Disclaimer: Don't own the characters, Kaumi is a real person please don't use this portrayal of him without asking me, and I don't own Bon Jovi. The story idea is mine, however. Please don't sue, it's not worth it.
It's My Life
WildRose04
Makoto was taking a one-day holiday. She and Hotaru were currently walking down Tokyo's Main Street, glancing inside windows to see what lay inside. Makoto had already bought Kaumi's present months ago, a broadsword of forged steel. It was a beautifully made weapon with the curious design of a crownbearing dragon carved into the hilt. She had spent countless hours carefully copying it from a ring she'd found in his room. Makoto had then taken this design to a blacksmith she knew of in Russia, one of the last. The sword had been lying, carefully polished and wrapped in oiled skins, under her bed for almost a year now. She couldn't wait to watch him open it after breaking Kaumi's last sword. Today, though, she was taking Hotaru around town to do her last minute shopping. And, to see what Hotaru might like. Setsuna wouldn't want them to cry over her, so they would go on with the holidays as planned.
Hotaru stopped in front of a window. Makoto looked back at her.
"Come on Hotaru, we don't have all day for dilly dallying." Hotaru just kept looking in the window. Curious, Makoto walked back to see what had enchanted her small friend. Inside the window of a specialty dress shop was a beautiful, deep purple dress. The shade of violet was so dark it seemed almost black. Tiny embroidered silver stars gave the dress an unearthly shine in the clear winter daylight.
"May I try it on, Mako-chan? Please?"
Makoto laughed, "It's your choice, dear." But Hotaru didn't hear her; she was already half in the door.
Of course the dress fit perfectly. It was a long sleeved off-the-shoulder affair of smooth silk with an empress waist and floor length full skirt. The skirt had nothing under it to add volume, but didn't need it either; the fabric had a subtle stiffness to it, just enough to not appear limp without looking like a parachute. Hotaru loved it. Unfortunately, the dress was priced at over $500. She had nowhere to really wear it. Sadly, Hotaru gave up the gown and dejectedly followed Makoto out of the shop.
Gift shopping complete, the two stopped in at the Sakura Hill Shrine. Grandfather-Sensai had passed away of a stroke years ago, but Rei and her husband Yuichiro still lived there. They had three children, all boys; Rei desperately hoped this fourth baby would be a girl. After giving the three children their gifts and paying their respects to the local spirits and ancestors, Makoto and Hotaru left. When Hotaru was safely at her new home with Haruka & Michiru, Makoto went back to the dress shop.
Christmas day. Makoto was the first awake, and Kaumi was soon awakened by a rambunctious brunette with a wrapped object in her arms jumping on him. This was their tradition of six years; they would open each others gifts first thing in the morning, then wait for the other Outer System senshi to arrive. But this would be the first time that one would be missing.
Kaumi opened his gift after convincing Makoto to get off of him. It was a broadsword, intricately engraved. Kaumi hugged Makoto tightly, a smile tugging the corners of his mouth, as he got up. She could have died happily then and there. Picking up a small package in green metallic wrapping, Kaumi handed Makoto her present. She began to unwrap it.
"Don't." A small, simple word. She stopped and looked up at him.
"If I don't unwrap it, I'll go crazy." Kaumi smiled again, causing Makoto to melt.
"That's the idea. Keep it wrapped until I tell you otherwise." Makoto gave him her best pout and everything, but nothing worked. Finally, she gave up.
"Alright, alright, I'll leave it wrapped." She went into the living room, placed it under the tree, and went to get dressed.
Later that day, the others came. After eating dinner and cleaning up, the gifts were unwrapped. The last to be opened was the dress Hotaru had loved. She threw a fit, saying Makoto shouldn't have bought it, but Makoto only smiled.
The next day, Makoto's annual slavery began. Year after year, Makoto had been slapped with the responsibility of planning the New Year's Ball. She hated spending nearly all her time at the palace; shopping to do, menus to plan, an entire palace to decorate. Fortunatly, she recieved a great deal of help this year from an unknown youth. She had no memory of seeing him before, yet the young man seemed familiar. He introduced himself as Darius, a new gaurd. Makoto accepted this, seeing as how she was being so rushed, and moved on.
Ta da, Chapter II. All flames, slams, comments, etc. go in the box that comes up when you click that funny little button down there. That box is called a review box. It's for reviews. Huh, imagine that!