(Author's Note: Keep in mind: I'm not trying to offend anyone. I have indeed always watched Sailor Moon and read all the mangas. I saw in both the series something beautiful between Darien and Setsuna. There are instances in the show and in the manga that captured me, and I saw potential in them. I also think that Serena does not deserve all of the attention all of the time. This is my opinion and nothing more. I just want people to enjoy the story, and I'm writing for those of you who do. Thank you for your continued support, even when I was starting to give up on it. I'm writing it for you. :) –Imogene)

As hard as he tried, Darien could find no sympathy for her. He kept trying to step out and look at her as the Hero of the Silver Millennium, Neo Queen Serenity, the one who always gave up everything for everyone, but he couldn't see her as such. He kept seeing a whiny girl who often stole the glory. She was sitting in the seat beside him, crying, but he could find no comfort for her. Darien clutched the leather steering wheel harder, his knuckles slowly whitening.

Darien tried to shove the thoughts from his mind, but they returned like a poison. He felt almost as though he was neglecting his duty as King Endymion to comfort and love Serena, but there was nothing. He was enraged, thoughts flying. Even though the Sailor Scouts would and had often brought themselves to death or almost to death, the only thing that seemed to matter was when Serena herself gave up all for the Scouts. Did it matter what they did? Did it matter that Sailor Pluto had once stopped time and died slowly as her heart slowed, and slowed and finally stopped?

Did it matter that Princess Serena cowered in fear as her friends one by one died before Queen Beryl, and then finally Darien himself, where she killed herself in cowardice? Suicide is never an answer, never an excuse. Serena's mother Serenity was the one who stepped up and foiled the Negaverse. Queen Serenity was the one who gave Serena and everyone else another chance to live. If she was good at anything, Sailor Moon was good at putting everyone in danger for the good of one life. Something that seemed honorable was really insanity. Something that people saw as beautiful, he was seeing as horrible now. And who were the ones that pulled through in the end? Sailor Scouts. They were the backbone of Sailor Moon, not the other way around.

He saw her out of the corner of his eye. She was staring down at her hands, sitting limply like dead white birds in her lap. Tears rolled down her cheeks and plopped down onto her coat. Darien softened a little and asked her,

"What were you expecting to find?"

Serena did not reply right away, and Darien thought that that was okay. He almost didn't want her to reply. He didn't think he wanted to hear whatever lame thing she had to say.

Stop being unfair, he scolded himself. But the thing was, he couldn't. What was fair, anyway? Was what Setsuna had to go through fair? Was what Serena must have had to go through now fair?

"Part of me wanted you to be kissing."

His grip tightened again. He said nothing. He longed to open his mouth and tell her everything. And oddly enough, part of him longed to apologize. He wondered if maybe he could apologize and run away. Maybe he would even run away from Setsuna.

She let out a shuddery, pitiful sigh. "I wanted you to be with her, doing something. Then, I thought I wouldn't be so confused. If that were the answer, then I could justify why I feel the way I do toward you." Her voice was low, and soft. Darien almost had to strain to hear her words, but her meaning was loud and clear.

"You think I don't notice it," Serena continued, "but I've seen the way you look at Setsuna. I don't blame you, either. She's a very sad case."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Darien asked through gritted teeth. He was now furious with her. He almost wanted to shake her.

"After all, Darien… she has to stand out at the Time Gates, all alone. By herself, without a person in the world," Serena's voice was filled with bitter undertones. "I know you're a little in love with her. I know you want to hold her. I know you want her to feel better about her cold, sad life." Serena's expression was becoming increasingly hateful. She sounded angry enough to make Darien forget his own anger as he listened to her in dawning realization. "I'm sending her back to the Time Gates. That will fix all of this."

Darien's foot instinctively slammed on the break. They were about two blocks from Serena's house. He turned his head and looked at her fully, now. He stared in complete disbelief, and his heart sank deep into his chest.

Serena turned her head and looked at him, a defiant sort of grin on her tear-streaked face. "That's my solution to the problem. We aren't even supposed to be near them, Darien. The Outer Scouts are exactly that, outer scouts. They came to help us, and they've finished their duties. They should go back to their palaces, now. Setsuna will be farthest away, and that's the best way to do things."

Darien couldn't take his eyes off her. Worst of all was that she wasn't being evil. Serena was just being protective of their love. It wasn't malice he saw in her eyes, but it was love, and somehow, that was the worst thing of all. Setsuna had lied to him. Of course she lied. She wasn't allowed to tell him or she would have gotten in trouble. It wasn't his choice, after all. Serena sent her away. It had been Serena who had taken care of it, and it would probably be Raye who cast the spell and made him forget.

"I love you, Darien," Serena whispered. "This is for the best." She opened the door to the car. "You may say goodbye to her tonight. I'm going to talk to the others tomorrow morning, and then Michiru, Haruka, and Setsuna are going back to their rightful places. Goodnight, Darien." She kissed him slowly on the lips, even though he didn't kiss back. Then she got out of the car, shut the door on him, and walked off toward her house. She no longer felt pity for herself, in fact, she was proud of the decision. She had seen wrong and now she took steps to right it. Setsuna would be far, far away, and Darien wouldn't be able to love her anymore.

Darien sat in his car, unbelieving. So much had happened in such a little space of time. He'd been on an overemotional roller coaster which ending with a train wreck. He put his face in his hands and wept, and he didn't care what would become of him now. He'd never even know the difference.