Chapter 2
The fight had lasted for fifteen minutes with Reina and Jonathan winning, but they did not come out without the bruises and scratches. Jonathan picked up the girl's doll and handed it to her. "Thank you…" She spoke, taking the doll from him. The girl then turns her attention to Reina. "You're that boy who works at the shop." She points out. Reina coughs and turns around. "Yes. This boy came to help his dear friend save a damsel in distress." Reina deepens her voice to sound like a boy. Jonathan who is confused looks at Reina. "Is she trying to hide her gender?" He thought. "My name is Erina." The girl introduces herself and smiles. "My name is Jonathan Joestar, but everyone calls me Jojo." Jonathan responds. Reina turns around and grins. "My name is Rei Thomason." Reina introduces herself; she still kept her charade up when it meant to hide her real gender from the public. The girl had her reasons.
"Ah, Miss Erina, can you meet us here tomorrow?" Reina asked. She never had a female friend before. "We all should hang out together. Here seems like a good spot. You know, when I finish work for the day." Reina explains. Jonathan and Erina looks at the girl and smiles. They promised to see each other. Erina waved good bye and headed home. Jonathan and Reina were back at the mansion. The two received a lecture for fighting and have to accept their punishment. Reina's punishment was to take a lesson in dancing with Jonathan being her partner and the lead. Dancing did not bother her, but the wearing a dress and heels did. Reina stood in the middle of the main hall. The girl wore a simple purple Victorian gown. Her hair was down covering her back.
"I can't believe this. I don't even dance." Reina said to herself. She disliked wearing dresses. "You'll be able to exhibit grace young lady. Do you want to display beauty?" George, Jonathan's father, spoke with Jonathan walking by his side. Jonathan was even more embarrassed now that he had dragged Reina into trouble. "Father, Reina is a lady, but I'm not sure if she is comfortable with this." Jonathan tries to get Reina out of this situation until he had gotten a better view of her. That "boy" was actually a cute boy in a dress. No, the girl was a girl no matter what she wore. "J-Jonathan… I look stupid. Everyone sees me as Rei. So, let's get this over with." Reina said trying to hide her embarrassment by sounding tough. Jonathan now stood in front of the girl. "I'll always see you as Rei and now Reina. You look cute really. One day I will know why you hide your real gender." Jonathan says with a genuine smile on his face. Reina sighs in relief and smiles. She was happy that someone accepted her secret. "Okay then. I'll do this, but do not tell anyone that I wore a dress. Not even Erina." Reina took Jonathan's hand and she places her free hand on his shoulder.
Jonathan placed one hand on her waist and led the way by moving his feet first. Reina slightly stumbles and closes her eyes. The girl was nervous. "If a lady feels unease then the gentleman must help the lady gain some confidence." George spoke as he counted each step. Jonathan moved as he was told. Reina started to count her steps as she stared down at her feet. The girl was stiff in regards to dancing with a boy. "I won't let you mess up Lady Reina." Jonathan whispers to the girl. He notices her hesitation. Reina looked at him; her eyes meeting his eyes. She nods and moves her feet. Her movements became fluid as Reina and Jonathan took their time dancing. Reina's heart fluttered at this moment. The girl was confused at the feelings that came about. She saw Jonathan as a handsome gentleman. He had helped her get out of trouble before. The boy had only seen Reina cry and it was the first time the children had met. Reina was burying her dead pet canary. It was the only time she had shed a tear. "You are learning quickly. That will be all for your punishment." George says. He was satisfied with seeing the two dancing well. Jonathan and Reina stop moving to look at the man. "Father, are you sure? This is the first you let me off a punishment. Also, this was not much of a punishment as it seems." Jonathan spoke as his hands were idly on Reina's waist. "You two have done well. I think so. It's your first time dancing with a young lady after all." Jonathan's father chuckles before he walks away. Reina saw Jonathan's hands and backs away to breathe. "Let's make sure no one knows about this." Reina laughs leaving the boy confused.
Each day onward led to Reina working with her father in the shop. She was asked to work on Jonathan's new shoes and the girl was glad to. In the shop, Erina and Jonathan decided to pay Reina a visit while she was working. The shop was filled with the different fabrics, leathers, and shoes on the display shelves. The mannequins wore dresses and stood in the window for display. The sewing machines, shoe making machines, and other hazardous machines were placed in the back. The fitting rooms for the clothes were also in the back. Behind the front counter were book shelves displaying different shoes of all different styles. The walls were painted tan and the floor was made of hard wood. "Hey Rei, your client is here." One of the older men spoke after Jonathan requested to see her. Reina was occupied choosing between different leathers. "That boy is always fickle when it comes to choosing materials." The man sighed.
"He's busy. I didn't know that Rei would be a hard worker. He's our age, isn't he?" Erina asked Jonathan. Jonathan smiles as he explains to her, "Rei is the only boy around. He likes working with his parents." Reina finally chose to go with the lighter brown leather. She turns around to see Erina and Jonathan looking at her from the front counter. "Oh, hello." Reina says. "We wanted to pay you a visit." Jonathan says as he and Erina walks to her. "Oh, thanks. Father has been busy and I am trying to figure out which leather you normally use. Well, the color…" Reina explains before she turns back around and walks to the machine in the back of the shop. Jonathan and Erina follow her to keep the company. Reina began to work as she placed the leather on the table to grab a shoe stand. Erina was surprised to see Reina work without complaining. "Oh, father has informed me of someone moving in. The boy's name is Dio Brando." Jonathan said.
The boy was excited to meet someone new. Reina paused and looked at the boy, "I've met him. He's quiet." "You have?" Jonathan was surprised that Reina knew him. Reina nods and goes back to working. The girl grabs a pair of scissors and begins to cut the leather into smaller squares carefully. She places the leather on the shoe stand to form the shape. "His eyes are different. I don't forget." Reina says as she pins the pieces together. "What do you mean by that Rei?" Erina questioned. Reina turns to her friend and smiles. Reina answers the girl's question, "My mother tells me that you can see a person's demeanor by their eyes. When I met him, Dio seemed troubled. I punched a bugger who was hurting him." "You get into fights easily, don't you?" Jonathan chuckles at his question. "I have my reasons." Reina scoffs; her face puffing up as she shot a glare at Jonathan. Erina and Jonathan laugh seeing the girl's face. "Oh, I will be done with your shoes by tomorrow evening." Reina said, giving herself an estimate on how long it would take her to get the shoes done. Her father had to help her. "Thank you. Do you want to see Dio when he arrives at the mansion?" Jonathan asks. Reina takes a moment to think and nods. Charles, Reina's father, stood at the front counter. He and his employee were watching the children interact with each other. "Rei is getting along well with the Jojo boy and Erina. She's not in as many fights." The man said. Charles nods. He was content for his daughter making friends.
The day came when Dio arrived at the Joestar estate. Reina was sitting on the steps with Danny by her side. The girl had a piece of bread hanging from her mouth. The sky was clear and the sun shining brightly was out. The day was perfect for someone to move in. "Ah, Lady Reina. I was looking for you." Jonathan said just when the carriage arrives. The carriage stops in front of the mansion. A moment passes and the door opens. A suitcase flew out the doorway and landed on the ground. The blond boy leaped out and landed on his feet. He stood up, a glare coming across his face. His eyes met Reina's eyes. "You, what are you doing here?" Dio addresses Reina with a pointed finger. Her presence had irked him. Reina blinks and crosses her arms. "I'm here to assist my mother." Reina answers.
"Then you are a servant. Go fetch me Mr. Joestar boy." Dio replies. Reina narrows her eyes, "I'm not the help and show some respect." Jonathan senses the tension and looks at Dio. He holds his hand out. "The name is Jonathan Joestar, but people call me Jojo. You seem to know Rei. I do hope to be good friends with you." Jonathan says in a polite manner. Dio scoffs; he did not care for the boy's friendly approach. He crosses his arms in irritation. "Both of you are a nuisance." Dio said. Danny ran over to Jonathan to play, but Dio reacted to striking the dog in the face using his knee. "Hey!" Reina shouts as the dog fell back. She kneels down and holds the whimpering dog. "Dogs are filthy. Keep that mutt outside and out of my sight." Dio calmly spoke. Jonathan was angry now. His fists clenched. Jonathan takes a step forward not going to let Dio get away with his actions. "What is wrong with you?! Danny was not trying to attack you!" Jonathan raises his voice in more anger.
"Ho, your pet should stay a stray. Just like that boy." Dio was prepared to fight. His seriousness displayed a smirk that was now plastered on his face. His last comment was directed towards Reina. "What did you say?!" Jonathan shouts and the two boys were ready to fight. "Dio, you're here." George said as he stepped through the opened doors. The servants and Reina's mother came out as well. "What happened?" Laurel, Reina's mother, asked. She sees her daughter holding Danny along with the girl being covered in blood. "Mother, Danny needs help. Dio kneed him." Reina said, she did her best not to cry in front of everyone. The girl's shirt had small blood stains on it. "Let's get Lady Reina cleaned up." George said. The maid walks over to Reina, but the girl refused to leave Danny. "I want you to help Danny first." Reina ordered. Dio looks at Reina confused. "Mr. Joestar, you must be mistaken. That is Rei. He is a boy." Dio speaks with respect.
"Rei is short for Reina. The boy is actually a girl. The young lady enjoys hiding her gender." George explains. The butler and the maid carry Danny into the house. Reina slowly stood up and shot a glare at Dio. She stomps over to the blonde and slaps him across the face. No sparks appeared from her hand this time. Dio narrows his eyes wanting to strike the girl, but he chose to hold back. He would get even without the Joestars around. Let alone her mother. "Do not touch Danny like that. Mr. Joestar, I'll accept your punishment for my actions no matter what you decide. However, I did what I felt was right." Reina turns around to face Jonathan's father. "For punishment you are to help Dio bring his suitcase to his room. Then you are to assist the gardener." George could not place a harsh punishment on the girl. "Yes sir." Reina accepts her punishment. Dio smiles and hands his suitcase to Reina. Reina takes the suitcase in her hands and follows everyone into the mansion.