Seeking Salvation

Chapter 4

I do not own Sailor Moon.

As soon as she got the raw panic thrumming through her heart under control. Serenity crawled back into her apartment through the patio door. Turned meekly towards the twin cords for the blinds dangling before the door frame and pulled. A set of long bamboo slatted blinds flipped and fell downward to cover the huge window. It was then and only then that she felt salvation was in reach. She slowly rose back up to her feet, now secure in obscurity again.

"I don't believe this..." Serenity muttered, wandering in a disbelieving daze back to the galley kitchen. That was set on the far size of the large open living room. It was a simple setup with an island bar dividing the kitchen from the living room. The cupboards were a rich oak with white marble countertops, with ribbons of grey and black mixed in. She set her mug down on the counter, blinking in shock as her mind was still struggling to process the fact that Darien lived across the street.

That's just to damn convenient!

Turning in a huff she crossed her arms over her chest and thumped the butt against the island, brooding over how absolutely insane her morning had become. Staring blankly at the back of her kitchen, where she had a glass flat top stove set in the back counter with a stainless steel double door fridge with bottom freezer tucked away on the far end. The whole apartment still held the shiny brand new look and smell, but she barely noticed. Lost to her worries once more, she fell into her internal debate over this new complication to her other wise overly complicated life.

Calming down and finding a tentative peace to her raging thoughts. She was finally able to enjoy her coffee like substitute, she leaned against the bar sipping absently as she surveyed her main living space. Smirking meaningfully how Haruka's charm seemed to surround the place. The walls had been painted a sky blue her favourite colour. With framed poster's of legendary stock car racers from the old black and whites of the twenty's to the vivid colours of their modern day speed stars. Mixed in with the fan fare towards speed was a few of Michiru's oil paintings. Mostly peaceful landscapes of the forest around the estate. The mixture was jarring but strangely complementary just like the two of them.

A modest sized flat screen was mounted on the front wall with two flanking grey leather, pillow top style arm chairs and a matching love seat. With rustic looking wooden side tables tucked between the chairs at either side of the tiny couch. A rounded coffee table in all black with a glass center dominated the room before the furniture.

Set in the corner near the grande windows, was a well worn easel with a blank canvas, sitting primely awaiting it's creator to bring it to life with paint and brush. It looked like dear Haruka had made a little oasis just for her. Her thoughtfulness warmed her heart, the sight pulled Serenity out of her funk. With a nod she figured she needed to purge herself of some burdening emotions. Swallowing the last of her sweet brew she retreated down the hall to retrieve her digital drawing tablet from her bag. She had gotten into graphic art in High School, joining the manga club as a first year student. In the years ahead she had delved into the realm of digital art, as a hobbie. A way to cope with her grief from her previous life and a way to soothe the burden she now carried as a Genesis Soldier. She had posted many of her creations on an online site and had a modest following. But she hadn't updated her profile in years...perhaps she just needed a change? She could easily lose herself in her art again...find a new version of herself and a new future?

Curling up in one of the arm chairs she was quickly sketching with the graphic pen, upon her digital tablet, soon losing herself to her drawing.

Nearly an hour later, she was finishing the last of the shading. She had tried not to dwell on Darien. For a long moment she stared down at her drawing, a rueful smile twisting her lips. The stylist shaking in her trembling hand as she drew it away from the screen. Sighing heavily as she found herself staring longingly at a perfect image of Darien's strikingly handsome face. His dark hair was tossed over his left eye, looking slightly tousled as he never seemed able to keep his fingers from combing through it. His warm, penetrating gaze was staring up at her from the screen, with that charming lopsided smile that made him so incredibly sexy. His face long memorized, had haunted her sketch books for years. Brought to life over and over again with pencil or pen.