Levana Ceri (Moon Love)

*Author Note
What can I say? I had a dream and inspiration struck. Enjoy.

Chapter 16

"This is a very bad idea." Kunzite groused.

"We all know it's a bad idea." Nephrite and Jadeite chimed in at the same time.

"But look at her. She's so pleased. Could you really deny her such a simple thing?" Zoisite asked when he finally tore his gaze from Serena's beaming face.

"Yes!" Agreed the three shitenou along with Darien. Standing behind them he elbowed his way through carrying three big tubs of buttered popcorn, two hot dogs, three nacho combo's and a box carrying four soda's with the remaining two soda's balanced precariously in each hand. Zoisite and Nephrite immediately grabbed their drinks and Jadeite grabbed his nachos to lighten his load. "What? No jalapenos?"

Darien threw him a withering glare that made Jadeite take a step back. "Sorry. We would've gone to help you but you insisted you had it."

"You said, 'can we help?' I said 'no, I got it'. You were then supposed to say, 'no, we insist.' and come anyway." Darien growled.

Nephrite had the gall to say "Really Master? I don't remember reading that in the 'Buying movie snacks' etiquette book." Before Darien could kill him, Serena turned her head and spotted the pop corn and soda. "Oooo!" She exclaimed. In the blink of an eye the popcorn and soda vanished from Darien's hand and reappeared on Serena's head. She screached when the soda spilled all over her and the popcorn tub upended over her and sat on her head. Nephrite and Jadeite burst into laughter as Zoisite quickly masked Serena from public view with his powers. Darien handed the remaining food to Nephrite and Jadeite, who nearly spilled all that was left, laughing as hard as they were. Darien gently lifted the edge of the tub of empty popcorn up until he could see Serena's face that was splotchy from the soda and tears.

Darien smiled tenderly and leaned in to place a quick chaste kiss on her lips. Unable to resist the scent of cherry coke soda, his tongue flicked out and captured some of the remaining flavor on his tongue.

"With my favorite flavored soda dripping all over I have this urge to lick it all off of you." He whispered in her ear. Serena shuddered at the image but shoved him away before he got any more ideas. "Okay, time to go and buy me another soda since this one had an accident, Frisky Kitty."

"Meow." Darien teased and pretended to paw at her. Serena laughed and shoved him towards the concession stand again. He left with a laugh and asked Kunzite to help Serena clean up. Giggling, Serena had just removed the popcorn tub/hat when Kunzite's next words made her pause.

"What would your people think if they saw you covered in mortal food?

Serena froze for a milisecond then looked up at Kunzite with a smile. "My people? You make me sound like an alien from outer space."

Kunzite returned her smile with full force. "Not an alien, merely the missing princess from the Moon Kingdom."

Serena froze in shock. She looked into Kunzite's knowing eyes and could've kicked herself. Why was she surprised that he was not a normal mortal. His powers alone should've tipped her off. With that revelation came the next, all the Shitenou had powers, even Darien demonstrated it. Mortals from Earth were nearly pitited by the other races because of their total ignorance of anything outside their planet. They were still a young race, an infant really in the eyes of her people. They still had much to learn. Serena was so used to being around such vast amounts of power she had never questioned why Darien and his guard had powers of their own, and were so comfortable with her own developing ones.

All these thoughts passed through her head in a matter of seconds and she realized that she truly didn't know these people. True, she cared for them all very deeply, but that he knew who she was was a danger to her. For all she knew Kunzite could be working for Galaxia as inconceivable as that was. And even if he wasn't, it was dangerous knowledge for him to have. Knowledge that could get him killed. "I don't know what you're talking about Kunzite."

"I believe you do. And since I've all ready confirmed my suspicions with my investigations I see no reason for denial."

Serena's heart jumped. "You had me investigated? By whom? Who else knows about this?"

Kunzite narrowed his eyes at her obvious fear. "I investigated my suspicions myself. No one else did it for me."

Serena looked behind Kunzite to see Jadeite and Nephrite checking out the girls coming and going a few feet behind him and Zoisite with Darien, helping him replace the ruined snacks.

"Have you told them?" She asked anxiously, still looking at Darien. Kunzite sighed then turned his head to look at Darien as well. "I should."

"But you won't." Serena said, relief tinging her tone.

Kunzite glared at her. "Don't confuse my hesitancy with weakness. I may tell him anyway. The only thing holding me back until now was the chance that I was wrong. But now I know that's not the issue here. What are you doing on this planet princess? Especially when your own system is in war?"

"How did you find out who I am?"

"That's of little consequence right now-"

"It's of great importance to me!" Serena interrupted him harshly but quickly lowered her voice when a few people looked at her curiously before moving on to their specific theatre rooms. "What gave me away?"

"Your growing powers."

Serena bowed her head in shame. Of course. Just because she was stupid enough to not realize the significance of their displays of power didn't mean he would. With that thought Serena raised her head again to look at Kunzite curiously. "People of Earth do not have powers of any kind-"

"Well that's a little presumptuous of you. And you've spent what, a total of a few months on our planet?"

"The people of Earth have not evolved enough to allow them to have powers." Serena said in complete confidence.

"Then how do you explain us?" Kunzite asked her curiously.

"You're not of Earth." Serena breathed.

"Very dangerous words princess. Be careful." Kunzite warned her.

Serena shivered at his dire tone and knew in that instant, despite any friendship or camraderie they may have developed, he could easily kill her. Kunzite nodded at the growing fear in her eyes before he said gently "Master would never hurt you."

"But you would kill me to protect him."

"Without a moments hesitation." Kunzite confirmed. Serena took a slight step back. Kunzite allowed his eyes to burn into hers for a few more seconds, just to make sure she understood, before he slowly bowed his head before her. "But your death would pain him greatly. If he didn't kill me immediately he would never forgive me. And am not quite so sure he would be able to survive your death either. It would be incredibly stupid of me to be the one to drive him to his own demise."

"Kunzite..."

"My first loyalty is to protect Master and to keep him safe from harm. Because he is also my friend...my brother, his happiness is mine. As long as you are his...you are relatively safe from me."

Serena held back a snort as her humor instantly returned. "Relatively?"

Kunzite grinned inspite of himself. "One can never predict the future can they?"

Serena looked behind him to see Darien and the rest of the Shitenou all ready walking towards them. She spoke to Kunzite urgently under her breath. "We haven't finished."

"For now we have." Kunzite warned her. Serena bit her lip in worry when Darien finally reached her side. He touched Serena's wet shirt and glared at Kunzite. "I thought I told you to help her clean up?"

"I did."

Serena gasped as suddenly her clothing was bone dry and her hair was back to its normal pigtails she wore. Darien rolled his eyes at Kunzite's underhandedness. "And on that note, let's all go in and watch the movie. Jadeite, you still have the tickets?"

"Yes."

Darien waited expectantly and when no answer was forthcoming he growled. "So what theatre room is the movie in?"

"OH!" Jadeite exclaimed in understanding. "Uh, Theatre number 13, No Country For Old Men."

"I still can't believe this is the movie you wanted to see, Serena."

"Hey, I like my action movies to."

"You realize that the whole plot is based around a trained hitman right?"

"I'm not a total idiot Darien. Yes I know. It got such rave reviews I've been dying to see it."

"But it's all ready out on dvd. Why couldn't we just buy it and watch it at home?"

"And miss the movie goer experience? I think not. Besides, I'm glad we were able to find this theatre that still plays some of the movies all ready on dvd."

Darien sighed dramatically. "Let's just get this over with."

Together the six of them walked into the theatre and were able to quickly find seats right in the upper middle. Which was very easy since they were the only ones in the theatre."

"Every normal person just bought the dvd." Darien grumbled. Serena punched him on his arm. The lights dimmed and they sat through the previews exchanging comments and ribs. The movie began and they watched silently as a man was sitting cuffed in a sheriffs office. The sheriff turned his back on him and made a phonecall. The man slowly brought his cuffed hands down from behind his legs and lightly stepped over them. With his still cuffed hands now in front quietly crept up behind the officer and used the linked cuff as leverage as he strangled the poor officer. Serena screamed at this sudden movement and watched in horror as the officer flailed wildly before he finally expelled his last breath. The Shitenou laughed at Serena. "Thought you liked your action movies." Nephrite said goadingly. Darien rubbed the back of Serena's hand she had wrapped around his forearm and asked her "Do you want to go?"

"Yes." Serena said. She couldn't sit through the rest of it. "What kind of way is that to start a movie?" She asked in horror. She knew she wouldn't get that sight out of her head. The six of them stood to leave only to have a gian blast of wind knock them all off their feet. They all flew backwards and sprawled in various different seats behind them. Darien gently checked Serena before he carefully lifted her off his chest. "You okay?"

"Yeah, thanks for breaking my fall."

"No problem." Darien winced in pain. "What the hell was that?" Everyone looked towards the screen and watched as a tall and lithe young woman stepped forward through the gaping hole in the screen. Wearing a blue sailor scout outfit with black trimming she smiled in obvious delight.

"Yes! I found you first. Come with me Princess Serenity. Galaxia would like to have a word with you."

"Princess?" Darien said in confusion.

"Serenity?" Jadeite, Nephrite and Zoisite echoed around him.

"It wasn't an option princess." The young woman growled then threw her hands out and a rush of wind blew from her fingertips. Again, everyone was blown off their feet except for Kunzite. Anticipating the attack he lifted his sword and blocked it, before he sent a blast of his own right into the woman. She shrieked in anger as the attack was easily blocked by swirling air that immediately sprang around her like a tornado. "You'll pay dearly for that." She said menacingly to Kunzite. She quickly made a tight fist in the air and they all watched in horror as Kunzite dropped his sword and clawed at his throat gasping for air.