Title: Strange Encounters Part: Six - Over the Hill and Through the Woods Author: Y2Raye Rated: G Email: meeko@maxim.net AN: I can hardly believe it! Part Six, and only in two weeks!! Wow. Like I said, hard to believe. But, here it is. I'm determined to get this done soon so I can start on a new fic!! Thankies to the Tenshi (MM, Choko, and Katelyn) and Seriph-chan. *~*~*~*~*~*~* Darien followed Serena, trying to keep up with her. Who knew such a small person could run so fast? "Serena!" Darien kept calling. "Serena!" "Stop it! Stop it, okay?!" Serena turned around. She stared at him as they were standing on top of the small, green hill. Perfect view of the moon, but Serena didn't notice. "Why are you following me?" "I just want to talk to you," Darien said. "I'm not stopping you," Serena huffed. "Why are you so mad at me?!" "Be...because!" "Why?" "Because you're a jerk!" Darien rolled his eyes and Serena ran. She ran over the hill and into the gardens. The canopy of willow vines that hung over the entrance concealed her movements afterwards. "Oh Serena," Darien sighed. "Why won't you just let me talk to you?" He ran after the blond, racing through the willow vines and onto the cobblestone path. He looked for any sign of her, a piece of hair, cloth, a shoe maybe...Darien was about to give up when he heard a whimper come from somewhere in the maze of flowers and plants. Darien listened again for the sound, which came within the next few seconds. He glanced to his right and decided it was coming from there. *Serena...don't be hurt...* He ran through the paths marked off with little picket fences and heard the sound again. This time it sounded like tears though. *I hope you're not hurt Serena.* Soon, he arrived at an area of the gardens he'd never reached before. Its entrance was covered by a thick curtain of vines (not willow), and its walls were covered by thick ivy. Little flowers hung from the ceiling in little vines. "Serena?" Darien asked. "Darien?" Serena replied. "Is that you?" "Yeah," he said. "Where are you?" "Um...I'm surrounded by blue, yellow, and purple flowers. And a lot of ivy." "Okay. I'll be there in a minute." Darien made his way through the ivy-covered walls and dirt path until he reached his final destination. "Serena, there you are!" "Darien!" Serena exclaimed. She tried to stand but fell back, biting her lip and almost crying. "What's wrong?" he asked, kneeling. "It's...it's my ankle," she squeezed her eyes shut. "What happened to it?" Darien was very concerned about her, and he wondered if Serena noticed. "I...I was running and I found my way in here and...and I tripped...on that vine right there," she pointed to a vine laying to the side of the path. "I pulled it up after I tripped so no one else would." "That's very thoughtful. But, I'm going to have to see how badly your ankle is hurt." "How, pray tell, are you going to do that?" "Don't worry, I won't break it...not on purpose anyway." Serena looked panicked but Darien chuckled. He rolled his eyes, "I was just kidding. I'm not even really going to touch it." An awkward silence passed between them as Darien gently took off her shoe and sock. He carefully checked for any broken bones. "Well, nothing's broken," Darien said quietly. "You probably twisted it is all." "It hurts." "I know it hurts...but I can't fix it..." Serena whined a little more about her ankle until Darien interupted her. "Serena, I'm sorry." "Huh? Sorry about what?" "For being so mean to you before. And for acting like the biggest jerk in the world...I'm sorry." Serena blinked a few times. "A-apolgy accepted...but I should be the one who apologizes. I was mean to you too. I'm sorry." "You don't have to apologize." "I want to." "But you don't have to." "I'll feel guilty if I don't." "Okay...apology accepted. Now, how've you been lately?" "In light of recent events, not very well." "Besides that." "Um...life's been downhill a lot lately." "Care to tell me?" "I'd rather not." "That bad, huh?" "Well, I don't know. It's just, ever since I met you, bad things have happened. Take for example, when I first met you I had to go all the way to Kobe and then my car broke down right before I saw you the second time. And then, after lunch that one day at Le Buffet I broke up with my long-time guy Nick. And just now--when I'm trying to avoid you I end up twisting my ankle." "Guess I'm just bad luck, huh?" "No, not really...I guess it's just coincidence...unless you -made- them happen I don't think you're bad luck." "Why not?" "Well, I better not be in love with a guy who's bad luck then." That's the moment they both stopped talking and moving. Darien glanced at Serena and asked, "W...what did you say?" "Nothing," Serena shook her head. *Please buy it, please buy it!* "I didn't say anything." "No you didn't. You said you were in love with me." "I did not!" "Yes you did. But you know what Serena?" "I didn't say that!" "Serena, just listen to me, will you?!" Serena bit her lip and looked up at Darien. "Go ahead, say what you want too. I'm not stopping you." "Like I was saying. You know what? I'm in love with you too." *Did I hear that right?* Serena wondered. *Did he just say... did he just...he's in love with me?* Darien saw the dumbstruck, awestruck expression on Serena's face and began to wonder whether he'd been hearing things when he heard her say that she loved him. She blinked rapidly and he could see the glossy gleam to her eyes that meant she was going to cry. He wrapped his arms around her and felt her frail arms cover his back. Darien kissed her neck as he felt warm drops parade their way down to his shirt. She only wrapped her arms tighter around him in response. Darien kissed her neck again. He slowly worked his way up her neck and to her mouth. She kissed him back like there was no tomorrow. Eventually, they were "rescued" by Andy and Sunny. Darien carried Serena to his car and drove her to his apartment. Whe they got there, he wrapped up her ankle and drove her back to her apartment, carrying her up. Serena had fallen asleep in Darien's arms. Amy and Lita were very happy to have their roommate back. "Thank you so much Darien," Amy said, calling Lita to the door afterwards. As Lita carried her friend to her room, Amy thanked him once more. "We were worried about her. She seemed so upset these past few days. I'm glad she finally got to sleep." "No problem Ames," Darien waved it off. He sighed. "I'll see ya at the coffee shop tomorrow, as usual?" Amy smiled. "As usual." FINITO! Wow, that took me a LONG time to get finished. I was going strong there for a while, and then I just kinda dropped off there. Anywhos, I want to get your feedback! I want to know how you liked 'When You Wish Upon a Star', which I only got one piece of feedback on. *sniffles* But please, please gimme feedback! I'm working on a much longer 'fic now, yes, it's a romance, and yes, I will submit it to First Love. Ja matta ne minna-san! I'll be back!!!