Disclaimer: Does the Usagi wail at her misfortune of not being named Naoko Takeuchi.

A/N: Great reviews; thank you everyone! And enjoy the chapter!

Important Note: I may move the main characters around sometimes. Currently, this story is under the Rei and Usagi section, but to get more reviews, I may put it under the Usagi and Mamoru section (more readers go there). I just wanted to let you all know, and this won't happen till next chapter. I know some who don't have accounts just go to the characters section and get to stories that way, like I used to. And if you forget the title and a story has moved, it's pretty darn hard to find it. So, I'm letting you all know. If it isn't under Usagi/Rei, it's under Usagi/Mamoru. Got that? Hope so! But this is only a temporary move, when this story is done it will stay under Usagi/Rei. I'm only going to be switching back and forth for reviews sake. Yah, bad huh? But I am a review fanatic. :-D

THANK YOU: Tropical Remix, cardcaptor eternity, mae-E, twilightlover05, x.spanish.eyes.x, heatqueen, Red-Rose18, Caytlyn Rose, and mystic soilder. I loved 'um!

Self Destruct

Rated T

Part 11: "Playing With Hearts"

"Serena? Serena?"

The urgent voice transferred slowly into Serena's sleepily sluggish mind.

"Serena, wake up!"

"G'way, Mom," she murmured, swatting at the hand shaking her. "Don't wanna get up."

"Darn right you will, Serena! It's now five minutes before eight!"

"Five minutes before eight!" Serena flew up, shouting. "Five minutes before eight! Mom, why didn't you wake me up earlier!"

"I did, many times! Each time you said you were getting up but never showed!" Ikuko cried indignantly, hands on hips as she watched her daughter scramble for her uniform. Vaguely, she thought Serena could run a marathon if she tried. Then she watched as her daughter gave the cat a dirty look, as if she'd been at fault for not waking up Serena! Luna almost seemed to return the look.

But really, that was silly. Cats couldn't give glares, and nor could they understand those given to them!

Ikuko shook her head at her own odd thoughts, then left the tornado blur that was her daughter to do her work.

oOo

Darien cursed the rain falling from the sky like tears, wishing for the sun. He didn't know he had taken it for granted, but the previous luxury of basking in its warmth seemed almost foreign now.

He zoomed by Fruit Parlor Crown on his motorcycle, on the way to his university, and saw Elizabeth in the rain, looking annoyed and anxious all at once. He kicked the break and pulled up beside her.

"Anything wrong? You look like you need something."

"Someone, you mean! Andrew was supposed to pick me up fifteen minutes ago, but he hasn't shown and I'm going to be really late for school now!"

"I'll give you a ride, if you want. My university's just a few blocks from your school."

"Oh, thank you so much, Darien! It would mean so much!"

"Hop on," Darien said, cocking his head towards the small seat behind his. Lizzie slid in behind the ebony haired man.

"Boy, I am going to kill Andy next time I see him!" the red haired teen swore.

Darien just laughed, and told her to hold on tight. He started up the engine, which roared to life instantly. And then they were off.

oOo

"I'm so late! I'm so late! Haruna's gonna kill me!" Serena cried to herself, egging her legs to go faster. She held her bag above her head, but already her hair was soggy. Just great, late AND soaking wet. Ms. Haruna would have kittens in happiness, Serena thought sarcastically.

Serena gave the sky her 'I will punish you' look that promised doom to any in her way... the newest adversary, the slippery roads, because it still hadn't stopped raining! Really, weathermen were absolutely good for nothing! They had been predicting a break in the rain this morning, but as of yet, the gloomy skies were doing no such thing. In fact, by the gloomy clouds, it looked like no stop would be seen all day.

"C'mon, faster Serena!" She pushed herself to run even faster. Damn, it must be past eight already; she'd taken so long to get out the door...

Vrom Vrom!

Serena looked towards the noise, and what she saw made her stop so fast, she almost ran into a pole. Her mouth slipped open in shock, and her face registered pure unbelief and even anger.

Parked at a stop light, engine humming, was Darien. But that wasn't what caused Serena's sheer horror. It was Lizzie, one of her friends, draped all over him in the backseat. Laughing. And holding him. Entirely too tightly, in Serena's opinion.

And Darien was laughing right back. From Serena's point of view, and since she couldn't hear what they were saying, he could have been flirting.

White hot anger licked at Serena's insides, and an emotion uncommon to her rose in the blonde.

Jealousy.

Red hot, burning jealousy.

Serena felt her hands shaking. She no longer could feel the chilly rain. Nothing but that all-consuming emotion. It was like a monster clawing at her insides. Millions of thoughts raced through her mind, but the prominent ones were,

Is this all a game to him? Just playing with my heart?

The rescue from danger?

Trying to talk to me?

Was it all a sick game, 'Make Serena think I love her again, then leave her in the dust'?

The motorcycle roared to life, rousing the girl from her melancholy reverie as the light turned green. Darien and Lizzie zoomed off, never having seen the petrified Moon girl. All they left behind was the exhaust from the engine, and the sounds of their laughter still ringing clear in Serena's mind.

Without a second thought, the one associated with the moon turned, school forgotten. She'd skipped before; what did anyone care if she did again? Nothing mattered. Not anymore.

Darien had a new girlfriend.

oOo

Click!

Ikuko looked up from her wiping clean of the dishes, a confused expression settling itself onto her face. Kenji shouldn't be home yet, or any of the children. She poked her head out into the hall and gaped.

"Serena?" she gasped, taking in her daughter's haggard appearance and drooping shoulders. "What the... why aren't you in school, young lady?"

She could have lied. She could have said one in many things. That she was sick. That school was closed. But she didn't. She was unfeeling; numb; uncaring.

"I don't feel like it," Serena replied simply, turning around and starting up the stairs as her mother spluttered.

"You don't... you don't feel like it!? Serena Tsukino, you get right back down here this instant!"

Dutifully, the blonde turned, her face a mask. Ikuko was unable to tell how she felt from the listless look... was she even feeling at all? It was impossible to tell.

"Explain yourself, this instant!"

"I already have. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to be alone," Serena sniffed icily. She turned on her heel and marched up to her room, ignoring her mother's barks to 'Get back down here!'.

"I'm sorry, Mom," Serena whispered, sorrow gracing her face for a moment. Then it was replaced by the facade of unfeeling as she slammed her bedroom door for effect.

Apparently, Luna wasn't out like usual, a factor Serena hadn't considered. One red eye opened slowly, then the second followed suit in a faster manner.

"Serena!?"

"Unless I've changed genders," Serena grumbled in a low snap, in absolutely no mood to explain.

"Why aren't you in school?"

Serena sank onto her bed, not saying anything for a moment. Then, "I've already had to go through this with Mom, and I don't want to do it again with you! So just go away."

"But Serena-"

Cold, hard, intense blue eyes snapped onto Luna's surprised ones. Luna flinched at what lay within. Or rather, what didn't. Because she saw none of the warm aura-ed Princess that usually resided in those pearly orbs. She just saw... nothing. This girl before her was a spector.

"Go. Away."

"A-alright," Luna responded shakily, jumping up and onto the windowsill. Gingerly, she looked back, but flinched again at the emotionless glare her charge was giving her.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

Luna jumped out the window skillfully. She had to tell somebody. Raye came to mind, and the feline began racing off in the direction of TA Girl's School.

Once Luna was gone, Serena collapsed onto the bed in tears. For a while, she just sobbed uncontrollably, drowning in morose thoughts. Everything... everything had been culminating up to this point. And Serena just couldn't stand it anymore.

She couldn't stand life anymore.

Suddenly, with a calm Serena hadn't thought she could achieve, the girl sat up very slowly. She began breathing deeper; shallower. Then they came out quick and pinched as she really pondered; pondered about this idea she was forming.

Darien was gone; he did not care for her anymore. Lizzie had taken that place; that place in his heart Serena had always occupied. He had only been playing with her heart when he saved her. Without him though, and despite this knowledge Serena had attained, life was not worth living.

The Scouts and Luna did not need her. They would probably be glad if Serena wasn't on their team anymore. She was just a clumsy nuisance; besides, Raye would make a more competent leader than she ever would be. And Raye could take care of the Silver Crystal. All Serena was was a ditzy soldier who always needed saved. How could they possibly need her?

And Rini, Rini would be happy. She'd probably throw a party if Serena was gone. And her parents, and Sammy... well, considering their reactions if they found out she'd skipped school, it would be like Ikuko the Furious all over again.

Serena began to shake with all her suppressed and self-loathing emotions. A large lump formed in her throat, but she didn't cry again. There were no more tears left for this world, or for the bastard who broke her heart.

No one needed her. Not anymore. What use was there for a heart broken, crybaby, millenia-old Princess? One who should have died long, long ago, on the Moon Kingdom?

None.

And so, Serena made her decision. With trembling hands, she opened up her drawer and sifted away the contents to reveal a sharp knife she'd stolen, back when Darien had broken up with her.

In case it came to this point.

And it had.

Life had become too cruel a game to play.

A/N: I am sooooo evil! Please review, the more I get, the faster I update! Will Serena follow through with this? Chicken out? Be saved? How will the Scouts and Darien react?

Till next chapter,

AngelMoon Girl