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Chapter 14-The First Guardian
Authors Note: Inconsistant Dreamer-Yeah, I did. thanks! It was an accident. I went back and fixed it up though. Good eyes :). I updated "The Phoenix and The Raven" the other day, if there are some of you who didn't catch it. My alerts were messed up the other day, dunno if anybody else's were.
Dropping the gun clad hand, her hair flowed backwards. She glanced into his eyes, searching for something. Finding nothing, she crouched decidedly on the ground.
Heero was still kneeling. The fear had never been present in his eyes. He had been expecting her to shoot.
The bullet itself was currently embedded in the wall, less than an inch above Heero's head. Although she'd never dare admit it, Rei missed on purpose.
"Hikawa is no more,as of several years ago," she said suddenly, turning gracefully to Wufei. He opened his mouth, stuttering on his breath. She blinked softly, her eyes returning to their kind shade of violet. She knew, without word to Wufei his story. He was Chinese. But his heart belonged in Japan.
It was at this time he allowed himself to take a good look at her. Ebony tresses, untouched for years. Her perfect smile, and her eyes symmetrical. Her slim frame a figure most women never achieved. "A Geisha?" Wufei asked suddenly, his voice breathless.. Rei pursed her lips. It was a humiliating past, if any.
"Surely, as you were adopted," She said quietly. Wufei nodded, "Sent to my grandfather in Japan. After my mothers death in China."
Rei nodded. It made sense now. She now looked at Wufei, something broken in her eyes. It was as if no one else stood in this room. "Hikawa was a temple for the damned," she said finally, turning away from the group. Her slow escape from the crowded hall nearly killed her inside.
Every year of secrets came crashing down, and the memories played over in her mind, their sick repetitive dance calling her name.
She'd been left on their doorstep, barely hours old. The shivering temperatures rattled her. The old woman heard her cries though. Scooping her up, she took Rei in. At first, Rei was spared. She cleaned, and tended to the fires.
The other girls were beautiful. The beautiful kind of Damsels in Distress. Their cries at night whisped through the temple, haunting Rei many a night.
It was on her sixteenth birthday that Noin had come. Noin was barely sixteen herself. That night changed their lives.
"Do it," Madame Quin ordered. Rei's face flushed red as Madame Quin's hand made contact with her face, the slap echoing across the once holy temple. All kindness was gone from her eyes. Madame Quin had been the only mother Rei had ever known.
Holding her tears in with her breath, Rei arched her back behind the screen door. Her graceful shadow provided elegance to the traveling soldiers in the room on the other side.
Her forced dance provocative, she stepped from behind the screen, revealing herself. Her kimono short, and unmodest. The jeers in the room made her sick to her stomach. But Noin, Noin was with her. Thank the gods for the comfort of Noin.
Since that night the girls found comfort in each other, the youngest geisha's in the house. It was unclear to Rei, exactly how Noin had come across Trieze. Fate had taken over from there.
Hikawa had taken her soul that night. Perhaps the ruins of Hikawa still held her soul captive, enabling her to exist without emotion. Since these boys had come though, something had been awakened, and her emotions had been stirring restlessly.
"Rei," a solemn voice said, breaking through her thoughts. She turned, still struggling with her demeanor. Heero stood, his Prussian blue eyes sympathetic. It was not his voice though. She took several steps forward.
Wufei stared, his eyes determined. He bowed, before kneeling respectfully before her. His bowed head allowed him to focus his attentions in his hands, where a large ball of flames appeared. Controlled and graceful, they licked around between his open palms.
Things felt warmer suddenly.
She felt herself sigh, and her hair flow backwards, rippling in the air.
To the others though, they saw something more. The symbol of mars glew upon Rei and Wufei's foreheads. The house was silent, even the wind inaudible.
Slowly, Wufei outstretched his hands, presenting the fire to Rei. She reached out slowly, as her hands shook. Cupping them, she accepted the ball from Wufei. Her body prepared itself for the excruciating pain.
No such pain came though. Her body felt empty, like death itself had consumed her. The flames in her hands still, Wufei knelt before her, his head still bowed.
Suddenly, every feeling in the world surged through Rei's body, the pressure lifting her off from her feet. Flames encircled her body as her graceful form spun in them.
Gasping, Usagi let out a cry, unknowing of the change taking place.
Rei's feet hit the ground though, and she stayed upright. The symbol of mars no longer glew, although it was still present upon her forehead.
Her hands were encased in pure white gloves, matching the shirt she wore. A bow had appeared on her chest, and a fuku had appeared, her slender legs protruding from it.
Heero froze. She wore the same ensemble that Setsuna and the outers wore. Although he had asked about it, he and the other inners were incapable of transforming.
Their powers were mere extensions of their current abilities. Something inside Rei had changed though.
She stood tall in the uniform, a certain level of comfort lodging itself in her body.
"Princess," Wufei whispered, his head still bowed. The symbol of mars had disappeared from his forehead.
Her porcelain skin willed itself not to crack, as she hit the floor with her knees. Sitting in front of Wufei, their eyes met, and he nodded simply.
Rei held her hands out, the flames appearing once more in her hands. She smiled. The touch was familiar. She blew softly, and the flames went out.
She had no idea how, but something inside her had been awakened. She cocked her head though. Rising, she let the flames appear in her hands. Tossing them to Heero, he caught them, the ball instantly turning to ice in his hands.
He glanced to his reflection, inside the ice crystal. Raising his eyes to Rei, he nodded. His shaggy brown hair clouded his vision, although he kneeled before her, bowing also. The other boys soon followed suit.
Gasps of wonder on the girls faces followed.
Rei paused though, her attentions focused on Wufei. He shivered lightly.
She let herself fall to the floor once more. He extended his hands, although no flame appeared this time.
"The power of mars is with you Rei. In it's rightful place at last," Wufei whispered. He was no longer the guardian.