Chapter 28

It had been a little over a week since Jadeite had, what he considered his first date with Rei. Everyday after he had gone to the Hikawa Shrine to train with her. She still joked about his stamina or lack there of. Unfortunately today he wouldn't be going. He had to work in the morning, and the girls were spending the day at the beach.

When he walked in the apartment from work the restless energy was palpable. He was no better than the other three. He had been hit on by no less 4 women today. One even tried to slip him her number. He had promptly thrown it way, told her he was taken as he had already told her twice, and told her to have a good day. She left in huff. The only woman he wanted flirting with him was Rei. She was the only one he wanted to spend time with.

He walked into the living room, and flopped onto the couch, dropped his head back, and groaned.

"That bad?" Nephrite asked from behind the book he was reading.

"Do I have a "please flirt with me" sign on me somewhere that I'm not seeing?" Jadeite asked.

"Yes. It's called your face." Kunzite quipped from his place in one of the recliners, not looking up from his writing.

Zoisite chuckled from his spot on the couch, placing his book down.

"Well he did always have the prettiest face." Nephrite stated.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jadeite asked.

"Other than Endy of course " Zoisite added.

"Yup. Women were intimidated by Kunzite. Zoisite had his nose stuck in a book." Nephrite said.

"Hey. You had your head stuck in the clouds." Zoisite interjected.

"You were the prettiest, and the most approachable." Kunzite said finally setting his pen down, and looking up.

"I not sure if I should be insulted or not for being called pretty." Jadeite mused.

"Don't be." Nephrite stated.

"It never bothered you before." Zoisite stated.

"It didn't until I met Mars. She changed all that. She refused me for months because of it. I don't want to take that chance this time." Jadeite explained.

"I think we can all relate to not wanting any thing messing things up." Nephrite said.

"What are you two reading?" Jadeite asked Nephrite, and Zoisite.

"The books Zoi brought home about emotional trauma." Nephrite answered.

"Oh. I tried to read one, but I had some trouble with understanding some of it." Jadeite stated.

"Maybe I can help. What was the trouble?" Zoisite asked.

"How can any of that really help? Isn't it better just to forget it, and move on?" Jadeite stated.

"If it was possible to just forget it, I'm sure it would be, but when it effects your relationships with people, it may not." Zoisite explained.

"It just seems kind of ridiculous to talk about things from the past, that can't be changed." Jadeite said.

"It might seem that way, but talking may be needed to see the other person's side of what happened. To better understand their pain, and anger. To also explain why in happened, or how it felt to you." Zoisite continued.

"But…."

"Let me ask you. Have you told Rei about what happened?"

"Well yeah."

"Did you happen to talk to her about your anger towards Kunz?"

"Yeah."

"Did she talk to you about how you felt about it, give you another perspective, told you what she felt or thought?"

"Yes."

"Did it help at all with how you're feeling? Did Kunzite's side of things help at all?"

"Yeah. Some."

"So talking about it did help, but maybe you didn't realize it did at the time because it was an emotional overload, so to speak."

"Maybe."

"I have nightmares sometimes about things I saw and did." Nephrite said.

"You do?" Jadeite asked.

"Yeah." Nephrite answered.

"So do I." Zoisite chipped in.

"What about you Kunz?" Jadeite asked as he looked at the man.

"All the time. I started writing to try to get it all out, as one of the books suggested." Kunzite answered.

"Does it help?" Jadeite asked.

"Some times, but it also makes me realize there are things I should say, amends I need to make." Kunzite said.

"I just don't think writing is for me. " Jadeite stated.

"Maybe it's not. Writing isn't for everyone. For some talking helps. For others it's being creative. Ami told me that after every major battle or event Usagi draws. Usagi rarely talks about it, which is apparently uncommon for her, instead she gets a new sketchpad and pencils, and draws for day or weeks. Ami said that after the last enemy Usagi was lost in drawing for over a month before she was back to herself. Some people use exercise to work it out. Others scream, yell, and fight it out." Zoisite informed Jadeite.

"Mako goes to a boxing gym everyday. She spars with people, or works it out on a punching bag. She also bakes up a storm." Nephrite stated.

"What does Minako do?" Jadeite asked Kunzite. He saw the man frown.

"I….I don't know. We've had one conversation since that night at Tokyo Tower. I haven't heard from her since. I would assume yell because both times she did a lot of that." Kunzite stated, looking down at the book in his lap.

"Oh. I'm sorry Kunz." Jadeite said gently.

"It's probably no less than I deserve." Kunzite said quietly.

"What does Ami do?" Jadeite asked Zoisite.

"She researches, reads "mindless books" as she calls them, and takes pictures. What does Rei do?" Zoiste inquired.

"She trains, mediates, or does fire readings." Jadeite answered as he showed his most recent burn marks from training with Rei. All of the guys chuckled.

"I guess somethings don't change." Zoisite stated.

"And somethings do." Kunzite stated.

"Kunz…." Zoisite said. Kunzite just shook his head.

"I….I need you guys to know something. Something I didn't say before. Something you didn't know. The day….the day I was captured…..I…..I didn't fight back when Neph picked me up because. Well because I didn't want to injure any of you, and I thought…..I thought if I could get inside I could get my strength back, and find a way to get us all out. I didn't know about the possession. I didn't get the chance to try because I was dumped in a possession chamber immediately. I…I just want you all to know that I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all of it." When Kunzite finished he got up, and went to his room.

"He blames himself for everything." Nephrite said quietly.

"Why?" Jadeite asked.

"Uh. Because…well it's Kunzite." Zoisite said, but it seemed he wasn't saying something.

"What aren't you saying Zoi?" Jadeite asked.

"Nothing." Zoisite answered quickly.

"What he isn't saying, Jad, is that a week ago, in this very room, YOU blamed Kunzite. For not saving us, and for us attacking the girls. You made comments about him being at fault because he sent us all separately." Nephrite said.

"Well he did send us separately." Jadeite defended.

"Not willingly. He spent almost 6 hours in two days arguing with the king to send us all as a unit. That we had a better chance of winning if we worked together, as a team. The king didn't want to hear it. Even Endy argued for a group effort. The king vastly under estimated the enemy. Kunz even considered defying the kings order, but the king said if Kunz didn't follow orders he would be sitting his ass home, and demoted." Nephrite explained.

"How do you know this?" Jadeite asked.

"I was in those meetings. You and Zoi were with your regiments, readying your soldiers. The king also ordered Kunz to get Endy to safety. He said Endy was Kunzite's first responsibility. That the rest of us would be fine. There was nothing he could do." Nephrite answered.

"Not everything is always as it seems Jad." Zoisite said quietly.

"I guess it's not. I guess this is what you mean about talking it out?" Jadiete responded.

"Yes. How are you feeling now?" Zoisite asked.

"Like an ass for never asking, and for not completely believing Rei. She basically said the same thing about his orders. She said she asked Kunz why we were separated. She said he told her basically the same thing." Jadeite replied.

"He harbors a lot of guilt over a lot of things Jad, and Minako isn't making it any easier on him." Nephrite said.

"She isn't?" Jadeite asked.

"No. She's not. She is taking out her anger at shit her parents are doing right now, out of him, using the past as weapons against him." Zoisite said.

"Ouch. Maybe I should go apologize, and talk to him." Jadeite said.

"I wouldn't right now." Nephrite said.

Jadeite nodded, and grabbed one of the books on the table. He read for awhile, but so much of it still seemed ridiculous to him. He guessed talking things out did help some though.

The group ate a quiet dinner that Nephrite ordered that evening. None of them talked much, and Kunzite locked himself back in his bedroom as soon as he finished eating. The guilt for being angry at Kunzite was slowly eating at Jadeite. Around 7:00 he text Rei.

Ever find yourself in a place where you find out you were wrong about something, but don't know how to fix it?

Yup. I almost lost Usa that way.

What happened?

I was angry at my father, and took it out on her. I was nasty to her for months until Mamoru stepped in and threatened to keep her away from me. I apologized, and we talked it out.

And that worked?

Thankfully it did. What's going on?

Simply put, my anger at Kunzite. I heard all you said, but the anger was still there. We talked a bit today, and he told me about why he didn't try to save us on the battle field. He apologized, and everything. Neph explained the king ordering Kunz separating us, and the fight between Kunz and the king over it. I feel really guilty about it.

Ah. And Kunzite being Kunzite, you're worried about him not wanting to talk about it?

Yeah. Apparently he harbors a lot of guilt for everything that happened.

That's not surprising.

I don't know how to fix it.

Try a letter. That's what helped me let go of the anger.

But you're still angry.

Am I? Are you sure?

Well you keep throwing a ridiculous amount of fireballs at me.

During training. How else are you supposed to regain your stamina?

Well I can think of more enjoyable things that won't leave burns.

Pervert. That just gained you tougher training.

Lol. I expect nothing less.

Anyway. Try a letter. You did well with the ones you wrote me.

I'll try.

Want to go see a movie with me tomorrow, before training?

I would love to.

Great. Meet me at the Shrine at 1:00.

I'll be there. Good night beautiful.

Good night Jadeite.

Jadeite considered the letter for Kunzite, and decided to give it a try. He went into his room to write. All the while harboring excitement for his second date with Rei tomorrow.