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...

7. Chapter 6: Hide in your dreams

Chapter six: Hide in your dreams

The nice fresh water ran down her body. She had closed her eyes and enjoyed the wonderful feeling. It had been a long, another warm day of summer and she felt how her muscles slowly relaxed. Her girlfriend had her last day at school and after she confessed her report to her parents they made a long tour with their bikes. Only their. Along the beach.

I love it to be out there. To be free. Just like the elements.

She smiled.

To be there with my little darling.

Soft music filled the bathroom. Since her parents were so crazy about music, there were CD players all over in the light house by the sea. The door was opened but she didn't even hear it. Her mind was far away. Together with the music. In a world only she knew. A world she hardly had shared before. Only with her girlfriend.

Someone stepped into the cabin and shortly cold air surrounded her. But before she could open her eyes and to protest she felt those soft arms around her waist. A smile bloomed on her face and still being in her own world made of music and water she pulled her giggling girlfriend nearer and kissed her. Took her into that secret world far away from reality.

I love you, little darling.

Hotaru blushed slightly and opened finally her eyes. Chibiusa giggled again and stepped a little bit away. Her pink hairs were now wet, too and pasted to her naked body.

"Don't tell me you thought you could escape." Laughed the princess and reached for the shampoo. Soon Hotaru's hairs were full with soap while Chibiusa's hands caressed her.

"I just didn't want to stink." Answered the dark haired girl and enjoyed that gentle touch. Sometimes it was still a little miracle for her that Chibiusa really loved her. That it all wasn't just a dream she would awake the next minute. That it all was real.

"Oh... and I am allowed to stink?" sulked the princess and tried to tickle her. But as always Hotaru was faster. Before Chibiusa could react, the tall girl had pulled her closer and kissed her again.

It felt so damn good to have her princess by her side. So perfect. Feeling the other one's naked skin on her own made Hotaru shiver. So she pulled Chibiusa even closer and deepened the kiss. For a long while they stood this way. In silence. All that could hear were their quiet groans and the noise of the warm water that poured down on them.

"I always wanted to do that." Whispered Hotaru breathless and looked loving into blurred pink eyes.

"What? Kissing me?"

"That, too." Hotaru ran her hand through Chibiusa's hands, over her cheeks, over her neck and over her upper part of the body. The princess enjoyed that feeling and closed her eyes. "I always wanted to take a shower with you."

Chibiusa frowned and opened her eyes.

"But we took so many showers. When we were smaller and..." Confused she stared at Hotaru who laughed happily. Then she kissed her little darling again. This time only shortly.

"But we didn't shower this way." She declared, still laughing, and clapped carefully on Chibiusa's back. Then she pulled her again nearer and they forgot again the whole world while they kissed.

"Hello?"

Someone knocked at the door and they both separated quickly. Deeply they blushed and searched for their towels. To wrap them around their trembling bodies. Realising very late that the door was locked. That no one would come in and see them in that situation.

"What's up?" screamed Hotaru back while she stepped out of the cabin. Chibiusa stayed under the water and looked really frightened with a sudden. Still they didn't tell the others, especially not Chibiusa's parents. The princess was too afraid of how they might react, so that they decided each week to tell them the other week. And the other week they decided that it still had time another week. So the time passed and no one got to know that they were now a couple.

"What's up, daddy?" Hotaru unlocked the door and opened it a little bit. Just enough to look into her daddy's red face, but not enough so that Haruka could see into the bathroom. "You should take more sun block."

Haruka only grinned and made a face as that hurt. Of course Michiru took care that her whole family never went into the sun without that special creme, but Haruka jogged early that morning and forgot it. Michiru still slept, because it had been Sunday, and now Haruka looked like a tomato. Surely uncle Sejya would laugh out loud when he would see her. Just to be remembered by his wife that his shoulders looked the same.

Always the same show. Each summer.

Hotaru loved that show. She loved her family. But nevertheless she wasn't prepared yet to tell them the truth about her feelings towards the future queen of Crystal Tokyo.

I don't lie to them. I simply keep quiet.

Hotaru held her towel and the door determinedly tight. Haruka didn't even make the attempt to come in. She simply stood outside and rubbed her burning chin.

That's not the same, is it?

"Don't you think that this colour suits me?"

"Are you a fruit now and no one told me?"

"You little brat..."

Haruka made a face that told her that she would get no ice cream this evening, but her dark green eyes sparkled. Shortly she leaned forward to tickle her daughter. Hotaru yelped and jumped back. Laughing helplessly.

"Stop that, daddy! PLEASE!" She let go of the door and it swung open. Haruka could see how someone closed quickly the glass door of the shower. But she pretended not to have seen it.

"Are you a good girl?"

"I am. I am." Gasped Hotaru and nodded her head. Her dark hairs flew through the air and wetted Haruka's shirt. The tall blonde giggled and turned around.

"I just wanted to tell you that the dinner is ready. Lasagne. Guess you're hungry after your bike journey." Haruka stepped out of the corridor and suddenly Hotaru smelled the delicious meal her mother did magic.

"If you'll see Chibiusa anywhere, tell her that she should hurry up, too." With those words Haruka closed the door and Hotaru could hear her walking downstairs. The dark haired girl blushed deeply and sighed relieved.

She didn't notice anything.

But how long will we be able to play that game?

Chibiusa opened the door and stumbled out of the cabin. She looked suddenly very pale and with the wet towel a little bit like a drown dog. Hotaru had to smile against her concerned thought and went over to her to help her little darling. To help her drying her hairs and her body.

"Do you think your daddy knows it?" asked the princess and slipped on the wet underground. Hotaru held her tight and looked thoughtful back at the closed door.

"I don't think so."

But she wasn't sure. Not any more.

dbdbdb

"Good night, Mina-mommy." The little girl sat again up in her bed and kissed the blonde. The senshi of love covered the small body again with a blanket and kissed two burning cheeks. She just read a nice fairy tale to Mayumi and the girl liked it very much.

"Good night, my Mina-chan." Minako stood up and switched off the light. Soon the stars the put on the walls and the ceiling started to glow, making the little girl believe that there was nothing but the pure sky above. Silently the young woman closed the door and took a deep breath. Mayumi finished this school year today. From no one it wouldn't be as easy as it had been the past weeks. To hide her mommy's state of body and mind before her. To behave as if nothing happened. To behave as if everything was okay. That everything was fine, when the world stopped to turn around just a few weeks ago.

May-chan believed whenever her mother wasn't around that she was in the hospital. That she was still at work, as she had always been until late in the night. Minako didn't tell her that Ami only hide inside her room. Sitting on her bed. Staring out to the window. Watching the waves on the endless sea. For hours. Being wrapped in a warm blanket. Freezing although it was the hottest summer Japan experienced during the past ten years. Ami was always very pale and trembled. Minako didn't want that Mayumi was as concerned as she was. As the others were. Of course Ami didn't want to indict him. She didn't want to talk to the police again. She didn't even go to the doctor again after they told her that she had no serious damage. That some days of taking care her body would be the same again. Maybe her body, but never her soul.

He hurt her.

Minako swallowed hard and walked slowly over to the other door.

He hurt her twice...

The love senshi wanted to see that asshole in jail. For the rest of his life. She wanted to see him suffer. She wanted to see him dead. But the chances to win in front of court were tiny. He would indict Minako for hurting him. His right arm was broken and some of his ribs were bruised. But that was all and Minako didn't see why he should get away with that. Why there was such a big injustice on this world that they couldn't take him away. Of course Minako knew why Ami didn't want to indict him. She didn't want to see him again, didn't want to tell that cruel story again. Minako knew about all the brutal details, Ami told her a lot after the incident and even more during endless long nights they both couldn't sleep. Because of terrible nightmares. The second reason for Ami's silence was that she was afraid of his revenge when the court would speak him free. That he would really come to this house and threat and maybe even hurt her family. Her May-chan.

She doesn't want to see me in jail.

That was the third reason that drove Minako almost crazy. Ami never said it directly but Minako could see it in the other one's expression whenever she told about it.

I should have killed him!

Because although Ami behaved as if everything was over, Minako knew that it wasn't. Maybe he was injured right now, but he was still a doctor. He was still free. He still walked through Crystal Tokyo. Maybe he even worked at the hospital. Maybe they had to work again when he would be able to work again. Maybe he would try all this cruel stuff again. Maybe...

No, I can't let this happen! Not again! Not...

Minako gulped again and opened the door. As she had expected was darkness all that welcomed her. Darkness and the silent sob. Ami didn't sit on her bed now. The door to the balcony was opened and the love senshi could see her love sitting in the corner of it. Staring through the bars down to the moving sea. The half moon was shinning from a clear sky. Only some tiny clouds were moved by a warm wind.

"Ami-chan?"

The shadow didn't move. Ami kept sitting in the corner, leaning against the bars. Tears sparkled on her cheeks. Tears she was tired of herself. She didn't want to cry anymore. No tear could change the past, her nightmares. Her soul. But she couldn't help it. Whenever the memory hit her, the tears were simply streaming down her face. No matter how hard she fought against them.

"Hey, little one..." Minako sat down next to her on the ground and pulled her into her soft arms. Carefully she stroke through blue strands and kissed Ami's hairs. The young doctor first stiffed, then she gave up and leaned against the warm body next to her. "Another nightmare?"

And I hadn't been around. Damn!

But May-chan had looked so pleading at her with the thick book in her arms that she simply couldn't say no to her.

"I am so sorry..." sobbed Ami after another long time

Minako had rocked her. "I am so damn sorry..."

The love senshi rested her cheek on Ami's head and stared up to the sky. Seeing some stars sparkling there.

"Why?" she whispered and felt how the young doctor crossed her arms before her chest in a protective gesture. "You're the last one who should be sorry."

"All those years..." Ami sighed deeply and felt suddenly safe and secure in that warm embrace. As safe as she hadn't felt in her whole life before. Not since that day ten years ago. "All those years I thought I went through hell."

"But..." Minako wanted to say that this was true. That Ami went through hell. All alone. With no one to be there for her. To help her. All those years she carried that dark burden own her own. Suffered the pain secretly.

"It wasn't fair from me." Cut Ami her sentence and took another deep breath. More tears escaped her blue eyes and she simply closed them. "It wasn't fair what I pushed you through. I simply gave you the responsibility for May-chan and sometimes for me. Don't contradict it, Mina, Mayumi doesn't call you Mina-mommy without a reason. To be honest, I was glad about it. I thought I could... I could finish my studies in peace and go to work afterwards without having a crying baby that remembered me always of that day..." Ami swallowed hard and felt how she stared to freeze. Automatically Minako pulled her closer. "Most of her childhood you were there and I misused you. I simply moved to Haruka and Michiru and left her there. Sure that they would take care for her and that you would do the same. Hell, I walked to work and stayed there as long as possible to forget all this stuff. I thought, that it would get better when time would pass by. But it didn't. It got worse and... and I didn't change it. For me the nightmares got more and more seldom over the years and I started to love May-chan the way I should have loved her the way I should have loved her from the beginning on. Just you..." Ami sighed deeply and shook her head. Pressing her eyelids hard together until it hurt. "I knew your feelings but... but I never reacted. I never..." Ami gulped and sobbed again. "I knew about your feelings, Mina. The whole time. But I simply misused your feelings to bound you nearer to my daughter. It wasn't... wasn't fair..."

Again she cried, this time a little bit louder. Minako held her tighter and started again to kiss her hairs. Calming she rocked the trembling body in her arms and whispered comforting words.

"I am old enough to know what I am doing, little one." Whispered Minako. "I knew that you would never return my feelings. Call me a fool, but although I knew that it was senseless, I never gave up hope. It's not your fault, Ami-chan. I am old enough to control my life. I believed that you would love me one day, too, and so I stayed. Because of you and because of our daughter."

Minako wasn't even aware that she said our daughter. But Ami heard it. As she had heard it so many times before but always tried to ignore it.

"It wasn't fair. You had to take all that went wrong in my life. You..."

"May-chan wasn't a fault, Ami. She's the best that could ever have happened to me." Said the love senshi very quietly but very determined. "I love her with all my heart and to be her Mina-mommy is more than I ever hoped for."

"But I... I never..." sobbed Ami and took a deep breath. She gulped and coughed.

"You wanted to..." another word Minako wasn't able to say. As she hadn't been able to say so many words during the past weeks.

"Hai. I was young and afraid and I wanted to finish my studies." Admitted the young doctor and trembled even more.

"But.. how..."

"It was you who convinced me that children are a gift from god, no matter how we receive them." Laughed Ami, but it was a sad, a shaky laugh. "Can you remember that evening when you had a real bad fight with Sejya about that new song and came over to me to watch TV? To blame him for his stupidity and to ask me if the song you wrote was really so silly?"

Minako only nodded, because it had been a really bad song. Sejya had been right that evening but she had been too proud to admit it.

"We watched a documentation about prostitutes in east Europe. That the state tried to take their children away from them, because their jobs weren't very respectable." Ami smiled through her tears in memory of a raging Minako who almost kicked in her TV set. "You've been very angry that evening, Mina. You screamed at the reporter that there was always a story behind each woman. That the children belonged to them. That they surely loved their children and did everything for them. Maybe they even did that job for them. That those kids were part of them, part of their lives and part of their beings. That society should chance before condemn them." Ami sighed worn and relaxed completely in Minako's warm arms. "That evening I decided to keep May-chan. Because you were right, Mina-chan. Mayumi's not responsible for what I had done. She isn't responsible that her mother is a whore. So I cancelled the appointment and some days later I told you and the others about the child I carried."

Nani?

Minako gulped as she heard the quiet spoken words.

"Shall I wash your head, Ami-chan?" she whispered and raised her hands to wipe away those sparkling tears. They looked like diamonds on a porcelain cheek. The young doctor lost weight during the past weeks and her skin was always pale. She avoided the sun and hardly ever left her room. The others, especially Haruka and Michiru, were very concerned about her, but they couldn't help her. Not even Minako was sure if she could really help her love.

"For the last time, you aren't a w..." another word she simply couldn't say.

"A whore? But I never slept with someone I loved. I didn't indict him that time because I feared that I could fail in the exams. I bought my body this way and..." Whatever Ami wanted to say next, it quietened as Ami leaned forward and simply kissed her. Not caring that this kiss felt more like comfort then love. The young doctor didn't react. She only sat there and let it happen. But she didn't push her away like she had done all the times before – when Ami had been sober. Not dead drunk and out of her mind.

"He's an asshole and what he has done is inexcusable, Ami-chan. And one day, I am sure, he'll pay for this." Minako looked into wide opened eyes and blushed slightly. "You're a beautiful woman, Ami-chan. And May-chan is a wonderful daughter. Never doubt it. Never think in another way of your little family, Ami-chan!" Suddenly tears sparkled in Minako's blue eyes as well. "Never dare to believe that silly thought he might have put into your mind. He's the one who hurt you and you didn't deserve it in ANY way. It wasn't your fault! You said no and he pushed you further. He's the one to blame, not you, Ami-chan. Not you..." Minako pulled her closer and gulped as several tears escaped her eyes. She didn't want to cry again. Not in front of the young doctor who needed comfort, not her own sadness.

"He's the asshole who hurt my loving Ami-chan and... and I'll never forgive him. Hate him, Ami-chan. Hate him, but not May-chan. And not yourself..."

Ami blinked and turned around in Minako's arms. She raised her hands and wiped away those salty tears. The bruises and the wounds disappeared slowly on her skin during the past weeks. From her cheeks, from her arms. From her belly and her legs.

"You would never hurt me, wouldn't you, Mina?" asked the young doctor with a strange tone in her voice. She took Minako's icy hand in her own one and looked deep into blue eyes that grew wide as Minako understood what Ami wanted to tell her. What she was asking for.

"Never." She whispered finally defeated. She didn't know if it was the best, the right solution. She didn't know if Ami was aware what she was begging for. But whatever the young doctor would take from her, she would give it voluntarily. If she could help her somehow with her pain, she would do it. No matter, what.

"Do you remember what I asked you in the tent in America?" Ami blushed but there was suddenly fear in her eyes. Fear and unsafeness.

"I thought you were dead drunk."

"I shook the wine into the sand under the table." Admitted Ami and finally lowered her head. She wasn't sure if she should say any more word. So she stared at the hand she still held in her own ones.

"Then you've been sober..." Minako gulped and saw again tears streaming over Ami's cheeks. "Why?" was all she asked as she put her free hand carefully under Ami's chin and forced her to look up again. To look right into her watery eyes. "Why did you say all this stuff to me?"

"Because..." more tears wetted Minako's hand and she felt how the senshi of water gulped. "Because I wanted that it all is over. That it'll finally stop. The nightmares, the fears. I wanted to finish that dark part of my life. I wanted..." The young doctor blushed deeply but the expression on her face was even more desperate. "I wanted to know how it feels... without all this pain. I wanted to make love with you, Mina. But you, you didn't want me and... and then... I had to work again with him and everything repeated again..."

Make love.

She didn't say sex.

Minako took a shivering breath and stroke tenderly over wet cheeks.

Why didn't I see it all before? Why didn't I realise that everything Ami-chan was doing was just because of that fear in her heart? Because of that asshole? Why...?

Every thought stopped to exist in her mind as Ami suddenly leaned forward and kissed her. First very, very shyly. Then she got more brave. Minako simply embraced her again and pulled her a little bit closer. Carefully she kissed her in return. She didn't want to fright her Ami-chan. She wanted to stop whenever the young doctor would be unsure. Whenever she would try to escape her touch.

But Ami didn't. Instead she tried to creep deeper into those soft arms, felt warm hands caressing her back. Feeling how those warm hands slipped under the shirt she wore during the past day. She simply didn't feel the need to change it as dusk came. No one saw her in her room, she didn't have to be beautiful for anyone. Because she wasn't any beautiful at all.

First she stiffed under the soft touch and Minako wanted to pull her hand away, but Ami held her back. The first moves were like a whip before they suddenly changed. Into something else. Into something completely different. Suddenly they felt right. Soft. Like a loving breeze on her sore skin. It seemed to last for eternity that those soft hands caressed her. Her body as her soul. She only leaned against that warm body next to her and enjoyed the loving touches. Enjoyed the soft kisses. Until the hands reached her belly and stayed on the warm skin, feeling the goose flesh there.

"Ami?" Minako broke the kiss and looked asking into blurred blue eyes. The senshi of water raised her head and stared right into her blushed face. A tiny smile laid on her face and again tears ran down her cheeks.

"You'll never let it happen again, will you, Mina-chan?"

"Never!" It was a promise Minako would never break. Not as long as she lived. He would never ever touch her water senshi again.

Never!

They kissed again and the soft hands started again to caress the warm skin.

Never, Ami.

Never again.

dbdbdb

"Minako? Are you ready?" Haruka opened the door and stood in Sejya's studio. He fitted out one when he bought a house for his and his family some years ago. Now he and the pop singer met once a week to train and to discuss new songs. During the past weeks they didn't meet but surprisingly Minako called him up in the morning and so they sat there again. Beneath a huge CD player as always. To listen to old songs and to discuss them. Only that Sejya wasn't the one today who played the acoustic guitar. It laid now on Minako's knee and the love senshi chewed on her tongue while she tried to control her fingers and all the strings.

"It's more heavy than I thought."

"But I think you're talented enough to learn it."

"Nice to hear."

They both laughed and Haruka was relieved to see the smile on the love senshi's face. It died away as she raised her head and saw the tall blonde.

"I have to go now, Sejya." She declared and put the guitar carefully away. "We'll meet tomorrow at the same time?"

"If you want so..." the young man turned around and grinned diabolically at Haruka. "Hello, baka, what are you doing here?"

"She's my chauffeur today." Said Minako and put her bag on her back. "We want to go shopping."

"Then I wish you luck, baka." Giggled Sejya and tried to ignore Haruka's painful look. Surely she hadn't been aware that she said indeed hai when Minako begged her to help her with her heavy bags after she stumbled through different boutiques. The way Michiru could often convince Haruka. To get her agreement when she wasn't aware that she gave it.

"Do you bring something for me, too?" he had to laugh out loud when Haruka's face darkened more.

"Hai, a big, poisonous snake, baka!"

Before he could reply anything the two women were already gone.

dbdbdb

Haruka watched how Minako went silently into her room before she opened the door to her own sleeping room. It was in the middle of the night, almost dawn. She was tired and felt exhausted. But strangely satisfied.

Does Minako feel the same?

She wasn't sure. But she knew that what they had done had been right. The only thing they could have done. For Ami and for the rest of humankind.

Will it finally be over? Will he be the last youma I ever fought against in my life? The last real monster?

Haruka stripped her clothes and walked over to the bed. Her wife laid under the blankets and slept. Her sea green hairs covered her pillow like a moving wave. The dying moon shone through the opened window and the tall blonde could hear the appeasing rushes of the near ocean. No, she wouldn't feel sorry. She wouldn't regret. She had been Sailor Uranus half of her life. She fought against the worst enemies, saved the world more than once. She even sacrificed herself. She even died for their queen, for the ones she loved. For her friends. For her family.

"Your rehersal lasted quiet long, Ruka." Smiled Michiru in her sleep and turned around to embrace her lover. Silently they kissed before the sea goddess dove back into her beautiful dream.

"Hai, Minako couldn't find the right lyric for the song." Whispered Haruka and buried her face in sea green curls. "But now she found them finally."

And everything is over.

At last.

dbdbdb

"I LOVE school holidays!" laughed Helios happily and ran through the corridor. A giggling queen followed him. She tried to catch her son. To convince him that his boxer shorts were old and that he should decide for the nice swimming pant she bought him. But he liked his old shorts and didn't want to change. Especially not when they wanted to go swimming. Finally again as whole family. After all those boring political events. Right now they had one week time free to do something together. Before the next president or the next king would come. And before Chibiusa would celebrate her sixteenth birthday in August. Still they had almost two more months but the whole court was already now crazy about that big event. The same Chibiusa was afraid of it. She didn't like to be the main actor and that comedy wasn't her taste.

"You won't get me!" Helios giggled and turned around the corner.

"Maybe I am your mother, but I am not old and..." Usagi slipped but could hold her balance in the very last moment.

"But I am faster."

They both passed by Chibiusa's door that just closed behind the two girls who used their chance to escape the queen's attention. Of course Usagi had bought them some swimsuits, too. They were screaming yellow and green and they both weren't very crazy to wear them. So they simply hide in Chibiusa's room and were grateful that Helios was now Usagi's victim.

"Your mother can be really stressful sometimes." Breathed Hotaru and sat down on the huge bed. She already wore her bikini and couldn't await to go to the beach. They would meet her parents there who were with Miyuki at the doctor's office. The little girl caught a cold during the past weekend and they didn't want it to get any worse.

"Sometimes?" giggled Chibiusa and slowly went over to the bed. She stripped her shirt and her skirt until only her bikini remained and saw satisfied how her girlfriend gulped. Just to burst out into laughter as Chibiusa stumbled and fell into Hotaru's opened arms.

"I HATE those high heels!" she protested and stripped her shoes, too. With a high click they landed on the ground.

"But you look great in them." Whispered Hotaru and brought her princess a little bit tighter. "You just have to walk a little bit longer with them."

"And why do you only wear sandals then?" Chibiusa made a face but cheered up as her girlfriend kissed her nose and opened carefully her hairs she had braided to a plaid. Soon the curls fell open on her back.

"Because I'd look terrible to stumble through the world like that."

"Oh... and I don't look terrible?"

"No, you look cute."

"OH! TARU!"

With a battle scream she crashed on her girlfriend and pulled her into the soft blankets. Soon the bed was a mess and some pillows laid on the ground around it. Hotaru's bikini top followed and soon they both kissed. Giggled and kissed again.

"I am almost sixteen, Tenô-san! Don't forget that! I can't be cute." Chibiusa sat up on Hotaru's lap and grinned at the girl who laid helpless under her and looked up to her.

"For me, you'll always be cute, my little darling." Whispered Hotaru and blushed deeply. Then she burst out into laughter as Chibiusa started to tickle her.

"I am not cute! I am a lady!" insisted Chibiusa and it seemed to be great fun to tickle her girlfriend who gasped for breath and pleaded for mercy.

"Why can't a lady be cute? AH! Little darling! MERCY!" Hotaru laughed even more and tried to defend herself. She grabbed Chibiusa's hands and pulled her closer to herself. Soon they both rolled over the bed until Hotaru laid on top of the young princess.

"That's better." She said satisfied and placed her hands on Chibiusa's hips. The pink haired girl whimpered because she thought that she would be the next one being tickled. But instead Hotaru bowed down and kissed her. With all her passion. Chibiusa forgot their little argument at the instant and kissed her in return. Loving. And longing.

Again Helios ran laughing past the door, haunted by a giggling queen. Hotaru broke the kiss and looked thoughtful at the door.

"Maybe we should get dressed and search for hour towels." She said and sighed as Chibiusa caressed her bare skin. "I am sure that your mother will leave soon."

"Soon is not now." Answered Chibiusa and there was a sparkle in her pink eyes the dark haired girl got to know too well during the past weeks. "Just gimme two more minutes."

"Only two minutes?" said Hotaru indignant. "I can remember times when you took all the night for me and now..." A kiss broke her voice and she sighed again as she felt those soft hands kept moving over her goose flesh.

"This is only the beginning." Grinned Chibiusa wolfish. No one at school would have believed Hotaru if they'd told them that the cute, innocent princess could be that evil. That there could be such a devil behind the angel's face. Hotaru loved that devil. Her little demon. "Can't you remember, I asked your daddy yesterday if I am allowed to spend the next night with you." Chibiusa bowed again deeper and shortly they kissed. "I can't wait to go on vacation with you." They both smiled and kissed again. This time it lasted again a little bit longer. They convinced Hotaru's parents a long time ago. Even the king said hai. Only Usagi was unsure. She was concerned about the two girls. In her eyes they were too young to go alone on vacation. Much too young. So the two girls tried every day to convince her that nothing would happen to them. That they would take Hotaru's phone with them to call them up. That they wouldn't go that far away. Just to have a little bit peace before the next school year would start.

With every day they begged Usagi looked more and more unsure. It was only a matter of time until she would agree and then no one would be able to hold them any longer. At least for one week they wanted to be away. To enjoy that time on their own. To behave the way they really were – a young couple being in love.

"But the door..." Hotaru held Chibiusa again tight and they looked each other deep into the eyes.

"I locked it, what did you think? I always lock the doors behind myself." Chibiusa grinned again and her hairs hair fell over her shoulders as she Hotaru simply turned around so that she was again the one of top. Now Hotaru really had no chance to escape any longer. Well, she didn't want to escape. She would never run away. Not the silly way she did almost one year ago. When she understood so many things wrong. When she had been so blind not to see that her little darling felt the same for her.

"I always lock the doors so that you won't slip away." Chibiusa let go of Hotaru's hands and stroke some strands out of a deep blushed face. Then she leaned again forward and kissed her girlfriend. Deeply. With all her feelings. With all her longing.

I love you, Taru.

I love you, too, little darling.

No, they couldn't imagine their lives any longer without the other one. They belonged to each other now. As they had always done. Deep in their lives they had always known that. They had spent their childhood together, they went together to the same school. They had always been there for each other. They spent all their free time with each other. Together they learned for school. Together they raced on their bikes along the beach. Together they went swimming. Together they watched horror movies until late in the night.

And together they would spend the rest of their future.

"Small lady, we want to go in..."

Suddenly the door was swung open and the queen stood in the middle of the room. She wore a white summer dress and a big hat covered her head. Her hairs laid opened on her back and almost touched the ground. She held a huge bag in her hands and a smile covered her whole face. It died away as she stared at the two girls down in the bed. Luck and happiness was slowly but definately replaced by confusion and disbelieve. And finally blank horror.

Nani...

Her first idea was to ask the two girls what they were doing down in the bed. Between the messed blankets. Without their shirts and their skirts. But at the second moment it hit the queen. It was too obvious what the two girls had just done. They had kissed. A kiss that didn't look like a sister's kiss. Like the kind of kiss the queen had expected from her young, sweet daughter. From her little baby she was still in her eyes. Even after almost sixteen years. She would always stay her little princess. Her cute daughter.

That kiss had looked completely different. With Chibiusa's hands on Hotaru's bare breasts. Hotaru's hand had rested in Chibiusa's pink hairs and pulled her a little bit closer to herself. No, this wasn't a child's kiss any longer. It had been a lover's kiss.

The queen gulped and stared into pink and dark eyes that were as wide as her own ones. The blushed faces were pale with a sudden and a shocked expression laid on them.

A lover's kiss?

Between two girls?

Between Hotaru and my Chibi-chan?

That can't be true!

That can't be true!

That can't be true!

Usagi stared at her daughter's hand still on the other girl's body and shook her head in disbelieve.

It can't be true!

But the same time she knew that it was.

My sweet, little Chibi-chan.

Again she remembered the first time she met her daughter. When Chibiusa came from the future to find Sailor Moon. To rescue the future with the moon crystal. Again she felt the pain deep inside her heart as the young princess finally had to return again. How great had been the joy only one some months later, after they defeated Galactica, when she found out that she was pregnant. That she carried Mamoru's and her child: Chibiusa. Again Usagi saw the little bundle that was carefully put into her exhausted arms. Again she saw the tired smile on the tiny face. Again she felt how tiny ands grabbed for her big ones.

My sweet, little Chibi-chan.

Again she remembered her daughter's first tooth. Her first steps. Her first word: Taru. How she grew up. How she visited school and got a beautiful, young lady over the years. How she was so happy that she got a big brother, Helios. How nice she had looked at her fifteenth birthday. The pride of her parents and of the whole nation. A beautiful princess that would be a beautiful queen one day. Marry a beautiful prince and have beautiful children with him. Just the way Usagi lived her life. Just the way she had imagined her daughter's life to go.

My sweet, little Chibi-chan.

The way she had imagined.

The way she had dreamed.

The way she had hoped.

Usagi gulped and the bag fell loudly on the ground as her trembling hands weren't able to hold it any longer.

The way that just broke into thousands of pieces...

"You locked the door. Sure." Hotaru's voice was shaky and low. As low as Usagi had never heard it before. Still dark eyes stared at the queen. A little bit afraid. And a little bit pleading. But Usagi didn't see it. She only saw the half naked girl laying under her daughter. Still embracing her. "Now we've got the trouble."

Trouble.

That word seemed to make her body move again. Usagi stepped over to the bed. Two big eyes followed every of her motions.

Trouble.

Chibiusa winced wildly as her mother grabbed her arm and pulled her forcefully away from the dark haired girl.

"Mommy!" whimpered the princess but Usagi ignored her. She simply pushed her aside and bowed to pick up the white shirt Hotaru had wore the whole morning. Together with the dark bikini top. Both she threw at the tall girl who stared at her with fear and disbelieve. As if she couldn't believe that this was happening.

"Get out!" Usagi's voice sounded strange in her own ears. "Get out! Right now!" she raised her voice without noticing it. Still Hotaru didn't move. She simply couldn't. All she could do was to stare into the queen's tear filled eyes. Asking her dizzy mind if that all was real. Or if it was just a bad nightmare. She would awake during the next minute. Hai, she had imagined that the day when Chibiusa's parents would find out about them would be hard. But she hadn't imagined that it would be such a catastrophe.

"I said: GET OUT!" Usagi grabbed her arms and pushed her to her feet. Her clothes escaped her hands and fell again on the ground. Hotaru blinked and glanced over to her little darling. Seeing the tears running down pale cheeks. Seeing the fear, but also the endless anger. Seeing how embarrassing the whole situation was for the princess. That her mother reacted that way and not another one.

"I don't want to see you again, you dyke!"

Dyke.

That word brought her senses back. Hotaru bowed quickly for her clothes and covered her nakedness with the shirt. Her cheeks burned now in shame.

Dyke.

She had always hated that word. But to hear it out of the queen's mouth, nothing could have hurt her more. If a classmate called her that, if a stranger called her that, it didn't matter to her. But a friend. Her girlfriend's mother. The Sailor Moon they all adored... that was something she couldn't bear. Not any second longer.

The dark haired girl glanced again over to her girlfriend who looked the same shocked. Then she turned around and stumbled out of the door. Almost knocking a laughing Helios over who still wore his shorts with pride. His laugh died immediately away as he saw the tears sparkling in her dark eyes. Strong Hotaru and crying? Helios gulped and wanted to hold her back. But she only sobbed and pushed him away. Lost her bikini top but didn't care to put it up. The white shirt hang around her body like wings as she ran through the corridor. Towards the exit door.

Helios frowned and stepped into the room. To see his little sister standing near the messed bed. With the same desperate expression on her face. Only wearing her bikini. Looking shameful. And angry. In endless rage. Just like the queen who stood opposite to her.

Mommy found out.

Helios wrapped his arms around his body and suddenly he started to freeze.

She found out and didn't react the way we all hoped.

"Usagi junior! Can you give me a simple explanation of all this?" Helios froze even more as he heard the insensible voice of his beloved mother.

Usagi junior. She only calls sis by her real name when she's really, really angry.

Chibiusa clenched her fists and shook her head. Her messed hairs fell over her shoulder and her eyes sparkled with hatred.

"Talk to me! Right now!"

The princess closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.

"You've been Sailor Moon, the senshi who fought for love and justice. Are you really so blind that you don't see what's up? Are you so blind..."

"SHUT UP!"

Chibiusa gulped and bowed to get her own shirt. Slowly, very slowly she pulled it over her body.

"I'll go to take Taru back. You should be ashamed of how you reacted right now." She said quietly and wanted to go. But the queen held her back. Different thoughts were spinning in Usagi's mind and they all focused on the small bundle she once had hold in her arms. Who now become a young lady. Being in love with another one.

"You'll stay! That's an order! You won't ran after that dyke!"

Dyke?

You call my Taru a dyke?

Chibiusa fought herself free from her mother and looked at her with tears in her eyes.

"You dare to call her a dyke? HOW CAN YOU DARE?" she screamed in rage and stepped over to the door, pushing a stunned Helios aside.

"I hate you!" With those words she turned around and ran. As fast as she had never run before in her life. Her love to her Taru seemed to lend her wings. Her fear about her girlfriend seemed to lend her endless powers. Her own despair seemed to lend her the will to ignore her mother's loud shouting that she should wait. That they had to talk. That she needed time.

Chibiusa only passed the guards and the front door. Left the Crystal Palace. Her home. It felt as if she would leave it forever.

dbdbdb

Haruka fought hard with the salad. She promised to make dinner for her love. Ami and Minako went to the cinema with the kids. Haruka was relieved to see Ami a little bit happier now. She knew that it would take another long time and that the wounds would never heal. Not really. But together with Minako and with May-chan Ami would be able to live with the scars on her soul.

So the young car racer decided to cook this evening. For her love. They were alone and wanted to spend the evening at the beach. Walking along through the low water and teasing each other around. As they had done so often when they had young. When they had moved into that light house by the sea. When they had still been Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune. Searching for the talismans. Being always prepared to sacrifice each other. Being prepared to die every day. During every battle. Now that this weights was pushed from her shoulders they could enjoy such evenings much more. As they did so often during the past years. When they raised Hotaru and later on Yuki-chan. When they had been engaged and finally married.

I love her so much.

Haruka glanced over to her wife who sat on the living-room table and watched the news.

"Just switch it out, okay? And come eat." The tall blonde said and lightened the candle. She hoped that Michiru would taste her salad. Well, she couldn't have done anything wrong, could she? Because the salad was from a nice woman on the market, the sauce was from the supermarket and the wine from their cellar.

"Ruka?"

"Hm?"

"Come over and look at this."

Haruka sighed and did as her lover told her. She cleaned her hands on a tea towel whose corner was put into the pockets of her jeans and sat down next to the sea beauty. Michiru stared at the screen and the voice of the commentator got a little bit louder while she took the remote control in her hands.

"Dr. Taka Gendo, a well known specialist on the domain of heart surgery, had a bad accident the last night. As we got to know from the police, lost Dr. Taka the control over his vehicle near the beach and crashed into a deep gorge. The doctors are still fighting for his life. One, Dr. Samarusa, told us, Tokyo News 2, that the chances aren't very good. Dr. Taka lost both of his legs and lost a lot of blood." Different pictures were shown from the wreck and the gorge. The serious voice came back again. "After unconfirmed statements had the doctor been very drunk when he drove. Surely another victim of alcohol..."

Michiru switched off the TV set and for a long while they both sat there in silence.

"He's the one who..."

Haruka stared at her hands she had entwined in her lap and nodded slightly. The next moment Michiru covered those cold hands with her own ones and held them warming tight. She bowed to be able to look right into her wife's green eyes. They were a shade darker than normal and an expression laid in them Michiru hadn't seen since the time they had searched for the talismans as Sailor senshi.

"He will never do her any harm, right? As he'll never do any harm to other women." Suggested Michiru and again all Haruka did was nodding.

The wind senshi took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"He won't die. But he'll pay for what he had done. For the rest of his life."

This time it was Michiru who nodded. Then she pulled her wife closer and kissed her loving. Haruka returned it the same hungry, desperate way she had done shortly after they came back from the Marien's cathedral. After they almost lost their lives. After they had seen the other one die. After they had to sacrifice the ones they loved most.

When they stopped haunting innocent people. When they stopped harming other people. When they stopped punish demons who deserved it.

This time it had been Ami's demon.

Hopefully for all times!

They sat there for a long time. The sun slowly set and Haruka's growling stomach brought them back into reality.

"Guess we should take care for your salad." Giggled Michiru as she saw Haruka's hungry grin. It broke as the door bell started to ring.

"I won't share it with anyone else." She grumbled and went over to the door. Michiru giggled again and corrected her dress and her hairs.

"Don't be so impolite, Ruka. I am sure there's enough for everyone." The sea goddess went over to the kitchen to take care of their dinner and to put some more dishes on the table. Shortly she glanced at the watch, but it couldn't be Minako, Ami and the kids. The movie would take at least another hour and they wanted to go together to McDonald's afterwards.

Haruka still grumbled something indefinable while she opened the door. She wanted to spend this evening with her Michi-chan and now they would surely not be able to do a long walk along the sea.

So much for romance!

But the tall blonde's dark thoughts disappeared as she saw the couple standing outside. Quickly they changed into confusion and concern as she saw the tears shimmering on her queen's cheeks.

"Usagi? Mamoru?" Haruka stepped a little bit aside and let them in. "What happened?"

The queen only kept crying and even the king looked sad. Haruka heard alarm clocks in her head and gulped.

"Did anything happen to Helios? Or to Chibiusa?" the young car racer gulped again, because she knew that her daughter would be with the young princess, as she had always been. "Or to my Himme-chan."

"You can call it that way." Answered the king and Usagi cried even more. But this crying seemed to be real. It wasn't the typical Usagi crying. When Rei stole her sweets or she stumbled over a stone and fell down. This crying was more serious. And more honest.

"Do you want something to eat? Haruka made salad, but don't worry, I tasted it. It's eatable." Michiru came over to them and frowned as her partner didn't react the way she had expected. Then she saw the tears.

"Nani?"

"Is your daughter at home?" asked Mamoru and held his wife's arm as Michiru guided them over to the living room. There they sat down.

"Yuki-chan's at the cinema with the others and Himme-chan should be with you, shouldn't she? You wanted to go to the beach, right?" Haruka frowned but stood as the others sat down. Somehow she felt trapped with a sudden. Suddenly she wanted to run, as fast as she could.

"No, she ran away. Just like Chibiusa!" cried Usagi and searched for her handkerchief. "This morning she ran away but didn't return home. I thought... I thought that they would be here. That I would find my daughter here..."

"Ran away?" asked Michiru alarmed and exchanged glances with her lover who looked suddenly very, very tired. "Why should she ran away?"

"Because..." Usagi looked like a real misery. "Because..."

"Because you discovered that they're a couple." Finished Haruka the sentence for her. For a moment there was silence between them. Mamoru blinked while the queen stared with big blue eyes at the tall blonde.

"You KNEW it?" gasped Usagi finally and sobbed again. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Again Haruka and Michiru exchanged glances.

"I wanted that they come to alone to us. That they tell us about it by themselves." Haruka started to walk cross the room. To the door and back. To the window and back. "That's called trust."

"You KNEW that your daughter is gay and didn't tell us?" Usagi looked more and more shocked. The tears dried and all was remained was blank panic.

"Why should I have told you?" asked Haruka in a dangerous quiet voice, because she didn't like the way the queen and king were reacting. There was something in Mamoru's eyes that told her secretly that it was all her fault. Because she didn't educated her daughter well. Because she was a lesbian, her daughter was it now, too. Just like the princess. "That's only Himme-chan's business. She's old enough to decide whom she tells it."

"But..." Usagi sniffed and kneaded the handkerchief in her shaking hands.

"Would it have make any difference if you'd know it?" asked Michiru and her voice was politely. Friendly as always. Again there was silence. Mamoru stared at his hands while Usagi sniffed again.

"I... I" she shook helpless her head. "I don't know. I am so confused and... and..." she lowered her head and sighed deeply. Suddenly she looked again like the 14 year old Usagi they got to know a long time ago. When they were still searching for the talismans. Not like the wise queen. A shinning person who didn't shine any more. Not right now.

"I really don't know, Michiru." Sobbed Usagi and gulped. "But I know that I want to find my daughter and... and..." she cried again.

Haruka took a deep breath and came over to her. Of course it was harder for Usagi. She never expected that. That her daughter wouldn't fall in love with Helios, but with Hotaru, her best friend.

"What happened?" asked the young car racer and looked for a long while in Usagi's big, frightened eyes. "I won't yell at you, Usagi."

The queen gulped and nodded finally. Still kneading her handkerchief.

"I... I wanted to call them to go to the beach and..." Usagi closed her eyes and took a shaking breath. "I found them in the bed. They... they kissed and... and..." the queen shook her head again. "I was so shocked and so... so confused... guess I freaked a little bit. I... I screamed at your daughter to go away. To leave my Chibi-chan alone. I... I called her a dyke. I am sorry, Haruka."

The wind senshi raised her eyebrows, but didn't respond anything.

She caught them in the act?

Haruka looked over to her lover whose eyes sparkled now a little bit, too.

They should have told Chibiusa's parents personally. Maybe then the reaction would have been less... less shocking.

Haruka knew that Usagi didn't meant to call her daughter dyke. People sometimes said nasty things when they were unsure and afraid. And Usagi was now afraid like hell.

"I threw Hotaru out of the room and she ran away. Chibiusa followed her..." sobbed Usagi. "Since then we search for them. We searched everywhere, but couldn't find them. Now... now it's almost night and I am... I am concerned, Haruka."

"We simply need time to think." Said Mamoru quietly.

Haruka nodded and turned again towards the window. Staring out of it. Seeing the long beach. Hearing again her daughter's high voice, a child's voice in her ears, telling her a big secret. Her hidden place only Chibiusa and she knew. And her daddy.

"Guess I know where they are..." she said slowly and looked over her shoulder back to the still crying queen. "Just promise me one thing, Usagi."

"What?"

"Try to understand her. You'll get enough time, just try at least to accept her. You are her mother, she needs you, no matter how grown up she might be."

"That's easy for you to say, Haruka. You two are..."

We are lesbians, too.

The sentence hung in the air and Haruka nodded again thoughtfully.

"Maybe." Was all she answered. Then she grabbed her car keys and looked attentively at the others.

"Let's go."

dbdbdb

"Do you really think that this is such a good idea, little darling?" Hotaru looked doubtfully at the cliff. This was their secret place. It had been it when they had been young. In their childhood. A cave near a cliff. How long was it now, that they had visited that place the last time? Two years? Three years? Or even longer? Hotaru didn't know. She was too concerned, because slowly the sun was setting and still they had no place to go. Chibiusa got the crazy idea to sleep in the cave over the night. And then to see what to do next. The princess was determined not to go back to the palace.

"Little darling!" Hotaru held her girlfriend back. "Do you really think that this is such a good idea? Think! We have no money, nothing to eat. We have no blanket to sleep on. Hell, we don't even have proper clothes." Hotaru pointed at her shirt she was wearing. Together with the bikini pant. She didn't even have sandals any more. She left them in Chibiusa's room behind.

"No!" answered the princess and her voice was a little bit husky. She turned around and looked with tear filled eyes at her girlfriend. "She called you a dyke, Taru! I can't forgive her that!" Chibiusa shook her head. "She never wants to see you again, so she will never see me again."

Hotaru gulped and watched how her princess walked over to the cave.

Shall we go to my parents?

Hotaru gulped and wrapped her arms around her suddenly freezing body.

Will they understand us? Will they support us? Or will they condemn us just like the queen?

"Taru?" The next moment Chibiusa was by her side and embraced her loving. "Don't worry, Taru, we'll find a solution. They won't be able to separate us." Whispered the princess and smiled a sad smile. "No one will ever separate us, Taru. No one." The girl stepped on her tiptoes and kissed her girlfriend gently. "I love you."

"I love you, too." Hotaru embraced her little daring, too, brought her nearer to he trembling body.

The princess followed her when she left the palace in tears. She finally reached her at the beach and they held each other for a long time. Both crying. Then they decided to find a place for the night. To let them all in peace. To let Usagi's mother in peace. That she should find the time to think about it all. Although Chibiusa had little hope that her mother would change.

Where shall we go?

What shall we do?

Chibiusa had seldom felt so desperate. There had always been a solution in her life before. She was the princess of Crystal Tokyo, when she couldn't solve a problem, her parents could have. But right now... there seemed to be no way out.

Taru's right. We have no money, no food. No clothes. Nothing.

Chibiusa blinked her tears away and deepened the kiss.

But we have each other.

The princess didn't know what would come tomorrow. But she knew that she loved her Taru. Whatever would bring the next day, she wouldn't stop loving her.

Wind came from the near sea and played with their few clothes. They started to shiver and broke the kiss. For a long time they stared into each other's eyes.

"Better we'll go into the cave." Whispered Hotaru and kissed her girlfriend again. "I'll see if I can find wood here somewhere to make a fire."

"You still have your lighter?" Chibiusa looked stunned.

"Of course. It's in the cave under the stone. If it still works we'll have at least a little bit light." Answered Hotaru and blushed a little bit. Chibiusa only giggled by the memory of their first attempt of smoking. It had been terrible. They both had been curious and wanted to know what was so big about it. Afterwards Hotaru had been so ill, she had thrown up her last meals and laid in the corner, as pale as limestone. Chibiusa only had to cough but she felt a little bit sick, so they threw away the rest of the cigarettes and left it. All they kept was the lighter. As reminder that they would never try smoking again.

"Okay, you'll get the wood and I'll see if our old things are still there." Said Chibiusa and bowed to climb into the cave. It was smaller as she remembered. Or did she grew taller?

It's really a long time that we've been here the last time.

Chibiusa looked around and the darkness scared her a little bit. But it wasn't as scary as the thought of going home again. Facing her raging mother again. Fearing again that she would really loose her Taru.

"Taru?" she went through the darkness and stumbled over some stones. She cursed as her head hit another stone and for some moments all she saw were stars. "Where's the stone you mentioned? Here are many stones." She screamed and could hear Hotaru's far away chuckle.

"Where our kitchen was."

"Kitchen?" Chibiusa rolled her eyes but a smile bloomed on her face as she remembered all those times she had spent here with her Taru. Two little children playing to be parents. Of Chibiusa's toy bunny. Chibiusa had been the mommy who had to care for the house while Hotaru was the working daddy.

We had so much fun here.

"What for a kitchen?" Chibiusa sighed deeply and stretched her hands. She didn't want to run against a wall. She could hardly remember where everything was. The darkness confused her. Just like the water that seemed to float somewhere near.

Strange, here had never been water.

Chibiusa frowned, but she knew that this was the right cave.

Strange.

"Taru? Here's a waterfall I guess."

"Waterfall? Are you already dreaming, little darling? The water's outside." Came from far away Hotaru's voice and Chibiusa could hear some branches falling down on the stony ground as Hotaru followed her.

"But I could swear..." whispered the princess and stepped a little bit further. Just to scream the next moment. The ground disappeared with a sudden. She stretched her arms, but found no hold.

"TARU!" yelled the princess while she fell down. Only for the split of a second. Then it was over. She laid on the ground. A hard ground. It hurt like hell. Her whole chest hurt like hell and she could hardly breathe. She wanted to shout for her Taru, that the darkness scared her so much. But she couldn't. She couldn't even groan. Nothing. All she could do was to lay on the ground, hearing the water near. Feeling the pain in her body. Seeing the darkness around her that seemed to got darker with every minute.

"Little darling!"

She heard her girlfriend's concerned shoutings, but she couldn't answer her. She wanted so badly to tell her that she was here. That she was still alive. That she laid somewhere down, but she couldn't. Tears wetted her cheeks but she wasn't even able to sob.

"Little darling! Answer!"

Hotaru let go of the wood she held again in her hands and ran into the darkness. Again and again shouting her love's name. But no one answered. Nothing could be heard. Only the noise of the waterfall. Falling constantly down.

Water?

Waterfall?

Suddenly Hotaru felt how panic grew inside her chest and overtook all her feelings.

The earthquake!

There had been an earthquake in this region just three years ago. The street near the beach was damaged and they said that maybe the subterranean area was damaged, too.

Maybe the whole cave changed during that earthquake. Maybe...

"Little darling!" screamed Hotaru again, feeling tears running over her redden cheeks. Her body trembled and she stared helplessly into the darkness. "Chibiusa! Usagi junior! Little darling! Answer!"

But no one answered.

Damn!

Hotaru sobbed and searched in the stony underground for the lighter. But she didn't find it. Her hands hurt like hell but she didn't give up. She felt her blood, but she kept searching.

Surely the earthquake put it away. If it still works. If...

She sobbed helplessly.

"Little darling..."

Please! Please! Help! Anyone! Help!

At that moment she felt the cold rising inside her body. She could feel her hairs standing up in her neck. Although complete darkness surrounded her, she knew that the shadow stood right behind her. Her shadow. Her worst nightmare.

Come to me.

Again that voice. It seemed to be everywhere although Hotaru was sure that she didn't hear it with her own ears. But somehow... somehow with her mind.

Come to me and everything will be fine.

Hotaru turned around and gasped as she saw the shinning person standing, no, floating behind her. There was no shadow any longer but a girl. A girl who looked a little bit like her. She had shoulder long hairs and was maybe ten years old. She wore a strange costume and held a long thing in her hands. Hotaru needed some seconds until she realized that it was a scythe the little girl was holding. A huge scythe. A dangerous looking one.

Nani?

My shadow is a little girl?

I am whatever you want me to be. Because I am you. answered the shadow and floated slowly towards her. Hotaru gulped but didn't react.

What do you want here? What do you want from me? Why are you here?

Hotaru felt the tears running down her cheeks, saw the shinning hand that wiped them away. The touch was gently but still she was frightened.

I am your destiny. I am your future. Just trust me. Just come to me. the shadow spread her arms and wanted to embrace her. But Hotaru shook her head and stumbled backwards. She stumbled and almost lost her balance. Slowly she turned her head and saw the cliff she was standing at. Deep down there was water rushing by. In the person's light's shine she could see the figure lying down there, next to the water.

Little darling!

Hotaru gasped and went on her knees. Knowing that she wouldn't arrive her. Not right in time. The water seemed to increase and if Chibiusa wouldn't get away she would drown there.

The flood is coming.

Hotaru gulped and looked shortly around in the cave. Seeing that big parts of the ceiling came down and that there was a big whole in the middle. Showing the subterranean river. The waves looked dark and threatening.

"Can you help her?" asked Hotaru and turned again towards the shadow. Still she was scared like hell, because that shadow made her see so many loved persons who almost died. That shadow wanted to take them away from her, to leave her alone behind. But whatever that girl next to her wanted from her, she would give it to her. Because Chibiusa was more important to her than anything else in the wide world. Se was even more important than her own life.

You can help her, Sailor Saturn. Just trust me.

Sailor Saturn?

Hotaru frowned and stared at the hands that reached for her. Again. As they had done so many times before. But this time she wouldn't turn away. This time she would run as fast as the wind could carry her. This time she would remain and let it happen. Whatever it was, she would be able to take it. Because Chibiusa had to live.

Little darling...

Tears filled Hotaru's eyes again and she stretched her trembling hands finally towards the shinning girl. Seeing the smile on the young face. Seeing the love in purple eyes. Eyes that were like her own ones. Seeing her own expression in the other one's face. Seeing that the other one was the mirror of her soul.

Sailor Saturn?

Hai, that's you. A part of you. smiled the girl and bowed forward. Just trust me, Saturn. Trust yourself. said the girl and their hands touched. For a moment the girl seemed to become real. Hotaru could feel the warm palms being pressed against her own ones. She saw tears sparkling on pale cheeks. The hairs grew and the girl looked suddenly more like a young woman. Like Hotaru.

"We're the senshi of death." Whispered the tall girl and held Hotaru's hands tenderly tight. "But it's up to us to use those powers wisely. To help other people, not to hurt them."

She leaned over to the stunned girl and kissed her. It was a light kiss. Maybe a sister's kiss. Or a mother's kiss. Then she embraced Hotaru who was too confused to react. Was it real? Was that girl real? Was she real? She didn't know. But as she embraced the warm body next to her, she felt, that the girl was indeed real. At least for the next seconds. Then she was suddenly gone.

Nani?

Don't be afraid, Saturn. Trust yourself. It was not even a whisper any longer. Maybe an echo? Hotaru didn't know. She didn't care as she was lifted into the air the next moment. Her white shirt disappeared. Just like the bikini. Hotaru blushed and was ashamed that she was naked. But that feeling didn't stay for long. Because suddenly strange clothes were covering her freezing body. They were dark. Purple, black and a little bit white.

I am floating?

Nani?

Hotaru turned around, not caring what was just happening to her. Her mind was focused on only one thought:

Little darling!

Without wondering how this could be possible, Hotaru left the ground and floated to her little darling. Carefully she put the injured girl in her arms and flew over to the exit. Soon she stood in the clear night. She saw the stars sparkling over her head, felt the wind playing with the strange costume. The skirt was too short and she felt uncomfortable in those boots.

"Little darling?" she swallowed hard and looked down at her girlfriend in her arms. Chibiusa was so strange silent. So calm. So lifeless.

NO!

She can't be... NO! The shadow promised me that I am able to rescue her! NO!

Hotaru felt again tears wetting her cheeks. Without thinking she pulled the princess a little bit nearer and kissed her. Two tears ran over her cheeks and wetted Chibiusa's forehead. Suddenly a sign glowed there. The sign of a little half moon.

Little darling...

Hotaru didn't care about it. All she wanted was, that her girlfriend would be fine again. That she would live. That she would grow old with you.

Chibiusa's clothes changed slowly, too. Her own shirt disappeared and suddenly she wore another costume. It was pink and white and looked a little bit like Hotaru's.

I love you so much.

Do you know that?

I want to spend the rest of my life with you.

I love you, little darling.

I would die for you.

I love you...

Hotaru closed her eyes and kissed her girlfriend again. Not noticing that their costumes transformed into pink and purple bonds. They danced around their bodies. Entwined with each other. Their bodies started to glow. Hotaru gasped for breath as she felt the pain that seemed to torn her body away. But it disappeared as fast as it came. Chibiusa groaned in her arms and opened her eyes a little bit. Again wearing the strange costume.

"Taru?" whispered the princess and coughed. "Taru?"

"Everything's fine, little darling. Everything is fine." Whispered the tall girl and laid her girlfriend careful into the sand. "You just stumbled over a stone in the cave. Everything is fine."

Hotaru closed her eyes for a moment and thanked all gods and goddess that her little darling was fine.

"Taru? What's that?" Chibiusa pointed at the strange costume and frowned. "I am a Sailor senshi, too? I thought, I was too weak for it." She whispered and shook her head. "After I returned from the past I thought that I lost the ability somehow..."

She raised her head and stared at her girlfriend.

"And you're a senshi, too?"

Hotaru frowned and gulped.

A Sailor senshi? Me? Like Sailor Moon? That can't be true. That can't be true. That can't be...

Hotaru gulped again and rose from her kneeling position.

"You'll stay here, little darling. I'll call help." Hotaru pointed at Chibiusa's injured leg.

"No! I won't go home to my parents." Sulked the princess and crossed her arms determined before her chest. "I hate them!"

"Then come to me or to aunt Rei. We can't stay here. You..."

You almost died!

Hotaru gulped and stepped a little bit away.

"I wish I had my phone here..." she whispered and wasn't even aware that suddenly something laid in her hands. It was very heavy and very tall. But she noticed that Chibiusa's eyes grew wide and that she stared at something next to her girlfriend.

"Little darling?" asked Hotaru silently.

"What's that?" Chibiusa pointed over to the big staff, still not seeing what was happening.

They both gasped shocked for breath as they saw the huge scythe in Hotaru's hands.

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"That thing is great for Halloween, Taru." Teased Chibiusa but her giggle sounded shaky.

"Great? I look like death!" Hotaru pushed the scythe determinedly into the sand and stepped away from it. "That's not fun any more! What's this all about?"

"I have no idea." Answered Chibiusa and tried to get on her feet. But her leg hurt more than she had thought and so she stumbled back. Hotaru was by her side to hold her.

"Go away from my daughter, senshi of death!"

They both turned away and saw Usagi standing there. No, not Usagi, but Sailor Moon. Just the way Hotaru had heard it from her parent's stories. As she had seen it on some photos they took secretly during the past fights. The tall girl had always adored the senshi for love and justice. But today she only hated her.

"Don't touch her!" she screamed and stepped between her daughter and Hotaru.

Nani?

Hotaru stumbled backwards and almost crashed into the huge scythe.

Was is going on? Where did she come from so suddenly? Why did she transform?

Hotaru gulped and felt how dizziness waited at the rim of her eyes.

Why did I transform? To whom? Sailor Saturn? Really? Is that true? Why?

"You killed us twice. It's enough, do you hear me, Saturn? I won't let this happen again! Just because you are desperate you can't destroy the universe again!"

Nani?

I shall destroy anything?

Hotaru felt more and more dizzy. She wanted to find hold on her scythe and to rest a little bit until she would feel better.

"Don't touch the scythe! Don't touch it! Or you'll regret it, you glow worm of death!"

Hotaru's eyes grew wide as she saw the grail in Sailor Moon's hands. She had heard a lot about that special weapon.

Does she want to use it?

Against me?

"I'll kill anyone who touches my daughter!" suddenly a shadow stood right in front of her, holding what looked like a sword in her hands.

Daddy?

Hotaru frowned. That was indeed her daddy. But Haruka wore such a costume, too. Hers was blue. Blue and white.

My daddy in a short skirt?

If the situation hadn't been that scary and confusing, Hotaru would have surely laughed.

"But she's Saturn again. She woke up again. She's not your Hotaru any longer." Answered the queen and held her daughter back who tried to come over to the tall girl.

"Taru!"

But she was too weak, her leg hurt too much, than to push her mother away.

"She's my daughter, no matter, what you say, Sailor Moon."

"But she'll use her bad powers to..."

"Bad powers? I raised her with all my love, be sure, she won't harm anyone. She'll never be the lost soul again she had been seventeen years ago, Sailor Moon. Shit! You were the one who gave her a second chance. Who gave her back her life. Why don't you trust her any longer? Just because she loves your daughter?" shouted Uranus and her voice was very angry. She had clenched her fists and looked like an angel of revenge. Who ever wanted to pass her to go to her daughter, had first to fight with her. And Hotaru knew suddenly that it was very hard to defeat her daddy.

Nani?

A second chance?

Giving back life?

Harming anyone?

Nani?

Hotaru held the scythe tighter, because her legs seemed to give in her weak body.

"It was never supposed that she lives with you. We wanted her to be with her father and to hope that she will never awake again."

"But her father died and I adopted her. You were satisfied then, Usagi. Give in, you wanted that she has a nice home and shit, we gave her one. You liked her to be around with you in your palace! You liked that she was your daughter's best friend. Why the hell can't you just like her the way you used to do before you found out that she loves your daughter?"

There was pain in green eyes. Pain she had never seen there before. The same pain Hotaru saw in blue ones.

"Please, Haruka, don't make it harder than it is." Whispered Sailor Moon and closed her eyes. Tears sparkled behind her lashes. "I swore to protect this world. But she's Saturn, she's a threat for all of us. I have to take care that this tragedy never happens again."

"Fine!" Haruka spread her arms protectively before the tall girl. "Then you have to kill me first. I won't go away, Usagi. You know that. The same way you would never go away from Chibiusa!"

"I gave birth to her!"

"That has nothing to do with it!"

Two other shadows appeared. Neptune walked over to Uranus while Mamoru was next to Sailor Moon's side.

"Let's go home, honey." Said the senshi of the wide ocean and smiled loving at her wife and her daughter. "Guess there's a lot we have to explain."

"Let's go home, darling." Mamoru took carefully the grail into his hands and looked for a long time into tear filled eyes. "We need to talk." More tears streamed over Usagi's cheeks and she transformed back into the queen.

"But... but..." she stammered and pointed again over to Hotaru who still held tight to the scythe. "She's the senshi of death and destruction. She once almost killed our daughter, can you remember?"

"Lies!" screamed Chibiusa and tried to get out of her mother's touch. "Lies! Taru would never hurt me! Never!" The princess looked up to her mother and shook her head in disbelieve. "She loves me. She would never hurt me. Never! Do you hear me, mommy? Never! Because we love each other!"

Love...

Hotaru held the scythe even tighter and gulped. The world seemed to vanish away. The voices died and all that remained was silence.

Raging silence...

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She was in an ancient palace. Thousands stars sparkled from an endless sky. But there was no moon. Instead Hotaru could see the earth shinning there.

Nani?

She turned around and saw a woman standing there. She cried. Hotaru gulped as she recognized that this woman was her daddy. Her beloved Haruka who stood there in the strange costume. Looking down at two persons lying on the ground. It were Usagi and Mamoru. But they were younger. Maybe only fifteen or sixteen. Not older than Hotaru self. They laid there on the ground. In a red lake. In their own blood. A knife was still in Usagi's stomach. She had killed herself.

Hotaru opened her eyes and wanted to scream, but she couldn't. All she felt was, how she came slowly over to her daddy. Who looked at her with so much pain in her eyes Hotaru had never seen before.

"I was too late." Sobbed Uranus and crossed her arms before her chest. "I was too late. As I was too late to rescue the others. Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Mercury. Pluto. Neptune... Michi..."

No!

Mommy can't be dead!

No!

But one look into empty green eyes told her that it was true. Uranus had lost her soul mate in the final battle. Against the evil. Whoever that was.

Hotaru wanted to scream, but still she couldn't. All she could was to go over to her daddy. To kiss away those salty tears.

"What will you do now, Saturn?" Uranus' voice was insensible. As if she already stopped to live.

"You'll see her again." She heard her own voice that didn't seem to belong to her any longer. Then she turned around and lifted her scythe.

Uranus screamed.

Then the world stopped to exist.

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She stood behind a glass wall. Looking down at her mother talking to her father. She laughed and wanted to go to them. To show them the nice flowers she collected. Although she knew that flowers weren't allowed in the laboratory where her father worked.

With her unsure steps she went downstairs. But as she opened the door, she heard the bang. She was pushed away, could feel the fire around her. Could hear its crackle. Could feel the pain in her body. She wanted to scream, but she was too weak for.

The fire got stronger and stronger, took away her breath. Tiredly she closed her eyes. The last thing she felt was how her father's arms embraced her carefully.

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"The others don't like me, daddy. They hate me. They think that I am a witch." She cried and walked over to her father who sat in an armchair. "I have no friends, daddy. I feel so alone."

Her father only smiled and took her on his lap to rock her.

But he didn't listen. Not really. He didn't help her.

So the feeling, being alone and unloved, stayed in her soul. Forever.

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It was nice shady under the tree where she sat. Reading a book. She just took her medicine and knew that she wasn't allowed to do other things than sitting down and reading. It was a nice book though, but she would rather played with other children at her age.

But she was too weak. She was a freak. No one liked to play with her. No girl in her neighbourhood wanted to share her free time with her. Most of them were even afraid of her.

She sighed deeply but raised her head when she heard the angry voice.

"My hat! There flies my hat! Please, help!"

Nani?

Little darling?

Hotaru recognised her girlfriend and without thinking she stood up and caught the head.

"Arigato!" smiled Chibiusa at her and grabbed her hand. "Do you wanna be my friend?"

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Everything hurt inside her body. She could hardly breath, hardly move.

"Hotaru? Are you alright?"

She turned her head and saw her little darling sitting there in the semi darkness of a room she didn't know. But she knew in the instant that it was her own room. In her father's room.

Alright?

I am dying.

She knew it.

But I am not dying alone. My little darling is here.

At that moment the door was opened and a red haired woman came and took the screaming Chibiusa away.

No!

Not!

Please!

She wanted to shout. To scream. To beat around her. But all she could do was to see helpless how the door was closed again.

No...

Hotaru gasped hard for breath. Knowing that she would die alone.

All alone...

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She was already dead. She knew it. But still she wasn't gone. Still she was on earth. Wearing the strange costume she didn't know.

Little darling.

Hotaru saw her girlfriend lying in the huge bed. With Mamoru by her side. To keep her alive.

It's all my fault.

She sobbed and flew over to her love. Stroking shrunken cheeks. Finally giving her back her heart crystal.

I almost killed her.

"I am sorry." She whispered and bowed to kiss her little darling for the last time. There were tears in her eyes as she turned away and left her little darling.

For ever.

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"You can't do that!" Sailor Moon looked terrible. Hurt and desperate. Her fuku was torn and blood covered her naked legs and arms. Still she fought. She would never give up. That was simply her nature to fight until the end. To fight until right now.

"I have to do it. The time is come." Said Hotaru in that voice that sounded so strange in her ears. "Gomen..."

She raised her scythe again. Swung it to the ground. She heard how her parents, how Uranus and Neptune screamed. How Sailor Moon raised the grail and screamed, too.

Then there was darkness.

Nothing than darkness.

And silence.

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Hotaru didn't know how long she was in that darkness. In that silence. There were words around her. Whispering excited. Laughing. Giggling. Someone took her into strong arms and rocked her. As if she was a little child.

"Himme-chan..." she heard her daddy's loving voice near and heard a high child's laughter in return.

"We'll be great parents, won't we, Ruka."

"Hai. And be sure, she'll never have to suffer again. She'll be Sailor Saturn one day, but she won't be the senshi of death any longer, Michi. Then she'll be the senshi of rebirth."

Hotaru felt how soft lips kissed her cheeks so gently.

Then she sighed and let go in the darkness around her.

It's true.

It's all true...

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"I can't believe that you behave that way!" snapped Uranus and showed her right fist towards Sailor Moon. As she had done so many times before. When they still searched for the talismans and thought that Sailor Moon and her team would only hinder them.

"The same for you!" cried Usagi, still holding her daughter tight.

"Uranus! Sailor Moon! Stop fighting!" said Neptune and Tuxedo Mask with one voice.

"We'll go home, have a nice hot milk and talk about it!" said the king and nodded towards Neptune.

"Okay, but first, let's take our kids to bed."

At that moment Saturn sighed and collapsed into the now cold sand.

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"Did you feel that?" whispered Ami and opened her eyes. They were in the temple. It got later than they thought after the cinema and MC Donald's and so they decided to sleep in one of Rei's guest rooms. The children were already asleep. Just like Minako. Only Ami turned around from one side to the other. This time it weren't her normal nightmares haunting her down. This time it was a strange feeling inside her. As if someone called her.

A new force?

A new senshi?

Ami gulped, because she had that feeling before in her life. Only once...

"What?" asked Minako sleepy and pulled her arms around her girlfriend to bring her nearer to her warm body.

"Something happened that night." Whispered Ami thoughtful, but Minako was already asleep. Ami only smiled and let her sleep. They were awake the past nights because of a really terrible nightmare. She talked the whole nights to her and the young doctor knew that even the wild pop singer needed some sleep time by time.

I need to call Usagi tomorrow.

Ami gulped as she felt how Minako's hand rested on her belly. Remembering that there was something else that haunted her down. Something that was more real than her nightmares.

And I need to call her up.

Once again.

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Chibiusa sat on her bed and cried silently. Her parents were still at Haruka and Michiru's house. To discuss as they told it.

Hah! They only want to separate us!

They want to take Taru away from me!

She couldn't sleep although she was tired. She feared that nightmares would be haunting her down. She feared that she wouldn't wake up again. She feared that they would take away her Taru while she was asleep.

I wanna be with my Taru!

Chibiusa sobbed quietly and brought her legs to her chest. She wrapped her arms around her knees and stared desperately at the ceiling. Seeing the eagle flying there over the mountains.

I can't live without my Taru.

It was alike to the princess if her girlfriend was the senshi of death. It all happened in the past, it was over. Why couldn't her mother just trust Hotaru? She trusted everyone, why not the tall girl?

I don't want to live without my Taru!

Chibiusa turned her head a little bit and stared for a long time at the knife that sparkled in the light of the bright stars that shone outside her opened window.

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"It's okay, Usagi." Haruka embraced the queen shortly and stroke her friendly over her blonde hairs. "We all do crazy things when we're afraid." She let go and looked into big blue eyes. They talked for the last hours and made their things clear. Usagi reacted, well, how a concerned mother would have reacted and now that she found time to think about her behaviour, she felt ashamed and helpless.

Haruka heard how her wife talked quietly with the king and the queen and smiled.

We just need to talk to the kids and then hopefully everything will be fine.

The tall blonde knew that there would be a lot of problems coming to the two girls, but Usagi would be able to accept their relationship. The queen simply needed time. Maybe some days, maybe some weeks more and she would be the old Usagi again. She loved Chibiusa and didn't want to hurt her.

We'll be able to handle it.

Haruka sighed and opened the door to her daughter's room. The girl had slept the whole night, but now in the light of the new born day she could see that Hotaru sat on her bed, staring with big eyes at the covered mirror. Tears sparkled in her eyes and her whole room seemed to be covered with the sun's red light.

"Himme-chan?"

The girl winced wildly as Haruka sat down next to her. Without thinking she embraced her and held her tight as Hotaru wanted to escape.

"Whatever you think right now, you'll always be my Himme-chan. I'll always love you, is that clear?" asked the tall blonde and her daughter nodded. Then she stared again at the mirror.

"Then it's true. Everything is true. I am that Saturn and I killed you all. Twice..."

"That's the past. But you can determine your future, Himme-chan." Haruka stood up and put the blanket away from the mirror. Hotaru gasped but all she saw, was her own reflection. A pale girl with messed dark hairs. With red eyes and tears streaming over her cheeks.

"You saw her in the mirrors, right?" asked Haruka silently, asked herself, why she didn't go to her daughter sooner.

Have I been afraid?

Of what?

Of hurting her?

Of hurting myself?

Hotaru only nodded and gulped.

"She showed me all the persons who were about to die. Persons I loved."

Haruka sat again down next to her and her hands rested on her shoulders. Calming. Comforting. Loving.

"Just like uncle Sejya?"

Hotaru nodded and finally lowered her head.

"Just like mommy. Just like aunt Ami. Just like you."

"Just like your grandpa?"

"Hai." Hotaru clenched her fists. "I couldn't help him. Just like Helios' parents."

Again she was pulled into that soft embracement.

"But you could help the others. You could safe them, Himme-chan. That power isn't evil. It is very, very good, Himme-chan. You can save persons with your power. Maybe you're strong enough to destroy the world, but you don't have to."

Haruka took a deep breath and pulled two pictures out of her pockets.

"That's you when you were four years old." She whispered and showed Hotaru a picture of herself. A little girl in her real father's arms. With the dark haired woman by their side. "This photo is now almost 25 years old. I found it in your father's things when we had to empty his flat." Hotaru took the photo with trembling hands and looked at it. Then she looked at the other photo in Haruka's hands. "This is you when you were four years old, Himme-chan. This photo is now 13 years old." It showed a laughing Michiru with a happy girl on her lap. They both sat on a wooden horse on a roundabout. Haruka stood behind them, her hands on Michiru's shoulders. Looking loving down at her family.

"It's true. You died during that fight, because you tried to destroy the world. To let it be reborn again. Sailor Moon could hinder that tragedy. She gave you a second life and after your real father died, Michi and I decided to adopt you." Haruka looked directly into watery eyes. "We never regretted that, Himme-chan. You're the same way our child Yuki-chan is. You're a senshi, too, just like Michi and I. But I am sure that you'll use your powers wisely."

"Chibiusa fell into a gorge and I wanted to rescue her..." whispered Hotaru and looked still at the photos. They looked old and used. Surely Haruka had them always in her pockets. "That was when I transformed..."

I love her so much.

Arigato, daddy.

"May I keep them?" she waved the pictures and her daddy nodded.

"Of course, Himme-chan. And believe me, everything will be fine. Aunt Usagi is simply confused. Leave her her time and she'll accept it."

Hotaru gulped and stared at the picture in her shivering hands.

"Do you accept it? You and mommy? That I love a girl? That I love the princess of Crystal Tokyo?"

Haruka was silent for a moment and looked thoughtful at her daughter.

"You do really love her, don't you?"

"Hai."

"And she loves you, doesn't she?"

"Hai."
"Are you happy with her?"

"Hai."

Haruka pressed her daughter gently.

"Then we're happy, too." The tall blonde giggled. "Just don't worry when your mommy behaves a little bit crazy. Because it's always hard for parents to let her children go when they grow up. For her you're still a little baby."

Hotaru chuckled, it was the first happy sound from her the whole evening.

"You still have Yuki-chan. She's only six and will annoy you for at least the next ten years." Hotaru put the pictures away and now she grinned openly. "And I've seen the letters on the kitchen's table." Suddenly there was curiosity in purple eyes. "Do you really want to have another child? I mean, mommy and you?"

Haruka blushed and cursed herself why she didn't put them away.

Who else did read them, too?

Maybe Sejya?

Against her will she had to grin, because still she heard his groans that he wouldn't be able to live with another Haruka junior.

"Do you want another sister, Himme-chan?"

"How about a brother?"

"You know my relation towards men."

"Whatever makes you and mommy happy, makes me happy, too." Hotaru giggled.

Haruka nodded and rose from the bed.

"Do you want to talk to aunt Usagi in peace again? She sits downstairs and drinks hot milk."

Hotaru nodded and stretched her body.

"Guess you're right. She's now kinda mother in law, right?"

"Don't you tell that your mother, Himme-chan. Otherwise Michi will go crazy and search the wedding dress with you this very day."

They both chuckled and Hotaru turned around to get a pullover. She froze because of the lack of sleep. Her eyes met her mirror's reflection. Again she felt the cold raising inside her body. But there was no shadow. There was only her reflection. In that strange sailor fuku. Holding the scythe tight. Pointing with it at the person lying on the ground. Lifeless.

You have to help her.

"Chibiusa!"

The scream could be heard all in the house.

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She didn't know how fast they arrived the Crystal Palace. Normally it would have taken them half an hour, Haruka didn't even seemed to have needed five minutes. The wheels screamed as she came to an halt. They jumped out of the silver car and ran towards the entrance door. Chibiusa's parents and Michiru were behind. They weren't as fast as Hotaru and Haruka. They weren't as fast as the wind.

"Shit!"

Hotaru cursed as she found the door closed.

"Shit! Little darling! Chibiusa! Open the door!" she screamed. Not caring that she would wake up the whole palace. Not caring that some guard came running towards them. She shook at the knob and kicked at the door. Nothing happened.

"Let me try." Whispered Haruka and Hotaru stepped a little bit aside. She kicked against the door, but again nothing happened. The tall blonde cursed under her breath and raised her henshin. Just two seconds later Sailor Uranus stood there. Raising her hands, forming a ball with them.

"Earth shaking!" the door was pushed opened and a chair flew across the room, crashed against the wall.

She didn't only lock herself?

She also barricaded herself?

Hotaru gulped and slowly stepped into the room. Not noticing that her clothes transformed, too. That not Tenô Hotaru crossed the room, but Sailor Saturn. She didn't hold her scythe tight, but it floated next to her. Always there in the case that she had to use it.

Little darling?

The dark haired girl gasped and tears sparkled in her eyes as she saw her girlfriend lying on her bed. Lifeless. As if she was sleeping. She had covered herself with a blanket and turned her head towards the window. Her eyes were closed. Her fingers were entwined with another and first Hotaru didn't see the spots on the wide blanket. Growing bigger with every second.

The light was switched on but Hotaru didn't notice it. She only stared at the red lake that evolved under her darling's hands. Saw Chibiusa's blood dirtying the blanket.

NO!
"No..." whispered Hotaru and was the next moment by her love's side. She embraced her, pulled her into her arms. Saw the deep cuts in Chibiusa's wrists. A knife fell jingling to the ground as she moved her love's lifeless body.

Lifeless?

Still Hotaru breathed. Still her chest moved. Still Hotaru could feel her heart beat. Weakly, but there.

When did you do that silly thing, little darling?

Hopefully only some moments ago.

Please, live, little darling.

Don't leave me like that!

I love you, don't ya know?

I love you so much!

Hotaru felt hot tears burning in her eyes. She thought at all those wasted years. When she didn't tell her best friend how much she loved her. When she misunderstood Helios' place in the palace and ran away to America. Again she saw Chibiusa's blushed face at that Christmas Eve when she gave her that fairy tale book. When she declared her her love a little bit after. When they finally shared their first kiss.

You aren't allowed to leave me now, little darling? Can't you hear me?

There're so many things I wanted to show you. To tell you. To let you know.

Please!

Again she saw her little darling again at the swimming pool. Falling into it. Again she remembered the first night they shared together by the lake while they were camping in America. Again she saw her princess on the stage. Only singing for her. Again she felt all those soft touches, tasted again all those sweet kisses.

Don't hide in your dreams, little darling!

Come back to me!

Don't hide in your dreams, love.

Not, when life is the greatest dream of all!

Somewhere Haruka shouted that they should call an ambulance. That they should hurry up, somewhere had to be the king's private doctor. That it was really an emergency. Somewhere far away Usagi started loud to cry. But Hotaru didn't take care of them.

Little darling.

I love you.

Don't ya know?

Hotaru closed her eyes and held her girlfriend tighter. Feeling the power that flew through her body. Through her arms. In her hands. Over to Chibiusa's arms she held so tight. Desperately to stop the bleeding.

I love you more than my own life.

I want to share eternity with you.

Don't ya know?

Pain flashed through her body but she didn't let go. She felt the scythe right by her side, felt the shadow sitting next to her. Endless power filled her whole world. Together with a soft melody. A melody without real music. It was there. In her head. Only in her head. In her world. In the world only she knew. She had never shared before with anyone. Only with her little darling.

I love you so much.

Don't ya know?

Don't ya know?

Hotaru pulled her girlfriend tighter and her forehead seemed to stand on fire.

Hai, I know.

I love you, too, Taru.

There was another glowing. A golden one. She could see it through her closed lashes. Could see the light that filled the whole room. A golden light being mixed with a purple one. Wind played with her clothes and again she felt the ribbons around her body. Slowly embracing her little darling, too.

Hai, I know, Taru.

I want to spend eternity with you.

The pain vanished and all that remained was a pleasant, warm feeling. Hotaru sobbed silently and her whole body trembled from the effort.

I will never hide in my dreams again, Taru. Never. Not without you.

I know that you love me.

And I love you, too.

She felt how hands touched her own ones. Slowly she opened her eyes and looked at Chibiusa's hand stroking her fingers. There was still blood on the blanket, but the wounds were gone. The skin of both wrists was soft and a little bit pale. As if it was never touched before.

"Little darling..." whispered Hotaru and stared for a long time in pink eyes. Not noticing that Usagi fainted. Not noticing that the doctor finally arrived and Haruka yelled at him why it took him ages.

All she saw was her girlfriend who laid still in her arms. They were both naked, only purple bonds covered their bodies. Their hairs were messed and they both looked really, really tired.

"Taru..."

They both smiled at each other before they kissed.

Nothing will ever tear us apart.

Nothing.

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