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1 Hi. I have another ChibiUsa and Hotaru story here for you guys. ^^ While
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2 it is still not a hentai piece, it should be observed that the young
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3 adult ChibiUsa and Hotaru love each other deeply and it is best suitable
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4 for mature readers. Just so you would know.... otherwise, enjoy.
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5
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6 Disclaimer: I do not own ChibiUsa and Hotaru - they are copyrighted by
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7 the wonderful Sailor Moon artist, Naoko Takeuchi. This is only a fan
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8 fiction, okay? ^^
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9
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10 ***********************************************************************
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11
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12 I WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR YOU
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13
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14 By YaRassno (yup, it's still spelled this way! ^^)
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15
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16 Readers take note: this story contains a few violent scenes and mature
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17 situations.
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18
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19
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20
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21 ***********************************************************************
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22
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23 "Wake up, sleepyhead."
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24
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25 ChibiUsa grumbled, twisted away from the voice and burrowed deeper under
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26 the covers, not wanting to wake up. "Go away, Diana-chan! I'll get up
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27 when I'm good and ready."
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28
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29 "Hey, come on!" The voice said again, poking her in the side.
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30
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31 "All right, all right, don't tell me you're hungry already! I just fed
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32 you some snacks a while ago. Diana-chan, how if I scratch behind your
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33 ears, will you go away and leave me alone?" Even as she finished speaking,
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34 ChibiUsa put her hand out from beneath the blanket. Almost instantly it
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35 was clasped in someone else's hands and pressed against something soft.
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36 It was not her cat at all.
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37
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38 "I'm not Diana," the voice laughed, "And I've already eaten!"
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39
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40 "Nani?" ChibiUsa poked her head up from the depths of the bed. "Hotaru-
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41 chan? What are you doing in my bedroom?"
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42
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43 "YOUR bedroom?" Hotaru gazed at her with amusement. "Well, ChibiUsa-chan,
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44 you're not in Crystal Tokyo now!" The tall thin girl, dressed as always
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45 in black, was holding ChibiUsa's hand tenderly against her breast. "I had
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46 half a mind to pull you right out of the bed if you are not up by noon,
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47 and it is already past ten minutes!"
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48
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49 ChibiUsa frowned slightly, sat up and looked around. "Oh, that's right. I
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50 just got here yesterday. Okay," She fell back into the bed, then just as
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51 quickly she sat bolt upright again. "Wait a minute, what about your
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52 school?"
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53
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54 "Lucky for you, we are in the middle of a Christmas vacation right now.
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55 You have arrived just in time - No school for a week!"
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56
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57 "Oh, that's right. I forgot about that. What a relief," ChibiUsa plopped
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58 back in the bed, "Now I can go back to sleep!" But Hotaru, still holding
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59 her hand, pulled her back to her sitting position again.
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60
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61 "Not a chance! You're getting out of bed, and that's it!"
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62
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63 "Aw, Hotaru-chan!" ChibiUsa griped, but she complied anyways and stood on
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64 the floor, shivering from the morning chill because she was not wearing
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65 anything on her. Hotaru let go of her hand. "Say, where is my duffel
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66 bag I brought over with me?"
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67
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68 Hotaru pointed. "Right over there!"
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69
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70 "Arigato!" ChibiUsa brushed the loose hair from her face and went to the
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71 corner where she had tossed her duffel bag and started rummaging around
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72 inside it. When she straightened up and turned, she saw Hotaru sitting on
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73 the edge of the bed and gazing lovingly at her.
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74
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75 "Welcome back, my princess. You look even more beautiful each time I see
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76 you!" Seeing a light blush on ChibiUsa's cheeks Hotaru chuckled. "Well,
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77 that's true. And I'm really glad you came all the way from Crystal Tokyo
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78 to stay with me for a while," she said, "I'll tell you, every time you
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79 went away for a few months I missed you terribly. Whenever you are gone I
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80 thought about you all the time!"
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81
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82 ChibiUsa smiled. "Me too, Hotaru-chan," She went over and kissed Hotaru
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83 softly on the lips. "I think about you every day, even in my dreams. So I
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84 just decided to sneak off and see you again!" She shrugged sheepishly.
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85 "Although I unknowingly arrived right in the middle of the Christmas
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86 season!"
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87
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88 "But it's a perfect timing!" Hotaru exclaimed happily. "I was just
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89 wishing the other day you would be here to celebrate Christmas with me
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90 and my parents this year, and when you turned up suddenly at our door
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91 yesterday night I am truly delighted!"
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92
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93 "Yeah, and Haruka and Michiru were so surprised to see me so soon,"
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94 ChibiUsa said with a small laugh.
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95
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96 "Well, I'm happy to see you again anyway. It's going to be so much fun,
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97 now that you are here with me!" Hotaru put her arms around the pink-
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98 haired princess and hugged her warmly. "Then again I'm always happy
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99 whenever you travel back here to visit me...again and again! I just wish
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100 you could stay with me - permanently!"
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101
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102 "I wish I could, Hotaru-chan, but Puu probably won't let me stay too long.
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103 Neither would my mother...Whoop!" ChibiUsa stepped back and clutched at
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104 her loudly rumbling stomach. "Guess I'm starving!"
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105
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106 Hotaru chuckled. "That's what you got for skipping breakfast. Okay, I'll
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107 see what I can cook up for you for lunch." Suddenly her face brightened,
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108 "Hey, I have an even better idea! We can go downtown and get something to
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109 eat. My treat. How does it sound?"
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110
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111 "Great!" ChibiUsa said happily.
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112
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113 "Good. Go get dressed. Or you can help yourself to some of my clothes in
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114 the closet. I don't mind. I'll be downstairs waiting for you!"
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115
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116 "Hotaru-chan?"
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117
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118 "Hai, ChibiUsa-chan?"
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119
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120 "I was thinking - could we stop by at the Tsukino house first? I'd like
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121 to see Usagi again." ChibiUsa asked tentatively. "I never got a chance to
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122 see Usagi and her family while I was here the last time, and I just
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123 wanted to see how she is doing."
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124
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125 Hotaru thought about it. "I'm not sure if she's still living with her
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126 family, and also it's a bit long way from here...but sure, we can go over
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127 there and say hello to Usagi!"
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128
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129 ChibiUsa threw her arms around her dark-haired friend in a big hug.
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130 "Arigato!"
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131
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132
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133 ******************
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134
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135 Some time later Hotaru and ChibiUsa (who managed to find some warm,
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136 light-colored clothes from the closet to wear) found themselves standing
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137 before the door at the Tsukino house, shivering because it *was* pretty
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138 long way getting there. But neither complained, though. Hotaru glanced
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139 at her young friend and noticed the nostalgic look in ChibiUsa's face.
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140 The pink-haired girl must really miss her future mother a lot, she
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141 observed.
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142
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143 "ChibiUsa-chan, I wonder if Usagi's parents will recognize you?"
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144
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145 "Not without Luna-P, I don't think so," ChibiUsa said, looking rather sad.
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146 "You know, I used my Luna-P on Usagi's family a long time ago and fooled
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147 them into thinking I was just a poor, long-lost and abandoned 'cousin'
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148 who needed to be taken care of. I believe the effect have long since
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149 worn off now. There's no way Usagi's family would recognize me and
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150 welcome me with open arms."
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151
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152 Hotaru impulsively put her arm around ChibiUsa and hugged her closely,
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153 trying to console her. "At least Usagi will remember you and be happy to
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154 see you again anyway!"
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155
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156 "Yeah," ChibiUsa nodded, smiling a little. "Well, here we go."
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157
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158 Hotaru stepped back to one side and watched silently as ChibiUsa reached
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159 up, hesitated only momentarily, then knocked the door. A few moments
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160 passed, then the door swung outward and a middle-aged woman with long,
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161 bluish hair streaked with gray peered curiously at the the pink-haired
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162 teenager. "Hai?" The woman queried.
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163
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164 ChibiUsa blinked. "Uh, uh, I-I just came here to see if Usagi is home,"
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165 she stuttered, shuffling her shoes and looking terribly shy. "I haven't
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166 seen her for quite a while and I've lost touch with her...so...."
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167
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168 "Oh, my goodness. You must be one of Usagi's friends. Do you know she got
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169 a job in the other part of the city and moved away a couple of months
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170 ago?" The woman asked.
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171
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172 ChibiUsa's face fell. "Oh...I don't know that."
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173
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174 The woman looked at her more closely and said with a quizzical expression
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175 on her face, "Hmmm...You seem familiar. Where have I met you before?"
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176
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177 Hotaru's eyebrows raised and she looked sideways at ChibiUsa who became
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178 flustered and looked down at her shoes, tongue-tied. She decided to speak
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179 up for her.
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180
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181 "Konnichi wa, Mrs. Tsukino-san. Since Usagi's not living here anymore,
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182 can we have her phone number so we can get in touch with her?"
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183
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184 The woman's head turned, and gave the dark-haired girl a surprised look.
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185 "Why, hello, Hotaru! I haven't seen you in months - good to see you
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186 again!" Then the woman turned her attention back to the pink-haired teen.
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187 "Well, I'll most certainly be happy to give you Usagi's phone number if
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188 you like."
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189
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190 "Arigato! It's just that Usagi is my...really good friend," ChibiUsa
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191 replied, sounding even more shy than usual. "And I just want to talk to
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192 her again..."
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193
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194 "Okay. I understand," The woman nodded. "Give me a second, and I'll give
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195 you a piece of paper with Usagi's phone number on it."
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196
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197 "All right, Ik...ma'am," ChibiUsa said, beaming. She staggered against
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198 Hotaru as soon as the woman closed the door. "Kami-sama, I almost called
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199 her 'Ikuko-mommy'!" She whispered as Hotaru gave her another one-arm
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200 reassuring hug.
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201
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202 The door opened, and the girls straightened up expectantly. Ikuko stepped
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203 forward with, "Here you are," and handed ChibUsa a piece of paper. "I
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204 hope you will be able to get hold of Usagi long enough to have a nice
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205 talk - I myself have had hard time getting her on the telephone as she is
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206 so busy with her job and her social life!"
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207
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208 "Arigato again," ChibiUsa said, accepting the proffered paper. "If Usagi
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209 ever come by here some time, please tell her that I was looking for her."
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210
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211 "Oh, hai, we are planning to visit Usagi this weekend," Ikuko said
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212 brightly with a smile, "But what's your name, so I can tell her that you
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213 were looking for her?"
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214
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215 "Oh," ChibiUsa felt a sudden pang of sadness that the woman could no
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216 longer knew her name. "Just tell her the little spore stopped by in
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217 Tokyo for a sort visit. She'll know who it is. Ja ne!" She grabbed
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218 Hotaru's arm and took off with the dark-haired friend in tow before the
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219 woman would see her tears that were threatening to spill down her cheeks.
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220
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221 *********************************************************************
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222
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223 "Are you okay, ChibiUsa-chan?" Hotaru said, glancing worriedly at her
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224 friend across the table they had taken at the Crown Place. "You seem
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225 awfully quiet."
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226
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227 "Oh well. I was thinking about Usagi's mother," ChibiUsa said. "Now that
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228 I have seen her I miss her just as much as I do Usagi. Although," She
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229 rested her elbows on the table and cupped her chin in her hands with a
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230 look of mild disbelief, "To tell you the truth, I can't believe she
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231 looked so much older than I last saw her!"
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232
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233 "Hmm-mmm," Hotaru said, nodding. "Things changed a lot since you were
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234 away, I guess," Hotaru smiled and reached across the table to squeeze
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235 ChibiUsa's arm affectionately. "I'm sorry we don't get to see Usagi, but
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236 now that you got her number we can call her tonight to say hi. Oh, by the
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237 way," she added quickly as though an thought had occurred to her, "Tell
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238 you what, with Christmas only a few days away I need to do some shopping
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239 this afternoon and get a few Christmas presents for Haruka-papa and
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240 Michiru-mama. We'll go to the mall after we ate. Okay with you?"
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241
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242 "Okay, Hotaru-chan," But ChibiUsa was still preoccupied; "Ikuko-
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243 mommy...she said I look familiar," she whispered half to herself, "I
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244 wonder if she still remembers me after all?"
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245
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246 A young, smiling waitress came up to their table and bowed slightly
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247 toward the two occupants. "May I take your order?"
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248
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249 ChibiUsa looked up, sat straight up and exclaimed happily; "Hi,
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250 Unazuki!"
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251
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252 Unazuki looked at her in surprise. "Nani? Have we met before?...Oh,
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253 ChibiUsa! I almost didn't recognize you! My, but you've all grown up now
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254 and without your odangos in your hair!"
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255
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256 The pink-haired princess grinned. "I guess I hadn't gotten around to
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257 fixing my hair up - and Hotaru said she don't know how to do odangos."
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258
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259 "Indeed!" The young waitress paused to study her critically. "Whoa! You
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260 know, I believe you look real kawaii with your hair down...I mean really
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261 kawaii!"
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262
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263 "That's what I thought, too!" Hotaru said. She smiled fondly at
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264 ChibiUsa. "Unazuki's right. You do look very kawaii with your hair
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265 down! Would you consider letting your hair hang loose for the rest of
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266 your life?"
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267
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268 "Yeah, that's a good idea!" Unazuki agreed. "You'd make a complete
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269 knockout sight!"
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270
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271 "Well, I don't know," ChibiUsa said, looking slightly embarrassed by the
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272 sudden interest in her hairstyle. Bemused, she looked from Hotaru to
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273 Unazuki and laughed nervously, then decided to change the subject;
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274 "Uh...can I order fried chicken sandwich?"
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275
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276 "Certainly!" Unazuki scribbled in her small notepad. "What about you?"
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277 She asked Hotaru. The raven-haired girl gave her choice and the smiling
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278 waitress wrote it down, then paused and gave the teen girls a concerned
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279 look. "Please pardon me, but did you say you'll do the shopping at the
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280 mall? Down the 8th Street, correct?"
|
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rlm@0
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281
|
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rlm@0
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282 "Uh, yeah, Unazuki, that's right," Hotaru answered. "Why?"
|
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rlm@0
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283
|
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rlm@0
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284 "Oh, my. Just be very careful, girls. There is a gang living in an area
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rlm@0
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285 not far from the 8th Street," Unazuki said seriously, "They're called the
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rlm@0
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286 White Wolves, and I heard they're pretty vicious. I just thought I'd warn
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rlm@0
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287 you if you're planning to shop there."
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rlm@0
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288
|
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rlm@0
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289 "The White Wolves?" ChibiUsa squeaked.
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rlm@0
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290
|
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rlm@0
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291 Hotaru looked thoughtful. "I've heard of them, my parents had told me
|
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rlm@0
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292 once about them a while ago," she said with a nod, "Arigato for the
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rlm@0
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293 warning, Unazuki. We will certainly be careful."
|
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rlm@0
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294
|
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rlm@0
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295 "Good, then," Unazuki was all smiles now. She looked at ChibiUsa and said,
|
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rlm@0
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296 "I still think you look quite kawaii with your hair down. I really like
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rlm@0
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297 it a lot!" She bowed herself away.
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rlm@0
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298
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rlm@0
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299 ChibiUsa looked at Hotaru. "The White Wolves...I don't remember hearing
|
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rlm@0
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300 about them. I know we have many gangs here in Tokyo, but this one? This
|
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rlm@0
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301 is news to me," She sounded a little worried, "And she says they're
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rlm@0
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302 vicious, eh?"
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rlm@0
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303
|
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rlm@0
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304 "Don't worry about them, ChibiUsa-chan. As long as you are with me,
|
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rlm@0
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305 you'll be safe," Hotaru turned to gaze at the pink-haired teen and
|
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rlm@0
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306 grinned. "Well, I believe you're blushing, aren't you?" she teased, "You
|
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rlm@0
|
307 acted like Unazuki were trying to hit on you just because she commented
|
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rlm@0
|
308 so nicely on your hair, ne?"
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rlm@0
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309
|
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rlm@0
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310 ChibiUsa ducked her head, face turning even deeper color of red. "Of
|
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rlm@0
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311 course not! I don't think so, Hotaru-chan!"
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rlm@0
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312
|
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rlm@0
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313 Hotaru chuckled. "Heh. Sorry, ChibiUsa-chan. I better not tease you
|
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rlm@0
|
314 anymore, now that your face got such a lovely shade of red."
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rlm@0
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315
|
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rlm@0
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316 ChibiUsa squawked indignantly and tried to cuff her friend. With a
|
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rlm@0
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317 lightning motion borne of long senshi practice, Hotaru grabbed the young
|
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rlm@0
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318 girl's hand and covered it with both of her own hands. Deep purple eye
|
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rlm@0
|
319 twinkling, the raven-haired girl grinned at ChibiUsa. "Okay, okay. I'll
|
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rlm@0
|
320 behave, ChibiUsa-chan."
|
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rlm@0
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321
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rlm@0
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322 Chibiusa struck her tongue out at her. "You better be!" She huffed. She
|
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rlm@0
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323 felt warm inside, however, when she noticed Hotaru's eyes became soft and
|
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rlm@0
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324 her mischievous smile turned gentle. The raven-haired girl's hands kept a
|
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rlm@0
|
325 firm yet tender hold on hers.
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rlm@0
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326
|
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rlm@0
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327 "Uh-oh," ChibiUsa said, raising one eyebrow, "I think I know what you're
|
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rlm@0
|
328 thinking, Hotaru-chan."
|
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rlm@0
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329
|
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rlm@0
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330 The raven-haired girl gave a small chuckle. "Perhaps you do, ChibiUsa-
|
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rlm@0
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331 chan," She winked at her, "But you'll have to wait until later to find
|
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rlm@0
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332 out!" She released her friend's hand, placed her elbows on the table and
|
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rlm@0
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333 rested her chin on her hands, still smiling gently at ChibiUsa. "Well,
|
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rlm@0
|
334 suppose I get you something for Christmas, what will it be?"
|
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rlm@0
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335
|
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rlm@0
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336 "You don't have to get me anything!" ChibiUsa protested, feeling a
|
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rlm@0
|
337 little guilty, "I'm afraid I don't bring any money with me to buy you
|
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rlm@0
|
338 something because I have no idea it would be almost Christmas when I
|
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rlm@0
|
339 arrived at your house yesterday. You know how unpredictable time-
|
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rlm@0
|
340 traveling can be. And besides, I've already got too much stuff back at
|
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rlm@0
|
341 home anyways. If I've known I would arrive during the holiday, I would
|
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rlm@0
|
342 bring something for you!"
|
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rlm@0
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343
|
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rlm@0
|
344 Hotaru smiled again. "Okay, then. And don't worry about that...ChibiUsa-
|
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rlm@0
|
345 chan, just having you here with me is like a early Christmas present to
|
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rlm@0
|
346 me!"
|
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rlm@0
|
347
|
|
rlm@0
|
348 "Really?" ChibiUsa said, pleased.
|
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rlm@0
|
349
|
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rlm@0
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350 Hotaru nodded vigorously, then became serious. "ChibiUsa-chan...Now that
|
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rlm@0
|
351 you are here, how long will you stay? I hope this time you will be able
|
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rlm@0
|
352 to stay as long as you can," Hotaru looked pleadingly at her young friend.
|
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rlm@0
|
353 "Would you?"
|
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rlm@0
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354
|
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rlm@0
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355 "I don't know. That depends," ChibiUsa said slowly, her brow furrowed.
|
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rlm@0
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356 "I would certainly stay as long as possible. But then Puu will come and
|
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rlm@0
|
357 discover me here, she'll say I should go back home," Her voice sounded
|
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rlm@0
|
358 resigned, "Then I'd have to leave."
|
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rlm@0
|
359
|
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rlm@0
|
360 At this Hotaru frowned and shook her head vehemently. "ChibiUsa-chan,
|
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rlm@0
|
361 she can't do that to you. You shouldn't let Pluto tell you what to do!"
|
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rlm@0
|
362 she said sharply. ChibiUsa blinked at the tone of her friend's voice.
|
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rlm@0
|
363 Hotaru continued, "If you want to stay here, you just tell her so!"
|
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rlm@0
|
364
|
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rlm@0
|
365 "Hotaru-chan," ChibiUsa said. She reached out to touch her friend's
|
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rlm@0
|
366 shoulder, wanting to reassure her, "It's okay! I'm not going anywhere -
|
|
rlm@0
|
367 especially not this soon anyhow!"
|
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rlm@0
|
368
|
|
rlm@0
|
369 "As much as I love Pluto, I just don't want her to come and take you
|
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rlm@0
|
370 away again," Hotaru said earnestly, almost angrily. She took ChibiUsa's
|
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rlm@0
|
371 hand and squeezed it briefly. "You are not only my best friend, you are
|
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rlm@0
|
372 my soul mate. I won't let her tear us apart like she did last time. I'd
|
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rlm@0
|
373 miss you terribly if she does."
|
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rlm@0
|
374
|
|
rlm@0
|
375 "I see," The pink-haired teen said softly, giving her friend a curious
|
|
rlm@0
|
376 look. She had never seen Hotaru this upset before. A memory came to her,
|
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rlm@0
|
377 of young Hotaru and ChibiUsa trying to catch up with each other after the
|
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rlm@0
|
378 downfall of Neherenia - to pick up where they had left off since they
|
|
rlm@0
|
379 last saw each other [and Hotaru was then a baby at that time before the
|
|
rlm@0
|
380 evil Neherenia and the Dead Moon Circus began causing trouble] - only to
|
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rlm@0
|
381 have Pluto come and said that ChibiUsa have to return home to Crystal
|
|
rlm@0
|
382 Tokyo for good. Hotaru was so disappointed they had not been able to be
|
|
rlm@0
|
383 together very long... "I'd miss you too, if I leave. Don't worry, Hotaru-
|
|
rlm@0
|
384 chan, for you I will stay as long as it is possible, no matter what Puu
|
|
rlm@0
|
385 may say."
|
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rlm@0
|
386
|
|
rlm@0
|
387 Hotaru's troubled face cleared, and she seemed to calm down. "Good!" She
|
|
rlm@0
|
388 said, starting to smile warmly, "If you stay around long enough it'll be
|
|
rlm@0
|
389 also my birthday present next month too!"
|
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rlm@0
|
390
|
|
rlm@0
|
391 "At least until..." ChibiUsa hesitated and blushed a little, "Until Usagi
|
|
rlm@0
|
392 gets pregnant. Then I really have to go."
|
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rlm@0
|
393
|
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rlm@0
|
394 Hotaru's smile faded, and she sighed, releasing her friend's hand. "You
|
|
rlm@0
|
395 have a point. Well, as long as you're here, we have to make the most of
|
|
rlm@0
|
396 time, I guess."
|
|
rlm@0
|
397
|
|
rlm@0
|
398 "Hai, that's right," ChibiUsa agreed. She scooted around the beach to
|
|
rlm@0
|
399 the raven-haired teen's side and gave her a tight hug, "I don't want you
|
|
rlm@0
|
400 to feel bad, Hotaru-chan. I love you, always and forever. Nothing can
|
|
rlm@0
|
401 change that in any way!"
|
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rlm@0
|
402
|
|
rlm@0
|
403 For a moment Hotaru looked at her with shining purple eyes, and she
|
|
rlm@0
|
404 opened her mouth and was on verge of speaking something when Unazuki
|
|
rlm@0
|
405 returned bearing a tray of steaming food and placed it on their table.
|
|
rlm@0
|
406
|
|
rlm@0
|
407 "Chow time!" The waitress announced with a huge smile.
|
|
rlm@0
|
408
|
|
rlm@0
|
409 "What is it you were about to say?" ChibiUsa prompted her as soon as
|
|
rlm@0
|
410 Unazuki left. Hotaru shrugged and gave her another loving look.
|
|
rlm@0
|
411
|
|
rlm@0
|
412 "Just that: I love you, too, ChibiUsa-chan. Always and forever."
|
|
rlm@0
|
413
|
|
rlm@0
|
414 ****************************************
|
|
rlm@0
|
415
|
|
rlm@0
|
416 The night sky was clear and cloudless with the bright, full moon hovering
|
|
rlm@0
|
417 over the Tokyo that twinkled and glittered like jewels with Christmas
|
|
rlm@0
|
418 lights everywhere.
|
|
rlm@0
|
419
|
|
rlm@0
|
420 The young senshi and the princess from the future, each clutching tightly
|
|
rlm@0
|
421 to a bugling bag, pushed their way trough the jostling crowd of
|
|
rlm@0
|
422 pedestrians and shoppers across the congested street from the mall they
|
|
rlm@0
|
423 had just left. Reaching the other side safely, they turned in one
|
|
rlm@0
|
424 direction and started off on way home down the sidewalk.
|
|
rlm@0
|
425
|
|
rlm@0
|
426 "Whoa, it's night already. We must have shopped all day until now!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
427 ChibiUsa exclaimed. She glanced down at the bags, then at Hotaru. "You
|
|
rlm@0
|
428 said a few presents, huh? I can't believe you can afford to buy all those,
|
|
rlm@0
|
429 let alone treat me at the Crown Place. Just how much allowance do you
|
|
rlm@0
|
430 actually get from Haruka and Michiru each week?!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
431
|
|
rlm@0
|
432 "You're making it sound like Haruka-papa and Michiru-mama are spoiling
|
|
rlm@0
|
433 me!" Hotaru laughed. "No, really, the amount of the weekly allowance I
|
|
rlm@0
|
434 receive is about as normal as yours when you lived with Usagi, I think.
|
|
rlm@0
|
435 And every time I get it I just squirreled it away for later when I need
|
|
rlm@0
|
436 it to buy something."
|
|
rlm@0
|
437
|
|
rlm@0
|
438 "So you just accumulate your allowance over time?" ChibiUsa raised her
|
|
rlm@0
|
439 eyebrows in mock surprise. "Oh, no wonder. And I thought you were
|
|
rlm@0
|
440 wealthy because of your parents!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
441
|
|
rlm@0
|
442 Hotaru shrugged. "I'm not like those born-to-shop-until-I-drop-dead guys,
|
|
rlm@0
|
443 you know. Just a few things I need to buy now and then. With Christmas
|
|
rlm@0
|
444 coming, I thought I'd better hurry and get something for my parents!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
445 She turned her head and smiled at her young friend. "It was fun shopping
|
|
rlm@0
|
446 with you, ChibiUsa-chan. And thanks for your help in picking out a really
|
|
rlm@0
|
447 cool gift for Haruka-papa. Now I can tell her that she's a proud owner of
|
|
rlm@0
|
448 2001 Ferrari GTO. Then all she have to do is look inside the box and find
|
|
rlm@0
|
449 a kawaii little toy car she can play with the remote controller!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
450
|
|
rlm@0
|
451 ChibiUsa laughed. "You're very welcome, Hotaru-chan," she said.
|
|
rlm@0
|
452
|
|
rlm@0
|
453 They walked for a while; admiring the decorated windows they passed by
|
|
rlm@0
|
454 while their booted feet made crunching sound in the snow. Suddenly
|
|
rlm@0
|
455 ChibiUsa giggled furiously.
|
|
rlm@0
|
456
|
|
rlm@0
|
457 "Gomen. There was one place that I was browsing back there - you were in
|
|
rlm@0
|
458 the other store at that time - and they were selling gag gifts. It
|
|
rlm@0
|
459 reminded me of one Mom got from Mars and Venus for her birthday back in
|
|
rlm@0
|
460 Crystal Tokyo last summer," She said, still giggling. "I can't say what
|
|
rlm@0
|
461 it was, but I know it was kind of naughty. You should have seen Mom's
|
|
rlm@0
|
462 face - it was really funny!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
463
|
|
rlm@0
|
464 Hotaru laughed gently, mainly because ChibiUsa's giggles were quite
|
|
rlm@0
|
465 infectious. "I wish I could have been there with you. It would be fun,
|
|
rlm@0
|
466 eh?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
467
|
|
rlm@0
|
468 ChibiUsa became somber and looked at her with a hint of sadness in her
|
|
rlm@0
|
469 cinnamon-red eyes. She said quietly, "Yeah, It would indeed be fun, with
|
|
rlm@0
|
470 all friends and about every Senshi there for our birthday except..."
|
|
rlm@0
|
471
|
|
rlm@0
|
472 Hotaru cocked her head and looked at her quizzically. "Eh? Except what?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
473 When the pink-haired princess looked at you sadly and didn't respond, it
|
|
rlm@0
|
474 dawned on her; "I wasn't there?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
475
|
|
rlm@0
|
476 ChibiUsa shook her head, and walked more slowly with her eyes downcast.
|
|
rlm@0
|
477 "You weren't there at the party. In fact, you are not around anywhere in
|
|
rlm@0
|
478 the Crystal Tokyo at all!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
479
|
|
rlm@0
|
480 "How come?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
481
|
|
rlm@0
|
482 ChibiUsa was silent for a moment before continuing, "I'll have you know,
|
|
rlm@0
|
483 Hotaru-chan, that after we defeated Neherenia I returned home and saw all
|
|
rlm@0
|
484 the old and new Senshi, including Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune -
|
|
rlm@0
|
485 except Sailor Saturn. I asked everyone what happened to you. Nobody
|
|
rlm@0
|
486 could give me a straight answer, not even my mother. Puu was the only one
|
|
rlm@0
|
487 to tell me that you were no longer on the Earth." She stopped and looked
|
|
rlm@0
|
488 at the stunned Hotaru. She continued with tears brimming her eyes, "At
|
|
rlm@0
|
489 first I thought it meant you had already died. But Puu said no, it was
|
|
rlm@0
|
490 just that you were sent back to your own planet - on the far side of the
|
|
rlm@0
|
491 galaxy. And nobody have contacted you ever since!" She scrubbed away the
|
|
rlm@0
|
492 tears that now tickled down her cheeks. "I can't reach you in any way,
|
|
rlm@0
|
493 and it made me feel so bad not to be able to see you. Oh, Hotaru-chan, I
|
|
rlm@0
|
494 miss you so much..."
|
|
rlm@0
|
495
|
|
rlm@0
|
496 "Oh, ChibiUsa!" Hotaru dropped her bag and stepped forward quickly to
|
|
rlm@0
|
497 take her into her arms. "It's all right...don't cry, ChibiUsa-chan," For
|
|
rlm@0
|
498 the pink-haired princess was beginning to cry in earnest. "So that's why
|
|
rlm@0
|
499 you kept coming back here just to see me? It's okay, we're together now.
|
|
rlm@0
|
500 Shh, shh...."
|
|
rlm@0
|
501
|
|
rlm@0
|
502 ChibiUsa snuggled against her and did not say anything else for a while.
|
|
rlm@0
|
503 Hotaru continued to murmur soft reassuring words and stroked her friend's
|
|
rlm@0
|
504 long hair absently. It was perhaps two full minutes before ChibiUsa
|
|
rlm@0
|
505 sighed and raised her head to look at the raven-haired teen right in the
|
|
rlm@0
|
506 face. "You're O.K. now? Hotaru asked in a concerned tone.
|
|
rlm@0
|
507
|
|
rlm@0
|
508 ChibiUsa nodded, still not looking very happy. "Well, but I sure wish you
|
|
rlm@0
|
509 could still remain in Crystal Tokyo and not go anywhere else. Why did
|
|
rlm@0
|
510 they have to send you so far away?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
511
|
|
rlm@0
|
512 "I really don't know. I have no idea what is going on in the future,"
|
|
rlm@0
|
513 Hotaru said, feeling distressed herself, "Could it be they just decided
|
|
rlm@0
|
514 they don't need me now that there are no more powerful enemies in the
|
|
rlm@0
|
515 30th Century to battle with?" She paused for a moment as though thinking
|
|
rlm@0
|
516 and shrugged, "Or maybe it's just that your people can live much longer
|
|
rlm@0
|
517 in that century than we do here - don't they, ChibiUsa-chan? If so, they
|
|
rlm@0
|
518 probably don't want Death hanging because it would be too depressing for
|
|
rlm@0
|
519 them, huh?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
520
|
|
rlm@0
|
521 "Hotaru-chan, I don't think those are good reasons enough to send you
|
|
rlm@0
|
522 away!" ChibiUsa said, shaking her head negatively, "We still do have
|
|
rlm@0
|
523 enemies popping up from time to time, and besides, you are one of the
|
|
rlm@0
|
524 elder Senshi and you are have an important duty in Crystal Tokyo, so why
|
|
rlm@0
|
525 should they..."
|
|
rlm@0
|
526
|
|
rlm@0
|
527 "It just occurred to me," Hotaru said suddenly, looking pensive.
|
|
rlm@0
|
528 "ChibiUsa-chan, could it be they send me away because they are afraid of
|
|
rlm@0
|
529 my powers?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
530
|
|
rlm@0
|
531 "What are you saying!" ChibiUsa was startled. "What made you think they
|
|
rlm@0
|
532 are afraid of you? But you are our dear friend. Why would they be scared
|
|
rlm@0
|
533 of you...?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
534
|
|
rlm@0
|
535 "I think I know why," Hotaru said quietly. She paused and looked at
|
|
rlm@0
|
536 ChibiUsa with a serious look on her face. She took a long breath and
|
|
rlm@0
|
537 asked rather diffidently, "First I'd like to ask you something I have
|
|
rlm@0
|
538 been wondering about for a long time. ChibiUsa-chan, when you first knew
|
|
rlm@0
|
539 I am Sailor Saturn, were you afraid of me?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
540
|
|
rlm@0
|
541 "Me, afraid of you?" ChibiUsa cried in surprise. "Why should I?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
542
|
|
rlm@0
|
543 "Remember, I am a Sailor of Death and Rebirth," Hortaru said more quietly,
|
|
rlm@0
|
544 "You know that if I must, I will not hesitate to kill the enemies which I
|
|
rlm@0
|
545 have done many, many times. And watching them die is not something you
|
|
rlm@0
|
546 should see - it's horrible. And not only that, you are aware that with a
|
|
rlm@0
|
547 single blow of my Glaive I am quite capable of destroying everything on
|
|
rlm@0
|
548 this Earth, and the planet itself too. You know that, don't you?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
549
|
|
rlm@0
|
550 ChibiUsa looked at her and gave a small, uncertain nod but otherwise did
|
|
rlm@0
|
551 not say anything. After a while Hotaru continued. "I'll tell you what.
|
|
rlm@0
|
552 When I go around as Sailor Saturn almost everyone is afraid of me. It may
|
|
rlm@0
|
553 not seem like a big surprise, considering I carry the Glaive anyway.
|
|
rlm@0
|
554 But...the problem is, even if I am not transformed - that is, I go around
|
|
rlm@0
|
555 as Hotaru and not carrying my weapon - both the Inner and the Outer
|
|
rlm@0
|
556 Senshi, including what few friends I have, once they knew who I am, are
|
|
rlm@0
|
557 still uneasy around me. I believe even your mother is a little afraid of
|
|
rlm@0
|
558 me. I know they are, because I could see a hint of fear in their eyes
|
|
rlm@0
|
559 even if they declared their love for me and would stand by me no matter
|
|
rlm@0
|
560 what. They tried to hide it, but I was not fooled. They are just, simply,
|
|
rlm@0
|
561 afraid of me and walk around me on tiptoes, so to speak."
|
|
rlm@0
|
562
|
|
rlm@0
|
563 "Even my mother?" ChibiUsa asked. Her eyes were wide with astonishment.
|
|
rlm@0
|
564 "But it can't be!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
565
|
|
rlm@0
|
566 Hotaru closed her eyes and nodded slowly. "Even Usagi, believe it or not.
|
|
rlm@0
|
567 I think it's because I have the power to bring the destruction and death
|
|
rlm@0
|
568 down at any time and there's no one who can stop me. ChibiUsa-chan, I
|
|
rlm@0
|
569 must tell you, it has been going like this for so long I just can't take
|
|
rlm@0
|
570 it any more. I hate it, the way everyone was just...you know, kind of
|
|
rlm@0
|
571 skittish around me. I just want to be treated like a normal person, a
|
|
rlm@0
|
572 friend and not a sort of cold, ruthless Grim Reaper they seemed to think
|
|
rlm@0
|
573 I am!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
574
|
|
rlm@0
|
575 "But Hotaru-chan..."
|
|
rlm@0
|
576
|
|
rlm@0
|
577 Now Hotaru opened her eyes her eyes and but did not quite meet her
|
|
rlm@0
|
578 friend's eyes. "Chibiusa-chan, shouldn't you be afraid of me? You have
|
|
rlm@0
|
579 seen my Glaive and know my powers and what I am capable of," She said
|
|
rlm@0
|
580 softly, "Are you?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
581
|
|
rlm@0
|
582 "No, Hotaru-chan. I have never been afraid of you. No, not at all!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
583
|
|
rlm@0
|
584 Hotaru gasped and looked at the pink-haired princess full in the face.
|
|
rlm@0
|
585 ChibiUsa looked steadily back at her with her wide, cinnamon-red eyes
|
|
rlm@0
|
586 filled with...love, compassion and total trust. There was absolutely no
|
|
rlm@0
|
587 fear in them at all. "Hotaru-chan, like I said, I love you. I've known
|
|
rlm@0
|
588 you for a long time and yet I love you more than anything.
|
|
rlm@0
|
589 Nothing...especially what you just said...can change it. You have to
|
|
rlm@0
|
590 believe that!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
591
|
|
rlm@0
|
592 Hotaru was vastly relieved to hear that. "ChibiUsa-chan," she whispered,
|
|
rlm@0
|
593 "Is it any wonder why I love you so much? Of all people I've known, you
|
|
rlm@0
|
594 are the only one who do not fear me!" She became aware of ChibiUsa's hand
|
|
rlm@0
|
595 was stroking her face, wiping away tears that Hotaru didn't know were
|
|
rlm@0
|
596 steaming down her own cheeks.
|
|
rlm@0
|
597
|
|
rlm@0
|
598 "Hotaru-chan, I don't care what they think or say about you, I see you
|
|
rlm@0
|
599 only as a warm, kind-hearted person who is fun to be with," ChibiUsa
|
|
rlm@0
|
600 continued, "And more than just a best friend, too. You are someone I feel
|
|
rlm@0
|
601 comfortable enough to share with you my innermost feelings and secrets
|
|
rlm@0
|
602 nobody else knows. And what's more, I know you will always be there for
|
|
rlm@0
|
603 me as I will for you too." She smiled up at Hotaru. "To tell you the
|
|
rlm@0
|
604 truth, I feel much more safe and secure whenever I'm with you, because
|
|
rlm@0
|
605 you protect me and would not let anything happen to me. Won't you?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
606
|
|
rlm@0
|
607 Impulsively Hotaru grabbed ChibiUsa's hand and kissed it. "Of course, I
|
|
rlm@0
|
608 will always be there for you, ChibiUsa-chan! And I will always protect
|
|
rlm@0
|
609 you because as Sailor Saturn I'm sworn to protect you anyway. Not only
|
|
rlm@0
|
610 because you are a princess, but you are very important to me. Much more
|
|
rlm@0
|
611 than you realize!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
612
|
|
rlm@0
|
613 The pink-haired teen's face grew more serious. "I guess that is why they
|
|
rlm@0
|
614 sent you away just because they are still afraid of you, even in the 30th
|
|
rlm@0
|
615 Century? I can't believe it!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
616
|
|
rlm@0
|
617 "Either that or the other way," Hotaru said with a slow shrug. "Right now
|
|
rlm@0
|
618 it's way far into the future, so I guess we will never really know, eh?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
619
|
|
rlm@0
|
620 ChibiUsa shook her head with disapproval. "Well, I will not tolerate
|
|
rlm@0
|
621 that! When I have a chance I'll find out why and then I'll see to that
|
|
rlm@0
|
622 it get changed so you will always remain in Crystal Tokyo with me, no
|
|
rlm@0
|
623 matter what! I swear on it!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
624
|
|
rlm@0
|
625 Hotaru smiled. "Good. I want to be near you, too. I wouldn't want to be
|
|
rlm@0
|
626 separated from you either," The raven-haired girl said. Absently, she
|
|
rlm@0
|
627 reached up and brushed the pink strands of hair from ChibiUsa's face. A
|
|
rlm@0
|
628 snowflake floated down and melted against the princess' forehead. "Oh,
|
|
rlm@0
|
629 it's starting to snow," Hotaru looked up, and realized not only it was
|
|
rlm@0
|
630 snowing, the wind was becoming quite chilly and gusty. "Come on, we
|
|
rlm@0
|
631 better hurry home," she said, grabbing a heavy shopping bag.
|
|
rlm@0
|
632
|
|
rlm@0
|
633 Without another word the girls both strode at a brisk pace, shoulder to
|
|
rlm@0
|
634 shoulder, hand in hand, shivering with their heads bent against the
|
|
rlm@0
|
635 heightening blizzard. They met fewer and few pedestrians, until they
|
|
rlm@0
|
636 could see no other person traveling down the strangely silent side of the
|
|
rlm@0
|
637 street with only an occasional car rumbling by. Curious as why she did
|
|
rlm@0
|
638 not see any more store windows festooned brightly with Christmas
|
|
rlm@0
|
639 decorations like they should be, ChibiUsa looked up and after a while she
|
|
rlm@0
|
640 whispered, "I don't think I've been here before."
|
|
rlm@0
|
641
|
|
rlm@0
|
642 "Hmmm?" Hotaru raised her head and looked carefully around. Thanks to the
|
|
rlm@0
|
643 heavily blowing snow, it seemed they had somehow lost their way and
|
|
rlm@0
|
644 stumbled into an unfamiliar area of the city. Puzzled, She peered through
|
|
rlm@0
|
645 the snow swirling crazily in the streetlight at the signpost and took
|
|
rlm@0
|
646 note of the name of the street. She did not recognize it. "I guess we
|
|
rlm@0
|
647 must have took a wrong turn." Hotaru said.
|
|
rlm@0
|
648
|
|
rlm@0
|
649 "We seem to be in a bad neighborhood," ChibiUsa observed, eying with
|
|
rlm@0
|
650 distaste the crude graffiti on the weathered brick wall.
|
|
rlm@0
|
651
|
|
rlm@0
|
652 "Really," Hotaru said, sounding slightly perturbed at their predicament.
|
|
rlm@0
|
653 "I guess we just need to turn around and find our way back there." She
|
|
rlm@0
|
654 paused and she cast a concerned look at her friend and noticed that
|
|
rlm@0
|
655 ChibiUsa's face was red from cold and exposure, and that the young
|
|
rlm@0
|
656 princess covered on one side with snow. "You okay, ChibiUsa-chan?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
657
|
|
rlm@0
|
658 "Just cold, that's all," ChibiUsa griped, shivering. Even her teeth were
|
|
rlm@0
|
659 chattering a little. "I don't suppose you know a shortcut to your house
|
|
rlm@0
|
660 from around here, Hotaru-chan?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
661
|
|
rlm@0
|
662 "I don't think so," Hotaru sighed. "Don't worry, we'll be home before
|
|
rlm@0
|
663 long. Just stay close to me, okay?" The girls turned around and began to
|
|
rlm@0
|
664 trudge back up from where they had come from.
|
|
rlm@0
|
665
|
|
rlm@0
|
666 "Hey, kawaii girls," A new voice hailed them.
|
|
rlm@0
|
667
|
|
rlm@0
|
668 Both girls stopped and twirled around, startled.
|
|
rlm@0
|
669
|
|
rlm@0
|
670 "What are you nice girls doing here? If you two are lost, maybe we could
|
|
rlm@0
|
671 help you out," A slender, older girl - probably in late teens - stepped
|
|
rlm@0
|
672 out of the shadows and into the glare of the lamppost and stood in the
|
|
rlm@0
|
673 front of them, regarding them with some interest. She was a good head
|
|
rlm@0
|
674 taller than them, and under the streetlight her long windblown hair was
|
|
rlm@0
|
675 bleached white and she was wearing long, dark heavy leather coat. She
|
|
rlm@0
|
676 grinned down at them, but the look she gave them wasn't exactly
|
|
rlm@0
|
677 benevolent.
|
|
rlm@0
|
678
|
|
rlm@0
|
679 We? Hotaru frowned, suddenly wary. She looked around quickly to see if
|
|
rlm@0
|
680 there were anyone else with the strange girl, but there were no one she
|
|
rlm@0
|
681 could see beyond the scope of the lamppost. All the same, Hotaru moved
|
|
rlm@0
|
682 closer to her friend in order to protect her and replied in an even voice,
|
|
rlm@0
|
683 "No, thanks. I'm sure we can find our way home."
|
|
rlm@0
|
684
|
|
rlm@0
|
685 "Oh?" The girl cocked her head, the grin hardly leaving her face. "But
|
|
rlm@0
|
686 it's freezing out here! We are heading over to our place and maybe you
|
|
rlm@0
|
687 both should come in with us to get warmed up," She jerked her thumb back
|
|
rlm@0
|
688 at a squat brick building that appeared to be somewhat dilapidated. Two
|
|
rlm@0
|
689 upper curtained windows were lit with sickly yellow light, and Hotaru
|
|
rlm@0
|
690 could see silhouetted figures moving forth and back ominously behind them.
|
|
rlm@0
|
691 The stranger continued; "There you can have something to eat and drink,
|
|
rlm@0
|
692 too if you have not yet eaten."
|
|
rlm@0
|
693
|
|
rlm@0
|
694 "Thanks for the offer, that is very nice of you," Hotaru said quietly,
|
|
rlm@0
|
695 "But I'm afraid we have to pass it up. It's getting late anyway and we
|
|
rlm@0
|
696 need to go home." She whispered to her friend, "Let's go, ChibiUsa-
|
|
rlm@0
|
697 chan."
|
|
rlm@0
|
698
|
|
rlm@0
|
699 The pink-haired girl threw a longing glance at the building; apparently
|
|
rlm@0
|
700 she was hungry too as well as cold, and would gladly go in there to thaw
|
|
rlm@0
|
701 out if possible. But after a moment's hesitation Chibiusa sighed and
|
|
rlm@0
|
702 conceded, "All right, Hotaru-chan, we better go home then." Both the
|
|
rlm@0
|
703 girls turned to walk away.
|
|
rlm@0
|
704
|
|
rlm@0
|
705 "You are not going anywhere!" A new, stern voice called out. Another
|
|
rlm@0
|
706 girl, even taller than the first, stepped into sight out of nowhere
|
|
rlm@0
|
707 blocking their path. She too has bleached hair and wore the similar dark
|
|
rlm@0
|
708 attire and has a very unfriendly expression on her face. Narrowing her
|
|
rlm@0
|
709 eyes, she said flatly; "Don't you know it's extremely rude to turn down a
|
|
rlm@0
|
710 generous offer like that?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
711
|
|
rlm@0
|
712 Both Hotaru and ChibiUsa abruptly halted, and the raven-haired girl threw
|
|
rlm@0
|
713 her arm around the princess and pulled her close protectively. "What do
|
|
rlm@0
|
714 you want?" Hotaru demanded.
|
|
rlm@0
|
715
|
|
rlm@0
|
716 "You," the second tall girl said simply.
|
|
rlm@0
|
717
|
|
rlm@0
|
718 "That's right, we're always looking for new friends!" Yet another voices
|
|
rlm@0
|
719 chorused and two more girls, twins to be exact, soon appeared on both
|
|
rlm@0
|
720 sides of the disagreeable second girl. In contrast their faces were
|
|
rlm@0
|
721 cheerful and smiling, but their expressions belied a dangerous glint in
|
|
rlm@0
|
722 their eyes. Like the other girls who had accosted Hotaru and ChibiUsa
|
|
rlm@0
|
723 the somewhat young twins have pale hair and wore the same kind of leather
|
|
rlm@0
|
724 coats.
|
|
rlm@0
|
725
|
|
rlm@0
|
726 The four strangers spread out, and in the next few moments the young
|
|
rlm@0
|
727 Senshi and the princess found themselves surrounded with no other way out.
|
|
rlm@0
|
728 Something was terribly wrong. Hotaru felt ChibiUsa gripped her arm
|
|
rlm@0
|
729 tightly. "Who are you?" The pink-haired girl challenged angrily, "What
|
|
rlm@0
|
730 are you going to do with us?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
731
|
|
rlm@0
|
732 "Well, well. Such a gutsy girl," One of the girls smirked.
|
|
rlm@0
|
733
|
|
rlm@0
|
734 "ChibiUsa," Hotaru whispered to her in a warning tone.
|
|
rlm@0
|
735
|
|
rlm@0
|
736 The tall girl, obviously a leader who had spoken to them in the first
|
|
rlm@0
|
737 place now addressed them again, "Well, we might as well introduce
|
|
rlm@0
|
738 ourselves. I am Hoshi," She bowed slightly. "And this is Kumiko," She
|
|
rlm@0
|
739 nodded toward the tall hard-faced girl. "And those are Shina and Yoko,"
|
|
rlm@0
|
740 She finished, looking in direction at the young twins with deceptively
|
|
rlm@0
|
741 pleasant faces. Then she turned her attention toward Hotaru and ChibiUsa.
|
|
rlm@0
|
742 Her eyes hardened. "Now that you have met us, I'll let you know one
|
|
rlm@0
|
743 thing. We are the White Wolves, and you happened to be trespassing our
|
|
rlm@0
|
744 territory."
|
|
rlm@0
|
745
|
|
rlm@0
|
746 Hotaru tensed, and heard ChibiUsa gasped sharply.
|
|
rlm@0
|
747
|
|
rlm@0
|
748 Obviously anticipating this type of reaction, Hoshi smiled. "However,
|
|
rlm@0
|
749 since this is Christmas season," She said in a more genial voice, "And
|
|
rlm@0
|
750 for such kawaii girls like you should not be wandering around out in this
|
|
rlm@0
|
751 bad weather, we'll be generous. Therefore, you could have taken up my
|
|
rlm@0
|
752 offer to come in with us and get acquainted with us guys. There's so much
|
|
rlm@0
|
753 we can learn from each other."
|
|
rlm@0
|
754
|
|
rlm@0
|
755 Hotaru and ChibiUsa looked at each other for a second. Then the raven-
|
|
rlm@0
|
756 haired girl shook head firmly. "No, thanks."
|
|
rlm@0
|
757
|
|
rlm@0
|
758 The leader sighed. "If you decline our offer and would rather leave here
|
|
rlm@0
|
759 anyway...well, there is a price for trespassing our turf. So you have two
|
|
rlm@0
|
760 choices. Hand over your money and bags you are carrying, and we'll let
|
|
rlm@0
|
761 you leave without any hassle."
|
|
rlm@0
|
762
|
|
rlm@0
|
763 Hotaru's heart began to beat rapidly. Before she could say anything
|
|
rlm@0
|
764 ChibiUsa demanded, "And what's the second choice?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
765
|
|
rlm@0
|
766 The leader's smile thinned and eyes narrowed dangerously. "If you try to
|
|
rlm@0
|
767 leave without paying the price, well, you'll have to find it out the hard
|
|
rlm@0
|
768 way."
|
|
rlm@0
|
769
|
|
rlm@0
|
770 Hotaru did not like the sound of it at all. She whispered to her pink-
|
|
rlm@0
|
771 haired friend, "I think we better hand over our bags, ChibiUsa-chan, and
|
|
rlm@0
|
772 then they'll let us go."
|
|
rlm@0
|
773
|
|
rlm@0
|
774 "Nani?" ChibiUsa stared at her incredulously. "But you bought all those
|
|
rlm@0
|
775 presents with your money for Haruka and Michiru...and it's not right for
|
|
rlm@0
|
776 them to take the presents away from you!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
777
|
|
rlm@0
|
778 "Never mind, it's better than standing around to find what the second
|
|
rlm@0
|
779 choice is all about," Hotaru whispered back. As ChibiUsa scowled angrily
|
|
rlm@0
|
780 and muttered something acidic under breath, Hotaru turned to the leader.
|
|
rlm@0
|
781 "We'll give up our bags and money. You're sure if we do, we'll leave
|
|
rlm@0
|
782 without any trouble, correct?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
783
|
|
rlm@0
|
784 Hoshi grinned suddenly. Her dark eyes glistened with greed as she nodded.
|
|
rlm@0
|
785 "Excellent choice. We will certainly let you go after we have your
|
|
rlm@0
|
786 stuff."
|
|
rlm@0
|
787
|
|
rlm@0
|
788 "Okay, here you are," Hotaru said with quiet resignation, and held out
|
|
rlm@0
|
789 the bag. Just as the tall leader reached forward to take it, ChibiUsa
|
|
rlm@0
|
790 suddenly yanked Hotaru back.
|
|
rlm@0
|
791
|
|
rlm@0
|
792 "No!" ChibiUsa said vehemently, shooting the gang leader an angry look,
|
|
rlm@0
|
793 "They have no right to do that to us!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
794
|
|
rlm@0
|
795 "ChibiUsa!" Hotaru said sharply. "We don't want any trouble with them.
|
|
rlm@0
|
796 Just let them take what they want, and then we'll be let go. It's not
|
|
rlm@0
|
797 worth making a big fuss about it!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
798
|
|
rlm@0
|
799 ChibiUsa shook her head stubbornly, still balking. "It's just not
|
|
rlm@0
|
800 right!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
801
|
|
rlm@0
|
802 "Ah, so you're resisting, eh?" The hard-faced second girl named Kumiko
|
|
rlm@0
|
803 said. She rubbed her knuckles ominously. "What are we going to do about
|
|
rlm@0
|
804 you two?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
805
|
|
rlm@0
|
806 "You're not taking anything from us!" ChibiUsa shouted.
|
|
rlm@0
|
807
|
|
rlm@0
|
808 The leader glanced over Hotaru and ChibiUsa's heads at Kumiko and nodded.
|
|
rlm@0
|
809 As though on cue, the hard-faced girl standing behind Chibisusa stepped
|
|
rlm@0
|
810 forward with slow, purposeful and menacing movements.
|
|
rlm@0
|
811
|
|
rlm@0
|
812 Without warning, ChibiUsa's elbow flew out and caught Kumiko in the
|
|
rlm@0
|
813 stomach. As she doubled over, gasping, the petite pink-haired princess
|
|
rlm@0
|
814 grabbed her around the head and flipped her right over her shoulder.
|
|
rlm@0
|
815 Kumiko went down with a thud and lay there in the snow, groaning. The
|
|
rlm@0
|
816 other bleach-haired girls froze where they stood, staring in stunned
|
|
rlm@0
|
817 disbelief.
|
|
rlm@0
|
818
|
|
rlm@0
|
819 "ChibiUsa!" Hotaru gasped. "What do you think you are doing?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
820
|
|
rlm@0
|
821 "Come on! We're getting out of here!" ChibiUsa said. She grabbed
|
|
rlm@0
|
822 Hotaru's hand and dragged her across the space that was formerly occupied
|
|
rlm@0
|
823 by Kumiko and into the alley, taking the bags with them.
|
|
rlm@0
|
824
|
|
rlm@0
|
825 "They're getting away!" The leader of the gang screamed as Kumiko jumped
|
|
rlm@0
|
826 to her feet. She sounded absolutely livid; "They will pay for it! Go
|
|
rlm@0
|
827 after them!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
828
|
|
rlm@0
|
829 "Oh, Kami-sama," Hotaru said, looking at her friend in consternation.
|
|
rlm@0
|
830 They could hear the angry words echoing off the walls and a set of
|
|
rlm@0
|
831 footfalls slapping furiously upon the snow-covered ground behind them,
|
|
rlm@0
|
832 growing closer and closer each moment. The raven-haired girl yelled; "Run
|
|
rlm@0
|
833 as fast as you can!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
834
|
|
rlm@0
|
835 And so the senshi and the princess sprinted hand in hand down the semi-
|
|
rlm@0
|
836 dark alley for dear lives, turning this way and that way at every corner
|
|
rlm@0
|
837 in hopes to shake their pursuers off. But when they made fourth such
|
|
rlm@0
|
838 detour they immediately realized their mistake; they had ran into a dead
|
|
rlm@0
|
839 end. And they could not backpedal out of their predicament, for almost
|
|
rlm@0
|
840 immediately the angry girls with bleached hairs burst into view, blocking
|
|
rlm@0
|
841 their only way of escape.
|
|
rlm@0
|
842
|
|
rlm@0
|
843 Before Hotaru would react, she was tackled from behind with such a force
|
|
rlm@0
|
844 that she was slammed against the brick wall. As she groaned painfully she
|
|
rlm@0
|
845 heard a falsely cheerful voice said with a tone of ironic playfulness in
|
|
rlm@0
|
846 it, "Tsk, tsk. You think you can dodge us, aren't you?" Hotaru was not
|
|
rlm@0
|
847 sure if it was either Shina or Yoko. But as she tried to struggle she
|
|
rlm@0
|
848 saw Kimuko striding right by and caught a fleeting glimpse of what looked
|
|
rlm@0
|
849 like a bowie knife flashing in dim light. Icy fear seized her heart. It
|
|
rlm@0
|
850 was not out of a concern for her own safety, however, but for ChibiUsa.
|
|
rlm@0
|
851 [Dear Kami-sama, don't let them hurt my friend!]
|
|
rlm@0
|
852
|
|
rlm@0
|
853 "Know what I'm gonna do?" The same voice laughed nastily, and Hotaru
|
|
rlm@0
|
854 felt her arm twisted savagely behind her. She could not cry out loud, she
|
|
rlm@0
|
855 was paralyzed with pain. "We're gonna break every bone of yours and kill
|
|
rlm@0
|
856 you!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
857
|
|
rlm@0
|
858 The next few moments seemed like an eternity, as Hotaru was struck
|
|
rlm@0
|
859 brutally several times - with what, she wasn't able to tell. Hotaru was
|
|
rlm@0
|
860 dimly aware of a furious scuffle not too far off. [ChibiUsa...oh, no!]
|
|
rlm@0
|
861 But there was nothing she could do at that time. Then, with a final
|
|
rlm@0
|
862 savage blow to her head that sent her reeling, she was flung to the
|
|
rlm@0
|
863 ground among the overturned trashcans.
|
|
rlm@0
|
864
|
|
rlm@0
|
865 "Next time we see you it'll be much worse than that. You should be lucky
|
|
rlm@0
|
866 we let you live for now." It was Hoshi's voice now. "Have a Merry
|
|
rlm@0
|
867 Christmas!" With those mocking parting words, the gang stomped away.
|
|
rlm@0
|
868 Then there was silence.
|
|
rlm@0
|
869
|
|
rlm@0
|
870 Hotaru lay panting there in semi-darkness, shivering, waiting for the
|
|
rlm@0
|
871 pain to dwindle to a tolerable level before she could dare to raise her
|
|
rlm@0
|
872 head. She was somewhat relieved she suffered no broken bones. "ChibiUsa?
|
|
rlm@0
|
873 Are you there?" She called tentatively. When she did not hear the
|
|
rlm@0
|
874 immediate response she became panicky. "ChibiUsa! Answer me!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
875
|
|
rlm@0
|
876 At last a weak reply came. "Hotaru...!" In semi-darkness Hotaru could
|
|
rlm@0
|
877 see a form of ChibiUsa floundering around in the snow not far from her.
|
|
rlm@0
|
878 Hotaru, frightened and concerned for her friend, tried frantically to
|
|
rlm@0
|
879 reach where the pink-haired girl was. ChibiUsa must have seen her, for
|
|
rlm@0
|
880 she shuffled over to her right away on knees and hands and an arm slipped
|
|
rlm@0
|
881 gently around the raven-haired girl, supporting her. "Hotaru! Are you
|
|
rlm@0
|
882 all right?" ChibiUsa said in a much stronger voice now. She also sounded
|
|
rlm@0
|
883 strangely restrained as thought she was trying to hide pain from her
|
|
rlm@0
|
884 voice.
|
|
rlm@0
|
885
|
|
rlm@0
|
886 Hotaru staggered into her friend's arms with relief. [Thank Kami-sama!]
|
|
rlm@0
|
887 She was so scared that they might beat ChibiUsa senseless...or worse. She
|
|
rlm@0
|
888 looked up through blowing snow flurries into ChibiUsa's face, trying to
|
|
rlm@0
|
889 gauge just how bad the princess looked. It was hard to tell, as
|
|
rlm@0
|
890 ChibiUsa's face was in shadow with tendrils of pink hair whipping around
|
|
rlm@0
|
891 in the wind, partly concealing it.
|
|
rlm@0
|
892
|
|
rlm@0
|
893 "I...I think so," Hotaru said in a halting voice as she allowed ChibiUsa
|
|
rlm@0
|
894 to pull her to a sitting position. Instinctively she massaged the aching
|
|
rlm@0
|
895 arm. "Ouch. That's a wonder they didn't pull my arm out of the socket!
|
|
rlm@0
|
896 ChibiUsa-chan, please tell me - how badly are you injured in any way?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
897
|
|
rlm@0
|
898 ChibiUsa did not answer the question. Instead, she became upset; "Kami-
|
|
rlm@0
|
899 sama, you're hurt!" the pink-haired girl exclaimed, stricken. "They did
|
|
rlm@0
|
900 this to you and got away with it!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
901
|
|
rlm@0
|
902 "Forget it," Hotaru said wearily. "Let them go."
|
|
rlm@0
|
903
|
|
rlm@0
|
904 "But, they took the gifts you bought for Haruka and Michiru and beat you
|
|
rlm@0
|
905 up...!" ChibiUsa was becoming angry again. "I won't forgive them. I'm
|
|
rlm@0
|
906 not going to let them get away with it!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
907
|
|
rlm@0
|
908 "I said forget it. It's not worth going after them," Hotaru said.
|
|
rlm@0
|
909
|
|
rlm@0
|
910 "There's no way I can let them get away with it!" ChibiUsa repeated.
|
|
rlm@0
|
911 She hugged Hotaru fiercely for a second or two, then released and
|
|
rlm@0
|
912 scrambled to her feet. "I'm going after them!" And then she took off down
|
|
rlm@0
|
913 the alley after the retreating members of the White Wolves gang.
|
|
rlm@0
|
914
|
|
rlm@0
|
915 "ChibiUsa! Come back!" Hotaru shouted. [Can't she see they're armed and
|
|
rlm@0
|
916 extremely dangerous?] Ignoring her pains, she got to her feet and took
|
|
rlm@0
|
917 off after her friend at a frantic speed. "ChibiUsa! ChibiUsa!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
918
|
|
rlm@0
|
919 The pink-haired princess, however, had already vanished around the corner.
|
|
rlm@0
|
920 [I can't believe it, ChibiUsa is just as rash as her mother Usagi was!]
|
|
rlm@0
|
921 The thought of ChibiUsa trying to take on the White Wolves gang by
|
|
rlm@0
|
922 herself and getting sliced up and down horrified Hotaru, and her feet
|
|
rlm@0
|
923 picked up an ever faster pace. Already a violent melee could be heard
|
|
rlm@0
|
924 breaking out not too far off. Her heart sank. [If anything happen to
|
|
rlm@0
|
925 ChibiUsa, I might not even be able to put her together!] She ran around
|
|
rlm@0
|
926 the corner just in time to hear ChibiUsa cry out loud.
|
|
rlm@0
|
927
|
|
rlm@0
|
928 "SATURN PLANET!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
929
|
|
rlm@0
|
930 As she drew nearer to the open area she caught sight of the White Wolves
|
|
rlm@0
|
931 gang standing around in a circle, viciously hitting and kicking at the
|
|
rlm@0
|
932 huddled form in the snow. Oh, gods.
|
|
rlm@0
|
933
|
|
rlm@0
|
934 "POWER!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
935
|
|
rlm@0
|
936 [ChibiUsa-chan, hold on! I'm coming! ]
|
|
rlm@0
|
937
|
|
rlm@0
|
938 "MAKE UP!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
939
|
|
rlm@0
|
940 A purplish light flashed momentarily around her and her heavy civilian
|
|
rlm@0
|
941 attire for the winter dissolved, to be replaced by a purple and white
|
|
rlm@0
|
942 sailor uniform. "GLAIVE, COME FORWARD!" She raised her arm, and the
|
|
rlm@0
|
943 deadly Silent Glaive materialized from far above and came spinning into
|
|
rlm@0
|
944 her outstretched gloved hand. Thus armed, Sailor Saturn bounded over to
|
|
rlm@0
|
945 the top of the big dumpster and pointed the Glaive toward the gang.
|
|
rlm@0
|
946 "STOP IT AT ONCE!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
947
|
|
rlm@0
|
948 The White Wolves gang twirled around.
|
|
rlm@0
|
949
|
|
rlm@0
|
950 The light from a nearby lamppost was dim but the Saturn saw enough to
|
|
rlm@0
|
951 make her heart stop. ChibiUsa was lying quite still. There appeared to
|
|
rlm@0
|
952 be some dark stains in the snow near her body. Saturn felt sick inside.
|
|
rlm@0
|
953 She lifted her eyes to glare at the older girls. "Beating up and robbing
|
|
rlm@0
|
954 a young lady during a Christmas season - this I cannot tolerate, nor can
|
|
rlm@0
|
955 I forgive!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
956
|
|
rlm@0
|
957 Hoshi appeared to recover quickly from her stupefaction at the sight of a
|
|
rlm@0
|
958 formidable figure on the dumpster in front of her, and became belligerent.
|
|
rlm@0
|
959 "Who are you?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
960
|
|
rlm@0
|
961 "I am Sailor Saturn," The Senshi intoned flatly, her Glaive that
|
|
rlm@0
|
962 reflecting cold light every time she moved it, "Agent of Death and
|
|
rlm@0
|
963 Rebirth."
|
|
rlm@0
|
964
|
|
rlm@0
|
965 "Hoshi! I've heard of her!" One of the twins shrieked, her eyes bulging.
|
|
rlm@0
|
966 "She's one of the senshi, and the most deadly of them all!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
967
|
|
rlm@0
|
968 Hoshi, unnerved, stepped back a pace and eyed Sailor Saturn warily. "What
|
|
rlm@0
|
969 do you want with us?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
970
|
|
rlm@0
|
971 "It would be better if you all leave right now!" With that Saturn leaped
|
|
rlm@0
|
972 down from the dumpster and, despite the freezing, blowing snow, she
|
|
rlm@0
|
973 struck a threatening posture with her Glaive thrust outward.
|
|
rlm@0
|
974
|
|
rlm@0
|
975 The gang gasped and scurried back a few paces.
|
|
rlm@0
|
976
|
|
rlm@0
|
977 "I said, leave NOW!" Saturn shouted, and advanced on them.
|
|
rlm@0
|
978
|
|
rlm@0
|
979 The twins - no longer so cheerful looking now - lost their nerve
|
|
rlm@0
|
980 completely and fled screaming into the dark without a backward glance.
|
|
rlm@0
|
981 Hoshi and Kumiko took several nervous paces back but did not flee. "We
|
|
rlm@0
|
982 don't do anything to you!" The leader yelled. "You're not gotta butcher
|
|
rlm@0
|
983 us for no reason, are you?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
984
|
|
rlm@0
|
985 Saturn stopped advancing, but said nothing.
|
|
rlm@0
|
986
|
|
rlm@0
|
987 "Maybe she's bluffing," Kumiko said to Hoshi.
|
|
rlm@0
|
988
|
|
rlm@0
|
989 "I'm warning you..." Saturn growled softly. Keeping her eyes on the two
|
|
rlm@0
|
990 remaining older girls, she moved sideways until she reached the still
|
|
rlm@0
|
991 form in the snow and crouched down. Her gloved hand slipped down to touch
|
|
rlm@0
|
992 the pink-haired girl's face.
|
|
rlm@0
|
993
|
|
rlm@0
|
994 The gesture was not lost on the tall girl. "Ah, so it must be your lover,
|
|
rlm@0
|
995 ne?" Kumbio said. Somehow, in spite of the grim situation she actually
|
|
rlm@0
|
996 smirked; "I think you came too late to save her. She's gone."
|
|
rlm@0
|
997
|
|
rlm@0
|
998 Saturn's face stiffened. Hardly taking her eyes off the older girls, she
|
|
rlm@0
|
999 shook her friend's shoulder with her hand. "ChibiUsa," the Senshi
|
|
rlm@0
|
1000 whispered urgently, "Come on, wake up."
|
|
rlm@0
|
1001
|
|
rlm@0
|
1002 ChibiUsa did not answer. Saturn grew desperate. "ChibiUsa!" She said,
|
|
rlm@0
|
1003 turning her attention away from the older girls to look down at her
|
|
rlm@0
|
1004 friend. "ChibiUsa...can you hear me?!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
1005
|
|
rlm@0
|
1006 The princess opened her eyes. "I'm cold..." She mumbled. She turned her
|
|
rlm@0
|
1007 head to look at Saturn and grimaced. She was not hiding pain from her
|
|
rlm@0
|
1008 voice this time; "And I hurt."
|
|
rlm@0
|
1009
|
|
rlm@0
|
1010 "Oh, ChibiUsa-chan!" Saturn said, deeply distressed. She wrapped her one
|
|
rlm@0
|
1011 arm around her friend and pulled her carefully to a sitting position. The
|
|
rlm@0
|
1012 young teen shuddered, and rested her head wearily against Saturn's chest,
|
|
rlm@0
|
1013 shivering violently.
|
|
rlm@0
|
1014
|
|
rlm@0
|
1015 "HAIIIIIII!" Kumkio whipped her knife out and rushed toward her with
|
|
rlm@0
|
1016 wild, insane look in her eyes. Saturn reacted quickly; with a lightning
|
|
rlm@0
|
1017 speed she jumped up and swung her Glaive around, slamming the blunt end
|
|
rlm@0
|
1018 against the side of Kumbio's head. Without a word the tall girl dropped
|
|
rlm@0
|
1019 down with a crash and lay there in a heap.
|
|
rlm@0
|
1020
|
|
rlm@0
|
1021 "Oh, my god. You killed Kumkio, didn't you!" Hoshi gasped.
|
|
rlm@0
|
1022
|
|
rlm@0
|
1023 "I think not," Saturn said, giving the leader a cold stare, "She's lucky
|
|
rlm@0
|
1024 if all she'll get is a severe headache when she wakes up. It should teach
|
|
rlm@0
|
1025 her not to mess with the Senshi of Death!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
1026
|
|
rlm@0
|
1027 "Yeah, serve her right!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
1028
|
|
rlm@0
|
1029 Saturn nearly lost her composure. She glanced sharply downward and saw
|
|
rlm@0
|
1030 that ChibiUsa had raised her head and was glaring defiantly at Hoshi. The
|
|
rlm@0
|
1031 pink-haired girl struggled unsteadily to her feet and hands and then said
|
|
rlm@0
|
1032 stoutly; "Sailor Saturn will see to that you and your friends will be
|
|
rlm@0
|
1033 punished in the name of Moon, for we will not tolerate your such actions,
|
|
rlm@0
|
1034 threatening and robbing citizens during Christmas season!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
1035
|
|
rlm@0
|
1036 Hoshi stared at the pink-haired teen, astonished and impressed at the
|
|
rlm@0
|
1037 same time. "You are really one gutsy girl. I saw Kumkio struck her knife
|
|
rlm@0
|
1038 deep in you, and you still come up fighting!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
1039
|
|
rlm@0
|
1040 "ChibiUsa-chan...?" Saturn said in disbelief. The princess gasped,
|
|
rlm@0
|
1041 shuddered and collapsed with a strangled cry. Frightened, the senshi fell
|
|
rlm@0
|
1042 to her knees and put her arm around the wounded girl again.
|
|
rlm@0
|
1043 "ChibiUsa...!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
1044
|
|
rlm@0
|
1045 The princess coughed briefly, then moaned in pain. "It hurts. It
|
|
rlm@0
|
1046 hurts..."
|
|
rlm@0
|
1047
|
|
rlm@0
|
1048 Hoshi snickered nastily. "Well, well. Then again I guess she's not so
|
|
rlm@0
|
1049 tough after all."
|
|
rlm@0
|
1050
|
|
rlm@0
|
1051 Saturn's head whipped around. "Get out of here! Take your friends and get
|
|
rlm@0
|
1052 out of the city and don't come back!" She said in a cold fury and aimed
|
|
rlm@0
|
1053 her lethal weapon toward the gang leader, "Or so help me, if I catch one
|
|
rlm@0
|
1054 of you White Wolves lurking around I will strike every one of you down
|
|
rlm@0
|
1055 with my Glaive - without a moment's hesitation!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
1056
|
|
rlm@0
|
1057 Taken back at the tone of the senshi's voice, Hoshi looked genuinely
|
|
rlm@0
|
1058 frightened at last. Her eyes widened, and she turned as pale as her hair.
|
|
rlm@0
|
1059 Hastily she reached down and dragged the still unconscious Kumkio away.
|
|
rlm@0
|
1060
|
|
rlm@0
|
1061 As soon as they were gone Saturn turned her attention back to the
|
|
rlm@0
|
1062 pink=haired teen. "Hold on, ChibiUsa-chan!" Saturn put down the Glaive,
|
|
rlm@0
|
1063 quickly stripped one glove off and, still holding her injured friend in
|
|
rlm@0
|
1064 one arm, she put a bare hand under ChibiUsa's sweater. Almost immediately
|
|
rlm@0
|
1065 her hand found the wound just under ChibiUsa's right breast, and what a
|
|
rlm@0
|
1066 terrible wound it was. Saturn could feel the blood bubbling from the
|
|
rlm@0
|
1067 nasty slash where the knife had penetrated the lung. She became extremely
|
|
rlm@0
|
1068 upset. Sobbing, the Senshi pressed the hand firmly against the wound and
|
|
rlm@0
|
1069 poured all her energy to Heal it.
|
|
rlm@0
|
1070
|
|
rlm@0
|
1071 ChibiUsa gasped from the pressure placed on the wound but otherwise made
|
|
rlm@0
|
1072 no other word. "You're not going anywhere, you hear me?" Saturn said
|
|
rlm@0
|
1073 through tears, "ChibiUsa-chan, you just have to hold on and don't you
|
|
rlm@0
|
1074 dare leave me - not now, please, not now!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
1075
|
|
rlm@0
|
1076 Slowly the wound stopped bleeding and began to close up. Even so, Saturn
|
|
rlm@0
|
1077 refused to take her hand off after it has completely healed. The princess
|
|
rlm@0
|
1078 lay still in her arms, so quiet and so pale. The senshi cradled her
|
|
rlm@0
|
1079 friend's head under her chin and rocked her forth and back.
|
|
rlm@0
|
1080 "ChibiUsa...ChibiUsa-chan, do you hear me? Please tell me!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
1081
|
|
rlm@0
|
1082 For one long, terrifying moment there was no reply. Then, slowly, the
|
|
rlm@0
|
1083 princess raised her head and opened her eyes to look at Saturn. "Hotaru-
|
|
rlm@0
|
1084 chan..."
|
|
rlm@0
|
1085
|
|
rlm@0
|
1086 Saturn gasped. "ChibiUsa-chan, are you all right?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
1087
|
|
rlm@0
|
1088 ChibiUsa snuggled against the senshi. "Yeah. I think so...but I'm still
|
|
rlm@0
|
1089 cold."
|
|
rlm@0
|
1090
|
|
rlm@0
|
1091 Saturn withdrew her hand, now covered with blood, and threw her arms
|
|
rlm@0
|
1092 around her friend in a fierce hug and could not let go for a long while.
|
|
rlm@0
|
1093 "ChibiUsa...oh, ChibiUsa-chan, I was so afraid you were going to die. I
|
|
rlm@0
|
1094 don't want to lose you!" She whispered with her face buried in the soft,
|
|
rlm@0
|
1095 silky pink hair.
|
|
rlm@0
|
1096
|
|
rlm@0
|
1097 ChibiUsa gave a weak laugh and shook her head slowly. "Not this time.
|
|
rlm@0
|
1098 Don't worry, Hotaru-chan. No way I can leave you now...not ever!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
1099
|
|
rlm@0
|
1100 "Thank Kami-sama!" Saturn lifted ChibiUsa's chin and kissed her fervently.
|
|
rlm@0
|
1101 "Just don't you ever do that again! I don't know how I can go on, if you
|
|
rlm@0
|
1102 run off and get killed. Promise me you will not do anything rash like
|
|
rlm@0
|
1103 that again!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
1104
|
|
rlm@0
|
1105 "Hai, Hotaru-chan," ChibiUsa said, sounding suddenly meek. "I promise."
|
|
rlm@0
|
1106
|
|
rlm@0
|
1107 "Good," Saturn kissed her again and hugged her even more tightly. It has
|
|
rlm@0
|
1108 been such a huge relief to know that the princess would be all right.
|
|
rlm@0
|
1109 Indeed, thank Kami-sama for that.
|
|
rlm@0
|
1110
|
|
rlm@0
|
1111 *************************************************************************
|
|
rlm@0
|
1112 ****
|
|
rlm@0
|
1113
|
|
rlm@0
|
1114 With her arms full Hotaru stepped into her bedroom and managed to close
|
|
rlm@0
|
1115 the door behind her. The room was semi-dark, with only two or three lamps
|
|
rlm@0
|
1116 burning dimly on the dresser in the corner. "ChibiUsa-chan, I've got
|
|
rlm@0
|
1117 another blanket. Want it?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
1118
|
|
rlm@0
|
1119 ChibiUsa, lying on her side in the bed with a couple of covers pulled up
|
|
rlm@0
|
1120 to her chin, looked up. "Hai! Hurry up and get in with me!" She said, and
|
|
rlm@0
|
1121 held out arms for her. The raven-haired teen walked briskly toward her,
|
|
rlm@0
|
1122 threw the thick blanket over the bed before disrobing and slipped under
|
|
rlm@0
|
1123 the covers next to the princess. She gasped softly with pleasure when
|
|
rlm@0
|
1124 ChibiUsa's warm body moved forward, pressing against hers.
|
|
rlm@0
|
1125
|
|
rlm@0
|
1126 "I thought I would never thaw out! Hotaru-chan, what took you so long?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
1127
|
|
rlm@0
|
1128 "Well, ChibiUsa-chan," Hotaru said as she snuggled into her lover's
|
|
rlm@0
|
1129 inviting arms, "I have told Haruka-papa and Michiru-mama about our
|
|
rlm@0
|
1130 encounter with the White Wolves gang. You can imagine they were pretty
|
|
rlm@0
|
1131 upset about it, and they promised they would keep an eye out for them and
|
|
rlm@0
|
1132 to make sure the gang will not return to cause any more trouble in the
|
|
rlm@0
|
1133 city again."
|
|
rlm@0
|
1134
|
|
rlm@0
|
1135 "Great! Now the people can do Christmas shopping without fear of running
|
|
rlm@0
|
1136 into those thieves!" ChibiUsa said happily. Then she paused and added,
|
|
rlm@0
|
1137 "Speaking of the Christmas presents, I wonder what happened to the gifts
|
|
rlm@0
|
1138 you bought from the mall?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
1139
|
|
rlm@0
|
1140 Hotaru shrugged. "Buried under the snow somewhere in the alley, for all I
|
|
rlm@0
|
1141 care," she said. "I'm not worried about them. My parents will understand.
|
|
rlm@0
|
1142 It was more important that you would live. I just can't bear the thought
|
|
rlm@0
|
1143 of losing you!" She brushed the loose strands of pink hair out of
|
|
rlm@0
|
1144 ChibiUsa's face and kissed her soft lips. "I'm just glad you are still
|
|
rlm@0
|
1145 here, alive and well. That is the best Christmas present I can ask for."
|
|
rlm@0
|
1146
|
|
rlm@0
|
1147 ChibiUsa smiled and ran hand through the other girl's dark hair. "Arigato
|
|
rlm@0
|
1148 domo for healing me and saving my life. I'll say that was the best
|
|
rlm@0
|
1149 present I got also!" she said, and then hesitated. "Um...Hotaru-chan, I'm
|
|
rlm@0
|
1150 really sorry I went off and got us into trouble with that gang. I guess I
|
|
rlm@0
|
1151 should not have acted so recklessly, eh? Gomen nasai."
|
|
rlm@0
|
1152
|
|
rlm@0
|
1153 "It's okay. Don't worry about it. Like I said, I'll always be there for
|
|
rlm@0
|
1154 you and protect you," Hotaru kissed her again, "Just don't make a habit
|
|
rlm@0
|
1155 of it, okay?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
1156
|
|
rlm@0
|
1157 "Hai, Hotaru-chan," ChibiUsa said, and moved back a little to look at her
|
|
rlm@0
|
1158 lover with some distress, noting the bruises that were still visible on
|
|
rlm@0
|
1159 Hotaru's body. "But you're still hurt, and you can't heal yourself..."
|
|
rlm@0
|
1160
|
|
rlm@0
|
1161 Hotaru shook her head. "ChibiUsa-chan... Don't worry about me. Just give
|
|
rlm@0
|
1162 me time and then I'll be fine," She paused, and then laughed quietly.
|
|
rlm@0
|
1163 "But don't let that stop you from loving me any way you want, my
|
|
rlm@0
|
1164 princess!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
1165
|
|
rlm@0
|
1166 The worried look on ChibiUsa's face cleared. She smiled, pulled Hotaru
|
|
rlm@0
|
1167 closer and gave her a kiss, this time longer and more passionate. Hotaru
|
|
rlm@0
|
1168 happily responded with as much vigor as possible. After a while they
|
|
rlm@0
|
1169 broke apart and Hotaru rested her head on ChibiUsa's chest. The pink-
|
|
rlm@0
|
1170 haired teen continued to groom the dark hair with her fingers. "Hotaru-
|
|
rlm@0
|
1171 chan...I love you," she whispered after a moment.
|
|
rlm@0
|
1172
|
|
rlm@0
|
1173 Hotaru smiled contentedly. "I love you too, ChibiUsa-chan," she replied.
|
|
rlm@0
|
1174 She could hear ChibiUsa's heart beating, regularly and reassuring. To
|
|
rlm@0
|
1175 her, it was most beautiful music, far more than anything and more
|
|
rlm@0
|
1176 precious than the Christmas and birthday presents combined.
|
|
rlm@0
|
1177
|
|
rlm@0
|
1178
|
|
rlm@0
|
1179
|
|
rlm@0
|
1180 *******************************************************************
|
|
rlm@0
|
1181
|
|
rlm@0
|
1182 Well, that's it. I'm not sure how you like this story. ^^;; But I hope
|
|
rlm@0
|
1183 you enjoyed it anyways!
|
|
rlm@0
|
1184
|
|
rlm@0
|
1185
|
|
rlm@0
|
1186 Thanks for reading!
|
|
rlm@0
|
1187
|
|
rlm@0
|
1188 YaRassno
|
|
rlm@0
|
1189
|
|
rlm@0
|
1190 Comments? Email: yarassno@juno.com
|
|
rlm@0
|
1191
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rlm@0
|
1192
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rlm@0
|
1193
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rlm@0
|
1194
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rlm@0
|
1195
|
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rlm@0
|
1196
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rlm@0
|
1197
|
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rlm@0
|
1198
|
|
rlm@0
|
1199
|
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rlm@0
|
1200
|
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|
1201
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|
1202
|
