Alllllriiiiiight. *cracks knuckles appropriately here* Here's another one of two little darlings I'm fiiiiiinally typingup...they've been handwritten for an age and I've neglected them terribly! Title: "The Key To Remembering" (I think I'm getting better at this titling thing minna! ;)Rated: GSet: First Season 'course! ;) Thanks: Oh wow! I have soooooooo many thank you's to give out thistime! Thanks to "Addicted to The Written Word" and Lady Spring for each giving me an award! *blush* I was so very flattered! Thanks to all the wonderful peoplewho have e-mailed me, all my new girly-friends online! *emotional sob* I loveyou all! Silver Bunny, Makoto, and ofcourse my best bud online Grace Mcmoon (who anyday now will be posting her own amazing fics! *fixes her with intense stare then giggles*) Special Thanks To: Alicia *the queen of fics* Blade who's amazing xmasstory "A White Christmas" inspired me to write this fic in the first place! (eep, now you really know how long it's been sitting in my binder hand written! *flushes guiltily* Anyways...that story inspired me on a couple of ventures into Darienand his pain over not remembering or having love.....soooo thanks girl! You'rethe best! Anyways, gomen peoples, but I had to get that all out!Now, onto the fic...... "The Key To Remembering" natia_99 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~&~~~~~~~~~~@ Darien and Andrew ambled through the park at a leisurely pace, chattingcasually about school and Andrew's girlfriend Rita. The sun was just starting to cast shadows with the trees. Birds sang and a gentle breeze sent the leaves into a soft cascade of whispery rustling. (AN: Fanciful aren't I? What's that? Hold on minna! The mush is coming any minute! eep!) The two, tall young men against this background received many admiring glances. Theywere both handsome. They never noticed though. In fact, they were oblivious to the park and everyone in it until a familiar voice pierced the air, "Get lost you two! Don't you have anything BETTER to do?!" The voice belonged to Serena. Darien started off in the direction of it and Andrew followed--amused as always byhis friend's uncanny interest in her. Over by the fountain, two guys from Serena's class were taunting her relentlessly."There's nothing better than teasing YOU Serena-the-klutz!" (gomen minna, that's the best I could do....Darien stole a march on me for nicknames!) "I am NOT a klutz........that much.." she muttered the last part. The two boys hooted with laughter at this and one of them yanked at oneof her pigtails."OW!" She yelled, trying not to let them see her cry. She hurried off around the fountain. Andrew frowned and turned to Darien as Serena turned away, "Hey, maybe we should--"But Darien was gone. Andrew blinked and then looked up to see Darien holding them both bytheir shirt collars.He hurried over to catch Darien snarling, "...and if I ever catch one of you twoteasing her again--I will make your lives considerably LESS enjoyable...understand?"They both nodded fearfully. "Now scurry along *boys*." He hissed. They both took off in a run as he dropped them. Andrew unsuccessfully choked back a laugh, "Pretty ironic consideringhow much YOU tease her, don't you think?" "That's different," He said, still furious, "I just tease her for fun. They werebeing MEAN! I'd never forgive myself if I made her cry! It's just fun to watch her get mad!" Andrew laughed, "So what you're saying is....only YOU can tease her?" Darien had to laugh at this, "I guess...maybe...aww whatever!" He gaveAndrew a playful shove, "Oh shut up Andrew!" Andrew just chuckled and shook his head, "Whatever man, I gotta go--I'm meeting Rita!See ya!"He disappeared around the corner. Darien turned around to leave and came face to face with..."Serena!?" She was staring at him in utter disbelief. "How long have you been standing there?" He choked out, though hecould tell by her face what the answer was. "What do you care if anyone else teases me?" She said frowning. Even though she'd heard everything he said, she still couldn't believeit. He managed to recover himself and grinned at the bewildered look on herface, "Just eliminating my competition Meatballhead!" He said cheerfully, breezing by her. Her eyes narrowed, "Well, I was GOING to thank you. You almost SEEMEDhuman for minute there....but I was MISTAKEN!" She stomped off and Darien chuckled behind her. But for Serena, the image of Darien threatening those two jerks fromschool and the way he'd half awkwardly brushed aside Andrew's teasing about it stayed with her. For a moment she'd caught a glimpse of him--without the teasing front he always put onfor her.... For Darien, the brief sensation of playing hero for Serena had not been unpleasant.But he was far too practiced at keeping his feelings tucked deep to face the ones that burst, unchecked from him when Serena was around. He'd been alone too long notto be terrified of acting on impulse. Only Andrew knew something of Darien's past,and Darien was pretty sketchy about the details... Serena had no idea of Darien past his obnoxious teasing and so shecouldn't know that it was his way of reaching out--a sign that she stirred somethingin him. And she never suspected until one day when she was returning from theTemple and cut through the side of the park close to the graveyard. She was kicking leaves merrily, whistling and humming when she spotteda familiar figure walking over to two gravestones. She froze and watched Darien drop to his knees, laying his flowers down gently. Hestared numbly at the two headstones for sometime before rising and walking away..alone...~No one should have to visit a graveyard alone.~ Serena thought sadly. She waited till she was sure he was gone before heading in and over to the two stones.She read the names and dates and caught her breath. These couldn't be? Were they....Darien's parents? She looked at thedates again and felt her heart tighten in her chest. ~They must've died when he was really young. Did he grow up allalone?~ She shivered and gently touched the flowers, ~Oh Darien...~ Andrew was dusting the counter when Serena walked in. He frowned. Her face was set and sad. She sat quietly in front ofhim. "Andrew?" She asked softly."Yeah Serena?" He replied. "Were Darien's parents....did they..." She faltered, "Did they diewhen Darien was just a little boy?"Andrew's eyes widened. "Yeah. Yeah they did....How did you find that out? He's only ever told me to my knowledge.""I saw him at the graveyard." She said sadly. Andrew eyed her a moment and she added, "He didn't see me." Her blue eyes met his, "Oh Andrew! What happened! Who took care ofhim?" Andrew sighed, "They were killed in a car accident when he was six. Hewas in the car with them."Serena's eyes widened, "Oh, how awful!" Andrew nodded, "He was hurt pretty badly and he has amnesia to this day. He can'tremember the accident or his parents at all." Serena's eyes stung and her heart swelled with sympathy, "Oh that musthave been terrible for him!" She thought of his blank face staring at his parent's graves. "He grew up in an orphanage until he could afford to move out." "He's always been alone....?" She half stated/half asked. Andrew sighed and nodded. It was a relief to be able to talk to someone about Darien--even ifDarien would probably dismember him if he knew it was Serena. He frowned. WAS Serena really the best person to be telling his fears and concernsabout Darien to? They didn't even get along! But then he remembered....that day at the park....when he'd nearly pummeled those two guys teasing her.....the way he'd laughedoff his insinuations about WHY he teased her..... ~Why DOES Darien tease Serena? Darien never bothers with any girls....except Serena...~Maybe that meant something! He looked at Serena's face, her wide eyes filled with concern andheartache for the one guy who drove her crazy. He'd worried that a junior high girl like Serenawouldn't be able to understand Darien's pains but suddenly he wasn't anymore. Suddenlyhe felt she was the best person to know.... They talked for a long time. Andrew confided in Serena, all his worries about Darien spending his life alone. About him being so serious and studying allthe time. Serena listened to every word and Andrew felt she somehow understood. "You're actually the only girl I've ever seen him react to." Andrew said, after they'd been chatting for a good two hours. Serena smiled wryly, "Oh great--and I really bring out the best inhim." "You know he only teases you for fun Serena.""It's only fun for HIM Andrew." Although, as she said it, an image of his grinning face as he teasedher flashed across her mind and she knew, deep down, ever since that day at the park, she didn't mind. Suddenly, a lot of things about Darien seemed to make more since. ~He's not so bad...~ She thought charitibly. "Serena? Hello?! Are you still here?" She smiled, "He's got a nice smile when he's laughing--and generallly around me heis." "There, see, you bring out the best in him too! He doesn't laugh that much y'know?"Serena sighed, "Can't the doctor's do ANYTHING about his amnesia?" Andrew shook his head sadly, "No. Amnesia's really unpredictable. It can last a fewhours or years at a time." "I can't imagine forgetting my parents." She shivered, "It's tooawful." They chatted a bit longer and Serena got up to leave. "Serena, you won't tell him I said anything will you?""Ofcourse not!""Thanks." "Bye Andrew!"That night Luna found Serena staring sadly out the window. "What's wrong Serena?" She asked with concern."Oh Luna...it's Darien." "What about Darien? Did he tease you again today?" "No--o, it's not that..." She told Luna about his parents and hisamnesia. She promised Andrew....but WHO was her talking cat gonna tell? "Oh that *is* awful." Said Luna shaking her head. "Isn't there anything I can do Luna? Surely as Sailormoon I could..." "Serena, I don't think so. Your powers are for use against evil." Serena's eyes filled up a little, "There must be something I can do..." she said softly and Luna was once again reminded of why she was a senshi,and the leader....her ability to care ran so deep.... Serena slept fitfully that night.....here heart was full.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~&~~~~~~~~~~~@ That's all for the first part minna! I'm dividing it up to avoid word wrap problemsthe utter bain of my existence! Hope ya like so far! Don't worry, there IS mush in this story! I promise! Stop looking at me so skeptically!;p