AN: words from me at the bottom



Chapter 3:



"You know," he began, leaning back on the backboard of the bed. "I never knew you had that much hair."

"It's a pain in the ass," she said, trying her hardest to run her fingers through it as she sat on the floor. "It would help if I had a brush and a hair dryer."

"Why don't you use your fire powers?" he asked her sarcastically.

She glared over her shoulder. "You know it doesn't work like that."

He smiled and laughed to himself. "Yes, I know very well that it doesn't work like that. It was only a suggestion."

"And a very stupid one at that," she continued to glare.

"So?"

"So shut up unless you have something useful to say," she spat and then turned back to what she was doing.

"Ah, you know I can't do that."

"I know," she paused. "It was only a suggestion," she threw back at him mockingly.

"Rei," he gasped. "I didn't know you had it in you to be so. . . so. . .what's the word?"

"Such a bitch?" she suggested.

"Oh no," he said. "I could never ever call you such a name. As a matter of fact, I never have. Not even once."

"Hmm, shocker," she said. "Don't you have anything better to do?"

"Better than watching you?" he asked. "Oh yeah. There much better things," he clasped his hands together over his stomach and closed his eyes.

"You just wouldn't like it too much." he smirked as he waited for her hot- tempered reply.

"Pervert."

"I'm not a pervert," he said smoothly. "Never been one."

"And that's supposed to make me think what? That you're not the monster I think you are?"

"No," he said firmly, beginning to grow a bit angry with her persistence to his animosity, or so she thought. "You assume too much too quickly, your highness."

"Look, it's not your highness or princess or anything else for that matter. It's Rei. Nothing more," she hissed at him.

"I'll call you whatever the hell I want," he stated.

"Whatever."

"You need to quit being such a hypocrite," he said.

"Don't tell me what I need to do," she said in a flat tone.

"Don't? how about this," he began. "I'll stop when you stop."

"Fine," she said.

"Fine."

"Good."

"Good."

"I'm not speaking to you," she stated.

"Fine. Neither am I," he ended.



Minutes passed by and neither had said one word to each other. Jadeite firmly held his ground, smiling at her turned back while she began to wonder if he would ever talk to her again and if he meant what he said or not.

Hating and scolding herself for the thought, she actually felt quite lonely without his constant efforts to win her over or convince her of something she had made up her mind about. His persistence was actually a bit attractive to her, though she'd never admit it to him or even herself.

She turned to look at him and found him looking off in another direction.

'Jerk,' she commented in her mind and turned back to the way she had been facing. 'How long can he wait?'

She looked back again. This time his eyes were closed and he appeared to be sleeping. Battling herself on whether or not to sleep on the floor, her aching back persuaded her to take the option of sleeping in the same bed with him.

She shuddered.

'It's alright,' she told herself. 'What can he do if he's asleep?'

She approached him, bent over, and watched him carefully. His facial features were slightly relaxed; his breathing slow and steady.

'He has to be asleep,' she observed.

She made her way quietly and softly to the far side of the bed and crawled in ever so slowly. 'Phew. Still asleep,' she said to herself as she pulled the covers up to her shoulders and turned on her side. As soon as she closed her eyes she went to sleep.

His eyes opened slowly, one first and then the other, as he turned his head to the direction in which she lay.

"About time princess," he said, getting under the covers himself. "Goodnight," he said to her as he himself, fell asleep.

*******************************************************************

His eyes snapped open as he caught her hand flying to his face at lightening fast speeds. She glared at him harder and cursed at him under her breath. He looked sternly at her sideways; his cold blue eyes burning into hers.

"You ought to think about where that awful hand of yours is traveling to princess," he said flatly. She struggled to wrench herself from his firm grip and he tightened it and pulled harder.

"Let me go," she demanded.

"Why should I?" he asked, rolling over onto his side.

"Because I said so."

"And that means what to me? You got yourself into this position, you know," he informed her.

"Whatever. Now let me go."

"No," he said.

"What?"

"I said no," he stated firmly.

She began struggling again.

"I won't hurt you," he said, growing tired of her losing battle. "But please don't make me use any force on you."

"Force on me to do what?" she glared angrily.

"Force you to calm down."

"Well, if you'd let go." His grip loosened on her and she firmly crossed her arms.

"And if you'd quit hitting me."

"And if you'd quit trying to touch me."

"And if you'd admit what happened between us."

"If you'd just stop with that crap."

"If you'd just stop with denying it happened."

"If you'd quit trying to remind me of it."

"If you'd quit reminding me of it."

"Just fucking stop!!!!!" she finally screamed out of frustration and anger.

"When you stop," he began yelling back. "I'll stop," he finished of in a quieter voice.

"I'll stop when you quit fantasizing about me."

"And I'll quit when it becomes reality," he grinned at the anticipation of her reaction.

"Pervert!!" she screeched.

He laughed deeply.

"I'm just messing with you."

"Like hell if I know when you are or aren't anymore."

"Don't worry about it princess," he said smoothly, releasing her and laying back.

"Don't call me princess."

"Why not?"

"I don't like it," she said turning over, her back to him.

A few minutes passed before she spoke again.

"How do you know if it's day or night in this place?"

"I don't think there's a way to tell," he said.

"What? you don't remember anything about your lovely stay here in the Nega- trash motel?"

"Rei," he said sternly, looking at her. "We've been over this before."

"Yeah, yeah. I know. You aren't evil anymore."

"So you're finally admitting it?"

"No."

"Then why'd you say it?"

"Because it was what you were going to say anyway."

"But you said it like you believed it."

"Well, I don't."

"Why not?"

"Because, you are evil!"

"But I saved your life back there. How could anything evil do that?"

"I don't know. You must have some sort of ulterior motive," she said, sitting up and crossing her arms again.

"Nope."

"I don't believe you."

"Believe it, princess."

"Stop calling me that!"

"Why?" he demanded. "Why don't you like it? Are you afraid of something?"

He paused.

"Of remembering something?"

Another pause.

"Remembering yourself? or me?"

"No!" she yelled. "I'm not afraid of anything."

"Yes you are."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes you are," he said. "what's making you behave like this?"

"You."

"Oh, come on," he said, quite annoyed, his feet falling to the ground. "You have got to be shitting me. So I no longer terrify you? Instead I what? Disgust you?"

He paused, standing up.

"This was totally different a thousand years ago."

"Well, it's not a thousand years ago. It's today. I was reborn. I am a different person. You may not be, but I am," she glared as she spoke. "So get over it."

"Fine," he said in her face as he walked past her to the door. "Have it your way. I'll be who you think I am."

He stood before it and glanced once over his shoulder.

"Oh, Mistress," he called in his characteristically loud, demanding voice with a hint of a whine.

"I think I'm ready to help you in defeating the sailor scouts."

"Jadeite!" Rei shrieked, running to him. "I don't believe this."

"Believe it Mars," he said coldly, just like he had in his evil days.

"Jadeite! Please!" she begged, terrified of what he was capable of doing and terrified of that voice that echoed eminently in her mind. "Please don't."

"Why shouldn't I?" he asked coldly. "If I'm such an evil person."

"You are far past evil now. You are just plain manipulative," she growled, backing away from him. "But that doesn't change the fact that what you are doing is wrong."

"Oh, and you being so damn mean to me for no reason isn't so wrong?"

"You did something horrible to me. Something nearly impossible to forgive."

"You and I both know it wasn't me," he said in a softer tone to her over his shoulder.

"But I'm still not over it now that I know you are alive," she said, walking back up to him. "Please, give me another chance."

"Another chance at what?" he asked, quite confused, still looking over his shoulder at her.

"Another chance to be nicer and more forgiving," she said. "Please,.........Jed?"

"Oh gods," he groaned and rolled his eyes as he turned his back completely to her.

"You and that name," he mumbled.

"Fine," he said loud enough for her to hear. "I can't deny you that."

"Thank you," she said softly as she hugged him from behind.

He put a hand up to one of hers and she jerked back.

He turned around and she opened her mouth to say something rude. He held his hand up and she knew what he had in mind.

"Asshole," she grumbled to herself as she turned away from him and walked off, him smirking the whole time.

She stood on the far side of the room with her back to him and thought hard about what she was going to do as he plotted his next course of action.

'He knows my weaknesses,' she thought to herself. 'What am I going to do?'

He approached her carefully, without her knowing it. As a thousand different scenarios ran through her mind, she didn't take notice to his warm arm enveloping her waist until it was too late.

"Let go of me," she commanded and swung back to hit him.

Her arm was caught by his strong hand and her angry eyes, yet again, met his as she looked up over her shoulder.

"I wouldn't fight so much if I were you," he reprimanded her.

"You are so manipulative," she stated.

"Well, it seems we finally have something in common," he said. "You and your sweet voice," he commented like it was a curse. "I'm sorry I scared you back there."

"No you aren't," she said through gritted teeth. "You got what you wanted."

"Not quite," he said as he pulled her back closer to himself and took her hands in his as his arms, and now hers, were folded over her stomach.

"You still smell the same," he said as he breathed in.

"I don't know how."

"Me neither. I just know you do," he said. "I wish there was some way to help you remember. To know."

"Keep wishing," she said coldly.

"As long as I am alive, I will," he replied.

"That may not be too long if you don't let me go," she demanded through clenched teeth.

"How about no," he suggested more as a statement of fact.

She struggled in his grip.

"You aren't getting away so why try?"

"I don't know. I guess it seems a little unlike me to just give up," she spat at him. A long silence fell between them before any of the two spoke again.

"Please, just let me go," she begged quietly, fighting him less and less.

She stopped completely and leaned back against his chest.

"I don't want to fight with you Rei," he said tightening his warm grip. "I hate it."

She didn't reply.

"I remember when we first met," he said. "I knew you hated me from the start. You didn't give me a chance."

"But you kept on," she said more to herself.

"Yeah. I did," he said softly. "Even though you completely ignored my presence and treated me as distantly as you could."

"You were from earth," she began, beginning to grow confused about where this information was coming from and how she knew these things. "I was from Mars."

"Yes."

"It never would have worked," she said, turning to face him, becoming the princess of Mars.

"You weren't royal."

"I wasn't imperial," he contested.

"But I was."

"But not high imperial."

"That was Sere and Endy."

"Yes," Jadeite said. "But why wouldn't it have worked Rei?"

"I told you," she said a little annoyed. "I was heir to the imperial crown of Mars. Martians and Terrans didn't mingle then. We were sworn to hatred but bound only by the moon."

"Was it all just a dream?" he asked, hurt in his eyes.

"No," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. "No, it was real."

"Where have you been, my princess?" he asked, beginning to tear up.

"You always did show all of your emotions with me," she said with a soft smile, wiping a threatening tear from his eye. "My former self has not fully integrated with my reborn self," she paused. "I'm so sorry for this."

"Don't be," he said, kissing her hand and then enveloping it in his. "How can I get the two parts together? How can I get you back?"

"I do not know," she said. "You must figure this out. Just never give up."

"I won't," he said, holding her closer.

"We'll meet again," she said quietly as the princess half of Rei receded and her own persona came forth.

"Why in the hell are you holding me so damn close?" she demanded. "I mean, what is it with me lapsing and ending up in such compromising situations with you?"

"You'll understand in time," he said softly, in much contrast with her loud voice.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she said in much the same manner as before, beginning to struggle again.

"I don't get it. Jed, you are really confusing the hell out of me."

"I'm sorry Rei. I just can't explain it," he said, still not letting her go. "Not that you'd understand," he finished to himself.

"And just what in the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Rei," he said firmly. "Stop."

She stopped struggling out of her own will and looked him in the eye.

"Jed?" she asked as she saw all the things he was feeling on his face. "What's wrong?"

He let her go and rested a hand in one of the pockets of his pants. He looked back at her and then at the ground; his golden locks falling into his eyes.

"You're going back."

"Back where?" she asked softly.

"Home," he said, looking at her with pain in his eyes.



AN: okie dokie!!! sorry it took so damn long to get this one out as well. my computer is just stupid...i think i'll start using the library computers at school to load stuff....if they don't bust me and then suspend me for the nature and content of this....รด.O it could get ugly. anyway, i hope you enjoy this! please be a kind soul and review!! it will definitely please me and proabably get the rest of this story out by....oh, i dunno....the end of december? like i said, it all depends on the reviews!!! look for the next chapter in two weeks or less!!!!!