A/N: Waaaah, I actually finished this two weeks after I posted the first chapter! I'm actually on course this time! Ehehehehe…it's because the last chapter ended so abruptly, I became interested in continuing it immediately, and so I stared writing as soon as I finished posting the chapter. ^^ Maybe I'll do that for chapter 5.


Love Through Centuries
Chapter 4: Discussion

Written by: Ketsuki
12/08/2002

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Neo Princess Serenity blinked, as her best friend, whom she hadn't seen in about ten years, just ran away at the sight of the Makai Lord, Youko Kurama. She laced her fingers together behind her back and pouted. 'What's wrong, Hotaru? Why'd you run off?'

A light tap on her shoulder brought her out of her reverie, and she whirled around, coming face to face with the Makai Lord himself. Her crystal blue eyes widened and had to pinch herself a couple of times indiscreetly to remind herself she wasn't dreaming. And yes, it hurt. A lot.

Taking a deep breath, she quickly smiled pleasantly at the kitsune. "Youko Kurama-san, ne? How can I help you?"

The demon just stared blankly at her, making her feel infinitely more nervous. She had dealt with her mother's court uncountable times. She had dealt with corrupted ambassadors from far kingdoms, unjust royal families, and bigoted princes who wanted her hand in marriage. But this being, this ethereal being that stood before her now, shook her to the core.

But her face, smooth and in control. Expressionless, with years of practice. Her eyes alight with false interest, a little smile to show she was still pleasant and willing to listen. But heart, shaking like a leaf, fearing this creature. Old enough to destroy her effortlessly. She frowned, as Youko Kurama remained silent, glancing at Celis and Palus, dressed in their princess dresses, who stood protectively at her side. She stopped to calm herself, calm her heart. Breathing lightly, she sighed quietly and looked up again, smiling as she had before.

Youko Kurama was surprised to see such brave light shine from sky blue orbs.

"Neo Princess Serenity, was it?" The deep voice that seeped past his pale thin lips was enough to make her blush lightly. Not because she found him attractive, but rather like intimidating. Yes, he was beautiful, but rather ethereal, and unbelievable, and non-human at all.

"Yes, Youko Kurama-san. I come in place of my mother, Neo Queen Serenity. How can I help you?" again, she asked again.

He smiled, as is his lips curved. He neither looked sinister nor cynical, but neither pleasant nor kind. He was merely…smiling. "That young woman that was with you…such a beauty as I have never seen".

Now she grinned easily, and glanced at Palus, the tall light turquoise haired woman that stood protectively by her side, who was taller then her by at least two inches.

"Yes, Hotaru is quite the beauty", she said, a childish smile on her cute face, round with large eyes the same colour as her hair glittering playfully. She was the youngest one of the four Royal Guards of Crystal Tokyo, Sailor Palus of the used-to-be Amazon Quartet (now the Sailor Senshi), and the most childish and immature one – or so they thought. All her hair was tied into a tight bun on her head, with a large headpiece placed around her forehead, ornamental balls hung beside her face. They were tightly tied to one place, and so did not dangle in front of her. She was covered by a navy blue dress with a turtleneck collar, no sleeves, and clung to her curves rather intricately. And so her face was rather of a child's and body of a young woman.

His hazel golden eyes – and a lovely colour it was, Celis made note of that – slid to Palus, who met his gaze challengingly, her grin never wavering.

Pink-haired (a bit darker then the Princess') Celis stepped forward just slightly, the two thickly tied pigtails that hung past her shoulders and fell to her knees, swished slightly as she moved. She had the same bun tied on her head like Palus, but bangs curled and dangled on her forehead, unlike Palus who had all her hair pulled back. Framing her face were two looped braids clipped to the back of her head, followed by the two pigtails. A yellow ribbon was knotted neatly behind her bun. Her burgundy eyes pulsed with a calmness that not many had achieved in their lifetime. Her dress was a deep scarlet, matching her eyes, made from shimmering satin that looped around her neck and tied in the back. Again, it was sleeveless, and fell to her heels, a golden rope tied around her waist delicately.

"We've known Hotaru for quite some time", the princess continued, staring at Youko Kurama, who had turned to glance at Celis curiously. "As my mother is a close friend of Koenma-san. Hotaru visits often".

"So…her name is Hotaru. Firefly, ne? How fitting", he mused quietly.

"People say her eyes glow like a firefly in the night", Celis added.

"Glow?"

The princess smirked. "You may only see it once a lifetime, perhaps. Hotaru is a private person. But she is most beautiful when she is most emotional, and that, as everyone who knows her is well aware of, is a miraculous happening".

"She sounds like an interesting person. I would like to get to know her", he commented lightly, knowing he was treading on dangerous waters.

She narrowed her eyes, but her two senshi of four quickly stepped forward to cover for her. She was perhaps still a child at heart, and to think this heartless being getting close to her friend made it rather unbearable. This demon was dangerous, or else he wouldn't have been called one of the three Makai Lords of all of Makai. She was not about to hand over Hotaru, if that was what he was thinking. But still, even now she was protective of her friends, and she was grateful Palus and Celis knew her well enough to know when to step in before she blew up.

"Perhaps during these few weeks we'll be together in this beautiful building, you'll have a chance to talk to her, ne?" Celis' gentle voice seemed to subdue the glint in his eyes.

"Perhaps", he said quietly, and he moved to glide long slender fingers through white strands.

The three women smiled politely at him, but moved as if to walk away. "Until next then, Youko Kurama-san, may the Goddess bless you", Palus greeted in a perky voice and they strode away quickly.

With amused eyes, Youko Kurama's glance followed them as they disappeared into the crowd, probably to search for their pretty friend, 'Hotaru'. She was familiar. And yet he couldn't place where he had ever seen her before.

He dismissed the thought as he turned swiftly and walked away in the other direction.

However, the hatred and anger in those bright violet orbs were difficult to forget.


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She found her friend leaning against the wall, arms around herself and shaking terribly, as if she was frighteningly cold.

"Hotaru-chan? Daijoubu ka?"

Her head tilted up, and she was surprised to see her eyes filled with warring emotions. She seemed so confused and heartbroken, her own heart filled with sympathy for her best friend.

"Chibi-Usa…"

She walked to her friend's side and wrapped an arm around her shivering shoulders, smiling gently upon the young girl who was an inch shorter then her. "Ne, you can tell me everything once we're sorted into our rooms. Tonight's the opening ceremonies but there are a few hours before dinner after this. We'll go back to my room and then we'll talk, okay? We have a lot to catch up on".

Hotaru glanced up at her friend, who seemed so much older and mature since the last time she had saw her. She cracked a half smile and nodded, before straightening up and composing herself before glancing at the two senshi that stood uncomfortably by the princess' side.

The pink haired girl suddenly remembered, and grinned to herself. "Ah yes, Hotaru, this is Sailor Palus and Sailor Celis, of the former Amazon Quartet and now my guardians, the future generation of Sailor Senshi. Vesta and Juno's back in the future, finishing up their training with my mother's Sailor Senshi".

"It's nice to meet you, Hotaru-san!" Palus said excitedly.

"You have grown all the more beautiful, Hotaru-san", Celis said, fingering one of her pigtails unconsciously.

Hotaru laughed, shaking her head. "It's nice to meet you both. Or shall I say, see you both again. I still remember you four from the battle with Sailor Khaos and Sailor Galaxia. All of you were a great help…despite what…happened to the senshi of Her Majesty…"

"Thank you Hotaru-san, but it's best not to discuss it here. Anyway, since you come in the company of Koenma-sama, you should be in the same hall as us since we're all put in the guest hall", Celis commented lightly, a kind smile on her face.

She nodded.

"We're supposed to wait till everyone has arrived before the guards of the Sovereign Summit direct us to our rooms. Apparently, only the last two Makai Lords haven't arrived yet", Serenity commented, glancing around.

"Upon arrival, the second Makai Lord, demon Yusuke of His descendent, Raizen", the fox girl stated loudly.

All eyes turned to the double doors, as the arrival of one of the biggest rulers of Makai was a pretty big deal.

A boy seemingly eighteen human years stepped forward, coal black eyes gazing menacingly at everyone in the room. Hotaru observed him with interest; he was one of the strangest demons she had ever seen. Long black hair fell wildly to his knees, strips of bangs dangled waveringly in his eyes. His eyes – narrowed, with blue markings that marked his face in two tiger strips at the bottom of each cheek. He was fairly tall but slim, which surprised her immensely. Lastly, his outfit consisted of a black button down shirt left half open revealing his muscled chest, and ripped blue jeans, followed by rather chunky looking black shoes. He looked incredibly humanlike – but Hotaru knew he wasn't. But strange that he adapted to human fashion in such a way – that even without all that hair and markings, he could very well pose as human. He could be considered darkly handsome, just as Youko Kurama was inhumanly ethereal. This Yusuke, was much more human, much more reachable, and seemingly more temperamental then the fox demon, which made him all the more interesting to the firefly.

He stepped down from the stairs and was met with glares and suspicious glances from every demon in the room. But he turned slightly, and chose to meet Hotaru's curious gaze. He glared at her, not with real hatred or anger, but apparently with a great dislike. So she met his gaze evenly, and he turned away first. But she didn't feel triumph – she felt all the more curious. Her company had hinted that the three Makai Lords did not always see eye to eye together. So she wondered – she already knew two of them. Youko Kurama (and how she loathed that name) and Yusuke. So who was the third?

"He looks awfully scary. Maybe he needs a little dose of happiness", Palus chirped like a little girl, tilting her head to the side as she watched Yusuke walk calmly to a secluded corner.

Celis rolled her eyes at how immature her sister could act sometimes. "I think it's going to take a lot more then just a dose of happiness, as you put it, to wake him out of his depression binge. Actually, everyone here needs it".

Serenity laughed quietly. "Everyone is so sombre, ne?"

"Wait'll you meet Botan-chan then, if you think everyone here is either depressed or completely anti-social", Hotaru answered with a reserved smile. She had to forget about Youko Kurama now, banished him from her mind until she had the time to think about it.

Her old time friend smirked at her. "Can't wait".

With a start, Hotaru suddenly remembered that she had left Koenma and Botan alone. Sighing, she pushed herself from the wall she had been leaning on all this time and stepped away from it. "I really should get back to Koenma-san and Botan-san. They must be worried about me".

Serenity smiled serenely. "Of course. But why don't we meet outside the entrance so at least we'll know where we'll be staying?"

"Sure. See you then", she responded, giving her a quick hug, as well as Palus and Celis, and quickly made her way into the crowd to search for her company.

The two newer senshi couldn't help but admire her. "She is such a cool person. Calm, collected, and so detached at all times", Celis commented lightly.

Serenity giggled and glanced at her two senshi. "If you knew Hotaru's story, you'd understand too. Come on, let's go and socialize".

The three women linked arms and walked off, giggling and talking excitedly.


~*~*~*~


He tried not to glare at everyone as they milled around the room, chatting some complete nonsense. It was thoroughly annoying, having to stand here and take all of this in. And so he resided in a corner, glaring at everyone who tried to come close. And he knew his dark black eyes and long wild hair looked extremely intimidating, so that partly helped keeping everyone away.

It amused him to see himself act like him. He had always been the one who hid in corners at every social gathering they used to have, even when on missions he would act alone, unlike himself, who barged in recklessly and nearly got killed several times. But that was who he used to be, really, before she died. No, not died, murdered. Strange how the past always caught up with you, no matter how much times you tried to evade it. Rather inevitable, so he had learned throughout these years.

As he made his away across the room earlier, he had felt those eyes follow him. Bright violet, the colour of amethysts. They were filled with curiosity, he had wondered if that had been aimed at him. And he wondered, what was so extremely intriguing about him that made her stare at him even now, as she apparently searched for her company?

His eyes carefully followed her, meeting hers, whose widened and hurriedly looked away. But she remained stoic and poised, walking effortlessly past the crowd and gliding gracefully across the waxed floor. Of course, she was beautiful. Neck length black hair fluttered as she walked, bright eyes scanned the area carefully, as her slender body moved. Her outfit sometimes pressed up the curve of her waist and hip, outlining her light girlish figure. But those who glanced at her out of interest looked away as soon as they saw the tall silver weapon she held, nearly a foot taller them herself. It looked heavy – it was amazing that someone of her stature could wield that…thing. For no one had ever seen a weapon with a blade the shape of a moon, and it was unique it itself. Tall, glimmering from the white lights from above.

He smirked at her dangerously as she glanced back at him, and she looked quite taken back. And then she smiled pleasantly back at him and turned and walked away, her attention drawn to something else.

His eyes dancing with calm amusement, he stood up and began making her way towards the mysterious woman, curious as to know who she was. She was quite an interesting person.

Perhaps she would also make a good acquaintance.


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TBC

A/N: Wish me luck on the next chapter! Till next time!