Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any character involved with it. It belongs to Naoko Takeuchi. The Poem by Serena: Poem for Usagi Tsukino. Scenario & composition by: Miura Kouji. Vocal performance by: Mitsuishi Kotono. Translation by: Alex Glover.
Chapter 13
Serena had basked in an uneventful, normal teenage girl week.
Tonight was no exception. Seiya had asked her to go see the Sailor V movie with him.
Like any other teenage girl about to go out to a movie with a boy, Serena was trying on different outfits, and tossing the undesirable ones all over her room.
Luna had left the room to seek a safer location to relax in. But, with Seiya due to arrive any minute, Luna returned to the room to hurry Serena up.
"At this rate, you'll have to go on your date naked," Luna giggled.
"We are just going to see a movie together," Serena snapped. "That doesn't make it a date."
"Then why are you worried about what you're wearing?" Luna snickered.
"So Seiya will notice me, not all the other girls that might be there," Serena explained, and peeled off the outfit she had on.
"Sounds like a date to me," Luna continued to snicker.
Serena tossed a sweater at her cat.
"Ready?" Seiya asked, appearing in her room.
"Don't do that," Serena bellowed.
"I like your choice of outfits," Seiya beamed.
Serena realized she was standing there in nothing more than her bra, and panties.
"Out!" She barked at Seiya, and ducked behind her closet door.
"It's too cold out for that," he snickered. "But we could go to my place, and watch TV, and you can keep those on. For awhile," he laughed, and disappeared before the flying shoe could hit him.
"Put come clothes on, so we can go," Luna ordered.
"We?" Serena spouted, and pulled on a sweater that was near her.
"With a comment like that," Luna looked back to where Seiya had been standing, "do you think I want to leave him alone with you."
"You're such an old mother hen," Serena remarked, and dropped a shirt over Luna.
Serena finished dressing, and ran out the front door to find Seiya pacing near by.
"You could have waited in the house," Serena told him.
"I needed some cold air," he grinned broadly.
"You're weird," Serena shook her head, and began to walk down the sidewalk.
As they strolled along, Serena noticed that Seiya kept glancing around the neighborhood.
"Is something wrong?" Serena finally asked, after she noticed him do it again.
"No," he smiled at her, and put his arm around her waist.
"I don't believe you," Serena huffed, and stopped walking.
"I just feel like we're being watched," he whispered. "Just keep walking," he gave her a little nudge.
Serena giggled: "It's probably Luna. She thinks I'm not safe being alone with you."
"Why? Did you tell her what you did while you were drunk?" He smiled.
"How can I tell her about something I don't remember," Serena mumbled, somewhat embarrassed.
"We can go to my place, and I'll try to help you remember," he grinned, and pulled her closer.
"If you keep talking like that, I'll want Luna to come with us," Serena scowled.
Seiya laughed.
Even in the movie theater, Serena noticed Seiya frequently glancing about. She realized that his arm around her would tense up every time he looked around.
"Maybe we should go," Serena whispered to Seiya.
"Why?" He whispered back.
"Every time you look around to see if you can find the person you think is watching us, your arm tenses up, and I start looking around too. It makes it very hard to concentrate on the movie," Serena replied quietly.
"Sorry," he smiled.
"Lets go some where else, and see if you still have that feeling," Serena suggested.
"Like a nice big open field," Seiya growled. "That way I can see him coming, and kick his ass."
"Shhh!" The guy sitting next to Seiya said, with an angry scowl.
"How about a milkshake," Seiya whispered to Serena.
"Yeah," she smiled.
The feeling of being watched plagued Seiya, as they walked to the Crown, but he kept his thoughts to himself.
After they ordered their shakes, Serena asked Seiya if he thought they were still being followed.
"No," he said, with a confidant expression, hoping to put Serena at ease.
"Are you lying to me?" Serena frowned.
"Why would I do that?" Seiya responded. "Those three people," he jerked his head in the direction of an occupied table. "Were in here before us, and no one else has come in."
"Maybe it's to cold out for them, and he, she, whoever gave up and went home," Serena mentioned.
"And maybe he's standing outside freezing his ass off, waiting for us to leave," Seiya grinned. "So lets have our shakes, and then go play some games."
"Sounds like a plan," Serena smiled.
Even though Serena lost every game she played against Seiya, she was enjoying herself.
"This is your last game," Andrew informed them. "Its almost closing time."
"Ten o'clock, already," Serena sighed.
"Now what would you like to do?" Seiya asked Serena. "Or do you have to go home now?"
"My dad's on a business trip, and won't be home till Sunday, and Sam is spending the weekend at a friends house," Serena explained.
"Why don't we go back to your place, order pizza or something, and play some video games." Seiya suggested.
"I am getting hungry," Serena remarked. "Let's go."
Serena yanked her coat off the chair back, and rushed outside. She had enough time to scoop up a handful of snow before Seiya came out. Serena waited for Seiya to close the door, before she threw her handful of snow at him.
Seiya turned his face as the weekly packed snowball came at him. The snowball crumbled apart when it hit the side of his head.
"Serena!" A high pitched squeal came from Seiya, as some of the snow made its way down the inside of his clothing.
Serena ran off, giggling.
Seiya scooped up some snow, and took chase.
Serena's giggling slowed her pace down, and Seiya caught up to her in no time. He slapped his snowball on top of her head.
Serena's joyful giggles would occasionally take on a high pitch, as the snow ran down her back while she continued to run along.
There was no snow around Serena clean enough to continue the war. So she sprinted off, knowing there would be clean snow closer to her house.
Seiya decided he'd let her win this game. He would run along, but he made sure to stay a few feet behind her.
Just before they reached Serena's yard, Seiya was certain he saw a shadow lurking just out of view.
Seiya allowed himself to be bombarded by Serena's flimsy snowballs.
"Now that you've turned me into a snowman, will you unthaw me?" Seiya grinned broadly at her.
"Hot chocolate with marshmallows will warm you right up," she smiled.
Seiya laughed: "I had something else in mind."
"Tea?" Serena questioned.
"Hot chocolate's fine," Seiya laughed a little harder.
"You're laughing at me, aren't you?" Serena scowled, and stomped her foot.
"Yup," he grinned, and pulled her close.
"Why?" Serena looked up into his eyes.
"Your innocence," he smiled, and bent down to kiss her.
Serena welcomed his kiss, and quickly wrapped her arms around his neck.
Seiya cupped his hands on her butt, and stood himself up a bit more, causing Serena's feet to leave the ground.
He hadn't expected it, but Serena used his straightening up motion to heave herself up enough to wrap her legs tightly around his waist.
Seiya pressed her as tight as possible against his body.
Their loving embrace was cut short when a rose cut through the crisp night air, and embedded itself into Seiya's arm.
Seiya's arm immediately went limp, and Serena crashed to the ground.
Serena saw the rose.
"Darien," she screamed at full volume, as she jumped to her feet.
Dogs howling in the distance, was the only response Serena got from her bellowing.
Serena turned to see Seiya stagger back, and then slump to the ground.
The rose remained firmly embedded in his arm.
Serena clasped her locket, and transformed.
She knew Serena could not help or protect Seiya.
Sailor Moon dropped to the ground, and cradled Seiya in her lap.
Seiya looked up, smiled, then fell unconscious.
Sailor Moon ripped Seiya's jacket, and shirt sleeve. She pulled out the rose, then took a piece of Seiya's ripped shirt, and pressed it over the wound.
With an unknown strength, Sailor Moon scooped Seiya up in her arms. She spread her wings, and took flight.
Sailor Moon soared along, trying to think of a safe place to take Seiya. She also knew he would need more help then she could offer him.
Sailor Moon soon found herself soaring over the estate. She brought Seiya down near one of the cabins. She carried him in, and laid him down on the bed. Then she completely removed his jacket, and shirt. She looked at the hole the rose made in his arm, and saw black snake like lines creeping along his skin, branching out from his wound.
She knew she needed help.
Sailor Moon covered up the shivering Seiya, and made her way to the fireplace.
With great stealth she made her way into the main house.
She quickly, and quietly crept through the secret passage ways.
Sailor Moon slipped out from behind a wall near a bookshelf, and stood before Kakyuu.
Kakyuu had never been so startled in her life.
"You have to come with me," Sailor Moon ordered Kakyuu, and tugged at her arm.
Kakyuu did as she was ordered, without question.
Sailor Moon dragged Kakyuu along as fast as possible through the narrow corridors, into the cellar.
Their speed increased once they were in the wide gardeners hallway.
Kakyuu almost tripped up the worn down dirt steps, as Sailor Moon fumbled with the chain that opened the back of the fireplace.
"Hurry up," Sailor Moon beckoned, as she ran to the back end of the cabin, and knelt on the floor next to the bed Seiya lay upon.
"What happened?" Kakyuu asked, when she saw Seiya's lifeless body on the bed.
"Darien," Sailor Moon replied, as tears began to stream down her face.
Kakyuu pulled the quilt off of Seiya, and saw the poison spreading through his arm.
"Can you help him?" Sailor Moon wept.
"It will take me sometime to draw the poison out," Kakyuu explained. "Help me sit him up."
Sailor Moon sat Seiya up, while Kakyuu climbed onto the bed.
"Keep him there while I get comfortable," Kakyuu ordered Sailor Moon.
Kakyuu put a pillow behind her back, and leaned back.
Sailor Moon lowered Seiya, so that his head rested on Kakyuu's chest.
Kakyuu wrapped her right arm around Seiya.
"He's chilled, pull the covers up," Kakyuu told Sailor Moon.
"You must keep this a secret," Sailor Moon pleaded, as she pulled up the covers.
"I can order the others to stay away from Darien," Kakyuu stated. "I will not let a jealous boy or avenging brothers to interfere with what we have to do."
"Can you order them to allow me to see Seiya?" Sailor Moon whimpered, and knelt on the floor next to the bed. "He has been hurt because of me before, Yaten, and Taiki would not even allow me to talk to Seiya."
"I will come to you," Seiya moaned very weakly.
"Shut up, and lay still," Kakyuu snapped, and held him tighter.
"Don't let her leave," Seiya whispered, almost breathless.
"I will never leave you," Sailor Moon promised, and kissed his cheek.
Kakyuu placed her left hand on the hole in Seiya's arm.
Seiya let out an agonizing scream, and a single tear ran down his cheek.
Sailor Moon jumped up.
"Keep the room warm," Kakyuu ordered, and closed her eyes.
Sailor Moon ran to the fireplace.
"I could use you Rei," Sailor Moon wept, as she tried in vain to light a fire.
"Maybe I should send you a smoke signal," she mumbled.
"Smoke," Sailor Moon scowled, "someone will know we're here."
She immediately stopped her feeble attempts at fire making.
Sailor Moon began to pace the room, during her pacing, she went from Sailor Moon back to Serena, and also remembered the space heater they had used the weekend before in the pool house showers.
Serena was glad there was no moon this night. She was able to scamper through the yard to the pool house, without worrying about being seen.
When Serena returned to the cabin, she found Kakyuu, and Seiya both unconscious and cold.
Serena pulled the quilt up higher, grabbed the blanket from the couch, and placed it around Kakyuu. She then plugged in the heater, and pointed it towards them.
Serena sat on the floor next to the bed, to keep vigil through the night. She was unable to sleep, she would hear a noise, and jump up to investigate. After awhile she found herself dozing, and instead of giving into sleep, she began to pace about the cabin.
Even wrenching hunger pains couldn't drive her away from watching over them. She had felt around the kitchen nook area, but was unable to feel anything in the cupboard. She wouldn't open the little fridge, for fear someone would see a light coming from the cabin.
Serena was happy to see the sun begin to peak through the trees near the hot springs. She found herself mesmerized by the sunbeams dancing in the hot springs stream.
Her eyes began to get very heavy as she stood gazing out the window.
She turned away from the tranquil sight, and paced about some more.
It wasn't long before the sunlight made its way into the cabin, and Serena went to see if the kitchen had anything to offer her that she couldn't find before.
She managed to find an electric kettle, two tea cups, a teapot, and a box of tea tucked away in an upper cupboard. Aside from those things, she could find nothing else, even the little fridge was empty.
"Ami, and Taiki's quiet place for tea," she giggled to herself.
"I wish we could have that pizza we were going to order." Serena whispered in Seiya's direction.
Serena curled up in the corner of the couch, with her cup of tea cradled in her cold hands. She sat back, and listened to the birds welcome the new day, while she waited for her tea to cool to a drinking temperature.
Serena went to take a sip of her tea, but she realized the cup in her hand was ice cold, and the sun was no longer shining in the cabin.
She jumped to her feet, throwing the contents of the cup all over. She let the cup fall from her hand, and ran over to the bed.
Seiya, and Kakyuu still lay unmoved. They still appeared to breath as one, when they did take a breath.
Serena wanted to run to the main house, and tell Sikora everything, but she feared Sikora would take Seiya to a different world, and forbid them contact.
"It's been to long," Serena cried, and fell to her knees beside the bed.
"I don't care if Sikora takes you away from me. At least I'll know you're ok," Serena whispered, and got to her feet.
"No," a barely audible voice came from Seiya.
Serena knelt back down, uncertain if she heard Seiya speak. She sat, and watched for a sign or a word. But there was no indication of consciousness.
Once again, Serena paced the cabin floors. She was beginning to feel very weak from lack of sleep, and food.
A tea would have to do for now, but when she opened the box of tea it was empty.
Serena assumed Kakyuu, and Seiya would need something to eat or drink when they wake up. She knew she would have to sneak into the main house, and find something for all of them. She would also welcome a blanket. The bed area was warm, but the rest of the cabin was chilly, and Serena was noticing the cold.
Serena slipped out through the fireplace, and cautiously made her way through the gardeners tunnel. She knew the tunnel was the only stretch of her journey, that she could possibly be seen in.
Her heart was pounding when she reached the wine cellar. The secret room had been dismantled, and Serena vaguely remembered noticing that the night before. The wall that held the secret staircase behind it, appeared undamaged.
Last night Serena had dashed through the dark corridors with ease, but now she seemed to need to keep her hand on a wall for guidance. She knew she had to stop half way up the staircase, and open the panel to the left so she would be on the main floor.
Serena's stomach seemed to direct her from that point, and it lead her straight to the kitchen. It took her longer to figure out how to get out of the walls, then the journey itself had taken.
She was delighted to find herself exiting into the pantry. Her first choice of the shelf was a garbage bag to carry her booty. She then began to drop packs of soup, a box of crackers, a box of tea, and a box of sugar cubes into the bag. The last thing she managed to grab before she heard voices, was a box of plain digestive cookies.
She swung the bag over her shoulder like Santa Clause, and felt her way back to the stairs.
Having almost been caught in the kitchen, Serena didn't want to risk searching for anything more. She decided that if she had food in her, she would be able to tolerate the cold cabin.
Seiya, and Kakyuu were as Serena had left them.
Serena quietly unloaded the bag. She found a dusty old pot in the stove drawer way in the back. She rinsed the pot out, filled it with water, and set it to boil on the stove for soup. while she waited for it to boil, she crammed her mouth with crackers.
"Serena," Kakyuu called out quietly.
Serena abandoned her pot of water, and raced to Kakyuu's side.
"Help me up," Kakyuu weakly requested.
Serena knelt in the center of the bed, wrapped her arms around Seiya, and pulled him towards her.
Serena examined Seiya's arm while Kakyuu dragged herself out from behind him. Serena was happy to see no trace of the roses damage.
Serena quickly laid Seiya back down, and jumped off the bed to help Kakyuu to the couch.
"I'll make you some tea," Serena told Kakyuu, as she made her comfortable.
Serena ran to the kitchen, plugged in the kettle, then ran over and took a blanket from the bed.
Serena wrapped the blanket around Kakyuu, then went back to the kitchen, she turned her soup water off, and cursed the kettle for not boiling faster.
"I put a cube of sugar in your tea," Serena told Kakyuu, when she brought the cup to her.
"It will give me some energy," Kakyuu smiled weakly, and took the cup from Serena.
Serena sat down next to Kakyuu, and offered her the box of cookies she had also brought over.
Kakyuu gave a slight shake of her head, and closed her eyes.
Serena dropped the box of cookies, and grabbed Kakyuu's tea before it slipped out of her hands.
Serena placed the cup on the floor, and laid Kakyuu down, and covered her up. Then she cleaned up the cookies that had fallen out of the box, and crashed to the floor. She drank Kakyuu's tea, and put the box of cookies back on the counter.
Once again she tried to make herself some soup.
Serena couldn't remember plain noodle soup ever tasting this good, and it went down in lightning speed.
As Serena watched the darkness once again envelope the cabin, she wondered if anyone was aware that's they were all missing yet.
With a new cup of tea in her hands, Serena stood in the glow of the full moon.
She knew she would have to confront Darien, and tell him whatever she needed to in order to protect Seiya.
Tears made their way down her face.
Serena found some paper, and a pen. She wanted Seiya to know that she did love him, and because of that, she would not allow him to suffer anymore pain because of her. She would resume her place at Darien's side, and keep Seiya in her heart.
As the moon shone brightly on the paper, Serena began to write:
I want to see you.
On nights that are a bit lonely,
I close my eyes softly.
Your chest is so warm when you embrace my back gently.
Just by the warmth, I know it's you.
You did stay by my side, after all.
You've always watched over me.
It's kind of embarrassing, but burying my face...
I slowly close my eyes, feeling filled with your warmth.
The scent of the gentle sun.
Even like this, I feel you near me.
Hold me more, and tangle my hair.
I like you... I like you a lot... I love you.
Oh, but, I don't know any stronger words.
How irritating.
Wrapped in the soft scent of the sun, I can be very gentle...
And being gentle,
I can still persist, and go on.
I'm not strong.
I'm... A careless thoughtless girl,
And I'll never be able to become well behaved.
I'm just preserving, full of spirit.
That's all...
I'm not lonely.
You're watching me, You'll hold me tight,
So I'll be alright...
On nights when the moon is so pretty,
I start wanting to cry.
I close my eyes softly. I close my eyes softly so...
I'll be alright...
I'll be alright.
'As you once wrote to me,' Serena added at the bottom of the paper. 'If we could have met earlier, I would find all the reasons...'
Serena folded her poem, and placed it in Seiya's hand.
Then she quickly scribbled a note for Kakyuu: 'I cannot endanger your family. You are safe here, and must continue your work. I beg you, do not let Seiya look for Darien. Please make him understand, I must choose duty over love.'
Serena placed the note next to Kakyuu, transformed to Sailor Moon, and took flight in the moonlit night.
