Title: Soul Search Author: Natia_99 E-Mail: nAtia_99@yahoo.com OR natia_99@tuxedomask.com ^_~ Rated: G Set: First Season Disclaimer: I don't Sailormoon OR Anne of Green Gables, I just worship and adore them both! Author's Notes: I was inspired by Sailor Heartache's soul mate fic and thought I'd pen my own little quip on soulmates, and the inexplicable, reoccuring, desirous and never ending search to find them... I must also include these song lyrics, because they fit so well!! You and me, Meant to be, Immutable, Impossible. It's destiny Pure lunacy Incalculable Insufferable But for the last time You're everything that I want and ask for You're all that I'd dreamed Who wouldn't be the one you loved Who wouldn't stand inside your love Protected and the lover of A pure soul and beautiful you Don't understand Don't feel me now I will breathe For the both of us Travel the world Traverse the skies Your home is here Within my heart And for the first time I feel as though I am reborn In my mind Recast as child and mystic sage Who wouldn't be the one you love Who wouldn't stand inside your love And for the first time I'm telling you how much I need and bleed for Your ever move and waking sound In my time I'll wrap my wire around your heart and your mind you're mine forever now Who wouldn't be the one you love and live for Who wouldn't stand inside your love and die for Who wouldn't be the one you love "Stand Inside Your Love" By the Smashing Pumpkins Can't figure out if the chorus is a question or not, but the main just of it reminded me of this story and of soulmates in general. ;) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~&~~~~~~~~@ Serena laid back on the picnic blanket with a sigh, "Finished!" She exclaimed dreamily. Her friends looked back at her and shook their heads. She was referring to a book, yes, a BOOK that she'd been reading--the third in a series in fact. They'd debated heavily over what exactly it was that caused Serena to show a sudden interest in reading, but she was about to tell them... "Isn't it romantic?" She sighed. "Hmmm?" Asked Ami, her eyes never leaving her own book. "They finally got together in the end. She realized she loved him afterall, that it had always been him." "You mean Anne and Gilbert?" Asked Lita between bites of lemon tart. "Yup! They finally get together in the end, it's sooooo beautiful--even the chapter name, 'Love Takes Up the Glass of Time', isn't it perfect?" "Didn't Anne totally hate Gilbert in Anne of Green Gables?" Serena laughed, "Yup, he made fun of her hair and then she wouldn't speak to him for years! And he even saved her life one time! He always loved her though but she never thought she loved him. She kept waiting for this romantic hero to sweep her off her feet, but when she met a guy like that she found he didn't interest her at all. And then in the end, when she thought Gilbert was dying of the Fever, she realized...." "Realized what?" Said Rei impatiently, "That she was an idiot for not realizing sooner?!" "NOOOO!" Cried Serena, "That they were soulmates. That the bond between them was unbreakable." Lita and Mina sighed, Ami may have but no one could see with her face buried in her own book. Rei just rolled her eyes. Then a wicked thought came to her, "Made fun of her HAIR eh? Sounds like you and DARIEN Serena!" "WHAAATTTT???!!!!" Shrieked the indignant Serena, "How DARE you even COMPARE Darien and Gilbert Blythe! They are NOTHING alike!" "Are you kidding, he called her 'Carrots' right? Darien calls you Meatballhead, it's all food! It's totally the same!" "Gilbert only made fun of Anne ONCE and then BEGGED her forgiveness! Darien makes fun of me over and over!! And BESIDES, I am NOT secretly in love with Darien Chiba!" Rei rolled her eyes, "Sure you're not." Serena glared at Rei a moment, ready to keep screaming at her when she suddenly noticed the looks in her other friends eyes....why they looked as if they BELIEVED REI!!!! "You guys don't...believe her do you?" She said with shock painted across her every feature. Lita cleared her throat and looked away, Ami disappeared further behind her book, Rei smiled smugly, only Mina met her bewildered friends eyes evenly--afterall, she was the senshi of love. She smiled and said softly, with kindness, "It's not that Serena.....but.." "But?" "....but I don't think you'll recognize your soulmate when you find him...kind of like Anne does in the story...I've always had this premonition about it....." Serena swallowed hard....Mina was always right about this stuff...but that couldn't mean that.. ..that... "But you don't think I-I'm secretly in love with Darien do you?" She finished in a whisper, her eyes fearful of her friends response. At this point Mina too, coughed and looked away. Serena blanched. Rei cracked up laughing, "I KNEW IT! Ahahahhahahaha!" Serena's temper flashed, she jumped up enraged, "I don't believe you guys! I thought you were my FRIENDS!!!" She stormed off, leaving the picnic to stare after her and exchange glances. Serena stole herself away to a quiet corner and read the end of her book again. She sighed, reviewing the romance between Gilbert and Anne warily. ~Alright, he DOES make fun her hair like Darien, and he's really smart and tall....and has dark hair....but that's ALL! He's also romantic and humble and...in love with her!~ Serena's eyes widened, ~Of course! He was in love with her and Darien is most certainly NOT in love with ME! ohhhh, if only I'd thought of that when Rei laughed!~ She thought of Darien Chiba, her mortal enemy, as she walked towards the sound of an ice cream vending machine. His mockery of her hair, his arrogant, non-chalant attitude. He was an older, more intelligent, more popular guy....why he chose to tease HER she would never understand, but it seemed like he took a real pleasure in it. She frowned, ~JERK!~ She thought angrily. CRASH! She walked right into someone, knocking them both over backwards. "Whoops sorry sir! It's my fault! I wasn't watching where I was going and I--" "Meatballhead, at it again huh?" "Darien!" "Do you practice klutzing out, or are you this good naturally?" "Ohhh, shut up! You bumped into me too!" "Hardly." Her eyes narrowed, and she went to say something really insulting when the tinkle of ice cream bells caught her attention. "Ice cream!" She cheered and flew off after the sound, leaving Darien to grin and chuckle alone. ~That girl....~ He brushed himself off and headed off further into the park. He'd been walking all day. Restless, haunted. That feeling again.....overtook his senses--similar to the pull he felt when Sailormoon was in danger but different....less anxious, more passive, but rising from him like a slow, burning, ethereal ache......he had no emotion to match it, no experience to compare it to, it was a sensation unique and in it's own right, this strange longing, this onslaught of physical and soul sensation that left him peaked with anticipation, searching everywhere for....for.. And that was when he usually ran into the Meatballhead. He chuckled. This deep, soul defining sensation that drove him from his apartments solitude to search the streets of Tokyo for some mystical, intuitive answer, usually resulted in his plough-down by the blond haired girl nicknamed 'Bunny' by her friends. It never occurred to him to make a connection between the two. He never noticed how that feeling dissipated when Serena was near. He continued towards his original destination. Walking slowly. Letting the feeling well up inside him again, consume him in some way. He was a little romanced by it. Afterall, his life was a little love-starved, perhaps that's why his heart felt honed and peaked to finding a love of his own...?? He pushed gnawsome thoughts of Sailormoon and the silver crystal from his mind, but the image of the silvery Princess in his dreams would not fade, kept appearing again and again till she was a vision, more reality then the tangible, alive without touch or sense at all. Begging to be found....and here he was, like a fool, searching for her again, not knowing where to look....waiting for a clue..... CRASH! A body smashed into his and stumbled backwards. Darien nearly tripped and looked up in time to see Serena topple backwards, trying not to drop her ice cream in the process. She landed with a thud on her backside, ice cream miraculously in tact. Darien had to laugh. "I see you saved the important part." She grinned, "I did! Hurray!" She took a big bite of her ice cream to illustrate before getting up and wincing a little at her bruised backside. She went to take another bite and dropped the precious ice cream to the ground, "Oh NOOOOO!" She wined. splat. Darien rolled his eyes, "Looks like you bruised your butt for nothing Meatballhead!" She turned narrowed eyes on him, "Hmph!" She stalked off, "I'm going to get ANOTHER ONE!" She informed him without looking back. He smiled after and then walked away in the opposite direction. ~Twice in one day...~ He'd often wondered if she smashed into anyone else as often as him. Oh well, he couldn't possibly run into her AGAIN, he was afterall, going to the library.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~&~~~~~~@ Serena meanwhile, had nestled herself in a secluded corner, beneath some low hanging cherry blossom branches, new ice cream in tow, to read the end of her book yet again. She sighed, leaning back against the rough bark, unconsciously graceful. The stormy night when Anne believed Gilbert dying was one of her favorite scenes, the way Anne realized.... "...she loved Gilbert--had always loved him! She knew that now. She knew that she could no more cast him out of her life without agony than she could have cut off her right hand and cast it from her....Oh, what a fool she had been not to realize what the bond was that held her to Gilbert--" Serena stopped and sighed again. The bond was love. And not just any love, true love. The bond was made of love, between souls. She thought fancifully of her own romantic life. There was always the mysterious figure of Tuxedo Mask ducking in and out....but...as for her, Serena Tsukino, there was nothing really. The dreams of a blurred figure calling out to her, the one she heard herself calling "Endymion" had ceased. She had not had them since those first weeks she'd been Sailormoon. And besides the fleeting image of that dream man, she had no connection to a concept of soulmate at all. But it was still terribly romantic. Romantic until she glanced at her watch. And remembered she had to return the book, NOW. She took off in a run towards the library, huffing and puffing until... you guessed it CRASH! "oof!" Gasped Darien, his ribs beginning to suffer from the frequent impact of one Serena Tsukino. "Sorry!" "Three time in one day Meatballhead?? My poor bones can't take much more of this!" The genuine pain in his voice made her flush guiltily, "I really am sorry!" He looked at her earnest face and thawed a fraction, "It's okay." But his next words came out before even he realized, "Where ya going anyway?" "The library." "Huh?!" "I have to return this book." And once again his voice worked without him, betraying him wickedly, "Me too. Look, if we're both going, let's just go together, it'll save on collisions." She stared at him in shock a moment, but, being Serena Tsukino, recovered with ease, "Okay." And off they went, walking silently. Without the usual exchange of insults, what was there to talk about? "Soooo, uh, what book are you returning?" Serena's eyes immediately became starry, "Anne of the Island...." Darien frowned, "Isn't it called Anne of Green Gables?" "That's the first book silly, there's eight in all! Anne of the Island is the third book. I just finished it, it's AWESOME!" Darien chuckled. "I suppose you never read the first one let alone the third." She said haughtily. He shook his head, "Actually, I did read the first one for a school book report once, but I never read the other ones. Saw the movie though." She smiled then, surprising him, "You should read the rest, Anne of the Island is the BEST!" He smiled, "I'm surprised you like the story at all. Doesn't Gilbert tease Anne about her hair in the book?" She frowned, "At first yes, but it all works out in the end...." Her eyes become starry. Darien gave a wry smile and said casually, "Yeah, Gilbert always kind of reminded me of myself..." "WHAT?!" Cried a shocked Serena, she turned to stare incredulously at him. He grinned, "Yeah, he's smart and funny and--" He tossed his hair for effect, "---handsome, annnnd, he teases some girl about her hair!" Serena realized he was just teasing her, "Uhh, I think you're forgetting something..." "What's that?" "He APOLOGIZES to her!" "Oh that. But look what happens! She totally rejects his apology!" "But he never gives up!" "But she treats him terribly, like she hates him!" "But she eventually forgives him, and then they end up together!" The words left Serena's mouth before she thought and she immediately wanted to die. They both fell silent and gazed blushing at one another in an awkward silence. The implications were heavy and Mina's words rang over and over in Serena's mind. ~No, no, no! They're wrong!!!~ Fortunately, at that moment they reached the library. "Oh look, here we are--see ya Serena!" And Darien bolted in, never looking back. Serena smiled. At least he was as freaked out as her. And hey, he called her Serena for once! She stepped into the library contented. Darien meanwhile, tucked himself in a quiet corner with a big black book. He read in earnest for some time before becoming aware that someone was watching him. He looked up and found Serena peeking round the corner at him. Once he met her eyes she hopped over to the table and sat herself down across from him, book still in hand. "Didn't you have to return that?" He asked. "I renewed it." She grinned. He rolled his eyes. "Whatcha reading?" She asked, eyeing the huge, thick book with awe. "It's a book on...on soulmates." He confessed, cursing himself for stumbling over the words. But to his utter amazement she smiled at him, "Is it...what's in it?" He took a breath, "Well, I haven't gotten very far into it yet, but the part I'm reading now says that to find your soulmate, you have to look at them and really see them, see the truth." She considered this a moment, and then nodded seriously, "Anything else?" He smiled, "Not really, I'm having trouble understanding most of it." He stood and closed it with a thud, then moved to leave. "Aren't you going to take it out?" "It's only for reading here. I just keep reading it in parts. I've had enough for today." He eyed her a moment, "Are you heading back to the park?" She frowned, "I guess so." She muttered. "Anything the matter?" "I kinda had a fight with my friends..." "Aww, that's only natural, I'm sure it'll all blow over." She seemed to brighten at this, "Thanks. Are you heading back to the park too?" "Yup." "Well, let's go then!" She chirped, grabbing his arm and dragging him out the door before he could even grab his beloved green jacket. (an: darn!) She practically dragged him through most of the park, amazing him with her speed. How could she move so fast and be so small? He was over six feet tall and he could NOT keep up with her! "Serena, how tall are you?" She smiled up at him, "Since you DIDN'T call me Meatballhead, I'll tell you! I'm 5'4" He eyed her suspiciously. "Oh alright! 5' and 3/4 of an inch! Yeeessh, stop looking at me like that!" (AN: My exact height, sigh, I keep waiting for another growth spurt.....) Darien chuckled. "Why do you ask?" "Cause I'm amazed at the speed you can move at. I can barely keep up with you!" She flushed with embarrassment, "Well, uh, y'know...I'm always late, I guess I'm just used to running..." He opened his mouth to reply when suddenly she spotted something, "Ohhh Darien kites! Kites! It's the perfect day for it! Have you ever flown one before? Let's go!" And then she was running full force again, before Darien could say anything. And suddenly he was buying one of the stupid things and they were unwinding it in the wide open field nearby. How did he end up here again? But Serena's delightful giggle somehow made him forget all his troubles, even his lonliness. He ran with the kite and got it up in the air, but didn't notice the drop off into the woods at the end of the field. "Ah-ahhhhh!" He yelped as he fell backwards into the dirt. Serena hurried over to him and held out her hand, oblivious to the kite trailing after her. "Oh my gosh are you okay? You really shouldn't fall that way. If you lean over like this you do a lot less damage." He laughed as she pulled him up with remarkable strength, "Thanks, falling expert!" She laughed to and forgot to let go of his hand a moment. She looked up at him as he pulled his hand away and dusted himself off. The sight of him that way, made a sudden flash of Tuxedo Mask burn into her mind, she gasped. "What?" He said, looking curiously at her wide eyes. "Er, n-nothing. Let's keep going!" She grabbed his arm and ran off with the kite. He lost his grip and slowed to a stop, watching her run, long gold hair trailing after her....and the feeling suddenly returned, overwhelming and powerful, making him simply freeze and stare at her. The sound of her laughter drifted over and haunted him through and through in an instant. He had no chance to wonder why Serena suddenly made him feel this way. No chance to react or analyze. For she spotted him standing still and pale and hurried over. "Darien? Darien, are you alright? Do you feel sick?" He turned his eyes to meet hers then and she caught her breath, the image of Tuxedo Mask blinking in and out quickly. "Darien?" He shook himself, "I-I really don't feel well Serena, do you mind if I go?" She looped a determined arm through his, "I'll take you home and make sure you're alright." He smiled at the gesture and let her lead him away, helping her wind the kite back in. He managed to force the feeling back down, but the touch of her arm was burning into his skin like nothing else ever had before. "Where's your place?" She asked softly. "Oh, sorry, this way." He replied, leading them through a side path towards his apartment building. "I've never been this way." She said, gazing round at the thicker leaves and mysterious flowers. "It's really beautiful, wait till you see the fountain." And at that moment they came to it, small and silver, the soft sound of water splashing filling the silence. "Oh, it's beautiful..." She breathed and set down her book and the kite to walk 'round it. Darien caught his breath again as she disappeared behind it, hair trailing after her. He followed her curiously around, anticipation running rampant through his veins.... ~Look at them and really see them....see the truth...~ The words echoed through his mind as he caught her up. She glanced over her shoulder at him and he nearly fell to his knees...because for a moment she was the Princess from his dreams....long silvery dress and hair, mournful blue eyes.... He stared wide eyed at her and she was doing the same....she walked towards him frowning curiously, "What is it?" She asked and then tripped and fell right into him. He caught her instinctively and the familiar contact made them both freeze and stare at one another.... ~...see the truth...~ She thought and stared intently at him....then her heart froze... "T-Tuxedo Mask?" Her voice choked out. He was matching her shocked expression, "Sailormoon?" And then the Tuxedo melted way and she swore for a moment he was wearing armor.... And like magic she was the Princess again.....Serena...Sailormoon...Princess...the idenities all melted into one.... "Endymion?" She said in a voice that was hers but wasn't. And suddenly he knew, that once, that name belonged to him....he nodded...her eyes flickered again and her voice was half-fearful when she asked, "What's this all mean?" She was still in his arms and he pulled her closer, "I found you. It was you all along." "Me?" "Remember the book?" She nodded, "Are we seeing the truth?" He tilted her chin up and nodded. "Then...what is the truth?" She asked softly, and he knew what she was asking. He smiled, "That we're....soulmates?" She couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face and though all the idenities were still there...they faded softly to just plain Serena...and his heart was full at the sight. He leaned down to kiss her and she met him halfway, surprising him again. And they stayed that way a long time, enraptured. The girls stumbled upon them this way, oblivious to everything around them. "Wow, I thought she disagreed with us," Said Rei sarcastically, "I didn't think she'd run right into his arms!" Lita and Ami giggled and Mina smiled, then she shooed the girls along past them and exacted revenge for Serena by turning on Rei, "So Rei, about you and CHAD..." "WHAT?!" Shrieked Rei, sending Lita and Ami into peals of laughter. Serena and Darien never noticed them....pity since Serena would have enjoyed the joke...but she was far to lost in the sensation of Darien so close, his body so warm, his lips so soft, the smell of his aftershave, the exact sensation of his hair against her fingers.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~&~~~~~~~~~@ "They lingered in the old garden until twilight, sweet as dusk in Eden must have been, crept over it. There was so much to talk over and recall--things said and done and felt and misunderstood." Read Darien from Serena's book. "Hey, this is us!" He joked, for they did indeed sit against the fountain, after hours of talking and remembering and explaining (and kissing). Darien had his arm loosely round her. She laughed, "I guess it is." She turned and looked tenderly at him, "I guess it was all along." He ran his hand down her cheek then and pulled her in for another kiss. And "then they walked home together in the dusk, crowned king and queen in the bridal realm of love, along winding paths fringed with the sweetest flowers that ever bloomed, and over haunted meadows where winds of hope and memory blew." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~&~~~~~~~~~~@ That last bit's a direct quote, the last line of "Anne of the Island" that whole series is absolutely wonderful! And Anne of the Island is my favorite on ofcourse!!! Hope ya liked, I konw it was short but I meant it to be, I've got longer one's coming soon, promise!! ;p