The young fan yelled for all to hear, “Aino Minako was staying here!”
Minako scrambled to finish dressing, as Rei got up to reprimand the girl.
Both could already hear the loud pattering of feet.
“Aiko-san, what did I tell you about opening doors- especially my door?”
Aiko Sakura bowed her head in apology, though her eyes were still surreptitiously trying to glimpse Minako from around her mentor's body. “I'm sorry, Rei-sama. I know I should at least knock before o- waiting.”
Rei glanced behind her shoulder to be greeted by a now fully clothed Minako, who was just adding her hat for balance. She was just in time to meet the eyes of three insistent young fans in shrine robes, eyes glittering.
“It really is her!”
“Aino-san, Aino-san, can we please have your autograph? Pretty please?”
“Rei-sama, do you know Aino-san? Aino Minako?”
Rei sighed as she looked from her students back to Minako, who had come up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
Minako smiled as if this was all too normal for her, which it likely was. “You wouldn't happen to have any pens or papers for autographs would you? I don't mind, but I didn't bring any with me.” She grinned at Rei. “I never would have imagined that the great Rei-sama would allow Minako fans to stay at her shrine.”
She giggled slightly as Rei glared at her. She had made it a point in Minako's company to never show any remote sense of approval for Minako's fame or merchandise. Which made it essential that her students did not give away her secret, which they seemed willing to do at this point. “Well? Have you, or haven't you? She doesn't have all day you know!”
As soon as the four had scattered to their rooms to find the necessary items, Minako whispered into her ear, an eye keeping a look out for returning fans, “Actually, I may not have all day, but I have all but three hours of the day. Just a radio broadcast and a little visit to the mall for signing, and then I'm free.”
Rei turned to look at her. “And what will the great Aino-sama do with all her free time?”
“I can't spend it with you?” was Minako's innocent reply.
Rei scoffed. “I have work here to do. And you know Usagi-chan and the others will be wanting to see you.”
“Will you come by later if your work is done?”
Rei turned her head absently towards the torii (shrine entrance?). “Maybe, maybe not. It's a lot to do.”
Minako considered her options, and was about to ask if she might lessen the load a little, before the fans came from all sides, showering her with merchandise, paper, and pens galore.
“Could you sign this shirt, Aino-san?”
“Can you sign this CD jacket, Aino-san?”
“Can you personalize it on this poster and sign this paper?”
“Can you make it out 'with love to Misha'?”
Rei sighed as Minako gave them her winning smile and led them over to the edge of the patio where she could sit with her feet dangling as she signed away.
Sakura, having been first in line, hung back with Rei as she waited for the others to finish. “Rei-sama, if I may ask, what were you... you and Aino-san...” Sakura coughed and blushed, unable to continue.
Rei sighed, knowing the others were listening. “We-”
One of the boys asked, “Are you two secret lovers?”
Had Rei been the one signing, she surely would have messed up the signature horribly, but Minako was well practiced at this by now. In fact, it was she that answered as she continued writing, “No, nothing like that. We've known each other for a long time now- Rei-chan's my best friend, and I stayed over so we could have a little fun catching up. You just caught us in the middle of changing, that's all.”
Sakura blushed, her head bowed once more. “I apologize, Aino-san, Rei-sama, for invading privacy like that.”
Rei sighed, holding her temples with one hand. “If Minako doesn't mind, then I'll... I'll let it go, I guess. It's not like you haven't already got a mountain of punishments to finish from all your other misdemeanors.”
Minako giggled quietly for a moment, hearing the pout in Sakura's voice.
The two boys present were held spellbound.
“'Rei-chan'...”
“Mi...na...ko.”
Rei snapped before they got any ideas, “Just because we use that level of honorifics doesn't mean you're allowed to. I'll kill any one of you that calls me '-chan'.”
All four disciples sat straight up, looking as if they were a hair's breath from saluting. “Hai! Rei-sama!”
Minako couldn't help but giggle more. As she moved on to the next fan, the other girl asked quietly, “Does Rei-sama get free concert tickets?”
One of the boys added, “Do we get free tickets for being the students of Aino-san's best friend?”
The other boy agreed, “That's gotta count for something, right?”
Rei let out an aggravated growl. The boys responded with a frightened yelp and backed up from their excited leaning closer to the idol.
Minako let out another small giggle before she calmly answered, “I've tried to give Rei-chan free tickets before but she never seemed to want to take them... such a pity... and I'm afraid I have no reason to present the students with free tickets if the teacher doesn't want them...”
Rei glared daggers at the back of Minako's head as three of the four miscreants rushed to plead with Rei to take the tickets, ask how she could possibly refuse them, and so on until Rei growled, “Enough! I don't care to because I don't care to. Continue this line of thought and I'll be sure to double your workload for the next two weeks.” She eyed all of them one by one, seeing if any would dare speak up. None did. She relaxed, satisfied.
Minako finished, giving the last one to Misha before she stood up. “Rei-chan, did you happen to see what time it was?”
Sakura chirruped, proudly providing her watch, “It's 9:34!”
Rei's eyes widened as she realized it was time for one of her more strict sponsors to come on their monthly visit. Minako noticed her instantly troubled look and stepped forward, whispering into the ear away from the students. “You have my cell phone number. Call me when you're done and I'll tell you where we are. And since I know you're bound to be busy now, I'll just let myself out, yes?”
Minako bent forward just the tiniest of millimeters and gave Rei's ear a small peck before stepping back. She smiled as she waved, “Bye-bye, Rei-chan. I'll see you later, okay?”
Still stunned, Rei nodded. “B...ye.”
The fans insisted on escorting Minako to the torii at the very least, though Rei had to go straight to her visitors lest any more tardiness infuriate them. Sakura, who had seen the small kiss, chose to follow her mentor quietly.
As soon as Minako got into her black car, this one driven by her for personal use, she turned on her cell phone. Within a second, it started to ring. She sighed, pulling away from the curb of the alley behind the shrine as she put the earpiece on and answered the call.
“It's Minako. ... Yes, I know, I'm on my way. Why am I late? What else? I overslept. Rather, more like I forgot to set an alarm. Hm? Why would I lie to you, Manager? Oh, come on, that was one time! I promised I wouldn't do that again! Crystal Station? Yes, I know where it is. Of course I'm sure- I've lived here most of my non-traveling life, Manager! Okay, okay, I'll be there in... um... twenty minutes. Is that all right with you? Yes? Okay, then see you then. I'll call if something comes up, yes. Bye.”
Minako sighed as she hung up. She glanced at the phone, debating whether she should call Usagi before or after her work, giving her time to prepare or letting the ex-princess see her right after hearing from her. There was also the notion that Usagi would talk her ear off and she'd have to hang up on her mid-sentence if she didn't want to be any later than she already was. Minako chuckled at the thought, but decided it would be best if she didn't call beforehand. Though... if she called one of the other girls and let them relay the message...
At a traffic light, Minako scanned her phonebook and found Makoto's flower shop number. After setting it to dial, Minako focused on the road.
“Oak Ev. Flower Shop, this is Makoto speaking. How may I help you?”
Minako hid her giggle as she answered diplomatically, “Good morning, I was wondering if I might set up an appointment to meet you and your acquaintances for lunch later today.”
There was the slightest pause on the other end. “Minako? Is that you?”
The giggle escaped. “I suppose you missed my publicized arrival?”
Makoto laughed. “Well, yes and no. I didn't see it myself- I was talking with a client then- but the next client that came in, she likes to gossip and talk about things like that, she as good as described everything down to the color of your nail polish for me.”
Minako checked her fingers absently. It was the clear kind. “And what did she say that was?”
“Umm... I wasn't really listening, to be honest. I did catch that you were back safe and sound.”
“Mm. I have a live radio broadcast to get to now, so maybe you can switch it on and listen, and make up for lost TV watching. Oh, and how about lunch? Are you free at... one?”
“I can be. I... don't have any scheduled appointments today and Motoki can watch the shop just fine. Why? Are you planning on having everyone meet up?”
“Yeah, if everyone else is free too. Rei said she's busy but she may come, just late. I was hoping you could call Ami-chan and Usagi-chan and see if they have plans while I'm at the radio station.”
“Sure. We're not very busy right now anyway. Where do you want to meet?”
“Do you think we still have that room at the Crown?”
“Well... you know, I'd say yes... but I don't know if we could get you through the normal Saturday crowds there. Without being seen, you know?”
Minako nodded though it couldn't be seen. “Ah... well... hm... do you know exactly what kind of business Rei has to do?”
“I think she's meeting one of the shrine's sponsors today. It usually doesn't take long really... not more than an hour or two. She takes care of the bills and everything... helps the students keep the shrine grounds neat, and then... well... she has taken to teaching the helpers every so often. But she could probably push that aside, if you're in town and all.”
“Wow, you're really informed.” More so than me, but then again, I always forgot to ask.
Makoto let out a soft laugh. “Yeah, well, she visits on occasion, and Usagi does too of course, and she's the real brains behind the gossip column.”
“Ehh... okay, well... do you think it would be too much of a bother to her if we met up at the shrine?”
“You'd have to ask her. She changes her mind about that sort of thing a lot. Or maybe it's just when Usagi asks... She probably wouldn't mind, despite what she says though.”
“Hmm... okay then. Let's surprise her. Everyone meet up at one, okay?”
Makoto laughed a little. “Okay. Anything else?”
Minako thought about it. “Well, now that you mention it... do you think you could take a break off from work a little early and cook something for us? I suddenly find myself craving some of Mako-chan's famous homecooking.”
Makoto laughed at that. “As her lovely Idol self wishes. I've actually got just the thing in mind.”
“Okay, I'll see you then?”
“Yeah, see you.”
As soon as she hung up, all later plans taken care of, Minako sighed and leaned back in her leather seat.
She imagined Rei's expression when they all came up her steps at once... and giggled at the expression she saw on Rei's face.
Which reminded her of this morning, when those kids waltzed in... and she couldn't help but giggle again, strangely not flustered at being seen without her pants on. In fact, it was a bit startling to realize that she could have been in her birthday suit... and not have cared.
Or perhaps it was the thought that being seen, in that situation, nude, would have meant that Rei would have had a really good view of her...
And then she wondered what had happened for her to not mind in the least, thinking thoughts along this line regarding Rei.
“Are you two lovers?”
Minako sighed softly. No, but why do I suddenly wish I could have answered 'yes'?
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