Comfortable silences were the norm between them, but Rei couldn't help but peek over the top of The Scarlet Pimpernel every few minutes to sneak a look at her. Her own behavior irritated her - it was such a teenage thing to do. Of course, she reminded herself, she was a teenager...

Setsuna was sitting on the bed, her dusky legs crossed and her chin resting on her palm. She had a sentimental smile on her face, and it drove Rei mad with curiosity.

"Setsuna..." Rei said. "What's on your mind?"

"Oh, just the first night we made love," Setsuna said.

Rei's eyebrows arched, and a faint blush appeared on her cheeks. "Oh. I see," she said stiffly, and hid her face in her book.

Setsuna laughed. "You were so discreet, Rei. Remember how you kept looking away and biting your lip? And that shy little smile on your face?"

"Mmph."

Setsuna's smile dropped, and her voice took on a serious tone. "I just remembered something. I've been meaning to apologize for a long time now. I just haven't found the right time."

Rei had loved Setsuna long enough to know that this was probably nothing serious. She sighed. "About what?"

"That morning. I brought you tiger lilies. I thought the flowers were so like you - so firey! - but you dislike them, don't you? I never would have dreamed that your favorites were casablancas. White flowers look too sweet and pure."

"Hmph. Well, if I'm no longer innocent, it's your fault, isn't it?"

Setsuna folded her hands in her lap, a thoughtful look entering her eyes. "Hm. I thought they would suit someone like Usagi more."

It was like that between the two of them. Setsuna was so careful. She was careful to attend to the smallest detail. She knew that, like a single point of light could expand and become a universe, the most insignificant thing could destroy romance. It wasn't insecurity so much as fierce dedication. Rei was her first love, and she had no intention of falling in love twice.

Rei found it reassuring.

She wondered if it was strange, the way they could sense one another. The way that Rei knew, without a single sign, that she should drape herself in Setsuna's lap, take her beautiful, womanly hand in hers, and kiss her fingertips. With a little grin, Setsuna gently pushed her finger past her lips. Rei let out a girlish noise of surprise. Setsuna felt Rei's soft, kittenish tongue move against the smooth surface of her red fingernails. Rei pulled away and moved towards her lips. The wine-colored lipstick Setsuna used reminded Rei faintly of something, childhood memories. She ran her tongue across Setsuna's lips - a country vacation, warm sunlight, the scent of straw, a plant that towered over her. Wild raspberries. Of course. Recalling the memory comforted her. She wondered, distantly, as Setsuna lowered her to the mattress, if the raspberry bush was still there. Would it seem as tall as it had been, when she was so small?

They would go someday, she promised herself, together. They had all the time in the world. They would be in love forever.

Setsuna felt her lover's lips become a smile beneath her own.