This story takes place partly in the episode "Tuxedo Melvin."  In this
episode, Sailor Moon looses her Rainbow Crystal and begins to wonder
if Tuxedo Mask is really on her side or not.  I've re-written this and
hope that you like it!  It takes place at the end of the episode and
after the battle.

I've always believed that in the show Serena and Darien loved each other
before they knew that they were Serenity and Endymion.  The two of them
were just to darned stubborn to admit it.  If you don't believe me then
watch really closely from the first season.  The way Darien smiles at
her.  Their thoughts about each other at times.  Even just a few
episodes before this one with Peggy Jones, they seem to be physically
attracted to each other.  Stuff like that.

Uh-oh!  I'm rambling!  Sorry!  These are just my thoughts!  Hey, I have
them... occasionally.  I know, *scary*!

Domo arigato to Alicia Blade and Lady S for posting this!

DISCLAIMER: Don't own it.

RATING: G OR PG.  No violence, only romance.

Truths
By Stefanie

*************************************************************************

"MOON HEALING ACTIVATION!"

The Nega-monster didn't even know what hit it.  The healing energy from
Sailor Moon's wand coursed through its veins, and it collapsed back into
the wrestler it had once been.

Sailor Moon smiled in triumph as the people began to return to normal.
Then a thought hit her.  "OH NO! THE CRYSTAL!" she yelled to Luna.

Zoisite appeared and knocked Luna out of the way as she made a grab for
it.  "Zoisite's got it!" she yelled to no one in particular.

Tuxedo Mask heard her and turned just in time to see Zoisite laugh and 
disappear.  He through a rose at her, but she was long gone before it
hit.  "She's getting away!" he cried.

"NOOOOO!" Sailor Moon shouted after she was gone.  "She's got my
crystal!" she whined as the flower petals from her disappearance
vanished.

Tuxedo Mask jumped down next to her.  "You did really great against
that Nega-monster," he told her, almost sounding like he meant it.

Sailor Moon smiled and seemed to forget about loosing the crystal
momentarily.  "Hey, thanks!  That means a lot to me!" she told him.

He didn't look at her; he just walked off.  "But you should have watched
that crystal!  Now it means that I'll have to get five of them back from
those creeps!" he told her angrily.

Sailor Moon gasped.  'What?'

He continued as he walked away.  "And I will get them."  His voice
became dark and threatening, almost as if he was challenging Sailor
Moon to stop him.  "The Imperium Silver Crystal *will* be mine."

*************************************************************************

After the battle, Serena de-transformed and walked out of the park with
Luna.  When she was out of the site of the park, a strong hand grabbed
her and pulled her into a nearby alleyway.  Serena was about to scream
when a familiar voice broke through her thoughts.  "JEEZ, Meatball Head!
We just saw that!  What did you think you were doing?  Zoisite got the
crystal!"

Serena sighed as she recognized Raye's voice.  She turned and came face
to face with Sailors Mars, Jupiter and Mercury.  She normally would have
started whining saying that it wasn't her fault.

But not today.

Tuxedo Masks' words hurt her.  He sounded like he was blaming her for
loosing the crystal; just like Sailor Mars did.  She didn't need her
comments now.  Serena felt her cheeks get hot, and her blood boil.

She opened her mouth and let them have it.

*************************************************************************

Serena sighed as she looked at her reflection in the lake.  It was a
beautiful April evening and she was out trying to enjoy it.

She was failing miserably.

Between the Negaverse getting so many of the Rainbow Crystal's, her
friends constant nagging, and Tuxedo Mask being so cold lately...

She sighed and looked up to the sunset.  Beautiful reds, oranges,
yellows and purples smeared the sky, casting a golden glow upon the
land.  Her eyes filled with tears as she stared at the pastel of colors.
'How long has it been since I've looked at a sunset; I mean really
looked?  A month?  Two months?  It was before Luna found me and began
training me.'

To Serena, this sunset represented more then just the beginning of
night, or the rising of her guardian moon.  It showed what she was
trying to prevent- the setting of the human race.  "Scouting has been
so hard lately.  There are four of us now, but they treat me like trash.
Tuxedo Mask isn't helping me.  What is with him anyway?  He told me
that...that he was supposed to protect me."

Serena sighed again and let out all her pain and sorrow.  It cascaded
down her cheeks in tiny pools of salt water, and dropped soundlessly
at her feet.  Each new tear represented a single emotion she was
feeling.

Hurt: Her friends were on her case again, saying she was slacking off.
They were blaming her for losing the crystal earlier that day.

Fear: The Negaverse was coming too close during battles.  Every time
she went to a battle, she hated to think that she might not come back.

Betrayal: Tuxedo Mask wasn't helping like he used to.  He used to
encourage Sailor Moon, but now all's he did is demand the crystals.

Anger: The Sailor Scouts were always treating her like she was a two-
year-old.  They had blamed her for loosing the crystal, and Raye had
started in on her.  She had told them exactly what they could do with
her job.

Sadness: Darien had spent more time then normal teasing her, and had
gone beyond her limit.  She had screamed at him and stormed off.  He
had made her already rotten day worse.

The ones that concerned her friends and crushes were what meant the
most to Serena.  The tear streaks became rivers of teardrops that
never stopped and never ended as they flowed swiftly down her cheeks.

*************************************************************************

Darien whistled a tune as he walked down a path in the park.  He had
had a great day, up until the attack at the amusement park.  He had
lost another of the crystals, but somehow, it didn't seem as important
as it did at the time.

His day went somewhat like this:

Wake up and go to school, bump into Serena.  Eat lunch, remember how
much she loves doing the same thing.  Youma attack, see Sailor Moon.
Go to the arcade, tease Serena.

His face fell as he remembered that Serena had screamed at him as she
left the arcade.  'I HATE YOU DARIEN!  GO TEASE SOMEONE ELSE FOR A
WHILE!!!  I'LL SEND LITA AFTER YOU IF YOU *EVER* COME NEAR ME AGAIN!!!'

He knew he had gone beyond the limit, but knowing Serena, tomorrow it
would all blow over and they would be yelling at each other again.

Same with Sailor Moon.  He could feel her shock and see the hurt on
her face as he waked away from the earlier battle.  He'd hurt her,
too.  But she'd forgive him.  He was certain.  She forgave everyone.
'Heck, she forgave Nephlite!'

Darien eyed the path on the right warily and was about to pass it by,
when he felt a pull.  Not unlike the pull when Sailor Moon was in
danger.  But there was something different about it this time.  She
wasn't afraid.  She was...alone.  Sad.  Angry.  Depressed.  *Not* like
her usual cheerful self.  He had always been able to tell her emotions
through what ever link it was that they shared, and this was a new
feeling for him.  Sailor Moon's emotions had never been so dispirited
in all the times he had felt her emotions and fought along side her.

And yet, no matter how much his body protested to it, his heart demanded 
surrendering to the pulls' will.  Darien had learned to give in and
let his heart guide him to the short-skirted hero.  He began to run.
He ran faster as the pull to Sailor Moon got stronger.  Every time he
tried to slow or stop, the pull protested to him painfully for not
following its wishes.

Finally, he fully gave in to the link and let himself fall into the
knowing, and not knowing, of where he was going.

Then, it stopped.  There was no pull, no pain.  Nothing.  Darien
glanced around and his eyes fell upon a bench by the crystal clear
lake.  Darien smiled when he saw the figure that was at the bench.

Twin hair buns could be seen on a small girl's head.  Two pigtails
streamed down from each of the buns and fell down well past her knees.
The little light that was left from the sun cast an unearthly glow
upon her.  "Serena..." Darien whispered, his throat going dry.

Some small part of his mind wondered where the danger was, and why he
felt Sailor Moon's emotions so strongly.  Another part wondered why
he was led to Serena.  Neither question mattered, he saw Serena and
that was what was important.

Darien walked up slowly, so as not to disturb her.  When he was only
a few feet away, he heard her speak.  "Scouting has been so hard
lately."

Darien froze.

He did nothing, just froze.  'WHAT?!?!?!?!?!' his mind screamed.

"There are four of us now, but they treat me like trash.  Tuxedo Mask
isn't helping me.  What is with him anyway?" she asked herself.  "He
told me that...that he was supposed to protect me."

Then with out warning she began to cry.  Darien noticed that it wasn't
the wails he always heard, it was silent.  Tears dripped down her face
in unheeded pools.

The words she had said sank in.  'It's impossible.'

'Only because you like her,' an inner voice retaliated.

'NO!  It's because it's Meatball Head Serena.  She's a crybaby, klutz,
ditz, and a bad student...'

'Beautiful,' his other voice put in.  'Like Sailor Moon...'

"Oh God," Darien whispered to himself.  He was led to Serena because
she was...He didn't let himself finish the thought; it was too real
now.

Serena gave a short gasp, stood and whirled around, coming face to
face with Darien.  "Wh-what-what are you doing here, Darien?" she
asked while wiping tears from her eyes.

Darien peered at her.  Her eyes were red and poofy, with tear streaks
staining her face.  Being careful not to say that he heard her talking
to herself, he answered.  "I heard you crying, and came to see what
was happening.  Anything wrong, Meatball Head?"

Serena became furious at the use of her hated nickname.  Only this
time, she didn't show it.  "Please Darien, don't call me that.  My
name is Serena and I want you to call me that."  She looked up to him
with big, wide sky-blue eyes.  "Please."

Darien was shocked.  She hadn't demanded it.  There was no yelling, no
wailing.  It was just a question.  "Ok, Serena." he said giving her a
slight smile.  "Now please, tell me what's wrong.  I want to help, if
I can."

Serena gave a start.  Darien was offering to help her, and was being
civilized towards her.  For some reason she felt that she could tell
him anything, and everything, about her.  'He's being civilized.  I
should listen to him, tell him.  I've always wanted him to be nice.'
She knew she couldn't tell him what was really going on in her life,
Luna would kill her.  She would just have to tell part of the truth.

She wiped more tears from her eyes as she answered him.  "Oh, it's
just a problem with me and my friends.  You know, me just being my
meatball headed self."  She looked up at him, "I guess there are
other people who like to tease me besides you."  Her voice turned icy
as she continued to talk.  "Didn't I tell you to get out of my life?"
she sat down and faced away from him.

Darien winced at her words.  They hurt because he felt that he had just
lost the trust of his two best friends, and constants in his life.
Sailor Moon, and Serena.  He walked up and kneeled down in front of her.
"I'm very sorry for what I did earlier.  You're right.  I shouldn't
tease you so much.  Please forgive me."  He took her hands, and gently
rubbed them with his fingers.

Serena jerked her head at the intimate caress.  "You-you're apologizing
to me?"  She looked down at their hands.  His fingers were still gently 
massaging her hands, and she couldn't bring herself to break the touch.
It felt too good.  Too right.

"Of course I am," he whispered to her gently.  "I don't hate you,
Serena.  I like you...a lot.  Teasing you is fun, and I never meant to
hurt you.  Please, Serena tell me, what is bothering you?  You can tell
me anything."  When he finished, he brought her hands up to his lips,
and gently kissed them.

Serena flushed and turned her head.  Her knuckles seemed to go numb by
the brush of his lips.  Her tears began to fall again.  There was so
much pressure on her, and none of the others understood what she was
going through.  No one could.  Some voice inside of her told that she
could tell him.  That he would understand.

'No, I can't.'

She averted her eyes.  "That's the truth, Darien," she lied gracefully.
"I had a really bad day today, and needed to let it out.  Thank you for 
listening.  See ya."  She quickly got up and ran.

Darien stood there, dumbfounded.  'Oh no you don't, my Meatball Head.
You are going to tell me *exactly* what is troubling you.'  He took
off after her.

*************************************************************************

Serena continued to run.  Her emotions were in a jumbled heap somewhere
inside of her.  Darien was being so friendly to her today, and she
didn't know what to think of it.  Another thought entered her head.
'What if he heard what I said before?!  He may think I'm nuts or know
that I'm a Scout!  Oh no!'  She was suddenly jarred out of her thoughts
by a tree root.  Her arms went out in front of her to stop the impact.
But the expected pain never came.

A strong pair of arms wrapped around her waist, and kept her from
making contact with the hard floor.  "Be careful, Serena!  You should
watch where you're going," came a male voice that she recognized as
Darien's.

Serena gasped as he pulled her back into a standing position.  When she
was back up, he didn't let go of her.  His arms stayed firmly wrapped
around her waist as he spoke again.  "You okay?"

Serena nodded dumbly as she tried to sort out what was happening.
'Why isn't he letting me go?  Does he...like me?  Is he just being
nice?  What is going on?!'  She felt him pulled her closer, and let
herself gasp again.  His touch was sending shivers down her spine.
Delightful little shivers that she would love to feel again.

Darien, oblivious to the young girls' confusion, put his lips near her
ear.  "Come on, Serena.  Tell me what's *really* wrong.  I promise, I
won't tell anyone."  He inhaled the sweet scent of her hair.  'God...'
he thought.  'I don't know how much longer I can control myself with
her so close...'  "I wouldn't even tell your cat."

She felt a fear rise in her again when he mentioned Luna.  'He was
just being smart.  He can't know.  He would have called me on it by
now.'

His voice came to her again, softly, in a tone she had heard once from
another man, Tuxedo Mask.  "Please, Serena.  You can tell me anything.
I know what it's like, to be alone and not be able to tell anyone what
you feel.  But I don't want such a beautiful girl to be like that.
Tell me.  I won't laugh, I won't make fun of you and I won't tell
anyone.  Please, trust me."

Tears fell from her eyes again.  It was hard for her to believe that
she could cry after how much she had already wept.  But, the tears
kept falling, and she turned around in his embrace.

Darien caught his breath at how she looked.  She was still beautiful,
but somehow, tears suited her and yet didn't.  Her eyes were glistening
with water, and that made her look more beautiful then before.  He
almost unconsciously lifted his hand to her face.  Placing it on her
skin, he brushed away her tears, and stroked her cheek.

"You promise?" she whispered as she leaned into his caress.  It felt
good.  Nothing had ever felt so right as this moment in time.  She
trusted him, and after she asked the question, she knew that he could
be trusted with her deepest, darkest secret.

He moved his hand to her forehead and brushed her bangs back.  "Of
course." he whispered simply.

"Thank you."  Serena gulped and closed her eyes.  Darien saw that she
was having trouble, and led her to a tree to rest.  He sat down and,
keeping a firm grip on her hands, pulled her down so that she was facing
him.

He caressed her hands again and urged her silently to speak.  "Darien,
I know this will sound crazy, like it's impossible, but please let me
finish and don't interrupt me at any time."

Darien nodded.  He knew the truth, but he wanted to hear it from her.
It would be more real if it came from her lips.  Serena inhaled deeply
and started.

<One hour later.>

"...and now, I don't know what's going to happen!  I know I'm a bad
leader, a klutz and Meatball Head, but they don't need to rub it in!
I just wish that I knew what to do!  I want to know what Tuxedo Mask
thinks he's doing, and if he's our enemy."

She paused for a moment and took in a breath.  "I'm so scared.  I-I
don't even know if...if I'm going to di-"

Serena was cut off suddenly by something she didn't expect.  Darien's
lips on hers.  He couldn't let her finish that last sentence because
he would never let it happen.  In one hour, his view on Serena had
changed.  She was no longer a klutz, ditz or even a Meatball Head.
She was Serena.

Same as Sailor Moon.  She was no longer a girl with superpowers who
was constantly falling and getting into danger.  She was Serena, too.

As Darien pressed his lips more firmly against hers', some part of his
mind reminded him of his dream princess.  'No,' he told himself firmly,
'Serena is the only one I want.'

Serena's emotions from before fled her body.  She didn't care that she
had just told her most carefully guarded secret to a man she was
supposed to hate.  The kiss was all she cared about.  In seconds, it
wasn't as innocent as it should have stayed; it was telling what they
felt for each other.  Their emotions were no longer contained, and they
let them flow freely to one another.

They stayed that way for a long time, as long as their lungs aloud
them.  It wasn't until the intense burning in their lungs became too
painful for them that they broke for air. Breathing heavy, Serena
leaned her head against Darien's chest and he stroked her hair.  She
looked up at him and found him smiling.  Her heart leapt.  He was
smiling because of her.  *She* made him smile.  Serena beamed back.

Darien's face suddenly became more serious.  He pulled her closer and
pushed her hair away from her ear.  "Don't worry, Serena, I'll protect
you."

Serena laughed and pulled away slightly, so that she was looking into
his deep, blue eyes.  "I'm Sailor Moon, Darien.  You can't protect me.
No one can."  She looked away and a single tear ran down her cheek.

Darien took her face in his hand and smiled again.  Bringing their faces
closer together, he told her what he had been wanting to say since he
found out who she was.  "I *will* protect you."  He breathed deeply as
he spoke his next sentence.  "And, I'm so very sorry for what I said
to you earlier.  I just want the crystal to find out who I really am.
I never intended to hurt you so."

Serena's head snapped up and she pulled away from him.  Darien simply
smiled and pulled out a red rose.  While he handed it to her he told
her what he had promised himself to do when Sailor Moon first appeared.  
Something that he felt he had already promised, somehow.  "I will
protect you as Darien Shields and as Tuxedo Mask."

Serena opened her eyes wide and gawked at him.  He leaned forward and
kissed her lips lovingly.  She immediately responded to the kiss and
threw her arms around his neck, letting her fingers slide through his
hair.  Tears of joy escaped her eyes as he kissed her with as much
passion as he could, causing her to do the same.

When they finally separated she tried to make her lips move and ask
the question that burned in her throat.  Darien simply pulled her as
close to him as he could, and ran his hands through her hair.  "I won't
let Zoisite hurt you.  I won't let the Negaverse touch you.  I will
do anything and everything in my power to stop whatever plans they
come up with."  Serena looked up to him with loving eyes.  He held his
breath and continued, "I love you."

Serena gasped.  No one had ever said anything like that to her.  She
was in shock.  Three little words had more effect on her then Sailor
Mars' constant nagging.  She looked into his eyes and said what her
heart told her to say; "I love you, too."

Darien's eyes smiled and so did he.  He leaned down and kissed her
once more.

"Serena," he whispered after they broke, "you have made me the happiest
man on earth."

Serena's eyes were glazed over with tears of hope and joy.  "Darien,
that is all I ever want to do."

Darien leaned over again and kissed her deeply, passionately- like
he never wanted to let go.  Serena excepted it.  She excepted his lips,
his arms, and most of all his love.

She even excepted her mission.

She could do it.  As long as he was at her side she could do anything.


OK, that's it for this part!  When it was originally posted, I had a
big request for a sequel.  Next: Truths, Secrets Revealed.

Stef-chan

stefaniecraig@hotmail.com