Oh God here we go. Okay, against my better judgement, I decided to release Ever Forever Ever without rewriting it. Well release the parts that I had written anyway. Now this is only because the fear that people were going to kill me if I didn't get this out soon, was greater than the fear of it majorly sucking. Anyway, the plot to this story I personally think is really good, hopefully it will come out as one of my better stories, it just takes a while to get into it. These first few chapters though, wow the writing on them kinda sucks. You can leave if you want, but I hope some people will read them anyway because they have been anticipating it for quite some time it seems. Anyway, please just keep in mind that these first few chapters were written around the same time that I started writing As the Tears Fell. And that story although the first few chapters weren't great, apparently turned out to be an excellent well received story. So even if you think this writing does suck at the moment, give the story a chance, it was written almost a year ago and my writing style has drastically improved. Oh yeah okay, by the way, Jared IS Jeadite, don't think they are two different people they are the same person, the name change will be explained later.
~Two Together~
~Through all the Years~
~Echoes of Laughter~
~Ribbons of Tears~
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Ever Forever Ever~Chapter One
By MCRK
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It was another beautiful sunny afternoon in downtown Tokyo, Japan. Rei Hino was idly sweeping the steps of the Cherry Hill Temple. True it was a tedious and never ending chore, but she had gotten used to it over the years. 'I wish Chad were still here. I could always con him into doing my chores for me.' Rei thought with a small smile on her face. 'I feel bad that I was never able to return his love. I wish he had stayed anyway. It was nice having him around.' A while back Chad had gone on a vacation to America. When he returned he had found out that Rei had fallen for Jared, and was never going to love him the way he wanted her to. After that he decided it wasn't really right for him to stay at the temple anymore. Especially now that Grandpa was gone. Rei had of course protested, saying that while she didn't love him in that way, he was still very special to her. But Chad had simply smiled, said he was happy she had found someone to love, and told her that he liked America better anyway. 'He was gone so quickly.' Rei thought. 'But I guess it worked out for the best. If I had dated Chad, or fallen for him, I wouldn't have gotten together with Jared.' At the thought of Jared a radiant smile spread across her face. She knew Jared would sweep for her if she asked. She knew that he would do pretty much anything that she asked him to. Rei sighed and sat down on the steps for a moment. That
was becoming sort of a problem for her. He was willing to do a little too much for her. 'I hate getting this close to anyone. If an enemy were to find out our real identities, I could be used to blackmail him again, and vice versa.' She thought unhappily. 'I know he would give his life for me again, and I would for him, but I don't want to lose him again.' She thought, a small tear coming to her eye. As a long black limousine pulled up to the temple, she quickly stood up wiping away the tear and stared at the car curiously, as a man climbed out. He was a tall man wearing a dark suit and sunglasses. He was also on a cell phone and although his back was now turned to her, she could still hear what he was saying.
"Tell them that we need to get those figures!" The man demanded at the phone.
After pausing for a minute he continued. "We can't wait anymore! Tell them..." He stopped in mid sentence as he turned around and saw Rei staring at him curiously. He stared back at her while the person on the other end of the phone started to shout at him. "I'm going to have to call you back Frank. And will you call Lynn and Justin for me and tell them it will be a week? Thanks." The man hung up the phone and started walking up the stairs, his gaze never leaving Rei's face. 'That hair, and those eyes, and her nose, she looks exactly like Lillian!' The man thought in amazement.
"Excuse me? Can I help you?" Rei asked once the man neared the top.
'I'm not sure." He said. "I'm looking for a girl named Rei Hino that is supposed to live here. Would you happen to know her?" The man questioned.
"Uh, yes, actually I'm Rei Hino." She said smiling politely. "How may I help you?"
The man removed his sunglasses and stared at Rei silently for a few minutes.
"Uh, Sir?" She asked.
"My God you've grown up so much!" He finally exclaimed. "How old are you now? 16?" He asked.
Rei nodded. "I'll be 17 in April." She said shifting her wait uncomfortably. "Am I supposed to know you?" She asked.
The man chuckled lightly. "You don't remember me? Well it has been a long time but..."
"I think you had better leave. I don't know who you are, or what you are doing here, but I think you should leave." Rei said taking few steps back, the fear showing in her voice. 'Why I am I afraid?' She wondered. 'If anything was to happen, Jared is here, and I am perfectly capable of protecting myself. And if it turned out he's some youma, I can transform but something about this man makes me afraid.'
"Don't worry Rei, I am not going to hurt you." He promised.
"Then tell me who you are!" She demanded.
"Rei, it's me, your father!" He exclaimed opening his arms expecting her to run into them happily. After a few minutes, it became obvious that she wasn't going to, and he lowered them in disappointment.
"Why did you come back?" Rei asked in a small voice obvious that she was hurt. Her father never got the chance to answer due to the fact that Jared had chosen that moment to come outside to ask Rei something.
"Hey Rei, where is--" He stopped short, looking first at Rei's hurt expression, then the man before her, then back at Rei. "Are you ok?" Jared asked softly so that only she could hear. She attempted to nod but ended up shaking her head no trying to keep her tears in. He reached over and took hold of her hand trying to comfort her.
Mr. Hino cleared his throat. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?"
When Rei didn't respond Jared stuck his hand out, glancing curiously at Rei, then shaking the man's hand. "I'm Jared. Rei's--"
"Friend." She quickly interrupted, glancing at Jared silently asking him to go along with it. "He's a close friend of mine." She added.
"I'm James Hino. Rei's father." The man said.
"Only by medical definition." Rei muttered.
Jared suddenly realized why Rei was so upset. Her father was back and that could not be a good thing. Rei had never told him anything about her family outside of her grandfather, so he only knew a little bit about what happened. Usagi had once told him that Rei's father left her at the temple nine years ago after her mom died and he had not contacted her since. That was all she knew, so apparently Rei didn't tell people too much about him. "Jared. That's a strange name for around here." James commented, completely ignoring Rei's comment.
Jared snapped back to the present and responded. "So is James." He pointed out.
"Very true, very true. Anyway Rei," James said turning his attention back to her, ignoring Jared. "I came back because I heard what happened to your grandfather. And I must say that I was slightly upset that I wasn't invited to the funeral. I mean he was my father in law."
"Sorry but I assumed you wouldn't have time to come. You know with your busy job and all." Rei said sarcastically.
"Rei, he was family. I have always made time for family." James said putting a hand on her shoulder.
She jerked away as if she had been burned, causing her to drop Jared's hand and move back a few steps. "So is that why you made so much time for me these past years?" She asked with a pure hatred in her eyes. "Is that why you put so much time in visiting and calling? In writing me letters and sending cards?"
"Rei--"
"No, let me finish." She said interrupting him. "Through the years I slowly gave up on you. I eventually figured out that you were never coming back and that was all there was too it. I learned to care for myself and learned to go on without parents, pretending that it didn't bother me. But when you first left me here," She paused for a minute, trying to regain her composure. "When you first left me here, I was only eight years old! Eight years old! Do you have any idea how traumatic that was for me?"
"I understand it was painful but," James tried but Rei cut him off.
"No you don't! You could not possibly understand how painful that is unless you go through it. And while I was going through all that pain, alone, I decided that I never ever wanted to see you again and that decision remains the same. So please leave." Rei said coldly.
James stood there completely calm and unfazed about the whole thing. "Well this is ironic." He said while Rei and Jared glared at him. Rei, still upset and angry for what he had done, and Jared now had an instant hatred for the man after seeing the pain he had put Rei through. "You have grown to hate me, and are telling me to leave, and yet, I can't do that unless you come with me." James said chuckling.
"Why would I choose to go with you?" Rei asked suspiciously narrowing her eyes. "Because you don't have a choice." He said matter of factly.
"Uh, please excuse me for this because it doesn't concern me directly but, isn't taking someone somewhere against their will considered, oh I don't know kidnapping?" Jared asked.
James smirked at them. "Usually yes, but this is different."
"And why is that?" Rei asked impatiently.
"You are both forgetting one thing. Now that Rei's grandfather is gone, I am once again her legal guardian. That means that according to the law, she has to come with me whether she likes it or not."
"I have to leave the temple?" Rei cried out.
"You can't do that too her!" Jared protested.
"Look I didn't get much say in this either." James snapped. "But it's the law and there's nothing I can do about it."
Rei's eyes darted around and brightened when they saw Jared and remembered how old he was. "What if you switched it so that Jared was my legal guardian? Then I could stay here." She suggested pleadingly.
Jared brightened as he realized what she was doing. "I am of legal age. I'm 18. Please, let her stay." He pleaded softly.
Rei's dad looked at them like they had suggested he let them move to Mars. "Do you really expect me to let you live with some guy two years older then you?" He asked.
"Jared already lives here and has been here for the past four months." She said quietly. James gasped at this. "And your grandfather didn't object to this?"
"My grandfather trusted me. Unlike some people." Rei said defiantly.
He sighed as he rubbed a hand across his eyes. "I'm sorry Rei but you are not living with some guy! I know how stubborn you are and I don't have time for this. I am very tired and need to go back to my hotel and rest. So let me make this simple. You are coming with me when I leave and that is final. We are leaving in a week and I will be back tomorrow to go over more stuff." He said tiredly.
Rei glared at him her violet eyes turning into balls of fire. "Then let me make this simple." She said coldly. "Over the years, you have become the one person that I truly hate. And I may end up coming with you but I can tell you that I am not going to do it happily or easily, and I promise that it will not be an enjoyable experience." Jared smiled inwardly knowing how true her words were. "And as soon as I am eighteen I am coming back to the temple and I don't care who the hell is living here. I will finally be free of ever having to talk to you again and that will be satisfactory enough." Rei turned and ran back inside the temple.
After glaring at her father one more time Jared quickly followed. He immediately went to Rei's room knowing that was where she usually went when she was upset. Rei was curled up on her bed with a blank look on her face. Although the door was open, Jared knocked anyway. "Can I come in?" He asked softly.
"Yeah sure." Rei said snapping out of her trance like state.
Jared came in and sat down next to her on the bed. No one said anything and the silence started to become unbearable. "Are you ok?" He asked, finally breaking the silence. "Yeah. Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?" Rei asked, trying to make the lie seem as real as possible.
"Rei I can tell when you are lying to me. Please don't." Jared said quietly seeing right through her lie.
"I'm not lying. I really am fine." She protested, taking her eyes away from Jared's.
"Come on Rei don't shut me out! I can't help you if you won't tell me the truth." He pleaded.
Rei was silent for a moment not knowing what to say. She wanted to tell him everything but it was incredibly painful to think about, let alone tell someone else. But she knew that wasn't the real reason. She was afraid of getting any closer to him. Her silence was not taken the wrong way by Jared.
He stood up obviously hurt by her lack of trust and faith in him. "Fine I can take a hint." He said hurtfully. "I don't know why you are mad at me or why you won't tell me the truth all of a sudden but I am not going to stay here and listen to you lie to me. If you want to talk I'll be in my room." His hurtness had started to turn into anger as he started to walk away.
'Stop him!' Rei's brain screamed at her. 'But I can't tell him the story!' She protested to herself. 'You have to do this Rei!' The voice won as Rei finally called out, "Jared wait a second." He turned around and stared at her expectantly. "Would you mind, if, if we talked now?" She asked offering a sorrowful smile.
He slowly returned the smile and returned to his previous spot next to Rei on her bed. "First I just want to tell you that I am not mad at you and I am sorry for lying. It's just that I am not used to sharing my feelings with anyone. You are the first person who has ever really bugged me about it." She said smiling. "And the story I am about to tell you is one that no one else knows. Grandpa knew, to some extent, but he doesn't know everything that happened. All the pain I felt, everything I am about to tell you." She said slowly.
Jared stopped her. "Wait, Rei. I didn't realize this caused you so much pain. I shouldn't have gotten upset. You don't have to tell me this if you don't want to."
Rei swallowed hard as she thought about her choices. As tempted as she was to forget about this whole thing, she decided it was time to start telling people the truth. She couldn't keep this bottled up forever. 'Besides, he already knows half the story, he deserves to know the rest.' "Yes I do. This something that I have to do. It's time I start telling people the truth anyway." Rei said her voice shaking slightly. Jared nodded, glad that she was finally able to be more open towards him. "Do you remember how I told you that your betrayal had a major affect on me?" She asked. Jared cringed slightly not wanting to remember anything about that, as he nodded. Rei noticed the cringe and leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the forehead. "Sorry."
He just shrugged it off as he smiled at her. "It's ok."
"Ok. What I meant to say was that the way I act, like not telling people how I feel and my anger all the time, that isn't entirely due to the what happened in the Silver Millenium." She slowly explained, trying not to let the tears come.
"Does this have to do with your dad?" He asked gently.
Biting on her lip she nodded her head.
"And I take it that this has to do with unhappy childhood memories?" Jared asked softly.
Rei started to quietly sob as she nodded her head again.
"Oh Rei, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry." He said helplessly.
She just continued as if she had not even heard him. "It was terrible. I hated my life and everyone in it. Things used to be so nice before my mom was gone. And then," She paused for a minute, "and then my mom died, and my life became a living hell." She stopped crying and took a deep breath, her entire body shaking. "All I know is that if I have to go back with him for another year, I will not be able to take it. I know everyone thinks that I'm so emotionally strong and that nothing bothers me," Rei looked up at Jared tear streaks marked on her cheeks. "But my father is one of the few people who can actually get to me. And I don't mean just bug or annoy me, but really really get to me." Jared leaned against the wall as he spoke. "Do you want to tell me what happened that was so terrible? If not I understand." He said softly.
"No I want, I need to tell somebody this." She said. He nodded not saying anything just waiting for her to continue. "I guess the whole thing started when I was about four years old and my mom died. Before that my life was perfect. I was an only child who was totally spoiled and loved by both her parents." Rei stopped for a moment as she smiled remembering the happy memories. "And then a few weeks after my fourth birthday, my mom discovered that she was pregnant with her second child. After a few months, they found out it was going to be a boy, which made my father ecstatic. He had always wanted a son, you know to play sports with and play catch, and go fishing, and do all those father son things. He also wanted someone to carry on the family name. I remember how excited he was; he must have told me a million times a day I was going to have a baby brother soon. And then the day came when she went into labor." The look on Rei's face changed from a sad smile to a look of pure misery. "And that day changed my life in the worst way possible. During the birth, something went wrong and she started bleeding a lot. The doctors couldn't find out what was wrong, so they couldn't stop it, and my mom died." She said quietly.
"I'm so sorry." Jared said, his voice filled with anguish.
"That's only the beginning." She told him. "The baby also died during the birth. My father became hysterical. His wife and his unborn son were both gone in minutes; I was all he had left. And I was definitely not the person he would have chosen to be left with." Rei drew her knees up to her chest trying to gather her strength. What she was about to say, included the five words that had haunted her for most of her life. "And he came out into the waiting room to tell me and my grandfather, and when he first saw me sitting there he just started sobbing. And the next thing he said has haunted me ever since. His exact words were, 'It should have been you.' And then he started screaming about how I should have been the one to die, not them. Grandpa led me away before he said much, but those five words have been imprinted in my mind ever since. You know, it isn't exactly the kind of thing that just fades from your mind." Rei said quietly.
"He told a little four year old girl that she didn't deserve to live?" Jared asked horrified.
She nodded her head slightly. "I know he was just upset and in shock and all but it still hurt, and it does not too." She said her voice, filled with anguish, cracking slightly.
"Rei, that is no excuse for anyone to say that!" He exclaimed with anger creeping into his voice. He could feel his hatred for Rei's father growing by the minute.
"I know that now but it took me a long time to realize that." She said drying her eyes trying to stop the new tears from falling. Jared reached over and took her hand giving her encouragement to continue her story. "After the funeral, Grandpa went home to the temple, and I was left alone with my dad. He started to resent me even more. He was always busy with politics or some project. He ignored me most of the time and the only time he did acknowledge my presence, was to either yell at me or insult me over something. He never said he loved me or anything like that. I was completely alone." This time Rei couldn't stop them as fresh tears spilled over her eyes.
"How long did this go on for?" Jared asked.
She looked away as she quietly said, "Four years. From the time I was four until the time I was eight years old. That's when it finally ended."
"Is that when you came to the temple?"
Rei turned to look at Jared and for the first time realized that he didn't blame her for any of this. He actually cared that this had happened to her "Yeah. My father finally decided I was a complete nusciance and that I was always in the way. So he decided to get rid of me. He had me pack my clothes and toys and told me that we were going to visit my grandfather. Well when we got here he handed me my suitcase, got back in the car and drove off. I haven't heard anything from him since then, well at least not until today." She said sighing.
"I can not believe he did that to you." Jared said softly. "Yeah Grandpa was kinda mad too. He was actually glad that I had been sent to live with him. I mean of course he was upset that it made me so sad at first, but after he heard what my father said to me at the hospital, he lost a lot of respect for him." Rei said.
"I did too." He said angrily.
"And now I have to go back, and everything is going to happen all over again. I just don't want to get hurt anymore." She said in a small voice.
Jared wordlessly gathered her up in his arms and held her tightly while she brushed away tears. "He won't hurt you anymore. I promise. Not while I'm here." He gently pried Rei off of him and gave her a long lingering kiss to which she happily obliged. Afterwards he leaned his forehead against hers and stared into her still fearful eyes. "Don't worry. I'll protect you." He promised her.
Rei instantly felt her spirits lift. "You protect me? How come I get stuck with such a wimpy protector?" She asked teasingly.
Jared raised an eyebrow at her. "Wimpy huh?" He asked. Rei grinned as she nodded. "I'll show you wimpy." He said as he tackled her and started tickling her.
She was now laughing uncontrollably as she tried to catch her breath. "Ok Ok I give." She said gasping for air. He stopped for a moment.
"So am I still too wimpy to be your protector?" He asked.
"Well since you have proven yourself sooo worthy I guess you can protect me." Rei said. "Thanks for the honor." He said sarcastically.
"But I have a question for you my great protector." She continued.
"And what would that be?"
"How are you going to defeat the enemies, by tickling them to death?" She asked dissolving in another fit of laughter.
"Well if the enemy is female, I know something else I could do." He said with a mischievous grin.
Rei realized what he meant. "And how is that going to defeat them?"
"It won't but it would still be fun." He said shrugging.
She glared at him but before she could protest he leaned his face over hers and kissed her deeply. "You better not be doing that to any other females." She said slightly frowning. "Don't worry." Jared said kissing her again. "They are all reserved for you."
"Good cause otherwise my protector might be in need of protection." She said kissing him back. "And Jared,"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For caring and for being here for me." Rei said sincerely.
He smiled back at her. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
* * *
The next morning Rei, fully clothed and wide awake, walked into the kitchen to find Jared drearily making coffee. "Jared why are you making coffee now?" She asked.
Jared yawned and slumped down in the chair. "I just woke up." He said
"You just woke up?" She asked looking at her watch. "Jared, its 11:30!"
"Yeah, I know I kinda overslept." He looked over at Rei, squinting his eyes, trying to see clearly, and noticed that she was dressed in regular clothes, instead of the ceremonial temple robes she usually wore. "How come you are all dressed and everything?" He asked.
"You mean besides the fact that is 11:30?"
"Yeah."
"I am going over to Usagi's house."
"Ohhh, one of those girl talk session things?" Jared asked smiling knowingly.
"It is not a girl talk session thing." Rei protested.
"Yeah sure. The two of you sit around and talk about shopping and Mamoru and me right?"
She didn't say anything but a faint blush could be seen on her cheeks.
"See!" He said laughing.
"Fine if you are going to insult me, then I am going to leave." She said walking towards the door.
Jared was about to call out goodbye, when he remembered something. "Rei, hold up a minute." He called, running to catch up with her.
"Yeah?" She asked as she turned around.
He looked at her suspiciously. "Isn't your dad supposed to come by today?"
"Oh, is that today? I completely forgot." She lied.
"I can tell when you're lying. You're pretty bad at it."
"Hey!"
"It's true."
She sighed. "Yes he is supposed to come today, but please don't make me stay here! I can't take seeing him right now!" She pleaded.
Jared looked at her and felt so badly that he couldn't say no. "Fine, I will stay." He said.
Rei's eyes lit up as she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. "Thank you thank you thank you!"
"Yeah yeah yeah. Now go before he comes." Jared said.
She smiled at him and kissed him one more time. "I'll make it up to you ok? Oh and Jared, please please please don't say anything to him. I know you hate him, but if he hates you, it lessens my chance of staying here." She turned and ran off.
Jared groaned as he leaned his head against the wall. "It's gonna be a bad day." He moaned.
* * *
"So, what's going on with you and Jared?" Usagi asked slyly, once Rei had sat down.
She blushed. "Nothing." She said.
"Do you really mean to tell me that you live with your boyfriend all alone, and nothing happens?" Usagi pressed.
"Well, it's nice and everything, but we aren't sleeping together if that is what you are getting at." Rei said laughing.
Usagi blushed as she grinned sheepishly. "I had to ask."
Rei's smile disappeared and a worried look took its place. "Besides we're just dating, you know, no big deal." She said quietly.
Usagi stared at her friend incredulously. Last she had known Rei and Jared were completely, totally in love, NOT just dating. "Ok Rei, what's wrong?" She demanded. "And don't say nothing, I know you better then that.' She added when Rei had opened her mouth to protest.
After not responding for a few minutes Rei decided she might as well tell Usagi. It would help to get all this off her chest. "Do you ever fell like Mamoru is going to leave you one day?" She asked slowly.
Usagi stared at her friend in shock as she slid down off the bed so she was sitting next to Rei. "Is Jared indicating that he wants to break up?" She asked in a half whisper.
"Jared still feels the same way he always had. And it's not that I want to break up, but why bother to continue a serious relationship if it will all end anyway? What's the point?" Rei asked, for once, looking towards Usagi for answers.
"You can't be serious!" She exclaimed in disbelief. "Rei, when two people love each other, it is possible that they will get married you know." She explained more gently.
"Do you really think Jared would ever want to marry me?" Rei asked.
Usagi laughed lightly. "I don't think I have ever seen anyone love some one as much as Jared loves you. I mean, look at all he has done for you."
"That's the thing." Rei started. "Back in the Silver Millennium he gave up his freedom, he betrayed his kingdom, he fought on the enemy side, all because he loved me so much. And I know that he would do it again if needed, and I don't want that to happen. I mean, don't you ever get scared that Mamoru will become evil again?"
Usagi was quiet for a moment as she thought about what Rei had said. Of course she was afraid. She was always scared that one day they were going to fight some monster that they couldn't face, and she would lose everyone she cared about. "Every single time we fight someone, I am terrified." She said slowly. "I always wonder if this monster is why that we can't face, and that I am going to lose everyone again. But the thing is, I don't know for sure that that is ever going to happen. And the way I see it, you can't waste the time you have with the people you love. You never know what is going to happen, so why not be happy for the time you have?"
"I understand what you mean. The way I see it though, if you just don't get attached, you can't get hurt." Rei said looking away.
Usagi had no idea how to answer her friend. Rei never talked about her feelings like this and she wasn't quite sure how to respond. "That makes no sense. Then you go through life unhappy."
"Better then being hurt."
"Jared is not going to leave you, you are just going psycho." She said.
"You never know."
"Rei!"
"Usagi!"
The two looked at each other and started laughing. "Yeah, I guess you are right. Maybe I am just going psycho." Rei said.
"Wow, Rei admitting that she is psycho? I should record this." Usagi said smiling.
"Ha ha. Very funny." She said hitting Usagi with a pillow, which of course started a pillow war between the two.
* * *
A short while the doorbell rang and Jared hurried to answer it.
"Hello. Is Rei here?" Her father asked.
"Uh, no. She is out with one of her friends. Would you like to come in?" Jared asked, trying his hardest to be polite.
"I suppose. I have some information to give Rei, but I am sure you will get it to her." James said walking into the temple. The two walked into the kitchen and sat down.
"What information did you want me to give Rei?" Jared asked, hoping to get this over with as soon as possible.
James stared at him for a minute. "The two of you, you're closer then 'just friends' aren't you?"
"Uh excuse me?" He asked.
"Yesterday, Rei said you were a friend of hers. But the two of you are a lot closer then that, aren't you?" James asked again. Jared was silent, not sure what to say. He knew that for whatever reason, Rei didn't want her father to know that they were going out. "You love her don't you?"
This time Jared couldn't stay silent. When someone was questioning his love for her, he had to back it up. "Yes I do. Very much." He said strongly.
"Do you really expect me to believe that?"
"To tell you the truth, I really don't care." Jared said, trying to remain calm.
"I was a 19 year old boy once, I know what they think." James said.
"What are you implying by that?" Jared asked.
"I'm not blind you know. I realize what a beautiful young woman my daughter has grown into. And I know you are only going out with my daughter so you can sleep with her." He said casually.
Jared felt his temper flare up. "How dare you say that!" He exclaimed. "I love Rei, and I want to be with her forever. I am not only going out with her so I can sleep with her. I'm not that kind of person."
James just smiled knowingly at him.
"You were once married weren't you?" Jared asked quietly.
James, caught by surprise by the question, nodded.
"And when you married Rei's mother, it was because you loved her right? Isn't that why you continued to go out, and eventually be married?" He continued.
"Yes, but it wasn't when I was 19." He said.
"Why do you think I am so dishonorable that I would do something like that to Rei? Especially because it would be something against her own will." Jared asked.
"Have you ever heard of rape?" James asked sarcastically.
Jared gasped in surprise. "Are you serious?" He asked. "Do you really believe I am some sort of sadistic rapist?"
James shrugged.
"I'll have you know that I would never even touch a strand of her hair, if she didn't want me to, let alone rape her." Jared declared.
James stood up. "You know what? I really don't have time to discuss this. When Rei gets back, please inform her that she must come back with me. I have checked with legal consults, and short of switching legal guardianship over to you, don't even suggest that again, there is nothing else any one can do. I'll be back in three days to get her." With that he turned and left
* * *
When Rei walked into the temple a few hours later, she took one look at Jared's face and figured out what must have happened.
"I have to go, don't I?" She asked softly.
"I'm sorry." He said. "I tried to change his mind but he has some sort of grudge against me. He said that he talked to legal consults and short of switching guardianship over to me, there was nothing any one could do."
"And I guess he would never do that right?" Rei asked. "Course not, why would he do anything that might actually make something in my life be right." She said sarcastically.
"Are you ok?" Jared asked quietly.
"No." She said softly. "But I don't want to talk right now. I'd rather just be alone for a while." He watched as she ran to her room, trying to hold back her tears.
* * *
Two Days Later
Mamoru walked into the arcade, checking to see if Usagi was there, when he spotted his friend working behind the counter. "Hey Andrew." He called.
Andrew looked up from the envelopes he was addressing and noticed Mamoru. "Oh hey, what's up?" He asked.
"Not much. Just looking for Usagi, have you seen her?" Mamoru sat down on the stool waiting the reply.
"Nope sorry."
Mamoru sighed; he had looked pretty much everywhere for her. "So, what are you doing?"
"Wedding invitations. Rita and I finally picked a date." He said smiling happily.
"That's great. Congratulations." Mamoru managed to say.
Andrew picked up a small stack of envelopes. "If you ever find Usagi, could you give her these for me?" He asked.
Mamoru accepted them, slightly puzzled. "Sure, but don't you only need to give her one? I mean I know she has a tendency to lose things, but isn't this kinda extreme?"
Andrew started laughing. "Mamoru, only one of these are for Usagi. There is also one for you, and the others are for Makoto and Minako. Last time she was here Usagi said she would probably see them before me so she offered to deliver them if we ever picked a date."
At the mention of Minako's name, Mamoru remembered the huge crush she had on Andrew. She was going to be heartbroken when she found out. He decided to bring the invitation over himself so he could attempt to comfort her, 'Besides,' He told himself. 'You might even run into Usagi.' "I've gotta run." He said standing up.
"Still searching for Usagi?" Andrew asked grinning. "Good luck finding her."
Mamoru laughed as he called 'Goodbye' over his shoulder, and taking the invitations, headed towards Minako's house.
Minako had just finished eating lunch when the doorbell rang. She opened the door to see Mamoru standing there. "Mamoru, hi. What are you doing here?" She asked in surprise.
"Can I come in?" He asked.
"Oh yeah of course." She said blushing as she held the door open. She led the way into the living room where the two sat down. "So what brings you here?" She asked again.
Mamoru shuffled through the envelopes and found the one addressed to Minako. "Andrew asked me to give this to you." He said as he handed it to her.
Minako looked at him with a puzzled face as she opened the envelope. He watched closely as she read the invitation and saw her face fall with disappointment. "So Rita and Andrew are getting married huh?" She asked.
Mamoru nodded, "I'm sorry, I know you liked him." He said.
Minako sighed. "Yeah I did, but deep down, I always knew he was meant to be with Rita. It's just that I am supposed to be the scout of love and romance and all that, and yet, I don't even have a boyfriend. No one feels that way about me." She explained. The two subconsciously started moving closer to each other while gazing into each other's eyes. "It gets kinda depressing after a while." Minako whispered staring into Mamoru's eyes.
"Don't worry Minako. There is someone out there for you." Mamoru responded softly, captivated by her gorgeous features. For the first time they both noticed how gorgeous the other one was. 'Her eyes are hypnotic.' He thought.
'I never realized how tempting his lips are.' Minako though smiling. As the two started at each other she realized what was about to happen. "We shouldn't do this." She said softly. "What happens if Usagi..." All thoughts flew out of her head when Mamoru reached over and kissed her. Forgetting all about Usagi she kissed back with extreme passion. Mamoru slowly cut of the kiss and the two stared at each other, the realization of what had just happened slowly sinking in. "What did we just do?" Minako asked.
"I, I'm not sure." Mamoru said quietly. "Look Minako, I'm really not sure why I just did that, but I need some time to figure that out."
She nodded. "I understand."
"But until then," He continued. "You can't say anything about this to Usagi."
Minako looked up in shock. 'I'm not too sure if I can do that." She said shakily.
"You have to!" He exclaimed. "Think how hurt she would be if she found out about this, before either of us knows what is going to happen because of this."
"I know exactly what will happen." She said sadly. "You are going to go back to Usagi, your destined love, and forget all about this." She said as a tear rolled down her cheek.
Mamoru reached over and caressed her cheek while he gently wiped away her tears. "That may not be the case. I do love Usagi, but I think, I think I'm falling for you." He said softly.
Minako started to cry. "Mamoru, I just betrayed my best friend. And believe me, even though I want nothing more for us to be together, I can't even begin to think about that right now. Please, for now just leave. I need to be by myself to think."
Mamoru, nodding in understanding, reluctantly left Minako alone. As he walked outside his thoughts turned to Usagi and how hurt she would be when she found out. "What have I done?" He asked himself quietly. He slowly turned and started walking, more confused then he had ever been in his life.
The end of Chapter one of Ever Forever Ever
Author's Note: So was it worth it? I really do apologize for taking so long to get this up, my life has been pyscho, just like always. But i hope at least one person enjoyed it even though it did suck. i apologize for that too, after the first few chapters the writing and putting together of this story will get a lot better. And btw, for anyone who is wondering, the reason there is a background on this page is because they look like teardrops and it kinda goes along with the story. i know it would have made more sense to use it 4 as the tears fell, but i like it here so oh well. Oh, and Happy Halloween everyone! I'm siging off here, i gotta go get ready for my competitions today, yay, so please email me with your comments, questions, compliments, complaints, and if u must, flames. Send them to Pekkle9983@aol.com bye!
Luv
MCRK
This page, story, and all their contents are Copyrighted (c) MCRK '99
The phrase that is being used as the title is from the song, Now and Forever, by, The Moffatts. All rights reserved.
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