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Destiny, by Kristii

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The last chapter… finally!! I know I've wandered a bit

from my Mars vs. Rei theme, but I've finally gotten back to it;

what do you think??

Comments? Write me ~ aznvballgurl@yahoo.com ^^

Sailor Mars and affiliated characters (c) Naoko Takeuchi

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Rei never left Kyle's side those last few weeks, talking softly

to him and raising his spirits when he was stronger, holding his hand and

wiping his brow when the pain overwhelmed him...

The good days disappeared quickly, however, as the end

approached. Even the heaviest morphine could not dull his pain; Kyle

spent his days in agony, unable to sleep or eat, too exhausted to even

moan...

Finally, on April 10th, Kyle Kennedy slipped into a coma, his

wasted body no longer able to withstand the brutal pain. Five days

later, as dawn approached, his heart quietly stopped beating...

The funeral was held two days later, on Rei's 26th birthday.

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The entire royal court of Crystal Tokyo, felines included, was

present at the ceremony. They watched in silence as the priest recited

the solemn rites of burial; as various friends and colleagues gave

brief speeches of their memories with Kyle Kennedy; as Hino Rei, her

eyes dry, left a single white lily on his casket before disappearing

into the sea of mourners...

They found her, finally, at the gravesite, staring down at the

clean marble marker. "Rei?" Serena asked softly, putting her hand on

the taller girl's shoulder. "Rei... are you okay?"

"Get out." Rei shook off Serena's hand, not turning. "You have

no right to be here…"

"Rei--"

"Who do you think you're talking to?" Darien cut in sharply,

very annoyed. "Let me remind you that you're speaking to Crystal

Tokyo's new que--"

"Shut up, Darien." Rei's back was rigid; her voice soft but

laced with so much fury that even Pluto recoiled. "All of you... what

did he matter to you? You never saw him as more than a statistic--one

more bit of collateral damage in your precious little power trip.

                "You never had to see him cry, Serena. You never had to sit

and watch him fight just to breathe, never had to hold him as he coughed

his own lungs up." The rage in her voice gave way for a moment, replaced

by heartache. "You never had to hear the man you love plead for love, for

death, for mercy…

"I have…and I watched him die." 

She was silent for a moment, and the edge in her voice intensified.

"Where were your sympathies when he needed them, Serena? Where were

they, when I needed them? Don't come here now and tell me you're sorry—

there was a time for being sorry, but it's over..."

"Rei--"

"I said it once already, Serena. Get out." There was no

mistaking the rage in Rei's voice now; every Senshi could feel the

anger emanating from her body. "I don't give a fuck if you're Queen

now, I promise you--if you ever come here again, I will see that you

die a death as painful as his..."

Darien was seething, about to knock Rei out; Pluto, however,

stepped before him suddenly. "Listen to her," she said softly, her

voice commanding. "Return to Tokyo... I will bring Mars, later."

Serena started to protest, but the look on Pluto's face was

enough to persuade her otherwise. Glancing almost fearfully at Rei's

still figure, she turned and slowly began trudging away, Darien at her

side, the others trailing her…

And as the Senshi retreated, Pluto turned toward the girl, her

voice gentle. "Rei?"

"No..." The girl turned suddenly, her eyes dry, her face

perfectly composed and emotionless. "Rei is gone now, Pluto."

She continued, her voice very low, so eerily calm even Pluto

was disconcerted. "Hino Rei died with her husband, Pluto.

"I am Mars, only Mars...

"...nothing more..."

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That's all, guys… hope you enjoyed!!

3 3 Kristii, 03.27.03

aznvballgurl@yahoo.com