Guardians of the Millenium: Into the Fire
Chapter Two: "Day when love appears"
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Author's Notes:
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1. Note: this has two time frames--Silver Millenium
and the present, picking up with the events after
Jaedite was found to be alive.
2. Comments? alinasan@yahoo.com
GOM: 9 should be fixed now, if you were
wondering about the end of that story.
3. Usual disclaimers + despite my intention to
keep the spellings of the names consistent I
think I reverted to Rei (rather than Raye).
Sorry. I forgot, and I'm too busy to change it
(I'd rather read the wonderful stuff that's
out there or write more!)
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Silver Millenium @)-->---------------
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The hot winds of Mars swept over Jaedite as he ran
after the black haired Princess. She'd swept
him away as easily as she had the stone
steps of the sacred circle. Indignation
mixed with desire and surprise, exploding
in utter confusion in his mind. He wasn't sure
why he followed her--to beg forgiveness or to
knock her off that high platform of power
she seemed to be on? He just knew he
had to follow her.
"Wait" he cried out at last, as they neared the
base of the palace.
She turned and met his gaze easily. "Are you
willing to apologize? Or do I really need to
explain your behavior to Endymion..."
"Go ahead..." He dared, knowing Endymion
would side with him, and laugh at the pretentious
Princess.
"or my father?" She added "You may be a guest
on this world, and we treat guests honorably
when they have their own honor. It is a grave
matter to approach the Princess as you did,
and in a sacred spot. If you were a Martian,
your punnishment would be more severe."
"Such a strict world." Jaedite said. "I
think cleaning the canals way below my
dignity..."
"So was your behavior...We are not unfair or
unjust--but respect must be learned.
Are you going to clean the
east canal?" She asked then.
"NO!" He said...Her expression went
blank, and she trudged off towards
the canals.
She sighed. "Then I suppose
I will have to do it myself."
"Wait...why would *you* do that?"
He asked, following her.
She looked over at him under her eyelashes,
"Because my father thinks the task builds
my character...and because it takes so long
to turn all the wheels that I can never make
it to the dances. I'm always so tired
after it!"
Jaedite nodded..he could see why her father
didn't want his beautiful daughter around
the distracting attentions of ...well, men
like him. He grinned at that thought..
In response she gave him a radiant
smile. "All you do is turn a set of wheels,
to allow the water to flow...it's hard to
describe but easy to do....it's actually
quite a beautiful sight, at sunset."
"So you were going to stick *me* with
your duty?" He inquired as they neared
the first wheel. The thing was massive, and
he marvelled at how the slight girl
turned the heavy golden wheel. She smiled at
his expression. "Isn't that hard?" he asked,
wondering if he should offer to help.
Nervously, he crossed his arms, and sat down on
the canal wall. The sun sat, casting
a bronze glow over the girl and the large wheel.
"On Mars we have a saying: Even the heavy wheel
of destiny is light when turned in the right
direction" She said as she spun the wheel.
He laughed. "What does that mean?"
"No task is beyond you, if you get
the technique right" She beamed as the
wheel turned smoothly.
"I suppose then, you don't need any help"
He said. She moved to the next wheel,
patently ignoring him. Yet she kept
glancing at him.
When she wasn't looking, he moved
so that he stood behind her. She
didn't notice, and a slight scowl
was on her face as she looked at where
he'd been sitting. Her head turned to see
if he'd left--then she noticed he was standing behind
her.
He smiled slightly, but the expression of his eyes
was hidden by the faded light. "If I help you, maybe
we'll make it back in time for the dances?"
His breath tickled the back of her neck, as his low
voice flickered over the words like a candle flame.
She wasn't sure if it was deliberate, but his hands
touched hers lightly on the sun-warmed gold.
Craning her head around, she saw that his
face was near hers, so she ducked a little
when she responded "I'm glad you decided to
accept your punnishment after all."
He laughed, and said in a low whisper
she wasn't really meant to hear, "My Lady,
if this is how you punnish, I can't promise
to behave."
"Rewards are better--do a good job,
and I'll see you when you're done." She
squirmed out from under him as the wheel opened,
heading back to the palace. He groaned
as he noticed how many more wheels there were.
What had he gotten himself into?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Present Day ----%@
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He wanted to remember. He didn't want to be alone--he was
distanced from even the memory of people who might have loved him.
Who had he left behind? Why didn't they try to find him?
Why couldn't he find himself?
Too many questions, and no answers. Rei had told him
little about how he'd originally come to work at the temple.
She claimed he'd showed up, worked hard, and without a word
dissappeared just as mysteriously as he'd come.
She left out the details. Vague clouds of doubt surrounded
everything he knew.
And then last night, he'd had this dream:
He was standing in a garden, a palace rising up in the distance.
Rich green tendrils of plants and roses in rainbow
of colors surrounded him. Yet despite the peace of the scene,
he'd felt this uneasiness. He was tense. A beautiful woman with
long dark Raven hair, a soft red gown stood
before him. She said "Be safe my love--"
"Your visions--why won't you tell me what you see? It hurts
me that you carry this burden by yourself." He told her.
"I must learn...for what am I to do when I am
cut off from you--who knows how long it will be--"
Came her reply.
"What do your visions say?' He asked her.
"Forever" she said under her breath, but forcing a
bright smile. "You must keep a positive attitude--you
will win, you must. And then, I'm just worryng needlessly.
It's just with the moonshield--and the cessation of travel
between our worlds..the war on yours...I'm feeling out of
sorts...Oh, just hold me...that is why I came." She said.
He opened his arms to his beautiful love.
"It will be lonely without you." She said, her head nestled
in his chest..
"You are in my heart--so I cannot be lonely." He replied,
jokingly chastizing her. "Don't be so serious.
I want to hear your laugh."
"You are never serious. But take this." She said,
handing him a scroll with silverly writing on it.
"What is it?" He said fingering it.
"If you are attacked--if your life is in danger,--use
this and you can teleport right into the MoonKingdom,
despite the shields. It...will only work for you once--but"
"Does Queen Serenity know of this?"He asked.
"No....I didnt tell her or anyone else...but only use this
if you are in desperate need..or else you will be in grave
danger!" She mock threatened...the sadness and fear were
too strong for her threat to seem real.
"Keep safe my love," She said, as she vannished in a red
light, her clothes instantly changing
to a short skirt adorned with bows.
"Remember I love you." He called. "And with that love
--nothing bad can happen."
** **
What the dream meant, he didn't know. The level of d
etail made him feel as if the dream was more than just
a dream...Was he looking at shadows for meaning?
Jaedite pondered his situation, as he entered the meditation room.
Perhaps soothing his mind would lead him to know more about
himself...or at least ready himself for the knowledge.
What would he do, he asked himself again, if he didn't like
the answers? That is if he ever found any...
Resolutely he narrowed his eyes, willing the world away.
A sharp catch of breath brought the world, and Rei sharply
into his focus. She was usually cool or angry, but she was
definitely neither now.
"I didn't mean to disturb you..." she said, visibly disturbed
herself.
"What's wrong?" He said, his own worries forgotten...that
something was burning into her was obvious. Hot tears had
recently streaked down her delicate face, and her eyes were
limp, their usual sparkle hiding under the emotion that
overpowered her.
"Nothing...I..."She murmurred softly.
"Then why were you crying?"
"I wasn't--I ...oh, I stubbed my toe." The lie was obvious.
" Are you done?" She said, though her reply was not as snappy
as he was used to. "I want to meditate...alone"
He was tempted to say fine, forget her, if she does not
want his help. Yet he could see that beyond that
wall, she was shaking inside. She did not
want to ask for help but she needed it.
"So what weren't you crying about?" He asked softly.
"Where were you?"
Maybe she would have started to tell him, but her
grandfather came in.
"AH! Jed...you did a good job on the trees--but
now I have another chore for you. You must find
more pretty young girls, for the ceremony...and
.oh, hello Rei." He said noticing his granddaughter
.."And of course ...he stopped, noticing her angry look.
"Grandpa, have I not told you to stop..."
"I'm not doing a thing--it is for a traditional celebration... "
"Oh really? Which one? " she said.
He smiled... "You should tell me. " He said mysteriously.
"Where did you go today, young lady?"
"I went to see Chad...but Grandfather..."
Her grandfather was beaming, though he still cut her off. "Ah,
yes, the life here has not been the same without him...it will be
good for it to return to normal..."
"Normal?" She asked, her voice tearing.
"Someone from his family called to reserve the temple for a
wedding....I should be angry with you Rei, for not telling me!"
Her grandfather scolded. As he left the room, .."And at him for
not asking permission! He'd get it of course..But I am so happy..
I have so much to do to prepare for the wedding!"
"Congratulations Rei." Jaedite said dryly. Why did it bother him to
know this girl was to be married? He had no claim on her life....or
her heart...he pushed that emotion aside. "Who's the lucky guy?
When's the wedding?"
Rei looked as if she were about to explode. "Stop it! Stop it!
Don't congratulate me!!" She screamed.
"Why not? What's wrong? Don't you want to get married?"
"Yes!"
"Then what's the problem?"
"Because, you dimwit, *I*'m not getting married!" She ran to
her room.
"Then why are we having the ceremony?"He called after her
as he followed her there.
"Chad wanted my grandfather and I to have the wedding
here..his wedding to Sarah...." She put her head in her
hands, mumbling the sounds.
"Who's this "Cad?" He asked.
"Chad. "
"Whatever...who is he?"
"he's...he was a discpile here...he was my friend....
outside of the Sai, er the girls, he was my best friend..
He was part of my life....."
"And?" he asked, coming closer. He knew what she meant--
she didn't let everyone into her life--like the walls that
surrounded her temple, she gaurded herself.
For whatever reason, she'd let this Chad in, and he'd walked out...
Jed wanted to hold her, physically hug the pain out of her...but
he knew he couldn't get too close too soon. He wasn't
behind the walls yet...and like fire, Rei needed
careful handling, if he ever was to gain entry to her world.
"And he was in love with me!" she looked up, her black
eyes wet with tears. "I told him I couldn't love him.
.and he left..."
"So you turned him down..he found someone else....you
should be relieved."
"Should be...but I'm not...I ...feel like I just
woke up--and its too late. I love him."
Jaedite paused..He hadn't expected that. The
thought occured to him, that he had an opportunity
here--she was vulnerable...she'd been hurt..
but, no, he didn't want to win entry that way.
He wanted her respect, her friendship...and if that was
what he wanted, he had to deserve it.
He edged away, and leaned against the chair.
"It seems to me, that if you love this guy
, then you can't just give up."
"What do you mean?"
"It's never too late for love, so don't give up." He said in an
offhand tone...like he was reading a greeting card. It was
trite and meaningless, and he knew it.
"He's the one that gave up."
"No...he may just be confused and lonely--Did you
tell him how you feel?" He was more serious, his voice
low, comforting.
She paused as if thinking of something..or someone...
"Why would that matter? Destiny guides you to your love."
She said softly. "But not everything is meant to be...
no matter how you feel."
"Exactly...I don't think you should give up like this--arrange
the wedding and smile all the while your heart is breaking?
I'm just a stranger, and I don't know you...but I
know that is not you."
"No...I don't suppose it is...but neither is disrupting things
that are meant to be. You don't know me if you think I would
do that "She said... "It's not as if I've never stepped aside
before....what if they're destined to be together? How could
I stand in the way of destiny?"
"You can't....but only cause it has no way.. Destiny exists
only retroactively. It's merely what we call
a chain of past events."
"I don't believe that. Some things are just *meant* to be."
"Maybe...but how do you know which? Who's version do you want
to believe? One that makes you happy--or one that
condemns you? Be fair to yourself."
She laughed dryly, without amusement. "What do you know?
A man without memory, morals or honor...what do
you know about duty...love...justice" She said.
To his credit, he let the unprovoked attack roll off him. He knew
she wasn't angry at him but at the situation.
"I don't remember myself enough to disagree with you." He smiled wryly.
"Look, Rei, I'm only telling you what I believe...because I
can't see life as worth living if my choices didn't matter....
We can't get in destiny's way--we create it."
"I have a friend who'd disagree with that..." She said calmly.
"Destiny is set"
"In that case, even better, because you can't mess it up." He smiled.
"You need to make yourself happy."
"Happiness is most fleeting when pursued for itself" She said.
"That is the difference between you and I. I believe that
other people's happiness matters as much as mine."
"Actually, that's not the difference. I think we both
know people who's happiness matters more to us than
our own" He paused, his tone lowering again ".but that doesn't
mean sacrificing our own will make others happier...it may make
things worse" He continued. "Your assuming they're meant to
be without even, I bet, having seen them together or
telling him how you feel. Right?"
She lowered her head, staring at her hands "How could
I say anything?"
"How could you not? Rei, this is your heart... Give him a
choice, and give yourself a chance..." He edged out the door.
"And while your at it, Lady Rei, give me one to prove
I'm not evil."
Confused she stared after him.
* * *
Early the next morning, as Jed practiced the
sunrise exercises, he turned to find Rei watching.
She had to admire the graceful and powerful figure
he made--he'd certainly caught on to the practices
much quicker than Chad...
"I'm going to do it." She said. "I'm going to get him back."
Jed looked up and pushed away the urge to
ask himself what he had done..And what he was doing?
But the renewed sparkle in her eyes made him feel
he'd continue. "Good. Now you need a plan."
"A plan?" She asked..."Why?"
"You have to time these things...its a delicate situation.
Have you even met the fiance?"
"Chad asked me to have tea with her tomorrow." Rei said.
"There you go. Meet her, and maybe you'll see a reason why
they're not right together. At least you'll see the competition."
Jed smiled to himself. That was something he'd like to do--
meet this Chad. For he'd started thinking of him as the competition.
"I won't view this as a contest." Rei said....though
she couldn't stop picturing herself, crowned champion,
with Chad as a trophy..embarrased
she shook off the picture..
"No, it's war..."He said winking at her. Annoyed, but not
sure why, she shoved him out of her way. His low, sonorous
laugh followed her down the stairs of the temple.
* * *
"So, Rei why the sudden interest in how I make these things?"
Lita said as she helped Rei prepare special sweets.
"I have a tea tomorrow." Rei said, frowning as she tasted
her product--still not quite right. "I have to try again.
This isn't perfect..."
"Of course not" Lita giggled. "This is hard, and took a
lot of practice for me to make! Why don't we try something
more basic?"
"NO. It has to be *this*. " She said adamantly.
"Why is this Jaedite's favorite?" Lita asked.
"No, it's Chad's---"Rei said before she thought.
"Chad?" Lita's eyes widened. "What about Jaedite?"
"What about him? He was our enemy, now he's a
man without a home, studying at my temple"
"But you have memories..you and he were..."
"He knows none of that." She said.
"But you do..."
"I try to forget it...The Jaedite I loved betrayed me.
It's ancient history anyway...Jed's just Jed to me."
"If Nephrite were alive..." Lita said dreamily.
"You'd what? Don't tell me I should just welcome him
into my life--Serena and Darrien weren't easy to get
together...and they were *destined* for each other."
"So, maybe we were destined for them" Lita said, her tone
still dreamy but unsure. "It's what we've all thought...
and you have a second chance.."
"Second chance? There's no chance I will *ever* *love*
that traitor...he may seem a different person, as if he's
cured...but I can't trust him, let alone love him!" Rei caught up,
went on "Don't you see-- I gave him my love, and
he served BERRYL. ..we died twice trying to defeat her,
or don't you remember?"
"He's a new person now, Rei." Lita said, calmly despite
her irate friend's tone, Lita didn't want to battle.
"Just like we were reborn."
"I don't care. That time of my life is gone.
They're gone. It was never meant to be..." Rei said
pounding the unfortunate tea delicacy.
Lita's anger flared up at that. "Well, Miss Perfect,I think
you're ungrateful. We saw what happened in the past--what you
meant to each other. You can't walk away from that."
"He walked away the day he betrayed me." She said with finality
"And beside's, Jed's not the man I love...."
Lita tried to calmm herself...."And who is?"
Rei also snapped a lid on her temper. "Chad." The word came out
like a sob.
Lita's eyes went wide again..."When did you decide that?"
"When I heard he was getting married." Rei confessed." To someone else"
Lita slumped, gasping against the counter...aghast,
she declared "I don't believe it!" She paused..."
So that's why your not interested in Jed?"
"No." She looked at her watch. "I have to go, or I"ll be late."
"I can't believe it...Chad's getting married...." Lita sighed.
"He always was so cute with you...too bad you didn't know
how you felt about him before he found someone else.."
Rei nodded....gathering her things.
"didn't take long though."Lita added, earning a
death glance from Rei.
"Thank's a lot Lita" Rei sputtered, opening the door.
"Still...Jed sure is cute...kind of like
my old boyfriend..." Lita said, her eyes fogging up
with thoughts of romance. "I wonder if
he'd go for me?"
"NO. STAY AWAY FROM HIM" Rei snapped. A second later,
she calmed a bit, embarrased at her overreaction.
She added "Goodbye, thanks for the cooking tips"
Lita mumbled " Yeah...Bye....Well...how do you like that" she
muttered to herself. The phone began to ring. Before
answering it, she mumbled to herself, "She doesn't want
him for herself, but won't let me have a shot...
she's as bad as Serena was four years ago!"
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Guardians of the Millenium:
Ch3: A Fairy Tale of Days gone by
*******************Past:*********************
After dispensing with his weapons, and freshening
himself up, Jaedite slipped out into the still
air of the night. Somehow, though it had been
a year since he'd seen the young princess of Mars
the feelings she evoked in him had not lessened.
He remembered their evening by the canal and
felt her pull as strongly as the gravity on
the moon was light. Perhaps part of the reason
she fascinated him, he noted wryly, was the
way she seemed unreachable. She was a
challenge. The night he'd met her
on Mars, he didn't even get to dance with her
once. She'd sat by her father or cousin on the
raised platform observing with amusement
the spiraling figures. Once or twice she seemed
to notice his staring at her. He whirled
with one lady or the other, but his eyes stayed with her.
Her expression always suggested she didn't even see him.
Only when Endymion angrily asked him what he'd done to
entrance his cousin had Jaedite realized that her
indifferent expression was a facade.
Jaedite even to himself couldn't articulate a
reason for his stealthy approach to the wing
of the palace where Mars lived. Unlike the
silvery gracefully curved lines of the rest
of the palace, these halls were more angular.
They didn't immitate the square red rock construction
of open planes and slabs used in Mars, but did manage
to produce the same open feeling. The doors
of the suite had sharp overhangs as if they
were roofs outdoor.He ran his hand along the thin dark
lines that decorated the surface of the wall.
He could see a maid carrying a tray slowly
approaching the door he assumed led to
her prayer room. He'd observed her routine
enough to realize that she reserved the late afternoon
hour for contemplation.
On Mars she told him she read
the hot winds at that time. He was curious
what she would do in the Moon Kingdom's cool
breezes?
He approached the maid, who steadily bowed
despite the weight of the tray.
"I'll take that." He said.
The maid protested "This is tea for
the Princesses of Mercury and Mars" , so he
used a low grade mind control suggestion.
Holding his hand up, he formed a small
ball of light in his fingers. This he
held in front of her eyes which widened.
"Yes Lord Warrior Jaedite. I'll
see that you are not disturbed. ..I'll
inform the Lady Mercury that the Lady
Mars has cancelled. " She bowed
respectfully again, and returned down the hall.
He smiled, as his soft knock was answered with Rei's
"Enter."
He did so, surprised to see her sitting
before a rather large fire in a square pit.
"Please set the tray on the table" She said
without looking up. "Would you please check
to see how much longer the Lady Mercury will
be?"
He answered her then. "She will not be
joining you this evening."
At the sound of his voice, she whipped around
in surprise. Once again, he was surprised at her
beauty as he tried not to stare at her in the dim glow
of the fire.
He manufactured some excuse for his appearance,
which she accepted. He sat down, marvelling
that his goddess was actually before him.
"Endymion would kill me" Jaedite thought... "He
thinks of her like his little sister....and
since Endymion doesn't have any closer family..."
He suppressed these thoughts--he wanted to
charm her, which he couldn't do if he
were thinking of the consequences. "At least,"
he thought looking at her graceful movements
in pouring the tea, "I'll die happy
if I'm with her."
"Trust me, I'm better company than fire."He
teased her.
"That remains to be seen." She said demurely,
handing him his cup.
"Fool...ask her!" He thought...all he had to
say was he wanted to escort her to the ball
the next night...to make up for the
dance she owed him from that evening on Mars.
He could think of a thousand different
ways to phrase it--but he couldn't utter
a single one. They seemed to talk about
everything else but the ball....after
awhile, he found himself lost in the
conversation...
When at last they finnished their tea,
he mustered a final attempt.
""I must get back...but I will see you at the
ball tomorrow. " He said in a rush,
hoping he didn't seem as awkward as he felt.
He bowed nervously, and left wondering
what she would have said had he simply
asked her?
*****************************************************
PRESENT:
*******************************************
Rei was shocked at how young Sora looked. She'd just
assumed she'd be older than herself, but the girl looked
about a year younger. Perhaps too young to get married,
Rei thought.
"I'll finnish the high school in a month." The girl said.
"But my father said I could complete the course work later
--he wants the wedding soon."
She was pretty. Rei couldn't deny that, the girls narrow face
was delicate and framed by long tawny brown hair that was
straight. Her eyes matched, but rather than looking dull,
again had that caramel glow that warmed them. She was thin,
and which made her look slightly taller than Rei, though they
were roughly the same height. She oozed niceness..just as Rei
seemed gaurded and controlled, this girl seemed as open,undirected
and warm as a field on a summer's day. Rei liked her,
but immediately found her irritating. She shrugged it off.
"Why is that?" Rei asked, pouring the tea.
"Oh! Because Chad's going to run for an office, a
low-level one, of course. You know how this is...
Isn't your father in politics?"
"Yes." Rei said. She didn't want to talk about her father.
She barely talked to him, and therefore, it
didn't seem fair to talk about him. And she never really
wanted to do that. "I didn't realize
Chad was interested in government."
"He's not--at least yet.. Daddy, and his father
really want him to get into government...and it would
be exciting. Oh its not for a year of course. He's
going to take over the company--it's just one
now that our fathers merged the companies. He'll be a
vice president. " Sora chattered on. She didn't
say all this in one stream, but with prompting from
Rei slowly the picture emerged..
"Chad is so strong, brave..."Sora was chattering.
"He's helped the scouts even..oh, he
wouldn't claim that, but he's told me how monsters
have attacked here and ...weren't you scared? I
guess I wouldn't be if Chad were there..."
Her love glowed so strongly...Rei wryly noted
that she was so sweet the
cakes didn't need sugar.
Afterawhile, as the sun descended a little
lower, Sora began to take her leave. "I was
scared to meet you Rei. My Chad always speaks as
if you were perfection itself--and I was honnestly
a little jealous at first." She confessed in a rush.
Rei, to her credit, had the grace to blush and
sound genuine asking "Jealous of me? You're
his fiancˇ! I'm just an old friend."
"You're not *so* old! He worshipped you...you know
that...and he told me that if you would have wanted
him...he'd not have wanted to meet me."
"But I didn't." Rei said, her tone flat.
"Yes! As wonderful as my Chad is, I"m glad you
didn't find him so...my life
would be so unfufilled without him...and I
feel so thankful...it was like I was destined to
meet him and love him. " She smiled. "So you were
my one worry...meeting you. You sounded like a goddess
to hear him describe you."
"But I'm not." Rei said.
"OH! But you're so delightful, I see now why he cared for
you as much as he did...and I can't help
wonder at why he loves a silly girl like me, after
you! But he explained that to me.."She smiled
lost in her own memories. "You were so wise to
know that you and my Chad weren't meant for each
other, when he didn't!"
"Wise...that's me." Rei said.
"I' m so glad we had this tea--but I
need your help!" She smiled, though her
tone was dramatic. "I shall be miserable without
your help! "
"What?"
"I need you to be -my maid of honor..you must."
"I though you were to do a traditional ceremony
here at the temple?"
"Yes, but not that tradition! We just thought
this would be a beautiful location. Oh, Chad
at first did, but Daddy talked him out of it.
They'll be a lot important
dignarities, some foreign, so we want to make this
a blending of modern and traditional ....it'll be
beautiful..." She dashed off. "Say you will! Rei, you
must help me. I shall be miserable if you don't!"
The big brown eyes fixed on her, pleading, trusting
innocent--what could Rei say? "Yes" She felt as if she had no
choice.
"I knew it!" Impulsively, Sora threw her arms
around Rei and hugged her. "Oh! I'have so much
to do! We'll go shopping later for your dress!
We're going to be such good friends!" In a flurry,
the girl hurried out.
"She'd give Serena a run for energy. "Rei muttered,
exhausted emotionally as she sank back against the door.
"So how was the tea?" Jaedite said as he slipped
into the room.
"She's very sweet." Rei said.
"I know...I have a toothache, just from
seeing her..." Jaedite grinned. "I'm sorry
but I overheard her "request." You
made quite an impression."
"Obviously..."A long sigh signalled that Rei
was done discussing the subject. "You were wrong."
"I was? I don't think so.. So she loves him.
Does he love her?"
"She's devoted to him! I couldn't intefere with that."
"Again, you wouldn't be. She is very young. She may have a
crush, and she may idolize him. But is that love?
It sounds as if her father told her she should marry Chad,
so she did. What if her Daddy had
told her to love another? I bet she would." Jaedite said
cynically.
"You have no faith in love." Rei snapped. "I should
not have listened to you--I know that your soul
is empty. I won't hurt them. Stop subverting
me."
To himself, he thought it was strange that he
didn't feel empty--when he was with her....but he
didn't say anything . He shook the thought. "Rei,
don't misunderstand me."
"You're the one who misunderstands...You don't know Chad."
Rei said. "He's nothing like you. His honor means much
to him. He wouldn't agree to marry her if he
did not feel the same."
Jed nodded. "So he's honorable. Why are you
suggesting that I am not?"
She scorched him with a look. "Because you suggest
I act dishonorably..."
"Am I? If you act dishonorably because of how you
interpret what I said, am I to blame for that?" He questioned
her. "If you don't like my advice, don't follow it."
Tired finally of her accusations, his voice was sharp
and dismissive. "I offered my opinion because I
wanted you to be happy..but you're determined to
be miserable. Don't make me so as well."
With quick strong steps he marched out, leaving
Rei alone with her thoughts. Helplessly,her
mind tumbled backwards...to another day,
in another life.
The next day, Rei waited impatiently with the other
girls for Serena to show up for their day of shopping.
Mina's family was going
back to England, though Mina had informed her parents
that she intended to live in Japan. Still the trip
was the perfect excuse for Ami to find Gregg and
convince him he was wrong about giving up on her.
So Mina had talked Ami into going on a vacation
in England with her family...and everyone else
into helping the pair shop for travelling clothes.
"Rei, *DON'T* tell me you're fine with Chad's marriage"
Serena blurted out, as they passed a wedding gown
store..
Of course, when Lita had talked to Serena, right
after Rei had left her apartment, she'd mentioned
what Rei had told her. There were few secrets in this group.
"I'm not." Rei said.
"So what are you going to do?" Serena said "What
can I do? You need to get him back!! I won't see those in love
kept apart!"
"This isn't a battle, Moon-brain." Rei shot back.
"What about Jaedite" Ami inquired.
"What about him? Rei asked, handing Ami a blue halter
dress that would look great with the jacket Ami
was fingering. "Actually, he said I should go
after Chad."
"HE DID?" Mina asked surprised. "Wow, that's liberal."
"He's not in love with me. I don't know why he
told me that."
"Because it makes sense" Serena said. "Anyone could
tell you not to give up!"
"So, if he's not in love with you,Rei, maybe I'll
pay our amnesiac a visit before I go to England. " Mina
said, fingering a light orange dress "Think he'd
like this dress?"
Rei all but exploded. "Stay away from him."
"Oh yeah? Why can't I see him!" Mina said.
"Because he's eng..." Rei paused, not sure why
she'd been about to say he was engaged..."He's
still under observation."
"I know.. I want to observe him." Mina laughed.
"MY observation. We can't trust him." Rei said.
"Find someone else to flirt with."
"Told you" Lita whispered to Mina. "Doesn't
want a second chance, but won't let us near him."
>>>@>------>>>
The soft pink and white cherry blossoms
hovered over their heads
as Rei and Chad strolled in the park.
The day was soft and warm,
perfect really, thought Rei, except
that an odd tension hung
between her and Chad.
He was at ease. She could tell. All the
tension started and ended with her,
pulsating from her own thoughts.
"Sora is very nice." She said at last,
breaking the silence. He had always waited for
her to speak, when they walked here.
At least, he did ever since the first time
when she yelled at him for disturbing the
peace of the afternoon. He'd been silent for
fear she'd not let him go with her. That
seemed so long ago.
"Yeah...*she's* great...."He said
distractedly. He looked tired.
"Something wrong?" Rei inquired,
noticing the sleepy expression
and his lagging step.
"Her Father..he's been working me
really hard with this merger...
Our competitor is this totally
unscurpolous mega-company...
We'd never been a threat to them,
but now that we merged
the two corporations...it's a
different story."
"You shouldn't let him work you
so hard Chad! You know
that at the temple we always
maintained limits."
"I don't have a choice...Even as
hard as I worked at the temple,
it strengthened me...this work
drains me out...but I can't
do anything else--"
"Why not?"
"The merger took a lot of
cash to buy out shareholders--
we've got some major loans...
and the bank's just
been bought out by our competitors...
Stanton Industries....they're merciless.
If we're late...we're
afraid of what could happen."
"I see." Rei said. She was only half
paying attention. Business not being her
strong point, nor the point of their
stroll.
"Enough of my problems...what was on your mind?
How's the wedding planning?" He asked, trying to change
the subject.
"OK. " That topic was even worse. " Look Chad, if you don't
want to do this kind of work--don't let them run your life.
That's why you ran away to the temple in the first place.
I hate to see you lose your independence." Especially to
Sora, she thought.
Chad laughed. "I didn't feel so independent when
I showed up at the temple...but you are right. I shouldn't
let them walk over me...Grandpa taught me to
face my fears...and I should."
"But not right now...let's just enjoy the park.
How about a row boat ride?" Rei said...that should get
his mind off his work and onto her..."We never
did this when you lived at the temple did we?"
"Speaking of facing fears...I always wanted to ask you Rei...
but you had me so scared!" He laughed...
"Of What!" She said idignantly...
"That you'd say NO..." he laughed..."or yes, and then
get angry at me and push me in the water!"
Rei tried not to let her irritation show..."I wouldn't do
that."
He smiled at her. "Then let's go!"
Jed, observing the scene swore to himself, that they would
now be harder to follow. He shook his blonde hair and melted
back into the trees.
He was not the only one observing the pair...
Less well hidden were two figures, They shared
the same thoughts about Chad's
and Rei's excursion onto the water.
One was cursed with a thick, stupid looking
face and a voice to match.
"Duh boss ain't goin' like dat we didn't
nab her now...why couldn't
they stayed in duh trees? Dere's too many people
to see out there."
The other hushed his dimwitted, uglier
friend, and pushed back his
own tawny brown hair. "I'm still not
sure that is our target.
(
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