Phew, this chapter is loooooooong.

Managed to get more Rei/Chad in.

Chapter 10: Operation Lover Plan C

"A Christmas party! Yay! I can't wait!"

Serena jumped about holding a card with "You are invited on December Twenty-fifth (that's two months from now!) to Andrew's apartment at six o'clock p.m."

Then she took on a serious tone.

"I better save up money," she squealed the rest," to buy you guys all presents! Who else is coming?"

"Well…"

Rei laughed nervously along with the other girls.

"All of us, Andrew, Rita, Chad, Greg, Kevin, and…"

"And?" Serena prompted.

"Darien."

Serena froze and then smiled dangerously.

"That's funny, I swear I heard you say that Darien was invited too."

"WHO INVITED BAKA!"

They all ran away before Serena could pinpoint one of them.

"Lovely," Chad grunted, examining the cool steel of the sword he held in his hand.

Red hilt, great, my armor and sword match.

"We have swords now! Cool! It's like we're cosplaying medieval knights with higher technology."

"Cool as it seems, this is very inconvenient." Matthew checked his watch. "Your class begins in a few minutes and I have a meeting with a partner company to attend. Kevin, are you almost done drawing?"

"Yeah," Kevin replied faintly, distracted.

Why do we keep meeting like this in random alleyways?

Rei raised an eyebrow as Serena chatted happily away.

I wonder why she seems so happy after that thunderstorm weekend. She hates thunder.

"Serena, are you ready for the Christmas party?" Mina asked Serena.

"Nope! But don't worry, I will be. I still need to buy the perfect gifts for everyone!"

Rei giggled.

We have a very special gift for you Serena… and we think you'll like it very much.

Rei could smell Lita's delicious food. Surveying the room's decorations for the umpteenth time, Rei drummed her fingers on the couch's armrest impatiently.

The table is set, the gifts are in place, and Ami is ready to unleash the weapon at anytime.

The doorbell rang. Mina reached the door first and threw it open. Greg and a silver-haired man stood in the doorway.

"Sorry, but I had to bring my friend Matthew over. He really needs to be cheered up."

Rei sank back into the couch again. The doorbell rang. Everyone jumped up except a puzzled Matthew. Rei reached it first. She opened the door and the strawberry blonde hair greeting her eyes told her that Darien and Serena had yet to come.

"Hey Pyro."

Rei turned red and smacked him straight across his left cheek.

Dang, if she had been in my gang she would of kicked butt.

Chad rubbed his cheek ruefully and watched admiringly as Rei flounced off to the bathroom.

Probably to wash off Chad-cooties.

Everyone laughed. Matthew shook his head. Chad raised an eyebrow.

Oh ho, so weirdo number one and two are here.

Seating himself on the couch with the rest of the group, Chad couldn't help but notice that most of them (except Greg and Matthew) seemed to be waiting intently for the door. The doorbell rang. Lita wrenched the door open. Kevin stood in the doorway.

And in comes weirdo number three. I'm weirdo number four, so I guess that makes the collection of weirdoes complete. Huh, oh wait, we don't have any idea who Endymion is yet.

The doorbell rang and in came Darien and the Odango girl, Serena. Laughter greeted a puzzled Serena and Darien.

"What's the joke?"

Chad shrugged, and unnervingly enough, so did Matthew, Kevin, and Greg.

Great, weirdo telepathy.

The party began at full blast. Greg was flirting constantly with a red-faced Ami. Mina was attempting to make Matthew, who seemed to not care about anything, react to something. Lita and Ken were talking and laughing every few minutes. Andrew and Rita were like two love doves in a corner, talking, giggling, and snuggling. Chad set his eyes on his own pretty prey.

"Well that's strange," Chad said in a mock puzzled tone while eying Rei. Rei shifted uncomfortably and glared at him.

"What?"

Chad grinned at her, "I thought you would come down the chimney in a sack tonight." He leaned in close. "After all, I did tell Santa very clearly what I wanted for Christmas."

-Smack!-

"Ouch!"

"Serves you right, stupid."

"That hurt," Chad whined, "kiss it better!"

"Are you jok—" Rei could see Serena making her way over. Darien was heading in the opposite direction towards Kevin.

Ack, Serena and Darien are supposed to spend time with each other…

"Rei!" Serena called out.

Rei quickly switched her disgusted face into a sickly sweet one.

"Of course darling," and Rei gave Chad's red cheek a quick peck.

Bleack, this better be worth it.

Red-faced with embarrassment, Serena stopped in her tracks.

"Need something?" Rei inquired innocently.

"Er I'll talk with you later Rei… have fun with Chad!" Serena babbled before running away.

"You did that on purpose didn't you?" Chad observed.

"Hmph, what do you think?"

Chad laughed. "I think that I've completely ensnared you with my impeccable charm," he said, giving her a model pose.

"Right, so I don't know this guy," Rei told no one in particular.

"Jingle bells, Batman smells—"

Rita groaned and playfully punched Andrew in the shoulder. Rei snuck a glance at Serena (who was happily ripping the wrapping paper of her gifts) and Darien (who was equally as happily watching Serena do so). Her own gifts (an ink stone with nice brushes, a cute skirts with matching heels, fingerless black leather gloves, chocolate, and a notebook) were already opened.

Taking her walkie-talkie out she whispered, "Ice Princess, is the weapon ready? Out."

"Ready to go Phoenix. When do I put the weapon up? Out."

"You have to exit after targets Coffee Maniac and Bunny. Make sure its up right before they leave. Out."

"How will we get them to exit at the same time? Out."

"Goddess of Love will give them a little push. Out."

"Alright, plan ready. Over and Out."

Rei put away her walkie-talkie. Darien got up first.

"Well guys, I need to study for an exam. Thanks for inviting me, see you guys later."

They all stood up to say goodbye from the door, just as planned. Ami pressed a button. Just as Darien reached the doorway Mina gave Serena a push.

"Oops!"

Serena yelped and Darien managed to twist around and catch her on time, in the doorway. Rei started the clapping, Mina and Chad started whistling.

"Go Darien! Go Serena!"

Serena straightened but couldn't understand. Darien looked up and turned pale.

"Odango…"

"What are they making all that noise for?"

Darien pointed up and Serena followed his point.

"Eep!"

Hanging from the doorway, an innocent sprig of green and a cassette tape twirled slowly above them. Rei snickered

Note to self, never get on Mina's bad side. The tape idea is ingenious.

"Serena… If you don't want to it's fine."

Aw how noble of him… but you know want it haha!

Serena was opening her mouth to reply when a piercing scream rang out. Rei groaned.

Great, Youma.

"I have to go Darien, bye!"

Rei and the rest of the girls raced out with some small excuses.

"So close," Rei grumbled as she shoved her room's door open and collapsed on her bed.

"Hey Pyro! Don't burn the house down!" came a very familiar and annoyingly loud voice.

Rei bolted upright.

"Hey Pyro! Don't burn the house down!" came Chad's annoying voice again from a gift-wrapped box on Rei's desk.

Opening the box, Rei took out a shiny red cell phone.

"Hey Pyro! Don't burn the house down!" it told her again. "Handsome Chad," read the caller ID.

Rei scoffed and smiled.

"Hello?"

"Merry Christmas, Beautiful," came Chad's voice, slightly huskier than normal.

He must've stayed up to wait for me to come home…

"Thank you for the cell phone… I'm sorry I didn't get you a Christmas present."

Chad chuckled. Rei shivered.

I think I need to get some sleep! Chad is starting to sound…attractive?

"I already got my present today. My poor swollen cheek is all better now."

Rei could feel her face growing warmer and she quickly closed the cell phone.

He can be so silly… but so sweet…

The click told Chad that his fiery nymph had hung up on him. Chad laughed and lay back on his blankets, fingering his cell phone. Rei and her temper were a pleasant distraction from the brief attack and transformation into the red armor: an all too clear reminder for the need to find the mysterious Endymion.

So sweet… but it was only to keep Serena from coming over…since it seems like Rei and her friends are playing matchmaker for Serena and Darien.

He sighed. Somehow his chest was aching, and it was not from chest pain.

This girl… is not of this earth is she? She's reduced the infamous Jin… to this sorry state… and yet he doesn't mind… not at all.