Here's the third chapter in The End of the Sailor Scouts, entitled,
"Dancing and Romancing". Though it is not my first attempt at writing
fan fiction, it is my first attempt in posting any of my work on the
Net for others to read. A note, I did change the name of the
highschool where the Scouts attend to something in English. I did
change a little history, all right? I respect the Japanese version
very VERY much, but wanted to change the name because it didn't fit
in really with the English names and such. I use everyone's Japanese
last names except for Amy's, which is Anderson. This story takes
place after Sailor Stars, when the Sailors graduate. Any constructive
comments are welcome, e-mail SlrUnico@aol.com!
~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~
"You have to go in and ask her, or it won't work!"
"I wanted to dance with you all night, though, Raye."
"Serena is your friend and mine. Make an exception! Someone
has to ask her!"
"Fine." There was a sound of swiftly running away pumps, and
the door opened. Chad stepped in. "Hey, Serena?"
Go away, she thought. I heard your little plan. Raye wants you
to step in and ask me to dance so she can feel like she's done her
good deed for today - making sure I don't look like a fool at the
dance. On the other hand...she opened her eyes and stood. What do
you have to lose? "Oh, hi, Chad." Serena wiped her tears from her
eyes and pinched her cheeks a little so they looked blushed. "What
is it?"
"I was wondering if you would," he paused. "Like to err..go
back to the gym with me and do a little dancing?"
Serena nodded, against her heart's will. She took his hand and
smiled. "I'd love to. Let's go."
They both walked out, and headed to the gym where the dance was
being held. Most of the parking spaces in the lot were gone now, for
the relatives and families had all gone home, arranging their newly
graduated children hitch a ride from a friend. The moon shone on
them, it was a crescent, Serena's favorite. It might be odd for some
people to have a choice phase of the moon, but not Serena. It seemed
natural.
Still holding hands they entered the gym. People were dancing
to the tunes played by the gym teacher, Coach O'Ryan. Serena watched
as Mina ran over to him and told him something quietly. She smiled in
spite of her mood. The coach had always like Mina best. She was such
a good athlete. They must be talking about volleyball plays or
something, she thought. Immediately a waltz replaced the upbeat jazz
of a few moments ago. There were some groans, but the coach held up
his hands to shush them. "You all remember how to waltz, right gang?"
he bellowed. He made everything seem like a rhetorical question for
some reason.
"Yes, Coach!" several boys shouted. How could they not? They'd
taken lessons on modern dance as a result of a meeting of the school
board last semester. Now each student knew the box step, the waltz,
and the fox trot by heart.
Boys began to ask girls to dance, and when they agreed, were
rewarded with giggles as they swung them around the floor like toy
dolls. Chad took Serena in his arms and began to waltz.
Toby and Mina, (minus hat and vest) swung by them, flanked by
Ken and Lita and Amy and Greg. All waved. Lita, also hatless,
looked to another corner in the room, winked, and giggled. When
Serena tried to turn to see what she was laughing at, Chad deftly
switched directions, making it impossible for her to even glance.
"Hey, Serena," Chad said. "I know you really want to be with
Darien, right?"
Serena was knocked out of her semi-happy mood and nodded.
"Well, I have an idea. Try this. Close your eyes tight and
pretend that I'm him, okay?"
She was doubtful it would work, but it was worth a shot. Her
gown did make things easier, and the waltz did too. She could imagine
that she was dancing with Darien on the Moon, and they were away from
all evil, whether in the form of evil red haired queens from another
universe or evil red haired college girls from another country.
"How does he hold your waist?" asked Chad.
"Tighter," Serena whispered, caught up in her dream. "Like I'm
his to keep."
The hand around her waist tightened. She moaned a little,
imagining the things Darien would say to her, about kissing, and
laughter and signing. In her mind she WAS Princess Serena and Chad...
was sort of a substitute Prince Darien - there certainly was no
replacement for the real thing. Her eyes relaxed until she was
almost asleep, letting her feet do the moving.
For a split second she opened one eye and saw they were
approaching a large fern, very tall and bushy. Then they closed
again and she submitted to the dance.
And then something strange happened. Chad's arms left her for a
moment, though before she could open her eyes they were back, stronger
somehow, different, but more fitting. Serena smiled, attributing the
change to the realistic day dream in her mind, which was obviously
why the hands felt right. Her body unconsciously melted into
"Darien's". I hope Raye isn't watching, she'll KILL me after this
dance, but I feel better pretending I'm with Darien. This makes the
dream real.
To take it beyond reality, Serena murmured. "Oh Darien, I wish
you'd kiss me."
As soon as she said the words Chad bent and kissed her deeply.
Her eyes shot open...and saw it wasn't Chad she was dancing with...but
DARIEN! She gasped. He pulled his mouth from hers. "Surprised?"
Serena nodded a little. and then gasped again. "What...how....
when...??"
Darien laughed and silenced her with another kiss. For the
moment Serena didn't care, so long as he was with her. As they
waltzed the kiss grew deeper with each step, and when it finally
ended it took Raye, Chad, Mina, and Toby to pull them off the floor
and out to the side.
Darien collapsed in a chair and pulled Serena onto his lap.
She hugged him, so happy she was dizzy!
The girls' dates went off to get punch for them, so Amy, Lita,
Raye, and Mina were left with the couple.
"I don't understand!" said Serena. "You were all in on it??"
"Yes!" exclaimed the four girls in unison.
"For how long??" she demanded.
"Not till we left you in the auditorium," supplied Mina. "When
we came back to the gym we all kinda saw Darien at once, looking for
you. Then Raye," she poked Raye's arm teasingly, "decided to surprise
you using her little plan. She got Chad to dance with you, and he
somehow, I don't know how, got you to close your eyes. Then he spun
you behind the ferns and there was Darien, waiting."
Raye flipped her hair with a knowing face. "Admit it, I came up
with a great plan. I mean, Serena looked so pathetic, sobbing
hysterically, I HAD to do something." Her voice was exasperated, but
her eyes were filled with friendship. "So I remembered this old
American movie Granpa showed me once, called Meet Me in St. Louis.
Might have been a little corny, but it was cute, and it had that
scene in it, where the girl is surprised during a waltz with her
boyfriend, like Serena."
Serena smiled at Darien. "He told me to imagine he was you. I
kind of relished in the idea, and dreamed about it while we danced.
The gown made me feel like a Princess, so I pictured us dancing on the
Moon." She blushed. "Chad even asked me how you held my waist. I
told him, 'tight', and he held me tighter. I doubt I would have
noticed you instead of Chad unless you had kissed me. I was so into
the dream, and when I said I wanted you to kiss me that was a mistake
on my part. When you did, that's when I panicked big time and the
dream of you and I dancing turned into one of Raye boiling me alive
in her fire!"
They all laughed. "I have a question, Darien," said Mina. "The
doors were locked after we got in and sat down. But Serena says she
saw you. How did you get in - you certainly were not there when we
went in, I searched the room for everyone I knew, you didn't turn up."
"Think, Mina," Darien prompted. "Locked doors affect ORDIANRY
people, but not," he took out a domino mask from his pocket and put
it on over his eyes. "Tuxedo Mask."
The Scouts murmured in automatic understanding. Darian moved to
take off the mask, but Serena stopped him. "I kinda like it on," she
smirked. "But now I have a question."
"Ask away, darling."
"Well, you said you had finals to do...that's why you couldn't
come in the first place. Was that part of the plan too?"
Darien shook his head. "No, I did have my last final today, but
the professor is a soft hearted old guy, and let me take it ahead of
time so I could get here to see you. It was so awesome watching you
graduate, Serena. I remember the day we met when you accidentally
bonked me on the head with that failing test paper. You've come a
long way."
Serena sighed and nodded. "I know..."
It was then that the boys returned holding cups of punch for
their girls.
Toby stepped back and eyed the couple in the chair. "You know,"
he commented in an off hand manner, "you two look real cute together,
those outfits match. Did you, like, plan ahead?"
The group looked at Darien, who was dressed in a stunning black
tuxedo and Serena in her dress. Then the girls and the couple
laughed. "I wonder why?" whispered Mina, causing them to break into
more giggling.
"Well," Serena answered, "not really, just intuition I guess."
Before the other boys could ask questions another dance began
and they thought it better to take their dates onto the floor.
Darien waited until they had gone and then asked Serena if she was up
to another dance.
"You kidding?" she answered. "With you I could dance forever!"
He laughed and led her out to the center of the gym. Then he
took her in his arms and they began to sway with the beat. "Darien,"
Serena murmured, snuggling her head against his shoulder, "It's
strange. When I was up getting my diploma, I was nervous and
everything...but then I got calm and I felt there was someone else
watching me. When I was looking around the room for the feeling, I
saw you, you were staring right at me!"
Darien nodded. "Yeah."
"You knew I could see you?"
"Of course! I had been watching you ever since I got in. I was
a little late, just in time to hear them call your name. At first I
wasn't sure you could see me, I was in the back. But then you turned
for the photographer, and your eyes, they were there, connecting with
mine..." He trailed off and shook his head. "It was a deep feeling."
"Like we were touching," Serena said.
"Exactly. Then I could hear the girls telling you to get off
and someone moved in my way. I couldn't see, for the rest of the
ceremony. So when this flood of girls ran out, and Amy, Lita, and
Mina were with them, I thought you were there so I followed. Little
did I know you were still in there crying." His brow furrowed. "Why
were you?"
Serena tilted her head away from his gaze in embarrassment.
"I thought you didn't care enough to come, maybe that you had - "
"Found another girl?" Darien finished.
She nodded, cheeks flushed. "Kind of."
"Serena," Darien half moaned, not a moan like he was exasperated,
but a soft and loving moan. He tipped her head back to look at him
with two fingers. "Listen. I love you, only you, forever you. Our
love has lasted a thousand years! It's not a silly crush. It's a
love that most people don't get to experience in a lifetime. We're
so lucky."
For what seemed like the hundredth time that night Serena felt
her eyes fill with tears. "You're right...it's just hard to believe,
I mean after..."
They both were silent. The memories of the times Darien had
unwillingly broke it off with Serena were still fresh in their minds.
When Queen Beryl had brainwashed him, and when he received the dreams
that caused him to, for fear of her safety, tell her he no longer
loved her, were harsh remembrances. But he knew how to take the fears
away.
"Serena," he said softly. "What I mean is true. I love you.
Our love is strong. If you don't believe in it, there's nothing worth
believing in."
Serena's mind whirled. Where had she heard that before? Oh,
right! Mina said something like that at the end of school...."If you
don't have faith in that, Serena, then nothing else is worth believing
in. Nothing else will be true." I'm so grateful to have special
people who care for me like the Scouts and Darien. Where would I be
without them?
"I'll believe in that," she whispered. "I promise."
"We'll always be together," he vowed, taking her hand in his and,
bringing it to his lips, he kissed it.
Serena smiled, feeling warm all over. She leaned back against
him as the song ended, her eyes closed and heart heaving.
Suddenly there was a loud commotion. "Hey," exclaimed a boy
nearby to his friend. "They just caught two cats outside!"
Serena jerked to attention. "No, no," Darien said. "Let me
guess."
"Don't bother, it must be them." The song then changed to a fast
pace one. "I'll go see." Serena gave him a quick kiss on the cheek
and fled to the back door where the noise was coming from, Mina right
behind her.
"I heard," her friend panted. "Did they really come? You think?"
"With Luna and Artemis," Serena gasped for air, "I'd believe
anything."
When they reached the door they found two teachers and a janitor
there, yelling at something in the opening. "Go on," said one of the
women. "Scat!"
Mina jumped in front of her. "Ha ha," she said, turning to the
door. There on the pavement were Luna and Artemis, both a little
bruised. "Well, ARTEMIS!" she exclaimed, scooping him up. Serena
pushed to the front and got Luna.
"These kitties yours' girls?" asked the burly janitor.
Serena nodded. She held Luna out in front of her and shook her
finger in a "naughty" gesture. "Bad, BAD Luna! I told you not to
follow me!" From the look the annoyed cat shot her, Serena was in no
hurry to speak one on one with Luna.
Mina turned to the teachers. "We're really sorry about this."
One of them sniffed. "Those animals acted like they were much
more than they really are! Imagine, sneaking into a dance!"
"Outrageous," agreed the other.
"Well," Serena giggled nervously. "They like to pretend they're
human sometimes, right Luna?"
She could have sworn she heard the black cat mumble something
sarcastic, but decided the merits of ignoring it outweighed those of
drawing it to the adult's attention.
"We'll get them straight home," Mina assured them. After a
reproving glare, the teachers departed. The janitor smiled and
winked. "You know," he told Mina, "I swear that white one said
something to me, but I think I must be imagining it."
"Ya' never know," quipped Serena, who was then stomped on the
foot by Mina.
After a weird look, he left as well. Both girls stepped outside
with the cats and closed the door behind them. "Well?" asked Mina
harshly, but with a teasing look in her eyes, as she set Artemis on
the ground.
He was pouting. "Can we help it if we wanted to see the
graduation?"
"If it wasn't for the stop at the grocer's DUMPSTER," Luna said
with a glare at her companion, "for a certain cat's soooo important
tuna fish sandwich leftovers, we would have been here in time!"
"Hey, you wanted that tuna too, admit it!"
Serena held up a hand. "All right, okay, we get it. I'm touched
that you two decided to come and see us, but as you noticed, you
missed the ceremony. The question is what will we do with you?"
"Serena," asked Luna cautiously, jumping out of Serena's arms to
sit beside Artemis. "You do have the Luna Pen, don't you?"
"Ummm...nope. Sorry."
"I was thinking you could, oh, maybe transform into someone who
could convince a teacher to let us stay, off in a corner of the gym
maybe."
"Who would be able to do that?? No pets allowed!"
All four thought. "A vet?" asked Mina.
"What would a vet be doing at a dance?" Artemis replied
indignantly.
"How about another teacher," questioned Luna. "Maybe one who
could charm he other chaperons into letting her dear sweet kitties
stay."
Serena shook her head. "Won't work, I just remembered the
janitor and those other two teachers saw you. They would know
something was going on. Besides, they know all the teachers here."
"Then transform into a motherly figure. You could convince
them that your daughter's cats left home and there was no way to get
them back."
Mina nodded. "Good thinking! Do that, Serena!"
Finally Serena gave in. "Okay. But you're forgetting...I don't
have the pen."
Luna sighed in impatience and, taking a step back, flipped in the
air, the pen falling on the ground. "Oh," Mina exclaimed. "Wicked
cool!"
Serena picked up the pen. "You sure you remember how?" asked
Luna. "It's been a very long time since you last...uh oh," she said
suspiciously. "I don't like the look on your face. You have used it
recently, haven't you?? For non-Scout business!!!"
"Kinda. Just to get into this ritzy boutique at the mall for
adults..."
Luna, exasperated, shut her eyes and waved her paw for Serena to
continue. "Just disguise, for heaven's sake."
She held the pen up. "DISGUISE POWER, TURN ME INTO AN ADULT MOM
TYPE PERSON!!!" Lights blazed around her as the dress disappeared,
and a modern business suit took it's place. Her hair was cut in a
tidy bob, and a strand of jade beads adorned her neck. Besides that
she was much taller, and older looking. The other three present could
not hold back their shock, as they should have gotten used
to the effects of the Luna Pen on Serena by then.
"Don't look so shocked, gang," Serena retorted. "It's just me,
20 years older."
They relaxed and Luna and Artemis hopped into Mina's arms.
"How about you be my mom instead," said Mina. "We look a little like
each other, and it would look stupid to say you were your mom if I'm
the one that goes with you."
"Quite right, Venus," Artemis congratulated. "Serena, you are
now Mrs. Aino."
"Thrilled," Serena replied, patting the purse that matched her
suit, which had come with the outfit. Then after another self
confident pat on the back, she walked in with Mina at her heels.
It didn't take long to find the teachers they had encountered
earlier. They were practically the last adults left at the dance,
as it was getting late. With assured strides, "Mrs. Aino" approached
them.
"May I help you, miss?" asked one of the teachers. Then she saw
the cats. "I trust you came to get your daughter's animals?"
"Well," Serena replied in what she hoped was a mature sounding
voice, "I realize this is of great importance to you that you rid the
school of pets, but I have gotten into a bit of a fudge. First I'd
like to introduce myself. My name is Elise Aino, and I am the mother
of Mina," she gestured behind her, then held out her hand. Both
ladies shook it. "As I was saying, my daughter's cats, well, I was
taking them to a friend's for the night, and I stopped by here to see
Mina and they escaped, which is when she says you found them. I
regret the trouble you went through because of our dear little fur
balls, but it was unavoidable.
"More to the point, I just got a call on my cell phone that my
mother has gotten extremely ill...I was going to see her, at the time
her condition was stable. There was plenty of time - no rush - to see
my darling Mina and to drop the cats off at my friend's. But now I
must get to Mom immediately, and there is no time to run anywhere
else.
"What it boils down to, ladies, is that I need to leave the cats
with Mina and her friends here at the dance until my friend is able
to come pick them up." Serena watched the teachers with eager eyes.
"Is it...all right...?" Then she cast her face down. "I know it's
against the rules, but Mom..." After a bit of concentration, the
young girl forced a tear down her cheek, only then at that moment
raising her head so the women could see her, or rather, Mrs. Aino's
anguish.
One of the teachers gasped and placed a hand on Serena's arm.
"Oh my dear, of course it's all right!!!"
"You poor darling," said the other. "You go on, little Mina will
be able to take care of your precious cats here. Don't worry about a
thing."
Serena's eyes shone with genuine happiness. "Wow, thanks a
zillion...I mean, thank you ever so much!" Almost slipped there,
girl. Keep it steady. "I can't thank you enough!!"
The teachers said it was the least they could do, and they hoped
her mother got to feeling better. Then a punch spitting contest came
to view on the other side of the gym, and both excused themselves to
take care of the situation. Serena waited until they were out of
earshot and then turned to Mina. "How was I?"
Mina gave her the thumbs up, and Luna beamed. "Except for the
end," the cat said, "you had even ME fooled!"
"You should major in acting for college!" Mina exclaimed. "But
for now we better book it to the rest room or something so you can get
back to being good old Serena." Serena stopped her. "Wait, split for
a sec. I wanna see if Darien recognizes me in this get up."
"Okay, we'll wait for you in the girls rest room."
"The girls!" Artemis said, shocked, but Serena moved away before
he could protest further. Walking as best she could in the very high
heels, pining away for her dancing slippers, she made her way to the
corner where her boyfriend sat alone, waiting for her to return.
"Hey there," said Serena when she reached him.
"Hey yourself," answered Darienin a flirting voice. He had
taken off his mask and looked as if he was waiting for her return.
"Who might you be?"
Startled, Serena lost her composure. That was not the kind of
reaction she had expected. He sounded as if he really didn't know
her. His face had that it's-an-older-woman look on it and his voice
had a reserved tone used for strangers or unfamiliar people.
"Umm...I'm, err, Sherrie," she answered.
"Nice to meet you, Sherrie. Care to dance? I was waiting for
my date, but she hasn't been back for awhile." He stood up and
offered his hand. "I was getting a little bored. I'm glad to see
there's a real woman to...have fun with..."
He's joking, he knows it's me. Please, let him know it's me!
Oh my God, what if he doesn't???? AGGHH!
Serena, full of rage, spit at his palm. "Ohhhh, how DARE you!??
You...JERK!"
Darien, not surprised, wiped his hand on his pants and chuckled.
"Meatball Head, you never fail to surprise me."
"Oh! You...knew who it was?"
He raised an eyebrow. "That was just a little lesson, Serena
dear. When I say I love you, I mean it. I knew it was you all along,
trying to test me. But when it comes to us, there's nothing I can't
pass with flying colors."
She flushed with embarrassment. "Ohhhh...I'm sorry, Darien."
"Don't be," He took her hand. "It was fun. But, I have a small
request before we dance."
"What?"
"Could you, do that pen thing and get back to being Serena?
Because I'd really feel uncomfortable dancing with a woman who didn't
have her hair in meatballs."
She gasped. "Oh, that's right, Mina, in the girls' room!"
Kissing his lips quickly she darted off in the direction of the rest
rooms.
On the way she bumped into Amy and Greg. "Serena??" cried an
alarmed Amy before she could stop herself. Greg looked confused.
Serena made a little gesture at the bathroom. "Yes, I am going
to go get her now, her boyfriend is looking for her. Bye bye!" With
that she ran off again as best she could in her heels, Amy and Greg
staring after her.
Then, out of the blue, she bumped into Raye and Chad. "Oh,
excuse me," Raye said. "I didn't-" Her eyes met Serena's, and her
mouth gaped at her. "What?"
"Sorry!!!" quipped Serena. "Have to book it!" She made the
Sailor salute with her fingers and once again dashed off.
"Who was that?" asked Chad when she'd gone. "Looked familiar."
"Oh," Raye answered nonchalantly. "Just one of your typical
wackos."
Finally, after having to steer away from Lita and Ken, Serena
reached the girls' room and bustled in, practically throwing herself
at the door. Inside Mina was holding Luna, and Artemis was on the
counter, covering his eyes. "It's about time, Serena," scolded Luna.
"What were you doing? It took ages!"
"Oh, this and that." Serena paused. "Don't mess with me, cat.
This has been one hectic night." She murmured the detransformation
phrase and was back in her gown. "Presto, Mrs. Aino is bye bye, and
Serena is back and in business."
"I think I'm going to miss Mrs. Aino," muttered Artemis through
his paws covering half his face. "She didn't seem to talk nearly as
much."
"Wanna more up close and personal view of the little girls' room,
Artie? I'm sure I could arrange for you to take a non expense paid
trip down the toilet."
"Thanks, but I think I'll pass."
"Your loss." Serena flipped her hair. "What are we going to do
with you two fur balls anyway? I mean, I have a life beyond
cat-sitting. And so does Mina."
"We can watch ourselves," Luna said crisply. "We aren't babies,
Serena. You forget those teachers gave us run of the house, or
rather, gym."
"Yeah," Serena laughed. She tugged Mina after her. "Let's go!"
~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~
The rest of the evening found all of the girls with their favorite
guys. Towards the end the class president and a few of the more
popular seniors gave good bye speeches to their friends. Club leaders
also got up and recognized their members who had achieved high honors
in one thing or another, including those who had gotten scholarships
to universities around the world.
Serena didn't really pay attention to anything going on up on the
platform, preferring instead to snuggle against Darien in their seats.
But then the president of the computer Club called Amy's name and she
sat up straight. "What?"
Amy was walking to the stage. "Amy Mizuno," the president was
saying, "applied and won a scholarship to the La Rouge University in
Paris, France to be educated in their pediatrician program. We wish
you luck, Amy." He went on to talk about Amy's grades and her promise
in the world of doctoring. But Serena watched in total and complete
shock as her friend went up to the microphone. She whipped around to
face Raye. "Raye! What's going on, I don't understand, Amy's
leaving??"
Raye nodded, a concerned look on her face and motioned toward the
stage.
Amy was there, looking out over the sea of students. Her eyes
stopped on her friends and she began to speak. "I can't tell you what
an honor it was for me to be accepted into La Rouge," the blue haired
girl said, her voice wavering as her blue eyes stayed on Serena and
the others. "When I was fourteen I was asked to participate at a
prestigious school in Germany, but I declined because I realized I was
needed here in Tokyo more than abroad.
"My friends are the most important thing in the world to me.
They were the main reason I did not accept, even though all of them
supported my dream of becoming a doctor with their whole hearts. No
one here but them knows just how much we have been through together,
no one. I did not tell them when I received word, and I know now they
have alot of questions for me, so if you'll excuse me I should go.
Thank you everyone. Thanks to my teachers, my peers, and to all of
Lakeside. I couldn't have done it without you. You'll all be in my
heart. I bid you farewell."
As Amy pulled away from the mic everyone broke into applause and
cheering, even though some did it with confusion, such as Mina, Raye
and Lita. Serena stood there, gaping. Thoughts were whizzing through
her mind, trying so hard to bury the harsh reality of what she had
just heard.
Then suddenly the voices were gone...the clapping was gone, the
noise, everything, and they were replaced by a sharp and cold silence
as the thoughts of denial that she had not just heard what she indeed
had lit out of her head leaving one truth. The Sailor Scouts were
breaking up.
There was only one option for a girl who had been what she had
been through the entire evening to do. So she did. The last thing
she recalled hearing was Mina's voice saying urgently, "Oh no,
Serena, she's fainted!" Then she blanked out.
What has happened to Serena, and what will become of the Sailor Team?
Find out in the next chapter of this series, "How to Say Good Bye".
E-mail SlrUnico@aol.com to comment!
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