Chapter 22

It took a few weeks for Rei to get back on track, as well as completely control her emotions with Jadeite's help. It was Sunday, and was supposed to be a training day, but Minako decided to cancel training for the day. She said they needed to have a day of fun with everyone together. Haruka had a motorcycle race, so they all decided to go to watch her. After that they were all going to a late lunch.

They were all piled into a few benches on the bus to the race track. Rei was listening to Minako tell some story to Usagi about a guy in her science class. Rei giggled along with the story. Ami was reading, as usual. Makoto was flipping thru a magazine. Mamoru, Jadeite, and Motoki who opted to join them were discussing "guy stuff". Rei felt a peace being with all of them. Her family. She did realize there were a few people missing though.

"Where are Michiru, Sets, and Hotaru?" Rei asked, interrupting Minako's story.

"They're meeting us there. They rode with Haruka to the track early this morning. They wanted to make sure to get the best seats for all of us." Usai answered.

"Oh. That makes sense." Rei responded.

The rest of the ride to the track Rei, Minako, and Usagi chatted and laughed. There wasn't a moment Rei didn't love. She was still giggling when they got off the bus at the track. It didn't take them long to find Hotaru, Michiru, and Setsuna. The race track was crazy busy, but Rei loved it. Jadeite was acting like a kid in a candy store though. His antics had her laughing even harder. He insisted he was going to learn to ride a motorcycle, and race with Haruka.

He dropped that idea when he watched someone wreck. He said he didn't want to risk messing up his pretty face. Mamoru's response to that was that Jadeite's face was already messed up, and not nearly as pretty as he thought it was. This left Rei with the job of reassuring her boyfriend that his face was indeed pretty. After he pouted when she laughed at Mamoru's comment.

After watching Haruka sweeping all three races they all headed to the dinner near the track. Rei got a good laugh at Motoki pulling out a notepad, and taking notes on things he saw at the dinner he wanted to try at the Fruit Parlor. Things he thought would make it better. He also seemed to bit in awe of being a customer at a restaurant instead of a server.

Some how Rei found herself sitting next to Haruka. One thing Rei had noticed today, and at every race was that Haruka's parents were never there. Haruka also never discussed her parents, or introduced them. Having thought about this a bit, Rei found herself curious.

"Hey Haruka. How come your parents are never at any of your races?" Rei asked.

"I haven't seen or spoken to my parents since I was 15." Haruka answered.

"You haven't? Can I ask why?" Rei questioned.

"They threw me out when they found out I liked women instead of men." Haruka responded.

"Oh wow. I'm sorry. I didn't know. I didn't mean to bring it up."

"Oh don't worry about it. It's in the past. Besides I'm better off."

"Ah."

"If they couldn't love me for who I am then they didn't deserve me."

"That's true. Besides Michiru is amazing. Who wouldn't love her?"

"Exactly. Look, I know that the situation may not be exactly the same, but if you need to talk to someone who's been thru it in a way, I'm always here."

"Thanks Haruka."

"Of course."

"Actually I do have a question."

"Shoot."

"How…..how did you get past it?"

"It took some time, but I surrounding myself with people that loved and accepted me for me helped."

"How did you deal with the anger, and rejection?"

"Raced."

"Of course."

"In all seriousness, I talked thru it with those most important to me. I got involved in jujitsu, and other physical activities. I also met Michiru. Her love and acceptance really helped."

"That makes sense."

"Just remember that it takes time. I guess it doesn't help that your father has always been in and out of your life. It's like rubbing salt in the wound."

"Yeah. Kind of makes things harder."

"I'm sure it does. You'll get thru this though. We're all here to help you."

"I know. Thank you."

"I heard Jadeite is interested in motorcycle racing."

"Yeah. He changed his mind after the first wreck."

"Oh yeah. Why?"

"He said he doesn't want to mess up his pretty face in a wreck." Rei answered with a giggle.

"Well it is pretty." Haruka snorted.

"Yeah. It kind of is."

"He's been really great for you though."

"Yeah. I'm not sure I could have gotten this far without him."

"I can't say I disagree. A soulmate heals better than anyone else in the world."

"Yeah. I've learned this."

"I'm sure you have. I've watched him with you. He reminds me a bit of how Usagi is with Mamoru when he's having a rough time. Especially in the beginning."

"She really was great with him."

"Yeah she was, and still is. Just like Jadeite is with you."

"He's great with grandpa too. Grandpa already talks about turning the shrine over to Jadeite."

"How do you feel about that?"

"Honestly, that makes me happy. It means he and I have something to look forward to together. Something we can take care of together. The shrine is already technically mine when grandpa is ready to retire, but him wanting Jadeite to be a part of it, tells me that grandpa trusts him too."

"That is a good thing."

"Yeah. It is. It's also nice I'll have someone to share the responsibility with, as well as the joy of the shrine."

"Whatever happened to Yuirchu? Wasn't he hoping to take over the shrine some day?"

"Oh no. If he hoped that it was in vain. Grandpa never even considered him as a successor. He had no intentions of Yuirchu taking over the shrine, with or without me. Grandpa never felt he was trustworthy enough or responsible enough. Plus it was always my choice if I wanted to run it with someone some day or on my own. It was also my choice on who. He left when he realized he would never be more than what he was to the shrine, grandpa, or me."

"Ah. Probably for the best."

"Yeah. He's a good person. Just not right one for me. I hope he is doing well where ever he is though. We haven't heard from him."

"He definitely wasn't. You need someone to balance you out, plus you already have soulmate in that goof ball over there."

"Yeah. I do."

"Are there wedding bells in the near future?"

"Some day, but not before you and Michiru, and Mamoru and Usa."

"Shhhh! Not so loud. I don't her to get any ideas."

"Oh please Haruka. It's already set it stone. It's just the matter of doing it."

"We have time."

"Yeah. We all do."

"Yup."

"Hey Haruak?"

"Yeah?"

"You think I can call you when I need to talk to someone when the rejection is causing a problem for me?"

"What a dumb question. Of course you can."

"Thanks."

"Hey. That's what family is for."

"True, and this is a pretty big one."

"No kidding. And it's only going to get bigger."

"Yes it is, but I think that's a good thing."

"Me too."

Rei and Haruka got drug into conversations going on around the table after that. Before anyone knew it, it was time to head back to the city, and go their separate ways. Rei found herself glad they had skipped training, and gone to the race instead. It had been a lot of fun, and they had all been able to spend time together as a family. A family Rei became more and more thankful she could call hers. A family she had walked a fine line of losing, or so she had once thought. She was glad they loved her enough to do what needed to be done to help her, even if had hurt at first. It really had helped, and saved her. It made her love them all the more.