"I need to see Rei… please."
The assassin crossed her arms over her chest. She glared down the staircase like an indomitable tree, refusing to wield. It was too dark to read her facial features, but she appeared to be weighing the pros and cons of Minako's request.
Uncomfortable silence weighed down the air. Rei's crows hadn't even come to greet her. Minako was beginning to think Rei wasn't here and the taller woman was just messing with her.
"Follow me," she reluctantly answered.
Mina practically flew up the staircase. Her excitement over seeing Rei again quickly diminished once she stood in the assassin's shadow. Rei's comrade looked like she wanted to smile, but darkness pressed her lips into a constant frown.
Minako refused to let one person's foul mood affect her. The popstar offered her hand for what she hoped would be a friendly handshake. "Nice to meet you! I'm—"
"Everyone knows who you are." She shook Mina's hand with a hard grasp. Minako had to swallow a yelp of pain. "Kino Makoto. I'll bring you to Rei."
Makoto's hair was pulled back into a ponytail, showing off the rose earrings she wore. Her voice was on the deep side, but still feminine, and her facial features were soft. She had a kind, domestic air about her, though it was shrouded beneath something that made Minako uneasy.
"Where is everyone?" Mina whispered as she started following Makoto through Hikawa Shrine.
"Sent home," she answered.
The vague response didn't settle well with Minako. "But Rei's here, right?"
"Sort of."
Sort of?
The despair in Makoto's voice gave Minako pause. Something wasn't right. A nagging feeling in the pit of Mina's stomach told her something was wrong, but she was too afraid to ask. "So… How well do you know Rei?"
"About as well as she lets anyone know her." Makoto looked back at Mina over her shoulder and offered a subtle smile. "Well, almost anyone."
The knowing smile made Minako wonder what Rei had told her about their strange relationship. She couldn't imagine Rei would say anything directly; her pride wouldn't allow it. Perhaps Makoto was fishing for information. Or, like most trained assassins, unusually intuitive.
Either way, Minako decided to change the topic. "You're an assassin too, right? You were with Rei that night."
"Yeah. And that's the only reason I'm not killing you on sight. Follow me." Makoto's demeanor shifted once more. With her long legs, she assumed a brisk pace towards the rear end of the shrine grounds. Minako recognized where they were heading; the meditation room with the sacred flames.
"Did she say why she saved me?" Mina pressed while nearly jogging to keep up. "I heard she's killed other templars, so it can't be because she's squeamish or adverse to killing."
"No, she didn't say."
"Who did she kill?" Minako realized she never researched Rei's targets as requested the last time they met. She was too distracted with her tour, worrying over Michiru's true intentions, and trying without success to forget about Rei.
"A pimp and a couple of drug lords," Makoto absently responded while looking up at the moon. "The problem with templars is they grow like weeds. Pull one out and another takes its place."
"I'll try not to take offense to that," Sailor V grumbled.
"Controlling people through music instead of drugs or sex doesn't make you any less guilty, you know."
Minako frowned. Makoto's pointed criticism cut to the heart of her personal dilemma. She considered sharing her plan now, but decided against it. Rei needed to be the first person she spoke to about this.
They walked the remainder of the short path in tense silence. The closer they came to their destination, the more rigid Makoto became. Dread weighed Minako down like a weighted shawl.
Something was definitely wrong.
"Where are the crows?" Minako asked as Makoto approached the closed sliding door.
Makoto stared at the ground. In one fluid motion, she revealed the meditation room. Stifling heat poured from the open doorway, as if relieved to be free of its confinement. The rush of heat made Minako frown. No longer concerned with being discovered, she released her golden hair from inside the hood. She was tempted to take the hooded sweatshirt off, but her Piece of Eden was in the front pocket and she had left in such a hurry she had forgotten her purse.
Makoto stood against the doorframe and gestured for Mina to enter first. Swallowing the apprehensive lump in her throat, the popstar tiptoed into the room.
The first person she noticed was not Rei. It was the other woman who attended the concert; a tall and curvy figure, with hair that boasted shiny emerald notes. A shadow cast over her eyes, but Minako recognized the stern line of her lips. She looked to be about as serious as Rei. But her distance was wrought of concern, not revenge.
She was looking down at an angle, staring at a slumped form sitting in front of the fire. A thin blanket wrapped around a seated person. Only a nest of tousled raven hair poked above it.
"Rei?" Minako whispered in utter disbelief.
The older woman standing beside the fire came to attention. She straightened. "Why did you bring this templar here?"
Makoto shut the door behind her and shrugged. "She wanted to see Rei."
"Hino-san is not accepting visitors," Setsuna calmly tried overriding her comrade's decision.
"I think Rei would make an exception," the other assassin argued.
"Can't Rei speak for herself?" Minako asked while forcing herself to stare at the unresponsive figure's back.
"Rei is… unwell," Setsuna vaguely answered.
That sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach returned. She knew it. There was something wrong with Rei. But what? Was she sick? Injured?
Minako tried to step closer to inspect Rei, but her feet were glued to the ground. "Rei? Can I talk to you for a minute?"
No response.
"You need to leave," Setsuna warned. She wasn't threatening or angry. In fact, she seemed worried and exhausted.
"Let her stay for a little while," Makoto objected once more.
Minako couldn't begin to guess why Makoto was championing for her, but she got the impression that being on the other woman's bad side was a terrible idea.
"I don't wanna cause any trouble. I just wanted to talk to Rei. In fact, I—" The idol stopped herself. She couldn't expose her idea to these two strangers. It had to be Rei. "I won't cause trouble. I swear."
Setsuna's shadowed gaze turned to Makoto. The two assassins shared a silent battle of wills before Setsuna relented.
Minako shrunk beneath the tall woman's stature as Setsuna approached. "Your Piece of Eden. For insurance. Remove your sweatshirt as well."
Sailor V tensed. Sometimes she wished to be rid of the mask. It caused nothing but trouble. Its presence was a constant reminder of her predicament. But the thought of relinquishing it to a stranger put her on edge.
Knowing that she wanted to be on their good side, and caring more about seeing Rei than anything else, Minako handed it over.
While Setsuna buried the mask in one of her labcoat's front pockets, Makoto yanked on her top.
"Hey, gentle!" Minako playfully countered to shield her grimace. The sudden movement sent jolts of pain up her side from her tender wound. The dressing was concealed beneath her yellow tank top. Minako hoped they wouldn't notice, but Setsuna began patting her down.
Minako bit her bottom lip when the flat of Setsuna's hand pressed against her bandages. If the assassin felt it, she said nothing. The weapons check continued for another minute. Setsuna even made Minako open her mouth and show she wasn't hiding anything beneath her tongue.
Satisfied, Setsuna nodded. "Five minutes."
Minako remained frozen in place, even after the two women left and they were awarded a few minutes of privacy. Rei's seated form began rocking back and forth. Jilted, skittish whispers filled the space between each crackle of the fire. The words were indecipherable, but each sound was loaded with agony.
Gathering her courage, Minako forced herself between Rei and the fire. The flames nearly licked her back, but she refused to waver. She had to see Rei.
The blanket was loose around her shoulders. The layer of protection was so thin it was transparent. Minako saw the outlines of Rei's pale curves beneath it. Rei was completely naked.
Minako tried diverting her gaze, but Rei's face was even more vulnerable. It was sweaty, distant, and frightened beyond reason.
Hino Rei wasn't herself at all.
Minako knelt down in front of her, blocking Rei's view of the fire. The Shrine Maiden looked through her, as if she weren't even there.
"Rei?"
More hushed whispers and trembling shoulders. Minako leaned closer, as close as she dared. Still, Rei did not react. She strained her ears, but failed to understand the noises escaping Rei's lips.
"Hey… What's wrong? Rei?"
"My baby… My baby Rei… I left her there…"
"What? Your baby?" Rei's whispers were soft, but Minako was positive she'd heard right. She doubted Rei had a baby named after herself, but Mina couldn't say for certain. Rei had been secretive, but still… it was difficult to believe.
Rei only trembled, so Minako tried again. "You have a baby named Rei? Who is her father?"
"She has no father, now…"
Minako realized she should have asked more questions before the others left. Had Rei completely lost her mind? Was she reliving some sort of trauma? Was this state temporary, or…?
Minako shook her head. She couldn't let her mind wander down that rabbit hole. She had to focus on the present, and do her best to be here for Rei.
The popstar reached for Rei's hands, but the delirious assassin quickly pulled them away.
"Stop! Can't you see the blood?!"
Before Minako realized what was happening, Rei began shrieking and convulsing. Her body, so much frailer than Minako remembered, twitched harder than Minako thought possible.
"Rei! Rei, stop!" Minako yelled above her shrieks. She grabbed Rei's shoulder to contain her, but it only worsened Rei's condition.
"I'm not… I'm…" Rei's hands flung up, squeezing both sides of her head. She pressed her hands into her temples, yelling more nonsensical sounds.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Calm down!" Minako's heart ached. Rei's eyes were wide and wild, sunken and puffy. Anguish and trauma consumed the Shrine Maiden. This wasn't the person Minako had spent the last four months longing for.
While Minako was unsuccessfully trying to calm Rei, Makoto and Setsuna rushed back into the room. Makoto shoved Minako away from Rei, giving her space to constrict Rei with a tackle.
Setsuna observed from a safe distance while Minako struggled to catch her breath. Being dumped on her rear agitated her wound, but she was too worried about Rei to pay it any attention.
Pity and nausea twisted her stomach into knots, cramping harder every time Rei screamed and kicked.
It took another long, agonizing minute before Rei finally relaxed in Makoto's bear hug.
"Shh…" Makoto whispered as Rei went limp. Like a switch, she was catatonic again.
"What—What's wrong with her?" Minako forced herself to ask.
With Rei temporarily docile, Setsuna approached and checked her pulse. "Have you ever been inside an Animus before?"
Minako shook her head. "No."
During her training, Minako was forced to read all sorts of documentation about the Animus. She had a basic understanding of how it worked, what the templars and assassins used it for, and how awful some of the side effects could be.
"You have an Animus? Here?" she blurted, even though she didn't care at all about that.
"Rei spent too much unregulated time in the Animus," Setsuna began without answering Minako's question. They watched as Makoto carefully laid Rei's damp, naked body on the tatami mattress on the floor. Makoto was careful to keep Rei veiled by the blanket.
"My hypothesis is that Rei is trapped inside of her father's memory, shortly after he murdered Risa."
"She thinks she's Takashi?" Minako's eyes darkened with another layer of pity. Rei would be so irritated to know she was being pitied.
"Wait," Minako paused. "I thought the Animus only worked for dead ancestors."
"I modified ours," Setsuna casually said before she beset Minako with the same suspicious look from earlier. "Now I'll have to ask you to leave."
"What?" Minako's adrenaline spiked. She felt her heartbeat increasing. She couldn't leave Rei like this. And if she had to fight both of these assassins to prove her point, she would. "I can't leave Rei now."
"I told you," Makoto chuckled while casting Setsuna a smug grin.
In spite of the grave scenario, Minako felt blush creep up her neck.
"Why should we trust you alone with Rei?" Setsuna pragmatically asked. Minako got the impression Setsuna did not have an opinion on her, or whatever her relationship with Rei might be. She only concerned herself with safety and security.
"Because I—" Mina paused. "Because I care about Rei… very much. Let me help, please! You have my Piece of Eden, and I don't have any weapons. I don't even have a cell phone. I'll watch over her tonight so you two can rest."
Minako had no plans of leaving tomorrow either, but she kept that part to herself. As much as it pained her, she looked over at Rei. The delirious assassin laid on her side, tendrils of raven hair splayed out all around her, eyes glazed.
"She may never recover," Setsuna solemnly cautioned. "She has been trapped in this state for three days now."
Three days trapped inside of a nightmare? Tears stung Mina's eyes as she observed Rei's comatose state.
"She hasn't slept or eaten anything," Makoto whispered. "If she doesn't snap out of it, she'll… Damn you, Rei! What were you thinking?!"
Makoto threw a frustrated fist into the air while Setsuna shook her head. Minako had her own assumptions about why Rei would dive into the Animus for unrecommended periods of time while they were separated, but she kept those thoughts to herself.
"Please, please let me stay," Minako begged. "I'll do anything to prove you can trust me."
"Rei trusts you. That's good enough for me," Makoto said. She turned to Setsuna, who withstood their pleading for a few silent seconds before conceding with a nod.
"Need something to eat?" Makoto offered. "Change of bandages?"
Minako's hand flew to her side. "You know about that?"
Makoto grinned. "Well, yeah. It's all over the news."
Minako dropped her head to the floor sheepishly. "You knew who tried to assassinate me, don't you?"
The assassin shook her head. "We knew there would be coordinated attempts by our associates. But it's pretty much impossible to know everyone in the sisterhood all over the world."
"Right…" Minako felt foolish for asking. Of course they knew about what happened. They probably helped organize it."I'm not hungry."
"We will be next door if you need anything. If we hear any disturbances we will be right over."
Too stunned to give her thanks, Minako watched the two assassins slip out of the room. Even after the door was closed behind them, she remained frozen, barely hearing the crackling of the fire.
She didn't know what she was doing or what she was thinking. If the assassin's genius doctor and Rei's best friend couldn't save her, what chance did Minako have? They hadn't seen or spoken to each other in months; for all Mina knew Rei never wanted to see her again.
But that kiss… It was too passionate. Too vulnerable. Too emotional for Rei to have no feelings for her.
Minako was here, ready to sacrifice everything to be with Rei… And Rei wasn't cognizant.
Rei wasn't even here.
Driven by the memory of their last kiss, Minako prepared for bed. There wasn't much to do without her cabinet filled with skin care and oral hygiene products. Reminded again of how woefully unprepared she was, Minako shrugged it off. She was here for Rei, nothing else.
Minako peeled off her tight pants. Depositing them with her sweatshirt, she took a sigh of relief. It was still unbearably hot, but Minako wasn't about to bare anything more than her legs. In a tank top and panties, she lowered herself to the floor beside Rei and the mattress. Moving as carefully as possible to not upset Rei or her stitched wound, Minako slipped beneath the thin blanket.
There was only a single pillow, covered with strands of raven hair. Using it as an excuse to be close to Rei, Minako laid on her side, facing Rei, sharing the same pillow. The Shrine Maiden's body was as unnaturally hot as Mina recalled, only now it was drained of the energy that sustained it. Her body was a pile of dead ashes, waiting to be blown away.
"This isn't exactly how I imagined our first night together," Minako joked.
Rei did not react. Her eyes were violet voids, not moving or blinking.
"Rei…" Mina reached for her hand. The skin was clammy. "Rei, please come back. I know you're in there somewhere. There's… There's something I need to tell you. A couple of things, I guess."
Nothing. Minako traced the moist callouses on the inside of her palm, then the smoother skin on the back of her hand. Rei's skin did not prickle or twitch in response. Minako would have thought she were dead, if it weren't for the steady rise and fall of her chest.
"I was thinking… Well, I had a plan. I haven't told anyone. I'm waiting for you. I can see your suspicious eyes. Or maybe you'll just tell me it's a stupid idea. It probably is, too. But I don't care. It's the only way I can think of for us to be together. I know it doesn't make much sense and we barely know each other, but I think I'm-" A lump rose in her throat, preventing her from continuing.
Nothing but the fire to witness her confession, and Minako still couldn't put voice to her feelings.
Rei remained an unresponsive statue.
What did her plan, or her feelings, matter, if Rei never recovered?
The hopelessness of their situation caught up to Minako. She choked back a sob, but was powerless against the tears pouring from her eyes.
None of this was supposed to happen. They never should have met. Minako wasn't meant to be a templar. She just wanted to sing again; not get herself wrapped up in a centuries-old power struggle over the fate of mankind. Nothing made sense anymore… Least of all her feelings for the brooding, mysterious Shrine Maiden who pushed her away one minute, then filled her dressing room with flowers the next.
Just when Minako didn't think she could stand Rei's vacant expression any longer, the empty eyes disappeared behind closed lids.
"Rei?" Fearing the worst, Mina gently pressed her hand against Rei's chest above the blanket. Deep, steady breaths told Minako she was sleeping. Makoto said she hadn't slept in three days.
At least Rei could have a brief respite from reliving the constant nightmare of her mother's murder. In slumber, Rei's visage remained stern. Her eyebrows were furrowed, and her lips pursed in a slight frown. Staring at her face, Minako almost forgot their desperate predicament.
She indulged in a romantic fantasy. Rei succumbing to exhaustion beside her, naked and sweating from hours of passionate love-making. Rei had surprised Minako with her dedication to caressing and memorizing every inch of Minako's body. For her part, Minako's tenacity and aggression caught Rei off guard. They were polar opposites, but amazingly compatible in both nature and form. Rei's smaller frame fit perfectly against hers.
There were no assassins or templars. No factions. No wars.
Only red and orange flames, dancing together into the long hours of the night.