Reprimand Mina groaned as consciousness slowly returned to her. The moment she opened her eyes, she knew right where she was. She was on a bed roll in Ray's room at the shrine. As she became more awake, she shook her head to clear her brain of confusion. "No. Not Ray's room. Rei's room. The shrine was demolished a decade ago." She corrected herself out loud in an attempt to help reorient herself. It looked almost exactly how she remembered her friend's room looking back when they were kids, except it was a little less cluttered. She also noticed a tray next to her with breakfast on it. Apparently it must have been placed there quite some time ago, because the food was cool to the touch. She sat up and continued to take in her surroundings. No restraints holding her down. No one was waiting eagerly to beat answers out of her or call her a fool or otherwise demonize her. It was the last thing she expected. They had left no one to guard her in any way. It was almost insulting. Next to the food was a small piece of paper folded in half. She sat cross-legged as she picked it up and started to read. Mina, If you happen to wake up, please take a moment to enjoy your meal. So far, aside from mumbling in your sleep, you haven't done much. This is disappointing because we are currently short-handed. Your wounds are healing well though, so you should be up to more tasks soon. Here is your cover story, that is of course assuming you don't decide to just up and run away. You are Minako's twin who has returned from Europe because you were badly injured in a car accident and needed to return home. You are staying here because there isn't enough room at your 'sister's' home, and you aren't on good terms with your parents. Your name is Aino Mineko and you are currently unemployed and thus, broke. Grandpa has stated that you are more than welcome to work at the shrine until you get on your feet, and even then he has stated that "the lovely blonde is more than welcome to stay because another beautiful Miko will bring more patrons to our humble shrine". In short, he has the hots for you. So try to stay out of arm's reach of him and for the divine spirit's sake, don't encourage him! I hope you will be staying with us as well. It really would be better for all of us. Besides, I could use some help with the chores. If you are ready to work, go ahead and borrow one of my Kimono to wear your first day and come find me. I'm your boss. Be afraid. Rei She placed the paper next to the cold food, then tossed the blanket aside and stood up. Her muscles felt stiff, and as she started to walk toward the closet, she found it somewhat difficult to keep her balance. After only taking a few steps, she tripped over her own feet and found her face colliding with a wall. "Son of a--" she said as she stepped back, rubbing her nose. Then she found herself tripping again, this time over the food tray Rei had kindly left out for her. This sent the tray sliding across the room to crash against the wall, and her smacking the back of her skull on the wooden floor. She lay there a moment in stunned silence, her mouth wide open and eyes clenched shut as if screaming, but not making a sound. She rolled onto her side, holding her head with both hands, and she slowly started to curl up into a ball. "Are you all right?" A groan was about all Mina could manage. She didn't know when Rei had come in, and at the moment she didn't care. All she wanted was to be off the floor and for the pain to stop. It was only when Rei helped her up to a sitting position and wrapped a blanket around her that she realized her state of dress. Or rather, lack thereof. Aside from her sling, she wore absolutely nothing underneath the blanket. As soon as her head stopped throbbing enough for her to put to into words what she was thinking, she said, "Why in the hell am I nekkid, and where in the hell are my clothes?" Rei shrugged. "It was easier for me to clean your wound as Mizuno Sensei instructed if I removed your shirt." When Mina gave Rei a blank stare, she added, "I didn't violate you or anything, if that's what you're worried about. It was just a simple sponge bath." Just then, they heard Rei's grandfather as he came around the door frame. "Oh, Rei, there you are. I was just . . . looking . . . for . . . you." His eyes went wide as he looked at 'Mineko' covered only in a blanket wrapped around her. Blond hair elegantly flowing over her shoulders, inviting beautiful blue eyes, the pale smooth skin of her shoulder, . . . As his brain continued to slow, he pointed at Rei, then to himself, then over his shoulder. Then with a huge smile on his face, he hobbled off. Rei shook her head and said, "I've also kept him away. Believe me, that hasn't been an easy task. I haven't accomplished anything this morning because of him trying to sneak a peak. So mostly because of him, I'll need your help to catch up with what needs to be done for the day." Then she got up and headed over to the closet to get Mina a Miko outfit to wear. Mina watched Rei's back as the other woman rummaged through the closet for a few moments, then said, "So, did you happen to sneak a peak too, Rei? I mean, ya know, while you were giving me a sponge bath and all. I'd have loved to have been awake during --" She stopped talking when the kimono Rei had retrieved for her suddenly shot across the room and smacked her in the face, followed by Rei grumbling at her to get moving. The last time Ami was summoned to Principal Takahashi's office, it had been for a minor complaint from one of her students' parents. It had ended well, with her actually being praised. This time, Ami was told to come here even though it interrupted her last class. She was made to stand in the hallway and wait while the principal, vice principal, several members of the school board, and several teachers argued over the fate of her career. After a while, she heard what she thought was someone throwing something against the wall followed by more muted yelling from behind the closed door. She had the distinct impression that this wasn't going to end as well as last time. As Ami stood quietly, she came to the conclusion that the waiting was the worst part. It gave one far too much time to think. This morning on her way in, she was able to see a huge tarp covering where she had blown the side of the school open during her fight with the Sekkou, and passed several construction workers busily getting their tools out as she walked past the room. As if that wasn't enough, she received several glances from some of the teachers and students on her way to her first class, which told her word had already gone around that she was in some kind of trouble. Throughout the day, she overheard hushed whispers from several students debating different things they had heard from different teachers. None of what she heard was particularly reassuring. The teachers who respected her gave her vague words of encouragement and sympathy. It did little to help her, though. By the same token, several teachers who didn't like her for one reason or another either shot her a smug grin, or pretended not to notice her. One teacher outright insulted her when she thought Ami couldn't hear her. When Ami cleared her throat to get the other teacher's attention, the woman made no attempt to apologize for calling her a dyke, nor any of the other crude comments she had made. In fact, she went a step further and said, "Well, it's true, isn't it?" Ami sighed at her own thoughts about the day. All of it pointed toward one thing in her mind. It was all over. Well, except the shouting anyway. The dull roar in the next room was enough to remind her of that. It was just a question of whether or not she was going to have her license stripped away from her at this point. She just wished they would call her in and get it over with. Rei, her grandfather, and Mina were all cleaning up after a wedding that had just finished up. Despite Mina still only being able to use one hand, she was proving to be useful in speeding up the process . . . unlike Rei's grandfather. Rei's grandfather asked in his usual cheerful way, "Mineko dear, could you hand me that box over there, please? I'm such an old man, you see, so it would be safer for you to lift it." As Mina bent over to pick up the box, Rei's grandfather's eyes opened just a little more as he tried to peer down the front of her kimono. Just when he was starting to think he could see something, Rei grabbed one of his ears between two of her fingers. Ignoring his scream of pain, Rei said, "Will you knock it off?" Then, pointing at Mina, she yelled, "And you! I told you not to encourage him! What are you trying to do anyway? Give him a heart attack?" Mina walked over, being sure to sway her hips in an exaggerated way, as she said, "Oh, Rei-chan, you are so mean to your poor old grandfather." She knelt down behind him and pulled Rei's fingers off his ear. Then, much to Rei's annoyance, she gently caressed his ear while cooing softly to him. For added measure, she started rubbing his shoulders. Pretending she wasn't doing anything to him in any way, Mina said sympathetically, "Poor old man. You must never get time to relax with that nagging granddaughter of yours screaming at you all the time." Rei's grandfather nodded in agreement, then let out a loud sigh as a happy smile crossed over his face. Rei threw her broom down on the ground, pointed at her grandfather, and said, "That's it. You. Out. Now." "But I--" "No, now." "What about--" "Get going." "I just need to finish--" "I can get it." Rei's grandfather sighed as his shoulders slumped in resignation. As he walked out, Rei heard him grumbling something about hot blonds and dying without ever having any 'fun' ever again. Rei glared at Mina, then said angrily, "You need to quit distracting him so we can finish work." "Oh, it's just for fun. I've only been here such a short time already, and I feel like we are the temple's slaves or something the way you yell at us all the time," Mina said. Then she smiled and added, "Aw, poor Rei. Are we just a little jealous? You know. I could be your personal slave, Rei. Maybe that'd cheer you up a little." Rei completely ignored her comments as she walked out of the room herself. Over her shoulder, she said, "When you're done in here, you can come out to the charm booth and help me reorganize it. The junior high school lets out soon, so we will need to have it in order in about thirty minutes." After the door slammed shut, Mina laughed to herself, then said, "This is going to be easier than I thought." She looked at the closed door as if she could still see Rei walking down the path. "Hino Rei, you will be mine." Makoto looked at her watch for the tenth time, then got out of the car, thinking that perhaps some fresh air would help with her uneasiness. Ami was supposed to have been out fifteen minutes ago. So far today, she hadn't heard a word from her, and until now she had taken that to mean that Ami's superiors had decided somehow to miraculously overlook the previous morning. Unfortunately, the waiting meant the exact opposite. Makoto hated to wait. As Makoto started walking circles around the car, Minako got out and sat on the hood, while Usagi rolled down the back window and leaned out. They had both decided to come along with Makoto when she came to pick up Ami to give their support to their friends. Minako drummed her fingers on the hood for a moment, then asked Makoto as she passed by the second time, "So, how much trouble do you think she will be in?" Makoto answered, "Ami said this morning on the way here that she'll be lucky if they only fire her." "They're not going to put her in jail again are they?" Usagi asked, suddenly panicked. Makoto said, "No, but they may make it so she will never teach again." She stopped pacing and looked at the door for a moment before saying, "Somehow, I think that'd be worse for her than a little more time in jail." As far as Ami could tell, the last of the students had left twenty minutes ago. That meant that Makoto was probably waiting out in the parking lot, wondering where the devil she was. Ami was still waiting, and she had finally given up on standing. Instead, she had commandeered a chair from a nearby conference room to sit in. Both to help calm her nerves and pass the time, she had started grading papers from class three. It was a bit awkward since she only had a paper back book resting on her knees as a surface to work with, but it would be enough. Without warning, the door opened and people started leaving. A few of the school board members glanced at her, and some of the teachers nodded as they passed by. None of them said a word as they left. Principal Takahashi stepped out into the hall, and said, "You may come in now, Sensei Mizuno. A decision has been made, and I wish to discuss it with you." He sat at his usual place behind his desk, and read a few of the notes he had taken during the meeting before speaking. Ami noticed only one other person who had stayed in the room. Assistant Principal Nakamura, the same man who had griped at her the day before, stood quietly beside Mr. Takahashi. He glared at her, but didn't say anything. It was as if he had stayed behind just to watch the show. Principal Takahashi glanced at her and said, "Have a seat, Sensei. This will only take a moment." Ami straightened her posture just a little more at his words, saying, "I prefer to stand, sir." She had decided she would face the news with as much honor as she could. He sighed, then said, "As you wish." As Mr. Takahashi continued to read, he asked absently, "How's your side, Sensei?" "My side, sir?" Ami blinked in confusion. What was he talking about? Was this some kind of trick question? ". . . It is . . . fine, sir." "Good to hear." As if he couldn't stand the wait any more, Nakamura's asked coolly, "We assume you know why you are here, Sensei?" Ami bowed politely as she said, "Yes sir." She noticed her knees shaking just a bit as she straightened back up and hoped it wasn't noticeable to either of the two men before her. The Assistant Principal narrowed his eyes as he glared at her. "Then say something in your defense, you poor disgrace for a--" Principal Nakamura interrupted him after raising his eyebrows slightly while still reading, saying, "You may leave now, Yukichi. Your presence here is no longer required." "But sir, I--" This time, the principal slammed his notes on the desk and yelled, "I said, get out!" Without another word, he headed for the door. He stopped when Mr. Takahashi said, "Oh, and Nakamura, one more thing. If you ever go over my head like this again, I promise you, I'll forget we are professional men in a well established school. Do you understand me? And close the door. There's no reason for this conversation between myself and Ami to concern anyone else." Ami squeaked in alarm when the door behind her was slammed shut with a bang that rivaled a gunshot. She closed her eyes for a moment and composed herself mentally. After all, she knew that what was coming would be far worse. The principal sat back in his chair and regarded her for a moment. Then he said, "I'm not going to ask you what happened, because we already know. According to your students, two Senshi showed up in your classroom, and you had your students evacuate the room unescorted, because you decided it was best to stay behind and try to reason with them." He rubbed his forehead a moment, then said, "After that, well . . . Sensei, I'm sorry we have to have this discussion, but the school board, myself, and A.P. Nakamura do not take kindly to one of our classrooms being destroyed. I just need to know one thing from you before we finish our business here, Mizuno Sensei. Why on God's green earth did you decide to try to reason with people who can take down a skyscraper in ten minutes with time to spare?" Without hesitation, Ami answered the only way she knew how. With the truth. "For the safety of the children, sir. These Senshi were obviously there for a reason. I felt to leave with my students without giving them whatever it was they wanted would only result in a high casualty rate. I know that the procedures for an emergency situation specifically state that I'm to stay with the students, but in this case I did not feel that was the best choice of action." He got out of his chair and stood in front of her, regarding her curiously for a moment. Then he said, "I see. And were you able to find out whatever it was they were after?" "No, sir. I was not." He nodded thoughtfully, then said, "I see. So, when the shooting started, you made a run for it. The students that saw that part said that two Senshi were chasing another, but I believe that what they were really seeing was them chasing after you." He laughed, then said, "After all, the only way they could have been chasing another Senshi, would be that you are a Senshi, since according to every single eyewitness, you were the only other person in there with them. And of course, that idea is pure fantasy, isn't it, Sensei?" Ami laughed nervously and said, "Of course it is, sir. That would be silly. I'm a professional teacher, not a super heroine." He nodded his head absently then asked, "Why didn't you check in with us once you got away from them, Sensei?" It was the question Ami had been the most worried about. She still had yet to come up with an answer that she felt would satisfy him. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before answering. "I have no excuse sir." He picked up one of his sheets of notes, and reread it to make certain that he had all the facts straight, then said, "According to your emergency contact, you were in the hospital about an hour after your classroom was attacked, being treated for a nasty gash to the side of your waist. No doubt, at the time you were being the typical woman, distraught by the rather unusual interruption to your otherwise normal day up to that point. By the time you were released, it was too late in the day for you to have possibly contacted us." Ami suddenly felt a pang of guilt tug at her. Her emergency contact, her mother, had apparently falsified Makoto's medical records to say it was Ami who had been injured instead of Makoto. It didn't sit right with her that her mother had to lie for her, but under the circumstances, she remained quiet. He looked at her, then added, "Now, I think that's a reasonable reaction for a woman who is just a teacher, and since your contact is a doctor and was also there at the same time you were, I'm not going to argue with it. Do you have anything you wish to add?" Ami shook her head no. He put his papers back on his desk, then sat back down in his chair. "Now, comes the part where I am placed in a rather difficult position, Sensei. Nakamura went above me to contact the school board, and he's asking for your head. On top of that, he seems to think that your sexuality alone demands that you should be removed from your job. As far as that goes, I personally feel that this is none of anyone's business but your own whether it is true or not. Also, Tokyo has city ordinances prohibiting job discrimination against homosexuals. However, the fact that he tossed that bone to the school board members to chew on along with what happened yesterday didn't help your cause any." Pulling out a form from a drawer, he said, "Thus, it is regrettable that despite my personal feelings, I must inform you that the school board has ordered me to punish you severely for this incident." He placed the form on the desk so that it was facing Ami and said, "However, they left it up to me to decide what to do with you. As such, I have come to a decision on what would be best for our fine school." He paused as Ami picked up the paper and started reading it, then said, "For neglecting to inform us that you were injured while away from the school in a manner that might interfere with your physical abilities to do your job, I am hereby placing you on paid administrative leave for two weeks to recover from your wound. This reprimand will go in your permanent record. Sign the bottom line, please." He smiled and finished by saying, "I'm very disappointed in you, Sensei." Ami stammered, trying to hold back tears as the pressure she had been under suddenly lifted off her. She signed the writeup sheet then stammered, "I . . . I don't know what to say, sir. I . . . Thank you?" He just got up and started walking to the door. "You're a good teacher, Mizuno Sensei. I'm not going to fire you for doing something right no matter how many people it ticks off. You can thank me by shutting the hell up and getting out of here. After all, you were supposed to be gone 20 minutes ago. Enjoy your vacation, Ami. I look forward to seeing you back in front of a classroom in two weeks if your doctor feels you're up to it." Then he opened the door and held it for Ami as she left. "Oh, and Sensei, one more thing." Ami looked over her shoulder at him as he said, "I'd appreciate it if you would in the future try to keep your fights off of school property, and away from expensive cars from now on. It turns out destruction suspected of being caused directly or indirectly from Senshi are not covered by insurance companies." Ami started to stammer out something, but he stepped back into his office and calmly closed the door, leaving her to wonder if he was kidding or not. With Mr. Takahashi's sense of humor and intelligence, it was difficult to tell. So instead of dwelling on it, she turned and quickly made her way to Makoto to tell her the 'bad news'. Rei handed the last customer the charm he had just bought and pulled the shutter to the booth closed. Then she turned around to see if her 'assistant' was cleaning or goofing off. Sure enough, goofing off. Mina was facing away from Rei with a mirror out, calmly brushing her hair, her broom resting in the corner, probably unused. Almost as if to further enrage Rei, Mina was humming a happy little tune to herself. Rei grabbed a rake that had been resting at her feet, gripping it tightly with both hands in an attempt to vent some of her frustration. She said from behind clenched teeth, "What are you doing?" Mina stopped humming and turned her mirror just a bit so she could see Rei, then said, "Just what it looks like. Prettying myself up. It doesn't look like you did a thing with my hair after undressing me, Rei." She smiled to herself and said absently, "So, what do you think? Should I sleep in bed with you, or do you want to curl up on the floor with me?" Rei folded her arms and said, "I think you're the laziest person I have ever met." Mina turned around and batted her eyelashes, saying, "Now that we are together, I figure we could spend some 'quality time' getting to know each other." Rei hissed, "You speak as if we are a couple. I took you in to help and maybe enlighten you, not get laid!" "Oh, come on, Rei. You know you want me. So why don't you, ya know, just take me already and get it over with?" Rei smiled a bit at her own thoughts, then said, "I admit I have some feelings for you." Then her expression darkened again. "But only god himself knows why! If you think that all love is, is for two people to treat each other like produce at the supermarket, you're going to find me a mighty expensive melon to buy! If you want us to have a relationship like that, you're going to have to earn my affection!" To prove her point, Rei swung her rake at Mina's head, causing the blonde to finally pick up her broom -- even if it was just to block another attack from the angry Miko. Makoto had now joined Minako in sitting on the hood of her car. She started to look at her watch again, but Minako stopped her by saying, "She'll get here when she gets here. Regardless of what she has when she gets out, she'll still have her friends and you, Mako-chan." Makoto looked down at her feet trying to reclaim some of her usual strength. She knew she would need to be strong for Ami when she finally got out. Still, she knew she couldn't hide her true feelings from her friends. "I know, Mina-chan, it's just I'm worried about her. Her job is a huge part of her life. If Ami . . . Ami!" Makoto looked up just in time to see Ami step out the door, breathing a sigh of relief before calmly starting to head toward them. She jumped off the hood of the car and closed the distance between them, squeezing Ami in a tight hug before she could say a word. By the time Minako and Usagi had caught up, they heard Ami saying, "Yes, I'm serious. I'm on paid leave while I recover from your wound, and that's that. So we need to think of a way to spend the next two weeks together, because I have nothing else to do." Usagi squeezed Makoto and Ami tightly as she yelled in excitement, "Then this calls for a celebration! We all have the evening off, so I've got a great idea. Why don't we all get together like old times, meet up at Rei's and pull an all-nighter? Makoto can cook dinner, and--" Minako grumbled under her breath, "I don't like that plan. Have you forgotten about Rei's tag-a-long?" Usagi shrugged and said, "The more the merrier. Besides, she's less likely to do anything if all of us are there anyway." Minako was about to argue with Usagi when she realized something. As much as she hated to admit it, for once, Usagi was right. It really would be a good idea for all of them to be together, if only to keep an eye on Mina. Even if it was only temporary. It would also allow them to see how things were working with Rei watching over the Sekkou. Thus, despite her reservations and with a little more pleading from Usagi, Minako agreed, and they piled into Makoto's car. When the four of them got to the steps of the shrine, things started out how they always did. Well, most things. As they walked up the steps, Usagi and Minako chatted about the latest celebrity gossip, Ami and Makoto walking quietly behind them holding each others' hand. Despite the fact that they had been rather intimate together when alone, any form of public display of affection was something Ami still hadn't quite gotten used to. She would blush slightly and a small, somewhat embarrassed yet happy smile would form on her lips whenever Makoto gave her hand a gentle squeeze. Still, Ami felt it was important to somehow let Makoto know how she felt. Ami cleared her throat to get Makoto's attention, then said, "Do you ever think about gravity?" "Uh . . . no? Should I?" "It's an attractive power between two objects on an atomic scale, like two baseballs on a table. They will have an incredibly minute gravitational attraction between there atoms. If you get a larger object, say, two chunks of lead, the gravitational pull will increase to a measurable amount. Then, get an object the size of a planet, and you get a significant amount of gravity, strong enough to bind two objects together." Ami's cheeks turned a slightly darker shade of pink as she said, "Our relationship is like that. The last one, I mean." Makoto pretended to be shocked, saying, "Ami Mizuno, are you hitting on me?" Then she giggled and said, "That has to be the most . . . cheesy pickup line I have ever heard." Ami looked just a little disappointed in herself, then said, "I was merely attempting to openly express my feelings for you in a more public way, something couples do from time to time. If that is how you feel about my attempts at flirting then perhaps you could give me some advice later over--" She stopped when she saw Usagi and Minako start running the rest of the way up the stairs suddenly without warning. Then they heard the yelling as the sounds of two women in a heated argument cut through the afternoon air. When they got there, they were happy there were no patrons visiting the shrine at the moment. Rei and Mina were standing in the middle of the courtyard screaming at each other at the top of their lungs. Rei screamed, "Oh! I see! So I am the one in the wrong because actually want to get some work done! And you said you were a responsible individual. You can't even sweep a damn sidewalk!" Mina stomped her foot and screamed back, "All I'm saying is that I find it hard to believe you don't find this work the least bit demeaning! It's for stupid people incapable of any thought of their own!" Rei picked up on the insult immediately. She slammed her broom on the ground and grumbled, "I'll show you who's stupid!" then she ran at the Sekkou, ready to tear her apart with her bare hands. Usagi and Minako ran forward to separate the two of them and try to restore order. Makoto and Ami hung back since they felt the two could handle this on their own. Besides, Ami's comment had gotten Makoto thinking. Makoto said, "So uh, Ami, about the whole gravity thing." She saw Ami scrunch up her face in irritation, but before she could say anything, Makoto said, "No, seriously. Did you mean it?" Makoto smiled as she asked, "Are you attracted to me like . . . gravity?" Ami smiled back shyly, and said. "Of course." Makoto shuffled her feet a moment, then said, "Well, I came up with this idea, you see. . . originally to help you out if you lost your job . . . so if you don't want to I'll understand. But uh . . . well, you see . . ." Before she could talk herself out of it, Makoto blurted out, "What would you say if I asked you to move in with me?" Ami turned to Makoto with a serious expression on her face. "Makoto, that's a huge commitment. We would have to think about how we divide up the bills, work out personal space, adjust to each other's bad habits, learn how to time showers right so we don't use up all the hot water and leave the other to freeze." Makoto shrunk back a bit and mumbled, "Like I said, you don't have to if--" Ami wasn't finished. "We would have to figure out who does what chores, decide where my things are going, learn to tolerate our different approaches to decoration. As well as our differences in decision making, which will invariably lead to us trying to learn to compromise, and I am certain there are many other things I have yet to think of." Makoto waited to make sure Ami was through talking, then replied, "Well . . . like I said. It's just an idea." She sighed in frustration, saying, "Okay, you know what, forget I said anything. Don't give it a second thought." Ami grabbed both of Makoto's hands and said happily, "That's right. I don't have to give it a second thought. I am glad you understand. It is a rash, totally illogical, irresponsible thing to do at this point in our relationship because it is just entirely too soon." Makoto let Ami hold her hands and did her best to hide her disappointment with Ami's opinion, watching the battle between Rei and Mina continuing despite Usagi and Minako being between the two of them. Ami's voice drew her attention away from it all quicker than a blast of cold water. "So, naturally, if you asked me I would have no choice but to accept."
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