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DARK LADY

One

By: Luna

...

"Don't leave me..." she whispered softly, a hand reaching out towards his retreating back. "Please... Don't leave me..."

...

"My lady?"

Serenity woke with a start, her eyes flying open to stare in space for the few moments it took to get an awareness of where she was at. That's right, she thought with a small smile. I'm still here. That was just a dream. A wonderful, wonderful memory of a dream.

Sitting up she allowed her maid to slip her silk robe over her shoulders, covering her naked body. Another maid pulled the long length of her hair from underneath her robe.

Walking over to her vanity, she sat and let her maids brush out her long hair, its silver color and silken texture shimmering in the sunlight streaming through the slits in the curtains.

As her maids sighed and cooed over her, powdering and perfuming her before helping her into her traditional gown of white satin and golden emboss. As they tied the golden sash under her breasts and crisscrossed the fabric until they came upon the curve of her waist, tying it in the back so that the excess ribbon trailed down to the hem of her dress. The circlet she wore covered the crescent moon mark on her forehead; the only mark that identified her true identity and it gleamed in the light.

She looked resplendent, as she should. The people of the palace would expect no less from the King's lady. Very few people in the palace knew who –or more precisely what —she was, and she needed to keep it that way.

As it stood, most thought her simply a woman, no more or less. Others thought she was just the king's arm candy; an ornamental piece he kept around the castle pretending to be his wife. Despite her status as queen, no one took her seriously. They followed her orders, kept the palace clean, but generally considered her foolish.

She couldn't blame them; for the year that she has been at the castle she rarely spoke to the lower ranks unless to command them and the other half she spent staring out the windows, for all intents and purposes daydreaming.

Leaving her chamber, she ordered all but one maid to stay behind, walking sedately down the long corridor towards the great hall. Ami, her first ladies maid, walked five paces behind her.

"It's such a lovely day outside, my lady. I'm glad the king will not have to travel in stormy weather." Ami said softly, a small smile on her face as she watched her lady's back. The sunlight made her hair glimmer unlike any she'd ever seen. Her slow, quiet walk spoke of elegance and royalty. She came to the castle like that. Ami had at first wondered where she had learned such innate grace, and wasn't surprised to learn the queen's most guarded secret.

Serenity looked out a bay window as she passed, startling Ami when she stopped abruptly, and her blue eyes wide as she stared out at the clear sky. A sob shook her suddenly, and she hiked up her skirts to her knees and took off running.

"My lady! You shouldn't run like that!" Ami cried desperately, delicately grabbing the fabric of her own dress in an attempt to run after her. She wondered what the queen saw; rarely did she ever show emotion.

The great doors opened right as Serenity hit the main hall, and with a cry of joy, Serenity threw herself into the arms of Endymion, her king.

His strong, muscular arms tightened around her, and she felt him breath into her neck. Tears fell unbidden down her cheeks, and she buried her face into his chest in an attempt to hide her tears. He stroked her hair once before gently pushing her away.

Endymion; her good, strong Endymion, ordered his men to rest and his horses taken care of. Then he looked down at Serenity and smiled, leading her back towards their chamber.

The maids scurried outside the minute they saw their king enter the chamber, leaving only the two of them. She watched silently as he removed his armor and weapons, placing each carefully in his weapons chest. Sweat glistened against his skin, making his rough shirt cling to his back.

His hair had grown longer, she thought with a small smile. Brushed past the collar of his shirt. He seemed a bit thinner, too. Why wasn't he looking at her?

Cold kissed the back of her neck, sliding down her spine to the cleft of her buttocks. She shivered, fighting the vision, remembering her promise to him. Despite her efforts, the vision slid in like cool velvet.

"You're leaving again." Her voice was low, angry.

He finished buckling his belt, his back turned partly away. "I don't belong to you."

Her ruby lips twisted into a smirk and she leaned back naked against the bedpost. Her black hair spread across the bed like a cape of black sin. "That's right. You belong to no one."

Serenity felt him being tempted; tempted back into the arms of that woman, but he turned away.

"That's right," he said, starting to walk towards the doors. "I belong to no one."

Woodenly, Serenity let her clasped arms fall to her sides. Endymion turned, the smile on his face fading as he read the look in her eyes. His face turned stony, and the arms he had held up to pull her in dropped. "I told you not to pry."

"I'm sorry," She whispered, turning to stare out the window. "I didn't mean to. It couldn't be helped."

"Serenity..." She could hear the genuine sorrow in his voice, and the confusion, but she refused to turn around. She had warned him. Hadn't she warned him? The sky seemed to match her darkened, sorrowful mood, and the once bright morning sky was suddenly shrouded in angry black clouds and streaks of nasty lightening. It was his fault.

Slowly, she turned to her hair, which she had left to run loose down her back, and curled around her as she slowly reached up to remove the gleaming circlet from her head. She held it out to him, knowing he would understand the gesture.

He had given her such an expensive piece as a wedding gift, and she had promised to wear it as long as she was promised to him. A goddess, after all, couldn't give the gift of forever to a mortal. When she came down from the heavens, she granted him a single promise in return for his faithful love.

The promise he made had been broken. The contract is no longer in effect. Fate could have it's way with earth, and she would only intervene if necessary.

He stared at the circlet, his face frozen this time in an expression of fear, and he took an unsteady step towards her. "Don't. Don't let me go. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Perhaps you should have thought of that before you dared lie to a goddess." Again, Serenity turned her back to him, unable to bear the look on his face, knowing that she'd give in if she did. "Obviously, you found places to go to when you're away on your crusades. You obviously know what to do with out me."

When she turned back, her face was resolute. "I won't be made a fool of. I've already gone against my mother's wishes and married you, despite my status. I fell in love with you despite you being nothing but a human king. And I was hurt by you, the moment you betrayed me."

She stepped towards him, her small, elegant hands framing his face, his handsome face. With a winsome smile, she leaned in and gently kissed his lips, cold with fear. "I want you to remember something Endymion, my king of kings. I want you to remember, when you're old and gray and lonely, that you once had a goddess on your arm that loved you enough to grant you anything your heart desired. But you're a coward, aren't you? You are King Endymion, ruler of the planet Earth, the last free planet in the galaxy. You're supposed to be strong. Invincible. And yet you the moment you thought you might love me to. Because you're Kind King Endymion. And you don't love anyone.

She traced his strong brow, gently brushing back his too long hair. "I warned you, Endymion. I told you not to betray me. I begged. Me, the Goddess of Sancticity. And I hope she was worth it, beloved. I really do. Because I'm going to make you regret it for the rest of your life."

That was part of their promise, after all. In return for his love, she had promised peace for as long as he stayed faithful to his country, but of all faithful to her. She would never forgive him for as long as he held doubt. He knew that, and that was why he feared.

One day, perhaps when his physical body from this time is dead and gone and the gods granted him new life, she might forgive him. But only at the price of self sacrifice. He must love – really love – or he would be doomed for all eternity.

She would make sure of it.

No one betrays the Goddess Selene.

She walked past him, avoiding looking at his ashen face, and closed their bedroom door behind her. Leaning against the strong oak, she closed her eyes on her tears as she heard something crash on the other side. Straightening her shoulders, she made herself walk slowly away from him. The only thing that remained of her was the sound of her calm, steady footsteps walking for last time down that long stone hall until that, too, faded away into nothing.

Tokyo, Japan
Summer 2007

Usagi sighed into her chocolate milkshake, her eyes dreamy as she stared at the red checkered wall in front of her. She had seen the most beautiful man today. Dark midnight hair with a face women could weep over it was so pretty, and eyes that were the color of the sea. His skin had been a healthy tan, adding to his perfect, glossy image.

His build had been big and strong, with broad shoulders and a wide chest that tapered down to lean hips and long, muscular legs. He wore just a simple button up white tee and jeans that fit at every angle, and when he turned his head, a glint of an earring gleamed from the summer sun.

Too bad it was just Mamoru.

Her mood soured immediately when she heard his arrogant laugh smother the sound of the arcade doors jingling, and when he sat beside her with his companion, a wave of obnoxious perfume wafted over and soured her appetite for her once tasty shake.

"Chugging down the calories again, eh Meatball Head?" His voice was rich and smoky, like whiskey, and rolled warm and smooth across Usagi's skin until it reached her ears and made her tingle.

She scowled at him as she pushed her half-chugged shake away and stood, grabbing her book back and slinging it over a shoulder. Even though she was in college now and no longer wore her signature "Meatball" hairstyle, he refused to call her by her name, or even change that stupid nickname. Jerk.

"Still sleeping with the floozies, eh Mamoru?" Just because he refused to grow up, didn't mean she did. She would not revert to name calling. She was mature now and had principles.

Even though his date squawked at being called a floozy, he kept those sexy eyes on her as a devilish grin spread. "Awe, you're not jealous, are you? You can be my next floozy if you want."

I'm mature. I'm mature. I'm mature. I'm mature.

"You know you secretly want me, Meatball Head."

Ah, screw mature.

"Eat dirt, Satan." So she was human, so sue her. Principles were never set in stone, anyways. She sniffed at the knowing gleam in his eye and walked away, her long legs walking smoothly and gracefully out the doors and down the side walk.

She wore a blue strapless dress to match the summer style, and soft leather heels to make her legs look good. Her golden hair was slicked back and held together by a blue beret at the base of her neck, the long, smooth tail of it curling down her slim back. Her bangs were still cut the same way as she had them since middle school, but she kept a few strands of hair cut shorter than the rest of her mane so it could curl naturally over her shoulders and give her face more shape.

Hanging out with her girlfriends helped her wardrobe change drastically over the years, until they finally broke her down enough to change her hair. It was almost the same length as it had been all those years ago, except instead of reaching the back of her knees it stopped just short of her pert bottom, and naturally floated around her figure in loose curls.

Her new style helped when her body changed too, the days of being a gawky teenager with no curves and no breasts ended, for she now had a pleasantly curved figure and nice rounded breasts. Not big, like Lita's had grown, but enough to satisfy her vanity.

Unfortunately her height only took her a couple of inches from what she used to be, so instead of being the short five four of her childhood, she now stood proudly at five six. She could even reach taller than that with a good set of heels.

In her mind, the change of hair and style marked a milestone in her life, forever changing her from crybaby Meatball Head to just plain Serena. Or not so plain, she thought dryly as she received catcalls from across the street. Turning her head, she gave the group of guys a flirtatious wink as she passed, smiling when they grew more energetic.

When it looked like one was actually gearing himself up to walk over to her, strong male hands clasped her shoulders and brought her back against a strong, male chest. His breath feathered over her ear and cheek as he whispered in her ear, and she fought down the urge to shiver. "You shouldn't encourage men like that, Meatball Head."

She had known it was Mamoru. Knew from his scent, from his touch, and she scowled deeply before swatting his hands away from her. "Knock it off. You can't keep chasing away every guy who makes eyes at me. We are not together, so don't think you're being appreciated when you do things like that."

His eyes were hooded when she turned to glare at him, but she didn't care. She wasn't naïve; Usagi knew that he wanted her, had wanted her the minute she became legal, but she refused to let him break her heart. For that was what he was, a heartbreaker. He continued to flit from woman to woman, never stopping to really remember their names, and she wouldn't be the next one. Even if she wanted him right back. Because her want went a little deeper than his did.

"You don't want a guy like that anyway. You need to be picked up with a little more finesse than being hollered at from across the street." The frown was in his voice and on his face when kept pace with her as she started walking again.

Since she knew that they were, after all these years still friends, she rolled her eyes and gave a little. She couldn't be on his case all the time. She reached over and gave his hand a squeeze, and bumped her shoulder with his. "Take your own advice, Satan, and next time find a woman you actually care to remember the next day."

"I remember you." He squeezed her hand right back and held on even when she tried to tug away.

"That's because we've seen each other everyday for the past five years, and if you forgot my name I'd kill you and have Lita serve you for lunch." She tried a light smile and managed to pull her hand away. "Besides, you can forget your floozies, but you can't forget your friends."

He grabbed her hand again, making her stop so she could face him. "You know we could be more than that. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way."

Sadly, she shook her head. "You're not. But when I commit to someone, Mamoru, I commit only to him. I refuse to be one of the many someone's who you refuse to be monogamous to."

"I'd try to be. For you." His voice was so quiet and serious that it left her wanting to believe in him.

And yet she couldn't. Trying was good enough for her. Usagi tried to find the words to refuse him when she was, thankfully, given a reminder as to why she kept her distance. Rei walked quickly up the walk, her long legs eating up concrete as she talked into her cell phone; her lips painted red and currently pulled back in a sneer.

"Really? Before or after you sleep with Rei again?" She didn't give him time to register her words or give a comeback, and Usagi pulled away from him completely and smiled as Rei stopped in front of them, still sneering into the phone.

"I don't care if you have to hog tie him and stuff him in the trunk of your car, you get his ass in that office and in front of my father before I decide to do something I really don't want to do. I gave you that case because I thought you could handle it. Don't prove me wrong and make me regret my decision." Her phone snapped shut and she beamed a smile at them, those violet eyes losing the fire to be replaced by friendly warmth. "Hey guys. Sorry about that. Dad's in a bind and pushed his case load to me, and now my little people are breaking under the pressure."

Usagi gave a wry smile and raised a brow. "Yes, I can see how you're handling it."

She shrugged, smirking a little. "Hey, nothing like a little motivation." Those eyes slid to Mamoru and held a speculating look in them before she faced Usagi again. "He badgering you again? By now you'd think he'd give up."

Mamoru smoothly reached over and took Usagi's hand, bringing it to his lips. "Nothing can stop true love."

Rei rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. Like you actually know what love is. Anyways kiddies, I've got a meeting to go to. Maybe we can bump into each other again, say, tomorrow at the Oasis? Around noon? Great, I'll see you then."

Watching her walk away, her steps smooth with arrogance and confidence, Usagi felt her mood darken just a tad. How can she act so cool? With a frown, Usagi turned away from the sight of Rei walking away. "She didn't even wait to see if I'm busy. What if I have classes?"

"Do you?" Mamoru tugged her close so he could sling an arm around her shoulders as she walked. She didn't try to push him since she knew it would be useless, so she reveled in the fake closeness of the gesture and pretended for a while that it meant something.

She thought of Rei, and that helped keep her from leaning in and wrapping her arm around his waist. Instead, she kept her hands folded demurely in front of her, her eyes straight ahead. When they graduated high school Rei's grandfather had passed away, leaving an almost broken Rei to her father, who was always away on business and hadn't seen Rei in over seven years.

Instead of her going to college, her father took her into his business world, teaching her the cold precision of the skill. Usagi wasn't exactly sure what the firm actually did or the exact name for it, but she knew it involved sponsoring famous or wealthy people and making them sign millions away for some reason or another. Like that American film, Jerry McGuire… or whatever it was called.

It was during those years that Rei regressed a little, becoming less fiery and icier; her demeanor switching from having a temper to being an icy bitch when she got angry. It doesn't happen a lot anymore since her father trained her in the art of control, but it helped keep her "little people" in line.

Thankfully, she never unleashed that side onto her friends. The one time she did taught her a valuable lesson in friendship. Everyone; Ami, Lita, Mina, and Usagi refused all her calls and didn't even let her inside their apartments or house until she apologized. It had taken a month, but it happened. Now Rei made sure to make a distinction between telling her employees what to do and telling her friends what to do. All four of them refused to allow her to treat them the same way she treated the people working under her.

It was also around that time that Usagi confessed her love for Mamoru to them, and around that same time that Usagi also found Rei and Mamoru twined intimately together in Rei's apartment. And it had been on purpose. Rei knew Usagi had seen, had wanted her to see. And the next day acted like nothing had happened, like Rei hadn't purposefully tried to break Usagi's heart.

Usagi didn't know why Rei had done it. She had finally been able to speak of her love and attraction out loud and Rei had thrown it back in her face. Usagi couldn't forget. And no matter how forgiving her nature was, she wouldn't forgive either of them.

Mamoru, for his part, could be considered innocent since he probably had no idea Usagi had seen them together, and she knew it wasn't right to punish him for something Rei had done. Rei, after all, was an extremely seductive woman and Mamoru… well, Mamoru was a man, and that could explain everything. But Rei… Usagi just couldn't understand it. How could she? Sighing, she pulled away from him when they reached the apartment she shared with Mina and Ami.

"See you later." She called over her shoulder.

"You never answered my question." His voice was quiet, and she could almost hear a desperation in it that made her want to turn and face him, to wrap her arms around him and never let go.

But she didn't. "And I never will."

She didn't turn to see his reaction as she let herself into the apartment building and let the doors lock quietly behind her.