Eien no Rekka - Chapter Eight
(Eternal Fire)
by Angel Eternal 
email: angel_eternal_01@yahoo.com


Disclaimer: I don't own Sailormoon....I will never own
Sailormoon



Hino Heikazui  scanned the crowd, hoping for a glimpse of her. 
He hated airports - more like he hated waiting at the airport. He 
kept thinking that somehow he had missed her...
He saw a young girl, with short black hair. Smiling, he took
a step towards her....then stopped when he saw her dash into a
waiting father's arms. It wasn't her.
"Otousan?"
He almost didn't hear the low whisper in the hubbub around him -
almost. He turned and saw a beautiful young woman, with long
ebony hair caught up in a ponytail - her large violet eyes dimmed
with fatigue and sorrow.
For a moment he thought it was his long dead wife. Then he
shook his head slightly - iie it couldn't be his Umi.
"Rei?"
Slowly, she nodded. "Hai."
They stood facing each other awkwardly. There was no joyous
hugs, and warm kisses; just this uncomfortable silence.
"Welcome."
"Arigatou."
Searching for something to say, he shuffled his feet nervously.
"You must be tired - come, I'll take you home."
She bowed once more, "Arigatou otousan."
Otousan - no one has called him that for a long time.
Silently, he turned and led her to the waiting limosine. 
Her blank expression didn't change when she saw the limo.
Becoming nervous now, he escorted her into the car. Seated
across from her, he had an oppurtunity to study her.
She had grown into a beautiful young woman. She really did
resemble his Umi - especially the eyes. A rich vibrant violet -
such a rare colouring. Her ebony hair contrasted with her light
skin, making it look whiter than it really was. He once again
noticed the dark circles under her eyes - she hadn't been getting
much rest. He suspected that his daughter had taken care of
his father in the last months.
She had grown to be composed as well - perhaps her time
in the jinja had contributed to that fact. She was priestess-trained.
She had the calm and control of one, gone were the rash, fiery
remarks, the fast movements. There was no trace of them. His
Rei-chan. Gone. Instead was this quiet, graceful replica. It was
unnerving. But it had been eight years. Eight long years...

*		*		*

Rei refused to give into the bone numbing exhaustion that swept
over her. She slipped out of the limo. A little stunned, she stared 
at the large imposing building her otousan called home. 
Silently, she followed him into a marble foyer. She gazed up at
the regal staircase.
"Jackson! Thank God you're back!"
Rei watched as a whirl of gold and white descended down the
staircase. The whirl stopped directly in front of her otousan, and
features immerged.
It was a beautiful woman - perhaps not that much older then Rei
herself. She had long flowing golden hair - reminiscent of Minako's
hair, but no where near as long. Her eyes were a brilliant green,
with none of the warmth and depth of Makoto's.
She flung her arms around Rei's otousan.
He pulled back, and turned her towards Rei.
"Cheryl I want you to meet my mesume, Rei-chan."
Cheryl looked up at him, confused, "What?"
He coloured, he had been speaking Japanese to his daughter,
that he had said the introduction in Japanese.
"I am sorry Cheryl - may I introduce my daughter - Rei."
Cheryl's smile was clearly forced - she smiled at Rei.
"Oh hello! So nice to meet you!"
He could see that she didn't quite understand the simpering
Cheryl, he translated.
Rei bowed to her, keeping silent.
Cheryl frowned down at her. "Doesn't she speak any
English, Jackson?"
'Jackson' frowned down at Cheryl. "She has lived eight
years in Japan Cheryl..."
Rei interrupted him, speaking in halting, heavily accented
English, "I can understand and speak English."
Cheryl glanced at her, blinking. "I suppose you can dear."
She started to tug on 'Jackson's' arm. He brushed her
aside for a moment, turning to Rei, "Rei-chan, maybe
you should go upstairs and rest."
Rei bowed, "Otousan, I don't know where to go."
He gestured and a young girl stepped forward, "Take
Miss Rei to her room."
Rei bowed once more, "Arigatou otousan."
He nodded, and turned to Cheryl.
Rei followed the girl up the stairs. Their voices drifted
up to her.
"She is so...striking Jackson."
"Yes, she resembles her mother strongly. She was
a beautiful woman."
"As beautiful as me?"
"Of course not Cheryl."
The girl showed her room and offered her a tentative 
smile. Rei returned the smile warmly. The girl started
to chatter to her, as she parted curtains and turned
down bed covers.
Rei couldn't quite follow what the girl was saying - she
spoke too fast.
The girl seemed to finally notice Rei's exhaustion, and
her speech slowed enough for Rei to be able to follow
it with difficulty.
"You must be tired from that long trip - come, take
a nap, I'll wake you when it's time to prepare for dinner."
All Rei could manage was a slight nod of thanks. The girl
0left her and she collapsed on the bed.
She was so tired, and alone. The tears that she had been
keeping back since her grandfather passed away, had
to find release. Like a flash flood, they poured forth, in
all their anguish. 
Finally, compeletely drained, she fell into a dreamless
sleep.

*		*		*

She had finally awoken, eyes red and aching, but she 
didn't feel as wretched as before. Sighing, she sat up 
and noticed that her suitcases were gone. Wondering
where her belongings went, she turned to the dainty
dresser. She opened a drawer and found her brush,
and others. Someone had unpacked for her.
Her hair had begun to fall from the ponytail she had
put it in. She pulled it down, and brushed out the 
heavy strands.
She still couldn't believe that she was here. It all 
seemed surreal somehow.
There was a knock on the door, Rei turned and went 
to the door and opened it.
There stood the young girl, who smiled at her
engagingly.
"Oh Miss Rei! Your hair is so long and beautiful!"
Before Rei could process the compliment in her
mind, the girl rushed on. "Miss Rei, you will
have to be dressed for dinner - I suggest that
delicate purple dress - with the chiffon? The 
colour matches your eyes perfectly!"
Rei held up her hand, "Oneg..." she stopped 
herself, remembering. "Please, speak slower, my
English is not so good."
The girl smiled, "Oh I forgot! Your Japanese! Okay
then, I'll get the dress." she went to the enormous
built-in wardrobe and lifted out one of Rei's dresses.
"This, it's perfect for your first dinner back home."
she laid it on the bed, and looked up at her. "Miss
Rei, you are so beautiful!"
This time Rei understood her, and shook her head,
"I think not...what's your name? I never caught it."
The girl laughed, "That's because I never said it -
my name is Serena." (AN: I couldn't help it! No
it's not Usagi at all!)
Rei smiled, "Please call me Rei - I'm sorry, I don't
speak English very well."
Serena smiled, "Oh no! You speak wonderfully!"
She turned and held up the dress. "Here - wear it."
Serena left Rei to make her own preparations - 
winking at her as she walked out.
Rei held up the dress - smiling to herself. Hai, she
knew she looked good in this dress....

*		*		*

Cheryl glided into the dining room, wearing her finest
black dress. She stopped when she saw Jackson 
assisting the brat into her chair. Her chin lifted and 
her back became stiffer.
Jackson glanced up at her, his dark eyes not lighting
up as they usually did when he saw her. "Ah, there
you are Cheryl."
She forced a smile and glided to the seat opposite
the brat.
The brat looked up at her, as she slid into her seat.
She was wearing a dress of violet silk that matched
her irrisident eyes. Her raven hair which was before
pulled away from her face, was now flowing free.
She inclined her head slightly, acknowledging Cheryl.
Cheryl refused to return the gesture.
"Darling Rei! Don't you look like the little lady!"
She stared at her, speaking slowly, "I should hope
so Miss Cheryl, I am eighteen."
Cheryl was a bit stunned, she had known when she
first set eyes on Jackson's daughter that she was no
'girl'. But to learn that she was so close to her in 
age was a bit disturbing.
Throughout the meal, Jackson hung onto every
word that spilled from the brat's red mouth. They
spoke in soft, rapid Japanese. 
The brat stood up, bowing to Jackson, she mumbled
some excuse.
Cheryl smiled at her, relishing the fact that she was 
going.
Cheryl turned her attention to Jackson.
"Jackson...darling...how long is little Rei staying with
us?"
He frowned at her. "This is her home Cheryl. She 
belongs here. I for one, am relishing getting to know
my daughter better."
Cheryl sat back, astounded at the cold tone that he 
had used. Jackson never spoke to her like that. Never.
He stood up. "If you don't mind, I'd like to retire now.
It's been a long day."
Still unable to speak, she watched as Jackson strode
out. Fury and insane jealousy possessed her. 
Glaring at his retreating back, she vowed that Rei Hino
wasn't going to stay to undermine her.



Okay that's it! Sorry, this took longer then expected!
Comments and criticism welcome!


mesume - daughter