Chapter 24

After the meeting ended, and the girls had left, Rei found herself sitting on her bed, reading the letters from Jadeite again. She had read them so many times she probably had them memorized. She found that the more she read them the less angry she was.

She also thought about what she had said to Minako the week before about how maybe they could have saved the guys years ago. Usagi had managed to save Mamoru from being possessed by using their bond, and love. Rei wondered if she and the girls could have done the same for Jadeite and the guys. She would never know though. What she did know was that she wanted to see Jadeite, talk to him. See if what they once had was really still there. She sent Jadeite a text to invite him over.

Hi. It's Rei. Are you free?

Hello Rei. Unfortunately, at the moment I am at work.

You're at work?

I am. I got a job after my first visit to the shrine. I also enrolled in college. I need to do something with my life as being a general to two long gone kingdoms doesn't amount to much these days. Plus I have the most amazing woman in the world to impress with my skills in being a responsible adult.

Lol. Completely understandable. When do you get off work?

In about an hour.

Would you like to come over after work, and train with me? I do some training in the woods behind the shrine.

I would love to. I will let you know when I am on my way.

Great. I'll see you then.

Rei spent the next hour doing chores around the shrine, and helping people locate charms they wanted. She had just finished with someone when she looked up, and saw Jadeite at the top of the stairs. She was about to wave at him when she saw a beautiful red headed woman walk up to him.

The woman was tall, slender, built nicely, and had a beautiful face. Rei watched as Jadeite bowed to the woman, and spoke to her. Rei was disappointed because it seemed to her some things never changed. It appeared he was flirting with another woman, right in front of her. She continued to watch to see what he would do. The woman took a step toward him, he quickly stepped back, and slightly to the side. Jadeite seemed to be wearing a polite, but non flirtatious smile, and kept moving away from the woman. The woman kept following him, and even tried to put her hand on his chest. He stopped her, and continued to walk away. When he got close enough for Rei to hear them, she almost smirked at the woman.

"As I said, while I appreciate it, I am not interested. I have the woman I want already." Jadeite replied to whatever the woman had said.

"But you haven't even given me a chance." The woman whined.

Jadeite seemed to notice Rei in that moment. He walked up to her, kissed her on the check, and whispered in her ear.

"I know I'll probably get in trouble for that, but go with it for now please? I'll take your fireballs later." Jadeite whispered.

"Ok." Rei whispered back and giggled quietly.

"Hi my love. Are you almost ready for our anniversary lunch?" Jadeite asked loud enough for the woman to hear him, as he wrapped an arm around Rei's waist.

"I just need to change. I got tied up with someone wanting a love charm." Rei responded, smiling up at him.

"Oh. No problem. By the way, this is my fiancé Rei. Rei this is…..ummm…I'm sorry. I didn't catch your name." Jadeite said as he turned to the woman.

"It's...oh nevermind." The woman walked away in a huff. Rei giggled as she watched.

"Thank you. That's the third one today. Am I wearing a sign that says "available please flirt with me" or something?" Jadeite asked, sounding frustrated.

"Yes. It's the blue eyes, blond hair, and boyish good looks." Rei said with a giggle.

"Boyish good looks, huh? Well you, my lady, may flirt with me anytime." Jadeite stepped back, and bowed to her.

"I'll keep that in mind." Rei chuckled at him.

"I hope you do. Are you ready to train?"

"Yes. Lets see what you've got."

Rei lead him to the clearing in the woods behind the shrine. She stepped behind a tree, and transformed.

"You know, it would not bother me one bit to watch you transform." Jadeite said with a sly grin.

"Watch it." Rei playfully growled at him, and launched her burning mandala at him.

He quickly twisted away from the attack, and threw ice crystals back at her.

"Gladly." Jadeite chuckled.

"You're incorrigible." Rei stated, shooting a flaming arrow at him.

He blocked it with an ice shield. They continued to train for awhile without further conversation. They finally called an end to it when they were both winded. Rei had a few, shallow cuts from ice crystals, and Jadeite sported a couple of minor burns on his arms and legs.

"You're out of shape." Rei commented as she walked toward him.

"Four years stuck in a tiny stone will do that." Jadeite stared plainly.

"This is true. We'll work on your stamina."

"Oh yeah. And what did you have in mind? I may be game."

"Pervert. Training here, every evening."

"Oh damn. I can do that." Jadeite chuckled, dropped to the ground, and patted the spot next to him.

Rei rolled her eyes at him then headed for the trees. Once she was back in normal clothes, she sat beside him. She pulled a few strands of grass, and thought about what she wanted to say.

"Rei, what's on your mind?" Jadeite asked gently.

"I….well….I just. I'm sorry." Rei sputtered out.

"You're sorry? Whatever for?" Jadeite asked, confused.

"For not trying to save you. For not even considering I could." Rei answered quietly.

"What? Rei, what are you talking about?"

"I've been doing a lot of thinking lately, and I realized something."

"What was that?"

"That there was a way I could have probably saved you, but instead of thinking, I reacted in anger."

"Rei, how do you think you could have saved me?"

"I have been thinking about how Usa saved Mamoru. She used the bond and their love to pull him back, and remove the evil energy. I can't help but think that if I had actually thought it thru, I could have done the same thing, and saved you. I could have helped prevent it all from happening. I failed you because I didn't even try to save you."

"Rei, don't do that to yourself. Don't dwell on something you didn't do. Something you didn't think of. It may not have worked any way."

"But I should have tried. I could have saved you like Usa did for Mamoru."

"Maybe. We'll never know, but you also need to remember something."

"What?"

"Usagi has the Silver Crystal on her side. It is connected to her. It is part of her. The Silver Crystal has the power to heal."

"Yeah, but…."

"No Rei. Don't go down this road. It leads to no where good. You are NOT to blame, for any of it. You never were, and never will be."

"I guess."

"I know Rei. Please don't beat yourself over something you didn't think of a thousand years ago. No one knows if would have worked, and no one ever will. It's pointless to dwell on because you can't dwell on the shoulda, coulda, woulda."

"You do."

"That's different. I killed people. I killed the woman I love, my soulmate, the woman I planned to marry the moment I returned from battle. Then a thousand years later, I tried to do it again. Can I change it? No. Do I regret it? Yes. Does it haunt me every minute of everyday? Yes. I harmed the person that means everything to me. I was responsible for her death. I also turned her own grandfather against her. Those are things I did. Things I am directly responsible for. Things I have to live with."

"Tell me about it. Tell me what happened. I read the letter, but I want to hear it in your own words."

Rei turn towards him, as he turned towards her. Jadeite leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees, and took a deep breath. When he looked up at her, she could see the anguish in his eyes.

"I had been on the battle field all day. My magic had been spread thin in attempt to protect my soldiers from being drained by the beasts, and killing the beasts. I hadn't slept much the night before because Nephrite's disappearance was reported just as I laid down. I spent hours that night looking for him or his body. I had done the same with Zoisite, but found nothing of either, except a small measure of blood. Anyway. I was walking back to my tent from giving my report to Kunzite about the battle that day, and the disappearance of Neph and Zoi. I was physically, and magically exhausted. I didn't even have enough magic to shield myself. In hindsight I probably should have stayed in Kunz's tent.

"I guess some of the possessed humans had slipped into our ranks, or they and the beast with them, used the cover of night to slip in. I had the letter in my hand, preparing to send it off when something stabbed into my leg. I looked down to see a dagger sticking out of my thigh, and I fell. I slipped the letter into my subspace pocket just as the beast began draining me more, and I was knocked out. When I awoke, I was being put into one of possession chambers. I tried to fight back, but I was so weak, I couldn't get more than a half hearted swing in, and my magic was so depleted, I couldn't reach for it. I considered sending the letter, but decided not to because I didn't know if they had a way to sense or track that. I didn't want to risk them finding you. I knew I would have never forgiven myself if they had gotten to you. They ended up doing so anyway, and….well…you know what happened when they did."

Rei starred at Jadeite, tears streaming down her face. To hear him tell about his capture was more heart wrenching than she thought possible. She couldn't even begin to imagine how scared he must have been. Without even thinking about it, she grabbed his hands in hers, and put her forehead against his. The connection sent a jolt straight to her heart. Leaving a warm feeling there, and set her heart to racing.

"Jadeite, I….I am so sorry you experienced that. I can't even imagine." Rei said softly, as she looked into his eyes.

"None of it was your fault." Jadeite responded. He let go of one of her hands, and wiped the tears from her check then rested his hand there.

"I know but I am still sorry that you experienced such a thing."

"I know, but it's in the past now. It's an experience I will learn from, and do my best to never let happen again."

Rei just nodded slightly. They sat just like that for a long while. They silently starred into each others eyes. Rei could feel and see the bond between them. She could feel it strengthening. Suddenly Jadeite dropped his hand from her face, and pulled back from her forehead. He took hold of her free hand though. She looked at him questioningly.

"I'm sorry. I wanted to kiss you, but I don't want to push, and feel as though it may be too soon. We're both emotional right now, and I want no confusion between us." Jadeite stated.

"I understand, and I thank you." Rei responded.

"I want you to know. No. I need you to know that I am so sorry I betrayed you. That I killed you. I'll never forgive myself for that."

"Jad, it wasn't your fault. You were not in control of your actions, or even aware of them. None of what you did was your fault."

"Either way. I am still very sorry."

"I know you are."

"Uh. Do you….do you think….well….would you like to have dinner with me tonight?"

"I would love to."

"Great. I'll go home, clean up, and change. I'll be back in about an hour. Ok?"

"Ok. I look forward to it."

Jadeite got up, and opened a portal. She saw a bedroom on the other side.

"Oh. And Jadeite." Rei called out.

"Yes?" Jadeite asked as he turned back to her.

"Don't use a portal to get here please."

"I won't." Jadeite chuckled, stepped through the portal, and closed it.

Rei hurried back to the shrine to get ready. Jadeite showed up an hour later, dressed in gray slacks, and a gray button down. It looked like he tried to get his short blond hair into some sort of order. He presented her with a single tiger lily, and they headed to dinner.

Dinner was enjoyable. Rei, and Jadeite talked about all different subjects, life, hopes, dreams, and future plans. Rei also told Jadeite about her father, as well as Minako. They discussed Jadeite being enrolled in college, but being unsure of his major yet. The night ended with him kissing her check good night, and leaving. Rei swore she could feel the tingle of that kiss on her check the next day.