Chapter Nine: Fly Me to the Moon
"In July 1894, Japan went to war with China over control of Korea, which had been under Chinese influence for many hundreds of years. Japan quickly defeated China. The treaty of Shimonoseki, signed on April 17, 1895, gave Japan Taiwan and the Liaodong Peninsula, the southernmost tip of Manchuria. But within a week, France, Germany, and Russia forced Japan to return Liaodong to China. The treaty of Shimonoseki also granted Korea independence, thus leaving the country open to Japanese influence..."
Minako groaned with frustration and closed the thick History book with a loud smack. "Can we take a break?"
Ami glanced at her wrist watch to check the time and then gave her a stern look. "No."
The longhaired blonde pouted. "Come on," she whined. "My brain was practically shutting down!"
Ami paused from doing her math problems and adjusted her glasses. "Minako-chan, we already took a break ten minutes ago."
"But that was Usagi's break!"
"No," the genius replied. "Besides, we already had about seven breaks in the past thirty minutes." She then noticed Makoto lying on her side, her back to theirs. The brunette's head was supported by her arm and an open book was sitting in front of her. "Look at Mako-chan. She's concentrating on her studies and I didn't even hear her complain for a second."
Minako choked out a small laugh. "That's because she's asleep," she said pointedly.
"What?"
Zoisite chuckled at Ami's expression for a moment and then went back to tutoring Usagi
The longhaired blonde grinned. "Look," she said as she got up and crouched behind the tall brunette. She gently poked her on the side and her friend didn't make any move whatsoever. "See?"
Ami sighed and shook her head hopelessly. "Fine, go and have some time-off," she said. "Just don't blame me when you fail the exams."
Minako smiled sweetly at her direction.
"Maybe you should wake Mako-chan up," Zoisite said, glancing at the longhaired blonde. "She might catch a cold sleeping there in front of the sliding doors."
Ami smiled inwardly, touched by the young man's genuine concern for her friend. "Zoisite-kun was right. Mako-chan could not afford to be sick right now."
"Okay," Minako replied and then stared at Makoto's sleeping form. A mischievous grin lifted the corners of her mouth. "Mako-chan?"
Makoto didn't even stir.
"Mako-chan?" the blonde repeated. And with a much louder voice, she exclaimed, "Hey Mako-chan! Your meatloaf is burning!"
A disoriented brunette suddenly shot up from her lying position and then hastily went towards the door. "My meatloaf! Where's my meatloaf?!"
Minako burst out with fits of giggles, practically rolling on her sides on the tatami-covered floor. Zoisite let out a muffled laugh while Ami just shook her head. Makoto squinted and sent the laughing blonde a death glare.
"You are sooo dead, Aino!" she muttered dangerously.
Minako continued to laugh until a pencil eraser hit her in the head. "Heey!" she spluttered indignantly, rubbing the sore spot. She whirled her gaze and saw Usagi staring moodily at her. "What's your problem?"
"You made me lose my concentration!" the odango blonde exclaimed with exasperation.
The longhaired blonde threw the eraser back at Usagi and it landed right between the other blonde's eyes. Minako grinned tauntingly as Usagi took an angry step on top of the low table. The table shook with the ferocity of the odango blonde's fury. Ami rolled her eyes and took her green tea, placing it in a safe place.
"If you're going to take a break," the short-haired girl said. "Make sure you don't bother anyone else."
"Yeah," Makoto agreed. "That's right."
Minako raised a brow at the brunette's direction. "Even if they were just sleeping?"
Makoto folded her arms and lifted her nose in the air.
A moment later, Rei's grandfather poked his head inside the room and scanned the place for his granddaughter. "Is Rei-chan there yet?" he asked when he failed to see her.
Minako shook her head for a no.
The Shinto priest scratched his chin. "That's odd. I just told them to deliver the letter."
"Don't worry 'bout her, Ojii-chan," Makoto said, idly turning the pages of her book. "Jadeite-senpai is with her. Maybe they just decided to go out on a date."
Grandpa chuckled. "I really admire your sense of humor, Mako-chan," he then said. "This boy, Jadeite-kun, he seemed nice."
"He is," Usagi agreed with a smile. "The only one who didn't find it so was Rei-chan. They always argue when they were together."
The old man smiled, nodding thoughtfully. "Well, I'll better leave you guys to your studies. Sorry to bother you, I just came to check up on her."
"It's okay," the odango blonde assured him.
Ojii-chan waved at them and then went back to the shrine's main hall to finish his chores.
Meanwhile.....
Jadeite stood dumbfounded, unable to take any steps further. Maybe he was just hallucinating. Maybe it was just his imagination. But it wasn't. He really did see her transform from a fiery sailor-suited senshi into a Shinto miko.
"Rei... you... Sailor Mars...."
Rei mentally berated herself for being so stupid and careless. It never occurred to her that somebody might have been there before she detransformed. But the last time she checked, he wasn't there. Nobody was even there. Or maybe she was just wrong...
And stupid.
If not for the predicament that she had put herself into, she would have laughed outright at the look on Jadeite's face. Shock was an understatement. And the guy's ability to form coherent sentences momentarily eluded him. Boy, what she wouldn't give to have a camera right now.
Fool, this is not the right time to think about that! a voice in her mind spoke.
Oh... right.
The miko groaned inwardly. "Of all the people who could possibly know my secret identity," she muttered to herself.
Jadeite somehow managed to recover his composure and was now staring at her with something indescribable in his eyes. Rei felt a sinking feeling at the pit of her stomach and quickly turned her gaze, avoiding eye contact.
"I can't believe this," he finally said, his voice only above a whisper. "Hino Rei is Sailor Mars."
Sighing, she then glanced at him. "Senpai--"
"Did they know something about this?" his abrupt question cut her off.
Rei gave him a blank look. "They?"
"Your friends," he replied. "Usagi-chan and the others. Do they know your secret?"
"No," she lied. Jadeite, whether she admits it or not, is a smart guy. He might put two and two together if she tells him the truth. He might have the speculation that her friends were also the Sailor Senshi, especially Usagi, whose two odangos were a dead giveaway.
"Your grandfather?"
"No, but I guess somehow he knew."
Scratching his chin, he then raised his brow to her. "Hmm, that's one big secret you got there. Anyway, from what I remember, there were several girls like you. Do you happen to know who they really are?"
"No," she lied again. "And even if I do, I wouldn't tell you." She then closed the distance between them and snatched the umbrella from him. Opening it, she said, "Let's go home. Ojii-san must be worried already."
She then started walking with Jadeite following suit.
"Not so fast, Rei-chan," he said, siding up with her. "You owe me an explanation. You think after all of the things I saw, I would just let you drop it like that?"
Rei stopped and stared at him. "I don't owe you anything."
Jadeite smirked. "Fine," he said. "You don't owe me anything. But aren't you even afraid that I would tell this pretty little secret of yours to... let's say, the reporters?"
"You wouldn't dare!"
He just grinned at her.
The miko rolled her eyes. "Even if you were an all-time jerk, you're not the type of person who would do such a thing," she said pointedly.
Jadeite's smile widened. "Wow, I'm so touched," he said with an exaggerated sigh, clutching his left chest. "I didn't know Hino Rei has such a high opinion of me."
"Whatever." She turned her back on him
Marching briskly forward, Rei drew a weary sigh as a thousand thoughts drifted through her mind. She had been discovered. By Jadeite, no less. How would she be able to explain it to her friends? That it was due to her carelessness? And what if Jadeite suddenly turned evil again and used that knowledge against her? Or what if Jadeite were the type of person who would expose her secret to the public? The media and the people would be all over the shrine and she would no longer have the peace and quiet that she enjoyed for the rest of her life. It's like her whole life would turn into a freak show... and her fellow senshi would soon share her fate. Mamoru and Usagi wouldn't be married, Chibiusa wouldn't be born and Crystal Tokyo wouldn't be established.
And it was all because of her.
She had inadvertently, but effectively, destroyed everybody's future. Well... sort of.
Rei grimaced at the thought and stopped on her tracks. She wouldn't let those ugly things happen. As Senshi Mars, she made an oath to protect her princess and the future, whatever it takes. And since it was her fault that those things were going to happen, it's her responsibility to set things right. Even if it means that she has to beg that insolent guy to keep his mouth shut.
Whirling around, the miko stared and studied the tall blond guy before her. He was smirking at her and his face was sporting a look that says he knew exactly what she was thinking. Rei groaned to herself, her pride couldn't and wouldn't accept the fact that she's going to ask Jadeite, of all people, for a favor.
If it weren't for Usagi-chan... she thought vehemently. Well, if it weren't for her, Hino Rei wouldn't be Sailor Mars in the first place, anyway.
"Senpai," she said in a neutral voice. "I apologize for my behavior. Now you knew my secret..." She saw him raised a brow and Rei barely managed to wipe that impudent grin off his face. "Now you knew my secret, I have something to ask of you." And then she added through clenched teeth, "even if it greatly pains me to do so."
Jadeite's grin widened. "I knew you would say that," he said confidently. "From the moment you turned around, I knew you would say exactly those words." And then he inclined his head. "Well?"
Rei rolled her eyes, flaring her nose. She composed herself and said, "I'm asking if you could possibly not breathe a word to anyone about this... for as long as you shall live?"
He nodded good-naturedly. "Of course..."
"Thank you."
"...on one condition."
Rei abruptly frowned. "Why am I not surprised," she then muttered dryly.
"Hey, you're asking me something that I would do for a lifetime. Do you know how difficult it would be for me?" Jadeite asked indignantly.
"I could only imagine."
The blond guy shook his head. "Nothing's for free in this world you know." he said. "And for your information, I'm not the one who's asking for favors here."
"Oh I'm so sorry. How could I've ever forgotten?" she asked ironically. "That was very thoughtless of me."
He sighed exasperatedly. "Enough with the sarcasms, Rei-chan. Compared to you, I'm only asking for a small condition."
Rei scoffed. She had expected this. The guy was nothing but a selfish, all-time jerk and a great pain in the... But somehow, she was a bit disappointed that he was asking for something in return.
"Fine," she said. "Let's hear this small condition of yours."
Jadeite's smile returned. "In exchange for keeping your secret for the next one hundred years, granting that I'll live as long as that, I want you Hino Rei... Sailor Mars," he said, stressing her senshi name, "to be my girlfriend. How about that?"
Rage exploded on Rei's brain. "What? Are you insane?!" she almost shouted. "And you call that a small condition?!"
He just grinned and shrugged his shoulders.
"How about I transformed into Sailor Mars and burn you into a crisp?" she asked in a steely tone.
"I don't think that would fall under the 'protecting the innocent' category," he said with mild amusement. "You're supposed to protect the innocents, right?"
"You're no innocent. You're the most evil scum alive! I should have pummeled you the first time we met."
"What, with that flying paper thingies of yours?"
"It's an ofuda, you moron!"
"Whatever," he said, imitating her earlier reply. "What do you have against me, Rei-chan? Why, I'm the best-looking guy in my school. Only few were given the honor and opportunity to be my girl so consider yourself lucky." And then he let out a conceited laugh. "What more could you ask for?"
Rei put her free hand on her hip. "You know, you're arrogance is utterly nauseating."
Jadeite chuckled. "Thank you."
Walking up to him, she snatched the plastic bags from him. "I would not accept that stupid, pathetic condition of yours even my very life depended on it. And I wouldn't be your girl even if you're the last person on earth," she said right on his face. She then turned her back and took some steps forward until Jadeite's taunting voice stopped her.
"Fine, walk away and leave," he said. "You're a fool for not knowing what's in front of you."
Rei just ignored him and proceeded as if she didn't hear him at all.
Jadeite watched her retreating form with a thoughtful smile on his lips. The rain had stopped and the sun peeked from the clouds, its rays highlighting his golden hair, creating a shimmering halo around him. He then chuckled to himself.
Rei was the only person who treated him less amiably and he didn't mind. He actually enjoyed it. Despite of all the bickerings and the harsh words, she started to grow on him and he'll be damned to let her go that easy.
"I'll make you eat your words, Rei-chan. That's a promise."
"Would you like to go out with me, beautiful?"
Pausing from folding her black karate belt, Makoto looked up and saw Jadeite leaning on the doorframe of their club building. She placed the belt inside her duffel bag and zipped it closed. Smirking, the blond approached her.
She gave him a mocking grin. "Sorry, I don't go out with boys who chase after pretty Shinto priestesses." She swung her bag on her left shoulder and added, "and you're not my type."
Raising a brow, Jadeite chuckled. "And who's your type? Tall, lean and gorgeous college guys with very dark brown hair? And whose names start with N?" His smile widened when saw the brunette frowned. "There were very few of them but don't worry, you're in luck because my brother happened to be one of them."
"Very funny, Senpai," she said with a sarcastic laugh. "Mention that again and I'll break your arm next time we spar."
"I'll change clubs then," he countered.
Makoto shook her head incredulously. "Now I know why Rei-chan hates you with a passion."
"Really? She told you she hated me?"
The brunette laughed at the startled look on his face. "No. I was just kidding," she said lightly. "Trust me, Senpai, she doesn't hate you. She may act like she does but in all honesty, she doesn't. Hate is such a strong term. Annoyed, maybe. But hate, I don't think so." She then looked at him expectantly. "So... what are these pointless chitchats for? I have to go home early and you're wasting my time, you know."
He shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing in particular," he replied. Then he grinned at her. "What, you don't buy that I really would like to go out with you?"
"Yeah sure," she impertinently said.
Jadeite cleared his throat and felt uneasy for a moment. "Well, I was just wondering if... you know, Rei-chan were okay. I haven't seen her in days with you guys... since that rainy afternoon... I thought she may have gotten a flu or something... because of the, er, rain."
Makoto choked out a muffled laugh. "So, you're worried about her?" She then shook her head with disbelief. "All those stupid preambles just to ask me if she's okay?"
The blond glowered at her but said nothing.
"She's fine," she replied with a giggle and patted his shoulder. "She's just busy with all those school stuff. Why don't you visit her at the shrine and see her for yourself? I'm sure she would be delighted."
Jadeite sneered. "Delighted huh?"
"Yup."
He folded his arms across his chest. "I went there the other day. Unfortunately, she wasn't there. Only her pets and Ojii-chan. Those birds stared at me as if I didn't have the right to be there. I swear it made the hair on the back of my neck rise." He then glanced at her. "Those crows, are they really her pets? Crows? I find it hard to believe."
"Phobos and Deimos? Yes, they are," Makoto replied. "Rei-chan gave them their names when she first came to Hikawa Jinja."
"The moons of Mars," he whispered absently. Mars... Sailor Mars...
"What was that?" the brunette suddenly asked.
Jadeite blinked his eyes. "Uh, nothing," he hastily said. "May I ask you something, Mako-chan?"
"Sure."
He scratched the side of his neck uncomfortably. "I'm just curious, how long have you been friends with each other?"
"Since we were fourteen," she replied, glancing at him. "About three years now, I guess."
"How did you meet her?"
"Well... Usagi-chan introduced me to her. She and Ami-chan knew Rei-chan long before I came here to Juuban."
He paused and looked up to her. "Does she... keep secrets from you?"
"Secrets?" she looked at him with an intent gaze. "What sort of secrets?"
Jadeite thought of the miko's other identity and decided that it would be better to keep it to himself. Although the girl flung his offer back to his face, he didn't have the heart to betray her like that. And he's not quite sure what her friends' reactions would be or whether they would be able to accept the fact that one of their best friends wears a very short skirt and saves the world on a daily basis.
Makoto's heart thudded frantically inside her chest as her mind raced with a thousand thoughts and possibilities. Did he remember everything about them? Had he discovered that Rei and Sailor Mars were the same person?
"Like, did she have a boyfriend?" Jadeite then said. "Or have she fallen in love before? Those sort of things."
"Oh... that." She let out a sigh of relief. "Well... Rei-chan is a very private person. She guarded her affairs like the most precious treasures on Earth."
"Really...?"
The brunette glanced at him with amusement. "You sounded like you're disappointed."
The blond just shrugged his shoulders.
Makoto went on. "She's not comfortable with all the 'lovey-dovey' talks but she talks when you least expected it."
"But you've been friends for so long," he interrupted. "Surely you must know why she acts like that. I mean, hating love an all the men as if we're the most disgusting creatures ever to walk on the planet."
The brunette giggled. "If it makes you happy, Senpai, you'll be the first guy she'll ever have if by some miracle you manage to snatch her."
Jadeite winced. "You talked as if I don't stand a chance at all."
Makoto just laughed. "I don't think you're man enough to win her over," she said teasingly. "Besides, Usagi-chan and I had a bet and I don't want to lose."
"I presume you made the bet against me, correct?" he asked lightly, raising a brow. "So why don't you enlighten me why she hates us?" he continued when the brunette just grinned at him.
"Rei-chan is one of my best friends. I can't tell her biggest secret to you," she said amusedly. "And like I said, I don't think you had the guts to love her."
Jadeite chuckled. "That's what I like about you, Mako-chan. When it comes to me, you're brutally frank."
"Don't patronize me that much."
"So why do you think I don't have the guts to love her?" he then asked, smiling playfully.
"Do I have to answer that?" she retorted. "I might end up hurting your feelings." She then laughed. "Now, it's my turn to ask you something."
"Shoot."
"Are you really serious about her?"
"Define serious."
"I'm not a dictionary. Do I look like one?"
Jadeite smothered a laugh at Makoto's jest. Then his blue eyes sobered. "I won't hurt her. That I can assure you."
"Jadeite-kun?" suddenly came a sweet voice. "Are you there?"
Makoto raised a brow at him. Jadeite just grinned nervously when the owner of the voice came into view.
The brunette recognized the girl as one of the lead actresses of the Drama Club, the one that Minako swore vengeance upon since she didn't get accepted because of the girl's influence. She bore a resemblance with Rei but she paled in comparison with the miko.
"I thought you already have a girlfriend at Rei-chan's school?" Makoto asked with indifference, emphasizing her friend's name.
Jadeite wiped the perspiration off his forehead. "I broke up with her a long time ago."
"...Uh huh.
"There you are," the girl said as she linked her arm on Jadeite's. She smiled sweetly at him and then gave the brunette a questioning glance. "Kino Momoko right?"
"It's Makoto," she corrected with a forced smile.
"This is Nitta Chiaki, one of my... classmates," Jadeite said awkwardly. "Uhm, I guess we'll be leaving then." He nodded at the brunette's general direction and steered the girl away.
"Nice meeting you Momoko-san," Chiaki said with an infuriating smile as the blond guy almost dragged her out of Makoto's immediate reach.
"Senpai," the brunette called out to him. Jadeite paused from his retreat and turned at her. "I'm willing to lose my bet just promise me you'll keep your word. And Chiaki-san..." At this the girl peered impatiently on her shoulder, "It's Makoto, not Momoko. It would be best for you to remember that."
The girl looked thunderstruck at her silent warning. She then saw the corner of Jadeite's mouth curled upward into a smile, giving her a salute before leading the annoying girl away from the building.
Cursing under her breath, Rei stared in disbelief at the second arrow protruding approximately five inches away from the bull's eye. With her free hand, she scratched the base of her neck and stared -- this time -- at the first arrow. It was closer to the center than the second but still, it didn't get where she had intended it to be.
She closed her eyes and breathed slowly. For the third time, she picked up another arrow and readied her self once more. She placed it in the wooden bow, stretching the string until it became taut, and focused her sight on the arrow's tip and the target. Rei released the arrow and held a lungful of air in anticipation as she watched it flew.
"Damn it!" she muttered aloud, causing the other archers to gape at her, when she saw the arrow landed on the ground. Bowing apologetically, she stalked moodily and disappointedly towards the locker room but relieved altogether that none of the Sisters heard her or else she would be doing penance for her blasphemous speech in the reflection room.
She now realized, something was definitely wrong with her. Rei slumped herself on the wooden bench and rested her head against the cold wall, closing her eyes. For the last two weeks, she was either unable to sleep or she was always waking up in the middle of the night, screaming her lungs out, because of her worst, terrible, horrible nightmare ever.
And now, she was desperately in need of sleep but was afraid to do so because of the recurring 'nightmare' and dreadfully in need to concentrate so that their coach wouldn't notice that her arrows were failing again.
Rei opened her eyes and sighed. She got two problems the size of the Pacific Ocean and yet she couldn't ask for help, let alone tell someone about it. First, an imbecile discovered one of her biggest secrets and second, that same imbecile was causing her nightmares. Those were enough to cause you sleepless nights.
Ever since the day she told the other senshi about the vision and her secret was uncovered, it became clearer and clearer as the days progressed. The images, the place, the emotions. And most of all, the other person involved. The mysterious dead guy.
Usagi was right on both accounts. It was a vision of the past, and the man was her lover and betrayer. Rei shuddered uncontrollably and started to feel sick. Now she sees those images as nothing more of a vision but more of a bad dream induced by her frenetic and troubled mind. Her only consolation from them was that she was able to kill him in the end. Never in her wildest imagination would she consider Jadeite a part of her past, present or future. There's no way in hell that it could possibly happen.
No way.
"Rei-san? Are you okay?"
Rei slowly lifted her gaze towards the source of the voice and saw Kotono staring worriedly at her. "Kotono-san," she acknowledged, smiling faintly at her.
Kotono sat beside her and wiped the beads of perspiration off her own forehead with a towel. "I saw you missed your target," she said lightly. "Is there something bothering you?"
"I'm just tired," the miko replied wearily. "And sleepy. I haven't had enough sleep these past few days."
"Is it because of Jadeite-senpai?"
Rei stared at her, aghast. "What?"
The fair-haired girl giggled. "I'm just kidding. I think you should go home and take a rest. Practice is almost over anyway. I'll just tell Coach that you're not feeling well."
Recovering from her initial shock, Rei finally smiled gratefully. "Thank you."
Smiling, Kotono nodded before standing up and leaving the miko alone.
"What is that guy doing here?"
Makoto almost jumped out of her skin and dropped the contents of her salad bowl when an agitated Rei suddenly spoke behind her. Placing the bowl on the counter, she let out a sigh of relief, thanking the gods that she didn't have to make another salad, and whirled around to glance at the girl.
Rei looked totally pissed off, she mused to herself as she watched her friend tapped her foot impatiently on the floor. The brunette chuckled silently and searched the miko's violet gaze. Obviously, there was something bothering her but Rei will be damned before she tell her.
"Usagi-chan invited him since, you know, she considered those guys as her friends," Makoto replied casually, still eyeing the girl carefully.
The raven-haired priestess stared at her with disbelief. "And nobody even told me?"
"We didn't think it would be that important to tell you. Besides, you were always on archery practice--"
"Kyudo. It's Kyudo," Rei corrected.
Makoto rolled her eyes. "Kyudo practice," she amended, and then continued, "that we rarely have the time to meet and see each other. I mean, come on, would you not come if we have told you that Jadeite-senpai was coming too? Do you hate him that much?"
Rei averted her gaze and frowned. "Do you really have to ask?"
The tall girl chuckled. "Silly me, why did I have to ask..." she said, grinning. "Yup, you really do hate him because you followed me all through the way to my kitchen just to rant about him being here."
"Is that sarcasm, Kino Makoto?"
Makoto just shrugged her shoulders. "I don't think you're angry because he's here. I think you're worried."
Rei abruptly glanced at the brunette and felt herself... melt. Makoto knew her all too well sometimes. Heck, most of the times, although she rarely points it out. She turned away from her penetrating look and just acted indifferently.
"Worried?" she just repeated instead.
"I don't know what happened between you two but it was as plain as day that you're not comfortable being near him not because of anger, but because of something else. Hell, I even think afraid was the more appropriate term, not uncomfortable!" Makoto said that made Rei want to sink further in a wormhole. "And I bet that you wouldn't tell me, not in a million years, why."
A moment of silence passed.
Sighing, the miko then said, "I think I should go back there."
The brunette smiled. "Good, because you're not the type of person who would spoil a friend's birthday just because she has some issues with a guy."
Rei smiled back before turning her back and heading for the living room. After a few hesitant steps, she stopped and turned. The brunette wore a baffled expression as she watched the miko returned to her.
"Do you need a hand? You know, I could help--"
She waved a hand dismissively, hindering her friend's last ditch effort to escape. "Go on, I'll be fine. Just don't let the two blondes near here." And then she gave her an encouraging wink.
Rei sighed and finally went on her way. Makoto's smile slowly vanished as she watched her friend's retreating form. Sighing, she fiddled with the hem of her apron and whispered, "I somewhat feel the same too, Rei-chan. I didn't know that guy would be coming over."
Glancing at the steaming pot on the stove, her eyes widened into the size of dinner plates when she realized she hadn't turned it off and her pasta was going to be soggy and mushy. She quickly rushed and turned the knob, muttering choice words that would make the angels cover their ears, and rescued the pasta from their impending culinary doom.
Massaging her left temple for the umpteenth time, she never felt utterly distressed and irritated in her entire life. She glanced at her wristwatch and wished for the night to end because she's as sure as hell that sometime during the party, Jadeite would find a way to bring up the subject about "the deal". The guy made some feeble attempts of talking and being alone with her but Rei promptly went to any of her friend's side and avoided him like a plague.
She's not ready to confront him yet. Not now.
Especially when she thought about the dream-turned-vision-turned-nightmare. How could something so grotesque happen to her? She had been a good girl over the years. Why is this happening to her? Of all the people in this freaking universe, why her? Is this some kind of punishment for giving Usagi a hard time? For wanting her to behave like a true princess?
If only she had been more careful...
If only Ojii-san hadn't insisted Jadeite to go with her...
If only Setsuna-san made things clearer...
"You have a visitor, Rei-chan," her grandpa said as Rei carefully removed her school shoes, placing them on the shoe rack.
The girl eyed him with surprise. "A visitor?" she repeated. "I'm not expecting anyone today."
Jii-san just shrugged his shoulders in response.
'Better not be that blond devil,' she mused to herself, walking towards their living room with the old priest trailing behind her. Jadeite was calling her on the phone almost every night and she was running out of excuses not to talk to him.
Stopping on her tracks, a soft gasp escaped from her lips as soon as he caught sight of a woman, kneeling on a pillow in the tatami-covered floor and idly sipping her tea. The woman turned her head and smiled as soon as she felt her presence, meeting her gaze.
"Setsuna-san," Rei mumbled, recovering from her initial shock, edging closer to the older woman. "What a surprise." She took a seat across her without tearing her eyes away from the senshi of time.
"I was just around the neighborhood so I decided to drop by," Setsuna said, smiling her patented smile that she and the rest of the inner senshi find so hauntingly mysterious.
"Oh."
"If you need anything, just tell me," Jii-san interrupted, settling another glass of tea on the table. "I'll be at the kitchen."
"Thank you, sir" Setsuna gratefully said.
The priest chuckled. "Anything for a beautiful girl like you, Meiou-san."
"Jii-san," Rei admonished, glaring at her impertinent grandfather and then smiling apologetically at the other senshi.
Grandpa just grinned, giving them a wink before making a retreat for the kitchen.
"Sorry 'bout that," she said sheepishly.
"It's alright," Setsuna replied reassuringly. "Anyway, I also came here to bring Usagi-chan's present. It's her birthday today, isn't it?" She pulled out a medium-sized box wrapped in pink from her bag and placed it on the table.
Rei nodded. "Yes. We'll be coming over at Mako-chan's place tonight." She gave the present a quick glance and then back at Setsuna. "Why don't you come with us and give that to her yourself instead? I'm sure she'll be very happy."
"I'm afraid I can't do that," she said. "I still have to go back to the university to finish some things at the lab."
"What about Haruka-san, Michiru-san, and Hotaru-chan?" the miko asked.
"Well, Michiru has a music rehearsal and as for Haruka... she's looking after Hotaru-chan today. The poor kid has a nasty cold since the day before." She then nudged the box towards Rei. "Please tell Usagi-chan that we were sorry we couldn't come. We'll make it up to her next time."
Rei smiled. "Alright."
"By the way," she added with a soft chuckle, a glint of amusement in her eyes; a side of her that they hardly ever saw from her usual serious demeanor. "All of our presents are inside that box. Michiru was the one who wrapped that thing up. I was too busy to put mine in another while Haruka was too lazy to do the wrapping of her own. Well, Hotaru-chan... she only messed things up."
The miko giggled. "Pink is definitely her favorite color."
After a moment, the room went silent for a while. Rei then found herself under the scrutiny of Setsuna's somber gaze.
"Uhm... is there something wrong?" she asked rather consciously.
Setsuna stared at her eyes "You haven't had enough sleep for sometime." It was more of a statement than a question. "Try not to think too much of whatever that's bothering you."
"How did you--"
She smiled, cutting the miko off. "Rei-chan, after all that you've been through, you should know by now that everything happens for a reason. Even those things that don't seem to look good."
Rei looked away, sensing that the other senshi knew everything. "W-what should I do?" she whispered.
"Do what you think is right," came the reply.
The miko abruptly glanced back at her. "What?"
"Do what you think is right," Setsuna repeated with a smile. "And everything will just fall into place."
Rei's brow twitched. Okay, that was sooo vague.
"I know it's kind of hard to understand," the older woman said sympathetically. "But trust me, Rei-chan. You'll figure out the reason behind all this soon enough." She slowly rose to her feet and straightened her dress.
"Setsuna-san...?"
"Yes?"
The bewildered miko looked up to her with her dark amethyst eyes. "Why did you bring them back? I'm sure you have something to do with it."
To her surprise, the senshi of time chuckled. "You should be asking Mamoru-san, not me," she replied. "It isn't my position to tell why..." And then she paused for a while, thinking. Finally, she added, "And you were right, we had something to do with it, me and the others"
Rei sat there immobile, her mind reeling with all the revelations that Setsuna shared with her. Mamoru knew? So that explained why he was with Nephrite that day at Crown and wasn't bothered by the fact that he was introducing a once dead guy to his friends. And who the heck are those 'others' that Setsuna mentioned? The outers? Definitely. The cats? Probably. What about Usagi and Minako? The idea of befriending those shitennou didn't seem to faze those two blondes. But from their accounts, they were also shocked to the core when they found out that the shitennou were reborn.
"Setsuna-san?" she called out for the second time, slowly standing up. The older senshi tilted her head in response. "You're not going to tell me anything else, are you?"
Setsuna just gave her a faint smile. "I'm sorry, Rei-chan, but that's all I can tell you..."
Rei chewed on her lip and sighed. In her 17 years of existence, that conversation with Setsuna was, without a doubt, the weirdest she had with a fellow senshi. Not only she didn't get her answers, lots of questions were added on her already troubled mind. Her musings, however, were untimely interrupted when a loud, resonating sound hit her ears.
Groaning, she threw the odango blonde an annoyed look. Usagi was enjoying herself with the microphone, giving them a disturbing karaoke rendition of Britney Spear's Baby One More Time. Everybody seemed to enjoy it, except her of course, despite of the blonde's shrill and piercing voice.
Finally, to the miko's relief, the song ended and Usagi took a bow in front of their clapping friends.
"Since today's your birthday, I wouldn't complain or say how dreadful your voice was," she then said with a raised dark brow.
Minako snickered at Rei's comment while Usagi was pouting and rolling her eyes. The longhaired blonde took the mic from Usagi and handed it to the miko.
"It's your turn, Rei-chan," she said, grinning. "Why don't you sing to us and show how it is nicely done?"
The miko stared at the microphone in her hand and back at her friend's expectant gaze. Noticing Jadeite's wide taunting grin, Rei glared at the blonde guy and tossed the mic to him. "Nope. I'll pass. I'd rather see Jadeite-senpai do it."
Jadeite smiled at her challenging remark. "If that's what you want, my princess, I would gladly oblige," he said, giving her an exaggerated bow.
"Princess? Is there something here that I don't know?" Nephrite said in a teasing tone.
"Senpai really likes Rei-chan," Usagi replied, smiling knowingly at the miko's direction. "But Rei-chan doesn't care... or so it seemed."
Rei rolled her eyes and said nothing. She then suddenly remembered the blond guy's proposition and hastily clenched her fists on her lap, suppressing the urge to snatch the microphone from him and shove the thing to his mouth. And then Mamoru's face caught her eyes. If it weren't for him, she wouldn't be facing this very big dilemma. She made a mental note to herself that before this night ends, she would get her answers from him. Whether he likes it or not.
Strains of the next song filled the air as Jadeite stood in the middle, readying himself. The dark-haired girl rolled her eyes, unimpressed, when their friends started to laugh and cheer him on.
"Hey, this is one of my favorites!" he said as he waited for the lyrics to appear on the screen. He then glanced at the miko's direction and grinned widely. "I lovingly dedicate this song to Rei-chan."
The group cheered louder to Rei's mortification. To her surprise, even Ami was giving her teasing looks. She made another mental note to herself to kill her friends tomorrow.
The noise slowly died down and she almost strangled Jadeite right there and then when he started singing...
Fly me to the moon
And let me play among the stars.
Let me know what spring is like
On Jupiter and Mars.
In other words
Hold my hand.
In other words
Darling kiss me.
Rei gritted her teeth. The gods were definitely on his side. They even gave him the right song so that he could make fun of her! And she swore, he even looked at her when he sang the word 'Mars,' deliberately reminding her of what he knew, daring her to do something crazy in front of her friends.
That jerk! He really asked for it!
Jadeite finished his song with a huge smile plastered on his face, taking another bow. The miko was really furious, glaring daggers at him all the while but the blond guy was now the one who's avoiding eye contact.
After a few more songs were butchered by the rest of the group, Jadeite excused himself and asked where the bathroom was.
"Just pass through the hall and then turn left," Makoto answered amidst Minako's loud singing. "It's near the kitchen, you wouldn't miss it."
Jadeite nodded his thanks and went on his way. Rei saw the perfect timing to confront him and hastily stood up.
"Hey, where are you going?" Usagi asked, tugging at her hand.
"I'm gonna get some water," she replied casually. "I'm kind of thirsty."
Usagi nodded, letting go of her hand. Rei slowly made her way in front of the bathroom and waited impatiently for him to come out. A thousand ways of torturing and tormenting him ran through her mind and she couldn't decide which one of them was the most suitable. After a few moments, she finally heard the sound of the toilet flushing and water running from the faucet.
Jadeite was shocked, to say the least, when he opened the door and found Rei standing in front of him, her violet eyes blazing. He tilted his head, an amused smile forming on his lips.
"Are you going to use the bathroom, too?" he asked lightly.
"What do you think?" she asked with sarcasm in return.
He stepped aside. "Well, it's all yours, baby." The blond guy bit back a laugh when she didn't make any move. Raising a brow, he then stared at her. "Are you okay?"
Rei inclined her head, tapping her chin with a finger. "Hmm, let me see... after being perfectly humiliated, I think I am!" the last word was almost shouted at his face.
"Whoa, Rei-chan! If I'm not mistaken, I think I haven't done anything wrong to you," he replied, still in a good mood. "If fact, you were the one who was avoiding me."
She laughed dryly. "I'm glad you've noticed. I thought you were dense."
Jadeite pursed his lips together.
"Now," the miko continued, "if I ever hear the word Mars from you again... I swear I'm going to--"
"Hey, hey," he cut her off. "If you have just accepted my proposal, there's no reason for you to be paranoid."
She stared at him. "Are you really that desperate?" she then asked incredulously. "You're resorting to black mail just to have a girlfriend?"
Shrugging his shoulders, he just smiled. "What can I say? You're too damn beautiful." And then he winked at her.
Rei rolled her eyes and groaned in frustration. "I can't believe this," she muttered under her breath
"Look, do yourself a favor and just accept the deal, okay? It's actually for your own good."
She choked out a mortified laugh. "My own good?" she repeated.
"Yeah," he agreed, glad that her voice was back to the normal pitch. Frankly, Rei's shoutings were really making his head ache. "It would be to your advantage. Just think about it. Your secret's safe with me... No more jerks from Moto Azabu would pester you... And you even got yourself a handsome bodyguard at your very own disposal. What more could you ask for?"
Rei looked sharply at him. "I don't need a bodyguard. I can perfectly take care of myself, thank you," she said sarcastically. "And how did you know about those guys from Moto Azabu, anyway?"
Jadeite grinned widely and confidently, pushing some blond hair off his eyes. "I've got my sources."
"Right..."
"So, what do you say?
"What about the disadvantages?" she asked instead. To tell herself the truth, she couldn't find any, except the whole notion of having a boyfriend was a disadvantage itself, and whether she likes to admit it or not, Jadeite's idea was becoming more appealing. Besides, she's getting tired of arguing with him and thinking about this whole thing through and through. Besides, she didn't have any other choice. She might as well accept the deal just to shut him up.
Do what you think is right and everything will just fall into place.
Setsuna's words earlier echoed to her ears. 'I just hope that doing this is the right thing,' she told herself. 'Grrr, the things I do for Usagi-chan!'
"Well," Jadeite drawled out. "I couldn't think of anything except that lots of girls would envy and hate you more."
Rei shot him with a disgusted look. "And I could say the same to you, too."
The blond guy chuckled. "A little bit conceited, aren't we?"
"You started it."
"Come on, Rei-chan," he said in a very sweet voice. "You might like the idea of it. Who knows, you might even fall in love with me."
"Hah, dream on buddy!"
Rei frowned, noticing his overbright smile. The guy must have realized that victory was just one step away. Rei carefully weighed her options once more. Even if her pride wouldn't accept it, she couldn't do anything aside from saying yes. What other choice does she have? If she said no, Jadeite would pester her until the end of her days, plus there was the big chance of the world knowing the whole senshi's secrets.
Jadeite gazed expectantly at her, waiting patiently for her answer.
Sighing with resignation, she finally said, "Before I agree to anything, I have conditions of my own. And if you disagree with them, you'll be having a hard time convincing me to accept this stupid deal."
"Fine," he answered with a simple shrug. "Shoot."
"First and foremost, definitely no kissing and no unnecessary touching."
He chuckled. "Sure. Unless you want me to."
Rei glared at him and chose to ignore his unwanted remark. "Second, no other girls aside from me. No flings, no whatsoever. I don't want to look stupid."
"Hmm, demanding. I like that."
"Shut up, I'm not finished yet."
"And third, this is just for convenience. There is really nothing going on between us, do you understand? I don't like you and I don't think I ever will. You wanted this thing so badly, so there you go. If you don't agree to the following terms then this discussion is over."
Jadeite winced, but let out a small laugh. "Okay, okay. I accept, I agree, whatever. So you'll finally say yes?"
"Not yet," she said. "For how long are you planning to go on with this charade?"
"How about a year?"
"Six months."
"Make that eleven."
"Seven."
"Ten."
"Eight and that's final."
The blond grinned widely. "Then eight it is."
Rei shook her head and raked her hand on her hair. "Alright, I give up," she said wearily. "Just don't bring this thing up anymore, okay?"
"Yes!!!" Jadeite almost jumped with glee. "You won't regret this, Rei-chan, I promise."
The miko massaged her temples as she watched him do his happy dance. "I think I'm going to be sick." To her surprise, he suddenly stopped and stared at her. "What?"
"I forgot to tell you something," he said. "I have another condition. You must go out with me whenever I asked you to. You can only refuse if your reason is acceptable."
"What?!" Rei exclaimed. "Why you sneaky--"
"You can't back out now," he said, wriggling his index finger at her. "You already gave me your word."
"I'm gonna get you for this..."
"Another thing... no name-calling. Moron, jerk... that's a big no-no. And don't call me Senpai either. I sense sarcasm everything you speak that term. Just Jadeite."
Rei folded her arms across her chest moodily. "Are you finished now?"
"Yeah," he replied, smiling sweetly at her. He then held out his hand. "How 'bout a handshake to seal everything?"
Reluctantly, she took his hand and shook it, unaware of another set of eyes staring bemusedly at them.
"Uhm... guys? What are you doing there in front of the bathroom door?" Ami asked, mystified.
Smiling, Jadeite turned to the blue-haired girl, still gripping Rei's hand. "Hey Ami-chan. I want you to meet Rei, my new girlfriend."
Author's Notes: Hi guys, I'm back after hibernating for half a year. I know it's been too long, that's why I made this chapter longer than the usual. I hope you like it. To Ocianne, thank you very much for your generous offer but my friend already did the job for me and I don't think it would be fair to you because I don't update my fic regularly. I thank you nonetheless for your kindness. That was very nice of you.
And to Persona the ITG, PyroChic, JoCrox, Kaze, Patch18, monkeychow, Merry Faerie, Venus the Oracle, meljoy, Shizuka Kaze, and Jadeite's Flame: thanks for the patience and the wonderful reviews. You guys served as my inspiration to finish this chapter.
Enough with the ramblings, I hope you enjoyed reading. Please don't forget to leave some reviews. Arigatou!
Till next time!