My already vetoed Ficathon entry.

[antivanruffles]

If things continue this way, I think I'll end up with 10 new journal entries and nothing for Ficathon. HAHAHAA!!!

I discarded this one because it just didn't feel right. And possibly it was a little too loose with the theme? I don't know?




It wasn’t something she would admit aloud to anyone. Ever. It was something so completely unlike her, that she was embarrassed by it. So it remained something that no one knew…

Hino Rei collected Fairy Tales.

It had started when she was a young girl and her mother had given her a collection of children stories, and from there had blossomed into a full on obsession. She now had stories from all over the world, and the older the better.
She hid them in her room and late at night she would pull them out and let herself be carried away to faraway lands full of chivalry, charming princes, and happy endings. 

But never did she allow her imagination to picture herself as the princess; her life was not that perfect, and it was all better left to Usagi.

****

When the Shitennou returned Rei felt a myriad of things; anger at their betrayal and  resentment for losing them in the first place. She felt fear and panic, hared and loathing. She was bitter and cynical.

She fought and argued with herself and never gave into the hope that wanted to bloom in her heart.

Late one night she found herself laying in bed wondering where he was, what he was doing, and then she rolled on her side, looked at her books, and cursed herself a fool; her life was not that perfect.

Her life was not a fairy tale.

****

It was a warm summer evening when Rei found the package on the front steps of the shrine. A simple parcel, wrapped in plain paper, with a surprisingly elegant purple bow that matched her eyes.

She unwrapped it with trepidation, and pulled back the paper to reveal an antique copy of  The Raven by the Brother’s Grimm, she wondered how he knew it was her favorite, and where he might be.

In answer a neatly folded note fell out of the binding to the ground. She bent to scoop it up and found a quick note asking her to meet him with an address scribbled out on the bottom.

Going completely against her better judgment she went inside to get a jacket and left before she could talk herself out of it.

****

She arrived at her destination, an extremely expensive looking restaurant, a short time later and went inside. The maitre d’ was expecting her and showed her to the patio in the back before taking his leave.

It was alight with paper lanterns, vases of Casablanca Lilies covered the space, and there were odes to several fairy tales strewn about. Ranging from the simple;  a miniature glass slipper and pumpkin. To the more elaborate; a spindle with bundles of straw and a fine gold colored thread flowing out.

Letting go of the cool demeanor she showed the world, Rei smiled. A soft rustle of cloth alerted her to the presence of another person and she turned to face him.

He was smiling softly, shyly.

“You shouldn’t have done this Jadeite.” She tried to make her voice sound scolding, but it was more wistful.
“They call me Jamie now, Aithne.”

“And they call me Rei.”

“Fair enough.” He took one step closer and she took two back.

“Why did  you do this?”

“I just, that is I wanted.. ” he stopped and ran a had  through his hair, looking for the right words. Sighing his resolve he continued. “I was selfish, I wanted to see you smile and know that I had been the one to put it there, not take it away.”

Rei drew herself up to her full height and, crossing her arms over her chest, give him the haughtiest look she could muster. “All this, for one smile?”
 
A rueful smile touched his lips as he surveyed his handy work rather than look at her. “I suppose there’s more to it than that, but I don’t dare let myself hope too much.”

She sighed.  “Jadeite…”

“Jamie,” he corrected softly. But before she could continue he held up a hand to silence her. “Don’t. I know, better than you can imagine.. I know.”

Without another word he turned and started to head back inside.

“Jamie.” Her voice was nothing more than a whisper but it echoed in his ears louder than the pounding of his heart. He stopped and turned back to look at her.

Her life was not perfect. She was not perfect and neither was he.

Rei walked forward and stopped at arms length to stare up into his sky blue eyes. She reached forward and placed a hand on the back of his neck and dragged his mouth down to hers.

But together they had something that was perfect.

The only contact between them was there lips warring together and her delicate hand gripping his neck, but they could feel each others heat and power radiating through their clothes. They could feel the lust burning brightly enough to consume them.

Together they had something most people didn’t have, something that made for the perfect fairy tales.

They had love.