Chapter Four- Could This Be Love?
"Well, let's see, Trista's story takes place many thousands of billions of year ago. Back then the world had no life, no humans, only gods and goddesses. Trista's, or back then Setsuna, mother was the goddess of Time. She longed to have a child of her own, but she was unmarried. Then one day she found she was pregnant, by what god I do not and will never know. This angered the gods and they turned the Time Goddess, Patherina, and her unborn child mortal. The first humans were born. Patherina leaved on a tiny piece of land, which became the first plant, but that's later on, were she gave birth to Setsuna. They lived in a world of loneliness for year until one day when Setsuna was ten, that was when Patherina died. Setsuna was all alone and became quite and insecure. Then one day, when Setsuna was just shy of her 19th birthday she was taken to the time gate, where she was to remain for all eternity. Setsuna took her job seriously and became a goddess. She often felt heart broken watching the destruction and sacrifices of the humans, but she refused to leave her time gate, afraid that she might do more damage then good. She was given a second chance at life when the Silver Millennium was destroyed and the Senshi were reborn as humans." Hotaru smiled, "Her stories pretty short because even I don't know the things she saw. She keeps it to herself. So it's your turn Helios. Tell us about Sailor Chaos."
Helios smiled and nodded, "Well, this story picks up where Hotaru left off. A few millennia after Setsuna took her place at the time gate the next generation of humans appeared. They lived on the strip that Setsuna and her mother lived on only the land grew and grew until it became a plant! That plant was called Tora. No one knew where Tora came from; it just popped up one day. And with that plant came a princess. No one knows how she became royalty, but we just know she was. Her name was Tora and she could transform into the powerful Senshi called Sailor Chaos. Now Tora had a strict sense of... duty. She didn't know how she knew, but she knew she had to protect her world from whatever darkness tried to conquer it. So, the first princess and Senshi was born."
"Tora, let' see. What did she look like? Oh yes, I remember now. She had a blue/purple hair color with black eyes. She was considered very pretty of the time. Back then there was no light verses darkness. There was only duty. Duty to protect. From what, they didn't know. They just knew if something seemed to cause a problem it must be destroyed. That was how Tora lived."
"Then the first evil arouse from darkness. The Torain people had just gone through changes. They were starting to learn to read and write, but then darkness came to the world. Tora knew something was wrong. And when they attacked her world she knew she had to destroy them. Tora fought them long and hard, but soon she lost to much power and they attacked harder."
"Soon Tora, or now Sailor Tora, lost to them. They opened a portal to their dark world on the plant Tora. They took Sailor Tora and chained her to a portal of darkness where she would be forced to live forever and watch world after world die. Then the evil being, called Chaos, destroyed the plant Tora and took its energy. Then she left and was not seen again for billions of years at that dimension."
"Unfortunately for Tora, she saw everything Chaos killed. So she watched plant after plant die. This went on for billions of years. And after only seeing death and terror for all your life, it was only a matter of time before you lost your sanity and your feelings of good and right. That's what happened to Tora. Because she had so much power the evil tried to make her come over to the evil side, but Tora fought and lost more of her sanity. Soon she was hanging on the edge of sanity."
"That was when the Silver Millennium was born. It was beautiful and white it was hard to miss it. And Tora knew what the evil forced it had in store for it. She began fighting against her chain of blackness and she freed herself. When broke free of the evil she saw that Chaos had already begun it's attack. But she also saw Senshi! She wanted to help them, but her heart had twisted and she wanted to kill also. Going against her code of a Senshi. She transformed, but instead of becoming Sailor Tora she became Sailor Glaxia. She charged into battle. She fought Chaos and this time she won, but Chaos had different plans. She sealed away Tora's soul and took over her body. Tora knew she was about to become evil so she sealed herself and Chaos away, never to awaken. Unfortunately, when the Silver Millennium was destroyed she was awakened and she was pure evil by then."
"She waited patently for the reborn Senshi to awaken to their full power then she attacked them. But, I won't continue since I'm sure Rini has already told you about Glaxia in the present."
Hotaru smiled and nodded, "She did. She told me before she left."
Helios stretched and yawned, "Telling stories always makes me sleepy. But I need to check up on my Dream World so would you mind if I check up on it?"
"Of course not! Go right ahead! We'll be right here if you need us." Hotaru said, smiling widely.
"Thank you, Hotaru. I shall be back within three hours." Helios bowed and walked out the door. Hotaru smiled and shook her head.
"A good man, but he's quite absent-minded. I wonder what Rini sees in him?" Hotaru said.
"You mean Rini and him are..." Trunks blurted out by accident. Hotaru smiled.
"Oh yes! They've been dating three years." Hotaru said and Trunks felt an odd feeling of jealousy ride in him.
"Why do you ask?" Hotaru said with a thought full look on her pale face.
"No reason." Trunks said and walked out to clear his head. Hotaru smiled knowingly after him.
Hotaru snuggled deeper into the warm blanket over her. She put her book down and listened to sound of water sprinkling across someone's skin. She smiled, but blushed when the image of Gohan's strong muscular chest dripping with water came into her mind. She looked at her clock, 4:30. Trunks had been gone for an hour. Had it been that was gone Hotaru would have worried, but she reminded herself that this was Trunks and he knew where he was going. Hotaru smiled and turned to her book.
She most have dosed off because the next thing she knew a strong hand was gentle shaking her, "Hotaru?"
Hotaru eyes fluttered and she found herself looking up at Gohan. His jet-black hair was a little damp and Hotaru forced herself not to think about the fact that she could see his strong muscles behind his slightly damp shirt.
"How long have I been asleep?" Hotaru asked.
"Only an hour, but I'm starting to get worried about Trunks. I'm going to go look for him." Gohan said.
"All right. I'll stay here if he returns. And in case Helios or Rini comes back." Hotaru said.
"Gohan nodded. I'll be right back. Okay?" She nodded and Gohan smiled. He grabbed his coat and disappeared into the hallway.
Hotaru still smiled. She was glad she had three days to get to know Gohan. Sure there was an attraction, it was hard not to miss, but she didn't even know Gohan. Hotaru smiled. And who knows they might even be more the friends.
Gohan smiled as he watched Rini and Hotaru agree over who they were going to train with.
"No, Hotaru! You train with me! Let Gohan and Trunks train together!" Rini said and Hotaru just shook her head.
"Rini that wouldn't help anything! I've already trained you! We couldn't possibly learn more from each other!" Hotaru said.
"So you take Trunks! I'll take Gohan!" Rini said.
"NO WAY! Gohan has telepathic powers! I think if I can get him to train with his mind then we have a better chance at winning." Hotaru said and Rini didn't argue and more, though she did mumble things under her breathe.
Gohan looked at Trunks and Helios. Trunks look annoyed, while Helios just shook his head. Gohan smiled. It had been two days since they decided to train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, though they were just deciding who was training whit who. Gohan had to admit; he really wanted to train with Hotaru. Over the past two days Gohan and Hotaru had spent much time together. Gohan realized that he and Hotaru had a lot in common. They also talked about Trunks and Rini. Hotaru somehow believed that their fight was a cause of unspoken attraction. Gohan had asked her where she had gotten that crazy idea and Hotaru just smiled and said Rini's mother and father were just like that.
"Oh please, Hotaru!" Rini begged, "Take Trunks! Please! I think I shall die if I have to spend a whole year with him!"
"Sorry, Rini!" Hotaru said with a hint of pleasure in her voice. Gohan suddenly got the idea that Hotaru had done this just to get them together. But he decided it is best to say so after Rini, Trunks, and Helios left.
Rini turned to Helios with a plea in her eye, "Please, Helios! Help me! Come and train with me."
"I'm sorry, Small Lady, I cannot. Once we reach Kami's Lookout I will return to the Dream World and prepare to protect it. For I fear that once this Dimension is attacked they will move onto mine."
Rini pouted then she glared at Trunks. Rini stood up and grabbed her coat and left the room.
"Where are you going?" Hotaru called after her.
"OUT!" Rini shouted back.
"I'll go with her, just to make sure she's okay." Helios said and went after Rini.
"You go with her, Trunks." Hotaru said.
"Me? Why me?" Trunks asked.
"Well, you are going to be spending a year with her and you will need to be getting used to apologizing to her-"
"WHAT? ME APOLOGIZE TO THAT BRAT!? NEVER! NEVER! NEVER!" Trunks screamed, but Hotaru was already pushing Trunks to the door.
"Okay, Trunks, rule number one of living with a girl. You always need to apologize or we make your life a living hell. Okay?"
"I hate this." Trunks muttered as Hotaru pushed him out the door and closed it. She smiled to herself as she turned back into the kitchen.
"You really want those two together, don't you?" Gohan asked, chuckling.
Hotaru gave him this I'm-to-innocent-to-do-anything-like-that look, "Why Gohan, what ever are you talking about?"
Gohan smiled fondly at her, "Don't play innocent, Hotaru. You doing this just to get those two together."
"And what if I'm am? What are you going about it? Hmmm?" Hotaru asked putting her elbows on the table cupping her head in her hands.
"Nothing I guess. You know I couldn't stop you even if I tried." Gohan said looking up at the ceiling.
"Right, so why bother trying too?" Hotaru asked smiling.
"No idea." Gohan said and Hotaru leaned in and kissed him. The kiss was sweet and gentle, just like it had always been. Actually, the only time it had been a kiss of hunger was the first time Gohan had seen Hotaru. She just seemed so irresistible and as the kiss, which was meant to be a light peck on the lips, deepened she had pushed away saying she needed to get to know him more. He agreed. Hotaru pulled away and smiled at him.
"Isn't great that we get to train together?" Hotaru asked, her dark violet eyes sparkling. Gohan had learned this was a sign that she was happy. Gohan realized that he loved it when she was happy.
"Sure, it's great that you going to teach me how to read minds and use my ki in a different ways, but I'll be distracted by your beauty!"
"Oh, well! We must conquer all obstacles! As my Michiru-mama used to say." Hotaru said, laughing.
Gohan loved her laugh.
He loved everything about her.
"Anyway, it will be so much fun to watch your face when I pound you into the ground!" Hotaru said. Gohan smiled. She talked about her great power often, but she refused to show Gohan it.
"Yeah? Why don't I believe that? Do you even have real power?" Gohan asked and Hotaru glared at him.
"Of course I have real power! I could whip you right here, right now! The question is, do you have power?" Hotaru said fiercely. Gohan almost laughed. Did he have power? That was a good one.
"Miss Tomoe, I have more power then you could imagine!" Gohan said and Hotaru stood up and put her hands on hips. She stuck her tongue out at her and he laughed.
"Well, Mr. Son, we shall see whose face is in the ground when the dust clears." Hotaru said, "I can assure you I won't be mine."
"Well, if it's mine, that would be a show to see." Hotaru smiled and throw her arms around. She kissed a little harder then before.
Gohan felt like he was souring. He flying up to the heavens and waiting for him there was Tomoe Hotaru.
Could this be love?
Rini didn't bother to glance behind her when she heard footsteps scurrying to keep up with her. She knew who it was. Helios and Trunks. It pained her to think Hotaru wouldn't come after her. But that was expected. She was in love, after all. Rini could see it from the moment she returned home two days ago. At first Rini had felt a rage for her friend. This was not the time to fall in love! They were on the brink of war! But then Rini cooled down. Hotaru needed this. After all the things that had happened to Hotaru, she needed to be loved and be loved in return. Rini couldn't blame Hotaru. Rini felt the curves of her mouth turn upward. Love. It was beautiful. The kind of soft you found in poetry. The kind of stuff that happens to lucky people, and people who believe in soul mates. She wasn't lucky nor did she believe in love.
Sure she had been on many dates, but they never really worked. The one relationship that did seem to be going right was the one she had with Helios all those years ago. But, alas, it was not meant to be. She supposed she felt the minute they were dating, but her parents were so happy that she found a suitable young man she just couldn't tell Helios she didn't have feelings for him. But then Helios told her that he didn't have any feelings for her and agreed to that. She learned later on she felt for him like a brother. She had always wanted a brother. She was just a naïve girl that when she felt a ping of feelings she instantly thought of it as love. She knew better now.
Only then did Rini turn her head to look at Trunks and Helios. She smiled at them and walked into the local café. She took a seat in a small booth and waited for Trunks and Helios to join her.
Helios was the first. He took a seat across from Rini and grabbed her hands in his. Trunks took his seat, also, and his face showed a rage of jealousy. Rini smiled at him, but Helios ignored him.
"Rini, what wrong? It's not like you to run off like that." Rini smiled at Helios.
"Oh, Helios, you are so blind when it comes to matters of the heart." Rini said and reality dawned on Helios' face. Trunks, however, still looked confused.
"What matters?"
Rini smiled at him, "Trunks, you're so naïve, but that's okay, you're a boy. It's expected."
"Huh?"
Helios smiled, "That was still no reason to get mad. Hotaru can handle herself."
` "I know, but I was pretty angry. But don't worry; I'm cooled of now. I'm going to go get a coke. Anyone else want one?"
"I'll have a coke, too." Trunks said.
"Water please." Helios said.
Rini smiled and nodded. She stood up and walked over to the register. Their was a young woman, not much older then Rini, their. She had dirty blond hair and hazel eyes. Rini much taller then her and her eyes had to be cast upward. Rini smiled at her. She was not surprised to find that she was taller then this woman. Must Lunerians were very tall creatures. The only other people that rivaled Lunerian's height were the Saturnians. She smiled at the thought of the tall Hotaru. Actually, no Lunerian was as tall as she because she had an Earthling and a Lunerian for parents. Then a thought dawned on her. Trunks and Gohan were taller then her and Gohan was taller then Hotaru! Rini racked her mind to try to think of a race that was as tall as the Lunerians and the Saturnians. Nothing came to mind.
"Mama, your order?" The girl said, think Rini was older then herself.
"Two cokes and a water." Rini said without thinking. The girl nodded and Rini went back to her thoughts.
Rini suddenly got it. They were Say-Jijjins (sp?)! Of course! The Say-Jijjins were the only race that could match a Lunerian's or Saturnian's height! Oh, this was not good.
The drinks were put in front of Rini and she took them and walled back to the booth without saying anything. She put down the drinks.
"Thank you, Rini." Helios said and started to sip his water. Trunks didn't because he was unnerved by Rini's hard stare.
"Are you a Say-Jijjin?" Rini asked, her eyes narrowing.
"Yes, I am, how did you know?" Trunks asked and Helios spitted out his drink. He made a few choking sound before staring at Trunks.
"Really? A Say-Jijjin? I suppose you are Super Say-Jijjin also." Helios said and Trunks nodded.
"What's so wrong about that?" He asked.
"EVERYTHING!" Rini cried, but she forced her voice to be calm, "Look, Trunks, you'd have hard enough time trying to learn using Star Energy, but you're a Say-Jijjin which makes things worse."
"How?"
"Alright, everyone, in every dimension, has Star Energy, but for the people that aren't from my dimension it's even harder. You see, their powers are buried deep and sometimes it's almost impossible for them to bring it out. Now a Say-Jijjin, and I'm not talking about a Super Say-Jijjin, is even harder. They're trained in the art of Ki and every time your Ki gets stronger your Star Energy gets buried deeper. Now, your Ki is on it's highest level possible and you need to learn how to control your Star Energy... catch my drift?" Rini said.
Trunks was silent for a moment, but then he spoke, "Yeah, I see the problem, but I'm very sure we can learn."
"We can try. I have to tell Hotaru that. So let's finish out drinks and head back, okay?" They nodded and drank it silence. Rini, Helios, and Trunks' mind were in different place, but Rini saw that they were all down their drink and she said they needed to go back to the apartment and get ready to leave.
They walked out of the building and Rini was about to say that she felt odd serge of power when a blinding light surrounded them and the screams of the people around them filled their ears.
"Well, let's see, Trista's story takes place many thousands of billions of year ago. Back then the world had no life, no humans, only gods and goddesses. Trista's, or back then Setsuna, mother was the goddess of Time. She longed to have a child of her own, but she was unmarried. Then one day she found she was pregnant, by what god I do not and will never know. This angered the gods and they turned the Time Goddess, Patherina, and her unborn child mortal. The first humans were born. Patherina leaved on a tiny piece of land, which became the first plant, but that's later on, were she gave birth to Setsuna. They lived in a world of loneliness for year until one day when Setsuna was ten, that was when Patherina died. Setsuna was all alone and became quite and insecure. Then one day, when Setsuna was just shy of her 19th birthday she was taken to the time gate, where she was to remain for all eternity. Setsuna took her job seriously and became a goddess. She often felt heart broken watching the destruction and sacrifices of the humans, but she refused to leave her time gate, afraid that she might do more damage then good. She was given a second chance at life when the Silver Millennium was destroyed and the Senshi were reborn as humans." Hotaru smiled, "Her stories pretty short because even I don't know the things she saw. She keeps it to herself. So it's your turn Helios. Tell us about Sailor Chaos."
Helios smiled and nodded, "Well, this story picks up where Hotaru left off. A few millennia after Setsuna took her place at the time gate the next generation of humans appeared. They lived on the strip that Setsuna and her mother lived on only the land grew and grew until it became a plant! That plant was called Tora. No one knew where Tora came from; it just popped up one day. And with that plant came a princess. No one knows how she became royalty, but we just know she was. Her name was Tora and she could transform into the powerful Senshi called Sailor Chaos. Now Tora had a strict sense of... duty. She didn't know how she knew, but she knew she had to protect her world from whatever darkness tried to conquer it. So, the first princess and Senshi was born."
"Tora, let' see. What did she look like? Oh yes, I remember now. She had a blue/purple hair color with black eyes. She was considered very pretty of the time. Back then there was no light verses darkness. There was only duty. Duty to protect. From what, they didn't know. They just knew if something seemed to cause a problem it must be destroyed. That was how Tora lived."
"Then the first evil arouse from darkness. The Torain people had just gone through changes. They were starting to learn to read and write, but then darkness came to the world. Tora knew something was wrong. And when they attacked her world she knew she had to destroy them. Tora fought them long and hard, but soon she lost to much power and they attacked harder."
"Soon Tora, or now Sailor Tora, lost to them. They opened a portal to their dark world on the plant Tora. They took Sailor Tora and chained her to a portal of darkness where she would be forced to live forever and watch world after world die. Then the evil being, called Chaos, destroyed the plant Tora and took its energy. Then she left and was not seen again for billions of years at that dimension."
"Unfortunately for Tora, she saw everything Chaos killed. So she watched plant after plant die. This went on for billions of years. And after only seeing death and terror for all your life, it was only a matter of time before you lost your sanity and your feelings of good and right. That's what happened to Tora. Because she had so much power the evil tried to make her come over to the evil side, but Tora fought and lost more of her sanity. Soon she was hanging on the edge of sanity."
"That was when the Silver Millennium was born. It was beautiful and white it was hard to miss it. And Tora knew what the evil forced it had in store for it. She began fighting against her chain of blackness and she freed herself. When broke free of the evil she saw that Chaos had already begun it's attack. But she also saw Senshi! She wanted to help them, but her heart had twisted and she wanted to kill also. Going against her code of a Senshi. She transformed, but instead of becoming Sailor Tora she became Sailor Glaxia. She charged into battle. She fought Chaos and this time she won, but Chaos had different plans. She sealed away Tora's soul and took over her body. Tora knew she was about to become evil so she sealed herself and Chaos away, never to awaken. Unfortunately, when the Silver Millennium was destroyed she was awakened and she was pure evil by then."
"She waited patently for the reborn Senshi to awaken to their full power then she attacked them. But, I won't continue since I'm sure Rini has already told you about Glaxia in the present."
Hotaru smiled and nodded, "She did. She told me before she left."
Helios stretched and yawned, "Telling stories always makes me sleepy. But I need to check up on my Dream World so would you mind if I check up on it?"
"Of course not! Go right ahead! We'll be right here if you need us." Hotaru said, smiling widely.
"Thank you, Hotaru. I shall be back within three hours." Helios bowed and walked out the door. Hotaru smiled and shook her head.
"A good man, but he's quite absent-minded. I wonder what Rini sees in him?" Hotaru said.
"You mean Rini and him are..." Trunks blurted out by accident. Hotaru smiled.
"Oh yes! They've been dating three years." Hotaru said and Trunks felt an odd feeling of jealousy ride in him.
"Why do you ask?" Hotaru said with a thought full look on her pale face.
"No reason." Trunks said and walked out to clear his head. Hotaru smiled knowingly after him.
Hotaru snuggled deeper into the warm blanket over her. She put her book down and listened to sound of water sprinkling across someone's skin. She smiled, but blushed when the image of Gohan's strong muscular chest dripping with water came into her mind. She looked at her clock, 4:30. Trunks had been gone for an hour. Had it been that was gone Hotaru would have worried, but she reminded herself that this was Trunks and he knew where he was going. Hotaru smiled and turned to her book.
She most have dosed off because the next thing she knew a strong hand was gentle shaking her, "Hotaru?"
Hotaru eyes fluttered and she found herself looking up at Gohan. His jet-black hair was a little damp and Hotaru forced herself not to think about the fact that she could see his strong muscles behind his slightly damp shirt.
"How long have I been asleep?" Hotaru asked.
"Only an hour, but I'm starting to get worried about Trunks. I'm going to go look for him." Gohan said.
"All right. I'll stay here if he returns. And in case Helios or Rini comes back." Hotaru said.
"Gohan nodded. I'll be right back. Okay?" She nodded and Gohan smiled. He grabbed his coat and disappeared into the hallway.
Hotaru still smiled. She was glad she had three days to get to know Gohan. Sure there was an attraction, it was hard not to miss, but she didn't even know Gohan. Hotaru smiled. And who knows they might even be more the friends.
Gohan smiled as he watched Rini and Hotaru agree over who they were going to train with.
"No, Hotaru! You train with me! Let Gohan and Trunks train together!" Rini said and Hotaru just shook her head.
"Rini that wouldn't help anything! I've already trained you! We couldn't possibly learn more from each other!" Hotaru said.
"So you take Trunks! I'll take Gohan!" Rini said.
"NO WAY! Gohan has telepathic powers! I think if I can get him to train with his mind then we have a better chance at winning." Hotaru said and Rini didn't argue and more, though she did mumble things under her breathe.
Gohan looked at Trunks and Helios. Trunks look annoyed, while Helios just shook his head. Gohan smiled. It had been two days since they decided to train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, though they were just deciding who was training whit who. Gohan had to admit; he really wanted to train with Hotaru. Over the past two days Gohan and Hotaru had spent much time together. Gohan realized that he and Hotaru had a lot in common. They also talked about Trunks and Rini. Hotaru somehow believed that their fight was a cause of unspoken attraction. Gohan had asked her where she had gotten that crazy idea and Hotaru just smiled and said Rini's mother and father were just like that.
"Oh please, Hotaru!" Rini begged, "Take Trunks! Please! I think I shall die if I have to spend a whole year with him!"
"Sorry, Rini!" Hotaru said with a hint of pleasure in her voice. Gohan suddenly got the idea that Hotaru had done this just to get them together. But he decided it is best to say so after Rini, Trunks, and Helios left.
Rini turned to Helios with a plea in her eye, "Please, Helios! Help me! Come and train with me."
"I'm sorry, Small Lady, I cannot. Once we reach Kami's Lookout I will return to the Dream World and prepare to protect it. For I fear that once this Dimension is attacked they will move onto mine."
Rini pouted then she glared at Trunks. Rini stood up and grabbed her coat and left the room.
"Where are you going?" Hotaru called after her.
"OUT!" Rini shouted back.
"I'll go with her, just to make sure she's okay." Helios said and went after Rini.
"You go with her, Trunks." Hotaru said.
"Me? Why me?" Trunks asked.
"Well, you are going to be spending a year with her and you will need to be getting used to apologizing to her-"
"WHAT? ME APOLOGIZE TO THAT BRAT!? NEVER! NEVER! NEVER!" Trunks screamed, but Hotaru was already pushing Trunks to the door.
"Okay, Trunks, rule number one of living with a girl. You always need to apologize or we make your life a living hell. Okay?"
"I hate this." Trunks muttered as Hotaru pushed him out the door and closed it. She smiled to herself as she turned back into the kitchen.
"You really want those two together, don't you?" Gohan asked, chuckling.
Hotaru gave him this I'm-to-innocent-to-do-anything-like-that look, "Why Gohan, what ever are you talking about?"
Gohan smiled fondly at her, "Don't play innocent, Hotaru. You doing this just to get those two together."
"And what if I'm am? What are you going about it? Hmmm?" Hotaru asked putting her elbows on the table cupping her head in her hands.
"Nothing I guess. You know I couldn't stop you even if I tried." Gohan said looking up at the ceiling.
"Right, so why bother trying too?" Hotaru asked smiling.
"No idea." Gohan said and Hotaru leaned in and kissed him. The kiss was sweet and gentle, just like it had always been. Actually, the only time it had been a kiss of hunger was the first time Gohan had seen Hotaru. She just seemed so irresistible and as the kiss, which was meant to be a light peck on the lips, deepened she had pushed away saying she needed to get to know him more. He agreed. Hotaru pulled away and smiled at him.
"Isn't great that we get to train together?" Hotaru asked, her dark violet eyes sparkling. Gohan had learned this was a sign that she was happy. Gohan realized that he loved it when she was happy.
"Sure, it's great that you going to teach me how to read minds and use my ki in a different ways, but I'll be distracted by your beauty!"
"Oh, well! We must conquer all obstacles! As my Michiru-mama used to say." Hotaru said, laughing.
Gohan loved her laugh.
He loved everything about her.
"Anyway, it will be so much fun to watch your face when I pound you into the ground!" Hotaru said. Gohan smiled. She talked about her great power often, but she refused to show Gohan it.
"Yeah? Why don't I believe that? Do you even have real power?" Gohan asked and Hotaru glared at him.
"Of course I have real power! I could whip you right here, right now! The question is, do you have power?" Hotaru said fiercely. Gohan almost laughed. Did he have power? That was a good one.
"Miss Tomoe, I have more power then you could imagine!" Gohan said and Hotaru stood up and put her hands on hips. She stuck her tongue out at her and he laughed.
"Well, Mr. Son, we shall see whose face is in the ground when the dust clears." Hotaru said, "I can assure you I won't be mine."
"Well, if it's mine, that would be a show to see." Hotaru smiled and throw her arms around. She kissed a little harder then before.
Gohan felt like he was souring. He flying up to the heavens and waiting for him there was Tomoe Hotaru.
Could this be love?
Rini didn't bother to glance behind her when she heard footsteps scurrying to keep up with her. She knew who it was. Helios and Trunks. It pained her to think Hotaru wouldn't come after her. But that was expected. She was in love, after all. Rini could see it from the moment she returned home two days ago. At first Rini had felt a rage for her friend. This was not the time to fall in love! They were on the brink of war! But then Rini cooled down. Hotaru needed this. After all the things that had happened to Hotaru, she needed to be loved and be loved in return. Rini couldn't blame Hotaru. Rini felt the curves of her mouth turn upward. Love. It was beautiful. The kind of soft you found in poetry. The kind of stuff that happens to lucky people, and people who believe in soul mates. She wasn't lucky nor did she believe in love.
Sure she had been on many dates, but they never really worked. The one relationship that did seem to be going right was the one she had with Helios all those years ago. But, alas, it was not meant to be. She supposed she felt the minute they were dating, but her parents were so happy that she found a suitable young man she just couldn't tell Helios she didn't have feelings for him. But then Helios told her that he didn't have any feelings for her and agreed to that. She learned later on she felt for him like a brother. She had always wanted a brother. She was just a naïve girl that when she felt a ping of feelings she instantly thought of it as love. She knew better now.
Only then did Rini turn her head to look at Trunks and Helios. She smiled at them and walked into the local café. She took a seat in a small booth and waited for Trunks and Helios to join her.
Helios was the first. He took a seat across from Rini and grabbed her hands in his. Trunks took his seat, also, and his face showed a rage of jealousy. Rini smiled at him, but Helios ignored him.
"Rini, what wrong? It's not like you to run off like that." Rini smiled at Helios.
"Oh, Helios, you are so blind when it comes to matters of the heart." Rini said and reality dawned on Helios' face. Trunks, however, still looked confused.
"What matters?"
Rini smiled at him, "Trunks, you're so naïve, but that's okay, you're a boy. It's expected."
"Huh?"
Helios smiled, "That was still no reason to get mad. Hotaru can handle herself."
` "I know, but I was pretty angry. But don't worry; I'm cooled of now. I'm going to go get a coke. Anyone else want one?"
"I'll have a coke, too." Trunks said.
"Water please." Helios said.
Rini smiled and nodded. She stood up and walked over to the register. Their was a young woman, not much older then Rini, their. She had dirty blond hair and hazel eyes. Rini much taller then her and her eyes had to be cast upward. Rini smiled at her. She was not surprised to find that she was taller then this woman. Must Lunerians were very tall creatures. The only other people that rivaled Lunerian's height were the Saturnians. She smiled at the thought of the tall Hotaru. Actually, no Lunerian was as tall as she because she had an Earthling and a Lunerian for parents. Then a thought dawned on her. Trunks and Gohan were taller then her and Gohan was taller then Hotaru! Rini racked her mind to try to think of a race that was as tall as the Lunerians and the Saturnians. Nothing came to mind.
"Mama, your order?" The girl said, think Rini was older then herself.
"Two cokes and a water." Rini said without thinking. The girl nodded and Rini went back to her thoughts.
Rini suddenly got it. They were Say-Jijjins (sp?)! Of course! The Say-Jijjins were the only race that could match a Lunerian's or Saturnian's height! Oh, this was not good.
The drinks were put in front of Rini and she took them and walled back to the booth without saying anything. She put down the drinks.
"Thank you, Rini." Helios said and started to sip his water. Trunks didn't because he was unnerved by Rini's hard stare.
"Are you a Say-Jijjin?" Rini asked, her eyes narrowing.
"Yes, I am, how did you know?" Trunks asked and Helios spitted out his drink. He made a few choking sound before staring at Trunks.
"Really? A Say-Jijjin? I suppose you are Super Say-Jijjin also." Helios said and Trunks nodded.
"What's so wrong about that?" He asked.
"EVERYTHING!" Rini cried, but she forced her voice to be calm, "Look, Trunks, you'd have hard enough time trying to learn using Star Energy, but you're a Say-Jijjin which makes things worse."
"How?"
"Alright, everyone, in every dimension, has Star Energy, but for the people that aren't from my dimension it's even harder. You see, their powers are buried deep and sometimes it's almost impossible for them to bring it out. Now a Say-Jijjin, and I'm not talking about a Super Say-Jijjin, is even harder. They're trained in the art of Ki and every time your Ki gets stronger your Star Energy gets buried deeper. Now, your Ki is on it's highest level possible and you need to learn how to control your Star Energy... catch my drift?" Rini said.
Trunks was silent for a moment, but then he spoke, "Yeah, I see the problem, but I'm very sure we can learn."
"We can try. I have to tell Hotaru that. So let's finish out drinks and head back, okay?" They nodded and drank it silence. Rini, Helios, and Trunks' mind were in different place, but Rini saw that they were all down their drink and she said they needed to go back to the apartment and get ready to leave.
They walked out of the building and Rini was about to say that she felt odd serge of power when a blinding light surrounded them and the screams of the people around them filled their ears.