Boys II Men

Water Runs Dry

We don't even talk anymore

And we don't even know what we argue about

Don't even say I love you no more

Cause sayin' how we feel is no longer allowed

Some people will work things out

And some just don't know how to change

Let's don't wait till the water runs dry

We might watch our whole lives pass us by

Let's don't wait till the water runs dry

We'll make the biggest mistake of our lives

Don't do it baby

Now they can see the tears in our eyes

But we deny the pain that lies deep in our hearts

Well maybe that's a pain we can't hide

Cause everybody knows that we're both torn apart

Why do we hurt each other

Why do we push love away

Let's don't wait till the water runs dry

We might watch our whole lives pass us by

Let's don't wait till the water runs dry

We'll make the biggest mistake of our lives

Don't do it baby

"Mamoru!" Jadeite dove between the closing elevator doors just in time to catch up with his long time co-worker.

"Is there something you wanted?" Mamoru asked bemused by his friend.

"Well, actually, yes" Jadeite leaned against a wall and caught his breath. "I wanted you ask you about Rei"

"Of course you do! I heard she's getting married to that son of a bitch in a couple of days" Mamoru said, briskly.

"Well, five to be exact" Jadeite pressed the stop button on the elevator.

"Okay, what is it?" Mamoru crossed his arms and stared at the American.

"I bumped into Rei last week at a museum while I was helping my cousin, but that isn't important-" He paced back and forth in the small space which were available.

"Let's pray not, so what is it? I'm a very busy man, as I am sure you are too" Mamoru gingerly flicked his wrist and glanced at his watch thus annoying Jadeite even more.

"Do you know something I don't about her? Because I feel like I'm being played a fool by you" The question rushed out quickly. Mamoru let out a sigh of relief as Jadeite finally asked.

"So, finally you ask. Yes I do" Mamoru pressed the start button and the elevator began moving. However Jadeite was just as quick to press stop again, in a few second it came to a complete halt.

"What do you know?" Jadeite racked his hand through his hair.

"I know she's hiding something from you and most everyone. She's not who she seems. She's deceitful, cunning, sinful, bitchy, sluttish, crazy, selfish, stuck-up little brat yet she is loving and everything in between and yes, even scared at times. Which she is now" Mamoru quickly spat out and reached for the elevator button but Jadeite quickly intercepted him.

"You know Rei don't you?" Jadeite glanced up at the ceiling and sighed.

"Yes, I won't deny that. I know her longer than you have"

"How?"

"Listen Jadeite this is hardly the place to have this kind of talk how about you stop by my place and I'll tell you everything?" Mamoru suggested.

"Sure" Jadeite pressed the button and the elevator found itself moving once again.

Gym

"Ami, I think I'll die from horror on my wedding night" Rei said on the edge of the pool at the new gym which was just built.

"Afraid of the one eyed monster, are ya?" Mina laughed.

"Gee, do you have to be so loud" Rei hissed " And to answer that question, no!"

"Okay, well, you could always fake a headache or fall asleep" Usagi suggested.

"That wouldn't work. He would still fuck me" Rei massaged her temples and sighed.

"Well, I would suggest you run the hell away as soon as you're married. I'm sure Frederic would still take care of your father in his old age" Ami climbed in the pool.

"What is he doesn't?" Rei asked.

"You're screwed" Makoto appeared from the locker room.

"How does she do that?" Mina whispered to Usagi.

"Mysterious way" she replied.

"Well, I'm up for another lap" Ami began her swimming once again.

"Mako-chan I still have five days left. Is there any way I can get out of this mess?" Rei laid her arms on her legs and twiddled her thumbs.

"Well, have you though about making Frederic not want you?"

"I have, and that'll take too much time. And if he does, father is not a patient man. He wants his money" Rei reminded, emphasizing every word.

"We could all chip in and get money" Mina said.

"Not enough though" Usagi replied pointedly.

"Not enough time either" Makoto chipped in.

"Are you always this pessimistic?" Mina asked exasperatedly.

"I'm glad someone here noticed" Makoto smiled.

"Why don't you marry Jadeite and take his money and explain it to him in the end when you, oh say, about seventy years old? I'm sure by then he'll be too weak and feeble to leave you" Mina suggested. Everyone turned toward Mina and gave her a strange look.

"You're a strange one" Rei splashed some water on Mina.

"No! I just think differently" Mina tilted her nose up in the air.

"Yeah, very differently!" Makoto joked and pulled Mina under water as everyone else laughed on that remark. Just then Ami appeared and swam towards Rei.

"I've got it!" Ami shouted. Everyone stopped and looked at her.

"What?" Rei asked hopefully.

"We could try to delay the wedding. And we can work on a plan" Ami smiled.

"How are we going to delay the wedding?" Rei raised an eyebrow and stared at her blue haired friend.

"Well..." Ami smiled mischievously.

Mamoru's Apartment

"Have a seat jadeite" Mamoru unlocked the door and entered his humble abode.

"Would you like anything to drink?" Mamoru asked when they were settled down in the living room.

"Brandy" Jadeite replied sullenly.

"Okay, coming right up" Mamoru got behind the little bar and fixed the drink.

"So how do you know Rei?" Jadeite asked when Mamoru came around and handed him the drink.

"It's a long story actually" Mamoru took a sip and sat down across from Jadeite.

"I have the time"

"The women you love, my dear friend, happens to be my cousin" Mamoru replied as he gulped down the burning liquor.

"But-"

"I'm not finished Jadeite" Mamoru finished his drink and set it down.

"Okay, then" Jadeite sat back and stared at Mamoru.

"It all began when my aunt, Rei's mom, married Rei's dad. He was in love with her mother. More than you love Rei. However he was jealous that she loved Rei more, so he always despised Rei. And when her mother died he became careless and blamed Rei

"He grew to detest her so much that he left her with my grandpa. Of course through this whole time, I have been living in America with my family. They told me everything that happened, even though I've never met my little cousin"

"So that's it?"

"Afraid not. There's more, much more" Mamoru continued. "Rei always knew that she had some family in America but we didn't really contact each other. We were too busy and she never tried. A years after my parents died in a car crash my grandpa died. I tried reaching her but none of my letters were returned. I never found the time to visit because of my job and all

"So, when I heard you were setting up a company in Japan I leaped at the chance to come. At first I was swamped with work and couldn't find her. I wanted to surprise her. A few weeks after I stopped by the shrine and found it sold. But on one lucky day I bumped into her. She didn't know me but I knew her from the picture I had gotten from the shrine I visited"

"How come she still doesn't know who you are?" Jadeite asked curiously.

"Because I wanted to greet her formally. So after a while I kept bumping into her and this other man. I found it strange that he called her by another name. I was sure she was Rei and I even heard her friend call her Rei when I did a little spying, but one day at a party I overheard her and her friends talking. It was then that I found out she was a con artist. And..." Mamoru slung his head back and stared at the ceiling.

"And?"

"And I found out that she was used and left penniless and became a con artist, unfortunately" Mamoru sighed. "After that I couldn't find the right time to greet her. I'm not sure she can handle any family right now either. She in a pretty bad fix right now"

"Ever since that night you came by my office and suggested that she was a con women I couldn't believe it, but I guess she is. She used me" Jadeite closed his eyes tightly, trying to hold back a tear "So, she never loved me"

"Jadeite, she loves you the same con or no con" Mamoru assured him.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Here it goes again" Mamoru said "I found out a couple of months ago that her father and she had made a little bet......."

Gym Parking Lot

"It's always the quiet ones" Makoto crossed her arms and shook her head at Ami.

"Ami, are you sure about this?" Mina asked.

"Yes! This is crucial and it's the only way I can think of to stall the wedding" Ami sighed for the hundredth time. She was beginning to think that her friends had no faith in her.

"Ami, the last time I tried to fake an injury I really did it! If I fake breaking my leg I'll probably end up in a coma!" Rei shouted as the reached the car.

"Plus, Rei can't fake an injury. It would look fake" Usagi butted in. Rei flipped around and glared at the blonde.

"Are you saying I can't fake it?" Rei hissed.

"It just look unnatural that's all. You can't fake it when you know it's coming" Usagi smiled back.

"Yes, I can. Watch me!" Rei began walking and tripped and fell face forward. "Well?" she asked as she got up.

"So totally fake" Makoto replied.

"It could use some work" Ami added.

"A Lot of work" Mina laughed.

"That's it! Get in the car! I'm driving!" Rei screamed as she opened the door and got in.

"Rei! No! You know you drive like a mad hound when you're angry" Usagi begged.

"Two words, road rage" Makoto whispered to Mina.

"Two words, seatbelt" Mina replied.

"That's one" Ami corrected as they got in the car.

After driving around town for about an hour Rei cooled down and began to look for a decent restaurant.

"You know what, I think you should really break you're leg. It might convince them and it'll take up more time" Ami said as they parked the car.

"Fine" Rei growled. Ami winked at Makoto who instantly drew out her leg and tripped Rei, who then fell onto the hard pavement.

"Ow!" she shouted.

"Did you break a leg?" Ami asked hopefully.

"No, but I'll break your face!" Rei got up and limped over to Ami who was hiding behind Mina.

"Sorry" Ami squeaked when Rei finally got a hold of her.

"Fine" Rei let go of Ami and limped toward the restaurant. "But no more attempts on my life!" she shouted.

Four days later

"I could've sworn I said no more attempts at injuring me!" Rei fumed as she gently made her way out of the hospital.

"Well, we had to! It was for your own good!" Usagi scolded.

"Be lucky I can't hunt you down right now!" Rei threatened.

"Here you might need this" Everyone turned around and saw a plump old nurse come towards them with a wheelchair. The nurse kindly helped Rei into the chair and fled away to another patient.

"Good, now that she's injured that buys us some time to think of a plan" Ami rubbed her hands together and smiled at her handiwork.

"Ami, you're next on my list!" Rei tried to run her over with the wheelchair.

"Rei, this is no time to be the devil's spawn. We need to think" Makoto tapped her temple trying to think.

"Let's go to the park. We can get fresh air and collect our thoughts" Mina suggested.

When the girls arrived at the park there were dozens of kids flying their kites and running around. Couples could be seen huddles under a tree and cuddling up. It was enough to make Rei break down and cry.

For the three months that she had spent with Jadeite she had known joy, even if it was for a short time. He had changed her. And in return she had leave him in order to save him. To her, she wasn't worthy of him.

"I'm going to wander around. I'll be okay" Rei began to wheel herself away.

"I should go with her" Usagi got up and dusted her skirt.

"No don't. She needs to be alone right now" Ami stopped Usagi and pulled her down.

"Yeah, I guess"

Rei stopped on the little bridge in the center of the park. She looked down into the pond and stared at the reflection it presented.

Her hair was dull and tangled. It no longer had it's natural black beauty which it once held. Her eyes no longer shimmered the way it use to when she was near her love. Her skin was pale and her cheeks were sunken in. She hadn't eaten right in weeks. She could almost feel her soul collapse within her.

A tear traveled down her ivory skin and broke the surface of the water. She had given her heart away to the man she loved, but couldn't have. If only time would rewind itself she would never have become what she had.

She continued to stare at the ripples of water. Life was exactly like the surface of water. One fall could cause tragedy after tragedy. One mistake could break the smooth and calm flow which life has worked so hard for. But in the end it would work out and be peaceful once more.

Rei watched as the water began to smoothen out. She watched as another face appear besides her. It was Jadeite. She smiled at his reflection. Now she was going crazy and seeing things.

"I'm must be going crazy" Rei sighed.

"Then I am too" He finally spoke. The hair on the back of her neck stiffened at the sound of his voice, she slowly looked up and saw him standing besides her.

"Jadeite" She whispered.

"Rei, what happened? Are you okay?" He pointed to the wheel chair.

"Yeah, Usagi tripped me" Rei explained. Jadeite didn't listen he had been staring at her the whole time.

"Listen Rei, I miss you. I tried looking for you but you had disappeared. I'm so glad I saw you here. I need to tell you something. And this time you won't run away" Jadeite kneeled down to look more firmly into her eyes

"I know you're a con artist. I know about your dad. I know how you used me" Rei began to cry. It hurt to hear his voice be so cruel.

"I'm-"

"I'm not finished! What you did was wrong, and deceitful. Just because you were used in the past doesn't mean you can use others like that! Innocent people get hurt that way! Two wrongs doesn't make a right!" She sobbed even harder as he berated her.

"I'm sorry" She cried.

"Rei, when I met you I thought you were different from everyone else I've met. I really did think you were the only person who wasn't using me, but I was wrong" He stared at her.

"Jadeite, I-"

"But you know what?" He asked flatly.

"What?" She looked into his eyes.

"I don't care because I'm still in love with you Rei. It's going to take a lot more for me to stop loving you" He gently caressed her faced and kissed her forehead.

"How can you love me when you know I used you?" Her teary eyes shakily stared into his.

"Because I know that wasn't the Rei that I fell in love with. It wasn't the con artist I loved it was you. And you love me back just as much, even now" He smiled faintly at her.

"You should hate me"

"I should" He grinned.

"How did you find out?"

"Through your cousin"

"But he's in America"

"No, he works for me in Tokyo. Chiba Mamoru is your mother nephew and your cousin" He replied.

"Why didn't he confront me or turn me in?" she asked.

"He didn't confront you because he knew you wouldn't be able to handle it with everything else you were dealing with. He didn't turn you in because you're his family"

"I'm my dad's daughter but he's still willing to turn me in"

"Not everyone is your father, Rei"

"I know"

"Rei?"

"Yeah?"

"Marry me" He looked deeply into her eyes in search of the Rei he fell in love with, but instead found her soul. The most beautiful thing he had ever found and was never going to let go.

"But my father wants the money-"

"Rei, I don't care. I'll be more than happy to pay that much if it means I can be with you. Answer me now Rei. I'm laying my heart on the line and I'm going to take that gamble. Say yes and you'll be loved for the rest of your life. Say no then I'll have to cart you off to live with me in America against your free will. Rei, I'll die without you" He held her hand tightly in his and felt his heart beating faster with each passing moment.

"Then, I'm afraid, Mr. Jadeite Wilkins you're going to be stuck with me for the rest of your life" Rei smiled.

"Is that a yes?" He quirked an eyebrow.

"If your willing to put up with me this much and go through all this trouble and still love me. Then yes I'll marry you" Rei smiled.

"Yes!" Jadeite hollered as he hugged her tightly against him. He pulled her out of the chair and held her tightly.

"Rei?"

"Yeah?" She smiled as tears of joy clouded her vision.

"You're not paralyzed are you? Because I still want to be able to make love to you" Rei blushed furiously at the comment.

"Jadeite!" she shrieked. He only laughed harder and held her more tightly against him. She could feel his heart beating along with hers. They sped even faster when he lowered his lips to hers.

A/N Hope you like this and please R&R!