Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Her Battle ❯ Premonition of Death? The Price to Defy Destiny ( Chapter 16 )

LightningStrikes - Sorry, I misinterpreted what you were saying. You don't think I'm making them suffer enough eh, then just wait… Plenty of mental and physical abuse awaits the senshi, its worst for some than others however.

Jamie Daly - You're making me blush with all those nice comments, but you haven't seen anything yet because this story hasn't even reached its climax.

Tenkaichi - Don't worry I won't stop until I've completed this. I've put too much time and effort into this to leave it incomplete. Hell, I've already partially written some of the later chapters. What takes the most time for me is I want stuff to come across a certain way and if it's not satisfactory for me, I won't stop until I get it right. I know almost exactly what I want to happen in all my chapters, but the way I write it has to be satisfying to me before I consider it completed. As for Kirika's portrayal of Rei, I certainly understand why she depicted Rei how she did, but I'm just saying that that was my least favorite aspect of the story; hopefully I can avoid doing it myself. Also, I think you mean chapter 48 not 47, but I know what you're talking about. BTW, why would I kill you?

loco moco - So I did a good job of staying in character with Ami? I was afraid of being OOC with Ami's segment in the last chapter. She is the hardest for me to relate to, of all the SM characters.

Lady Kiraa Vampyre - Luna apologize…maybe…but don't count on it. Luna is smart, but she wasn't told about what happened at the hospital, she's not physic ya know ;)

James/Master - You want my opinion on `Unconditional Love' by Armor King? Sure, but be forewarned I can be a tough critic. Originality - 10, a very original story line that was done well. Readability - 6, he did the same mistake I did early on, chunking conversations together. Plus, an author shouldn't add comments in the actual story another thing he did. Grammar/Spelling - 9, it was very good most of the time, but like everyone mistakes will happen. Characterizations - 5, he lost a lot of points here because of how he portrayed Mamoru. An author's view on a character shouldn't effect how they are portrayed. The only exception is in AU stories. Overall - 7.5, he had a great concept that didn't fulfill all of its potential, IMO.

I'm harsh aren't I? You wanted my opinion, so there you go. Don't think that means I didn't like it because I did, but whether I liked it or not has nothing to do with a critique of a story. After reading that, I'm sure no one wants me to analyze their stories. As for my use of two different names, I signed up at MediaMiner first and that was before I started using Riza as my name. If I knew how to change it there, I would.

There will be less talking from me from now on; I'll let the story explain it's self. Thanks to everyone who said, they don't mind a little waiting. That 14-day thing at the end of the chapter was a flexible thing; maybe I should have said that was more like my goal. I expect all the remaining chapters to relatively long; like this one for instance…

~~~~******~~~~

Chapter 16 - Premonition of Death? The Price to Defy Destiny

~~~~******~~~~

Saburo walked through the long hall that would lead him to his leader, the one who continually asked him to do such ridiculous tasks. Tasks like observing the Sailor Senshi from afar, but never doing anything. Even his most recent task irritated him; follow one lone solider, `The senshi of Pluto I believe I was told she was.' It was all so pointless; the woman didn't seem to have done anything. In fact, she seemed to be following another, a tall human male with black hair and blue eyes. There were times when the woman he was told to watch would just disappear and reappear in a different place, `An annoying woman, that Senshi of Pluto.' Nevertheless, Saburo did as he was told, for he knew the consequences would be worse if he were to lose track of her. So, once Pluto returned to Japan he was told to inform her of it and that was exactly what he was doing.

`What the hell is it with these maze-like halls? It would probably pleasure her if I were to become lost down one of these corridors.' Saburo thought as he finally turned down the last hall that would lead him to her chambers. Something caught his eye as he neared the room, outside the entrance someone was `on display' for anyone to see. `I know who that is…' "Kenjiro!" Saburo shouted and ran up to the restrained youma.

"I wouldn't touch him." Ryuji warned as he walked up behind Saburo.

"What?!" Saburo exclaimed and turned to face Ryuji.

"This is his punishment." Ryuji explained.

"Punishment? For what?!" Saburo yelled angrily.

"For disobeying her." Ryuji replied simply, there was no need to explain exactly whom he was talking about, Saburo knew.

"What did he not follow orders blindly like you?" Saburo asked.

"I merely do what I am told to do. I'm not a hot headed fool like you or your brothers." Ryuji said.

"That's only because my bothers and I have minds of our own!" Saburo said heatedly. Ryuji's red eyes darkened somewhat and he gripped his weapon tighter. "What, no come back?" Saburo taunted.

"You want a come back?" Ryuji asked threateningly.

Ryuji quickly raised his halberd and jabbed Saburo in his stomach with the pole end of the weapon. Saburo fell to his knees and tried to regain his breath from the blow. Ryuji spun the weapon above his head and held the blade in front of Saburo's face, "I should kill you right now. You are nothing but a fool. Do you think your life is held in great esteem? If I wish to, I could squash you like the insect you are. This blade hasn't tasted blood in a long time and I'm sure it thrusts for it."

Ryuji positioned the blade over Saburo's head, "Shinidoki." Ryuji said and brought the blade down.

`Stop.'

Ryuji halted the blade just before it connected with Saburo's head. `Why?' Ryuji asked the voice.

`Don't question me and cool your temper! I will hear his report. So allow him entrance.'

`As you wish.' Ryuji responded and brought his halberd back to his side. "She wishes to hear your report." Ryuji said and opened the large double doors for Saburo, who was still kneeling on the ground. Ryuji waited at the door for Saburo to pull himself to his feet. Ryuji watch him with disinterest, `Weakling.' He thought as Saburo finally reached the door. "I would quicken that pace, if you don't want to upset her by making her wait." Ryuji said smugly.

Saburo gave Ryuji a cold stare as he entered the room. Saburo thought about punching him in his cocky face, but thought better of it and continued inside. Ryuji shut the door loudly once Saburo made it inside.

"You must excuse Ryuji, he's eager for a fight." A voice said from the other end of the room. Saburo didn't say anything, but continued approaching the speaker. "Pluto has returned to Japan hasn't she?"

"Yes." Saburo said simply.

"Tell me exactly what she did as you observed her." She said and leaned forward, awaiting Saburo's report. Saburo relayed everything he saw Pluto doing from her arrival to her subsequent search for a dark haired man to her then following him and finally to her going to the hotel the man had left earlier. She went inside and handed some man behind a desk something before leaving the building. She waited for sometime until that, dark haired man returned and when he did, she watched what occurred inside the building. After a short time, the dark haired man emerged from the building with a suitcase and it was then that Pluto disappeared and arrived back in Tokyo. Saburo decided to leave out the times when he almost lost her because she would disappear and reappear somewhere else.

"This dark hair man…give me a better description of him." She ordered. `Could he be…?'

"The human male was tall, had short black hair, and blue eyes." Saburo described.

"A name, did you hear him called anything?" She asked.

Saburo thought back, `Is this insignificant human that important?' "No. What is so important about this human?"

"That is not your concern." She said sternly. `It must be him. There is no other person she would need to visit; everyone else is here. You may have just made this even easier for me, Pluto.' She thought and smiled to herself.

"Has something pleased you?" Saburo asked.

"I have a task I need you to perform." The woman cloaked in black said.

"What?" Saburo asked curiously, `She probably wants me to watch someone again.'

"How would you like to finally get involved in the action? How would you like to get revenge for Goro and the state Kenjiro is in right now?" She asked.

"Are you saying you wish for me to fight?" Saburo asked.

"If you don't wish to fight I can always turn to someone else. I know Ryuji would be more than willing…" She said.

"No, I will fight. Who is the target?" Saburo asked.

It was hard to see, but Saburo could have sworn he saw an evil smile cross her features. It was gone too quickly for him to be sure though. "Sailor Mars. Can you kill her?"

"Yes." Saburo responded.

"Can you kill her even if she is with the Moon Princess? Can you kill both of them?" She asked.

"Yes." Saburo responded again.

"I'm glad to hear that because that is the task I give you now; kill Sailor Mars and Sailor Moon." She ordered. Saburo nodded and turned to leave, but was spoken to again, "I don't expect you to come back without the heads of two Sailor Senshi." Saburo nodded again without turning around this time.

Saburo pushed the large doors open and found Ryuji in his faithful spot next to the doors. He couldn't help but a comment to guard, "I guess you'll have to wait even longer before you get to fight the Sailor Senshi. It's my turn now." Saburo said cockily but Ryuji remained unemotional. Ryuji watched Saburo walk off slowly, he seemed to be taking his time as he walked away.

Once Saburo had finally gone, Ryuji stepped into the room and shut the door behind him. Ryuji walked across the room with a sinister smile on his face. The seated woman noticed look on Ryuji's face and spoke, "You needn't be so pleased. Saburo's time of usefulness is over."

"So you're sending on a do or die mission?" Ryuji asked.

She smiled evilly, "Ryuji, observe the battle, but only observe. I wish for you to be my eyes and ears. I suspect something interesting will happen tonight. Return once the outcome has been decided."

"As you wish." Ryuji said and bowed before turning around heading out of the room.

The slam of the doors echoed through out the room, signifying that she was alone once again. A wide smile spread across her face as she thought of this new turn of events. `Thank you Pluto. You may have just given my key the push in the right direction.' She thought and smiled even wider. `Perhaps I shall thank you in person; it has been such a long time…'

~~~~******~~~~

"Are you sure you're going to be alright?" Minako asked as she and Rei stopped at the exit to Juuban Central Park.

Rei nodded, "Yeah, I think I can walk myself home." Rei turned toward the street that would lead her to the shrine. Before she could take a step in that direction, Minako started speaking again.

"Are you sure? I could…" Minako started but Rei surprised her by turning around and talking over her.

"Minako, your school starts soon." Rei said quietly. Rei saw a bit of disappointment on her face and frowned a little too. Rei didn't want this to be difficult, because she could understand where Minako was coming from, but that didn't seem to make it any easier. In fact, that only seemed to make it even harder for Rei. "Minako, I want to stay as close to you as I am right now, but you know I can't see you as anything more than a friend. I would only end up hurting you and I don't want to do that. I want to have you with me as the friend you've always been."

Minako felt her chest tighten at Rei's words, but she did her best to keep it from showing outwardly. "I know that Rei. I couldn't ask you to do that. I know how much you…you love her." Her voice faltering a bit at the end, despite the great effort she took to sound calm.

Rei expression became even more downcast at hearing Minako's poor attempt at trying to sound unconcerned. Minako turned her gaze to the ground since she couldn't hold Rei's sorrowful stare any longer, she failed to do the one thing she could do for Rei at the time, keep her composure. Minako jumped a little when she felt a pair of hands on her shoulders.

"You don't have to put up a front for me, Minako." Rei said and Minako gave her surprised look. "I'm physic remember. I can't sense emotions as well as you, but I can sense some feelings" Rei explained and paused for a few seconds, "But even if I wasn't, I know probably better than anyone how you're feeling. I'm hopelessly in love with someone who's in love with someone else too. You're stronger than me though, because at least you had the courage to say something."

"I'm not strong." Minako denied flatly.

"You are. You've encouraged to me talk about how I'm feeling. You've even encouraged me to tell Usagi how I feel. All the while, you must have been hurting like I've been. So you see, you are strong. If I didn't have you to confide in, I think I would have gone mad by now." Rei said and laughed dryly.

"I couldn't have done that much." Minako said.

"No, you have. Your strength has given me the courage to do what I have to do; I'm thankful to you. I hope you don't think poorly of me, but could I ask you to do something for me?" Rei asked

"I could never think poorly of you." Minako said honestly, causing Rei to smile a bit.

"Don't hold back on my account. If there's ever a time you need to talk, I'll listen. I want to help you, as you've helped me. I may not be able to give you what you want, but I'll be the best, best friend I can be. Please, I don't want our friendship to suffer because of this." Rei said almost pleadingly.

Minako looked in Rei's eyes, eyes that held her most sincere wish for them. It was a different wish than Minako wanted, but she could see Rei meant it with all her heart and how could she deny her such a heartfelt wish. If friendship was the most Rei could offer her, she would have to accept that. Deep down Minako knew Rei would tell her this. Sure, there was a small hope inside her too. A hope that Rei would feel the same way about her and run into her arms and kiss her, but this wasn't one of those sappy romance movies that always made Minako cry at the end. This was reality and in reality Rei couldn't feel that way about her, she was too in love with someone else. At this moment, Minako felt that small hope fade out and die. It hurt more than she imagined it would, but even with her hope gone, she didn't feel her feelings leave, `I don't imagine they will.' Minako thought sadly, but also with a bit of acceptance. A lone tear escaped Minako's eye and trailed down her cheek until Rei caught it and wiped it away.

"I don't want it to either. I don't think I could bear it if that were to happen." Minako said softly.

"I'm glad." Rei said and gave Minako a quick hug. "You really should be heading to school now or you really will be late."

"Yeah. You'll let me know if I can do anything more for you, right?" Minako asked.

"You've already done more than enough for me." Rei said honestly. "Now, quit hanging around here and go to school already!" Rei said lightheartedly.

Minako nodded her head, "Ok." Minako said and turned leave, but stopped when a thought struck her, "Do you want me to say anything to Usagi?"

Rei thought for a second before shaking her head, "No, I don't want her to know I lied to her." Minako gave a confused looked, so Rei decided to elaborate, "I told her I was going home, but I didn't."

"Oh, alright then. Will you tell me how it goes?" Minako asked.

"Yeah, I think I'll be going home to consult the Sacred Fire. Maybe it will give me some kind of advice on a way to go about telling her." Rei said hopefully.

"Just do what you feel is right and you'll be fine." Minako said reassuringly.

"Thanks." Rei said.

"I'll see you later than?" Minako said, turning a little away from Rei.

"Yeah later." Rei said and turned in the opposite direction. Minako nodded her head slightly before each girl went their separate ways.

~~~~******~~~~

Makoto walked into the schoolyard and quickly scanned the grounds for any sign of her friend. She smiled a little when her gaze fell on to a sakura tree, because sitting underneath it was Ami, a book in one hand and a sandwich in the other. Makoto watched her and debated whether she should disturb her. Ami looked so content just sitting there and reading. Makoto couldn't understand how she could just spend so much time lost in the worlds created by the authors. She liked to read too, but she was nowhere near the aficionado her blue haired friend was. `I don't imagine many people are though.' Finally she made up her mind, `I want to thank her for last night, the best way I can.' Makoto thought and finally approached the still unsuspecting girl.

Since Ami still seemed none the wiser, Makoto thought, it would be fun to surprise her. Instead of walking straight up to her Makoto took a different route and walked up behind her. Once Makoto positioned herself behind her, she looked over her shoulder to look at what she was reading. "Reading anything interesting?" Makoto questioned loudly.

Ami felt flustered and fumbled with her book. She turned her head to see who snuck up on her. Ami felt her cheeks become warm, she was nose to nose with, "Ma-Makoto?"

Makoto pulled back a little. She felt a little guilty, `I didn't mean to scare her that much, I just wanted to see blush. She looks so damn cute when does.'

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scary you." Makoto said apologized.

Ami shook her head slightly, "It's alright. I didn't expect anyone to talk to me. In fact, why are you here so early any way?" Ami asked.

"Oh right. I just wanted to thank you for what you did for me last night." Makoto said.

"You don't need to thank me. Being able to help you is thanks enough." Ami said and looked away shyly.

"But I want to and I want to thank you in a different way than just in words." Makoto said.

"In a different way?" Ami repeated.

"Yeah, by doing this." Makoto said and sat down next to Ami.

Ami watched her curiously, `What is she doing?' Ami asked herself. When she realized Makoto was moving closer to her, her mind was bombarded by more questions, `Is going to…? Or am I just hoping for too much?' Ami's eyes widen slightly when she realized Makoto's lips were only a few inches away. Ami felt like pushing herself forward a little, `That's all it would take…' but she couldn't seem to do anything under the circumstances. Then suddenly Ami felt Makoto take her hand and hold it up.

"Don't you ever get tired of just eating these all the time?" Makoto asked.

Ami looked over to her hand, where she held a partially eaten sandwich. Ami blinked a few times, `That's all she was doing?' She was so sure it was something else, `I'm thinking too much with heart, instead of my brain.' Ami noticed Makoto was giving her a curious look, `Shoot, I'd better say something.'

"Wh-What?" Ami said unintelligibly. Ami felt like crawling into a hole, `Real intelligent,' Ami chastised herself.

Makoto gave her funny look, "The sandwiches, Ami. Don't you ever get tired of just eating sandwiches? Are you alright Ami?"

"Yeah, sorry I just spaced out a little bit." Ami replied.

"Are you sure? That's not like you, Ames." Makoto said, forgetting about what she was planning.

Ami smiled when she heard the name Makoto called her. She felt special because she was the only one that Makoto called a name that was unique only to her. She was happy that they were close enough to do that. Haruka called Michiru, Michi. Michiru called Haruka, Ruka. Ami even heard Rei call Usagi, Usa a few times.

"Yeah I'm fine. I'm just a little out of it this morning, but I'm fine, Mako-chan." Ami said.

Makoto released Ami's hand and felt her forehead, "You sure?" Makoto asked, still concerned. Ami could feel her skin warm under Makoto touch, "You feel a little warm." Makoto noted.

Ami reached up and took Makoto's hand in her own. "I'm fine." Ami said sincerely.

"Alright, but don't worry me like that." Makoto said, sounding relieved.

"You were worried?" Ami asked.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be concerned about my best friend?" Makoto said happily, as a wide smile crossed her lips.

Ami did her best to smile too after listening to what Makoto just said, but failed miserably. Ami wasn't the kind of person that failed at anything she did and it wasn't from lack of trying that she failed here, `Maybe from trying too hard.' Ami thought and saw Makoto giving her a questioning look. Ami decided to give it another shot, but had about as much success this time as she had the last time, `I can't.'

Makoto's smile fell when she was Ami's less than gleeful expression. `She looks almost depressed, but what did I say?' Makoto thought

"Ami, what did I…?" Makoto started to say when two streaks of blonde caught her eye past Ami's shoulder. "Hey look its Usagi and she's early for once." Makoto said and pointed toward their blonde friend.

Glad for a distraction, Ami looked where Makoto was pointing and asked, "Usagi?" Sure enough, Ami could see Usagi walking into the schoolyard. As strange of an occurrence it was to see Makoto there so early, it was even stranger to see Usagi at school on time. Ami looked at her watch, `Ten minutes till the first bell.' Ami put the watch to her ear, `It's still working.' Ami thought and looked back to Usagi. `She looks like she's thinking about something.'

"I'll call her over." Makoto said and Ami nodded, "Hey, Usagi over here!"

Usagi looked a little startled at someone interrupting her thoughts, but she quickly searched for who called her. Her eyes soon fixed on Makoto, who was waving her over. Makoto sat next to Ami under a near-by tree. `Should I? I don't want to intrude on them if they're having a conversation.'

"Come on Usagi-chan! We've still got some time before school starts." Makoto called and continued waving her over, `Is there some reason she's so hesitant?'

Finally, Usagi started to make her way to the two girls and sat down across from her friends. "Hi guys."

"Hi Usagi, are you alright? I mean it's awfully early for you isn't it?" Makoto asked.

"I'm fine. Rei just woke me up so early." Usagi said and yawned to reiterate her point. Sure, there were other things on her mind, but she didn't want to trouble her other friends with such matters.

"Rei?" Ami and Makoto asked in unison and quite loudly too.

"Oh, I forgot. The two of you left before I could tell you, Rei stayed with me last night. So, needless to say I didn't get as much sleep as I usually do. I had to make sure she was comfortable before I could fall asleep." Usagi explained.

"I thought you were just going to take her back to the jinja." Ami said thoughtfully.

"Well I did think about doing that, but the jinja was attacked once and I have no reason to think our enemy will stop with just that one attack. I don't think the jinja is safe for her right now, and there were other factors too. I didn't want to explain why we brought her back home to her grandfather or explain why she was in the state she was in last night." Usagi said.

"That's understandable, I guess. I called my mom last night and let her everyone fine after the fireworks last night. I told her Rei left her room for a walk around the halls before the `bomb went off.' She told me the police investigated it and concluded the explosion was caused by a bomb. She told me she would appreciate someone telling her in person, she was ready to start calling all of our homes." Ami said.

"Thanks for doing that Ami." Usagi said gratefully.

"So where is Rei now?" Makoto asked.

"Now…" Usagi thought back to the scene she witnessed in the park, "Now, I'm not sure. I think she might have went back home." She lied.

"But you said she was with you, but you don't know where she is now?" Makoto asked.

"Just before I left for school she left and told me she was going home. I don't know if I did something, but she was in a hurry to leave. I even searched for her before coming here, but I couldn't find her." Usagi lied again.

"Jeez, why would she be so reckless?" Makoto said, asking no one in particular.

"I'm sure Rei wouldn't willingly put herself into danger, she can be hot-headed at times she's usually not one to be reckless. Doing that can put her in unnecessary danger." Ami said worriedly.

"I know, that's why I went looking for her. I still have Luna looking for her now, in fact. I don't feel that she's any immediate danger though." Usagi said.

"Why's that?" Ami asked curiously.

"Just a feeling." Usagi said vaguely.

"A feeling?" Makoto asked, but before anything more could be said the school bell echoed through the school grounds.

"Looks like it's time to head to class already. We can talk more at lunch." Ami said and stood up, dusting off some blades of grass that stuck to her skirt.

"Yeah, I'll see you guys at lunch." Usagi said and rushed off ahead of her two friends.

Makoto turned to Ami, "Do you think there's more going on then she's telling us?"

"Yeah, I don't know what though." Ami responded and walked into the building beside Makoto.

"Has Minako shown up yet? I don't think I've seen her." Makoto asked.

"Not that I'm aware. It's unusual that she would be running later than Usagi, you don't think she's sick or anything?" Ami asked.

"Nah, she probably just over slept." Makoto said and stopped before two intersecting halls. "We'll talk at lunch, right?"

Ami nodded her head, "Yeah."

Makoto smiled, "Good, I'll see you then." She said before walking down the hall to the left. Ami smiled too and silently thanked Kami for Usagi showing up when she did, before turned to her right and heading to her first class.

~~~~******~~~~

Rei looked up the steps to her home, `It's good to be home again.' Rei thought and started her ascent. Sure Rei would have been perfectly content stay at Usagi's house, but she didn't want to risk a replay of this morning. `I want to tell her in a way that is meaningful, not by a slip of the tongue or bad gesture. In order to figure out what that right way is I just need to put a little distance between her and I.'

Rei was too deep in thought to notice a small black cat sitting in one of the many trees that lined the stairs. `So she did go back home. Maybe Usagi was just over thinking things.' Luna thought and leapt from the tree. `It probably isn't the best idea for me to speak with her. I'll just let Usagi know that she did make it back home.' Luna thought and hurriedly left the jinja, still unnoticed by the miko.

Once Rei was nearly at the top of the steps, she spotted Yuuichirou dutifully sweeping by the entrance of the main jinja. Rei didn't say anything to alert Yuuichirou of her presence, she merely continued toward the shrine entrance. `I just want to meditate, I'm sure I'll feel better after I do that.'

Yuuichirou finally around to sweep the next step, only to drop his broom and come face to face with the raven haired miko of the shrine. "R-Rei-san? I-I thought you weren't released yet?"

Rei leaned down, picked up the broom, and handed it back to Yuuichirou, "I couldn't stay there any longer. Where's Jii-chan?" Rei asked and scanned the grounds for the old man.

"I-I last saw him by the omikuji tree." Yuuichirou said, still a little shocked by the miko's presence.

"Alright, I'm going to speak with him and let him know I am indeed out of the hospital." Rei said and headed to the omikuji tree. As Rei past Yuuichirou he opened his mouth as if he was going to say something else, but Rei just continued past him, not even noticing Yuuichirou had something more. Yuuichirou closed his mouth and turned his eyes to the ground and just stared there for a few moments before resuming the sweeping again.

As Rei approached the tree she could see the short old man looking up at the tree as the paper-covered branches blew in the wind. Rei walked up quietly behind her grandfather and stood there for a few seconds before speaking, "I hope there was good fortune today."

"R-Rei? What are you doing here? You didn't leave without a doctor's consent, did you?" Grandpa Hino asked.

"It wasn't like that Jii-chan." Rei explained.

"Then the doctors said it was ok for you to leave?" He asked.

"Not exactly." Rei said guiltily.

"Rei! I thought you agreed that you would listen to and do what the doctors told you to do." Grandpa Hino said disapprovingly.

"I did, but I got a bad feeling about the place that told me I had to leave. I trust my instincts Jii-chan and my instincts told not to stay there. I'll go see Ami's mom tomorrow if it will make you feel better." Rei said. This was the reason she was so leery about coming home, she knew she would have to explain to her grandfather why she left the hospital.

"It would make me feel better." He said with a sigh of relief, "I just worry about you, Rei, but you know I trust your judgment."

"Thanks Jii-chan." Rei said and turned to enter the main shrine.

"Rei." Grandpa Hino called, causing Rei to turn back to the old man, "You should rest today. I've already delegated Yuuichirou with his duties for today so we don't need you to overexert yourself by working too hard. So you just rest today, we can take care of the jinja by ourselves today."

"Thanks Jii-chan." Rei said and continued inside.

Once his granddaughter was inside he looked at the fortune he held in his hand again, `Today holds bittersweet reunions.' the thin piece of paper read. The old priest folded the paper and tied it to a low branch before walking away from the tree to speak with Yuuichirou.

~~~~******~~~~

Usagi walked out the school building and headed to her favorite spot to eat her lunch. It was a bench positioned perfectly under a sakura tree. The tree offered enough protection from the sun on warm days, but also let in enough rays to light up the spot. Usagi placed her bentou on the bench and looked around the schoolyard to see most of her classmates already digging in their lunches. Usagi spotted two of her friends sitting with each other; Makoto and Ami asked if she wanted to sit with them but Usagi declined. She just wanted to sit alone and think. Usagi smiled as she watched the two girls share the bentou Makoto had prepared, `Together like that they almost look like…'

"Usagi?" A familiar voice called.

Usagi turned to her left to see who she knew called her name, "Minako?"

"Can I sit with you?" Minako asked.

"Sure." Usagi said and moved her bentou to her lap. Minako arrived ten minutes late to class; she and Usagi have the same first class. Minako said she was sorry, but had over slept; Usagi knew that wasn't the truth, not she intended to rat out her friend. She felt like she was in an awkward position though. She wanted to talked to Minako like they always did in class, but the only thing on her mind was what Rei wanted to tell her and since Minako knew she wanted to ask her, but that would mean admitting to eavesdropping. And then Minako wasn't making much of an effort to talk with her either, they only exchanged hellos and Minako sat in her seat near to her. Usagi turned to Minako and opened her mouth to speak, but Minako surprised her by talking first.

"Usagi, do you think there is someone out there for all of us?" Minako asked quietly and paused to look through the leaves to a nearly cloudless sky.

"Minako, what…?" Usagi started to asked, but Minako spoke over her.

"Or are we doomed to live lonely lives for all eternity?" Minako asked sadly.

Usagi stared at Minako for a few moments, unsure of what to say. She hadn't seen her friend this unsure about herself before, not about love at least. She always seemed to have the answers when it came to matters of the heart, but now the self-proclaimed Goddess of Love was asking her for advice. Her love life was by no means perfect at the moment, a few months ago maybe but not now. After a few more moments of thought she spoke, "I think there is someone out there for everyone, you included. Maybe you just haven't found the one that completes you?"

Minako shook her head, "What if that person already loves someone else?"

`But I thought…? Why do I get the feeling that there is some hidden message to what you're saying, but what and who are you talking about?' Usagi thought, but refrained from actually asking because if Minako was saying who she must have a reason. Usagi startled a little Minako by putting her arm around her shoulders, "Then maybe that is not the right person for you, but you're strong one of the strongest people I know and I've never known you to get like this. Have you at least told this person?" Usagi asked.

`Strong, that's the same thing Rei said.' "Yeah." Minako answered simply.

"And what did that person say?" Usagi asked cautiously. She didn't want to make Minako feel any worse but it might help her to talk about it too.

"That they only wanted to be friends." Minako replied.

"And what does your heart tell you?" Usagi asked.

"That if that is all that person can offer, then I can accept that. It just makes me think I won't have anyone in my life that will love me as I love them, it's a lonely feeling you know?" Minako said sadly.

Usagi nodded her head, "You know everyone is here for you, so you don't have to feel lonely. I just know that you will find someone, someday, and you shouldn't think any other way either."

"Thanks Usagi, I glad I talked with you. Just don't tell anyone about this, it'll ruin my reputation." Minako said and smiled warmly.

"I promise not to. I'm happy that felt you could come to me and talk about this." Usagi said and smiled too before speaking again, "If only we could something about them." Usagi joked and looked in Ami and Makoto's direction.

"You know?" Minako asked quickly.

"It's not too hard to see." Usagi said and notice Minako giving her a curious look, "I'm not as dense as everyone thinks I am. I can see these things too." Usagi said before leaning next to Minako's ear to whisper something, "Maybe we can play matchmaker?" Usagi asked impishly, causing Minako to laugh.

"Maybe, they are cute together." Minako said once her laughter died down. `If she can see how they feel, maybe she already knows or has at least a suspicion about Rei. That might make it even easier for her then.' Minako thought hopefully, for Rei's sake at least.

The two girls continued discussing how they could get their two, other friends together until the bell rang to signal the end of the lunch period, "Aw man, I talked so much I didn't even eat!" Usagi exclaimed and quickly opened her bentou to eat as much as she could before she had to go back to class.

"Don't eat too fast, you'll get sick." Minako commented as she watched Usagi eat her food at an amazing pace.

"But…I'm…hunger." Usagi protested between bites of food.

Minako shook her head slightly and stood up, "I'll see you in class when get there." Minako said before walking to the building. Usagi merely nodded, so she didn't waste too much time talking when she could be eating. Minako nodded back and continued into the building for her next class.

~~~~******~~~~

`How does one go about confessing their eternal love to someone? Someone they've loved for so long, but held it all inside for just as long?' Rei pondered and laid back on her futon. Rei looked up at the ceiling as if it held all the answers she was looking for. `Just sitting here isn't helping anything. It's about time I asked the Sacred Fire my questions.' Rei thought and sat up.

Rei walked over to her closet and pulled out a kimono. She kept a number of kimonos inside her closet, along with her school uniform. All her other outfits that she would wear outside of school and the jinja were kept in her dresser. Rei removed her shirt and skirt and folded them neatly on her bed, `You're too nice Usagi. I wonder if you will stay like that after I tell you what I have to tell you, Usagi. I wouldn't be surprised if she were discussed with me and told me she didn't want me as her bodyguard anymore.'

Rei slipped on the kimono she had picked out, `No, if I'm pessimistic I won't have a shot. And, what did Minako tell me? To do what feels right and everything would work out fine.' A smile crossed her lips, `It wouldn't hurt to be as optimistic as Minako is sometimes.' Rei thought and headed to her bedroom door.

Rei slid the door open and exited her room. She started to head to the fire room, when a thought struck her, `I should tell Jii-chan that I'm going to meditate, so he doesn't worry.' Rei turned around and headed outside, to where she knew her grandfather would likely be. When she made it outside Rei could see her grandfather arranging the charms that they sold. "Jii-chan?" Rei called.

The short bald man turned to his granddaughter, "Oh, Rei! I thought you were going to rest. Yuuichirou and I don't need your help today, it would be better if you rested for today."

"Thanks Jii-chan, but I really want to mediate today. Being with the Sacred Fire helps me feel better too." Rei said.

Rei's grandfather gave her a disapproving look, "Yes, but mediating also puts a strain on your body. I'm not sure if you should be doing that so soon after leaving the hospital."

"You worry too much Jii-chan. I'll be fine." Rei assured him. Rei knew he was worried, but she really needed to do this. If only to put her mind at ease, she needed to see if the Sacred Fire had any helpful advice. `I might even be able to get some insight into our enemy or maybe how they seem to know who I am.' Rei thought.

"You know I can't stop you, but will you at least promise me something?" Grandpa Hino asked.

"Sure." Rei replied.

"Don't spend hours in there, like I know you've done before." He said.

"I won't. What I have to do won't take hours." Rei said and kissed the old man on his baldhead. Rei turned back to the shrine and to her destination, the fire room.

Rei reached the fire room and slid back the door to enter the room. Once inside she was bathed in the light of the large fire. Rei slid the door shut and approached the fire, "Please help me here as you always have." She begged the fire. Rei knelt in front of the Sacred Fire and tucked some stray strains of hair behind her ear before starting to concentrate. Rei did her best to clear her mind of unnecessary thoughts and focused on how to tell Usagi and what she could expect to happen.

After a few moments, Rei started chanting the words that would give her foresight, which would hopefully give her the answers she was looking for. Even though Rei was asking the fire specific questions she had no control over what knowledge the fire would impart to her, but she hoped if she focused hard enough then the fire would see fit to give her some of the answers she was looking for.

Rei continued her chants for several minutes, but was getting no response. She could feel frustration building up, but she refused to let it affect her because if she lost her concentration she would have to start all over again and she didn't want to have to that. She continued chanting and for a second she thought that she saw something in the flames, but it was gone too quickly for her to know for sure. `Please, I've never asked for anything from you before. I've always let you show what you wanted to show me, but just this one time show what I want to know. This is my dearest plea to you.' Rei spoke to the fire mentally. Finally, she could see something in the flames and it was rapidly getting clearer. Rei smiled to herself, `Thank you for answering my request.'

As the image cleared up her smile faded, `No, this isn't…' she thought as realized the image was. In the image, she could see a woman with long black hair similar to her own standing in a burning field, smiling. It was not smile of happiness, behind the smile was malice and cruelty. The flames, not the flames of the Sacred Fire, the flames of the field, surrounded the woman but she continued to smile. Rei shut her eyes tightly and tried to will away the image, but when she opened her eyes, the image was still there. Rei shook her head and stood up, backing away from the Sacred Fire and hurried to the door. She stumbled as she stepped through the door and fell to the ground, barely getting her hands in front of herself to brace her fall. `She looked like…like…me.' Rei thought and shut her eyes once again. This time not willing them to open, it was until then that she realized she was too tired to open them anyway so she lowered her head to the ground. The last thing she heard was the rapid footsteps of someone running on the wooden floor.

End Ch. 16

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Do you still think Pluto is the villain, fan-rei? ; ) I hope I've put those fears to rest with this chapter, but this probably brings up even more questions, right? I expected to get more done with this chapter than I did, but I think this chapter was long enough. I wasn't sure as to what the fire Rei reads is called, Sacred Fire or Great Fire or something else so I went with Sacred Fire.

Just so that everyone knows, I know Minako goes to a different school then Usagi, Makoto, and Ami, but I changed that. I'll be giving the next two chapter titles in Japanese, for reasons I'll explain at the end of chapter 18. I won't tell what the titles mean in English until the beginning of chapter 19, just to give everyone a little bit to think about, especially if you don't know any Japanese.

Japanese - English

Shinidoki - Time to die

Omikuji tree - Fortune tree (This is the tree that Rei ties the fortunes to)

Oh, I just wanted to say happy holidays to everyone (even if it's a little late) and happy New Year (in a few days anyway). The next chapter might take a little time to come out, just to be forewarned, I hope this long chapter will tide everyone over until then ; ) Ja minna-san.