Disclaimer: see previous chapter.
A/N: I'm trying to decide where to go with this from here. This story isn't writing itself as much as I'd like, but I'm not going to let it beat me. Thanks for the kind reviews; they give me life ^_^ My goal is to write an enjoyable story.
Rei look in the direction of the moon and sighed. She dropped her face into her hands. She had run from Minako. She ran from her wife. She was a fool. The raven sat on the edge of her bed cursing her existence. She wasn't ready to face the woman, but now she wasn't sure she ever would be. She was sure Usagi had told her about her arranged marriage, but she didn't know how Minako would take the news. Would she be angry? Sad? Disappointed? She wasn't ready to find out. Rei knew the blond would understand if she had time to explain the situation to her, but there simply wasn't enough time. Mars was still in danger of allying with Earth, which would have horrendous consequences. Even worse, her mother was still pressing her and Jadite for an heir.
The worse problem seemed to be Jadite himself. Rei was exhausted, lonely, and he was there. He listened, even though she spoke little. He understood her nuances, and despite the pressure from Rei's mother, Jadite never once tried to push himself on her. In fact, he had even stood up for her.
Rei was still adamant about not sleeping with Jadite, and so she still hadn't slept. It had been almost two months. Her body was somehow still able to function - probably because of the strenuous training she undertook everyday for over 200 years, but her mind was slowly corroding. Jadite's blue eyes and blond hair began looking more and more like those of the woman she loved, and his gentle nature wasn't helping her to fight him off. She felt like a bully, constantly berating him. She felt like she was no better than her mother.
Chaos smiled to himself, face contorting into a leer. Everything was going according to plan. He had chosen the perfect candidate in Metallia. She specialized in breaking hearts, and corroded the humanity from them once they reached their breaking point.
It would only be a matter of time. He had seen so much sickening love happening in the moon kingdom lately, but it was to his benefit. Broken hearts were the perfect vessels for his mission.
Jadite looked down at the comatose woman in his arms and sighed to himself. She had reached her breaking point. If at anytime she were to wake up, she would fight him off and probably bring him close to death, but he couldn't watch her destroy herself.
Rei's eyes blinked open just as they entered the room. "Mina... Minako?"
Jadite blinked at her. "No, it's me. Jadite."
Rei didn't hear him. She climbed out of his arms and looked at him strangely. "Your body... What happened?"
Holding his arms up, he tried again. "No, Rei!"
Rei's small hand reached up and caressed his face gently. "Everything is so wrong. But your eyes... You have Minako's eyes.
"They're so beautiful. So vibrant. So... alive. I love these eyes."
Jadite wanted to run. He knew this was bad. While he wasn't sure of the extent of Rei and Minako's relationship, he knew they were more than it seemed. He was about to find out just how much.
"Why are you being so distant? You're mad at me, aren't you? I didn't mean it; I just couldn't face you." Rei walked over to the window and looked at the moon again. "Jadite, you know you have her eyes, right? It scares me sometimes. I'm scared I'll forget that she's not here." She turned her fierce violet eyes on him. "I'm scared I'll fall for you."
The blond man regarded her carefully, unsure how to proceed. "Rei... what... What exactly is your relationship with Minako?"
Raven hair fell over Rei's shoulder as she dropped her gaze to the floor. "She's my wife. We married just before I came here." Her eyes turned back to the moon before she continued. "I love her with all my soul. I'd do anything for her. Being here, away from her, is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life."
Jadite saw nothing but firm resolve when she met his eyes. She had the eyes of a soldier.
"I won't let anything or anyone come between us, Jadite. Not you, my mother, my kingdom, my queen, not even death itself. And I'll kill anyone who stands in my way."
The Earth king couldn't respond to that. She was clearly exhausted to the point of losing her inhibitions, but she was married already? To the Venusian princess? When Martians detested Venusians? None of it made sense to him. He went outside to take a walk and smoke a cigarette. He hadn't smoked in years, but he was well in need of one now.
"Jadite-"
The man in question raised his hand to stop her. "Don't, Rei. You don't have to explain anything to me. I understand."
Rei raised a single eyebrow. "What do you understand?"
"Why you've been so distant. Why you want nothing to do with me. I get it."
Rei almost smiled. "No, you don't. I know I said too much earlier, but I also didn't say enough. First, you're the only person that knows about me and Minako. I ask that you keep that secret.
"Second, I don't hate you. I actually respect you. You're a wonderful soldier, diplomat and a smart man. Under different circumstances, I may even have fallen for you.
"I don't want you to take any of this the wrong way; I hate your guts. I hate men; all of them. I'm asking you for one favor: to keep what was said in here today between us. In exchange, I'm willing to do you one favor." Rei knew what she was doing. Above everything, Jadite valued his honor. To breach her trust after utilizing her offer would be akin to death for him.
Of course, he saw through her plan. "You cannot force my silence, Princess. I will keep this between us because I care for you. As for that favor, I would like to offer you a legitimate exchange of favors that will be beneficial to everyone involved should you agree."
Rei eyed him warily, unsure if he was trustworthy. However, she heard him out.
"Rei? Is that you? You're not going to disappear again, are you?"
Rei smiled at her lover and ran a hand through her hair. "I'm sorry about that, Minako."
Minako matched her smile. "Don't be. I don't care that you left; I'm just glad you came back."
The raven dropped her smile when she remember the terms of her return. "Mina, we need to talk."
The blond's blue eyes filled with tears, but she immediately nodded. Warm arms enveloped her immediately. "Don't cry. It's okay."
Minako nodded, and noted that they were now in her room. "Wha-"
Her sentence was cut off by a fierce kiss that took her breath away. Rei quickly carried her to the bed and made short work of their clothes. Minako laughed and pushed her away by her shoulders. "Hold on, Rei. Slow down."
Rei blinked and sat back on her haunches. "What's wrong?"
Minako smiled and shook her head. "Nothing. We need to talk first, though."
The raven looked down and acquiesced. "You're right. I'm sure you know by now, but I married Jadite."
The blond nodded. "I know. Usagi told me. You're mom forced it on you, right?"
Rei nodded, but still didn't raise her head. "He..." Minako's hand met Rei's on her thigh, silently encouraging. "He reminds me of you, Mina."
"What?"
Rei cringed at the tone. "Don't get me wrong, I don't love him. But we've been forced into the same space for over a year. We didn't do anything, but we talked a little.
"He's the reason I'm here."
Minako was confused. Rei detested all the Shitennou before she left. Now she was comparing her to one? "Explain."
Rei cringed again. Minako was offended. "When I went to Mars, he confessed his love for me and I beat his ass. Several times. One day, he asked me why I hated him so much. I didn't know what to tell him, Mina.
"Eventually, we talked. We came to an agreement: he would talk to my mom about me coming back here, and I would talk to you about an heir."
Minako's eyes widened and narrowed. "What?"
Rei clinched her hands on her legs. "My mom demands one. She's been beating us both relentlessly because we haven't tried to make one. She's told him several times to force himself on me, but he won't. He told her we would try if we were here. I got to come back on that term and that alone."
For the first time, Rei meet Minako's eyes. "If you tell me not to, I won't. I told him as much. Whatever happens now depends on you, Minako."
Minako blinked. This was a bit overwhelming. "Rei, your mother isn't wrong. You do need an heir." Rei's head fell again. Minako lifted her chin. "I don't like the idea of sharing you; least of all with him. But as princesses, we have to have an heir. Each of us."
Rei frowned at the notion: Minako would have to do what she's doing at some point.
"This might be best, Rei. No one can know about our marriage, and you are technically married to him. Politically, it shouldn't pose a problem."
"I hear you, Minako, and I understand, but..."
Minako placed a single finger over Rei's lips. "Those are the terms of your return, right? Baby, if I can keep you here with me by saying I'm okay with you doing this, then I'll say it from now until the end of time." Finally, the blond's tears fell free. "I missed you so much, Rei. Don't ever leave me again."
Rei pulled Minako to her and held her until her sobbing stopped. Then, after almost 18 months, they made love for the first time.