2 June 1999
This fanfic is rated PG for some mild swearing.
First Times
By Kristin Renee Taylor
She was the most annoying person I ever knew. I'm not kidding either. Every day for the past two years all I ever heard was "Why are you so mean to me?" and "How come you're always picking on me?" and "Did you have to yell at me like that?" and "How come you don't like me?" (Which wasn't true. I did like her; it's just that she was so *annoying*.) I had always answered more or less the same: "Because you deserve it you lazy, uncaring twit!" At which point she would cry and run away and everyone would get upset and try to make me apologize. I didn't. I said what I thought she deserved to hear.
Last night started off as a typical night. I had been in my room, doing some boring piece of writing that the teachers at my school dared to call an essay assignment, when she came in. She didn't knock or anything, she just walked in, sat down on my bed, and watched me do my homework. I decided against arguing with her, at least for now. I couldn't really kick her out because she wasn't disturbing me in any way. So I tolerated her.
For about five minutes.
I sighed and set down my pen. "Is there a reason why you're here?" I asked her, irritably massaging my temples. I watched her out of the corner of my eyes as she shook her head. Her silence was slightly disturbing. She was never silent. "Well," I said, turning around so I could look at her directly, "you can't just sit there all day. I've got to finish my homework and then I've got to do my chores."
"I know, Rei. I'll try not to be in your way," she said quietly.
I knew that when she started talking like that, then something must have been wrong. For the first time since she had entered, I looked at her. I mean I really, really looked at her. I noticed with no small amount of shock that she had been crying. Her eyes were red and puffy and her cheeks were all blotchy. Her hair was kind of a mess and her clothes were slightly rumpled, but I assumed that was from the strong wind blowing outside.
I moved to sit next to her, the bedsprings creaking slightly as the bed grudgingly accepted my weight. It was time to go on another diet.
I studied her for a long moment, and she looked right back at me. There was an unspeakable, and totally familiar, sadness in her clear blue eyes that had never been there before. I knew immediately what had caused it and I hoped to God that I was wrong. "What did he do to you?" I asked, surprised at how calm my voice sounded. I was not calm at all.
She seemed surprised that I had asked. She opened her mouth to answer me, but I cut in harshly, saying, "Don't you dare lie to me, Serena." Her jaw snapped shut with an audible click. She stood silently and walked to my desk, absently running one finger along the top of my computer's monitor. I heard her mumble, "He broke up with me..."
I stood as well, growling, "That stupid bastard! When I get my hands on him, I'll--"
"It's okay, Rei," she said, interrupting me.
I whirled around and, with my usual tact and wit, shouted, "'It's okay!?'" She winced at the harsh, angry sound of my voice. "'*It's okay*?!'" I repeated, enraged. "Dammit, Serena, this is *not* okay! The two of you are supposed to be together!"
"Rei," she began, but I cut her off.
"You died for him, Serena! Twice! You've waited one thousand years to be together and if you think that I'm just going to let him break your heart, then you're crazy!"
"Rei," she said and this time it was not Serena that had spoken, but Princess Serenity. I stared at her, surprised and infuriated by the unspoken command she had given me. Somehow I managed to choke down what I had been about to say, but I still glared at her fiercely. "Rei, please calm down," she said and there was no hint of her former steel in her tone. Now she just sounded tired and sad. "I think Darien did it for a reason."
"It better be a damn good reason," I muttered darkly.
"I think he has a reason, and I don't know what it is, but I'm going to find out."
"And if he doesn't tell you?" I asked.
She pulled out the chair and sat it in with a heavy sigh. "Then I guess I'll just have to wait. He'll tell me eventually."
I stared at her hard. "You don't really think he will, do you?"
She looked up at me and said nothing. Her silence was all the answer I could ask for.
Her faith and loyalty in the man that had just dumped her shocked me beyond belief. She didn't even seem mad at him. How could she have forgiven him so easily?
I immediately answered my own question. She loved him. She loved him so much that she would forgive him for hurting her. Given similar circumstances, I sure as Hell would not forgive him.
"You forgave him," she said, responding to my thoughts.
"W-What?" I stammered. And I thought I was the psychic one.
She looked at me knowingly. "You may act all high and mighty, Rei Hino, but you are not made of stone. I knew you never stopped loving Darien." She stood in front of me, staring me in the eyes. "When you found out that we were destined to be together, you hated me for taking him away from you and you hated him for leaving you. But you forgave us because you loved us.
I started to rebuke her, but trailed off. In my mind I was remembering when Darien had been captured by the Negaverse. Serena had been devastated. As for me, his sudden ex-girlfriend, I hadn't taken it to well either.
Her eyes were beginning to make me uncomfortable. In desperation to avoid that disconcerting gaze, I reverted to using a tried and true method of mine. I stoked the fires of my dying anger until it was blazing once again.
"I didn't do it because I loved either of you," I raged, "I did it because you were the Princess and he was the Prince."
"Even if I wasn't Princess Serenity, I bet you still would've given him up."
I glared at her. "Don't give yourself to much credit, Serena. Had you not been a princess, I wouldn't give my boyfriend to you or anyone else without a fight."
She finally smiled and nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Then you know that I won't give mine up without a fight, either."
I blinked in confusion. "Excuse me?"
She continued on, ignorant of the fact that I had no idea what she had meant. "You see, Rei, I don't intend on letting Darien get away with this. I especially don't intend on letting him date anybody else. I had enough competition from Ann. The last thing I need is somebody else moving in on my territory. Besides, if there is one thing that you have taught me, Rei, it's to stay determined and to go after what I want."
She grinned at me, quickly regaining her normal levels of jubilance and hyperactivity. She threw her arms around me, giving me a large and painfully tight hug. Any ounce of anger that I might've had dispersed like smoke from a dead fire.
"Oh, Rei, this is just great!" she cried happily. "I'm *so* glad I talked to you about this." She pulled back, but held on to my shoulders. She said sternly, "Now promise me that you won't go and kick Darien's butt."
"Sure," I said, feeling slightly dazed and dizzy from the asphyxiating embrace.
She smiled again and released me. "Great! Now all I have to do is convince the rest of the Scouts not to kill him. Oh, and Luna and Artemis, too."
She was already leaving by the time I had recovered enough to think straight. I leaped out the door after her. "Serena!" I called out.
She looked at me. "What is it, Rei?"
"Are you going to be okay?"
Now it was her turn to look surprised. "Of course I will," she said calmly. She smiled and shrugged. "Actually, now that I've told you, telling everyone else should be easier." Including myself, her eyes added silently. I wisely managed to avoid saying that part aloud.
"You told me first?" I asked her, switching topics.
She nodded and, seeing my look, explained. "Well, Rei, I thought it might be best to tell you first, seeing as how you know more about Darien and I then any of the other Scouts. I knew you'd understand me better." And so saying, she turned and walked away.
I stared at her retreating back, to stunned to say anything. *I* had understood *her*? I, Rei Hino, had understood that vapid, ditzy, meatball-brained, well-meaning, loving, forgiving, *annoying* girl?
I snorted derisively and walked back into my room, sliding the door closed behind me.
Well. I guess there's a first time for everything.
Fin.
Author's notes:
The story takes place after Serena's first battle with Catzy's droid and after she breaks up with Darien (As if you couldn't tell.) in the second half of the Sailor Moon R arc. (Then again, some people may not be able to tell.)
Comments, criticisms, and ideas are gratefully accepted. Flames are... well, heck. I'm in a good enough mood. I'll take flames, too. Please address all the aforementioned stuff to gelles@yahoo.com.
Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me except a bunch of stuffed elephants and my occasionally dark sense of humor.
Kristin Renee Taylor - Bad Gal Extraordinaire