Disclaimer: Since you've all made it clear I must update ASAP, here's the chapter without further ado, and I think you know I own nothing but this fic :-D

Thank you so much to: Double G, spiegel-octopi, Baby Luna Kitty, Caytlyn Rose, Anno, serenity11287, twilightlover05, SkaterXGalXMily, mae-E, Lady Razeli, heatqueen, sakuraK155, LilMissManda, mystic soilder, Connie, cardcaptor eternity, and Inara Cabot. Yay, you all make me smile so much every time I read your great reviews!

Unfortunately, I'm back in school so updating will probably be back to maybe once a week, unless I get lucky and have no homework or somehow find time in my busy schedule. But don't worry, I would never abandon a story so if it seems like it has been a while, I am probably busy, but will update ASAP.

Self Destruct

Rated T

Part 17: "Fire Warrior's Fury"

"Serena!" Tuxedo Mask shouted hoarsely, in utter disbelief as he watched his angel fall to the ground, her own blood all over her arm and white school shirt sticking to the wound.

"Serena... Serena's Sailor Moon!?" Rini shouted, eyes wide. "No, no... how could she... Sailor Moon!?"

"It's true, Rini," Mercury said softly to the girl below her, eyes never leaving her friend as Tuxedo Mask rushed over and scooped the unconscious one into his arms. However, the raven-haired warrior beside the blue genius had something to say about that.

"Oh no you don't!"

Tuxedo Mask turned, bewildered and carrying his burden like a precious child as a furious red Sailor Scout marched up to him. Fire positively poured out of her dagger-like eyes, and the voice she cried to him with was full of anger and malice. It was a testament to how much protection she felt over her Princess.

"How dare you even touch her!?"

"W-what?"

"You give her to me this instant!"

"No," the ebony crusader responded, taking a step back and holding his odango with a tighter hold. Even as he did so, Mars grabbed Serena and began trying to tug her from the man's grasp.

"Let. Her. Go," she demanded fiercely, punctuating each word bluntly, like an axe descending and marking death if her leader was not given to her. She pulled, but Tuxedo Mask gave no heed or loosened his grip.

"No!" he returned again, matching her icy tone. "Why should I? I need to get her to a hospital!"

"No you aren't! We are!"

"I can take care of her perfectly well my self," Darien spoke coldly, eyes burning holes into Mars'. The girl growled and let profanity fall.

"Look. You are nothing but a fucking bastard. Why should we trust you? All you've done is hurt Serena; you don't care about her one inch."

The Scouts watching on in shock felt their mouths pop open in astonishment. Mars never swore so badly, unless she was seriously pissed.

"I care about her more than anything," the college aged super hero cut through her words, the proclamation sincere and heartfelt. However, Mars didn't see it so. She barked in harsh laughter.

"You? You didn't give a damn when you dumped her! You didn't give a damn when you saw her pain! Her sorrow! What we had to face every day... So why should you care now?" the miko retorted, gasping in her fervor and relishing in being able to give Darien a piece of her mind. The man deserved it after everything he'd done.

She watched as the victim of her berating turned stricken and pale at her words. Then, quietly, but in a voice that made everyone shiver, she said, "She tried to kill herself today. Because of you. She saw you and Lizzie together."

"No...no... I didn't know- I didn't mean for her to... oh God, I had no clue it was that bad, I would've..." he rambled incomprehensibly, as the fire maiden's menacing voice repeating over and over in his head.

She tried to kill herself today. Because of you.

Because of you.

No, no, it couldn't be true, it couldn't...

But Darien knew it was. He looked down at the girl in his arms, down at her face, and he saw even in unconciousness her pain. Her sorrow. Her heartbreak.

How had things gotten so out of hand? It was all really his fault.

"You don't deserve her," Mars spoke viciously, breaking through his thoughts. "You're killing her."

You're killing her.

You're. Killing. Her.

Oh, God.

Those words were what hurt the most, and they cut like knives into his very soul. Hot tears threatened in his eyes and it was so hard reigning them in. He knew, deep in his heart, that those terrible words were true. In some warped way, his dream was coming true. His first one, and the one that followed. Princess Serenity's voice came to him suddenly, reminding him of the eery premonition and the truth of the cold words.

Her intense eyes narrowed hatefully. "Why should I accept your forgiveness? It is too late, Endymion... Darien... You broke my heart for the last time. In the end, it was not some befallen disaster that killed me. It was you. It was the love you stole from me."

He had been warned to stay away from her; to end their relationship or she would die.

And so he had.

And in effect, she was dying, because of the break-up and his distance.

Irony had a very twisted sense of humor.

"I love her. I always have. You've got to believe me, I would never do anything to hurt my Princess," Tuxedo Mask spoke in a strained voice, as if it were hard for him to breath. "If you'll let me explain-"

But he was cut off by Rini, crying out and sagging against Sailor Mercury, and all tongue lashing was momentarily forgotten.

"Rini!?"

Rini opened her eyes when she saw Sailor Mercury clutching at her and the Senshi looking down at her with concerned faces.

"What's wrong?"

"I feel... dizzy all the sudden... and tingly," she slurred, eyes struggling to stay open. "There's a pain in my chest..."

"Mercury..." Jupiter shakily asked, but the blue highbrow shook her head, as if saying she didn't know what was wrong.

"Please, Mars, Tuxedo Mask, the longer we stand here fighting, the more blood Serena loses. We've got to put aside our anger and differences and get her to a hospital before we jeopardize her life any longer," the Soldier of Wisdom put in, gathering an almost incoherent Rini into her arms. "And Rini should be looked at too. She must have been hit when the tree exploded; maybe she's hurt!"

Mars let go of Serena very reluctantly, but her fiery words she had saved especially for the jerk holding her leader weren't dried up yet. However, a more pressing matter was at hand and she entrusted Tuxedo Mask with her Princess, albeit very discomforted by doing so.

She shifted her transformation into her civilian form and everyone else followed suit.

They really didn't feel like causing a ruckus by having the Sailor Scouts just waltz into the hospital.

A/N: Review, and remember, I will be updating ASAP! Other than that, hope you enjoyed and (sniff) only two more chapters left! Oh yes, and here's a little bit of info for you all:

One, remember Mars never knew about Darien saving Serena from being hit by a car!

And two, some of you a bit unfamilar with Sailor Stars are probably wondering what the heck is wrong with Rini. As you know, Sailor Moon shielded Rini from the blast and received it all herself, so it's not that making Rini faint and "tingly". In fact, Rini is like this because of Serena. Remember, she cannot live if Serena or Darien die, so perhaps this is giving you all a clue as to where Serena is health-wise (cough). Those who have seen or know the beginning of Stars know what I mean by "tingly" (Rini begins disappearing since Darien was kidnapped by Nehelenia).

Until next chapter,

I am always,

AngelMoon Girl