A/N I'm postponing my other rei/minako fic because this idea appeals to me so much more!
A brief Summary- In thsi fic, it is after the last Act of PGSM. Usagi brings the world back to how it was, but none of the other senshi (like the beginning of season 2 in the anime) remember their lives as senshi, or each other. With rei/minako as the main focus of course :D
Will rei and minako still fall in love without remembering each other?
Enjoy :D
Chapter 1: Memories Absent
"... Reiko..."
A broken whisper.
Rei leaned her head downward, and then there was something soft on her lips. Something heavenly.
"Are you sure you want this?" Rei asked after her lips were freed.
But hot breath lingered, and the close proximity of their lips allowed them to brush.
Rei felt smooth arms around her neck tense.
"Please..." that angelic voice pleaded her, "I want... this."
And there was no way she could deny the genuine emotion behind that voice.
So she claimed those lips again and wiped away those tears.
But who would wipe away hers?
Rei's eyes fluttered open from her slumber. She twisted in habit to her bedside table and frowned at the time.
She felt strangely melancholic today, and she couldn't remember what she had dreamed about because she was pretty sure it was the reason for her mood.
She did remember feeling both happy and incredibly sad at the same time, though.
Strange dream.
She rubbed her eye and threw her legs over the small single bed. School started in an hour and she had to sweep the shrine steps before going, as well as make her lunch and get ready.
Maybe because she felt no motivation that morning after her odd dream she took longer than usual to sweep the steps and she had to walk faster than usual to the bus stop as a result.
The bus was packed like every other morning, and Rei recognised a girl with strange hair look at her the whole way.
She ignored it and got off at her stop.
Those eyes watched her the until that bus turned a corner.
--
--
Usagi smiled sadly, staring at her ice cream without eating it.
Mamoru studied his girlfriend quietly before nudging her soldier, "you not eating? The world is coming to an end."
"Mamoru!" Usagi elbowed his rib as he chuckled, "you shouldn't joke about things like that!"
"Hai hai," Mamoru waved a hand and smiled when Usagi leaned on his shoulder with a sigh.
His smile grew when Usagi licked her ice cream.
"Usagi," he started gently, "don't think too much about it. I'm sure they'll remember soon."
Usagi nodded, taking another lick, "you know, I saw Rei-chan on the bus this morning."
Mamoru's arm came around her shoulders and he rubbed her with assurance.
"And... Ami-chan and Mako-chan talked to me in class... and Minako-chan is getting even more popular..."
She wiped a tear form her left eye and licked her ice cream cone again.
"Maybe its better if they don't remember," Usagi continued as Mamoru pulled her even closer, "This way, they have normal lives..."
Mamoru put both his arms around her now.
"I mean," Usagi continued to ramble, "Ami-chan doesn't have to be distracted from her studies... and Mako-chan... doesn't..." Now she cried. She cried and her ice cream cone fell to the ground.
Mamoru soothed her as best as he could and she snuggled into his chest and gripped his shirt.
"I miss them," Usagi said through a tight throat.
Mamoru wiped away her tears and cupped her cheek, and she blushed.
"Usagi," he said softly, "you can still be their friend without the whole senshi thing."
"You're right!" Usagi bounced back with determination, "I'll get my friends back!"
Mamoru sighed at her; he could hardly believe she had just been crying herself silly.
"Ne, Mamoru?" she asked him like and angel.
"Hmm," he acknowledged her and felt her arms take hostage of his left hand.
"Can I have another ice cream?"
And Usagi silently told herself that even though her friends didn't remember her, they were still her destined best friends and so she would get them back.
Memories or no memories.
For now, she would just have her ice cream, and reward Mamoru with a kiss.
--
--
Ami wasn't paying attention to her surroundings, and she was embarrassed when she hit into someone as a result.
"A-Ah, g-gomen," she bowed and bent to pick up her book bag.
"It's alright," came a slightly terse reply.
Ami's bag was snatched from the ground before she could pick it up herself, and then handed to her.
"I didn't see where I was going, no need to apologise" the girl with a frown said opposite of her.
"Th-thank you," Ami found her extremely beautiful and felt slightly intimidated by the girls frown.
"Ami-chan!" Ami almost jumped at the casual greeting that came from behind.
"Tsukino-san," Ami greeted Usagi who smiled brightly at her.
"Who's your friend?" Usagi asked the girl across from them.
"Uh...A-Ano..." Ami stuttered feeling overwhelmed.
"Hino Rei," Rei did not know why she even bothered.
She never cared to be social, but something about these two... felt nice.
They felt... familiar.
"Tsukino Usagi," Usagi smiled and then grabbed Ami's arm and pulled her closer into the new conversation.
"And this is my friend Mizuno Ami."
Ami had never had anyone call her a friend, and so the flush on her cheeks was excusable.
"Nice to meet you," Rei was extremely surprised to actual mean those words, "but I'm in a hurry."
Usagi smiled, "nice to meet you too, Rei-chan."
Rei-chan?
Rei just nodded; surprised again that she let someone she barely knew call her with such familiarity.
"Let's go Ami-chan!" Usagi started pulling Ami with her.
"Wh-where?" Ami asked, perplexed.
"There's this place," Usagi said with a bright smile, "I'm sure you'll love it! It's called The Crown."
--
--
They weren't remembering anything.
Usagi had befriended them, treated them like she always had before, and they still did not remember.
She made it her personal project to get close to them, and it worked. Makoto and Ami were easier since they went to the same school, but Rei had been the challenge.
Eventually, after going to the shrine a few times, inviting her out and then exchanging numbers, even Rei gave in and started to be her friend.
She wanted them to remember, but that was selfish of her.
Because wasn't Usagi the one who wished they would forget in the first place? Forget the pain of being her senshi?
And Usagi was not stupid. Well, not that stupid. She understood that the reason she could so easily make them her friends now was because of the connection they shared as senshi in the past.
She had tried hinting to them about the past, and it never worked.
Maybe they weren't supposed to remember?
And Usagi was unable to get a hold of Minako because Minako was a super famous teen idol who was too busy.
So Usagi came to a final conclusion.
They would remember if they wanted to, or if fate wanted them to.
At least Rei, Makoto, and Ami were her best friends again. And Mamoru was by her side, the only one who remembered.
It was like old times; except instead of going to The Crown, they made it a habit to visit Rei and help her out at the shrine.
Usagi wondered once that maybe if she took them to the old senshi room, they might remember. She had taken Ami first, but Ami didn't see the secret door.
Some newspapers she found still had images of them fighting Youma, or stories on the mysterious senshi who protected the city, and even articles wondering when they would show up next considering there was no 'supernatural activity' for over a year.
Usagi had brought up the conversation casually.
"What do you think of those Sailor senshi?" she had asked.
Makoto had said she liked their outfits.
Ami had said it was scientifically incorrect for them to exist.
And Rei, Rei just shrugged.
They still didn't remember.
Usagi had turned 16 now, and that was almost two years of her friends not remembering.
Even though they were good friends, they weren't the same as before.
Would they ever be?
For Usagi knew they weren't that close.
She knew about Makoto's loneliness from being an orphan, but Makoto never said anything about it.
She knew about Ami's problems with her mother, but Ami never said anything about it.
And she knew about Rei's relationship with her father, but Rei never said anything about it.
--
--
"Oh my god!" Makoto had declared rather loudly from the couch in the shrine's small living room.
"What?" Rei uncharacteristically rushed form the small kitchen to see what the problem was.
"Aino Minako!" Usagi cheered on her favourite singer.
"Huh?" Rei, realising the situation wasn't actually as bad as she thought, was now confused.
"Rei-chan, you're so lucky!" Usagi whined and reclined back into the sofa with a sigh.
"Lucky? I don't understand," Rei crossed her arms and frowned.
"Very lucky," Makoto agreed.
Ami who had been watching television and studying history at the same time fixed her glasses to explain.
"Aino Minako, the idol, she just revealed on the talk show we were watching that she's transferring to T.A. Girl's Academy."
Rei frowned, "my school?"
The three opposite of her nodded.
Rei's eyes suddenly went large, and they all stared at her, wondering what caused the change until Rei spun around.
"The food!"
She had left the food to almost burn, but luckily she saved it in time.
--
--
The feeling of forgetting something important.
It lingered within them all.
--
--
It was all over the news, and it amused Minako to no end.
She was only going to a school so she could take a break from being an idol and try to live life as a normal school girl.
It was Sugao's idea. He said it would promote her image and he stressed that she shouldn't give up the opportunity to be a normal girl.
Go to school, make friends, and take a break from the world of an idol.
Well the reason this amused Minako was because no one would see her a normal girl at her school.
She was still famous, so anyone who might become her friend was most likely doing it so they could say with pride, 'my friend is Aino Minako!'
When she said that to Sugao, he frowned and replied, 'that's why you're going to a prestigious and private all girls school, Minako-chan.'
Girls who went to this school were apparently all rich and privileged.
Despite it all though, Minako was excited to go to school.
Her parents who both lived abroad in America agreed with Sugao.
What the news and media didn't know about Minako was that she had almost died from a brain tumour, and so her parents and Sugao wanted her to live the life she fought for to fullest.
She couldn't argue with them there.
It was in her nature to enjoy life, and she was glad she had a life to do so.
--
--
Rei sighed.
Who would believe a miko of the Shinto faith went to a catholic girl's school and even came to a catholic church?
But here she was, simply staring at her mother's grave and finding comfort there.
Like every time she thought of her mother, she wondered how different life would be if her mother never passed away.
How much nicer.
She put down some lilies, her mother's favourite flowers. There was a bouquet identical to hers already on the grave.
Her father had obviously been here.
Today was actually her mother's birthday, not her death anniversary. That had been two months ago.
She walked inside the building and found the familiar face of the priest reading a book.
She liked the kind man, he always wished her well.
"Sakama-san," she addressed, him, "is there anything I can do to help before I leave?"
He closed his book with a smile and stood up as she bowed her head respectfully at him.
"Your father was here," he said as he started to walk through a hall and towards the church hall.
Rei scowled and decided not to answer.
"These flowers need to be taken into the hall," Sakama gestured to a few boxes, "Please come to the drawing room when you are finished."
Rei nodded and turned to the boxes. They were large, but light.
Entering the hall, she was very surprised to see a girl around her age sitting and praying. She would never think that a girl her age would come to a church on the morning of a non-school day.
She looked angelic and her presence was pleasant and calming. And familiar...
Rei flushed.
She shook her head and placed the box down before she left to get another.
When she was back outside, the presence lingered.
"May I help you?" That voice made Rei turn around quickly and freeze.
They both seemed to stare at each other rather intently and Rei coughed when she noticed the girl get slightly nervous under her gaze.
"If you want," she said with a small smile.
Minako was surprised this beautiful girl apparently did not know who she was, and what was with that look? But she can't only blame the other girl, because Minako herself had stared. She was... attracted.
With Minako's help, Rei was done quickly and she put the last of the boxes inside with a sense of satisfaction.
"Do you help out here often?" Minako asked. She liked being around this girl, even though all they had done was move some flower boxes together.
Rei shrugged, "not really."
They exited the hall and Minako just walked with her towards the drawing room, wanting to talk more to the girl who didn't know of her.
Rei opened the door to the room and the priest smiled at them.
"Great timing, I just finished making some tea. Thank you for your help, Hino-san."
Rei nodded, "no problem." She added afterwards, "She also helped."
The priest thanked Minako as well and put a cup of tea out for her too. He also put some cookies on the small table there and insisted they be finished as he left them alone.
"So," Minako started, "what did you come for? Not many girls our age come to church during their free time."
Rei actually smiled, a beautiful smile, and chuckled, "to pay respect... What about you?"
Minako blew on her tea and watched Rei dip a cookie into her own.
"To think about things."
Rei paused in her chew, where had she heard that before? This felt like... déjà vu.
"Think about things?" Rei echoed her.
Minako nodded, she had never met a girl since she became an idol who didn't know her.
Rei's head started to hurt a little but she hid it and just settled for a frown, "Have I met you before?"
Minako shook her head, "no."
Rei took a sip of her tea and shook her head quickly, the headache left.
"Rei," she put a hand out and smiled at the girl across form her, "Hino Rei."
Minako shook the offered hand; a nice sensation at the touch tickled her body.
"Aino Minako."
Rei then took her hand back and lifted her cup to her lips with both hands.
That name rung a bell...
Then she noticed a magazine that just happened to be on the table.
She reached out and pulled the magazine to her face and then looked at Minako, "Oh. Is that you?"
Minako giggled, that look was cute. "The one and only. I've never met a girl who didn't know me before."
Giving a small apologetic smile, Minako somehow knew what Rei was going to say.
And she was right.
"I don't watch much TV."
--
--
________________________________________________________________________________
--
--
"Why did you lie about being the princess?" Rei demanded from her leader.
Minako had come to see her at the shrine.
"To protect Usagi!" Minako shot back.
Rei scowled at Minako. It was late at night, and her crows were on alert in the tree nearby.
"You could have gotten hurt," Rei said a little more calmly.
She didn't want the shrine elders to wake up after all.
Minako felt the miko's grip on her shoulder as she was turned around so they were face to face.
And very close.
"There's something bothering you," Rei's eyes turned gentle now, "so why don't you speak your mind?"
"Why do you care?" Minako's eyes were stinging. Rei should not care, because then when Minako dies, she'll suffer.
Rei was angry now and almost roughly pushed Minako against the tree.
"I don't know," she said with narrowed eyes, "but I do care!"
Minako's lips trembled, she felt trapped between Rei's intense gaze and the tree behind her.
"You shouldn't care..." she whispered.
Then she felt Rei's lips on her own, hard and demanding, but also soft and inviting.
This was her first kiss in this life, and Rei's mouth was robbing her of her senses.
It felt good, too good.
This was wrong, Minako was being selfish. Rei would only be hurt.
Minako pushed her off, tears streaming down her face. She looked at Rei's hurt eyes briefly before she turned away from the miko and ran.
Rei watched her disappear, feeling hopeless. She touched her lips before she made a fist and swung it wildly at the tree.
She was just so confused.
--
--
"Get surgery."
Minako turned in shock to the intruding figure.
She was more shocked that Rei knew about her condition than the fact that Rei had somehow gotten into her hotel room.
"I don't want to," Minako turned her attention back to taking off her shoes. "I could die. I want to live what time I have left."
This answer did not soothe Rei the slightest.
"If there's a chance, take it!" Rei said with anger, "The Minako I know would not give up."
Minako felt her eyes sting, "I could die, Rei! And the princess-"
"Forget about the princess!" Rei cut her off, "this is about you, Minako!"
--
--
Rei was sweeping the shrine steps with no enthusiasm. She gave up and sat down on the bench nearby and just stared at the flowers across from her.
Of course she was thinking of Minako.
Suddenly, she felt the object of her thoughts nearby and turned in time to see the idol approach her and sit next to her on the bench.
Their shoulders were touching and they were awkward.
"I'm getting the surgery."
Rei's eyes opened wide and she snapped in attention.
Minako turned to her and fidgeted with her hands before letting out a shaky breath.
"I'm scared, Rei."
Rei's hand came up and rested on Minako's in comfort.
"Of course you are," she said, her thumb caressing the top of Minako's hand.
Minako moved to her second in command and hugged her, leaning her head on the shoulder.
Rei went stiff at first before she accepted and relaxed into the hug.
Her free hand came up to brush Minako's hair and tuck it behind her ear.
--
--
"See you tomorrow?" Rei walked Minako up to her limo that evening. They had just spent three hours in the shrine together, Minako had demanded Rei cook her dinner.
"Un," Minako smiled at her best friend, "ja, Reiko."
Rei was about to protest her nickname, but her words died in her throat when she felt soft lips leave a kiss on her cheek.
Before she could comprehend what happened, Minako had closed the door of her limo and the car was already driving off.
She was left to blush.
--
--
"Tomorrow's the surgery," Minako was soaking wet from the rain outside and shivering.
"Tomorrow?" Rei ushered her in and wrapped a towel around her shoulders. "I thought you said it was next week!"
Minako's eyes watered and she tightened the towel around her body, "I lied... I didn't want- I just..."
Minako stopped talking when Rei grabbed her into a tight embrace.
"It's okay," she murmured to the idol and rubbed her back gently.
She felt Minako grasp onto the front of her miko robes and sob silently into her neck.
Rei felt tears in her eyes as well, but she had to be strong for Minako right now, so she forced them down.
Moving slightly back from the embrace, Rei brought a hand up to wipe Minako's tears.
"Reiko," Minako said with a visible effort to try and stop her tears, "Promise me you won't be sad if..."
Rei clucked her tongue, "don't even talk about it."
Minako's tears had stopped now and the two sat in silence as the sound of rain outside echoed on the pavement and windows.
"Come on," Rei stood up and pulled Minako up too, "let's get you into dry clothes."
Minako nodded and rubbed her shivering arms as she watched Rei get her some dry clothes. Accepting the clothes, she turned to the bathroom to change.
Before she slid the door open however, she turned back to find Rei watching her intently.
She bit her bottom lip as they made eye contact and with firm resolve she dropped the clothes to the ground and hugged Rei closely to her form.
Rei's own arms were instantly around Minako.
"I just don't want to hurt you," Minako said burying her head into the fire senshi's shoulder.
Rei was stroking her hair, "I know you don't... but..."
Minako pulled back at Rei's hesitation and their faces were incredibly close.
She knew it was coming, and the look in Rei's eyes actually gave her more comfort than anything else in the world.
When their lips touched in a gentle kiss, Minako sighed and let tears roll down her eyes again.
Rei's hands were cupping her cheeks as they continued to kiss, her thumbs wiping away Minako's tears as they leaked.
Minako followed her heart now, ignoring her logic.
Their kisses grew deeper and Minako started to tug at the front of Rei's robe to pull them towards the small single bed.
Minako brushed her tongue against Rei's lip but paused when the back of her knees touched the bed.
Rei's breath was mingling with hers as their clouded eyes stared at one another.
"I'll hurt," Rei said, dropping a kiss to Minako's' lips, "because I love you..."
They were young, maybe to young to confess love, but with the possibility that Minako might die during her surgery tomorrow haunting their minds, Minako fell with her back on the mattress and with Rei on top of her.
They were kissing again, and Minako's tears were leaking as well.
When Rei broke away to caress her cheek, she felt tears of her own start to escape her eyes.
But their tears were no longer sad. They were happy, even if it was only for tonight.
"... Reiko..." Minako whispered to her.
Rei leaned her head down for another kiss. Minako felt heavenly and soft. She was so addictive.
"Are you sure you want this?" Rei asked after they broke apart again.
But hot breath lingered, and the close proximity of their lips allowed them to brush.
Rei felt those smooth arms that clung around her neck tense at the question.
"Please..." that angelic voice of Minako pleaded her, "I want... this."
I want you.
And there was no way she could deny the genuine emotion behind that voice.
So she claimed those lips again and wiped away those tears.
But who would wipe away hers?
TBC