Shrine 4

Over the next few weeks the five girls continued to meet up when their schedules aligned. Sometimes they would head over to the game center if they were free after school, other times they would go to Rei's shrine to sit and snack. They even went to the movies one weekend to see a terribly cheesy romance that Rei would have been fine never seeing. Everyone else seemed into it, even Ami who blushed fiercely at the ending kiss.

Through it all Rei felt strangely light. For once she had people around her who didn't pity her for her mother's death or suck up to her because of her father's position. She grouped up with Ami and Makoto in class and chatted with them easily. When Minako and Serena came for lunch she joined every day instead of every other. She even looked forward to her little matches with Minako in PE. Either Minako kept her teasing light or Rei's tolerance towards it had grown, because she enjoyed most of her time with the other girl.

Rei had yet to go to a volleyball game. Most weekdays she hurried back to the shrine to help her grandfather, and there had been no weekend games since she had agreed to go to one. The regular season ended and the playoff schedule was set, with their school's team due to play on a Saturday. The Friday before the game Minako pestered Rei about going, and Rei assured the other girl that she would be there.

While tending to the shrine that evening Rei wondered what an actual volleyball match with serious competitors would look like. Facing Minako in gym class had shown Rei a glimpse of how well Minako could play, but she was sure that the other girl could reach another level against better competition. She found herself curious to see the full extent Minako's skills. Her serves had been incredible. More impressively she had taken a team of half-interested teens playing because they had to and been able to enforce some amount of structure and discipline onto them. Rei could easily imagine Minako's voice directing her team to set them up in the right positions.

Rei blinked and realized she wasn't imagining anything. She could hear Minako's voice across the courtyard of the shrine. She turned and there Minako was, walking with Rei's grandfather towards Rei. She watched them approach in disbelief. When they were close enough she greeted the blonde.

"Minako."

"Rei," Minako returned with a smile.

"Well there she is," her grandfather said. "I should get going before she yells at me. You know how she gets."

"Do I ever," Minako said and Rei glared at them both.

Her grandfather laughed and scurried away before Rei could say anything. She sighed.

"What are you doing here?" she asked as she started for the kitchen. "I already said I would go to your game tomorrow."

Minako followed her. "Maybe I just wanted to see you. Do I need a reason?" she asked.

"You always have one, even if it's just to annoy me," Rei said. Minako snorted but otherwise stayed silent and they reached the kitchen. Rei prepared a pot of tea and told Minako to grab snacks left over from one of their 'study' sessions. When the tea was done they moved to the fire room and sat across from each other. Rei frowned. Minako was being uncharacteristically quiet. Usually she would have suffered through half a dozen teasing remarks in the time it took them to get to the fire room. Either Minako really was easing off on her or something was weighing on the other girl's mind.

"So are you going to tell me what's wrong?" Rei asked. Minako looked surprised, then gave her half a smile.

"Nothing's really wrong, just..."

"Just what?"

"My parents are coming back. For a little while at least."

Rei blinked in surprise. She recalled what she knew of Minako's parents. They wanted Minako to have a somewhat traditional Japanese upbringing. They worked in a company together. They were ambitious to the point that they spent most of their time away from Minako, but had moved Minako when she had acted poorly at her previous school. They were too similar to her own father for Rei's comfort.

"Oh," she said. She wasn't sure what else there was to say. "When will that happen?"

"They get in tomorrow. They told me a few days ago."

"That's short notice," Rei said.

Minako shrugged. "I'm sure they were busy with work."

"And they didn't say how long they'd be in Japan?"

"No," Minako said. "They said they'd help get a team going before heading back to London, so however long that takes."

Rei tried to keep her face neutral. She could imagine the thoughts running through Minako's head. She had probably had similar thoughts about her father. She wasn't sure there was anything she could say that the blonde hadn't already thought of.

"Did they- did they talk about anything else?" Rei asked instead.

Minako shrugged. "Mom asked about school. I told her I passed all my midterms. She sounded surprised." She tried to smile but it looked bitter to Rei. "Dad told me to keep working hard."

"Minako..."

Minako cut her off. "Hey, let's not talk about them. I really came over just to see your pretty face."

"I think we should talk about them."

"It's fine. Really," Minako said. "Let's call up the others, see what they're up to."

Rei steeled herself. "When was the last time you saw them?" she asked.

Minako waved her hand airily. "I don't know, before I transferred? Come on, I'm gonna call Serena." She pulled out her phone but Rei reached over and put her hand on top of Minako's.

"Minako that was months ago."

Minako shrugged but she didn't move her hand or try to remove Rei's. "That's pretty normal for them. Sometimes I'll get a message checking up on me, but..."

"But what?"

Minako shrugged again. Rei took a deep breath.

"You said before that we both know what it's like to have distant parents, and my father is never around," Rei said. "But at least I have my grandfather. I'm not alone."

At that Minako pulled her hand away and frowned. "Neither am I. I have you and Serena and-

Rei cut Minako off. "Is that the same? We can listen to your troubles and try to help you and spend time with you, but does that change the fact that they don't? That your parents don't? Does it erase the anger, the inadequacy you feel when you think about them living a life that doesn't include you?"

Minako's breathing grew heavier and her jaw clenched but she didn't say anything.

"We both know that it doesn't" Rei said for her.

She swallowed against the lump in her throat. Her feelings towards her own father were surfacing and Rei struggled to understand how Minako coped with two absentee parents. Rei had her grandfather to come home to. As annoying as he could be, he also loved Rei unconditionally and was always willing to listen to Rei and share his own experiences with her. Who filled that role for Minako?

"This is why I didn't want to talk about it," Minako said shakily. "Nothing will change, they're just going to leave for London when they're done here. I know that. I've accepted that." She looked away. "I shouldn't have said anything."

"I'm glad you did say something," Rei said quietly. "You accused me of closing myself off and you know what? You were right. I didn't want to suffer the pain of abandonment again. If I didn't get close to anybody they couldn't hurt me. And my life was worse for that."

Rei looked away for a moment to collect her thoughts. She had grown so used to Minako's bright and teasing personality that she had almost forgotten her hidden tragedy. Minako had seemed so composed when she had shared her history with Rei. Rei knew now that the other girl still struggled with her relationship with her parents.

"Let me turn your words around at you," Rei said. "You shouldn't close yourself off. Let it all out." She met Minako's eyes and held her gaze. "I can handle it."

Minako considered her for a few moments. She opened and closed her mouth a few times, struggling with what to say.

"I guess I still want them to pay attention to me. I told you they threatened to put me in a school in London if I didn't improve?" Rei nodded. "Sometimes I wonder if I should fail on purpose, just so they do." She looked away from Rei. "They would have to see me if I were in London with them, right?"

Rei felt her anger rise. The irony and pain in Minako's voice told Rei the other girl didn't believe her own words. Rei's jaw clenched and her hands balled into fists. Minako wasn't supposed to sound like that, like her spirit had been crushed.

"They'd be around but they wouldn't see you, not really," Rei said. "They wouldn't know you."

Minako swallowed hard. "I know you're right, but I just… I just want them to care about me again."

Rei's temper flared out of control.

"You're a lot of things, Mina," she said. "You're annoying and a pest. You're excitable and irritating."

She leaned forward and with every word spoke more quickly, more urgently. "And you also have a big heart. You wanted to help me avoid the pain that you went through- that you're still going through. You're quick-witted, and personable, and a lot of fun to be around." Her breathing quickened, her anger at Minako's parents mixing with her anger at her own father.

"You said Serena and Ami and Makoto are special, well you are too. If your parents can't see that, then they don't deserve to have you as a daughter. Whatever happens with your parents they can't change what you are. If they come around and care about you, good. If they can't or won't, that's their loss. I said we can't replace your parents, and that's still true, but we do care about you, no matter what. Always remember that."

The silence after she finished rang in Rei's ears- or maybe it was her pulse, high as it had risen with her passion. She couldn't read the look Minako was giving her and she stiffened, suddenly aware of everything she had said. Had she crossed a line? Had she said too much? And what had she even said?

Fun to be around, personable, special? She had even admitted to caring about her. Rei knew her perception of Minako had changed as she learned more about the other girl but she hadn't realized by how much.

At the same time she knew that every word had been true. Minako had pushed into her life and changed it for the better. Rei never realized that she had been going through life on autopilot. Her life had consisted of school and shrine duties and she did both mechanically, never indulging in anything for her own enjoyment. She never let anyone close to her, sure that like her parents, they would leave. But now she looked forward to her time spent with her friends, and as for Minako- Rei couldn't imagine her life without that annoying blonde in it.

After a few moments Minako looked at her untouched tea. She looked deep in thought, like she was processing Rei's words. Rei hoped she took them to heart. It would be worth the embarrassment of expressing her authentic feelings if Minako felt better about her situation. When Minako finally looked up there was a familiar glint in her eye.

"You really think I'm special?" she asked, tone teasing.

Rei's face began to heat up but she lifted her chin and set her shoulders. She may as well let it all out while she was being honest. "There's a reason I keep responding to your provocations. You never cross any lines- push them, maybe, but never cross them. And when I'm around you I just… I just feel the need to keep up. And, especially lately, I've enjoyed our… I don't know, competition? Game?"

Minako looked surprised, probably not expecting Rei to continue to be serious. "Here I thought I was the only one having fun," she said. She looked away. "I'm glad I was wrong."

"I've been happier the past few weeks than I've ever been," Rei said. She knew her face must be bright red, but she soldiered on. "And you're the reason for that."

"If you keep praising me like that I might never leave your shrine," Minako said.

Despite her joke Rei noticed that the other girl's ears were red. Who knew the key to embarrassing Minako was genuine praise?

"You could try, but I know how to perform exorcisms on unwanted spirits," Rei returned.

Minako laughed quietly. After a beat she spoke. "Thank you, Rei. I really just wanted to take my mind off my parents tonight, but I'm glad you said something."

"I am too," Rei said quietly. "I'm… I'm glad you could open up to someone."

Minako looked away. "I don't think it could have been anyone else. Not many people could understand what it's like."

"Yeah," Rei said. "If you ever need someone to listen to you, or a place to stay for a night, well… we are a shrine after all. We're willing to help wayward souls."

"I appreciate that," Minako said with a smile. Her smile twisted into smirked. "And I'm sure that's only because you're a miko and not because you said you care about me."

"I don't know what you're talking about, your delusions are getting out of control," Rei said. Minako laughed and despite her returning blush Rei smiled. After such a heavy conversation it was nice to hear Minako laugh again, and Rei was glad that she was the one to make it happen.