Author's Note

I feel that I need to explain some things before we begin. This is a revision of a story I wrote seventeen years ago. "Hotaru's Date" was never a bad story, quite the contrary it was very well received. So if "Hotaru's Date" is a well-liked story, why revise it? There are two main reasons. The first is that while it was well-liked it was also incomplete in places, had a mash-up of names and had a lot of spelling errors as well as some chapters that were really too short. The only excuse I have for this was that I felt that I needed to get my ideas out and would often publish story parts as I finished them instead of sitting down and looking at them more thoroughly. I was really a form of lazy writing on my part. That being said, the second reason for the revision is so that when I get around to finishing this story I did not want things to be jarring: 21 chapters of botchy work followed by chapters written after seventeen years of practice.

So what can you expect from this revision? All Japanese names (though if someone can remember/ find the name of the guy who Makoto gave a transfusion to after he was injured by a lion youma I would be most grateful) for the characters. At least two short chapters being combined. Fewer spelling and grammar errors and some chapters getting a little more original content.

Disclaimer:

I don't own Sailor Moon. Naoko Takeuchi-sama does. Toei Animation made the series, DiC abused it and ViZ Media owns the N.A. Rights to it now. That said, this is a labor of love not of profit. All I ask is for feedback.

Hotaru's Date Chapter one

The Art of Dating
by
Lance the Flamesniper

Hotaru sighed.

To her art shows were generally interesting, but could also be exceptionally boring. Having lived with Michiru, Setsuna and Haruka all her second life, she'd been to
dozens of art exhibits. This one was Michiru's and as such Michiru was making the rounds.

"Making the rounds" was the most common thing about these gatherings. The artist
was required to speak with and answer questions from everyone including art critics to potential buyers and casual observers. Hotaru could understand that it was a necessary aspect of the trade but it was almost always boring.

She looked around to see if Setsuna or Haruka were as bored. Unfortunately, Haruka at Michiru's side, as usual and Setsuna was off talking with a group of people who from the look of them were likely peers from the fashion world.

Which brought up another point of contention: there were few to no people her age at these galas. The ones she often encountered did not interest her, often being children of wealth and in her opinion quite arrogant, loud and intimidating. In short not at all what the ever-so-shy senshi of Saturn would want as a companion. It was also at times like this she missed her dear friend Chibiusa. With a sigh Hotaru did what any bored teenager would do in this situation: wander about pretending to be interested.

James Everwolfe smiled slightly, everywhere he went it was the same. New Town, new artists and new critics. He idly wondered what his role would be when his own exhibit was presented. James was after all an artist himself and had been heralded in various locations as both an upstart wannabe and a young up-and-comer depending on the critic. None of that really mattered tonight or ever. For tonight was merely looking forward to meeting his fellow painter Michiru Kaioh. Her seascapes had caught his attention as being beautiful beyond words, almost as if she were one with the sea herself.

If she's one with the sea, which to most people would be utterly ridiculous, what would that make me? One with the night or one with Silence? James thought wryly. Deep down, he knew the answer and some nights it terrified him.

He was sixteen with black hair that was kept in a small tail at the back of his neck by a purple string. His eyes were a strange shade of purple that was almost black. On this evening his five foot ten frame was in a white shirt, purple tie, and black dress pants with a matching coat. He felt ridiculous in a suit, but he knew it was necessary.

He was looking at a particular piece featuring sunrise over the eastern side of Tokyo Bay that he was certain was going to be leaving with him, when someone bumped into him.

"Oh! I'm terribly sorry," Both of them said. Then their eyes met.

To James's surprise he was looking into the exact shade of purple eye that he saw when he looked in the mirror. The only difference was that these belonged to a girl who, while really not all that tall was very striking, especially the way
her black dress made her alabaster skin seem to glow. The two stared at each other for a moment that seemed to last an eternity before James offered his hand and a polite smile.

"James Everwolfe," He said as Hotaru took his hand warily.

"Hotaru Tomoe," She said as she shook his hand.

"Charmed," he said as he brought her hand to his lips.

Hotaru giggled at the chivalrous gesture causing James to look up with a more genuine smile. Something about meeting her delighted him. "So what brings you into the somewhat dry world of art?"

"I have to be here. You?"

"I'm just here to mingle and maybe buy a piece or two. This one over here for example is beautiful especially the way the bay reflects the sunlight. The colors and technique is also excellent. Ms. Kaioh did a wonderous job!"

"You talk like a painter," Hotaru giggled.

"Good ear. I am a painter. Though my forte is fantasy art and moonscapes," James answered. "Which can be rather dull and tedious work sometimes."

"I know, I live with the artist. She spent a week looking for the right location to paint. The painting itself took her three hours to paint and she had to get up a four a.m. to paint it."

"Talk about suffering for one's art," James said dryly. That brought a laugh from Hotaru, it was a sound, James decided, that he found enjoyable. Something about this encounter with this mysterious young woman tugged at him. "Do you get the feeling that we've actually met before?"

"Yes, but I think I'd remember a cute guy like you," Hotaru said silently wondering where that comment came from. She was usually shy around others she didn't know, but for some reason she felt bold around him.

"And likewise I'd remember an attractive woman like you. You wouldn't be interested in going out sometime, would you? I think, no, I know I would like to know you better."

"I wouldn't mind one bit. In fact I was hoping you'd ask me." I was? Hotaru mentally asked, then realized that she had.

"How about two days from now?" James asked with what he hoped was a charming smile.

Hotaru made a show of thinking about it, but deep down she already knew her answer.

James worked at straightening the pictures he'd bought that evening until he felt they looked perfect. He'd not gotten to meet the artist, but there was time to worry about that some other time, like when he met with Hotaru for their date. With a sigh he looked at the rest of his apartment. It wasn't really one apartment but a whole floor of rooms that he'd had modified to include all the space that he needed. He even had a balcony on which he'd set up his telescope. He walked out onto the balcony after changing into a well-worn t-shirt and sweatpants. The evening breeze felt cool against his skin as he looked through the telescope. It was a clear night and through the telescope he could see Saturn clearly.

Saturn had always been a planet of interest to him, and knowing what he knew about himself he wasn't surprised. With an amused smile he went back into his apartment and soon afterward was asleep.

Hotaru stared at the ceiling of her now dark room. She was still giddy from the events of the evening. A date! My first date! I never thought it would happen. She thought.

She smiled dreamily even as she puzzled over the abrupt manner of the thing. She'd definitely felt as if she knew him from somewhere but it was the image she kept getting was hazy, like a memory of a dream. Finally, her mind gave up on trying to pin down where she could have met him as she drifted into the realm of hopefully pleasant dreams.