The Start of Something

"Venus, wait!" Rei called, chasing after the (currently, at least) blonde. The girl in the orange skirt ignored her and kept walking away.

"Just come with us, Rei..." Ami said gently.

"The battle's over," Makoto said.

Rei shook her head, not even bothering to turn around. "It's Mars," she said coldly, "and you can go on without me. I'll meet you at Crown later."

Ami and Makoto opened their mouths to protest, but luckily, Usagi was already back to her normal self, at least on the inside. "All right! Karaoke at Crown! Ami-chan! Mako-chan let's go!"

Rei quickly dashed off after Minako before the others even started transforming back. "Wait!!! VENUS!" she called.

"Do not follow me, Mars" Aino Minako replied.

Rei ignored this "What were you thinking? You couldn't've possibly taken on that many yoma by yourself! If we hadn't gotten here-"

Minako turned around sharply, her eyes glinting in the fading light. "I was thinking that it isn't your job to guard me. Your job is to guard the Princess. Something you should be doing now."

Rei looked down. She should have gone with Usagi and the others. But surely there wouldn't be another attack so shortly after the first. "Jupiter and Mercury are with her. But you were going off by yourself-"

"As I said, it isn't your job to guard me," Minako said again. "Besides. I lied to you. I'm not the Princess. I thought you were angry with me."

"I was!" Rei shouted.

"Well then," Minako replied, turning on her heel.

Rei bit her lip. She had a temper as fiery as her powers, but she'd have to hold it in check if she wanted to have this conversation. She reached out and grabbed Minako's arm. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I just... I just wish you wouldn't disappear after a fight like this."

Minako turned to face Rei, a small smile on her face. An orange glow surrounded her, and her blonde hair turned black and her senshi outfit turned back into everyday street clothes. She had a baseball cap pulled low over her face, to keep people from recognizing her. "You know the Princess would flip if she knew who I was."

Rei couldn't help but smile as she transformed back as well. Tsukino Usagi, the Moon Princess, was obsessed with pop idol Aino Minako. Rei couldn't even imagine the look on her friend's face if she found out who she'd REALLY been fighting alongside for the past month or so. Still, she wished Minako would spend some more time with them. "Usagi would get over it... eventually."

"Eventually," Minako repeated, laughing softly. "Still... it's best if I stay alone. It would bring you into the spotlight, which is hardly something we need."

Rei frowned. It was logical, but it sounded like an excuse to her. "But Minako!" She received a look. "Venus," she corrected herself. She had not earned the right to call the leader of the four sailor senshi by her real name. "What if you get attacked again? That man - Kunzite - he could come back."

Minako looked Rei dead in the eye. "He won't. And it's still not your job to guard me."

Rei sighed "But what if..." There was nothing for it. She'd come to say it and she would, or it would haunt her. "But what if I want to?" Minako took a step back, surprise obvious in her dark eyes. Rei took a breath. "Ever since you showed yourself to us, I've had this feeling. I can't really explain it... I'm not good at that sort of thing. But I keep feeling... that if anything ever happened to you, I'd die."

Minako looked down, digesting this information. To Rei's surprise, when she looked up, she was smiling. She took Rei's hands in her own. "Mars," she whispered.

Rei found it difficult to speak, "Please call me Rei."

Minako took a step towards the young priestess. "Rei." The name was like a symphony contained in a single syllable. Minako allowed her lips to gently brush Rei's cheek. "Please call me Minako."

Rei was speechless. She searched for words, but they wouldn't come. She stared, open mouthed. Minako smiled mischievously. "I should go. My manager will be furious with me. You know where I live I believe?" Rei nodded dumbly. "See you tomorrow then? I will let security know you are coming." Rei nodded faster. She couldn't believe this was happening. "Great!" Minako began to walk away. She waved, "Goodnight, Rei-chan!"

Rei felt warmth flood her as she waved back in disbelief. She stood there for a long time. Finally, long after Minako had gone, she whispered, "Goodnight Minako-chan."