QUESTIONS Usagi came to consciousness slowly. The fire had died out, and she became aware that the room had become uncomfortably cold. She felt stiff and chilled to the bone. She sneezed, and wondered if she had fallen asleep and everything had just been a dream, but the back of her head hurt where she had bumped it when she fainted. She rubbed the sore spot gingerly. She now had a full-blown headache, and badly wanted a bed. She went to the main washroom, brushed her teeth and cleaned her face, and took some opened aspirin. She pulled out a futon and quilt from the hall closet, and carried them into Rei's room. She took her clothes off, and put on one of Rei's thin nightgowns. It had certainly been a long day, and she would have loved nothing more than to go to sleep, but a small moan from Rei changed her mind. Rei had slept almost eight hours now, but looked as though she'd had a rough time of it. Usagi turned on a small desk lamp and crept over to her friend's bedside. She pulled the trash can out of Rei's arms... it had water in it. She sighed... poor girl. Maybe she did have a stomach virus. Rei had kicked the quilt off of the bed in her restlessness and was goose bumpy cold in her black sports bra and bike shorts. Her skin was very dry... no sweat at all. Her lips were parched and cracked. Rei was extremely dehydrated. Frightened, Usagi pushed Rei's soft bangs away from her forehead and pressed her palm against it. Usagi swore softly. Usagi picked up the fallen quilt and put it back on top of Rei. She reached under the quilt for Rei's wrist and counted her pulse to see if there was any sign of recovery at all. It was slightly fast, but not too bad. The rain had finally stopped, and the night air temperature had only reached the upper 40's. A waxing harvest moon shown brightly through breaks in the clouds and glowed through the curtains which fluttered in the light breeze due to Rei's partially opened window. Usagi shivered... it was Artemis' crescent moon. She got up to shut the window, then returned to Rei. "Rei, wake up, hon." Usagi entreated. Rei's eyes fluttered open, but her vision was blurred. The delicate form of an angel, with an achingly beautiful face, hovered over her. She felt... warm. I'm dead, she thought to herself. No, Rei observed, the vision had one of her own favorite sheer lavender nightgowns on! It was Usagi... in all her glory. Her breath caught. " 'Sagi?" Rei croaked. "Hai, do you feel any better? I need to try and get some liquids into you. You are really dehydrated. I'd like to avoid the hospital, if you don't mind." Usagi stated. "Well, lets see, I feel like a truck ran over my guts, a sledge hammer is trying to pound my brains into a pulp, and I think the Sahara Desert is forming on my tongue. I feel great." Usagi giggled. "Do you think you could keep some liquids and soda crackers down now? Would you like some medicine for your headache?" Rei thought about it. "I'm so thirsty, I will risk it, and I'd love a couple of painkillers!" Usagi smiled then went to refresh the half-gone water in the cup she had placed near the trashcan beside the futon. Usagi proffered the cup and aspirin to Rei, but noticed she was still weak and dizzy, so Usagi helped her to sit up. Rei's hand shook as she took the cup and, after she swallowed the medicine she slowly sipped the water a little at a time, afraid of sickness. Rei noticed the senbazuru that hung above her desk. Usagi took the drained cup and set it on the floor beside the futon, her hand poised over the trash can. Oh please keep it down, Usagi prayed silently. She watched Rei carefully, as she lay back down and closed her eyes again. "Are you alright?" Usagi asked softly, while she adjusted the quilt. "I think so, I just feel really lousy and wiped out. Remind me never to do this again! I love the senbazuru... that was really thoughtful. Did you make them for me, Usa?" Rei asked impressed and touched. Usagi grinned sheepishly. "I wish I could take credit for the idea, but I can't. It was Ami's idea. We each made one, though, 'cause we love you. Everybody hopes you recover from the flu real soon." Usagi winked at her friend. "I'll have to thank everyone, then. You know, maybe I can keep some soda crackers down after all." Rei said hopefully. "That's my brave girl! I'll be right back." She responded brightly. Usagi found Rei's housecoat and padded out of the room. She tiptoed past Grandpa's room, and hoped she wouldn't sneeze. Usagi caught her second wind as the medicine she took kicked in. She breezed cheerily into the kitchen and put a kettle of water on the stove to boil while she looked for teas that would soothe a tender stomach. She nuked Mako's chicken soup while she hunted for the soda crackers. Rei needed nourishment badly. She had missed about four meals, and had lost a lot of liquid. Usagi was seriously worried about her friend's condition. She located the small teacups, took down three, along with two matching teapots, and set them on a small tray. The water came to a boil, so she turned the heat off. She put some fresh peppermint tea leaves into the teapot with a little ginger, and poured the boiled water over them. In the other pot she put some herbs for herself to ease her cold symptoms. She set the hot chicken soup container on the tray along with a ladle and a spoon. Last came the package of crackers onto the tray. Usagi blew her nose one more time, washed her hands again and with that done, she maneuvered her way cautiously back to Rei's room. Rei opened her eyes as Usagi entered the room. Usagi stepped around her own futon to set the tray down on the floor beside Rei's futon without mishap. She noted with satisfaction that Rei hadn't fallen back to sleep, and was even happier that she hadn't spilt anything. Rei smiled at her cheerful friend. "You really enjoy my misery, don't you? Is this Mako's famous cure-all chicken soup?" Rei asked as she sat up shakily. Usagi piled some pillows behind her to help prop her up and make her comfortable. She returned Rei's smile, engagingly. "Yup, on both accounts. You and the others always take care of me, so this is a real treat. Of course, I could call Mina, if you like!" Usagi's voice trembled with mirth as she perched on the edge of Rei's bed. "No thanks, you're a fine baby sitter." Rei said dryly, and reached eagerly for a soda cracker. Usagi carefully poured Rei and herself some tea. She regarded Rei nibble and sip through hooded eyelids a few minutes in silence, while she debated in her mind whether or not to delve further into Rei's fragile psyche. Usagi turned her head away, sneezed and blew her nose. She may hurt Rei, but if it meant she could get to the truth, it would be worth it. Usagi reached her decision, gathered her courage together, and looked deeply into Rei's dark amethyst eyes. "Well, it appears you've finally recovered enough to keep your food down! I'm glad you feel a little better, Rei-chan." She was genuinely pleased as Rei hungrily helped herself to crackers and Mako's soup. Usagi turned, sneezed again, and reached for a tissue, then cleared her throat a little. "Would you mind answering just a few more questions, while you're awake?" Usagi looked at Rei questioningly over the top of her own teacup. "Usagi, its almost 1:00 in the morning, can't your questions wait until we get some real sleep?" Rei asked tiredly, then gently, "you must be exhausted, and it sounds like you've come down with something." Usagi sneezed again. "I think it's just a cold I caught while I tramped about in the rain... nothing serious. I am tired, but I wouldn't be able to sleep with all that's on my mind. I need to have the answers to some important questions soon, Rei, in order to resolve some issues that effect all of us for all eternity. You see, I have come to a fork in my path of life. My Mother came to me tonight and spoke to me with regard to my possible futures." Usagi replied quietly, and blew her nose again. Rei had polished off the chicken soup, and few more crackers. Somewhat sated, she now gave Usagi her full attention, curious to know what she personally had to do with 'possible futures'. "All right, I'm sorry, Usa, I shouldn't have blown you off like that. What is it you want to know?" Rei asked and gave her a weak grin, while she balanced her teacup on a quilt-covered knee. Usagi regarded Rei seriously for a moment before she sighed. "Rei-chan, you must be completely honest with me, no matter how painful my questions become, ok?" Rei nodded, her curiosity piqued. "I want to know what you felt inside when Yuuichiro left." That was the last question Rei expected, but wasn't too surprised. She wondered where Usagi could be headed, she decided to humor her. She looked back into Usagi's endlessly dark sapphire blue eyes. "I felt betrayed, dirty, and rejected. As if nobody could ever love anybody like me... someone used and broken. You happy?" Rei sipped some of her tea, and avoided Usagi's pensive gaze. Usagi was silent while her proud bodyguard fought with a broken spirit. She waited until Rei composed herself before she continued her line of query. Rei finally looked at Usagi, her eyes dark with emotion. Usagi resumed gently. "Rei, you think he is your last chance for any semblance of happiness, don't you? Jadeite is gone so you feel that you are destined to be trapped in a loveless life without a soul mate, don't you?" Usagi's words pricked at Rei's comfort zone. Rei bowed her head. "Hai, that sums it up fairly accurately. I feel incredibly alone. Not even the fire will co-operate with me and show me who my soul mate is or was." She kept her face averted. Usagi took Rei's empty teacup from her hand and set it on the tray to refill it. She clasped the Miko's hands in her own, and decided to risk her friendship and take a chance... "You know, Rei, you can try to lie to yourself, but I won't let you lie to me. There is one other, isn't there?" Rei was shocked by Usagi's forthrightness. "The truth is you do know who your soul mate is, and its someone you love very deeply. You don't need the fire to tell you something that you already know in your heart. You pray over and over that your heart lies to you, don't you, Rei? It's not Jadeite, or Mamoru, or Yuuichiro, you are in love with, is it?" Rei never looked up, as she shook her head 'no'. "Tell me Rei, who has filled your dreams for as long as you can remember? Tell me about the denial, about those forbidden emotions and thoughts you try so hard to bury with anger and criticism... just to protect yourself from certain rejection. Who is it whom you love so intensely, you would rather die in their place over and over again, than live in a life without that loved one?" "Why are you doing this to me?" She cried in anguish. "Rei, please look at me! You said you would trust me, so answer me. Who are you in love with? Who does your soul desire more than anyone else?" Rei raised her moist purple eyes up slowly to meet Usagi's dark compassionate blue ones. "It's you, Usagi, I love you. Kami forgive me. My heart tells me you are my soul mate. Your soul completes mine, and I don't understand why." She whispered. "From that first day I met you here at the jinja, there was something about you... a certain connection. I was confused about the strange emotions I had for you, and put an Ofuda on your forehead. How does the knowledge of this help with Crystal Tokyo's destiny, anyway? We can never be together, even if you did feel the same way for me. Oh, this is absolutely pointless!" Rei hissed the last in exasperation. Usagi couldn't help but smile as her heart rejoiced, and she jumped up and down inside! She brought her face closer to Rei's. "It's not pointless. Please bear with me, Rei-chan. I must choose between a life of love and a life of duty to fulfill destiny. I needed to hear you say you loved me, in order to make the right decision." Usagi glanced shyly at Rei. "You see, Rei, I feel the same connection that you do... I feel your soul close to mine inside me..." She said softly, and brought her lips closer to Rei's. "...my heart tells me that you are my soul mate..." Rei could feel Usagi's warm breath as it caressed her lips softly, and sent shivers of excitement up her spine. Usagi moved closer still. "...your soul completes mine... " Comprehension fled. Rei sat still and silent. This was not reality... but some sort of magical moment that would de-materialize like an illusion if she blinked. How could this be? Rei resolved it was safer not to accept what had transpired. She couldn't dare to hope, to believe... it was wrong! What am I to do? She thought. Kami, I think she wants to kiss me! I shouldn't want this, but I... I do want this... I've waited so long! Tears of confusion began to slowly course down her cheeks from tightly closed eyes. "...and I am in love with you... " Usagi parted her wetted lips slightly as she laid her right palm softly alongside Rei's jaw line. Then she closed her own eyes, and gently drew Rei's dry, soft, yielded lips into a tender kiss. Rei's fingers trembled as they brushed through Usagi's platinum blond hair. Rei could hear Chibi Rei's voice as it screamed in terror, but knew by how soft and sweet the kiss was, that Usagi was definitely not her father. Intellectually she knew she shouldn't react, but she felt so starved for any small gesture of affection, she couldn't stop, couldn't pull away. Rei lay weakly back against the pillows, her head now cradled by Usagi's left hand. She hesitated, then tentatively filled the kiss with her own fire. Usagi gradually pushed Rei's sports bra up over her small firm breasts with her right hand, she lightly caressed Rei's left breast, and brushed the rosy nipple with her thumb. As Rei softly gasped at the unexpected touch, her lips parted slightly. Usagi slid her tongue very slowly past Rei's lips and entered the warm moist mouth. Rei touched her princess' tongue with her own, and savored the new sensation. Yuuichiro had never kissed her this way... he had only pecked her on the lips once, of course, Grandpa might have had something to do with that. Rei succumbed to Usagi's tender ardor. This wondrous Angel treated her with such love and kindness... as though she were the most precious soul in the world. Rei knew in her heart, that Usagi would always treat her that way. Tears sprang afresh in Rei's eyes. My princess... They tasted each other for a few moments, and as they grew bolder, their passion escalated. As they explored one another, soft sounds of pleasure escaped through the tangle of tongues. They touched each other's faces and necks, caressed each other's breasts, and stroked each other's hair. Intoxicated by one another's touch, they reluctantly pulled away from the kiss. Their breaths were hard and fast. They touched their foreheads together and gazed into each other's eyes for a moment. Rei sat up and spoke first. "Usagi-chan, I... we can't let this happen. Our duties must take precedence over our desires. This is irresponsible of us. You can't love both Mamoru and I at the same time either, someone will be hurt, and I sure don't want it to be me." Rei said with a tremor in her voice and the tears that had already been in her eyes began to spill over her cheeks. "I've had enough hurt to last a lifetime". Usagi stopped Rei, by a finger put to her lips, and leaned forward to kiss the wetness from Rei's wan cheeks. "Shhhh, Rei. I don't want you to base any decisions upon a hypothesis. In your 'infinite wisdom', you assume that since he and I are 'destined' to be together, you are destined to live a loveless, lonely life, fraught with rejection. That's all you've ever known, after all, isn't it? You've accepted that your soul will be tortured and slowly consumed by a forbidden desire, haven't you? I think you'll either begin to resent me, and be useless as my senshi, or you'll try to commit suicide again. I can assure you, Rei, if you succeed, I will kill myself." Rei shifted uncomfortably and suddenly felt very light headed. "Are you about to be sick again?" Usagi asked worriedly, as she noticed her friend's ashen complexion, her hand already on the wastebasket. Rei shook her head, "I... just need to lay down." She did, and she closed her eyes tightly. Usagi sighed and lay down next to her. "Rei, I guess it's my turn to come clean and smash your conjecture with a little truth." Rei turned her head to face her friend, and opened her dark amethyst eyes. Usagi leaned forward and kissed her deeply. She clasped her hands behind her head, and settled back comfortably to share the pillows with Rei. "This isn't a bedtime story, so don't fall asleep on me!" "I promise I won't." Rei answered slightly breathless. She thought Usagi's kiss before was wonderful, but the way Usagi had just kissed her had practically debilitated her. It took her breath away and filled her with incredible joy. Who cared about a few germs!
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