Of Love and Roses - Ch. 7
Title: Of Love and Roses
Chapter: 7
Fandom: Yu Yu Hakusho, Sailor Moon
Character(s): Aino Minako, Kino Makoto, Kurama
Genre: Romance, drama, friendship
Rating: K+/PG
Disclaimers: Sailor Moon © Naoko Takeuchi, Yu Yu Hakusho © Yoshihiro Togashi
Notes: I had this idea one day when I was looking through one of my old crossovers, and I remembered a picture I saw of Yusuke and Usagi getting married, in honor of Yoshihiro Togashi and Naoko Takeuchi's marriage. But as cute as that was, it didn't feel right since Yusuke and Usagi both have people who they love. So after thinking about which characters would work well and unite the two universes, I decided to pair my two favorite characters from each. Enjoy.
Summary: "A floral symbol sacred to Venus and signifying love, the quality and nature of which was characterized by the color of the rose." ~ The Dictionary of Christian Art
[Chapter 6]
~*~*~*~
"You really didn't have to come, y'know," Minako grumbled for the umpteenth time as they stepped off the elevator.
"Are you kidding?" Makoto retorted. "A student alone in a teacher's apartment? That's just begging for trouble."
"It's not like he's the type to try something…"
Makoto scoffed. "I know that! But can you imagine what would happen if people found out you were alone with him? Think of all the trouble he'd be in!"
Minako frowned. She hadn't thought of that. Although she did realize that she was taking a risk going to see him at his apartment. But it was the only way to give him his present without worry.
It had been a week since Minamino-sensei's friends came to visit him, a week since the teacher's birthday. Minako had spent that time trying to find the perfect gift for him. Unfortunately, she wasn't sure what he would like. Even now, she wasn't entirely sure if the gift she got him was good enough. But after a week of looking, she knew that if she didn't get him something soon, then she might never get the chance to give it to him. Plus, she didn't want him to wait any longer for a birthday present. It was, after all, probably the first time he had spent his birthday away from home.
So after finally getting something for him, she had headed straight for Minamino-sensei's apartment. But on the way there, she ran into Makoto. Though she managed to keep the birthday gift a secret, Makoto did manage to find out where she was heading. And of course, interested in Minamino herself, the brunette invited herself along.
She wasn't too worried, since Makoto didn't have a birthday gift for him. But still…there were many people who found Makoto attractive as well.
As they came to a stop in front of his residence, Makoto said, "So how do you think we can get inside, Minako-chan?"
She looked at the taller girl. "What do you mean?"
"Well, do you really think he'd let us inside his apartment? Even though he's been hanging out with us, he's still our teacher. You think he'd be okay with letting students into his private home?"
"Huh…" Minako said, scratching her head. "I dunno. I guess I didn't think of that."
Makoto sighed. "You really don't think these things through, huh?"
"Like you had a plan?" Minako retorted. "At least I was brave enough to try. If you hadn't known I was coming, you wouldn't even be here!"
With a toss of her head, the warrior from Jupiter crossed her arms. "I'm just here because I don't want Minamino-sensei to get in trouble," she objected.
"No, you're here because you don't want me alone with Minamino-sensei! You're jealous because he likes me better!"
"So why are you worried that I'm here?" Makoto replied with a smirk. "Is it because you're worried that he'll pay more attention to me? Or because you're afraid that he really might not like you as much as you think, and that I might actually win his heart?"
Minako growled, her fists clenched, and the two girls glared at each other as a familiar rivalry sparked between them. But before either of them could say anything more, the door swung open and Minamino looked out curiously.
"I thought I heard voices," he said. "Aino-san, Kino-san, what are you two doing here?"
The two girls froze, unsure of what to tell him. They couldn't just tell him what they were doing there, and they both realized that if Minamino had caught them, then it was possible that other people could have also heard them. They suddenly grew very worried that they just might get their teacher in trouble after all.
Then Makoto had an idea, and she pretended to look around as though she was confused. "Uh…oh!" she said, acting as innocently as she could. "Whoops, uh…sorry, Minamino-sensei! We thought this was Mamoru-san's apartment. Right, Minako-chan?" She elbowed the blonde, snapping her out of her surprise.
"Uh, yeah!" Minako answered, trying to act cheerful. "We needed to…um…talk to Mamoru-san about something. Guess we got the wrong apartment. Sorry!"
The redhead frowned, and he clearly didn't believe them. But he simply nodded and said, "Well, it's okay. But Chiba-san is out at the moment."
"Oh…yeah?" Makoto answered nervously.
Minamino nodded. "He left a while ago."
"Ah." The two girls glanced at each other. Then Makoto replied, "Oh well, that's okay. Can't be helped, I guess. We'll just, uh…come back some other time."
"Mako-chan!" Minako protested. She knew that if she didn't give Minamino the gift now, she might never get another chance.
Watching the two girls and noticing the expression on Minako's face, the redhead sighed softly. "Well…" Sticking his head out the door, he looked around the empty hallway. When he saw that no one else was around, he looked back at the girls. "I suppose it's all right…Would you like to wait for him inside my place?"
"Yes!" the girls exclaimed excitedly. This was just the opportunity they needed.
He smiled - though Minako noticed it was his politely reserved smile - as he stepped aside to let them in. Once they both eagerly scampered inside, he checked the empty hallway once more before closing the door behind him.
Removing their shoes, Minako and Makoto glanced around the apartment, comparing what they saw to the stories Usagi told them of when she helped their teacher move in. Since then, the apartment was straightened up, looking neat and tidy, and there was a slightly sweet aroma drifting through the air. It was good to see that he seemed settled in and comfortable, especially since his slightly rough start when he first arrived.
The two girls followed their teacher as he led them through the narrow corridor of his apartment. As they passed by an open door, however, Minako couldn't help but take a peak inside. The room looked like a study, and across the room she saw the porcelain figure of Sailor Venus on the desk beside a laptop computer. With a triumphant smirk, Minako hurried to catch up to the other two.
Minamino-sensei led the girls into the sitting room. "Make yourselves comfortable," he said, motioning to the couch. "Would you girls like some tea?"
"Sure!" Minako said, but Makoto elbowed her.
"We don't want to be any trouble," the brunette replied politely.
But Minamino waved off her worry. "It's no trouble. I was about to make some anyway. Feel free to watch some television if you'd like."
"Thank you, Minamino-sensei," the girls called as he headed out to the kitchen. Then Minako reached for one of the remotes on the coffee table, but Makoto gently slapped at her hand.
"Ow! What?" Minako rubbed her hand, looking at the other girl. "He said we could!"
"C'mon, Minako-chan. We shouldn't mess with his stuff. Besides," Makoto added as a mischievous smile appeared on her lips, "this is our chance to have a real conversation with Minamino-sensei, just us and him. Don't you want to get to know him better?"
The Venus warrior's eyes lit up with understanding, and she grinned. "Oh! Yeah, okay..."
They both fell silent and looked up as the redhead returned. "Is anything wrong?" he wondered, his emerald eyes watching them curiously.
"Oh...no, nothing wrong," Makoto replied. "We just...uh...didn't feel like watching any TV."
"Ah. I see." He sat in a chair by the couch. "Well, the tea will be ready in a few minutes. I hope you girls don't mind waiting."
"That's all right, Minamino-sensei," Minako said as sweetly as she could. "We really appreciate it."
The redhead smiled. "It's no problem. I only wish I had something to go with the tea. I'm not much of a snack person, so unfortunately I don't have much else to offer you."
"We can have these!" Makoto responded quickly. Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a pink plastic container. She removed the lid and revealed the small animal-shaped cookies, offering it to the teacher. "I made them in Cooking Club yesterday, but I made too many. So please, have some if you'd like!"
"Well, thank you, Kino-san," Minamino said as he took a cookie. "So, you were bringing these cookies to Chiba-san then?"
She blinked. "What?"
"You were bringing these cookies to Chiba-san, weren't you?" He smiled, and his eyes seemed to already know the real answer. "Because you two were going to see him, right?"
"Oh...right!" The two girls glanced at each other nervously. "I was going to...um...well, I like to share the food I make with others, so it doesn't go to waste. So it's all right if we enjoy them now!"
"Ah. Well, that's very generous of you." Looking at the cookie curiously, he then took a bite. "Mmm...it's delicious."
"I'm glad you like it." Makoto tossed Minako a smug smile, and the blonde simply huffed and snapped a cookie in half with her teeth.
Finishing the confectionery he held, Minamino brushed the crumbs from his hand. "So you're in Cooking Club, Kino-san?"
The warrior of protection nodded as she placed the container on the coffee table. "Yup. I love to cook, but sometimes I get a little carried away and end up making too much."
"Well, you're very good at it. I'm sure you have no trouble finding others to share your cooking with."
For some reason, Makoto blushed and glanced down at her hands.
Minako pouted a little, glancing between the two. She needed to find a way to get involved in the conversation, or else let Makoto have all the time with him. As she reached for another cookie on the table, she noticed a small white vase next to a picture frame, with a single red rose in it. Suddenly she remembered something the teacher said before, and she had an idea.
Clearing her throat, she looked at him. "Minamino-sensei?"
He turned to her. "Hmm?"
She pointed to the rose in the vase. "Do you like roses?"
He paused and appeared to consider his answer. "I suppose you can say that," he finally replied.
"Roses are my favorite flower too," both girls said together, shooting glares at each other as they spoke.
He looked amused. "Is that so?"
"Yeah!" Minako answered before Makoto could say anything. "Did you know that in Roman mythology, the goddess Venus used roses as her sacred floral symbol?"
Minamino chuckled. "Yes, I believe I've heard that before."
Minako nodded, and opened her mouth to say more. However, Makoto interrupted her by speaking first, "That's because Venus was the goddess of love, and roses are used to represent love. But did you know that the kind of love represented by a rose depends on its color?"
Minako blinked, looking at her friend curiously. She had never heard that before.
"Interesting," the redhead replied. Though the expression on his face seemed to suggest that he knew, he pointed to the red rose on the table and continued to humor the girls. "So what does a red rose symbolize?"
"Um...true love. Like, a romantic and passionate kind of love."
He nodded. "How about a white rose?"
"An innocent love. It can also represent innocence itself, and purity. And in wedding bouquets, it can be used to represent a spiritual love, for unity and a new beginning."
"How about pink?"
"Pink roses represent a first love, and can also be used to show elegance and gentleness."
"And yellow?"
Makoto thought for a moment. "Friendship, and a platonic love."
Minamino smiled in mischief. "How about a blue rose?"
The brunette blinked. "There's no such thing as a blue rose..."
"Perhaps not naturally," he replied. "Blue roses are colored by artificial means, but they are used to represent mystery and an unattainable desire."
"Oh really? I didn't know that." Makoto placed a thoughtful finger to her chin. "I should mention that to the Gardening Club."
The redhead blinked curiously. "So you're in Gardening Club as well? It must be difficult to be in two clubs in addition to your schoolwork."
"It can be, but I manage. I really love cooking and flowers, and someday I hope to own my own bakery or flower shop. So I do my best to stay in both clubs and keep my grades up."
Minamino-sensei smiled. "That's a very impressive goal, Kino-san. It will take a lot of hard work and dedication, but if those are things that you love, then I'm sure you'll get there someday."
Makoto blushed again and nodded. "I-I'll do my best," she replied softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Then, deciding to change the subject, she said, "S-so...Do you like to garden, Minamino-sensei?"
He nodded. "I do, actually. Back home, after my mother remarried and we moved into my father's house, I planted a large garden in the yard to fix it up a little."
"A rose garden?"
He grinned a little. "Well, mostly roses, I suppose. But I made sure to plant other types of flowers as well."
"Wow...that must look great."
He chuckled. "Well, my parents like it, so I suppose so."
Minako pouted again, leaning back against the couch cushions as the two began exchanging gardening tips. Her plan to be included in the conversation failed miserably. Instead of giving her something to say, it only excluded her further as well as giving Makoto something in common with Minamino-sensei; they both liked to garden and knew a lot about flowers, and Minamino-sensei really liked Makoto's cooking...
She sighed softly. Maybe Makoto would be a better match for him, after all.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a low whistle echoing throughout the apartment, and Minamino rose to his feet. "Sounds like the tea's ready."
"I'll help, Minamino-sensei!" Minako volunteered enthusiastically, desperate for something that could help her. She swung out her legs to jump to her feet, but in doing so accidentally kicked the coffee table. The table lurched and rattled everything on it; the plastic container fell to the ground and scattered the cookies across the floor, the white vase tipped over and sent a stream of water spilling out as it clattered against the table, and the picture frame was knocked over and landed face down in the water by the vase.
The girls both jumped to their feet as the water dripped to the ground, mixing with the crumbled cookies. "Ah!" Minako cried, quickly kneeling down to try and fix the mess. "I'm so sorry, Minamino-sensei!"
The redhead didn't say anything, and instead took a step toward the table, ready to help. But the wail of the kettle in the kitchen called him back, and he seemed a little unsure of what to address first.
"You should get the tea, Minamino-sensei," Makoto said, kneeling down by Minako. "We'll take care of this."
"Well...all right," he said hesitantly. Glancing at them once more, he then escaped into the kitchen.
"Nice going, Minako-chan," Makoto whispered as they quickly gathered the cookies away from the growing puddle. "Now my cookies are ruined."
"It was just an accident!" Minako protested.
The brunette scoffed. "Right. Just admit it. You were jealous that I was able to find something that Minamino-sensei is really interested in."
"I was the one who brought it up!"
"Yeah, but I'm the one who he can really talk to about it, and it's something we both like to do. You just couldn't stand the idea of us getting along so well, could you?"
They both quieted down as Minamino returned, carrying a tray with a teapot, some cups, and a roll of paper towels. Placing the tray on the table, he then tore some sheets of paper towels from the roll. "Aino-san, could you take care of the table while Kino-san and I take care of the floor?" he asked, handing her some of the sheets.
"Sure," Minako replied, ignoring her jealousy that Makoto got to work with the redhead (even if it was cleaning up a mess). Mopping up the water with the paper towels, she then righted the vase and placed the rose back inside it. Then she lifted the picture frame and dried the area before wiping the glass of the frame and setting it back down.
It was only when Minako noticed her red-haired teacher in the picture did she actually take a good look at it. Minamino stood close to the side of the picture, wearing a gray yukata decorated with thin willow branches and tied with a blue and white striped obi. To his left was his friend Kuwabara, who wore a dark tan yukata tied with a red obi and eagerly offering some cotton candy to a much shorter girl with ice-blue hair. The girl's yukata matched her hair and was decorated with white snowflakes, and she seemed pleasantly surprised by the confectionery.
On the teacher's other side and more in the middle was his friend Yusuke, wearing a white yukata checkered with black and blue squares and tied with a dark blue obi. He grinned as his arm draped over the shoulders of a shorter boy with spiky black hair, who wore a navy blue yukata with thin white stripes and tied with a black obi. The shorter boy was scowling at Yusuke and seemed to be pushing him away.
Close to them on the other side of the picture were three more girls; two brunettes and a girl with blue hair. The first brunette was shorter than the other two, but taller than the girl Kuwabara was with. She wore an orange yukata with a red lotus print, tied with a matching obi. She held a white paper fan, using it to stifle a laugh as she listened to the others. The taller brunette wore a black yukata decorated with orange slices and was secured with a plain black obi, and had a small smile on her face as she seemed to speak with an air of mischief.
Though the brunette was talking with both girls, the blue-haired girl wasn't paying full attention. She wore a light yellow yukata with red and pink shooting stars that left golden streaks behind them. She was calling out to the others in the picture behind them, waving to get their attention. The whole picture was taken in the evening, and in the background Minako could just make out some other people also dressed in yukatas.
But her eyes kept drifting back and forth among the girls in the picture, and she felt something cold suddenly form in the pit of her stomach.
"There," she heard Minamino say. "That's good enough for now."
"Are you sure, Minamino-sensei?" Makoto asked. "The broken cookies left a lot of crumbs."
"I know. I can clean that later, though." Sitting up on his knees, he brushed some crimson strands from his eyes. "How's the table, Aino-san?"
"Mmm..." she replied softly, still staring at the picture.
Minamino and Makoto exchanged curious glances, then turned back to the blonde. "What're you looking at, Minako-chan?" Makoto asked, glancing at the picture over the other's shoulder. Then her eyes lit up. "Oh! Are these more of your friends, Minamino-sensei?"
Taking a glimpse at the picture, the redhead smiled. "Yeah. That picture was taken last summer just as we were entering the festival, so we didn't realize it was being taken until afterwards."
"Well, it looks like you guys were having fun...except this guy..." Makoto pointed to the short spiky-haired boy.
"That's Hiei," Minamino said with a chuckle. "It may seem like he's irritable, but he really did enjoy himself. He was just too stubborn to admit it."
Makoto laughed softly. "I see." She looked back at the picture. "So this is Hiei-san...Yusuke-san, Kuwabara-san...what about these people?"
"Ah, of course." Minamino pointed to the small blue-haired girl. "This is Yukina-san..." Then to the tall brunette. "Shizuru-san. She's actually Kuwabara-kun's older sister." The shorter brunette. "Keiko-chan..." And finally the last girl. "Botan-chan."
"They all look...nice," Makoto said slowly, trying to hid her uncertainty as she looked at all the girls. Then she glanced at Minako, but the blonde continued to stare at the picture.
"Are...are any of those girls...your girlfriend, Minamino-sensei?" Minako blurted out.
"Minako-chan!" Makoto whispered, elbowing the other. But Minako didn't react.
"It's all right," the redhead reassured with a smile. "I don't really mind talking about it. The truth is, none of those girls are my girlfriend."
"Oh, is that so?" Makoto asked, a relieved sigh trailing her question.
Minamino chuckled and shrugged. "I guess I just wasn't what they're looking for."
Minako swallowed, and she clenched her hands tightly to keep them from shaking. "How...how can that be?" she asked, finally tearing away from the picture and turning to Minamino. "How could they not want you as their boyfriend? Don't they realize how great you are? How lucky they'd be to be with you? How can they not see that? Don't they want...you to be happy too?"
Minamino and Makoto looked at her, startled as tears began to fill her eyes. She turned away from them, surprising even herself with her reaction. But all she could think of were Yusuke's words, about how no girl wanted him as a boyfriend. And she couldn't hold back the unexpexted misery she felf for him. She suddenly didn't care about who her teacher ended up with, just as long as he wasn't alone.
"Aino-san..." Minamino said softly, concerned as well as confused. Slowly he shifted closer to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Aino-san, it's okay. It's...it's not like that. Those girls...I'm glad that they're my friends. Keiko-chan and Yukina-san are actually with Yusuke and Kuwabara-kun. And Shizuru-san and Botan-chan...we're just friends, that's all. And I don't mind it that way."
Minako sniffled, looking up at him hesitantly. "R-really?"
He nodded. "Really. We're all just friends."
She nodded slightly, wiping away the tears in her eyes. But more seemed to well up as she asked in a small voice, "But...don't you ever get lonely?"
The redhead smiled. "Not really. Perhaps, someday, it would be nice to have someone special, like most of my friends do. But until then, I still have my family and friends. So I don't mind waiting, because I still have them."
"And it doesn't bother you?' she wondered, sniffling again. "Not having that special someone?"
Minamino sighed softly, looking at the picture as he thought of his answer. "Sometimes," he admitted, almost reluctantly. "But if it's meant to happen, it will happen. I just have to be patient and keep looking." Turning back to her, he pulled out a handkerchief and offered it to her. "If she's out there...then I'm sure we'll find each other...someday."
Taking the handkerchief, Minako gave him a small smile and nodded.
"Here, drink this," Minamino said, giving her one of the tea cups. "It'll help calm you down."
Makoto watched as her friend carefully sipped at the tea, the shock of Minako's reaction finally fading. She had honestly expected her friend to be happy to still have a chance with their teacher, instead of having to worry about his girlfriend back home. But seeing the warrior of love like this, she realized that Minako was sincerely upset that he wasn't seeing anyone...that he was alone. And Minako wanted him to have a significant someone in his life.
Because Minako...truly cared about him.
Clearing her throat, Makoto quickly rose to her feet. "It's getting pretty late," she said. "Minako-chan and I should probably get going."
Looking up at her, Minamino nodded and got to his feet as well. "I suppose if you need to." He offered his hand to Minako and helped her to her feet.
"Sorry about the mess, Minamino-sensei," the golden-haired girl said softly and gave his handerkerchief back.
He shrugged and smiled. "It's no big deal. I can clean it up, it won't take long."
She hesitated for a moment, playing with her hands as she debated. Then she reached into her bag and pulled out a large package wrapped in white paper with colored polka dots. Fingering the edges of the package, she held it out to him. "Here," she said.
He blinked, slowly taking the object from her. "What's this?"
"It's...a birthday present," she replied softly. "I'm sorry it's so late."
The redhead turned the package over in his hands. "You didn't have to, Aino-san."
"I know. But I heard your friends talking last week, and...well, it's your first birthday away from home, right? So I just wanted you to still...y'know, have a good day."
Minamino smiled. "Well, thank you, Aino-san." Turning the gift once more, he carefully tore at the wrapping paper and revealed a book, The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures.
Minako blushed and glanced away. "I'm sorry if you don't like it. I...I wasn't really sure what to get you. So I...I just guessed."
He laughed softly as he flipped through the book. "Well, it was a good guess."
She looked at him hopefully. "Really?"
He nodded. "I enjoying learning about mythical creatures and folklore. In fact, part of the reason I'm majoring in history now is because I was first interested in the beliefs people had that shaped their way of life."
"You'll like this book then," Minako said, happier now as she pointed to the book. "It lists all kinds of magical creatures from myths and folklore from so many different countries."
"I'm sure I will," Minamino said. Looking at her, he smiled, and she couldn't help but blush when she noticed it was his true, warm smile. "Thank you, Aino-san."
She returned with a shy smile. "You're welcome."
There was something...different about the feeling around them, and Makoto felt a little awkward simply standing there, just on the outside of it. So she cleared her throat again to get their attention. "We really should go, Minako-chan," she said.
"Oh...okay." Minako nodded, glancing back at the redhead. He nodded and walked with them to the door.
"Thanks for letting us stay for a while, Minamino-sensei," Makoto said as the girls stepped out of his apartment.
"It's no problem," he replied. "I'm sorry Chiba-san isn't back yet."
"Oh...yeah...We'll just have to catch up with him some other time, I guess."
Minamino smiled knowingly. "Right." Turning to Minako, he said, "I'll see you, Aino-san."
She nodded. "See you around..."
Then he turned to Makoto. "Kino-san."
The brunette nodded. "Later, Minamino-sensei."
With one last smile, Minamino then retreated back inside and slowly closed the door.
Alone in the hallway, Makoto then turned to Minako. "You okay?" she wondered.
Releasing a shaky sigh, the blonde nodded. "I think so. I hope I haven't ruined any chance with Minamino-sensei, though."
The taller girl laughed and headed down the hall. "You really didn't notice, did you?"
Minako blinked and hurried after her. "Notice what?"
With an exasperated smile, Makoto shook her head. "Never mind. Anyway, I wouldn't worry about Minamino-sensei. I'm sure it'll be okay."
Minako was still a little puzzled, but she simply shrugged and let it drop, and the two of them fell into silence as they left the building. Makoto glanced at her friend once more, letting her fingers clench and unclench to release her lingering jealousy. She now knew that not only did Minako really care about Minamino, but their teacher also seemed to have feelings for her as well. She could tell that there was definitely something special...something real between the two of them, and she knew better than to interfere with that. She knew it would just be better to take a step back and let things just fall into place.
Or...maybe it would be better if she helped Minako and Minamino-sensei get together. Because, despite everything, she really did want her friend to be happy. And it seemed that the two could use a little help...
TBC
[Chapter 8]
Chapter: 7
Fandom: Yu Yu Hakusho, Sailor Moon
Character(s): Aino Minako, Kino Makoto, Kurama
Genre: Romance, drama, friendship
Rating: K+/PG
Disclaimers: Sailor Moon © Naoko Takeuchi, Yu Yu Hakusho © Yoshihiro Togashi
Notes: I had this idea one day when I was looking through one of my old crossovers, and I remembered a picture I saw of Yusuke and Usagi getting married, in honor of Yoshihiro Togashi and Naoko Takeuchi's marriage. But as cute as that was, it didn't feel right since Yusuke and Usagi both have people who they love. So after thinking about which characters would work well and unite the two universes, I decided to pair my two favorite characters from each. Enjoy.
Summary: "A floral symbol sacred to Venus and signifying love, the quality and nature of which was characterized by the color of the rose." ~ The Dictionary of Christian Art
[Chapter 6]
~*~*~*~
"You really didn't have to come, y'know," Minako grumbled for the umpteenth time as they stepped off the elevator.
"Are you kidding?" Makoto retorted. "A student alone in a teacher's apartment? That's just begging for trouble."
"It's not like he's the type to try something…"
Makoto scoffed. "I know that! But can you imagine what would happen if people found out you were alone with him? Think of all the trouble he'd be in!"
Minako frowned. She hadn't thought of that. Although she did realize that she was taking a risk going to see him at his apartment. But it was the only way to give him his present without worry.
It had been a week since Minamino-sensei's friends came to visit him, a week since the teacher's birthday. Minako had spent that time trying to find the perfect gift for him. Unfortunately, she wasn't sure what he would like. Even now, she wasn't entirely sure if the gift she got him was good enough. But after a week of looking, she knew that if she didn't get him something soon, then she might never get the chance to give it to him. Plus, she didn't want him to wait any longer for a birthday present. It was, after all, probably the first time he had spent his birthday away from home.
So after finally getting something for him, she had headed straight for Minamino-sensei's apartment. But on the way there, she ran into Makoto. Though she managed to keep the birthday gift a secret, Makoto did manage to find out where she was heading. And of course, interested in Minamino herself, the brunette invited herself along.
She wasn't too worried, since Makoto didn't have a birthday gift for him. But still…there were many people who found Makoto attractive as well.
As they came to a stop in front of his residence, Makoto said, "So how do you think we can get inside, Minako-chan?"
She looked at the taller girl. "What do you mean?"
"Well, do you really think he'd let us inside his apartment? Even though he's been hanging out with us, he's still our teacher. You think he'd be okay with letting students into his private home?"
"Huh…" Minako said, scratching her head. "I dunno. I guess I didn't think of that."
Makoto sighed. "You really don't think these things through, huh?"
"Like you had a plan?" Minako retorted. "At least I was brave enough to try. If you hadn't known I was coming, you wouldn't even be here!"
With a toss of her head, the warrior from Jupiter crossed her arms. "I'm just here because I don't want Minamino-sensei to get in trouble," she objected.
"No, you're here because you don't want me alone with Minamino-sensei! You're jealous because he likes me better!"
"So why are you worried that I'm here?" Makoto replied with a smirk. "Is it because you're worried that he'll pay more attention to me? Or because you're afraid that he really might not like you as much as you think, and that I might actually win his heart?"
Minako growled, her fists clenched, and the two girls glared at each other as a familiar rivalry sparked between them. But before either of them could say anything more, the door swung open and Minamino looked out curiously.
"I thought I heard voices," he said. "Aino-san, Kino-san, what are you two doing here?"
The two girls froze, unsure of what to tell him. They couldn't just tell him what they were doing there, and they both realized that if Minamino had caught them, then it was possible that other people could have also heard them. They suddenly grew very worried that they just might get their teacher in trouble after all.
Then Makoto had an idea, and she pretended to look around as though she was confused. "Uh…oh!" she said, acting as innocently as she could. "Whoops, uh…sorry, Minamino-sensei! We thought this was Mamoru-san's apartment. Right, Minako-chan?" She elbowed the blonde, snapping her out of her surprise.
"Uh, yeah!" Minako answered, trying to act cheerful. "We needed to…um…talk to Mamoru-san about something. Guess we got the wrong apartment. Sorry!"
The redhead frowned, and he clearly didn't believe them. But he simply nodded and said, "Well, it's okay. But Chiba-san is out at the moment."
"Oh…yeah?" Makoto answered nervously.
Minamino nodded. "He left a while ago."
"Ah." The two girls glanced at each other. Then Makoto replied, "Oh well, that's okay. Can't be helped, I guess. We'll just, uh…come back some other time."
"Mako-chan!" Minako protested. She knew that if she didn't give Minamino the gift now, she might never get another chance.
Watching the two girls and noticing the expression on Minako's face, the redhead sighed softly. "Well…" Sticking his head out the door, he looked around the empty hallway. When he saw that no one else was around, he looked back at the girls. "I suppose it's all right…Would you like to wait for him inside my place?"
"Yes!" the girls exclaimed excitedly. This was just the opportunity they needed.
He smiled - though Minako noticed it was his politely reserved smile - as he stepped aside to let them in. Once they both eagerly scampered inside, he checked the empty hallway once more before closing the door behind him.
Removing their shoes, Minako and Makoto glanced around the apartment, comparing what they saw to the stories Usagi told them of when she helped their teacher move in. Since then, the apartment was straightened up, looking neat and tidy, and there was a slightly sweet aroma drifting through the air. It was good to see that he seemed settled in and comfortable, especially since his slightly rough start when he first arrived.
The two girls followed their teacher as he led them through the narrow corridor of his apartment. As they passed by an open door, however, Minako couldn't help but take a peak inside. The room looked like a study, and across the room she saw the porcelain figure of Sailor Venus on the desk beside a laptop computer. With a triumphant smirk, Minako hurried to catch up to the other two.
Minamino-sensei led the girls into the sitting room. "Make yourselves comfortable," he said, motioning to the couch. "Would you girls like some tea?"
"Sure!" Minako said, but Makoto elbowed her.
"We don't want to be any trouble," the brunette replied politely.
But Minamino waved off her worry. "It's no trouble. I was about to make some anyway. Feel free to watch some television if you'd like."
"Thank you, Minamino-sensei," the girls called as he headed out to the kitchen. Then Minako reached for one of the remotes on the coffee table, but Makoto gently slapped at her hand.
"Ow! What?" Minako rubbed her hand, looking at the other girl. "He said we could!"
"C'mon, Minako-chan. We shouldn't mess with his stuff. Besides," Makoto added as a mischievous smile appeared on her lips, "this is our chance to have a real conversation with Minamino-sensei, just us and him. Don't you want to get to know him better?"
The Venus warrior's eyes lit up with understanding, and she grinned. "Oh! Yeah, okay..."
They both fell silent and looked up as the redhead returned. "Is anything wrong?" he wondered, his emerald eyes watching them curiously.
"Oh...no, nothing wrong," Makoto replied. "We just...uh...didn't feel like watching any TV."
"Ah. I see." He sat in a chair by the couch. "Well, the tea will be ready in a few minutes. I hope you girls don't mind waiting."
"That's all right, Minamino-sensei," Minako said as sweetly as she could. "We really appreciate it."
The redhead smiled. "It's no problem. I only wish I had something to go with the tea. I'm not much of a snack person, so unfortunately I don't have much else to offer you."
"We can have these!" Makoto responded quickly. Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a pink plastic container. She removed the lid and revealed the small animal-shaped cookies, offering it to the teacher. "I made them in Cooking Club yesterday, but I made too many. So please, have some if you'd like!"
"Well, thank you, Kino-san," Minamino said as he took a cookie. "So, you were bringing these cookies to Chiba-san then?"
She blinked. "What?"
"You were bringing these cookies to Chiba-san, weren't you?" He smiled, and his eyes seemed to already know the real answer. "Because you two were going to see him, right?"
"Oh...right!" The two girls glanced at each other nervously. "I was going to...um...well, I like to share the food I make with others, so it doesn't go to waste. So it's all right if we enjoy them now!"
"Ah. Well, that's very generous of you." Looking at the cookie curiously, he then took a bite. "Mmm...it's delicious."
"I'm glad you like it." Makoto tossed Minako a smug smile, and the blonde simply huffed and snapped a cookie in half with her teeth.
Finishing the confectionery he held, Minamino brushed the crumbs from his hand. "So you're in Cooking Club, Kino-san?"
The warrior of protection nodded as she placed the container on the coffee table. "Yup. I love to cook, but sometimes I get a little carried away and end up making too much."
"Well, you're very good at it. I'm sure you have no trouble finding others to share your cooking with."
For some reason, Makoto blushed and glanced down at her hands.
Minako pouted a little, glancing between the two. She needed to find a way to get involved in the conversation, or else let Makoto have all the time with him. As she reached for another cookie on the table, she noticed a small white vase next to a picture frame, with a single red rose in it. Suddenly she remembered something the teacher said before, and she had an idea.
Clearing her throat, she looked at him. "Minamino-sensei?"
He turned to her. "Hmm?"
She pointed to the rose in the vase. "Do you like roses?"
He paused and appeared to consider his answer. "I suppose you can say that," he finally replied.
"Roses are my favorite flower too," both girls said together, shooting glares at each other as they spoke.
He looked amused. "Is that so?"
"Yeah!" Minako answered before Makoto could say anything. "Did you know that in Roman mythology, the goddess Venus used roses as her sacred floral symbol?"
Minamino chuckled. "Yes, I believe I've heard that before."
Minako nodded, and opened her mouth to say more. However, Makoto interrupted her by speaking first, "That's because Venus was the goddess of love, and roses are used to represent love. But did you know that the kind of love represented by a rose depends on its color?"
Minako blinked, looking at her friend curiously. She had never heard that before.
"Interesting," the redhead replied. Though the expression on his face seemed to suggest that he knew, he pointed to the red rose on the table and continued to humor the girls. "So what does a red rose symbolize?"
"Um...true love. Like, a romantic and passionate kind of love."
He nodded. "How about a white rose?"
"An innocent love. It can also represent innocence itself, and purity. And in wedding bouquets, it can be used to represent a spiritual love, for unity and a new beginning."
"How about pink?"
"Pink roses represent a first love, and can also be used to show elegance and gentleness."
"And yellow?"
Makoto thought for a moment. "Friendship, and a platonic love."
Minamino smiled in mischief. "How about a blue rose?"
The brunette blinked. "There's no such thing as a blue rose..."
"Perhaps not naturally," he replied. "Blue roses are colored by artificial means, but they are used to represent mystery and an unattainable desire."
"Oh really? I didn't know that." Makoto placed a thoughtful finger to her chin. "I should mention that to the Gardening Club."
The redhead blinked curiously. "So you're in Gardening Club as well? It must be difficult to be in two clubs in addition to your schoolwork."
"It can be, but I manage. I really love cooking and flowers, and someday I hope to own my own bakery or flower shop. So I do my best to stay in both clubs and keep my grades up."
Minamino-sensei smiled. "That's a very impressive goal, Kino-san. It will take a lot of hard work and dedication, but if those are things that you love, then I'm sure you'll get there someday."
Makoto blushed again and nodded. "I-I'll do my best," she replied softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Then, deciding to change the subject, she said, "S-so...Do you like to garden, Minamino-sensei?"
He nodded. "I do, actually. Back home, after my mother remarried and we moved into my father's house, I planted a large garden in the yard to fix it up a little."
"A rose garden?"
He grinned a little. "Well, mostly roses, I suppose. But I made sure to plant other types of flowers as well."
"Wow...that must look great."
He chuckled. "Well, my parents like it, so I suppose so."
Minako pouted again, leaning back against the couch cushions as the two began exchanging gardening tips. Her plan to be included in the conversation failed miserably. Instead of giving her something to say, it only excluded her further as well as giving Makoto something in common with Minamino-sensei; they both liked to garden and knew a lot about flowers, and Minamino-sensei really liked Makoto's cooking...
She sighed softly. Maybe Makoto would be a better match for him, after all.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a low whistle echoing throughout the apartment, and Minamino rose to his feet. "Sounds like the tea's ready."
"I'll help, Minamino-sensei!" Minako volunteered enthusiastically, desperate for something that could help her. She swung out her legs to jump to her feet, but in doing so accidentally kicked the coffee table. The table lurched and rattled everything on it; the plastic container fell to the ground and scattered the cookies across the floor, the white vase tipped over and sent a stream of water spilling out as it clattered against the table, and the picture frame was knocked over and landed face down in the water by the vase.
The girls both jumped to their feet as the water dripped to the ground, mixing with the crumbled cookies. "Ah!" Minako cried, quickly kneeling down to try and fix the mess. "I'm so sorry, Minamino-sensei!"
The redhead didn't say anything, and instead took a step toward the table, ready to help. But the wail of the kettle in the kitchen called him back, and he seemed a little unsure of what to address first.
"You should get the tea, Minamino-sensei," Makoto said, kneeling down by Minako. "We'll take care of this."
"Well...all right," he said hesitantly. Glancing at them once more, he then escaped into the kitchen.
"Nice going, Minako-chan," Makoto whispered as they quickly gathered the cookies away from the growing puddle. "Now my cookies are ruined."
"It was just an accident!" Minako protested.
The brunette scoffed. "Right. Just admit it. You were jealous that I was able to find something that Minamino-sensei is really interested in."
"I was the one who brought it up!"
"Yeah, but I'm the one who he can really talk to about it, and it's something we both like to do. You just couldn't stand the idea of us getting along so well, could you?"
They both quieted down as Minamino returned, carrying a tray with a teapot, some cups, and a roll of paper towels. Placing the tray on the table, he then tore some sheets of paper towels from the roll. "Aino-san, could you take care of the table while Kino-san and I take care of the floor?" he asked, handing her some of the sheets.
"Sure," Minako replied, ignoring her jealousy that Makoto got to work with the redhead (even if it was cleaning up a mess). Mopping up the water with the paper towels, she then righted the vase and placed the rose back inside it. Then she lifted the picture frame and dried the area before wiping the glass of the frame and setting it back down.
It was only when Minako noticed her red-haired teacher in the picture did she actually take a good look at it. Minamino stood close to the side of the picture, wearing a gray yukata decorated with thin willow branches and tied with a blue and white striped obi. To his left was his friend Kuwabara, who wore a dark tan yukata tied with a red obi and eagerly offering some cotton candy to a much shorter girl with ice-blue hair. The girl's yukata matched her hair and was decorated with white snowflakes, and she seemed pleasantly surprised by the confectionery.
On the teacher's other side and more in the middle was his friend Yusuke, wearing a white yukata checkered with black and blue squares and tied with a dark blue obi. He grinned as his arm draped over the shoulders of a shorter boy with spiky black hair, who wore a navy blue yukata with thin white stripes and tied with a black obi. The shorter boy was scowling at Yusuke and seemed to be pushing him away.
Close to them on the other side of the picture were three more girls; two brunettes and a girl with blue hair. The first brunette was shorter than the other two, but taller than the girl Kuwabara was with. She wore an orange yukata with a red lotus print, tied with a matching obi. She held a white paper fan, using it to stifle a laugh as she listened to the others. The taller brunette wore a black yukata decorated with orange slices and was secured with a plain black obi, and had a small smile on her face as she seemed to speak with an air of mischief.
Though the brunette was talking with both girls, the blue-haired girl wasn't paying full attention. She wore a light yellow yukata with red and pink shooting stars that left golden streaks behind them. She was calling out to the others in the picture behind them, waving to get their attention. The whole picture was taken in the evening, and in the background Minako could just make out some other people also dressed in yukatas.
But her eyes kept drifting back and forth among the girls in the picture, and she felt something cold suddenly form in the pit of her stomach.
"There," she heard Minamino say. "That's good enough for now."
"Are you sure, Minamino-sensei?" Makoto asked. "The broken cookies left a lot of crumbs."
"I know. I can clean that later, though." Sitting up on his knees, he brushed some crimson strands from his eyes. "How's the table, Aino-san?"
"Mmm..." she replied softly, still staring at the picture.
Minamino and Makoto exchanged curious glances, then turned back to the blonde. "What're you looking at, Minako-chan?" Makoto asked, glancing at the picture over the other's shoulder. Then her eyes lit up. "Oh! Are these more of your friends, Minamino-sensei?"
Taking a glimpse at the picture, the redhead smiled. "Yeah. That picture was taken last summer just as we were entering the festival, so we didn't realize it was being taken until afterwards."
"Well, it looks like you guys were having fun...except this guy..." Makoto pointed to the short spiky-haired boy.
"That's Hiei," Minamino said with a chuckle. "It may seem like he's irritable, but he really did enjoy himself. He was just too stubborn to admit it."
Makoto laughed softly. "I see." She looked back at the picture. "So this is Hiei-san...Yusuke-san, Kuwabara-san...what about these people?"
"Ah, of course." Minamino pointed to the small blue-haired girl. "This is Yukina-san..." Then to the tall brunette. "Shizuru-san. She's actually Kuwabara-kun's older sister." The shorter brunette. "Keiko-chan..." And finally the last girl. "Botan-chan."
"They all look...nice," Makoto said slowly, trying to hid her uncertainty as she looked at all the girls. Then she glanced at Minako, but the blonde continued to stare at the picture.
"Are...are any of those girls...your girlfriend, Minamino-sensei?" Minako blurted out.
"Minako-chan!" Makoto whispered, elbowing the other. But Minako didn't react.
"It's all right," the redhead reassured with a smile. "I don't really mind talking about it. The truth is, none of those girls are my girlfriend."
"Oh, is that so?" Makoto asked, a relieved sigh trailing her question.
Minamino chuckled and shrugged. "I guess I just wasn't what they're looking for."
Minako swallowed, and she clenched her hands tightly to keep them from shaking. "How...how can that be?" she asked, finally tearing away from the picture and turning to Minamino. "How could they not want you as their boyfriend? Don't they realize how great you are? How lucky they'd be to be with you? How can they not see that? Don't they want...you to be happy too?"
Minamino and Makoto looked at her, startled as tears began to fill her eyes. She turned away from them, surprising even herself with her reaction. But all she could think of were Yusuke's words, about how no girl wanted him as a boyfriend. And she couldn't hold back the unexpexted misery she felf for him. She suddenly didn't care about who her teacher ended up with, just as long as he wasn't alone.
"Aino-san..." Minamino said softly, concerned as well as confused. Slowly he shifted closer to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Aino-san, it's okay. It's...it's not like that. Those girls...I'm glad that they're my friends. Keiko-chan and Yukina-san are actually with Yusuke and Kuwabara-kun. And Shizuru-san and Botan-chan...we're just friends, that's all. And I don't mind it that way."
Minako sniffled, looking up at him hesitantly. "R-really?"
He nodded. "Really. We're all just friends."
She nodded slightly, wiping away the tears in her eyes. But more seemed to well up as she asked in a small voice, "But...don't you ever get lonely?"
The redhead smiled. "Not really. Perhaps, someday, it would be nice to have someone special, like most of my friends do. But until then, I still have my family and friends. So I don't mind waiting, because I still have them."
"And it doesn't bother you?' she wondered, sniffling again. "Not having that special someone?"
Minamino sighed softly, looking at the picture as he thought of his answer. "Sometimes," he admitted, almost reluctantly. "But if it's meant to happen, it will happen. I just have to be patient and keep looking." Turning back to her, he pulled out a handkerchief and offered it to her. "If she's out there...then I'm sure we'll find each other...someday."
Taking the handkerchief, Minako gave him a small smile and nodded.
"Here, drink this," Minamino said, giving her one of the tea cups. "It'll help calm you down."
Makoto watched as her friend carefully sipped at the tea, the shock of Minako's reaction finally fading. She had honestly expected her friend to be happy to still have a chance with their teacher, instead of having to worry about his girlfriend back home. But seeing the warrior of love like this, she realized that Minako was sincerely upset that he wasn't seeing anyone...that he was alone. And Minako wanted him to have a significant someone in his life.
Because Minako...truly cared about him.
Clearing her throat, Makoto quickly rose to her feet. "It's getting pretty late," she said. "Minako-chan and I should probably get going."
Looking up at her, Minamino nodded and got to his feet as well. "I suppose if you need to." He offered his hand to Minako and helped her to her feet.
"Sorry about the mess, Minamino-sensei," the golden-haired girl said softly and gave his handerkerchief back.
He shrugged and smiled. "It's no big deal. I can clean it up, it won't take long."
She hesitated for a moment, playing with her hands as she debated. Then she reached into her bag and pulled out a large package wrapped in white paper with colored polka dots. Fingering the edges of the package, she held it out to him. "Here," she said.
He blinked, slowly taking the object from her. "What's this?"
"It's...a birthday present," she replied softly. "I'm sorry it's so late."
The redhead turned the package over in his hands. "You didn't have to, Aino-san."
"I know. But I heard your friends talking last week, and...well, it's your first birthday away from home, right? So I just wanted you to still...y'know, have a good day."
Minamino smiled. "Well, thank you, Aino-san." Turning the gift once more, he carefully tore at the wrapping paper and revealed a book, The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures.
Minako blushed and glanced away. "I'm sorry if you don't like it. I...I wasn't really sure what to get you. So I...I just guessed."
He laughed softly as he flipped through the book. "Well, it was a good guess."
She looked at him hopefully. "Really?"
He nodded. "I enjoying learning about mythical creatures and folklore. In fact, part of the reason I'm majoring in history now is because I was first interested in the beliefs people had that shaped their way of life."
"You'll like this book then," Minako said, happier now as she pointed to the book. "It lists all kinds of magical creatures from myths and folklore from so many different countries."
"I'm sure I will," Minamino said. Looking at her, he smiled, and she couldn't help but blush when she noticed it was his true, warm smile. "Thank you, Aino-san."
She returned with a shy smile. "You're welcome."
There was something...different about the feeling around them, and Makoto felt a little awkward simply standing there, just on the outside of it. So she cleared her throat again to get their attention. "We really should go, Minako-chan," she said.
"Oh...okay." Minako nodded, glancing back at the redhead. He nodded and walked with them to the door.
"Thanks for letting us stay for a while, Minamino-sensei," Makoto said as the girls stepped out of his apartment.
"It's no problem," he replied. "I'm sorry Chiba-san isn't back yet."
"Oh...yeah...We'll just have to catch up with him some other time, I guess."
Minamino smiled knowingly. "Right." Turning to Minako, he said, "I'll see you, Aino-san."
She nodded. "See you around..."
Then he turned to Makoto. "Kino-san."
The brunette nodded. "Later, Minamino-sensei."
With one last smile, Minamino then retreated back inside and slowly closed the door.
Alone in the hallway, Makoto then turned to Minako. "You okay?" she wondered.
Releasing a shaky sigh, the blonde nodded. "I think so. I hope I haven't ruined any chance with Minamino-sensei, though."
The taller girl laughed and headed down the hall. "You really didn't notice, did you?"
Minako blinked and hurried after her. "Notice what?"
With an exasperated smile, Makoto shook her head. "Never mind. Anyway, I wouldn't worry about Minamino-sensei. I'm sure it'll be okay."
Minako was still a little puzzled, but she simply shrugged and let it drop, and the two of them fell into silence as they left the building. Makoto glanced at her friend once more, letting her fingers clench and unclench to release her lingering jealousy. She now knew that not only did Minako really care about Minamino, but their teacher also seemed to have feelings for her as well. She could tell that there was definitely something special...something real between the two of them, and she knew better than to interfere with that. She knew it would just be better to take a step back and let things just fall into place.
Or...maybe it would be better if she helped Minako and Minamino-sensei get together. Because, despite everything, she really did want her friend to be happy. And it seemed that the two could use a little help...
TBC
[Chapter 8]