I've been wanting to post this for some time, but I was afraid I wouldn't finish it, so I haven't. However, I thought it was interesting, so I figured I would give it a go. I bring you, "Firefly In The Elysian Fields". And yes, Hotaru is the main character. Odd for me!

Here is a cover drawing for this story. It's been on my website for awhile now, but it finally has a story to go with it: http://www.angelfire.com/anime4/setsuna_meioh/images/outers_elysian_fields.jpg

Hope you enjoy it, and I hope that I finish it!

~Lady Grizabella

setsuna_haruka_michiru@yahoo.com

http://www.angelfire.com/mi3/ladygrizdrawings/sailor_moon.html

**************************************

Firefly In The Elysian Fields

***

Setsuna didn't come home that night.

Michiru knew something was wrong. She sat by the window, her mirror clutched in her hand. Feeling a presence at the door, she sighed deeply. "Haruka...what did the girls say?"

Haruka shook her head and leaned one arm against the doorway. "They haven't seen her all night. She didn't go to visit any of them."

"She wouldn't have, anyway. She hardly even talks." Michiru frowned at her mirror. "But then why isn't she answering her communicator, and why can't I see her in the mirror?"

"Maybe there's some distortion from the Time Gates. Maybe she had to stay late and she can't contact us. We'll hear her portal open in the next room any minute, I'm sure." Haruka looked at the clock. "It's nearly two in the morning. Try to remember that she's a big girl, love." She sunk down on the bed, exhausted after a busy day.

Michiru smiled. "I know she is. But she's never had anyone to look after her, so I figure someone has to do it."

Haruka gave a great yawn and flopped onto her back. "Maybe she's the one looking after you."

"You think so?"

The raise of an eyebrow. "Or, better yet, maybe she's seeing someone."

"Do you think? I've never seen her with a boy, but maybe you're right. And here I thought she might end up like us in terms of romantic interest." Michiru gave Haruka a saucy grin.

Haruka waggled her eyebrows. "I can only hope."

Michiru threw a nearby pillow at her lover and took another glance out the window. "But the sea is so rough."

"Mmm." Haruka was already on her way to sleep.

Michiru set aside her mirror and started to undress for bed, trusting her bad feelings would be gone with the light of morning.

Michiru stirred slightly and slowly moved her hand to Haruka's arm. She blinked her eyes heavily, completely groggy, before she suddenly tightened her grip, clutching Haruka's arm like a vice. Haruka yelped slightly, but Michiru muttered between her teeth, "There's someone in the room!"

Haruka sat up and reached out an arm protectively in front of Michiru. "Who's there!"

"A terrible scuffle," whispered a small voice.

Michiru relaxed. "Hotaru. Sweetie, don't stand in the shadows like that."

Haruka furrowed her brow. "Hotaru, are you all right? Did you have a nightmare?"

The young girl stepped out of the shadows, and it became apparent that her eyes were filled with tears. She was very pale and she was shaking visibly. "A terrible scuffle," she repeated.

"Tell us what you mean," Haruka said firmly. Hotaru was not easy to upset, so she was to be taken very seriously.

Hotaru trembled. "I saw it in my head. An evil man came through the Gate. Pluto fought hard. The man did too, but Pluto blasted him to pieces. He died. But not before he slashed hard and Pluto fell."

Michiru and Haruka watched in horror, not fully comprehending Hotaru's chilling words. She could be downright spooky at times. "...What are you saying?" Michiru whispered.

Hotaru continued, in a trance-like state. "Blood spilled forth. She screamed. But she couldn't move to contact us." Once this was said, the girl let her tears spill forth in a series of hysterical sobs.

Haruka finally managed to rise and she embraced the child hard. "And you're sure it wasn't just a dream. A dream, not a vision?"

"Setsuna!" sobbed Hotaru.

Michiru grasped her mirror and said sharply, "Show me Setsuna." The mirror held no clues. "SHOW ME!" Michiru screamed and raised the mirror as if to dash it against the wall in rare frustrated anger. Hotaru whimpered and buried her face against Haruka's neck.

Haruka moved from Hotaru and grabbed Michiru's arm before she could act. "I've never known you to have such a temper," Haruka said softly, gently pulling the mirror from Michiru's white-knuckled grip. "Let's get to the bottom of this before we panic."

"I've had enough!" cried Michiru. "I've had enough of fighting and death!" She turned on her two housemates. "Don't you see? We've finally been given the chance to live a normal life! Our dearest friend is not supposed to be killed! Haruka..." She buried her face in her hands. "I've been strong and willing to make sacrifices for so long. I just can't do it anymore."

Haruka held Hotaru and rocked her gently. "I can't either, Michi. I'm at the end of my strength. But if she's alive there...we have to go see if we can help her. She may not be dead." She looked down at the top of the child's head. "Hotaru. Are you sure of what you saw?"

Hotaru sniffled, clutching tightly to Haruka. "I don't know. I just saw her screaming, and the blood..."

"Shh...it's okay." Haruka looked at Michiru. "We have to build up our strength again to do this."

Michiru scraped her fingers over the top of the nearby dresser. "I hate that infernal Time Gate! I've wanted her to be done with that for ages, and it eventually claimed her life, I know it! That Gate has always destroyed her life in one way or another, and it finally killed her." She sighed shakily, pulling herself together. Haruka could hardly hear her when she whispered, "Let's go find her."

Haruka settled Hotaru on the bed. "Sweetheart, you stay here. We'll go see if we can find Setsuna."

Hotaru shook her head. "Please, no. I want to come too. I need to come too."

Haruka looked at Michiru, and Michiru nodded. "She may as well. She's seen as much death as the rest of us, maybe more. Besides, we may need her healing abilities."

Haruka hesitated, but then lifted Hotaru into her arms. Haruka noted that Hotaru was painfully light for an eleven-year-old, and too thin. She wondered what the loss of Hotaru's main mother figure would do to her health, both mental and physical. The child rested her head on Haruka's shoulder and wrapped her arms around Haruka's neck. "Please hurry, Ruka."

Haruka looked to Michiru. "How can we get to the Gates? We need someone who has power over time control."

Michiru forced herself to stand. "Do you think maybe Usagi could help? I don't know what all the Silver Crystal is capable of."

"Chibi-Usa," murmured Hotaru. "She has a time key that Suna gave her." The child choked up as she mentioned Setsuna's name.

"Good thinking," said Haruka. "We'll have to go to Usagi's and see if we can borrow Chibi-Usa's key."