CHAPTER 9 CONFESSIONS OF A BROKEN HEART
She felt helpless…
Alone…
Lonely…
Heartbroken?
The hakama-clothed priestess leaned against the maple tree, outside the temple of the Hikawa Shrine, staring in space. It had been an hour since her students had left, and she was now officially alone at the shrine. That hadn't bothered her before. She even liked it better when there's no one around to interrupt her. Foretelling future events through the use of the sacred fire is one of her strongest suits, and when she's alone, she could have her peace of mind. Silence clears her head…
But this day seems to be one of the exceptions.
Days had gone by since she and the rest of her friends had returned from their trip to Hokkaido. To her relief, the ruckus about her and Minako had subsided. On her part, anyway. Minako remained in the center of all the attention, as it is rumored that she is leaving Japan soon, to start a career in Hollywood.
She's leaving again…
Rei couldn't believe it. Somehow, in the deep of her subconscious, she believed that Minako would never leave; that Minako would never leave HER, again…
The memory of her last encounter with Minako is just all too vivid. Venus kissed her back. Rei will never forget that kiss. In her momentary burst of courage, with all of her pent up emotions, she pulled Minako for a kiss, which, she can be sure, was returned with passion…
Only to be seen by Aya, Minako's girlfriend…
She's still her girlfriend…
As far as Rei knows. There's no news about their break-up. Although she isn't sure about what happened after the two had left the ski resort as soon as Aya caught them. Aya did not even stay to confront her, nor did Minako, to clear things up with her…
She messed it up…
I shouldn't have kissed her…
"I shouldn't have kissed her. I'm so stupid…" Rei whispered to herself.
"I didn't even know you had it in you." A voice which isn't Rei's made the priestess jump away from the maple tree. Only to find it was---
"Haruka… Why am I not surprised that it's you?" Rei growled at the racer.
"Maybe you're hoping that I'd show up." Haruka had just climbed the steps, and stopped in front of Rei, her arms crossed, and a smug smile plastered in her face.
"Why would I?" Rei arrogantly replied, and headed to the direction of the temple, with Haruka following her behind.
"You need a friend." Haruka knowingly said, making Rei stop on her tracks, but remained with her back turned on the senshi of wind. "So you kissed her, huh?" Haruka sounded with incredulity.
"You don't even know who I was talking about." Rei started walking again and upon reaching the steps to the temple, she turned around, and sat on the top step.
"Is there anyone you'd want to kiss other than Venus?" Haruka stared at Rei.
"Maybe." Rei tried to refute without much enthusiasm.
"I doubt it." Haruka then sat beside Rei.
In their silence, Haruka played with the wind. She let it blew gently from the East, then from the West, scattering the dried leaves Rei had swept aside a while ago…
"Stop it or you're cleaning everything later." Rei warned, and Haruka obliged. Not that she's scared of Rei. She's just not very domesticated.
"Aren't we grumpy today?" Haruka mocked her.
"Since when do you know that you can still control the wind?" Rei asked out of curiosity. Her own discovery of still being able to control the fire was accidental; she discovered it through a burst of feelings.
"I just know... It's very basic." Haruka shrugged.
"I still don't understand. We can still control our element while the others can't."
"It's not easy to explain. I just know that without the basic elements, there wouldn't be life. Hotaru is Earth, Ami is Water, you are Fire, and I am the Wind. As to how we came to be, it's beyond explanation. Like falling in love… I doubt that even Minako could explain that." Haruka turned to face Rei, who seemed to be listening intently, although looking away from Haruka.
Pause…
"What happened next? I mean, after you kissed her." Haruka asked curiously. Minako and Aya did not leave much explanation about leaving early. But she had a hunch, as they don't seem to be talking to each other as they usually are, from the time that they packed their things, and upon driving them to the airport.
"We got caught…" Rei was going to say 'by her girlfriend' next, but still couldn't seem to bear saying it.
"Did she kiss you back?" Haruka prodded. Rei slightly blushed at the memory.
"Well, yes…" Rei felt embarrassed, and avoided looking at Haruka.
"And you let her go?" Haruka then unintentionally had raised her voice in disbelief.
"I did not let her go. She's the one who left me to run after her… girlfriend." Rei stubbornly justified herself, and had a hard time getting out the 'girlfriend' part…
"Did you even bother to stop her?"
"So what, so she could reject me again?" The idea of being rejected was too scary for Rei. It was one too much. The first one depressed her too much…
"You know what? You were right. You are stupid." Haruka snorted, and rolled her eyes. Rei did not try to think of anything to counter her friend…
Haruka has perfectly driven the point home…
Meanwhile, at her hotel suite, Minako paced the living room back and forth, holding up to her ear the wireless telephone in her right hand. She had been burning the lines since twenty minutes ago, not to add her efforts last night, but despite her persistent calling, the person she's trying to reach just wouldn't give her the time of the day.
Not that she deserves it.
After listening to the fifth ring on the other line, it was just about time that Minako's patience ran out. Out of annoyance, and anger, of no one else but herself, she turned and threw the wireless to the direction of her bedroom door, almost hitting---
"Meeeoooooooww!"
Minako turned in surprise, but was able to regain her composure upon seeing that Artemis, her guardian, is fine. Although not looking very happy… The plushie then walked towards her, with a glare especially for her.
"I am quite sure that a telephone was not intended to be a murder weapon." Artemis remarked, while his plushie little heart is still pouncing against his tiny little plushie chest.
"Gomenasai…" Minako wasn't looking at Artemis upon apologizing, but she does sound sincere, so the guardian decided to let it go. He can find other ways to make Minako make it up to him.
Venus then sat on her living room couch, looking at the direction of her glass-paneled window, of which curtains were pulled open to reveal the gorgeous scenery of the city of Tokyo…
But that didn't help ease the anxiety she's feeling.
She tried to talk to Aya, to explain what she saw between her and Rei. But the actress tried every possible way to avoid her. It's been days, and Aya's celphone is still on voicemail. Even her landline phone went unanswered.
And all because of that one amazing kiss with Rei…
The kiss that haunts her every night…
The kiss that marked its memory to her very soul…
The kiss that she returned…
Which I shouldn't have…
She is in a relationship with Aya. They had just made up; she had just convinced Aya that Rei wasn't a threat; that the photo on the front page of the tabloid was just a lucky shot by the paparazzi. And yet Minako broke Aya's trust, by kissing Rei…
Stop thinking about it, Minako…
She had to stop thinking about that kiss; about how good it was; about how right it felt…
Because it wasn't right…
"Get the hint, Princess…" Artemis had been observing his charge. He knew who she had been calling. But the leader of the senshi just wouldn't give up. People hide because they don't want to be found. But Venus is very persistent.
"What hint?" Minako growled at Artemis, whose opinion was not even asked.
"That Nishida-san does not want to talk to you."
"But she has to give me a chance to explain. We need to talk." Minako reasoned out.
"So you could lie to her again?" Artemis pointedly said. A glare was then thrown at his direction, one that did not even scare him.
For a stuff toy, Artemis knows too much…
"She's still my girlfriend."
"Maybe not."
"We're not officially over."
"You officially ended it just by kissing Mars, which, you have to admit, you liked WAY TOO MUCH." Artemis rolled his eyes. It was too late for him to avoid the pillow which was thrown at him…
While Artemis was nursing his painful head in silence, Minako remained staring in space, thinking about Aya, and at the same time, thinking about Rei…
Rei's soft, fiery lips…
"You sure are defensive…" Artemis squeaked it out.
"You sure are nosey." Minako replied.
"You should talk to Mars."
"Things are already bad between me and Aya. I don't think calling Rei would help."
"You're only calling Nishida-san because you feel guilty, not because you want to."
"Aya is my girlfriend. Don't ask me to choose Rei."
"Why not? She kissed you."
"It's just a kiss…"
"A kiss has to mean something…"
"Well, if it does mean anything, Rei has a strange way of showing it…" Minako said dismissively and headed to her bedroom to prepare for a show that she will be guesting at.
"It's quite ironic." Artemis followed her, and Minako stopped at the door to her bedroom.
"What are you talking about?"
"You're fighting for Nishida-san, yet you gave up on Mars."
Minako let out a deep breath, and ignored Artemis. She closed her bedroom door.
If that kiss means something to Rei, then the priestess should have at least called. But it's as if she has no care in the world at all. Rei did not even stop her from pursuing Aya…
"Cheers!" Haruka raised her glass of white wine with a grin. Rei and Ami exchanged looks. The three are occupying a VIP seat at a very crowded club in the center of Tokyo. Rei, who was forced by Haruka to go out that night, just couldn't interpose any objection, since she's practically without energy these days. She had joined the racer in her yellow Porsche, and picked up Ami at her clinic, which surprised the doctor. Ami, who isn't a very social person, couldn't say no to Haruka either, because she wasn't given a choice in the first place. Haruka then drove them to this suffocating club, bottles of drink ready on their table. And Haruka felt free in pouring their glasses full…
"Cheers? To what?" Rei sulked in her seat opposite Haruka.
"I have to work early tomorrow." Ami tried to reason out to avoid drinking. She never liked liquors. During Usagi's bridal shower, she got drunk for the first time, after only a few shots of tequila. And while at the state of being drunk, she almost exposed her greatest secret about one particular senshi; the senshi of thunder and courage…
And Ami never tried it again since then.
"Come on Ami, don't be such a party pooper." Haruka nudged Ami and handed her her glass. Reluctantly, Ami accepted, but turned to Rei for help. Rei didn't have to be forced. Haruka wouldn't leave her alone anyway. Besides, it seems like for a moment, the senshi of fire wanted to forget…
"Rei-chan?" Ami was surprised that Rei took a gulp of her glass of white wine…
"Don't force Ami to drink." Rei told Haruka, who did not say anything in return. The racer merely smiled, and sipped from her glass. Ami looked relieved that she didn't have to drink.
"Are you even allowed to get drunk?" Ami stared in disbelief at the priestess.
"It would be an embarrassment if I do get drunk… But for now, I'm just drinking." Rei took a sip again. Haruka observes her friend attentively. Ami watched Rei as well, knowing that Rei was drinking, exactly for the purpose of getting drunk. Although it's her belief that it's Haruka who convinced Rei to.
"Why didn't you invite Mako-chan? Or Usagi-chan? I think they would enjoy this place more than I." Ami wasn't even able to put her patients' charts in order as she was taken away by her friends too fast, too soon.
"Well, the reason is simple. Your power balances that of Rei's. We don't want our dear senshi of fire burning the whole club down with us, do you? I'm sure Michiru wouldn't be happy if I die. Hotaru is still very small. And I haven't even proposed!" Haruka mocked Rei.
"I'm fire and passion incarnate, not a pyromaniac." Rei looked annoyed. She emptied her glass of wine after just a few sips, and poured her glass full again. Haruka and Ami exchanged looks.
"Well, just in case." Haruka, who was intrigued at the way Rei is drinking wine as if its water, realized that she should be watching out…
Rei would be drunk faster than she's expecting.
Ami did not ask further questions. But she can understand what Haruka is trying to prevent. Liquor, to her opinion, is some form of truth serum. And if Rei gets drunk, would only be revealing her true feelings at the moment…
Like what happened to that pole during their archery target practice…
Rei was jealous, and probably angry…
And it's all because of Minako…
Minako had just finished taping a show, and was heading out of the studio building in disguise of her usual baseball cap and sunglasses. And upon her exit, saw a familiar limousine parked in front of the building, which was about to leave. The singer then walked in a faster pace, and reached for the left door of the passenger side of the limousine, pulled it open, and went inside, to the surprise of the actress already there…
Aya's surprised look turned into a stoic one, upon realizing who the daring hitcher was…
"Where have you been hiding?" Minako asked the actress, who was now looking away from her. The actress was trying to focus her attention ahead.
"I have no reason to hide." It's hard to say whether Aya was bitter or angry. She just sounds indifferent…
"We need to talk."
"We do?" Aya sarcastically replied. Minako braced herself. Aya is definitely angry.
"Aya…"
"I didn't think we have to. What I saw perfectly explained everything. It's crystal clear…" Aya turned her accusing eyes at Minako.
"What you saw was a mistake."
Aya let out a sour laugh… Minako tried to think of what else to say, to at least lessen her girlfriend's anger, or jealousy. But it's hard. Especially when that would, in effect, force you to lie…
"I should have seen it from the beginning…" Aya shakes her head, disappointed of herself. "Or at least from that time your photo with her was published." Aya reminded herself of the photo that she was jealous of.
Minako never looked at her that way.
And she was absolutely jealous.
But Minako assured her that Rei-san was just a friend.
And because she has feelings for the singer, and because she wants to, Aya believed her…
Only to be rudely awakened by a passionate kiss with Rei-san that she had to witness…
A tear fell from Aya's eyes. Minako wanted to reach for her and wipe her tears, but knew that such act wouldn't be welcomed. So the singer watched, her heart breaking at the pain she had caused. Aya hastily wiped her own tears with her right hand…
"There's nothing going on between me and Rei."
"You kissed her, Mina." Aya's voice trembled.
"No. She kissed me. There's a difference."
"You kissed her back… And you didn't pull away. You didn't want to."
"I was wrong…"
Silence…
"I'm sorry. I hurt you and that wasn't my intention. For a while there, I betrayed you. I'll never find any justification for my act, but… Haven't you had a time in your life that you had a little crush with your bestfriend?" Minako tried to joke, while utterly failed…
It wasn't even a bit funny.
"She wasn't just a crush…" Aya turned to look straight into Minako's eyes, and Minako just couldn't look back at her without feeling guilty.
Minako looked away…
"Your song 'Romance', it was written for her." Aya stated as a matter of fact.
"It's an old song."
"It was written for her, wasn't it? And all your other songs, those were for her."
"Aya…"
"I don't even have to ask."
"You're making conclusions out of the songs I wrote? I wrote those before we were together, before I even knew you existed." And Minako's celphone rings… She looks to see who it was but realizes it was just Haruka, who has a very GREAT timing… Minako let out a sigh of frustration and cancelled the call. But before she could start talking to Aya again, it rings again, and she cancelled.
Then it rings again. Aya seemed very annoyed.
"Get it." Aya grumpily said. And Minako was forced to take the call.
Minako sighed.
"What?" Minako growled at the person on the other line.
"Whow, is this that period of the month?" Haruka slurred. The racer, who's currently in a drunken state, is sitting behind the wheel of her yellow Porsche, with Ami beside her, and Rei, well, she's somewhere, 'asleep'…
"Can I just call you later? This is a really BAD time." Minako emphasized, to make sure that the senshi of wind gets the point.
"You're not the only one having a bad time, Aino. For your information---" Haruka rolled her eyes. And she was interrupted.
"We'll talk later." Minako said dismissively and hang up. She turned to Aya, who's looking at her, waiting impatiently for her to finish defending herself…
Or maybe waiting for her to get out of the limousine.
But Minako didn't care. All she wants was for Aya to forgive her. But it seems all too impossible now.
"You maybe able to fool other people, but you have to stop fooling yourself. Your latest song, Love and Passion, it's still about her. I wouldn't have guessed, but when your manager called her Mars Reiko, I knew there was something about her. Then I remembered the name of your second album, Venusian Princess... And it all started to make sense. It couldn't be just coincidence. Rei-san was Passion, and you are Love. You're singing for her, Mina. You always have been."
"It's you I am with now."
And Minako's phone rings again…
"You've got to be kidding me."
"Will you just answer the phone?"
Which Minako did.
"Damn it, what part of 'calling you later' don't you understand?" Minako growled loudly at Haruka, who almost jumped out of the driver's seat in surprise.
"I didn't know you're so feisty." Haruka teased.
"DON'T call me again. Or you'll see the end of it." Minako warned, and was about to hang up for the second time, when Haruka spoke.
"Rei passed out in my backseat." Haruka explained and waited for Minako's answer. Minako looked surprised, and worried, Aya noticed. Minako gave Aya a brief look, confused as to what to do.
Then realized that Rei is not one of her concerns right now.
"So, why call me?" Minako castigated Haruka.
"You know, I'm starting to think that Rei is rubbing off on you. I liked you better when you were acting like the Venusian you're supposed to be. Peace-loving, and---"
"Are you finished talking? Because I have more important things to do than talk to a drunken racer."
"Fine. Do whatever you want to do then. I don't think I can drive, but I trust that Ami can handle the Porsche." Haruka was going to hang up, only to be stopped by Minako…
"What?"
"Changed your mind?" Haruka grinned.
"Is Ami drunk?"
"Of course not. She barely touched the wine glass."
"Where are you?"
"I thought you're busy. I just told you, Ami is not drunk. I think we can handle it from here."
"Just tell me where you are."
"Fusion…"
"Don't go anywhere. I'll be there." Minako hang up. She then turned in frustration at Aya, who knew that she was going to leave.
"Is that Rei-san?"
"No. It's my friend Haruka who is close to endangering the citizens of Tokyo by driving her sports car. She's really drunk."
"Go."
"Aya…"
"I just have to know something."
"You can ask me now."
Pause…
"Do you care about me?" Aya made sure to look deep into Minako's eyes.
"I do."
"Do you love me?"
Pause...
"See? It's not me who you love. If you do, you would have decided against leaving. I would have been enough reason for you to turn down that project abroad."
"I thought you understood. It's a career move."
"Well, that's what I thought… But we both know that you're just running away from something… Or someone…"
Aya and Minako locked eyes for a moment. The singer looked sorry, Minako really doesn't want to leave, but the idea of a drunk Haruka with an unconscious Rei at the back of a Porsche driven by a doctor who's never driven a sports car in her life just doesn't sit very well with Minako…
So she left the limousine…
Outside the club, Fusion… Haruka, looking quite tipsy, is currently drumming her fingers on the wheel of her yellow Porsche, parked in front of the club, while Ami sat worriedly beside her, throwing glances at their other friend, who passed out in the backseat of the sports car…
A cab stops behind them, and a disguised Minako Aino came out, heading towards their direction. Upon seeing the singer from the rear view mirror, a drunken grin formed in the racer's face. Just in time for Minako to see, who stopped beside the driver's seat, her arms crossed, and not looking very impressed…
She saw Rei who was strapped sitting, and sleeping soundly at the backseat. Minako let herself stare for a while, before turning a glare at Haruka…
"Move." The leader of the senshi authoritatively ordered Haruka, who did not make any effort.
"What?"
"Get out of the driver's seat, Haruka."
"No way. I'm not letting you drive my Porsche."
"You were going to let Ami drive."
"It was a lie. Michiru never even got to drive my Porsche."
"Not because you don't let her. It's because she didn't like the fact that riding your car messes up her perfect hair. Get off the driver's seat. NOW."
"I don't want to."
"I'm calling Michiru."
"Wait! Fine, you drive."
"Scared of your girlfriend? Wuss."
"You little brute..." Haruka transferred from the driver's seat to the backseat beside Rei, and glared at the rearview mirror as the singer took her former throne.
Minako then pulled her seatbelt, glanced at Rei from the rearview mirror, took her sunglasses off, and ignored Haruka's frown, and turned the keys, jolting the sports car out of its parking space, as the Venusian drove like a lunatic in the highway…
Minako is even worse than Haruka… Ami held on tight to the dashboard, while Haruka feared for her life…
"What the hell?!" Haruka screamed at the top of her lungs. Minako rolled her eyes at the reaction she got. The baseball cap she's wearing was blown off her head.
The singer did not answer, but held on tight to the steering wheel. Ami silently prayed that they would get home alive…
"Watch out! Watch out! Holy shit!" Haruka's eyes widened as she saw the two big headlights heading towards them. Minako steered the sports car just in time, fortunately avoiding a collision that would have killed them in impact.
Haruka and Ami let out a sigh of relief…
"Stop the car, stop the car! I'm driving!" Haruka tried to mask her trembling voice, but Minako only grinned at the fear the senshi of wind is trying to hide.
"If you weren't drunk, I would have let you!"
"I'm not drunk! I just had a few drinks!"
"Few?! Really?!" Minako screamed with sarcasm.
"I'm not lying!"
"Ami, is Haruka drunk?" Minako asked the Mercurian without turning to look at her. Ami turned her head at Haruka, looking apologetic, then answered.
"Well, yes… I'm pretty sure her alcohol level is above the legal limit. She was competing with Rei-chan---"
"Ami!" Haruka couldn't believe Ami just sold her out.
"How much did she drink?"
"They emptied two bottles of white wine…"
"You got Rei drunk?!"
"She wanted to!"
"And you allowed her?!"
"Look, she's really feeling miserable lately, 'coz as I heard, you broke her heart again, okay?! I think she's allowed to try to forget the pain even for a while!"
Minako's eyes narrowed, her jaw clenched, and she steered the car sharply, not to avoid another possible collision, but to purposely scare the racer out of her wits.
"Whow! Will you stop driving like ME?! You're a singer, not a race car driver!" Haruka covered her eyes, and held Rei with her other hand to make sure that her friend wouldn't be thrown out of her convertible.
"Will you stop whining like a baby?!" Minako sharply steered the car again. Ami swallowed her own saliva…
"You're taking this personally!"
"Because it's personal! You don't know what happened, so keep your nose out of my relationship with Reiko!"
"Last time I checked, there was none! You left her to run after your girlfriend!"
Minako steered the car again, purposely. Haruka held on tight.
"You really are trying to kill us!"
"Wrong! Just YOU!" Minako stepped on the gas, driving even faster. Haruka could only hope that she'd be able to reach Michiru in one piece tonight…
Eventually, they reached the mansion Michiru and Haruka are sharing, and as soon as the sports car stops, Haruka jumps out of the backseat and runs towards the house, just in time that Michiru opens the door. The racer then runs past her girlfriend, to Michiru's confusion, and up to their second floor bedroom.
Frowning, Michiru turned her attention to Minako, who was still sitting at the driver's seat of her lover's Porsche, with Ami beside her, and Rei, strapped unconscious at the back seat. Her eyebrows contort in suspicion…
"What happened?" Michiru asked as she approached her friend, and was surprised that Haruka let Minako drive.
"I hope you don't mind. I purposely scared the daylights out of your girlfriend to teach her a lesson." Minako turned to Michiru.
"Lesson?" Michiru asked curiously.
"I think the backseat explains everything."
Michiru turned to look at Rei, still sleeping soundly at the backseat. When Haruka ran past her, she smelled the familiar smell of liquor. Michiru shakes her head…
"I think you scared her alright." Michiru laughed, along with Minako.
"I'll bring the car back tomorrow, okay? I'm driving both Ami and Reiko home."
"Reiko, huh?" Michiru looked amused.
A blush became visible in Minako's face…
"Sure, no problem." Michiru continued, realizing that Minako was embarrassed enough already.
"Haruka wouldn't mind?"
"I think she's too terrified of you right now to even have the guts to object."
"Thanks. See you around, Michiru."
"You take care of your Reiko." The Neptunian teased.
"It's slip of the tongue. I didn't mean to call her that."
"Right." Michiru winked at her, making Minako blush even more. "Drive safely."
"I'll try not to scare Ami again." Minako waved at Michiru before pulling off the parking area.
The rest of drive was slower, and safer, as Ami thought. Minako seemed to have purposely drove like that as payback, after Haruka allowed Rei to get drunk to the point of passing out at the backseat of the yellow convertible.
Minako pulled up in front of Ami's suburban home…
And before Ami could get out of the car, Minako spoke…
"I've always been jealous of your friendship with Rei…" Minako admitted, then turned her head to look at Ami. Ami looked surprised.
"What?"
"She tells you everything…"
"That's what friends do…" Ami justified.
"She never did that with me…" A sad smile crossed Minako's face.
"It's because you're more than just a friend, Minako-chan." Ami sounds reassuring.
"My relationship with Rei is a little too gray right now. We're not lovers, we're not even friends…"
Silence… Minako contemplated the next question she was going to ask. She knew the answer already, but she just had to make sure. It keeps bugging her…
"Were you ever attracted to Rei?"
Ami's face turned so red, Minako could see it even there's not much light outside except the light coming from the Moon.
Minako let out a hearty laugh…
"So it wasn't Rei?" Minako confirmed.
"What are you talking about?" Ami's face is still beet red. For the first time that day, a genuine smile formed in her face…
"But it's another senshi, right? A taller one. Someone who's really good at cooking and very artistic---"
"Minako-chan…"
"I know how it feels like, loving someone from a distance…"
"I didn't want anyone to know…"
"I'm not gonna tell… But do you want to spend another lifetime hiding? It's worse than dying. Of course I would know. I can't even keep track of how many times I died already." Minako joked…
Ami looked back at her, while her mind traveled to think of that one senshi who's probably happy being with someone else right now…
"Please take care of Rei-chan…" Ami then got out of the car.
"I was going to ask the same thing from you."
"She needs you more than I." Ami replied.
"I'm leaving in two days, Ami."
"You're leaving again?" Ami turned to her in disbelief.
"It's a career move."
"But what about Rei-chan? And I thought you're with Aya-san?"
"Aya and I are over, as I obviously have a problem. And Rei will survive."
"What if she wants you to stay?"
"Does she?"
"Will you stay if she asks you to?"
"In a heartbeat… Goodnight, Ami."
It wasn't an easy task assisting, or more like holding up a priestess upright so she wouldn't hit the ground face first, while climbing up the unending steps to the Hikawa Shrine. It would have been faster if she could carry Rei, who's half asleep and really drunk, but the priestess, although of her size, was slightly heavier than her.
Eventually reaching their destination, Minako tried to search for the keys to the very modest house for the priestess of the shrine, inside Rei's pocket. And upon finding it, immediately opened the door, and led Rei straight to her room, and to her futon bed.
The only question now is whether to change Rei's stinky clothes, which smells like alcohol and cigarettes combined…
Really, Haruka?
The singer silently cursed Haruka for dragging Rei into that bar and for getting her drunk. She's a good friend, but Minako's not very fond of her party ways. She couldn't even understand why Rei let herself be swayed. Normally, she wouldn't.
So Minako sat there, staring at Rei, sleeping beautifully on her futon bed, contemplating, and gathering all of her courage to undress her, after getting some clothes from Rei's closet for the priestess, and also for her to wear…
"Don't get way over your head and think that I'm taking advantage." Minako told Rei, whom she was sure wasn't hearing anything, as she looks to have fallen into deep slumber.
She felt as if her tongue got caught up in her throat, and cleared it…
This isn't going to be easy…
Minako sighed…
Tonight is going to be a very long night…
The following morning, at Ami's part of the city… The doctor just finished her morning routine, and when she was about to leave, the phone started ringing. Apprehensive, as she had the feeling as to who the caller was, Ami reluctantly approached her telephone stand, and answered the telephone on the fourth ring…
And she was right…
"Hello?"
"Hey, I'm introducing my new line of desserts today. Want to come over the restaurant for lunch?" It was Makoto's cheery voice on the other line.
Ami sighed…
The conversation with Minako last night was unexpected. She didn't realize that the Princess of Venus could read her. She then wondered whether she was being too transparent; that certainly wasn't the plan. She never wanted anyone to know, or to notice, that her feelings for one of their friends is more than just platonic…
It's a feeling she tried so hard to suppress. Unlike Rei and Minako, and Haruka and Michiru, she and Makoto never had the same kind of romantic relationship during the Silver Millenium. None of their memories suggested that they had been romantically linked whatsoever. And it was only in this lifetime, as far as Ami could remember, that she began to have this sort of feelings for her chef friend…
And it's not right…
Makoto is married. And Ami, well, although she had been out on a few dates, never really found anyone that would interest her as much. She's had these feelings for Makoto for quite a long time now, and still, she was contented just watching from the sidelines…
Risking her friendship with the chef is not something she's ready to do, in other words, she's scared of rejection and failure.
That's why she could understand Rei…
"Ami?"
Ami didn't realize she's still on the line with Makoto. Slightly blushing, though her friend couldn't see it, the doctor felt slightly embarrassed, but managed to fake amusement.
"Oh, I'm sorry. You were saying?"
"Would lunch time at my restaurant be okay?" Makoto sounded hopeful. But, as much as Ami wanted to be there, there's just something inside her that tells her otherwise…
"Uhm… Rain check? I think I'll be really busy at the clinic today." Ami lied.
"Is that so? Where will you be eating then? I can bring you something. I'd be having lunch alone myself anyway, since Motoki is out of town. We can eat lunch together."
"I don't know. I can't be sure if I'll be at the clinic---"
"I thought you'll be busy AT the clinic?" Makoto sounded confused.
"Yes, but there are other things that I need to do."
Silence… Somehow, Makoto could feel that Ami is hiding something, but couldn't put a finger on it. Ami, on the other hand, was just trying to avoid spending as much time with Makoto as they used to do, since it's not helping her with the moving on part at all…
Well, I can't be single forever…
And she certainly couldn't ruin a relationship. That would be selfish…
"I have to go." It was Ami's implied goodbye.
"Oh, uh, okay…"
"Goodbye, Mako-chan…"
"Bye…"
And when they hung up, Ami's last words just couldn't stop bothering Makoto. That goodbye part sounded so… final.
Hikawa Shrine…
The priestess on the right side of the futon bed shifted. She opened her eyes, and blinked a few times, trying to get used to the sunlight coming from outside. And she realized it's finally morning, and was a bit surprised that she even made it home…
The last thing she could remember was being at a club last night with Haruka and Ami. How she got home? She's about to find out…
Rei heard footsteps, which surprised her and made her nervous at the same time, since she's living alone at the shrine and her students only arrive usually at 8 in the morning everyday…
So she lay there, vigilant, listened as the footsteps came nearer, and Rei prepared herself for whoever it was… Who could be prowling around in her room at that time in the morning? The sound was coming from the direction of the bathroom heading to her bedroom, when finally, she realized it was---
"Minako?" Rei got up slowly from the bed, pain shooting to her head as the effect of the alcohol reminded her of the stupidity she did last night.
"You're finally awake. I got to go." Minako gave her a brief look. She sounded a bit cold, which bothered Rei, considering the kiss that they shared the last time they saw each other. But Rei decided to ignore it and got up from bed and followed Minako, who heading out of the door.
"Well, can't you stay for breakfast?" Rei held her painful head. She's never drinking again…
"No." Minako increased her pace, realizing that Rei is following her.
"Coffee?" Rei tried to sound casual. But this is really awkward… She has no idea why Minako was there, but she didn't really care. All Rei knew is that seeing Minako in the morning is something she wants to experience everyday…
"You were being irresponsible last night Mars. That wasn't like you." Minako walked down the steps of the main house.
"Hey, I didn't ask you to come over. Why are you so mad?" Rei frowned as Minako turned around to face her.
"I'm mad at you because you're clueless and you're stupid and arrogant and selfish and---"
"I didn't do anything!"
"Why did you kiss me at the ski resort, Mars?"
Rei was blushing.
"You wouldn't stop talking and I wanted you to shut up." Rei mumbled.
"Really mature. You can't just go on kissing people for nothing."
"Well, you did shut up." Rei rolled her eyes.
"My girlfriend broke up with me because of you."
"What?" Rei almost smiled.
"Why are you ruining my life, Mars? Don't you want me to be happy?"
Just the right words to say to ignite Rei's fire. Rei felt the fire in her veins again, but calmed herself. But she certainly wasn't looking very happy.
"What? How can you say that?"
"Because that's what you're doing!"
"I'm doing no such thing! Don't you dare go on accusing me of not wanting you to be happy because as I remember clearly, I let you break my heart and I let you go when you wanted me to, even if it hurts like hell!"
Minako didn't seem a bit scared by Rei's burst of anger.
"So why did you really kiss me? You said you moved on so I'm trying to do the same. What's with all the jealous rage, the burning of everything that gets in your way? Does it mean anything to you?"
"What if it does?"
"Do you plan to do anything about it?"
"Why?"
"At least you have to try to be decent and not keep me guessing. I'm not a psychic."
Pause...
"It's either you still love me or you don't. Is that so hard to say?"
"So you could run away again and hide, only to make me go through those years of hell again and then come back when I'm just about finished picking up the pieces of my heart that you broke? Do you have any idea how painful that is? I wanted to die!"
"Why do we keep coming back to that?"
"Because you're so good at running away. Isn't that what you're about to do? You're leaving again tomorrow, aren't you? You have so much going on here, but still, you want to leave."
"Well, you never really gave me a reason to stay."
"Then go! Go and don't ever come back!" Rei screamed her heart out, then turned around and walked back to the house.
Minako watched her walk away; she wanted to retaliate. She felt the urge to punch Rei, or maybe slap her; anything that would snap the sense back into the head of this really stubborn priestess. But she's tired; she's really tired of trying to make up for the mistakes she had done… So she walked away. Maybe there was nothing to fight for; maybe there's no more trust left…
Maybe I should just go and never come back…
"Thanks for driving the Porsche back." Michiru smiled at Minako, then sipped from her cup of tea, as they sat opposite each other at the second floor veranda of the mansion the former is sharing with her girlfriend Haruka…
"Don't thank me. I felt the urge to crash it on the way here just for the purpose of breaking Haruka's heart." Minako joked, and Michiru laughed.
"That would have been really interesting to see."
Silence…
"How's Rei-chan?"
"Raving mad."
"Why?"
"I pissed her off, as usual. She told me to never come back."
"What does it take to make someone who loves you so much to say that?"
"If you love someone, you don't tell them to get lost. You tell them to stay. Maybe Rei and I lost it. Maybe there's no more reason to stay." Minako was looking at nothing in particular. She stared in space, pondering about the last words Rei had told her…
And it really hurts…
And Michiru noticed…
"Isn't there?" Michiru looked knowingly at Minako, who turned to see that her friend had been observing her.
"Rei is the only reason why I came back, Michiru."
"I know… And you're leaving again, and also, because of her."
"I have to. It's too painful being here."
"Don't you think you're being selfish?" Michiru pointedly asked. "Because I'm pretty sure that you are not the only one who's hurting."
Pause…
"I think you need to ask yourself something, Minako-chan… Are you really done fighting for all the lifetimes that you lost her?" Michiru reminded Minako…
And no matter how hard Minako try, she kept arriving on one answer…
It had been raining all day. Rei stayed inside the house, feeling morose, and the painful headache didn't help at all. Blame it on the liquor, but it was also her fault. She let herself get drunk last night. Though it was worth it if only she could wake up with Minako every morning…
Minako…
She had been anxious all day, because of the fact that Minako will be gone in a few days, and because of the last words that she said to her…
She certainly didn't mean all those words. She never wanted Minako to leave. But Rei is Rei. Most of the time, the words come out of her mouth before she could think. And most of the time, she regrets it…
I shouldn't have said that…
What if Minako does leave? What happens to them? Rei is still in love with Minako, there's no doubt about that. She kissed the singer knowing that Minako's dating someone else already. But she's just really proud and stubborn…
Why does she have to be so proud and stubborn?
Is it too late?
Rei never really had a full recollection of their life back at the Silver Millenium, much less of their lives after that. But she can be sure that they did not end up happily ever after in most of them… She can be sure that most of them ended up in tragedy…
A tragedy that she never wanted to experience, ever again…
Was she wrong?
I was wrong…
And she came to a resolution that she will do just about anything to make it right. Minako cannot do this to her again. She can't leave her again, because it's bullshit, and it's not fair. People cannot just walk away when they couldn't deal with their problems. Minako has to stay.
She needs to stay…
Rei couldn't even imagine losing her again…
I can't lose you again…
So Rei got up from the spot in her futon bed where she had been sitting for hours now. The weather isn't great, but she will brave even the worst of snow storms just to find Minako…
She has to talk to Minako… Rei then walked out of her bedroom, looked for an umbrella, and headed for the door…
And was surprised to find a dripping wet Minako, standing on her doorway…
The look on Minako's face broke her heart…
"Minako? What have you been thinking?" Rei worriedly pulled Minako into the house, and ran to get a towel for the singer. It didn't take long before Rei came back with one, and she pulled Minako to the nearest chair and started drying her up…
Minako was just sitting there, looking miserable, as she stared at her…
"For someone who has millions, you couldn't buy yourself an umbrella?" Rei scolded her, but still, Minako sat quietly. "Are you not going to talk to me? I know I said awful things, and you can hate me for that, but please, say something. How long have you been standing outside? Are you cold?" Rei touched Minako's right cheek, and wiped the rain water away… And realized that it wasn't just rain water that was there…
Minako had been crying…
"Minako…" Just seeing the tears in Minako's eyes, Rei couldn't help herself as her eyes started to water…
"How many more lifetimes do we have to be separated, Reiko?" Minako held Rei's hand, which was still touching Minako's cheek…
Rei couldn't speak. She doesn't know what to say. All she knows is that she's happy that Minako is here, that she came back after everything that they said to each other that morning. Maybe now she can stop her from leaving…
Maybe now she can let Minako know how she really feels…
And not being able to stop herself anymore, Rei moved closer, letting herself act on the temptation that is in front of her…
Rei kissed Minako; kissed her like never before. And to her delight, Minako responded again, just like she did when Rei kissed her when they were in Hokkaido. This time Minako wouldn't be leaving her; this time Minako wouldn't be running after a distraught girlfriend; this time, Minako will know just how much Rei longs for her…
And it wasn't long before Rei found herself being pulled from the living room, to the direction of a more secluded one…
Her bedroom…
x - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x
AUTHOR'S NOTES
Okay, I'm really sorry that I took almost a month in posting this chapter. I've been really busy, and final examinations is coming in a week. So forgive me if this chapter is not as grand as the last one. Turns out law school is not a walk in the park… hahaha…
But I do hope you'll still appreciate it. I tried my best…
And yeah, I included a bit of Ami and Makoto… But no promises of a lot of them in the future, so…
'Til the next chapter! = )