rlm@2: Lovers and Dreamers rlm@2: By the Amazoness Quartet rlm@2: rlm@2: The song in the story is ChibiUsa’s Stars singles song, ‘BaiBaitte Itta’. rlm@2: The translation for rlm@2: the song was done by William Braell and a friend found it at rlm@2: http://sailormusic.tripod.com/lyrics/BaiBaitte_Itta.html rlm@2: rlm@2: This story takes place right after ‘Family Ties.’ We hope you all enjoy it. rlm@2: ^-^ Please e- rlm@2: mail us at amazonessduo@hotmail.com and tell us what you think. ^-^ rlm@2: rlm@2: rlm@2: "C’mon, Taru," ChibiUsa said, waving to her from the curb. She wore a rlm@2: mischievous grin that fit her older appearance well. It made her look a bit rlm@2: like her evil rlm@2: self, Black Lady. rlm@2: Hotaru sighed and followed her lover towards the karaoke bar. She still rlm@2: wasn’t rlm@2: sure this was a good idea. ChibiUsa had borrowed the Luna Pen from Usagi to rlm@2: make rlm@2: them look older. Hotaru watched as ChibiUsa’s now much longer hair swayed rlm@2: back and rlm@2: forth as she walked, brushing up against the back of the short dark crimson rlm@2: dress the pink rlm@2: haired girl was wearing. Hotaru felt herself smiling as ChibiUsa walked rlm@2: along. The pink rlm@2: haired girl always managed to affect her deeply, whether or not she was rlm@2: pretending to be rlm@2: older. Hotaru found herself wondering which way she liked ChibiUsa’s hair rlm@2: better. It was rlm@2: pretty when it was long, like her mother’s. But it was cute when it was rlm@2: shorter and rlm@2: fluffier like ChibiUsa normally had it. rlm@2: "Taru?" ChibiUsa asked quizzically. rlm@2: Hotaru blushed. She must have been lost in thought. ChibiUsa took her hand rlm@2: and rlm@2: brought her closer. Hotaru felt ChibiUsa’s warm breath against her cheek. rlm@2: "Usa," Hotaru rlm@2: said softly as she looked into the other girl’s crimson eyes. Her heart beat rlm@2: faster, almost rlm@2: stopping when ChibiUsa’s long fingers stroked her warm cheek. rlm@2: "You ready?" ChibiUsa asked, motioning behind her. "You seemed to be out of rlm@2: it for a second." rlm@2: "I get like that when I think about you," Hotaru whispered to the pink rlm@2: haired rlm@2: girl. "You make it hard for me to think about anything else." She smiled, rlm@2: fingers rlm@2: intwining in one of ChibiUsa’s long pink pigtails. rlm@2: "Taru..." ChibiUsa’s soft red lips inched anxiously closer to Hotaru’s. rlm@2: Hearing a rlm@2: car screech by, she shook herself out of it. Her long hair flew about, some rlm@2: hitting into rlm@2: Hotaru’s head. "Gomen," ChibiUsa said, embarrassed. rlm@2: Hotaru couldn’t help but laugh. "I think I like your shorter hair better." rlm@2: Running her hands through her hair to straighten it out, ChibiUsa turned rlm@2: back to rlm@2: Hotaru. "How’s that?" rlm@2: Hotaru paused for a moment to take in the pink haired angel before her. She rlm@2: was rlm@2: absolutely stunning. She was the most beautiful thing Hotaru had ever seen. rlm@2: She heard rlm@2: ChibiUsa call her name again, but she just smiled. "Gorgeous," Hotaru said rlm@2: breathlessly. rlm@2: The faint blush and the pleased look on ChibiUsa’s face told Hotaru she’d rlm@2: said the right rlm@2: thing. Taking ChibiUsa’s arm, she headed inside. rlm@2: "I meant my hair," ChibiUsa finally got out, still smiling. rlm@2: Hotaru glanced at her and smiled back. "I know. But I meant what I said." rlm@2: Taking a table near the front, Hotaru and ChibiUsa took their seats. Hotaru rlm@2: helped ChibiUsa get her long hair out of the way while she sat. "I don’t rlm@2: think I’ll ever rlm@2: know how mom does it," ChibiUsa sighed. rlm@2: "I bet it’s probably with practice. When I was younger, I really wanted to rlm@2: play rlm@2: the violin like Michiru-mama, but I was horrible at it whenever I played. rlm@2: But she taught rlm@2: me how. It took a long time, but I really wanted to learn." rlm@2: "And you play beautifully," ChibiUsa complimented. Hotaru had played rlm@2: specifically for her on several occasions. rlm@2: Hotaru smiled. "Thank you. Haruka-papa offered to teach me how to drive, rlm@2: but rlm@2: if its anything like learning how to play the violin, I’m not sure I want to rlm@2: go through that rlm@2: again," Hotaru joked. "I’m sure if you keep it long enough, you’ll do just rlm@2: fine with long rlm@2: hair. In the meantime, though, I like it short. It’s..." rlm@2: "Cute," ChibiUsa finished for her, grinning. Despite her dream she’d rlm@2: harbored rlm@2: when she was younger about being ladylike, Hotaru was quite intent on making rlm@2: sure she rlm@2: knew the raven haired girl liked her the way she was. rlm@2: "Well it is. And I like it." Glancing over at the pink haired girl, Hotaru rlm@2: looked at rlm@2: her curiously. "Why did you borrow the Luna Pen?" rlm@2: ChibiUsa thought for a moment. "I thought it would be fun to go out a rlm@2: little rlm@2: differently tonight. I heard about this place from Mamo-chan. He and his rlm@2: friends come rlm@2: here every once in a while, so I thought we might want to look a little rlm@2: older if we came so rlm@2: everyone didn’t just think we were kids." rlm@2: "That’s what you wanted it for? Then why are we here?" Hotaru asked, rlm@2: raising rlm@2: an eyebrow. rlm@2: Smiling, ChibiUsa responded, "I just wanted to sing." rlm@2: "Sing?" Hotaru raised an eyebrow. She did love ChibiUsa’s sweet, lilting rlm@2: voice. rlm@2: The pink haired girl did sing quietly from time to time, but Hotaru loved rlm@2: hearing her sing rlm@2: when they were together in the shower or when it was only the two of them at rlm@2: one of rlm@2: their homes. A smile formed across her lips. It would be nice to hear rlm@2: ChibiUsa sing here. rlm@2: Looking up to confirm that the stage had finally been vacated, ChibiUsa rlm@2: quickly rlm@2: stood up and took Hotaru’s hand. "Let’s go, Taru." rlm@2: Hotaru glanced up at the stage. "I’m not sure, Usa. Not in front of rlm@2: everybody." rlm@2: "But you’ve been playing your violin in front of people for a while now," rlm@2: ChibiUsa argued. rlm@2: "That’s different." rlm@2: ChibiUsa tugged at Hotaru’s hand again, trying to bring the dark haired rlm@2: girl with rlm@2: her. "How’s that?" rlm@2: "Because I don’t have to sing when I’m playing the violin. Usa-chan, if you rlm@2: want to sing together, can’t we do that at my house? We can wait until rlm@2: everybody else is rlm@2: gone, like when Haruka-papa and Michiru-mama, and Sestuna-mama and Seiya go rlm@2: out. rlm@2: We’d have the whole house to ourselves, so we could sing a duet, or I could rlm@2: accompany rlm@2: you on the violin. Whatever you want. I just don’t want to sing in front of rlm@2: all these rlm@2: people." Hotaru looked nervously up at ChibiUsa. She never did feel rlm@2: comfortable with rlm@2: large groups of people. It just reinforced how shy she already was. rlm@2: The pink haired girl finally gave a defeated sigh. "Alright." Winking to rlm@2: Hotaru, rlm@2: ChibiUsa continued up to the stage. rlm@2: Hotaru stared on as ChibiUsa took the microphone. ‘What’s she doing?’ rlm@2: Hotaru rlm@2: asked herself. She admitted to herself that ChibiUsa had been acting a bit rlm@2: strange tonight. rlm@2: And she didn’t think the other girl was telling the whole truth about why rlm@2: she wanted them rlm@2: to look different. Maybe so no one would wind up recognizing them. But why? rlm@2: ChibiUsa’s voice over the speakers shook Hotaru from her thoughts. She kept rlm@2: her eyes on rlm@2: the pink haired girl, wondering what she was thinking. rlm@2: "Hello, everyone. Before I start, I’d like to dedicate this song to the rlm@2: beautiful rlm@2: girl up front." Smiling mischievously, ChibiUsa pointed to where Hotaru was rlm@2: sitting. rlm@2: "Taru, you make everyday a dream. A dream that I never want to end. I love rlm@2: you, Taru- rlm@2: chan." rlm@2: Hotaru sat in stunned silence, her normally pale cheeks blushed a deep red. rlm@2: What had gotten into ChibiUsa? The other girl was usually rather shy and rlm@2: reserved about rlm@2: their relationship in public. After Hotaru’s harsh life the first time rlm@2: around on earth and rlm@2: her more loving second time growing up, she tried not to care what other rlm@2: people thought rlm@2: about the two of them being in love. With how ChibiUsa had been acting rlm@2: lately, maybe rlm@2: she was coming to understand how Hotaru felt about their relationship. That rlm@2: there wasn’t rlm@2: a need to hide it. rlm@2: ChibiUsa continued to sing, directing it to Hotaru. Hotaru received some rlm@2: odd rlm@2: stares, but she didn’t notice. She was to intent on the future princess on rlm@2: the stage. She rlm@2: may not have been the best singer, but that hardly mattered to Hotaru. She rlm@2: felt like rlm@2: everything the pink haired girl sang was directly to her. rlm@2: The pink haired girl’s eyes met Hotaru’s, her sweet voice ringing forth. rlm@2: rlm@2: "No good! No good! No good" you said, rlm@2: When your spirits were low, but rlm@2: I am now at your side, so rlm@2: It's surely, surely, positively all rlm@2: right! rlm@2: rlm@2: Even if we're nothing but failures, rlm@2: We won't just be downhearted NO! NO! rlm@2: We just lost by a little bit... rlm@2: Forget all about those meanies! rlm@2: If we believe in pleasant things, then rlm@2: Even if night comes, we won't be afraid rlm@2: of it; rlm@2: We know morning, morning, is getting rlm@2: near, and so rlm@2: It's not at all a big deal, right? rlm@2: rlm@2: Now, even if we're a pair of fraidycats, rlm@2: Don't be worried at all, NO! NO! rlm@2: I'm giving a kiss to those eyelids rlm@2: Brimming with tears (smack!) rlm@2: Tomorrow, our wishes certainly will come rlm@2: true! rlm@2: The things we'd like so much will happen, rlm@2: We'll say BYE-BYE to failures like these. rlm@2: I've said it! I've said it! It'll rlm@2: absolutely be all right! rlm@2: rlm@2: As for being down-hearted and moping, rlm@2: Giving in to these feelings too easily rlm@2: Is obviously a big mistake; rlm@2: Don't give up on our important dreams! rlm@2: If we believe in cheerful things, rlm@2: Even if it gets cold, it will not be rlm@2: painful; rlm@2: We know spring, spring, is getting near, rlm@2: and so rlm@2: It's not at all a big deal, right? rlm@2: rlm@2: Now, even if we're a pair of crybabies, rlm@2: Don't be worried at all, NO! NO! rlm@2: I'm giving a kiss to those cheeks rlm@2: Dripping with tears (smack!) rlm@2: Tomorrow will be much more wonderful! rlm@2: The wishes we most desire will be rlm@2: granted, rlm@2: We'll say BYE-BYE to anxieties like rlm@2: these. rlm@2: I've said it! I've said it! It'll rlm@2: absolutely be all right! rlm@2: rlm@2: Finally, the music ended and ChibiUsa made her way off the stage. Hotaru rlm@2: threw her arms around the other girl as soon as she was down. "Odango-chan, rlm@2: I love you, rlm@2: too." They nearly stumbled, but ChibiUsa managed to lean against a table for rlm@2: support. rlm@2: She smiled and returned the embrace. "But why did..." Hotaru’s question lay rlm@2: unfinished rlm@2: as ChibiUsa’s soft lips delved upon Hotaru’s. "Let’s go, Usa," Hotaru said rlm@2: after they rlm@2: broke the kiss. She noticed some of the attention they were getting and rlm@2: didn’t want to rlm@2: stick around for too much longer. rlm@2: "Hai," ChibiUsa agreed. The two quickly headed around the side and to the rlm@2: entrance, careful not to attract any more attention. Finally exiting the rlm@2: building, ChibiUsa rlm@2: released a deep breath. "Next time we’ll just sing at your place." rlm@2: Hotaru smiled warmly at her lover. "Good idea." Her arm went around rlm@2: ChibiUsa’s waist as they began to walk along. rlm@2: rlm@2: While strolling slowly through the park, the two women held each other rlm@2: lovingly. Neither seemed to notice the cold night air or the dark clouds rlm@2: forming overhead. rlm@2: They looked at each other, the silence around them only broken by the sound rlm@2: of rlm@2: breathing. ChibiUsa’s arms went to Hotaru’s sides, drawing her close, rlm@2: exactly where rlm@2: ChibiUsa wanted her. Hotaru gave an ‘oh’ of surprise before putting her own rlm@2: hands on rlm@2: ChibiUsa’s shoulders. rlm@2: "Are you mad?" ChibiUsa asked concernedly. rlm@2: "Why would I be?" Hotaru blinked in confusion. rlm@2: "Well, what I did back there. I shouldn’t have embarrassed you in front of rlm@2: everybody. I just wasn’t thinking," ChibiUsa said apologetically. rlm@2: Hotaru brought her hand up to ChibiUsa’s warm cheek. "Odango-chan, don’t rlm@2: worry about that. I was... shocked, but I was happy. I never thought you rlm@2: would do rlm@2: something like that in front of anyone." rlm@2: ChibiUsa could see Hotaru smile in the dim light. "They didn’t know us rlm@2: anyway. Why worry what they think, right?" she asked a little awkwardly as rlm@2: if still a bit rlm@2: unsure herself. rlm@2: Hotaru shook her head. "No reason to worry about them. I love you and you rlm@2: love me. That’s all that matters." rlm@2: ChibiUsa nodded. "Hai. I think I learned something tonight, too." rlm@2: Hotaru’s heart rose. Maybe ChibiUsa finally had learned that it was okay rlm@2: for rlm@2: them to be in love, that she didn’t need to hide it from everyone. "What’s rlm@2: that?" rlm@2: "I learned that its alright to embarrass you in public as long as we kiss rlm@2: afterwards," ChibiUsa gave the dark haired girl a wink. rlm@2: "Odango-chan..." Hotaru stared at the pink haired girl, a sweatdrop rlm@2: forming. rlm@2: "That’s not what I wanted you to learn." rlm@2: ChibiUsa giggled. "Oh well. At least I’m prepared for next time." rlm@2: "If.." Hotaru began. rlm@2: "When.." ChibiUsa interrupted. rlm@2: "there’s a next time," they finished. rlm@2: Hotaru sighed and brushed some of ChibiUsa’s long pink hair back. "What did rlm@2: you and your mom talk about after Rei and I left?" rlm@2: "Oh, this and that. I’m feeling a lot better now that she knows. I may not rlm@2: say it rlm@2: often, but I really can see that she’s my mother. I kind of miss not having rlm@2: been able to see rlm@2: her in so long, so I’ve been thinking of Usagi as her more and more, even rlm@2: though she rlm@2: hasn’t had me yet." ChibiUsa looked thoughtful. "I really think my mom knew rlm@2: I’d fall in rlm@2: love with you when she sent me back to train as Sailorchibimoon." rlm@2: "Maybe that’s why she sent you to train in the past in the first place," rlm@2: Hotaru rlm@2: said, smiling. rlm@2: "I’m not sure. But I do think she already knew." ChibiUsa’s eyes widened as rlm@2: she rlm@2: remembered something suddenly. "Oh yeah! Usagi said she was pregnant." rlm@2: Hotaru looked at the pink haired girl in shock. "She’s pregnant?" ChibiUsa rlm@2: nodded. "Its you," Hotaru said joyously. "She’s pregnant with you, isn’t rlm@2: she?" rlm@2: ChibiUsa shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah. Its strange. My mom’s pregnant with rlm@2: me and I’m around to see it. It all happened so fast. I’d almost forgotten rlm@2: about going back rlm@2: to the future, but its almost time for me too." rlm@2: Hotaru shook her head emphatically. "No, we can’t leave until after you’re rlm@2: born. rlm@2: I want to see you as a baby. I want to be here when your born." rlm@2: ChibiUsa laughed nervously. "Hotaru-chan, I can show you pictures of me as rlm@2: a rlm@2: baby when we get to the future." rlm@2: "That’s not the same thing. And its only fair. You got to see me as a baby rlm@2: when rlm@2: I was reborn. I want to be here to see you. I’m sure Usagi would be a lot rlm@2: happier if you rlm@2: were here while she was pregnant," Hotaru argued. rlm@2: ChibiUsa was uneasy about the thought of staying around while her mother rlm@2: was rlm@2: pregnant with her, but Hotaru did have a point. Usagi had a lot going on rlm@2: right now and it rlm@2: might be easier for her if she stayed. Usagi was pregnant with her, having rlm@2: trouble with rlm@2: Mamoru, and in the midst of falling in love with Rei. With Kousagi back in rlm@2: the past, rlm@2: there were added problems. "Well, alright. Unless Puu says we need to go rlm@2: back. Or rlm@2: my mom sends for me. Or.." rlm@2: Hotaru cut ChibiUsa off with a quick kiss. The small piece of heaven shared rlm@2: between the two of them pushed back the other thoughts. "Thanks, ChibiUsa," rlm@2: Hotaru said quietly. The two girls ever so slowly started leaning towards rlm@2: each other. rlm@2: Hotaru couldn’t think of anything other than the other girl’s soft, red rlm@2: lips. Barely inches rlm@2: away from each other, a voice broke through the cloudy haze they were both rlm@2: in. rlm@2: "SO that’s what you two were up to." PallaPalla stood a few feet away, rlm@2: staring rlm@2: at the two girls. She wrinkled her brow as she got a closer look of the two rlm@2: of them "Why rlm@2: are you two dressed like that? It makes you look too old." rlm@2: ChibiUsa sighed. "You think anything over fifteen is too old, PallaPalla." rlm@2: PallaPalla just smiled. "Yep. That’s why PallaPalla’s here. PallaPalla rlm@2: wanted to rlm@2: help both of you." rlm@2: Hotaru tilted her head to the side slightly. "You do? How’s that?" rlm@2: "Of course PallaPalla does. ChibiUsa is our princess. You’re starting to rlm@2: get older rlm@2: than us, ChibiUsa-chan. We thought you’d want to be young forever like us," rlm@2: PallaPalla rlm@2: explained. rlm@2: "’We’?" ChibiUsa asked. "The rest of the Quartet are in on this?" rlm@2: "Well, we all talked about you getting too old, but PallaPalla’s the only rlm@2: one rlm@2: doing anything about it." The blue haired amazoness smiled proudly. rlm@2: "PallaPalla, we’re going to stop aging around twenty two already. That’s rlm@2: what rlm@2: age my mom and all the other senshi stopped aging at," ChibiUsa said. rlm@2: PallaPalla shook her head in disgust. "Too old." She stuck both arms out in rlm@2: front rlm@2: of her and a billiard ball formed between her hands. Energy swirled around rlm@2: it as she rlm@2: started concentrating. rlm@2: "PallaPalla?" ChibiUsa said, pulling away from Hotaru and starting to walk rlm@2: towards the amazoness. rlm@2: Too late. The ball shot out, whipping through the air. ChibiUsa gasped as rlm@2: she rlm@2: saw it heading her way. She closed her eyes and held up her arms. She felt rlm@2: the wind as it rlm@2: flew right past. Behind her there was a large flash of light before all was rlm@2: silent. ‘It rlm@2: missed?’ ChibiUsa thought to herself. She wasn’t quite sure of what it would rlm@2: have done, rlm@2: but she was glad she hadn’t had to find out. "PallaPalla, I don’t want you rlm@2: to stop our rlm@2: aging. I’m fine with how things are going. Right, Hotaru?" ChibiUsa asked, rlm@2: turning back rlm@2: towards the raven haired girl. She nearly lost her balance. Where Hotaru had rlm@2: been rlm@2: moments before, stood a child roughly the same age as their twin daughters. rlm@2: Hotaru’s rlm@2: dark purple long sleeved dress was draped around her. The little girl’s eyes rlm@2: were shut rlm@2: tightly. "Hotaru?" ChibiUsa whispered breathlessly. rlm@2: Hotaru slowly opened her eyes. What happened? She felt a little strange. rlm@2: She rlm@2: was dizzy from the energy ball hitting its target. Her dress felt way too rlm@2: big for her now, rlm@2: though she remembered thinking it was a size too small when she and ChibiUsa rlm@2: had gone rlm@2: shopping the week before. She could feel the cold grass under her bare feet, rlm@2: having rlm@2: stumbled out of her shoes. She blinked several times, trying to clear her rlm@2: blurred vision. rlm@2: ChibiUsa was staring at her wide eyed and PallaPalla was waving her arms rlm@2: frantically, rlm@2: trying to apologize. Apologize for what? "ChibiUsa-chan?" Hotaru gasped as rlm@2: she heard rlm@2: her own voice. Now that she thought about it, ChibiUsa and PallaPalla looked rlm@2: bigger, rlm@2: too. What was going on? rlm@2: "Oh, Hotaru-chan.." ChibiUsa said disparately. She quickly turned back to rlm@2: PallaPalla. "What happened?" she demanded. rlm@2: "PallaPalla doesn’t know!" PallaPalla said apologetically. "PallaPalla was rlm@2: trying rlm@2: to stop her from aging so you two could stay this age. PallaPalla didn’t rlm@2: mean for that to rlm@2: happen. PallaPalla’s so sorry, Small Lady." rlm@2: ChibiUsa took several deep breaths before saying anything. "Change her rlm@2: back." rlm@2: PallaPalla held her arms out helplessly. "PallaPalla can’t," she said rlm@2: quietly. rlm@2: "You can’t," ChibiUsa repeated. "You can’t?" she said again, the reality of rlm@2: the rlm@2: situation dawning on her. "Why not?" rlm@2: "PallaPalla just can’t. It was supposed to stop all outside forces from rlm@2: aging you. rlm@2: So PallaPalla can’t do anything to fix it," PallaPalla explained hesitantly. rlm@2: ChibIUsa turned back to Hotaru hopelessly. "Hotaru-chan," she said softly. rlm@2: "What’s going on?" Hotaru asked, getting angry that neither was telling rlm@2: her. rlm@2: "There is something PallaPalla can do," PallaPalla began. rlm@2: "What?" ChibiUsa asked eagerly. "What can you do? Anything." rlm@2: "I could complete the spell so she’s a baby." rlm@2: ChibiUsa stared at the blue haired girl. "What good would that do?" rlm@2: "Since Usagi’s pregnant with you, you’ll be born about nine months from rlm@2: now. rlm@2: If Hotaru’s a baby starting now, she’ll only be about a year older than you. rlm@2: So when you rlm@2: go back to the future, she’ll be just a little older than you." PallaPalla rlm@2: smiled, glad that rlm@2: she’d come up with a solution. She’d been jumping along through the trees to rlm@2: meet up rlm@2: with them, so she’d heard ChibiUsa talking about Usagi’s pregnancy. rlm@2: Hotaru trudged along towards ChibiUsa, the dress flailing around her. rlm@2: ChibiUsa rlm@2: was starting to seem a whole lot taller than her. Bending down, ChibiUsa rlm@2: lifted her up in rlm@2: her arms. Hotaru gasped as she felt the pink haired girl pick her up. rlm@2: "No! You can’t do that. We’ve got to find a way to make Hota-chan her rlm@2: normal rlm@2: age again," ChibiUsa said worriedly. rlm@2: ‘Normal age? Is that it? Oh no.. Am I a kid again?’ Hotaru asked herself. A rlm@2: wave of sadness passed through her at the thought of having to grow up yet rlm@2: again. rlm@2: "ChibiUsa-chan, how old am I?" Hotaru asked, looking directly at the pink rlm@2: haired girl. rlm@2: ChibiUsa looked back at her sadly. "I’m so sorry, Taru. I’d guess five or rlm@2: six." rlm@2: "Well, PallaPalla thought it was a good idea," PallaPalla said to no one in rlm@2: particular. rlm@2: "I’m not going to let you make her a baby," ChibiUsa said angrily. "It was rlm@2: bad rlm@2: enough she was taken from me the last time that happened. I’m not gonna let rlm@2: it happen rlm@2: again." rlm@2: PallaPalla stared at the ground. "PallaPalla’s sorry Hotaru-chan, rlm@2: ChibiUsa-chan. rlm@2: There’s nothing PallaPalla can do about it now." rlm@2: ChibiUsa felt her temper flaring. A mixture of anger, sadness, and rlm@2: hopelessness rlm@2: coursed through her veins. "No, you have to do something," she continued rlm@2: desperately. rlm@2: Hotaru shook her head sadly. "No, ChibiUsa-chan. There’s nothing she can rlm@2: do." rlm@2: The blue haired amazoness paused for a brief moment before starting to walk rlm@2: away. She felt bad about her mistake, but what could she do? She just hoped rlm@2: the other rlm@2: three amazoness wouldn’t be mad at her. She’d already disappointed her rlm@2: princess and rlm@2: Hotaru. She didn’t want everyone mad at her. rlm@2: "What do we do now?" ChibiUsa asked, her voice low. rlm@2: "Go home," Hotaru suggested. "We’d have to go eventually and we might as rlm@2: well get it out of the way now." rlm@2: ChibiUsa nodded. "I’m so sorry, Hotaru-chan." rlm@2: Hotaru swallowed a lump forming in her throat. "Don’t be, ChibiUsa-chan. rlm@2: Its rlm@2: not your fault." rlm@2: "Thanks, Taru." Setting Hotaru down, ChibiUsa pulled out the Luna Pen. rlm@2: Using rlm@2: the pen she changed Hotaru’s dress into a much smaller dress for the now rlm@2: younger girl. rlm@2: Picking her back up, ChibiUsa took off for the mansion where Hotaru lived. rlm@2: "Umm.. ChibiUsa, I can walk," Hotaru said after a minute. rlm@2: "Oh yeah." ChibiUsa blushed in embarrassment and set the younger girl down. rlm@2: Hotaru sighed as she had to reach up to hold the other girl’s hand. rlm@2: Something rlm@2: she did so often was now so totally different. The two walked on in silence rlm@2: for a while, rlm@2: both tormented by their own thoughts as they made their way to Hotaru’s rlm@2: house. rlm@2: rlm@2: Hotaru shivered as the cold when began to blow across her exposed skin. rlm@2: Tiny rlm@2: goosebumps formed from the chill. Tiny droplets of water had begun to fall rlm@2: from the dark rlm@2: clouds overhead. Hotaru was cold, wet, and miserable. A dark pit sunk in her rlm@2: stomach rlm@2: when she looked up at ChibiUsa. She had almost managed to forget how old she rlm@2: was rlm@2: while they had been walking along. The realization that she could be stuck rlm@2: as a child rlm@2: frightened her. Her small hand clutched ChibiUsa’s soft hand tightly, her rlm@2: fingers rlm@2: trembling lightly. She knew she shouldn’t be scared. ChibiUsa would be there rlm@2: for her, rlm@2: and Setsuna could probably find someway to fix things. But she couldn’t help rlm@2: it. She was rlm@2: afraid. What would happen now? Would she have to grow up again, wait those rlm@2: long years rlm@2: over again? The thought that frightened her the most was from what she’d rlm@2: heard rlm@2: PallaPalla say. Would she have to wait and grow up all over until she could rlm@2: see ChibiUsa rlm@2: again? If she was stuck as a child, would ChibiUsa have to go to the future rlm@2: without her? rlm@2: She would have to wait years to be together with ChibiUsa again if that rlm@2: happened. rlm@2: "Oh, Hota-chan," ChibiUsa said quietly, shaking the dark haired girl from rlm@2: her rlm@2: thoughts. ChibiUsa was kneeling in front of her, rain droplets dripping rlm@2: across her rlm@2: beautiful features, dripping off her chin. "It’s okay, Hota-chan. Please rlm@2: don’t cry." The rlm@2: pink haired girl’s fingertips brushed away sad tears that had begun falling rlm@2: from Hotaru’s rlm@2: large violet eyes. Hotaru hadn’t even realized they were there before that rlm@2: moment. rlm@2: ChibiUsa’s soft touch sent a spark of warmth through the younger girl’s cold rlm@2: body. "I rlm@2: promise it will be alright. Even if I have to go make PallaPalla do the same rlm@2: thing to me, rlm@2: just so we can stay together, that’s what we’ll do." The pink haired rlm@2: princess smiled rlm@2: lopsidedly. "We can go back to the future as little girls and grow up rlm@2: together." She rlm@2: brushed some damp hair away from Hotaru’s eyes and kissed her forehead rlm@2: gingerly. rlm@2: "ChibiUsa-chan.." Hotaru said, her voice choked off by the emotions she rlm@2: felt. rlm@2: She threw her small arms around the now taller girl’s waist, her head rlm@2: resting against the rlm@2: other girl. Sobs wracked her small form as ChibiUsa held her close. The fear rlm@2: and sadness rlm@2: she had felt were replaced by the warm feeling of love she had for her pink rlm@2: haired rlm@2: princess. She was still saddened by the whole ordeal, but she knew that rlm@2: she’d be okay in rlm@2: the solace of ChibiUsa’s arms. rlm@2: "I’d never leave you, Hotaru-chan. Even if it was to wait for you to grow rlm@2: up. If rlm@2: it came down to it, I’d rather grow up with you." ChibiUsa sighed in relief rlm@2: as she finally rlm@2: managed to coax a smile from the younger girl. "I love you, you know." rlm@2: Hotaru nodded, the wind ruffling her dark hair. "I know. I love you, too." rlm@2: "There’s nothing for you to worry about, Hotaru-chan. We’ll find some way to rlm@2: fix this," ChibiUsa said, locking her crimson eyes with Hotaru’s violet rlm@2: ones. She took a rlm@2: deep breath before continuing. "And if we can’t, don’t let it get to you. rlm@2: I’ll always love rlm@2: you. We’ll always be together. Remember that." rlm@2: Hotaru nodded again. "Hai, I will." She buried her face in the soft material rlm@2: of rlm@2: ChibiUsa’s dress, the soft feel of the pink haired girl’s skin underneath. rlm@2: Warm tears rlm@2: mixed with the cold rain on the dress, but the tears slowly trickled to a rlm@2: stop. Taking a step rlm@2: back, Hotaru mustered a weak smile. "Thank you, Odango-chan." rlm@2: ChibiUsa returned the smile. "Anytime, Taru. Now let’s get you home. Its rlm@2: freezing out here." rlm@2: rlm@2: Unbeknownst to the two girls, two shadowed figures had been watching from a rlm@2: distance. The two mysterious figures held each other tightly in the rain. rlm@2: Both appeared to rlm@2: be around sixteen years old. rlm@2: "That was surprising," one of them said, her dark hair done up in odangos rlm@2: getting rather soaked in the rain. She turned to her companion. rlm@2: "I had know idea that was going to happen. They had mentioned it before, rlm@2: but I rlm@2: didn’t know it would happen while we were back here. Maybe we should have rlm@2: spent rlm@2: more time researching everything," the other said. She pulled off her rlm@2: glasses with a free rlm@2: hand, the raindrops blurring her vision. rlm@2: "We might be able to use it to our advantage," the odangoed one suggested. rlm@2: The other girl ran a hand through her own damp, shorter hair. She thought rlm@2: for a rlm@2: moment. "Yeah, maybe we can. For now we’ll just have to watch. We’ll have to rlm@2: wait for rlm@2: the right time before we begin." rlm@2: The girl with the odangos nodded. "Right. I can wait. I’m in no hurry as it rlm@2: is." rlm@2: Smiling, her shorter haired companion leaned closer, her lips almost rlm@2: touching rlm@2: the other girl’s. "Neither am I, if it means waiting with you." rlm@2: The two girls continued to hold each other in the shadows as the rain rlm@2: poured rlm@2: around them. rlm@2: rlm@2: As a flash of lightening illuminated the area around them, Hotaru was sure rlm@2: she rlm@2: saw two figures looking over at them. Before she could say anything, a loud rlm@2: thunder clap rlm@2: hit, the sound ringing in her ears. Suddenly, she felt ChibiUsa’s arms rlm@2: encircle her, rlm@2: drawing her near. Hotaru struggled to catch her breath as the older girl’s rlm@2: arms squeezed rlm@2: her. She could feel the pink haired girl’s rapid heartbeat against her. rlm@2: Looking up, she saw rlm@2: that ChibiUsa’s eyes were clenched closed. ChibiUsa’s normal warm complexion rlm@2: was rlm@2: now pale. She knew ChibiUsa had a fear of thunder, but she’d forgotten all rlm@2: about it for rlm@2: the moment. Hotaru felt awkward as she now tried to comfort the older girl. rlm@2: "Its okay, rlm@2: ChibiUsa-chan. It’s only a noise." rlm@2: ChibiUsa took a shuddering breath, slowly opening her eyes. "I know.. Let’s rlm@2: just hurry back to your place, alright?" rlm@2: "Sure. We’re almost there, ChibiUsa-chan," Hotaru said soothingly. rlm@2: ChibiUsa giggled nervously. "It’s really no big deal. It’s silly to be rlm@2: afraid of rlm@2: that." Another clap of thunder had her dragging Hotaru close in a tight rlm@2: embrace again. rlm@2: The pink haired girl shut her eyes as she waited for it to pass. rlm@2: rlm@2: Over in the shadows, the girl with odangos shook her head. "Too bad she rlm@2: never rlm@2: gets over her fear of thunder." rlm@2: The other girl laughed softly and put her glasses back on. "By then it’s rlm@2: just an rlm@2: excuse to clutch onto Hotaru." rlm@2: "When you think about it that way.." the dark haired girl with odangos said rlm@2: thoughtfully. Both girls stepped further back into the shadows as they rlm@2: followed Hotaru rlm@2: and ChibiUsa. rlm@2: rlm@2: rlm@2: ChibiUsa and Hotaru sat on the bed in an uneasy silence. ChibiUsa wanted rlm@2: desperately to comfort the now younger dark haired girl, but she didn’t know rlm@2: what she rlm@2: could say or do to help. rlm@2: Hotaru looked helplessly down past her small feet to the floor. Everything rlm@2: was rlm@2: so much bigger now. Glancing sidelong at her girlfriend, she felt a stab of rlm@2: pain in her rlm@2: heart. The pink haired girl was so much older than her now. She was only a rlm@2: child. rlm@2: "Odango-chan?" Hotaru’s small voice piped up. rlm@2: Turning at the sound, ChibiUsa’s arm went around the smaller girl, pulling rlm@2: her rlm@2: closer. "Yes, Hotaru-chan?" She could see the hopeless look in Hotaru’s rlm@2: eyes, the rlm@2: defeated slump of her shoulders. It crushed ChibiUsa to see the dark haired rlm@2: girl like that. rlm@2: She took Hotaru’s small hand in her own, trying to comfort her. rlm@2: "Would you really have PallaPalla do the same thing to you if we couldn’t rlm@2: find a rlm@2: way to fix this?" Hotaru looked up at the pink haired girl worriedly. rlm@2: ChibiUsa smiled and squeezed Hotaru’s hand gently. "Of course, Taru. You rlm@2: shouldn’t have to go through this by yourself. And I wouldn’t mind the rlm@2: chance to grow rlm@2: up with you. Besides, maybe it’ll help me be more ladylike when I get older rlm@2: if I have to rlm@2: go through being a kid again." She giggled softly. rlm@2: "But isn’t it better this way? If I’m changed back into a baby, then I can rlm@2: grow rlm@2: up. When Usagi has you, I’ll only be a year older than you." Hotaru tried to rlm@2: smile, but it rlm@2: failed to reach her eyes. rlm@2: ChibiUsa shook her head firmly. "No. Either you get to come back with me to rlm@2: the future or I’m staying here with you." rlm@2: "But you’re the princess of Crystal Tokyo," Hotaru argued. rlm@2: ChibiUsa smiled. Leaning forward, she softly kissed Hotaru’s cheek. "That rlm@2: doesn’t matter. I love you. I want to be with you. No matter where it is. rlm@2: And if that means rlm@2: as five year olds growing up again, then that’s fine." rlm@2: "Oh, ChibiUsa-chan!" Hotaru stood up shakily on the bed, hugging the pink rlm@2: haired girl as tightly as she could. ChibiUsa’s arms wrapped around the rlm@2: smaller girl, rlm@2: drawing her close. They stayed that way for a long time. rlm@2: ChibiUsa finally spoke up, breaking the silence that had once again rlm@2: enveloped rlm@2: the room. "It doesn’t matter to me what age you are, Taru-chan. It hasn’t rlm@2: changed the fact rlm@2: that I still love you. With all my heart." She added with a slight smile, rlm@2: "It was strange rlm@2: enough to find out I was in love with my best friend, let alone a girl at rlm@2: that. Do you think rlm@2: this would change things?" rlm@2: Hotaru’s head rested against ChibiUsa’s shoulder. She shook her head rlm@2: slowly. "I rlm@2: was just scared. My body’s so different now. I’m a little girl. I’ll have to rlm@2: wait to grow up rlm@2: all over again. I didn’t know what would happen with us. I know you’d still rlm@2: love me, but rlm@2: I didn’t know if you’d leave for the future, when I’ll be older. Its got to rlm@2: be hard having a rlm@2: girlfriend that’s ten years younger than you." rlm@2: ChibiUsa winked at the dark haired girl. "I’ll manage. I’m not the one who rlm@2: has rlm@2: to grow up again. Yet, at least. Think about it this way, though. You’ll be rlm@2: able to rlm@2: understand the twins better." rlm@2: Hotaru giggled softly. She sighed as she looked into ChibiUsa’s warm rlm@2: crimson rlm@2: eyes. A small hand rested on ChibiUsa’s cheek. "Thank you, Odango-chan." rlm@2: "I want you to be happy, my Firefly. I’ll help you through this. I rlm@2: promise." rlm@2: ChibiUsa brushed her hand through Hotaru’s dark, raven hair. She hesitated rlm@2: for just a rlm@2: second before kissing Hotaru. rlm@2: Hotaru closed her eyes, pretending everything was back to normal, that rlm@2: everything was right with the world. Her heart sang out as she kissed the rlm@2: pink haired girl rlm@2: back. "I love you," she said quietly as she rested her head on ChibiUsa’s rlm@2: shoulder again. rlm@2: Shortly afterward, Hotaru fell asleep in the pink haired girl’s arms. rlm@2: rlm@2: rlm@2: "I want to dream nice dreams..." rlm@2: Beautiful eyelids fluttered open, casting butterfly shadows across pale rlm@2: skin. The rlm@2: figure seemed rlm@2: to clutch around her, praying for something to come into contact with those rlm@2: long fingers. rlm@2: She rlm@2: sat upright, fabric spilling away from her frame like silk, coming to rest rlm@2: near her waist. rlm@2: Nightclothes clung to her, and she reached one hand to peel them away. The rlm@2: other rlm@2: reached up to rlm@2: brush a wispy strand of green and brown hair from her face. rlm@2: "I want to dream nice dreams..." rlm@2: She opened her eyes wider, as if astounded at the quiet whispering. Green rlm@2: eyes rlm@2: went wide, then rlm@2: narrowed, as if suspicious of where the voice had originated from. Small rlm@2: rosebud lips rlm@2: parted, rlm@2: then quietly said, "What?" rlm@2: "I want to dream nice dreams..." rlm@2: The whispering had become almost a pleading, and this small figure seemed rlm@2: to almost rlm@2: jump from rlm@2: her bed. She searched with trained eyes over her surroundings, padding rlm@2: across the floor rlm@2: with rlm@2: bare feet almost noiselessly. She turned at a small sobbing sound, long rlm@2: braids with rlm@2: woven hair rlm@2: swinging, almost deadly. When she saw the almost pathetic figure swinging rlm@2: on a lone rlm@2: circus swing, rlm@2: her heart just about melted. rlm@2: "I want to dream nice dreams..." rlm@2: With barely an effort, the lean arms hoisted the figure up on the ladder. rlm@2: With a rlm@2: cat-like grace rlm@2: she climbed up to meet this sobbing figure that had caused her to rouse from rlm@2: a tormented rlm@2: sleep. rlm@2: She reached her, easing her out of the swing and onto the platform. The rlm@2: girl before her rlm@2: was rlm@2: clutching her knees, rocking back and forth, eyes glazed over and unseeing. rlm@2: Her mouth rlm@2: was rlm@2: quivering, and so were the pale limbs of the body it was joined to. rlm@2: Suddenly, her head rlm@2: shot rlm@2: upward, turning toward this tall figure who had taken her from her rlm@2: sanctuary. Blue eyes rlm@2: were rlm@2: questioning, quivering...but all she could utter from that perfect mouth rlm@2: was... rlm@2: "I want to dream nice dreams..." and she wrapped her arms around this rlm@2: figure rlm@2: standing by her rlm@2: side, pulling her down. "Oh, JunJun, I want to dream nice dreams..." rlm@2: "I know," the savior said, wrapping thin arms around this petite rlm@2: blue-haired rlm@2: child. "I know, rlm@2: PallaPalla." The embrace tightened. "I do too. We all do." rlm@2: "Help me dream nice dreams, JunJun." Oh, how those peircing blue eyes rlm@2: could rlm@2: envelop all who rlm@2: stared them. "Please..." rlm@2: Baffled, she stared into the depths of blue, knowing she was trapped. rlm@2: "I...I don't rlm@2: know how..." rlm@2: "I know I could dreams nice dreams, JunJun..." she continued on, as if she rlm@2: hadn't rlm@2: heard a word rlm@2: the other woman had said. "If I had only one thing..." rlm@2: "What's that?" The words themselves seemed heavy... rlm@2: "If I could just..." an embarrassed giggle. "Have you." rlm@2: A long moment of silence followed. The words seemed to hang in the air, rlm@2: cling rlm@2: to every shred of rlm@2: dignity both girls possessed. And the next noise was only a slight brushing rlm@2: of lips upon rlm@2: lips, rlm@2: and the next a breathless gasp. rlm@2: *Oh, if only we could dream nice dreams...* rlm@2: The joy of sweet kisses, one following the other - so precisely placed on rlm@2: tender lips, as if rlm@2: purely made for mounting pleasure upon pleasure. rlm@2: rlm@2: It was still dark when ChibiUsa woke up the next morning. But that wasn’t rlm@2: really a surprise. Even with all the lamps, Hotaru’s room seemed perpetually rlm@2: dark. The rlm@2: pink haired girl didn’t mind. She found the room romantic. A long yawn rlm@2: escaped her lips rlm@2: as she tried to sit up, but something seemed to be stopping her. She moved a rlm@2: little at first, rlm@2: testing. Her arm brushed what felt like a leg, and someone was holding on to rlm@2: her other rlm@2: arm. Looking down, she saw three young girls in the bed with her. For a rlm@2: moment her rlm@2: mind froze, wondering what could be going on. Panic started to edge in on rlm@2: her sleep rlm@2: blurred mind, but things slowly started coming back to her. These were her rlm@2: daughters, her rlm@2: and Hotaru’s. They had come back from the future to spend some time with rlm@2: them. They rlm@2: must have snuck into bed after she fell asleep. But one of them was Hotaru. rlm@2: That rlm@2: depressing thought woke her up fully. It took her a moment in the dim light rlm@2: to pick out rlm@2: which was Hotaru, the dark haired girl holding tightly onto her arm. She rlm@2: smiled softly, rlm@2: brushing back the girl’s raven hair before kissing her forehead. rlm@2: After a long moment, ChibiUsa noticed her vision still wasn’t back to rlm@2: normal, rlm@2: even for the dim room. Reaching up, she giggled a little when she pulled rlm@2: away a note rlm@2: from her own forehead. In it, Setsuna told her she knew all about what rlm@2: happened to rlm@2: Hotaru and that she had explained it to Haruka and Michiru. The Senshi of rlm@2: Time told her rlm@2: not to worry, that she should have faith that it would work out. It also rlm@2: mentioned that rlm@2: Haruka and Michiru had left for the day and that she was going to have rlm@2: breakfast at rlm@2: Seiya’s, so ChibiUsa should have fun watching the kids. For some reason, rlm@2: ChibiUsa was rlm@2: sure the older Senshi had been laughing when she’d written that part. rlm@2: Realizing just how hungry she was, ChibiUsa took great difficulty in rlm@2: extricating rlm@2: herself from the bed. Finally free from the tangle of bodies, she looked rlm@2: back at the bed, rlm@2: trying to make sure that no one woke up. She sighed contentedly as she rlm@2: looked at what rlm@2: would one day be her family. Even the fact that Hotaru was a little girl rlm@2: didn’t seem so rlm@2: bad after a good night sleep. And she did make a cute little girl. rlm@2: The future princess yawned as she walked downstairs, padding along barefoot rlm@2: across the carpeted floor. She was wearing one of Hotaru’s nightgowns, she rlm@2: noticed. Her rlm@2: mind raced with the possibilities of what may lay in the refrigerator, what rlm@2: delicious rlm@2: breakfast could be in store for her. She smiled to herself, deciding to make rlm@2: something for rlm@2: the twins and Hotaru while she was up. She paused at the foot of the stairs rlm@2: when she rlm@2: heard the doorbell ring. The sudden noise in the still, quiet morning rlm@2: shocked her. She rlm@2: stood still for a moment, waiting. Glad that it must have been nothing, she rlm@2: turned to head rlm@2: to the kitchen just as it rang again. She sighed, but headed for the door. rlm@2: So much for rlm@2: breakfast. rlm@2: She stood in front of the door for a long moment, time seeming to freeze in rlm@2: place. A pit formed in her stomach, as if opening that door might change rlm@2: everything. rlm@2: ‘That’s silly,’ she chided herself. Her hand nervously reached out for the rlm@2: door knob, rlm@2: stopping at the cold metal. She swallowed nervously. Why was this getting to rlm@2: her? It was rlm@2: probably just Setsuna or one of the others. The pink haired girl tried to rlm@2: get a grip on the rlm@2: door knob, but her sweaty palm made it hard to turn it. Glancing back rlm@2: towards the stairs, rlm@2: she wished Hotaru to be there with her for some reason. Well, other than the rlm@2: fact that she rlm@2: -always- wanted Hotaru with her. She could hear the drizzling rain starting rlm@2: to pick up as rlm@2: the knocking increased. rlm@2: Steeling herself for whatever lay beyond the door, hoping her nervousness rlm@2: was rlm@2: unfounded, ChibiUsa finally opened the door. rlm@2: rlm@2: rlm@2: To be continued in the next story. Ja! ^-^