Day 14: February 14

Rei really, REALLY didn't want to wake up. Though it was Monday, Valentine's Day, she was hoping, praying, and super upset over yesterday afternoon's ordeal.

After finding out Jadeite gave her two hickey's (TWO!) and almost killing him for this public embarrassment, she stormed out of the lunchroom and back to her personal chambers. The blond did try following her back, only to have fire thrown at him several times, and a swift kick to the balls.

Shoot. She even tried locking him out of the room.

"Stupid Jadeite and his Teleportation," muttered Rei with narrowed eyes.

He friggin' teleported into her room to talk with her!

After trying to re-shove him out of her room, with Ankle Biter barking and growling in the background, she cursed out Jadeite and refused to pay him any attention when he teleported back in. He was insistant that she listen to what he had to say. She knew it was so they could go back on good terms.

So, instead, she locked herself in her room when he refused to get up from her couch in the living area.

She hissed when he appeared in her room. He didn't expect the lamp to hit him scare in the corner of his eye giving him a huge shiner. "GET OUT!" she shouted pointing to the door, "GET OUT OF MY LIFE!"

Her pup was angry too, which she glared at it and hissed. SHUT IT.

The dog immediately slipped under the blankets and became silent.

She saw the look in Jadeite's eyes before he silently walked to the door, unlocked it, and began leaving the living space. He did leave through the front door. She didn't see him for the rest of that day.

He did, however, send a package that evening with another note written in the beautiful caligraphy.

She refused to touch the package. For three hours she let it sit on the chair by the front door.

But, knowing her, she was curious to see what he sent her.

She read the note first.

Dearest Firebird,

You truly are a passionate woman. My heart speeds up every time I see you and get to be near you. Call me foolish to want to spend time with you and to want to show my passion to you. I never intended to provoke you to a raging wild fire. Quite the contrary. My desire is to kendle this flame so you can enjoy the love I desire to offer you. Please, don't push me away. I was yours a lifetime ago. If you accept me, I desire to be yours in this lifetime too. I am giving you a gift which I hope you wear tomorrow for our dinner. I promise to be the perfect gentleman and wait until you are ready for the next step in our journey together.

Forever Yours,
Jadeite

What was worse to her was the gift inside.

He gave her a beautiful satin red dress with just enough crystals to accent the simplicity and splendor of the long, elegant dress. Under the dress was a beautiful pair of red heels to compliment the gown. She held up the shoes and tried them on. They fit her comfortably, though a bit strappy for her taste.

She had a really, really hard time falling asleep last evening.

"I'm not looking forward to today," muttered Rei realizing she had to bite the bullet and get on with today.

So she went to work. She brough Anbi with her in the purse given to her earlier that week.

And she almost didn't believe her office was her assigned workspace. It was covered with vase after vase after vase of roses, red roses to be exact. She didn't realize till moments later when Anbi began play growling under her desk. The floor was covered in red rose petals.

Dang it.

Jadeite really wasn't holding back.

After having moved at least four vases to the ground or to another table top surface, she finally got to work.

Only to be interrupted by a military runner. The messenger handed her another white sack looking similar to when she received lunch a few days back. Was that really almost a week ago or over a week ago? She saw more traditional Japanese dishes that were in the bento boxes. There was cutlery this time.

She decided she would eat in her office this time around.

After her paperwork was completed for the day, she made sure to place Anbi in her purse and take him along for the inspection of the security personnel and systems. She really, really hoped she would not run into anyone from her Senshi team or from the Shittenou team.

Anbi was silent as she did her routine inspections.

She didn't see any of the Generals on her journey around the palace. But when she arrived back in her room, she froze. She almost tried molding herself to the door she entered, her amethyst eyes wide.

"What the..."

Her room was COVERED with lit candles and rosepetals along the ground.

She was afraid to move. What if there was a certain someone still in her room?

Ohhhh no. Oh no. She wasn't going to fall for that.

Then again, why was she wanting to run? This was her room- her personal santuary of solitude. If that no good hickey-maker was here in her room, then she would make sure she escorted him OUT! So she stormed into her room... only to freeze at what she saw.

Rei couldn't even comprehend what was happening let alone THINK. The view she saw before her was straight out of her memories from the Silver Millenium when she and Jadeite shared their first night together after they were declared husband and wife. She ran a hand through her hair, nervousness eating at her. "This can't be happening. This cannot be happening!"

It took all Rei's willpower to put on the dress, shoes, jewelry, and some make-up. She was meeting him for dinner. More like, he was picking her up from her living area to teleport her to where they would spend dinner together.

And he was prompt to meet her at 1700 hours on the dot.

He gave her a smile trying to be subtle about checking her out. He did give her a once look over as the smile on his lips curled up just a bit more. "Good evening, Beautiful."

She felt her heart skip a beat at the compliment. She merely stood aside allowing him in the room. Presented to her a small box that fit in the palm of his hand and opened the lid. Her eyesbrows raised as her mouth opened in amazement. "This hair comb is something I had commissioned a few hundred years ago when stationed in the Mountains." It was beautiful rubies aligned to look like roses. Each ruby sparkled in the light as his white glove picked it out of the box and placed it neatly in her hair.

He gave another smile admiring it as he leaned back to take in the view before him. "Absolute perfection."

She felt herself melting at his praises and his geniune smile.

"So, um, are we, you know, going to go?"

He continued grinning, his smile widening on his lips as he held out his arm to her. "Come, my Valentine. The evening is still young, and our table awaits."

Rei couldn't help but blush, as she slowly but hesitantly placed her hand on his forearm.

It was in a flash they vanished and reappeared in a restaurant designed for royalty. It was a lone table on a second floor balcony. Private, exquisite, romantic.

Dinner seemed to dance on by without a hitch. Indeed Jadeite was the perfect gentleman. He shared conversation with Rei which brought a smile to her face. He complimented her on things he found just absolutely adorable about her. And he even made sure to take the reigns on the ordering of food. He had already arranged what they would have and when they would have it brought out.

His eyes twinkled as she began to really enjoy her time with him. He was quite charming...

"So," he asked giving her a dashing grin, "How are you enjoying your evening?"

She nodded her head sipping on champaigne. "I am enjoying it. This has turned out to be a beautiful evening."

"I'm glad you think so," he spoke reaching across the table and caressing her cheek. She felt that side of her face move into her touch more and more. "Mars, there is something I wanted to ask you."

She looked into his eyes, the blue eyes that would change colors based on his emotions. They were a bright, clear blue. "Rei?"

"Yes?" she asked unsure of what he would ask, but expecting the world.

He looked into her Amethyst eyes, love shining through, "Will you enter into a courtship with me?"