Chapter Four

On the drive home Ami babbled non-stop about Quatre. She was still talking about him! She'd had her fill of everyone having all the luck with boys. She couldn't stand it anymore. Rei had Duo and now Ami had Quatre. Minako was the only one who was single. "Ami, can we finish this conversation later? I'm getting a headache." There. That was taken care of. Maybe she was a bit too snappy. She looked at the upset expression plastered on Ami's face.

"Sorry Makoto." Ami turned her attention to the scenery that was passing by in a teary blur. It seemed so rare that she was attracted to a decent person and now Makoto didn't care. At the very least, Minako would be happy for her. She turned her attention back to Makoto and noticed the angry expression on her face. Makoto was upset about something.

"Makoto, we can talk about whatever is really bothering you, if you'd like." Her offer was on the table. She waited for some sort of response, noticing the slight nostril flare from Makoto.

"Ami, I don't want to lay into you. I'd rather not." Her pretty face melted into a scowl.

"It's better to talk about things instead of letting them fester and make you bitter, Mako. Feel free to rip me open, I'd like to know what's upsetting you, even more if it's me."

"Alright, but you remember that you asked for this emotional humble-jumble." Makoto gave her a long stare. Ami winced as she realized Makoto wasn't watching the road. She pointed at the road and Makoto immediately directed her attention to it again.

Ami clasped her hands together hoping that she wasn't the reason that Makoto was upset. Perhaps she had forgotten to wash all of her dishes last night when she had fallen asleep working over the computer. She'd thought the kitchen was clean. Makoto had a horrible temper when something was misplaced by someone in the kitchen. It wasn't that, she was certain she had cleaned things up and put them away. What had she done?

"It breaks down to Rei, I guess." Makoto's statement stunned her. Why Rei? "Ami, I've had a crush on Duo since I met him in the hospital after Rei's accident. I thought he might like me as well. But now with Rei and all, I'm not so sure."

"A crush? You're angry over a crush?" Ami couldn't believe that Makoto would let something like that put a wedge in their friendship.

"I said I had a crush. I think I might love him. I'm so mad at Rei because she doesn't even realize that someone great like Duo is even interested in her. She's always inviting me along on their shopping sprees and such. I've gotten to know him through Rei, so how can I be angry at her?" Makoto's voice was stressed. Emotions were strange coming from her.

Ami sighed inwardly, trying desperately to think of what to say to Makoto. She was supposed to be her advice-filled best friend, yet where love was concerned, she drew blanks.

"And then you, Ami, had to go and find a guy too. One that likes you back! I can't even get Duo to notice me! He's too busy chasing Rei around like a dog in heat." Her voice broke on the last sentence. What was she supposed to say to that? She found herself opening her mouth to say something and closing it instead.

"Ami, you have to help me make him notice that I exist. I don't know what I'll do if I don't at least try." Makoto turned into the drive-way and shut off the engine, pleading with those emerald eyes as she looked at Ami.

"I guess I'll try. But you're way more experienced than me here." She could hardly breathe. Makoto was asking her for help with a guy problem.

Back at the House

Rei walked to the door with Duo and Heero trailing her. It was so strange. She felt like a small pack was stalking her. She walked up the four steps to the porch, her pumps making those tell-tale clumping sounds that announced somebody's arrival. She put her key in the lock and turned it. How was Hunter? Did he go to bed on time without any problems?

"Rei, if you wait much longer to go in the mosquitoes will have devoured us." Duo's voice was laced lightly with humor. She smirked and pushed the front door open, dropping her black coat on the coat-rack in the entry hall.

"Come in." her voice was friendly and she made a sweeping gesture with her hand. "Minako is somewhere around here, I'm sure." She walked towards the kitchen.

Heero surveyed the house as he walked through it. It was meticulously clean. The bare minimum of objects was down. Things were very orderly. No clutter whatsoever. She was very neat. Or this mysterious Minako was very neat. Rei led them to a hallway which branched off into a living room. The room was dark, only the TV screen was lighting the room.

There didn't appear to be anyone in the room. He frowned. They may be neat people but apparently they wasted money on electricity that wasn't needed. Light flooded the room as Rei flicked the switch and suddenly he was astounded to see popcorn pebbled across the floor leading out of the room. What in the world? Someone had a leaky bowl.

"Heero, did Trowa say whether or not he would be coming tonight or not?" Duo's voice penetrated his thoughts, wherever they were headed. Realization dawned on him. This Minako must be quite a character if Trowa was willing to do anything with her. The man was practically a loner.

"I think he might have said something like that." His reply was to the point. Glancing up at Rei, he saw the confusion on her face.

"Trowa?"

"I'm sorry Rei. A friend of mine was supposed to be coming tonight to meet Minako and you. I think maybe Minako and him hit it off pretty well, seeing as how they're missing." Duo's voice hinted that something naughty was in the works.

"Oh Lord. Not in my house it's not!" Her voice was angry. She headed for the stairs at lightning speed. Duo and Heero watched with jaws dropped as her raven hair slapped her back the whole way up.

"Minako." Her voice was heard followed by a knock. "Duo and a friend are here to meet you…now. Would you mind coming down immediately." The anger in her voice was very evident. Only a naïve idiot would miss it.

How could Minako possibly consider bringing a man to her bedroom with Hunter sleeping in the next room? What if he heard them and hurt himself trying to get out of the bed. Anger was quickly overtaking her body and she felt herself beginning to shake, fighting the urge to run to her bedroom and check on her son. "Rei, I'm… um, a little busy."

"I need to talk to you. It's important." She was quickly losing her temper and even faster gaining annoyance. What the hell was she doing in there?

Minako cringed as she yanked her sweat-pants on as fast as she could. Rei sounded pissed. Could she know? She glanced over her shoulder at Trowa who was sitting up on her bed, face reflected in the moonlight, smirking.

"I'm going to guess that boys aren't allowed in your room?" he half-whispered her way.

She threw him a glare. "Rei doesn't much like the idea of boys staying over, if you know what I mean." She directed her attention towards the door where she could picture a very ruffled Rei standing. "One more second, Rei-chan."

"So, I guess I better be getting dressed too." She snickered, unable to repress it. He made quite a sight sitting in her bed, shirt missing, and his hair even more gravity defiant than before. "Do you know where you threw my shirt?" His voice was silky, seductive as he said it. Damn him.

"No. Hurry." She rushed for the door and cracked it. "Hi Rei. What's up?" Her best friend looked extremely irritated. This wasn't going to be good for her.

"What are you thinking, Minako!" Rei's voice was an angry hiss.

"Can we talk about this later?" her voice was a mere whisper as she gestured towards her bed.

"We agreed there was to be no boys over for sexual purposes. Why couldn't you have taken this to his place?" Rei continued like she hadn't heard Minako's plea. Yup, she was mad.

"Rei, I'm sorry. It just happened. What do you want me to say?" Minako continued to plead for Rei to wait until her new found lover had left.

"Fine. Be downstairs in ten minutes." She stormed off towards her bedroom, no doubt to look at her child.

Minako shut her door and turned towards her bed, which was empty. She frowned and surveyed the room Arms grabbed her from behind and she almost screamed, but instead let out a nervous chuckle. "Trowa! We have to go now. She's pissed." Her phrase was enunciated on the word 'pissed.'

"We got ten minutes."

"Oh, you!" she playfully smacked at him and ran for the bed.

Downstairs

"She doesn't sound too happy with the thought of sexual activity in her house. What is she, a nun?" Heero was interrogating Duo on the events.

"Nope. Far from the convent, I'm afraid." Duo was lounging on the leather couch, enjoying the plush feeling.

"What's wrong with her friend doing the deed then?"

"You're awful nosy. Maybe she's worried about Minako. I mean, how well can her and Trowa possibly know each other after a couple of hours?" Duo was defending Rei's spur-of-the-moment actions.

"Apparently, they know each other pretty well after a couple of hours." Heero smirked.

Rei entered the room, bringing with her an air of anger. "I can't believe this." He couldn't understand why she was over-reacting to this.

"I'm sorry Rei. I hadn't intended on this." Duo looked at her, a sorry smile on his face.

"No one did." She sat beside him on the sofa and began to twiddle her thumbs. "They'll be down in a couple of minutes."

Duo looked at Heero and dared him to make a snide comment. He wouldn't think of it. From all he had learned of Rei, she was perfect, aside from this mean temper she seemed to acquire out of no where and over nothing. How would she feel if Minako interrupted the two of them? He wanted to tell her this, but held his tongue.

"I'd offer to let you stay at my place if things get too weird, but Trowa's my room-mate and I don't imagine that would help. Perhaps Minako could stay over while you two hash things out." Duo seemed to be reading a script to her. She looked up at him.

"That's sweet Duo. But Minako and I have never had a disagreement that required the other to leave. We'll figure something out." Her eyes fell to her lap again. What was she thinking? He would give a bit more than a penny to figure this riddle out.

She seemed to be calming down now. Her shoulders weren't as stiff and she appeared to be leaning towards Duo. He put an arm around her and squeezed a little. She gave him a small smile. Heero felt those bitter feelings of jealousy beginning to consume him again. Duo had a knack for causing this, and Rei seemed to be the reason every time.

"Thank you, Duo. I don't know why I got so angry. Maybe it was because of Derek and all." She didn't look as if she cared to explain the situation. He'd have to probe Duo's mind to find out everything he could about this Derek and what he was to Rei.

The sound of a throat clearing brought their attention to the doorway. A very happy Trowa was standing there with his arm casually draped around a blushing blonde's waist.

So this must be the mysterious Minako. She wasn't nearly as stunning as Rei, but beautiful all the same. He couldn't recall a time he'd seen Trowa's hair evenly ruffed up on both sides.

"I expect an explanation from the both of you." Duo's voice took on a strict mocking tone and Rei elbowed him in the ribcage.

"Quit teasing me, you brat!" she proceeded to whisper threats in his ear.

"Seriously now," Duo gave a small cough, "Minako I'm happy that you and Trowa hit it off. Trowa this is Rei, and Minako this is Heero." All parties gave slight nods in each others' direction. Rei was blushing! What was this? She couldn't possibly be thinking that Trowa was attractive, could she?