Chapter 32

Betrayal and Pain

The morning of Usagi's wedding ended up being nothing short of a disaster for Rei. Her dress was all wrinkled and she had a hell of a time finding the iron. Colin and Minako became annoying when they attempted to cook breakfast and burned everything almost burning the house down with the bacon, and to top it all off Minako and Colin seemed to get along to well. Rei didn't like it at all.

"Ooops…Sorry Rei." Colin said as he attempted to put out the fire.

"Colin! You set my house on fire…I'm going to kick your ass!" Rei said as she approached the man menacingly. Minako intercepted.

"Rei calm down it was an accident." Rei stopped and took a deep breath.

"Just forget breakfast both of you, we need to hurry and get ready." Minako and Colin nodded both realizing that Rei was not in the mood. Rei sighed.

Minako walked down the hall towards Rei's room quietly hoping to not make Rei even more mad then the priestess already was. 'She seems stressed. I hope she's ok.' Minako thought as she sat at Rei's mirror and began the process of doing her hair and make-up for Usagi's wedding. Luckily for the blond she had a lot of practice doing such things and was done and out of the way for Rei to use the mirror in record time. Rei sat and did her hair and make-up as well. The former miko looked into the mirror and became breathless when she saw Minako slipping into her gown. Rei was stunned. Minako looked like an angel and Rei couldn't take her eyes off of the blond.

"Shit!" Rei said as she dropped her red lip-stick straight onto her white shorts. Minako came over and picked up the tube of lip-stick as Rei tried to salvage the shorts.

"That sucks. Do you think they are going to stain?" Minako asked. Rei nodded.

"Knowing my luck today….probably. This morning sucks." Minako smiled and came up behind Rei.

"Cheer up baby, its Usagi's wedding!" Minako said as she put her hands on Rei's shoulders and began to lightly massage. Rei sighed.

"I know it just seems that everything is going wrong and I'm just stressed. I want everything to be perfect for Usagi's wedding. I want to try really hard for her because I would want everything perfect for my wedding." Minako nodded.

"Come on get up and out of those shorts you look great and its time to get your beautiful gown on." Rei nodded and stood to obey her girlfriends command.

The drive to the wedding was luckily uneventful and the small group entered. Although Rei would have proffered to be there much sooner. Colin had been having trouble with his tie. It seemed to take him forever to find one that wasn't a ridiculous color or design then he couldn't get it knotted. In the end Minako had to help him and Rei couldn't help but notice the many sly comments and the flirtatious nature the man had while the blond did it. Rei was starting to get pissed. She knew Colin did that with everyone he liked but the dark haired senshi wished that just this once he would leave what was hers alone. But Rei knew he wouldn't. Colin, as great a friend and guy that he was, would sleep with any good looking women to cross his path. Colin didn't understand the concept of cheating he figured that as long as he still loved the person he was with that sex shouldn't matter. Rei unfortunately found that out the hard way.

"Lets go." Rei said to Colin and Minako. The blond was having trouble getting out of the car and Colin just had to volunteer to help her out. Youchiro and Naru had already made it half way up the steps before Minako and Colin had untangled Minako's dress from under the seat. The three then entered the church and Ami grabbed Minako saying.

"Minako. Usagi needs you she said something about needing advise on her vows and since you're the love goddess and good with lyrics and stuff she wants you to help her word it right." Minako immediately left with the bluenette doctor. Colin waved to Youchiro and decided to go hang with him and the other guys since Rei was obviously in a bad mood. Rei stood off to the side taking deep breaths trying to ignore her heightened stress level. The priestess smiled when Minako reentered the room but the smile disappeared slightly when the blond joined John with the other guys. Colin just happened to be standing next to her and it didn't take long until they were talking and laughing. Michiru and Haruka joined Rei with Makoto quickly noticing where Rei's eyes were Michiru said.

"Colin seems nice Rei." Michiru stated. Rei nodded but didn't say anything.

"Yeah Minako and him seem to get along pretty good." Makoto said innocently. Haruka nodded.

"Hey I know he's your ex and everything but maybe they would work out." The blond racer said. Rei immediately got furious and instead of setting Haruka on fire Rei turned and left. Leaving the group and making her way to the bar.

Rei was a little buzzed by the time Minako found her at the bar.

"Rei were about to start…..Rei have you been drinking?" The blond asked. Rei nodded. Minako sighed.

"Seriously Rei Usagi is about to get married. You had better not be drunk."

"I'm not drunk. Come on lets get this day over with. I think I've come to hate weddings." Rei said and then mumbled the last part. Minako frowned.

"Well then you probably shouldn't get married." The blond said with a bit of attitude. Rei snapped back.

"That's you babe. I am the one who actually gets married remember." Rei immediately regretted saying that the moment it left her lips. Minako didn't seem to react at all at first just stood there for a moment before she turned away saying quietly.

"Lets go. Usagi is waiting. I don't want to ruin this day for her." Minako then began to walk away.

"Mina wait I.. I didn't mean that. You know I didn't mean." Rei started to say but Minako stopped her.

"Rei I.. I just cant deal with this right now ok. What you said..It hurts to much to handle right now. Usagi is about to get married I have to be out there in less then 5 minutes and if I think about it I'm going to cry. If I cry I'm going to look terrible for Usagi's wedding and I'm not going to do that to her ok. So please don't make me deal with this right now ok." Minako pleaded. Rei nodded.

"Ok we.. We can talk about this later ok. I'm so sorry Mina." Rei said. Minako nodded and exited the bar area. Rei followed behind the blond and took her position in the line next to Youchiro so they could begin the ceremony.

Minako placed her smile firmly on her face as the photographer began to take all the wedding photos. The ceremony had been beautiful. Usagi had got her vows perfect, much to Minako's surprise. But despite the gorgeous day happening around her Minako couldn't help but think about Rei and what she had said. Minako couldn't believe Rei would say such a thing especially after all of Minako's fears of them not being together in the future. Rei making fun of that hurt the blond more then she had ever thought possible and not just emotionally. A literal pain had almost stabbed into her heart. The blond once again thought that maybe she should have her heart looked at. These strange pains were becoming more frequent.

Soon the photo's were over and everyone was getting excited for the reception. Minako had taken a leaf out of Rei's book and began to hit the bar after the ceremony.

"Mina." Rei said as she slowly approached the blond.

"Not now Rei." Minako whispered as she took another drink.

"Mina please talk to me." Rei asked. Minako shook her head.

"I cant. I cant believe you would make fun of this. Say that…. after what Chibiusa said. After how upset I was. But that doesn't matter to you right. Your having a bad day so you think you can just say anything. Hurt anyone in the process." Tears began to gather in Minako's eyes and she downed her drink.

"Nope cant cry. Cant cry yet. Usagi needs us still so stop. We are not talking about this right now." Minako said firmly as she got another drink and left the bar. Soon the official introductions had been made at the reception and the first dance. Starting with Mamoru and Usagi but soon the rest of the wedding party joined. Rei decided to respect Minako's wishes and left her alone so that she didn't ruin the day for Usagi like she had for Minako and herself. The priestess sat quietly in the corner of the large reception hall watching the couples dance. Rei had to stop herself from setting the table on fire when she saw Minako and Colin twirl past. Minako was laughing and Colin had a big smile on his face. Rei grimaced but just sat there watching the two have a good time. The dark haired priestess had to restrain herself when she saw Minako trip a little giggling in apparent drunkenness but Colin was there to catch her. Rei looked down at her drink and quickly let go of the glass when she realized that her glass of vodka was boiling. After the drink seemed to cool down Rei looked up again looking for Minako and Colin but couldn't seem to find them.

Minako laughed as Colin helped her to the bathroom.

"Thanks Colin, I'm all woozy and stuff." The blond said and giggled. Colin smiled and said.

"No problem. I was hoping I could get you alone for a moment anyways." Once he was done speaking Colin pulled Minako to himself leaning forward pushing the blond against the counter and kissing her fiercely. Minako was to stunned and drunk to react at first. She wasn't sure what to do.

Rei stood and went in search of her girlfriend and her ex. The priestess soon ran into Makoto and Haruka who also seemed a little tipsy.

"Hey guys have you seen Minako?" Rei asked. Haruka smiled and said.

"Yup." Makoto looked at Rei and said.

"You may want to give her a minute. Her and Colin ran off into the bathroom." Makoto said giggling as her and Haruka walked away. Rei stood frozen for a moment. 'No way Minako wouldn't be off with Colin like that. At lease not in the way Makoto and Haruka were suggesting.' Rei stood there for a moment longer before she turned towards the exit and towards the bathroom. Rei entered the bathroom and immediately felt her heart break. Not ten yards away from her was the love of her life who was at the moment kissing her ex fiancé. Rei couldn't have felt more betrayed. The fire senshi turned and exited without a word.

Minako heard someone enter the bathroom and pushed against Colin. The blond felt her heart stop when she looked up to see a dark haired women now exiting the bathroom. There was no doubt in Minako's mind that it was Rei.

"What the hell are you doing?" Minako asked as she pushed Colin again.

"Just having a bit of fun. I thought you were into that?" Colin said. Minako frowned.

"I'm dating Rei." Minako said clearly.

"So…I love Rei too. why cant we all be together. I want her back. I want you. Why should we have just one person in our whole lives." Colin said. Minako shook her head and turned.

"Colin you have absolutely no understanding of love. I love Rei and only Rei and I'm sure you have just ruined everything. She saw us Colin." Minako said as she started to walk out chasing after Rei. Colin blushed and said.

"Woops didn't mean to cause trouble." The man said as he put his hands in his pockets and looked down dejectedly.

Minako chased Rei right out into the parking lot. The miko was just about to get into the car when Minako reached her.

"Rei…Rei wait." Minako said as she grabbed Rei's arm.

"Don't….Minako don't touch me." Rei said as she jerked away.

"Please let me explain." Minako pleaded.

"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!" Rei yelled.

"Rei." Minako said as she reached up to touch Rei's cheek softly. Her hand never made it to the priestess's face. Rei grabbed her wrist roughly and Minako winced in pain as Rei gripped her hard.

"Don't. Don't even touch me. You lying little whore." Rei said as she gripped Minako even tighter. Tears came to Minako's eyes as Rei gripped her wrist but it wasn't just Rei's tight grip that hurt. Minako could feel the skin on her wrist beginning to blister and melt. The blond looked down at her and Rei's hands. A red glow was emitting from Rei's hand around her wrist. Minako realized that Rei was burning her. The pain was excruciating and Minako whimpered as she fell to her knees. Rei released her then not even looking at the blond she got into the car and drove away. Minako quickly brought her injured wrist against her stomach. Crying softly at the pain it was causing her. Minako opened her eyes and looked at her injury. The blond immediately wished she hadn't. As much as it hurt the burn looked even worse.

"Mina." she heard as if it was far away. Opening her eyes again Minako looked up. Haruka, Makoto and John stood around her.

"Oh my god." Makoto said as she took Minako's hand looking at the burn around her wrist.

"Don't touch it." Minako pleaded as she pulled her hand back against herself. Makoto turned to Haruka.

"Go get Ami. Hurry it looks bad." Minako looked at the blond senshi and said.

"No, I don't want to ruin Usagi's wedding." Minako said.

"Mina that needs to be looked at." John said. Minako turned to Haruka and said with tears rolling down her face.

"Quietly so things don't get ruined." the blond pleaded. Haruka nodded and said.

"I'll get her. I wont let Usagi know." Haruka turned.

"What happened." John asked. Minako pulled her hand closer to her body when John reached for it. "Colin said you might need us. He was kinda vague saying he screwed up somehow. We come out here and found you like this what happened?" Minako looked at her friend.

"She didn't mean to. We were arguing and she was mad." Minako mumbled out. Makoto's eyes opened wide.

"Rei….Rei did this to you?" Makoto asked. Minako nodded.

"She didn't mean to. I don't think…I don't think she even realized it had happened. Or that it was happening at all." Minako said. John stood angrily.

"I'm gonna kill her." John said.

"Don't…." Minako started but was interrupted by the arrival of Ami.

"What happened. Let me see it Minako." Ami said as she kneeled down towards the blond. Minako begrudgingly let the blue haired doctor see her wrist. Ami winced.

"This looks bad. Minako you need to go to the hospital." Ami said. Minako immediately began shaking her head.

"No just fix it up as best you can. My senshi healing will do the rest." Ami looked like she wanted to argue but decided to concede.

"Fine. If you weren't a senshi I would force you to go. But your right your accelerated healing should be able to take care of this in a week or so. Come on I'll drive you back to the shrine I can fix it up there."

"We will come too." Haruka said. Minako shook her head.

"No Usagi will notice so many of us gone. Ami will take me home and fix me up then she will come back. If mine and Rei's absence is noticed you can just say we drank to much and you took us home. I'm not letting this ruin Usagi's big day!" Minako said. Haruka sighed and nodded. Everyone knew how important this day was to their princess and they would do anything to protect it for her.

"This way." Ami said as she escorted Minako to her SUV.

Ami drove Minako to the shrine quickly going into the kitchen where she had left the first aid kit that she had made for all of her friends homes.

"Sit here." Ami said indicating the chair then began to clean and bandage Minako's wrist. Minako sat in the chair staring far off.

"She's not here." Minako whispered.

"What?" Ami asked as she finished tending to Minako's wound.

"Rei..I thought she would be here but..She's not." Minako stated then looked at the doctor.

"You should go back. So that Usagi doesn't think something's wrong. I'll be fine here don't worry. I'm just going to go to bed." Minako said. Ami nodded.

"Ok Minako but if you need anything I'm going to turn my phone on ok. Just give me a call." Ami said. Minako nodded and escorted Ami to the door waving good bye to her friend. Minako sighed and walked slowly back to Rei's room wishing she would find the priestess there but knew she wouldn't be. The blond entered the room and turned on the light. Minako was immediately confused as she saw the mess of Rei's room. All of Rei's clothes and her luggage bags were missing.

"What?" Minako whispered not wanting to believe Rei would leave. Then the blond pulled her phone dialing Rei's number she waited.

"What?" An angry voice answered the phone.

"Rei?" Minako said quietly.

"What do you want?" Rei said back.

"Your stuff. All of your things are gone." Minako said not knowing what else to say.

"I know. I have them." Rei said plainly.

"Oh. Are you going somewhere?" Minako asked.

"I'm going home. I don't want this Minako. I don't want this life." Rei said. Minako felt her knees going weak.

"Ok. I guess New York isn't so bad." Minako mumbled. Rei didn't say anything and that's when Minako realized Rei meant that she was going home to New York and didn't want the blond to follow.

"What…What about us?" Minako asked quietly needing verbal conformation. She needed to hear Rei say it.

"Minako I think it goes without saying that there is no us." Rei answered back. Tears came to the blonds eyes along with a strong ache in her chest.

"But….but we..we are dating. I mean, we are together Rei. You said we could be together." Minako stumbled out as tears slid down her face.

"Not anymore Minako." Rei said. Minako cried quietly for a moment before whispering.

"But…but I love you." The blond stated. The blond waited a moment for an answer. Then she heard something she had never expected to hear.

"Well I don't love you. Ok I don't love you anymore Minako. So just..just leave me alone ok…..have a good life." Rei said before hanging up on the blond. Minako just stood by the bed for a moment before Rei's words broke through her mind. Minako didn't know what to do. The pain was to intense in her chest and she couldn't breath. The blond began to take fast deep breaths in an attempt to get oxygen into her lungs. It wasn't working and Minako was beginning to panic the blond fell to her knees clutching her chest with her hand. Minako cried loudly as she realized Rei was leaving her and something was seriously wrong with her heart. Minako looked at the phone in her hand trying to focus her blurred vision.

"Ami…need to call Ami." Minako mumbled. The blond tried to remember the doctors number but couldn't break through the pain. Slowly Minako laid down holding the phone close she scrolled through the names John had programmed into her phone hoping he had added Ami. Minako sobbed as she found the name and hit the call button. The moments it took for the doctor to answer were agonizing. Minako had initially intended to get Ami's help medically but the moment Ami answered the phone the only thing Minako could convey was that Rei was leaving.

"Minako are you ok?" Ami asked as she answered the phone.

"She's leaving. Ami she's leaving me…it hurts. I cant….Ami I cant breath. There's…there's something wrong with..with me." Minako said weakly. The blonds vision was going in and out. She could hear Ami on the phone still but couldn't understand what she was saying.

"Help..please." Minako whispered before she passed out onto the bedroom floor.

A/N Ok I am so sorry for being away for so long but I have been working on a bunch of little stories in the mean time and am also planning to finish this story. The only excuse I can give for being away for so long is that in the mean time I became a Cop lol yup have a career now and now that I'm not in a bunch of training anymore I'm going to get back into writing my FF. Plus I finally was able to get internet in my house so YAY! ttyl and please review.