A fan fic by Caleyndar.
Rating: PG.

Notes: The names for the two new characters Haruka / Uranus
and Michiru / Neptune, are the japanese names. The reason 
for this is I did not wish to use Neptune's english name 
"Michelle" as another character with the same name already
exists.
	Once again, thanks to those who have written to me.
If you have any comments or questions, please send them to:
<caleyndar@tac.com.au>
	I realise that this chapter may be confusing, as it 
switches to and from small different time settings. If you 
have any queries, please ask.
	And please, visit my web site at:
http://members.xoom.com/caleyndar/

Diclaimer: None of the characters belong to me; only the
few I make up. The story, however, is mine.


The Name Endymion...

Part Four: Angel of Tears...

Chapter One...

	A drop of water. Oxygen and hydrogen. Watch it. As 
it falls, falls, an endless journey. It touches the body 
complied of the same substance, sending out perfectly round, 
ever expanding rings. And then it was gone, as if it never 
existed. 
	Another tear. Was this from happiness? Were these 
tears that I cried filled with joy? These clear droplets of 
water, forever falling from my ocean like eyes, to join with 
the crystal clear pond before my kneeling form. My hands, 
those hands that had held the weapon which had severed the 
last of my innocence from me, pressed themselves against 
the earth. 
	Earth. Home? Was Dawn right? Did I know that I 
could not belong here, even if I loved this small corner 
of the galaxy? Even if this was the only place where I 
could be at peace? 
	The last time I had touched this soil. When I had 
been filled with those same raging emotions as I felt now. 
Times change. I controlled even that now. So I cried here, 
alone, with no one to see these tears but myself. Less they 
crystallised. Less they locked away my pain and anger so I 
was one who was cold and unloving as my Father.
	No! Do not think of him! 
	The tears fell from my eyes again, dropping with 
grace into the small pool. 
	Warmth pushed against my back, and a soft whinny 
reached my ears. 
	And I just broke down. I sobbed, crying out my 
heart, my pain. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pushing 
my face into his silky mane and just poured out my endless 
tears. 
	I had promised myself never to cry again when I 
left. That had been another life time. Or so it seemed. 
Yet I cried now. Just as I had cried every night since my 
return to Earth, the green and blue planet hanging in the 
emptiness of space. 
	Three weeks had passed. Since I had left what I did 
not wish to know, to remember, behind me. My Fathers death, 
Serenity, everything. Yet it followed me. It never left me 
in peace. Why could I never find peace? Even now, on Earth, 
the one and only place I had ever found peace? Why had it 
left me even here? And so I cried. Raged, sobbed, screamed. 
	A mask covered my true soul as we arrived on Earth, 
dressed in civilian cloths, my loyal generals and I. My 
face was blank, without emotions. There were no tears as I 
found myself standing apon the surface of the planet I 
considered as home. 
	"Home," I whispered, and dropped down onto my knees 
in the middle of the quiet road. My shaking fingers reached 
down and felt the rough surface of the black tar, feeling 
the warmth left there by the sun. And I just began to laugh, 
throwing my head back to let the sunlight blind my eyes. 
"Home!" I cried and jumped up and danced around like an 
excited child.
	"Brother?" The voice of an innocent child. 
	Michelle. Only older, a little more grown up and 
wiser to the ways of the world. 
	I turned and stared with wide unbelieving ocean 
blue eyes at the young girl who was walking towards us, 
heading home in the afternoon after school. Michelle, 
Michelle. She had been eight when I left this planet, 
though she had always been small, always light, like a 
perfect doll with golden curls so much unlike my midnight 
shaded hair.
	"Darien!" she cried, and ran to me, dropping her 
bag as she leapt into my open arms. 
	I embraced her, feeling the genuine love I had 
longed for the last two years. Those two long, torturous 
years filled with pain. So much pain, so much hate. So 
much anger and regret. 
	"Where have you been? Mother and Father have been 
so worried. And Nickis parents too!" she said innocently, 
gazing trustingly into my eyes as she clung to my neck.
	I merely smiled and started walking home.
	Home, home, home.
	Nephrite picked up Michelles forgotten bag before 
following the rest of us.
	Lies, lies, lies. 
	Where have you been? Why did you not call us?
	I couldnt answer. I was lost. 
	Kunzite waved his hand, and I could feel his mental 
fingers plunge into my adopted parents mind, answering 
their questions, confusing memories which could not be 
answered nor explained simply, innocently. I stared at him 
in shock, and he gave me a bitter smile. 
	Surrounded by love. Embraces. Praise to that non 
existent God for my safe return.
	And who were these friends? 
	Questions, questions, questions. 
	Lies, lies, lies. 
	The wind pelted me as I flew down the road apon my 
bike. A bike which I had not used in two years. It would 
have been so easy to teleport. But I wanted to feel human, 
and I wanted to be alone. 
	I had left my generals in search for a place where 
they could stay. A house near mine which they may purchase 
or rent. They always seemed to have much money. But then, 
technically, I was still the Prince of the Earth Kingdom, 
and they my highest ranking generals.
	"You are silent, Endymion. Where is your rage at 
me? I have lied to you, used you, loved you. Wont you 
strike me? I am the cause for all of your pain, your 
suffering." Armands words. 
	My generals had been ordered out of my Fathers 
throne room, along with his body. His blood still stained 
the stone floor. Only Armand and I filled the immense space 
around us. 
	My sobs had died away, and the only liquid staining 
my face was his blood, mingled with my shed tears. But my 
eyes had dried, and seemed glazed over, vacant. I still 
stared at the blood on the floor, at my crystal sabre that 
lay there, as dead as my Father. 
	His soft tread advancing towards me. The predator. 
Always was. Only I had been too blind to notice. Too foolish 
to see what was as bright as daylight. And then he stood 
before me, blocking my view of which I stared so intently, 
so blindly. He was standing apon my Fathers blood. 
	Soft silken fingers lift my chin. Large brown 
innocent orbs stared into my raging ocean blue ones. 
Laughing. Forever laughing at me. And his soft smile, 
always playing apon his lush red lips. The colour of blood. 
Then he kissed me. All over my bloodied face, taking in the 
blood and salted tears. 
	I threw him back, revolted as I realised what he 
did. 
	I think I whispered the word "Vampire!" for the 
first time with such disgust.
	"Why do you do this!" I gasped, staring at him with 
wide eyes. "Do you enjoy my pain, my suffering, as my 
Father did!" I began to scream.
	Armand laughed. "I am not as petty as him. And he 
deserved to die, Endymion. Do not blame yourself for his 
death. And do not blame me, for I was not the one who 
controlled your body. But I dare say his death will, has, 
helped me greatly!" he smiled secretively.
	"What are you hiding from me, Armand!" I demanded. 
"Why is it so important that I live!"
	He laughed again. "Ah, perhaps you should tell me 
what you hide from me in that conflicting mind of yours? 
Something you saw on your little mission?"
	The other immortal. The one dressed in red velvet, 
whose manner and voice was like that of a teacher, wise and 
ever patient. Almost god like. 
	Marius. Armands maker.
	Armand snatched the thought from my mind and paled. 
And then vanished, moving with such speed from the room it 
seemed he disappeared. The only sign of his leaving was the 
wide open doors leading to and from the chamber.
	I arrived alone at my old riding school, staring at 
the seemingly desolate buildings.
	Nick, Nick, Nick.
	He smiled his charming smile when I approached, 
brushing back his golden blond hair from his sky blue eyes 
as he stood up and greeted me. "So, that's your new horse?" 
	No, Darien, do not think of the past. Times which 
can never be replaced. Your best friend is gone. And 
whether you will see him again or not lies in the future, 
not the present.
	I leaned my bike up against the ever familiar tree. 
But it seemed it had been a thousand years ago. My memory 
of it was so faint, so distorted by every other memory 
forced onto me in the last two years. All those memories I 
would rather forget. 
	On familiar paths I walked, tracing out the so very 
faint happiness I had experienced here. The smell of horses 
assaulted me, sent me reeling in ecstasy. How I had loved 
this place!
	The softest whinny reached my ever sensing ears. A 
sound which I had heard many times in my last few weeks on 
Earth, a sound which I had come to love and know off by 
heart, so that is had subconsciously become a secret 
language between him and me.
	It was like being lost in a fantasy. Reaching out 
though the haze of happiness that surrounded me, I touched 
his face, feeling his ever so soft coat under my fingers. 
His magical form pulled back and snorted, shaking his 
handsome head, sending his silver mane flying like a halo 
around him.
	"No, please, Wild Spirit, do not turn away from me!" 
I whispered, feeling the tears form in my eyes. "I can not 
stand it if you have forgotten me, or if you hate me!"
	Wild Spirit seemed to comprehend and stepped up to 
the door of his stall again. I wrapped my arms around his 
neck and embraced him as brother to brother. 
	Memories, memories, memories. 
	The riding gloves and hat Nick had given to me for 
my fifteenth birthday. Lying with a cover of dust apon the 
floor in the tack room next to Wild Spirits stall. The 
bridle and saddle were still well oiled, still well kept, 
sitting on their racks up apon the wall. 
	I picked up the gloved and dusted them off, smiling 
bitterly as I tried to pull them on but found them to be 
too small. "One does grow in two years," I said to myself 
as I placed them on a shelf. My hard hat was at least still 
a comfortable fit.
	There was a sound behind me. I did not turn around. 
I only ran my hand along the saddle, smiling a bitter sweet 
smile. I was torn. Yes, I was happy that someone had looked 
after Wild Spirit in my absence. But I was envious that 
someone else had ridden him aside from me. 
	"He still loves you," a voice said from behind me. 
	Had word gotten out that quickly? Of my return? 
	I didnt want to look behind at this person. Less 
the fear in my mind was true. What if Wild Spirit loved 
this human better? 
	I could almost feel the other person smiling.
	"Im Haruka," the voice said from behind. "Ive 
been riding your horse for the past year when I moved here 
with a close friend. And let me assure you, Darien, that he 
still loves you."
	For the first time, I looked at the male form 
standing in the doorway. 
	A young man, the same age as me, with wavy short 
dark blonde hair and dark jade green eyes stood there, half 
leaning apon the wooden door frame. He advanced forward 
when he saw me acknowledge him. He was dressed in the 
senior school uniform at my previous school.
	"Year twelve," he explained, gesturing to the 
uniform. "Tom told me who you were when I arrived today. He 
was very shocked when he received the phone call from your 
parents."
	I was silent, but then forced the words from my 
mouth. "Thank you, Haruka, for taking care of him while I 
was away. I couldnt have wished for a better person than 
yourself."
	He smiled. "Should I leave the two of you alone? I 
take it you have much bonding to do. Perhaps we could talk 
another time, Endymion?" The last word was little more than 
a whisper, and I wondered if it was merely the wind singing 
in the trees. But before I could clear my suspicions, he 
had vanished into the rectangle of light. 
	I followed, but he was already gone.
	A strong wind blew through the trees, and there 
were the wild calls of the bush birds, screaming of a 
coming storm. I lifted my head from Wild Spirits tear 
soaked mane, and stood up, sensing with my entire being 
what the bush said to me. Clouds covered the blue sky, and 
their greyness reflected in my eyes. There was a promise of 
hail, and though I cared not whether I was hurt or not, Wild 
Spirits well being meant much to me.
	I wiped the tears from my face and mounted. It 
seemed I never wore my hard hat these days. I invited Death. 
Wild winds tore at us as we raced down the almost forgotten 
tracks, unfamiliar yet imprinted in my mind. The steady 
rhythm of the hooves striking the dirt track almost brought 
peace to me. But then it was gone as we skidded down the 
steep descend, sending immense clouds of dust and dirt 
behind us. And then, without warning, Wild Spirit pranced 
to a halt.
	Tossing my head back to remove the stray strands of 
black hair from my eyes, I saw what blocked out path. Our 
path to shelter, to safety, to peace of mind.
	School again. Standing at the ever familiar gates, 
leaning apon them as I awaited the arrival of my best 
friend and his girlfriend. I think I was shocked beyond 
belief when I realised they would never come. Others 
appeared. Strangely, they seemed almost like others.
	"Hey, Darien. How are you and Wild Spirit getting 
along?" Haruka asked, walking through the gate, bag slung 
over one shoulder casually, folder in his other hand. A 
girl with sea green wavy shoulder length hair stood beside 
him. Her eyes were deep green blue, and seemed to mirror 
all that she saw.
	"Fine, thank you," I replied. "And really, I must 
do something to repay you for your kindness. He is in the 
best of shape, and I have only you to thank for it."
	"Im sure you will," he smiled, and walked away 
with the girl following him.
	"There is something about those two, my Lord. You 
should be careful around them," Kunzites voice said from 
beside me.
	"I am no Lord. Give that title to God. I am 
merely Darien, and I am human," I replied, and without 
turning to look at him, walked off.
	He is still bitter, Jadeites mental voice 
entered my mind.
	And he will be so until his soul is complete, 
came Nephrites reply.
	What of us? We wish to be one, Zoisites random 
thoughts floated in.
	We will be one when he is one. There is no other 
way, Kunzite answered.
	And then they was silent. I shut them out.
	Back again. Like travelling though ones memories. 
Sitting beneath these trees, on these benches. I had kissed 
her here, held her hand, loved her. 
	Voices I knew came to my ears, chatting pointlessly 
about trivial things. They were without care in every way. 
They were happy, they were at peace. They had what I wanted.
	And then it all stopped. I did not look up at them. 
But I knew where they stood, staring at my familiar form. 
Did they think I was a ghost? 
	"Nick and Dawn did not wish to return," I said 
softly. "And it is the same with Serena and the others. But 
I could not stand the life they offered me. And they offered 
so much yet so little at the same time," I whispered, 
finally lifting my head to stare at familiar faces.
	When their expressions did not alter, I smiled, 
amused by their shocked faces. 
	"Miss me?" I asked, grinning.
	Haruka, apon a motor bike blocked out path. Michiru 
sat behind him, arms wrapped around his slender waist, 
ocean green hair wild in the tearing winds. Like myself, 
either wore any protection. 
	"It is time we talked, Prince Endymion," the young 
man said, eyes cold. 
	But then, they always were.
	My generals did not join my friends and I. They 
kept at a distance, though never letting me stray far from 
their ever watchful eyes. I paid them no attention. I wished 
they would leave. Like elementals, they were. Ever present 
pesky little spirits. Only they were not weak. They were 
Angels of Might. Or perhaps Daemons. 
	Classes were as they had always been. But nothing 
was new to me, what we were taught. In my time of darkness, 
I had learnt much, forced myself to. I knew more, perhaps, 
than the teacher. Never the less, I listened, telling 
myself I was glad to be home, to be almost human, almost 
innocent.
	Haruka and his close friend always seemed to watch 
me. There was almost a sense of distrust, from him to me. 
His eyes were never welcoming, though he was always polite. 
The dark blonde haired boy introduced his friend to me in a 
lunch break as Michiru. 
	David, Luke, nor Claudia knew much about those two, 
though it was true that they had attended the school for a 
year now. They had always kept to themselves. Strangely, 
David muttered something about it had always seemed to him 
that they were waiting for someone.
	I shortened up the reins and laid my bare hand 
against Wild Spirits heated neck, calming him. Strange. My 
heart was beating so very fast. My mount snorted and half 
reared, high spirited and nervous due to the coming storm 
and wild gallop.
	"Why?" was the only word I could form.
	My generals and I rarely talked now. It seemed to 
me they despised me. I could not blame them, yet I did not 
care anyway. I wanted to forget everything, and they were 
only the constant reminder of my painful life. 
	You are so very selfish, Darien, my soul said to 
me.
	I dont want to be hurt, I stated.
	You fear pain.
	I do not like it.
	But a life lived in fear is a life half lived. You 
are a fool.
	A fool. Yes. Always have been, always will be. 
Better to hide in what I know to love than to face the pain. 
I do not like the pain.
	Silence.
	Bitterness. Kunzite tried the hardest to hide it. 
He was the most loyal. Jadeite was so very moody, so very 
angered. Zoisite no longer spoke a word to me. And Nephrite 
locked himself up with his books and took up staring at 
the ancient stars.
	"Because it is time you resumed your duties. You 
have no place here," Haruka said.
	I laughed. It was forced, almost insane. My horse 
reared, striking the air as lightning flashed in the 
distance. But then I sobered, eyes hard and glaring.
	"I will do no such thing. I am only human! I am no 
Prince Endymion! Let me die with no more blood on my hands. 
I want to be human!" I declared. Thunder reinforced my 
words.
	"So you would let the time line destroy itself 
just because you are afraid?" Michiru asked softly. Her 
voice was always soft, so very musical. Like silver bells.
	"Pluto," I whispered. "She is another who likes to 
see me suffer." 
	To those who blocked my path, I snarled, "I am not 
afraid! And why should I care? I will merely die, nothing 
more! Let me die a human!"
	"Human!" spat Haruka. "If you do not return to the 
Earth Kingdom, Prince Endymion, you will be the one to 
destroy billions of lives, if not this entire galaxy! Pluto 
sent us here a year ago to wait for you. She knew that you 
would return one day, and we were given the mission to take 
you back!"
	"I dont care!" I cried. But the tears were forming 
again. They always formed. They were endless. Angel of 
Tears, please, no more. Stop these tears.
	"Endymion, the only way you can end the pain, to 
find peace, is to do what you were born to do," Michirus 
voice floated though the howling wind and my screaming soul.
	"And what was I born to do?" I whispered, hands 
turning white as I clutched the leather reins in a death 
grip. Lightning flashed again, and thunder followed. Closer 
now.
	"To be one with our Princess," Haruka finished.
	My eyes widened. "Who are you?" I demanded.
	"I am Sailor Uranus, one of the Outer Soldiers, 
protector and guardian of the Moon Kingdom," Haruka 
replied with a touch of pride. 
	"And I am Sailor Neptune, also one of the Outer 
Soldiers, protector and guardian of the Moon Kingdom," 
Michiru added softly. 
	I shut my eyes, comprehending it all. 
	Yet, what was there to comprehend? I knew, my soul 
knew. Knew it all. It was destined, it was fate. And that I 
could not change. But I still ran. Why was I so afraid to 
accept who I was? Why was I so afraid to take on the 
responsibilities that were mine?
	Because you are human, and humans feel fear. It 
is human nature, the soul said once more.
	I do not want to fear anymore. I think I want to 
be one. To be one with my other half of my soul. To silence 
you, I whispered to my mind.
	It laughed at me. I am you.
	"Not yet," I whispered. "I can not stand it yet."
	"You have no choice," Haruka answered, and swung 
his motor bike around and rode off.
	The first stinging piece of ice hit.
	I teleported back to Wild Spirits stall.

End Part Four, Chapter One.


