Written in the Stars
by Sailor Doc
"Aino-san?
We're here."
Nodding once
in acknowledgement, Aino Minako leaned forward from her position in the back
seat of the black SUV and looked out the window at the long, grey steps leading
up through the trees to the shrine sequestered above. With a slight frown, her
lips tightening into a straight line, she reached forward to grasp the door
handle. Beside her, one of the two bodyguards in the sport utility vehicle
moved to join her, but a look from her stopped him as she said in a soft, but
firm voice, "It's a shrine, Hibiki. I think I'll be okay."
"Are you
sure, Aino-san?" the other man asked. "You never know who may be
buying charms or something up there."
Minako
offered him a warm smile for his protectiveness and said, "No it's really
okay, Souma. I'm actually here to see one of the priestess'."
"Will
you be long, miss?" the chauffer asked. "Should we wait, or will you
call us?"
The simple
question actually gave her pause as her mind grappled with the possibilities,
but then she remembered. This was Rei. She knew all too well the blunt nature
of her former teammate.
"You can
wait," she said briefly. "This shouldn't take more than an hour at
most."
"Very
good, miss," he answered respectfully, and Minako exited the vehicle
without any further interruptions.
Taking a deep
breath, she headed slowly up the shaded stone stairway, her thoughts again
returning to the totally unexpected note she had received from the usually
silent Senshi of Mars:
You have
something that belongs to me.
I want it
back.
Hikawa Shrine
Mars
The note was,
for lack of a better word, cryptic. It wasn't as if they were close enough to
exchange clothing or jewelry like normal 'friends' would do. She frowned. It
really made no sense to her at all. But here she was, taking an afternoon out
of her busy schedule, to climbing up this seemingly endless set of worn and
ancient steps in mute acquiesce to Rei's presumptuous demand.
Her frown
deepened. At least Rei could have had the common courtesy to tell her what this
mysterious 'something' was!
Nearing the
top, Minako could hear the steady sweeping sound of a stiff bristle broom as it
moved rhythmically across the aged cobblestones in the open courtyard. As she
topped the last stair, she was taken by an unexpected wave of disappointment as
she realized that the young woman welding it was not Rei. Dressed in the
traditional red and white robes of a temple maiden, the miko, her long hair
pulled back in a loose ponytail, worked slowly and steadily at her task. The
almost totally leafless area was a testament to her diligence. As Minako moved
toward her, the young girl looked up at her, a welcoming smile on her lips.
"Hello,
miss. May I help you?"
Inwardly,
Minako shook her head in amused wonder. 'Where do they find them?' she thought
as she realized that this girl, like Rei before her, had absolutely no idea who
she was. Outwardly, she returned the miko's smile and
said, "I'm here to see Hino Rei."
The girl’s expression
changed to one of sincere regret. "I'm so sorry," she said,
respectfully. "The priestess is unavailable at this time. May I tell her
who called?"
Mildly
surprised, Minako answered, "yes." Rei had called this meeting, after
all! "My name is Aino Minako. I'm supposed to have an appointment to meet
with her here at
"Ah,"
the girls face brightened significantly. "Miss Aino! You're early! My name
is Chiyo," she added, belatedly introducing
herself. "Hino-sensei did mention that she was expecting a guest this
afternoon, but she is still at meditation in the fire room."
Minako smiled
at the girl. "I am a bit early," she admitted. "I hope that's
not a problem?"
"Oh, no
Miss! Not at all,” the eager young woman replied. ”If you'll just come with me,
I will take you to her quarters."
"Are you
sure that's okay?" Minako asked, a bit apprehensively. She knew how
zealously Rei guarded her privacy.
"Absolutely,"
the miko assured her. "The priestess herself asked me to bring you there
when you arrived." She smiled shyly. "I really don't think she
expected you to be this early though,” she amended. Indicating a walkway
leading toward the rear of the shrine, the girl smiled as she said, "If
you'll just come this way?"
Nodding her
assent, Minako followed closely behind her guide and was led into what she knew
had to be the private living area of the shrine itself. Ancient cobbled paths
snaked subtly through beautiful, lush vegetation and the overall effect was
timelessly peaceful. Minako sighed, and was taken in by the richly earthy
scent. She smiled, easily seeing Rei's need and attraction for this place: a
soothing balm for a raw and passionate soul.
Taking two
steps up onto a shaded porch, Minako waited patiently as the young miko slid
open a door and motioned for her to enter.
"You can
wait for the priestess here," she said, smiling politely. "She
shouldn't be too much longer."
"Thank
you," Minako replied. With a slight bow, the young woman excused herself,
leaving the door open as she left.
Finding
herself alone in Rei's quarters, Minako hesitantly looked around, her curiosity
getting the better of her. The faint orange light of a setting sun was
streaming through the open bank of windows along the outside wall. In its dim
light, Minako took in the room and its simple, yet elegantly practical
furnishings. She smiled sadly. Even if she hadn't been told this was where Rei
lived, she was sure she would have known. There was a certain strength to its
lay out and decoration that had her indelible mark all over it.
"I see
you made it."
Startled,
Minako turned toward that unmistakable voice and could see the outline of the
young priestess standing in the open doorway. Quickly regaining her composure,
she frowned. "You really didn't give me much choice."
"That's
not true, you know."
"How
so?" Minako asked.
"You
could have chosen not to come." Rei said, slowly taking a single step into
the room. Minako could almost hear the cryptic smile in her voice. "We all
have choices. Don't we... Venus?"
Minako
refused to show her irritation. "If you say so...Mars," she allowed,
throwing the Senshi title back at her. "But, I really don't see what that
has to do with why you've called me here this evening."
Rei turned
back toward the door. "It's simple, really," she answered as she slid
it shut, the lock echoing in the stillness of the room with a loud snap.
"I want it back."
"What
are you talking about?" Minako demanded, a bit unnerved despite herself.
"I can assure you, I've looked everywhere and gone through everything I
own, and I have nothing in my possession that has ever belonged to you!"
"That's
not true either..."
Minako
watched as Rei moved out of the shadows of the darkening room. There was
something about her. The way she moved, the slow but steady steps. The dark,
mysterious eyes, barely visible behind the deep, rich brown of her hair. Her
lips, those full, red lips. Quirked ever so slightly into a secret smile, as if
enjoying a private joke she may, or may not decide to share.
Minako
shivered, startled at the uncontrollable reaction she had to this woman... Was
it fear? Anger? Hatred? She swallowed heavily. No, it was most definitely not
that! Actually, to be quite honest, she knew exactly what it was.
Attraction.
Want. Desire.
...and love.
For Venus had
never stopped loving her Mars.
'But that was
millennia ago,' she reminded herself firmly.
Wasn't it?
She was
confused. This Mars had never loved her. She had no knowledge or memory of
their promises to each other so long ago.
So what was
this?
Minako involuntarily
moved back a step as Rei moved closer to her than she felt comfortable with.
Turning away from her, Minako chose instead to direct her attention to the
windows looking out over the formal garden.
"Really,
Rei," she said firmly. "In all honesty, I have no idea what you could
possibly be talking about."
Mildly
amused, Rei moved slowly around Minako. Her eyes following
the idol's every move, almost as if she were stalking her.
"Search
yourself and you'll know that's not true, Mina," she said, her voice low,
with just a touch of something Minako found herself afraid to identify.
Feeling a
tightening in her stomach at the unexpected use of a name she hadn't heard in
years, Minako found herself intensely aware of the dark priestess as she came
to a stop behind her.
"Of...
of course it is!" she stammered, instantly irritated with herself for
showing any lose of self control. "So unless you intend to come out and
tell me what this 'something' is, I see no further need of this...
this..."
Minako's little
tirade came to a screeching stop as Rei moved up behind her, and very much into
her personal space.
"Mars?
What... what are you...?"
Involuntarily,
she shivered as she felt the priestess' arms come up around her waist. Closing
her eyes in unexpected ecstasy, she pressed her body back against the delicious
curves of her former lover and swallowed heavily.
"Mars...
I..."
The feel of
Rei's cheek pressed against her own was exquisite, and she shivered again as
she heard that beloved voice whisper:
"Your
heart, Mina. Give me back your heart."
Minako
shuttered as gentle lips pressed firmly against the side of her face. The
whisper of a soft breath sent a momentary chill across her skin that was
quickly replaced by the warm return of Rei's questing lips.
"I've missed
you so much..."
Rei's hands
came to rest on Minako's hips, and the idol gasped softly as she was pulled
back against Rei's own warmth.
"Say you
still love me..."
The palm of
one hand moved up and softly over the bare flesh just under the edge of Minako's
loose fitting blouse, its fingers caressing, teasing...
"...my
Mina..."
No longer
able to stop herself, Minako spun in the circle of Rei's embrace and wrapped
her arms around the priestess' neck. Clinging to her long lost love, Minako
crushed her lips against Rei's desperately, her kisses hungry and wanting. Rei
met her eagerly, and Minako could feel herself beginning to melt into an
indescribable passion that enveloped them both in a sensual haze of desire.
"Reiko..."
With a sharp in
take of breath, Minako sat straight up in bed. In desperation, her hopeful eyes
searched her surroundings but could find only the familiarity of her own well
known bedroom in the dim light from the balcony doors.
Closing her
eyes, she raised an unsteady hand to cradle her aching head and waited for her
breathing to return to normal.
'Not again,' she
thought sadly.
As she felt the
beads of sweat begin to trickle down the back of her neck, she wondered just
how many times this had happened in the last two weeks? Four? Six? Eight?
She honestly
couldn't remember.
All she knew was
that sleeping was no longer the pleasant safe haven it had always been. Now,
she never knew when the longing in her heart would creep out of the cage she'd
kept it locked away in for too many years, and carry her away in a dream she
knew could never be.
Damn her.
Why?
Why did Mars
still haunt her after all these years?
Only the aching
silence of her empty room offered any form of answer, and what it offered was
too painful to contemplate.
Looking at the
bedside clock, she felt her spirits sag even more.
Throwing the
covers back, she rose on shaking legs and reached for her robe. Snuggling down
into its impersonal warmth, she walked toward the balcony doors, picking up her
notebook from the corner of the dresser along the way.
There would be
no more sleep tonight.
Moving across
the moonlit balcony, Minako stopped at the waist high brick wall and looked up
into the unending expanse of stars spread out before her, the notebook clutched
tightly to her chest. At times like these, the only solace, the only peace she
could find was through her music. Her work.
So, work she
would.
Turning toward
the round patio table, Minako settled into her usual chair and opened the
leather notebook. She wanted to be bitter. And if she were totally honest with
herself, she could admit that a large part of her was.
But there was
another part.
The part that
told her the love she longed for so badly was still there. She just had to wait
a bit longer for it. And so she still, despite all the long, lonely years of
waiting and the many sleepless nights, clung to hope.
For that
stubborn little part of her had never stopped believing in them...
...and
somewhere, buried deep inside, neither had she.
Closing her
eyes, she took a deep breath of the chilled air and held it, almost able to
taste the metallic tang of the moisture on the back of her tongue. Finally
releasing it, she opened her eyes and looked down at the blank page in front of
her. Nodding, she took up her pen and began to write:
In The Stars;
Our love was written in the stars
so long ago.
Set into the skies above;
A testament to endless love
that would last through time.
So now,
though I can't see you
in the days' harsh light,
I see you shining every
moonlit night.
And it reminds me of the love you gave.
How I miss you, babe!
For we were
Written In The Stars...
Author’s Note:
This would
probably fit nicely between chapters two and three of “Echoes of a Distant
Demon.” It kind of gives an explanation
of what was going on with Minako and her sleepless nights.
-- SD