Chapter note: Actually this was planned to be part of Act 42. But suddenly I realized that it had become too long and I had the impression that the usual main characters were about to be pushed aside a little. After all it's an AmiNeph fanfiction story. So I've decided to create this Rei/Takai Special Act because after all I really like this scene and it definitely can't be cut.

Apart from its beginning it's a completely Rei/Takai chapter, which means that they are the main characters. Everything that happens here is taken place that night Usagi transforms into the princess again and Naru gets hurt.

Hope you enjoy it.

Special Act: Rei and Takai

Usagi looked at the horrible destruction she had caused. Almost everything was on fire, a complete battlefield. Her best friend, Naru, was lying on the ground before her, wounded. All this was because of her.

"Mako-chan," Usagi said slowly, in shock, "I have the power to destroy the earth."

Makoto didn't answer, but finally she changed back to her civilian form.

"Come on," she said, "We have to take Naru to the hospital."

The two girls helped Naru to stand up; but Makoto soon realized that Usagi was still in shock and unable to support her friend, so she took care of Naru alone.

I did this, Usagi thought, terrified. It was me who caused all this.

"It wasn't you, it was the princess," Makoto whispered in Usagi's ear. "Nobody can blame you for that."

Couldn't they? The truth was that whenever she started to feel upset, it was like she gave the princess the opportunity to push her aside to stand in her place. Usagi felt completely unable to withstand it. It felt like if a door was opened and she was too weak to keep it closed, no matter how hard she braced against it. But the most horrible thing was that, though the princess took all control over her body, she somehow still was able to see what happened. She was forced to watch the destruction she caused.

I'm weak, Usagi thought, that's why all this is happening. I'm not strong enough to control the Ginzuishou or my second self.

It had taken all her will and strength together to get through to the princess. But that hadn't been easy. She remembered how much strength it had cost her to demand the princess to stop.

But, nevertheless, I did it, Usagi suddenly realized.

This meant that if she somehow managed to push the princess back, she finally would be able to keep control over her own body, even if she became upset.

I have to do my best, she thought; I'll find a way to control the powers of the Ginzuishou.

xxxx

"Youma Taisan!"

Jadeite jumped quickly aside when Mars threw another fireball towards him. Still he was smiling. Yes, it was just as it had been in his dream. But this time he wasn't a fool, trying to block her attack with his bare hands.

"Burning Mandala!"

As her next attack flew towards him, he ducked and the hot fire discs exploded behind him. Now she ran towards him, just the way he had expected. Again and again she attacked him, while he dodged and fended off her punches and kicks ably.

How long had they been fighting? Jadeite didn't know. All his focus was on Mars. The way she fought, the way she moved, trying to find a vulnerable point on him… She was so beautiful. Even more than in his memory. Yes, she belonged to him. The beat of his heart was proof enough.

"Akuryou Taisan!" she shouted now, but Jadeite had already noticed how exhausted she was. This attack was weak, and it was an easy thing to block it with his daggers and throw it back to her.

That surprised her obviously - or was she too exhausted? - because she didn't made any move to fend it off. So the attack exploded just before her feet, catapulting her backwards against the building. She slammed against the wall and slid to the ground.

Jadeite walked slowly towards her and knelt down.

"It's useless," he said, while he carefully stroked a strand of hair out of her face. "You taught me well back then."

She looked at him in surprise. "What… what do you mean?"

"Can't you figure it out yourself?" He started to caress her cheek, but she quickly beat his hand away. "Don't you remember… me?" he asked now.

"Remember you?" she asked back.

"Yes, back then, in the distant past. You and me."

Her eyes widened and he saw how she clenched her fists. So this meant…

"What are you talking about?"

Jadeite's whole body went numb with that question. She didn't remember him? He grabbed her hands and pulled her up with him.

"Can't you feel it?" he wanted to know. "We belong together."

"No!" she shouted, shaking off his hands and pressing herself against the wall behind her that was impeding her ability to move backwards. Jadeite leaned against the wall, supporting himself with his hands on either side of her head. Now it really was impossible for her to break free.

"You've gotta feel it too," he whispered close to her ear. "I know you do. You… are mine, just the way you were back then. It's destiny."

The way she jerked her knee into his stomach surprised him completely. He writhed in agony, and Mars used the opportunity to slam down her elbow between his shoulders.

Jadeite gasped and fell to the ground. Mars stepped away until she was out of his reach.

"I belong to no one!" she said with a cold voice. "And I'm not Mars, I'm Rei Hino!"

Jadeite slowly came to his feet again. Her words resounded in his head.

"How can it be that you're not feeling it too?" he pressed. "Master Endymion remembered, and even Nephrite had a feeling. It's destiny."

"I don't remember much about my past life," she replied, unaffected, "And though I don't owe you any explanation, there is one thing you must know. I'm not willing to be a puppet of the past. I've decided to live in the present. And you don't awaken any feelings in me."

Her words were like new kicks to his stomach.

"You…" he hissed, "Is it… because of that turtle-boy?"

He saw how she winced, which increased his anger. So this meant…?

"Jadeite," Queen Beryl's voice resounded in his head, "Where are you? Appear before me immediately!"

Jadeite straightened up. He looked at Mars for a long time.

"Once you've got your memories back, you'll realize that I'm the one you're longing for," he said. "I swear I'll make you remember."

Then he teleported away.

xxxx

"Takai!"

Takai felt somebody shake him energetically, and finally blinked. "What?" he mumbled.

"A phone call for you."

Takai slowly rolled to his left side and somehow managed to glimpse at the watch. The dial indicated that it was long past midnight. "Who is it?" he asked.

"I don't know," his roommate said grumpily and lay down again in his bed. "She didn't tell me her name, but it seemed to be important."

"She?" Takai was wide awake now. There was only one she who had his number at the dorm.

"Yes, she's been asking for you very persistently, so I would say it's something important. Also considering how late she's calling. Really, this is almost blasphemy!"

"Why didn't you just let it ring?" Takai asked back while he jumped out of his bed and got dressed hurriedly.

"I did, man, but the damn phone wouldn't stop ringing, and since you sleep heavier than a rock…"

Takai didn't listen to his friend. He quickly left the room he was sharing with him at the dorm and hurried into the adjacent living room. He lamented once more that he was unable to find a job that would at least allow him to afford a cell phone.

He stepped towards the little table the phone was on and took a deep breath. Then he finally picked up the earpiece, hoping that she hadn't hung up already.

"Hello?"

"Takai-kun?" Rei's voice sounded from the other side of the line, making his heart beat faster.

"Rei?" he asked nonetheless.

"Yes, it's me… I'm sorry for waking you up."

"It's okay," he answered quickly. "I've told you, you can call me here anytime."

She didn't answer, but he could hear her breathing hard.

"Rei, are you all right?" he asked, worried. After all, she must have had a reason to call him at this hour.

"I… I just heeded to talk to somebody… from the real world."

Takai frowned at that strange statement. "Did something happen?"

"Yes… No… I mean… somehow."

"What is it?"

"It's difficult to explain," Rei said, her voice trembling.

"Do you… want me to come over?"

There was a long silence at the other side of the line. "That would be nice," she finally answered to his relief.

Takai looked at his watch. "I'll be there in about fifteen minutes, all right?"

"All right."

"I'll be right there," he asserted.

"Takai-kun?" she suddenly said with a very strange tone in her voice.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry for telling you this, but… have you noticed anything?"

"Have I noticed anything? Like what?"

"There's something… missing," she said, and he heard how she laughed lightly, which made his heart beat even faster. What was that? Why did she awaken these feelings in him?

"Takai-kun?"

"Yes, I'm sorry. So, there's something missing, you say."

"You haven't noticed it at all?"

Takai tried to make sense of her words and suddenly…

"My hiccup!" he shouted, "it's… gone." He suppressed a very severe curse as the first hick wracked his body.

"I'm sorry," he heard Rei say, still laughing. "I shouldn't have said anything."

"It's… okay," he answered, more than annoyed about that horrible tick. "See you… in a few minutes, then."

"I'll wait at the top of the stairs," she answered and hung up. Takai put the earpiece back to its place, his mind forming a most imaginative curse about his hiccup. He held his breath, and sighed in relief when it helped this time; then he ran back into his room.

His roommate looked at him in surprise.

"You going somewhere?" he asked.

"Yes, it's kind of an emergency," Takai answered. He walked over to the closet to take out the only solid color sweater he owned and got changed quickly.

"Who is it?" his roommate suddenly asked.

"Who?"

"That girl, of course. Is she your… girlfriend?"

"Of course not!" Takai shouted and grabbed for his backpack and his jacket. "We're just friends, that's all."

"Just friends, eh? Let me tell you something – I wouldn't leave the bed at this hour now, not even for my very best friend."

With this, Takai's roommate turned around and pulled the covers over his head.

Takai didn't waste time thinking about his friend's words. He left the room, crossed the living room quickly and finally left the dorm, running into the night.

xxxx

Rei was sitting on the first step that went up to the temple.

What the hell had gotten into her? She could have called anyone of her friends. Usagi, Makoto, even Ami. Why in the world had she dialed Takai's number?

You know, why, a voice sounded in her head.

She sighed. That encounter with Jadeite had indeed made her lose her composure. And she wasn't somebody who lost her cool easily. But hearing that Shitennou talking about him and her in the past, seeing that ardent gaze he'd had when he looked at her, had scared her somehow.

"Can't you feel it? We belong together."

"You… are mine, just the way you were back then. It's destiny."

Rei supported her chin on her pulled knees. The past life. Why was everybody so obsessed with their past lives?

"I… I just needed to talk to somebody… from the real world."

Takai had nothing to do with all this. He had no idea about what was going on in town. The Youmas, the princess and her dangerous powers, the mission, the Dark Kingdom, the past life. All this was out of his knowledge. And that had ultimately been the reason she'd called him. Because – apart from that day at the amusement park – Takai was completely… untouched.

That's not the only reason, that weak voice sounded in her head again.

"Is it because of … that boy?"

Rei shook her head.

No, she thought, that is absolute nonsense.

Everybody knew that she didn't like boys. Because they just couldn't be trusted. She had learned that the hard way…

"Rei!"

Rei looked up and saw Takai running towards her. She stood up, unable to do anything about her heart, which had started to beat faster at his appearance. She had to pull herself together to not run towards him and… embrace him.

What is going on with me? she asked herself.

Takai had reached her finally. He was out of breath and his hair was a complete mess.

"You didn't have to run," Rei said.

"I was worried… Are you… all right?"

Yes, now I am, Rei thought to her own surprise. "I'm okay," she answered simply. "Let's go."

"Where do you… want to go?" Takai asked. "All I… saw was a… snack bar nearby. If… you want to… eat something…"

"Could we just… walk around?" Rei asked.

He smiled at her and nodded. "Whatever you want."

Before Rei really realized what she was doing, she linked arms with him and pulled him away. This obviously surprised him, because his hiccup stopped immediately.

So I was right? Rei asked herself, Does that mean that…? But this time Rei wouldn't make the same mistake telling him…

"Have you noticed, Rei? It's gone again¨"

She looked up to him and smiled. "Yes, it is."

He smiled back… and hiccupped.

"Damned hell!" he shouted

Rei laughed. "Watch your language. You're speaking to a shrine girl."

"I'm sorry," he mumbled guiltily.

She boxed his chest. "That was a joke."

"Nevertheless… I'd better not… tell you the… curse I made up… in my mind after… I hung up the phone."

Rei started to giggle, completely unable to stop it. What is going on with you? she scolded herself, You are behaving just like those horrible bimbos.

"So… do you want to… tell me what… happened?"

"I just… had a horrible night," she tried to avoid answering the question, though it wasn't a lie at all. "Can I ask you something, Takai-kun? Do you believe in past lives?"

"Past lives?" Takai asked.

"Yes, you know, that you've lived once already and now you've been reborn."

Takai put one finger on his lower lip to think.

He always does that, Rei thought.

"That's interesting. Actually… I've never thought about… anything like that… before. To me there's only been… this one life I'm living now. I've… never wondered… if I'd lived… in the distant past."

Rei nodded. That was exactly the answer she had expected.

"What about you?" Takai asked suddenly. "Do… you believe that you've lived… already in the past?"

"What if I told you… that I know exactly that I did?"

"I would want you… to tell me everything… about it," Takai answered honestly.

Rei smiled and tightened her grip around his arm a little. Again his hiccup stopped, but he noticed it again.

"It stopped again" he said delightedly.

Rei waited in doubt, but this time it really seemed… Then his hick made her wince.

"Stop focusing on it!" she scolded him, laughing.

"I can't!" he called out desperately, "Since… you made me… notice on the… phone, I'm all focused… on it. So it's… actually your fault."

"Oh, Takai-kun, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to…"

She was surprised when he suddenly put his arm around her shoulders. "That was a… joke."

For a moment they looked at each other and Rei clenched her fists as she felt her heart beating faster again.

Why? she thought, That's not me at all.

"So," Takai said slowly, releasing her and taking one step aside, "The reason you've been so… upset was because of your past life?"

Rei tried to ignore the feeling of disappointment about Takai's retreat.

"Well… yes," she answered.

"Do you… want to tell me about it?"

She hesitated. Inside her a battle was raging: the desire to tell him everything versus the duty of keeping the secret.

"You don't have to," Takai said quickly.

"It's not that I don't want to, "Rei confessed. "It's just so… complicated. My friends, they're so completely obsessed with their past lives. One of them even believes that the only reason she lives is to finish what she couldn't do back then. And tonight…"

Rei couldn't help but tremble as she remembered Jadeite looking at her so possessively.

"You… are mine, just the way you were back then. It's destiny."

"Once you've got your memories back, you'll realize that I'm the one you're longing for. I swear I'll make you remember."

.

Takai saw how Rei started to shake harder, obviously remembering something terrifying that had happened tonight. Watching her like this, she suddenly seemed so… frail and weak. Whatever had happened tonight must had scared her to death, and though there was nothing he wished more than to take her in his arms, he knew that she wouldn't appreciate that now. She, who always wanted to appear strong, with total control over her feelings.

So he took out his jacket and put it around her shoulders. She looked at him in surprise.

"You're shivering," he said in a soft voice, and watched in satisfaction how she wrapped his jacket around herself tightly. "So, tonight…?"

"Tonight I… I met… somebody. And he wanted me to remember things from my past life… He was so intense."

"A… friend of yours?" Takai asked, trying desperately to force back the feeling of jealousy that started to rise up.

"No… not really," she answered to his relief.

We're just friends, he thought, just friends.

"Just friends, eh? Let me tell you something – I wouldn't leave the bed at this hour now, not even for my very best friend."

Damn, Takai thought when he realized the true meaning of his friend's words.

Suddenly her cell-phone rang and she took it out quickly from her pocket.

"Yes?... Makoto, what's going on?… Hold on a minute, calm down. I can't understand a word you're saying."

Takai saw how she listened to the person on the other side of the line. Makoto. Wasn't that the girl Motoki had a crush on? He couldn't understand what she was saying, but she seemed very upset; and as Rei's eyes widened, Takai knew that he was right.

"Oh dear," Rei said now. "But, Osaka-san, is she okay?... And Usagi?... She's wrong. It's not her fault… Yes, alright, I'll be there too. So, see you tomorrow."

She clapped her mobile shut and put it back into her pocket.

"Is everything… alright?" Takai asked carefully.

"Actually… not really," Rei answered, "But… we'll find a way to fix it."

"Does it have to do with… the past life?"

She nodded, and he felt that it was better not to ask more questions. "Do you feel warmer?"

"Oh… yes… yes, thank you," Rei answered and made a move to take Takai's jacket off again.

"Keep it," he said, and smiled at her. "You can give it back to me next time."

She smiled back and nodded. Now he would at least have a reason to see her again. There was nothing wrong with calling somebody to say, "Hi there, are you okay? Great. And by the way, could you give me back my jacket?"

"Thank you," she said.

"It's okay. It's just a jacket."

"That's not what I meant."

I know, Takai thought.

"Thank you for listening to me," she said in a warm voice.

"Anytime," he answered honestly, realizing in disappointment that they had come back to the stairs that led to the temple.

"I think you just broke a record," Rei suddenly remarked, smirking.

"A record? What do you m…" The realization of what she meant and the hick that followed after that made him curse out loud now.

"Takai-kun, you're in front of a temple!" she shouted, laughing.

"I'm… sorry," he apologized, "but this is… so annoying."

"Don't be angry," she consoled him. "Actually you should be glad. There have been a lot of times you weren't hiccupping. More than you know."

"Yes, I know… you're right, but… it would be… great it I was… able to enjoy… these moments too. Every time… I realize it, it… starts again."

"You know," Rei suddenly said seriously, "maybe we should try something more… drastic."

"Something more… drastic?" Takai asked back.

"Yes… you know…"

Takai didn't know what she was talking about. He was sure that they had tried every method to stop his hiccup and, out of all these, the one where she had jumped at him from behind and scared him had probably been the most effective. But, of course, as soon as he'd noticed it, the hiccup had started again.

"What could… be more drastic… than when you… jumped at me… this afternoon?"

"Well,… in fact I was thinking about something even… more drastic."

Is she blushing? Takai thought, when he saw how a dark shadow appeared on her cheeks.

"Why don't… you tell me about… it?" he insisted, completely confused now.

"Oh, for God's sake, Takai-kun!" she shouted. Then she grabbed him by his sweater, pulled him towards her, and placed her lips on his.

.

Rei had actually only planned to give Takai a quick and friendly kiss on the corner of his mouth, to see if it worked. But when she felt his soft, warm lips on hers, she suddenly felt completely unable to end it so quickly.

Finally she let go of him and took one step back to look at him. "Now?" she asked. Takai slowly opened his eyes and Rei couldn't help but smile at the silence. "See?" she said, "No hiccup anymore."

And indeed, though Takai didn't say a word, he didn't start to hiccup again. His eyes widened and he opened his mouth in deep surprise.

"Takai?" Rei asked, waving a hand in front of his face.

He still didn't say anything. He just looked at her in shock.

"Takai? Are you all right?"

Silence.

"Umm… Takai… Could you at least… blink or something, so I know you can hear me?"

He blinked once, twice; and then everything happened so fast Rei couldn't quite follow. Had it been he who stepped towards her, taking her face in his hands, or was it she who wrapped her arms around his waist first?

But suddenly she felt his mouth on hers again, and this time it was very clear that this wasn't just a friendly kiss. Rei closed her eyes and her lips parted as she felt his tongue begging for entrance. Her fingers bored into his back and his grip around her neck tightened.

The kiss went on and on, and it was Takai who finally ended it, placing his forehead against hers. Both were gasping. Finally he placed one last tender kiss on her lips.

"I'll call you," he whispered, and then, all of a sudden, he turned around and ran away, his turtle backpack bouncing up and down.

Rei let herself fell down on the stairs. Her head was spinning, she was breathing hard and her heart was beating so fast and strong that it felt as if it was about to jump out of her chest.

What the hell had that just been?

She felt her hands start to shake, and burrowed them in Takai's jacket.

No, she thought, leaning her head on her knees, No, please, not again.

And then she started to sob. She was completely unable to contain it; the tears just came out, running down her cheeks, as she realized exactly what that had been.

Please, please, not again, not again, not again, please, she pleaded silently over and over as, after all that time, the evil laughter started to echo in her mind again.