So, long chapter this time! Thanks for all the lovely reviews, guys. I would adore it if you kept them coming x
And, I'll try to better my timing in between events, too =-)
"Whaat?!"
Makoto and Ami stared at their ribbion-headed friend in disbelief. No, in complete shock, even! Surely, what she was saying couldn't be true!
"Yep! It's so obvious!" Minako continued with a small giggle, dressed in a maroon jean jacket, orange long-sleeve, lavender neck scarf, and short, lavender skirt, and black converse. "Rei and Usagi totally like each other!"
They were all gathered around in a small semi-circle, in their usual spot in front of Hikawa Shrine. It was after school, and an orange-coloured sun descended down in multitudes of pinks, purples, and yellows of sky behind them. Neither the miko or the odango had arrived yet, and for right now, that was good.
The bluenette and the brunette faltered a moment more before regaining their composure and letting this information register. Mina had to be on some type of drug this time.
"But… how do you know that for sure?" Makoto asked with hands on her hips, skeptical in her long, below-knee tan khakis and tight, spring green long sleeve that was only covered by a dark chocolate leather jacket and complemented by brown slip-ons.
"Yes," Ami agreed in an aquatic blue sweater, white pull-over, round silver necklace, with a white knee-length pleated skirt and blue oxfords. She placed her palms on her chest in the discomfort of speaking up. "They are complete opposites and they are constantly bickering."
"And, Usagi is in love with Mamoru," Makoto added. "I hate to burst your bubble Mina, but I think you're wrong this time."
Minako shook her head vigorously and place a fist to her heart, refusing to doubt in herself. "Take it from the Goddess of Love, ladies!" She boasted, "They just argue to cover up the fact that they're crushing. Haven't you seen the way they look at each other when they think we're not paying attention? Haven't you noticed how close they are? They have a bond with each other that neither of them has with any of us!" She smirked.
"That doesn't mean anything." The brunette refuted. "They could just share a secret or something."
"Maybe you're looking too much into this," The bluenette beside her suggested.
"You'll see," Mina wiggled her finger and winked. "My plan for them to spend more time together is working! They'll be together in no time."
"Mina!" reprimanded Makoto, finally understanding her hidden implication.
"Do you mean to tell us that you insisted that Rei stay at Usagi's on purpose?" Ami asked dubiously, eyes wide and in further astonishment. She had been the one to articulate the idea, sure, but it had been Minako who had originally thought of it.
"Duh! Don't you get it?" Mina proclaimed with a grin, "It's perfect!"
Makoto placed a hand to her head in incredulity and disgrace toward the incarnation of Venus. "Oh, Mina… you can't promote something that isn't there!" She chastised. "Remember Mamouru-san? You keep forgetting that him and Usagi are a couple!"
The senshi of water pondered for a moment. "But, she does have a point," Ami declared after a moment, folding one arm and rising the other up to her chin.
Makoto looked up at Ami curiously. "She does?"
Minako blinked, wondering what she was referring to. "I do?"
"Yes," replied Ami thoughtfully. "Usagi and Rei are, in fact, much closer than any of us, even if they do tend to quarrel a lot. It wouldn't be completely impossible for them to have a relationship… given, of course, that they have feelings for one another."
"HA! IN YOUR FACE!" Mina pointed at Makoto, feeling triumphant and giving her a smug look.
Makoto seemed unphased. "So? Even if Rei did like Usagi(which I'm not saying she does), Usagi still cares a lot about Mamouru. It would take a lot for Usagi to develop feelings for anyone else, and she would have to first be attracted to Rei for that to even happen."
"…Which is why Rei is staying at Usagi's house instead of mine, yours, or Ami's." Mina explained profoundly. "See? The Goddess of Love has it covered!" She exclaimed confidently with another wink.
Ami suddenly frowned. "What if they do get together, though?" She entertained the possibility with a mixture of wonder and sympathy. "Mamouru-san will be left all on his own, with no one to go to."
"Oh!" She mused with a playful grin. "I have a solution for him, too!" She promised.
Makoto raised an eyebrow. "And, what if it doesn't work?"
"Just trust me!" Minako told them with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Don't worry about it. It'll all work out." And, then I'll be helping you two!
"What will? Is something the matter?"
The trio turned to see Rei standing with her arms folded, staring at them all in question. She had changed into blue jeans, black ankle boots, and a crimson red turtleneck, completely bare of arm bandages.
"You and U-" Ami started, but Makoto and Minako stumbled over to her and clasped both of their hands over the bluenette's mouth, cutting her words off into inaudible noises.
"No, no! Nothing's wrong!" Makoto tried to come up with something as a sweat-drop equally slid down the sides of her and Minako's head. They grinned nervously. "We were just…"
"I was just reassuring Ami how you and Yuuichiro were doing!" Minako invented on the spot. "We were worried that you and him had gotten into a dispute or something after your shrine was ripped to pieces!" She replied, trying to be as convincing and non-liar-like as humanly possible.
"Mmhm! Mmhm!" Makoto and Ami bobbed their heads up and down to confirm her words were truth, even though they weren't.
Rei raised an eyebrow and shot them all a suspicious look. "No.. we're fine…" She answered stonily, wondering what they were up to. They usually did this sort of thing and acted all weird when they were hiding something. And, the fact that she was not being told what it was meant that it was most likely about her.
For a moment, they were surprised she had bought their fib. There was a second of delay in reaction. "Good, good!" sang a relieved Minako. She removed her hand from Ami and sat both of her hands on Rei's shoulders in cheer. "I'm glad you guys are still in love!"
Rei narrowed her eyes and slight pink rose to her cheeks. "We're not.. in love.."
"Not yet!" Minako encouraged with a heart. "But, he certainly has a thing for you!"
Makoto inwardly sighed and placed her own hand back into a folded position. Ami sat down next to the thunder senshi on the middle shrine step and clasped her hands into her lap. So, Mina wanted to keep her root for Usagi and Rei a secret… they both wondered how long, exactly, she had been cheering for them behind the scenes, and how long ago she had sensed a spark there in the first place. No one would ever guess her ship for the two, the way she was teasing Rei about Yuuichirou now. Then again, Mina was rarely predictable anyway.
Rei looked away and bit her lip. She had always thought Yuuichirou was idiotic and funny, handsome, and even really sweet sometimes. But, he was more of a childish crush, and moreover, a second option. Because, the one Rei really loved… she could never have.
"So," interjected Makoto, bringing Rei back into the conversation, "Tell us more about what happened here."
"Yes… it's quite a lot of damage." Ami stared at the multiple holes on the complete left portion of the building, in every wall. The roof that had already partially caved in. Remarkably, the right side of the structure – the part that Gramps and Yuuichirou stayed in - still remained intact and unharmed. It was as if a tornado had just decided to damage Rei's half of the shrine, and leave all the rest still standing.
Rei nodded, turning serious. "You know how a weird youma attacked my house, right?"
The three of them nodded.
"Well, before the youma came, I felt this strange presence… I'm still not quite sure what it was. It wasn't completely human, but it wasn't a youma either. It wasn't completely evil presence…. But, something felt off about it."
"That's really weird." commented Makoto.
"I wonder what it was…" Minako said aloud, now turning stern as the discussion turned dutiful.
"Do you think that… person… or… whatever it was… was the one who unleashed the youma that attacked you and Usagi?" Ami inquired intelligently.
"Yeah… I'm almost positive. I sensed the youma immediately after that, and by then, the strange presence had disappeared."
"Hmm." Ami rubbed her chin.
"And, it seems that whoever we're dealing with is after something new, too. Something called 'Persona Flowers'." Rei added.
" 'Persona Flowers' "? They all repeated, wondering what they were and why the new enemy needed them.
"Do you think Luna and Artemis would know anything?" Mina offered after a moment. She glanced at her wristwatch. "They should be here by now."
"Speak of the devils," Makoto said, looking ahead.
And, as if on cue, Luna and Artemis came running toward them, a concerned expression among their feline faces.
"Hey, Artemis," greeted Mina when the two felines stopped in front of the sailor senshi.
"Hey, Luna," smiled Ami.
"We've got a question..." began Minako, "Have you guys ever heard of a 'Persona Flower'?"
Artemis and Luna shared knowing looks. "Yes.." hesitated Luna, "Why?"
"They seem to be our new enemy's target," explained Ami.
"What are they?" asked Rei.
"They're... well... they're you," Artemis said.
"Bits and pieces of your personality... who you are, how you act, what you like, what you dislike... the combination of all of the positive and negative things about yourself..." clarified Luna.
"...combined into a flower-like essence inside of you. They're inside everyone." continued Artemis.
"But.. how do you guys know about them?..." asked Makoto curiously.
"Queen Serenity taught us about them when we were living as the Princess' advisors in the Silver Millenium. She said we'd need to know about them someday."
"It seems she was right," marvelled Ami.
"But, nevermind that right now," Luna interjected, "We have a more important matter on our hands."
"We can't find Usagi," Artemis said pressingly.
Mixtures of surprise, confusion, and outright concern flashed across the senshis' faces.
Luna glanced around, then understood that her owner wasn't nearby. "We thought she'd be here with you."
"We thought she was with you," Ami replied equally.
"Yeah, I thought she was just running late again," Rei agreed irritably. Now, she was beginning to worry. If Usagi wasn't here with them and hadn't been with Luna, and hadn't made it here by now…
"Where could she possibly be?" asked Luna, understandably troubled.
"We already checked her school and her house. She's not there either." Artemis explained, also slightly bothered that they couldn't find the blonde. "And, she left her communicator in her room, so we can't contact her that way."
The four senshi all glanced at each other. There was only two other places she could be(in the case that she hadn't gotten attacked, that is), and they all knew it.
"Let's split up." Minako proposed responsibly, taking control of her role as second-in-command of the inner senshi.
"Good idea." Makoto declared.
The incarnation of Venus looked between the bluenette and the brunette. "Mako, Ami… You guys go search over at the Game and Arcade Crown." When they nodded their compliance, she looked over at Rei. "Rei and I will go look for her at Mamouru's apartment." Rei nodded in understanding.
"What about us?" asked Artemis, referring to him and Luna.
Minako kneeled down to the white cat's level and smiled. "You two stay here." She rubbed his head. "You've done enough looking for today. Thank you, Artemis."
The moon cats smiled and nodded their thanks.
Mina stood up. "Alright, on three."
"1… 2… 3… Split!" Rei commanded, and the four senshi darted off into separate directions. Makoto and Ami running one way, and Rei and Minako running the opposite.
- x –
It was twilight now, and the sun was barely peeking out over the horizon. Blues and purples painted the sky, and it wouldn't be long until the blackness of night crept upon the streets of Tokyo.
Minako and Rei had been walking down the streets in silence for a few minutes. They were almost to the apartment complex.
Rei was too concerned, too locked inside her own worries to speak. Too frustrated and angry at Usagi to imagine what she would do to her when they found her. She hoped to Aries that she hadn't been attacked by a youma or their new enemy. That she was safe… somewhere. But, she knew when she found her, The Rabbit would have it.
Really. How many times had she told her to come to the shrine today? Had she forgotten, been distracted, or had she really become that disrespectful? She had seen her just that morning – everything had seemed fine. But, it wouldn't have been the first time she had disappeared without warning. Usagi could be a real idiot sometimes… but, maybe, secretly, Rei liked that part of her. Simply because she wasn't as carefree as her odangoed friend.
"You know…" Minako's advicing voice broke through the air, through the silence, through her thoughts. There was a sly coyness there, a knowledge of something that shouldn't be known. "You don't have to hide it."
"Hide what?" Rei asked, acting uninterested. Innwardly, she was on red-alert. What was she inferring?
They kept walking.
"Your crush… on her." Minako answered subtly.
Rei's amethysts narrowed and she turned to Minako, in utter shock. She stopped in her tracks. Panic ensued. "How… how do you know about that?"
Minako smiled teasingly. "I'm The Goddess Of Love, remember?"
"That… that doesn't explain anything." Rei clenched her fists. "Minako." She said sternly. "Not even Ouji-san knows." And he's the closest family I have.
Minako stopped walking too, turning on her heel to look at the miko. She saw the fright in her eyes, the guilt. Her face turned solemn and empathetic.
A light breeze fingered through the senshis' golden and ebony locks, softly ruffling Minako's skirt and Rei's turtle neck as the two held gazes for a moment.
Finally, Minako sighed and looked down. "I can just see it. The looks that you two share. The closeness you two have. It's as plain as day, and no one even notices." She rose her head up toward the sky, envious of such a love. Envious of such a relationship. "I just pick up on that kind of stuff and put two and two together, you know?"
Rei stared at her friend, seeing the pain in her eyes. The slight jealousy she tried to hide so well. The strong desire for love, for someone to love and for someone to love her. She suddenly felt bad for her. "Does anyone else know?" she asked, calmer than earlier.
"I told Makoto and Ami a while ago before you showed up." Mina smiled to herself, still feeling unaccomplished in not being able to convince them. "But, they don't believe me."
Rei looked to the side. She knew why. She wasn't sure if she should be relieved or disappointed. Her friend seemed to be feeling the latter. At least she knew, now, what had been so hush-hush earlier.
Minako shook her own self-pity off and turned to Rei to give her a reassuring smile. It wasn't about Mina right now. "Oh, cheer up!" She mused, "I'm just trying to let you know I'm on your side."
Rei turned back to Mina, obsidian orbs glimmering with a shimmer of astonishment and a sliver of hope. "Really?"
"Yeah!" exclaimed Mina encouragingly. "Go after her, girl! What have you got to lose?"
Rei smiled slightly, feeling grateful for a friend like Mina. "Thank you, Minako." If only her other friends could be that supportive.
And, that's when someone's communicator beeped. Rei realized that it was hers and took the pink device out of her back jean pocket, pressing the button to receive the message.
"Hey guys!"
"Hey Makoto. Did you find her?"
Back at the Crown Arcade, Ami sat playing in front of an arcade machine, tapping buttons and moving the designated knob. Makoto had actually flirted with Motoki a bit while she had looked, and he had even helped her search for The Rabbit. Ami had looked for a while, too, but once they had given up, she had asserted herself to beating the highest score on Sailor V. That's when Makoto had taken a seat beside Ami and figured she'd better report to Mina and Rei to see how they were doing. "No, we didn't come up with anything. Motoki didn't even know."
"She hadn't came in yet? She's not there at all?"
"Not that I've been aware of."
"Well, I guess it's up to us then. Let us know if she turns up."
"Will do."
Click. The screen went fuzzy, then went black, and Rei stashed the communicator back where it belonged.
"What did they say?" inquired an anxious Mina.
"She's not there. So, she must be at Mamouru's."
Minako nodded. "Okay, then. Let's go!"
And, then they were running again. Just like that. Sprinting toward the college student's apartment as if their lives depended on it. Maybe they did.
Ten minutes later, they were at his door. Rei lifted a big fist and pounded. It was nighttime, and Usagi had sure as hell better be inside.
Rei and Minako lingered a moment. No answer.
"Usagi!" Rei shouted, pounding again, and growing more aggravated.
"Open the door, Mamouru!" yelled Minako, beginning to pound her own fist on the door, though not nearly as irate at Rei was becoming.
A second passed.
"Open the damn door, or I'm burning the damn thing down!" Rei beat the door even harder and even louder.
A minute passed. Two minutes.
The fire senshi had had enough.
"Okay! That's it!" Rei held her Crystal Wand up, ready to transform and blow the man's apartment room to oblivion.
Minako stuck an arm out to stop her. "Wait!" she cautioned. Rei tensed. "I hear footsteps…"
And, sure enough, the door swung open a few seconds later. Mamouru stood there, his black hair ruffled. His shirt half-way undone. "Hi…" He seemed nervous, looking away with a loss for words, rubbing one of his eyes sleepily.
"Get out of my way." Rei spat, marching in and pushing Mamouru aside. She didn't want to imagine what him and Usagi had been doing all evening long. At moment, she just wanted to find the Rabbit and make her life a living hell so she wouldn't make everyone worry for her so much.
Minako gave an embarrassed grin. "Sorry, we've been looking for Usagi. We were supposed to all meet after school today. She never showed up…"
"Oh." Was all Mamouru said for a moment. Boy, did he feel guilty now. "I… I had no idea." He scratched his head in grimace.
While Minako and Mamouru were talking, Rei stepped into the living room and instantly saw Usagi lying on the couch. Her first instinct was to flip her over onto the floor and yell at her for all the trouble she had caused. Then, she noticed she was asleep. Her blonde pigtails were undone, leaving her hair long and flowing. Her faerie pink, above-knee, long-sleeved, off-the-shoulder dress was lower than usual, even the black cami under it was pulled down, exposing her pink, polka-dotted bra.
Rei blinked. Then, her cheeks began to redden, realizing what had went on here. Realising she was staring at Usagi's body in a way that… she wasn't supposed to.
No. She wouldn't allow herself to get flustered. Not when she was angry at Usagi. Not when Usagi had done her and her friends wrong.
She composed herself and walked angrily over to the blonde, shaking her furiously, and shouted, "Wake up!"
Usagi woke up with a start, then slowly sat up and rubbed her eyes. "What is it, Reeii-chaan?" she whined.
Rei placed her hands on her hips and stared Usagi down. "You didn't come today!"
"What?" Usagi glanced up at her fiery friend. "What are you talking about?"
"The meeting. The senshi meeting at the shrine, Usagi. You didn't come."
Oh.. Whoops. "Heheheheh!" laughed Usagi sheepishly. "Yeah… sorry about that… I guess I forgot..."
"That's no excuse, Usagi!" Rei yelled, her blood boiling. She crossed her arms. "You just wanted to get hot and heavy with Mamouru."
Now, it was Usagi's turn to blush. Deeply, too. She pointed at Rei. "H-Hey! That's not exactly-"
"I don't want to hear it, Usagi!" Rei fumed, not allowing the girl to finish. "I thought you were more responsible than that by now."
"I am!" The Rabbit shouted back.
"Then, Why don't you show it? Ever?" She retorted. "We had a really important meeting today. You knew about it, and you didn't show up."
Usagi let that sink in, her shoulders falling as the truth of it hit her. She saw the reflection of disappointment, the burn of betrayal in Rei's eyes. How hurt the black-haired beauty truly was. She looked away in shame, feeling guilty now. She'd let Rei down. Let everyone down. What if they had been attacked? She wouldn't been able to help them because she wouldn't have been there. "I'm sorry," she apologized, her face falling into culpability and sadness. "I really am sorry, Rei-chan."
Rei stared at her friend as Usagi began to tear up. She waited a moment, thinking Usagi would shake it off as always. Then, when she didn't, she began to feel… guilty. She didn't let it show, though. She held her ground, and instead gently grabbed Usagi's wrist. "C'mon. Let's go home."
Usagi gathered her things and put on her black heels, then allowed Rei to drag her out of Mamouru's apartment without even a complaint or a whimper. Rei faked a smile and waved her goodbye to Mamouru, remembering her manners, and Usagi flickered a sad smile in his direction. She wiped her tears, too lost in her own sorrows and hurt emotions to really focus on anything else, as Mamouru sadly watched her go, hoping to check on her later, while Minako said her own goodbyes and slowly followed the two girls out the apartment complex.
All of them parted ways once they were outside and walked through the pitch black darkness of the night. Minako wished Rei luck and went left, while Usagi and Rei went right. Street lights and near-by houses were their only guides, their only beacons during the long way home. The only sounds consisting of the zooming of cars as they seldom passed by, or the cooling whistle of the breeze as it tossed their hair and pieces of their clothing.
Rei wondered if she had actually went too far this time, had let her anger and feelings for Usagi control her actions, and thought about ways she might be able to sway the Odango from such a tepid trance. Usagi, for the sake of her senshi duties and her friends, made up her mind not to see Mamouru for a while and pondered how she would make it up to her friends. Especially Rei.
Needless to say, they both felt conflicted, yet, unbeknownst to either of them, only the other could help heal the inner turmoil.
