Minako went away for a couple of days to do a show in Hiroshima. After she was gone, Rei was sad. She moped for a total of two hours, thirty-two minutes and seventeen seconds before her sadness turned into irritability. The next day, Usagi called her and they went out with the other girls. "Geeze, Rei, where have you been? I feel like I haven't seen you in forever," commented Makoto.

"Yeah, been busy with the shrine. Summer months, you know."

Ami nodded in understanding. "Yes, there are quite a bit of holidays for a shrine in the summer. You must be very busy. Do you need some help?"

At this, Rei shook her head. "I've got some volunteers. They help me out."

Shrugging, Usagi said, "Can't say we didn't offer."

They went to the Crown to do karaoke, but much to everyone's disappointment, Rei refused to sing anything by Aino Minako. "Why not?" complained Usagi. "You used to love her!"

Smiling to herself, Rei replied, "I still do." But that was all she would say on the matter.

"Have you guys heard?" asked Ami after Usagi finished up "Romance." "Apparently Aino Minako performed a lot of new songs during her concert in Hiroshima. They say that the lyrics hint that she's been seeing someone in secret. They say she wrote them herself."

Of course, Rei had oftentimes seen Minako sitting under a tree or on the porch swing with a notebook and pencil, writing away. Once she had been sweeping and had looked up to notice Minako staring intensely at her. When she leaned on her broom and waved, Minako had grinned widely and went back to her writing. But through it all, she would never let Rei see anything that she had been writing. Even when she had tried to sneak up behind the other girl and get a peek, she had heard her and jumped up, blocking any view she might have. "Nice try, you jerk," Minako had said, sticking her tongue out.

Now, at the mention of new lyrics, Rei's ears perked up. "Do you have any of the lyrics?" she asked Ami, hoping that perhaps she had been able to find them.

Frowning, Ami replied, "I tried, but no one has them yet. I'd say they'll be up as soon as the bootleg circulates."

"Oh," said Rei, slightly disappointed. By that time, she could just ask Minako herself.

"But," added Ami as a second thought, "I did hear that one of the songs was about a priestess and a shrine. That might be one to interest you, right Rei?"

Rei could hardly contain her blush as she nodded her consent.

Later that night, Minako called Rei. "Hey, Rei! Oh my God is it good to hear your voice."

"It's so good to hear you, too," replied Rei sincerely. And it was true, too. Just hearing Minako's voice made the ache in her stomach ebb away. "How are you?"

"I'm great! I did really great at the concert."

"I heard. New songs?"

"Lots." Rei couldn't see her, but she knew that Minako was probably twirling the phone cord on her finger. "I can't wait for you to hear them. Ever since becoming involved with you, I've just been immersed in inspiration."

"Do I inspire you that much?"

"All beautiful things inspire me, Rei-chan," replied Minako in a coy tone of voice. She knew that the comment would fluster Rei and did not expect a return comment.

As she expected, Rei changed the subject. She asked in an almost desperate way, "When will you be home?"

"Soon. My plane leaves early tomorrow. Do you miss me?"

"God, I miss you so much," Rei practically groaned. "The shrine is so empty and my bed is so big, and no one is... I don't like anyone as much as I like you. You're my..." she paused, but plunged on. "You're my most important person, Minako."

"And you're my most important, too, Rei-chan," replied the singer with a warm affection.

When Minako showed up at the shrine the next afternoon, Rei swept her into her arms and they practically fell over. The miko immediately surrounded herself with Minako, inhaling her familiar scent and loving those arms around her.

"I love you, Rei," was the first thing Minako said.

"I love you, too," replied Rei without hesitation.