Man to Man by Razzz It was too late for any young girl to be out alone. Yet, a 14 year old girl, two long blond pigtails streaming behind her, was racing down a street, her sole companion a black cat with an odd moon shaped marking on her forehead. As she rounded the corner she ran right into the middle of a battle between four girls and a giant monster shaped like a telephone. "Hey guys sorry I'm late." The blond said. The dark haired girl in the red sailor uniform glared at her. "Thanks for showing up Serena." She said sarcastically. "I'm sorry. It's not like I meant to. Why are you always so mean to me Rei." Serena said, beginning to cry buckets of tears that streamed down her face. Rei rolled her eyes, but before she had a chance to add her own snide comment, the monster emitted a loud ringing sound that knocked all the sailor scouts and Serena to the ground, holding their hands over their ears tightly. "Serena, why don't you transform." The blue - haired scout said through gritted teeth. "Oh yeah. Sure thing Ami. Moon Prism Power" Serena cried as she transformed into Sailor Moon in a flurry of ribbons and light. The leader of the Sailor Scouts stood up and defiantly faced the monster. "The telephone is a tool that brings people together and I will not allow you to misuse it. In the name of the moon I will punish you." she said. The creature's enormous dial began to turn. Serena looked at it quizically. "Sailor Moon look out!" a voice yelled from the alley. A little pink haired girl, accompanied by a floating cat head, ran out. The monster finished dialing and a blast of dark energy was shot straight for the little girl. "Reeny!" Sailor Moon cried and dove for the girl, grabbing her by the waist and rolling out of the way of the monster's attack, dark energy disintegrating the spot where the little girl had been standing. But, the two could not dodge the next attack as the monster stood over them, dark energy gathering into a lethal ray. Suddenly, a red rose shot across the monsters face, surprising the creature and making it stop it's attack. "Tuxedo Mask!" Sailor Moon cried, completely forgetting the battle. "Use your scepter Sailor Moon." Luna yelled. "Right." Sailor Moon said. "Moon Scepter Elimination!" A blast of white light engulfed the creature and it turned into a pile of dust. "Ha ha, moon dusted." Sailor Moon said, all smiles. She turned to Tuxedo Mask. "Darien?" she asked, hope shining in her bright blue eyes. "You need to watch Reeny more carefully. Learn to be responsible. I won't always be here." He said and walked away. Tears filled Sailor Moon's eyes. "Serena, where were you? We could have been hurt. What's your problem?" Sailor Mars yelled angrily. "I ran as fast as I could but I was asleep. I didn't hear you call. My communicator isn't working." Sailor Moon said. "Well, what's wrong with it. What did you do to it??" Mars asked. "It got hit in that last battle Mars. I tired to get here sooner. I'm sorry" "Well that obviously wasn't good enough. Why can't you take the scouts seriously. What if something worse happens next time. What if Rubeus gets Reeny because you were late. Again.'" Sailor Mars asked. Sailor Moon looked at the little pink haired girl, who clutched Sailor Moon's hand. "Rei, go easy on her. It's the middle of the night. You don't have to be so mean." Sailor Venus said. "Yeah. Why don't we all go home guys. It's late and we're probably all so tired we don't know what we're saying. How about meeting at the temple tomorrow? All right?" Sailor Mercury said, trying to be a mediator between the constantly fighting Mars and Moon. "Kay, I'll see you guys tomorrow. Come on Reeny." Sailor Moon said, de - transforming back into Serena Tsukino and beginning the walk back to her house. "Reeny, what were you doing? You could have been hurt." Serena asked her. Reeny hung her head. "I wanted to help." She said. Serena smiled a bit at the girl's enthusiasm and concern. "Next time let the Scouts handle it. We can't let Rubeus get you. No one would be there to bug me. Ya know?" Serena said lightly as she opened the front door to her house. As the two girls and cat opened the door, the were met with two angry parents. "Just where have you two been at 3 in the morning." Ken Tsukino said. "Daddy, I was, well you see . . . " Serena said, trying to explain a situation and coming up with absolutely no answers. "This is absolutely unexcusable. You were out with a boy, weren't you. Was it that one boy, Derrick, or Dermot -" "Darian." Serena said dreamily. Her father only got even angrier. "I knew it. He's so much older than you. What were you doing at this hour. I don't even want to guess. I'll kill him." he said. "No Daddy, Darien doesn't like me anymore. Would it help if I said I was with Melvin?" Serena asked, hoping to maybe charm her way out of punishment. "If anything is wrong, if you're in any kind of trouble, we can help you Serena." Said Ilene Tsukino. "I want an explanation young lady." Ken said sternly. "Well, I don't have one. I'm tired so good - night Daddy." Serena said, running up the stairs, leaving her father yelling behind her. Serena burrowed under her blankets and brushed against something. Or someone. "Reeny?" Serena asked. "Are you in trouble?" Reeny asked. "Yeah. I don't like lying to my parents but I don't think I have a choice. I can't let them know about Sailor Moon." "I don't like lying to my mommy either." Reeny said. "Well, it's late. Let's get some sleep, okay you spore." Serena joked good naturedly. "Sure thing meat ball head." Reeny retorted, and the two began to drift to sleep. "Stop humming Reeny." Serena mumbled. "I'm not. I thought you were." Reeny said. Serena rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. The last remnants of sleep were removed when she heard her mother scream across the hall. Serena opened her door a crack and peered out into the hallway. A monster was coming out of her parents room, followed by Rubeus. Serena shut her door and locked it. "Go into the bathroom and lock the door behind you. Climb out the window and get to safety. Get the others." Serena ordered. "What about your communicator?" Reeny asked. "It's broken. Just go. And hurry." Serena said sharply Reeny nodded at ran off to the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. Serena quickly transformed and ran out to face the monster. Reeny ran through the streets of Tokyo until she reached a familiar apartment. She pounded on the door, yelling as loud as she could. Finally, Darien answered sleepily. "Reeny? What are you doing here. I can't believe Serena let you out this late." He said, then noticed her tears and the fear in her eyes. "What's wrong?" he asked, kneeling down to hug the girl. "A monster attacked us at Serena's. She's trying to hold them off, but she's all alone. What if Rubeus gets her?" Reeny said, and began to cry. "Don't worry Reeny. I'm on my way. Why don't you call the others. I promise I won't let anything happen to her." he said, wiping tears from her eyes. She nodded and Darien left for Serena's house. Just as a blast of energy was going to strike Sailor Moon, whose parents were hiding in their bedroom, the red flash of a rose dissipated the blast, which exploded in the monster's face, destroying him. Sailor Moon smiled and looked lovingly at her savior. But, her expression quickly turned to one of horror as she saw Rubeus appear behind Tuxedo Mask, holding a ball of dangerous energy that would undoubtedly kill him. "No." Sailor Moon cried, knocking Tuxedo Mask out of the line of fire of the blast. The two landed with a loud crash on the ground. "Next time the rabbit will be mine." Rubeus said ominously and disappeared. "Are you all right Sailor Moon?" Tuxedo Mask asked, trying to disentangle himself from Sailor Moon's arms and stand up. Sailor Moon remained silent. Tuxedo Mask, began to shake her, trying to wake her, but she remained unconscious. He then noticed the blood that stained his white gloves, coming from a wound that was caused by a blast intended for him. He was vaguely aware of Serena's parents standing in shock in the doorway to their room, watching him and Sailor Moon. He didn't care. "Wake up Sailor Moon. Please. Open your eyes. It's me. It's Tuxedo Mask." Tuxedo Mask said, holding her inert form in his arms. She still remained unresponsive. "Sailor Moon. We need you. I need you. It's me, Darien. See." He took off his mask, and held her hand. Still no response. Tuxedo Mask began to shake her, afraid. "Open your eyes Serena. Just be all right. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I swear I'll make these last few weeks up to you, just wake up. Please don't die on me. Please hang on." He said, tears trailing down his cheeks. Why wasn't she waking up? He thought desperately. He felt a hand on his shoulder. Ken stood there gravely, recognizing the young man as a friend of his daughter's. "Serena who? My Serena?" he asked. "I'm sorry. I failed her. I was supposed to protect her." Darien said to the man then turned his attention back to Serena, trying to coax her back to consciousness. "Please Serena don't leave me. You don't have to be Sailor Moon or the Moon Princess or anything you don't want to be. And I'll just be Darien Chiba and we can live normal lives, just like you always wanted. Just wake up. I love you too much to lose you." As if in response to his pleas, Sailor Moon transformed back into Serena Tsukino. "No." Darien whispered, afraid of what this meant. He didn't notice Serena's mother crying at the sight of her daughter, her father trying to be strong for his family, comforting his wife, or that the other scouts and Reeny had arrived. "Darien, move." Sailor Mercury said, anguish marking her face. Every scout wore the same expression of sorrow, horror and anger. Venus was crying. Darien continued to hold Serena tightly. "Darien, she's not breathing. Move so I can save her." Mercury said more forcefully. Darien stared at her, still dazed, and then complied and laid Serena on the ground while Mercury began CPR. Darien thought of how he had treated Serena, how he had pushed her away because of his dreams, how she had never known how much he loved her. And now it might be too late. How could he live without her? "She's breathing. Has anyone called for an ambulance?" Mercury asked. Jupiter nodded. "This is your fault." Ken said to them all, barely able to contain his anger, as the wailing of the ambulance sounded in the night. The Tsukino family immediately stood from their chairs in the waiting room when Dr. Sato walked in, his face displaying the stress from the last few hours of surgery he had performed on Serena. "How is our little girl?" Ken Tsukino asked, holding his wife's hand tightly. "She's a very tough kid. She survived the surgery, which is a very good sign. But she's still not out of the woods." The doctor said grimly. "What do you mean, 'not out of the woods.' Will she be all right?" Ken said angrily. He wanted to know what was happening to his daughter. "We don't know. It's all touch and go from here. A lot of things could go wrong. But on the other hand, she could be awake tomorrow. Nothing's guaranteed though, and I'm afraid that you must be prepared for the worst, although that is unlikely." Ilene Tsukino gasped at the doctors last statement and began to cry again, afraid for her child. "Don't worry Mom." Sammy said unconvincingly, trying to be strong for his family. But he too had tears in his eyes. He missed his sister already. "What should I do about her friends?" A nurse asked, motioning to the closed door of the waiting room where Ami, Rei, Lita, Mina and Darien waited patiently for any news on their fallen friend. "Let them wait." Ken said vehemently. Ilene turned to face her husband, shocked at the cold tone in his voice. "We can't not let them see her honey," Ilene said compassionately, holding back the tears that threatened to spill at the thought of these girls who had been so close to her daughter. "They care about Serena just as much as we do. It wouldn't be fair to them." The tone in Ilene's voice made it clear that there was no other choice except to admit the girls. Ilene nodded at the nurse, who opened the door and let the girls and Darien in. The group rushed in and immediately began asking questions all at once about Serena's condition. Darien leaned against a wall, listening to the girls, his head lowered in shame. "I couldn't protect her and now she's in the hospital. This is all my fault. I should have been there. " he told himself over and over until he felt as though he would go crazy. Darien began to drift away from the waiting room, and, ignoring all signs of restrictions, went to Serena's room. He didn't need a nurse or doctor to tell him where. He could feel her, and let his sixth sense lead him to her. Serena's pale form didn't move; it just blended into the crisp, clean white hospital bed, a tiny bump in the sheets. Even like this, attached to multiple beeping machines, Darien thought she looked beautiful. It was almost as though she were asleep. But this time, he didn't know if she would ever wake up. Darien pulled up a cold hard chair beside her bed and held her hand, not saying a word, just sitting in silence with her, watching her, being near her. He didn't have any words to say. What he felt could not be translated into mere words. But Serena didn't need to hear him tell her his heart. She knew it, knew it's soft whispers, for she had captured his heart over 1000 years ago. Behind him, Darien was vaguely aware of a shift in the light, of a door creaking open. "Get out of here." Said a low, savage voice. Darien turned around, still clutching Serena's hand, to face a very angry Ken Tsukino. "I won't leave her." Darien said, and turned his back on the man, only angering him further. Ken grabbed Darien by the collar and pulled him out of the chair. "Leave my daughter alone. Your the reason she's here." He said. His words pierced Darien soul worse than anything in the world. "You don't think I know that. You don't think that I blame myself for not being fast enough, for not noticing Rubeus behind me. She's here because she tried to save me when I'm the one who should be saving her. I've lost everything and it's all my fault and I wish to God I could switch places with her because she should never have to be like this. Never." Darien said, his voice husky with sorrow and self loathing. He knocked Ken's hands off his shirt. "She should never have been in the position to fight in the first place. She's not a fighter. She's just a little girl. She's my little girl." Ken said. "Why did you make her fight. Why her?" "You think I wanted her to fight. If I had my way she would never have had to fight anything. But the world needed her. It was destiny, I guess." Darien laughed bitterly. "I don't want you to come near her ever again. I don't want her to be near any of you Sailor people. I just want her to be safe." Ken said, the fire out of his eyes. His anger had given way to sadness. All he wanted was for his daughter to laugh and smile and bounce out of this depressing hospital room and never have to associate with anything dangerous again. He would protect her from everything the world could throw at her. "You can't do that. I won't let you take her away from me. Serena won't let you make that decision either. If you expect her to stop seeing her friends, you don't know her at all." Darien said, standing protectively by Serena's side. "And I suppose you know her better than I do. Get out of this room before I call security." Ken said, angered by the impertinent manner of this young man. "I know you don't like me Mr. Tsukino, but please don't do this. I would die in an instant for her. Without her, I have nothing." Darien pleaded. "If I remember correctly, you were the boy who dumped her, the one who made her cry so much." "You don't understand." "I understand that you treated her horribly, allowed her to play at being a warrior, and now you claim to love her, although I truly doubt that." Ken shouted. "I do love her." Dairen yelled. "Please, stop fighting." Reeny cried, standing in the doorway. Both men stopped yelling and Reeny ran to Darien, wrapping her arms around Darien's legs. "She looks just like my mommy." Reeny whispered, before beginning to cry violently again. Darien picked up the little girl, who promptly buried her face in his chest, and began trying to calm her down. "Reeny honey. Don't cry. Serena will be fine." Darien reassured the girl. "She's a lot tougher than she looks. Remember how many times she's fallen on her face?" he asked. Reeny looked up, tears still streaming down her face. "Uh huh." She said, perplexed by where this discussion was going. "Well, only someone really strong could fall that many times without getting permanently brain damaged." He said, hoping to get a smile from the girl. It worked as Reeny began to giggle. "Don't worry. Serena's been worse off than this and has always come out fine. Besides she's Sailor Moon." Ken paled when he heard Darien say that Serena's experiences had hurt her worse than she currently was, and Reeny began to cry again. "But in the future there is no Sailor Moon. The others are there, but Sailor Moon isn't" The little girl wailed. Darien closed his eyes tightly, trying not to join the girl in her tears at the news that there was no Sailor Moon in the future. He didn't want to speculate on what it meant if there wasn't a Sailor Moon in Reeny's time. He hoped that it was due to retirement, but seriously doubted that assumption. "Why does everyone I care about get hurt?" She asked and began to cry even harder. Darien held her tighter and stroked her head soothingly, careful of the little meatballs on her head that looked more like rabbit ears. "Don't ever think this is your fault Reeny. It isn't. If anything, it's his fault," Ken said, pointing at Darien, "for bringing Serena into this whole Sailor mess. She should have never become Sailor Moon." Reeny stopped crying at his words. "You can't make just anyone be a Sailor Scout. You have to be someone special, and only one person in each generation can be a Scout. Darien didn't have anything to do with it. And besides, the world needed Sailor Moon. If she wasn't around the nega - verse would have taken over earth and Rubeus would have gotten me and then my mommy would never wake up." Reeny said defensively, wrapping her arms around Darien. "Darien protected Serena whenever she was in trouble. You can't say this was his fault. It was mine. If I hadn't been staying with you, Rubeus would never have attacked and Serena would be all right." "Who's Rubeus. And what's the nega - verse." Ken asked, realizing that he knew nothing about the Sailor Scouts, other than that Serena was Sailor Moon and Darien was Tuxedo Mask. "Maybe we should get Luna to explain." Darien suggested. "Why don't you go to your place. I'll get all the scouts and we'll explain everything. Maybe then you will have an easier time understanding." "And leave Serena here alone?" Ken asked. "I'll stay. I couldn't leave her alone." Darien said. "I already told you that I don't want you near her." "Fine, talk to the others another time. I don't care. But I'm not leaving." Darien said determinedly and sat down in a chair. Ken narrowed his eyes, but realized that there was nothing he could do to get rid of Darien without causing a scene and upsetting Reeny, who had curled up in Darien's arms and fallen asleep. Everything was going according to plan. The rabbit would soon be defenseless and she would be his. The Wiseman would be pleased. He smiled and pulled on his white coat. He still had a human job to do. After two days, Serena's condition was the same. Which was considered a good sign. At least she hadn't gotten any worse. But still, the doctors were perplexed. She should have awakened already. It was certainly strange and it worried all parties involved. Darien hadn't moved from Serena's room unless a doctor practically forced him out. A few nurses were worried over the young man's condition. He looked terrible, hadn't eaten since Serena had been admitted, hadn't even left her room. He just sat, watching her, holding her hand. Some wished that they could find a guy who was so loyal, although they knew that if he kept up this behavior, Darien would be occupying the other bed in her room. Ken entered the room and took a seat by Darien. They didn't speak; they never did. Ken had grown accustomed to seeing Darien sitting at his daughter's side. He noted how terrible the man looked, the dark rings around his dull eyes, the sadness that seemed to surround him. You look like hell." Ken said, his attention fixed on Darien's eyes. Some say the eyes are the windows to the soul. In this case, that saying is a hundred percent true and even Ken couldn't deny that Darien truly cared for his daughter. "Why don't you just go home?" he asked. "The same reason that you don't leave her." Darien said in a monotone. He was tired, but refused to sleep for even 10 minutes, afraid that Serena might need him even in that short span of time. "I take it you haven't talked to the girls yet.' Darien said, more a statement than a question. "No. I'll find out enough about what you do later. Serena is more important." "I know." Darien said, reclining in the chair. The door opened to the room and Rei entered. It had been the first time she had been in the hospital room. She had looked in the window but never had she actually entered the room. Unlike Darien, who refused to stray from Serena's side, Rei was almost afraid to get near her, afraid to see her in the hospital, almost as though the sight would only reaffirm the terrible reality of the sitution. She seemed to be taking Serena's injury worst of all. No matter how much the two of them fought, Rei loved Serena like her own sister. "How's the stupid meat ball head? Leave her alone for one night and look what happens." Rei said, trying to hide her emotions. "She the same." Darien said. Rei could barely look Darien in the face, and most definitely couldn't meet Mr. Tsukino's gaze. She couldn't help thinking of the fight they had before Serena had been hurt. It was just like any other fight they had every day, but still, she wished she had said something else to Serena. "Are you one of them too? Are you a scout like Serena?" Ken asked. Rei nodded and began inspecting the toes of her shoes. "We're having a meeting at your house around 7 tonight Mr. Tsukino." Rei began. "Luna thought you needed to know about everything. You should come too Darien." "I can't leave her." he said stubbornly. "They need to know and we all should be there. Your a big part of this. She'll be fine for a few hours. And we still need to figure out how Rubeus found Reeny when she didn't give off any energy." "What if he knows who she is and targets her when we're away? Or what if she wakes up and I'm not here?" "I'm asking Chad to stay with her. She'll be fine." "I guess I'll be there then." Darien said reluctantly. "Rei?" Ken called as the girl was beginning to leave the room. Rei turned and looked at Mr. Tsukino, careful not to let her eyes wander to the scene behind the man. She couldn't stand to see Serena like that; she couldn't look at her in such a state. Ken stood and took her outside the room. "If you hate us, I understand." Rei said quickly. Mr. Tuskino smiled faintly, laughing inside. She was only a child, a little girl. And she had to deal with this. It wasn't fair. But then, a lot of unfair things happen to people who deserve only the best in life. ".It's about Darien. I'm sure his family must be worried. He hasn't called anyone since, well . . . as a parent I can understand how worried they might be. So if it isn't too much trouble, could you call and let them know where he is?" Ken asked. Rei smiled sadly. "Darien doesn't have anyone. He doesn't have any family at all. They died when he was young, in a car crash. He doesn't even remember them." Rei said. "And now Serena's . . . she was all he has, even if he did try and deny it. I feel so bad for him. I feel bad for us all." She said. "Remember the meeting tonight. It's really important." Ken watched the girl go. She seemed so cool and calm and composed, hiding her sorrow behind an air of detachment and duty. He opened the door to his daughters room and could hear a faint whisper. " . . .and you hit me on the head with that test of yours and I think I loved you even then, even before I knew you. Maybe that's why I teased you so much. Who will I tease now if you leave. You're everything Serena. If you leave me, I'll be alone. I never went out much because nothing ever felt right. And then I met you and I knew you were it and I have nothing without you because you are my family, you are everything." Darien said, beginning to cry again. "She'll be all right." Ken said, putting a hand on Darien's shoulder and speaking in a fatherly voice. "And if she isn't?" Darien asked, trying to contain his emotions. "I can't lose her. She's my whole life." "We won't worry about that." Ken said, forgetting his hate for Darien at the moment and acting like that father that he naturally was. In a way he felt like he was linked to Serena through this boy. Ken could remember Serena's first day at school, how she had held his hand tightly, and known, even at that early an age, that she didn't want to be in the red brick schoolhouse, how he had coaxed her to go with the promise of a chocolate ice cream cone, and how that ice cream had smeared her face, how she had beamed at him after finishing the treat and given him a big kiss that had smeared his face in chocolate. He had so many memories of good times with her, and he refused to think about not making more, about her not graduating, or not having the chance to give his daughter away at her wedding. She would get better, because he couldn't accept it if she didn't. "Ahhhhh!!!!! You can talk!" Ilene Tsukino shrieked. Lita and Mina stifled a giggle while Ami and Rei looked at them sternly, telling them with their eyes to be quiet. They hadn't acted much differently when Luna had first spoken to them. Ken and Sammy stared, mouths wide open, at the talking cat. Darien rounded out the group; Reeny had been put to bed since it was past her bed time. "Yes, I can speak quite well." Luna said, a little exasperated but not surprised at this reaction. "We could sell tickets for you. Maybe even enter you in the circus." Sammy said. Luna blanched. "You most certainly will not. We have important matters to discuss." Luna said in her most official sounding voice. "Please continue Luna." Ken said, trying not to let his shock show. He wondered what other surprises were in store for him. "I'd like for you to meet the Sailor Scouts. Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Venus." Luna said, pointing to each girl as she called their name. "1000 years ago . . . " Luna recounted the tale of the moon kingdom, of Queen Beryl and the battle Sailor Moon fought against her, of Ann and Alan, and finally about the Black Moon Family. "So you're saying that my daughter is the most powerful warrior in the universe?" Ken said incredulously. He couldn't believe that his daughter, the girl who never woke up on time and was constantly tripping over her own two feet, was this magical warrior, this princess from another planet. "Why her?" Ilene asked. "Because she has a pure soul and the biggest heart of anyone. She would die for her friends, just as we have died for her. And please, don't blame Darien for any of this. Serena was Sailor Moon long before he ever became Tuxedo Mask. In fact, the only reason he became Tuxedo Mask is because Serena changed into Sailor Moon. If she had never been a Sailor Moon than there would never have been a Tuxedo Mask." Rei said. "I think it's way cool." Sammy said. "My sister is Sailor Moon. Wait'll all my friends hear about this." "No, you can't tell anyone." Luna said, jumping in front of Sammy. "If anyone knows who Sailor Moon really is, than they could target her in civilian mode. Or worse, they could target you to get to her, which was why she wouldn't tell you about being Sailor Moon." "My poor baby. She is still my daughter, isn't she?" Ilene asked, worried that Serena might be this Queen Serenity's child. "You're both Serena's mother." Luna said. "She's gone through so much. No wonder she can't pass a test." Ilene said. "I wonder if she was a good student on the moon. Or if she was as clumsy as she is now." "She was very graceful." Darien said quietly. "Everything you said has happened sounds so dangerous. I guess we should be thankful this didn't happen any sooner." Ilene said, trying to find a positive side to all this. "Serena was afraid that something like this would happen, after that thing happened with that monster that hypnotized her." Luna said very seriously. "She wrote you all letters in case she was ever, well, just in case. She asked me to give them to you." Luna jumped up and did a flip in the air and four letters appeared in Luna's mouth. She had one for Darien, one for Reeny, one for the scouts and one for Serena's parents. Artemis had run up the stairs to wake Reeny and the little girl stood came down the stairs yawning in her pink pajamas. Mina took the letter, written on pink stationary with bunnies on it, addressed to Reeny and began to read it to the girl. 'Dear Reeny. Hey ya little spore. I'm sorry I won't be around to help you find your mom. But, I love you a lot, even if I wasn't always that nice to you, and even if you were totally annoying. You were kinda like my little sister or something. I really hope things go well for you and that you can find your mom and fix things. I know it isn't easy for you. I want you to have the Silver Crystal. The others know where it is. Use it to save your mom. I love you. Love, Meat ball head' Reeny stared at the letter and took if cautiously from Mina's hand, as though she were afraid is would break apart at her touch. Tears fell from her eyes. "Thank you." she whispered sadly. Ilene wrapped her arms around Reeny and comforted her while Luna gave Ken the next letter. 'Mom and Dad and Sammy. Guess what, I'm Sailor Moon. Totally cool, huh. I bet you never thought that I, queen of the clutzes, could pull off this one. This pretty much explains any odd disappearances in the middle of the night. You guys were the greatest parents, even if Dad was a bit over protective and liked Melvin (ewww) and you were a pretty cool brother Sammy (stick with Mica, she's a sweetie.) and Mom you were the definite coolest. Anyways, Luna can explain everything. (yeah, Luna, my cat, can talk) I don't know what else to say really, except that I love you guys. Serena' Ilene could barely contain her tears. She missed her daughter, and could hear her Serena's laughter in the simple letter. Ami took the letter written to the scouts. 'Ami, Rei, Mina, Lita, Luna and Artemis. - Well, I guess I finally really screwed up big time. Sorry guys that I let the team down. You guys were my best friends and I loved you all so much. You have always been there for me and I would have been lost without you. Luna, you were like another mother to me and I love you more than anything in the world. Sorry for all the grief I caused you. Ami, I have always admired how you have so much focus and dedication and how smart you are. I wish I could be just like that. Mina, I love how you always can cheer me up and how you're always so happy. Always keep on smiling. Lita, you are the best cook I know and I'm sure that you will be the most famous chef in the world. You are so strong and determined and passionate about your friends. You really are the greatest. Rei, although we fought a lot, I really cared about you as a friend and I love you with all my heart. Good luck with Chad (he's a hottie, and a musician too, totally cool) Artemis you were always funny to be around. Take care of Mina and the girls for me. Don't let the negaverse win. You guys have got to keep fighting it until the world is totally safe from them. I want you guys to give Reeny the crystal and help her find her mother and make everything right for her. I love you all. Serena. PS, Take care of Darien for me.' Every scout was weeping at the words of their leader. There was only one letter left. Darien took it and began to read. 'Dear Darien. I don't know if I'll get a chance to say goodbye. I love you though, even if you don't love me still, and I will never stop loving you. You will always be in my heart and I will always be by your side, no matter what, even if it is only in spirit. I want you to have my locket, the one you gave me. Please don't be sad because I can't bear to see you unhappy. I'll love you for always. And you can even call me meatball head. Serena.' Luna carried Serena's locket in her mouth and walked up to Darien and gave him the golden star locket. "She wanted you to have this" she said. He took it in his hand and stared at it silently. He folded the letter and put it in his pocket. "You didn't need to give us these." Darien said. "She will tell us this herself when she wakes up." Darien got up and walked towards the closet, putting on his green tweed jacket. "Where are you going?" Rei asked. "I should get back to Serena." he said, opening the door and hurrying down the steps, hoping no one had seen the tears in his eyes. Ken opened the door, following Darien to his car. "Darien, wait." Ken said. "What? Have you come to tell me how you plan on keeping me away from Serena again, because I don't want to hear it Mr. Tsukino. Or maybe you plan on blaming me for what's happened to her?" he said angrily, whirling around on his heels to face Serena's father. "Neither actually. I don't blame you anymore." Ken said, swallowing his pride. "This is something that Serena was in her soul, not something she became as a result of you. And she loved you, and you loved her. That's all that really matters, isn't it." "I won't let anything like this happen to her again." Darien said in a determined voice. "I don't doubt it. Why don't you go to her. And, if you ever want a hot meal, Ilene can cook a great roast." Ken said, offering his hand. Darien looked at it, not sure what to make of the gesture, then shook it firmly and smiled his first real smile in weeks before heading off to watch over Serena. Ilene watched the scene from the living room windows, then went outside to join her husband. She pulled him close and hugged him. "He loves her so much." She said, sighing. "I know, I know." Ken replied sadly, knowing that his little girl wasn't only his anymore. Inside the Tsukino house, Ami, Lita, Mina, Rei, Artemis and Luna were discussing how Rubeus figured out how to find Reeny. It was highly unlikely that it was just some fluke or blind luck. "Maybe he had a tracking device." Jupiter offered. The others agreed that that was the most logical explantion. Ami pulled out her little computer and began punching in numbers, occasionally hmming now and then. Deciding that she needed some more help, she transformed into Sailor Mercury and used her VR visor. "There isn't any tracking device on Reeny. The only other person who could be a carrier for it is Serena." Mercury said, transforming back into Ami. "Which means they probably know who she is, and that she's completely vulnerable now." "Then we have to get to the hospital, and fast." Rei added darkly. She had almost woken up. But, he had put an end to that and she easily fell back into unconsciousness. Amazing that she had survived that blast and was still fighting to regain her life. Oh well, he had time. It was a good thing that those silly humans were busy bickering all the time, and that the dense musician with the long hair was such a moron. Stupid humans. All that talk about love and hate. They would be so much better off without any of those emotions. Oh well, he wasn't paid to think about that. His only job was to take care of Sailor Moon, aka Serena Tsukino. Four girls and two cats raced through the halls of the hospital and found Chad asleep outside Serena's room. Darien sat in his chair beside Serena. The girls barged in and Ami whipped out her computer. "What's going on?" Darien asked, confused. "We think that Rubeus managed to put a tracking device on Serena. We need to check to see if we're right." Mina said, while Amy continued typing. Suddenly, the computer began to make some beeping noises and Ami cocked her head a little and scrunched her nose up, concentrating deeply. "This is odd." She commented, then continued typing. "What's odd." Lita asked. "This can't be right." Ami said, still staring at her screen. "Amy, spit it out." Rei said impatiently. "There's something strange going on here. Something is in Serena that shouldn't be - " Ami began, but was interrupted by a harried doctor. "What are you doing here?" he asked angrily. "We're visiting our friend." Mina said. "Are you family? Only family can be here." He said, opening the door and motioning for them to leave. "Your not the usual doctor. I've never seen you before. I want to see Serena's doctor." Lita demanded. "You guys, I sense some odd vibes coming from him." Rei whispered. "I suggest you leave now." Darien said seriously, getting up menacingly. "Fine, all right, I'm going. But -" the doctor was cut off by Ami's scream. "Serena! Guys, I just saw Serena's eyes move." She cried happily. The doctor was forgotten as the entire group gathered around their leader, their eyes shining with hope. The doctor took a step forward. "You need to be going. The patient needs her rest." He said. "I want to be here when she wakes up." Darien said, not moving from his position by Serena. The Doctor began to get desperate. Sailor Moon needed to be neutralized. She needed her shot to keep her unconscious. He thought that they should have just killed her, but Rubeus said that keeping her alive but incapacitated would occupy the minds of the scouts and make them careless. But now, he couldn't give the magical sleeping drug that the Wiseman had whipped up to her and she was going to wake up and ruin everything. He had to get rid of her friends. They were merely humans, completely expendable and wouldn't be too difficult to get rid of. Rei turned around, sensing the dark energy and saw the doctor changing into a monster. "You should have left when I asked." the monster said, shooting syringes at the girls and Darien. "I won't let you hurt Serena." Rei screamed. "Mars Power." Rei was transformed into Sailor Mars in a flash of fire, soon followed by her friends. "Mercury Power" "Jupiter Power" "Venus Power" "Huhmnn uhbbuhhr." Serena mumbled. In a bright flash of light four scouts and one Tuxedo Mask stood before the monster. "Mercury bubbles blast." Mercury yelled. The room was covered in the a blue haze. The monster, unable to see, shot his syringes aimlessly, one after another, in an unending barrage. Tuxedo Mask threw his roses, but they didn't seem to faze the creature. It just healed itself with every blow. It continued firing its weapon, backing the scouts into a corner. "Mars Fire Ignite." Mars shouted, a burst of red hot fire shooting forth from her fingertips. It continued to advance, laughing. "Pitiful humans.' It said, forming another syringe. "It's not even hurting him." Mars said, terror beginning to rise in her voice. "Let's see just how strong this thing is." Jupiter said with steel determination. "Jupiter Thunder Crash." The lighting gathered, and bounced off the creature like water. "Prepare to die." It said, reaching back its arm, muscles tending to throw the final syringe, the needle that would bring death. "Stop!" a lone voice behind the creature shouted, weak, yet still strong, as though the strength came from the core of her throat and could not be hidden by any physical frailty. Her twin blond ponytails hung behind her. "Sailor Moon!" Venus said happily. "Impersonating a doctor and pretending to heal when your really hurting people is absolutely unforgivable. I will not allow you to harm anyone, not patients and not my friends. In the name of the moon, I will punish you." she said. She took a shaky step forward, her leg almost collapsing beneath her, but regained her balance and held her scepter in front of her. "You are stronger than we anticipated. But, you will die. Just like your friends." he threw the needle I his hand at Sailor Moon. She jumped from it, dodging it's sharp point, rolling to the left. "Aaaiiiyyyee, stop. You're supposed to stand still so I can dust you." she said, whining a bit. A needle landed in front of her feet. "Sailor Moon. You have been given another chance. Don't waste your time by hesitating." Tuxedo Mask said, as cryptically as usual, before launching another rose in the monsters path. Sailor Moon nodded and held her scepter in front of her. "Moon Scepter Elimination" she cried. White light emanated from her, racing for the enemy in a powerful blast. It staggered back as the beam hit it, but refused to die. Tuxedo Mask threw roses to aid Sailor Moon. Soon the scouts joined the battle, lending their own power to the blast. Finally, the creature gave an anguished cry and dissolved into dust. Sailor Moon smiled, as the other scouts cheered, then began to feel the room spin, and the world seemed to rush up at her, no, she was sinking towards it. She felt a pair of familiar arms encircle her waist, supporting her. "Serena, will you be all right?" Tuxedo Mask asked. Serena smiled at him "You're all right. I was so afraid I had been too late." She murmured sleepily. She de-transformed back into Serena. The others followed her example and returned to civilian attire. "I was so worried, I thought I'd lost you. I don't know what I would have done if anything happened to you." Darien said, holding her close for as long as he could. "I'll always be with you, no matter what." Serena said. "I know. Serena?" Darien asked, worried that she would fall asleep and not wake. "Yes muffin." She said. He wanted to pour his heart out to her, tell her how much she meant to him. But then he remembered his dreams. He had come so close to losing Serena. If he could stop anything from hurting her, keep her alive, even if it meant staying away, he would. "Nothing. Just promise me you'll wake up. OK?" He said. "OK Darien. Do you love me?" she asked, her voice nothing more than a tiny whisper. She was practically asleep. Darien couldn't answer, and fortunately, he didn't have to, as she had already entered a dream state. Ken Tsukino and his family waited for Serena to wake up. He had heard a few details of the battle, and smiled as the hospital staff scurried around in confusion, wondering what had happened and why they had failed to notice. They couldn't know that magic had hidden the fight from their eyes. "Daddy?" Serena said weakly. "I'm here honey. We're all here." He said. "Hi meatball head." Reeny said cheerfully. "Hey spore." "Why didn't you tell us sooner, Serena. About your, um, unusual night life. We would have understood." Ilene said sweetly. "Huh?" Serena asked. "About you being Sailor Moon moron." Sammy said bluntly, giggling. "What. You know? Who told you?" Serena said. "Darien did." Her father said. Sammy snickered some more. "And you should have heard him lay into him. Dad blamed him for everything that happened. Boy you should have seen it. Better than fireworks." Sammy added. Ken glared at his young son. "Daddy! You yelled at Darien, it's not his fault. He always protects me and I couldn't let anything hapen to him. I love him and we're destined to be together and if you're mean to him ever again I'll-" "Serena, calm down. I'm not angry at him. I understand everything. I know you love him, and he loves you. Even if he doesn't say it." he said. "I'm so glad you're all right." Ken said, giving his baby girl a big hug. She returned it ferociously. "You had us worried honey." Ilene added, joining the hug. "But everything's cool now. That's what matters, right." she said. Then she stopped for a second, her eyes growing wide. "Darien loves me? Yeah, I knew it, Darien love me, Darien loves me." she chanted happily. Sammy slapped his head and groaned. "I think I liked her better unconscious." Reeny said. "You know you missed me." Serena said knowingly. Sammy and Reeny looked at each other, and shook their heads in defeat. Serena was right of course, but they would never admit it. However, there was only one thing to do, and they did the only thing they could do; they joined the hug as well, because, after all, Sammy and Reeny really did love Serena too.