Stefanie


Hey there, Minna-chan!  Well here's the second part of "Nowhere to Run,
Unable to Hide."  A VERY big arigato to Nikki-chan (Nicole Cherre) for her
kind words. I won't bore you to death with author's notes.  If you want to
read them they're at the bottom.  MY E-MAIL ADDRESS HAS CHANGED IT IS NOW:
stefaniecraig@hotmail.com

DISCLAIMER:  I DO NOT own Sailor Moon.  If I did I would be able to pay
people to do all this typing for me.  I would not be sitting in my hot home
in Arizona. (It gets to 118 here plus about 70% humidity!) I'd be in Hawaii!
(It gets to about 95 there with 60%!)  Oh, well.  I can dream.

RATING:  PG Violence and Language

NOWHERE TO RUN, UNABLE TO HIDE
CHAPTER TWO

The droid lunged at Tuxedo Mask with its claws bared and prepared to
strike him down.   Not hesitating, Tux scooped Sailor Moon up from the ally
floor, and jumped away.  He landed on the other side of the ally way, with
Moon still in his arms.  Angered by his quickness, the droid roared and
opened his mouth and shot a stream of dark energy at Tux and Moon. Not being
prepared for this assault, Tux was thrown back and crashed to the ground. He
held Sailor Moon tighter to him as he sensed the creature preparing another
attack. `I'm sorry, Serena,' he thought to her as the droid gathered it's
energy.  But before it had a chance to release the assault, Tux heard a
familiar voice behind him, with an equally familiar incantation.

"MARS CELESTIAL FIRE SURROND!"

The droid was throw back by the unexpected assault of the fire
warrior, Sailor Mars.  Looking up, Tuxedo Mask could see the figures
of all his ally superheroes. Sailor Mercury had her computer out and
was scanning the monster for weaknesses.  Jupiter and Venus were
standing beside Mars and attacking, but unlike Mar's attack, their
attacks weren't even knocking it back. Mars tried her attack again,
but it too, bounced off.

Tuxedo Mask got up, Sailor Moon still in his grasp, and went to Mercury.
She gasped at the sight of her friend in Tux's arms.  She had a question in
her eyes and Tuxedo Mask answered it, "She's just unconscious.  It hit her
hard," he told her grimly.

Mercury nodded and motioned to a bench behind him. She saw something
in his eyes as he went to set her down. Something she hadn't seen in
his eyes for too long a time. The one thing all the Scouts knew was
there but he would never show it, or admit to it. Love.  He placed
Moon on the bench and watched as Jupiter was thrown back twenty feet, to
land on the ground in front of Mercury.  Jupiter picked herself up and gave
an inhuman growl at the droid and charged right back into battle.

Tuxedo Mask joined the fight after he made sure Serena was, indeed, just
unconscious.  He brushed a stray strand of her hair out of her face, minding
the injury and growled deep in his throat. Running to the battle he began
yelling instructions in Sailor Moon's place. "It has some type of protective
shield around its body."  The group gave him a `Well DUH,' look as he
continued. "But, its weakness is in its back.  The shield is either not
there or extremely weak."

Mercury came up to the group and confirmed what he just said. "He's
right guys."  She looked up at her friends and continued, as the
monster stood there looking amused. "Without Sailor Moon, we must
concentrate all our most powerful attacks on its back at the same
time."  Turning to Tux she asked him, "You don't mind distracting it
while we power up, do you?" Tux shook his head.

The others began to take positions but Mars stopped them. "Hold it!"
The others turned to her and she continued. "Why can't Sailor Moon
just take this thing out with her scepter? Where is that Meatballhead
anyway?"

Tux looked at the girls.  "She's unconscious, Mars." There was a pain in his
voice that none of the girls could identify, or even take notice of.  In
fact, the only person who would have noticed it was Serena.  "We have to
take care of this one on our own."

The others gasped, but nodded and took their positions. Just in time, too.
At Tux's last words, the wolf charged again. The Scouts jumped over it and
landed behind it while Tux was left to distract the creature while they
powered up. He evaded charges until he felt the familiar aura of power from
behind the droid. He smiled and jumped out of the way, just in case one of
them was a little off.

"MERCURY ICE STORM. . ."

"MARS CELESTIAL FIRE. . ."

"JUPITER THUNDERCLAPS. . ."

"VENUS LOVE CHAIN. . ."

The monster realized what was going on, only a second too late.

"BLAST!"

"SURROND!"

"ZAP!"

"ENCIRCLE!"

The powers of all four Scouts combined and, finally, turned the wolf to moon
dust.  A small cheer came from the girls. But it was silenced a moment later
as they remembered that Sailor Moon was hurt. All of them, Tuxedo Mask
included, rushed to the girl just in time to see her sit up, holding her
head. "Sailor Moon," Tuxedo Mask started.  "Are you alright?"

She turned to her right, where he was and saw that he was kneeling
down beside her, acting as though he cared. Mars became angered at
the display he was putting on.  `Make up your mind, Darien!' she
though angrily. `You either care about her or you don't.  And I know
for a fact that you do.  The sacred fire does not lie.'

"Hey," she said just noticing the Scouts.  "When did all of you get
here?"

Tuxedo Mask, slightly hurt that she had ignored him, asked her again, "Are
you OK?"

Removing her hand from her head she smiled slightly and nodded. She
then swung her legs over the side of the bench and stood up. `Big
mistake, girl,' she thought as a wave of dizziness washed over her. She
immediately fell to the ground, only to be caught by a pair of strong arms.

Both Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask blushed slightly as he placed her
back down on the bench.  Images of the dream flashed through his mind and he
looked into her eyes. The hope that maybe he still cared about her was back
in her eyes.  As it had been so many times before.  `Oh God, Serena,' he
thought.  `Why does it have to be this way?' "Don't be foolish," he told
her, letting go of the blush and replacing it with cold eyes and a slightly
harsh tone.  "Let Mercury check you out first."

His sudden change of attitude startled all the girls and Venus even
let a gasp escape her lips.  It was Moon's turn to let her eyes
harden.  "Why would you care?" she hissed at him.  She didn't stop.
All the frustration, anger and hopelessness that had been welling up
in her for the past few weeks reached the surface.  Oh, she hadn't
given up hope that he still loved her, she was just sick of his
treatment of her. "I mean, really Darien.  You act all concerned for
me than you suddenly *remember* that you're supposed to hate me and
get cold again.  You shouldn't have to remember that you hate me.  It should
be a thing that comes natural, like before you got your memory back."

With that Sailor Moon stood up, this time without falling back down.
She then turned to face him again, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Well I hope you're happy.  Every day since the Hynotica incident, I
really have begun to believe that you don't love me anymore. And my
love for you dies a little every day because of what you're doing to
me." She turned her back to all her friends and ran off whispering to
herself, "Why? Why does he have to be so cold?"  She gave a start as a new
thought entered her head. `What if he knows that I'm going to die, too?!
Maybe he's trying to make it easier on himself.'  She thought this for a
second and dismissed it.  `Darien isn't selfish.'

Sailor Moon's tears blinded her vision and she tripped over an object and
went crashing to the ground, causing her to, once again, loose
consciousness.

Rini sat up in Serena's bed; she turned and looked at the bedside
clock.  She gasped when she saw what time it was. 3:12.  She looked
around the room but didn't see Serena anywhere.  `Where could she be
at three fifteen in the morning?' Rini wondered to herself.  She got
out of bed and wandered around the room.  The curtain caught her eye, and
upon closer inspection, she discovered that the curtain was
blowing in a slight breeze. The window was opened just
enough for a person to slip their fingers through.

She knew that Serena had left, probably to tell the others the news
that had just been given to her. Rini knew where she would be going
and got dressed, and much more carefully than Serena, jumped out the
window and began running in the direction of Raye's temple.

Rini was only about five blocks from her house when she heard
shouting.  The next thing she saw was a body running from several
other bodies.  There were pigtails whipping behind the person and
before Rini could yell `Stop' Sailor Moon tripped over her and
crashed to the ground and didn't get up.

Rini heard Mars mutter something along the lines of `stupid
Meatballhead.' A moment later, the four other scouts and Tuxedo Mask
were gathered around Sailor Moon.  They quickly began checking her
pulse and breathing, talking amongst themselves and not paying
attention to what it was Moon had tripped over.

Tuxedo Mask was the first to notice Rini.  "Rini?"  The small child
looked up at him without really acknowledging his presence. The others
turned to her and asked her what she was doing out so late at night.

Rini's lip quivered as she looked at Sailor Moon. Finding her voice
she asked the only thing on her mind, "Is-is Serena, OK?

Mercury looked up and smiled.  "She'll be fine Rini. It was just a
minor-" she gave a start and trailed off, looking at the child with
her eyes wide. The others stared at Rini, their shock growing as she
continued.

"Ya sure, Amy?  She doesn't look too good." Hearing the
others gasp she looked up. The five warriors were looking at the
little girl with their moths wide open. Rini couldn't figure out what was
wrong.  "What? What is it?" Then it hit her.  `Serena must not have had a
chance to tell them.  Great!  Now *I* have to explain it again.' She looked
up at them and started, well, she tried to start telling them.  `Darn! Why
was this so easy with Serena, but so hard with the others?'

As she was about to start again a voice interrupted, "It's cool,
guys."  Serena's voice, though quite weak, caught everyone's
attention.  Turning to her four Scouts she said, "Well, here's the
reason I had you up so early this morning." Serena grinned as she
continued.  "She knows all our identities.  Found out about a week
ago at the temple." The girls understood what Serena was saying. They had
transformed thinking Rini to be inside, but obviously, she was curious and
had come to see what was up.

She turned to her ex-boyfriend to clarified his question from over an hour
ago.  "The reason, Darien-"

Rini cut her off.  "Darien?" she questioned. Getting an affirmative
nod and a smile form Tuxedo Mask, she clapped her hands together and
laughed.  "I *knew* it!"

Serena de-transformed and cleared her throat, getting every one's
attention.  Rini stopped talking and listened to what she was saying
as the others de-transformed, too. "That's the reason I was out so
early in the morning, Darien.  I called an emergency meeting because
I knew Rini knowing our identities could put her in more danger.  And not to
mention, the others would have killed me if I hadn't told them right away."
She grabbed her head and let out a groan. Lita ran to her to help her and
Amy pulled out her computer and began scanning Serena.

While Amy was giving Serena instructions, the others were talking
with Rini.  Luna was the first to address the child. "Rini," she
began, "now that you know the Scouts identities, you must promise,
and I mean swear, that you will not tell *anyone* who they are.
If-"

"I know, Luna," Rini interrupted the feline.  "I swear on the moon,
that I will not tell a soul."  The others thanked her, but became a
bit more curious  as to where Rini was from. Before anyone else could ask
Rini a question, Amy suggested that they get home. Everyone quickly agreed
and went their separate ways after setting up another meeting for later that
day.  Raye helped Serena to her house and the two of them began coming up
with a story to tell her parents if they asked.

Darien stood and watched as they walked off.  He noticed that Luna and
Artemis were still standing in front of him, with expecting looks on their
faces.  He glared at the two and turned, to go home to an empty apartment
and a night of Serena's death, with the words she had said to him a few
minuets ago ringing in his ears.

Luna and Artemis stood there for a moment in mild shock at the look
Darien had had on his face when he walked away. Artemis was first to
break the silence, "Ya know, Luna," he began. "We've been on Serena's case
for weeks telling her to get over Darien; and now that it seems she finally
is it feels. oh I don't know. . ."  The cat stopped talking, not able to
come up with words to describe how he felt.

"Like we've lost something valuable?" Luna whispered not looking up.
"Like Serena's given up the only dream she ever had."  Luna's voice
began to shake a bit as she continued, "Oh Serenity!" she cried out,
looking up to the moon.  "We did the best we could, but Endymion won't stop
lying to you're daughter.  Please, help us," Luna pleaded to her long dead
queen with tears of hopelessness running down her cheeks.

The two guardians stood in silence, not expecting an answer from the
Queen.

Rubeus sat in his space ship high in orbit around the earth and
considered the events that had just taken place. Sure the scouts had
destroyed the droid, but Sailor Moon had been unconscious during most of the
battle.  It had taken all four of the others to destroy it.  `If only I
could get rid of Sailor Moon," he thought. `She is more powerful than all
the Scouts combined.' The shimmer of light behind him, told him that another
person had come to the room.

He turned, expecting to see the Wiseman there.  What he didn't expect to see
was his master, Prince Diamond standing there with the second in command,
Emerald, on one side of him and his brother Sapphire on the other side. The
Wiseman was, however, behind him. The Prince did not look very pleased.
Sapphire looked bored. Emerald would have looked happier if she was being
tortured to death.  And Wiseman, well you can never tell what he's thinking.
Rubeus bowed low to his prince and shot a look to Emerald asking `What is
going on here?'  No one came to the past except the Wiseman.

Prince Diamond's voice came to Rubeus' ears and after listening he
couldn't believe what was being said. "You have failed to capture the Moon
Princess, Small Lady, and also failed to defeat the Sailor Scouts.  I am
highly displeased with your lack of progress, Rubeus."

Rubeus started to defend himself but Diamond cut him off, "I will hear no
excuses.  I have given you more then enough chances to defeat them, and
still you fail."

Rubeus tried to plead to the Prince, "Please, Prince.  One more chance!"

Diamond looked at the man.  "I have decided to give you one more chance."

Rubeus looked relived and began to thank his prince.  "However," Diamond
started, "you and Emerald must work together to defeat the Sailor Scouts."

Rubeus was shocked but he agreed.  Emerald, too, agreed.

"Good.  I expect you two to defeat the Sailor's and bring Small Lady to me.
She must be destroyed."  His two lackeys nodded in agreement but looked at
each other with distaste.

The prince turned to leave but Wiseman stopped him. "Prince," he
hissed out from under the cloak he wore, "I have news that you may
find most interesting."

Diamond turned to the Wiseman and raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"

The Wiseman proceeded to show a hologram of a girl a little under
five feet, with long blond hair, done up in buns and pigtails. "Who
is she?" the prince asked as he marveled at her beauty.

"That is the royal hairstyle," Emerald commented turning from the holo to
the Wiseman.  "What is she doing wearing it?"

Rubeus studied her image for a moment before recognizing her.  "That's the
girl that Rini is always hanging around.  And as much as I hate to admit it,
I never noticed that she wore the royal hairstyle."

The Wiseman gave an evil laugh, and then put another image beside the girl,
one of Sailor Moon fighting, and then one final one of Neo-Queen Serenity
asleep on a stone alter, encased in crystal.

He turned to his prince and laughed again, "It seems we were GRAVELY
mistaken when we assumed that Sailor Moon was not in the future."

Sunshine came streaming through the windows of Serena's bedroom. She
rolled over and tried to ignore it.  There was something else that was
trying to wake her up, too. She groaned and muttered into her pillow, "Just
five more minutes, Kay, Luna?"

Rini giggled at the sleeping teen and Luna gave an exasperated sigh.
"You said that *twenty* minuets ago, Serena."  Again the blond just muttered
something. This time, about not wanting to go to school.

Rini laughed at her.  "It's Saturday, Meatballhead!"

Serena groggily looked up at the girl. "Exactly," she muttered.
"I should be able to sleep in 'till noon on Saturday."  She rolled
over and tried, again, to fall asleep.

"But, Serena," Rini started, "You'll be late for the Scout meeting if you
sleep in until then."

Serena sat bolt upright in her bed as she heard that information. "The
meeting?!"  Glancing at her clock, Serena saw that it was a quarter to noon,
and the meeting started AT noon.  Throwing off her covers Serena began
running around her room throwing on articles of clothing and yelling at her
cat at the same time.  She checked her head, and, as expected, the injury
was completely healed.  "Why didn't you wake me up earlier, Luna?!"

"I did," the cat retaliated, "Three times.  Not my fault you choose to stay
in bed!"  The morning ritual continued as it did every day; and, ten minuets
later Serena was on her way out the door.

Darien sat in thought at the Crown Cafe; still thinking about what
Serena had said the night before. `I have to play this through all
the way,' he thought. `She's starting to believe me, but I have to
figure out a way to make her truly believe me.'  He sighed and stirred the
straw in his drink in deep thought.  He looked up and noticed two of his
friends coming towards him, Lizzy and Andrew. Not wanting to talk to anyone
he paid his check and left the booth.

Darien aimlessly walked the streets until an idea came. `No way,' he
thought.  `That's WAY too cruel.  I won't do it!' As he thought this
the reminder of Serena's death, once again came into his mind.  He
closed his eyes willing the vision to go away, but when it didn't he
knew what he had to do.  Darien turned the corner and began walking in the
general direction of Serena's house.

Serena shouted some instructions to Rini as she left her house.
Getting a nod of agreement to stay home, Serena opened the door and
prepared to head out when she stopped short. Standing on her
doorstep, about to ring the bell was Darien.  The shock of him coming to her
home wore off after a moment and she found her voice. "What are you doing
here?"

Darien looked into her eyes, and as always saw the hope burning strong in
them.  But that hope faded as Serena saw the look in his eyes.  Darien took
an unnoticeably deep breath before starting. `It's for the best,' he tried
to reassure himself.  He looked straight into Serena's eyes and didn't
falter while he spoke. "I've come for the locket, Serena."  As he said the
words he could see the pain in her eyes.  `I'm sorry, Serena.'

Serena felt a knife rip into her chest and begin to cut her heart out as he
said those words.  "Y-you," she stuttered out trying to keep control of her
emotions. "You don't mean the Star Locket." She knew exactly what he was
talking about.  She just didn't want to believe it.  The tear barriers were
about to break, and she knew she couldn't stop them this time.

"What other locket could I be talking about, Serena?" he asked her
impatiently.  "Now will you get it for me?" Serena nodded dumbly and
ran up the stairs.

`The locket,' she thought as she went to her bedroom and began
searching for it.  `That locket is the symbol of our love, of
everything we've shared.' She choked back a sob as she began rummaging
through her jewelry. Images of when the locket had come in handy flashed
through her mind. When he had first dropped it; when she had tried to return
it, and he had refused; and finally one of her kneeling after being attacked
by him several times in the Negaverse, with the locket extended out in front
of her.  It had saved both of them when their love destroyed all of Beryl's
brainwashing and restored his memory.

Rini was sitting on Serena's bed, reading comics, when Serena reached her
room.  Seeing that Serena had tears running down her cheeks Rini gasped,
"Serena?  What's wrong?"  Serena didn't seem to notice the child.  She just
went to her jewelry box and searched for something.  Finally, she pulled out
a beautiful star-shaped locket. Rini looked at it curiously.  `Mommy has a
locket like that!'  She noticed that Serena was shaking uncontrollably as
she ran down stairs, the locket clutched tightly in her fist. Rini didn't
hesitate and followed her.

Darien watched as Serena came down and handed him the locket.  He took it
from her and was about to thank her when she turned and ran up the stairs.
He stood there a second, and realized that he had probably done it.  She had
to hate him now. He was relived by this, but now felt like going home and
killing himself.

Rini had watched the entire display and walked up to him, with intense anger
in her eyes. Darien saw her and smiled, but she did not return this smile.
"You hurt her again, didn't you," she hissed out. Having never seen Rini
angry before, Darien gave a start at the tone in her voice. "*Haven't you
done enough to her*?!"  She screamed the last statement and then slammed the
door on his face.

Fighting back his own tears, Darien turned and ran home with the locket
playing its suddenly lonesome lullaby the whole way.

The four Sailor Scouts and two guardian cats sat impatiently awaited the
arrival of Serena. Luna had come in a few minuets ago, telling the others
that Serena would be later than normal because she had to make sure that
Rini understood that she had to stay home today. Raye was the most impatient
and started her normal ranting and raving. The others sighed and prayed
Serena would hurry up so that way Raye would *shut* up.

The Shinto priestess was interrupted by the sound of a communicator going
off.  Reaching into her bag, Amy pulled it out. "Serena, is that you?"

Again the expected voice of their leader was not heard, but another equally
familiar one came through. "No, Amy. It's me, Rini."

"Rini???" all the girls said in unison.

"How did you get a communicator?" Amy asked.

"I'm using Serena's," she started.  Hearing this the others starting to ask
questions about if there was an attack, she cut them off.
"No, no. There isn't an attack.  It's just. . ." Rini trailed off slowly,
not knowing how to tell them what had happened, or IF she should.

"WHAT???" came the sound of four girls and two cats.

Rini sighed and began telling them about what had happened just minuets
before hand, " . . .and then, she ran to her room, threw herself on her bed
and cried herself to sleep in under two minuets!  She's been asleep all day.
I can't believe that she fell asleep again.  But I know she does that when
she's really depressed.  I didn't want to wake her up so I called you guys
to tell you she wouldn't be there."

When Rini finished the story all the girls looked ready to go commit murder.
The girls thanked Rini and closed the communicator.  The six of them sat in
silence for a few minuets. Lita spoke first.  "I don't give a damn about
what he's done for us!"  Her yell echoed in the room and the others looked
up at her. She continued as she stood up heading for the door, "No one, not
even, especially not even, Darien gets away with treating Serena like that!"
She stormed out the door and the others followed, muttering their agreements
with her.

Darien was studying in his room, trying to get his mind off of Serena when
he heard a knock on his door. Grateful for a distraction, he marked his
place in the book and the knocking turned to a pounding.  "I'm coming!  I'm
coming!" he called to whomever was behind the door.

When he opened it, there was a sight Darien wasn't grateful to see; four
girls and two cats.  All of them looked like they were going to kill a
monster and not talk to a man. Inhaling sharply, Darien returned their cold
gazes.  "What do you want?" he asked icily, knowing exactly what they
wanted.

Lita stepped into his apartment without being invited. The others followed
and Amy closed the door as she came in last with Luna and Artemis draped
over her shoulders.

Darien eyed them warily, not wanting to hurt Serena or her friends anymore,
but he knew he was in way too deep to back out now.  "I didn't invite you
in," he told them coldly, wincing inwardly at his own words.

Lita answered him just as coldly, "We could care less whether you *invited*
us or not."  She gave Darien a look that could freeze water in the Sahara
Desert. "You've got guts you know that?"

Darien sighed, "What are you talking about, Lita?"

At this, the notorious, Temper of Mars made another appearance. "What do you
think we're talking about, Darien!?" she exploded not bothering to try to
control the anger in her voice.

Mina jumped in, and she too, gave Darien no pity. "You used to be a jerk,
Darien.  But when you started dating Serena, we saw that that was just a
cover for what you were really like.  When you broke up with Serena all of
us still wanted to be your friend. But, you've made that impossible."

The room was silent for a moment and then a voice spoke up. Darien gave a
start and felt tears come to his eyes as he listened to what she was saying.
She was always the cool, collected one of the group.  He really must have
done it if she was starting in on him.  "The Star Locket, Darien," Amy
whispered quietly.  Her whisper was more deafening in his ears than any of
Lita or Raye's shouts ever hoped of being. "That is the only thing from her
past that she has left." Amy looked up and stared him directly in the eye.
Her eyes dangerously flashed what she was feeling inside, a feeling she
never let herself show or feel, anger. "She lost her mother and her kingdom
on that day. The only things from her past she had were that locket and
you."

"We all lost a lot on that day, Amy.  Not just Serena," he spoke quietly
hoping to keep the shaking out of his voice.

Luna spoke up from her place on Amy's shoulder. "The girls only have
knowledge of what happened.  You and Serena, remember it all. Falling in
love, living, dying.  All of your hopes and dreams."

"You took all of it away from her!"  Amy's voice began to rise and the
others just stared at her with shocked expressions. None more shocked than
Darien's. "No one can ever hope to relieve the pain you have caused.  You
LOVED her!!!!  Why must you treat her this way?!"  Amy realized that she had
actually said those words.  She never yelled.  She couldn't remember the
last time she had.

He couldn't take it anymore.  He deserved every stab in the heart they were
throwing at him.  But it still hurt beyond what words, or tears could
express.  "Leave," he told them coldly.  Looking up now the Scouts could see
the tears in his eyes as he said that word.

Knowing that they had gotten their point across they turned and left,
regretting that they had been so hard.  "Serena's not going to like this
when she finds out," Mina mumbled to her friends.

When the door was closed, Darien let out all the pain he was feeling inside
out.  "You're wrong, Amy," he whispered to his apartment.  "I LOVE her."
With that said he let himself cry for the second time in one day, the third
time in two weeks, and the fourth time in his entire life.

Serena slowly opened her eyes and the shapes of her room became visible.
She could tell by the amount of light coming through the curtains that it
was early afternoon. Turning to her right she stretched, and yawned.  Serena
smiled at the little girl who was asleep leaning on the side of the bed.
Then she suddenly remembered why she had gone back to bed. Darien.  The
locket.  Her only love, truly, did not love her. She had gotten out of bed
by this time and then immediately, upon remembering this, she collapsed to
the floor and sobbed.

Rini was awaken by the commotion Serena was causing. She saw the older girl
lying on the floor, crying into it. She scrambled up and ran to Serena.  The
girl barely seemed conscious of what was going on around her.  Rini hugged
Serena, and as Serena had done that past night for her, Rini began calming
Serena down. Rini looked at Serena's face and burst out laughing.

"What?" Serena asked, confused.  Rini just pointed to her face and
laughed. Serena reached over to her nightstand and grabbed her compact.
When she saw the way her face looked she burst out laughing with Rini.  Her
eyes were huge and puffy.  Her hair was had partially come out of it's buns
and she had mascara steaks running down her cheeks

In between giggles Rini manage to laugh out, "You look like something Luna
would drag in, Serena!"

Grinning, Serena grabbed a pillow from her bed and proceeded to hit Rini
over the head with it. "*That's* the thanks I get for saving your life all
those times?"

Rini just grinned and nodded.  She too grabbed a pillow from Serena's bed
and hit the blond over the head with it.

Serena retaliated. A pillow fight started and the two began having the most
fun they'd had with each other since Rini had arrived.

Two hours later the two girls were finishing up some ice cream and heading
back home.  Serena popped the rest of her mint chocolate chip ice cream cone
into her mouth and then grabbed Rini's free had.  `You know,' she thought,
`being nice to the brat is fun.  I never noticed how much we have in
common!'

They were walking down a deserted street together.  The day had been fun.
Serena had taken Rini to the ice rink where Rini proceeded to show off how
good she was at skating. While Rini was skating, Serena spent a lot of time
kissing the ice.  After ward they had gone for a small walk to the ice cream
shop down the street where they both ordered double scoop mint chocolate
chip ice cream.

'I remember how I used to walk down this street with Darien.  He'd always
buy me ice cream and then walk me home.  Why Darien?'  Serena bit her lip,
to keep herself from crying.  'That locket, it meant so much to me, to us.
Why are you destroying destiny?  Did you ever love me or did you feel
obligated to go out with me?  Oh Darien, I'm so confused!'

"Hey, Serena," Rini interrupted her train of thought.

"Yeah, Rini?" Serena asked putting up the best I'm fine act she could.

Rini grinned as she finished up her ice cream.  "Let's surprise Aunt Ilene
and make dinner!"

Serena looked horrified.  "ME COOK?!"

Rini laughed, "you can make curry, Meatballhead!"

Serena returned the grin.  "Sounds good to me, Spore!" The two laughed and
continued to tease each other. They were about ten minuets from home when
Serena stopped suddenly, releasing Rini's hand.

"Serena?  What's wrong?"  Rini began to slightly panic as Serena's eyes
darted frantically around the surrounding area. There was nothing there.

"Serena," Rini questioned again.

"Rini, I have a very bad feeling."  She turned to her right and saw nothing
there.  'Feels like someone's watching us.'

Serena's eyes continued to search the area.  A woman came up behind them
seemingly from nowhere. "Excuse me," she said.

Serena jumped ten feet in the air before spinning around and getting into a
fighter's stance.  She eyed the woman critically.  The woman looked
startled.  She was fairly pretty.  Long green hair with very pale skin. She
was carrying a pink feather fan.  Serena decided she was probably harmless.
But she couldn't shake the bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. "Can I
help you?"

The women smiled, or at least she tried. It came out looking lopsided and
some-what evil.  "Well yes as a matter of fact you could," she started.

Rini suddenly gasped.  Serena and the woman looked down at her. There was
unmistakable fear in her eyes and her breaths were coming out in short
little gasps. "It's you," Rini croaked out. "Emerald!"

Emerald looked startled at first but then laughed. Serena covered her ears,
the sound was so bad.  "Well, rabbit," she said evilly. "I didn't think you
would remember me."

"How could I not?"  Rini stepped back in fear.  "You're the one who helped
lead the attack on Crystal Tokyo!"

Serena stepped in between Emerald and Rini, prepared to defend the child
with her life. Emerald laughed again. "Don't worry about her. I'm not after
her today!"

Serena felt fear and relief rise up in her. `Why isn't she after Rini?'  She
looked straight at Emerald menacingly. `What could she possibly be after
besides Rini?'

Emerald answered her unspoken thought. "Today I'm actually after you, Serena
Tusikino.  Or should I call you Sailor Moon!"  Emerald laughed once again,
but Serena was too much in shock to hear the tortuous sound.

TO BE CONTINUED. . .(Again)

Okay, okay!  I'll try not to end the next one in such a big cliffhanger, k?
It's an ongoing plot, so I just have to end it like that.  But I'll do my
best next time promise!  I may put part three out this week if I didn't I'm
sorry!  I'm sending them in at different times.

For people who want to flame me on Darien taking away the Locket: it's
something that would defiantly make her believe him, k? It's just something
I always thought, since he first broke up with her, that he probably would
or should have done to make Serena believe him.

Hope you liked part two!  Any questions, comments, ideas, praise, death
threats, mail bombs???(no flames!) (well. . .stay away from the death
threats and mail bombs too, if possible.) I could still use some
money!!!!!!!!

E-mail me at my NEW ADDRESS: stefaniecraig@hotmail.com

Enough chat, did you go and read those authors I told you about last time?
You didn't!?!?!?  Well go read them, NOW!!!!!

What are you still reading my notes for? I'm not saying anything important!
Stop reading me and go read the others!  I'm warning
you. . .

SAVE OUR SAILORS!!!!!!!!