I'm in the middle of an Ideas Drought. This story has been the only original idea I've come up with in a year. In 2005, some of you may remember, I completed a story called The Jinxed Journey. It was pulled from in early 2006 because apparently it breached some code. My back up died and I was only able to save 6 chapters. Feeling disheartened, I never re-uploaded the story... Until now. It may take a while but I've decided to re-vamp and re-write TJJ, and hopefully it will be better than the original, I just wish I still had the original to compare!

Thanks to: Miss Katrina Malfoy, CCFan4Life, Starrlight1812, Moon Princess Selene, Stacey, merangelgal, TropicalRemix, CharmedSerenity3 and SulliMike23 for reviewing the previous chapter.

I'd like to dedicate this chapter to CharmedSerenity3 who has been reading my stories for about 6 years now. She's always left wonderful reviews, a lot of them hilarious to read, and she also has a number of fantastic stories of her own (she's on my favourite authors list). Thank you for your continuous support!


Title: Akai Ito
Author: Crystal Saturn
Rated: T
Chapter: 2- The Setting Sun

"I've got a wound that doesn't heal,
Burning out again,
I'm not sure which of me is real,
I'm alone again, burning out again"

Serena watched the translucent form of Darien as he happily bounded towards her. How could this be? He was meant to be lying unconscious in a hospital bed. No! He was meant to be kidnapped by the Dark Kingdom! The thought crossed her mind that in the time that she was being questioned down at the station, his condition could have worsened. The injuries that he had sustained in the battle at the Star Light Tower were quite serious. Could he have had died in that time? Serena's heart sank within her chest at the thought. It couldn't be. He couldn't have. It wouldn't be fair.

"No, Akai Ito." Serena bit her lip nervously as she tried to banish all thoughts of Darien dying from her mind. She wouldn't allow it.

Serena watched with cautious anticipation as he approached her. She looked around and noticed that although he had practically yelled out her name, no one had paid any attention. Whenever she called out excitedly, she received the occasional stare and odd look, but no one seemed to be paying any attention to the man in the hideous green suit jacket. Serena felt her heart begin to race again as he approached her. A sickening feeling sloshed within the pit of her stomach as she watched Darien run past a mother and through her son. He was too excited to notice that he had supernaturally walked straight through the little boy. Serena could have fainted there and then. She closed her eyes for a moment to regain her strength and try to shake her disturbed visions out of her mind.

"I don't believe in ghosts." Serena whispered under her breath as she slowly opened her eyes to see Darien's semi-transparent apparition still staring down at her. She shook her head again as she walked through him in an attempt to make him disappear from her vision, and quickly paced into the Arcade.

"Dumpling Head!" Darien's voice called after her as he followed her into the Arcade. She made no attempt to acknowledge his presence, and instead, ordered a chocolate milkshake. "Damn. I could've sworn you saw me. It was like you looked right at me when you turned that corner." Darien sat on the stool beside Serena and watched her intently.

"Here's your Milkshake Serena." Andrew smiled warmly as he slid the tall glass across the counter.

"Your usual." Darien tilted his head to the side as he continued to watch Serena. "Has nothing changed since I've been gone? You went to school today." Darien tugged lightly on Serena's school uniform collar. His fingers slipped through the fabric, not even making a flicker or ripple. "You're at the arcade this afternoon, ordering your usual Milkshake. Nothing seems any different. Am I that easy to forget?"

Serena winced at his words. He hadn't known that only an hour ago she was sitting in a Police station, being accused of trying to murder him. It was clear to her now that no one else could see him, not even Andrew. Darien didn't know of all the pain in her heart and how she felt. Or of the distress he had caused by being taken, or not taken, by the Dark Kingdom. She wasn't quite sure why she was still pretending not to see him, but either way, she couldn't let him know just yet. She knew she would break down into tears. There were so many odd things about the day so far that she could not get her head around. This was one of them.

Serena slurped her milkshake quickly as she attempted to comprehend why Darien's apparition was haunting her from the next stool, and why no one else seemed to be able to see him but her. Looking around the arcade, she couldn't see any familiar faces. Serena cursed under her breath, knowing that there would be no one around to help distract her from the illusion that was dancing in front of her. As she finished the last of her milkshake, Darien reached his hand out and attempted to squeeze one of her hair buns. Chuckling to himself lightly, he made an attempt to poke Serena's cheek. She pulled away quickly in annoyance and hopped off the bar stool.

"Wait," Darien called as he watched Serena's expression. It was almost like a response to his affectionate teasing.

"Thanks Andrew." Serena smiled warmly as she left some change on the counter and briskly marched out of the arcade, hoping that specter Darien would stay there.

"What, no Sailor V game today?" Darien pursued the petite teenage girl as she made a shortcut through the park on her way home. Serena avoided his gaze and pretended to idly watch the trees as she passed them. "Dumpling head, if you can see me, let me know somehow. I swear I saw you look straight at me. You moved away from me when I tried to poke you." Darien struggled to match her furious pace. It seemed that every time he started to get close to her, she picked up her pace. It was almost like she was trying to run away from him. Serena walked through a patch of trees and toward a clearing. She stopped for a moment at the water fountain in an attempt to catch her breath. "What's the rush, Dumpling Head? Trying to get away from me?"

Serena took a deep breath and a few steps back as she sat down on a park bench, overlooking the water fountain and facing the sunset. She lowered her gaze to the ground as she idly kicked her feet against the dusty patch where the grass had been worn away. Surrendering all hopes of shaking Darien from her trail, she decided that she just needed some time alone to try to sort out her thoughts and why this was all happening to her.

"I guess you didn't see me after all." Darien sighed in frustration as he too took a seat on the park bench beside Serena. "I don't know why I thought you could see me. I guess... it's just that after all we've been through together, I thought… I hoped, that you would be the one who could… save me." Serena reached into her book bag and pulled out a small velvet pouch. Tugging gently on the draw strings, she turned the pouch to the side and let a small golden locket slip out. As it tumbled out of its soft housing, its small dome lid flipped open, triggering the mechanisms inside it to turn and play a gentle melody. Serena gently caressed the golden locket within her fingers as she listened to the melody play for only them.

"Akai Ito." Serena sighed softly to herself, reminding herself gently of why she thought she was the only one who could see him. Darien knelt down beside the girl as he watched her expression. She seemed calm and serene. He wondered if the locket had any special meaning to her because he had given it to her, or if it was just another keepsake.

"I suppose it means more to you knowing that it came from Tuxedo Mask, huh?" Darien pondered to himself as he gently passed his hand through the locket. To his surprise, the lid closed back on itself at his touch, stopping the gentle melody in mid round. "It's a pity we didn't get to know each other better. I guess we just didn't move fast enough for fate. I would've liked to have a normal, civilized talk with you, maybe over ice cream. Maybe lunch with a stroll in the park afterwards. I guess I would have liked the chance to get know you better. A bit late now, I know."

Serena raised her feet up onto the bench, bending her knees and pulling them close to her chest. She rested her crossed arms over her knees and leaned her chin upon them. The sun hung lazily in the afternoon sky, chasing the rosy horizon. A gentle breeze tousled her hair about her as she sat still and watched the sun begin to set. No matter how hard she tried to remain calm and relaxed, it was almost impossible to still her heart which continued to thump heavily within her chest. Every time he came close, it triggered something strange within her. A happiness like she had never felt before, and an excitement that she had only experienced when being saved by Tuxedo Mask.

"Shouldn't you be home now? It's getting late. Won't your parents be worried? I'm worried. It will be cold and dark soon." Darien continued to have his one-sided conversation. A part of him hoped that even though she couldn't hear him, maybe he would be able to subconsciously implant the thoughts into her mind. No luck. She continued to absentmindedly sit and stare. After a while, she turned her attention to the gold star locket in her hands. A single tear fell from her eyes as she gently stroked along the edge of one of the points.

"Your eyes look so sad. Why are you crying?" Darien asked. A feeling of concern washed over him as he knelt down in front of Serena. He reached his hand up to brush her tears away, but Serena hastily rubbed her eyes with the back of her hands and sniffled before he had the chance to comfort her. Putting the locket back into its pouch, she gingerly pulled on the draw strings and placed it back in her book bag. She didn't want to cry any more. To be honest, she wasn't too sure why she was so emotional at that moment. It must have been the residual flashbacks and memories from her past life overwhelming her once again.

"Are you thinking of me?" Darien reached out his hand. He paused for a moment, remembering that he couldn't actually touch her. Withdrawing his hand he simply kneeled and watched with intent as her eyes glazed over with more tears, threatening to fall from her face. To his surprise, she lifted her gaze and stared directly into his eyes.

"Yes, you idiot. I'm thinking of you."


. . .

Oh, the intrigue ^_^ Ok, so a little slow to start off with, but all my stories are. Please review and let me know what you think. Happy Valentine's Day to all you beautiful people, see you next week.

Crystal Saturn