Thorny Remembrances
CHAPTER NINE

	The table in the hospital?s break-room felt cold against 
Darien?s forehead.  He?d just finished devouring a sandwich from the 
vending machine.  The previous nights rooftop escapades with Lita had
left him spent.
	His shift at the hospital seemed to drag on forever.  He found 
it hard to believe that is wasn?t even half over.
	Darien found it even harder to concentrate on his work as an 
orderly.  His mind kept struggling with the question Lita had asked 
him that morning when he called to make sure she was all right.
	?Just what did happen last night?? he wondered to himself in 
the empty break-room.
	He remembered feeling restless, after leaving the temple and 
dropping Lita at her apartment.  He hadn?t wanted to go home, so he 
drove by Serena?s house.
	Darien had felt a little guilty watching Serena through 
her bedroom window.  She was talking on the phone, one
minute laughing and the next on the verge of tears.  He assumed 
she was talking to Lita, since Lita had promised to call Serena when 
she got home.
	Wanting to know what was on Serena?s mind, he had driven back 
to Lita?s place.  Just as he was pulling into the parking lot, he saw
Lita leaving.  Concerned for her safety, he decided to follow her.
	Everything after that moment had a surreal feel to it.  Darien 
remembered wondering to himself what it would take to get Lita to 
stop this obsessive behavior.
	He remembered challenging her, fighting her, transforming.  
Darien even remembered catching Lita when she?d lost her footing on 
the ledge of the building and fell.
	After taking her back to her apartment and putting her to bed, 
he?d driven home and climbed wearily into his own.  Not until 
this morning did his head feel straight.
	Eventhough he knew what had happened, it felt as though he?d 
dreamt the whole night.  He wondered if maybe he ought to see a 
doctor.
	Darien?s watch beeped alerting him that his break was over.
	?Six more hours to go,? he said to himself.
	He knew he?d spend most of them trying to figure out what he 
would say to Rose Mason later that night.
	
	When the elevator carrying Rose was safely away, Lita came 
back around the corner.
	?What kind of courier needs knives and a gun?? she wondered 
aloud.
	She continued down the hallway in the direction Rose had come 
from looking for a window.  Lita wanted to catch a glimpse of them 
leaving the building.  She saw Rose?s motorcycle pull out into 
traffic, but she was the only passenger.  Her escort must have taken 
a car or hopped on the bus.
	At the end of the hallway she found apartment 574.  As she?d 
hoped it was on the side facing the library.  She and Serena could 
camp out at one of the library windows and watch the apartment until 
Rose arrived home or left, whatever the circumstances.
	Lita heard voices advancing down the hall.  In order not to 
appear suspicious she knocked on Rose?s door.  Since no one was at 
home she knew it wouldn?t matter.  But, to Lita?s surprise the door 
opened.
	?Hello,? said the blonde man who had just accompanied Rose 
downstairs.
	It took Lita a moment to regain her composure.
	?I?m sorry, I must have the wrong apartment.  I was looking for
Rose Mason,? she said, proud of her quick thinking.
	?No, no.  This is the right place.  She?s just gone to work.  
May I help you??
	?Well, actually, Rose and I met the other day through a mutual 
friend.  I?m afraid I may have said something that offended her.  I 
was hoping to catch her at home so I could apologize.?
	?How very brave of you.  Most young ladies your age wouldn?t 
bother.  I?d be happy to give her the message that you came by Miss??
	?My name is Lita, Lita Kino.  Would it be possible for me to 
leave her a note?  I feel really bad.?
	?Sure.  You?ve come this far.  Come on in and I?ll get you a 
pen and paper.  By the way, my name is Kite.?
	He held the door open and Lita went inside.
	The apartment was tidy and filled with plants and sunshine.  
Lita felt warm and calm inside.  The young man went into the kitchen 
after the writing utensils he?d promised.  Lita took a chair at the 
table near the window.
	?I didn?t know Rose had a roommate,? she called after him.  
?But we didn?t get a chance to talk that much.  I?m afraid I put my 
foot into my mouth near the beginning of the conversation.?
	?Oh, I?m not her roommate.  I just sort of visit her often.  
I?m curious Miss Kino, what is this great offense you made that 
requires so much penance??  He smiled as he returned with the pen 
and stationery.
	?Nothing much, it?s sorta private.?
	He handed her the pen and paper.  When their hands touched, 
Lita felt a sharp shock.  Giving herself away she looked up at the 
young man.
	?I?m sorry, static electricity from the carpet.  I?ve been 
shocking everything.?  Kite smiled.
	Lita noticed how attractive he was. His long blonde hair hung 
past his shoulders, pulled back in a headband.  His eyes were light 
blue and seemed to bore holes into hers.  She felt herself flush 
under his gaze.
	She had to remind herself that this could be the enemy.  Then 
a thought struck her.  How did he get back into the apartment before 
she had knocked?  He hadn?t passed her in the hall.  She didn?t 
remember seeing a back stairwell.  The balcony door was open a 
little, but they were five stories up.
	Lita looked down at the paper and began to write, not sure 
what she should say.  She decided to make the note simple, knowing 
Kite would surly read it.
	She began to write:
	
	Rose:
	I hope it?s all right that I came by your apartment.  I wanted 
	to apologize for what I said the other day.  I had no right.  
	I hope we can get together again soon.  I?d like to see you. 
	Please call me at the following number?
									Lita
	
	She folded the paper and handed it to Kite.
	
	?Thank you for letting me use the pen,? Lita said politely.
	She stood and started for the door. 
	?No problem.  I?ll tell her how concerned you were and give 
her the note.?
	?I?d appreciate that, Kite.  See ya.?
	Lita was on the other side of the door, but still felt as 
though she were being watched.  Downstairs, she crossed the lobby 
towards the street.  It was almost time to meet Serena at the 
library.  Before going in the front door of the other building she 
looked back up towards Rose?s apartment.  She could see Kite leaning
against the balcony railing watching her.  She waved casually.  He 
waved in return.
	
	Serena was late, as usual.  She found Lita sitting in the 
lobby reading a magazine.
	?I?m here,? she said between gasps for air.  ?I ran all the 
way.  I?m sorry.?
	?That?s okay.  Let?s go upstairs.  I want to show you 
something.?
	Serena followed Lita up the grand staircase in the center of 
the building.  She wished they?d taken an elevator after running all 
the way from school to the library.
	When they came to the top floor Lita led her to a small window 
with a table and chair in front of it.
	?We can see Rose?s apartment from here.? 
	She pointed across the street.
	?It?s the one with the plants on the balcony.  I got here 
early and went over to check it out.?
	?Cool,? replied Serena.  ?You?ve done your homework.?
	The two sat watching through the window and talking about 
school until Lita squinted and pointed down to the street.
	?There she is.?
	?Where?? asked Serena squinting.
	?On the motorcycle.  Pulling into the garage.?
	She squinted harder trying to see, then looked back up towards 
the balcony.
	?Lita,? she gasped.  ?Do you see that??
	Serena pointed up towards the roof where a man dressed in 
black jumped.  Serena looked away, expecting the man to fall to the 
pavement.
	?Well, I?ll be,? said Lita still watching.  ?He caught onto 
Rose?s railing.?
	They watched as the figure pulled him self onto the balcony 
and began pulling on the door to her apartment.
	?C?mon,? said Serena, ?she may be in trouble.?  
	Serena grabbed Lita?s arm and pulled her towards the stairs.
	The two girls bolted across the street and into the lobby of 
the high-rise.  Lita led the way to the elevators.  Rose was nowhere 
to be seen.  They had to keep quiet inside the elevator because it 
was full of people.  A few passengers exited on the fifth floor with 
Lita and Serena.  Serena spotted the stairwell and she and Lita 
ducked inside.
	A few minutes later, Sailor Moon and Sailor Jupiter ran down 
the hallway towards Rose?s apartment.  Jupiter tried the doorknob 
and found it unlocked.  Slowly the two girls entered the room.
	The balcony door was wide open.  Cold air and the last 
light of the evening filled the room.  The black clad man was 
nowhere to be seen.  Suddenly the front door slammed behind them.  
They spun to see him standing between them and their only exit.