Minako slowly awoke the next morning with a light stretch and jaw-cracking yawn.

The sun's warm light was streaming in through Rei's window, and Minako realized she was still wrapped up in a cocoon of warm blanket and Rei's arm held snuggly around her waist. Which actually surprised Minako a bit, because Rei was an early riser and she had fully expected Rei to already be up and about, and not still laying here in bed with her.

But Minako was not going to complain about this unexpected development. So she closed her eyes with a contented sigh, and snuggled back down into the warm cocoon made of her body, Rei's, and the blanket.

The next time Minako opened her eyes though, she saw with some disappointment that she was now alone in the bed. She had pretty much expected that Rei would finally have risen by the time she woke again, but she had still hoped that the dark-haired miko would have stayed wrapped up in the sheets with her. As unrealistic as that hope was.

Minako only had time to pout for about a minute though about her snuggly Rei-pillow being gone, before Rei's bedroom door opened and the miko herself entered the room with a tray held carefully in her hands.

Minako's sky-blue eyes lit up when she saw her best friend return, and a brilliant smile lit up her face as she watched Rei come closer with the tray, that Minako could see held a plate of breakfast and a tall glass of orange juice.

Rei's steps faltered slightly when she saw the brilliant smile being directed towards her, and she had to clear her throat slightly before she continued to Minako's side, and gently placed the tray down on the dresser beside the bed.

"How are you feeling this morning, Minako? You're colouring is looking better than it did last night, and you seem to have regained most of your energy," Rei said softly as she raised her hand to lightly brush through the blond bangs across Minako's forehead, to check to see if the golden senshi's temperature had gone down. Minako's skin was mostly cool to the touch, though Rei could still feel a slight bit of warmth present, but looking at Minako now Rei figured her golden-haired friend would be fully recovered in a few hours.

Minako allowed her eyes to close at the soft, gentle touch of Rei's hand against her forehead, and she couldn't help the soft sigh of pleasure that escaped her lips.

Rei blushed lightly as she listened to the soft sound of pleasure slip passed Minako's lips, while the blue-eyed senshi's eyes remained closed in obvious pleasure. Rei continued to lightly brush her fingers through Minako's golden bangs, enjoying the soft feeling of Minako's skin beneath her fingers, and the silken strands brushing lightly through her fingers. Then with a soft sigh of her own, Rei finally made herself step back from Minako, and turn towards the breakfast tray to pick up the glass of orange juice.

Minako felt the loss of Rei's fingers from her skin, and she opened her cerulean eyes with a small pout on her lips. She had really been enjoying Rei's cool touch against her still slightly-warm skin, and the keen loss of that touch made her want to reach out, grasp Rei's hand, and pull it back to nuzzle against her cheek. But she wasn't sure how Rei would react to that so she just decided to look up at the miko, who now stood before her with a cold glass of orange juice held out before her.

"Here Mina, drink some of this and take these two pills with it," Rei said, as she held out her hand to deposit two pills she taken from the tray into Minako's hand. "They will help with any lingering affects of the infection the monster gave you last night, though they'll also make you feel pretty drowsy," Rei finished saying, as she gently laid the pills down onto Minako's outstretched palm.

Minako nodded as she took the pills, then also took the glass of juice and drank some after she swallowed the pills. Rei gently took the half-empty glass back from her, and when their fingertips brushed together a small tingle of pleasure shot through both their bodies at the contact. Rei swallowed slightly at the sudden feeling of desire that curled up in the pit of her stomach, and made its way up through her body and into her throat. She had always enjoyed the feeling and simple touches of Minako's skin against hers, and it was getting increasingly difficult to cover up her body's responses to Minako's.

Though the fact that she could have lost her best friend last night to of all things a stray monster attack, made it crystal-clear to Rei that if she had lost her best friend, she would have also lost any chance to show her how she truly felt about her. The thought that she would never again see Minako's sparkling-blue eyes or the laughing, happy smile the golden senshi seemed to bestow on her and her only, made the blood run cold in Rei's body.

But how could she tell Minako how she felt about her, and also keep the comfortable warmth of their friendship. She didn't want to make Minako uncomfortable being around her, if she told the golden senshi about her feelings and Minako reacted badly to it. Though Rei gave Minako a lot of credit to not react too badly as she was the Senshi of Love, and that meant love in all forms. Rei honestly didn't believe that Minako really would shun her, or suddenly not want to be around her anymore because she found out that Rei liked her 'in that way'. But still...Rei didn't want to 'rock the boat' as the saying went. She and Minako were the best of friends, and had a truly unique and wonderful friendship. Though the monster attack had made Rei question her decision to never let Minako know how she truly felt about her, she wasn't quite there yet in deciding to let that particular cat out of the bag.

She just needed something to show her that Minako wouldn't be uncomfortable around her if she revealed her true feelings. And honestly...with the way that Minako had been acting all cuddly with her, and sighing blissfully whenever Rei touched her since last night, Rei was getting a sneaking suspicion that Minako wouldn't just be okay with Rei's feelings...she may actually like them.

Rei decided to put this suspicion to the test.

After Minako had obediently taken her medication from Rei, she'd reached out and placed the breakfast tray on her lap, so that she could eat the light meal that Rei had prepared for her. It warmed Minako's heart to see and experience all the little things Rei did for her to show how much she cared. It made Minako feel special, and she sighed happily as she took a small bite of her meal and began chewing with pleasure. She was startled slightly when Rei took a seat on the edge of the bed beside her, took the fork from her hand to pick up a bit of scrambled eggs, and then raise the fork back up to her lips. Minako quirked an eyebrow at Rei who only gave her a small grin in return, and lightly bobbed the fork at her lips as if to say, "open wide."

Minako's cerulean-blue eyes sparkled with mirth, as she parted her lips to let Rei bring the food into her mouth. The two of them then spent the next ten minutes quietly engaged in the act of feeding and being fed to. It was peaceful and comforting, and Minako began feeling a quiet lassitude settle over her from the effects of the medication, and having a full stomach. Being fed to and cared for so thoroughly by Rei also added to this feeling of sleepy contentment, and Minako's eyes began to slowly droop downwards, as sleep began taking a firmer hold on her body. Seeing that Minako was already more than half-asleep, Rei lightly put the fork down onto the mostly empty plate, and gently removed the tray from Minako's lap.

Then hesitating for only a brief second, Rei leaned forward and gently brushed her lips across Minako's forehead.

Minako's eyes snapped open at the gentle touch against her skin, and her eyes focused in on Rei's violet eyes which were swirling with an undefined emotion.

The air between their faces fairly trembled with energy, and Minako found herself suddenly short of breath. This moment was reminding her of the night before, when Rei had leaned in close to her face, almost as if she were going to kiss her. But unlike last night Rei didn't lean back, and in fact the miko must have seen something in Minako's eyes, because she raised her hand and spread her fingers gently across Minako's cheek. A soft sigh of pleasure once again escaped Minako's lips as she leaned her face into Rei's palm, while her eyes fluttered closed at the warm touch.

Minako's reaction to her touch must have settled something in Rei's mind, because the next touch that Minako felt was a soft, tender press of lips against her own.

Minako let out a soft gasp which opened her lips, and a brief taste of tongue pressed against the inside of her lips. A low moan slipped passed Minako's throat, and Rei finally pulled back enough to look down at her best friend, who's eyes were slowly fluttering back open.

Minako looked up at Rei with a half-dazed expression on her face, and then breathed out a single word.

"Wow..."

Rei let out a small chuckle, even as a light blush coloured her cheeks. She then gently stroked her thumb across Minako's cheek, which just caused the love senshi to purr like a contented kitty, and nuzzle her face into Rei's palm.

Rei let out a soft, pleased laugh as she leaned down and gently brushed her lips across Minako's once more.

"I could get very addicted very quickly to the taste of your lips," Rei husked out against the slight trembling of Minako's mouth.

Minako sucked in a deep breath, and released it in a soft puff of air that played across Rei's lips. Just the sound and timber of Rei's voice as it vibrated against her lips, was causing all kinds of delicious sensations to run rampant throughout her body.

"I've wanted to do that with you...for so long," Rei continued as she lowered her head further, and nuzzled her face gently against Minako's neck.

Minako's eyes slowly closed again, as she raised her hands and threaded them through Rei's soft, silken strands to keep the miko pressed up close against her.

"And what took you so long to do so?" Minako asked in reply, as she pressed her lips against Rei's ear and softly kissed it. A light shiver ran through Rei's body, and the miko repaid the touch by pressing a shuddering kiss to Minako's collarbone. Minako's grip on Rei's hair tightened, as a soft low moan once again passed through her lips.

Rei pressed one more tender kiss against Minako's neck, before she forced herself to move back so that she could look down into Minako's beautiful, azure eyes when she spoke. Minako slowly reopened her eyes but kept her hands on Rei, only lowering them from the miko's hair to her cheeks, so that she could gently cradle Rei's face in the palms of her hands.

"I was scared and worried that you...that our friendship might change if I ever told you how I really felt about you. And that it wouldn't really change for the better. I know I know, you're the Senshi of Love and so my feelings really shouldn't have affected our friendship adversely. But still...the heart can be scared of things that may hurt it, and I guess I was just too afraid to take the risk. But then something scared my heart even worse, and I decided that I couldn't take the chance of never letting you know how I truly felt," Rei said with such heartfelt conviction, that Minako felt her own heart swoon with the feelings that Rei's confession caused to wash through her.

"You goof," Minako replied with a tender, affectionate smile. "You should have just told me, as you said I am the Senshi of Love. Not only would your feelings for me not have affected our friendship badly...I would have happily reciprocated them," Minako said with a shy smile for her favourite person in the whole world.

The bright, stunning smile that lit up Rei's face at Minako's words, caused the love senshi's breath to catch and she immediately had to pull Rei's face back down to hers, so that she could capture that beautiful smile with her lips.

Rei happily leaned back down and returned the kiss, as she made a promise with her heart to never ever let Minako go, and to always stand by her side to keep her safe and protected.

For all time

Really hope you all enjoyed~ Please review and let me know what your thoughts are on this story~ =3