“Once was an accident. Twice was a mistake. Three times was a bad habit. Its what I ran through my head every day. This honestly couldn’t happen like this. Our relationship wasn’t going to exist this way. It just wasn’t. We weren’t friends. We didn’t even like each other. We said it was purely physical. The easiest person to lie to, in the end, is really yourself.” -Jadeite
--
Very loud screams were coming from the Hikawa Shrine this Thursday evening. Rei and Jadeite were, as per usual, screaming at each other until they were hoarse.
The topics were always small, stupid and pointless. But the regular fights between them built and built until they were no longer yelling about the day's topic, but just common insults passing between the two.
"I realize it kills you to not flirt with everything in a skirt, Jed, but did it occur to you to maybe not drag fresh mud all over the shrine you know I spent all day cleaning?" Rei yelled, indicating the footprints all over the place.
Jadeite screamed back. The fights were common occurrence, and he honestly despised her and the way they got under each other’s skin. “Well sorry if I didn’t think about it when I figured I was late for a meeting that you neglected to tell me was moved to tomorrow!”
“If you ever turned your damned cell phone on, you’d have gotten the message! I don’t even know why Kunzite-san pays for the damn thing, you always have it turned off!” To prove her point, Rei boldly reached into his pocket, pulled out the cell phone and flipped it open to prove it was off.
He snatched the phone from her, his blonde hair rustling in the wind. “You’re right. I always turn my phone off when I’m in the presence of a pretty lady.” To aggravate her, he held up his phone to her face and turned it off.
Rei fumed. “Your definition of pretty, Jadeite, often reminds me of the taste some women have in bridesmaid dresses!” A day trip a few days earlier with Usagi-chan had forced the miko into seeing some horrifying dresses – Rei shuddered at the thought of the bows.
“I realize you’re jealous sweetie, and that’s okay. We could have a shot, I’d be more then willing to try you out but you’d have to shut up for ten minutes first.” He shot back.
Rei promptly slapped him and turned around, beginning to storm away towards her room.
Jadeite followed, a slight red mark stinging his cheek just under his blue eye. If he was disgruntled before, he was furious now. He cornered her in the space between the miko’s room and the fireplace, not entirely sure which one she had intended to go to.
“Now, listen here, little firecracker!” He grabbed one of her shoulders and pushed her against the wall, bearing down on her. Rei’s eyes glared up at him, and little beads of sweat dripped down her face. “I don’t take to being hit, and I hate being walked away from, especially now that you owe me an apology!”
Rei wasn’t about to back down. There was a fire lit inside by these arguments; it wasn’t to be extinguished. She would not turn away and hide from Jadeite like a little girl – she was Sailor Mars, and she would chastise him as needed.
Rei turned to face him and glared at him. She opened her mouth to let loose a fury of insults, but he beat her to the punch and grabbed her arms, a look very different from the one she was used to seeing in his eyes.
As soon as he grabbed her, they were kissing, and a foreign fire flared up inside Rei She pulled him towards her. Her brain had turned off; her feelings of confusion and caution around the Shitennou where nowhere to be found. The only thought she could possibly muster was an instant want for his body to be closer to his; suddenly she felt as though being parted from the King of the Far East would be to experience pain like that of having her star seed ripped from her body. And so a hunger was born in her, and she pulled at Jadeite's body, trying to get closer to him.
Jadeite was experiencing something akin to heaven. Unlike Rei, he knew that no woman in the world could ever make him feel as she did. She lit him on fire, both metaphorically and literally, and he wouldn't have it any other way. It was pure bliss to have this woman back in his arms again, He had thought, surely, it would have taken until the time of Crystal Tokyo for this to happen once more. The miko didn't seem to know of their past life relations, and he hadn't been keen to tell her. He pressed her against the thin wall of the fire room, and felt the heat change between them.
Rei, lost to passion, had a sudden flash. She saw herself, pressed against a door, kissing Jadeite, tugging at the buttons on his uniform. She was dressed in her Senshi fuku, and he in his formal original Shitennou military uniform, the emblem of the far east patched onto his shoulder. They were grabbing at each other and pulling at each other's clothing, while Jadeite fiddled with the doorknob behind her. It finally clicked and they pulled apart. Jadeite had red lipstick smeared all over his lips and he grinned like a stupid school boy. Rei pushed the door open and dragged him inside, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
The flash ended, and here she was, kissing Jadeite, him in casual clothes and her in her miko's robes. Rei was puzzled beyond belief. Was it a memory? Or worse yet...a premonition? She abruptly shoved Jadeite from her and gasped, glaring at him and wiping her mouth on the side of her sleeve. "How DARE you? What the hell were you thinking? You disgust me!" She walked to the door of the fire chamber, and slammed the door shut in a huff. Rei sat before the fire and panted, trying to calm down. The miko was very upset, and had a great need for answers. She began to prepare for her meditation.
--
Zoisite was contentedly lying on the couch with his book on Interplanetary space probes. He was in fact, very happy. He had just finished one of the lovely snack cakes that Kunzite had brought home two days ago. After the morning jog and work out, Zoisite had realized how truly lethargic today was starting to look. And so, he curled up with his book and his copy of the research Nephrite had brought home with a cup of hot apple cider and his slippers. Kunzite kept the temperatures of the house needlessly low, so the men had taken to wearing slippers, although Nephrite was the only one who chose to wear a fuzzy bunny variation.
He looked up to see the time was late into the afternoon, and Jadeite walked in through the living room. It was odd to see Jadeite home at such an hour, though that was not the specific detail that had Zoisite, for the fourth time that day alone, question his fellow Shitennou's sanity. Jadeite was humming.
In fact, not only was Jadeite humming, but as he neared the television, he did a quick heel-lead kick off into a graceful spin. Though Jadeite was easily a good ballroom dancer, he hardly used the skills outside of when necessary. Jadeite was so wrapped up in his own world, he didn't even notice Zoisite calling him until Zoisite hit him in the head with one of his slippers.
Jadeite was in such a good mood, he even returned the slipper to the intellectual. Zoisite was, to say the least, flabbergasted.
"WHAT THE HELL?" Zoisite stood from the couch, dropping his book to the floor. "Are you kidding me? I haven't seen you act like this in half a millennium! What the hell happened to you, Jed?"
Jadeite smiled and placed his hand on Zoisite's shoulder, the grin never fading. "I am here to announce that the Shitennou have hope yet, my friend. She kissed me! She kissed me! She kissed the hell out of me!" Jadeite laughed merrily and skipped into the kitchen.
"That boy becomes more feminine and more pansy like every day. And he says I'm the girly one..."
--
Rei walked up the steps to the home of the four Outer soldiers slowly, deep in thought. She rapped twice with the door knuckle, and leaned against the side wall.
The door opened quickly to reveal a confused looking Tenoh Haruka in her racing jacket. After Galaxia’s defeat, money had become strained for almost everyone, and so Haruka had returned to F1 racing and Michiru had returned to the world of performing classical music. Haruka smiled and gestured for Rei to walk in.
“Well, well, well. What can we do for you, Rei?” Haruka’s usual flirting grin was on, but Rei was hardly phased by it anymore.
“I was actually hoping to talk to Setsuna today, Ruka-chan.” Haruka nodded and led Rei into the living room.
“Michi, honey, we have a guest!” Haruka hollered out in a joyful fashion. It was common knowledge that Michiru loved hosting the Senshi, and did so at least once a week for dinners. Michiru promptly walked into the living room, Hotaru by her side, with a tray of tea and biscuits.
“Rei, you look lovely today.” Michiru sat in front of Rei and smiled. Hotaru sat in front of her Michiru-mama who began to play with her hair. Haruka left the room and returned with Setsuna.
“Ready to go? We’re off to the beach for a bit, Rei-chan, if you’d care to join us…?” Haruka offered.
Rei politely declined as she watched Haruka, Michiru and Hotaru file out the door and into Haruka’s beautiful new Mustang. She waited a few moments, until the roar of the engine was gone and she knew they were well on their way.
“Setsuna-san…you know why I’m here, I presume.” The Senshi of Fire folded her hands in her lap and pursed her lips.
“That’s not exactly how it works, Rei. I know what will come from it, if that’s what you mean. But I’ve had this conversation with you three times and you say it differently every time. So, you’ll have to tell me.”
Puzzled by the idea of having the conversation three times, but deciding it was a matter for another time, Rei took a deep breath.
“I want to know how to get my memories back.”
The Goddess of Time smiled and sipped her tea gently. “I like it, very direct.” She put the tea cup down on the pattered china that Michiru loved and sighed.
“Unfortunately, it’s not entirely my decision to make. You’ll have to discuss it with Usagi.” Setsuna said calmly. Rei was grateful that Pluto tended not to pry in lives; not only because in essence she did know everything, but because she understood that motivation for doing crazy things was entirely private to each person.
“Usagi? But Usagi doesn’t have her memories, either…” Setsuna shook her head.
“Usagi’s memories are full and complete. She remembers both her current life, her visions of her future life and her life as the Princess of the Moon in the Silver Millennium. When she, Mamoru-san and I revived the Shitennou, their memories were restored so they would be fully aware of who they were bringing into modern era.”
Rei sat and thought for a minute, in shock. Usagi had her memories? Intact? And…she never said anything..
Setsuna watched, full of sadness unseen by the world, as Rei’s confusion and upset washed through her. She sighed and started to clear the tea cups as she watched Rei walk out of the Outer’s home in a daze, her feet leading her to Usagi.
When Rei got to Usagi’s apartment, she had come to her senses. She wasn’t upset. She was angry. Violently, so, in other words, normal.
“TSUKINO USAGI!”
---
They had talked for a while. Rei had slightly calmed and they were now curled up on Usagi’s bed.
“Usagi, please understand. I’m getting flashes…and I don’t know what they mean. I need to know. I can’t keep going like this without knowing.”
Usagi took Rei’s hand into her own, and found the violet eyes with her deep pools of blue.
“Rei…I…it’s not something you can ever take back. And ..” Usagi’s breathing was ragged, and unsteady as tears formed in her eyes. “You can’t choose what you see…you see it all…”
Rei was taken aback by the pain and hurt in her princess’ eyes and voice.
“Usagi…” The miko was overwhelmed by respect and awe for her leader, in realization that the Princess had been alone with no one to talk to about watching the downfall of her kingdom, the murder of her friends, the death of her lover and soul mate, and watching herself commit suicide. It sounded like the most terrifying concept of all.
“It’s not like watching a movie, Rei. You can feel it. You can feel the pain and you can feel the tears and the blood and…” Usagi closed her eyes and winced, “I could feel the sword…I could feel myself dying…” Usagi erupted into tears and buried her head in Rei’s lap. Rei, in an absent minded fashion, stroked Usagi’s head for what could have been hours, lost deep in thought.
When Usagi finally pulled herself back together, she was quiet. “I’m sorry, Rei-chan, its just Mamo-chan and I agreed not to tell any of you because we thought it would be better…but it hurt so much, and I didn’t have anyone to talk to.” Usagi wiped the tears from her eyes.
Usagi tugged her sweater and lifted it up so that her stomach was visible. In the center was a long, dee pink scar. Rei looked confused. “It hurts. It hurts like nothing I've ever felt before. You feel every single second of it, Rei-chan, and you can't close your eyes and hide because it's in your head. And it leaves all kinds of scars – not just the physical ones. Mamo-chan has an identical scar from his fatal wound as Endymion as well. So please, Rei, you have to consider this seriously.”
She sighed. “If its what you really want, we can restore your memory. I think its only fair to put the choice to all the Senshi as to who wants to know and who doesn’t.” Rei assumed Usagi intended to offer the same deal to the Shitennou, which Rei felt was fair. It seemed a fair deal. Rei was, as of now, much more nervous and wary of what her memories could show her.
But she couldn’t face Jadeite again unless she knew. And so, one way or the other, she was going to get her memories back.
--
Makoto squinted as she pushed the needle tip closer to the surface and placed her hand purposefully on top of the injector. She leaned closer to her target when she heard a voice interrupt her.
“Are you sure you want to do that? You might want to..” A crease formed in the tall girl's forehead from irritation as she swung around.
“Thank you for your unnecessary input, but I think I can handle this.” Makoto turned back to her project and resumed her position.
She was seconds away from injecting her subject when she felt a hand atop hers, and a warm body pressed against her own. Nephrite wrapped his arm around her waist and leaned over her, and moved her hand to the right before pushing against her thumb. The icing immediately shot out of the needle, and he held her hand and guided her into making an icing rose on the cake.
He released her and the spell was broken. She stood upright and whirled around and glared at him.
“I only meant to show you that you were off center, I had no means to offend you. Your cake is almost as beautiful as its maker, Kino-san.” Nephrite moved away from the Senshi, creating a large gap between them.
They sat in silence for several minutes as Makoto continued to decorate the cake with icing. The senshi cut slowly and precisely, making four thin cuts into the dessert. She turned around with two slices of cake in hand and placed them on the table with a fork in front of both of them. She reached beside her and grabbed a small cup of cherry sauce, pouring it lighty over the sides of the cake in decorative pattern on the two plates.
They ate in silence. It seemed as though there was nothing to say, or at least in Makoto's mind there was. She bit her lip and dropped her fork to her plate, staring around the room – anywhere but into his eyes.
Nephrite took a deep breath and slowly his hand crawled across the table and left his fingers just grazing hers. She gasped and looked down, feeling the warmth of his hand spreading to hers. She felt a tingling in the tips of her fingers. Makoto ripped her hand off the table in shock. He nodded and stood.
“Thank you, Kino-san. The cake was delicious.” The king of the Americans bowed stiffly and moved to leave.
“Wait,” she whispered. He turned to face the auburn-haired beauty and caught her emerald eyes with his own. She hadn't thought he would hear her, but he had. He always seemed to hear her.
“You may call me Makoto.” She smiled shyly, and his face spread into a grin.
“Very well...Makoto-san.” And he turned and left.
---
The four shitennou and the four inner senshi stared at each other at the Hikawa shrine. In actual fact, two shitennou and three senshi stared at each other. Nephrite was looking to the skies, and Jadeite was looking at a pretty blonde tourist. Ami had brought a book. University had been wonderful for Ami – she had met intelligent colleagues, and she would be entering medical school next year. The rest of the girls were moving into careers – Rei at the temple; Makoto and Minako were starting a service together – Mina to plan the parties and Makoto to cater. They hadn't had a large success yet, but word was spreading about Minako's taste and Makoto's food.
Footsteps were heard slowly, as four colourful heads walked up the white steps. Haruka and Michriu were side by side with Setsuna and Hotaru. Haruka glared at each of the shitennou separately, and Michiru put a hand on her arm to try and calm her.
“Ruka, they have as much right to be here as we do, you know.” Haruka sighed and looked at Michiru. Michiru's gaze softened and she smiled, but tugged Haruka away from the reincarnated soldiers all the same.
Setsuna smiled. Rei looked up at her with knitted eyebrows.
“I thought your memories of the Silver Millennium were intact, Setsuna-san?” The fire senshi questioned.
Setsuna smiled. “Indeed they are. I came to watch over all of you – just in case.” It was yet another one of her cryptic sayings, but Rei ignored it.
Rei nodded and resumed glaring at the untrusty shitennou. Five minutes later, Mamoru and Usagi walked up the steps, smiling. Mamoru kissed Usagi on the cheek as they separated and went towards the shitennou and the senshi respectively. The Outer senshi moved in closer to see Usagi.
“Your hair becomes more silver every day, odango.” Haruka whispered. The younger girl smiled widely and looked to Rei.
“Rei-chan, could you lead us someplace more private? I can't release the ginzuishiou in public.” She whispered.
“I agree. It's best not to go all glowy in front of the tourists.” Mina added.
“But then how will Jadeite stare at all the trashy looking Americans?” The Shinto priestess hissed. Everyone raised one eyebrow at her.
“You know, Rei-chan, you ought to be nicer to him, or everybody will figure out that you're in love with him.” Makoto crossed her arms over her chest and raised one eyebrow at her dark haired friend.
“Him? In love? Ha! I couldn't love him if he actually found his brain!” She spit back out, angry at Makoto for saying such a thing. She couldn't know about the other day...could she? I didn't tell her...What if Jadeite told!?
She led them towards the back of the temple, into the private sitting room the girls often used for studying or just relaxing away from the world. The fourteen people entered. The room was spacious and spread out. Rei, Jadeite, Mamoru and Usagi were the only four who remained standing.
Usagi nodded to the others. “If you'll excuse us, we must meditate to call the ginzuishou and the kinzuishou to us.”
Usagi and Mamoru moved to a corner of the room where they sat down, folded their legs. Upon closing their eyes, they began to meditate.
Rei nodded to the others and left the room to fetch tea for everyone.
Soon later, Jadeite left the room explaining he was going to the bathroom.
As she was returning to the group, she bumped into Jadeite. She glared at him, as always. “You couldn't have kept your big mouth shut, huh? You had to go and tell all the other shitennou that you kissed one of the senshi! You must be so proud, for all one accident is worth.” She growled at him, and he raised one blond eyebrow at her.
“I didn't tell anyone, firecracker, so get your panties out of a bunch and play nice.” He whispered back. Anger was rising up again, something that always seemed to happen when she was around. He wasn't an angry person – he was playful and carefree, but she always got right under his skin and pressed the right buttons.
“Get over yourself. You must've told someone – I was accused of being in love with you today, of all the stupid things.”
“Well, its good to know somebody can face the truth.”
“What? You're insane! I despise you with everything in me!”
“Face it, Rei-chan, you're praying I'll kiss you again because then you get to kiss me and just pretend like you had nothing to do with it.”
“You make me sick, Jadeite!”
“Really? We'll see about that!” He shouted and grabbed her close, slamming his lips against hers. She dropped the tray of tea and cups to the ground – the sounds of breaking china not even registering in their minds as they groped for each other. One would pull on the other, trying to get closer still as their bodies fit together evenly and there was no air left between them.
She had no idea how long she was kissing him for; she wished she could block it from her mind as if it had been some nightmare. But instead, all trains of thought were stopped and the only thing she could feel was grabbing onto him and holding her against him – as if all of the fire in her nature was calling out to be sated by him.
Later, Rei would find herself amazed that it was she who thrust him against a pillar and dug her hands underneath his shirt, clawing at his skin. He followed her lead and loosened the fastenings of her Priestess' robes and gently explored the skin of her stomach with his long fingers.
“Rei?” Makoto's soft voice came from around the corner. She and Jadeite sprang apart and began to attempt to reassemble their appearances.
“Y-yes, Mako-chan?” She stuttered. Mako-chan rounded the corner to find a disheveled Jadeite and Rei with her hair sticking up. Her mouth formed a perfect 'O' as the shock wore off and she realized what she had walked in on.
Jadeite muttered something inaudible and walked in the opposite direction; Rei knelt to the ground and started picking up the scattered cups. Some were broken or just cracked, others had blissfully remained whole. Makoto knelt and passed her a few pieces in silence. Green eyes desperately sought to meet violet ones, but Rei stubbornly refused to meet her friend's gaze.
“Rei.” Makoto whispered. It was strange – such a quiet sound was so strong. Rei looked up and met her friend's eyes – they were filled with...something mixed and swirling. Confusion? Sadness, sympathy? Worry? Rei shook her head and stood, moving back towards the kitchen to get new tea cups. Makoto stubbornly followed.
They said nothing together. The priestess placed new cups on the tray, and the taller girl hovered in the doorway. Rei looked out the window, not moving, for several moments. She almost missed what Makoto said, but managed to hear just the end of it.
“...it's okay to be happy, Rei-chan. Nobody will judge you for that.” Hearing her friend's soft voice say that, Rei's eyes softened and tears threatened to come up, exposing all the confusion she felt. “
“We should get back.” Makoto nodded and took the tray from her hostess and walked back towards the room where the rest of everyone was gathered, her ponytail swaying lightly.
Rei winced, anticipating Makoto to shout loudly to everyone that she had caught her and Jadeite kissing, trying to prepare some kind of explanation. She was relieved to find that it never came; her friend understood her confusion and shame, and Mako-chan said nothing to the rest of the senshi or the shitennou.
She poured tea for everyone, though Usagi and Mamoru were separate from the group and not paying attention.
Eyes closed and facing each other, they sat with their palms turned upward, resting on their knees while they had their legs crossed. It reminded Rei of her meditation pose. A soft glow surrounded them.
The group waited in silence, most of them not bothering to drink their tea, but only hold it for the warmth the beverage emitted.
Ami was engrossed in her book, and never noticed Zoicite watching her intently. His gaze barely left her, and he found himself smiling as he noticed her little habits – brushing her hair away from her eyes, biting her lip, underlining and repeating various passages softly to herself.
Minako and Kunzite were engaged in a vigorous staring contest. She was glaring angrily where he was calmly looking back, clearly amused by her antics. He wasn't willing to lose the contest that had been silently declared, and stoically waited for her to look away. He had limited himself from even blinking outside of when necessary – and she seemed infuriated that her angry glare seemed to have no effect on him.
Nephrite passed Makoto a tea cup, which she accepted and thanked him for. They sat next to each other, on the floor, Makoto's legs curled up under her skirts and his legs stretched out in front of him. They said nothing for the duration of the wait – it seemed that their presence had a calming effect on the other.
Haruka had taken her time to glare individually at each of the four shitennou, despising all of them equally. Michiru tried to calm her, but was mostly amused at her antics. Setsuna stood watching Usagi and Mamoru, understanding their ritual. Hotaru was braiding her now long and beautiful dark hair.
A half hour passed, each keeping to their own. And so, in flashes of silver and golden light, blending together and sparkling throughout the room, the senshi watched closely, as Serenity and Endymion emerged from the light, hand in hand, the ginzuishou and the kinzuishou floating in their carrier's respective hands.
“Okay, minna. I'm so sorry.” Tears were in Usagi's eyes, to the great confusion of those in the room. A blinding white light flashed through the room, and when it passed, everyone was left unconscious.
Setsuna, the only one still awake, sighed and sat down, waiting for them all to awaken. Chronos protect them, she whispered.
--
“Gods, we didn't know what we were getting into. It brought us to a place nobody saw coming...but bad habits start and they aren't easy to get rid of.”- Hino Rei
