Us
by Phantasy Star
--------------------
Chapter Seventeen
Serena wiped away the last of her tears and stood up.
Slowly, she opened the door and stepped outside, deciding she needed some fresh
air.
She gazed downwards to find the piece of paper still lying on the ground.
The letter that Darien had intended to give her.
She took it carefully in her hands and read the neatly hand-written words across the
white envelope: My Serena.
Her hands nearly trembled as she opened it and unfolded the piece of lined paper.
'Dear Serena' she read silently to herself, 'I'm sorry I didn't stay to talk to
you in person...'
------@
... but I wasn't sure if you'd want to talk to me.
And I'm too ashamed for the way I've acted, not
listening to you about Erin or acting jealous when
you were with Ryan. I'm sorry for everything
before that too.
I've decided to leave, Serena. I know you'll be
better off without me. I've been around you for
too long, and you must have found out who I really
am, which is why you left me...
I guess growing up at the orphanage made me somewhat
cold and self-centred. I've never been able to
express myself very well, and I think that's why
we can't be together. Because you and I are so
different. I've always been and I always will be an
arrogant jerk, the same one you met two years ago.
And you'll always be the princess of my dreams.
Either way, I'm leaving for America tomorrow, to
study. I don't know when I'll be back, but you
should know that I'll always be there when you need
me.
And, I want you to know that I love you. I've never
said it to you before, but I do, and I'm not afraid
to admit it. It may be too late now, but I felt it
would be better somehow if you knew.
I'm sorry.
Please take care, Serena.
I'll always love you, no matter what you may think.
Yours always,
Darien
------@
Serena's hands shook as she clutched tighter on to the letter. Then she hugged
it close to her body and let the tears fall.
'I'll always love you, no matter what you may think.'
He loves me, she realized.
He really meant it.
She was such a weakling. If only she was a little stronger, she would be able
to overcome all those memories.
And they would be together.
Sure, there were flaws about him that everyone knew about. His cold,
unapproachable demeanour... His lack of consideration... The way he never acted
like a real boyfriend towards her, even in the short time they were together.
But it was never his fault, and he had always cared about her, always been there
for her.
Serena put her head into her hands.
'What should I do?' she thought, 'He's leaving tomorrow.'
'I can't change my mind now... It's too late for that...'
* * *
Tuxedo Mask stood on the highest branch of the tree outside the Tsukino's house.
He gazed longingly at the sleeping figure on the bed.
'She's been crying...' he realized.
'She can still cry... for me...'
He watched as she turned in her sleep from one side to the other.
He gasped when he saw her mouth move.
As quietly as he could, he widened the small gap in the window to hear what she
was mumbling in her sleep.
"Darien..." she whispered.
He froze.
His heart ached as he heard her.
"Serena..." he answered her, barely audible.
Then he carefully climbed into her room.
He looked intently at her face, deep into her eyes.
Pulling a rose out of his shirt pocket, he placed it in her hand.
In her sleep, Serena smiled.
"Darien..." she said again.
He stood there for several minutes, just watching her.
"Thank you..." she said softly.
He felt tears threatening his eyes.
Taking one last look at his princess, he smiled sadly and backed away, jumping out
the window and into the night.
'Goodbye, Serena,' he thought.
'I'll always love you.'
------@
EPILOGUE
"I still can't believe Amy would be the first of us to get married!"
"I know, Raye," Mina answered, "I've always thought it would be me..."
"Or Serena and Darien," Lita added, "She-"
She put her hand over her mouth.
Raye and Mina glared at her.
"Sorry," she mumbled.
Serena looked up at her three worried friends, looking at her sympathetically.
"Hey, it's okay, you guys," Serena said quickly, waving her hands, "He's been
gone three years. I can handle it..."
Lita nodded and Raye sighed.
"Yeah..." Raye said, "Three years already..."
Seeing Serena's face, she quickly changed the subject.
"Where's Amy anyway?" she asked.
"Probably getting into her wedding dress," Mina said, "Let's go find her!"
* * *
"I don't know, Ames..." Serena said, "It's still hard for me..."
"Don't worry about it," Amy said reassuringly, "He's a really great guy. You'll
have a lot of fun..."
Serena nodded slowly.
"Oh well," she said, "I guess it's time... to move on..."
Amy smiled.
"Anyway," Serena said, "It's your big day! We shouldn't even be talking about
me!"
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
"Hey, there's your date!" Amy said, and gave Serena a playful push.
Serena laughed nervously and walked to the door.
With a sigh, she opened it.
She still wasn't sure this was what she wanted...
When she saw the figure at the other side of the door, she froze.
She stood there for a minute, mouth slightly open.
"Dar..." she finally whispered.
He smiled at her, handing her the bouquet of roses he held in his hand.
Serena looked at him.
He was still the same as he had been three years ago, except slightly thinner.
His eyes also looked older... grayer... sadder.
Serena stared at his tuxedo, which reminded her of Tuxedo Mask, the mysterious
warrior who had always protected her and her friends.
"How have you been?" he asked softly.
"I..." Serena said, feeling her head spin.
She turned to Amy, who was smiling at her.
Raye and Lita gave her encouraging nods, while Mina just grinned.
Turning back to Darien, she stared into his eyes.
"You want to take a walk with me?" Darien asked, "The wedding doesn't start in
two hours..."
Suddenly feeling shy, Serena put her hands nervously behind her back and nodded.
Darien offered his arm to her.
She looked at it for a second before taking it, hesitantly.
Darien looked hurt that she was being so cautious around him, but she wasn't
ready yet.
"I have a lot to tell you," Darien said quietly.
Serena was holding back tears.
"Me too," she whispered.
They walked out into the halls of the old chapel.
"I've changed," Darien said, "... a lot... for you..."
Serena smiled through her tears and shook her head, "You've always been
perfect..."
Darien sighed and squeezed her hand.
"We have so much to talk about..." he said again.
Serena nodded.
As the two stepped out into the night, Serena felt a cold gust of wind on their
backs.
Without realizing it, she had leaned her head against Darien's shoulder, wanting
to feel his warmth.
Darien smiled and put his arm around her.
"Can we start again?" he asked simply.
Serena looked up at him.
Darien was looking intently into her eyes, searching for a response.
She looked down, afraid but didn't know why.
"I..." she began.
"Serena..." he whispered.
"I..." she started again as she looked up at him again, "I've been waiting for
you for so long!"
She burst into tears and threw herself into his arms.
Darien felt a surge of energy through his body as he stared at her hair, buried
against his jacket.
He held her tighter against him.
"You'll stay with you, won't you, Serena?" he asked, "You'll stay with me this
time..."
It was more of a plea than a question.
Serena nodded into his chest, letting her tears wet his shirt.
Darien wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.
He tightened his arms around her and didn't let go for a long time.
Slowly, Serena pulled away from him and looked up into his eyes.
Darien bent his head down to kiss her as the moon shone brightly behind them.
Yes...
It was a new beginning.
------@ The End @------
Author's Notes:
Very sorry for the horribly late update.
I've had a hectic week and been going through
some not-so-pleasant things.
But I still managed to get the ending to "Us"
out this weekend, despite all the chaos...
Thank you very much for all your support
throughout the whole 'fic... Your reviews and
e-mails mean more to me than you can imagine.
Hope that you all enjoyed the ending.
And don't forget to drop me a review :)
I'll post some info later about this new story
I've started working on.
Thank you again for reading!
See you in my next 'fic!
Phantasy Star
June 14, 2003
by Phantasy Star
--------------------
Chapter Seventeen
Serena wiped away the last of her tears and stood up.
Slowly, she opened the door and stepped outside, deciding she needed some fresh
air.
She gazed downwards to find the piece of paper still lying on the ground.
The letter that Darien had intended to give her.
She took it carefully in her hands and read the neatly hand-written words across the
white envelope: My Serena.
Her hands nearly trembled as she opened it and unfolded the piece of lined paper.
'Dear Serena' she read silently to herself, 'I'm sorry I didn't stay to talk to
you in person...'
------@
... but I wasn't sure if you'd want to talk to me.
And I'm too ashamed for the way I've acted, not
listening to you about Erin or acting jealous when
you were with Ryan. I'm sorry for everything
before that too.
I've decided to leave, Serena. I know you'll be
better off without me. I've been around you for
too long, and you must have found out who I really
am, which is why you left me...
I guess growing up at the orphanage made me somewhat
cold and self-centred. I've never been able to
express myself very well, and I think that's why
we can't be together. Because you and I are so
different. I've always been and I always will be an
arrogant jerk, the same one you met two years ago.
And you'll always be the princess of my dreams.
Either way, I'm leaving for America tomorrow, to
study. I don't know when I'll be back, but you
should know that I'll always be there when you need
me.
And, I want you to know that I love you. I've never
said it to you before, but I do, and I'm not afraid
to admit it. It may be too late now, but I felt it
would be better somehow if you knew.
I'm sorry.
Please take care, Serena.
I'll always love you, no matter what you may think.
Yours always,
Darien
------@
Serena's hands shook as she clutched tighter on to the letter. Then she hugged
it close to her body and let the tears fall.
'I'll always love you, no matter what you may think.'
He loves me, she realized.
He really meant it.
She was such a weakling. If only she was a little stronger, she would be able
to overcome all those memories.
And they would be together.
Sure, there were flaws about him that everyone knew about. His cold,
unapproachable demeanour... His lack of consideration... The way he never acted
like a real boyfriend towards her, even in the short time they were together.
But it was never his fault, and he had always cared about her, always been there
for her.
Serena put her head into her hands.
'What should I do?' she thought, 'He's leaving tomorrow.'
'I can't change my mind now... It's too late for that...'
* * *
Tuxedo Mask stood on the highest branch of the tree outside the Tsukino's house.
He gazed longingly at the sleeping figure on the bed.
'She's been crying...' he realized.
'She can still cry... for me...'
He watched as she turned in her sleep from one side to the other.
He gasped when he saw her mouth move.
As quietly as he could, he widened the small gap in the window to hear what she
was mumbling in her sleep.
"Darien..." she whispered.
He froze.
His heart ached as he heard her.
"Serena..." he answered her, barely audible.
Then he carefully climbed into her room.
He looked intently at her face, deep into her eyes.
Pulling a rose out of his shirt pocket, he placed it in her hand.
In her sleep, Serena smiled.
"Darien..." she said again.
He stood there for several minutes, just watching her.
"Thank you..." she said softly.
He felt tears threatening his eyes.
Taking one last look at his princess, he smiled sadly and backed away, jumping out
the window and into the night.
'Goodbye, Serena,' he thought.
'I'll always love you.'
------@
EPILOGUE
"I still can't believe Amy would be the first of us to get married!"
"I know, Raye," Mina answered, "I've always thought it would be me..."
"Or Serena and Darien," Lita added, "She-"
She put her hand over her mouth.
Raye and Mina glared at her.
"Sorry," she mumbled.
Serena looked up at her three worried friends, looking at her sympathetically.
"Hey, it's okay, you guys," Serena said quickly, waving her hands, "He's been
gone three years. I can handle it..."
Lita nodded and Raye sighed.
"Yeah..." Raye said, "Three years already..."
Seeing Serena's face, she quickly changed the subject.
"Where's Amy anyway?" she asked.
"Probably getting into her wedding dress," Mina said, "Let's go find her!"
* * *
"I don't know, Ames..." Serena said, "It's still hard for me..."
"Don't worry about it," Amy said reassuringly, "He's a really great guy. You'll
have a lot of fun..."
Serena nodded slowly.
"Oh well," she said, "I guess it's time... to move on..."
Amy smiled.
"Anyway," Serena said, "It's your big day! We shouldn't even be talking about
me!"
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
"Hey, there's your date!" Amy said, and gave Serena a playful push.
Serena laughed nervously and walked to the door.
With a sigh, she opened it.
She still wasn't sure this was what she wanted...
When she saw the figure at the other side of the door, she froze.
She stood there for a minute, mouth slightly open.
"Dar..." she finally whispered.
He smiled at her, handing her the bouquet of roses he held in his hand.
Serena looked at him.
He was still the same as he had been three years ago, except slightly thinner.
His eyes also looked older... grayer... sadder.
Serena stared at his tuxedo, which reminded her of Tuxedo Mask, the mysterious
warrior who had always protected her and her friends.
"How have you been?" he asked softly.
"I..." Serena said, feeling her head spin.
She turned to Amy, who was smiling at her.
Raye and Lita gave her encouraging nods, while Mina just grinned.
Turning back to Darien, she stared into his eyes.
"You want to take a walk with me?" Darien asked, "The wedding doesn't start in
two hours..."
Suddenly feeling shy, Serena put her hands nervously behind her back and nodded.
Darien offered his arm to her.
She looked at it for a second before taking it, hesitantly.
Darien looked hurt that she was being so cautious around him, but she wasn't
ready yet.
"I have a lot to tell you," Darien said quietly.
Serena was holding back tears.
"Me too," she whispered.
They walked out into the halls of the old chapel.
"I've changed," Darien said, "... a lot... for you..."
Serena smiled through her tears and shook her head, "You've always been
perfect..."
Darien sighed and squeezed her hand.
"We have so much to talk about..." he said again.
Serena nodded.
As the two stepped out into the night, Serena felt a cold gust of wind on their
backs.
Without realizing it, she had leaned her head against Darien's shoulder, wanting
to feel his warmth.
Darien smiled and put his arm around her.
"Can we start again?" he asked simply.
Serena looked up at him.
Darien was looking intently into her eyes, searching for a response.
She looked down, afraid but didn't know why.
"I..." she began.
"Serena..." he whispered.
"I..." she started again as she looked up at him again, "I've been waiting for
you for so long!"
She burst into tears and threw herself into his arms.
Darien felt a surge of energy through his body as he stared at her hair, buried
against his jacket.
He held her tighter against him.
"You'll stay with you, won't you, Serena?" he asked, "You'll stay with me this
time..."
It was more of a plea than a question.
Serena nodded into his chest, letting her tears wet his shirt.
Darien wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.
He tightened his arms around her and didn't let go for a long time.
Slowly, Serena pulled away from him and looked up into his eyes.
Darien bent his head down to kiss her as the moon shone brightly behind them.
Yes...
It was a new beginning.
------@ The End @------
Author's Notes:
Very sorry for the horribly late update.
I've had a hectic week and been going through
some not-so-pleasant things.
But I still managed to get the ending to "Us"
out this weekend, despite all the chaos...
Thank you very much for all your support
throughout the whole 'fic... Your reviews and
e-mails mean more to me than you can imagine.
Hope that you all enjoyed the ending.
And don't forget to drop me a review :)
I'll post some info later about this new story
I've started working on.
Thank you again for reading!
See you in my next 'fic!
Phantasy Star
June 14, 2003