Don't ya know

by aprileagle

COMPLETE! Life can be hard. Especially when you are a teenager. When you see strange shadows. When you realize that you are a little bit different from the other girls in your class. When you recognize that you are in love with your best friend...

6. Chapter 5: A shadow from another time

Chapter five: A shadow from another time

She sat on her chair. Behind her desk. As she did every evening. Every day when she came back to her room. Back from the hospital where she spent her praxis lessons. Together with so many other people from her class who wanted to become a doctor one day. Cindy was there, too. During the past months they became really good friends. Cindy wanted to become a dentist and worked in another wing of the hospital than Hotaru. They mostly met for lunch and talked about different things.

Little darling...

"Still 'aving your written love affair?" laughed Marie and wrapped a towel around her wet hairs. She had a date with Kevin this evening and wanted to look extremely beautiful. As always. She worked at another hospital. A hospital for animals. Where she learned some things she could use for her studies to become a vet some day. The rest of the time she spent with Kevin or at the horse farm. Hotaru often visited her, but the time was rare during their praxis lessons.

"Of course!" answered Hotaru giggling and blushed again. Marie knew that Chibiusa was a girl and that Hotaru fell madly in love with her. But that was okay for Marie. Hotaru returned from her Christmas holidays like another person. She was happy, talked a lot and for the first time told Marie something about her family. About her parents being both women. About the queen and the king of Japan being her friends. About Chibiusa, her little darling. The girl who conquered Hotaru's heart. There was no not one day when not a letter arrived from Japan. When Hotaru didn't write a letter herself. Marie was happy for her Japanese friend. She shivered whenever she remembered of the desperate girl at the Christmas promotion. Wearing a strange costume to show everyone that she was a freak. That she was a lesbian. But for Marie she was normal. As normal as other people, too. And she was happy. She was happy in love with someone else.

"W'at is Chibiusa doing?"

"Oh, writing this and that." Hotaru blushed even deeper and held the letter like a shield before her chest. Marie giggled and took her hairbrush.

"You don't 'ave to tell me more, petite. I understood." The French girl blinked and disappeared again in the bathroom to get herself ready.

Hotaru sighed happily and turned again towards her desk. Staring for some seconds at the second picture she put on the table. Right to her family. It showed her how they went for a walk along the snowy beach on Christmas morning. Granny Annie had taken the photo without them noticing it. They held hands and glanced over to the calm water of the wide ocean. The sun rose and it all looked a little bit mysterious.

I love you so much.

It was now April and soon her time in America would be over. Just one more week and they would get their reports. Hotaru would return to Japan. To her little darling. Cindy would stay here. As she did for the past six years. Marie would return to France and finish school. Then she would return to America and start her studies near Kevin. They were a couple now and Hotaru didn't doubt that they would stay it. Maybe even for the rest of their lives.

I miss you so much.

Hotaru smiled dreamy as she pulled the old envelope out. The letter was very thick. About twenty pages. It was the longest and the same time the first love letter the tall girl had ever received in her life. The first pages were normal. Chibiusa had written about different events that took part in Tokyo. Just like Helios' adoption. Then her style changed completely and she said all the words Hotaru had dreamed of just half a year ago. Openly she had written about her deep feelings and her deep love towards her best friend.

No wonder she had been shocked when I told her that I didn't read it.

It must have been taken all of Chibiusa's courage and strength to write all her thoughts down. In one single letter.

And then I come home and disobey her. No wonder she looked so confused and hurt.

But Hotaru knew that she would never do that silly mistake again. Now they knew about each other's love and would never doubt again.

It almost went wrong.

But only almost. In the end they had been able to tell each other their love and now Hotaru could hardly wait to see her little darling again. To embrace her again. To kiss her again...

The dark haired girl sighed again and stared again at the framed picture right in front of her.

"Are you ready with you letter?" Suddenly a grinning Cindy stood behind her. "Then we could go to the cinema. They show a very nice movie. About a boy communicating with his dead father in the past over the phone."

"Hm..." Hotaru glanced over to the bathroom door and heard Marie's happy singing.

"Don't worry about our French girl. I asked her, but she has something else to do with her Kevin." Cindy grabbed Hotaru's hand and pulled her with her. "Common, Hotaru, let's go. Your boyfriend can wait until tomorrow."

Cindy who didn't know which gender the name Chibiusa had thought that Hotaru wrote all those letters to her new boyfriend. Marie and Hotaru let her in that believe, because they both didn't know how the politician's daughter would react. Nor did they want to loose the friendship they won since the Christmas promotion.

Since that day she even pronounced Hotaru's name the right way.

"Okay." The tall girl gave up and soon the door closed behind them. "As long as you give me a little bit of your popcorn."

"You are greedy, do you know that, Hotaru?"

"Hai."

Their laughter could be heard all over the school yard.

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"Mizuno-san?" The nurse came quickly nearer. It was a typical Saturday evening. A lot to do. A lot of people simply underestimate their body in the weekend. The weather was fantastic and they had have several emergencies when an old man fell off his bike and broke his arm or his leg.

"Hai?" Ami didn't look up from her medical instruments. She didn't have an operation this evening, but she wanted to be sure that everything was in order in the case she had to take care for a very bad injured patient.

"Can you remember, I talked about the new doctor who will start his work the next week."

"Hm?" Ami couldn't remember. But that was normal. She often nodded when people talked to her, but her mind was far away. Maybe with the little boy she had examined the past hour. Or with a pregnant mother who said thank you that she could heal her daughter from a dangerous flu. Or she was at home – in her minds together with her May-chan.

"He's now here and I can't find the other doctors. Could you show him where everything is?"

"Kinda sightseeing tour?" Still Ami didn't look up. She went over to the wash basin and cleaned her hands. She felt tired again but knew that she had a night shift. She wouldn't go before five in the morning.

Hope Mina doesn't let May-chan watch the whole movie.

"Right." The nurse looked at her watch. There were some patients she had to take care of. "Then... hope he's as good as they all say."

"Hm..." Ami heard as she hurried away. She still cleaned her hands, was lost in her thoughts. She didn't hear how someone came nearer. How some stepped near beside her. A she finally heard the voice, she winced hardly.

"Hi, baby. It had been a long time, hadn't it?"

Ami's head turned around and with big eyes she stared at the man who stood grinning opposite to her.

"I missed you, baby."

The young doctor gulped, but couldn't react as he came nearer.

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"Fifty seconds!" Hotaru looked at her watch and nodded appreciative as Marie left the swimming pool. It were there last exams they had to do. In their swimming lessons. Most of the girls would return home during the next days and Linda wanted to give them all an extra report about their swimming lesson. She was a real teacher. And took everything very serious.

"T'at was only swimming. You know my diving mark."

"Hai, and I know your mark you'll get from your animal hospital."

Marie had the politeness to blush.

"Well, it's a little bit better."

"A little bit better? Girl, you'll get the best mark!"

"And you'll get the best report this year."

They both grinned at each other and Hotaru handled Marie a dry towel. They were outside today. It was in the middle of April and very, very warm. Warm enough to swim in the summer pool. That was nicer. The air was fresher and there were green trees with nice shadows most people laid under when they had done their task or waited that it was their turn.

"Just two more days." Marie looked over to the tower that was as high as the one in the hall. "I can't believe it."

"Hai. Time runs fast."

"Don't look so sad. I am sure that you can't await it to go home. To go back to your Chibiusa."

Hotaru only blushed and shrugged her shoulders.

"And you don't want to leave your Kevin."

"You're so right... but it's only one year in France to finish school. And I'll visit him every holidays." Marie rubbed her hairs dry. "I trust him. He'll wait for me."

Hotaru shortly glanced at her and smiled. Marie became a really good friend of her and she only wished her the best for her future.

"I am sure he will. He loves you a lot."

"I hope so!"

Again they giggled and Hotaru concentrated of the next pupil who had to swim. She didn't do it under a minute but was satisfied with herself.

Then the next one and the next one. And the next one. The day passed by and Hotaru felt slightly hungry. The sun was already setting but the air was still warm. Surely they would take their lunch and go again to the swimming pool. To make a picnic and to talk about their future. As they often did during the past days.

"Taru!"

Hotaru frowned as she heard the familiar voice.

I must really miss her. I already hear her voice.

"Taru!"

But the scream sounded real. Just like the other scream that was high and shrill. Hotaru swirled around and saw how a girl with long, pink hairs stumbled over a towel someone threw careless on the ground. She rowed her arms but couldn't hold her balance. With a loud splash she fell into the now empty swimming pool.

"Little darling?" whispered Hotaru and rubbed over her eyes. Not believing what she had seen. "Nani?"

"T'at can't be." Marie looked the same shocked. She stared at two young men who talked suggested with a small group of people. "Jacques? Jérome?"

"Your brother and his boyfriend?"

"Oui."

Hotaru looked over to the swimming pool and saw how a girl came back to the surface and gasped hard for breath.

"Then it's true, Marie. Believe me, with my parents everything is possible." Hotaru grinned and simply dove into the nice, warm water. She didn't care about her clothes any longer. She only wore short jeans and a dark shirt. It didn't matter if she wetted them. It only took her two seconds until she reached the still cursing girl.

That's my little darling!

Hotaru would have recognized the voice everywhere. She grabbed the other one's shoulders and turned her around. For a second was a puzzled look in Chibiusa's face. It soon turned into a bright smile.

My little darling...

Hotaru had the desire to kiss her girlfriend right here and now. But before she could even have pulled her closer, she heard the low laughter from the rim. They both turned their heads and saw Haruka and Sejya standing there. They laughed.

Nani?

In disbelieve Hotaru stared at her parents, her little sister, Helios, May-chan and Sejya and his family.

"How many people did come?" she asked and gasped for breath as water ran into her open mouth. Chibiusa only giggled and blushed deeply, because she knew that the others were laughing because of her clumsy dive into the swimming pool.

"Oh, I am sure that Ami is just studying the history of this school and Mina tries to get her over here." Chibiusa chuckled and couldn't resist and ran her hand through wet dark hairs. Hotaru let them grow. They now touched her back and suited her perfectly.

"Almost all could come. Only aunt Makoto has an important meeting. A cooking duel as I know. Rei has some important ceremonies she couldn't cancel. And my parents have to do with politics. So they're still in Tokyo."

"You all came? Now?" Hotaru was speechless. And endless happy.

"Hai. We thought that can do some vacations here. The weather is so nice warm here and after granny Annie told us about America we simply had to beg your parents."

"Your?"

"Yap. That's Helios, May-chan, Yuki-chan and me." Chibiusa beamed at her. "We were very successful." The princess didn't tell her girlfriend that they didn't have to beg too long. Haruka liked that idea and the very moment Michiru got to know about it, she started to pack their suitcases. So they arrived some days earlier than they had actually planned. The hardest task hadn't been to organise the flight or to get them all safe into the plan – without forgetting one. The hardest task had been to convince Ami to leave her hospital for the next two weeks. Of course it had been Minako who spoke with Ami's boss again and then for a long time with the young doctor. Who finally agreed.

"That was the best dive I've ever seen in my life, Chibi-chan." Laughed Helios and leaned forward to help his little sister out of the water. Chibiusa only showed him his tongue and wrung her hairs out. They hang wet over her shoulders and her whole appearance looked a little bit like a drown dog.

"Daddy! Mommy! I can't believe it." Hotaru was the same wet, but her parents didn't care about it as they embraced her.

"We thought we'll see where you go to school." Smiled Michiru and messed dark hairs. Hotaru beamed at her and spread her arms.

"That's Abraham Lincoln's school, mommy." Hotaru shook her head still in disbelieve. "I can't believe that you really all came."

"And I can't believe that you came!" whispered Marie and looked adoring up to her big brother who only grinned.

"S'e phoned me." He declared and pointed over to a grinning Haruka. "And ask if we would like to spend a vacation wit' them." Her big brother blinked and his grin grew wider. "You can invite Kevin as well."

"Maybe we should search a nice place for the picnic." Kakyuu rocked her son in his child seat. Still he slept, but she knew that he would get hungry within the next minutes. And that he would become very lively. He was now over a year old and started to walk. Soon he would run and be as wild as Yuki-chan and May-chan. Kakyuu couldn't await that moment.

"And you two get dry clothes. It's very hot but when you get a flu right now we can forget our vacation." Said Michiru and pulled a dry dress out of her handbag. Chibiusa was now almost as tall as the young violinist and that dress would fit her. Normally Michiru had have in her beg in the case she dirtied her clothes.

"Vacation?" said Marie and Hotaru in one voice, still not really understanding what was happening.

"Hai. Camping. Do you like that idea?"

"Oui."

"Hai."

Sejya only made a face, but it wasn't real.

"I am going camping with her! I can't believe it! We will all die!" he laughed as Haruka made an angry face and came slowly over to him. "She wants to grill! She who is able to burn water!" he laughed even louder as Haruka started to growl. "We will all starve!"

"No, we won't." Michiru giggled as she saw how Sejya stepped slowly backwards. Haruka's hands were still clenched, but she wouldn't beat him. "I brought some cookies with me."

Haruka turned her head and looked disappointed. She sulked and looked suddenly like a small child. But her eyes sparkled at her wife. Those were the few seconds when Hotaru could feel their love and knew that her parents would never separate. Whatever might happen, they would stay together. It was a calming feeling, making Hotaru sure that there would always be a place on this earth she could return to.

"You, too, Michi-chan?"

Michiru only giggled, stepped over to her love and kissed her shortly.

"Let's search for the perfect place. I am starving, Ruka."

The others agreed loudly.

"Let's get you dry again." Smirked Hotaru, took the dress from her mother, grabbed Chibiusa's hand and guided her towards the next building.

"Gladly." Chibiusa only grinned.

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The room was empty. Surely Cindy was in the near town with her best friends. To buy some souvenirs for her two always begging sisters. The sun's light shone directly through the big windows and Chibiusa had to blink. Slowly she stepped over to the desk and looked at the framed pictures.

"You have a very nice room." She said and took the picture of Hotaru and her in her hands. "You share it with Marie and Cindy, right?"

"Hm..." Hotaru nodded and put the dress over the chair. Then she embraced her girlfriend from behind and held her tight. "I missed you so much, little darling." She whispered in Chibiusa's hair and kissed her neck. The princess shivered a little bit and turned around in those soft arms. They both didn't care about their wet clothes any longer. For a long time they stared into each other's eyes. There was a brief moment of hesitation. Hai, they had written all those letters. Four months ago they declared each other they love. Four months... a long time. Maybe the other one...

The moment of doubt was gone before they even realized it. Hotaru felt how Chibiusa embraced her in return and simply kissed her. They closed their eyes and all the unspoken words hang in the air.

I love you, little darling.

I love you, Taru.

Their kiss got more passionate and Hotaru felt how her legs refused to carry her any longer as she tasted Chibiusa's tongue. It was sweeter than everything she could imagine.

I missed you so much.

It had been such a long time.

She pulled Chibiusa carefully over to the bed and they both landed giggling between the pillows. Shortly interrupting their kiss to look again into each other's eyes.

"Little darling..."

"Taru..."

Again they kissed. Forgetting that they actually wanted to get dry clothes and return to the others. Forgetting that the others surely waited for them. Actually forgetting where they were.

I will never leave you again.

I will never let you go again.

They laid there, holding each other tight. Feeling the other one's warm body pressed against the own one. It was an incredible feeling. So incredibly good.

"'otaru?"

At that moment the door was pushed open and Marie stood in the middle of the room. The two persons in the bed raised their heads and blushed deeply. The French girl only grinned as she stepped over to the bed.

"So you must be Chibiusa, 'otaru's written love affair." She teased them and before Chibiusa could react they had shook hands. Marie looked around and pulled a small, blue bottle out of the drawer. "I only forgot my sun block." She held the bottle up in the air and her face got softer. She was so happy that Hotaru finally fond someone. No, not anyone, but her little darling as she always called the pink haired girl.

"Better you hurry up a little bit. Or your crazy family will have eaten all the nice food they brought with them." Marie giggled as they both didn't respond anything. "Don't look at me that way. I am sure that you have to tell each other a lot, but guess it's better to come down for the next hours. You'll have enough time for each other during our vacation." Marie hummed a sweet melody and went over to the door again. Still Hotaru and Chibiusa looked only stunned. "And lock the door the next time. Before I'll have a real reason to blush."

They both nodded automatically. As the door was closed again, they looked at each other and burst out into laughter.

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The sun burned from a cloudless sky. Water reflected its light, sparkled in all lights of the rainbow. It was thrown into the air and different voices laughed. A little girl with long blonde hairs yelled a warrior scream in her native language, rolled herself up to a ball while she jumped and hopped into the water. Her best friend stroke some blue strands out of her redden face and clapped excitedly.

"That was great, Yuki-chan." Laughed Mayumi and swam like a fish through the water. She loved the element almost as much as her mother. "Can you show me how to do that?"

"Oh, that's very easy." Promised Miyuki, took her best friend's hand and they both left the water to go over to the small cliff. It was only some inches over the surface. The adults made sure that they wouldn't hurt by jumping from it into the water. The two girls were excellent swimmers but they didn't want to risk an accident.

"The last one is a lazy chicken." Chibiusa waved her arms and giggled as she saw how Hotaru and Helios ran over the grass. Or better, how they hobbled. The grass was very warm right now and the stones under it hard. They already stripped their shoes and were now barefoot. Hotaru wore a black swimsuit and her long hairs were moved by a light breeze of wind. She looked simply beautiful. Helios decided for blue shorts and a grin laid in his face.

I am glad to see him happy again.

There had been so many times during the last year when the boy simply broke down. Sobbed for hours. Couldn't calm himself down. Especially during the time of the funeral of his parents. There had been many nights when he couldn't sleep. When nightmares were haunting him down. When he came in Chibiusa's bed and held her tight as if she was his only life line. Now he looked like a normal boy at his age. There were no traces left in his face that he lost his family the past year. Of course, there were still times when he was very calm and looked sad, but right now they were in vacation and had a lot of fun. There was no moment left to moan right now. Not now. And especially not here.

Chibiusa who wore a yellow bikini ran through the low water and shivered slightly. It was colder than she had expected. The next moment Helios ran past her and disappeared in the water. Chibiusa's eyes grew wide and she yelled as Hotaru only grabbed her and pulled her with her in the fresh wet.

"Taruuuuuu! That's coooold!" squeaked Chibiusa but her scream quickly changed into a loud laughter. Helios blow up his water ball and soon they were playing. Throwing the ball at each other. Swimming after it. Diving under the surface. Laughing a lot. A happy smiled laid on three redden faces.

"Hm... that's nice... hm..." Michiru closed her eyes and purred like a kitten. Her wife sat on her legs and massaged her shoulders with sun block. Haruka smiled loving and her hands needed a little bit longer to protect her love's skin from the sun's rays. Michiru only wore her tight, dark blue bikini and Haruka regretted that there weren't alone.

"Do you hold him?"

"Of course, honey. I'd never let him go."

Haruka who kept massaging her love's back turned her head and looked over to Sejya who held his son's arms. The little boy babbled excitedly and kicked with his tiny legs in the low water. Kakyuu corrected her big sun hat and sat down in the sand to watch her husband and her child.

Once Himme-chan and Yuki-chan had been that small, too.

Michiru giggled as she opened her eyes and followed her wife's look.

"Do you want a third child?" she asked and shortly looked into startled green eyes.

"Nani?"

"You just looked so longing at Tami-chan, Ruka."

"Hm... do you want another child?" There was in expression on Haruka's face Michiru had seldom seen on her wife's face. She sat upright so that Haruka sat on her lap and stroke through blonde hairs.

"You know my opinion. I always wanted to have a football team." Michiru giggled as she saw Haruka's confused look. "Okay, a formula one race team."

"Thirty children? Goddess..." teased Haruka and they kissed shortly.

"It's your decision, Ruka." Michiru smiled and caressed tenderly Haruka's belly under the wide shirt she was wearing. Michiru wasn't able to give birth to a child and they both knew it. The young car racer only shook her head and held that hand tight. For a long time they looked at each other.

"It needs two to tango." She whispered finally.

"Oh, please not!" mocked Sejya who heard their words and held his son a little bit tighter. Tamahoe made a depressive face, he loved the water. He started to protest and soon he was again in the nice, fresh element up to his chest. He laughed happily at his mother and splashed her with water by kicking again with his tiny legs. "That would be one more of your kind. I am not sure if my nerves are going to survive that."

Haruka turned her head and they both grinned at each other. There was no hate in their looks. Only friendship. Even if it was the strangest friendship Kakyuu and Michiru had ever seen in their lives.

"Maybe it'll be this time a little bit more like Michi."

Sejya shook his head and laughed while he let his son sit on his right leg. Holding him tight under his arms so that the little boy could grab with his tiny hands for the water.

"Forget it, baka. Every child of you will be a tomboy. That's simply in your genes." He pointed over to Miyuki who yelled and jumped again from the cliff. Mayumi looked helpless for a moment and finally jumped, too. But it didn't look as brave as Yuki-chan's dive. "It's not your fault."

"Oh, thank you!" snapped Haruka but her dark eyes sparkled.

"Besides, do you really want to know again what the queen of England does right now?"

"Why not? It was very interesting. Especially about that princess."

"She died in the meantime."

Haruka grinned over to Kakyuu.

"Don't you tell me that he read all those silly magazines to you, too."

The read haired princess nodded and they burst out into laughter. Haruka still holding Michiru's hand tight. That was a topic they would discuss later on again. When they had more time for themselves. To make a decision that was their both will.

Minako walked past them, holding a coke in her hands. She wore her green bikini and her sunglasses. She had bound her hairs together to a plaid and a happy smiled laid on her face. It broke slightly as she saw Ami sitting in a tree's shadow. She still wore her long dress that covered her whole body. Only her arms were free. But you couldn't see anything else. Not even the female outlines under it. It was very wide and white.

She looks like on of her patients.

Ami had put her hairs together in her neck, but still some strands escaped and hang into her pale face. The young doctor held a thick book in her hands and read. That was what she already did the whole time: Reading. About some illnesses or so. It was alike to Minako what Ami read, she only saw that the water senshi wasn't in the crystal clear lake. And that this was against her nature.

"You should swim, too." Declared the love senshi and sat down next to her best friend and offered her something from her coke. Ami didn't look up. She only shook her head and turned her page.

"But the sun is shinning, the water is really nice and I am sure that the kids will let us play with her ball, too." Insisted Minako and put her sunglasses away.

"No, thanks." Ami turned another page, trying to ignore the blonde sitting next to her.

That's what she does the whole past weeks!

Ignoring me!

What did I do to her?

Minako's right eyebrow moved dangerously and her face got darker with every second.

"But you love the water."

"I don't wanna swim."

Minako took a deep breath and slipped a little bit nearer to Ami. The young doctor moved the same distance away and turned another page.

"But you're the water senshi."

"I don't wanna swim! Can't you understand me?"

Finally Ami looked up. But only for some seconds. Then she concentrated again on her text.

Oh, no, darling. Not that way!

"I think you forgot one important fact, little one." Minako came to her feet and a diabolic grin laid on her face. "We're on vacation. No more learning." She leaned forward and before Ami could react the book laid several meters away on the dirty ground.

"Hey!" The young doctor wanted to protest but before she could even say another word, Minako had already grabbed her. Suddenly Ami laid in those soft arms and Minako looked really determined as she walked over to the near water.

"No..." whispered the young doctor and screamed out loud as Minako simply let her fall into the water. "NO!" Ami splashed around and gasped hard for breath. Her blue eyes sparkled with anger as she returned to the surface. "You! What did you think!"

Minako didn't turn away from the angry expression and pushed her hands on her hips. Like an angel of revenge she stood there. Ami gulped as she saw that there was no way of getting back to her towel and to her book. To concentrate on other things than her own dark thoughts.

"I invited you to a nice swimming." Minako grabbed Ami's shoulders and helped her to stand again. For a short moment their faces were very near. "And don't you dare to go back to your towel. I am sure that May-chan wants you to see how brave she jumps off the cliff."

There was again that undefinable expression on the pale face Minako couldn't read. Then the water senshi glanced over to the giggling children and nodded.

"You're right, Mina. Let's swim over to them." Her voice sounded defeated but Minako grinned as she followed the water senshi. Although Ami lost a lot of strength after Mayumi's birth, she was still very fast inside her element.

"Of course I am right. I am always right, ne?"

Ami only swam. She didn't respond anything. She didn't know what. They swam past the kids playing with their ball. Marie and Kevin joined them ten minutes ago and their laughter could be heard all over the lake. The two young men, Jacques and Jérome laid a little bit away in a tree's shadow and slept. Enjoying the nice weather and enjoying their vacations.

"Mommy!" May-chan jumped off the cliff and swam as fast as she could over to her mother. Loving she embraced her and laughed as Ami swirled around with her. That were one of the moments that told Minako that May-chan was only nine years old. And that she would never be more than her aunt. Even if May-chan called her sometimes mommy.

I am mostly right, Ami-chan.

Minako sighed and joined them.

But not always.

Because it was alike how much she prayed, how much she hoped, she knew that Ami would leave her one day. She was only her best friend, no one special. And that she would take her daughter with her.

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"Your daddy actually gave you the control over the grill?" Chibiusa giggled and raised her best friend's camera to make a picture. As evidence as she called it.

"Yap." Hotaru waved the big fork around in the air. "She went down to the lake to call the others. Would you please look if I did enough plates on the table?"

The grill stood a little bit aside from the small city of tents. There was one huge tent for all children. Marie's brother and his boyfriend had an own tent. Just like Ami and Minako, Sejya and his wife and the Tenô family. A big table stood in the centre and was already set. Haruka and Hotaru took care of their dinner. Sejya had looked really sceptical but after Michiru declared that her wife didn't know how to handle and oven but made the best steaks she had ever eaten, he was convinced.

"I am sure that you did a great job." Chibiusa stepped behind her girlfriend and embraced her. Tenderly she kissed Hotaru's ears and the taller girl giggled.

"Little darling! How shall I concentrate on the sausages?"

"They are old enough to take care for themselves!" declared the princess and turned her girlfriend around. Shortly they looked into each other's eyes before they kissed. Hotaru felt how Chibiusa stroke tenderly through her damp hairs. She smiled and pulled her little darling a little bit nearer so that their bodies touched. The fork fell unseen on the ground. They had to behave the whole day and it had been sometimes hard. Especially when they saw Haruka and Michiru behaving like a couple being fresh in love. So they played the whole afternoon ball with Marie and Helios and decided to kiss when they were on their own again.

"Hey! Take care of the sausages! I don't want them to get burned."

They both blushed and separated quickly. A grinning Helios took the fork and took care again for their dinner.

"So you're finally together?" he asked and his grin grew wider as he saw how his younger sister looked suddenly like a little child. She didn't respond anything. She only grabbed Hotaru's hand and nodded.

"My congratulations you two." Shortly he looked into pink eyes, saw the request there. "I won't tell mommy and daddy, don't worry. That's your task, not mine." He turned a steak and his stomach started to growl. "Sit down, you two. I am sure that the others will be here soon."

Helios watched them go. Of course he had seen the signs. He had always known that Chibiusa felt more than simple friendship for the tall girl. That was why he tried so hard to make her write that letter before Christmas. That was why he came a little bit earlier back to the tents than the others. To warn them. Because Helios had seen that they both weren't prepared right now to tell it the whole family. The situation was too new for them, they needed their time.

Besides, that were their vacations. They should enjoy them, not asking stupid questions or being concerned. Although Helios believed that Haruka and Michiru would be glad for their daughter.

"Did the girls leave you all alone?" Haruka cleaned her dirty hands on her already dirtied shirt and went over to him. Her hairs were messed and her nose was red from the sun. She looked happy.

"No problem. As long as I get this one." He pointed over to the biggest one.

"Okay. Guess Sejya will survive it." Haruka grinned diabolic and helped Helios to get all the food on a big plate. "Let's eat."

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"... and then he screamed. Maybe it was unfair, but we had to laugh as Yaten fell into the lake." Said Sejya and waved his spoon in the air. It was very late and they ate an ice cream that was already melted. But that didn't matter. It was sweet. For Sejya the best ice cream he had ever eaten. "It was shortly before we went to the official ball and he already wore his best uniform..."

The first candles burned on the table and flies surrounded the light. It was nice calm. The sun set an hour ago and some stars sparkled in a cloudless sky. You could hear the frogs hopping through the water. Some birds sang and the whole atmosphere was very comfortable. Just like in a big family.

Sejya ate another spoon and carried on in his stories about his brothers. How they grew up and what things they had done. Things that had been great. And some other things that had been great, but no one agreed them then.

"The water was cold, darling." Smiled Kakyuu and corrected the blanket that covered her son. Tamahoe slept in his child's seat and held his toy tiger tight.

"I can remember, that you laughed the same we did, honey." Sejya smiled and stood up to make his words more illustrated. "So we were there: Tahiki with all the mug on his clothes, Yaten wet all over and the princess with a burned dress..."

"I can remember that you cut your hairs and looked really odd, too."

"Okay... and me with that strange hair." Admitted the young man and smiled as Haruka giggled. Michiru sat right next to her. Yuki-chan laid on her lap and slept deep and tight. A blanket covered her, too. Normally she should have gone already to bed, but Michiru didn't want to let her go. The small body felt so good in her arms. And as long as Yuki-chan didn't protest, her mommy would hold her tight. Looking loving at her wife. Wondering if they should really try it again. If they should really try to get a third child.

"I wish I could have seen you..." sighed Haruka and kissed her wife who leaned her head against her shoulder.

"Oh, I am sure about that." Sejya shook his head and ate another spoon full of delicious ice cream. "So we stood there in total panic. Knowing that Kakyuu's mother was waiting for us and..."

May-chan sat right next to him and listened to his stories with wide opened eyes. She already forgot her ice cream and time by time Helios took a spoon from it. Marie was occupied with translate her brother and Jérome was Sejya was saying. They both understood a little bit English, but not enough. Time by time he mixed Japanese into his speech, forgetting that the French people were still with them. Then Hotaru helped out. Kevin sat next to his beloved Marie and it was sure that he didn't understand a single word what Sejya was saying. He was too occupied with staring at the blonde French girl.

"So we decided to go back and..."

Hotaru didn't really listen to Sejya's words. She sat there, having her little darling on her lap. Just like always. Chibiusa had often sat on her lap. When they had been children. No one saw something special in their behaviour today, because they behaved as ever. But for the girls it felt different. To embrace her little darling, to feel her near, to hold her hands, that was special. One look in pink eyes told Hotaru that Chibiusa felt the same.

When Sejya's finished I'll ask her to go for a walk around the lake. Just we two...

Hotaru smiled and squeezed her princess tenderly. She knew that they wouldn't come far. Just to the next bending until the others wouldn't see them any longer.

Chibiusa smiled back and concentrated again on Sejya's words. While she entwined her fingers with her girlfriend's.

"Good night." Whispered Ami and raised. No one reacted because her voice had been too quiet. She sat on the other end of the table and the candle before her burned down some minutes ago. No one noticed how she went over to her tent. Only Minako looked up and frowned.

The bottle had been half full...

They opened a bottle of wine for the adults. Michiru drank some gulps. Just like Minako and Kakyuu. Even Chibiusa nipped, but declared that it was too soar and that she preferred her coke.

Now the bottle was empty. Minako took it and gulped. Then she looked over to the tent Ami disappeared into. They had have a funny afternoon in the water. May-chan kept them busy. Even during the dinner the young doctor had been happy. Until the others started to tell funny stories of their childhood or of the past years. Minako felt how Ami's mood changed from happy to depressed within an hour.

Did she really drink all of it?

Shortly the love senshi looked over to May-chan who laughed about the next tragedy that happened to Sejya. Just like the others laughed, too. Haruka declared that she would never see Sejya with the same eyes again. The young man only glanced at her for some seconds before he carried on. Saying threatening that Haruka would be the next to tell them some stories. Michiru nodded and giggled, because she knew a lot of stories.

May-chan's safe with them.

Minako stood quietly up and went over to their tent. It wasn't the biggest and not the best one, but it was dense and was long enough.

"Ami?"

The love senshi crept into it and closed the cover behind her. Her eyes needed some moments to get used to the darkness. A shadow laid in the corner, rolled up to a ball. The sleeping bag was pulled away and the water senshi seemed to lay on the bare ground.

"Little one?" Minako's voice sounded concern and very loud in the silence. A strange silence that was interrupted by quiet sobs.

Is she crying?

"Ami?" The blonde leaned over to the young doctor and now she could hear her best friend crying. Ami didn't want to make any sound. She didn't want that anyone was concerned about her. She didn't want the others to let know that something was wrong with her. Completely wrong.

"Hey, honey." Minako pulled the trembling senshi in her arms, simply ignoring Ami's protest. Soon the young doctor gave up and even tried to creep deeper into the warm embrace. "Hey, what's up? What's wrong?" asked Minako alarmed, because it was seldom that Ami reacted that way. That she wanted to feel the love senshi by her side. The young woman she knew who felt more than just friendship for her.

"I don't want this any longer." Marbled Ami and sniffed. "It hurts so much."

"What hurts so much?" Minako stroke through blue strands and sighed deeply. "Tell me, little one. I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong."

"You can't help me." Ami shook her head and more tears ran over her cheeks. "No one can..."

"Of course I can." Minako gulped. She really didn't know how to react. "I am the senshi of love. I'll punish anyone who hurts you in the name of Venus."

There was a shaky laughter from the young doctor.

"I tried that, but it didn't work..."

Nani?

How drunk are you, Ami?

What are you telling me? What are you trying to make me understand?

"Ami?"

"It always hurt. It hurt so much..." Ami sobbed again and grabbed Minako's shirt tighter.

"What did hurt? Using your powers? Going to work? Helping other people?" The blonde stroke some strands of blue hairs out of Ami's face and saw blue eyes sparkling in the twilight of the tent. She could hear Sejya's voice followed by happy laughter. But the others were far away with a sudden. "Tell me, little one. What did hurt?"

Ami raised her head and some more tears escaped her eyes. She pulled her arms around the taller girl and kissed her. It was a desperate kiss. A searching kiss. Searching for comfort and love. Minako squeezed her best friend carefully and gave her all she was searching for.

You must be really dead drunk, Ami.

But Minako didn't have the power any longer to push her away. She did that a lot during the past months. She simply did it too often. The first time the senshi of water had been so drunk had been on the morning of Christmas Eve. Some other nights followed. When Ami returned from work: With an empty beer bottle in her hand. Giggling like a maniac. Staring at Minako with that big, empty eyes. Once she even stripped – right on the balcony. In the middle of February. If the blonde hadn't been fast enough she would have got a terrible flu. The hardest thing was that May-chan shouldn't notice it. Mostly Ami looked very shocked the next morning and promised never to do such a silly thing again. But she didn't change. She didn't stand alcohol. Half a glass of wine was enough to make her drunk and she knew it. When she had been a pupil and later on at university she didn't touch alcohol. Not a single glass champagne. But now...

Minako was very concerned about her best friend, but Ami never said a word. She didn't tell her the reason for her strange behaviour. For her sudden change of life.

I wish I could help you.

I wish I could be there for you. The way I want to be there for you.

Minako had her temper under control. The way she had her feelings under control. The past nine years. And even a little bit longer. But when Ami kissed her, she simply couldn't push her away any longer. She wasn't strong enough to push away the woman she loved with all her heart.

Ami pulled her even nearer to her warm body and deepened the kiss. Minako closed her eyes and simply gave up. The next moment she opened them again and broke the kiss. She had felt how Ami unbuttoned her top and started to caress her breasts under the small bikini she still wore under her clothes. It had been very hot in the afternoon and it dried very quickly so that she didn't change again before the dinner.

"Ami! You're dead drunk!" She held that hand tight and took a deep breath. Trying to get her excited feelings again under her control. "You don't know what you're doing."

"Of course I know that." Suddenly Ami giggled. She stopped to cry and the alcohol seemed to unfold its whole effect. "I am a whore, can't you remember? I have a daughter, but not a father for her. Not a husband... no one..."

Whore?

What are you talking about?

"Hush, you don't even know what you're talking about. It's not bad to be a single mother, little one. And May-chan loves you the way you are. You should have more faith in her – and in you."

Ami didn't seem to hear her. Instead she tried to get her hand free. But Minako held it determinedly tight. So the water senshi leaned forward and tried to kiss her again. The blonde evaded her and looked directly into blurred blue eyes.

"Don't do what you might regret tomorrow." She whispered seriously and gulped.

Don't do what I might regret tomorrow.

"It always hurt when I had sex in my life." Giggled Ami and tried again to kiss the blonde. "I want to know how it is when it doesn't hurt."

Nani?

Minako's eyes grew wide as she heard Ami's crazy giggle. Too late she evaded and felt again soft lips on her own. The kiss tasted salty.

Nani?

"Does May-chan's father hurt you?"

"Michiru and Haruka always behave as if it would make a lot of fun. As if it would be a pleasant feeling." Ami's eyes sparkled and she giggled again. "Did you like it?"

What shall I like? Making love?

Minako gulped and held Ami's hand again tighter.

I never made love with anyone...

But she wouldn't tell Ami. That was her own business. Especially not when Ami was that dead drunk. Minako gulped again. Right now she wouldn't get any answers from the senshi of water. But she was alarmed now. What Ami said so far didn't sound right. Not at all. Minako was suddenly determined to get some answers from her best friend as soon as Ami was sober. To found out the truth about Mayumi's father. And then to help Ami. Really helping her.

"Would you show me how it feels like? I mean without all this pain..."

Did anyone rape you?

Minako felt suddenly very, very sick. Her stomach started to hurt and the tent was suddenly too small. She wanted to escape. To get out. To run. Suddenly she as full of energy. But instead of standing up, she hold her giggling and sobbing Ami a little bit tighter.

Did May-chan's father rape you?

Is that why you never told us about him?

But Minako wasn't strong enough to ask. Because she didn't know if Ami would tell her the truth. Not when she was so drunk.

Maybe she's babbling nonsense? Maybe that's all not true? Maybe that's just what the alcohol does to her?

Minako hoped that this was the reason. That Ami told her lies, simply what came into her mind. As long as it sounded funny in her foggy brain. But the same time the blonde feared that at least twenty percent of Ami's words were true. At least her true feelings.

"No, little one. Not now." Minako looked around and rolled over on her sleeping bag. Carefully she pulled a still giggling Ami with her. Then she grabbed for her blanket and covered the both of them. "And not this way."

"But..." The water senshi giggled again and yawned. As always the alcohol made her tired. The first time she had ever drunk a little bit wine she feel asleep afterwards. Right on Rei's bed in the temple. On a Saturday evening. Rei's grandfather called Ami's mother and so they let her sleep until the next morning. When Ami couldn't remember anything she said after she drank the wine.

It will be the same this time. She will have forgotten everything.

But this time Minako wouldn't play deaf. This time she would tell Ami what exactly she said and ask for the reason.

"Sleep, little one."

"But..." Ami yawned again and giggled. Minako let the warm hand go, but the young doctor didn't do anything else than clenching her fist and leaning it weakly against Minako's shoulder.

"It's okay. Just get a little bit sleep." Minako kissed loving Ami's forehead. "I'll be here. As always."

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"Better we'll go to bed." Michiru held her daughter tight and giggled as a blushed Haruka sat down next to her. She just tried to tell a story of her youth but Sejya always said his comments and soon they argued. To the amusement of the others.

"Guess you're right." Answered the tall blonde and slowly calmed down.

Hotaru pushed Chibiusa carefully from her lap and stretched her body.

"We'll go for a small walk. I ate too much of that delicious ice cream." She said and smiled shyly over to her girlfriend. Chibiusa understood her and smiled back.

"Okay." Michiru rocked her Yuki-chan while Haruka glanced at her watch. Hotaru and Chibiusa were old enough and they were on vacations. Tomorrow there was no school and there was no one around they could disturb. There was nothing more around than just some frogs and some flies. Nothing dangerous for them.

"But don't go swimming. It's too dark." Michiru kissed Yuki-chan's cheeks and thanked Haruka who opened their tent. "And don't go too late to bed. We want to visit the Grand Canyon tomorrow."

"Hai, mommy." Hotaru waved towards the others. "Good night."

"Good night, Himme-chan."

Hotaru took Chibiusa's hand and they went down to the lake. The surface was calm, just here and there hopped some frogs in the water. The moon shone from a cloudless sky and the stars sparkled mysteriously. A light wind played with the trees and the leaves rushed like the waves of the big ocean Hotaru couldn't wait to see again.

"It's so wonderful here." Whispered the tall girl as she walked over the stony ground. Chibiusa followed her.

"You're wonderful, Taru." Was all she said and squeezed the warm hand tenderly. Hotaru stopped and turned around. Her eyes sparkled and a happy smile laid on her face.

"You're wonderful, too." She simply pulled her girlfriend into her arms and kissed her forehead. Her cheeks. Finally her mouth. Chibiusa giggled and her hand slipped under Hotaru's dress. Tenderly she caressed Hotaru's back and the tall girl started to shiver.

"When I had known that you feel like me I would have told you earlier..." whispered the dark haired girl between two kisses.

"Now you know it." Answered Chibiusa simply and held her Taru tighter. "You don't know how much I missed you over the past months."

"But I wrote you all those letters."

"Hai. But to have you here, to feel you, to kiss you, that's nicer." Admitted Chibiusa and giggled. "I want to have a real relationship with you, Taru. Not a written love affair as Marie called it."

"I mentioned that?"

"Hai."

Hotaru grinned and looked around. Then she took Chibiusa's hand again and guided her over to a small place that laid in a tree's shadow. Where no one would see them. Not from far away. The underground was soft and dry. The tall girl sat down and pulled her girlfriend on her lap. Then she kissed her again.

"Yap, that feels better than every letter may sound." Chibiusa's eyes sparkled and she caressed again her girlfriend'' skin. Enjoying the goose flesh she caused. She found the lock of Hotaru's bra and wanted to open it. But Hotaru shook her head and held her back.

"Are you sure? I mean, are you really sure that you want to be my girlfriend and not only my friend, little darling? Still you have the chance to say that it was only a misunderstanding. That you confused our friendship for love."

Chibiusa looked for a long time into dark eyes and knew that she would never be able to let the taller girl go again. She knew that she could hurt Hotaru incredibly when she rejected her now. But she would never. She loved her. She had over four months time after they kissed for the first time to make sure that her feelings didn't betray her. That she really fell in love with her best friend. That it hadn't been only an illusion of her heart who missed Hotaru a lot during the past time.

"How shall I confuse love with anything else? I love you, Taru."

Hotaru smiled. Then she gulped.

"You know that you're the princess of Crystal Tokyo. You'll be queen one day and I don't want.."

"Hush..." Chibiusa kissed her to quieten her. "That's not a problem. At least not for me. Not any longer. Helios is older than I. He'll be the king one day. I don't have so many obligations any longer." Chibiusa kissed Hotaru again. "Besides I would give up the throne, but not you. Never again."

Hotaru's smile grew wider and suddenly tears sparkled in her eyes.

"Little darling..." was all she was able to say.

"I love you, Taru. I am sure. I will never doubt about it." Chibiusa leaned forward and pulled Hotaru slowly to the soft ground. "I'll never regret anything. As long as I am together with you, Taru."

It was the most perfect declaration of love Hotaru ever got in her life. Even better then the stammered confession on Christmas Eve. She didn't know what to respond. What to say. No word seemed to be strong enough to express her deep feelings. Her joy. The happiness that filled her heart.

"Little darling..." she whispered finally and kissed Chibiusa again. Then she let the soft hand go and let her do whatever the princess wanted to do with her.

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"Mommy! We'll be too late!" Wind played with blue hairs as a nine year old girl grabbed her mother's hand and pulled her with her.

"We still have ten minutes." The young woman glanced at her watch and almost stumbled over a stone. She still wore her white coat and a stethoscope hang around her neck. She left the hospital, her place of work, just twenty minutes ago. Normally she would make her dinner break yet. She had night shift today and needed that break to get something to eat. But when she left the operation room she saw her daughter sitting there. Beaming at her with her shinning eyes. Ami simply couldn't say no.

"But I wanna have good seats." Insisted Mayumi and pulled her without mercy.

Ami sighed and tried to follow her. Of course she knew about the concert Haruka and Michiru would give together with Minako and Sejya this evening. It had taken Michiru hours to convince Haruka to play the piano again. The piano player became suddenly ill and there was no suitable substitute for him. Minako herself tried to convince Ami to come but the doctor told her that she had no time.

Until her daughter sat there in the hospital.

And Hotaru.

"But we already have our tickets, May-chan." Gasped the dark haired girl who ran just a few steps behind them. Hotaru had a good condition, a better one than Ami. But it was very hot outside, a bright summer day and her body wasn't as strong any longer as it had been before the dangerous heart attack.

"No one will take our seats away, May-chan." Hotaru laughed and panted. It was almost eight in the evening and still she sweated. She wore a light, bright blue dress that hardly touched her knees. She didn't feel right, but Chibiusa loved it when she saw it in the shop window and later on on her girlfriend's body so they bought it. Right now Hotaru was relieved that she heard of her little darling. That she wore it. Because it was really hot. May passed slowly by. They returned from America two weeks ago and as it got June the temperature rose in Japan. It was almost as hot as in America but still Hotaru wasn't used to it. She had put her hairs up but still some strands tickled her back.

Little darling.

Those two weeks had been great. Hotaru didn't have to go to school and even Chibiusa often could go home earlier, because it was too hot to rest at school. All pupils were happy about such days and Hotaru and Chibiusa often went to the beach. Sometimes with the whole family, sometimes with their best friends, sometimes alone. Hotaru loved those afternoons she spent with her girlfriend all on her own. Swimming, teasing each other around. Kissing. More than once they went to the city and ate a huge ice cream. Or went to cinema in the evening. Sometimes they went shopping and when it wasn't too hot they went for a walk with Makoto's lazy dog.

I love you so much.

With every day that passed Hotaru loved her little darling more. She couldn't have imagined that this could be possible, but with every day that passed she couldn't imagine her life any longer without her clumsy but loving girlfriend by her side.

Still they didn't tell their parents. Chibiusa wasn't prepared yet. She was a little bit frightened of how her parents would react and Hotaru simply didn't find the right time nor the right place. Her parents were very occupied with those concerts they wanted to give for beneficence. And a little bit, she had to admit, she was afraid, too. Not that she loved a girl. Her parents would understand. They were gay, too. But Chibiusa wasn't only a simple girl. She was the princess of Crystal Tokyo. And no matter what Chibiusa said about Helios and being the big prince now, Chibiusa would still inherit a lot of that tradition. She would lead Japan one day, too. Hotaru was afraid that her parents would see all the difficulties they might cause one day. All the problems.

So they both kept their love a secret and simply waited. Not knowing for what. Because it seemed as if the perfect moment would never appear.

One day we will have to tell them.

One day...

"At last!" Mayumi let go of her mother's hand and Ami gasped even harder for breath. Her blue hairs were messed and she shook her head. Still not believing why she came here. But May-chan's pleading and Hotaru's determined eyes told her that she couldn't turn around and leave. Not so easily. Not like that.

"How long will it last?" she asked and glanced again at her watch.

"I talked to Dr. Nasurami and she told me that your night shift won't start before midnight. You'll be back right in time." Smiled Hotaru and ignored how Ami rolled her eyes. The dark haired girl didn't know everything that happened during the past weeks between Minako and the young doctor. But she heard them argue. Almost every evening when Ami came home they had a bad fight. Mostly Minako started to yell and for the first time Hotaru knew the calm doctor Ami screamed back. Mostly they argued when May-chan was still with Rei or in the cinema with Yuki-chan and Hotaru's parents. Or they were on the beach. Ami often looked very frustrated and once, only once, Hotaru had seen Minako cry. It had been only three days ago. When they had been another fight. This time in the morning. May-chan was at school and Yuki-chan went with her parents to a big rehearsal. Minako was about to leave, too, when Ami came home. After a long night shift. Hotaru and Minako sat on the breakfast table and Minako simply exploded. She grabbed Ami's arm and pulled her into the living-room. She didn't want Hotaru to see the scene, but Hotaru heard them argue. Minako asked loudly where the hell Ami had been. The love senshi called the hospital and got to know that she had no night shift. Where the hell had the young doctor spent the whole night? Didn't she think about her daughter who missed her? Didn't she think of her own health? To drink like that!

There had been the sound of crashing glass and Ami shouted back that this had been her beer bottle. Hotaru could remember that she wanted to creep deeper into her chair and that her roll with honey suddenly didn't taste any longer. Minako asked her questions. Hurting questions. Questions that seemed to make Hotaru's heart break. If Ami didn't love her daughter any longer. What the hell was wrong with her? Why did she hide herself? Why did she hide before the pop singer and all her friends? Why the hell was her job more important than her family? And... who May-chan's father was. If he hurt the young doctor. If he raped her. If he was the reason for all this chaos.

Ami's voice had been insensible when she answered that this was all her business. That Minako should think more about her career as singer and less about Mayumi. The little girl was Ami's daughter. Minako should stop behaving as if May-chan would belong to her. She should simply leave her in peace!

With those words the young doctor turned around and left the house. She closed the door with a big bang and didn't return for the next day. Hotaru called the hospital up to get the information that Dr. Mizuno worked and couldn't come to the phone.

Minako was left behind. She didn't go to the rehearsal. She simply went into her room and stayed there the whole day. For a long time Hotaru stood outside near the door and listened to her silent sobs. She didn't know what to do. How to react. But she knew what to do when she heard that Ami didn't want to come to the huge concert that would take part in the big park of Crystal Tokyo. She simply took May-chan and drove with the subway to the hospital.

Hope auntie Minako will be happy that auntie Ami is here.

Hotaru followed them as they walked over to their seats. Simple plastic chairs they put right in front of the stage. But they were fine. Because to stand in that hot, maybe to have a tall man before, that wasn't what Hotaru liked. She wanted to see her parents, not a man's back of the head. Mayumi sat down next to her mommy and laughed the whole time happily.

At least May-can's happy.

"There you are. At last!" Makoto turned around. "They'll start soon."

"I know." Answered Hotaru and giggled as she saw how the queen and Rei argued about sweets the king bought for his wife. Helios only rolled his eyes and they all had to stand up so that he could sit down next to the black haired girl.

"They're all crazy." He declared and the next moment Yuki-chan sat on his lap and offered her big sister her ice cream. Hotaru only shook her head. "My whole family is crazy." He grinned what meant that he was confident with that. Hotaru only grinned back and looked searching around. But there was no pink haired girl. Only Kakyuu who sat with a sleeping Tamahoe on her lap next to Usagi. Helios saw it and chuckled.

"Do you search your princess?" he suggested and Hotaru blushed deeply. Thankful that no one saw it, because they all stared at the stage or at the sweets, in Usagi's and Rei's case.

"You'll see her soon. It's going to be a surprise." Whispered the young prince and held Yuki-chan a little bit tighter who ate her chocolate ice cream with passion. Soon her mouth was brown and her white pants dirtied.

A surprise?

Hotaru raised her eyebrows, but knew that all she could do know, was wait.

She leaned back and closed her eyes. Enjoying the sun shinning right into her face. Hearing all the people talking around her. Hearing Usagi and Rei argue. Hearing Mamoru groan. Hearing Makoto trying to calm them down. Hearing Helios giggling. Hearing May-chan telling her mommy what happened today at school. Hearing all the other people talk. Feeling suddenly very, very happy.

Because somewhere there was her little darling. Her princess who loved her.

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"We've only five more minutes..." whispered Michiru between two kisses and giggled as she saw the sparkle in her wife's green eyes.

"Enough time." Answered Haruka and her hands caressed tenderly her lover's back under the soft velvet. Michiru wore a narrow, dark blue evening dress that was driving her crazy. No, not the dress, but her beautiful wife.

They both stood in Michiru's dressing room. Leaning against the wall. Kissing each other with passion. Giggling between the kisses. Haruka's hairs were already messed and her shirt laid somewhere on the ground. The expensive violin was still safe and secure on the table near the opened window. Inside the building behind the stage it was even hotter.

"But..." Michiru groaned silently as Haruka's hand moved a little bit lower.

"What but?" asked Haruka but the answer wasn't suddenly important any longer as the kiss deepened. She felt Michiru's hands slipping under her sport bra and groaned in return.

At that moment the door was pushed open.

"We have only two more..." Sejya's voice died away and stunned he stood in the door's frame. Then he found his voice back. "What the hell are you doing? Our concert starts every second!"

"What do YOU think?" asked Haruka and slowly, very slowly let her lover go. Then she bowed to pick up her shirt. "Just for once, why can't you knock, baka?"

Sejya blushed even deeper and Haruka could hear her wife giggle as Michiru turned to take her violin. And a hairbrush to help her lover with her messed hairs.

"Just for once, why can't you leave your Michiru alone? At least before such important concert, you sex monster?" Sejya's grin grew wider as he saw how Haruka tried to button her shirt. Michiru finally helped her.

"Oh, you're the right one calling me a sex monster. I can remember too well our last concert when you and Kakyuu simply..."

Michiru finished to help her lover and stepped out of the corridor.

"Let's go and tell them how great our music is." She said and interrupted the two arguing tigers wisely. They both glanced angry at each other once more before they walked up to the stage. But the grins on their faces betrayed their feelings.

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The concert started and the fans yelled as Sejya started to sing to a soft piano and a tender violin music. Soon all people sang along with him. They all knew his songs by heart. Of course. Lightening flashed through the air as the reporters took photos of Sejya, the most popular pop singer of Japan, and Haruka sitting on the piano and Michiru playing the violin. The commentators on the radio agreed that it had been a long time that Tenô Haruka played the last time the piano. That someone so talented should do that more often. That the piano play fitted perfect to Michiru's violin play. That they were the most perfect couple in music history.

She came...

Minako stood behind the curtain and looked through a little whole out to the audience. She saw her friends and May-chan sitting there. And next to the little girl the young doctor.

Ami...

The love senshi didn't know what to say, how to react. Because she didn't expect Ami to be here. Because of their bad fight three days ago. The doctor said more than once the following time that she didn't have enough time to come and that she had night shift. But now she sat there. Talking to her daughter and Hotaru or simply listening to Sejya's low voice. A tiny smile laid on her pale face. A light breeze played with her shoulder long blue hairs and suddenly she looked different. Although she still wore her hospital's coat, she looked suddenly again like the Ami Minako got to know. The little, shy girl who learned so much. Who yearned secretly for good, for real friends. The girl Minako fell so badly in love with. The girl, no, the woman the love senshi loved all those years. The woman Minako would love all her life. No matter what would happen. No matter how much they would argue in the future. No matter what Ami would ever tell her, she loved her. With all her heart. It was too late to look for someone else. Mayumi belonged to her, just like her mother. It was destiny.

I can't change my feelings.

I can't change myself.

Minako blinked and tears filled suddenly her eyes.

As I can't change her mind.

But she could fight. No, she would never give up! She was Aino Minako, Sailor Venus, the senshi of love. She fought against so many youmas to rescue the world. Why shouldn't she fight for Ami? Her Ami? She was worth every fight. Every battle. Every war.

"Just two more songs." Chibiusa appeared behind Minako and gulped. Suddenly she looked very nervous and asked herself if it had been such a big idea. "Is Taru there?"

"Of course." Minako wiped away her tears with a fast motion and looked into big, frightened pink eyes. The princess was very pale and suddenly Minako had a great idea.

"Listen to me..." she took Chibiusa's arm and pulled her a little bit closer. "I think we should talk about that song again."

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Hotaru had her eyes closed. A smile laid on her face as she listened to Sejya's known voice. During the last song he was accompanied by Minako's soft one. They sung a very old song written by an American singer. They asked him for permission and performed it a little bit different. Michiru's violin was still able to hold the country feeling, but Sejya's voice wasn't like a cowboy's voice and Haruka's piano made the song to their own creation. At least the performance, even when the lyrics didn't belong to them.

It was a very, very funny song about someone who wanted to ride on a horse but was too clumsy. The whole audience laughed and Hotaru smiled. She didn't have to open her eyes to see Sejya jumping around the whole stage. Minako played the saloon girl who fell in love with him. In the end she took his horse and rode away, because he fell off.

Rei marbled that Usagi was the same clumsy, just like the cowboy in that song, and soon the two argued again.

It's such a great day.

There were only two more school weeks left for Chibiusa and soon the summer holidays would begin. More time for them to do things together. Maybe even to make a little vacation on their own. They were old enough. Hotaru got seventeen during spring and Chibiusa was almost sixteen. They only had to convince their parents that they would go camping on their own. Okay, maybe they would take Helios with them – as big protector. But Helios knew about their love. Then they would have at last some moments on their own without taking care what they did in public.

It's such a great concert.

Although Chibiusa often forgot in public that there were other people around. Often she took Hotaru's hand and held it tight while they were shopping. She didn't let go whenever they went into a small restaurant to eat a chocolate ice cream or to drink a nice cold coke. Some persons looked strange at them, some other smiled. Some simply thought that it was cute that they were so big friends.

Even at the light house by the sea Chibiusa forgot that sometimes. When they were in the big living room to watch a movie at TV with the whole family she simply crept nearer to her Taru and wanted to be embraced by her. Just in the Crystal Palace she never showed more than friendship – except in her room, where she always cared to lock the door.

Maybe one day we'll be ready to tell them.

Hotaru took a deep breath and giggled as Usagi's and Rei's voices were for some moments even louder than the clapping and yelling of the audience. Makoto quietened them with a determined word.

"SHUTUP!"

The audience silenced again and Haruka started again to play. This was a new song. A song Hotaru had never heard before. Surely she wrote it during the past weeks... or did someone else wrote it? Because normally Haruka sat at home before her piano and composed the way Hotaru could hear it. Through the opened door. Hearing the pieces of a new born song. Being played and played again. Until it fitted.

Minako?

The young singer never sat near the piano. She mostly sang. Hotaru couldn't remember that the love senshi ever created a song by herself. But the past days... hadn't there been a sheet of paper in her hands the whole time? But how...

The audience was suddenly very, very calm. No one talked. No one even whispered. Hotaru frowned and opened her eyes. Her chin dropped as she saw the girl standing on the stage. Sejya stepped beside Haruka near the piano to turn the pages although it was senseless. Haruka had her eyes closed and played with all her soul. Just like her wife who put the violin on her shoulder and accompanied her. Very, very silent. The girl looked very nervous. Her white dress covered her feet, touched the ground. Pink hairs fell over the shoulders, covered the back. A little crown was put on the head. The pink eyes were big and frightened. Searching they looked around until they met Hotaru's. Suddenly a beautiful smile laid on the slightly redden face and Chibiusa nodded towards her girlfriend. Then she raised the micro and started to sing in the soft voice half of the school liked so much. Whenever she sang with the choir. Whenever she had a solo part to take.

Or did little darling write that song?

Minako stood in the shadows, but she hold a micro, too.

Maybe they both wrote it. Together. Somehow.

" Look into my eyes - you will see

What you mean to me

Search your heart - search your soul

And when you find me there you'll search no more

Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for

You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for

You know it's true

Everything I do – I do it for you "

Chibiusa's voice was unsure during the first lines, but as she saw how a smile bloomed on her Taru's face it got more and more self-assured. She sang with all her heart. For the person who meant the most in her life. For the person she would die for. For the person she would do anything for.

Taru.

They searched long for each other. But finally, after all those misunderstandings, after all the days they spent in fear, after all the unsafeness they finally found each other.

Chibiusa looked over to Minako and nodded slightly. She stepped a little bit back to let Minako come over to her. They both didn't see the lightening flashing through the air. Slowly the sun set and the light changed into a light orange. Some spot lights were on and only pointed at them. Minako wore a beautiful yellow dress and her hairs were put together in her neck. Shortly they winked at each other before Minako turned towards the audience and continued to sing in her well-known, perfect trained voice.

" Look into your heart, you will find

There's nothin' there to hide

Take me as I am, take my life

I would give it all I would sacrifice

Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for

I can't help it there's nothin' I want more

Ya know it's true

Everything I do – I do it for you"

Hai, I'd do anything for you, Ami-chan.

Minako looked over to her friends, to her family. Rei and Usagi stopped to fight, but both held the bag with the sweets tight, not willing to let go. May-chan's eyes were big as she stared up to the stage to her Mina-mommy who sang so fantastic. The sun sat around the stage and the atmosphere was simply perfect. It was romantic and touching. Ami didn't realize that some tears were running down her suddenly redden cheeks. She wasn't pale any longer. The sadness disappeared from her face. All that remained was sadness – and longing.

Minako swallowed while Haruka played like a goddess. She wanted that Minako took her the way she was. That she simply forgot whatever might have happened and to love her.

There's nothin' I want more.

Hai, there was nothing Minako wanted more than to be Ami-chan's girlfriend. Than to be Mayumi's mother. Than to be a part of that little family, too. A real, accepted part.

Minako turned towards Chibiusa and nodded. The girl grinned and together they put the micros again towards their mouths to sing the next lines together

"There's no love"

Chibiusa nodded as she started to sing. She glanced over to Hotaru who blushed deeply and smiled back.

"- like your love"

Minako nodded back to Chibiusa and glanced over to Ami who lowered her head a little bit and stared at her hands.

"And no other "

"- could give more love"

"There's nowhere"

"– unless you're there"

"All the time"

" – all the way"

For some moments nothing more could be heard than Haruka's piano play and Michiru's violin. Even the reporters forgot to take photos and the comments silenced on the radio. After some moments that seemed to be eternity Minako started again to sing. She glanced over to Ami and winked at May-chan who winked back enthusiastically. Her voice was clear but tears burned in her blue eyes while she thought of the hard arguments. Of the fear she always saw in Ami's face whenever the young doctor woke up in the middle of the night because of a bad nightmare. Of all the times when the young doctor came home – dead drunk. Whenever they yelled at each other during the past weeks. Whenever Ami declared her to piss off. To go to her stage and to stay there. To leave her – and May-chan – in peace. To do her own business. To go away.

Something Minako would never be able to do.

"Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for

I can't help it there's nothing I want more

I would fight for you

I'd lie for you, walk the wire for you

I'd die for you..."

Hai, she would do anything for her Ami-chan. She would fight for her, she would lie for her. She would even die for her...

Chibiusa stepped a little bit closer to the well known pop singer. Ready to take the last line. Ready to finish that song that was another declaration of love towards her Taru. Wind played with her dress, with her hairs. The tiny crown sparkled on her head and suddenly she looked like a real princess.

My princess.

Hotaru had suddenly the deep desire to go over to the stage. To embrace her little darling. To kiss her. To show the whole world how much she loved that girl standing there on the stage. Only singing for her. But she knew that it was too early for that. So she kept sitting and listened to the voice she loved so much.

"Ya know it's true

Everything I do

I do it for you"

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The concert was still going. Sejya just sung the song the Three Lights and he once got famous for: the search of a young man for his princess. How he walked through the whole Galaxy to find her. In the end of the song he pointed over to his wife and said quietly that he found her. That he loved her with all his heart. The fans yelled and soon he had to sing another Three Light song they all still knew by heart.

Hotaru couldn't wait. She left her chair and sneaked behind the stage. No one held her back. She was the daughter of the famous Tenô Haruka and Michiru and all the bodyguards knew her. Some even greeted her smiling as she ran past them. With a deep blushed face. She met her princess in the middle of the corridor between the stage and the audience. Without caring any longer Hotaru embraced her little darling and swirled around with her. The pink haired girl burst out into laughter and her eyes sparkled as Hotaru let her finally down.

"I love you so much, little darling." Laughed Hotaru and kissed her shortly. "You've sung so great. It was so touching. I almost needed a handkerchief."

"Only almost?" sulked Chibiusa but grinned as Hotaru brought her closer and kissed her again. This time a little bit longer. A little bit more yearning. "But if that's my reward for standing on this stage, I'll do that again." She giggled as Hotaru pulled her against the next wall and kissed her again and again. "I love you, too, Taru. But please, don't squeeze me to death." Giggled the princess after another song of Sejya ended. The audience applauded but it seemed to be far away.

"I won't let you go now." Whispered Hotaru and simply held her girlfriend tight. "Never again. Never."

Chibiusa giggled again and leaned her head against Hotaru's shoulder. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply her girlfriend's scent. Hotaru used a special shampoo to wash her hairs and Chibiusa loved it. To have her love near her.

"But our family..." she remembered her girlfriend after a while another song of Minako and Sejya ended.

"Hm..." answered Hotaru and kissed her princess again.

"You can do that the whole evening, okay?" said Chibiusa and panic grew inside her as she heard how Sejya declared that he would now sing his very last song.

"The whole evening?" Hotaru's eyes sparkled and she stroke tenderly over Chibiusa's blushed cheeks. Chibiusa couldn't help but grinned back. She knew that the same expression laid on her face, too.

"It's Friday and my parents allowed me to spend this weekend with you." Chibiusa felt how Hotaru kissed her again and forgot about her parents sitting outside on the chairs. About Sejya singing his very last song. About the others who would soon leave the stage to go down to their friends and their families. Who would surely meet them. Leaning against the wall. Kissing and behaving obviously like a couple, not like best friends any longer. Chibiusa raised her hands and dissolved Hotaru's knot. The hairs fell open over the shoulders. The princess stroke through the dark strands and felt how her girlfriend pulled her a little bit closer.

"They have something to do with politics..." she marbled between two kisses but wasn't even aware that she said those words. All she felt right now was her Taru. Her love. She wanted so badly to kiss for the rest of their lives. For eternity. She wanted to hold tight. She wanted to love. Right here.

"Slowly I love politics..." answered Hotaru and giggled. Then she took a deep breath and pulled away from her girlfriend. Chibiusa blinked confused but before she could reply anything Sejya stood suddenly beside them. Just like Haruka and Michiru and Minako.

"That was a great song." Sejya took Chibiusa's hand and bowed before her. A grin laid on his face. "Just tell me when you want to sing again on my stage."

"Your stage?" asked Haruka and soon they both argued again. Michiru only giggled and messed Hotaru's hairs even more.

"You really sang great, Chibiusa-chan. And I am glad that you took care for May-chan." Michiru and her daughter shortly exchanged knowing glances and they both giggled.

"One ice cream and she does whatever I tell her."

Chibiusa tried to correct secretly her dress and stepped finally out of the shadow to follow the others outside the stage building.

"Michiru?"

"Hai?"

"I asked my parents. Can I stay this weekend with you? Mommy and daddy have boring politic things to do." She felt how she blushed again but was relieved that it was darker inside and that Michiru was still dazzled by the spot lights from the stage.

"Of course. We want to grill again tomorrow evening. Helios can come, too."

"But don't watch horror movies the whole evening." Laughed Haruka before she argued again with Sejya about whom this stage belonged. About who had been the star of the concert. About who had played the piano the best.

Chibiusa and Hotaru only nodded and took each other's hand. Then they ran outside to talk to Helios and the other persons of their big, crazy family.

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The girl ran over the stony underground and jumped right into her arms. She didn't care about her expensive dress as she swirled her around. The little girl spread her arms and laughed. Then she simply embraced her and held her tight with all the powers a little girl of her age had.

"That was such a nice song, Mina-mommy. Was it the big surprise you promised me?" Big blue eyes looked up to her and Minako's heart melted once more.

I love you so much, my little May-chan.

"Hai." She said and gave her a loving kiss on her cheeks.

"I liked that surprise, Mina-mommy." The girl laughed and stroke through the strands that escaped her knot. Minako held her a little bit tighter and looked up to go over to Ami. The doctor didn't leave her chair when the young singer left the stage. Seeing Mayumi racing over the whole place. But suddenly the young doctor stood right in front of her. Staring at her with the same eyes Mayumi had. But Ami's eyes were wide because of shock. Tears sparkled in the depth and the face was suddenly very pale.

Neither of them spoke.

Neither of them knew how to react.

Mina-mommy.

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The moon shone down on the calm beach. The waves rolled softly in the sand, wetted their naked feet. Two shadows walked slowly along the beach. Holding hands. Giggling from time to time. Stopping from time to time. To kiss for another eternity.

"Politics are fantastic." Said the taller shadow and they both laughed again.

"Hai." The taller shadow bowed and picked up a little mussel. It sparkled in the moon's light like a little diamond. "Look, Taru." They both looked at it and finally the smaller shadow turned away and throw it into the waves. "So that it's together with it's brothers and sisters."

"You're cute, little darling."

They both giggled and kissed again.

There were no clouds covering the sky. A light breeze played with their clothes. Some birds flew through the air, but they didn't sing yet. It was deep in the night, the sun wouldn't rise the next three hours. Suddenly there was motion at the sky. A bright star appeared and fell down to the earth with an incredible speed.

"A shooting star, little darling." The taller shadow pointed up to the sky and they both stood there and watched it silently. "Now you can wish you something, little darling." She embraced her girlfriend and held her loving tight.

"I don't need a shooting star to know that this dream will come true." The smaller girl took her lover's hands and held them loving tight. "Because it already became true."

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It was past two in the morning. She was tired and exhausted. It had been a long day for her. Especially the concert had been hard for her. After the past days. Always the fear that she wouldn't be there. That her song wouldn't be accepted. That everything would go wrong.

Minako opened the door and walked into the house. She made a face as she smelled the typical hospital scent but carried on. She hardly slept the past days after the big fight with Ami and after she had seen the shocked expression on the young doctor's face she was sure that she wouldn't find sleep this night, too. Not as long as she spoke openly to Ami. That hadn't been possible after the concert, because May-chan had been there. So they brought her home and to bed. But before Minako could talk to her Ami, the young doctor already disappeared again. To her night shift at hospital.

Maybe it's wrong to come her.

Minako went through the corridor and sighed deeply. But she had no other chance. Right now, when the memory was still fresh, she had a chance. Tomorrow Ami would have found her own, and maybe wrong answer to that situation. Maybe the young doctor would be too tired to discuss. Or she would be too drunk again...

"Ami..." she opened the door to the room Ami finally got after a long fight with some other doctors. Where she could have some rest between the operations and different patients. Where she could concentrate and prepare herself to talk to diverse parents of ill children. But the young doctor wasn't there. Instead there was a man. He was tall and wore a white coat, too. He stood next to Ami's desk and looked down at the pages lying all over the wood. He turned around and looked asking at her. His hairs were brown just like his eyes. Maybe he was attractive, Minako didn't know. She had never been really interested in men and had now other problems than to put the one in front of her into a category.

"Mizuno-san's still in the operation room. A little boy with an appendicitis." He said and smiled at her. She was still too stunned and so he shook her hand before she could react. "I am Dr. Taka. And you must be the beautiful woman on that picture." He showed over to the desk and there was really a framed picture. It showed Mayumi who sat between two young women who embraced the little girl. Ami and Minako had have a great day that time and they both laughed and looked really happy.

I didn't know that she has such a picture at work.

Minako felt how her throat tightened, because that picture didn't only show Mayumi, but also she.

Just like a real family...

"Gomen..." Minako bowed towards the doctor. "I am Aino Minako. I didn't want to intrude here like that. I just wanted to talk to Ami... ehm... Dr. Mizuno."

"You must be good friends." Assumed Dr. Taka and smiled friendly at her.

"Hai, we went to school together." Answered Minako proudly.

"Did something happen to that nice girl? Dr. Mizuno hardly tells me something about her private life. But I am new at the hospital, guess it's not typical to be so open to a newcomer like me."

Oh, she never tells a lot.

Minako sighed and shook her head.

"Everything's fine with May-chan. I am just an owl. Mostly I sleep during the day. I was near the hospital and thought I could say hello."

"May-chan? She's your daughter?"

Ami didn't tell the other doctors? That's typical for her. But I won't do that job. No, not that job, too!

"Hai."

Besides, May-chan IS my daughter!

"She's very beautiful. Just like her mother." He smiled and went over to the door and opened it for her. "I only have ten more minutes, but may I invite you to a coffee? Then you can wait for your friend. I am sure that the appendicitis isn't very dangerous and that she'll be finished soon."

Minako smiled but frowned. Something was wrong about this man. Maybe his smile? Maybe the sparkle in his eyes? She didn't know. She didn't care. She was simply tired. Best she would take that coffee and indeed wait for her Ami-chan.

"Arigato." She followed to doctor to the cafeteria that was opened the whole day and the whole night in the hospital.

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"I love you." Whispered Chibiusa and crept deeper into Hotaru's embracement. Her own thin blanket laid on the ground and now they shared Hotaru's. The window was wide opened and the first rays of the new born sun shone down the carpet. Hotaru kissed her girlfriend and ran a tender hand through messed pink hairs.

"I love you, too."

Ten minutes after they finally fell asleep, Miyuki jumped into the room and asked them if they wanted to go swimming with her. She had already woken up her mommy while her daddy still tried to hide under her pillow. To behave as if she wasn't there.

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Sejya looked sceptically at the sausages and the steaks on the grill. Haruka only raised her eyebrows and danced around the grill. They were at the beach near the light house and enjoyed the nice day. The sun was already setting again but they knew that they had at least two more hours before it would be dark. And even then they could use candles. It had been another hot day of June and they all used such a beautiful Saturday to go swimming, to lay lazy at the beach or to read a little bit. After Haruka, Hotaru and Chibiusa slept the whole morning in the sand, Miyuki and Michiru had been able around noon to wake them up with warm sea water as they called it. For the poor victims it had been too cold. But soon they all were in the water and chased each other around. Mayumi, Miyuki and Minako played the whole day ball until the little girls started to build little castles out of sand. Minako was finally able to finish the book – a romantic love book about a strong prince searching for his loving princess – she wanted to read during the past weeks but had never have the time for. Helios came shortly after noon and joined them. He said something about boring politics and that he felt sorry for his mother but soon he laughed and teased around with the others.

Ami came home around four in the afternoon. She only laid down and was fast asleep. Surely she didn't even notice any more how Minako put carefully sun block on her pale skin and cared for a parasol.

"Are you sure that..."

"How does it smell?" Haruka looked provoking at Sejya whose stomach started to growl. He and his family arrived just one hour ago. Little Tamahoe ran now through the low water – always chased by his loving mother. Sejya decided to help Haruka and Michiru to take care for the dinner.

"Well..." The pop singer laughed and shook his head. "Guess it smells good, baka."

Haruka only smiled satisfied and looked over to the house. Hotaru and Chibiusa declared to set the table half an hour ago. They ran into the house to take the dishes, but till now nothing happened.

Surely they forgot it and sit now in Hotaru's room and search for the crocodile.

The crocodile was a big, green airbed with a crocodile's head. They wanted to use it after dinner. To haunt Helios who splashed them a lot during the whole afternoon. Often they screamed but he had always been faster in the water. But the crocodile seemed to increase their chances to get him. And to tickle him until he regretted his bad acts.

"You'll take car for the steaks, okay? I'll call the kids." Haruka cleaned her dirty hands on her short jeans and shortly kissed her wife who opened a huge blanket on the soft sand.

"Shall I help you?"

"Nope. I think we three will manage the dishes." Tenderly she stroke through sea green hairs and smiled at Miyuki who showed with pride at her castle which wasn't ready yet. Concentrated she formed another tower while Mayumi worked with the ditch. It should be filled with sea water after they were finished.

Haruka turned around and walked back to the house. As she had expected was the kitchen empty. But the dishes stood in order on a try on the kitchen's table. Just like some more bottles for orange juice and the bread they wanted to roast over the gill's open fire.

"Himme-chan? Chibiusa-chan?" Haruka put some strands of her hairs behind her ears and decided that it was time for another haircut. She lifted her shirt a little bit while she walked upstairs to her daughter's room. It was still very hot and she sweated a lot. She wore her bikini under the shirt and surely she would strip that shirt after dinner. To see Sejya's shocked face, that was worth it. Even when she felt uncomfortable in a bikini. To see Sejya's shocked and Michiru's longing face. That was even worth wearing a dress, but Haruka always avoided that as most as possible in her life. Mostly she was lucky.

"Himme-chan? Chibiusa-chan?" Still no one could be heard. Not the TV screen and not a laughing Chibiusa who helped Hotaru with the chaos in her room. To find the crocodile on the button of a big wardrobe. A messed wardrobe. The door to Hotaru's room wasn't closed and Haruka wanted to go into it as she saw them. They were both sitting on Hotaru's big bed. Once Haruka wanted to buy a small bed after Hotaru couldn't sleep in her cradle any longer, but Michiru disagreed. She said that they had enough room for a big bed and since that day over fifteen years ago Hotaru had a big bed. Although first it had looked strange. The little, two year old girl in that big bed. She seemed to be lost there. But during the years they were glad to have such a big bed. During the following years when Hotaru had been afraid of the dark and one or even both of her parents slept half of the night in that bed. When Michiru had been on tour alone after she lost her child and Haruka returned from hospital, she often sneaked into her daughter's bed. To feel her near her. She had known that her little princess had been the same concerned and frightened. There had been later on a lot of times when little Miyuki crept under the blanket to sleep with her big sister – whenever she had been afraid of thunderstorms and her parents not at home because of a concert or an important car race. And there had been Chibiusa who spent a lot of weekends here. When they had played with Hotaru's card games. When they had secretly looked horror movies. When they had played hide and seek with Yuki-chan and May-chan. Just what young girls did when they were together. When they were best friends.

But right now they didn't look like best friends any longer. Like simple young girls.

Hotaru sat on her bed, leaned against the wall. She held Chibiusa who sat on her lap, tight. Their shirts laid somewhere on the ground and they only wore there swimsuits. At least Hotaru still wore her dark swim suit. Chibiusa's bikini top laid next to the shirt. Her opened hairs covered her nakedness. Partly.

They both didn't see Haruka standing in the door frame. They were too occupied with each other. Tenderly they kissed each other and seemed to have forgotten the world around them.

Nani?

Haruka blinked and stepped automatically silently a little bit back. So that she disappeared into the shadows again. So that she still could see her daughter and her best friend, well, her girlfriend but that they both couldn't see her any longer.

Since...

Haruka gulped and blinked again. Her mind started to spin around and she remembered the past months. When they had been in America. She tried to think of so many things she had seen during Christmas, but had to admit that she had been very occupied with her Michi-chan and with Yuki-chan who tried to burn the Christmas tree. With her mother and... Hotaru had been so quiet during the dinner. Just like Chibiusa, hadn't she? But when...

Is it so important, when?

Haruka crossed her hands before her shirt and felt how sweat ran down her back. She decided silently to take a bath in the se after she would finish her dinner.

You knew it all the time, right? Even before Himme-chan was reborn. They had always been the best friends. When Hotaru had been dead ill and the body Mistress 9 misused to take over the world. Chibiusa had always protected her Taru while Sailor Saturn gave her life to rescue Sailor Chibi Moon.

Haruka took a deep breath, still seeing them kissing each other.

It was obvious that they felt more than simple friendship then. So, why shouldn't they be together again? Why not? As long as they're happy.

The tall blonde remembered the past months and knew that she often saw her daughter laugh – because of Chibiusa. A dark haired girl who had been once so lonely, so left alone, so unloved. Haruka swore herself when she took baby Hotaru to raise her as her own daughter, that she would never let this happen again to her Himme-chan. When Hotaru was happy with Chibiusa, then Haruka was happy, too.

"Himme-chan! Chibiusa-chan! You promised me to set the table!" she shouted very loud. "Himme-chan! Chibiusa-chan! Where are you?"

Haruka had to grin as she saw how action evolved in her daughter's room.

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Michiru put the dirty dishes into the dishwasher and giggled as her wife embraced her from behind. It had been a wonderful evening. They ate and after the sun set they put candles all around in the sand.

"Michi-chan?" Haruka kissed her neck and Michiru shivered automatically.

"Hm?" the sea goddess closed her eyes and enjoyed her lover's gently touch. Sejya and his family left about half an hour ago and they brought the kids to bed. Yuki-chan fell asleep on Haruka's lap and didn't even wake up when they took her to bed. The same was with May-chan on Mina's lap. Even Ami was so tired that she didn't protest when Minako simply took her hand and guided her upstairs. The young doctor had night shift during the past week and was really exhausted.

"I've got to talk to ya." Whispered Haruka and looked into sparkling blue eyes as her lover rose and turned around in her arm. For some moments she forgot her next thoughts and leaned over her wife to kiss her. With all her passion. With all her love.

"What's up, honey?" Michiru's hands slipped under Haruka's shirt and massaged tenderly her belly. Haruka groaned and giggled as her love started to tickle her.

"They're a couple now."

For some moments Michiru's hands rested on Haruka's soft skin. They were colder with a sudden but warmed up again when Haruka took them through the fabric.

"Himme-chan and Chibiusa?" asked the young violinist and gulped. Then she tried to smile. "Guess you've been right all the time, Ruka." She lowered her head and gulped again. Feeling a little bit dizzy with a sudden. Tears sparkled in her eyes but she didn't let them fall. She only stood there in the night's darkness, feeling her lover's hands over her own. Holding her calming down.

Finally she giggled, but it sounded shaky.

"And I thought that you'd be the crazy one when she'll find finally a boy... I mean, a partner." Michiru raised her head and smiled unsure at her wife. "Strange, suddenly I feel like a granny."

Haruka chuckled and kissed her lover tenderly.

"Hey, they're only fifteen and seventeen. Give them a little bit more time." Haruka kissed her again. "And don't worry, you won't lose a daughter, but win one."

They both had to giggle as they heard what Rei had told Haruka's mother during their wedding ceremony some years ago. Haruka's mother had loved Michiru, she had accepted that her daughter was gay. But nevertheless she had cried the whole ceremony. Makoto handled her one handkerchief after another until Rei said that sentence to her. A so true sentence. It was the same feeling Michiru felt right now. To recognize that her little princess grew up. That she was now a woman herself. That she would go away one day. That they would lose her. Otherwise, they would never lose her. Not as long as the bound between the members of the Tenô family was so strong. And Chibiusa, she had always been around. She had always been part of that family, too. Nothing would change. Not really.

"And you aren't an old granny yet, Michi-chan." Chuckled Haruka and embraced her again. "You're a the most attractive woman I know, Michi." Haruka kissed her again and Michiru smiled thankful back. They both were still very young. They had been hardly older than Hotaru was right now when they decided to adopt the little senshi of death.

"As long as she's happy..." Michiru smiled suddenly, remembering the time when she fell in love with her Ruka. A love that lasted over all those years. A love that grew stronger. A love that would remain until the ends of their days. And maybe even longer.

"She is. I am very sure." Haruka pulled her lover a little bit nearer. "Just give them time. I want them to come to us to tell that they're a couple."

Michiru nodded against Haruka's shoulder and giggled suddenly.

"Course. Although it'll be very hard not to tease them around." She giggled and heard Haruka's low laughter.

"And I thought that I am the evil one."

They both kissed again.

"No word to the king and the queen as long as they aren't ready."

They both looked into each other's eyes and nodded. A little bit concerned.

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She stood in the half darkness of her room. Determinedly she stared down at the paperwork before her on her desk. There were voices outside on the corridor, but she didn't hear them any longer. They weren't real. They weren't important.

I'd fight for you...

Her trembling hands held the henshin tight. A henshin she had put away a long time ago. But today she had to use it again. She knew it. She would fight. For herself and for her family.

I would die for you.

And even if she wasn't able to win, it would be over. At last. The whole pain, the humiliation would be over. Finally. She wasn't able any longer to live with that fear. Every day. Every night. Every second in her life.

As the door was silently opened she rose her henshin.

Prepared to fight.

Even prepared to die.

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They walked through the inner city of Crystal Tokyo. The little girl held a chocolate ice cream in her hands while her mommy followed her. The sun was again shinning from an endless sky, but a light breeze made it bearable.

"It's a pity that Chibiusa couldn't come with us." Said Minako and corrected her big sun hat. Mayumi laughed loud and ran a little bit forward. To turn around and wink them through all the other people. Minako smiled and winked back. Just like Hotaru.

"Nope. Some politics she and Helios aren't allowed to miss." Answered Hotaru and looked a little bit depressed. The last weekend had been so fantastic and they planned to go shopping together. Until Chibiusa called her up this morning to apologise herself and Helios. Now only Minako, Mayumi and she were left. Hotaru's parents and her little sister were at school to prepare everything so that Yuki-chan would be able to go to school when the summer vacations would be over. So they couldn't come, too.

The little, blue haired girl needed new shoes and Hotaru wanted to surprise her little darling with a new dress. And maybe, when Minako would be too occupied with the little whirlwind called Mayumi, new, special underwear.

Hotaru blushed by that thought.

"Politics! I still can't imagine Usagi as shinning princess." Minako giggled and finished her own ice cream. "She's lucky that Mamoru is so intelligent. Otherwise it would be a big chaos." Minako giggled again and winked again at her daughter. "Guess it's already a big chaos." They stopped in front of a big shop window that showed cute summer dresses.

"Didn't you look for such ones?" asked the love senshi and bowed to clean May-chan's brown mouth.

"Hai..." Hotaru's voice died away as a cold wind played with her opened hairs. Suddenly she was very cold. The sunshine seemed to disappear and all that remained was a freezing cold. She shivered and gooseflesh covered her arms and her legs. Her face was suddenly very pale and her eyes filled with tears as she saw the shadow rising behind her in the window's reflection. Again she heard the evil laughter. A laughter she hadn't heard during the past six months. Not since Kevin fell off his horse and almost broke his backbone. A laughter she hoped she would never have to hear again.

The shadow, her shadow, glanced at her with that faceless face and all she could see was the big mouth. Then, suddenly, there was someone else. Standing next to the shadow. Crying in silence. Being embraced by the shadow. Closing the eyes. Giving up.

No...

NO!

Tears streamed now over Hotaru's cheeks but she couldn't move. She only saw the shadow, saw the person. Felt the deep pain in her heart. Felt the old panic growing in her body. Felt the despair awakening again in her soul.

"Don't you want to go in and..." Minako put the handkerchief away and turned towards Hotaru. Minako's voice got calmer and died finally away as she saw the fear, the death fear, in the girl's eyes. Automatically she took those trembling shoulders and shook Hotaru. "What's up, Hotaru-chan? What's wrong with you?" The girl slowly raised her head and Minako gulped as she saw all the tears that wet the pale face.

"Ami..." whispered the future senshi of death finally and sobbed quietly. "Aunt Ami..."

Minako gulped and held Hotaru who seemed to faint the next moment tighter.

"What do you mean? Is anything wrong with Ami? What's up, Hotaru-chan? Did anything happen to my Ami-chan?"

As Hotaru nodded, Ami put Hotaru's and Mayumi's right hand and told them to run. Toward the hospital. As fast as they could. May-chan was happy. She loved races through the inner city. For her it was an adventure. For Hotaru it was simply relieving that Minako believed her. Somehow.

For Minako it were the worst minutes of her life.

She knew who Hotaru was, the future senshi of death, Sailor Saturn. One day she would wake up again. And she was no normal girl. Minako thought at Sejya and that it was only Hotaru who told Haruka to look after him – right in the moment he wanted to commit suicide.

Suicide?

Are you really so stupid, Ami-chan?

They reached the hospital in record time.

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There was fog coming out through the closed door. The door that leaded towards Ami's private room in the hospital. Minako gave Hotaru a sign to take Mayumi's hand and to hold her back. If Ami really did something stupid, her daughter shouldn't see it. Hotaru only nodded, still very pale in her face. She embraced Mayumi who didn't understand anything and brought her nearer to her trembling body. Looking over to Minako and gulping. Still crying in silence. Still seeing the shadow. Still knowing that nothing changed. That she was still a pervert who could see people dying...

"Ami?" Minako knocked at the door, but nothing happened. No one opened. No one said anything. All she could hear was the fog coming through the door. Fog she knew. It wasn't normal fog. It was one of Sailor Mercury's weapons. Not very dangerous, but it helped them a lot during the battles against diverse enemies. Mercury had always been the weakest of all senshi. Her power was her intelligence. She often helped them with her computer, but to defend herself, really to defend herself, that wasn't possible. She had been their head, they had to take care for her in return.

"Ami? May I come in?"

At that moment glass smashed inside and someone screamed steamed. That was enough for Minako to grab for the door knob. Of course the door was closed. So Minako simply raised her leg and kicked at the door. With all her desperate powers. She was still strong enough. She fought hard as Sailor Venus, years before even alone as Sailor V. The lock broke and the door pushed open, crashed against the wall. Fog covered the whole room. Fog and soap bubbles. The only weapons Sailor Mercury ever owned.

"Stop moving, you silly brat! Stop behaving like that!" The voice was low and threatening. And out of breath. There came more and more bubbles, but all they could do was to make the ground slippery. Nothing more. "Don't be so stupid, you like it, too, don't you? You have always like that!"

More bubbles, again a scream. It sounded now a little bit weaker.

Nani?

Without thinking Minako raised her own henshin, she never put away. They defeated Galactica years ago and since then they didn't see a single youma again, but Minako never put the henshin away. Strangely she felt safer with it. Two seconds later Sailor Venus stood there in the fog and swirled around her heart chain. Just two more seconds and the fog disappeared.

"Ah, that's better, silly brat!"

Minako turned around to the voice to ask if her Ami-chan was right and almost fainted. For some seconds she stood there. Not able to move. Not able to think. Not able to scream.

Ami sat there on top of her table. No, not Ami, but Sailor Mercury. She had stretched her fits and surely tried to make more bubbles and more fog. But she wasn't able to do that any longer. She wasn't strong enough any longer. Her cheeks were pale, almost blue. Tears were streaming down her face. She didn't make a noise. No sob, nor scream. Nothing. She couldn't. Someone had put an handkerchief in her mouth to quieten her screams. Two hands laid around her neck and slowly strangulated her.

Two hands that belonged to a man who stood in front of Ami. Between her legs.

"Why did you have to defend yourself? It's better this way, don't you think?" Ami didn't react. Her fists went down and she closed her eyes. She didn't get enough breath any longer and she knew that she would die. He wouldn't be finished right in time.

Maybe it's better this way...

"VENUS LOVE AND BEAUTY SHOCK!"

The next moment the man was pulled against the next wall where he groaned deeply. His back hurt and for some seconds he only saw stars. Ami who was suddenly free, leaned forward to gasp for breath. But the handkerchief was still in her way. She wanted to raise her hands but before she could react, someone had put it away. Deep she gasped for breath and started to cough. More tears ran down her cheeks while she gasped hard for breath. Through them she could see Sailor Venus. Her eyes looked deadly. Deadly hurt. Deadly shocked. Ready to kill.

Shortly she rubbed over Ami's back until she was sure that her best friend was still alive. That she wouldn't choke during the next minutes. Tears sparkled in Minako's eyes as well. She had seen that Sailor Mercury's costume was torn apart. She had seen the blood that ran down her legs. She had seen the bruises on the pale skin. She had seen the pain on blue eyes she loved so much.

Another attack hit the man who finally raised his head. Minako shook her head as she recognized Dr. Taka. The nice doctor who gave her a coffee. Just one week ago. Really, just one week?

"You asshole!" she stepped over to him and grabbed his collar. He was taller, but she was more angry. Stronger. She pulled him against the wall, but he wasn't very surprised. Instead he grinned at her.

"Oh... another beautiful woman? That must be my good day." He laughed and grabbed her hands. He wanted to kiss her, too, but she was fast enough and kicked him right between his legs.

"Who do you think you are, you pervert?" she screamed at him and another love chain hit him. He groaned deeply and looked up to her. His trousers weren't even closed as she noticed with disgust.

"I am real man, honey. I can give you so much you've ever dreamed of." The man looked over to Ami who whimpered in silence. "Right, honey? I gave you all you ever dreamed of, you lesbian!" he laughed deeply and another love chain hit him. "She always liked it, ask her!" Another love chain and he fell down. Unconscious.

"Liar!" More and more tears streamed over Minako's cheeks and she kicked him again and again. Until a soft voice held her back.

"Stop it, Mina."

Sailor Venus turned around and looked angry at Mercury who tried to cover her nakedness with the rest of her torn uniform. Tears ran down her cheeks and she looked as if she would faint every moment.

"I SHALL stop it? I SHALL STOP IT!" she screamed at the young doctor and shook her head. "I shall stop killing him? He deserves it! He... he..." Minako shook her head and stared helpless to her best friend. She couldn't say that word. The r... word. She simply couldn't.

"He almost killed you! When I wouldn't have come into the room right in time he would have strangulated you! And you say I shall stop killing him!" Minako's yells could be heard through the whole corridor. Hotaru who knew that her both aunts were still alive, took Mayumi and walked away. To the nurses. To call a doctor. And to call the police.

"He's May-chan's father." Whispered Ami finally but didn't have the strength any longer to look down at the bleeding man before Venus' boots. Nor did she have the power any longer to look into raging blue eyes.

"NANI!" Minako felt how something broke inside her. Something that should have never grown there. She wasn't sure what it was, but it hurt terrible. "Don't you tell me that you LIKED that, Mizuno! Don't you tell me that you WANTED him to... and..."

Ami shook her head and took the framed picture in her hands and stared for a long time at the family in there. A family that seemed to be a stranger for her now. Not her own family any longer.

Mina-mommy...

"He returned from his studies in Kyoto in spring. First I thought..." she gulped and more tears ran down her cheeks. She felt her sore body, felt the pain. The physical and the psychical pain. Not sure if she would ever get rid of that pain again. In her whole life. She tried it during the past ten years, but it didn't work. It wouldn't work this time either.

"I said that I didn't want this again. That... that I didn't love him. He... he only laughed but... I could refuse him and..." she sighed deeply. "He found out where I lived. That you lived there, too. Together with May-chan. He thought that she's your daughter and that... well... that we're a couple. But..."

Minako gulped but couldn't move. Couldn't go over to her Ami-chan who suffered so obviously. She trembled like hell and seemed to faint the next moment. Still she hadn't really realized what happened to her just ten minutes ago, but when she would, it would be her end. Minako knew it. And she feared that moment.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she whispered and her voice rose again. "Hell, I met him! He invited me for coffee and was nice! Why didn't you tell me and I'd have kicked into his ass in time... before..." her voice broke again and she sobbed helpless. Still holding her love chain tight in her trembling hands.

"He said that he would kill May-chan and you if I would refuse him again." Ami gulped and put the picture again. She wrapped her arms around her freezing body and Minako could see that they were covered with bruises and wounds, too.

"But..."

"I tried to defend myself." Finally Mercury looked up, directly into tear filled blue eyes. "But I am not strong enough. I've never been, Mina-chan."

Sailor Venus gulped and shook her head again in disbelieve.

"And May-chan?" she asked and anger rose again inside her soul.

"He was my teacher at hospital and I did my first bigger operation. He wanted..." Ami closed her eyes and asked herself if she would ever be warm again. "... he wanted to me to celebrate it with him. So we went to a restaurant and... he... he must have put something into my drink while I was in the bathroom..." Ami made a face and the memory seemed to be cruel, too. Maybe even crueller than reality right now. Because then she had been alone. Now Minako was around. This time she wouldn't die alone. "I don't know what... what it was but... but I was dead drunk and couldn't control myself any longer. Nor fight against him..." she gulped and felt suddenly very, very sick. "Afterwards he told me that I should keep silent when I wanted to get my good mark and pass my studies." She raised her trembling hands and buried her face in them. Now her voice sounded muffled. "He went away to study in Kyoto before anyone could see that I was pregnant. He... he doesn't know about her. And... and..."

"And you never told me about that?" Minako felt how her throat got tighter and suddenly it was very hard for her to breathe. "You never told me what for nightmares were haunting you down? Why you were dead drunk and behaved so strange during the past months? Didn't you trust me? Shit! I wanna help you!" More tears ran down Minako's face as she turned around to hit the unconscious man again and again. To kill him. For what he had done to her beloved Ami-chan.

"Mina... please... it's not important. He's not..."

"NOT IMPORTANT!" Minako screamed at Ami who trembled even more. "I guess I fell in love with you the day I met you. Shit! I wanna love you! The rest of my life. Do you hear me, Ami? You're the most important person in my life! You ARE my life! And this... this asshole hurt you deeply! He... he owned all I wanted to have. He was allowed to touch you! To take you. To..." Minako's voice broke and she sobbed desperately. "He's May-chan's father. Shit! Do you know, how much I'd like to be her mother? Her daddy, just like Haruka's Yuki-chan's daddy? And that asshole simply, simply took that and... and hurt you so deeply and... THAT SHOULDN'T BE IMPORTANT!"

Ami coughed and blinked. But she couldn't stop her tears from falling.

"Maybe he's May-chan's producer..." still she wasn't able to look down at him. He caused too much pain. Even unconscious. He caused too many bad memories. He caused too much sickness. A fear she simply couldn't bear any longer. "... but you've been the one who raised her, Mina..."

Ami slowly left the table to come over to the love senshi. To get out of that room that seemed to get smaller and smaller with every second. To get to the fresh air. To get out of that sticky, bloody building. To forget all that shit that happened ten years ago. That happened just ten minutes ago...

Pain flashed through her whole body and she gasped hard for breath. Slowly realising that it happened again. That it really happened again. That her damn past had been her future. Warm fluid ran down her legs, but she knew that it wasn't her blood. Helplessly she raised her head and stared at Minako who looked still very, very angry. Still ready to kill. The love chain still shone brightly in her hands.

"I never..." Ami clenched her fists but she knew that everything was too late now. Damn too late. Her whole body simply refused and she went on her knees as her legs simply gave up. Sobs escaped her throat and she felt alone. Alone and hurt. Now she would die. Surely she would die.

Suddenly Minako was able to leave the trance that seemed to have captured her whole body. She pushed the chain on the still unconscious man and went on her knees next to her Ami-chan. She took the trembling senshi of water in her arms and rocked her. Ami cried as if the world was going to end. But maybe, that was true. Maybe the world was really going to end.

"I never wanted that..." she cried and crept deeper into Minako's embracement. Where she found all she needed right now: Comfort, understanding and love. Unconditional love.

"I know, honey." Whispered Minako between her own sobs. "I know, honey." Then she held her Ami tight as if she was afraid of loosing her. Afraid that Ami would really die. Right here. When she would let her go again.

Just two minutes later the doctor and the police arrived.

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"Shit!" Haruka took a deep breath and stared angry at the phone in her hand. Michiru sat opposite her on the kitchen's table and looked asking at her. Asking and concerned. A chicken was in the oven, but no one was hungry. Not after Minako brought Ami home and right into bed. The love senshi didn't have to tell a lot, Haruka and Michiru had seen the injuries and were intelligent to know what happened. Hotaru was with Mayumi and Miyuki at Rei's temple to help her for the national holiday. To decorate the temple and to sleep there. Rei didn't ask further as she had seen Haruka's concerned face when she drove the kids to the priestess. She only promised her to tell her later and disappeared again.

To talk with her lawyer. For the next two hours. And then again with Rei over the telephone. A priestess who started to cry. Strong and always hard Rei started to cry. Shortly Haruka and Michiru exchanged glances and knew that they wouldn't tell the others. Especially not the queen who couldn't change it. Who would die of sorrow because she couldn't change the past.

"What did lawyer say?" asked Michiru finally and clenched her hands on the table's wood.

"That this asshole says that Ami wanted it. That Minako simply attacked him. That, when Ami will indict him, he'll indict Minako. Statement against statement. We can try it, but it'll be hurtful for Ami." Haruka closed her eyes and felt so damn helpless. She wanted to transform into Sailor Uranus. To fight. But she knew that it wouldn't change anything. "My lawyer's not sure if we'll win and..." she sighed deeply and felt how Michiru took her hands into her own icy ones.

"Minako doubts that Ami will indict him. She's not strong enough to see him again at court." Said the sea goddess and sighed, too.

Haruka only groaned frustrated.

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"Do you want anything? Something to eat? Something to drink?" Minako stood unsure in the door frame and looked at the shadow down in the huge bed. Ami took a long, a very long shower and finally sat down on her bed. But she wouldn't find any sleep this night. They both knew it.

"To eat?" Ami's voice was very silent and she shook her head. After the police arrived and started to ask her stupid questions, she threw up her last meal. She simply choked and couldn't stop even after her stomach was empty. Minako held her the whole time and tried to comfort her. But now... she wasn't hungry. She wasn't thirsty, either. She wasn't even sure being still alive.

"No, arigato."

For a moment there was silence between them.

"Shall I get a nice CD for you? I can ask Michiru. Or..." Minako opened the door to go as she head Ami's still very quiet voice. It was filled with panic.

"Please, stay, Mina!" There were again tears in deep blue eyes and Ami looked pleading up to her. Minako gulped. It was the first time that Ami wanted her to stay. Mostly the love senshi had to force her to see that it was better that her best friend stayed to comfort her. When a little patient died. When something really, really important went wrong in her life. But now...

She only wants comfort, remember that!

Minako sat down on the soft mattress and the next moment her arms were full with a trembling Ami. The young doctor held her tight. With all her desperate powers.

Whatever she wants, she'll get it.

For a long time they sat like that. It was the first time Minako could remember that her Ami embraced her, not the other way round. Finally the love senshi moved and pulled her doctor closer. Ami winced but didn't say a word. She didn't react, didn't scream. Didn't pull herself away.

"I'll never hurt you, Ami-chan." Whispered Minako calming and rubbed carefully the younger woman's back. "It's over, Ami-chan. It's finally over."

There was silence for another long while. Only disturbed by Ami's quiet sobs.

"Don't leave me." Whispered the young doctor and tried to creep deeper into that warm embrace.

"I'll always be there for you, Ami-chan." Answered Minako simply and held her tight. Rocked her. Comforted her the whole night. Until she finally fell asleep.

She was there.

The whole night. When nightmares were haunting Ami down.

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The sun shone from a cloudless sky. Five shadows drove on their bikes along the beach. One shadow was on top and laughed happily. Pink hairs moved in the wind and pink eyes sparkled happily.

"You are lazy chickens!" Chibiusa jumped off the bike and danced around in the soft sand. "I won! I won! And you owe me now an ice cream."

Hotaru grinned over to Helios and he grinned back. Of course they both could have been faster, but to see the princess being so happy, that was worth every lost. Mayumi and Miyuki reached them some minutes later. They were too young to compete with them. So Hotaru promised them at the beginning of their tour to buy them an ice cream. Both kids had looked at her with the same sparkle in their eyes she knew too well from her little darling.

"You're greedy." She laughed and went over to her princess and embraced her. Shortly they kissed. Then they decided to drive back to the light house and to order a huge ice cream.

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"Taru?"

Chibiusa walked slowly towards the shadow who stood with her foot in the water. Clear water. The others sat in the living room, eating ice cream. Watching a very famous anime on TV. Laughing and giggling. And eating some more ice cream.

"Taru?"

I've seen the shadow again. It almost took away my auntie Ami. It's there again. I am not normal. No, I've never been normal. This bloody shadow!

Hotaru stared in the water and sighed deeply. Not realising that her princess came nearer. Wind played with her opened hairs and she closed her eyes. To outcast the cruel world. To out cast the water's reflection. To outcast the tears burning behind her lashes.

It all happened again. And I hoped so much that it would be over. That it was only an illusion of my frightened brain. Too afraid to admit that I am gay. That I love my little darling. That she would reject me...

But it hadn't been only an illusion. It had been damn real just some days ago.

What the hell does it mean? Will I harm other people with my skill to see people dying? Will I harm my little darling with that dark ability?

"Taru..."

Right in that moment Hotaru heard the high, asking voice behind her. She turned around and saw Chibiusa standing there. Her hairs were bound in a plaid in her neck and her hairs stroke over her arms. Wind played with her white shirt and her cut jeans.

She's so beautiful.

My girlfriend.

I will never let her go.

Hotaru gulped and took a deep breath.

This shadow should never harm you, my little darling.

NEVER!

"Just embrace me, little darling." Whispered Hotaru and gulped again. She saw the confusion in her girlfriend's face, but the next moment Chibiusa was by her side and embraced her tenderly. Caressed the skin between her short dark skirt and the top of her bikini. Stroke carefully through her dark strands. "Just hold me tight."

Chibiusa only nodded and held her tight.

"I love you, Taru."

"I love you, too, little darling."

That's why I'll always protect you. Especially against this shadow!

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It was in the middle of the night when she woke up. She didn't have to open her eyes to know that she was alone. Her girlfriend was in the Crystal Palace. Some other politics to do where she wasn't allowed to miss. And she had to finish her last week of school. To get her report. So she wasn't right by her side. But soon, hopefully soon, she would sleep every night by her side. At least over the holidays. On their personal vacations they tried so hard during the past weeks to convince Chibiusa's parents. They were very concerned and thought that their daughter was too young to go alone on vacation.

Haruka and Michiru agreed, but they insisted that they wouldn't go camping but take a proper hotel. So that no one would kidnap them. They would even pay it.

So it's only little darling's parents we have to convince.

Hotaru gulped. She didn't have to open her eyes to know that she wasn't all alone in the room. The cold that suddenly seemed to cover all her body, the freezing air around her, she knew the signs. She didn't have to look up to see her shadow standing there.

Who is it this time?

She felt tears in her eyes and finally opened them. Really seeing the shadow standing there. Right beside her. Right beside her bed. Looking at her with that faceless face. Hidden in the shadows of the black coat. Holding a strange instrument, a large one in its left hand. Stretching the right one towards her. As if it wanted to touch her. To take it with her. To... to call her?

There was no one around. No other person. No one she knew. No one she loved. Obviously seemed to be no one in danger. But why the hell was the shadow here?

Come to me!

It was the first time that she heard that voice. So deep, so cold. So insensible. She knew in the instant that the shadow had spoken to her. For the first time in her life.

Come to me!

"Keep dreaming!" she whispered and grabbed her pillow. To throw it after the shadow. The other pillow, Chibiusa's most favourite one she brought with her some weeks ago, followed.

You'll never get me!

No one will ever get me!

I wanna live my own life – without such a bloody shadow!

She stumbled out of the bed and left her room in a hurry. Closing the door behind herself. She ran along the corridor, shortly looking behind. But no shadow followed her. Or was it right before her? She stopped near a ladder that leaded up to the attic and gasped for breath. There was silence around her. Typical night silence. Her shadow wasn't here. She couldn't hear that deep, cold voice any longer. All she heard were her aunt's voices. The quiet, husky one of Ami who obviously had another nightmare and the calming, loving one of Minako. They were almost inaudible. They didn't let Mayumi notice it, but Ami took vacation from the hospital and Minako was the whole day at school. She cancelled the next concerts and Michiru understood. So the next performances only took place with Sejya and Haruka and the young violinist. They told the manager that Minako had a bad flue and that she had no voice in the moment.

I wish I could help them.

But Hotaru knew that she couldn't. She helped to rescue Ami's life. Everything more wasn't in her power any longer. That laid now in Minako's power.

The dark haired girl turned around as she saw a motion in the corner of her eyes and without thinking she climbed the ladder and stood the next moment on the attic. She closed the door behind her and hoped that her shadow wouldn't be able to follow her. Hotaru took a deep breath and searched around for the counter to switch on the light. She stumbled and something fell on the ground. Finally she found the counter and soon the attic was brightly illuminated. The dark haired girl blinked for some moments until her eyes got used to the light, then she turned around and saw what she had stumbled over. It was an old cardboard. Several old clothes fell out. An old baby pyjama Hotaru was suddenly sure that it had been hers when she had been younger. Much younger. Some old pictures laid next to it. The girl bowed and picked them up. They showed herself as baby. A cute, little baby. In that baby pyjama. But somehow it looked strange, because Hotaru couldn't remember to see that pyjama on one of the pictures her parents had in her thick books in the living room. Of course they had taken a lot of pictures during her childhood and showed them around with pride whenever they had guests. Real guests, not all the crazy aunts and uncles who came regularly.

Nani?

There was another picture. A picture of an older Hotaru. Surely it was herself. At the age of maybe four years or so. She laughed happily in the camera. But the persons next to her weren't her parents. No Haruka and Michiru. But other people. A young woman with long, dark hairs. She looked a little bit like Hotaru imagined herself to look one day. When she was twenty five. She loved loving at little Hotaru of four years. By her side was a man who was maybe a little bit older. Hotaru knew that man, but only from some pictures her parents showed her after she found out that she was adopted. It was her father, her real father who died when she had been a baby because of a car accident.

Nani?

But that picture wasn't logic. Whoever that woman on her real father's side was, Hotaru was too old on that picture. Her real father had been long dead when she had been four years old. She couldn't remember him, couldn't remember ever seeing him. All pictures that existed of him were together with her as a tiny baby, not as a small kid.

Nani?

Hotaru turned the photo around and stared for another long time at the neat writing she had never seen before. It looked like a woman's writing. It said: My husband, my daughter and me. My family. There was a date written in the corner of the picture. It was eight years before Hotaru's day of birth.

Nani?

Hotaru didn't understand what was happening. She didn't know that woman. She didn't understand anything at all. The girl gulped and put all the things carefully into the box again. And somehow she didn't want to know much more about that strange photo.

Again she believed to see a motion in the corner. She turned around, but her shadow wasn't there. Not the shadow who always tried to take away her family, her friends, the persons she loved. Instead of that shadow she believed to see another one. A shadow deep in her heart. That covered her soul like a thick blanket. To suffocate her. To take her into a deep whole.

It was like a shadow from another time. From a time she couldn't remember. Because it had been before her birth.

Had it been?

Hotaru took a deep breath, closed the cardboard carefully, switch off the light and went again downstairs. Closing the door carefully behind herself. She knew she wouldn't return soon. She knew she wouldn't ask her parents. She didn't want to know the truth about that strange picture.

Because she feared somehow that the truth could hurt her deeply.

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