Hi everyone!  This is my very first fanfic, so I have no idea how this will turn out.  Please, if you have any comments or anything, feel free to e-mail me.  
	This is one of those fanfics that asks the question of "what if?" and the twist in time is if Serena never became Sailor Moon again, after the battle with Beryl...this is more of a sappy romantic story, where people would find other people to love and cherish...and it takes place when Serena is a whole whopping twenty years old.  However, there are lots of flashbacks, and you could say that this whole thing is a "Now and Then" kind of story!  Oh yeah...the scouts all attended the same school the last few years they were in school.  I hope you like it, because I loved writing it!

	Okay, I don't own any of the characters, but I own my story, okay?  I don't know who owns these characters, but they have my world of respect because they created the best characters in existence!!!!!  Please don't sue; I'm just a girl who loves Sailor Moon and love.

*denotes thoughts

Eternally Yours - Pt 1
Crystal Heart <Crisinti@hotmail.com>


	Serena sighed her twenty-year-old body onto her bed.  Her hair was in loose buns now, and the ponytails were mangled, having being pulled many times in frustration.  Her white collar button down shirt was rumpled, and her jeans encased her long thin legs, which ended in bare feet and hung off the bed slightly.  Serena pulled the glasses from her eyes.
	*Man, I haven't studied so much since the final for Bates's class!*
	Her cat, "Mixy", was at the foot of the bed, looking at her.
	Luna smiled and purred, satisfied.  *She may not be a Sailor Scout anymore, but she has become more responsible than anyone!  If only she knew how proud Queen Serenity would be, or how proud I am.*
	But no, Luna would always be "Mixy" to Serena, the cat adopted that fateful day when Serena stopped a bunch of boys from totally beating her up.
	That was a special day...because that was when Serena had met somewone who'd turn her life upside down with more frustration than she'd ever had before...

(4 years ago)
	A sixteen year old Serena walked slowly to the hospital.
	Serena sighed.  "A 30 on my last test?" she dejectedly opened up the doorway to the hospital and entered the nurses wing, to grab a candy-striper's uniform.
	Nurse Nagoya looked at Serena and smiled...it was had been a week since that pretty girl with the cute ponytails had started her volunteer work at the hospital, and everyone seemed pleased with her.  Though she was a little slow and sometimes clumsy, Serena was always ready to cheer someone up, and would continue to cheer people up until they started laughing.  Serena had brightened up the hospital quite a bit, and she became everyone's caring sister.
	"Serena!"  Nurse Nagoya said.
	Serena turned to focus her cheerful blue eyes on the nurse.  "Hmm?"
	"There's a new patient in your wing today."
	"Oh?  Who left?"
	"Sarah was feeling fine, so she checked out this morning."
	"Oh..." Serena looked kinda sad.  It was always hard to let go of a patient, especially in Serena's case, because she always got to know her patients so well.  Her face had a determined look, all ready to win another heart over.  "So, who's the new victim?" she smiled, giving her mocking-the-devil grin.
	"Oh Serena, you know that all your patients love you," Nurse Nagoya laughed.  "The new patient in your wing is Darien Chiba, he was injured in a motorcycle accident."
	"Darien Chiba?"  Serena spaced out for a moment...*wouldn't it be so wonderful if he looked hot and we fell in love!*
	"Um-hmm, and he's in room 132."
	"Okay," said Serena, shaking the dream off.  *Who am I kidding?  As IF!  Like there's really a hot guy around HERE!*
	Serena walked out of the nurses' lounge, and headed to her wing.


	Serena had gotten through almost everyone in the hall, except for the last room.  *After I help this Darien-guy out, I'm leaving; I need to drastically improve my grades, if I want to be a nurse!  Yes, I have to work harder if I ever want to graduate, so I guess I'll have to start working harder.*
	She smiled and she stepped in room 132.  As she peeked over, a young man a few years older than herself with deep blue eyes and dark hair turned from looking at the skyline of Tokyo, and focused his eyes on her.
	*He's kinda cute...* "Hello, Darien, I'm Serena."
	Darien looked at the girl that entered.  She was pretty, with her eyes shining the joy of the day, and her hair flashing the gold of the sun.  *Those ponytails...interesting hairdo...*
	Serena entered the room a little more, coming to his bedside.  "I volunteer here at the hospital.  You were brought in today because of a motorcycle accident," she said, coming close, and instinctively placing her warm small hand on Darien's larger one.
	Darien looked at her hand and a thought came to him...*this somehow feels so right, but I don't even know this girl!  Who am I kidding?*
	Serena kept her eyes on Darien's confused ones, and she squeezed his hand, somehow knowing that it comforted him.
	Darien snapped out of his strange mood quickly, and shifted into teasing gear, trying to get the girl to snap out of this awkward mood.  "If you don't mind my saying so, your hair looks a lot like meatballs..."
	Serena all of a sudden jerked her head out of the strange feeling she had, and said, "I come here, spending time that I could be using on homework, to cheer you up and all you can say is that my hair looks like meatballs?!?!"
	"Well, yeah, Meatball head..."
	Tears started filling up her eyes.
	"Oh, don't cry, Meatball head, that just shows that you're such a baby."
	She stood up quickly, "Well, if that's the way you feel, I'm getting out of here."  She got up, feeling pain in her heart...she never was hit this hard before!  There was never a guy that she'd feel so sensitive about except for this stranger.
	She rushed out of the room, and into the hospital cafeteria, to console herself with a coke.

(now)
	A knock sounded at Serena's door.  Serena got off her bed to open the door to the apartment, letting her visitor in.
	"Amy!  What are you doing here?  Don't you have a study session with Greg?"
	Amy smiled, "You've been working so hard lately, Serena, that I don't usually see you unless I come by your apartment!"
	Ami was tall as well, and beautiful; her short blue-black hair was light and airy, and her sapphire eyes were glimmering in the moonlight of the apartment.
	"It's a little dark in here, don't you think?" she said, noting that the only light on in the apartment was the one on the desk, by the huge textbook of modern English.
	Serena sighed drearily, "I don't know...I was at my desk all afternoon until just a little while ago, and I guess I didn't really think about turning on the lights."  She walked to the light switch and flicked it up.  Her eyes slowly adjusted to the brightness of the room, and she held the closet door for balance for a while.
	"I know you want to be a nurse, Serena, but are you sure you haven't been wearing yourself out too much?"
	"I admit that four years ago, I wouldn't have survived this, but now, well, I can, because I've been through this, many times, and as much as I love fun, I think that I want to become a nurse even more."
	"You're such a diligent student Serena; I admire your devotion, for I think you are one of the most dedicated people I know now, but Serena, I wish you'd have a little more fun!"
	"When I first began studying, really studying hard, I was sixteen, and I had sixteen years of wisdom to catch up with, and I'm still catching up."
	"No, Serena, you're there.  Now you're just pushing yourself.  Let's have some fun tonight."
	"My English exam IS tomorrow, Amy."
	"And so is my biology final, but I've studied it all day, and I think I need a break.  Looking at you, you've been studying all day as well, so I think we should take a break."
	"Well..."
	"I can't believe this; you taught me to have fun, and now, I'm the one trying to get you to do so!"
	"I don't know, Amy, life's just so intense right now."
	"You've got to stop, Serena...stop and smell the roses."
	*The roses...the roses...where I have I seen so many roses...when have I heard of roses?* Serena scanned her memory.  Roses were always on her mind.
	Amy sighed as she looked at Serena.  Life was different now, so different from the time when there was no Serena in her life...

(4 years ago)
	The hallways were filling up with people at the special school, and Amy felt herself being pushed from wall to wall.  "Geez, I'll never get anywhere!"
	She hurried out of the school, anxious to find her mother, for they were going to spend the afternoon together...*the only afternoon in the week I ever get to see her without any interruptions...*
	Dr. Anderson was a very busy doctor; it was no wonder, for she was one of the best doctors in the world.  Amy didn't see her too much, and as a result, they didn't waste time arguing when they got time together, and Amy grew quite independent.  Amy cooked for herself, and knew the whole Tokyo bus schedule.
	She rushed down the hall, now worried that she might not be able to get home in time to change out of her school uniform, and then get to the hospital.  A boy was walking carelessly out of a classroom when she accidentally crashed right into him.  Books were everywhere, and Amy got down quickly to pick them up.
	"Oh!  I'm so sorry!"  she mumbled quietly, almost to herself only, quickly picking up her books, and running down the hall, her short blue-black hair flying back.
	Greg looked at his books around him, and said, "Geez, what's with careless girls these days?  They're everywhere!"


	Amy stepped off the bus in front of the hospital, in a light blue t-shirt, and khaki slacks.  She carried a leather purse, and her hair was pulled back with two light blue water droplet barrettes.  She entered the cafeteria, where her mother always met her for their weekly get-together.  But today, she felt different, for there was a girl in there that she had never seen in the hospital before.
	She had seen her at school, of course, but never anywhere else.  Serena...that was her name, wasn't it?  Always late, and not exactly a perfect student, and rumored to be a crybaby.  But somehow, despite all the rumors, Amy still liked her.  Serena had that air about her,  "Love me, love everyone."  And there was Serena, in tears, crying into a cup of coke!
	Seeing that her mom was not yet there, Amy walked over to Serena.
	"Are you okay?" she asked quietly.
	Serena looked up an the blue-haired girl in front of her.  She was Amy, the girl that had no friends....being too busy studying to get to know people.  Somehow, that did not throw Serena off.  "Um, yeah, I guess so."
	Amy seated herself opposite her.  "Do you want to talk?  My mom's still working, and I'm waiting for her."
	"Oh yeah, I've met Dr. Anderson; she's nice.  She's your mother?  No wonder you're so smart!"
	Amy blushed.  Noticing Serena's attire, she asked, "Do you work here?"
	"I just started a week ago; I'm a volunteer; I want to be a nurse and all."
	"Oh really?"
	"Yeah, but I don't think I have the spirit for it, you see, today..."

(now)
	*Yes, life is definitely different now.* Amy snapped out of her reverie to focus on Serena, who was still thinking... "Serena, are you smelling the roses?  Darien's roses?" Amy smiled as Serena started to turn a rosy, healthy pink.
	"You know Darien only gave me one rose in my whole life, and that was only at the gardens we were at that one time, and we only were there together because we bumped into each other.  Other than that, well, I have to admit, Darien is a very attractive guy, and when I was sixteen, I was head over heels for his looks for a while, but other than that, well, no.  I quickly learned that he was not really the sweetest guy in the world; just as well, because he still isn't."
	"You don't know that anymore, Serena.  He left two years ago to study medicine at Johns Hopskins in the USA, for an exchange student program.  He's coming back soon, according to Greg, and we'll probably see him, seeing that he knows you so well."
	Serena shuddered.  *Darien...* warm thoughts flowed to her mind, the kiss, the wonderful day at the garden, before the night came and everything stopped, and he started calling her meatball head again...these warm feelings quickly crumbled.  They were replaced by the numerous times she had run into him, literally, and had been rebuked time after time, being called meatball head.  *Darien was a jerk, and he's only memory.*  She cleared the annoyance out of her mind, and laughed.  "Well, if we plan to have some fun, let's go now, because I am in the mood for some Italian!"
	Amy smiled and said, "Then let's get everyone else too, because it'll be so much fun."
	"All right!  Girls' night out!" Serena smiled, as she picked up the phone, and began dialing the number to Hikawa Shrine.


	Raye pounded her fist into the papers at her desk.  Her long black hair, so black it was almost red somehow, was pulled back into a loose ponytail, at the nape of her neck.  Still, her bangs hung annoyingly in front of her dark violet eyes.  Her face was pale, but still very healthy. 
	*Papers, papers, and more papers!* Her mind screamed in frustration.
	Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the door to her room open slowly, as Chad crept in.  Sweet Chad, always been there since the first time she saw him four years ago, when Grampa introduced him to the temple.
	"Raye," he began.  "You have a phone call.  I think it's Serena."
	"Thank you, Chad," Raye brightened.  She uncurled her long legs from underneath her, and stood up, stretching.  There were always papers and more papers, but there were always friends, and they were always there, ever since that day...

(4 years ago)
"Who is THIS?"  she scorned, looking down at the strange boy in front of her.
	"I know, Raye, he looks kinda strange, but I think he could help out a lot here at the temple.  His name's Chad, and he has no where else to go..." Grampa started.
	"Oh really?"  Raye looked at the boy again.
	Raye may have been a little impatient with others at times, but she was sensitive to the human spirit.  *Something about this guy just seems right...I guess he belongs here.  Besides, Grampa likes him, and I guess Grampa should have his way around here; it IS still his shrine.*  "Well, all right Grampa.  I'll see if I can find a room for him around here."
	Chad looked up at her and smiled meekly.  Raye was certainly a beautiful girl, with her long dark hair, cascading over those rich purple eyes of hers.  They looked like they could see through a human spirit, and they probably could, based on all those rumors that he had heard.
	All of a sudden, Grampa collapsed to the ground.
	"Grampa!  Oh no!  Chad, help me get him to the hospital."


	Raye entered the hospital cafeteria with Chad, thinking, *Oh Grampa, your first stroke!  What are we going to do?*
	It was late afternoon, so the cafeteria was not too crowded.  The only people in the room were two girls, sitting at the table, one that was wiping away tears, with long blonde hair in a funny hair style, and another with a consoling look on her face, with short blue hair.
	"Um Raye, I'll get back to the temple, okay?  Why don't you sit down?  Take a break, and I'll just clean up there,"  Chad said, quietly.
Raye looked at Chad...*he's so nice!  I can tell he already loves Grampa...* "Um, sure." As they separated.
As Raye went near the center of the room, a feeling passed into her blood.  She knew these girls, didn't she?  She took a second glance...well, of course!  The Hikawa shrine was visited by everyone!  They were probably two of the many visitors!
	Feeling the urge to sit with them, she crept up slowly, hearing part of their conversation.  The blonde was talking at this moment.  "...And I just don't get it!  I work so hard to help people, and the way this guy repays me is by making fun of me!"
	Raye spoke up, "Are you okay?"
	The girls looked up, and the blonde stopped talking.
	"Ummm...I'm Raye, I work at the Hikawa Shrine."
	Serena looked at the girl wonderingly...*she looks so familiar!*  "Umm...sit down, Raye!  I'm Serena, and this is Amy."
	Raye sat down comfortably, and for some reason, she didn't feel at all uncomfortable around these girls...*unlike others that I've met.*
	They soon started the conversation up again, and somehow, though Raye was annoyed with Serena's constant whining and crying, she felt an urge to simply like her.  Amy was quite strange, for looking at her, and her habits, one would not think that she'd have such a compassionate heart, but she did...and soon, Raye found herself talking about her Grampa to these girls, that she'd only just met...

(now)
	Raye snapped out of her memories to follow Chad out of her room and to the kitchen, where she talked into the receiver, "Hello?  Meat-ball head?" she cheerfully said.
	"Raye!" Serena frowned at the other end of the phone.
	"What's up, Serena?"
	"Italian.  I've got a huge craving for spaghetti and meatballs right now, and Amy's over, and she says we should all try to get together right now, and go out for dinner.  Can you?  Or are you still studying your religion for college exams?"
	"I studied all afternoon.  I need a break."
	"Good, we'll meet at my apartment, so come on as soon as you can."
	"Great, be over in a few."
	Raye hung up the phone and turned to Chad.  "I'm going out."
	Chad smiled.  "It's 'bout time you did something other than studying.  Don't worry; I'll take care of everything tonight."
	"Thank you so much, Chad."
	He blushed.  "It's nothing Raye.  I wouldn't even be so healthy if it weren't for the fact that Grampa took me in four years ago, and you taught me what was right."
	"But you've paid your debt now, Chad, and you're only staying around because Grampa died two years ago..."
	"You needed me to help, to be here..."
	"Yes, but I don't want to deter you from your dream of being a musician."
	"I wanted to talk to you about that.  I've given some serious thought, Raye, and I've decided to stay here, and study religion with you."
	"Really?" Raye felt her soul lightening.
	"Yeah, I really love this place. It's like a home to me."
	"It IS your home," Raye whispered softly.
	"Of course.  But you told Serena you'd be right over, so why don't you have some fun now, and we'll talk about this later, okay?" Chad smiled.
	"Okay.  Have a good evening, Chad."
	"You too, Raye."


	Lita stirred from her bed as the phone rang.  She looked at the clock by her bed.  It was 5:00 pm.  *So this person was not calling at an insane hour; it just feels like it.*  Lita picked the phone up.  As she did so, she flipped her long legs over the edge of the sofa and flung her limp auburn ponytail over her shoulder.  Her dark green eyes focused on the living room.
	"Yeah?" she spoke into the receiver.
	"Lita!  You've been sleeping?  I'm sorry!"
	Lita smiled.  Only one person could sense that much by the tone of her voice, and only one person could make Lita calm even though she was woken up from a nice nap.  "It's okay, Serena.  It was time I woke up anyway; I've got a final in economics tomorrow to study for."
	"Well, everyone's been studying so hard, I was thinking we could all go out for Italian.  Amy's here, and Raye's on her way.  I still have to call Mina, but please?"
	Lita smiled.  How could she turn this down?  "Sure!  I'll be over in five minutes."
Lita hung up the receiver, and she went to grab her purse in the closet.  She stepped out the door, and smiled as she thought of the fact that Serena always knew how to make depressing things just go, like Ken...

(4 years ago)
	Lita sat at the gazebo to Tokyo park, one sunny afternoon with her current boyfriend, a tall blond with dark brown eyes.  She was happy, and reflected lightly the time she was here the other time, in a storm, when Ken had bailed her out after she was dumped profusely.
	And here was William again, at that same gazebo with her.  He had called her again, to start up the relationship again, and Lita happily sat next to him, as if she didn't even know that William had dumped her only two months before...after all, he was with her now.  He had been going out with her for a week now, and she was happy.
	All of a sudden, William spoke up.  "Lita..."
	Lita turned her happy face to look at him.  "Yeah?"
	"Lita...my ex-girlfriend Renee wants to get back together with me...I kind of want to get back together with her as well."
	Lita looked up at his face, her smile vanishing... "You mean, Renee, the girl you dumped me for before?"
	"Yeah."
	"You told me, when you came back to me, that you didn't care for her anymore."
	"Lita, I..."
	"William!"
	He ran off the gazebo.
	This time, the weather was still sunny, and Lita wished for storm clouds, the huge storm that had disrupted the sky the last time William had left her there.  The rain could give an excuse for her face to be moist.  And the thunder could take away some of her anger.
She pounded her fist against a beam of the gazebo and cringed back as she heard a small crack from her wrist as it met the wood.  She drew her hand back, and cried as she started to massage her wrist.  She looked down at it, and started crying.
	All of a sudden, someone had placed their hand on her wrist, and was tying a scarf about it.  Lita looked up, and smiled pathetically through the tears as she met Ken's brown eyes.
	"Thank you, Ken..."  She didn't know what to say...Ken was always there for her, and after he saved her from the rain the first time William had dumped her, she hardly expected him to do so again.
	But he was there, standing next to her, holding her wrist lightly, and saying something.  "Let's go to the hospital and make sure it's all right."


	Lita sighed as she entered the now crowded hospital cafeteria.  Her wrist was wrapped a few times in bandages, which were going to be taken off soon enough when her wrist healed; as it turned out, her wrist was sprained, but the doctors said that it'd be okay.
	She had sent Ken home after he made sure that she was all right...*he should not waste so much time on a girl like me...he ought to have a more caring friend...*
	The hospital cafeteria tables were mostly crowded, but one caught her eye, for there were a group of girls that she seemed to just like instantly.
	She recognized two of them...Serena and Amy, two girls that went to her school.  *I didn't know they were friends!  I just didn't see them as the type that would be so. But then again, it just seems right that they ARE friends!*
	She walked to the table, smiling, and wanting to join them.
	Serena saw the tall girl come up, a girl that she had been wanting to know for a while...
	"Hey Lita!  Come join us here!"
	Lita was startled at the Serena's invitation, for she didn't expect it; the rumors around school were that Lita was to be an outcast...for she was a bully, and was not to have any friends.  Stunned, she plopped down in the last seat, in her dark green shirt and jeans.
	"Well, Lita, you might know me, but in case you don't I'm Serena, and these are my friends..."

(now)
	Mina grumbled as she sipped some more coffee...she'd been up the past 30 hours, and was so ready to sleep.  Her hair was a golden mess, and her bow was crooked, and low down her back.  There were bags under her blue eyes, and her face was worn and thin.  She didn't care about her sociology final tomorrow.  Suddenly, the phone rang, and she went to pick it up.
	"Mina's not here now, but would you please call back in, say, next year?" she mumbled.
	"Hello?  Mina?  You okay?" Serena's concerned voice came on the line.
	Mina suddenly smiled a little.  "Serena?  That you?  I haven't heard from you for days now!  You've been studying too hard."
	"Mina...it sounds like you haven't been slacking off either."
	"Yeah, but at least in the past 30 hours I did more than just study."
	"You drank coffee too?"
	Mina scanned her memory for something she DID do other than study...there wasn't much to find.
	"Earth to Mina!  I called to ask if you wanted to join all of us for dinner.  We're having Italian, and I know you love that lasagna!"
	"Well, I suppose I could take some time off sociology."
	"Future gym teachers are entitled to having fun as well."
	"True."
	"Then come to my apartment as soon as you can, 'kay?  Bye!"
	There was a cheerful click and Mina hung up.
	Serena...always one to make things right, even when things were all wrong...

(4 years ago)  
	"Sailor V!  Wait up!"
	A tall blonde turned her masked face to a little girl, holding a picture.  The blue eyes under the mask lit up and as she smiled, "What do you wish, little lady?"
	"Can you please sign my picture?  Pretty please?"
	*Mmmm...can't resist making a little girl smile,* Mina thought.  She kneeled down and took the picutre, and took out a Sailor V pen.  She signed, "To my little friend, Peace to the world, Sailor V."
	Mina got up, as the girl's eyes glowed, and she said, "Thanks a lot, Sailor V!"
	Mina sighed as the girl ran away to show her mother.  Life was always on the go, maybe it was time to concentrate on her studies; to settle down in one city...*I think the police should be able to handle crime from now on.  I've worked so hard all these years, maybe it's time to put the mask away for a while!*
	She looked at her watch and said, "Oh shoot!  I have to visit mom at the hospital!"


	Mina arrived, worn out, into the now semi-crowded cafeteria.
	She now wore an orange and pink flower-print dress, and now gave serious thought to her musings earlier that day.
	As she walked through, she saw a group of girls sitting at a table, now in laughter and now in seriousness, as they talked about different things.
	*Mom's still a little sick, but I guess she'll be able to get out soon,*  she thought.  *But what is the fate of Sailor V?  I just really want to do what I want to do now.  I don't want to fight crime; I want to have a normal life.*
	The group of girls came into her mind again, and somehow, she felt like she wanted to talk with them about it.  And so, being an out-going person, she went to the group of girls, and said, "Umm, pardon me, but may I sit here with you guys?"
	The girls looked up.  The girl with two ponytails looked at her and smiled comfortingly, "Sure, we're all new to this table."
	And the rest of the girls laughed.
	"Well, I'm Serena, and these are my new friends, Amy, Raye, and Lita."

(now)
	Dinner was a success, and they had lots of heart to heart, but the true pouring of frustrations came when they all arrived at Serena's apartment after.
	Serena was plopped on the couch with Amy and Mina, and Raye took a kitchen chair.  Lita was sitting in the love seat.
	"I don't get it, though, I mean, I've spent the last how many years studying for this final, so I guess I should be ready to graduate from the nursing academy, but I'm so scared!"
	"Serena...you've always been a nurse to our hearts.  I don't think you could possibly fail now; you've even studied.  You ARE ready, and I'm sure that Tokyo hospital will be glad to have you as a nurse," Lita said.
	"Yeah, and besides, I remember that when we all first met, it was IN a hospital, and you were afraid of not being cut out for being a nurse.   But you proved that wrong, didn't you?"  Mina asked.
	"Do you remember, at the end of that conversation, who you left us for all worried about?  And how you immediately went to ease that conscience of yours?"
	"Well, yes..."

(4 years ago)
	"And so, there I was, in the middle of the street, tripped over a crack in the sidewalk!"  Serena said, laughingly.
	The girls all giggled.
	"Oh, it's so nice to be here!"  Amy said.  "I don't usually hang out with friends!"
	"I have to say; we don't look like we all just met today!"  Mina said.
	"Yeah!  I've told you guys so much, I feel like I've known you forever!"  Raye smiled.
	"Hmm..."  Lita said.  The girls all nodded in amazement at the quick acquaintances.
	"We ought to just meet some other time together and just have fun," Serena suggested.
	"Well, how about we meet tomorrow evening at the Tokyo Park?  We can go out for pizza and then just go shopping, hang out and stuff." Mina said.
	"Yeah..." they all agreed.
	As they were agreeing, a tall woman with glasses and wavy long blue hair came up.  "Amy?"
	"Oh hi Mom!  These are my new friends; I met them today, right here!"
	"It's nice to know that you're finally getting to know other people that don't exist in those books of yours!"
	Amy blushed.
	"Hi, Dr. Anderson," Serena said.
	"Oh, hi Serena!" she looked at Serena, beaming.  Then she turned to Amy, "I'm so sorry, but the guy in 132 needed some more help fixing that cast than I thought, and the next thing I knew, I had spent two hours helping him.  Well, we can still eat dinner and catch a movie, so why don't we go now?"
	"Sure, Mom," Amy said.  "Well..."
	No one had noticed that Serena's face had gone pale...  "Dr. Anderson, did you say room 132?"
	"Yes; you probably met him; he's in your wing."
	A sudden urgency overtook Serena and she said, "I'll see you guys tomorrow night, but I've got to do a few things."  She ran out of the room.
	As she left, the girls suddenly understood, "It's that Darien guy, isn't it?  I bet Serena feels guilty," Raye sighed, getting up, "I ought to go too; Chad's probably wondering where I am.  I'll see you guys tomorrow."
	Lita and Mina both nodded, and feeling the time they got up to leave too.  Amy and her mother left immediately after Serena rushed off.

(now)
	"It was Darien..."  Serena said quietly.
	"It WAS Darien, and you did a good job by visiting him immediately, and it showed that you cared," Amy said.
	"Did I ever tell you what happened that night, though?"

(4 years ago)
	Serena entered the room quietly, seeing his shadow contrasting the quilt of colors behind him, out the window.  The sunset was magnificent sight, and she drew her breath in, at the same time drawing the attention of the patient.
	Darien turned around to face the girl, and he saw the sunset's colors in her eyes, as they seemed to melt into her every existence...but no...there really were tears in her eyes as she came close to him.
	"Darien, I'm so sorry I lost my temper earlier.  Are you all right?  I heard from Dr. Anderson, and..." she sat in the chair by his bed.
	He looked at her, and suddenly, he felt something inside him sting...he couldn't let her cry...  "Please my little princess, don't cry," he said, taking her hand.
	Her hand was cold this time, and she felt his warm hands radiating the heat back into it.  *My little princess...*
	Her tears stopped forming, and she looked into his eyes, now pleading and begging, as if she was the only one that had any power over him.  She suddenly moved closer, and the scene seemed to change around her...
~~~~~~~~~~~
	The soft music played in the background as she felt being carried out to the balcony.  His eyes were hidden underneath a mask, but the undoubtable expression in those blue eyes were of admiration and longing.
	"Who are you?"  she asked.
	"I am the one that loves only you."
	He held her closed, pulling her towards him, and she combed her hands through his thick dark hair, and resting them around his neck.  Their lips met, and all the warmth she ever knew was surpassed by many hundreds of times.  As the long kiss ended, she opened her eyes to see...
~~~~~~~~~~~
	"Darien?!?!"
	Serena looked around her, she was in his arms, in the middle of the hospital room, sitting on his bed.  She broke away quickly.
	"Ewww..." she cringed.  "Did I just let you kiss me?"
	Darien looked away.  Finally, he turned to her and said a flat "Yes."
	She pushed him away and said, "How dare you take advantage of a teenage girl like that!"
	She got up, and rushed away.
	Darien looked after her, his fingers brushing his lips...*the kiss of a princess...* he shook his head.   *I must be kidding myself...come on, she's meat-ball head!  How princess-like can she get?*
	And yet, the beauty of the coming night seemed to lose its enchantment.

(now)
	"You kissed Darien?" Raye exclaimed.  "Oh my god, Serena!  Your never told us this before!  That's SO wonderful!  No wonder he always showed you a special part in his heart, then!"
	"I don't think teasing me qualifies for that."
	"You know, there's a thin line between love and hate..." Amy began, smiling.
	"You're one to talk!  You may be a brain, and you may study all those books to become a doctor, therefore knowing things like that, but tell us," Serena paused,  "Tell us how your crush on Greg began, Amy!"

(4 years ago)
	Amy and her mom entered the house, laughing.  It was midnight now, and Amy wanted to study a little more for her chemistry test the next day.
	She went happily into her room, glad at what a happy day this had been...she had met her friends, she had a great time with her mom, and her mom was ecstatic about her having new friends.
	Amy went to her book bag, releasing her hair from the barrettes.  As she picked it up, a book fell out of the unzipped top, and opened right to the middle page.  Amy picked up the notebook, noticing that writing was definitely not hers.
	*So whose is it?  I don't think I put anyone else's book in my bag.  After school, I ran to my locker, and stuffed all the books in my hands into my bag.  Wait a second...according to the label, this is Greg Urawa's...whoever he is.  I guess he probably the guy that I bumped into in the hall...I remember, I dropped my books, and so did he, and I just got up and left.  Well, I'll have to return it to him tomorrow.  Hmmm...Greg, what a nice name.  I wonder if I ever met him...the name sounds kind of familiar.*
	The next morning, Amy got to school extra-early, to seek out Greg's schedule in the school office.  That way, if he didn't go to her regular school, she could still have time to go to her supplementary school to obtain his schedule.
	But, as she walked into the office, a tall brown-haired boy with blue eyes stood at the counter, talking to the secretary, saying, "But I need her schedule if I plan to return this to her."
	"Well, I'm sorry, but the counseling office has all the schedules; they need to be copied for the parent-teacher conferences."
	"So where could I find her?"
	"Well, I guess you'll have to make do, because I don't know an Amy Anderson."
	Amy startled as she realized that notebook he held in his hands was her Physics notebook.  She walked up to him, and said, "Umm..."
	The boy turned around, focusing on the meek little girl in front of him.  "Yeah?"
	"You're looking for Amy Anderson?"
	The boy looked at her again; she was somewhat pretty, but not all that interesting-looking, though her hair WAS remarkably beautiful, smooth ripples cascading about her sweet face.  "Yes, do you know her?  She dropped this yesterday when we bumped in the hall."
	"Well, yeah..."
	"And what a ditz, too!  She didn't even say sorry!  She just continued running down the hall, didn't even mumble a pardon!"  he said.
	Amy's face changed now, and her eyes were clouded over with an air of anger.  "Well..." she began, finding words to see, but finding that she didn't want to talk to this boy anymore.
	"Amy, Greg, what are you doing here?" Principal Joku entered.  "Well, it's just as good you both ARE here!  Come to my office; I was thinking of sending someone to find you during class today, but this is even better!"
	Amy looked at the boy next to her...he had an embarrassed look on his face, and looked at the ground, and she looked, surprised, at him.  *He's Greg Urawa?  No, maybe he's just another Greg.*
	They entered the principal's office, and sat down in the seats he pointed to.  He started speaking, "Well, I guess you know each other; Amy Anderson, Greg Urawa."
	Both blushed even more, for their worst nightmare happened; he WAS Greg, and she was carrying his writing notebook, which she had thought was so well done, which she had read all night, and had wanted to discuss the things in it with him.  She was Amy, the ditz, and he had insulted her more than anything!
	The principal continued.  "Amy's the top student in our school, and tied for first in the state in the state exams.  She tied with you, Greg."
	Amy started.  *I tied with this creepo?  Ugh.*
	"Greg's from out of Tokyo.  After traveling almost all his life, his family is finally staying here.  And so, he's attending out school until graduation, like the rest.  The reason why asked you two in here is because there is a program for those studying to be doctors at the college, and they have asked for two students in our school.  Seeing that Greg doesn't know many people, I thought that as well as being an intellectual exercise, you could get to know each other; you probably have a lot in common.  Anyway, the program emphasizes a lot of partner research, so you two will have to work very hard together in order to do well in this course; requirements include many hours together in the library, and you both will be able to get out of class for this program, under the conditions you finish your other courses in your own time.  Do all this, and you will not only get the credits this year for school, but you will also get premed credit, so once you graduate, you will have already completed nearly all college training, and half of the premed course."
	Amy's eyes sparkled.  *This would be such a great thing for me!  Mom will be so proud!*  But as she looked at Greg, she got somewhat discouraged.  *But to work with this guy everyday, knowing he hates me?  Well...*
	"So what do you say?" the principal looked at them.
	Amy weighed her dreams and thoughts.  *I don't like this Greg guy, but I want that to do that program...I suppose I could handle seeing him for the rest of my years at Crossroads...after all, this is the middle of junior year.*
	"I'd be glad to do the program, Principal Joku," she smiled.
	Greg looked at her, startled at her prompt reply.  He wanted this badly too, but working with a girl that he had insulted very harshly, well, it was going to be tense.  *The next one and a half years, every day facing her...*
	He looked at Principal Joku and nodded his head.
	"Great!  Then it's settled!  You'll start next Monday by going to the Tokyo University instead of school in the morning."

(now)
	"Amy!  THAT'S how you met Greg?" Lita laughed.
	Amy colored.  "Well, yes, and we're still in the program together now, aren't we?"
	"And you have a huge crush on him!" Mina smiled.
	"Greg is a very special person to me, and I don't really know how he feels for me anyway."
	"Yeah..." Raye sighed, drawing the attentions of the others.
	"Then again, Serena and Amy weren't the only ones who started off an a queer foot..." Lita left off.
	"If you're thinking me and Chad...well, you're just plain wrong!   I never had that feeling for him, or anyone!"

(4 years ago)
	Raye sat up late that night, sitting in front of her fire, watching it for any changes.  But now, she felt a new warmth...one that did not flood of evil, but was bursting with good.  She felt comfortable now, and for some reason, knowing that something made the world all right...and something in her was warm too.  Perhaps it was feeling of having a great group of friends to hang out with...who knew, but Raye was much more calm when she went to bed that night, after finding a room for Chad.  The next day, she would visit Grampa in the hospital again, and maybe Serena would be there too, so that they could talk...maybe go to Tokyo Park together.
	A knock was at the door to her room, and Raye walked to it, rubbing her eyes.
	"Raye?"
	"Chad?  What are you doing up?"
	"Oh, just checking to see how things are.  Are you okay Raye?"
	"I'm fine."
	"Are you sure?" Chad placed his hand on her arm, stroking in comfortingly.
	Raye started to cry, and she drew near Chad as he placed his arms about her.  She felt safe...beyond the feeling she had with her friends...*he's the one that will walk through fire for me...it seems he already has.*
	Immediately, her smile vanished as realization of the moment came.  She pushed him out the door and slid the door shut.  "Go away, Chad!"

(now)
	"I never heard about that!" Amy smiled.
	Raye was red with embarrassment.  "I never let him that close to me again," she sighed.  "There are the moments...but I usually remember by that time."
	"Hmm..." Mina said.  "Why don't you just let yourself go?  You obviously care for him..."
	"And you don't care for Andrew?  Do you know how much you really care for HIM?" Raye snapped back.

(4 years ago)
	Mina walked down the street in the afternoon sunshine, looking for something to keep her mind off the question that she wanted to answer.  Things were never as simple as they seemed...*why are all the difficult decisions the ones that impact your life the most?*
	Did she love being Sailor V?  *Yes, I do love making kids smile, and being an idol for people, but there has to be more than that!  I want to do something without the mask...I want to help people when I'm not in the costume...and I want to be me, not a super heroine.   Maybe I SHOULD pull out; I could be a teacher, or something like that; that way, I could still help little kids, and have them admire me, but I won't have to hide behind a mask.*
	She sighed.  *I want to be a normal person for once...I want to be able to sleep through the night, in my own home, and maybe even with a husband, eventually.  What am I saying?  I'm only sixteen, and there is no guy in my life that would care to like me!*
	Her discussion with her new friends just a few days ago was very profitable to her, for they all said good things.  And it was agreed between all that even though essentially Mina was to make the decision herself, that it would be nice if she got back into school, for high school was a challenge, and junior year was halfway over; if she didn't go to school, Mina might end up in knots; having tutors was nice, but she wanted to see her friends everyday, and have that bad lunch food, and laugh at teachers.
As she sighed in relief of having support, she was passing by the Crown Game Center, and out walked a tall boy with dark blond hair and warm blue eyes.  She wasn't really looking, so she walked right into him.
	"Oh, I'm so sorry!"  Mina backed away.
	The boy looked at her and smiled.  "No problem.  Hey...you look kinda familiar...are you Mina Morrison?"
	"Um...well, actually, I am."
	"Geez, you look even prettier in person," the young man blushed back a step.
	Mina started slightly under his gaze, and backed away, looking at the Crown Game Center.  "So, um, this is where you work?"
	"Yeah...gotta get that money for college."
	"Yeah..." Mina sighed.  Money was the least of her worries now.
	"Well, I guess I have to get back to work..." he started.
	"Well, all right, see you some time, okay?"  with that, Mina kept walking.  *What in the world was that?  I don't even know him, but he's soooo, well, so, HIM!  HE'S HOT!!!!  What am I saying?  I caught his eye because I'm Mina Morrison, Sailor V actress.  Who doesn't want to know an actress?*
	With that, she put more concentration in her step, as she walked further down the road, toward the hospital.

(now)
	"Oh...project!" Serena squealed.  "This I can work with...I DO know Andrew rather well..."
	"Don't you dare!  Besides, he doesn't like me that way!"
	"How do you know?" Lita asked.
	"Oh, and aren't you always perceptive of relationships?" Mina said sarcastically.
	"What do you mean?"
	"She DOES have a point, Lita," Amy began.  "After all this foolishness with Ken..."
	"KEN?"

(4 years ago)
	"Lita!"
	Lita turned around, as the sun curved about her face adorably.  Ken drew in his breath.
	"Hey!  What's up, Ken?  I only see you once a month or so...I just saw you a few days ago; what's wrong?"
	"Oh, no.  I just wanted to see how you were doing and all."
	"Well, that's nice of you."
	"Is your wrist okay?"
	"Yeah, of course!"
	"Do you think you could cook dinner all by yourself tonight, with only one useful wrist?"
	"Well, I was thinking of buying something for dinner..."
	"I'm sure my mom won't mind if you come to dinner at our house..."
	"Really?"
	"I know her cooking isn't as good as yours..."
	Lita smirked.  Ken's mother cooked very well...better than she did, and Lita sighed over the small joke that Ken unintentionally said.
	"I'd love to join you for dinner, but I just remembered; I'm getting together with some of my friends tonight; I'll only be able to make it for a little."
	"Oh, that's okay.  We eat early anyway; my sis has a drawing class tonight."
	"Oh...well, then if it's no trouble to your mom..."
	"Um..." Ken blushed.  "Well it was kind of her idea."
	"Oh, so I guess she's already assumed I'd eat with you guys."
	"Yeah," Ken looked at the ground.
	"What time should I be there?  I've got to get to class now; wait a second; shouldn't YOU be in school as well?  Your lunch hour is gonna end soon!"
	"Don't worry.  Come over at 5:30, 'kay?"
	"Sure, bye Ken."
	As he left, Lita smiled.  *Now there's a guy that I'll always have.*

(now)
	"And you will always have him, and he will always have you.  He's your "rainy day man."  We all have our own, and Ken is yours," Raye smiled.
	"I never saw it coming..." Lita began.
	"Well, today's been a huge reality check.  We've been talking about life, and we never saw love coming into play," Mina said.
	"Yeah, and we all seem to know about everyone else's love lives but our own!" Raye laughed.
	"So, what do we do with this info?" Serena asked.
	"Get us some guys?" Lita smiled.
	"Oh no...Darien and I have a complicated past.  When he left two years ago, we were not on totally friendly terms...he was still calling me Meatball head, and didn't he know I hated it.  I know it sounds ridiculous that I'm holding onto that image of him, but I don't think I'll change my mind so easily."
	"Oh?" Lita's eyebrows rose.  "Did you know that Darien's coming back in two or three days?"
	"Yes, but that makes no difference!  He's not interested in me that way!  Besides, why are we just sitting here like this?  I mean, I have to study, really."
	"Fine, Serena.  Have fun studying, but don't blame us if you find yourself in an awkward situation with Darien.  He's probably missed you..."
	"Yeah, right, and I missed being called Meatball Head," Serena rolled her eyes.  "Don't you guys have finals to study for?  Get out!"
	The girls laughed, and said their goodbyes, leaving Serena to study her English, wondering at the definition of the word "denial".


	A day later, in the sunny afternoon, Mina walked happily down the sidewalk, and went into the Arcade to find Andrew.
	"Hello, Mina!  How are you?" Andrew asked, casually.
	Mina smiled and said, "I aced my sociology final!"  She jumped.
	"I'm impressed," Andrew said.  "My break's in a few minutes.  Do you want to get something in the cafe next door?"
	"Well, sure!" Mina said.
	"Great.  Just wait a second, and we'll be on our way."
	Mina smiled, and sat down at the bench outside of the Arcade.  As she sat, she thought about what the girls had said the night before...that Andrew and her...*ha!  Like it'd ever happen!  We've always been only friends, and nothing more, right?*
	She was so lost in thought that she didn't notice Andrew come up behind her, and place his hand on her shoulder.  The warmth seeped through her uniform, and she started up, turning around swiftly, twisting the wrist behind Andrew's back, an instinct she had learned as Sailor V that she had never quite been able to let go of.  Andrew said, "Okay, I'm sorry I surprised you!"
	Mina smiled and blushed as she said, "Oh...sorry Andrew!"  She let his wrist go, as he massaged it. 
"That's the last time I try doing anything like that to you!" he laughed.  "I've known you for four years, and I never once remembered that you were Sailor V, crime fighter and TV actress, before being Mina Morrison, future gym-teacher!" he smiled.  "Geez, I mean, I met you when I believed you were the famous actress, but you're one of my best friends now, Mina, like a sister!"
	"Are you okay?"
	"Yeah, it swells a little, but it'll be fine."
	"I'm really sorry."
	"Yeah, well let's go to the cafe now.  I have something important to say!"
	"Oh?"
	"Yeah, so let's get going!"
	They walked happily down the street together, and Mina laughed at how Andrew was so nice about this.  It also occurred to her that Andrew was right...despite her first suspicions of him being nice to her because she was Sailor V, he was NOT like that; he had known Mina, not the actress.  Andrew was always there, and Andrew always loved to make her smile.  He had gotten into a very special part of her heart, and she loved to share laughter with him, and she was there to share in his pains, as he was there for her.  She liked Andrew a lot, and, Mina realized, as she saw Andrew's smiling profile beside her, that this was what she wanted, that he was the one that had captured her heart.

(3 years ago)
	"Mina?"
	"Hmm?  Hey!  What's up, Andrew?"
	"I was just wondering how you were...you looked pensive when you were passing by, and I thought something was wrong..."
	"Everybody thinks I look fine!  I didn't look sad, did I?"
	"Well, are you?"
	"Actually, there IS something."
	"Do you want to talk about it?  Because, you know, that I'm always here for you."
	"Hm?" her eyes were lost in huge pools of blue sadness.
	"I just said that I was always here for you..."
	Mina burst into tears, and Andrew took her into his arms and held her.
	"My mom is in the hospital again, and I'm not sure if she's coming out this time..." Mina cried.
	"She's been in the hospital before..."
	"But this time, it's worse.  Andrew...they think she has brain cancer."
	"Oh, Mina," he held her against his body.  She had come to be so important to him in the past year, and now, well, he realized just how much her happiness meant to him.
	"The doctors are checking it out more right now, and I'll know what I'll have to do later..."
	"Mina, I don't know what to say.  I hope she'll be all right, but I don't know what will happen."
	"I know..."
	"Mina, I want you to know that I'm here, and if you need someone to talk to, to cry on, well, Mina, I'm here, and I'll always be here, like a brother."
	"Yeah, Andrew...thank you so much."
	"I know what will you cheer you up.  I'll tell my boss I want to take the rest of the day off, and we'll go for a walk, when you can talk to me, and I can talk to you, and after, we'll have some lasagna."
	"Andrew!  I don't want to take you from work!"
	"Don't worry.  The last time I took time from work was when Darien was in that motorcycle accident a year ago!  Believe me, I can do this."
	"Are you sure?"
	"I want to, Mina.  So let me."
	"Well, all right."
	Andrew turned to go back in the store, but Mina suddenly said, "Andrew?"
	He turned, and smiled, and said, "What?"
	"The only people who know about this are Serena and them, and the doctors.  Please, Andrew, don't tell anyone else."
	"I wasn't planning on it," Andrew smiled.
	"Thank you."


	A week later, Mina ran into the arcade and yelled, "Andrew?"  She was happy and effervescent.
	Andrew came around the corner from the back room and smiled, "She's all right, isn't she?"
	"Yes!" she said, happily, as she ran into his arms and gave him a huge hug.  "It was just a little disease.  I mean, sure, it's still a disease, but it's easily treatable, and she'll be out and well before we know it!"  she said into the fabric of his shirtsleeve, a few tears of happiness bleeding into the fibers.
He held her at arms' length and said, "You look like you're about to fly, Mina!" he said.
	"I feel like the weight of the world is off my shoulders."
	"I knew you were going to be all right."
	"I'm so happy, Andrew; I don't know what I would have done without her."
	"I'm happy for you."
	"Andrew, thank you so much for helping me through this...this whole past week, you've been a sweetheart, and I just want to say that I probably wouldn't have gone through the whole thing if it weren't for you."
	"Mina, you mean a lot to me, and I was just taking care for you, as any brother would have done."
	"Well, thank you for loving me, then!" she said, happily.  "You're the first I told, so I have to find Serena and them.  But I thought you ought to be the first to know, because you really ARE my best friend now."
	He smiled.  "Well, you're my best friend, Mina Morrison, and I hope we'll still be close after this..."
	"Of course!  I can't leave a sweet guy like you in the dust!" she gave him another hug.  "Well, I hafta book it if I want to find my friends, so I guess this is bye!"
	"I'll see you some time, Mina!"
	"Of course!  Bye Andrew!" she shouted as she rounded the corner out the door.

(now)
*I love him!*
Mina started back in her inner amusement of this revelation, and as she watched him, she imagined herself sinking into his arms, and telling him what she just realized.
	"...and so, here we are!" he smiled.  Seeing that Mina looked spaced out, he tilted his head at an inquiring angle and said, "Mina?  Are you all right?"
	"Yeah," she said, breathlessly.  *I've never been so fine in my life, Andrew!  I'm so totally in love with you!*  But then, reality kicked in as she remembered his words...*he thinks I'm his sister!*  Suddenly, her face fell, and that did not escape Andrew's notice.
	"Mina?  You okay?"
	"Yeah, sure!"
	"You don't look happy..."
	*He's too perceptive,*  she thought to herself, and smiled.  She turned to him, and said, "I'm happy, Andrew!  I should be able to know my own feelings!"
	He put both hands up and said, "Okay, okay!  Now let's go in," he said, pulling open the door for her.
	*He's such a gentleman!*  Mina smiled, and entered the caf鮊	He brought her to a booth, and they sat down opposite to her.  A waitress came, and both ordered cokes.  As she left, Andrew leaned in a little closer.
	"Now I can tell you..."
	"I have something important to tell you, too, Andrew..." Mina said.  *Best to tell him now, I mean, if he rejects me now, I wouldn't have had all that time to believe in the some crazy dream...*  "But I'll let you go first.  However, I will tell you my important thing after you say yours."
	"Mina...the reason why I wanted to talk to you was because I have something very important to say, and I thought that you, as my closest, should know it first."
	Mina's heart fluttered and she met Andrew's eyes, breathing in slowly.  *Could he possibly mean...*
	"Mina, I..."
	Mina urged him on, "Yeah?"
	"I've been finally able to accomplish my dream!  The University of Michigan in America has accepted me to their medical school, and I'll be going there in a few weeks to begin in the summer session, on my road to being a doctor..."
	"Andrew...I..." Mina tried to hide the hurt...*he's leaving me!*  "I'm so proud of you!"  *Of course, I'm proud of him!  But he's leaving me!  Oh!  Why did I have to realize I loved him!  A few weeks?  A few weeks, and he's out of my life?*  "How long will you be in America?"
	"For the next several years...I'm going to study medicine there, and then get my Ph.D. there too.  By the time I come back, I'll be all old and gray, but I'll have the med degree and Ph.D, and I'll finally be a doctor, like I always wanted!"
	Mina frowned inwardly.  *I should be happy for him!*  "I'm so happy!"
	"Yeah, Darien had the jump on me when he started his studies earlier and then when he left two years ago...I had to earn my money and study more; Darien's such a bookworm and all...but look at me, hogging all the conversation.  It's your turn.  What did you want to say, Mina?"
	Mina started.  *Well, I can't tell him now!  I don't want him to spend his last few weeks in Japan having unpleasant feelings, and fearing me!*  "You know, it was probably something very small, because I can't recollect right now..."
	"I think you can..." he said, looking into her eyes.
	*No, Andrew, don't do that!* Her mind screamed.  Mina got up, and said, "You know what?  I'm meeting my friends soon, so I have to leave, but when I remember, I'll be sure to tell you!  Bye, Andrew!"
	And Mina ran away.


	Raye looked at Mina and asked, "Are you serious?"
	"Yeah..." she sniffed.  "He's leaving in a few weeks, and he won't come back for years!"
	"I'm so sorry, Mina," she said, taking her into her arms, and holding her.  "It must be so hard...I mean, if Chad had actually decided to leave here..."  A sudden sun rose in her head as she realized what she was saying...*If Chad were to leave...I'd die!*
	Raye heaved a huge sigh of relief as she remembered him saying that he wished to study religion with her...however, he still had not talked to her about it...both of them being busy during the morning, too busy to talk.
	But now, Raye realized how much she valued him, and how important he had come to be for the shrine, as well as her.

(2 years ago)
	"Raye!"
	Raye ran into the kitchen, robe wrapped about her shoulders loosely.  "What is it, Chad?" looking about the kitchen for him.
	"It's Grampa..."
	Raye looked at the floor, where she found him, next to Grampa.  "Oh no..." she fell to the floor, panicking.  She felt for a pulse, and found none.  She listened for breathing, and heard no breath.
	She turned to Chad and said, "How long has he been like this?"
	"He just fell."
	"Call an ambulance."
	"I just did."
	"Okay, let's do some CPR.  You've got the heart, I'll get the lungs."
	They continued this for five minutes...
	"Raye," Chad whispered.
	"No, he's not dead!"  she continued breathing into Grampa, but to no avail.
	In another five minutes, an ambulance had arrived, and Grampa still had not stirred.  In another two minutes, the men pronounced him dead, having died of a stroke.
	In another few hours, Grampa was cremated, and his ashes were ceremoniously thrown into the lake nearby, with only Raye and Chad there.
	As they stood by the moonlit lake, silent tears fell from her eyes, an unnatural occurrence.  Chad put his hand on her shoulder, and she turned, burying her face into his robes.
	Chad was wordless, but he put his arms protectively around her.  "I know he meant a lot to you, Raye...I loved him too..."
	"I'm glad you're here, Chad, because you were Grampa's favorite guy!"
	"He was mine..."  They stood there, silent in sadness.
	Finally, Raye composed herself, and stood away from him, turning to face the lake again.  "Chad, I...if you weren't here, I'd..."
	"I know, Raye, you need me here at the Temple, and I'll be here to make sure things will run smoothly."
	"But your career..."
	"My career can wait a while.  Don't worry; I'll take care of it eventually, but now, I've got more important things to think about," he said, looking at her.
	She turned to him, saying, "Thank you so much."
	"Your Grampa talked to me a while after his first stroke.  He was very worried about you, but I told him I'd take care of you."
	"And you already have been, Chad.  I can't thank you enough for being here, helping Grampa, and now, helping me."
	"It's not a duty to me, Raye, so don't talk of it like that.  I want to be here for you, and I don't need you pitying whatever you think I'm doing to my life."
	"You talk so lightly of it, Chad, but running the temple between the two of us will be very hard..."
	"I know, but leaving you here by yourself is not going to be easy for you, OR me...Raye, I care about this temple, and I care about you."
	Raye looked into his eyes, and found truth.
	"Thank you..." she whispered, as she fell into his arms, holding him tight.

(now)
	*And now, he's given up his music career for this temple, and me!  I mean, sure religion's a great way of life, but he always wanted to be a musician...maybe I should let him go...*  She felt a pain come into her heart.  *But, "If you love something, you set it free..." so, I'll let him go.  I don't care what he says...he's never serious about what he says.*  She thought, trying to convince herself of that.  She was doing the right thing, and it was time Chad looked to his future, and not stay in this past.  He was going to be a great musician.
	She looked back to Mina, who was smiling through her tears.  "You've realized something, haven't you, Raye?"
	"Yeah..."
	"Well, don't let him go..."
	"Actually..."


	That evening, Amy walked down the halls, joyfully skipping alongside Greg.
	"Can you believe it, Greg?  We've finally got the premed credit, and we're on our way to med school, while people our age are going to be only in their junior year in college next year!"
	"Yeah..." Greg smiled.
	"What's wrong Greg?" Amy said, looking at his clouded face.
	Amy's heart always did wrench when she saw Greg like this, with that struggling look on his face...

(1 year ago)
	"Greg?"
	"Hmm?"
	"Are you all right?  You look so tired, and sad!"
	"It's nothing, I suppose."
	"You may say it's nothing, but your eyes say that you're facing the hugest decision in you life."
	"Because I think I am..."
	"Do you want to talk about it?"
	"Well, actually, yeah..."
	"So what is it?"
	"My old girlfriend Cassie is here, and she wants a reconciliation."
	Amy's face grew extremely pale at that moment.  *NO!!!! * She composed herself on the inside, and thought it over.  *I don't want Greg to go back to Cassie...from what he's told me, she never deserved him...she may have been beautiful, but she never deserved such a caring, and intelligent person.  Greg wouldn't want Cassie.  He'd want someone to take care for him, someone who encouraged him to reach for the stars, and someone to be there to explain things to him when he needed it, in case he actually needs something explained...* Then, it hit her like an icicle down her spine.  *He needs me!*
	Amy's head was spinning, and Greg reached over to take her arm.  "Amy?  You okay?"
	"Yeah..." Amy said.  *He needs me...does that mean I need him?*  She recollected all the times they had spent together in the library, studying together, and explaining things to each other...the whole time wasn't all devoted to books, either.  They talked, all the time, and the things they talked about!  She told him secrets that she'd only tell her closest friends, and Greg was her best friend.  He was there to comfort her when stress had taken its toll, and he was there when sadness had invaded her life.  However, if he were to ever leave her...if he were to go back to Cassie, she couldn't bear it!  She'd lose his friendship!  She'd lose the bond they had.  *I'd lose HIM!*  If she lost all that, if she lost all those times, if she lost HIM, she would be so lost!  She had pulled his strength so many times, and cried into his shoulder in frustration many times...she didn't want to lose him, and as she thought about it, she realized...*I love him!*  "I love him!"
	"What?"
	Amy blushed.  "Nothing..."
	"Who do you love, Amy?"
	"I love Einstein!  I was just thinking about his theories again and all.  You know me."
	"Look, maybe I shouldn't tell you about Cassie..."
	"Oh!  No...I DO want to hear about her...it's just that my mind wandered from Cassie to Einstein.  You know; my mind wanders so much and all."
	"Yeah..."
	"About Cassie..." Amy began.  "I think..." *Tell him you love him, and that you don't want him to go back to Cassie.  Tell him to go to you!*  "You should give it a try..."  *Amy, you spineless WIMP!*
	"You're saying that I should give her a chance?"
	*No!  Tell him no!  Tell him the truth!*  "Yeah, I mean, she's probably changed, and realized a few things..."  *No!*
	"Well, Amy, I trust your opinion a lot..."
	"And I'm telling you to go back.  You know me!  I know what's good for you!"
	"Yeah Amy.  Well, I guess I'll give her a call."
	"For sure.  Tell me how things turn out."
	"I will.  Bye Amy!"
	Amy stood, looking at his running figure.  *Amy...you are so ridiculous!  Why didn't you tell him?*
	*It wouldn't have worked out anyway.*

(now)
	"What IS wrong, Greg?"
	"Well, you know how I've been going with Cassie for a year now, ever since we got back together..."
	"Yeah..."  *How could I possibly forget?!*
	"The truth is, I think Cassie is expecting a proposal soon..."
	"A PROPOSAL?  Mr. Urawa, you are still 20 years old!"
	"Amy..."
	"Okay, sorry, I just keep on thinking you're the Greg who I met in the principal's office!  We've known each other for some time now, Greg."
	"Yeah...four long years of putting up with each other...I wonder how we did it?"  Greg looked into her eyes.
	*We loved each other, Greg.  That's how.*  "I don't know...so are you proposing soon?"
	"Well..."
	"Do you love her?"
	"I'm not sure..."
	"What do you mean?"
	"There's someone else in my mind, whom I always liked a lot too, but she doesn't know how I feel about her..."
	*Back stabber!  He's causing these feelings me, and yet, he's got a girl on verge of marrying him, and another girl on his mind.  No, Mr. Urawa, three girls is way too much.*  "Well, then you have a problem," Amy said, coldly.
	"I was wondering..."
	"Sorry, Greg," she said his name bitingly.  "I have to go meet my mom for dinner.  Good bye."
	Amy stormed off down the halls.


	Serena opened her apartment door to a crying Amy.  She was about to go to sleep, to catch up on all the nights she had decided to stay up and rough it.  It was worth it, though.  She passed all her finals with flying colors.  *I'm going to be a nurse!!!!*
	"Amy!  What's wrong?"
	Amy sobbed her whole story out, and in the end, Serena quietly said, "You don't know who the mysterious girl is, she could be you!"
	"Then why would he talk on about her in the third person?"
	"Amy..." a knock on the door gave Serena a rescue, and she opened it to Raye and Mina, who were also crying a little.  "And where's Lita?" Serena asked, to the air.


	At that moment, Lita was oblivious to these matters.
	She was walking in Tokyo park, and was at this point, stopped under the gazebo...the setting for many of the most emotional scenes of her life.
	"My whole life could be traced, just by watching the scenes at this gazebo," she said, to no one in particular.  She smiled, recollecting her long life of disappointments, each always followed by a long period of peace and acceptance, and ash she thought about it...each time, Ken had been there, as she had always been there for her.
	*Are they right?  I mean, he is always there for me, so is it possible that he might...no!  Of course not!  Why would he?  I mean, we've been friends since childhood, and he would never want to see me any other way...I mean, he never told me, but what else?  I'm a sister.  I can't be anything else.  I mean, that vow...*

(5 years ago)
	Lita was sitting at the gazebo in the park, in the rain, thinking over her first break-up with William.  Why did he have to dump me?
	"Lita?"
	Lita looked up to see a wonderful sight, always there when it was stormy, or difficult.  "Ken!"
	"You're always here when you're depressed; I've noticed," Ken said.  "I heard about you and William..."
	"Yeah..." Lita sighed heavily.  "You know, I thought I knew him, that he liked me as much as I liked him."
	"He isn't worth it, Lita.  You're a much better person than him."
	"Than why isn't he the one suffering?  He's the one who dumped me!"
	"Lita..." he said, pulling her into his arms.  Lita broke into tears.
	"Why, Ken?"
	"I don't know, Lita.  Life's very strange, and we don't really get to choose what happens.  The only things that we do get to choose is how to deal with it."
	"And you've chosen to help me deal with this kind of thing many times..." she started to smile.  "Thank you, Ken..."
	"I'll always be here for you, and you'll always know that you're never alone, and that you've got a best friend, or brother, ready to take you into his arms, and let you cry in them."
	"I know this doesn't mean much, because it's never happened before, but Ken, when you are faced with a this kind of thing, I'll be here for you too."

(now)
	*And if I was to tell him about these feelings, well, we'd never be able to deal with it!  I mean, who would we go to if this failed?*
	"Lita?"
	Lita turned in full surprise to focus her eyes on the young man who stood down the path.  "William?"
	"Lita, I'm so glad to see you!" William said, holding out his arms.
	Lita walked slowly to him, and carefully held out her hand instead.  "Why are you back?"
	"Oh, just a nice day to go out for a walk...I was hoping I'd see you here."
	"And how is Renee?"
	"She and I broke up a long time ago."
	"Really?"
	"Look, Lita, I know we've had a shaky past, but I've really missed you; do you want to give it one more shot?"
	"William...I..."


	Raye cried into her pillow that night.  She couldn't sleep.  Not after she just let Chad walk away from her life.  She could remember it...
	She had looked at him across the dinner table with the slightly tragic look in her eyes.  It did not go unnoticed by Chad.
	"Raye, what's wrong?"
	"Chad, I've been thinking, and I've decided that I'll be all right; I want you to go study your music.  I insist on it."
	Chad looked, confused, at Raye.  "Raye, we've already discussed this; I'm going to stay at the temple, and study religion with you."
	"No, Chad, you deserve better than that.  I'm not going to let this temple drag you down, and I can manage by myself.  If not, I can find another worker!"
	"Raye..."
	"Chad, you have to go.  I want you to go; I don't want you to give up something you love, for this temple."
	"Raye...I..."
	"Good, conversation finished.  You will start your musical studies at the college the next session...which is next fall."
	Dinner had then been silent.
	Raye now regretted every word of her conversation.  She should never have let him go!  She should have told him that she loved him, that she was incomplete without him, but she was an idiot.
	*Good job, clutz!*


	A few days after the revelations, Serena sat in a chair at her father's company ball, watching the dancers fly by.  It was growing to be a long, boring evening, as all her father's company's balls were only for lovebirds and sappy romantics who thought that they could find someone.
	Why did she come?  *I came because everyone else was coming!  But no one seems to be having a good time!*  Amy was dancing with another man, who had just asked her to dance, and Greg was in another corner of the room, watching her, and talking to a beautiful girl beside him, who must be Cassie.
	Cassie looked very pretty, but as Serena looked back to Amy, she decided that Amy looked INFINITELY prettier.  She had a silk dress on, in a shade of light blue so light it was almost white, with an off-the-shoulder collar, revealing thin ivory shoulders.  It was like seeing a Georgia peach, but in Japan, in the evening, and without the darned hoops in the skirts.  The light dress's waistline hugged her thin body, in a light blue ribbon, of a deeper shade of blue.  Her light skits flowed with layer-like quality to her feet, where her satin light blue high heels gracefully stepped around.  Amy's hair was beautifully combed, and clipped back with water-drop sapphire barrettes.  Her face was pale, but the rose of excitement bloomed in her cheeks, and she talked enthusiastically with her companion.  Her eyes, however were not to be distinguished, for they were hidden behind the sapphire-studded mask she wore.  *I hate masquerades!*  Serena thought.  *You can't always recognize people; and when you can't, it's hard to tell if you're dancing with a perfect stranger or not!*
	Mina danced by with Andrew, a smile on her lips, and Serena noticed, artificial.  *She's dying inside!*  She was beautiful as well, wearing a dark sunshine color spaghetti strap gown, done with a regency style waist, with the waistline up right below her breast.  A gold cord wove around her at this spot, and from the center of her front, the cloth opened to a lighter shade of gold, which gave a bountiful amount of golden silk cloud.  Mina's hair was pulled back in the princess style she always wore, but clipped with a gold sun clip instead of the usual pink bow.  She wore a gold chain around her neck, with an amber droplet as the charm.  Her mask was a concoction of gold glitter, and though no one could see her eyes, Serena thought it was for the better, because if Andrew actually saw Mina's eyes, he'd see how depressed she really was.
	Raye was dancing with Chad, and her movements indicated that she was feeling full of regret.  *She doesn't want to let go...I wouldn't either, bit she's probably wiser, I only hope she knows what she's doing...*  However, she looked gorgeous.  Her red satin sleeveless was a shimmering wave of romance, and it enveloped her slim figure nicely.  Her dark hair was flew about her in a dark mass, long and shiny.  She wore ruby earrings, which twinkled through her hair.  Her mask was studded with ruby rhinestones.
	And, then, there was Lita, dancing away with William...*how can she just forget about Ken?*  She wore a neat concoction...her dress had a low collar, and would have been considered sleeveless, had it not been for the black chiffon sleeves.  The dark green velvet flowed elegantly down to her feet, and she looked especially tall, with her dark green velvet high heels.  Her auburn hair was up, in a ponytail, winding down her back, and her pink rose earrings sparkled in the lights of the room.  Ken saw in the corner, watching her sadly, with a beautiful girl on his arm, whom he was not paying any attention to.
	*Poor girls!  Oh!  I'm so lucky I don't have a guy like that tugging at my heart strings!  And I'm really glad I gave up on Andrew a long time ago.  And what is with Lita?  Going back to William?  I admit, he's still very nice, but he's no Ken!*
	Serena didn't look bad herself.  She wore a pretty gown, with white spaghetti straps, gold thread-embroidered bodice to right below her breast, where a cord of pearls surrounded, and a flowing skirt of many layers of silk and chiffon gracefully floated about her.  A necklace of pearls surrounded her white throat, and matching pearls studded her hair, which was done up in buns and ponytails...though this time, the buns were surrounded by little rings of white rosebuds, and covered by white lace caps.  She wore white mask, embroidered with gold design, and her pearl earrings glowed in the moonlight, as she sat by the window to the gardens, looking helplessly out.  *I wish I never came to this depressing evening.  Everyone's so depressed about this guy or the other, and I'm the only sane one, and what's more, there isn't a single guy here I'd want to dance with!  In all my life, though there have been many hot guys, there's been almost no one that I have actually even considered going out with for more than once second!*
As she was looking out the window to the gardens though, she thought back to the past, about the one and only guy that DID stick out in her memory, and who claimed her thoughts for that fleeting moment after one second...and the next second...and the one after that...

(3 years ago)
	Serena walked down the garden aisle, taking in the early summer air...the roses were blooming at Tokyo park, and she was so glad she decided to take the day off hospital volunteer work to do this; she hadn't been the rose garden since she was nine, and then, Sammy had whined so much all the joy was almost spoiled.  This time, it was only her, so nothing could possibly burst her bubble.
	"Hey Meatball head!"
	*Almost nothing.*  "Darien!  I have a name.  It's Serena.  S-E-R-E-N-A.  Suh-ree-nah.  Let's say it together."
	"Aw, Meatball head, still sore about the name, are you?"
	"No, CROWHEAD!" she retorted.
	"Getting harsh are we? Well, how about I make amends by giving you this..." he held out a perfect red rose.  It was almost in full bloom, with all the petals in satin perfection.  It wasn't bruised, or ruined in any way.
	Serena melted on the spot.  "It's so beautiful, Crow- I mean	Darien!  Is it really for me?"
	"I saw you here, and thought you might like it..."
	"Speaking of being here, why ARE you here?" Serena said, taking the rose, her nose among the petals.
	*She looks beautiful...*  Darien thought.  He shook himself of the feeling, and started to walk down the walkway with her.  "Roses are my favorite flower," Darien shrugged.
	"You too?" Serena was surprised.
	"Yeah, I visit the rose gardens every year at this time!"
	"Oh, this is my first time here in a long time."
	"Then you don't know the prettiest spots?"
	"No...could you...show me?" Serena began, uncertainly.  Darien had never seemed so kind, and the rose wove a spell over her, allowing herself to be a little more crazy than usual as to ask him such a question.
	"Well, I'll forget you're Meatball head this afternoon, and show you, because I love roses, and I'd like to show you around..."
	"Would you really?" Serena's face lit up.  "I'd love it if you would!"
	"Of course, I will, M-Serena."
	"Thank you, Cr-Darien," she laughed back.
	"Now come on!" Darien said, taking her hand in his and dragging farther into the garden.


	"My parents are going to have a fit that I've come in an hour past dinner, but I won't mind their lecture.  Thank you so much for everything, Darien, for the tour of the rose garden, the dinner, and the motorcycle ride home; I haven't had so much fun in a long time."
	"I've noticed you have been studying a lot."
	"I've had to," Serena sighed.  "But summer's here, so I think I'll have a little more fun and free time now."
	"Well, on any account, Serena, I had a great time too.  I've always loved the rose garden, but now, when I think of it, I'll remember you as well, and the one day in all of eternity we were nice to each other."
	"So tomorrow, we're back to Crowhead and...Meatball Head?" she inquired, a little sadly.
	"Well..."
	Serena started to think.  *What am I saying?  What would I do if Darien was actually my friend?  What could we possibly do?  This thing with having fun with each other only happened because we both loved roses...we don't have anything else in common!  He's what...three or four years older than me!  We have absolutely nothing in common!  How could we actually try at a friendship?  No, though I think that this has been the best evening, and though last year, I dreamt of such a thing happening, I'm smarter now, and I know he's a college boy, and he'll be bound to meet someone more attractive anyway.  This way, if I stop it now, I won't get hurt.*  "Of course we'll be Crowhead and Meatball head!  I wouldn't have it any other way!  I mean, like we'd actually be friends?!  As if!" she said, smilingly.
	Darien laughed artificially.  *That has to be the equivalent of a slap in the face! * "Yeah!  I mean, who else would I tease?"
	"And who else would I hate?"
	*Hate?*  Darien heard the word, echoing a billion times in his head.  *She probably didn't mean that in a serious sense, did she?*  All of a sudden, on a sudden impulse, he gathered her in his arms, and whispered into her ear, "You'll never hate me, my princess, because you never have."
	Serena caught her breath.  *What is he doing?  Dad's almost surely at the window now!*  However, as she leaned back in his arms, she looked into his eyes, eyes that had captivated her the first time she had seen him.  *My prince...*
	The dream of so long ago came back...*It's funny how it's only with him that it comes back to me!*  She wound her arms around his neck, and he leaned down.  Their lips met, and Serena felt herself floating.
	At that moment she heard the front door swing open.  "What the heck are you doing with my daughter?" Serena's father demanded.
	Serena woke up from this long day's dream and realized it couldn't have been real.  She stepped away from Darien, and to sever ties with this forever existing illusion, she pushed him back.  "What do you think you're doing?  Leave here at once, Crowhead," she said, unfeelingly, as she walked up the sidewalk to greet her father.  "Sorry I'm late, daddy," she whispered, as tears started to form in her eyes.
	Her dad just looked after her, as she went up the stairs to her room.
	Darien stood outside, confused, and relieved that Serena was smart enough to end this strange and long day.  The shove was a little excessive, but it served him right, living in a dream!  It was obvious she never really cared for him, so it was just as well she acquainted him with that fact now.
	However, as he rode away on his motorcycle, he didn't see the pale tear-imprinted face at the window upstairs, peeking through the curtains, sheltering herself from pain in the darkness.
	She looked at the rose, and sighed, a few more tears coming out of the corners of her eyes.
	
(now)
As if on cue, she suddenly saw a white rose, perfected to the very last petal, as Darien's red one had been, right before her eyes.  She smiled as she took it from its owner, and looked at him carefully.
	He was tall, with dark black hair, and wore a tuxedo which showed off his well-structured body.  He obviously had worked out.  His eyes were covered by a mask of white, and his mouth was curled into a smile.  "Milady," he bowed before her.
	"Are you talking to me?" she asked, tilting her head.
	"Of course!"
	Serena was taken off guard, and Darien completely slipped her mind, as she said, "Good evening."
	"Would you give me the honor of your hand in this dance?"
	She gave him her hand, which was wrapped in a long white dancing glove, and said, "Of course."
	He guided her out to the floor, and the minute they stepped out there, Serena forgot where she was, and all she could see was the mysterious stranger.
	*Stupid mask!*  Serena was in a daze...*who are you, my handsome prince?  Prince?  Hmm...*  She felt herself in his arms, but she stiffened in his grasp, and her face, though smiling, was also tensed. 
	After the dance, he led her out to the balcony, and they stood, looking at the stars.  She sighed back into him, and felt his arms around her shoulders.  She shivered slightly at his touch, and she stepped a little away from him, as she casually remarked, "I think that the moon's the most beautiful thing in the sky."
	"In the sky, it may be, but it's not so beautiful, when you compare it to other things, like your eyes."
	Serena felt herself blush, and she said to her admirer, reprovingly, "Darien, do you have any idea who you're talking to?"
	As she turned around, she found that Darien had vanished, if he really WAS Darien.  In his place, another white rose lay on the floor, and Serena picked it up, and frowned.


	Mina walked up to Lita and nudged her a little.  "Did you see that guy Serena snagged?  He's really cute, and he only came in half an hour ago! Yet, she immediately got him!"
	"Well, she doesn't waste her time, but I think I know that person, Mina..."
	Amy walked to them.  "That person that Serena went out there with...wasn't that..."
	"Darien?" Raye completed for her.
	"Actually..." Lita began.
	"It..." Amy sighed.
	"Might..." Mina looked dazed.
	"Have been!" Raye said, smiling.  "I think that he's fallen for her, finally!" she said, triumphantly.
	"But Serena doesn't look like she enjoyed the attention, and she's stalking over here with a confused and slightly angry look on her face.  Turn around you guys!" Lita said.
	"So I said, 'who cares about meatballs?  We have Serena, don't we?' Ha!" Raye was saying.
	The group laughed nervously as Serena approached them, with two white roses in her hand.  "You guys, I think I'm a little tired.  Do you guys want to leave?"
	"Well..." Lita began.
	"Actually, I wouldn't mind leaving," Raye said.  She was obviously glad at the chance to leave this sad moment in time; she didn't want to dance any more with Chad, lest she wanted to burst into tears!
	"I think I want to leave too," Amy began, looking at Greg, who was still dancing with Cassie, but still looking at Amy.  "I don't think I'm enjoying myself too much."
	"Yeah..." Mina mumbled.  Every time she was with Andrew, it was getting harder to say good bye.
	"You know, if you leave, it'll get boring for me too, so I guess we could leave right now," Lita said, looking at William, who was standing beside her.


	They all went to Serena's apartment afterwards, and as Serena bustled about in sweats, making tea and mumbling, "I'm Meatball Head, he's Crowhead...I'm Meatball Head, he's Crowhead.  He had no right to change that."
	"Serena, I saw you dancing with Darien tonight," began Lita, smiling at Mina.
	"Yeah, Crowhead and I resumed our bickering and stuff; the usual mocking tones, and stuff."
	"But Serena, you weren't crying, and he wasn't laughing," Raye said.
	"What did you do?  Whip out the spy gear on me?"
	"No, Serena, but we hope you know that it didn't look like he was about to tease you to death," Amy smiled.
	"No, he wasn't, but you know he's gonna do it when I see him again, of course, because that's what our relationship is like, and if he gets some silly idea of moonlight and roses, then I think he should just find another girl, because I am all about being teased, and if he can't handle the fact that teasing mortifies me and I want it to stay that way, he's got to find another girl to start acting all nice to!"
	"Serena, are you listening to yourself?" Mina asked.  "You have a chance at a real relationship!  Don't bow out because...because...Serena, what IS wrong with Darien?"
	"What's wrong?  There's plenty wrong," she began.  "Darien's mean, and he teases me too much."
	"He SEEMED mean a long time ago, and he teased you back THEN.  He's probably different now."
	"I don't know what in the world could ever give you THAT impression.  I mean, he probably decided to act charming tonight only to confuse me!"  *And it's working!*
	"I think it's romantic," Amy asked.
	"No, it's not romantic, and if I liked a girl, being a jerk is not the way to recommend myself to her," Serena promptly replied.
	"Are you sure the problem lies in Darien? You DO cause some of the tension yourself."
	"Look, I don't like the idea of a relationship, okay?  I'm still only twenty, and when I really want to seriously give myself into a trapping relationship with someone else, I'll go for it.  Not now.  I've done lots of maturing, and I've decided that relationships aren't the kind of things that you can just jump into and fall in love with.  All those years I was crazy about guys, well, I wasn't in love with them.  I liked their looks, and I was in love with love, not them.  I don't need complication clouding my life, especially now, seeing that there are things I don't understand, besides Darien."


	Serena grumbled as her alarm clock went off.  She looked at the clock.  It was 6:30.  She wanted to go for that morning jog she normally took now.  So, she slowly slid out of bed and got on some jogging clothes...a pink sweatshirt and some white leggings.  She also didn't bother with hew meatball head hair style; she put it all up in a ponytail.
	She then wandered out of her apartment complex, and started in the direction of the park.
	She had to get out, and she had to think...about her life, about what she had stood for the past years, and about what was going on with Darien.
	She jogged into the park, and smiled as she waved at the daily joggers whom usually greeted her.  She started on her own route, and went in the direction of the rose garden.
	She jogged through the rows of roses, which she always thought were beautiful, but her mind wasn't really on the roses.  It was concentrated on the mysterious topic of Darien.
	What ABOUT Darien? He left two years ago, and he was a jerk.  There was only one time when he WASN'T a jerk, and that was when we went into this garden and that was also three years ago...old news.  Things have changed.
	She hadn't bothered with relationships or anything after that.  There was no reason to bother.  Why did she need a guy to take up her time and thoughts when she had so much to worry about right now?  There was certainly enough to worry about without dragging a guy into the matter.
	But she sighed.  That day WAS wonderful, up to the part when she slapped him.  She still had no idea why she did so, but she always told herself that he was asking for it, since he DID kiss her.
	But she liked it.
	She shook her head of these thoughts as she realized it was 8:00 and she had jogged about two times around the lake in the middle of the park...which was the equivalent of 5 miles.
	She sighed, resigned and ran back to her apartment building.
	As she walked down to find something sitting on her doorstep.  She furrowed her forehead and looked stepped back slightly in surprise as she realized that it was another white rose.
	*That makes three...geez!  Will you leave me alone, Darien?*  She frowned.  Her mind screamed no to this romantic gesture, but her heart started to beat harder.


	Raye smiled as she went into the kitchen to get her breakfast when she found Chad sitting, pensive, at the table.
	"What's up?" she asked, cheerfully.
	"I thought about it last night Raye, after I got back from the ball.  I decided I don't want to study music anymore.  I think I like my life as it is.  I don't care what you say Raye; you need me here, and I like to be here, and I don't want to leave.  I want to stay, because I love the temple, and I..."
	"Chad...I told you; I'm not ready to drag you down."
	"You won't be.  If anything, you'll..." he broke off, slightly embarrassed.
	"I'll what?" Raye asked, her heart pounding in her chest.
	"You'll...you'll...Raye, I have something to tell you."
	"And what is that?" Raye barely managed to choke out of her dry throat.
	"Raye...I have some...feelings for you, and I think they are very strong...what I'm trying to say, is, well, that I am in love with you."
	Raye could not speak.  Warmth rushed into her pale cheeks.
	"I know you probably didn't want to hear that, but I've stayed here so long, and I've wanted to tell you for so long, I had to do it."
	Raye started to cry.  "Chad...well, I...I..."
	"I'll leave if this really has hurt you."
	"No!  I um..."
	Chad looked at Raye carefully, and took her hands in his.  "Look at me, Raye.  What are you trying to say?"
	Raye looked up, into Chad's eyes...beautiful, deep as the sea of Japan, and as sparkling as snow on Mount Fuji.  She couldn't look away, not now, and she silently admitted, "I love you too, Chad."


	Serena walked into the hospital after taking a shower and getting dressed for work.  She was now a nursing assistant at the hospital, and she greeted Nurse Nagoya happily.  "What's new?"
	"There's a new doctor in the hospital."
	"Really?" Serena sighed, exasperated, confused, as she found a white rose in the pocket of her nurse jacket.  *There's the fourth one...dang it Darien!  Why don't you try talking to me?  Since when did you try charming me off my feet, and since when did I actually start falling for sappy romantic gestures?*
	Nurse Nagoya smiled; she had seen the young man who had come in earlier to ask to put the rose in Serena Tsukino's  jacket.  He was very handsome, and he seemed nice enough.  And also, Nurse Nagoya realized as he left, he was very much in love with Serena, and he was perfect.
	Nurse Nagoya, however, straightened her face, not wanting to tell Serena something she'd have to find out for herself, and said, "His name's Darien...Darien Chiba.  I met him earlier."
	Serena, at that name, almost fainted...losing color so fast she looked like a ghost.
	"Darien?" she asked, half in a daze and half panicked.
	"Yes, and he's going to be introduced to everyone at the staff meeting, which we have to leave for right now."
	Serena panicked.  *Should I go straighten up for him?  Look dazzling, and say something about last night?  Geez, Darien, only you would take so much pleasure in driving me crazy.*
	"Come on Serena," Nurse Nagoya took her arm, and led her to the door of the office.  "We have to go to the meeting room now."


	Serena entered quietly, and avoided eye contact with anyone in the room...specifically the one person she was most scared of.
	She went and sat at the back of the room, while Nurse Nagoya sat near the front.  Another nurse in training looked at Serena.  "Did you see the new doc?  He's a hottie!"
	*Don't I know it?  Of course he would be as handsome as he was two years ago!*
	"May I have your attention please?" Dr. Anderson said.  Amy's mother was now the best doctor in the hospital, and therefore head doctor.
	Dr. Anderson continued.  "I'd like to present our new doctor, who has studied medicine in Tokyo for 4 years, and 2 years in the best medical school in the world, Johns Hopskins," she said with lots of pride.  "And I know him from an unfortunate previous accident which brought him to the hospital.  But obviously he's better now.  May I present to you Darien Chiba, M.D."
	Serena looked at the floor, and refused to look up.  She wasn't looking up, because she knew he was looking for her in the audience.
	"I'd like to present our staff to you; you know who I am," she smiled.
	Dr. Anderson skimmed down the major names of each department, including Nurse Nagoya, head nurse.  "And now, there are also nurses in training.  We have very accomplished young ladies. Our most helpful, the lead nurse in training, also one of our most loved staff, is our ace student, who has studied so hard, she has skipped a whole two grades in nursing school, because she has so much knowledge of helping people.  She also knows the best techniques to keep people calm.  She's just finished up her last year in nursing school, and she's only twenty years old!  We all call her a miracle worker, but she likes to be called..." Serena's heart beat hard.  She HAD skipped two grades (having been through 2 summers of college studies!), and she felt that pit in her stomach just fall lower.  "Serena Tsukino.  I'm not quite sure, but I think she was YOUR assistant nurse when you visited!"
	The girl next to her nudged her, and Serena stood up and looked at Dr. Anderson, and smiled nervously, as she turned her eyes to look at Darien Chiba.
	HE was breathtakingly handsome.  He was still tall, with that air of mysteriousness and charm which he had possessed so long ago.  He was also stronger, and had more of a solid look to him than before.  And he was smiling.  At her.
	Serena opened her mouth to welcome him like the others who Dr. Anderson, and at that moment, she decided she would show him that his presence did not bother her.  She put her head a notch higher and welcomed warmly, "Hello Dr. Chiba.  It's nice to have you on the staff here, and I'm sure you'll love it here."
	He looked at her with an unreadable expression.  His eyes were calm blue, and met hers with a blank look.  *I hate blank looks!*  Serena could read NOTHING from blank looks.
	She shuffled in her tennis shoes as Dr. Anderson ended the staff meeting.  Serena started to leave the room with her friend when she heard Dr. Anderson call her name, "Serena!  Wait a minute.  I need to talk to you."
	Serena looked to her friend and smiled, "I'll see you later Karen.  And remember; Billy wants his blankie when you feed him; it was not fun cleaning up after he spit those carrots all over the place."
	Karen laughed at the inside joke, and Serena turned around to find the room now empty except for her, Dr. Anderson, and Dr. Darien.
	"What did you want to talk to me about?" Serena asked.
	"Serena, since you always show the new staff around the hospital, I want you to take Darien around the hospital, and show him everything and everyone."
	Serena's heart stopped.  No, it was one thing to act perfectly fine for one or two sentences while welcoming, but to spend the day taking him around the hospital?
	"I've already told Nurse Nagoya you'd be doing this for the whole day, so your duties are already reassigned to Karen and the others.  Why don't you show Darien around today and you guys can get to know each other?   You WILL be working with each other, after all, since you both are assigned the same wing."
	"Well, all right..." Serena said, calming herself.
	"Great!" Dr. Anderson said.  "I've got to go do bypass surgery right now, so I've got to go.  Have fun!"
	Serena smiled as the doctor walked out the room.  She then turned to Darien, who was looking at her appreciatively.  "Hello Serena."
	"Darien..."
	"It's been a while, hasn't it?"
	"Considering I saw you last night, no.  Come on," Serena said, "This is large hospital, and we've got lots to cover."
	She left, and Darien followed her, with a smile which she did not turn around to see.

To be continued
Copyright Crystal Heart 1997
	
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