Justification is in Order
By Lunari
Part III
Luna licked carefully at her stitches, being careful not the
pull at any of the strings. She'd tried it after being released
from surgery and the pain it induced was enough to insure she
wouldn't do it again. Luna stared at the very sparse
surroundings that would serve as her home for one more night.
The veterinary clinic wasn't much when it came to interior
decoration and Luna found herself actually missing the
technicolor pink of Serena's room.
Thinking of Serena made her depressed. She was the girl's
guardian, for mercy's sake, and should be around her at all
times. Why did Mrs. Tsukino suddenly feel it was necessary for
her to be taken to the vet? The cut she'd received was old, and
just hadn't healed properly, that's all. And so what if she'd
been too active and broke it open again? Why did that doctor
have to go and shave a large section of her coat to probe under
her skin with that cold instrument and then stick her with enough
needles to impale someone on?
It wasn't bad enough that she was incarcerated and stuck in
the small cage in a back room of the clinic, but from what she'd
gathered from Mina and Artemis, Serena had decided to take some
*liberties* while she was gone.
"What?" she'd said after Artemis had made a reference to his
conversation with Darien. "What did you say?"
Artemis made a face. "Well, Luna," he said. "It seems that
Serena has been a little more ... affectionate with Darien while
you've been here."
Luna felt her jaw slacken. "I can't believe her!" she said.
"That girl is only fifteen years old! She shouldn't even be
thinking along those lines let alone acting on them!"
"I don't think she knows, Luna," Mina said. "I mean, if she
knew she was driving Darien bonkers, she'd probably stop."
"But why doesn't he just tell her?" Luna asked, still sore
from her surgery.
Artemis almost laughed. "How easy do you think it is to
explain the intricacies of male hormones to someone like Serena?"
"Last I heard," Mina said. "They weren't that intricate."
Artemis looked at her with a shocked, hurt expression. Mina
shrugged. "Well, what do you think I do at the mall? Sit around
and think about school? I know how to flirt and so does Serena."
"Yes, but this is beyond flirting," Luna said. "I trust
Darien a great deal, but the fact of the matter is he is an adult
male and Serena is a teenaged female. Their genders as well as
their ages make their arousals different. If Serena isn't
careful, she is going to push Darien over the edge."
"Do you honestly think Darien would ..." Mina let her
sentence trail.
"Oh, I don't know what I think!" Luna cried. "I still have
painkiller in my system!"
"Easy, Luna," Artemis calmed. "Darien was the one who
talked to me about this. He doesn't want to take advantage of
Serena ... well he does, but that's why he talked to me. He
wants to make sure he doesn't put Serena in a bad position."
Mina giggled and Luna glared at her.
"Anyway," Artemis growled. "He said he'd try to make sure
they weren't in ... a bad situation," he said with a look to
Mina. "I think we can trust that he'll keep his word."
Luna sighed, resting her head against the metal bars of her
cage. "I hate being away from Serena like this," Luna said.
"That's why I'm here, to make sure she doesn't get herself into
trouble."
Artemis put a paw on her head affectionately. "We know," he
said, smiling at her. "And you've done a dynamite job so far."
Luna scoffed. "Dynamite? When I'm around her, Darien
either can't remember who she is, or else breaks up with her.
And when I'm gone? She's seducing him!"
"Luna," Artemis said. "It's not like that at all."
"You're right," Luna sighed. "I'm just worried about her,
that's all."
"Well, she's in good hands," Artemis said. "Uh-"
Mina started giggling again.
Luna closed her eyes. "Good-bye Artemis," she mumbled as
sleep started to claim her.
She felt a furry warmth by her face and by the time she
opened her eyes, Mina was carrying Artemis out of the room. She
stared at the feline as they went, and she swore she saw him wink
at her ...
Luna settled herself down on the terrycloth blanket
underneath her. Her stitches pulled slightly and she winced.
"While the cat's away," Luna muttered, setting her head down
between her paws. "Oh Serena, please don't get yourself into too
much trouble while I'm gone."
***
The officer was definitely cute. But Serena didn't care to
dwell on that as she gave her small testimony to the uniformed
man. Images of Reenie running scared through dark alleys,
falling into deep holes, being chased in the night, and screams
piercing the air filled her mind.
She wanted to run, to transform into Sailor Moon and beat
the living crap out of anyone who hurt Reenie, to scream in the
face of the officer that he should find Reenie, to strangle her
mother for letting it happen, to yell at Luna for not being here,
to do *something* other than sit and wait.
The moment she'd arrived with Darien and Raye, her mother
had started crying, grabbing Serena in her arms and holding her.
Serena tried to ask what had happened, it took several attempts
on her mother's part and eventually the intervention of the
detective to inform Serena that the house had been broken into,
her mother attacked, and Reenie taken.
Her mother wasn't hurt, neither was Sammy, but somehow the
kidnapper had managed to break down the door and make it into
Serena's room before her mother came after him with a frying pan.
All her mother remembered was hitting him, after that, nothing.
Sammy said that he was playing video games in his room when he
heard his mother screaming. He came running in and saw her
laying on the ground with some guy standing there, and then
nothing.
Reenie, as Serena found out, had returned with Lita an hour
earlier and had fallen asleep on the couch. Serena's mother had
taken her up to Serena's room for a nap, and was cooking dinner
when the attacker came.
Serena's dad wasn't home yet, but the police had called him
after they'd received the 911 from Mrs. Tsukino. The kidnapper
hadn't left any evidence other than the door which appeared to
have been kicked in. There was no ransom note, no nothing.
Serena had backed up against Darien during the tale, feeling
his hands on her arms. The detective wanted Serena to stay home,
and Serena could only watch as Darien and Raye were ushered out
the door. Serena hadn't found an opportunity yet to use her
communicator, and was having trouble listening to what the
officer was telling her.
"And so the telephone will be monitored," the officer was
saying. "So you should try and keep the line free in case the
kidnapper calls."
Serena nodded numbly, her knuckles turning white as she
gripped the seat of her chair. She saw an image of Serenity,
herself from the future, and figured the queen was probably
feeling the same way.
***
"We should try and lure the kidnapper out by appearing as
the senshi," Lita said, pounding her fist on the tabletop.
"Whoever took her did because of her affiliation with Sailor
Moon."
"Lita," said Raye, motioning with her hands to quiet down.
"There is a possibility that someone saw Reenie, thought the
Tsukino's were slightly wealthy, and kidnapped her for money."
"Or," Mina said, resting her chin on her hands. "I was just
some pervert that broke into the house for kicks and took Reenie
for the heck of it."
"Don't forget," Amy said, her slate-blue eyes looking to
Raye. "That whoever broke into the house went directly to
Serena's room."
"And maybe he saw Reenie and thought he'd make a fast buck,"
said Raye.
"But the kidnapper came to the house for a reason," said
Amy.
"Yeah," Lita said. "Because Reenie's always around the
Sailor Scouts."
"Not necessarily-"
"But I think-"
"Some hentai-"
"You don't understand-"
"Wait a second-"
Darien looked past the debating school girls to Queen
Serenity. She was sitting completely still, her back straight,
her shoulders broad. Darien watched as each of the girls'
comments made the queen's grimace grow deeper and deeper.
Finally, Darien pulled himself over beside her.
"Are you alright?" he asked, looking into her eyes.
She sighed, blinking. "Not particularly," she answered.
"Maybe we should ask Greg for help," Mina said. "Right,
Amy?"
Amy closed her mouth and blushed a deep crimson.
"Uh-oh," Mina gulped.
Darien closed his hand over Serenity's fist, feeling the
tension in her knuckles. She shuddered slightly, opening her
hand. Darien squeezed her fingers, smiling at her. "I promised
you I'd find her," he said softly in her ear so only she could
hear. "And I never go back on my word."
"I know," she replied, saying more than Darien would even
hope to understand.
***
Something was watching her.
Reenie wasn't sure how she knew that. But something inside
her told it for certain. She opened her eyes to look and saw
nothing but darkness. Shivering, Reenie reached for her Chibi-
Moon wand. Her tiny fingers brushed against her time key around
her neck, but found no transformation pen. Reenie sat and shook
for a few moments, trying not to cry.
When the trembling settled, she groped through the
unfamiliar world around her. It was too dark to see and her
little fingers were brushing across wooden floor when she felt
something flat and rubbery. Reenie closed her hand over the
object and dragged it closer to her. It felt like a piece of
innertube and Reenie tugged it onto her lap where she could focus
on it better.
When the deflated rubber was on her folded legs, she
squinted at it, trying to make her large red eyes see in the inky
blackness. Her hand brushed over the object, and she heard a
clicking noise. Two semicircles began to glow on the rubber
surface, like television screens only picking up snow. From the
light the two screens reflected, Reenie could see color and
outlines on the object.
It was her Luna Ball, beaten and deflated, it's antennae
snapped in half.
Reenie opened her mouth and screamed.
***
Light arched through the sky in a reverse lightning bolt the
color of fear. Serenity felt it even before she saw it. She
jumped up, her knee banging on the underside of the table, nearly
making her fall back down as she stood. She whirled around, her
hair whipping the air and looked out the window, seeing the
blazing shock of light as it burned in the heavens.
The Senshi saw the beam, and four incantations and a
magickal rose later, Serenity found herself running along side
Sailor Mercury. The Mercury senshi had activated a scanner over
her eyes and was typing at a small computer that fit in the size
of her palm. Up ahead, Sailors Jupiter and Mars lead the six-
person charge, with Venus bringing up the rear behind Tuxedo Mask
who was very close to Serenity as she ran.
"I think I've gotten a lock on Reenie's moonbeam, guys," Amy
called. "It looks like Reenie's somewhere in the shipping
district."
"By the docks?" Lita called back.
"Yes," Amy answered. "Probably in one of the warehouses."
"Ugh," Mina grunted from behind. "I've had my fill of
warehouses!"
Serenity didn't understand the statement, and ignored it as
she felt Reenie's scream again. Her pace slackened a moment, and
then she felt a pair of hands on her arms; Darien was behind her.
Once again, she felt his touch raising the hairs on her skin.
But it was the sound of her daughter, no, the feel of her
daughter's fear that made her heart beat faster.
***
Serena saw the moonbeam outside the large picture window in
the family room. She could feel Reenie calling her and her star
locket growing warm inside her shirt. Her mother was once again
telling the detective about the attack, and Sammy was sitting
very still in the large chair across from her. Serena's father
had arrived home a few moments ago, and was clinging to his wife,
listening to the account.
Serena sneaked towards the stairs, hoping no one would
notice her departure as she went to use her communicator. She
heard Sammy's voice softly calling to her.
"What is it, Sammy?" she asked, looking out the window
again.
"I'm ... scared," he said simply; uncharacteristically.
Serena looked down at her brother and put her hand on his
shoulder. Serena bit her lip, trying think of something to say
to comfort her brother.
"Reenie will be okay," Serena said at last. "She can't be
hurt, she just can't be." Serena felt a sore spot in her chest.
"Get real, Serena," Sammy blurted. "Wake up from your dream
world! Reenie's gone and we have no idea where she is? You
should stop blabbering and do something to help!"
Tears had started streaming down Sammy's face as he raged,
and the boy climbed out of his seat and ran out of the room into
the kitchen. Serena watched him go, a lump forming in her
throat.
"I wish I could," she said, her hand clasped around the
brooch that dangled from a chain around her neck.
***
"She's in here, guys," Amy said, looking up at one of the
worn warehouses that lined the Tokyo docks.
"Are you sure," Lita asked, her back pressed against the
building, craning her neck to see through a crack in the door.
"Positive," Amy replied, her fingers tapping at the keypad.
"This is where the moonbeam originated. There are still residual
traces of the energy discharge.
"Will this be a frontal assault?" Mina asked, crouched down
low. Artemis was below her, trying to peek into an opening in
the woodwork.
"We don't even know if there's anyone in there," Raye said,
closing her eyes. "I can't sense anyone, but that doesn't mean
they're not there."
"Amy?" Lita said.
The blue-haired Senshi scanned the dock house with her
optical scanner. "I don't see anything yet," she said. "But
there is still a lot of interference what with Reenie's energy.
I can't even read her in there."
"Then let's go," Darien said, reaching into his coat and
pulling out a rose. "The longer we wait the more danger she's
in."
"I agree," Mina said. "Waiting around isn't going to get
her back."
"Then let's get ready," Lita said. "Raye, you and I will go
first, we're the strongest. Amy, you're next. Be ready to blind
someone if necessary. Mina and Darien will bring up the rear."
"Wait," said Serenity. "What about me?"
Mina looked to Lita, who gritted her teeth. "Your Majesty,"
she said. "It's too risky for you to put yourself in danger."
"And without any powers," Raye said. "You'd be pretty
helpless."
*Helpless?* Serenity felt her blood boiling.
"Please, Serenity," Darien said. "It's better if you let us
handle it."
Serenity frowned, her eyes shining with rage. She glared at
Darien, cursing the eyes that were hidden behind his mask. She
felt anger towards him like she hadn't felt in quite awhile.
`Imagine that,' she thought. `I'm angry at Endymion again.' She
bit her tongue and nodded. "I understand," she said. "I'll wait
behind."
Darien nodded his head, his hat bobbing at the movement.
Lita returned to the battle instructions and Serenity crept away,
finding a secluded spot behind some crates to wait without being
seen. She watched as the four senshi and Darien disappeared into
the building and listened to the eerie silence that ensued.
No cry of a frightened little girl. No blood-curdling
scream of battle. Not even a nervous cough. No, there was one,
but it was Serenity's throat that voiced it.
Serenity pressed her ear against the building, hoping to
hear something, then looked up and saw a grimy window a few
meters above her head. The queen clambered up on top of the
crates, and wiped her hands over the dirty glass pane. She
pressed her face against the glass, peering in.
It was so dark. Serenity squinted to see into the building,
when something began to glow. She heard the grind of machine
gears and then growl like an animal, but only worse. Serenity's
eyes widened as the creatures became visible, their metallic skin
glinting in the dark light.
Guardian Dragons.
Serenity tried to scream, tried to cry out to the Senshi,
but the resulting explosion shook the building and Serenity lost
her balance on the packing crates. She tumbled down onto the
ground, her face smacking against the crate's corner. Serenity
pulled her arms through the dirty ground underneath her and tried
to stand.
Another explosion rocked the warehouse, and she heard
something above her break loose. Serenity scrunched into fetal
position and covered her head as debris littered the area. A
wooden 2x4 with rusty nails sticking out of it barely missed her,
but the small chunk of cement didn't. Serenity felt the blow on
her hip and gasped, the pain waiting for a few moments before
shocking up her body.
Serenity lifted her head and heard the battle cry Raye would
shriek before launching a barrage of fireballs. Serenity dragged
herself upright as the fire roared towards it target. Another
explosion rattled the old building as the robotic Dragon
disintegrated.
Serenity frowned, then felt anger tearing up her insides.
"I can not believe you, Setsuna," she growled, turning to
face the dock. "How could you stoop so low?"
"I did what I deemed necessary to find you," Pluto answered.
She stood with her hair blowing in the breeze, her staff
reflecting the sunset in it's jewel. Serenity stepped towards
her.
"You found it appropriate to kidnap my daughter and put her
in danger," Serenity asked, hatred in her voice. "Just to find
me?"
"The princess is in no danger-"
"I *saw* the moonbeam, Setsuna!" Serenity interrupted, her
voice loud. "Don't try and tell me Reenie isn't somewhere,
frightened and alone."
"The moonbeam was necessary to lure you here."
"And what about the Dragons?" Serenity asked, pointing to
the warehouse and the battle sounds inside. "Was it `necessary'
to send those killing machines after the Senshi?" Serenity threw
her arms out for emphasis, yelling now. "Dammit, Pluto, they
could be killed!"
"The Dragons are set to a training mode," Pluto said. "The
Senshi shouldn't have too much trouble dealing with them."
"They've never fought them before!" Serenity shouted. "They
have no idea what they're dealing with!"
"Which should keep them occupied while I take you back with
me."
Serenity stared at Sailor Pluto. "Do you honestly think
that you'll have any more success in capturing me than you had
the last time?"
Pluto raised her chin. "Now that I have Reenie, you have no
choice but to come."
Serenity's mouth opened, but no words came out. Her hands
curled into fists and her voice shook as she addressed the
senshi. "Are you threatening me with my daughter's life?" she
said slowly, deadly.
"Yes," Pluto answered. "I am."
Pluto didn't even see Serenity coming until she found
herself falling to the ground. Her head hit the hardwood dock
and Serenity pinned her down with her own staff. There was a
flash of something metal and a pain bit into Pluto's neck.
Warmth trickled down her neck and Serenity's breath was hot on
her face when she spoke.
"How *dare* you?!" Serenity hissed. "I swear by everything
I hold dear, if you so much as lay your finger on my daughter,
I'll tear your throat out with my bare hands!"
Pluto gagged and tried to push against the staff holding her
down. Serenity pressed her knee against Pluto's arm, her knife
cutting deeper.
"*Where is my daughter?*" Serenity spat, and Pluto wrenched
herself to the side and pushed.
Serenity tumbled off Pluto, letting go of the time staff.
Pluto grasped the staff and plunged it down towards the queen.
Serenity rolled out of the way, the staff splintering the wood
underneath. Serenity grabbed the scepter and swept her legs
around, impacting with Pluto's.
The time senshi fell back to the ground with a grunt and
ducked, narrowly avoiding Serenity's strike with her staff.
Pluto tangled her legs around Serenity's and kicked with enough
force to break bone. Serenity cried out and hit the ground hard,
losing her grip on the staff. She grabbed at her blade and
arched her blow towards Pluto, a scream ripping from her throat.
Pluto caught Serenity's arms before the knife could descend
into her chest, and struggled against the force behind it.
Serenity pushed down harder, bringing the edge of the knife
closer and closer to Pluto's forehead. Pluto's arm began
trembling and her muscles burned in her shoulders. Serenity
grunted and heaved against the blade.
Pluto yanked the knife past her face and kicked at
Serenity's stomach. The queen went flying over her head and
tumbled over the dirty ground, the knife still clutched in her
hand. Pluto scrambled to her feet, grabbing up her staff. She
charged at Serenity, ready to open the time gate.
The knife flashed in the sunlight, and blood splattered the
wooden docks.
Serenity gasped out loud, feeling warm blood on her hand.
Pluto pushed her gloved arm against her stomach, and it came back
crimson. She jammed her fist against the laceration, her eyes
narrowing at Serenity.
Serenity closed her mouth and squeezed the knife's hilt.
"Where is my daughter?" she demanded, her voice chill like
the night air.
Pluto pulled her staff upwards, summoning the time gate.
"In a place you will never be able to find her without me."
"DAMN YOU, SETSUNA!" Serenity screamed, hurling the knife at
the senshi. Pluto ducked into the portal, the whirlwind closing
around her. The blade passed through the spatial rift and
clattered against docking crates.
Serenity's knees hit the wooden dock and she bowed her head,
her face against the floor. "God damn your soul to hell," she
whispered. "And mine with it."
Serenity crawled over towards the warehouse, hearing the
sounds of battle growing dimmer. She picked her knife up from
behind a crate and saw Pluto's blood glistening on the edge. She
wiped the blood off on her pants and returned the knife to it's
sheathe in her boot. She leaned against the crate and closed her
eyes, listening as the Senshi's attacks finished of the last of
the robotic dragons.
Sleep beckoned, it's call buzzing in her temples. Serenity
felt herself slipping away, out of this time, out of this world,
back to a place where she could feel her husband by her side and
watch her daughter play in the shade of a cherry blossom tree.
The world she had fought and killed for. The world that had been
stripped away from her and wrapped up in a package for a younger
version of herself to enjoy. The world she might never see
again.
It had been pried from her fingers slowly, starting with the
Black Moon Family and their attacks, which of course grew to
Reenie being sent into the past, the Death Phantom, and
Endymion's state of health. After the threat had passed, her
decision to send Reenie back into the twentieth century helped to
further separate her from her world. But every day that Endymion
couldn't leave the healing field of the laboratory drew upon
Serenity's strength, stretching her closer to a breaking point.
The Senshi had taken it upon themselves to lighten
Serenity's work load, postponing over-seas tours, cancelling
balls and formal events, shortening the time she spent in court,
even scheduling time for the queen to visit with Endymion's
shade, if not but for a moment.
But Serenity knew she had been getting worse. The violent
nightmares were becoming a constant, as were the erotic dreams
about her husband that could be considered nightmares as well.
Serenity was always tired, always stressed. If anything could
have broken her in two, it would have been Endymion's death.
Instead she received the next worse thing; his coma.
Serenity could remember the way she had stared at her
husband's face, and the anguish she had felt not even being able
to touch him before bidding him farewell as she left for her
audience with Sailor Pluto. Her world was crumbling in her
hands, she had to preserve it. She was the Queen, it was her
duty.
Something shook her violently from her dream, the glowing
spires of Crystal Tokyo turning to sharp, violet eyes that stared
into her very soul. Serenity blinked, it was darker now, the sun
farther down it's path than when she'd last opened her eyes.
Raye was in front of her, rousing her from her sleep. Beyond her
stood the other three Senshi, Darien, and an unconscious, white
feline draped over Mina's shoulders.
"Are you alright, your Majesty?" Raye asked, having stopped
shaking the queen's shoulders. Serenity nodded to her, feeling a
dryness in her throat that might not allow speech yet.
"Were you attacked by one of those ... things?" Lita asked,
her white gloves faded over her knuckles. Serenity thought of
her fight with Sailor Pluto, and decided against informing the
Senshi of the truth.
"Yes," she answered, her voice strained.
Raye moved her hand down to Serenity's leg were Pluto's
blood was smeared. "Did one of them cut you?" she asked, her
hand pressing against the sore spot on her hip where the cement
chunk had hit her. Serenity winced and Raye motioned to Amy.
"I think you better have a look at her leg," she said.
Serenity shook her head, her hair whisping into her vision.
"No," she said. "The blood's from another cut. I'm
alright, really."
Amy looked up at her, not believing her.
"The crystal will heal me," Serenity said. "It's what keeps
me alive, remember?" In the back of her mind a tiny voice
sounded. `If you had brought it with you, that is.' Serenity
had left the Ginzuishou back in Crystal Tokyo, fearing that in
her absence someone might attack and the city would not be under
it's protection.
Amy frowned, then sighed. "Alright," she said, and then
added a phrase Serenity had heard hundreds of times. "But take
it easy, your Majesty."
Serenity looked to Darien. "Reenie?" she asked, hoping
against hope that they had somehow run into Sailor Pluto and
stolen back her daughter.
Darien shook his head. "Not a trace of her," he said.
"I'm sorry, your Majesty," Lita said. "But it looks like
this was a trap to catch us and Reenie was bait."
Serenity didn't have to feign sorrow, but hers was for a
different reason than that which Lita voiced.
"Which brings up the subject," Mina said, her hand stroking
over Artemis's fur. "What do we do now? Reenie's still missing.
We know that she was here long enough to use her moonbeam, but
now she's gone."
"We need to fill in Serena on everything," Raye said. "I'll
take care of that tonight."
"Whoever it was," Serenity said. "That used Reenie's
moonbeam will likely use it again to get our attention."
"Right," said Lita. "So I guess we wait until they make
their move."
"Which means," said Amy. "That we should all go home and
get some sleep. I don't know about you, but those robot-things
took a *lot* out of me."
"Me, too," Mina said.
"Same here," Raye said. "But someone needs to take Serenity
home." The Mars senshi helped Serenity to her feet. "I can't
trust Chad and grandpa not to notice her."
Amy bit her lip. "My parents probably already know about
the kidnapping, and wouldn't believe me if I tried to pass her
off as Serena. I'm sorry."
"Mina?" Raye asked. "Your folks are out of town."
Mina sighed, looking at Artemis. "Guys, I know this sounds
bad, but I really don't trust her."
"What?"
"I mean," Mina said. "That I just don't think it makes
sense that Neo-Queen Serenity would come back in time to find
Reenie, and then just by coincidence we get waylaid by the
refrigerators from hell. Sorry. She's got no place with me."
"Lita?" Raye asked, noticing Serenity's look of anguish.
Jupiter shook her head. "No," she answered. "I have to
agree with Mina on this one." Jupiter looked to the queen. "I
just don't think it figures, either."
"I'll take her."
Serenity froze. How did she know it would wind up being
Darien? She looked over at the young man, the colors of the
sunset reflecting over his cape. He removed the blossom from his
lapel, and the tuxedo costume evaporated into his normal shirt
and jeans.
"She'll be fine with me," Darien said walking over to her.
"And I actually trust her." This statement was bitter, and
directed towards Lita and Mina.
Raye nodded. "Fine then," she said. "We'll meet at the
temple tomorrow morning to discuss things with Serena."
Raye concentrated a moment and her sailor fuku burned off
her body, reverting to her purple sweater and slacks. She set
her hand on Serenity's arm a moment, looked her in the eyes, then
left. Amy followed suit with her transformation and took off in
a different direction. Lita and Mina left towards the south,
leaving Serenity and Darien.
"This way," he said, motioning for her to come. Serenity
pulled her strength together and took a step. When her foot
stumbled and her knee buckled, she tried to cover it up. The
next step was about as successful, and Serenity prayed she could
at least make it to Darien's apartment.
***
The sun was burning in the west before them, and Serenity
couldn't help but notice the darkness growing behind. The night
carried a razor chill that cut through Serenity's shirt and
raised goosebumps on her arms. The sound of her feet hitting the
ground sounded to her the repetitive message, "Why? Why? Why
did Pluto take Reenie? Why didn't Mina believe her? Why
couldn't she keep this charade up? Why? Why?"
Something grabbed her arm and Serenity jerked. Her eyes
flicked around and she realized she had lost her balance and had
nearly fallen, and of course Darien had caught her before she
did.
Klutz.
"Are you alright?" Darien asked. Serenity hated being asked
that question. She hadn't been alright since the Senshi had
locked her in that protective crystal months ago.
"I'm fine," she answered, a phrase that had grown into a
habit since the same time. Serenity pushed her feet back into
the proper position and started walking again.
It was very hard.
When stars Serenity saw began dancing in her vision, she
realized her klutz-up had actually been a fade-out. Serenity
sighed, trying to wake herself up. `I can make it if I can stay
awake,' she thought. Her foot overstepped, and she had to grab
onto Darien again before falling.
`Oh, come on!' she heard herself whine in her mind. `You
can't give up now! You're so close, don't lose it here. Not
like this, not in front of Darien.'
"Hold onto me, your Majesty," Darien said. "We're almost
there."
Serenity didn't want to touch him because she *wanted* to
touch him, but held onto his arm anyway. Her eyesight was
becoming dimmer and her legs were beginning to go numb. Serenity
felt Darien turning her down a corner and she followed, a warm
feeling creeping over her shoulders that didn't feel particularly
nice. The noises of the evening street were fading, but she knew
they were still beside the road.
Then, the world turned under her feet and the sky overcame
her vision. Her limbs went completely limp and she had the
sensation of falling again. She couldn't move and didn't care.
Darien caught her and scooped her into her arms. She tried to
say something but her words died on her lips and came out
sounding like a cross between a groan and a sigh. He said
something to her but she couldn't make it out. Spots paraded
across her eyes and her hip burned where it had been bruised.
Consciousness returned to her while Darien was struggling to
unlock the door of his apartment. She tried moving her arm to
help, but the signal from her brain only reached her fingertips,
which flicked slightly as Darien pushed the door open. She felt
herself being carried into the apartment, and then it hit.
Everything was Endymion.
The smell of the room, the feel of his arms under her, the
muted colors that swam in her vision, and the rose stalks she
could make out sitting in a small vase by the door. The only
thing missing, other than perhaps one of his royal robes draped
over a chair, was her. She couldn't sense herself in him, in
this apartment like she could, like she had in the future. But
for the first time she could actually *feel* him with all her
senses.
Serenity was laid down upon something soft, his bed, and her
head rested against his pillow. She rubbed her face against the
surface, breathing him into her lungs. She had done this shortly
after the Dark Moon Family crisis had been resolved, when she had
needed something to remind her of Endymion. His scent was gone
from his pillow back home, but here, it positively reeked.
Serenity smiled, and wrapped her arms around the pillow the
way she had that night, her tears soaking the down feathers
inside. Serenity sighed, stretching herself on the bed, and
opened her eyes.
"Oh gods," she muttered. "What am I doing?"
Serenity pulled herself upright, shaking off the painful
memories clinging to her like a stench. `Being here with him
will only make it worse,' she thought, moving her legs over the
side of the bed. `Pluto was right. I'll just wind up hurting
him if I stay.'
Serenity looked out to where Darien had left after setting
her on the bed. `How to tell him?' she thought. `He has no
idea. Maybe I should just tell him the truth, that Endymion is
dying in the future? And that being here with him again is just
driving me crazy.'
"No," she spoke out loud. "He deserves better than that."
As if on cue, Darien returned to the bedroom with a small
towel in his hands. He saw her sitting up and frowned.
"You should lay down," he said, coming over to her. He
pushed her legs back onto the bed, barely touching the knife
hidden underneath the folds of her pants. Serenity, while afraid
he would find the blade, felt the sensation to be very pleasing,
and tucked her legs back onto the bed as requested. Darien sat
on the edge of the bed, leaning over and placing his improvised
ice-pack next to her hip.
"You should hold that there," he instructed. "Or else it
will swell up and bug you all night." Darien looked up and
noticed Serenity was staring at him, her china-blue eyes very
large and very close to him. "Uhm ..." he muttered. "Does, ah,
anything else hurt?"
Serenity looked away. `No, no, no! Don't lose it now!'
But the tears were filling her eyes and she felt a sob rising in
her throat.
Darien squinted his eyes at her. "Your Majesty?" he asked.
"What's wrong?"
Serenity knew if she looked at his face, into his eyes that
were concerned for her safety, she would not be able to control
herself. She stared at the pillow beneath her and felt the tears
rolling down her face.
So did Darien. Serenity shuddered as she felt his fingers
brushing against her face, catching the tears. He withdrew when
she pulled away from his hand.
"I'm sorry," he said. "Does that hurt?"
"No," she answered, slowly turning to face him. "Actually,
it feels quite nice."
Darien smiled, then frowned, then felt his hands growing
sweaty.
"It's just that," she started, looking at her hands instead
of his face. "I, well ..." Serenity sighed, and gave up. "I
haven't felt Endymion's touch in a long time."
Darien could almost hear the cannon ball leaping into his
stomach. He swallowed, his throat going suddenly dry.
"My Endymion is still suffering from the injuries inflicted
during the Black Moon attack," Serenity said, her heart
shuddering. "He hasn't been able to ... touch me for over half a
year."
Serenity suddenly felt very stupid. She scolded herself for
telling her emotional woes to Darien; he didn't *need* to be
burdened with the knowledge that he would one day become a
holographic shadow that was separated from his love. She was
foolish for thinking she could withstand being around him so much
after everything that had happened. And now she had hurt Darien.
A curse was forming in her mouth when his fingertips brushed
her neck. Serenity gasped softly, her skin tingling and
peppering with goosebumps. Darien ran his fingers up her neck
and across her face, following the lines of her cheekbones to the
back of her jawline and down again. Serenity closed her eyes,
her senses stretching out. She raised her hand to his head, her
fingers smoothing through the tangles of his coal-black hair, and
then stimulating the skin below his earlobe.
"Endymion," she whispered, and pulled him to her. Her lips
pressed against his and she kissed him gently. Darien kissed her
back, his body quantum leaps ahead of his brain. He felt her
passion grow in her kiss, something that wasn't Serena but
ultimately was Serena. Her body pressed again him and he could
feel her heartbeat.
She didn't so much as stop kissing him but drift away from
his lips. Serenity sat there a moment and then opened her eyes,
looking up into his face above hers.
Darien had a million reasons why he should stand up and
leave right now. He looked down at the queen, ready to tell her
one of them, and found himself staring into her eyes. They were
full of love, compassion, and a deep, longing desire for him and
only him.
And if Darien had any control still within him at that
moment, it all evaporated in her kiss.
End part III
