Diclaimer: Once again, I still don't have Sailor Moon within my possession... though I will someday (-wields her tube of toothpaste- hehehehe... ummm... ) Anyways, Sailor Moon belongs to Naoko Takeuchi, its genius creator!

Author's note: Well, here it is everyone... the first chappie of the sequel to "Fall to Pieces". I hope you all enjoy it. Just something to point out, though... this isn't going to be your typical fanfic... I'm trying as much as I can to base it on raw human emotion, and things that happen in real life. I hope it goes over well with the readers. Oh, and, of course... READ AND REVIEW!

Life and Death

(Mamoru's POV)

I couldn't really tell you what happened during that crucial trip to the hospital. I couldn't tell you what streets I had passed, or how many stoplights were red. All I can recall is that I was deaf, blind, and flying. I drove like a madman. I was solely concentrated on the erratic, shallow breathing of the young woman slumped in the back seat of my car. I willed a breath to follow, and then another… I needed her to hold on. I couldn't tell you what time we arrived at our destination. I just knew that we were there, and that's all that mattered. I ripped the key out of the ignition, tripped over my feet as I exited the vehicle, and finally managed to get to the back seat. Usagi's breathing was coming more slowly now, and this worried me. One question loomed in the back of my mind. Would she die? I finally glanced at my watch, surprised to see that only fifteen minutes had passed since I found Usagi. Wasting no more time, I quickly ran to the hospital doors, as though the hounds of hell were on my tail. In a sense, they were; tragedy and death beckoned, threatening to claim the person I had left though had needed and loved so desperately. Somehow it seemed it would only be just… a cruel punishment for a cruel bastard. However the young slip of a girl in my arms, whose life-blood continued to drip from her in menacing warning, did not deserve to suffer for my mistakes. That is why I had to save her. Every moment was crucial, ever minute gone by was another heartbeat weakened. Pushing these dark thoughts out of my mind, I finally flew through the emergency room doors and skidded to a halt in front of the nurse's quarters. She was writing something in a patient's file.

"If I could kindly ask you to take a number and get in line, you'll have your turn soon," the nurse said in a fatigued and highly annoyed voice. That didn't faze me.

"You see Miss, I would do that, if it weren't for the fact that my girl…er…friend attempted suicide and is currently in a position to die. You would know that if you would actually look up and address me properly," I spat out, extremely upset at her presumptuous lack of manners. The icy edge in my voice finally caught the nurse's attention and her head snapped up. One quick glance towards Usagi's near-lifeless form appeared to tell her all that she needed to know.

"Shit," she muttered softly as she leapt to her feet, while pointing to a hospital bed in the hallway.

"Lay her down there, and I'll get a doctor in here right away," she said, as she frantically pressed the intercom button.

"Doctor Takashimaya, please report to trauma stat!" "Doctor Takashimaya, PLEASE report to trauma STAT!"

I was almost limp with relief, though only for a moment. I knew very well that the hardest part of the journey was yet to come. Suddenly, I was surprised to feel the soft touch of a hand on my shoulder. I turned to see the emergency room nurse gazing at me with sympathy. I flinched at the gaze.

"I've gotten her into a doctor's care, and he's brought her for surgery to repair her severed veins and arteries. She will also be given several transfusions, as she has lost a lot of blood. There's not much else we can do now, except pray," the nurse explained softly, finally averting her pity-filled gaze. I'd been running on an adrenaline-induced autopilot for the last thirty minutes, and the reality of everything was finally sinking in completely. The moment the nurse put her hand on my shoulder, something inside me snapped. Suddenly, I was drowning in tears, collapsing to the nurse's shoulder. I stayed like that until another patient came in.

Hours had passed and still there was no sign of the doctor who was tending to Usagi. I began to fear the worst, as I paced the hallway endlessly, and downed my third cup of coffee in under an hour. My nerves were already shot, but that didn't matter; my body's crave for caffeine was the last shred of sanity that I was able to cling to. Patients and other hospital staff stared at me, as I muttered to myself. I must have looked like quite a spectacle, not that I cared. The life of someone I cared deeply for was hanging in the balance. As I continued to pace, I was hit with the sudden realization that I'd completely forgotten to get in touch with Usagi's family and friends. It had been ages since we'd arrived at the hospital, and Usagi's bathroom still bore the evidence of what had taken place. With this in mind, I quickly approached the nearest telephone. An ill feeling rose from the pit of my stomach, as I prepared to deliver the news to Usagi's parents. I dialled the number, and waited for them to pick up. On the third ring, a woman's voice came on the line; Usagi's mother.

"Hello? Usagi? Is that you?" Ikuko questioned, in a slightly worried voice. I cleared my throat, which was now choked with fear, and I drew in a measured breath.

"Hello, Ikuko-san? This is Chiba Mamoru calling," I replied, in a voice stained by the tears that threatened to fall.

"Mamoru-san? Why are you calling? Do you know where Usagi is?" Ikuko questioned again, obviously confused at why I would call. She also didn't seem as hysterical as I thought she would be. Perhaps they hadn't yet been upstairs, and only knew that Usagi was gone.

"Yes, Ikuko-san. Usagi is…" I hesitated for a moment. "Usagi is at the hospital," I continued quietly, steeling myself for the reaction that was sure to ensue. There was a loud thump, and some scuffling, and then a male voice came on the phone.

"Mamoru, why is our Usagi at the hospital?" Usagi's father demanded.

"Kenji-san, I know you would like to know right now, but I can't bring myself to deliver this kind of news over the phone. I think it would be best if you and Ikuko-san came to the hospital immediately," I replied, all the while quaking at Kenji-san's obvious frustration.

"We'll be right there," he stated flatly, then hung up. I let out the breath I'd been holding. Dear God, what would the Tsukino family think about this? It would hit them very hard, I knew that much. I could only pray that Usagi pulled through, for everyone's sake. After that phone call, I debated getting in touch with the girls, and decided against it for the moment. Usagi's family would be more than overwhelmed, and deserved some privacy for the time being. I wandered away from the phone, picked up another coffee, and then headed off to meet Usagi's family at the doors.

The Tsukino family arrived at the hospital within minutes. They were already waiting when I arrived in the emergency room. Ikuko ran towards me, worry lines visible on her forehead.

"Where is she? Where is Usagi?" she demanded desperately. Just as I was about to open my mouth to speak, a doctor approached us. His face was grim and serious. My heart clenched at the sight of this, while praying for the best and fearing the worst.

"Chiba-san?" the doctor questioned, as he turned to me.

"Hai. You have news on Usagi's condition?" I replied, hoping to hear that she was fine.

"Hai…I do…but who are these people," the doctor asked, gesturing to Kenji and Ikuko.

"They are Usagi's parents, and are here to find out what happened," I stated simply. Sympathy washed over the doctor's face.

"Oh my… I'm so sorry. I suppose I will explain everything now." The doctor motioned for us to join him in a portioned area of the room. Once he pulled the curtains, he turned back to us.

"This is very difficult to explain, and even more difficult to understand, but it has to be done," the doctor said grimly. He must have felt that Usagi's family would take the news very hard.

"Usagi…for whatever reason…attempted suicide today," the doctor revealed to Usagi's parents, trying to explain as gently as possible. I heard Ikuko gasp audibly, so I glanced over. Kenji was gripping his wife's hand, as tears crept to the corners of her eyes. The doctor sighed in defeat as he continued.

"She slit her wrists quite deeply, and there were other marks along her arms, suggesting that she'd been cutting herself even before today. Naturally, in the process, she managed to sever some veins and arteries; some of them were vital. As a result of this, Usagi lost frightening quantities of blood. We almost lost her a few times. However, by the grace of a miracle from the gods, we were able to save her. She isn't in the clear yet, though, and she has fallen into a comatose state. We do, however, believe that she will pull through."

Relief washed over me repeatedly, as I processed what the doctor had just said. I then stole a glance over to Usagi's parents. Ikuko was drowning in tears, and Kenji was gripping the arms of his chair very tightly.

"What happens now?" Ikuko questioned in a tear-choked whisper.

"Well, self-mutilation is not a light subject…neither is suicide. When Usagi recovers physically, she'll have a long journey ahead of her. There will be many hurdles, and she will need an extensive amount of help. But, with enough love, support, and time, her soul will eventually heal. It will, however, be a difficult path to endure," the doctor replied.

I mulled this over in my head then decided that I would commit myself to helping Usagi recover. She deserved complete happiness, and I would be damned if I let myself, or anyone else, hurt her ever again