Chapter 3- A New Path
"Rei? Rei!" Rei jumped a mile as Mina started shaking her shoulder, "Wake up!"
She gave Mina a dirty look as she sat up, "I fell asleep? Oops"
"You know, it's usually Serena who gives us problems", Amy pointed out, "But she's staying awake, is something wrong?"
"No", she shook her head vigorously, "Nothing, don't worry about it you guys"
"Are you sure?" Serena pressed, "You're not the one who's supposed to fall asleep, after all"
"Look, I was up late doing a fire reading", Rei said, "I'm just a little tired, lay off all right?"
"Okay, okay", Serena said, holding her hands up in defeat, "Give us a break, we'll leave alone about it"
"That's all I ask", Rei nodded, grabbing her book and hiding behind it to avoid her friend's glares.
"I don't get Algebra!" Serena started whining, "When are we ever going to use Algebra in real life anyway?"
"Serena, real life doesn't exist for you", Rei said distantly, "So I wouldn't worry"
She didn't have to look over her book to know Serena was sticking her tongue out her. Mina giggled and pushed Rei's book out of the way, "You do realize you're reading your Algebra book, right?"
Of course she hadn't, "Of course I did. Never hurts to read a few numbers, right?"
"Yea right", Mina shook her head and smiled, "At this rate we're never going to get anything done"
"No kidding", Lita said, scribbling in her notebook, "But who can focus, huh?"
Serena shrugged and turned her book sideways, "I know I can't focus"
"Serena the only thing you can focus on is a cream puff", Rei said, putting down her Math book, "Don't over-stress yourself now"
"Ooohhh, can it Rei!" Serena shouted, jamming her book into her bag, "No one asked you!"
"Well, that's too bad", Rei said, "because I'm going to give you my opinion whether you like it or not, sorry"
"No you're not!"
"Not really, no"
"Okay you two, that's enough", Amy said, "We have to get some studying done before the day is over"
"Or the week", Mina added as she returned to her science book.
"Yea", Lita laughed, "Come on, lets get back to work"
"Okay", Rei and Serena said at the same time.
"Rei grabbed her English book and flipped to chapter five. She was supposed to be reading it for homework for Friday, but she had fallen behind. Even now her mind wasn't on the work, but she had to at least try. What she really wanted was to put her head down and sleep. She shouldn't have stayed up so late flame reading…
Flashes, yells, buildings erupting into flames.
What's going on? She thought, What…
And again her name was being yelled, Rei…Don't…Rei…
"Ah!" she gasped as she shot up.
"Rei?" she looked around apprehensively.
"What?"
"That's the second time you've fallen asleep today", Lita said, packing her books away, "Why don't we get going, we can pick up the study session tomorrow and you can get some rest--"
"No, no, it's fine", Rei said quickly, "Don't worry about it, really—"
"I think Lita's right", Mina said, grabbing her books, "Besides, it's not like we can't study at home"
"Right", Amy agreed, "The only reason we study here is because we know if Serena studies at home nothing will get done"
"Er, yea, what they said, I suppose", Serena said, "Anything to get out of here, actually, I'm sick of studying"
"Guys", Rei said, "It's fine, if you want to stay--"
"It's also fine to leave", Lita pointed out, "See you guys later"
"Get some sleep Rei", Mina said as she left, "See ya"
"See you in school tomorrow Serena", Amy said, "Bye Rei"
"Bye…", Rei said distantly.
"I'll see you later Rei", Serena said, standing up. She made her way over to the door, but didn't open it.
"The door won't open on it's own you know", Rei pointed out.
"I don' expect it to", she said, whirling around, "Look Rei…You know you can always talk to us, right?"
"Lita's said the same thing a million times", Rei said snappishly.
"Well, all right", Serena said, turning back to the door, "See you tomorrow then"
How can I talk to you? Rei thought as the door shut, When I don't know what to talk about?
She packed her own school books away, not really noticing what she was doing. Maybe Lita's right, she thought, yawning, Falling asleep twice during one study session…I just need a good night's sleep. Maybe that will help me shake off these dreams
She sighed and flopped down on the floor, leaning back with her eyes closed. A break. That was what she needed. Her eyes snapped open. I don't need a break! She thought, outraged at the very thought, I need to know what these dreams mean! I know they're the answer to it all, I know it!
She stood up and took off to the temple.
"Seriously, you guys call me a space-head?" Serena asked, taking a lick of her ice cream.
"I know, it's super weird", Lita agreed, "I never would have thought Rei would be the kind of person to space out"
"I just said that!" Serena said, nearly dropping her ice cream cone.
"I know", Lita said with shrug, finishing up the last of her own cone, "I was just agreeing"
"Oh"
The two were at a loss for conversation. They had invited Mina and Amy along for an ice cream, but Amy had wanted to get more studying done, and Mina had chores to do at home, so Lita and Serena had gone out on their own. They had also considered asking Rei, but the thought quickly diminished when they remembered why they had left the study session in the first place. Serena sighed and finished off her own cone. "It's so weird", she said after a minute, "Rei has always been a bit…well, off, but this just isn't something I wouldn't expect from her. She's never been like this. You know…"
"Secretive and distant?" Lita guessed, "Yea, I hear ya"
The two looked at each other and shrugged. This, Serena concluded, is the one thing the Sailor Scouts can't solve. We've faced monsters, demons, and the end of the world (several times) but we can't figure out something as simple as our own friend. Weird
"After everything we've been through", Lita said, as though reading Serena's thoughts, "We can't help one person. We've saved the world and yet we can't save our friend. Talk about strange"
"My thoughts exactly"
Lita stirred her straw around in her almost empty soda. Neither of the girls knew what to do. And it was driving them both completely nuts. "What can we do?" Lita said suddenly, "Rei doesn't want to tell us what's wrong and that's that. We'll just have to wait until the time is right, and get her to tell us then"
"Is that wise?"
"Do we have any other choice?"
"Water, Fire, Earth, Air, Sun, Rock…"
Rei was once again in front of the fire, chanting
"Elements, unite, elements, become one…"
She wasn't sure exactly how long she'd been in the temple chanting. It'd been late afternoon when she had started, and it was pitch black outside now, so it had to have been awhile
"Water, Fire, Earth, Air, Sun, Rock…"
Every time she came close to an answer it slipped away
"Sacred fire, unite with the elements, tell me the meaning of these dreams…"
A little more. She was close, she could tell
"Water, Fire, Earth…wait, what's that?"
There! Just as she had expected, she had it! Images were dancing in the flames. Someone…someone attacking four others…her friends, the Sailor Scouts…but something was wrong, she could tell…who was that attacking them?
"No way!" she screamed in realization, "Impossible!"
The images died away as quickly as they had appeared. And Rei didn't care. "No…" she said, shaken, "No, no, it's not possible. It isn't possible"
You have a great dark power hidden deep inside you…
"I do not!" she cried, "You're wrong!"
I'm talking. To myself, she thought, I am pathetic
She had to do more digging. Had to find the answer. Had to learn whether or not, maybe once, the sacred fire was wrong. She had to.
"Ooohhh", Serena groaned as she dragged herself down the street, "I so don't wanna go over Rei's, it's not fair. It's such a nice day out, and I'm going to be spending it studying. Maybe I can talk the girls into spending the study time outside. Hmn, I hope Rei is in a better mood and hopefully not as insulting"
She sighed and cast a downward look at the ground. Would someone please cast me a line?
"Hey", she said suddenly, looking up, "That's Rei. Hey, Rei!"
She took off down the street after her friend. "Rei!"
Why isn't she answering me? Serena thought, What'd I do this time, I haven't seen her since yesterday for heavens sake!
"Hey!" she said angrily, grabbing Rei by the shoulder, "You ignoring me or something?"
"Huh?" she looked around, "Oh, hey Serena"
"Running late Rei?" she asked grinning.
"No, not---" she yawned widely, "Not really, I mean, I got out a little late, but that's it…"
"You okay Rei?" Serena pressed, giving the girl a weird look, "You look exhausted"
"No, I'm f-fine", her last word was cut off by another yawn.
"Well you don't look fine", Serena pressed.
"Mind your own business Serena", Rei said, pushing her away, "Back off"
"Okay, fine", Serena said quickly, "Lets just head over to your place already, if you're still up for studying, I mean"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"I'm not sure, I mean, I'm never up for studying", Serena pointed out.
"Yea, but the difference between you and me is you're lazy", Rei said tiredly.
"Yea, well, I, uh…" Serena stuttered, lost for words.
"You see my point then", she said with a laugh, "Come on, lets get going"
I am not lazy, Serena thought bitterly as the two took off down the street together, I'm just…academically challenged. Yea, that's good
"So, Serena, going to spend another study session sleeping?" Rei asked interestedly.
"The thought crossed my mind", she said with a shrug.
"You're never going to get anything done at that rate", Rei scolded, "I don't want to see your next test grade"
"I don't want to see my next test, period", Serena said with a sigh, "Say, Rei, can I ask you a question?"
"Shoot"
"Well, I know you've said a million times, nothing", Serena started off carefully, "But I really want to know…what's wrong? It isn't like you to pull all-nighters fire reading and stuff, if nothing's wrong. You can tell me, you know"
-0-0-0-
"You can tell me, you know"
Rei looked around at Serena. She was a good friend, and a good person, deep down. But she was nosy to. "It's nothing", she said defensively, "I just…needed a little reassurance on something"
"You look like you were up for half the night"
"Or the whole night", she said without thinking.
"The whole night?.!" Serena screeched, "What do ya mean, the whole night?.!"
"The flame reading just took a little longer than I expected it to", she said, "Before I knew it, it was morning"
"So you haven't slept?" Serena pushed, "At all?"
"It's no big deal", she said, trying to wave it off. Serena wouldn't hear of it though.
"Rei, you can't keep not sleeping", she said angrily, "It's not good for you"
"Neither is half the stuff you eat, but it doesn't stop you", Rei shot back.
"That's beside the point", Serena said, "Rei, I know something's wrong, please, you have to talk to me"
They were nearing the temple.
"I told you, it's nothing", Rei said, "Come on Serena, just give me a break—"
She stopped short and pulled back, feeling dizzy. "Rei?" Serena turned around to face her, "You okay?"
"Course", she said, shaking her head to clear it, "I'm fine, really…"
"You look pale", Serena said, grabbing her shoulder, "Maybe you should sit down or something"
"It's fine", Rei repeated, shaking Serena off, "Come on, we're almost to the temple, lets go—"
She stopped as a dizzy spell once again overtook her. "Rei?" Serena sounded really worried now, "Rei are you okay?"
"Yea", she muttered, "Quit worrying Serena"
"Well I'm sorry", she said snippishly, "But I do worry"
"Well don't", Rei said as her head cleared, "Lets get going, Mina, Lita, and Amy are probably already waiting"
It turned the others were waiting, and they were pretty mad that Serena and Rei showed up late. Serena apologized over and over, but Rei simply gave them a muttered "sorry" before getting to work.
"I have a Math test tomorrow", Mina said as she looked over some Math problems, "I don't need to know percents to know I'm going to fail"
"Don't think that way Mina", Amy said, "You never know, you could still pass"
"Yea right", Mina scoffed, "X equals five times two divided ten to the fifth. What does X equal? Who can figure that out for heavens sake!"
"One", Amy said without looking up from her book. Mina gave her a scathing look.
"Forget it"
Are you doing Math or English?" Serna asked, "X is a letter, not a number!"
"That's Algebra", Mina said, scribbling some more notes down, "Not that I like it"
Lita snickered as she went over her own work, "If you ask me it's all mumbo jumbo", she shrugged carelessly, "Not that it matters, we gotta do what we gotta do"
"Yea", Mina nodded, "That's how it is"
Rei rolled her eyes, They're a circus act, she thought, annoyed, Now where is my notebook?
"Hey Rei", Mina said suddenly, "I saw Chad on my way to school today, he was running some errands for your grandfather"
"So?" Rei asked, uninterested.
"So, he said you were up late", she said in an accusing tone, "Flame Reading"
That caught the other girls attention, even Serena, who had already second-guessed her first thoughts.
"Are you kidding?" Lita asked, "Rei, you said you'd sleep last night!"
"And I did", Rei said defensively, "Sort of"
"Sort of?" Amy said, "Rei, did you sleep, or didn't you?"
"That depends", she grumbled, twiddling her pencil between her fingers, "How much did Chad tell you?"
"He said he went to bed at one in the morning", Mina explained, "And you were still going strong with the chanting"
"Um", she fidgeted uncomfortably, "I went to bed a little while after that", she finally said, lying through her teeth.
"How come you've been up so late?" Amy asked, "Huh?"
"No reason", she said, trying to shrug off the interrogation, "Just a little flame reading"
"A little?"
"Look, it's nothing", Rei said, annoyed, "Drop it, all right, we're here to study, not come down on me, what are you, my watch dogs?"
"Funny", Serena said, "Besides, I'd rather talk to you, not study"
"Well", Rei said, grabbing her Science book, "That makes one of us"
Amy giggled, "Rei's right though, we did come here to study, so lets get to work"
"Okay", Mina and Lita nodded. Serena made her "I don't wanna" face, and picked up her English book, and Rei stayed hidden behind her Science book. She wasn't really studying, but it was a good reason to keep from talking to her friends. It was pretty boring work, just sitting there pretending to read, so tempting to fall asleep…no, she shook her head, stay awake Rei. She rubbed her eyes and tried to mask a yawn. She didn't want the others to think she was over tired, or she'd be getting the third degree again…
I told you I'd be back
Her head snapped around. She was no longer in her room with her Science book clutched in her hands. Where she was though? She had no idea. What'd someone do? She thought, Drop a vat of black paint?
It was pitch black, as though it were the dead of midnight. And she knew she'd heard a voice…
Who's there?" she cried, "What do you want?"
Let the powers of darkness over rule you…
Huh? Rei thought, "What's that supposed to mean?.!" She yelled, "Show yourself, whoever you are!"
There's a great darkness in you Rei, let it out…
'This is just a dream!" she yelled, "It has to be!"
Wrong , it's very real
Rei's hands curled into fist, "Who are you?.!"
Submit to the darkness…
"Not on your life!" Rei yelled, "Now tell me who you are!"
If you will not surrender, than prepare to be destroyed!
"What?" Rei said, taken back, "Ah!" she jumped backwards as a whip lashed out at her, "What's going on?" she jumped out of the way as another whip lashed at her, and suddenly felt something grab her around the leg and screamed as she was thrown backwards. This isn't real, she reminded herself, you're dreaming, you can control it, come on, wake up!
Say goodnight, Sailor Brat! She gasped as a wave of dark energy rose above of her, waiting to envelope her and destroy her…
"No!"
"Aaaaaaahhhhhhh!"
"Ie!" Serena shrieked as she was thrown backwards.
"Serena!" Rei cried, "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"
"No problem", Serena sat up, rubbing her head, "I needed to take a trip anyway"
"You okay?" Lita asked Serena as she made her way back to the table they were sitting around.
"Fine", Serena said, grabbing her book, "Never better"
"What about you Rei?" Mina said, "That must have been some dream you had, you look shaken up pretty bad"
"Was it a vision?" Amy added.
"It was nothing", Rei said, pushing herself away from the table, "I'll be right back"
She couldn't get out of there and away from the accusing looks of her friends faster if she tried. She bustled down the hallway, still shaking. Lately her nightmares had just been flashes of light, obviously something was coming, or she wouldn't have been having dreams like this. It was all too weird. And what about the flame reading? She definitely hadn't liked the results of that, they'd really freaked her out. If she'd read the fire right…no, no, it wasn't possible! She would never…no!
She grabbed a washcloth from the bathroom and dampened it, rubbing it on her head. The cold cloth felt good against her hot forehead, but it wasn't enough to shake herself of everything that she had seen in her dreams. She sighed and dropped the washcloth in the sink. This is too much, she thought, I knew life would get harder as I got older, but this isn't exactly what I had in mind
She leaned against the wall. Her head was starting to pound in the worst way. Maybe I should tell the others to go home, she thought, Then I could try and take a nap. Or I could do another flame reading. Yea…a flame reading would be great. If I tell the others what I want to do though, they'll start in on the questioning again. I'll just tell them I want to take a nap. Yea, that works, they don't have to know I'm lying. Right. So that's what I'll say, I'm can get away with it, I'm sure
Plan set, she made her way back to her room. "Hey guys", she said as easily as she could when she walked in, "Would it be okay if we cut the session short for today?"
"Okay?" Serena asked, "Okay? Of course it would be!"
"Sure thing Rei, I don't mind", Lita said, standing up, "Is everything okay?"
"Yea", she said, shrugging, "Just…want to catch up on some sleep, that's all"
"Okay", Mina nodded, grabbing her bag, "Fine with me, I gotta book it anyway, I have chores to do at home. See you guys later"
"Oh yea, my mom wanted me to clean my room", Serna said, standing up, "Probably for the best anyway cutting the session down, it'll give me time to come up with a reason for why I didn't clean my room. Bye"
"I'll probably just keep studying", Amy shrugged, "But it'll be easier to do without Serena whining every two seconds I suppose"
"Am I the only one with nothing to do?" Lita asked, "I suppose I could just keep studying myself"
"It's a thought", Rei shrugged, "See ya later"
"Bye", Lita said as the door shut behind her. Rei waited for a few minutes to be sure her friends were really gone, and made her way down to the temple.
"I knew it!" Lita hissed, "I knew she was lying!"
"Why would she lie to us?" Amy asked.
"To get us off her back, of course", Mina said, obviously disgusted, "There's something going on with her, and she doesn't want to tell us about it. Fine, we'll just watch the flame reading and see what happens"
"Good idea", Serena nodded, "Think we can get back inside though?"
"No problem, Chad and Grandpa aren't anywhere near here", Lita said, "Lets go"
The girls slipped back in and hurried down to the temple. They had solid proof now that Rei was hiding something from them. Now all they needed was to figure out why.
Lita carefully nudged the door to the temple open and peeked in. Rei was sitting in front of the fire, already deep in chant. "What's she muttering?" Serena asked, "I can't understand a thing she's saying"
"It doesn't matter", Lita said, "What matters is why she's chanting it. Why did she need to do a flame reading so bad that she lied to us to get rid of us?"
"It's gotta be big", Amy said, kneeling down and peaking into the temple as well, "Why wouldn't she tell us though, that I don't understand"
"Sh", Mina said, "Listen"
"Sacred fire, reveal to me the meaning of these dreams", Rei was muttering, "Tell me what they mean"
"Dreams?" Serena whispered, "What dreams?"
"Duh, the nightmares she's been having", Mina shot back.
"Shush", Lita said. Rei was watching the fire, a rapt look of attention on her face. The look was wiped away by shock, "No!" she cried, "It's wrong, it has to be! Please…"
"What do you think she saw?" Amy whispered, "She looks scared"
"I don't—" Lita broke off with a gasp as Rei stood up, "Lets book!"
The girls stumbled up and fell over one another. "Gah!" Serena cried quietly, "Lita you're on my leg!"
"Amy's on my arm"
"Mina's on my ankle!"
"Well Serena's on my hand, and it's falling asleep!"
Lita twisted around to look at to look over at Rei. She was done cleaning up in the temple, and was getting ready to leave. But something wasn't right. The floor…it looked as though something were sparking on the floor…
"Rei look out!"
Too late! Black energy sprang out of the floor, wrapped itself around Rei. "What's going on?" she yelled, panicked.
"Rei!" the girls quickly untangled themselves, but no matter how fast they moved, Rei was still in trouble. "Hey!" she yelled, "Stop! Ah!"
She screamed in pain as the energy started shocking her. "Rei!" Lita finally pulled herself off the ground and rushed into the room, "Hang on!"
"Lita don't!" Amy yelled. Before she had time to think, Lita had plowed into Rei and knocked her out of the force field.
"Lita, Rei!" Serena ran into the room and knelt down next to the girls, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine", Lita said, "I'm not sure about Rei though…"
But she was already starting to stir, "Ow…"
"You okay?" Mina asked as she and Amy came in.
"Yea", she pushed herself up wearily, "Go out for football Lita, you'd make a great quarterback"
Lita laughed, "Sorry"
"No big"
"What was that anyway?" Amy asked, "Do you know Rei?"
"Not a clue", she muttered, rubbing her head, "I thought you guys went home"
"Aren't you happy we didn't now?" Mina asked, offering her a hand to get up.
"Yea", she admitted, pushing herself up.
"So what was the fire reading for?" Amy asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Nothing"
"You said you were going to take a nap", Mina pointed out.
"I know, I know", she said, "I just…wanted to do a quick reading, that's all. Really guys, it's fine, I wouldn't worry yourselves over it or anything"
"You sure?"
"Yea", she nodded and smiled, "That's enough fire reading for one day though, I suppose. I think I'll really take a nap this time"
"Good idea", Lita laughed, "You sure you're okay?"
"Yea", Rei nodded again, "Go on, I'll be fine"
Lita exchanged looks with the other three scouts, and they came to a silent agreement. "All right", she said, "We'll see you tomorrow Rei"
Rei rolled over in her bed and sighed. Tired as she was, she could not for the life of her sleep. Too much on her mind. What could it have been? She thought over and over, What happened?
The thoughts had been haunting her all day. She had spent most of the afternoon in her room, mulling over her thoughts, leaving mostly to help her grandfather. Now she was laying in bed, once again mulling. This is ridiculous, she thought, throwing her blankets off, I need some air
She wrapped her jacket tightly around her shoulders and started down the street. It was a cold sort of night, but the air whipping through her hair felt good. It cleared her head a little, giving her room to think. Sort of. She had a lot of things to think about. Like the visions in the fire. They had her completely shaken in the worst way.
"The future scares you, does it?" her head snapped around and she saw a man standing in front of her. She knew that voice…
"What do you want?" she asked, "Leave me alone already!"
"My name is Kejano", he said, answering her other unasked question, "And I want you"
"What do you want with me?"
"I'm here to introduce you to your true destiny"
"What?" Rei asked, confused, "Destiny? I'm Sailor Mars, my destiny is to stop evil, what else would it be?"
"You are more than Sailor Mars", Kejano said, "You are Mars Shadow"
"And", Rei said, "Just what is that?"
"Not what, who", Kejano corrected.
"Whatever!" Rei snapped, "What's this Mars Shadow got to do with me?"
"The dark power deep inside you", Kejano said, stepping forward, "You can release it, you'd be more powerful than you'll ever be as just plain Sailor Mars"
"I don't believe you", Rei said defensively, "Get lost creep"
"Oh really?" he stepped closer to her, and held is hand up. There was a flash of black, and suddenly Rei was seeing memories she had forgotten existed.
"Just apologize already so she'll stop that awful crying"
"I'm not apologizing to anyone, especially not her"
These are your friends? Kejano's voice said in her head, They don't seem to be on your side at all
That was just one time…
They don't respect you either, do they? He pushed, How long have you been telling your friends to leave you alone, and still they push and bother you
Her and Serena did fight a lot…and the others did seem to take Serena's side more than hers…was it possible…did she really not have any friends?
"You see the truth then?" Kejano's voice brought her back to reality, "Can you really call them your friends"
"No…" Rei said distantly. The truth was starting to come, "No! They're no friends of mine"
"Release the darkness in your heart", Kejano said silkily, "Let it out, get your revenge, take your revenge on the pitiful girls you call your friends, and the rest of this pathetic city"
Images and angry thoughts were filling Rei's mind. Yes… she thought, That's it…
"Mars Shadow", she heard Kejano say from a distance, "Welcome"
And...yeah. Review and say how bad it was