Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Happily Ever After or Something Like That ❯ Date With Destiny ( Chapter 17 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: deadlydiva 
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 01.19.2005 | Updated On: 08.20.2006 | Pages: 4 | Words: 3.1K | Visits: 269 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 01.19.2005 | Updated On: 08.20.2006 | Pages: 4 | Words: 3.1K | Visits: 269 | Status: Work In Progress
AN: Here we go again. Some ol’ ish man, just a different day. This chapter is for all the Rei/Jadeite fans. Yes, they are finally getting some shine. But all the Makoto/Nephrite fans don’t worry. The next chapter will be all about them.
Here’s a trivia challenge. There are several songs referenced in this chapter. (For some reason, Rei and Jadeite have a soundtrack playing in my mind.) See if you can identify them. Since I’m not directly quoting, I’ll give full credit on my profile page. I’ll give you a hint; the first line you read begins the challenge.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
I tried so hard to tell myself that you’re gone
Though you’re still with me
I’ve been alone all along
The violin and piano accompaniment tapered off as Rei’s voice faded out. Jadeite’s chest began constricting. A rational man would have attempted to acquire medical assistance. Instead, Jadeite was willing to acquiesce to a heart attack if it would ease his miko’s pain.
He pressed the stop button on the remote control. Jadeite inhaled deeply and let a cleansing breath escape his lips. If there was any doubt before, it was gone now. His life was damned by the fates. How else could he rationalize being so close to having his soul mate back, but not being able to realize his desires?
<<BUZZ>>
“Yes sir,” Noriko said.
“I’ll be out of the office for the rest of the day. Route any important messages to my two-way.”
“Not a problem Jadeite-sama. Is there anything else I should do today?”
A momentary silence confused Noriko. Jadeite-sama could not have left so quickly.
“Jadeite-sama?”
“Yes. There is one more thing. Contact Hino Rei. Tell her that the CEO would like to take her to Jove’s Garden for dinner. See if she’ll agree. If so, make the necessary arrangements.”
“O…kay. Shall I tell her that you’ll be picking her up at 8:15?”
“NO!” Jadeite snapped. “You are not to tell Hino-san my name. In fact, just have a car service pick her up.”
“And what about you sir? Shall I --”
“That won’t be necessary. Remember Noriko-san, under no circumstances are you to tell her who the CEO is.”
“Alright.” Once Jadeite had left, Noriko made all aforementioned arrangements.
@ @ @ @ @
Rei paced around her apartment nervously. She looked at the clock -- 8:10. The car would be arriving shortly. Rei hoped that her strapless red dress wasn’t too much. She didn’t want to give the new CEO the wrong idea.
<<BUZZ>>
Rei walked over and pushed the intercom bottom. “Yes…”
“There is a car down here waiting for you Hino-san.”
“Thank you. I’ll be right down.” Rei grabbed her black swing coat and purse. She turned out the lights as she walked out of the apartment.
@ @ @ @ @
“Just make sure that everything is ready.”
“I’m not sure id I should be doing this. I got chewed out last time got involved in one of these endeavors.” Nephrite was looking over his shoulder for any sign of Makoto.
“Get off it,” Jadeite barked. “You were only too willing to help Kunzite dash Yaten’s dream. That’s why Makoto got mad. What you guys did was malicious. This is different. I am trying to win the heart of a spectacularly beautiful woman, a woman who happens to be one of your beloved’s best friends. I don’t think there will be a problem.”
‘Damn. After all these years, he’s still so long-winded,’ Nephrite thought.
“Nephrite, did you hear a word that I said?”
Nephrite glared at Jadeite. “Fine, fine. I’ll tell Makoto to make the dishes you requested.
“Thank you my friend.” Jadeite bowed to Nephrite.
“Don’t thank me yet. I’ll have to tell Makoto why she’s making the special orders.”
A puzzled look took residence on Jadeite’s face.
“We have a ‘no secrets-no lies’ rule,” Nephrite offered as an answer to Jadeite’s unasked question. “You should try it.”
Jadeite rolled his eyes as he adjusted the collar of his shirt.
@ @ @ @ @
The car pulled up in front of Jove’s Garden. The driver got out of the black luxury vehicle. He opened Rei’s door and helped her exit the car.
“If I may say so Hino-san, you are truly breathtaking this evening. Your young man will have a hard time concentrating on his meal.”
Rei laughed softly at the words of the driver. ‘My young man,’ she thought, ‘The only young man I have likes young men.’
Seeing the driver looking at her strangely, Rei replied, “It’s not that kind of date. This is strictly professional.”
“Oh…well, enjoy your evening Hino-san.” The driver closed the car door. He smiled as Rei gracefully walked into the restaurant.
Rei’s violet eyes scanned the crowd. She then realized that she didn’t know whom she was supposed to be meeting.
“Miss, can I help you?” The maitre’d asked an obviously lost Hino Rei.
Rei blushed. “This is going to sound silly, but I’m supposed to meet the CEO of Galaxy Records for dinner. The problem is that I don’t know his name.”
“Hino Rei-san?” The maitre’d asked.
“Yes…how do you know my name?”
“Your dining companion. The description he left us does you no justice. He did not mention that you were so very dazzling. We have been instructed to indulge your every desire. Please follow me.” The maitre’d replied as he walked toward a secluded table at the rear of the restaurant.
Rei was attracting the attention of many of the restaurant’s patrons. Her exotic beauty coupled with her trek toward the VIP area piqued curiosity. The customers were not the only ones who were captivated by Hino Rei. Jadeite watched as Rei was escorted to her table.
‘It won’t be much longer,’ thought Jadeite.
As Rei was seated, a waiter placed a glass of Chardonnay in front of her.
“Pardon me. I didn’t order this.” Rei attempted to return the glass to the waiter.
“The man you are meeting is running late, so he asked us to bring you a glass of Chardonnay as an apology.”
“Oh…in that case, thank you.” Rei sipped the lemon colored liquid. “How did he know that I liked Chardonnay?” She asked herself.
Rei placed the glass on the table. She searched for a menu. Rei scanned the dining area for an unoccupied waiter. She sighed, as it seemed that no one was available.
“Can’t a girl get a menu in this place?” Rei huffed as she slouched back in her chair.
“Here you go Rei-chan.”
“Thank you.” Rei took the menu offered. It took a few minutes for the voice to register. “Wait…that voice.” Rei turned to see who had been so kind as to give her a menu. As her eyes met the Good Samaritan’s, Rei cringed.
“You…” Rei hissed.
Jadeite smiled cheekily. He wished that he had a camera because the look on Rei’s face was priceless. “Now, now Rei. Is that any way to greet your date?”
“Jadeite, you have to leave. Now. I’m meeting --”
“The CEO of Galaxy Records. I know,” Jadeite replied lazily.
“Well if you know, then you also know why it’s so important that you go. I want to make a good impression.”
“I don’t think you have much to worry about.” Jadeite grinned, letting his business card casually fall onto Rei’s empty plate.
Rei stared at the small rectangular piece of paperboard in disbelief. “You…you are the new CEO,” she whispered. Rei placed her hands at the edge of the table to push herself back. Her hasty retreat was halted by the pleading tones coming from Jadeite.
“Please Rei, don’t go.” Jadeite’s voice cracked.
As Rei was about to verbally drag Jadeite through the seven circles of hell, she remembered the promise she made to Yuuichirou. Rei would definitely make Yuuichirou pay for this. She placed her hands in her lap. Taking a deep breath, she invited Jadeite to sit.
Rei looked at the man sitting across from her. It took all of her self-control not to strangle Jadeite. Moments of silence stretched into minutes. Rei tapped her finger in the tabletop. Jadeite folded and refolded his napkin. Neither was willing to say the first word.
“Here you go.” The waiter set down two plates of seared tuna with broccolini.
Rei looked at the entrée that was placed in front of her. “It’s all coming together now. The wine, the meal. You planned all this.” Rei’s voice was still softer than Jadeite was accustomed. “What about the album?”
“What?”
Rei was looking at Jadeite with rage-filled eyes. “You heard me Jadeite. What about my album? What that a part of your plan too?”
“No Rei. You’ve got it all wrong?”
“Wrong. You think it’s acceptable to dangle my life long dream in front of me for your amusement. And you say I’m wrong?”
Jadeite sat silently while Rei picked him apart. The most unsettling part was that Rei’s voice was barely above a whisper.
“Rei, please. If you’ll just let me explain.”
“Explain? What is there to explain?” Rei sighed and looked toward the ceiling for guidance. She lowered her head and began to speak. “Isn’t it enough that you killed me in my last life and attempted to in this one?”
“Rei…”
“No Jadeite. You’ve proven once again that I can’t trust you. Every time you’re around I can’t tell what your motives are.”
“Rei, I know that it’s going to take time for you to trust me again. I’m willing to give you all the time you need. Just please --”
“No…just stop. I’m not going back. It just wouldn’t work.” Rei’s voice had just a hint of regret. Rei, like all the others, had her memories of the Silver Millennium. It was a time when there was peace among the planets and love guided the stars. It was a time when men were kind and the world was an exciting song. Then came a time when it all went wrong.
“You…you’re never coming back to me. This wasn’t how things were supposed to be.”
“Jadeite, let’s not make this any harder than it has to be.”
“Harder than it has to be? So this is hard for you?” Rei remained uncommunicative. “Come on Rei. I know you really don’t want this. Please give me a chance to find a new way in.”
Rei stared incredulously at Jadeite. The display of openness by Jadeite started a war within Rei. Her head reminded her of all the pain he caused, and would cause if given the chance. Rei’s heart told her to trust Jadeite. It reminded her of how she would see him everywhere, even floating above her as she laid in bed. Her head reminded her that saying ‘I love you’ had nothing to do with meaning it.
“Jay, you just don’t get it. You don’t know how many hours I would sit around waiting for a phone call that I knew wasn’t coming. There was a time that I thought you were the one --”
“And now…what about now?” Jadeite eyes were petitioning for a chance. He noticed that she called him Jay. Rei hadn’t used that name since the days before the great battle against Metallia. The mere fact that Rei called him Jay let Jadeite know that she still had feelings for him.
“I’m sick of thinking,” Rei sighed. She pushed the broccolini around the plate. “Actually, there is one thing I still need to know.”
“Anything Rei-hime.”
“The album…you implied that it wasn’t your doing. What did you mean by that? And I want the truth, not your interpretation of it.”
“I’m insulted Hino-san. It wounds me to my very soul that you’d doubt the veracity of my statements.”
Rei rolled her eyes. “Save it Jay. I know you too well.”
Jadeite chuckled. “So you do.”
“Jay…” Rei arched a single eyebrow.
“Okay, okay. Here’s the story. Fujita-sama already had plans for you to cut an album. By the time I took over, all that was left was to get you in the studio. As much as I’d like to take the credit, alas, I can not.”
Rei leaned forward to look deep into Jadeite’s green eyes. “By the heavens, you ARE telling the truth.”
“I am capable of that on occasion.”
“So it seems.” A mischievous smile graced Rei’s face.
@ @ @ @ @
“Haruka, wake up.”
“Michiru, don’t tell me there’s another leak. I was up all last night trying to fix it.” Haruka was dead to the world. She had spent the majority of the previous night and a good part of this day tending to Michiru’s ‘leak.’
“No, it’s nothing like that. Even though I love how you work.”
Haruka blushed. “I know you didn’t rouse me from my sleep to comment on my prowess. What’s going on?”
“It seems that Rei is the third to fall. She just doesn’t know it yet.”
“What makes you say that? As I recall, Rei was adamant about not rekindling a relationship with Jadeite.”
Michiru waved her mirror in front of Haruka’s face. “Rei and Setsuna aren’t the only ones who have the sight.”
@ @ @ @ @
Rei finished off her fresh berries with crème anglais. “Well, this was definitely an enjoyable evening.” Rei ran her fingertip through the remaining sauce. Ever so seductively, she licked the sweet concoction off her finger.
“Uhh…Rei…I don’t think you should do that.” Jadeite’s throat was getting quite dry.
Rei cocked her head to the side. “And why not? You’re paying for this exquisite meal. I would think that you would want me to enjoy it.” Rei batted her eyelashes in a display of feigned innocence. Despite herself, she enjoyed Jadeite’s company. Teasing him almost seemed like second nature. Besides, it’s was fun to watch Jadeite squirm.
Since, he had been honest about the album, Rei figured that she could give him the benefit of the doubt. She slowly was starting to see how her friends fell back into old routines so easily.
“Rei-hime, I am trying to be a gentleman. I don’t know how much visual stimulation I can take.”
Rei smiled at Jadeite. He recognized that smile. It was the same smile he saw at Mamoru’s wedding. That smile was going to be his undoing.
“Jay…”
“What is it?”
“I just wanted to tell you that I’m not like Makoto and Minako.” Rei brushed her bangs out of her eyes. “I can’t just jump into this blindly. I’m going to need time to get used to this.”
“I told you that I’d wait as long as it takes.” Jadeite took a sip from his glass of wine. “But what about Yuuichirou?”
Rei’s eyes flashed an emotion akin to surprise. “Yuuichirou…what about him?” Rei choked out. She didn’t realize that Jadeite knew his name.
“I’ve noticed that you’ve been spending a lot of time with him. It’s the talk of the office. There’s a pool going for when the two of you are going to make it official.” Jadeite tried his best not to sound bitter. He didn’t want to taint this delightful evening with his jealousy.
Rei watched as Jadeite’s eyes changed from a bright green to hunter green. A sure sign that her favorite general was upset. It seems that her dealings with Yuuichirou had affected a certain blond man. She hadn’t meant to hurt Jadeite, just deter him. Rei, now feeling repentant for what she had done, had to find a way to explain her relationship with Yuuichirou.
“Jay, there was nothing going on between me and Yuuichirou.”
“Nothing…” Jadeite was uncertain. There weren’t man men that could resist Hino Rei. He knew that. She knew that. There had to be something more that Rei wasn’t telling.
“Nothing. Let’s just say that I’m not his type.” Rei sipped her Chardonnay.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
AN: Well that’s it. Rei and Jadeite are on the slow road to happiness. Will Makoto be so lucky? You’ll have to wait for the next chapter to find that one out. You know the drill. Read, review, recommend. If you want me, you know how to reach me. If you don’t, then check me bio. Everything you need is there.
Until next time,
The Deadly Diva
Here’s a trivia challenge. There are several songs referenced in this chapter. (For some reason, Rei and Jadeite have a soundtrack playing in my mind.) See if you can identify them. Since I’m not directly quoting, I’ll give full credit on my profile page. I’ll give you a hint; the first line you read begins the challenge.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
I tried so hard to tell myself that you’re gone
Though you’re still with me
I’ve been alone all along
The violin and piano accompaniment tapered off as Rei’s voice faded out. Jadeite’s chest began constricting. A rational man would have attempted to acquire medical assistance. Instead, Jadeite was willing to acquiesce to a heart attack if it would ease his miko’s pain.
He pressed the stop button on the remote control. Jadeite inhaled deeply and let a cleansing breath escape his lips. If there was any doubt before, it was gone now. His life was damned by the fates. How else could he rationalize being so close to having his soul mate back, but not being able to realize his desires?
<<BUZZ>>
“Yes sir,” Noriko said.
“I’ll be out of the office for the rest of the day. Route any important messages to my two-way.”
“Not a problem Jadeite-sama. Is there anything else I should do today?”
A momentary silence confused Noriko. Jadeite-sama could not have left so quickly.
“Jadeite-sama?”
“Yes. There is one more thing. Contact Hino Rei. Tell her that the CEO would like to take her to Jove’s Garden for dinner. See if she’ll agree. If so, make the necessary arrangements.”
“O…kay. Shall I tell her that you’ll be picking her up at 8:15?”
“NO!” Jadeite snapped. “You are not to tell Hino-san my name. In fact, just have a car service pick her up.”
“And what about you sir? Shall I --”
“That won’t be necessary. Remember Noriko-san, under no circumstances are you to tell her who the CEO is.”
“Alright.” Once Jadeite had left, Noriko made all aforementioned arrangements.
@ @ @ @ @
Rei paced around her apartment nervously. She looked at the clock -- 8:10. The car would be arriving shortly. Rei hoped that her strapless red dress wasn’t too much. She didn’t want to give the new CEO the wrong idea.
<<BUZZ>>
Rei walked over and pushed the intercom bottom. “Yes…”
“There is a car down here waiting for you Hino-san.”
“Thank you. I’ll be right down.” Rei grabbed her black swing coat and purse. She turned out the lights as she walked out of the apartment.
@ @ @ @ @
“Just make sure that everything is ready.”
“I’m not sure id I should be doing this. I got chewed out last time got involved in one of these endeavors.” Nephrite was looking over his shoulder for any sign of Makoto.
“Get off it,” Jadeite barked. “You were only too willing to help Kunzite dash Yaten’s dream. That’s why Makoto got mad. What you guys did was malicious. This is different. I am trying to win the heart of a spectacularly beautiful woman, a woman who happens to be one of your beloved’s best friends. I don’t think there will be a problem.”
‘Damn. After all these years, he’s still so long-winded,’ Nephrite thought.
“Nephrite, did you hear a word that I said?”
Nephrite glared at Jadeite. “Fine, fine. I’ll tell Makoto to make the dishes you requested.
“Thank you my friend.” Jadeite bowed to Nephrite.
“Don’t thank me yet. I’ll have to tell Makoto why she’s making the special orders.”
A puzzled look took residence on Jadeite’s face.
“We have a ‘no secrets-no lies’ rule,” Nephrite offered as an answer to Jadeite’s unasked question. “You should try it.”
Jadeite rolled his eyes as he adjusted the collar of his shirt.
@ @ @ @ @
The car pulled up in front of Jove’s Garden. The driver got out of the black luxury vehicle. He opened Rei’s door and helped her exit the car.
“If I may say so Hino-san, you are truly breathtaking this evening. Your young man will have a hard time concentrating on his meal.”
Rei laughed softly at the words of the driver. ‘My young man,’ she thought, ‘The only young man I have likes young men.’
Seeing the driver looking at her strangely, Rei replied, “It’s not that kind of date. This is strictly professional.”
“Oh…well, enjoy your evening Hino-san.” The driver closed the car door. He smiled as Rei gracefully walked into the restaurant.
Rei’s violet eyes scanned the crowd. She then realized that she didn’t know whom she was supposed to be meeting.
“Miss, can I help you?” The maitre’d asked an obviously lost Hino Rei.
Rei blushed. “This is going to sound silly, but I’m supposed to meet the CEO of Galaxy Records for dinner. The problem is that I don’t know his name.”
“Hino Rei-san?” The maitre’d asked.
“Yes…how do you know my name?”
“Your dining companion. The description he left us does you no justice. He did not mention that you were so very dazzling. We have been instructed to indulge your every desire. Please follow me.” The maitre’d replied as he walked toward a secluded table at the rear of the restaurant.
Rei was attracting the attention of many of the restaurant’s patrons. Her exotic beauty coupled with her trek toward the VIP area piqued curiosity. The customers were not the only ones who were captivated by Hino Rei. Jadeite watched as Rei was escorted to her table.
‘It won’t be much longer,’ thought Jadeite.
As Rei was seated, a waiter placed a glass of Chardonnay in front of her.
“Pardon me. I didn’t order this.” Rei attempted to return the glass to the waiter.
“The man you are meeting is running late, so he asked us to bring you a glass of Chardonnay as an apology.”
“Oh…in that case, thank you.” Rei sipped the lemon colored liquid. “How did he know that I liked Chardonnay?” She asked herself.
Rei placed the glass on the table. She searched for a menu. Rei scanned the dining area for an unoccupied waiter. She sighed, as it seemed that no one was available.
“Can’t a girl get a menu in this place?” Rei huffed as she slouched back in her chair.
“Here you go Rei-chan.”
“Thank you.” Rei took the menu offered. It took a few minutes for the voice to register. “Wait…that voice.” Rei turned to see who had been so kind as to give her a menu. As her eyes met the Good Samaritan’s, Rei cringed.
“You…” Rei hissed.
Jadeite smiled cheekily. He wished that he had a camera because the look on Rei’s face was priceless. “Now, now Rei. Is that any way to greet your date?”
“Jadeite, you have to leave. Now. I’m meeting --”
“The CEO of Galaxy Records. I know,” Jadeite replied lazily.
“Well if you know, then you also know why it’s so important that you go. I want to make a good impression.”
“I don’t think you have much to worry about.” Jadeite grinned, letting his business card casually fall onto Rei’s empty plate.
Rei stared at the small rectangular piece of paperboard in disbelief. “You…you are the new CEO,” she whispered. Rei placed her hands at the edge of the table to push herself back. Her hasty retreat was halted by the pleading tones coming from Jadeite.
“Please Rei, don’t go.” Jadeite’s voice cracked.
As Rei was about to verbally drag Jadeite through the seven circles of hell, she remembered the promise she made to Yuuichirou. Rei would definitely make Yuuichirou pay for this. She placed her hands in her lap. Taking a deep breath, she invited Jadeite to sit.
Rei looked at the man sitting across from her. It took all of her self-control not to strangle Jadeite. Moments of silence stretched into minutes. Rei tapped her finger in the tabletop. Jadeite folded and refolded his napkin. Neither was willing to say the first word.
“Here you go.” The waiter set down two plates of seared tuna with broccolini.
Rei looked at the entrée that was placed in front of her. “It’s all coming together now. The wine, the meal. You planned all this.” Rei’s voice was still softer than Jadeite was accustomed. “What about the album?”
“What?”
Rei was looking at Jadeite with rage-filled eyes. “You heard me Jadeite. What about my album? What that a part of your plan too?”
“No Rei. You’ve got it all wrong?”
“Wrong. You think it’s acceptable to dangle my life long dream in front of me for your amusement. And you say I’m wrong?”
Jadeite sat silently while Rei picked him apart. The most unsettling part was that Rei’s voice was barely above a whisper.
“Rei, please. If you’ll just let me explain.”
“Explain? What is there to explain?” Rei sighed and looked toward the ceiling for guidance. She lowered her head and began to speak. “Isn’t it enough that you killed me in my last life and attempted to in this one?”
“Rei…”
“No Jadeite. You’ve proven once again that I can’t trust you. Every time you’re around I can’t tell what your motives are.”
“Rei, I know that it’s going to take time for you to trust me again. I’m willing to give you all the time you need. Just please --”
“No…just stop. I’m not going back. It just wouldn’t work.” Rei’s voice had just a hint of regret. Rei, like all the others, had her memories of the Silver Millennium. It was a time when there was peace among the planets and love guided the stars. It was a time when men were kind and the world was an exciting song. Then came a time when it all went wrong.
“You…you’re never coming back to me. This wasn’t how things were supposed to be.”
“Jadeite, let’s not make this any harder than it has to be.”
“Harder than it has to be? So this is hard for you?” Rei remained uncommunicative. “Come on Rei. I know you really don’t want this. Please give me a chance to find a new way in.”
Rei stared incredulously at Jadeite. The display of openness by Jadeite started a war within Rei. Her head reminded her of all the pain he caused, and would cause if given the chance. Rei’s heart told her to trust Jadeite. It reminded her of how she would see him everywhere, even floating above her as she laid in bed. Her head reminded her that saying ‘I love you’ had nothing to do with meaning it.
“Jay, you just don’t get it. You don’t know how many hours I would sit around waiting for a phone call that I knew wasn’t coming. There was a time that I thought you were the one --”
“And now…what about now?” Jadeite eyes were petitioning for a chance. He noticed that she called him Jay. Rei hadn’t used that name since the days before the great battle against Metallia. The mere fact that Rei called him Jay let Jadeite know that she still had feelings for him.
“I’m sick of thinking,” Rei sighed. She pushed the broccolini around the plate. “Actually, there is one thing I still need to know.”
“Anything Rei-hime.”
“The album…you implied that it wasn’t your doing. What did you mean by that? And I want the truth, not your interpretation of it.”
“I’m insulted Hino-san. It wounds me to my very soul that you’d doubt the veracity of my statements.”
Rei rolled her eyes. “Save it Jay. I know you too well.”
Jadeite chuckled. “So you do.”
“Jay…” Rei arched a single eyebrow.
“Okay, okay. Here’s the story. Fujita-sama already had plans for you to cut an album. By the time I took over, all that was left was to get you in the studio. As much as I’d like to take the credit, alas, I can not.”
Rei leaned forward to look deep into Jadeite’s green eyes. “By the heavens, you ARE telling the truth.”
“I am capable of that on occasion.”
“So it seems.” A mischievous smile graced Rei’s face.
@ @ @ @ @
“Haruka, wake up.”
“Michiru, don’t tell me there’s another leak. I was up all last night trying to fix it.” Haruka was dead to the world. She had spent the majority of the previous night and a good part of this day tending to Michiru’s ‘leak.’
“No, it’s nothing like that. Even though I love how you work.”
Haruka blushed. “I know you didn’t rouse me from my sleep to comment on my prowess. What’s going on?”
“It seems that Rei is the third to fall. She just doesn’t know it yet.”
“What makes you say that? As I recall, Rei was adamant about not rekindling a relationship with Jadeite.”
Michiru waved her mirror in front of Haruka’s face. “Rei and Setsuna aren’t the only ones who have the sight.”
@ @ @ @ @
Rei finished off her fresh berries with crème anglais. “Well, this was definitely an enjoyable evening.” Rei ran her fingertip through the remaining sauce. Ever so seductively, she licked the sweet concoction off her finger.
“Uhh…Rei…I don’t think you should do that.” Jadeite’s throat was getting quite dry.
Rei cocked her head to the side. “And why not? You’re paying for this exquisite meal. I would think that you would want me to enjoy it.” Rei batted her eyelashes in a display of feigned innocence. Despite herself, she enjoyed Jadeite’s company. Teasing him almost seemed like second nature. Besides, it’s was fun to watch Jadeite squirm.
Since, he had been honest about the album, Rei figured that she could give him the benefit of the doubt. She slowly was starting to see how her friends fell back into old routines so easily.
“Rei-hime, I am trying to be a gentleman. I don’t know how much visual stimulation I can take.”
Rei smiled at Jadeite. He recognized that smile. It was the same smile he saw at Mamoru’s wedding. That smile was going to be his undoing.
“Jay…”
“What is it?”
“I just wanted to tell you that I’m not like Makoto and Minako.” Rei brushed her bangs out of her eyes. “I can’t just jump into this blindly. I’m going to need time to get used to this.”
“I told you that I’d wait as long as it takes.” Jadeite took a sip from his glass of wine. “But what about Yuuichirou?”
Rei’s eyes flashed an emotion akin to surprise. “Yuuichirou…what about him?” Rei choked out. She didn’t realize that Jadeite knew his name.
“I’ve noticed that you’ve been spending a lot of time with him. It’s the talk of the office. There’s a pool going for when the two of you are going to make it official.” Jadeite tried his best not to sound bitter. He didn’t want to taint this delightful evening with his jealousy.
Rei watched as Jadeite’s eyes changed from a bright green to hunter green. A sure sign that her favorite general was upset. It seems that her dealings with Yuuichirou had affected a certain blond man. She hadn’t meant to hurt Jadeite, just deter him. Rei, now feeling repentant for what she had done, had to find a way to explain her relationship with Yuuichirou.
“Jay, there was nothing going on between me and Yuuichirou.”
“Nothing…” Jadeite was uncertain. There weren’t man men that could resist Hino Rei. He knew that. She knew that. There had to be something more that Rei wasn’t telling.
“Nothing. Let’s just say that I’m not his type.” Rei sipped her Chardonnay.
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AN: Well that’s it. Rei and Jadeite are on the slow road to happiness. Will Makoto be so lucky? You’ll have to wait for the next chapter to find that one out. You know the drill. Read, review, recommend. If you want me, you know how to reach me. If you don’t, then check me bio. Everything you need is there.
Until next time,
The Deadly Diva