Disclaimer: see previous chapter.

Rei awoke the next morning at dawn, smiling at the weight she had on her chest. During the night she had rolled onto her back, and a blond head now lay on her chest, a small fist clutching tightly to her shirt.

The miko tried to get out of the bed without waking Minako, but was only successful in not waking the blond. Rei was locked in a vice.

Minako mumbled something in her sleep and pulled herself closer to Rei. Figuring the only way she would be able to start her day would be to wake her friend, she took hold of a pale shoulder and shook gently. "Minako, wake up. You have to let me go."

Minako's features contorted, looking almost as if she were in pain. Her grip on the raven's shirt tightened as well. Rei, frowning, as concern washed over her, shook Minako's shoulder more feverently. "Minako! Wake up! Mina!"

A sharp intake of breath was heard as the blond woke from her nightmare, and she clutched even more desperately to the miko.

"Are you alright, Mina?"

The blond was trembling, and was terrifyingly warm and sweaty. Rei wondered how long she had been having that dream.

"Minako? Mina? Are you okay? Answer me, please. Please?"

The blond didn't move, save grabbing tighter onto Rei's shirt.

The miko wrapped her arms tighter around her friend, using one hand to stroke the back of Minako's head. "Everything will be alright. The dream is over now. Relax, you're okay."

After a few more minutes of whispering comforting words into Minako's ear, Rei grabbed the hand that was latched tightly onto her shirt. Seeing blue eyes meet hers, she spoke. "Come on. We have a lot of work to do. I was going to let you sleep a little more, but it doesn't seem like you want to be away from me even in your sleep." The miko smiled gently, pulling a still trembling Minako to her feet and getting something for them to wear for the day.

Rei squinted as she walked outside and let her eyes adjust to the light. She was holding Minako's hand. The blond would go into a panic attack whenever she wasn't physically touching the miko.

Turning to her companion and smiling, Rei spoke cheerfully, trying to bring light back to her friend's eyes. "What do you want to do first, Minako? We can make charms, sweep the ten thousand stairs of death and dust you love so much, or we can go check out the woods." A blond head whipped furiously from side to side. "Well, we don't have to go out there now. We can sweep first, but you'll have to let go of my hand."

Minako let go of Rei's hand and grabbed her around the waist. Rei chuckled. "That's worse, Minako!" Rei grabbed the blond's hands and pulled them off her waist. "Wait here, I'll be right back."

Minako stood awkwardly at the entrance to the shrine, trying not to remember her dream. Failing, her mind travelled back.

An odangoed blond head fell slowly to the floor, eyes lifeless and unseeing.
Four woman ran to her side immediately, checking for vitals and any sign of life, despite knowing that all hope was gone. Her throat was cut through to the bone, nearly decapitating the woman. The top of her spine would have been visible were it not for the profuse amout of blood pouring from the wound.

Minako shreiked at the top of her lungs.

Rei dropped the brooms she was holding and ran as fast as she could to her friend. She was standing where the miko had last seen her, but here eyes were squeezed shut and her fists were clamped. Wasting no time, the miko wrapped her arms around Minako, holding her tightly to her body as her scream rang out through the woods.

When she exhausted herself, she slumped, fully supported by the strength of Rei's grasp. Neither said a word. Rei just held Minako.

Picking the smaller woman up off of the ground, Rei walked back into the shrine, chores forgotten. She walked to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water, without ever placing the Minako back on the ground. Had she been paying attention, she would have noticed the lack of strain she was putting on the older woman. Minako knew she was heavy. She wasn't fat, but she was five feet three inches of lean muscle. However, she was not feeling her insecurities at the moment. She was too busy trying to forget her dream.

A tall figure wrapped in a dark cloak appeared before the senshi and their queen. A hand reached out, silently asking for something.

The queen stepped forward just as silently, eyes void of any emotion. Her senshi grabbed onto her trying to stop her from moving forward, but were unable to cease her motion.

She dragged the five of them toward the threat, either unaware or uncaring that she was walking the Green Mile to her execution.

Tears ran down Minako's cheeks as she grabbed onto Rei with renewed fervor. The miko sat down and placed the blond in her lap. She opened the bottle of water she received from the fridge. "Here, drink."

Minako kept her face buried in the crook of the miko's neck, taking refuge there. Rei placed a gentle hand on her friend's head, pulling her face away from her neck. "Drink this, Minako." She tried to hand the bottle to the other woman, but she was not about to remove her hands from the back of Rei's hakamashita.

The raven brought the bottle to the lips of the blond, coaxing her to drink. The blond complied, for which Rei was thankful. Her eyes were still dull and lifeless.

After having convince the blond to drink half the bottle of water, she carried her to the bedroom and lay her on the futon. She wasn't sure whether or not the bolnd should be walking, but she was certain she couldn't leave her alone. Not even for a minute.

Not knowing what to do other than hydrate the blond and not wanting to ask her what was wrong, she grabbed her cell phone. She decided that calling Usagi would be the best thing to do at the moment. At the very least, she wouldn't have to worry about Minako alone.

Twenty minutes found a sleepy Usagi at the door of the shrine. Minako had fallen asleep in Rei's arms, and fear of leaving the blond's side, along with an inability to break free from her grasp had her carrying the blond to the front of the shrine upon Usagi's arrival.

Immediately sobering up, Usagi quirked an eyebrow at the miko. The raven shook her head and retreated to her room, one blond in her arms, another at her heel.

Seating herself on her futon along with Usagi, Rei explained Minako's strange behaivior to Usagi.

"She's been like that since she I woke her up this morning."

"So she was here last night?"

"She's been here for a few days."

"Hmm? And she was only like this today?"

"Yeah."

"What did you do last night?"

Rei shrugged. "Nothing. We talked a little, but that was it."

"What did you talk about? Don't be vague."

"Well, we kinda had a fight yesterday, so I went off into the woods to train. When it got dark, she came to find me, and I told her not to scream and why. She got all paranoid and didn't want to leave my side for the rest of the night, asking me to hold her."

"Is that all?"

"I held her all night until I woke up, and she wouldn't let me go. You know the rest."

Usagi nodded. "Rei, what did you tell Minako about the woods?"

"I told her the truth. That there's nothing to be afraid of."

"Did you tell her the way you told Ami, the way you told Mako, or the way you told me? Because you had me scared shitless, too, Rei."

Rei shrugged again. "I'm not the best with words."

"How did you tell her?"

"I told her the way I tell her about everything else. I said it's kinda scary at night, but she's perfectly safe with me around because I can sense them, and honestly she could hold her own even without transforming if she just got over her fear." They both knew what "them" were. "They" didn't have a name. "They" just were... out there in the woods.

"Did you tell her that they are some of the cutest most playful creatures on the planet?"

"No, because I don't see them that way. You didn't either when you saw them, if I remember correctly."

Usagi flinched. She still had a scar on her right arm from her encounter with "them." It was needless to say that she did not plan on going back out there. "I'm sure Minako would not have the same issue with them that I did. Besides, she's tougher, and even if she needs to run, she's a lot faster than I am.

"You shouldn't have told her in a scary way, Rei."

"We've faced things far more dangerous than them. Besides, I told her the truth. I never sugar coat things. We all know that."

Usagi nodded. It was true. "Maybe you need to learn how, Rei."

"Who would have known this would be the outcome?"

Usagi considered it for a moment. That did sound a little strange. "Rei, did you two talk about anything else last night?"

Rei thought for a moment. "We talked about training. She said she hadn't been training like she should and I told her about how everyone else would train at least on occasion."

Usagi nodded. "Anything else?"

"Well, I guess I made her feel a little bad because she told me to become the leader, and I told her why that was a bad idea and that she was better suited for the position."

Usagi blinked. "You turned down an opportunity to be the leader? You used to pine for that position!"

"I've grown up, Usagi. She's better fit for it than I am. I realized that a while ago."

Usagi dropped that subject. It was useless considering the topic at hand. "Did you talk about anything else? Nothing you said would explain this."

Rei blushed a little, thinking back to the rest of their conversation. "No, not that I can think of."

Usagi narrowed her eyes. "Then why are you blushing?"

"I'm not telling. It was nothing to warrant this reaction, though. That I can promise you."

"I'll talk to her when she wakes up since you're scared to do it."

"I never said I was-"

Usagi raised her hands to silence her friend. "What you say and what you feel don't match up unless you're angry. You know I know you well enough to be able to tell when you're afraid.

"But that's not important right now. What I want to know is what you're not telling me. What else did you and Minako talk about last night?"

Usagi noticed something, but waited for Rei's response. "I told you, it has nothing to do with how she's acting right now. Besides, I don't want to talk about it."

Usagi grinned. "Was it talking?"

Rei quirked an eyebrow. "What?"

"Was talking all you did last night? Last time I checked, talking didn't give hickeys."

Rei looked away. "It's a mosquito bite."

Usagi's grin widened as she leaned closer, fully inspecting the side of the miko's neck. "You have quite a few mosquito bites on your neck, Rei." Her eyes went lower. "And your chest. You have some kinky mosquitos around here. I wonder if Minako got bit as well."

Rei's blush returned but she didn't say a word.

"You know, it's funny. I see red, but the skin isn't raised. Don't mosquito bites leave bumps, Rei?"

Rei still didn't say a word.

Usagi chuckled and leaned back out of the miko's personal space. "You don't have to say anything. I'll get it from Minako later."

The sleeping blond groaned and grabbed tighter onto Rei, face scrunching as if she was hurting. Rei knew for a fact that she was hurting. Minako had a damn strong grip.

Breathlessly, Rei whispered to Usagi, "Help. Can't breathe."

"You're not supposed to wake someone out of a nightmare, Rei!"

When she saw the woman begin to turn blue, she shook Minako, calling her name, until she woke up, a far away look in her eyes.

"Minako, let go of Rei. You're choking her."

Minako's grip loosened on the miko and her eyes fell on her blond look alike.

"Usagi?" Minako breathed incredulously.

"Yes, Minako?"

Usagi!" Minako wailed and lunged at the smaller, slightly older blond.

She went from smothering one, to crushing the other. Rei shook her head. Minako might be the death of them all. Grabbing the excited woman by her shoulders and pulling her off of their princess and back into her lap, she spoke to Usagi. "See how stragely she's acting?"

Usagi nodded, appreciating being able to breathe freely. "I see. What's wrong, Minako. Why are you acting like you didn't see me just last week?"

Minako lowered her head to the crook of Rei's neck, refusing to say anything. Usagi sighed. This might take a while.

Minako was crying. Usagi was crying because Minako was crying. Rei had just finished screaming causing Minako to cry, and therefore, causing Usagi to cry. Rei collapsed into a heap on the floor, sighing in exhasperation. She really was not the right person for this.

Since Minako woke up, she had only said Usagi's name. At a certain point, it had become a mantra for her. Any time she was not touching Rei, she would rock back and forth calling Usagi's name over and over again until Rei calmed her down. Minako didn't seem to notice the fact that the woman she kept adressing was sitting right beside her. All she could see was her death. It was coming.

The senshi of Mars released the princess to attack the mysterious cloaked figure. Her attack was absorbed into the darkness of the garment, only to be returned to her ten times over, and ten times more deadly. She lay a helpless sack of flesh on the floor. The other senshi had no time to help her. They had to stop their queen from walking to her death.

Minako started trembling again. Rei stood from the floor and sat behind the blond, holding her from behind. Minako relaxed back into the embrace, sighing.

Rei grumbled nonesense. Usagi simply stared at the pair, tears slowing. "I don't get it."

Rei looked at the smaller blond sitting on her bed. She didn't really care what the girl didn't get. She wanted to get Minako out of her funk so she could get her work done. Nevertheless, she asked what the princess was thinking in case it could help. "What do you not get?"

"As much as she calls my name, she doesn't seem to know that I'm here. And when she calls my name, only you can calm her down."

"I noticed that, too."

"The thing is, though, she trusts you. Even though she's obviously not okay, with you holding her, she's a lot calmer. What is it about you that helps her to relax?"

The miko shrugged. "I have no idea."

"Exactly. Neither do I. There's something going on here, though. I just wish I could figure it out. It may have something to do with the dream she's not telling us about.

"I think we should call Ami. She was always better at figuring things out than we were."

"She hasn't said anything else all day?"

"Nope. She just says Usagi's name, screams, rocks, trembles, and cries."

The upcoming doctor on the other line leaned back into the chair she was sitting in. "This is obviously because of whatever is going on in her head. Have either of you asked her about it?"

"Usagi did, but Minako didn't respond to her."

"Have you tried, Rei? She might respond better to you since you seem to be her life line."

"I haven't tried, but I will."

"Have you fed her?"

"I made her drink some water earlier, but I wasn't sure how she'd handle food."

"Try to at least get her to eat some rice. Just because she's having a mental breakdown doesn't mean that she should starve.

"You said that she's been crying. You didn't mention that before. What was she crying about?"

Rei scrunched her face in shame. "I was yelling at her."

"You yelled at a person who was mentally unstable? What on Earth for?"

"I got tired of holding her in my lap, so I put her down on my futon. She started shaking again, and Usagi grabbed her hand. She calmed down, so I left the room and went to the kitchen to get something to eat. I heard a scream, so I walked back into the room. Minako was choking Usagi."

"Minako did what?"

"Sounds crazy, right? So I tried to pull Minako off of Usagi without hurting her, but she wouldn't let go. I slapped her and she let go of Usagi, but she charged at me. I restrained her, but she kept kicking me."

Ami interrupted again. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. She has a strong kick, but I'll be alright." Ami nodded; she had been on the wrong end of Minako's kick before.

"Anyway, I got tired of her kicking the crap out of my legs, so I threw her down on the floor and pinned her. She started hollering, so I covered her mouth with my hand and she bit me. I lost my temper and started yelling at her. Her eyes cleared up and I think she looked at me, but then she started crying. I got up off of her, and helped her up. She went and sat on the futon beside Usagi and laid her head on her shoulder.

"Then Usagi started crying, and Minako started rocking again, but relaxed when I held her."

"I was right. She responds to you. I'm not sure if Mako or I would have the same effect on her that you do, considering Usagi can't do anything about her. The only thing about it is the way you're dealing with her. You seem to be doing more harm than good, Rei."

"I know. That's why I called Usagi, and that's why I'm calling you. I can't deal with this."

"Ask her if she wants to talk to me."

"Ask who?"

"Minako."

Ami heard the miko follow her directions, but didn't hear a reply.

"She didn't say anything."

"Ask her if she wants to talk to Mercury."

"Why?"

"Just ask."

Rei asked, and blue eyes looked up at her. She wasn't sure if they saw her or not. Minako nodded. "She nodded. Here you go."

Rei held her phone to Minako's ear.

Ami spoke first, not really expecting Minako to say anything. "Venus?" As she expected, no reply came. She continued speaking. "I need you to do me a favor. Let go of Rei, I mean Mars, and get something to eat. Try to relax, okay. I'll try to see you in a few hours; I'll be on my way as soon as I'm free. Let me talk to Mars, please."

Minako's hand pushed Rei's arm away so the miko was holding the phone by her own ear. She then rose and went to the kitchen. Rei followed her. "Hello?"

"Yes?"

"Ami, what did you say to her? She let me go."

"Good. She should be going to get something to eat, am I right?"

"Yeah, she is... well, she's trying. I should go help her."

"I'll catch a train out there when I get out of my next class. You should call Mako and see if she can help. The only one of us she seems to address as a civilian is you. Still, you should cross reference and see if she knows who Mako is. I'll talk to you when I'm out there. Later and good luck."

"Thanks. Bye."

Rei walked up to the day dreaming blond and helped her to eat. She wasn't sure how long it would take to wash the fruit stains out of her clothes.

Usagi woke up in Rei's room. Not seeing anyone, she walked through the shrine until she came to the kitchen. She smiled gently. Her two friends looked like an old married couple.

"You got her to eat something?"

Rei turned at the sound of Usagi's voice, only mildly surprised to see her standing there. "Actually, Ami did. She said something to her over the phone and Minako let go of me and came in here."

Usagi sat across from the two women. "I knew calling her was a good idea."

Rei nodded. "She said she would come over after her next class. She should be here in a few hours. She also said that I should call Mako."

"You want me to call? You seem to have your hands full." Usagi smiled. She would have to get a picture of this.

"That would help, thanks Usa."

"It's the least I can do. You saved me from one of my senshi." She chuckled. "I never thought that would happen."

"I never thought it would be Mina. I could see me strangling you. I doubt I'd kill you, though."

Usagi gulped. "You could see it? Geez, Rei! I know we don't get along all the time, and you have a temper to scare Satan, but you would strangle me?"

Rei smiled devilishly. "Don't test me." Laughing at the look on the blond's face, she continued. "I'm kidding, Usa. If I were going to strangle you, I would have done so a long time ago. I'm not an angsty teen, no more than you are an irritating, childish, lazy, stubborn, irresponsible brat."

Usagi frowned. "It's not against the rules if I strangle you, is it?"

Rei laughed again. "Yes, of course it is. Don't try to be an unjust ruler."

Usagi just got up and walked away, returning moments later with a literal flash. "Minako will love this picture. You holding her in your arms, feeding her assorted fruit. It's quite romantic. I think I can even make out your hickies on here."

Rei growled. Usagi laughed. "I'll have to send it to Mako to see if she sees them.

"Speaking of which, I have a phone call to make. Enjoy your date, Rei."

Rei grumbled. Minako grabbed the wrist that the miko had on her spoon and pulled it toward her mouth. Rei chuckled. Minako was either very hungry, or had her mind totally set on following Ami's instructions.

Another flash and Rei knew the blond was back in the kitchen.

"Will you stop doing that?"

"Nope. I need all the proof I can get that this is actually happening.

"When did she fall asleep?"

"Couple minutes ago. She actually seems peaceful this time."

"You can't be too sure; it always starts out that way."

"Yeah. What did Makoto say?"

"She said she's on her way. She should be here in a few moments."

Rei agreed; she sensed her aura. "Go open the door. She's here."

Usagi got up without question. She didn't doubt Rei's ability, even though it was creepy how she could do that. None of them ever knocked on the door to the shrine before it opened.

"You're right, Usagi! They are adorable!"

Rei frowned. "You know, the hickeys didn't seem any where near as noicable in the picture as they do in real life."

"I know! They're so fresh!"

The miko glared at her friends. Mako grinned. "The scene is so much less attractive with you scowling, Rei. You should do that serene look you do when you're thinking about something far away."

"Shut up before you wake her up."

"You just want me to shut up because I'm teasing you."

Usagi grinned. "You're right, Mako. Look at how angry she is. She's so cute!"

The miko was convinced that those two were worse than the blond sleeping in her lap.

Makoto laughed. "We should stop, Usa. We don't want Rei to burn us all alive."

"You're right, Mako. Can you believe she threatened to choke me?"

The two had already talked about it on the phone; Usagi just wanted to make Rei feel bad about it.

"She didn't!"

Usagi nodded dramatically. "She did!"

Rei looked chagrined. "I didn't threaten to choke her! Stop being dramatic."

Makoto laughed once more before getting down to serious business. "Usagi told me most of what happened. Poor girl. I wonder what's going on inside her head."

Rei looked down at the woman sleeping in her lap. "I'm not sure I want to know."

Makoto looked up from Minako's sleeping form to meet Rei's eyes. "Is that why you haven't asked her?"

"Yeah."

"Are you sure that's the only reason?"

"What do you mean, Mako?"

"Could it be that you're scared that you're the reason she's acting like this?"

Rei opened her mouth, but said nothing.

Makoto smiled at her friend. "Close your mouth. I know that feeling. Let's wait until Ami gets here and the four of us can talk more about what's going on inside that head of hers." The brunette pointed at Minako's head, prompting Rei to look down at her. Worry was evident on her features.

Usagi and Makoto sat down across from Rei and Minako and looked at each other. Turning simultaneously, Usagi spoke first. "Rei, how do you feel about Minako."

The miko looked up from studying her friend's sleeping face to look at her friends. "She's my best friend. You both know that."

Makoto smiled gently. "Usagi said something about Ami convincing her to let go of you. Why is she in your lap now, if she doesn't need you as a life line any more?"

"Rei, tell us the truth. You love Minako, don't you?"

Rei looked incredulously from Makoto to Usagi and back a few times. This conversation was entirely too familiar. If she didn't know better, the raven would think that Minako had put the two up to it.

"Usagi, go open the door."

The addressed blond blinked a few times; that was not what she expected to hear. However, she did as she was told.

Ami walked into the kitchen behind her friend and took a seat between her and Makoto. "I thought I told Minako to let go of you. Did it not work?"

Rei blushed. "It worked, but she was making a mess all over my clothes when she was trying to eat and this was the easiest way to help her. She fell asleep not too long ago."

Ami nodded. Turning to Makoto, she asked, "Have you tried talking to her?"

The brunette shook her head. "She was sleeping before I got here."

"Mako, you do still know how to do that sleeping trick I taught you, right?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"Good. Rei, try to keep a hold on Minako in case she loses it. If she tries to hurt anyone, Mako will put her to sleep."

Rei nodded.

"Alright, someone wake her up."