Chapter 2: There she goes
A few weeks passed since that day in the park and Setsuna had gone about her life as if it never happened. Or that's how she had played it off on the outside. While she quietly read her books, she found the blonde leaping into her thoughts in sudden flashes. Sleep was a hard find; she would toss and turn for most of the night before exhaustion lolled her into a restless sleep. She could barely stand still throughout the day and constantly searched for anything to preoccupy her. But nothing could keep her attention long enough; Minako would always find her way into Setsuna's mind. She would catch herself sighing when she thought about the blonde. She would absently mindedly smile to herself when Minako's smile; even in her thought the girl had an infectious smile.
One afternoon while sitting down to lunch with Michiru she could barely force herself to sit still. It felt like something was trying to pull her far away from the table. She had never felt anything like it before. She pushed around her food for some time before Michiru cleared her throat. "Setsuna are you alright? You seem a little distracted lately."
Setsuna looked up from her plate. "Hm? Oh I'm just a little bored I guess. I've never had this much time on my hands. The world is at peace, I don't have to guard the time gate. I guess I just haven't found much to do just yet."
Michiru nodded. "I see your point. I think your problem is that you never found time for many things. I think if you went out and found something to take up your time you wouldn't feel so bored. Find some interests." Minako jumped back into Setsuna's thoughts. She had to fight back a deep sigh.
Setsuna nodded in agreement. They were silent for a long moment before Michiru perked up. "Why don't you come out with me tonight? Huruka is going to be at that party with her racing buddies and I'll go crazy if I have to sit through one more minute of all that. So why don't you and I go out and have some fun?"
Setsuna hesitated.
"It'll give you something to do. Come on." Michiru pouted at her and took her hand. "Please? We can see a movie, go out to dinner. It'll be fun." Setsuna willed herself not to look up at the aqua haired woman. If she looked up and saw the puppy dog pout she'd fall right into it.
"I don't know. I've got a lot to do today and…um…there are so many things. I couldn't even list them." Setsuna cringed at her poor excuse. But it was all she could come up with at the moment. Minako had taken up most of her thoughts now; there was no room for good excuses.
Michiru rolled her eyes. "Wow that excuse was so bad you should be arrested for it. Now you have to go out with me. End of story. I want to see you ready for night out by 8. And if you're a minute late I'm going to drag you out the door kicking and screaming." With that she flagged down the waiter and asked for the check.
888
Setsuna and Michiru stood in line at the theater. While they waited they watched the downtown rush. People hailing cabs and walking into bars, while couples weaved in and out of the crowds. "Now remember Setsuna just because you were there doesn't mean you can tell me every historical inaccuracy in the movie."
"Well if they would just put some effort into researching the past I wouldn't have to point it out. Besides I try to avoid period movies you're the one who wanted to see this."
Michiru pursed her lips. "I don't care. You can pick where we eat after this. But tonight we're seeing this movie. And you're not saying anything about it."
"You two sound like an old married couple." A voice came from behind them. Both women turned to see Minako and a young man in his 20's grinning back at them. Setsuna felt her heart jerk and a pang of jealousy struck her. "So how long have you two been married?" Minako teased.
"Oh a few years now but I'm sure this one has been cheating." Michiru joked.
Minako laughed, Setsuna tensed. "So where are the others? Normally you girls travel in a pack." Michiru commented.
"It's our night to study but Kevin here saved me from a long night of homework and Usagi complaining about every little thing." Minako said cheerfully cuddling closer to her date. Setsuna felt her jealousy raise again. What was wrong with her tonight?
"Uh it's Chad." Her date corrected.
"Right…what did I say?"
"Kevin."
"Oh. Sorry Steve. The line is moving, we better get going or we'll miss our movies." Chad stood dumbfounded. Setsuna held back an amused smile.
Throughout the movie Setsuna couldn't help but notice Minako and her date a few rows ahead of them. It felt as though fate was going to play a cruel joke on her tonight. She could barely keep her eyes off the blonde.
When the movie let out Michiru dragged Setsuna to the car before she had the chance to see the blonde again. She couldn't hide the slight feeling of disappointment as she started the car.
"So where do you want to eat?" Michiru asked.
"Why not that place you like? What was it called?"
"Fin? Really? Oh I never get to go there Huruka hates it. But how are we going to get in? A reservation takes weeks to get."
Setsuna smirked. "I can get us in. Don't worry about that."
888
Setsuna and Michiru strolled into the restaurant. The lobby was filled with people waiting for an open table. A man stood behind a podium near the entrance. He looked them over with a quiet sneer and turned his attention to the book in front of him. "Reservation?"
Setsuna smiled. "Yes the name should be under the name Tenoh." She pointed to the book. The man looked over the book and jumped slightly.
"Yes of course! Right this way." They were seated quickly, leaving a trail of annoyed faces behind them in the lobby.
"I have to admit you did get us in. How did you manage that?" Michiru asked happily as they took their seats in the center of the restaurant.
"A hefty bribe never hurts." Setsuna said glancing back at the man ignoring the annoyed murmurs from the people in the lobby as he eagerly counted the money she had slipped him. Her eyes drifted to the couple walking in from the street and she let out a short sigh. Fate was playing a joke tonight she would almost find it funny if it didn't torture her. Michiru looked up and pointed at Minako. "Oh look its Minako. What are the odds of that? Maybe we should have them join us."
Before she could protest Setsuna found herself standing and walking to the podium. What was she thinking? Clearly Minako was on a date but her body was rebelling against her now. Working its way through the sea of tables and chairs toward the woman who plagued her mind. "Minako…Chad." His name felt like venom in her mouth. "I'm so glad to see you made it. Come on we've already been seated." She took the blonde's hand, nearly losing her breath, and pushed passed the man at the podium and led them back to the table. Setsuna felt the same jerk in her chest as Minako sat down next to her at the table. What was wrong with her today?
"It's nice of you to let us join you." Minako said thankfully.
"It's funny we'd run into you here." Setsuna said. It was taking everything she had to keep her voice steady.
"Oh I made reservations weeks ago. But the host claimed he couldn't find it. How did you two get in so quickly?" Chad asked. Michiru smiled and shrugged. "Setsuna has a talent for situations like this." She smiled at the green haired woman across the table and gave a quick wink.
Setsuna was starting to find Minako's date unnerving but swallowed it down. "Oh it just helps to know people." She said playing with her napkin. Michiru gave her a knowing glance and laughed. Over the next hour Setsuna found it hard to focus on anything but Minako. She tried desperately to pay attention to the food on her plate and the conversation going around the table, but her attention always faded back to Minako. Something about the woman made it impossible for Setsuna to fake interest in anything else. Whenever they made eye contact she felt herself melt into Minako's blue eyes. It was hard to break away from them once she fell in. By the time the check came she was hardly aware of anything other than Minako. She was sure she had paid for the whole table…what was wrong with her?