Echoes Of A Distant Demon
By: Sailor Doc
Chapter 13
A gentle breeze blew over the ornate railing of the moonlit balcony, and a thousand stars filled the inky blackness of the cloudless sky. The air was crisp and clean and carried just the barest hint of juniper from the formal gardens below her, and if she closed her eyes and listened, she could just make out the sound of the nightlarks waking to begin their nights patrol.
It was a lovely evening on Mars and it carried promises and possibilities hidden within its mix of light and shadows that fired her imagination.
Minako smiled softly. She was alone on the opulent balcony of the Victory suite here in the Royal Martian Palace, and though it seemed a shame to have it all to herself, she knew she wouldn't be alone for long. She didn't know how, but if there was one thing that she knew for sure it was that her Reiko would find a way to be with her this night despite her mother, Queen Rowena's, best efforts to keep them apart.
And so she waited. With a happy sigh, she gazed out over the palace walls to the twinkling lights of the city just beyond. There was a slight chill in the evening air and she shivered as it penetrated the light cover of the sheer, almost iridescent wrap she was wearing. Still, the drop in temperature did not bother her. Rei would be there soon enough to keep her warm.
A familiar tingling sensation ghosted over her flesh, raising the tiny hairs along her arms and at the base of her neck. She smiled.
She was no longer alone.
Though she could not yet see the other woman, she could feel her presence. Casting her eyes around the balcony, she visually searched the shadowed corners and alcoves but to no avail. There was no sight. There was no sound. There was no scent to give the slightest hint that Rei was there.
But Minako knew. She always knew.
The smallest of scrapes reached her listening ear and Minako turned quickly toward the rail in hopes of catching sight of her elusive love, but it was not to be. There was nothing and no one there and the young woman felt a shiver run down her spine that was not brought on by either the temperature or her inadequate attire.
She was being watched.
Slowly, she turned once more toward the balcony doors and her eyes were drawn to the small table. Something was resting on it that had not been there a moment before. In the dim silver light, she could just make out what appeared to be a small carrying case with a single, long stemmed dark red rose resting on it's cover.
With a slight smile, she slowly walked toward the gift, the folds of her light wrap flowing gently around her slim form. Lifting the beautiful bloom, she inhaled its delicate scent and her eyes closed as she thought of the last person who had touched it. The velvety petals were soft as she gently brushed them against her lips before lifting the attached card to her view. It held only two words.
For You
Placing the rose back down on the table, Minako reached for the small, sturdy looking case that had accompanied it. Thumbing the latch, she lifted the lid carefully to see what was hidden inside.
There, resting in secured crevices to protect each piece from excess movement during travel, was a beautifully matched brush and mirror set. Made of solid silver, the handle was shaped to look like a pillar of flame. The base was framed by Venus' Love Me chain and in the middle, ensnared by the chain was the arrow of Mars' Flame Sniper. It was absolutely beautiful and its meaning was clear, but the most endearing feature almost brought tears to her eyes. The bristles were the distinctive light blue of fine Venusian unicorns' hair.
How had Rei known?
True, the blue bristles of her faithful old brush were nearly worn down to the nub, but Rei was not one to either notice or care about such frivolous details. She knew nothing of Venusian beauty secrets and would probably have scoffed at the notion that it really made a difference. But still, she had obviously made the extra effort to give her something that she knew would please her.
Because she loved her.
Suddenly, she felt the solid presence coming up behind her and smiled as she watched the shadowy arms reach around and enfold her, the solid feel of them as they pulled her back against Rei's chest betraying the reality of their gentle owner.
"You like?" the voice rumbled softly next to her ear.
"Oh yes! How could I not?" she answered emotionally. "It's a beautiful gift. How did you know just what I needed?"
"Well," Rei started, and Minako could hear the hesitation in her voice. "I called your mother."
"My mother? Really?" Minako asked in surprise as she turned to face her partner. "You haven't even met her yet!"
"True," Rei admitted sheepishly, removing the black hair and face wrap that had covered her head. "But I didn't know who else to ask for advice on beauty accessories for a Venusian woman. I mean, even Artemis was clueless! So, I just decided to go straight to the source."
"Oh Goddess," Minako exclaimed, her mind whirling at the possibilities of what may have come out of Rei's conversation with the sometimes-flighty Queen. "What did she say?"
"Oh, not much really," Rei confessed, slowly pulling her lover back into the warm circle of her arms. "I asked what she thought you would like," she said, leaning in to nuzzle along the side of Minako's neck. "She said, 'maybe a unicorn's hair brush'," she added as her lips found the edge of Mina's ear. "I said 'okay'." She whispered, her breath sending shivers down the Venusian's spine. "Any more questions?"
Minako vigorously shook her head 'no'. Wrapping her arms around the Martian's waist, she pressed herself closer, reveling in the warm feel of Rei's lips against the racing pulse in her neck.
"Anything else you feel you need to say right now?" Rei gently teased as she tightened her grip around her love.
"Just one thing," Minako murmured in a breathy whisper.
Pulling away from Rei's strong embrace, Minako stepped back into a pool of silvery moonlight. Mesmerized, Rei watched as the other girl reached up and dropped the wrap from around her shoulders, allowing the iridescent material to fall in a pool at her feet. There, every particle of moonlight seemed to glow against the golden hue of her naked form, only to multiply and reflect that light out and around her in gentle waves of light.
Basking in the warmth of Minako's golden light and entranced by her beauty, Rei almost missed it when her goddess spoke.
"Thank you, my love," Minako whispered, and then opened her arms to her one and only hearts desire.
Saturday Morning
Daylight
The sun had not yet cleared the building, but its rays were obviously cresting the top as Minako watched the misty low-lying clouds below. Weaving their way upward through the shadowed trees and along the clear white slopes they appeared as ghosts escaping from the coming dawn.
It was a beautiful sight and something she had never seen before. She was fascinated at their speed as they slipped silently through the trees, only to vanish into a much larger bank of clouds that rested just below the mountain's summit, currently obscuring its crest from the singer's view.
This was the world Rei had been born into.
Now she could easily understand why Rei would find the natural serenity of the shrine preferable to the driving beat and thriving hum of downtown Tokyo. There was a peace and beauty here that was a soothing balm to a warrior's soul.
Oddly enough, most Martians had been drawn to peace. The fact that they excelled at the warrior arts often overshadowing the reality that as an overall well-balanced people they also were very talented in the arts as well as in spiritual matters.
Their modern day princess had proven a truly worthy descendant. Her drive and passion for what she believed in and what she aspired to be a living testament to a vibrant and colorful people.
And so the idol singer found her wandering thoughts returning to where they had begun.
Rei
Feeling the blush as it rose to her cheeks, she lifted a hand to touch her still bruised and tender lips and found that she could not repress the silly grin that graced her face.
Yes, there was no doubt that Rei was passionate.
Though at first Rei had been overcome by the sheer intensity of these new emotions she was experiencing, Minako had found the other young woman's attack of 'performance anxiety' very endearing.
Frustrating to be sure, but endearing.
As the evening had continued on into the early morning hours, the senshi of fire and passion, with her usual full frontal assault tactic, had started to nibble away (so to speak) at her earlier short comings (also so to speak). As they had continued to banter and tease each other, Rei's experimentation and exploration had steadily become bolder and the lazy, easy-going hours in front of the fireplace had passed in a delightful blend of contented cuddling versus fierce and fiery foreplay.
Eventually, they had retired to the bedroom and with much light-hearted pushing and shoving tumbled into the large four-poster bed, where the flurry of giggling and tickling that followed rapidly developed into passionate kisses and intimate caressing.
As daylight had broken, Minako had awoken to a sight that brought a joy to her heart she had not yet experienced in this lifetime. A warm and deeply asleep Rei, her head resting peacefully against the singer's breast, a gentle smile upon her face. Tears of sheer happiness threatened her eyes and rather than wake the sleeping beauty in her arms, she instead placed a gentle kiss against her forehead and eased quietly from the warmth of the comfortable bed.
She really needed a cold shower this morning and that wonderful ensuite off their bedroom was looking like the place to be.
A couple of hours later, a still sleepy and confused Rei had found her bedmate comfortably curled up in front of the massive windows with her notebook and a large cup of coffee. She had taken one look at the jeans and warm, fuzzy sweater the idol was wearing, grunted once, then walked across to her, and dropped to her knees. Without a word, she then plopped her head into Minako's lap, closed her eyes and proceeded to go back to sleep.
With a look of affectionate disbelief, Minako lowered a hand to the dark head resting in her lap and slowly began to run her fingers through the mass of unruly locks.
"It's still pretty early," she said softly as her fingers continued to stroke the soft hair under her hand. "You know you could still sleep some more if you wanted to."
Rei merely grunted again. Then her scratchy morning voice added, "It's not early. I saw the clock. Why didn't you wake me up?"
Minako smiled down at the other woman as her fingers continued their gentle caress. "You just looked too cute! I couldn't bare to wake you up."
"Mmm," Rei mumbled, still not raising her head from its current resting place. "You'll miss your ski lesson," she added as her right hand rose to rest peacefully against the idol's thigh.
"That's okay," she said gently. "To be honest, I'm still just a bit sore."
There was no immediate response to that statement, and then Rei asked, "You're actually admitting this?" her voice just starting to sound normal again.
Minako chuckled. "Yes!"
As Rei's eyes finally opened and rolled to the side to look up at her, Minako laughed.
"Don't get all excited or anything! I'm really quite happy just sitting here and enjoying this amazing view." She smiled down at the priestess. "And the company, of course."
Rei finally sat up, leaned back on her heels and smiled. "You could have had that company a lot sooner if you'd woken me up," she said, her hand beginning to move slowly up and down the length of Minako's jean-clad thigh.
Minako blushed, then leaned forward, toward the other woman. "But then I would have missed this wonderful view," she teased.
Rei met her halfway and proceeded to kiss her soundly.
This was their first 'Good Morning' kiss, and just as Minako was starting to think that her sweater was entirely too warm and would have to go, Rei pulled away. But only far enough to allow her nose to lightly brush against Minako's, her breath still warm and sweet against her cheek.
"I think I can promise you wouldn't have missed a thing," Rei whispered in her ear.
Then, without another word, the priestess rose to her feet, and moved off toward the bathroom and her own shower.
Face flushed, Minako watched her go, a happy grin on her tender lips.
Yeah. It was going to be a great day!
As the morning progressed, there was no doubt that there was a certain undercurrent to their interactions that had not been there before. Suddenly every touch, every glance, every move, carried a new and deeper meaning, and Minako frequently found herself captivated by the dark chocolate depths of Rei's eyes. At one moment sparkling with humor, at the next sharing promises of delightful or delicious intent that the idol singer was more than willing to explore with her.
They had made their final ski lesson. Late to be sure, but still they had arrived. Sore and distracted as they both were though, not much had really been accomplished, but still, they'd had fun.
Afterwards, Rei had talked the reluctant idol into a movie. Though Minako had protested that either the press or her fans would surely spot them, Rei had silenced her concerns with a kiss and then challenged her to find a way.
How could she say no to such a request? And a challenge on top of it? Not a problem.
Rei had later appeared with a high ponytail, much like Makoto's old style, and Minako had sported Usagi's odangos along with a pair of reading glasses. Only the most diehard of fans would have been able to recognize them.
Hiroshi had taken one look at the pair as they light-heartedly posed
in front of him and a smile had ghosted across his normally stoic expression.
"So. What do you think, Hiroshi?" the idol singer asked with a mischievous grin of her own. "Do we pass inspection?"
The bodyguard had studied them seriously for a few moments before he finally gave them his seal of approval. He didn't have either the heart or the courage to tell his boss that with her figure and her hair done up in such a childish fashion she now looked like every salaryman's most private and secret wet dream. All she needed was a schoolgirl's uniform, a book bag and a pair of loafers.
Rei however, in her boots, dark jeans, and long black coat, combined with the rather severe hairstyle, looked like she should be headlining the latest Takarazuka production. She was the perfect blend of just the right amounts of both the feminine and the masculine.
Minako had certainly known what she was doing.
No, they were both still very attractive. They just didn't look like Aino Minako and her BFF Hino Rei anymore and that, after all, was all that mattered at the moment.
They had easily gotten tickets for the latest superhero/adventure flick with no problems whatsoever. Popcorn and drinks in hand, they had sat in the back row and held hands, stealing kisses in the shadows, totally oblivious to the exploding buildings and disintegrating monsters on the big screen in front of them.
Really, who cared when warm skin and inviting lips were the alternative to big screen hijinks?
Afterwards, they had left the theater with warm faces, racing hearts and no idea where to go next. Rei had been truly surprised when Minako had asked if they could go back out to her parent's house once again. Seeing no real reason not to, she had easily agreed.
Soon, they ditched their disguises and were bouncing along the now familiar road that led out of town and up into the more sparsely inhabited mountainside.
The housekeeper, Mrs. Takahashi, was all smiles as she welcomed them at the door this time and the house itself seemed to welcome them as well. Warm natural light streamed into each room and a fire had been lit in the family room, which added a homey and inviting touch to the charming feel of the comfortable room.
Minako seemed to light up the minute she crossed the threshold. She was fascinated with the old place and was full of questions about each room and it's updates.
Though obviously of an older, more traditional design, Rei's mother and grandparents had taken wonderful care of it as well as the surrounding property, and had lovingly brought it into the modern era with elegance and imagination. When questioned about it, Rei admitted that the property had been in her mothers' family for generations, dating well back into the age of the samurai where her earlier ancestors had been moderately well to do and respected.
It explained a great deal more about the young woman Rei had grown up to be.
As Minako continued to inspect the house with their most accommodating housekeeper, Rei politely excused herself and left them enthusing over the clever kitchen updates. Following the oh, so familiar pull she knew only too well, she found herself once more in the family room, the open fire drawing her like a moth, closer to its waiting light.
She smiled. It was calling to her now, in this most special of places, for it was here that she had first encountered this rare gift. Her mother had understood it, and after she had died it had become her oldest and most steadfast friend in a time when no one else had cared.
Without hesitation she approached its warmth, bowed respectfully and then knelt before it, her eyes closing as she relaxed, centered herself and waited for the fire's will.
She didn't have to wait for long.
Soon she was once again on that plane she knew so well, the reddish light and misty hues as familiar to her as her own room at the shrine. This was her second home after all, and she instinctively knew that it was linked to Mars, the source of her great gift, as well as her now dormant powers.
In time she began to be able to distinguish shapes. Misshapen and monstrous, these creatures were nothing new to her. She could clearly recognize youma when she saw them. What she found disturbing was the fact that she hadn't seen any at all since Usagi's wedding, with the notable exception of the beast she had seen diving into Minako's head in the vision that had started all of this.
But that fire reading had been a warning: an actual premonition of possible future events that they had moved quickly on, and should be able to thwart.
What she was seeing now was something totally different.
She felt her pulse slowly start to speed up in response as she began to realize that what she was seeing was in real time. The fire was letting her actually look through a window, so to speak, and observe something it felt was extremely important for her to see.
And what she saw was an army.
It was hard to tell just exactly how many there really were as they were milling around a good bit, moving in and out of the shadows. Still, there must have been more than a hundred of them, and they all bore a striking resemblance to the youma that had attacked Minako. She felt again the overwhelming sense of malevolence.
And just the barest trace of Metallia.
Rei frowned. That was impossible, of course. The evil queen was long since gone with no hope of return, but still, her evil was powerful and had spread so far and so wide. Would it have been possible for some of it to have remained hidden from the light? Hiding on a different plane perhaps? Just waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike out at the Guardians again?
Rei remembered Mio and felt her jaw clench, realizing that it had already happened once.
Still, youma were mindless beasts who only existed to do the bidding of their master. Without that strong, dominant personality they would be as directionless as a ship without it's rudder. There had to be a leader.
So, who commanded these hideous creatures? And why perpetrate such a hateful and vindictive personal attack on just Minako and herself? Eyes closed, she frowned in concentration.
She had to see who it was.
Totally absorbed in her task, she never heard Minako enter the room behind her. The idol was fully absorbed in her conversation with the housekeeper but as she looked up for Rei she saw immediately what was happening. With her natural ability to quickly and decisively think on her feet, she turned back to the older woman with a charming smile and gracefully excused her with a promise to seek her out again before they left. The housekeeper smiled warmly in return, then bowed and politely excused herself.
Minako then turned back into the room and observed her partner in the full grip of a powerful vision.
Fists clenched in her lap, brow furrowed in concentration, the priestess sat motionless as sweat poured down the sides of her face. Minako's heart clinched at the sight, knowing full well that Rei was searching the fire for answers that would help them fight for her life.
She wanted so much to go to her, to let Rei know that she was there for her. But even as she started to reach out towards the other young woman she hesitated, afraid of Rei's reaction to what she may perceive as a personal violation.
Biting her lower lip, she allowed her hand to slowly drop back down to her side.
Rei had never said that it was okay for her to get a reading from her visions anytime she wanted to. And, if she were totally honest, she could admit she was a little afraid of just what she would feel, as she was sure this vision was most likely concerning her. So, she could only continue to watch anxiously as Rei's vision ran its course.
Meanwhile, Rei was finally getting somewhere. Through the hazy mist and shifting shadows she was able to make out the form of a man. He was a human and she could tell that he wore one of the elaborate uniforms of a General in Metallia's army, though beyond that she really couldn't make out much. He was tall, powerfully built, and she could see that he had wavy black hair that just touched the top of his shoulders over his long black cape and heavy epaulets.
Focus as she may, she still could not get a clear look at either his full face or his profile and as she increased her efforts he seemed to sense he was being observed. She watched as his back stiffened, his head shifting from side to side. Then, with a wave of his gloved hand and a shouted order she could not hear, he and his youma melted back into the misty fog of the landscape and disappeared from her view.
But not before she recognized a very evil and unexpected presence. She had felt this before, very recently in fact. She sucked in a breath and felt her blood run cold.
This was the same presence she had sensed in Nakano Tohma, the man she had killed less than a month ago.
Pale as a ghost she opened her eyes, which continued to glare angrily into the flames, that flared violently at the intensity of her scrutiny. Finally, with a frown, she allowed her rigid body to relax and the restless flames began to settle down even as she did.
Then, feeling the eyes that were unexpectedly watching her, she turned sharply to see Minako sitting in her mother's chair, a worried expression on her face. With a tired smile, she turned fully and settled more comfortable on the floor. Suddenly self-conscious, she began to wipe the sweat from her face and forehead with her hand and the sleeve of her sweater.
"Sorry about that," the priestess said quietly.
"Are you alright?" Minako asked urgently, her concern evident as she reached out for Rei. But then she hesitated again, and dropped her hand, her eyes suddenly refusing to meet the other girl's.
Surprised, Rei tried unsuccessfully to catch the idol's eyes. "I'll be fine," she reassured her. "That was just suddenly much more intense than I was expecting."
"I... I could tell something was wrong," the idol began, eyes finally looking up to catch Rei's hesitantly. "I so wanted to help you! But, I didn't know how, and I wasn't sure if you wanted me to touch you. I... was scared," she finally admitted in a small voice.
Rei studied her for a few seconds, then silently opened her arms.
Without hesitation, Minako flew down into her embrace and they held each other, soaking in the comfort they both needed so much and found only in each other.
"It's okay, Mina," Rei reassured the idol. "And just for the record, I think you should just go with your instinct from now on."
Minako pulled back slightly and looked at the priestess. "Are you saying you wish I had tried to get a reading this time?"
Rei nodded. "I think so."
"Why? What did you see?" Minako asked, placing both of her hands on Rei's upper arms as she searched her face.
Rei grimaced. "What I saw was not as disturbing as what I could sense and feel."
"What do you mean?" Minako asked.
"I saw an army of youma and a General," she answered simply.
Minako frowned, the leader of the Senshi automatically rising to the forefront to confront a threat. "And?" she demanded.
"I could sense traces of Metallia," Rei said.
Minako's brow creased in concern. "Metallia?" She asked. "But, how is that possible?"
Rei shrugged. "It wouldn't be the first time we've been attacked by someone using power she left behind."
Minako nodded in thoughtful acknowledgment. "Mio," she confirmed.
Rei merely nodded.
"So, you've told me what you saw and what you sensed," Minako prodded gently, feeling in her heart that the worst was yet to come. "What did you feel, Rei?"
The priestess hesitated, her eyes unable to meet those of the idol.
Then in a quiet voice she said, "I felt the same presence I encountered when I first saw Nakano Tohma in the fire."
Minako sucked in an involuntary breath as she looked in shocked amazement at the young woman in front of her. "Nakano?" she questioned, unable to repress the unpleasant shudder that ran down her spine. "What could he possibly have to do with all this?"
Rei looked up at her and shook her head in confusion. "I don't know, Minako. The best I can figure out is that maybe he was just a conduit or even simply a willing vessel for something much darker and evil than he could ever hope to be."
Minako nodded thoughtfully. "I see," she said. "So. Let's review. This 'something', whatever or whoever it may be is still out there trying to kill me?"
Rei nodded once.
Minako continued, ticking off each point with a polished nail. "It has ties to Metallia's dark energy. It has a youma army commanded by a here-to-fore unknown General of unknown origins. It has the ability to influence human behavior, the extent to which is currently unknown, and it has somehow been able to infect my brain with a tumor. Again."
Rei nodded again, watching her commander carefully as she worked the problem.
Minako sat in silent contemplation for quite sometime, and Rei watched, fascinated but oddly enough not too terribly concerned. When the singer finally spoke again, her voice was relaxed and decisive. "Well, we really don't have enough information to make any plans at this point. I feel that as much as I'd rather not, we may eventually have to bring the others in on this. Besides that, we will need the advice of Luna and Artemis, as well as Mercury's input before we can figure out what we need to do, or even if anything can be done."
"There will be a way," Rei insisted. "This vision was... different."
Minako studied her curiously. "Different? How so?" she asked.
Rei shook her head thoughtfully. "From the very first readings I began receiving as a child at this very fireplace, most all of my visions have had one thing in common. They have all been concerned with future events. But, this one was different."
"What do you mean?" Minako asked.
"For some reason, what I was seeing was in real time," she explained.
Minako shook her head in confusion, still not understanding.
"It was happening as I was watching. That's practically unheard of! I can probably count the number of times I've seen this occur on the fingers of one hand and its has only concerned people that I am very close to. Minako! Don't you understand? The fire was trying to let me see our enemy! It wanted us to see his army, his preparations, where he was hiding! For reasons I can't explain, the fire kami is trying to help us defeat this man!"
Minako's eyes lit up with hope. "You mean we have an ally."
Rei's eyes answered hers. "I mean we have a very powerful ally."
As Rei put her arm around Minako's shoulders, the idol snuggled into the curve of her arm and they held hands as they gazed into the warmth of the fire's glow.
"I'm not sure what that means, but it feels really good to know he's looking out for us," Rei said softly, and Minako nodded her head against Rei's shoulder in agreement.
After several minutes spent in silent enjoyment of the moment, Minako spoke up again.
"So. This is where you had your first visions?" she asked, making it a statement rather than a question.
Rei nodded her head in acknowledgment, and after a few more moments of companionable silence began to speak again. "It was kind of scary at first. I didn't really understand what was happening, and most of what I was seeing didn't really make any sense to me."
"What did your parents think?" Minako asked softly.
Rei snorted in disgust. "Papa hated it. He refused to even discuss anything to do with it. But, Mom seemed to understand. She would support me and encourage me when I got scared, or when the other kids would make fun of me, or run away. She's the one who thought to seek guidance from a shrine."
Minako squeezed her hand in sympathy. "I wish I could have met her," she said.
Rei squeezed her hand back and smiled sadly. "Yeah, me too. I think she would have loved you."
"Do you really think so?" Minako asked wistfully.
Rei nodded. "Sure," she said turning to look at Minako's beautiful face. "I do."
Wordlessly, they leaned into each other and kissed, lingering over the contact and savoring the sensation. As the kiss ended they held each other tightly.
Turning back to gaze once again into the fire, Minako cleared her throat as she blushed sweetly.
"Well," she began. "This trip has really been full of revelations for me!"
"I hope they were all good ones," Rei said with a smile.
Minako tilted her head to the side slightly, a thoughtful look on her face. "There have been a few unpleasant moments here just recently, but for the most part I'd say they've all been pretty wonderful."
"Mmmhmm," Rei agreed. "I think so too, and the weekends not even over yet."
Minako looked back at her, intrigued. "Oh? You mean there's more?"
Rei's smile widened. "You'll have to wait and see," she teased.
"Rei!" Minako exclaimed. But the priestess refused to give any further information and finally the idol singer gave up and cuddled once again into her side as they continued to watch the fire.
Finally she spoke again, her voice soft against the peaceful silence of the room. "You know, I really love this place! Since he doesn't seem to be interested in it, do you think you father would consider selling it to me?"
Rei turned and looked at her sharply. "Are you serious?" she asked, genuinely surprised at Minako's response to her family home.
"Mmmhmm," Minako replied, nodding her head vigorously. "I think it would be the perfect place for us to get away from everything and just spend some private time alone together. You know, without the whole entertainment world crashing down on us from every angle, or the paparazzi snapping pictures of us from behind every tree and ash can. It's private, it's secluded, it's secured and it would be our own private retreat. It's perfect!" she enthused. "What do you think?"
Rei nodded. "I agree," she said. "It would be perfect. But, I'm sorry. I know for a fact he won't sell."
Minako's face showed her disappointment. "Why? It's obvious he doesn't use it himself, he never comes here." Reaching forward she took both of Rei's hands in her own. " We could make this house a home again. We could give it life, and motion and purpose! Isn't there anything we can do to persuade him to sell?" At Rei's rather thoughtful look, Minako quickly added, "I assure you, money is not a issue. I'll pay whatever it takes to make this our home!"
Surprised, Rei studied Minako carefully. "It really means that much to you?" she asked.
Minako nodded firmly. "There's just something about this place that calls to me. It's... special."
Rei watched her a bit longer, then shook her head. "Mina, it's not so much that he won't sell as that he can't sell."
Minako frowned. "I don't understand."
Rei leaned toward the fire. "He doesn't own it. He never has."
Confusion covered the idol's features. "How is that possible? I mean, this was your home before your move to Tokyo, right? So, it follows that..."
"This house, and the property it sits on, belonged to my mothers family and as such is being held in trust along with the rest of her estate," Rei explained.
"Until when, and for who," Minako asked. "Maybe we could persuade them to sell."
Rei shook her head and smiled softly. "That won't be necessary. The entire estate will be turned over on April 17th of this year."
"Why then?" the idol demanded. "And how do you know they won't sell? I'm sure that for the right price..."
Humorous dark brown eyes lit up a dark grin as the priestess turned her head to respond. "On April 17th , I will be twenty-one years old. If you're that sure you want to share it with me, then I wouldn't, I couldn't, sell our home for any amount of money you could name!"
Eyes wide, Minako stared at Rei in open-mouthed shock. Then, she threw herself forward, tackling the other young woman back onto the hearthrug with her enthusiastic embrace. Pulling back only slightly she took Rei's face in her hands and began covering it with tiny little kisses.
"Wait! Stop! Minako! Hey!" Rei protested. Weakly trying to fend off Minako's relentless kiss attack. The idol finally stopped, but continued to hold Rei's face in her hands.
"How could you tease me like that?" she demanded. "That was incredibly mean! I don't know if I'll ever be able to forgive you for it!"
With a dark grin of intent, Rei wrapped both arms around Minako's waist, pulled her firmly into her arms, and proceeded to kiss her with meaning and authority. Minako simply melted into it, her arms wrapping around Rei's neck as the priestess rolled them over in front of the fireplace. When Rei finally broke contact, she pulled back to find Minako, eyes still closed, and a happy, happy smile on her face.
"You're forgiven," the idol proclaimed as she opened her shining eyes, her right hand coming forward to caress Rei's face.
Rei's triumphant smile said it all.
The rest of the afternoon was spent taking a closer look at the property with a critical eye towards making it their own. Some immediate needs were identified, as well as loose plans for future modifications made. Minako wanted to redecorate some areas, and when she saw the look of apprehension cross Rei's face, she proceeded to have a field day, coming up with the most heinous and ludicrous remodeling plans she could think of. Proving that she was worthy of her awards for acting, she had Rei totally convinced she was serious, even going so far as to whip out her phone and pretend to call an interior decorator in Tokyo that she knew. When she finally got that look of sheer and utter horror that she'd been looking for, she dropped the phone from her ear, caught Rei's eye, and winked.
"Gotcha."
Rei stared stoically at the other woman for several moments before finally saying simply, "Touché'."
Minako's face lit up as she laughed, and then she looped her arm through Rei's, guiding them both toward the next room.
They left the estate sometime later, but as they were getting into the SUV, Minako noticed that Rei was carrying a rather large, flat, wooden case under her arm. It was obviously antique, and beautifully made, with brass hinges and locks. It had no doubt been made by someone who had mastered their craft, and was a lovely piece of art, in and of itself.
"What a lovely case! What is it?" Minako asked, coming over to touch its smooth, highly polished surface.
The priestess merely smiled mysteriously. "Something I have plans for," she replied, rather cryptically.
Minako was intrigued, and Rei's answer had done nothing more than fan the fires of her curiosity to a fever pitch. But, despite her best efforts at persuasion, Rei had been unmoved. No amount of begging, pleading, cajoling, or threats on her person could compel the dark priestess to give up her secret. All she would say is, "you'll have to wait and see," just as they pulled up at their hotel. Then, she got out, picked up the case, handed the keys to the valet, and started moving at a leisurely pace toward the front door.
Minako pouted for all of thirty seconds, then hurried to catch up before Rei could get on the elevator without her. As they began their ascent, Minako quietly slipped her hand into Rei's and the smile that graced the priestess' face practically glowed.
Realizing that this was the last night of their impromptu vacation, both young women decided to stay in, neither wanting to fight the crowds or risk another riot like they had endured the night before. A quick call to the concierge desk provided them with several options for their dining pleasure, and they had settled on a highly recommended sushi restaurant that promised fresh, excellent, speedy and discrete service.
As they waited for their meal to arrive, they took the opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the sunset from the privacy of the massive bank of window their suite provided. Minako found herself once again held back to front in Rei's arms as they watched the amazing view and the interplay of colors that lit up the evening sky.
It would be sad to leave this place. Their time here had been too short.
But, as she felt the warmth and security of Rei's sure embrace, she knew that what she was taking back with her was infinitely more important than anything else in her life.
And it was eternal.
After their meal, Rei busied herself with what she termed 'pre-packing' for their departure the next day. Minako took the opportunity to speak with Artemis. One look at her happy face and the guardian cat nearly cried with relief. He had always hoped that she would be able to find a way to repair her damaged relationship with her partner. They had each been exceptional young women in both lifetimes, but now together as they were always meant to be, they would be extraordinary.
Minako shared with him things she and Rei had discussed, their ideas for their new home and their plans for the future. Through the entire conversation, despite Rei's unsettling visions at the house, he could sense no trace of fear or doubt. It was obvious to him that his charge was positive that together, she and Rei would find a way to triumph over whatever may try and get in their way.
Wise old cat that he was, he could also sense something else in the air as well. He was no fool, no not he! He smiled to himself, knowing he would definitely be making himself scarce this night.
He would not be needed.
After her talk with Artemis, Minako went to see if Rei needed any help. But after she was assured that the priestess had everything well in hand she opted for a shower. If she were being totally honest she would have preferred a bath, but as she was still too shy to ask if Rei wanted to join her, she decided on the shower instead. Besides, she reasoned, it was quicker. She wasn't sure exactly what the rest of the evening may hold in store for them, but she did know she didn't want to miss a moment of it.
Feeling just the slightest bit of an inexplicable twinge of nerves, she could admit to herself that there was definitely an undercurrent of something in the air. After a brief moment of indecision, she finally swallowed her nerves and decided on a short, rather lacy negligee that clung to her frame in all the right places. Slim spaghetti straps held it in place over her shoulders and the bodice rose above a high empire-style waistline that allowed the rest of the practically transparent material to fall gracefully to a point slightly above mid-thigh.
Minako wondered briefly what Marika-san had been thinking when she packed it.
Taking a deep, calming breath, Minako opened the door leading back into the bedroom, fully expecting to see Rei working away with their luggage in the walk-in closet. What she saw instead was an empty room.
Stepping cautiously out into the dimly lit space, Minako noticed that the only light was coming from the well-made fire burning in the fireplace, and the corner lamp next to the small vanity table. Feeling her eyes naturally drawn in that direction, her breath caught as she saw what was resting perfectly centered on it's neatly kept surface.
It was that mysterious wooden case Rei had brought back from the house.
On top of it rested a single long stemmed dark red rose, and as she slowly approached it she could see a small white card attached to it by a slim red ribbon. With a slightly unsteady hand, she lifted the rose as her other hand came forward to steady the card which she saw held only two words.
For You
Totally captivated, Minako placed the rose back on the vanity and allowed her fingers to gently caress the delicate designs inlayed in the top of the beautiful rosewood box. Once again, she couldn't help but wonder what it contained.
With a soft smile, she thumbed the brass locks and raised the lid.
Inside, resting on a soft bed of heavy, deep blue silk was a perfectly matched set consisting of a mirror, a comb, and a natural bristle brush, all in purist silver and ivory. The antique set was obviously very old and had been well taken care of. The craftsmanship was exceptional as was evidenced in the exquisite design of each piece, its rose and forget-me-not motif both stunning and unique. Along the sides of the box were additional sections that held matching hairpins as well as a beautiful pair of decorative combs to complete the set.
Minako was speechless. Staring in wonder at the unbelievably generous gift now resting on her vanity, she never heard Rei's footsteps as the priestess walked up behind her.
"I know it's not 'fine Venusian unicorn's hair'," she said softly. "But, it's the best I can do."
Minako turned to the other young woman and though she tried to speak, no words would come to her. As Rei reached out and took her hand, Minako finally found her voice. "Rei!" she exclaimed as she indicated the lovely set. "It's too much!"
Rei just shook her head, that dark grin Minako loved so much showing just a flash of her teeth. "What? This old thing? Please," she scoffed.
Minako shook her head. "No! Seriously Rei, this set must be worth a fortune! I couldn't possibly..."
With another shake of her head, Rei reached up and stopped Minako's words with a gentle hand over her lips. As Minako's eyes rose to meet hers in silent question, Rei reached out, and taking her other hand guided her onto the small stool in front of the vanity table, then knelt down next to her, still holding her hands.
"Let me tell you about this set," Rei began. "You're right. It's very old and has been in my family for a long, long time. So long in fact, that we've lost track of where it originally came from. But, that's really not the point. For as long as I can remember, that set has been resting in the bottom drawer of my mother's chest of drawers, forgotten and unappreciated. Until now."
Reaching past Minako, Rei picked up the brush and placed it in the singers' hand.
"Minako. That house will be our home. And just like the house, I want to share all that I have, all that I am, and all that I will ever be with you. This set is just a small part of our home that you can take with you on those occasions when your career will take you far way from me. Then, every night as you sit down to brush your hair, you can imagine me with you and know that I love you, and that I'm missing you."
"Rei... ko," the singer whispered, her voice choked by all the emotions she'd been holding in check for years. But, Rei seemed to understand.
"Shhh," she soothed, with an open smile as she cupped the idol's cheek and raised her caramel colored eyes to meet her own darker orbs. "None of that," she gently admonished as she caught the lone escaping tear with her thumb. Minako gave a small laugh in response. "See, that's better!" Rei said, and they both laughed softly in relief.
Taking the opportunity to move, Rei shifted back onto her heels and indicated the brush that was still in Minako's hand. "So, what do you think?" she asked. "Will that work for you?"
Minako inspected the brush with a critical eye. "Oh, I'm sure it will," she said with a soft smile. "I'll have to try it out, but it's a natural bristle so it should be fine."
"Well, if its not we can always have it re-bristled. I believe there are still places that do that kind of thing."
"Oh, I'm sure there are," Minako jokingly agreed, once again admiring the piece. "Look, the handle just fits my hand perfectly too, see?"
"Mmm," Rei murmured in agreement as Minako started to run the brush through her hair.
"The weight is beautifully balanced between the handle and the base. It just glides through my hair," Minako enthused.
"Really?" Rei asked.
"Mmhmm," Minako said as she started to get into the rhythm of her nightly routine.
"You're sure?" Rei persisted.
"Oh yes, this is a wonderful piece!" Minako answered, enthusiastically.
"Let me see," Rei said.
Before Minako could even think to protest, Rei had reclaimed the brush from her hand and taken total control of the moment.
The entire mood in the room changed in an instant.
Startled, Minako looked up at Rei's reflection in the mirror. When she saw the spark of violet burning in those passionate, dark brown eyes she shivered, an undeniable thrill of desire coursing through her veins like a wildfire.
She watched, mesmerized while the fingers of Rei's free hand, as if in slow motion, gently combed through her hair just before the brush came forward and followed in its wake.
Back and forth, back and forth the fingers and the brush took turns, and with each pass Minako could feel her heart rate slowly increasing, even as her body temperature began to rise.
"Is this okay?" Rei asked, never pausing in the slow, steady rhythm of her strokes.
Incapable of speech, Minako merely nodded her approval. Looking straight ahead into the mirror, her whole world focused in on Rei's hands as they continued their task. Those strong, capable hands, so soft and gentle as they cared for her, and Minako closed her eyes, and felt a violent blush as it ignited across her cheeks.
"Do you need me to count?" Rei enquired, her voice soft and low, and Minako just shook her head once in answer, her eyes still tightly shut.
"You're sure?" the priestess rasped, the brush slowing as Minako felt the gentle touch of Rei's free hand coming to rest on her bare shoulder, hardly even noticing it's slight tremor.
Involuntarily, she shivered in desire and then froze, afraid to move as the brush stopped and she felt Rei bend down closer to her.
"Are you cold, Mina?" she whispered, her breath warm against the singers ear. Placing the brush back down on the vanity, Rei wrapped both arms around the other woman and began to press soft, warm kisses across her cheek. Minako's lips parted to allow a much-needed intake of oxygen and she shivered again as Rei continued, "I can make you warm again."
Unable to contain either herself of her growing passion any longer, Minako spun around on the small stool, wrapped her arms around Rei's neck, and pulled her down into a deep, searing kiss that did its very best to express all of her love, her devotion and her need.
Rei met her eagerly, her hands sliding around Minako's waist and up her back to pull her up and into her waiting arms. Bodies pressed firmly together, Minako neither noticed nor cared that the thin strap
of her nightgown had slid down her arm. But, as she kissed her way across Rei's jaw and over the sensitive skin just under her ear, she was vaguely aware that Rei was still wearing the dark red button-down she'd had on under her sweater all day.
It had to go.
Totally occupied by the firm, warm softness of Rei's lips and the pleased little humming sounds coming from the priestess' throat, Minako allowed one of her hands to trail down the front of Rei's shirt, freeing buttons as it went until she reached the top of her jeans. Nimble fingers soon made short work of the low riding belt, button, and zipper, and without missing a beat, she began to tug at the bottom of Rei's shirt, pulling it totally free of her pants.
Suddenly, Rei abruptly pulled back. Startled, Minako was almost afraid to look up, but, when she did she was thrilled to see a wolfish grin and flashing eyes just before Rei stepped forward and pulled the short, frilly nightgown right up and over the idols' head.
Dark, passionate brown eyes drank her in, their warm approval practically eliciting the same response as a physical caress. Slowly, Rei reached out a tentative hand, her fingertips barely touching Minako's left breast. As they gently tested the smoothness of the soft skin there, her eyes rose to Minako's, wordlessly asking for permission to continue. Watching Rei's every expression, the idol nodded her consent, and then shivered and closed her eyes as the other woman's fingers trailed softly back and forth across the top of her breast, before sliding down the side to cup her tender flesh. Her hum of approval was all the encouragement Rei needed as she wrapped her other arm around Minako's waist and pulled her closer. Her timing couldn't have been better, because as she did so, her thumb grazed over the top of Minako's sensitive peak, and the singer felt her knees go weak.
As Rei pulled Minako closer against her chest, the singer raised her hands to Rei's shoulders and quickly slid the red shirt off so that it fell to the floor behind them. Hungrily, she once again met Rei's demanding lips, her fingers blindly unhooking Rei's bra which then magically disappeared... somewhere.
Who cared?
The sensation of bare skin on bare skin ignited a whole new level of desire, and though Minako didn't really care where they were, Rei still had enough will power to guide them gently toward the comfort of the large bed. Pausing only long enough to lose the rest of their unneeded and unwanted clothing, they somehow managed to complete most of the short distance still locked in each other's embrace. Feeling the side of the mattress against the back of her legs, Minako broke their heated kiss long enough to reach back and gently guide them up and onto it's surface. Eyes locked together, all thought of anything beyond this moment was impossible. When Minako eased back against the cool sheets, Rei followed her closely, her arms holding her just above the reclining beauty and when her partner stopped, she settled in against her. As the singer's arms encircled her shoulders Rei felt her delicate fingers pressing gently against the back of her head, pulling her back down to where she desperately needed to be.
She needed no further encouragement. At that point pure instinct took over.
Drinking deeply once again from the singer's sweet lips, Rei's head and senses were reeling. In a fog of pure emotion, Rei's hands returned to their previous occupation and Minako sucked in a sharp breath and shivered. Slowly, the fingers of one hand grazed ever so gently down the singer's side, only to stop and then begin caressing the high curve of her hip. A low moan escaped Minako's throat as that curious hand then eased over the top of her thigh and she exhaled, pulling her priestess closer still and pressing herself up against the other woman's chest.
Only too willing to return the addictive pressure, Rei moved closer, her leg slipping easily between Minako's. As the idol singer's legs naturally parted to accommodate Rei, she raised her knees and they both gasped at the unexpected contact.
Friction. Sensation. Feeling.
Startled, they took a breathless moment to gaze into each other's eyes, communicating on a new level that only they could share. Then slowly, Rei lowered herself more fully onto her partner's slender form, even as Minako reached out and gently guided Rei's hand to the place she most needed her to be.
Slowly, eyes still locked together, Rei slipped her fingers into the silky folds of Minako's most intimate of places. Minako's hips rose instinctively to meet her and Rei's fingers began to glide easily back and forth through her smooth, warm softness. Together, they found a rhythm all their own that steadily began to increase until, without warning, Rei's fingers slipped into the warm depths of her partner's inner most core. Startled, Minako's eyes abruptly closed as she stiffened in Rei's arms and involuntarily cried out. Rei froze, terrified that she'd hurt the other girl. But after just a few seconds, Minako murmured softly and relaxed, her eyes again meeting Rei's as her right hand rose to softly caress her cheek. Then slowly her hips began to move in rhythm once again, wordlessly encouraging Rei to join her once more with gentle hands and soft kisses. With heartfelt relief, Rei rose once again to the task, their increasing need becoming her only thought and desire.
Minako herself was in euphoria. Suddenly, she was transported to another realm where nothing else existed except for herself, and Rei, and this moment, and that glorious friction that was taking her on an incredible journey to the ecstasy that only Rei could bring her to. "Rei ... Rei ... Rei," her new mantra repeated itself along with the relentless rhythm of their love, and Minako never really knew or cared if she just thought the words or actually said them out loud. "Mmmm ... oh ... Reiko ... yes ... love ... yes."
She could feel Rei's body over hers, their combined warmth sealing them together as they pulled as one toward this journey's inevitable end. Faster and faster they raced, and when she felt the firm pressure of Rei's thumb begin to stroke her most sensitive nub, she cried out again. Pulling Rei closer, she arched strongly into the priestess and then froze, gasping as wave after wave of tremors of the most intimate kind shook her to her very core, both body and soul.
This was where she belonged. This was home.
As her body began to relax, she felt her partner finally release the tight hold she had been maintaining on her as she slumped down onto the singer's chest, her own breathing heavy and irregular.
"Mina," she rasped softly between breaths. Raising a hand that was still trembling from the aftermath, she cupped the idol's cheek tenderly as she raised her head, her eyes searching Minako's. "Are you okay? Did I...?"
"Yes," Minako breathed out, feeling her heart rate finally begin to slow down. "Oh yes, I am more than okay, love," she added. A happy grin lit up her face and she ran her hand up and down Rei's arm before resting it on her shoulder, her fingers lightly caressing the soft dampness she found there. "How are you?"
A dark, sexy grin lit up the other woman's face and Minako felt another brief tremor shake her body at just the sight of it and the fiery, violet passion that flashed just behind those dark brown eyes.
"I've never been better,"she rumbled softly in a voice that made Minako's toes curl in delight.
Pulling Rei back into her arms, Minako smiled tenderly as she felt the other young woman curl into her side, her dark head coming to rest on Minako's shoulder.
"I did okay?" the priestess asked softly, needing to hear the confirmation of what she already suspected.
Minako's smile widened and she hugged Rei tightly. "Oh, you did more than just 'okay', my Reiko." She could feel the other girl smile against her breast. "What happened to that shy girl I made out with last night?" she teased. "Did she leave the building?"
Rei shook her head and rested her right hand against the soft skin along the side of Minako's rib cage, her restless fingers gently stroking the warm flesh there. "No," she answered briefly. "She just had a long talk with Mars, that's all."
Minako's eyebrows rose as her hand continued to lightly caress Rei's back. "Oh. Well. I guess that had to be an interesting conversation!"
"Mina," Rei chastised, by way of an answer, her thumb slowly brushing the soft skin just under Minako's breast.
"It does confirm what I've always suspected, though," Minako replied.
"What's that?" Rei asked, just before she suddenly found herself flat on her back looking up with wide eyes at a very intent Minako.
"That you are a most excellent student," Minako answered as she lowered her lips to Rei's neck and began to slowly nibble her way southward, her fingers trailing softly over the priestess' chest. "And a very fast learner."
"Uh," was Rei's only comment, and she just closed her eyes and lost herself in the sensations as Minako pushed her firmly back against the softness of their mattress to begin yet another leg of their incredible journey to love's fulfillment.
Bon voyage indeed.
Late Saturday Night / Early Sunday Morning
Startled out of a deep and very peaceful sleep, Minako awoke to the distinct feeling that something was wrong. The fact the Rei was no longer physically in contact with her did not help. Sitting up, she quickly took stock of her surroundings. Shadows danced restlessly along the walls and ceiling in silent testimony to the fitfully burning fire that she could now see silhouetted the nude form of her forgemate, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
Rei was sitting on the edge of the bed facing the fire's glow. She must not have been there very long, as her skin was still dry and pale to Minako's view as she moved closer to her side. Those deep brown eyes were fixed on the flames in front of her, but her slow and even breathing were clear indications that their turbulent flaring was not what she was seeing.
Fascinated, Minako watched for some time. The play of several different emotions crossed over Rei's features with startling clarity as she continued to study the vision in the fire's light. At first there was surprise. As the idol continued watching that surprise turned into a guarded wariness, which evolved into what could only be described as shock, and then outrage. But it was what she saw next that caused the hair to stand up on the back of her neck as the fire rose and flared out to dangerous levels.
Anger. Pure, righteous anger.
She was fighting mad.
Remembering the advice Rei had given her earlier, Minako swallowed her own personal fears, bit her lip and followed her instinct. Scooting over behind the other young woman, Minako wrapped her arms and legs around the priestess and held on for dear life.
She was immediately slammed with such an overload of information and emotion that at first it was almost more than she could take in. As had been typical for Venus' encounters with her partner's visions in the past, she could actually see nothing. She was visually lost in a mass of swirling reds and grays that showed her nothing. But the emotions and the auras were overwhelming. Front and center though was Rei who was deeply disturbed by whatever it was she was confronting. Mentally, Minako reached out to whatever that might be and what she encountered almost made her physically ill, her head beginning to throb with a deep and very painful ache. Whatever it was, it was dark, malevolent, evil, sick, and depraved to a frightening degree. The depths of the pure evil before them were revolting, and her natural instinct was to pull away from all contact with it. But, the only way to do that was to abandon Rei and that she could not do. Clenching her teeth against the pain, she held onto the priestess even more tightly than before and reached out to her through their old telepathic connection, hoping that would still work now as well as it use to.
"I'm here, Reiko. I'm right here with you," she soothed. "I'm not going anywhere love, I promise. Whatever this is, I have your back."
Slowly, Minako felt her partner start to let go of her anger, trading it for an almost detached calm. She breathed a sigh of relief and just before she opened her eyes she felt something new that she could only define in one way, and it puzzled her.
Defiant amusement.
Opening her eyes, she felt an unexpected tingling sensation on her arms, legs and face and as she looked straight ahead from where her chin rested on Rei's shoulder she found herself looking at someone she had never thought to see again.
And then suddenly they were back.
Turning abruptly to face each other, the scattered covers pooled at their hips, the two young women blurted out a single word that left matching looks of disbelief and horror on both their faces.
"Rahn?"
End Chapter 13
Author's Note: So, I hope you all enjoyed this latest chapter. It was a challenge to write in spots, but for the most part I had a good time with it! If you haven't done so yet, I suggest you read 'Heart Of Passion, Heart Of Love', as it will flesh the Silver Millennium stuff out a good bit more for you. That was actually meant to be the 'flashback' for this chapter, and got a little too big for its breeches, so to speak. The more I wrote them, the more I started to love Rei's Martian family and you will be seeing some of them again!
Please look forward to it!
**This chapter is dedicated to two of my staunchest supporters over the years, Gemna and JstLurkin'. Without your continued support and encouragement, this story may have never made it this far. Domo Arigatou. **
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