This is the second chapter, entitled "Graduation Tears".  
Though it is not my first attempt at writing fan 
fiction, it is my first attempt in posting any of 
my work on the Net for others to read.  A note, I 
did change the name of the highschool where the 
Scouts attend to something in English.  I did change 
a little history, all right?  I respect the Japanese 
version very VERY much, but wanted to change the name 
because it didn't fit in really with the English names 
and such.  I used everyone's Japanese last names 
except for Amy's, which is Anderson.  Any constructive 
comments are welcome, e-mail SlrUnico@aol.com!  
Enjoy!

The drive to the school was much longer than it normally 
was for Serena.  Her parents sat in the front, and she
and Sammy were in the back.  Her little brother looked 
none too happy to be in his sport coat and tie, which 
his mother had forced him to wear, and was stealthily 
playing a hand held video game.  Serena stared out 
the window deep in thought for the whole short trip,
 coming back to reality when her father announced they 
were at the school.
     Serena gulped and opened the car door, sliding out 
slowly despite Sammy's constant urges to "move it along, 
Sis!".  Her white slippers hit the pavement with each 
step toward the building.  She barely heard when her 
parents called that they would head into the auditorium 
while she went on to the classroom where her class was 
meeting.
     I don't believe I am really graduating, her mind was 
saying.  Me, Serena, a high school graduate!  And everyone 
told me I was going to be a middle school flunky.  I wish 
all the people I have ever known in my whole life who 
were mean to me could see this night, where I'm going 
to shine like the moon.
     Her steps grew quicker and more deft as she neared 
the room.  Only a shout of her name stopped her, as she 
spun to meet the voice's owner.
     It was Raye!  "Raye!" Serena cried, running to meet 
her friend mid way.  The dark haired girl hugged Serena 
and then yanked away to take a look at her.  "Now, where 
have I seen THAT dress before," Raye asked teasingly.  
Serena giggled.
     "Can you believe I made it?" squealed Serena happily.  
"That I'm graduating?"
     Raye shook her head.  "And we all thought you'd be a 
drop out way before this!!"
     Serena stuck out her tongue.  "Oh, you're so self 
righteous!"
     Raye blew a raspberry.  "I'd rather be that than an 
air head!"
     "You're calling me an air head????"
     "Hey, if the shoe fits, wear it!  And add this on 
to that, you're a pig head too!"
     "Well you're a HOT head!"
     "You're insane, girl!"
     "At least I don't converse with fires like an 
idiot!"
     "OOOOH!  I'M NOT SPEAKING TO YOU EVER AGAIN!" the 
girls said in unison, fed up with each other.  They 
grunted and turned their backs to the other, staying 
like that for a long time.  Then at the same instant 
they turned and giggled, hugging like old friends who 
had never fought in their lives.  "Who are we kidding?" 
asked Raye rhetorically.
     "Yeah," replied Serena.
     They drew away.  "So, are you coming to the dance?" 
asked Serena.
     Raye nodded.  "Yeah, I'm glad here they let other 
schools attend."
     "Who's your date?" quipped Serena mischievously.
     The dark haired girl blushed a deep red.  "Ummm...
Chad..."
     "Whhhoooo!  You go girl!"
     Raye clamped a hand over Serena's mouth.  "I'm 
warning you, Meatball Head, don't you dare embarrass me.  
Can I help it if the guy has it bad for me?"
     Serena shrieked a muffled response and Raye sighed, 
taking her hand away.  "Oh well.  Maybe I like him a 
little bit too."
     Someone shouted to Serena, who spun around to see.  
It was a teacher, telling her she had better get with 
her class.  She sighed and told Raye good bye, flouncing 
into the building.
     Her slippers made no noise on the tile halls, and 
when she reached the room, Serena peered in.  Mina was 
already inside, talking with a group of boys and giggling 
like a flirt.  Not wanting to miss out on the fun, Serena 
rushed inside to join her.  
     Upon seeing her friend, Mina gasped out loud and 
left the boys to chatter among themselves.  "Serena, 
my God, it's beautiful!"
     "The dress?  You like it?"
     "Who wouldn't I'd DIE for a dress like that!  It 
looks just like the one..." Mina trailed off and mouthed 
the words, "you wore as a Princess!"  She sat in a desk.
     Serena nodded and went to sit in the seat beside 
her.  "I just gave Mom the sketch and she had it taken 
downtown.  A designer fashioned it for me, no questions 
asked!  It's so pretty..."  She looked at Mina's dress.  
"Ooooh, but I love yours!"
     Mina blushed.  She was wearing a tiny white Derby 
hat on her head, and her dress skirt was short, the bodice 
and sleeves done like the late 20's style in America 
according to her dress maker.  There was a little vest 
with tiny buttons over the top part, and when she 
took it off sphagetti straps showed over her shoulders.  
It was elegant and classy, in a different way then 
Serena's.  Both were breathtaking.
     "Where is your date?" asked Serena.
     "He's going to meet me at the dance.  He's in 
another room.  You know Toby, he'll probably want to 
make an entrance."
     "Sounds like Raye.  You know, Chad is escorting 
her."
     "No way!"
     "Yes way!  I just found out in the parking lot.  
At first she acted like she was all that and a bag of 
chips, saying that he had it bad for her and she 
couldn't help it.  Then SHE admitted that she "kinda" 
liked him too!  Ooooh!"
     Mina's eyes got that look they did when there was 
a juicy piece of gossip floating around that she had 
first dibbs on.  But before she could get up to 
spread the word that the fiery Shinto maiden who was 
a legend at her own school was dating one of the temple 
caretakers...someone shyly opened the door.  It was a 
girl, dressed in a long white dress that was very 
plain but so very pretty and cordial.  A single ribbon 
was tied loosely in the back, in a bow, and the neckline 
was cut modestly.  It was...  
     "Amy!" squealed Mina.  "I love it!"
     With a furious blush Amy Anderson nimbly walked 
over to them, taking a seat out of the limelight next 
to Serena with relief.  "Hi Mina, hi Serena!  I love 
your dresses!"
     "We love yours, Amy!  It's not gaudy, it's...
perfect!"
     "Greg will love it!" Serena chimed in.
     Another blush from the shy blue haired girl.  
"I hope he does.  He's going to be at the ceremony, I 
haven't seen him yet though.  Raye accordingly will 
direct him to sit with her and Chad up front."
     The three girls engaged in chitter chatter about 
everything from who was going to the dance with who, 
to who was wearing the most tacky gown, and from who 
had ditched who, to who would be attending which 
college, (Amy's topic of choice).  Then another girl 
entered on the arm of a handsome young boy with brown 
hair and eyes, and a dazzling smile.  Lita and Ken. 
     Her dress was suited exactly to her tastes like 
the other girls' were for them.  It was white with a 
rufflely white apron in the front over the skirt, tying 
into the neatest and crisp little bow in the back, 
with a low neckline and a short skirt under the apron. 
She had on a little hat that resembled a chef's, but 
was very modern looking.
     "Lita!" Amy exclaimed.  "It's so lovely!"
     Lita grinned.  "Thanks, Ames."
     Ken punched her arm playfully.  "That's what I've 
been trying to tell her ever since we got here, that 
dress is really a hot little number.  But she wouldn't 
believe me.  Like she doesn't know she would look cute 
in anything, even a paper bag!"
     The girls shared a laugh.  "I love the hat," commented 
Mina.  "It's so chic!"
     "Raye said the same thing," Lita replied.  "We 
ran into her and Chad out front, they were finding 
seats."  She adjusted the hat, and on an impulse Mina 
did the same to hers.  "I really like it, it's my 
favorite part!"
     Ken tickled her.  "I kinda like the whole thing 
and what's in it the most."
     Both broke into laughter as Lita pleaded with him 
jokingly to stop.  Serena watched growing sad.  Darien 
and I might be like that.  Except he isn't here.  
Will I ever see him again?  Has he totally forgotten 
about me?  He could have called.
     The principal's voice over the intercom interrupted 
her solemn thoughts.  "Attention students of the 
graduating class.  Please assemble in the lines you have 
been practicing in outside the main doors of the 
auditorium.  Straighten your dress clothes and make 
yourselves presentable...gentlemen if I see ANY ties 
or cuff links off your suits and floating around the 
place there will be a penalty.  And ladies remember to 
smile nicely, not the idiotic kind of grin you've been 
wearing because you can't wait to get out of here.  
That is all, good luck.
     There was a stillness in the room.  "This is it," 
Lita said, squeezing Serena's hand.  "We're going to 
graduate."
     Serena nodded, her stomach bouncing as if it was a 
trampoline little kids were frolicking on.  "What if I 
mess up??" she whispered to Lita in a panic.
     "Play it cool," Mina answered, overhearing. "Pretend 
you're the princess again in your royal gown and that 
everyone in the gym is your subject."
     "O...okay."  Serena's knees began to quake.  
     Amy held onto her shoulder supportingly.  "We're 
here," she whispered in her quiet voice.
     Slowly the class began to walk outside, into the 
hall, where it was instantly one with the other few 
classes of students.  United, the students moved together 
to the doors of the auditorium and broke into two lines.  
Serena was right behind Lita in one, and Mina was right 
next to her, with Amy beside Lita.  Serena smiled and 
was grateful that the teachers had allowed them to pick 
who they sat next to on this, one of the most important 
days of their lives.  
     The music that had been selected for the ceremony 
began to play, and the two lines quietly moved in 
swiftly and deftly.  Serena held her head as high as 
she could, not looking in any direction but forward, 
at the back of Lita's upper neck.  Out of the corner 
of her eye she could see as they neared the middle 
rows of chairs her family.  Mr. Tuskino was snapping 
pictures of his daughter and her friends, Mrs. Tuskino 
was near tears at the thought of her baby graduating, 
and Sammy looked very bored.   Once the line neared 
the front she could see Raye and Chad sitting next 
to Greg.  Raye was waving at her friends enthusiastically.  
Chad did the same.  Greg was smiling, and she knew it 
was for Amy.
     Finally they reached the separate rows of chairs 
up front.  Amy had systematically placed them where 
they were so they could sit two a row, with the other 
two behind them.  Lita and Serena were up front, Amy 
behind Lita and Mina behind Serena.  The principal 
gave the command to sit, and the graduates did so.  
She fumbled with her bracelet.  I have to remember 
every bit of this so I can tell Darien all about it, 
Serena thought.  But the details of the ceremony were 
already slipping past her mind.  So she tried to 
concentrate on what the principal said.
     "This year's class is one of the finest bunch of 
kids I have seen in a long while.  They care for each 
other, helped their friends and even those not close 
pals through hard times.  That's important.  We at 
Lakeside hope that you will all look back on your years 
here and remember what you have learned from not only 
the teachers, but yourselves."  
     There was mild applause, and then the principal 
cleared her throat and continued.  "Now we would like 
to recognize certain clubs and activities the members 
of the class have participated in."  An attendant handed
her a list while another speaker stood by with awards in 
hand.  Then the principal began to call out names and the 
person's activity.  
     Serena lost herself for awhile, but came to when 
Lita was announced first for the Cooking Club.  They all 
cheered and Raye hooted.  After a few more students, Amy's 
name was called for the Computer Club, and then Mina for 
the volleyball team.  All three accepted their awards and 
sat back down.  Serena wasn't too ashamed she had not 
joined any of the clubs.  None of them seemed to suit her, 
and to her, she was already in a club - the Sailor 
Scouts.
     "And now," the principal said, "we have three very 
special awards or a trio of students you all know well, 
class."  There were murmurs throughout the auditorium.  
"Since they no longer attend here, Mina Aino shall be 
dedicating the awards for them.  After the ceremony 
these awards will be placed in the trophy case."
     Serena had a sneaking suspicion who the mysterious 
three were.  This announcement was news to her, and 
from the looks on Lita and Amy's faces, they felt the 
same.  Mina, however, stood up calmly and went to the 
stand.  She paused and looked out over the audience.  
Then she spoke.  "I am very honored to accept the 
following awards for three friends who were very 
dear friends of mine.
     "They are three who, as our principal said, 
you know well. They were a singing group, of the
 most famous kind, and we were fortunate enough 
to have them attend here for their short schooling 
in Tokyo. In case you do not know who I am speaking
 of, they are the Three Lights."  Everyone was 
silent.  Mina continued.  "Seiya, Taiki, and Yaten 
Kou, were a sensational group!  They pulled together 
even," she stole a look at the other Scouts, "in the 
face of evil."  Mina then blushed, thinking she had 
said too much.  "As I was saying," she fumbled on.  
"They were each involved in an extra curricular 
activity here at school."
     The attendant handed Mina the three awards.  
She read the first one.  "This is for Seiya Kou, for 
success on the American football team.  He was truly 
as much as star on the field as he was on stage."  
     "Taiki Kou, who was a member of the Literature 
Club astounded many of the others with his genius and 
introduced new pieces of both fiction and non-fiction 
to the group."
     Mina's eyes were shining.  "And finally, Yaten Kou, 
an esteemed member of the Homecoming Club.  When he was 
at the meetings, things were always a bit...happier..."  
Snickers could be heard from the other members of that 
club, for when Yaten attended the meetings he bossed 
everyone to the limits.  Mina blushed again.  "Thank you. 
And to the Lights, wherever they are, we hope they 
remember us."  Her eyes looked up to the ceiling, as 
if expecting the Starlights in full Sailor regalia 
snapping their fingers and jumping down to the rescue.  
No one was there.  She curtsied and gave the awards back 
to the attendant before hurrying back to her seat - 
amid the roaring applause.
     "Mina!" Serena hissed.  "Why didn't you tell us 
they'd be honoring the Lights?"
     Mina shrugged.  "It slipped my mind, I suppose.  
They asked me to do it at the last minute.  Nothing 
major."
     "I wonder," whispered Lita, "if they do remember 
us?"
     "We know ONE of the remembers Serena," teased Mina.  
Serena blushed and hushed her friend.  She would miss 
Seiya of course, but who she really wanted was Darien.
     The principal then began to call out the names of 
the class for them to go up and receive their diplomas. 
In alphabetical order, Mina was the first to go up of their 
group, followed by soon after by Lita and then later, Amy.  
Serena was the last of them, and was nervous.  What if 
they decide I need to stay back a year??  What if I 
failed horribly??  What if they embarrass me and say, 
"Serena Tuskino is not worthy of this diploma because 
she failed too many times and was always late for 
class??  Oh, I'm GLAD Darien isn't here!  If I have 
to be shamed I'd rather do it without him watching me.  
It's just that I - 
     "Serena Tuskino."
     Serena squeaked and almost fell out of her seat.  
She felt every single pair of eyes, the owners clapping, 
in the auditorium staring on her back as she headed up the 
aisle.  The steady applause was broken only by a shout 
from Raye, ("Way to go, Meatball Head!") which Serena 
tried to ignore.  Once on the platform she took the 
diploma and shook the hands of the teachers there 
and the principal.  Then she turned and faced the 
hushed audience for pictures, as all the graduates 
had to do.  
     All of a sudden she felt her nervousness vanish 
as if someone had reached in her and taken it away.  
More than that, she felt yet another pair of eyes on 
her that had not been there before.  She smiled for 
the photographer, her own gaze searching the crowd 
for the source of the strange feeling.  
     Then the darting blue sapphires met two dark, dark 
blue eyes.  There was a face...her heart leapt.  It was 
Darien!!!  She would know him anywhere!  She took a step 
forward as if to run to him, and then remembered where 
she was.  Still in a daze from the revelation, she 
continued to stand, looking for Darien again, but 
his face had disappeared.
     "Serena!"  Her friends were hissing to her but 
she ignored them.  Finding Darien was more important 
than listening to the four girls.
     After a couple of moments Serena retreated back 
to her seat looking from afar as if nothing had happened.  
But her eyes were watery.  My mind is playing with my heart, 
Serena cried inside.  I could have sworn I saw him!  But 
then...he was gone!  Is it wishful thinking or did 
he appear, really?
     The ceremony went on, and Serena, unable to keep 
it to herself, told Lita.  Lita was astonished.  "I 
thought he said he couldn't come!"
     "I know, he did, but I swear he was looking at 
me!"
     "That explains the smile on your face!  It was 
priceless!"
     In a matter of seconds the story leaked to Mina 
and Amy and Raye while the principal droned on.  "But 
it's impossible!" insisted Amy.  "They locked the doors 
up as soon as we finished coming in!  And we would've 
seen him if he had been here."
     Serena's heart crumbled.  Amy felt guilty for being 
the one to break the news, but Serena, with a sigh, said 
it was all right, that she had to get over it once and 
for all.
     The ceremony ended and Serena felt as if she was 
going to burst into tears.  Darien was probably living 
it up in America with some hot chick, and she was alone 
with her memories.  She felt pitiful.
     People came by and shook her hand, classmates and 
friends of her parents...but each was a blur.  Even 
years later Serena could hardly recall what happened 
right after they graduated.  Her family ran to see 
her, Sammy said something tacky and then all three left 
after an assurance from Raye that Serena could catch a 
ride after the dance with her and Chad.  Mina's parents 
and Amy's mother hugged her and the other girls before 
they took off.  The chattering around Serena died down 
as first Lita and Ken, then Amy and Greg, and finally 
Mina and Toby all went to the gym where the dance was 
just starting up.  Raye and Chad were left with the 
solitary blonde. 
     Raye tried to tease Serena out of depression, but 
Serena offered only half hearted remarks in response, 
a mild snap as a result of Raye calling her Meatball Head, 
a sarcastic reply to the joke about her never graduating.  
Then Serena waved them both off.  She recalled saying 
something corny along the lines of, "Go party, you animals!" 
Raye shot her a look that was sympathetic, and Chad led 
her out.  Once the door clicked behind them Serena slumped 
onto the bench and cried.
     Everyone has someone, she sobbed, except me!  If Luna 
were here right now she would tell me to perk up and 
not to whine in public.  Well I'm sick of those rules 
of being ladylike!  Who wants to follow things that 
will never get you the man you want??
     Her cries echoed in the building, sadly and mournfully.  
"I don't care if I stay here forever!  I don't, I don't, 
I DON'T!"  For a very, very long time that seemed like 
an eternity Serena simply wept her heart out...or at 
least what was left of it, images of Darien and another 
girl out on a date, kissing.
     Then, outside the back entrance she could hear 
someone saying something, sounding strangely like a 
certain Shinto temple priestess and her escort...

This is the end of chapter 2, look for the next 
section of the story, "Dancing and Romancing".  Everyone 
is having fun at the dance, and Serena's friends plan a 
surprise for her that answers her every prayer!  Plus, 
two guests show up uninvited.  However, later an awful 
shock greets Serena and tears her world apart.  Stay 
tuned!  e-mail SlrUnico@aol.com for comments!!!