Part two of "Propositions"
By Razzz


Thank you SUE for your wonderful suggestion as to what kind of weapon
chemistry and Physics might make!!!!!!!!! Also, thanks to SmnDolphin,
Laurel Anne and Jenn who are way way way totally cool people, super
helpful, incredible writers etc. etc. yadda yadda yadda (Fill in praise
adjective of choice. And Lianne, as usual is just amazing. Also, massive
thanks must go to archive administrators, (Sailor November for sure
rocks!!! Check her page out!)And, of course, thanks so mcuh for anyone who
has ever ever ever written. Letters are totally appreicated!!! So please,
please, don't' be shy, and write me with your opinions, comments and all
that stuff. It is totally appreciated. Sorry this part took so long to get
out, life is so overwhelming right now. Next part will probably come out in
two weeks (Sorry!!!) Finals and all are next week (AHHHH!!!! SAVE ME!!!!)
well, enough of my rambling. Thanks for reading, and don't' forget,
FEEDBACK IS MAJORLY COOL!!!!! Thanks, Razzz

        He had a choice - Andrew and Rita, or Serena. But this, this was a
choice Darien was not prepared to make. This was a choice he couldn't make.
There was no way he could choose between his best friend and his love. 
        "No. I refuse." Darien said. Karros shook his head.
        "Perhaps you do not understand. We will kill your friends if you do
not comply." He said. It all made sense now. That was why Rita and Andrew
had been taken! As a sort of bait, a way to control him. And it had almost
been Serena in that position! Darien glared at Karros defiantly. He hated
him. Darien remained resolutely silent.
        "Very well. Take him back to his cell." Karros called. The two
guards came and dragged Darien back to the small cage -like room. Karros
followed a short distance behind them. 
        Darien was thrown in, the door slammed behind him, and he landed
rather painfully on the floor. Andrew and Rita were immediately at the bars
separating the two cells.
        "Are you all right?" Andrew asked, concerned.
        "What did they want?" Rita said. Darien stared at them, his
friends. Could he sentence them to death? They were good people - they
didn't deserve this! Darien pounded the ground in frustration, holding back
tears of anger, and sadness.
        "Darien, what's wrong? What happened?"  Andrew said insistently. 
        "Kill them." Karros said from the back of the dungeon, his voice
low, booming, menacing. Andrew and Rita jerked their heads in the direction
of Karros's voice, fear and confusion spreading across their features.
        "Kill them?" Rita echoed. The men in black pulled out their guns,
aiming them for Rita and Andrew. Rita let out a small, terrified shriek as
the cocks were pulled back, the clicking sounds seeming to bounce of the
walls endlessly. Andrew held on to Rita closely, his eyes staring at the
barrels of the guns. Then, he turned to face Darien, his eyes wide in fear,
begging for help. Darien turned away, unable to face it. 'I'm sorry Andrew.
I have to. To save Serena. I'm sorry.' Another click, the sound of a
trigger being pulled back, the time wearing on and on, a long endless
second. And Rita whimpering, so afraid, and Andrew looking at him, and that
noise of guns and soon, very soon, they would be dead, Darien's closest
friends would be dead and . . . 
        "STOP!!!" Darien cried, jumping to his feet in a blind passion. He
couldn't. He couldn't let them kill Andrew and Rita.. 'Oh Serena, I'm
sorry. God, what have I done?' 
        Karros smiled widely. "I knew you wouldn't let me down." He said
happily, almost gleeful. "Now, how should we go about killing Sailor Moon?"

        Three weeks. It had been three weeks since Serena had last spoken
to Darien. And no one had seen or heard from him since. Or Rita and Andrew.
Darien had probably split town because of her. And brought Rita and Andrew
along for the company. Serena listened to the familiar tune on the star
locket, humming along with the melody. 'Oh Darien.' she thought sadly. She
missed him terribly. She stretched out on her bed, burying her face in her
pillow. It probably had a permanent indentation mark from her face by now,
the white pillow case stained by days of crying. Things just didn't seem
the same anymore. Sure, outside, everything seemed fine, the sky was
bright, nature flourishing. But Serena couldn't see that. She used to see
that beauty, but it was so dull now. Dull, because her heart felt so
withered. Dull, because she had lost the one thing, the only thing, that
made life seem magical. 
        She was crying again. Luna walked in, tip toeing in as she saw
Serena sprawled out, crying silently.
        'I never knew I would miss her usual wailing.' Luna thought sadly.
'Anything is better than this.' Luna hopped up beside Serena, nuzzling her
side comfortingly. Seeing Serena like this unnerved Luna. Usually, nothing
could keep Serena down for long. But, for three long weeks she had
maintained that dismal attitude. Luna was worried. 
        "Oh, Luna! What am I going to do?" Serena asked the cat, picking
her up and holding her close. 
        "Serena, I'm sure that it will all work out. Just give him time and
everything will turn out for the best." She said in a motherly tone. Serena
sniffled, rubbing her eyes.
        "I can never go back to him. He told me to just leave him alone.
I've hurt him Luna. I don't want to hurt him again." she said. "It's over.
It's really over, and it's all my fault." Serena squeezed her eyes shut,
trying to stop her emotions from overwhelming her. Luna opened her mouth,
unsure of what to say that could comfort her charge. 
        "BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP" Luna immediately tensed, recognizing the
sound.
        "Huh? What's that?" Serena asked, quickly sitting upright.
        "The communicator!" Luna cried. Serena's eyes widened as she
scrambled off the bed to her messy desk, shoving loose sheets of paper,
pens, pencils, folders, magazines and books to the floor in a wide sweep,
searching through the mess to find the small device. She stared a moment at
the desk. 'Didn't know my desk was pink' she thought. It had been way too
long since she had actually seen the top of it. Finally, she found the
communicator under a homework assignment from 8th grade.
        "Oh, I knew I did that one!" Serena commented, switching the
communicator on, to be greeted by Sailor Venus's face. 
        "Hi Mina - what's with the emergency signal?" Serena asked,
gulping, knowing before she even asked the question. 'Please, I don't want
to fight anymore. Please don't make me fight again. I can't! I won't!
Please, please please don't be . . .'
        "Serena, We need Sailor Moon." Venus said. Serena opened her mouth
to protest. She had had peace for so long. She didn't want to lose that
happiness again. She didn't want to have to run out in the night, worry if
she would live through the next battle, wonder if her friends would all
make it back safely to their homes. It wasn't fair. It just wasn't fair!
        "All right. Where should I go?" Serena said dejectedly. No matter
how unfair it was, she wouldn't, no, she couldn't let a youma hurt anyone.
She couldn't let her friends fight without her. She had to go, no matter
how she felt about it. It was her duty.
        "I'm at the park. Hurry! This is way weird." 
        "I'm on my way Venus." Serena said. Luna looked up at her
hesitantly.
        "Youma?" She asked quietly. Serena nodded.
        "Looks like it. Knew it couldn't last forever. A good thing never
does." She said wistfully. She closed her eyes, as she released herself to
her transformation. It had been a long, long time since she had
transformed, and it felt so familiar, so warm. She had missed that feeling.
And when she opened her eyes, facing her in the mirror was not Serena
Tsukino, but Eternal Sailor Moon. She smiled a little, holding her hands up
in the V sign. Then she smiled brightly.
        "Well Luna. If Sailor Moon is back, then she ought to be back with
a vengence, right?" she said, giggling a little as she jumped out the
window. Luna stared at the running girl in shock. Sometimes, she felt she
would never understand that girl.

        Sailor Moon saw the blast of light, and knew. This meant trouble. 
        "Venus Love and Beauty Shock!" 
        "AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!" Those cries didn't sound like youmas! Sailor
Moon ran faster, skidding into the clearing where Sailor Venus, Sailor
Jupiter, Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury were facing a group of men, all
dressed in black, their faces obscured by masks, carrying guns. 
        "Finally!" Mars exclaimed upon seeing Sailor Moon. 
        "I don't get it? Where's the youma?" Sailor Moon asked, looking at
the men in front of them.
        "These are the youma!" Mars said. 
        "WHAT!!" Moon cried. A short blast came from the attackers, gunfire
whizzing over the heads of the scouts as all girls dropped to the ground.
        "Why are they shooting at us?" Moon asked. Venus shook her head.
        "I don't know. I don't think they're possessed or anything." Venus
said.
        "Maybe they're just really pissed." Jupiter said. "Come on, we need
some cover before they decide to shoot at us again." she headed back
towards the trees, standing behind a wide trunk. Mercury was already
standing there, hiding behind a tree with her computer in her hands.
        "You guys, they're 100% human!" Mercury exclaimed, not believing
her numbers. Why would any human want to kill the scouts. A chunk of the
tree suddenly exploded above Mercury's head as a bullet whizzed past. She
was too startled to even cry out.
        "Hey, you bullies! You can't do that. Jupiter Oak Evolution!"
Jupiter screamed, jumping out from behind her shelter.
        NO! You can't! They're human!!!" Sailor Moon cried. It was too
late. Jupiter's blast had already left her fingertips. Sailor Moon closed
her eyes, imaging the pain the poor people, those poor humans would soon
experience. They had never killed an actual person before. She was
beginning to cry now, realizing that she was a murderer now. She was a
killer! How would she be able to face anyone, after knowing that these
people, people with families and lives and hopes and dreams, would die
because of her and the scouts. 'NO!' she screamed silently.
        "Damn, even I can't get through their shields!" Jupiter exclaimed
in an angry tone, as her blast bounced right off some invisible shield that
rippled blue, trying to maintain it's cohesive properties as Jupiter's
power surged against the surface. Sailor Moon stared at the sight in shock,
thankful. Thankful because no one had died. 
        "Magic?" Venus asked. Mars shook her head. 
        "I don't sense any magic in that - strictly science if you ask me."
she glanced back at the men, at the shield, at the horrified look on
Jupiter's face, at the bullets racing towards her friend.
        "JUPITER!!!" Mars screamed. Everyone turned towards Jupiter. And
their faces all paled. Jupiter glanced back at them in that split second,
before she knew she would be dead, unable to move. Her eyes were so sad,
full of longing, sadness, and a strange light, a happy one. Happy, because
she had a full life - even if it was far too short.
        'Thank you Serena, scouts.' she thought 'You made my life complete.
Thank you for being there. Dying now, for you, it's not so bad. Because
it's for you.' . She closed her eyes, smiling faintly, reassuringly, at her
friends, waiting for oblivion.
        It never came.
        "JUPITER! NO!" Sailor Moon wailed. She jumped out from behind her
tree, her hands pushing the air in front of her, stumbling to reach
Jupiter. 'NO! I won't let you die! I won't let you leave me!' she thought.
Her arms felt tingly all of a sudden, and she was dimly aware that she had
begun to glow.
        Jupiter's eyes flew open when she heard the soft tinkling crash
directly in front of her. She stared in shock, unable to move or speak, as
the bullets crashed and disintegrated against a shield of crystal that had
formed in front of her. She took a step back, tripped and fell to the
ground, dumbfounded at the sight. She turned around, trying to make sense
of this craziness. And there was Sailor Moon, standing there, her eyes
shut, glowing very, very faintly, her hands out-stretched. 
        "Sailor Moon?" Jupiter croaked. Sailor Moon opened her eyes,
smiling, her hands dropping to her sides, as the glowing that emanated from
her stopped, and she sunk to her knees.
        "Sailor Jupiter? Are you all right?" Sailor Moon said weakly.
Jupiter nodded.
        "How did you . . ."
        Sailor Moon shrugged her shoulders. "Don't ask me. It sorta just
happened. I couldn't let them kill you. Don't even know if I can do it
again."
        "Sailor Moon . . . thank you." Jupiter said quietly. Sailor Moon
looked at her quizzically.
        "For what?" Sailor Moon asked. 
        "For saving my life. For being there when I needed you." Jupiter
said, feeling misty as she spoke. When death came so close, it got her
thinking about things. 
        "You don't need to thank me for that Lita. I'd do it no matter
what. " Sailor Moon said, her own eyes beginning to water. Sailor Jupiter
smiled at her friend. 
        "I know. That's why I need to thank you." Jupiter replied. She
wondered when the last time anyone of the girls had told Serena how much
her friendship meant to them. 
        Mars ran out to the girls, grabbing onto Sailor Moon's arm. "Come
on, you're sitting ducks out here. What were you thinking, running out like
that! Do you want to get yourself killed?" Mars admonished. 
        No Mars," Sailor Moon said haughtily. "Why are you -"  Before she
could finish, Mars had her strangled in a hug, her arms thrown tightly
around Sailor Moon's neck.
        "Don't you ever scare me like that again, meatball brains!" Mars
said in a choked voice. Sailor Moon smiled, returning the hug.
        "OHMIGOD!!" Sailor Venus cried, pointing in front of her. "Is that
. . ."
        Sailor Moon looked up, seeing the form walking forward towards her,
his confident gait so unsure now, his dark hair limp, his eyes tired, his
face haggard. She would recognize him anywhere.
        "DARIEN!!!" she shrieked, breaking free of Mars' embrace and
running forward, towards him. 
        "No! Sailor Moon, stop! He came from their side!" Mercury yelled.
But it was too late.

        Everyone had gasped when they had seen the power Sailor Moon had
exhibited when she formed the force field in front of Sailor Jupiter.
        "Karros was right. Guns won't work with them. I guess we really do
need that toy of yours Chiba." One masked man remarked. Darien balled his
fists tightly. He had held his breath, praying for Jupiter, and then Sailor
Moon had run out. He was afraid they would cut her down, and he was
prepared to stop them. But then, something unexpected had happened. She had
made the crystal shield. He had stared at her in shock, and pride as well.
She was amazing, truly amazing. And then he realized, that it was his turn
to try out his creation. 
        He didn't know if he could go through with it. How could he do this
to her? He knew she would see him, and she would hate him. She would hate
him, because he had done this thing to her, and done it with his will in
tact. How would she ever be able to forgive him, not when he couldn't
forgive himself for what he was about to do. He tried to will her to run
away, but she didn't. Oh no, she ran, but the wrong way. She was running
towards him. 
        "Darien! Darien! Where have you been?" She looked at him, then at
the men, who were all staring at her. They knew not to try wasting their
time with guns, knew that they had been ordered to let Chiba have his turn,
and no one disobeyed orders from Karros.
        "Darien, what are you doing?" she asked, her eyes wide in
confusion. How he wanted to turn away from her! He couldn't stand to look
at her, when he knew that in another second, he would have to . . . 
        "Darien, have you forgotten? Darien, please, say something. Why are
you with them? Are you against us? Don't you remember? Don't you remember
me?" she asked softly, her eyes shining with tears. He couldn't speak. He
couldn't say anything, couldn't trust his voice; he knew it would only
betray him. 'Kill me Serena! Stop me. Run! Just stop looking at me like
that. Get as far away from me as you can!'
        OF course, she didn't. She would never leave him; after so many
years, he knew she wouldn't leave him. And it would cost her.  She reached
her hand out towards him, trying vainly to touch him. He bit his lip
resolutely, staring at the small, round object in his hand. 'I can't! I
can't do this!' 
        And then he thought of Andrew and Rita. They would have no chance
if he didn't. They would be dead before he even had a chance to return to
his dungeon. 'Forgive me.' he thought sadly. She jerked her head up, tears
shining.
        "Darien?" she said softly, her eyes boring into his soul. As though
she had heard his internal cries! Her eyes followed his hands as he brought
his hand up, pulling it back, and releasing the icy, metal sphere, sending
it straight at her. Sailor Moon gave a startled cry, throwing her hands up
in front of her face, and it met her arm, as it exploded softly, dust
flying up, concealing her. And when it was settled, she was there, looking
at him with a tear stained face through the walls of the confining crystal
cage she was in: a giant, hollow diamond, just big enough  to hold one
girl, Sailor Moon. It stood impossibly on one sharp point on the bottom,
through some magical mystery of physics. 
        And then, Sailor Moon screamed. Darien would never forget that
sound, because he knew he had caused it. It echoed eternally in his ears.
He knew she was in pain as the energy coursed through her. He had vowed
that he would kill any who caused Serena pain. But now, he was the
offender. He hated Karros for making him do this to her, but even more, he
hated himself, for not being strong enough to stop himself from doing this
to her. He wanted to run to her, to free her, to make things right, but
somehow, through the mist of his conscious mind, he kept himself under
control. He didn't know how, but he did. 
        She was crying now as well, and he could feel his own tears double
with every one she shed. He was still biting his lips - he could taste the
copper as he broke the skin. He couldn't watch any longer, so he shut his
eyes, but even with his eyes closed, he could see her, looking at him
accusingly, in so much pain, pain that he had caused. Even with his eyes
closed, it changed nothing. 

        "What's he doing?!?!" Mars yelled, staring at the scene in front of
her. Had Darien really just attacked Serena? He would pay, Mars would make
sure of that. He had hurt her for the last time.
        "I don't, I don't think he's brainwashed!" Mercury said, trembling
a little as she stared at her screen. 
        "You mean he chose to . . .that bastard!" Jupiter cried. Sailor
Moon screamed, and all four girls nearly screamed with her, her pain
becoming theirs, unable to stand their friend and leader  being hurt.
Jupiter took a menacing step forward, her eyes fixed on Darien.
        "Sailor Jupiter?" Venus asked, placing a hand on the girls arm.
Jupiter removed it, taking another step forward. Venus didn't stop her this
time
        Jupiter ran full speed at Darien, her fists flying out in front of
her. She landed the first blow hard to his cheek. He never even opened his
eyes. They were squeezed shut tightly. She reached out again, ready to
pummel him, but he grabbed her hands with is own tightly around the wrists,
and pulled her closer to him. She could hear his low, ragged breathing, as
though each breath was a struggle. She tried to pull away from him, but his
hold was like a vice. 
        "You liar! Jerk! How could you?" Jupiter spat, fighting against
him. 
        "Stop moving Jupiter." He said sharply. She looked up at him
defiantly, and gasped as she looked into his eyes. They were dead. Before,
they had a light about them, but now, that seemed to be gone. 'What
happened to you?' she wondered. Then she remembered what he had just done,
and she began to kick out with her legs now.
        "Let me go!" she said. He shook his head, then shook her.
        "HOLD STILL! Or do you not want to help Sailor Moon." he hissed.
That stopped Jupiter. She eyed him warily.
        "What . . . ?"
        "Aim for the bottom of the crystal. The very, very bottom, at the
point. All the pressure is situated there. It's the weakest point of the
whole thing. The slightest disturbance will break it."
        "Why should I trust you!" she said. He shook her again, this time
angrily.
        "Just do it! Or do you like seeing her in pain? Now kick me hard
and help her!" 
        Jupiter didn't need any more coaxing as she swung her leg back,
thrust it forward, and made contact with soft skin. Darien grunted in pain,
and she felt his hands loosen, then let go completely, as she ran away from
him. Sailor Moon was still trapped in that thing, her head resting against
the side of the crystal, her body jerking occasionally as the energy struck
her again, whimpering in pain. The scouts looked on, horrified, Mercury
typing furiously on her computer, while the others attacked the crystal.
But none of the blasts ever neared the bottom of the crystal. 
        "Cover me!" Jupiter yelled. Mars nodded her head.
        "Mars Flame Sniper!" the fire stopped any of the men from even
thinking of attacking Jupiter. Jupiter concentrated on the small point,
focusing all her will, hoping her aim was true. 
        "Jupiter Oak Evolution!" The power was right on target. It
contacted the point with deadly accuracy, and suddenly, the crystal
shattered into a million tiny, sparkling shards. Sailor Moon dropped to the
ground, limp, yet alive. Jupiter picked her friend up, bringing her to the
safety of the trees. She looked out at the enemy as they scurried away,
running, terrified really, trying to escape. She knew they would; everyone
was too concerned with Sailor Moon right then to really pay them much
attention. But one thing concerned Jupiter about this new threat, this
human enemy. She wasn't sure who exactly  the enemy was. 
        Was Darien still on their side, or had he somehow turned against
them? She just didn't know. HE had both attacked and saved Sailor Moon.
And how was she going to explain all this to Serena?

        He knew as he was thrown back into his cell that Karros was not
pleased. Darien was sure that Karros was angry because they had failed to
kill Sailor Moon. Karros was coming to the cell to see him, not sending
Darien up to his office. That was a bad thing, and it should have sent
shivers down any man's spine. But not Darien's. He could have cared less. 
        Darien felt as though he would be sick. He stared at his own two
hands, as though they were some vile, foreign object. It was these two
hands that had hurt Sailor Moon. He couldn't go through that again. He
couldn't just stand by and watch her suffer - couldn't be the cause of that
pain again. But he couldn't abandon Andrew and Rita either, and leaving
Sailor Moon alone would almost certainly unsure their deaths. 
        Again his thoughts returned to escape. But, Karros kept guards with
him at all times, and if he did manage to escape, which was highly unlikely
since the two guns were aimed at him at all times, that would still leave
Rita and Andrew trapped, and, when Karros found out that Darien was no
longer a prisoner, would kill them. There was no way out.
        'It would be better if I just died! Then, no one could control me.'
Darien thought bleakly. Anything was better than this, than being forced to
hurt the one person in the world he loved, the woman he would die for. He
swallowed back a sob as he began thinking about her. It was over between
them. There was no way she would ever want him back, after the incident
that afternoon. And, she deserved someone better, someone who didn't get
trapped into nearly killing her. He had nothing - he had lost it all.
Perhaps death would be better. No, Karros would probably kill Andrew and
Rita as well then. And, they would probably find another scientist to kill
Sailor Moon, only this time, the scientist would not deliberately create a
faulty weapon, making sure that Sailor Moon would not be killed. He had to
stay alive, to fight, to protect her even as he was hurting her. 'I'm so,
so sorry Serena. I'm so sorry for hurting you.' 
        "Darien, did you, well, you know?" Andrew asked. Darien shook his
head no. Andrew gave a breath of relief.
        "If they killed Sailor Moon, the world would be in trouble, huh? No
one would be able to stop people like Karros." Rita said. "I hope they
never get her."
        "Me too." Darien said. 
        "Did he say why he wants her dead?" Andrew said softly. 
        "I don't know." Darien replied.
        "I don't think I want to know. He must want her out of the way for
some important reason." Rita said. She looked at Darien, her face clouding
with worry. 
        "Will you be all right?" she asked. Darien smiled at her as much as
he could.
        "Yeah, I'll be fine. Don't worry." He said. Her eyes flashed, not
quite believing him, but not pressing the matter. She was worried. He
looked terrible, but she assumed it was just this place, and the hours of
work he had put in against his will. 
        Karros walked in, beaming. It was not the reaction Darien had
expected. He didn't even bother to stand as the large man stopped outside
his cell.
        "You're device failed Mr. Chiba." Karros said in his annoying
manner, speaking in a tone that one would use when speaking of the weather.
"Perhaps your friends should die now for your incompetence." 
        "You didn't expect it to work the first time, did you. This is
science. It never works on the first try!" 
        "But we've lost the element of surprise." Karros said. 
        "But next time-" Darien protested. Karros waved his hand, silencing
him
        "There won't be a next time." Andrew grabbed Rita, afraid of what
this meant. They knew that they're lives depended on Darien's success with
killing Sailor Moon. 
        "No! Karros, you can't!" Darien cried, losing the calm he had tried
to maintain. Karros laughed heartily. 
        "Calm down Mr. Chiba. You're friends are safe, for now. We have
decided to try a new tactic." Darien's mouth went dry. He was suddenly
very, very afraid. And Karros could see it too.
        "You looked as though you knew Sailor Moon. Or, she at least knew
you." Karros said in a low, confidential voice. 
        "I don't know what-"
        "In fact, I'd say the two of you are quite close. Now, I ask
myself, Mr. Karros, who would Mr. Chiba know that well, that she would act
like that? Who does he know that could be Sailor Moon? And then it hits
me."
        "What . . . what hits you?" Darien asked slowly, his heart racing.
Karros leaned in even closer to the bars. 
        "How is that pretty girlfriend of yours Mr. Chiba? Ms. Tsukino?"
Darien leaped up from his bed, slamming up against the bars as far as he
could. Karros stepped back away from him, his eyes flashing in fear for a
split second at the pure fury and rage on Darien's face.
        "If you hurt her, I swear Karros, I swear I'll break every single
bone in your body with my bare hands!" he said through tightly clenched
teeth. Andrew and Rita looked at Darien, truly afraid of him. Never had
they seen him like that. Never. 
        "You know, I think she and Sailor Moon look quite similar. Quite.
Don't you think Mr. Izasu?" Karros said, looking at the guard. The man
nodded.
        "Yes Mr. Karros. They look pretty much the same. The hair I think."
        "Leave her alone! She isn't anything. She's just a kid!" Darien
argued, yelling loudly. 
        "And to think you said you didn't care for her anymore." Karros
laughed. 
        "Anything. I'll do anything. Just leave her alone. Karros, do you
hear me? Do not go near Serena Tsukino. OR else you're dead already."
Darien said. "I'll kill you personally you son of a -"
        "Would you please calm Mr. Chiba down Mr. Izasu?" Karros said to
the guard. He and his partner stepped forward towards the cell, pulling out
the keys.
        "Oh and when you're done, join Mr. Ryoki at Ms. Tsukino's home.
Find the crystal."
        "And what about the girl?" Izasu asked. Karros laughed. 
        "Why, kill her of course." 
        "NO! You stay away from her!" Darien cried, slamming his hands
against the bars, trying to get out, and rip Karros' stone heart from his
chest.
        "Please, would you keep him quiet Mr. Izasu?" Karros requested,
sounding mildly annoyed. "He is quite bothersome, isn't he?" Izasu nodded,
and opened the cell door. 
        "Serena!" Darien whispered, his last conscious thought.

        "Luna, do you think that maybe Darien turned against us because of
me?" Serena asked, as she pulled a brush through her long blond hair,
which, out of it's buns, fell down past her knees.
        "No Serena. In fact, I'm not sure he's even turned against us.
Remember, Lita did say he told her how to get you out of that thing." Luna
said. "I'll bet there's more to this than we're aware of."
        "Yeah, that's what I think too. He's for sure not gone bad. Luna,
do you think-" 
        "Serena, I'm sure that you and Darien will make up." Luna said in a
slightly annoyed tone.
        "How did you know what I-"
        "Was going to ask?" Luna finished for her. "I know you too well.
Now get some sleep. Tomorrow we have a long day ahead of us, and you'll
need your rest." 
        "But Luna-"
        "To bed Serena. I'm going to speak with your parents, and when I
come back, you had better be asleep."
        "Yes Luna," Serena grumbled. 'She's as bad as Mom!' Luna walked out
of the room, and Serena stuck her tongue out at her. She picked her brush
up and continued to brush her hair, humming to herself. Tomorrow, she was
sure, they would figure out a way to get Darien back. As much as what he
had done hurt her, and confused her, she knew that there was a rational
explanation. She was going to what it was. She wouldn't rest until they
had. 
        Something flashed in the mirror. Serena put the brush down as she
turned around. 
        "Hello?" she asked uncertainly, her eyes darting around the room.
"Is anyomrfff!" 
        A black, gloved hand clamped down over her mouth, as another hand
held her waist. 
        "Don't move Sailor Moon." he hissed. Serena froze. 'How does he
know who I am!?' 
        The intruder began dragging her back towards the window. Serena
dragged her feet, kicking out with them, trying to stop him. 
        "Mrrfffmm rfffmmm phmmuh!" she said, trying to scream. He released
his hand from her mouth, and pulled out a gun, holding it to her temple.
        "I said stop- ARGH!" the man cried out in pain, as Luna dug her
claws into his arm. Serena pulled away from the man just as the gun went
off, the deafening noise banging in her ear, leaving it ringing, barely
able to hear. She smelt the sulfur thick in the air, causing her cheek to
sting even more. She put her finger to her cheek and pulled it away quickly
as she felt something wet. Blood. It was nothing serious, just a scratch,
but still, he had shot her.
        You hurt me!" Serena yelled incredulously, running towards her
desk. If she could get to her locket, she could take him out. 
        "Freeze right there, or I shoot. Not so tough now are you Sailor
Moon?"
        "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not Sailor Moon." she
said, inching towards the desk.
        "I said stop moving!" the man barked, waving the gun. Serena
halted, too afraid to anger him, bumping up against her bureau. He started
towards her.
        "Leave my daughter alone!" Ken Tsukino ordered. The man stopped,
looking at the family that had gathered in the doorway, amused. 
        "Don't hurt my sister!" Sammy said, holding a heavy  sword out in
front of him, which wasn't too difficult thanks to the lessons Darien had
given him. 
        "And what are you going to do about it?" The man asked, grabbing
Serena's hand. He yanked her forward, looking straight at her. He didn't
notice that her hands were curled around something.
        "Let me go!" Serena screamed, throwing the open container of powder
in his face, straight at his eyes. The intruder howled in pain as the stuff
burned his eyes, dropping the gun. Serena scrambled back away from him
towards her family. 
        Until she was stopped in her tracks by a single gunshot which left
a nice round hole in the ceiling, plaster dropping to the ground. She
turned around, scared, to face the second man, dressed exactly like the
first, holding a gun, smoke still wafting from the barrel.
        "Don't move." he said. Serena froze, her eyes locked on the gun,
which was now pointed at her. He grabbed Serena roughly, clasping her hands
behind her back and holding the gun to her side.
        "If any of you try anything, she's dead." He said, motioning
towards the angry Tsukino family. They froze. " Now, where is the crystal?"
        "What crystal? I don't know what you're talking about?" Serena
said, her voice wavering slightly. She really, really didn't like guns
much. 
        "Do you know what this is?" he cried, shoving the gun closer to her
face.  "Do you have any idea how fast I could kill you Sailor Moon? Now
let's try this again, where is the crystal?"
        "Would you please stop waving that thing. It's not polite, and it's
dangerous. You could kill someone!" Serena said angrily. "I'm getting
really tired of people telling me what to do, and holding guns to me and
stuff."
        "The crystal! Where is it?" he yelled at her. She cowered, her eyes
glistening with tears.
        "WAAAAAHHHH!!!!! You don't need to yell! I don't know what crystal
you're talking about." She cried. The man groaned. 'What did Chiba see in
this brat?' he asked himself.
        "Um, Izasu, I think the cops are coming." Ryoki said, rubbing his
eyes, and picking up his gun. 
        "Great. Just great."
        "What should we do?"
        "I don't know." He stepped towards the window, Serena still in his
grasp. "We can't kill her without finding the crystal first. I'll take the
girl to Karros. He'll know what to do with her."
        "What about the crystal?"
        "I don't have any crystal!" Serena protested. 
        "Shut up!" he yelled at Serena. Then, he turned back to Ryoki.
"Search her room. Find the crystal. And hurry." Izasu ordered. He put a
foot out the window, then turned back to her family.
        "My partner doesn't come back, she dies. Understood?" he said. 
        "Y, yes." Ken said slowly, his face pale with anger and fear. The
man nodded, at them, then leapt out the window and out of sight. 


        "Serena, would you marry me?" Darien asked, perched on a single
knee at Serena's feet. She looked down at him, then began to laugh.
        "You? You want me to marry you?" she said between giggles. Suddenly
her face darkened. "You tried to kill me!"
        "No, I didn't want to! I had no choice-"
        "Everyone has a choice Darien. It doesn't change the fact that you
tried to kill me!"
        "Serena, I'm sorry."
        "Sorry isn't good enough. Go away Darien. I would never marry you,
not after what you did to me. I'm dead because of you. I hate you Darien."
she walked away. 
        "Serena, wait, please, come back . . . "
        "Serena!" Darien cried out, jerking up right in his cot, the sheets
tangled around him, breathing hard. He put his hand to his head. 'Only a
dream. It was only a dream.' 
        "Darien, are you all right?" Andrew asked. "That sounded like some
nightmare."
        "Yeah, I'm fine. I'll be fine." Darien said. The words of his dream
Serena though, still rang in his ears. 'I hate you Darien! Hate you, hate
you hate you . . .' And then he remembered Karro's orders. Darien jumped up
and stood by the bars separating his and Andrew's cell.
        "Serena! Did they . . . do you know if they . . .?"
        "I don't know. Something happened about half an hour ago. I don't
know what." Andrew said. "I don't think he would just . . .I mean, she
can't be, be . . ." Andrew swallowed hard, trying to calm himself down
after such frightening thoughts. 
        "Yeah. She's fine. She's tough. Serena'll be all right." Darien
said, reassuring himself. But, he knew Karros. She was dead. Karros had
ordered it. He felt tears assault his eyes. 'I'm so sorry. What will I do
without you? It's not fair!!'
        "Darien, is Karros right. I mean, was . . . is Serena really Sailor
Moon?" Andrew asked. Darien looked at his friend sadly. He would have to
lie yet again to his friend.
        "No. She's not. She's just . . .Serena." he said, sinking back down
despairingly and closing his eyes, wanting to just scream.
        " . . .And another thing! You do not just drag girls around like
that. You'll never get a date if you act like this. YEOOWW - be careful.
I've got delicate skin you know!" Darien's eyes flew open at the voice.
Could it really be her!?!? 
        "Darien!" Serena cried as she saw him lying on the cot, struggling
even harder against her captors to get to him. "Let me go this instant!"
she ordered. The one guard pulled out his keys, and opened the door to
Darien's cell, throwing Serena in roughly. 
        "Now maybe you'll shut - up!" guard one said. Serena glared at him
angrily.
        "A real looker Chiba. She'd be perfect - if you get rid of her
vocal chords." The second said, laughing. Serena scowled at them.
        "What's wrong with them? I happen to like my vocal chords!" she
pouted. The guards put their hands to their ears.
        "There she goes again. Let them," he motioned towards Darien,
Andrew and Rita, "suffer." They left, laughing. 
        "Oh yeah, well!" she poked her tongue out at them, making a face at
the door. Darien tried to suppress a chuckle at her comical outburst. 
        "Serena! We were so worried! Are you all right?" Rita exclaimed. 
        "Rita? Andrew? What are you guys doing here? What's going on?"
Serena said. 
        "We're not exactly sure. I can't believe you're all right." Andrew
said, relieved, and surprised. He had never expected to see Serena alive
again.
        "I'm fine. You guys have been trapped in here this whole time you
were gone?" she asked. Andrew nodded.
        "Yeah. A little over three weeks." Andrew said. Serena looked at
him, then at Darien, who immediately turned his back to her. She choked
back a small sob as her eyes filled with tears. She wanted to be angry at
him, to yell and scream and hit him, for whatever that stupid stunt he
pulled had been. She knew deep down, that it wasn't really him that wanted
to hurt her, even if he had. Whoever had kidnapped her, and him, that had
been the real culprit. But she still wanted to be a little angry. And yet,
at the slightest glance, her resolve faded, and she was again weak kneed as
she looked at him, her heart melting. She couldn't be mad at him. Not now,
not ever. She loved him too much to be mad. 
        "Darien too?" she asked. Rita nodded. Serena turned to Darien, his
back still facing her. IF he had been here since before the attack, she was
sure that he couldn't have done it of his own free will. The tight
clenching in her stomach seemed to lift at that revelation. She held her
hand out, almost touching his shoulder.
        "Darien?" she asked timidly. Darien let out a small, inaudible
sigh, still turned away from her, staring at his shoes. 
        "Serena . . . I-" he paused, thinking. 'I'm sorry for trying to
kill you?' he thought angrily. 'She deserves better than this!' "I don't .
. . I mean, I can't-"
        "I understand Darien." she sniffed, tears shimmering in her eyes.
'He still hates me for saying no. He should marry someone better than me!'
she thought sadly. She walked dejectedly to the corner of the cell, as far
from Darien as she could get. She knew he didn't want to be near her.
        'She's trying to stay as far from me as she can. Not that I blame
her. I would too, if I were her.' he thought, watching her from the corner
of his eye. She leaned her head  back, resting it against the wall, and
closed her eyes, drawing her knees to her chest and hugging them tightly. 
        'Oh Darien. I'm sorry. I won't hurt you ever again. I'll stay as
far away as you want me to. Then, you can be happy.' She closed her eyes,
hoping that sleep would make things better.
        Rita and Andrew watched the melodrama playing in front of them,
turning to each other in shock.
        "What are those two thinking?" Rita hissed. "I don't get it. I just
don't get it."
        "Maybe I should talk to Darien." Andrew suggested softly, so the
other two wouldn't hear him. He doubted they would anyway, since both
seemed too pre-occupied with their own thoughts.
        "No. I think they need to work this out on their own." She said,
after thinking the matter over carefully, barely containing her own urge to
talk to the two. "Let's go to sleep, and give them some privacy." She said,
laying down on the cot, and pulling Andrew down beside her. The two shut
their eyes, and fell asleep, thankful for each other.
        With her eyes closed, Darien could look at her with out worrying
she would catch his stolen stares. She was so beautiful, her golden hair
loose and pooling about her. And he had thrown that girl, and that love,
away. He got up from the cot and walked over to her, seeing the small
goosebumps that had appeared on her flesh. Obviously, the thugs who had
taken her had grabbed her just before bed. She was still clad in an old
pair of boxers and a light T shirt.  He also darkly noted the cut on her
cheek, a long slice with a thin line of dried blood. He was vaguely aware
that his hand had clenched tightly as he thought of how he would make the
men who had hurt her pay. 
        He gently picked her up, careful not to wake her, and brought her
to the cot. She should never have to sleep on the floor. He glanced down at
her lovingly, brushing back a loose strand of her bangs, then pulled the
blanket over her. 
        "Darien?" she mumbled sleepily. Darien nodded his head.
        "Shh. Go to sleep Serena." he said. She opened her eyes fully,
squinting up at him. 
        "What are you doing?" she asked. 
        "You can't sleep on the floor." He said. 
        "But where will you sleep? I don't want you to be uncomfortable
because of me." 
        "I'll be fine Serena. Don't worry." He said, turning from her. She
grabbed his wrists.
        "No way. There's enough room for us both on this thing." she said.
Darien shook his head, smiling sadly.
        "The floor is fine."
        "If you sleep on the floor, then I sleep on the floor." She said,
swinging her legs over the side of the cot. He put his hand on her
shoulder, pushing her back down.
        "Serena, really. That's not necessary." 
        "I don't want you to suffer just because of me. Please Darien." she
looked up at him with pleading eyes, and he knew he was done for. When she
flashed him 'the look' there was no saying no to her. He sighed in defeat,
and sat down as she scooted over to give him room. He lay his head down on
the pillow, not facing her. He felt he could never meet her eyes again. He
didn't even know how he could stay so close to her, his heart was so full
of guilt. Or, how she could want to stay so close to him. He truly didn't
understand.
        He lay awake, thinking for a long time, reflecting on the last few
weeks, feeling his pain over his actions well up again. Everything was just
so confusing. 
        "Darien? You awake?" Serena asked. 
        "Go back to sleep Serena." he said curtly, a little more harshly
than he would have liked to have sounded. Not that he was angry with her,
just that he was angry in general, especially with himself.
        "I don't mind sleeping on the floor. If you want me to, I don't
mind." She said softly. 
        "Serena, don't be silly. Let's just go back to bed." He said. 
        "O, Okay." she said weakly. She was quiet. After a few minutes, he
heard a faint sound behind him. 
        "Serena?" he asked. No answer, but still that stifled choked sound.
He turned over, looking at her, her face buried in the pillow. He propped
himself up on one hand, and touched her shoulder.
        "Serena?" he asked again. She looked up, tears streaming down her
face. 
        "I'm sorry." she whispered, her voice trembling. "I didn't mean to
wake you. It's just, just-"
        "Just what?" he asked. She burst into sobs again, and threw her
arms around Darien, her cheek rubbing against his chest.
        "I'm so sorry. I, I know you hate me. But, I need you right now. "
she cried softly "I'm so, so scared. Please, just don't hate me for right
now, and tomorrow, you don't, don't have to even look at me. Just please,
for right now, I need you. Just for right now." 
        Darien didn't know what to say. 'She thinks I . . . hate her?' he
wondered, perplexed at this revelation. Without thinking, his own arms had
wrapped around her and he instinctively pulled her closer.
        "Serena?" he whispered. She continued to cry softly.
        "I feel so safe here. Please, don't let me go just yet. Please."
She mumbled. Darien sighed in defeat, settling down with her in his arms,
stroking the back of her head comfortingly.
        "Never. I'll hold you forever." He said quietly, closing his eyes
as he fell asleep.

        The scouts surveyed the room in despair. 
        "I want to know who did this!" Mars said angrily, replacing a
drawer of Serena's desk that had been emptied and thrown carelessly on the
floor. 
        Masks, guns! Cowards! That's all they are. Just big cowards!"
Jupiter said, stamping the ground with a booted foot.
        "How did they find out that Serena was sailor Moon?" Venus asked. 
        "Darien probably. It sounds like the same guys from that last
attack." Mars said darkly. "When I get my hands on him he's going to wish
he had never been reborn!"
        "Rei! I don't think he would do that! He told us how to save her,
remember. Even Serena thinks he's still on our side." Jupiter said. Mars
glared at her.
        "SO what! He still tried to kill her."
        "Yeah, well I don't think so. I say he's still on our side! He
saved her butt. I'll bet he's like . . . like a double agent!! Yeah, he's
probably a spy or something."
        "The cold war is over, in case you haven't noticed." Mars said.
Jupiter looked perplexed, then held up a finger, testing the air chill.
        "What cold war? It's not cold out." She said. Mars groaned.
        "never mind. But who else knew about Serena and would have the
chance to tell those guys? Who else but Darien. I'll bet he got brainwashed
- again. "
        "If he was brainwashed, then why did he help us? Answer that one,
oh brilliant flame brain."
        "Oh yeah, well at least-"
        "Guys, could we please shift into teenager mode here." Venus said.
Jupiter and Mars blushed, quieting down. Mercury turned back to the group,
looking very serious.
        "They have the crystal." She stated. 
        "Great, just great. Now we're in trouble!" Mars muttered.
        "There's more." Merucry added. 
        "Man, you're just chock full of good news today Aims." Mars said.
Venus flashed Mars a warning look.
        "I have a fix on the crystal's energy signatures - "
        "ALL RIGHT!" was the collective cry, as the girls began to give
each other high fives.
        "BUT-" 
        "AH, man. Why'd you have to go ruin it Mercury." Jupiter groaned. 
        "The crystal appears to be moving at approximately 40 miles an
hour, at approximately 30 thousand feet in the air." Mercury said, putting
away the small computer.
        "How're we supposed to get up there, rent a jet?" Jupiter said
        "And how'd it get way up there?" Venus asked.   
        "It grew wings and flew." Mars said sarcastically. This prompted
another squabble to break out.
        "Girls." Luna said. No answer. "GIRLS!!!" the scouts froze. "can we
please save the petty teenager stuff until after we find Serena and the
crystal." 
        "Petty!" mars said. Jupiter hit her softly.
        "Yes Luna, sorry." Venus said softly.
        "Good. Now I know you're al a bit high strung right now. I'm
worried too. But, we can't let ourselves fall apart. We have to find
Serena, and fast. And, we have to keep her family calm." Luna said. 
        "Yeah. Did you see Sammy and his sword? 'Don't worry girls, I'll
protect you!'" Jupiter said, imitating him and giggling. Venus smiled.
        "Yeah! And how he almost dropped the thing on his foot!" mars said.
Venus dissolved into a fit of unstoppable laughs, as the other girls joined
her. 
        "he looked just like Serena, hopping around on one foot like that!"
Venus howled. Luna sighed. This was going to be a long night.

        Darien was greeted with a sea of gold as he opened his eyes. He
blinked in confusion. Something small and warm was curled up against his
side, and he almost scurried away, then stopped, and smiled as he
remembered. Serena. His hand still was draped around her waist. He shifted
slowly, trying not to wake her. This felt so . . .right. Like she belonged
by his side as he woke every morning. He stared at her longingly for a
moment, knowing that this was his chance, probably his only chance, to have
her this close to him again. He never wanted it to end.
        She mumbled something in her sleep, nuzzling closer to him, as
though she couldn't get enough of his warmth. He smiled down at her,
kissing the top of her head. Her eyes slowly fluttered, then opened. Darien
frowned. That was it. The end. Game over.
        She quickly realized where she was, and, remembering her promise
last night, pulled out of his grasp reluctantly, though remaining in the
cot. Getting up had to be one of the hardest things a person could do.
        Darien masked the hurt when he realized she had, of her own free
will, moved away from him. Not that it was unexpected. But it still pained
his heart.
        "Darien, we need to talk." She said quietly. 
        "I'm listening." He said. 
        "I think they have the crystal. I can feel it." 
        "Not good. If they have the crystal, then we're all in serious
trouble." Darien said. The equation now equaled death for them all. He had
to think of a way out, and quick.
        "Who are they?" she asked. 
        "I don't really know. All I know is that this guy, Karros, is
behind it all. And he's very rich and he's very powerful and he's very,
very dangerous."
        "He's going to kill us?" she asked, her voice quivering. He nodded.
        "Darien," she began urgently, her voice full of deep, uncertain
meaning, "I want to tell you that I'm really, really-" the groaning of the
metal door stopped her, as both jerked upright and stared at the guard
entering. Darien grabbed Serena's hand. 
        "Serena, when I give the cue I want you to jam this," he placed a
rose in her hand, " into the guard that grabs you. Can you do that?" he
asked. She nodded her head, still bewildered. 
        "But Darien, how do you know-"
        "They've got the crystal, now they'll need Sailor Moon. Just do
what I say. I'll get us out of this." He said, flashing her that quirky,
confident grin he always wore in battle. It always put her at ease when she
saw it, just one more of the many things she loved about him. The guards
were unlocking the cell door now, one with a gun, one without, as usual. 
        "But Darien, how will I know what the cue-" 
        "Karros wants to see you." Guard one said to Serena, pulling her to
her feet. He grabbed her and began to take her outside the cell, to the
door, the guard with the gun following close behind, his gun trained on
Serena. Darien formed a rose discreetly in his hand, aiming it for the guy
with the gun's hand. 
        "Now Serena! Now!!" he cried. Serena wasted no time, jamming the
rose into the guard as Darien threw his own rose simultaneously, forcing
the guard to drop the gun before he had time to fire a shot. Serena slipped
loose from the guards powerful arms.
        "The keys Serena, get the keys and let us out." Darien ordered. She
nodded, grabbing the keys from the guard she had stabbed in the stomach,
who now lay on the ground clutching his stomach in pain.
        "Sorry." She said as she passed him. She pushed the key into the
lock, tried to turn it, but no luck. She tried another key on the chain,
fumbling as her fingers trembled in fear. 'Come on, come on, work, please!
Work.' Darien was still throwing roses to make sure the guards stayed away
from her as Andrew and Rita watched in awe.
        "Serena, behind you!" Andrew called, as the guard she had stabbed
made a grab for her. She left the keys in the keyhole, ducking down away
from his arms and taking the gun off the floor. She pointed it at the
guard.
        "Don't move." she said, her arms shaking. He saw her fear and
smiled.
        "What are you going to do, shoot me?" he asked. Serena gulped. She
didn't want to have to shoot anyone. He stepped towards her, and suddenly,
the gun in Serena's hands jerked, knocking her back and causing her to drop
it. The man stared at the hole in the ceiling where the bullet passed
through, and Serena' eyes followed.
        "Oopsie!!." She said, blushing. The guard turned back on her.
Serena looked for the gun, but it was too far for her to reach, and he
smiled menacingly.
        "Now you're gonna get it."
        He was suddenly barreled over by the quick form of Darien, who
knocked him out quickly. Darien hugged Serena happily, forgetting himself
for a moment, then set Rita and Andrew free. 
        "Thanks." Serena said. 
        "None needed." He replied. Suddenly, the ground shook, as a large
explosion sounded from inside the cavernous rooms surrounding them. Serena
fell forward, and was caught in Darien's strong grasp, causing her to blush
once again.
        "What was that?" Rita asked. Serena shrugged her shoulders,
standing back up on her own two feet. 
        "Beats me." she said. Something crashed loudly, the sound of
twisting metal closely following, and the floor began to take on a slant.
        "Darien?"  Serena asked, clutching his arm for support to keep from
falling. He looked around the room, his brows furrowed, then the bullet
hole in the ceiling caught his attention.
        "That shot must have damaged the hydraulics of the airship." He
said. The group looked at him in shock.
        "AIRSHIP?"  they all cried. Darien nodded.
        "Yeah. Off hand I'd say we're flying at about 30,000 feet."
        "30,000! That's so high!" Rita exclaimed. 
        "We won't be up here much longer. It sounds like this ship is going
to crash." Darien said seriously. As if to emphasize the point, another
explosion roared, louder then the previous one. The four all clasped their
hands over their ears to quiet the deafening sound as the floor tilted at a
much harsher angle, zooming down towards the earth in a maddening descent
towards doom. 

        

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