Chapter 23

Inside Jokes and Trust

The two senshi were in the deserted hall about half way to the karaoke room when Minako stopped walking, and since the women were still holding hands it caused Rei to stop as well. 'Rei really has a lot of trouble trusting me, we really need to talk about this.' Rei looked back at Minako with a questioning gaze. Mina noticed this and looked at the floor. Minako had noticed Rei's tendency to get jealous but she never thought it would be that much of a problem everyone got jealous. Except earlier today Rei's jealousy caused a big problem for them. Minako feared what could have happened if she hadn't had the chance to explain things. Rei tended to jump to conclusions and make decisions based on those conclusions. Minako didn't want that to happen again.

"Rei"

"Yeah Mina"

"I think we need to talk"

"What about?" Rei asked with a confused look on her face.

"Trust" Mina said while looking into Rei's eyes.

"Trust?" Rei questioned as she turned to face the blond senshi.

"Yeah, We seem to have a lot of issues with trust. Do you trust me?"

"I trust you with my life Mina"

"Yes Rei but you don't trust me at all with your heart, and I'm partly to blame, I get jealous too, but for the most part I trust you, you own me Rei heart and soul. But every time someone comes around you get jealous, John, Seiya, and just now with Artemis and Luna. You have to trust that I want to be with you. Because I do Rei, I want to be with you." Minako said while emphasizing the last part strongly.

"I hope you do Minako and I do trust you… its just" Rei said then trailed off.

"What is it Rei?" Mina prodded.

"You know I have problems trusting people, letting them get close to me, and your probably the only person to ever get this close to me. I just cant help feeling like it's not going to last, like somehow its to good to be true. I mean how could someone as beautiful and perfect as you really want to be with someone like me I mean on the surface, physically I'm ok but emotionally I'm totally screwed up and I know it makes it hard for anyone to be in a relationship with me. All my past relationships ended badly I would get paranoid and jealous, and for good reason. My last three relationships ended because I caught them cheating. If you think I had trust issues before that! well it only escaladed the situation." Rei explained.

"I'm sorry Rei that must have been terrible, but I wouldn't do that to you. I know what its like to be cheated on. Its not a good feeling." Mina stated.

"Someone cheated on you?" Rei asked, a little mad that someone had dared to hurt Minako in that way.

"Yes, not long after I left Tokyo I was dating this girl in L.A, Sophia, I guess I was trying to move on since I couldn't seem to get you out of my mind, even back then. We worked together, she was sweet and helped me out a lot. Her and I hit it off right away, we were dating for a few weeks and she wanted to take the next step, I told her I wasn't ready. The thought of being that intimate with someone just didn't feel right, I guess I never cared for her like I should have." Mina said quietly before continuing her story.

"She told me she was ok with it but she obviously wasn't because a few days later I walked in on her with our boss. I haven't seriously dated since then all those men you saw me with in the magazines are just friends or people I work with." Minako told the dark haired women. Rei looked down and sighed. Suddenly finding her shoes very interesting.

"I want to be able to trust you Mina, I do, its just going to take time and effort to get past all the negative experiences that have happened in my life. But I want to. When I think about the future you're the only certain thing I want to see there" Rei confessed making Minako smile widely.

"Rei, you are my future" Mina whispered before pulling Rei forward and leaning in for a soft, sweet kiss. After the tender kiss Rei pulled back and smiled. Minako returned the smile a little shyly.

"So I guess since we've confessed our feelings, had our first fight, and discussed the future. That means were like, dating then, officially?" Minako asked sheepishly.

"I would have thought that would go without saying" Rei said.

"Yeah you might think that but some times it needs to be said, for all I knew maybe you weren't interested in actually being with me just in 'getting some" Minako said with a mischievous grin. 'Although when it comes to Rei I know I would be with her that way. If it was what Rei wanted, even if the fire senshi didn't want a relationship. I just love Rei to much to let pride get in the way of being with her, even if its just for a moment' Mina thought truthfully.

"Oh I'm totally interested in "getting some" but I think ill take you along with it" Rei answered with a smile.

"Aww aren't you the sweetest girlfriend ever, your romantic words bring me to my knees" Mina joked.

"Hu.. I think I like the sound of that" Rei said as she pulled Minako back into a tight embrace.

"the sound of what" Mina asked as she lightly caressed the partially exposed skin between Rei's top and skirt at her lower back.

"Of being your girlfriend" Rei whispered as she leaned forward for a kiss.

"Well it comes with a price, if you're my girlfriend then that means I get to be yours, deal?" Mina whispered back as she leaned in to meet Rei, and just before their lips met in a very passionate kiss Rei whispered.

"deal"

Naru had just arrived back at the crown, having finished her dinner date with her mother, and walked straight back to the karaoke room door. She smiled at the man who recognized her as a member of the large party and waved her right on in. Naru was thinking about her conversation with her mother, concerning her ex-fiancée.

X Flashback X (Dinner with Naru's mother)

"Mom I don't want to talk about it"

"I know honey but you cant let one jerk ruin your life. You should consider dating again not right away just think about it"

"I will mom I just don't think I'm ready to trust again"

"Don't worry Naru you will find someone much better who will love you for you, someone sweet and kind"

"Yeah yeah yeah mom I know a regular prince charming the only problem is, Hiro was my prince charming at least that's what I thought at first but things quickly changed and he wasn't even the same person anymore, when I would bring it up he said that this was the real him and I better get used to it. I'm just glad he reverted back to himself before we got married"

"I wish you had told me he was hurting you I would have kicked his ass" Naru smiled

"Don't worry mom Usagi did it for you."

Naru was still thinking about her conversation with her mother when she realized someone was standing in the hallway effectively blocking the way. Looking up she recognized the members of the blockade immediately, and giggled. When that didn't get a response at all she cleared her throat loudly.

Rei and Minako were blissfully unaware that they had gained an audience for their very passionate kiss until they heard the loud sound of someone clearing their throat. Quickly they pulled apart untangling themselves as fast as they could.

"Lovely performance ladies. I don't think I have seen such a vigorous technique with kissing, Rei you are going to have to show me how that's done" Naru teased the blushing idol and miko. "I mean the way you were using your tongue is very interesting." Mina looked at Naru a little shocked. 'is she hitting on Rei' Minako thought. 'while I'm standing right here?' Naru noticed Mina's shocked expression and sighed.

"I'm joking Minako, jeez you guys need to get over your constantly jealous, untrusting stage." Rei smiled and said.

"We were just talking about that"

"Really? It didn't look like much talking was getting done if you ask me" Naru teased. Both girls laughed as they all walked towards the karaoke room. Upon reaching their destination Naru knocked on the door then testing the knob noticed that they had unlocked it and pulled it open hard.

Youchiro was standing by the stairs listening to Chibiusa and Usagi finish their song when he heard a knock on the door. Quickly he bounded up the stairs thinking Rei and Minako were back and grabbed the door knob, suddenly it was pulling him forward the momentum making it almost impossible to stop, he roughly collided with the person who had so violently opened the door, falling to the floor with said person underneath him.

"I'm so sorry I.." He started to say then stopped as he looked deep into green eyes.

"No its my fault I was.." Naru said at the exact same time until she saw the gorgeous grey eyes looking down on her. Both just stared at the other for a while until Minako decided to break it up with a little giggle.

"Naru this is Youchiro, he's the priest at Rei's temple, Youchiro this is Naru she is a therapist and one of Usagi's old school time friends"

"Its nice to meet you" Youchiro whispered while still pinning Naru to the floor with his body. Seemingly content to just stare making no move to get up.

"You too" Naru said breathlessly. While gripping Youchiro's green button up shirt at the sides. Rei smiled, noticing the cute blushes on both their faces.

"You know guys its customary to make introductions on your feet not flat on your back. I mean you can skip a few steps if you want and go straight to the being on your backs but please not here in public" These words made both of them blush and Naru decided to retaliate while her and Youchiro made it to their feet again.

"Really Rei you want to talk about public displays after what I just walked up on.., I guess we could talk about it since you were the one to bring it up" Rei and Minako blushed, Youchiro laughed a little.

"Oh Rei and Mina got busted!! Making out in inappropriate places again are we" Youchiro said quietly. Naru and Youchiro both laughed.

"Do they do that often?" Naru asked with a smile.

"Not to much but its strange the places you will find them" Youchiro said as he escorted Naru into the karaoke room. "The other day they were randomly standing in front of the front door, and may I say they have a very robust way about them when they kiss"

"I noticed that too I think it has to do with Rei's tongue technique" Naru started before Minako walked up behind them and smacked them both on the back of the head while smiling sweetly.

"Oww" they both said.

"Jeez Mina was that really necessary" Youchiro said with a smile.

"Yes" She stated as she followed them into the room with Rei right behind her.

"Hey guys what took you so long" Artemis said with a smirk.

"Sorry Artemis we got distracted" Rei answered. Then Artemis noticed Naru and realized they couldn't have any senshi conversations with her around.

Artemis remembered Naru from the past but since he had been a cat back then it seemed like he needed to make introductions. Walking up to her hand extended in a western style greeting he got used to while in the U.S.A. He started with a smile.

"Hi, I'm Artemis and that beautiful vixen over there is my wife Luna" He said while pointing in Luna's direction. Luna having heard him waved politely with a big smile.

"Hello, I'm Naru, Usagi's friend but I went to school with a lot of the guys" She said while indicating the group and shaking his hand.

"Its nice to meet you, Usagi used to talk about you all of the time it almost like we have met before" Artemis said so he had an excuse if he said something that he wasn't supposed to know since he had been a cat at the time.

"Really, well you do seem familiar maybe we met a really long time ago in passing or something, who knows." Naru answered as they walked towards a smaller group consisting of Luna, Setsuna, Rei, Minako, and Usagi. Setsuna noticed Naru and sighed. 'damn were going to have to wait until she leaves to get this settled.' the time senshi thought.

Rei was standing next to Minako and Setsuna when she glanced over at Youchiro. The dark haired miko smiled when she noticed his eyes continuously coming back to Naru. 'Hu I bet Youchiro has a crush, I wonder' she thought as she walked over to him and his group of Mamoru, John, Haruka, and Makoto. She slowly whispered into his ear from behind.

"Hey Youchiro its rude to stare ya know. If you want to talk to her you should just go over there and talk, its kinda creepy if you just look at her from across the room all night" Youchiro whirled towards her and got close to whisper back.

"Was I really staring? Ah man, she didn't notice did she? I don't want to be the weird creepy guy"

"No I don't think she noticed but she will eventually if you keep doing it. Now go over there and at least pretend like you can have a decent conversation, since it's a group setting you wont be expected to interact with her one on one, don't worry, ill be your wing man, so to speak"

"Thanks Rei" Youchiro said as they walked over to the other group. Rei stood next to Minako again and Youchiro took a spot next to Naru. Who Rei noticed blushed when he arrived.

"Hey guys" Youchiro said to the group.

"Hi Youchiro, so are you going to sing for us I know you used to be pretty good in your band before you joined the temple." Luna asked with a grin. Naru turned towards him to ask.

"You used to be in a band? Why did you quit to become a priest?"

"Well at first it was because of grandpa Hino he was helping me through some family problems. Then I just became his apprentice and it just seemed like I was were I was supposed to be I had a family again with grandpa and Rei and I wanted to stay so he took me on as his full time apprentice so I quit the band to be able to help Rei around the temple more"

"that's so sweet" Rei said with a smile.

"Yeah but your grandpa really wanted me around because he hoped you and I would get together remember!" Youchiro said with a laugh. Rei laughed too.

"Yes I remember he was so insistent on that. I think he could sense that you were going to be the next priest so he wanted us together so it wouldn't cause any problems when he left the temple to me. He should have known we would never fight about it."

"Yeah things with us never would have worked out. Even when we tried, it was like dating my sister" Youchiro said.

"You dated Rei?" Naru asked.

"We only went on one date and it was just to appease grandpa" Rei said realizing this flow of conversation was probably not a good topic to get Youchiro and Naru together.

"Yeah grandpa wouldn't give up until we tried so we went on a date and pretended to try for a while but it was useless I saw her as a sister and it was just weird" Youchiro said.

Minako decided to be a little mischievous and asked with a huge grin.

"So did you guys ever kiss" Rei and Youchiro both turned shocked looks on her.

"Oh my gosh you did kiss didn't you" Minako said while giggling a little. Rei smacked her lightly and said.

"No we did not kiss are you crazy! He's like my brother" When Youchiro heard this he smiled and leaned down to whisper to Naru.

"Ah man to bad we didn't kiss, cuz then maybe I could do that tongue thing Rei does that we noticed" Naru burst out laughing. Everyone just stared at her except Youchiro who grinned.

"What did you say!!" Rei asked menacingly.

"Nothing, its an inside joke" Youchiro answered.

"You can't have inside jokes with someone you only met two second ago" Rei said. Naru just smiled.

A/N I thought Naru and Youchiro would be a good side pairing, I was just sick of Youchiro always being alone and since we will have Umino later for the wedding I thought Naru had to come back, at least to be at Usagi's wedding.