Rei looked at the paper in front of her, frowning. Here they were at yet another senshi meeting, this time at Motoko's, and all they did was doing homework. Or, more precisely, she was doing homework. Ami had finished hers about an hour ago, Minako was talking to Motoko about some boys they had met, and Usagi was rummaging through the fridge on the search for ice cream. Deciding that it was no use to try finishing her homework when everybody was doing something else, especially since she would rather do something with her friends anyways, she closed her textbook and went over to Usagi to tease her a bit.

"We've got no more ice cream, odango atama. Honestly, do you do anything else but eat all day long?", she asked, a smirk appearing on her face. As expected, Usagi turned around to her with a pout on her face.

"You're so mean, Rei", she exclaimed. It had grown to be their habit with time. Usagi could tell Rei did not mean to hurt her with her teasing, but their constant bickering had kind of a bonding effect on both of them, so they kept it up.

"I'm just telling the truth", Rei stated, upon which Usagi started to tear up, adding a lip quiver for the dramatic effect. "Stop being such a crybaby, you're not fooling anybody", Rei added coolly. Usagi tried to swat her, but tripped over her own feet, falling straight past Rei, who caught her in the last moment. However the impact on her arms was too much, sending both of them toppling over each other and onto the floor, leaving Rei to lie on to of Usagi.

"You're such a klutz, Usagi", she sighed, getting up to dust herself off.

"and I thought you liked being on top", Usagi said, in a whiny tone that seemed completely unfitting for what she was implying. Rei was shell-shocked. This was so completely unlike Usagi that she contemplated for a moment whether it was really Usagi who was standing in front of her or some kind of doppelganger. Usagi meanwhile enjoyed the feeling of her victory. She never managed to fluster Rei, while Rei did that to her all the time. Now, however, Rei seemed at a struggle for words. Or maybe not.

"Don't you have a boyfriend, Usagi? You certainly shouldn't be flirting with your senshi", Rei said, the smirk reappearing on her face. "Plus, you have a future to look forward to with Mamoru, don't you?", she added. A shadow fell across Usagi's face, unnoticed by any of the others, but standing in front of Usagi and knowing her so well, Rei saw it clearly. Instinctively knowing that Usagi would not want any of the other inner senshi hearing this, she called out to them: "It's pretty late by now, Usagi and I are going home, if you're okay with that?" Saying a quick goodbye, they left the building. When they reached the next corner and were sure none of the others were going to hear them, Rei asked:

"Come on, Usagi, what's wrong?"

"Nothing", she answered, but her answer seemed forced, and it was a lie that Rei easily saw through.

"You were totally tensed up when I spoke to you about the future. Something about it bothering you? A little bit intimidating maybe, being princess and all?", she asked.

Usagi nodded, then she started to cry, earnestly this time. Rei embraced her tenderly, letting her cry on her shoulder. A few minutes later when her sobs had died down, Usagi started to talk, still clutching to Rei.

"I don't know if I want this future. I seemed to be so happy with Mamoru in the future, and I really like him but I'm not sure if I like him that way, but I can't really choose, and… I feel like I'm sitting in a golden cage. You can do what you want, but if I break away from my future, it will kill Chibiusa, and maybe the world will surrender to some evil force and…" She broke down sobbing again.

"Usagi", Rei said, lifting the girl's chin to look her straight in the eyes. A tingly feeling built in her stomach, but she dismissed it. "You are the princess, you do what you want and what you need to. If Chibiusa were not to be born we never could have met her, right? And you said you are not sure whether you love Mamoru or not. Why don't you just give him a chance? And if you feel pressured in any way by anyone, I'll be there for you. Not as your senshi, but as your friend."

"Thank you." Usagi sniffed loudly, then steadied herself. Rei smiled at her reassuringly.

"You'll be fine, trust me." That said, she released Usagi from her arms, and they walked on in a comfortable silence.

"I'll see you later", Rei said casually when they passed Usagi's home. "And if you have a problem of any kind, just come by." Then, both to lighten the mood and because she could not refrain herself, she added: "And don't eat too much ice cream, or you'll become even fatter."

The reaction came just as expected: "Are you saying I'm fat? Rei, you meanie!" She gave Rei an indignant pout, then bounded up the stairs to the door. Rei grinned. That was so typically Usagi!

Despite the snide remark at the end, she had meant what she had said. Little did she know that Usagi would have to take her up on her offer the next day already.

"What?", Usagi asked Mamoru, shell-shocked. He had been sweet to her all day, they had been out to a park and later for some food at a cozy little restaurant. He had been the perfect gentleman, too, and for a moment she had believed she truly could love him. But now that he had asked, she was not sure anymore. He had been shy about it, saying he did not want to pressure her and all, but still. She had definitely not expected him to ask her that. Whether she would like to take their relationship to the next level. Of course she knew what that meant. And it frightened her. Not because she was actually afraid it would hurt, but because she was not sure whether she wanted to do that with him. If so, certainly not now. She was still so new to their relationship emotionally.

"Sorry, gotta go", she said, stumbling out of his grip, during which she somehow managed not to fall over her own feet, then practically running down the street, disappearing around a corner in a way that told Mamoru clearly she would not thank him if he followed her. So he did not, but instead sat down on a bench. All he could do now was thinking about what he had done wrong, then of a way to say sorry. He could not deny he really loved her, and he wanted to be with her. But she seemed so hesitant with him, and if anything, today had proven that to him. He could see she was still unsure about their relationship. Maybe if he could find a way to woe her…

Out on the street Usagi meanwhile finally realized she had no idea where to go. She had told her parents she was staying at Mamoru's, so if she went home now they would ask questions she was not ready to answer right now. Then she remembered what Rei had said: "If you have a problem just come by." And she definitely had a problem, so she would be glad to have someone to talk to. To decided, she made her way to the shrine as fast as possible.

Rei felt slightly woozy. It was her grandfather's birthday, so when he had insisted that she should drink a glass (or two, or three) of wine with him, she could hardly refuse him like she usually would have done, as her tolerance was literally zero. So when the doorbell rang, and she opened the door to reveal a completely hysterical Usagi, she was in no real state to help. Still, she tried her best. She had promised, after all, and besides she would always help her friend in such a situation, no matter her own condition.

So she led Usagi into her room, pointing to her bed. "Sit down", she said. "Now tell me what's wrong." She still felt off kilter, but helping her distressed friend was more important now.

"Mamoru… he said he wanted to…" Usagi looked as if she would choke on the words, "Take our relationship further." She smiled sadly. "The worst part is that I can hardly blame him. We've been together for nearly a year now. He moved on with our relationship, but I… I'm just not sure. Right now, I feel like I'm only leading him on", she confessed, sobbing.

"It's okay, calm down. I'm here with you", Rei said, wrapping her arms around the crying girl. "You're only leading him on if you're sure you don't like him. Until then, you're giving him a chance." Usagi nodded.

"Can I stay?", she asked weakly.

"Sure you can", Rei answered reassuringly.

"Thank you", Usagi said, in a way that somehow made Rei's heart flutter. Then she lifted her eyes up to Rei, giving her a small peck on the lips as assign of gratitude. At This, the small bit of control that still reigned Rei's dazed mind evaporated. Instead of letting go as she usually would have done, Rei pulled Usagi in for another kiss, except this one was far more than just a friendly peck on the lips. It was searing, demanding, making Usagi moan lightly. Rei could not explain what she felt now or why, and the more logical part of her told her desperately to put a stop to what she was doing right now, but the need that suddenly started to burn inside her stomach knew to do exactly the contrary.

Usagi meanwhile let the feeling that surged through her body quench the confusion in her mind. She knew this was wrong to Mamoru, who was still her boyfriend after all, wrong to Rei, who was clearly drunk, and she knew that she might regret this in the morning, but she could not bring herself to care right then. It felt good, it soothed and distracted her spinning mind, and that was all she needed to know right then.

Heated up as they were, it did not take them long to discard their clothing. In a daze they let their hands wander all over each other's body, both marveling at the others soft curves. It was Rei who took the first step, pinning Usagi onto the bed and slowly beginning to kiss her right breast. A low, breathless moan rippled from Usagi's throat. It was all the encouragement Rei needed, as she slowly began to suck on the girls breast, nibbling on her nipple and enjoying the feeling of Usagi writhing underneath her.

After she had given both her breasts enough treatment, Rei came up again, kissing Usagi fiercely, almost forcing her tongue into the other's mouth (not that Usagi minded, on the contrary), before kissing down her neck, sucking on her pulse point enough to make her squirm in pleasure. Seeing that she had left a big hickey let her feel guilty for a moment, knowing that there was no way not to notice this, but then shoved the thought aside. Usagi would just have to wear a scarf. There was no way she would stop now, she thought as her hand moved down between Usagi's legs, slowly stroking her most sensitive part.

A slight whimper fell from Usagi's lips, but was immediately drowned out by Rei pressing her lips against them. Usagi tensed for a moment and bit her lower lip in discomfort as one of Rei's fingers slowly slid inside her. She had never allowed herself to touch down there, so this was a completely new experience for her. It only took her a few moments to adjust herself to the new feeling, then she relaxed, moaning deeply into Rei's mouth, thus giving her a sign to continue. So she did.

Given the fact that she was emotionally charged and, as it was her first time, overpowered by the strength of her feelings, it only took Usagi a short time to reach her peak. Crying out loudly (at which Rei was very glad her grandfather slept like a dead man when he had drunken something) Usagi came, shuddering in bliss while aching her back off the covers, then slumping back down, exhausted. She looked so beautiful right then that Rei gave her another kiss onto the lips, not heated, but loving this time, without even questioning why she did it.

A moment later, both were sound asleep, their limbs entwined.