Three out of five, three out of five (it's not enough)
Six out of ten
Better luck next time
-Bloc Party, "Helicopter"

It was no surprise really that the rest of the week went by both quickly and slowly at the same time. Meals became more hurried to a degree but more relaxed as well, like it was a trade off of sorts. Opportunities for rest were less frequent, but when the breaks came … oh how they were so enjoyed. It was like every contradiction could exist right in this moment, the thought bringing a slight smirk to her lips as she stood back to just watch and learn.

They had accomplished so much in their time, the week they had before the Queen was due back. As she unbuckled her sword belt she reminisced for a moment, taking the opportunity while she had it before she'd step in to go through her own practice against Rei.

Of things though that were quick to pass, their training was not one of them by a long shot. Freed from the looming hordes of seamstresses and measuring women, their wardrobes were to be created by the apparent miracle workers that were the tailors in very little time. The day after the Priestess had been measured in more ways than one their martial training began in earnest. It required a visit with the Captain of the Guard, a rather mislocated Martian who had come to the Moon well before she was born.

He knew right away who Rei was even without an introduction, greeting her with a warrior's bow, deeper than the ones that he offered to herself as well as Ami and Makoto. Their private training yard was outfitted with a wooden weapons rack, currently holding a decent selection of weapons. None held an edge; she already knew that, but they held weight to them that when they connected, they would hurt and leave a mark.

They all had their weapons from home she dimly realized, watching as Rei tugged irritably at her still borrowed training clothes before listening to the Captain speak. They were close to the same size, but she could tell that it was not something that the Priestess cared to wear. She was sympathetic to a degree; wearing this wasn't exactly what she liked either, but the chances to be in something else were few and far between times. Especially right now. Thoughts though for another time, taking a seat on one of the two wooden benches that were by the racks of weaponry for their use.

Leaving her sword belt and chain beside her, she glanced over as Makoto took a seat next to her on one side, followed by Ami on the other. Both left their own weapons nearby, a spear for the Jovian and two wooden sticks of sorts for the Mercurian. It could have been simple sticks had they not had a grip that was set perpendicular to its otherwise just over elbow length. Having sparred with her before though, she knew they were vicious enough for both striking and blocking, and it was really only a sword that would and could slip past.

Not quite ready to be questioned by either in regards to Rei she took the opportunity to jump right in. "Did the Queen take anyone else with her when she went to Earth, other than the Princess?" It was a loaded question in a fashion, knowing that. But she glanced at either after asking it, letting them know she expected an answer before her gaze went to rest on the Priestess, currently being instructed by the Guard Captain on simple stances that she already knew.

"She didn't take Luna, if that is what you are asking. I believe it was just a small handful of people went with her, not enough to be a full emissary force given the state of their kingdom, more so after the Queen seemingly died unexpected." It was Ami who answered her, to be expected really, watching as Rei threw a few practice punches under the Captain's guidance. "I checked the log files, she's gone to visit with the Chancellor."

That was enough to draw her attention back for a moment instead of how Rei moved, the firm set of her jaw. She took this so seriously, correcting her stance with a nod before attacking anew. "Why would she be concerned with the Chancellor? Is the Terran King planning on marrying her since his wife is gone?"

"Dunno. It could be 'cause the Prince is of similar age to the Princess. Maybe there's a marriage proposal or something." Makoto's easy voice and way of speaking was her answer. "Or it could be something more. They left without a lot of fuss, it wasn't any sort of big deal. Almost like she wanted to sneak off in the middle of the night. Save that she isn't like that."

"It doesn't make any sense though, why she would leave, more so abruptly. She sent Artemis for fucks sake all the way to Mars. Why would she leave then before he even returned?" She didn't expect an answer, she wanted one perhaps more than anything, but she knew she wouldn't get it. Shaking her head she pushed up to her feet, thankful to miss the look exchanged between the two. There was something going on, something that didn't feel right to her, yet something she couldn't express yet beyond a feeling.

To the weapon rack she went after collecting her chain from her sword belt, pulling two short swords and a curved falchion. There were weaponsmiths currently at work making them something fantastic, something unique for them all. Something of rare Venusian metals and Uranian alloys, cutting edge Mercurian technology, able to harness the power of Jupiter's storms and Saturn's mysticism. An elegant weapon perfect for the Neptune court and forged in the fires of Mars. It still sounded all like some fantasy, more so to draw on all of the planets virtually. Likely it was all being constructed on Pluto, snorting slightly before she stepped into the training ring. What it all meant was their weapons from home would soon be replaced, and they'd still be using these blunt yet painful items.

"Be remembering now, two weapons be confusing to who yer fighting. Use that confusion to yer advantage." The Captain trailed off on his final words, bowing to her at her approach. "Be a natural she is Minako. Be not seeing that in ages outside of you." Dharius finished off with, speaking bluntly and honestly which she expected him to do. It was refreshing, one of the few that was part of the Lunar court ultimately who would do so. She smiled at him, offering out the two short swords to Rei after tucking her own under her arm.

"Dharius, would you be so kind to take her swords over by the others?" It was the unspoken rule that their actual weapons remain there, instead of with them. There were too many opportunities to strike out in anger, and while their blunted weapons could break bones, a sharp sword could cut and kill. She caught his nod, the slight confusion before Rei relinquished her sword belt before accepting slowly the training implements. Waiting for him to depart after the bundle was left on the bench, she gestured about. "This is our training area, the army isn't allowed to be here. Technically, Dharius is not either without an invitation."

"You didn't say he was a Martian."

She smiled, no she certainly hadn't. "He's been here since before the Alliance was founded. Why he left Mars no one knows save for him and the Queen, but his loyalty is to the kingdom."

"And he trains you all in combat."

Oh it could have been a question but it wasn't, hardly even one phrased as a question. It as a simple statement, a slight challenge. "He sees what it is we know how to do, then suggests areas of training. That is the extent of his involvement. Most of our training is drills, with some mixed obstacle courses and sparring against one another."

She watched how Rei lapsed into silence, thinking on it before finally nodding her acceptance of things, followed by her words. "What's first then?"

Unable to help it she outright did not, her smile something of a smirk. "Is it not obvious Priestess? You and I will spar." Her hand collected the sword that was tucked under her arm, her left bringing the coiled chain up to their collective vision before dropping it back down by her side. "Unless you'd care to do calisthenics instead? They are so boring though, getting hot and sweaty for little gain." The look was priceless, an almost wary glance levied her way as Rei considered it, prompting her to continue. "Though maybe with you…"

The wary look faded, a scowl of sorts returning as Rei brought up either short sword, frowning further at their make and weight. She made no move to strike her but gave her own indication that she was ready. That was why she just had to smile, meeting the scowl a playful look. Taking a step back her fingers curled about her falchion, her left letting the chain dangle after coiling about her fist two or three times. There was no one to call for them to start, and neither Ami nor Makoto would interrupt them, given that out of the corner of her eye she watched them pair off.

This would just be Rei and her, and that was how she rather liked it. Her smile made smirk gave nothing away, a feint with her falchion brought about the reaction she wanted, one of the Priestess' swords rising in a defensive pose as the other moved to strike. Wiping the chain about she knocked the blade aside, her own falchion coming to life. It was just practice moves, feeling her out, being felt out in turn. Rei had the same studious look in her gaze that she probably wasn't even aware of. It only appeared when she was deeply engrossed in something, engaged in the moment.

She had seen it a few times during their travels along Mars, spying on her in a fashion when the Priestess likely thought she wasn't looking. Far more she had seen it when the raven haired woman was being intimate with her, living in the moment with her. It was that same look now that she knew to be the desire to understand fully. Answering with a smile she read the immediate confusion that followed, the blink that took her face, before she gave her no quarter. Her falchion whirled to life, her chain as well as she attacked, intent to see how Rei would react.

Not at all disappointed one of the short swords met with her blade awkwardly, forgetting about the chain until the last moment, which was the perfect time to disarm her. Sending the short sword flying, her falchion lightly tapped against her shoulder, signalling that she won. A nod of her head went to the discarded weapon as she stepped back, waiting for her to retrieve it so they might go about again.

The days had passed by since that moment. With practice Rei became better, Makoto managed to slip in past the defenses of Ami's own whirling weaponry to win against her for once, and the Queen was due to return in two days. The Jovian and Mercurian had departed but a few minutes ago, having tasks to accomplish before the arrival. Apparently Ami had been left in charge of the arriving delegates and Makoto's own druidism background meant she was spending most of her time ensuring flowers were blooming and things looked presentable.

Her own list of duties she had shirked lightly, though knowing she'd get it all done the day before. It wasn't like she was a procrastinator, just that she preferred to spend more time with Rei. By now she was garbed in her own clothes, the tailors coming through with a wealth of clothing that the Martian sheepishly had to ask her for help in putting all away. She had been more than willing to help; it just came at her price of leaving the raven haired woman breathless under her on the floor, half sprawled out over pants that should have been hung up and panties that should have been folded and placed in a drawer. Not that Rei really minded, once she got past the notion that she was serious that she wanted to have her, then and there.

It was just them in the training area, stepping within to start trading blows back and forth without any intention to disarm. She met the two sword attack with a deflection of her falchion, retaliating in turn with a thrust forward of the blade, only to be turned aside with one and struck with Rei's offhand, stopping the attack with a flick of her wrist with the chain and then their dance started all over anew. The Priestess was far more confident, taking the lead in their improvisational dancing, rarely giving ground and forcing her to stay on the defensive.

It was so much like dancing, she simply loved it. It had been ages since she last had; sure there were plenty of opportunities to on the Moon, given the perchance the Queen had for balls and parties but who wanted to dance with some fucking stuffy shirt Lunarian? She certainly did not, but now. Now there was her Martian, the thought warmed her with a smile as she was once more forced to the defensive to meet Rei's attack. For the first time since they had arrived, she found herself actually looking forward to the ball.

The dancing, the wardrobe; so she was more than curious to their attire given that it wasn't anything in her wardrobe, was almost too much. Under her breath she started to hum out a waltz, dancing about gracefully as either of Rei's swords moved in tandem to strike at her until the Martian abruptly started to slow down. It wasn't enough for her to stop, instinctively attacking since the other had let up on her onslaught. It lasted for two moves before Rei just as suddenly started to attack anew.

A dance, it was all a dance. Sword play, love making, an actual waltz … she loved it all. Humming a bit louder she finally stopped when Rei didn't make a move to attack her again, looking at her quizzically instead. Ending her song on a questioning note she finally asked. "What is it?"

"What … what are you doing?"

"I'm humming." She answered simply, waiting to see if they'd continue with their spar or not, her weapons still poised in case it was a feint of sorts.

It seemed to incite something in the Martian who looked flustered, almost angrily rolling her eyes as she actually stomped her foot on the ground. "You have the audacity to hum? Do I not spar well enough?" She brought both swords back up, attacking anew only to overreach. It was easy enough for her falchion to knock both swords away, resuming her humming as her wonderment of their continuing to spar or not would happen had been answered.

Rei's fighting was still sloppy though, making mistake after mistake from improper grips on her swords to how she was standing. It didn't take long for the Martian to finally get fed up, stopping once more, "Is something on your mind?"

"I'm actually looking forward to the ball for once… despite how busy we'll all end up being." It was the stark truth. "Besides, I want to dance." She finished with a smile, rocking back on her heels.

"Well, aren't you dancing now?" The Priestess lowered her twin swords, looking at her almost expectantly for an answer.

It wasn't the same. It was sure, the moves maybe could be, but the intent was not. Shaking her head she brought her falchion back up, indicating that they'd continue on. "That's not what I meant." Her voice took a slight grumpy tone, showcasing her disappointment despite her ability to mask most things. Silently she was glad that Rei said nothing more on it, resuming her attacks without their sloppy overtones of before.

Her thoughts stayed though with the dance, the gowns, the music. Just the atmosphere was enough to send her heart soaring, the faceless people she could ignore easily if given enough reason to. She met the strike of the sword, almost halfheartedly turning it aside before the second sent her falchion flying out of her hand. Smarting, she dropped the chain to clutch at her stinging palm, stumbling back as her balance was lost.

Before she could fall completely back though an arm was about her waist, another hand holding hers. Blinking past her confusion and shame of not paying attention, her gaze beheld Rei holding her, just like they were in a dance. The Martian bore a thin little sardonic smirk, her lips quirked to the side like she was fighting not to laugh at her. "So, this kind of dance?"

It was so innocently asked, despite the smugness. More upset than anything that she had been caught off guard and so blatantly disarmed her response was snarky in return. "You're supposed to bow first." She wouldn't discount though what it felt like, to be here like this, held like she was.

That half playing smirk on Rei's face just seemed all the more fitting, even though she didn't shrug outright she could almost picture the Priestess doing so. "Mm you're right. But you seemed so preoccupied that you might not have seen it even if I did."

The day before all hell would break loose was upon her.

The Queen was due tomorrow. Fuck, and here she was slaving away on her report that should have been done long before hand. Fucking days before hand truth be told. Yet Artemis had the nerve to tell her to relax. Relax! Who had time for something so far fucking fetched as that?! Certainly not her, and not right now. There was no one to blame but herself she knew, squeezing her eyes shut tightly for a moment before blinking them back open anew. Just as she expected it did not miraculously make her report finish itself, but it was worth a try all the same.

Since that morning she had been slaving away at the outline that documented her time on Mars, filling in all the missing areas that she had barely expanded on when she had started writing it from the first time. It was hardly what she wanted to do, bowing out of training that morning to promptly barricade herself in the small office just after she finished a hurried breakfast. For hours she typed away, changing some things, adding in others until hours later, it appeared to take the guise of a report. Still though, far too many areas were nothing more than notes to herself, reminding her to "fill in more here" because it simply wouldn't do with what she had.

Through lunch she worked, well into evening she was lost in her own little world, filled with sand and cold nights and more than one head injury. A master of words she painted a picture that was both factual and worth reading, stating everything that was required in her report without it coming across horribly dry. In detail she explained what she knew, pausing multiple times to figure out how many days exactly it had been, losing track somewhere around day thirteen, which was the day that Rei had clubbed her upside the temple.

After that the days were a blur, having a vague idea how long she was comatose on Mars after being stabbed. It made her frown, leaning back in the chair to rub irritably at her eyes. She should get up and stretch, maybe take a short walk. Her report was nearly done but to leave now… she might not want to come back to it. If she didn't it would be a rushed affair in the morning, and no one was exactly sure when the Queen would arrive, but if anything was true, it would be first thing in the morning.

Her hands still pressed to her face, heated and soothing as she took in a deep breath. She should eat something. Fuck, even something to drink would be great right now. Maybe another paragraph … it sounded like a good goal to her. Another paragraph and she'd get up to get something to drink. Then when she returned, maybe half a page and she could get something to eat too. Another page after that and then she could take a short walk. Nowhere far of course, just a bit around to stretch. She could certainly finish her report by then and maybe it would be just after midnight. That'd be plenty of time to sleep; six hours was a lot wasn't it?

Then she could get up and prepare for the Queen's arrival.

Dragging her hands from her face she blinked, wondering when exactly it was that Rei had appeared in the room. For that matter, how long she had been there. A glance at the computer screen told her that more than "just a couple" of minutes had passed and all she had done was just sit there, plotting out her moves like a game of strategy. Blinking anew she was pleased that she hadn't simply imagined the Priestess, going so far as to smile. "Hi…" Goddess why was she being so shy around her now? Weren't they beyond that? Wasn't she beyond that?

Rei had long since closed the door she belatedly realized, and she wasn't empty handed. She was still in her training clothes that to listen to her speak, she hated to wear but fuck how she looked in them. Really, how she looked in anything. More so completely out of clothes. She felt her face grow warm and she bought herself time by clearing her throat; fuck now she couldn't even look without blushing. "Is … is that something to drink?" Her gaze honed in on the wooden goblet that the woman was holding.

"Erm. Yes. It's a Martian energy drink. No one's seen you emerge and I know how important your report is to you to finish, so I thought I'd bring you something."

"Goddess you are a blessing…" And how. Really, and fucking how. As the goblet was passed to her she was caught first by the scent, blinking at it startledly before she spoke. "I don't think beverages are supposed to smell like this Rei…" She looked skeptically at it, trying to discern its nature.

"It's an ancient recipe… and I had to substitute some of the herbs. But I'm sure it'll work all the same!" The raven haired woman said with what could only be a winning smile, all the more encouraging her to partake in it. She met her hopeful eyes, how they shimmered and found herself lost within once more. Even if it smelled like fucking death she'd drink it; who was she kidding? There was no way she desired to hurt her feelings after all, pinching her nose closed she raised the drink promptly to her lips, downing it a few gulps.

That she completely missed Rei's eyes widen in surprise was just par for the course. Of course, it all made sense. Rei wasn't expecting her to down five or eight shots of liquor in a single pass after all.

"Well…" The Priestess reached over, taking the wooden cup from her. Where she put it she didn't even know and didn't even care, being far too busy blinking her eyes and feeling herself quickly becoming flush and hot. It was worse than a blush. Far worse than a blush. She felt like she was on fire, in a good way, blooming and emanating from her stomach like a swirl of sparks, ever heavenward rising. "How are you feeling?"

She didn't answer, too lost in the feeling, the tingling. It was like she wasn't tired anymore. Like she wasn't stressed. And she was warm, Goddess ever was she warm. How could she answer when all she had were feelings that she couldn't even try to put to words? That Rei was worried over her lack of response, that perhaps the spirits were far too strong for her Venusian body to handle, that maybe … just maybe, she had just given her alcohol poisoning… That was important yes.

Instead she opted to grin, "How YOU feelin'?"

With a smirk the Priestess spoke again, visibly relieved. "Should I let you get back to-?" Her words promptly cut off as she rose, stumbling around the table in what she planned to be just standing before her, not currently clumsily falling against her. Thankfully Rei had caught her before she could fall, believing instead that she had just glided over there, graceful as a fucking Princess.

"I assssked you a quest'n. How. You. Feelin'?" She repeated herself, going slow because maybe Rei didn't understand her lyrical voice and its qualities.

"Fine." Hands steadied her, hands and a winning, big smile.

She shook her head, sending her blonde hair everywhere from the vehement nature of her denial. " 's not true."

"Why not?" There was concern there. She might have caught it some other time, but not right now.

" 'cause." Her lips pressed to Rei's neck, kissing slowly, absolutely fascinated with the column. Up her throat to her ear her kisses went, stopping at her earlobe to flick with her tongue. "You should be feelin' me." Teeth collected the lobe, giving it a tug before drawing it into the confines of her mouth to suck upon. She felt great, better than great really. She felt free, desiring nothing more than her hot and sometimes grumpy Martian.

That and out of her clothing. Which was falling away without any assistance from her hands. She should know, because they were too busy coping feels in all of their graceful, drunken glory. Her jacket hit the floor or maybe something else; who really decorated this place anyway? The floor was so boring. The chair was so boring. So was the desk and the computer and whatever else was here. Everything was fucking boring. There was only her hot handed Martian peeling away her shirt and undoing her pants.

Giggling she almost managed a step away from Rei only to be caught anew in her arms, hot lips meeting with hers. The Priestess didn't taste like the drink, but Goddess did she ever set her afire like it had. Her mouth parted at the barest insistence, welcoming the conquest that her Martian was on with a graceful flick of her tongue in welcome. Her hands refused to stay put, tugging at the jacket still worn by the other. She almost agreed about hating the uniforms, going so far as to say so and provoking a growl in return, her mouth promptly claimed again and this time with a hand buried in her hair at the back of her head.

Things she didn't care about, finally divesting Rei of her jacket she felt like she should point out the obviousness of it, an occasion to be celebrated and heralded across the entire Palace. Save that Rei wasn't stopping with kissing her, her tongue wasn't done mapping out the confines of her mouth. She could feel her legs grow weak but it was a good kind of weakness, both of her hands choosing to grasp fistfulls of Rei's shirt to hold to before she fell. Or floated. That's what it felt like, like she was floating.

She had to be, after all, since she was on her back. When did she wind up on the floor? It was worth a blink up at her savior, confusion showing for a moment within the depths of her eyes before Rei soothed it all away with a smile that could slay fucking ancient dragons and win over the most snobbish of courts. She couldn't help it and therefore didn't, beaming a smile back at her as her boots were pulled off next, joining her somewhere on her own personal cloud that was littered with her discarded clothing and what her hands had managed to pull from Rei.

A twist of her legs and a shift of her body had her panties off next, watching as they were stuffed into one of the pockets of Rei's pants. That she had to giggle at. "Yer a pervert… A pervert. Stealin' ma panties. Coulda jus' asssked. Woulda given 'em to you."

Why would Rei shake her head "no" at her? Goddess, it sounded just like some boring instructor, saying that she kept them so she wouldn't lose them. How could she lose them on her cloud? Was there a hole in it? Nothing was lost so far after all, spreading her limbs out like a star, outstretching her fingers and toes to show Rei that nothing could fall off her cloud. Nothing at all.

She completely missed how Rei's eyes widened at that, at her complete and utter lack of modesty. Rei was decidedly too clothed to be on her cloud. There were rules about being on her cloud with her after all. Everyone had to be nude. Clothes were only allowed to be strewn about on it because that was ok. But you couldn't wear clothes once you were on the cloud; they simply had to go. Her legs reached, wrapping around Rei's waist to tighten, pulling her down as her hands reached, finding the strands of midnight to claim as she pulled the woman down on top of her. "S'no … no clothes. Allowed here. Need to… take 'em off to be 'ere."

Slurring the words she felt heated and warm again; maybe it was Rei's body on top of hers. Or maybe it was her mouth on her body. Or maybe it was her hand that was seemingly everywhere at once. A giggle escaped her; who would have guessed that Rei had twenty hands, and that all twenty of them were on her at once? Her legs loosened the grip they had around her waist, rubbing her calf against her hip as the air swirling around her cloud made one thing more than obvious.

She wanted her.

And she wanted her badly.

The air assaulted her sex without mercy, brought on by each shift of Rei over her, each brush of her own legs in their want to do something other than just merely be there. She was hot, a positive inferno and the air was doing nothing more than feeding the flames. It caused her feet to arch, her calves to tighten as her head tilted back, feeling Rei's hot and wet mouth at her neck, trailing to her collarbones. She had given up needing to see because what was the point when feeling was so much better? She felt alive and didn't need to see that to know it to be true.

About to whine about how unfair it was to feel this way on her cloud mercy came. One of Rei's numerous twenty hands had made its way past her breasts, past her ribs, even past her pelvis. It was on her thigh, then it was on the inside of it, and then it was cupping her. At once her hips responded like the woman's touch was a command, rising up off her precious cloud with an arch of her back. Her hands tightened at once in Rei's hair, a handhold that her cloud couldn't offer her.

It was better than a cloud. Who needed clouds when she had something like this? Why would she ever settle for a cloud again, when she had a mouth on her breast, a tongue teasing her nipple and teeth that tugged, leaving minute bites? Why would she want a cloud again when she had a hand right there, trapping her heat, letting it build until when it pulled away it was with the signs of her desire that told her how wet she was.

Who needed a cloud indeed. Certainly not her.

Rei's mouth was unrelenting on her breasts, her breath assaulting each one with controlled streams across her otherwise quite perked nipples. She didn't even have a chance to whimper how one felt neglected or anything of the sort, it was as if Rei already knew and was taking care of her before she could even indicate her need. The same was true for the inferno at the apex of her thighs, tamed, soothed, and encouraged to rage out of control with each pass of long fingers to her lips, seeking out the bundle of nerves that positively sang each time she was touched.

The fire that started in her belly spread like it was something wild. Along nerves it strummed, like a fine instrument being plucked, resounding chords and notes of pure pleasure. She lost track of reality, lost track of coherency, just what her hands were doing, just what her body was doing. All she felt was fire and pleasure, mixed with passion and want, a possessiveness enveloping her just as much as her orgasm did, surrendering to the feelings invoked in her until all she could do was offer a joyful cry. A joyful cry of her praise, her adoration and her worship.

Clouds had absolutely nothing on Rei. Clouds could learn so very, very much from her Martian.

A/N: I'd like to give a huge thanks to Decido who was the instrument behind the measuring scene last chapter. In my haste to post, I completely forgot to give her the credit she so rightly deserves. And more so in this chapter for proofing, providing insight, and joining me in the notion that yes, Minako needs and deserves to be drunk. And so she is.