By Hotaru Hope Maxwell

I hope everyone understands that it was not in my intention to look as though I weren't about to update this story. First off; College applications suck. Secondly, I caught a cold from a classmate that ended with me having a temp of around 102. Doctor's orders are not to push myself and try and take a breather over this vacation. Enjoy the chap and please accept my apologies.

______Chapter Title: Source of Mother's Pain, the blossomed child…. __________________

A black cloak in the wind moves alongside four boys draped in shadows. They can't see her, and that's how she wanted it. Dark eyes glare through blood red sunshades at the figures ahead that are trying to avoid death. But run as they might, Lynx could already tell their journey was for naught. Grasping her gun, she took aim at the fifth figure. A silent gunshot finished the monster of a man's life.

"Five up, five down…Pretty good for a nights work, ne?" Yohji commented, catching the hidden warrior's attention. Huffing lightly to herself, Hotaru/Lynx nodded her head before running off the ruff to another and so on for a while before catching her motorcycle.

"Well…there she goes again…" Ken remarked shaking his head all the while as their new assistant in the killings and spy genius disappeared into the night's sky.

It'd just been another mission. Another fool had tried to do some horrid experiments on children. As soon as Manx had given the boys the information they were off. Unlike most times however, an angry Lynx was waiting for them with a plan and all the data they'd needed. She hadn't said much, just shoved the information into Bombay's hands and crossed her arms waiting. When Yohji had made a move towards the prettily dark covered girl, she'd kicked him in the knee and leapt into the tree and continued her wait. Everything went out well planned, however and the villains were caught and punished. It was strange, Omi thought. Within the last 3 weeks, the young Lynx had become like another member of Wiess. However, no matter how they'd try to get her to come back with them and be a true member, the slick moving slender figure wouldn't. She just refused, never verbally, just with actions. It was odd, but soon they'd grown accustomed to her strange ways. It was like she was the new kitten of the bunch….

_+__+_+_+__+__+_+_+_+_++___+++

Hotaru landed within the confides of her window's balcony with little difficulty. She'd parked her bike about 3 blocks away, as per usual and had already stashed most of her weapons within their secret compartments inside her bike. She removed the cloak, taking a deep breath as she entered the dark room.

"Where were you, Firefly?" Hotaru gasped as a voice spoke out. She blinked wide-eyed when the lights of the room turned on. To her great surprise, a figure not seen in long times past was standing right in front of her.

"Setsuna-mama…" Hotaru's violet eyes darkened a shade. The woman once called the great Sailor Pluto now stood, two feet from her adoptive daughter, glaring down upon the younger with hate filled eyes. Hotaru held back the snarl of contempt for her adoptive mother as the two stood there, glaring into each other's eyes. Setsuna's ruby eyes were dull with pain and anger. They seemed as if she'd lost the hope of something. Hotaru's own were filled with pain, frustration and most of all, betrayal.

"What may I ask, are you doing here, Setsuna-san?" Hotaru drawled out, refusing to refer to the woman as mother. Setsuna's ruby colored eyes glared at the girl. Her green-raven like hair spinning due to the air conditioning. Here was her child, the little princess to Saturn, standing decked out in black. The tight outfit didn't do much to hide the girl's growing curves and her hair, dyed an ink black was tied up in a lose bun with extensions. Her eyes, violet and dark, gazed from above slanted blood colored glasses. In Hotaru's hands was a black cloak, one that Makoto had helped her make for the previous Halloween.

"It's been a long time, Firefly." Setsuna started.

"Not long enough." Hotaru retaliated, trudging past the older woman to her secret closet. Within it she dropped off the cloak, glasses and belt. From the corner of her eye, Lynx/Hotaru watched the taller once companion. Slowly, however, her hand went to her henshin pen buried within the pile.

"What does the great Senshi of Pluto need of me now?" Hotaru sneered, turning around, pen behind her. She looked to the woman, the one who'd earned her trust long ago. The one who'd broken it with the others in their caring for the Princess. Yes, Hotaru was still loyal to that dear friend of her's. But, had the senshi forgotten what Serenity had taught them? She often wandered. Had they finally lost the very ideals that Serenity-hime had given her life for-the lessons that innocent people shouldn't suffer for the growth of evil? Had they dismissed everything for their royalty? Hotaru stopped her train of thought as Setsuna's mouth came open to speak.

"Princess Serenity has no idea what you've done. We can keep it that way, Hotaru. Just quit, now." Setsuna started a dark look upon her features. She stared down at the young princess. Her black hair was now stuck against the corners of her face. Her cold eyes glazed dully back at the Pluto royalty, questioning her.

"What for? Why should I give up in what I believe, Setsuna?" Hotaru remarked, her tone serious and sharp.

"Hotaru-chan. This isn't right. Senshi aren't killers! We don't kill the humans! Youmas are always reincarnated in themselves! Why are you doing this, my child!" Setsuna broke, tears almost flinging to the time gate guardians eyes. Hotaru gazed up at her, the same dull look in those penetrating purple orbs. They threatened to spew forth an angry emotion, but Hotaru simply closed her eyes as her soft, bell like voice rang out.

"What's the point in protecting a race that is trying to destroy itself, Pluto-san? What's the point when murder after sinister murder is committed? People die and people live. Are we senshi so much above them all that we can't even help that we can't stop that? Senshi were first created to protect the people of their homes, Pluto. If we've adopted earth as our home, why can't I defend it's people!" Hotaru nearly shouted, controlling her tongue, knowing that Omi and the others were to be getting back soon. Suspicions were already high since the previous nights were her window was open on a Lynx case. She sure had on hell of a time explaining that she liked cold air. Ken had yelled at the young woman that thieves could attack her at night or something. She ended up asking Ken what he was doing up so late to notice. His facial expressions had caused a riot for Yohji and herself.

"That is not within the point, Hotaru Tomoe." Setsuna's stern voice broke through again. Hotaru looked up at her, waiting for what she knew would one day come. "If you continue on this path…I will have to stop you…." The senshi of Pluto choked out. Hotaru broke into a grin at this statement.

"And how do you plain to accomplish that, Setsuna-san? I am no longer your little girl, just as you are not my mother. I will not fall easily. Tell Serenity-Hime. Hell, give my powers to another! Curse them! I am tired…" Hotaru wavered for a second, gazing at the stars through the open balcony doors. "I have seen man kill man just as youmas tried so long ago. If we could kill youmas, why can we not kill man?"

"How dare you make that comparison, Hotaru! That is like saying Serenity-hime was a murderer!" Setsuna went into an outrage, her voice slowly going higher. Hotaru noted the sounds of a "shh"-ing not to far away with her senshi hearing.

"And how dare you show up after disappearing for so long! What about Mako-chan and Mina-chan! Raye-Chan's missing too, if you haven't noticed! I don't want to speak to someone who just disappears and reappears when they see fit! Don't tell me how to live my life, Meioh-dono! I am not following destiny anymore! As long as Usagi-chan and Mamoru-san are happy, you're happy, right?! Well I'm not! GET OUT NOW!" Hotaru shouted, letting her voice ring across the room and probably her coffee shop. Setsuna stood, mouth gapping like a fish at the younger woman. Hotaru sobbed, tears running down her cheeks as she landed on her knees in a full out session of crying. Her entire body was shaking and rattled from the beating of the heavy breaths.

"Go away! Leave like you did before!" Hotaru cried, almost to the point of screaming it out at the older.

*****Omi/Wiess POV*****

Within the outter areas of the street beside the flower shop Wiess resided in, the team was just finishing their hiding of equipment. Yohji was parking the car and Omi, his motorcycle when "GET OUT NOW" rang through the group's heads. They turned toward the sound and caught sight of Hotaru's balconly door open.

"I hope the little missy is okay…" Yohji muttered quietly. This came just seconds before the strangled, "Go away! Leave like you did before!" Followed. Sobs were held within that tone and Omi knew whose voice was speaking.

Within a few seconds, Omi, Ken and Yohji were across the street to see what trouble had be fallen the spunky purple-eyed woman. It was to Yohji's delight when a beautiful tall woman with black-green hair appeared. She was stomping off the stairs. She took one look at the boys and her ruby entrusted eyes narrowed. With a snarl, she marched past them, ignoring Yohji's try at getting her attention.

Omi's attention was elsewhere. He heard sobbing, but was unable to pinpoint its location. "Hotaru?" He began to question but later corrected with, "Miss Hotaru?" A shaky sob was heard from above as Yohji echoed him.

"Little Missy? You alright?" Yohji's curious voice rang through the apartment/coffee house structure. Ken circled with the younger brunette around the few tables before stopping. He looked to Omi and nodded his head towards a set of stairs, then pointed upwards. Omi's mouth curved into a little o, before he was up the stairs.

*****Hotaru **********

"Get out, Meioh…I am not speaking with senshi until Mako-chan and Mina-chan are safe again…" Hotaru whispered, as Setsuna began to march slowly past her. She finished with, "I know their safe and I know Mystics hurt them…Setsuna…I can't stand by and watch this happen, I won't…" She grunted, curling up on the floor. The twinkling of her bells soon ring in her ears as Setsuna's whisper echoed through the room.

"We will meet on the battlefield, stray child…."

Hotaru lay there, sobbing on her floor, everything tucked away in a soft violet nightly. She'd changed, but it hadn't stopped her tears. As soon as everything was gone, she'd felt the force of the betrayal grow. She'd clutched to herself as the tears streamed from her. Her mother, one of the women she'd adored as one, hadn't been there for them. The woman all the senshi looked to for advice had not come and could have. It hurt, knowing that the timekeeper didn't come, wouldn't come and worst of all didn't want to. She had thought that the kind lady would give up everything for her other senshi, but now, it seemed as though the two Royals were all Setsuna thought of.

"Hotaru? Miss Hotaru?" A voice rang out from downstairs. Hotaru's heart stopped as she recognized it. Omi was here. Comfort and fear ran through the raven-haired beauty. What would he think of her, lying face near the floor sobbing? "Little Missy? You alright?" Yohji's voice followed. Hotaru snickered at the irony. Great, both of the men here now. Her day was becoming better and better. Sitting up, Hotaru leaned against the wall, tears still rolling though she wore a look of ironic pain on her features.

"Miss Hotaru!" Omi ran over to the lovely raven haired girl on the floor. She glanced up at him with pain filled eyes as he kneeled next to her. "What's going on, Miss Hotaru? Are you alright?" He questioned, his eyes full of worry. Hotaru wondered if it was true worry in those blue beautiful eyes. She blinked some tears back. When had she started thinking of Omi's eyes as beautiful? That was curious.

"It's nothing Omi…" Omi heard the young woman before him speak, though her violet gaze told another story. She looked broken, again. It was a look he'd hated, yet at the same time, Omi had grown accustomed to it. Her hair was stuck against her face and neck. She'd looked as though she'd just run a mile. However, her pajamas told the story of her remaining home. Tear tracks were still running wildly down the girl's cheeks.

"This is a big nothing, Little Miss." Yohji's voice stated, as he and Ken came up. He was leaning against the door, blocking the older brunette from entering while Ken stood there looking peeved off.

"My mother came by for a visit…She wanted me to give up on the cops finding Mako-chan or Mina-chan…" Hotaru lied, knowing it was semi-true. Setsuna did want her to give up, just not on that matter. Without warning the younger hugged Omi about the waist, tears ringing. "I hate her! I hate her!" She kept muttering into his neck/shoulder area as she sobbed. Omi just stood there, mouth open in curiosity as the raven haired girl cried out.

"Mother?" Yohji asked, curious too. That woman seemed greatly young for offspring….

TBC…

Setsuna's returned with harsh news for Hotaru. Now she must give up being Lynx or face the wrath of the senshi. In her distressed state, Hotaru clings onto her "teammate" and physiological helper, Omi. Next time of FCJ:L Lynx faces off against Pluto in the battle for Wiess and her future. The real battle between the two heats up as Lynx must prove to her foster parent that the choice she made will not affect destiny and won't hurt Serenity in the long run and also, must stop Pluto from erasing the memories of the Wiess. Find out the amazing outcome of Hotaru's battle against her family in Chapter: The Daisies we remember….