Chapter 6

After an uncomfortable end to breakfast, Janus and Zoite had ridden to town to see how things had fared during Janus's absence. Janus also wanted to show his friend around the place so he could familiarize himself as soon as possible.

Back at the house, Lita and Ami were preoccupied, thinking to themselves as they cleaned the three guest rooms that had become occupied the night before. Rei was contemplating the supplies in the pantry with a furrowed brow and a rambunctious toddler struggling to get out of her arms.

Mina had decided to escape the stormy atmosphere of her house, and Kunshan had looked bored and nervous, so she had invited him on a tour of the town. He had agreed, and as they walked together, he was careful to steer her out of the way of any residual mud puddles. Laughingly, she said, "I can see where the puddles are, thank you."

Turning beet red, he let go of her arm and mumbled, "My apologies."

He was jolted out of admiring the scenery when she took his arm again confidingly, with a soft smile. "No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to tease. I just meant, I can look out for myself."

Kunshan smiled back, and as they walked on, she kept holding onto his arm, and he didn't think of protesting or pulling away. As they strolled on, he watched her animated movements and bright smile. She introduced him to several people they met, as a friend, and he smiled politely. He was surprised when Mina had called him a friend, but he supposed that she considered a friend of Janus's a friend of the family's.

Which reminded him–he still had to ask what was going on between Janus and the oldest sister...Reiliana? Yes, Rei, as Janus called her. And why Zoite had kept eyeing that other dark-haired sister...what was her name again? Kunshan's abnormally high spirits fell slightly. He had gone with them for a vacation, and he hadn't anticipated any romantic tangles. And yet...as he looked down at the shining golden head at his side, he felt old and only semi-alive, compared to her lively manner.

Minalia greeted everyone with the same amount of warm cheeriness, and her smile was returned in full force by everyone she greeted, no matter how dreary they had looked before they had come upon her. Those that had been happy already felt their joy increase as they looked upon her sunny visage. She was hope, he realized, hope, and light, and love.

He knew he couldn't match her, but he strived to come to life then, smiling at those they passed, taking a cordial interest in those he met, and being altogether charming. Mina seemed to sense the change in the sober, solemn young man beside her, and her mood was the gayer for it. Their walk had just been coming to a close, as they reached the end of the main street and prepared to return to the house, when two haggard men stumbled out of what appeared to be a disrespectful establishment into the bright daylight. One of them leered at Mina, and she gave him a cold look. Kunshan tensed when their bloodshot eyes fell on him, but they decided he was too much of a fight in their condition and ambled on. Tersely, he asked, "Does this happen often?"

"What?" she asked, as calm as the clear skies above them.

"You know–drunks doing or saying inappropriate things to you?"

She smiled gently. "I can take care of myself. Today, you were here, so what's the problem?"

"Mina. I'm serious."

"Where's the ‘Miss Bliss?'" she inquired teasingly. When his brows slanted downwards alarmingly, she added quickly, "Lita taught us all how to fight. For self defense. Nothing has happened before, I swear. I'm tougher than I look. Besides, we don't come to town at night."

His smoky gray eyes met her guileless blue ones for several seconds before he sighed and consented to her pulling him back onto the dirt road that led back to the house. "I can't believe they drink at this time of the morning."

Shrugging, Mina replied, "It's a problem around here. The law isn't strong enough, and those who want to do lawless things think it can't touch them if they're this far out west. It's good that Janus has come back, even though they handled things all right without him. And he's brought Zoite to help. Zoite's a good sheriff."

Nodding slowly, he asked, "How do you know him? Zoite?"

"Oh, he was the sheriff of the town we came from." Winking at him, Mina lowered her voice conspiratorially and murmured, "If you ask me, I think he's sweet on Ami. You know–my second oldest sister."

Ah. So that was her name. Kunshan frowned slightly, not wanting to discuss the subject in any more detail. "So...about those men. No one pays much attention to things like this?"

Quietly, she said, "No one wants to get seriously involved, Kunshan. They have wives and children. Those families wouldn't be able to make a living without the men as the leading breadwinners. There are very few opportunities for women out here; we're an exception."

He was still shocked over the ‘families' part. "What? They have wives and children, and they spend the entire night in taverns? It's just as bad this way if they drink up all their pay!"

Mina stopped then, and she turned to face him. Her voice was soft as she responded, "I agree with you, Kunshan. But there's not much we can do." Her tone grew lighter as she smiled her most brilliant smile and remarked, "You'd make a good husband. And a good father. Are you married?"

Taken aback, he ran a hand through his silvery, platinum-blond hair. "No...no, I'm not married."

"Why not?" she asked bluntly, without the faintest trace of embarrassment.

"I guess I just haven't found the right girl," he said, and as his eyes met hers, she flushed suddenly and looked away, while he stared at her in confusion. Attempting a bit of levity, he commented, "You must have more admirers than you want. Haven't you found anyone to marry?"

She smiled wistfully. "Oh, I've found a lot I'd marry in an instant, if they'd have me. I just haven't found anyone to love yet–and that's the important thing, Kunshan Bayonne. To find someone you'll be happy–blissful–with your entire life."

Just to have something to say, Kunshan said, "You must have very high standards, Miss Bliss."

"You called me Mina before," she pointed out. And then she said quietly, so quietly that he wasn't sure if he had heard her right, "You have no clue how desperate I am, Master Bayonne."
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Janus returned, having left Zoite to read over reports in his office, to find Lita and Ami up to their elbows in dirt, weeding the garden. Ami stood up and brushed her hands off, giving him a shy smile and greeting, but her sister called out, "Janus! Would you mind doing me–us–a favor?"

"Sure thing. What is it?" he asked, riding closer.

"Well...it's time to go to town to get more supplies, but as you can see, we're a bit busy now....that is, if you don't mind. You're probably very busy."

"As long as you tell me what to get, I wouldn't mind a bit. I've left Zoite lost in stacks of paperwork at the office," he smirked evilly.

From the side door, which none of them had noticed opening, Rei snapped, "Lita. That was impolite. Besides, he wouldn't know what to get, and you know that today Andrew's store is closed. Only that new market is open, and the man is new there. Janus doesn't know him."

Ignoring the fact that he was talking about him as if he wasn't standing right there, he grinned at her. "Lovely to see you again, too, Rei."

She glared at him, but before she could reply, Ami cut in. "One of us will just have to go, then."

"I'll go," Rei sighed, "I brought it up. You and Lita stay here. The weeding and the hoeing has to be finished."

Bowing elegantly, Janus exclaimed melodramatically, "Surely you weren't thinking of going without company, were you, Miss Bliss? Dare I hope you'll allow my humble presence to accompany you, following meekly at your heels?"

While a huff, she stomped off to take off her apron, put up her hair, and get Alexander. When he intercepted her in the stables, she muttered, "I hope you don't mind if Xander comes with us. Ami and Lita can't watch him while they're busy, Nestor's asleep, and Mina and Kunshan haven't returned yet."

"Of course I don't mind," he replied, looking puzzled. Holding out his arms, he said, "To make saddling your horse easier, how about if I take him?" He tried not to show his apprehension. He had come in too late last night to see Xander, and he had gotten the shock of his life that morning. Luckily, he had asked Ami a few quick questions that had cleared things up–and made his life even more problematic.

Rei looked at him as if he was an insect she'd like to squash, but she was surprised when Janus appropriated her child, who crowed happily as he was settled on the man's shoulders. Once they were on the rode, Janus was still holding Xander, without any protest from him but a lot from his mother.

Patiently, he remarked, "What I don't understand, Rei, is why you're angry at me. Exactly what have I done to you?"

"Ruined my life," she muttered under her breath.

He heard, however, and was beginning to feel a little irked at her temperamental mood. "Well, excuse me," he shot back, "but I don't know what I've done to merit that. Would you care to elaborate?"

"You made my life miserable!" she hissed angrily. "Every day I think about what you said about me that day when you told me–when you told me you had feelings for me. You called me everything from a whore who sells herself for money to ‘dearest' or ‘beloved' or something like that."

"Well, it was partially true," he responded coolly, "you married Chad for his money. We both know you did."

"All right!" she snapped, "I admit it. I know it know, all right? But when I actually married him, I didn't know what I was doing! There was nothing else I could have done!"

Quietly, he replied, "You could have married me, Rei."

Her cheeks burned scarlet, and she refused to answer him, riding more quickly than ever. "Why did you have to come back into my life?" she asked quietly, in a defeated voice.

He blinked. About to get defensive, he muttered, "It wasn't exactly my choice. I didn't know that you would be the one living in the closest house when one of my best friends needed help. We were best friends once, Rei. Do you remember that? Do you remember the times we spent together? When we knew everything about each other?"

"Everything except that you were in love with me!" she retorted. "That was a big secret, wasn't it?"

Sighing, he questioned, "What's the big deal, Rei? So I loved you. There's no need to get angry just because I liked you. If it makes you feel better, I don't love you anymore, all right? Will that make you feel better?"

Her sharp intake of breath warned him that he had said something wrong, as well as the sudden whiteness of her pallor. Rei shook her head and responded quietly, "Never mind, Janus. I'm sorry. But please don't bring up the subject again, and I'll be civil. Do we have an agreement?"

Janus nodded wordlessly, feeling as if the apocalypse had descended upon him without his knowing it.
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A little while later, Janus and Reiliana had reached the other general store in town, as the one Andrew and Rita (now married) managed was closed for the day. Rei's cheeks were flaming as she hurried briskly past a few strangers, whose whispers she was trying to ignore. Unfortunately, Janus matched her pace for pace with easy strides of his long legs, and she could hear "What an adorable! Looks just like his father, doesn't he?" and "What a lovely couple they make!" ringing in her ears. Her mood was not improved when they entered the store. In fact, it was much worsened.

Although the shopkeeper was a well-meaning man, he had the inconvenient reputation of being a chatterbox. He just couldn't hold his tongue, and around Reiliana Bliss, it was not a good trait to have. Particularly when she was in such an irritable mood. But he didn't know her well enough to tell, even though Janus could almost smell the acrid scent of the smoke issuing forth from her ears. He smirked to himself. It was good to know that she hadn't changed much from their childhood days, and despite hard times, she had still kept her indomitable spirit. If only, he mused, she wasn't so hard to get along with–but then again, she would haven't been Rei if she didn't make life interesting. Interesting and hard.

The balding man smiled cheerily. "Good day, good day, madam. Ah! Is this your husband? Good day to your, sir, I haven't seen you before, have I? No, I don't believe so." Rei had tried to interrupt him, but he kept talking on. "And the son! Such a pleasing child, and so handsome! Very good stock, I can tell. He looks very much like you, sir. You must be such proud parents. How long have you been married?"

Rei had been just about to burst by then, and Janus tried to placate her by placing his hand on hers gently. Although he had been applying slight pressure, trying to remind her to keep her temper, the salesmen viewed this as proof of endearment.

Squinting at their hands, he burbled happily, "It does me good to see young folks hitched so soon and in such love. But madam–where is your ring? I do not see it! Have you lost it, perhaps?" He seemed so confused and disheartened by this that Rei finally had the opportunity to speak.

Her voice was soft and icy and she replied, "I don't wear a ring, because I'm widowed. This man is not my husband. My son is not his son. They cannot possibly look alike, because they are in no way related. We have never been married, he is not a proud parent of anyone, and we are most definitely not in love!!"
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In Janus's well-lit but rather dusty office, his soon-to-be partner stopped reading near the end of the stack. He peered at the rough drawing, which was done well–for a preliminary sketch. Zoite was pretty sure he knew this man; in fact, he was almost positive. The unnamed man was marked as a recent intruder in the area but a longtime criminal. However, he needed to confirm his hunch on the person's identity, and there was only one logical person to ask. Shrugging on his coat, the fair-haired, green-eyed man gathered up the papers he still had to look over and extinguished the lamps before he locked the door. It was nearing dusk by the time he reached the Bliss's house, and he realized that he had forgotten to eat lunch as his stomach rumbled noisily. During the ride, he had been thinking back to the memories of a time he had been trying to block out...

As he reined in outside the stable, his sharp eyes took in the work that had been done that day. The estate was so large that the wilderness had barely been tamed. No matter how diligently they worked, the girls would never be able to manage the place on their own. It was all too obvious that more strong hands were needed to do the work. His thoughts were interrupted when a soft voice met his ears.

"Zoite. Aren't you coming in to dinner?" she asked expectantly, and his heart raced a the beautiful picture she made, standing against the setting sun.

"Oh–yes. I'm sorry about imposing this way," he said.

Her smile was sudden and dazzling. "You aren't imposing," she contradicted, "we're longtime friends. You've done a lot for us. You got the men who killed Papa."

He blinked at her the bitter undertone that he had suddenly heard at the end of her sentence. He wondered about–how–changes had come over the innocent, gentle girl he had kept an image of in his mind. Now, Zoite realized, she had become a woman–no longer completely innocent, but she retained this soft quality about her that made him want to protect her. He was beginning to realize that underneath that softness was quiet steel. After a nod and thank you, he cleared his throat uncomfortable. "Ami–there was something I came across in the office today, and I wanted to ask you about it."

"All right," she said readily, although her manner indicated that she was unsure of how she could help him.

Taking the drawing out of his pocket, he unfolded it slowly and showed it to. "I believe you know this man. Is it your beau? Gregory?"

Her sharp gasp preceded the drain of color from her face, and Ami turned from him and ran back to the house.
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Author's Notes:
I've been neglecting Mina and Kunzite especially, so I gave them the first scene. ^^ I hope the Rei/Jade sections satisfied their fans...and next chapter, per request by K.Wyse ^^ will be a focus on Ami/Zoi.

Very important: Recently, someone by the name of Serenity Bliss left a review on Ff.net claiming that I had stolen some of her ideas. The reason I refuse to take this seriously is because, of course, this story is completely original and based on my own ideas. However, she has not backed up this claim by any proof stating any similarities, and she has not even provided her e-mail or a link to her story. If you feel you have a legitimate complaint about me, e-mail me at MercuryMoon26@hotmail.com or bring it up to FF.net. Since all my works are completely original, I am not the least bit worried that anything might discovered or taken down. I do not appreciate unfounded claims that I plagiarize on purpose. If any ideas, phrases, titles, names, etc. are similar, it is completely accidental. If you tell me, show me evidence, and wish me to change it, I will do so if provided with legitimate reasons. In the unlikely event that someone has a complaint to make, please back up your claim and make it possible for me to contact you so that anything that needs to be worked out can be. Thank you. ~Ice

The House of Bliss