rlm@0: Disclaimer: Chibi-Usa, Hotaru, and other characters of
rlm@0: SailorMoon legally belong to Naoko Takeuchi, Toei Animation,
rlm@0: and Cloverway.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
rlm@0: You've Got A Friend
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: by Sailor Aphrodite/Rami
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Hotaru strolled down the concrete steps of the Mugen school.
rlm@0: She blinked at the hot sun above. She walked onto the pavement,
rlm@0: the soft breeze blowing through her black hair and plaid skirt.
rlm@0: She made a turn for her house, when suddenly a group of kids
rlm@0: ran past her in the opposite direction. "Let's go to the 
rlm@0: playground!" one of them cried. The others cheered and
rlm@0: giggled.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Hotaru stared at them, interested. 'I wish I had friends like
rlm@0: those,' she thought. Then after a moment's thought, she decided 
rlm@0: to follow them. "Wait for me!" she called out, as she tried to 
rlm@0: catch up.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The children stopped at the sound of the familiar classmate. They 
rlm@0: all turned and stared silently as she ran up the sidewalk.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "I want to play too!" Hotaru's weak heart began to beat much faster,
rlm@0: and she began to gasp for breath. 'Oh no, not again,' Her hand
rlm@0: reached for her chest, but she didn't stop running. Unfortunately,
rlm@0: she didn't notice that small crack in the pavement, and she tripped
rlm@0: and fell. Her briefcase flew out of her hand and into the bushes. 
rlm@0: "Wait, please..." she said between huffs.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The students just stared. "Should we help her?" murmured a red-haired
rlm@0: girl to the others.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "No way!" replied another. "Did you see what she did to Tommy last
rlm@0: week?!"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "She spassed-out on him! He had to go to the hospital!" said one
rlm@0: of the boys. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Hotaru gazed up at them from her position on the ground. Her eyes 
rlm@0: began to sting. 'What are they talking about...? I didn't hurt
rlm@0: anybody!'
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~*When you're down and troubled*~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Then she went up to him and her hand started to glow! She's
rlm@0: an alien or something!"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Why should we play with her? That little freak."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Yeah!" the red-haired girl stamped her foot angrily at Hotaru. 
rlm@0: "Anyway, it serves you right for falling!"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The children scowled in agreement, and ran off, leaving the small
rlm@0: girl behind.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: She watched sadly as the others ran through the grass and have 
rlm@0: fun. She looked down at her scraped hands. Tears rolled down her
rlm@0: cheeks and dotted the concrete. 'Why is everyone so mean to me?
rlm@0: So what if I'm different? That's no reason to be nasty.'
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~*And you need a helping hand*~
rlm@0: ~*And nothing, nothing is going right*~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Slowly, Hotaru stood up, and brushed the dirt off of her school
rlm@0: uniform. She picked up her briefcase and stared up at the sky.
rlm@0: Closing her eyes, she wished more than anything that someone
rlm@0: would someday come up to her and ask, 'Hey, Hotaru, wanna play?'
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~*Close your eyes and think of me*~
rlm@0: ~*And soon I will be there*~
rlm@0: ~*To brighten up even your darkest night*~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Hey, Hotaru!"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The firefly turned around. There stood a familiar 7-year-old 
rlm@0: with fluffy pink hair, in a blue uniform, waving to her.
rlm@0: "Hi! I'd knew I'd find you here! Ya wanna play?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~*You just call out my name,*~
rlm@0: ~*And you know wherever I am*~
rlm@0: ~*I'll come running to see you again*~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Hotaru stared at Chibi-Usa strangely, wondering if
rlm@0: her wish had suddenly come true. Then she smiled.
rlm@0: "Okay. We can go to my house."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Chibi-Usa clapped. "That's great! Mamoru just taught
rlm@0: me this new card game, and I can show you if ya want!"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Hotaru giggled. She had always admired Chibi-Usa's 
rlm@0: everlasting cheerfulness. Ever since she met her in
rlm@0: the park, Chibi-Usa had added some sunlight into Hotaru's
rlm@0: gloomy life. She began to forget all about those other kids;
rlm@0: Chibi-Usa was more important to her now. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The two girls continued to laugh and talk, as they walked 
rlm@0: down the street to Hotaru's house.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~*Winter, spring, summer or fall,*~
rlm@0: ~*All you have to do is call*~
rlm@0: ~*And I'll be there, yes I will*~
rlm@0: ~*You've got a friend*~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Later that week, there was a huge thunderstorm. And
rlm@0: since Hotaru's father was too busy to come and pick her 
rlm@0: up from school, Hotaru had to walk home with nothing
rlm@0: but an umbrella. She trudged down the wet sidewalk
rlm@0: holding onto the rod, hoping that the wind wouldn't blow
rlm@0: the umbrella inside out.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~*If the sky up above you*~
rlm@0: ~*Should turn dark and full of clouds*~
rlm@0: ~*And that old north wind should begin to blow*~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Hotaru shut the front door behind her, glad to be
rlm@0: out of that horrible storm. She leaned on the doorknob
rlm@0: as she began to have another asthma attack.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: A woman with long red hair appeared in the hallway.
rlm@0: "Hotaru, are you all right? Here, let me take your jacket--"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The small girl pushed her away. "I'm fine, Kaori! I can
rlm@0: take care of myself!" Hotaru grabbed her books and headed
rlm@0: to her bedroom.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kaorinite scowled. "Well, I was just trying to help, you
rlm@0: ungrateful brat! I just can't comprehend why your father spoils
rlm@0: you so much! Why, if I were your mother--"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "YOU'RE NOT MY MOTHER!" Hotaru screamed before
rlm@0: slamming the door and locking it. She didn't know why she
rlm@0: was so mean to Kaori, maybe because there was just something
rlm@0: about the woman that Hotaru didn't like. Besides, Hotaru
rlm@0: didn't want anybody replacing her mom, who had passed away
rlm@0: some time ago.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~*Keep your head together..*~ 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Hotaru went over to the bed and lied down, hoping that her
rlm@0: attack would stop. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 'What is happening to my body? I can hardly breathe. I
rlm@0: need someone to help me...someone who cares...' 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~*And call my name out loud*~
rlm@0: ~*Soon you will hear me,*~
rlm@0: ~*Soon you'll hear me knocking on your door*~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 10 minutes later Hotaru heard a familiar voice:
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Is Hotaru home?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Like a flash, Hotaru jumped out of bed dispite her
rlm@0: condition. She ran out into the hall before Kaorinite
rlm@0: could turn Chibi-Usa away.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "I'm here! Come on in, Chibi-Usa-chan!" Hotaru breathed.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Chibi-Usa grinned as she slipped off her muddy boots and
rlm@0: ran past Kaori, her Luna-P ball floating after her.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kaorinite frowned. "Hotaru, you know you're not well enough
rlm@0: to play right now."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "I'm FINE, Kaori!" she shouted at Dr.Tomoe's assistant. Then she
rlm@0: turned to the pink-haired princess. "Come on, we can talk in the den."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Oh, I can't stay long, I got a dentist's appointment in a little
rlm@0: while. I hate the dentist!" She stuck out her tongue.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "So do I. Last time I went to the dentist I hated it." Hotaru did
rlm@0: the same.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Chibi-Usa giggled in that oh-so familiar fashion and handed her
rlm@0: a piece of paper. "We're having a picnic next Saturday and I 
rlm@0: want you to come. Here are the directions to the park, so maybe 
rlm@0: your Dad can drive you..."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: She then casted a nervous glance at Kaorinite. "Or maybe she can 
rlm@0: drive you..."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Oh, that's okay. My Daddy is off on Saturdays, so he'll be able to 
rlm@0: drive me." Hotaru replied as she read the invitation.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Hooray! I just can't wait 'til Saturday, we're gonna have so much fun!"
rlm@0: Chibi-usa threw her arms around Hotaru's waist.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Hota-chan looked down the girl, alittle surprised. But after a moment's
rlm@0: thought, she hugged her back.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Well, I gotta go deal with the tooth-monster, so I'll see you later! Come on,
rlm@0: Luna-P!" The girl grabbed her toy and ran outside onto front lawn.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Hotaru went to her bedroom window and watched as Usa-chan skipped
rlm@0: home, also noticing that the rain had suddenly stopped. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: A small smile appeared on the firefly's face. 'Chibi-Usa...why do you
rlm@0: care about me so much? You have better future than I will ever have.
rlm@0: I don't even know why you like me. But, whatever the reason is, I
rlm@0: hope we stay friends forever. I can't wait to see your bright face
rlm@0: again.'
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~*You just call out my name*~
rlm@0: ~*And you know wherever I am*~
rlm@0: ~*I'll come running to see you again*~
rlm@0: ~*Winter, spring, summer or fall*~
rlm@0: ~*All you have to do is call*~
rlm@0: ~*And I'll be there*~
rlm@0: ~*Yes I will...*~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~*You've got a friend*~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~*Ain't it good to know that you've got a friend?*~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The weather the next day was much nicer. Well, for some
rlm@0: people. Hotaru's asthma attacks just wouldn't stop, because
rlm@0: they were becoming more frequent by the day. Hotaru just
rlm@0: happened to be suffering one on the way home from school
rlm@0: when she suddenly collapsed.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Hotaru clutched onto her shirt in agony. 'Please stop...
rlm@0: please let me breathe...'
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "So this is the demon-girl I've heard so much about?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Hota-chan looked up startled, only to meet the faces
rlm@0: of two seventh graders. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: One of the girls snickered. "Don't worry, Hotaru, we'll help
rlm@0: you." When she spotted Hotaru's metal pencil case lying on 
rlm@0: the ground, she stepped on it, crushing the metal and breaking
rlm@0: whatever pencils that were inside.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~*And people can be so cold*~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Hotaru clamped her eyes shut, trying not to cry. Her body
rlm@0: was killing her physically and emotionally at the same time. 
rlm@0: She couldn't bear it. 'Please...just let this be a nightmare...
rlm@0: let me wake up...'
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The girls laughed evilly at the younger girl's pain until one
rlm@0: of them said, "Let's go check out what the boys are doing."
rlm@0: And finally they left Hotaru, suffering on the pavement.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~*They'll hurt you, and desert you*~
rlm@0: ~*And they'll take your soul if you let them...*~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tears streamed down the girl's cheeks. She wanted to
rlm@0: die, right there and then. Everything was going wrong, 
rlm@0: and there seemed to be no hope. Dying would stop
rlm@0: the endless pain and suffering. Hotaru couldn't think 
rlm@0: of one person who would miss her.....
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ...until the moment she showed up.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Oh my gosh, Hotaru!" Chibi-Usa ran over to her friend, 
rlm@0: concerned. "Hotaru, are you okay?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Yes...*huff* I'm okay...just tired, that's all..." She continued
rlm@0: to breathe for all her life's worth.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Hotaru, why are you crying?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: When Chibi-Usa recieved no answer, she helped by putting
rlm@0: Hotaru's books and supplies back in her bag. Then she supported
rlm@0: her legs in order to stand up. "There's a place not too faraway 
rlm@0: from here where can rest. Do you think you can make it?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The raven-haired girl nodded, unable to speak. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Slowly and carefully, Chibi-Usa carried Hota-chan's bookbag and
rlm@0: helped her walk, her arm holding onto hers. Finally they reached 
rlm@0: a playground, where they stayed away from the other kids.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Soon Hotaru was able to breathe normally again. But the emotional
rlm@0: pain didn't stop, for she just kept crying.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Chibi-Usa was very worried now. She kneeled on the grass and 
rlm@0: put her hands on Hotaru's shoulders. "Please tell me what's the matter."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Chibi-Usa, what's wrong with me?" she sniffled. "Why am I so different?" 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The future princess was confused. "Whaddya mean?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "People are so mean to me...they say I'm wierd and that I'm a freak...
rlm@0: and sometimes...I think they're right..."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "No!" Chibi-Usa shouted so loud that Hotaru looked up. "Don't you dare
rlm@0: say that! There's nothing wrong with you! People are just plain nasty!
rlm@0: Don't you ever let them get to you like that! 'Cause they're wrong!"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~*Oh but don't you let them.*~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Hotaru stared at Usa, shocked at the hint of anger in her friend's voice.
rlm@0: She didn't mean to make her mad. "I'm...I'm sorry."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Chibi-Usa smiled. "Don't be. I just don't like it when my best friend is
rlm@0: convinced that something is wrong with her when it's certainly not true."
rlm@0: She flopped back down on the soft grass. "Let's forget about them and 
rlm@0: relax. Look, I see a dinosaur-shaped cloud."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Hota-chan looked up at the sky. "It does look like a dinosaur. And there's
rlm@0: a car-shaped cloud next to it." She pointed upward, her sadness drifting
rlm@0: away like a cloud.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Do you think the car is trying to run over the dinosaur?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "If so, the car is going to lose."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The two girls laughed, and continued to play "Spot-the-Cloud". An hour
rlm@0: passed, and by that time the other children had gone home, leaving
rlm@0: the two destined Sailor Scouts by themselves. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: As the sun began to set, the pink-haired girl glanced over at her best
rlm@0: buddy. "Hotaru?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: She glanced back. "Yeah?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "I'm very glad we're friends." 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Hotaru's eyes shimmered with compassion. "Me too."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Chibi-Usa reached out her hand to her. "Friends forever?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: She replied by taking ahold of Usa's hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Friends forever."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~*You just call out my name*~
rlm@0: ~*And you know wherever I am*~
rlm@0: ~*I'll come running to see you again*~
rlm@0: ~*Winter, spring, summer or fall*~
rlm@0: ~*All you have to do is call*~
rlm@0: ~*And I'll be there*~
rlm@0: ~*'Cause you've got a friend*~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The girls continued to lie there in quiet thought. After awhile Hotaru sat up. 
rlm@0: "It's getting dark. We should go home, Chibi--"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: But when she looked at Chibi-Usa, the small girl was fast asleep.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Afraid to wake her up, Hotaru decided to carry her home. She reached
rlm@0: down to pick her up, and when she did, Hotaru was able to lift her with ease.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 'She's so light...' she thought in awe. 'It's like she doesn't even weigh 
rlm@0: anything.
rlm@0: Hopefully, I won't have any attacks carrying her.'
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: And Hotaru didn't. She was able to carry the weightless princess to her house
rlm@0: without any trouble at all.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Hotaru softly knocked on the Tsukinos' door, only to realize that someone left 
rlm@0: the door unlocked. She quietly carried the girl up to her room, trying not to 
rlm@0: wake
rlm@0: anybody up. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "There," Hotaru breathed as she gently layed Chibi-Usa down on her bed
rlm@0: and covering her with the blanket.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Hotaru stared at Chibi-Usa's sleeping form for a moment. She looked so innocent,
rlm@0: so sweet and pure. It was difficult to believe that this child would do anything 
rlm@0: to
rlm@0: harm her best friend.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 'Thank you, Chibi-Usa. A moment ago I thought I was all alone in the world,
rlm@0: but now I know that I was wrong. You mean the world to me. I love you, 
rlm@0: Chibi-Usa.'
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Surrendering to this new feeling that was overwhelming her, Hotaru leaned
rlm@0: over and gently kissed Chibi-Usa on the cheek. It was something Hotaru
rlm@0: had never done in her entire life, and probably wouldn't do again anytime soon.
rlm@0: But she didn't care.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: By that time, the young firefly was close to tears. 'Friends forever. I 
rlm@0: promise.'
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Then Hotaru left the quiet residence, and walked home, knowing that there
rlm@0: was at least one person in the world that cared about her. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: And that was all she needed to know.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~*Ain't it good to know*~
rlm@0: ~*You've got a friend*~
rlm@0: ~*Yes it's good to know*~
rlm@0: ~*You've got a friend*~
rlm@0: ~*I'm so glad I've got a friend in you*~
rlm@0: ~*And I know you're glad*~
rlm@0: ~*You've got a friend in me...*~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~