Greetings! Here's a long story...30 pages handwritten! It's set first season of course and during the time when they are searching for the rainbow crystals etc....with one exception...they're all in University! Serena is studying music and Darien science...the age difference is a little less than in the dub series...it makes me feel better okay? Plus, if there were like four or five years between them he'd be out of school! Anyways....I love this story...it has a real "10 things I hate about you" and "Drive Me Crazy" feel (both funny movies!) Enjoy and of course E-MAIL MOI! Rated G, yarda yarda disclaimers. "Hey Serena, this might interest you." Said Ami, who had navigated her way through the crowded lunch room and now sat down across from her friend and leader. She frowned. Serena was listening to her headphones again. That girl was positively addicted. She sat munching candy and writing in her music notation book. She looked up as Ami sat down and pulled out her ear phones. "hmmm?" "I said, this might interest you." Said Ami and pulled a paper off her tray to read it to Serena. "Some of the senior science students are giving lectures on specific topics that interest them for their finals. They're open for anyone to attend. One of the talks is about the moon." She passed it to Serena who laughed as she took it. Ami was of course referring to her alter identity-Sailormoon. "Sounds cool." Serena shrugged. Meena joined them, chattering happily, "Hey guys! My class got cancelled! Oh-Serena, I met the cutest guy-he's perfect for you!" "Oh no! No you don't Meena! I am NOT going on another blind date! NO WAY!" Meena just grinned at her. Although all the girls did their best to encourage Serena to date, Meena was the worst. Serena-although she would NEVER admit it-was rather loyal to her feelings for Tuxedo Mask and the girls felt she was wasting her time in some respects. Meena was constantly trying to set her up with one guy or another and the results were often disastrous. Serena looked at he watch, "I have to go-I've got class in ten minutes." She got up and picked up her tray flashing a glare at Meena, "Don't even THINK about it Meena! No way!" Meena giggled. Ami sighed, "You two are incorrigible." Serena drifted down the hallway, earphones in, oblivious to the world. She was busy spinning daydreams and new lyrics when she rounded the corner and smashed into someone. They both fell over backwards their books tumbling to the floor. Serena's earphones were yanked from her ears as she hit the floor. She pulled herself up dazedly to face a tall young man with black hair and fierce blue eyes. For a moment she caught her breath, not because he was terribly handsome (AN which of course he was sigh.) but because at that moment he seemed familiar to her-even though he was a stranger. But the deep frown on his face shook her of the strange sensation. "Sorry." She mumbled, a little indignant at his expression. "Whatever." He muttered. They both bent over to pick up their books and with a terrible-though comic-clunk bumped their heads painfully together. "OW!" they exclaimed in unison. "Jeez, what's wrong with you?" he exclaimed. Her eyes widened and she felt her temper flare, "Wrong with me? YOU are RUDE!" They both rubbed their heads and glared indignantly at one another before gathering their books up. "I'm not the one smashing into people their klutz!" "WHAT? That was just as much your fault as mine!" "Keep telling yourself." "What rock did you crawl out from under?" "The same one you tripped over!" "Jerk." She muttered as she stormed off. "Klutz." Came the reply. She was livid. It took her all class to calm down. Not only was he rude but she had the distinct impression that found their entire conversation amusing. Life continued on in the usual way for about a week and then.... Serena hurried down the hallway, her arms full of music-handwritten by herself. She was looking it over and flying blindly to her classroom. She tripped and with an involuntary shriek she fell, her music flying about her in a cascade of white paper. I haven't klutzed out that bad since Junior High. She thought. "My, my," came a voice from behind her, "Hard at work klutzing out some more are we?" She turned around to see HIM?! Her eyes narrowed, "Oh great." She muttered. Of all the people to see her fall like that it had to be him. He picked up a couple of the papers himself, "A music geek I see." He observed. "I'll take those thank you!" she said snatching them from his hand, "I'm sure you have someone else to annoy!" He laughed then, which only made her angrier. "Whoa-o, truce truce!" he said holding up his arms in surrender. He was beginning to like this stranger girl. "Not in this lifetime!" she spat, spinning on her heel before storming off. He watched her disappear around the corner. "What are you smiling at?" a voice asked. He turned, "Hey Andrew. Nothing really. I've made an amusing new enemy." "Enemy?" Andrew laughed. "Yeah she's-" "Hang on a minute," Andrew interrupted, "It's a girl? Do you mean to tell me that the great Darien is actually smiling over a girl?" Darien laughed, "She hates me, and it's really funny-watching her get mad I mean. I've just run into her in the hall a couple of times. I don't even know her name." "I take it you were your usual charming self when you met?" "Of course." "M-hmm. I wonder why you two got off to a bad start then." He said sarcastically. Darien grinned with mischievous eyes, "I don't know what you mean by that." He said innocently. Andrew rolled his eyes, "I would love to know why you refuse to take girls seriously. A girlfriend would be good for you!" Darien just rolled his eyes in return. "Speaking of which," Added Andrew, "We are still on for tomorrow night right?" "Hmm?" asked Darien vaguely. "Tomorrow night. The club. Downtown. Dancing, drinking, meeting girls?" Darien groaned. "You promised." Reminded Andrew. "I know, I know. Yeah, I'll go." Andrew smiled victorious. The club was a popular teen hangout downtown with an incredible layout of balconies, stairs, dance floors and stage. It was crowded and loud techno/rave music could be heard. Darien and Andrew squeezed their way to the bar and got a drink. Suddenly the music stopped and there was loud applause. Darien frowned, "Why's everyone applauding?" "Oh, didn't I tell you?" exclaimed Andrew, "All the songs are final project work by the advanced music students! Cool huh? Oh hey, there's Rita!" Rita was Andrew's girlfriend. He hurried over to meet her. "Oh." Said Darien as the next song started. He stopped short and listened. Wow. The song playing caught his attention, fast beats but a haunting melody. He got up and walked to the edge of the balcony to look down to the stage and see who it was. He started. There she was! The girl from the hallway, her long blond hair tied up in two streaming buns, flicking switches and spinning knobs. The music was beautiful. It almost felt...familiar? It did put him in mind of the Princess in his dreams....nothing had ever reminded him of her before....he filed that thought away--and the strange sensation that accompanied it-as the song ended and the girl got up and walked away, blushing at the applause and cheers. Four girls met her, chattering happily. A tall brunette, a stunning, raven haired girl, another blond and a serious looking girl with short hair. Again, something about seeing them together stirred a familiar sensation in him. But these girls were strangers....weren't they? He shook his head. I'm definitely losing it. He thought. Suddenly the girl broke away from the group and headed towards the bathroom. He smiled and headed towards her. As she turned down the narrow, empty hall to the bathroom a voice behind her said, "I'm impressed." She turned around, "You!" Then she regained herself, "Oh, well, my life's ambition fulfilled! You're impRESSED!" She turned on her heel to storm off when he added teasingly, "Hey! Nice hair....Meatball head!" He stifled a laugh as her shoulder stiffened. He didn't have to see her face to know the expression it wore. 1, 2, 3, she silently counted and walked away. Serena filed into the classroom with a crowd of other students. None of the other girls had been able to make it but she still wanted to hear the talk about the moon anyway. The moon....she felt her heart tingle at the thought of it. She fought on behalf of the Moon-her guardian planet-as Sailormoon, but there was something else. Something familiar about it, as though it were....home? She shook her head of these thoughts as she took a seat and the Professor spoke, "Hello, and welcome! I'm glad to see such a large turnout. Today's speaker is one of my finest students-Darien Chiba!" Everyone applauded as he stood up and took the podium. Serena choked back a shriek. HIM!? The jerk who kept teasing her!? Oh no! She looked desperately towards the door but it was too late. Everyone was seated and quiet-it would be really obvious if she left. She settled back lower in her seat grudgingly. Why did fate keep bringing her and this jerk together? "Hello," he said, with just the slightest trace of being nervous, "Thank you all for coming. The moon has fascinated me for as long as I can remember..." From then on she had to admit, his talk was wonderful. He had a way with words that made you feel wrapped up in them. He had done thorough research. He talked about the science of the moon as well as the various myths connected with it. She watched his face intently as he spoke-thankfully he never spotted her in the crowded room. The lecture finished and everyone applauded-including Serena. She watched as various students and Professors approached him to chat and shake hands and smothered a smile as he casually slipped through them and made his escape out the door. Just like me. She followed after him into the empty hallway and said in a voice loud enough for him to hear, "I guess it's my turn to be impressed." He stopped and turned slowly around, "I see," he said and smiled wryly, "Has this changed your opinion of me perhaps?" "Yes," she smiled in return as she caught him up, "I still hate you, but now you're a lot more interesting." He took it all in stride. They walked down the hall together. "I like that image," he said, gesturing with his hands like a director, "Hateful, yet interesting. It has a nice ring to it." "If you say so." They both spotted the poster for the dance and groaned. "Oh no." He moaned as they stopped and stood in front of it. "You too huh?" "Andrew is going to force me to go!" "Yeah, my friends too." "He's always trying to set me up with someone." "Yeah, my friends too." She frowned, "Do we have the same life or something?" "Oh save me! Not another dance!" he put his head in his hands. Suddenly she smiled and laid a hand on his arm, "Hey, I just had a terrible idea!" "Oh well in that case-" he began sarcastically but she cut him off. "Shut up and listen." "I'm all ears." "I think we might just be able to solve each other's problems." "What are you getting at?" "Neither of us wants to be set up right?" "Right." "And we hate each other right?" "Right." "What if we went to the dance together?" "WHAT!?.....wait a minute. It just might work. We'd have a date...but not a real date." "Right! The chances of us getting together," she laughed, "Are considerably less than nil." "Why ruin a perfectly good hate-hate relationship?" He smiled. She smiled. "WHAT?!" Ami, Leeta Rei and Meena exclaimed in unison. "Did I hear you right? Did you just say you already have a date?!" Serena laughed, "Yes." She replied, her eyes twinkling. The girls sat outside Rei's Temple. They'd finished the Scout Meeting early-there hadn't been much activity lately--and had turned to more important matters: the dance. "Are you feeling alright?" "Yeah, who are you and where's the real Serena?" "Aw guys, don't be so hard on her. Who is this guy Serena? How did you meet him?" Serena smiled, "His name's Darien-actually, he was the one who gave that talk about the moon, the one you guys couldn't make it to. Remember?" "Ohhh, it's like destiny!" sighed Meena dreamily. The other girls rolled their eyes at her starry ones. "Well, that's great!" said Leeta, "Now we all have dates!" Rei smirked, "Yeah, even I'm going to take Chad!" "Ohhh, I just knew you guys would end up together!" chimed Meena. "Meena you're hopeless!" The girls parted giggling. Elsewhere..... "WHAT?!" choked Andrew. "You heard me." Smiled Darien. "Hang on. Let me recover." Andrew feigned a shaky recovery with much sarcasm, "Alright, come again?" "I already have a date to the dance." "WHAT?!" "You said that already." "Who is she?" "A music student-she played at the club the other night. I talked to her afterwards and we agreed to go." "Who are you? Has the real Darien been abducted? Possessed? Cloned and replaced?" Darien laughed. "I can't wait to see her." Concluded Andrew, "She must really be something to get to you!" Darien got up to leave, "She is, she is! I'll see ya there!" "Bye!" Someplace between the Temple, Andrew's and School.... CRASH! "Ouch! Do you have a klutz disease or something?!" exclaimed Darien rubbing his throbbing head. "NO! How do you manage to always jump right out in front of me?!" retorted Serena. "No one would get in your way unless they had a death wish!" "A death wish you say? Your demise can easily be arranged!" she was waving a textbook threateningly at him. He laughed. She bit back her temper-she'd never known she had a temper until she ran into Darien-correction he ran into her. 1, 2, 3..... she silently counted. They collected their scattered books from the ground. It was Friday, the night of the dance, and this was their fourth collision of the week. They stood for a moment, Serena glaring at Darien's amused face. "See ya tonight?" he asked with a charming smile. She matched his smile, "Of course! Meet me at the doors at eight?" "Divine." "Dress up nice!" she sang after him sarcastically. He grinned as she disappeared around the corner. A beautiful couple breeze into the dance. They sail onto the dance floor leaving their friends to look after in awe. "Wow." Managed Rei and Leeta as they danced with Chad and Ken. "He's really cute! Don't they make a nice couple?" giggled Meena leaning away from her date towards the girls. Ami rolled her eyes as she danced with Greg. Andrew was similarly shocked, "Look, there's Darien with his date!" he said to his girlfriend Rita. Rita smiled, "Wow, she's really pretty. You said she was a music student?" "Yeah." Andrew managed, still in shock. "I think my friends might just pass out from shock." Laughed Serena. Darien spotted Andrew, "Yeah, I don't think Andrew's blinked since we came in-that's gotta be painful." They danced in silence a moment before he teased, "Hey, you dance pretty good-you haven't klutzed out once-I'm amazed!" With a glare she stepped on his foot. "Ouch!" he exclaimed. "That was one purpose." She informed him. "Sure it was!" He teased, recovering. 1, 2.... "OUCH!" "Oh sorry, my foot must've slipped-into your shin." "Now, now let's-" The crowded dance floor suddenly pushed them closer together. Serena started, so did Darien. Serena had time to notice how great he smelled but bit her tongue. Darien however, did not fair so well. The feel of this soft girl in his arms, the light, sweet smell of her caught him offguard, "Mmmm, you smell nice." He murmured and then immediately wanted to kick himself. Serena only smiled since she was thinking the same thing, "You smell pretty good yourself-in fact, smelling nice might just be your only redeeming quality." She chuckled at her own joke until he smiled and said, "Was that a compliment?" Her eyes narrowed in mock fury, "Oh shut up!" He'd won. He lead them away a little so they didn't have to dance so close. The song ended and another one came one. "Oh my God!" Squealed Serena, "This is my song!" She looked over to her friends who were smiling and giving her thumbs up signs. Leeta and Ken danced by and Leeta smiled, "We pulled some strings!" "Oh wow! Thanks! You guys are all the best!" gushed Serena. Darien looked down at her, "You...wrote this song?" She nodded. He listened to the sweet song with it's haunting melody, I've, a memory of a dream for you, In a strange place in my heart. Wish I knew the truth of you, Wish I'd known it from the start. Cause I, know I'm not myself with you, But I feel I have been, Close and in your arms, A thousand times before, Feel it in my heart... I've, thrown a wish away on you, My heart just slipped away from me, Falling for you. "So who's the amazing voice belong to?" he asked, "One of your friends?" She flushed, "That's me." His eyes widened, "Wow." He said with honest admiration. He leaned in close to her ear, "You have a beautiful voice." "Thanks." She said a little awkwardly. "No, I mean it, no teasing, your songs are great. You have real talent." She smiled but he couldn't see, they were almost cheek to cheek. "Well, thank you. By way of returning the compliment, you're an incredible speaker." "Huh?" he murmured a little dazed having her so close. He tried to shake off the sensation. What's wrong with me? "Your talk-about the Moon? It was great. I..I love the moon too." She confessed. "Thanks." A strange fire burns fiercely in my heart, Everytime I think of you. Everytime we fight for truth And you walk away There's something, in your voice that calls to me, Feel like I've known you Sometime in the past A lifetime long before Feel it in my heart. I've, thrown a wish away on you, My heart just slipped away from me, Falling for you. He listened to the lyrics and tried to shake the eerie sensation they brought. I could have written those lyrics...about the Princess in my dreams... The lyrics were of course, about Tuxedo Mask. Serena knew it, her friends knew it. That's why they tried so hard to set her up all the time...they knew how deeply she felt for the masked man...the one who wouldn't even admit whose side he was on.... Darien suddenly wrapped his arms around her more thoroughly then he had at first. They were silent a moment. "Wow, this could almost be romantic-if we didn't hate each other." Joked Serena, breaking the tension. She was enjoying the sensation of his body so close far, far too much. "I'm so glad we can have these moments of anti-romance together." His sweet tone was sarcastic. They laughed. The moment of tension had passed. They talked then-as they danced-about everything. School, friends, their life's ambitions. Their friends watched them and sighed. At last.... They were all thinking. Darien walked Serena home under the moonlight. They talked a lot about the moon, equally matched in knowledge and awe. Just as they reached the doorstep to her building however, Serena tripped and fell. Darien offered her a hand, "Alas, the clock has struck twelve, the spell has been broken, the klutz has returned!" She took his hand grudgingly, "I haven't been this klutzy since I was fourteen.'' She muttered bitterly. He laughed. She turned to go. "Hey!" he said suddenly, laying a hand lightly on her arm to stop her, "I had a really good time tonight." She turned back and eyed him a moment. "I mean it." He said, "Thanks, your idea to go together was great. Andrew was off my case-and I enjoyed the conversation too." He said the last part too quickly. She smiled, a genuine smile that had him grinning in spite of himself, "Me too. I'm glad I thought of it!" He laughed, "G'night Serena." "Good night partner-in-crime." She said with mock affection. He laughed again-his jaw was beginning to ache, had he ever laughed this much before? It became a routine all to quickly. There were endless dances, speeches, music concerts and performances with receptions afterwards. Serena and Darien found themselves thrust into a social life. And the more time they spent together, the better they got to know one another. Quite suddenly, it seemed, it was there 'three month anniversary'. Darien surprised her with a rose and a card which read, Thanks for a great three months oh-hated-one! Xoxo your nemesis! She laughed reading it as she walked down the hall. He rounded the corner and joined her, "Hey, get this! We've been voted best couple by the Campus Socialite Society!" She laughed, "Will wonders never cease? Thanks for the card, it made me laugh." "Yeah, yeah-don't I get a present?" She pulled out a small box of chocolates tied with a bow. "Chocolates! Hurray!" he snatched them up merrily, "These are of course-" "Cherry centered?" she cut in, "Of course. Give me some credit! Although, how you can eat them is beyond me, I think they're gross." He laughed as they parted-heading in separate directions. "Happy Anniversary!" He sang out after her and now she laughed. "What are we looking at tonight?" asked Serena dropping her stuff on the dark grassy hill and laying down parallel to Darien so that their heads were next to each other (but upside down) and touching lightly. It had become tradition to meet here late, at the end of a long day-since they'd often come here on their own before. "The moon." He replied, "What else?" Her warm face settled near his, "It's beautiful tonight." "It's always beautiful." He stated, "Don't you think?" "Yes." She sighed dreamily. They were silent a moment. "Serena?" "Yeah?" "So...why don't you date? I mean, you could have a boyfriend...you seem so romantic...don't you want one?" "No." "oh...." She blushed though he couldn't see, "This is going to sound a little strange, but, well...I have this hero...I can't let go of...he saved me once...I mean...the feeling might not be real but...he saved me and I just...can't forget...I know it sounds silly...and vague...I don't even know who he is...I never found out..." She was describing Tuxedo Mask.....as best she could without revealing her alter identity. "It doesn't sound silly." He said softly thinking of how crazy a dream Princess sounded. He also realized she was confessing something to him that she would not admit to anyone else...he knew what that was like. "What about you?" she asked. Darien sighed, "Long story..." "I've no place to be." He took another deep breath and then told Serena everything.....how his parents were killed when he was six...how he couldn't remember them because he had amnesia....how he felt like he didn't know his true identity...and then finally about the Princess in his dreams calling to him. The only part he left out was Tuxedo Mask. "I know it sounds crazy, but I feel as though I know this girl. I keep searching for her...I think she can tell me who I really am..." Serena was silent a moment, "It's very romantic.." she breathed finally, "Thank you for telling me." "Serena?" "Yeah?" "I want to...I want to apologize for being so rude to you the first time we met." She smiled, "I'm sorry I was so rude to you at the club." He chuckled, "My God, are we friends now?" She laughed too, "I guess so." Although both of them knew they'd been friends a long time already and were only just admitting to it now. Darien walked her to her door and then took her hands affectionately, "Hey.." She looked up, momentarily startled, "Serena, I just want you to know....I've never had a friend I felt so...close to before..." She returned his smile and squeezed his hands in return. She stepped forward as she began to speak, "I-" She tripped and fell forward into his arms. He stifled a laugh, "Or so klutzy." She signed and rolled her eyes, "You know, I'm only klutzy around you..." Her voice trailed off as their faces were at their closest. They looked into one another's eyes and suddenly found themselves doing something surprising. It was impossible to tell who initiated the kiss, but a kiss it was. No no no! Serena's mind screamed but her body refused to listen. She could feel herself melting into his arms and he was doing the same. "Mmmm." Murmured Darien despite himself. Her lips were so sweet, her figure soft and warm in his arms. No, no, no! The Princess in your dreams! Screamed his mind but his arms and lips refused to listen. Somewhere in his heart whispered that this was the Princess from his dreams, but his mind protested...Just cause you can have this girl, right here and now, just because it feels perfect, does NOT mean she is the Princess from your dreams! You're just trying to convince yourself she is! But the kiss continued in spite of this. It continued and deepened in the dark, dark night, where a vague Princess and a mysterious hero were suddenly obscured by this intense reality. Her arms were snug about his neck. He peeked his eyes open to see the flush in her face and throat, her eyes closed. Why? Why? I tried to hate her and I can't! She's perfect and I want her.... Serena's thoughts were similar. Why would this happen when my life is so complicated? Why would I find someone so perfect? Oh know I'm falling for him! But he was safe! We hated each other....didn't we? Serena you idiot! Slowly, ever so slowly, they pulled away from one another, reluctantly untangling themselves. "Oh no..." They both breathed. "I'm sorry.." whispered Darien sadly. Her eyes reflected his. "We shouldn't have-I mean I-" "I know, I know." She cut in, putting her fingers to his lips to silence him. "Swept up in the moment I guess." She smiled...everywhere but her eyes. He looked at the beautiful moon, the thick darkness of night and shook his head, "Yeah, I guess so." He tried to chuckle but failed utterly. "Just friends right?" He finally said, looking again into her eyes. Knowing as he spoke he didn't want it. Neither did she. But as friends they continued, determined to be loyal to their dreams and heroes. They both told themselves it was for the best considering their secret identities and after a few awkward moments managed to regain their former relationship. Darien smiled spotting Serena down the hall-trying to force down the wave of tender affection that welled up in him always at the sight of her. But the smile died on his lips as a Youma materialized in the hall. He froze. Up until now they hand both worked very hard at keeping their identities from one another. The Youma was approaching her and she didn't see, there was no time to transform! He ran to her without a second thought. "Serena!" he cried, jumping in front of her as she came face to face with- "Youma!" she cried in confusion. Oh no, Darien's here...how am I going to transform? The Youma blasted them, knocking them back into a narrow Janitor's closet. The scouts arrived at this moment, attacking the Youma and distracting it from it's former targets. Serena and Darien cast frantic glances out to the battle. A blast of energy knocked the closet door shut. In the dim light they turned to face one another. "There's something I have to tell you." They said in unison and then froze. Serena clutched her moon brooch. Darien held a rose. At that moment they knew. "Let's do it." he said trying not to grin. "MOON PRISM POWER!" The blast of light from her transformation enveloped them both in a warm and powerful glow. They experienced a brief but potent sharing of energy. Darien didn't feel the usual ache in his head and burning in his chest-she was here already, right next to him. The transformation felt natural. The light subsided and they were Sailormoon and Tuxedo Mask. She tucked the heartache of this realization away for later. They burst out of the closet together and dusted the Youma. It's loud roar cut short into an eerie silence. The scouts eyed them suspiciously, wondering if they had in fact, come together. Tuxedo Mask took this moment to leave and Sailormoon stood alone, forcing the sadness from her eyes. Darien's Tuxedo Mask....I'm in love with the same person...but his Princess...I'm not the one... "Did you guys...come together?" asked Rei frowning. "Hmmm? Me and Tuxedo Mask? No, he must've come in just behind me-I didn't see, I was running too fast!" They seemed to accept this. Fortunately none of them noticed it was a closet they burst out of. They headed their separate way. "Good job!" "Yeah! See ya!" Sailormoon stepped outside alone and found Tuxedo Mask instantly by her side. "Hey!" he said. She was biting back tears when she replied, "Hey." He didn't notice, he was too excited that they knew. It was such a relief. "I'm glad we know, this will make things easier." He was right of course. She nodded. Their transformations wore off as they walked. Serena watched the dark figure of Tuxedo Mask melt into the gentler one of Darien and her eyes betrayed her. Darien caught his breath. She turned away quickly. They were silent a while as Darien tried to figure out what was wrong... Wait a minute! "Serena," he began, pulling her to a stop before her doorway, "That guy you talked about...the hero..the one who was the reason you don't date....was he-he wasn't Tux-" She stopped him abruptly putting a finger to his lips, "Let's not have this conversation." she begged. He gazed sadly at her. She pulled the star locket out of her pocket suddenly and tucked it into his hand, closing his fingers over it. "Here, take this back. It wasn't meant for me, it was meant for your Princess-" her voice broke, tears welling up in her eyes. She turned to leave but he caught her arm. "Serena-wait!" "No Darien, it's okay. We're searching for the same Princess you see. The Scouts and I are sworn to protect her. I'm only the leader until we find her.....I'm not the one..." She broke free and fled inside, leaving Darien to stand alone in the place where they'd once kissed. Darien walked home very slowly. His heart was heavy. She loves me... He tried desperately to sort out his thoughts. Serena, Sailormoon, the Princess in his dreams. He was beginning to resent her-this Princess in his dreams. She was no longer a ray of hope in his lonely existence. Since he had let Serena get close to him his dream Princess had become an obstacle standing in the way of what he knew he wanted. He looked down at the locket, which opened and played for him. That melody.......why, Serena had used it in her song-the one he'd heard her play that night at the club. That's why it had sounded so familiar! The locket gave off a faint, golden glow. She had cherished this token from a man she believed she loved and now she felt it wasn't for her. Darien's heart twisted in his chest. He had hurt her now as Darien and Tuxedo Mask! He looked down at the locket again. The one material proof of his dream Princess. He had a sudden flash of the locket being given to him...in another time...another life?...pressed into his hand, his fingers tucked over it...."So you'll always remember me...." The voice sounded sad and fearful. He shut his eyes, trying to clear his head. Suddenly a pain grabbed in his chest-his head began to pound. Serena.... Her began to run back to her place, as fast as his feet could carry him. He looked down-Why haven't I transformed yet? He looked up as he reached her building and watched in horror as a Youma leapt from a high window-with Serena in it's arms! Then he realized-he couldn't transform until she did!-that was his cue-had always been his cue! The Youma leapt down to the ground in front of him. "Serena!" he cried, she managed to look up weakly. "Serena you have to transform! Do it!" Her eyes were careless, sad and tired. She slumped forward. "Serena no! You have to transform!" The Youma let out a blast of black energy that knocked Darien back. "Serena! I can't transform until you do! I can't be Tuxedo Mask without you!" Her head lifted a bit at this, and then it happened.... Serena, I love you! I love you... The words burned deep in her heart and mind where no one else could hear. We always could tell each other's thoughts...wha--? Her thoughts were edged by fragments of memory...what memory? She looked at Darien's desperate face...knew the words had been his thoughts. "MOON PRISM POWER!" FLASH! In a burst of white light Sailormoon and Tuxedo Mask appeared. The Youma was blinded and Sailormoon freed herself from its grasp. They fought the Youma together but it was fast-incredibly so. It narrowly dodged all of Sailor moon's attacks. Winded and a bit blasted from the dark energy, the two jumped, flipped and dodged the monster-trying desperately to get a decent shot at it. Then with a sudden jab, the Youma snatched Sailor moon's brooch from her uniform. She and Darien's powers faded away. "Oh my God!" gasped Serena. "NOW WHAT?" yelled Darien over the Youma's terrible roar. "I don't know!" she said, white with fear. The Scouts wouldn't know she was in trouble now.... They made several attempts to grab back the brooch but to no avail. The Youma blasted them both back against a tree, then it grabbed up Darien with on hideous arm. The Youma's other arm extended into powerful claws and it moved to stab Darien. "NO! OH NO!" she screamed, jumping up, "Don't let him die!" A crescent moon suddenly appeared on her forehead in a golden burst, "Not again...." she said softly. Suddenly, the rainbow crystals, wherever they were, began to glow, emitting energy which gathered around Serena. She formed a ball in her hands and then sent out a blast that destroyed the Youma, leaving Darien and the brooch to drop softly to the ground. She collapsed to her knees, weak and exhausted. Darien rushed to her, gathering her up in his arms, "Serena?" She looked up at him and the glow from the moon on her forehead encompassed his features, revealing....armor?.... "Endymion?" she said faintly and he started, looking at her forehead and the faint, hazy glow of a white gown? Then she collapsed into his arms, the moon disappearing. Darien held her tightly and then leaned her back and kissed her tenderly. When he pulled away she was staring wide eyed at him, he smiled. "But Darien...your dream Princess?" He smiled, "Endymion is what the Princess in my dreams calls me." Realization awakened in her eyes, "But I-I can't remember..." "But you will Serena...and so will I...and besides...whatever we may have been in the past...I love you right now....I'm so sorry I hurt you...I-" She smiled as he spoke and managed to pull herself closer, "I love you too." she murmured sweetly and kissed him softy. And the words echoed strangely in his heart-as though spoken there as well. Well? Sappy ending I know but I had more fun writing the bits where they had that great hate-hate but buddy-buddy chemistry so don't kill me! AN: The song they dance to at the first dance is written by myself. It is a real song that I composed and recorded for my Sound class ( I am taking Sound at art college :) *cheesy grin* E-mail??? natia_99@yahoo.com Slip I've, a memory of a dream for you In a strange place in my heart Wish I knew the truth of you Wish I'd known it from the start Cause I, know I'm not myself with you But I feel I have been Close and in your arms A thousand times before Feel it in my heart. (chorus) I've, thrown a wish away on you My heart just slipped away from me Falling for you. A strange fire burns fiercely in my heart Every time I think of you Every time we fight for truth And you walk, away. There's something, in your voice that calls to me Feel like I've known you Sometime in the past A lifetime long before Feel it in my heart I've, thrown a wish away on you My heart just slipped away from me Falling for you.