AN: Huge chapter so enjoy!
The light peaked though the small window in Rei's room, Sunday, she was aloud to be a little lazy. Rei turned on her side to look at Jedite, she was trying to decide if she liked him asleep or awake, at least when he was sleeping he wouldn't talk. She half smiled reaching up and moving some of his curly hair out of his face. Jedite in his sleepy stupor pulled Rei close grabbing her waist and nuzzled his face in her shoulder. He leaned over her kissing her on the chin. Rei was shocked, was he really asleep right now or is he faking it?
"Jed... I have to go," his hold on her was so tight, he kissed down her neck but his eyes stayed closed, Rei's eyes on the other hand couldn't be more open.
"The queen can wait," he hummed out running one of his hands up her tank top. Rei looked at his eyes, they were closed, he was sleeping and doing all of this!? Who does this? She certainly preferred Jedite awake, awake so she can yell at him!
"If I don't leave the queen will discover us," Rei played along with his dream whispering into his ear before he went too far. The sheer idea of him dreaming about her like this made her blush bright red but her words worked and his hold loosened mumbling about them 'meeting up later' Rei used the chance to jump out of the bed and started to get dressed. She spoils him too much.
Rei walked around the shrine, she needed to get her work done as soon as possible so she could have lunch with her friends. It was rare they all had time to talk and it sounded like the guys would also be joining them. It's been such a long time since they were all together Rei wasn't even annoyed with the guys totally crashing her girl only time. After sweeping she told her grandfather she was going inside to do the dishes and walked into the shrine. It was still a little early so Rei was surprised to see Jedite standing in the kitchen washing the dishes... in his boxers. Her teeth gritted together, does he have any respect for the shrine? Rei's grandfather looked through the door to the two standing in the kitchen. Rei scolding Jedite for his attire and Jedite trying to flirt to distract her from his lack of clothing. "You know you like it," Jedite leaned in saying his snarky remark. "What time are we meeting up with the others?" He was getting better at changing the subject.
"In a few hours, just enough time to finish the chores," she said picking up a towel and drying off the dishes. Jedite grabbed the towel from Rei's hands and leaned in for a kiss. Rei surprisingly didn't fight him away. She did glare at him after they parted.
"I have the dishes in here, go get your own chore," Jed said over his shoulder as Rei left the room.
"You don't have to tell me twice," Rei said with a smile leaving the room only to turn back in, "and put on some proper cloths Jedite!" she couldn't leave the room without yelling at him. It wasn't long before Jedite finally got dressed and the second he stepped outside Rei's room grandfather saw him.
"You need to go rake up the side of the shrine," Jedite was handed a rake and pushed off to do some work. Jedite knew better than to stop and say he was too busy. He was still very much a guest at the shrine. He walked to the side of the shine, there was a small path with old stone poles everything else was grass. Well it would be grass if all these leaves didn't fall from the two huge trees not too far away, didn't Rei just rake these up yesterday? How tedious! All the same Jedite made quick work of the leaves weaving in and out of the path getting every last fallen leaf. 'Maybe this isn't too bad,' he thought to himself knowing these kind of tasks gave him time to think. Clearly he was thinking too much because when he stepped back he tripped up by one of the poles on the path making him fall back and hit another pole. Why are these even here? Did someone five hundred year ago think 'this will make it hard to rake up leaves,' he looked behind him and his eyes grew in shock, one of the poles broke! Well the decorative top snapped off and that made it look pretty broken. Jedite looked around, good thing Rei's grandpa didn't see him do that or he would be dead. What was he thinking? Rei is going to kill him so much more then her grandfather could dream of. He was dead, deader than dead. They should hold a funeral for every limb they find of his dead body because he was sure Rei was going to tear him into little pieces. Still he needed to tell Rei, he found her in her room just switching out of her robes, she turned to look at him wondering just how long he was standing there.
"Can I help you?" She asked grabbing her brush to tend to her hair.
"Oh no carry on," he loved how she instantly shot him a glare, "I guess there is one thing. I think I might of... now don't get mad," Rei instantly got mad, "broke something important," his voice was going lighter as he spoke. Rei went from zero to ten,
"YOU WHAT?" her mind started to race with all the things in the shrine that were holy and breakable and the list was long.
"I didn't mean to! I was raking up leafs and fell..." he said sheepishly she was back to her fire and brimstone mood and Jedite's main goal was to just not die...
"Show me now!" Rei jumped into action grabbing his hand and practically dragged him outside. If he broke a statue so help her Kami this man, his life would be over before he had time to even make up an excuse for why this happened. Jed brought her over to the side of the shrine. "Ok where?!" Rei said in a hushed voice to make sure her grandfather didn't hear her freak out. Jedite knew his life was over, so he just pointed to the post and sunk his head in shame. Maybe he should speak of his funeral requests now before she started yelling at him. But no shouting started, actually it remained rather quite. Rei looked down and blinked several times, this? This is what he broke? Jedite heard her chuckle a little, then it grew into a full laugh, then she just couldn't stop laughing tears rolling down her cheeks. She was possessed, taken over by the spirit who protected that pillar to take him down!
"This isn't funny!" Jedite said loudly only making Rei laugh any more, she even had to lean on him for support, she couldn't stop laughing.
"It's not," Rei barely got out mid laugh, "holy," she said slowly calming herself down. Jedite blinked at her, not holy? "These pillars fall over all the time, when we have a strong wind storm I have to find them, they roll all around the shrine. Oh my goodness Jedite I thought I had to kill you," Rei smirked, he was never living this down. Broke something, he certainly had her worked up.
"Really?! Aww man I sounded like such an idiot," he grumbled lightly kicking one of the pillars near him and the top slowly and softly fell off. Only making Rei giggle a little.
"Jedite you always sound like an idiot. This just proves me right. Now go inside and get your idiot self-cleaned up to go to lunch, if we don't leave soon we will be late," Rei excused him from the side of the shrine, Jedite complied quickly. Rei rolled her eyes as she fixed the pillars quickly and went inside to finish dressing.
It was now time for them to go down to meet up with the others. Jedite knew the second they walked into the crown parlor that Rei would act like he didn't exist he just forgot what it felt like. They both agreed to show up together for lunch, Rei said her friends would ask questions if they didn't but as soon as she got there she wouldn't say another word to him. He felt like he was back to step one with her, like nothing was happening between them. Was nothing happening? Was his mind making up this side life where Rei lets him kiss her and laugh with her and just be happy? Was it all a lie!? "How are you holding up?" it was Neph clearly noticing how quite Jedite has been. Now normally Jedite would get a bright idea to say something loud, bold and reveling to force Rei to react with him. Heck Rei was actually ready to shut him up by any means necessary.
"I've been very well thank you," Jedite said with a half-smile, "how are things going for you being the universities newest astrophysicist? Is there any hazing?" Jedite chuckled at the idea of a bunch of astronomers having some sort of new member initiation ritual. Rei was rather surprised that Jedite didn't bite, actually he was on very good behavior so far, she allowed herself to smirk slightly, she would need to award him when they got home. Ok, so there was some level of fun secretly being married to someone you are well known to hate. The idea of pulling him off to the back room just to kiss him was distracting and thrilling.
"Rei, are you even listening?" Rei turned to look at Mina who rose her eyebrow at how spacey her normally stoic friend was being.
"Definitely," Rei said blankly then smiling, making her friends even more confused. Rei? Smile? Outside in the open like that?! Rei can multi task, on top of her listening to Mina's story she can even look at Jedite out of the corner of her eye. This is what he gets for being so attractive. "Why not just move in with Kunzite and solve the whole issue," Rei said pulling herself back into the conversation leaving Mina rather surprised. So Rei was listening,
"And have a set up like Jedite and yourself?" Mina smiled all coy, ok so Rei might of set herself up for that one but she bounced back quickly.
"Yeah just like Jedite and me but remove a desire to kill and replace it with love," she smirked playfully as her friends sighed at Rei's standard dislike for Jedite showing up.
"Oh come on now you two are a little better now aren't you?" Serena almost begged for good news. With two weeks of them under the same house and neither one of them dead was a good sign in itself.
"I don't know let me ask," Rei turned in her chair to look to Jedite, "hey are we a little better now that I'm tortured with your presence every day?" Rei asked fighting her smirk back, man she was having way too much fun playing with her friends. Jedite looked to Rei and saw that flicker in her eye,
"You still want to kill me and yell at me daily so I would say it's gotten worse," he said smirking back at her. Rei nodded turning back to Serena who was just frowning at Rei, they shouldn't of expected more out of the girl.
When Rei and Jedite got back to the shrine they were happy to be done with their friends, just too much questions to dodge. "Seeing them squirm like that was way too much fun," Rei said with a laugh, they were walking side by side on the way up the shrine steps. "It was nice not being picked on for once," Jedite said as Rei shot him a look, "Not that I don't like the attention," he added quickly and Rei smiled bumping his shoulder playfully. If he didn't realize that her yelling at him was her way of showing affection then he wasn't as perceptive as she thought he was. He grabbed her hand as casually as possible and Rei didn't do anything to pull away actually stopped mid step pulling Jedite to a halt as he turned to her. Rei quickly stepped up to his level and kissed him. Jedite was quite surprised, not even in the shrine yet and she is showing affection? When Rei pulled back she blushed at her own actions,
"your payment for doing so well at the crown," Jedite had to smile at her excuses. She always gave him an excuse for kissing him, like it wasn't aloud.
"Oh I did really well I think I should get two kisses," his playful tone made Rei smile but she raised her eyebrow reacting to his suggestion.
"Two? I guess you did extra good," he didn't wait and pulled her close for another kiss and he loved how her eyes sluggishly opened again after the second kiss, like it affected her more then she was planning. He brought their joined hands up to his lips and kissed her hand not saying anything as they continued to walk up the stairs.
"I've got some paperwork to do for work so I will start on that before I help make dinner," Jedite said at the top of the stairs. Rei nodded silently realizing they have a free evening and was happy for it, goodness knows today has been busy enough for the both of them.
"Rei, where have you been," Rei froze in her spot and Jedite stopped as well and looked up to a man he didn't know, he was older, with gray sprinkled into his black hair. He wore a suit and was very out of place at the shrine, almost like he felt uncomfortable to be there. Rei instantly dropped Jedite's hand, and Jedite couldn't help but grunt in annoyance, well that didn't last long.
"I can go anywhere I want. You didn't make an appointment," Rei said proudly this was the last person she wanted to see, ever, never seeing him again would bring her great joy.
"I'm your father, I don't need to make an appointment," he said and that's when Jedite about died, this is Takashi Hino? The one guy on the planet Rei hates more than Jedite? The man who has a talent for winning 'worst dad' trophy twenty years in a row? You know at this point Jedite is assuming the man doesn't even try to be a parent, he is just naturally bad at it. He has never met the man and clearly Rei only allows visitation of its planned so having him show up like this was a bit obscure.
"Well clearly you do," Jedite said stepping forward slightly, Rei put her hand on Jedite's arm, she knew he was trying to protect her but this was no time to get noble. The last thing Rei wanted to do was get Jedite involved in the mess that is her relationship with her father.
"Just the man I came to see," Takashi Hino looked at Jedite, up and down trying to size him up, "my daughters husband," how did he find out!? Rei's eyes got big in shock, who told him? Rei hasn't even told her grandfather yet! Takashi saw the surprise on her face, "Oh yes I found out. Ran into an old friend in the government building," he smiled and Rei's shoulders slumped, there goes the whole 'keep Jedite out of family drama' plan. Rei could kill Darien right now, yes Darien. He was the one to pick all the jobs for the generals when he revived them. Picking Jedite to work in the government made sense for their future as royals later on but right now it was clear to Rei that Darien just messed up. Everyone else got placed well but noooo Jedite was known for fighting on the field in their past life. Something that doesn't translate easy into their modern culture. Placing Jedite into a job so close to her father's job title made it look like Rei was only interested in men with political power. "Just think about how I felt running into an old friend and them telling you your daughter got married!"
"Not everything is about you!" Rei wondered how she got such a selfish father, she sighed trying to stay calm, she knew it was only a matter of time before she shouted at him. "Well there he is, you saw him so you can leave now," Rei snapped over to her father. Jedite looked over to Rei, on a scale of one to 'she's going to kill you run' he would put here at a six. He could tell she was desperately trying to stay calm and it totally wasn't working.
"I can leave when I want child," Takashi Hino said in a sneer, she was supposed to marry rich to keep the Hino name strong. Who was this Jedite guy? All the background checks came up blank, like he appeared out of thin air.
"Do not call her a child," Jedite's voice changed and it made Rei worried, no one can handle a fight with Jedite, without any weapons Jedite is still lethal, not that she would ever give him such high praise aloud...
"Oh so your little husband wants to defend you. Rei he doesn't even have a record. How did you get a job with the government? Buy your way in? Because according to your birth records you don't exist," Takashi Hino snapped out in sheer annoyance, he found nothing on Jedite, he always finds some dirt on someone, he is Takashi Hino for goodness sakes.
"You looked him up?" Rei was shocked, of course he doesn't have any birth records. Just a few years ago he was a soul trapped in a rock, try explain that on a birth certificate!
"Of course, you are a Hino not just any girl. I wanted to know who you committed yourself to without a word to your own father," Takashi Hino said pointed at Jedite like he was some alien.
"Ok there Hino, dad, father in law, old angry man, I love it that you have come over to talk about my existence and how you can't explain it. Super sweet of you but this might not be the best way to really warm up to your estranged daughter," Jedite said in his normal coy tone, "just look at her. That's Rei's 'I want to punch you' angry face. I would know... she uses it on me a lot," Jedite said playfully as Rei sent a glare over to Jedite, he wasn't helping.
"I barely know you, don't tell me what to do!" Takashi Hino shouted over to Jedite only making Jedite sigh. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot. 'Your funeral,' Jedite thought to himself knowing exactly where this was going. Almost on que instantly Rei finally hit level ten on the angry scale.
"You barely know me! Telling me I'm late to a meeting I didn't know about, attacking my husband Jedite just because your background check came up empty and trying to smack down some type of family honor? Jedite has more honor in his left pinky then your whole body!" Jedite then looked at his pinky in question, that must mean her dad is totally void of honor or something, Rei kept on talking. "Stop talking about Hino family honor. As if you didn't sleep around before and after my mom died. You are a piece of work. Takashi Hino you had better leave now or I'm calling the police," Rei grabbed Jedite's hand and dragged him into the shrine.
"You can't walk away from me!" Takashi Hino shouted after Rei. Rei turned on her heal and shouted back at him,
"Just watch me," Rei shouted before completing their walk into the shrine and slamming the door.
It's been a good a while since Mr. Hino was at the shrine and Jedite was trying to give as much distance as he could to Rei. This is of course was very hard for him, well for one thing this was the first time she was mad but not at him. Who knew this could ever happen, he wanted to do a dance, sing, celebrate but he managed to hold himself back, for only four hours... Jedite found Rei in the kitchen working on a salad for dinner and he thought now might be a good time to at least try to cheer her up. "So are you still mad," he trailed off. He knew the answer, he actually would feel the same if he had parents try to pull something like that. From what he knew Rei refused to talk him for the last few years and he certainly should know better than to just stop by and try to patch things over when she was mad. All he could say is that she is very let down by her father's choices and to be honest he was a little mad too. Rei wasn't the type of person to go willing to something that she didn't agree with. And Jedite had a feeling she didn't just jump at the chance to show off her husband to her father, let alone a husband she didn't really want.
"Yep," was her angry answer moving on to the fresh tomatoes and cutting them into quarters.
"Ah well you can't ignore your dad forever," Jedite had a feeling Rei never wanted Mr. Hino to know about her married status.
"Oh I can ignore him the bitter end," why did he have to bring this up right now? Why can't he tell she was busy? Super busy. Like she couldn't be more busy, destroying this poor tomato. Jedite had enough, she can wear her emotions on her sleeve sometimes.
"That's it. Put down the knife," he said sharply.
"I'm making a salad!" she fumed back at him.
"You put that knife down right now or I call up Serena and tell her you need to change your relationship status on facebook," the knife handle made a thud as it hit the kitchen counter.
"That's a low blow Jedite," she turned to him, it's amazing she could even see him from how narrow her eyes were glaring daggers at him.
"Yeah miss negative dark cloud of doom. Let's leave the kitchen so we can talk in private," he snarled back at her. He didn't need her being so short, if she was mad she needed to communicate, she can't throw up her walls now.
"I'm not going anywhere," she looked right into his eyes leaned her back against the counter and crossed her arms. Married or not no man will not tell her what to do.
"What you're not going to do shut me out like this Rei. Yes you hate your father but you are the princess of Mars! For goodness sakes you have saved the world countless times. For you to shut me out on something I could obviously help you with is, I hate to say it, it's rude of you. Why didn't you just shut your dad up and say this marriage was a lie? It would of taken a lot less effort. I make you mad all the time, you have no issue with throwing heavy objects at me, scolding me, shooting death threats my way but the second your dad shows up you stand there and protect me like I'm a key member of your life. I am starting to feel like a pawn to make your father feel little and I'm not sure I'm ok with that." He leaned over her thank goodness he stood so tall, his scolding wouldn't have half of the effect otherwise. He put his hands on either side of the counter, she was trapped and what made her even more angry was the fact that he was right. Rei has been using Jedite to her advantage with little mind about his feelings, kiss him one second act like he doesn't exist the next, the fact that he is allowing it was telling something Rei didn't want confirmed. Was he really willing to do all of this for her? Rei didn't want to think about this not now not ever but darn this man was forcing the issue.
"Just because we happened to get married doesn't mean we are meant to be. I just," Rei paused, explaining her relationship with her dad was hard, still she continued, "can't have my dad thinking I made a mistake," Rei said bitterly. Was he really wanting to do this? For real, not just a drunk night at a club like a lifelong commitment to her?
"Rei if marring you was a mistake then that's the best mistake I will ever make my whole life," his strong grey eyes looked down at her dark red eyes and the long pause in between them was getting to the girl. You could even hear the leaves outside suddenly stop rustling, the whole world paused. He was right, she hated when he was right. He just knew how to tell her these things in a way to make her rethink her own quick judgement and Rei was mad at herself for starting to rely on him like this. Jedite could always handle her mood swings on the moon and she was realizing how hard it is to find someone who can handle her level of crazy. All these feeling are welling up and Rei needed to make sure they are justified. Was she clinging on to these past memories hoping she could have the same joy she had in the past with Jedite? Or were these feelings that have been coming up for the last two weeks real and honest and true to her heart. Honestly she needed to stop having all these romantic moments with Jedite when they were both drunk. With that Rei looked up at the man standing over her, be it his frizzy hair, always getting so messy when he was angry, or being the only person who can put her in her place. Heck she would blame it on the full moon if she had the chance but she uncrossed her arms took one last look into his eyes before closing her eyes and drawing him in for a kiss. Jedite was shocked, she never did this before. She was in fight mode, in argument mode! Kissing someone isn't a battle tactic! Was this her way of saying he was right? Rei was being so soft, almost like her lips where ghosting over his. It was loving in a way and to Jedite it felt like home, but there was no way Rei was feeling it too right? He couldn't help but react pulling her closer to him remembering how great it felt being with Rei like this. Then before he knew it she suddenly and desperately grabbed on to him sending the kiss from a mild shy tender moment to full blown passion. She couldn't be close enough to him, like she wanted everything that second. Rei felt a chill go down her spine, something she hasn't felt in a long time, she even allowed herself to forget they were in the kitchen leaned up against the kitchen counter making out, totally visible to anyone walking by, she didn't care, her feelings were driving her. Jedite was on fire, the good kind where you feel the sensations all the way down to your toes and in the tips of your fingers. Rei wanted more an it's that realization that shocked her back to Earth. Just as soon as it started she pushed off from him breaking away from his hold and mumbling under her breath "I need to go," and she scampered away from the kitchen. Jedite just stood there leaning against the counter looking in the direction Rei just ran.
"No," Jedite said out loud clearly making the choice right then to act. He followed Rei into her room, she looked up as he slid the door open, was that fear in her eyes? He quickly shut the door and closed the distance between them. Rei backed up trying to avoid his rush toward her but bumped against the wall and he pushed her into it as he kissed her. She tried push back but she didn't really want to, so much for Rei clearing her head. Finally she gained enough will power to get Jedite to stop kissing her. "We should stay married," his voice rasped out, keeping himself close to Rei to avoid any body harm. Rei's shoulders instantly went tense.
"Jedite..." Rei trailed off, he can't be serious can he? "We can't, you are crazy," Rei glared at him. He really was crazy, he drives her mad too! Was he just saying this in the 'heat of the moment' because this wasn't how she ever imagined a proposal
"Maybe it takes a crazy person to handle how your temper can flare at any second, or how I actually enjoy you yelling at me. It's crazy that you actually let me in your house, how well we act when it's just the two of us. You got very jealous over the girl I liked at work," Rei instantly got annoyed. No need to bring up that coworker he had a crush on, Rei is prettier anyways... Rei blushed, was she acting jealous right now? "Your grandfather actually likes me, I'm oddly willing to do the chores around the shrine and I like it how we both don't like going out on the town all the time!" he was trying to stay calm and get this long list of why they work. He knew it, everyone knew it... all but Rei and darn it this was his last plea. "You can't even say your friends are against it since it's them who got us here to start with. Rei I'm in love with you!" he said it so point blank Rei froze, he said it. He actually said it out loud. Rei was remaining oddly silent while Jedite brought up good points.
"Jedite, I hate you," Jedite couldn't help but smile at Rei's words, nothing like telling the girl you love how much they mean to you to get a reply like that, it was something only Rei could get away with. Still Rei didn't say anything else and Jedite took that pause to his advantage bringing his hand up to her cheek and pausing briefly before kissing her. 'He loves me' was all Rei could think and her cheeks warmed as she was pulled in for a kiss. When Jedite felt Rei's arm come around his shoulder to play with his hair he knew he got his point across, when he pulled away Rei tried to lean in opening her eyes and pouting slightly. He completely stepped back away from Rei, his face was unreadable and Rei didn't like that.
"I need you to say it back," Rei knew exactly what he was asking, saying the love word was very hard to Rei and she rolled her eyes on how childish he was being.
"You said it enough for the both of us," Rei said off handedly for once wishing they were doing more kissing and less talking.
"I love you Rei," Rei blushed like a tomato, why does keep saying that?! "I hope some time away will get you to say it back," he moved to grab up his jacket. Rei quickly looked at him going through the motions of leaving.
"Time away? Where are you going? We are in the middle of talking!" Rei's temper instantly flared, he can't confess he loves her and then leave!
"My apartment is repaired and today is the last day we needed before we could file for divorce so I'm going home. So it sounds like the conversation is over, unless you want to tell me you love me back," he paused for a second and Rei looked appalled the idea of a rushed romantic gesture, "then I think this conversation is over." Jedite leaned down and kissed Rei on the cheek, giving her a quick look before waltzing over to her bedroom door and leaving. Rei stood there in silence. Why did she feel like crying?
AN: Ohhhh the drama! So thick...
