Title: 'Boogiemen, Dragons, and Tricksters'

Author: Ayrki

Email: ayrki@yahoo.com

Beta: Just me, myself, and I

Series: Sailormoon

Genre: Back to the fluffy goodness of Romance.

Rating: PG-13 (or M for Australia and anywhere else that uses a different scale) just because it has Shoujo-ai in it, and to be safe.

Chapter or Part: The third and hopefully final chapter

Disclaimer: Disclaimers on strike. Sue me and..hmm, legal team on strike too. Besides, I have no more dead and rotting lemons, they all died. All we have are those hard green kind that hurt like hell when the fall on your head or when you are running around the yard away from the dogs and smack your head in to them (the lemons, not the dogs).

Summary: Okay, so it's supposed to be a short ten or so page Christmas fic. This is being written in response to a challenge proposed by Matthias (AKA MysticMew) on the Stars In Love yahoo group. All that the challenge called for was a story of about ten pages that had Minaru content either mainly or minorly. It just has to be in there. So, it's a fluffy little shoujo ai involving Minako and Hotaru.

I think the only thing that I listened to and stuck to was that it was a Christmas fic and that it has Minaru in it. I don't even know how many pages it is anymore. ^_^ The first part is ten or so I think.

Timeline: Christmas Eve morning/afternoon.

Author's notes: Oh, and please remember that this is not beta-read as I do not have one and I probably missed out on a few things in my excitement of getting this done. All I've got is my little brother that I torture with reading this to or making him read it himself. That, and a homicidal, violent Muse that keeps the worst hours, either that or she lives on the other side of the world. We have been comparing family trees and from the hours she keeps, we think she might just be from Germany.

This should be the third and final chapter of this thing. I have no plans for any continuation on this plot. I hesitate to dedicate myself to too many more projects. *sheepish smile* I have enough already. But if there is sufficient feedback asking for more (meaning like one person asking :o) ) then I will probably manage something. So, let me know what you think about this. And now, on to the conclusion.

~~~~~

(Michiru)

Yawning, I stretched as I walked quietly down the hallway towards the kitchen. I paused at the foot of the stairs and glanced up the hallway that led to Hotaru's room and the one that Minako was staying in. After a quick debate with myself I continued down the hallway and stopped in front of the guest room door. I turned the handle and pushed the door open gently so as not to disturb Minako in her sleep. When I poked my head into room I found that my efforts had been in vain and useless. Minako was not in the room and nor had the bed been slept in.

I frowned and stepped back, pulling the door shut. If Minako had not slept in the guest room, then where had she slept? 'No, she wouldn't have.would she?' I thought to myself as the idea crossed my mind. 'She was worried about Hotaru last night, but would she have spent the night with her?' I didn't have to look very far for the answer as a memory surfaced; it was what I had done a number of times when Haruka had been hurt in the past. I shook my head softly and walked the few steps so that I now stood in front of Hotaru's door. Again, I opened the door as quietly as possible and peeked in. I couldn't help smiling fondly at the sight that greeted me.

Both were still asleep and out cold to the world; half curled up together making an adorable picture. This was one of those times that I wished that I had a camera. I smiled again and thought, 'Although, it wouldn't make a bad painting.' I retreated and stored the image of Minako half sitting up with her arms wrapped around Hotaru, who lay with her back against Minako, for later use.

Resuming my earlier journey, I descended the stairs and walked through the lounge room to the kitchen. I smiled and accepted the cup of hot tea that Setsuna offered to me upon entry. "Thank you," I said quietly and sat in a chair at the small table by the window.

I glanced out over deck at the blanketed yard; snow must have fallen again, it seemed as though we were going to have quite a bit of snowfall this winter. Hotaru would be delighted; the girl absolutely loved watching it when it was snowing. Setsuna pulled me from my musings when she sat across from me and spoke, "You saw them too."

Not a question, but a statement. I smiled and nodded, "Did you know this would happen?"

The woman across from me shook her head. "No, some things are kept secret even from me."

I nodded again, showing that I understood. If she were to know everything that would transpire in our lives and in her own, then nothing could stop her from revealing truths to us that we should not know. That, and it made her life a little more interesting. "Are you surprised by it?"

Setsuna shook her head again, "Though I may not have known that it would happen, I did have my suspicions. But the sword laid them all to rest last night."

I sat up a little straighter in my chair, curiousity peaked, "How so? You said that any doubts surrounding Minako being the official leader of the senshi were laid to rest, but that is not what you are talking about, is it?"

"No; though, they were resolved too." Setsuna took a drink of her tea and then sighed before speaking again, "Minako should not have been able to have mastered that much power on her own.unless something demanded her too. Like someone she loves being in danger. The only other thing that could have given her the ability to call the sword was if her princess was in mortal danger and if that was the only way for Minako to be able to protect her."

"Then you think that her calling the sword was because of what she feels, or might feel, for Hotaru?"

Setsuna nodded. "Having someone you love in danger is powerful motivation. Fear is a very effective incentive, but you know that already." I smiled a little wryly; that was something that I had learned through the years. "Because Minako reacted the way she did, and because she was able to call the sword, tells me that there is something there. At least on Minako's part. Not that I don't think the feelings are returned, of that I am sure."

I smiled and nodded, "Yes, we all have noticed."

Setsuna smiled too and peered into her tea. For one absurd moment I considered asking her if she ever used that form of divination to tell the future, but I figured that I might not live long enough to tell her I was only teasing. "Mmm," The guardian of time didn't lift her head to look at me, but instead just glanced up at me with her deep, piercing eyes, a flicker of mischief showing itself in them before disappearing again. "Much like you with a certain sandy haired blond."

'Maybe I should have asked that question,' I thought sourly. Before I tried to respond, the woman in question groggily made her way into the room and over to the current love of her life: the coffee machine.

~~~~~

(Minako)

Yawning so hard that my jaw cracked, I sleepily opened my eyes to see an unfamiliar room. I blinked a few times and frowned slightly as I tried to remember where I was. I also tried to figure out what the weight upon my chest was. As I woke up, my ability to think and process whole thoughts returned and I remembered I was in Hotaru's room and that the weight was most likely the owner of the room. I glanced down to check. Yup, it was Hotaru.

I was half sitting up in Hotaru's bed, propped up by the wall and headboard, cushioned by numerous pillows. Hotaru in turn lay with her back against my chest and my arms were still wrapped around her with no intention of letting go. Her head rested mostly on my shoulder with her face buried in my neck; one arm was settled upon her stomach, while the other rested on one of my arms.

I looked back down at Hotaru again for a moment and smiled as memories from last night returned. It's strange how sometimes one night can have some of the worst things happen and yet, at the same time, some of the best too. Everything from last night, with the exception of Corag's appearance, of course, was perfect. Dinner, the playground, the walk in the park under the stars.all of it -absolutely magnificent. Even Corag had a part to play in it; a small, annoying, and terrifying part, but an essential part nonetheless.

Glancing around the room for lack of anything else to do, besides trace and memorise Hotaru's features (which I'd done the night before and again earlier this morning), my eyes wandered over her various lamps from her collection and other various items in her room. A few moments later, I reached over and picked up the framed photograph on Hotaru's bedside table. I smiled when I saw the picture. It was one of Hotaru and I taken only a few months ago at a picnic that we had had on a warm summer day in the park. I had snuck up on Hotaru and had wrapped my arms around her waist and had rested my chin on her shoulder. Haruka, who had stolen Hotaru's camera in hopes of getting one or two of her daughter, had gotten our attention and snapped the picture, both of us wearing huge, happy grins. The rest of that roll of film, however, had been devoted to the water fight that had ensued when I had thrown Hotaru into the lake and had then been pulled in myself. I grinned as I remembered the lesson that I had learned that day: never get into a water fight with Hotaru; she can be quite vicious. Haruka later told me that it was because she had had lots of practice as a child, evidently whenever Hotaru was given a bath Haruka rarely escaped less than half drenched.

"That is one of my favourite pictures," a sleepy voice said accompanied by a yawn.

I glanced down at Hotaru who had awoken and smiled at her. "One of mine too. You want to know something a little funny.I sleep with my copy on my head board." We stayed like that for a few moments, each simply smiling and basking in the love that we had found. Finally, I asked, "How are you feeling this morning?"

She grinned mischievously at me and replied, "Well, it is more afternoon than morning you know."

I gave an exasperated sigh and looked up at the ceiling imploringly. "Were you born a brat, or did you have to take special courses?" I muttered darkly.

Hotaru's grin grew even bigger, "Pure and natural talent."

I shook my head and sat up, pushing Hotaru up with me. She pouted for a moment until I darted forward and claimed her lips with my own in a gentle kiss. When I pulled back the pout was replaced with a silly grin, which was mirrored on my face as well.

(Hotaru)

Sometime later, Minako and I made our way downstairs, meeting a rather sleepy looking Haruka-papa on the way down. Minako leaned over and whispered in my ear that it was a miracle that she didn't stumble down the stairs or trip. I grinned at told her that Haruka can walk from her bedroom all the way down to the kitchen and not trip over a thing when she is all but asleep. I then told her that sometimes Setsuna and I would get up early and shift a few things around just to see if Haruka noticed. Minako looked at me for a moment and called me a brat again. I am really beginning to wonder if she knows any other insults.

We followed Haruka-papa down the stairs, through the lounge room, and through the various hallways to the kitchen. Haruka didn't knock into a thing. I flashed Minako a grin and a look that said 'Told you' and then turned to greet my 'mamas'. "Ohayo Michiru-mama, Setsuna-mama."

Beside me, I heard Minako mutter, "And what happened to it being the afternoon." I just glanced over my shoulder and stuck my tongue out at her. Minako narrowed her blue eyes at me and growled, "Did you forget what happened the last time you did that."

I grinned mischievously and raised my eyebrows for a moment. "How do you know I am not suggesting something?"

Watching with a small smile on her lips, Setsuna finally managed to greet us when Minako blushed in response to my teasing. Yeah, me teasing.and Minako no less. "Good morning, hime-chan, Minako. Feeling better this morning?" Setsuna asked as I sank into a chair at the kitchen table.

I nodded, "Much, thank you."

Michiru looked up inquiringly at Minako, who had finally managed to get control of her blush. I smiled innocently and stored that particular line away for later use; it seemed to work on both of us after all. "And you, Minako?" Michiru paused for a moment when Minako told her that she was feeling much better. Before speaking again though, I saw a smile cross her elegant features. A smile that I knew all too well; I half nervously swallowed and waited. "Your burn not bothering you at all?" Minako shook her head and took a seat beside me. "Mmm, that is good, although I probably should have mentioned before that perhaps sleeping with out any weight on you chest might have been a good idea."

Minako looked up and tried not to look too mortified. After a moment she just folded her arms on the table and buried her head in them. I managed to hide behind the cup of tea that Haruka handed me; she nudged Minako a few times, trying to offer her the other cup. Finally giving up, Haruka just set the cup down beside Minako and took the seat beside her and Setsuna. After a moment, Minako's muffled voice could be heard. "I swear you are all out to get me. The only one not to have a go at me so far has been Se-"

All of a sudden Minako sat straight up in her chair and clamped both hands over her mouth. The four of us eyed Minako strangely and Haruka raised an eyebrow questioningly. Minako shook her head and said through her hands, "'m nawt sayink et." It took a moment to figure out what she had said.

Haruka just looked at her for a moment more and then shook her head, turning to the rest of us she said, "I am beginning to think that that bump on her head may have had more of an effect on her than we originally thought."

Setsuna glanced up from her tea, her eyes half veiled by her bangs. "Either that or Hotaru."

Minako's only response was to blush even more furiously, bury her head in her arms again and whimper. I winced and tried to battle the blood rushing to my face as I desperately sought a hiding place. I half wondered if there was any room under the table or maybe in the cupboards, then I realised that the dust bunnies would probably kick me out. Or tease like the others.

(Minako)

An hour or two later, Hotaru and I stood in the kitchen near the door that led to the garage where Haruka was starting and warming up the car to take me home. Both she and Michiru insisted on Haruka driving me home and I was not one to argue with two of the outer senshi. One maybe on a good day, but two? Nah. I stood leaning up against a counter and Hotaru stood only a few feet away from me. Both of my hands were shoved in my coat's pockets for lack of anything else to do, and I, like Hotaru, seemed to be inspecting the tiles of the floor.

It was one of those half awkward moments on a date where each of you stand and stare at anything but the other and wait for the other to make a move. Both of you could tell that this was one of those moments when either something wonderful could happen, or nothing happens, the moment passes, and you go on your ways. The problem with those moments is that one of you has to gather up your courage and do something or the moment passes and you later wonder what was with you. I hadn't felt like that in quite a while. Sure I still dated, but those moments were lacking and the 'spark' wasn't there with my dates. The closest thing on them was the moment when my date dropped me off at home and debated with himself on whether or not to fish for a kiss.

I glanced up and caught Hotaru doing the same. I couldn't help but smile at our shyness and antics; she smiled too, though a bit bashfully. "Come here," I whispered and when she was with in reach I reached out and pulled her even closer to me so that she was now leaning gently against me. I reached up and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, letting my fingers brush against her skin ever so softly. Cupping her cheek gently, my thumb idly stroked her skin. "You scared me half to death last night," I whispered in hushed tones. "I was so terrified when you weren't breathing and your heart wasn't beating, I thought that I had really lost you.and that was worse than anytime I've died, or been reduced to my star seed.worse than anything I have ever felt before really." My voice taunt with emotion as I finally put voice to what I had felt yesterday.

When Hotaru tried to hush me I shook my head, "No. I need to say it. To get it out." And I did. I fought to find the right words, "I realised then that I would have given anything to trade places with you and to be able to protect you no matter what. I realised then that I would have given everything to protect someone that I love so much." She looked up at me, her eyes wide almost in disbelief, but I could see the want there, the desire to be loved. "Yeah.I just wanted you to know that; come what may tomorrow, or the day after that. You once told me that you thought you were never destined to find love. Well, I have news for you. Someone loves you very much Tomoe Hotaru, and that person is me." I said the last sentence fiercely before letting the hand that still cupped her cheek drop to rest on her hip, while the other rested on her other.

I held her gaze for a moment before leaning forward and kissing her, gently and softly -to give her a chance to react. A few seconds later, she did. Nipping softly and playfully on her bottom lip, I silently requested entrance -which I was quickly permitted. As I darted in, I forced everything into that kiss. Everything that I had ever felt for the little firefly: love, friendship, adoration, passion, devotion, admiration, and even desire and a little lust. Hotaru wound her arms around my neck, pulling me as close a possible, as she returned the kiss with just as much emotion. Hell, maybe even a little more.

Maybe it was all a little too fast. Maybe I should have waited, but last night had taught me at least one more thing. In one second you can be in control of the situation and know exactly how things are going to turn out, and in the next all of your control is gone and you have nothing. So much can happen in one second, and eternity may pass and your entire world can shatter and be blown away with the wind. That was why I didn't pull back, or curtail my emotions. We truly didn't know what tomorrow had in store for us and I couldn't bear the thought of Hotaru not knowing how I felt. So preoccupied and lost in the kiss, neither of us heard nor registered as Haruka opened the door to yell for me to hurry up. She stood for a moment, rolled her eyes, and then pulled the door closed softly behind her as she shook her head and chuckled.

When we finally parted -rather reluctantly I might add- both of us gasped for breath and fought to calm our breathing. I rested my forehead weakly against her's and met her gaze. Turbulent violet eyes stared back at me.so many emotions, almost chaotic, but the strongest -the one that radiated the brightest- was the one I desperately wanted.needed to see. Without pulling away or releasing me, Hotaru pulled one hand free and brushed my bangs off of my forehead for a moment before stroking my cheek. I leaned into the touch, and then softly kissed her palm, my eyes never once leaving hers. "I love you, Minako," she finally whispered.

"And I, you," my voice barely audible and choked with emotion, yet I knew that she had heard me nonetheless. I gazed at her with love and adoration before I was overcome again. Heaving a trembling sigh, I closed my eyes and buried my face in Hotaru's neck; I tightened my arms around her waist and held on, as if for dear life.

Hotaru held me to her, softly and gently cradling me. "Shhh," she said softly as she held me, "I know, my love."

I pulled away slightly, so that I could look at her, visibly fighting to control the sudden onslaught of emotions that the endearment had evoked. "Do you have any idea what you do to me?" I finally growled. Hotaru simply smiled and kissed my cheek softly. I took a deep breath and tried to explain my behaviour, but Hotaru wouldn't have it. "I'm sorry, it's jus-"

The fingers on my lips silenced any further words. Those same fingers then danced along my cheekbone and traced down my jaw line. "I know," Hotaru said firmly. "Sometimes no matter how strong you are or how tough you seem to be.sometimes we all just need to be held and told that someone loves us." She then softly kissed my temple, "And you of all of us need to hear it the most." I frowned quizzically to which Hotaru laughed. "Minako, you are the senshi of love -the goddess of love even. Love may be your strength and ally, but it is still your weakness. No matter what, you crave love and have to have in your life. It is part of you nature."

I blinked. "How do you know me so well?" I asked voicing my thoughts, "How do you understand so much about me, when I am only just beginning to get it myself."

Hotaru laughed again and hugged me, "Oh Minako. I've been in love with you for Kami knows how long; of course I would have some idea of understanding you. Don't you think?"

I smiled wryly, "You too, eh? I am beginning to think that perhaps we know each other better than we know ourselves."

Hotaru smiled and I saw the shyness return for a moment, "Two of a kind maybe, either that.or made for each other?"

I grinned and pulled her to me again and whispered, "Defiantly," before placing a lingering kiss on her lips. Hmm, I guess I found my courage after all.

~~~~~

And the lesson tonight, boys and girls: let not the first thing you do when you turn on the computer be to turn it off again. It tends to throw all plans of writing out the window.

Sorry that this has been so slow in coming, but the muse has all of a sudden decided to take a new liking to Cold Inferno. She has also given me another few page (if that) story, though this one is a songfic called "Forever Is Our Today". Both (for those who don't know about CI) are again Minaru and set in the Silver Millennium, though the songfic is set at the end of it.

Now here is where you guys as readers come in. This is the chapter I really need a little feedback on, and it is only in the form or one word. When I began this thing it was mainly going to consist of the meeting in the park, a date, and then the Christmas Eve party. As you can tell, that hasn't exactly happened. What I want and need to know is whether or not to carry on to the party. I know this is rather late and all, but I am sure we can all bear it a little. I have a few ideas for it and can write the party, but I need to know if you want it. If not than that is fine with me as well, if you say to do only that then I will tag on a little at the end, which will mostly be a little looking back and reflecting on the changes.

Left me know either way. Like I said, either yes or know will help heaps. If no one really says anything and leaves me in limbo then I will probably just end it and call it good. Thanks.