YOUNG LOVE by Aeris -> aeris03@hotmail.com Yo, people! Yup, this is me. Young Love is really not much of a story. Actually, it's sort of a modern-style Silver Millenium event. It's more of a retelling of a story, and I just wanted to see if I can do just as good as our pal Naoko. I also changed things around a little bit, so please if you're a bit confused, just mail me. Sorry if I don't get to reply immediately, though. I don't really have regular internet access, and that's why I got Hotmail, okay? After reading this, please also read the message below. Thanks! !-<*>-! It has been four months. Four months and still the Thompson family grieves for their daughter's death. It was all a mystery, how and why. She was just found in the middle of the park with a knife stuck in her heart, and her lover beside her... Also dead. It was all so confusing... At first it was thought that she was killed by the man beside her. He was a mystery too, after all. All the Thompsons knew was that his name was Darien, an orphan, and had no surname. That he was their daughter's boyfriend, and no more. However, the autopsy reveals that the man died quite sooner than she did. The news shocked the whole Thompson family. All, except for the cousin of the departed, her most trusted friend. Only Molly knew. And now she reveals the tale of a young couple whose secret is beyond comprehension... Serena Thompson, 14, was off to some town in Japan called Juuban, where she was to study. A Tsukino family was to take care of her there. It was an unhappy journey, but a promising one. Her first letter to Molly was not at all cheerful. It was written exactly a day after arriving in Japan and it was uneventful. She described her foster family, the Tsukinos, and the landmarks she saw during the ride to their home. She also described how different the Japanese culture is to the American. She was not very amazed but she was not insulting, either. After a week of stay in Juuban, Serena wrote an enthusiastic letter to Molly. "...Ooh, he was so annoying. But he's cute too. But I know he shouldn't know or else he'll tease me even more. And you know what? He calls me Meatball Head! It's vexatious at first but when you get used to hearing it everyday, it really is a cute nickname..." Molly knew that Serena was talking about her hair, which she usually puts up in two buns with pigtails trailing behind. And she knew that the letter also was talking about Darien, the 19-year old guy Serena usually bumps into, and finds totally handsome. "...And I made four close friends. One's Minako Aino, and she wants to be both a gym teacher and a model. She's really cool. Then there's Ami Mizuno, who studies too much, but is friendly and so optimistic. She wants to become a doctor, just like her mother. Then there's Rei Hino, who's not really a close friend, 'cause we fight a lot, but is just fine. She's very religious, though, and wants to become a priestess, as her grandfather is a priest of the temple. There's also Makoto Kino, who is quite... uh, the bully type but once you get to know her, she's really nice and understanding. She's boy- crazy too, just like me and Minako, but she thinks that every cute guy she meets looks just like her old boyfriend. But that's just fine. And she's really a great cook..." Molly laughed as she read the last part. Knowing Serena, she probably devours every meal that Makoto person cooks. Everything went just well. After a year, Darien finally asked Serena out and they became an item. They really loved each other. Darien admitted that he had always liked her, even when she hits him with her test paper. Their love grew, but Molly doubts that this is true love, as Serena tells her. Serena must really have it for this guy, Molly thought. When Serena returned shortly after her graduation, she brought Darien with her to LA. Her parents were furious at first, but soon accepted him as their daughter's man. There was nothing they could do about it, after all. They love each other. Darien makes Serena very happy, and that's all that matters. That is, until something totally unexpected happened. "Mom, Dad, I... I'm pregnant." With those words, Mr. Thompson exploded. He would not have his daughter marry some orphan. He would not have his daughter be married to someone that could not even support himself! Within a week, Darien would have to leave the state, and Serena would be sent off to a convent where most teenage mothers were sent. Otherwise, Darien would be fired in his job at Moonlight Realty, owned by Mr. Ken Thompson, and Serena would be disinherited. As much as he would hate to be separated to the one he could and would love for all his life, he loved her too much to let her life slip away, just for him. And what her father said was true. He could not live without the job given to him, let alone support the two of them, on his own. He would have to sacrifice their relationship. Though he had risked coming to a foreign land for her, it was nothing compared to what they are facing right now. It was not only his life that was in risk, but Serena's future, too. As hard and painful it may be, it would have to be. She would have to understand. It was, after all, for Serena. His love, his life. But Serena thought differently. She has this sentimental instinct in her. And she said to herself, if she had to, she would, as long as it was for love. What Darien told her really hurt. It destroyed all her visions of her future, their future. In her rage, she broke up with him, as far as Molly could see. Serena practically ran to the convent and left Darien gaping at her flaring outburst. "I don't love him anymore. He's so cruel, so... Argh! He probably just wanted me for Dad's money, just as Dad said... Oh, I just hate him?" Serena was truly affected by Darien's confession. She has expected too much... But that doesn't mean that she doesn't love him anymore. Molly knew that true enough. And she also knows that soon, Serena would look for him, for his embrace, for his love... True as her word, Molly's cousin before long began to feel lonely. She began to be bored a little more than usual. She hungered for his touch, his embrace, his love... and his forgiveness. One month after their separation, Serena wrote to Molly. "I'll get out of this place, Molly. I have to get out. I need him. I want him. I just have to be with him one more time. For him to accept my apology. To know that he still loves me... 'Cause I still do. Thursday night, Molly. Thursday night. I'll get out of this stupid prison. I'll go to Hikawa Shrine in Juuban, Rei's temple. It's the only place he'll go. He told me so. I'll go there. I already have a plane ticket, thanks to Sarah, the cook. And I think I have enough money to survive a month there. A month. I'll have to be satisfied..." Molly shook her head. Serena really is crazy. She really loves Darien to go off like that... And the letter. It was so unlike her. A letter with thoughts all jumbled up... Molly could not interfere. She knows that. Long before, the cousins had made a pact not to mind the other's affairs whatever happens... Even if it means one's life's ruin. Serena did not break her vow to herself. The Thompsons soon received news that their daughter has left without a trace. Only Molly knew where she left. Only Molly knew. Serena found out that Darien has left Hikawa Shrine to "a place memorable, sorrowful, yet happy." She racked her brain for the site. "The park!" She jumped into her rented car and drove at once to the Juuban Park, but she was a second too late. Serena was fifteen meters away but she could clearly see Darien near the tree where he proposed, and she responded. She could also see the knife glistening in his hand, reflecting the pale moonlight... "NO!" Serena cried out, jumping out of the car. But Darien was too far away to hear his lover scream. All he could hear was the memories of Serena shouting. Shouting her hate, her fury, her rage. "I couldn't take it anymore," he cried softly to himself. "My love, my life, lost forever..." He then held out the knife and stuck it in his heart. "DARRIIEEENNN!!!" Serena ran to his side and held his body getting lighter by the second. "Darien, I... I love you, and I'm sorry if I ever? Oh, Darien, I..." Darien struggled to smile at her. "Se... Serena I... I love you... too... much. T-Take... care..." And he died. "NOOO!!! DARRIIIEEENNN, NOOOOOOOOO!!!!" She cried as she pulled out the knife in his heart. She looked at it with eyes full of loathing, antipathy, and hate... It reflected her beautiful face, a face of determination, of love, and of hate... And she put it into her own heart with the words, "I love you, Darien... I'm so sorry..." And she collapsed to the ground. Her parents never knew what happened. Neither did Serena's friends in Juuban: Minako, Ami, Rei and Makoto. Nor the nuns in the convent. Only Molly knew what took place. Only Molly. !-<*>-! So, what do you think? Am I good, or do I just suck? Either way, email me at aeris03@hotmail.com, OK? Hi, by the way, to JA (that's Joanne Alexandra), Ibuki, and to Jupiter Storm and to my non-author friends: Kathryn, Marivic, Danielle, Michelle, Karren, Angela, May, and Mayen.