Chapter Eight: Caught
"S-senpai," the guy whimpered as Makoto still clutched him by his collar.
She smirked and slowly let go of him. "Kageyasu Masaki of First Year class 2, correct?" she asked as she eyed him with indifference.
Masaki nodded apprehensively. He slowly straightened himself up and then started to walk away.
She clucked her tongue and shook her head. "Do you think I'd let go of you that easily...?"
He stopped dead in his tracks.
Makoto chuckled at the sight of the boy trembling with fear. Sometimes, being feared by most of her schoolmates has its own advantage but most of the time, she finds it very annoying. "Now," she continued. "It would be nice if you would just turn around... yes that's it, ...and come a little closer so I can hit you."
Masaki gulped and covered his face with his book bag as he came closer. The tall brunette burst out laughing and then wiped the tears that started to build up at the corner of her eyes. The boy lowered his bag and stared at her with a slight irritation.
"Kino-senpai," he said, unsure. "I would really appreciate if you would just stop laughing at me. Spare me some dignity, will you?"
She hastily complied and smiled apologetically. "Of course," she replied. She then crossed her arms on her chest. "You freshmen are really terrified of me, aren't you?" The boy just stared at her. "Nope, don't answer that. I already knew. Anyway, I was just kidding about hitting you. I'm not that stupid to pick up a fight inside the campus. And contrary to popular belief, I'm not that violent."
Again, he just stared at her as if she's a fire-breathing dragon.
"Masaki-kun," she said when he didn't say anything. "Are you really serious about her? I mean, about Ami-chan?"
"H-hai!" came the reply.
Makoto raised a brow and then scratched her chin. She coaxed him to look at him but she only got a short nervous glance in return. The tall brunette went closer and circled him.
"Why do I have this feeling that you're keeping something from me, hmm?" she said in a singsong voice.
Masaki wiped the bead of perspiration off his forehead. "I... actually, well... I really must be going."
"Not so fast," she said, grabbing him in the shoulder. "Go on. You were saying something?"
The guys gave him a withering look. "Senpai..." he said pleadingly. Makoto let go of him and crossed her arms on her chest for the second time. He saw her inclined her head, waiting impatiently for his response. He sighed. "I'm not really... I mean, I-"
"My patience was really wearing thin, you know," she said as she drummed her fingers on her arm. She heard him muttered something incoherently under his breath, "What was that?"
"I really don't know how to say this but I... I really don't like her," he said in almost a whisper. "Not that I don't like her as a person. I admire her, I really do. But I don't like her as my... girlfriend." He shielded his bag on his face, again, afraid that Makoto might punch him.
"What?"
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry?"
Images of Ami showing them the gifts she got and how she tried to hide her anticipation whenever she opened her shoe locker flooded her vision. Makoto grabbed him in his collar and raised her fist in mid-air, almost a few inches away from his face.
"If you didn't like her then why are you giving those things to her?!" she snapped, control just went out of the window,
"Senpai, it's not what you think!" he said frantically. "Please don't hit me!"
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't."
"Please," he pleaded. "Listen, somebody just ordered me to put those things on her locker. He's the one who really likes her, not me. I'm just following his orders. Trust me, please. I'm not doing this just to fool her."
"Then who is this guy?" Makoto bit out.
"I can't tell you," he replied, his body trembling. "He'll... he'll make sure I'll be expelled from school once I tell his secret."
"Don't pull my leg, you jerk! What do you take me for, a fool?"
"I'm telling the truth!"
"Are you telling me that one of the professors is in love with Ami-chan?" she asked, rather confused. The mere thought of it was making her sick. Half of the school faculty was male and most of them were old enough to tell the whole history of Ancient Egypt by firsthand experience. Makoto shuddered.
"No, it's not like that."
"Then whoitwas?!"
"Please Kino-senpai, don't make me say it," he begged. "He'll know."
She gritted her teeth. Who could possibly have so much of an influence other than the professors? This is not really making any sense at all.
"H-he's just a student," he went on in a hushed voice. "He's in second year, just like you and Mizuno-senpai."
"Nani? A student?"
"Mako-chan? What are you doing?"
Makoto abruptly swung her head at the sound of Ami's voice and saw her standing and staring curiously at them. She quickly let him go and grinned at her direction.
"I'm just fixing his uniform. See?" she said as she straightened up Masaki's blazer. She gave him an ominous look that sent the poor guy scampering to his feet and disappearing from their line of sight.
"Isn't he Kageyasu-kun?" Ami asked as she approached the disgruntled brunette.
"Yes he is," she replied, looking surprised "You knew him?"
"Well, yes," her friend replied. "He's a member of the Computer Club. He was always present during meetings and workshops but until a week ago, he started to lie-low. I didn't know what happened to him but he looked like as if he's afraid to step inside the computer room. Strange guy."
"He certainly is," Makoto said absentmindedly. "Maybe he saw the ghost of the computer hacker."
"Programmer," the blue-haired girl amended with a giggle.
"Whatever."
Ami stifled a laugh. "Everybody knows that we just made that up. There is no ghost," she said. "So anyway, what's his business with you?"
The tall brunette cleared her throat and smiled at her. "Nothing really. He just almost knocked me off and he was apologizing when you saw us."
"Nice try, Mako-chan, but I'm not buying that one," she said lightly. "Well, I just hope you didn't scare the living daylights out of him."
Makoto grinned mischievously. "I hope so, too."
"You actually caught him?" Rei said with disbelief, the chocolate cookie falling from her mouth. "You're kidding, right?"
The tall brunette rolled her eyes. "Do I look like I'm kidding?" she asked, pointing at herself. And then she smirked. "You might want to close that pretty little mouth of yours, Rei-chan. You don't want a fly making its way to your intestines now, do you?"
Rei abruptly closed her mouth and then stared at the sliding door in her room. "That guy must be terrified to death."
Makoto chuckled. "You bet."
"Did Ami-chan know anything about this?"
"No," she replied. "But I'm really wondering who's the real guy behind all these. I mean, he would go all the trouble just to give those gifts to her. And he must be some kind of a guy, making Kageyasu-kun really terrified of him and having the power to expel him from school."
Rei furrowed a brow. "Maybe he's one of the school bullies? Or maybe he's the son of the principal?"
Makoto shook her head. "Masaki said that he's also in second year and there are only three notorious guys in other classes, two of them have girlfriends and the other has a crush on Usagi. Plus, the principal doesn't have a son. He has a daughter, a college student at Tokyo University."
Rei laughed softly. "Wow, you really did some research."
Makoto just shrugged her shoulders and grinned. She then took a sip from her tea and then glanced at the blonde lying flat on her stomach in the miko's bed. "I can't believe Minako-chan is actually reading a book!"
The raven-haired miko snickered. "Yeah. And it's not even raining," she seconded.
The two giggled in unison until a derisive snort interrupted them.
"Don't you have other things to do than tease me?" the blonde said unemotionally without tearing her gaze from the book in her hands. "Why don't you start studying for a change?"
"Unfortunately, my dear moody princess with-a-perpetually-red-bow-on-her-head," Makoto said, snickering. "Ami-chan is not yet here. Studying starts when Ms. 100% Brain Activity arrives. Okay?"
Rei choked on her tea. "Ms. 100% Brain Activity? That's new. Where did you get that?"
"Ami-chan said that we humans only use 10% of our brain until the day we die," the brunette explained. "And since Ami-chan is so smart with all those stuff and being you know, Sailor Mercury," at that she lowered her voice, "I assumed that she must have been using a hundred percent."
"Oh wow, I didn't know that," the miko said. "If ordinary people like us uses only 10 percent, I guess Usagi-chan uses only about... 3 percent?"
"I heard that."
Usagi stood at the doorframe, glowering at Rei. The miko just stuck her tongue out.
"Hey Usagi-chan, it took you forever to use the bathroom," Makoto said as the odango blonde made her way towards them and plopped herself beside her. The tall brunette grabbed some potato chips and chewed silently as she watched Usagi gobbled up the cookies that she made.
"Maybe she got lost," Rei muttered innocently as she sipped her tea.
"Yeah, I got lost and Rei-chan is at the peak of her menopausal stage," Usagi said sarcastically.
Makoto bit back her laughter, finding the urge not to lose the contents of her mouth at Usagi's remark. Those two will never gonna grow up, she mused to herself.
"So Minako-chan," Usagi said after making a face on Rei, "aren't you gonna tell us who's the mysterious beau that you've been dating? We can't wait forever, you know."
"Well, I'm sorry I won't tell you," Minako replied, glancing momentarily at them. "You might jinx it."
The odango blonde pouted. "Hey, it's not fair!"
Minako just smiled sweetly and then resumed her reading.
"You know, I had this really weird vision this morning," Rei suddenly said, staring thoughtfully at the bowl of cookies. "When I was meditating by the sacred fire..."
"All of your visions were weird," Minako interrupted. The miko threw her a pillow which the blonde dodged easily (despite the fact that she was sprawled on the bed). The blonde started laughing hysterically, unmindful whether it was from the miko's annoyance or her perfect aim.
"Shut up," Rei growled. "Have you forgotten that those visions were important? They revealed something about the future or about our would-be enemies."
"Yeah," Usagi agreed with sarcasm. "They're so damn important you kept on hogging them for yourself until either one of us was injured, kidnapped, or dead."
"The only reason I did that, for you information, was to keep you from worrying too much," she replied, staring indignantly at the odango blonde. "We all know how stupid you can be when you're worried."
"Heey!"
Minako suddenly shot up from the bed and gave her an alarmed look. "It was not about the shitennou... was it?" she asked slowly, afraid of the idea that they would be fighting with them again. Especially now that everything seemed perfect.
"Don't fret your little head, darling. It's not," the miko answered.
The longhaired blonde sighed audibly with relief. "Thank heavens!" And then she giggled dreamily.
Rei raised a brow at her, then shook her head hopelessly. "Anyway, this one's different. I never had something like this before."
"Well, how did it differ from the others?" Makoto asked with an inquiring glance.
Rei tucked some stray strands on one ear and paused. "It wasn't about the future or anything and it didn't include all the senshi," she then said. "The images came so fast I didn't know where it began or ended. All I remember is that I saw a ring, a bloodied dagger in my hand, and a dead man lying before my eyes."
"A dead... man?" Usagi asked as if she was going to be sick.
The tall brunette scratched her chin, furrowing her brows. "Do you think you're the one who killed this person?"
The miko shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know."
"Maybe he stole that ring from you and you wanted it back that's why you killed him," Minako said with conviction. Rei shot her a dubious look.
Makoto scoffed. "Rei-chan wouldn't do anything like that."
The longhaired blonde pouted. "But that's the only plausible reason that I could think of."
"I agree," Usagi seconded.
"Don't be stupid," Rei said annoyingly. "I'm not a fool to kill somebody just to have something I wanted." She paused, taking a cookie and biting on it. Then she continued. "The weirdest part here was that I killed myself afterwards."
"You killed yourself?!" Makoto and Minako both exclaimed.
She nodded.
"That's one vision I would never like to have," the brunette then said, rubbing her left arm.
The odango blonde suddenly snapped her fingers. Her three friends stared at her. "I know!" she said. "Maybe that dead guy was your boyfriend and he betrayed you and... and you killed him. But you couldn't stand it that's why you committed suicide."
"Yes, yes that's right," Minako, this time, agreed with Usagi. "And that ring was an engagement ring."
Rei scratched her head. "Are you saying that he's my fiance?"
"He might be," Usagi replied.
The miko shook her head, dismissing the thought. "That's extremely nonsense. I do not have plans of having a boyfriend. They're just a waste of my precious time."
The two blondes just stared at each other.
"Uhm, Rei-chan," Makoto said. "This vision of yours... do you think it is of the past or of the future?"
"I really have no idea," she replied.
"It could be of the future," Minako suggested. "Maybe she's going to meet some hot guy and they will be engaged and kaboom! He'll be dead!" Then she laughed like a five-year old.
Rei narrowed her eyes. "Yeah, right," she muttered sarcastically. "Now I looked like as if I have a curse or something."
"Mina-chan may be right," Makoto said. "Your visions are usually about the future." And then she grinned. "But don't you think a dagger is a little bit, uhm... old fashioned? Why not a gun? It would be quicker and less painful."
The miko groaned. "Mako-chan, please don't make me lose my lunch."
"Sorry."
"There's also a big possibility that it was of the past," Usagi said. "I'm pretty sure Senshi Mars had a lover back then."
Color drained from the miko's face. "E-excuse me?" she stammered. "It's impossible. I believe I didn't...."
The odango blonde gave her a sly grin. "How could you be so sure?"
Rei opened her mouth to say something but quickly shut it back.
"Rei-chan had a lover?" Minako then asked with disbelief.
Usagi rolled her eyes. "The Moon people might look young but we were actually as old as the oldest living tree on earth. Did you think that at the span of more than a thousand years, the four guardians were not able to have a boyfriend at least?"
The three blinked at the odango blonde and shook their heads for a no.
Makoto then snapped out of her trance. "So you mean Minako-chan, Ami-chan and I also had a lover back then?"
"I'm not saying exactly that you had," Usagi replied. "What I meant was it could be fairly possible."
"I thought we were supposed to be guarding you that's why we had no time for ourselves?" Rei asked, still doubtful of the blonde's idea.
"Says who?" the odango blonde shot back. "How did you think I was able to meet Endymion here on Earth if the four of you were "guarding" me closely?"
Makoto scratched her chin. "That made sense."
"I remember having crushes back then but I don't remember falling in love," Minako then said.
"You had crushes?" Usagi squealed. "With whom?"
"Oh, about a hundred pretty faces but the most that stood out were Adonis and Kunzite," Minako replied nonchalantly.
"You had a crush on Kunzite? As in Kunzite, the shitennou?" the tall brunette asked with wide eyes.
The longhaired blonde nodded exuberantly.
"And who's Adonis?" Rei then asked. "I haven't heard that name before."
"He's a Venusian soldier who fell in love with me, I mean my past princess self," she replied. "And then when the Dark Kingdom emerged, he became one of its minions as Danburite. You do remember Kaitou Ace, right?"
"Yeah," Usagi said. "He appeared when Sailor Moon wasn't still around."
"That's him," Minako continued. "He disguised himself as an evil-fighter so he could get to me and kill me. And before he fell from a ledge and die, that blasted idiot put a curse on me, saying I wouldn't be able to find true love because I chose my duty over it."
"That explains," Makoto commented dryly.
Minako turned sharply at her. "Explain what?!"
"Nothing."
Rei quirked a brow. "So you really had this fondness for handsome but extremely evil and psychotic guys. I admire your taste."
"Hey, stop picking at my men," Minako said. "You didn't hear me saying anything bad about Jadeite-senpai, did you?"
Rei frowned. "You can badmouth him anytime you want," she said, folding her arms across her chest. "It's none of my business and I don't give a damn, anyway."
The blonde chuckled. "Yeah, and Ami-chan's hair is as long as mine," she added with full of irony.
"Hey Rei-chan," Makoto called out. "This Mr. Dead Guy... do you remember his name or how he looked like?"
She sighed. "I'm afraid I don't"
Usagi frowned. "What's with that vision of yours? You can't remember anything important!"
"Visions are supposed to be like that," Rei answered. "They do not give anything specific or definite. You'll have to figure it out for yourself."
"I still don't get it," Usagi said, scratching her head.
Rei sighed and gave her a taunting smile. "With that brain of yours, it's no wonder."
"What did you say?!" Usagi snarled. "You really have a big attitude problem!"
The miko just sipped her tea and pretended she didn't hear anything.
After twenty minutes, a bowl of cookies and two bags of junk food, Ami finally arrived. But, to their surprise, she wasn't alone
"Sorry guys," Ami said as she removed her shoes. "I had to stop by at the hospital to bring Mom her jacket."
Rei got up and stood at the door. "It's okay," she said, smiling. "Your study partners were making themselves quite busy while you were gone."
"Hey, it's Zoisite-kun!" Minako exclaimed, her mouth full of M & M's.
Zoisite smiled and bowed. "Konnichiwa."
Ami glanced apologetically at Rei. "I met him on my way here and I took the liberty to ask him to join us," she said meekly. "I hope you don't mind."
The miko smothered a laugh. "Of course I don't mind," she replied. "Zoisite is a nice guy and the only one I couldn't stand is his jerk of a brother." Then she turned to him. "Come in. Don't be shy. Make yourself at home."
Zoisite mumbled his thanks and then went inside.
"Actually," the blue-haired girl said, scratching nervously her head. "Senpai is also with us. He's talking to your grandfather outside."
Rei's jaw dropped. "N-nani?"
"What's the matter Rei-chan?" Usagi teased. "You looked so shocked."
Makoto chuckled. "I think 'enraged' would be more fitting."
"Uhm, are you alright?" Ami asked worriedly.
"I'm... fine," she replied and then smiled exaggeratedly.
Ami let out a sigh of relief and entered Rei's room. She settled the stack of books in the low table and sat. She stole a worried glance at the miko's direction and then asked her friends, "She's fine, isn't she?"
Minako giggled, her teeth full of chocolate stains. "Oh don't worry about her. She's just too happy to see Jadeite-senpai."
"Can't blame her, though," Zoisite said lightly. "My brother can be a whacko sometimes. He used to pick on me when we were younger and Nephrite would hit him in the head."
"How old is he? I mean your brother Nephrite," Makoto asked casually, pretending not to show any undue interest.
"He's 20," he replied. "He'll be turning 21 in a few months."
"Oh, he's about the age of my Mamo-chan!" Usagi squealed and then shot the tall brunette a knowing look.
"Four years," Minako mumbled and then smiled brightly at her tall friend. "Hey, you could still be together."
She furrowed her brows and frowned. "What do you mean we could still be together?"
The longhaired blonde just winked at her and popped more M & M's to her mouth. Rei finally joined them and sat beside Ami, flipping some pages of a thick Chemistry book.
"I thought you have just finished your midterms?" Minako said, staring oddly at the miko.
"Yes I had," she replied. "Why?"
"Senpai is exempted from the exams," Usagi said in a teasing tone. "Why don't you talk to him so you wouldn't be bored?"
"Why don't you go and talk to him instead?" Rei retorted.
"Sorry, have to study for the exams."
Before she was able to say something nasty, Rei heard her grandfather's voice, calling her. She got up and excused herself, leaving her friends exchanging meaningful glances. Lifting her red hibakama, she wore her slippers and trudged grudgingly towards where her ojii-san was.
Grandpa waved to her as soon as she came into view. "Rei-chan!"
She groaned at the sight of Jadeite's over bright smile. It seemed that the old man was actually enjoying the irritating blond's company. Great, just great. She walked a few meters more until she was close enough to talk to them.
"What is it, ojii-san?" she asked slowly, ignoring completely the guy beside the Shinto priest. She momentarily straightened her miko robe and stared at the old man expectantly.
"I'd like you to give this letter to Norio-san. It's about the plans for upcoming summer festival next month," Grandpa said, handing a folded paper to her. "I could have given it myself but my back was really killing me."
She nodded obediently and took it. "Anything else?"
The old man paused and scratched his chin, thinking. "Oh, and we ran out of eggs," he then said. "Could you get some on your way back?"
"Of course."
Then, he turned to Jadeite and smiled. "Do you mind accompanying my granddaughter? She might have trouble carrying the eggs." And then he chuckled.
"I would be honored, sir," Jadeite replied eagerly and then grinned at the miko's direction.
"Ojii-san!" Rei protested, frowning at the old man. And then she glared daggers at the blonde guy. "I'd rather go alone," she then said, putting emphasis on the last word. "And besides, those eggs do not weigh a ton."
Her grandfather just ignored her. "Now, off you go," he said smiling. He then stared at the sky. "And bring an umbrella with you. I think it is going to rain."
She was about to say something more but the old man had gone inside to fetch an umbrella for her. Grumbling moodily to herself, she heard Jadeite snickering. "What's so funny?" she snapped.
"You," he replied, pointing at her.
Rei rolled her eyes upward. "Jerk," she muttered under her breath. She then saw her grandpa approaching them and carrying only one umbrella in his hand. Oh, that's really nice, she thought sarcastically.
"Here, Rei-chan," Grandpa said, giving her the umbrella. "I can't find the other one so you just have to share it with Jadeite-kun. Now hurry up and be careful."
"I will," she said with a scowl. She then turned to her heels and left, with Jadeite trailing behind her.
Slowly wiping the rain off his arm, Jadeite glanced at his companion and sighed. The sleeve of his shirt was soaking wet and it seemed that Rei didn't mind it at all. It seemed that she didn't really want to share the umbrella with him anyway.
Some luck, he thought.
On the other hand, a major part of him was rejoicing that he was actually here, under the pouring rain (well, not actually pouring but a only mild drizzle), shoulder to shoulder with her. How could he be any luckier? He wouldn't pass this chance just to be with her, would he? And Ojii-san... that old man was really Godsend. He reminded himself to promptly thank him when they get back to the shrine.
Noticing that she was having trouble with her hibakama, Jadeite, for the fourth time since it rained that afternoon, offered to hold the umbrella for them. And as expected, she refused, saying that she do not want the people to get the wrong message.
He arched a brow. Wrong message?
"What the...?" he said, visibly annoyed. "What are you talking about? I just wanted to help you. The hem of your robe is getting wet and I want to carry that freaking umbrella so you could lift them up!"
"Thanks," Rei replied with sarcasm. "But I don't need your help."
Jadeite let out another sigh and shook his head. This girl was really ticking him off sometimes. But why he still chases after her was still a mystery to him. "Fine," he muttered with resignation. "But could you please move the umbrella a little bit to my side? I'm getting wet."
The miko continued to walk as if she didn't hear anything.
He suddenly stopped and yanked the umbrella's handle away from her but Rei was still gripping it tightly. "Why don't you let me have the umbrella so we could be both happy, hmm?"
Rei stopped in her tracks and glared at him. "What is your problem?" she asked exasperatedly, yanking the handle from him. "I told you I don't need your help!"
Jadeite pulled the umbrella back to him. "Let me have it!"
"You may not!"
Rei tugged at the handle but Jadeite wouldn't let her, thereby resulting to a tug of war in the middle of the sidewalk, under the falling rain. Passersby were beginning to stare at them, giving them odd and amused looks. The miko finally noticed it and her violet eyes clashed with Jadeite's blue ones.
"Stop it, I'm getting wet!" she hissed. "The people are staring at us!"
"Well, why don't you stop being stubborn and give me the freaking umbrella?!" he shot back. "I'm just trying to help. At least spare me the chance of being a gentleman."
The miko raised a dark brow. "Oh, is that what you're worrying about? That people might get the impression that you're rude, letting a girl hold the umbrella for you? It must be a blow to your big ego."
His eyes widened. "Hey, that's not what I meant!" he replied indignantly. From the look on his face, Rei could tell that he was really offended.
She hastily realized her mistake and went silent. Why did she acted that way when he was just trying to help her? Now she's the who's one being rude... and childish. She didn't really mean to say that. All she knew was that she really didn't like the idea of being with him and she had this tendency to be total cranky whenever he's near. And she couldn't quite understand why. Still, she didn't let go of the umbrella.
"If you really wanted to help me that bad," Rei said, looking up to him. "Here, carry these." She then handed a plastic bag with two cartons of eggs to him. "Are you happy now?"
Jadeite let out a small grin and took it. "I really don't understand you and I don't think I ever will," he muttered softly.
The miko, surprised by the tone of his voice, unconsciously returned the gesture and said, "Then stop trying." She then added, "If one of them was broken, I'm going to break you neck." She then moved the umbrella to his side so he wouldn't be wet anymore.
The blond chuckled and smiled his patented grin. "Yes ma'am," he replied, giving her a salute.
Damn, she's really pretty, he thought as they continued to walk. Thinking about the smile on her face gave his heart a sudden lurch. It was the first that she had ever given him since they met and he didn't think that he would be able to sleep tonight because of that one stupid smile coming from her, his fiery Shinto miko.
"Why did you come to the shrine, anyway?" Rei asked after a moment of silence. "And what did Ojii-san tell you when I was away?"
"Why do you want to know?" he asked back, smiling to her.
"Don't answer my questions with a question!"
"You really couldn't pass up the opportunity to snap at me. Tell me, what did I ever do to you?" he said lightly, chuckling. Rei gave him a you-know-it look and then rolled her eyes. "To answer you first question, to pray, of course. No, I'm just kidding. I saw my brother and Ami-chan walking down the street and asked them where they were going. And when they told me they're heading to Hikawa Jinja, I came along. Second question, Ojii-chan asked me if he knew me because I looked familiar to him. I said I don't know, I haven't met him before. And then, he started telling me stories about the shrine."
"He also told me he used to have an apprentice," he continued when Rei didn't say anything.
"Yes," the miko agreed, nodding. "But he left months ago."
Jadeite cleared his throat and then glanced at her. "You know, that robe really looked good on you. You seemed... different."
"What do you mean different?" she asked, raising a brow.
"I don't know," he replied. "Different but in a go--"
Somebody suddenly knocked him off from behind. Looking up, he saw a black figure running as fast as he could away from them and then he heard somebody screaming.
"My bag!" an old lady screamed. "He took my bag! Please help me!"
Before he could regain his bearings, Rei thrust the umbrella to him and said, "Stay here and don't break the eggs."
His eyes widened. "What?!" he exclaimed. "You're not planning to go after him by yourself, are you?" But nobody answered because she was already ahead of him, chasing after the thief. "Rei-chan!"
With a burst of red light and a flurry of lace and ribbons, Rei transformed into Super Sailor Mars in an abandoned alley. Normally, youmas were the one who receive her death blow but since the defeat of Galaxia, senshi duties became slow. Not that she didn't enjoy it, but sometimes, she really liked something to vent her powers on.
And besides, she wouldn't let that thug go away. After all, she is one of the defenders of love and justice. And taking care of thieves and thugs falls under the "justice" category and she couldn't bear the thought of her being unable to help a person in need.
Sailor Mars leapt onto a tall building and scanned the area for the snatcher. For a moment, Jadeite's image came to her mind. He must be wondering now why on earth she chased after the thief, she mused to herself. In her haste to help the old lady, she just dashed away from him, offering no explanation. He must be confused... and worried. She softened at the thought of him worrying about her. Yes, he's worried alright. She sensed it when she heard him call out her name.
The red senshi finally spotted the thief in a back alley, rummaging through the old lady's bag. She leapt from building to building and hid behind a big trash bin when she's already a few meters away from him. Sailor Mars squinted. She'll stop thinking about Jadeite and she would just make an excuse to him later. Right now, she has a crook to catch.
"I think you've got something that doesn't belong to you," she said, stepping out of her hiding place.
The thief was startled and suddenly jerked his head to her direction. "What the hell? Who are you?" His gaze then traveled at the senshi's vibrant red heels. "And what's with the shoes?"
Sailor Mars fumed. "My name and my shoes are none of your concern!" she snapped, foregoing the introductions that they usually do. Darn it, she thought. She really hated it when somebody makes fun of her shoes. "Now hand that bag over before I send you crying back to your mother."
The man smirked. "Well, I really love to see you tr--"
Before the thief has even had the time to blink, the fiery senshi was already behind him and was able to hit the back of his neck, sending him unconscious and sprawled on the filthy ground.
Sailor Mars flipped back her hair. "Too bad you're too slow to see it." She suddenly heard the sound of sirens of approaching police cars. They must have tracked the thief down. She wandered her gaze and saw some worn-out rope in a nearby corner. She quickly took it and tied the unconscious burglar up. "This guy is going to have a real bad headache when he wakes up."
She then left hurriedly to avoid the police from finding her and leapt into a roof close by and then into a building. Landing into an empty pathway, she detransformed into Hino Rei, but too occupied to notice a tall blond guy's head suddenly shot up from its resting position in a brick wall.
Smiling triumphantly, Rei whirled around and... paled. Her smile slowly disappeared because right in front of her, Jadeite's light blue eyes was staring aghast into her wide violet ones.
He slowly came to her, his steps faltering. "Rei, you," he whispered. "You... y-you're Sailor Mars..."
Author's Notes: Please review onegaiiii!! I beg you!
Thanks to babymar-mar and Ocianne for reviewing the last chapter, especially to Ocianne for pointing out the errors Getting two reviews is better than nothing at all, ne? Anyway, in my excitement to post Chapter 7 (not to mention it was already 1:30 AM), I forgot to run the spell check and do some major editing. Sorry guys! English in not my native language and unfortunately, I don't have a beta so just please forgive my slip-ups.
Well, till next time. Ja!