Author's Note: I've given up on distinguishing when they are speaking Japanese. As it's all written in English I'll leave most of that to your imaginations now. Once again, let me know what you think and if you find errors. I love comments, even just "Keep writing".
Special thanks to: Neptune's Mask for being a sounding board for this chapter.
Chapter 12: Minako Aino
"Oh come on Anderson, it'll be fun." Minako begged, blue eyes watching as the young specialist continued to read over a medical journal. "Besides, I wanted to thank you for helping me so much with my Japanese."
"It's really not necessary; I've only taught you the basics." Amy spoke as she glanced at her watch and sighed. She felt somewhat relieved and yet disappointed to have to cut the conversation short. "I'm sorry Aino, but I have night shift and I need to get to the TMC."
"People are in there at night?" Minako blinked in clear confusion as Amy smiled.
"Of course, someone needs to be there for emergencies." With this statement the young woman rose from her seat, taking a moment to pick up her bray on the way to the door.
"Hey, how did you get your own room anyway?" The blonde asked as she followed Amy out the door and toward the stairs.
"I don't know, it's just been that way since I arrived." The blue haired specialist sounded slightly lonely as she spoke these words. Minako started to say something as they reached the door but Amy shook her head. "I'll think about it Aino but no promises."
"Great!" Minako jumped happily and her combat boots made a loud clank sound as she landed back on her feet, just inside the door frame. The blonde raised an eyebrow or do as she did a happy little victory dance that carried her out onto the pavement before the door. "We'll have a blast Anderson, I promise."
"I didn't promise anything yet. . ." Amy tried to remind the private but they were interrupted by a sergeant sitting behind the reception desk.
"Aino! How many times have I told you not to go outside with out your cover?" The non-commissioned officer glared toward the two as she approached. "Get inside or find a bray now! I thought they taught you this stuff at BASIC."
"Yes sergeant!" Minako took off through the door at a dead run and the sergeant gave a long suffering sigh.
"No running on the stairs!" She called, shaking her head and walking back into the building. Amy hid a smile as she turned and started her walk toward the TMC. The sky was stained orange by the dieing sun and Amy passed few if any others on her way.
"Hey, where have you been?" Minako asked, eyeing Haruka with curious blue eyes. The taller blonde sat again at the small desk in their room, a black folder lay open before her and she was resting her head on one fist as she looked over it. Minako got no response so she stepped closer and noticed small ear phones resting inside Haruka's ears. A glance at the folder told her what the other woman was doing, more music to memorize.
Minako sighed and went off to take a shower, giving Haruka a few extra minutes with what she was doing. Still, when she emerged from the steaming shower the taller and older blonde was in the same position she'd been before.
As she opened her locker to get some clothes Minako shook her head, her roommate really didn't know how to spend a Friday night. She slipped into a tank top and a pair of jeans before grabbing something and closing the locker. A small smile crept onto her face as she snuck toward Haruka's back, a broken rubber band held in her hands. She stopped at arms length, placing one end of the rubber band near Haruka's ear and pulling the other back toward herself. After a long pause, she let go of the end nearest her.
"Ow!" Haruka jumped in her seat, dropping a CD player from her lap onto the floor. She spun to look down at the now giggling Minako. "What the hell was that for?"
"Hi, how ya doing? I'm your roommate, remember me?" Minako held out one hand as if they were meeting for the first time. "You know the one you've hardly spoken to since the concert a while back."
"Okay, I get it I've been a bit busy." Haruka grumbled as she rubbed her right ear. "Did you have to choose my ear, I need those you know?"
"Don't be a baby." Minako walked over and picked up the CD walkman which had fallen open. Luckily the CD had stayed inside but she rose and eyebrow at the title on it. "I thought you were listening to the piece you have to play."
Haruka looked off toward the window as she closed her folder and took a seat on her bunk. Minako grinned and carefully closed the CD player again, handing it to its owner.
"What did you want?" Haruka finally asked a Minako grinned.
"A ride to Subspace and some company would be good."
"I've got a lot of music here to memorize." Haruka stated and noticed the teasing look that passed across the younger blonde's face. "I need have this memorized by Monday."
"Right, because everyone knows violin music helps any piano player focus." Minako grinned when something that wasn't quite a blush tried to fight its way to Haruka's face. God only knew what the older woman was thinking, but at the moment Minako was just happy to see her roommate interested in something other than a piano. "Come on Ten'ou, one night off won't kill you."
"I'll drive you out to the club, but from there you're on your own." Haruka warned, standing and walking over to get something to change into. The tall specialist had been very careful not to repeat the incident with her uniform.
"I guess I'll settle for that if I have to." Minako sighed as Haruka disappeared into the latrine. After a minute she grinned and started to think things over. Maybe there were a few things she could get done at the club, things that might be a bit harder with Haruka present.
The black mustang pulled to a stop at the curb and Minako all but jumped out the passenger door. Haruka leaned across the now vacant seat and eyed her roommate from behind a set of reflective glasses.
"Why are you so hyper, less than an hour ago you were begging for company?"
"Hey, with how you dress the guys inside will probably think you're my boyfriend." Minako stuck her tongue out at the other blonde. "How am I ever going to get a guy that way?"
"Whatever you say Aino." Haruka sat back up, looking toward the road as Minako came back to lean on the door. "You have the number for my cell phone, so give me a call when you want to head back. That is, unless you find some guy to drive you back to post."
"But then I'd have to tell them I was a soldier and you know what always goes along with that." Minako watched Haruka nod a bit and stepped away, closing the door and smiling. "See you later Ten'ou."
The black car slide away smoothly and Minako let out a sigh of relief. She wouldn't have minded if Haruka changed her mind and stuck around, but she was on a mission tonight. She turned, facing the door and walked over to the bouncer rather than the line with a smile. At first he just cocked a brow but it took her less than five minutes to talk her way past the line.
Inside the club tonight rave music pulsed, many of the customers waving glow sticks or wearing some sort of glowing jewelry as they danced. Minako glanced around but the low lighting didn't allow her to see much and the different glowing colors were distracting. Her blue eyes scanned the floor, the shadowy swaying forms of people, and then slowly climbed up the wall. Inside the DJ booth she again noticed there was almost no light.
"Why is he always hiding?" She muttered, watching the DJ who moved nearly invisibly in pure black. The face beneath the black hat and hoodie was lit only by black lights and the occasional flash of a blue electric glow stick. Minako watched with rapt attention and wondered why anyone that far above the crowd would go through so much trouble to hide.
"Something interesting up there?" Asked a familiar voice in Japanese. The song changed, the beat picking up a little, as Minako turned to find Makoto behind her. Minako held her chest and breathed a sigh of relief, having half expected the guys from her first visit. Green eyes turned concerned. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to scare you."
"It's okay; I was just a bit distracted." Minako returned in Japanese and Makoto paused this time. "What?"
"You got better, last time we met you didn't know what I was saying."
"Anderson is a very good teacher." Minako stated her smile back in place as she glanced around. "So, are you here with your boyfriend or just looking for guys?"
"Neither, Usagi-chan wanted to come see Mamoru-san." Makoto waved back toward the bar. Thanks to the dim lighting behind the bar they could just make out Usagi and Mamoru speaking and seemingly nearly oblivious to all around them.
"Well then, guess you can keep me company for a while." Minako said happily and grabbed Makoto's arm. The blonde pulled the slightly taller girl out into the throng of people and started to dance. Makoto blinked for a moment, then just gave in and joined the dancers around her.
"Hino-san." Setsuna paused at the door of the DJ booth, watching as the young DJ took a moment to flip some controls here and there. The younger woman turned to face her, sliding her head phones off one ear and waiting for whatever the older woman might have to say. "I'm going to Kaioh-san's last concert, I've told the club employees that you are in charge and if you're busy to ask Chiba-san. Will you two be able to handle things?"
"Of course Meiou-sama." Rei bowed a bit, as much as she could with a pair of head phones tethering her to the booth. Setsuna smiled and left, leaving Rei to both her work, homework hidden under the sound board, and to any emergencies that might happen. Violet eyes came back to the floor as the speakers below throbbed enough the make the nearly sound proof both vibrate. Those on the floor seemed to enjoy the music, even though the track was in English and she wondered how many even understood the words.
"Kino-san?" Minako asked as they were walking back toward the bar, both a bit thirsty.
"Call me Makoto." The brunette said in a friendly manner and Minako grinned.
"I was just wondering something; do you happen to know why the DJ always seems to hide?" Minako looked off as they reached the bar, not wanting to see the expression her question brought on. "I mean he seems to go out of his way to hide his face."
"Hino-san is very private." Makoto said, her smile a bit more amused than Minako had expected. Blue eyes came back to green questioningly and Makoto only shook her head. "The only reason I know Hino-san is we went to school together, if not for that I doubt I'd even know who was in that booth."
"What can I get you two?" Mamoru asked as he walked over to them, leaning on the bar even as Usagi came over to sit with the two.
"Same as always." Makoto said and received a nod. Minako blinked for a minute then asked for whatever Makoto just ordered. A minute or so later three drinks were placed in front of them and Mamoru smiled at Makoto.
"Hino-san just called from the booth; do you think you could take this up for me?"
"Sure, I can introduce Aino-san to her."
Rei wasn't looking at the door as it opened again; she didn't look up from the world religions book until a coke was more or less dangled before her eyes. She slipped off her headphones, switching the hand with which she held her glow stick, and accepted the drink quickly.
"No thank you?" Makoto asked, causing her to glance up then freeze. Behind Makoto stood another young woman with bright blue eyes and long blonde hair. She wore a pair of jeans, a black t-shirt and what seemed to be a black Dickeys jacket. Makoto grinned and waved a hand toward Minako. "Hino Rei, this Aino Minako. She was curious about you so I brought her up with your drink."
"If this is your way of trying to impress a date Kino-san I swear I'll have them throw you out." Rei growled slightly as she turned off the glow stick. The sound board seemed to almost glow since it was marked in special paint, making everything easily visible under the black lights.
"Nice to see you too, Hino-san." Makoto returned with a trace of annoyance, but more amusement in her voice.
"You're female." Minako said, her eyes blinking as Rei finally turned her violet eyes back to the new comer.
"So are you." Rei said and Makoto poked her, giving her a discouraging look. Rei sighed and held out her hand. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude but Makoto-san forgets to warn me when she does this stuff."
"That's alright." Minako smiled easily as she shook hands with Rei.
"When have I ever brought someone up here?" Makoto asked, trying to defend herself.
"My first week on the job you brought some guy up here." Rei stated, turning back to the board long enough to adjust some controls. Minako looked over the board and wondered how anyone could remember so easily which control did what.
"Oh, I forgot about that." Makoto smiled and rubbed her neck with one hand. She looked to Minako and spoke in a friendly tone. "Don't worry about Rei-san; her bark is worse than her bite."
"Have anyone else to bother Mako-san?" Rei growled over her shoulder.
"I'll remember that the next time Mamoru calls asking me to bring you both food." Makoto laughed as Rei coughed. Rei grumbled an apology and Makoto just waved it off. "I'm going back down to the floor now, if you want anything else though I'll be around."
"Right."
"Can I stay up here for a while?" Minako asked, causing both women to sort of blink at her. She shrugged and smiled. "I was wondering what goes on up here anyway."
"As long as you're quiet it's fine." Rei said, turning her eyes back toward the book under the sound board and snapping the glow stick back on. Makoto looked like she wanted to ask but instead she just nodded and walked out.
"So, what are you doing?" Minako asked, coming to stand over Rei's shoulder.
"Reading my homework, I thought I said you had to be quiet."
"Did you?" Minako smiled at the disbelieving look she received. After a moment Rei sighed and closed the book, pulling a folding chair from behind another piece of equipment and offering it to the blonde.
"So, why did you really want to stay up here?" Rei asked, one ear covered by her head phones as she leaned on the sound board with her back to the floor.
"I wanted to know something about Makoto-san but I'm afraid to ask her." Minako waited until Rei had nodded then continued. "Well, the comment you made sounds like she's…"
"She's bi-sexual as far as I know, but that isn't either of our business. That is unless you plan to ask Mako-san out." Rei said, her voice calm but there was a defensive under current to it.
"Actually it wasn't me, but I think a friend of mine might. Well I mean my friend is shy but, I just have a feeling that they'd be cute together."
"I remember your name you know. Aino Minako, you were involved in the fight a few months ago." Rei said, seeming to change the subject and Minako blinked. "I could have sworn that Meiou-san said you were part of the US military, so why should I trust you on any of this?"
"You have something against the military?" Minako blinked, now she was completely confused.
"Usually I don't care about the military at all, but the US tends to have their military in everyone places it doesn't belong." Rei noticed the fact that Minako was starting to look more serious. "Can you explain why the US military belongs in Japan?"
"No, I never asked." Minako puffed out a sigh and shook her head. "We have bases all over; it's just part of being in the military. I'm just an administrative clerk anyway; I don't even rank above anyone."
"Wait, you're a secretary?" Rei blinked.
"What did you think I was?"
"I don't know, but the thought of a military secretary is just a bit strange."
"Why, we need things filed just as much as anybody. My roommate is a piano player." Minako smiled when she noticed this seemed to surprise Rei more. "Hey, we can't all be Rambo."
"What exactly were you hoping to get out of me?" Rei asked, again changing the topic.
"I just want some help, Hino-san." Minako sighed and walked over to stand in front of her, meeting the dark violet eyes carefully. "I was hoping you knew a way to get Makoto-san down here tomorrow night."
"I do, but you really shouldn't be playing these games with people."
"I'm not playing any games; I just want to give the two a chance to talk again."
"No, you want to get one of them to make a move on the other one. I thought the US military was all straight people." Rei said and Minako actually smirked.
"Come on, no where is only straight people. That's like saying that there is a country with only white men in it." Minako leaned very close and Rei stiffened a bit. The blonde smiled and tilted Rei's hat a little. "You really shouldn't hide so much; you have really nice eyes and a very cute face."
Rei was still blinking when Minako strode out of the booth, shoes clicking a little as she retreated down the small hall. She shook her head, trying to clear it, and turned her eyes back to the sound board. For a few minutes silence filled the booth, aside from the loud snare drum that drifted from her head phones. Eventually she heard foot steps again and this time Makoto entered the booth alone.
"Hey there Rei-chan, what happened to Aino-san?" Green eyes scanned the room as she dropped into the abandoned chair.
"I don't know, she got board I guess." Rei responded. Silence reigned again for a few moments, and then Rei looked over to Makoto. "Hey, would you mind bringing dinner tomorrow night? I'm going to be so busy during the day I'm not sure I'll even have time for lunch."
"Sure thing." Makoto smiled and Rei turned back to the board. For the moment her homework was forgotten. Tomorrow it was up to Minako, whatever she decided to do.
Review Responses:
Bahamut's King: Sorry about the small amount of H and M thus far. To explain I am doing my best to keep realistic to the way things were on the bases I've seen, and to a few I have been told about. It may seem a bit slow but I am moving toward something. I'll see if I can get out another one shot sometime soon to make up for it. Thanks for the review.
King of Warlords: Here it is.
Petiyaka: Thanks, and I'll try to get more onto Haruka soon.
Neptune's Mask: Thank you for both the correction and the help m'lady. (bowing) Took me long enough to get this up, hope I'm not late getting home.
MIHARU83: Hey, we were born the same year! Yup, I am always curious. Thanks for reviewing again, helps to know people are reading.
Hagancameron: Thank you for the spelling correction, I'm always glad for the help. I might just add a bit of Makoto and Ami for such a good reviewer so keep your eyes open.
Po0t: Here it is, and thanks for the review.
Amnesia Nymph: Thanks for reviewing again, I really enjoy recurring reviewers. I hope I didn't make you wait too long.