AN: I wasn't sure if I would be able to put up a chapter this week, but I somehow found the time to throw this together. The song I use in this one is 'A Thousand Years' by Christina Perri. Hope you enjoy :)
Chapter 5: A Thousand Year
Rei walked slowly behind the group, deep in thought as the girls made their descent down the mountain. She had made her mind up and decided to act as if nothing happened between her and the blonde, but found it difficult to follow through with Minako walking right in front of her in short shorts. The raven haired girl found herself mesmerized by the sway of her hips, how her muscle's flexed ever so lightly every time she took a step, and she could practically feel that perfectly toned ass in her hands, that night playing over and over again in her head.
"Whatcha lookin' at Rei-chan?" Came an annoyingly familiar voice.
"Nothing." The archer defensively folder her arms, looking off to the side.
"She's pretty isn't she?" Usagi smiled knowingly at her friend.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Rei huffed, walking faster to get away from her prying princes.
Minako's ears perked when she heard the two conversing behind her. She couldn't make out what was being said and before she could eavesdrop more attentively she saw Rei quickly brush past her, making her way up to Makoto and Ami.
"What was that about?" Minako raised an eyebrow, slowing her pace to match Usagi's.
"Rei-chan is just being Rei-chan." Usagi smiled, seemingly unaffected by Rei's behavior.
"Ok . . . is something going on between you two?" Minako raised an eyebrow, trying to suppress the green monster that so desperately wanted to escape. She had to stop herself from strangling the other blonde when she only responded with laughter. The senshi of love was about to give her princess a mouthful when she felt her foot catch on none other than Usagi's ankle. Minako went tumbling forward, running into the one person she shouldn't, knocking Rei down to the ground with her.
"You're just as clumsy as dumpling head." Rei groaned.
"Don't blame me!" Minako pushed herself up on her hands, a blush spreading on her cheeks when she saw she was hovering over her crush.
Rei's cheeks matched Minako's shade of red, her eyes focusing on those plump lips she wanted to make her own. She had to stop herself from running her hands up the back of the blonde's long legs and capturing her lips in a searing kiss when Minako bit her bottom lip, her eyes darkening to a blue velvet.
"Jeez, get a room you two." Usagi teased, pushing Minako's butt with her foot as she walked by, causing the Venusian's hands to slip from the ground, putting her full weight on Rei.
"Dumpling head!" Rei scrambled out from under Minako as if the blonde had burned her, running after Usagi.
Usagi turned around, sticking her tongue out at the archer before she took off in a run down the mountain, leaving Minako to pick herself up, her heart heavy at the feeling of Rei running away from her. All she could hear was Usagi's cries and everyone's laughter as she made her way back to the group.
"Maybe if you took training more seriously you wouldn't fall flat on your face when you run away." Rei growled, crossing her arms as she hovered over the crying princess.
"Rei-chan is so mean!" Usagi rubbed her eyes, crying into her hands.
"You're the one tripping and kicking people." Minako scowled, catching up to everyone.
"That's not very becoming behavior of a princess." Makoto teased.
"They have a point Usagi-chan." Ami sighed.
"Not you too Ami-chan!" Usagi wailed. "I was just trying to help!"
"There's nothing to help. So stop wasting your time and stop meddling in things that aren't any of your business." Rei hissed, storming down the rest of the mountain, leaving the rest of the group to look after the fire senshi.
"I'll handle this." Minako sighed, sending Usagi one last glare as she went running down the mountain after Rei.
"I know you're trying to help Usagi-chan, but these things take time." Ami frowned, helping her princess up off the ground. "You can't force them to be together."
"But they obviously love each other so much." Usagi frowned, looking out after the pair of girls.
"That's for them to discover on their own." Makoto chimed in, slowly walking down the mountain with her comrades.
"What if they never do?" Usagi's question hung in the air as the three of them solemnly thought on the matter.
"Hey! Wait up!" Minako ran after the obviously irritated miko. When she finally caught up to her she lightly grabbed the other girls hand only for her to yank it away.
"Don't." Rei picked up her pace, getting further from the mountain and closer to the shrine where she could be away from everyone and finally be alone with her thoughts.
"Rei-chan stop!" Minako felt herself growing more and more frustrated with her subordinate as she continued on her path, ignoring her. "That's an order!" Rei stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes narrowing at the blonde's command.
"What do you want?" Rei crossed her arms, unable to hide how irritated she was.
"What's your problem? Why did you just run off like that?" Minako frowned, stepping in front of the raven haired girl.
"I don't have a problem." Rei smiled an obviously fake smile at the blonde.
"You obviously do so spit it out." Minako kept pushing.
"I don't need this." Rei went to step around the blonde, but Minako took the same step, cutting the fire senshi off. "Get out of my way." Rei growled, trying to step around the girl a second time only to be cut off again and be met with those challenging blue eyes.
"No, not until you tell me what's up."
"Kami! Does your ego really need that much more inflating!? Can't you see this is hard enough for me without you throwing yourself on top of me and rubbing the whole situation in my face!?" Rei's eyes brimmed with tears, but she quickly put herself back in check.
"I didn't do anything! Usagi tripped me!" Minako defending herself, her heart silently sinking when she heard Rei's words, getting a flash of those sad eyes again when she walked out on her crush.
"Yeah, yeah. It's never your fault is it? Tell it to someone who gives a shit." Rei finally successfully stormed past Minako, heading towards the shrine.
"Rei!" Minako yelled out after her subordinate. "Come back here right now! I'm your commander!"
"Command this." Rei flipped off the blonde as she continued on her walk. She could practically feel Minako's stare burning a hole in the back of her head as she got further and further away.
"Well that looked like that went well." Usagi sent the blonde a tentative smile when the rest of them caught up only to receive a glare in response.
Once Rei got back to the shrine she was quick to grab her broom and start sweeping the steps, her mind overloaded with way too many thoughts racing through it. "She thinks she's so perfect. Nothing is ever her fault." Rei mumbled to herself, furiously sweeping. The raven haired girl stopped her movement when she felt a pair of eyes on her. She turned around quickly only to find nobody there. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched, but there was no one in sight. The miko grew more and more uneasy as the feeling lingered. "Who's there!?" She called out only to have the whistling of the wind respond. "That's just fucking creepy . . ." She mumbled to herself slowly walking up the steps, wielding her broom as if it would be a sufficient weapon. "Usagi?" She cautiously walked through the courtyard. "Minako?" She checked behind a tree, ready to defend herself whenever necessary, but there was nothing there. "If this is some kind of joke it isn't funny!" Rei walked around the outskirts of the shrine, the feeling of being watched by a predator sending chills down her spine. Rei walked around the entire shrine, checked every room, every corner, but was left empty handed. Eventually the awful sensation faded, but it didn't stop the girl from feeling uneasy. "I must be losing it." Rei sighed to herself, putting her broom away, settling herself in front of the flames, deciding that some meditation was very much needed at this point.
-Flashback-
"Did you hear? Did you hear?" Serenity ran up to her training guards excitedly.
"Hear what?" Venus raised an eyebrow, sheathing her sword.
"There's going to be a ball tomorrow night! We're celebrating being united at last!" The princess jumped up and down, clapping her hands.
"Is attendance mandatory?" Mars sighed, sitting down on a bench.
"Yes! Especially you!" Serenity stalked up to her new guard.
"Are balls not customary on your planet?" Jupiter smiled, sitting next to her friend.
"We have balls, but only if we've won some sort of battle or war." The Martian took a swig of her water, looking disinterested at the wall.
"Do we all get to dress up?" Venus grinned, looking over at Mars. Seeing the normally brooding girl in a dress would be a pleasant change.
"Of course!" The princess smiled, grabbing the other blonde's hands giddily.
"Great . . ." Mars grumbled.
"I can't wait to see you all dressed up Rei-chan!" Serenity let go of Minako's hands, running over to Rei, giving her all of her attention.
"How am I supposed to protect you in a constricting dress?" The raven haired girl sighed.
"You won't. We'll have other guards for that silly! Tomorrow night is about all of us celebrating so stop looking so grim!" Serenity stuck her tongue out at her guard.
"I don't think you're going to be able to get out of this one Rei-chan." Mercury smiled, sitting next to Jupiter, blushing when her thigh accidentally touched the others.
"I didn't sign up for this." Rei pinched the bridge of her nose, the familiar feeling of irritation taking over.
"Can't wait to see you all there!" Serenity ignored the obviously annoyed Martian, running off to go pick out her dress.
The next night Mars found herself in the same position she was in the day before, pinching the bridge of her nose, standing in her own corner of the ballroom filled with music while the Lunarians danced.
"Rei-chan! You look so pretty!" The princess smiled happily, wearing a long semi-transparent white dress. Rei was sporting a tight blood red dress that stopped at mid thigh with matching red heals, the outfit advertised her home planet's colors, showing off her perfect curves and long tan legs.
"Thanks." An uncharacteristic blush formed on the Martian's face. "You look very nice yourself. Your dress is very becoming."
"A Martian in a dress. Now I've seen everything." Jupiter grinned, walking up to the two girls, wearing a green dress a little longer than Rei's.
"Shut up . . ." Mars grumbled, trying to hide her uncomfortable blush.
"You look very nice Rei-chan. Don't let Jupiter give you a hard time." Mercury smiled, walking to the group in her loose blue dress with white trim about the same length as Rei's.
"You look um . . ." Makoto blushed, looking the shorter girl up and down.
"Thanks. You do too." Mercury giggled. "Would you care to get a drink with me?"
"Yeah, definitely." Jupiter smiled. "You want one too guys?"
"Yes! Bring me something sweet!" Serenity smiled.
"Make mine extra strong." Mars sighed. Serenity was bad enough sober, she couldn't imagine how bad she was intoxicated. "Where's the commander? Is it customary for Venusian's to always be late?"
"Why do you care if she's here or not? I thought you didn't care for her?" Serenity grinned over at her new guard.
"I don't." Rei quickly defended herself. "I just thought she'd be the first one at a ball so she could flirt with as many people as possible."
"I think you like her." The princess poked Mars in the side, her smile widening.
"Don't be ridiculous." The raven haired girl swatted the blonde's hand away. "I've never heard anything more absurd in my life."
"Mhmm, I'm sure." Serenity rocked back and forth on her heals, her smile widening when she saw the topic of their conversation arrive at the top of the stairs. "There she is."
Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave
How can I love when I'm afraid
To fall
But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt
Suddenly goes away somehow
One step closer
Mars followed the princess' line of sight and for a moment it felt like time stood still as her violet eyes traveled up the stair case and she drank in the sight of Venus. She was wearing a tight white dress with gold trim similar to hers, stopping mid thigh with white and gold heals. Her hair flowed down her back and in that moment Mars felt like all the air had been sucked out of her.
"She's pretty isn't she?" Serenity whispered to the Martian.
"A-huh . . ." Mars agreed dumbly without realizing it, her eyes making contact with those blue ones. A smile formed on the Venusian's face as she descended gracefully down the staircase when she saw the Martian openly staring at her.
"Here you go Rei!" Makoto smiled, walking back up to the girls only to receive no response from the Martian. "Rei? Reiiii." Jupiter slowly moved the Martian's drink around in front of her face to get her attention. "Earth to Rei!"
I have died every day
waiting for you
Darlin' don't be afraid
I have loved you for a
Thousand years
I'll love you for a
Thousand more
Mars snapped out of her stupor, forgetting there was anyone else in the room. "Huh? Yeah? I'm listening." The raven haired girl blushed, obviously flustered.
"I got your drink. It's extra strong like you wanted." Jupiter handed Mars the cup. "What is so fascinating over there?" Jupiter looked where the Martian had been transfixed to see Minako heading their way. "The commander . . .?" The brunette raised an eyebrow to which Mars replied to by quickly turning her attention to her drink, practically chugging it.
"Hey guys." Venus smiled, standing in front of Mars. "I see you're already getting nice and liquored up. You look stunning Mars. You should wear dresses more often." The blonde smiled and winked at the raven haired girl. Mars' blush turned a deeper red, making her cheeks almost match her dress as she polished off her drink.
"You look . . ." Mars started thinking of all the words she could use to describe the Venusian. 'Beautiful, gorgeous, perfect, ravishing, divine, breathtaking.' " . . . nice."
Time stands still
beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything
Take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath,
Every hour has come to this
One step closer
"Gee, you sure know how to smooth talk the ladies." Jupiter laughed, elbowing her friend in the ribs. "She was totally checking you out."
"I would rather die." Mars scowled at her friend, her blush seeming to be permanent at this point.
"That's not what you said earlier." Serenity intervened before Minako could get offended.
"Oh? What were you saying about me Reiko?" Minako's smile grew with Rei's discomfort.
"She agreed that you're . . ."
"I was saying how cliche it is for a Venusian to be 'fashionably' late to a ball held for them." Rei scowled, sending a warning glare in the princess' direction. "And my name is Rei, not Reiko." The Martian sent her glare back at her commander.
"I think it suits you." Serenity smiled.
"I need another drink." Mars sighed, growing more and more uncomfortable by the second with all the attention directed at her.
"Bring me one too Reiko." Venus teased, her smile growing when Mars only responded with a huff, sulking over to the bar.
"You're a brave woman." Jupiter laughed at her friend's reaction to her new nickname.
"Braver than most . . ." Serenity sauntered over to the commander.
"What are you getting at Serenity?" Venus eyed the other blonde wearily.
"No one is going to ask her to dance . . ."
"No!" Venus knew where this was heading.
"Everyone else is too scared to ask a Martian to dance! You're the only one brave enough to!" Serenity stomped her foot like an impatient child.
"Serenity I -"
"Here's your drink." Mars shoved the beverage in her commander's hands, refusing to make eye contact.
"I'll take care of those." The princess smiled, grabbing both of the girl's drinks, placing them on a nearby table.
"Hey, I was going to drink that!" Mars growled.
"Pish posh! There's plenty of time for that. There's a dance floor that needs attending." Serenity smiled, grabbing both of the girl's arms, pulling them towards the floor. "Now play nice you two." Serenity stuck her tongue out at her friends, pushing them together, running off before they could further protest.
I have died every day
Waiting for you
Darlin' don't be afraid
I have loved you for a
Thousand years
I'll love you for a
Thousand more
"Um . .. " Mars blushed, looking around nervously.
"We better do as she says." Venus sighed. "The princess is like a dog with a bone once she gets an idea in her head."
"Right . . ." Mars agreed, still not making a move towards the blonde. Minako sighed, stepping towards her subordinate, grabbing one of Mars' hands, placing her other on her shoulder, and pulling her close to her, a blush forming on her own face.
"You do know how to dance right?" Venus raised an eyebrow.
"Of course I do! Martians aren't as savage as everyone thinks." The raven haired girl bristled a bit, putting her free hand on the small of the other girl's back.
And all along I believed
I would find you
Time has brought
Your heart to me
I have loved you for a
Thousand years
I'll love you for a
Thousand more
There was a silence between the two as they started to slowly dance to the beat, neither one of the girls could meet the other's eyes.
"I'm sorry about that savage comment . . ." Venus said absently, biting her lower lip, looking off to the side.
"Oh, um, it's fine . . ." Mars looked off to the other side, her feet and body moving in time with her partners. "I'm . . . um . . ." Rei sighed, trying to form the words that seemed so impossibly hard to say. "I'm sorry too." The raven haired girl blurted out, causing the blonde to finally make eye contact with her, shocked that a Martian uttered the forbidden words of their race.
"I don't believe I've ever heard a Martian say they're sorry." A smile formed on Venus' face.
"Don't get used to it." Mars mumbled, going to walk away, beyond embaressed, but the blonde held her hand, twirling the pyro back into her.
One step closer
One step closer
"Now, now Reiko, don't go running off. I wasn't making fun of you." Minako grinned, putting her hand back on the other girl's.
"Of course not. That would be so out of character for you." Mars smirked a bit, lifting her arm, sending the laughing blonde twirling out only to pull her back in.
"You are a surprisingly good dancer." Minako smiled, moving more around the ballroom with her subordinate, both growing more comfortable with the other. "Think you can dip me without dropping me?"
I have died every day
Waiting for you
Darlin' don't be afraid,
I have loved you for a
Thousand years
I'll love you for a
Thousand more
Mars just rolled her eyes, dipping the other, leaning forward with her a bit so she could still hear her. "I don't think the question is can I drop you. The question is WILL I drop you?" Venus' eyes widened when she felt Mars' hold loosen and she went a little closer to the ground only to be pulled back up before she felt the cold marble touch her. Mars laughed the first real laugh she had ever heard come from her mouth.
"Haha very funny." Minako remarked sarcastically, but her smile slowly came back onto her face.
"I would never let you fall." Mars smiled, but blushed when she realized what she revealed to her commander.
And all along I believed
I would find you
Time has brought
Your heart to me
I have loved you for a
Thousand years
I'll love you for a
Thousand more
Minako felt her cheeks warm at the other's confession, getting closer to her crush. "That's very sweet of you . . ." She said softly as their faces got closer, both still keeping time with the music.
"Don't tell the others. I have a reputation to uphold . . ." Mars replied absently, her gaze drifting down to the blonde's pink lips.
"I wouldn't dream of it." Minako's eyes started closing as she felt herself being drawn into the pyro.
The music started slowing down as Minako's breath caught in her throat, their lips were so close she could practically taste the other's mouth against hers. Those lips, those eyes, that body that she had been dreaming about every day and every night were so close to finally being hers.
"The princess is drunk." Ami sighed and both girls jumped away from each other, both their faces a bright shade of red.
"What? Uh, how?" Mars looked off to the side, averting the blonde's gaze.
"Well typically you ingest alcohol to achieve such an inebriated state." Ami replied sarcastically, a playful smile on her face.
"We better go check it out." Venus sighed, annoyed at the interruption.
The three girls walked over to a table to find Serenity in a chair, both their drinks that they had left were completely empty. "You guys are so cute!" The blonde squealed, standing up and hugging both Venus and Mars.
"Jeez Serenity. You smell like you drank the whole winery. How much did you drink?" Mars frowned, holding her princess at arms length, trying to stop the blush from creeping back onto her face.
"Well let's see . . . I had the drink Makoto-chan brought me, drank the two you left, and then . . ." Serenity started counting on her hand, looking up at the ceiling in thought. Mars frowned when she saw the princess starting to count onto her next hand. "Well . . . I don't know actually. I lost count." Serenity smiled drunkenly at her two guards. She went to hug them again, but stumbled. Mars acted quickly, catching the princess before she could hit the ground.
"Ok, I think you've had enough excitement for tonight." Mars draped one of the princess' arms around her shoulder, supporting her body weight. "I'll see to it she gets to her chambers safely." The raven haired girl addressed the rest of the group, but mostly maintaining eye contact with her commander.
"Do you need help?" Venus locked eyes with the Martian, secretly hoping she would say yes so she could get more alone time with her.
"No, I'll be fine. I've fought off hordes of armies, I think I can handle one drunk princess." Mars smiled at her commander. "But thanks for the offer."
"Ok, no problem." Minako chewed on her bottom lip. 'Damn.'
As the two walked out of the ballroom the only thing the rest of the group could hear was the princess' loud drunken voice carrying through the halls. "Rei-chan! Don't be so rough with me!"
"I'm not being rough! If you keep trying to run off I'll tell Luna!"
"Don't tell Luna!" Usagi wailed.
'You'll be mine soon enough Reiko. Just wait.' Was the last thing Venus thought as she smiled and waved goodbye to her two subordinates, heading back to her own chambers in hopes of getting some rest.
-End Flashback-
Rei snapped out of her meditative state, her heart heavier than usual at the memory of her and Minako getting so close back then. "I can't . . ." She mumbled to herself, standing up and wiping away some stray tears. She took off in a run with only one destination in mind. She desperately knocked on the front door, hoping someone would be home. She let out a sigh of relief when she was greeted with confused blue eyes and blonde hair.
"We need to talk . . ."
AN: Well there's Chapter 5 :) Pretty pretty please review :) I love hearing you guys' feedback. Til next time. xXBooBooKittyFuckXx out!