Disclaimer: Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon & Sailor V are property of Naoko Takeuchi
Meaningless Love
Chapter 26 - Believe
Lifting the white sheets from her face, Minako squinted as the suns bright rays shined in her eyes. Pulling the sheet back over her face, she was beginning to enjoy not going to work, although being housebound wasn't so much fun.
"Good morning, Minako!" Luna said with high enthusiasm as she opened the door to Kunzite's bedroom. "Time to wake up, sleepy head."
"Wake up?" Minako's voice was muffled by the thick comforter, "what is that?"
"Ha-ha," Luna said as she pulled the sheets away from her, "Mr. Shitennou has a big day planned out for you."
"Really?" Minako asked, suddenly interested. Leaning against the headboard, Minako cocked a brow. "What exactly does he have planned?"
"No idea," Luna shrugged her shoulders, "but you need to get up and get ready. Artemis is downstairs waiting for you."
Leaping from the bed, she made her way towards the master bathroom. "Do you think it's something exciting?" Minako asked.
"If Mr. Shitennou planned it, probably." Luna smiled, watching as the young blonde moved around frantically, trying to pick out a nice outfit.
"Should I wear a dress or is that too much?"
Luna began to laugh, "I say go with something comfortable…"
Raising a brow, Minako crossed her arms. "Sounds like something a 'mom' would say."
Laughing again, Luna shook her head. "Fine, wear whatever you want." As she made her way out of the bedroom, she turned to Minako, "just make sure it's comfortable." She said with a smile.
"Out!"
Tugging on the skirt of her dress, she entered the Silver Millennium, her heart fluttering. What could Kunzite possibly have planned for her?
As the elevator doors slid open, she was surprised to see Kunzite waiting by the front desk. "Hi," she said cheerfully, "I was informed that you had something exciting planned for me."
Taking in her attire, Kunzite smiled down at her. She wore a lovely yellow sundress. Her hair was loosely pulled back into a low ponytail. "I don't know if you'd call it…exciting…"
The smile on her lips slowly died.
Leading her down the hall towards his office, Minako was surprised when he opened the large oak doors. "After you," he said with a smile.
Raising a brow, she entered with hesitation. Looking around the office, she couldn't tell much of a difference from the last time she had stopped by to see him. As her eyes wandered towards his couch that sat in the center of the room, she noticed a large stack of papers sitting on the couch.
"No," she turned to him.
"Yes," he smiled as he took her hand in his. Leading her towards the couch, Minako clenched her free hand into a fist.
"Why?" Was all she could manage.
"I'm kind of backed up at work, so I need some help."
"So why don't you enlist one of your henchmen," she scoffed.
"I would," he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him, "but this way I get to see more of your beautiful face."
Minako rolled her eyes.
"I promise," he kissed her temple, "it won't take that long."
As he ran his lips against the nape of her neck, she felt a tingle sensation rush to her loins. Pulling away from him, she turned to face him. Looking up at him, she smiled. "So this is the only stack, right?"
"Well," Kunzite scrunched his nose, "not quite."
The smile on her lips died again.
Gurio leaned lazily onto his desk. More he tried to fight the fatigue, the more he felt the urge to shut his eyes.
"Have you found anything?" Reika asked. Placing a fresh cup of hot coffee on Gurio's desk. If he wasn't so busy guzzling down the dark liquid, he would have thanked her.
"No," he shook his head, "the police have yet to post any reports on Minako."
"That's good, right?" Reika asked.
"For Minako?" Gurio looked to his boss, "yes. For us? Not so much." Finishing whatever coffee was left in his cup, he closed his laptop. "Either Minako has yet to be convicted or they don't have enough evidence."
"So, then what do we do now?"
"Nothing," Gurio groaned, "Without any evidence to help us, we can't really defend Minako."
Letting out a long, slow groan, Reika slumped down into the computer chair next to Gurio. "How long is she suspended?"
"Until she is no longer convicted…"
"Great," she said sarcastically.
"There is one last thing we can try," Gurio pushed up from his desk.
"What is that?"
"Mr. Shitennou…"
"Oh great," Reika laughed nervously, "I'm sorry that you have an early death wish, but people don't just go see Mr. Shitennou."
"I completely understand that, Reika." Gurio slid his laptop into his backpack, "but he's the only person I can think who could possibly help us. Minako is dating the guy, and if he cares about Minako at all, then I'm sure he'd want to get his girlfriend out of hot water just as much as us."
"Okay," Reika looked at him skeptically, "so what if they're dating, that doesn't mean he's in love with the woman. What if it's merely convenient for him?"
"Way to think positive, Reika." Gurio shook his head, "Minako said they had showed her pictures that apparently came from her camera, yet she never personally took these shots."
"So you're saying foul play?"
Gurio nodded his head. "It's hard for me to say, but Minako thinks so, and I trust her."
Reika bit into her lower lip. "Okay, fine." She bowed her head in defeat.
"Cool," Gurio tossed her the company car keys, "you're driving."
"What?" Reika stared at the car keys in her hand, "we're going now?"
"Yeah," Gurio smiled, "I've called almost every day now, and it seems today he is actually in."
"Gurio," Reika became hesitant as she followed him down the hall, "maybe I should sit this one out. Why don't you invite Naru?"
"No, way!" Gurio shook his head, "that woman would be more paranoid than you are now."
"I'm not paranoid!" Reika exclaimed, "I'm just a little nervous. That man could have us killed with a snap of his fingers."
"He won't do that," Gurio stopped in his tracks, "right?"
'How to get away with murder…' Minako typed into her browser as she fumed over the countless stacks of paper piling up on the leather couch. Barely an hour had pass before one of Kunzite's 'people' entered his office to drop off more forms, which Minako had the lovely privilege of organizing, then filing away for him.
Not realizing Kunzite had moved from behind his desk, he was now standing over her. Placing his hands on her shoulder, he whispered, "You're going to need a partner if you expect to drag my dead body away."
Leaping from the couch, papers went flying into the air. "I thought you were at your desk?"
"I was," Kunzite stood erect. Crossing his arms, he smiled down at her. "But then I noticed you slacking off, so I decided to check up on you."
Picking up the papers that had fallen to her feet, Minako bit down on her temper. "I thought you said there were only a few stacks?"
"There are."
Looking back at the couch, she frowned. Sitting in front of her were countless amounts of disordered papers. "You really don't know what a 'few' means do you?"
"I'm sorry, Minako." Stepping from behind the couch, he began to rub the back of his neck. "I've fallen behind on my work due to…other things. My assistants can't catch a break, and since I know you were starting to feel cabin fever, I thought I'd get you out of the house for a few hours."
"Gee, thanks," she rolled her eyes. As Minako collected the rest of the fallen papers, another one of Kunzite's female assistants entered his office. "Oh no!" Minako crossed her arms, "no more damn papers."
Almost scared by Minako's sudden outburst, her eyes widened in shock. "I'm sorry…" She stammered, "I was just coming in to let Mr. Shitennou know that he has visitors."
Feeling guilty, she tried to hide the embarrassment, but her face had turned bright red. "Sorry…" was all she could muster.
"Visitors?" Kunzite cocked a brow, "I wasn't expecting anyone today. Who is it? Anyone important?"
"Their importance is for you to decide, Mr. Shitennou." She spoke low, almost as if she were nervous to tell him. "They're from the Star Gazette, sir. From the crime department."
Glancing towards Minako, he watched as her eyes flickered with excitement. "Is it Gurio?" She asked with high enthusiasm, Kunzite's brows furrowed.
"What do they want?" Kunzite asked bitterly.
"It had something to do with Jadeite."
"Fine," he said coolly, "they have five minutes." Returning to his desk, he looked back to Minako, "if you worked more efficiently, you would be done by now."
Feeling her blood begin to boil, she opened her mouth to speak, but shut it as she heard a familiar voice. "Minako?" Reika rushed to the young blonde. Wrapping her arms around her from behind, she began to squeeze Minako tightly. "Oh my god! What are you doing here?"
"Uh," Minako looked towards the large stacks of paper, "just helping out." As Gurio entered the office, he was just as surprised to see Minako, but before he could get a word out, Kunzite cleared his throat, clearly irritated.
"Mr. Shitennou!" Reika said his voice a little too loud, "hello, Mr. Shitennou." She said nervously.
"I was informed that you were here to speak with me," Kunzite said coolly, "not Minako."
"Of course!" Reika pulled on Gurio's arm, "we came to see you...and ask you." Looking to Gurio, she shoved him forward. "Gurio has something to ask you."
Before turning his attention back to Kunzite, Gurio glared at Reika. "Well?" Kunzite cocked a brow. "You've got five minutes. Impress me."
"Right," Gurio nodded his head, "we came down here for Minako." As Kunzite's brows knitted together, Gurio shook his head. "What I meant was," his voice trembled, "we, as in the crime department, have been doing as much research as we could to find some kind of answers for why or who could possibly be framing Minako." Taking in a deep breath, Gurio hadn't realized he was holding it in.
"So?"
"Uh," Gurio looked to his boss.
"We came down to ask for help," Reika finally spoke.
"And what exactly did you think I could do for you?" Kunzite asked, his tone, emotionless.
"We wanted to know if you had anything that we could see that wouldn't be found on the web," Reika explained, looking back at Gurio.
"Anything can be found on the web," Kunzite replied coldly, "you just have to know how to find it."
"Kunzite," Minako said agitatedly, "will you just hear them out?"
"Fine," Kunzite perched his elbows on top of his desk, "if you expect me to help, I need something specific to 'find' for you."
"Minako's camera?" Gurio asked.
Kunzite sneered. "If you've tried getting Minako's camera while searching through the deep web, I can see why you haven't found anything." Pushing up from his desk, he approached the group, "I need something that can be hacked in to, like a government website. Something with coding."
"Pictures," Reika replied. Feeling unsure of herself, she looked to Gurio, "you said they showed Minako pictures from her camera. Maybe if we could get a hold of those images, we can try and analyze them. See if we can get any clues?"
"That's right," Gurio nodded his head. "If your people could some how hack into the CSI's database and get the copy of the images, then we might be able to use them."
"Do you really think you can get anything from those images?" Minako asked.
"We'll never know until we get our hands on them," Kunzite said. "I'll get you the images, but on one condition," he looked towards Gurio, "everything is done under my terms, anything you find out whether it's with the pictures or not, is reported back to me."
"And if we don't?" Gurio asked.
"Don't worry," Kunzite stood over him, "you'll find out exactly what will happen if you defy me." Looking down at his wrist watch, he grinned. "Looks like your five minutes is up. Don't let the door hit you on the way out."
Looking at one another, Gurio and Reika partially smiled towards one another. "So," Reika looked back to Kunzite, "you'll help us."
"Anything for Minako," he said as he looked towards the young blonde.
"Then you have a deal," Gurio replied. Extending out his hand towards Kunzite, hoping to 'shake on it,' Kunzite looked down in confusion.
Stepping away from the young man, he simply replied, "leave."
Watching as her friends departed, Minako felt a sudden ache in her chest. She never realized how much she missed work. Being out on the field with Gurio and Naru almost felt like a distant memory. How long had she been away now? "Can you really get the pictures, Kunzite?" Minako finally asked.
She really had no clue what Kunzite was capable of, and as much as he would love to inform her, he decided it was best to continue to let her question his abilities. "I'm sure of it," he bent down to kiss her.
Smiling up at him, she returned to the couch to finish sorting the many papers Kunzite's 'people' had dumped on her. Watching her, Kunzite grinned as he turned back to his desk. "You can leave it," he called back to her.
"What?" Minako asked, looking up from her large stacks.
"I said you can leave it," he smiled cheekily, "Thetis and the others can take care of the papers."
Biting into her bottom lip, she watched as his eyes flickered with amusement. He never needed her to really sort the papers nor was he really 'behind.' Just a cheeky excuse to get her out of the house. As her brows furrowed, Minako leapt up from the couch, launching herself at Kunzite. "YOU'RE SUCH AN ASSHOLE!" She yelled as she slammed into him.
apigrabbit: This chapter was originally shorter, but after saving the 'rough draft' I got more ideas to add on to this chapter while I was at work today. Hope you all enjoy this chapter. Things will start to 'rise' again, I promise :D