ONE NIGHT III
EVERY WAY THAT I HIDE:
REI'S POV

THE DREAM:

I can't see anything, just blackness, but a warm sort of blackness, hints of deep reds and browns hidden in it. I know she's there, somewhere close by, but I can't feel her, can't move my arms. Strangely there are no bindings on me, nothing covering my eyes and they are not closed. I'm not scared, but I'm anticipating… a movement, a sound, something. As I breathe in, I can taste the gentle heat of her body, like cinnamon or clove without the bite. My senses are muddled and mixed.

I feel her touch me and her fingertips sink into my skin as if it were air... as if everything inside of me is hers. I hear myself gasp as I evaporate under her hands, pieces of me floating, swirling, twisting around her outstretched palms as they follow the lines of my body. My lips melt as she kisses me, as I let myself fall apart beneath her.

I woke with a start, blinking into the darkness of my room, my arms searching for her. Not here, a dream, another dream of her. I rubbed at my face, looking at my bare knee, bent and poking from beneath the sheet. It was grayish in the dim light. I sat up slowly, crossing my legs, letting my hair fall in front of my face, letting it hide me. These dreams were torture; always slightly different and yet always very much the same. I tried to calm myself, my body.

As if on cue, my phone lit up. I eyed it warily, wondering if it was wise to pick up. "Hello?"

"Hey." Her voice was soft and quiet and relaxed me more than it should have. My body slid down into the bed, my eyes closing.

"… why are you up?" I asked, conscious of the change in my voice, the slight rasp.

She laughed. "Why are you?" I imagined her lips pursing, the slight shake of her head.

"I wasn't," I said.

She paused, waiting a second and I wondered if maybe that came out wrong. "Did I wake you up?"

"No."

"What's keeping you up Rei-chan?"

"Dreams," I said, wishing I had lied and glad she couldn't see me.

"Visions?" She asked.

"No," I said. "Dreams."

"Not bad ones?" She clarified, her tone slightly teasing. I could tell she had a fairly good idea about the type of dreams I was having. Though I couldn't see her face, it was still as if I could feel her smile against my skin.

"No… not bad ones." What was I getting myself into?

"I'm glad you're awake."

I was glad too actually. It was nice to hear her voice, the way it seemed to wrap around the inside of me. I wanted to tell her, but it sounded silly in my head.

"What time is it?"

I heard some shuffling. "2:23." I rolled over to glance at my clock. 12:23 am… she was 2 hours ahead.

"Where are you?"

"Australia." It seemed so far away, not nearly so far as when she was in America, but still ocean enough.

"Do you like it there?"

"I like the accent, it's cute."

"Are you sleeping at all?" She had so much trouble now, between the planes and the time changes. As someone who never slept that well, I wondered if it was affecting her more than she showed.

"You know me! I could sleep forever and still take a nap." I smiled against my cell phone. It was true enough. I hated naps myself. If I wanted to wake up sweaty, confused, and dry-mouthed I would at least drink myself to oblivion first. "How is everything there?"

I rolled my eyes. "Rini's birthday party is tomorrow…Usa is driving Mamo and everyone else crazy planning it."

"Sorry I'm missing that." She actually did sound apologetic. I wondered sometimes, how hard it was on her being away from all of us. "I can't believe she's three. So crazy…"

"If I don't survive it, it will be your fault for leaving me to fend for myself in a unicorn themed house full of babies," I mumbled. It was two full months past her birthday. We'd had a smaller party earlier, but Usa had wanted to wait until Ami visited having already resigned herself to the fact that Minako wouldn't be able to attend.

"My poor Rei-chan!" She answered in mock-concern.

"And grampa is trying to hire a new Miko." I rubbed at my forehead.

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"No."

"Of course not."

"Mina…" I half growled. I didn't feel like being made fun of, but I knew she was only teasing me.

"Tell me."

"Tell you what?"

"What your dreams have been about…" Why hadn't I seen that coming?

I shook my head, smiling to myself. Of course, she would ask that. "Maybe some other time."

"I'll hold you to that." She laughed.

"I said maybe…" I corrected. She was quiet on the other end, only her breath told me she was still there. I imagined I could feel it against my skin, the tiny circle of warmth that faded too quickly only to be replaced by another. I remembered the words she had called out what seemed like forever ago. 'I'm so in love with you'. The phrase echoed in my head, her voice hoarse. I hadn't answered, hadn't even been able to tell her I wanted her… I wanted this, not in those words. She hadn't said it again since, but we hadn't seen each other... not in three months.

THE CALL:

I didn't understand children at all, not even a little, but through serendipity or some other silliness Rini and I got along. She had been clinging to me all morning. I had met each one of her friends and been personally escorted to see every toy she owned. I had spent most of my time sitting on the floor, Rini in my lap, her tiny hands playing with the fabric of my sleeve. I tried to pretend I minded, but then she would turn around and flash some excited smile as if the mere fact that I existed brought her joy.

I tossed my bag on the chair by my bureau, noticing my sweater was covered in pink frosting. Sighing, I peeled it off. A shower or no shower? I was so tired… no shower, sleep. I took off the rest of my clothes, threw my hair up, and collapsed into bed. It only took a few minutes for the heaviness in my eyelids to force them closed.

Hot water pours over us. Her mouth is on mine, the full weight of her body pressing against me, hands holding my wrists on either side of my head. The tiled wall is cool against my back and the mix of sensations is dizzying. I cry out her name as she bites my neck. The steamy air is hot in my lungs as try to breathe. I can't argue with the way she touches me, kisses me … I can't and I don't want to. Her body leads and mine follows without question.

"Reiko…" She whispers as she pulls back, my bottom lip slowly pulling free from her teeth. At that moment I realize that she has me completely, that just by looking at me the way she is now… I belong to her, that I want to belong to her. I feel her hand on my neck, turning my head lifting my chin, as her tongue traces my pulse point.

I woke up sweating, the backs of my knees damp, my breath uneven, her name on my lips. Kami…these dreams were ridiculous. My hands were shaking as I ran them through my hair. I looked over at my phone, almost expecting it to ring as it did two nights ago, but the screen stayed black. I stretched my body out, untucking my feet, trying to cool myself down. Should I call her? I couldn't decide… it was so late.

My hand found its way to my hip and I closed my eyes. It had been years since I'd done that. I realized that set me apart from other people, but it wasn't something I usually had the patience for. As images from the dream drifted back through my mind, I was torn. My other hand suddenly joined in the rebellion, hitting the icon on my phone, finding her.

I listened to the ringing, losing my nerve.

And then her voice. "Hey!"

"Hi"

"Are you ok?"

"Why?"

"You sound funny." I could hear the playfulness in her tone and immediately my ears started to burn.

"I was asleep." I defended.

"Dreams again?" She asked, after a pause. I wondered what she was thinking and sighed heavily. "You're not going to answer me, are you?"

"No."

"Such a tease."

I felt myself blush. "What are you doing awake again?"

"Waiting for you to call." She answered smoothly.

"I'm sure."

"I'm working on a new song"

I paused for a moment. "You're writing it?"

"I'm trying."

"I didn't know you wrote songs?"

"I don't, usually."

"Is this the first one?" I asked, happy we had something to talk about that would distract me from the lucid visions that were swimming in my head moments ago.

"Well, I've worked with lyricists before… like a co-writing thing, but yeah… this is the first on my own."

"Not going well?"

"No. I think I have maybe one line… and I don't even like it," She laughed. "I blame this hotel room… the flow is off." She was quiet for a moment and I heard a little noise in the background. I assumed she was tapping her pen on the paper. That's what it sounded like anyway.

"I wish you were here," I whispered. My heart seemed to strain against my chest for a second as if it would jump through the phone to her and I swallowed. I knew though there was no way either of us could get away, not for a few more months at least, not till the winter. It was going to be a long fall.

"Me too." She said quietly.

THE SHRINE:

I was not a patient person by nature and it was beyond my understanding why my grandfather decided to have me train this young girl he had hired. She couldn't have been less than 17, but she looked like she was 12. I showed her around and explained things to her in the clearest way I knew how and all I had accomplished was to frighten her into knocking the entire display of talismans over. Every single one that touched the ground would need to be blessed. I had stared at her questioningly, as anyone would have. I didn't even have the chance to say anything before she took off running, crying like a… well like Usagi used to. I watched her fly down the stairs, hair streaming behind her. I didn't understand her reaction at all. Shaking my head and preparing for the tedious task ahead, I righted the wooden structure that served as our display. I felt someone approaching behind me.

"You scared her off!" My grandfather accused.

"I can't help it if she's too sensitive," I said, straightening my uniform and kneeling to pick up the scattered ofuda. I placed them off to the side of those that hadn't fallen, pretending as though the conversation was over. I clenched my fingers against the cold, tucking them inside the sleeves of my uniform. The air tasted like snow.

"You know…" He began, and I did. I knew exactly what he'd say.

"Hai Grampa, I know. You're not going to be around forever and I can't run this place by myself." I didn't like to think about that. It concerned me, the way he moved around so quickly, so freely, like he wasn't worried about saving his strength, his energy, with showing restraint.

"Well be nice then."

"I am nice!" He raised his bushy eyebrows. They had been that way for as long as I remembered, like gray foxtails glued above his eyes. He told me I used to pull on them all the time when I was a baby. I still had the urge every now and then, most especially when he was being totally inappropriate.

He shrugged at me. "She thought so, eh Granddaughter?"

I sighed. I had told him I wouldn't be good at this before he hired her. I was no teacher. Looking upward, I noticed that the gray skies seemed to match my mood exactly. It had been another six months of phone calls and dreams that I couldn't forget and I could feel the edges of depression creeping in. It was beginning to border on hopelessness.

"Maybe she wants a job?" I heard that tone in his voice and turned to see some girl standing at the top of the steps. She had long dark hair, similar to mine, with skin of a slightly darker shade. Her eyes were hidden behind thick glasses and from the way she was dressed, I would guess she was a college student. I looked at her face and saw a smirk break across lips I suddenly recognized even without the usual gloss.

"Mina…" I felt my heart beating a bit faster and a blush hit my cheeks. She was surprising me. I hated that. Usually hated that, though the nervous jumping in my stomach said otherwise.

"It can't be." My grandfather said, shuffling over to her. He laughed as she took off her glasses and smiled.

She bowed toward him, then winked and pressed her finger to her lips. "Shhh…" She was such a flirt.

"I like this one!" He was circling her. Of course, he did. That skirt was tiny. It was the second time she came to the shrine in disguise. The first being the night that all of this started. It seemed forever ago now. Even the last time we had seen each other seemed like years before this.

"I knew it was you," I said quietly. I shouldn't be thinking of her lips, her touch, her taste… not standing here in the middle of my family's shrine in the light of day.

"You'd be welcome without the disguise Aino Minako! You could be the celebrity mascot of the shrine." I saw his dark eyes twinkling with ideas, his mind already scheming. I sighed heavily.

"Imagine all those reporters, trampling over everything… it would be such a mess." I said. I often wondered why she came in costumes. I knew the logical explanation, but the illogical part of me questioned whether part of her was not ashamed to be here. "We know who would have to clean it up," I added, kneeling to gather up the last of the scattered talismans on the stone walkway. In an instant she was beside me, helping me. I tried not to look at her, afraid that my grandfather would see my thoughts written across my face. A single snowflake drifted between us, dissolving the minute it hit the ground.

"Well, maybe just a picture of you and the head priest then." He reasoned. "We could put it with the fortunes in a nice frame."

"Grandpa…" Even he was star struck apparently. I could see from the tightness of her smile and the gleam in her eye that she was trying not to laugh. I felt a smile of my own pulling at one corner of my mouth.

"It's the least I can do since I came to steal your granddaughter." She said, passing me the stack of ofuda she had gathered, our fingers just grazing each other. Our eyes met and I could feel a lump in my throat. The tiny pinpoint flakes hung in her hair, one landing on her eyelash. I turned around quickly, trying to appear wholly focused on placing them with the others I had collected. Steal me?

"Good luck." He crossed his arms. I glared at him.

"Do I get a say in this?" I asked.

"No." They both said.

THE CAR:

"What are you doing here?" I asked as I climbed in the car, brushing the snow from my jacket.

"I told you. I'm stealing you." As if it that meant that I belonged to her for however long she was here… the idea should have upset me, but it was too close to the truth for that.

"Mina… be serious."

She looked at me curiously. "I came to see you."

"Why wouldn't you tell me you were coming?"

She replied softly, as though she wasn't sure how I'd react. "I wanted to surprise you."

I said nothing. I didn't know why I was acting the way I was or what was making me nervous about this, except that I felt unprepared. The way I reacted to things on a visceral level was difficult for even me to predict. I liked to plan things so I had time to ease into the idea of them. That had been the hardest part of this for me, to just allow any of it to simply happen. There was so much about it that made me uncomfortable. I couldn't trust myself. My mind was always it was trying to find a darker explanation for this, a name for it, something besides falling in love. When I was alone I questioned everything. A million times I had convinced myself that this couldn't work, that this thing between us... whatever it was... should be left alone. But all it ever took was her voice and I suddenly couldn't think why not.

"Rei…" She called my name softly. I looked up at her and she leaned over to kiss me, which surprised me again. I kissed her back immediately though, without thought. The feel of her lips on mine brought memories of those dreams floating back. She had been on my mind even in sleep. I didn't often have dreams of that sort and these were so vivid. To wake up thinking she'd be next to me, above me... with my skin warm and my arms reaching for her... for it to happen over and over had not helped. When we spoke on the phone, I would find myself thinking about them, imagining them… blaming the change in my voice on exhaustion. It felt wrong to want something, someone this much. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," I answered instinctually. It was a question I was asked a lot as a child and the answer was automatic at this point. I knew she could tell the reply was simply to end a conversation I didn't want to have. With her… in her, I could see every way that I hide. "Does anyone else know you're in town?" I asked.

"No. " She looked at me with a bemused expression. "Did you want to get together with everyone tonight?"

Part of me did, if only to run from the intensity I felt being alone with her. The larger part of me wanted her all to myself though. I hadn't even given any thought to what we would tell the others. I didn't know what to tell myself about this, let alone anyone else. I needed to talk about something else. "So what is it we're doing then?"

She seemed frustrated by my evasiveness but handled it well. "Rei I don't care what we do, I can't spend another night wishing I was here."

She always did that to me, became honest and serious when I was at my least comfortable. I wanted that too, but I also wanted this to be clearer, easier than it was, to understand these feelings that I couldn't seem to control. To understand this rare, achingly beautiful but wholly terrifying thing that felt like fire beneath my skin. More and more I had been chasing a feeling that we had done this all before. 'I don't think we have a choice' I had said. It was like painting a picture backward.

"Let's go for I walk" I joked, eying the skirt and leggings that were so very weather appropriate.

"That sounds nice."

"It's snowing." I looked a the tiny glittering flakes through the car window as they shifted and fell toward the ground.

She gave a look of mock surprise.

I set my jaw. "Fine. No complaining though."

She smiled at me and winked. "You can keep me warm."

The thought was completely appealing, but I wouldn't let her know that. "I'll buy you a tea."

She stuck her tongue out at me and drove off toward the downtown area.

THE PARK:

We walked through the park, picking at some finger foods we had grabbed on our way in. The snow was falling faster and people were vanishing to the safety of their homes. I hadn't been to this park since I was little, it was farther away, but Minako had chosen it. I was enjoying the salty taste of the snack we were sharing, the way my feet sunk through the inch of snow covering the still visible path, the quiet that seemed to have fallen over everything, and her coat sleeve brushing mine.

"How did you get away?" I asked.

"I have two days till my next concert." She answered.

"Two days? Mina… you should be resting." I was worried for her, about the exhaustion that was always just below the surface. When I could hear it in her voice I wanted to take her away, let her sleep if only for a full night.

"I just…needed to see you. It's been so long." It had been almost another year… a few months shy.

I looked at her quickly, not knowing what to say. My smile, I held back until I shifted my eyes back to the ground, slightly embarrassed by the feelings her saying that had drawn from me.

She laced her fingers with mine and I realized how much like an actual date this was. Minako and I sneaking off together after late night phone calls ... walking through a snow covered park, holding hands, eating things that I would feel guilty about afterward. I felt the redness starting in my cheeks at how ludicrous these thoughts were. Adding yet another level of impossibility, was the fact that Minako had become an international pop superstar. She wasn't just my best friend anymore, she was that singer on the cover of all the magazines, someone people knew. It was strange to think of her that way, it was always like I was seeing a different person, a girl who kind of looked like Mina. And now, when she was her most conspicuous …we were quite possibly dating?

Suddenly I felt her eyes on me. "What is going on in that head of yours?"

"Nothing!" I said dropping her hand to adjust my hair.

She raised her eyebrow toward me. "You're blushing as bad as Ami."

I felt myself scowl at the path we were walking on, feeling childish. I wanted to deny it but realized that would just make me look worse.

"It's cold out," I said. It was a pitiful defense.

"Mmm, that's probably it." She was smiling at me as she took a seat on the edge of a stone fountain in front of us. If the water wasn't freezing I would have been tempted to drop her right in it. I sat beside her, looking at the girl I no longer recognized in profile. Strands of the raven colored wig she wore fell in front of her face, curling under her chin.

"You look so different with dark hair," I said, looking at the long tresses flecked with white. It didn't contrast with her still tanned skin the way the blonde did.

"Do you like it?" She asked, tilting her head slightly.

I reached out and touched it, surprised to find it soft, but not nearly as silky as the locks I remembered touching. "I like your hair."

There wasn't a single soul there and Mina took off her wig off, tucking it into her bag. She let her hair down and shook it out. "Better?"

I watched the snowflakes. They seemed to deliberately land in her hair, melting to nothing like they had been waiting for their chance. I knew exactly how they felt.

She was staring at something, a laugh in her eyes and on her lips. "What?" I asked.

"The frog," She said.

I turned and looked behind me. A frog statue sat there, set into a large stone square. The water that came from his mouth hadn't fully frozen yet, but icicles hung all around the opening, giving him a goatee of sorts. It made me smile, in that small way you do when you see something that catches you.

"He's cute" She added.

"He's a frog with a beard," I said, raising my eyebrow and she shrugged.

She looked like a little girl, leaning forward, eyes closed, feet swinging gently. We were sitting close and she was so easy in her enjoyment. I held my tea a bit tighter, annoyed by the tension that always seemed to chase happiness and fill me up. I suddenly felt the weight of her head on my shoulder as she leaned against me and all the awkwardness seemed to dissipate. My shoulders relaxed and my head fell too, resting against the top of hers. The softy falling snow seemed to hide not just the colors of things, but the sound, like a gentle sleep blanketing the whole world.

"It's so pretty out here." She murmured softly.

"It is." I agreed as I closed my eyes, imagining for a moment that I understood any of what was happening between us… imagining that I truly expected to be sitting in a park with her, feeling warm even with ice starting to stick in our hair. I imagined that it made sense to me that I was what?... falling in love? … all I knew was that she had become something more to me than anyone else ever had; than I thought anyone else ever would.

THE CONDO:

Her hand runs along the curve of my hip, her body presses against mine from behind, her breath is warm on my neck. My body is still, whether I can't or don't move, it's all the same. I can feel my chest rising and falling, irregular, fast. Our skin begins to fuse where we touch,as she leans in further. It is flowing back and forth between us as if it makes is no difference to whom it belongs. "I'm so in love with you…" Her words surround me, echo inside me and I realize they came from my lips.

I woke up underneath a blanket, warm air from somewhere tickling my neck with my own hair. There was a body behind me and I looked down to see an arm resting on my side. Minako. Our bare feet were touching where our legs intertwined. I didn't remember even laying down. I blinked, trying to focus my eyes, hearing her breathing in time with the piece of hair jumping along my neck. Where was I? What time was it?

"Hey…" She whispered. I could tell from her voice she had been asleep as well.

I remembered the walk outside, the warmth in her apartment, much warmer than the shrine ever got in the winter, watching the snow through the large picture window, the dream. There was a heaviness in my stomach from the food. I remembered trying to fight it, little fits of sleep causing my head to bob and now this. She had come for a single weekend and I had already wasted part of it.

I started to sit up. Those dreams, waking up, the feelings they constantly set swirling inside me... and now I had said I love you and whether in a dream or not I had meant it. This all was impossibly fast, and maybe I wasn't dealing very well with it.

"Stay," She said, pulling me back down.

I started to speak. "I'm sor..."

"Don't apologize. I haven't sleep that well in a while." She spoke quietly, her voice vibrated against my skin. I played with her hand on my stomach, thoughts churning. My mind was wandering but my body… it was still happily resting, enjoying the closeness. "You're so warm." She muttered happily.

"Senshi of fire," I said dryly.

"Mm..." She kissed my shoulder again. My fingers traced hers.

I looked out at the darkening sky, the light snow on the buildings and trees in the courtyard turning a glowing blue. I wanted to know how she read me so well, how she understood the things I never said.

I felt her shifting behind me, almost wiggling. I turned my body half way around, so I was laying on my back and raised my eyebrow at her.

"This couch is terrible." She scrunched her nose, looking down at me, resting on an elbow.

"You're the one who bought it."

"The designer chose it." She said rolling her shoulders back. I looked around. The place maybe did look a little too polished, like a magazine I had thought when I first saw it. "I didn't pick out much of anything." She seemed embarrassed to admit that. It was the easier way to go but still, it made it seem almost...soulless. I liked seeing her shoes thrown at the edge of the rug like someone might actually live here. I didn't like the idea of her alone in this place.

"Did you choose anything?" I asked.

"The bathroom." She laughed. I hadn't seen her bathroom actually. I had used the one in the hall before. Now I was vaguely curious.

"Why?"

"It's my favorite room."

"The bathroom is your favorite room." I didn't ask it as a question. She was clearly serious.

She smiled around her discomfort. "I like baths."

I said nothing. The mental picture was enough. She was watching me with a smirk and met my eyes before she took my hand. She tipped her head slightly toward her room and I knew exactly what she meant.

THE BATHROOM:

I watched her kneel and turn on the faucet, which was a deep copper color. It was shaped like a chute, open on the top and I watched as the steaming liquid poured down, splashing against the largest tub I had ever seen. She stood and smiled at me, before disappearing out the door.

My eyes followed her, but my body didn't. It stayed leaning against the vanity, soothed to inaction by the sound of running water. Everything in this room was stone and wood, but still clean lines. It wasn't what I would have guessed she'd like, more something I would have picked myself. She returned with two balloon glasses and a bottle of red wine. I gave her a questioning look.

"It's part of a great bath!" She defended.

"What? Do you pour it in?"

She rolled her eyes. "I'm perfectly happy to drink it myself."

"All that partying must be turning you into a lush," I said, feeling a bit more relaxed because of the opportunity to tease her a bit.

"Oh shush." She placed the already uncorked bottle on the counter, pouring herself and me a drink. She walked up beside me, opening the medicine cabinet behind the mirror to pull out a small vial. It looked like some sort of essence.

She uncapped it and the smell of jasmine wafted out. I watched her as she sat on the edge of the tub, eyes closed, wine in hand, fingers dancing slowly in the filling tub. There was a strange look of pleasure on her face and I found myself almost hypnotized by her. The dreams came back to my mind. The way her hands seemed to sink into me was just as if I were that water. I'd never had so little control as I seemed to have in all of this. From the dreams I was having, what we had already shared, it seemed I liked not being in control. It was an idea I wasn't comfortable with…that I could have so much control in my everyday life, and want the opposite sexually. Even the notion that I could desire any specific act sexually, any specific attitude was strange for me. This was too much thought.

"Should I leave you to your bath?" I asked, my voice sounding a bit different. I couldn't explain it away to exhaustion this time, but the prospect of joining her was explanation enough. In light of everything that had been running through my brain today, my nervousness was untamable. Hazy blue eyes opened and she glanced over at me in a way that made my body freeze. Placing the glass down she moved forward until she was close enough to touch. Her hands covered mine where they still rested on the vanity, and she captured me in a kiss pressing her body against mine. I melted into it immediately.

"Stay." She whispered against my lips as she started slowly undressing me.

THE BATH:

I tried to keep my eyes from falling closed as I lounged in the hot water, waiting for her. It felt sinfully good. The tub was deeper than most and the rim came up to my shoulders. I tried not to be impressed by the fireplace in the bathroom.

I sipped on the wine a bit too quickly, after looking her way. She was standing absolutely naked in the center of this room that was easily as large as my bedroom at home. All sorts of shapes were blocked in shadow and light across her skin. She was reaching up and gathering her hair on top of her head. I tried to focus on her feet, her knees, anywhere but the play of muscles beneath the honey golden of her stomach, how those lines naturally drew my eyes. I swallowed and tried to relax as she climbed into the tub with me, her legs brushing mine. Settling in opposite me, she picked up a remote from the corner shelf. The fire came alive almost immediately inside a deep square cut in the stonewall. It was the strangest one I had ever seen, about four feet of short flames in a straight line. Something inside me immediately disliked it, disliked the fact the fire could be controlled so easily, trapped.

"It comes with a remote?" I asked. I could feel the slight scowl on my face.

"You think I'm ridiculous don't you?" She was looking away. I watched as a piece of hair fell from the loose bun on top of her head. I didn't answer right away, surprised by the question, by the insecurity I could hear in it. I did think that, but not in the way she meant. It wasn't the money, the fancy things that bothered me, it was the taming of something that was beautiful only because it wasn't tame. I liked her ridiculousness. I didn't know what to say.

"Sometimes," I answered, twirling my fingers through the water. "I like it though," I added with a smirk, nudging her knee with my own.

She rolled her eyes. "Jerk." She said with a smile and I tried to believe she was entirely kidding. I took another sip of the wine that was doing nothing for my sleepiness. Placing the glass down, I pulled her between my legs, lying back and deciding the talking wasn't working particularly well. Her soft hair tickled my neck and smelled like ice when she rested her head on my shoulder. This was nice and if I could keep my mouth shut and my eyes closed I might be able to stay like this forever.

She kissed the spot where my neck began and I tried to keep myself calm. I was unused to my body responding so strongly to sensation, to jumping from contentment to desire in a moment. I noticed that she seemed distracted, lost in thought almost, but she stayed thankfully still for a few blissful minutes and I could feel my body starting to drift away again. A gentle kiss brought me back to myself. A sigh escaped my lips and I felt her nuzzling my neck, breathing against my skin, making my eyelids flutter.

"Tell me about them." She whispered. I knew what she meant.

I pretended I hadn't heard her, distracted her by bringing her mouth to mine. A mistake I realized too late as she turned herself around, a knee settling between my legs, her body coming against mine fully. I didn't think I would ever be able to talk about something like that out loud. I bit at her lip, lifting my thigh to just barely brush her. Her hands gripped me tighter. I smiled at my victory. She looked at me with glassy blue eyes, trying to appear serious and justified.

She was determined. "Tell me."

"No." I whispered back. She was trailing her fingers up my side, tickling, thumb sliding over my nipple and I gasped a bit. "That's cheating!"

"You started it." She said around a smile. "Tell me." She nibbled at my earlobe and squeezed my breast. I felt her voice like a touch in the deepest part of me. "Please."

"… no." I felt helpless as she pinched me lightly, a tiny moan coming from me. This 'no' had sounded much less firm.

She continued to torture my neck, causing my body to contract, shiver, arch, and I tried desperately to stay my reaction to her lips and hands. "Please…"

"Why?" I wrenched out breathlessly.

"Because I want to know what you dream Rei," Mina said quietly, earnestly.

I forced my eyes open, my vision slightly hazy and met hers. That blue did something to the inside of me, seemed to pull the breath from my lungs.

"I dream about you…like this" I whispered, a blush covering my cheeks. She looked at me, her long bangs falling around her face and tilted her head. There was absolutely no way I could finish that thought.

With my hair up, my neck was particularly vulnerable and she took full advantage again, sucking at my pulse point.

"AH…Mina…" I felt my hands fly to the edge of the tub. I felt her hand come around the other side of my neck, fingers splayed turning my head to bare even more to her, just like one of those dreams. Her tongue, her lips, her teeth seemed to be each pull a unique sound from me, a new reaction from my body.

"I dream about you too," She whispered kissing along my collarbone, her blonde hair brushing my chin. "Touching you, the taste of you…your kisses…" I felt myself moan softly at her words. She was nipping at my chest as she kept murmuring hushed words against my burning skin. "…your fingers on my back, the sounds you make, your face…" The kisses stopped and her head lifted, a question swimming in her eyes. "Is that what you dream?"

"In my dreams…" I took a deep breath. I wasn't sure I could say any more. "…I…"

"…what…" she whispered touching my cheek.

"…I lose myself in you." She looked startled by what I had said. So was I. I heard the tremble in my voice when I had spoken. I didn't talk like this with people, I didn't speak my dreams, I didn't deliberately give people power over me. This would have been the time for something sexy or sweet, but instead, I said that. I wasn't even sure she could know what I meant with just those words. She stared at me, darkened eyes fixed on some distant point.

"Reiko…" I didn't understand the tone of her voice or the look on her face, but I understood the feel of her lips on mine. My arms seemed to instantly tangle around her body, which pressed into mine. Time fell out of my mind, lost in the red wine, the hot jasmine-scented air, her kisses.

"We should probably get out of the tub." She said into my neck.

"Probably." I agreed, neither of us making a move to actually get up until at least a minute later.

THE BEDROOM:

She was watching me with the strangest look... as if she didn't quite know how to react to me anymore. As we dried ourselves off, I kept catching her looking at me, even as we walked into her bedroom. I sat on the edge of the bed and she followed, sitting beside me. I crossed my arm over my chest, rubbing at my bicep.

"Do you like them?" I was surprised by the question, not really knowing where it came from or what it was in response to. She was looking straight ahead as she asked it and I couldn't read her.

"What?" I asked.

"Your dreams… do you like them?" I didn't know if I had unintentionally hurt her feelings or what, but the seriousness was making this so much more nerve-racking.

"…yes," I answered, incredibly embarrassed.

Her blue eyes turned toward me. "You lose yourself?"

I have never blushed so hard in my entire life, it took everything in me not run full speed out the door. "… maybe those aren't the right words" My face felt like it was on fire. Maybe they were exactly the right words.

"Explain it to me?" She said.

"I don't…" My head was spinning.

"Lay down." She said gently. I went to lay on my back and saw her shake her head, motioning her finger for me to turn the other way. Somewhat cautiously I laid down on my stomach.

Her breath and her hair were driving me crazy with their tickling little caresses. I felt her weight against my back as she leaned down. "Close your eyes." She whispered and I did. "...try to tell me about them one more time?" She absolutely wasn't going to let this go.

"My dreams aren't like yours. They are all feelings and symbols." I said. "I can only understand the way I feel in them. They might not make sense…"

"Just try," she said. I could feel her body, her breasts drag along either side of my spine as she kissed her way up my back. Her hands followed my sides and I moaned softly. Her lips seemed to cover every inch of my skin, my shoulders, the tops of my arms, my neck. It was a strange mixture of calming and exciting.

I took a deep breath in. "They're all different. There is one where I'm in the dark, like my eyes are closed, but I know they're not. I can't move my arms from above my head. I know you're there somewhere and I just... wait." I felt her shiver above me, her hand stroking along the back of my hip. "Then I can feel you on top of me and my body almost melts into your touch and then you … you fall into me like I'm made of water."

"God, Rei…" she whispered against my shoulder blade. It helped to not be looking into her eyes. I felt my body shudder in response. "Is that what you dreamt when you called me the other night?"

"No." I felt my face flaming. "I… we... we were in the shower and the water was steaming hot. I was against the wall and you were leaning into me. You were holding my wrists next to my head".

She moved her hands to mimic what I had just described. "Like this?" My heart was pounding so intensely that I was sure she must've heard it. I clenched my eyes shut and gasped as I felt her teeth at my neck again, surprised to feel the weight on her body holding my wrists firmly down, not painful, but secure. I felt exactly as I had in the dream. I knew that I couldn't tell her I wanted to belong to her, couldn't explain that feeling, not out loud.

As she let me go, I turned, watching her sit back on her heels. Her eyes openly followed the curves of my body and I felt myself blushing but kept my head up. She had that same look of concentration from before.

"What?" I asked, trying to ignore the shake in my voice.

"Do you trust me?" She said. It was the last thing I would have imagined she would respond with, but she was good at that… catching me completely off guard.

I considered giving her some smart remark, but the unusual seriousness in her face and the lingering hum in my skin made me forget it. I gave her a curious if cautious look. "Yes."

THE DARKNESS:

I followed her with my eyes warily as she went to her closet and pulled out a few things I couldn't recognize in the dim light. Part of me wanted to run immediately.

She sat beside me and smiled down at me, blushing obviously. Reaching over she placed a strand of hair that had fallen in front of my face, behind my ear. Her hand cupped my cheek and she leaned down, bringing her lips to mine. My eyes fell closed and I felt her slip something soft around my head.

"Mina… what…"

"Shh." She said quietly and I felt her hands behind my head, tying a blindfold.

Her mouth found mine and I could feel her chest where it brushed against my skin. "Tell me 'no' and I'll stop" she whispered. My throat felt dry and I heard a strange noise, like something sliding across metal and my hands were in hers. She slipped the same soft material over my wrists and I my heart started to race again.

"Mina." I had meant to say 'no'. I was trying to say 'no', but that wasn't even close and then we were kissing.

She bit my lip, pulling it slowly with her teeth. I couldn't move my upper body much and though the ties at my wrist didn't hurt, they were tight. I pulled at them subtly wondering if I could get out if I wanted to. The angle my arms were at gave me little leverage and the pounding in my chest seemed to increase tenfold. My body was on fire and I wondered what kind of person I was to be enjoying this. Just say 'no'… all I had to do was say 'no'.

A prickling sensation began at my stomach, long paths that left my skin oscillating between warm and cool. I realized it was her fingernails tracing up my body, circling my breasts, and then heat on my nipples. Her mouth, closing around one of them and then teeth. I moaned, straining upward as much as I could, my fists clenching at the air. I felt her answering groan quietly against my skin. As she nipped at my chest, I felt her hand slide up the side of my neck, thumb brushing my bottom lip. Her other hand followed the curve of my hipbone, over my side and underneath holding me firmly. I could feel her breasts again, dragging across my stomach. I had expected some of the excitement I felt our first time to fade, but I still felt incapable of speech or coherent thought with her body on mine. The twist I'm sure wasn't helping me any in that area.

I could feel her moving, the shifting weight on the mattress, the soft rustle of fabric. Her hands, lips, and teeth seemed to be everywhere at once, sliding across my skin. My head felt as if it had disconnected from my body, that I was floating in different pieces. I imagined all the things she could do to me like this, all of the things I would let her do. I was embarrassed and excited to mindlessness at the same time.

Her fingertips traced along the crease of my hips, along the insides of my thighs, around and not yet inside me. She straddled my thigh and I felt her press against it while her lips played at the underside of my breasts. If she didn't touch me soon I was pretty sure I would go crazy.

"Mina…"

"Hmm?" I felt her voice against my chest as she stroked two fingers along the outside of me.

Somehow I knew what she was waiting for and I felt the blood in my cheeks as I whispered. "Please…"

She moved against me as she touched me, slipped her fingers inside me. I held my lip between my teeth, my cries muffled as she curled her fingers deep inside me. I couldn't really move my hips with her weight on my leg but that seemed only to drive the intensity I was feeling. I let her voice filter through my mind, the sounds that poured from her falling into my skin, imagined the look on her face while she watched me. I followed her movements as much as I could. When I felt her clench her thighs around my leg, gasping... it pulled me right over the edge.

THE CONFESSION:

I felt her untie my arms and they fell limply by my side. She pushed the blindfold off and I looked into her eyes. "Rei… I mean… was that…"

She was sitting above me, looking to the side. She was worried. "It was…" I said sitting up a bit. I didn't know what to say about what we just did really. I wrapped my arms around her back and rested my head against her collarbone. She seemed to relax and I felt her rest her chin against the top of my head.

"Yeah." She agreed with a hint of a laugh in her breathless voice. I felt her reach behind her back and take my hands, and then slowly bring them up to lay a gentle kiss on the inside of each of my wrists. My heart ached and I could see it in her eyes…she wanted to say it again, that she was in love with me, but she stopped herself. I had never answered her the first time.

"Minako…" I swallowed. "I... love you too…" When I told her before I didn't think we had a choice, I meant it. Whatever we called this, whatever feelings, there was no stopping it now. Maybe it was destiny... and love.

END.