A/N Yes, it's a second chapter in a day! I'm really happy with how this story is going so far! If you are too, please make sure you follow, favorite, and let me know!
When Rei and Jadeite stepped back into the apartment, it seemed as though all the sound had been sucked out of it. Mamoru, Nephrite, Zoicite and Kunzite stopped their conversation and looked toward the doorway, concerned.
"Is everything alright?" Mamoru asked. The pair smiled and nodded, then walked into the kitchen to boil water for some tea. The others watched them leave, figuring out one at a time what had happened.
Inside the kitchen, Jadeite started the tea kettle, while Rei took a seat at the bar. It almost seemed as though she regretted what had happened in the hallway. Jadeite thought about asking, but before he could, Rei cut him off.
"I'm fine, I promise" she said as convincingly as she could. However, Jadeite saw through her, just as he always did.
"Yeah, you are…and I'm the Queen of England. What's bothering you?" he asked, hoping his little joke would bring a smile to her face.
"I should know better than to try to lie to you" Rei muttered, prompting a nod from Jadeite. "Alright, fine. I'm not okay."
"Was it the kiss?" Jadeite asked.
"No, it wasn't that. That was fine. It was the timing. I…"
"You just broke up with him, I know" Jadeite said softly, leaning against the other side of the bar. Rei nodded, biting her lip.
"Exactly…as much of a villain as he was, it wouldn't be fair for me to move on so quickly." She rested her elbows on the bar as she spoke, giving Jadeite a look that would soften even the most stone cold heart. Little did she know, Kumori barely shared her feelings on the matter.
Across town, Kumori was seated at the bar of a shady, run down club. He had decided to cope with the breakup by drowning his sorrows in alcohol. After skillfully managing to avoid eye contact with just about everyone that came near him, the bartender decided to come over and talk to him.
"What's got you so down?" Kumori almost didn't hear her, as he felt himself being drawn into her sparkling green eyes.
"My girlfriend broke up with me" he sighed, throwing back another shot. This was his sixth…or seventh. He wasn't sure at this point.
"That's too bad…who would be dumb enough to let a guy like you go?" the bartender said, grinning almost flirtatiously. Kumori scoffed and managed a half smile.
"That's very kind of you" he said quietly. The woman smiled and flipped her wavy brown hair behind her, sliding another shot towards him.
"This one's on me" she insisted. "Maybe it will make you feel better."
"Are you trying to get me drunk?" Kumori chuckled before drinking down the shot. He winced slightly as the liquid hit his throat, looking at the bartender with wide eyes. "What did you just give me?"
"It's a secret" she said with a wink. "Do you feel better?"
"A little, actually" Kumori murmured. The bartender giggled and paid off his tab, handing him a copy of the receipt. Kumori stood up from his barstool and walked toward the door, turning to wave at the woman one more time before he left. He had come to the bar on foot, knowing he was going to drink himself stupid, so he pulled his jacket around himself and began the walk home. Unfortunately for him, he had to pass the apartment complex where Mamoru lived to continue on to his. As he neared Rei's location, he slowed his steps, looking in the direction of Mamoru's building. As if I can see them…he thought to himself. For some reason, he found himself walking toward the building. What was he doing?
After dinner, Rei insisted on helping clean up once again.
"You really don't have to" Mamoru protested.
"I want to" Rei argued, pulling the full trash bag out of the trash can and tying it off. "At least let me take out the trash." Jadeite stood nearby, listening to their banter and chuckling.
"You know she's going to do it anyway, so just give it up" he teased. Mamoru rolled his eyes and smiled at Rei.
"Alright, but please be careful. It's dark out, and you never know what kind of weirdos could be lurking out there."
"You guys worry too much" Rei teased. I'm just going outside, and I'll be right back." Before Jadeite could say anything, Rei turned to him. "No, I don't need you to come with me." Before anyone else could protest, Rei was out the door.
"She's a feisty little thing, isn't she?" Nephrite teased, poking Jadeite playfully. "Lucky you."
"Cut it out, guys…" he grumbled. "It's not like that."
"Not anymore…I bet if Endymion's palace was still standing, we'd still be able to find holes in the wall from where you two—"
"That's enough" Jadeite growled, becoming agitated by their teasing. "I don't want you talking about her like that." The others quickly backed off, and Jadeite walked over to the window to watch for Rei, feeling as though something wasn't right. As he gazed out into the darkness, his mind began to drift back…
*"This way" Jadeite whispered, pulling Mars down the long hallway inside the palace. He stopped when he realized her heels were making too much noise and picked her up, quickening his steps. They soon arrived at a large bedroom with brilliant white walls and accents of blue throughout. He crossed the threshold into the room and Mars timidly followed, biting her lip nervously when his back was turned.
"Are you sure we should be doing this?"
"No, that's why we're being quiet" Jadeite joked. He turned to look at her, and the smile faded from his face. "Is everything alright?" he asked.
"I'm not sure" Mars admitted. "I've never…"
"We don't have to" Jadeite assured her. Mars thought for a moment before speaking again, never taking her eyes off him. She had felt an undeniable attraction to him from the very beginning, and that had to mean something, right? As she drew closer to him, she could feel her heart racing in time with his. Soon, she was mere inches from him, gazing up into his eyes. It was clear to her, now.
"You're my person" she murmured, almost too quietly for him to hear.
"What do you mean?" Jadeite asked, tilting his head slightly.
"You're my person" Mars repeated, then proceeded to explain. "Princess Serenity often describes Endymion as 'her person', basically her missing half…the one who was made to be with her…I'm sorry, I'm not making sense, am I?" she murmured. Jadeite smiled at her before pressing his lips to hers, making all her fears and doubts disappear. She threw her arms around his neck to steady herself, casually reaching up to play with his hair softly. Jadeite carefully lowered her onto the bed, never allowing his lips to leave hers. Her fingers nimbly unbuttoned his shirt and grazed his skin, sending a shiver coursing through his body. He slowly kissed his way down to her neck, shivering again as her nails grazed his bare back. She slowly slid his shirt off and tossed it aside before dropping her transformation. In place of the sailor fuku was a simple red dress, which Jadeite began to hastily unbutton. His lips began to wander over her skin, making her shiver, just as she had done to him.
"Jade…"
"Jade?" Zoicite asked again. Jadeite frowned, disappointed that his memory had been disrupted.
"What is it?"
"Nothing, just making sure you're alright."
"I'm fine" he assured him, returning his gaze to the window just in time to see Rei exit the building. He saw a figure cross the parking lot and the hair on the back of his neck stood up, signaling something wasn't right. He continued to watch the figure, and when the light hit it, he could see it was a man. He watched cautiously as Rei walked to the dumpster, and opened the window a crack to see if he might be able to hear anything.
After tossing the trash bag into the dumpster, Rei felt as if she were being watched. She slowly turned around and jumped when she nearly ran into someone.
"I'm so sorry" she said, bowing her head slightly.
"You don't have to be so formal" the man responded, making Rei feel nauseous as his voice rang in her ears.
"Kumori" she whispered. He chuckled and stepped forward, causing Rei to stumble back against the dumpster. She winced as the metal dug into her, but tried to remain calm.
"I miss you, Rei" he whispered, his breath lingering on her face. She felt her stomach churn from the all too familiar feeling, but she quickly regained her composure and looked up at him.
"You've been drinking again" she said shakily, unsure of what his current state of mind would mean for her. Kumori evaded her observation and looked at her in a way that made her feel like nothing more than a caged animal.
"Get away from me!" Rei shouted, pushing Kumori back, not waiting around to watch him fall. She ran back to the apartment as fast as she could, nearly running into Jadeite, who had been on his way out to help her. She shakily threw her arms around him and buried her face in his chest.
"Are you alright?" he asked, feeling just as shaken as she was. She nodded and looked up at him, smiling slightly.
"I am now…" Jadeite smiled and scooped her into his arms, carrying her back upstairs to Mamoru's apartment. Once they were inside, she went into the bathroom to get ready for bed. It seemed everyone else had already headed that way. After she came out of the bathroom, she went into Jadeite's room, where she found him waiting for her.
"What are you doing?" she giggled.
"Waiting for you" Jadeite said with a wink. Rei giggled again and flipped the light off before walking over to the bed and climbing in. "Unless, of course, you don't want me…" he teased.
"I'll always want you, Jade" Rei murmured as she drifted off to sleep. "You're my person…"
