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"Hey," Lita asks Rei, "what's with Karu-kun?"

"He's in love."

"No!"

Rei giggles as she and Lita peer into the room through the cracked door.

"You're kidding. With--"

"Hotaru-chan. He told me himself."

"That is too cute!"

The girls turn around to see Mina leaning on the wall.

"Minako-chan?"

"Yeah. So, does Usagi-chan know?"

"Know what?"

Serena appears from around the corner.

"Oh it's ju--"

"Nothing! Nothing at all!" Rei screams as she covers Mina's mouth with her hand. Mina flails her limbs as Rei drags her away. Lita and Serena are motionless.

"Yeah… Mako-chan, what's up?"

"To tell the truth, Usagi-chan, I'm not really sure."

Lita smiles at the door and walks away. Serena, shrugging, turns and follows Lita down the hall. Hikaru heaves a heavy sigh and feel his body temperature start to cool down.

That was honestly the scariest moment of my life, he thinks as he climbs off the bed quietly as to not wake the sleeping Hotaru.

"So beautiful," he says as he nudges the door closed.

"Hikaru-kun!"

"Shh! Chibi-Usa-chan. She's sleeping."

He regresses to his human form and walks with her saying,

"Keep it quiet over here, 'kay?"

"Okay."

A soft growling comes from his stomach.

"Heh. Okay, okay, I know. I'm starving."

"Follow me."

He follows her to the shrine's front where the others sit, talking. He takes a muffin and looks at four faces with smiles across them and endures a noogie from Lita. Serena, seeing the joyous scene, has a confused look stricken across her face.

"Nani? Usagi-chan, what's with the face?"

"You're hiding something, Hikaru."

"I hide nothing, see?"

He pulls up his sleeves.

"I've never seen you so happy."

"I'm… just having a good day."

"Yeah Usagi-chan. Can't he just be having a great day?" Rei says.

"I don't know what you're up to, but if Rei-chan's in on it then it's big."

"Right…anyway, it's getting dark and you need to take Chibi-Usa-chan home." He sniffles as Serena nods and goes to get their coats.

"I'll be right back Mako-chan."

"Then we leave. I'm tired."

He returns to the room where the sleeping Hotaru lays. Armed with paper and pencil he writes a short letter. About fifteen minutes later, Lita comes into the room.

"Knew I'd find you here. Writing a letter to your crush?"

He turns and smiles widely, then turns back to sign his name.

"Can I read it?"

"No Mako-chan. It's really bad."

"You say that about everything you write."

"Yeah I know but…this is special. One of the boldest things I've ever done. I don't want this high to end with constructive criticism."

This high? This does NOT sound like me. I've never talked like this, he thinks as he slowly hears the sound of his encroaching heartbeat reaching his ears.

"Whatever. You're entitled to your own decision, and I respect it," Lita says quickly smiling.

"I wonder where she lives."

"Hmm?" Lita says slyly.

"I bet her parents are worried," Hikaru says through clenched teeth, "jeez Mako you're always taking things the wrong way!"

"Yeah sure. I know what you mean."

"I'm gonna ignore that comment and wake our slumbering princess." He rises to his feet.

"Your--"

"Shut it UP," he cuts her off, sticking the note into his hoodie pocket after reading and folding it. He walks slowly over to Hotaru's sleeping body and takes in all her beauty. The few strands of her dark hair he wishes he were, sitting across her face. He had seen the treasures hidden behind her soft eyelids, and he wished to see them again. He places his hand gently on her skin and he shudders. Her skin was so soft. He'd never felt anything that soft, including his coat. He proceeds to stroke her once, slowly inhaling at the same time. He hears Hotaru groan softly. Hikaru suddenly shakes his head, remembering that he was in the presence of another. He composes himself and gently shakes Hotaru.

"Hey… you. Sleeping in the bed." Hotaru's eyes flutter open and Hikaru melts internally.

"Huh? Aren't you…Hikaru-kun?"

"Yeah. I think you'd want to go home, right?" She chuckles and blushes slightly. Hikaru subconsciously smiles.

"I'd like that," she says quietly. Soon Lita and Hikaru are walking down the steps of the Hikawa Shrine with Hotaru in tow.

"Thanks for the hoodie, Karu-kun." Hikaru turns and laughs as he sees how his hoodie fits Hotaru. The extra large hoodie that usually ends at Hikaru's pelvis does not stop until it reaches almost her ankles. The sleeves were another thing. They pretty much dragged on the ground. She looked like a child playing dress-up in her father's clothes. He loved it. She was adorable. Hotaru blushes heavily.

"Stop laughing."

"Sorry. It's no problem Hotaru-chan. Now are you sure you can walk properly?"

"I'm okay," she says, "but thanks for asking."

"You're welcome." He smiles to himself. He loved the sound of her voice. It was shaky, sounded weak and quiet. When she spoke, it provoked the protective sense in him. He wanted to protect this fragile girl. As he thinks this, something clicks in Lita's mind.

Did she call him Karu-kun? And he didn't object? He truly likes her.

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Arriving in front of the Tomoe household, Lita nudges her friend.

"Go walk her to the door. Go on, go!" she whispers.

"Okay, don't push Mako-chan." He walks with Hotaru as she suddenly grabs his arm and wraps herself around it. Hikaru chuckles as she blushes and he rings the doorbell. The door slowly opens revealing a man.

"Hello. Ahh, Hotaru-chan!" He opens his arms and Hotaru promptly jumps into them.

"Hi Daddy." Hikaru could tell she was truly happy, and silently wished that he was the one that was giving that hug.

"I was so worried."

Mr. Tomoe, or Doctor Tomoe as Hotaru gently corrected him, stands at the door, taller than Hikaru with a white lab coat on. His glasses held a lens on the left and a plate with intricate designs on the right. Hikaru, mind leaving him, stares at it.

"You like it?" He barely hears to question, and only comes to when he hears Hotaru's harmonious giggle.

"Huh? Oh, I'm so sorry. Gomen nasai. My A.D.D. kicked in big time." Dr. Tomoe, to Hikaru's surprise, chuckled. Most people just scoffed and walked away.

"Hotaru, you never told me why you were late."

"Oh! I'll tell you, sir," he answered, his voice cracking, "just allow me a minute to tell my friend." He walks back to Lita, mentally (and sadly physically) kicking himself. The same thought repeated itself over and over in his head like a broken record.

I'm frickin' sixteen! How in God's name is my voice still cracking? He sighs.

"Aw jeez. Hotaru is probably laughing her head off right now."

"What?" He looks up and sees Lita.

"Nothing. Actually, I'll tell you later. Listen I'm gonna stay here for a while." A sly smile creeps its way across her face.

"I understand. Trying to get in good with the father." He growls softly.

"I don't know why I put up with you."

"It's because you love me…no homo." They share a laugh for a minute.

"You have your house key?"

"'Round my neck," he says, grasping the key chain and making it jingle.

"I'll see you…later."

…………………………………..SK……………………………….

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