This is an old, old story that I thought I'd put here and see what reaction it got – I hope everyone enjoys it. The R rating is a bit exaggerated but I thought I'd give it that just in case anyone's squeamish. By the way, this fic is not for those who cannot cope with girl's having a "something more" relationship. If you can't than bugger off, I don't want to hear it.

Whenever there are italics it's for a dream, meaning Rei or whoever is having a dream or they're in an alternate reality.

There's a bit of a vocab lesson at the end of the chapter for those who need it – sorry about that.

-Umeboshi

Disclaimer: BSSM is by Takeuchi Naoko and definitely NOT me. . . .yeah, we figured that one out on our own, right? I hope so guys. All character's belong to her, most of these scenarios belong to me … not all of them grant it.

A Fire Fueled by Garnets

Chp. I - Smoke

Rei:

I could feel the skin crease between my long black eyebrows. Why wouldn't this fog that covered my sight clear? The acrid smoke of the ceremonial fire encircled me, a wreath around my head. I could hear Ojii-chan cough politely behind me; how long had I been sitting on the cold temple floor? I stirred, pinpricks of pain running up and down my legs as I began to move them. It took a great effort to lift my eyelids, and I almost wished I could sit there immobile forever. I stood stiffly, straightening my hibakama, and brushing a stray wisp of long black hair behind my ear. It was hard to meet Ojii-chan's gaze as I stumbled sleepily through the fusuma and into the furo.

            The steaming water greeted my aching body, sliding over my arms and legs silently. I allowed my fevered mind to relax and my imagination to take over, brilliant dreams spinning through my head.

            A low chuckle, a sound that broke out from deep within someone's chest and stuck chords in your heart. I could see a slim body ahead of me, the tall writhing form - dancing just beyond my fingertips. I knew wanting her was wrong, longing to wrap my hands around fistfuls of her thick, shinning hair. Was that why my fingers begged for her ivory skin? I am drowning in a thick world of falsehoods. Nothing I know is based in reality. I must know the truth. Lies are chocking my narrow throat. I cannot breathe.

I awoke with a start as the scorching water churned down my throat and over my head. My arms thrashing, and I pulled myself up onto to wooden rim of the furo. My torso heaved with the effort to rid itself of the furo's water. I gasped as Ojii-chan jumped from behind the door and lifted me in his feeble arms. I thought to myself that he was stronger then I'd imagine before I drifted off into my dark nightmares once again.

. . .

Soft sunlight, yet still harsh against my sore eyes, slid across the tatami mats and onto my futon. My ears registered low voices above the roaring sound that echoed inside my head.

"Sumimasen Ojii-san, but we were worried!" A girl's high, chirpy voice whispered.

"Iie, dozo. Rei would never forgive me if I turned you away Usagi-chan!" I snickered softly to myself, Ojii-chan would never forgive himself either! To have lost a valuable chance to flirt shamelessly with a young teenage girl! I pushed myself up, my body aching and screaming out for more sleep.

"Usa-chan, kiite kudasai. I'm not going to die," yet at least, I thought as my body wailed out in pain.

She groaned in response as she peered around the Fusuma, and then smiled and plopped ungracefully down next to my futon. The smallest of all of the girls, Tsukino Usagi had large blue-black eyes and an almost gaijin complexion, with creamy skin and long pale hair that curled more easily than most Japanese girls'. Her eyes widened and her voice rose in pitch with excitement, "Rei-chan, we met new boys! You'll be so sorry you missed them!" Usagi babbled as my head throbbed relentlessly. I nodded, dismissing her internally, before once again closing my eyes and falling asleep.

. . .

A heavy, perfumey scent pervaded my senses as I rolled over, wrapping the blanket closer around my shoulders. I felt something smooth and damp touch my cheek, cooling against my fevered skin. I blinked, pushing away the cloud of sleep, forcing my eyes to open. Directly in front of my nose lay a dark red rosebud.

The contents of my plain room were still swimming as I tried to focus on the small blur of movement within the flower. A black spider had spun its silvery web over the center of the bud. My breath caught in marvel of this small and natural beauty. Who could possibly have done this? Mamoru? Had my Mamo-kun come back to me? My nose instinctually tried to pick up his scent in the room. Nowhere could I smell his light, manly fragrance. A tear rolled quietly down my cheek, leaving a paling line through the scarlet of my hot skin. I shuddered trying to control my burning passion and rage, locking it safely back within myself.

 Endimion-sama was rightly Sereniti-hime's, a love foreordained, and thus it was wiser for me to let go of Mamo-kun in this life. He could not belong to the princess in one world, and me in the other. Someday not too far away Mamo-kun and Endimion-sama would be one and the same, and he would no longer be mine then even in imagination, for a queen's soldier cannot love her queen's husband.

. . .

Translations language wise and explanations:

"The sight" – when Rei refers to her "sight" she is speaking of being able to read futures/dreams/the past in the ceremonial fire.

Ojii-chan – an endearing term for grandfather in Japanese.

Temple – (I know you're not stupid- just hear me out) a Shinto temple.

Hibakama – ceremonial miko (priestess) in training wear.

Fusuma – Sliding rice paper door.

Furo – Japanese bath tub.

Futon – traditional Japanese bed, a mattress on the floor.

Tatami – woven straw mats used to cover the floor.

Sumimasen – translates to: excuse me, or I'm sorry.

Iie – translates to: no.

Dozo – translates to: go ahead (an offering of sorts).

Gaijin – translates to: term for people of Caucasian descent (usually derogatory).