Title: Araiia's Return -- Chapter Five Author: Ausaziko, formerly Usaziko Rating: PG E-mail: BijinBunny@aol.com Author's Notes: I have a question for you. can any one of you readers out there in Moonie-Land explain to me what technique I'm using? It had a name, but I don't remember it. So if anyone knows, please e-mail me. Cheers to Manito cuz he's back home! (Yay!) Also, I'm just reminding people from my school (you know who you are) that you are to e-mail me at Usaziko@hotmail.com. So without further adoo-doo, let's get on with the story! Disclaimer: ::sniff:: Sailor Moon's not ::sob:: MINE!! ::sniffle:: Boo hoo... "Serena, I'll call you later," he said seriously as they stood at the door to her house. Araiia sat quietly in the car. "I'm gonna tell you the whole story." "Promise?" "I promise, love." Darien kissed her forehead lovingly and stepped off the porch as she went inside. 'Man, and I thought looking for the Crystal was hard - not half as hard as getting the jaw from this girl.' ******************************************************************* Araiia watched as Darien kissed Serena. 'I remember touches like that... I wonder how Jaden's doing. I miss him so much... oh, Jaden, why did I break up with you? Just because I had to get away?!' Araiia shook her head vigorously, trying to get away from her thoughts. "It's impossible," she finally said aloud. "I'm on a mission... Najla, Denni, Perja, I will NOT let you down!" ******************************************************************* "I will NOT let you down!" Araiia was saying as Darien slid into the car. "Um... me neither," he said, confused. "Not you... just talking to myself..." "We need to talk to *each other* when we get home," Darien reminded her. ******************************************************************* Araiia fell asleep in the car, getting away with her explanation. 'Geez, she's a deep sleeper,' Darien commented mentally as he carried her down the hall. He reached the door of his apartment and unlocked it easily, stepping inside. 'She's not all that heavy, either? a little lighter than Sere.' He looked around his apartment and quietly walked a little ways down the hall from his own bedroom into a guest room of pure white. White walls, carpet, bedspread, furniture? even the TV and stereo were white, as well as a snowy wastebasket and vanity. He set her down onto the bed. Araiia looked so peaceful, her hair falling around her naturally as well as her beautiful dress. She turned slightly, and let out a small sigh. 'Aww, she's so cute,' Darien thought, smiling. He left the room, letting her have peace and quiet. ******************************************************************* Araiia sat up slowly, yawning a bit. "Darien?" *Get it together, Queen of De-Nile!* a voice said harshly in her head. 'You'd better cool it before I get mad,' she replied. "Wow, where am I?" she asked herself softly, sitting up on a cerulean blue bedspread. "Where's Darien? DARIEN!" Darien jogged into the room. "Yeah, what's go-WHAT HAPPENED HERE?" Darien's jaw dropped as he scanned the room. Where there once was white, there were shades of cerulean and ocean blue. A waterfall of the same colors was in a corner, the top being under glass and the bottom pouring out into a medium-sized blue sink. "What did you do?" Darien asked, dumbfounded. "It was all white before I put you in here, and then-" "You put me in here?" Araiia asked, confused. "I'm so sorry, Darien. I didn't mean to mess up your room? I'll change it back. I just woke up and I was in a beautiful room?" "I'm not mad at you, Raia, it's just that? how did you do that?" "I don't know. Weird things happen when I'm around." She looked around the room, taking in the beauty before her. "It must've been my energy?" Darien did a double take. Her energy?! "Okay, Araiia. Into the living room. Now." "But the room-" "Screw the room." "Darien, can I use the phone before we?" "Go on, but hurry. We need to talk now." Araiia nodded her thanks and set out for the kitchen. She dialed her home number. "Hello?" a worried voice came over the line. "Jaida?" "RAIA?" The worry grew. "Oh, Raia, where are you? I've missed you so much? where are you? Why'd you leave? You know Jaden's been looking for you like crazy, right? He's on the road." Araiia gasped. "WHAT?! Where is he?" she asked her sister in a hushed voice. "Last I heard from him, he was in Osaka. But by now he's probably in Tokyo, on a mad search for ya, hon. He calls every week. He's such a sweetie." "Oh? I miss everyone so much? but Jaida, you know I had to do this, right?" "Yeah? I know you're not really my sister. So what've you found so far?" Jaida asked. Araiia and Jaida really were close, but Jaida knew as soon as Araiia was born that something was up. 'I can't believe she was supposed to be my sister?' Araiia's mind laughed. "Wow, Jai, you're the only one who hasn't laughed at me." "We're tight like that, Raia," Jaida reminded her. "You know better than to be afraid of me." "How's Daddy?" "He's alright?" "He's glad I left, isn't he," she stated flatly. "I hate to hurt you, Raia? but yeah." "Ya? well, I'm staying with this really hunky guy, and his name's Darien. And he looks just like the one in the picture!" she changed the subject quickly. "You're kidding." "No way! And he's got the most amazing eyes, Jaida? I was sleeping under a bush, and he was on his way to a friend's place, and invited me to go with him. Then he invited me to stay with him!" "Really?" Jaida's voice was sad. 'Why is it that she's found a much better life?' she thought, twirling the phone cord around her fingers. Araiia's sensed her friend's depression. "Jai, what's wrong?" "Raia, don't take this the wrong way? but why did you leave me? Why couldn't I go with you?" "Jai, you have so much going for you. Daddy likes you because you're normal. You're going to college, and all of that would've been ruined if you had taken the trip with me." Araiia took a deep breath. "Don't you see? Your life is going to be perfect. I'm different, Jaida. I'm not a Vadena. I'm not your baby sister. I don't even have a sister. Mommy told me I'm from somewhere else, an-" "But I'm from the same place you're from, Araiia!" Jaida was crying now. "We had the same life! The only thing is that we're not of the same blood. But on Earth, we are. On Earth, you are and always will be my sister. Nothing will ever change that!" Sobs. "How could you keep me out of this for so long?" "Jaida, I'm trying to protect you as best I can." Darien walked passed the kitchen and stopped. Something was up. "I don't want you to get killed. I'm on a mission not only for me, but for the rest of the world. Do you want the universe to die? Do you?" "Screw the universe!!" Jaida shouted. "I want you to come home!" Darien could hear Jaida in hysterics from the hallway, she was so loud. "I can't. Goodbye, Jaida." "Wait!" Jaida sobbed. "Araiia, don't leave me!" Araiia sadly hung up the phone. Darien disappeared into his room before she found out he was eavesdropping. What was that about? *Do you want the universe to die? Do you?* His mind analyzed the conversation. *Screw the universe!!* He shook the voice out of his head. It wasn't his place to meddle. Besides, he'd just met her. 'You don't know her, Darien,' his mind scolded. 'All you've found out from her is that she's twelve, she's from Omiya, and she's Araiia Mizuno.' 'But what was that Vadena stuff about? Is she from the NegaVerse, covering up with Ami's last name? Nah?' another voice replied. 'Lots of people have the same last name.' He let it slide. "Darien, I need your help," Araiia finally said. She had already regained her sanity, and they had been sitting in the living room in complete silence for five entire minutes. "What do you need my help with?" he replied, looking at her seriously. 'This must have something to do with that wacko phone convo. I hope she's not going to kill me?' "It's gonna sound crazy..." she laughed a little. "but I... needyoutohelpmefindthesailorsoldiers." "Rewind, stop, play," Darien said calmly. "I need you to help me find the Sailor Soldiers." Darien's stomach dropped in a split second. 'MY Sailor Soldiers?!' He regained his composure. "What makes you think I know who and where they are?" he asked stiffly, burying his surprised expression under a steely face with a set jaw. Araiia's loving, caring eyes narrowed into a deathly stare, tears running forth in disbelief. This guy was her last hope. How could he not know who they were?! "Don't play dumb with me. I saw that look you gave me when I finally told you what was wrong. You know exactly what I'm talking about!" she growled. Darien stared her deep in the eyes. He saw ocean waves crashing violently in her eyes and leaned back into his chair. Who ever thought a twelve year old could scare him like that? She finally calmed herself. "I'm sorry, Darien. I just really need the help... if you knew what had happened, you'd probabl-" She glanced at Darien. He had his eyes squeezed shut and was wincing uncontrollably. "Darien? Darien, what's wrong?" "Nothing... I have to go. I'll be back. Just, don't let anyone in the place, okay?" he mumbled, getting up slowly. 'That itch I get... in the back of my mind. The Soldiers are in trouble,' he thought. He sprinted down into an empty elevator and transformed... into Tuxedo Mask. ******************************************************************* Araiia sat in the darkness, staring at the front door. A coldness came over her body. "I feel it... there's an evil here," Araiia whispered to herslef. *You know what you have to do,* a voice commanded in her head. Araiia nodded and slipped her waterdrop pendant off her head and shoved it into the air. "CERULEAN STAR POWER!" End Notes: Well, well, well. What have we here? What was all that "Cerulean Star Power" stuff about? Hm... stay tuned to AR and you'll see. On to Part 6, my mighty steed! Arigato for reading, and neva act your age!