A/N - Sooooo... here we are. Chapter 3. I am actually having lots of fun writing this story. I get to concentrate on each pairing and let my mind do as it pleases... Anyways... enjoy this chapter (the formatting is a little different because I'm experimenting so yay). Anyways, enjoy this and thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter - the only reason I'm carrying on with this story is because of you guys! Take care and enjoy - VR.

CHAPTER 3 – GET THIS FIRE STARTED

"No, no, no, absolutely not," Haruka waved her hands and had a bewildered look on her face but she was not backing down from her word. Sure, the man standing in front of her was family, but this was a piss-take! He wanted Haruka to give up all the freedom that came with being a single 25 year old year to look after her fifteen year old cousin?! Hell no!

"Haru-chan, I wouldn't ask unless I absolutely had to."

Haruka sighed and threw her hands over her face upon hearing that. It was ten in the morning and Haruka had called her uncle over to talk to him about this 'Hotaru' situation. Souchi Tomoe stood in Haruka's living room with his wife, Kaolinite, by his side. She was silent yet intimidating; her gaze made the young blonde a little uncomfortable in her own apartment.

"Uncle, no! I can't look after her. It's just... it's not convenient for me. Why not send her to my parents? She loves them!"

Souchi shook his head resolutely, "Haruka-chan, she is in her junior year of high school, I can't take her out... she has friends here!"

Kaolinite stifled a laugh as Souchi spoke but she covered her mirth by coughing loudly and smiling. Haruka rolled her eyes at the attempt of Kaolinite trying to project innocence but failing miserably.

"Look, uncle, I'd love to help out, I would but I work odd hours. She'd be on her own till midnight most nights!"

Souchi shook his head once more, "Hotaru is used to that, Haruka. Look, I will provide you with the money to keep Hotaru out of your hair... all she need is somewhere to stay in Tokyo. Please, Haru-chan?"

Haruka looked down at her uncle; he was pleading a little desperately, damn he must have really needed her...and who was she to deny him? They were family after all!

The tomboy sighed, "Listen... if she's going to be here, she's got to behave, she's got to clean up after herself and she can't get in the way of me and my work. Got it?"

Souchi smiled gratefully and nodded, while Kaolinite raised a slender eyebrow and spoke calmly, "Your work? Ah yes... the 'escorts'... Ha. What a despicable profession."

Haruka narrowed her eyes into slits at her uncle's wife – she refused to call this woman her aunt now that she had met her. She is nowhere near fitting to be Haruka's aunt.

"It's the oldest profession in the world, Tomoe-san." TThe formality used on Souchi's wife was not lost on anyone in the room. Haruka looked to her uncle once more.

"She can stay here... but if she messes up once, I'm throwing her to my parents. Geez, uncle you couldn't have just gotten her an apartment?"

Souchi laughed loudly and overdramatically before stopping abruptly.

"No. Hotaru needs to be around family, Haru-chan. I don't want her to feel neglected or abandoned in my absence. Thank you Haruka." Souchi engulfed his niece in a bear hug. Haruka nervously laughed and returned the embrace. She could tell he was really grateful Haruka helped out.

"Hey, uncle I would love to stand here and be all lovey-dovey and crap, but I gotta head to work. Just get Hotaru ready for Friday and I'll make sure I'm here to look after her first night here, okay?" Haruka smiled reassuringly as her uncle nodded and agreed with her.

"Setsuna-san, please?! I need it!"

Setsuna glared at the blonde tomboy and she shook her head, "I am still Miss M to you! Anyway, I let you go early yesterday Haruka-san... another day and soon you'll be telling me you want flexitime."

Haruka groaned and slumped in her chair as her boss stood in the doorway to the blonde's office, almost as if she owned it! Well, she did but she really flaunted it into something terrible.

"But I need Friday off! I have to do something!" Haruka frowned and crossed her arms, resembling a child when it cannot get its way.

"Tell me the real reason why and I may consider it. May that is." Haruka groaned loudly and glared at her boss.

"I... GAH! I have to help my cousin move into my apartment, okay?" Setsuna raised her eyebrow, clearly disbelieving Haruka.

"Sure you do Haruka-san... that's got to be the worse excuse you've ever given me... ever. And I'm included that time you said you couldn't come in because you had the bubonic plague." Haruka smiled sheepishly.

"I never was very attentive in History... but look, that's not the point! The point is that my uncle has to leave the country and I got talked into – well, suckered is more like it – looking after my cousin. So, please just Friday and I swear no more days off for the rest of the year!" Setsuna took Haruka in; her body language implied she was stressed, but telling the truth.

"The rest of the year? It's December, Haruka-san. This is the worse deal I've ever had." Haruka instantly brightened and smiled.

"So that's a yes?" Setsuna held Haruka's gaze for a few seconds before sighing and waving her hand nonchalantly.

"Yes, yes, Friday is all yours." Setsuna glanced at her watch and sighed, "I need to go to the bank, Haruka-san. I will see you tomorrow more than likely. Don't let the building burn down to the ground while I'm gone."

Haruka waited a few moments until she was sure Setsuna had left the building before she erupted into a jump into the air and pumping her fist into the air. Haruka's victory was interrupted by the giggling of one Aino Minako.

"Haruka-san, what are you, five?" Haruka smiled and sat back down in her chair.

"Only when I'm happy, Minako-chan. How can I help you?" Minako sat in the chair opposite Haruka and smiled.

"I always wanted a little sister, Haruka-san! You're so lucky to have your cousin stay with you!" Haruka laughed loudly.

"Mina, were you eavesdropping again? I've no idea why you work here when you could work for the government as a bug! You can hear through walls, I swear!" Minako laughed gently.

"More like an open door today, Haruka-san! But I'm serious, you can do things like stay up late, watch movies together, eat junk food, do each others' hair – " Haruka instantly interrupted Minako, with a playful tone to her voice.

"Do you ever think before you speak, Mina-chan?" Minako giggled once more and grinned at Haruka.

"So... does your cousin know that you work here, Haruka-san?" Haruka nodded, and Minako continued, "Oh cool, so when you get those weird messages from me about work it won't freak her out? Oh I know, we should have a girls' night at yours, Haruka-san!" Haruka and Minako shared a quick laugh before it was silenced by Rei, who had silently entered the room.

"I think you were on the right track Haruka-san... she clearly doesn't think before she speaks."

Minako turned around and saw Rei standing there, a slight smirk on her lips as her eyes bore into chirpy blonde. Haruka instantly noticed how the fiery atmosphere became a thousand times more intense than it ever had been between these two.

"Some people have no objections to the words that come out of my mouth, Hino-san." As Minako finished saying that, Rei's eyes widened a little.

Setsuna walked into the lounge of 'After Dark', hoping to find the other escorts in there. She grinned as she opened the door and was greeted with the smiles of Michiru, Rei and Elza. Setsuna cleared her throat, "Excuse me ladies... but I have someone to introduce you to. Aino Minako," and with that, Setsuna stepped aside and into the room stepped one of the most beautiful women the world had ever seen.

A girl with long, blonde hair flowing behind a toned, slim body and bright blue eyes, that were on a face that was perfect for an angel, entered the room.

Michiru looked at Setsuna in a curious manner while Elza seemed to be checking her out from the corner of her eye and evaluating this stranger who was brought into the room. Rei, who had been sitting on the sofa and reading a book, looked up and instantly, she froze. Her throat felt tight, her mouth was dry and she could have sworn her heart stopped beating the instant her eyes laid upon the person standing in front of her. The blonde smiled brightly and instantly charmed everyone in the room. Even Rei could feel herself automatically return a smile.

Setsuna saw the reactions to Minako and grinned, "Well, seeing as how everyone seems to like the look of Aino-san, I want you all to be nice and look after her... she's our new escort." The second Setsuna stopped speaking, Rei felt her entire world crash down in front of her and burnt to crisp.

'She is an escort.'

Rei turned away from the blonde, and cursed mentally to herself. It was such a shame. Rei thought for a moment the girl was a client... Ha! Stupid, Hino-san, why in God's name would a girl that beautiful come to an escort agency? She was stunning and clearly had no trouble with finding companionship... she certainly didn't need to pay for it. This girl is here to get paid for companionship, and she seems happy to be here too, much unlike the rest of them. Michiru and Elza were indifferent to it all but as soon as they met their clients, that fake smile would be plastered on their faces and that irresistible charm went to work like how a machine was turned on. Rei was more ashamed of her job than indifferent. Considering her past; her parents, her background... this was the last place she ever expected to be. So she played the aloof and demure lady. But this, this Aino-san... she was grinning, ear-to-ear! She is happy... she wants to be here. She wants this job. She did not want anything other than a different stranger every night.

Rei sighed and looked up again, only to see the grinning blonde standing right in front of her, holding her hand out, clearly waiting for the raven-haired woman to take it. With a sigh, Rei reluctantly shook her hand, trying her best to not be friendly with this woman.

"I'm Aino Minako... ha ha, but you already know that, don't ya? Miss M made such an announcement, didn't she? Is she always like that? Anyway, what's your name?" Minako stared at Rei with such intensity coupled with such approachability that it almost frightened the raven-haired beauty... almost that is.

Rei stared at Minako again, she took a deep breath and a half-step back, taking in the blonde once more. She saw how the blonde wore low-cut jeans and a tank top without any worries as to what anyone would say about such a provocative outfit, as though she enjoys playing with the fire of people's desires. She coupled it off with a red bow in her hair; this instantly caused Rei to laugh, no, scoff amusedly.

"Ha? A bow? What are you, ten? A doll?" Rei instantly regretted her words but did not have a chance to say anything. The blonde's face contorted, she didn't cry, but she was clearly hiding back tears.

"Rei-chan, that was uncalled for," Michiru's scolding caused Rei to snap out of her trance; she stopped staring at the blonde and looked at Michiru, who was looking back at Rei with disappointment in her eyes. Minako's eyes hardened and her friendly features disappeared from her face.

"No. I am not a doll. Nor am I ten."

The blonde left the room. And Rei just watched her go. She could have stopped her, apologised profusely, she could have begged to be forgiven for her unnecessary words. But she didn't. She just stood there. Frozen once more by the blonde and the effect she had on her, but now, having a heart raging with a fire that Rei could not understand where it had been ignited from.

Haruka noticed Rei's eyes widened a little, and instantly, the atmosphere became a little bit more uncomfortable – if that was at all possible. It was strange; though there had been tensions between these two like this before, it had never been this unnerving to Haruka. What happened last night when Rei went to Minako's apartment? Something must have triggered this.

Rei tried to open her mouth and tried to say something, but closed it a moment later when nothing came out. Rei didn't frown, much to Haruka's surprise, but looked lost, before an annoyed look took over her expressions. Haruka frowned; it wasn't like Rei to take such a long while to respond.

And as for Minako, well she was just being her usual self, her very aura radiating her attitude of 'Score for team, Mina!' But really Minako, for once, was full of anticipation of what Rei would say in return.

"Then those people lack class, Aino-san," without another word, Rei turned and left the office.

Minako turned around, not looking at Haruka, but instead at the ceiling while slouching back into her chair and smiling dreamily... all the while playing with some strands of her long hair. Haruka was staring at Minako. She was confused as fuck. What the hell was that? Was that some sadistic form of flirting she just observed? Or was it a new level of Hino vs Aino bickering that she had yet to see? If so, it was subtle, yet clearly effective.

"Erm... Minako-chan... is there anything I should know about?" Minako glanced at Haruka and smiled widely.

"Nope, Haruka-san! I'll be in the lounge if you need me... but seriously, you should consider that girls' night in!" Minako bounced cheerfully out of her chair.

"I will I promise, Minako-chan. Oh! Do me a favour... will you close the door behind you? Thanks."

Minako smiled at the blonde tomboy and acquiesced to her request, closing the door behind her as she left the office. Not a second had passed before she found herself pushed roughly up against the wall adjacent from Haruka's office door. Minako yelped and was about to shout for help when she felt a soft hand covering her mouth, and amethyst eyes staring directly into Minako's own blue eyes. After a moment, the hand released Minako's mouth; the person was sure the blonde wouldn't make an unnecessary sound. Minako breathed in deeply.

"Rei?"

Instantly, a pair of deep amethyst eyes stared into Minako's once more. For once Rei looked scared more than anything, and the raven-haired beauty barely managed to croak out her sentence.

"What are you doing to me, Minako?"

"I must say... this is a shock."

A very amused blonde stood in her doorway, her arms crossed as her robe covered her perfectly slim figure.

"Are you going to let me in or will you leave me to stand out here and freeze in the corridor?"

A moment of silence passed between the two women before the blonde stood to the side of her door, allowing the raven-haired woman to enter her apartment. "Sure, Hino-san... I'm glad to see your manners are as pleasant as always."

Rei said nothing but stepped into Minako's apartment. She looked around her surroundings. It was not at all how she expected it to look. Everywhere Minako practically radiated chaos, but her apartment was organised, it was almost… Rei dared to say... plain? Yes, it was plain. It was nothing like the blonde before her. The blonde sat down on her sofa, clearly seeing no reason why she should be polite with Hino Rei and offer her a seat first. Minako sighed, and spoke with as much sarcasm as she could conjure.

"So... to what do I owe the pleasure, Hino-san?" Rei seemingly ignored the blonde and opted to stare around the living quarters a few seconds more.

"It's not at all how I expected it, Aino-san. I thought for sure you would have poster after poster of every boy-band and pop idol in Japan hanging on every single space in your apartment."

Minako stood up, clearly offended and spoke quietly, almost hurt. "It's not a stupid dream you know! Every girl has the chance to be an idol. Every girl has a dream like it. I'm no different from any other girl, Hino-san."

Rei stopped looking around the room and locked her gaze with Minako's hurt eyes. "I meant no offence, Aino-san... I'm just saying... that you're not what I expected."

Rei offered Minako a small smile... which was surprisingly reciprocated.

"I'm not doing anything, Rei-chan."

"No! Do not call me, Rei-chan. Just... don't. Last night was a mistake. Just forget it okay, forget everything."

Rei let go of Minako and took a step back.

"Just don't, Aino-san." Minako watched with a blank expression as the dark haired girl walked away from her and disappearing from the hallway to the lounge. Just to avoid Minako, for sure.

The blonde tomboy picked up her cell-phone and searched through her contacts until she came across the name she was looking for. She pressed the call button and waited patiently as the phone rang several times while being pressed to her ear.

"Haru-chan, what is it? I'm a bit busy at the moment."

Haruka scoffed at the poor response Seiya gave her, "Last night you complain because you barely see me and now you don't even want to talk to me on the phone! I am insulted, Seiya!"

A sigh was heard from the other end of the line, "No, no! Haru-chan, don't think that way... Look I'm at the bank trying to procure a huge loan for a rising star's new home... can I call you back in an hour or so?"

"No, look this is gonna be quick, I need to sort this out! Look, I need to know what kind of girl you want for Mako's!" Seiya sighed at the other end.

"Look, just make sure she's cute, intelligent and that she knows a bit about music. Look, I gotta go, I'll talk to you later." Haruka looked at the phone in front of her in disbelief as Seiya hung up on her. She sighed then lowered her head and rested it upon her desk. Haruka was stressed, that much was for certain. She had less than 4 days to get her apartment sorted out for Friday, because she had to accommodate for nine months, her fifteen year old cousin. Then two days after that, on Sunday, she had Makoto's restaurant opening – what was meant to be a private night for Haruka and her friends, got turned upside down by Miss M and her plans to turn the restaurant into a night for an escort extravaganza.

"Why is it every time I walk into this office, you're acting as though it's the end of the world, Haruka-chan?"

Haruka didn't need to raise her head to see who was speaking because she would be able recognise that voice any day, and in any situation - Michiru.

Haruka sighed and moved her head to the side, "Because fate laughs at me, Michiru-chan. I'm not even joking... if I'm quiet, I can hear a distinct, ominous giggling."

Another giggle from the aqua-haired girl roused Haruka into moving her head away from the desk, and she moved back into her chair, staring directly at Michiru who by now had taken the seat opposite her.

"Oh Haruka-chan, it's not that bad surely? I mean, she might be a sweet kid." Haruka looked questioningly at Michiru, but once again Michiru giggled and answered Haruka's unasked question,

"Minako-chan told us... So, when is the girl's night in?" Haruka instantly laughed, joined shortly by Michiru.

"Oh God, Michiru, if my only problem in life was having a girls' night in at my apartment, I would be smiling like crazy, not frowning," and Haruka threw her hand over to her own shoulder beginning to squeeze on the tender yet stiff and stressed muscles. She closed her eyes and began to breathe at a calmer pace.

"I just... I'm under stress. My uncle is leaving the country, throwing my fifteen year old cousin to live with me and turning my life upside down. On top of that, I have to arrange escorts for Makoto's restaurant, I have to get Rei and Minako on good terms, which might happen at the same time hell freezes over, and on top of all that I have to sort out Ami's position in the company and if I don't get any of that sorted, Miss M is going to fire me. It's like a never ending drama! FUCK! I - "

Haruka was frozen in her sentence as she felt soft hands descend upon her shoulder. Her eyes instantly flew open, and she jerked her head upwards, only to see Michiru smiling at her, and her hands were massaging Haruka's tense and sore shoulders.

"Wh-what are you doing, Michiru?!"

"Shh... just relax, Haruka."

Haruka was silence by Michiru hands reaching a very tense spot in Haruka's shoulder blade and working the knot very well. A low moan of pain relief came from Haruka's mouth. But Haruka was lost, she didn't know what to say – except possibly a thank you when Michiru was finished relieving her stress.

"Now, Haruka, don't stress yourself too much... all these obstacles can be gotten over easily. Mina, Rei, Ami and I are all free on the twelfth; Miss M told us the date – so don't worry about escorts for the restaurant. Rei and Mina will get on if you tell them your job is on the line, they may not get on but they both have a deep respect and love for you Haruka. And as for Ami... once again Minako told me your plan for her, and I think it's very honourable of you to get Ami out of being an escort and into a job that's... well a little more her to be honest with you. So don't worry, Miss M, won't fire you. You're here for the long run, I'm afraid, Haruka."

Michiru let go of Haruka's shoulders and gazed down at her. Haruka's head was back against the chair's headrest. Taking in every feature of the blonde- a slight smile gracing her features, and her eyes closed - Michiru couldn't stop smiling when she looked down at the blonde before her. As soon as Michiru's eyes came to Haruka's eyes, she was shocked to find them open and staring at her, intensely.

"Arigatou, Michiru."

The two kept their gaze locked. Michiru could feel her heart pounding in her chest – God, what was this blonde doing to her?! Before the blonde arrived, Michiru was sure that she would never have this feeling for another in her lifetime, but every time she saw Haruka, her heart ached in longing and yearning as though it had been set on fire. But, she had no chance with Haruka. It was clear Haruka had no intention of being involved with an escort – Elza proved that last year.

"You're welcome, Haruka." Michiru, unthinking, began to move on auto pilot, her hand reaching down to Haruka's face.

"Haruka-san! You said you wanted to see me?"

Michiru froze on the spot as her hands hang in mid-air as soon as she heard Ami's voice. Both the blonde tomboy and aqua-haired escort turned their heads swiftly to the door to see the timid blue-haired girl standing there, cheeks flushed somewhat, most probably caused by the scene before her. Haruka cleared her throat and nervously laughed.

"Er, yeah... I did... Um, Michiru-chan, can you leave us to speak in private, please?"

Michiru forced a smile and began to walk out of the office. She closed the door behind her and left Haruka and Ami alone in the office.

Ami sat down nervously, staring at Haruka. The blonde was looking at Ami with pity in her eyes. 'Oh God, this is it. I'm being fired' was the only thing running through Ami's mind along with the thoughts of being stuck paying for all her fees whit not having a job that would pay well. She'd have to take a few low paid jobs, and they'd probably hinder her studies, and she'd end up failing and never being a doctor! Ami felt like bursting into tears right at the instant.

"Mizuno-san... I wanted to talk to you about your position in the company."

If there was one thing Setsuna hated, it was being in a bank with several people around her making her feel uncomfortable with their stares at her. Sure, they may have been fleeting looks but she always felt as though people were staring at her, that they were judging her. And to top it off, the idiot in front of her was talking away on his phone loudly, while looking to his right and left for someone – probably the cute red-head who was standing beside him a minute ago who seemed to have gone of wandering through the bank.

"Look, just make sure she's cute, intelligent and that she knows a bit about music. Look, I gotta go, I'll talk to you later." The man put away his phone and turned around, he was clearly searching for someone but his eyes locked on Setsuna's figure and he seemed shocked for a while, but then smiled.

"Hi."

Setsuna ignored the man, and looked down to the envelope in her hands. It contained the weeks' earnings for 'After Dark Inc', and Setsuna had to talk to the accountant for... tax purposes.

"This place is a nightmare, huh?"

Setsuna turned her head and glared at the man – was he still talking to her? She said nothing but let her eyes wander over the man before her; long, dark hair that was styled into a ponytail. He had deep eyes but Setsuna was enticed by the man's charming smile. However, that soon passed when the red-head came bounding back into the queue and clung to the man's arm. "Seiya-kun, is this nearly over yet? I didn't know getting a loan was so difficult! After this can we go and get lunch? I want sashimi!"

Setsuna scoffed at the man and his companion. He was just like every other man she had met; he wanted a cute girl who was just an arm candy and that made others jealous of him. But how could anyone be jealous when the girl clearly lacked any intelligence? Setsuna wasn't sure if she had scoffed aloud or not, but the man was still looking at her, somewhat ignoring the girl who was with him.

"I'm Kou Seiya."

He held his hand out, his smile still plastered on his face. Setsuna stared at his hand and she looked back up at his face. She was about to respond when her accounts manager came out from his office. "Ah, Meioh-san, sorry to have kept you waiting! Please, come into my office," and Setsuna took the opportunity to follow her accounts manager to escape from the man she had just met. She spared a quick glance back at the man she now knew as Kou Seiya; at first he seemed disheartened but as soon as he saw she was looking at him, a smile lit his face up instantly.

Makoto had been sitting in the same place for nearly an hour, and it was nearing five in the afternoon. She had finished preparing the menu for the opening of the restaurant. The furnishings had been finished nearly two hours ago, and all that was left was the delivery of ingredients, the day before the restaurant opened. The health inspector gave her a clean bill the day before; what a birthday present for her, to get the go-ahead on her dream.

Her own restaurant.

The restaurant had always been a dream of hers, but lately a new thought had been invading her mind. In this twenty four hours, all Makoto thought of was blue hair, blue eyes and the name Ami.

Ami. Followed by the word, escort.

Makoto sighed heavily. Why couldn't she forget about the girl? Why did she have to find such a sweet girl and not have the chance to ask her out? 'Mako, the only reason you're not going for it is because she's an escort, are you that shallow? Plus, Haruka has told you she has not touched a client. Not really.' Her conscience was battling with her. But she didn't even know if Ami was that way inclined! She worked at the agency for a reason.

Maybe, it was all a lost cause.

She should just forget about the girl. She had plenty of times where she liked a girl but it never went further because of Makoto's inability to approach women. She wished she was like Haruka sometimes - that she could just approach a woman and dish out a good pick-up line. But that wasn't Makoto. She didn't do that and she couldn't take the thought of being heartbroken. Not again. Not after Maya. Her train of thoughts were soon broken though, as her cell-phone was buzzing in her jacket pocket. She took it out and looked at the display, sighing before she answered it.

"Hey, Seiya, what's up?" She heard him sigh, but not like her, he actually sounded happy.

"Nothing... I'm finished at the bank and... Ah, Mako, I tell you I'm in love!" Makoto instantly grinned.

"Is that so, Seiya? Go on, I know you're dying to tell me about her," There was a laugh at the other end of the phone.

"Haha, am I that obvious? Well, she's tall, dark-skinned, utterly gorgeous... long green hair... ah she had no idea who I was though. Well, that or she does and she hates my music... it's love Mako, I tell you!" Makoto couldn't but laugh at her friend either, it had been so long since she had heard him so happy.

"So... where'd you meet her, what's her name?"

There was a bit of a silence.

"Well, I met her in the bank. And she really seemed to be annoyed by me, Mako. I heard her accountant call her Meioh-san, but apart from that she's a total mystery."

"Seiya, how can you be obsessed with a woman whose name you don't know? A woman who seems to have brushed you off and had no interest in you or knew you were Kou Seiya?!" There was another silence, but it was soon followed by a soft chuckle.

"Because she looked back at me, Mako. Hey, I gotta go, talk later okay?" Makoto said her goodbye and stared at her phone.

The name Meioh sounded awfully familiar... maybe a name in the paper? It had been a long day and Makoto's brain wasn't working just yet... maybe it would come back to her later. Maybe.

A/N 2 - You know if you made it this far - you gotta R&R - thanks to impersonal for her help on this chapter; ya rock chica. -VR