It was just past midnight when Nephlyte shimmered into existence in the
darkened living room of the Walker residence. The crystal in his hand
was responding, but not much. It's light was so dim that it barely
illuminated it's outline. He turned in a slow circle. The crystal's blue
fire become stronger as he faced the far part of the house. He moved,
his tread softer than cat steps, as he followed his beacon. He paused at
the open threshold of one of the bedroom doors, the crystal's light
burning steady now. The girl was asleep on the bed across the room. He
stepped in and moved stealthily along the closest wall passing the
crystal over the bookcases and dresser. The light grew no brighter.

	*It's got to be in here someplace!* he turned to backtrack, the crystal
facing the bed for a moment.

	It's light strengthened, then dimmed. Nephlyte held it out toward the
bed again.

	*Definitely brighter.*

	He took a few more steps towards the bed, not sure if the light was
intensifying or not. Then it flared, almost blinding him with it's
brilliance. He closed his fingers around it to try and mute it's glow.
The cold light streamed through his fingers, caught in the mirrored wall
across from the foot of the bed and radiated through the room. He stared
at the girl in her slumber.

	*Maybe she's wearing it?* he used his power to see through the covers
and the nightgown.

	*Nothing. Then why is the crystal reacting?*

	The girl started to stir restlessly. He needed to think...figure out
what the crystal was trying to show him... He dissipated and retreated
to his sanctuary, not ready to confront this girl yet. 


					***************


	The moonlight seemed to glow brighter around the bed where Aurora
slept. She tossed restlessly, caught in the grip of her nightmare. She
whimpered once, then screamed. It was a single, simple word. Yet her
voice, full of anguish and a despair too deep to be borne, made it into
something more.

	"No," she whispered it this time as she jerked up so she was sitting.

	She held her hands out and away from her body and the bed. *There is
blood...on my hands...*

	She blinked rapidly as she hung between sleep and wakefulness, her eyes
slow to adjust from the blinding brilliance in her dream that had been
so real it had caused her pupils to contract to tiny points. She needed
to see her hands. It seemed an eternity before her eyes adjusted to the
soft light. She took a deep shuddering breath.

	*Clean. They were clean. No blood....*

	She closed them into fists as she brought them to her chest and pressed
them there, feeling the fast pound of her heart. She drew her knees up
so that she could rest her forehead on them. She was beginning to get
scared. The nightmare had been coming more and more frequently. And all
she could remember of it was the blinding white light...and the blood on
her hands. A few hot tears traced the angle of her cheeks as she
struggled to remember more. But there was nothing more. It was as if her
mind erased it as soon as she woke up. She just wished it would erase
the whole thing. She forced herself to relax and slowly uncoiled from
the tight knot she had made of herself.

	She debated with herself about telling Daddy about it when he got home
from his trip. But he felt guilty enough about leaving her alone so much
and this would only worry him more. She reached up and pulled her old
stuffed dog off of his perch on the shelf of her headboard then laid
back down and curled herself around it. The full moon was framed in her
window and she stared at it as she wondered if sleep would come back to
her tonight.


				***************
	

	"So who is it you're going to see?" Luna asked as she trotted beside
Serena and tried not to get distracted by the clean scents the spring
breeze wafted at her.

	"Aurora. She's really nice. You'll like her," Serena answered as she
slowed and double checked the numbers on the paper in her hand against
the one's on the houses they passed.

	"Here it is!"

	Luna sat and curled her tail around her front toes as Serena rang the
bell.

	"Coming!" Luna heard quite clearly.

	Serena raised her finger to ring again. "She said she's coming, Serena.
Didn't you hear her?"

	"No. I don't have cat ears!" Serena grumped back.

	Aurora opened the door as she was saying this. "Who are you talking
too?"

	"My cat," Serena responded nonchalantly, as if it was the most normal
thing in the world to talk to cats.

	"Oh," was all Aurora could come up with as she looked down at the
short-haired black cat sitting at Serena's feet.

	Luna studied her back. *There is something about this girl...could she
be one of the missing Senshi?*

	"Don't worry, she'll wait out here, won't you, Luna?" Serena poked at
Luna with her toe.

	Luna glared up at her charge. *No, what I really want to do is go
inside so I can study this person some more, but I can't now, can I?*

	Well, she'd get a chance later. She rose to her feet slowly and regally
stalked off into the small garden nestled against the house.

	"Come on in," Aurora stepped out of the way, making room for Serena to
pass. "Molly didn't come with you?"

	"She had to help her Mom at their store," Serena answered as she
bounced in.

	"Wow. This is nice! Do you live here all by yourself?" She asked as
Aurora closed the door.

	"No. Me and my Dad. But Daddy travels a lot, so I'm here by myself most
of the time."

	"How old are you?" Serena asked, intending to file that information
away for future use in arguing curfew times with her father.

	"Seventeen. This way," Aurora led her toward the back of the house.

	"The bathroom's there if you want to change. I'll wait for you in my
room," she pointed toward the second door.

	"'Kay! Be out in a minute."

	Serena changed quickly, checked her black and pink reflection in the
mirror and stuck her tongue out at it. She had argued long and hard with
her Mother, but Mother had refused to buy her anything but the black
leotard and pink tights saying that if Serena wanted different colors,
she could save up her allowance and buy them herself. The lavender set
that Aurora was wearing was really nice. And she loved that little wrap
around skirt. She'd have to ask how much they cost.

	*O.K. Serena. Enough dawdling,* she slid her new ballet slippers on,
stuffed her uniform into her bag and went to Aurora's room.

	She peeked in. It was a nice, with one whole wall taken up by mirrors
and a barre. Aurora was using it to steady herself as she stretched.

	"Boy, you are really serious about this, aren't you?" Serena asked as
she looked for someplace to put her bag.

	"Just toss it on the bed," Aurora told her. "Then come and stretch
out."

	"Are you a Senior?" Serena asked as she struggled to follow Aurora's
graceful movements.

	"No, I already graduated. I had a private tutor when I was younger and
when Daddy settled here, they put me in a year ahead of my age. Now
enough chat, let's work!"

	Luna stalked around in the garden for a while, then heard Serena's high
giggle. She tracked the sound, found the right window and leapt to the
sill. She lay down on the narrow ledge and settled in to watch the girls
practice. Serena had been right. She did like Aurora. She was a patient
teacher, turning the practice into more of a game than a serious class.
At the end of an hour, Luna was actually surprised that Serena had made
so much progress. But she still couldn't figure what was nagging at her
about the girl. She was pretty sure Aurora wasn't a Senshi, but she had
that same feeling about her.

	"O.K. That's enough for today," Aurora grinned.

	Serena grinned back, delighted with her progress and her new friend.

	"Go change and I'll fix us a snack."

	"Great!" Serena grabbed her bag off the bed and made a few wobbly
pirouettes up the hall to the bathroom.

	Serena followed Aurora's voice to the kitchen, sighing. *Man, she can
sing, too!*

	The first thing she saw was Aurora was working at the counter by the
sink, singing to herself. The melody was kind of familiar, but the words
where in some other language. The second thing she saw was the humongus
bouquet of yellow and white roses sitting on the kitchen table. They
drew her like a magnet.

	"Wow!" She said, sliding onto one of the chairs. "These are beautiful!"

	She sneaked a peek at the small card tied to the vase. 'Till tonight,'
was all that was on it. *Oh! That's soooo romantic!*

	"Yeah. They are, aren't they?" Aurora was blushing as she turned to
bring the plate to the table.

	"Who are they from?" Serena asked as she chose between the fruits on
the plate.

	"This man I met last night," Aurora popped a grape into her mouth.

	"A guy you met last night sent you a huge bouquet of roses?" Serena
asked in disbelief.

	Aurora nodded back as her blush deepened. "It was kind of strange. My
grocery bag broke and he helped me carry the stuff home. But I didn't
think he was really interested. But then he called this morning and
asked me to go to dinner with him."

	"Boy, it must have been love at first sight, or something. How
romantic," Serena sighed as she chose a piece of melon.

	"Well, I don't know. I think he's just being nice."

	"Uh-huh." Serena's disbelieving tone was back. "Well, tell me about
him!"

	"Not much to tell. He's tall, handsome, and other than that I don't
know much about him," Aurora smiled at the roses, a dreamy look coming
into her eyes.

	"Well, you're certainly stuck on him!" Serena giggled.

	"I'm not!" Aurora insisted back. "I don't even know him!"

	"What's his name?"

	"I'm not going to tell you," a stubborn look came over her features.

	"Aw, why not?" Serena whined.

	"Because nothing will probably come of this. If tonight goes well, I'll
tell you, I promise."

	Serena continued to pout a little, but accepted that. "You know, you
remind me of someone."

	"Who?"

	"I don't know! But I'll figure it out. So, you're going out with him
tonight?"

	Aurora smiled and nodded her head yes, then glanced at the clock on the
wall. "Shoot! I need to start getting ready! Do you mind, Serena?"

	Serena grinned. "Nope! Can we get together Thursday for another
lesson?"

	"Sure," Aurora answered as she walked with her to the door.

	"See you later!" Serena called and waved over her shoulder as she
headed down the walk, Luna running up to pace her.

	"Well, did you have fun?" Luna asked as they cut through the park.

	"Yup!" Serena chirped. "I feel like I've known Aurora forever! And I
actually learned how to do a pirouette with out falling over or getting
dizzy. Watch!"

	She began a series of wobbly spins, but she didn't fall over or loose
her balance.

	"Very good, Serena," Luna's voice held a lot of praise.

	"Hey, Meatball-head!" A male voice called.

	"Oh no. Not him," Serena groaned as she abruptly halted her twirl.

	"What are you trying to do? Make yourself dizzier than you already
are?" Darien teased.

	"I'm practicing!" Serena retorted.

	"Oh? What?"

	"Pirouettes."

	"Pirouettes?" He looked puzzled.

	"You know, ballet!"

	"You're taking ballet?" His voice was full of amazement.

	"Why are you so surprised? Every girl should take a year or two to help
with her grace and poise!" Serena retorted, striking what she thought
was a regal pose.

	"Well, you certainly need all the help you can get!" His laugh was
meant to take the sting out of his words, but of course, Serena took it
wrong.

	"Oooh! Who asked you anyway!" And with that she stalked off, muttering
under her breath.

	Darien just shook his head as he watched her storm off. *Boy, talk
about being touchy!*
	

	Luna sighed to herself as she half listened to Serena's ongoing
muttered tirade, waiting for it to ramble to it's finish. It did, but
suddenly. Serena stopped dead in her tracks, her nose wrinkled and eyes
squinted in concentration. 
	
	"That's it!" She yelled.

	"What? What's wrong, Serena?"

	"I figured it out!" Serena crowed.

	"Figured what out?" Luna demanded.

	"Who Aurora looks like! She looks like Darien!"

	"You know, you're right," Luna conceded as she checked her own memory
of the girl.

	"A lot like Darien," Serena continued as she compared the two in her
minds eye. "Ooooh. That's like, too scary. They could be brother and
sister."

	"Don't be silly, Serena."

	"I didn't say they were! I just said they could be," Serena grouched as
she started walking again.

	"Oh, I stand corrected," Luna responded, her voice dripping with
sarcasm. *But the resemblance is remarkable...*


					***************


	Aurora checked her reflection in the mirror. *Still not bad.*

	She combed her fingers through her short bangs one more time,
feathering them more and wished again that she hadn't cut her hair so
short. It was great for ballet but didn't leave a lot to work with when
she wanted to dress up. But the head band she had made with five of the
white and yellow roses looked nice and added just enough elegance to
offset the simple yellow dress she had chosen.

	She had been a stupidly nervous on the way to the restaurant, feeling
very out of place in the expensive red Ferrari. But the dinner itself
had gone well, Maxfield keeping up an easy flow of conversation. She had
excused herself after he had ordered them coffee, wanting to freshen up.
She pulled her lipstick out of her purse. Just a touch up and she'd be
presentable again.

	Now that she thought about it, she seemed to be the one doing most of
the talking. He had asked all kinds of questions about her, yet hadn't
volunteered much about himself.

	"Well, we'll fix that," she told the Aurora in the mirror, then headed
back for the table.

	Nephlyte waited impatiently for Aurora to return. This was easier than
he expected. After last night he had decided that if she didn't have the
Imperium Crystal, she must know where it was. He had been studying this
human process called love and had come to the conclusion that if he
could make this girl fall in love with him, then when he asked for the
Imperium Crystal she would give it to him without a struggle.

	*Where was she?" He glared at the single red rose in the crystal vase
on the table.

	Then, unbidden, an image of Aurora flashed through his mind. He didn't
realize that his features softened a little as he wondered why it
pleased him that she was wearing his roses in her hair.

	"A penny for your thoughts," Aurora asked him as she slipped onto her
chair.

	"They were of you," he answered her.

	She lowered her eyes and blushed.

	"So, you where telling me about your father," he prompted as he reached
for the delicate coffee cup.

	"Uh-uh. You tell me something about yourself first," she smiled back.

	"Something about me. Well, what do you want to know?"

	"How about, what do you do for a living?"

	He bit back his hard, cynical laugh as he regarded her with his deep
blue eyes. "I'm a powerful Youma from another dimension, here to
spearhead an invasion."

	He had counted on her disbelief. What he hadn't expected was the effect
of her laughter. The clear sweet sound coursed through him like a shock
and left him feeling light-headed, like he did when he was joined with
the Starsong.

	*What was that?* he growled to himself.

	"No, really. What do you do?" Aurora asked again, her laughter spent.

	"What do you think?" He had to work hard to keep the snarl out of his
voice and his features pleasant.

	"Huum," she narrowed her eyes playfully at him as she took a sip of
coffee. "I think you where born into a wealthy family, have more money
than you know what to do with and are bored out of your mind."

	"You're right," he flashed her a dazzling smile, finally recovered from
whatever had just happened. "But not bored. Not tonight."

	He reached out and covered her hand with his own and squeezed it
gently. She looked down at their hands, then up at him, her eyes
sparking. He believed he had just about captured her heart.

	"What kind of music do you like?" He asked as he steered the
conversation back to her.

					***


	He took her hand to help her out of the car and kept it in his own as
he started to escorted her up the short walk to her door. Aurora tipped
her head back as she walked beside him to gaze up into the clear night
sky.

	"What are you looking at?" He questioned.

	"The stars. I've always loved looking at the stars," she sighed back.

	He stopped and looked up at the sky and the familiar patterns there
also.

	"They are perfect, aren't they?" His voice reflected his admiration.

	Aurora looked at her escort as he stood gazing into the dark sky. There
was a serenity to his face that she hadn't seen before that gave it a
noble, yet gentle cast as the light spring breeze moved his long auburn
hair gently. At that moment, he captured her heart. She leaned against
him a little and tightened her fingers around his own cool ones and
sighed happily. They stood enjoying the sky for a few minutes, then
Maxfield shook his head a little as if to clear it. He led her up to the
door and gave her hand a squeeze, then let her go. She took her keys out
of purse and unlocked the door.

	"I had a really nice time," she was all nerves again as she turned back
to face him.

	"I also," he suddenly looked as uncertain as she felt.

	"May I call you tomorrow?" *This is the part where I'm supposed to kiss
her, I believe.*

	He thought about that quickly. His own alliances with the females of
the Darkness where violent and passionate things. He would need to be
very gentle with this human girl.

	"Yes!" She enthused, then blushed. "Please," she continued, a little
more sedately, "I'd like that."

	"Good." It was time.

	He stepped in close to her and leaned down to give a gentle, chaste
kiss. Her lips were surprisingly hot against his own. He straightened,
touched her cheek with his fingertips.

	"Good-night, Aurora," he turned and headed back for his car.

	Aurora stood and watched him, waved as he opened the door. He had her!
He laughed as he revved up the big engine and sent it speeding on it's
way.  

	Aurora all but floated into the house. She laughed and began to dance,
her arte reflecting the joy in her heart.


				***************


	Serena couldn't wait to find out about Aurora's date.

	"I don't know why you are making such a fuss about this," Luna sighed
as she trotted at Serena's side. "It's not like it's any of your
business, anyway."

	"Oh, Luna. Come on! It's so romantic! A guy rescuing a damsel in
distress, sending her flowers..." She went off into a day-dream about
Tuxedo Mask.

	"Serena!" Luna snapped and pulled her out of her reverie.

	"What?" She whined, annoyed that her day-dream had been halted. *And
just when it was getting to the good part, too!*

	"We've gone past Aurora's house."

	"Oh!" Serena giggled and blushed as she turned and started to
back-track. "Silly me!"

	Luna shook her head and sighed.

	"Hi, Serena," Aurora greeted her as she opened the door.

	"So, tell me everything!" Serena demanded as she came in.

	Her exuberance faded a little as she took a good look at her friend.
"Are you all right?"

	Aurora quirked one eyebrow up at her and smiled. "I look that bad,
huh?"

	"Well, no, I didn't say that...you just look tired," Serena apologized.

	Aurora gave a little laugh. "I just didn't sleep very well last night,
that's all. I'm O.K., though. Really."

	"And why didn't you sleep well?" Serena asked slyly. "Head full of
dreams of your new boy-friend?"

	"Something like that," Aurora replied with a little frown as she led
them toward her room.

	Serena wasn't sure what to make of that answer.

	"So, it didn't go well last night?" She tried again.

	"No, it was wonderful!" Aurora's dreamy smile erased all of the signs
of tiredness from her face.

	"So? So?" Serena all but quivered with impatience.

	Aurora laughed again.

	"After we practice," she teased.

	"You are being mean!" Serena said with a pout.

	"No. I'm giving you incentive," Aurora grinned back. "So, go change."