Hello, this is Thalia again. I hope you enjoyed my first story. Well, here it
is: Rei's story!!!! Again, all constructive and non-profane E-mail accepted at
smart_sweetlady@yahoo.com. All disclaimers apply. If you REALLY want to borrow
some minor characters of mine, from any of my stories, e-mail me first, then go
ahead. Hope you like this story!!!
Have a nice day!^_^
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"If you want to die, go shoot yourself! How dare you exhibit such
idiocy in MY presence?!" Hino Rei yelled at the offending boy who actually had
the temerity to give a wolf whistle in her general direction. She did not know
if it was directed at her or another girl, but she had never put up with that
type of crap and didn't want to start, now. A ferocious glare accompanied her
irate words, and the boy hurried away, quailed by this girl's fiery spirit.
Rei had always been somewhat intimidating to others. A miko with psychic
powers and a 5th degree black belt in karate, she had a passionate, fierce
nature, slightly tempered with religious spirituality. One look into her dark,
glowing violet eyes, and a person would feel so...small. It was not Rei's
intent, but her innate intensity of nature and the loneliness of her life gave
her face much more than the vivid beauty that she possessed. She was
fascinating,
but a bit daunting.
Today, she was moving to a new high school. She was old enough to
inherit her late grandfather's temple, but since she was alone in the
world, it would have been unwise to spend all of her funds on private school,
and Rei was determined to keep her temple, her sanctuary, alive, at all costs.
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Tsukino Usagi was sitting in her English class, dozing as Sato-sensei
droned on about poetry. By her side, Mizuno Ami was diligently writing notes.
Ami was not writing the notes for her own sake, since she had previewed and
outlined the section weeks ago, but Usagi-chan was sleeping in class...again.
Ami had moved to Juuban two months ago, and had adjusted surprisingly
well. Under Usagi's patronage, she was accepted by the other girls. Being
Zoisite's girlfriend helped a lot, too. Every time she thought of him, Ami
felt a sense of surprise. It seemed incredible that one of the most popular and
handsome guys at school would fall for none other than her, the "brainiac",
the girl that was considered nothing more than a human computer. Yet, when they
were together, and his steadfast, tender love for her would warm her heart, she
would not think of such matters, for their love was all that mattered.
All of the sudden, Ami's hand paused from its automatic, fluent
note-taking. Sato-sensei was talking about a new student coming to their class
tommorrow. The new student was someone by the name of Hino Rei. Now, where had
she heard that name before? Ami racked her brains for an answer. Aha! Hino
Rei was the name of that young miko who had recently inherited Hikawa Jinja.
She had read it in the newspaper. From what was reputed about this girl,
she was a mystic with intense martial arts training. "She would probably
find it easier to blend in and make friends than I do." Ami thought.
It was perhaps one of the only times in her life that Ami was mistaken.
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The next day, Usagi rushed into class at breakneck speed, in a frantic
attempt to be in her seat by the bell. Unfortunately, she plowed straight into
an unfamiliar dark-haired girl standing at the door.
"Hey, Watch where you're going!" Rei yelled. Then, a sigh escaped from
her lips. She should have known that there were clumsy people everywhere. Usagi
looked up into a pair of angry violet eyes, and hastily apologized.
"Gomenasai. I'm Tsukino Usagi, a world class klutz and the queen of
dramatic, though disastrous, entrances. What's your name?"
Rei had to smile at the happy-go-lucky breeziness of girl in front of
her. "I am Hino Rei."
"Well, Hino-san, it's great to meet you, but if I don't go to my seat,
Sato-sensei will have my head sliced on a platter covered with wasabi and
ginger,
and I won't feel so well." With that, Usagi dashed to her seat and slid in just
as Sato-sensei walked in.
"Class, I would like you to meet Hino Rei. She will be going to our
school from now on. You will all treat her with respect, I'm sure." Sato-sensei
cleared her throat. "Hino Rei, you will sit in that empty seat behind Mizuno
Ami.
It is the fourth seat in the seventh row."
Rei obediently sat down. As she did, she heard murmurs of, "Just because
she's new and a miko means that she gets to sit behind the genius girl, and
she could cheat..." A flash of anger coursed through her veins. CHEAT?!?!?
As if!! Rei's favorite subject was ancient literature, and she could more than
hold her own in that area. She'd show those presumptuous fools!
Rei's chance came sooner than expected. "Class, we will talk about Lady
Sei Shonagen's Pillow Book today. you have all read what you were supposed
to, didn't you?"
Most students nodded, but as Rei noticed, that blonde girl who had
crashed into her earlier, did not. "Well, since you all seem so confident about
it, take out a sheet of white paper and clear your desks."
Groaning, the students did as they were told. Sato-sensei walked up to
Rei's desk as the girl took out a glossy black fountain pen and white paper out
of her scarlet handbag. Sato-sensei gave her a long, appraising look, and said,
"You do not have to take this quiz if you do not want to."
"I'll take it."
"Suit yourself." Sato-sensei shrugged. She had a feeling that this
imperious-looking girl was too proud to appear even slightly incompetent on
her first day at a new school.
"All right." Sato-sensei stood at the head of the class. "Who was Sei
Shonagen?"
Rei smiled. This was almost way too easy. "A lady-in-waiting in the
court of the Empress Sadako in Heian." She quickly wrote down.
"What was the Pillow Book?"
"A collection of anecdotes of court life as experienced by Sei
Shonagen."
"What was the story of Lady Myobu and Okinamaro about?"
"It was about the adventures of the palace's cat and dog."
"What happened to Okinamaro after he was exiled?"
"He came back in a sorry state after being beaten and would not
acknowledge his name, until his emotions overcame him when the ladies of court
talked pityingly about poor Okinamaro's condition."
"What happed when Okinamaro's identity was found out?"
"He was put back in his happy state."
"Why had Okinamaro been exiled?"
"He had tried to bite Lady Myobu, the palace cat, a favorite of the
emperor."
"Who was the lady-in-waiting in charge of Lady Myobu?"
"Lady Uma."
"All right, class, pass up your papers." Rei put her name on her paper,
and passed it up to the blue-haired girl in front of her. Ami glanced at it,
and saw that it was all correct. She turned around slightly and gave Rei a
respectful smile. Rei, looking over her shoulder, saw that Ami had gotten it
all correct, too, and returned the smile.
Soon, with the help of two class assistants, Sato-sensei had all of the
papers graded. "Class, there were two full scores on this quiz. one is, not
surprisingly, Mizuno Ami. The other is our new student, Hino Rei.
Congratulations to you both."
The other students gawked at Rei, surprised and subdued. Usagi, after
looking at her own paper in disgust, gave Rei a huge grin and a thumbs-up. Rei
smiled back.
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After the school day ended, Rei changed into her shrine robes walked
home. Though she was alone, she walked with her head held high. Unfortunately,
she came to a temple full of irate people.
"Hino-san, I had scheduled an exorcism today at 12:30. How come no one
showed up?"
"You must keep this temple running, or no one will come any more."
"Miko-san, there was no one here all day for prayer."
"This is unacceptable."
"If you cannot handle the duties of running a temple, you might as
well sell it."
"Oh, dear, and Hikawa Jinja used to be such a distinguished shrine.
What a shame!"
"Hino-san, we will discontinue our patronage if improvements are not
made."
Rei felt a flash of rage, and then, a wave of sadness. Her face, paler
than the immaculate white of her kimono sleeves, looked like she was close to
tears, yet too proud to shed them. "Go away!! All of you! I need some time to
myself. When all of this is straightened you will all be fine! Now LEAVE!!!"
Grumbling, all the people filed out. Rei rushed in and collapsed on the
floor in front of the altar, sobbing. Her unspeakable pain was mixed with a
sense of self-anger. "Get a hold of yourself, Rei! You NEVER cry!"
Suddenly, the door opened. Sunshine flooded the room as Usagi's cheerful
voice floated in, "Hino-san, you home? You won't believe how long it took me
to find this place! So, how do you like our school?"
Rei whirled around, suddenly furious. "LEAVE ME ALONE! GO AWAY!"
Usagi took one look at Rei's tragic face, and her joyful expression was
replaced by an adamant one. "Not until you tell me what's wrong."
"What's it to you, huh? You have a nice family. You have friends. You
have everything you want. So, if you think I'm going to appease your curiosity
and spill the beans of my personal life when I don't even know you, well, you've
got another think coming, so just leave me alone!"
"Do you actually think that I'm a curious person? Well, if I was, maybe
I'd actually be CURIOUS about stuff, learn it at school, and get good grades
like Ami-chan. The thing is, I don't like to see people so sad, crying like
this, then bottle it up. C'mon, you'll feel better if you let it all out. I'd
like to help if I could, Rei-chan."
Rei looked piercingly into Usagi's blue eyes. She saw nothing but a
genuine desire to help. Soon, the two girls were sitting in the fire room,
with two cups of tea, and Rei was pouring out her grief to Usagi.
After she was done, Usagi thought about the situation for a while.
Rei had seemed so fearless and unsinkable in class, yet, in the depths of her
eyes, Usagi had seen a hint of loneliness. That was why she had decided to come
over, and now, she really wanted to help. All of the sudden, an idea popped up
in her head, and she turned back to Rei. "You know what? I think that I just
might have a solution."
"Really?" Try as she did, Rei just couldn't keep the hopeful note out
of her voice.
"Uh-huh, may I use your phone?"
"Uh, sure."
Usagi quickly dialed Mamoru's number. "Mamo-chan!"
"Hey, Usako, what's up?"
"I have a friend, a damsel in distress. Isn't Jed free on every other
weekday after lunch?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Didn't he say that he'd like to do some community service?"
"Hai."
"I have the perfect solution. My friend, Rei, is a miko. She has to run
a temple all by herself and could use some help."
"Hmm, it's a possibility. Jed has always been into religion. What type
of work would he be doing if he went?"
"Let me ask." Usagi turned to Rei. "I have a pal, a truly wonderful
guy, who might be willing to work here. If he does, what stuff would he be
doing?"
"Well, I don't know. Helping with the altar, general stuff like that,
I guess. It all depends on what he could do."
Usagi repeated Rei's words ad verbatim to Mamoru. "What do you think?"
"I'll ask Jed, but I think that he'll say yes. I'll tell him to call."
"Fine. We're at Hikawa Jinja."
"Hikawa Jinja? He'll definitely want to work here. Well, I'll call him
now."
"Okay, talk to you later, love."
Usagi turned to Rei with a big smile. "Mamoru, my boyfriend, has this
friend named Jadeite. Since he only needs four more credits to graduate, and
wants to work, he is basically free every other day by lunchtime every other
day. He will probably be more than willing to help out here. He knows tons
about religion, is a hard worker, charming with customers, and EXTREMELY hot.
He is also the soul of gallantry with everyone, especially with pretty girls
like yourself. What do you think?"
"We'll see. I hope that he can help out, but unfortunately, I don't
think that I can pay lots."
"That doesn't matter. Jed's family is obscenely rich, anyways, and
besides, he wants to find a place to do community service, not to make cash. By
the way, Rei, do you have a boyfriend?"
"No, but why?" Usagi's face suddenly took on a cat-that-stole-the-cream
look.
"Did I mention that Jed was good-looking? He's tall, athletic, charming,
blond, blue-eyed, and the girls at school go gaga over him."
"Great, all I need is for some hotshot brainless egomaniac to work here
and flirt with all the girls that come. Soon, I'll have parents asking me to
pay punitive damages for their daughters' abortions."
"Come, Rei, don't judge someone until you meet them. Jed's really nice,
I swear."
"Fine, but I don't think that I want a boyfriend right now."
"Why not? You should have someone you could talk to about stuff that
bothers you. You know Ami-chan, that kawaii little blue-haired girl who sits
in front of you in Sato-sensei's class? No one expected her to get a boyfriend,
being as shy and studious as she is, even though she's pretty and sweet, and no
one expected Zoi, as hot and popular as he is, but being the total bookworm and
overachiever, to get a girlfriend, but what do you know? The two geniuses
hooked up in hours, and now, when they are together, sparks fly!"
Rei was about to retort when the phone suddenly rang. She ran to get it.
"Moshi-moshi?"
"Is this Hikawa Jinja?" A deep, melodious male voice asked.
"Hai."
"Is this Hino-san?"
"Hai, who is calling?"
"My name is Fujiwara Jadeite. I was wondering if you had any work
positions open."
"I certainly could use some help, but what you do would depend on your
abilities. Do you know anything about Shinto?"
"Yes. If you do not mind, may I come over to see your fair temple
grounds?"
"All right."
"Wonderful! I'll see you in a few minutes. Until then, take care! Ja!"
Rei hung up the phone and looked at Usagi, who stood grinning ear to
ear. "That was your friend Jadeite. He wants to come over."
"Great! And trust me, he'll be your friend soon."
"We'll see."
" YOU'll see. And I'll see to it."
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Soon, a bright red car pulled up to the temple grounds. A tall, blonde
man walked out. Usagi ran out to greet him. "Hey, Jed! Now, you can finally pick
up your lazy butt and do something useful!"
"Look who's talking?" Jadeite retorted, smiling. He looked past Usagi
at Rei, who was standing by the door in her miko robes. It took all of his
willpower to control his jaw from dropping to the floor. His prospective
employer was not, as he had expected, some stodgy,middle-aged priestess. She
was a young, drop-dead gorgeous girl. She was a regal presence in silken red
and white robes, with an exotically beautiful face, intense violet eyes and a
mane of raven hair. WOW! He's REALLY going to like this job! Putting on his
biggest smile, he strode forth, "Konnichi wa, Hino-san. I am Fujiwara Jadeite."
"It is nice to meet you." Rei replied evenly. She thought to herself,
"He's handsome, as Usagi said, but I've seen my share of people with cute faces
and NO personalities or brains. We'll see what he knows." Aloud she said, "So,
Fujiwara-san, what do you know about Shinto?"
Jadeite summarized his considerable knowledge about the beliefs and
practices of Shinto. Rei's eyes widened. Evidently, this guy DID know his
stuff. "Very impressive." Rei couldn't help saying honestly.
Usagi, hanging around in back, the grin still plastered on her face,
decided that her presence was no longer required. With a quick, airy, "Ja!"
she skipped out.
Suddenly, both Rei and Jadeite fell silent. Without Usagi, both seemed
to have lost the power of communication. After a long, awkward pause, Jadeite
spoke up again."Hino-san, may I have a look about the temple grounds?"
"Hai, follow me." Rei said. She quickly gave Jadeite a tour of the
temple. They sat down in the courtyard afterward. Suddenly, two sleek black
shapes flew out of nowhere and landed on Jadeite's arm, resting on the table.
"Uh, hey, guys, what are your names?"Jadeite said, startled but
unafraid. It was a novel experience to have ravens perching on one's arm, after
all. Rei was surprised. Phobos and Deimos had never before been so friendly to
strangers. What surprised her even more was that Jadeite did not even flinch.
Most people would have run screaming had two birds of foreboding flew out of
nowhere and perched on them. This, coupled with her strange feeling towards
him, felt like an omen. But she abruptly changed the subject. "Fujiwara-san, do
you know any martial arts?"
"I have a 5th degree black belt in karate." Jadeite replied. Rei raised
a fine brow in surprise. "Really? Let's see how good you are." She fetched a
temple uniform for him and he quickly changed into it. It looked good on him,
emphasizing his muscular build. Rei gave herself a mental shaking for thinking
such things, them composed herself, gave a formal bow to him, and called a
match.
Jadeite looked at her slim, willowy form, enveloped in that flowing yet
form-fitting kimono. She was gorgeous, all right, but could she really fight?
"I'll go easy on you, Hino-san."He said.
A flash of ire entered Rei's eyes and she glared at him pointedly. "I
can hold my own, THANK you." She retorted, and then, the match started.
Both were quite surprised at the other's ability. They fought for a
long time, evenly matched in ability. Neither had an advantage. Rei called,
"Hold!"
Jadeite stopped, panting, to look at her. Her lovely face was flushed
from the strenuous fighting, and her quick breaths lifted strands of her bangs.
She looked, if possible, tenfold more beautiful than when he'd first seen her.
He had an almost irresistible urge to kiss her, but quelled it. She did not
look like one of those, as he and his friends called them, "Gaga girls", those
infinitely annoying creatures with too much makeup and too little personality,
who flirted incessantly and lived for a guy's approval. The fiery Hino Rei
looked more than capable of taking care of herself.
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About two hours later, they were glaring at each other, deep within a
heated argument. Rei was yelling animately and angrily at Jadeite as he gave
sarcastic replies to her acrimonious statements.
"Baka! Why did I listen to Usagi, anyway? It would have been better to
handle this temple by myself! Now, I'm stuck with an idiot like you!" Rei
screamed.
"You should be glad that I'm willing to spend my time helping you out
here, and instead, you're blasting my eardrums like a furious Kami!"
"And you don't deserve it?!?" Rei retorted, her violet eyes flashing,
her whole form lit up with an inner fire. Jadeite stared at her for a moment,
and somehow, the thought popped into his head that she was even more beautiful
when she was angry. His furious expression was replaced by a gentle one.
"Gomenasai, Rei, I didn't mean to make you mad. I am sure that you are capable
of running this temple by yourself, but I'd like to help out, if that's all
right with you."
Rei's rage was somewhat subdued by his apology, but she was by no means
calm. He gave her a maddeningly placating smile, which inflamed her temper even
more. Almost unconsciously, she launched a fist at him.
Jadeite caught her fist in one hand and grabbed her other arm with his
free hand. "Please, Rei-chan, calm down." He held on to her, partly to restrain
her, partly because her proximity was doing something very strange to his heart,
and he did not want to let her go.
Slowly, Rei calmed down. "Gomen, Jadeite, forgive my outburst."
"It was deserved. Forgive me for saying unkind things to you. They were
rash and uncalled for." Jadeite replied. Rei looked up into his face, her eyes
wide with surprise. Almost never before had anyone taken any blame for
quarreling with her. No, most people just called her a shrew, a termagant, for
her sharp tongue and fiery temper. But not only had he taken the blame for a
disagreement that, by justice, was not totally his fault, but had tried to calm
her down instead of walking away in a huff. All of the sudden, she realized
that he was still holding her. "Probably to restrain me from blowing up and
whacking him." she thought. "You needn't hold me any longer. I promise not to
hit you." She said.
Jadeite quickly let her go and looked away as a blush covered his face.
"What did you think, that she'd be overwhelmed by your charms like girls at
school or something?" He scolded himself silently. Without thinking, he said,
"I wasn't afraid you'd hit me."
"Huh?" Rei's wide, questioning gaze brought him brought him back to
Earth. All of a sudden, he realized what he had just said. "I mean, I think
that I could handle myself if you did." He hastily explained, to him, the lie
glaringly obvious.
"Oh." Rei felt an irrational sense of disappointment. "What did you
think, that he just wanted to hold you? GET a GRIP, Rei!" she scolded herself
silently. "Well, I won't hit you."
"So, now that that stimulating quarrel is over, am I working here or
not?" Jadeite asked, changing the topic.
"Oh, sure. I'm really glad that you can help out. And I really am sorry
for my bad temper."
"Don't be." Jadeite said.
"What do you mean, 'don't be'? I DO have a hot temper. Besides, I did
say some things that were really mean. I'm really grateful that you're willing
to help out."
"Well, as you have probably figured out by now, I'm not exactly
imperturbable myself. Besides, we now know each other's bad sides, and it's
better to have all of that out in the open. And if you think that a little
temper's going to make me quit this job, well, you've got another think coming.
And you look gorgeous when you're mad." He added teasingly.
Rei's temper was going to flare again, when she saw his engaging smile.
"Got you pissed again." He grinned. "Wish I had a camera. Several shots of my
magnificent-when-mad employer and you could be making millions as a model or
actress, and then my salary would skyrocket, and..."
Rei started laughing when she realized that Jadeite was teasing her.
Besides, the compliments did seem to roll off his tongue. "I'm flattered,
Jadeite, but you really can't think that by sucking up to me, you'd get higher
pay. If I had more money, don't you think that I'd spend it usefully, to make
myself even more gorgeous and guy-magnetic? Then, I'd have lots of fun,
flirting with all of my admirers, pissing you off."
"Good forbid that I think of such a thing!" Jadeite said solemnly.
"Besides, you look dazzling when you laugh, too."
"Oh, you! Only a few hours on the job, and you're already treating me
like an equal, some flirtation object, not your boss!" Rei pouted.
"Gomenasai, oh great boss." Jadeite bowed deeply. "What task shall you
have me, your dutiful servant, accomplish next?"
"You, menial servant, shall sweep the porch, then make sure that the
sacred fire is stoked. When you are done, you shall report back to me." Rei
said, her eyes half-closed and haughty, her nose in the air.
Aye, aye, ma'am." Jadeite marched off with a grin still on his face.
Rei's face burned with mortification as the realization struck her: she had
been FLIRTING with him! She, Hino Rei, she who NEVER flirted! She was glad that
she sent him away to do chores. She rushed back to her own room and looked in
the mirror. She was blushing! She NEVER blushed, and she NEVER flirted! What
was Jadeite doing to her? She gave a shriek of pure frustration.
It was a foolish thing to do. Jadeite rushed in, broom in hand. "Are
you ok, Rei?"
"I'm fine, fine! Go away!" Rei shouted, then changed her mind. "Wait.
I want to straighten something out NOW."
"Straighten away."
"Okay, so it's like this. I NEVER flirt with anyone, especially not
with someone I employ, no matter how cute he is. Also, I never blush. So why am
I doing both, now?"
"I don't know, Rei-chan, it must be my overpowering charms. But, then
again, I never flirt with any lady employer, no matter how attractive she is,
and I never get on a first-name basis with ANY employer before the first day of
work has ended. So why am I doing both, now?"
"I don't know, Jade-chan, it must be my overpowering charms." Rei
replied. "I sense a major piss-me-off coming, so either stay out of range or,
if you're brave, stay and be dazzled by my gorgeousness when I get pissed off."
"I think I'll find something to provoke you. That won't be hard,
considering the combustibility of your volatile temper." Jadeite said.
Sure enough, it was enough to set Rei off. "Why, you baka..." she threw
a punch at him. He caught her fist with his hand and pulled her close. "What
did I tell you?" he whispered into her jasmine-scented dark hair. "Temper,
temper, my sweet. If Zoi and Ami's words hold any credibility, you destroy your
heart cells by the thousands when you get mad. Shouldn't you save your heart
and use it for better reasons than for being infuriated at the smallest little
provocation?"
Rei was going to make a sharp retort when she decided against it. It
felt so...nice to be held by him. She tried her utmost not to feel that way,
but soon gave up. She leaned her head against his chest and tentatively put her
arms about his waist.
Jadeite was surprised, both at her embrace and at the insecure look on
her face. "Someone this beautiful and admirably dauntless should never feel
insecure, not when she could have any guy in the world grovelling at her feet."
He thought. "But to hell with that now." He lifted her chin from his chest and
looked deeply into her soulful violet eyes. They were as full of fire as
before, but it was subdued, gentle flame. "Here goes nothing." He thought as he
lowered his lips to hers, praying that she wouldn't slap him. It was not that
she could have physically hurt him that much, but it would leave a permanent
emotional scar. He could have his pick of any girl at school, but none of them
had affected him like she had.
Rei gasped as he kissed her. She knew that most people thought her a
beautiful girl, but she was surprised that he was not turned off by untamed
spirit. He had actually found it attractive! "Who cares!" she thought as her
hands involuntarily found their way to his golden hair. "I love him!" She felt
shock at that self-revelation, but brushed it aside, when she felt the truth of
it. Besides, she could sense his feelings, she knew he loved her too. That was
all that mattered at the moment.
A few hours and more than a few kisses later, a blissful Jadeite
reluctantly parted from his employer and newfound beloved. As she watched him
drive away, Rei leaned her head against one of the wooden pillars and smiled
contentedly.
She knew that Hikawa Jinja would survive and flourish, and that she
would, too.
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'Kay! That's all, folks! I hope you liked it! Anything constructive and
non-profane can be sent to me at smart_sweetlady@yahoo.com. Makoto's story
coming, soon! Look for it before the month is over! Luv ya!;) -Thalia
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