*Running Against the Wind*
-Chapter 4 | Talismans-
Tiny swallows chirruped brightly, winging from tree to tree, long, winding stonewalls containing the trees encircled the block.
A man with short black hair and a mature, calculating expression leaned nonchalantly against the wall, holding a school case in one hand. He was Chiba Mamoru.
Out of breath, Usagi huffed and came to a screeching halt before him, blushing furiously.
"Morning, Usako. You're late," he greeted with a smile.
Blushing uncontrollably, the teenager swept strands of her blonde hair over her shoulder, school fuku in disarray from her mad dash to meet with him before getting to Juuban Junior High.
Flitting images from her dream trickled through her mind and, blushing even darker, she thought softly, 'I can't look him in the eyes! Why…?'
Ducking her head slightly, she heard him chuckle lightly; obviously assuming she was embarrassed about being late. 'Mamo-chan…'
Lifting her head slightly, she noticed posters plastered on the opposing wall along the length of the alternate sidewalk.
Mamoru followed her gaze and saw them as well.
A lovely profile of the equally lovely Kaiou Michiru was painted delicately on each poster, a violin held in one hand.
"Kaiou Michiru?" Usagi half-whispered, staring at the shimmering bright row of ads.
'Who are you, Michiru?…you look like that Senshi…and yet you're unafraid of showing your face…'
She swallowed thickly. 'I thought we could never let our faces become well-known…creatures would see us…and know…'
"A concert…," Mamoru mused aloud and his girlfriend turned to look at him, his back to her.
"Mamoru…" Her voice was soft and barely above a murmur. "Do you like Michiru?"
*
"Ugh…Kami-sama, I hate school…"
[["I'm sorry, Usagi-chan, I have cram school to get to!"]]
[["Geez, Usagi, if I could, I *would*! But I've got a club to go to…gomen ne! I promise to go to Crown with you tomorrow!"]]
Usagi sighed deeply, shoulders hunching, ponytails dangling limply. Stiffly turning the corner to approach her haven, her own personal Arcade of Solitude, she spied a figure only two feet away from her, tall and slender.
"Oh…," she breathed at the same time he did. "Haruka-san…"
He stared at her, ice blue eyes burning into her ocean blue ones, and she felt as if he was diving through her deepest thoughts…
"Muffin-head." The barest hint of a lopsided smile twitched across his lips and she felt heat rising up in her cheeks.
'I've been blushing a lot today…,' she thought wryly in her mind.
"Come here often?" he teased, eyes softening and becoming shyly eager, frighteningly out of place in his unmoving features.
"Of course," she replied quickly, absently tugging at loose threads hanging from her white blouse. "I come to the arcade every day after school. I've been playing that racing game."
Haruka grinned widely, making the twinkling, longing look in his eyes seem characteristic. "Really? Are you getting any better?"
She giggled without a thought, nodding rapidly. A wind seemed to spring up from nowhere, tickling her face, caressing her neck. It felt nice…
He was smiling again, his hand lifting and touching her cheek softly with the sweetest brush of his fingertips, the feel of burning electricity racing through her veins as swiftly as his hand left her face. Without thinking, she caught his rough, calloused hand with her soft, slim one. He looked startled, a hint of something strange glinting in his eyes. Turning his head to look off, giving her a profile of his face, he became quiet and serious.
"Your friends told me to keep away, so I thought I shouldn't come here to see you anymore."
What was that in his voice? It was distant, as if he was remembering something from long ago…
"But…I had to see you…again."
The light blush touching her skin was a shell-like pink, glowing softly.
'Why is my heart beating so fast?' her mind cried mournfully and another voice chirped, with a frustrated sigh, 'Why do you think, genius?' The other voice, the sane one, responded, 'It's all that dream's fault!' The second voice vanished, muttering, 'Baka.'
[[_He bent down to kiss her, fingers touching her chin…he pulled away, dressed like Kunzite, sapphire earrings like dewdrops, milky blue eyes…armor, glimmering silver…_]]
'It's strange…he looks like a General…and a normal guy…'
[["Don't worry, Usagi-hime…" He smiled at her.]]
She blinked. Where the heck had that come from?
"I still haven't introduced myself, have I?" he broke through her thoughts, gazing deeply at her.
"I know who you are." The smile on her face was sad, distantly. "You're Ten'ou Haruka. You're really famous. You…and Michiru…" She motioned to another one of the posters behind him.
Haruka glanced over his shoulder, a sudden gust of wind tousling his somewhat-wild, light wheat hair. Jabbing a thumb in the direction of the blown-up photo, he grinned again. "You really have to listen to her play sometime. Once you do, you just get hooked. She's a magician who makes the music and instrument come alive."
He returned his attention to the wistful Usagi. "Actually…I've got some tickets if you'd like to come hear. I'll be there and I hope you'll come, with your friends. Of course." He added the 'of course' on an afterthought, holding out five tickets to her, the curious wind gently bending the paper. Lifting a hesitant hand, Usagi took them, quietly whispering, "Domo arigatou gazaimasu, Haruka-san."
"What's your name, little muffin?" he whispered in way of a response, cupping her cheek, the rough skin of his palm seeming to become gentle and careful.
"U…Usagi…," she whispered, something in her chest tugging.
The mutinous voice in her head began cursing almost soundlessly.
Another breeze swept her hair, the strands forming an airy golden shroud about the two figures.
'I want to know about him.'
[[Mamoru was talking to Michiru, standing so very close to her…]]
'I want to know more about you, Haruka.'
"Usagi, hm?" His hand fell away from her, slipping into his pocket, a remote smirk decorating his lips, like a cleverly deceptive mask. "That's cute."
The wind screamed suddenly and he vanished in the space of a blink of the eye, gone from view.
"No, wait! Haruka!"
Her voice was lost, her futile pleas drowned out by the mere silence.
'Come back…'
Tears pricked her eyes and she wiped them away with her wrist, unsure of why exactly they were there, but wanting the young man to return anyway.
'He's almost…like the wind…Ten'ou Haruka.'
She turned and entered the arcade, still wiping glistening teardrops off of her eyelashes.
From behind the corner, Mamoru watched.
*
"Eudial was an absolute failure," a voice declared silkily, a frosty blue aura radiating forth from her.
"I feel sorry for her," another voice staked firmly, a glowing orange aura surrounding her shapely form.
"I think she was just too much of a brainless kisama to even bother feeling pity for her," a third voice sighed airily, green light pulsing about her.
"She wasn't powerful enough. She didn't have enough levels." The fourth voice had an echo to it, both voices cold and unfeeling. Dark blue and dark red lights seeped from her pores and those of the mirror image foggily formed behind her.
"Each of you shall have a chance," a man informed them coldly.
In the darkness, a diamond-shaped false eye glittered sinisterly.
*
Counting her tickets carefully, Usagi beamed and handed each girl a ticket. "I got them...from a friend. Now we can go see Kaiou Michiru in concert!"
Minako muttered darkly, taking her ticket and sniffling.
A poster of a pretty girl with wavy orange hair almost shoulder-length was pasted beside a Michiru poster.
'Hanyu Mimi…beautiful, gifted, and performing tomorrow, same time as Michiru's concert!' Minako wailed mentally. 'I hate my life!'
*
Gritting her teeth, Kaori Night scowled darkly into her still water mirror, evil staff clutched in white fingers.
'I can not believe they defeated Eudial so swiftly!' she screamed mentally, forcing enraged bile down her swanlike throat with inhuman effort.
"I know what you're thinking. Eudial got defeated awfully quickly, didn't she?" a tinkling, musical voice called out and the owner of the voice sashayed over to the soundlessly raging Sorceress. "But I, Mimete of the Witches 5, Level 40 Death Busters, shall bring the Master Vessels and Hoste to further our noble cause!"
Kaori Night smiled coldly. "Very well. The violinist's concert, that Kaiou Michiru…will it…she…bring more victims for us?"
"Yes." Glinting white teeth were flashed in a vicious smile.
Cackling softly, Kaori waved her hand in a 'go forth' gesture. "Then you may go…Hanyu Mimi."
*
[[Sailor Moon was too busy staring after two rapidly disappearing forms to notice the frail girl tie a hankerchief around the healing wound on Chibi-Moon's bloody arm. "I promise I'll bring it to you!" she smiled after the initial shock of the 'healing touch' vanished.]]
'It was back here, behind the amusement park, right?' Chibi-Usa held the wrapped present to her lips, staring at the immense, foreboding iron gates, England style prongs tipping the tops. 'I guess it's locked…how'm I supposed to get this to…'
"Hotaru?"
The frail girl glanced up, startled, ebony hair contrasting deeply with her eerie white skin. She was walking toward the residence, along the sidewalk, and she appeared confused to see the beaming Chibi-Usa.
"I came to return your hankerchief!" Chibi-Usa giggled, running to the slim shape of Tomoe Hotaru and holding out the wrapped gift. "But it was really bloody and I couldn't get all the blood washed out, so I got you a new one. Gomen nasai!"
"You came…to return…my hankerchief?" Her voice sounded incredulous.
Chibi-Usa nodded fervently.
Hotaru smiled unexpectedly. "Why don't you come in?"
The pink-haired girl gawked briefly. "REALLY?!"
"Sure. Come in!"
*
Crystal chandeliers hung imperially from the jewel encrusted ceiling, every surface glimmering and sparkling, and a feeling of awe bubbled into existence in Chibi-Usa's breast.
"Wow," she said softly, holding Hotaru's hand.
"Come up to my room."
Obediently, Chibi-Usa followed the older girl to a dark room, lit dimly by hundreds of lamps, varying sizes and shapes, all glowing at low levels.
"This is so sugoi!" Chibi-Usa cried, clapping her hands enthusiastically.
Everything was covered in black, from the bedsheets to Hotaru herself.
"Your clothes are all black, too, Hotaru," she stated, curiosity tickling her mind. "Do you like black? You wear tights, too."
Hotaru looked to the side, as if seeing something that wasn't there. "I was in an accident a long time ago…I have a lot of scars."
An uncomfortable silence fell between them.
Finding a different subject, Chibi-Usa chirped nervously, "Your home is a research laboratory, isn't it! What kind of research do you do?"
No reply came.
Turning slightly, she was horrified to see Hotaru on her knees on the floor, clutching at her chest with fingers curled like claws, the silken fabric wrinkled.
"Hotaru!"
"It's…just…an attack…like the others," she gasped out, shadows of intense, white-hot pain darkening her face immensely. "Get the amulet on my desk."
Chibi-Usa blinked and moved to the marble desk, lifting a flower-shaped jewel amulet up by the gold chain.
It made her uneasy.
"Here you go," she told Hotaru, handing the jewel over.
Holding it to her chest, her breathing became calmer and less irregular. "Soon, I won't be…myself anymore." A crackling air began forming around her.
Lifting a hand to her brooch, Chibi-Usa gnawed momentarily on her lip before snapping it open and pulling out the sparkling crystal within.
"Here, Hotaru. Let me help you this time."
Soft pink light poured from the crystal, dousing Hotaru with its purity.
'So warm…'
"Is that your amulet?" she finally asked, amethyst eyes open and smiling.
"What?"
"An amulet is a charm that protects you," she explained kindly.
"Oh. Then, yeah! This is my amulet. But it doesn't protect only me, it can protect *you*, too!"
Hotaru pulled back a little, surprised. Then a smile broke across her face. "What is your name?"
Chibi-Usa smiled happily. "My name is Selenity or Usagi, but everyone calls me Chibi-Usa."
Hotaru smiled as well. "Well, Chibi-Usa, I won't tell anyone about your amulet…or Sailor Chibi-Moon."
The two girls clasped hands, silently vowing the promise of best friends, smiling at each other.
He watched from the outstretched branches of the tree, his lovely companion perched beside him.
A wind brushed their hair.
*
The distance between Hotaru's home and Chibi-Usa's was great and the latter was mournfully wondering on how she was to get home.
That was before a steady 'thp-thp-thp-thp' sound shattered her thoughts.
'A helicopter?!' she gaped.
"Hey, little bunny! Are you a going to Usagi's place? We'll give you a ride!" A young man leaned out the hatch, the wind flapping the lapels of his black leather jacket, a white t-shirt underneath. The moonlight reflected dully off his black pants and shoes. Something about him made her want to agree…
"Who are you?" she cried, instead. "Are you friends' of Usagi?"
"She may not know us," he smiled mysteriously, "but we know her very well! Come on in!"
Eager to try the new experience offered her, she gladly ran to it and he pulled her up into it, buckling her into a seat before sliding the door shut.
His companion, the pilot, was a young woman with sea-green hair brushing her shoulders and wavy. She was familiar…
"So, you're a friend of Hotaru's?" the woman asked brightly.
"Yup!" Chibi-Usa answered proudly.
"What did you two talk about?" the man asked.
"Can't tell."
The two groaned quietly.
"We did talk about amulets, though," she added.
"Amulets?" the woman repeated, smiling slightly.
"Yeah. Hotaru-chan says they're charms that protect you from evil. We've both got one." Staring inquisitively at the woman, she found herself asking, "Do you have one?"
She held up a bejeweled mirror, an ensigna etched on the elegant handle and on the slick surface of the mirror itself. "This is my Talisman."
'Talisman…?' Chibi-Usa thought with interest.
"We're here, little rabbit," the man threw in.
*
Inside the Tsukino household, Ikuko and Usagi paused in a passionate argument to see a helicopter hovering outside Usagi's bedroom window.
"What in…!" Ikuko gasped, touching her lips with one hand while her teenaged daughter raced to the window, opening it and standing out on the balcony.
*
"Little rabbit," he said gently to the child, "you mustn't tell anyone about us or the mirror. It's our little secret." He gave her a rougish wink to reassure her and it worked.
Below them, a frantic Ikuko and Usagi ran to the gate of their front lawn and Chibi-Usa, having left the helicopter, raced to meet them.
"Oh my Kami-sama!" Ikuko shrieked, pulling the girl into a deep hug while Usagi stared up at the helicopter and the young man sitting at the hatch, smiling sweetly down at her.
"Haruka…," she breathed.
"I went to Hotaru's and the gave me a ride back! Isn't that swell?"
Haruka smiled at them--no, Usagi corrected wonderingly…at her.
"Good night, little muffin heads," he blew and a breeze kissed her hair and skin.
PallaPlease ~ February 15, 2001.
-Chapter 4 | Talismans-
Tiny swallows chirruped brightly, winging from tree to tree, long, winding stonewalls containing the trees encircled the block.
A man with short black hair and a mature, calculating expression leaned nonchalantly against the wall, holding a school case in one hand. He was Chiba Mamoru.
Out of breath, Usagi huffed and came to a screeching halt before him, blushing furiously.
"Morning, Usako. You're late," he greeted with a smile.
Blushing uncontrollably, the teenager swept strands of her blonde hair over her shoulder, school fuku in disarray from her mad dash to meet with him before getting to Juuban Junior High.
Flitting images from her dream trickled through her mind and, blushing even darker, she thought softly, 'I can't look him in the eyes! Why…?'
Ducking her head slightly, she heard him chuckle lightly; obviously assuming she was embarrassed about being late. 'Mamo-chan…'
Lifting her head slightly, she noticed posters plastered on the opposing wall along the length of the alternate sidewalk.
Mamoru followed her gaze and saw them as well.
A lovely profile of the equally lovely Kaiou Michiru was painted delicately on each poster, a violin held in one hand.
"Kaiou Michiru?" Usagi half-whispered, staring at the shimmering bright row of ads.
'Who are you, Michiru?…you look like that Senshi…and yet you're unafraid of showing your face…'
She swallowed thickly. 'I thought we could never let our faces become well-known…creatures would see us…and know…'
"A concert…," Mamoru mused aloud and his girlfriend turned to look at him, his back to her.
"Mamoru…" Her voice was soft and barely above a murmur. "Do you like Michiru?"
*
"Ugh…Kami-sama, I hate school…"
[["I'm sorry, Usagi-chan, I have cram school to get to!"]]
[["Geez, Usagi, if I could, I *would*! But I've got a club to go to…gomen ne! I promise to go to Crown with you tomorrow!"]]
Usagi sighed deeply, shoulders hunching, ponytails dangling limply. Stiffly turning the corner to approach her haven, her own personal Arcade of Solitude, she spied a figure only two feet away from her, tall and slender.
"Oh…," she breathed at the same time he did. "Haruka-san…"
He stared at her, ice blue eyes burning into her ocean blue ones, and she felt as if he was diving through her deepest thoughts…
"Muffin-head." The barest hint of a lopsided smile twitched across his lips and she felt heat rising up in her cheeks.
'I've been blushing a lot today…,' she thought wryly in her mind.
"Come here often?" he teased, eyes softening and becoming shyly eager, frighteningly out of place in his unmoving features.
"Of course," she replied quickly, absently tugging at loose threads hanging from her white blouse. "I come to the arcade every day after school. I've been playing that racing game."
Haruka grinned widely, making the twinkling, longing look in his eyes seem characteristic. "Really? Are you getting any better?"
She giggled without a thought, nodding rapidly. A wind seemed to spring up from nowhere, tickling her face, caressing her neck. It felt nice…
He was smiling again, his hand lifting and touching her cheek softly with the sweetest brush of his fingertips, the feel of burning electricity racing through her veins as swiftly as his hand left her face. Without thinking, she caught his rough, calloused hand with her soft, slim one. He looked startled, a hint of something strange glinting in his eyes. Turning his head to look off, giving her a profile of his face, he became quiet and serious.
"Your friends told me to keep away, so I thought I shouldn't come here to see you anymore."
What was that in his voice? It was distant, as if he was remembering something from long ago…
"But…I had to see you…again."
The light blush touching her skin was a shell-like pink, glowing softly.
'Why is my heart beating so fast?' her mind cried mournfully and another voice chirped, with a frustrated sigh, 'Why do you think, genius?' The other voice, the sane one, responded, 'It's all that dream's fault!' The second voice vanished, muttering, 'Baka.'
[[_He bent down to kiss her, fingers touching her chin…he pulled away, dressed like Kunzite, sapphire earrings like dewdrops, milky blue eyes…armor, glimmering silver…_]]
'It's strange…he looks like a General…and a normal guy…'
[["Don't worry, Usagi-hime…" He smiled at her.]]
She blinked. Where the heck had that come from?
"I still haven't introduced myself, have I?" he broke through her thoughts, gazing deeply at her.
"I know who you are." The smile on her face was sad, distantly. "You're Ten'ou Haruka. You're really famous. You…and Michiru…" She motioned to another one of the posters behind him.
Haruka glanced over his shoulder, a sudden gust of wind tousling his somewhat-wild, light wheat hair. Jabbing a thumb in the direction of the blown-up photo, he grinned again. "You really have to listen to her play sometime. Once you do, you just get hooked. She's a magician who makes the music and instrument come alive."
He returned his attention to the wistful Usagi. "Actually…I've got some tickets if you'd like to come hear. I'll be there and I hope you'll come, with your friends. Of course." He added the 'of course' on an afterthought, holding out five tickets to her, the curious wind gently bending the paper. Lifting a hesitant hand, Usagi took them, quietly whispering, "Domo arigatou gazaimasu, Haruka-san."
"What's your name, little muffin?" he whispered in way of a response, cupping her cheek, the rough skin of his palm seeming to become gentle and careful.
"U…Usagi…," she whispered, something in her chest tugging.
The mutinous voice in her head began cursing almost soundlessly.
Another breeze swept her hair, the strands forming an airy golden shroud about the two figures.
'I want to know about him.'
[[Mamoru was talking to Michiru, standing so very close to her…]]
'I want to know more about you, Haruka.'
"Usagi, hm?" His hand fell away from her, slipping into his pocket, a remote smirk decorating his lips, like a cleverly deceptive mask. "That's cute."
The wind screamed suddenly and he vanished in the space of a blink of the eye, gone from view.
"No, wait! Haruka!"
Her voice was lost, her futile pleas drowned out by the mere silence.
'Come back…'
Tears pricked her eyes and she wiped them away with her wrist, unsure of why exactly they were there, but wanting the young man to return anyway.
'He's almost…like the wind…Ten'ou Haruka.'
She turned and entered the arcade, still wiping glistening teardrops off of her eyelashes.
From behind the corner, Mamoru watched.
*
"Eudial was an absolute failure," a voice declared silkily, a frosty blue aura radiating forth from her.
"I feel sorry for her," another voice staked firmly, a glowing orange aura surrounding her shapely form.
"I think she was just too much of a brainless kisama to even bother feeling pity for her," a third voice sighed airily, green light pulsing about her.
"She wasn't powerful enough. She didn't have enough levels." The fourth voice had an echo to it, both voices cold and unfeeling. Dark blue and dark red lights seeped from her pores and those of the mirror image foggily formed behind her.
"Each of you shall have a chance," a man informed them coldly.
In the darkness, a diamond-shaped false eye glittered sinisterly.
*
Counting her tickets carefully, Usagi beamed and handed each girl a ticket. "I got them...from a friend. Now we can go see Kaiou Michiru in concert!"
Minako muttered darkly, taking her ticket and sniffling.
A poster of a pretty girl with wavy orange hair almost shoulder-length was pasted beside a Michiru poster.
'Hanyu Mimi…beautiful, gifted, and performing tomorrow, same time as Michiru's concert!' Minako wailed mentally. 'I hate my life!'
*
Gritting her teeth, Kaori Night scowled darkly into her still water mirror, evil staff clutched in white fingers.
'I can not believe they defeated Eudial so swiftly!' she screamed mentally, forcing enraged bile down her swanlike throat with inhuman effort.
"I know what you're thinking. Eudial got defeated awfully quickly, didn't she?" a tinkling, musical voice called out and the owner of the voice sashayed over to the soundlessly raging Sorceress. "But I, Mimete of the Witches 5, Level 40 Death Busters, shall bring the Master Vessels and Hoste to further our noble cause!"
Kaori Night smiled coldly. "Very well. The violinist's concert, that Kaiou Michiru…will it…she…bring more victims for us?"
"Yes." Glinting white teeth were flashed in a vicious smile.
Cackling softly, Kaori waved her hand in a 'go forth' gesture. "Then you may go…Hanyu Mimi."
*
[[Sailor Moon was too busy staring after two rapidly disappearing forms to notice the frail girl tie a hankerchief around the healing wound on Chibi-Moon's bloody arm. "I promise I'll bring it to you!" she smiled after the initial shock of the 'healing touch' vanished.]]
'It was back here, behind the amusement park, right?' Chibi-Usa held the wrapped present to her lips, staring at the immense, foreboding iron gates, England style prongs tipping the tops. 'I guess it's locked…how'm I supposed to get this to…'
"Hotaru?"
The frail girl glanced up, startled, ebony hair contrasting deeply with her eerie white skin. She was walking toward the residence, along the sidewalk, and she appeared confused to see the beaming Chibi-Usa.
"I came to return your hankerchief!" Chibi-Usa giggled, running to the slim shape of Tomoe Hotaru and holding out the wrapped gift. "But it was really bloody and I couldn't get all the blood washed out, so I got you a new one. Gomen nasai!"
"You came…to return…my hankerchief?" Her voice sounded incredulous.
Chibi-Usa nodded fervently.
Hotaru smiled unexpectedly. "Why don't you come in?"
The pink-haired girl gawked briefly. "REALLY?!"
"Sure. Come in!"
*
Crystal chandeliers hung imperially from the jewel encrusted ceiling, every surface glimmering and sparkling, and a feeling of awe bubbled into existence in Chibi-Usa's breast.
"Wow," she said softly, holding Hotaru's hand.
"Come up to my room."
Obediently, Chibi-Usa followed the older girl to a dark room, lit dimly by hundreds of lamps, varying sizes and shapes, all glowing at low levels.
"This is so sugoi!" Chibi-Usa cried, clapping her hands enthusiastically.
Everything was covered in black, from the bedsheets to Hotaru herself.
"Your clothes are all black, too, Hotaru," she stated, curiosity tickling her mind. "Do you like black? You wear tights, too."
Hotaru looked to the side, as if seeing something that wasn't there. "I was in an accident a long time ago…I have a lot of scars."
An uncomfortable silence fell between them.
Finding a different subject, Chibi-Usa chirped nervously, "Your home is a research laboratory, isn't it! What kind of research do you do?"
No reply came.
Turning slightly, she was horrified to see Hotaru on her knees on the floor, clutching at her chest with fingers curled like claws, the silken fabric wrinkled.
"Hotaru!"
"It's…just…an attack…like the others," she gasped out, shadows of intense, white-hot pain darkening her face immensely. "Get the amulet on my desk."
Chibi-Usa blinked and moved to the marble desk, lifting a flower-shaped jewel amulet up by the gold chain.
It made her uneasy.
"Here you go," she told Hotaru, handing the jewel over.
Holding it to her chest, her breathing became calmer and less irregular. "Soon, I won't be…myself anymore." A crackling air began forming around her.
Lifting a hand to her brooch, Chibi-Usa gnawed momentarily on her lip before snapping it open and pulling out the sparkling crystal within.
"Here, Hotaru. Let me help you this time."
Soft pink light poured from the crystal, dousing Hotaru with its purity.
'So warm…'
"Is that your amulet?" she finally asked, amethyst eyes open and smiling.
"What?"
"An amulet is a charm that protects you," she explained kindly.
"Oh. Then, yeah! This is my amulet. But it doesn't protect only me, it can protect *you*, too!"
Hotaru pulled back a little, surprised. Then a smile broke across her face. "What is your name?"
Chibi-Usa smiled happily. "My name is Selenity or Usagi, but everyone calls me Chibi-Usa."
Hotaru smiled as well. "Well, Chibi-Usa, I won't tell anyone about your amulet…or Sailor Chibi-Moon."
The two girls clasped hands, silently vowing the promise of best friends, smiling at each other.
He watched from the outstretched branches of the tree, his lovely companion perched beside him.
A wind brushed their hair.
*
The distance between Hotaru's home and Chibi-Usa's was great and the latter was mournfully wondering on how she was to get home.
That was before a steady 'thp-thp-thp-thp' sound shattered her thoughts.
'A helicopter?!' she gaped.
"Hey, little bunny! Are you a going to Usagi's place? We'll give you a ride!" A young man leaned out the hatch, the wind flapping the lapels of his black leather jacket, a white t-shirt underneath. The moonlight reflected dully off his black pants and shoes. Something about him made her want to agree…
"Who are you?" she cried, instead. "Are you friends' of Usagi?"
"She may not know us," he smiled mysteriously, "but we know her very well! Come on in!"
Eager to try the new experience offered her, she gladly ran to it and he pulled her up into it, buckling her into a seat before sliding the door shut.
His companion, the pilot, was a young woman with sea-green hair brushing her shoulders and wavy. She was familiar…
"So, you're a friend of Hotaru's?" the woman asked brightly.
"Yup!" Chibi-Usa answered proudly.
"What did you two talk about?" the man asked.
"Can't tell."
The two groaned quietly.
"We did talk about amulets, though," she added.
"Amulets?" the woman repeated, smiling slightly.
"Yeah. Hotaru-chan says they're charms that protect you from evil. We've both got one." Staring inquisitively at the woman, she found herself asking, "Do you have one?"
She held up a bejeweled mirror, an ensigna etched on the elegant handle and on the slick surface of the mirror itself. "This is my Talisman."
'Talisman…?' Chibi-Usa thought with interest.
"We're here, little rabbit," the man threw in.
*
Inside the Tsukino household, Ikuko and Usagi paused in a passionate argument to see a helicopter hovering outside Usagi's bedroom window.
"What in…!" Ikuko gasped, touching her lips with one hand while her teenaged daughter raced to the window, opening it and standing out on the balcony.
*
"Little rabbit," he said gently to the child, "you mustn't tell anyone about us or the mirror. It's our little secret." He gave her a rougish wink to reassure her and it worked.
Below them, a frantic Ikuko and Usagi ran to the gate of their front lawn and Chibi-Usa, having left the helicopter, raced to meet them.
"Oh my Kami-sama!" Ikuko shrieked, pulling the girl into a deep hug while Usagi stared up at the helicopter and the young man sitting at the hatch, smiling sweetly down at her.
"Haruka…," she breathed.
"I went to Hotaru's and the gave me a ride back! Isn't that swell?"
Haruka smiled at them--no, Usagi corrected wonderingly…at her.
"Good night, little muffin heads," he blew and a breeze kissed her hair and skin.
PallaPlease ~ February 15, 2001.