Who: Hino Rei and Aino Minako What: Rei at ER for stuff then leaving for Japan When: March 20th Where:ER Rating:PG-13 for swears. TW for mention of drug use. Status:Complete!
Rei sighed and set the phone beside her on the ER bed. Looking up at the ceiling, the bright fluorescent lights burning into her skin. Burning her with regret and fear and desperate pleas to the Gods and Spirits that her lover would forgive her. She has an IV in, and there’s a woman standing outside mostly to make sure she doesn’t try to leave. There are dots actually showing on her arms now, having been scrubbed down. The strength of cover up had made hiding it easier.
She was lower in weight than she should be, and she was pulling at the back of her hair. she needed it dammit. And they weren’t giving it. When Minako said she was coming over she shoved the phone harder onto the bed. “Dammit.”
There wasn’t any way to stop Minako coming over. When Rei was in trouble like this, even if it was self-inflicted, the Senshi of LoveLove was practically guaranteed to come to her aid. She wasted no time in coming over, quickly getting a doctor to direct her to Rei’s room - luckily, he recognised her, which’d made things a little easier!
“Rei-chan...” This was one of those rare times where Minako wasn’t entirely sure what to say. “I wish you’d told me earlier...”
“I was afraid you’d... leave me. Please don’t leave me. I love you and need you... even more so now... Please...” Yep. Crying... She hadn’t wanted to cry, but dammit she was scared of losing the only light she had in her life.
Minako always hated to see Rei cry. It was so... unlike her. She was quick to move to her side, gently taking her hand. “I’m not going anywhere, Rei-chan. You’re stuck with me, no matter what crazy stuff you pull.”
“I...”Put her head down, so very scared of this. She didn’t know what she was going to do if it turned out she’s contracted something... gross. She just knew she felt really ill. The weak and shakey kind of ill. “Mina-chan...”
“Things will be fine. Believe in the Goddess of LoveLove!” Yes, even at times like this, Minako could be bubbly. And slightly bouncy. It helped counteract the seriousness of the situation.
It wasn’t working, not really. And it didn’t help that the doctors were taking forever. “Maybe this is for the best. I’m not cut out to be what I dream I am. And I just want to be normal. Or die.”
Dammit. Well, at least Minako had tried, and that was really what mattered... she squeezed Rei’s hand lightly. “You’re more than capable, Rei-chan... you’re strong and incredible and I love you, so...”
“I’m not strong. Not like you.” She looked up to the doctor who came in. And a wave of relief swept over her when he said it was just a iron deficiency and nothing she would die from. He also gave her the order for stopping and well. She knew what she was going to do. She’d already purchased the ticket after all.
Minako knew that wasn’t true. Rei was a very, very strong woman. A woman who’d already been through a lot and bested it all. This didn’t change that. Nothing could ever change that. “Rei-chan... you’re really strong. Stronger than me. I couldn’t handle half the things you’ve been through...”
“Mina-chan... I’m going away for a bit and... you’re not going to know where. Okay?” Stood up to get dressed because they were discharging her. “And I don’t know how long I’ll be gone for.”
Wait. What. No. Minako was not allowing this. Or, at least, going to try not to allow it. “But... why? What is there that you can do away from us all that you can’t do here?”
“Because. I need to do this. To... Find who I really am. To focus my center. Minako... I need to do this for us. Because you deserve better. I can’t tell you. Because I don’t want you to try and get me...”She looked at her fully dressed. “I’m leaving for the plane now. I have everything packed already and waiting for me... Do you want one last kiss goodbye?”
“This isn’t goodbye, Rei-chan... I’ll be waiting for you.” Minako wasn’t going to let it be a goodbye. Rei meant too much to her to allow for that... and she was sure she wasn’t the only one who thought that way. “...At least stay safe?”
“I will. I’m not going anywhere where anything bad could happen to me. I promise you that much.” Rei bit her lip, trying to choke down tears. She’d miss her dammit. “I’ll bring you home something when I return... if I return.”
That was painful to hear. Why would she...? Minako did what she could to hold back the tears, not wanting to face... well, any of this. “...Alright... come back stronger? And more awesome?”
Not that Rei needed to be any more awesome.
“Alright... I’ll be back.” Make up for what she said. “Do I still get a kiss? Or do I have to wait till I come back?”
Minako shook her head. “When you come back. Something to look forward to, right?”
Rei‘s shoulders drooped. It was going to be very hard for her to deal with being this far. “I’ll try to write when I get there. Then when I’m coming home...See you later, Mina-chan. I love you...”Turned and headed out the door and that’s when she started to sob, this was going to be hard.