Koi Ponds, Koalas and Playing Dumb

1

Minako didn't seem to notice Rei's approach as she sat, staring intently at the lively koi pond. Surrounded by blossoms and greenery, the pond was well-hidden in the Shrine's sizeable garden. Rei had sensed her before seeing her.

The idol held a hand above the water, waving it from side to side. As Rei moved slowly closer, she watched the rippling surface. Directly beneath Minako's hand, a mottled orange and white fish swam back and forth, following her movements.

Minako giggled softly and wiggled her fingers.

"Are you teaching him to dance?" Rei couldn't keep quiet any longer.

Obviously startled, Minako looked up, beaming when she saw Rei. "He's very good. I think I'll bring him on tour with me."

Rei knelt beside Minako and gazed at the swirling fish. "I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be jealous of koi."

"Why, Rei, if you wanted to be part of my dance troupe, all you had to do was ask." Minako grinned at Rei's indignant glare.

"Not what I meant, and you know it." She took Minako's free hand in her own, enjoying the feel of the soft skin while she still could. "I thought you were headed to the airport?"

Minako was about to embark on a three month-long tour of Australia. Rei knew she was going to miss her terribly, especially after the memorable farewell they had shared at Minako's apartment the previous night. She felt her cheeks grow hot at the memory of the idol's body entwining with hers. The tender words they'd exchanged. Among other things.

Minako rested her head against Rei's shoulder. "I wanted to see you one more time before I left. But the fish sidetracked me. They're pretty."

"Again, I say, I never thought I'd be jealous of koi." She squeezed Minako's hand and pulled her to her feet. "I think it's time to separate the two of you. C'mon."

Minako pouted, but waved cheerfully to the residents of the pond, and let Rei lead her to a nearby stone bench.

"How much time do you have?" Rei asked when they'd sat down. "I don't want to make you late."

"It's fine. My driver races on his days off." Minako waved away the question, smirking. Rei sputtered with amusement.

The idol's expression turned suddenly shy. "I actually came by hoping you might come to the airport with me."

"Oh! I—I thought that we—"

Minako reached up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind Rei's ear. "I know. We said goodbye last night. Away from prying eyes and flashing cameras."

"Good thing," Rei murmured, imagining the headlines the farewell they'd shared would have ignited. Not that such a thing would have happened at the airport, but— She blushed and looked at Minako. The idol was biting her lip.

"If you don't want to—"

"No, no, Mina, I do, it's just—" Rei paused, rather surprised by Minako's request. She was so fiercely protective of her private life—especially where it concerned her relationship with Rei. "What if there're cameras? Your secret will be out—"

Minako shook her head. "Rei, the thing is—I don't want to hide it anymore." She took Rei's hands. "I don't care if the whole world knows I love you."

Rei was stunned. She had known for awhile how Minako felt about her, but it was so rare to hear her say it out loud—

"Let's go," Rei said.

~O~O~O~O~

Minako hadn't been kidding when she said her driver raced cars in his spare time, if the trip to the airport was any indication.

"Maybe you should skip the flight and just drive to Australia," Rei commented during the ride.

"We probably would make better time," Minako replied. "But there's the small matter of the Pacific, you see."

They traipsed quickly through the airport towards customs while Minako's driver saw to her luggage. Shacho flitted around, begging the clerks to use utmost care with his things.

Rei couldn't help noticing that a few people stared in their direction. Was it the sight of Aino Minako that grabbed their attention or the fact that her hand was clasping Rei's as they walked?

Perhaps it was both.

Rei had known the moment was inevitable. She had come to the realization a long time before now that she didn't mind who knew, but out of respect for Minako's wishes, she had kept their relationship quiet. Their closest friends had been told, with the promise that severe violence would pay them a swift visit if they shared it with a soul.

But now— she stole a glance at the idol. Minako's face looked quite determined, albeit slightly anxious, especially as a knot of curious people began to drift in their direction. Her bodyguards shifted their collective stance, shielding the two women as best they could.

At the gate, Minako halted and faced Rei, shifting her small carry-on bag.

"I guess this is it, Reiko." She clutched Rei's hand tightly in her own. She was trembling.

"Guess so. You have the mangas?" Rei had brought a few of her favourites over to Minako's the night before, to give her something to do besides work during the flight.

Minako nodded, her eyes darting in the direction of the crowd. A camera flashed.

"Hey," Rei murmured. "I can just hug you, if you like—I'm only a friend for all they know—"

Minako's eyes reconnected with Rei's, looking fierce. The idol's free hand rose to stroke Rei's cheek. A few gasps came from the group of observers.

"I told you before, Reiko," she leaned towards Rei. "I don't want to hide this anymore."

Their lips met in a gentle, sincere kiss. It felt like their first all over again, Rei marvelled, remembering how nervous she'd been that time as well. She slipped her free arm around Minako's waist and drew her lover close.

After a few moments, they reluctantly parted. "I'll call," Minako whispered, her eyes shining.

"I'll miss you," Rei said, trying not to tear up herself. Minako would never let her hear the end of it if she did.

They stood, still holding hands, memorizing each other, as though they could forget. Minako sighed shakily. "I'd better go before they take off without me."

Rei giggled softly. "They wouldn't dare." She gave Minako's hand another squeeze and slowly released it.

The idol gave her a watery smile and turned to head through the gate. Suddenly Rei remembered something important.

"Minako!"

She turned, her expression curious.

"I-I love you too."

Minako's mouth opened in surprise before it was replaced with a glowing smile. She flung her arms around Rei in a tight hug.

"Aino-san, we really need to go."

Rei would have cheerfully kicked the bodyguard, but for the fact that she might have broken her foot if she did.

Sighing, Minako released Rei.

"You make it really hard to leave, Reiko."

"Oh, sure, blame me."

"You should come visit—"

"Aino-san!"

Minako huffed in exasperation and began walking backwards through the gate, keeping her eyes locked with Rei's. As her bodyguards followed, Minako winked, blew Rei a kiss, and was gone.

~O~O~O~O~

Minako's driver had been given instructions to drive Rei home from the airport, an offer which Rei was glad to accept when people's wide-eyed stares and mutterings followed her the entire way to the exit. Before he'd even put the key into the ignition, Rei was quick to let him know that she wasn't in a hurry to get back. She had no wish to repeat the heart stopping drive they'd experienced on the ride in. He had laughed good-naturedly and assured Rei that he would behave.

"Although, Aino-san usually requests that I drive quickly. Even when she's not running late. Still, I thought Shacho was going to explode when she requested the stop at Hikawa earlier," he'd added.

Rei grinned, remembering the conversation as she walked up the shrine's steps. She tried to ignore the empty feeling in the pit of her stomach. It was going to be a long three months.

Her phone buzzed suddenly. Rei hurriedly flipped it open without checking the display.

"Minako?"

"Rei-chan! You and Minako-chan are on the news! Did you know?"

Rei grimaced. Word certainly traveled fast. "No, but I figured it was a matter of time, Usagi."

"Hmph. You two are so mean—threatening me if I didn't keep quiet, and then people take pictures of you kissing in the middle of the airport!"

Rei was tempted to dash to her computer and take a look at the images in question. Perhaps print one off... She snorted with laughter, momentarily forgetting that she was talking to Usagi.

"Rei-chan! Don't laugh! You made me fear for my life! I thought you didn't want people to know!"

"Sorry, Usagi." Rei made her way towards a bench and sat down. Even short conversations with Usagi could be long. "Minako decided she didn't want to keep things secret anymore. The press was bound to find out sooner or later. I guess she wanted it to be on her terms."

"Ohh, I see. I bet you miss her already."

Rei swallowed. That was a massive understatement. "A bit."

"You should come out for ice cream with us tonight! There's a new parlour that lets you make your own flavour!"

"Sure," Rei agreed, thinking it might take her mind off of Minako's absence. It would be good to see her friends.

She half-listened as Usagi went on, listing the various flavours she was going to try mixing together once they got to the ice cream parlour.

"Maybe I could mix chocolate, strawberry and vanilla together, Rei-chan! Mmm, that would be amazing!"

"I think that flavour already exists, Usagi." Rei grinned to herself, remembering a time that she had paid Minako a visit with a pint of that very flavour. "And it is definitely...amazing." She had to clap her hand over her mouth to keep from giggling into the receiver. The last thing she wanted to do was explain the joke to Usagi.

"Hmm. That's no good. I want to make something new! But I should go, Rei-chan! I promised Mako-chan and Ami-chan I would call them back after I talked to you."

Rei sighed. She had a fair idea as to why Usagi had made such a promise. "S'pose I'd better get used to it," she muttered.

"What'd you say, Rei-chan?"

"Nothing. I'll see you guys tonight, okay?"

"Bye, Rei-chan!" Usagi's phone clicked off. Rei flipped hers shut and slipped it back into her pocket. She made a mental note to dress inconspicuously when she went out later. Perhaps she could borrow one of Minako's hats. It was highly likely that Rei had one someplace, as the idol frequently forgot the odd possession during her visits. Rei suspected that she did it deliberately, so that she had an excuse to drop by more often.

The corners of her eyes began to sting.

She glanced up at the sound of gentle splashing. Without meaning to, she had returned to the koi pond.

Standing up from the bench, she made her way to the pond's edge, and sat down, bringing her knees to her chest. The same mottled fish bobbed its head to the surface and swam towards her.

"She's not here, sorry." Rei held her hand over the water, the same way Minako had done earlier, and moved it slowly around. The empty feeling finally overpowered Rei when the fish began to dance. She rested her forehead on her knees and let her tears fall.

o~o~o~o

Chapter 2 next week!

Author notes: The time Rei showed up at Minako's with the strawberry/chocolate/vanilla (also called Neapolitan) ice cream can be read in full in my oneshot, Power Outages and Popsicles. That's right, I'm using my own stories to shamelessly plug my own stories.

Thanks for reading!