A/N: n.n Updating early to compensating for updating semi-late last time...(plus, I have free time so...:shrug:)

DaughterofAtweaker- I wonder that every day. :nodnod:

DarkElena- XP there seems to be a trend with you and long reviews lately; is it to last? Not complaining of course.

:laughs at being called Evil Incarnate: ... :pauses as I realize how that might be interpreted: XP Oh wells. You know, I never quite realized or acknowledged just how much of a trip I get out of being called Evil or a relation thereof. :sighs happily:shakes head and moves on:

And how is the mother of all cliffhangers not a cliffhanger? And if there were cliffhangers before how could the mother come after? XP Ignore me- you made me happy.

It is indeed questionable concerning Rei's exclusive access to the goods... but that's where the fun in wondering lies. XP Maybe the tooth fairy got it for her. (When I was little, instead of money, the "tooth fairy" would leave me SM 'trading' cards.. 9.9)

I once heard that there are two kinds of drunk: silly drunk and angry drunk. Now since I'm already of the impression that Usagi is already pretty silly and she blows up planets when she's angry (and of course, given that she still has the power to do so) it leaves me to believe it's time for her to be a frontier drunkard. Oh the possibilities... :D...:evil glint:

And everyone shall get drunk... Usagi will just get the /most/ drunk. n.n

:wonders what awkward mental images popped into your head: ... :decides my /innocent/ lil mind does not need to hear it:

You know, about the Special Act, what I'm wondering is... what did Motoki say when Makoto took his car and went off to gosh knows where? And did it get damaged in the resulting fight? And also... if it worked with Rei and Usagi not being there by "their hearts are with us" Why didn't it work when it was just Mako- /everybody's/ heart is with me? Three is better than one, I guess? Blah. I could go on and on about the perplexity that the special act leaves me with... 9.9 So I won't.

Gah! First it's a cleaver and then it's a whip! XO! Spare me! Hmm... :wonders about injecting a certain something into the drinking party:... ah... no... better not. :whistles innocently:

royal destiny- n.n Now that, m'dear, may be subject for a plot twist.

pretend2besome1- n.n Well, I guess I have to accept that, then, huh:nods about Makoto and Motoki: How about Motoki and the guy friend he set up with Rei? The turtle duo... won't have to worry about hiccups then. n.n And the hardest part about creating an interesting cliffhanger is trying to decide how to appropriately finish it off. :sigh: I /will/ get better at that... I hope.

Cheeruplilemokid- n.n Thanks for that. :pauses to praise the ego stuff: nn...:looks up at DarkElena's review: Now /that/ one went into my mini-archives-of-happy-moments. My ego is invisible, so I can never tell what affects it. :sighs and snaps fingers:

TeresaKaiju- :thinks about Usagi's phrase: I didn't actually say Usagi was intending to /tell/ on Makoto, did I? But Usagi's a regular grapevine all on her own, so when she visits, she tells people about the latest thing- and how can she leave out Minako's semi-welcome-back party? Of course, she /could/ say that they just tickled and nothing was confessed... but doesn't Usagi seem like the kind of person that if she's talking at all you can tell when she wants to say something else but can't? I figure a few years living with Makoto would help sharpen his catch-light-hints-in-facial-expressions radar. So... "if I can't tell him about the confession, what /do/ I say?"

:thinks about Ami: It might've worked if all Mako wanted was a fling or just to test "what could have been"... but then she clearly says that /isn't/ what she wants... so... :shrugs helplessly: What's a moral married woman to do? Or the similarly moral woman that that woman loves to do?

Well... if I recall correctly... some people... when drunk... wake up forgetting just what exactly happened while they were drunk, and possibly a little of what happened before that. Usagi being a simple person, wouldn't surprise me if she was very susceptible to any results of drinking... and so, given a few hints and misleading directions during the course of the night and after, she may end up convincing herself that they were going down to get some extra snacks, saw a couple in the distance that they didn't know, stayed a little, and then moved on. Aside from not recognizing them, it's not entirely false... 9.9

n.n And I do try- though glare versus puppy-pout sorta reminds me of Natsuki and Shizuru yet again. :shrugs helplessly:

Have you noticed that angst and all relations thereof really aren't up my alley? So it's bound to be rough and a little nonsensical in places... XP The fact that I don't get into fights and don't really have any experience whatsoever in those tough situations doesn't really help matters. So bear with me, and wait for the fluffy comedy. n.n

Lokiador- Well, I don't know if they'll be /convinced/ but... teasing /will/ ensue, I'm sure, if only just to keep the heat off of what just happened btn Ami and Mako... Ah yes, the early problems... :sigh: don't we all try to forget we have them? I /will/ get back to it though... and you know, emotional entanglement, once worked out, may create a pathway to the best alternate solution... 9.9 which I haven't figured out yet.

Hopeless-Savage86- And I'm beginning to realize why they don't (go into PGSM Ami/Mako) hmm... but that makes me feel intrigued to see if it might work given the right circumstances... Feelings/emotions are some of my favorite things to describe. n.n So yay that it works out well.

Trp0522- :innocent grin: who says she didn't? It might've been off camera... say... when you were focused on what was happening between the idol and fan... 9.9

swear, there are just too many girls in PGSM. It's even "worse" that so many of them can act subtly (or not) interested in someone else. It's a pity so much of it seems unrequited though.

GB Keeper- Well mothers seem to do it all the time as do teenagers, so what's stopping them from continuing inbetween? XP I'm curious to know, too, but they don't wanna tell me... : Well, more like I forgot to ask but... :shrug:

:counts: Well, that's 90 reviews for 9 chapters for a total of 5000+ hits. n.n Okay, you win, I'll get started on chapter ten... (Gah, took up two pages /again!)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that isn't mine to own.

Chapter Ten

The end result? Makoto and Ami came in all cheers to see Minako half-pinning and half-lying-on-top-of Rei.

"Oh-ho... looks like the party's already started huh? And to think you're alcohol free now too...!"

But Rei had once again blocked out the world. Minako's long hair framed her face, providing a shroud of darkness, preventing others from seeing how their eyes met, their lips parted, dreams flashing before them in a flurry of desire...

Rei could feel the blood flooding her face.

Minako, for all her experience, kept hers just a tad over a light blush, but as if to compensate, her eyes smoldered with something... far deeper, far more intense, than just a blush.

"Uh, guys?"

It was indeterminable who truly snapped out of it first, but being on top, Minako hurriedly rolled over and away once she did, mumbling a small apology that only Rei could really catch. She sat up and faced the other way, mumbling in turn that no need, it was her fault, too.

They noticed how quiet it was. They looked around.

Mako and Usagi were giving them knowing looks, while Ami was trying to busy herself by setting out more cups.

"W-what!" Rei spluttered, unable to do anything else. She looked at Usagi. And then made a mad dash to try to clear up and put away her collection.

Which, of course, snapped Usagi back into action as she openly protested, "Hey! I wanted to show Mako-chan too! What are you doing!"

Which, of course, got Mako-chan interested, not having noticed the messy sprawl of things near the closet from her position at the door. She eagerly rushed into the fray.

Which, of course, in turn caused Rei to get even more defensive, acting like she just wanted to gather it all up and throw it away, when she was really thinking along the lines of, If they mess with it this much the merchandise is going to get damaged! Hands off, Usa!

The amusing thing is, Minako wasn't sure what to do, held idle as she watched the trio. Her first instinct was to hold Rei back so the others could peaceably get at the collection- which she, too, wanted to see, but after what just happened, the very thought of being next to the priestess was embarrassing.

The great Minako Aino, embarrassed into a state of immobility? Surely not!

Which naturally meant, that was exactly the case at hand.

When Usagi tried to grab her most favorite piece of all, a thankfully-unlabeled tape of Minako's Christmas photo shoot (that she had confiscated from a certain perverted cop...), Rei had had it. Slapping her hands on the tatami mat (absently careful not to smash any merchandise still lying around) she declared, "Enough! Leave my stuff alone!"

Usagi unconsciously yelped and retracted her hands to her chest as if bitten. She pouted at Rei. Makoto was also wondering if they had gone too far, but understandably backed off.

Rei sighed, realizing that might have been a bit much. She mumbled as a way of apology as she put the things casually into the box, "I'll let you look at it later, if you promise to be careful with it."

Which instantly perked Usagi up as she agreed. Minako smiled a little at Rei's surrender to the princess of their circle. Few could stand seeing Usagi sad- though this was more of a matter of whiny-Usagi vs. impatient-Usagi... which was questionably different. It should be, at least. Subtly.

Mako-chan, as way of distraction, raised her voice to herd everyone back to the table for a toast. Makoto declared as they all held their cups up- traditional tea cups (I don't think they're called cups... but you know what I mean) filled with the alcoholic blend of sake and something stronger, "Here's to Minako's successful return to Japan!"

Which led to everyone chiming in afterwards with, "Bonzai! (I dunno... Kanpai? Cheers? Whatever...)"

After they all took the first bittersweet gulp, Ami asked, having realized that what happened between her and Mako would be ignored provided the incident between Minako and Rei was similarly ignored, "So Minako-chan... how long will you be here, again?"

Minako smiled a little, memories of her first night back returning to her. She took another gulp. "It's tentative at a week, but if circumstances change, I might stay longer."

Rei's eyes widened in alarm. Usagi voiced her thoughts. "Only a week! Why? You're back again- why do you have to leave so soon!"

Minako gave her a patient smile as another sip-type-gulp brought the idol and the alcohol together again. "My manager wants to see how well I'll do in America, considering how well known I already am in Europe."

It came out before Rei could stop it. She growled, "Then why did you bother coming back here at all!"

Stunned by the harshness of her words, as the other ex-Senshi felt that any time with Minako was fine, especially after so long, the others watched in silence for Minako's answer.

Minako sighed, turning towards Rei. "Didn't I say it was tentative? Having a private jet means there's no problem really if I don't go on time."

Rei was silent, though the three other heads had turned to her as if passively watching a tennis match. Eventually, she answered the serve. "Then don't. Don't go."

Minako shook her head. "If nothing's here to hold me down, I'm not allowed to stay."

Usagi intervened, "Can't you stay for us? For your fans in Japan?"

Minako suddenly felt very fatigued. She set her cup down. "My fanbase, according to the website, currently stretches across the globe. I have no more professional obligation to this country as I do to any other."

Rei's fists shook as she fought to keep from reaching forward and shaking the idol. Then, limply, she let them unravel. "Is that all your home country means to you anymore? Just another place where you have fans?"

Minako stood up, too suddenly to stop a head rush, but she ignored it. With a simple, "I have to use the restroom," she excused herself from their company.

It got quiet.

In a very obvious sort of way.

Usagi stage whispered, "Rei-chan, are you okay?"

Rei glared at her, and brought the drink to her lips.

Lips that only this morning had touched the idol's.

She let the cup collide with the table, stable only because of her death grip on it the whole way down. Rei sighed.

In an attempt to change the subject, Rei asked, "Ami-chan, did anything interesting happen at work lately?"

Ami was a little jarred by the change of pace, but recovered fairly well. "Ah, mm, well... oh! Since we were a little understaffed at the time do to sick-calls and everything, I helped deliver a baby earlier today."

"Really! That's so cool! Was it a boy or a girl?" Usagi obligingly helped changed the course of discussion.

As Ami got into it, Minako leaned against the hallway wall, the door separating her from the others still closed.

It was too much. Was the Goddess of Love really reaching out for her now? When up until now, all that had come of it were impossible dreams?

She sank down to the floor, folding her arms over her knees. Why was it all happening now? All accidents, to be sure, but it was wrong... so wrong... to think that Rei might feel the same... that she wasn't imagining that look in her eyes... most likely just a reflection of her own.

Minako stopped. Did Rei know? Know how she felt about her best friend?

Her head fell to rest on her arms, thinking about all the instances that had occurred since her arrival.

Rei waiting for her, knowing she'd look there if nowhere else.

Rei welcoming her back, with that sweet smile.

Rei buying her favorite tea for her, even though she personally hated that kind.

Rei accidentally picking out lingerie instead of innocent sleepwear.

Rei falling asleep in the middle of the two futons, also foregoing the chance to see Minako walk in wearing aforementioned sleepwear.

Sleeping next to Rei, curled into a possessive half-embrace...

Breathing in her scent... breathing her breaths... watching her angelic sleeping face...

Dreaming and yet not dreaming of a similar situation involving her...

Waking up to find that Rei was panicking over being caught in bed with her... oversleeping...

Watching just barely enough without getting caught... watching Rei strip in front of her...

Changing with the realization that Rei was returning the gesture...

Sitting beside Rei, touching her in concern, not noting her unfinished clothing process...

Hearing her student ask if they were lovers... and not helping wish that she could say 'yes'...

Letting slip on the radio that her mind was occupied by a certain someone... in the next room...

Rei slamming her head up just in time to catch her in a chaste kiss... one that blissfully stung for a few moments...

Rei teaming up with her to tease Makoto and Usagi... taking her side against Usagi's wishes...

Usagi insinuating that the love between them was obvious and yet they were too dense to notice...

And that moment, when Minako had fallen over Rei and was in position to...

Behind the curtain of solitude, Minako allowed herself a moment to fully blush to compensate for all the times it didn't reach the surface.

"Rei..." Minako leaned her head against the wall, thunked it for bad measure, and stood up. This was no way for an idol to be behaving. Taking a deep breath, she returned to the others, not the least bit better for wear than when she had left.

--OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO--

As the night wore on, there were the good points, and the bad points, the details of which can only be left to an outsider's imagination.

Makoto and Ami did succeed in producing a drunk Usagi. They did not foresee that doing so would produce a... (cough) a not so innocent princess.

Dealing with the problems of the aforementioned drunk persona conveniently convinced Minako and Rei that good efforts were to be rewarded by getting drunk themselves.

The 'getting drunk' part had not actually been their focus. They happened to be considering the 'reward' end of the bargain.

While Makoto made sure they all stayed inside, early on, Ami went out for a few more bottles, just to clinch the deal, as well as some useful hangover combinations and food that wasn't entirely unhealthy.

Once it was clear that no one had intentions of driving home that night (it was already approaching midnight by then), rooms were assigned, more drinks were had, more frisky actions were done, a few judo moves executed, a handful of restraining pile-ups... and let's just say, by the end of the night, the bathroom was used far more than once, for far more than one purpose.

Rei, in hindsight, would have probably been very grateful that they received no midnight callers in person or on the phone. Her reputation would have surely been shot down and mobbed.

For more than one purpose, again.

Moving on...

Usagi, in remembrance of her kicking power when under the stupor of 'sleep', was hauled into a room all by her lonesome, though Rei grudgingly gave up one of her lesser Minako-chan dolls to keep the princess company. Lesser meaning it was easily washable if she had it returned to her with slumber slobber.

An hour or two after that, Makoto and Ami helped move the table over to some inconspicuous area so Rei and Minako's futons could be set next to each other.

Followed by Makoto and Ami wandering off to their own assigned room to sleep off the effects of the party.

Which left the last few sips and chips to go to the Love and Passion duo, afore they fell down against each other, slowly sinking down to the sheets...

A/N: At which point I leave you in peace. n.n Happy dreaming :heart: And no, in the future, I do not plan to get into detail about what happened that night. So it's entirely up to you to interpret as you will. n.n Use your imagination wisely! Whatever that means...