| Chapter 14: Reunification “But Darien!” Serena said. “You don’t have any family other than me and Rini!” Darien just stared in disbelief at Jacey. “I do have more family, a sister and an aunt! I can’t believe this!” Tears ran down Jacey’s face. “Ever since I was four I laid awake in be thinking about you and whether you had a family or a nice warm bed or someone to love you.” “I do have someone, Serena and her whole family,” Darien said. “They’ve been so wonderful for the past three years, I don’t even know how I could repay them.” “Darien, I want to know all about your life these past thirteen years. I can’t believe we missed out on growing up together!” Jacey cried. “Serena,” Darien said, hugging her. “I need to talk to Jacey. Tell the girls that I’m taking a rain check on Study Buddies.” Serena wiped a tear out of her eye. “All right, Darien,” Serena said, dejected. “I’ll tell them. I’ll see you both later!” she choked as she ran off down the street. Darien didn’t even notice her leave. “Jacey, I can’t believe its really you!” he said. “How did you get back to Tokyo?” “How did you know I left?” Jacey said. “Its pretty weird sounding, considering five minutes ago you didn’t remember that I ever existed.” He put his arm around Jacey’s shoulder and began walking down the street towards his apartment. “I remember in the orphanage, a man named Mr. Sato. He used to tell me a bedtime story about two beautiful women with bright red hair who were chased away from Japan by evil spirits. Then they found refuge across the ocean. Mr. Sato said they loved me very much but had to leave me. I thought it was all just a fairy tale, but at the same time I knew that they existed and that they’d come back for me because they loved me. But I eventually lost my hope in that fairy tale, but some part of me always wanted it to be true.” Jacey wiped her eyes. “I remember Mr. Sato. He was so kind-hearted, and did everything he could to reunite us.” “I need you so much, Jacey,” Darien said. “Even though I’ve been so happy and content with Serena, something’s always been missing. I’ve finally found that something, it’s you.” Tears began to run down his face. Then the pair approached Darien’s apartment building. Darien directed her to the parking garage and then to his red sports car. “I want to take you for a drive,” Darien said. “There’s something I need to show you.” *** “Why isn’t she home yet?” Trista worried, pacing around the living room. “She’s late for training!” Hotaru sat patiently in an armchair. “There’s more important things that she has to do,” she said. “Like what?” Trista practically shouted. Hotaru scowled. “Like finding her family, Trista.” She turned around in anger. “I thought you got that.” Trista sighed. “I’m sorry, Sweetheart. You know I mean well, though. With evil this great, she has to be prepared. I told her everything to keep her focused.” Trista looked out the window. “Not to make her distracted.” *** “And they just blew you off like that?” Raye inquired. “That’s awfully rude,” she added sarcastically. Serena pouted. “It is! I can’t believe Darien would do that to me!” Amy continued on her schoolwork while Serena and the others tried to figure out Serena’s “crisis.” “But they’re brother and sister, don’t they deserve to be together?” Lita said. “I mean, they haven’t seen each other in thirteen years!” Mina sighed. “Lita’s right. What if you and Sammy were separated for thirteen years? Wouldn’t you want to do some catching up?” “No, I’d send him back for another thirteen years,” Serena said bitterly. “Darien said I was his only family! And I believed him!” Amy put down her book and took off her glasses. “Serena, he didn’t know that Jacey ever even existed. How could you be mad about that?” “I agree with Amy,” Raye said. “Stop acting like a baby and be happy for him!” “I’ll try,” Serena said. “But I can’t promise anything.” *** “So where are we going?” Jacey asked Darien. She straightened out her skirt as they pulled out of the parking garage. “Just somewhere that I think you might appreciate,” he said, smiling. “I want to take you back to a more familiar place in the city.” Jacey sat in wonder as Darien drove through the streets of Tokyo. “A more familiar place?” she thought. “I was four when I left. I hardly remember anything about this city.” She sighed and decided to just talk until they got where they were going. “So, Darien,” she said. “Tell me everything about what you’ve done for the past thirteen years.” Darien smiled at the wonderful new gift he’d been sent. Jacey was all he ever wanted in a sister, and more. “Well,” he said. “I lived in the orphanage until I was eighteen. I spent so much time devoted to my schoolwork so I could get a scholarship to college. I held a few small jobs to pick up the rest of the money. Then about three or so years ago, I met Serena. We bickered a bit and had a few technical difficulties, but we fell in love and have been together ever since. And that brings you up to date on my life.” Darien thought about how he’d treated Serena earlier and felt horrible. He knew she wouldn’t let him forget it for a long time, either. “Here’s our stop,” he said. They pulled up to a medium sized house that had two cars in the driveway. Jacey looked up at Darien. “This isn’t. . .” she started. “Yeah, it is,” he gushed. “Mr. Sato brought me here a lot and I got to know the new family really well. I want you to see the house.” Darien and Jacey got out of the car and walked up the driveway. A little girl’s head peeked out of the door as Darien rang the bell. “Darien!” she shouted. “Mommy! Darien’s come to visit!” Jacey heard footsteps and a short and thin woman appeared at the door with a welcoming grin on her face. “Darien! Come in, come in! Where have you been? We haven’t seen you in weeks!” Darien chuckled. “Well, I’ve had a lot of schoolwork to do, so I haven’t been able to come by.” Then Darien looked at Jacey. “Mrs. Taoko, I want you to meet Jacey, my sister.” Mrs. Taoko looked at her as if she were a ghost. “Sister? Why Darien, why didn’t you bring her around before?” Darien and Jacey walked into the living room of the house. “Well, I only met her today.” Jacey felt the familiar aura of the house. “Thank you, Mrs. Taoko,” Jacey said. “For taking such good care of the house. It looks just as beautiful as the pictures I have.” Mrs. Taoko smiled. “It was such a beautiful house when we bought it. Your grandparents kept it well after the accident.” Jacey smiled as she surveyed the house carefully. “Would you like to look around?” Mrs. Taoko asked her. “Thank you, I’d love to,” Jacey said. She and Darien went into the kitchen and Jacey just stared in awe. “I want to go to my old bedroom and see that, if that’s okay,” she said. “Go right ahead,” Mrs. Taoko said with a smile. Jacey and Darien walked arm in arm up the stairs, and Jacey’s mind raced. “After I see this, am I going to be the same person I was?” she thought. “I’ve waited thirteen years to have this happen. I’m just so confused.” Darien opened up one of the bedroom doors. An instant wave of emotion flooded Jacey as she saw the room. Images of her years spent with Darien in that room, and her parents. Then the most horrifying vision came to her. She saw her parents driving along the mountain road and a face that Jacey knew all too well. Zoicite aimed a powerful blast of energy at a tree branch in front of their car. It fell, in a burst of flames, as the car drove off the side of the mountain. Then all that was left was Zoicite’s cackling face in the light of the fire. “Jacey! Snap out of it!” Darien said as he shook her hard. “Huh?” she said in a daze. “Sorry. I just kinda got worked up about it.” The room looked harmless after that. Just a little girl’s room. “Darien, I really have to get back home,” she said. “I really appreciate you taking me here, and I’m so happy to see you again.” “No problem,” he smiled. “I was upset the first time I came back too.” Jacey smiled weakly and wiped the drop of sweat that beaded from her temple. They politely thanked Mrs. Taoko and she said that they were welcome back anytime. Then the pair got in Darien’s car to go home. “It’s almost dark,” Jacey thought. “Trista and Amara are going to have a cow.” She looked up at Darien. “It’s later than I thought. My family might be worried.” “Ok,” he said. “Where should I drop you off?” “He can’t know that the other scouts are here! What should I do?” she panicked. “Downtown,” she said firmly. Darien gave her a look. “I could drop you off at your house, you know.” “I forgot to run an errand, so. . .” “Ok,” he said. “But if you change your mind.” Jacey smiled. “I’ll give you a call tomorrow.” *** “Am I in trouble?” Jacey asked timidly when she walked into the apartment and saw Trista, Amara, Michelle, and Hotaru sitting in the living room. “Where were you?” Amara asked. “We’ve been waiting.” Jacey smiled weakly at her stern face. “Well, I met Darien today, so we talked for a little while. I didn’t think you’d mind this much.” “You didn’t think we’d mind?” Trista inquired. “Let her be!” a small voice from Jacey and Hotaru’s bedroom shouted. “She’s spent most of her life taking brutal training from us. She’s suffered so much hardship in every front of her life, and she’d bared it all with grace and dignity. The one thing that truly kept her sustained was the through that she would meet her brother again!” Athena shouted. “Don’t take her greatest dream away from her.” “Athena!” Jacey said, as tears began to flow from her eyes. Athena jumped into her waiting arms. “I love you so much, thank you for standing up like that.” Athena purred. “Where’s Apollo?” “Scrounging up some dinner,” Athena said. Michelle gasped. “You have cats? Have they been in your room this whole time?” “Yup!” Hotaru giggled as Athena jumped from Jacey’s arms into Hotaru’s lap. “They’re twins!” Trista looked from Jacey to Hotaru and back to Jacey. “Why didn’t you tell us?” she smiled. “We would have bought some food.” Jacey smiled and wiped the tears from her eyes. “Thank you Athena, for protecting me again,” she thought. “One day I’ll be strong enough to stand all on my own, just wait.” |