Echoes of a Distant Demon
by Sailor Doc
~ Chapter Eight, Part 2 ~
________________________________
Author's Note: Thank You, Thank You, to all of you who have
supported, cajoled and suggested cures and ideas! You are all the very best of
the best! Without your efforts, this chapter may well have taken another year
to complete! Blessings on you all!
Now, without
further ado...
________________________________
Thursday,
Early Morning
Despite the new
environment, she slept surprisingly well. Waking the next morning in the
extremely comfortable western-style bed, she felt very well rested and
uncharacteristically optimistic.
They would make
progress on all fronts. It would start today.
Rising, she
entered the private bath attached to her room to begin her early morning
routine. After a brisk, refreshing shower, she dried and styled her hair, and
then dressed for the day before leaving the room in search of the other
inhabitants of the apartment.
The smell of
freshly brewed coffee assaulted her senses as she stepped out into the short
hallway, triggering her stomach which automatically growled its own 'hello'.
Making her way up the hall, she turned into the kitchen area and headed
straight toward the coffeemaker, already reaching towards it and the cup that
was sitting next to it, hopefully for her. Taking her first sip, her eyes
closed in delight and her optimism grew. It was going to be a good day.
A challenge maybe in parts, she thought grimly, remembering the press
conference that loomed ahead, but a good day overall nonetheless, she was sure.
Nodding her head firmly to emphasize the truth of it, she took another
confirming sip before putting the cup down to look for something to eat.
The countertop
was spotless except for a single breakfast plate which contained the remains of
half a grapefruit and the crumpled wrapper from a granola bar. Frowning, Rei
wondered how any active individual could possibly exist on such a skimpy
breakfast, especially anyone as active as Minako. With those thoughts still
tumbling around the back of her mind, she turned and started digging through
the refrigerator to see what she might have to work with to produce a decent
breakfast for herself.
Twenty minutes
later, with breakfast plate and refreshed coffee mug in hand, she answered the
invitation of the open doors and walked out onto the balcony. There, she found
Minako sitting at the table, a leather notebook open in front of her as she
dictated correspondence into a dictaphone,
and Artemis, who was snoozing on the table in front of her. Offering Rei a
brief smile, she reached for a coffee cup that looked more like a cereal bowl
to Rei, and continued to speak into the machine, barely pausing to swallow.
Both fascinated
and disturbed by what she was seeing, Rei sat down across from the idol,
plopping her heaping plate down in front of herself and diving into the large
ham and cheese omelet with gusto. Two slices of wheat toast completed the meal,
and Rei grinned to herself as she heard Minako's stomach growl in jealous
protest.
Ignoring the
look she knew she was getting, she took the time to study the balcony itself,
which was beautifully furnished with wicker furniture in natural colors. Lots
of lush, green plants added a serene element to the overall ambiance of the
place, and the gentle breeze that blew over the brick railing was refreshing. A
modest gas grill sat off to one side, and from the look of it, hadn’t been used
more than once or twice, if at all. The view was spectacular, though to be
quite honest, the sky looked like it was still undecided as to what face it
wanted to show today.
Hearing the
click of the receiver being replaced on its cradle, Rei turned her attention
back to the other occupant of the table.
"Sorry
about that," Minako said with a self conscious smile. "I just needed
to clear up a little correspondence."
"Don't
worry about it," Rei answered as she finished up her breakfast and settled
back into the comfortable chair with her cup. "It's nice out here."
"I really
like it," Minako replied, looking around at the peaceful space. "I
usually try to start my days out here. I think it helps to clear my head before
I have to deal with all the madness," she said wryly.
Rei watched her
carefully as she turned her head to look at the beautiful ferns and plants that
added so much to the serenity of the balcony. Even in profile, Rei had easily
seen the exhaustion in her features. Her eyes were puffy, and the slight
downward turn at the corner of her lips betrayed another sleepless night. So
intent was her study of the young idol that Rei didn't even realize she was
staring at her until she spoke.
"How was
the bed?" Minako asked, turning back to her with a slight smile. "Did
you sleep well?"
Eyes wide, Rei
snapped her mouth shut and covered quickly, hoping Minako hadn't actually
caught her staring. "It was excellent, thank you!" Rei answered.
"I slept very well."
"Good,"
Minako said, cradling the large coffee mug in both hands as if seeking to warm
them with it. "I was really
hoping it wouldn't be too strange for you. I know you're accustomed to much
more traditional arrangements."
"No,
really. It was very
comfortable." Rei assured her. "As a matter of fact..."
The insistent
ringing of the phone in the living room chose that moment to rudely interrupt
their conversation, and Minako frowned before offering
Rei an apologetic smile and standing to go back inside.
"I
shouldn't be but a few minutes," she said as she vanished through the
doors, and Rei continued to look at the empty doorway with a feeling of unease
she couldn't readily explain.
"Artemis?"
she said, addressing the white plushy, who looked up at her with questioning
teal eyes. "Does she always look this rough in the mornings?"
Casting his eyes
down, he silently studied his outstretched paws as she continued.
"I know my
memories are still sketchy, but to me she was always…" she paused,
frustrated with herself as she searched for an adequate word to describe the
Minako of her memories.
A vision of
Venus flashed through her mind, sitting up on their bed and smiling as she
leaned down over her with sleepy eyes, the early morning light streaming
through their windows and illuminating her flawless skin and sparkling eyes. 'Good
morning, my love...'
"Radiant,"
she finished in a dry whisper. Shaking her head, she continued, "She looks
like she never even went to bed."
Never taking his
eyes off his paws he said, "She didn't."
"What?"
Rei said, turning sharply to look at the guardian cat, her voice dropping an
octave as she demanded an explanation.
Cutting his eyes
nervously toward the still open door, Artemis said, "She'd kill me if I
told you the truth!"
Leaning forward
so that her face was inches away from his, Rei solemnly promised, "I'll
kill you if you don't."
Seeing
absolutely no spark of jest in those humorless brown eyes boring into his,
Artemis relented. "Okay," he agreed, reluctantly. "But I'm only
agreeing to this because I think it's for her own
good!"
"What do
you mean?"
"She's so
stubborn! She won't listen to me. Maybe you can get through to her!"
"About
what?” Rei asked, her patience
wearing thin.
"Well,"
he began, "she just won't take care of herself anymore. Not like she used
to," he said with great frustration. "She's always been very
conscientious of her diet and her health, maintaining that a well fed body,
mind and spirit were the cornerstones of a happy and successful life. You
already know about her issues with eating lately. I mean, did you happen to see
what she had for breakfast this morning? I think I can honestly say that the
take-out you had delivered to the office last night was the closest she's come
to a decent meal in over a month."
"I kinda figured that out after our conversation in the car
yesterday evening. What I need to know is what else is going on."
"She's not
sleeping," Artemis confessed, "not more than two or three hours a
night anyway, and that's usually wherever she happens to be at the time. The couch. A chair. It doesn't
matter! Just wherever she happens to be when the exhaustion
hits her. After you went to bed last night, she decided to work on a new
song, so it was the desk."
"Are you
telling me Minako fell asleep on her desk last night?"
"Yes."
"And stayed
there all night?"
"Until
she woke up again at
"Why?"
Rei asked. "And how long has this been happening?"
"I believe
the answer to 'why' is directly tied to 'how long,'" he said, "and it
all started the day you told her about the tumor." Rei started and stared
at the white cat as he continued. "Since that day, she just went into 'hypermode'. Well, you know what her schedule's been like.
We talked about this last week!"
Had it only been
a week ago? It felt much longer somehow.
"I
see," Rei said, looking down at the worried guardian cat. "I didn't
realize it was this bad."
"Oh, that's
just part of it!" Artemis continued, relieved that he'd finally found an
ally. "She's always insisted on maintaining a vigorous exercise regime to
keep in shape in addition to all the dancing her position demands. That's never
changed. She still insists on getting up every morning at
"That's
really not too bad," Rei began hesitantly, "but..."
"It will
wear you down if you're not physically ready for it by getting the proper rest
and nutrition," he finished for her forcefully. "Mars, she
just..."
Rei looked up
abruptly as Artemis' voice trailed off, already knowing what she was going to
see.
Minako was
standing just outside of the open balcony doors, and from the look on her face,
she was not happy. Drawn up to her full height, she looked every inch the
planetary princess she was as she viewed them both with stern disapproval.
"Are you
quite through revealing the private details of my life to someone else?"
she asked her guardian cat with barely concealed anger.
"Minako,"
he began nervously. Rei was sure that if he wasn't already white, he would have
been by the time she got through with him. "Mars and I are just
concerned..."
"Enough!"
she snapped, her voice never rising above a normal speaking level, yet still
able to cut like a knife. The white cat visibly flinched. "I think you've
said more than enough for one morning, don't you?" At his silence, she
turned to Rei, "And as for you..."
"Artemis,"
Rei said, quickly cutting the incensed idol off as her eyes locked on Minako's.
"I left some milk out for you. Go."
Without looking
up, Artemis gratefully bolted toward the door and the safe distance of the
kitchen.
A brittle
silence descended on the former tranquility of the balcony, and the two young
women faced each other unwaveringly across its space. Into that silence, Minako
spoke first.
"I think I
may have been remiss in not making one thing abundantly clear to you before you
agreed to move here," she started, her voice controlled, yet proud and
defiant. "I have been doing a very good job of taking care of myself,
alone, for most of my life, and yes that includes the time before Artemis
appeared in it!"
"Is that
so?" Rei countered.
"As a
matter of fact it is!" the idol bit out sharply, her voice rising as her
anger grew. "Until now, I have never had to ask for anybody's help or
opinion on anything I have ever done or any decision I have ever made, and I
have no intention of starting to now! So," she continued, her eyes
narrowing as they bore into Rei's, "contrary to what you are apparently
thinking, I did not ask you here to be my babysitter!" she raged.
"Then stop
acting like a child."
Rei dropped that
one stark sentence into the middle of Minako's tirade like a bomb. The impact
of it struck her with the force of a blunt object to the back of her head, and
she was been absolutely stunned into silence.
"I came
here with the idea that you wanted me to help you beat this. To stand by your
side and help you fight it. That is why I am here! If I had known that I would
have to take you by the hand and tell you when to eat, and when to sleep, and
argue with you to get you to see reason in the obvious, I would have never
agreed to come!" Rei spat out forcefully, her eyes burning into the idols
like hot coals. "Wake up, Minako!" she snapped, taking a step toward
the other girl, who stood frozen in front of her. "And while I'm at it,
let me make something abundantly clear to you. You are NOT
indestructible! You can wither and die! Do you, of all people,
just not understand that yet?"
Shaken by the
force of Rei's unexpected verbal assault, and knowing in her heart that she was
right, Minako wavered slightly. "I... I do know that," she said
quietly, a touch of defiance still lingering in her tone.
"Then why
are you doing this?" Rei demanded.
"I don't
know," Minako whispered. "I just... I don't know." Sinking into
a chair, she continued quietly. "It's like I suddenly feel the clock
ticking away my life again, and if I don't hurry and get as much done as I can
before it stops, I'll have failed everyone somehow," she answered softly.
"Minako,"
Rei said gently, taking two more steps toward the other girl. She looked so
lost as she sat there, and Rei's every instinct screamed at her, wanting
nothing more than to sweep her up into her arms and swear to her that
everything would be okay. She would make it okay! Taking a deep breath,
she knelt down in front of her instead, and reached forward to capture the
still hands resting quietly in her lap. Looking up into those
caramel colored orbs she spoke softly. "It's a lie, Minako. A self-destructive lie. You're not alone anymore," she
reminded her, gently squeezing the cold fingers grasped in her own warm hands
and thrilling as she felt the responding pressure. "I'm here with
you," she promised firmly. "And Artemis too!
Together, we can beat this! But you'll need all your strength. That's why you
need to do a better job of taking care of yourself."
Embarrassed by
her own weakness, yet relishing the warm comfort of Rei's caring touch, Minako
was only able to manage a short nod.
"Will you
let me help?" Rei asked, her eyes still looking deeply into Minako's.
After a moment's
hesitation, Minako nodded once again, and dropped her eyes to their joined
hands as Rei interlaced their fingers.
"I guess
you're right," she said self-consciously. "As much
as it pains me to admit it. I just couldn't see it before."
"Or
wouldn't," Rei gently teased.
"Well,
there's that too, I guess," she admitted with a tiny smile. "Poor
Artemis," she whispered. "He's tried so hard, but..."
"You're so
stubborn, I know," Rei smirked, her thumbs softly stroking Minako's.
"And here I
thought that was one of my more endearing traits," the idol gently teased.
"I'll have to find a way to make it up to him," she admitted, shyly
returning Rei's caress.
Suddenly self
conscious, Rei blushed and stood, reluctantly releasing Minako's hands with a
light squeeze, as she cleared her throat.
"I think
he'd be happy if you'd just agree to a nap this afternoon, and the promise of a
good night's sleep."
"But..."
Minako started, looking up at her in protest.
"You do
have your appointment with Dr. Yamato in the morning," Rei reminded her.
After just the
slightest pause, Minako gritted her teeth and agreed, knowing that it was for
the best.
________________________________
Friday, Early
Morning
Looking out the
window as they passed a transit bus that seemed to be throwing water all over
the place, Rei grimaced a bit as she remembered how hard she had tried to
convince Minako that they should cancel the press conference that morning. So
she could rest, of course!
But, to no
avail.
________________________________
Thursday,
Late Morning
Promptly at
Or maybe it was
nerves.
Whatever it was,
she looked over to see how Minako was holding up, and to her surprise, it
looked like she was holding up very well indeed. Gone was the tired listless
exhaustion that had drained the color from her cheeks and the spirit from her
eyes. Suddenly, she was seated next to Aino Minako, superstar. As she watched
in amazement, Minako smiled and waved with enthusiasm to several of the reporters
and photographers in the room, laughing at a few comments thrown her way, and
giving off a general feeling of lightness and happiness to every person in the
room. It was amazing! Had Rei not known the truth, she would never have been
able to tell from looking at her that she was teetering on the verge of
collapse after a morning that had already included two hours rehearsing in a
dance studio and another in a recording booth.
A spokesperson
from Minako's talent agency got up first and addressed the room full of
journalists, both settling the room down and laying out the ground rules for
the conference. After he finished his speech he opened the floor to questions,
and the part she had been dreading most began.
"Hino-san!"
"Hino-san!"
"Is it true
your father is Senator Hino Ryoji?"
"Yes."
"What did
he think of your daring rescue of Aino Minako?"
"I wouldn't
know."
"Word is
that you don't get along with him. Is that true?"
Rei looked at
the woman who had asked the question with a dispassionate expression in her
dark eyes. "No comment."
"Hino-san!"
"Hino-san!"
"Are you
really a miko?"
"No."
"No?"
There was a
sudden excited rustling amongst the assembled mob.
"Then
exactly what is your position at the shrine?"
"I'm a
priestess."
"Ah!"
A murmur of approval swept over the crowd and more cameras popped and snapped
at her.
"Hino-san!'
"Hino-san!"
"How long
have you been at the shrine?"
"Since
I was six."
"Hino-san!"
"Hino-san!"
"That was a
truly amazing shot you made the other day! How long have you studied
archery?"
"Five
years."
"Do you
regret killing Nakono Tohma?"
"No."
"Hino-san!'
"Hino-san!"
Rei was mildly
astonished to observe that the more monosyllabic and deadpan her answers, this
more frenzied the reporters seemed to get.
"Oy!"
"Hey,
Hino-san!"
"Over
here!"
"How long
have you known Aino Minako?"
"Six
years."
"Six years?
Is that true, Aino-san?"
Leaning forward
eagerly, Minako placed one delicate hand around her mike and smiled. "Yes
actually, it is! Rei-chan has been one of my closest and dearest friends since
we were in junior high."
"Did you go
to school together?"
Minako turned
and grinned as she looked at the somewhat frozen smile on Rei's face and said,
"No, we went to different schools, but we hung out together in the same
group after school."
Rei cut her eyes
toward Minako at that, and then nodded her head briefly in agreement as she
looked back out at the crowded room. Despite herself, she couldn't help but
wonder just how much enjoyment Minako was really getting out of watching her
squirm.
"Aino-san!"
"Hino-san!"
"Didn't you
model, and even cut a record before?"
Glaring at the
handsome young man who was responsible for that, Rei managed to bite out,
"Yes."
Laughing
lightly, Minako stepped in at that point to cut off a situation that, from the
look on Rei's face, was about to turn ugly. "That was my fault,
really!" she replied. "Rei-chan has such a big heart, and is really
multi-talented," she enthused. "When I was so desperately ill several
years ago, she graciously stepped in and covered a couple of commitments I had
and was just too weak to complete." Smiling disarmingly Minako added,
"She did a beautiful job with both assignments, and though I was a bit
jealous of her talent at the time, I will always be indebted to 'Mars Reiko'!
You see, that was really just the first instance in which she saved my
life," she concluded, offering a warm, honest smile to the uncomfortable
young woman at her side, which Rei nervously returned.
"You're a
beautiful woman, Hino-san! Why didn't you pursue stardom? Most young women
would have jumped at the chance."
"It didn't
suit me."
"Hino-san!"
"Hino-san!"
"Over
here!"
"Hey,
Hino-san!"
"Are you
the same young priestess that is widely known for her ability to see the future
in the sacred fire?"
The room quieted
a degree, except for the clicking of the cameras, and even Minako turned to
look at her with an air of expectation. Rei could feel the sweat starting to
trickle down her back.
Nodding curtly,
Rei said, "Yes."
An electric
charge seemed to energize the assembled reporters, and more questions began to
fly.
"Hino-san!"
"Hey! Hino-san!"
"Did you
see the danger in the flames?"
"Yes."
"Did it
show you where to go?"
"Yes."
"Had you
ever heard of 'The Peoples Coalition To Restore
Traditional Family Values' before?"
"No."
"Did the
flames tell you he planned to harm Aino-san?"
"Yes."
"Did you
really intend to kill him?"
"To
protect her, yes." More sweat
started to drizzle down the side of her face, and she wondered why it was so
damn hot in there.
"Hino-san!"
"Hino-san!"
"Have the
flames shown you anything else, Hino-san?"
Rei looked
across the room at the earnest young reporter who had asked that insightful
question, and paused. Beside her she felt Minako tense, and frowned. Surely
Minako knew by now she would never betray her trust? It was then she felt the
small hand reach out under the table and grasp hers in quiet reassurance.
Mildly astonished, she realized Minako was trying to comfort her! To let her
know that whatever she said, it would be okay and soon this would all be over.
Taking a deep
breath she replied evenly, in a clear voice, "The fire has shown me many
things, but nothing that I feel the need to share with you today."
Minako smiled at
her then, and with a light squeeze released her hand.
"Hey, has
the fire shown you which horse I should put my money on in the fourth race at
Laughter erupted
briefly at the lighthearted jest of the reporter from 'The Sun', but it ended
abruptly as Rei sprang to her feet. By god, she'd had enough! Placing her hands
flat on the table in front of her, she leaned forward and made direct eye
contact with the jokester, who swallowed convulsively and took an involuntarily
step back.
"This is over.
I have nothing more to say."
Turning away
from the table, Rei quickly went back out the same way they had come in, and
stood waiting outside the room for Minako to join her when she could. That took
several minutes as Minako lingered for awhile, answering a few more questions
directed to her, and generally ending the press conference on a more positive
note. She emerged from the room with the sound of several more questions being
fired at her in hopes of a last minute response, but she merely ignored them
all, while still stopping to turn back again in the doorway for one last
friendly wave.
"Well, that
went fairly well, don't you think?" she asked with a heavy sigh as they
headed back down the corridor toward the bank of elevators that would take them
back upstairs to Minako's office. The usual entourage fell quickly in behind
them as they approached the mirrored doors.
"I stormed
out of the room, and you call that 'fairly well'?" Rei asked
incredulously.
"Oh, they
loved it, Rei!" she said with a weary grin as they entered the elevator.
"Don't you know they eat that temperamental stuff up? If I didn't know you
as well as I do, I'd suspect you'd done it on purpose," she added as she
leaned against the back corner and closed her eyes.
"Hrmpft," Rei huffed. "I don't think so," she
said, even as her sharp eyes focused in on what to her was becoming more and
more obvious.
To the casual
observer Minako would have looked a bit tired perhaps, but okay. To Rei's more
observant eye, things had gotten way out of hand. Since the two hour dance
rehearsal that morning, Minako's usually springy dancer's-walk had slowed and
her balance seemed a bit off. Her shoulders were slightly slumped, and her
hands - her beautiful hands - were hanging limply at her sides, the elegant
fingers, usually so active and playful as they helped her illustrate her
comments, listless. At that moment Rei just knew. Minako had reached the end of
even her considerable limit.
Rei needed to
get her home. Immediately.
As the elevator
came to a stop on their floor, Rei watched while everyone else piled out and
headed to the office. Minako opened her eyes, startled out of her quick doze by
the sudden stop of the elevator, and began to shuffle out herself. Rei moved up
next to her as they began walking down the corridor, and nonchalantly reached
over, taking her elbow in a friendly looking gesture. Minako smiled slightly at
that, but didn't even turn to look at her, and Rei leaned over, whispering
softly so the others wouldn't hear her. "Minako?"
"Hmm?"
the idol murmured in response.
"Do you
trust me?"
Minako stopped
and turned to look at her. "What kind of question is that?" she asked
in mild confusion. "Of course I trust you!"
"Will you
trust me when I say you need to go home? Now?"
Rei asked, looking briefly over Minako's shoulder as the others filed into her
office at the end of the hall.
Minako started
to protest, but something in Rei's expression made her hesitate. Was this a
joke? A test of some type? Looking at that earnest
face, the serious brown eyes waiting for her answer, she knew it was neither
and nodded once in grudging acceptance. "Yes," she said grimly,
"but could you at least tell me why?"
"Because if
you don't lay down, and I mean soon, you'll fall
down," the priestess stated simply.
Minako rolled
her eyes. "Rei," she started, but stopped again as Rei reached out
and placed both hands firmly, yet gently on her forearms.
"I'm
serious, Minako. This isn't a joke."
Minako studied
her face for several seconds before her own suddenly blanched white. "It's
not the..." she started, before Rei quickly reached up and placed a single
finger gently over her lips.
"No, I
don't think so," she reassured her softly. "I just think your
schedule for the last month or so has finally caught up with you."
Removing her finger, she added firmly, "All I'm really sure of right now
is that you need to go home."
Minako looked
down and swallowed heavily, then nodded. "Okay. If you're that sure about
it, I'll announce it to the others," she said, turning slowly and heading
toward the still open door of her office.
Rei visibly
relaxed as she watched to idol move reluctantly down the hallway. "Make
sure they understand that now means now. Not 'two hours' from now, like last
night." she grumped, as she started to follow.
Minako stopped
and turned back abruptly, frowning. "I said I would handle it, Rei."
she snapped. "Just let me do it in my own way, okay?"
Stung by
Minako's tone, Rei stopped and stared at her in surprise before crossing her
arms over her chest and leaning back against the nearest wall.
"Fine," she said, not bothering to look at her. "I'll wait
here."
Minako stood
there for several seconds as if she wanted to say something else before she
finally turned and headed through the open doorway into the outer office of her
suite. A few minutes later when she returned, Rei was still in the same
position as before, slumped against one wall as she glared at the opposite one.
"I'm
ready," Minako said, coming up to her.
Pushing away
from the wall, Rei turned toward the office and grunted, "Fine. I'll be
just a minute," as she headed toward the still open doorway without even
once bothering to look at her.
Surprised,
Minako watched as Rei stuck her head just inside the door and called.
"Yumi-san?"
Minako continued
to watch, her curiosity peaking as her young assistant appeared quickly in the
doorway.
"Yes,
Hino-sama?"
Embarrassed, Rei
shot a quick look over at Minako before smiling stiffly and saying, "I
told you, please! Just call me Rei."
"Of course,
Rei-sama," the girl replied, unable to hide the
blush that quickly covered her cheeks as she pushed her glasses up on her nose.
Quickly juggling her purse and notebook, she smiled brightly and asked,
"What can I do for you?"
Clearing her
throat, she ignored the slightly irritated eyes she could feel on her back, and
turned her full attention to the eager young assistant.
"I would
like you to accompany Minako and I back to her apartment for a few hours this
afternoon. Would that be a problem?"
"No! Of
course not, Rei-sama," she exclaimed happily.
"What would you like for me to do?"
"Nothing
more than your job, Yumi-san," Rei answered with a smile, looking briefly
at Minako as she guided the young girl down the hall toward the elevator.
"Aino-san will not be taking any calls this afternoon, and those that do
make it past her office to either her home phone or her cell phone will be
handled by you. Do you understand?" she asked as the elevator door shut
behind them.
"Yes, of
course Rei-sama, but what about..."
"No 'buts',
Yumi-san," Rei interrupted sternly, speaking to Yumi, but again looking at
Minako. "You must handle them all. If you can not, then refer the caller
back to Emi-san or Saitou-san. Aino-san is not to be disturbed for any reason
that I do not approve."
"Rei!" Minako protested in outrage. "That's really not
necessary."
"I think it
is," Rei replied firmly, turning to look directly at her.
Glaring at each
other intently, their war of wills continued until the elevator reached the
garage level and bumped to a stop.
"Fine,"
Minako said abruptly, as she turned toward the door. Fueled by pure annoyed
frustration, she marched out onto the parking deck and headed straight to her
car without so much as a backward glance.
Rei looked down
at Yumi, who had observed the whole scene with wide-eyed fascination, and
rolled her eyes before following.
"Let's
go," she threw over her shoulder as she walked toward the black car, and
was vaguely aware of the assistant scrambling to catch up to her.
The ride back to
the apartment was accomplished in complete silence, except for the usual sounds
of traffic. Rei really couldn't tell if it was because Minako was still ticked
off at her, or was really just too tired to care. She finally came to the conclusion
that it was probably a little of both.
When they
reached the building, Rei noticed that Minako stumbled a bit as she exited the
door the chauffeur held open for her. Embarrassed, she gratefully accepted his
hand and allowed him to steady her a bit. "Thank you, Toranaga-san,"
she murmured softly.
"Are you
okay, miss?" the older gentleman asked concerned. "Should I help you
upstairs?"
"No, thank
you," she smiled. "I'll be all right."
"Will that
be all for today?"
Not even looking
at the dark priestess now standing and watching her from the other side of the
vehicle, she answered, "Yes, I won't be going back out."
"Very good,
miss. Have a pleasant evening."
"And you as
well," she answered politely, then turned and headed toward the private
elevator, never once looking back at the other two.
Her concern
growing, Rei followed quickly after the stubborn idol, with Yumi scurrying
along behind her as they entered the elevator and punched the penthouse level.
"Not one
word, Rei," was all Minako uttered as she leaned back against the wall,
closed her eyes...
And slowly began
to slide down the wall.
Totally unaware
of Yumi's sharp intake of breath, Rei bolted forward,
quickly wrapping her hands around Minako's upper arms and pressing her
shoulders back against the wall to slow her descent. Shifting her weight to get
under Minako's, she carefully eased her to the floor.
"Minako!"
she rasped out. Ignoring the pounding of her own heart, she reached forward to
gently pat the idol's suddenly pale cheek. "Can you hear me? Minako!"
Obviously very
groggy, Minako slowly opened her eyes and tried to focus on the priestess. "Rei? What? What happened? Why am I..."
Swallowing hard,
Rei smiled and tried to ease her confusion. "It's
okay, Mina," she said softly, taking the restless hand that reached out
convulsively for her. "You just passed out for a second or two."
"Passed
out?" the idol asked, still not grasping all the facts. "What...
why?"
"You're
really tired and you need to eat," Rei soothed. "We're almost
home."
Nodding weakly,
Minako looked up, startled as the elevator stopped and the doors opened to
reveal the corridor and the shocked looking guard staring at them from outside
her door. Suddenly more aware of her position, she noticed Yumi staring down at
her, a look verging on panic in her eyes, even as the guard began to move
quickly toward them.
"Help me
up," she said quietly as she began to gather her strength for the attempt.
"Minako,"
Rei began cautiously, "do you really think...?"
Minako glanced
over Rei's shoulder at that point, and Rei could sense the rent-a-cop's
approach. Minako's hand tightened in her own. "I think I'll be okay. Just
help me get inside, okay?" she whispered.
Nodding, Rei
stood, keeping a firm grip on Minako's hand. Moving up closely against her
side, she placed her other arm around her shoulders, and Minako began the
struggle to regain her feet. By sheer grit and determination she almost made
it. But then her rebellious knees buckled, and she began to fall again as Yumi
screamed in horror, her hand clutched to her mouth.
Fortunately, Rei
had been ready. Even as she felt Minako's knees give way, she again shifted her
weight. Releasing the hand still gripped in her own, she reached out to catch
her under the knees instead, and then stood to her full height, easily cradling
the stricken idol in her arms.
________________________________
Friday, Early
Morning
Rei shivered as
she remembered just how much Minako's collapse had really frightened her. With
a heavy sigh, she stared out the window, totally oblivious to the passing shops
along the way.
Where she had
gotten the strength she still didn't know.
Maybe it had
been that fear, or the adrenalin rush that had accompanied it. Maybe it had
been some residual powers left to her as Sailormars.
Or maybe it had simply been that Minako had just lost that much weight since
this whole ordeal had begun, and Rei had been able to handle it. Whatever the
reason had been, to Rei it had felt as if she had weighed next to nothing at
all.
As for the
guard, well…
Her eyes grew
dark. She'd known he only wanted to help, but something deep inside of her had
flared to life as she watched him approach, and she had made up her mind that
she was not going to let anyone else touch Minako or attempt to separate them. Protectiveness? Possessiveness? Both? In retrospect, she could admit it was both, but at the
time, all she had been sure of was that Minako's defenses had completely
collapsed, and the only person she trusted to keep her safe was Mars.
Her
Mars.
Rei had been
determined to uphold that trust.
________________________________
Thursday,
Late Morning
"Back off,"
she ordered sternly as the guard rushed forward to relieve her of her burden.
One look at her face, and he stopped in his tracks. "Hold the door
open," she bit out as she moved out of the elevator and started quickly
down the hall. "Yumi, get the keys out of her purse," she demanded
sharply, and the young assistant snapped out of her trance and sprang into
action.
Snatching
Minako's purse from where it had fallen, Yumi rifled through the bag until she
found the keys, then moved swiftly down the hall to
where the dark priestess stood waiting. Unlocking the door, she pushed it open
for Rei, who powered through it so forcefully it hit the wall of the narrow
entryway behind it with a loud bang. Startled, the older lady that was dusting
in the open living room looked up into Rei's equally startled face.
"Who are
you?" Rei demanded.
"The
housekeeper, Toranaga Marika,"
the woman replied simply, though she would have been well within her rights to
have demanded the same question of Rei.
Rei studied her
for several seconds before turning in the direction she dimly remembered Minako
indicating her bedroom was the night before.
"Turn down
her covers, please," she asked as she entered the short hallway.
Without
hesitation, the older woman moved swiftly down the corridor and opened the door
to a large room, brightly lit with warm sunlight that poured through the open
windows.
"Close the
blinds," Rei ordered. "And get him out of here!" she said
sternly as she glared at the guard gawking at them from the doorway.
Yumi hurried the
young man out of the room and shut the door behind herself.
Following the
housekeeper to the bed, Rei waited as she turned down the crisp, clean sheets.
"Mars..."
Minako began to
stir, weakly raising her head from where it was resting against her shoulder.
"I'm here,
Mina," Rei assured her softly. "Try to relax. We're home now."
"Mmm..." Minako murmured. "Sleep?"
"Yes,"
Rei answered gently. "Then something good to eat."
"Good,"
the exhausted idol whispered without protest. Laying her head back down on
Rei's shoulder, she unconsciously reached up and placed her hand gently over
Rei's heart. The usually stoic priestess swallowed convulsively at the intimacy
of that one, simple act.
As the
housekeeper completed her task, Rei stepped forward and gently placed Minako
down against her pillows. Reaching up, she caught the idol's hand and held it
firmly in her own as she stood for several moments with her eyes closed,
waiting for her heart to stop pounding and her nerves to still.
That had been
too close.
Taking a deep,
steadying breath, she looked up into the eyes of the housekeeper and blanched.
"I'll take
it from here, Miss...?" the older lady asked pointedly.
"Hino,"
the priestess said, quickly coming out of her initial panic and placing
Minako's hand back by her side on the bed. "Hino Rei."
"Ah, you're
the houseguest she made mention of in the note she left for me today, as well
as her timely savior from the other day," she said. "Welcome,"
she added with a formal bow which Rei returned. "You must be hungry. I
will see to your lunch as soon as I finish here."
Embarrassed, Rei
said quickly, “No, please, Toranaga-san! Don't worry
about me, I can take care of myself," she reassured the older lady.
"I'm more concerned about Minako's lunch," she said. "Do you
have any broth, or maybe some soup that she can have and go back to
sleep?"
Touched by Rei's
selfless concern for her friend, Marika's formal
demeanor thawed a bit and she smiled. "I believe I can handle that,"
she said, with just a touch of humor in her dark eyes, and Rei smiled shyly in
return.
"Thanks,"
Rei added. "She may be too stubborn to admit it, but I know she'll
appreciate it too."
Moving toward
the bed, Marika began to remove the idols shoes.
"I take it her activities have finally caught up to her," she said,
more a statement of fact than a question.
"So it
would seem," Rei answered briefly as the housekeeper moved across the room
and removed a comfortable gown from the chest of drawers.
The sound of
Minako's cellphone ringing in the other room
interrupted them. At first, Rei wondered where Yumi was and why she didn't
answer the thing, but then she realized she must still be dealing with the
guard. Marika shook her head, then
nodded toward the door. "Let me worry about lunch," she said.
"It sounds like you're about to have your hands full out there."
With a grim
frown, Rei nodded and then turned, headed for the door with determined steps.
________________________________
Friday, Early
Morning
Rei shifted
restlessly against the soft leather seat and crossed her legs in a futile
attempt to get comfortable in the damp and stillness of the quiet car. The rain
outside had gotten steadily harder, and Minako had still not uttered a word
since the trip began. Her continued silence was a painfully loud reminder of
her emotional discomfort, and Rei was at a total loss as to what she could say
or do to ease her pain.
Crossing her
arms, Rei consoled herself with the fact that she had definitely tried her best
to run interference for her.
'But was it
enough?' she frowned.
________________________________
Thursday,
Late Morning
Entering the
living room again, Rei took in the situation with one look. Yumi stood arguing
with the guard by the door, while the cell phone continued its insistent
ringing from where it had fallen from the bag resting haphazardly on the couch.
Rei snapped.
Snatching the
phone up from the couch, the incensed priestess stormed toward the door.
"You,"
she said firmly, her eyes boring into the guard. "Out!
Now! Yumi," she said, tossing the phone at the flustered assistant as she
continued to glare at the guard's now retreating back. "Take care of that
before it wakes up Minako."
"Yes, Rei-sama," the young girl said gratefully, "and thank
you! He was being very difficult. I think I will call the company about him
later," she added as she opened the cell phone. "Hello, Yumi
speaking," she said. "Yes Saitou-san, this is Minako's phone, you
didn't call me by mistake... no, I'm afraid she can't come to the phone right
now, would you care to leave a message for her?... I'm
sorry Saitou-san, I'm afraid I can't do that... no, I'm not trying to be
difficult, but... no... no... no,
I really can't. Rei-sama said..." After
listening a few moments, she pulled the phone away from her ear and looked at
Rei apologetically. "He wants to speak to you."
Nodding once,
Rei snatched the phone.
"Hino,"
she grunted abruptly, nodding in understanding as Yumi pointed down the hall
toward the bathroom.
"Reiko-chan! Saitou here. Look, I know
Minako-chan is taking a little time off today, and she certainly deserves it,
but I really, really need to talk to her right now. Could you..."
"No."
"But I
promise it will only take a few minutes, and..."
"No."
"Now
darling, don't be that way!" Saitou pouted into the phone. "I know
you two really want to spend some time together, but..."
"No."
"Now
look," he said firmly, all kidding aside. "I must speak with her on a
very important matter. You just can't possibly understand how..."
"No!"
Rei barely refrained from shouting into the phone. "You are the one
who does not understand! She has overdone it Saitou-san, she has exceeded her
physical limit! That is why she left the office today! Not to spend time
with me!" Rei felt her body start to shake a bit in reaction to the
adrenalin she had been running on for the last several minutes, and she seemed
to lose some stream. "I was finally able to convince her to come home and
rest but... I... I was too late," she said, her voice trailing off in deep
regret.
"What do
you mean?" Saitou asked, now concerned both by Rei's words and the tone of
her voice. "Reiko? Is something wrong with Minako-chan?" At her
continued silence, he tried again. "Reiko-chan? Talk to me. Please. If there's a problem, I need to
know."
Deeply torn, Rei
was reluctant to share anything so personal. Still, she reasoned, the idol
singer’s oldest and most trusted friend deserved the truth. He really did care
for his client, and had proven his loyalty and love for her to Rei that day
long ago, when they had worked so well together to save her career.
With a deep
breath, she told him the truth. "She collapsed in the elevator before I
could get her home."
"What?" he shouted in horror, panic in his voice.
"Calm
down," Rei said in a now tired and resigned voice. "I was able to
carry her the rest of the way, and we've gotten her
settled now." With a heavy sigh, she added, "She's finally asleep
now, and I'm not going to wake her up unless it's life or death. Do you
understand?"
"Rei,"
he said firmly. "What's going on? Will she be okay? Shouldn't we call a
doctor? I mean, if she's passing out again..."
"No," Rei
cut in. "I don't think it's anything like that. She's just pushed herself
too hard lately, that's all. She hasn't been sleeping or eating right, either,
and that hasn't helped, but..."
"But
what?" Saitou insisted into
the void Rei had left behind. At Rei's continued silence he had practically
begged. "Reiko, don't play with me here. This is serious and she means all the world to me. God knows, she's the closest I will
ever come to having a daughter of my own." As Rei continued to hesitate,
he had spoken again. "Talk to me Rei. You know whatever you say will stay
between us."
Making her
decision, Rei nodded to herself. She may need reinforcements in the weeks
ahead, and she knew no one beside herself was more fully committed to Minako's
well-being than this man. Well, perhaps the rest of the senshi, she'd mused,
but she really couldn't cope with that right now. It was comfort enough to know
that they were there if she needed them... and she
very well may before this was over. Closing her eyes, she reached up to grasp
the phone with her other hand and lowered her voice.
"She has a
doctor's appointment in the morning."
Saitou felt his
blood run cold. "So," he asked, the words feeling like cotton-wool in
his mouth. "Is she out of remission?"
"We don't
know," Rei said heavily. "We hope the doctor can maybe run some tests
and give us some answers."
"You are
going to be staying with her now, aren't you?" he asked pointedly.
"Yes,"
Rei answered firmly. "I won't leave her," she promised the man.
Sighing, he
said, "Good," relieved to know she wouldn't be alone this time. Then
the thought struck him, and he had to know.
"You saw
this in your fire, didn't you?" he asked.
Rei paused, then said flatly, "Yes."
"God,"
he said, his voice a bare whisper as the gravity of her answer hit him like a
ton of bricks. With a heavy swallow he said, "Look. I want you to listen
to me very carefully, Reiko. If either you or her need
anything, and I mean anything, you call me. Do you hear me? If I have
it, it's yours. If I don't have it, I'll make it happen. Do you
understand?"
"Yes,
Saitou-san. I understand,"
Rei answered sincerely, grateful to have such a friend to share this burden
with. "Thank you."
"Is there
anything I can do for you now? I mean, besides clearing some of her schedule for
the next couple of weeks. Discreetly!" he added slyly. "Yes, I know
how she is! Trust me, darling! I have my little ways."
Rei could almost
see the sneaky little wink that accompanied that last, and a tiny smile crossed
her lips. She almost said no, but then a thought flitted briefly through her
mind, and her smile widened as an idea began to take root. "Can I get back
to you on that?"
"Yeah, sure
thing," Saitou said slowly. "Something in
particular on your mind, sweetie?"
"Maybe,"
Rei answered, the idea beginning to take on more substance.
He smiled to
himself. "Just take your time," he assured her. “I'll be here when
you're ready."
"Thanks,
I'll be in touch," Rei said. Then she added quickly, "And
Saitou-san?" She paused until she was positive he was listening. "She
must never find out that I've..."
"Did she
find out last time? I think not!" Rei could hear the warm smile in his
voice. "Don't worry, darling. I've got it all under control now. You just
take care of our girl, okay?"
"Yeah, I've
got it," Rei assured him.
"Later?"
he asked in closing.
"Okay,"
she answered wearily.
"Bye."
Closing the cellphone, Rei placed in on the end table next to the
apartment phone and then slowly turned toward the couch, where she could hear a
distinct, "phsst, phsst!"
There, with his head sticking out the top of Minako's discarded bag, was Artemis. Taking a cautious look around to assure
both of them that they were alone for the moment, Rei moved forward and sat
next to the bag, lifting the white plushy into her lap.
"You're
sure she's okay?" he asked, worry clouding his eyes.
"I'm
sure," Rei answered, trying her best to reassure him. "She should
take a few days off, but she'll be okay."
He swallowed
heavily, his eyes dropping to his paws as he whispered, "Do you think I can
see her?" Looking back up at her he added, "There's been too many
people running around here for me to attempt to make it that far, and..."
Grinning warmly
Rei rose to her feet and carried the worried guardian cat down the hall toward
his mistress. "I'll feel better knowing you're in there," she
confided.
"Thanks,
Mars," he said softly.
Knocking lightly
on the door, Rei tentatively pushed it open and looked inside. Marika looked up at her in question, and then smiled.
"Come
in," she said softly. "I've finally gotten her settled." Smiling
she added, "I don't believe she even batted an eyelash when I changed her
clothes."
Moving
cautiously forward, Rei looked down at the sleeping idol and noticed that she
seemed much more relaxed now, her sleep more restful than restless. Leaning
forward, she placed Artemis on the second pillow next to Minako's head. With a
sheepish grin for the housekeeper she said, "I thought she might like the
company of an old friend."
Marika smiled at the gentleness in the young woman's
movements. "You really care for her, don't you?" she asked softly.
Self-consciously,
Rei stepped back slowly and dropped her eyes. Nodding her head once sharply,
she acknowledged the other woman's statement, then
stuffed her hands deeply in her pockets.
Marika's eyes twinkled and she smiled. "It's about time
somebody did," she said. "You know, she's never asked anybody to this
apartment?"
Rei hesitated,
and then shook her head, still looking down at the lovely floral design of the
bedspread.
"It's true,"
the other woman confided. "As lovely and as popular as
she is. As desirable as the tabloids paint her to be, she has never
once, to my knowledge, invited another living soul into her home."
"No
one?" Rei asked,
her voice barely audible as she looked up briefly from the corner of her eye.
"No one,”
the housekeeper confirmed as she gently tucked the covers under Minako's chin.
"No friends for popcorn and movie night. No boyfriends for, well,
whatever." She smiled down at the sleeping idol and added, the tiniest bit
of reproach mixed in amongst the admiration in her voice, “I've worked for her
for four years, and she has never taken a vacation. She's rarely even taken a
day off."
"Why?"
Rei blurted out, her concern evident. "It's not like she can't afford it,
and she obviously needs it." Looking back at Minako again she shook her
head. "I don't understand."
"Me
either," Marika confessed. "But, I do have
my own theory." At Rei's questioning look she continued. "I just
think she's been waiting for that one special someone to share it with."
With a
conspiratorial smile, she nodded firmly toward Minako's nightstand and then
turned to leave. "I'll go make that broth for her now. Would you care for
some with a sandwich maybe?" At Rei's distracted nod she added, "I'll
have it in the dining room for you shortly." Leaving the room, she shut
the door quietly behind her.
Alone in the
darkened room with the peacefully sleeping idol, Rei turned in the direction
the housekeeper had so clearly indicated. Bending down to look at the double
picture frame standing on the nightstand, she felt her mouth drop open in
shocked surprise. On impulse, she reached forward and snatched the set of
photographs up to get a closer look at them.
The first photo
was a professionally done portrait of her taken the day Saitou and she had
concocted their plan to keep Minako from retiring too early. It was a gorgeous
picture. She was beautifully dressed in a fashion which combined elements of
both traditional and modern styles, a sort of nuevo-geisha
look. Her hair was pulled up under a very short wig, done in an oriental style
bob, and her makeup was flawless. Rei stared. She had never seen any of the
photos from that shoot, and she was astonished. The lighting was dark,
seductive and she looked, well, for lack of a better term, seriously sexy.
The second photo
had been taken later that same day, when all the girls had gathered on the set
of a local game show to do mock battle with each other. Of course, the whole
thing had disintegrated into mayhem, and they'd had a rollicking good time,
just laughing and enjoying one another's company. This particular photo was of
just Minako and her. For once, the serious young idol had dropped her cares and
was laughing with uncontrolled abandon. As she shared a look with Rei, one of
her hands rested delicately on the miko's arm, and
Rei's own face was split by one of her very rare full-on grins. It was a
beautiful moment.
In wonder, she
slowly shook her head and set double frame back down in its place of honor. Turning
toward the bed, she gazed with deepening understanding at the young woman
resting so quietly there. Reaching out with gentle fingers, she let their backs
graze ever-so softly against the smoothness of the idol's cheek.
"Minako,"
she whispered softly, not really surprised to feel her own heart answer to the
name.
________________________________
Friday
Morning
Slowly rubbing
her hands up and down her chilled upper arms, Rei cut her eyes quickly over toward
Minako and back. The idol was still looking out the slightly fogged window at
the passing shops with sightless eyes, a tiny pained frown upon her lips.
'Why?' Rei
wondered, irritated with herself for her inability to
figure out what was wrong with the girl. Frowning, she briefly pondered the
fact that not being able to read her former partner was really inconvenient at
times.
Turning to look
back out her own window, Rei began turning the situation over and over in her
mind. Minako was obviously upset, but there was something else going on that
disturbed the priestess even more. The idol seemed depressed, and Rei just got
the feeling there was more going on here than her apprehension about this
Doctor's appointment. Rei knew Minako had been upset with herself about her
collapse the day before, but instead of the aloof dismissal of the incident she
would have normally expected from the proud young woman, she seemed to be
drawing even deeper into herself.
Feeling her
molars beginning to grind together as she clenched her jaw in frustration, Rei
asked herself again: What in the name of all she held holy had set Minako off?
Her mind wandered back again to the last evening, and
she continued her review of its events until she locked on...
No.
'Surely it
couldn't have been... that?'
'Could it?' she
wondered, earnestly hoping her latest train of thought was running down the
entirely wrong track.
________________________________
Thursday
Night
The rest of the
afternoon and evening had been pretty uneventful, for the most part.
Mariko had
continued her normal routine of housework and meal preparation, occasionally
tiptoeing down the hall to peek in on Minako. About
‘Toranaga,’ she said to herself as Minako's chauffer
appeared in the doorway.
"Good
evening, miss," the older gentleman replied respectfully. "Will
Aino-san still be requiring her car in the morning?"
"Yes,"
Rei answered politely. "
"Yes, miss.
I'll have the car downstairs when she's ready."
"Thank
you," Rei said, and watched as the older couple moved toward the elevator.
"Oh," Marika said, as she stopped and turned back to Rei. "I
usually only work on Tuesday and Thursday, but if it's okay, I'd like to come
back tomorrow and finish a few things I wasn't able to get to today."
"No
problem," Rei said, knowing full well the woman was more concerned with
Minako than any work her already spotless apartment may need. "I'm sure
Minako will appreciate it."
Smiling, the
woman nodded. "I'll be here at
As Rei shut the
door, she closed her eyes and sighed in exhausted relief. Yumi had already left
for the day, and she basked a moment in the stillness of the now silent
apartment. Grinning, she spared a moment or two to think about Minako's young
assistant.
Yumi, God bless
her, had turned into a young tigress, manning not only her own busy phone, but
both of Minako's as well. When she had seen how serious the situation really
was, she had dug in her heels and shown a side of her make-up no one had ever
seen before.
Rei had been
greatly amused by part of the conversation she'd overheard as Yumi had attacked
the manager of the rent-a-cop agency...
"...totally inadequate and unprofessional! I was utterly appalled by his rude and inappropriate
behavior! I find it hard to believe that a company with your reputation could
allow such a person on its payroll, and I..."
Rei had
continued on into the dining room with a huge grin on her face. It looked like
Yumi may finally be coming into her own.
Moving back into
the living room, Rei flopped down on the couch, thinking to relax for awhile
before getting ready for bed. Propping her feet up on the coffee table, she
grabbed the remote and started cruising the channels, looking for anything of
interest. A familiar scene from a well-loved movie caught her eye, and she
settled in with its comfortable angst and mushiness. An hour or so later, she
started to cruise again, only this time what grabbed her attention was
something a bit less comfortable.
"...You're
a beautiful woman, Hino-san! Why didn't you pursue stardom? Most young women
would have jumped at the chance."
"It
didn't suit me."
'Ugh!' Rei
thought, clicking the TV off in disgust. 'I sound like a total bitch! That was
awful!'
Deciding to give
it up for the evening, she retired to her own room for
a well deserved and relaxing bath. Then, feeling much better and dressed for
bed in her favorite old cut-off tee shirt and baggy boxers, she crossed the
darkened apartment to check on Minako one last time before going to bed herself.
"How is
she?" she asked Artemis in a soft voice when she spotted the white cat by
the balcony doors.
"Still
resting," he answered, turning to look at her. "She was
understandably embarrassed by this whole ordeal, but she seemed to be feeling
okay when she ate her dinner. She's sleeping again now, I think."
"Good,"
Rei said. "I just want to check in on her."
"Okay,"
the plush cat replied. "Goodnight, Mars. And thanks again," he added
softly.
"Goodnight,
Artemis," she replied with a gentle smile. "Sleep well."
Tiptoeing softly
down the short hallway, Rei carefully opened the door to Minako's room and
peeked inside. A rush of cold air hit her, and she shivered as she felt her
skin react to it’s frigidness. With the lights off, it
took a moment for her eyes to adjust, but soon, with the help of the faint
light coming in through the blinds and curtained balcony doors, she had been
able to make out the slight figure bundled under the covers of the queen sized
bed.
Her arms wrapped
tightly around her to help ward of the cold, Rei did her best not to make any
unnecessary noise as she moved closer to the bed. Minako was laying
on her side facing the outside windows, and appeared to be sound asleep. Rei
watched over her in silent contemplation, finding a bit of personal comfort and
peace in these few, stolen moments with her friend.
'Friend?' she
thought, the word seeming somehow not quite adequate to describe her
relationship with this complex young woman.
'Cohort?' No, that wasn't right either. She frowned.
'Lover?' A quiet
little voice whispered from the back of her mind.
'No!' Rei
mentally blurted out to the little voice. 'Ah, no.
That is... I mean... well... I... not yet,' she ended weakly, as she felt her
teasing sub-conscious laugh merrily at her discomfort.
'Partner?' Rei thought about that one as she moved her hands
rather distractedly up and down her arms. It felt close, but still... she
wasn't sure it was really right yet either.
But, on the
other hand she reasoned, they were partners of a sort. Partners in defeating
this present danger, for sure. As for the future?
Rei sighed.
Well, she could dream, couldn't she?
On impulse she
reached over and gently stroked the hair away from Minako's eyes.
"Goodnight, Minako," she whispered softly. Then straightening up, she
turned and started to move toward the bedroom door.
"Please..."
Hearing the
single word coming from the shadowed darkness, Rei paused and turned back,
whispering, "Minako?"
The young woman
appeared not to have moved at all and was still turned away from her, huddled
deeply beneath the quilted comforter of her large bed.
Rei moved
swiftly back to the side of the bed. "Minako? Are
you alright? What's wrong?"
In a voice that
sounded strained, Rei heard her whisper roughly, "Don't go."
Confused, Rei stared
down at the huddled form, not exactly sure what she was suppose to do. Two
things were clear though. Minako was upset, and she wanted her to stay.
What else could
she do?
"Would you
feel better if I stay with you until you go back to sleep?" she asked
gently.
Seeing the brief
nod of her dark head against the lightness of her pillowcase, Rei nodded in
answer, even though she knew Minako wouldn't be able to see it.
"Okay then,
but would you mind if I get under the covers?" she asked, embarrassed as
her teeth chattered in the cold. "It's freezing out here!"
Barely waiting
for Minako's second brief nod of approval, Rei reached out and pulled up the
corner of the bed sheets, slipping swiftly and gratefully under the warm
protection of the covers.
"Ah, so much
better!" she enthused, moving her feet rapidly back and forth to generate
a little extra heat. Finally settling down into her newly found warmth, she
asked a bit nervously, "You're sure this is okay?"
"Mmhmm," Minako answered softly. "And... thank
you."
"It's
okay," Rei said awkwardly. "Just see if you can go back to sleep.
I'll try not to make too much noise when I get up."
"Mmkay."
"Goodnight,
Minako," she said quietly.
"G'night," the idol murmured softly.
Closing her
eyes, Rei took a deep breath and concentrated on trying to relax, telling herself she'd just wait until she heard Minako's breathing
slow and even out. Then, she'd head for her own room and some well-earned rest
of her own...
The next thing
Rei became aware of was warmth. She seemed to be wrapped in a living cocoon of
it, and the sensation was heavenly. Slowly coming back to wakefulness, she next
became aware of the light that appeared to be present on the other side of her
still comfortably closed eyelids. Reluctantly answering the call to open them,
Rei blinked sleepily, tightening her arms firmly around...
'Minako!'
Heart pounding,
Rei clamped down on her first reaction, which was to panic, and stared in shock
at the sleeping beauty she could now see resting peacefully in the protective circle
of her arms. Minako was curled up against her side, her head pressed sweetly
against Rei's shoulder. One leg was resting on top of the priestess' thighs,
and her left hand was laying under Rei's cropped tee
shirt along her side, its fingers splayed open along the soft skin of her
ribcage.
'Oh... god...'
Rei thought in desperation, afraid to breath for fear she would break the
spell, and fearing what the consequences would bring. When her heart finally
started to slow to nearly normal limits, she took in her current predicament.
What the hell
had happened?
'You fell asleep baka, that's what
happened!' she berated herself. ‘Now how do you get out of this?'
But did she
really want to?
Slowly starting
to get use to the position she now found herself in, Rei couldn't help but
marvel at how absolutely natural the situation felt.
Gone was the
frigid chill from the night before, and outside dawn must just be breaking as
the room was filled with a soft, golden-orange glow. Looking down at Minako's
face, Rei noticed the tiny smile that graced her lips, and was amazed at the
soft, golden perfection of her skin. It seemed almost to glow in the faint
light of the morning...
Suddenly, Rei
sucked in an involuntary breath, as without warning, memory after memory began
to wash over her mind in happy, blissful abandon.
Minako smiling at her.
Minako laughing at some silly something she had said. Minako
pouting, her eyes beseeching her for some small favor or other. Minako's
eyes raking over her in longing. Minako's head thrown back, her body arching
into her own at the very height of passion. Minako's face, showing all the love
and devotion she would ever need in this life or any other...
The next thing
Rei became aware of was fingers beginning to softly caress her side, just
before they moved up onto her tummy. Shaking her head to help clear it, Rei
looked down to see the well remembered signs of her partner’s rise to
wakefulness.
First, there was
the gentle frown, followed in short order by the tiny crease that appeared
between her delicate eyebrows and the baby yawn that always ended in a squeak.
Next came the flexing and unflexing of her fingers,
which would be followed by the opening of her eyes.
And there they
were. Smiling up at her.
'Gods... she is
so beautiful!' the priestess thought, totally enraptured by the vision in her
arms.
To be honest,
Rei lost all track of time as they lay together, lost as she was in the depths
of Minako's eyes. Basking in the glow of each other's presence, the world
outside their room just fell away, their own private world becoming all either
of them needed or wanted.
And then
suddenly, it ended.
Rei watched in
confusion as Minako's gentle smile vanished, and her eyes clouded over in pain.
The next thing she knew, the idol was gone, leaving a painfully hollow void in
Rei’s arms which had been so pleasantly filled with her presence mere seconds
before. Rei looked at Minako in stunned surprise as she stood next to the bed,
her eyes on the floor, and politely excused herself, then turned and
disappeared into the privacy of her bathroom, the door closing swiftly behind
her with a resounding 'click'.
And that, as
they say, had been that.
Slowly, Rei had
risen from the empty bed and left the room, her mind still struggling to grasp
just what had happened. Finally deciding a shower and a hot meal would help to
clear the air, she headed off in search of both, convinced that she would see
Minako at breakfast and they would sort out what had happened this morning
then.
But that was not
how things had worked out.
________________________________
Friday
Morning
Rei grimaced and
then scowled darkly. Minako had never joined her for breakfast. Instead, she
had eaten in her room, grabbing a bowl of cereal and some coffee while Rei was
still in the shower. Rei had not seen her again until they were ready to leave
for her doctor's appointment. By then, her mood had seemed to deteriorate, and
she barely got any kind of response from the girl at all to her own 'good
morning.’ It had all seemed to go down hill from there. Minako would neither
look at nor speak to her at all.
It was driving
her crazy!
The thought that
she was that upset about the events of last night and this morning was just too
far away from reality as Rei perceived it to really continence serious thought.
But as much as Rei tried to convince herself that this had to be about Minako's
dread of the doctor’s appointment, the more she knew it had to be something
else entirely.
Surely fear
for her life was more important to her than... Rei frowned.
Maybe she should
just ask.
The problem with
that approach was that for as long as she had known Minako, the idol had rarely
ever given her a direct answer to a direct question, a
fact that had always infuriated her, and still did!
Closing her
bewildered eyes, Rei tried to calm and center herself by listening to the
rhythmic sweep of the windshield wipers. Feeling her fists as they continued to
clinch and unclinch, she began to breathe in deep,
calming counterpoint to the pounding in her aching temples until she heard a
thin, quiet voice break the silence.
"I'm
sorry."
Startled, Rei's
eye's popped open, and she looked over at the idol in total confusion.
"Eh?"
she blurted inarticulately as her mind tried to wrap itself around the fact
that Aino Minako had just apologized to her for something. Anything!
"I said,
'I'm sorry,’ Rei," she answered. Still unable to look at the priestess,
Minako's eyes wandered downward to her feet, and Rei was compelled to ask the
obvious.
"For
what?" she said bluntly. "I don't remember thinking there was
anything in particular I felt you should apologize for."
"I came to
you seeking your help, which you have given me so unselfishly," Minako
stated in deep embarrassment, "and I've been nothing but a burden and a
nuisance to you ever since."
Incredulous, Rei
stared at Minako a moment. Was this what was bothering the girl? Rei
could see where Minako's actions for the past day and a half or so might be
wearing on her conscious a bit, but to have elicited the reaction she had been
subjected to this morning? Crossing her arms she turned her head and grunted in
disbelief.
"Ridiculous."
"Rei?"
the idol singer began.
"Don't be
silly, Minako," the dark priestess mocked. "I think you've seriously
overestimated your ability to annoy me."
"Don't make
light of this, Rei!" Minako demanded, starting to feel as if her deeply
sincere apology was being taken lightly.
"I'm
not," Rei retorted, turning to face the idol again. "But there's
something else bothering you, and I want to know what it is!"
At a momentary
loss, Minako stared blankly at her.
"Talk to
me, Minako," Rei asked, her voice now gentle and
serious. "We can work this out, whatever it is."
At first, Rei
thought she would refuse to answer. But then, a look of shame washed over
Minako's face, and she looked away from the priestess, no longer able to handle
the honest concern she could see in Rei's eyes.
"I broke my
promise," Minako whispered, her voice so low Rei almost missed it.
Confused, Rei
asked, "What do you mean? What promise?"
Looking up at
her with desperate eyes, Minako said, "Don't you remember? I promised you
only the day before yesterday that I wouldn't rush you! That I would give you
all the time you needed to see if maybe you could one day to love me again the
same way I love you! Now look at what I've done! I'm so sorry, Rei! I swear, I
didn't mean to force you or put you in the awkward position I did last
night!"
The light went
on.
'So, that was
it,' Rei thought, now able to see the full picture.
"It's okay, Minako," she said, trying to calm the
obviously upset young woman. "I really didn't mind, and…"
"No, it's
not okay!" Minako insisted. "First, I begged you to stay with me, and
then I assaulted you while you were unable to defend yourself!"
"It wasn't
like that!" Rei said, a bit miffed at the
implication that she had been such a defenseless victim. "I'm the one that
decided to stay, after all. Nobody forced me to!"
"That's
true," Minako conceded. "You stayed out of the kindness of your
heart, and then I just... I..."
"You
just... what?" Rei asked,
burning with curiosity despite herself.
"Well, I…
that is, I just…" Minako stuttered, trying the get beyond her own
embarrassment. "Well, you know," she finally blurted out. "You
were there too!"
Mildly amused,
Rei said, "Minako, unless you remember something I don't, nothing happened."
Outraged, Minako
exclaimed, "What do you mean, 'nothing happened?’ I woke up in your arms
this morning, didn't I? My hand was under your shirt, and... and..."
"And nothing
happened," Rei assured her with a dark grin.
"How can
you be so sure!" the idol demanded.
"Think
about it, Minako," the priestess insisted. "Do you actually remember
anything happening beyond that?" Rei watched as Minako paused and reviewed
what had happened, adding, "If it helps, the next thing I remember is you
opening your eyes and smiling at me."
Slowly, Minako
nodded her head. "That's the last I remember too," she confirmed.
"But are you sure nothing happened before that?" she asked, still
concerned.
"Yes,
Minako," she promised, nodding her head firmly. "I'm positive.
Nothing happened. Would you like to know why I'm so sure?" she asked
solemnly.
"Yes,"
Minako said, needing to believe the truth of Rei's words.
"Because
I'm absolutely certain there is no way in heaven or on earth that I could have
made love with you last night and not remembered every single moment of
it," she stated simply, reaching across the seat to take Minako's hand in
hers.
Minako
exhaled slowly, not even aware until that moment that she had been holding her
breath as she waited for Rei's answer. "I'm glad," she finished in relief.
"Are you
really?" Rei asked, looking up at her a bit sadly. She was glad they
hadn't rushed into something she wasn't really ready for, but still...
"Of
course!" Minako exclaimed.
"I really want to be with you Rei, but until we're both ready for
it?" She shook her head. "I'd rather not. I can wait." Smiling
with a touch of her old mischievousness, she continued, "But if I can wake
up every once in awhile like we did this morning, that would be great!"
Rei smiled
wistfully. "That was special," she agreed. "We'll see," she
added noncommittally.
A now
comfortable silence settled over the car as it began to slow for the turn into
the parking garage. But there was still one more thing Rei had to know.
"Minako?"
"Hmm?"
the idol said, turning her head to look at Rei.
"When you
first woke up this morning, what did you feel?"
Caught
off-guard, Minako hesitated. "I... I felt," she began, struggling a
bit with her thoughts and emotions.
"What?"
Rei asked again, curiously. Needing to know the answer.
"Complete,"
Minako whispered softly.
The rain that
had been pounding the car stopped abruptly as they entered the parking garage,
leaving an almost solid silence in its wake as the force of Minako's single
word impacted on both of them.
Turning to Rei,
Minako's eyes begged for answers of their own. "Did you feel anything,
Rei? Anything at all?" she asked.
Faltering at the
not completely unexpected question, Rei frowned and honestly thought about it.
What had she
felt?
Even as she
started to contemplate the jumble of emotions she had experienced when she'd
first realized the situation she was in, the answer came to her without
hesitation, and she felt the truth of it in her heart.
"Loved,"
she said simply, looking up at Minako. "For the first time since my mother
died," she added. "Truly loved."
Entwining their
fingers, Minako smiled as she felt the warm strength of Rei's hand holding her
own in firm, yet gentle comfort. She would be alright. It no longer seemed to
matter quite so much what the doctor might say or do, or what tests she may
have to endure.
As long as they
faced it together, she knew, in the end, she would be alright.
END PART EIGHT, PART 2