Hotaru held the gown up and examined herself in the mirrors. Haruka rolled her eyes and stared longingly toward the sports section. Michiru added a little pressure to the blonde's foot with her heel and smiled at Hotaru's reflection.
"It's very nice, Hotaru-chan."
Hotaru nodded and hung it back on the rack.
"Don't you want it?"
"It's not exactly the sort of thing to wear on a 'let's be friends' date," Hotaru said.
"Did he already dump you?" Haruka growled.
"No he didn't dump me, Haruka-papa," Hotaru replied. "We're not really dating, in spite of what the whole school thinks."
"But," Michiru began.
"I'm not blind," Hotaru said. She held up a pantsuit. "He obviously wants to be friends, and nothing more." She glanced at Haruka. "And don't think about trying to threaten him. He'd clean the floor with you."
Haruka straightened in surprise. "Hey…"
"No offense Haruka-papa, but I saw him at kendo practice yesterday."
Haruka was still skeptical. "Feh. Kendo."
"Two words, Haruka-papa. Ruroni Kenshin." Hotaru discarded the pantsuit and was examining the selection of skirts she had brought to the mirrors.
"That's just an anime."
"Yes," Michiru said, "and so is Sailor V."
Haruka glared. Then she noticed what Hotaru was contemplating. "Oh no, young lady, that exposes way too much skin."
Hotaru grinned and set the crop top and miniskirt to the side. Michiru was snickering.
"I'll just take Haruka over to the sport section. Come and find us when you've decided, dear." Michiru latched onto Haruka and dragged the now protesting blonde away.
Hotaru rolled her eyes. It seemed parental figures were the same no matter what age. She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned, right into a finger poking her cheek.
"Dimple!"
The girl was slightly shorter than Hotaru. She had bright red hair in a knee length braid, and bright blue eyes that sparkled with humor. She was wearing a school uniform that Hotaru didn't recognize and had thigh high leggings.
"Hi," the girl babbled. "I'm Shido Hikaru. Just call me Hikari. Everyone does. And you're Tomoe Hotaru. Nice to meet you. Kin-chan always manages to catch the pretty ones. You want to go with the 'cute Lolita' look that says 'Look what you'll be missing when I grow up.' But don't over do it, 'cause Kintaro's a bit of a prude. It has to do with that whole Samurai attitude, which is funny considering his current circumstances. Try this on. And then we can go get you some under things."
Hotaru stared. The girl had rattled all that out in one breath.
"Uhm, who are you?"
Hikari laughed. "Sorry, sorry. I've been told that I'm too genki when I first meet people. I'm Shido Hikaru, named after my mother. I'm Kintaro's friend. Not his fiancée, mind you. That's Yuri. Not that I wouldn't mind being his fiancée…" She stopped. "Sorry, there I go again. Here."
Hotaru took the clothes from the hyperactive girl and held them up. She nearly dropped them when she turned to look in the mirror.
The top was see-through. It was black and had long sleeves, but only the lace at the collar and cuffs was solid. The black skort that was with it was very short, and would sit very low on her hips.
Hikari was right. She would need to buy new under things, as nothing she had was suitable for this outfit. Hotaru glanced back at Hikari who was grinning.
"You see, what you do is wear your jacket when he picks you up. You'll spend the whole evening in a theater or a dance place and he'll never realize what you're wearing. Then when you get him home, off comes the jacket in the dim lighting of your living room, and, wham, you've got him by the hormones."
Hotaru was skeptical. "You actually think that will work?"
"Well not on Kintaro," Hikari allowed with a laugh. "But he's good for practicing on, because he'll play along until the right moment. Then he'll break the mood without stomping on your heart or acting like a jerk."
Hotaru cocked her head. "Why are you trying to help me?"
Hikari interrupted. "Because Kintaro and Yuri need a reality check. They've grown up and grown away from each other." She sighed. "I knew I never had a chance with Kintaro. He's like a big brother to me. But now he's all mixed up about Yuri and Ayame. And it's hurting all of us." She looked ready to cry, but suddenly brightened. "Look, they're having a sale on lingerie." And Hotaru found herself following the exuberant little redhead to the lingerie department.
"All right," Haruka groused. "What has you two so giggly?" She frowned as her comment set off another round of giggles from Hotaru and Michiru.
"It's a girl thing, Papa," Hotaru snickered. "You probably wouldn't understand."
Haruka grimaced and made a sudden turn. Michiru's hand on her thigh calmed her down slightly.
"I'll explain it when we get home," Michiru said. "After Hotaru goes to bed."
Haruka was suddenly in a much better mood.
By the time the Senshi arrived, one of the monsters was already dead. They stared at the unfolding melee. Two small mecha faced off against the four remaining creatures.
The mecha were each about three meters tall. One was blue and resembled a European Dragon. It had wings and a tail and vicious looking claws. It was wielding a sword and magic against the beasts.
The other was red and bore some resemblance to a Ki-Lin. It had wings of flame and a huge shield. It was hurling blasts of fire at the beasts that tried to avoid its sword.
The creatures were like nothing the Senshi had ever seen. They had six limbs and would rear up to use their first two to rend and tear. Their head resembled that of a saber-tooth tiger, but scaly armor protected their eyes and ears. More scales covered their back and underbelly, and the barbed tale was naked, like a rat's. They tended to blur when moving, seeming to teleport from one spot to another.
Even as they took in the action, the two mecha suddenly attacked. The red one leaped into the air and encircled the creatures with fire. Only one managed to escape the ring. The blue mecha sent a dragon shaped geyser of water at the one that avoided the ring of fire. Then it dashed through the flames and was joined by the red one as they began hacking the three in the ring apart. The swords passed through flesh and scale as if it was soft butter.
The four beasts were dispatched rapidly and efficiently, their corpses turning to dust as they died. The two mecha seemed to converse briefly, and the red one simply flew away. When the Senshi glanced back down, the blue one had disappeared, leaving a man waiting for them.
Haruka spoke first. "So you're the Sea Knight. Serenity-sama told you never to return."
The man replied in the same grandiose tones. "Serenity-sama is long gone and her kingdom as well."
"The Moon Kingdom will return," Haruka announced. "We are the Guardians of that future and we will not let you ruin it." She pointed her sword at him.
"The future is never certain, Sailor Uranus. I will do what I must." He produced a sword as well and faced her in a fencer's stance.
The Senshi gasped as Uranus attacked. The man parried and they began fencing back and forth, swords ringing. The man parried Uranus' attacks but didn't attack back. He would occasionally, if she left a large enough opening, poke her gently with a finger. It became apparent that Sailor Uranus was very out classed, in spite of her enhanced power.
At first the duel seemed deadly serious, as if Uranus was really trying to kill the man. But their moves began to be exaggerated, until even Minako could predict the blows. Their banter seemed to be right from a Kurosawa film.
The fight ended when the man somehow locked his blade with Uranus' and pulled her in close. They tangoed forward and back like that until he suddenly stepped to the side and dipped Uranus over his knee. To the surprise of everyone, Uranus most of all, he kissed her nose.
It took Mars, Jupiter, and Venus to hold Neptune back. None of them was sure if she was planning to attack Uranus or the strange man.
When the two combatants walked back to the Senshi, chatting amiably, their surprise increased.
"Ryuzaki-san!"
"Good evening ladies," Kintaro said with a bow. "You should be careful about walking around at night." He gestured back toward the scene of the fight.
"What were those things?" Mercury asked.
"Sidhe-cats."
"She cats?" Venus repeated. "They didn't look very feminine."
Kintaro chuckled. "Sidhe. The faeries of western European lore. They use those when hunting. After the object of the hunt is killed, they try to take it away from the cat. Two sports for one."
He glanced around. "I take it Sailor Moon couldn't make it?"
"She decided that sleep was more important that saving the world," Mars said sardonically.
Kintaro laughed. "It was hardly world threatening. And considering her grades, she probably needs sleep. Though one of you should probably stop by her place on your way home and make sure Pluto isn't trying to seduce her."
They thought about that for a moment, and then Venus and Jupiter took off running.
Mars sighed. "You don't really think she'd…"
"No. But it is possible." Kintaro bowed to Neptune. "Milady Neptune, I don't believe we've met. Ryuzaki Kintaro, the Magic Knight Selece, at your service."
He took her proffered hand as he dropped to one knee, and kissed the back. Neptune blushed. Uranus turned red as well, but didn't make any moves.
"A pleasure Ryuzaki-dono," Neptune replied demurely.
"Milady Mars, you will find that your Ofuda will not work on the Sidhe. However if you draw them with this pattern, they will be most effective." Kintaro handed Sailor Mars a rolled paper.
"All of you should be very careful. While the Sidhe are merely a side effect of the machinations of the real enemy, they are very dangerous none the less." He paused and looked around at the four remaining Senshi. "His Majesty appreciates the things you've done for Japan and the World. I have been authorized to make you an offer; however this isn't the time or place. And all of you should be present as well." He bowed. "Until next time Ladies." The mech reappeared around him and he flew away. They stared after him for a moment and then faded back into the night.
"Please come in, Kintaro-kun," Michiru said with a bow.
"Thank you, Michiru-san," Kintaro replied. He removed his shoes and stepped into the house slippers. Michiru led him to the living room.
"For you, Michiru-san," Kintaro said as he held out a small jar of pickled fruit. She accepted it with a smile. Haruka glowered until he turned and bowed to her. "And for you, Haruka-san." He held out an envelope.
She took it and lifted the flap to peer inside. Her gasp caught Michiru's attention. Haruka held out the envelope so Michiru could see the pair of race tickets.
"Oh my, Kintaro-kun. You're not trying to seduce my girlfriend away from me are you?" Michiru was grinning.
"Of course not, Michiru-chan. I was hoping to lure her away for an evening so that I could seduce you away from her." Kintaro grinned back. "After all, you are a fine lady of culture and breeding. You would be a perfect addition to my trophy women."
Haruka frowned. Kintaro grinned at her and leaned toward her. He held his hand up beside his mouth and whispered loudly, "Don't worry, Haruka-chan. She doesn't need to know about our threesomes."
Haruka tried to glower, but Kintaro's grin and Michiru's giggles finally broke her will. She burst out laughing and to the surprise of all three of them, gave Kintaro a quick hug.
"You're the brother I never had, Kintaro-kun," Haruka gasped through her laughter. "If more men were like you, Michiru and I would be in trouble."
Kintaro's smile became a bit wistful. "If the women in my life were like you and Michiru, I would have a much easier time."
Michiru hugged him as well. "Don't worry too much, Kintaro-kun. Things have a way of working out."
"Michiru-mama! Haruka-papa! Kintaro-sempai is my date tonight. Flirt with him on your own time." Hotaru had arrived.
The three older teens stared. This wasn't just a little schoolgirl.
Hotaru was wearing a sheer, black, see through blouse. She had a dark purple 'thing', which Haruka couldn't name, under it. She was wearing a strapless push-up bra, which was not visible though its effects were. She had a black 'skort' with thigh high stockings and garters.
"I see you've met Hikari-chan," Kintaro said solemnly.
Hotaru blinked. "How did you know?"
"She wears similar outfits when she's trying to flirt with me. You look very pretty."
"Smooth cover," Haruka muttered aside to Michiru. Michiru nodded sagely.
"Was there anything in particular you'd like to know before we head out?"
Michiru and Haruka glanced at each other and shrugged.
"Nothing that I can think of," Haruka said as Michiru leaned over to whisper to Hotaru. Hotaru blushed. "Have her back before dawn. And use protection."
Kintaro rolled his eyes. "The best protection is abstinence, Haruka-san."
She grinned at him maliciously and indicated Hotaru. "If you can resist that, Kintaro-kun, then you're a better man than I thought. She may have other ideas about abstinence."
A red faced Hotaru ended the conversation by grabbing Kintaro's arm and dragging him out the door.
Haruka and Michiru watched them get into a limo and ride away.
"What do you think?" Michiru asked.
"They'll be fine."
Michiru raised an eyebrow. "So calm? I would have thought you'd be ready to follow them and protect Hotaru."
Haruka laughed. "I think Kintaro-kun is the one who will need protecting this evening. But he strikes me as the strong, capable type. They'll be fine. What was that purple thing Hotaru-chan had on?"
"A teddiette. Like the red one I have. I'm glad you're not going to be worrying about them all evening," Michiru said softly. Haruka glanced at her and smiled. Michiru continued, "I made a fresh batch of chocolate mousse."
Haruka nodded. "I'll get the handcuffs."
OMAKE!
Haruka licked the chocolate from the smooth curves. She smiled wickedly at the woman she had handcuffed to the kitchen chair. Michiru was straining against her bonds, her back arched as she tried to get closer to the source of her desire.
"You know," Haruka said conversationally as she carefully dribbled some mousse onto her lover's tongue, "if you'd learn a little self control, we wouldn't have to do this. I've never seen anyone with such an extreme reaction to chocolate mousse before."
Michiru slumped back, her eyes closed, making little sounds of pleasure as she swallowed the rich pudding. She didn't deign to answer Haruka.
Haruka grinned. "If you didn't have to be restrained, we could do some really interesting things with this. But I'm not going to get another black eye trying to keep you from going hog wild."
She downed a couple more bites herself while reminding herself to be careful not to get any mousse on Michiru's blouse as she fed her.
AN- What did you think they were going to do with chocolate mousse? This story isn't rated MA you know.