Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ A Little Older, A Little Wiser ❯ The Search for Venus Begins... ( Chapter 3 )

"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!"

"The legendary fighter Sailor Moon, defeated by a table leg." Rei muttered under her breath while watching Serena hop around the room, clutching her foot.

"Shut up, Rei. I think I broke my toe on that stupid table of yours." Serena said, finally settling down to gingerly feel her toe.

Darien walked into the room just then and held up a mini-med kit.

"Some one yelp for a doctor?" He asked with a grin, settling down in front of Serena and examining her foot.

"Rei's table tripped me." Serena said, smiling against her will at the black head bowed over her foot, tenderly probing her toes.

"You're amazing Meatball Head. We've been working out and sparring for the past two hours and you don't get a single bruise but the second a table is put in your path, you trip and break something." Rei said, shacking her head.

"I'll just tape up your toes and take you home, okay?" Darien asked before Serena could reply to Rei.

"Wait. We still need to talk." Serena said, looking at Rei.

"Fine, you two talk while I tape." Darien said, never looking up.

"What's up, Serena?" Rei asked.

"I almost forgot. Artemis thinks he might have a lead on where Venus is."

"Really? That's great."

"One problem though. We think that she is in England."

"England? Are you sure?"

"No. Not really. But Artemis wants to go and check it out."

"By himself?" Rei asked in surprise.

"Well, that was his plan but Luna's going with him too." Serena said, mischief dancing in her eyes.

"Ah. Who's idea was that?" Rei asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Luna's."

The two women grinned evilly at each other for a moment.

"Anything new on the other scouts?" Rei asked.

"Not really. Mercury is at school somewhere, though we still don't know where and I haven't found anything out about where Jupiter is." Serena said, a note of frustration sneaking into her voice.

"We'll find them. Don't worry, Sere." Rei said.

"I should have kept track of you guys better. Now, we're paying the price for my stupidity." Serena said quietly, staring down at her foot as Darien wound tape around it.

"Serena, this is not your fault." Rei said, looking at her friend with worry in her eyes.

"Right, Rei. Anyways, we've got to get going." Serena said, standing with Darien's help. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Bye Serena." Rei said, watching the pair leave, the worry still apparent in her eyes.

* * * * *

"So, are you going to talk about it or are you just going to pretend like everything is fine?" Darien asked after they got to Serena's apartment.

"What are you talking about?" Serena asked from where she sat curled up on the couch.

"You've been beating yourself up ever since we started looking for the other scouts over how you have failed them."

"Well, haven't I?" She shot back.

"No. People move around. Just because they aren't as easy to track down as Rei was doesn't mean that you somehow failed."

"I'm their princess. I should have at least kept track of where they were and how they were doing. Instead, I let them just disappear."

"They didn't disappear. They lived the lives you let them live. And if I recall, you were rather busy at the time just trying to stay alive yourself." Darien shot back.

"Doesn't matter. I abandoned them. What if something happened to them? What it they were hurt? Or killed? And I never knew about it?" Serena yelled, tears standing out in her eyes.

"Serena," Darien sighed, his anger and frustration flowing out of him with the sigh, and walked over to the couch and gathered Serena into his arms, "That is the danger that we all face in living out our lives. Pain, as much as joy, is a part of life. We will find them and we will deal with problems when, and if, they exist. But not before."

Serena slowly relaxed into Darien's arms and allowed a few bitter tears to fall.

"I'll try. But it's hard not to worry." She said, looking up into his face.

"It's always hard. But very few things that are worth doing are easy."

The two of them sat that way for a while longer, holding each other.

Eventually Serena chuckled weakly and Darien craned his neck around to look at her questioningly.

"I'd forgotten how much of a pain in the butt you and Rei could be."

"Us?"

"Yes, you. Neither of you let me get away with anything. At least before I had the other scouts to side with me and tell you to back off."

"Are you saying we're bullies?" Darien asked, his voice deceptively bland.

"Mmmhmm. Big ones."

That was all Serena got out before Darien flipped her on to her back and pinned her to the couch with one hand while tickling her with the other. Serena giggled hysterically, begging for mercy while trying vainly to wiggle away.

"No fair tickling when I'm injured!" Serena yelped, trying to fight back and failing.

"I'll let you up if you promise to be nice." Darien grinned at her once he had her well and truly pinned to the couch underneath him.

Serena stuck out her tongue and vainly tried to wiggle free once more, which only resulted in Darien tickling her more.

"Promise to be nice.

"I...promise...I promise." Serena finally managed to gasped out.

"Promise what?"

"Not to kill you once I get free." Serena snapped in mock anger.

"Hmmm...I don't know...." Darien said, holding her there.

"Darien!" Serena began to whine.

"Ahem." The couple on the couch glanced over to where Luna had just come into the room.

Darien leaned his body over Serena and gave her a playful kiss before letting her up. She had a slight blush on her face as she turned to face her cat.

"Artemis and I are leaving now. We should be back in a couple of days. Please try and stay out of trouble." Luna said walking over to Serena.

"Bye Luna." Serena said, picking up the small black cat to give her a final hug, taking the opportunity to whisper several suggestions for the trip to Luna.

If cats could blush, Luna would have been when Serena set her down. As it was, she refused to look at either Artemis or Darien as the two cats were teleported.

"What was that about?" Darien asked after they had seen the two cats off.

"What was what about?" Serena asked innocently.

"Never mind. I probably don't want to know anyways."

* * * * *

Luna and Artemis arrived in a secluded London alley. After taking a moment to survey their surroundings, the two sat down to talk for a moment.

"So, where do you think we should start?" Artemis asked.

"Do you still remember where Venus lived when the two you lived in London before?"

"Of course. We actually are pretty close to the apartment. But I don't think she'll still be there."

"I didn't think so but there's a chance that there might have been a forwarding address or something for us to go off of."

"Alright Luna. Let's head out before it gets too late." Artemis said, brushing past her as he took the lead. Black and white fur momentarily sliding silkily against each other.

Luna stood still for a moment till Artemis, noticing she wasn't following, turned back with a puzzled look.

"Damn you Serena." Luna muttered before running to catch up with her companion.

* * * * *