Project: Venus

Milestone 7 – Go-Live

"Are you wearing your choker?"

Setsuna's question curled around her ear like smoke. It seeped into her head, making her thoughts hot and hazy. Minako lifted one hand to her throat and ran a finger over the band of white lace that encircled it. It had been Setsuna's parting gift after their second hookup. She wanted Minako to wear it whenever they were together – that's what she had said as she'd stood behind Minako and fastened its delicate gold clasp around her neck. They had both been standing in front of her wardrobe mirror, and Minako had touched it with trembling, excited fingers, just like she was now. The implication of that white band around her neck hadn't been lost on her. Setsuna had known it, of course. Minako had seen her knowing smile in the mirror, but Setsuna hadn't said a word. She never needed to.

"Yes," she finally responded.

"Oh? You're a step ahead of me, then. Very good." The approval in her voice send a wave of liquid warmth through Minako's body. Setsuna always appreciated it when she tried to anticipate her wishes. Well, when she got them right, at least. "What else are you wearing?"

Minako craned her head up and looked down at her body. "Umm, a grey crop top and a denim skirt?"

"Hmm. That doesn't particularly match your choker, does it now?"

"I... guess they don't."

"Take them off."

Minako's fingers had already undone three buttons on her skirt before the last syllable fell from Setsuna's lips. Minako licked her lips and cast an anxious glance at her bedroom door as she wriggled her skirt and panties over her hips at the same time. She was home alone, and she had locked her bedroom window to avoid unwanted feline interruptions, but still. She had to take out her earbuds before quickly pulling her top over her head, and then she laid back down, naked except for the choker.

"Okay," she said breathlessly.

"Done in record time." Setsuna said. "I do hope you didn't start before I said so."

Minako swallowed. There was no point in asking how she'd known, no point in denying it. Setsuna always knew. "I did. I'm sorry," she whispered.

Setsuna tsked. "You must learn, darling, that there is a time to show initiative, and a time to do what you are told, when you are told." There was no anger in her voice, but even the mild rebuke made Minako's chest tighten. "What about the rest of your... instructions?"

"I've been good," Minako answered with some pride. After their last little tryst, Setsuna had seen her off with orders not to so much as touch herself without her permission. An exercise in self-control, she had called it.

"Have you, now? Not even once?"

"Not even once."

"I'm impressed. With your sex drive, the last three days must have been very... frustrating."

Something about the way she said that word made Minako shiver, sending goosebumps down her arms. It had been excruciating. Three days wasn't that long – heck, she'd gone that long just by accident plenty of times – but knowing that she wasn't allowed seemed to send her brain into overdrive. Sex was all she could think about. Night after night, she would wake up soaking wet with a head full of half-remembered dreams. It didn't help that she was all but trapped at home while everyone was off doing their own thing. Lonely, horny, and bored: not a combination conducive to good decision-making. It was a miracle that she'd held out this long. Thank god Setsuna had answered her phone.

"Yes, very frustrating."

"Are you wet right now?" Setsuna asked conversationally.

Minako's hand froze half a centimeter above her mound and her breath hitched in her chest. Technically, that wasn't permission, was it? "Probably," she said hesitantly.

"Very good, darling," Setsuna purred. Her voice was like honey in Minako's ears. "I would have been so disappointed if you'd fallen for something so... obvious, especially since I'm not there to correct you personally."

"Thank you," Minako mumbled.

"Now then, touch yourself, and tell me how wet you are."

With a sigh of relief that she didn't try to conceal, Minako cupped her sex in her hand. She used her ring and index fingers to spread herself open and slid her middle finger over her slick and swollen flesh. One finger, then another slid inside her effortlessly. "I'm so wet," she said, not knowing what else to say. "I wish you were here with me." She bit her lip as the last words slipped out. Setsuna always told her to be honest with her feelings, but it didn't feel like the right time.

"I am with you, Minako," Setsuna said softly. "But, yes, I feel the same way. Now, keep going."

Minako happily obeyed, sliding her two wet fingers up and down over her clit in a gentle, sawing motion. She wanted to go faster, harder, but she knew Setsuna would expect restraint. At first. In her ear, Setsuna said something she couldn't make out, and then to her shock she heard another voice say something in reply. Her fingers froze. "Is someone there?" she asked.

"No one you need to concern yourself with," Setsuna replied sternly. "And I hope you haven't stopped."

It hadn't even occurred to Minako that Setsuna might not have been at home when she called. The thought of her sitting in some... some café or something, dressed to the nines in one of her power suits with a cappuccino sitting in front of her... placing an order with some waitress as Minako frigged herself furiously in her ear... it was mortifying, but at the same time it was beyond arousing. It struck deep, deep inside her, into that part of her that she had only been able to find in Setsuna's arms, the part of her that exulted in being Setsuna's plaything.

Her fingers quickly forgot their momentary restraint. They were a blur over her straining clit, and her other hand had risen to pinch and twist one nipple. Her breath was coming in short gasps, and her eyes were squeezed shut as she tumbled headlong towards her overdue orgasm.

"Minako, are you going to cum?" Something in Setsuna's casual, offhand tone made Minako's eyes snap open. With a tremendous effort, she pulled her fingers off of her sex and seized a handful of her comforter instead. "I... n-no," she managed to pant after a moment.

Setsuna's voice was amused, but there was steel in it, too, oh yes. "How fortunate, since I certainly don't recall giving you permission to do so. Perhaps you need a few more days of deprivation to better appreciate my generosity. What do you think?"

Minako clenched her thighs together as her fingers dug deeper into her bedding, and her other hand stole to the choker around her neck for a moment. It was a struggle to keep a pleading whine from her voice. "If that's what you think is best."

"Hmm... you do make it so very difficult to be angry with you, darling," Setsuna said with a smoky chuckle. "Very well, I'll let this pass, but I trust you will remember yourself going forward."

"Yes, I will, thank you." Minako couldn't keep the relief from her voice.

"Good. That being said, I also don't recall telling you to stop touching yourself."

Minako wondered if there were other people around Setsuna eavesdropping on her telling Minako to do these things. The thought made her shudder in flustered excitement. She bit her lip as her fingers found their way back onto her clit. If anything, she was even more turned on than before.

"That's better," Setsuna purred, as if she could see somehow. "Now then, at some point in the last three days, there must have been a point when you were tempted to... misbehave, hmm? When some part of you whispered to yourself that I would never find out. Wasn't there?"

Minako licked her lips. "Yes. But, I didn't!" she insisted.

"Of course you didn't," Setsuna said dismissively. "I'm not accusing you, darling. I just want to you to tell me what you were thinking about." Her voice became low, hungry. "What was going through your mind when you almost lost control?"

"M-makoto and me. When we... m-masturbated together." Minako felt blood rush to her face as she stuttered. She had never had trouble talking about (okay, bragging about) her sexual exploits to her friends, but doing it while she rolled her aching clit between her fingers was a different story.

"Go on," Setsuna prodded.

"I-I think about watching her as she came." It was clear as crystal in her mind. Makoto's face, set in fierce concentration, and then her hand squeezing Minako's to the point of pain, and her eyes widening and her mouth dropping open as if she were realizing something incredibly profound. Her ragged breaths as she stared in wide-eyed wonder at the ceiling until she finally fell back against the pillow.

Just thinking about it filled her body with terrible urgency. She was so close, dangerously close, and it took a supreme effort to keep her climax at arm's length. She let her fingers slow a bit, just for a moment, just to let some of the pressure off. Maybe there was a change in her breathing, or maybe Setsuna read her mind the way she always seemed to when they were having sex, but she instantly said, "Minako" in a clipped, warning tone. Minako actually felt herself jump, and she mashed her fingers against her clit even harder than before, mortified at her brief moment of weakness.

"That's better," Setsuna said. Minako could picture her sharp nod of satisfaction as she did. "Do you think you should you get off so easily? After you teased poor Makoto like that?"

"No."

"A pity she didn't have a little more experience and a little more confidence, hmm? Perhaps I should take her under my wing, show her how you need to be... handled. After all, you just need a firm hand, don't you?"

Somehow, Minako managed to gasp a "yes". Her fingers had a mind of their own now, moving in fast, tight circles.

"Can you imagine her pushing you up against the wall? Pinning your hands above your head?" Minako's head was all noise and fire, but Setsuna's voice sliced through it. "Pulling your panties aside and feeling how wet you are? Would you like that?"

"Yesss..." Minako hissed. She could practically feel Makoto's breath on her neck, her hand around her wrists. Her feet danced restlessly against her bedspread, and her free hand scrabbled against her headboard, searching for something to grab hold of. Her orgasm loomed; no matter where she twisted or turned, there it was in all its inevitability.

Again, Setsuna seemed to read her mind. "It's so close, isn't it?" she cooed. "It would be so easy to let go and just let it carry you away. Of course, if you cum without my permission, I will be very, very upset with you. You don't want that, do you?"

"No," Minako said through teeth gritted in effort.

"Well, then, I suppose the question before us is: should I be nice? Or should I be mean?"

"Mean," she said instantly. "Please, be mean." Even saying the words seemed to push her precariously close to the edge, but somehow, she held back.

"Mean it is, then." Setsuna sounded amused, if unsurprised by her answer. "How does this sound: you are so awfully far away. Before I let you cum, you have to tell me what I get in return. If your offer... satisfies me, you may cum. If not... you'll just have to wait until I'm in a more generous mood."

Even the thought of having to stop sent Minako into a spiral of panic. "Anything. I'll do anything. Please, you can do anything." Setsuna had to accept, she had to, she was going to cum, there was no way she could stop, she just had to convince her to say the words. "Please, please, can I cum, please," she grovelled.

"'Anything' is a dangerous word, darling. It can get you into a great deal of trouble."

"I don't care, please, Setsuna, please please please."

"Well, if you're certain... I suppose that will suffice." She paused for dramatic effect, and Minako had to bite her tongue to stay silent. "Cum for me, Minako," she commanded.

Minako buried her face into her pillow and scream-sobbed, her fingers sawing wildly across her clit as her body thrashed. The relief that crashed over her was so intense that it almost drowned out the pleasure, like she had been holding her breath for the last three days and had just taken that first sweet gulp of air. And then, all too soon, it was melting away, leaving only a hot and happy throb between her legs. She released her death grip on her comforter and pinched one of her nipples. There was another, smaller answering throb of pleasure, and then that, too, faded.

That was the problem with having to take care of things on her own. Her orgasms always hit hard and then died away fast. It was satisfying... in the way a cold drink was satisfying on a hot day. With a sigh, Minako stretched, wriggling her fingers and toes, wringing the last little tingles of pleasure out before flopping back onto her bed.

"Feel better?" Setsuna asked in her ear.

"Sooo much better, thank you," Minako said placidly. "That was the longest three days of my life."

"You did very well. I was expecting this call much earlier."

Minako preened a little under the compliment. "Yeah, it wasn't easy. I never would have guessed not being allowed to touch myself would end up being such a turn on. "

"Well, few things are as enticing as those we've been told we can't have."

"No kidding." Minako ran one hand down her side and over her bare thigh. "Speaking of which, I really wish you were here. It's not fair that I can't do anything for you."

"That's very sweet of you," Setsuna said languidly. "But, don't you worry, this is all going on your tab. With interest."

There was that lovely, shivery feeling again. "I could come over today."

"Don't be greedy, Minako," Setsuna chided. "Besides, I thought you were grounded?"

"Not... exactly. I just have to get some homework done. I could still come over when I'm done." She put a hint of poutiness in her voice. Setsuna may have known how to push all of her buttons, but she knew a few of Setsuna's, too. A measured amount of 'bratty princess' seemed to really get her going.

Sadly, not this time. "I'm worried that I've distracted you too much already with our little games. Besides, Hotaru and I are going out for dinner. Soon, though."

"Alright," Minako sighed. She did have a point – there had definitely been no homework getting done for the last few days. "Soon."

"Get your homework finished and you won't have anything else to distract you next time we're together," Setsuna said warmly. "Besides, you promised me anything I wanted, remember?" She pitched her voice a little lower. "That's something I will need to give some serious consideration."

"Oh. Right." Minako felt another little shiver run through her. "I can't wait."

"Me neither," Setsuna breathed, and then suddenly her voice was back to normal. "That all being said, I should probably get back to work."

Part of Minako wanted to ask where she was, but she decided it was more fun to not know. Instead, she asked, "What's your schedule like next week? I'm trying to get everyone together once Ami is home."

"I'm flexible," Setsuna replied. Minako felt the slightest twinge but held herself in check rather than seem childish with a dumb joke. Besides, Setsuna's own double entendre game was on a whole other level. "Let me know what you want to do, and I can make it work."

"Sounds good."

"Minako?"

"Hmm?"

"Talk to Makoto. Putting it off will only make it harder on both of you."

"I... I know," Minako sighed.

"As entertaining as this was, I'd like us to play in person soon. And I would like to have your undivided attention when we do."

"Yes, mistress," Minako said coyly, winning another chuckle from Setsuna.

They said their goodbyes, and Minako popped out her earbuds. She stretched languidly and then fell back onto the bed, toying with her choker as she stared unseeing at the ceiling. It still amazed her how effortlessly Setsuna was able to reach into her head and stir things up. Maybe she cheated with her powers somehow, like... by looking into the future to see what she could say to turn Minako on the most. Or something. That's what Minako would do, at least.

Or maybe she was just an open book to someone of Setsuna's experience. Well, assumed experience. Setsuna was extremely tight-lipped about her other partners - past, present or future. Of course, if Minako had access to all of history's greatest lovers, she would probably be just as talented as Setsuna was, right? She'd asked once, while recovering in Setsuna's arms after a particularly... rigorous evening, but Setsuna had only laughed and then smothered her in kisses.

Minako closed her eyes and toyed with one of her nipples absentmindedly. Setsuna definitely had her hidden depths, but even in their short time together, Minako was already finding cracks in that cool, detached façade. They spent at least as much of their time together talking as fucking, if not more. Granted, Minako was the one doing most of the heavy lifting, but she savored every detail Setsuna let slip about herself. Before they had never really talked, unless it was about Senshi business.

And they were so alike, in so many unexpected ways. Setsuna had understood instantly when she'd explained the details of her little summer project, understood and approved, even if she seemed a little amused. She even offered advice on some of the... less successful facets of her plan. Of course, she deflected any questions about the future, but that was to be expected. Her dedication to her duty was absolute and unwavering, just like Minako's.

And then there was the sex. Minako had been with two boys and two girls, and if asked a month ago would have said proudly that she knew a thing or two about sex. Setsuna had proved her utterly, beautifully wrong. She could make Minako's body produce sensations she had never dreamed of. Minako had heard before that the biggest sex organ in the body was the brain, but she'd never really understood it until that morning Setsuna had stood over her, winding that black silk scarf through her fingers as Minako kneeled all but naked on the floor. She had seemed so tall, so powerful and confident and perfect, not a hair out of place even after all they'd already done. Seeing her eyes, though – seeing the gentleness and patience and warmth in them – that was when she'd known she was in love…

Minako awoke with a jerk. She was on her side, in the fetal position, still naked. The far half of her room was drenched in sunlight, and she blinked in discomfort. One hand swept over her sheets, hunting for her phone. It turned out to be under her; she must've rolled over onto it during her accidental nap. There was a perfect sideboob print on the screen, which she admired sleepily for a moment before turning it on. It had only been forty minutes since her call with Setsuna ended, thank god. The last thing she needed was to have to explain to her parents – or Artemis, for that matter – why she was napping in the middle of the day instead of doing her homework, let alone why she was wearing nothing but a lace choker.

She pushed herself up to a sitting position, and as she did her butt came into contact with something cold and soggy that made her shudder reflexively. Oh good, she'd forgotten to put down a towel. There wouldn't be enough water pressure to wash her bedding and have a shower, and she needed the shower more. "Screw it," she mumbled to no one as she pulled her comforter over the offending spot. After a moment's consideration, she leaned over and pushed her window open as well, in case Artemis came home while she was in the shower.

With that sorted, she undid the clasp of her choker and carefully placed in its not-quite hiding place in one of her jewellery boxes. Then she grabbed her big comb from her vanity, scooped her bathrobe off of the corner of her closet door, and made her way into the hall. She was just about to grab the handle of the bathroom door when she heard a sound coming from behind it: a cheerful, tuneless humming.

When her mother opened the door a minute later, her dirty blonde hair still hanging lank and wet on her shoulders, she caught sight of Minako and let out an ear-splitting shriek of surprise. Minako only stared at her impassively.

"Oh my god, Minako, you scared me to death," her mom complained as she bent down to snatch up the towel she had dropped in her alarm. "When did you get home? Why are you just standing there?"

"I've been home all day," Minako said flatly. She held up her bathrobe. "I'm going to have a shower."

"Oh. Oh, of course." Her mother straightened her shoulders, trying to regain her composure. "And how is the homework coming?"

"Fine."

Her mother's eyes narrowed. "Just fi-"

"How was yoga? Or was it supposed to be 'tennis' today?"

Her mother looked exactly like a koi as she stuttered out a few words, words that Minako tuned out as she pushed past her into the bathroom and shut the door. She tossed her robe aside and quickly reached down to turn on the shower, drowning out the muffled noises of indignation her mother was making. And then she sank back against the wall, the white tiles vividly cold against her shoulders. She slid down until her chin was resting on her knees, and let the water wash away her angry tears.

Her father was working late, as he so often did these days, and so that evening Minako and her mother ate alone together in barren silence. Minako ate quickly, tasting nothing, as her mother just chewed and stared into the empty space between them. As soon as her plate was clean, Minako stood with a mumbled, "thank you for the meal", cleaned her dishes, and then trod back up the stairs.

She made an honest effort at doing some homework, she really did, but the air in her room seemed thick and cloying, and before long she was shoveling her books into her backpack. At the front door, she turned back while slipping on her shoes to see her mother watching her from the kitchen doorway. The look she gave Minako was tired and numb before she turned around and disappeared in the kitchen.

The heat outside was like a solid mass after being inside all day, but she still felt a tremendous weight lift from her shoulders the moment the door closed behind her. The sweat that seemed to pop from her every pore did nothing to cool her down - after the afternoon's rain the air was so humid you could practically drink it - but that didn't stop Minako from sighing with relief. She took one look back at her open window and felt a moment's guilt at not leaving Artemis a note. If only cats could use phones. Well, carry phones, at least. Artemis was actually weirdly handy with a touchscreen.

She ended up at Crown, more out of the simple inertia of habit than any real intention. She poked her head into the arcade, but Motoki didn't seem to be working. It was the summer temp, brown-haired college boy who might have been cute if his eyes weren't always glued to his phone with an expression of perpetual boredom. For a moment she considered going in, but she didn't have much cash on her, and the ventilation in there was, frankly, terrible. Instead, she ended up upstairs in the air-conditioned café, nursing an iced oolong tea with her books spread out over the booth table.

Hours slipped away as she picked away at her assignments, and the city sky was a burnt orange-red when the waitress stopped by to let her know the café was closing soon. She rested her hand on her chin as the girl swiped her card. Minako didn't recognize her, but she was cute. "Thank you so much," she said in a sultry voice, giving the girl her best heavy-lidded Haruka smile.

The girl blinked hesitantly and smiled as she passed Minako back her card. "Umm, thanks! Please come again!" she chirped.

Minako sighed to herself as she turned to help another customer. Haruka might be a master flirt, but she wasn't much of a teacher. A few minutes later, the server was forgotten and Minako was leaning against the building, holding her bag in front of herself and weighing her options.

Going home... out of the question.

She could call Setsuna… but the balance there was delicate. Getting close to Setsuna had not been easy, and she didn't want to spook her by pestering her to hang out too much. They were kindred spirits in their own way; sometimes it was much easier to go to bed with someone than it was to just spend time with them. She suspected that Setsuna saw their little liaisons the same way that Minako saw her own brief flings with – and she hated even to think the words but couldn't help herself – normal people. She knew that Setsuna felt like she had to hold herself apart from people, even her sister Senshi. She was wrong, of course. Minako would prove it, one day. Somehow.

Baby steps, though. Becoming Setsuna's lover had been shockingly easy, but becoming her friend would be a long-term project. And for now, that meant striking a balance. Being eager, without seeming needy.

Alright, so Setsuna was out. Hotaru had been begging her to come over for days; she had a huge haul from Comiket that she was dying to show off to someone. But, she needed somewhere to crash for the night and... staying over with Hotaru would be weird. She knew about her and Haruka, of course, and maaaybe about her and Setsuna, and sometimes it seemed like she was feeling a little left out. Minako couldn't blame her, what with all her friends hooking up left and right. And it wasn't like Hotaru wasn't cute, objectively speaking. But the thought of fooling around with her was still a little... icky.

Hotaru wouldn't be very happy to hear that. She despised being treated like the baby of the group, and she was getting less and less patient with people treating her that way. And she wasn't, not really. Hell, she was taller than Ami and Usagi now, and starting to fill out nicely. Setsuna said she'd basically gone through four years of puberty in about six months, which sounded like a pretty raw deal to Minako. She would have been climbing the walls with all those hormones in her system, not dropping hints once in a while with a smile on her face. All things considered, it was pretty impressive for a girl who was technically just shy of her third birthday.

And that was the problem, as much as it shamed her to admit it. It wasn't Hotaru's fault she'd been reborn as an infant. It had just been some weird interaction between her powers and Usagi's, as far as any of them could tell. Maybe once her age levelled out somewhere, it would be easier to move past. If it did level out. At this rate, she'd be a college-aged before Minako even finished her finals.

Minako hefted her bag over her shoulder and scuffed one shoe heel against the road. Anyways. Long story short, that didn't leave many options. Usagi's parents were back tomorrow night, so even if Minako had been interested in being the world's most unwelcome third wheel, that was off the table. Ami wasn't back until two days later, so she was out. That left Haruka and Makoto.

The two of them had been spending a lot of time together this week. Which was good! That was exactly what was supposed to have happened. In fact, it was basically the only thing that had gone the way she'd expected this whole summer. Granted, yes, it was a last-minute change of plans, but if there was one thing she'd learned over the course of this project, it was that you had to be ready to improvise.

The problem was, of course, that she had improvised herself right out a place to stay on nights like these. She had spent a healthy chunk of this summer at Makoto's place, once things started getting really tense at home. Too healthy a chunk, possibly. She'd come to depend on it. But, she had fucked that up, so... here she was. Hanging out outside an arcade at night by herself. Preeeetty cool.

With a grunt, she pushed herself away from the wall and started walking in no particular direction. She could just hop on the Oedo subway line and ride back and forth, listening to music on her phone until her parents were in bed. She'd done that a few times. Or, she could patrol the rooftops as Sailor V. There wasn't much for her to do these days, but it would be nice to feel the wind on her face, and it wouldn't hurt to remind people that she was still around. She had done that a few nights, too. Just playing around, really, just taking a break from civilian life, but Artemis had been furious when he'd found out. Technically, she had promised not to do it anymore without telling him, and she really wasn't interested in restarting that drama right now.

And so, she ended up on the subway, having swerved down the stairs to the Azabu-Juuban station at the last second. The train was standing room only, packed full of tired, tipsy salarymen and women in expensive clothes holding shopping bags, probably on their way home from Shinjuku or Roppongi. It was too crowded to sit and space out as planned, and Minako ended up jumping off only one stop later at Akabanebashi. She emerged blinking onto the still-bright streets barely a ten-minute walk from where she started. 160 yen well-spent.

She could walk home before dark easily enough, but... who was she kidding. Makoto's apartment was only five or six minutes up the side street here. Call it fate. Her feet were already taking her down the street anyway. Who was she to argue.

The spot under the landing where Haruka always parked was empty, which eased Minako's mind slightly. At least she wasn't going to be interrupting anything. Hey, maybe Makoto wasn't even home. She still wasn't sure what would be more awkward: waltzing into her apartment while she was there or having her come home – possibly not alone – to find Minako already crashing there. Fun times, either way.

She lifted her hand to knock and paused. Makoto had given her a key. Was it weirder to just barge in, or to make Makoto come open the door unnecessarily? Was she overthinking this? Shit, what if Haruka had parked around the corner? Or, like, taken the train? Okay, obviously that was crazy, but-

The snap-click of the deadbolt startled her so badly that she dropped her bag. It slid down her arm into the crook of her elbow, yanking her off-balance right as the door swung open. Makoto was wearing an apron over her tank top, denim shorts, and a confused expression.

"...Hey," she said.

"Hey."

"I saw you coming down the road, but you didn't come in. Did you forget your key or something?"

"No, I just... you know, didn't want to be, um, awkward. Coming in," Minako stuttered as she heaved her book bag back over her shoulder.

Makoto nodded slowly. "...Right. Well, great job so far." Minako's cheeks burned as Makoto stepped back, holding the door open. Minako stepped past her, avoiding her eyes and trying not to be obvious about it. She dropped her bag near the door and sat down on the couch, trying to relax and failing.

"Iced tea?" Makoto asked from behind her.

"Sure."

Minako listened to the clink of cups behind her as Makoto bustled. She rehearsed some small talk in her head, but the opportunity never came. Makoto didn't say a word, and Minako found herself scared to break the silence. A few minutes later, Makoto passed her a glass and sat down in the chair across from her. After wandering in the heat for so long, the glass was almost painfully cold in her hands. It was wonderful.

"Bad day?" Makoto asked, raising her glass to her lips.

Minako didn't answer for a moment. She ran one finger along the side of her glass, drawing a meandering line in the condensation. "Good day, bad night," she said finally.

Makoto grimaced. "Sorry. You haven't been by, and I thought maybe... things had gotten better."

Minako snorted. "Yeah, no."

"Ah. I'd hoped..." Makoto trailed off, nodding slowly to herself the way she did when she was thinking hard. "So... you've just been avoiding me, then."

Minako winced. She glanced up and saw that Makoto had her eyes cast down towards the glass in her hands. Her mouth was set in a thin and determined line. "I just... after what happened, I thought you might want a little space."

"Right," Makoto said, almost to herself. She looked up so suddenly and intently that Minako recoiled a little, sucking in an involuntary breath. "Mina, do you... have feelings for me?"

Fuck, leave it to Makoto to just charge right into it, huh? "You're my friend and I love you." She had been rehearsing those words ever since that night, and they came out too fast, with a confidence that she didn't really feel.

"That's not what I mean," Makoto said. "Okay, let me start again. That's not even what I meant to ask." She sighed. "I'm just... tripping over my thoughts, here."

"I'm sorry," Minako said automatically. Makoto's eyes darted up to hers, but she didn't say anything for a moment.

"Do you even realize you do it?" she said finally. When Minako said nothing in return, she took a swig of her tea and then put the glass down on the coffee table.

Minako blinked. "Do what?"

"This crazy emotional whiplash you put people through when you're into someone. You fixate on them for a while, move in super fast. And, when things get too intense emotionally for you, you try to hook them up with someone else and then disappear."

"I... I do not!" Minako sputtered.

"Two boys that I know about at school. And one girl. And Haruka. And me, Minako."

"That's not the same at all!" Minako said hotly. "What was I supposed to do, drag things out with people I wasn't interested in? I did them a favor! And all three of them are in happy relationships now." True, she had been the one to point them in the right direction, but so what? She was the Goddess of Love, dammit! She had an obligation, especially if she was the cause of their heartbreak to begin with. "And how do you know about Eri? Did Haruka tell you?"

Makoto crossed her arms. "Um, no, she came literally crying to me after you dumped her – over fucking LINE, I might add – and begged me to ask you why."

"Wow, really? Good for her." She saw Makoto frown and hurriedly explained. "I mean, she was terrified of people finding out she liked girls. It was really brave of her to tell a total stranger about us."

"Well, she seemed a lot more miserable and desperate than brave to me," Makoto sniffed, but her expression had softened slightly.

"Maybe, but how much more miserable would she've been if she was with someone who didn't have feelings for her? I gave it an honest shot – with all of them – but when I knew it wasn't working out, I pulled the band-aid off. It's not like it was easy for me, either." Minako took a sip of her tea. "And like I said, they all have very nice girlfriends now."

"You keep tabs on them?"

"Of course, I do," Minako said. Duty was duty, after all. Plus, they were the few small victories she had to her name after this summer had gone completely off the rails.

"I guess I shouldn't be surprised," Makoto sighed. "But you pretty much admitted I was right. And you're doing the same thing to Haruka and me. On fast-forward."

"I told you, that's not the same..."

"No? All you talked about for two weeks were your dates with Haruka, but she said she's barely heard a word from you all week." Makoto crossed her arms under her breasts, trying to look stern. It was spoiled, slightly, by the blush spreading across her cheeks. "And then after... what we did, you ghosted on me, too. Even though it was supposedly 'no big deal'."

It was a big deal, that was the problem. Makoto was so much more mature than her in so many ways, but she had zero sexual experience. Come to think of it, she might have the least out of all of them, now. Seducing her had always been part of the plan, all the way back to those first idle daydreams, but a lot had changed since then. "I didn't ghost you. I just thought... it would be better if I gave you some space. A lot happened that night, and I thought you might need some time to process."

Makoto looked unconvinced. "Is that why you called up Haruka and pushed her in front of me? To give me space? Or was this another part of your little plan?" Minako studied her glass in silence, and Makoto went on. "Like I said, I've been watching you do this all year. Did you think I wouldn't notice when you were doing it to me?"

At the word 'plan', Minako had stiffened, but she'd managed to keep her face still. "I didn't plan anything that happened between us," she said honestly.

"Did you know that Michiru was going to invite Ami to come visit her?"

"I... yes?" Minako couldn't keep the confusion out of her voice.

"And did you convince Ami that she should accept?"

She hesitated, but one look at Makoto's face told Minako that there was no point in denial. "I did."

Her breath caught in her throat as Makoto suddenly stood up, but she just took the empty glass from Minako's unresisting hands and strode over to the kitchen. "Haruka has a crazy theory," she said. Her voice was light, but Minako could see the tension in her frame as she tidied. "She thinks that maybe you convinced Ami to go because you were trying to... get her out of the way."

Wow. Minako was definitely going to have to have words with her so-called Deputy Soldier of Love. "That... isn't crazy," she said, choosing her words carefully. "But, it's not right, either."

"Oh, I know. Like I keep saying, I've watched you do this half a dozen times now." Makoto walked back and sat down next to her on the couch, a careful distance between them. "Your schemes always involve getting other people together, never yourself. Haruka made one good point, though: why would you just kiss me out of the blue if your intention was just to hook her and me up?"

"No one just kisses someone 'out of the blue'," Minako said, almost to herself. Who did she tell that to recently? "But, it's not like I planned it or anything. I just... hated seeing you so upset. I guess... I guess I thought it would help."

"'If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with'? Something like that?"

"Something like that."

Makoto looked down at her hands in her lap in silence for a moment. Then she turned herself on the couch to look Minako in the eye. "Why did you-" She bit off her sentence abruptly, and for a moment she looked almost worried. "Why did you tell Ami to go to Michiru after spending so long trying to get me to tell her I liked her?"

Minako had braced herself, but the sudden change in direction took her completely off-guard. And something about the look on Makoto's face told her that the time for evasive half-truths was over. "I... didn't tell her to go. I just... told her it was okay to go. She knew what she wanted. At most, I kept her from talking herself out of going." Okay, maybe that was still a little evasive.

"You knew how she felt. Is that why haven't you been pushing me to pour my heart out to her anymore? Or did you just... give up on me?" Makoto asked quietly.

God, leave it to Makoto to jump to the worst possible conclusion. Minako licked her lips nervously, and words started to tumble out. "Mako, that isn't it at all! The timing was just all wrong!" Makoto looked confused, but she couldn't stop the flow now that it was going. "I mean, look at yourself! You are so much stronger than you were a few years ago. No matter how scared you are now, you would have eventually told Ami how you feel. I could tell it was going to be soon, too. Probably sometime after school restarted."

"And Ami was going to reject me," Makoto said grimly.

Putting her face into her hands, Minako made an exasperated noise. "No, you idiot, of course she wouldn't've! Ami adores you! And even if she wasn't a hundred percent sure about how she felt, she would've given things a shot. That's just... how she is."

"But, if you were so sure of that, then why-" Makoto made an expansive gesture, "-all of... this?"

"Because it's too soon," Minako answered. Makoto's mouth curled into a skeptical frown, and her voice took on a pleading tone. "Just... look, bear with me. Neither of you have any real relationship experience. Ami's never been forced to confront her intimacy issues, and you..." She gnawed on her lip for a moment. "You have some have some abandonment issues to work through."

Makoto frowned deeper but remained silent, and Minako hurried on, "Aaaanyways, those aren't deal-breakers; that's not what I'm saying at all. Given the time and the emotional space, I'm sure you both'd be able to work through that stuff."

Makoto leaned back against the couch and crossed her arms behind her head, staring into space. "Except we have final exams this year."

"I, uh... yeah."

"And no matter how good things started out, once Ami got into exam mode, she'd start getting more and more focused on studying, and we'd see each other less and less."

"Right."

"And because of my abandonment issues, I'd try to cling to her harder, and she'd panic, and it would just turn into a vicious cycle of her pulling away and me trying to hold onto her."

"Umm... basically," said Minako faintly. She braced herself for Makoto's anger, but it never came. She just sat there, eyes unfocused and troubled. It was almost unfair after she had spent so much time and energy stressing out, rehearsing this conversation in her head.

"And this ends with Ami and Michiru in Paris... how?" she asked eventually.

"Well... I think Michiru sorta... tricked me. Okay, maybe not tricked," she said hurriedly when Makoto's brow creased. "It was just... I thought, hey, it would be great for Ami to have some experience before you made your move. I thought maybe it would help her be a little less jumpy down the line. Anyway, Michiru and her always seemed to have this, you know, chemistry, so I asked her if she'd be willing to... gimme a hand." Minako let out a heavy sigh. "She said no and acted like I was asking some kind of crazy big favor at first. But, apparently, she and Haruka were at kind of a... stalemate with the whole open relationship thing. Neither one wanted to be the first one to make a move on someone in case the other one got hurt feelings. So, she wanted me to arrange like a... tie breaker."

"Michiru asked you to sleep with Haruka?" Makoto said incredulously.

"Not, like, specifically sleep with her, exactly," Minako replied, a trifle defensively. "Just, you know, get her over the dating hump, and keep her company and... whatever would happen, would happen. And trust me, Haruka needed all the help she could get! Plus, it wasn't like Michiru and me were conspiring here – Haruka knew the score the whole time."

"And, in exchange, Michiru agreed to try and 'pull Ami out of her shell'..."

"Ha, that's one way of putting it. Of course, she neglected to tell me that the two of them had had some recent... drama. I didn't hear it from Ami until the last possible moment."

"So I heard. If you had known, would you have done anything differently?" Makoto asked quietly.

"No." Despite the sudden butterflies in her stomach, Minako didn't hesitate. "If anything, it only made it more important that Ami go." She could remember so vividly the look of instant understanding in Ami's eyes as Michiru made her invitation, the way her voice had quavered with longing and regret as she explained about Michiru's clumsily stolen kiss. Hearing the same thing in Michiru's voice when she'd called to confront her later that night had made things perfectly clear.

"Well... they definitely seem to have hit it off, huh?" Makoto's voice had a chagrined edge, but she was smiling ever so slightly. "And Haruka seems happy for them, which is good, I guess. Have you heard from either of them?"

"Michiru calls once in a while, mostly for Haruka updates. Otherwise, just the group messages Ami sends every day." That was a white lie, but Makoto didn't need to know that Ami had called once at six in the morning to ask Minako for 'a general overview of Haruka's sexual techniques'. After all, whatever Haruka liked to do to Minako was probably what Michiru herself liked done to her, right? Minako hadn't faulted her logic but had advised her to just... talk to the girl. After giving her a detailed summary, of course. Opportunities like that didn't come along every day.

"So," Makoto said suddenly, breaking her train of thought. "What about me?'

"What about you what?"

"All this trouble to help Ami, but what about me and my... 'issues'?" Makoto drawled. She twisted on the couch and looked at Minako expectantly. "Because all I seem to've gotten out of all this is two extra miserable weeks moping after Ami, and one very confusing night with you. Well, and five great days with Haruka. Are you going to tell me that was all part of your plan?"

"No! I mean, the Haruka part was, sort of-"

Makoto leaned forward. "When you said you were tired of hearing me beat myself up, was that part of the plan? What about kissing me?"

"Not... exactly." Makoto's face was disconcertingly close now, and Minako could feel her own face redden.

"Was that you trying to pull me out of my shell, hmm? After all, you're our leader – you would never ask us to do something you wouldn't be willing to do yourself, hmm?" She smiled a wry smile, and Minako found herself staring at her lips. "Is that it? Just a friend helping out a friend?"

"I didn't have a plan," Minako said quietly. A single drop of sweat trickled down the small of her back, but whether it was from the summer heat or Makoto's intense proximity, she couldn't have said. "I just told myself I could wing it and roll with whatever happened. But… you've been so upset, and it was basically all my fault. The last thing I wanted was to make things worse by... confusing you."

Makoto's face moved even closer. "So, you didn't convince Ami to go to Germany so you could have me all to yourself?" When Minako just gaped at her, she gave, of all things, a Haruka-perfect sultry smile. "You know, Haruka says that instead of trying to drag the truth out of you, I should just throw you over my shoulder and carry you to my bedroom."

It was wild. Maybe she was just primed from Setsuna's earlier teasing – oh god, could she have said those things deliberately? - but Makoto's words cut deep into her, and she found herself flipping from upset to aroused so fast and hard that it left her a little breathless, Fire erupted in her face as she blushed deeper than she ever had. She could feel her scalp tingle from it.

Makoto pulled back and broke into a self-satisfied cackle. "Oh man, you should see your face! You look like Usagi after two cups of shochu!"

Somehow, Minako managed to blush even harder. "God, a few days with Haruka and you've picked up her worst hab-mmph!"

Her eyes popped open wide as Makoto's mouth on hers caught her completely off-guard, but she rallied quickly. She twisted her body as Makoto's tongue brushed insistently against her lips, lifting one leg onto the couch. Makoto's hand sent shivers down her side as it slid over her hip and under her shirt to rest lightly in the small of her back, raising goosebumps the whole way. She leaned back and Makoto moved with her in perfect tandem, her chestnut hair sliding off her shoulder to brush Minako's cheek.

She'd been the one on top, back when she had kissed Makoto that first time. But, when she played it back in her head – and she had, many, many times – this was how she chose to remember it. In fact, it was decidedly hard to tell where memory ended and fantasy began. Had Makoto's kisses been this... fierce? This demanding? Her tongue was taking no prisoners in Minako's mouth, not that she had offered the slightest resistance. Whatever hesitation she might have had earlier was forgotten. No, she wanted this so badly that she couldn't think straight. She hooked her free leg around Makoto's torso and used it to pull her hips up off of the couch. Makoto responded in kind, sliding her hand down to Minako's tailbone to hold their bodies tight together, her kisses becoming even more insistent.

Minako gulped frantically for air when Makoto finally released her lips. Makoto didn't look the least bit winded; she just gave Minako a happy, hungry grin before her head dove down again. Minako's panting erupted into shrieks as Makoto's mouth sealed against her extremely sensitive neck. Minako winced a little as she nipped and sucked roughly at her skin, but every little sting just seemed to drive her arousal to new heights. Soon, she had her head lolled back, her eyes squeezed shut and her hands clutching at Makoto's hair as she kissed and licked her way down to her collarbone, leaving a little line of throbbing love bites in her wake.

"Mako," she managed to gasp. Makoto lifted her head from kissing down Minako's shoulder and moved up to plant her lips on hers. Minako kissed her back, moaning slightly in the back of her throat, but eventually she pulled back again. "Mako."

Makoto blinked, and her eyes focused on Minako's. "Yeah?"

"I bet..." Minako paused, licking her lips. "I bet you can't actually carry me over your shoulder."

Makoto narrowed her eyes.

Minako gasped as Makoto slid her hand down over her bottom and sat up, taking Minako with her. They locked eyes and Minako fastened her arms tighter around her neck as Makoto stood up in a single smooth, effortless motion. Minako ran her hands over Makoto's shoulders and back, feeling the muscles bunch and tense beneath her shirt. God, it was unreal how strong she was. She sighed and leaned down to rest her cheek on Makoto's shoulder, but that sigh became a squeal as Makoto scooped her arm under her knees and hoisted her over her shoulder like a sack of rice.

Her fists drummed on Makoto's back in mock protest as she was carried laughing down the hall. The room spun a bit as Makoto ducked carefully through her bedroom door, and Minako braced herself to be tossed onto the bed.

"Wait, put me down a sec," she gasped, still trying to catch her breath. Makoto lifted her gently from her shoulder and set her down on unsteady feet. Seeing the concern on her face, Minako hurriedly said, "So, this might sound a little weird, but... could you, like, push me up against the wall?"

Makoto cocked her head. "Like... this?" Before Minako could reply, Makoto scooped her back up and wheeled around. The impact of her back against the wall didn't feel that hard, but after the shuddering crash she could hear the dishes rattling in the kitchen cabinets. Makoto's hands slid along the undersides of her bare legs until they reached the tops of her thighs, and then hoisted her higher up the wall. In the dark, Makoto's eyes were the color of a deep and secret forest, and they seemed to fill Minako's whole world.

She locked her legs around Makoto's waist and pulled her tight as their lips met again, and she groaned with all the lust and love she could muster into Makoto's mouth. She squirmed her hips against Makoto's palms and begin to tug at her shirt hem, but Makoto seized one of her wrists and slowly pinned it against the wall. Her remaining hand seemed to have no trouble supporting Minako's weight, and a shiver of lust crawled across Minako's body.

"Don't tear my shirt, please," Makoto said in a husky voice. Minako let the cloth drop from her fingers and leaned forward to apologize with her lips, but Makoto drew back with a playful grin. "Where was this enthusiasm a week ago?" she mock-chided.

"I didn't stop because I wanted to," Minako protested weakly. She strained, trying to recapture Makoto's lips, but Makoto kept just out of reach, "I thought-"

"I know," Makoto said, "I'm just..." She trailed off and then suddenly kissed Minako hard, pushing her head back against the wall. They were both panting when she broke away, nostrils flaring. "So, do you have any other requests here, or do we take our clothes off now?"

"Yes!" Minako gasped. She kissed Makoto one last time as she stepped back and released her hand. The second her feet were firmly back on the floor she pulled off her t-shirt and unhooked her bra. For a moment she thought longingly about all the fancy, European underwear sitting beautiful and useless in her dresser back home, and she sighed as she unsnapped her skirt and pulled it and her panties off in a single motion.

Makoto was still pulling her shirt over her head, and she gave a little shriek as Minako bent down and planted a kiss right above her navel before turning and diving onto the bed. After she'd made herself comfortable, she watched with bated breath as Makoto undressed. It was a dark night, even with the curtains open, so all she could really see was Makoto silhouetted against the light coming in from the living room, but that didn't make it any less tantalizing.

She pulled her shorts and underwear down in a single motion and then, adorably, crossed the room to her laundry hamper and tossed them in. When she turned back towards the bed, Minako made a show of stretching her arms above her head before settling into what she hoped was a sexy and inviting pose. Her heart began to race even harder as Makoto walked slowly towards the bed. Her dark shape seemed to flow towards Minako as she knelt and began to stalk up the bed on her hands and knees. Minako swore she could feel Makoto's gaze as it swept up her naked form, and she let her own eyes and hands roam delicately over Makoto's body as she got closer. They brushed Makoto's cheek, down her long neck, and over her shoulders and back. When they were finally eye-to-eye, Minako reached up and brushed the hair from her face and whispered quietly, "Mako."

The moment their bodies touched was so electric that they both exhaled sharply at the same time. Makoto bowed her head until their foreheads touched and snaked her arms around Minako's waist, pulling them even tighter together. They kissed again, and Minako lifted one leg and locked it possessively around Makoto's thighs.

This was it. This was the scene her fevered mind had painted for her while Setsuna had kept her in agonizing suspense. Makoto's hair was a midnight canopy that framed both of their faces. Her breasts were soft and warm against Minako's chest, but the muscles of her back were rock-solid beneath Minako's stroking fingers. God, she was so strong. Just thinking about it sent a lusty shiver through Minako's body.

Makoto responded by sliding her palm up from Minako's knee to her inner thigh, and Minako responded by throwing her legs wide in what she hoped was an obvious invitation. And maybe three weeks of Haruka's playful teasing and Setsuna's sweet torments had messed with her expectations, but she cried out in shocked delight as Makoto's fingers sank between her slick and swollen lips with no hesitation. Or she would have, if Makoto's tongue hadn't shoved itself into her mouth at the same time. Instead, all she could do was moan and squirm her hips as Makoto mashed the heel of her palm against her clit. She was so wet that two of Makoto's slender fingers pushed inside her effortlessly. For a minute they struggled to find a rhythm together, and then suddenly things just seemed to click, and from that point on they moved together like a single, well-oiled machine. Minako had to break off from their kiss – all of her concentration was going to rolling her hips in time to Makoto's thrusting fingers. The only sounds in the room were the quarter-note squeak of the bedsprings and, as their pace began to pick up, the deliciously obscene slap of Makoto's palm against her prepuce.

Her hand scrabbled on the sheets, trying to find more leverage to throw herself against Makoto's hand, and eventually she found herself with her one hand over her head, pushing against the headboard. Her other hand was tangled in Makoto's chestnut locks as she kissed down Minako's neck and shoulder. Her head darted down to seize Minako's nipple between her teeth, making Minako suck in her breath. Between Haruka and Setsuna, she had gotten so accustomed to being teased. Makoto was so forceful, so direct, it caught her off guard again and again.

And she loved it. No flirting or games, no artful seduction, just her and Makoto - fierce, honest, passionate, beautiful Makoto. Just Makoto's slender fingers inside her, Makoto's name on her lips as she came, Makoto's mouth on hers, drinking down her cries, her hand never stopping its relentless, pounding rhythm until Minako finally sagged in her arms.

Makoto shifted both of them around until she was lying on her side with Minako's face pressed into the silky cushion of her breasts. Minako laid there with her eyes closed, her own chest heaving, listening to Makoto's heartbeat and breathing in her musky scent. Makoto's fingers were still now, but Minako could still flex the aching muscles of her sex around them, sending little shivery aftershocks through her body. Her other hand was around Minako's waist, trailing fingers in lazy figure eights across her belly.

Minako nuzzled her cheek into the impossible softness of Makoto breast, searching by touch until she found what she was looking for. Makoto moaned softly as her nipple slid between Minako's lips. Minako brought up her free hand and cupped her other breast in her palm, marvelling at the weight of it, sinking her fingers into its yielding flesh. In response, Makoto gently drew her fingers out from her pussy, leaving Minako feeling empty and aching for a moment before they slid up through her swollen lips and pushed roughly against her clit.

Minako made a strangled noise around the nipple in her mouth at the sudden blaze of sensation and her arm shot down to seize at Makoto's arm. It was a futile effort though: Makoto took her by the wrist and pushed her hand back onto her breast before returning to roll her clit roughly beneath her fingers. All Minako could do was mewl around her nipple and clutch at Makoto's body as the unbearable feelings ratcheted up and up and up. No matter how she squirmed and writhed, she couldn't escape those fingers. It was just shy of agony... until, suddenly it wasn't anymore, and instead of fighting to get free, her hips were hunching against Makoto's fingers as they moved faster and faster and oh god how she be cumming again so soon but she was, screaming into Makoto's breast, clawing at her shoulder...

Her head fell back, Makoto's nipple pulling from her lips with a wet pop! and leaving a long strand of saliva down her chin. She stared up at the ceiling, eyes unfocused and unseeing, as she panted for breath. A moan escaped her lips as Makoto gave her throbbing pussy a final, loving squeeze. Slick fingers brushed her lips, which parted with reflexive obedience. The taste of her own juices exploded on her tongue, and she made happy noises in the back of her throat as she sucked each digit clean.

Her heartbeat was returning to normal when Makoto finally pulled her fingers from her greedy mouth, toying with her lower lip as she did. Minako opened her eyes to see Makoto laying on her side with her head propped casually on one hand, her self-satisfied grin barely visible in the dark.

Well, she'd sure earned the right to be pleased. Minako grunted as she rolled over to face Makoto. She was still so wobbly that even that was an effort.

"Worth the wait?" Makoto teased.

"Absolutely." Minako shivered as the air conditioner raked over her sweaty form, and she snuggled up closer to Makoto. "God, I can barely think. I didn't think it was possible to get off back-to-back like that."

"Really?" Makoto asked. There was a note of pride in her voice. "You should work on your core and your pelvic floor." Her fingers trailed over Minako's stomach. "I, uh, heard somewhere it can make a big difference."

Minako grinned to herself. Haruka had told her the same thing once. Under very similar circumstances. "Remind me to thank Haruka for providing you such excellent mentorship."

"Mentorship?" scoffed Makoto. "You make it sound like you sent me to some kind of sex training camp."

A little shiver went through Minako's body as she stretched out on the bed and then cuddled back into Makoto's arms. "Call it whatever you want. The results obviously speak for themselves." She punctuated this by burrowing her face between Makoto's breasts and sighing contentedly.

She let out a surprised squeak as Makoto's hands slid under her arms and pulled her up until they were face-to-face. "I didn't have sex with Haruka." Makoto was smiling, but her voice was firm.

Minako's brow scrunched in confusion. "What? Why not?"

Makoto snorted in laughter. "Haruka said you'd say that." Minako began to sputter a denial, but a finger to her lips silenced her. "We talked a lot, about a lot of things. And… okay, we sorta made out a few times. She would have gone further, but…" Makoto took a deep breath. "Look, I know you're always saying that 'virginity' is an archaic social concept created to, like, control female sexuality and stuff, but… after what we did last week, I umm… wanted it to be with you, I guess. My first time. I know that probably wasn't part of your master plammph-"

Minako's kiss cut her off. "Lie back," she ordered in a whisper after she pulled away. Makoto complied hesitantly, crossing her arms over her head. Straddling her hips, Minako looked down at her and bit her lip. Makoto was so self-conscious about her body that Minako usually tried to keep her stares to herself, but if there was any time for a little self-indulgence... She did her best to be supportive, but there were definitely times when Makoto had complained bitterly about her lack of femininity and Minako had wondered silently to herself if her friend had ever seen herself in the mirror.

It wasn't Makoto's physique that had her heart doing somersaults in her ribcage, though. Makoto wanted her to be her first. Makoto, whose health and happiness she already took as her duty. As her friend – hell, as her leader – this was an awesome responsibility. This wasn't a few hours of entertaining, educational distraction, like with Haruka or Setsuna. This was a big deal to Makoto, so she had to treat it like one, too.

Plus, it meant she got to show off.

"I'm just gonna be improvising here," she said briskly. She reached up and pulled her trademark bow out of her hair and tossed it vaguely in the direction of her clothes on the floor. It always got pulled loose when she was fooling around, and this time was no different. "So, if you want to me to do anything in particular, just say it. I mean it. Anything." She tried to give Makoto a smoky look, but it was probably lost in the darkness.

"Okay, then," Makoto said lazily. "You're the expert here. What do you wanna do?"

Blood rushed to Minako's cheeks. There was a game Setsuna liked to play with her. She loved to make Minako describe how she would please her in exhaustive detail before she was allowed to touch her. Minako had no problem bragging about her exploits to her friends, but it was a very different thing to sit naked under Setsuna's piercing gaze, blushing and stammering. It was humiliating and degrading and Minako loved it.

Of course, Makoto wasn't really playing that game, but Minako was powerless to prevent the response that Setsuna had engrained into her.

"I-I want to make you feel good. I want to-to worship you. Your breasts. Your l-legs. Your feet. Anything. Everything." Her face was so hot that she was sure it must be glowing in the dark. "I want to lick your pussy. I want you to wrap your thighs around my head and… and fuck my face until you cum in my mouth." Minako curled the blankets beneath her in her fists. Just hearing her own words out loud made her lightheaded. She felt herself sway a little, but she sucked in a breath and kept her balance.

Setsuna probably would have punished her for her presumption in the last part there. Or maybe rewarded her for her vivid description. Not knowing was the best part, after all. But all Makoto said was, "That sounds… good," in a faint voice.

"Thank you." With the permission she so desperately craved, Minako fell to her self-appointed task with gusto. There wasn't time to really do it properly – if Makoto hadn't surprised her, she would have made sure that Makoto was taken care of first, and then there would have been time enough to be thorough in her devotion. That would have to wait until she'd gotten her off properly at least once.

Her first target was the most delicate one. Makoto had been a turbulent mixture of proud and embarrassed of her breasts as long as they'd known each other. The last thing Minako wanted to do was make her uncomfortable, but she couldn't help lavishing them with attention. She latched her lips around one nipple, making a contented noise in her throat as she did. With a free hand, she seized the other between her thumb and forefinger and tugged it roughly, just like she had seen Makoto herself do that night. To her delight, Makoto responded by arching her back and groaning, pushing Minako's face down into her bosom with her hand. Minako responded by seizing her nipple none-too-gently between her teeth and lashing the tip with her tongue.

"Nnnggg!" Makoto's hips lurched up against Minako's stomach as made the strangled noise. She clamped one hand over her mouth and seized a handful of Minako's hair with the other, holding her face down hard against her breast. The sudden, needling pain in her scalp sent a bolt of lightning between Minako's thighs, and she redoubled her efforts, sucking her nipple and the surrounding flesh into her mouth with all of her might.

She lost herself in that rhythm, worshipping one breast, then the other, until Makoto's fist released her head. Blinking, she emerged from her lusty haze and admired her handiwork. Both of her nipples jutted hard and swollen, shining with spit in the thin starlight. Her own lips were swollen, and she could feel a little drool running down her chin. It didn't bother her at all; she planned to get much messier by the time she was finished.

She kissed down Makoto's breastbone, loving the silky caress of her cleavage against her cheeks, and then meandered down over her abdomen with her lips and tongue. She could have sworn she could trace the line of every hard muscle with her tongue, and she would have, if she'd had the time. For now, she had to content herself with working a single line down to Makoto's waistline. Makoto's legs parted wide as she made her way south, until she felt the faint tickle of hair against the bottom of her chin. She could feel the heat of her sex pulsing at her throat, and the scent of her filled Minako's nostrils.

She looked up, saw Makoto's chest raising and falling and not much else. Sliding down a little further, she let her cheek glide down one flawless thigh and sighed blissfully. She turned her head and kissed it, feeling Makoto's pulse under her lips, heard her breath catch. God, if only she had time to give her legs the long, thorough attention they deserved. She would, eventually, but Makoto had been patient enough.

Of course, despite this resolution, she couldn't help at least kissing her way down Makoto's thigh to her knee, and then slowly drawing a line with her tongue back to the top of her leg. It drew a tight moan from Makoto's lips, and Minako told herself that meant she wasn't being completely self-indulgent.

Placing her palms on her thighs, she gently urged Makoto to spread her legs further. Her nose twitched as that lovely perfume flooded her senses, and she settled herself down on the bed. A glance up showed that Makoto was holding her breath, and Minako paused, drawing things out just so slightly longer. One of the many things that Setsuna had taught her was that anticipation was, when prepared correctly, the perfect spice. She'd been fantasizing about burying her face between Makoto's legs for days, though, and she had nothing like Setsuna's inhuman patience.

Her first long, slow lick was everything she'd dreamed of. The flat of her tongue dug deep between her swollen lips, dragging every drop of her juices it could find before her lips sealed around Makoto's hooded clit, and finished with a showy swirl of her tongue against it. She was rewarded by a sharp, choked noise of pleasure from Makoto.

"Oh my god." Makoto groaned as Minako repeated her actions, her voice cracking as her tongue danced over her clit again. "Oh my god," she hissed again, after another swipe of Minako's tongue had her hips jumping up to meet her. It became a little chant she repeated with each lick until she became accustomed to the raw shock of the sensation.

It was a gentle, steady pace – one that Minako was sure wouldn't satisfy Makoto for long. She knew about the cute little vibrator stashed away in the bedside table. When they'd masturbated together, she had half-expected Makoto to pull it out, but even without it she could vividly recall how aggressively her friend had frigged herself. Between that and the vibrator, Minako was guessing she was used to getting off with some pretty intense stimulation.

Makoto moaned as she slid her index finger carefully into her slick, hot depths, followed shortly by her middle finger. Did Makoto know about her g-spot, Minako mused as she fastened her mouth back onto her friend's clit. She hadn't even heard of it herself until Haruka – a shy and reluctant teacher at best – had taught her what she could. She'd asked Setsuna about it a few days later and, though the details were a little blurry, she did know it had ended with Setsuna cradling her quivering body and whispering soothing words into her ear, with a broken arm restraint dangling from her wrist and a huge wet spot on those beautiful satin sheets. Fortunately, Setsuna'd been more impressed than mad; she had barely punished Minako at all for the mess. Just thinking about it made her squirm her hips against the bed.

Makoto responded immediately when she began to pump her fingers slowly in and out of her pussy, her hips pushing forward to meet each thrust. Her muscles seized Minako's fingers with shocking strength, and she had to push them back in each time. Wrapping her free arm around Makoto's thigh, she used her other hand to pull back her prepuce, exposing her clit for maximum stimulation. She prepared to do just that, but hesitated. There was one more thing that would make this just… perfect.

"Mako," she said timidly, "um, you can pull my hair some more. If you want."

Makoto lifted her head and looked down at her through the great valley of her breasts. Minako could hear her breathing heavily. Then, without a word, she reached down and caught a handful of golden locks and yanked Minako's head down, mashing her lips against her sex. They both groaned together as Minako's tongue writhed frantically against her clit.

She let Makoto's hips set the pace. Her fingers had no problem keeping up, sawing smoothly in and out with every thrust of her pelvis. Keeping her tongue busy was harder, until finally Makoto's other hand shot down to seize her hair, holding her head in place as she humped frantically against her tongue. Her scalp burned, but it didn't even register against Minako's bliss.

When Makoto's legs crossed themselves behind her head, trapping her even more tightly, she redoubled her actions, until at last Makoto's back arched off the bed. If she made a noise, Minako couldn't hear it; all she did was suck as hard as she could at Makoto's clit, her fingers flashing in and out as her insides went wild. She couldn't have escaped if she wanted – hell, she couldn't even breathe around the death grip Makoto had on her head, but she soldiered on. Her entire world was Makoto's pussy and thighs, and her pubes tickling her nose, and her own pulse pounding in her ears.

Finally, her legs fell away from her head, and she could hear Makoto panting. Her fingers released her hair, and instead began to stroke gently through her locks. Minako slowed down, her own fingers coming to a stop still firmly lodged inside of her lover, feeling the muscles of her sex still twitch and throb around them. Her aching tongue ceased its assault and she switched back to slow, tender licks, just as she'd been trained, until Makoto softly spoke her name.

She glanced up, still ministering gently with her mouth, and Makoto lifted her arms up in invitation. Gingerly withdrawing her fingers from Makoto's body, she crawled up and collapsed into Makoto's embrace. They shared a brief, deep kiss before Makoto pulled her head down into the nape of her neck and let out a long, contented sigh.

"That was just… unreal," Makoto said. She pulled Minako a little tighter against her side. "I mean… I expected it would be better than doing it myself, but…" She blew some hair out of her face. "God, I hope my neighbors didn't hear me."

Minako couldn't help but preen a little under the praise. "Was it everything you dreamed of?" she teased.

"There were a few surprises…"

"Like what?" asked Minako with genuine curiosity.

"Well… there was a lot more, uh, hair-pulling than I was anticipating.

Minako felt her cheeks heat. "Did that make you uncomfortable?"

"No, no! I mean, you seemed to be into it. And, well... Haruka did mention that you like being, uh, there's gotta be a better word for it…"

"What?"

"…Manhandled?"

Minako giggled and let her fingers trail over Makoto's stomach. "I guess you could say that… I just like it when my partners are… assertive, that's all."

"I think her exact words were that you are 'submissive, but bossy'."

"Hmph." It wasn't Haruka's fault that she didn't really have a dominant bone in her body. She'd known that Michiru was the top in that relationship, but she'd still tried to force Haruka to fit into her old middle-school fantasies. To her credit, she'd done her best, but playing rough just wasn't in Haruka's nature. Haruka could sweet-talk her way into the pants of any girl she wanted if she wasn't so shy, but she would never have casually thrown her around like Makoto just had.

"She really did tell me to throw you over my shoulder, though."

"Really? That was sweet of her."

For some reason this caused Makoto to burst out laughing, but when Minako demanded an explanation, all she did was kiss her.

"So now what do I do?" Makoto asked after she had thoroughly kissed away her indignation.

"What do you mean?"

"Do I, like, carry you back out to the living room and then back to bed?"

"I don't-"

"Or could I just do… this!" Before she could open her mouth to reply, Minako found herself on her back with her hands pinned above her head. Makoto was grinning down at her.

Minako licked her lips. "You can do whatever you want."

And to her delight, she did.

"Has anyone ever told you you have a beautiful back?"

"Mmmm," came Makoto's contented non-reply.

With her face resting very comfortably on Makoto's bottom, and the late morning sun streaming in the window, Minako had the perfect view of the back in question. She reached out and drew her finger down the valley of her spine, and then ran the flat of her hand up her ribs. She could feel each muscle under her palm, even in Makoto's state of total relaxation.

There was a tiny twinge between her legs, but that was all she could muster. She was hardly out of shape, but Makoto had seemingly endless reserves of stamina. No matter how many tricks she'd pulled out last night, Makoto had been ready to go only minutes later. Finally, Minako had just tapped out, crawled up next to Makoto, and passed out immediately.

And then something amazing had happened. She'd woken up with Makoto's arms around her waist as she spooned her tight from behind. The sun hadn't yet risen above the building across the street, and the room had been almost cool, and it had occurred to her suddenly that she had never woken up in someone's arms.

Her school flings were certainly not overnight affairs, with barely time for a brief snuggle afterwards. Haruka - no matter what they'd gotten up to, or how late they'd been up getting to it - was out of bed at six AM sharp to run, no exceptions. Setsuna was a top-rank snuggler, even if she liked to call it 'aftercare' for some reason, but she had a busy schedule most mornings, and Minako hadn't yet figured out how to finagle a sleepover. Hell, she had spent half the summer sleeping in this bed, but most mornings she awoke to smell Makoto making breakfast, or mid-workout on the living room floor. Even the night she and Makoto had fooled around… well, the less she dwelled on that awkward morning, the better.

It shouldn't have been a big deal, right? But it was. It was so big, it almost dwarfed their crazy, amazing night together. And she couldn't quite figure out why, but she knew she didn't want it to stop.

Makoto began to stir, and reluctantly Minako lifted her head so she could roll onto her back. With her fleshy pillow gone, she twisted around and curled up against Makoto, resting her chin on her shoulder.

"You know, we could have been doing this all summer," Makoto said idly. "Now there's less than a week left before school starts."

"I guess," Minako replied noncommittally.

"Theoretically, I mean. You know, if I'd managed to get my head together earlier."

"I think… things happened in basically the order they needed to."

"I guess."

Minako bent down and kissed her on the shoulder before snuggling in close again. She had half-dozed off when Makoto spoke again.

"Are you gonna to go back home tonight?"

"I hadn't planned on it." After ditching her grounding, it would probably be best to let her parents cool off for a few days.

"You can stay here, if you want."

"Don't mind if I do."

"Minako." Minako opened her eyes to see Makoto staring at her with an apprehensive expression. "I mean, you can stay. Like, stay stay."

Minako's eyes widened. "Mako…"

"My trust pays all the bills, so you don't have to worry about that. I know my place isn't huge, but you basically lived here this summer anyway, and it was fine." She chuckled nervously. "I'm-I'm not sure what the building policy is about cats, but Artemis is welcome, too. He might just have to hide sometimes…"

"Mako," Minako repeated softly. Makoto stopped, wetting her lips anxiously. "Mako, I can't." Anger swelled in her chest, anger at herself for allowing this happen when she knew it would. She reached down and took Makoto's hand in both of hers.

"Sure you can. I know your parents might not like it, but you can tell them with exams coming up-"

"Makoto, I love you."

Makoto's mouth snapped shut, and she blushed furiously. Minako pressed on.

"I told you that last night, and I meant it. Nothing will ever change that. But, this… this will never work. I can't be what you want me to be."

The look of hurt anger that crossed Makoto's face was like a knife in her heart, but Minako stood her ground, praying that she wouldn't cry.

"What do I want?" Makoto demanded. "I've spent the last four years trying to figure it out, but hey, you're the love expert, right? Then you tell me. What do I want so badly that you can't give me?"

"Monogamy."

Makoto narrowed her eyes. "You are so full of shit."

Choking back the apology that was halfway out of her mouth, Minako sputtered, "I'm being serious!"

"Why don't you just save us both some time and skip to the part where you try to push me off on Ami?"

"I wasn't-" Minako began, but the look on Makoto's face said that denial was off the table. "You-you've been in love with her for years!"

"I think maybe my definition of love was… incomplete."

"Oh, cool, you lose your virginity and twelve hours later you're a love expert!"

Makoto's nostrils flared and Minako grit her teeth in anticipation, but all she did was close her eyes and take a deep breath. "Maybe we need to take this down a couple notches before one of us says something… stupid."

Minako blinked and took a deep breath of her own. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I shouldn't have dropped something like that on you so suddenly."

"It was a little bit of a shock."

"For what it's worth… I just want you to be safe and happy. I didn't mean we had to… be together."

She blushed as she said it, and Minako raised an eyebrow. "Now who's full of shit?"

Makoto chuckled and rolled onto her back, staring at the ceiling. Minako hesitated a moment and then rested her cheek against her arm. She reached down and found Makoto's hand with her own, grasping it tightly.

"It's not that I don't want to. Really. But, I wasn't lying before. I don't know if I could love just one person forever. I just… I don't think I'm wired that way."

"So then, when Haruka and Michiru get back, are you going to still, uh, see Haruka?"

"I guess that's up to them," Minako said carefully. "I mean, I'd like to. Hell, they get back from Europe like a week before my birthday – maybe I can convince them to get me a gift from both of them, wink wink."

"Uh huh."

Minako nudged her in the ribs playfully with her elbow. "You know, what the French call a mange à twat."

Makoto lolled her head over and peered down at her suspiciously. "I honestly can't tell if…" She shook her head and then turn back to face the ceiling again. "Ami's back soon, huh."

"Two days," Minako replied, feeling wary at the sudden change of subject.

"Have you talked to her much?"

"Not directly. Just the group chats."

"Seems like she's having a pretty great time."

"Yeah. It does. Umm… sorry."

She expected Makoto to rebuke her for apologizing, but she didn't. Instead, she stretched her arms out over her head and then slid one around Minako's shoulders, pulling her in close so her face was smushed into the side of one pillowy breast. Minako did not complain.

"Answer me this honestly," Makoto began. "When Ami gets home on Sunday, do you really think that she's gonna say to herself, 'well, glad I got that out of my system; now it's time to forget about all those magical nights with Michiru in the most romantic city in the world and get back to studying!'?"

"Well, I wouldn't bet against Ami's ability to push her life into a corner in favor of worrying about school, but… I guess probably not."

"Now that she knows about my feelings, I'm sure we'll end up talking about… about us, eventually." Makoto didn't sound particularly pleased by that. "So you know what I bet? When Haruka and Michiru step off of that plane, she'll be waiting there right next to you. She might have a textbook under her arm, but she'll be there. And that's fine. And I'm… getting more fine with it. The idea of it. And Haruka is happy. And if she isn't mad or jealous or anything," she sighed, "then how can I justify it?"

Her fingers brushed down Minako's cheek and along her jaw as she spoke, and Minako's heart leapt into her throat when she realized that Makoto wasn't talking about Ami anymore. She took Makoto's hand and kissed her palm, then gently unwound her arm from her shoulders. Sitting up, she quickly twisted over and straddled Makoto's hips before staring down into her surprised emerald eyes.

"Hypothetical situation," she said. "Everything with Haruka and Michiru is reversed. Haruka gets a letter in April inviting her to study in, uh, Italy. At… ummm… car school? Anyways, she spends the summer there, Michiru stays home. We scheme together to convince you to take off to Italy to hang out with Haruka, she takes me out for, like, a fancy sushi dinner or whatever, then takes me home and fucks my brains out. We spend a few weeks fooling around, and then I try to get her to seduce Ami, but it backfires, and Ami decides she'd rather be with me instead. I try to fight it, but we end up making love, and it's incredible. Waking up next to her is the happiest moment of my life. Then we have this exact conversation, but in, like, double reverse." Makoto was wearing a slightly stunned expression, but she pressed on. "If somehow things had worked out that way… I would have done that all in a heartbeat, Mako. That's what I mean when I say there is room for more than one person in my heart. Could you really live with that? If not, I would never, ever risk… hurting you…"

She trailed off as Makoto reached up and cupped her face with both hands. Her thumbs stroked over Minako's cheeks, wiping away tears she hadn't even felt fall. And then, to her shock, Makoto began to giggle. She pulled Minako down into a crushing embrace. "Ohh, Mina… where are you going to find a bed big enough for nine people?" she laughed.

"Whaf bebf?" Minako asked with her face squished into Makoto's chest. She gasped for air as Makoto released her.

"Just a little joke between Haruka and me, don't worry about it," she said with a twinkle in her eye. "Happiest moment of your life, huh?"

Blushing, Minako pushed herself back up onto her arms. "One more thing," she said quickly. A nervous lump formed in her throat, but she swallowed it down. She could practically feel Setsuna's disapproving frown across time and space, but there was a time for fun secrets, and there was a time for the naked truth. She took a deep breath. "So, umm, I'm still not entirely sure how it happened, but I also have this kinda off-and-on dom-sub thing going with Setsuna, too." God, her whole face was burning, and seeing the confused look on Makoto's face was only making it worse. "Okay, it's like… she basically tells me what to do, and I have to do it." Makoto's eyes widened and Minako hurried to correct herself. "She doesn't force me to do anything, I want to, that's-" She licked her lips. "That's what makes it so good. It's just a-a game. Sort of?"

There was a little red in Makoto's cheeks as she considered this, but it was nothing compared to the fire in Minako's. "So, is this like a whips and chains thing? Does Setsuna wear one of those leather catsuits?" she asked breathlessly.

Minako blinked. "No, just her regular business clothes, usually. No whips or anything." Setsuna surely had some hidden in her closet of wonders, but Minako was expressly forbidden from even peaking inside. "Sometimes… sometimes she ties me up. Sometimes she spanks me. Or just teases me until I think I'm going to go crazy." She turned her head; looking into Makoto's eyes was too intense all of a sudden. Her cheeks were so hot that she was feeling little pinpricks in them and worse, her embarrassment was seriously turning her on, her body responding just as Setsuna had trained it. She longed to squeeze her thighs together, but she was trapped straddling Makoto's hips.

The bed creaked as Makoto pushed herself up. "Is that why you like it when we played rough last night?" she half-whispered into Minako's ear. "You like getting bossed around?"

Minako squeezed her eyes shut. "Yes. It's not exactly the same, but yesssss." She hissed out the last word as Makoto flicked her right nipple with her thumbnail. "And I love you, Mako, but I can't give it up. Everything else, if I really had to, but not this. I-I need it." She turned and darted her head down, and Makoto was ready for her. Her tongue slithered into Makoto's mouth, just as Makoto's fingers slid between her legs.

In no time at all she was screaming into Makoto's mouth as she came. It wasn't the most intense orgasm she'd ever had, but it was sure the fastest. With one steadying hand on her hip, Makoto's fingers strummed over her clit relentlessly until Minako's legs gave out. She collapsed onto Makoto's torso, shuddering. Makoto ran both of her hands over her ribs and down her tailbone before sliding over the cheeks of her ass. She grabbed a healthy handful in each palm and squeezed, really sinking her fingers into the flesh. Minako felt one hand lift, and she braced herself unconsciously. Even with her past experience, her eyes still popped Makoto brought it down with smack that sent a white-hot bolt of pain and pleasure through her. As spent as she was, all the could do was moan quietly.

"You should do that right before I cum instead of after," she said sleepily.

Fingers ruffled her hair. "Is that so?"

"Yup." Minako didn't know why, but this was so much easier to talk about after getting off. "I mean, spank me whenever you want, but a real good, hard one right as I'm cumming really drives me crazy." She lifted her head and saw Makoto smirking. "And that's not me being 'submissive but bossy', thank you very much."

"I didn't say a word."

"You were thinking it, I can tell."

"Uh huh." Makoto drew her finger up Minako's spine, and Minako sighed. "Mina… I have a confession to make."

"Mmmm?" came her sleepy reply.

"I already knew about you and Setsuna's whole… thing."

Minako's head shot up instantly. "What?! How?"

"I guess she told Haruka back when you first hooked up, if that's the right word. And then Haruka told me. And then we all kinda got together and had a little chat."

"About me?"

"Mostly, yeah."

Minako rolled off of Makoto's body and onto her back with a grunt. "I don't know how I feel about that."

"Nothing bad, I promise. We were mostly just worried about you. Your home life, all these crazy plans of yours…"

"They aren't crazy," Minako huffed. "They're just… ambitious."

"Of course." She was quiet for a moment, just running her fingers through Minako's hair. "Before, you asked if I would be able to handle sharing you. If it was like this, with everybody looking out for each other, no jealousy, then… maybe? I don't think I can say 'yes', but… I think I can say 'maybe not no'? Does that make sense?"

Minako rolled over to look at her. She couldn't quite believe what she was hearing. "Are you sure?"

"Not at all," Makoto said seriously. "Look, I'm hardly an expert on any of this stuff, but I don't think you're ever going to get a hundred percent guarantee that everyone will be happy and everything will turn out fine. But that… that can't be an excuse just to never take a chance. Right?"

"I guess." This sounded suspiciously like the advice she had been giving Makoto about Ami for years now. That was hardly fair.

"I'm willing to roll the dice, though. With one condition. No, two conditions. First, I think you were right about what you said while we were talking about Ami last night. With this being our final year and all, I don't think either of us really has the time for a capital-G Girlfriend. I mean, fooling around like this sometimes is fine, obviously…"

"Obviously."

"… but I don't think I can commit to anything serious. I hope… I hope that's okay."

"You mean you don't want to spend every waking moment joined at the hip, staring into each other's eyes, being all cutesy-poo in front of everyone all the time like some people we know2?"

Makoto laughed. "Please, no. God, could you imagine?"

"Are you sure? I have some terrible poetry in my desk somewhere. I could read it to you at lunch at school."

"Don't you dare," Makoto said with mock seriousness. "God… they're gonna be like that all the time, aren't they?"

"Yuuuuuup." Minako poked idly at one of Makoto's breasts with her finger, making it wobble impressively. "I mean, it's not the absolute worst thing. Once in a while," she said quietly. "I don't want you to think that all I want of out of some… theoretical, open-ended, non-girlfriend-type relationship is sex." She glanced up to see Makoto smiling down at her and blushed.

"Sounds good to me. That brings me to my second condition, actually. If this does ever get to be too much for you, do me the common courtesy of telling me to my face. Don't just disappear on me, don't go radio-silent, and definitely, absolutely, do not even dare to tell me over LINE." Makoto bit the last word off with so much acid that Minako cringed. "In fact, I'm actually making this a group condition. Haruka, Setsuna, to-be-named-non-girlfriends of the future – this applies to all of them. Fair?"

"Fair," Minako sighed, trying not to pout. It was an effort not to object, but she knew this wasn't the time. And, frankly, Makoto had already heard and rejected her reasons. "More than fair."

"Good. Alright, condition number three…"

Minako's head shot up to complain, but Makoto just raised her eyebrow, and the words died on her lips. Instead, she compressed her lips into a line and said, "Go on."

"You need to talk to Rei and Usagi."

Minako's nostrils flared as she exhaled heavily.

"I don't mind being a shoulder to cry on," Makoto continued. "or a cheap substitute, if that's what you need-"

"You aren't!" Minako pushed herself up on her elbow and stared into Makoto's eyes. She didn't blush this time. "Don't you dare ever think that." She was mad, madder than the offhand comment probably deserved, but Makoto only answered her angry glare with a look of sad compassion.

She lifted her head and kissed Minako tenderly on the lips. "I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I'm still… not very great at this."

"It's okay," Minako said. Then, she threw herself into Makoto's surprised arms. "You are not a substitute," she repeated fiercely. She squeezed Makoto as tight as she could until her friend hugged her back. "I'm going to see Rei tomorrow, I think. She's gonna be deep in Usagi-withdrawal and she'll probably need someone to talk to. And I'll talk to Usagi soon. Sometime."

"Sometime," repeated Makoto. "Well… good enough for now, I guess. So, condition number four…"

"Oh. My. Gaaaaaawd," Minako cried, rolling her eyes. She fought her way out of Makoto's embrace and flopped onto her back next to her, arms crossed.

"You stay the night here, you stay for breakfast, too."

"…Oh."

That one was probably fine.

"Man, you look like crap."

Rei's glass paused midway to her lips as she glowered. "Gee, thanks." She took a long swallow of her water. "It's so great to see you, too, Mina."

Minako grinned in response. She'd been more than a little apprehensive about stepping onto the temple grounds, but the instant Rei had spotted her she'd said something to Yuuichiro and some girl she didn't recognize, grabbed her by the hand, and dragged her into the temple proper. And she did look like crap, at least by Rei standards. There were bags under her eyes, her shoulders were slouched, and sweat was running down her temples. As soon as Minako had slid the door to the main house shut, she'd undone and shrugged off her haori. Its white sleeves were dragging on the wooden floor as she leaned against the kitchen counter in just her undershirt. Minako didn't have a reverent bone in her body, but that seemed a little disrespectful, even to her.

"So… how is day one of Usagi withdrawal treating you?"

Minako expected another snarky response. Instead, Rei gulped down the rest of her water and all but slammed her glass onto the countertop before seizing Minako by the wrist and storming out of the room. It was follow or be dragged, so Minako trotted behind her in silence, wondering if she'd been a little too glib. When they reached her bedroom, Rei shoved her inside, peered both ways down the hall, and then dashed inside herself. She gently slid the door closed, and then wheeled on Minako, waving a finger under her nose.

"How about you keep your dumb mo-hng!" Rei's angry words were cut off with a grunt as she fell backwards, landing hard on her tailbone. Minako spotted the culprit immediately: Rei had closed her bedroom door on the trailing sleeve of her robe. She bent down to help her up, but Rei swatted away her proffered hand.

"I'm fine," she growled. The door rattled in its frame as she yanked on the robe with both hands. When that didn't work, she climbed awkwardly to her feet, freed her robe, and slammed the door shut again.

Minako opened her mouth to crack a joke, but she quickly closed it when she saw Rei's face. Her eyes were wide and wild, focused on nothing, and her knuckles were nearly as white as the hem of the robe clutched in her hands. She didn't resist as Minako stepped forward and pulled her into her arms. She just made a choking noise and threw her arms around Minako's torso, clutching onto her as if for dear life.

All she could do was hold her friend and rub her back as she shook with silent tears. Well, she could also curse herself for being an insensitive ass, so she did that, too. She'd known Rei was probably going to need a friend today, but she hadn't anticipated she would be in such rough shape. After a few minutes, and with some coaxing, Rei allowed herself to be led over to the bed and sat down. Rei wrung her hands in her lap, sniffling and staring at the floor. Minako reached out and grabbed one. Rei didn't stop her.

"And here I thought I'd cried on your shoulder for the last time. Guess that answers your question." Rei scrubbed her cheeks with her free hand and managed a shaky smile. "God, I'm a mess. Just like old times, huh?"

Minako just kept her mouth shut, afraid of somehow making things worse.

"We talked on the phone until almost one last night," she continued, "but I still cried myself to sleep afterwards. And then I had to get up at six for chores."

"Gross," Minako said absently. Rei gave a bitter laugh.

"I can't say I've ever been a huge fan of morning chores, but getting up early wasn't what was so hard. I mean, obviously I slept terribly, but… I've never resented it like I did this morning. It was like, why am I doing this? And it wasn't as if I wasn't doing chores at Usagi's house, either. It's just like… I spent my entire life here, but the shrine, it… doesn't feel like home anymore."

Minako stayed silent, but something in Rei's words echoed painfully in her own heart. She fished a packet of tissues from her purse and handed it wordlessly to Rei.

"Thanks. I feel terrible saying it, but it's true." Rei sighed and then blew her nose. "I can barely look Grandpa in the eye."

"I'm sure he would understand, if he knew why," Minako ventured.

"I think he might. Know, I mean."

"How?" Minako asked. "I'm guessing you didn't come home all sighs and daydreams. Or did you?"

Rei shook her head. "No… no, I definitely did not. But why else would I just disappear for three weeks? He's not stupid."

"Maybe he just thought you needed a break from the shrine for once. It's not like you take many vacations. I doubt that his first assumption was that you were running off to live in sin with Usagi." Then again, this was Rei's grandpa they were talking about…

"Maybe you're right," Rei sniffled.

"Besides, so what if he knows? He let those two men get married at the shrine last year, didn't he? I'm sure he wouldn't disown you or anything."

"I know, I'm not really worried about that, it's just… he and Yuuichiro have had to work so hard in the last three weeks, and here I am, back for less than a day, hiding in my room and blubbering."

"Oh yeah! Who's the new chick?"

"Yuuki or Yumi or something." Rei shrugged. "She was filling in for me during the busy season, I guess. Grandpa introduced us this morning, but I've been such a zombie…"

A sudden buzz made both of them jump, and Rei quickly fished her phone from a hidden pocket in her hakama. She sat up straighter with a little smile on her face, tapping out a rapid reply. Minako didn't have to see the dozens of heart emoji on the screen to guess who was on the other end.

"Sorry about that," Rei said as she lowered the phone.

"S'fine." Minako took a deep breath. "Actually, I'm sorry, too."

"For what?"

"For being a shitty friend to you and Usagi for the last little while. For… yelling at you guys and just… generally making things weird."

Rei shook her head vehemently. "You don't have to apologize for that. You were just trying to tell us what we didn't want to hear. But, we needed to hear it."

"No, I wasn't."

"Maybe it was a little harsh, but-"

"Rei, will you just shut up and let me apologize?" Minako exclaimed. Rei fell silent, but she looked amused. "Look, maybe I was telling you to do the right thing, but… I don't deserve credit for that. It wasn't coming from an honest place. I was just… mad."

"At me?"

"At myself," Minako said quietly.

Rei reclined back, laying across her bed with her legs dangling over the side. She patted the bed next to her and, with a sigh, Minako laid down next to her. "I told myself that the next time I saw you, I would thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you've done for me. So… thank you, Mina."

"Please, all I did was nag you."

"And talk me out of whatever funk I was in, and encourage me to be honest with myself, and force me to deal with how I felt about Usagi, and on and on and on and on. I could never have gotten through all of this without you."

"I'm… glad you're happy."

"You know what's funny?"

Minako swallowed, bracing herself. "Do tell."

"This whole time, I kinda thought… that it was me you were in love with."

Minako didn't have to fake the laugh that burst from her lips. "Oh my god, that is such classic Rei."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Rei demanded.

"'Oh, boo-hoo, girls keep confessing to me, but I only have room in my heart for one person!'" Minako exclaimed dramatically, throwing her arms wide. "'Boo-hoo, I have to clean the love letters out of my locker with a leaf blower. Boo-hoo, why am I cursed to be so irresistible?'"

"I don't… I don't boo-hoo!" Rei said incredulously. "And I don't get that many love letters. Any more."

"Well, not every girl in the world is in love with you."

"What was I supposed to think? For the last three years you've dropped all these little hints that you knew what I was going through with Usagi. Sometimes you'd look so sad… "

"Oh, please, let's be realistic here," Minako said with forced joviality. "Maybe if I put my hair in pigtails and turned the lights way down low, I woulda had a chance."

"Minako…"

"Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't kick you out of bed for making biscuits…"

Rei elbowed her hard in the ribs, making her grunt. "How can you joke about this? All this time, I thought you were pushing your feelings for me aside to try and help me out, just like… like…"

"Like you did with Usagi?" Minako asked gently.

"…yeah." Rei sighed. "I guess maybe it was a little conceited of me to assume that."

"Apology accepted."

For a minute they both just laid there, and Minako swore she could feel the question building up in Rei's head. It made her stomach twist into knots, made her want to get up and run, babble something, change the subject, anything but have to hear it. But, she didn't, and finally Rei rolled onto her side.

"Mina, why did you spend so much time and energy trying to convince me to tell Usagi how I felt about her if… if you felt the same way? Why didn't you just… tell her?"

"Executive decision," Minako replied immediately. "I decided your happiness was more important than mine." It was a noble sacrifice with questionable reasoning and most importantly, it was basically – if incompletely – true. The kind of thing anyone would believe she would do. Except Rei. One glance into those big, dark eyes was all Minako needed to know that Rei wasn't buying it.

"That's the kind of bullshit logic you never let me get away with when we talked about Usagi," Rei said with an accusatory tone. "You are a lot of things, Mina, but you are not a hypocrite."

"No? That's a relief," said Minako lightly. Rei did not seem impressed. "You know what, alright, fine. You're not going to like the answer, though."

"Try me."

Minako laced her hands behind her head and took a deep breath. "There's an okay reason, and a shitty reason. The okay reason is that I knew you needed to tell her how you felt before you did lasting emotional damage to yourself."

"Hey, I was working on it..."

"Uh huh. Remember when you said you were going to swear off of romance forever and be, and I quote, 'Usagi's immortal virgin protector'?"

"That was mostly a joke," said Rei defensively. "But, in hindsight, I will admit I was in a bad place sometimes. That's why I am so grateful to you. I could never have a taken that chance without you."

"Rei, I didn't think you had a chance!" Minako exclaimed. "I thought you would pour your guts out, she would let you down gently, and then after you'd had a good cry you'd finally be able to move on with your life! She had Mamoru, her prince from another lifetime! Nobody should have had a chance!"

"Oh," said Rei in a flat voice. "You're right, that was pretty shitty."

Minako gave a bitter laugh. "Oh, that wasn't the shitty part. Hell, that was just… being realistic? That's what I thought. The shitty part was I wanted you to get rejected! You are Usagi's best friend, her closest confidante, and – while we're all being honest here – the most beautiful girl I've ever met. If she rejected you, despite all that… well, then me staying back and keeping my mouth shut, keeping my feelings to myself… that wouldn't have been cowardice or hypocrisy, would it? Just simple math. I could tell myself that it wasn't that I didn't have a chance with her. Nobody did.

"And then, after I laid the groundwork for months for you to have some time alone together, you go off the grid for a week and reappear with Usagi yelling from the rooftops that you're in love. And all I could think of was… what if it had been me?" She voice was thick, and she paused to wipe a tear from the corner of her eye. "It was just once, just for a second, but I can't take it back."

"You should tell Usagi all this," Rei said quietly.

Minako lolled her head to the side and glared at her. "I'm sure that sounded very noble and kind in your head, but I'm a little insulted that you would think I would do something like that to you."

"I didn't mean-"

"I don't know if you've realized it yet, but you've basically signed up for a lifetime of fending off Usagi's admirers. You know what I'm saying? Don't do your rivals any favors, Rei. That's my advice. Plus, how would Usagi feel about you pushing me to spill my guts to her?"

Rei's fingers tightened around hers. "She'd understand. For you, at least."

"Yeah?" Minako blew a stray lock of hair out of her face. "She'd understand?" Rei's face was still, but there was sympathy in her eyes that made Minako's chest tighten. "Of course, she would. Of course. Fuck." Rei's eyebrow twitched, but she didn't call Minako out for swearing in the temple like she normally would've. Somehow, that made it worse.

With a grunt, Minako sat up on the bed. Rei pushed herself up next her as she combed out her hair with her fingers and straightened her bow. "Welp, I guess we'd better get you back out there before Yuuichiro comes looking for you, huh?"

"You don't have to go. If you need to talk..."

"Hey, who's checking up on who here?" Minako said with a grin.

"Mina..."

Minako leaned forward and brushed Rei's bangs aside to kiss her gently on the forehead. When she drew back, Rei was staring at her with color in her cheeks. "Thank you, Rei. I promise... I'm okay. I've had time to process all this. It was just... hard to say it out loud. To you. But, you're happy, Usagi's happy... and I'm happy."

"No 'I'm the leader' bullshit this time? For real?" Rei asked quietly.

"I personally guarantee that this is like... eighty-five percent bullshit-free."

"I suppose that's the best I'm going to get."

"You know it." Minako flashed a V with her fingers, but Rei only gave her a bemused look. "Okay, look," Minako sighed. "If I need to talk, I promise I won't hesitate to barge in on you and Usagi's secret smoochin' time, okay?"

Rei flushed. "Fine by me."

"Fine."

"Good."

"Great."

"Minako?"

"Hmm?"

"Promise me you'll talk to Usagi. For me, if you need a reason. This... all this is hard on her, too."

"I promise," Minako swore solemnly. Her eyes fell on Rei's phone, sitting on the bed. "In fact..." Her hand snaked out and snatched the phone and she leapt from the bed.

"Hey, what-!" Rei's shout of surprise was cut off as she jumped up and immediately tangled her feet in her robe.

"'Hey... smoochums...'" Minako drawled as she typed.

Rei struggled to free herself, swearing vigorously. "Minako!"

"'... I... wuv... wu... soooooooo... much...'" she read out as she tapped the words. Rei clawed at her leg, but she danced nimbly out of the way. "Do you mind? I'm trying to talk to Usagi here."

"That's NOT what I MEANT," Rei growled. She managed to catch Minako's foot, but came away with only a sock for her troubles. "How do you even know my unlock code?"

"Gosh, 0-6-3-0, how could I have ever figured that out."

"Sh-shut up!"

"Now, for the finishing touches... I'm thinking like a million kissy-face emoji..."

"Mina, I swear to all the gods..."

"And maybe some pink hearts..."

"Mina!"

"Wait, what am I thinking? Rainbow hearts."

"MINA!"

"I can get those for you, Hotaru!"

"Are you sure?"

"Oh, yeah, for sure. No prob! Load me up!"

Minako grinned to herself as she watched Hotaru pile plate after plate into Shingo's arms. He managed an awkward smile every time she turned in his direction, but as soon as she turned away it became a grimace. Hotaru crowned his burden with a stack of saucers.

"There we go. Can you bring those to Makoto? I'll get the cutlery and the serving dishes."

"Gimme a sec and I'll get those, too!" Shingo grunted as he crab-walked into the kitchen.

"Okay..." Hotaru shook her head. Her eyes caught Minako's and she rolled them theatrically, Minako gave her a wink and a thumbs up, and she laughed before going back to clearing the table.

"Not very subtle, is he?" Minako turned to find Ami there, holding out a cup of tea. She took it gratefully.

"'Subtle' doesn't get you too far, in my experience," Minako said drily. "Aren't you jealous? You're the one Shingo's mooned over since he started middle school."

Ami didn't so much as blush, just laughed and shook her head. Minako had been teasing her all night, trying to get a rise out her to no end. Michiru had claimed that nothing made her blush anymore and, as impossible as it seemed, it was looking like she might have been right. "I'm pretty sure he's spent time staring at all of us at one point or another," was all she said. "At least Hotaru is his age. In a matter of speaking."

They watched as Shingo tried to scoop a dozen glasses into his arms at once. Hotaru just shook her head and stepped past him into the kitchen.

"Doesn't seem like he's having much luck," Minako observed.

"Well, Hotaru's heart is already spoken for, isn't it?" Ami's eyes darted over to where Setsuna and Usagi were showing off Ami's souvenirs to Usagi's mom. "Do you think we'll be getting any visits from Usagi's... cousin any time soon?"

Minako glanced their way. Setsuna caught her eye and raised one perfect eyebrow, and Minako turned away quickly. "Well, there's only one person who knows for sure," she said under her breath. "I wouldn't ask her if I were you, though." The first time she'd asked Setsuna about how the future might change with Usagi and Rei together, she'd gotten a stern warning to keep her nose out of Guardian of Time business. The second time...

"So, how does it feel to be back?" she asked, changing the subject before her blush could get any worse. "Over the jet lag yet?"

Ami blinked at her sudden swerve, but didn't question it. "Actually, I barely had any jet lag coming back. Going over was so much worse." She took a sip of her tea. "By the way... thank you, Minako."

"Hmm?"

"For supporting me with Michiru."

Minako made a dismissive gesture. "Please, one pep talk and you were off like a shot. All I did was keep you from talking yourself out of it right away. I wish some people were as... self-motivating as you were. Michiru called me every day for weeks before she finally called to invite you over." She glanced across the room to where Rei sat listening patiently while Haruka and Usagi's dad talked excitedly about motorcycles. "And some people were even worse."

"You've had a busy summer," Ami remarked with a smile.

"Tell me about it." As she watched, Rei turned and locked eyes with Usagi over her parents' heads, and they shared a long, yearning smile for about the hundredth time that evening. She shook her head. If the two of them kept on with the coy looks, half-smiles, and general eye-fucking much longer, there wasn't going to be much left to hide from Ikuko and Kenji. "So, what was your favorite part of the trip?" she asked, pulling her eyes away.

"Well, one day we took the train down to Versailles to see the Chateau. It was pretty busy, but the grounds are so big that the crowds were just swallowed up in them. Looking out at the gardens, it was just staggering to think that so much belonged to one man. Michiru said that they looked like how she pictured the Moon Palace in her mind. And then I said, 'Moon Queen and Sun King, what a couple they would've been!'"

"Uh... huh."

"You had to be there, I guess... anyway, after we came back to Paris, we had an early dinner in the hotel restaurant. And then once we got back up to our room, there was the most incredible thunderstorm going on outside!"

"Mm."

"We'd seen a few storms in Germany, but nothing like this. The clouds were so thick it was almost like night, and the lightning was coming down so close that when it struck, the whole street below was lit up like noon."

"Cool," Minako said absently. Her attention had wandered back to Setsuna. She'd done something with her makeup, or maybe it was her posture, or her general poise, but she looked so young. Crazy young, like barely twenty. Haruka had jokingly advised her to loosen up for this party so Usagi's parents didn't think she was one of Usagi's teachers or something, and she had sure delivered. Somehow.

"-just settled for making out in the rain for a little while, which was nice." Minako's head whipped back to find Ami staring into space with a dreamy look as she toyed absently with the rim of her teacup. "We did end up dragging all of the bedding next to the balcony door and making love there, though. I know it's a cliché, but the energy in the air was just so... electric. It was unforgettable. We tried to time it so there would be a thunder crash right as one of us was having an orgasm, but we could never get the timing right. The lightning was just too close, I suppose."

"Uhhh… wow." Minako was too stunned to say anything else. Her eyes darted across the room to see if anyone had overheard, but thankfully no one else was staring. And still no blush. "I think I understand why Michiru sounded so tired last time I talked to her."

Ami sipped her tea. "Yes, well... I suppose we set a pretty challenging pace. Our time was quite limited after all."

"Busy day and night, huh?"

Ami didn't answer, but her lip curled in a vulpine half-smile that would have made Michiru proud as she sipped her tea again. Poor Michiru. She probably hadn't even known what hit her.

Movement from the couch caught her eye – Usagi had stood up. She said something Minako couldn't quite make out to her mom, and then walked across the room and up the stairs. A few seconds later, Minako watched Rei take her phone out of her pocket, glance at it for a moment, and then excuse herself from her own conversation. She glanced their way as she strode towards the staircase, but she ignored Minako's friendly wave.

She and Ami shared a knowing look as she disappeared up the stairs.

"Have they told her parents yet?" Ami asked.

Minako shrugged. "Not a clue. I'm guessing no, though."

"No?"

"They haven't come within five meters of each other for this entire party, if they could avoid it," Minako explained. "It must be driving them nuts if Usagi's sneaking away from her own party."

"Well, everyone is downstairs right now. It's as good a time for them to sneak off as any."

Minako smiled. It was going to take a little getting used to, but she was quickly becoming a big fan of this new sex-positive Ami. "You think our duty as guardians extends to protecting royal quickies?"

"Luna never mentioned that, for some reason," Ami giggled. "Maybe -oh."

She turned, and Minako turned with her to see Rei walking towards them. "Uh, hey guys," she said awkwardly.

"Well, that was fast," Ami said. Rei stared at her for a moment and then blushed furiously. Minako closed her mouth, feeling cross. She'd about to say the same thing.

"We weren't-" Rei began. She threw a look over her shoulder, and then took a deep breath. "Usagi just wanted me to ask you to come talk to her in her room for a sec, Mina."

"Right." Minako took a breath of her own. "Right. Ami, excuse me for a sec, will you? Have you told Rei all your Europe stories yet?"

"Not-"

"Cool, great. Tell her the rainstorm thing. Spare no detail. I'll... be back in a bit." Minako knew she was overdoing it, but she couldn't help it. Her heart was drumming against her ribcage. Rei gave her hand a quick squeeze as she brushed by, and then she was trudging up the stairs. Each step seemed heavier than the last.

Usagi's bedroom door was slightly ajar. She resisted the urge to stop in front of it; instead, she just pushed it open and strode in.

"Uh, hey, Rei said... uhhh, hello?" The room was empty.

"She's on the roof." Minako let out a squeak and clutched at the door frame.

"God, Luna, you just about gave me a heart attack!" she gasped.

Luna sat up from her hiding place among the pillows on Usagi's bed. One of her ears twitched in amusement. "I'm in exactly the same place I was when you dropped Artemis off before the party, if you'll recall," she said primly.

Minako felt her cheeks heat. "... right." There was his basket, right next to the foot of Usagi's bed where she'd left it. Stupid. "Where is he, anyway?" She peered around the room suspiciously. He'd been miffed that he had to hide upstairs during their big end-of-summer shindig. Minako wouldn't put it past him to be lying in wait somewhere to scare her.

"Out scavenging for food, where else?"

"I told him I'd sneak you guys something from dinner," Minako sighed. She'd been so busy with everything this summer that she'd barely spent any time with him. He claimed that it was fine, but he always put on a brave face when he was in a mood. Well, one thing at a time. "Anyways... the roof?"

"Mmhmm. Out the window, hang a right," Luna said. She yawned and curled up into a ball again. Okay, then. Rei had said that Luna was taking a hands-off approach to her charges'... interpersonal drama, but she didn't expect her to be so laidback. Well, Minako wasn't going to complain. She was in no mood for a lecture.

She slipped out of the window with long-practiced ease. The rough wooden tiles snagged at her socks, forcing her to step carefully. She found Usagi sitting on the crest of the roof, facing away from her. Her hair seemed to glow gold under the rays of the setting sun in a way that Minako knew her own straw-colored tresses never would.

Without a word, she stepped over the lip and sat down next to her. There was a bit of a breeze, enough to cancel out some of the heat radiating up from the roof. It was actually quite lovely.

"Hey, stranger," Usagi said, and the smile on her face at once swept all the misgivings from her heart and threatened to send Minako into tears.

"Hey yourself," she replied a little hoarsely. She cleared her throat. "So, I'm sure you're wondering why I asked you to meet me up here."

Usagi's lips pursed in amusement, but she played along. "Of course."

"There's something I've wanted to tell you for a long time. Years, even. It's been driving me crazy, but... I never really felt that it was my place to tell you."

"Please, do go on," Usagi said with exaggerated formality.

"Okay, here goes." She took a deep breath. "Usagi... Rei is in love with you."

Usagi blinked a few times before she burst out laughing. "Oh, V, I've missed you so much."

Minako laughed along with her. She'd meant it as a joke, but her heart did feel a little lighter after saying it out loud after all this time.

Their laughter died down to chuckles, and then eventually silence. Usagi plucked at the sleeve of her powder blue sundress, and Minako shifted uncomfortably. This roof wasn't exactly the most comfortable place to sit.

"I'm sorry," they both blurted out. They both stared at each other in surprise, and then broke back into awkward laughter.

"Just... okay, let me start," Usagi said.

Minako shrugged. "Hey, it's your roof."

Usagi smiled nervously. "Alright, umm... I'm sorry for being a jerk that day at the Crown. I acted like you were the one in the wrong, but you were right to say what you said."

"I don't know if I'd go that far..."

"You were," Usagi insisted. "Look... Rei told me about what you guys talked about-" Minako's throat constricted at hearing those words, but she kept her mouth shut. "-but I don't think you were coming from a place of jealousy." Her dressed hiked up her legs as Usagi lifted her knees and rested her elbows on them. "You were the only one who was thinking about Mamoru's feelings. I know that... with everything that was going on with us, it was probably easy for you all to see him as the bad guy sometimes, but I'm glad you stood up for him even when I wouldn't. If I could go back in time..." She shook her head. "If you hadn't said anything, who knows how long I would have convinced myself to keep him in the dark? So, thank you for keeping me honest."

"Usagi..." Fuck, she was going to start crying. Minako took a shaky breath. "You giving me too much credit."

"No, I'm serious, you-"

"My mom is having an affair." Her throat hurt, like the words had sliced it up on their way out. "Or maybe, like, a bunch of affairs. I don't know."

Usagi looked horrified. "Oh, god, Mina, I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

"It's like… I had kinda made my peace with it, you know? It's not like I thought they were happy and my world was suddenly shattered when I found out. And then you and Rei… happened and, like, apparently, at some point without me realizing it I had set up you and Mamoru in my head as this perfect ideal couple. I mean, we saw you guys a thousand years in the future! And if that was true, then maybe it didn't matter that my parents' marriage was a joyless sham, because the real thing was out there. It existed. And now…"

"I'm sorry," Usagi repeated miserably. "I had no idea…"

"You didn't do anything," Minako insisted. "That's… that's the whole thing. I had no right to put that on you guys, even unconsciously, and I definitely didn't have a right to freak out at you for bursting my bubble. I'm the one who's sorry."

Usagi sniffled and wiped at her eye. "Well, I'm sorry, too. We'll just both have to be sorry."

"It is what it is, Usagi. It's just…" She took a shuddering breath. "It sucks. It just… sucks."

"Does anyone else know?"

"Just Artemis. He heard her on the phone, and…" she trailed off. Usagi reached out and took Minako's hand, and together they just sat in silence for a while.

"So…" Usagi said eventually. "I don't know if this will help you feel better at all… but before Rei and me met you guys at the Crown, we actually went and talked to Setsuna first."

Minako stopped sniffling as she realized what she meant. "Wait, you asked Setsuna about the future? Did she actually tell you anything?"

"Yeah, sort of. I had to drag Rei there, though. I just couldn't stop thinking about… about Crystal Tokyo and Chibi-Usa, and what we might be messing up in the future, you know?"

"Of course." She'd asked the same thing. How could she not? For all the good it had done her.

"Well, she seemed to be expecting us. She said she'd make an exception this one time, given the circumstances. She said she owed me that much for all the grief she'd caused me."

"What do you mean?"

"She said that letting someone see a glimpse of the future was a curse. Like… because of her we had seen just enough to compromise the decisions we'd make in the present? It was a little confusing, if I'm being honest."

"I bet."

"She did let one thing slip, though. Knowing Setsuna, it probably wasn't an accident, but…"

"What?"

"It was about Chibi-Usa… she said that the instant she appeared here in our time, that very first time, it pretty much guaranteed that the future she was from would never come to pass. That she belongs to a different timeline entirely."

"Huh. I thought you were going to say that Rei was actually secretly her father or something." Usagi gave her an incredulous look. "What? It would explain the pink hair… anyways, I guess that makes sense. I've kinda wondered about that, myself. I mean, no offense, but there was no way in hell we would have let you leave the Silver Crystal unattended where your preteen daughter could mess with it. Again."

"Haha, yeah…"

"So, Chibi-Usa is safe, somewhere in her own future?"

"I guess? Actually, the way she talked about her made it almost sound like every time she came back to the past she was a different… version? I don't know. This time stuff…"

"Agreed. That's good, though." Minako drummed her fingers against the roof. "So… feel free to not answer this, but… if we hadn't seen all that Crystal Tokyo stuff, do you think you and Mamoru would have stuck it out as long as you did?"

"I don't know," Usagi sighed, and something in her voice told Minako that this was something that had weighed terribly on her princess's mind. "From the very start we had all the Moon Kingdom history pushing up behind us, and then we had Crystal Tokyo in front of us… When it all started, I was so excited to have my perfect fairy-tale romance. But, at some point I just started to feel crushed between them, you know? And he felt the same way – that's what he told me on the phone. But neither of us wanted to be the first one to say It, I guess. We loved each other, though. I loved him. I still love him, but… two people can love each other and still not be happy together."

"That doesn't seem fair."

"No, it really doesn't," Usagi sighed. "I don't suppose any of this is making you feel better, huh?"

"It kinda is?" Minako said, and to her surprise, it was true.

"Really? Well, good, I guess."

They sat in silence for a bit, until a thought crossed Minako's mind. "So, random question. Do you think you and Rei – I mean, Princess Serenity and Sailor Mars, sorry – do you think they ever had feelings for each other? Back in the Silver Millennium?"

Usagi was quiet for a moment. "Honestly? I kinda hope not."

"Yeah," Minako nodded. "Yeah."

"Yeah…"

"So," Minako said, grinning devilishly as she changed the subject, "you guys engaged yet, or what?"

It was sooo gratifying to see Usagi's face turn tomato-red. "WHAT? Why would we-? We've only been together a month! Not even!"

"Oh, please, as if you haven't been planning the wedding since the first morning after."

Usagi sputtered indignantly. "Oh, yeah? Well, I can't plan anything, because Rei wants a Shinto ceremony, obviously, and I don't really know how those go! So there!"

"Ooh, you got me."

"And-and you! You're one to talk! You and Mako! It's been like a week and you guys are practically living together!"

"That is different and complicated and not the same at all," Minako objected, but she could tell by Usagi's toothy grin that she already had lost the argument. "We aren't even a couple. Technically."

"Uh huh. Well, if that's what you need to tell yourself..."

"It's all very complicated and progressive," Minako said archly. "I would hardly expect someone with a measly one girlfriend to understand."

Usagi gasped. "Oh my god, I totally forgot! Are you and Haruka...? Did you really...?"

"Yes and yes," Minako stated proudly. She winked. "Don't worry, I won't tell Rei how envious you are."

"Gee, thanks," Usagi grumped. "I expect the full details on that at some point, by the way."

Minako gave her a mock salute. "I'll have it on your desk in the morning."

"And I still can't believe Michiru helped set you guys up." Usagi's eyes widened. "Or her and Ami! Oh my god."

"Tell me about it!"

"I still feel so out of the loop." Usagi blushed faintly. "It, uh, took me like two weeks to realize why Michiru invited her to stay with her. Rei had to tell me."

"Don't worry, if you ask Ami, I'm sure she'll tell you alllll about it," Minako said, blushing a little herself.

"I guess we all have some stories to tell, huh?" Usagi mused. "But hey, just another victory for the goddess of love, right? You've sure had a busy summer."

"So everyone keeps telling me." Minako rested her chin on her knees and stared out over the houses. A hundred windows caught the setting sun just so, leaving her vision speckled with purple afterimages. "Do you remember when Michiru told us she was going to go to school abroad for a semester?" she found herself asking.

"At their graduation party," Usagi said quietly.

"When she told us, I couldn't breathe. Like, legit couldn't breathe. All I could think about was how it was my worst fear coming true. Things had been quiet for a while, and now we were going to start slowly drifting apart."

Usagi shuffled a little closer to her before taking her hand and squeezing it. She said nothing.

"But, like, what could I do? Order her to stay home? Sure, I'm our leader, but what does that really mean when there's no enemy to fight?" Minako could feel that tightness in her throat, a distant echo of the panic she had felt that night. She took a deep breath. "All I could think about was how we only had one year of school left together and then..." She trailed off.

"Me too," Usagi said quietly. She flashed a sad smile. "And then they announced the whole 'open relationship' thing..." She shook her head. "I think I must have felt about that how you did about me and Mamoru breaking up. Haruka and Michiru had gone through so much with only each other to count on... I just couldn't believe they were giving it up. At least, that was what I thought." Usagi let out a big, dramatic sigh. "I guess... I guess I still don't really get it. They still love each other, right? And everyone seems happy."

"They do. We are. All of us."

"Good." A pause. "It sure didn't take much, huh? A nudge here and there, and suddenly everyone is hooking up all over the place."

"If you call three years of badgering Rei 'a nudge', sure," Minako said, arching an eyebrow. "In the beginning all I had was this desperate need to try and tie us all together tighter... I didn't know what to do, so I just... did what I do best."

"Well, you did a good job."

"Did I?" Minako snorted. "Exactly nothing went how I planned. It made me wonder if, maybe... maybe I don't know everyone as well as I thought I did."

"I guess I know how you feel… all these feelings, swirling just beneath the surface," Usagi said. "But, look! Everything's out in the open now, right? And we're all closer than ever. You did great, V. I mean that."

Minako felt herself blush. "If you say so..."

"I do say so, thank you very much. And If all the girls were up here, they'd say the same thing."

The sun was only a drop of orange above the Tokyo skyline. Its ruddy glow seemed to transmute Usagi's hair from silver-gold to burnished copper, and it made the blue of her eyes stand out even more vividly.

Minako swallowed. "I-I love you, Usagi."

Usagi's face broke into a smile that shone with a simple joy that made the setting sun seem dim. Minako had fought and died for that smile. It was, she found, extremely contagious.

"I love you, too," was all Usagi said, or needed to say.

Minako leaned forward until their foreheads touched and closed her eyes. Usagi's hand squeezed hers, and they stayed like that until the last light of summer slipped away.

But there would always be more summers.

The End

Author's Notes

The life of a story is a strange thing. Somewhere along the way, what was supposed to be a series of loosely-connected, smutty vignettes became a story about standing at the edge of childhood and taking those first, terrifying steps into the adult world. Rereading it all, it shocks me how much of myself I see in everybody's stories. Then again, I carried this thing around in my head for very nearly two years; it's my baby. I guess it's no surprise that it looks like me.

My life has changed enormously since I started writing this story. I've moved, changed jobs, gotten engaged, gotten married, and, most recently, had an actual entire human baby, who is mercifully sleeping while I type this out at 5 am. The life of a person is, I suppose, a very strange thing, too.

To everyone who has read this far, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope you liked it. I'm kinda proud of it. I know it's a little on the long side – I swear I tried to cut this last chapter down. It ended up 500 words longer by the end. It's longer than Wuthering Heights, but shorter than Sense and Sensibility. Not bad company to keep, I suppose.

Special thanks to my friend TheDrifter, whose passion for writing and the SM yuri fandom helped shape Project: Venus into what it is. You should read her stuff. She's great.

Love and Peace,

balambfish