blueeyeddevil06 thank you for going back and editing all of these.

Chapter 19 - A Plan Comes Together

Darien arrived an hour early at the park bench and studied as he kept an eye out. He was extending Sapphire a certain level of trust, but he was still being careful. He wanted to make sure that there wasn't a chance he was being set up for an ambush.

It turned out to be a quiet hour, and he was pleased with how much studying he had gotten done. When an hour had almost passed, he put away his books and waited.

Right at noon, Sapphire showed up and joined him on the bench.

Darien spoke first since he wanted to maintain some semblance of control of the situation. "Well, I'm here and listening. Amy found everything you said she would on the scan. We noticed you do get something out of this."

"I knew that she would be able to find it. I will like working with her. Yes, I get something out of all of this if you look at it from your perspective."

"Oh, and what is your perspective?"

"While I do get something out of it, I'm not as much about me as you're implying. I want our people healed, and I want to be a good leader to them. A better one than my brother."

"So, you want your brother's title?"

"I want my people to stop suffering from his selfish ambition and obsession. And yes, I want to rule. Surely, you can't fault me for that, Your Highness." Sapphire looked at him appraisingly.

"I can't, and I don't. I just want you to put all your cards on the table."

"That, I can do. I was truthful when I stated my desire to protect Serenity. Her kindness to me despite her situation was astounding. She radiates kindness and sweetness. That said, she does have power, and I want the death of my brother, healing for my people, to be able to rule justly, and to be part of the Silver Alliance that Serenity will bring about again."

"You want a lot. I will speak with Serena on our alliance, but everything you ask for sounds reasonable. Well, Diamond's death may not fall under that heading, but I'm more than willing to kill him. That can be listed as one of my demands. I want his death to happen at my hands."

"Be my guest. No matter how much I want him gone, fratricide is not high on my list of things I want to do."

"Now, you said you have a plan?"

"Yes, well, I attack tomorrow on Diamond's orders. Is there any time that would work better for you? I make no promises other than to try to attack then."

"How about early evening? That way, we can all get dinner first and still get enough sleep at night."

"I'll shoot for seven. I'll be attacking in the park, so there will be less people at that time. Expect a big show of force. I must make this one look good. Diamond is expecting her capture tomorrow. I will fail, but I have to make it look like it wasn't from poor planning. Diamond needs to get frustrated enough that he shows up to a battle."

"That would make it easier to kill him," Darien jested.

"Yes. Will everyone be showing up?"

"Raye will not. Don't send any that would be weakened by fire. Gosh, I'm hoping you aren't going to double cross me."

"I'll put it this way. Do you think anyone would double cross Serenity?"

"No." Even Raye and her attitude wouldn't go against Serena. She is mad now, but betray her? Never.

"I won't be able to send you a message to let you know when Diamond is going to finally show up at a battle. Sorry. Pay attention to how many youma are at each one. I can and will play on his pride enough to convince him he won't need many youma to help him out when he gets involved. It is the best secret code I could come up with."

"He thinks highly of himself, does he?"

"Yes, and it has helped keep him in the dark. I just tell him how smart he is and how I know I could never fool him or go against him without him finding out immediately. He eats it up."

Darien chuckled, "Very smart. You're sure he doesn't know though?"

"I would be dead the moment he figured it out. If I stop showing up, you'll know he is on to the plan."

"You're risking your life?"

"Aren't we all? And, I'm risking a brutal death. He won't simply kill me."

"Fair point," he conceded.

Sapphire handed Darien a file. "Here is the breakdown I was able to get on the dark energy fueling Diamond. Amy should be able to analyze it and the Power from the Silver Crystal for Serenity to be able to best contain Diamond's power so he can be killed."

"Thank you. I'll show it to her. Is it different from the power you possess?"

"Yes, he is more powerful. Diamond would have never agreed to accepting power if he didn't get to be the strongest."

"It isn't his power?"

"No, it was given to him."

"By whom?"

"I'm still trying to figure that out. I'll keep trying, but I may have better luck once he's dead."

"So, you're telling us we have another enemy once I kill Diamond."

"Hence, my desire for an alliance. I would like to fight with you."

"Yet, you would no longer have any power."

"No, but I have advanced technology that you would be given access to."

"We'll continue this discussion with Serena after Diamond is taken care of."

"Of course, she would need to be involved. I just wanted to let you know what I bring to the table. You wanted me to show all my cards."

"Nice metaphors, and you're right. That is what I asked for. I appreciate your candor."

"My whole plan hinges on all of your cooperation. I have one question. Why won't Raye be there?"

"I am going to trust you on this. Please don't make me regret it."

"I won't."

"Raye has been acting out and has been insubordinate to Serena. It has been dealt with in a way that has taken her out of battle readiness."

"Good."

"What?"

"You're surprised I want all of those protecting Serenity to be completely loyal and devoted to her protection?" He sounded incredulous.

"You're in love with her," Darien guessed.

"Honestly, yes. It doesn't matter or affect the actions I'm taking though."

"Yet, you sent the nightmares." Darien seethed.

"And, I made it so you could figure out they weren't real. I was disappointed in how quickly you caved to them. She's worth more than a month of struggles."

"You want us together? Why should I believe that?" He let the criticism slide. He could admit Sapphire wasn't wrong.

"Would she be happy with any man but you?"

"You're okay with that?"

"I realized I don't love her like you do. She's an ideal to me, and she is up on a pedestal in my head without flaw or blemish. That's not sustainable for anyone once it comes under closer scrutiny. I don't want my vision of her tarnished. I would rather hold her up as an archetype of the 'ideal woman' from a distance."

"I would argue she holds up under closer scrutiny, but I don't want you to even try."

"Fair enough."

"Anything else I need to know and pass on to the others?"

"I need to make a grab for Serenity again this time. After the final youma is destroyed, let her know she needs to be ready to attack me. Make sure she knows to make it look good without killing me. I need Diamond to decide his strength is required to intervene. It has to be her, or he will want me to try to separate her from the group next time."

"I'll make sure she knows and is prepared for that."

"Good. The strength of my power is in that folder too."

"You place a lot of trust in us."

"I have to. Without you, my plan is worthless."

"Noted. We do appreciate having someone on the inside and to not be left guessing as to our enemy and his motives."

"Remember, there will be ten youma. I will avoid any that need to be weakened by fire. Hopefully, I will see you all tomorrow night at seven. I need to go. If I stay much longer, I risk being discovered."

"Stay safe. I'm starting to like you; it would be a shame if you were brutally murdered."

Sapphire laughed, "Gee, thanks."

Next thing Darien knew, he was alone.

Darien made his way to Serena and called Kunzite, making sure he was one of the guys on duty right now. He was, and he said he was coming to meet them both. He called Amy next, told her he had more for her to analyze, and found she was home. He dropped off the file at her place and told her to call him with the results.

He approached Serena's door, and it opened before he even knocked. Serena leapt into his arms and kissed him. She stepped back and said, "We don't do that nearly enough."

Darien couldn't agree more. "We should begin fixing that immediately." He then leaned in and kissed her again.

She smiled and whispered to him, "I always thought you were smart."

"I'm brilliant," and then he was kissing her again.

She chuckled and said, "You haven't even made it through the door."

He stepped in, pressed her up against the wall, and his lips were on hers again. He deepened the kiss and pressed himself up against her. When he finally broke the kiss, he saw they had an audience. He looked over and said, "Next time, get lost." Serena blushed all the way down her neck.

"Yes, Your Highness," was Kunzite's response.

He shook his head and grabbed Serena's hand. "Where will we meet?"

Serena replied, "My uncle lets me use his office whenever I would like. Let's go there."

They all spent the next hour together in the office. Darien laid out Sapphire's plan, motivations, and his own opinion of him. Kunzite admitted he didn't know a lot about him in the past. Serena was naturally worried for him and the risk he was taking. Darien had smiled and sweetly kissed her lips briefly at that.

When they were finished, they were all updated on the plan. Serena had agreed that she could work to suppress Diamond's power while Darien moved in to kill him. Kunzite informed Darien he would update and plan a strategy with Mina. He would then update them tomorrow morning as to any final plans. He knew they couldn't rely on the youma attack happening at seven.

With that, Kunzite asked if he was dismissed, and when he was told he was, he left the room.

Darien looked at Serena and took up her hand again. "Will you have dinner with me tonight? I can order something in. We can eat in the den and relax together."

"I would love that. It can't go late though. After the planning meeting, Mina is going to sleep over in my room."

"You mean their date?"

"Oh good, you see it too. Mina didn't, and I had to tell her. I think she went shopping for a new outfit."

"You're a great friend. I've seen the work you have done to get them back together."

"I just want everyone to be as happy as I am."

"I'm so glad to hear you're happy."

"How could I not be? I have my Prince Charming, my boys, my scouts, and my uncle. I have a very full life."

He kissed her again at that.