Sailor Moon: Dark Rage
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A/N: This chapter will be a little change of pace, focusing on what Hotaru's memories of before she met Chibi-Usa. Note that some details may conflict with details in the anime, as I have not seen S for a while, and have not seen Stars. However, for the sake of the story, any alterations to the original will be the one's used throughout the fic.
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Episode 3: Wait! Hotaru's Painful Memory!"
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Hotaru lay unconscious in the hospital bed, remembering that which once was. Her memories caused her to gasp slightly.
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(A/N: the story switches to Hotaru's point of view)
"Hey, Hotaru-san, how about you and I play a little ball? With you being the ball." was what I had heard that day.. Turning around, I found myself facing the strongest boy in the school, Utara Monori.
It was Monday, and still only lunchtime. Three more hours of school. At least the bullies couldn't pick on me in class, although many tried to get me in trouble.
Then, suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my back. One of Monori's friends had hit me. To tell you the truth, it hurt a lot. I tried to bite back my tears, but I couldn't. Vaguely, I heard laughter. The laughter was aimed at me. I immediately ran into the building, tears streaming down my face. All the way to the school, I heard their hysterical laughter.
Upon entering the school, I felt a sharp pain in my chest from the running. "Why does this keep happening to me?" I thought. "And why does Monori delight in my pain?" I felt silent tears running down my cheeks.
"What's wrong, Hotaru?" I heard a voice ask. It was the voice of Hanata-sensei, my history teacher, and the only one who actually cared about me, except my father. And, after Mother's death, he was very busy in his lab, so Hanata-sensei basically became my unofficial guardian.
"It's… It's Utara and his friends… They attacked me…" I gasped out in between sobs.
"Attacked? Do you mean verbally or…" she broke of.
"No. One of them… Hit my… Hard…" I choked on the words, breaking into a fit of coughing. This was no good…
"I shall speak to them as once. They know that you are ill, yet they insist on their constant attacks! Their insults are bad enough… But this!" Hanata-sensei exclaimed, storming into the playground, and called out Monori's name, as well as the others in his group. "Apologize to Hotaru."
"Whatever for, Hanata-sensei?" Monori asked, his voice dripping in sweetness and feigned innocence. Then again, at least he wasn't the one who hit me…
"For attacking her, Monori. Also, remember: if one of you lays a finger on her, I will have you expelled! Do you hear?" she said.
"Yes, Hanata-sensei…" the Monori and the rest of his group said, disappointment in their voices. But I noticed a wild glint in Monori's eyes. Then they walked away.
"Return here at once and apologize!" she yelled.
"No, it's okay, Hanata-sensei…" I said, getting up.
"No, it's not okay, Hotaru. You need to stick up for yourself, or everyone will walk all over you."
"H – Hai." I choked out, biting back tears. Only this time they were tears of happiness. At least I had some help in this place.
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But the next day ruined my happy mood, for that was the day that Hanata-sensei was taken. Reports say that I group of kids, aged at around seven, overwhelmed her with brute force.
I spent the whole day walking in a haze, bursting into tears at the slightest problem. Monori and his friends attacked me again, this time actually injuring me. But my powers, which I had from as far back as I remembered, rapidly healed me.
But even my healing caused problems. Led by Monori, the entire school started yelling "bakemono!" (A/N: This means "monster" in the context I was using it in.) at me.
Immediately, I got up and ran, forgetting my illness. I didn't even care, at this point, if I choked. Anything would be better than this life of misery. Why did the others hate me so? Sure, I was considered "strange" and "quiet", but many others in my class were labeled the same as me, yet they were never hit. They were never teased, or insulted. They were treated normally. Why was I different?
Then I walked home, purposely avoiding any roads that Monori used, for those would certainly spell trouble.
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When I reached home, Father noticed the still-clear scar from my fall.
"Hotaru, you must not let your enemies harm you. Follow me, child. We have work to do." Father said.
"Yes, Father. I understand. However, you know that I cannot fight back…" I said nervously.
"No! You must not think that way! You are special, my child, you must never forget this.
Then, as I followed Father down into the base, I saw a light. Was this the time where Father became only Professor Tomoe?
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(A/N: The next part is back into the third-person of the rest of the story.)
Hotaru came to, after a few days unconsciousness. Immediately, the nurses assigned to her hospital room worked frantically. She was, however, only vaguely aware of the hustle going on throughout the room.
"She's awake! Hurry and get everything ready!" one nurse exclaimed.
"Call the girl's who accompanied her. They will probably most relieved." Another said.
While one of the nurses ran to the telephone to call the college, the others frantically decreased the life support machines so that Hotaru's system would get used to working without external aid.
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"What? Okay, we'll be right there." Ami said, and placed a phone back into it's place.
"What was it, Ami-chan?" Usagi asked.
"Great news. Hotaru's awake now." This statement was met with sighs of relief. Finally, something was going right. It had been two weeks since Risune had attacked Rei, and the weeks that followed marked the largest crime spree since the senshi had started fighting a semi-vigilante war against Tokyo's criminals.
The senshi ran to the hospital, with Risune chasing them, unseen yet still present.
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A/N: Sorry for the short chapter, but this will set up later chapters.