Akina's Notes: Look! A chapter before it has been a month has gone by! It's coming out a little later than expected, but I've had busy weeks. I've had to work all but two nights this week and it's final exam time and then more work…! (I feel like I'm about to fall over from exhaustion or stress, whichever comes first ;) Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed! Believe me, it means so much, every time I read all the wonderful comments, I feel like jumping around. All right, on with the story! Please read and review!
You Remind Me
Chapter 9:
Heero stood staring out his window. He was finally beginning to feel like a real person again, and it felt so wonderful to feel again. There was love in his life for the first time since he was just a baby. He could laugh again, and he had Rei to thank for that. She was the one person who had truly fought against the barriers he had put on his mind. Closing his eyes, Heero thought of the woman who held his heart. Her hair was so long and silky, her smoky scent was invigorating, and her eyes were more vivid and held more depth than any gem or ocean ever could. Those things all made her beautiful, but what really made her shine was her soul. She was such a great person. She had been the only person to break through to him, had been the only one who tried. Her very being radiated honesty and a fierce caring for her loved ones. Sometimes, her temper got the best of her, but she always tried to let him know how much she truly cared.
Heero slowly opened his eyes, Rei's image fading from his mind as his thoughts continued to elsewhere. He wondered what Dr. J was doing and how Duo was. He felt a pang of guilt when he thought about the other young man that he had worked with. Though not truly a friend, Duo had been the closest thing to one Heero had until Rei came along. Now, Heero was free from Dr. J's clutches and slowly healing his wounds, while Duo could be worse than dead by now. He could turn into what I was, the thought made his stomach turn into a giant knot. He had to rescue his old comrade. The problem was how to go about doing it; he had a feeling that it wouldn't be so easy to go around and blow things up anymore. I have the freedom to feel, but that freedom has also tied me down. He knew that taking another human life would all but be impossible now, how was he going to get Duo out of that damn place if he couldn't kill anyone who stood in his way. In desperation, Heero clutched his forehead.
"Heero?" came a soft voice from behind him. "What is wrong Heero?" Turning, Heero saw Rei peering at him through eyes that were filled with concern.
Shaking his head, Heero replied, "Nothing." He gave a shake of his head to try and sound more convincing.
Rei raised her eyebrows and a slightly skeptical smile crossed her lips. "You should know better than try to convince me of that."
Heero sighed. What the woman said was very true. "I do know better, I just figured I'd give it a shot."
"Well, why don't you tell me about it?" Rei moved closer and Heero wondered if she knew just how beautiful she was.
"I've been worrying about Duo. I'm afraid of what might be happening to him, " he said with a sigh.
"Duo?" asked Rei. The name was familiar, but she couldn't quite put it with a face.
"The guy who I was talking to the day I, we, captured you." Heero winced at the reminder at how this all started. He hoped that the bringing up of that memory would make Rei mad.
"Oh," was all Rei said. Heero cursed silently at himself for reminding her of their previous encounter. Rei saw the pained look in his eyes and quickly assured him that all was forgiven or forgotten. "Even though that was my best of days, I wouldn't give it up for the world, Heero. How else would I have gotten the chance to grow close to you? And about Duo, if you are worried, you probably have good reason. I do remember that bastard Dr. J and if anyone is left in his clutches, I am certain they need help. I'll find out what I can do to set up a rescue mission." Heero gave her an appreciative look and nodded in agreement of her plan. "I have to go now though, Makoto wanted to talk to me about something. I promised I'd meet her in five minutes from now."
Rei turned to leave, but something made Heero grab her arm. She looked at him with a questioning look. Uncertainly, Heero pulled her in for a kiss. When their lips touched, it was like being filled with life. Nothing he had every tasted or felt was sweeter. They ended the kiss with reluctance and stared into each other's eyes. Rei smiled up at him. "What was that for?" she asked breathlessly.
"Just letting you know how much you mean to me and just how beautiful you really are," his voice said. He was in shock at what he had just done, but he was also pleased with the result. Rei's smile lit up her entire face and he couldn't help but smile back. She then slipped out of his arms and exited the room.
As soon as she was gone, his mind started thinking about Dr. J again. The man filled his dreams at night and many of his thoughts during the day. The only times he seemed to be able to pull his mind away from those dark thoughts was when Rei was near him. She made everything feel safe and secure. With her there, everything was fine. Heero traced his lips with his fingers as he remembered the kiss he had just given her. He hadn't planned to kiss her, he hadn't even really thought about it, it had just happened and seemed natural enough at the time. Sighing, Heero went to the bed and sat down, trying to get his thoughts together.
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Rei walked quickly along the hallway, only half aware of what was going on around her. He had called her beautiful! Even more, he had kissed her! That had been such a surprise, though it was a pleasant one. A glance at her watch made her quicken her steps.
Arriving at the room that Makoto had told her to come to, Rei glanced at her watch to make sure she wasn't late. Being late for something was one of her pet peeves and she always made a point to be right on time or early. Opening the door with the pass code Makoto had given her, Rei stepped in to a darkened room. Good, that means I am not late. Rei started to let out a sigh when she felt another presence in the room, her stomach tightened. Hardly needing to think about what she was doing, she began to make a flame in her hand. Only nothing happened.
"Do not bother trying to draw on your powers, we have blocked you from the use of them," said a lofty voice Rei did not recognize.
Pinpointing where the voice come from Rei began to charge at her opponent only to be caught by another. Her arms were then secured behind her back and a blindfold was tied around her head. Breathing hard from fear, Rei tried to think of ways of escape.
"You have been selected to become one of the senshi," said the lofty voice. "But first you must pass our tests. Before you pass these tests, you are to be lead to our secret lair. Once we arrive at our destination, your blindfold and restraints will be removed and your tests will begin. They will be difficult and dangerous. Though, to join our ranks you must endure them. To fail means to bring injury or death upon yourself, and even if you fail one test, you will never be tested again and thus will never be one of us. Of course, you may end it here and we will release you here and now and will not bother you again."
The senshi? Thought Rei in more shock than anything else. She had heard whispers of them between soldiers and she had heard them mentioned during her training with the others. For all she heard of them though, she knew little, only that they were an elite group of warriors both feared and respected. Lifting her chin Rei said. "I am not afraid, I will pass your tests." She hoped none of the senshi could hear through her lie.
"Then you are a fool, but we can discuss that later." Rei felt someone push her from behind none too gently and she began to walk. Blindfolded as she was, Rei had no idea what direction the where headed after the first two turns. All she knew was that the trip was constantly going downhill. As they continued, the air grew moist and frigid.
After what seemed like hours, Rei ran into a force, causing her to stop. The bindings on her wrists fell away. After a few moments, Rei cautiously reached up and removed the blindfold. It didn't help much. All her surroundings were enveloped in darkness.
"You have been brought here to face the trials of a senshi to see if you have what it takes. Being a senshi is being the best of the best, you must not only have strength in you body, but as well as mind and spirit too. You must be able to produce a plan in a matter of seconds that will be both effective and efficient. This is what is required of you. These tests mark the beginning of your training as a senshi, and the start, now."
Once that lofty voice was finished speaking, faint green light appeared across from where Rei was standing. Walking towards it, a door came into focus and it was marked by the sign of Jupiter.
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A.N.: Okay, so this took a lot longer than planned. I did manage to get this out sooner than expected though. Sorry if there are mistakes in grammar, I didn't proofread it near as well as usual. Please forgive me for not getting this out sooner! As always thanks for reading and now that you have read this, aren't you compelled to tell me what you think? Review… review…review…..review….review….
