Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Secret Is Out ❯ Rei's Turn ( Chapter 5 )

The Secret Is Out

Chapter Five: Rei's Turn

When people walked past the temple, most would not venture up the stairs. All the talk and murmurs Associated with it had given it a bad reputation.

The two that worked and lived there were the object of ridicule. Often they were the object of taunts and jeers. None of which were deserved. But this animosity did serve a purpose.

The head priest, Hino Hiroshi was known as a flirt and leech. Some had even labeled him a senile old man who loved chasing after young ladies. All the neighboring community steered clear of the man. Especially their daughters.

All of this did not bother him. For as long as they were making fun of him then they would leave his granddaughter alone. His granddaughter was his world, and it hurt him to hear the names they would call her. Plus it gave the temple the privacy it needed.

He still remembered the rage he felt the day his only son brought her to him. He dropped her off at the temple saying that, "There was no way I can continue to care for a freak like this". What had really angered him was the fact that he had said it in front of Rei.

It had been the last time either would see him again. Rei had been only four years old at the time.

Over the years he helped her control her psychic powers. He was amazed at how strong her gift was for one so young. But the one thing he could not help heal was her heart. The words her father had said were branded in her mind and heart.

When it was time to go to school everything seemed to go well. She had made some friends, and it seemed that all was going to be all right.

Until one day when Rei was in school. The class was taking a test when she grabbed her head and screamed. The teacher ran to her as fell on the floor in pain.

"NO!!!! No, daddy don't die!" she screamed out in pain a bright red light surrounded her before she passed out.

She woke in the nurse's office, her grandfather sitting next to her with a worried look on his face as he held her hand. He seemed to have aged since the morning.

"Oiji-Chan, what happened?" She asked. Her head hurt, and she felt scared, and terribly empty inside.

"Rei you passed out in class. Can you remember what happen?" he asked, looking directly into her eyes.

"I just remember feeling a sharp pain in my head then…" She trailed off as tears filled her eyes

"Yes, then what happened" he encouraged her to go on

"Then I saw daddy and I think he died cause there was all this fire around him. Then everything went black, but it was just a nightmare right." She asked crying hoping that it was only a bad dream.

"Oh, Rei, I'm sorry. I had just received a call before the school called the Embassy your father was at was bombed. There were no survivors." He said in a tired voice as he gathered into her into his arms and held her. They both cried for lost chances.

They went home to the temple, quiet and lost in their own grief.

Rei had lost a father who had never loved her the way he should have and she felt that it was her fault. If she had been a better daughter then they would have been together.

Once they where home she ran to her room and cried herself to sleep.

Her Grandfather respected her need for privacy and gave her the space she needed. When he went to check on her later however he was stunned. He found her sleeping and the symbol of Mars on her forehead.

`So, she has born unto my line this lifetime. It has begun.'

That was the day he decided to teach her how to sense evil, use charms, and the most importantly how to do fire readings. Knowing one day that Sailor Mars would be needed to yet again to walk the Universe.



The present:

The phone rang, as Grandpa Hino was getting ready for the day. He had been restless for days now, and last night visions had swarmed his head showing glimpses of what may be to come.

"Hello Shinto Temple." He answered the phone knowing that this day had the feel of a day of destiny.

"Hello Hino-San. This is Tsukino Ikuko I believe you know my daughter Usagi."

"Yes, I know her quite well. I believe she is also known as Sailor Moon and that this is to work out a time to get together with the rest of the families." He said knowing that he had shocked her. After all, he was just a senile old man.

Silence.

"Yes. I'm hoping to get all of the parents together at my house this morning around ten. I feel we have much to talk about." Replied the shaken lady.

"Yes, I agree. Rei and I will be there, I promise."

"I must admit that I am surprise at how well you are taking this Hino-San."

She heard him laugh in the background

"It's all an act I'm afraid. One that is about to reach its end today." He said looking at his granddaughter's room.

Even though Ikuko was confused she let it go and said good-bye having one more call to make. After hanging up he sent Yuuchirou on some errands so that they would not have to worry about anyone overhearing their talk. He still was unsure as to why he took him on as an apprentice, only that the great fire called out to him to do that. The only other he has ever taken on had turned out to be Jadeite, and that turned into a disaster.

He frowned at the thought of the boy. So much lost.

When Rei walked into the kitchen a few minutes later she was surprised to see her grandfather sitting down drinking tea. Usually he was meditating in front of the great fire at this time of day.

"Rei, sit down please. We need to talk."

She groaned at the well-known phrase.

"All right Grandpa, what did you do now? And how many calls are we going to be getting about it?" Rei said seating down.

"No Rei, this is not about me this is about you."

Rei poured herself a cup of tea not sure where this was going.

"If this about my friends Grandpa, we'll try to keep the noise down."

"No, this is about you being Sailor Mars. As for you friends I enjoy having the rest of the Senshi here."

Rei dropped her cup spilling her tea all over the table. Of all the things he could have said this was not something she expected.

"I don't know what you're talking about. There is so no way me or my friends could be the Senshi. I mean just look at Usagi she is a loud mouth, klutzy baka. She can't take two steps with out falling all over the place. You should also see her grades I mean they are the worst thing I have ever seen." She said as she cleaned up the mess, all the while trying to convince him that he was wrong.

"Oh, Rei, why do you do that?" he asked shook his head, disappointment in his voice.

Even though he was proud of her, he did dislike the way she treated Usagi. He never could understand why she did it. After the way she was treated by her father and then by her so call friends when she was little. He was sure she would never be one of those people who enjoyed hurting others with their words.

"Do what Grandpa?" she asked not seeing the hurt on his face

"Degrade Usagi like that. She is a good person who does not deserve the way you treat her. I am very disappointed in you Rei. I thought I raised you better." He said as went to put his cup in the sink.

"She deserves it. I mean she never tries to be better. If I keep it up I'm sure she will change for the better."

"Does it work? It hasn't seemed to yet. All it seems to do is hurt her. She just ends up crying and running. It's when any of you are in trouble that her true strength comes out. Not by force and anger, but love and the need to help."

Rei started to protest the fact, but Grandpa pushed on.

"Did you deserve it Hino Rei? Did you deserve the same thing that you are doing to Usagi? Do remember how it felt be teased and harassed? Do you remember how it felt running home and crying because you felt that no one would like you?" he asked, his voice stern, but serene.

Rei looked at her grandfather surprised at his attitude.

"I don't understand what your talking about grandfather?"

"I want you to remember how you felt Rei. Look deep down inside yourself and remember. Then tell me if she really deserves everything you do to her."

Rei was stunned by the request. Still, she closed her eyes and let her memories to flow as he instructed. To soon she felt the tears building.

She saw herself being laughed and being called a freak. By her Father. By her friends. She saw how the friends she did have, walked away from her when she went back to school following her vision. She saw herself withdraw into a deep shell, not allowing anyone near her.

Then she smiled as she remembered seeing Usagi for the first time.

Her bubbly attitude and ability to make the people around her smile. The way she accepted Rei even after hearing all of the rumors. How she trusted her and introduced her to her friends and never letting her be alone again.

She also saw how she always came back to her even after the name-calling.

Rei broke down crying, not sure how or if she could make it up to her.

"Its ok Rei, she still loves you and it will be ok." He said as he rubbed her back

"I promise it won't happen again and I will make it up to her." She said through her tears.

"That's all I ask is for you to try and be a better friend."

"What I don't understand Grandpa is how you knew about us." She said as she wiped her tears.

"I have known since you were a little girl Rei." He said as he sat back down.

"B…B...but I have only been Sailor Mars for a nine months." Stated a very confused Rei.

"I know Rei and once the Princess is found and all of your memories have returned we will talk about it, I promise. But for now I will tell you that I am here to teach and help guide you on your quest."

"Does that mean that you know who she is? Please can't you tell us or at least give us clue."

"I'm sorry no; I do not even have that information. Only that she will appear when the time is right. It is something you and your friends are destined to discover. You see this is your mission young one."

A disappointed sigh escaped Rei. She had hope so.

"Rei do you know where the sacred fire came from?" He asked changing the topic.

"What? No I don't know. Why you are asking me this."

"Come with me Rei I need to show you something that you need to know." He said as he led her to where the fire was kept.

"You see before you the sacred fire. The fire that shows what we ask it to show us. If it is in its power. If we are worthy of knowing. The fire was brought here from a temple the existed long ago. The fire burns bright, never fading as long as someone from the planet Mars is still alive to guard it. The fires come from the planet Mars itself. It is where you get your powers from." He said

"..." Rei opened her mouth but no sound came out. He laughed at seeing her speechless.

"It's ok Rei we have all the time we need to discuss this."

"You seem different Grandpa, not at all like you normally act." Rei mused as they sat in front of the fire. Feelings of home radiated from the blaze.

"You mean like the senile old man every one sees me as. It's all an act. An illusion. I mean who would suspect the Sailor Senshi hanging around a dirty old man.' He laughed.

Rei gave him a huge hug. Proud to be his granddaughter and glad that they had this talk.

"So what made you decide to come out with everything?"

"I, along with Usagi's mother feel that it is time to come out with everything. We will be going over there later on today."

"I'm glad it's not a secret anymore. I hated keeping this away from you, but we were told it could be dangerous if too many people knew."

"Yes, I know. I have heard the cats telling you all that. Now before we go over to their house I'm sure you have some question's."

"I do Grandpa can you tell me more about the fire and where it came from." She said with a smile, the pressure finally off her.

"Of course Rei, but before I do I just want to tell you that I am so proud of you."

The two spent the next hour talking and getting to know each other all over again. Both happy about not having to keep secrets anymore.

Rei was shocked to learn that she was not the only one who could talk to the crows who lived at the temple. She was also surprised that they were her guardians just as the cats were the guardians of Minako and Usagi. She couldn't wait to tell the girls everything she had learned about herself and her grandfather. Maybe having the parents know what was going on wasn't so bad after all.