I guess if you made it until here, you've become quite painfree when it comes to an overhang of dialogue. Good for you ;D

I love reading your comments, so please review!

She was surprised she'd have that opportunity to talk to Jadeite the same day.

"Rei-chan... there's a young man outside who wishes to see you..." said Mrs. Itou, the shrine priest's wife and Rei's fostering grandmother.

Rei looked up from her homework, not really catching up. "Who?"

The older woman brought forth a very knowing smile. "He seems to be a nice guy, very polite. Very thin... probably a bit young..."

Rei rolled her eyes. "Silly hair, pathetic clothes, a bad posture, and when he speaks he makes faces?"

"I think that's him, yes. And he's blond..."

For a moment, Rei had to smile involuntarily and give her grandmother a conspiratory look. She knew about the weak spot for blondes the older woman had.

"Yes, that's Jadeite. I'll be coming in a moment."

"He's the boy who brings you home sometimes, isn't he?"

"Yes, he is. But we're not dating, grandma, we're just friends."

"Very well. I'll tell him you'll come out."

For a second, Rei considered changing clothes before she went out. But then she shook her head. That's what the dating type of girls did. She wasn't dating him, she wasn't dressing up for him. Certainly not.

"Hello, Jadeite."

He wasn't bubbling happy or raving mad any more. He looked serious and reserved, but not as lifeless or downtrodden as she sometimes saw him.

"Hello, Rei. Do you have a few minutes?"

"Yes... can we... talk?"

He nodded.

She led them to a bench in the yard that would be out of hearing range of the house.

"Look, Jadeite, I'm..."

"I'm really sorry..."

"...sorry..."

They looked at each other and smiled.

"Okay, Jadeite, before we get into one of your apology frenzies, can we say we have got it that we're both sorry for what we said?"

He nodded, the tiny reserved smile still on his face.

"Rei... there's something I want to tell you. I decided that I'm not going to date Mayumi-san. I realized that this really bothers you, and that you're probably right about me not being honest with her. And I know how important being honest is for you."

Rei was surprised. "I... I don't know if I'm right about this, Jadeite. I have issues with dating, it makes me uncomfortable, even if it's a good thing for those involved. I know you like her, and I've seen she likes you too."

"But you were really relieved when you heard I wouldn't date her..." said Jadeite, and his grin developed into a tiny smirk.

"Yes... I admit it. I mean... there is so much that could have gone wrong about this... and then there's Naru..."

"I know. I have asked the princess to arrange a meeting with me and Naru Osaka. I think I didn't ever properly apologize to her. I'll give her the stone that I have chosen for her mother."

He sighed. "I really lost it for a moment. You were right. I should have thought it through. I don't want you to think that I'm not serious with being sorry for what I did. To you, it must have looked like I forget all about it the moment I think there's a date coming up."

"Err, no. It didn't."

"Come on. I know what you think about boys and how they're ruled by the next score."

"Jadeite!"

"What?"

"I didn't think like this about you. I mean... when we're together, I almost forget you're a boy. And then suddenly... I mean... I guess it shouldn't come as a surprise to me that you are..."

She blushed.

Jadeite grinned.

"Look, Jadeite... I go to a girls school. All my friends are girls. All I know about boys is how to kick them into the next wall... I guess there's a lot of things I will need to get used to when I'm around you. I mean... we're not going to stop seeing each other because of one silly fight, right?"

"Of course not. We're still friends."

"Yes. And I wasn't jealous. We're still not dating. You can date who you like."

"No. I'm not looking for dates anyway. It was a coincidence that I ran into Mayumi-san."

"Really, Jadeite, if you like her, go and see her. I overreacted. You don't have to take it so serious how I behaved."

"Yes, I do. Friendship is rare and must be treasured. I can find another date any time I like."

Somehow, Rei wasn't as moved by this as she thought she should be.

"Of course," she said. "I guess there's always a tentacled youma who's lonely..."

Jadeite gave her a shocked sideglance at first, but then he chuckled. She had never heard him laugh before, and that was a sneaky laugh that should have annoyed her, but it was so nice to see him amused.

"Don't you ever let Nephrite hear you're fancying me with a sea youma, or he'll make fun of me for several life times. And don't ever let him tell you youma jokes. Not even if he's drunk. Mind my words."

Rei grinned somewhat insecure. She had a feeling she wasn't fully grasping what was so funny and probably didn't want to know.

"Well, I'll leave that pleasurable experience to Ami then. Did you already hear what Usagi's newest plans are for Ami and Nephrite?"

She told him. He wasn't as disapproving of it as she thought, but he didn't really like it either.

"I'm sorry if it bothers you, Jadeite. I told them the Shitennou don't like the idea."

He sighed. "I guess there's nothing I can do about it. Nephrite doesn't listen to me anyway because he thinks I'm in for the same thing. 'Not dating the Senshi of Passion my ass! You must be shitting me! But thanks for taking the first blows of Kunzite and clearing the grounds, Jade...'. "

"Oh..." said Rei. "Is it a problem that you see me? Are you getting in trouble?"

Jadeite shook his head. "Not really. Nephrite owes me for it, that's good. Everyone's pretty suspicious about us, but the princess has forbidden them to interfer. Kunzite wouldn't admit it, but he's still secretly guilt-ridden for how he blew my duel with Metallia. And I hope they're all feeling guilty as hell for leaving be behind in the Dark Kingdom. No, it's really okay. 'Not dying a virgin this lifetime, Jadeite, eh?' is already the worst I got to hear."

Rei looked shocked.

"Hey, it's a joke," said Jadeite. "It's a boy thing," he added. "Don't worry about it. They just don't get it how we can't be dating."

Rei sighed.

"The girls don't get it either. I heard something similar from Minako. Something that wasn't any more tactful actually."

Jadeite smiled. "Let them. I guess the princess in matchmaking heaven will give them enough to worry about for themselves."

Rei laughed. "Yes, I've been thinking that, too. I must say I get quite some satisfaction out of the thought. We two are probably the only who can relax and simply enjoy this kind of duty."

"I guess."

"We must be doing something right."

"Yeah."