rlm@0: Disclaimer:  ChibiUsa, Hotaru, Michiru and Haruka are not my characters or 
rlm@0: creations.  They were created and belong to Naoko Takeuchi.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:                          Happy Birthday Hotaru!
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         The music was playing softly and there were two shadowed bodies 
rlm@0: sitting by the fireplace.  The two bodies just sat there holding one 
rlm@0: another.  One of the bodies had it's hair up in buns, while the other had 
rlm@0: it's hair down.  It looked around shoulder length.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         (Where is this place?  I've never seen this place before.  Does this 
rlm@0: mean that something different is going to happen?)
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         Suddenly the music stopped and a loud and horrible laughter begun.  
rlm@0: Then, without warning, the person with shoulder length hair began to glow.  
rlm@0: As the person glowed, it also began to shrink.  The laughter just kept 
rlm@0: getting louder and louder as the person just kept getting smaller and 
rlm@0: smaller.  Soon the person disappeared and then the laughter stopped.  The 
rlm@0: room then vanished and the person with their hair in buns was all alone in 
rlm@0: darkness.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "Hotaru!," the person screamed, "Don't leave me!  Hotaru!"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         (Hotaru!  NO!!!  Come back!  Hotaru!  I need you here with me!)
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "Hotaru!  I'm scared!  Please come back and help me!
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         (Hotaru, I miss you.)
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "Hotaru, I... love you."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         ChibiUsa then snapped up panting and sweating.  Her heart was 
rlm@0: racing.  It had been the same reaccuring dream or nightmare as she called 
rlm@0: it, the only difference this time, was the room.  She sat there alone in the 
rlm@0: dark for the rest of the night, afraid that if she fell back to sleep, she 
rlm@0: would have the nightmare again.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:                                    ***
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         The following morning was like any other, Usagi's alarm clock was 
rlm@0: blasting and the rays of sunlight were beaming down on her face through the 
rlm@0: blinds.  The aroma of a freshly cooked breakfast was fastly filling the air. 
rlm@0:   Sitting at the dinner table, ChibiUsa wasn't in too happy of a mood.  The 
rlm@0: nightmare kept her up all night and Ikuko has started to notice.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "Is that nightmare getting at you, hon?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "Huh?  Oh, yeah."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "You care to tell me about it?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "I'd rather not.  There's someone else that I need to talk to it 
rlm@0: about."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "Ok but just be sure to talk to someone about it."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "I will.  Thank you."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         After this ChibiUsa finished her breakfast and readied herself for 
rlm@0: school.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:                                      ***
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "Hotaru, wait up!" ChibiUsa called out in the hallway.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         Hotaru tunred around with a smile, greeting ChibiUsa.  ChibiUsa 
rlm@0: couldn't help but to notice Hotaru.  The young girl was wearing a black 
rlm@0: babydoll size tank and a short pair of jean shorts that end at half thigh.  
rlm@0: ChibiUsa caught herself and stopped before Hotaru noticed.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "ChibiUsa!  My birthday is in a week.  I hope you'll come over and 
rlm@0: spend some time with me.  You can come over and have supper with us."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "Of course I will.  I wouldn't turn down an offer to spend time with 
rlm@0: you, silly."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         Hotaru just smiled with joy.  She was so happy that her only real 
rlm@0: friend was going to be with her on her birthday.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:                                      ***
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         ChibiUsa spent the rest of the day trying to decide how she could 
rlm@0: tell Hotaru about her dream and how she felt.  Then she decided, she would 
rlm@0: tell her on her birthday.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         'Do I want to do anything or do I just want to ignore my feelings?  
rlm@0: How could I even begain to tell her how I feel?  I want to do something 
rlm@0: special for her birthday but what?'
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         By the end of the day ChibiUsa had done more serious thinking in 
rlm@0: that one day than she ever has in her whole life.  Finally she decided that 
rlm@0: she would take Hotaru on a picnic and tell her everything.  She still needed 
rlm@0: some time to plan out all the other details.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         The next day ChibiUsa spent most of the day dreaming about what she 
rlm@0: would say to Hotaru.  She not only thought about what she would say but 
rlm@0: imagined all of the possible responses.  She liked some better than others.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:                                   ***
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         Slowly the days passed by and Hotaru's birthday was now only a day 
rlm@0: away.  ChibiUsa started to get her things together so that she could spend 
rlm@0: the next day with her best friend.  She had never been more nervous nor 
rlm@0: excited in her life.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         That night ChibiUsa couldn't sleep.  Not because of the nightmare 
rlm@0: but because of her excitment.  She couldn't wait to tell Hotaru how she 
rlm@0: felt.  She prayed that Hotaru would tell her that she felt the same way 
rlm@0: about her.  The night hours slowly dragged on and ChibiUsa fell asleep and 
rlm@0: dreamt.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:                                    ***
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         It was a warm evening and the sun was begining to set.  Two shadowed 
rlm@0: figures sat on the grass and had thier backs agianst a tree.  You could 
rlm@0: easily tell that the two shadowed figures were both female from curves of 
rlm@0: thier bodies.  One leaned over to the other and gave her a soft kiss on the 
rlm@0: lips.  As they parted it became clear who they were.  Both had thier hair 
rlm@0: down.  One was Hotaru, the other was ChibiUsa.  Hotaru smiled and blushed 
rlm@0: then slowly she leaned over to ChibiUsa and began to kiss her softly and 
rlm@0: held her in her arms.  As the kiss went on Hotaru slipped ChibiUsa her 
rlm@0: tongue.  Shocked and caught off gaurd by this, ChibiUsa let out a soft moan. 
rlm@0:   When the kiss ended they both smiled and blushed.  ChibiUsa took hold of 
rlm@0: Hotaru and guided her to the ground and ran her hands over her body.  
rlm@0: ChibiUsa, then, went to lie down beside her laying her head on Hotaru's 
rlm@0: cheast and placing her hand on Hotaru's breast.  ChibiUsa started to tease 
rlm@0: her a little.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:                                    ***
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         The alarm clock started buzzing and ChibiUsa woke up, annoyed that 
rlm@0: it was only a dream.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         'If only it had been real.' she thought to herself.  When she got 
rlm@0: out of bed she noticed a stain on the sheets and looked down to see that she 
rlm@0: was wet.  Upon noticing this she smiled and wondered how Hotaru would react.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "Today's the day.  I gotta make this work.  I just have to."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:                                    ***
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         It started out like any normal Friday.  There was no School that day 
rlm@0: because of Teacher planning.  ChibiUsa finished wrapping the gift that she 
rlm@0: had gotten Hotaru.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         It was around noon when ChibiUsa went over to Hotaru's house.  She 
rlm@0: was set to be there for the day and night if Hotaru didn't turn her away.  
rlm@0: She wasn't sure how she was gonna get Haruka and Michiru to leave them alone 
rlm@0: long enough for her to do what she wanted.  She thought hard about what she 
rlm@0: could do while she walked to Hotaru's house.  When she got there sure 
rlm@0: enough, Michiru answered the door.  Haruka wasn't there though.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "Michiru, where is Haruka at?" ChibiUsa inquired.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "She is out getting some things for Hotaru's party.  Some last 
rlm@0: minute pick up's.  Why do you ask?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "No reason, I was just wondering.  I figured that you two would have 
rlm@0: started something by now."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "No not yet.  We have something special planned for her so we want 
rlm@0: to have everything perfect."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "Really?  I have something special planned for her too.  If you 
rlm@0: wouldn't mind I would like to do it with her alone.  It's kind of 
rlm@0: embarrassing for me so..."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "I understand.  I'll talk to Haruka about it but I'm sure we can do 
rlm@0: that for you."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "Thank you." ChibiUsa said and smiled.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:                                 ***
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         Michiru and Haruka were setting things up and told ChibiUsa that she 
rlm@0: and Hotaru could go off and do whatever while they worked on the 
rlm@0: decorations.  ChibiUsa saw this as the perfect time to make her move.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "Hotaru, I know of a really nice place in the park, lets go there.  
rlm@0: I have a couple of things that I want to give you."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         ChibiUsa had her backpack with her and had a few things with her.  
rlm@0: She led Hotaru to a secluded place in the woods beside the park.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "This place is really beautiful ChibiUsa.  Thank you for bringing me 
rlm@0: here."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "Hotaru I want to go ahead and give you my gifts."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         Hotaru nodded and ChibiUsa opened her bag and pulled out a small 
rlm@0: package and a larger package.  Hotaru opened the smaller package first.  It 
rlm@0: was a cd that was imported from America.  It was a group called Savage 
rlm@0: Garden.  This was thier fave. American band.  Next she opened the larger 
rlm@0: package.  It was a big teddy bear.  It looked just like her old bear.  She 
rlm@0: would still have it if the school bullies hadn't messed it up.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "Thank you ChibiUsa!" Hotaru said, beaming with joy.  She then gave 
rlm@0: ChibiUsa a big long hug.  ChibiUsa took this oppertunity and as Hotaru 
rlm@0: loosened the hug she turned her face to where they were face to face and 
rlm@0: ChibiUsa gave her a quick peck on the lips.  ChibiUsa was red with 
rlm@0: embarrassment.  Hotaru just sat there motionless and speechless.  She 
rlm@0: couldn't believe what ChibiUsa had just done.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         Hotaru stood there confused and silent.  Not knowing what to do she 
rlm@0: ran home.  ChibiUsa knew that she had messed up, she knew that the next move 
rlm@0: would be up to Hotaru.  She was afraid that she had just ruined thier 
rlm@0: friendship.  When Hotaru got home Haruka and Michiru were waiting for her 
rlm@0: and ChibiUsa.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "Where's ChibiUsa?" Michiru inquried.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "Something came up and she had to go."  Hotaru couldn't tell them 
rlm@0: what had really happened.  As the day went on Hotaru couldn't think about 
rlm@0: anything besides what ChibiUsa had done.  As days passed all Hotaru could 
rlm@0: think about was did she do the right thing.  She thought it over and 
rlm@0: wondered.  She had battles between her feelings and what her brain thought.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:                                ***
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         One afternoon ChibiUsa had come by and knocked on the door.  Michiru 
rlm@0: answered and asked her to come in.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "That's ok, Michiru, I just came by to drop these off for Hotaru.  
rlm@0: They are her birthday presents from me.  I've been really busy lately and 
rlm@0: haven't had time to drop them off.  Tell her I said hi, ok?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "I'll do that.  Bye-bye ChibiUsa."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         Hotaru was standing around the corner and had heard everything.  She 
rlm@0: knew that ChibiUsa had to have strong feelings for her then.  That night all 
rlm@0: Hotaru could do was think.  She had to do something and it had to be soon.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:                                 ***
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         The next morning before school she wrote ChibiUsa a note and dropped 
rlm@0: it off in her locker.  When ChibiUsa went to get her first period book she 
rlm@0: saw the note and read it.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         'The woods by the park?  At 6?' she wondered to herself.  All 
rlm@0: ChibiUsa could think about for the rest of the day was what Hotaru had in 
rlm@0: mind.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         The day passed and 6:00 arrived pretty quickly.  ChibiUsa ran to the 
rlm@0: spot that Hotaru and mentioned in the note as fast as she could.  When she 
rlm@0: got there she saw that Hotaru had a battery powered radio and she had the cd 
rlm@0: playing that she had given Hotaru for her birthday.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "ChibiUsa," Hotaru started, "I'm sorry I ran off.  I didn't know 
rlm@0: what to do and I had to think things through.  You had cought me off gaurd 
rlm@0: and I didn't exspect that.  What I'm trying to say is, I'm sorry.  Can you 
rlm@0: forgive me.  I want you to love me and I want to love you."  With that said 
rlm@0: Hotaru started to cry.  ChibiUsa ran up to her and hugged her.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:         "Of course I can forgive you.  I want to love you and have you love 
rlm@0: me too."  Hotaru looked ChibiUsa straight in the eyes.  Thier faces grew 
rlm@0: closer and closer to each other's and they kissed. Thier tongues exploring 
rlm@0: the other's mouth.  They stayed this way for a while.  When the kiss broke, 
rlm@0: Hotaru said, "I love you chibiUsa and I want you to go out with me."  
rlm@0: ChibiUsa looked at Hotaru, smiled and nodded.