Strong Destiny, Weak Heart

Come Back To Me

Chapter 10

Disclaimer: I wish I could take credit for Sailor Moon! Alas, not my creation, only this story is.

Previously on Strong Destiny, Weak Heart:

"What if she didn't want to be 'won back'? What if she was happy? You'd be willing to rip away her happiness instead of looking for your own?" Rei just wanted to hear him say he could move on. Even if he had to learn to do it.

"I hope it doesn't come to me finding out." He suddenly felt all his energy leave him at once.

"Okay, well then what if you suddenly fell in love with someone else?" He gave her a cock eyed grin.

"Do you really think that's possible?"

"Hey, random scenario's remember? Just answer the question or don't , but don't question the questions!"

"Okay, okay, um, I guess it'd have to depend on who the woman was. I mean, I can't see myself falling in love with just anyone."

"What if it was me?" She blurted out before she could stop herself.

And now the continuation...

Chapter 10

Darien didn't know what to say, he had only thought of her in that way before Serena was known to be the Moon Princess from his dreams. After which, he never thought of Rei as anything more than Serena's friend. He'd believed her feelings for him were long gone after they'd been to the future and found Queen Serena and King Endymion had a daughter. He had a feeling the question meant more to her then she was trying to let on, and yet, he had never really thought about it before.

"Okay, next question." When he was silent after two minutes, she decided that was her chance to change the subject without causing suspicion.

"Uh, Rei-"

"I said next question!"

"No, I want to talk about it."

"There's nothing to talk about, it was just another question, I told you, you don't have to answer them if you don't want to."

"But I get the feeling you want an answer-"

"No, I don't really care." She lied as she blushed and waved her hand as if she could wave off the question.

"Well, I've never really thought about you in that way-"

"It's fine, next question. How would you feel if Andrew turned out to be gay and had the hots for you?" She was desperate to make him forget her comment, and it seemed to work. He began to think she was just trying to come up with extremes.

"Uh..." Just then, the other girls showed up. Ami was the first to the top of the steps.

"I'm so sorry you guys, we lost track of time and, well, it's so unlike me!" She apologized. Rei and Darien just looked at each other. Rei was relieved for the distraction, Darien was just beginning to enjoy knowing what triggered each surge of energy.

"That's okay Ami, Darien was still able to train, we just weren't able to spar. I'm sure he has some great information for you to input and study about his powers." Rei said, walking toward the girls, only stopping when she reached Serena at the end of the temple grounds, next to the stairs. Darien gave her a 'this isn't over' look. She wasn't pleased.

"Well Rei, um, the girls have all met Reagan, would you like to sometime?" Serena whispered to Rei while she was standing next to her.

Ami walked over to Darien and got her computer ready to input the information he had for her. "So Darien, did you learn anything interesting?" he looked toward Rei and replied.

"I guess you could say that." Rei turned away quickly, as her face began to flush, when he made eye contact with him. Serena was oblivious to everything that was going on.

"Rei, don't blush! Darien will know I'm talking about Reagan! I don't want to hurt his feelings, I still love him." When she heard Serena say that, her heart just about stopped in her chest. She pulled Serena a little ways down the stairs of the temple and spoke harshly toward her.

"What do you mean you still love him? If that's true, why didn't you just get back with him before, when he offered? Why are you even dating Reagan then? Why do you want us all to meet him?" Rei wasn't sure how she felt about the whole situation, but she was sure of one thing, she didn't like it. Serena was straddling a dangerous line, and knowing her, she didn't realizes just how high up that line was.

"Because he was right on a few things." Serena put her head down and tapped her fingers together while staring at them as she spoke. "I'm not ready for our relationship, I am immature right now, even I can see that, but that doesn't mean I don't love him. I'm dating Reagan to see if I can figure out why I am the way I am. He's a good looking guy, and I can't say I'm not attracted to him. Also, if I do date him for a while, I can see how different I treat him and how I interact with other guys. I can find out just how abnormal my attitude with Darien really is." Serena was pleased with her justification, but she still didn't like what she was doing any more than Rei approved of it.

"So you have a plan then?" Rei said, surrendering. There was nothing she could do, neither would ever forget the other. She knew that from the beginning, but forgetting and getting over someone were two different things. Rei hoped Serena would find what she was looking for sooner rather than later. For both Serena and Darien's sake.

"Well, not really a plan, as much as wishful thinking. I just hope being in a normal relationship will help make me a normal girlfriend. No real effort involved. Then, I can see, hopefully, why I acted the way I have and fix it."

"Well, it's better than nothing. You seem like you're really growing up already meatball head." She patted Serena's head as she walked back to the rest of the girls.

"And you haven't grown at all!" Serena yelled at Rei. When they all gathered at the center of the shrine grounds, Ami was just finishing up inputting the new data. She had taken Darien aside and they were talking privately near one of the rooms. Lita and Mina were talking amongst themselves about Reagan, since Darien was out of earshot. Now that everyone was gathering, everyone stopped their murmurs to each other.

"So Ami, how should we proceed for today's training session?" Darien asked, ready to test his abilities and control. With Ami's help, he was anxious to try out the new theory that all he had to do was focus on thoughts that made him feel certain ways, jealous or angry were probably best for sparring, and sad or empathetic would probably be best for healing.

"Well, how about if today you sparred with Lita, Mina, and Rei. I'll be helping Serena with her combat strategies. I was able to create an illusion spar partner for her that should give her some kind of encouragement." Just then Rei saw an optical replica of herself pop up next to Ami. "I can control all of her movements and techniques. I'll start slow, but she does emit energy when she lands hits with electrical waves pulsing from contact with her. So, Serena, if you get hit, it will hurt."

"But I don't want to get hurt!" Serena said while pouting.

"Then you best get the better of her." Ami said with a smile.

"Why does it have to be me?" Rei said, disappointed at the fact that even when they were on good terms, they seemed to be at odds.

"Because you bring her emotions out best. That will help direct her abilities toward one target, and I really see her actually able to control her landings instead of jumping and running franticly. I think this is just what she needs." Ami said, having both Rei's face each other for a moment.

"The resemblance is scary, if she wasn't so blue and sketchy." Rei said while reaching out to her.

"Don't touch her!" Ami tried to warn, but it was too late, Rei had made contact and it burned her hand.

"Ow! Geez Ami, what'd you put in that thing?"

"I told you it had an electrical current if you touched it!" Rei pulled her hand away from her chest to look at it, and saw smoke coming from her glove. Darien rushed over to heal her, and pulled her hand toward him. This time it didn't escape Serena's attention, the look they gave each other, for just a second, but even so, it made Serena feel strange. She could feel her heart beat strangely at the sight. She tried to just shake it off, and refocus on her new task. Now that she saw just how seriously this 'thing' could damage her, she prepared to be on her highest guard. After Rei was healed, everyone prepared for their respective battles, while Ami used her computer to record all the fights individually and simultaneously. She would later look over the data and see what worked, and what didn't, and alter respectively.

Darien was able to easily take on the scouts, to the point where he asked them to not hold back on using both physical and magical abilities. They did as they were told, but still easily downed. Meanwhile Serena showed just how much practice she needed. She tripped and stumbled on almost everything, yet her sheer speed kept her safe from any real attack. Ami had the O.I.R. [Optical Illusion Rei] at the highest 'average human speed' for accuracy. She also didn't want Serena seriously injured, but as it stood, as clumsy as Serena was, she still was dodging the attacks fine. Serena was terrified about getting hit after she had seen what it had done to Rei's hand, but also the fact that all it did was stand there, without Rei even attacking it, did that much damage. And now it was after her, trying to hurt her!

They got three hours done, when they finally stopped. "Great job everyone! Serena, I'm making a cyborg for you to battle against. It will have less limits then the optical illusion, and more range and abilities. Even though we can't land a hit, the cyborg should be able to do something!"

"I'm not sure I want it to!" Serena said, rubbing her but from the frequent falls caused by her tripping and stumbling. Darien was healing the other sailor scouts who were all out of breath and exhausted. Mina and Lita had dates they wanted to get ready for, while Rei headed to her temple to get started on her homework. She didn't want to be near Serena and Darien right now. It just made her too uncomfortable, she decided to just concentrate in the flame room.

Ami was standing by herself by the stairs waiting for Serena to go home with her and help her with her homework. She gave them privacy by standing on the other side of the grounds while Darien walked up to her to heal her. "Here, let me take care of those." Darien said, happy to hold her once more. Serena backed away, shaking her head wildly while waving her arms.

"No, no, I'm fine, really! They're just bruises! They're already healing!"

"Serena, what's wrong? I'm just going to heal you."

"It's going to hurt isn't it? I hate going to doctors or hospitals!"

"Serena, I promise it won't hurt."

"Are you sure?" She said, still pouting.

"Yes. I'm sure." He said, with a small chuckle at her fear of pain. He didn't even have to touch her, before he felt his powers emitting from him and going toward her. He hoped she didn't notice she was healed before he got to her. He practically jumped at her and held her in his arms.

"Darien?" She said into his shoulder, unsure about what was going on. She did have to admit, she felt much better already.

"Just a little longer Serena." She stayed silent in his embrace, after a few seconds, she felt her arms raise, ready to hold him back. She caught herself and backed up, pushing him away in the process.

"I feel better now. Thank you." She said, blushing.

"You've never had to have me heal you before." He said, seriousness in his eyes, and despair in his voice. She gasped. She had no idea how to reply, then she found a question in her mind.

"You never hold any of the other scouts when you heal them." She said, with her head down, looking up at him.

"I don't want to hold any of the other scouts. It's surprising how easy it is to heal you. Usually it takes a minute or two. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes, I feel a million times better. Thank you Darien." She started walking toward Ami.

"Serena wait!" She stopped short and turned around. "Yes?"

"Serena, how far are you willing to take this?" He couldn't stop himself from asking the question, and he didn't want to. It was a question that was plaguing him night after night when he found out she was looking for someone else.

"What?"

"How far are you willing to take this? I mean, are you going to have a steady boyfriend, engaged, married? How long before you'll come back to me?"

"I don't know, does it matter? If we move on we move on. If we don't, we don't. Darien, I love you." At that she ran to Ami and dragged her running down the stairs and through the sidewalk.

"Serena!" Darien called after her but to no avail. She was gone. "Damn it!" He fell to one knee and hit the temple ground with his fist.

"Darien?" Rei was standing in the doorway to the fire room. She felt so bad for him, but she didn't know how to console him.

"Why won't she come back Rei?" He asked, as she caught a tear escape from his eyes, he was looking at the ground. "If she loves me, and I love her, why won't she come back?"

"Darien, she doesn't want to hurt you, she does love you. Serena never has been that bright. What are you afraid of?"

"Everything! There are too many possibilities to count! I just want to know what she's looking for so that I could find it for her!"

"I think that's the problem. We're always doing things for her, this is something she wants to do herself, for you. I think you're taking it the wrong way-"

"What's the right way? I don't see one! I just know the way I feel right now, I'm in hell." He got back on his feet and wiped his face before turning to Rei.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to talk like this to you, it's just that I'm so frustrated right now."

"No, it's alright. Don't worry about it." She said, holding back tears of her own. She wasn't sure why she was crying, but she figured it was because she felt so bad for Darien and his frustrations. "You just have to understand you did the right thing. You'll both be happier when she's had a real choice, and somewhat of a normal life."

"I hope your right Rei, for my sake." He then walked down to his motorcycle and left.

Weeks past and everything seemed to have a routine. Serena went out with Reagan three times a week, they trained every day, and Ami always tutored Serena after training. Lita and Mina had frequent dates, and Rei tried to focus on her fire readings. Darien started a routine of his own, he needed Andrew more than ever, after Serena started dating Reagan regularly. He would see Andrew every day, sometimes twice a day, before training and after, when Serena had her dates, or he just felt lonely. Andrew just told him from what he knew, Reagan seemed like a good guy, but that didn't comfort Darien any more than her not wanting to come back to him did.

One day, while Andrew was about to close the arcade, a thunderstorm started. "Damn, and it started out as such a beautiful day too!" Andrew said disappointed that he'd have to go home in the rain, and that the rest of his day seemed ruined. "Oh well, I suppose a night in with Rita won't be too bad either." He gave Darien a wink, then felt bad that he mentioned being with his girlfriend when Darien was alone. Just then Serena ran into the Arcade. "Serena? What are you doing here?" Andrew asked her as she ran into the arcade.

"Ami is sick, so I figured I'd visit Reagan, but I guess they closed early, the sign on the store said they had a corporate meeting and would be open tomorrow though." She said as she shook herself off, "I'm glad the arcade was still open Andrew! You're a lifesaver!" She smiled up at him, but her smile quickly faded when she heard the rumble of thunder and saw the quick flash of light. "Ahhhhhhh!" She ran behind the counter with her eyes closed. The power to the arcade went out with the latest lighting strike. "I hate lightning, I hate thunder! I hate the dark!" She wailed.

"Darien, could you stay with her while I check the circuit breaker please?" Darien hadn't taken his eyes off of her since she walked in, but it appeared she didn't even notice he was there. She didn't even move at the mention of his name.

"Sure Andrew." He said, as he got up and started walking toward the frightened 'rabbit'. Andrew got the flashlight from behind the counter and walked into a back room where they heard another door open and close. All was quiet until another bolt of lightning lit up the small establishment. He saw Serena instinctively grab at him and hold him close, and he returned her actions with a hug of his own. "It's okay, I won't let anything happen to you." He said holding her while staring at the top of her head, seeing her head down and her eyes clenched.

She felt so safe and warm in his embrace, she just wanted the rain to stop and the horror to be over. Darien was thinking the exact opposite. He just wanted time to stop and for him to stay with his bunny like this forever. Suddenly the lights came back on, and the once dark room was lit up with electronics and the sounds of all the games restarting everywhere. "Ahhh!" She was startled by the sudden lights and sounds. "Darien, I'm sorry." She managed to say after the shock wore off.

"What? You have nothing to apologize for. A lot of people are scared of storms." She was looking up at him and her blue eyes, still fresh tears in their brim, felt like a knife into his heart.

"Yes, I do. This can't be easy for you. I, I can feel the pull to you that you probably feel for me." She said as she buried her head in his chest.

"Serena..."

"The last time we really spoke I ran away like I always do, before you got a chance to speak, I'm sorry." She said as she let her tears fall. Without any more words he tilted her head up gently with his hand, and softly touched his lips to hers.

To Be Continued...

A/N: Thank you to all reviewers! You guys are awesome! A special shout out to Ami-chanMercury98, thank you for your kind words and great review, it really helped motivate me to write this next chapter! ;)

Special Thanks/Mention: xx Twilight Princess xx, inufan155687, SailorMoonAddict, loveinthebattlefield, Ami-chanMercury98, and Cassie Garcia