A sparkling mist filled the air as Princess Serenity twirled around in her long white dress with her long golden hair trailing behind her. She was dancing with her beloved Prince Darien. Tears filled her eyes as the love of her life told her he might not see her again. He smiled down at her and bent down for a kiss. Princess Serenity closed her eyes and...
"SERENA!"
Serena Tsukino gasped and snapped out of her daydream to find Raye Hino's red face inches from her own.
"You need to start paying attention in our scout meetings, Serena," Amy Mizuno started, "We need to figure out how to beat this new enemy."
"Yeah, Meatball Head! You're supposed to be our leader, remember!?" said Raye in a very annoyed voice.
"I- I'm sorry," stated Serena sadly, "I just wish Darien would remember me..." she trailed off as tears filled her eyes.
A few weeks ago the Sailor Scouts had finally defeated the evil Queen Beryl. They had all lost their memories, and Serena had been the first to regain hers when Luna had used her Mind Meld on her. Amy, Raye, Lita, and Mina had soon followed. But lately they had been facing off against new enemies, two alien's who called themselves Ann and Alan. But Darien had not yet regained his memories of Serena and their past.
"I know, Serena," Raye said in a kinder voice, "But he will. You just have to be patient."
"Yeah, don't worry Serena, it won't take him long to remember a babe like you!" joked Lita with a grin.
Serena cracked a tiny smile and sighed, "Thanks guys"
About half an hour later, Serena was walking home. It was about 8:00, and getting kind of dark. Serena shivered and began to walk faster, while having a conversation inside her head.
Oh Darien, how can I make you remember me? I miss you so much...
Soon she snapped out of her reverie and found herself in the park about fifteen minutes past her house.
How did I get here? She wondered, I must be losing it...
"Whatsamatta sweetheart? Lost?"
Serena turned around to find a boy who looked to be about 18 or 19 years old leering at her.
"Um, no," Serena started nervously, "I'm just on my way home..."
"Come on, baby," the boy countered, "How 'bout ya stay and we'll have a good time."
"Uh- I don't think so, I really have to get home..." Serena started to turn but gasped as the boy's hand shot out and grabbed her wrist.
"I said we're gonna have us a good time," he said with a sneer. The boy yanked her arm until his face was inches from Serena's.
"Please..." she started, but faltered.
"Hey!" all of a sudden they both heard a male voice shout out.
Serena turned her head to see her savior. His ebony black hair moved a bit in the slight breeze, and his midnight blue eyes narrowed as he peered at the boy.
"What's your problem, kid?" he demanded, "Why don't you leave her alone."
"Darien," Serena whispered, half to herself.
"Mind your business, pal," the boy said, trying to sound tough, "This ain't your affair."
Darien stepped up until his face was inches from the boy's, "Oh but I think it is. After all, who else is going to protect this poor girl from scum like you?"
The boy's face turned red with anger, and he shoved Serena to the ground. With a grunt, he raised his arm to hit Darien in the face.
Darien smirked and said, "Go ahead and try it."
Serena winced as the boy's fist began it's flight towards Darien's handsome face.
But she didn't need to worry, because when the boy's fist was inches from Darien, his arm shot up and caught the boy's wrist. His grip was so strong, the boy cried out, wrenched his arm free, and fled. Serena stared in awe at her past love. Darien looked after the running delinquent for a moment, then turned and knelt beside Serena.
"Are you all right Meatball Head?" he asked, concerned, "Did that jerk hurt you?"
Serena smiled and grabbed his hand, "I'm fine now, Darien," her smile grew wider and her eyes lit up, "Do you remember me now, Darien? That's why you saved me, right?"
Darien looked at her questioningly and said, "Remember you? What are you talking about? I 'saved' you because you're a human being and no one deserves to be treated that way." He raised an eyebrow and continued, "Are you sure you're all right? Should I bring you to see a doctor?"
Serena's smile faded, "No, I'm okay. I'll just walk home."
But Darien refused to let her walk home after what had happened. He led her to his car and drove her home.
"Get some sleep, all right Serena?" he called out when she had reached her front door. She turned to wave, and found that Darien was staring at her as if he was standing on the edge of something great, but was unable to step forward. As Serena saw this look, her little seed of hope began to grow. Maybe Darien would remember her after all.
The next day, Darien Shields was waiting for the bus that he took to work most afternoons after school (to save on gas). He was thinking of the night before. He had helped a teenage girl with funny hair whom he vaguely knew as Serena Tsukino escape an unpleasant fate. But she had seemed to believe that they had known each other before. Darien was confused because after Serena had gotten out of the car, something had flashed before him. It had been way too fast to see clearly, but it had appeared to be a girl wearing a long white dress. The image hadn't lasted long enough for him to determine any other details.
All of a sudden, something crashed into him and nearly knocked him over. Darien steadied himself as he heard a familiar voice say, "Oh- oh I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."
He looked down and saw Serena on the ground at his feet. He was a bit surprised at the coincidence of seeing her just as he was pondering her, but he held out his hand and helped her up.
"You all right, Serena?"
She looked up at him and her eyes lit up.
"Oh I'm fine. I'm sorry, Darien."
"That's all right, Meatball Head," Darien answered, "I was just thinking about you."
Serena's large blue eyes grew even larger, and her smile widened, "Really!? Did you remember, Darien? Did you finally remember me?"
Darien frowned a bit, and started, "Listen, Serena, I don't-"
Suddenly the image from the night before crossed his sight again. He could see it a little more clearly now. The girl with the long white dress. Now he could tell that she had long, golden blonde hair. He gasped and looked back at Serena.
"Darien?" she said, concerned.
"Look, Serena," Darien said, "I gotta go. Bye!"
He turned abruptly and began to jog away.
"Darien!?" Serena called after him. She sighed and started to walk away.
That evening, Serena was walking in the park.
Darien sure was acting strange earlier, she thought, Maybe I'm bugging him too much.
"I just wish he would remember me," she sighed aloud.
"You're hard to forget, sweetheart," came a voice from behind her.
Serena whirled around and gasped as she saw the boy from the night before. He smiled menacingly and immediately grabbed her shoulder. Serena winced and her eyes grew wide with fright.
"Didja miss me, HoneyBunch?" he asked with a smirk.
"Please-"
Before Serena could finish, the boy gave her a hard shove, and she feel to the ground with a cry of both pain and fear. Within second, the boy was on her, straddling her lower body. He began to tear at the buttons on her blouse and pull at the zipper of her skirt.
"No!!" Serena shrieked before the boy smothered her with a long, painful kiss.
Hardly able to breathe, she continued, in vain, to struggle.
Darien was wandering through the rose garden in the park, wondering why it attracted him so, when he heard a shriek from behind the cherry blossom trees to his right. He ran towards the sound and saw Serena being attacked by the boy from yesterday. The boy had torn most of her clothes, and poor Serena was struggling to stop him from kissing her.
Suddenly, something inside Darien snapped, and a flood of images came rushing before him. Serena in a long white dress, dancing with him. Himself, lying in pain as his princess used her crystal against Zoicite and Malachite. Teasing Serena, and thinking how cute she was when she was angry. Saving Sailor Moon from Queen Beryl's monsters as Tuxedo Mask. Protecting Princess Serenity from Queen Beryl as Prince Darien, and finally, the kiss they had shared before he had needed to leave to fight.
"SERENA!!" he screamed and began running to her.
Serena had been unsuccessful in fighting the boy off, and was still using all her strength to try and push him away. She began to whimper and struggle even more when she heard the boy fumble at his belt.
All of a sudden she heard a familiar voice scream her name. With much effort, Serena managed to turn her head just in time to see Darien, his face pale with fury, grab the boy by the hair and rip him off of her. She sat up and tried to cover where her clothes were torn as Darien punched the boy in the face, breaking his nose, right before slamming the back of his head into a tree behind them. The boy fell to the ground, unconscious, with blood streaming out of his nose. In seconds, Darien was at Serena's side, wrapping his coat around her thin shoulders, hugging her to him, and all the while repeating the words, "I'm sorry Serena, I'm so sorry, I love you so much..."
Serena looked up at his face and was surprised to find that a few tears making their way down his cheeks. She smiled, threw her arms around his neck, and cried, "Oh Darien, I'm just glad you're here now! I love you too! I knew you would remember me, I knew it-" She buried her face into his chest and wept tears of joy. Darien's tears subsided, and he kissed the top of her head. Serena looked up at him and kissed him on the lips. When the kiss ended, they stood up, and Serena did her best to button the coat, and she walked with Darien, hand in hand, to his car.
Hours later, after the police had been called, personal accounts had been given, and Serena had been checked out at the hospital, she finally said good night to Darien, wishing he didn't have to leave.
"Thank you, Darien," she said, "If you hadn't come..." she trailed off.
"I know, Serena," Darien answered, "I'm just sorry I didn't get there sooner."
"It's okay, Darien," Serena smiled up at him, "You came. That's all that matters."
Darien looked at his watch. It was past one in the morning.
"I guess I'd better go," he said, with a trace of a pout, "But I'll be back first thing in the morning, to see how you're doing."
Serena smiled, and kissed him softly on the lips. When she pulled away, she kissed him again on the cheek, and with her cheeks slightly flushed, said, "I love you, Darien."
Darien's eyes shone with happiness, and he replied, "I love you too, Serena."
