Disclaimer: Same one as always applies.

A/N- :-O That is the look on my face when I opened my inbox and found so many reviews! WOW! You guys really stepped up to the plate, good job! This is what I love! Thank you so, so, so much to: melis, naughtybynature, cardcaptor eternity, mystic soilder, twilightlover05, mae-E, Red-Rose18, Connie, heatqueen, fan gurl, moonchild08, Jubilee Torch, Princess makkura, and Nathalie. You all rock my world!

Self Destruct

Rated T

Part 10: "Lament of the Odango"

Suddenly, something hard rammed into Serena from the side. It sucked all the breath from her, and she found herself feeling... weightless.

Before even she realized it, Serena and another, very strong, person were rolling; rolling and rolling away from the car and onto wet grass. The arms around her were nostalgic, and she knew very well who it was...

But her mind just couldn't comprehend the fact.

They came to a stop, side-by-side, scraped and panting but alive. And Serena looked up, shocked beyond measure, into Darien's face.

Her rescuer once again.

It was wet from the grass, and little pieces of the said green stuck to his black hair and face. Serena imagined she must look the same, but that thought crossed her mind only dazedly. He looked concerned and relieved all at once.

She tried to form words, but they stuck to the roof of her mouth and she just couldn't seem to get them out.

"Serena... are you... alright?" Darien panted out, running a worried hand over her scratched face.

"Are you alright!?"

"Are you two OK?"

"What were you thinking!"

Voices yelled to them from cars, but the sounds only dimly made sense- Serena was a little preoccupied with the feeling of Darien's warm hand still on her face, but then he retracted it and she unconsciously wished it back.

"We're fine!" Darien called to them, helping Serena up. He gave her another look-over. "You look fine. Good."

Then he turned on his heel and began hurrying away, but not before Serena caught the longing look on his face.

"D-Darien!"

The man whirled around in a blur, face almost hopeful.

"Yes?"

Serena swallowed. "Thank you."

With a jerky nod, the man who was Tuxedo Mask dashed away, leaving Serena to stare after his retreating figure, heart and mind in a jumble as the events washed over her.

What had just happened? Had Darien really... saved her? Even after all she'd said to him... even after she'd slapped him?

Thoughts in an unintelligible jumble, the Moon Princess slowly made her way home.

Nothing made sense anymore. She thought Darien hated her. He certainly never acted friendly to her when he saw her. So, what was this change in actions? Did he... dare Serena hope it... care for her?

But he broke up with me, the blonde countered. He even told me his feelings weren't the same.

She closed the door softly and sank down it dejectedly.

I'm so confused.

The girl buried her head in her knees, hands tugging at each side of her golden halo.

Why was life so hard? Why was Darien such a mystery? One minute he acted coldly to her, the next, he was saving her life and trying to talk to her.

Serena suddenly flashed back to earlier, when she'd encountered him in the street. He had been trying to tell her something. Something about... that day. When he'd told her he didn't love her anymore.

A flash of regret hit Serena. What had he been saying? She'd been too angry too listen, and had reacted before thinking. She could be so compulsive like that; so emotion driven. And now, his words muddled in her head and she couldn't exactly remember what had been said.

"I'm so stupid," the girl muttered, hitting her head against the door. "Stupid, stupid, stupid. Why didn't I listen?"

Tears formed in her crystalline blue orbs. Everything that had happened today suddenly weighed down upon her, like a heavy burden. The mall incident, the snapping at her friends, and now this...

"I hate living in confusion," she softly said, wiping the moisture away. "Why can't we be happy?"

"Serena?" a little voice broke in through her lamenting. Serena's head shot up. A pink head came into view through the shadows of the darkness of the house. Through the black created by the closed curtains and absence of the family, Serena saw a little worried face.

"Rini? What are you doing here?" Serena asked, trying to dry her face inconspiciously.

The child, holding her infamous Luna P, stepped closer to her. "Mama Ikuko is out shopping and dragged Sammy along. Papa Kenji is still at work."

She paused, then continued, "I'm worried about you, Serena. Why are you crying?"

Serena was shocked into speechlessness for the second time that day. Was the spore actually showing concern? And for her no less?

"Is it Darien?" the pink spawn prodded. At the mention of his name, Serena suddenly remembered how Darien had been paying attention to Rini all the time lately, and her attitude turned frosty. It was partly that brat's fault he'd left her anyways!

Rini watched the emotions flicker across Serena's face like wildfire. "Are you OK?"

"Go away," the one associated with the moon responded coolly. Rini stepped back, mouth wide open and more than a little confusion and anger racing through her.

What did I say wrong? I was only trying to help, she thought, bewildered. Obediently, Rini scampered away from the moody one, perplexed as she made her way to Serena and her's bedroom. Then hurt settled in her throat, and the pink haired child held back a lump that threatened to overwhelm her. She'd only been trying to cheer up Serena. Is this what she got for being nice? For trying to comfort the girl who made her life miserable, when all she was trying to do was save her Mommy from the bad guys by trying to find the Silver Crystal in a different time period?

oOo

Later, Serena went up to her room, feeling guilty for her coldness at Rini. She was just very on edge today.

The girl was vaguely surprised to see Rini, fast asleep in her own bed, for once. Generally, she slept in Serena's bed, for reasons Serena did not know. But still, this made her even more remorseful. It showed Rini wanted to get away from her, and while that had been Serena's original plan, now it just made her feel worse. It hadn't been Rini's fault. The little girl hadn't known what she was saying.

With a sigh, the blonde sank onto her bed, and with nothing else to do, followed suit with Rini. She drifted into a dream-filled sleep, where ebony-haired men plagued her as she desperately tried to gain sense in a rapidly perplexing world.

A/N: Let's have a repeat of last chapter's reviews, eh? That was splendlid! Made my day! Review, and I update faster!

Oh yes, and for any wondering, Darien didn't make up with Serena then because she had just yelled at him and slapped him! He kind of thought Serena would flip out again if he tried to explain, and is waiting for the right time.

Review!

AngelMoon Girl