Eika laughed. With a wink, Eika replied, “Tips on how to woo a princess. Hino-chan, you've never confessed to a girl before, right?”
In that moment, Rei made a very good imitation of a statue.
Well, more like a person petrified by aliens while trying to run in fear, but that's beside the point.
Rei gulped.
Rinka sighed. She's stunned yet another victim. “Eika-”
Eika looked over and mouthed, 'I know, sorry.' To Rei, who was still trying to stutter out an obvious question, she replied, “I've been doing this a long time, Hino-chan. Forced gender recognition is one of the easiest tricks in my book.”
Rei stared in awe.
Eika laughed, twirling halfway around so as to go refill her coffee mug from the edge of a desk beside the back door. She remained in view, despite not looking Rei in the eye. “Of course, your reaction just now gave your secret away. Even if I hadn't already known and had been merely taking a wild guess just now, I would have learned it right there and then.”
Rei fumbled and fell back onto her stool with a soft thud. She inwardly cursed herself for having been tricked so easily.
Rinka only shook her head hopelessly. “I think now would be a fine time to remind you two that it is nearing 1:30? Hino-san, I do hope you didn't have any appointments to keep...”
Rei blinked out of her daze to check her watch, and thus affirmed that Rinka was right. “I-I don't have any meetings for a few hours, but I should get going...”
The fire priestess took hold of her shopping bags and was about to make some sort of departing remark when Eika returned, coffee mug filled. “Wait a minute, Hino-chan.”
It just occurred to Rei at that moment what Eika, a stranger, was referring to her as, but considering she had just spilled more of her beans, milk, and cats-out-of-bags than she had ever before, she let the nickname slide. For now.
Eika walked up to her, brandishing a business card between two of her fingers. With another toothsome smile, she stated in her low, naturally soothing tone, “Take this. I've taken a particular interest in your case, Hino-chan. Therefore, just for you, I'll leave my cell number open so you can update me on all the latest happenings with your love interest this week, so we can work all the closer towards your happy ending of sorts. This also has the store's website address on it in case you want to look through our online jewelry catalog in the mean time.”
“Ah...” I don't have a computer though... oh wells. Maybe I'll ask Ami if I can borrow hers for a little bit sometime... “Thanks. Sorry for the trouble. Um..” Shoot, what was her name again? I'm usually pretty decent at remembering names too...
Eika smiled yet again and righted the card so that Rei could read it without holding it. “Kisekino Eika. Owner of this branch of Kiseki Jewels. Hmm... your hands are pretty full, aren't they? No, no, don't put them down. I like to hope that my special business cards get treated with enough respect that the numbers are legible after the fact, so I think I'll... ah, don't move now, all right?”
Before Rei could object, though Eika had already placed some sort of petrifying spell on her, the jeweler took the card and slipped it neatly into the lacy bra cup that was just barely peeking out from behind the semi-unbuttoned blouse. Assured that no simple passer-byer would be able to see it, Eika tapped it lightly with her knuckles before leaning back. Before doing so, however, she whispered, “There. Now take good care of it, won't you? I won't forgive Hino-chan if I find that an old geezer is calling my private line.”
The blush came slowly, like how a horror film heroine painstakingly turns around to face the monster, but come it did. Full force. It went over the meter of endurance when Rei realized that she couldn't muster the indignation she usually would have in this sort of situation.
Then again, if she thought about it, usually...
No one would have ever gotten that close to her.
No one would have tried to get that close to her.
Much less for taking a business card...
And leaving it there.
Rei could definitely feel it.
It was cold to the touch, and yet, it wasn't freezing in the least.
Eika continued to smile at her. Almost innocently. Almost.
Something like a cat who had just mutilated a rat and was waiting for you to comment on the carcass.
Maybe innocent wasn't quite the right word.
“Hino-chan?”
Rei snapped out of her daze. “A-ahm. I'll... I'll be going now. Th-thank you for your time, um, Kisekino-san.”
Eika laughed pleasantly, holding a hand up to wave. “I'll be waiting. Though I hope you're aware, people who call me on my cell are generally on good enough terms with me to call me by my first name.”
Rei was still very much flushed, and this did not help matters. So she simply bowed her head and turned to walk out.
Eika waited until the bell had tinkled to signal the younger woman's departure before sitting on the edge of Rei's stool, still somewhat warm.
She sipped her coffee with a soft purr of satisfaction.
Rinka's voice interrupted her musings. “Eika... are you sure your hobby isn't to break up couples as opposed to keeping them or bringing them together?”
Eika laughed softly, and took another sip without answering.
Rinka, dubious now, voiced, “Eika-chan?”
Eika had been watching the slightly swaying priestess head into the nearby train station. Only when her target was out of sight did she respond, “Of course I'm sure. That it's the latter. But can't I remind you that this is a no-profit hobby? I'm entitled to my fun.”
Rinka sighed. “But why do you have to have fun with store customers?”
A longer sip of coffee was had. “What does it matter? All the clients in the past have come back for more, haven't they?”
Rinka fought back another sigh as she went to the computer in the back room to check the site orders. Sure, but they all end up coming back for you, not the jewelry.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
“Minako? ... Oi, Minako!”
The idol blinked out of her daze and looked around. She realized she was driving just in time to avoid a head on collision, returning to the proper lane while ignoring the angry honking in her direction. Angry honking is a good sign that I'm not recognized, but I guess I really shouldn't be spacing out while at the wheel.
Artemis sighed. “What are you thinking about?”
Minako smiled. “Sorry, Artemis. Nothing in particular. Today's schedule might have worn me out more than I realized, no matter how used to it I am.”
Artemis looked up at his charge and shook his head. “I know you, Minako. That isn't a 'nothing' thought that's distracting you.”
The smile waned a little, but it still remained as Minako continued the drive. “Maybe it was. But it's nothing now, considering I've forgotten it.”
The white fluff of animated plush looked ahead from the passenger seat, though that meant nothing from his position. He knew she was lying again, like she had been increasingly more often ever since she had left Japan after the wedding. But there was only one thing she lied about. Before, she only lied about how affected she was by the illness, at least where Artemis was concerned. Now, she only lied, again concerning her feelings, about how affected she was by a certain priestess. Artemis only hoped it didn't have the same result. No, he didn't just hope for it; he pleaded for it. He didn't want Minako or Rei to have to go through all those high strung emotions again. No matter what this resolution would be. Well, almost no matter. Some other exceptions were only natural to be prayed for as well.
The car rolled to a stop right where Artemis expected. On the back street near the shrine. Rei's shrine.
Minako held out her hand. “Are you coming?”
Not wanting to be left behind after spending the weekend at the Tsukino's, Artemis hurriedly jumped up into his charge's waiting arms.
Car locked behind them, Minako made her way up the steps, dyed in the red light of the setting sun.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
As soon as she arrived home, she rushed to unpack her new supplies, and refill her kit. In face of the impending horrible stain (or something to that effect) Rei worked doggedly to remove it, forgetting in the meantime, to put the business card in a less suggestive place. The only reason she hadn't removed it right there on the train was... well... people might have gotten the wrong idea, if they'd seen her.
That said, she was comfortably propped against the wall, gently wiping the fingerprints off of her limited (first) edition postcards when she heard her name being called.
The second time she heard the voice, she recognized it. Minako?
Rei hurried to clean up what she had taken out, pushing her collection back into place in the closet. She had only just finished sliding the door closed when Minako poked her head through Rei's open bedroom doorway. She knocked conspicuously on the doorframe.
“Am I disturbing you?”
Rei shook her head. “No, not at all. Come in; I was just cleaning up some more.
Artemis came into view as Minako took Rei up on her invitation. “Osu! Long time no see, Rei-san!”
Rei nodded to the white furball, making note to assure that her own plushie did not reveal itself under any circumstances. “Tea?”
“Sure,” Minako answered, having seated herself by the coffee table. As Rei busied herself with the tea, Minako started, “Ah, I have your pass. Wanna see?”
“In a sec,” Rei mumbled. Having Minako so close again reminded her far too much of her afternoon, from the first train ride to the business card, the latter of which made itself particularly noticeable now, at least to her.
Watching the priestess, Minako couldn't help but wonder if something was wrong. She seemed... more on edge... at least... more than she had been the last few days. “What's wrong?”
“What do you mean? Nothing's wrong.” Rei knew she couldn't even fool herself with that one, so she tried to change gears. “How was your day?”
Minako paused for the slightest of moments, before smiling and letting herself relax, nearly squishing Artemis as she leaned her arms flat on the table. Artemis having escaped safely, she rested her head in the crook of her arm, turning to look at the priestess' back. “Tiring. But no more so than usual. I'm glad I get off early for good behavior.”
“Good behavior? What are you, in prison?”
Minako laughed, realizing how that had sounded. She mumbled a thanks as Rei came to the table with the tea, sitting across from her. “Speaking of which, besides breakfast here, I think I missed on having any other food with substance today. Just some water and snacks from the vending machine...” She smiled apologetically at the disapproving glare Rei sent her. She more than anyone had scolded the idol about proper eating habits the past several years (over the phone).
“Minako...”
The idol cut her off with a grin. “That's why I was wondering if you would have dinner with me.”
Rei blinked, honestly surprised. Artemis seemed to feel much the same, considering his mistress' forwardness.
If that is what must be done, then you know what you must do.
Minako was already continuing, “You don't have to, of course. I'm sure I can manage well enough on my own if I go back to my suite, and I'm sure I've imposed too much on you alrea-”
“Sure.” Rei smiled a little, even more at Minako's return surprised expression. “I don't have any food here though. Usagi somehow used it all and I didn't think to buy more until after I... erm... came back from buying... hygienic supplies.” For my collection, Rei didn't add.
“Hmm... should we go out?”
Rei held back her flinch, which was already a form of holding back her reaction to Minako's choice of words.
She could feel her heart speeding up.
She took a sip from her cup, neutrally neither very bitter nor very sweet this time.
“Y-you sure you want to risk that? In public...”
Minako nodded thoughtfully. “I suppose you're right... There are some places I know that would make special accommodations but... not out of the blue like this. The hotel suite then?”
Her heart seemed to believe that this new heartbeat rate was what the norm was, and remained like so.
Which made it hard for Rei to form coherent responses. Maybe spilling everything hadn't been such a great idea after all. Now... now that she knew how she personally felt... almost every nook and cranny of it...
Getting embarrassed at everything... the slightest suggestion... was more than just the reality of it all.
“Rei-chan? You sure you're all right?”
Rei nodded, taking another hurried sip. “I... I don't mind, I guess. You want to leave now?”
Minako paused, watching her another moment, before shrugging in answer. “If you like.”
There was a silence.
They drank their tea.
“OH!” It suddenly occurred to Minako that she should present the pass to her now, before she forgot. Fishing it out of her purse, she proudly handed it over. “Your pass.”
A bit curious, especially remembering how Minako said she would make it foolproof, Rei set down her cup and reached over to take it.
She inwardly shuddered as their fingers grazed each other, but she fought it back.
Then she got a good look at the photo that had been laminated along with her name and some sort of numerical code.
“M-Min... This... Min-ako... you...” Eventually, she gave up all pretenses towards politeness and slapped it (somewhat gently) on the table between them. “What the heck is this!”
The picture, Rei remembered all too well, had been from one of her and Minako's few private outings in their younger years. It was not only outdated and with a silly border but...
Minako grinned innocently, “What's wrong? I think it's a cute picture of you. (n.n)”
Cheeks flaming red, Rei tapped the picture repeatedly, incidentally touching the little cupids that had served as the border, considering it was a dateless Valentines Day outing.
“You can't be serious! Why on Earth would I ever show this to anyone, much less for identification! I thought we agreed to throw this one out!”
Minako continued to grin. “Knowing how to work the machine is a great trick, Rei-chan. I'll teach you sometime. I have a whole sheet still of this picture.”
Rei stared at her agape. “Throw it out! Throw it out!”
Minako only grinned and stood up, walking around the table as Rei stared unseeing.
Which was why Rei was beyond startled when she felt the presence behind her, and two fingers entering her mouth from either side...
Followed by a slightly painful jerk of both fingers hooking her mouth into a forced open smile.
... Emphasis on the word “forced”.
Minako grinned as Rei tried in vain to protest, “Artemis, look, doesn't she look exactly like the photo?”
Artemis had hopped onto the table, comparing the photo on the pass to the real-live edition. He nodded seriously, having been pampered into alliance earlier in the day. “Yes, it's a perfect match. And I'm sure no other would even consider posing like that to get backstage with your pass.”
Rei finally managed to break free as Minako purposely loosened her hold. “I wasn't posing! And not even I would consider doing that to get backstage! Mi-na-ko!”
And so, girl chasing and face deforming commenced.
On the bright side, Rei was able to forget her nervousness for those precious few minutes.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Half an hour later, clothes changed and pass reluctantly accepted, Minako and Rei were on their way to the hotel.
Rei ruefully rubbed her cheeks, which she imagined were still sore.
Minako glanced at her, hiding amusement. “It wouldn't have happened in the first place if you had smiled properly from the start, you know.”
Rei glared at her. “Well excuse me if I don't have years of photo shooting experience to back me up in little photo booths.”
Minako smiled, taking it in stride. “It's not like you don't know how to smile... you just... hmm... come to think of it... when you were taking those shots as Mars Reiko, you didn't smile either, did you?”
Rei fidgeted. “What's your point?”
The idol shook her head. “Nothing, I was just thinking at random.”
Silence.
Rei fingered the pass that hung around her neck. While changing, she had decided to, on the spur of the moment, stick Eika's card between the extra sheets behind the picture. She didn't want to risk someone somehow finding it in her wallet, or purse, or her room... it seemed like the safest place, considering Rei would be heavily guarding this pass lest any other see it besides Minako's guard personnel. In other words, anyone besides those who had to see it.
It was unfortunate that Rei could no longer use her backstage pass for bragging. She would die if any of those little brats saw that picture.
No, scratch that.
She would have no more apprentices because she would have to kill them after the fact.
And she needed her apprentices. For the future at least. And menial labor.
Rei sat in wait as Minako coasted into the parking garage, slipping up the levels to a spot seemingly left open just for her.
Minako grinned at her once they had stopped, as if parking was some miracle reminder for her memory of Rei being forced to smile.
Rei ignored her and got out of the car.
They walked side by side to the elevator, which was empty aside from them. Artemis was resting quietly in Minako's arms as the elevator doors slid open to reveal the top floor, the roof (glass) dome restaurant.
Not far after she had stepped out, Rei stopped dead in her tracks.
Well, maybe it would make more sense if all coherent thought stopped, and prevented her from going against the already set command to “walk forward”.
Incidentally, Minako caught sight of someone she knew, and head right towards the object of Rei's petrification trick.
The target of her stare looked up as Minako called out to the target's companion. Both stood up with smiles.
“Minako-chan! Rei-chan! What a surprise! You decided to have dinner here after all?”
Minako nodded to her manager, smiling with the innocence that her fans adored. She turned to her eccentric manager's companion and tilted her head. “I don't believe we've met. You are...?”
The woman had been watching Rei's frozen expression with amusement, but at the address turned her attention to the idol. She bowed her head with a soft smile.
“Kisekino Eika, at your service, Aino-san. I'm sorry to have not met your acquaintance before, but it's a pleasure to do so now. You see, your manager here is actually my uncle, Saitou Sugao.”
Rei stared. You can't be serious.
Back to Adjunction to Love Index - Back to Sailor Moon Shoujo-Ai Fanfiction