Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Eternal Entrapment ❯ Darien's Decision ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Note: Same warning as last time. If you worship Serena/Darien as a
couple, don't read this. They WILL be broken up, it WILL be messy, and
I WILL NOT warn you again. It's a companion to the first story, but
more like a prequel.

Darien's Decision

Darien kept his distance, watching in silence as Rini and Serena
fussed over the little bundle. Professor Tomoe sat nearby, watching
with a delighted smile on his face. He loved it when people showered
his little firefly with attention.

"Oooh, she smiled at me!"

"No, she smiled at ME, Meatball Head!"

"Don't be stupid, Rini! Why would she even LOOK at you?"

"Because you and your ugly mug are scaring her, that's why!"

Darien smiled and stared out of the window. He hadn't been there when
Sailor Saturn sacrificed herself to save the other Scouts. He'd really
only seen her once, and even then, she'd been little more than a
ghostly image. For that reason, he wasn't as fascinated by the baby as
other people were. He'd never been fond of them, especially since he
never even got to see his own little sister's face...

"Darien?"

He blinked and looked over at Prof. Tomoe.

"Would you like to hold her?" the man asked, holding out the bundle in
his arms. A tiny fist emerged from the bundle and wrapped around his
finger.

Darien hardly even considered the offer. "No, thank you, sir. I'd
better not."

"Come on, Darien!" Serena said, tugging on his arm. "You've GOT to
hold her! She gives you this warm, tingly feeling inside! It's so
cool!"

Still he hesitated. Caring as Serena was, she often forgot things.
Like how he was uncomfortable around babies. But then, he'd never told
her about his sister. It wasn't entirely her fault.

"It's up to you," Prof. Tomoe added helpfully.

"Oh, don't you worry, professor. He's GOING to hold her," Serena
assured him.

Darien frowned. "Serena, I don't-"

Serena forced him into a chair and carefully took the bundle from
Prof. Tomoe. "Hold out your arms," she instructed.

Darien didn't budge.

Serena gave him one of her "do-it-or-you'll-pay-for-it-later" looks.

Darien sighed heavily and obediently held out his arms.

Serena smiled and handed him the bundle.

Darien closed his eyes and waited for his body to start shuddering
uncontrollably, for the wave of nausea to roll over him, for his heart
to start pounding in his chest so loudly that he could actually hear
it. But none of that happened. Cautiously, he opened his eyes and
looked down.

A pair of wide, violet eyes stared back at him.

He experimentally dangled a finger before her face.

The violet eyes blinked and moved to focus on the finger. Then the
bundle giggled and sent out a tiny fist to claim the intruding digit.

Darien smiled slightly and gently traced her petal-soft cheek with
another finger.

The bundle squirmed and gurgled happily; apparently it was very
ticklish.

"I think she likes you," Prof. Tomoe said.

"Okay, my turn again!" Serena reached over to take the bundle.

The bundle shrank away from the offending hands and looked up at
Darien with pleading eyes.

"I think she wants to stay with me," Darien said slowly. He brought
the bundle closer to his face. "Is that right?"

There was a squeal of agreement, and the tiny fingers pressed against
his chin.

Rini giggled and gently stroked the baby's head. "Looks like Hotaru
made a new friend."

Though Serena was disappointed about being denied bundle-holding
privileges, she couldn't help smiling as Hotaru tried to fit Darien's
finger in her mouth. "See? Didn't I tell you you'd like her, Darien?"

Darien nodded absently, hardly even noticing Serena until she laid her
head on her shoulder and whispered in his ear.

"Just think, Darien. Someday, we'll have a little baby of our own..."

Darien stiffened noticeably, and, as if sensing the change in his
mood, the bundle let out a warning whine.

Rini carefully took the bundle from Darien, rocking it slowly. The
whine faded and was followed by a whole minute of delighted cooing.

"Darien, what's wrong?" Serena asked, concern in her voice. "Are you
okay?"

"I'm sorry...I..." Darien shook his head. "I'm feeling a little dizzy.
I need some air." He slowly stood up.

"Do you want me to go with you?"

"I...no, I should be fine in a minute." Darien quickly left the room.

* * * * *

"So what happened to you in there?"

Darien sighed and shook his head. "I can't tell you that."

"Why not?" Rini asked, slipping her hand into his.

"It's...graphic," he said at last. "I don't think you should hear it."

"I've traveled years back in time twice. Technically, I'm older than
you and Serena combined."

Darien closed his eyes. "Please...don't say that."

"Darien, what is it?" she asked. "You sound so worried..."

* * * * *

Sailor V leaped fearlessly over the lava pit, a determined look on her
face as she faced the day's villain. Just as she was about to launch
into a catchy phrase, the car hit a bump in the road.

The book fell from his grip and slid beneath the driver's seat.

"Darien? Are you all right, dear?" his mother asked.

"I'm okay, Mom. I dropped my book." Darien unbuckled his seat belt and
hopped down to the floor. He stretched his arm as far beneath the seat
as it could go until his hand came to rest on the edge of the book.
"Got it!"

"Be careful, son," his father warned. "Don't want to bump your head."

Darien pulled the book out and dusted it off. It was important that
the book always stay clean. Ever since his mother had told him about
his new baby sister, Darien had been preparing in every possible way.
He'd gone out and learned all he could about girls, which meant what
they liked and didn't like. While they weren't too crazy about boys,
(not yet, anyway) they absolutely idolized Sailor V. If Darien was
going to be any kind of big brother, he'd have to know something about
her.

Just as Darien settled back in his seat and buckled the seat belt, the
car swerved wildly to the right.

"Goodness! You almost hit that poor little thing!" his mother
exclaimed.

Darien's father sighed. "This road must be full of possums."

Darien went back to his book when the car swerved again. Expecting it
to straighten any moment, he kept reading. It didn't.

Finally, Darien looked up. The first thing he saw was the car's front
end crashing through the metal guard rail. He heard his parents'
screams as the car flew through the air. He saw the terrified look on
his mother's face as she struggled to reach him.

"Mom, what's happening?"

Before she could answer, the car jerked forward, and there was a loud
crunching sound. It continued as the car cartwheeled through the field
and finally came to rest on its side.

A few minutes later, after he was sure it was over, Darien tried to
open his eyes. He saw red at first, and then felt very warm. When he
reached up to feel his forehead, his hand came away wet and sticky. He
thought he could hear sirens in the distance just before the darkness
came.

* * * * *

"I never even knew what they were going to call her," he whispered
sadly.

Rini stared up at him in shock. "Why didn't you...?"

"Tell her? I don't know. I've shared so much with Serena, but...I've
never told anyone about my sister. Until now. Anyway, that's why I
don't care for babies."

Rini blinked a few times, then gasped. "You mean you don't love-"

"Babies, Rini. Not children." He patted her head fondly. "Of course I
love you. You're my little girl...or you will be."

"I am," Rini insisted, latching onto his leg. "So. You don't really
like Hotaru?"

"I...do, actually. I can't explain it. She's the first baby I've been
able to hold for more than a moment." He looked thoughtful. "But then,
she's not really a baby, is she?"

"What do you mean? What else could she be?"

"A firefly," he said quietly. "It hides during the day and comes out
at night, burning brightly until it burns out. But the next night, the
firely flies again."

"Huh?"

Darien shook his head. "Old wives tale, or something like that. Just
remembered it now."

"What are you going to do about Serena?" Rini asked.

"She expects us to get married and have children. But...I realized for
the first time today, I don't want the same things she does."

"What DO you want?"

"To change my destiny. And I'm going to do it tonight."

* * * * *

Serena wiped the tears from her eyes and gently rocked the bundle.
"I'm so sorry, Hotaru. I didn't know this would happen..."

The bundle cooed curiously, staring up at her with its violet eyes. It
didn't seem to understand that it was supposed to be sad.

Serena sniffled and stroked the bundle's soft hair. "They said it was
so sudden. He just...froze and..." She trailed off, tears running down
her cheeks again.

The bundle reached up and patted her damp cheek, giggling.

"Princess Serenity?" a voice asked.

Serena looked up to see Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna standing before
her. "Hi, guys. Is something wrong?" she asked, wiping her eyes.

Setsuna looked uneasy. "Princess, we've...been summoned."

"Summoned? But who...?"

The Outer Scouts bowed their heads as Darien walked in, an unreadable
expression on his face.

Serena stood up, sensing something was wrong. "Darien...what is it?"

"I've never enjoyed hurting you, Serena. So please forgive when I say
this will be the most painful night of your life. You're going to lose
your joy, your soul, and your heart, in that order."

Serena couldn't or wouldn't moved. She just stared at him, unable to
think.

"I know you're concerned about Hotaru, and that you want to keep her,
but you're much too young to give her the proper care. I've seen to it
that she'll be looked after."

Serena was only vaguely aware of Michiru taking the bundle, the source
of her joy. As if to add to the hurt, bundle giggled and patted
Michiru's cheek, obviously thrilled at having a new face to play with.

Without warning, Michiru vanished into the shadows.

"Next, your soul."

Serena whirled around, only to find that Darien had vanished, too.

Haruka & Setsuna gave her one last look of sorrow before fading as
well.

Serena still wasn't quite sure what was happening.

And then something tugged at her. It was the same thing she'd first
felt when Rini had-

Suddenly she was bolting out of the hospital, racing down the street
toward the park. She didn't know why, but she had to get there before
the light did.

It was too late.

There was a blinding pink flash, and the last thing Serena saw was the
Luna Ball hovering in midair.

Then there was silence.

Once her vision returned, Serena found a small parcel on the ground.
She tore it open, and a plastic bag of pink cookies fell out, along
with a hastily-written note, stained with what might have been tears.
It said, quite simply:

"Things will get better, Moon Mama. I'm sorry."

Serena sank to her knees slowly, taking it all in.

Darien hadn't meant her soul...he'd meant her soulmate. Himself. Gone.

And now Rini. Her heart.

The tears arrived, and they wouldn't leave her until the next day.

She was losing everything she had: Hotaru, Darien, and Rini, the
sweet, precious child she'd never said, "I love you" to. But Rini had
known. She had to have known. At least, Serena desperately hoped she
did.

It was another hour before she felt Amy's comforting presence.

"Serena, where have you been? Everyone's worried sick, and your
parents can't-" She stopped and touched her friend's shoulder.
"Serena?"

Serena fell into Amy's arms, sobbing on her shoulder. "They left me,"
she managed to whimper between sniffles. "They really left me..."

Amy didn't understand it, of course. All the same, she pulled Serena
up (wishing for Lita's strength) and dragged her home.

Serena went quietly, wishing in vain for the things she'd lost, and
regretting what she now realized she'd never truly had: a young man's
heart. Even after she found the letter waiting on her pillow, she
would never really grasp just why Darien had changed his mind about
them. She would only know that he was looking for something she
couldn't give him: another future, free of her.

* * * * *

Darien carefully adjusted the bundle in his arms, supporting the head
a little more.

The bundle grunted, then went back to sleep.

"It's our turn, little firefly," he whispered, kissing the forehead.
"Our turn to find our true destiny."

The End.