rlm@0: Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon - Infinity II Alternate rlm@0: 'Eye of the Beholder' - Chapter One rlm@0: by AmazonessDuo rlm@0: amazonessduo@hotmail.com rlm@0: rlm@0: rlm@0: As the afternoon sun beat down, a lone girl made her way home. The rlm@0: dark stockings and midnight-black hair almost helped her blend into rlm@0: the shadows. But the lonely girl didn’t need them for that purpose. rlm@0: She was used to being ignored, used to fading away into shadows. It rlm@0: was so much better if to others if she didn’t exist. To exist meant rlm@0: for them to torment her, to hate her. Why did they hate her? Why did rlm@0: everyone hate her? What had she done? All she wanted was to be left rlm@0: alone. Why was this impossible to allow her? And so she hid. In plain rlm@0: sight, she hid. She was the quiet girl; the shy girl. The lonely rlm@0: girl. But only when she was lucky. When she wasn’t, she was the rlm@0: freak. That thing that was only to be hated, not pitied. A witch. No rlm@0: one knew her. No one cared to. rlm@0: Her eyes downcast, she walked slowly home, keeping to the shadows, rlm@0: wishing she could fade away into them. As she passed a group of rlm@0: students around her age on the sidewalk, she gripped the strap to her rlm@0: school bag nervously. She silently prayed to go unnoticed, and as the rlm@0: small group left her behind, talking and laughing happily, she rlm@0: sighed. But her relief was short-lived, as two girls walking to rlm@0: their next class spotted her and began to talk, just loud enough for rlm@0: her to hear. rlm@0: "That's the 6th grader, Tomoe-san," says one, as they catch up to rlm@0: her. "She's carrying her bag. Is she leaving early again?" rlm@0: "Isn't she really weak?" responds the other. "She's been wearing rlm@0: those long tights all year." rlm@0: Hotaru closed her eyes, hoping the two would just go away and leave rlm@0: her alone. "She's such a dark person," they continued. "Her rlm@0: expression is always so empty. It's well known that she's a bit rlm@0: strange." rlm@0: "Naturally. Her father's a mad scientist." This insult cut into rlm@0: her. She was used to being taunted and tormented herself, but rlm@0: resorting to attack her father..? The pain grew until it was almost rlm@0: unbearable. "Doesn't she have any friends?" rlm@0: The lonely girl collapsed, her bag and its contents spilling out rlm@0: onto the pavement. Coughing and trying to see through the haze of rlm@0: pain, the suffering girl reached out to gather her tin pencil case. rlm@0: The girls, seeing this as a perfect opportunity to torture her, rlm@0: quickly approached, one stepping on the pencil case to attract her rlm@0: attention. "What's wrong, Tomoe Hotaru-sempai?" she said, grinning rlm@0: down at the poor girl condescendingly. "You tired, need some help?" rlm@0: Hotaru simply pulled the pencil case out from under the girl's rlm@0: foot, and stood, having picked up everything else already. Glaring rlm@0: at the two girls, she holds up the tin pencil case and crushes it in rlm@0: her fist, dropping the now-useless scrap to the ground and continuing rlm@0: her walk home. As she left, she heard the girls behind her gasp in rlm@0: astonishment and continue talking: "W.. what?? She crushed it! Just rlm@0: like that!!" "She looked so mad.. like a completely different person!" rlm@0: Every day it was the same, and this was no different.. By now she rlm@0: had grown used to it. One lonely day to the next, she dealt with her rlm@0: classmates taunts, the emptiness inside of being truly alone even rlm@0: amidst so many people. She was an outcast, an outsider to which rlm@0: everyone, even other outcasts, looked down on her. rlm@0: The fact that the school day was over brought little comfort to the rlm@0: raven haired girl. The cycle would begin again the next day, or after rlm@0: the weekend. It was unending, a constant in her life that she rlm@0: couldn’t escape. She darkly contemplated what to do once she got rlm@0: home. Her father would probably be in his lab, as usual. She hoped rlm@0: his assistant, Kaolinite, would be as well. She would probably go rlm@0: back to her room, close the curtains and try to escape her painful rlm@0: existence in one of the many books she was reading. Maybe she could rlm@0: even forget, at least for a short time. Or maybe she could come up rlm@0: with a more permanent escape…. rlm@0: The dark haired girl gasped and froze in place at the sight ahead rlm@0: of her. Her heart nearly stopped at the shock that washed over her. A rlm@0: girl with beautiful pink hair stood with her hands clasped in front rlm@0: of her near the front gate to the mansion Hotaru lived at with her rlm@0: father. Hotaru brushed some dark strands of hair from her eyes and rlm@0: blinked. Her eyes had to be playing tricks on her. No one would ever rlm@0: come see her. She knew that much. The pink haired girl couldn’t have rlm@0: come back to see her. Nothing like that had ever happened to her. No rlm@0: one cared that much to come see her. Her pulse raced as she stood rlm@0: nervously, completely unsure of what to think or do. She wanted to rlm@0: shrink back into the shadows, to disappear. Then this couldn’t rlm@0: confuse her like this. It wouldn’t be able to scare her as it did. rlm@0: But something deep inside stopped her from leaving. rlm@0: rlm@0: ~~~~~~ rlm@0: rlm@0: ChibiUsa stood nervously in front of the imposing iron gate. She rlm@0: felt a knot in her stomach as she waited. And waited. And waited. She rlm@0: had been thinking more and more of the pale, dark haired girl lately. rlm@0: She had to see her again. She’d bought a new handkerchief to give rlm@0: Hotaru since the other one had been stained with the blood from her rlm@0: wound. Oddly enough, ChibiUsa treasured the cloth, keeping it hidden rlm@0: behind some of the bunny dolls she collected. She would take it out rlm@0: when no one was around, a reminder of Hotaru. She was a bit glad that rlm@0: it had been stained, both to remind her of the dark haired girl’s rlm@0: soft healing touch, and so she could keep the handkerchief for herself. rlm@0: Releasing a sigh of defeat, ChibiUsa turned to leave. She gasped, rlm@0: startled by the sudden appearance of the girl she’d been thinking of. rlm@0: She wasn’t sure what to do, whether she should go to the dark haired rlm@0: girl or stay and wait for her to walk up. ChibiUsa didn’t have to rlm@0: worry about that decision because her sudden shock had taken her mind rlm@0: from the task at hand. Her forward momentum kept her going, but her rlm@0: feet weren’t moving. Before she knew what had happened, she tripped, rlm@0: falling face first. She managed to land on her arm, the same arm that rlm@0: had been cut by the Daimon. Pain coursed through it as she collapsed rlm@0: to the ground. rlm@0: The pink haired girl could dimly hear Hotaru yell something before rlm@0: running over to her. It wasn’t so much the pain she felt as the rlm@0: embarrassment that really got to her. It wasn’t exactly the first rlm@0: impression she wanted to have on the dark haired girl when they met rlm@0: again. ‘Why am I always so clumsy?’ ChibiUsa asked herself angrily. rlm@0: ‘I’ll never be like my mother. Some graceful princess I am.’ Letting rlm@0: herself be helped into a sitting position, she met Hotaru’s gaze with rlm@0: difficulty, her cheeks still a flustered shade of red. One glance rlm@0: into the violet eyes looking back at her completely rid ChibiUsa of rlm@0: the embarrassment she’d felt seconds before. There was nothing but rlm@0: concern in those large beautiful eyes. rlm@0: “Does it hurt?” Hotaru asked, rolling up ChibiUsa’s long sleeves to rlm@0: get a better look at her arm. She gently ran her hands across the rlm@0: pink haired girl’s creamy skin. rlm@0: ChibiUsa sat silently for a moment. Hotaru’s fingers caressing her rlm@0: arm was sheer bliss. The dark haired girl’s soft touch pushed all rlm@0: conscious thought from her mind. She looked back at Hotaru, not rlm@0: saying anything, just enjoying the silence and the feel of her touch. rlm@0: Finally noticing the other girl’s concerned stare, ChibiUsa shook rlm@0: herself from that strange moment. ‘What just happened? I feel so rlm@0: strange. How does she keep making me feel this way? Even when she’s rlm@0: not there, she’s all I can think about. And now that she is here, I rlm@0: can’t think,’ she thought to herself. She smiled and laughed rlm@0: nervously. “Its nothing. I’m not exactly as graceful as I could be. rlm@0: I’m used to it by now.” rlm@0: A smile tugged at the corner of Hotaru’s lips. “Its cute,” she said rlm@0: quietly. rlm@0: ChibiUsa smiled broader. Hotaru thought it was cute? She’d always rlm@0: wanted to be graceful, elegant, worried that she’d never be. But the rlm@0: other girl actually thought her clumsiness was cute? She tried to say rlm@0: something but all that came out was a quiet, “Thank you.” Still rlm@0: feeling the gentle brush of fingertips against her skin, ChibiUsa rlm@0: brought her gaze down to her arm. “Oh, you don’t have to worry about rlm@0: that. I’m fi…” She winced as the dark haired girl’s fingers pressed rlm@0: against a small place on her arm. rlm@0: “You’re fine, are you?” Hotaru asked, starting to smile. “If you’re rlm@0: normally like this, then at least someone’s benefiting from my rlm@0: healing powers.” Her hands started to glow as she concentrated. The rlm@0: pain began to recede from ChibiUsa’s arm. rlm@0: The pink haired girl giggled as the warm glow healed her arm. rlm@0: “That’s why I’m not scared of you. I could use the help when I get rlm@0: hurt like that,” she joked. She noticed that though she hadn’t known rlm@0: this girl for long, she felt completely at ease with her. A warm rlm@0: feeling spread through her at the thought. rlm@0: A small laugh escaped Hotaru’s perfect lips. “I’m glad I could rlm@0: help.” Standing up, she offered her pink haired companion a hand, rlm@0: which the other girl eagerly accepted. Brushing the grass from her rlm@0: skirt, Hotaru looked sidelong at ChibiUsa. Now that the fall was over rlm@0: with, she was back to wondering why the pink haired girl was here. No rlm@0: one ever came to see her. What was going on? Was this a joke? No, rlm@0: this couldn’t be. She knew the pink haired girl was incapable of rlm@0: doing anything so cruel. As an uneasy silence set in, both girls rlm@0: laughed nervously. Thinking for a minute, Hotaru grabbed ChibiUsa’s rlm@0: hand. ‘Dad’s gone for at least a couple more hours and Kaolinite’s rlm@0: probably with him, so I should be able to talk to her.’ “Would you rlm@0: like to come inside?” rlm@0: Nodding, the pink haired girl flashed a smile at Hotaru. “I’d love rlm@0: to.” rlm@0: That sweet voice and those warm crimson eyes sent tingles down rlm@0: Hotaru’s spine. She couldn’t shake the feeling as she led ChibiUsa rlm@0: inside the mansion. “Come with me.” Finally, the two entered Hotaru’s rlm@0: room. rlm@0: ChibiUsa let out a small ‘oh’ as she glanced around the dark room. rlm@0: “There are lamps everywhere. Your room’s so romantic, Hotaru-chan.” rlm@0: The room was filled with lamps of every size and description. They rlm@0: were all placed around the room neatly keeping them from making the rlm@0: room look cluttered. rlm@0: Hotaru blushed, turning on a few of the lamps, though the room rlm@0: remained fairly dark. In the darkness the lights shined like rlm@0: fireflies, seeming to cast a faint glow on Hotaru. “I prefer rlm@0: obscurity.. The quiet and the dark.” She said softly. "Would you rlm@0: like something to drink?" the mysterious girl quickly asked, trying rlm@0: to get off the subject. rlm@0: The pink-haired girl nodded enthusiastically. "Hai, that sounds rlm@0: good." Hotaru silently slipped out, leaving ChibiUsa alone in the rlm@0: dimly-lit room. Ever curious, ChibiUsa couldn't help but wonder why rlm@0: the girl was so shy, so lonely.. so mysterious. Her wonderings were rlm@0: cut short when the door opened to reveal Hotaru, now clad in a simple rlm@0: black dress complete with tights, and carrying a tray with two rlm@0: teacups on it. “Do you like dark clothes, too?” she asked, rlm@0: indicating the dress. rlm@0: Hotaru nodded slowly. “Hai. I feel better in the shadows.” rlm@0: “Hotaru-chan… Why do you always cover up so much? I mean, with rlm@0: sweaters and long sleeves and stockings,” ChibiUsa asked. rlm@0: “I had an accident a long time ago. I have many wounds from it,” rlm@0: Hotaru said simply, looking away. To change the subject, she asked rlm@0: what had been on her mind all along. “Why are you here?” rlm@0: ChibiUsa smiled sheepishly, almost having forgot. She handed Hotaru rlm@0: the new handkerchief she bought. “I wanted to give it back to you, rlm@0: but the blood wouldn’t come out of the old one. So here’s a new one.” rlm@0: Hotaru blinked at the handkerchief in ChibiUsa’s outstretched hand. rlm@0: “You came all this way to see me… just to give me back my rlm@0: handkerchief?” She was astonished. This girl had come to see her over rlm@0: something as insignificant as a strip of cloth, something no one else rlm@0: would ever have worried about with her involved. Before she could ask rlm@0: the pink haired girl why she did it, she started coughing rlm@0: uncontrollably. Her heart beat faster as she slumped to her knees. rlm@0: The tray clanged to the floor, spilling tea and cups alike, forgotten rlm@0: by the two in this moment of crisis. rlm@0: “Hotaru-chan!!” ChibiUsa ran to her side as Hotaru suffered another rlm@0: of her fits. “Hotaru-chan!!!” she yelled worriedly, clutching onto rlm@0: the raven haired girl. The look of excruciating pain on Hotaru’s rlm@0: beautiful face tore through her heart like a knife. Her mind raced rlm@0: desperately to find a way to help. rlm@0: “My…medicine…” Hotaru barely managed to get out. A shaky hand rlm@0: reached towards her desk, too far out of reach. rlm@0: ChibiUsa’s eyes frantically searched the desk, but she couldn’t rlm@0: find the medicine Hotaru had mentioned. Hearing Hotaru say something rlm@0: about an amulet, she fumbled for her broach. “It’ll be okay, Hotaru- rlm@0: chan. I’ll help you, I promise,” she whispered soothingly. rlm@0: ‘You can’t help me. No one can help me,’ Hotaru thought sadly. Her rlm@0: eyes closed, trying to block out the immense pain. "No.. don't come rlm@0: closer... you shouldn't.. be near me.." she managed to whisper rlm@0: between gasps for breath, wishing she would pass out. Or worse… rlm@0: Finally getting at her broach, the pink haired girl pulled out the rlm@0: Silver Crystal, the one from the future that her mother had given her rlm@0: to take care of when she’d come back to train as Sailor Chibimoon. rlm@0: Her breath caught in her chest as she watched the dark haired girl rlm@0: writhe in pain. She brushed wisps of pink hair from her own tear rlm@0: streaked eyes, praying this would work. A soft glow slowly began to rlm@0: emanate from the crystal, quickly growing brighter. rlm@0: Hotaru gasped as a warm glow blanketed her body. The wonderful rlm@0: feeling spread through her. The pain ebbed away, her body once again rlm@0: her own. Her pain had never disappeared so quickly, vanished so rlm@0: completely in such a short time. The room was silent for a moment, rlm@0: the only sound was the breathing of the two girls. Hotaru could do rlm@0: nothing but look at ChibiUsa’s worried face. She had wanted to rlm@0: express her gratefulness, but her voice caught in her throat as her rlm@0: violet eyes gazed into ChibiUsa’s glittering crimson ones. ‘She looks rlm@0: so worried,' Hotaru thought to herself. A sudden realization shocked rlm@0: her. ‘About me? She’s worried about me? But how? No one worries about rlm@0: me…’ The raven haired girl’s pale cheeks flushed as crimson as rlm@0: ChibiUsa’s eyes. She tried to say something, but her mind was having rlm@0: trouble locking onto anything than the fact that this girl could be rlm@0: worried about her. “Thank you…” she managed quietly. rlm@0: ChibiUsa sat down on her knees in front of Hotaru. She smiled rlm@0: happily. “I’m just really glad you’re okay, Hotaru-chan. You had me rlm@0: so worried for a moment.” A strange feeling filled her as she looked rlm@0: into those lonely violet eyes. The intensity of the gaze, the way rlm@0: she was looking at her, part of it scared her. Yet an odd excitement rlm@0: coursed through her as their eyes met. She sat completely still, half rlm@0: scared of what might happen next, but anxiously hoping something rlm@0: would. She swallowed nervously as her eyes slowly traced Hotaru’s rlm@0: beautiful features. From her soft lips, down to her elegant chin, to rlm@0: her dark eye lashes, to the slight blush coloring her pristine rlm@0: cheeks. ChibiUsa’s lungs ached for air as she quietly waited. rlm@0: Hotaru slowly brought a hand up towards ChibiUsa’s. The pink haired rlm@0: girl started reaching for Hotaru’s hand instinctively, as if it was rlm@0: exactly what she should do. Releasing her grip on the Silver Crystal, rlm@0: it fell from her grasp. Time seemed to slow as the glittering crystal rlm@0: dropped towards the ground. Hotaru barely caught the crystal before rlm@0: it hit the ground. “Your amulet, it's wonderful,” the raven haired rlm@0: girl said at last, breaking the silence. rlm@0: ChibiUsa finally released her breath. She wasn’t sure if she was rlm@0: glad or disappointed that nothing had happened. ‘What was I thinking rlm@0: might happen, anyway?’ she asked herself. Try as she might, she rlm@0: couldn’t come up with an answer to that. Looking back up at Hotaru, rlm@0: she couldn’t resist the urge to reach out and take her hand in her rlm@0: own. The raven haired girl almost flinched at the sudden contact of rlm@0: the warm hand against her skin, but ChibiUsa continued to hold her rlm@0: hand gently. “Oh, that? Yeah, I guess you can call it my amulet.” She rlm@0: laughed a bit, lightening the moment. “It used to be my mother’s but rlm@0: she gave it to me, sort of as a going away present until I returned.” rlm@0: “Return where?” Hotaru asked, as if picking up on the pink haired rlm@0: girl’s thoughts of home. She started to relax, greatly enjoying rlm@0: ChibiUsa’s gentle touch. rlm@0: ChibiUsa laughed again, nervously this time. “Well, its kinda hard rlm@0: to explain.” rlm@0: Handing the crystal back to ChibiUsa, Hotaru smiled softly. “I rlm@0: won’t tell anyone your secret, Chibimoon.” Her eyes widened as she rlm@0: remembered something. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I don’t even know your name.” rlm@0: ChibiUsa grinned broadly. She felt good that the other girl wanted rlm@0: to know her name. “I’m ChibiUsa Small Lady Tsukino. Well, my real rlm@0: name's Usagi, but while I’m here everyone’s calling me ChibiUsa.” rlm@0: Hotaru brushed some dark hair from her eyes, looking intently at rlm@0: the other girl. She couldn’t help but giggle. “Little Rabbit. That rlm@0: fits you perfectly.” rlm@0: ChibiUsa couldn’t help but laugh as well. “You really think so?” rlm@0: “Yes. It's cute. It really seems to fit you.” Hotaru blushed and rlm@0: looked away. rlm@0: Tilting to the side, ChibiUsa managed to catch Hotaru’s gaze again. rlm@0: She wanted to see those beautiful violet eyes pointed her way again, rlm@0: looking out from that gorgeous face. “Thanks,” she said, feeling her rlm@0: own cheeks blush slightly. “Hotaru’s a really pretty name. Firefly. rlm@0: It makes you sound kinda mysterious.” rlm@0: Hotaru sighed and shook her head. “No. People want to know about rlm@0: the mysterious. I just frighten them.” rlm@0: Taking Hotaru’s hand with both of her own, ChibiUsa kept gazing rlm@0: intently into the mysterious girl’s dark eyes. “I want to know about rlm@0: you. And you don’t frighten me. I don’t know how anyone could see you rlm@0: like that.” rlm@0: Hotaru tried to look away, these new feelings threatening to rlm@0: overwhelm the poor girl, her mind already lost in confusion. Those rlm@0: crimson eyes captivated her. Escape from them seemed impossible. This rlm@0: was too good to be true. She had never had a friend before, someone rlm@0: who wanted to know about her, who cared for her. No one cared about rlm@0: her, right? Hadn’t life seemingly banned her from having a single rlm@0: soul that could be her friend? So why was this pink haired girl here? rlm@0: She flinched away from the contact of the other girl’s hands against rlm@0: her own, but ChibiUsa held tight, not letting go. “But you don’t know rlm@0: me,” she said quietly. rlm@0: “I want to,” came ChibiUsa’s earnest reply. She looked pleadingly rlm@0: into Hotaru’s violet eyes. “Please let me get to know you.” rlm@0: Hotaru was silent for a long moment. This caught her by surprise. rlm@0: All sorts of emotions ran through her. Happiness that ChibiUsa could rlm@0: care that much, fear that this might all be a dream or that ChibiUsa rlm@0: would change her mind when she did learn more about her, hope that rlm@0: her loneliness could finally come to an end. “Thank you.” She slowly rlm@0: smiled, a broad genuine smile. “ChibiUsa-chan.” rlm@0: ChibiUsa smiled happily. She had managed to see that beautiful rlm@0: smile again. “Hotaru-chan, you’re the most interesting, most rlm@0: beautiful person I’ve met since I came here. I really want to be your rlm@0: friend.” ‘That’s all I want to be, right? What else would I want to rlm@0: be?’ ChibiUsa shrugs off the thoughts, leaning forward and hugging rlm@0: Hotaru. rlm@0: The dark haired girl’s eyes went wide as she felt the pink haired rlm@0: girl against her. She relished in the sensation. She tentatively rlm@0: placed her arms around ChibiUsa, hugging her back. rlm@0: The two girls stayed that way for a long time, both enjoying the rlm@0: companionship and warmth. ChibiUsa glanced up from Hotaru’s shoulder rlm@0: and noticed how dark it had gotten. “I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go. rlm@0: It’s getting late and I don’t want Ikuko-mama to worry." Releasing rlm@0: the embrace, ChibiUsa frowned reluctantly. “I wish I didn’t have to, rlm@0: but she doesn’t know where I am. I really want to see you again.” rlm@0: Hotaru blushed again, standing up as well. “You do? ChibiUsa-chan, rlm@0: you’re sweet. I really hope I can see you again, too.” She smiled a rlm@0: little shyly at the pink haired girl. rlm@0: ChibiUsa grinned brightly, her hands placed behind her back. rlm@0: “Really? Then you will. I’ll try to see you soon.” rlm@0: Brushing a few strands of dark hair from her eyes, Hotaru stood in rlm@0: front of the pink haired girl awkwardly. She smiled softly. “I’d like rlm@0: that.” rlm@0: “Me too.” ChibiUsa gave Hotaru another hug before following her to rlm@0: the door. rlm@0: rlm@0: rlm@0: rlm@0: ~~~~~~ rlm@0: rlm@0: rlm@0: It was near the end of the day at Minato Ku Juuban Elementary, and rlm@0: ChibiUsa's mind wandered from her teacher to hey shy, mysterious rlm@0: friend. 'She's got such pretty pale skin..' she thought, tuning rlm@0: everything else out. 'Like new-fallen snow..' Momoko poked her, rlm@0: whispering that she should pay attention to what her teacher was rlm@0: saying as she explains that all the clay works they did recieved rlm@0: compliments from the other classes. "But, it's time now to take your rlm@0: sculptures home. Give them to someone important to you, like your rlm@0: mom or best friend, in gratitude." rlm@0: ChibiUsa took her jeweled chalice from the display, holding it up rlm@0: to the light and silently cursing. 'Do I really have to give this up? rlm@0: I worked so hard on it..' She turned to Momoko and verbalized the rlm@0: thought. "Momochan, what will you do with yours?" rlm@0: "My mom's birthday is coming up in a few days," the other girl rlm@0: replied. "I'll give mine to her." Just then, one of the clay cups rlm@0: found its way to ChibiUsa's desk. It had a profile of Sailormoon rlm@0: worked into the side. "That's a nice design, Kyosuke. But why are rlm@0: you giving it to Chibiusachan?" rlm@0: The somewhat annoying boy put his hand behind his head as he rlm@0: laughed nervously, blushing a little. "Well.. I've been a really bad rlm@0: friend. So I thought this might make up. Kind of a sign of rlm@0: friendship." Immediately upon those words, ChibiUsa's mind pops up rlm@0: with a picture of Hotachan. rlm@0: "A sign of friendship! That's it! I'll give it to Hotaru-chan!!" rlm@0: Momoko groaned. "Isn't that the Mugen student?" ChibiUsa nodded rlm@0: and began to explain. "Yeah! She's my new friend, and she's really rlm@0: pretty, but she's kinda lonely, and mysterious too!" Momoko snorted, rlm@0: replying semi-sarcastically. "You're so obsessed with her, what is rlm@0: she, your girlfriend?" rlm@0: The commotion of the class leaving as the bell rings served to hide rlm@0: ChibiUsa's deep blush. rlm@0: rlm@0: ~~~~~~ rlm@0: rlm@0: rlm@0: By the time she got home, Momoko’s comment had faded to the back of rlm@0: ChibiUsa’s mind, replaced by much more urgent things. Like seeing rlm@0: Hotaru again. The fact that it was starting to rain heavily outside rlm@0: hardly seemed to matter to the future princess. The thought of seeing rlm@0: her lonely friend was all consuming. ‘Is she okay? Does she miss me? rlm@0: What’s she doing?’ she thought to herself as she dropped her book bag rlm@0: on her bed and hurried downstairs. Her mind was hazy with the rlm@0: thoughts of her new friend swirling through her mind. She wasted no rlm@0: time in getting an umbrella and pulling on her shoes. There wasn’t rlm@0: any thunder, so she might be able to make it there despite the rain. rlm@0: A cold pit formed in her stomach at the thought of thunder and rlm@0: lightening along the way, but she pushed it aside. She’d see Hotaru rlm@0: soon enough and then it wouldn’t matter what she went through to get rlm@0: there. A sudden burst of cold, wet air made ChibiUsa look up towards rlm@0: the opening front door. rlm@0: Usagi stood there for a moment, her blonde pigtails glistening with rlm@0: the raindrops from walking in the rain. She took in the scene before rlm@0: her, her ‘cousin’ obviously ready to leave. Again. ‘Why is she always rlm@0: leaving to see that girl?’ Usagi asked herself. ‘Hotaru Tomoe might rlm@0: be part of The Enemy. Her father’s in charge of them. ChibiUsa might rlm@0: be in danger and she doesn’t even realize it.’ Feeling herself begin rlm@0: to get a bit angry at whatever ChibiUsa was keeping from her, she rlm@0: demanded the smaller girl tell her where she was going. rlm@0: "Hotaru-chan’s," ChibiUsa said simply, standing up and moving to rlm@0: get past Usagi. Her future mother barred her exit. ChibiUsa frowned rlm@0: as she pulled the umbrella up against her shoulder. rlm@0: Usagi shook her head stubbornly, droplets of water flying about. rlm@0: "Not on your own you aren’t." rlm@0: "But..." ChibiUsa began indignantly. rlm@0: "It's raining really hard and its already getting dark. I’m going," rlm@0: Usagi argued obstinately. "You’ve been going to see this girl for a rlm@0: while now and this time I’m coming with." rlm@0: "That’s not fair! She’s my friend!" ChibiUsa replied angrily. rlm@0: "Well, if you want to see her this time, I’m going, too." The blonde rlm@0: girl crossed her arms in front of her. rlm@0: rlm@0: Earlier that day, Usagi had been with Luna and Artemis under the rlm@0: Crown Arcade at the computer they used to gather information. They’d rlm@0: been trying to find research on The Enemy in the hopes that they rlm@0: could use it to their advantage. Nothing had come up on the two rlm@0: mysterious Sailor Senshi and whether they were friends or foes. rlm@0: Nonetheless, Usagi couldn’t help but wonder about the tall, rlm@0: intriguing woman, Sailor Uranus. The kiss they’d shared in the rlm@0: forest... rlm@0: Luna’s voice shook her from her thoughts as an image of a white rlm@0: haired man with glasses appeared on the screen. A star took the place rlm@0: of where one of his eyes should be. rlm@0: "The Delta Area is where all the abnormal energy has been coming rlm@0: from. Especially the Infitity Zone. It seems all of our problems are rlm@0: coming from there. The Enemy must be situated there. This has to have rlm@0: something to do with their plan." rlm@0: "That’s the guy who owns the Infinty Zone and Mugen Gakuen. He looks rlm@0: suspicious," Artemis added. rlm@0: Usagi sat down and began reading the data on the screen. His name rlm@0: was Souichi Tomoe and he was indeed owner of the prestigious school rlm@0: and the surrounding area. His field of expertise was genetic rlm@0: engineering. He lived at the Tomoe Research Labs with his daughter, rlm@0: Hotaru Tomoe. Usagi paused for a moment, rereading the name. It rlm@0: sounded familiar, as if on the tip of her lips, but she couldn’t rlm@0: quite remember where she’d heard that name before. A small rlm@0: description of Hotaru popped up on the screen next to the rlm@0: Professor’s. Usagi’s eyes went wide when she saw the picture. It was rlm@0: the girl who had healed ChibiUsa. That’s where she’d heard the name! rlm@0: ChibiUsa had been mentioning her all the timelately. She gasped, her rlm@0: hand going to her mouth at the implications. She very well could be rlm@0: with The Enemy. "ChibiUsa’s been becoming really good friends with rlm@0: her lately. She’s been going over to her house all the time for the rlm@0: past few weeks to see her. I hope ChibiUsa’s okay..." rlm@0: rlm@0: As the two girl’s entered Hotaru’s home at the Tomoe Research Labs, rlm@0: Usagi berated ChibiUsa in a harsh whisper. “We can’t just barge in rlm@0: like this! It’s rude. And who knows what they’ll do if we get caught? rlm@0: You’re a princess, aren’t you?” rlm@0: ChibiUsa stuck her tongue out at the older girl, her thoughts still rlm@0: elsewhere. “I couldn’t find the intercom anyway. Besides, Hotaru-chan rlm@0: probably already knows I’m here so she won’t mind.” After a moment’s rlm@0: pause, the pink haired girl smiled politely and managed a “Hello.” rlm@0: Usagi looked at ChibiUsa puzzled for a moment. The younger girl rlm@0: seemed to be looking behind her oddly. Turning around, Usagi almost rlm@0: jumped when she noticed the red haired woman in a lab coat watching rlm@0: them both coldly. Her heart pounded worriedly in her chest. This rlm@0: woman had to be part of The Enemy. rlm@0: “What business do you have here? You’re trespassing. This is private rlm@0: property. If you don’t leave now..” Kaolinite began before being rlm@0: interrupted by a soft, but sweet voice. rlm@0: “They are my guests,” Hotaru said, glaring at Kaolinite as she rlm@0: walked out of one of the rooms. She once again was clad all in black, rlm@0: her pale skin the only contrast against the tight black clothes and rlm@0: her own raven hair. Her gaze shifting to the pink haired girl, her rlm@0: deep violet eyes gained a sparkle to them. Her heart swelled as she rlm@0: looked at her visitors. She almost felt sick from the sudden anxiety rlm@0: that washed over her at their arrival. It was as if she could sense rlm@0: some sort of great aura from the blonde haired girl, but her rlm@0: attention was still riveted to the kind pink haired girl whose rlm@0: crimson eyes smiled back at her. The aura might not be as strange, rlm@0: but everything about ChibiUsa captivated her. Why had she rescued her rlm@0: heart from its lonely prison? Why had she become her friend? Her head rlm@0: swam in circles as she tried to answer these questions, but for now rlm@0: she had to attend to her guests. rlm@0: “Hotaru-chan!” ChibiUsa exclaimed happily at the sight of their rlm@0: mysterious savior. rlm@0: Kaolinite turned from the small group and left, thinking to rlm@0: herself. ‘She has guests? But no one ever wants to see her. This is rlm@0: odd..’ rlm@0: rlm@0: The pale wisp of a girl bent down ever so slightly to pour some tea rlm@0: for the two visitors. She shyly brushed back some dark hair from her rlm@0: eyes as she felt their eyes baring down on her. She wasn’t used to rlm@0: this. Without knowing what to say, she asked the first thing that rlm@0: came to mind. “Why did you both come here?” rlm@0: ChibiUsa smiled broadly and set the chalice she’d brought with her rlm@0: on the table. “I made this at school. Well, after school with Usagi rlm@0: and Mamo-chan’s help. But I want to give it to you as a present. It’s rlm@0: supposed to be the Holy Grail.” rlm@0: Usagi’s eyes go wide as she turns to the younger girl. “What? But rlm@0: Mamo-chan and I worked so hard on that for you to just give it away.” rlm@0: The blonde girl frowned as she remembered all the time she and her rlm@0: boyfriend had put into working on the chalice when ChibiUsa had come rlm@0: to them for help on the art project. It seemed like such a waste for rlm@0: her to give it to this girl who very well may be part of The Enemy. rlm@0: ChibiUsa just ignored Usagi as if she weren’t even there. Her smile rlm@0: grew warmer, her crimson eyes never wavering from the darkly dressed rlm@0: frail girl across the room. She felt butterflies in her stomach as rlm@0: she kicked her legs almost nervously. “We were supposed to give our rlm@0: projects to someone special to us this week. To someone very rlm@0: important to us. Well, I was just thinking about how much you mean to rlm@0: me and I wanted to give it to you as a sign of friendship.” Why was rlm@0: it so hard to tell the other girl she wanted her to have it because rlm@0: of their friendship? It felt different somehow than with her other rlm@0: friends. This girl was so…. so…. amazing, wonderful, pretty, kind, rlm@0: sweet, mysterious, sad, and so much more. Hotaru intrigued ChibiUsa. rlm@0: She’d never met anyone like her. The pink haired girl always felt a rlm@0: warm feeling inside when she was with Hotaru. She felt safe with her. rlm@0: Her homesickness for Crystal Tokyo and her parents always faded away. rlm@0: The quiet raven haired girl was so shy, but it just made her want to rlm@0: get through to her all the more. rlm@0: “Why aren’t you giving it to Mamo-chan, then?” Usagi questioned the rlm@0: pink haired girl. She still thought of ChibiUsa as her rival for rlm@0: Mamoru’s attention. rlm@0: ChibiUsa looked down at her kicking feet, her hands on either side rlm@0: of her on the couch. Why did Usagi have to come with her? It just rlm@0: made everything more difficult. Besides, she wanted to be alone with rlm@0: Hotaru, not arguing the point with Usagi. “You and Mamo-chan helped rlm@0: make it together, so I couldn’t give it just to him anyway.” rlm@0: A tiny smile started spreading across Hotaru’s lips. She felt so rlm@0: honored to be the one this cheerful pink haired girl thought was rlm@0: important enough to give the chalice to. The shock and surprise of rlm@0: the gift along with the other girl’s presence was a little rlm@0: overwhelming. It was strange enough having a friend, but one that rlm@0: thought so highly of her was such a foreign concept to her. It seemed rlm@0: an utter impossibility. Everytime she saw ChibiUsa it seemed more and rlm@0: more as if it had to be a dream. A wonderful dream. But the pale girl rlm@0: hadn’t had any good dreams in years. That seemed almost as impossible rlm@0: as if it were real. Whatever it was, she prayed it would never end. rlm@0: “You made this for an important person, ChibiUsa-chan? But I… I rlm@0: shouldn’t be the one to have this. You should be the one to keep it. rlm@0: Thank you, ChibiUsa-chan,” she spoke up in her quiet voice. Glancing rlm@0: at the Holy Grail ChibiUsa had given her on the table, she began to rlm@0: think of where in her dark room to place it. It was already rlm@0: significant to her. She wanted to make sure it had an important place rlm@0: amongst her lamps. She smiled shyly as she turned back to the other rlm@0: two girls. rlm@0: Usagi leaned forward ever so slightly, her curiosity increasing rlm@0: about this mysterious girl. Was she part of The Enemy? Was she using rlm@0: ChibiUsa? What was she up to? She feels a cold chill run down her rlm@0: spine as she gets a good look into those infinitely sad, dark eyes. rlm@0: ‘Its like I’m being drawn in. Her eyes seem to know everything,’ she rlm@0: thinks. The cold feeling grows worse before she realizes the room has rlm@0: been utterly silent for a long moment. Laughing nervously, the blonde rlm@0: girl stands up, eager for a moment’s respite to think. “Could you rlm@0: tell me where the bathroom is?” rlm@0: The dark haired girl turns and points out of the room. “Its right rlm@0: down that hall.” rlm@0: “Thanks,” Usagi says quickly, leaving the room, confused. The pale, rlm@0: raven haired girl was even more of a mystery to her now. And her rlm@0: seemingly mystical hold over ChibiUsa baffled her. She resolved to rlm@0: get to the bottom of things, no matter what. rlm@0: rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~ rlm@0: rlm@0: "Hotaru-chan!?" I watch as Hotaru collapses into a fit on the floor. rlm@0: I run over, fear coursing through my entire body. I’ve only seen this rlm@0: happen once before, but I kneel beside the dark haired girl, my heart rlm@0: racing. "Hotaru-chan!?" I feel so helpless, seeing this happen to rlm@0: her. Why can’t I do anything? Isn’t there some way I can help her? rlm@0: Why did this have to happen now? rlm@0: rlm@0: Clutching her chest, she looks up at me with pain-filled eyes. My rlm@0: heart goes out to her. I want to go to her, to stop her suffering, rlm@0: but I don’t know how. Her shaky hand slowly reaches out, touching my rlm@0: broach. rlm@0: rlm@0: "..it’s better.. when I touch your amulet... I’m being filled with rlm@0: power..." she says softly. Her body seems to relax as the fit finally rlm@0: comes to an end. Her breathing slowly returns to normal. She looks up rlm@0: at me with a strange look in her dark eyes. rlm@0: rlm@0: I smile slightly, relief flooding through me. "Really? Then I’m rlm@0: glad, Hotaru-chan." It feels good to be able to help her. She’s rlm@0: already healed me a few times, I’m glad to repay the favor. And to rlm@0: see her in such pain… I’m just glad she’s alright now. rlm@0: rlm@0: The dark, distant, pale girl echoes my smile, still looking up at me rlm@0: with that odd look in her eyes. "Your amulet... it has great power.. rlm@0: what power is it..?" Something isn’t quite right… but does it matter? rlm@0: She’s alright now, that’s all that matters. I sigh, relieved that her rlm@0: pains gone, if only for now. I smile again, a hand going to my rlm@0: broach. "It’s the Mystical Silver Crystal," I say, telling of the rlm@0: crystal inside my broach. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Mystical Silver Crystal.." Hotaru repeats. Everything about her is rlm@0: different, somehow. The voice, its not the soft, sweet voice I’m used rlm@0: to. Her eyes, seeming even darker than before. Its like she’s a rlm@0: totally different person now. Suddenly the frail girl recoils in rlm@0: horror, her eyes widening as she draws back from me, raising a shaky rlm@0: hand to her mouth. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Hotaru-chan?" I pull my hand from my broach, forgetting about it as rlm@0: concern gets the better of me. "Are you alright?" I take a nervous rlm@0: step forward. What happened? Why is she so scared? The frightened rlm@0: look in her eyes chills me. I shudder, not knowing why. Is she afraid rlm@0: of me? Did I do something wrong? I frantically want to reach out to rlm@0: her, to make sure its okay, to know why she’s so scared. I don’t ever rlm@0: want her to be scared again. I know that its probably foolish to rlm@0: think that I could do something like that. But I can try. rlm@0: rlm@0: Hotaru stays back from me, still seated on the floor. "I.. I... I’m rlm@0: sorry.. I didn’t mean,,,! It’s like.. it wasn’t me..." Her soft voice rlm@0: sounds almost desperate, pleading. Does she think I would leave? I’d rlm@0: never leave her like that, not now. rlm@0: rlm@0: I take another nervous step forward, smiling reassuringly at the rlm@0: obviously grief stricken pale girl. I want to hug her, hold her rlm@0: close, make her know that its all okay, but I’m afraid she’d run away rlm@0: from me. She’s so delicate, so fragile, like a china doll. "It’s rlm@0: okay, Hotaru-chan. Don’t worry," I says soothingly, trying to get the rlm@0: mysterious girl to relax. rlm@0: rlm@0: She grants me just a bit of a nervous smile. I feel relieved again. rlm@0: I was so worried that she might flee her own room to get away from rlm@0: me. I know it’s a silly thing to worry about, but she looked so rlm@0: frightened. My heart flies just to see that hint of a smile. She rlm@0: manages a tiny nod, not saying a word. rlm@0: rlm@0: Seeing her visibly relax, I take a sigh of relief. This beautiful rlm@0: girl in front of me should never have to be hurt again. "I’m just rlm@0: glad you’re feeling better, Hotaru-chan. I hate seeing you in pain rlm@0: like that. I want to help you." And I do. I just don’t know how. rlm@0: rlm@0: "..thank you.. ChibiUsachan.." A small smile plays across her thin rlm@0: lips. She looks more confident as she tries to speak. “..you’re the rlm@0: only one who’s ever cared... it’s like..." her soft, whisper-like rlm@0: voice trails off. Like what? What are you trying to tell me? She rlm@0: seems to withdraw from me again, nervous. rlm@0: rlm@0: I frown as I walk closer to her, closing the distance between us rlm@0: quickly. There’s so much I want to know. There’s so much I want to rlm@0: say. But what, exactly? I wish I knew. "I don’t know why I’m the only rlm@0: one who seems to notice how great you are, Hotaru-chan. I can’t see rlm@0: why anyone would ever be mean to you, why anyone would ever want to rlm@0: hurt you." Because I can’t stand to see you suffer, firefly. rlm@0: rlm@0: Her deep violet eyes gaze up at me, working their magic on me. How rlm@0: can I hope to keep from losing myself in their depths? I find myself rlm@0: being drawn further into those beautiful dark eyes. I see tears start rlm@0: to form in those perfect violet spheres. Please don’t cry, firefly. I rlm@0: don’t ever want you to hurt. "I.. don’t know.. but... It doesn’t rlm@0: matter.. as long as I have you..." rlm@0: rlm@0: I feel my cheeks burning as I begin to blush. Had the raven haired rlm@0: girl really said that? But… what did she mean by it? She didn’t rlm@0: mean... "I.. I... Thanks, Hotaru-chan." My mind swims in confusion. rlm@0: Why would she say that? Do I really mean that much to her? I kneel rlm@0: next to her, smiling. As long as she has me... but how does she have rlm@0: me? I’m not so sure myself. rlm@0: rlm@0: The quiet girl blushes as well, her pale cheeks darkening as she rlm@0: looks at me. I look into those beautiful eyes for a long moment. She rlm@0: just looks at me silently. This moment, so much like the last time. rlm@0: It ended off so... I don’t know. What had I been expecting that time? rlm@0: A kiss? I almost laugh aloud. But then what Momoko said comes back to rlm@0: me as well. My girlfriend? A kiss? How did I really feel about this? rlm@0: Her blush deepens and she looks away from me. rlm@0: rlm@0: I tilt my head, trying to catch her gaze. A soft sigh escapes my rlm@0: lips. Why won’t she look at me again? Did I say the wrong thing? rlm@0: Please let me see those beautiful violet eyes again. I try to meet rlm@0: her gaze, to see those dark eyes. rlm@0: rlm@0: Hotaru quietly looks up slightly. Its obvious she’s nervous. Why? rlm@0: Why are you nervous, firefly? Don’t you know I’d never do anything to rlm@0: harm you? Her eyes look at me questioningly, almost as if she’s so rlm@0: shy that she may flee from me at the hint of anything at all. The rlm@0: silence envelops us. I want to break the silence, but my mind can’t rlm@0: think clearly with this mysterious girl in front of me. She invades rlm@0: my thoughts, making it impossible for me to think of anything but rlm@0: her. But is that so bad? rlm@0: rlm@0: "Hotaru-chan, you’re so pretty," I hear myself breath softly. I rlm@0: smile at her, once again losing myself in those violet pools. It’s rlm@0: the truth. She’s the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen. Yet so rlm@0: timid. Please let me get close… rlm@0: rlm@0: The dark haired girl blushes profusely, as if no one had ever said rlm@0: that to her before. Is the world that blind? She’s,,, heavenly. She rlm@0: seems like she’s trying to reply, but nothing comes out. She looks so rlm@0: afraid still. rlm@0: rlm@0: "I would never want to hurt you, Hotaru-chan. I want to be your rlm@0: friend. I want to be.. I don’t know." This time, I’m the one to look rlm@0: away. I don’t know what I had meant to tell her. That thought scares rlm@0: me. "I just want to make you happy." And I know I do. Oh, how I want rlm@0: her to be happy. To see another one of those beautiful smiles... rlm@0: rlm@0: Though she smiles at me in relief, I can see disappointment in the rlm@0: mysterious girl’s violet eyes. She seems to relax at what I said, rlm@0: though. "..I.. I wish I could be half as good a friend to you.. I rlm@0: don’t know... I’m not really good at it, ne.. inexperience..." rlm@0: rlm@0: I gaze into those eyes, wanting to know what caused her rlm@0: disappointment, but quickly losing myself in them. "No, you’re rlm@0: perfect, Hotaru-chan," I whisper softly. Everything about her fills rlm@0: me with wonder. I so want to tell her, but I don’t know how. I don’t rlm@0: even know what I want to tell her. rlm@0: rlm@0: A slight blush colors her pale cheeks as she looks back up at me. rlm@0: She seems more sure about something now, but I can’t tell what. rlm@0: "..no.. I can't be.. but... Chibiusachan... Chibimoon.. when did you rlm@0: fall from heaven..? I want to know.. so I can give you a gift before rlm@0: you have to return..." her soft voice whispers to me. rlm@0: rlm@0: I blush hotly, looking down, averting my eyes. I laugh nervously, rlm@0: trying to relax. I’m so happy she thinks of me that way, but to hear rlm@0: her say it… "Oh, I’m no angel," I assure her quickly. "Your rlm@0: friendship’s the best gift I ever could have received." rlm@0: rlm@0: "..but.. you have to be... you're a magical soldier.. you had to be rlm@0: from the gods... and.. you're the only one that ever noticed me, and rlm@0: didn't call me a witch..." The words pour out, one after the other as rlm@0: she tries to tell me it all. rlm@0: rlm@0: "I... I'm glad you think that, Hotaru-chan. Thank you." I feel the rlm@0: blush return, my cheeks burning even more as I replay her words in my rlm@0: mind. I smile brightly at her. She’s sooooo sweet. No one’s ever said rlm@0: something like that to me before. The smile disappears after a rlm@0: moment. The only one, she said. How could the world be so cruel to rlm@0: this beautiful girl? Isn’t there more I can do for her? I want to rlm@0: make the whole world leave her alone. No, I want the whole world to rlm@0: realize how great she is. "I could never call you that. And how could rlm@0: I not notice you? You're so beautiful. And nice. And mysterious. rlm@0: And..." I trail off, finding it far too hard to think as I look into rlm@0: those endless violet orbs. That feeling… that same feeling I had the rlm@0: first time I was in her room, the feeling that left unfinished, it rlm@0: returns to me now. I don’t want to leave it this time. I want to see rlm@0: it through. But what is this feeling? rlm@0: rlm@0: The blush on Hotaru’s cheeks darkens as she looks less certain about rlm@0: something. "Thank you.. for everything... ChibiUsachan.... I..." She rlm@0: cuts off the words at that. Please tell me, Hotaru. I want to know so rlm@0: badly. You can tell me anything, do you know that? I’d never judge rlm@0: you, never berate you. I just want to hear. I want to help. I want to rlm@0: know how you feel about me... rlm@0: rlm@0: "You’re welcome, Hotaru-chan. You deserve it, though. I really want rlm@0: to get to know you better. To be closer to you..." I sigh a little, rlm@0: unsure of myself. I feel so confused. What do I want, exactly? To be rlm@0: her friend, right? Then why is this all so awkward? Why do I want to rlm@0: say something more? She’s so important to me, whether she knows it or rlm@0: not. I want her to be there with me, always. I want… Why does this rlm@0: have to be so hard? Why can’t I just tell her. I sigh inwardly. Tell rlm@0: her what? I don’t know, but I want to. I know that much. She makes my rlm@0: heart melt. I feel so warm inside just being with her. I want to hug rlm@0: her close, to make all her pain disappear forever. rlm@0: rlm@0: "..that's... that's what I want..." Hotaru says softly. She seems so rlm@0: nervous, everything she says as if she can barely manage to tell me. rlm@0: She blinks her long, dark lashes, blushing just a bit. rlm@0: rlm@0: "You do?" I ask quietly, hopefully. It fills my heart with a warm rlm@0: joyous feeling to know that she want’s to get closer to me, too. I rlm@0: sit in front of her, entranced by this mysterious girl. I find myself rlm@0: wanting to lean forward and… And what? I feel all anxious inside. rlm@0: We’re both dancing around what we want to say, aren’t we? Neither of rlm@0: us knows exactly how to say it, though. And I’m still not quire sure rlm@0: what ‘it’ is. But I have a funny feeling that she does. "That's rlm@0: great, Hotaru-chan. You already mean a lot to me. You're all I can rlm@0: think about." It’s true. She’s been on my mind practically all the rlm@0: time since I’ve met her. And this mysterious girl is already so very rlm@0: important to me. rlm@0: rlm@0: "..but.. you..." She blinks those dark lashes again and shakes her rlm@0: head. I follow her gaze to the table where the chalice I’d given her rlm@0: still sits. My sign of friendship. Right? I blush when I remember rlm@0: what Momoko had said. I really did want Hotaru to have it, so I could rlm@0: show her… What would it be like if she was my girlfriend? I’d been rlm@0: thinking about it all afternoon after Momoko had said that. I’m a rlm@0: princess, I shouldn’t be thinking about such things. But I don’t rlm@0: care. "..only Himitsu knows how much you mean to me..." She turns rlm@0: back to me, looking as if there’s more she wants to say, but she rlm@0: keeps it from me, afraid. Why is she afraid of telling me? What could rlm@0: it be? But… the way she said that, do I really mean that much to her? rlm@0: rlm@0: "It makes me happy that I mean so much to you." I brush some pink rlm@0: hair from my eyes, feeling my cheeks flush. To mean so much to this rlm@0: beautiful girl, that’s wonderful. I smile nervously at her, so much rlm@0: left unsaid between us. But what can I do? What can I say? If I rlm@0: said.... Would this mysterious girl be happy? Or would she be rlm@0: frightened? rlm@0: rlm@0: A small smile crosses the dark haired girl’s thin lips. "..as long rlm@0: as you’re happy.. I’m happy.." But her voice, there’s a sad tone rlm@0: underlying it, as if she doesn’t truly mean it, as if there’s rlm@0: something more. I want to coax it out of her, but I’m afraid she’ll rlm@0: back away again if I try. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Hotaru-chan..." I sigh as I look away from her again, confusion rlm@0: threatening to overwhelm me. Does she really know just how important rlm@0: she is? "You mean so much more to me. Since I met you, I haven’t been rlm@0: able to stop thinking about you. When I’m away, I want to see you rlm@0: again. When I’m with you.. its just perfect." rlm@0: rlm@0: Hotaru shyly raises a hand up towards my face, but after she makes rlm@0: it halfway, she seems to realize what she’s doing and draws back, rlm@0: only making it about halfway between us. I wish she’d keep going. Why rlm@0: did she have to stop? "..it's the same... I thought it was...." She rlm@0: shakes her head slightly before continuing. "..but you're a friend of rlm@0: a million.. so it couldn't be..." But it is, Hotaru. It is. rlm@0: rlm@0: I smile softly, reassuringly at this beautiful frail girl in front rlm@0: of me. Leaning forward, I bring my hand up to her pale cheek, rlm@0: enjoying the soft feel of her skin. It feels so warm. So... rlm@0: wonderful. "But you’re special, Hotaru-chan. I feel... differently rlm@0: about you. You mean more to me than all those others," I try to rlm@0: explain, feeling as though I’m failing miserably at it. rlm@0: rlm@0: I hold my breath, waiting to see what she’ll do. She almost pulls rlm@0: back at my touch. My heart stops. No! Please, just grant me this. rlm@0: Finally, she starts to relax into it, blushing again. "..then... then rlm@0: I wasn't wrong..? ..I thought.. that I was wrong... because...." She rlm@0: stops, her soft voice choked up with emotions. I see tears beginning rlm@0: to form in her eyes as she looks at me silently. rlm@0: rlm@0: I shake my head emphatically, trying to get rid of that notion. Of rlm@0: course she’s not wrong. How could she be? How could this shy angel rlm@0: ever be? My heart aches as I see those tears in her gorgeous violet rlm@0: eyes. "No, you weren’t wrong, Hotaru-chan. I just.. you..." I gaze rlm@0: intently at her, trying to gather up my courage for what I want to rlm@0: tell her, what I so want to say. "You’re very special to me," I rlm@0: finally get out. rlm@0: rlm@0: The frail girl looks taken aback at my words. Its true, firefly. You rlm@0: are so special to me. How do you feel, my firefly? In a hushed, rlm@0: almost fearful whisper, I get my answer. "..I love you, ChibiUsa..." rlm@0: rlm@0: I blush deeply, her words running through my head over and over rlm@0: again. Those lovely words, spoken by this lovely girl. I feel like a rlm@0: veil’s been lifted. Everything seems clear now. I never thought about rlm@0: those words, not like this. And I’ve certainly never, ever heard them rlm@0: spoken of me. It fills me with a warm feeling to here her say that, a rlm@0: warmth I’ve never felt before. I feel so fuzzy, so giddy. I feel like rlm@0: laughing and crying and jumping for joy all at the same time. For a rlm@0: brief second I wonder what my parents would think. I’m the Princess rlm@0: of the Royal Family of Crystal Tokyo. But I shake it off. It doesn’t rlm@0: matter. I know in my heart of hearts that this is right. "I love you, rlm@0: too, Hotaru-chan." I feel like a weights been lifted from my rlm@0: shoulders. No more mincing of words, no more hiding our secrets. How rlm@0: we felt was out in the open between the two of us now. This frail rlm@0: girl... she truly means that much to me. That much and more. Gazing rlm@0: over at the raven haired girl, seeing myself reflected in her violet rlm@0: pools, before I know it I lean forward, ever so slightly at first. rlm@0: Even I don’t realize it until my lips gently brush hers. I blush rlm@0: deeper as I feel those warm soft lips against my own. It feels… rlm@0: wonderful. My first kiss… Hers too, I realize. But that just makes it rlm@0: all the more wonderful in this quiet moment. rlm@0: rlm@0: The sad, shy girl looks at me sadly, apologetically. "I’m sorry… rlm@0: I’ll only cause trouble for you..." rlm@0: rlm@0: I shake my head quickly, not wanting her to ever have to worry about rlm@0: something like that. "Even if you did cause trouble for me, I’d rlm@0: gladly take it." Over and over again, forever, just so I could be rlm@0: near her. To emphasize my point I lean forward, kissing her gently rlm@0: again. It tastes better than the best candy I’ve ever had back home rlm@0: in Crystal Tokyo, much sweeter than the best they could offer. I’d rlm@0: give anything to just stay like this. rlm@0: rlm@0: A small giggle escapes her lips, a smile gracing her delicate rlm@0: features. "..I've never even had a real friend before.. and now I rlm@0: have you... it's so wonderful, so perfect...." It means so much to me rlm@0: to be that for her, to be that and more. I never want her to have to rlm@0: suffer ever again. I don’t know if I can help it or not, but I’ll try rlm@0: my hardest to keep her happy. Forever. rlm@0: rlm@0: I find myself smiling brightly back at her, my hand still pressed rlm@0: gently against Hotaru’s cheek. I giggle softly myself, glad to see rlm@0: that smile on her face again. "Hai, perfect. Just like you, Hotaru- rlm@0: chan. I want to be everything for you. I want you to be happy. I want rlm@0: to be able to see your smile." I look deeply at her, wishing I could rlm@0: just tell her everything here and now, but not knowing where to start. rlm@0: rlm@0: "How can I not be happy... if I’m with you..?" she says in that soft rlm@0: voice of hers that I can’t help but imagine whenever there’s silence rlm@0: around me. A faint smile appears on her lips. "It’s like... like...." rlm@0: She trails off, at a loss for words. But I know exactly what she rlm@0: means. Everything about this is perfect, magical. Its too hard to put rlm@0: into words. So why bother, when I can just be here with her? rlm@0: rlm@0: ~~~~~ rlm@0: rlm@0: Usagi stared at ChibiUsa oddly as they made their way home. The rlm@0: younger girl had been acting strangely all night and now she seemed rlm@0: to be off in her own little world, barely noticing what was happening rlm@0: around her. The blonde girl sighed inwardly. This whole thing just rlm@0: seemed to be getting more and more confusing. rlm@0: Had ChibiUsa heard those thoughts she would wholeheartedly agreed. rlm@0: Her fingers absentmindedly went to her lips, her mind drifting back rlm@0: to her first kiss just moments before. She felt a sudden wave of rlm@0: dizziness wash over her as she relived the moment. What had happened rlm@0: back there? She swallowed nervously as she walked along. That strange rlm@0: feeling refused to leave her. She had never thought something like rlm@0: this would happen. Her mother had told her to be ready for anything rlm@0: when she came back to the past, but this was beyond anything she rlm@0: could have imagined. Falling in love had not been one of the things rlm@0: she’d thought her mother had meant. And with her… ChibiUsa’s cheeks rlm@0: started to flush and her heart beat faster as the odd feeling in her rlm@0: stomach increased in intensity. She felt like she needed to sit down rlm@0: soon, but she didn’t want Usagi’s already paranoid mind to have rlm@0: anything to work off of. rlm@0: The mysterious dark haired girl had quickly drawn her in. Those rlm@0: violet, pain filled eyes seemed to look deep into her soul whenever rlm@0: she gazed into them. This almost deathly pale girl had invaded her rlm@0: every thought. How could she have become so important to her? Did it rlm@0: matter? The whole idea of falling in love this way had been so rlm@0: foreign to her. The thought of falling in love with this girl was rlm@0: almost frightening to begin with. But Hotaru needed her, didn’t she? rlm@0: She wanted to do everything she could to make her happy. This whole rlm@0: thing was so new to her. But it was exhilarating, the feeling that rlm@0: encompassed her at the very thought of the raven haired girl. It rlm@0: scared her a bit, but she pushed that to the back of her mind. She rlm@0: wouldn’t let that get in her way. She couldn’t just run away from rlm@0: Hotaru. The other girl had already woven a spell deep into ChibiUsa’s rlm@0: soul. Maybe this was destiny. She had heard her mother say that so rlm@0: many times about her father. This wasn’t quite the same, but it sure rlm@0: felt like destiny had brought her to Hotaru. rlm@0: “What are you daydreaming about?” Usagi asked after a long moment rlm@0: of silence. “You haven’t said a word since we left Hotaru’s house. rlm@0: What’s gotten into you? All thoughtful and dreamy all of the sudden.” rlm@0: A sudden pang of worry spread through Usagi. Her suspicions about rlm@0: Hotaru began to grow. The mysterious girl very well could be part of rlm@0: The Enemy. And ChibiUsa would be completely unreasonable about things rlm@0: if she mentioned the possibility to her. So for now it was best if rlm@0: she just kept an eye on the younger girl. A silent sigh escaped her rlm@0: lips. What would the pink haired girl do without her? rlm@0: ChibiUsa almost didn’t hear Usagi’s question at first. Shaking her rlm@0: head, she tried to clear her thoughts but found that nearly rlm@0: impossible. “I.. Nothing. I’m just thinking about… home. And my room. rlm@0: And stuff…” There. That sounded convincing enough, ChibiUsa thought rlm@0: with a satisfied smile. She did get homesick a lot, so Usagi rlm@0: shouldn’t get too suspicious over that. rlm@0: Usagi seemed to consider it for a moment before finally deciding to rlm@0: let it drop. ChibiUsa was acting strangely, but pushing her probably rlm@0: wouldn’t get her anywhere. She knew how stubborn the pink haired girl rlm@0: could be and she didn’t feel like arguing with her for once. There rlm@0: was too much to think about after meeting the Professor and his rlm@0: daughter. She had to see what the others thought. rlm@0: Glancing sidelong at Usagi, ChibiUsa contemplated saying something rlm@0: for a long moment. This woman would one day become her mother, the rlm@0: woman she held in the highest regard. Her mother meant a lot to her. rlm@0: And she dearly wished she could talk with her about what was going rlm@0: on, about Hotaru. She bit her lip thoughtfully. Opening her mouth to rlm@0: speak, nothing came out. The nervousness that overtook her was too rlm@0: strong to quell. Usagi may be her mother in the future, but now… rlm@0: Maybe this just wasn’t the time to say anything. She couldn’t bring rlm@0: herself to bring it up now as it was. Finally deciding to tell the rlm@0: blonde girl later, if ever, she turned her attention back to what rlm@0: really mattered. Hotaru. rlm@0: rlm@0: Hotaru gazed longingly out her window. How long had she been rlm@0: sitting there? Minutes? Hours? She honestly couldn’t tell. The rlm@0: conversation she had had with the pink haired girl kept playing over rlm@0: and over again in her mind. It was too much to believe. How could rlm@0: something so wonderful happen to her? That such a sweet girl would rlm@0: actually care for her? Her? No one cared about her. Those that didn’t rlm@0: hate her or try to actively hurt her saw her as an oddity, something rlm@0: that had no real significance. But ChibiUsa was different from rlm@0: everyone else. She had looked beyond everything and had stayed. She rlm@0: hadn’t ran away or decided that Hotaru was an object of derision. rlm@0: Instead she had come again and again to her, always as her friend. A rlm@0: friend… Hotaru had never had a friend before. That alone seemed rlm@0: inconceivable. But that the pink haired girl could love her? rlm@0: Impossible. How could anyone? Yet ChibiUsa had been perfectly honest. rlm@0: She had seen that in those beautiful crimson eyes. rlm@0: Finally lying back on her bed, Hotaru stared up at the roof. Her rlm@0: lamps lit her dim room like fireflies in the darkness. Romantic, the rlm@0: pink haired girl had called it. She allowed herself a soft smile. rlm@0: This was her only place of escape from the pain of the world. This rlm@0: was her sanctuary. The atmosphere helped her try and forget rlm@0: everything, much as her books let her attempt escape into the life of rlm@0: another. But she was always brought back to reality, or taken from rlm@0: the safety of her room. The cold harsh pain would always come rlm@0: flooding back in after her short reprise. Her escape was always too rlm@0: short. Much too short. There had never been anything in this life rlm@0: worth returning to. Until now. There was something for her to hang on rlm@0: for now. She had a reason to go on. rlm@0: It had been so easy for her to fall for the pink haired girl. She rlm@0: was so sweet and caring. There was never any doubt in ChibiUsa’s mind rlm@0: that everything would turn out right in the end. Even with Hotaru. rlm@0: That outlook on life was so different from Hotaru’s own. Everything rlm@0: about her was like a bright light in Hotaru’s life, lighting up the rlm@0: darkness that threatened to engulf her. The thought that falling in rlm@0: love with the pink haired girl was wrong had briefly crossed her mind rlm@0: on several occasions, but she couldn’t help it. And what was one more rlm@0: mistake for someone like her? rlm@0: The fear that this would all be snatched from her as quickly as it rlm@0: had appeared to her was nearly overpowering at times. This could all rlm@0: be some sick joke by the heavens. A way to taunt her with what she rlm@0: desired with all her heart only to have it taken away. How could a rlm@0: witch like her, a freak, be granted this? If ChibiUsa knew… her body rlm@0: went numb at the thought. If ChibiUsa knew everything about her, rlm@0: would her mind change swiftly? Would she decide that everyone else rlm@0: had been right about Hotaru? rlm@0: The raven haired girl almost felt like crying at that. Hugging her rlm@0: pillow tightly to her chest, she wondered how this would all turn out rlm@0: in the end. Her life didn’t matter. She would let this play out the rlm@0: way it was intended. It seemed safer to keep things as friends, to rlm@0: not risk losing what little she had. But for ChibiUsa’s sake, and the rlm@0: yearning in her own heart, she would see where this took her.