7
When her phone buzzed, Rei flipped it open, thinking it was another text, but the glowing display told her it was a call. Putting the cell against her ear, Rei jumped to her feet and sprinted into the theatre's main foyer, hoping she didn't disturb the rehearsal.
"Makoto?"
"Rei-chan! I'm sorry I took so long to get back to you. I thought it would be best to speak to you directly about this."
Rei swallowed. That didn't sound very promising.
"Y-you spoke with the elders?"
"With the shrine leader, yeah. He says you can stay on at the Shrine—"
"Really?" Rei felt a huge sense of relief.
"—But, uh, just as a priestess."
She was confused. "I'm already a priestess, though, how is—"
"Um, w-well, he feels that for your safety, as well as the Shrine's—you—you probably shouldn't live there anymore."
Rei's mind went numb. She was being asked to leave her home. She had known that it was possible, and the shrine leader obviously meant well, but— She chomped down on her lip, trying desperately not to get upset while Makoto was still on the line.
"Rei-chan?"
"I—I understand. Please, M-Mako-chan, can—can you tell him I'll do as he's asked?" Rei felt a few tears leak from her eyes. A sob was fighting to escape her. She needed to hang up.
"Sure, Rei-chan. Anything you need."
"I-I-I gotta g-go, Makoto."
Makoto's voice was filled with sympathy. "I'm really sorry, Rei-chan."
Rei hurriedly closed her phone and tried to push away the wave of despair that threatened to overwhelm her. She shut her eyes and tried to breathe in. It would be all right. She would find someplace new.
Unknown.
The edges of her vision blurred. She needed to sit down before she keeled over.
Familiar arms slipped around her shoulders from behind and pulled her close.
"Reiko."
Mutely, Rei turned in the embrace and held onto Minako for dear life.
~O~O~O~O~
The idol hurriedly escorted Rei to the privacy of her dressing room when Minako found her in the deserted foyer, radiating shock and sorrow. No explanation was forthcoming, as Rei simply sat and let Minako hold her while she quietly wept. It seemed she had lost the ability to speak.
Minako felt terrible. She hated seeing Rei so upset. But she knew if she waited and did not press Rei, she would know what was going on.
Patience never had been one of her virtues. Although—the tiniest of smiles etched her features at the thought—she had been plenty patient in waiting for Rei to make a move on her. She had been milliseconds from making the move herself when Rei had finally acted. Their first kiss seemed so recent, yet so much time had passed since that night.
In their past lives, Venus' impatience had won out. That kiss felt oddly recent as well, even though it had happened several millennia ago.
Rei gave a huge, shuddering sigh against Minako and sat up, wiping her red-rimmed eyes.
"I think I need some air," she said. Standing, she held out her hand.
Minako grasped it gently and stood as well. "I know someplace we can go."
~O~O~O~O~
Minako stared at Rei's reflection in the koi pond's trembling water as they sat beside it. Her expression was difficult to read as the numerous fish swam around, distorting the image. Every so often, her grip on Minako's hand would tighten until it was almost painful, then abruptly relax.
The area of the public garden was fairly isolated, as it was surrounded by a wide array of trees, plants, and countless blooms of colourful flowers. The scent of the air was rich and earthy. In spite of everything, Minako was beginning to feel calmer with each inhalation she took.
"I have to move out of the Shrine." Rei's voice was so quiet, Minako half-thought she had imagined it.
The Shrine. No wonder Rei was so heartbroken.
Rei's grip tightened again. "I still have a job though. Business has picked up for some odd reason."
Minako breathed a sigh of relief. Rei was trying to make a joke. That was definitely a good sign. She leaned her head on Rei's shoulder and waited for her to continue. Rei let go of Minako's hand and slipped her arm around the idol's waist.
"I don't know what to do, Mina. I've lived there nearly all my life. I wouldn't even know where to begin looking for a place! Or how!" She hung her head dejectedly. "It's always been—home."
Reassuring words were on the tip of Minako's tongue when an obvious solution came to her. But the question was whether or not Rei would go along with her idea. She'd have to phrase it carefully, tread lightly—
"You should move in with me," she blurted. Minako could have smacked herself in the forehead. So much for subtlety.
Rei's whole body tensed. She turned and gaped at the idol, astonished.
Gulping nervously, Minako met Rei's eyes and ploughed ahead. "I-I think it's a good idea. I mean, I was g-going to ask you when I finished this tour, but—but given everything that's happened—"
"Y-you were?" Rei's face grew, if possible, more astonished.
"Why do you look so surprised, Reiko? Of course I was! I love you! I want you with me!" Minako felt her face flush with emotion, and turned her gaze back to the koi pond. She hadn't meant to raise her voice. Hopefully there were no reporters hiding in the shrubbery.
Rei's distorted reflection moved towards hers and Minako felt a hand cup her cheek. She was met with a piercing stare.
"You're serious?"
Minako covered Rei's hand with her own. "Completely, Rei. I want this. I want—I want you."
"Mina..." Rei's hold on her waist tightened. She leaned forward. "...You have me."
~O~O~O~O~
Once they'd pulled themselves away from the quiet of the koi pond, Rei remembered spotting a pleasant looking Italian restaurant when she had been walking around the day before, and Minako had no objections to the suggestion of dinner. Neither of them had been able to eat much since waking, given how frayed their nerves had been for the past several hours, and they both realized they were rather hungry. The patio had been quite inviting, but they decided to remain inside when given the option, deciding to take a more secluded table where they could escape the other patrons' notice.
"Easy enough to watch everyone else though," Minako said, wearing a devilish grin when they sat down.
Rei chuckled. "So long as you don't get caught."
"That was one time. And everyone was staring, if you recall. Including you."
"Some people just can't handle spicy food. Poor guy never had a chance." She handed Minako one of the menus their waiter had given them and began to peruse her own. "Should we get a red or white wine?"
"Yes."
Rei glanced up from the menu with an eyebrow raised. Minako was smiling impishly.
"So, a rosé wine then?"
Laughing, Minako nodded and reached across the table for Rei's hand. "Although, after today, ordering two bottles is rather tempting, you have to admit."
Rei ran her other hand across her face and smirked. "It is. Except I'd probably be in a coma if we drank all that."
"Hm. Well, that's no good. I need you awake."
"For what?—O-oh." Minako's foot brushed against Rei's leg. "Um, right."
Their waiter returned not long after to take their order. Rei was glad that the light in the restaurant was low, given that she was certain she was bright red.
~O~O~O~O~
Minako linked her arm through Rei's as they strolled back towards the hotel. "That was a great idea, Reiko. I don't think I've had pasta that fantastic since we went to Rome."
Rei grinned, feeling utterly relaxed. "I think we should have skipped the pasta and just had the gelato."
"Mm, you sound like you enjoyed the wine, too, love," Minako teased.
"Not nearly as much as you—hey, hold on a second." Rei stopped walking when she heard the sound of a guitar. "I wonder if—" She pulled Minako towards the music. Across the street, through the gaps between the people on the busy sidewalk, Rei spotted the same young man playing his guitar on the street corner.
"That's him!" Rei glanced at Minako when she recognized the tune as Romance. The idol's eyes were sparkling.
"I want to go say hi. C'mon." Minako tugged Rei towards the crosswalk.
"What? Mina—" Rei instinctively ducked her head as they crossed the street, convinced a giant spotlight was about to hit them. She wasn't sure it was terribly wise for Minako to just walk up to a random fan in the street. His reaction would be sure to draw attention and then—
The musician smiled widely at Rei when he noticed their approach. Minako's face was largely obscured under a red baseball cap she'd bought while in Sydney.
"Hey there, I remember you! Got a friend with you t'day? I—I—I—" His hands faltered on the strings as Minako lifted her cap, holding a finger to her lips.
"Hi. What's your name?" Her English was, as always, flawless.
"Um, D-Drew." His eyes were enormous. Rei fought the urge to laugh. She knew how he felt. Oftentimes, Minako had that effect on her too.
"Do you have tickets for my concert tomorrow night, Drew?"
He turned pink and shook his head. "Sold out."
"So you would like to go to it, then?"
Drew nodded mutely. There was an uncomprehending disbelief in his gaze as Minako reached into her jacket and pulled out two tickets.
"I hope that the front row is okay. There's an extra, so you can bring someone with you. Oh, and here—" Minako reached into her handbag. "Backstage passes. Then I can meet your friend as well." She placed the items into Drew's shaking hands.
"See you tomorrow, then!" Minako nudged Rei, and they turned to go.
"W-waitasec! Um—n-not to be greedy, but—" he clutched the tickets and passes to his chest. "W-would you please sign my g-guitar?"
Minako looked delighted. "I would love to."
Rei was coerced into signing the instrument as well, though she refrained from using the loopy scrawl that Minako used for her autograph, and simply wrote her name in kanji. Drew was overjoyed.
They bid him a cheerful goodnight and resumed their walk back to the hotel. The sound of the guitar soon started up again, and Minako sang quietly as they strolled along. Rei was both relieved and amazed that they hadn't drawn a crowd.
"Minako, did you just happen to have those tickets on you, or—"
The idol laughed. "I've been known to hang onto the odd pair of tickets to give away just before a show. Venues usually give me tickets for my family, but they're all back—" she paused and took hold of Rei's hand. "—Most of them are back home."
"Most? I didn't know you had family here—oh." Rei trailed off at the sight of her lover's amused expression. She had been referring to Rei. "Oh, Mina." Rei was truly touched.
Minako pulled her into a tight hug. "Y'know what, Reiko? I think we need to get back to the hotel so we can celebrate our new living arrangements."
o~o~o
Author notes:
Thank you for not murdering me for the cliffhanger of last week. I appreciate it. See you next Thursday! ~ G