Hello, everyone.  It's me, Jendra, again.  Are you tired of me yet?  I know
many people have been waiting for Darien to come back and he finally did.
Standard disclaimers still apply, standard disclaimers will always apply you
know.  As always, C & C appreciated at Jendra@aol.com.  Thanks for writing,
Suzanne, (with me since Chapter Two) and I hope I finally wrote the scene
you've been begging me for.

Enjoy


Sailor Moon Universal

Chapter Eight  The Return of Darien


Tuesday passed quietly.  Although Serena didn't seem as sad and depressed as 
she had been the day before, she still refused to talk to Amy or Lita and 
spent the day close to Travis.  That afternoon, Travis, Serena and Reenie 
decided to go see how the arcade was doing.  

Serena got even quieter as they got closer to the place of her friends 
betrayel.  Even though she knew they were being manipulated, it didn't make 
the memories any easier to bear.  As they got closer, they saw a group 
gathered in front of the arcade.  Although they couldn't hear what was going 
on, Serena immediately saw Raye and Mina as part of the group.  Her steps 
got even slower, but Travis and Reenie were interested in what was going on 
and pulled her closer.  Then they were there. 

Andrew was in the middle of the group, obviously with some big announcement. 
He started to speak.  "Early this morning, as I was cleaning up, I got a 
phone call.  It was Darien.  He's alive and well.  He was trapped in some 
caves on Michael's property and just got out."

Andrew's news created a buzz among the people gathered around him.  He had 
seen Serena and Reenie join the group and was interested to see what their 
reaction would be.  Serena's face lit up.  She turned to Travis.  "Did you 
hear that?  He finally showed up.  I was really starting to get worried 
about him."

Raye and Mina were also watching Serena.  They saw the relief and joy in her 
face and heard her words to Travis.

"You mean, you knew he was alive?"  Raye asked without thinking.

"I knew he was alive."  Serena answered before she turned around and saw who 
was talking.  Then her face lost all expression as she looked at the two 
girls.  She turned back to Travis and started talking excitedly to him and 
Reenie as she obviously ignored the other two.  

Reenie was jumping up and down in delight as well.  "Will he be home soon?"  
She asked Andrew.  "We were really starting to wonder why he hadn't called."

"No, Reenie,"  he answered.  "He said he was going to stay for about another 
week."

"Thanks for the information, Andrew."  Travis called out as the three left.

Reenie piped up, "And tell him we miss him if he calls back, okay?"

"How did she know?"  Raye was asking Mina.  Mina didn't answer.  She was 
still watching Serena as she walked away.  *She wouldn't even look at us*  
she thought despairingly.

Travis and Reenie gradually noticed that Serena hadn't taken part in the 
conversation for a few minutes.  Reenie looked up at her face and then 
looked around to make sure no one else was in listening distance.  "Mommy?"  
she asked.  

"Yes, sweetheart?"  Serena responded absentmindedly.

"Why aren't you happier that Daddy's alive and not captured?"  Reenie asked.

Travis looked up quickly.  Serena didn't look all that happy.  In fact, she 
looked.. angry?  "Serena, what's wrong?"

"I was just thinking about Darien being okay and it suddenly hit me that I 
was mad at him."  Serena responded in a kind of shocked voice.

"Huh?  Why are you mad at him?"  Reenie asked, echoing Travis's thought.

"Look, all this time, he's been mean to me because he was trying to protect 
me, right?"  Serena said as she continued walking.  She didn't even wait for 
the others to nod.  "But he had no right!"  She turned suddenly and looked 
at them.  "His job might be to protect me, but he had no right to make a 
decision like that!  He made my life a living hell, to try to protect me.  
He never even tried to explain.  He might be my protector, but that is not 
the only thing he is to me.  He's the man I love, and I have the right to 
help decide something that would have this much impact on our relationship.  
'Our' relationship.  Not his alone."  She shook her head.  "I'm not making 
much sense, am I?"

"I think you are,"  Travis said slowly.  "He's been treating you more like a 
person too young to make important decisions than an adult who has the right 
to choose.  And it can't continue like that if you're going to have a 
meaningful relationship."

"I know I don't always act like an adult, or even a fourteen year old, but 
how can he truly love me, as the woman he wants to marry, if he thinks of me 
as a child?  I just wish he could feel what I felt, at least for a little 
while.  Of course, now I am acting like a child, wanting revenge for a 
slight."  Serena slowly turned around and started walking again.

"She's right, he has been really mean to her.  He didn't have to be 'that' 
mean."  Reenie said quietly to Travis.

"I think it would do her a world of good to be able to get her revenge on 
him like that."  Travis said thoughtfully.  "After all, he does deserve it."

"I suppose, as long as its not too bad."  Reenie said.  She loved her father,
but she was the one who had had to watch as Serena cried herself to sleep 
after another fight with him.  She had seen how much her mother had been 
hurt by it all.  "What should we do?"  Reenie said, dragging Travis to catch 
up with Serena.

"What do you mean?"  Serena asked, after she was shocked out of her thoughts.

"We agree, Daddy needs to be taught a lesson.  So what are we going to do?"  
Reenie said.  

"I don't think we really need to do anything."  Travis said thoughtfully.  
"Most of the people around here think that you're my girlfriend and we're 
not planning on telling anyone the truth for another two weeks.  So why 
don't we just let him believe the same thing everyone else is.  If you 
think the jealousy will be enough of a revenge."

"What makes you think he would be jealous?  Maybe he really doesn't love me
anymore?"  Serena said worriedly.

"If he went to all that trouble to protect you, then he still loves you." 
Travis said confidently.  "He'll be jealous.  Will it be enough?"

Serena thought about it for a long moment.  "If what he feels is anything 
like what I felt when I thought he had a new girlfriend then it will be 
enough."  She stopped and dropped to her knees.  "Are you sure about this, 
Reenie?  I don't want to hurt you."

"It's okay, I understand, and I think he deserves it too."  Reenie replied.  
"And..." she looked up at Serena for a long moment before continuing.  "My 
mommy always called me 'Small Lady'."

"Well, Small Lady,"  Serena said, gathering her into a hug.  "What do you 
think of going for an ice cream?  I could really use a triple hot fudge 
sundae."

"Sounds good to me,"  Travis said smiling down at the two.

"Me too,"  Reenie agreed, as Serena stood up and Reenie took their hands to 
continue on their way.


The next five days passed fairly quietly.  There were only two fights with 
droids and the Scouts managed to destroy one of them without any help from 
the Sailors of the Sun, although it did cost them a great deal of energy.  
In fact, it cost them so much energy that they were barely able to make a 
dent in the droid the next night.  

Sailor Mercury was already down when Sailor Sun and Sailor Sol got there.  
This time they didn't wait and watch, because it was obvious already that 
their help was needed.  The droid they were fighting was able to throw fire 
and all of the Scouts showed signs of being singed.  Sailor Mars was trying 
to fight fire with fire.  

"MARS CELESTIAL FIRE SURROUND!"  she called out, but the droid shrugged it 
aside.  

"JUPITER THUNDERCLAP ZAP!" was met with a ball of fire that caused it to 
explode far from the droid.  

"SOLAR FLARE!"  Sailor Sol called as he threw himself close to the droid.  
The droid noticed it was made mostly of fire and so didn't even bother 
trying to dodge.  The attack did manage to hurt it, much to its surprise, 
but not enough to disable it for even a few seconds.  

Sailor Mercury seemed to be the only one with a power that would seriously 
hurt this droid, but one look at her confirmed she wasn't up to it.  

"SOLAR CORONA WALL!" and the fire wall went up just in time to stop several 
balls of fire from hitting Venus and Jupiter.  Venus was trying to get up 
the power to attack again, but was having a hard time.  She along with most 
of the other Scouts were drained of almost all their power.  

While the wall was shielding two of the Scouts, Sailor Mars was outside of 
its influence and it soon became obvious that she was 'not' immune to fire.  

When Sailor Sun saw this she got mad and suddenly knew what to do.  She 
dropped the wall, fell to her knees and called out "SUPER".  She stretched 
her hands above her head and yellow flames glowed on the tops of her palms.  
Then she just sat there.

The droid looked at her in surprise, as did those Scouts who were able to.  
Even Sailor Sol stared at her, until her pose awoke knowledge in him.  He 
ran over to where she was kneeling.  As he ran he called out one word "NOVA".
Flames started curling around his hands as well.  He stood behind her and 
their hands grasped each other.  "ANNIHILATE!"  They screamed together.  
Flames, light and power poured from their joined hands at the droid.  Its 
immunity from fire allowed it to survive almost a second of the devestating 
barrage, before it became dust.  

Sailor Sol barely kept himself on his feet as Sailor Sun sagged to the floor.
They rested for a few seconds as Venus checked on Mars and Mercury and 
called out that they would be okay.  Sailor Jupiter came towards them.  
"Thank you." she said quietly.  "We would probably have been toast if you 
hadn't been here."  She looked around quickly.  "And if you see the Princess 
will you tell her I'm sorry?"

Sailor Sol nodded as he helped his sister to her feet.  They walked outside 
and disappeared.


Saturday Afternoon  The Tokyo International Airport

A young man of about twenty stepped off the plane, got his luggage and 
passed through customs.  He went to his apartment to drop off his luggage 
and get changed, then left to go for a run.  The long plane trip had made 
him stiff and he felt the need to work it out and remind himself that he was 
home.

As he was jogging to the park, he noticed a young woman he knew leaning on 
the top of the wall looking down.  He stopped to speak to her.  "Hello, Amy."

Amy jumped, startled.  She turned around and stared for a moment.  "Darien?"

"You look like you just saw a ghost." he chuckled, remembering the last time 
he had said that.

Amy smiled slightly.  "I hear you almost were."  Then she remembered who she 
had been watching and turned to lead him away.  

He didn't take the hint, leaning on the wall to see what she had been 
watching so intently.  He almost smiled as he saw a young girl with 
meatball-like balls on her head *Serena* he sighed to himself, and another 
girl with pink hair and a floating ball.  *There's Reenie.  I'm surprised 
they're together.*  Then his face grew blank as he saw the young man they 
were playing with.  All that could be seen from up here was gold blond hair 
and a lithe body.  He and Reenie suddenly tackled Serena, and even up here 
he could hear her laughter as they tickled her.

He turned back to Amy and steadily asked "I take it that is Travis?"

"Yes, Travis Watson, he moved here about three weeks ago."  she said quietly.

"Why are you watching them from up here instead of down there?"  He asked, 
trying desperately to get the picture of 'his' Serena with this other boy 
out of his mind.

"I wouldn't be too welcome down there."  she said her voice sad.

"Why not?"  Darien asked, surprised, then he thought of something.  "Is it 
because of 'him'?"

It was Amy's turn to look surprised, until she understood what he was 
thinking.  "No, it wasn't anything he's done.  He's been nothing but good 
for her.  He's got her doing her homework, getting up on time and even 
becoming an A-B student.  Her parents love him, he eats at their house 
every morning when he goes to pick her up for school.  We think he's one 
of the best friends she's ever had.  And we're happy for her.  Because we 
can't claim that position anymore."

Darien tried to work through that speech.  The usually sensible Amy was not 
talking much sense.  What he got first, was that Travis was a really good 
influence on Serena and her parents liked him.  Then he realized what 
position Amy was talking about.  He decided to check and make sure he had 
understood her correctly.

"You're not her best friends anymore?"  he asked, completely shocked.

Amy shook her head, with tears threatening to burst forth.

"What happened?"  he almost yelled.

She turned to him suddenly and for the first time in a very long time, lost 
complete control of herself.  "I DON'T KNOW!" she shouted.  She tried to 
regain control, but wasn't able to.  This had been building for a week and 
she needed to let it out.  "It's just as if, once you left, all the traits 
that are so much a part of Serena started bugging us, all of us.  We started 
yelling at her during fights and blaming everything on her.  Then, last 
Saturday, last Saturday..." she trailed off.

"Last Saturday what?"  Darien asked as calmly as he could.  He knew it must 
have been bad from the way she was acting.  He had never seen Amy lose her 
cool like this before, and doubted that anyone else had either.

Amy took a deep breath.  "Last Saturday we told her that we didn't want 
Sailor Moon to fight with us anymore." she said in a rush.

Darien just stared at her for a long moment.  He shook his head as if that 
would shake some sense into what she had just said.

Once Amy started, she couldn't stop.  "We told her we were tired of having 
such a clumsy, whining coward as a leader.  That we were afraid she would 
get someone hurt because she was so clumsy.  Or because she was always so 
late to the fights.  She was late to that one by the way."  Tears were 
running down her face as she listed their crimes.  She turned to Darien 
again.  "She didn't cry,"  she said in a wondering tone.  "She just stood 
there and looked at us and asked if that was what we really wanted.  When 
we said yes she turned and walked away."

Darien could think of only one word to say.  "Why?"

"I 'don't' 'know'.  I've been trying to think of a reason and can't.  I 
mean, I know we were all a little jealous of the time she was spending with 
Travis, and I was jealous that he could get her to do things I couldn't.  I 
had tried to explain that math to her and she never understood, then he 
comes along out of nowhere and 'he' can make her understand."  Amy was 
starting to regain control of her emotions and think logically about the 
reasons.  Unfortunately, she still couldn't think of a good reason for them 
to do what they had done.  She had certainly been trying for long enough.

She turned back to look at the girl who had been her best friend.  Her first 
friend.  Darien leaned on the wall as well.  His face grew hard and pain 
flashed through his eyes as he saw Travis in front of Serena on bended knee, 
presenting her with a boquet of wild flowers.  It didn't help when he did 
the same to Reenie.  

Amy abruptly started speaking again and her voice was full of pain.  "Travis 
came to see us the next day.  I've never seen anyone so mad.  He said Serena 
was crying, and had cried herself to sleep the night before.  He said he had 
thought we were her friends, but we obviously weren't because friends don't 
hurt friends that way.  And that he wouldn't let us hurt her again, and for 
us to just stay away.  Artemis agreed.  Then he, Artemis, told us why she 
was late."  

At Darien's glance Amy explained what she had been doing.  His heart almost 
stopped in his chest when he heard about Serena's injury.  "She's okay, now, 
right?"  he asked concerned.

"As far as we can tell, she's fine.  She was favoring her side at the 
beginning of the week, but she's not anymore.  She's also not talking to us. 
Neither is Luna.  Or Reenie.  They're all mad at us.  But Serena did ask 
the Sailors of the Sun to watch out for us, so maybe she doesn't hate us as 
much as it sometimes seems."

"The Sailors of the Sun?"  Darien asked, too much information being given at 
once for his brain to assimilate.  He looked downward once more, only to jerk
his eyes back up, quickly.  Not quickly enough, for the sight of Serena and 
Travis lying next to each other while holding hands had imprinted itself on 
his eyes.

"Darien!"  A voice called out.  Reenie came running towards him with Luna 
Ball following after.  Darien bent down to pick her up and hug her.  He'd 
missed the little munchkin.  

"Hi, munchkin, how you doing?"  he asked.

"I'm fine."  she answered hugging him.  "I'm glad you're back.  We'd been 
starting to get worried when you didn't call, but then you did call, so 
everything was alright."  She pulled back to look him over, "Are you okay? 
What happened?  Why were you missing so long?"  she babbled question after 
question at him.  For a short time, his mind had nothing to worry about but 
answering her.

"Small Lady?"  A voice called out from below them. 

"That's Serena, I got to go.  I'm glad you're back.  I'll come visit one day 
when Serena and Travis want to be alone, 'kay?"  And she got down and ran 
off, all without having even looked at Amy.  And without apparently noticing 
the effect her last statement had had on Darien.

Amy looked at Darien sympathetically.  She had managed to get her emotions 
under control as he talked to Reenie.  She had seen the pain cross his face 
at Reenie's words.  "I'm sorry for breaking down like that."

"It's okay, Amy.  You needed that," Darien answered as his eyes followed 
Reenie to where Serena and Travis were waiting for her.  He saw her reach up 
for both of their hands and walk out of the park between them.  Serena never 
even looked back.

"I know it must hurt you to hear about him, but I'm glad he's with her."  
Amy said softly.  "It was three days before she laughed again.  She still 
looks depressed half the time and I'd hate to see what she'd be like if she 
didn't have them to lean on."

"I take it she's been getting along better with Reenie?"  Darien asked 
without looking at her.  He knew she could be very sensitive on occasion 
and didn't want her to see what he was feeling.

"Yes, much.  Come on, lets go sit down and I'll tell you what's been going 
on while you were gone, and all about the Sailor Suns."  Amy led Darien away.


That night as Darien lay in his own bed for the first time in three weeks, 
more or less, his mind kept replaying the images and conversations he had 
had today.  Serena and Travis lying next to each other on the grass, 
Reenie's voice saying she'll come over when they wanted to be alone, Travis 
on one knee before her, Amy's words about how good he was for her and how 
much her parents liked him.  He never noticed the tears running silently 
down his face as he remembered other times, when she loved 'him' and they 
knew they were destined to be together forever.  *It's my own fault,* he 
thought wretchedly.  *I wasn't here when she needed me, and he was.  After 
all the times I told her I didn't love her, I guess she found someone who 
did.*  "Why?"  he suddenly cried out, punching the bed next to him.  "Why 
did I believe those dreams?  Why couldn't I just talk to her instead of 
trying to handle it all myself and just hurt both of us?"

The night offered no answers, only a return of the nightmare.


Darien had a week left on his vacation, and he spent the next several days 
watching over Serena.  Each time he saw her impulsively hug or reach out to 
Travis was like a stab to his heart, but he couldn't keep himself from 
following her, trying to memorize her every move.  He saw them diligently 
doing their homework every afternoon, while Reenie played in the background. 
He watched as they joined a martial arts class and practiced in the park 
afterwards.  He saw how Travis was treated by the elder Tsukino's, almost 
like he was one of the family, and remembered his own dreams of one day 
being accepted by her family and finally having one of his own.  He was 
watching them shopping in the mall one day when he was accosted.

"If you want to know what they're doing so badly, why don't you join them?" 
a voice said from behind him.

He jumped and pivoted, only to see a large black cat standing watching him 
with amusement in her eyes.  

"Luna," he gasped, "you surprised me."  He flushed guiltily over being 
caught spying and Luna chuckled.

"I noticed.  Let me guess, you just came to see if you could take Reenie out 
for a while?"  Luna grinned as she gave him an out.  She, Artemis or Apollo 
had been watching him as he watched Serena and Travis.  They had reported 
his nightmares and spying and been asked to leave him alone, but Luna 
couldn't resist teasing him.

"Uh, yeah," he agreed quickly.  "I just came to see Reenie."  

"Well, come on, I'll take you down to them."  Luna said, turning to lead him 
down the stairs and out into the mall.  He followed, he didn't have much 
choice.

Reenie saw him first.  "Darien!"  she called.  Serena looked up quickly and 
relief flashed across her face before she hid it.  Travis looked up as well, 
interested in finally meeting the man he was supposed to love like a brother.

"Darien, I'm glad you're okay."  Serena said calmly.  "Travis, this is my 
ex-boyfriend, Darien Chiba."  Darien winced internally at that description.  
"Darien this is Travis Watson."  They shook hands calmly, neither looking 
the other in the eye.  Travis because he 'knew' him and the memories of 
their past were flashing across his mind.  Darien, because looking at this 
handsome young man who had the affection of the woman he loved was making 
him incredibly jealous, and he felt the urge to punch him for daring to move 
on his girl.  A girl he had given up all rights to when he broke up with her.
And knowing that just made him feel worse.

"I just came to see if Reenie wanted to do something."  Darien said, looking 
only at Reenie.  He saw her look to Serena for permission, something she 
never would have done before he left.

"It's fine with me.  Just bring her back to Travis's house before it gets 
dark.  She knows where it is."  She answered Reenie and Darien at the same 
time.

"Great!"  Reenie said, "What do you want to do?"

The two of them walked away, Reenie chattering about his trip and Travis.  
She was having fun telling him of Travis's house, guardian, falcon, and form 
of wake-up call.

Serena looked after them wistfully.  

"I know.  I miss him too."  Travis said.  Serena looked up to see him lost 
in thought.  "We never got to see each other much because he couldn't come 
to the Sun and I couldn't go to Earth.  The only times we had together was 
when we could both get to the Moon at the same time.  We three became 
inseperable."

"I'm glad I was a part of it."  Serena laughed softly.  She was glad the two 
most important people in her life at that time got on so well.

Travis draped his arm over her shoulders.  "Well, do you think he's suffered 
enough?"  he asked, smiling.  "I'd really like to get to know my blood 
brother better."

"I think that by the time Reenie gets through touting your praises, he will 
have."  Serena smiled as she thought of being reunited with the man she 
loved.  It had been all she could do to keep from throwing herself into his 
arms there and then.  "I miss him so much."

"I know, Sis, I know."  he said as he pulled her into a hug, hiding her wet 
eyes with his shirt.  They stood there for a long moment until she pulled 
back.  "Ready to go?"  She nodded.


Darien watched as Travis hugged Serena.  He saw the tenderness that was so 
obvious between them.  His heart was heavy in his chest as he turned to 
Reenie.  "They love each other, don't they?"

"Of course."  Reenie answered immediately.  She sounded as if that had been 
a silly question.  As Darien felt his heart start to break, she continued, 
"and they love me, and the Tsukino's and Uncle Jake and Luna and Artemis and 
Apollo and even the girls, though they're mad at them at the moment.  I bet 
they even love you.  Why don't we go ask?"  

Darien looked sharply at Reenie, she was grinning very slightly, trying to 
hide it.  He looked back at Serena and Travis.  He had his arm around her 
shoulders and she was leaning up against him as they walked.  "I don't think 
that would be a good idea, Reenie."  But it certainly gave him something to 
wonder about.

Darien and Reenie had left the mall and were walking downtown when they 
heard the screams.  "MARS CELESTIAL FIRE SURROUND!" came to their ears as 
well.  Darien hesitated, unsure what to do.  He jerked his head up as he 
felt...what?  It felt almost as though Sailor Moon was transforming, but not 
quite.  Reenie brought his mind back to their location.

"Go!"  she said.  At his uncomprehending expression she continued.  "They 
might need Tuxedo Mask there!  You should go help.  I know how to hide."  
She scampered off.

The droid they were fighting this time had the ability to redirect energy 
thrown at it.  Mars found this out when her fire attack was stopped two feet 
in front of the droid and sent back against Mercury.  She cursed internally 
as she heard her friend's screams.  

"JUPITER THUNDERCLAP ZAP!" Jupiter called out, hoping the droid's power only 
worked against fire.  But the lightning was thrown back and narrowly missed 
Mars.

"Maybe physical energy will get through."  Mercury said as she got painfully 
up.  "MERCURY ICE STORM SPLASH!"  and waves of cold water and ice flew at the
droid.  However the cold was a form of energy and was repelled.  

Venus jumped over the return attack even as she called out her own.  "VENUS 
LOVE CHAIN ENCIRCLE!" the physical manifestation did manage to get past the 
wall, but didn't do much harm.

The Sailors of the Sun were there as well, they had seen what had happened 
and decided immediately that using the solar flare would not be a good idea 
and while the supernova attack might destroy the droid, they couldn't take 
the chance that it would be able to send back most or all of it.  Sailor Sol 
pulled out his sword and got ready for a purely physical attack while Sailor 
Sun got her wall ready in case something went wrong.  Then a rose flashed 
through the air and into the leg of the droid.  Standing on top of a nearby 
lamppost was a man in a black tuxedo and cape and a white mask!  The other 
Scouts called out "Tuxedo Mask!"  Sailor Sun bit her tongue trying to keep 
her customary words of greeting from leaving her mouth.

"Sailor Scouts,"  Tuxedo Mask called out "Do not trap yourself into thinking 
that your magic is your only power."

Sailor Sol suddenly threw himself out of his hiding place and at the droid.  
The Scouts yelled at him to stop, thinking he was going to use Solar Flare.  
Instead he pulled out his sword and physically attacked.  "SUN SWORD SLASH!" 
he yelled as his sword split the droid almost in half.  Still it didn't die, 
and managed to throw him off and into a nearby wall.

"No!"  Sailor Sun yelled as she threw herself in front of Sailor Sol.  Just 
in time she managed to call out "SOLAR CORONA WALL!".  The energy beams 
disintegrated as they touched the wall.  Sailor Sun looked down at the boy 
she was protecting and her eyes blazed.  "You'll pay for that." she said 
quietly.  She pulled her wall in to surround herself in a column of fire, 
then threw herself at the droid.  The energy was far too physical for the 
droid to reflect it back and it backed away in fear as the rage filled Scout 
ran at him.  She suddenly jumped into the air and executed a perfect jump 
kick.  Her flame surrounded leg slammed into the droid's chest.  It couldn't 
withstand that amount of energy and disintegrated.

"Good going, Sailor Sun!"  the Scouts congratulated her as she helped her 
brother to his feet.

She looked up angrily.  "If you had treated your leader a little better, we 
wouldn't have to be here helping you and he wouldn't have gotten hurt." she 
snarled.  The Scouts looked down in shame as Sailor Sol looked at her with 
worry.  They left.

When the Scouts looked up, they realized they were alone, Tuxedo Mask had 
left as well.

Tuxedo Mask followed the Sailors of the Sun into an empty alley.  He stared 
down at them from a fire escape as they detransformed.  His eyes grew wide 
as he recognized the pair.

"Serena," Travis said quietly.  Serena looked down dismally.  "I thought you 
weren't mad at them anymore.  Why didn't you tell me?"

"You've had enough problems of mine to deal with, you didn't need this one 
too,"  Serena mumbled.

"I thought you'd forgiven them when you found out that the Wiseman had been 
influencing them through their dreams."  Tuxedo Mask caught his breath.  
*Influenced through their dreams?  Does that mean, he's been the one sending 
me those dreams?  If so, it was all a trick!  I can get her back and she 
won't be in danger!  But what about him?* his mind was brought back to the 
conversation below him by Serena's impassioned words.

"They meant it, Travis!  Maybe they normally would never have said it, but 
they meant every word they said!  How could that 'not' hurt?  Yes, I'm still 
mad at them!  And myself.  I should be able to forgive them for it, but I 
can't.  I can't forget how much they hurt me, and I can't forgive myself for 
that."  Serena refused to give in to the tears brimming in her eyes.

Travis took her in his arms and Tuxedo Mask clenched his fists in 
frustration.  It should have been him comforting her, not this new 
comer.  Travis started to speak and Tuxedo Mask tried to clear his mind 
to listen.

"You aren't a saint, Serena, and no one expects you to be.  I'm sorry that 
I didn't see how this was affecting you.  Maybe we should stop helping them 
for awhile."

"No!"  Serena almost shouted.  "Just because I'm mad at them, doesn't mean 
that I don't still love them.  They're my friends and my court, and I will 
not leave them to fight alone.  I just don't want you hurt."  She stopped 
and got control of herself.  "I'm sorry for dumping all of this on you, 
Travis."

"That's what I'm here for, Serena.  I will always be here for you.  I love 
you."

Serena smiled up at him.  "I love you too, Travis.  I don't know what I 
would have done without you these last couple of weeks."

"I don't plan on you ever having to find out, Serena.  I plan on being 
around for a long time."

Tuxedo Mask stood where he was for a long moment after they left.  He had 
heard the sincerety in their voices and knew in his heart that they had 
meant every word they said.  *She loves him* he thought as a tear dropped 
unnoticed to the railing in front of him.  *She's found someone who will 
stay with her.  I should be happy for her.*  "How could I have let myself 
be fooled by those dreams?" he called to the uncaring sky.  *After all I've 
done to her, I have no right to interfere with the happiness she's managed 
to find.* he thought as he jumped to the ground and detransformed, then 
slowly left to find Reenie.

Reenie was where he had left her.  She had been starting to get a little 
worried when he was late, and the worry didn't abate when she glimpsed the 
despair on his face at his return.  For the rest of their time together she 
didn't say a word about Travis for fear she would cause him more pain.

As it came time for Darien to take her back, his steps grew slower and his 
heart heavier.  He knew that it would probably be the last time he would be 
able to be close to the woman he loved.  He could not do anything to break 
up Serena's relationship with Travis without violating his own sense of 
honor and hurting her more.  And he refused to hurt her anymore than he had 
already.


Darien stared around at the mansion they were walking up to.  "This is 
Travis's house?" he asked in disbelief.

"Yep."  Reenie chirped as she took his hand and led him inside.  The inside 
of the house was more comfortable than the outside suggested.  Reenie led 
him towards the living room, where sounds of the TV could be heard.  "We're 
home,"  Reenie called out.  

Darien wasn't sure he wanted to go in there.  He didn't want to see the 
homey scene that was sure to be revealed, with Serena sitting next to Travis 
on the couch, but he could not resist the chance to see her one more time.  
He walked in.  Serena was sitting on the couch, but Travis was sitting on a 
chair at right angles to the couch and Darien breathed a sigh of relief.  He 
wasn't sure he could have taken seeing them together.

"Hi, Reenie, Hi Darien.  Have a good day?"  Travis asked pleasantly.  "Sit 
down, Darien and tell us what you've been doing for the week you were gone." 
Travis pointed at the spot next to Serena.

"No, that's okay.  But if you don't mind, I need to talk to Serena for a 
moment.  Alone."  Darien knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't leave without 
saying goodbye and explaining everything.

"All right."  Serena agreed, standing up and leading him towards another 
room.  It was the bedroom she used when she stayed the night, and she 
motioned him into a chair as she closed the door.  Neither noticed a black 
shape slip through the door crack and under the bed.  Serena closed the door 
and sat down on the edge of the bed.  She looked at him quizzically.  "Yes?" 
she asked.

Darien rushed in to what he needed to say.  "Look, Serena, I know you love 
Travis now and I'm not going to do anything to damage that, but I thought it 
was only right that you know why I did what I did."  And he started to 
explain the dream and his fears for her safety.  

She sat and listened quietly as he talked.  When he finished, she asked one 
question.  "Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"It wasn't your problem, it was mine."  He answered simply.

Serena looked at him for a long moment.  "You broke up our relationship over 
it and you say it wasn't my problem?"  she asked in disbelief.  "Maybe, for 
once, you should think about my problem with it."

"Look, Serena, I know how much I hurt you.  I never wanted to, but I had to 
keep you safe."  Darien's voice was almost begging.

Serena shook her head.  "You have no idea how much I was hurting, Darien.  I 
tried to keep it hidden, I couldn't let anyone else see."

"See what?"  Darien asked, confused.

"Whatever it was that you saw."  She answered softly.  "Look at it from my 
point of view, Darien.  A thousand years ago, Prince Endymion fell in love 
with Princess Serenity.  They were so much in love that she willingly 
followed him into death instead of living without him.  They were reborn 
and could barely stand each other.  Then we got our memories back and you 
loved me again.  The you were taken away and lost your memory.  I finally 
manage to heal you and you love me, for a few minutes, until you die.  When 
you live again, it's without your memory and you don't like me much.  You 
get your memory back, and finally, 'finally', we can be together and have a 
chance to get to know each other in our new incarnations.  And you don't 
love me anymore!"  Serena had tears in her eyes as she recites their 
relationship in a broken tone.  "What can I think?  But that you found 
something in me, 'me', Serena Tsukino, that you don't like, much less love.
Something that automatically made you stop loving me.  It had to be something
really horrible to make you stop loving me so abruptly and even leave town
to get away from me."

Darien's eyes were filled with horror as he realized what she had been 
thinking all this time.  What his unthinking quest to keep her safe had done.

Under the bed, Luna had much the same expression.  She could hear the 
self-loathing in Serena's voice, and could not believe that she had never 
noticed how hard this had hit her.

Darien opened his mouth to say something, but Serena wasn't finished.

"Once I figured all that out, I also figured that others might notice
whatever it was that you had seen, and they'd stop loving me too.  And 
that seemed to be exactly what happened.  They didn't like me anymore, and 
didn't even want to be near me.  Whatever it was about me had to be bad to 
drive all of you away."  As Serena spoke the last words, she looked up for 
the first time since she had begun.  This time it was her eyes that were 
filled with horror and shock at what she saw.  For the first time, she saw 
Darien cry.  His head was buried in his hands as he wept over the pain he 
had caused.  

Luna was in much the same shape, she wept as she realized how much she had 
failed to understand about the girl she loved like a daughter, how much pain 
she had been in that Luna hadn't been able to help, because she hadn't been 
sensitive enough to see.

Serena sprang off of the bed and over to Darien.  "I'm sorry, Darien, I 
didn't mean to make you cry.  I'm sorry."  Serena said as she pulled him 
into a hug.  "I shouldn't have told you all of that, I didn't really mean 
to make you feel bad.  I'm sorry."

Darien held on to her as tightly as she held on to him.  "I'm the one who's 
sorry, Serena.  I had no idea what I was doing to you.  I knew you would be 
hurt, but I thought it would be the best way to deal with it.  I didn't 
think I'd hurt you so bad, I never meant to hurt you.  I'm sorry, Serena.  I 
know you can never forgive me, but I'm so sorry."  Darien's voice was choked 
as he said these words.  Serena's next words took him by surprise.

"Of course I forgive you, Darien.  I love you."  

Darien looked up in surprise.  He gazed into her beautiful blue eyes for a 
long moment.  He had thought he would find them filled with loathing for 
what he had done.  Instead he found every bit of the love he had ever seen 
in her eyes.  He reached out slowly, as if afraid she would pull away or 
turn out to be nothing but a dream.  She leaned in to his touch with a soft 
sigh.

"Serena?"  he asked.  He wasn't sure quite what he was asking, but she knew 
how to answer.

"I love you, Darien.  As much as Serenity ever loved Endymion.  I do not 
want to live without you, my love.  It is barely a life worth living."  Her 
voice throbbed with sincerity.  It seemed she did still love him, even after 
all he had done.

His eyes shone with wonder and love as he looked at his princess.  "I do not 
know what I have done to deserve such a love, but I swear to you that I will 
make up for every moment of pain I have given you.  I love you more than I 
can ever tell you.  I am so sorry."  And slowly, hesitantly, still not quite 
sure this was real, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.  

They stayed that way for a very long time, both content to be together.  
Then, reluctantly, Darien remembered the boy in the living room.  "Serena?  
What about Travis?"  His eyes were filled with pain as he let her go, 
worried that reminding her of her other boy friend would hurt her.

Serena didn't seem the least bit hurt.  "Oh, he's probably listening at the 
door right now.  Isn't he?"  she called in a loud voice.

Travis laughed as he entered the room.  "I'm glad you two finally got that 
settled." he said easily.

"So am I."  Reenie agreed emphatically.

Darien got up slowly, looking at Travis.  Whatever he had expected, it was 
not this.  Travis seemed genuinely glad that he and Serena were back 
together.  Not exactly what was expected from a new boyfriend.

"Congratulations, Darien."  he said, going over to the older boy and taking 
his hand.  This time he looked him in the eye.  And Darien remembered.


It was about three months after he had met and fallen in love with Princess 
Serenity.  He was standing beside her out on the palace landing pad.  They 
were waiting, with all of the court, for the shuttle to settle and the ramp 
to come down.  Serenity was trying to stand still, but next to her Endymion 
could feel how she was fidgeting.  He was worried, although he was hiding it 
better than she was hiding her excitement.  He had heard how close she and 
Prince Tranquillity were.  He also knew of the bets going around.  Almost 
half of the members of her court believed that Serenity would forget all 
about him when the Prince came and he would go home mad at being ignored.  
Others believed that her deep love for him would make her forget about how 
close she and her brother were.  A closeness many of the court were not 
happy with, since the Sun Kingdom was only an ally, even if its King was 
also Royal Consort.  Serenity didn't seem to be forgetting either of them, 
however.  Her excitement was almost contagious as she waited for the shuttle 
to open, but her hand was still holding fast to his.

Then finally it happened, the ramp was down and a golden haired young man 
was springing down the rampway.  For once, Princess Serenity ignored 
formality and ritual.  Still holding Prince Endymion by the hand, she 
rushed towards him.  They hugged each other for a long time, but Serenity 
still kept hold of his hand.  Then she stepped back and introduced them.  
They clasped hands and stared each other in the eye.  At first it was 
slightly challenging on both their parts.  Then it calmed and respect grew 
as they took the measure of each other.  Later it was said that they stood 
there staring at each other for ten minutes as respect changed to friendship 
and went farther.  By the time they finally let go of each others hand, they 
were brothers.  A bond that was fufilled before they left by the oath of 
blood brotherhood.  


"Prince Tranquillity."  Darien said in shock.

"Prince Endymion."  Travis answered calmly.

Darien just looked at him, shaking his head.  Then he pulled the two of them 
into a three way hug.  "I guess I finally have the family I've always 
wanted."

Serena burst out laughing.  "More than you know, my love."  At his 
questioning look, Serena picked up Reenie.  "My prince, may I present 
Neo-Princess Serenity of the Kingdom of the Moon, the Sun, Earth and Crystal 
Tokyo, daughter of King Endymion of Earth and Neo-Queen Serenity of the 
Moon."

"Hi, daddy!"  Reenie said as she threw herself into his arms.  Darien looked 
like he was about to faint. 

------------------
Well, what did you think?  I thought that was a perfect place to end it.
Suzanne kept begging me for a sweet reunion scene, and I did the best I 
could while keeping my plot in mind.  Tell me what you thought and till I 
write for you again.  Jendra@aol.com 

Oh, yeah, I almost forgot.  Remember that prophecy from Chapter Four?  Look
for the rest of it in Chapter Nine  The Prophecy Revealed.