Another day, more chill, and more work. By now Rei has a well-oiled schedule for the shrine, any supernatural interruptions not withstanding. By now, mid-day? The wind has died down a bit, and so she's gently sweeping the stone steps leading up to the main shrine area. The usual gaggle of salarymen and women will start filtering in within a few hours time, and she likes to give them a clean, well kept place to walk, pray, and reflect.
On one of her shoulders, Deimos has decided to take up perch. In her traditional clothing, she doens't have to worry too hard about claws digging in too much. Every now and then, the bird gets a little rub on the top of the head.
Friendly, if stoic little bird, at least for the priestess.
Naomi has been a little busy. Her life as a Precure has been taking up a lot more time than it used to. As a result, her grades have started slipping. The last time that happened, She got in trouble with Blue and was threatened with being sidelined. Can't have that now. Especially with the nice big target on her back of late. So Naomi is hunting for a quiet place to do some work.
Quietly, she makes her way to the shrine. That would be a quiet place right? She quickly moves her way towards one of the buildings. Its cold our and while she could just curb the cold by henshining, it would just be easier to maybe slip inside and find a place to study.
The door opens and in she slips. Quietly she moves to a more lit spot where she can work easily. She sits down, and begins doing her make up work. Out of her bag, a pink bear like fairy rolls out. It looks (and acts) like a plush animal. "Okay Lilac, Lets see if I can do this!"
It has become customary for Seth to come to the Hikawa Shrine to pray and pay respects to loved ones and the spirits. He is on such a venture right now.
As such, he walks the neatly kept path of the shrine to reach a wish-well. From the inside of his coat, he produces a picture of his mother with her children, a picture from years ago, which he pins on the board; added, is a message written in japanese in small scroll paper, hung by a string of the appropriate color to pay respects.
He hasn't really noticed the familiar faces at the Shrine - maybe they're not in his field of view, or maybe he's so lost in thought his mind didn't register them. There have been so many recent developments...
He prepares to pray...
The sweeping comes to a stop as she notices first Naomi entering the shrine, and then Seth at the wishing well. She can't quite recall Naomi, but Seth she surely remembers from the fire reading. Of course, with him praying, she's not going to interrupt. Passing by, should he look her way, she'll offer a small and kind smile.
Naomi enters the shrine! It's actually the Fire Reading area, but the fire's currently out. It's mostly lit by a set of candles at the moment, and a single bulb up on the ceiling that's somewhat hidden. They /do/ have modern things here after all.
"Good evening. Can I help you?" The raven-haired beauty asks. For all her emotional turmoil, she's happy to focus on her 'job'.
Naomi blinks and looks up. She was hoping she'd have been able to draw as little attention as possible. She looks up at Rei and gives a little smile. Quickly she picks up the plush Fairy and holds her tight. Of course Rei might pick up on the magical nature of the plush that isn't actually a plush! Finally Naomi speaks up, "Oh umm. Sorry. I didn't mean to cause trouble. I just thought this would be an okay place to study and catch up on school work."
Quietly Naomi begins gathering her things and putting them away. "I will go find somewhere else to work. I would have set up outside but its a little too cold to work outside." She smiles a little and slings her bag over her shoulder. "Again, I am really sorry."
She looks around a little taking in the sight of the place. "Not to be rude... Ummm what is this place. It smells like wood has been burnt here. I mean I know it's a shine and stuff. You can almost feel the magic in the air here. Its really cool." She blushies and lets slip a single clue that she may be more then just a silly kid in the wrong place.
"Where can I start, Mom...?", are the only words he says that could possibly have been heard by Rei as she passes by. The next words are said in silent prayer.
A glimpse from his peripheral vision detects the moving form of the traditional white and red miko uniform, plus the unmistakeable length of Rei's raven hair. He offers a polite smile, though it shows signs of focus - perhaps he'll have something to say once prayer is done.
Almost immediately, that plush gets a /look/. A Suspicious Miko Look! But there's no immediate ofuda aimed at it. No, she doesn't get a sense of gnawing foreboding or churning of the stomach that often comes with /evil/.
Still, it's something to be watched, and it's the single reason that she comes to a decision. There's /two/ people worth watching on the grounds after all. Especially according to her Grandfather.
"It's a little unusual to do schoolwork in a shrine." Points out Rei, and finally smiling.
"Come on, I think a friend of mine left cookies." Then, she'll start leading the way towards the house portion! Thankfully the master of the shrine is out, otherwise she'd have to warn against flirtatious older men.
For now, though, she passes by Seth once again towards the house. Once inside, there's a kitchen, and Rei sets out cookies. A little unusual to be sure for Rei to do this, but that plush has her interest.
"I'm Rei Hino. What's your name?" Lean in, after depositing plate of Mako Cookies.
"That's a cute plushie. A friend of mine would like one like that." Lips turn just a bit at her own words, Usagi's face in her mind. She darkens in guilt just a touch.
'Well its the last place that is likely to be attacked by a bunch of lunatics bent on causing misfortune throughout the world.' Yeah Naomi wants to say that. Sadly she doesn't though. "Well. I sorta draw attention and Some of my extracurricular activities have caused my school work to start slipping. I've been told that i wouldn't be able to continue doing my things if I don't bring my grades back up." She smiles a little.
At the mention of cookies, Her eyes light up. That idea of sweets is always welcome to the young girl. She quickly moves along with Rei.
"Oh sorry. My name is Naomi. Naomi Yomada. I am a student at Infinity University Elementry school. It is nice to meet you Hino-san." She bows politely to her. She immediately begins eating some of the cookies. She smiles a little as she noms on them. "These are delicious!"
She smiles a little and looks at the plushie fairy. The cute fairy even has a little ladybug backpack on its back. "Oh this is Lilac! How I got her is actually an interesting story. I was sorta having trouble with something and a friend told me that Lilac would help me with stuff. She's been with me since."
The prayer is finished, and then Seth looks for Rei, wanting to have a word with her. He does notice her, now off in the distance with... Somebody else he doesn't recognize from that far off. He decides to try and catch up, but it's too late, as both girls go inside the house.
Taking a few breaths to recover by the door - the fast-pacing is a little too much for him, with all the cold weather and his heart condition, after all -, he announces himself to the best of traditional japanese etiquette.
There's a slow, slow frown to Naomi. "I hope that's just sports." Grumpy Rei Face pops up as she looks to Naomi sharply for just a moment, before she huffs and pushes herself back into calm and serious. Could Naomi be going out and beating up thugs!?
Maybe she's been imagining Mako a little too much here.
She does smile though at the praise. "She's a very good cook."
The mysterious miko does kneel down and even rubs the top of the fairy plushie's head! "She's soft. Well if she's a friend, then she's welcome in the shrine." Another small smile, but then there's a knock at the door.
Off she goes. "Who's...oh, Locke-san. Come in. Can I help you?" 'Fire Reading' immediately comes to mind. The last one was just a bit disturbing, after all.
Naomi just makes a little face and doesn't say if its sports or not. Even when she gets the rather sharp look, She doesn't confirm or deny what she does. A look at her would show that she isn't very strong. She's a 12 Year old in glasses. She'd look more fitting in a Science type setting, Save for her twirly Twin Tails.
She nods, "OH yes These are amazing! I don't cook much." She states. The fact is she doesn't cook at all save for when she uses the Chef cards. Then its really not her. Its the magic in the Precards. She shrugs. "I wish I could make cookies like this though! YUM!"
As Miko rubs the top of the plushie's head, The little plush twitches it's ears subtley. Not really too noticeable but she still does it and there is the chance it can be seen. "Oh yes. She is a friend! A really good friend."
As the door is knocked, Naomi looks over to see who it is. She's gives a little wave. "Hello Locke-san. She states being as polite as she can be. This isn't her thing right now though. She quietly gets out her schoolwork and begins studying. She doesn't want to interrupt.
"Good day, Hino-san", Seth replies once the miko opens the door. "I was meaning to catch up to you, because I had something to..." And that's when he notices who the other person is, and smiles. "Hey there, Naomi-ch...!" Wait, not that informal an address, Seth! And, he quickly rectifies, "...Yomada-san! How're you doing?"
He clears his throat, then back to Rei. "Sorry. As I was saying, I wanted to pass along something to you." From a pocket, he produces an envelope. "This is a request to the Hikawa Shrine, complete with instructions inside. I wasn't sure who to give this to, and you're the person I know best at the Shrine, so I am entrusting this to you to reach proper channels."
"Grandpa usually does most of the cooking here. I know a few things, but I'm not very good either." Admits Rei. The vague idea of asking for Mako-lessons pops up. But first, she'll have to make things better with Usagi.
Even more company at the front door though, has Rei a bit perplexed. She pauses, concentrates on the package given to her! Just in case it's evil.
Then she listens, just in case it's a bomb. Nope, no ticking.
"Oh, thank you Seth-kun. Can I ask who this is from? Or is that a secret?" Her gaze doesn't leave the thing. She resists the urge to shake it like a big christmas present. Intrigued Rei is Intrigued!
Naomi smiles a little. "My moms do the cooking most of the time. My sister helps sometimes. My moms know better then to have me cook too much. I have a slight, Little, tiny problem where I sorta blow things up. I try my hardest not to. It just happens sadly." She frowns.
Then towards Seth she smiles a little. "OH I'm alright. I was just trying to find a place to catch up on my school work. I've been a little slacked and stuff. It kinda stinks. I'm trying really hard."
"It's, uh...", Seth almost says it, but he's not wanting to break the cheerful mood. He contains the stammering of his voice. "It's personal. Like, top-secret personal. Highest Shrine staff eyes on..." He stops, blinks. "Wait... You actually thought it was a bomb?" And moreover, is she actually thinking this would be like a present? For her?
Now he's remembering the wierd look Grandpa Hino gave him when they went to do the fire reading. And suddenly, there's this lingering thought in his mind where the old man could burst through one of those doors, wielding a weapon.
Nah!, that would make no sense... Would it?
Maybe it's best not to mention that he does most of the cooking at home, just to be safe.
Rei sloooowly turns back. There's a little bit of alarm in her eyes. "Yomada-san. Please don't borrow the shrine's kitchen." The last thing they need is the entire place up in flames from a kitchen fire!
Arms cross to Seth as she puts it aside, and there's a small nod. "We get send some very strange things occasionally. I'm just doing my job as a miko to protect the shrine." Oh yes. There's definitely some Grandpa influence here.
"The secret is safe with me then." Comes Rei rather seriously. This is Real Miko Time. She picks up the package, and starts to take it to her room.
"I'll be right back, I'll find a safe place for this."
Naomi Yomada laughs a little, "Don't worry! I've been getting better with self control and Stuff. Ever since the job I got to do for New Year's Eve, I've been doing better and not blowing things up. As it turns out, actually working with things that are supposed to explode helped me keep from exploding things that aren't!" She giggles a little.
She blushes, "The real reason is, I'm an inventor! I like making things and Sometimes things explode. I don't want to do that but it happens!" She smiles. "I don't get to make things too much anymore though. Somethings are more important then others..." She trails off.
Quietly she puts her face back in her books. She sorta wants to talk about her other life but its a little difficult to just randomly bring up.
"You don't use gunpowder in a kitchen", Seth replies. "Nor TNT, nor nitroglicerine, nor gasoline." He enumerates a few more, and he actually saves 'Uranium' for the last. He jokes, of course. "Cooking is just like chemistry; it's about which materials to use, under any given circumstance."
He looks back to Rei, and nods.
Rei's back swiftly enough! She looks a bit relieved. "I'm glad you won't be blowing anything important up then. So you do fireworks?" Eyes sparkle just a bit. Fire and fireworks definitely calls to the passionate mars!
She quickly composes herself though. Graceful. Serene, Rei! Definitely not a lover of loud things!
"Even cooking can be explosive. I tried to make fried rice once."
Shudder. It ended in 'Fried Rei Hair'.
Naomi looks over at Seth and laughs, "Nope but you use microwaves, Stoves, and all sorts of fun appliances. And sometimes you just need to upgrade them!" She beams a little. "I like the idea of a Toaster and a Juicer combination!" SHe giggles playfully. A quiet groan may or may not be heard from the pink plush fairy who is in no way a living breathing entity.
"OH! I sorta have a reputation in school for my mishaps. One of my teachers got me a little job after christmas to help out with the New Years fireworks display. They let me come up with a bunch of idea for how they should be set off! I only accidentally set off a few." She giggles. She doesn't mention the number that she got blamed for on account of Hosshiwa showing up and being a complete jerk.
She winces, "Don't mix oil and water! They don't go together." She smiles. Quietly she turns back to her book and goes back to studying.
The american boy smiles right back, "No, but olive oil and vinegar do. And curiously, they don't mix." He shrugs, about to say something, then he hears the groan. From. The plushie. The plushie that looks oddly familiar, now that he comes to think of it. He tilts his head, curious, "Wait... Is that...?"
Rei scrunches her nose a little. Oil and vinegar? Bleh.
Naomi gets a blink though. A juicer and toaster? This...this is a very interesting young woman. "If you had a heater too you could make your entire breakfast." She can't help it. She's smiling a little.
But she'd turned her attention to the kitchen briefly to get drinks. And so she almost missed the groan. Looking over, she seems confused for a second, then seems to ignore it. She must be hearing things!
"'Accidentally', huh?" A /look/ to Naomi! "I saw that display. It was beautiful."
Naomi goes white. A sweat drop appears near her head and steam rises. "Who umm This? This is just a pushie that a friend gave me see?" Sheh olds up Lilac. "See Just a plushie! Sometimes she makes funny noises." SHe quickly shakes the fairy. "Would I do this if she were anything but a toy?!" The Fairy is holding on for dear life and looks like she may actually puke but, she stays still at least. Quickly she puts the fairy down and hopes that was enough dissuade Seth.
Oh Good! A Distraction. "Oh umm I just sorta came up with some ideas. I didn't get to set them off or anything. It was fun to do though. I liked it! It was fun working with things that could blow up that were actually supposed to!"
"Could've sworn I saw that somewhere", Seth says, eyes studying Naomi's reaction and her shaking of the plushie. "Is it one of those that makes sound when you squeeze it? Amanda used to love those when she was little." Beat. "Or is it one of those with a cord you pull and a voice message comes out?" Beat.
"Well, I saw that firework as well, at Mamoru-kun's place. Very nicely done", he changes subject. "Between 'fun' and 'dangerous', the difference is marginal, I see." He chuckles.
Peeeeer. Right at Lilac. Rei has a sweatdrop of her own. "I think it's okay. What else would Lilac be?" She manages to say, without too much irony here. Well, not an evil spirit, and that's good enough for the miko. There's a nervous little laugh.
"Maybe you should go into professional fireworks, Yomada-san." Suggests the woman.
Back to Seth. "Oh, you know Mamoru-kun?" She smiles more. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised. You wouldn't know it looking at him, but he gathers friends." Mostly thanks to the influence of a certain blonde.
Naomi Yomada smiles, "Oh She's one that you squeeze. See?" She gives a gentle squeeze to the fairy.
"You are my bestest friend in the whole world!" The fairy speaks and then goes back to being lifeless.
Naomi just smiles and nods. "Yep. She's a very special plush!" She looks at the plush herself and hugs her before whispering under her breath, 'we are so talking about this later.'
"Well I sorta wanna become an inventor. Its what I've wanted to do since I was little. Its sorta why I don't have a phone. I tore mine apart to see how it worked and, my moms wouldn't get me another one!"
"Yes, I do", claims Seth to Rei. "I know his girlfriend, too, Usagi-chan. Nice girl, but kind of a scaredy-cat." A pause, where he considers. "Not to mention a bit of a crybaby, there."
He chuckles to Naomi, "I'm kinda surprised you tore down your phone, Naomi-chan, and yet a mechanical plushie like Lilac is still intact." Since she's all into checking stuff to see how they work and all.
Should a beat be added? It should, shouldn't it? So there - beat.
"She's cute. Just don't let my friend Usagi get near her." That would be a purgatory of bunny hugs. There would be no escape for the poor fairy!
Visions of Ami are heavy with this one. Minus the 'not working after' bit. A mini Ami in training. A bit of deviousness surfaces. "Maybe you should meet a friend of mine. Ami Mizuno. She's a very sweet, smart girl."
A deep, deep sigh. "Clumsy, crybaby, scaredy-cat, lazy..." She goes for more than a bit. And somehow, it's all said utterly affectionately.
"And the biggest heart and the most love you'll find in anyone." And Rei ends it all with a smile, before turning away. She's getting some tea. Back in the kitchen, she has to grip the cunter and wipe away a tear. She'll be a moment.
"There are some things that it just doesn't matter. Lilac is very special to me and Has been with me for a while now. I don't care how she works. I just don't want her to be broken or anything." She smiles softly.
Naomi looks at Rei curiously, "I've heard rumors about a blue heared girl who was really smart. It would be cool to meet her. The other thing I started doing is dancing. I'm still new to it... I've been doing it for a few months but its a lot of fun! I learn off of youtube. I should ask my moms for dance lessons. They would think I was replaced by aliens or something!"
Then they start talking about someone that Naomi doesn't know. Quietly she looks back into her books.
"I'd subscribe to that", Seth says, and then Rei turns away into the kitchen.
He looks at Naomi, chuckling, "Well, I don't know about aliens replacing young girls... But their plushies I'd might believe." A grin from Seth.
"Anyways", Seth then says, loud enough for Rei to hear, "I'm sorry, but I'm gonna have to go. I got myself a few things to do before the afternoon is over. Nice seeing you again, Rei-chan, Naomi-chan! We'll talk soon again, I hope!"
And he makes his leave for the door.
Rei pops out of the kitchen, and gives a tiny wave. "Goodbye Seth-kun..."
What an odd young man.
Some of Rei's pride surfaces, and she's happy to brag about her friend. She even gives an elbow-pump! "She's the smartest person I know. I just wish she would relax a little more sometimes." Really, the opposite of a certain bunny. "I haven't done much dancing. Well, outside of my duties at the shrine." She does know a few for certain festivals, as few times as she actually gets to perform. "What kinds of dancing?" A small pause. "I'm in the archery club." A Miko in the archery club? Who'd've thunkit?
Naomi waves to Seth and then she looks at Rei with a smile. She seems a bit more nervous right now. Much more nervous then she was earlier. She hugs the fairy tight hoping to gods that she did not just out herself to that guy. She sighs. "Why are some things just so hard?" She softly asks. Its Rhetorical of course.
"Oh I'm in the Electronics club." She's not been in the club for a while now. She smiles. "Sounds like you have some really great friends. I have a few cool friends but I keep to myself a lot." What is she supposed to say, Her friends are mostly magical girls and of course there is the whole fact that one of them is in fact a god!
Sleeves get tugged on her Miko outfit, and Rei looks pensive as Naomi speaks those simple words. Hard, indeed. And some of the hardest things are looming right in front of her. She shivers, despite the well insulated warmth of the house area. She remains silent, though. A Shrine is a perfect place to be introspective. Maybe a little too much as of late.
She turns out to a window. "I'm lucky. They're all amazing friends. Yomada-san. Make sure you value those friends. Friends, real friends, are precious."
Then, she turns, and heads back to the kitchen. "Do you want some tea?" Rei forces herself back into hospitality mode, to avoid the growing sense of brooding threatening to overtake her once more.
Naomi Yomada smiles and nods, "Oh yes. That would be great! I've not had a good cup of tea in a while." She smiles softly. "I tried to make a tea maker once... I think there is still a tea stain on my walls." She giggles playfully.
When Rei sneaks off to the kitchen she look at Lilac. "Are you alright Lilac? I am so sorry I shook you up like that. I had to do something to make sure he didn't find out who I am and who you are. I'm really sorry." She hugs the fairy once more.
Lilac responds, "I am alright but please don't shake me like that again. I am still a little sick from it!" The fairy smiles and goes back to pretending to be a plushie.
Unfortunately this is bagged tea. Her Grandpa has plenty of /actual/ teamaking things, but it's definitely not Rei's forte. Some warmed up water, and three minutes later, in comes Rei juggling three cups, honey, sugar, and cream.
Then, without a word, she sits down. A small smile. Maybe even just a little smug. "I knew there was something odd. Lilac-san, you can stop pretending now." Oh yes, just a little smug, but not unkindly so. It's weird. Rei's a little weird. Having psychic powers does that to a woman.
Then she's quick to put up hands reassuringly. "I won't tell anyone. Miko's secret."
Naomi sighs and closes her eyes. Lilac does stop pretending. She sits up and takes off. "Umm, Hi!" The pink fairy looks a little nervous. "I umm.. Sorry! I just usually stay with Naomi-chan. I was assigned to help her out by Kami-sama."
Naomi finally opens her eyes and looks at Rei with a bit of a worried look in her eyes. "Ummm. I am really sorry. I didn't mean to cause trouble for you. I just was looking for a place to study and catch up on school work." She sighs. "My extracurriculars are not sports. I'm..." She goes quiet and just mutters the next part. "A magical girl trying to keep an evil empire from spreading misfortune throughout the whole world?"
Quietly she begins pouring herself and Lilac some tea. She adds cream and honey to hers and just honey to Lilac's.
Rei's tension melts at the explaination. "It's alright. I...know a few magical girls." Just a few. Definitely isn't one, nope, not this Miko. She starts to set her own tea, before finally sipping it. The heat makes her relax, and she crosses her legs.
"Keep going. This world is wonderful, and full of good people. Wonderful people."
A shake of her head. "And to turn it into a world of misfortune would be awful! If you stay strong, and believe in your friends, then you can save the entire world!" Comes Rei, her voice rising in passion. She's leaned in, fist clenched. Her words might seem knowing. She was there the last time it happened, after all!
Naomi listens quietly. She takes a long sip of her tea before looking at Rei. "You can't tell anyone. The person who made me a magical girl... Well he is sorta a umm.... guardian god of the Earth? He doesn't like when we tell people and stuff. You sorta figured it out and I wasn't going to let Lilac take all the heat. She's been with me for a few months now." She smiles to the little fairy as she lands on her head.
"Anyway I umm... I sorta have been working really hard in that life and not hard enough in this life. My schoolwork is starting to slip. The last time it happened Kami-sama told me that he wouldn't let me do the magical girl thing if my grades didn't come up." She sighs. "Its just really hard you know? I mean the things I do in my other life... it feels so important but Kami-sama says that my own school work is just as important. It doesn't feel that way."
Rei smiles just a bit. "It's hard to hide things like that from someone with..."
Wait for it. Hand wobbles. "Spooooky psychic powers!"
/AHEM/! You saw nothing, Spark-chan. "I'm sure he'll understand." But then, /school/! "It's important. Just like here in the shrine. Grandpa would yell if my grades started slipping because I was working too hard. Your life needs balance, magic or Miko. And you should always listen to a spirit. Well, the good ones." Flick. Ofuda in hand, there's a frown. Then it's flicked back into her outfit. She's good at that bit.
Naomi shrugs. "I guess so." She sighs. "Anyway I did something really, really.... REALLY dangerous. I called out the bad guy. One of the big bads. Not the monsters. Those are... just monsters. No, One of the people that call out the monsters. I sorta upset them and I think things are going to get much worse before they get better."
She looks down at her tea and takes a sip of it."Its not Naomi-chan's fault. Her and the others are just tired of fighting defensively. They always show up and they hurt people. They bring out their monsters and then they vanish to do the whole thing all over again." Lilac states as she sips at her own tea.
"But yeah, thats the stuff thats been on my mind. I have so much to worry about and its hard to focus on school work. I still need to though. Its why I was trying to find a quiet place. I figured a place like this would be plenty quiet and I don't think they would attack this place. It isn't overflowing with joy like other places. Its peaceful though."
A rub of her temple. That'd be like yelling very loudly at Kunzite. When he was evil. In other words, like yelling at Kunzite.
The plush-fairy does get a nod. "I'm sure it was frustrating, getting constantly attacked." Or kidnapped, for that matter. Is her eyebrow twitching angrily? Nah, couldn't be, not this perfectly serene and calm Miko! "They sound like cowards! If they got near the shrine...." Ofuda motions vaguely. Oh yes. All of the ofuda.
Hands prop up Rei's chin. She likes the girl. She's adorable, a bit of a rascal. A small sigh, and she takes a chance. "Yomada-san...can I call you Naomi-chan?" Her voice, here, is just a little hesitant. Why is opening up so hard?
"If you promise to show me some of your inventions, you can study here sometimes."
Naomi frowns. "If they come near the shrine call me. They may be cowards but they never travel alone. They will put someone in a mirror and start spreading misfortune. They don't like love and happiness. When those things are present they always seem to appear. Whats worse, There are three main baddies in Tokyo alone. There are even more throughout the world. I sorta got recruited into a war." She blushes over that.
Lilac smiles and nods, "It really is... Umm... I sorta know what they do first hand. I am from a place called the Blue Sky Kingdom. It was a really wonderful place. A really safe place for both humans and fairies alike. Then something happened and all of the sudden The Phantom Empire was there. They started putting people and fairies into mirrors and calling out Terribads. The entire kingdom was overrun by them. I was one of the refugees. Blue-sama asked me to help out Naomi-chan in the fight against the Phantom Empire so, here I am!" She finishes off her tea.
Naomi smiles to Rei, "Oh sure! Its okay! I don't mind if you call me that. May I call you Rei-san or Rei-chan?" She asks curiously. "You want to see some of the things I've invented? Okay! I can bring some. I made a really old stereo start working. I modified it to take my tablet so I can bring it around and dance using it." She giggles. "I actually have some other fun things too!" She giggles. "I will bring them around!"
She'll quickly offer Naomi her cellphone number! And taking out hers, will jot down Naomi's! All of this has her frowning, however, as Lilac and Naomi impress upon her just how /dire/ things are.
"I'm not sure if there's very much I can do like this..." No, she doubts she could do much against a Phantom General without the help of her fellow Senshi. She plays it off otherwise, though. "But if you'd like, I can try a Fire Reading. It's not very specific sometimes, but with some luck and if the spirits are willing, maybe I can see something that will help you."
There's a deep sucked breath. Putting people into mirrors. Trapping them. There's deep, deep anger in her eyes, and only Naomi's acceptance keeps her from spilling straight into a justice speech.
Those eyes burn long after though. "That sounds fun. Rei-chan, please. I'd like to see that!" An honest laugh, and she slowly calms down.
Naomi gives her house phone number as she doesn't have a cell phone. Hey, she took hers apart and her other 'phone' doesn't take actual phone calls! She smiles a little and then nods. "Trust me, They aren't going to push this world into misfortune. As long as there is hope and love, they will fail!"
Then there is that phrase. Specificially... 'Like this' That gets her attention. She doesn't act on it. She simply begins paying closer attention. "A Fire Reading?! I've never had that done before. I am curious!" She smiles a little.
"Okay Rei-chan! It will be fun! Maybe I can learn stuff while I'm here too! I love to learn! Actually getting to solve Mysteries! Its so cool!"
Rei, at least compared to how she was earlier, is a warm bit of sunshine after hearing so much enthusiasm from the young magical girl. It warms her heart to see that there's yet another defender of justice working so very hard!
"I'm sure you and your friends will do it."
Hands clasp together. "Then we'll do one." Pause. Peeeeer. "/After/ you get an A+ on your next math test." Stern Miko gaze. Gaaaaaaze! Rei can loom pretty hard.
"Great! Maybe I'll even invite Ami-chan."
Naomi smirks, "An A+ on my next math test? Oh okay. No problem!" She snickers a little. "I can do that! I know I will pass it!" She giggles. "Math isn't the worst thing. I like Science more but I can handle math."
Lilac flies closer to Naomi and begins poking her in the arm. "Naomi-chan. I feel something really dark! A Terribad!" She is keeping her voice low and polite.
Naomi nods slowly and winces a little. "Oh! That sounds like fun! I look forward to it! I really would like to meet her." She makes a little face but duty calls. "I have to go I think. There is monster attacking. Its the phantom empire."
Rei stands up, and nods. She /knows/ those kind of calls, even if she wouldn't admit it. She tucks something into Naomi's pocket. It's a set of prayer beads, and an ofuda. "For good luck. Be safe, please, Naomi-chan. I believe in you."
She'll watch as Naomi heads off. Pausing, she heads back into the shrine, and already, she's praying for the young woman's success.