"I've told you before, Serena, I can't find any information at all. If Rei was here maybe..." she trailed off quietly.
Ami squinted in the mid afternoon sun. It was awkward, remembering how meetings used to be at Rei’s house. Rei’s grandfather was nearly in hysterics, thinking Rei must have been kidnapped or something worse. She had tried to console him, but it didn’t seem to be working. Since they couldn’t tell Grandpa Hino about the Sailor Scouts, they had to just let him worry.
Finding Rei on her computer had been impossible. It was supposed to be able to pinpoint anything, but the Negaverse was in a different dimension, cloaked with dark magic, so it was futile to search. It was nerve racking just sitting around waiting for the Negaverse to attack. But it was all they could do. And then of course there was Serena. Ever since Rei had disappeared, Serena’s grades had been dropping even further, if that was possible.
“Serena, I can give you some help studying if you'd like..." Ami began.
“Noooo studying is to haaaard!” Serena whined. "Let's just go play some video games, k?" She winked and ducked into the arcade.
“Meatball head!” Serena turned around with a scowl when she heard that familiar voice behind her. Ami giggled. This could be interesting.
“What do you want, Darien?" Serena asked suspiciously.
“Having trouble in school? I could tutor you, if you wanted. I'm in college and I think I could help.”
“I don't need help from you! Well...” She glanced at Ami. "I guess I do. Do you really think you could help, Darien?"
"Yeah, I could. But it seems to me your problem seems to be motivation."
"Mota..what?" Serena's head began to spin. "Oh well. I think lessons are a good idea, if you really want to."
Darien looked pleased. “I live in an apartment across the street, could you come over tomorrow after school? Ami too, if you want.”
“Yeah, sure thing, Darien!" Serena waved. "See you then!”
"Later, meatball head."
Ami observed Serena as she watched Darien turn the corner. "DON'T CALL ME THAT!" Serena shrieked.
Ami laughed looked at Serena. “I think you like Darien after all...maybe as more than a friend, hmm?”
“OF COURSE NOT! I WOULD NEVER...well, I guess maybe..!”
Ami smiled. Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad after all. They would get Rei back, somehow, and defeat the Negaverse, and everything would be back to normal.
But Serena's thoughts were elsewhere as she gazed after Darien. He reminds me of...Tuxedo Mask...
Darien watched the blood red sunset from his apartment balcony. Everything had been so confusing lately. The Imperium Silver Crystal was nearly in his grasp, and then Sailor Mars had been taken. He had watched from the side as they battled Jedite, watched her be taken. He could have rescued her, but then perhaps the Crystal would be prevented from appearing. The time for it to be formed was near, he could feel it.
Maybe when Serena came to his apartment he would learn some more about it. That was the whole point of inviting them, of course. It was obvious that Sailor Moon was Serena, he had known that for some time already. He had listened in on several of their Scout meetings, just outside the windows of the Hino shrine. He was practically one of them, only they didn’t know it. From eavesdropping on those meetings, he had learned of the Moon Princess, who would come with his Crystal.
There really was no tangible reason for needing the Silver Crystal. When he had awoken from the car accident that his parents had died in, all he remembered was his name and the fact that he needed the Imperium Silver Crystal. He was certain it held the key to who he really was. Then the visions came, and he learned that he was Tuxedo Mask, the protector of Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon…he had felt some attachment to her. Maybe that was why he picked on her so much. Perhaps he was even attracted to her, to that goofy meatball head. No, she wasn’t a meatball head. She was the Champion of Justice, Sailor Moon. And he was fairly certain she was the Moon Princess. So he had to stay by her always, protecting her and waiting for the Crystal to appear. Soon. Very soon. This stillness would end, and the fight against the Negaverse would begin. He only hoped that they would survive it.
Kunzite's cold gray eyes studied Jedite. How could the fool possibly resist this plan? He had been certain he would carry it out, for the Queen of course. Yet he had a resistant..almost rebellious attitude toward the Queen's plan. Well, now there was only one alternative left. Somehow the Queen had known. Sorry...Jadeite...
Smiling, Kunzite turned to Jedite's angry face. "Don't worry about it. If you won't go along with the plan, we won't do it! Here...have a drink."
Jedite glared at him. "How could you even think of using her like this? Besides, she'd never go along with that absurd plan!" He took a long draught of the wine. "And I would never stoop so low to...to..."
Kunzite watched silently as Jedite's dark eyes rolled back into his head. When he was certain that the poison in the drink had completely put him to sleep, he transported them in a flash of white lightning to the Queen's chambers.
"Don't worry, Jedite, it's only for a little while. But when you awake..." Kunzite let out a sinister laugh. "Perhaps you would rather sleep."
