Chapter Eleven: A Joyful Heart and A Cruel Kiss
Before the end of school the next day, Reiko slipped out of class and went to the bathroom. Inside, she opened her schoolbag and took out a small purple makeup bag, balancing it on the rim of the sink. She unzipped it, removed a tube of sparkling pink lip gloss, a tube of mascara that promised "Ultra Lashes," and the Love Punch bottle, and then placed her bounty on the top of the sink, next to the faucet. First, she put a good coating of mascara on each set of lashes and marveled at how well the tube kept its promise of Ultra Lashes. Next came the lip gloss, which she effortlessly swept over her lips. When she was done, she smacked them together to ensure full coverage. Finally, she took Natsumi's advice again and sprayed the Love Punch on her crown twice for good luck.
"Hino-san," asked the girl at the sink next to her, Chizuru Fuchizaki, who was a very sweet classmate of Reiko's. "What's with all the makeup?"
"Oh, nothing. I just might be getting a boy's number today." Reiko beamed.
"Ah, Hino-san, that's great!" Chizuru said cheerfully, clapping her hands. "Good luck to you!"
"Thanks!" Reiko bowed before putting her goodies back in her makeup bag and shoving that back in her schoolbag. She took her schoolbag and started swinging it as she left the bathroom and went back to class, where the minutes couldn't go by fast enough. Plans were already made with Keiko, who would hang back in the courtyard for a few minutes while Reiko got Souji's number. If he were to refuse Reiko's polite query, she would give a signal to Keiko, who would run in and rescue her sister, perhaps while scolding Souji for being a fool.
Finally, after what seemed like ages, the final bell rang and Reiko dashed out of the school in the blink of an eye. Keiko followed, a few moments later, and found a good bench in the courtyard to sit upon. Reiko gave Keiko a thumbs-up and walked happily towards the gates, humming a happy tune.
"There you are, shy one," Souji said, jumping out from beyond Reiko's line of sight. Predictably, she screamed and involuntarily leapt into the air. This made Souji laugh like a hyena.
"You scared me!" Reiko exclaimed, her face bright red from both the surprise and the sight of Souji.
"Sorry about that, shy one." Souji smiled. "Would you like to go out with me?"
"Right now?" Reiko asked.
"Right now," Souji repeated with a nod.
"Um…" Reiko turned to Keiko, who smiled. "Sure!" she exclaimed, turning back to Souji.
"Who's that?" Souji asked, pointing to Keiko.
"That's my twin sister Keiko," Reiko said proudly.
"Cool. Come on, let's go!" Souji grabbed Reiko's arm and took off running. Reiko shrieked at first, but then her shrieks turned to laughs.
I think I like this guy! she thought to herself, smiling.
"Where are you taking me?" she asked.
"To a secret place," Souji replied.
"Mysterious!" Reiko exclaimed.
The secret place turned out to be The Sweet Bean, a decision that completely mystified Reiko until Souji explained that he wanted to finish what they had started the day before. Reiko thought that was a cute touch. She ordered yet another frappe, which Souji insisted on paying for, and they settled down at a table together. Once Reiko had some caffeine flowing through her system, she started to chat at a blistering pace about herself, her school, her sister, and her friends. She was careful, of course, not to reveal anything about being Sailor Phobos, but aside from that, she said pretty much everything she could think of to say. Reiko dominated the conversations, with Souji saying very little except to respond to questions or provide the correct emotional response to something, such as a funny or a gross story.
"Ah!" Reiko exclaimed, looking at her watch. "I really have to get home. I have homework to do."
"Where do you live?" Souji queried.
"Ahh, you won't believe me if I say it, even though it's true," Reiko said, waving her hand dismissively.
"Try me," Souji said, shrugging.
"I live at the Hikawa Shrine."
"I don't know where that is," Souji replied, shaking his head.
"It's nearby." Reiko paused. "Um, can I have your phone number?"
"Sure, but only if I can have yours."
"It's a deal." The two rattled off their phone numbers to one another. "Thanks, Souji. I'll call you sometime."
"Cool." Souji smiled, Reiko smiled back, and then she got up and gingerly walked away, coquettishly blowing a kiss over her shoulder before walking right into the closed door. She flashed a nervous "dignity at all times" smile and properly opened the door, but punished herself for her embarrassing moment by running away. Souji sat at the table for a few moments afterward, committing everything he learned about Reiko to memory. Then, he threw away his drink, left the shop, and ducked into a nearby alleyway. Concentrating deeply, he became completely invisible and gained the ability of flight, which he used to glide smoothly down the sidewalk, flying a few feet above Reiko, who was unaware that he was around because she was calling Natsumi to tell her that her advice was successfully used.
Don't think that I can't tell you're a Sailor Senshi, Reiko, he thought to himself. Your aura betrays you and gives your secret away. Hecate, I will avenge you. I promise you this. Did you hear me, Hecate? Astarte promises to avenge you.
Reiko went to sleep early that night, leaving her window partly open so she could feel the breeze during the night. She dreamt, as girls in love naturally do, of the object of her affection. She did not, however, feel the new presence in her room as the invisible Souji entered through her open window and verified that she was truly asleep before settling down on her floor and becoming visible again. When Souji became visible again, he snapped his fingers and his persona melted away, replacing itself with the persona of a woman with long, curly red hair, tanned skin, and pink eyes. She was clad in a senshi uniform much like Hecate's, except with red and pink accents instead of black and red.
"Innocent Reiko-chan's first love," this woman began in a sultry voice as she hovered over the sleeping Reiko. "How cute. It'll bring Chaos-sama even more power." She leaned in and kissed Reiko on the forehead, a kiss that left a burning red mark for a few seconds before sinking into the skin. When she was satisfied that the red mark was gone, she snapped her fingers and became Souji again. To seal the spell, he caressed Reiko's face and touched where the red mark had been before shutting his eyes and turning invisible. He flew out of Reiko's room, leaving her alone to sleep, perchance to dream.