Mamoru and the Shitennou would often walk down to the local coffee shop to spend time together during the afternoons. After some time, Minako, Ami and Makoto would join them. They all enjoyed each other's company. Makoto and Ami had decided to just be friends with their former lovers for the time being, just easing into it all and using this time to get to know each other. Kunzite and Minako had started dating, but also intended to take it slow and not get too carried away too quickly.
Rei was the only one who would never join them. She would often see them leaving as she was walking home from school. They'd pass each other walking at times. She'd say a quick hi to her friends, avoid looking at Jadeite and the other three, and kept walking.
It took a lot of time and dedication, but she caught up on all her schoolwork and was even ahead of the game. She sat at home, not having anything to do or anyone to hang out with, knowing the Senshi were all with the Shitennou. She decided to go into the main temple and meditate for a while.
She sat in front of the fire and began to pray. It had been a long time since she did this. She had drifted over the last couple years, with the constant enemies to fight and people to save, in addition to everyday life. She felt ashamed for always making so many excuses.
"Lord Jesus, forgive me for drifting… for not spending time with You or seeking You in far too long. Forgive me for always getting so angry and being selfish… I don't want to be a slave to my anger anymore. Thank You that You forgive me and are always waiting to take me back, if I would just… let You. If I would return to You. Lord, I ask that you strengthen and heal my heart again… this pain from the last couple months has been overwhelming. And I ask for guidance… I don't know what to do about Jadeite, but You do. Show me what You want me to do."
She stared into the fire for a long time, carefully listening.
In the flames, she saw the words, "Forgive others as I have forgiven you."
Her heart shook. Even if I forgive him, can I trust him?
Again in the flames, words appeared. "So we can say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'" [1]
She breathed out deeply, closing her eyes and praying again.
"I know that men can hurt me… but You're bigger than that."
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"Minako? What are you doing here?" Rei asked.
"I left my book here the other night." She went to the other side of the table and lifted a pillow to retrieve said textbook.
"Oh, you mean the one you've never even opened?"
"That's the one. It just helps having it out in class so my teacher thinks I'm actually reading it."
"You've spent way too much time with Usagi over the years. It's really shown."
"Oh, be quiet. I heard from Haruka that you were playing race cars at the arcade a little while ago and raging. You're not so different from Usagi and me either."
"Okay, playing one video game doesn't put me on the same level as you two!"
"Yeah, yeah."
Minako stood there with her book, not making any kind of movement towards the door.
"…Anything else?" Rei gave a puzzled look.
"How are you?"
"Um… fine. You…?"
"I never see you anymore other than the study nights. You never hang out with us."
"Yeah, because you're always with the Shitennou."
"Rei, you'll have to get over this trust issue eventually. They're really great guys, all four of them. And I know Jadeite really misses you."
"How about we don't talk about Jadeite, okay?"
She raised her arms jokingly. "As you wish."
"I still don't understand how you grew to trust Kunzite so quickly."
"He's a great guy and has proven it. He's so good to me. And Ami and Makoto trust their guys too; it's not just me."
"But why? What has he done to prove himself worthy of your trust?"
"I can see it in his eyes. They're honest. He's respected me more than anyone I've ever known. He gave me space when I wanted it. And now, he brings me flowers all the time, takes me out, acts like a total gentleman. Even though he doesn't always talk very much, he listens to me. And I mean really listens. He's so genuinely interested in getting to know me. He's made himself vulnerable to me ever since the day he faced me again. They all did."
"So he's chivalrous and is nice to you. So what? Any guy can put on that act. What about down the line? What if he turns on you again?"
"He won't do that."
"How do you know?"
Minako breathed out and looked up at the ceiling as she got lost in thought. "There's never any way to know anything for sure. That's just life. But if you constantly keep your guard up like that, you'll never be able to trust anyone. How do you know I won't ever turn on you, or the others? Someone like Beryl could come along and steal us away, and then we'd be just like them, wouldn't we? But what kind of a life would it be to never trust people and never let yourself get close to anyone? A life without love isn't really a life worth living."
She looked back at Rei. "I know what your mother told you and that you hold onto her words with all your strength, but there has to be balance. Not all men are sick like that. I know Kunzite won't betray me because that's not who he is."
"He did it before."
"No. He was deceived by an excellent liar, and then she had her demons possess him and the others. It wasn't them."
Minako stood back up and walked towards her. "I wanted to give this to you." She handed her a folded up piece of paper. "I found it at Mamoru's place. Do with it what you wish, but I thought you should have it."
And with that, she went out the door.
Rei stood there for a few more moments, staring at the ground and lost in her thoughts. She studied the paper in her hand, and slowly brought herself to open it.
My dearest Princess Mars,
It was an unspeakable privilege to even get to see you again
I just pray that you will someday see me for who I am
Not a monster from the Negaverse,
Not just another man looking to mess with your heart,
But someone who would die for you
You are the first and only person I've ever loved
And the only one I would ever give my heart to
Oh, what I would give to go back…
Back to Prince Endymion's garden, where I could hold you in the moonlight
When we would talk all night in endless banter, never growing weary
Beautiful Rei, no matter what happens with us now,
Know that I love you
I would take a bullet for you in a heartbeat
I just hope and pray that you'll be happy,
Regardless of the decision you make
-Jadeite
Tears started spilling down her face and onto the paper. She remembered when he pulled her back up to the ledge in Cloud Temples, and how he almost fell down in doing so. How he was so willing to die in order to save her.
To lay your life down so that your loved one can live… that's what love means, doesn't it? He really does love me…
Would I do the same thing for him?
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Jadeite had been quiet lately, which was unusual. When in the appropriate circumstances, all of the Shitennou minus Kunzite are generally quite talkative.
Mamoru was on the living room couch watching some video of a woman named Lacey Sturm giving a speech. Jadeite quietly watched from behind.
She was giving her testimony, which was incredibly profound. At one point, she started talking about how she used to hate men, and that made it hard to trust the man who stopped her when she was bolting out of church the day she planned to commit suicide at 16, until he proved himself to be honest and loving.
"…And I hated men, because I had seen SO many men hurt my family. And my mom had always taught me to be cautious of guys, because they only want one thing. But I just want to apologize to all the men out there who have been hurt by a woman because of another man's crimes against her. And I want to thank my husband Josh for proving me wrong about men, every single day. And I thank God for being a better father to me than any earthly father ever could."
How could I prove Rei wrong about men?
Rei was still in school at that time. But he suddenly felt the urge to go see her. He didn't know why or what to say, but he needed to see her.
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The last school bell rang. For the first time in a while, Rei didn't feel the urge to quickly bolt it home or go to the arcade to rage. She felt lighter, as if the weight of a burden had been lifted off a bit, though it wasn't completely gone yet.
She took her time walking out, looking around and appreciating the people around her; no longer feeling annoyed or envious of their happiness. Even the couples didn't bother her, which was rare.
Suddenly, she saw an unfortunately familiar face, coming towards her at a great velocity.
She groaned. "Yuuichirou, what are you doing here?"
"I wanted to accompany you on your walk home."
"What made you think that I'd want that?"
"You've kinda been a loner lately. It's been bringing people down. I thought I could help you be social again."
"Yuuichirou, you have no idea what you're talking about. Go home. I'll take my own route."
"Come on, Rei… I'll buy you a coffee on the way back?"
"GO HOME."
"I can help. What if I stay quiet the whole way back, but I carry your books for you?"
"I don't need your h-"
He suddenly grabbed the books out of her hands.
"Hey, give those back!"
Jadeite had borrowed Mamoru's car and pulled up to the parking lot of the school. He got out and wandered a little, finally catching sight of Rei… and some guy holding her books. They were walking his way.
"Yuuichirou, I swear, if you don't give those back RIGHT NOW, I'll pound you!"
"Just let me help, and you'll realize you like getting a little help now and then."
The way she was reaching for them looked flirty from an outside perspective. And that's exactly the perception Jadeite got.
Eventually Rei turned and saw him there. She gave up on the books and started walking over to him.
"Jadeite… what are you doing here?"
He looked upset. "You know what? I'm not sure what I'm doing here anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know, Rei. I don't know why I kept my hopes up, thinking you'd change your mind someday. But here I am. I come out here like an idiot, and I find you flirting with some other guy." He motioned towards Yuuichirou.
"Jadeite, it's not like that. He's just a servant at our temple. He took my books and wouldn't give them back."
"It sure looked like more than that."
Yuuichirou dropped the books and raised his hands. "Whoa, dudes, I don't wanna get in the middle of... whatever this is." He headed home solo.
Jadeite exhaled deeply out of frustration and turned around to head back to the car. Rei went after him.
"Jadeite!"
"What?" He placed a hand on the car door handle, pausing for a moment but not turning around.
"Don't go."
"Why?"
She was quiet for a few seconds, mustering up the courage to say the next few words.
"Because I love you, idiot!"
He turned around slowly.
"What did you say?"
She breathed out. "I love you, okay?"
He moved closer.
"What changed?"
"Nothing changed. I always did. You respected me, you saved my life, you laid out your heart for me… you did everything… I just didn't want to act on my feelings."
"But what changed that? Why did you change your mind?"
"…I heard from the Lord. He spoke to me through the flames. And also… I got your letter."
"You… what? How did-"
"Minako."
"Ah."
"So… do you still hate me for what I said to you back at the temple?"
"Hate you?" He moved in and put his arms around her. "I could never."
He leaned in and kissed her. Her first ever. She put her arms around him and reciprocated, enjoying every second.
"I love you, idiot. And I always will."
A/N: 1. Hebrews 13:6
Hashtag Gilmore Girls on this ending scene. But really tho lol. Highly inspired by the classic Rory/Dean scene.
Anyways. That's a wrap for my first Mars x Jadeite story. Inspired by Spyro (lol). I really struggled with capturing Jadeite's character, as I'm used to writing for Venus x Kunzite. Please leave feedback on how I can improve. It will really help me for the future.
Not sure if I'll write stories for the other two Senshi/Shitennou, but I'll definitely consider it if people request it. Just let me know~
Also, check out yeah-well-hey if you want to read more Sailor Moon stories. Best SM fics ever imo.
Disclaimer: I own nothing that was referenced in this story.