By Hotaru Hope Maxwell
I do not own SM or YYH! Shaiala, update faster!!! ^_^ Hehehe, j/k. I just can't wait to read yours or Ketsuki-sama's great works. Ciao. Oh and hi Hammy! Mail me!
Waltzing down the street, the Urameshi party sighed. Instead of dealing with an overly angry Hiei, a clueless Kuwabara and a somewhat pissed off leader; the group now had a clingy and frightened young goddess of another planet to deal with. The frail teen had pinned herself between Shizura and Keiko. If the older teenage humans were not in sight, her hands were around Kurama's arms tightly. So here they were, Hotaru stuck on Shizura's guiding arm, walking toward a store.
It wasn't as if Yuusuke were overly upset about this, but the way people stared at Hotaru and the way she would gawk at things caused a great deal of commotion. It had taken well over an hour to ease the violet-eyed female from the corner of the room and convince her that cars didn't swallow people up.
Actually, Kurama and Shizura had to shove her into a car to make her realize that. Afterwards, the older Kuwabara had stated just how odd Hotaru looked and the females of the group that a shopping trip was in order then decided it. At the present moment it wasn't strange that everyone was staring toward the young pale girl's way.
She was decked out in some of Keiko's old clothing and they were far too large for her petite framing. She now wore a white blouse suppose to stop mid-stomach reaching her mid-thigh, a knee-length dark blue skirt touching her upper ankles with a tight black belt, white socks, her Chinese styled shoes and a dark blue ribbon in her hair. Her arms were wrapped securely to one of Shizura's as she ducked away from anything that seemed her station of 'weird'. Finally, after what seemed like ages, the group entered the store that Shizura worked at and separated as the guys departed to the cafeteria and the girls to clothing.
*(*(*(* Hotaru's horror, the shopping mall. *)*)*)*)
Big round eyes stared at the clothing lining against a wall as Keiko, Botan and Shizura darted back and forth, trying to decide on what would look best on the petite 14-year-old. It'd taken a while for them to coax even her age out of the poor misplaced girl, but eventually they'd done it. Hotaru Titan, 14 years of age, gender female. That was all she'd given up. Suddenly Botan had returned with an enthusiastic Keiko. Each held an armful of clothing. Ever so slightly, Hotaru's head formed a light sweat drop.
(*(*(25 Minutes Later)*)*)*
'Swish' the curtain that held up to keep Hotaru's slim body from view opened and the girl appeared in yet another ensemble. In the amount of time of dressing it was decided never to see Hotaru in bright colors like yellow and never ever mix pink with the girl. It was hard to explain the sudden burnt edges around the rim of a shirt to the suspicious manager.
Hotaru had also almost toasted the lady who'd tried to see if she'd been destroying the store's property by opening the curtain. Luckily for her, Botan had shut it closed before anyone saw and Shizura started cussing her out and yelling at her. Hotaru's face was red from that event still and she wore a look of dislike as she appeared. Keiko's squeal distracted the present figure from her rage. Bright violet eyes looked up surprised as she came face to face with the others who wore grins.
"What is it?" Hotaru stated, presently shocked from the smiles. "That's perfect, Kid." Shizura gingerly stated a soft look on her face. Hotaru turned to glance in the mirror. Her outfit was a black, button up jacket over a white high collared sleeveless shirt. The jacket was trimmed with a dark purple edging and had black rose styled buttons. She wore a half-skirt that reached her lower thighs and was colored in a plaid black and purple manner. Mid-ankle high white socks and black shoes completed the look as well as a black choker with a silver and ruby gemstone around the base of her neck. The raven hair girl nodded as it seemed they approved.
"Well now-let's go see what the idiot boys have to say!" Botan grinned wildly, tugging Hotaru toward the cash register to pay. Keiko laughed and followed after her best friend. Shizura sighed and was about to progress onward when she noted something. It was small silver like chain with a tiny t like symbol. It had a curving h next to it. Bending down she plucked it up for closer inspection.
"Wait…This is- " her eyes widened as she stared at the jewelry. Grasping the trinket sharply, she rose to stare at the young and bewildered girl standing next to Keiko and a yelling Botan. The blue headed woman was probably crying about the outrageous price of Hotaru's clean-cut jacket. At that moment, the violet-eyed Saturnian turned to stare into Shizura's large brown ones. The girl sighed and waltzed up to the big eyed younger. "Hey Taru." She spoke out, her tone quiet.
Hotaru gazed up at the woman that was one of the two humans who'd gained her trust in little to no time. "Yes?" Her voice creaked as she backed away from the arguing Botan and the sweat dropping Keiko. "What's this?" Shizura lifted up her right hand, a sparkling charm flowing out of reach. Hotaru's eyes widened as she saw the charm. It was her's all right, she'd recognize the small chain of birthright. It was true many princesses of her era wore tiara's but Saturn was a bit of a rebel and decided to be like Princess Jupiter and Princess Mars and wear chains of jewelry across her forehead to show her royalty. She was never one to be seen wearing lots of jewelry and in Serenity-sama's case, the young blonde who'd visited Hotaru's sleeping body wore a trinket of just the same caliber only it was gold. Clutching it, Hotaru came up with her best excuse. "It was my grandmothers." She replied. Shizura nodded with a grin and led the girl back to the others.
(*(*(*(* Yuusuke's Party *)*)*)*
Kuwabara took a dragging drink of soda before he finished chugging it and slammed the can down. "Why the heck does it take girls so long to find clothing?" He murmured as Yuusuke put a card down. Yuusuke and Kurama were currently wrestled in a game of Black Jake with Kurama winning by two.
"I don't know. I think it has something to do with being weird." He stated, totally engrossed by the game. "Well I think it's dumb. Shopping like this an all." Kuwabara muttered as he threw his can into the trash over his shoulder. "I always thought shopping was an enjoyable task for young ladies." Kurama smiled gently.
"What's the big deal?" A voice shocked them all. There was Hiei, sitting next to Kurama with a small hand of cards in his own. Well he didn't really shock the red headed fox or the lazy looking brown-eyed human, but Kuwabara was in a state of surprise. "How many times do I have to tell you not to do that, shrimpy?" Kuwabara shouted at the top of his lungs. This caused a few people to look over. Yuusuke hit him over the head before murmuring something about an idiot. "Well Hiei doesn't have to always appear from no where." Kuwabara muttered as he crossed his arms stubbornly.
"Still talking in your sleep, Baby Brother?" Shizura's voice drifted over the group. Kuwabara glanced up at his older sister to retort but stopped mid-way. "Hotaru?" His voice filled with light and question brought the others from their carding daze. Hiei's mouth dropped….
There was the young raven-haired girl in all her glory looking like a human girl. She was standing next to Shizura wearing a light blush and an odd look of curiosity. Her hair was falling to her upper neck gracefully. About her was a high white collar and a darkly colored jacket. She also wore a purple and black skirt and white socks with black shoes. All together the colors made her look more and more like a human of vast beauty. Her violet eyes held a pinch of fear and nervousness as she glanced about at the strange new looking humans and also a bit of challenge as if with little effort she could have destroyed them all. Hiei bit back the look when he felt Kurama's eyes on him. He glared at the old fox trapped within a human before gruffly crossing his arms and grunting.
"Doesn't she look great?" Botan appeared from behind the two girls, putting her hands on Hotaru's shoulders. Hotaru flinched, obviously not seeking the attention. Her eyes caste downward and the light blushed became somewhat larger, Hiei noted with satisfaction. Hotaru blinked as she felt eyes upon her and her dark violet orbs met Hiei's for a second. It was a mere second, but Hiei felt emotions singing through her. The pain and hate of someone or something was edging away and her heart was becoming lighter, it had that feeling to it. However, he could sense something amiss. He brushed it off and looked as Yuusuke and Keiko go into an argument, again.
"How could you say such things about Taru-chan when she's standing right here, Yuusuke!" Keiko cried at the other. "What?! She does look normal now!" Yuusuke hissed under his breath, dodging a slap from his 'girlfriend'. Hotaru wore a sweat drop full on now and was looking both curious and about to intervene. "Aww. Let them go at it, Hotaru-san. This is Yuusuke's way of showing love to Keiko!" Botan chipped up, a bright smile on her face.
"I thought it was Keiko's way." Kuwabara muttered. "Idiot." Hotaru snickered under her breath and crossed her arms in a slight Hiei fashion. Hiei had murmured the same under the protective embrace of the shadows and was now chuckling at the fact that Hotaru and Kuwabara were starting to argue, Kuwabara's sister intervening on smart remarks that could sting the family's name.
Hotaru snarled as she felt her power grow with her anger. "Moron." She snarled, turning to walk off toward an area of the shopping district designed more like a park than anything else. There was a strange "ride" thing that she'd asked Shizura about. The sandy blonde had purchased her a ticket and the young raven-haired girl learned she could be seated in some moving boxes that gave her a view of something or another. She stomped her way all the way into the area filled with rides and trees. Spotting what she had hoped to think was the line, she began her ascent into it. Suddenly; as if by accident, a figure grasped her waist. Hotaru let out a slight cry as she was tossed with the running person into a dark area of the trees. Hands clasped to her wrists, the dark haired princess found herself pinned to a tree. Surprised violet eyes stared shocked at the supposed attacker. It was a human boy with no spiritual power and a butt-ugly face. He was drooling and looking at her with stars in his eyes.
"Hey beautiful! Want to play?" His voice was slicked up with something like grease, not to mention the distinct smell of alcohol coming from panting breaths. Hotaru snarled, "Like hell!" She kicked out using only partial strength. Needless to say the boy let out a cry and released her arms slightly. Hotaru blinked, thinking she hadn't kicked that hard. Glancing down the girl noted that the boy began to clutch his lower areas. Snickering she lifted a fist and supplied some magical energy to it. She was just about to punch him when a hand swung from no where to grab her arm.
"Who's the moron now?" Hiei commented as he bent from his position on top of a tree branch. This tree was his particular favorite in this area and the boy there was trying to defile it. Hotaru huffed, glaring at him with a steal gaze of pure intensity. He was swallowed up by eyes that when so angry would turn as dark as a night sky. She sneered and shrugged her hand away.
"You saw what the idiot was doing? He and that other one are totally aggravating." She told him before waltzing off in another direction, assuming it was were the "ride" was. Hiei rolled his eyes and stared down at the beaten figure of the boy. The boy growled, trying to get up. "Bitch…" The boy murmured before her came into contact with Hiei's fist. The short demon let out a puff of breath before turning to follow after the unique and angry vixen.
Hotaru crossed her arms as she glared at another tree while sitting on a rock. She'd found herself in quiet the predicament. She was lost. Shrugging, the human decked Saturnian decided to wait until Hiei or one of the gang came to her "rescue". She let out a breath and took out the pendant of Saturn. "I wonder how long until they force me to go…" She shivered, her tone a great deal less confident than before. Swaying her head to get the disturbing thoughts from her mind, but it did little to stop flashbacks.
"Stupid parents. Stupid advisors…" She murmured out threats and talked of revenge in her mind. She had no clue Hiei was only about 8 feet away behind a tree. Shoving the trinket back into a pocket, Hotaru let out a slight huff. "All I wanted to do was be normal. But no….They had to go and try and kill me! Damn them all." She hissed, standing up at the feel of Kuwabara's stupid energy. Dusting off the skirt, Hotaru turned and followed the signal to whom she assumed was the group, never noting that the small charm like chain fell from her pocket.
Hiei bent over to pick it up, studying the small symbolic meaning of Saturn. His cold red-brown orbs turned to stare at where Hotaru's back had recently been. "She's something more than she lets on…" He whispered, placing the trinket tightly and securely into his coat's pocket.
"She's something greater than this…"
TBC…
Ha! Beat you out with another chap again, Shaiala! ^^ hope you and Ketsuki do update. As for me, I'm okay folks!!! Hotaru didn't get into too much trouble this time around-cause I decided to leave one of my ideas for a later on part. Oh yeah, I should be done with this section of Chocolate Violets in about 1 to 2 months! Just in time for "Winter Cocoa" - Oh, but I've got more news! I am an author again ((getting published for the third time!)) Anyway, hope you enjoyed! Reviews are appreciated! JA!
P.S.:
Next time on Dark Chocolate; it's time for Hotaru to return to her homeworld. Too bad that means she's in ghost form. How will the guys react to their first encounter with the living body of Hotaru-and once more; Saturn's already under attack? How long was Hotaru gone from her home planet?! Find out in the next chapter of Dark Chocolate!
