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Disclaimer : la la la.... somewhere over the rainbow..... *ahem* Yeah, okay so anyway
this is a disclaimer stating that the characters in this story are NOT mine because this
is a fanfic...I mean, if these characters DID belong to fanfic-ers then we'd sorta be rich
by now... ^_-' Oh I might wanna add that they belong to Takeuchi Naoko and ummm some other
people? ^_-'
BTW, you might wanna know that SASAKI LEONA, YAMADA REIKO (& her family) are my
characters ^_^
*NOTE* I haven't written a fanfic in ages and this idea came to me on the night of ummm
tonight ^_-' (25/5/99) as I was thinking of just a plain story for me to write. So this
has absolutely no battle....no Inner Senshi, no Outer Senshi.... just Hotaru, her very
sterotypical so called 'class mates' and Chibi Usa... and Hotaru's father I guess, but he
doesn't appear much.... I mean with no major role except as her maniacal father before he
gets the daemon released from him. ENJOY!! ^_~
P.S. I know you wanna read the fanfic.... well, there's no guarantee that you do... bah
anyway, I've never written a Hotaru fanfic.... I always saw her as 'the' Senshi so I
didn't dare write anything too crap.... ^_- but this is not her Senshi side so maybe
(hopefully) it's good. ^_^
P.P.S. The characters call each other by surname wise as in Japan. For those who don't
know, in Japan, if you are somebody's classmate but you're not friends, you just call them
by their surname. Of course, if you are friends, you call them by their first name.
Usually you would add -san on the end (eg. Tomoe-san) to be polite, but in case I confuse
the readers, I didn't. It's also a 'thing' if a guy calls a girl her first name (unless
it's obvious they're friends) because it usuall means they're close enough to call each
other by first names.... anyway, on with the fanfic ^_^
P.P.P.S. I keep adding as I hit a problemo in the story.... you know in the manga where
Hotaru's dad has his 'assisstant' who's actually a baddie? Well I forgot her name so she's
the 'assisstant' okies? ^_-' sowwie...
The Firefly
ONE
I stood in the cold hallway. Everyday was the same. My short black hair was whisked around
by the hustle and bustle as other people walked around me. It was a large school, but to
me, it was small. There was nowhere to hide....and there was no way I'd run. A girl bumped
into me with green eyes and dark brown hair tied up in a tight bun. I recognised her.
Sasaki Leona.
"Watch it freak!" she giggled with a menacing tone and run off with her friends.
I stared at her back running down the hallway as everybody changed over for classes. What
right did she have? What right to take away my friends and change them into her slaves?
It had been only a week ago when Sasaki had seen me in a park while I was healing my
grazed knee. She screamed at me, calling me a freak.
*Flash back*
"Tomoe...you're a freak!" Saski screamed at me. I stared up at her with a blank
expression. "W-w-w-what was that?" she screamed.
"I am in no position to have to excuse myself to you," I told her plainly and
started to walk away. She was making this a huge ordeal.
"You will be in a position if I tell everybody you're a witch freak!" she
grinned. "So? Are you going to turn me into a frog or obey anything I tell you?"
"I'm leaving, good bye," I whispered and left.
*end of flashback*
She was still jabbering on about me being a freak and how she'd tell everyone. Frankly, I
didn't care because I had my friends. Or I thought I did. Once Sasaki spread the news that
I was some witch, everybody stayed away from me. I never felt so alone in my life.
"Freak.....freak....freak...." murmurs spread around me. Giggles, taunting
voices and laughter.
"Tomoe's a witch....don't go near her....she'll eat you alive...." they'd
whisper.
"Freak....freak....freak......" they'd giggle.
"She's making some weird concoctions...that's why she's always pale...." they'd
laugh.
"Tomoe's always mumbling spells to curse us all....." they'd taunt.
"I'm sorry," I murmured as I bumped into someone....another one of Sasaki's
allies. Yamada Reiko.
"Don't touch me, witch!" she shouted at me with hatred in her voice, as if I was
the filthiest thing on Earth. Disgust was more like it.
"Sorry Yamada," I whispered in a ghostly tone as I picked myself up.
"How do you know my name?" she asked, slightly bewildered and curious.
I turned around and walked away. She didn't care. Why should she? Wasn't I the 'freak',
the 'witch'? The innocent actors, I'd just ignore. They all hated me anyway because they
were afraid. Of what?
During lunch, the lunch room was the busiest place. I ate quietly in the corner and read
my book. I heard footsteps coming closer to me and I looked up.
"Tomoe, can I sit here?" Yamada smiled.
I blinked twice, then nodded. But I knew something was fishy. Even I wasn't that stupid.
Did they take me for a fool?
"What is it?" I asked. "Did Sasaki bribe you into it? To figure out if I
really am a witch?"
"No!" Yamada said quickly, looking a little saddened. "Sasaki said you were
a witch, but I never thought that. I just went along with it until I got to know you
better."
"Well as far as I know, I don't think we know each other too well," I replied.
"I know it might seems weird, but.... can't we try to be friends?" she asked,
smiling sweetly.
"You'll only be an attraction for bullies. You should stay away from me. You're not a
bad person," I told her and left the table.
"Wait," she called after me. "I just want to clear this whole mess up. I
don't like to bully people without finding out if they really are what's being
rumoured."
"Then what? I'm a witch... there, I admitted it. Happy?" I whispered to her.
"How do you intend to find out after what you and you're group have done to me? Do
you really think I'd trust you?"
"No," she shook her head. "But I really am sorry. I never meant to hurt
you. I'm really sorry."
"Then we can try to be friends I suppose," I nodded. "But you should stay
away from me. They'll think I brainwashed you because I needed friends. But I don't. I
don't want that misunderstanding to occur."
"I'll ring you later 'kay?" Yamada smiled. We exchanged phone numbers and
addresses and she skipped away.
I got home and one of my coughing fits started. I managed to crawl to my room and I lay
down on my bed, wheezing and coughing.
"Hotaru chan? Are you all right?" I heard the familiar voice. My father's
assistant.
"I'm fine," I wheezed.
"You don't sound it," she whispered. "Do you mind if I come in?"
I was about to tell her not to when my chest felt tight and I literally felt the air being
sucked out of my lungs. I gasped for air.
"There there," she whispered in one of those motherly soothing tones. I hated
her doing that. She wasn't my mother nor my father's wife. She was just an assisstant.
"Go away! Leave me alone!" I shouted at her. "I'm fine!"
The air returned to my lungs and I felt tired. My chest hurt from coughing so much and my
bones ached.
"You're fragile body is running out of time," she smiled strangely. "But
I'll fix that up for you dear Hotaru."
Her eyes looked at me strangely and I shuddered. I suddenly started coughing again and she
held me in her arms.
"Father....where is he?" I coughed.
"In the lab. But don't worry, I'll look after you," she smiled.
The phone rang and she ran out to get it, leaving me to gasp for my breath in the dark
room. I cursed. Father....he was always in the lab now. He never even looked after me.
Even he didn't care. And this....this woman was the only one who showed me any
affection....and even that was false.
"Hotaru chan?" I heard her whisper. "Are you well enough to talk on the
phone?"
"Who is it?" I asked, sitting up.
"Reiko chan, your class mate," she smiled. "I'm glad you have friends.... I
mean, I didn't mean it like that....."
I just looked at her, then nodded. She brought me the phone and left quietly.
"Hotaru?" the angelic voice asked innocently. Yamada really did seem like an
angel. Innocent. A pure soul. Unlike mine.... my soul.... do I even have one? Didn't
father take my soul? No...what was I thinking? How could he take my soul?
"Hotaru? Are you there?" Yamada asked again. "Your mother told me you
weren't too well. Is this a bad time?"
"She isn't my mother..." I replied, gritting my teeth.
"Oh..sorry," Yamada apologised. "Um..are you feeling okay?"
"Yes," I sighed. "I just get these coughing fits sometimes."
"Oh, I'm glad you're okay," she sighed in relief. "So anyway, can you still
go out to places? I think we'd be great friends. I found this cute little shop the other
day and all the clothes there would suit you, I think. I've never seen anything else you
where except uniform so I think it would be a good idea for us to meet other than school.
You know?"
I couldn't reply to such an honest gesture. Was this girl seriously wanting to be my
friend?
"Hotaru? Oh you don't mind me calling you Hotaru do you? You can call me Reiko too
you know," she told me. "I think you should go out more Hotaru. I mean, I
know...this coming from me. I'm probably the one who made you stay indoors, me and my
group.... but not any more. I left the group. That's why I came to sit with you at lunch
today. I have other friends from other schools who would like you a lot. They'd like you
straight away, I know it."
"Reiko...." I murmured. "I can't go out, I'm sorry. I...I get the fits too
often..."
"Oh that's all right," she chattered on. "Then we can meet at your place or
mine. You know? Oh, I've never been to your house! What's it like? I've heard that it's a
castle, but that's just silly isn't it? My house is a one story place, it's pretty small.
Have I told you? Oh I haven't have I?"
I just listened, well... heard her voice. It was a strange feeling. I felt...wanted and
worthy of other people's company for once in a long while.
"Tell me about your family too. I'll tell you about mine," she continued, all
chirpy. "I live with my mother, father and two younger sisters. The youngest who's
10, is Naomi and the middle child is Miyako, she's 12. I had an older brother too,
Takaomi, he was 18 when he had an accident at his construction site workplace. We don't
talk about it much, so all I know is that he died instantly, which is good. Sorry, you
don't want to hear this do you?"
"I don't mind. I'm accustomed to death. I should talk about myself then," I
mumbled. I raised my voice a little. "I live with my father at his lab. My mother
died when I was younger. I don't remember her face or anything, but I remember what she
was like... I can't explain it very well. The woman who answered the phone is my father's
assisstant. She's like my nanny, but I hate her."
"Wow..." Reiko whispered.
"What is it? Did I say something wrong?" I asked. "I guess you didn't
really want to hear it."
"No," Reiko said apologetically. "Sorry. It's just that you talked about
yourself....and I didn't think you would."
I heard my father's voice outside my door, talking with his 'assisstant'.
"Sorry Reiko, I have to go," I told her.
"Okay," she replied, a little dismayed. "I'll see you at school
tomorrow?"
"Sure..." I whispered. I hung up the phone and walked quietly to the door.
I heard bits of their conversation.
"......she hates me....."
"......she doesn't hate you....."
"......her mother isn't it?......."
"......the lab...."
"......going as planned?...."
"......completed soon....."
"......be pleased......."
"......tomorrow. I'll report......"
"......time is almost here...."
What where they talking about? Reporting what? What was going to be completed soon? In the
lab? I opened the door and surprised them a little.
"Hotaru chan," she smiled kindly. "Are you well now?"
"Yes, thank you for your concern," I told her plainly.
"Hotaru don't be so rude," father frowned, patting my head with his hands. They
were cold and sent shivers down my spine. "Don't mind her please. I'm sure she likes
you. Don't you Hotaru?"
"No," I scowled.
Father frowned at me and I ran out of the building. Yes, it was a building...nothing like
a home.
It started raining as I wandered around. It was also getting cold and dark around me. Not
that I minded. In my pocket was the scrap paper which had Reiko's address and phone
number. Maybe she wouldn't mind a visit. I crossed a park and that was when I heard a
scream. There was a bright red flash behind a wall and I hurried over, peeking from behind
the wall.
"Aaaaaaa! Get away from me!" I recognised a screaming voice. Reiko....?
"Grrrrrr.... grrrrrr...." a gruff sound came from somewhere else. I looked at
her and she was trapped in a dead end street. She was surrounded in a pinkish light as the
monster gained on her.
"Reiko!" I shouted.
"Grrrr...?" the monster turned and saw me. "Who are you?"
"Tomoe Hotaru," I shouted boldly. I was almost fooling myself. "Get away
from her!"
"Hotaru! Run away! Go!" Reiko screamed. "Don't be stupid!"
"No! You go Reiko. You deserve a life more than I do!" I shouted at her.
"Grrrr...." the monster pondered, then slapped me onto the ground.
"Hotaru!" Reiko screamed. "No!"
The monster grabbed my head roughly with his hand and a reddish glow surrounded me. Then,
every- thing I saw was black.
END OF PART ONE
So, how'd you like it? I hope you did. The next part is quite interesting ^_-' Here's a
'trailer' to bait you into reading the rest of this fic ^_-'
TRAILER :
I hugged her, then cried. I had killed her with my hands. I was too weak. Why was it that
I couldn't save somebody else's soul? Was it because I had given up mine? What is it like
to live a life instead of being ruled by one?
"Reiko...." I sobbed. "We are... we still are friends.... we always
will...."
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