Note: There are references to "truth - memory" but it's not exactly necessary to read that story prior to this one.

...

Rei began second-guessing her decision when she heard the raucous noise coming from the festival grounds. She was a block away, but there were already people crowding the sidewalk, slowing her progress. It didn't help that her gait was restricted by her outfit, which was fueling most of her anxiety.

She let out a nervous sigh, wondering again what kind of face Minako would have when they saw each other. 'This weekend I'm definitely putting a lock on my closet,' Rei thought grumpily as she joined the mob of people entering the festival grounds.

Usagi had come over to the shrine for some reason or another and, as always, had taken advantage of Rei getting called away to dig through her things. When Rei had come back, half of the contents of her closet had been pulled out and strewn across the floor.

Before Rei could start yelling, Usagi had held up a familiar folded robe. "I never knew you had this yukata! It's so pretty! Why haven't you ever worn it before?"

Rei's irritation had faded as she sat down next to Usagi, her eyes following the patterns with a faint smile. "It was my mother's," she had answered softly.

A warm hand had rested atop hers then, and she looked up into Usagi's compassionate face. "I was saving it for a special occasion," Rei had continued with a shrug.

"You should wear it to the festival tonight! It counts as a special occasion!"

"What? No." Usagi and Minako were the ones who loved crowds, not her. And even if she were to go, to make such a big deal out of it like this would be even worse. She'd shaken her head at the thought and moved to begin putting her things away.

But then Usagi tightened her grip on her hand. Rei had leveled a glare at her but Usagi just gave her a sly grin. "I'm sure Minako will appreciate it."

Rei knew she was blushing as she had yanked her hand away but she was unable to answer outside of throwing a pillow at Usagi and finally yelling at her about touching her things without asking. Later, after Usagi had left, Rei found herself wondering if what the other girl had said was really true. Ever since Rei's unexpected confession, she and Minako had become closer, building a relationship that Rei had never thought possible. But Rei had to admit that a longing for something more had begun to build as well, and it was that part of her that wasn't sure - wasn't sure if Minako felt the same.

She had been refolding the yukata when it came to her: a sudden vision of Minako's fingers running over the fabric, warmth sliding underneath and near scalding her skin, a ghost touch at her ear, a gasp that Rei realized was her own. It had ended as quickly as it came, but the intensity had left Rei struggling to get her breathing and heart rate back under control. Had it been a premonition? Or a manifestation of her own desire?

Whatever it was had taken hold of her enough to unfold the yukata again. She had tried not to think too much about it, detaching herself from the process of getting dressed, having her hair done, even getting a ride to the festival. But now, standing just inside the entrance, looking for her friends, the whole of her decision was making Rei more nervous than any battle she'd faced before.

A shout from her left made her turn. She spotted Usagi's manic waving first, her eyes immediately seeking out Minako next. Rei felt a smile instinctively touch her lips when their eyes met but then her breath caught as something changed in Minako's gaze.

Even from this distance, Rei could feel the intensity of Minako's eyes as they trailed down her body. She watched Minako swallow and a part of her made a mental note to thank Usagi later. But as she made her way towards them, even that thought vanished as she came under the thrall of being in Minako's presence.

...

"There she is! Rei-chan, over here!"

"Oh wow, I wonder where she got that yukata, it's so pretty!"

"Her hair too, it's …"

Her friends' words, even their very existence seemed to fade away when Minako turned around. All sound, all sight, all sensation became concentrated solely on Rei. Despite having seen each other through so many different situations - despite having seen each other just the other day - Minako felt as if she was seeing Rei for the very first time.

The yukata was a deep red with a pattern of flowers accented in black and white, finished by a simple sash outlining her waist. But what struck Minako the most was that Rei's hair had been pulled up, a sight she had seen only a handful of times. 'She even has a flower in her hair…' Minako knew she was staring, too long, too openly, but she couldn't help herself, not when she was in the presence of a goddess.

"We're going to get some cotton candy, want some?" Usagi's words barely registered in Minako's head, though she had enough control over herself to mirror Rei's faint headshake. "Okay then, we'll be right back!"

Minako felt a sharp jab in her side. Usagi's face peered up at her with fond amusement. "Don't just stand there, silly," she whispered, "Say something!" She skipped off after Mamoru and the other girls before Minako could answer.

Not that she probably could have spoken at all. Speech seemed to have been robbed from her - even with her mouth still slightly agape, her brain was incapable of forming words.

"Were you all waiting long?" Rei asked. Minako managed another headshake in reply. Rei's eyes were violet in the growing dark and Minako had to take a deep breath to keep from drowning.

"Do you like it?" It was a question Minako wasn't used to hearing from Rei, especially not in such an uncertain voice. Taking the opportunity to give the girl another once over, she noticed that Rei was fidgeting. Rei never fidgeted.

Then Usagi's words came back to her and Minako's breath caught in realization. 'She did this... for me?' Rei, who hated crowds, hated making a fuss, was standing like this, here with her in the middle of a festival. It made Minako's heart ache.

She reached out to take Rei's hand and squeezed it gently. "I love it," she said, hoping the silent 'I love you' came through as well. Tonight, Minako decided, casting her usual teasing aside, would be for sincerity.

After a moment, Rei's eyes finally lifted to meet hers. "You look beautiful," she murmured, letting her heart speak for itself. Rei's eyes widened with a vulnerable look before looking away, a blush breaking out brightly across her cheeks. Minako barely held herself back from kissing her then and there.

She felt a squeeze through their linked hands. "Thanks," Rei said, smiling up at her with flushed cheeks and shining eyes. Minako was sure she had the same expression on her own face.

There was something different in the air between them, more than just the yukata Rei was wearing or the way she tucked her hand around Minako's arm. Things had started to change after Rei had saved her from fading away, when Rei had shown her the truth that for a few weeks had become twisted in her mind.

Their friends had been gently supportive - not without some teasing, of course - in giving them time and space to be together. Even now as they all stopped by the various stalls, they allowed Minako and Rei to trail behind them. More than once, however, the thought of taking advantage of the distance to pull Rei into the shadows and kiss her senseless had crossed Minako's mind.

She knew Rei was having similar thoughts, what with the lingering looks and the way Rei pressed herself against her even when there was no crowd to serve as an excuse. There was a shared tension between them that they acknowledged in their shared silence, which only served to heighten the tension even more.

After the fireworks, their friends had only the barest of smirks and didn't question their flimsy reason of Rei's tired feet to leave together. They spent the cab ride to Minako's apartment with Rei's head on Minako's shoulder and Minako tracing the inside of Rei's wrist.

The tension seemed to fill Minako's quiet apartment with a low hum, vibrating just under her skin as they stood silently regarding each other. Minako's hands twitched as her eyes trailed down Rei's body, not seeing the pattern on the yukata but imagining what lay beneath. Her gaze had wandered this path a hundred times already that night but she couldn't stop herself. She realized belatedly that she didn't want to stop herself.

"I think I might need some help."

Rei's soft voice pulled Minako's gaze up to Rei's eyes. Minako didn't bother trying to feel embarrassed at the raised eyebrow she received. Instead, she just tilted her head in a silent question. "I don't know where all the pins are," Rei answered sheepishly, gesturing to her hair.

Minako chuckled and led Rei into her bedroom, letting her settle onto the short stool at the small table across from her bed. She chose to turn on one of the floor lamps instead of the main overhead light, wanting this to be just the two of them.

For a moment, Minako just stared at Rei's back, memorizing the shape of her ears, the curve of her neck. Rei turned slightly and Minako's eyes went to the point of her chin, the profile of full lips. "Minako?"

Minako took a breath and shook her head. "Yes, sorry," she said, surprised at the rasp in her voice. She stepped forward finally to begin the process of releasing Rei's hair. She started first with the flower, gently laying it on the table. Then one by one, a pile of bobby pins began to build.

"Did you do this yourself?" Minako asked into the silence that had fallen.

"No, I went to a salon near the shrine."

"Huh, that's lucky that it wasn't busy." Minako let the long strands slip through her fingers as silky locks were freed from the pins.

"The owner is … a good friend of my grandfather's." Minako grew curious at the odd cadence of Rei's voice. She glanced at the mirror standing at the corner of the table - and did a double take at the face she saw: Rei's eyes were closed, her cheeks flushed, her lips parted ever so slightly.

Minako felt her pulse quicken at the sight and gave into her instincts. She slowed her fingers in their search, stroking through the dark locks and deliberately running her nails gently against Rei's scalp. She heard Rei's breath catch when she skimmed the back of her ears. Deliberately, Minako repeated the motion, a shiver running through her when she heard Rei's soft moan.

She glanced again at the mirror and found Rei staring directly at her, eyes a vivid violet. Behind Rei's reflection, she saw that her own face was flushed as well. That they both were feeling the same emboldened Minako to continue.

Keeping their eyes locked in the mirror, Minako's hands moved down Rei's neck, feeling goosebumps raising underneath her fingertips, watching Rei's breathing stutter. Her hands dipped just inside the collar of the yukata, tracing skin and fabric where it crossed over Rei's chest.

"Would you like some help with this as well?" Minako asked, her lips glancing the outside of Rei's ear.

Rei's eyes fluttered as her head tipped back. Minako took the moan that followed as a 'yes,' lowering her mouth to finally taste the curve of Rei's neck. Her hands slid down to the sash tied at the small of Rei's back. Their lips met as she undid the bow and the yukata fell slack.

The kiss nearly unbalanced them both in its fervor, clouding Minako's mind with heat and Rei and a desperate thought of 'more.' Every time Minako opened her eyes, a new sight would greet her: A flash of moonlight on Rei's throat as the yukata slid from her shoulders, dark hair spilling out onto the pillows, bare legs tensing and tangling around Minako's own naked body. 'More,' Minako thought with each gasp that spilled from Rei's lips, each groan that pulled at Minako's own rising desire. It was hard to think, to breathe, with Rei's hands everywhere, taking in anything within reach, which was all of her - all of her and more.

'More,' was all Minako could think when her hands cupped the fullness of Rei's breasts, the inner softness of Rei's twitching thighs. 'More,' when her fingers slid inside Rei's warmth, hips jerking to meet her. 'More,' as Rei's cries became frantic, burning against the side of Minako's neck, grip convulsing against her back.

Only when Rei peaked did Minako think of stopping - and only because she was caught by the incredible feeling of Rei tightening all around her, her own name on Rei's lips as that beautiful voice broke with the most fragile whimper. Minako was breathless as she watched a look of pure ecstasy transform Rei's face. Minako knew then that there was nothing more she could ever want than this moment.

...

When Rei came back to herself, it was with a shudder that left her limp on the bed, breathless. She could hear Minako murmuring to her but her heartbeat was still pounding too loud in her ears to understand. Instead she buried herself into the warmth of Minako's chest, needing the contact, needing her touch all the more.

Rei felt a gentle warmth on her cheeks from Minako's hands and she realized she was crying. Embarrassment made her duck her head, but Minako's hand on her chin kept her from going too far. There was a question in the blue eyes and Rei felt shy as she nodded. The smile she received in return was dazzling.

She had dreamt of being with Minako before, moments of delusion she had allowed herself back when she thought there was no chance for them. To be here like this, in the moonlight and nothing but their own breath between them, it was more than Rei could have ever imagined. And she wanted Minako to feel the same.

Rei had always loved Minako's voice but she was quickly learning that she had never truly known its capabilities. Even though it was only one word falling from Minako's lips, the vast range of expression was awe-inspiring. At times Minako's voice was quiet with reverence, other times near deafening in desperation; Rei knew she would never hear her own name the same way again.

Then there were other sounds - the wet meeting of their mouths, her tongue on Minako's breasts, along her skin, dipping into a warmth lower still; her fingers sliding in and out of that slick warmth with Minako panting, pleading in her ear.

Part of Rei was still in disbelief that she was actually here like this with her, that she was the one causing Minako's hands to clench at the bedsheets, making her legs quiver, making her want. It wasn't until she felt Minako arching, gasping, trembling against her that Rei was finally convinced that all of it was real.

When it was quiet again, they laid wrapped up together in moonlight. Rei fingertips traced the sides of Minako's face, lips following until she reached Minako's mouth. She felt the curve of a smile, heard the whispered "I love you," and returned it in kind as their hearts and bodies came together as one.