Disclaimer: I own nothing in this story but the idea and the title.

A/N: Special thanks this time go to cardcaptor eternity (Hotaru abuse has, unfortunately, just begun) Relyan ( I hadn't really thought of the Creature as like the Phantom… Hmm…And you're right, It needs more help than destroying. As for General/Senshi togetherness, that gets better in this chapter. Hehe) Lokileysmith (poor Hotaru, she meant well) and, once again, to Lysia Croft for keeping me going.

Just a little interlude, using another image song. This time it's Rei's Fire Soul Love from the second season. It fits perfectly. I don't know why I'm using so many songs lately, though…

Rei yawned and stretched, then opened her eyes.

"Where in all the solar system…?"

"Sh. Go back to sleep."

"Okay."

She let her head fall back onto the warm shoulder, her nose wrinkling playfully as soft hair tickled her face. Inhaling the sweet scent of her "pillow", she felt sleep begin to reclaim her. She smiled and wrapped her arm around his chest with a contented sigh.

Then she froze.

"Wait a minute."

She sat up sharply, and turned to glare down at a very confused and sleepy Jadeite, who squinted back at her in askance.

"Wha's the matter?" he muttered groggily.

"Baka! Hentai!"

"Lunatic!"

He lurched of the couch, warding her off with a spare pillow. "What are you doing?"

"What am I doing? What are you doing? You keep your hands off me!"

"Hey!" Jadeite held up an angry finger. "I fell asleep on this couch first!"

"Couch?"

"Couch, you nutcase! Look! We're in the Prince's apartment!"

Rei's head whipped left, then right. "What am I doing here?"

"I would guess that you fell asleep here after our fight with that…thing. I don't know! I passed out as soon as I was sure the little girl was okay!" He tossed his shield/pillow back onto the couch, and rubbed his forehead. "And could you take the shrieks down a couple decibels? I prefer not to have my eardrums burst until after noon."

"Oh, gods! Hotaru!" Rei put her face into her hands and groaned. "That little… I hope she really is okay. Why wouldn't she let Usagi heal her last night?"

"She thought it wasn't worth expending the power," Jadeite reminded her, collapsing gracelessly into the opposite corner of the couch once again. "After all, they were only a couple scrapes and bruises. It could have been a lot worse."

Rei shuddered. "I know."

"Ah, hell! Gomen. I didn't mean to upset you."

"Like you could!"

She leapt up and began to pace around the room. Now that she thought about it, she did remember sitting on the couch beside Jadeite's sleeping figure, and promising herself she would only close her eyes for a moment…

"My grandfather is probably wondering where I am. Speaking of which, where is everyone else?"

Jadeite craned his neck around curiously. "Huh. Good question."

"Well, I try not to ask stupid questions."

"Alright, if you're so smart, why don't you check the note not two feet from you, on the table?"

Resisting the impulse to growl, Rei leaned over and snatched the piece of paper up. Written in a neat hand was a short message,

"Rei and Jadeite,

"The other girls went home. You were sleeping so deep we didn't want to wake you. Usagi called your grandpa and told him you were spending the night, so you're not in trouble. Kunzite and I are going to talk to one of my Professors. Zoisite and Nephrite went to the grocery store. We'll be back soon.

"Mamoru"

Rei's eyes narrowed as she saw something at the bottom.

"P.S. Don't kill each other."

"Well?" Jadeite asked around a yawn.

"Read for yourself," Rei told him, handing him the letter. "What time is it? I have to go home."

"What's the rush? Your grandfather thinks you're perfectly safe with the Princess. Relax."

Straightening her hair, Rei looked anxiously around for her shoes. I'm alone, in an apartment with Jadeite, who looks absolutely…arrogant! And bad! Very bad!

"I gotta go!"

"Oh, come on. It's only… eleven." He stood up and stretched. "You're always in such a rush! Sit down."

Without any explanation, he turned and headed for the kitchen.

"Wait!" Rei called. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to make breakfast."

"Nani?"

She rushed after him, her face flushing, her emotions in a tangle. "But… Zoisite and Nephrite had to buy groceries!"

"That's alright, I'll figure something out."

Rei looked desperately from him to the door as he opened the refrigerator. "I'm not hungry, so-"

"You haven't eaten in over twelve hours," Jadeite said, holding up a carton of eggs. "Come on, I make a great omelet."

He was being kind, jocular, almost silly. It seemed so nice, like it used to be…

…Love that's extreme is OK with me…
…I don't like sweet words! …

Feeling the situation spiraling out of her control, Rei fell back on her favorite weapon: anger.

… I remember in a dream from before…
…Pupils burning the message "Go Mad Love"…

"You can't even cook!"

He looked up at her with a reassuring smile. "Sure I can!"

"What, Beryl made all her henchmen train as five star chefs?"

That did it. Jadeite's smile turned into a glare. "Don't start."

…A scar from the past aches…
…When time passes, it fades…

"I didn't realize the duties of a Negaverse General included making the Queen breakfast."

"Mars…"

"Did she come down to the table, or did you serve it to her in bed?"

"For the love of Sol!" He tossed the eggs none too gently onto the counter. "You know damn well I could cook long before Beryl! And-"

"I know nothing about you!"

"AND!" he shouted, "if you weren't so damn stubborn and would stop trying to keep me as the enemy, you would remember that!"

…I'm not used to living a lie…
…It's breaking the body! "Go For Break"…

"Don't!" Rei yelled.

"Don't what?"

"Don't talk like you know me!" she snarled. "Don't talk like you know the first thing about me!"

"But I do." Jadeite took two steps closer, putting him into dangerous proximity. "I know plenty about you."

…My necklace came off in the city…
…I wasn't alone when I lost it…

"Like what?"

They had gone from screaming to whispering in record time. Rei had to tip her head back to look him in the eye. It would have been easier to step back, but she refused to retreat.

…Throwing off my decorated clothes…
…I give a graceful "Fighting pose to you"…

"I know that if I do this," Jadeite put his hand on her hip, then slid it around to rest at the small of her back, "your heart starts to race."

Rei could not argue with him as her pulse thundered in her throat. But she was never one to back down from a challenge, so instead, she smiled up at him.

"Yes, but I know what happens if I do this."

She trailed her fingers slowly up his spine, a feather touch brushing the back of his neck and raising goosebumps. From deep in his throat, he gave a little groan. She ended by twirling a lock of golden hair around one finger.

"Hmm. I was right."

"Fair enough, m'lady. But then I know what happens when I do this."

Rei had neither a chance, nor a desire, to move as Jadeite dipped his face close to hers. She tensed in his arms and gasped when his mouth found that most tender spot, just behind her ear. Her grip tightened in his hair as he played across her flesh with lips and tongue. But she moaned with disappointment when he withdrew.

"Hai. I was right."

Chuckling throatily, Rei caressed his cheek with one hand. "I think we both know what happens when I…do…this."

…Fire Soul Bird In Love…

…Fire Soul Bird In Love…

…Stand up! Oh oh oh…

She guided his face to hers, and kissed him slowly on his lips. He hesitated, unsure, his green eyes studying hers intently. Her smile was all the answer he needed.

…Fire Soul Bird In Love…

…Fire Soul Bird In Love…
…I'm looking for tomorrow! …

…I love passion…

In the second kiss, Jadeite's lips almost crushed hers. She clung to him with an aching hunger she could no longer fight, and no longer wanted to. Several stumbling steps and her back hit the refrigerator. He caught her under her arms, pulling her up to a more convenient height. His body, heavy against hers, held her against the cold metal as his fingers tangled in her hair.

"Oh," she whispered, her head falling back so he could cover her throat with kisses. "Jadeite."

"Mars," he moaned into her skin, his teeth scraping the hollow of her throat. "Rei. I love you."

"Say it again," she begged shamelessly. "Say it a thousand times. I want to hear you."

"I love you, I love you-"

She caught his face, dragging it back to hers, and whispered, "Never mind. Shut up and kiss me."

…I desire stimulation with love…
…I'll forget all those pretty words…
…Holding a dream with this hand…
…Making my heart boil "Go Mad Love"…

Jadeite obliged, stealing her breath and demanding more. A single tear rolled down her cheek until he caught it with a flick of his tongue. Her hands slid up his back, under his shirt, and her nails dug into his shoulders.

"My Jadeite."

…Fire Soul Bird In Love…

…Fire Soul Bird In Love…
…I'm looking for tomorrow! …

…I love passion…

The door opened.

Rei shoved Jadeite back, her feet hitting the floor as his back hit the counter. Usagi, Makoto, Ami, Minako, and Luna entered, looking first around the living room. Their momentary distraction bought enough time for Rei to straighten her hair, and Jadeite his shirt.

"Guys?" Makoto called in a mystified voice.

"Hi!" Rei chirped in an overly bright voice, stepping out of the kitchen.

The four girls and one cat looked at her, out of breath, and Jadeite stumbling from the kitchen beside her. Five sets of eyebrows rose.

Jadeite smiled. "Who's hungry?"