"Sometimes a hurt is so deep deep deep
You think that you're gonna drown
Sometimes all I can do is weep weep weep
With all this rain falling down
Strange how hard it rains now
Rows and rows of big dark clouds
When I'm holding on underneath this shroud
Rain."
- "Rain," Patty Griffin
"Siren has recently pushed forward a new star, Namine something or other. They're trying to steal the light away from Minako – am I boring you, Rei?"
Lavender eyes blinked quickly as the woman jerked and looked up. She cleared her throat, trying to ignore the annoyed glare that was currently drilling into her brain. Shuffling the papers in her hand to look busy, Rei focused on Utena.
"No. No, of course not."
"Because if I am, Rei, you can just tell me. I'd be glad to change the topic to something that's not work related."
The soldier of fire coughed, cursing herself inwardly. She's been pretty distracted for the last couple of days. While Utena was her friend, the woman was also her boss, one who did not tolerate slacking off on the job. She's been having problems focusing all week. Ever since encountering a drunk-off-her-ass Minako.
'She never used to let herself get drunk.'
"Namine… Mitsugi Namine, right?" Rei said out-loud instead, getting a nod from Utena.
'No, she was always afraid it would mess up her vocal chords. Besides, she was too much of a control freak to let go like that anyway.'
"I don't think she's anything to worry about," she offered, opening a new window on her computer. "She sent us a demo a few months ago – pretty girl, but hardly a talent. And definitely no superstar."
'Course, being a star means a different life style… I wouldn't be surprised if she's been drunk more times than she can count… or remember at this point.'
Utena nodded, making a note of that as she speared a baby carrot with her fork. She looked over when Rei turned her screen around to give her a view of the picture the girl sent in with her demo. Like her subordinate said, Mitsugi Namine was definitely a pretty face. Light brown hair, a nice body and a heart-shaped face… she had market potential. A smash hit, a few talk show appearances and some mall performances, but that was about all. She learned long ago to trust Rei's almost unnerving ability to predict these things.
'Well, it is certainly none of my business. She can drink herself into oblivion, if she wants,' Rei huffed internally, stapling some of the papers on her desk. 'If she wants to ruin her career by drowning herself in a bottle of Jack, why, she can be my guest.'
Utena watched her companion slammed down on the top of the stapler with her fist to make packets necessary for a meeting later that afternoon. As the younger woman attacked the innocent object with a vehemence usually reserved for people dumb enough to cross her, she could not help but worry about the structural stability of the stapler in question.
'She shouldn't waste my time, no, our time by acting like she wants to salvage her career here. What the hell was she thinking, letting herself get plastered like that. If the paparazzi had somehow gotten pictures – I don't think want to think about what kind of nightmare that would have turned out to be.'
It was then the older woman realized that there was something seriously bothering her friend. Oh, sure, her lack of attention lately was utterly reprehensible, but she simply chalked it all up to Minako's return. Clearly, there was something a little deeper than the singer's mere presence.
'Of all the stupid, irresponsible things to do, letting herself get that drunk is not only unhealthy, but also dangerous. What if she had gotten alcohol poisoning or something? There were a shit load of bottles.'
Rei continued her assault on the hapless stapler, striking it with increasing force. Finally having enough, Utena quickly reached over and snatched the black office stapler away. The miko's fist stopped halfway in the air and lavender eyes suddenly blinked, trying to figure out where her stapler just went. She could've sworn it was right there…
"Ok," the young vice president of Athena said, placing the stapler out of Rei's reach. "Obviously we need to chat."
"Why? Give that back, I need to finish putting these together."
"No way. Something is bothering you. And I really don't want to take money out of your paycheck to pay for a new stapler."
"Nothing is bothering me," was the stiff and flat reply.
"Bullshit," Utena blurted out. "You better just spill whatever is on your mind since neither of us really have the time for this kind of juvenile behavior."
Rei glared at her boss. Fine, if she couldn't staple, she'll just do something else then. There was nothing on her mind at all. If Minako wanted to be stupid and get dangerously drunk, that's her business. Not hers. That had no effect on her whatsoever.
With a defeated sigh, the brunette waved her hand dismissively.
"If you want to be difficult, then there is nothing I can really do about it. Whatever it is, take care of it. I am sick of this attitude, Rei. If you won't talk to me, talk to somebody else."
Lavender eyes stayed fastened on the computer screen as her boss, friend and mentor stood and left without another word. The door closed – with a touch more force than usual – and the woman could only sigh and give in to the overwhelming silence of her office.
Utena had taken the stapler with her.
"I can't believe you two got THAT drunk last night!"
Minako massaged her temples, Jen's screaming intensified her already pounding headache. Her insides were churning with a sort of maniacal glee, and the lights seem Hell bent to make it all worse. Patrick set down two glasses of his infamous hangover cure, giving Mei and Minako a gentle smile before taking a seat at the dining table.
"Oh, hush up, Jen," Mei muttered, downing the drink. Her face screwed up to convey her disgust as the after taste of Patrick's notoriously foul tasting drink hit her full on. "You're just upset that we fucked up any chance you had of getting some from the pretty publicist last night."
A violent coughing fit seized the Aussie stylist as the milk she'd been drinking went down the wrong pipe at the crude, but admittedly accurate, statement. She sent a glare Mei's way while she grabbed a napkin and wiped the milk from her face.
Minako, on the other hand, grabbed Patrick's cure and downed it in a single gulp, wishing desperately that the burning sensation she felt were from her good ol' friend, Jack Daniels. She swallowed the disgusting drink and the bile that rose in response to Mei's comment. With a flourish, she wiped her mouth with a napkin before getting up.
"I'm going out."
"Where are you going?" Patrick questioned, concerned about his employer's chipped tone.
"Out. Tell Barbara I'll be back tomorrow morning."
Mei moved to get up, but groaned when the sudden movement made her head feel like it was being slammed into the ground repeatedly. Patrick gave her a scolding look, putting a large hand on her shoulder to keep the small woman down. The redheaded stylist frowned, turning to Minako with her arms crossed.
"Is that such a good idea? You're completely-"
"I'm fine."
Jen pressed her lips together at the star's snap. All three stared at their friend in confusion when Minako's eyes turned from their usual bright blue into brittle ice shards. Her entire demeanor changed as if something inside snapped, a finely coiled tension they'd never seen before appearing. The blonde said nothing, retreating into her room and appearing a few minutes later in a casual outfit and a cap to cover her face. She waved off the bodyguards waiting outside dismissively, closing the door loudly behind her.
"What's going on?"
The three remaining people in the room turned to find a bewildered Babs. Mei heaved out a heavily sigh.
"Hell if we know."
Bodies writhed on the bed, each movement followed by a moan or a satisfied grunt. Clothes, torn off and flung with reckless abandon, littered the floor. The shades were drawn to refuse the entry of light as the air lay heavy in the darkness. Hands pulled, pushed and clawed, vying desperately. It was not an act of love, only one of domination and possession. The two sought to claim victory in the most primal of battles, scratching and biting to possess the other. Finally, the bodies stilled, a layer of sweat on both that weighted heavily on them.
"When did you get so strong?"
The only response from the more slender of the two figures was a mirthless chuckle. The creak of a drawer being opened was followed moments later by the distinctive sound of a match being lit. The fire seemed to struggle for its existence, the air in the room suffocating it as soon as it had served its purpose. The room was plunged back into darkness after the brief moment of illumination, with only the dull orange red glow of a cigarette to dispel the darkness.
"How did you know I was back?" a distinctly male voice asked.
The response was a soft snort, followed by a lazy nip to the neck. "I may not be as sensitive to energy as some, but it is hard to miss yours."
"Because it's been in you so many times?"
Another snort, followed by a soft rustling as the smaller of the two figures shifted on the bed, pulling the sheets over them both.
"Don't exaggerate – a few times at most."
Gray wisps of smoke rose from the cigarette, visible only for a moment by the light provided by the cigarette before fading into the darkness to join the oppressive air.
"Do you want to talk about her now?"
One smiled while the other tensed. Even as the woman's energy spiked, her essence withdrew.
"Why do you think I want to talk about her?"
It was his turn to snort this time, taking another drag. "Simple, she has them on her side, ready to listen, to advise and to comfort. You only have me."
"So presumptuous. I'm disappointed, I thought you were raised better than that."
"Don't turn this on me. Today – today, we're interested in your disaster, Minako."
The star growled in frustration, sitting up as she groped for her phone in the dark. She flipped it open once she found it, frowning a little at the time. Without another word, she stood and started retrieving her clothes.
"There is nothing to talk about. We're both professionals. This is nothing – nothing but a temporary necessities."
"Lies do not become you, Minako."
"And what would you like to me to say?" the star asked with no small bit of annoyance. She continued groping for her clothes and pulling on whatever she found that seemed like hers. "It's a temporary arrangement that neither of us had a say in."
"You want her."
The singer paused for a moment, thinking about the statement for a bit before shrugging. "Of course, I do. She's beautiful, if you haven't noticed."
"It's more than that, and we both know it. This isn't about sex between you two, it's about trying to make the impossible real. It's trying to rekindle that connection you two shared."
"That will never fade," Minako replied with finality. Her companion was taken aback, but didn't skip a beat.
"Is that so?" he asked, almost mockingly to gloat the singer on.
"Yes, it is. There's no denying we'll always be part of each other."
"Sounds kinky."
"Shut your mouth," Minako snapped, sending a glare over her shoulder.
"Face it, Venus, you fucked up, you fucked up royally."
"No more than you."
The snide retort was met with silence, the air in the room suddenly tense. The two remained silent for a few more moments as the man on the bed lit another cigarette.
"Bitch, I wonder what she saw in you sometimes."
"Trust me," Minako replied dryly. "You have no idea how often I've asked myself the same question."
"So what do you intend to do now? For better or for worse, she's claimed you as hers. In front of the entire country, no less."
"Hers? No, I'm not hers. I'm the company's."
"Bullshit. You're hers again, Venus, and there's nothing you can do to escape that."
As expected, his statement was met with silence. He took a drag lazily.
"But then again, that's how you've always liked it, isn't it?"
That comment seemed to send the singer off the edge. She turned suddenly, her hand finding the strings of the blind and, with a single smooth motion, she pulled on them roughly. The light of the rising run flooded the room, revealing a mocking smirk on Minako's face as she stared at the handsome blonde man with cold eyes. His own cornflower blue eyes stared back unflinchingly, and they were struck once more by just how much they really looked alike.
"You mean the same thing you've been dreaming of for millennia? For her to look at you again with the gentleness she used to? For her to look at you like she still gave a flying fuck about you, Jadeite?"
The blonde man clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing as Minako laughed, turning and walking out of the room. The singer smirked when she heard something shatter against the door after she closed it behind her. She checked the time again, walking briskly down the stairs.
She didn't want to keep Rei waiting.
Rei massaged her temples, tossing the report she'd been reading aside. It was quite late in the day, and her eyes were protesting at the small print she'd been studying for the past few hours. Really, if only the company's private investigator would join the 21st century and accept the wonders of the computer. Typing up background checks on almost 300 people on a damn typewriter was just absurd.
Stretching her muscles tiredly, the woman stood before walking over to her minifridge. Just then, her intercom flared to life, informing her that her 4 o'clock just arrived. She stared at the bottle of wine she kept there for days like this longingly before closing the fridge with a sigh. Damn them all.
She quickly rearranged her blouse, walking over to the plush chairs in her office as the door opened. Minako and Barbara entered behind her secretary, who bowed before quickly leaving to get the tea and coffee.
"Good afternoon. Please, sit."
Minako studied her publicist carefully, frowning a little at the signs of fatigue even the ever-determined Hino Rei couldn't hide. The makeup did wonders, but it could not eliminate the dark circles under her subdued lavender eyes. It was obvious she was doing her best not to sink into the comfort of the plush chair when she sat, staying alert but by sheer force of will only.
"I hope the residence has been to your liking thus far?"
The singer snapped from her thoughts at the question, nodding just a tad too enthusiastically. But really, who could blame her for loving such a house? Simple, but beautiful, with plenty of large windows and open spaces for her to roam.
"Good," Rei said simply, sipping the coffee her secretary prepared for her.
Minako took a sip of her tea, relaxing into her seat as she considered whether or not to bring up the drunken incident of the other night. With an almost imperceptible nod, she turned her cornflower blue eyes on the woman sitting across from her.
"I just wanted to thank you for the other night… I know Jen wouldn't have had enough patience to deal with both Mei and I."
The publicist's lips pressed into a thin line as her eyes flickered with barely contained annoyance at the reminder of what a drunken mess Minako had been. It faded as quickly as it appeared, but it was enough for the singer to catch. She felt her heart sink – clearly she wasn't winning any brownie points with Rei, and only managed to destroy any that were gained.
"It was no problem, Jen needed help."
Barbara watched the exchange with interest. It was becoming more and more obvious that there was something between the other two women in the room, but what, she didn't know. Part of her didn't really want to know either, as long as it didn't get in the way. The woman shifted, feeling it was time to interrupt.
"Is the list of guests ready yet, Ms. Hino?"
"Please, call me Rei. It's almost ready, we have it narrowed down to 300 people. Since we want this to be pretty small and intimate, we're capping it at 250. I'll send the list over once we eliminate some more people."
Babs nodded, genuinely liking this woman's efficiency. 'If only I decided to go with them in the beginning,' she thought to herself bitterly.
"Excellent," Rei said, trying not to fidget from Minako's steady gaze.
The singer hesitated for a moment before reaching into her bag, pulling out a jewel case and placing it on the coffee table separating her from her old lover. Lavender eyes glanced at the object before returning to the beautiful blonde. Inside the case was an unlabeled CD. But what did Minako want her to do with it?
"I would be very grateful," the child of Love started, playing almost nervously with the cup of tea she'd just picked up, "if you would listen to the song I just finished recording. I want it to be the first single off the new album, and I want it to premier in Japan first. Considering your knowledge of the music scene, I would love to hear your thoughts."
Barbara looked a little annoyed, but knew her client's mind was made up. Hino Rei would be the first besides Minako's close confidants to hear the new song. Not even the record company has heard the final product quite yet, and Babs didn't want to think about the impending chaos that would result if they ever got wind that an outsider had been privy before them. However, that was her job and not Minako's worry. But it wouldn't be such a horrible thing if the singer made her a job a little easier once in a while, would it?
Rei, on the other hand, stared at the singer in surprise. She blinked several times as the request sank in, and found it quite difficult to control how touched she felt that Minako would ask her to listen to the song. It was a logical choice clearly, since she was an expert on the Japanese music scene and the person who had the most interaction with them in the department. It was convenient and useful to get her input before releasing the single, and it also made her job easier if she knew what was coming
But somehow, she couldn't stop from feeling like there was something personal in the choice. Minako could have just as easily gone to Utena, the head of the department, since she's the biggest name they've handled to date. And the way the woman was looking at her – with obvious anxiety but also sincerity – that made her think the choice was far more personal. And meaningful. Considering their past, it was impossible for anything to be impersonal, but it still made her feel… special… that Minako would choose her, of all people.
She cleared her throat, shifting to reach for the CD when the anxiety was became evident in Minako's expressive blue eyes. She inspected the unlabeled, plain CD for a moment. On this disk was the next big track from Aino Minako. On a professional level, Rei felt a surge of pride and excitement. On a personal level, well, Rei didn't really want to think about that anymore.
"I'd be honored. I'll listen to it tonight."
The singer mentally let out a breath she didn't known she was holding. The blonde tamed the grin threatening to burst worth, settling for a small, but appreciative and genuine smile that lit up her whole face. Her eyes grew warm, radiating a kind of joy Rei has seen only a few times since her return to Japan.
"Maybe it'll give me some inspiration while I read through the profiles with size 8 font," Rei added, the happiness of the singer impossible to resist.
"You should be careful," Minako responded without thinking, a small frown on her lips. "Reading such a small font for long periods of time is horrible for your eyes."
When the singer realized what she'd just said and the curious look Babs was giving her, she immediately cleared her throat. The butterflies fluttered around her stomach when Rei's features closed off a little at her mothering.
"I look through piles of lyrics writers send me, and some aren't very wise in their choice of font styles and sizes."
The publicist nodded a little, noting the relief the other woman couldn't hide completely. Some habits, she supposed, never really died. Nurse Minako was one of them, it seemed. She wasn't quite sure whether to be amused, touched or angered by the display of concern. For the sake of preserving their thus far peaceful working relationship, she settled for amused.
"Warning noted," Rei responded with a hint of playfulness, just enough to alleviate any tension that arose from the little exchange. She turned her attention to Babs, feeling the woman's eyes on her and wanting to avoid garnering any suspicion from the woman regarding her relationship with Minako.
"I also have a few hosts in mind as well as a couple of venues. We can go over the information on that now if you'd like."
Babs studied the beautiful raven-haired woman for a moment longer before nodding. Seems like she'll have to pay more attention to her than she'd originally intended.
Rei rubbed her eyes tiredly when she finished reading the last of the background checks. She made a copy of the tentative list for Babs, including the relevant background checks and sealed it. After scribbling a note for her secretary on a Post-It, she tossed it into the pile of things she had to leave on her desk when she left. Glancing at the clock on the wall, she sighed when she realized it was probably just better to spend the night on her couch.
After putting the pile that had to go out first thing in the morning on her secretary's desk, Rei locked her door and headed for her closet. She grabbed some spare clothes before heading into the bathroom. Stripping and then stepping into the inconspicuous shower, she was once again glad Utena had it installed without her knowledge.
It was almost sunrise when Rei finished drying her long hair and was ready for bed. As she walked over to the couch, she spotted Minako's CD sitting on her coffee table. A bit of guilt seized her when she realized she'd promised the singer she'd listen to it that night. But she should be forgiven since she'd spent the night working on the blonde's case, right?
She groaned softly, grabbing the CD and inserting it into her audio system and pouring herself a glass of wine. The blinds were opened to afford her a view of the sun rising through the impressive skyline.
A small smile touched Rei's lips when she heard the opening of the song. She was pleasantly surprised it was a ballad, and not one of the high octane or R&B songs the blonde was fond of singing in the last view years.
The smile faltered a bit when she heard the lyrics. Her brows drew together, focusing on what the blonde was expressing. The music, it seemed, was simply accompaniment to the message, the main focus of the piece. Her glass of wine was quickly drained as Rei forced herself to listen to the rest of the song.
Despite the overall positive message and beautiful simplicity, Rei couldn't help but be angered by the audacity the singer had to present this song to her. She shoved the CD back into the jewel case and, grabbing piece of paper, she scribbled a quick note before shoving it into an envelope and sealing it.
Gone were the warm feelings she got from the blonde asking her to preview her newest song. Instead, the embers of deeply rooted anger sprang back to life. It left a bitter taste in her mouth, along with the knowledge that this was nothing more than a professional transaction to Minako. Rei tossed the CD onto her secretary's desk, slamming the door when she realized that the blonde was now responsible for what will be another sleepless night.