CHAPTER 2 - Taking Chances
Even after all these years, Rei was still amazed by the fact that Minako could make herself go unnoticed whenever she wanted to. The idol was wearing regular clothes, just a black skirt and a white t-shirt with a pair of military boots, and she was also wearing a cap to cover some of her face. She was elegant as usual, but no one seemed to notice her. Rei knew Minako had the ability to suppress her aura, as well as make it shine bright when she wanted to capture everyone's attention. And she was very good at it.
Five blocks later, Minako was still absently holding Rei's hand, which made the miko feel a little bit nervous.
"Uh, Minako..." She said tentatively, snapping the idol out of her thoughts. "Are you sure you want to walk all the way to the Arcade? I mean... not that I mind walking, but aren't you tired after the show?"
Minako gave Rei a small smile, feeling her annoyance decrease as she stared at those eyes. "Walking helps me chill out, Reiko." She replied softly, slowing down her pace a little, but never letting go of Rei's hand. "I still can't believe Shachou has tried to make me work even more tonight. He had promised me I would have the night off after the show. He knew how much I was looking for it."
"You must be really tired after that European tour." Rei noted, wondering how Minako could put up with all that mess around her. "You certainly deserve some rest."
"Actually, I'm not physically tired. And I don't mind when there's a lot of things to do, for it helps me to get distracted, but..." Minako stopped walking and she stared directly at Rei, a serious expression on her face, "it's just that I really wanted to be with you tonight. I've missed you."
"I- We- We've missed you too." Rei stammered, wondering if Minako had just said that she missed her, especifically, or if she was talking about the others too. But, for the look on the other girl's face, Rei knew the answer. "It's not the same without you here, you know? Having you singing your own songs is way better than listening to Usagi singing them."
Minako chuckled as she recalled how off-key their princess could be. After a brief moment, though, her expression was serious again.
"Rei..." Minako began to speak, feeling incredibly nervous as she did so. Performing for thousands of people was nothing compared to be standing in front of Rei and looking her in the eyes, trying to find the words to confess her feelings, "...about what happened earlier in my dressing room, I-"
But Minako stopped mid-sentence when she heard her cell phone ringing. She offered Rei an apologetic smile and reached for the device, rolling her eyes when she noticed it was Usagi calling.
"Hey! Where are you guys?! What is taking you so long?!" The Moon Princess whined loudly on the other side of the line, causing Minako to take the cell phone away from her ear. Rei chuckled as she thought that she herself had done the same thing countless times before to avoid going deaf by Usagi.
"I had to deal with Shachou before I left. But don't you worry, we'll be there soon." Then Minako said goodbye to Usagi and turned to face Rei again. She was silently searching for the right words, when she heard the miko's voice.
"Usagi must be frantic there, waiting for her idol. I honestly don't think Mamoru and the others will be able to put up with her any longer." Rei stated before Minako could speak. She knew Minako was trying to talk about what happened, or rather almost happened between them, but the truth was that she wasn't ready yet. Rei herself didn't know what gave her the courage to get too close to Minako and almost kiss her lips. She needed some time to figure it out. "So... We should get going, don't you think?"
Feeling that she had lost her opportunity, the idol just nodded weakly and resumed her walk towards the Arcade.
Her little confession would have to wait.
The night was amazing.
Minako, thanks to Rei's intervention, was spared from singing her whole discography, which was the top item on Usagi's things-to-do-with-Minako list. But the idol didn't have the heart to deny her one song, Usagi's favorite, C'est La Vie.
After she sang, Minako heard Makoto telling them that dinner was ready. She was glad to see that Rei's place was set right beside hers. Not that it would be any different, since Usagi would sit beside her husband, Ami would sit beside her boyfriend, Nephrite, and Motoki, Makoto's fiancé, would sit beside her. Minako smiled to herself, thinking that maybe some day she and Rei would also be in a relationship.
So after the dinner, they talked and laughed for hours just like the old times. Minako was glad she would be working in Tokyo for a couple of months to record her next album. This way she would get to spend more time with her friends, which was one of the few things that truly made her happy.
Minako was watching with amusement while Usagi was pestering Rei to sing a song with her. The miko was adamant, as usual, and Usagi was persistent, as usual, and none of them seemed willing to give up. Then Makoto and Ami approached the idol, while Mamoru, Motoki and Nephrite kept on cheerfully talking to each other.
"I'm glad you're back." Ami said softly, looking genuinely happy. "We've missed you."
"But someone missed you even more." Makoto grinned mischievously, motioning with her head to Rei. "You should have seen her when we got your message, telling us that you were coming back. She smiled! Rei actually smiled! And it was creepy, we're not used to that."
Minako giggled, playfully elbowing the Senshi of Thunder.
"And we know you've missed her too... more than you've missed the rest of us. Right?" Ami asked, adjusting her glasses. It was obvious to Minako that the duo was trying to gain some information from her. She wondered if Usagi was purposely distracting Rei while they did so.
"Yes. I guess I'm not the great actress I thought I was, because apparently I can't even hide it anymore. I feel... different about her. And I've been having these feelings for her for a while." Minako admitted easily, yet quietly, so only Ami and Makoto could hear her.
"I knew it!" Makoto cried out excitedly, before she covered her mouth with one of her hands. Everyone in the room glanced at her, but soon they let it go and resumed whatever they were doing before. Then Makoto lowered her voice, whispering to Minako. "Sorry... It's just that... well, I'm happy for you!"
"Really? So it doesn't bother you guys that I... you know..." Minako began to ask, but before she could finish the sentence, Ami spoke.
"Oh, no. We're are totally fine with it." The genius girl smiled warmly at Minako. "Love is love, right? It doesn't matter if you date a girl or a boy as long as you are happy. We've actually discussed this when we first noticed that there was something between you and her. We were wondering how long it would take for you two to get together, but then you went on tour..."
"Anyway, now that you are back, what are you waiting for, Minako? Stop wasting your time and go get the girl!" Makoto said, trying to hold her excitement.
"But the thing is..." Minako shifted on her feet, "I don't know exactly how to approach her without driving her away."
"Oh, just tell her! And then kiss her!" Makoto whispered dreamily and Minako laughed at her antics, thinking that despite Makoto's boyish style, she was a very romantic girl.
Ami though was shaking her head negatively. "No, Makoto. Minako is right. She has to be very careful to approach Rei. Don't forget that Rei has trust issues, probably ever since her mother died and her father abandoned her. The fact that Minako is an idol makes things slightly worse, because maybe Rei will find it hard to commit to someone who has the world's eyes on her and who will constantly be away on tour. I think Rei might be scared to be left alone... again."
"Oh... I hadn't thought that way." Makoto said to Ami, then she turned to face Minako. But before she could say a word, she noticed Rei and Usagi walking towards them. And that meant that, unfortunately, she would have to change the subject.
"It's getting late. I really should get going." Rei stated, while Usagi was rubbing her sleepy eyes, emphasizing Rei's point.
"Will you escort me to my hotel, Reiko?" Minako asked sweetly. "After all, tonight you are working for me, right?"
"Working for you?!" Rei frowned. "I'm not wor-"
"Of course she is!" Usagi answered for Rei, cutting her off. "Go on, Rei. And make sure that Minako gets to her hotel safe and sound. That's an order from your princess!" Usagi lightly poked the tip of Rei's nose, making the Senshi of Fire snort while the others were giggling at them.
"One," Rei raised one finger to Usagi, "I would only take orders related to senshi business. And though Minako is a senshi, escorting her to her hotel doesn't qualify as senshi business," Rei raised another finger, "and two, I was already planning on walking her to her hotel anyway. I mean, she shouldn't walk alone, right? She could be attacked by one of those crazy groupies of hers."
"Awn, Reiko. I knew that underneath this scowl there was a very sweet and caring girl." Minako feigned an emotional expression, making Rei blush especially when the idol linked their arms together. "I think I've never had such a charming bodyguard before. I hope Usagi can lend me you again in the future."
"I'm not sweet..." Rei declared a little embarrassed. "And I've said it before: I'm. Not. A. Thing. To. Be. Borrowed. So knock it off!"
"She's so cute when she's in a bad mood, don't you think?" Minako cupped Rei's chin in one of her hands and smiled playfully at her.
"So, according to you, she's cute all the time." Makoto deadpanned, only to make Rei snort once again.
"I'm not always in a bad mood! And I'm not cute! And- Oh, let's go. There's no point in arguing with you." Rei grumbled as she grabbed Minako's hand and went up the stairs, the idol using her free hand to muffle her giggles.
Rei could still hear everyone laughing even after she slammed the door behind her.
They were silently walking through the streets of Tokyo and Rei was simply enjoying the feeling of the cold breeze on her cheeks, while Minako seemed completely lost in her thoughts.
Or rather in Venus' thoughts.
Ever since the world was reset, Minako started to have some dreams and flashes of her past life. Sure, she already had the memories related to her role as the leader of the senshi, but lately Minako had regained other memories... the ones related to Venus' private life. And much to her surprise, lots of them were about a certain Senshi of Fire.
Minako was disappointed at the fact that, during the Silver Millennium, nothing had happened between her and her second in command. But... there were hints everywhere. They were very close, they were best friends, they were always in each other's company... and Minako had no doubts that Venus had had strong feelings towards the other woman. But, back then, the Senshi of Love had fought against those feelings.
It wasn't like Venus didn't want them to be together; she did. It was rather that she thought she shouldn't let herself get involved with one of her fellow senshi. A relationship with Mars could put the princess' life in danger, because it would be difficult, if not impossible, to separate Venus' personal feelings from her duties. It was rather ironic that a Venusian was denying her own love, especially because this particular Venusian was the Senshi of Love.
But when that tragedy happened, Venus knew she had made a terrible mistake. She was there in the battlefield, holding Mars' lifeless body in her arms, crying wholeheartedly when she realized it was too late. She would never have the opportunity to look into those beautiful eyes again and tell Mars about her feelings... she would never have the chance to kiss the girl she had loved for years... the girl that certainly had loved her back.
But Venus knew why Mars had never made a move: the Senshi of Fire understood her leader's hesitation. Mars knew that Venus would never let her feelings get in the way of her duties to the Moon Kingdom. For countless times, Venus had caught herself mulling over what she would do if the Moon Princess and Mars were in danger at the same time. Her mind would definitely go to Serenity, but her heart... her heart would go to Mars in the blink of an eye.
In the end, Venus had been silly to think that keeping her distance from Mars would solve all her problems. It wouldn't. And it didn't. There, with Mars lying dead in her arms, Venus wished she could have another chance to make things right. She was positive sure that it wouldn't have mattered if she had had a relationship with her second in command: she would still be able to perform her job, because she would always do what she had to do.
And, besides, they were all destined to die anyway.
"What are you thinking?" Rei asked, looking curiously at Minako. "You seem miles away."
Minako shook her head, getting rid of her memories. "To be honest, it was more like millenniums away."
Rei sighed as she heard the answer. "Please don't tell me you're still obsessed with our past lives. I never thought I would say this, but... I think I'd much prefer you teasing me than being so quiet, thinking over and over again about things that happened a thousand years ago."
A laughter escaped Minako's lips. "Is this your way of telling me that you like when I tease you? Because, you know... I love to do it, especially if it means that I will get to see you blush for me."
"That was not what I meant..." Rei mumbled and she stopped walking, noticing that they were already in front of Minako's hotel.
"Actually, Reiko, I'm not obsessed with my past life." Minako said a little more serious than the usual. "I was just thinking that I'm blessed for being able to remember what happened to Venus so I, Aino Minako, can have a chance to make things differently. I don't want to repeat the same mistakes. I don't want to let the opportunities pass me by."
"What do you mean, Minako?" Rei asked, frowning a little.
"What I mean is..." Minako took a step forward, taking Rei's hand in hers, feeling incredibly shy when she raised her eyes to face the miko, "would you go out with me?"
Rei blinked a couple of times, visibly stunned and Minako noticed with hidden amusement that she had never seen Rei's cheeks go so red before.
"Go out..." Rei said slowly, "as in... on a date?"
Minako, who was always so sure of herself, felt her lips dry and her heart pound heavily against her chest. But that was it. There was no turning back now. She would have to deal with whatever answer Rei gave her. And, honestly, Minako was actually afraid that Rei would say no. She was the reincarnation of Venus and she was Aino Minako, one of the most famous singers in the whole world... but in the end, she was just like any ordinary girl. Sometimes she could be insecure and now she was definitely scared to be rejected by the only one she has ever loved.
"Yes... as in on a date." Minako gave her a small nod, staring at the ground and biting her lower lip. She had never asked someone out before and she had never thought she would feel so nervous about it, but there she was... at the verge of having a stroke if Rei took another minute to give her an answer.
"Why... me?" Rei asked quietly instead of answering and Minako noticed the confused expression on the other girl's face, though Rei wasn't looking directly at her. Apparently the floor had turned out to be a very interesting spot to stare at. "You could have anyone in the world... so why would you choose someone like me?"
Ami was right, Minako thought. Maybe Rei was afraid the idol would get tired of her... or that Minako could meet someone else and dump her. Rei needed to be reassured that Minako would never leave her, that she wouldn't go anywhere. Rei's fear of letting her guard down was almost palpable and Minako could feel her own heart breaking at that sight. Rei had been so damaged... so neglected. And she didn't deserve to be treated that way.
"Why wouldn't I want you? You are the most amazing girl I've ever met, Rei. Besides, you are the only one who sees me. You care for me, not for Aino Minako. You like me for what I am, not for my music or my movies. You say I can have anyone... but those people who cry for me and tell that they love me, they don't know me, Rei. You do. And you never gave up on me... not even when I myself did. You stood by my side and helped me for me, not for the idol I am." Minako squeezed her hand and she saw Rei raising her head to stare at her. "I know that you are afraid to get hurt, but I would never hurt you, Rei. I would never leave you. Give me a chance and I will show you that you can trust me, just like I trust you."
Softly, Rei freed her hand from Minako's and took a step back. "I never wanted a relationship, Minako... I never planned on letting anyone in my life..." Another step back. Then another.
And at every one of Rei's steps, Minako felt her heart breaking a little more. She could even feel the tears coming to her eyes.
"So I hope," Rei inhaled deeply before she went on, "I hope that you are here to stay."
"Reiko?" Minako's eyes sparkled bright as she went from hell to heaven. "Is this a yes?"
"Call me Reiko again and I will turn it into a no!" Rei crossed her arms over her chest, trying to sound serious. But the truth was that she would never say no to the other girl.
Minako had to fight her urge to dance out of happiness. "I'll pick you up tomorrow at 7 pm! Is that okay with you?" She asked, unable to hide the excitement in her voice.
"I'll be waiting. Goodnight, Minako." Rei said, still walking slowly backwards, letting her eyes linger on the idol for as long as she could.
"Goodbye..." Minako cried out and when Rei was far enough not to hear her, the idol whispered, "...Reiko."
Author's note:
I was glad to read such positive reviews! Thank you very much, guys! :)