Disclaimer:I don't own Sailor Moon, shocker, but Naoko Takeuchi and
hundreds of other people do, mostly big bad businesses with big bad
lawyers. In other words please don't sue me cause I don't have
anything since ummm...I buy all the products you put out. Yeah,
that's right. *Whew*, dodged a bullet there! Um I did create some of
the minor characters and feel free to use them in your own fics if
they strike your fancy. Author's Notes at the end and here's my email
in case you wanna email me, pretty pretty please with ice cream and
chocolate and a cherry and sprinkles(you get the picture) on top...
inspiredthoughts@hotmail.com
Rei:First Love
Chapter Four
Rei stared at Jadeite in shock, her mind reeling and lips
still warm from the kiss they had shared. 'I love you?...Oh Mars no...
I promised...I swore...Oh Rani what is happening to me? I just kissed
a man and a man just proclaimed his love for me!' And he was serious.
He didn't say those words lightly and for once the proud warrior of
fire was speechless.
Rei backed away, eyes wide as tears coursed unnoticed down her
cheeks. Jadeite though was not letting her leave so easily and for
every step she took back he took one forward, waiting, begging,
pleading for an answer. He caught her hands in his, his wonderfully
strong hands that asked for an equal, a partner, someone to share his
life with. One trembling hand reached up and brushed her cheek
hesitantly.
"Rei...please..." His voice shook with those two words and she
sobbed a bit. She wanted, Mars only knew how she wanted, to say the
words back. She had known him for two days yet the honesty, the
emotion, though new, was true and sure. He was her match in every way,
she had read it in his eyes just like she had read that he knew their
true identities. The other scouts had been shocked when she had told
them, after Serenity had ushered them out of her bedroom, though none
as angry as she.
Memories of a childhood in hell flashed across her mind. And
the words that had been forming on her own lips died with a muted cry.
Then Rei did something that she had never done before. She pulled
from Jadeite and ran away as fast as she could.
* *
Jadeite stared after her. Damn, he had been so sure and he
had seen the answer! He had seen the words that she almost spoke but
what had happened? She could have told him that he was moving too
fast, that she needed time to think, but no she had fled from him
crying.
What had he done? He had just made Sailor Mars, one of the
most renown warriors in the galaxy cry. 'But she isn't just a
warrior... She is a princess also... She is a woman...' It was
strange, thinking of them all as the same. It was exciting and
thrilling and he wondered at the way it seemed, at least to him, to
make sense.
Sensing a warm presence behind him he whirled. Princess
Venus, Sailor Venus, Mina stepped out from the shadows. He stepped
back, surprised and she smiled a bit at him. What in earth was she
doing here?
"Princess?" he murmured softly, questions in his tone. She
sighed a little and came forward. She took his hand and led him to a
bench where they sat, both oblivious to the dust.
"I'm here," she said gently, "because I sensed the turmoil
inside of you." She pointed to his heart. "And I, as an agent of
Venus, am dedicated to fixing matters of the heart." Realization
dawned belatedly on him. Venus was the planet of love. Of course she
would have been drawn to them. "Would you like to tell me what's
going on?"
"Wouldn't you rather ask Rei?" An elegant eyebrow rose at the
use of Rei's first name but she didn't comment. Mina shook her head.
"No. In love Rei is more secretive than the most complex lock
in hiding how she feels. She tells no one what's going on." Jadeite
felt a flickering of hope.
"But you can tell what she's feeling, right?" Mina snorted
unladylike.
"If I wished but I would not pry so into other's feelings.
There are rules for everything and that would violate one of the most
basic of rules for the use of my powers. I can help only if it is
asked for, so do you want my help?" Jadeite felt a flicker of
uncertainty. He was use to standing on his own, and yet, he had never
felt this way before, and he was hopelessly out of his depth.
"Yes," he finally hissed. "I want your help." Mina grinned
like an errant child that was allowed into mischief before clapping
her hands enthusiastically.
"Good! Well first things first what's going on? I can feel
things, not read minds." Jadeite ran a hand through his hair, tugging
gently at the snarls in it.
"I'm not sure. I danced with Princess Mars last night and it
was nice, better than nice. She was wonderful, beautiful, witty, but
I sensed her holding back from me so I didn't push anything.
Then I saw Sailor Mars today in battle and felt just as much,
even more attracted to her than I did the Princess. I didn't get to
talk to her, I wanted to, but I it felt odd, as if it would be
betraying the Princess, though I owed her nothing.
Then when I was delivering that message to Princess Serenity
and I accidentally overheard your conversation and learned that you
were the Sailor Scouts! It was shocking, I'll give you that, but it
made everything seem to fit. It was perfect. The two women I had
admired more than I had any other in all my years of existence were
one in the same.
When I left Princess Serenity Rei brought me here. I could
tell she was furious but I could also tell she was attracted to me,
though she hid it well. Then I acted on impulse. I kissed her.
It was incredible and trusting my fledgling feelings I spoke.
I told her that I loved her. Then she ran away." Mina chuckled a
little.
"Yes, I came in on that part." She sighed gustily. "I don't
think," she said slowly, "that you really did anything bad. You moved
fast but you trusted your gut, your instinct, your heart, and that
wasn't wrong, it never is.
But Rei's life has been hard. Her childhood was a nightmare,
she's never even told us everything that happened to her and Rani."
He frowned a bit.
"Rani?" Mina smiled sweetly.
"Yes, her twin. She loves him more than anything else in the
entire galaxy. He was her protector, he still is. If she trusts
anyone completely, absolutely, it's him. Even with us there's still
moments when she pauses, and her soul is not open, even though we're
her dearest friends.
It's because of her past and she doesn't trust, not easily.
And though she's never spoken about anything like this with us she
never trusts men. They treat her as a possession, if that.
And you may take comfort from this, Rei has *never* asked
another man to dance like she asked you." Jadeite frowned.
"Never?" Mina shook her head, another winning smile lighting
her curved lips.
"Never, ever. Giver her time, I'll help if I can, and perhaps
we'll all be pleasantly surprised."
"Then you approve of us, as a couple?" Mina laughed.
"What is there not to approve of? You've got a good, steady
head on your shoulders. You'll respect and care for her but I can
tell you've got enough of a temper to be her equal. You're perfect
for each other and Rei's stubborn, not stupid. It won't take her too
much longer to realize that, if she hasn't already, she just needs
time to accept the fact." Jadeite smiled himself.
"Thank you Princess." She nodded regally but spoiled it by
giggling.
"Now there's another thing you might be able to help me
with..." Jadeite cocked his head in silent query. Venus and he stood
and she linked a friendly arm through his as she led him away.
"Now for a fact I know there's something going on with your
friend Zoicite and Ami. I think its time for Love Doctor Venus and
her assistant Jadeite to pay Zoicite a visit. He needs to sort
through his feelings about Ami..." Shaking his head Jadeite chuckled.
These women were truly amazing creatures...
* *
Rei angrily bushed the tears away and she fled to her room.
She threw herself on her bed crying. Minutes later she rose and sat,
knees tucked under her chin, as she stared at the great fire that
roared constantly in her large fireplace. A solitary tear or two
would, at odd intervals, leak from the corner of one amethyst eye,
leaving wet sparkling trails down her flushed cheeks.
What in Mars's name was she suppose to do with this mess? How
was he affecting her so? What made him different from the others?
And how was she supposed to remedy the situation? Who could she talk
to?
Ami? No, Ami wouldn't be any help to her, she was, if anyone,
just as clueless in love. 'Of course she is perfectly happy day
dreaming about Zoicite...'
Serenity? No, their friendship was strong but they teased
each other and Rei couldn't bring herself to ask her, the bubbly,
vivacious, sickeningly cheerful Serenity for help. She wouldn't,
couldn't understand. Her life was perfect, always had been. She grew
up in a loving home and now was madly in love with a Prince whom she
met two days ago. 'Am I in love with Jadeite?' Shaking her head she
banished the thought.
Mina? Mina was the senshi of love and yet... Rei wasn't sure
Mina's meddling was what she needed right now.
That left Lita. Lita who had suffered through her beloved
mother's death. Lita who bore the weight of having to marry and bear
children in order to truly become a Sailor Scout. Lita who had been
through more serious relationships than even Mina in her quest for a
husband. Lita who would indeed keep her secret if she asked. Lita
who made the best cookies in the whole galaxy which were just what a
slightly depressed Rei needed right now...
With that last comforting thought of food Rei stood and rubbed
her eyes, not daring to glance at the mirror and see how awful she
looked. With hesitant steps she made her way to the palace kitchen
where Lita could usually be found after a training practice,
especially when she didn't do so well. She always claimed that
fighting made her hungry.
Shuffling into the huge room, full of ovens and counters and
food and pots and pans, Rei looked around. And sure enough there was
a whistling Lita at a counter, busily rolling delicious looking dough
flat while sheets of freshly baked cookies sat hot and gooey and
browned. She was alone in the kitchen but that wasn't surprising
since most of the cooks were taking breaks since it was after lunch
and hours before dinner.
"Hay Lita." The brunette turned and smiled, her whole face
lighting up. Taking in Rei's puffy red eyes and slightly runny nose
her friend's face grew concerned.
"Uh-oh... That looks bad. Come on, I'm making Sob Cookies,
come help me put lots of icing on them. Figured I'd need some after
the 'battle' today but I think you need them more." Rei chuckled a
bit and joined Lita who handed a bowl of icing and a knife.
"Here, smooth this on the ones that are finished." Rei nodded
and began the task.
"Hay, this is your patented Boo Hoo Icing, right?" Lita
giggled.
"Yup, full of enough sugar to rot your teeth if you eat more
than five." Rei laughed.
"Then how come Serenity still has all her teeth, she usually
eats about a dozen!" Lita's face became mock serious.
"The laws of physics have never applied to our dear Moon
Princess." They shared lighthearted laughter again and worked in
silence for awhile, Lita using cookie cutters to cut out more cookies,
Rei icing the ones already baked. Finally Lita broke the quiet.
"Not that I mind the help or the company but what's up Rei?
You never cry, last time you did it was when Rani got married." Rei
shrugged as she considered how much to tell Lita.
"Its just...well I did meet someone at the ball and he's a
nice guy, actually the nicest I've met so far, and...but...well."
Encouraged by Lita green eyes Rei swore. This was harder than she
thought.
"I just don't know! I mean he said he lo...loved me and I
don't know what to do." Remarkably Lita had no cries of glee or other
high pitched noises to greet that statement, perhaps sensing that they
weren't what Rei needed right now.
"Well do you love him?" The simple question, the very same
she had asked herself, now put into words made the situation that much
more real. Rei groaned.
"I've known the man two days!" Lita looked at her, her hands
momentarily still as knowledge sprang to her gaze. Darn it, she had
just given away that it was a general with that one...
"It doesn't matter, you know or you don't. It may take longer
to confess the words or to do anything about them and sometimes you
don't do anything at all. There's more than one man to fall in love
with, but only one who will capture your spirit and soul." Rei pursed
her lips.
"Have you ever fallen in love?" Lita nodded simply in answer
to the question.
"Yes, but I didn't want to spend the rest of my life with him,
so we're just good friends now." Rei chewed her lip, thinking.
"Wellll," she drew out. "What should I do?" Lita looked
closely at her before shrugging.
"You're not going to tell me everything and I'm not sure I can
help even if you did. I suggest you go to the one person who knows
you best..." Rei frowned. "Rani."
Rei sat back, aghast. "But he's my twin!" Lita laughed.
"That's the point Rei. He knows you better than anyone, heck
you two share the same thoughts. Ask him." Rei blushed.
"I can't," she said softly. Lita snorted.
"Why ever not?"
"Well one, he's a guy. I mean guys aren't the best with
dealing with these kind of things, two I don't know how he'll react,
and three he's my little brother!" Lita sighed and shook her head.
"He's not just any guy for one Rei. He's shared your thoughts
since you were kids, I think he at least grasps the basic concepts of
the feminine mind which is more than most guys do. Two you don't know
how he'll react until you tell him and three you're only older by five
minutes!"
Rei sighed. "Perhaps," she said grudgingly. "I need some time
to think." Lita nodded as if she had expected that answer and pulled
out a napkin in which she wrapped up some two dozen finished and
frosted to the point of drowning cookies and handed them to her.
"Good luck and Jupiter bless," she said cheerily. Rei took
the bag with a small smile and haltingly started to ask something.
Eyes glinting Lita chuckled.
"Don't worry I'll bite my tongue, won't even tell Mina, until
you sort this out."
"Don't you mean until I say you can tell people?" Making big
eyes Lita faked tears.
"But Rei, this is juicy gossip! I mean how often does the
fire warrior let a man near her and not scorch him!" Rei glared but
Lita only giggled more.
"Come on Rei... I'll keep it quiet for a little bit..." Finally
Rei sighed and excepted that small concession from her friend.
"Demon Child," she called out over her shoulder with a quirky
smile.
"No," Lita corrected primly. "I'm a Demon Woman." With a
snort Rei made her way back to her room.
Closing her bedroom door she leaned against the wall, feeling
a headache beginning to pulse at her temples. What to do? What to
do? She went and sat down, slender legs crossed, on the plush rug
that was situated before the fire that burned brightly. Ignoring the
heat she began to meditate. Finally, after debating the issue within
herself she sent her thoughts out to her brother, her twin, her other,
and some whispered better, half.
'Rani, my brother, are you there?' She felt his mind slip
easily away from reality to join her.
'I always am sister dear. What's up?' Rei paused, and
finally decided that she had to tell him, she desperately needed his
wisdom, his strength. Swallowing her fears she formed the whole mess
in her mind and 'shoved' the story at him.
He digested it for several minutes and Rei held her breath the
entire time. When he spoke again his mind voice was muted, soft, and
full of quiet joy.
'Rei, that's wonderful!' Rei hung her head miserably.
'No its not wonderful, its awful. What am I to do Rani?' She
tried to force the panic that was creeping into her mind voice down
but knew she didn't truly succeed. He quietly laughed at her
emotions.
'Tell him you love him Rei.' She rocked back with shock.
'Lo...love?' She felt his bemusement.
'Of course... Why else would you be this worked up over it?
Many others have promised you their undying love and you laughed in
their faces. Others have even managed to kiss you and you slapped
them and walked away without a second thought, but Rei he's got you
flustered! Of course you love him.'
'But Rani, love? I've known him for two days.' Her twin
chuckled.
'I knew Jutance five minutes and knew she was the one. Time
is not always the telling agent. Love is unpredictable, unreliable,
and makes no rational sense what so ever.' Rei assimilated the
information, shaking her head all the while.
'Perhaps... I need time to think, just a little more time...'
'Rei, I'll be here any time you need me and I'll check in once
in awhile. Good luck sister dear.'
'Thanks Rani, brother of my heart. I will keep in touch,
promise. Wish Jutance well for me.' She felt his laughter.
'Twin bond promise?' Rei chuckled at the reminder of their
special form of oath taking they had used as children. They would
swear on their bond as brother and sister, as that was the most
precious thing to them when they were young.
'Twin bond promise,' she replied gently and withdrew.
Author's Notes: Wow, got through another chapter. Sorry this book is
so long, doubt the others will be, but I can't seem to finish it. I
know how I want it to end but its taking up a lot of page space
writing it.=) Neway next week is in most liklihood the last chapter
then on to Lita's story. Email? Yes please! LOL Please email me,
comments, praise, flames, whatever, I like them all. Here's the spiffy
people that emailed me this week, you guys are the greatest!:
Yoshi, Echo Hansen, Mn, SpringAngel16
Well, bu-bye for now ya'll. Have a wonderful week! Wow I can be
sickeningly cheery, LOL.
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