---------------------------------------------------------------------
        Hello!  Here's another chapter, ready to go!  =)
Story is still about a PG to a (very soft) PG13.  Nothing too tense.
Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Out of the Blue"
  by Stormlight
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  CHAPTER FOUR
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

        School was out of the question.  Not that Serena was
complaining, of course, but she was so BORED!  She'd had to spend
the day in bed, and on top of her injury, Darien's prediction had
proven true, and she had ended up catching a cold.  It was nothing
serious, but it was enough to make her completely miserable.  She
had a headache, and her eyes were blurry, and her throat hurt, and
even her favorite comics couldn't make her forget her misery.

        "Is there anything I can get you?" Mrs. Tsukino asked as
she poked her head into Serena's room.

        "A shodgun?" Serena asked sulkily, her voice sounding
strange thanks to her congested sinuses.

        Mrs. Tsukino smiled.  "Did you take that medicine I gave
you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

        "Awww...Moooom!  Dad sduff dastes AWFUL!" Serena whined.
"Do I HAVE do dake id?"

        "If you want to be able to talk normally you do," her
mother replied with a chuckle.  "Just...drink it and wash it down
with water.  It won't kill you."

        Serena sighed and picked up the small cup of a
vile-looking, pinkish goo, eyeing it as if it would leap out and
bite her.  She would hardly have been surprised if it had.
"Well...here goes nobing..." she muttered, squeezed her eyes shut,
and tipped the contents into her mouth.  "Ewwww...icky icky icky!"
she gasped, hastily gulping down a large glass of water and dropping
back onto her pillows, gasping for air.  Mrs. Tsukino rolled her
eyes at her daughter's dramatics and closed the door.

        "Serena, maybe now you can take some time to study," Luna
suggested hopefully.  "You do have a math test coming up, after
all..."

        "Luda!  I'b sick!  Can'd you led id go?" Serena complained,
unceremoniously shoving the cat onto the floor.  Luna yowled a
protest, her fur ruffling indignantly, but Serena ignored her in
favor of taking another nap.  **Well,** she thought, **one good
thing about this.  Plenty of time to catch up on my beauty sleep!**

*       *       *       *       *
        Darien whistled to himself as he walked down the street
toward the arcade.  His thoughts were occupied by Serena, as they
had been for most of the day.  He wondered how she was doing,
supposing that she hadn't gone to school.  Just then his attention
was drawn to a group of girls standing outside the arcade,
recognizing them as Serena's friends.  "Hey, girls," he greeted.

        Amy looked around, then waved when she saw him.  "Hello,
Darien," she replied.  "How are you?"

        "Doing okay.  Say, has anyone heard anything about Serena
today?"

        The tall brunette, the one named Lita, stepped forward,
a sly grin crossing her face.  "Well, she wasn't in school today,"
she informed him.  "We're all going over to  visit her right now,
in fact.  You're...welcome to come along, if you like."  Behind
her, Amy and Raye giggled, shooting sly glances at each other.

        "I heard you're the one who took care of Serena when she
ran into the arcade last night.  Andrew said you fixed her right
up, and then drove her home.  Gee, Darien, I didn't know you cared
so much," Amy added, for once in a teasing mood.

        "Uh..."  Darien scratched his head, wondering how he was
gonna talk himself out of this one.  "Andrew...had to get back to
work, but he didn't wanna leave Serena, so I just...helped him
out a little, is all," he stammered.  "I'd have done the same
for anyone else."

        "If you say so, Dar," Lita replied, clearly unconvinced.
"Well, we gotta go.  Ya wanna come with or not?"

        "Yeah, Darien.  Walk with us," Raye pleaded.

        **Hmmm...go with the girls and listen to their gossiping
and endless questions?  I can think of more pleasant things to
do...like getting a root canal!** Darien thought, as a sweatdrop
appeared on his forehead.  "Er...sorry, girls.  Another time.
I'm...busy right now," he stammered, pulling away from Raye's
possessive grasp on his arm.  He ignored their disappointed
exclamations and headed into the arcade.

        "Hey, Darien!  How's it goin' pal?"

        Darien froze.  He'd forgotten about Andrew...

        "So...did Serena make it home okay last night?" the young
man asked, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

        "Yeah, I got her home.  Her mom was there and invited me to
stay for some clam chowder.  Then I left," Darien replied casually.
**No need to mention the little event in the parking lot...**

        Andrew's grin widened.  "So...what was all that last night,
huh?  I looked out the back door to tell Serena goodbye, and there
you were in the parking lot.  It looked a lot like you
were...kissing her?"

        Darien's eyes went wide with shock.  **Wha...?  Andrew SAW
that?!  No WONDER the girls were giving me such odd looks!  Andrew
must've told them the whole story!**  He gulped.  "I...er...don't
be ridiculous," he exclaimed.  "You must've been seeing things!
ME kissing SERENA?"  He began to laugh uncomfortably, burying his
hand in his dark hair.

        Andrew gave a sly chuckle.  "If you say so," he replied.
He was not fooled in the least, though.  He knew what he'd seen,
and he was feeling quite pleased with himself.  "So...when's the
wedding?" he asked innocently, unable to resist the urge to tease
his friend.

        "Huh?  WHAT wedding?" Darien demanded, confused.

        "Why...your wedding...with Serena, of course."

        To Andrew's surprise, Darien actually BLUSHED!  His grin
widened and he could not hold back his laughter.  "Come on, Dar!
Why don't you just admit it?  You're totally gone on Serena!  You
have been forever, only you're too stubborn to admit it!  Why else
would you go out of your way to torment her like you do?"

        "You don't know what you're talking about," Darien replied
haughtily.  "I'm not about to stand around here and listen to these
ridiculous accusations!  I have better things to do!"  With that, he
turned to storm back out of the arcade.

        Andrew got the last word in, however.  With a wicked grin,
he called after him, "When you see Serena, tell her I hope things
work out between you two!  You're perfect for each other!"

*       *       *       *       *
        Serena was nudged awake by Luna's cold nose pressing into
her face.  "Ahhhhh!  Luuunaaaa!  I'm trying to SLEEP!" she yelled,
sitting bolt upright.  "What did you do, stick your face in the
freezer?"  Then, her face brightened.  "Hey!  I can breathe again!
Huh!  Guess that glop I had to take actually did the trick!  I
actually feel better!"  A twinge in her ankle made her wince.
"Well...almost."

        "Well, that's good to hear, because you have visitors,"
Luna informed her primly, nodding toward the door, where Amy was
shyly poking her head inside.  Serena brightened again.

        "Hey, Ames!  I was wondering if you'd come over!" she
squealed.  "Are Raye and Lita here, too?"

        "Yes, they are," Amy replied, opening the door to reveal the
two other Scouts. "Oh, your mom said to tell you that she took Sammy
to play practice, and they'll be home later, okay?"

        "Great!  Let's party!" Serena joked.

        "Oh, and by the way, we were just at the arcade," Raye
suddenly spoke up.  "Andrew was there, and he's the one that told
us what happened to you."

        "Yeah, he had quite the story to tell," Lita added with a
knowing smile.

        "Er...What story might that be?" Serena asked suspiciously,
not liking the gleam in her friend's eyes.

        "So...Darien actually kissed you, huh?" Lita asked bluntly,
deciding to jump right to the point.

        "WHA...?!  Are you DAFT?!  WHERE'D YOU HEAR THAT?!" Serena
screeched indignantly.

        "Cool it, Meatball Head!" Raye snapped.  "Andrew told us!
He saw the whole thing, so there's no use in denying it!  WE know
the truth!"

        Serena spluttered for a few moments, trying to think up
some excuse.  "He didn't...it wasn't...we never....he was TEASING
me, and then he...I don't know WHAT you're talking about!" she
huffed.

        Amy giggled, and Lita looked positively impish as she
watched Serena stammer.  Raye was unusually quiet, however.  She
seemed almost...disturbed.  Amy noticed, and she cocked her head
at Raye curiously.  She knew that Raye had sort of a thing for
Darien; they'd gone out a few times, in fact, but Amy had always
thought that Darien wasn't half as serious about Raye as Raye was
about Darien, and now it looked like she might be proven right.
**Poor Raye.  Not that it's bad if Darien and Serena DID get
together, but Raye will be heartbroken...and what might it do to
her and Serena's friendship?  It's so...rocky as it is, sometimes.**

        "Look," Lita was saying to a steaming Serena, "we came over
to cheer you up, not to upset you, so how about we drop the whole
subject for now, 'kay?  But when you get better, girl...watch out!"
And she grinned and slapped her fist into her palm.  Serena gulped
as sweatdrops appeared on everyone's foreheads.

        "Well...I suppose so," Serena grumbled.  "But it really
wasn't the big event you guys are making it out to be.  I mean,
it was just Darien being his usual, obnoxious self, is all."

        Lita giggled.  "Well, if being mean and obnoxious means
getting a kiss from a cute guy like Darien, I'd take that over sweet
and kind any day!" she teased.  Serena's only answer to that was to
brain her with a pillow, which caused a major pillow fight to break
out, of course, and soon feathers were flying everywhere as the topic
was forgotten for the time being.

*       *       *       *       *
        **Okay, courage, Dar.  You can do this,** Darien thought
to himself as he paused on the sidewalk before Serena's house.
The car was gone from in front of the house, which meant that Mrs.
Tsukino was gone, and hopefully the curious Sammy, as well.  Which
meant that, with any luck, Serena was home alone.  "I must have a
death wish coming over here," he muttered.  "If any of Serena's
friends see me here, my life as I know it will be over!"

        He looked at his watch.  Six o'clock.  It had been two hours
since he'd met Lita, Raye, and Amy on the street, and it was dinner
time.  With any luck, they had all gone home by now.  He hoped.  He
took a deep breath and strode boldly up to the door, knocking on it
loudly.  "Hang on!" someone called from inside.  His eyes widened
slightly.  That hadn't sounded like Serena...

        The door opened suddenly, and he stood face to face with
Lita, who looked at him with something like surprised delight
crossing her features.  "Darien!" she cried happily.  "You decided
to come, after all!  I'm sure Serena'll be thrilled!"

        "Well...er...maybe this isn't such a good idea..." he began,
but she had already grabbed his arm in an iron grip and was yanking
him inside.  "Here, we were just about to watch a video.  I've got
the snacks.  You can carry the drinks," she instructed, all the
while a small grin hovering on her lips.  Her eyes were devilish as
she led him up the stairs to Serena's room.

        "Hey, Serena, you've got a surprise visitor!" she crowed.

        "Really?  Who?  Is it Andrew?" Serena asked eagerly, her
eyes lighting up.

        "Well..."  Lita looked smug.  "Not quite..."

        Darien cleared his throat nervously as he stepped into the
room, seeing shock flare briefly in Serena's eyes.  "D...Darien?
What are YOU doing here?" she asked.  "OW!  Hey!  What was that
for?!" she yelped a moment later, glaring at Raye and rubbing her
sore arm where the raven-haired priestess had smacked her.

        "Meatball Brains!  Don't be rude!" Raye snapped.  "He came
to see you!"  She turned a brilliant smile to Darien.  "I'm glad you
could make it," she told him.  "Here, there's room here on the
window seat.  We were just about to watch The Legend of Arislan."

        Darien hesitated, then shrugged and made his way across
the small room to seat himself beside Raye.  She immediately curled
his arm around her shoulder and snuggled close to him, smiling up
at him adoringly.  He smiled back, a bit uncomfortably, but he
didn't move.  He'd dug his own grave, after all.  He might as well
lay in it.

        Serena saw the way Darien was holding Raye, and a sudden,
unfamiliar feeling shot through her.  After a moment, she realized
that it was jealousy.  She blinked in surprise, wondering why the
sight of her friend and her...well...whatever he was, sitting so
close, should bother her so much.  **You knew Darien and Raye were
dating,** she scolded herself.  **It should not bother me in the
least!  Besides, this is DARIEN!  Am I really getting jealous over
HIM?!**  She frowned and shook her head.  **Maybe it's the cough
syrup...**

        "Hey!  Earth to Serena!  Are you even paying attention?"

        "Huh?  What?" Serena gasped, blinking and looking toward
Lita, who was watching her watch Darien with keen interest.
"What?" she asked innocently, stifling the blush that tried to rise
to her cheeks.

        Lita smiled faintly.  "Oh, nothing," she replied.  "I was
just saying that I brought you a ginger ale to drink.  That's what
my mom used to feed me when I was sick."

        "Well, thanks, Lita," Serena replied, laughing nervously.
"I could use something cool on my throat."  She accepted the drink
and took a sip, settling back on her pillows to watch the movie,
determined to put Darien and Raye out of her mind...for a couple
ofhours, at least.  But they stayed just inside her line of sight,
curled up together like a perfect, happy couple, and it began to
wear on Serena's nerves.  **What does she SEE in that creep,
anyway?** she grumbled to herself.  **I mean, he's obnoxious and
arrogant and rude and overbearing and a bully and a terrible tease
and...and...why am I obsessing over this?  Why do I even CARE?**

        She was merely concerned for Raye's well-being, of course.
Yes, that was it.  Darien would most likely break Raye's heart.  He
wasn't capable of love, if his usual holier-than-thou attitude was
anything to judge by.  Unless he reserved that particular attitude
just for Serena...

        **Well, don't I just feel SO special...**

        "Hey, Serena, are you okay?"

        Once again, Serena was jerked from her thoughts...this
time by Amy.  She smiled weakly, shocked to notice that the movie
was just about over.  Had she been zoned out that long?
**Definitely the cough syrup...**  "Yeah, Ames, I'm okay.
Just...a little tired, I guess," she replied.  It wasn't a whole
lie.  Suddenly, she felt exhausted.

        Amy frowned worriedly.  "Guys, I think we should leave now.
It's late, and Serena needs to recover.  We don't want to make things
worse."

        "You're right," Lita said, turning off the television.
"I have homework to do, anyway."

        "Aww, you guys don't have to go," Serena said pitifully.
"I was having fun, after being BORED all day!"

        Amy smiled.  "Well, if you don't keep rested, you'll get
sicker, and then you'll be bored longer!" she pointed out.

        Serena's face fell.  "Oh...you're right," she replied.

        "As usual," Raye chimed in with a giggle.  She stood and
stretched, making sure Darien got a good view of her slender curves.
"Well, grandpa's probably wondering where I got off to, so I'd
better go keep him out of trouble."  She giggled.  "I'll see you
around, Serena.  Hope you feel better soon!"

        "Yeah, thanks," Serena replied.  She brightened.  "Hey,
anyone wanna come over tomorrow?" she asked.  "Mom got me crutches
from the doctor, and I have to learn to walk on 'em."

        Sweatdrops appeared on everyone's foreheads, and a few
nervous chuckles escaped.  "Um...in that case, I'll be sure to stay
FAR away from you!" Raye replied snidely.

        Serena stuck out her tongue at Raye before turning to Darien.
"It was nice of you to stop over," she told him.  "Surprising, but
nice.  Hope the movie wasn't too boring for you..."

        "Naw, it was great.  One of my favorite animes, in fact.
I just wanted to see how you were, is all.  Glad you're feeling a
little better," he replied, for once not having any smart remark to
make.

        She looked surprised.  "Well, thanks, Dar.  I guess.  I'm
just a little worn out.  Nothing ten hours of sleep won't cure!"
She let loose a small giggle at her joke, and he smiled at the sound
of it.  Like silver bells...

        He blinked.  Now where had THAT thought come from?!  "Well,
I have to go now.  Take care of yourself," he told her nervously.
"And try not to break any more ankles in the future, okay?"  He gave
her a grin that caused her heart to skip a beat for some odd reason,
smiled and bid farewell to the other girls, and left.

        Serena stared after him with a small frown, then heaved
an exasperated sigh and sank down into her pillows.  "I do NOT
understand that guy!" she complained, crossing her arms.  "One
minute he's Mr. Obnoxious Jerk, and in the next he turns into THAT!
WHAT is his problem, anyway?"

        "Maybe you just bring out the worst in him," Raye told her
snidely, giggling a little.  "After all, he sure seems to bring out
the worst in you!"

        "And what's THAT supposed to mean?!" Serena yelled.

        "Hey, you two, cool it.  Raye, let the poor girl alone!
She's sick, for heaven's sake!" Lita scolded.  "Wait 'till she's
better before you start tearing into her, at least!"

        Raye had the decency to look shamefaced, at least.  "I'm
sorry," she replied.  Then, defensively, "But you have to admit that
it's true!"

        Lita cut her off before she could say anymore, glaring at
her reproachfully.

        "Actually," Amy told Serena suddenly, "the way you and
Darien act is a lot like the way you and Raye act.  You're always
at each other's throat, you can't spend five minutes in the same
room without quarreling, and you do your best to aggravate each
other.  But look how close you and Raye really are.  You're like
sisters, even if you won't admit it to anyone."

        Serena eyed her friend suspiciously.  "What are you trying
to say, Amy?" she finally asked bluntly.

        Amy's smile was demure.  "Just that...as much as you two
argue, you know Raye loves you, and that you love her, right?
So...why couldn't it be the same where Darien is involved, huh?"

        "Wh...whaaaat?" Serena gasped.  "Are you actually telling me
that you think I love DARIEN?  And that HE loves ME?!  Like even!"
The very idea!

        Amy was not put off.  "Well, it might explain some of the
reason you're always so hostile to each other," she pointed out.

        "Like the way brothers and sisters are hostile, right?  Tell
me THAT'S what you mean..." Serena pleaded.

        Amy smiled.  "Um...no, that's not it.  Darien's not one who
likes to show his feelings, you know.  I bet he teases you because
he loves you...well, at least likes you...but doesn't know how to
tell you.  So this is his way of showing you," she explained.

        By now, Raye and Lita had drawn up beside her, clearly
fascinated by this conversation, and Serena felt her cheeks burning.
"That's the most insane thing I've ever heard in my life!" she
spluttered.

        "No it isn't," Lita replied with a wicked grin.  "I think
it makes perfect sense.  He's like a little boy in the school yard
who pull on the cute blond girl's ponytails to show how much he likes
her."  Her voice was teasing; she was clearly amused.

        Serena wasn't.  "The problem with THAT is that DARIEN is a
grown MAN, not a little boy!  And if it WERE true, if THAT'S how he'd
prove how much he loves me, then I'd rather he hate me and leave it
at that!"

        Lita laughed.  "Actually, I think it's cute," she said,
and received another whack over the head with a pillow for her
efforts.  "Aw, come on, Serena.  You CAN'T tell me that you don't
feel the teeniest bit of liking toward Darien!  After all, he DID
rescue you last night."

        "He did NOT rescue me!  He just...drove me home, is all..."
Serena muttered.

        "And gave you a kiss..."  Raye's voice held a hint of
jealousy, but she was too interested to be really upset.
Besides...she had suspected for some time that Darien might have
a girl on his mind, and she'd somehow known it wasn't her...  "So
tell me, what was it like when Darien kissed you?" she asked
wickedly.

        "HE DID NOT KISS ME!" Serena yelled.  "We've already been
OVER this!"

        Raye thought for a moment, then grinned and tried a
different tactic.  "You're right," she drawled.  "I mean, why would
Darien kiss YOU, anyway?  You're not exactly his dream girl..."

        "Raye!"  Amy looked shocked, but Raye slyly winked at her
to show her that she knew what she was doing.

        "What's that supposed to mean?!" Serena yelled, her face
going red.  "Are you saying Darien wouldn't WANT to kiss me?"

        "Well...if the shoe fits..."

        Serena glared.  "I'll have you know that he..."  She stopped
in mid-sentence, realization dawning on her face.  "Ohhh...I know
what you're up to!" she said smugly.  "You're trying to get me to
admit that Darien kissed me!"

        "Ah-HA!  So he DID kiss you?"  Lita pounced like a cat
on a mouse.

        "I didn't say that!" Serena replied quickly.

        "Come oooonnn!  We're your friends!  You're supposed to
TELL us stuff like this!" Lita whined.

        Serena's mouth twitched.  "It's more fun watching you beg,"
she teased.  "But...if you really want to know..."

        "What?  WHAT?" Lita gasped, leaning in close.

        "Well...all right, I'll admit that he did give me a kiss in
the parking lot, on the cheek.  He was just joking around though!
He didn't MEAN anything by it," Serena reluctantly told them, and
for the first time, much to her disgust, she felt...disappointed
that he HADN'T meant anything by it...

        Lita wasn't satisfied.  "Where on the cheek?" she demanded.

        "What?"  Serena looked at her like she'd gone mad.  "Why
does it matter?"

        "Every little thing a guy does matters!  Every little kiss
or touch is a sign, I tell you!  Now WHERE did he KISS you?!"

        Serena eyed her friend nervously, wondering if she WAS going
mad.  Then she hesitantly reached up and touched the corner of her
mouth, still able to recall the feel of warm, soft lips pressed so
briefly there.  She knew she was blushing, but she couldn't seem to
control it.  It wasn't so much the kiss, it was the WAY he had
kissed her, so carefully and gently, that set her heart to pounding
so fast...

        Lita's eyes were positively dreamy, and she sighed
blissfully.  "That definitely proves it!" she sighed.  "The guy is
gone on you!  No guy would kiss a girl like that if he didn't have
SOME sort of affection for her!  Aren't I right, girls?"  She turned
to Amy and Raye, who nodded enthusiastically, and Serena blushed
even more.

        "I still say you're crazy," she grumbled.  "Darien has done
nothing but torment me from the moment I met him!  He has done
nothing to endear himself to me!"

        "Nothing?" Raye asked slyly.  "What about taking care of
your injuries?"

        "And driving you home...not to mention kissing you, even if
he WAS only teasing..." Amy added.

        "And then there's today, when he stopped over to visit you.
Would you do that for someone you couldn't stand the sight of?"
Lita pointed out.

        "Um..." Serena began.

        "And then there's the way YOU act!" Raye suddenly pointed
out, giggling slightly.  "All starry-eyed and sighing like some
lovesick puppy whenever you think nobody's watching!"

        "Hey!  I do NOT..." Serena began indignantly.

        "It's true," Amy cut her off, in her practical way.  "And
you always claim that you can't stand him, but the fact that you go
on and on about how much you hate him only proves that you care for
him more than you want to admit."

        "Amy!  You...how can you say that?!" Serena sputtered.
"You're totally WRONG!"

        "Oh, come on, Serena," Lita teased.  "Amy's NEVER wrong!
You know that!"

        Serena glared.  "Who asked you?" she growled.

        "Down girl!" Lita laughed, holding up her hands.  "Just
pointing out some facts, is all..."

        "You can point them out somewhere else!" Serena huffed.
"I'm tired, and I thought you said you were gonna wait 'till I felt
better before harassing me about that!"

        "That's true," Amy said practically.  "You did say that,
Lita."

        Lita sighed.  "Okay, okay.  I'll drop the subject," she
agreed.  "It's time to go, anyway.  Guess I'll talk to you later,
huh, Serena?"

        "Not unless we talk about anything besides this," the other
 girl replied stubbornly.

        "Yes, boss," Lita teased.  She and Raye and Amy stood and
gathered their things.  From downstairs the sound of a door opening
caught their attention.  "Looks like your mom's home.  Have a good
sleep!"

        Serena mumbled some unintelligible reply and the three girls
grinned at each other as they left the room.  "D'ya think she'll
actually get any sleep with everything we left her to think about?"
Lita asked evilly.

        A sudden, loud snore followed them out of the room, and they
stopped in surprise and looked at each other as the snore was
followed by another one.  Raye rolled her eyes.

        "Oh, I'd say there's a pretty good chance..."