Mercurial > moonlitnights
view old/stories/chbmn-satpt3.txt @ 4:69f0191c9016 moonlitnights tip
added error.log and access.log
author | Robert McIntyre <rlm@mit.edu> |
---|---|
date | Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:42:35 -0400 |
parents | fc00894c1d4a |
children |
line wrap: on
line source
2 All of our stories (including the Sakura & Tomoyo stories I’ve written) along3 with all the other ChibiUsa & Hotaru/Sakura & Tomoyo stories I’ve managed to4 find are up at http://fly.to/moonlit_nights as well as hopefully a few other things.5 ^-^ It’s a fanfiction shrine to two of the most wonderful yuri couples. Please6 check it out. ^-^9 Tears and Rain (I know it was gonna be Rainbow Connection, but I changed my10 mind. ^-^;; You should know that I change my mind a lot by now. ^-^;; *l* The11 old title just didn’t fit as well.)12 By the Amazoness Quartet13 amazonessduo@hotmail.com15 Watashi-tachi ni Naritakute:17 "Ever since I first met you18 I've been shining in my heart19 My love causes so much sorrow20 I broke off my glance so quietly22 Your insignificant gestures23 And your ordinary words24 Every time25 I think of them I feel like I'm going to cry27 Love brings a lonely lonely heart28 I'm just all alone now29 Lonely lonely heart30 All the joy and pain I feel, I'm always31 Dreaming it by myself32 Love brings a lonely lonely heart33 But I know that someday it will come34 While I'm being held in your strong arms35 Wanting to be together with you...37 Right at your side, I'm standing there38 I'm always waiting for you39 But you don't return my advances40 I've been disappointed so many times42 When I fall in love with someone43 Why does it cause me so much pain44 All alone, by myself45 It's like I've fallen sick47 And now it's baby baby love48 Please, I beg of you49 Baby baby love50 When I feel I am going to lose to this loneliness51 I have to look into my hand mirror52 And now it's baby baby love53 Seems like every day I'm crying through the night54 I long for the past, smiling to myself55 Wanting to be together with you...57 Nobody knows about these58 Secret tears59 The one to wipe them away is60 Only61 Not just myself62 Wanting to be together with you...64 Love brings a lonely lonely heart65 I'm just all alone now66 Lonely lonely heart67 All the joy and pain I feel, I'm always68 Dreaming it by myself69 Love brings a lonely lonely heart70 But I know that someday it will come71 While I'm being held in your strong arms72 Wanting to be together with you..."74 A dark haired girl with odangos sighed miserably as she and her pink75 haired companion stood outside the Outer Senshi’s mansion, waiting under a76 tree as the storm continued. "Why are we even here? We could be at home right77 now, warm and dry, in the Crystal Palace. We could just tell Hotaru-mama and78 ChibiUsa-mama about us and not have to worry about all this." The storm had79 shown signs of slowing for a moment, but only a moment. It was already80 starting to pick up again, pelting the two girls with cold rain. They were about81 the same age as ChibiUsa and Hotaru, coming from further in the future than82 their younger selves.83 Shisa shivered, Selene’s body leaning against her own the only warmth84 she felt. "Because we need to make them understand, Selene. They have to know85 we’re in love. We have to prove that to them, make them realize that that’s the86 most important thing to us."87 "And why can’t we do that in the warmth of our own home? Why did88 we travel back in the past for all this?" Selene asked. She was already starting to89 feel homesick. She missed the room they shared; waking up to breakfast with90 their whole family; their parents gentle prodding when it came to their being91 princesses.92 Shisa looked down at the damp grass. "We’d already talked about all93 that. They wouldn’t understand if we only told them. We have to prove it. We94 have to test them, show just how important their love is, so they’ll know how95 important ours is."96 "Maybe they already know," Selene said hopefully. "Maybe they know97 and they’re fine with it."98 Shisa shook her head skeptically. "Remember a year ago? You were99 wondering why I was acting so strange around you. You kept wanting to know100 what was bothering me. You just wouldn’t leave me alone about it. And finally I101 told you. I looked you in the eyes and told you I was in love with you. There102 was no mistaking it. I think you know me better than I know myself sometimes.103 You didn’t need to ask, or to pretend you didn’t understand. And do you104 remember what happened?"105 The rain kept pouring over the two girls as they pushed further against106 the tree, trying to stay out of the soaking rain. Selene let out a deep sigh before107 answering. She looked away from Shisa when she did, not being able to meet108 the pink haired girl’s gaze. "I freaked out. I didn’t talk to you for a while. I109 thought you were sick. I kept telling you to leave me alone when I’d say110 anything at all.." the maroon haired girl trailed off.111 Shisa nodded sadly, pushing back the depression that always tried to112 overwhelm her at those memories. "It took a long time before I could even get113 you to even look at me again. ChibiUsa-mama and Hotaru-mama would114 probably react even worse."115 Selene thought for a moment, holding onto the other girl for comfort.116 "But I did eventually wind up falling in love with you. I got over how I117 originally thought of it. Maybe our parents will grow to accept it, too."118 The dark night, lit only by occasional bolts of lightning, left the two119 princesses in shadows. Shisa pulled her glasses off, trying to wipe the water120 from the rain off on her blouse. Turning to Selene, she shook her head somberly.121 "It took you time, Selene. It took a lot of time to fix things. Before our parents122 could take the time to realize that, they probably would try to pull us apart.123 They’d forbid us being together. We might wind up not seeing each other if they124 decide to put us in different places to keep us apart. Who knows what else125 they’d do." Shisa closed her eyes, shivering again. This time it wasn’t126 just from the wind and rain.127 "Oh, Shisa.." Selene wrapped her arms tighter around her lover, kissing128 her cold cheek. "I don’t ever want to lose you. You’re right. We can’t take any129 chances. We’ll do whatever it takes."130 "Whatever it takes," Shisa repeated, determination lighting up her pale131 violet eyes.133 Biting cold and freezing droplets of ice water hit ChibiUsa as she134 opened the door for whoever had been knocking. Her pink hair was thrown135 around by the strong surging winds. She shivered as the cold wind got to her,136 standing there only in Hotaru’s nightgown. “Hello?” She called out into the137 storm. The harsh rain and wind nearly blinded her as she tried to make out the138 figure in the doorway. Why couldn’t she be back in bed with Hotaru right now?139 What had possessed her to come downstairs in the first place? “Hello?” she140 called again, barely hearing herself as a thunderclap shook the house. She141 shuddered at the sudden sound, hugging herself as she waited for it to pass. As142 she slowly managed to open her eyes and peer out past the doorway, a figure143 slowly took shape. “Oh!” gasped the princess as she took a step back.144 The figure smiled slightly and bowed. “It’s a pleasure, Princess145 Serenity. You look surprised. I hope I haven’t come at an inopportune time.”146 The pink haired girl shook her head slowly, at a loss for words. “I…147 No, its just that… Why are you here?” she finally blurted out in confusion.148 Taking another step forward, the figure’s smile broadened. “There is149 much I must tell you, Princess.”152 Momoko cinched the towel around herself tighter and closed the door153 behind her as she entered her room. No one was home, but force of habit made154 her shut the door anyway. She had just taken a long relaxing shower after she155 had finally gotten home from shopping with Ruruna and Naruru. Momoko rolled156 her eyes. Those two were really hard to deal with. She could see why Hotaru157 didn’t like them very much. They were good friends of ChibiUsa’s, though, so158 she put up with them. The pink haired girl had been supposed to come along, but159 she had called at the last moment saying she couldn’t make it.160 Stretching luxuriously, the lavender haired girl reflected on the past few161 days. She had learned from ChibiUsa and Diana that not only had ChibiUsa’s162 younger sister shown up, but her future daughters as well. That news had been163 rather shocking. She’d had no idea the two girls could have a child, let alone164 twins.165 A by now familiar scratching sound at her window grabbed Momoko’s166 attention. She smiled broadly before turning to look, pushing her other thoughts167 aside at the arrival of her lover. “Diana!” Momoko quickly ran over and opened168 the window. A small grayish purple kitten hopped down into the room, landing169 gently on the floor.170 “Hi, Momo-chan!” Diana said happily. The kitten purred as Momoko171 bent down to pet her.172 “Where were you?” Momoko asked, scratching under the kittens chin.173 “I missed you, Diana.” She pouted for a second before smiling again, picking174 her up in her arms.175 “I was being played with by Small Lady and Hotaru-chan’s kids,”176 Diana replied, obviously frustrated.177 Momoko couldn’t help but giggle. “Children love kittens, Diana.178 Especially cute talking kittens like you.”179 After a shimmer of light, Diana stood before Momoko in her human180 form. The beautiful cat girl’s short dark hair was done up in four odangos. She181 wore a lavender dress with matching stockings that reached her thighs. Her182 catlike eyes gazed deeply into Momoko’s. She took a step forward, her arms183 wrapping around Momoko’s waist as she hugged her tightly. “Thanks, Momo-184 chan. You’re sweet.” Leaning forward, she gave the lavender haired girl a peck185 on the lips. She sighed as she leaned against her lover’s soft body, the scent of186 Momoko’s hair already starting to relax her. “Those kids are hard to keep up187 with, even when they’re dragging you around. They have a bundle of energy.”188 Momoko smiled, running a hand through Diana’s soft hair. “Sounds189 like it. Maybe you should stay with me for a while. I mean, my mother knows190 you stay around here a lot, as a kitten at least. And ChibiUsa doesn’t always191 need you there. Like you said, the Quartet can watch over them.” Her voice had192 a hopeful tone to it.193 Diana squealed giddily and hugged the other girl again. “Really?194 Thanks! No more little kids pulling my tail. And I’d get to stay with you. That195 would be great, Momo-chan!”196 “Yeah, I’d love if you could stay.” Momoko’s hands moved down197 Diana’s back before arriving at her tail. “As for the not pulling your tail…”198 Giving a playful tug on the other girls’ tail, Momoko laughed as Diana tensed up199 in her arms. “At least you won’t have to pack anything,” she said thoughtfully200 before sitting on the edge of her bed.201 Diana sat down next to her, placing a hand on the lavender haired202 girls’. “I’ve been thinking about you so much lately, Momo-chan. I love you,”203 Diana said happily, her tail moving back and forth behind her.204 “I love you, too,” Momoko smiled back. “My little kitten,” she added.205 She slowly leaned forward, Diana turned to her, as if to speak. Momoko caught206 Diana’s lips with her own, kissing her passionately. Diana was caught by207 surprise. Her mouth fell open, Momoko’s tongue pushing inside. Diana quickly208 regained herself, kissing the other girl back.209 Momoko sat forward, lost in their kiss. She felt Diana’s tail wrap210 around her hand, the soft fur against her skin. As their tongues danced, Momoko211 felt a warm feeling pouring through her. Her eyes widened as she felt Diana’s212 hand on her right breast. She moaned softly into Diana’s mouth. The lavender213 haired girl was paralyzed. She didn’t know what to do, but Diana continued.214 They had been dating for several months now, but they had only gone so far, not215 actually having made love. Momoko’s worries were quickly drowned out by the216 feelings flooding through her. She continued to kiss the other girl back, her217 tongue brushing against the other girl’s. She moaned again when Diana lightly218 squeezed her breast. She gasped, arching her back as Diana’s other hand went to219 her left breast. Her now hard nipples pressed against Diana’s soft palms.220 Both girls were breathing heavily when the kiss finally ended. “Diana-221 chan,” Momoko whispered huskily. She pushed the cat girl backwards on the222 bed, a quick yelp of surprise coming from Diana. Lying atop Diana, Momoko223 kissed down her jawline to her neck. Diana shuddered deliciously underneath224 her. Momoko started pulling the top of Diana’s dress down, baring her soft225 breasts. The lavender haired girl kissed down her shoulder hungrily. Lightening226 shot through Momoko’s body as Diana’s hands began to caress her own chest227 again.228 Almost as if coming out of a trance, Momoko could vaguely hear a229 ringing sound. “Not now…” she muttered, finally recognizing the doorbell. She230 tried desperately to ignore the now grating noise, reveling in the new231 experiences playing out before her. Her mind focussed solely on Diana and the232 sensations the cat girl was arousing within her. Sitting up, she ran a hand233 through her sweat dampened lavender hair. “Diana,” she tried to say. She234 shuddered lightly as Diana continued her ministrations. With great reluctance,235 she finally disentangled herself from her lover.236 Diana let out a small whimper as Momoko stood up. Her passion filled237 eyes traveled up and down Momoko’s nude body. “Momo-chan, don’t go,” the238 cat girl pleaded, reaching out for the lavender haired girl.239 Taking Diana’s hand in her own, Momoko brought it to her flushed240 cheek. “I’m sorry, Diana. I’ll be back in a minute. Wait right here,” she241 commanded, ignoring the cat girl’s crawling towards her. Heading to the closet,242 Momoko quickly pulled out a Chinese dress and pulled it on, eager to get rid of243 the visitor. She wasn’t in the mood to deal lightly with whomever it was. A244 glance back at her bed weakened her resolve to go check the door. The sight of245 Diana sitting on her bed with the top of her dress down with a slightly246 bewildered look in her eyes greeted Momoko. Blushing profusely, Momoko247 averted her eyes and headed through her door. This was the first time she’d ever248 done anything like this. It was an almost overwhelming sensation. She wanted to249 get rid of the intruder as quickly as possible and get back to it.250 The site that greeted her when she opened the door was a tired and251 traumatized looking pink haired girl flanked by three younger girls. A worried252 Hotaru was holding onto ChibiUsa’s hand, looking up with concern in her deep253 violet eyes at her one true love. On the other side of the future princess were the254 twins, Shisa and Selene. Shisa bowed first, her sister following suite seconds255 later. “Ohayo, Momohara-san,” Shisa said politely. “Hi, Momoko-san,” Selene256 said seconds afterward. She giggled and whispered something to her sister.257 Apparently the other girl thought it was funny as well.258 Momoko shook her head, looking back up at the miserable pink haired259 girl. She knew that ChibiUsa must be taking that accident that changed Hotaru260 into a child pretty badly, despite Diana having told her that she seemed to be261 doing well. “ChibiUsa-chan, looks like you brought the entire family. Well,262 except your little sister.”263 “Aunt Kousagi is still back at grandma Usagi’s house. ChibiUsa-mama264 spent the night with Hotaru-mama," Selene supplied helpfully. Shisa nodded a265 little shyly from her place slightly behind ChibiUsa,.266 A sigh escaped the future princesses lips before she looked up. She267 gave Hotaru’s small hand a squeeze before plastering on the fake smile she’d268 worn all the way there. It wasn’t enough to fool Hotaru, but she hadn’t known269 what to ask her girlfriend. What could have happened that morning to upset her270 so? “Momo-chan, I’m really, really sorry about this, but would you mind271 watching the kids for a bit? There’s someone I need to talk to and its kinda272 urgent. My mother sent her and there’s some things we need to talk about and273 I’d feel bad just leaving Hota-chan, Shisa-chan, and Selene-chan all alone,”274 ChibiUsa asked, a hint of desperation in her voice.275 That much was true, Hotaru could tell, but what wasn’t she saying?276 And why was she so afraid to ask? She knew that they could tell each other277 anything, so all she had to do was ask the pink haired girl. But every time she278 tried, the knots in her stomach would just get worse. ChibiUsa had seemed so279 hopeful the night before and now…280 Momoko looked back inside the house. Her parents were gone for the281 day and she had Diana back waiting for her in her room for a day they could282 spend in each other’s arms. They could pick up where they left off and see283 where it went from there. With a sigh, she turned back to her friend. So much284 for that idea. There was always some other time. Smiling a bit, she nodded.285 “Sure thing, ChibiUsa-chan. I’d be glad to help.”286 ChibiUsa let out her breath in relief. At least she wouldn’t have to287 worry about the children while dealing with things. And it was probably better if288 Hotaru stayed here for now. Maybe things wouldn’t have been so bad if Hotaru289 didn’t already have so much to worry about. Hotaru’s enhanced aging had been290 jump started, but it would still be a while before she was back to her normal self.291 Whether that meant days or weeks, ChibiUsa had no idea. “Thanks, Momo-292 chan. I owe you one.” She smiled a little weakly as she led the younger girls293 towards the door.294 Laughing, Momoko shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. You can295 just babysit for me and Diana if we ever have a kid,” the lavender haired girl296 joked.297 “You mean Isis-chan?” Shisa asked curiously.298 Momoko stared at the younger girl for a moment before she began to299 sweatdrop. They did have a child? Before she could think about it anymore,300 Selene slipped past her, dragging Shisa behind.301 “Will you be okay, ChibiUsa-chan?” Hotaru asked softly, not managing302 to hide the concern in her voice.303 Smiling down at the dark haired girl, ChibiUsa nodded. “Hai, I’ll be304 fine, Taru. You just try not to worry about things, okay? We’ll get it all worked305 out soon enough.” ‘I hope,’ she added to herself.306 Hotaru didn’t feel very reassured, but she slowly let go of ChibiUsa’s307 hand and took a step towards Momoko. She didn’t want to leave the pink haired308 girl, but she didn’t know what to say. Everything was so confusing. Looking up309 at the pink haired girl, she tried desperately to say something, anything, but310 nothing came to her. But she didn’t need words. ChibiUsa met her gaze with a311 warm smile, comforting her a little.312 “I’ll be back soon, Hota-chan,” ChibiUsa promised, kneeling down.313 She gave Hotaru a hug, something she needed as much as the other girl to quell314 the storm in her heart.315 “I’ll be waiting for you,” Hotaru said softly before they parted.316 Blinking back tears she didn’t know had been there, she watched as the pink317 haired girl turned around and left. She knew that she’d be back, so why did it318 feel like this would be the last time they’d see each other?321 “It isn’t fair.”322 Hotaru sat quietly on the couch, hugging her legs tightly to her chest.323 The small, lonely girl was propped up on a cushion, her chin resting on her324 knees. She shivered, her pale skin forming thousands of goose-bumps. It wasn't325 the cold that bothered her so much. No, she was used to that. She had always326 been cold. It didn’t matter how warm it was outside. Inside, she always felt cold.327 Now was no different. The only warmth she’d felt in her cold body was when328 she was being held in ChibiUsa’s arms, losing herself in the sensation. It was as329 if she was somehow absorbing the heat from the pink haired girl’s body. But she330 knew that just had to be her mind playing tricks on her. She was always cold331 because she had always been a weak and sickly girl. Maybe it wasn’t as bad this332 time around as it had when she had been growing up the first time, but she still333 wasn’t as healthy as most of the other children.334 Her dark violet eyes reflected the flickering flames from the fire335 Haruka had started not that long ago. The large house she shared with her336 surrogate parents was slowly warming up. She wanted to get off the couch and337 sit right in front of the fire, but she stubbornly stayed where she was. She didn’t338 feel like trying to warm herself. Hugging her legs tighter to herself, she blinked339 stinging watery eyes as the bright flames finally won their staring match.340 ChibiUsa had come upstairs that morning with a trinket from Crystal341 Tokyo that had jumpstarted Hotaru’s advanced aging. She should be her normal342 self within a few weeks. In the meantime, she was still stuck in the body of a343 child and she would have to slowly re-age back to her normal self within the344 course of the next few weeks. But rather than being overjoyed by the prospect,345 ChibiUsa had been quiet and withdrawn, not at all the normally outgoing person346 she usually was. The pink haired princess had been preoccupied by something,347 but despite Hotaru’s concern, ChibiUsa had just tried to convince her that348 nothing was wrong. And afterwards, ChibiUsa had taken Hotaru and their future349 twin daughters to Momoko’s house so she and Diana could keep an eye on them350 while ChibiUsa thought. ‘About what? What’s she keeping from me? We’re351 supposed to tell each other everything. Why would she hide this from me? She’s352 treating me like a child,’ she thought despairingly to herself. ‘Could it be that353 just maybe you’ve been acting like one?’ a voice within herself countered. She354 silenced it quickly, curling up tighter. ‘I’m not acting like a child. I’m not… My355 body’s just younger, not my mind…’ she reassured herself.356 “It isn’t fair.”357 “What isn’t fair, Hime-chan?” Michiru asked gently, gracefully358 entering the living room with a tea tray. She kneeled next to the table in front of359 the couch Hotaru was on.360 “Nothing…” Hotaru trailed off, looking down miserably. Strands of her361 short, dark hair fell into her eyes. Even the momentary blindness made her feel362 worse. She brushed the hair from her eyes with her small hand, looking up363 slowly to see Michiru’s soothing smile.364 “Would you like some tea, Hime-chan? You need something to warm365 you up before you freeze.” Michiru began pouring the tea into several cups even366 before the younger girl’s response. “Sitting there all stern and thoughtful. One367 might think you’re a piece of gothic architecture. We have enough art around the368 house. We need more lively little girls.”369 Hotaru giggled softly, a small smile beginning to light up her young370 features. “Hai, Michiru-mama. I’d like that.” She missed the note of childish371 exuberance in her own voice as she slid off the couch and gratefully accepted372 the offered cup of tea. “Arigato, Michiru-mama.” The first sip of the warm373 liquid did make her feel a little better as it slowly warmed her inside. Michiru374 had to warn her about drinking it too quickly, lest she burn her throat. She375 sighed softly before taking another sip. If she asked, she knew ChibiUsa would376 tell her. They could tell each other anything. But what scared her was when377 ChibiUsa did tell her. If this was enough to affect the usually bright and378 optimistic pink haired girl…379 Sitting in front of the fire, the mug held in both hands, the young380 Senshi of Death and Rebirth counted off all of her blessings despite the381 condition she was in. And prayed that she wasn’t about to lose them all.385 ChibiUsa sighed miserably as she searched through the refrigerator for386 something else to eat. She was feeling empty in more ways than one. She steered387 clear of the carrots, scavenging for anything that looked edible cold. ‘There we388 go,’ the pink haired princess thought to herself as she found some chocolate near389 the back. Usually she would be a little more weary of who’s it was, but she390 wasn’t in the mood to worry about that at the moment. Putting the chocolate bar391 in her mouth to hold for a moment, she smoothed down her pajamas before392 returning to her seat at the table, a space she hadn’t vacated for the past two393 hours. Taking a bite of the chocolate, she winced. It was still hard. She set it394 down to wait for it to thaw a bit before trying to polish it off. Looking into her395 half empty glass of water, she gazed at the dim reflection she could make out396 from the single light that was on in the room. Her normally vibrant crimson eyes397 seemed faded, they’re usual sparkle missing. She ran a hand through her pink398 hair, let down from her odango hair style. “Not quite the pristine princess I’m399 supposed to be, right, mom?” she asked quietly into the empty room. She400 laughed bitterly. “But then, why should you care? Just how much of a401 disappointment am I to you?”402 Picking up the candy bar, ChibiUsa took a bite out of the still hard403 chocolate. It was supposed to be comfort food, but it didn’t feel very comforting.404 So technically, she should stop. But who would care whether or not she did?405 Hotaru. She wouldn’t mind if Hotaru was doing this, if the pale girl got a little406 chubby. Then she wouldn’t have to worry so much about the poor girl never407 eating. Besides, she’d look cute even then.408 ChibiUsa shook her head as she realized her thoughts were wandering.409 But was that a bad thing? At least it would get her mind off of things. She didn’t410 want to have to think right now, to have to relive thoughts over and over. It only411 made things worse, it seemed. Thoughts lived and died, other darker thoughts412 rising from their ashes as the night pushed inexorably onward towards the413 coming dawn. There was no silver lining for her to search for, no shelter in this414 storm. Sleep escaped her as if it were running from her frenziedly. Biting her415 lower lip, she wondered if she could ask Elios if there were something he could416 do about that. He was the priest of Elysian, the land of dreams, after all. But then417 she’d still probably have nightmares all night long. That wouldn’t be any better418 than this waking nightmare. And talking to him would just remind her of her419 mother’s plans.420 ‘How could she do this to me?’ ChibiUsa thought to herself. ‘She made421 it sound like she had faith in us. I always thought she was such a wonderful lady.422 I wanted to be just like her. Now… I don’t know what to think. Why us?423 Hotaru’s already had such a difficult life. Why can’t she have some happiness? I424 love her. How can my mother dictate that? Is love so weak that she can decide425 its fate? She thinks our love is nothing more than puppy love, that I was426 experimenting back here and got with my best friend because of that. It took me427 long enough to figure it out, but I do love Hotaru. I always knew it deep down. I428 always worried about what the future would bring when I had to return, but I429 knew things would work out. We’d think of something. Love would find a way.430 But now I find out that my mother had it set from the beginning that this431 couldn’t be. And what about the twins? Were they just told to say that Hotaru432 and I were their parents so that we wouldn’t realize what was going to happen?433 Are they Elios’ and my children?’434 The pink haired princess buried her face in her hands, tears running down435 her cheeks when she thought she had none left. ‘I thought we’d be together436 forever. My birthright destroyed everything. How can I face Hotaru with this? I437 just wanted to make her happy, and now I can’t even do that. I hate you, mother.438 I’ll never forgive you for this. I want to curl up and die. Maybe I should. Prove439 to you that you can’t rule my life. That I won’t follow in your footsteps if it440 means leaving behind the girl I love. If it means leaving behind the other half of441 my soul, what type of life is that? Its not even life. And I won’t live it. I’d rather442 die than be her puppet. Than ever hurt Hotaru. I’ll be with Hotaru again in the443 afterlife. You’ll never keep us from each other. I’d move heaven and earth to be444 with her.’ The princess stood up, pulling back the drawn curtains to look up into445 the moonlit sky. A renewed determination burned in her eyes. ‘I won’t let you446 keep us apart. I’ll fight to be with her, give up my birthright, even die. Whatever447 it takes.’ She drew a tiny picture on the damp glass with her finger. ‘I love you448 too much, Hotaru. I’ll never give up on you. I won’t let it end this way. I449 promise.’453 “Are you alright, Kyusuke-kun? You’ve been out of it all afternoon.454 You’ll make me think I’m too boring for you,” Hikaru chided the green haired455 boy.456 “Huh? Oh.. Sorry, Hikaru-chan. I was just lost in thought. And boring457 is definitely not a word I’d use to describe you. You may be a lot of things, but458 boring’s not one of them,” Kyusuke replied.459 Hikaru paused for a moment, considering whether or not to take that as460 a compliment before smiling back at the boy. “Just try not to get lost again. I461 might not be able to find you.”462 “I’ll be careful,” Kyusuke promised. Glancing sidelong at his463 companion, he smiled to himself. Her short auburn hair fell past beautiful brown464 eyes almost to the point of obscuring her vision, but she never seemed to have a465 problem knowing exactly where she was going. With everything. A large466 oversized sweater and a pleated skirt adorned the girl that chilly evening, her467 arms still clutching the stuffed bear he’d bought her just a short time beforehand.468 Kyusuke had known Hikaru for years now and they’d always been good friends,469 but it hadn’t been until a few months ago that they’d finally started dating. The470 girl was a little odd, but he loved all those little things about her.471 “You’re grinning like an idiot again. Wanna tell me what about?”472 Hikaru asked with a wink, once again shaking Kyusuke from his thoughts.473 “Nothing.. I’m just thinking about things,” the green haired boy said474 lamely. He was about to try again before something caught his eye. Across the475 street he could make out ChibiUsa along with three younger girls heading into a476 store. “ChibiUsa-chan must be babysitting.”477 Hikaru followed his gaze to the pink haired girl and nodded. “Looks478 like it. That’s the girl who dates the gothic girl at your school, right?”479 Sweatdropping profusely, the green haired boy nodded. “Yeah, but480 Momoko said she’d beat the crap out of me if I told anyone. She only told me481 because I was joking about it.”482 “Looks like she’s gotta kill you then, because you told me.” Hikaru483 grinned and stuck her tongue out at the boy. “You really are scared of that girl,484 aren’t you?”485 “Hey, as long as Momoko doesn’t find out, I don’t wind up very very486 dead. And sense you go to a different school, I figure the rules don’t apply.”487 Proud of his explanation, Kyusuke watched ChibiUsa and the girls disappear488 into the building. Slowly, the pair begin walking again.489 “You always run up to your friends to talk to them except when I’m490 around.” Hikaru turned and pouted cutely at Kyusuke. “Why is that?”491 Sighing and rolling his eyes, the green haired boy kept walking. “Come492 on, Hikaru-chan. Don’t do that.”493 “I only do it because it always works,” the auburn haired girl said with494 a giggle.495 “Well, it’s just that… They’re all… And when you think about it….496 You know…”497 Hugging the stuffed bear against her chest, Hikaru turned to Kyusuke.498 “But what’s the big deal? The pink girl and that other one are in a lesbian499 relationship and your friend Momoko obviously seems fine with it. So there500 shouldn’t be a problem if they met me. Its not like they’d find out.”501 “I know, I know… It’s just…” Kyusuke began nervously.502 “Now don’t start that. We both know why you don’t want me to meet503 them. You don’t need to cover it up. Fine.” She shrugged, walking forward504 again. Brushing some hair back, she placed a withering glance on the green505 haired boy as he tried to keep up. “It doesn’t matter if you pretend I don’t exist.”506 A sigh of defeat marked the end of Kyusuke’s resistance. Nodding, he507 looked up at her. “Alright, you win. But don’t expect it to be a big thing.508 They’re just my friends. Momoko’s kind of intimidating sometimes, but that’s509 usually just to me. ChibiUsa’s sort of… perky. And Hotaru pretty much just510 follows her around, not saying much.”511 Hugging her boyfriend warmly, Hikaru smiled. “Thanks, Kyusuke-kun!512 I knew you’d understand.”513 Returning the hug, Kyusuke sweatdropped. He hoped he wasn’t making514 a mistake.518 “What about this?” ChibiUsa asked as she lifted the small frilled dress519 up for the younger girls to see.520 “ChibiUsa-chan…”521 “But it’s cute. You’d look adorable in it, Hota-chan,” the future522 princess argued. Looking from the small dark haired girl to the dress and back,523 she nodded, pleased. “Besides, Puu gave me some money and told me to buy524 you some clothes. You do need some, Taru. The rest of your wardrobe’s still for525 a sixteen year old girl.”526 “I know, ChibiUsa-chan. But don’t you think it’s a little too...” Hotaru527 trailed off as she stared skeptically at the dress.528 “Cute?” Shisa supplied helpfully, startling the shy raven haired girl.529 “Hai. Its more like something that you would wear, ChibiUsa-chan...”530 Hotaru looked up at ChibiUsa with her dark violet eyes for a long moment. It531 was strange, looking up at her like that. She remembered it the other way around532 when they’d first met, when she had to look down to see the little pink haired533 girl. The last time she herself had been this small and in a situation like this had534 been several years ago shopping with her surrogate parents. Looking up at their535 smiling faces, she’d been thrilled when they had let her pick out a particular536 sundress she liked. Michiru had said it would only get dirty anyway but Haruka537 had said that was the point. Now she was looking up at a different smiling face538 with a different kind of love in those eyes than in those of her parents’. It left her539 a little disoriented, the new mixing with the old, nostalgia mixing with anxiety,540 all performing a jumbled orchestra in her heart.541 Selene giggled and nodded. “I think you should get it, Hotaru-chan. It542 would look nice.” Dark purple odango bobbed up and down as she nodded543 enthusiastically.544 ChibiUsa smiled at her future daughter’s attempt at helping. She had545 noticed the twins had quickly dropped the use of ‘mama’ for Hotaru when546 they’d found out she was their age. She hoped it was only because of their547 similarity in age rather than Hotaru not really being their mother. If Elios really548 was the father... Hotaru’s insistent tug on her hand brought her back to reality.549 “I’ll get it if you want, ChibiUsa-chan,” Hotaru said with a shy smile.550 ChibiUsa smiled down at her and shook her head, something catching551 her eye. “No, you’re right, Taru. Its not exactly you. Besides, this is soooo much552 cuter.” Pulling up a little yellow sundress to Hotaru, she grinned happily. The553 younger girl looked simply adorable. “Now we just need to find you a good554 wide-brimmed hat for that and it will be perfect.” Standing up and still holding555 her girlfriend’s small hand, she looked around for the next object in her quest.556 “ChibiUsa-mama? When we’re done getting Hotaru-chan clothes, I557 want something to!” Selene stated so her future parent would be absolutely sure558 not to leave her out of the day’s events.559 “Me too!” Shisa added. “I’ll have the one you were gonna get for560 Hotaru-chan if she doesn’t want it.”561 Hotaru let her eyes wander as they walked through the enormous racks562 of clothes. Everything was so huge now. She’d never been a tall girl, but the563 sheer difference in size from a few days before and now was colossal. Brushing564 back her dark hair, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that they were being565 watched. But by who? She glanced around worriedly, unable to keep the566 sensation from getting worse. To keep the disorientation welling up inside her567 from becoming too much to bear, she squeezed ChibiUsa’s hand tightly. The568 future princess squeezed back gently, reassuring Hotaru. A sigh escaped569 Hotaru’s lips as she tried to convince herself that it was all in her mind. Smiling570 to herself, she slipped away from ChibiUsa while the older girl was checking the571 hats.572 “This one looks really cute, but this one’s really good, too. Hmm...573 What do you think, Hota-chan?” ChibiUsa looked up as she held the two hats574 for the raven haired girl’s inspection, but Hotaru was nowhere to be seen. Right575 as she began to fear the worst, a small voice piped up near her.576 “What about this one, ChibiUsa-chan? I really like it!” Hotaru said577 happily as she ran back up to the three other girls. She was clutching a beautiful578 white wide-brimmed hat offset with a midnight black ribbon encircling it before579 trailing off the back. Placing it on her head, the pale girl demonstrated for her580 future princess. Her short dark hair fell out from underneath the hat, framing her581 ivory skin. She giggled as she tilted her head to the side.582 “Its really pretty, Hota-chan. I think you should get it.” ChibiUsa583 smiled at her counterpart, her soulmate, inwardly breathing a sigh of relief that584 nothing had happened. Before she could further comment, the two hats she had585 been holding were snatched from her grasp.586 “What about me? I look pretty, too, right?” Selene asked quickly,587 wearing the hat that had been in ChibiUsa’s right hand.588 “Can I get this one? Please?” Shisa asked, blinking huge puppy dog589 eyes upwards at her currently overwhelmed future pink haired parent.590 Hotaru watched as the other two girls fought over their mother’s591 attention through blurry eyes. It had looked so perfect, sitting there all alone.592 She wanted so much to show it to ChibiUsa, to see what she thought. All alone...593 She’d known ChibiUsa would like it as much as she did, but now... A tear594 dropped down to the cold floor, quickly joined by another. It wasn’t fair...595 “Hotaru? Hotaru-chan, what’s wrong?” she heard pierce through the shroud of596 sadness around her. A hand went to her shoulder as another brushed the hair597 away from her eyes. Concerned crimson eyes met her own tearful violet ones.598 She lunged forward with a choked sob and clasped onto ChibiUsa. Comforting599 whispers brushed past her ears as the older girl held her tightly. She could see600 the twins watching worriedly from behind ChibiUsa but her torn heart kept the601 tears flowing. She buried her head against ChibiUsa’s shoulder, wanting602 everything to go back to the way it had been. ‘Why am I doing this?’ she asked603 herself. ‘It’s not a big deal. It’s alright. I know she loves me, so if she pays604 attention to them, why does it hurt so much? Why am I so sad? I’m a big girl, I605 shouldn’t be crying about this. This doesn’t matter. But.. I just wanted to show it606 to her.. I wanted to ask her what she thought.. I wanted to be the only one...’607 “Shhh... It’s okay, Hota-chan. Cry all you want. It’s okay.” ChibiUsa608 stroked Hotaru’s back as the other girl sobbed against her. What had happened?609 She wanted to ask, to make sure that the dark haired girl was all right, but she610 just needed comfort right now. There would always be later to worry about such611 things. Hotaru had been trying so hard to pretend that she was fine, but this had612 taken a rather heavy emotional toll on her. She was just a little girl now.613 ChibiUsa had been so worried about what she’d heard from the future and what614 would become of them that she hadn’t been worrying enough about what Hotaru615 was going through now. Things would work out, they would find a way. But for616 now, Hotaru needed her. She never should have left her side since this had617 happened. Closing her eyes, she realized what a mistake she had made. She618 could only hope that she could make it up to the pale girl in her arms.620 “Poor Hotaru-mama,” an older Selene said as she watched the scene621 unfolding before her. Her long dark hair was swept back behind her as familiar622 fingers brushed through it. She smiled as she turned her attention to the623 spectacled girl next to her. “I was wondering where you’d disappeared off to.”624 “Just making sure we had one of grandfather Tomoe’s Daimon Eggs625 ready,” the teenage Shisa explained. She lifted up the small object in her hand626 for the dark haired girl to see.627 Selene frowned as she looked from it to the embracing forms of their628 parents. “Are you sure about this? Aren’t they already in enough pain?629 ChibiUsa-mama just heard that she’s marrying High Priest Elios and Hotaru-630 mama’s no more than a child.” She shakes her head sadly. “But we have to. We631 have to or they’ll never accept us. We must test them.”632 Shisa nodded in agreement. “We must make them hurt. To try to tear633 them from each other. To make them suffer. Only then will they understand...”634 She clutched the Daimon Egg tightly as her mind started to shift back to painful635 memories.636 “Shisa, no, don’t think about it. We’re both here. I’m here with you.637 Please don’t worry.” Selene placed her hand on the other girl’s cheek gingerly.638 She offered a small smile. “You can’t just give up on me now. What would I do?639 If we’re gonna pull this off, we need to be together on it. I need you.”640 Placing her hand atop Selene’s, Shisa nodded, smiling herself. “Hai,641 Selenity. Besides, it should be fun.”642 Selene grinned. “Most definitely. We’ll see just how well our beloved643 parents can handle what we throw at them.”645 “There you go,” ChibiUsa said softly as she wiped the last of Hotaru’s646 tears away. She smiled as she looked into the raven haired girl’s deep violet647 eyes. “Is that better?” She got a shy nod from Hotaru in return. Smiling a little648 more as relief spread through her body, she placed the wide brimmed hat on649 Hotaru.650 The pale girl looked at ChibiUsa for a long moment before smiling a little651 herself. She was being childish, she admonished herself. But she had to admit652 deep down that it was worth it if it meant ChibiUsa was there to take care of her.653 She gave the bigger girl a warm hug. “Thank you, ChibiUsa-chan.” After a654 second’s pause, she added almost inaudibly, “I love you.”655 Whether the older girl heard her or not would never be known, because at656 that moment an arm whipped out and grabbed at Hotaru. A yelp escaped the657 raven haired girl as she got pulled backwards suddenly, her hat falling to the658 floor. As the terrified Senshi of Death and Rebirth turned around, she saw what659 she had sworn was a mannequin just a few moments earlier with an evil grin on660 its face.661 “Hotaru-chan!” ChibiUsa yelled as she watched in confusion. A Daimon!662 Just like the one they’d fought a few days ago when Hotaru had been tied up. So663 it wasn’t an accident after all. Someone was after them. But why? There was no664 time to waste on the answers but she’d see that they didn’t get away with665 whatever it was. Lunging forward, she grabbed Hotaru’s forearm.666 Unfortunately, the Daimon was much stronger than it had appeared and667 ChibiUsa had never been very strong to begin with, so both the dark haired girl668 and the future princess got dragged through a few racks of clothes. Trying to669 catch her bearings, ChibiUsa noticed that the twins were left unprotected as they670 watched the whole thing. She could only hope that this thing was only after her671 and Hotaru. “Hotaru-chan, hang on!” she screamed as she felt her grip672 loosening. The Daimon laughed maniacally and lashed the smaller girl in her673 grasp. ChibiUsa lost her grip and lay sprawled against a cosmetics display.674 Disoriented, frightened, and now very angry at seeing the girl she loved675 being hurt like that, Hotaru struggled with the much stronger Daimon.676 "ChibiUsa-chan!” The Saturn symbol flashed on her forehead as the Daimon677 laughed evilly. An aura of light started glowing around the young girl, her short678 hair whipping around as if she were in a storm. “Don’t hurt her!” Hotaru cried,679 grabbing the Daimon’s attention. The energy around the girl grew in size and680 strength within seconds, ripping through the Daimon’s hand that had been681 holding onto her arm. Screaming in pain, the mannequin daimon stumbled682 backwards. Swaying back and forth after the serge of energy had drained her,683 Hotaru fell to her knees. She was quickly pulled back to her feet by two arms684 around her. Looking around in fright, the dark haired girl’s frantically beating685 heart started to slow when she looked up into crimson eyes framed by cotton686 candy pink hair. “ChibiUsa-chan!”687 ChibiUsa smiled reassuringly. “Hai, it’s me. I’m just fine. You did a great688 job, Hota-chan, but I want you to get out of here with the twins. I’ll henshin and689 deal with the Daimon while you three get out of here.” She grabbed her broach690 absentmindedly as she watched the injured Daimon.691 Hotaru shook her head adamantly, her violet eyes worried. “I don’t want to692 leave you…” she said softly. She couldn’t leave ChibiUsa to face this thing693 alone. “Wait for the Sailor Quartet at least,” she pleaded, holding tightly onto694 ChibiUsa’s white skirt.695 The pink haired girl bit her lower lip as she watched the Daimon start to696 regroup. She really hadn’t fought on her own before. Besides, when Hotaru had697 returned to her it was so they could fight together. But now, on her own… She698 would have to fight anyway. She was a Sailor Senshi and she couldn’t stand by699 and let this thing hurt anyone else, let alone Hotaru or her future daughters.700 Clutching her broach, she took a step away from the worried dark haired girl.701 “Gomen nasai, Taru-chan. I promise we’ll fight together again.” Another soft702 smile went the younger girl’s way before being replaced with a more serious703 look. Holding her broach in the air, feeling her own Pink Crystal inside of it, she704 braced herself for what could be the toughest fight of her life.705 But before she had the chance to utter another word, another voice rang out706 into the pandemonium that had become the mall. “From a distant horizon, a new707 day is dawning. I am the future. Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon.” Landing708 gracefully a few yards in front of the shocked would be Sailorchibimoon,709 another Sailor Senshi stood, her long dark hair done up with four odango, the710 thick pigtails draped across her back not quite reaching past her waist. She had a711 light pink skirt with a purple bow on the front and back. Her long boots reached712 just below the knee. Her broach, a highly decorated scarlet and pink heart, was713 offset by a small gold half moon. Her shoulders were clad in a pink sphere,714 similar to Eternal Sailormoon. Long gloves went past her elbows, an odd scepter715 in her gloved hands.716 Not knowing what was going on, but not wanting to keep the younger girls717 in harms way any longer than necessary, ChibiUsa backed off from the new718 senshi towards a clothes rack, hoping to find some sort of cover if anything719 happened. It took her a moment to realize that she’d taken Hotaru’s hand in her720 own in reflex. She looked curiously down at the other girl, but Hotaru’s simple721 shrug was enough to see that the dark haired girl had no more of an idea than722 she did about what was going on. She did know that the senshi sure looked723 awfully familiar...724 Hotaru squeezed ChibiUsa’s hand, looking for some reassurance in what725 had quickly become a shopping trip from hell. She knew that the monster that726 had attacked them was a Daimon, but she couldn’t figure out how or why it727 would be here. Her father’s laboratory was gone, the Daimon Eggs wouldn’t be728 easy to produce. But obviously someone had gotten a hold of them. And they729 were sending them after her. She brought her other hand to ChibiUsa’s as well.730 She’d never been this frightened before of an attack. But she had never been this731 helpless before either.732 Ribbons whipped out from the mannequin at the new Sailor Senshi, but733 before they reached her, they hit right into a glowing barrier. Another Senshi734 stood in front of the first, this one holding a very familiar looking weapon. The735 Silence Glaive. Short, wavy pink hair graced her head along with a large pair of736 glasses that accentuated the soft curves of her face. She had a dark purple skirt737 and a light pink bow on the front and back. Her long laced up boots reached a738 little lower than her counterpart’s. She had the sharp crystal shards that Saturn739 had had on her original fuku for a broach, this time in a heart shape. Her740 shoulders had the odd ripped look of Saturn's old costume as well.741 “Sailorsaturn,” Hotaru gasped. Shaking her head, the raven haired girl watched742 the two. But that couldn’t be right. She was Sailorsaturn. Or, Saturn resided743 within her at least. This was all becoming more and more unnerving.744 “Amazoness Jungle Arrow!!” With the Daimon distracted, the just arriving745 Sailor Quartet wasted no time in attacking. Unable to dodge, it dissipated after746 the combined blast of the four ripped through it.747 “Well, that sure was easy. We’re getting good at this protecting the princess748 thing,” JunJun said thoughtfully as she took a few steps towards who she749 suspected were the Saturn and Chibimoon that they knew. Whirling around, the750 short pink haired one stuck the Silence Glaive inches from the tanned member751 of the Quartet’s face. Suddenly not feeling quite as friendly with the sharp object752 pointed in her face, Sailorjuno backed off.753 “What the hell?” VesVes asked as she watched the two new Sailor Senshi754 suspiciously. “Hey, this is our job. Find yourself your own princess.” Out of the755 corner of her eye, she could see Sailorceres and Pallas standing protectively near756 ChibiUsa and Hotaru. She averted her eyes before she could alert the two757 intruders.758 The two girls laughed a little as they looked at each other. “Thanks, but no759 thanks. We’ve got our own reasons for being here. We just decided that rather760 than having them all get killed now, we’d let them know that we’re keeping an761 eye on them,” the dark haired one answered, brushing her fingers through one of762 her dark pigtails.763 “Though they shouldn’t expect us to save them next time,” the shorter764 haired one said, adjusting her glasses as she looked pointedly at the two girls in765 question, ChibiUsa still clutching onto the younger Hotaru protectively.766 “PallaPalla didn’t know there were anymore Sailor Senshi. Especially not767 any that looked like Small Lady or Hotaru,” the blue haired Sailor Quartet768 member whispered to CereCere.769 “Neither did I. It’s starting to get difficult keeping track of everybody. Just770 remember that nobody else matters besides the princess. It’s much easier to771 remember that way,” CereCere explained, irritated at the newcomers772 appearance. This would definitely mean more work for them. As if they didn’t773 have enough as it was! ChibiUsa was pretty good at getting herself in trouble774 with these sorts of things and they had to protect her as Hotaru had decided for775 them when she’d awakened them as Sailor Senshi. Maybe if she wasn’t so776 overprotective, they wouldn’t have to worry about this sort of thing.777 “Who are you?” ChibiUsa asked as she stood up, looking over at the two.778 “Why are you here?” She took a step forward toward the Sailor Senshi. “Are779 you here to fight with us? Is there a new threat on the way?” Her innocent780 questions were cut short as the Silence Glaive slashed through the bow on her781 blouse. Startled, the pink haired girl stumbled backwards before falling.782 “We’re here to test you,” the dark haired one answered with a sad smile. In783 the background, a strange whistling music could be heard at that.784 ChibiUsa swallowed nervously as the new Sailorsaturn looked down at her785 with glassy, cold eyes, still holding the Silence Glaive ready. She remembered786 not to let her fear show through as she shifted on the cold floor. “Test us?787 How?”788 “You’ll see,” the pink haired one said simply. With that, the two were off.789 ChibiUsa wanted to follow, wanted to know what was going on here and790 why they’d saved them, but Hotaru’s arms around her made her give up on the791 idea instantly. Kneeling down next to her, she looked into those infinitely deep792 violet eyes. “Are you okay, Hota-chan?” She hugged the younger girl to her,793 glad the whole thing was over.794 Hotaru knew that ChibiUsa was hiding how worried she was about all this795 but she let it drop. ChibiUsa always tried to hide her feelings, pretending to be796 happy when something was wrong so no one would worry about her. It wasn’t797 very difficult for Hotaru to see through it, though. She wasn’t very good at798 pretending to be happy herself, but she could still spot the differences in799 ChibiUsa’s behavior when the pink haired girl tried it. “ChibiUsa-chan, I think I800 know who they are,” Hotaru whispered to the older girl.801 “What? Who?” ChibiUsa asked, startled. She hadn’t begun to think about802 that yet, still confused by their very appearance to wonder who these mysterious803 senshi could be.804 Maybe she was wrong. How would she know? Maybe she was just looking805 too hard. She shook her head. No, it made too much sense. Casting a sidelong806 glance at the still worried twins, she quickly looked back at ChibiUsa. Leaning807 closer, she whispered again. “ChibiUsa-chan, I think it’s the twins. I don’t know808 how yet.”809 ChibiUsa could barely restrain her surprise at that. She cautiously took a810 look at the two younger girls, still embracing in fear as PallaPalla and CereCere811 tried to calm them down. One with long dark pigtails, the other with slightly812 shorter pink hair and glasses. Hotaru shook her head, silencing ChibiUsa’s813 questions for the two girls before she could ask them. ChibiUsa just nodded,814 biting her lower lip. This was most definitely getting bizarre. She wished for her815 magical city of the future where things at least made sense. “Oh boy...”818 ~Fin~820 Next time on Quant… err… the ChibiUsa & Hotaru series of stories: I821 really have no clue. ^-^ Maybe a few vague ones (which I’m currently keeping822 tabs of in an outline for the next story) but otherwise I’m as clueless as you are.823 ^-^;; Maybe if I didn’t keep switching from story to story (I’m working on nine824 at last count) I’d have some idea of where I was going with all this. O_o I’m825 really sorry I’m so slow, but when it rains it pours. ^-^;; Things have been really826 messed up lately, as everyone who knows me has surely heard about. But as far827 as everything goes, you never can have too much time traveling right? ^-^ Okay,828 maybe. ^^;; I’ll try to lay off the time traveling next time so I don’t cramp the829 story with so many characters. I should be concentrating on ChibiUsa & Hotaru830 more as it is. ^-^;; Anyway, I’m ranting now, so please ignore me. If any of you831 would like to contact me for any reason at all (liked the story, caught any in-832 jokes, noticed I screwed up somewhere from my bad habit of only writing when833 I should be asleep, have any ideas for the next story, etc.), my e-mail address is834 amazonessduo@hotmail.com and my ICQ name is ChibiUsa Tomoe. I have835 AIM, but I’m not on it half as much. ^^;; Anyway, thanks so much for reading.836 ^-^ *hugs and kisses*