~ * Obsessions * ~
Chick-a-tee-in-ur-face
Disclaimer: SM does not blong 2 me.
Chapter Six: Coincidences don't come in Threes.
Rei wandered aimlessly down the street, her vision clouded by the image of her grandad in the hospital bed, weak, and connected to tubes and machines. She shuddered at the thought and instead focused on her good memories. Memories of her grandad teaching her basics for martial arts, the rituals of the temple, how to read signs. Her grandad smiling when she received her first belt in martial arts. Rei smiled as these images played through her mind, from the very first day she came to the temple to the last day she saw her grandad before…
"What's so funny?"
The voice jerked her from her thoughts and she was staring into the blue orbs of Darien Shield. "Hey Rei."
"Hi." A slow blush covered her cheeks as a memory popped into her mind.
* Flash back *
"He's so dreamy." a sixteen year old Rei said to no one in particular.
"I know what you mean." Serena said the same dreamy look on her face.
They both sighed as the person himself walked across the street whistling. Hands in his pockets.
"Just look at him."
"He's so delicious I could eat him."
"It's too bad he's going out with Anne." Serena said sadly after a small pause.
Rei just watched him walk confidently in even strides, flicking his raven hair over his eyes with a little flick of his head. She sighed as she saw him walk over to a redhead leaning against the side wall waiting for him, a big smile plastered on her face. She felt a tug at her heart as she watched him pull her into his arms looking into her eyes smiling in return. She turned her head away when she saw him lean his head forward to kiss her. Rei watched Serena's lower lip tremble. They both had a crush on him but Serena's crush was a lot more closer to love.
"Darien." She heard her whimper.
* End of Flash back *
"How's it going Darien?" Rei said struggling to keep from falling apart in front of him.
"I was on my way to lunch. Would you like to join me?" Darien added. He wasn't sure whether inviting her would get her mind away from her problems but he thought he would give it a try. But looking at her hurt him. She didn't know it though.
Rei hesitated, "I don't know."
"Come on, it'll be fun." Darien pressed.
Rei considered it for a moment. It's just lunch after all. I can see grandad after. "Ok, thanks."
"Great." Darien said forcing a smile on his lips. "But can we go to my place first, I have to pick up something for a friend."
Rei nodded her head. "Ok."
* * *
"You remember how I was researching in the library for my socio economics class? Well I was going through some old paper clippings and look what I found." Amy showed the four girls in front of her what she had found and waited to see their reaction. They all gasped, their eyes widening in horror.
"She looks… she looks just like…" Serena muttered.
"I know." Amy said pleased and at the same time horror stricken.
Lita stared hard at the picture, "they're so identical." Looking at Amy. "How come we never so her around?"
"Look at the title." Amy said pointing at the top.
SCHOOL GIRL FOUND DEAD!
"Oh my," Lita murmured.
Mina had been quiet for a while reading the clipping. Her gasp was loud enough to attract the attention of several people at the other tables of Andrews café and several more at the closer game section of the arcade. Her blue eyes was afraid, not of what she read but of the implication of what she read. "It could be just coincidence." She managed to say while the others read the clipping.
Amy just shook her to say otherwise. "No, remember Molly Osaka?"
They all nodded their heads. "Well, here is a clipping I copied when I found this one." Amy took out another paper clipping and showed them. They saw a smiling photo of a seventeen year old girl with clear blue eyes and a mass of red copper hair, wavy and hung loose at her shoulders. A small trail of freckles ran across her nose. She had grown prettier than the plain fourteen year old girl they remembered from high school. Their looks were sombre when they read the clipping and understood the dilemma they were in.
"What are we going to do?" Serena choked out on the verge of tears.
Mina said nothing. Lita looked defiant, "We have to do something."
"But we can't," Amy's small voice said which shocked Lita, "Not without proof."
"And besides," Mina said looking up, she was clearly troubled by the issue at hand. "We don't know which of the three is responsible."
They were silent as they looked at the picture of the clipping. A shadow of dread crept into their minds and into their hearts.
* * *
"Here we are." Darien said opening the door of his two unit apartment.
Rei walked in and stood nervously in the middle of a large room which appeared to be by the furniture, the lounge room.
"Please, sit down. Make yourself comfortable." Darien said walking to the left where there was a corridor with closed doors, then disappeared into one of the rooms.
Rei looked around making a mental note of what she saw. Darien didn't have very expensive furniture but what he did have was quite comfortable. The white plush lounge chair faced the double sliding doors which led to a balcony overlooking the east of Tokyo. A single lounge seat face a wide screen flat TV. He had some pots of plant which was well watered and taken cared of. On the opposite wall a small book case stood with several university textbooks and novels. A vase and some photos. Rei wandered over to have a look at the view of the balcony. Wow, you can see a lot of places up here. You can even see my temple. Then she wandered over to the case and looked at the photos. Each photo seemed to be about Darien. Either with an older woman she assumed to be his mother, an older man she assumed her father and there was a single photo of a girl by herself. Rei smiled, must be his girlfriend she mused then stopped. Her smile became confused as she picked up the photo and scrutinised the picture. It was a girl of seventeen standing in the middle of a rose garden, the red roses in full bloom. The moon was behind her shining. She was smiling. She was wearing a pale crimson dress with a matching ribbon tying her long raven hair up at the side. The rest fell loosely to her waist. Her violet eyes sparkled…What was Darien doing with a photo of her? But Rei couldn't even remember where the photo was taken and she knew she didn't own a crimson dress. Rei stared closely at the picture and saw it was her. Just someone with a great likeness to her. The only difference between the two was that the girl in the photo had dimples when she smiled. Rei heard a noise behind and put the photo back on the case.
"You ready." Darien said coming out, a small package in his hand. He looked at Rei carefully. She was slightly pale in colour which made him worried. "Is there something wrong Rei?" he asked coming forward.
Rei trembled as she saw him take a step forward. In he mind all she could see was the image of someone on top of her lifeless form, hands around her neck. "I- I don't think…what I mean to say is that I- I uh," Rei stared at Darien, his expression hurt as he looked at her. Her heart sank. "Thank you for inviting me to lunch Darien." Rei said softly. "but I really should get back to the hospital, it's getting late and… and grandpa needs me now."
Darien nodded in understanding then stepped aside and watched her leave. He was confused and wandered what had got her so rattled up. He picked up his jacket and left his apartment after a few minutes had passed.
* * *
He watched from the sanctuary of the shadows as Rei ran lightly up the hospital stairs and entered the building. Soon my dear sweet Rei. Soon! He smiled as he pictured her, her violet eyes staring adoringly at him, smiling for him and him alone. Soon. He promised himself. Very soon.
AN: Well, Read and Review!!!!!!
