Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of its characters… :D

A/N: Thanks for the reviews! :D and I know the story might be confusing at times but when I say Minako, it means Rei inside Minako's body and vice versa… :D Sorry if I am taking too long to update this story... :D I'm finishing up the last two or three chapters so feel free to leave a message if it takes too long for me to post it... thanks! :D Oh and thanks for the reviews! Especially to jedicaro, MinaRayeFan and DaPyro's Love for continuing to read the fanfic! :D

Ring Ring Ring…

"Moshi moshi. Hin… I mean Aino Minako desu…"

"Hey Rei! Where are you? Are you still at school? My parents' plane landed a few minutes ago. Did something happen?"

'Yeah. I'm sorry I zoned out after the last bell rang. It was good that Ami noticed or else I'm would still be at school. But I can't tell you that right now. Ugh. Shit. I don't have a smaller bill!' Minako thought while still holding the phone and her free hand tries to open her wallet.

"Rei? Are you still there?"

"Yeah. I'm already here at the airport. Just have to pay the cab driver. Oh. Keep the change! You have change? Thanks! Sorry… What gate was it again?" Fast footsteps then a small noise and a groan were heard from the other side of the line. "Sorry!"

"Gate 4. You're running aren't you?"

"Yeah. Be there in a sec. Bye." A panting Minako said as she ran full speed towards Gate 4.

After a couple of minutes, Minako found Rei waiting by the entrance of the gate.

"I… I'm… here… So… Sorry… if I… wa… s… late…" Minako was stooping low and panting hard. She felt like her lungs were about to burst.

"Why were you late? Are you picking up my habit?" Rei teased as she got her hanky and wiped away the beads of sweat from the blonde's face. Minako gave her another death… I mean cute glare. Rei chuckled as she continued to wipe Minako's sweat. Rei gave Minako the water bottle that she purchased earlier so that the blonde could at least quench her thirst after sweating that much. Rei then kissed Minako on her cheeks as the blonde was drinking causing the blonde to cough up half of the water she drank. Rei laughed at the Minako as she took the bottle from Rei and let the blonde wipe herself with her own hanky.

Little did they know, Minako's parents were watching from afar. They decided to approach the two after seeing Minako relax a bit and was eyeing for the two adults.

"Mina! My little princess!" exclaimed Mr. Aino as he ran towards the blonde and picking her up as he hugged her.

"Ooof!" "Okay… Mom and Dad… Mom and Dad… Not Mr. Aino and Mrs. Aino… Can't breathe right…" Minako thought as tried to wriggle herself out of the bear hug. "Mom… Dad! Ni-nice to see you again!" Minako stuttered and thought, 'Nice to see you again? NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN? I should've said I missed you guys! Great! First meeting and I failed!'

Rei then gave a concerned look at the blonde as she heard what the latter said. She mouthed 'You can do it! Go!' and smiled. Minako blushed. The miko didn't notice that Mrs. Aino was already in front of her.

"Hello Rei. Glad you can accompany my daughter while she picks us up," said Mrs. Aino lovingly. She then hugged the miko.

'Do not call them Mom and Dad! MR. AINO and MRS. AINO…" Rei repeated to herself as she hugged back. "Oh! Good afternoon Mr. and Mrs. Aino," the miko stated confidently. Suddenly Mr. Aino rushed towards Rei and gave her a bear hug also.

"Mr… Dad! Stop giving Mi… Rei a bear hug! She's turning blue!" shouted Minako as she swatted Mr. Aino's arm. The man puts down the miko and laughs hard. Rei held unto Minako's shoulder and tries to breathe. "Can't help it! You two looked so cute a while ago!" shouted Mr. Aino, his hands were all over the place.

'Just like Minako. Ha-ha. Over dramatic story telli… Wait. They saw us earlier? They were watching. Great.' Minako mentally face palmed herself.

'Oh Kami. I hope they didn't notice anything weird about us…' Rei thought as she was still trying to catch her breath from the bear hug.

They were walking towards the exit of the airport to hail a cab when Mr. Aino spoke up again and said, "Would like to stay for dinner, Rei? After all, you accompanied my daughter here at the airport or are you needed some place else?" Both Minako's parents smiled at the miko, making her blush a bit. "Okay," was Rei's answer.

Minako then absentmindedly interlaced her hands with Rei's as they waited for their turn to get into a cab. Mrs. Aino nudged her husband and both looked at the two girls. Mr. Aino looked at her wife, smiled and nodded.

"So, you want to go to a restaurant or just order some take out?" Mrs. Aino inquired at the two.

The two girls looked at each other and Minako answered, "If you want, we just order take out instead so you two can relax at home. You had a long flight and I know you both need rest."

"Good idea, Mina! What do you want for dinner?" asked Mr. Aino.

"Whatever you would like…" Minako felt a nudge on her rib and continued, "Maybe something authentic Japanese… food? You were in England for a long time…"

"That would be great! I'll call the restaurant we used to go to when we get home. I hope they still deliver," answered Mr. Aino.

"We're next!" Rei said enthusiastically which earned her a puzzled look from the two adults. "Sorry, I was excited about the dinner," she added as she blushed. Minako chuckled.

The drive home from the airport was silent. Rei opted to sit at the front passenger seat so that the Aino's were all together at the back. Minako was fidgeting from time to time. She then looked at Rei and sighed. 'Be Aino Minako. Just for a while. You can do it! Mina trusts you!' Minako thought. She then put her head on her mother's shoulder who was sitting in the middle. Mrs. Aino then looked at her "daughter" lovingly and cupped her face. 'I miss my mom…' she thought again. Minako got sleepy all of a sudden and didn't know that she dozed off until she was woken up by her "mom" as the cab stopped in front of the their apartment's building.

After unpacking and eating, Rei helped Mrs. Aino wash the dishes at their kitchen (because Minako insisted Rei to do it) while Mr. Aino and Minako watched TV (because Rei said that they used to watch TV together every day when her parents were in Japan). They couldn't find anything interesting on the TV (actually Minako was pretending that she liked watching TV and was rather feeling bored) so Mr. Aino turned off the TV and opted to chat with her "daughter."

"My little princess sure did grow up fast!"

Minako blushed. She wasn't used to this kind of attention.

"So, how are your studies?"

"It's okay, I guess."

"Do you have any boyfriends that I should know about? Or is someone already courting you?"

"Boyfriends?" 'Great! I don't know what to answer this time… Oooh… An idea!'

"Yes. B-O-Y-F-R-I-E-N-D," Mr. Aino teased.

"Nope. Don't have one." 'HA! Take that all of you assholes that's trying to get a date with MY Angel!' Minako had an evil smile plastered on her face.

"How about a girlfriend then?"

'What the fuck?' "…"

"So is that a "yes" then?"

"N—NO! Not at all! Why would you say that Mr… Dad?" 'Shit! I didn't see that coming!'

"You've been calling me Mr. Dad since we were at the airport? You're really being weird today."

"Yes… W-Why would you say that I have… umm… a girl… girlfriend?" 'Great. Now I'm stuttering!'

"Let's just say, we noticed a couple of things before and now…" Mr. Aino sing songed, stood up and walked to the kitchen and added, "Are you being weird today because Rei is here?"

"What? NO!" Minako was now really blushing. She then saw her "dad" wriggle his eyebrows at her as she took Rei's shoulder and made her peer out from the door. Rei looked at Minako quizzically then shrugged before going in the kitchen again.

'This morning, my dad talked to me about Minako and now the Aino's are acting weird. If this goes on any further, I might snap!' Minako thought as slumped at the couch, she then made a small groan before she face palmed herself.

Mr. Aino went Minako's side stealthily and whispered to her ear, "Rei and Mina sitting in a tree… K-I-S-S-I-N-G..." A pillow suddenly hit Mr. Aino's face so hard he accidentally fell a few paces away from the sofa.

"I DO WANT TO KISS THAT PRETTY POUTY… WHAT? Shit! I… Umm… Sorry… Mr… Dad!" 'Shit! Now I'm dead! I just cursed, outed myself and hit Mina's dad!

"Whats' happening there?" Mrs. Aino shouted from the kitchen. Rei peered again, chuckled at the sight of her dad sitting a foot away from Minako as he was wiping an invisible growing lump on his face as the latter was blushing like crazy as she was still gripping another pillow from the couch and was ready to throw it any second. The miko then shrugged and went inside the kitchen again.

'What the hell? I want to kiss that pretty pouty… Fuck! Shit shit shit shit…' Minako thought as she gripped the pillow. 'Calm down! Just calm down…' Minako chanted as she put the pillow back at the couch.

"Wow! You became strong my princess!" He suddenly got up and gave Minako another bear hug.

"Can't… breathe…"

Mr. Aino lets go of Minako and goes to the kitchen while laughing and skipping.

Seeing a full grown man skipping all the way to the kitchen made Minako chuckle and think, 'Now I know where Mina got her energy from… Ugh… Thank Kami! It seemed what I just said didn't register on his brain! HA!'

Mrs. Aino suddenly went to the living room and said to Minako, "Is Rei still living at the shrine?"

Minako just nodded. Mrs. Aino continued to ask, "Is her grandfather still there?"

"He's in Kyoto with the apprentice priest. She's the only one living there until they come back and that's a week or two before they come back," Minako answered as she sat straight.

"If that's the case," Mrs. Aino turned her back on Minako went to the kitchen's door, peered and said, "Rei, would you like to stay here with us for a couple of days? Until we return to England? I mean, your grandfather is away anyway and we'd like to know you better, Mina's been talking about you a lot lately. I bet she would like you stay."

Rei then peered at the door also, looked at Minako and blinked several times, and answered, "Sure Mrs. Aino. Thank you for your hospitality. I'll call my grandfather later and inform him."

"Okay. You two go and wash up already. You still have classes tomorrow and Rei, leave your uniform here and I'll go put it on the washing machine for you so could use it again tomorrow.," Mrs. Aino said as she patted Rei's shoulder and looked at Minako and continued, "Oh and Minako, don't stay up too late playing that Sailor something that you always play."

Minako sweat dropped as Rei snickered. They then went to Minako's bedroom to get some clothes for Rei.

"Hey Rei, you still haven't told me why you were late earlier," Rei asked as she rummaged at her closet for some clothes.

"I'll tell you tomorrow, okay? I just want to rest right now. I don't know how you and your dad do this every day. I'm exhausted," answered Minako and she lets out a sigh.

"Okay… Wait, how do I do what every day?" replied the miko as she handed some clothes to Minako.

Minako mimicked an energizer bunny by pretending to hit a drum located in front of her and said, "So energetic! You're like a real live energizer bunny!"

"Ha-ha! You look so cuuute my Rei-rei!" Rei shouted as she hugged the blonde.

'She called me my Rei-rei?' Minako blushed.

Rei realized what she had just said and let go of Minako. She then ran towards the bathroom, leaving a frozen Minako by her room.

They both took a bath separately, earning a blush equally as they emerged from the bathroom. After the awkward silence, which lasted several minutes, they decided to go to bed. Minako wanted to sleep at the floor with a futon, because she thought it was inappropriate since "her" parents are home but Rei insisted that it was fine. Minako thought that she will lose at the argument anyway and gave up and went to sleep at the bed with Rei. They ended up hugging each other yet again. Morning came and Rei woke up with Minako spooning her from behind as her fingers were interlaced with blonde's hands. They went to school blushing and holding hands until they separated at the intersection going to their separate schools.

After their respective classes, Rei went to the shrine, cleaned up the grounds then took some of her clothes and proceeded to the Aino's apartment. To her surprise, only the adults were there.

"Mina was here a while ago but she returned to school. The librarian called her up for those overdue books that she had. We said that she should just meet us up at the grocery store since we were going there. Would you like to come?" Mrs. Aino asked the miko.

'I completely forgot about the books! Rei will be very annoyed with me later. That I'm sure!' Rei sweat dropped.

"You don't have to if you don't want to," continued Mrs. Aino when she saw that Rei had just sweat dropped.

"No… I mean I would love to go with you at the grocery," Rei smiled.

The Aino's and Rei went to the grocery and as they were at vegetable section, Mr. Aino suddenly asked the miko, "Do you like my daughter, Rei?" He asked this casually as he checked a vegetable for freshness.

"Wa—What?"

"Don't be shy about it, Rei," Mrs. Aino chuckled.

"Why would you ask that, Mr. and Mrs. Aino?" 'Concentrate! Keep your face straight! Be serious…'

"Because we saw how you treat our daughter even before we went to England. We invited you over so that we can get to know you personally. Mina's rambling about you since forever! And as we saw you two at the airport…" Mr. Aino put the vegetable into the cart as she glanced at Rei. "I, for a fact, wouldn't mind if you ended up together," he continued.

'I was rambling about Rei? To them?' Rei was alarmed. She didn't know how to respond.

"For me as well. To tell you frankly, Rei, I wasn't sure about it at first but when I thought about it, it made sense. You always seem to be there when she needs you and we're thankful that you respect us enough as parents of the object of you affection and you respect her as well," Mrs. Aino was now patting Rei's head.

"Love is love my dear. You can't control who you fall in love with that is why it's okay with us. Even though we are having a tough time making Mina confess about everything. She even hit me with a pillow last night," Mr. Aino added as tried to soothe an imaginary bump on his forehead.

'Rei likes me… that way? As in more than a friend? How dense can I get? My parents noticed and I didn't? And I was even denying to myself all this time that I liked Rei? Ugh.' Rei froze from her spot.

"Oh dear. I didn't know you were still in denial," Minako's dad was now standing in front of the miko as Mrs. Aino was on her side, looking concerned.

'So that's why she was blushing and slumping at the couch last night and was so exhausted before going to bed! Ha-ha! She's not used to so much conversation with her involved. Ha-ha!' Rei thought as she tried to pull herself together.

"Well, at least the cat's now out of the bag…" Mrs. Aino teased.

"So you're okay with it? You're okay if got together?" Rei asked the two adults.

"We just told you, didn't we? You're very much welcome to our family, Rei," the two adults then hugged the miko who cried tears of joy.

'Thank Kami that they're okay with all of this! I just have to find the courage to ask Rei out! Rei thought as she hugged the two adults tighter.

Minako was now walking away from the school grounds. She couldn't take her mind off of the conversation she had with the senator yesterday.

FLASHBACK

"Thank you for giving me a chance to talk to you about my daughter," the senator said as he closed the car's door.

"What do you want to talk about her?" Minako was now serious. She was fighting the urge to shout at the politician.

"Do you know about Rei's mother?"

Minako frowned.

"So you know," the senator's amethyst eyes looked sad, genuinely sad. "I don't know why I am telling you this but…" he continued as he looked outside of his window. "But I really loved her mom and I still do."

Minako clenched her fists into a ball.

"As you would know, I was raised in a very wealthy family and I was the only child of my parents. I was surrounded by men all my life. I was taught on how to be a man early on I was taught that power and status were everything and I wasn't taught how to love, how to really love. I was to study and get into politics and that was it I didn't care about anyone or anything. I was rich and I could do anything I wanted. I lived lavish lifestyle for a long time and then when I met Rei's mom, all of it changed. She made me angry because she wanted simple things. She didn't want to attend lavish parties or somewhere and do nothing. I know it will sound bad but she made me feel like a common person. She made me appreciate the smaller things in life. She made me look at how I was living before... She made me value what I had and not count on anyone to do anything. She made me feel like a normal human being. At first, I hated her for making me feel anything but I realized that it was hate, I love her. I love her for making me feel alive and gave me a reason to wake up each morning. She made feel truly happy for the first time in my life. So we got married and we had Rei. My beautiful daughter," Rei's dad was trying hard not to let too much emotion come out but his eyes gave him away.

"But then her mom died. Something in me died with her so I buried everything about her inside so I wouldn't hurt anymore. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know how to raise a girl. I panicked so I gave her to her mother's dad. I kept to myself and just worked and worked. I shouldn't have done that. I should've been brave enough for the both of us but I was a big coward. I ran away because every time I see Rei's face, I'm reminded of her. I gave up on her and her mother. I didn't want to feel anything for a long time. And it was too late when I realized that I didn't even took the time to explain to her why I didn't come to see her mother's funeral. Why I didn't showed up on special occasions or why I opted to just see her once a year. I know she would never understand why I did what I did. But I would like to make it up to her just this once. That is why I wanted to talk to you," the senator held Minako's hands and the blonde fidgeted at the contact.

"I didn't believe the reports that my men gave me about my daughter and the people she interacted with. I noticed that out of all her friends, you stood out. She gives you a different smile, a way happier and contented smile and she glows when you're near her. It's like she has found a reason to live a happy life and break out of her shell. And I saw it personally when you two were going in the restaurant," amethyst eyes were now reflecting something hopeful.

" You know, I don't want to sound like a stalker, but I had my men do some research about you and my thoughts were confirmed when I read your background and saw pictures of you with my daughter, especially when I saw you with her last month when you and your friends were at this ice cream parlor," the senator smiled. "You have her mother's aura," the politician was now looking at Minako intently.

The blonde froze the senator's statement. 'What the hell? She sent her men to spy on me and my friends? Is that why I'm attracted to Mina? And why didn't she tell me that my dad inquired about her during dinner?' Minako was now questioning herself.

"I know you probably won't believe me but I really love my daughter. I let my men spy on all of you because I wanted to know if she is safe. It's my way of checking up on her a couple times in a month without her knowing," the senator smiled nervously. He looked like a wolf trying to smile but with far less teeth.

"I don't want her to do what I did. I don't want her to run away from what she's feeling about you. So if ever she confesses to you that she loves you, please be gentle with her. She looks and acts like she's the toughest person around but deep inside, she's very fragile. Sadly, she got that from me," the politician let go of Minako's hands.

"Can you do me one last favor?" asked the senator as he saw the school's façade a couple of blocks away from the car's window.

"Su – sure."

"Can I see you pout?"

'What the hell is my dad thinking?'

"Please?"

Minako then tries to pout. Senator Hino suddenly laughs out loud, it took him several seconds to compose himself again. He wipes a single tear from his eye.

"What's so funny?' Minako was raising one her eyebrows.

"I'll give you an important advice when Rei gets angry at you. Just pout," the senator laughs again before continuing, "That's what her mom used to do when I get angry or when I'm being stubborn. It always works, always. I promise you that you would get away with what you did 99.9% of the time and if ever that .1% chance that it does not work, just hug her instead after she has cooled off a bit."

Minako blushed.

"I can see that you already know this. Good for you!" the senator then opens the door after the car stopped in front of the school's gate. Minako then stepped outside of the car only to be stopped once again by the senator. "One more thing Minako, please do not tell my daughter that we had this talk. I know she wouldn't believe me anyway and I deserve to be hated for what I had done to her and to her mother. I pray to Kami that she inherited her mother's heart and courage and not mine. Good day Mina," with this the senator closed the door and the car drove away, leaving a shocked Minako in front of the school.

END OF FLASHBACK

"I guess that's why Grandpa sometimes defended him when I say hurtful things about him," Minako talked to herself as she neared the grocery. "Why the hell did he do that for? You're such a coward dad! But then… *sigh* I guess I can forgive you a little this time… I wish I have mom's heart and courage too, dad…" her voice trailed as she tried to stop herself from crying.

Minako then suddenly stopped and said, "Now all I have to do is talk to Grandpa and make a move on Minako before some freaking loser makes a move first! Ha!" Minako whispered shouted and clenched her fist into a ball and thrust it to the air. 'Remember not to give in too much when she pouts!' Minako internally chuckled as she entered the grocery store.