AN: Hope ya like this part!

	Stopping before jumping to the next tree, she looked back. 
"I'll be just fine, minna. I have *control*, unlike some other 
people." With that, she jumped off to get closer to her target. 

**********************
Overnight Delivery 
Chapter 4
Rated PG
By April Rayne
Startear42@aol.com
**********************


	Serenity leaned back, as his hands began to slowly move up and 
down her upper arms. Her mind screamed for her to step away from him, 
but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. Meanwhile, Endymion, 
also caught up in the swirl of strange feelings, leaned in closer to 
her, taking in the scent of her hair, and it's feel as it drifted over 
his hands. 
	Something else inside of him drove him to stop. This was 
ridiculous. His duty was to make sure that she was safely delivered to 
the palace, before the Moon Princess was to arrive. This was his 
obligation as a prince, to fulfill this task, and prove himself 
worthy. 
	His duty didn't include falling for the 'package'... 
	Shaking his head, Endymion released his grasp on her, and 
stepped to the side. "If we want to make it there, we should get back 
on our way again."
	Staring blankly at him, Serenity blinked once, twice, and then 
another time before any emotion seemed to register on her face. Her 
lips forming a response, she chose to close it and let her eyes do the 
talking for her. 
	'Why?' they asked.

*

	"Sorry to spoil the fun, princess, but I have a job to do." 
Looking at the couple from her faraway position up in the pine tree, 
she brought her hands together, closed her eyes, and channeled her 
energy. A red, blazing aura formed around her. "Fire... Soul!"

*

	Taking a step forward, Endymion adjusted the strap of their 
bags, and turned around to meet her confused gaze. Trying to send her 
a silent apology, he murmured "Let's go."
	Suddenly, a circle of fire surrounded the two, and slowly 
began to close in on them. Serenity and Endymion moved in closer to 
each other, trying to find the center of the circle. "What the heck is 
going on?" 
	"Endy...What are we going to do?"
	He said nothing, the heat of the blaze causing little beads of 
sweat to form on his forehead. The smoke began to congregate around 
them, making them hold their breath. Meanwhile, Usagi had found her 
way to his side, and held onto his arm, her grip strengthening as the 
flames closed in on them. 
	There was no way out.

*

	"Damn!" the senshi in red called out, eyes widening as the 
flames grew wider and the victims in the center began to cower in 
fear. "That wasn't supposed to happen!"
	"We have to put it out!" the other three senshi called out as 
they approached Hi-chan from behind. "Now!" Mizu-chan moved ahead, 
hoping that her ice would be able to combat the blaze. "Throw the 
flames towards the target, not burn down the forest!" Ai-chan called 
before following her.
	Ki-chan smiled smugly. "What was that about *control*, 
Pyro-chan?" 
	
*

	Unable to take the heat from the blaze, Endymion looked around 
for some free spot to run out of. None. He had no other choice.
	"Serenity...Hold on tight, and whatever you do, don't move 
away from me, understand?" 
	She nodded, and making sure that his coat was securely around 
her, he shielded her by putting his arms around her, ducking her head 
down. "Run!" 
	He moved as fast as his legs could carry him, moving directly 
into the flames. Closer and closer...

*

	Their eyes widened in horror as they watched the scenario 
unfold before them. "What is he doing?!"

*

	Closing his eyes and bracing for the searing heat, Endymion 
grasped Serenity as tight as he could. Taking the bags, he placed them
on top of him, ducked his head, and barraged through the wall of fire.

	Splash!

	He was glad that he went in the right direction, and even 
though he could feel the heat against him as he fought against the 
flames, he carried his running steps forward and they landed with a 
splash into the river. At first, Serenity and Endymion lost contact, 
and they began to drift separately down the river's length. Both of 
them adjusting to the fairly moderate strength of the current, they 
swam to each other and clung together. As they continued to move with 
the current, Endymion couldn't help but look back at the wall of fire. 
	He did a double take. Were there people fighting the blaze? 
Four figures... He shook his head. He couldn't possibly be delirious, 
but... looking back at Serenity, whose eyes gazed up at him through 
wet lashes, he took another look back. He could no longer see any 
human figures in view. Holding Serenity close to him, and putting her 
head down and against his chest, he closed his eyes. Feeling the 
warmth of the energy that he summoned, he channeled it towards the 
vision in his head. Soon, the ground on the hills by the river began 
to glow with a blue light. Like the thunderclouds that had chased them 
so diligently before, they began to rumble, and slowly but surely, a 
cascade of broken earth began to descend upon the flickering flames. A
pure landslide, it was able to sufficiently smother all of the fire 
and rid it of its necessary oxygen, resulting in a pile of glowing 
embers and simple ashes. 
	Serenity nearly froze as he held her against him, the only 
motion she was conscious of were her legs moving to keep her afloat 
while her heart hammered in her chest- she could hear his just as 
clear and it followed the same strange rhythm as hers. 
	But something else was unmistakable- She felt his power 
surge...
	"Endymion..."

*

	The ground was finally still. With an eerie light shining upon 
the ground, a curious rabbit hopped atop the broken soil deposited by 
the landslide. It felt a shaking motion underneath itself and scurried
away, narrowly missing the impact of the gloved hand that emerged from
beneath the debris. 
	One after another, tired senshi emerged from the sea of dirt,
covered in the debris and weak from trying to claw their way to the 
top. Hair scraggly and eyes gazing at each other with a tired 
contempt, three of them focused on the fire-wielding senshi. 
	She smiled wanly. "Heh... Aren't you glad the fire's over?"

*
	
	They slowly climbed up the silt filled bank of the river, 
Endymion supporting Serenity. When she was securely on the shore, she 
helped him up as well. They simply lay down next to each other, chests
heaving as they slowly recovered from the fire incident and swimming 
to shore against the current. After looking into the starlit sky, 
Serenity took a sharp breath and sat up, leaning over Endymion and 
gazing into his eyes with sincere worry. "Are you okay?" she whispered 
quietly, the question coming out as a mere breath. He smiled a tired 
smile as some of the water in her hair dripped down on him. But as he 
looked up at her, he noticed that the drops also came from the tears 
that were forming at the corners of her eyes.
	"Hey..." he mumbled, sitting up. Taking his hand and wiping 
the trail that made its way down her cheek, he laughed a little. 
"Crybaby," he murmured quietly. "Look at us. We just survived a psycho
thunderstorm, a freak fire, and *now* you're going to cry?" 
	"Are you all right?" 
	He nodded, ignoring the slight sting against his back. Another 
benefit of the royal lineage- they had a stronger immunity to 
diseases, injuries and other limiting factors. 
	"Look at us. We're soaked, and that's not going to help us 
much, no matter how warm it might be out right now." Slowly taking his 
hand from her face, he stood up. Taking her hand, he pulled her up as 
well. "I'll start a fire..." He saw Serenity's eyes widened and he 
smiled again. "Not like *that*." Taking her bag from his shoulder, he 
handed it to her, and she took it with a quiet nod. Thankfully, both 
their bags were lined and were waterproof. "You brought extra 
clothing, right?"
	She nodded again.
	"Go change."
	Her eyes widened again, only larger.
	"Not here! Behind the bushes over there. Don't worry-I'm a 
gentleman, not a pervert."
	"Sure about that?" Unable to suppress the smile that raced to 
her face, she looked up at him one more time before turning around and 
disappearing behind the bushes. He sighed to himself, raking a hand 
through his hair. "What was that about there *not* being a catch to 
this?" he called out to the sky before moving to search for the twigs 
for the fire.

	Serenity held the bag to her as she leaned against one of the 
trees by the bushes. She closed her eyes and took in the night air, 
trying to calm her heartbeat. But her thoughts drifted to Endymion 
again and she couldn't stop the beat from increasing. What was going 
on with her? 
	She forced herself to stop thinking about him. After she 
undressed, she took the bag and opened it. Taking out the parchment, 
and a few traveling extras she had brought with her, she finally made 
her way to the cloth in the bag and pulled it out slowly. Brows 
furrowing when she realized how long it was, she held it up when it 
was completely free of the constraints of the bag.
	
	Endymion couldn't help the rush of thoughts that flooded his 
head and clouded his judgment. Okay, so the 'catch' was Serenity 
herself. But the fire was too extreme to be part of his parents' 
plan... that was something altogether different. Someone must be after 
him, or her... 
	He added another batch of twigs to the fire that he had 
started. "This is too much..."
	
	"AIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-"
	
	"Serenity!"

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End Chapter 4
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