A/N: I really wish I had internet in class, and then I could be working on the website as well. Aw well, I'll let this guy jabber away, at least I can write another chapter.

I don't own Sailor Moon.

Chapter 24: In Order to Love.

"No, not like that." Minako sighed, trying to teach Rei the finer points of what a particular term meant. "Rei, it's a soft and tender thing. You're not trying to own the person when you make love. It's more of like, a mutual thing." They were walking down to the royal stadium where battle practices were about to take place and in the mean time Rei was asking questions about Venus, and their rituals when in the regards to such a confusing word.

"Ok, I don't follow. You have jealousy because you don't want someone to be with another person, but instead of owning and claiming them, you just get all annoyed and don't really stop it?" These Venusian customs were confusing her. "And what about this whole making love thing…are you really telling me that there isn't a stronger person keeping charge? It just happens, just like that? What are you people, nuts?" Rei was really and truly confused.

Martians never slept around freely. If they were in a relationship, they stayed in that one, single relationship, yet, here Minako was telling her that those of Venus weren't always so devoted to only one lover. The kicker was that even if sleeping around did happen without approval, which was rare, the lovers normally didn't voice their discontent or forcefully stop the actions.

Then there was the fact that lovers could switch the roles in the bedroom freely. There wasn't a stronger more dominate individual who permitted anything. Both were equal in the giving and the taking of such things. It was all a big mass of mayhem waiting to happen. In Rei's eyes there was Martian order for a reason, and those reasons were often clear. "How do you all end up not maiming each other?" Only Rei would ask the question and mean it seriously.

"We are that of love honey." Minako reminded yet again. "We don't need to kill each other to get a point across." When Rei raised an eyebrow in amused confusion, Minako twisted Rei around, pressing the woman who was much stronger into the wall, speaking hotly into Rei's ear. "There are better ways to deal with issues than fighting. Need I remind you, there are other ways to dominate someone other than brute strength?" Minako placed her knee between Rei's legs placing a soft pressure there. "Remember that dear." Rei nodded dumbly, gulping at how dry her mouth had become so quickly.

Just as quickly as Minako had pressed her to the wall to speak, she backed up, continuing her walking from before leaving Rei to catch up. "Alright, so you don't need rank, power, and standing…so what is it that you do need?" Rei was the type of person who had been raised to think that the needs of the family came before all else, and, it was the head of the family who provided such things. Rei being stronger and faster in combat made her the protector, and thus, the head.

However, it was clear that people in Venus had other needs, and quite obviously, Rei couldn't provide some of them. Not in the ways she knew how to provide for a family anyway. "Understanding." Minako spoke as if that were obvious. "Yes, it is true we need food, water, and all the jazz, but it doesn't mean we have a happy home life with just that. We need a level of understanding and freedom as well. You stay by the people you claim, you give them unending loyalty expecting the same in return. We aren't much different; it just works differently for us."

Rei gestured for Minako to continue, now engrossed with what she was hearing. "Well, I'll put it to you this way, we expect loyalty. I wouldn't want you sneaking around for example, but, it doesn't mean I would care if you did have a second person sleeping with you. I would just want to know about it honestly. If I asked you something regarding what you were doing with whom, I would expect an honest answer and not a lie. In return, I'd know you had given me that loyalty for being honest and open not trying to hide or be ashamed of it. Make sense?"

"You do realize if anyone comes near you sexually or in a way I don't approve of, I would have to throttle them…you do know that right?" Old habits die hard, Rei was still a Martian in that respect, but, her brows furrowed in confusion and she stopped in her tracks. "I shouldn't feel like…" She trailed off, now she was well and truly scared. "Minako…you don't intend to leave me do you?"

"What brought that on all of a sudden?" Blue eyes gazed into those of lavender, trying and failing to figure out what was wrong. Rei's feelings were jetting out vibes that even Minako couldn't read, they were simply too muddled. She stepped closer, putting a hand gently on Rei's cheek, pulling the raven from her inward momentary prison. "What just happened?"

"When I said I'd have to throttle the person, normally as a Martian, it would be a normal response without a need for an explanation, but then…" Rei wasn't sure how best to explain it. "Protection wasn't it, not like it should have been, and it wasn't feeling jealous…it was more like…" She shook her head unable to explain it. She did know one thing; she never, ever, wanted Minako to abandon her. Panic set in, almost tackling Minako with the speed and force of the hug she gave, pulling her closely. That feeling, whatever it was, had frightened her. "Don't do it. Just promise me you won't ever leave." Her words were rushed, even more proof that she was well and truly afraid. "Never do it Minako. Never do that."

A very clear emotion came through and Minako sighed somewhat eased. Rei truly had Venusian emotions, she just never understood them. "I'm not going to leave you. You don't have to regret what you said, it's alright." The tone was gentle, just as Minako always tended to be. She pulled back a little bit and she saw the sadness in Rei eyes. The sadness wasn't aimed at Minako, although it was clear that's how Rei had taken the feeling to mean. Martians rarely had regret or remorse for dealing with people who had harmed them or their families.

Martians retaliated, but Rei clearly had spoken of such and then felt badly, causing Minako to sigh. "I'm not upset." The girl said again, but Rei still looked confused, and it was clear she was still upset.

Battle practice wasn't any better, and Rei's moves were sloppy and ill timed. "What's wrong with her? She's not even parrying correctly at all." This came from Jed who was watching in the stands, the Queen of Venus at his side. "Never mind the fact that if she fails to time her blocks correctly again that sword will go right through her gut, it's as if she's a child again." He watched as she was removed from the ring, Makoto up next to challenge the current victor, Kunzite.

"I don't know, but I think we need to talk." Minako's voice came from behind them; her eyes hold a very serious look. "I want to know the truth."
"Truth about what exactly?" Jed was as clueless as any Martian would be in this situation. "You'll need to ask Rei what her issue is, I don't know that."
"That's not what I mean and my mom knows it." Minako shot back. "I felt the emotion, I know what happened a few nights ago, don't play stupid."
"Calm down." Her mother sighed. "It's true what you felt; Jed and I did make love, what of it? Why does that of all things concern you?"

"Because Rei's hurting, and I know you know something. Her mother, Azar was from Venus right? Then you know, what's happening to Rei?" Minako wasn't really sure why, but something just didn't feel right lately. "Everyone is acting strangely. First I see Setsuna in the garden with Makoto, something that hasn't ever happened before. Rei's jumpy, again, for no apparent reason I can figure out, and to top it all off, deliberations ended again without any conclusion to the problem. Something, I don't know what, but something just isn't right."

Both of the adults looked at each other. They honestly didn't have a clue Rei was even suffering, yet Minako clearly seemed to think that Rei was. "Before we get lost in a panic, tell me something." The Queen of Venus spoke softly, trying to understand her child's distress about Rei. "What do you think is happening too her? Has she grown ill or something?"

"I don't know." Minako answered back, her eyes looked as if she was about to cry. "I don't know for sure, but today she felt remorse over something she said. Something that I know she should never have felt regret over. Rei…she's changing somehow, it's like part of Venus is calling her, and it's like she's having in inward fight. I just wish I knew why. She cried today, afraid I was going to leave her; it was like she was feeling Venusian insecurity. She's been doing that a lot recently. I don't think she even understand it herself."

"Did you do something to give her that fear?" Her mother asked, although it was clear from the way Minako spoke, but even worse than that, she felt Rei's being all over her daughter. It seemed they had also made love, and the feeling was starting to embed its way into Minako, the blond girl having fallen so deeply for the Martian girl that she practically screamed it from her inward emotions.

"If you have to ask me that, then I assume you've already confirmed your own worries. Yes I slept with Rei, and yes, I do love her. I'd advise we find it what's wrong with her quickly, because she was so fearful today, so emotional, and even in practice she's unable." Looking down, Minako could see that Makoto had finished her spar, Kunzite bowing as he stepped out of the ring, Makoto the new victor to beat. Up next would be Jadeite and then it would be Minako. "I have to go, but this conversation isn't over. I really do want answers."

Minako dressed for battle. Her armor was light weight, but very solid and a good protection. At her side a small slender sword she rarely carried stayed at her hip. She wasn't half bad in battle, but, she was clearly not as strong as Makoto. Both in the ring readied their positions. She pointed her sword in his direction. "We stop at first blood." Minako warned, knowing the man before her tended to get just as overzealous as Rei in combat. "No striking critical areas. Remember this Jadeite, Minako warned." He was known to be ruthless for a reason.

"Oh don't worry, I'll have this over quickly." He snorted, pulling his blade making the round start.

He was fast, but Minako was limber, and it made for an interesting start for the fight. Swords clashed, the sounds of metal scraping hurt Minako's ears. It was a most unpleasant sound. Again, it sounded and she was pushed back, the best she could do was block and wait for an opening. Her armored glove held her sword strong, unwilling to back down. Then, he missed her, acting only a moment too slow, and she responded back with her own clash of blades.

This continued for a few moments, the exchanging of blade maneuvers never ending. Acting only as a warm up for both, Minako grew tired of this, knowing he could fight far better. She blocked him once, before sending a swords strike that he was forced to dodge completely, sending him to the ground. She twirled her sword away from him, allowing some space for him to move. "Fight me please. This doesn't do us any good if all you continue to do is fling that sword around."

"If that is your wish, I shall be happy to grant you a proper fight." His words came off as too enjoyable for a man who had just been knocked down to the ground and suddenly Minako found herself dodging a sword as he moved swiftly about the ring. She would lose to him like this if his speed continued. He was far too strong for her and she knew it. His speed kept her moving, her eyes focused on him and his blade instead of his feet.

It was a costly move she soon realized he tripped her. This was the moment in every match that defined a good spar. If the opponent backed away, like Minako had earlier, they hadn't been done with the match. If the opponent called themselves the victor, they would face a new opponent. He didn't do either, placing the sword in front of her instead. "I thought you wanted a fight…" He spat, pushing her back onto the ground with his foot.

It was then, that a blur grabbed him, hurling him into the stadium walls with deadly accuracy, kicking his weapon away with her foot. "Don't you ever do that again." Rei spoke quietly; Martian rage was something nobody ever wanted to have the wrath of. It was clear she was trying to place firm control over her anger. "Do I make myself clear?" Jadeite didn't say a word, merely scowling and she jostled him again to gain his attention again. "I asked you a question..." She reiterated. "Do. I. Make. My. Self. Clear." Her words of venom were a dangerous truth indeed and he nodded his understanding.

She shook him again pressing him further into the wall. "I said speak!"
"Yes." He answered back. "You've made yourself clear."
She let up on him then, turning her attention to Minako. "Are you alright?" Rei looked at her, the girl was still on the ground and Rei became worried.
"I'm alright Rei." Minako sighed out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "I'm alright, its ok now."
"No…it isn't." Rei shook her head. "I want you to leave the fighting arena; I will battle him in your steed. It's too dangerous for you to fight him."
"But what about the match?" Minako couldn't understand. Martians apparently needed strong lovers, so why was she doing this.
"I will battle you properly after this match, for now I want you out of this ring. He is not a proper opponent for you to test your skills." Rei answered.
"Don't kill him." Minako ordered with an air of authority, unsure what Rei would really do under this type of anger.

The raven looked at the man she was about to face and then back at Minako. "The rules of this battle may change, Minako, I will do as agreed by he and I. If he wishes a battle to the death, I will abide by his wish with honor, but really, I doubt he'd be so stupid. I will not act outside of the agreed rules, I am a warrior of the planet Mars. Needlessly shedding his blood is not my intention."

It wasn't exactly what Minako had wanted to hear, but, it was better than an outright promise to end his life. She nodded understanding and left the ring quickly. She knew Rei had been placed on the line when jadeite acted out of line during combat. It was clear that Rei wouldn't be appeased without a battle of some nature, not when it had been quite clear that Minako had just been threatened.

"What is it? What's going on?" Makoto questioned seeing the two hotheaded people in discussion. "What does Rei think she's doing?"
"I wish I knew myself." Minako sighed out. "One thing I can say is she's dangerous right now. It won't be wise to cross her."
"Clearly." It was Jed he had run down from the stands. "If you two really did consummate a relationship, then she has just viewed this as an attack."
"I don't like this." Minako sighed out. "I have a very, very bad feeling about this entire situation. I just wish I could place it."
"What should we do now?" Makoto's arm was in a sling, she wouldn't be able to stop an all out brawl at this moment.
"Leave Rei be." It was Usagi, her soft words were saddened. "Getting involved wouldn't do any good."
"We can't just leave her alone in there with him!" Makoto knew all too well the power behind Rei ability to fight when angered.

"We can because it's not in anyone's best interest to stop her." When everyone but Jed gawked at her, she just sighed, her wisdom clouded with her true understanding. "Listen, Rei is a very protective and loving person, but she does not understand that. Her ideal of love is to protect, and, if she loves Minako, who was clearly placed into danger, Rei wouldn't stop being a walking nightmare until this is resolved. I don't like this any more than you do, but if we let this fester I fear just how badly it could affect Rei, and the consequences of that could be even more dire if it isn't in a controlled environment."

Meanwhile, in the ring, a different conversation was taking place. Rei was angry, but, her mind focused, being the Martian she was, one with honor and authority, she mentally resolved that she would handle this in a proper fashion according to her people. Because her people didn't run on a formal government system, only the strong persevered, and you solved you differences combat. Duels were held to correct imbalance, the strongest of warriors were those well known, and often praised if they were deserving of a great title.

"State your rules." Rei hissed out. "I want a clean cut match."
"First out, no killing blows." He answered back.
"Are you sure you can handle that?" Rei would be more than happy to beat him into a pulp, but, she didn't want to act or look as a savage on a rampage.
"I have stated my terms, first out, no killing blows." He nodded again, and Rei sighed agreeing to his terms.
"Alright, stay here, I'll alert Ami to prep the medical wing." She ordered carefully. "Prepare your weapons, recheck your armor, I will not go soft."

First out was a very brutal way to fight. It was so brutal in fact, that none of others had actually used that particular combat style. Rei had been the only one, and it was purely because it was as she had told Minako before. Once a person reached a proper age, you couldn't hold back, parents didn't have the luxury of being soft, and as a result, first out was a common way of training. It stated that you could not kill, but, that any other blows were alright. The key behind first out was simple, just because you never intended to kill you opponent didn't mean it didn't happen by accident, and it was clear that both opponents knew that implication perfectly.

"We are going into a first out match." Rei spoke with an air of severity. "I want Ami's medical team ready on dispatch. This isn't going to be pretty."
"Wait what?" Makoto looked up from place, her arm in a bandage and sling. "You can't be serious. No one with half a brain fights like that."
"I've done it before, it's quite common on Mars." Rei sighed, mentally preparing herself. "Someone is going to end up hurt, badly."
"Is it just me, or did you just sound worried?" Makoto had never heard that tone from Rei before a big fight.
"It's like I told you before, we handle our emotions differently, but that doesn't mean they aren't there." Her answer was curt, to the point.
"You could be killed!" Makoto shot back, now really worried. "You fought like crap all day today, and now this? You must be insane!"
"I know better than you do the danger of this fight. That is why I'm going to do it, before one of you ends up dead." Rei answered with a knowing look. "Just tell Ami."

Rei left the side of the structure, going into the armory where Jadeite was preparing. Rei too decided it was time to recheck her gear. This battle couldn't be taken lightly. Looking at her side she saw Jadeite just as nervous as she was. Rei couldn't say why, but she had a very bad feeling, something big was going to go down…

"Makoto?" Minako asked, watching as Rei prepared. "What's first out?"

TBC~~~

Well now, isn't this going to be fun?