Okay, so sorry the 1st chapter is a lot of trouble, I promise to make it up and do some changes. BTW, I'm having Mamoru as Rei's older brother if that's fine and, uh, I borrowed Kaede Rukawa since I felt like doing so…Mamoru's not gonna end up with Usagi cuz I'm pairing her with a pilot and I'm pairing him with another character. The outers are not in this fic…T.T, oh yeah, I'm making Rei have a happy family with dad, mum, and brothers…

I do not own any of the characters...nor is Kaede Rukawa. They're obviously taken.

Chapter 2

Rei sat silently beside her brother as the car maneuvered through the busy streets. The two siblings never said a word to each other. They knew that each other's presence is enough for comfort, especially for Rei. She had always looked up at her brother who was always kind and loving to her. Rei spared a glance at her brother and smiled softly. She remembered the times her brother had always been at her side. She's lucky to have Kaede who takes good care of him and even luckier that their older brother Mamoru looks after them. Without saying anything to him, Rei cuddled close to him and sighed softly as she closed her eyes.

Kaede had come to fetch Rei at the café she had just hanged-out with her friends. He has just come from university when their older brother, Mamoru, called him to go pick Rei up. As the car managed the busy streets, many things ran through his mind: university, basketball, and Rei. He had a lot of things to mind and he could not afford to lose them. How he managed them was a mystery to him, but that is enough. He looked sideways at Rei, noticing her sudden movement. He wasn't surprised when Rei cuddled him. He wrapped his arm around her, making sure she's comfortable and secure in his arms. He missed her a lot. And he's going to miss her more if they don't do something. Fast.

"Are you cold, Rei-chan?" Kaede asked her, a tinge of worry evident in his voice.

Rei shook her head. "No, I'm fine. You brought me my coat. Thank you."

Kaede smiled at his sister and kissed her forehead softly.

"You know, aniki called me today to fetch you…" Kaede said.

Rei sighed, "Really, I thought he was the one who's gonna fetch me…he told me so early this morning."

"I know he did," Kaede said. "But some things are keeping him busy in the office. You know, he can't leave things unattended."

"I know. Thank you for fetching me." Rei said, her voice muffled.

"That's alright. Anything for my imouto-chan."

Dinner inside the Hino Mansion was lovely. Takashi Hino and his wife, Risa, had a delightful moment talking to their sons and daughter. They talked about Mamoru's day at work, Kaede's basketball, and university, and Rei's day at her coed school. There was laughter in the table as funny stories and jokes were shared. It was a happy family scene and Rei could not ask for more. Despite the looming trouble that the family is facing, they did not make it obvious. They don't want to make others worry. They better keep it to themselves rather than letting the trouble feel them until they couldn't take it anymore. They have to be strong for each other Especially Rei.

"Mum," Rei said "will it be alright if I go out tomorrow. Usagi and the girls are going to go to the mall."

Risa Hino looked lovingly at her daughter and glanced at her smiling husband.

"Sure, honey. Just be sure you'll behave well."

"I am always at my best behavior." Rei stated proudly making her brothers snigger at her.

Later that evening, Rei phoned the other girls saying that she can hang-out with them tomorrow and planned their shopping day. She wanted to be with her friends for as much time as she wanted. Being with them makes her forgot all her worries in the world and her family had also done the same to her. She didn't know what she would do without them

"Ami, you're coming right? Let's go shop tomorrow." Rei said over the phone.

"I don't know Rei. I have to go-"

"No, Ami. Please, come tomorrow. Pretty please." Rei said in mimicking a little girl's voice.

With Rei begging on the phone, she finally agreed. "Alright, I'm coming. I'll go call Usagi. But promise me, you're going with me to the animal shelter this Friday." Ami said sternly over the phone making Rei giggle uncontrollably.

"Great! Okay then, I promise you I'll be there and help you in the shelter…I'll call Minako and Makoto about tomorrow. See you!"

With the click on the phone, Ami stared at it shaking her head with a small smile on her face. Sigh, Rei how can I turn you down next time?Better call Usagi now, she'll be thrilled to hear I'm coming tomorrow.

"Oi, are we going to spend all day here in the arcade?" Duo said as he lazily sipped his drink. He watched Trowa and Quatre duel it out on game as Heero played on Guitar Hero at the PS corner. Wufei spent his time standing bored beside Duo.

"We better go somewhere else…" Wufei said under his breath.

"I heard that Fei. Say, where do you want to go?"

Wufei eyed him ignoring the "Fei" word. He was busy thinking what to say when Heero slapped him hard in the shoulder.

"WHAT WAS THAT FOR, YUY!?" He said through gritted teeth.

Heero said nothing, shrugging his shoulders. Only smiling wickedly at him. Today was just like the day that makes him feel crappy and smacking Wufei is a release. Quatre and Trowa already stood up and made their way towards them trying to see what they're going to do next.

"Let's go somewhere else." Trowa said finally voicing Wufei's earlier sentiment.

"What? To another arcade? Geez, I'm getting bored with our weekend routine." Duo piped up.

"Where do you wanna go, anyway? The beach?" Wufei taunted.

Duo cocked an eyebrow. "Well, that's a lot better than being here!"

"Hn. We all agreed about this yesterday." Heero stated quietly.

A moment of silence passed between them before Quatre broke it.

"Care to go to the mall?" He said sheepishly.

"WHAT!?" The four other boys yelled.

"Shh!" Quatre quieted them down; trying to ignore the looks other people were giving them.

"Well since we're getting bored with this routine. Why don't we go to the mall for a change?" Quatre said, smiling angelically at them.

Silence passed among the group again. Heero eyed Quatre warily while Trowa raised an eyebrow at him. Wufei crossed his arms grumbling under his breath as Duo sighed dreamily beside him.

"Okay then, it's decided we're going to the mall." Quatre smiled triumphantly and walked out of the arcade with the other boys trudging behind him. Wufei groaning in the background as Duo made a celebratory yell.

"Good Lord." Wufei mumbled looking up into the sky.

Usagi, Minako, Ami, Rei and Makoto crowded around a display mannequin that wore a lovely dress in pastel colors. Usagi and Minako were practically worshipping the mannequin, ooh-ing, and ahh-ing as they look at every angle like little girls.

"Uhm...Maybe we should stop ogling the mannequin…it's a mannequin after all..."Ami said getting embarrassed by the moment.

"Ami, it's not every day that we get to see such a lovely outfit!" Minako gushed flailing her arms in utter joy.

"Minako's right Ami. Let's take our time looking at this one." Usagi giggled.

Rei huffed indignantly deciding that it was really overboard admiring the dress. It's alright to look appreciatively but please, no ooh-ing and ahh-ing! What Usagi and Minako were doing is plain embarrassing.

"Makoto, why don't we go check the Roxy store across? There's a shirt I've been dying to get my hands on." Rei whispered in Makoto's ear that was a head taller than her making her rise on her tiptoes.

Makoto smiled at her and nodded her head. "Sure, let's check it out. C'mon Ami, let's leave the blondes on their own." The three left Usagi and Minako and made their way to Roxy.

"Hey, where did they go?" Usagi asked. "Some friends they are, Minako, let's go find them." Usagi declared grabbing Minako's arm as she looked to where the girls have gone.

The girls decided to go shop around; Minako and Usagi paired up and made their way giggling over to a Mango shop nearby. Ami, Makoto and Rei went together and started to walk around the mall. After an hour or so of shopping, the three girls met up again and had their lunch together at an Italian restaurant, courtesy of Rei.

"Well, let's enjoy our lunch everyone." Rei said as she began to eat her meal.

The other girls started picking on their plates and soon enough giggles could be heard from their tables.

"Ah, lunch was good. We should always make it a point out eat out sometimes." Ami said, "Thanks Rei."

"You're welcome. You might just wish to have another time like this. My dad only allowed me to treat you since you've been good friends to me."

"Aww, now where did that mean Rei go? Are you sure you're no alien?" Minako teased.

Rei swiped Minako's shoulder as the girls laughed.

"Minako dear, it's really me, no aliens, unless if I turn into Usagi that would be" Rei was cut-off by Usagi's retort.

"You are mean Rei! What do you mean you turning into me?"

"Calm down Usa, I was only kidding."

After lunch, the girls made one more round roaming the mall. Along the way, they bumped into the boys.

"Hey, look, aren't they in the same class as we are?" Usagi asked.

"Ooh, they sure are. C'mon let's go meet them!" Minako said as she enthusiastically dragged the girls nearest her who happened to be Usagi and Ami. Makoto laughed as she trailed behind them with Rei lagging a little behind mumbling under her breath about Minako's attitude.

"Hi," Minako enthused at the boys who were busy looking around. Quatre noticed her looking at them nudged Trowa making him stop in his tracks.The other boys behind Quatre and trowa also stalled.

"I'm sure you don't know us yet, but if I'm correct we're all in the same class-"

"Minako," Ami said softly trying to stop her from babbling.

Minako only glance at Ami and rambled on. "I'm Minako Aino by the way, and these are my friends: Usagi Tsukino, Ami Mizuno, Rei Hino and Makoto Kino. We are very pleased to meet you!"

At Minako's last words, the four girls were horrified. Usagi swiftly kicked Minako in the shins.

"Ow. Usagi." Mianko said warningly.

The boys looked at them, interested at their display of attitude and boldness from Minako. Quatre, being the gentleman that he is, returned the favor by introducing themselves.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too. I'm Quatre Raberba Winner and these are Duo Maxwell, Trowa Barton, Heero Yuy and Wufei Chang."

Minako eagerly shook hands with all the boys.

"So, what brings you here? It's my first time to see a group of boys here in the mall. Are you by chance shopping?" Minako asked.

The boys blushed at the word shopping yet they tried their best to ignore what she said.

"Oh no, we decided to have a change of scenery. Being in the arcade can be boring sometimes." Duo stated making his way to stand beside Minako.

"Well, now that we've mat and introduced each other why don't we get going." Wufei stated, getting annoyed at the position they're in.

"Wufei…be polite for once." Trowa chided teasingly.

The girls laughed at this. "I guess we'll have to get going." Ami said. "It was a pleasure meeting you all."

"Ditto." Duo said.

"C'mon, let's go." Rei said starting to pull the girls away as they all waved goodbye at them.

"Bye! Hey, let's hang together at school, alright?" Duo hollered at the girls who only smiled in return. "We can eat lunch together if you girls want to!"

Wufei grabbed Duo and put him in a headlock.

"Hey, Fei, lemme go!"

"Shut up Maxwell! Screaming in a mall is making me want to shrink and disappear!"

"Oh, Wuman, I did not know…I guess I'll do it more often." Duo taunted despite his position.

The three boys look at them queerly. "Hn. If anybody asks, I'm going to say, I do not know the two of you." Heero said taking a few steps away from them.

"Me too." Quatre and Trowa piped together before walking away from the two.

"Oi, we're friends here you know." Duo said trying to escape from the headlock. "You're not supposed to do that! Heero, Quatre, Trowa! Don't leave me with Fei here!"

So what do you think?

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