't have the capacity to wonder why she was today. He made his way into the hospital still somewhat in a daze, and into the staff room. There were rows of blood orange lockers, half sized, each with a shiny combination lock along the walls. In the center were some tables with newspapers strewn about them, some crumbs from another doctor's lunch, and a small digital clock. WHAT? It was 8:30? Damn. He ran now.
"Where the hell have you been Chiba?" A short man in his late forties cried when Darien finally made it to the ER.
"Er.." Darien scrambled to find an answer.
"Never mind, there was another attack at the park, we got a few wounded here, I need some help."
Darien dived into the rush of the ER, his mind forgetting at least momentarily the previous hour. He kept catching Ms. Mizuno's eye, trying to determine if she knew anything about the attacks, and if that was why she was late. He'd ask her later.
Mmmmm. Warm. Soft. Comfortable. Serena slowly drifted back from the darkness of sleep. She was in her bed, the duvet pulled up over her shoulders, she was leaning against soft pillows. She pulled the duvet tighter and sank even further into the sheets. This was nice. She wondered when she would have to get up? She could hear Jon's voice through the closed door. Who was he talking to?
"You have no idea who the other scouts are?" Jon asked. His voice was strained, like he was tired, or angry but trying to be patient. Like it did before he hit her.
"There is only so much of the history that we could get a hold of. It was impossible to crack the computers in the Crystal Palace. Most of what we know came from legends. We don't even know who Endymion is in this time, except that he is also Tuxedo Mask." It was a familiar voice, who's was it? Who was Endymion? The name pulled at her heart.
"Tuxedo Mask will be a temporary problem," Jon's voice seethed hatred. "Perhaps Beryl will know something. I could rip her head off right now." A pause. "What about the cat?" Jon asked.
The words broke her serenity. Memories flooded her. The attack, the cat, Jon was hurt, someone saved her. How did she get home? Her eyes popped open. She tensed on the bed. What if they knew she could hear them? Where was her locket?
"The cat gave her the locket. That part was accurate. From what I could determine on the way here, the cat doesn't know who the Princess is. We know for sure now that Serena is Sailor Moon and..." The voice was cut off.
"Yes, yes, I knew that before. As soon as I laid eyes on her I knew, I had to have her." Jon's voice softened.
"Don't you think you are forgetting the point? Why did we come here in the first place? It wasn't so you could go all house wife with the girl, we've got work to do. We finally got Sailor Moon, but what about the Crystal?" The voice was irritated, like Jon was forgetting something important.
"It will take some time, be patient Sapphire, Beryl will draw it out." Jon's voice was soothing. So that's who it was. Jon's brother. "We just need to sit back and wait until it comes and take it before they even notice. Serena is already with me."
What were they talking about? She heard scraping of chairs, and she heard footsteps coming towards the bedroom. Serena feigned sleep. The door opened slightly, letting a triangle of light into the room. She shifted onto her side and moaned like she was just waking up. Diamond came into the room and sat on the edge of the bed. He rubbed her side, hands like ice even through the blanket. They were always so cold, didn't the man have blood?
"How are you feeling?" Jon whispered, his fingers running down her cheek tenderly. Serena attempted to sit up. "Just rest."
She relaxed into the soft bed again. "I'm a little confused. And scared"
He lay behind her, pressing his body against hers like two spoons in a drawer, though she was under the covers and he was above them. He wrapped an arm protectively around her. "I will keep you safe. I always have, and always will."
She felt a shiver, then calmness. Not unlike when Jon helped her after her mistakes. He whispered in her ear. "Do you remember anything?"
She felt a moment of doubt. What should she tell him? What would make him happy to hear? She didn't want to get punished again. She wanted him to make it all go away, for him to love her. Was he happy she was Sailor Moon? And who was Sailor Moon anyway? She opted for honesty.
"I remember Luna, we were hiding by the flowers, just like you told us when Luna started talking. I thought I was losing my mind. Then she did this little flip and there was a locket. She said I was Sailor Moon, a champion of Justice. I took the locket and said the words she told me. Next thing I knew I was wearing a strange outfit, there were people screaming. I thought I saw you get hit by the tree thing. Then it started to attack me. Oh Jon I was so scared." Tears rolled down her face, one rolling to the tip on her nose. Jon squeezed a little, encouraging her to continue.
"Then I tripped, I am such a klutz... sob... I thought I was going to die. But a rose came, and a man... I don't know who he was, but he saved me." Serena remembered how warm he'd been, and he smelled of chocolate and roses. He held her so gently. His face was hidden behind a pointed white mask. Something about him made her heart beat wildly, like she wanted to be with him forever. She flushed, here she was thinking about another man when Jon was holding her. Diamond tensed at the pause.
"But then he left, with hardly a word." Her voice was quiet, sad. "I threw my tiara and the tree thing died. You were hurt, it was my fault. There were two others, they were hurt too."
"They were Sailor Scouts." Jon said into her ear.
"One of them was hyper, asking me all these questions, but you were there. I didn't know any of the answers. Do you?"
"I know who the Princess is." He said.
She turned in the bed to face him. He slipped under the blankets with her. "Who is it? Please, I need to know, I think."
"Diamond," Sapphire's voice interrupted them. His silhouette filled the doorframe. He was lean like his brother, but had broader shoulders. Where Jon had white hair Sapphire had navy.
Jon glared but answered. "What do you need Sapphire?"
"I think it best we have a business meeting soon, perhaps before our competition learns of what we know too quickly," Sapphire said. His tone was irritated, like his brother was acting a fool. Serena didn't think so.
"Perhaps, take your leave please; I have some things I would like to attend to before that business meeting. Arrange it; be sure that Rubius and Emerald are there too." Jon didn't take his eyes off of Serena's.
"As you wish, highness," Sapphire replied sarcastically bowing dramatically. He took two steps away before muttering "She will ruin us."
"I heard that!" Jon growled turning his face to the door. But Sapphire had already left. He turned his attention back to Serena. "Forgive me my love."
"What business do you have going on?" She asked.
"Nothing to worry about, we just have some competition come into the area. I hope to keep an eye on them and strike at the opportune moment," Jon said lightly. "If we are successful, you and I will become very, very powerful."
He kissed her then. Gently at first, but he quickly increased the intensity, hands sliding to her thin waist pulling her against him, her own arms wrapping around his form. She felt his erection at her thigh. She still had questions though. She broke the kiss and he immediately nuzzled under her ear.
"Jon, who is the princess?"
His movements stopped. "Don't worry about that now, we can talk after." He returned to the sensitive spot under her ear.
Serena frowned. "Jon please," she pushed him away, his eyes narrowed dangerously. "This is important."
He looked at her a moment as if considering whether to answer. "I know the princess is who the Sailor scouts are supposed to protect, but they do a terrible job, leaving it up to me. You must be the princess then." He smiled at the end reaching out and tickling her, right at her third rib, ooh it was so ticklish there.
She burst into giggles, his hands merciless as they rubbed over every ticklish spot on her body; she rolled around on the bed, only then noticing that she had been undressed into a silky turquoise nightgown and thong. Jon followed after each roll finding more spots to tickle as she fought him off. They finally stopped with Jon straddling her in loose slacks, her nightgown ridden up to her tummy. He held her hands above her head. Serena was gasping for breath and Jon smiled broadly. She didn't see his real smile often enough; he was handsome when he really smiled.
When she finally caught her breath again she asked, "Seriously this time. If you know you have to tell me."
"I'm sure you'll figure it out. I can't wait until you do." Jon said before diving in for another kiss.
She didn't stop him this time as his hands left hers to rub lightly over her breasts on their way under her nightgown. He broke the kiss and sat back tracing soft patterns over the milky skin of her abdomen. There was only a single purple bruise at the time which he avoided carefully. She watched and smiled as it tickled ever so slightly.
He shifted off her to lay beside her, his right hand still tracing soft circles on her tummy. The circles got higher and higher until he brushed the underside of her breasts. A warm sensation settled between her thighs as she watched Jon be gentler than he ever had before. He stopped circling long enough to remove his shirt and press his chest to her side. He finally exposed her breasts only to circle them, carefully avoiding the nipple.
Serena was going crazy. Usually Jon came on hard and fast, which she didn't mind most of the time, but this new approach was driving her to new heights in desire.
"You're teasing me..." she panted, eyes closing to focus on his light touch.
"I am, do you like it?" he smiled back, running a finger close to the nipple which stood ready for attention, only to slide back around and down the side of her firm mounds.
"I do, oh, Endy, please..."
His movements stopped. Serena opened her eyes. "What did you just say?" his voice was rough, angry.
Dread replaced the excitement that had been growing. "I was asking you to keep going."
"No you said a name! What name did you say?" Jon was shouting, a flush coming over his cheeks and he sat up.
Serena sat up too, leaning against the headboard. She couldn't remember what she'd said. "I dunno, yours?"
She didn't see the slap that was coming until it knocked her head into the wall. Stars danced in her vision as Jon grabbed her hair and shook her.
"You said Endy! Is he your lover?" he continued shouting.
"I, No..." she started. He smashed her head back into the wall again.
She was dizzy, but felt her ankles get pulled so she was lying on the bed again. Jon had shed his clothing and was ripping at hers. The soft fabric scratched as he yanked it off her. Immediately he climbed on top of her and slapped her again. Tears were pouring from her eyes, and she didn't know what she had done wrong.
"Who is your lover?" Jon yelled.
"You are," she stumbled over the words. He hit her again.
"What is my name!?" Another hit.
Serena was sobbing now, Jon was straddling her holding her arms, her head hurt. She tried to say his name, but couldn't get the words out.
"You're a bitch! A whore! You are nothing without me!" He squeezed her nipples as he said these things causing her to cry out in pain again. "What is my name?"
"Jon, your Jon." She gasped out.
Another blow. "Tell me again!"
"Jon!"
She prepared herself for another hit, but instead he flipped her onto her stomach, lifted her butt in the air and entered her. "Say it again! My full name!"
Serena was crying, gasping for air from pain and the intrusion. "Jon," she managed to get out.
"SAY IT AGAIN!"
"Please stop..." she tried, but he just thrust hard into her again.
"Don't mess with me bitch! Say My NAME!"
He was thrusting hard into her, digging her face into the mattress. "It's Diamond!" she yelled, "Jon Diamond!"
He thrust a few more times before stopping and pressing her hard onto him as he released. He hit her once more as he got up. "Don't forget Serena, I own you."
She lay face down on the mattress sobbing, her cheeks were stinging and it felt like she had been ripped open. He did own her.
Darien was exhausted. Dr. Greyson had made him and Ms. Mizuno stay an extra four hours because of their tardiness. When he'd finally finished he'd forgotten he wanted to ask the blue haired resident if she knew anything. He dropped his keys into a little crystal dish by the door and shrugged his jacket off. The apartment was clean, functional. He'd inherited a fortune when his parents died, but he would've given it all up for a few more years with them. He stopped at his stainless steel fridge, pulling out a jug of milk and taking a quick swig before spitting it out into the sink. He looked at the expiry date, two weeks ago. What? He never let milk go bad. What is with him the last couple of weeks?
He shook his head, mentally reviewing the day. Got up around 4, laundry, yep it was still in a basket waiting to be folded, head to arcade to see Andrew and get a coffee before the night shift, he ran into Serena. It seemed Serena avoided him whenever possible. We wondered if Diamond had anything to do with that. He missed the meatball head, he'd loved their spats; it was a fantastic distraction from Med school. He liked watching Andrew roll his eyes and the way she would get so flustered. The spark was gone though, her baby blues with used to glow with life were dull now. He got a glass from a cupboard and filled it with tap water.
Then all hell broke loose. Who was that girl? Obviously a new Sailor Scout. That makes three now. Why this need to protect her? He didn't feel that with any of the other scouts. Darien had been careful not to let anyone close because when you love you can lose. Like his parents. Only Andrew and that obstinate Odango had ever got past the walls since. Now it was just Andrew.
He put the glass in the sink and went to the bedroom. It was decorated simply, a double bed against the far wall, black sheets and a red comforter. He had a black wood side table, dresser and armoire along the side. The only photograph in his apartment hung in a worn old frame above the dresser. It was faded, but clearly showed a handsome man with unruly salt n' pepper hair sitting next to an elegant women with dark raven locks. They were hand in hand on a beach smiling and looking towards a little boy with unruly black hair digging in the sand. Darien didn't remember going to the beach or the people in the picture, but it was all he had of his family and his past.
He changed quickly out of his scrubs and into a pair of sweats for bed. The sun was fully above the horizon when he closed heavy blackout drapes for when he needed to sleep during the day. The room was plunged into darkness. He felt his way to the bed and was asleep within minutes.
Help me.
Who are you? He stared into white mist, it swirled and a soft voice came from another direction.
Please, help me!
Where are you? He spun, the motion making it swirl faster. There was an outline. A woman. She wore a long flowing dress, hair tied up in twin pigtails trailing from perfect buns, her hands were clasped in front of her chest. Her chin was tilted downwards. He tried to get to her, but the image stayed out of reach.
The Silver Crystal. Please, the Silver Crystal will heal me.
Who are you? What is the Silver Crystal?
The darkness is growing deeper. I don't have much time. Please Endymion. Only you can save me.
Another figure appeared, it was tall, masculine and lean. It too was just a shadow. It went towards the woman. He watched as the man laid hands on the woman, pulling her away, hurting her. He felt rather than saw the tears that poured from her unseen eyes.
You cannot have her, she is mine
The image was fading, the white mist was closing in around him. He tried to run after them. The mist was making it hard to breathe, his chest was constricting. His heart was beating wildly, as if to follow the strange woman. He fell to his knees...
And promptly tumbled to the floor. Darien sat up and untangled himself from the comforter. Beads of sweat dripped down his temples, and glistened on his bare chest. His heart was still hammering in his chest. He brought a hand up to it, hoping to calm the rapid beat. He looked around the room. It was the same as always. The world didn't know his life had been turned upside down. The sun was bright around the edges of the blackout drapes.
He stood and wandered over to the window. He peeked outside. Nothing was out of the ordinary. Traffic still buzzed on the street, pedestrians wound themselves from shop to shop going about their routines. He wished he could see the moon right now. It was a foreign feeling. He ran his hands through his hair and glanced at the clock. It was way too early to be up after a 16 hour shift.
What was that dream all about anyway? Who was the girl, what was the Silver Crystal? Why did he feel like his own life depended on saving hers? Who was the man? But the Sailor Scout from yesterday; was she connected to all of this? He did not need this right now. He was comfortable in his routine. The walls he'd built were solid but now there was the scout and some dream girl beating at them. He needed some coffee.
Sorry for the delay. I had written a few chapters but I don't like to post them untill I have edited them and am actually happy with them. Here it is, and as always, please review!