Eien no Rekka - Chapter Ten (Eternal Fire) by Angel Eternal email: angel_eternal_01@yahoo.com **************** A piercing scream rent the air... "Rei-chan!" **************** Disclaimer: I don't own Sailormoon. Heikazui ran down the hallway - cursing for the first time the size of his enormous home. He longed for a cozy home, where he could dash across the hall and gather his sobbing child into his arms. The sight that greeted him however was not the one he expected. A hideous youma loomed over his Rei-chan. She had flung the sheets from her body, and stood defiently in front of the youma. He had never expected to see her like this - not cowering beneath the sheets, but standing, ready to fly at the thing with her nails. "Rei-chan!" Her eyes swung to him. "Otousan! Iie!" The youma turned to him, it's eyes glowing a hellish red. Rei didn't dare attempt a transformation in front of her otousan. One thing - she had no idea of knowing if she would actually transform or if she would be left standing there, desolate and defenseless. A glitter caught her eye, she turned and saw her communicator. What use would that be? But against her every instinct she reached for it. * * * Beep beep! The shrill ring of her beeper caught Makoto off guard. She hadn't heard that thing go off since, her last battle which ended in disaster for her. She reached for it, fear clutching her heart. "Jupiter here." "Mako-chan!" Stunned, she gazed down at a face she hadn't seen for weeks. "Rei-chan!" "Mako - I'm in trouble - the youma is here. And I can't transform - onegai!" "I'll see what I can do Rei-chan - hold on." She saw Rei's tremoulous smile and forced herself to shut down the communication and call the others. * * * They had all gathered at the courtyard of the jinja; they had formed a circle and were trying to concentrate. Tuxedo Kamen touched Moon's shoulder. "I want to go with you." Moon shook her head. "You know you can't." Mercury nodded. "Gomen nasai Kamen - but we can't afford the added strain. Gomen." Tuxedo Kamen nodded, and leaned and kissed Moon on the cheek. "Be careful." he whispered. She nodded, and turned her attention back to the task at hand. Concentrating - the senshi's auras began to emerge. Slowing, the different colours whirled upwards and joined, in a blinding flash. Moon lifted her voice - her destination clear in her mind. "Sailor Teleport!" * * * Rei was finally backed into a corner. Desperation, had turned her eyes a smoky purple. The youma had knocked her otousan unconcious, and she had no idea if he was still alive. The youma leaned in closer, and then it's eyes became a dazzling crystal blue. The dreams that had haunted her for months now, came back to her like a slap in the face. Mesmerized, she stared into the sparkling blue eyes of the youma. 'Koishi...' A shudder racked her body, as deja vu seized her... "Get off of her right now!" The youma spun around, Rei shook her head to clear her mind, and she saw the most wonderful sight she had ever seen. The Sailor Senshi stood before her. Glittering. For a split second Rei understood why countless of people world wide were enamoured with the Senshi - why they had become the subject of fantasies. For the first time Moon had forsaken her trademark speech and merely stood - her blue eyes like daggers. The rest of the senshi flanked her, and Rei was slightly suprised to see all of the Outer Senshi with her. The youma eyed them for a moment and with a swirl of red - it disappeared. "Iie!!!" Moon growled in frustration. She shook her head, and then ran to take Rei in her arms. "Rei-chan!!!" Rei hugged her back, relief washing over her. "Rei-chan, are you alright? What happened?" Rei shook her head, "I can't explain right now - my otousan..." "Is fine." Mercury straigtened after examining Heikazui. Rei smiled at her gratefully, then her eyes misted. "I can't tell you how much I've missed you all!" Moon enveloped her in a fiercer hug then before. Rei glanced over her shoulder, and smiled at the others. Rei finally pulled away. "Minna - I hate to say this, but you guys really have to get going. I don't think I can explain how a group of Japanese superheros ended up in my room in California." Venus nodded, "You're perfectly right Rei-chan." Moon sighed, "Promise me you'll call one of us and tell us what happened." Rei nodded. Silently she watched as the Senshi formed a circle. She saw Moon mouth a farewell, before disappearing in a swirl of gold. "Rei-chan?" She turned and quickly knelt at her father's side. "Hai otousan, I'm here." Dazed, he tried to sit up, rubbing his temple. "Na-nani?" Rei helped him sit up. "It's okay otousan." He turned, dark confused eyes on her. "What happened Rei-chan?" She despied having to lie to him, but lie she must. "A burgler broke in Otousan." "A burgler?" "Hai." "Oh..." Heikazui wondered if he was losing his mind. "I thought I saw...." Pulling on her substantial acting skills, she made her face a study in innocence. "Saw what otousan?" Heikazui shook his head, convinced that he had probably been confusing nightmares with reality. "Nothing Rei-chan - go back to sleep." * * * He had been so close! He almost had her in his grasp. Yet once again, she had slipped away. What was he thinking? His methods were simply not working, he had to find another way. * * * "Moshi, moshi?" "Minako! Where's Usagi?" Minako sat up, smiling, "Rei!!! Usa? She's probably with Mamoru-kun. Daijaibu da?" "Hai, daijaibu." "So are you going to tell me what happened back there?" Rei sighed, unsure what to tell her. "I...I..." "You...you...?" Rei giggled, "Minako! Stop that!" "Then tell me what happened!" Rei sighed again, resigned to telling her everything. "Okay... here's how it goes..." * * * "Really? I hate to say this Jackson, but I think you're right - you must have been dreaming..." Heikazui sighed, and turned away from Cheryl. "I don't know...it was just so real!" Cheryl sighed, and reached over to stroke his brow. "Would you feel better knowing that Rei is safe, back in Tokyo?" Heikazui shuddered. "I don't know if that's such a good idea anymore. I mean, she would be by herself... alone..." Cheryl huffed impatiently. "She'll be fine! She has friends! She's a big girl you know Jackson." He sighed, Cheryl was right. It was not right to offer Rei freedom and then snatch it away from her again the next day. He could only pray that she would want to stay with him, safe. * * * "I really want to stay longer - get to know my otousan more, but do you think it's wise of me to do so?" Minako sighed, "I have no idea what to say to you Rei-chan. Believe me I know how hard it must be to leave. I wish I had the answers- but I can tell you this. We can protect you better if you were here." Rei sighed. "I know that. Kami-sama, do you have any idea how humiliating this is? I have to be protected? No one has ever protected me before." "Rei-chan, we've always protected you." Rei smiled, "Minako-chan, sometimes you know exactly what to say." A knock on her door, caught her attention. "Hang on for a second Mina-chan." she turned to the door. "Come in!" Serena walked in, her always bright smile in place. "Rei, sorry to disturb you but, your father wants you to go to the library." Rei sighed, "Okay, thank you Sere." she turned back to the phone. "Mina-chan? Gomen nasai, but I have to go now." "Okay, Rei-chan, be careful." Rei smiled, "Oh don't worry about me!" Afer exchaging farewells - she placed the phone on it's cradle. She wondered how she was going to tell her father her decision. Checking that her hair was still smooth, Rei stepped out onto the hallway. Cheryl touched her arm. Rei started - still a bit edgy from last night. "Oh... Cheryl..." Cheryl smiled, "Rei darling are you alright? That horrible burgler sneaking through your window like that!" Rei frowned. "Ha...Yes, I'm fine...who told you that the burgler got in through my window?" The 100-wattage smile plasted on Cheryl's face dimmed, "Uh...well...how else would she get in?" "She?" Cheryl fumbled. "Um...yes...your father mentioned it was a woman." Rei frowned. "He did, did he?" Cheryl nodded, her fake smile now completely gone. "I'll let you go to your father now." Rei watched as Cheryl beat a hasty retreat. Her mind was whirling with questions - perhaps some could be answered by her father. * * * A quiet knock broke Heikazui's focus - hoping it was his daughter, he called out. "Come in." Rei peeked in, seeing him, she walked in. "You called for me?" He nodded, "Onegai - sit." he gestured to the plush seat opposite his desk. Rei giggled, "This reminds me of visits to the principal's office. Have I done something wrong Otousan?" "Iie, I didn't ask you to come here so I could reprimand you Rei-chan. I've got questions I want to ask you." Holding up one slim hand, she stopped the barrage of questions, "May I ask you something first?" "Hai, of course." He watched as she drew in a deep breath. "How much of last night's incidents have you told Cheryl?" He was startled, he did not expect her to ask about Cheryl. "Cheryl? Not much - dooshite?" Rei shrugged, "Just curious. Did you happen to mention the burgler's gender?" "Gender? Iie - I didn't mention that." Rei's violet eyes narrowed, "Are you sure? You didn't say he or she or anything like that?" "No - Rei-chan, I'm not sure what I saw - I merely told her that I saw someone threatening you in your room. That is all! I did mention that I thought it was some sort of youma." "You didn't say if it was a male or female youma?" Heikazui laughed, "Rei-chan, it's a youma. Youma's dont' have genders." Rei nodded. He sighed, "Is that it?" "Iie - did you say how the burgler got in?" Slowly, he shook his head, "Iie - we don't know how it got in." he sighed, "Onegai Rei-chan, can I ask you something now." Rei nodded again, she sat back in her chair, and folded her hands in her lap. "I think it's best that you return to Japan - especially in light of what happened." Rei smiled wryly, 'in light of what happened' - he had no idea. It was best that was the case. "Hai Otousan. I was about to tell you, that I would rather go back to Tokyo... " she saw his crestfallen face. "...but I would like it if you visited me." Heikazui nodded. "I know it's best for you. I would like to help you by sending money to help with Otousan's jinja and for more for yourself." A genuine smile lit up her face, "If you think I would refuse you are greatly mistaken." He laughed, "And I was prepared to force this on you." Rei smiled at him, "Otousan - I really do want to spend more time with you - get to know you better, but..." "Hai." he nodded, for one moment looking so tired and old. "I should never have sent you away my rekka." He reached out to touch her cheek, feeling a sudden wave of intense sorrow. She leaned into his hand, cluthcing his hand. "Otousan..." "Iie Rei-chan, you would be safer in Tokyo, and I will visit you." he sighed, "In fact, I already got you a ticket. You leave tonight." Rei's violet eyes widened, "But otousan..." He shook his head, "You may be a young woman, capable of taking care of yourself, but I am still your otousan. I want you on that plane with a minimum of fuss!" Her laugh was shaky, trying to hold back the tears. "Hai, I'll be on that plane." He smiled at her, his eyes shining suspiciously with what looked like tears. "I will ensure it." Rei stood tp leave, then turned to him. "Otousan, do yourself a favour and get rid of Cheryl." He nodded thoughtfully. "Rei-chan!" She turned back. "Why were you asking those questions." Rei shrugged, "Just curious otousan." Heikazui watched her walk out, pondering her questions. He pressed a button. "Have Cheryl attend me." * * * Cheryl followed the young girl to Jackson's study. She checked the mirror - making sure she looked beautiful. She fully expected Jackson to take her into his arms and tell her that the brat was packing her bags and returning to the other side of the world. "Jackson, you called for me?" Jackson looked up from the papers that he was persuing. "Ah - Cheryl. Please s..." She didn't bother to hear his order, and simply sat in the plush chair. "What is it honey?" Heikazui stared at her, wondering what he had seen in her. "Cheryl, Rei is leaving tonight..." Cheryl heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank God!" then she remembered who she was with. "Oh, don't get me wrong Jackson, but I wanted to regain our...privacy." she leaned over to touch his hand. He slipped his hand from under hers, resisting the urge to wipe it clean on his raw silk suit. "Cheryl, let me make this blunt - I want you out of my life. I'm taking you back to your mother's." Cheryl's blue eyes widened, "Wh..wh..what?!" she stammered, unable to believe what she had heard. Heikazui sighed, "You heard me Cheryl." She shook her head, "Jackson...this...you must be joking!" He stared at her, his dark eyes piercing, "What do you know of the burglery last night?" Cheryl stiffened. "What has the brat been telling you?" "Her name is 'Rei' and she is not a brat. It seems you know how the burlger got into her room, and the gender of the said burlger." "Jackson I..." He didn't want to hear the rest of her lies and excuses. He leaned over and pressed a button. "Please escort Ms Cheryl out." * * * Rei stared out of the plane windows, hardly believing that she was on another plane - leaving another country. She had come with a heart full of sorrow - she was leaving with a heart of regret. She had come believing that she would have no one, and discovered that she had a father. She sighed - she was returning to Tokyo - to a life fraught with danger. Knowing she was flying into danger's arms...yet she had no choice... There you have it - this has to be the fastest paced chapter I've ever written. Sorry, but I had some real trouble writing this. It just wasn't flowing. So - I don't think it's very good. Btw - people I need more than 2 reviews to get me motivated. Takala - Travel Dragon; I love you guys thanks for the support - but what about the others out there???