TITLE: Finders Keepers.... AUTHOR: Aliyah E-MAIL: aliyah@connect.ab.ca RATING: PG-13 Part I Chapter IV Serenity would laugh, Endymion thought sourly as he jumped from tree to tree in order to remain inconspicuous. I feel ridiculous. He breathed a sigh of relief as Darien entered the arcade without a backward glance. There were still two hours before Serena would run into Darien -enough time to befriend his former self. But what if, because of something I did - do, Darien ends up missing Serena by a few seconds - what if they never meet! Wait, if I don't talk to him I'll never find out what Raye said to him. And what if Raye comes along and causes more damage -what if, because of my laziness, the damage becomes irreparable. This second guessing was getting him nowhere. Endymion sighed, how does Pluto do this? Just as Endymion steeled himself to enter the arcade he bumped right into Darien -leaving the arcade. Yes! It was either fate or Pluto but whoever it was deserved a duchy - Endymion was sure he could kick someone out. There was that annoying priggish bootlicker... "Oh, I'm sorry!" Darien exclaimed. Wait. Endymion froze, it's not like me to be so nice. I was in a terrible mood when I met Serena - quick, how do I get him in a terrible mood? Endymion did the first thing he could think of. Well, when your future is at stake, you have to take drastic measures and it's not like he did it to someone else - it was, after all, himself! He punched him. Darien dropped, out cold. "Great, now what do I do?" * * * "So, which school do you go to?" Serenity asked Raye. She knew for a fact that Raye had yet to move to Tokyo. "None yet. My grandfather sent me to look for schools -we're moving here very soon." "So - you're about finished high school now right?" Serenity almost laughed aloud at the expression of glee on Raye's face. Raye had always been very susceptible to flattery. But then her triumph turned to suspicion. "Why do you ask? How old do I look?" Raye had never been one for subtly. "Oh, I'd guess about seventeen?" Serenity smiled engagingly, trying to dispel the uncertainty from her old friend's face. "Actually, I'm fourteen." "Sorry, I guess you're just very mature for your age." Ch-ching! Serenity 1, Raye 0. Raye's response was unheard as Serenity caught sight of her husband decking a very familiar figure in an olive-green blazer. Serenity froze, what the hell was he doing! What should I do -Raye can't see him! And so she did the first thing she could think of. Let's just say that after a thousand years of marriage, people tend to behave very similarly. * * * "Endymion." Serenity hissed as she saw him drag an unconscious Darien into an alley. It didn't seem to change anything that she had done the exact same thing to Raye moments ago. "No time for that Serenity, quick, change my looks before he -I come to." "What to?" "Someone I'll respect, a professor -no, then I'll need to go to work. A vagabond, so I'll have to stay at his place -no, then he won't respect me. But if I'm a vagabond who used to be a professor -then why would I be a vagabond!" Darien and Endymion had always been indecisive so Serenity decided on the vagabond -a very very good-looking vagabond! Then she leant over her future husband. She looked at the welt on his brow with concern, "Oh Darien, you poor baby." She caressed it softly. With surprising agility his hands caught hers and his eyes began to open -and then he was out again. Serenity looked accusingly at her husband. He shrugged, it was ridiculous to be jealous of yourself, but... "Shouldn't you be getting back to Raye?" When she left, muttering something unintelligible about hormones, machismo and old age, he turned to his younger self. Even with a big bruise on my face. I am a looker! Then he laughed, Darien's good mood would definitely be gone! "Where is she?" Though he rose lethargically, Darien's voice was urgent and filled with wonder. "Who?" "The angel? The princess?" "Which is it? Princess or angel?" "I don't know, maybe both." Darien looked curiously at the vagabond before him. "Who are you?" "The man who just saved your life." "In that case, thank you. Could I buy you a coffee?" The vagabond brightened up noticeably. "I'd love one." "This way," Darien led the curious man in the direction of Little Tokyo Caf鮍 * * * "Oh my head." Raye's head had felt better after Negaverse battles! I must be getting old. "Are you all right?" "Who are you?" "Julianna. Remember, the one from-" "Ah yes, Julianna. What happened?" "You were mugged." I punched you and I'd do it again, you sneaky, no-good, husband-stealing, weasly- "I don't remember Tokyo being this violent." Except for a Negaverse attack here and there, Raye thought ruefully. She fingered the enormous bump on her head tentatively, whatever had hit her had hit her very hard. "What did they hit me with?" a goddamn truck! "He decked you. Where's your home -I'll take you there. You know, you have to be very careful with head injuries." "Now, I can't go home now, not when I have to -hey, what time is it?" Serenity told her and then watched closely for a reaction. She wasn't disappointed. "I just remembered - I have a really important engagement, I've got to go. Sorry!" "Oh, that's all right, what kind of engagement?" They began to walk in the direction of Crossroads Junior High which just happened to be ending soon. "Actually, I'm in a bit of a rush so could I talk to you some other time?" "Sure," Serenity turned with a cheerful "later!" Then she walked deliberately in the opposite direction and turned the corner. "Luna Transformation! Turn me into a beautiful, successful model!" Though it was, perhaps, more practical to disguise herself in a more common place and unnoticeable disguise, Serenity had always possessed a that flair for the flamboyant - besides, with the chance, wouldn't anyone? Serenity walked confidently a short distance after Raye, determined not to let her out of her sight. Then she saw a sight that made her stop abruptly... it was Serena... and she was talking to Raye. * * * As the two girls reentered the school, Serenity found herself waiting outside the school, on a park bench, biting her nails, and subjected to prepubescent male stares. I should have made myself some kind of ugly hag. Geez, they gossip and giggle more than little girls. Minutes later Raye emerged, alone. Do I follow her or do I go in and find out what happened? Serenity elected to have a little chat with her former self and entered the room to see Serena in a roomful of pizzas. At the rate Serena was inhaling the food, chances were good that even if she finished them in time to meet Darien, she wouldn't fit through the door anyway. I can feel my arteries clogging up - I have to tell Darien! Serena didn't notice the tall blond figure gazing at her ruefully; nor the tall brunette behind her, an expression of red-hot furry imprinted on her lovely visage.