25 - Focus
"Minako, stay still," Rei growled softly.
The blonde girl winced, grinning apologetically at her friend. She was trying, really she was. She just wasn't made to sit so still for so long. It was the reason she absolutely abhorred school. But this was her own idea. She had to be prepared for the consequences.
She shifted, wiggling a teeny tiny bit as she tried to restore feeling in her legs, her feet, her ass. It would take another hour, she bet, just for her lower half to work properly again. Provided this hour ever ended…
Weren't they done by now? Honestly, she could've sworn the temple bell had chimed, calling out the time. But Rei hadn't moved. And she had promised an hour and not a minute more. Even if it wasn't the raven-haired girl's idea…
Focus, she told herself. The less she thought about it, the sooner it'd be over. Trying to get comfortable, she wiggled again and blew her bangs out of her eyes with a loud puff.
"Minako," came her second warning, low and threatening.
She forced herself still, ignoring the fact the muscles behind her knees were starting to cramp. This was her idea, her own doing. She was Venus. She was supposed to be their leader. But she was the newest member in their group. It made sense to try and get to know them right? Which meant doing things together that they liked. And Rei liked meditation. How hard could it be?
Incredibly, she'd discovered.
"Stop thinking," Rei huffed and Minako watched nervously as one raven eyebrow twitched dangerously. "Whatever's happening in that blonde head of yours, stop it. Stop thinking and just… breathe."
Blue eyes blinked questioningly at the priestess before looking up to the sky. A small frown came over her delicate features as she pondered the advice. Stop thinking. Tiredly, she sighed and closed her eyes. Stop thinking. Stop thinking and just breathe.
Amethyst eyes blinked in the afternoon sunlight an hour later. The temple bell's ringing filled the air, breaking the sleepy feel over her and reminding her of the chores she still had to do. Raising her arms over her head, she stretched, enjoying the rare moment of peace and quiet.
Wait… quiet? It was quiet? That wasn't right…
She turned her head, checking to see that the blonde girl was in fact there. Minako still sat next to her, legs folded under her and hands on her knees. Exactly as she had seen her an hour before. Rei stared in disbelief. She had half expected for the blonde to be halfway home the second the bell marked the time. Yet here she was, looking very much at peace with her eyes closed, perfectly still.
A little too still.
Narrowing her eyes, she studied the girl next to her. How calm her breathing was, how relaxed she seemed to be. Warily, she called out to her friend only to be met with silence.
And then she saw it. The chin that was tucked just a little too far, the slight lean in her posture, the small twitching of her fingers. Reaching out a hand, the raven haired girl gave Minako a gentle shove and watched as the blonde fell to the floor in a heap.
She gave a defeated sigh as Minako began to softly snore and lay back, propping herself on her elbows to watch the clouds. There were probably worse ways to spend an afternoon, Rei figured, and settled back to enjoy the sunshine