No, just because the day had died with the sun's light and darkness has encompassed the sky didn't mean that the world was recoiling in vocal tones. No, the night itself couldn't utter a cry, no words could be formed in the black shadows or chill breezes left to haunt the city without the sun's protection. No, there was no way the night could scream.

        But I could.

        In my whole life, well, all of it that I remembered, I'd never screamed. Yelled, called, and even cried but not a scream. But my lips peeled back over my teeth and a shrieking noise split my throat, tearing my vocal chords until they might burst. My face scrunched, my muscles tensed, my ears rang with the scream as if my entire body had given itself over to the act.

        Then my lungs emptied and the shrill waned until the only noise audible from my mouth were strangled gasps punctuated by dry sobs. I opened and closed my eyes, again and again. But still the image lingers. Like fire burned into my retinas, she is there, reaching, screaming, dying. It was her cry that ripped from my throat, and her pain I feel digging into my body.

        "Who ... are ... you ..?" I gulp, pressing my knuckles against my eyes. "Why are you in pain? Why do you need me?" I open my eyes, my heartbeat thumping in my ears. "And why do I love you?"

        I've always had nightmares, this one should be no different. I should be used to waking up in the middle of any night, horrors beyond horrors plaguing my thoughts. That's what the shrinks said. Lose your family in a car accident at five, yeah. I might experience some post trauma shock.

        But after fifteen years?

        These dreams are different. They've been popping up out of nowhere, even during the day. I see a

        ... princess ...

and she's calling to me, begging me to help her. Then I'm fighting beside a

        ... senshi ...

and she calls me Tuxedo Mask. I have super powers like in the comic books and together we fight to right wrongs and triumph over evil or something like that.

        I began blacking out for no reason some time last month, and wake up back at home with no memory of what happened over the last hour. And every time it happens, that Tuxedo Mask guy is spotted while I'm out of it.

        Am I Tuxedo Mask? I wondered.

        Yesterday, all was confirmed. I dreamt of the princess again, and she told me to find the seven rainbow crystals. She told me that when I put them together she would be freed and we could be together. She was in such pain, such sadness, I couldn't help but think about it all that day. I couldn't talk to Raye or Andrew or anyone, she was constantly in my mind.

        Then, I felt the call. There's a sudden pull and I black out. But now, I remember what happens after that. I am Tuxedo Mask, guardian of Sailor Moon and defender of the

        ... Moon Kingdom ...

Sailor Moon is about to be destroyed by the most recent

        ... Crystal Carrier ...

and I rescue her before she's harmed. I fight this monster and steal

        ... the rainbow crystal ...

from Zoicite, boy was she mad when she saw I'd found it first, but the general had the other crystal and I couldn't get it back from her.

        In the fight I lose something, I don't quite remember what it is, but it was very important to me, I think. I don't know why I don't return to search for it, I guess I think whoever has it is a better owner

        ... the rightful owner ...

Then, as I examine the crystal I transform back into Darien, and I realize everything that has been happening, the blackouts and the dreams, makes sense.

        Now, nothing makes sense.

        I'm being pulled again. Sailor Moon is in danger and needs my help. I try to fight back the blackness, the inevitable transformation, and I see my princess screaming, crying ... dying.

        "Why?!" I scream at the window as a quarter moon stares back at me. "Why me? Why do you need me? Who am I supposed to save? Who are you?"

        I transform against my will, ribbons of swirling energy dissipating my body and replacing it with Tuxedo Mask. I climb to the top of my apartment building before I even think otherwise. It's very dark tonight but I feel at peace in the darkness, in the mystery that shrouds my face and my life. I don't leap across the rooftops as much as fly over them.

        I feel a pounding in my heart for the youngling senshi I rescue on a regular basis. Perhaps she is working for the princess as well. If so, then we are on the same side opposite the

        ... evil...

that is trying to claim the crystals. And if all this is so, I won't have to compete with the one I've sworn to protect for the one who I've sworn to help.

        I hear a woman scream.

        "Princess!" I cry, stumbling in mid-stride. My knee hits the gravel-covered rooftop, miraculously untorn. I hear gunshots, four in rapid succession. I'm already on my feet as the first shots are answered with two more. I'm running, falling, flying as fast as I can until I reach the street level and duck into the alley the shots came from.

        Three more gunshots fire and lights flash in my eyes. I hear the gunning of an engine and leap out of the way of the oncoming car screeching out of the alley. My shoulder bangs against brick as the exhaust billows up into my face. I bring my cape up to my mouth and after a few moments my eyes clear.

        I see blood.

        There is a body lying across from me, fresh crimson catching the moonlight on his chest. I run over to him and tear open his multicolored shirt to reveal two gunshot wounds, one in his shoulder, the other to the left of his stomach. He opens his eyes and starts to babble something but his words are slurred with shock.

        "Its okay," I tell him, tearing off part of his shirt and pressing it against the wound in his stomach. I follow suit for the shoulder wound. His blood stains my gloves.

        The man is still muttering something when I feel the call again. This time, it's pulling me, urging me to action, to the aid of Sailor Moon and the quest of my princess. In my mind I see the image of the princess sobbing, begging for my help.

        "No!" I cry out suddenly, my voice piercing the night. "I will not leave this man to die!"

        I pull the man into my arms, lifting him and myself into the sky. I run hard and fast, the sound of my breath ragged in my throat, the night flying past me in dark streaks. The man has stopped talking and I feel fear grip my heart.

        "Hang in there," I tell him, leaping over the gap between two buildings.

        The princess calls for me again and I stumble. The man in my arms gives a sharp cry of pain as I fall to my knees. I close my eyes, trying to summon the strength to continue. The princess is frantic now, tears streaking her face.

        I scream.

        I don't know what I'm screaming.

        The muscles in my legs are on fire, pain in my shoulders and arms, my entire body collapsing against my will. Sweat dripping under my mask stings my eyes, keeping me from seeing in the night. But there, there I see the lights of the hospital. Just in my reach...

        Then I am yanked as if tethered around the neck. I nearly fall from the parking garage roof as dizziness sweeps my body. I feel cold, crystal claws gripping at my heart and the princess

        ... her tears have turned to blood ...

My feet hit the ground, followed by my knees. I can't see, there are tears in my eyes. I can't move, can't fight. She is controlling me. I tremble, knowing I've failed them both.

        Then I hear a distant footfall followed by a cry for help. I look up to see a group of men running towards me, wearing the uniform green of hospital personnel.

        "Help him," I croak. "He's been shot."

        I barely see the men as they take the wounded man from my arms and lay him on a stretcher. And they barely notice me as I leave, running swiftly and then flying towards the call of my princess.

        I don't notice until I've reached the park that the pull has faded to nothingness. I see Sailor Moon and the

        ... other scouts ...

and a young man on the ground. I sense Zoicite was there a moment ago, but her presence is clearly gone from the area. And then I see the third crystal.

        Sailor Moon holds it in her gloved hands, it's golden light reflecting off her young face. I can't help but notice how beautiful she is. But rage builds inside me as my loyalties are torn asunder.

        I want to take the crystal from her for my princess. But I can't dare bring myself to even move a foot towards the girl I've saved many times before. I stop and close my eyes, listening for any call, any pull, any words of direction that I had so recently refused to heed.

        I hear nothing.

        They don't notice me as I slip back into the darkness. My loyalties and actions are unclear and not to be trusted, I surmise. The crystal is safest with Sailor Moon, for now. Besides, how could I ever attempt to take it from her?

        I notice that, even though the crisis has been dealt with, I am still Tuxedo Mask. I count it as a blessing since I would never have enough money for cab fare. I mount the rooftops once more towards home. I find myself straying back to the alley I left only a few minutes ago. There are still bloodstains marking the ground as well as skid marks where the mysterious vehicle peeled out in escape.

        I cock my head to one side as I examine the ground. Whoever shot at the man I rescued left in the car, but there was an exchange of gunshots and a woman's scream. I didn't recall seeing a firearm on the man's person and I begin to search around the alleyway for the other gun.

        I find it clutched in the hand of a corpse.

        She hasn't been dead for very long, probably died only a few moments ago. There are bullet holes in the leg of her jeans and the leather of her coat. Blood is on her face, splashed from her mouth after she screamed. Her eyes are open and cold, staring into the night sky that abandoned her to her death.

        I'm crying.

        "Forgive me," I whisper to her body, my head bowed as my back trembles. "I should have saved you, too."

        I see my princess. My love.

        I see Sailor Moon. My oath.

        I see the man. My honor.

        I see this woman. My failure.

        My hand drops a rose over her chest and I give a bow before rising. In the distance I hear the wail of police sirens but I'm gone before they even arrive. I return to my apartment, the Tuxedo Mask body melting away in shimmers of golden light. I stop before climbing through my window and look to the night sky. My eyes settle on the moon.

        I am a sworn protector and guardian of someone. I don't know who. I have a bond to the princess in my dreams. I don't know how. I have a responsibility to Sailor Moon. I don't know why.

        There are too many questions and too few answers.

        Story of my life.

C&C Welcome Lunari@Sprynet.com