Disclaimer: see previous chapter.

"She's in pretty bad shape. She has a mild concussion. She took two blood thinners and overdosed on Tylenol. There was glass embedded in her skin and her cuts were pretty deep, but she luckily didn't burst any veins, and the glass was all removed successfully. She passed out from blood loss before she came here. Yuuko must have found her relatively quickly because the loss wasn't severe despite the number of lacerations on her body and the effect of the blood thinners. She also had to get her stomach pumped for alcohol poisoning, and it doesn't appear she has eaten very much in the past week, if anything at all.

"There is no telling when she'll be waking up, but the doctors were able to clot her blood so the risk of her dying from blood loss now is highly unlikely. Rei will probably wake up with a hangover if she wakes up anytime soon, which will only make her pain more unbearable. The doctors will sedate her if necessary, but they fear putting anything else in her system at the moment.

"She should be okay, but hopefully she won't wake up soon. Until she does, we won't know what happened."

Usagi sighed, grateful to know at least know that her friend would be okay. "Thanks Sets."

"It's no problem. I should be going now, but I'll stay in touch. The nurse said that you can wait out here until visiting hours and then you can all go see her. It's not a pretty sight, though."

The women nodded in unison and Setsuna left the hospital.

Makoto spoke up first. "I'm staying here."

Usagi nodded. "I am too."

Yuuko agreed. "I'm not going any where until she wakes up."

Ami frowned. Makoto squeezed her hand. "I know. You have to go back to school. I'll call you and let you know what's happening."

The bluenette smiled. "Thanks. I really wish I could stay-"

"Hush. You didn't even have to come down here. You'll be tired in your morning classes. I'll give you a ride back to the station. Come on."

The two women rose and left the hospital as Setsuna had, worry evident in all the people gathered. No more words were said. Yuuko and Usagi had neither condolences for each other nor the strength to make small talk.

"Are you going to bring the nice blond back out here?"

Rei smiled sadly. "I don't know if I can do that."

The creature frowned up at her. "Why? I liked her."

"We're not together anymore."

"What did you do wrong?"

"No one did anything wrong. I'm going to let her focus on her dream, that's all."

"Rei, you look tired. Have you slept lately?"

"You don't need to worry about me. Morph so we can spar."

The creature looked worried, but did as it was told. No other words were said as the two began to battle.

"When was the last time you left here? I don't think you've been to the shrine in the past two weeks!"

"I haven't. I'm training my body and spirit."

"You're killing yourself. Go to sleep, Rei!"

"I don't need to sleep. I'm wearying my body to strengthen the bond between my mind and soul."

The creature morphed into it's smallest state. "No. You're committing suicide. I won't help to kill you. I like you too much."

"Did I hear Minako?"

"I don't know."

"I think I did. Why don't you go talk to her?"

Rei frowned. "I'm not ready yet."

"Well I want to talk to her and you won't let me get out of here."

"There's nothing you need to say to her. Morph. I need to relieve some stress."

The creature refused. "You can spar with a tree. I don't want to look at you right now. Just because you don't want to talk to Minako doesn't mean that I shouldn't be allowed to either."

Rei growled as the creature jumped back into the hole it lived in.

The miko frowned in her sleep, as though she were in pain. No one was in her hospital room to see it, however.

"Rei, you haven't been back here in a while. I was beginning to miss you."

"I've been busy."

"Distracted?"

"Yeah."

"That's good for you. I was getting tired of watching you deteriorate. You look better now anyways."

"Thanks, I think."

"Have you made up with Minako, yet?"

"I don't want to talk about her."

"Acting like she doesn't exist isn't going to make me stop asking about her."

"You asking won't make me talk about her."

"You're a stubborn twat is what you are."

"Say what you will about me. Morph. Let's spar."

"Stop talking to Mako about me."

"I have to make sure someone keeps you in line. You won't let me do it, and you can't stop her."

"You have no right-"

"I have every right to care about your health and to make sure that you're okay. You're my friend, Rei. I don't like watching you kill yourself. And I'm not fighting you today. I'm taking the day off. You should too."

The creature hopped off deeper into the woods away from the angry miko, not really caring about her temper.

Sweat broke out on Rei's forehead and her legs and arms twitched. Her frown was so deep it may have hurt had she been alert enough to feel it.

"I hate her."

"You hate who?"

"Minako."

The creature didn't question why Rei was suddenly willing to talk about the idol. "What happened?"

"She fell in love with him."

"With who?"

"Her boyfriend."

"She has a boyfriend?!"

"She's been with him for months now."

The creature frowned. Rei didn't tell him anything. "How did that happen?"

"I told her to date him to help her career."

"You gave her to him?"

"Yeah."

"And you're mad because she fell in love with him?"

"Yes."

"Do you see where this doesn't make sense?"

"She wasn't supposed to fall in love! She was supposed to fulfill her dream and come back to me."

"She wouldn't have to come back if you didn't leave her."

Rei frowned. "I was just trying to do what was best."

"If you want to do what's best then forgive her, forgive yourself, and either win her back or move on. And don't make any more stupid decisions for her."

"I didn't-"

"You did."

"But-"

"I don't want to hear it. You love her, so prove it to her. Stop being a douchebag."

Rei glared. "You heard that from Mako."

"I did, but I like it. You have no right nor place to hate her, Rei."

"I have every-"

"You can hate her, but it won't make you feel any better and it wont bring back your girlfriend."

"I think I'll hate her."

"You're too stubborn for anyone's good, Rei. Least of all your own."

A nurse came in to check on the miko, running to get a doctor when she saw the woman's state. The doctor sedated her, albeit reluctantly.

"Good morning, Sets."

"Hello, Minako. You look much better."

The idol winked. "Told you. What do I have to do today?"

"I thought I'd let you start off light so you only have a few photo shoots before you can go home."

The idol nodded. Setsuna smiled. The woman really did look much better. Her eyes were shining again, her hair had been washed and done, and her clothes only looked slightly baggy. She was no longer the shell of a woman she had been just a few hours before. At least not in appearance.

Minako walked off to her dressing room and got ready to face the day. Luckily, it wouldn't be a long one. She was greatful her manager was a kind one - being her friend only helped.

Visiting hours came quickly for the three sleeping women in the waiting room, and they all gasepd when they saw the hosed, bandaged, and bruised sleeping form that was thier friend.

Usagi wailed and was pulled into Makoto's arms. Yuuko collapsed into a chair in Rei's ICU hospital room. The woman looked worse than she had the night before, if that were possible.

Rei blinked, recognizing a detached pain in her body but ignoring it. Her head turned to the right and fell on a weeping Usagi and the two women trying vainly to condone her.

"Usagi?" Rei didn't recognize her voice. It was weak and low.

Blue eyes looked up at her and Usagi was immidiately by her friend's bedside, holding her hand. "Rei, you're awake! I'm so glad."

"Stop wailing. You're too old for that now, princess." Rei smiled, also ignoring the pain that caused.

"Rei, what did you do to yourself?"

The miko frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"Setsuna said that you have a concussion, the doctor's had to pump your stomach for alcohol poisoning, that you overdoesed on Tylenol, you took two blood thinners and tried to slice yourself to death after you embedded glass into your skin."

Rei looked down; she hadn't noticed the bandages before, but that would explain the pain she felt everywhere. "I remember the Tylenol, but I didn't take any other medicines last night. And I don't even remember drinking anything but some burning water- Oh. That was probably gin."

"Why, Rei?"

"I didn't do it on purpose. I had a really bad headache when I woke up last night, so I went to take some Tylenol. It only got worse so I took a few more and went to lay down. My head started spinning and my vision got blurry, so I went to get a few more Tylenol and some water. I drunk a lot of the wat- gin, but I didn't really recognize the burning because of the pain in my head.

"I think I dropped the bottle because I remember trying to cut the pieces of glass out of my skin before I passed out."

Usagi sniffled. "So you weren't just trying to cause yourself the most painful and obvious suicide in the world?"

Rei sighed. Not in that way she hadn't. "Relax, Usagi. You don't have to worry about my committing suicide." At least not this obvious and bloody.

The crying blond wiped her eyes and smiled. "Good."

Yuuko spoke up from the corner. "Well, how about the next time you can't see, you don't go play with glass, knives, and drugs."

Rei raised an eyebrow at the woman. "What are you doing here?"

"Someone had to rescue your sorry, bleeding ass."

"You found me?"

"Yeah. You scared me shitless, Rei."

"I'm sorry."

Makoto went to get the doctor, and the three women left so he could check Rei's vitals. Yuuko and Makoto had to go back to work, but they said their goodbyes to Rei on their way out of the hospital. Usagi stayed by Rei's side.

"Rei, what happened at Minako's birthday party?"

The miko sighed. She had had this talk with Makoto already; she wasn't looking forward to having it again. "We had a disagreement."

"Rei, that's not going to cut it. What happened?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"That's all the more reason that you should. Please, Rei."

Rei closed her eyes. That would make saying no easier. "I don't want to talk about it, Usagi. Let it go."

The blond whined. "Rei~"

The miko sighed again and relented. "Alright. Fine. Just shut up."

"Minako, what in the hell is wrong with you?!"

The idol looked at her "twin" and blinked. "What are you doing here, Usagi?"

"I came to knock some sense into you!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Rei's in the hospital."

Minako gasped. "What? Why? What happened?"

"She cut herself up like a piece of paper!"

"Why? Is she okay?"

"I should be asking you 'why,' Minako."

"What?"

"Why did you fuck Kei? Why did you tell Rei you loved her and fall in love with someone else? Why are you here smiling and grinning when she's laid up in a hospital bed cut up, drugged, and with alcohol poisoning and a concussion? Why are you not with her?"

"Usagi, I didn't know she was in the hospital. No one told me. How long has she been there?"

"All night."

"How did she cut herself? What drugs? Is she an abuser?"

"She OD'd on Tylenol and blood thinners, drank half a bottle of gin and broke it getting glass in her skin like EVERYWHERE then she cut her self up with a knife trying to get it out so she says."

"Why did she mix all of that? Was she trying to kill herself?"

"You should ask her that one, Minako. She hasn't been herself since your party."

The idol wanted to jump off of a cliff. She didn't mean for all of this to happen. "What hospital is she at?"

"What do you care?"

"She's my best friend!"

"Prove it!"

Minako collapsed to the floor. Rei was in the hospital and Usagi was mad at her. She hadn't talked to Ami or Makoto since the party. All of her best friends had left her.

Except one. "Usagi, what are you doing here?"

"Setsuna, did you tell Minako Rei was in the hospital.

"I didn't. I wanted her to be able to focus on her work without going back into depression. Why are you yelling at her? She feels bad enough."

"She's being a dou-"

"Do not finish that insult. You haven't the slightest clue what she's been through the past week. Usagi, you can't play favorites because you only have one side of the story. Rei is going to be fine and this is not Minako's fault."

Usagi frowned. "She should at least go see how she's doing."

Setsuna looked at the idol on the floor. "We'll see about that, Usagi."

"I'll go. I want to see her."

Setsuna sighed. "But does she want to see you?"

"She's in there sleeping. She's been out for a while. I don't know when the last time she slept was. Poor girl."

Minako held her elbows with her hands, staring unseeingly at the floor.

"Mina, are you sure you want to see Rei? You don't look too good."

The idol had washed off her make up and now looked about ten years older than she was. She didn't have the strength to act like she was okay anymore. "I want to see her."

Makoto nodded. "If you're sure." The brunette opened the door to Rei's room and followed Minako and Setsuna inside.

The blond took a seat beside Yuuko, neither saying a word. Both were too lost in their thoughts and concerns for the sleeping woman on the bed to consider pleasantries. They almost didn't recognize each other.

Makoto sat in the chair that was situated beside Rei's bed. She had been there since she got off of work, only stopping to make one detour. Setsuna stayed by the door and kept a careful watch on the occupants of the room.

Rei sensed the movement in the room, but her dream kept her well within its grasp.

"What are you two doing?"

Rei turned and glared at the creature. "We're fighting. Did you forget what fighting is?"

"I did no such thing." The speaking creature turned to the other one. "Do not spar with her anymore. She's not fit for it. Rei, you need to take better care of youself. You're too thin and your movements aren't nearly as calculated as they should be."

"I didn't come out here to listen to you lecture me. Help me train or go away."

The creature morphed. "Fine. You want to fight, then we'll fight."

It wasn't long before the exhausted miko fell heavily to the ground, hitting her head. The creature pinned her. "I'm sorry, Rei, but this is for your own good." It used it's hand to grab her throat and pressed down on either side of her neck until she passed out.

When Rei woke, she heard voices, but they were so quiet she couldn't identify who was talking. She tried to focus on the words but couldn't make sense of anything she heard. She reluctantly turned her head to the side to see who was speaking. She almost couldn't believe her eyes.

"Minako?"

The two conversing women turned toward her. The blue ones were crying. "You're awake." The idol wiped her tears away and walked over to the bed. "I'm glad."

"What are you doing here?"

"I should be asking you that. Why weren't you taking care of yourself?"

"You don't look much better."

"I'm not hacked to pieces. Rei, what happened?"

"No one told you?"

"I got an idea from Usagi, but I want you to tell me why you did this to yourself."

Rei looked up at the ceiling. "I don't owe you anything, much less an explanation."

Minako leaned down, whispering ferociously into Rei's ear. "You may not owe it to me as your friend, nor as your lover, but I am commanding you. Why has one of my soldiers tried to kill herself?"

Rei frowned, glaring at the blond beside her. "I was not acting as Mars, and you cannot try to manipulate me as Venus."

"You are my second in command. When I speak, you listen. What happened?"

Rei looked back at the ceiling, unable to face the glaring blond. She remained silent until a hand firmly squeezed hers, just short of breaking it. Rei winced.

"Do not test me."

The miko glared back at the blond. "Fine. I had a headache, so I took a few too many Tylenol. I got dizzy, took some more Tylenol and went to get some water that turned out to be gin. I drank a lot of it, dropped the glass all over the floor and lost my balance getting glass in me. I tried to cut the glass out with a knife but it didn't work and I passed out."

Minako leaned back. "I'm so sorry, Rei. You poor thing."

Rei was still upset. "Don't pity me. I'm fine."

"You're not fine. You look like you got in a fight with a possessed machete."

"I've been through worse."

"But you also have to accout for the drug abuse as well. And the alcohol poison."

"It's no big deal. I'm fine."

"You stop saying that to me, Reiko! I'll tell you when you're fine!"

The miko raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"It is. And don't look at me like that. I don't have to be logical."

"Don't have to or can't?"

Minako frowned. "Don't make me pull the plug on you!"

Rei laughed. "I get it. You can't be logical."

"I'll let that slide because you're laughing."

The woman on the bed composed herself. "Minako, you asked about me, but what happened to you?"

"What do you mean?"

"You look like you were hit by a frieght train."

Minako smiled. "And I still look a hell of a lot better than you do."

Rei wasn't amused. "Why have you not been taking care of yourself?"

"I don't have to answer to you."

"Fine. Don't. Whatever. It's not like I care anyway."

Blue eyes glared at her. "You don't mean that."

Rei glared back. "So you tell me what I feel and what I mean. Thanks, Mina. I was so uncapable of figuring those out on my own. What have I done these past 21 years without your guidance?"

"You've gotten yourself into things like this. You've been battered, bruised, and busted. You've been hurt, abused and lonely-"

"I get it. It was sarcasm."

"There you go again. Say what you mean, Rei. Cut the bullshit."

"Is that what you want?"

"It is."

"Fine. I'm not okay right now, but I'm going to be because that's what I do. I heal. I get over things and I cope. I do care about you and your health because I still love you no matter how much I tell myself I shouldn't or how much I try to get over you. You're a part of me it seems even though I don't know how it happened and I didn't really want it to. And if your boyfriend ever talks to me again, I'm going to gut him. That's all for now, but when I think of more, I'll be sure to call you."

The idol was confused. "Wait, when did he talk to you?"

"A few days ago."

"Why?"

"He blamed me for your lack of sleep."

Minako looked at the floor, deep frown set on her face. "He had no right- I'm sorry, Rei."

The miko shrugged. "It would only make me feel better if I could gut him."

The blond laughed. "Three months ago, I would have let you."

Rei stared at the bandages on her arms, hearing the unspoken sentiment in the sentence. Minako loved Kei, so Rei couldn't kill him.

Life sucked.

A/N: Setsuna is such a little hypocrite. How can she fuss at Usagi for talking to Minako the way she talked to Rei last chapter... smh.

I never expected to get 60 reviews on this thing. Thanks soooo much to everyone who has reviewed.

Honulucious: I'm glad you came back. =3 I agree with the disgust. I wanted to wash my brain after thinking it. Rei didn't like Setsuna's explanation either. That's why she shut her up lol. Setsuna just doesn't know everything that's going on with Rei and she sees Minako's pain everyday so she's biased. I hope I covered everything effeciently - there really was a lot left out in the first eighteen chapters, and I'm finally able to start talking about what was going on in the background. Rei is stupid. Very stupid. Luckily, the creature was watching her through the window. (I was so glad I made them that I didn't know what to do when I wrote that part. I had no idea they would be a literal life saver.) Kei... that little... I don't think I can do anything that will feel adequate as a punishment for him...

Da Pyro's Love: awww thank you so much. There is no emoticon that can show the extent of my grin. I'm glad everything comes across clearly. And I think that intense Reinako interaction is easier to read than them ignoring each other completely. It certainly is easier to write. Unfortunately, difficult Rei is difficult... You'll see.

Fireandlove: omg your comment made me lol. That would be cruel - she's in pain! I want to beat the crap out of Kei myself. I can't even manage not to hate him and I made him lol. Thanks and long reviews are beautiful; no need to apologize.

Z3R0-TH3-H3R0: hello there. I skipped over it when I edited it, too. I had to keep changing the scene because it was so unbearable. Ugh never again. Thanks for the compliment and the review. I'm glad you enjoyed the fight scenes. I was a little unsure about them because I've never ever been in a fight or even seen a real one. I've done a lot of beating the crap out of people in my head though lol. If by rat you mean the creatures living in the hole in the middle of the woods, then I'm sorry. They're a necessary plot device, though.

xXMiMiXx: I'm sorry. Honestly, I felt the same way when I wrote it, so I'm glad it translates well.

Jedi Caro: he will suffer, but not yet. And they will get laid, but not yet lol. Poor Rei indeed. You've said that a lot through the course of this fic lol.

reiko of mars: it was dumb, but as you see, she suffered some brain trauma. Add that to stress and not sleeping and it makes sense that she wasn't exactly thinking clearly. And I still haven't written Kei's pain yet, but I've already got it set up in my mind and it makes me feel so evil. And Yuuko... My poor OC... Ugh... I have no other comments on her at this time.

the-fanofanime: if only Kei would realize that... In his mind, "You're stupid for letting her go and you're even stupider for loving her that much." He's an idiot teenage boy. And "poor stupid Rei" made me lol. She's okay though, see! And I almost cried too. You're not alone. =3