Disclaimer: see previous chapter.

"Hurry up, Usagi!"

"I'm coming! I'm com-" the rest of the woman's sentence was cut off as she tripped down the stairs.

Rei smiled and shook her head. Some things never changed. "Come on, get up. We're supposed to be there in five minutes, and it takes fifteen to get there." She helped her friend to get up and dust herself off.

"I know. I'm so sorry I'm late."

"Save it. We have to run. Come on."

It was the night of Aino Minako's official debut as a singer. She would be an opening act for someone that none of them were interested in, but it was a nice start for the blond. Her dream was finally coming true, and none of the girls wanted to miss it.

When Rei and Usagi arrived, only five minutes late, they met Ami and Makoto in front of the stage. The show hadn't started yet. Apparently, neither blond had any idea how to be on time.

The crowd went silent as the lights went down. When they came back on, Minako was standing in the middle of the stage looking glorious.

Once her act was over, her friends raced to her dressing room, not caring much for the next performer. Minako smiled a weary smile at her friends when she saw them. As happy as she was to be in the company of people she loved, she was drained, mentally, physically, and emotionally from her performance.

When Rei and Minako were alone in the room, the miko wrapped her arms around her girlfriend's waist.

"You were amazing. Your nerves didn't show at all."

"It was hard, though. The lights were hot, and there were so many people. They weren't even there to see me. I just happened to be on stage."

Rei smiled. "You won them over by the end of your performance. That's part of your job, stealing fans off of artists who are already popular."

Minako jabbed her girlfriend in the ribs. "You don't have to say it like that."

"Fine. You're showcasing your talents to people who are already musically inclined, causing them to fall for your amazing abilities."

The blond grinned. "That sounds a lot better." Turning to face her girlfriend, her smile fell, insecurities showing. "What did you think about it, Rei?"

"Your performance?" Seeing the blond nod, she continued. "It was okay."

Minako sighed. "Just okay?"

Rei cursed her stupidity. "That's not what I meant. I meant to say that you were absolutely amazing, you looked breathtakingly stunning, and I was probably more enraptured by you than any other person in this building was by your performance." She stroked the woman's hair lightly. "Is that better?"

Minako blushed cutely, feeling the miko's praise grow her head a little. "Yeah, that's better. I thought you didn't like what I do, though."

Rei nodded. "I don't like you taking off your clothes in front of men and cameras on a daily basis, but I love that you sing. Especially because it makes you so happy."

Minako looked hopefully into the eyes of her companion. "Am I your favorite idol?"

Rei grinned. "Of course not. You're not even an idol yet. Besides you can't compare to Ayu. You're no where near main stream."

The blond hit her lover on the arm. "Shut up! She's my favorite artist, not yours!"

The miko laughed, returning them to their previous position of Rei holding Minako from behind. She leaned into her ear, whispering, "Of course you're my favorite idol. As far as I'm concerned, the others don't even matter." She placed a small peck on the ear she spoke into, smiling as she heard the other woman sigh.

"I love you, Hino Rei."

"I love you, too, Aino Minako."

"Absolutely not."

"This would be perfect for your image-"

"I don't care. I'm not doing it."

"You should consider it for-"

"There's nothing to consider. Your proposition is ridiculous."

"It's a great career move-"

"I don't care. I'm not doing it."

"It would-"

"How many times do I have to tell you that I'm uninterested? I'm about to get violent. Drop this discussion. It will not happen."

"Yes, Aino-san. Thank you for your time."

A short stubbly man who looked to be in his mid fourties, but was actually closer to being 30 walked away from the stubborn idol. He had barely gotten two words out of his mouth before she came crashing down on his idea, never even explaining why she refused.

He walked back to his employer. "I'm sorry, Arai-san. She was completely unreceptive."

The teen was unphased. "Make her listen."

"I tried everything I could. She was uninterested."

The teen turned from looking at himself in his hand mirror to look at the man. "Then she must not know who I am. Go back and tell her."

"She was well aware of who you are. She was actually quite excited about the prospect of meeting you until I mentioned a romantic relationship."

The teen frowned. "I'm going to go see her, then. I'll let her tell me that to my face."

The stubbly man looked nervous. "I don't think that's a good idea."

The teen had already started walking. He paused, looking over his shoulder at the man. "I don't care what you think. You can accompany me, if you like."

He turned, set on finding and persuading the beautiful child of love* to be his.

His manager set off on a jog behind him, catching up with some effort. Someone had to protect the girl from the wrath of his boss.

"What the hell are you doing to my girlfriend?"

Rei and Minako turned to see an irate boy standing in the door to the blond's dressing room.

Rei raised an eyebrow. "Who is your girlfriend?"

The boy fumed. "The woman you're holding in your arms. I'd appreciate it greatly if you kept your hands, and LIPS off of her!"

The boy marched up to the pair, pulling Minako from Rei's arms into his own. He held her from behind, resting his head on her shoulder. "She's mine."

Minako was completely lost. She was sure she had made herself clear when she told the boy's manager that she didn't want to date him. And how did he find his way into her dressing room? No one was allowed back here. She had to sneak Rei in.

Until that moment, the miko was trying to be patient. At that point, she lost it. She took a hold of Minako's wrist, snatching her painfully away from the annoying brat, and wasted no time in connecting her fist with his nose, breaking it with a sickening crack. She would have done a lot more, had Minako not pinned her arms to her sides. She shook herself free of the embrace and stormed out of the room, unwilling to deal with any of the people in there at that moment.

A/N: *Minako's name translated. The teen has an obsession with word play on Minako's name when he first meets her. All the fun really starts next chapter. *evil laugh* I'm going to put these people through hell.