Hotaru slowly woke up. What an odd dream. 2 voices speaking terms of endearment and love to each other. It was the same conversation every single night and it never showed any images. The dreams began that night when she went to the new nightclub in the forest, The Palace of Crimson.
She had stayed until well past dawn after dancing and partying all night. She had felt so alive while she was there. Even when that Vampire wannabe but her. She had broken his wrist and cracked his ribs as well as busted his knees. No one messed with her and got away unscathed.
Looking over at her alarm clock, Hotaru rose from her cover and quietly remade her bed. She had to be careful about how she did things. Haruka wasn't sleeping too well and Erik had a habit of using his powers to sneak into her room and watch over her as she slept.
She gathered her things and quickly got a shower. Once she was done with her shower, she got dressed and ran downstairs for breakfast. Hotaru didn't dare use her powers. If she did, Erik would wake up for sure.
"Good morning, young Silence." Adam said setting breakfast on the table. Dmitri looked passed the morning paper for a moment. He muttered something in Russian then returned to his paper. Hotaru just gave him a smile.
"Good morning." She said happily, sitting down at her place. "I see Michiru's sleeping in today."
"She took a sleeping pill last night." Dmitri told her turning the page in the business section. "Stocks are down in America again."
Hotaru smiled as she ate breakfast. Today was going to be a wonderful day. She could feel it in her body, down to her soul. Adam set her lunch next to her on the table and began to make Erik's. Hotaru quickly finished her breakfast then put her dishes in the sink. Grabbing her lunch and bag by the door, Hotaru bade Adam and Dmitri good bye as she left the house as she left the house.
The sunlight warmed her skin as soon as she stepped out the door. Hotaru hummed to herself as she walked down the walkway. Behind her, a window opened and the owner half hung out on the sill.
"Hotaru!" She stopped and looked at whoever called her name. "Why didn't you get me up!"
"You have an alarm clock, Erik. Why don't you use it for once?" Hotaru's good day was being ruined. The Horseman from China glared at her.
"Wait for me. I'll be down in a sec." Erik told her, going back into his room and closing his window.
If that idiot thinks I'm just going to stand here, he's got another thing coming. Hotaru thought, turning and resuming her course. I don't have to listen to the likes of him. Beside, I'd be late for school.
Hotaru continued on her way, trying to reclaim her good day. As she walked in silence, her thought drifted to the Palace of Crimson and the fun time she had the night before. It was so nice to fit in with the crowd instead of sticking out and only have Erik to talk to, who was following her to the forest until she teleported to the trees closest to the front of the Palace.
She had been doing the same routine, teleporting from the edge of the forest to the edge of the entrance to the Palace. It was the only way to keep Erik from following her. It also made it hard for her to remember certain events a short time afterwards. Hotaru did her best to keep to herself so she wouldn't get into trouble but there was that one slip up where a young man had kissed her. She has slapped him then pounded him good and proper.
"Hey, Hotaru!" Usa leapt on to Hotaru's back partially. "Are you having a good day?"
"I'm having a great day." The Silent Senshi beamed as the best friends went to school together.
"You going back to that place again tonight?" The 2nd Moon Senshi asked quietly. "Do you want me to come with?"
"The Palace is no place for the likes of you." Hotaru replied softly. "I'm already pushing it going out every night."
"Erik hasn't been following you, has he?" Usa asked as they neared school. "If he has…"
"Not to my knowledge. If he has been, I'll kill him." Hotaru growled. "I'm not his 'distressed damsel'."
Usa giggled as they walked on campus. Hotaru and Erik had a love-hate relationship-Erik loved Hotaru, and Hotaru hated Erik. It was definitely an easy relationship to follow. Erik would act like the overprotective boyfriend and Hotaru would blast him into the next century. The fact was that Hotaru would only fall in love with someone who had Saturian blood. That would be the only one compatible with her power, allowing her to have a child. But the problem was that Hotaru was the last Saturian, Erik didn't have and would never have Saturian blood so he couldn't marry Hotaru. He could-but she'd be unhappy and wouldn't be able to have children.
The girls started talking about homework problems as they headed up to their classroom. Usa got sidetracked when her cell phone rang so Hotaru entered the classroom on her own and sat down at her desk. She was alone at her desk by the window but not for long.
"Hey, Tomoe." Takato Karugawa said going over to her desk. "Saw you last night at the Palace. I'm glad you came."
"Thanks, Takato. Hey, where's Kimiko and Rin? I saw them last night at the Palace but I didn't see them this morning." Hotaru asked softly. Takato ran his hand through his hair. "They usually get here before I do."
"Kimiko got a hang over." The boy said thinking about it. "And…Rin's got a busted wrist. She tried to mosh, got squashed instead."
"Yikes. That sucks." The Firefly muttered. Takato glance around for a teacher or a non-Palace goer so they didn't have anyone ease drop.
"Do you have your gown yet?" Takato whispered to Hotaru. "I've got my suit already. Sasami's getting her gown after school."
Hotaru gave him a smile. "Wait until you see it. I'm going to be at the Palace after sunset."
"Do you have a mask?" Takato received a grin. "You're going to blow everyone away at the ball."
"I can't believe it's only a few days away. I've worked so hard on it. I can't wait to show it off." The girl giggled.
"I can't wait to see it. Knowing you, you'll be the 'Bell of the Ball'." Takato smiled. "Are you coming tonight?"
"Of course. I'll be there around 8 or 9." Hotaru told him. "I'll see you there, right?"
"Yeah. I can't let you go to this 'place of sin' all by yourself." Takato teased as Erik stormed in.
"You're never going to let me live that conversation down, are you?" Hotaru received a quick smirk. "Thought as much."
"Hotaru! Why didn't you wait for me!" The Horseman demanded. Takato returned to his happy-go-lucky appearance.
"Hey, Hanyu-what's up, dude?" Takato asked with a laugh. "You look redder than Sailor Mars's fuku."
"Answer me!" Erik slammed his hand on Hotaru's desk.
"I didn't want to be late. I have wonderful attendance and I'm planning on keeping it that way." Hotaru said loftily. "Besides, you take forever."
Takato ruffled Erik's hair and tugged on his braid. "Later, Ding Dong. Have a nice day, Miss Tomoe."
"Later, Karugawa." Erik called after him as Takato left with a wave. Erik never saw the real Takato, the Takato who would wait outside the Palace of Crimson gates with Kimiko, Rin, Sasami, Nabuyuki and Matsudo for Hotaru to join them. They knew she had to ditch Erik before coming straight to the Palace and they waited for her.
Takato was the group's "Section Lord", the one responsible for his section's partygoers. He had to get the news out to all of his "Subjects" so they knew the up and up, as it were. He had to make sure his "subjects" were either at the Palace or were some where safe. If he didn't then when he made his report to the District Boss, who reported to the Boss-or King-he'd be punished. But that never happened. Takato was very responsible-he even stayed later than the rest of their 7-man group to make sure they all got home safely. Takato would even drive everyone of them home.
Erik sat down at his desk, 2 up and 3 over from Hotaru and Usa-who sat behind Hotaru. He was mad at Hotaru but it wouldn't last long. The braided horseman couldn't stay mad at her for very long. He'd remember how much he loved her and apologize for losing his temper. That's how it went. That's how it always went.