A/N – Hey a couple things you should note about this story: It's AU, deals with people in same-sex relationships and I made it so locations are made up in my head, as well as people's names. Like, I came up with some weird-ass names for my other characters lol. You are welcome to make fun of them or whatever. Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon characters that are used in this story.
Rei 1
Rei Hino stretched her arms, her mother panting beside her in a rare show of exhaustion from her usual aloof grace.
"You need to exercise more often," Rei teased her mother with a small smile. She was taller than her mother by three inches and blessed with a slightly larger cup size, something they often teased each other about.
Her mother laughed, a French manicured hand going through her greying-which-had-recently- been-dyed-black-again hair after she shook it free from the ponytail.
"I think I'll stick to Yoga," Suniyara Marusu grabbed a white towel from the rack and patted her face down, putting a hand to her chest with a shaky breath. "Besides, how can I compete with you? You can do back flips and all that mumbo-jumbo, and I have a flexibility surprisingly worse than your father."
She winced after talking, a small gasp coming from her mouth.
Rei instantly frowned, panic shooting through her in the form of a million different scenarios. She gripped her mom by the shoulders earnestly. "What's wrong? Does your chest hurt? Sit down! I'll get some water, do you need medication? Should I-"
"Rei!" Her mother laughed grabbing her hands for attention and demanding Rei shut up, "slow down. You're as bad as your father."
"Mother, I am serious!" Rei's purple eyes smouldered with said seriousness and that made Suniyara stop laughing when she realised her daughter was going to have a heart attack of her own.
"I know you are," she wrapped her arms around Rei and pulled her in tightly, pulling her head down and pressing her lips to Rei's forehead, "and you have every right to be worried, but I am fine. Honest. It was just a cramp in my chest."
Just then, the glass doors leading to the Hino's private gym in their estate opened in time to prevent Rei from complaining to her mother. A lean and tall man with a frown stepped in wearing a tailored track suit and a charming yawn.
"Oh, you're already done exercising?" He pouted and ruffled his lightly greying hair, "I thought I could join you two."
Rei watched with a frown as her mother broke off their embrace and took some water from a nearby cooler, "I'm done for the day, but Rei was going to do some more."
"Ah," Divineric Rei Hino, who preferred being addressed Div, unzipped his track jacket and towered over his little girl in an attempt to intimidate her before he asked, "care to lose in a game of squash then?"
Rei shook her head, reaching back to tighten her ponytail, "lose? Why father, what will the press say when they find out the Senator got defeated by an eighteen year old?" She returned the intimidating posture, almost the height of her father, while their eyes clashed in a unanimous battle of purple.
Suniyara rolled her eyes, "She is your daughter, Divvy."
Rei raised an eyebrow at the comment, knowing her mother was referring to their egos more than their athletic abilities.
"Father, is it normal for mother to get chest cramps?"
Divineric paused, his proud smile at the comment of his daughter faltered with sudden worry for his wife, and he turned his eyes to Suniyara with a question.
"Yes it is," he answered slowly, "the doctors say she will get them from time to time. But, it depends on what kind of pain she feels. She may feel short sharp ones that are okay, or she may feel tightening and short of breath that are most certainly not okay."
"And I can tell the difference," She threw the towel in the small hamper to the side and turned stern gold eyes to glare at the purple ones of her two favourite people, scowling at them.
While the lavender eyes of Rei Hino and Divineric Hino were always demanding, it was Suniyara who put them in proverbial place when necessary with her dark gold.
"About that squash game," Divineric snapped his eyes away.
Rei felt her body relax after her very nice hot shower. She was to be ready for a dinner at the Tsukino residence, as the Tsukino's were hosting the Tenlights's dinner of the month.
Oh joy, she thought wryly, a whole three hours of that asshole Chiba.
Holding her towel tighter to her body and walking into her large walk-in closet, she sighed at the realization that her parents – specifically her mother – had yet again added expensive clothes to the racks. It was all well as she hardly bothered shopping for herself. She had long become accustomed to her parent's expenditures for her and the benefit of her wardrobe as a result.
That made the decision to wear something easier, considering her mother had impeccable taste, one which Rei was glad to have inherited. But it also felt like the older days and was an annoying reminder. Her parents would go away on trips and bring back gifts because they had hardly any time to spend with Rei. But ever since her mother's weak heart had almost ended her life, Rei and her parents had realised it was in their best interest to actually spend time together as a family.
It had been a strange change at first, but now they would spend a day together every few weeks and call it a 'family day' and her mother set rules that they were to have one family meal together every day if they were in the same city. Her father and mother had even started coming to Rei's events and cheer her on, be it her archery competitions or debating tournaments and even math contests.
Rei had kept quiet in the car as her parents started going over some political and business crap that they would be forced into discussing with their associates of Tenlights.
The Tenlights Club was a high society thing and Rei sternly disliked most of the stuck up patrons and their 'high-and-mighty' attitude since they were part of the club.
"And Seiko told me that Kanash told his husband to stop-"
Rei's head snapped up at the mention of Seiko, mother of Aino Minako – a person Rei could never hope to figure out. Seiko was a former member of Tenlights when she had been married to the female head, Hinfilery Dominuz, but even though that had been ten years ago the woman still knew more about the Tenlights politicians than they knew about each other. Seiko Venusu was a force to be reckoned with – something Rei familiarized with the daughter she conceived during her second marriage to the late Mindervich Aino.
As if by some ironical god, Rei's cell phone vibrated and the caller ID of 'Mina' flashed through.
She turned her eyes to her parents, "may I?"
They snapped from their discussion and seemed rather baffled with Rei's question.
"Of course, Rei," her mother smiled, "but you may want to keep it short since we have about ten minutes till we arrive."
Rei nodded, lifting the phone to her ear and only speaking when her parents resumed their own discussion.
"What do you want Aino?"
There was a familiar giggle and Rei pictured those giggling petal soft pink lips stretch around straight white teeth.
"Rei I'm having a party tonight, come by!"
"I can't, I have a Tenlights dinner tonight."
"So? I know those end at, like, midnight. Come by after. Spend the niiiiight."
Rei felt her cheeks flush at the last bit.
"I- uh maybe," she turned her face to the left, looked out the window and lowered her voice in hopes that her parents did not see her red face. "We'll see how I feel."
"Rawr, you know you want to see me in my slutty party clothes."
Rei hissed quietly, suddenly not in the mood for Tenlights. "I'm at the dinner, I'll talk to you later."
Taking a few breaths, Rei put her phone back in her silver clutch and coughed softly into her fist, ignoring the amused eyes of her parents.
"Hey Usagi." Rei walked up to the table and her eyes caught Usagi's blush upon her arrival.
"Rei!" Usagi's shy smile was indeed very cute and Rei felt a smile lift upon her own lips.
"Hino," Mamoru nodded coolly, his eyes narrowing.
"Chiba." Rei knew that look and she raised her eyebrows in challenge. Maybe tonight wouldn't be so bad if Chiba was already off his game. Something must have happened...
She took a seat opposite them, her hand picking up a piece of bread that had been brought out while they awaited the appetizers and sat through the long course meal. The party was taking place in the Tsukino's ballroom, and had been decorated for the night with an ice theme.
"So Rei, I watched you and your debate team win last week. Your final rebuttal was really good!"
Rei swallowed her food, feeling very flattered by Usagi's compliment. Usagi was one of those people who were very honest, and even though Rei knew the beautiful blonde had a crush on her, she also knew the girl did not say these words to simply praise Rei but to give an honest opinion.
"Thank you, Usagi," Rei smiled, enjoying Usagi's blush and Mamoru's jealous glare. Chiba was so off his game and now she knew why.
"My friend, Ami, thought your debate was really good too. She's on our school team with Mamo."
"Serenity High School, right?"
"Right," Usagi was fidgeting with her napkin and her eyes shyly looked up to meet Rei's.
Rei grinned, "While we wait for the meal, would you like to dance with me Usagi?"
They had danced a couple times before and Rei had even accompanied Usagi to one of her school dances as a date, but Rei never let Usagi too close.
She never let anyone too close. But some obnoxious blondes who thought they were all that forced their way close. Damn Minako.
Usagi stuttered her assent, oblivious to Mamoru's ongoing jealous glare as Rei stood up and offered the gleeful girl a hand.
They walked off to the dance floor that only a few people made use of, most of the people chatting over cocktails before the main dishes were to arrive.
Rei took the lead, putting a hand gently to Usagi's waist to pull her a little closer and smile when the blonde's cheeks turned another shade of red.
Usagi was shorter than Minako and more the height of Rei's ex Catalina. She could imagine the youngest Tsukino's blonde head fitting perfectly to just above her shoulder if their bodies pressed closer and touched.
And she could imagine how the girl would sound if Rei hit a nice a spot. Damn Minako for putting me in that kind of mood.
But now was not the time for intimate dancing so Rei didn't mind the slow steps they took with only the fabric of their dresses doing the touching.
"So how is school lately?"
"I-it's good," Usagi said, her blue eyes locked on the attractive skin of Rei's collar that was outlined by the v-neck of her dress.
After the speeches and dessert when the party started, Rei realised the alcohol she consumed had finally started taking effect, making her head feel light and Usagi much sexier than before.
This time around they were dancing intimately, the music a faster tempo. Rei noted with some irony, however, that the crowded dance floor around them had much more 'sophisticated' patrons dancing like buffoons.
If only everyone could see the 'proper' members of Tenlights 'high-society' club act like hormonal teens at a dance.
Usagi's lips were fluttering against her neck and the girl's perfume was incredibly seductive. Rei held her close, not daring to let her hands wander in dangerous places even though they longed to.
She couldn't help but think how Minako would take this opportunity to do something seductive. Usagi was way too shy.
A tug on her hand and she looked down to see Usagi gesture her head that they should leave in the direction of the terrace.
Rei nodded, her eyes catching her father dancing with a group of his friends whereas her mother chatted to – of all people – Usagi's parents near the closest bar over some champagne.
Rei followed the blonde out to the terrace, seeing Mamoru and his older cousin Eleanor share a smoke.
Usagi seemed to have gotten bold from her portion of alcohol and her blushes had died down.
"Hey guys!" She grinned, tugging Rei along.
Rei raised an eyebrow when Mamoru glared as if promising her death and Eleanor let out a small snort.
"Nice to see you Usagi, Mamoru tells me you're coming out to our summerhouse again this year?"
"Yep!" Usagi's smile faltered when Mamoru muttered that he was leaving. "Wait Mamo! I'll walk out with you." She grabbed onto his arm and he let her, still glaring at Rei. "I'll be right back!" Usagi told Rei before both of them left.
Eleanor stabbed out her cigarette in the stone balcony to the side, leaning back on the metal rail of the terrace with a smirk.
"So Hino," it could have been Rei's imagination but she swore the girl was sticking out her chest for a reason. "Mamoru tells me you're playing with Usagi's feelings..."
Rei let out a chuckle, liking the feel of the light summer wind that rushed through her hair, "that is the problem with you and your cousin," she said softly. "You both think of Usagi as someone childish who doesn't understand when in reality she knows far more than you realise."
Eleanor stayed quiet, her eyes studying Rei for a few minutes while Rei studied her nails casually.
There was a change in the atmosphere when Usagi danced back onto the terrace, rushing up to Rei. Eleanor took this as her leave and told Usagi she'd see her next week at the Chiba summerhouse while gliding away.
Usagi shyly took Rei's hand when they were alone and leaned up on her toes to kiss Rei's mouth; her high heels were still not tall enough to accommodate the distance.
Rei leaned back from the kiss, staring down at Usagi's face, feeling suddenly very aroused. She let go of Usagi's hold and put her hands to Usagi's shoulders before kissing her again, slowly nudging her in the direction to the side so no one would see them make out. She pressed Usagi gently to the wall and braced her arms on either side of the blonde head while leaning down and deepening the kiss.
"I have to leave in ten minutes to start saying goodbye to guests," Usagi said with a gasp for air, "my mom s-said so."
Rei let out a sigh, "okay." She pressed another kiss to Usagi's lips and then retreated again. "Let's go back inside."
"I thought you and Minako were dating," Rei's mother said in the limousine ride back home.
Rei's eyes bulged, "y-you did? But we aren't!" She squeaked it out and her cheeks flushed from the amused gazes her parents sent her. "Wh-why would you think that?"
Her mother and father both laughed, "Rei, six months ago your father and I arrived home earlier than planned from our trip to Jenasca."
Rei's face went purple with realization. That was the six months ago she called Minako over to spend the weekend and...
" So imagine our surprise," Rei's father narrowed his eyes at her, "when we walk in to see our little girl sleeping only to find her... not alone."
Rei put her hands to her face. This was so embarrassing. Her parents had seen her fast asleep with Minako. Naked.
Shit, shit, shit!
"Rei," her mother's voice was light but there was a strain in there. "Please inform us of your... affairs. We don't want to be kept in the dark, and I think we should be told by you in case something is ever… gossiped."
Rei turned her eyes up shamefully.
Her father continued, "Don't think your mother and I haven't been there."
"Why before your father and I got married we were close friends and I often caught him with his then boyfriend-"
"Suniyara!" Divineric gushed with cheeks flushed like his daughter, "Rei does not need to know that, unless you think she needs to know about that guy from Tunq-"
"What we are trying to say is that!" her mother sported a rare blush and cut off her father, "we do understand that you're of the age where you will start to experience sexual tendencies."
Rei nodded, more at ease from her parent's gentle breech to the subject. She understood that they honestly didn't care what or who she did as long as it was done tactfully.
"Well... Minako and I are not together. I... Well... um... "
The limo stopped at their house and her parents watched her struggle for words before her father gave her a soft smile and said, "It's okay if you don't want to talk about it."
But that was it... Rei had no one to talk about it with and she wanted her parents to know about her... she liked that they were so close now since her mother got better and she did not want to set a barrier again.
"No," she said gently, "I want to talk about it; I just don't know what to say to explain it."
And it was true.
For the life of her, Rei Hino did not know what to say about her relationship with Minako Aino.