I do not own Sailor Moon, much to my disappointment.  Read, enjoy, review. 

Eyes For Jupiter  Chapter 2

By: Seiyaferret

My heart was beating a thousand times a minute.  I can't believe he accepted.  Heck, I still can't believe what I did.  I just asked a guy I don't even know to go get a cup of coffee.  He could be a serial killer for all I know.  But I don't really care as long as I can look into his eyes some more.

"So, um, do you know where we can get a good cup of coffee?" he asked. 

"Yea.  I know this great little place.  It is kinda small and dingy, but the coffee is good and it is not very busy," I replied and turned around.  "It's this way."  I pointed to the direction I came from.

He nodded and took up a pace to match mine.  "Oh, by the way, my name is Kino Makoto."

"I'm Rein North."

"It's nice to meet you."  We both blurted out at the same time.  I laughed and put my hand behind my head.  He smiled.  Oh, what a wonderful smile.  Some how I know he hasn't done that much lately.

For a few more minutes we walked along in an awkward silence.  Then to my relief, the coffee house appeared just ahead to the right.  "Here's the place."  Like a gentleman, he opened the door and we entered the little rundown, but clean, all night coffee house. 

Once inside I spied a small table in the back corner and lead him to it.  We sat down and a waitress came to take our order.  "Two cups of coffee please," I ordered.  "I hope that's all right with you?" I questioned Rein.  "Oh, sure, that's just fine."

The waitress left and quickly came back with two cups and a pot of coffee.  She sat them all down and went back to the counter.  I went to grab the pot, but his hand made it to the handle before mine did.  I felt my face blush.  I quickly withdrew my hand, placing it in my lap and looked down at the table.

To break the tension, Rein asked, "Do you want any cream or sugar in yours?"

I looked up and shook my head.  "Nope.  I take it as is."

"Huh, not many women I know take their coffee black," he said.

            I looked at his face.  His eyes were down cast into his coffee cup.  I could feel his sorrow.  We sat there in silence for what seemed like forever, then all of the sudden he stood up.  "I don't think this was such a good idea," he said.  "Thanks for the cup anyway."  He turned to leave, but I grabbed his hand.  "No wait.  Please stay.  I know you are troubled by something.   Pain that deep can fester into a larger wound if left untreated.  Besides, who better to let your frustrations on than a complete stranger?" I smiled.  I watched uncertainty flicker across his face.

"I tell ya what.  You don't have to talk about what's bothering you.  We can just talk about the weather or the latest movies or you can ask me any question you want.  What do ya say?"

            He came back to the table and sat down again.  I released my breath that I didn't even realize I was holding.  "So um, it's a clear night.  All the stars are out," I began.

            "Yea.  Even Jupiter is out," he said.  "So, what's a nice girl like you doing all alone on a Friday night?"

            I sighed.  "Well, my friends did invite me to go out with them."

            "Why didn't you?"

            "I would just be a third wheel.  They all have boyfriends, and I would just eventually get ignored.  So, I decided to stay at home and wallow in my own depression.  But then boredom got the better of me and I was going to rent a movie when we ah, ran into each other."

            "Have you been alone long?" he asked.

            "I may as well tell you, I have been alone and on my own for the past five years."

            "What happened?"

            Oh great.  Here we go.  I just knew he was going to ask that.  I haven't really thought about that day for at least three years.  When I met Usagi and the others.  They helped to break down the walls around my heart.  But they still couldn't get through my last barricade.  In one question, Rein had caused a crack to form.  I shakily took a breath.  "Tomorrow it will be five years to the day that I lost them."

            "Lost who?" he probed further.

            I studied the inside of my coffee cup.  "My parents."

            "How did they die? If you don't mind me asking?"

            I haven't talked about this to anyone for a long time.  But for some reason I feel that it's important that I share this part of my past with him.  If I did perhaps he would share a little of his pain with me as well.  "They were going to take a holiday in Hawaii, just the two of them.  It was a late anniversary celebration for them.  They left on a plane and the plane crashed into the ocean.  There were no survivors.  I was told by the police and taken to a foster home.  Their bodies were never recovered.  It's still painful to think about it."

            "I know what you mean."

I looked up at him.  His eyes were closed, as if he was remembering something.  "I lost my brother three months ago.  I don't know how he died, or really when.  I just quit receiving letters from him.  I found out that he had already been cremated and his remains were put to rest over Tokyo Bay.  I came here to find out what happened, but so far every page I turn is blank.  I've run out of money, so I don't know where I'm going to stay tonight.  I don't have a job anymore since I have been gone for longer than the week I was allowed and plus, I have mo more leads on what happened to my brother.  All I do know is that this was the last place he was.  DAMMIT!" he slammed his fist on the table making me jump.  "If he needed help, why didn't he call?"

            Rein sat gripping the edge of the table with his hands.  His stress and fatigue were obvious to me.  I sat there for a moment studying his features.  He had pale blond hair that just touched his eyebrows.  It was lighter than even Usagi's.  I could see dark smudges under his eyes.  That's what did it to me.  His eyes.  "It's not much, but I can offer you a couch to sleep on for as long as you need it."

            Startled, he looked at me with wide eyes.  "You don't even know me." 

            "No, but you do need some rest, perhaps a hot meal and a friend.  I can offer all three of those free of charge.  Beside, I wasn't kidding about the sparring thing.  I'm pretty good at Judo and Karate.  So I'm not really worried.  And, I won't take no for an answer."  I winked.

            "I guess I don't really have a choice now do I?  But I don't know how I could repay you."

            "Hey, don't fret.  Just get some rest tonight and tomorrow we can start sorting everything else out.  Now, let's go get you stuff and get you to bed," I said.

            "That's an easy one.  All I have is right here."   He patted his backpack.  I'm afraid I left my home rather quickly.  I called my landlord yesterday, and he had to rent out my apartment since I haven't paid my rent in two months.  Everything I had is gone."

            "That's also something we can worry about tomorrow.  Come on.  Let's go home."  I smiled at him and held out my hand to him.  He grabbed it with out any hesitation.

            "Thank you so much Miss Kino."

            "Please just call me Makoto."

            "All right.  If you call me Rein."  

            "It's a deal, Rein."