A/N: I want to apologize for not updating this story sooner. All I can say is that life and writer's block happen, but the combination of both is simply terrible. I want to thank littlemichiru for editing this piece and encouraging me to keep writing. Your lovely words and encouragement are always appreciated. Thank you for being patient and I hope you enjoy the chapter.

The Lover After Me

-Sky King Haruka Tenoh

Yaya walked into her penthouse, tossed her keys onto the little side table by the door, and removed her shoes. It had been an exhausting and stressful week. Ever since the partnership became effective, the board members made every effort to be nothing but thorns on her side. The only good thing that had occurred, besides the partnership, were Chikaru's arrival and her willingness to help her with Minako's situation.

"Welcome home, Yaya-chan." Hikari's voice broke through her mind's ramblings.

Home? Yes, this was herhome, but it wasn't theirhome. Nevertheless, Yaya came into the living room and sat on the couch next to Hikari who had the television at a low volume. "Sorry for being late. This week has just been hell."

"Yaya-chan…" Hikari whispered as she positioned herself to rub Yaya's shoulders, "Is everything okay?" Her voice was full of concern.

Yaya closed her eyes trying to relax. "Yeah. Just a really hectic day."

"Did something happen?" Hikari asked softly, knowing too well that even if Yaya would explain she probably wouldn't understand much.

Yaya closed her eyes completely avoiding the question while trying to enjoy the massage. "Would you like to go out for dinner?" Yaya asked after realizing she hadn't eaten anything since the snack she had at some point during her day, which was almost eight hours ago.

"Actually..." Hikari began a bit timidly, "why don't I make us dinner? You've been coming back rather late everyday and working even from home."

Yaya looked at her curiously and smiled tiredly. "Alright, but I hope I get sick so I don't have to go in on Monday." She teased

"Yaya-chan!" Hikari laughed. "Don't be so mean. I'll have you know I can cook. Besides, you own Nanto Corporation, so you get to do what you want, when you want."

"Not necessarily. It's a perk that it's mine, but I can't just leave my company in the hands of those idiots." Yaya said trying to keep the edge out of her voice.

Hikari could feel the tension radiating off of Yaya and decided to ease some of it. She kissed Yaya's lips softly then looked into those amber eyes, "I'll be sure to take care of you, don't worry. Maybe after dinner, if you're up for it, we can go for a walk in the park nearby or watch a movie, whatever you want." The blonde kissed her again before pulling away and heading to the kitchen where she began working on their dinner.

Yaya nodded, but nevertheless was dumbstruck. Normally, Hikari's visits revolved around companionship and sex, but now her blonde angel was offering to take care of her. Yaya was usually the one taking care of Hikari's needs, thinking that the blonde's presence was enough to ease her loneliness. The dark-haired heiress decided not to read too much into Hikari's statement because it would simply lead to more pain. They were best friends, who were occasionally intimate when the opportunity presented itself, but they were still friends above all else.

The Nanto heiress sighed as she took the TV remote and flipped through the channels desperate to find something that would distract her from her blonde friend and the insane week she'd miraculously survived.

"Dinner is ready." Hikari called out from the dinning room. The young blonde looked impressed with herself as she set their plates on the table.

When Yaya didn't come to the dining room, Hikari decided to check on her. The sight that greeted her tugged at her heart making her feel something strange inside of her. Yaya was laying on the couch fast asleep while barely grasping an open portfolio with papers scattered around her in a neat disarray. Hikari grew sad and worried as she approached the sleeping woman and heard a faint snoring coming from her. It was obvious that Yaya was more exhausted than she'd led her to believe. Quietly, she kneeled next to the couch and took the open portfolio and the scattered documents, neatly placing them on the coffee table. Looking at her sleeping friend once again, she allowed herself to gently push her bangs away from her face and admire the beautiful woman in front of her.

"You work too hard." She whispered and covered Yaya with the soft blanket she had been using earlier.

As the younger girl stood up, she accidentally bumped into the coffee table and let out a whispered curse from the pain, then instantly regretted it. She prayed the noise wouldn't wake up her sleeping friend. Her prayers were far from answered as she heard a soft groan come from Yaya. Amber eyes opened and looked at her sleepily and confused.

"How long have I been asleep?"

"Not even an hour." Hikari smiled sitting on the small space next to Yaya.

"I'm sorry." Yaya said in a groggy voice. "There was nothing good on TV so I decided to get some work done."

Hikari stroked her raven locks, "It's okay. Do you want to eat dinner or sleep a little longer?" Yaya's stomach rumbled in protest making her blush, and the blonde giggle. "Dinner it is then. Luckily for you dinner is served."

"Minako-chan, let's go!" Tsubomi called out as she turned off her computer and saw the blonde vigorously typing away. "Need I remind you it's Friday and Girls' Night. So come on!"

Minako giggled, "I know, Tsubomi-chan. Trust me. I know." The blonde sighed as she finished attaching the necessary files and writing up the email to their workaholic boss, "But Yaya, really wanted these files sent to her. She said they were really important."

Tsubomi's curiosity won out so she went and peeked over Minako's shoulder. "Well send them and let's go."

Minako smiled at her younger friend as she finished the email and sent it to Yaya. She quickly grabbed her coat and her bag, and looped her arm around the pinkette's. "I believe there are drinks with our names on it!" Both women beamed with laughter as they left the building, ending a long and tiresome week of work.

Minako ordered a fourth round of cosmos as Tsubomi continued retelling fond memories from her school days. Some of the names mentioned Minako recognized as guests for the upcoming event, which would explain why Yaya had Tsubomi handled those invitations. However, Minako was quick to notice the slight shift in Tsubomi's voice when she mentioned Hikari and Amane.

"I can handle those invites, if you want me to." Minako offered, but Tsubomi shook her head.

Tsubomi looked at her friend through the bar's mirror. "How do you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Hide your feelings." Tsubomi saw briefly a glimmer of sadness and pain in those blue eyes and decided to elaborate. "You don't talk much about your life before coming to the company but I can see there is this sadness that you try to hide. No one else sees it, but I do."

The blonde ran her finger on the rim of her glass as she looked into the liquid poison wishing it could give her answers. "I…I don't really know what you're referring to."

"You're hurting, Minako-chan. I don't know who, or what caused it-"

"Tsubomi-chan." Minako's steeled voice cut her off but her cerulean eyes faltered, "You don't know..."

The young pinkette couldn't understand why Minako wouldn't let anyone get close, but she refused to give up. "Then please explain it to me, so that I can understand because in all the time I've known you I've come to understand that the image you give off isn't really you. You've said you can't talk about the past, but you haven't given me a concrete reason as to why and it's never made any sense." Seeing Minako tense, Tsubomi placed a hand on her arm reassuringly, "I will always be here to listen without judgment just as you've always done for me. I just wish I knew why you are so afraid to talk about what's hurting you."

Minako finished her drink and looked at her empty glass—an indirect reflection of the woman she was reduced to after that cursed day when Hino Takahashi showed up to take away her life, her happiness, her Reiko. She was like this glass—briefly full, but otherwise empty and fragile. The blonde woman was grateful the bar wasn't very busy at this early hour because it meant less people would witness her confession.

"I was happy once." A ghost of a real and honest smile graced her beautiful face as she remembered those times, looking at something only she could see, "My childhood best friend would tease me and say that I was over the moon happy and I was... I was very much in love. I still am."

Not being one to interrupt, Tsubomi listened intently and watched her friend's blue eyes radiate the truth behind the words she spoke.

"We were quite young when we met, but I remember the first thing that drew me to her were those striking amethyst eyes. I'd never seen anyone with beautiful eyes like hers and I couldn't help but tell her. She, of course, was properly put off by that." Minako giggled lightly at the fond memory. "She wouldn't give me the time of day, much less her name, but I had my ways. It took time but we eventually became best friends...but...it didn't seem appropriate to call it that." Minako paused recalling the ways those profound eyes would always look at her with something she couldn't discern until much later. "No…we were always closer and everyone noticed except us."

Minako paused briefly to order another drink for herself and Tsubomi, and as they both took sips of their drinks they were in different states of mind. The pinkette was very enthralled by this mysterious woman that Minako was in love with. She really wished she could see this woman in a picture or at least know her name to see if it befit the person being described in such a manner. The blonde on the other hand was very much lost in her own memories trying to numb the pain that overshadowed the love she once shared with Rei.

A gentle hand placed on her wrist stopped Minako from taking another drink. Her eyes followed the hand to the concerned golden eyes of their owner. "What happened next?"

"We were slow to start dating because we were both afraid we'd lose each other if we confessed our feelings." Minako released her glass and brought her hand to the necklace she always wore. Remembering the night Rei confessed her feelings to her and the kiss that happened after.

Minako had been prepared for Rei to chastise her about being late, but that hadn't been the case. When she arrived, Rei wasn't in her room or anywhere inside the temple. Following her instincts, Minako went to the temple's gardens. The usually stoic miko was deep in thought as she stood amidst the rows of cherry blossom trees looking at the starlit sky for something that Minako couldn't decipher.

Rei looked away from the stars and the moment their eyes met, Minako knew something in Rei had changed. She'd always seen a silent struggle in those eyes she loved so much, but now there was clarity and determination. "Minako." The reverent way Rei said her name filled her with a nervousness that clenched at Minako's insides. "Do you know why I asked you to come here tonight?"

Minako shook her head as she walked towards to the raven-haired miko. A slight breeze rustled the cherry blossoms creating a rain of beautiful petals under the glowing light of the full moon.

"I've been afraid of so many things, Mina."

Minako looked down for a moment before looking back into those alluring amethyst eyes, "We all have fears, Reiko. It makes us human."

"My greatest fear is falling…" Rei's eyes reflected an intense longing, "I'm afraid of it leading down a path of ruin, but I don't want to cower before that any more."

"Reiko, what are you talking about?"

"You once asked me, if I would ever fall in love. Do you remember?"

"I remember. You said you would never will."

Rei closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath meeting Minako's eyes once more. "I lied." Rei came closer and cupped Minako's cheek in a manner that sent delicious shivers down the blonde's spine. "I lied because it was my hope that I never would. I knew that if I allowed myself to fall in love, I would want that person to belong to me in a way that words can't explain. I'd want their heart to be all mine, but I know that my love would only ruin them."

"Reiko...it doesn't have to be that way."

"I've fallen in love, Minako." Rei looked up to the stars, "I've fallen in love with Venus herself, but the way I love is different. It's a love that is like a living flame—beautiful but nevertheless it burns with its intensity. I am flawed and I know that possessiveness is a trait looked down upon, but…" Rei looked into Minako's eyes again closing the space between them even more, "if she allows me the opportunity to love her, she will see that she will be the only goddess worthy of my heart's mortal affections."

Minako was so lost in Rei's eyes that she struggled to come up with words. Taking a steady breath, she asked the question that seemed irrelevant, but necessary for her own sake, "Who is this goddess, Venus, that you want to love?"

Rei smiled as she moved her hand to caress Minako's soft hair, "You truly wish to know?"

A blush warmed Minako's cheeks as she nodded losing herself Rei's eyes.

Rei leaned in and captured her lips in a tender kiss. Minako's body responded instinctively by wrapping her arms around Rei's neck. When the kiss finally ended, Rei smiled at her, "It's you. It's always been you."

Minako couldn't stop the warm blush that sweet memory brought, "When she asked me to be hers, she asked me to be hers and hers alone. She didn't simply want a girlfriend, she wanted more than that but she wanted me to be okay with it. She wanted me to love and accept her for everything she was just as she had done for me."

Tsubomi smiled. Truth be told she wanted to know what exactly was said, but she knew that sometimes precious things are best left private between two people.

"I felt like things couldn't get any better but they did. On our fifth anniversary she surprised me in a way I couldn't have imagined in my lifetime." Minako paused remembering that special evening.

The pinkette noticed Minako pulling her necklace from inside her blouse to expose a beautiful ring. Tsubomi's eyes went from the ring to Minako's face and she saw the tears sliding down from her friend's deep blue eyes.

"That night she asked me to marry her." Cerulean eyes lost themselves reliving that special memory—that promise of always. A promise that would redefine their meaning of forever. A promise of love and passion that etched every word of it into her skin; emblazoned it onto her soul. Feeling a train of wetness on her cheeks, Minako wiped the tears and tried to regain her composure.

"My heart had always been hers, even before I realized it all those years ago. When she proposed, the answer came as easy as breathing."

The depth of what was being recounted made Tsubomi feel like such an intruder. Although she felt she wasn't getting enough to assuage her curiosity, she knew better than to push for more. The sparse details were already bringing Minako to tears and she didn't know how much more she was willing to share before it became too much.

Minako downed her drink uncharacteristically fast. "All good things must come to an end. Isn't that the saying?"

"Min-"

"Don't."

Tsubomi wanted to reassure her friend, but the coldness in Minako's gaze indicated that whatever she was remembering at the moment was the real culprit behind all of her misery. The blonde woman stood abruptly but reached out and grasped the bar's edge for stability. It was unlike her to stumble after just a few drinks, which raised a lot of questions. The company's partnership had put a lot of stress on everyone, but everyone handled it differently. Tsubomi worried that her idea of taking them out for Girls' Night might have backfired. Looking closely at Minako, Tsubomi noticed that the blonde appeared more exhausted and worn than usual. The pinkette called the bartender over and paid for their drinks.

Tsubomi took her friend's arm and carefully guided her out of the establishment. "Come on, Minako-chan. Let's get you home."

"Home?" Minako said in a broken voice, "There is no home. Not anymore."

Minako wasn't homeless that much she was certain of; maybe she just felt the place she lived at was empty. That was something they could both relate to. Waking up alone, going about your day, but with no one to come home to. No, that wasn't true. From their conversation earlier, Tsubomi could see how much Minako had lost due to whatever dark events took place before meeting her. It was getting late and soon the streets would be crawling with unruly characters. Deciding between calling a cab or Yaya, she opted for the latter deciding that it would be best considering how vulnerable Minako was at the moment.

They walked until they reached some benches for one of the bus stops, and Tsubomi helped Minako take a seat. Taking a deep breath she pulled out her phone and dialed Yaya's number unsure of what to expect.

Two rings and then, "Hey, Tsubomi-chan. Is everything okay?" It was Hikari's voice on the line.

Tsubomi bit back a curse realizing too late that Hikari was still in town. "Hikari-chan, I need to speak with Yaya-chan. It's important."

"She's taking a shower right now. Do you want me to-"

Tsubomi felt relieved as she heard Yaya's voice in the background, "Who is it?" she asked before taking the phone. "Hey, Tsubomi-chan. What's going on? Are you okay?"

"Yaya-chan, I need you to come get me and Minako. We need to take her home. I'll explain when you get here, but please come. Without her." It was clear from Tsubomi's tone that she meant Hikari.

"Tsubomi-chan, I could have my driver-"

"Damn it! You're not listening! This is important! You can't just use her when you feel like it and when she needs someone leave her because she'shere! Are you going to keep letting herof all people dictate your life? How you live it? How you love?" Tsubomi took a few breaths after her tirade hearing a quiet shuffling from the earpiece, "Please, just come. She needs you." She wanted to say, 'We both do.'but the words wouldn't come out.

A jingling of keys was heard before Yaya spoke, "Tell me where you are. I'm on my way."

Hikari stood in disbelief as Yaya quickly changed clothes while she was on the phone. She was really going to go? To her, that Minako woman she claimed not to love. Something inside of Hikari snapped as she followed Yaya into the living room.

"Are you really going to them this late?" she said in utter disbelief.

Ensuring she had her keys Yaya made her way to the door. "Yes."

"Have your driver pick them up and take them wherever they need to go." Hikari's tried to soften her tone, "You're tired. Why do you have to go?"

Yaya twisted the doorknob and looked over her shoulder to pleading blue eyes. "Because it's the right thing to do." Hikari looked so crestfallen, but at that moment Yaya couldn't bring herself to stay with her. Hikari needed to understand that Yaya's world no longer revolved around her. Without looking back she closed the door behind her rushing to her car, knowing in the back of her mind that Hikari would probably be gone by the time she returned.