Resist or Submit--Chapter One
"The Beginning"

by Aimee--bunny80@webtv.net

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***Five days prior to "The Prologue"***

"Moon..."

The youma looked up confused, still stunned by the rose
that had pierced the ground in front of him.

"Scepter..."

Fearful of the determination in his attacker's eyes, the
youma's breath caught in his throat. The impending
scream deep inside him wouldn't seem to come.

"ELIMINATION!"

Finally finding his voice, the youma cried out, "What
are you doing to me? Nooooo..." His breath once
again escaped him...never to return.

Silence filled the night air that moments ago was
polluted with sounds of a fierce battle. Seven
individuals were left standing.

The moonlight outlined the figures of five warriors,
each wearing a glistening tiara. Their leader stood
slightly in front of the quintet, making her position
known.

Another warrior--a man--knelt on one knee, apart
from the group, his lined cape catching the cold
night breeze. The mask, which protected his identity
from onlookers, did little to hide his piercing blue eyes.

Nestled in the arms of the dark, masked man was a
child, trembling in fear like a rabbit. A chain hung
round her neck, keeping safe a key--a key which
quite literally held the future.

"Finally..." Sailor Moon sighed in relief, breaking the
silence. For the first time since she had seen Reenie's
moon beam pierce the evening sky, Serena allowed
her tense shoulders to relax. Lately, every attack from
Rubeus' youmas seemed more difficult than the last--
and definitely more intense. Closing tired eyes, Sailor
Moon took a deep breath of the chilly night air,
relieved the child was safe.

"I thought that thing would never die," Venus muttered,
grasping an injured shoulder. Jupiter steadied her weary
friend, nodding in agreement.

Mars and Mercury made their way over to the child,
concerned. Taking the little girl from Tuxedo Mask's
arms and into her own, Mercury asked, "Are you all
right, Reenie? You aren't hurt, are you?"

Mars spoke in an usually kind voice. "Don't worry,
Reenie. We'll always be here to protect you. Nothing
can happen to you as long as we're on your side."

Hidden in the shadows of the night, two hate-filled
eyes widened, enlightened with an idea.

Frightened from the battle, little Reenie cried in
Mercury's embrace, oblivious to the comforting
words Mercury and Mars spoke to her. "I wanna
go home!" the little girl mumbled, hiccuping though
hot tears. "I want my mommy!"

Tuxedo Mask watched the pitiful scene in front of
him--it made his blood boil. What kind of person
would do such a thing to a defenseless child? His
mind couldn't seem to comprehend the kind of
monster that could even think to try to steal and
crush such innocence. Rubeus had gone too far--
he would have to pay, and dearly. It made Tuxedo
Mask even more angry that this little incident could
have been avoided. Why hadn't Serena been
watching Reenie like he'd told her to?

Darien was never one to express his feelings well.
Although he would never admit it, being alone most
of his life had effected the little orphan boy who had
been cursed with no family or memories. He was a
man now, but the loneliness and bitterness gathered
from years without love or family had hindered him
emotionally, transforming his feelings into defense
mechanisms. Sadness became coldness. Attraction
became teasing. Love became over-protectiveness.

And fear....fear became anger. In the wake of such
a difficult battle, one which nearly stole away the life
of a little girl--Darien was afraid. Afraid for Reenie's
life. Afraid for the Scout's safety. Afraid to be
anywhere near Serena, that somehow his nightmares
might come true, and snatch her away from him--
afraid to tell her the truth, that she would never
understand his rejection. Afraid for Rubeus should
Darien ever get his hands on him.

The fear built to a peak inside this tortured man's
head. Darien breathed deep, trying to relax--to
hold it in a little while longer till he could vent his
frustrations alone, as he usually did.

These desperate efforts to maintain control of
himself were in vain, and Darien knew it. The fear
and anger had been building up inside him far too
long...release was inevitable and necessary.

Darien finally snapped under the pressure, and
pure anger overtook him.

Grabbing Sailor Moon's wrist, he whipped her
around to face him. Surprised and hurt eyes
searched his, but Tuxedo Mask was too blinded
with his anger to notice. "I thought I told you to
watch Reenie..." he growled through clenched teeth.

Serena was shocked--never in her life had she seen
Darien act like this. Distant--yes. Cold--occasionally.
But violent? Never. His grip on her wrist was strong
and firm--almost painful. "I...I was watching her. She
ran off when my back was turned," Sailor Moon told
the fuming Tuxedo Mask, trying to defend herself.

"Oh really?" asked Mars, who had approached the
argument. "What did you say to her to make her run
off?"

"Nothing, I..."

Her words were cut off by a gasp of pain as Tuxedo
Mask squeezed her wrist tightly. "How could you be
so irresponsible? A child's life is in your hands! A child,
Sailor Moon! Think about it--what would Rubeus have
done to her if he had gotten his hands on her? Huh?
Answer me!"

Serena's eyes filled with tears--she didn't know what to
say.

"Sailor Moon, you need to get it together," Tuxedo Mask
continued, blinded with anger. "You call yourself the
champion of love and justice--you need to grow up and
start acting like it."

"That's enough, Tuxedo Mask," Jupiter said in a warning
voice. Nobody would talk to the princess like that as long
as she was around. It was the Scout's duty to protect her,
and as far as Jupiter was concerned, that included emotional
protection.

Tuxedo Mask glanced briefly at Jupiter, and returned his
steady glare to Serena. "Darien," Jupiter warned in a low
voice, so Reenie couldn't hear his real name spoken. "Let
it go."

"Tuxedo Mask is right," Mars added, arms crossed over
her chest. "Sailor Moon does need to grow up."

"Mars--we really don't need your input at the moment,"
Venus snapped.

Mars narrowed her eyes. "Who said we need *your* input?"

"Darien, let go of Sailor Moon--right now," Jupiter said firmly.

Now crying, Sailor Moon looked up at the man she loved
with pleading eyes. "Darien..." she said softly through her
tears. "You're hurting me."

Tuxedo Mask blinked, as if waking up from a trance. He
saw his love before him, a pained expression on her face.
'She's afraid of me,' he realized. The very thought made
him feel like crying. He longed to cradle her in his arms,
and kiss all her tears away. He wanted to comfort and
assure her he would never lay a harmful hand on her. A
glance at the small, trembling wrist enclosed in his grasp
told him what a hypocrite he was--always trying to
protect her from harm, and then doing something like this.

Darien let go of Serena's wrist abruptly, and backed
away, ashamed of his lack of control. What had come
over him? "I...I'm sorry, Sailor Moon. I didn't mean to..."
His voice trailed off.

Sailor Moon had backed away too, and stayed close to
Jupiter, who was leveling Tuxedo Mask with a glare that
could kill. Serena rubbed her aching wrist, occasionally
stopping to wipe away tears. Darien looked at her with
compassion. "Serena--please forgive me," he told her in
a gentle voice, trying to make up for his previous harshness.
"You'll do better next time...I know you will."

Serena gave a silent nod of forgiveness, but the look of
fear and hurt in her eyes remained. Darien sighed, not
knowing what else to do for her. His arms longed to
hold his princess, and hide her away in his embrace.
Forgetting the nightmares for a few wonderful moments,
Tuxedo Mask reached for the young girl, and gathered
her close, resting her head on his chest and stroking her
hair lightly. It was an awkward hug, and Darien noticed
that Serena didn't hold him back...but then again, he
couldn't really blame her.

Lost in her softness, Darien barely heard the sounds of
fighting nearby.

"I can't believe you would say that, Mars!" Venus
shouted, continuing their argument.

"Why can't you just mind your own business?" Rei
shot back at her.

"You guys--cut it out--there's no need to fight..."
Mercury was cut off by more yelling.

"Tuxedo Mask, I *said* let go of Sailor Moon--and
I mean now!"

"Stay out of this, Jupiter."

"I want my mommy..."

"I will *not* 'stay out of it!' Look at her--she's shaking.
You had no excuse to act like that."

"I apologized--what else do you want from me?"

"You are so stubborn, Mars!"

"I want my daddy!"

"At least I'm not stuck-up like you!"

"I wouldn't be so sure of yourself!"

Pale and shaken, Serena glanced silently at her arguing
friends from her resting place in Darien's arms. His embrace
was warm--but it didn't feel right somehow.

Her friends...they were fighting. No doubt the stress from
the battle along with the ever-present knowledge of what came
with failure had left each of them irritable, and their emotions
bared. Hurling insults, they tore at each other's weak points,
rubbing salt in painful wounds, bringing back past hurts that
were supposed to have been forgotten.

But why? And for what purpose?

Sailor Moon's head began to throb--the shouting blurred
into pure noise. Silent until now, Serena began to whimper,
clamping her hands to her ears trying to drown out the
fighting.

"Reenie, please calm down!"

"But I wanna go home, Mercury!"

"stop..."

"Shut up, cape boy!"

"please...stop..."

"Don't mock me, Jupiter!"

"Stop it."

"What did you say, Sailor Moon?"

"I SAID STOP IT NOW!!!"

Everyone stared at the tiny princess, stunned. Her hands
were still clamped over her ears, and her eyes were shut
tightly. Her knees shook, partly from anger, partly from
exhaustion.

"Please...no more fighting...we're all tired...let's just go
home," Sailor Moon begged in a small voice filled with
pained emotion.

Mercury, who had managed to keep a level head
throughout the ordeal, was the first to agree. "Sailor
Moon is right, you guys. I think everyone is overly-tired,
and is saying things they don't mean. Let's talk this over
tomorrow when we've all gotten some rest."

After a few nods, grunts, and glares, the Scouts, Tuxedo
Mask, and Reenie all made their way home, each going
their separate way, alone and in deep thought (all except
for Reenie, who was to be brought home by Mercury, at
Serena's request).

Sailor Moon watched her fuming friends walk away in
silence. She felt nauseated and dizzy, and was still leveled
with the same pounding headache. The night air was
soothing, however, and she breathed of it deeply. Confused
and upset, she made her way home taking a longer route than
usual--she needed to think a few things out.

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