"Once you have proven yourself as a warrior born my daughter I shall take you as my lover."
Rei shot straight up in bed, her eyes blinked as she rubbed the sleep from them.
"That is so strange. I thought I heard Ryoji. Come on girl, you just met the man and already and you can't get him off your mind."
Rei laid her head back on the pillow as she pulled the sheets back over her and looked up at the ceiling while she thought, 'How can I not help but think about him? He is so handsome, strong, and charming. He is like no man I have ever met.' With that, she drifted off to sleep.
The next afternoon outside T.A., a private Catholic girl's school, Rei, in her school uniform carrying her book bag, walked out of the school gates and said good bye to some classmates, when she heard a familiar voice call out to her.
"Hello, Rei."
She turned to see Ryoji as he walked towards her with a smile on his face.
"Ryoji, what are you doing here?"
"I was just out for a walk."
"It's just strange running into you like this. If I did not know better, I would think I had a stalker."
He blushed slightly at her words. "I hope you do not think of me that way."
"Relax, Ryoji. I'm only kidding."
He looked at the school and back at her. "This is a bit of an ironic contradiction, a Shinto Priestess attending a Catholic girl's school."
"My father is a politician and he had me enrolled here. It's about the only interest he has taken in my life. I live at the Shrine with my grandpa and I have to tell you the nuns here are not too happy with what I have learned from him."
"I would think not." He gave her a slight laugh and winked at her.
"You don't know the half of it."
"Say, would you like to join me for a soda, Rei?"
"I would love to."
Ryoji held out his hand, which Rei accepted the two walked along hand in hand, as Rei smiled at the thought that this handsome young man had took an interest in her.
"I hope you don't find this too forward of me, but I find you to be the most beautiful girl I have ever laid eyes on."
She blushed at his words. "Thank you, Ryoji."
As they walked along, they saw a crowd gathered and heard people as they spoke in worried tones. "Someone get this man some help. I think he needs a doctor." A woman cried out as this man rolled around on the ground and held his gut. Suddenly, out of the blue he began to glow bright red and his clothes ripped as his skin turned gray his hands mutated to claws, fangs grew from his mouth, his feet turned to hooves, and wings sprouted from his back. The crowd began to panic as people ran in fear. A small child was nearly trampled before Ryoji quickly scooped her up in his arms as Rei reached into her school bag and pulled out an ofuda. She tossed it at the demon in front of her and yelled, "Aku Ryo Tai San!" As it connected with the forehead of the demon, it reverted him back to the form of a human as Ryoji watched a sly grin crossed his face.
"My baby, baby! Oh, thank you very much." A woman ran up crying as Ryoji passed the little girl off to her.
"Let's get out of here." Rei took Ryoji by the hand and took off down the street at a fast pace.
"That is amazing, Rei. I have heard of the power of a Shinto Priestess, but never dreamed such abilities existed."
"Why are we rushing off? What about that man?"
"Others can get him medical attention. We need to get out of here. I told you about my father."
"I thought you said he was not a part of your life."
"He isn't and I would like to keep it that way by staying out of the media spotlight."
"I see."
As they made their way into the soda shop and took a booth by the window, they ordered sodas and Ryoji smiled across the table at Rei.
"I have to say, Rei, you are truly an impressive young lady. Are there any other secrets you are keeping?"
Rei blushed and smiled at him. "A girl has got to have a few secrets she keeps to herself." She knew she could not just blurt out, 'Well I'm a Sailor Senshi.'
"Rei, what are you doing here?"
She looked up and saw Usagi who stood there and looked from Ryoji to Rei and grinned at her friend.
"Who is this lovely young lady, Rei?"
"This is Usagi. I'm sure she has to be on her way."
"I have nowhere to be," she said innocently.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Usagi. I'm Ryoji." He took her hand and kissed the back of it as she blushed and giggled.
"Will you excuse me for a moment?"
Ryoji slid out of the booth and headed to the men's room as Usagi slid in the booth next to Rei who took a drink of her soda.
"Wow, Rei he is a real hunk. Are you two dating?"
"That's none of your business."
"You're no fun." Usagi stuck her tongue out at Rei who returned the gesture.
"Fine, if you must know, we met last night when I was walking home. He is a history major at the University of Tokyo."
"Wicked cool! I wonder if he knows Mamoru."
"I doubt it. He is new in town."
"You like him, don't you, Rei?" Usagi elbowed her friend and gave her a grin.
"Don't be ridiculous, Usagi."
"I can tell. You have the look of love in your eyes."
"Shut up!"
"You do!"
"I'm warning you, Usagi."
"Were you girls talking about me? My ears are ringing."
"No, of course not." Rei blushed at his words.
"I was only kidding." He let out a slight chuckle.
"Usagi was just saying she had to be going. Isn't that right, Usagi?" Rei elbowed the other girl sitting next to her.
"Huh? Oh yeah, I have to be going." Usagi gave the other girl a wink as she slid out of the booth.
"It was nice to meet one of Rei's friends, Usagi."
"It was nice to have met Rei's new boyfriend," Usagi spoke in a tone that teased.
"Usagi!" Rei yelled at the other girl who ran out of the soda shop with a grin on her face.
"I'm sorry about that, Ryoji." She spoke with an embarrassed tone as her face turned bright red.
"Nothing to be sorry for. I could be accused of a lot worse than being the boyfriend of such a beautiful young lady." He smiled at Rei as she blushed once again.
"I should be getting home. Grandpa will expect me to do my chores."
"I will walk you home." Ryoji paid the bill and the two exited the soda shop.
Later that evening, Rei, in her white and red Priestess robes, had a broom in hand as she swept the front walk of the Shrine. Phobos and Deimos sat perched in a tree and squawked as Rei looked up at them.
"Okay, okay I admit it. Ryoji makes me happy. There, I said it, now leave me alone." She called out to the two crows.
High above the Shrine invisible to the naked eye, Ryoji floated wearing a red style military uniform and boots. His arms crossed over his chest he looked down and watched over Rei with a smile.
"My lovely Rei, you have passed the first test."
To be continued.
