Hey everyone! Miyame here. I hope you are all enjoying the fanfic so far. Nice to see you all are interested in continuing. This one will have to be my favorite chapter so far. So far. I hope you like as much as I do!
"Rei.... Rei..."
Rei opened one eye with a groan to see Hotaru sitting on the edge of her bed, poking at her side. She was still in her purple night gawn and her hair was pinned up into a bun, similar to Setsuna's. The morning dew shone through the window and Rei could tell it was already morning. "Hotaru..?"
"Morning Sleeping Beauty," Hotaru said with a giggle. She looked over at Jaedite and tapped his foot. He instantly opened his eyes. "Morning Jaedite!"
"What time is it?" he asked and sat up with a yawn.
"7 in the morning," Hotaru answered with a smile. She hopped off the bed and stared at the two. "Rei, you and Jaedite were sure quiet last night. Was it because you had company?"
After hearing these words, Rei turned a bright red. "Wha... what?"
"You know. You two were quiet. Adults who sleep in the same bed are never quiet. Was it because you have company?" Her eyes shone a light purple, as if she was trying to understand.
Jaedite laughed nervously. "Well, you see-"
"Hotaru?!" Hotaru looked to the door and saw Setsuna standing there with her hands on her hips. "Hotaru, what are you doing in their bedroom? Come on out of there!"
"I was just asking them why they were so quiet last night, mom!"
Setsuna turned a light pink and looked from Rei to Jaedite. "I'm sorry about this, you two. Hotaru, let's go and change. Now."
Hotaru shrugged, took Setsuna's hand, and skipped out of the room; a string of curses attached as Setsuna left. Jaedite and Rei sat quiet for a while, then Jaedite spoke. "Rei, I think Hotaru WANTS us to be... noisy."
Rei shook her head and stared at the blanket. "She was saying things only as kids say them."
---
Rei walked from the bedroom and down the hallway. The couch was still pulled out into a bed, but the covers neatly made up. She could hear giggles coming from the bathroom, so she walked over by the door. "What's so funny, you two?" she asked as she stared at Setsuna and Hotaru.
"I was trying to explain to Hotaru that a razor is not a toy," Setsuna said as she switched the razor back and forth.
"But Rei, I thought men are the only ones who shave!" Hotaru said back.
"Women do, too, Hotaru. Just not as often as men." Rei couldn't help but smile.
"Ohh," she looked to her mother. "Why didn't you just say that, momma?"
Setsuna sighed and reached into the medicine cabinet for some facewash. "Mind if I use some, Rei?"
"No, go ahead."
She watched Setsuna clean off her face and then helped Hotaru. Setsuna looks so much like my mother, Rei thought as she studied them. The same eyes. Setsuna's nightwear was a simple white long sleeved button up pajama top that fell to right below her hips; her panties a light shade of purple. Hotaru was now tugging on the night shirt and Setsuna kept slapping her hand away.
"Where did you get that top, Setsuna. It's really cute."
She looked at Rei from the corner of her eye as she brushed her hair. "Michiru picked this up for me at some store in Kyoto. I really loved the design, how it has a split to the waist and the rest just falls, so I asked her if I can have it. I also love how the sleeves are big on me." She turned around and let her arms loose and demonstrated how the bell sleeves covered her hands. "I love it."
"Oh, Kyoto, huh?" Rei looked at the ground. What style, she thought. Setsuna nodded and continued to brush her hair. "Rei, you should get ready, too. I already called a meeting and we are to be there in one hour."
"Oh! Thank you, Setsuna. I'll get ready at once." Rei spun from the bathroom and could hear Hotaru slam the door shut. She rushed back into the bedroom where Jaedite was just sitting up again.
"Jed, Setsuna called a meeting and I have to be there in an hour. Are you going to come?"
Jaedite nodded, reached over to his drawer, and grabbed a plain white tank top. "I'll go."
---
"We are here!" Hotaru called out and put her purse on the nearby chair. Soon, the emptiness of the house rang with Hotaru's name and Chibiusa bolted from the living room. "Hotaru! Setsuna! You made it!" Chibiusa embraced the two in her arms and then around Rei and Jaedite. "Hi!"
Rei smiled back and watched as Ami walked into the kitchen. She took one look at Rei and turned back. "Everyone, they are here."
Setsuna led the group into the living room where Usagi, Ami, Minako, Makoto, and Mamoru sat. Usagi sat on the arm of Mamoru's chair, Minako on the floor next to Chibiusa, Makoto with one elbow on the chair's arm, and Ami with her hands on her lap. Setsuna sat on the chair across from them all with Hotaru standing up next to her, leaning on the arm. Rei took a seat beside her and Jaedite standing behind her. "Hello, scouts. Thank you for coming," Setsuna began.
"How have you been, Setsuna?" Amy asked politely, not eager to start the conversation.
"Pretty well, Ami. Thank you for asking." She looked to the group of girls, then at Mamoru. "Do you know why I called you all here?"
"Judging by the bitch sitting beside you, I guess to talk about the last five years," Makoto said without opening her eyes.
"Watch your tone around Hotaru," Setsuna snapped back at her. "I do not appreciate cursing at all. You are an idiot to even speak it."
Makoto shrugged it off.
"What is the problem, Suna-chan?"
"That nickname is reserved for the scouts who actually have respect for me. Right now, none of you do, expect Rei here." Setsuna's eyes snapped at Ami who gave the question. "I am here to get the bottom of this."
"It's all Rei's fault for running away!" Usagi burst out.
"What is her fault?"
"It's her fault for falling in love with that basterd who threatened to destroy the Moon Kingdom years ago! It's her fault for running away and it's her fault we are unable to transform!"
Rei gripped the red chair cushion. "And Mamoru was never brainwashed and threatened to kill us all?! Huh?!"
"That is different. I love Mamoru," Usagi yelled back.
"And Rei loves Jaedite!" Minako snapped at Usagi.
"Wait a minute..."
Everyone looked up at Setsuna. "Are you telling me... this arguement was because Usagi was against Jaedite for attacking us years ago?" Everyone was quiet. "I can't believe you all! You are mad at Rei for falling in love with Jaedite because he attacked us before?! HE WAS BRAINWASHED BY BERYL, you KNOW that, Usagi! What is your problem?"
"She doesn't love Jaedite! She doesn't know what love is!" Usagi yelled, standing up.
"You do not know how Rei feels about Jaedite. You can not say she doesn't know what love is if you can't feel her pain right now!" It was silent as the faces turned and stared at Hotaru, who turned red with anger and had her fists jammed down to her waist. "You only asume Rei does not know true love because you think you're the only one who knows love, Usagi!"
Jaedite walked over to Hotaru and bent down beside her. He took her hands and held them in his, then looked back up at the girls.
"So, you are on HIS side?" Makoto asked, standing up now. "Well! What is it, Hotaru?"
She looked at Jaedite. "Jaedite... is a very kind man. He gave Setsuna and I a place to stay... and helped us move in for a good night's sleep..." She remembered him carry the bundle of blankets into the room then fell and dropped the sheets on Hotaru, who was busting into a laughter. "He isn't the person you think he is. He is back to the person he was before Beryl got to him...." Tears ran burning down her cheeks. "And if you can't see that, you don't know what love IS!"
Then, Hotaru let free from Jaedite's grip and ran past Usagi. She dodged the arms and hands that tried to hold her back, muted the screams of her name, and ran from Setsuna who chased her from the room.
-=tear=- Ah. My favorite character yet. To me, this one has the most detail. I don't know what it is about it. I just love this chapter. ...look for more!