Mars - tank 10

Volume 10.

Rei and Kira have undressed and are sitting on Rei's bed. Kira calls Rei "Kashino," at which Rei asks her to call him by his first name. They're in the middle of a hot scene when Kira seems to superimpose an image of her stepfather onto the figure of Rei above her. Rei stops at the expression on her face as she seems to zone out; then Kira's eyes relax and soften as she sees Rei's concern. She pulls him close, smiling, and tells him to continue. The rest of the details of this scene are best left to your imagination. ^_-

Afterwards, Rei and Kira are lying in bed. Kira's looking at the scar Rei has on his collarbone.
Kira: This scar--you got it when you had that accident while racing, didn't you?
Rei [assents]: Even if human beings get injured, their wounds will heal. Though [the injured place] will never be as beautiful as it was originally, new flesh will still grow to cover the wound.
Kira: Human beings really are amazing.
Narration: To be alive-- is wonderful.

Next morning, Kira and Rei wake up and have some cute love~love scenes. ^.^ Later on, Rei observes Kira wearing his clothing and decides that it just won't do. He takes her to see the person who lives upstairs...turns out to be a transvestite (well, I guess technically this person is still a he, though it seems he's in the process in becoming a she...-_-;; heh.), who looks like a pretty fashionable girl and has to flash Kira to prove his gender. ^^;;; (I'm going to refer to him as a "she"...I don't know the Japanese name, but in Chinese it's "Jin" so I guess I'll call her that if the need arises...someone please tell me when they find her name?) Jin decides to give Kira a makeover, and kicks Rei out of the room. It takes a long time, and Rei begins questioning Jin's motives (since "she" is technically still a "he") when they finally come out and Rei is blown away (blushing..aw ;) by the trendy, be-makeup'd Kira. He heads off to work happily, with Kira wishing him a safe trip.

Kira stays to have tea with Jin, who asks her why she's left home. Kira seems reluctant to answer at first, but then smiles and says it's because she only wants to sleep with the person she loves.

Rei gets out of work, opting to go home early instead of going for drinks with his coworkers. He gets home to find Kira nowhere to be seen. Worried, he searches for her everywhere, but doesn't find her.
Narration: I seem to have come to understand the meaning of "rebirth."
Although this doesn't mean I've changed in any way from what I was yesterday...
It's just that I've started looking at different things from different perspectives.
A lot of things that I once thought were vital are no longer so, while many things I used to disregard have become very important...
I am still me; nothing has chagned.
But a lot of the things around me have slowly changed form and expression.
Rei finally comes upon Kira, asleep on the roof among hanging laundry. It seems she'd gotten bored while he was gone, started doing laundry, and gotten carried away. Rei hugs her close. Kira's startled at first, but then smiles--so happily!!--and hugs him back, welcoming him home.

Rei gives Kira a cell phone to use, so she can call him if she needs anything. Kira begins to make Rei lunch to take with him to work, saying that eating out is bad for him. She says she feels bad because while he's working hard to support them both, she stays at home and lounges around--so the least she can do is make sure he eats right.

At work, Rei's opened his lunchbox to find a fancy lunch prepared. He's blushing with a really idiotic grin on his face while all his coworkers stare and exclaim about his lunch. They tease him, asking him when he got married. :)

Kira's at home, hanging laundry. Afterwards, she's sitting around watching tv when Harumi calls.
They meet up at a nearby park and chat about Kira's breaking ties with her family. Kira tells Harumi that Hamazaki has generously gotten them lots of nice furniture, electrical appliances, etc from amongst the stuff that people who are moving want to get rid of. Kira and Harumi chat until Harumi has to leave for work.

Kira's still at the park by herself when Jin comes along. She stops to talk, asking why Kira looks so down. Kira replies that she doesn't like how the only things she can do are cook and clean (and other housework). She says that once the chores are done, she's got nothing to do and the day seems so slow and long. Jin comments that Kira sounds like an old lady, and should go out and have fun with her friends since it's summer. Kira replies that all her friends are either working or taking extra classes, and that Rei's also taken extra jobs to support them both. He told her not to work because she's never done it before and is so introverted. Kira looks sad, and says that she feels really useless.

Jin goes to find Rei at work, and basically tells him that he's overprotecting Kira and should let her get a job. She tells him that actually, telling someone to sit and wait at home and not do anything is really hard and painful.

The next day Rei opens his lunchbox to find the most elaborate lunch thus far. It's truly gourmet. His coworkers are flushed and stare in awe, and beg for parts of his lunch ("I've wanted to taste that since elementary school!! ::stares at rice ball/pastry::"). Rei stares at the food and realizes how bored Kira must really be. Later that day when he's getting out of his second job, Kira comes to meet him on a bike. He tells her she could get a job if she wants (though he's wary of her choice--seems she wants to work with Harumi at a fast-food joint.), which makes Kira very, very happy. ^_^

They go to the bank and open an account for Kira. She's blissfully staring at her card afterwards, ecstatic since they've opened the account for her under Rei's name (so she's "Kashino Kira" on the card). She feels like she's married. ;) It's a sort of rebirth for her.

Rei and Tatsuya meet up and talk. Tatsuya questions whether Kira will be able to handle a job, and Rei says he doesn't want to force her either.
Rei: But from living with her I've come to realize that the Kira I know now is the real Kira. The one who complains of being bored, who wants to get a job out of curiosity, who will be happy like a small child or fuss...that's the real Kira. To have such a rotten thing done to her by that @#$&* old man made her break ties with the world at age 14; she's killed so many of her selves, whether smiling or angry. So now, she wants to start all over again...start over again from 14. And I think I want to accompany her down this path.
[silent for a moment]
Tatsuya: But what about the future? Right now it's vacation, so it's all right, but what about when school starts? Kira's a runaway from home, and your family won't send you money...how will you two survive? And Kira's parents won't just leave things the way they are, with Kira not going home, and they definitely won't approve of her living with some guy.
Rei [seriously]: I want to quit school. I'll leave school and get a job. When I'm 18, I'll marry Kira. Then, whether it's legally or socially, I'll be her protector. Then I'll be able to openly protect her without doing anything wrong. (in case you're wondering, he's just saying that he wants to be able to be her protector in a way that won't be disapproved of by society, since nobody would approve of their relations right now...)

Kira and Harumi are at work at their fast food restaurant. Kira's cleaning the floor when some guys decide to play a trick on her. They spill stuff, then when she comes to mop it up, one of them trips her and cops a feel. Kira slaps the guy hard across the face as a reflex. Then she realizes what she's done (disrespected the customer) and gets in trouble with the manager. The group of guys, after leaving in a huff, joke around about how Kira's "not bad" and "just the type" for one of them (the one who'd gotten slapped). The guy says he'll get her (basically: get her in bed). Meanwhile, Kira gets yelled at by the manager. Harumi tries to defend her, but the manager doesn't care.

Rei comes to pick Kira up from work. She's still crying about what happened that day. Harumi apologizes, thinking it's her fault for asking Kira to work with her. Rei just says it's nothing big, and that Kira's probably just down on herself for not being able to handle the situation in a better way.

At home, Kira's still not cheered up. Rei tells her not to go to work anymore if she feels that badly about it. Kira replies that she just feels really useless...like all she does is cause people trouble. She lists off all her qualities, which aren't very great ("no charisma, not very smart, lukewarm personality, mediocre appearance..."), and is annoyed at herself.
Rei [tapping Kira's forehead with bottled water]: Why do you think that way? You have lots of good qualities.
Kira: ...What good qualities?
Rei: Like, you make lunch for me every day, sweep the floors, do laundry, that kind of thing...
Kira: Like a convenience store?*
Rei: Hey~~~
Kira: It's okay, you don't have to force yourself to praise me.
Rei [seriously]: Because you're here, I feel happy. [Kira stops] Without you, I wouldn't be able to survive. You're my sun. I would die for you.
[Kira stares at him for a moment.]
Kira: No, I don't want you to die.
[Rei looks startled, then laughs.]
Rei: I knew you would say that.
[Kira laughs, then sobers and cries a little.]
[Rei sobers, then kisses her on the forehead.]
Rei: It's okay. Take it slow, honey, don't rush.

*note: for "convenience store" reference, check volume 4 manga summary

Next day at work, Kira greets Harumi cheerfully. They joke around together; things're back to normal. Just then, the two guys from before turn up. They try to pick up the girls, and Harumi shoves a menu into their faces, telling Kira to go to the kitchen. The guys take a seat, and Harumi calls Rei on her cell. She tells him about the situation, and how one of the guys seems to be targeting Kira. Rei takes a half-hour break from work and rushes to the restaurant (riding a bike. ^_^;;;) in record time (people walking by are stunned at his speed. "he rides like the wind~!") Harumi greets him happily and shows him the guys, one of whom is heading to the bathroom.

The guy is about to leave the bathroom when the door bangs open and slams him in the face. Twice. Rei, with a cold look on his face, apologizes.

The other guy (the one who'd been after Kira) goes to the bathroom to look for his friend. He finds him there with an extremely bruised and bloody face. As he's staring in surprise, Rei appears behind him, an ultra-cool look on his face. He ends up shoving the guy's head in a toilet bowl, holding it down under his foot, and flushing the toilet while telling the guy not to make a move on someone else's woman. ^_^ Kira sees Rei as he's leaving the bathroom, and asks him what he's doing there. He grins at her sheepishly, then flicks her visor and tells her he'll be home from work early. Then he rides off on his bike panicking because his break is almost over.

Harumi and Tatsuya meet up later, Harumi relating the tale and both of them getting some kicks out of it (when the guys'd finally been able to leave the bathroom, one was still bleeding profusely while the other was soaking wet...the manager'd turned green...) Tatsuya asks about Kira's reaction, and Harumi says Kira was just mad that Rei took it so far. ;)

Rei and Kira go on a date to the movies. They're almost late, because of work. They both end up falling asleep in the theater. Outside, they overhear a couple talking about going to Disneyland. Rei asks Kira if she wants to go, and she decides she doesn't because it's crowded and a waste of money. Rei then asks her if she'd like to see the "Christmas tree." Kira's incredulous, since it's summer, but Rei just takes her on his motorcycle. They drive to a beautiful scene of dazzling lights. Turns out it's the factories of the industrial district with all their lights lit. Rei comments that people say Japan is the brightest country seen from space.
Rei: Didn't someone say that a fire right before it burns out is always at its brightest? That feeling of being close to the end is pretty good.
Kira: My father used to say that before, the water was so clear and the fireflies flew to and fro, and that that was the best era. So he thought we children of this era were pitiable. But I think the present is beautiful too...the eras keep flowing by continuously--when we're old, old enough to look back on the past, if we can still say "the past was so good" then things will be all right...
[Rei watches Kira gently, and takes her hand.]
Rei: Kira, let's get married.

Rei's answering machine is picking up a message from Rei's father. He says one of the teachers has called to say Rei's quitting school, and that he wants Rei to go home.

Rei and Kira are racing up the stairs to the apartment. Of course Rei wins, and says that Kira has to take out the trash the next day because she lost. :) They're joking around (Kira slapping Rei for the unfair race ^.^) when Rei suddenly pulls Kira close, smiling at her gently. Kira reaffirms Rei's promise never to leave her and to stay with her always. Just as they're sharing a romantic moment, Kira remembers she hasn't bought tomorrow's breakfast yet. Rei says she's not very romantic, but when Kira suggest that fine, he can go buy their breakfast the next morning, he shoos her off. ^_^;;; After she leaves, he notices the answering machine blinking and listens to the message. It's his father.

Kira is walking along in an exultant mood. She recalls Rei's proposal (they're to get married once he's 18) and wishes that tomorrow were Rei's birthday.

Back at home, Rei finishes listening to his father ask him to come home. Looking sober, Rei says his father is right, and it's about time he made everything clear.

Harumi is surprised (though she expected it) and moved when Kira tells her that Rei has proposed. Harumi suggests they get married on Rei's birthday (Nov.30, if you're interested ^_-...), at which Kira doesn't look too happy. It seems that the anniversary of Sei's death is Nov.29, the day before his and Rei's birthday.

Kira's walking alone after the talk with Harumi and sees someone who looks like Rei across the street. She tries calling out, but he doesn't hear her. She's startled when she sees him stopped by a woman. (btw, it looks like Sonoko, the older woman who'd come to find Rei about seeing his father...you know, his "father's woman") Just then the light turns, and Kira crosses, but Rei and the woman are nowhere to be seen when she reaches the other side.

Rei and Kira are playing with Tatsuya's playstation, which they've borrowed. Kira keeps losing and suggesting rematches. :) Kira asks Rei, as they play, whether he'd been in Shinjuku that day. He says he wasn't. She explains that she'd seen someone who'd looked like him at Shinjuku that day, and that person had been arguing with some older woman. She says she's probably gotten confused, and for a moment she'd thought that he'd gotten a job as a...hrm. (Some young guy who will sleep with older women for money/patronage? I don't know...I think I'm just not familiar enough with Chinese word usages. Technically it just means like the son of a well-to-do family...so...). They play in silence for a few moments; then Rei apologizes and says that it *was* him. Kira exclaims that he really DID become one of those aforementioned things ^_^;;;; At which Rei replies no, he's working by phone. (okay...not too sure about this either) As Kira stares at him disbelievingly, he wins the game again. ^_^;;

Rei meets up with Tatsuya at a club; it seems Harumi and Kira are on the way there. An ex tries to pick up Rei, and he brushes her off [in a friendly way]. Tatsuya asks whether Rei's really quitting school, and Rei affirms, saying he'd gone and done it formally that day and the teachers have accepted it. Tatsuya asks about Rei's father, and Rei says he's already told him everything there is to tell and that he didn't reply; he'll probably want to break the father-son relationship completely. Just then, Kira and Harumi arrive. They've bought some firework-type things (sparklers and whatnot) to celebrate their last summer of high school. They all decide they want to go swimming, since none of them have been yet that summer. Rei says he knows a place they can have the whole swimming pool to themselves for free.

They end up at the school pool. ^_^;; Harumi, Tatsuya, and Rei decide to go skinny-dipping. All of them shed their clothes easily, except Kira, who's blushing and standing uncertainly at the side. Rei tells her to get in, but she says it's too embarrassing. Rei says he won't try to force her, and swims off, telling her to watch their stuff. Kira watches Harumi and Tatsuya play happily together, and makes up her mind. She drops her clothes and jumps in. Rei hears the splash and turns, surprised. He swims back to Kira, who's floundering around because she can't touch bottom (she says she can swim...for 5 yards or so...-_-;;). Rei's holding Kira when a hand underwater jerks his foot out from under him. Rei falls, letting go of Kira, and she screams--then stops with a confused look.

Rei surfaces and yells at Tatsuya, who's swimming away laughing. He suddenly remembers Kira who can't swim, and turns back to her in alarm--only to find her floating, amazed that she's seemed to learn how to tread water/swim.

Afterwards the four of them sit outside, and wonder where they'll all be in a year. Tatsuya says if he can pass the exams, he'll be in college. Harumi says that she wants to go to a beauty college. She predicts that Kira will be married by then, and Rei will be a racer. Tatsuya agrees, saying that Rei's even quit school to do it. Kira's startled, as she didn't know, and asks Rei about quitting school. As Harumi and Tatsuya play with sparklers, Rei and Kira have a talk.
Rei: Actually, I might have a chance to be a test rider (motorcycle testing, I guess) for WORKS. Though it's just a test rider job, it'll still be for WORKS! And then I'll have lots of new bikes to test ride...
[Kira watches him]
Rei: If--If there's a possibility of it happening, I want to become a professional racer. Not the kind who just tries to be fast, but the really skilled, great kind. [he looks away]
Rei: You'll stay by me, right? [Kira looks attentively at him] Will you come with me?
[Kira's eyes widen, then soften as she smiles at Rei.]
Kira: Of course! Need you ask?
[Fireworks rise into the night sky]
Kira: Wherever you are is where I'll be.

End Volume 10.

On to Volume 11
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