Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or Sailor moon characters…though I do, however, own Richard…what a demented creation -.-

Chapter 4 – Caged

There was a slow transition within the mansion. As people began to disappear and new people showed up taking the empty spaces, the home she use to know grew more and more unfamiliar. It was rarely warm, the rooms she visited on her daily adventures grew cold as things likes sheets, pictures and furniture changed. Hotaru was never introduced to any of the new maids; otherwise she would have told them about how things use to be, when there was colors and life within a room instead of just being a room. In fact she wasn't allowed to get in their way or speak to them at all.

Hotaru stared at the flower vase across the hall from her door, the new maid had just left and so Hotaru was permitted to leave her room. The usual roses and columbine were now replaced with some ugly flowers she never seen before. The scent was too strong in the morning and it bothered her nose, she looked at the man whom now she called Guy in her head. Always standing behind her, it didn't bother her anymore rather she's would feel uncomfortable without him. Guy would follow her nearly everywhere; if she were to go into a room to explore he'd stand outside. If she wasn't allowed somewhere he'd tell her. He was sort of like an angel, a rather quiet and mean looking one.

Richard had told her that Karou abandon them a few months ago. Abandon…what did that mean? Hotaru frowned as she went back in her room, sometimes Richard would use words she never even heard of but he'd be too busy to explain them to her. Judging from the small rabbit clock on her nightstand it was still much too early for her to leave the room, so she crawled back into bed with Kuma. She was getting quite tiresome lying around all day with nothing to do and Richard never comes home early anymore. It's been so long since she was allowed to play outside. Longingly she stared out at the window, rays of yellow sunlight warmed the room and she could hear birds signing. With a soft sigh she buried her head into Kuma and slowly let the day past by.

It was nearly nightfall when her bedroom door opened again. Richard standing at the doorway with a tray of dinner and a rose, he quietly walked into the room and was quick to close the door. Surveying the sleeping child, who nestled closer to the large bear, from what the security guard reported she's been doing nothing but sleeping. It bothered him a bit for locking her up but it was a price he's willing to pay for the perfect results. "Hotaru." He shook her a bit to rouse her from her very long nap. "I'm home."

"Mmm…" she sat up and pulled Kuma close. After rubbing her eyes she scooted over and kissed him on the cheek. "Welcome home."

"Did you miss me?" he asked setting the tray in front of her and placed a fork in her small hands. Tonight's dinner was pasta with a small chocolate cake for dessert. "Be careful not to spill this. Remember what happened last time?"

Hastily Hotaru nodded, she didn't want Richard mad at her like last time. The frightening image embedded deep within her memory. Blowing on the hot noodles she was very cautious not to spill anything on the expensive sheets.

"Hotaru?" Richard asked again. "Did you miss me?"

"Yes! Very much." She quickly replied, eyes now wide awake and excited. "Can we go out today? Please. I've been very quiet. Kuma too!"

"We'll see." Was his cryptic answer and he brushed the top of her head. "What did you do today?"

"Nothing…I had a bath…" She pouted then hopefully looked up at him. "I think it'll be ok if I help out downstairs. I'll be good. I won't do anything bad."

Richard sighed. "I think it's still very busy outside. You'll just get in the way if you go out. Very soon ok? I promise. I'll bring you something tomorrow if you stay out of trouble. Ok?"

Hotaru looked down at her tray; shoulders slumped slowly she looked out her window. The night was cloudless and the moon was full, the summer season was about to die and winter was to take its place. She hated the cold. There was nothing there for her in the cold. No plants, no flowers, no butterflies, no…

"Honey~! Hotaru don't go too far." Her mother had called out one sunny summer afternoon.

"She'll be fine darling." Her father responded as he kept an eye on the little child crouching by a small patch of light pink flowers.

"Papa, what is this?" Hotaru asked, the black and blue butterfly decided to rest on her bright floral shirt.

"Zeuxidia amethystus, also known as the Saturn butterfly." He held her by her shoulders so she would not topple over from watching the small creature fly off into the depthless sky.

"She's so pretty."

"That one was a male honey...he's off to find his princess." He chuckled and picked her off her feet. "But no one is as beautiful as my little princess."

"What about mommy?" She asked as the two headed towards her mother's figure by the tree on the green hill side.

"Well mommy's a queen. She doesn't need a prince Hotaru. She has me." Papa answered he placed her down and took her small hand in his. "You and mommy will always be the most precious and beautiful in the world to me."

Immediately Richard shuffled the sniffling girl into his arms. "What's wrong sweetie?" Hotaru's eyes brimmed with unshed tears as she snuggled closer in his embrace.

"I miss mommy, I miss daddy." She whispered.

His grip around her tightens giving her the comfort that she seeks yet it did nothing to the desolation within her pure heart. Her eyes continued to stare out the silver lined window.Already the tree by her window was looking older than ever. The night was so quiet it was as if all words would be swallowed and not heard if uttered. Richard was her only comfort besides Kuma but as she had soon discovered days ago that no matter how much she talked to Kuma the lonely feeling will not go away. Kuma cannot hug her or talk to her; only Richard can…only he can take the loneliness away.

---

Richard watched as the sleeping medication he had slipped into her food earlier took effect on the little girl. It was only a temporary thing, at least till everything is in order. Her lovely lashes started to droop and she no longer was crying like before.

"Something wrong honey?" Richard croons at the top of her head, inhaling the lavender and roses.

"No…I'm so tired." Hotaru whispered.

"We'll let's help you get ready for bed." Richard picked her up after setting the dinner plates on her nightstand and carried her princess style into her restroom. He helped her change out of her pink summer dress and handed her a white nightgown with a cute bow in the middle. He kept her steady on her feet as she brushed her teeth with her small purple toothbrush only nearly falling into the sink as time passed.

"I love you Hotaru." Richard whispered.

"I love you too Richard." Hotaru answered her voice slurred as if she was trying to talk through a thick cloud. He kissed her forehead softly after he tucked her in and left the room making sure to lock it. Tatsuo, the guard, has retired for the evening and so has most within the mansion. Setting the platter on his desk he sat down and opened up a document on his laptop. Richard stared at the schedule for the next two weeks.

Despite being extra cautious Richard found it quite effortless to set his plan into action. He had replaced all the maids and butlers as well as the kitchen chefs. Paying the rest off or getting rid of them was not a problem. With Tatsuo maintaining Hotaru's presence upstairs no one is aware of her existence. Things such as clothes or toys would be bought under an untraceable alias, which he had several made, and was sent to certain locations. Tatsuo would drive out and picked them up during the day while Hotaru is sleeping or occupied with something. Of course Hotaru would never leave the room unless she was allowed and Tatsuo needed only to lock the door to keep her in.

The books he had ordered was to arrive tomorrow, they were personally crafted to his wishes. He was eager to have Hotaru learn to read them. Being already nearly eight years old she was behind on her studies, but that never really bothered him, in spite of everything her future was already determined for her. She belonged to him. Richard chuckled as he looked at the 'presents' he'll bring her tomorrow. A plush resembling him stared up at him with button eyes; he sprayed it with his cologne. Yes she'll smell like him now. Soon he'll own her mind, body and soul.

Next on the schedule was about the flooring plans. The second floor was to be sealed off in order for Hotaru to have room to move around. There will be three rooms for certain activities and of course the entire floor will be sounded proofed. The stairs will be blocked by a wall with a locked door which only he and Tatsuo will have the keys. All helping hands will be informed that the stairs lead up to his dead mother's room and he had wished to preserve it, thus locking it forever. Which is partially true, the house was old and his mother use to live here with him. In the end everything will be done in less than a month. And in a couple of years, Hotaru would be his wife. They'll get married publically. No more hiding, no more secrets. They'll be happy together. Forever.

It wasn't as if he was keeping her in a prison…this was right, he was right. She wouldn't have been able to survive without him. Hotaru NEEDED him as much as he needed her. This was all for her, everything he is planning now was for her. Richard's eyes held a burning fire as he quickly set things into motion. It was the perfect plan; there will be no interruptions of that he was sure. Now all was left was to wait till the day Hotaru will become his wife and take her rightful place at his side.

5 years later…

An older looking Richard briskly walked out of his car as the driver opened up the passenger door. He hadn't been home in a week and already was itching to run upstairs. Today was Hotaru's fourteenth birthday and he had made sure he'll be home on time. Unfortunately the media conference had held him back much longer than he expected and it was now nearly nightfall.

"Welcome home sir." The young maid greeted at the door while opening it.

"Evening, Luce. I thought you had the night off tonight?" Masking his annoyance at the minor delay, he shed his coat and took off his black gloves and turned his back to the young woman.

"I did…but I wanted to be sure that you got home safely, sir…" Luce blushed slightly averting her bright green eyes to the floor as she took the gloves from him and placing them into the drawer.

"Aa well thank you. Will you be retiring for the evening now?" He faced her and took in her features causing her to fidget with her ginger locks.

"I was hoping you'd like some company this evening…" Her voice took a sultry tone and stood closer to him.

Richard impatiently let out a sigh, not evening taking note of her suggestion. "I'm terrible busy tonight. Perhaps another time we'll be able to sit and chat?"

Ashamed and terribly embarrassed she bid him goodnight and left in a hurry. Richard closed the door and went to his bedroom. Checking his reflection in the nearby mirror he patted his hair in place and freshened up. Quietly he slipped upstairs walking till he reached a locked door and opened it.

"Hotaru?" There was music from another room down the hallway. Soft melancholy notes rang out from a piano within. Richard walked to it and silently gazed at the scene taking in the beauty he kept to himself for so long. Her hair was long and so black it was as if night were her hair, her skin now so pale yet still held a soft internal glow just like the moon, fingers nimble and small up on the keys. A long lavender dress adorned her body, curves already starting to appear, she was mature into a lovely young woman right before his eyes. "I'm home."

Instantly the song stopped and bright amethyst gems connected with his. "Richard!!" Hearing his name upon her lips made his heart quicken as he was engulfed in an impossibly tight embrace. "You were gone for so long! I've missed you so much."

"Firefly, you know I'll always come home. Granted that it might take a bit longer now that the world has gotten so dangerous…What's wrong?"

"…when can we go outside again?" Hotaru asked suddenly quiet and staring with plum colored eyes. Richard could easily read her just by the color those eyes took, ever since she's gotten older the more stubborn she has become. Yet she was still very obedient but she's starting to grow restless and who could blame her? This last year alone she's only been outside for 5 days.

With a sigh he could only stroke her hair and say, "When it's safer."

Hotaru distanced herself from him. "You always say that." She sat down in front of the small electrical keyboard and began playing again. He stepped up beside her placing his hands on her shoulder and moving away her silky hair to expose the side of her neck. He ran his fingertips along the smooth white skin enjoying the feel beneath his fingers.

"You're everything to me Hotaru." Richard told her quietly. "You understand right? I'm doing this for you."

Hotaru closed her eyes and sighed. She could never stay mad at Richard…he was all she had. Kuma had become so old and worn that he had to be taken away from her. Everything she cared about was gone. Gone. Only Richard remained.

Her brows furrowed, she was starting to forget how mom and dad looked like. Sometimes when she was finally allowed outside even birds scared her because she forgotten how they sounded like. The air outside was different, the sounds, the smells. All this only made her hungry for more once she was taken back inside. She ached while days on end as she watched from the glass window in her room at the people down below, moving…yet so unaware of the danger that lurks about. It made her sad to know that she couldn't tell them about the danger that Richard is doing his best to keep her from. He did promise her, however, that he'll do whatever it takes to get the message out…which is why he leaves for so long. She was happy that she was helping out a little but it meant that Richard was away longer and she missed him so much.

Richard has been nothing but kind to her, biting her lip as she felt guilt wash over her body. She turned and took Richard's hands in hers. "I'm sorry. It's just…it's been so long. I forget how it is like outside…"

"That's alright, pet." Richard kissed her cheeks smoothing away her worry lines, his finger ghosted over her bottom lip. "What are you thinking about princess?"

"The door outside, the one by the hall…where does it lead to?" She let her face be cupped by his hand. "I was outside and I heard something on the other side."

"It's nothing, the door just leads downstairs." Richard answered slightly stiff as he pondered over what Hotaru could have heard. "Nothing has been changed since you last saw it."

"…can I go downstairs again?"

He was getting tired; the late night was catching up with him. "No. I've told you before, just like I've told you since you've turned twelve…there are reasons why you shouldn't go downstairs."

"Even if Guy comes with me?" she continued.

"Guy is not permitted to leave this area unless I'm home Hotaru." Hotaru's eyes shifted despite hearing the edge that was growing into Richard's voice she couldn't help but ask ONE last question.

"Why?"

Instantly she regretted it and cowered from him.

"Why? WHY?!" Richard's face hardens with fury. "I've told you why thousands of times before!" He stood swiftly, the action caused her to lose her balance and fall to the ground. She curled away from his raging voice as he stood over her. "I am keeping you safe, remember that Hotaru. Without me, you have nothing!"

"Sorry." She whispered. "I'm sorry."

"You should be!" Richard spat. "Without me they would have taken you and killed you without a thought! Your corpse would be rotting out there right now!"

Silence came over the two. It wasn't the first time Richard exploded; in fact it has been occurring more recently. After a few moments Richard let out an angry huff and walked over to the silently crying girl.

"Hey…" Gently he touched her hair. "I'm sorry Hota. I didn't mean to be so mad. You just have to understand that I love you very much. I don't want anything to happen to you…look at me…"

Teary violet eyes locked with his. "I love you, but you can't do this Firefly, if you keep asking questions like this it'll make me mad." He kissed her forehead. "I only want to protect you, ok?"

Hotaru nodded her tears hanging on the edges of her lashes.

"Lets get you to bed. It's getting late…" She let Richard lead her to the bedroom. There he tucked her in; lovingly he stroked away her stray hairs and brushed away her tears. He leaned down and kissed her lips, he whispered, "I love you."

"I love you too Richard."