All families have skeletons in their closet. In the Hino family there are so many, you need several boxes to contain them all.
It's like the story of Pandora's box. Someone can't resist opening the door that should remain closed.
M&R
The following day, Rei visited her mother, since the death of Kieran, Nanoha and her daughter, Mollie, lived with her mother and nana.
Her other sister, Yuki, had moved back from Spain a few days after Kieran died. She knows what it's like to be a widow with a child, that child now being 16 and called Eriko.
You see, there's a curse on the Hino family name. All the men in their family die. They produce women only, marry men and once the man disrespects the woman, he mysteriously dies. Yuki, Nanoha and Rei all have different fathers.
Rei's nana asked her to help her prepare dinner, to which Rei gladly helped. They prepared in silence, just enjoying others company. Rei's mother, Risa, walked into the room, mischief on her face.
"Hello, Rei." She greeted with a hug.
"Hey, Okaasan!" She hugged back, then returned to preparing lunch.
"How's life?"
"As normal as usual." Rei looked away from her mother, even though she was a good liar, only two people could see through her lies, and her mother was one of them.
"And Minako? How's her and Himeko?"
"Didn't her and Himeko break up?" Nana asked.
"No they're back together, and she's alright."
Risa scanned her brain for memories of Rei and Minako, "I remember how we used to call you two Siamese twins! Joined at the head, shoulder, hips and feet. Never left each others side, even went to the toilet together."
"She has her own life and I have mine, we are not Siamese twins, just really good friends."
Nana looked confused, "I don't get it."
Rei, still not looking up, said, "get what? Us living separate lives?"
"You know what she means, don't play dumb, Rei." Risa looked at her wiggling her eyebrows.
Nana waved her hand, "no, I just don't get it. Not because I've never had an offer from a woman, I mean how does it work? Like, what happens?"
Risa looked thoughtful, then stared directly at Rei, "well? How does it work?"
Rei, outraged with the suggestion that she knew how two girls had sex, jumped up from her seat and said, venom in her voice, "I don't know, how on earth would I know? Why don't you ask Minako? She's the lesbian here, not me."
As she left the room, Risa and Nana looked at each other knowingly.
Rei walked into the dining room, past her niece and mother who were having a heated discussion.
"Mollie, I will not have this behaviour any more. You need to calm down." Nanoha exclaimed through tear filled eyes, Yuki and Risa walked into the room wondering what the commotion was.
"Why don't you make the police investigate dad's death? I want to know what happened!" Mollie screamed, making Nanoha's tears flow. Mollie was very much a daddy's girl, she loved him more than anything.
Nanoha looked around, lost for words.
"I think it's time." Risa declared.
Nanoha looked at Risa with intense shock, "NO! She's my daughter, I'll tell her when I'm ready."
Calmly, Risa replied, "she'll resent you if you don't."
"TELL ME!" Mollie shouted, loud enough to silence the whole Hino household.
Nanoha walked towards the door of the dining room, comforted by Rei and Yuki, "you tell her, I... I can't..."
Risa sat Mollie down, "your father... He had a girlfriend." Tears fell from Mollies face at the realisation, "that's why she's so angry."
Mollie fled from her seat and straight to her bedroom, Nanoha following behind her. Risa looked towards her other daughters, making them both disperse.
M&R
Rei once again found herself at Shinji's apartment, walking through she saw him sprawled out on his stomach on his bed, wearing nothing but a quilt. She bent down and started kissing her way up his back, waking him up.
"Rei?" He croaked, rubbing his eyes.
"Shush, for the next few minutes I don't need you to be smart, funny or remotely interesting, I just want you." Rei kissed Shinji passionately, displaying no signs of love, just signs of lust.
"That's okay with me." Shinji replied taking charge. He grabbed Rei and pushed her onto her back on the bed, removing all her clothes from the upper part of her body.
M&R
Minako heard a knock at her door, she took off her apron and skipped over to it to answer it.
"Hi." Rei greeted, awkwardly.
"Hey." Minako smiled, moving out of the way to allow Rei into her apartment. She went into the living room and started to tidy everything up.
"Don't you want to talk about the other night?" Rei asked, slightly annoyed that the subject wasn't brought up earlier.
"Nothing happened," Minako replied, "we had too much to drink and it just happened."
"Right." Rei replied, nodding her head.
"You went to Shinji's, didn't you?" Minako walked closer to Rei and held her hands.
Rei nodded, "yes."
"And when you came, you felt emptiness, nothing."
"How do you know?" Rei asked staring at the floor.
Minako put her hand under Rei's head and lifted it until their eyes met, "I can tell, your eyes are like an open door."
"You know, I'd rather be with you than anyone else in the world. What does that mean?" Rei stared deep into Minako's eyes.
Minako pondered her thoughts for a few seconds, stared at Rei's lips then her eyes. They moved forward slightly, then:
"Hey guys!" Himeko smiled, Minako backed off Rei and kissed Himeko.
"Hey!" They both said together, one sad, one guilty.
"We're off on a date." Himeko declared happily.
"Where are you off to?" Rei asked.
"Movie theatre, then to the quiz night at the Crown!"
"Come to the Crown, bring Shinji, he might know some answers." Minako happily said.
"Maybe, anyway, I have to go, what time?"
"Starts at 8, so go!" Himeko laughed.
M&R
Usagi, Mamoru, Makoto, Antonio (Makoto's boyfriend), Ami, Ji (Ami's boyfriend) were already at the crown, all split into groups of couples.
"Where's Minako and Himeko?" Usagi asked, "they'd best hurry up before they start."
The doors of the crown opened, Rei and Shinji walked in, hand in hand towards the couples. A random girl ran up to Shinji and asked for an autograph, jealously and anger rose in Rei at how flirtatious Shinji was with this girl.
"What?" Shinji asked as Rei glared at him. She retracted her hand and walked away in a huff.
"Didn't expect you here, Rei." Ami stated.
"Minako invited me, and when do I say no to Minako?" Rei glanced at Shinji, jealousy hit upon his face, and grinned, sitting down. Their table was allocated near Makoto's and Antonio's.
"Alright everyone! Good evening!" A woman at the front said through a microphone. A soft murmur came from the groups of people sat down, "I said 'good evening!'" A bigger murmur came and the woman was satisfied. "Welcome to QUIZ NIGHT! My name is Akai and I shall be your questioner for this evening. Questions will commence in 5 minutes, don't forget to collect your pens and paper from the front."
Minako and Himeko finally made it, looking flustered they moved to the table Rei and Shinji are at.
"Finally!" Usagi declared, "what took so long?"
Himeko blushed and Minako smirked, "we got held up."
"What does that mean?" Ami asked.
"Means, we never made it to the movie. Or out of the apartment." Minako winked.
Rei felt that normal stab of jealously and bitterness.
"Okay, guys, we're ready to start!" Akai said, holding up her list of questions, "first question, which fictional character lived at number 4 Privet Drive?"
Team Moon:
"You're taking the piss!" Mamoru said, "how are we going to know that?"
Team M&V:
"Any ideas?" Himeko said.
"Easy, guy with a moustache! Freddie Mercury!" Shinji said, grinning. Minako rolled here eyes.
"Don't worry, I know this one." Minako said, writing down the answer.
Team Mercury:
"I know this one, Harry Potter." Ji winked at Ami.
Akai asked another question, "who was the first Japanese football player to play for Manchester United?"
All the girls and Mamoru sighed, they weren't interested in football.
Team M&V:
"He shares my name." Shinji said, proudly. "Shinji Kagawa."
Team Mercury:
Ami sighed once more, "put Honda. He plays football."
Ji obliged.
"From what time period was the Tyrannosaurs Rex from?"
Team M&V:
"I think it's Jurassic." Himeko said.
"No, it's not Jurassic Park. Put down, 'The Land That Time Forgot'." Shinji said.
Team Moon:
Usagi kept her ears open, "I've heard it!" And scribbled something down.
"Who once said, 'I have nothing to declare but my genius'? Now, if you don't get that, you're thick."
Team Jupiter:
"Einstein!" Makoto grinned.
Team M&V:
"Ooo who is it?" Shinji asked.
"Oscar Wilde." Minako said.
"No, it's not him."
"Oscar Wilde." Himeko urged.
"No, no!" Shinji looked thoughtful.
"It's Oscar Wilde." Rei said, agitated.
"Freddie Star!" The three girls looked at each other shocked and ashamed.
M&R
Rei stood outside with Shinji having once again another row. The rest stayed indoors discussing the quiz, well, besides Minako, who's staring at the arguing couple.
"I can't believe how stupid Shinji acted, do you think it was genuine or was he just taking the mick?" Himeko asked.
"Don't know. Still can't believe Ami didn't win." Usagi laughed, patting Ami's back.
"Two questions wrong, and suddenly I'm dumb." Ami winked.
"I think Antonio and Makoto are going to be celebrating tonight. 29/30 questions right." Usagi laughed towards the happy couple.
Minako still hadn't moved her head from the doors, not going unnoticed by the others around the table.
"Minako, what are you looking at?" Makoto asked, Minako didn't look away, nor did she reply.
Himeko spoke up, "I think she's keeping an eye on them two, just in case."
There was a movement outside, Shinji walked inside to get his jacket and as soon as the doors opened, Minako leaped out of her seat to see if Rei was okay. Himeko stared after her, her heart slowly breaking.
"Rei! REI!" Minako had to run to keep up with her. "Rei, stop and tell me what happened."
"It's over, I've ended it." Rei cried, a slight hint of relief in her voice.
Minako semi-laughed, "where have I heard this before? Come on, lets take you home, you'll need to think this over."
Rei shook her head, "no, no I don't. I've ended it and I'm happy to have ended it."
"Come on!" Minako laughed, hooping her arms through Rei's and walked to Rei's house.
M&R
Minako walked into her apartment with a large smile on her face, she loves making Rei feel better after Shinji made her feel terrible.
That smile, however, was soon wiped from her face when she'd seen the expression her girlfriend wore.
"Hey..?" Minako smiled uncertainly.
"Don't you 'hey' me, I've been worried sick."
"Don't worry, I'm here now." Minako smiled.
"Yeah, great." Himeko sarcastically remarked.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Say that to a man and he'll believe you and let you go, tell me, please."
"No, first you tell me where you've been."
"I went to see if Rei was okay, her and Shinji have apparently broken up again."
"Again with Rei?" Himeko sat down, shaking her head.
"Here we go! Jealousy tantrum 500 of the month! How many times do I have to tell you? She's my best friend, she's my sister and that's it."
"Tell that to a man and he'll believe you and let you go." Himeko raised one eyebrow. "I don't know anyone who treats their sister how you treat Rei, I don't know anyone who's as protective of their sister, like how you are with Rei. Think about it. Either way, you're wasting your time with me."
Minako didn't know what to say. So Himeko took advantage and continued, "and the only reason why I'm here is because Rei's straight. If she wasn't, you would have swapped us ages ago."
Minako looked away, Himeko's words hurt, but, were they the truth?
"You don't know what you're saying." Minako said leaving the room, tears stinging her eyes. What was going on in her head and heart?
M&R
The following morning, Minako sat in her kitchen, having no sleep had taken it's toll, she looked and felt miserable, Himeko was right, and Minako hated it.
Himeko walked into the kitchen, sympathy written all over her face, "did you sleep?" She asked.
Minako shook her head, no.
"I'll make us some breakfast, Rei will be over any time soon." Himeko went to the fridge and pulled out some eggs and bacon.
"Himeko, sit down." Minako asked pulling a chair out.
"If it's about last night, I'm sorry, I was angry." Himeko looked worried but sat down.
Minako shook her head, "no, you told me something I needed to hear, an awful truth that changes everything," Himeko dreaded what she was about to say, she's been waiting to hear it for three years, "the one I've been avoiding for years, but I can't be selfish anymore and keep you here without facing it." She took a large breath.
Himeko felt every inch of her heart break and fall, but instead of letting it show, she smiled, "it's about Rei, isn't it?" Minako looked at her and nodded, "this is the hardest thing I've ever had to do." She reached across and kissed Minako, then retracted her head and headed to the bedroom to pack up her stuff.
Minako rubber her eyes and began to cry. 'I'm in love with Rei.' She thought, making her cry more.