THE THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE
Chapter 4: "Exposed Secrets"
By Bill K.
Morning came with some trepidation to Rei Hino. Today's senshi meeting was scheduled for nine that morning, mostly because it was the only time that didn't conflict with Minako's shooting schedule or Ami's hospital schedule. Of course, it would be a minor miracle for Usagi to show up coherent that early in the morning, but there was no alternative in Ami and Minako's mind. That concerned the priest as well. A potential problem that had the hackles raised on both Ami and Minako didn't bode well. Right then and there, Rei decided to do a cleansing ritual on the grounds of the shrine - - just in case.
As she went for the tools of her trade, her thoughts drifted to the other cause of her trepidation. Last night Rei had decided to ask Derek Johnson out. Now she was having second thoughts. What if he laughed? What if he sneered? What if he agreed out of pity and she read that? Her mind kept conjuring up possible scenarios for outcomes, each more humiliating than the last. No matter what she did, Rei couldn't put aside the humiliation she felt when her father's little flunky told her that he'd only dated her out of duty to her father. Sure, she was only thirteen and not as mature as she was now, but Rei couldn't break the link her mind now made between male romantic interest and humiliation.
Standing at the center of the grounds, Rei extended her totem. "Evil spirits, begone! I banish you from this holy place!" Shaking the totem at the air, Rei pivoted and turned a full circle. "Begone from this holy place! I banish you!" Satisfied, Rei stopped.
"I hope that wasn't my cue to leave," she heard and whirled. Derek was standing on the path about fifty feet from her. He had a gentle smile on his handsome face. Rei tensed when she realized she'd mentally described the face as handsome.
"Only if you're an evil spirit," Rei replied, relaxing some. "So what can I do for you today, Mr. Johnson?"
"You can start by calling me 'Derek'," he replied easily as he ambled over to her. "I just wanted another look at the place. This is a wonderful place to visit. It's very relaxing, especially after a tough game. There's a lot of beautiful things to look at."
Rei felt her pulse spike.
"Did you have a tough game last night?" Rei asked.
"Yeah," Derek nodded. "The team lost by five to Hanshin. I went oh for four with three strikeouts, one with the bases loaded. I don't suppose that ritual you just did would work on bats? I haven't had a bomb in ten days and I'm beginning to feel the folks staring."
Rei raised an eyebrow. "I can give you a charm," she said, "PROVIDED you believe."
"Maybe you better save it, then," he shrugged. "I was born and raised Baptist and if I even thought of using anything other than the word of God, my mom would come over here and slap me upside the head."
Despite herself, Rei found herself smirking at that. Derek took that as encouragement.
"So how's life treating you, Sensei?" he asked.
"I get by."
"Is it just you in this shrine?"
"I've got a girl who does some miko work," Rei shrugged, "when she can find the time. It doesn't seem to be a priority in her life. I think she did it just to meet boys."
"I thought girls cruised the mall to do that."
"They do that, too," Rei smiled knowingly. "Whatever plan of attack you think will work best, I suppose." She looked at him. "Why? Were you thinking of volunteering?"
"Sorry. Like I said, I'm Baptist."
"Nobody's perfect," Rei chuckled.
"It's just that - - well, pardon my saying, but you seem a little lonely sometimes."
Rei swallowed silently. Her heart was thumping in her chest.
"Well," she whispered, fighting for volume in her voice, "you could help with that."
Derek looked quizzically at her and Rei felt she was going to explode right that second.
"What I'm trying to say is," Rei fought to say, "would you like to go out - - when you're not playing baseball?"
"You priests can do that?" Derek asked.
"Certainly. Priests are allowed to date. We're allowed to marry. Where do you think little priests come from?" Rei suddenly realized the implications of her quip. "Um, not that I was intimating - - I mean we wouldn't - - oh, damn it!"
"It's OK," Derek chuckled. "I think I understood what you meant. I wouldn't mind that a bit. But wouldn't a gaijan dating a priest kind of stick out?"
"I have other clothes besides these robes," Rei volleyed. "And I don't worry about what other people think. Maybe you shouldn't, either."
"Maybe I shouldn't," he smiled. "As it happens, the Giants are off today. Pick you up at six?"
Rei smiled. "I'll be ready."
Derek nodded. "Maybe my luck's beginning to change after all," he said, backing away. When he turned and left, Rei felt a giddiness sweep over her that she hadn't felt in years.
Not since a rainy afternoon a long time ago.
In the distance, Rei noticed everyone approaching as Derek was leaving. Since tall, athletic black men weren't the norm in Japan, Derek caught everyone's eye, particularly Minako's. Usagi was carrying little Akiko, since Makoto was carrying enough weight. Everyone but Ami had agreed that her girth was an indication the baby was male. Ami still maintained that there was no scientific proof of that. Since Makoto had refused ultra-sound, due to the cost, there was no way to prove it until she carried to term. It was several steps before they all turned away from watching Derek. Naturally Usagi almost tripped.
"On time, Usagi?" Rei questioned when the group got close enough. "You ARE capable of miracles."
"You're not funny, Rei," huffed Usagi. "And NEITHER is Luna!"
"She woke you up?" Makoto asked.
"Yeah!" Usagi pouted. "AND THOSE CLAWS HURT!"
Rei reached for Akiko as the chuckling died down. "Hi, Akiko. Bet you didn't have any trouble getting up."
Akiko shook her head with child-like exaggeration.
"Hope you don't mind me bringing her," Makoto said. "It was too late to get a sitter."
"She's welcome any time, Makoto," Rei smiled.
"Did you ask your boyfriend the question, Auntie Rei?" Akiko asked.
"What?" Ami perked up.
"AKIKO!" snapped Makoto.
"BOYFRIEND?" gasped Usagi.
"Akiko, where did you hear that?" Makoto demanded.
"I heard you and Auntie Rei talking about it last night," Akiko replied, mystified.
"BOYFRIEND?" gasped Usagi.
"Akiko, that was supposed to be a secret!" Makoto told the child with exasperation. "You're not supposed to go around telling people about other people's secrets! You know, like how Mommy's Sailor Jupiter!"
"Sorry," whimpered Akiko, though Makoto still wasn't sure if the girl understood the concept of repentance yet and only used the word because she'd learned it could deflect wrath.
"You have a boyfriend?" smirked Minako. "How'd you get him - - tiger trap?"
"Very amusing," scowled Rei.
"YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND?" squealed Usagi. "What's he like where's he from what does he do is he cute does he like you does he love you do you love him are you going to get married when are you going to get married?"
"Hold on, Usagi!" Rei interjected.
"DETAILS!" Usagi shrieked. "NOW!"
"Usagi, give her a chance," Ami pleaded.
"This is why I didn't want you to know," Rei fussed. "OK, remember that guy you passed on the path just now?"
Everyone nodded. Then lightbulbs went off.
"That was him?" gasped Makoto.
"YOU'RE DATING AN AFRICAN?" Usagi gaped.
"He's American," corrected Rei.
"YOU'RE DATING AN AMERICAN?" Usagi gaped.
"I haven't dated him yet. But - - we've got one set up."
"He is kind of cute," Usagi offered.
"No, he's VERY cute," Minako corrected her.
"But he's so big!"
"A lot of them are. I remember when I was in England . . ." Minako began.
"Why does he live in Japan?" Ami inquired. "Is he stationed at the military base?"
"No, he plays baseball with the Giants," Rei told them.
"YOU'RE DATING DEREK JOHNSON?" Minako gasped.
"You know him?" Makoto asked.
"My dad is the number one Giants fan in the universe. I don't have a choice," Minako shot back. "And he's the only African player on the team."
"Is he good?" Ami asked.
"He leads the team in homers and RBIs. He's the reason they're in first place. Dad says he's the next Warren Cromartie." She glanced slyly at Rei. "And you hooked him. Guys must think those robes are sexy or something."
"You're an idiot," Rei countered. Then Usagi moved in. She grasped Rei by the arms.
"So," Usagi asked earnestly, "do you like him?"
"Yeah," Rei replied, grinning sheepishly.
"Does he like you?"
"I think so."
"Oh, Rei, I'm so happy for you!" Usagi squealed, hugging the priest.
"Thank you, Usagi," Rei smiled, returning the hug. She seemed to the others almost relieved.
"And I know the wedding will be beautiful!" Usagi added.
"Stop it!" fumed the priest.
"Ohhhhhhhhhhhh!" Usagi huffed in frustration.
"Um, hate to be the downer," Minako interjected, "but we really should get started on this. Superintendent Sakurada was pretty serious about this case."
"Yes, I think that does need our immediate attention," Ami added.
"OK," frowned Usagi. They headed inside the shrine.
"Her name's Sakurada?" Makoto asked as they went. "I wonder if she's related to Sakurada-Sensei from Crossroads"
"Morning, Mom," Junko Tenoh said as she bounded down into the kitchen of her home. The sixteen year old, her blonde hair pulled back in a loose ponytail and her coltish body draped in baggy jeans and a midriff-baring blouse, slid into the chair next to her mother and across from her father, as she had for nearly sixteen years. "The fish and rice look pretty good this morning. And cinnamon pastries! Yes!"
"I know it's your favorite, Honey," Himeko Tenoh said. Her normally clipped, reserved manner always seemed to melt when she was around her darling Junko.
"Must you wear those revealing clothes?" Gert asked. The burly blonde Swiss had lost nearly fifty pounds from his frame after his bypass surgery. Himeko and Junko both had worried about him during his three months of recovery. But the color was coming back into his cheeks and he was regaining some of the fight and bluster that so characterized him in Junko's memories.
"Gert, dear, how else is she going to attract the boys if she doesn't dress to catch their eye?" Himeko said. Since her talks with her long-lost sister Haruka, Junko had noticed the slight hint of desperation in her mother's voice whenever the subject of her future mating habits came up.
"Boys will be attracted to her no matter what," Gert replied, his tone a mixture of pride and cynicism. "Her style of dress will dictate what type of boy is attracted to her."
"You know, I'm still in the room," Junko muttered as she ate a bite of fish.
"I'm sorry, Honey," Himeko offered. "We just care about you and we worry about you."
"I know," Junko sighed. "It's just that I am sixteen and I do kind of know what I'm doing, you know?"
"And you'd be surprised by how much you still don't know, little girl," Gert advised her. He spooned up another bite of his puree with distaste.
"Whatever," mumbled Junko.
"So what were you planning on doing today?" Himeko asked her daughter. "I hope you don't intend to fritter away your entire day off from school doing nothing."
"Not ALL of it," Junko said, leaving her plans to fritter away most of it unspoken. Seeing her parents were expecting details, Junko continued. "I figured I'd look up Atsuko and Nansi and just hang out."
"Just hang out?" Himeko persisted.
"All my assignments are done," Junko alibied.
"You're going to see 'her' again, aren't you?" Gert asked point blank. "And after we specifically told you not to."
"She has a name, Dad," Junko scowled.
"Junko, you were specifically forbidden to see her again," Himeko said sharply.
"Why? There's nothing wrong with Haruka! She's not as evil as you make her out to be!"
"I don't want you exposed to that lifestyle!" Himeko snapped.
"Exposed to what? Two people who love each other?" Junko countered. "You guys are so wrong about her! Why won't you see that?"
"You are going to listen to what we tell you, Junko Tenoh," Gert fumed, his face growing red.
"Gert! Remember your condition!" Himeko cautioned him. She turned to Junko. "Do you see how you've upset your father?"
"Sure, blame that on Haruka, too! You wouldn't be so quick to blame her for everything if you knew . . .!" And then Junko caught herself. She realized she was about to reveal Haruka's secret to her parents. That would hardly be a fitting way to aid someone she respected.
"I know all I need to know," Himeko replied and Junko could see the door to her mother's mind slamming shut. "Haruka won't see you - - not if she knows what's good for her."
"What does that mean?" demanded Junko.
"We got a court order," Himeko said, her face chiseled from stone. "Haruka is legally barred from coming near you."
Junko stood up from the table so fast that her chair clattered to the floor. She stared at her parents.
"How could you? She's my own sister!" Junko gasped.
"You have no sister," Himeko replied coldly. "That woman is a bad influence and I will keep you two apart."
Junko's expression twisted up into rage. "Now I see why she ran away!" Junko whirled and headed for the door, missing seeing her parents flinch.
"Come back here!" Gert demanded.
"To Hell with your order!" Junko barked as she sped out the door. "And to Hell with you!"
Haruka was in the garage next to the home she shared with Michiru Kaioh. The garage had been an addition to the house. Michiru had paid for it as a present for her. Haruka remembered her saying when asked why that "I have my studio, so I thought you should have one of your own". And then she flashed that knowing little smirk that made her look oh so sexy.
The Fiat was running fine. But Haruka always believed in preventative maintenance for her cars. It kept problems from occurring at inopportune times. It also gave her an excuse to putter under the hood. Michiru may not have agreed with her premise, but creating the perfect engine to Haruka was as much of a work of art as a painting or a violin piece.
"Haruka!" Junko called from the garage entrance.
Haruka looked up. For a fleeting second, she was glad to see the girl. Then reality smothered her elation.
"I'm sorry, kid," Haruka said thinly, looking away. "You're not supposed to be here."
"I already know about the court order," Junko replied. "To Hell with it!"
"It's not that simple."
"Why? I want to see you, you want to see me! Who cares what anybody else thinks?"
"We're part of society, Junko," Haruka told her without looking at her. "Society has rules and we can't just pick and choose which ones we want to follow."
Junko stared at her sister. It made Haruka very uncomfortable.
"I thought you were the rebel," Junko said and the sense of betrayal was thick in her voice. "I thought you didn't care what everybody else thinks. That's what you always say! I thought you only cared about your 'island life'! Well I want to be on the island, too!"
"Well you can't!" snapped Haruka. "Not yet." She looked up at Junko for the first time. "We're going to see if we can fight this, their way. Throwing a fit and lashing out isn't the way to do it. It just shows everybody how much of a kid you really are."
Junko flinched.
"So yeah, the situation stinks. But it's not permanent. We can get the thing struck down. Might take some time, but . . ."
"And what if you can't?" Junko asked bluntly.
Haruka let out a tired sigh. "Then the court order expires on your twentieth birthday," she said with distaste, "and the juvenile authorities can't touch you."
"I don't intend to wait that long," Junko said, jaw set in an ominously familiar manner. The girl turned and stalked away.
In a fit of anger, Haruka threw her wrench through the side window of the garage.
Continued in Chapter 5