Queen Hotaru Tomoe of Saturn ran her thumb along the armrest of her throne, a violet stone that symbolized the very weight she bore on her shoulders. From her heightened pedestal, her gaze remained on the double doors at the very end of the chamber, not looking, but looking nevertheless. She allowed her eyes to flutter momentarily when a minister stood from parliament, but did not dare to close them as she leaned back and pressed her spine flat on the cool granite as a sorry attempt to fight off the cruel, malicious summer heat.
"The provinces are bickering again," the minister informed, almost complained. "The states-"
"The borders remain as they are," she commanded, and a silence settled onto the legislature eerily.
None of her ministers, numbering in the hundreds, dared to challenge her will, and Hotaru knew that it was more than out of respect for her, but also out of fear. The way she was situated on her throne, with her straightened spine, levelled shoulders and her chin just so, Hotaru appeared just as stone-like, just as irrevocable, as the chair itself. She was like a statue, however doll-like, demanding the worship of her followers.
When faced by her extravagant congress and more-than-capable ministers, the queen had to display a show, a rouse, to convince these men and women that she was worthy of being their ruler. It was not only through might had she been named their queen, not only through destiny that they were to lay their lives before hers, but also through worthiness, through wisdom, through experience tenfold of theirs.
Hotaru played the role of queen well, just as well as she played protector and guardian.
She felt a drop of sweat snake its way down the back of her neck and restrained a sigh. The throne room, although equipped with the newest cooling system, was stifling, humid and as oppressive as the dark chambers of Titan Castle. Hotaru had wanted to wear something light, perhaps a skirt just below her knees, but protocol called for trailing silk and heavy white gold accessories that burdened her small neck and wrists. It was one of the reasons why she did not move on her throne – because she was shackled under all that jewellery.
The finance minister cleared his throat and stood from his seat. "Your majesty, I know I have wrung this subject dry, but I insist upon new export taxes!"
If Hotaru had the liberty, she would have liked to spear him through with her glaive. For half a year, her finance minister had been "insisting" upon new taxes that Hotaru's patience was growing short, if not short already.
"I do not see why," the minister continued, a tad spitefully, "we must give all our natural resources away so cheaply, when the Inner Planets do not give back!"
"Here, here!" the parliament chorused just as self-righteously.
Hotaru closed her eyes briefly to restrain the ache in her head. The problem with her legislature's enthusiasm over the matter was that a part of her, a very small part of her, agreed with their complaints. The fact of the matter was that Saturn's natural resources were not only rare and rich, but endless. Literally endless. Saturn was the second largest planet in the Milky Way, and underneath all that gas was dark, obelisk stone, perfect for city buildings, statues, memorials – and it had properties that allowed it to last longer than any other stone in the solar system – and it was self-perpetuating. Certain rocks on Saturn expanded and grew at an alarming rate.
Thus, the Inner Planets desired this resource. In fact, they coveted it. It was more sound than cement, more beautiful than steal, and the dark stones of Saturn changed hues and sometimes colours under certain conditions. But the problem with this trade was that there was nothing Saturn wanted from Mercury or Venus or Mars or Jupiter. Only Earth had anything worthwhile – the holy crystals, the ones that Crystal Tokyo was composed of, that Saturnians wanted for simple reverence of the Silver and Golden Crystals. Everything else – exotic foods, exotic clothings, exotic trends – Saturnians gladly did without.
For there was a very distinct cultural difference between the Inner and Outer Planets. The Inner Planets, although lacking resources, were skilled at industry and crafting and, most of all, indulgence and lavish desires. For the Outer Planets, the people had learned from even before the Silver Millennium that they were the first to defend the Silver Moon. Thus, the people had learnt to harness their natural resources, learnt to get by without all that glitz and glamour, learnt to pick up the nearest weapon to defend their Queens and Mother Queen. For the Outer Planets, Saturnians, Neptunians, Uranians and Plutonians did not need more than they could consume. They were happy and more than glad to live with the barest necessities and only every now and again indulge in something sweet and pretty.
But the people were getting dissatisfied – Saturnians were getting dissatisfied by this gross unevenness of wealth between them and the Inner Planets. Although they did not want a lot of extravagant parties or chocolate fountains, Saturnians wanted fairness. More than anything, Hotaru would love to give her people more pay, more festivals and more simple luxuries, like thicker cream for cakes or better funding for the arts.
However, Hotaru was also bound by duty to the Crystal Palace, to the beautiful, vibrant colours of the blue Mercury, orange Venus, red Mars and green Jupiter. She had a duty to provide the best comforts she could to her queen and king and princess. The Inner Planets had never known the seclusion and bitterness that Saturn had faced these past millennia, the fear that perhaps the dropping of the glaive could end them all. The Inner Planets could not hope to survive without Saturn's resources.
"I have spoken to the ministers of Pluto!" the foreign minister burst. "They, too, are unhappy with their trade with the Inner Planets!"
Pluto and her vast resources in agriculture, the beautiful golden plains of wheat and the emerald hills of rice stalks. The small planet had always been the breadbasket of the Milky Way… but even a child knew that soon Pluto's soils would be exhausted.
Hotaru finally broke composure to rub her forehead irritably. She was not happy to discover that her ministers were moving on their own and forging alliances behind her back. Although, in retrospect, the friendships between the Outer Planets was not something she should be upset by.
"Enough," she said.
Although quiet, Hotaru was happy to know that all her ministers responded attentively. They knew that although she spoke softly, her speaking at all was enough to silence them. In fact, many times she was glad to find her ministers revere her in ways she had rarely seen a minister from the Inner Planets treat their queen as such. Or rather, the Inner Courts, including the Earth and Moon at times, revered their sovereign partially out of their beauty and refinement, but with the Outer Courts, reverence had been earned from bloody battles, sharp strategies and desperate need for survival.
The Inners could have their fairy lights and tinkling music, but the Outers would take their hard-earned friendships and simple honesties any day.
"I understand your plight," Hotaru addressed her parliament. "I share the same plight." The elected men and women nodded approvingly. "However, the fact that the Inner Planets lack natural resources is a concern to the whole of our solar system."
The ministers got uppity, and even one of the female ministers cried out, "But that is because they did not take care of their own resources!"
"Here, here!"
Hotaru raised a hand for silence and the legislature stood down and several bowed their heads.
"There will be no new taxes," Hotaru finalized, and the hard edge of her tone was not lost to the chamber. "I believe this concludes today's session. Dismissed."
With that, Hotaru stood from her throne and her parliament followed reluctantly. She had silenced them, almost as sharply as her glaive, but they chose to remain so out of their esteem for her. But tomorrow, Hotaru knew, they would do battle again.
Her ladies-in-waiting were at her side as she descended from the pedestal and trailed after her while she crossed the chamber and out the door. No sooner was she out of sight from her ministers did Hotaru hear disgruntled talks from the parliament before the doors closed on them. Sighing, the queen gave a grateful smile to her maids as they stripped her of the decadent, heavy gold and amethysts. Amethysts: another beautiful natural resource of Saturn's – even the pride of Saturnians for the precious mineral did not mature as fast as other mineral on Saturn.
"Green tea, your majesty?" a maid asked, adorned in a lighter violet dress to match her queen.
Hotaru and her entourage made their way down Titan's halls and into the private wings of her majesty's, and Hotaru gave a nod. "With ice, if you would be so kind."
Two maids bowed and separated themselves for the kitchen just as another stepped up to inform Hotaru, "Her majesty, Queen Setsuna of Pluto is waiting in the Lantern Room for you."
To Hotaru's credit, she did not hesitate in her steps while entering her private chambers, making for the bath to strip her of the summer sweat. "My father?"
The maid bowed. "The Dowager King is in the middle of his lecture."
So her father was still at the university, which meant that Setsuna-mama was here to see her alone. Taking off her dress, Hotaru slipped into the cool bath and sighed. Finally – finally – Setsuna-mama was ready to talk. For more than half a year Setsuna-mama had been avoiding her, and Hotaru understood that the poor woman thought she disapproved of her relationship with her father.
Hotaru dipped her hair into the water as a maid rained down white lily petals into the bath. No matter how many times she had tried to explain it to her mamas and papas, Hotaru was completely fine – more than ecstatic actually – to see Setsuna-mama and Souichi-papa together. She was only frustrated because of politics and a little injured by the actions of a fairy boy.
She emerged from the bath a little too aggressively, and was quick to apologize to the maids whom she splashed. Fortunately, her personal maids were compassionate and were trained from very young to serve her unconditionally. All sixty-two had come from the noble families of the sixty-two Saturnian moons. Although at first Hotaru had been wary of these young women, they were quick to form friendships and sometimes chattered about the most unimportant of things. But Hotaru found such times, such simple innocent talks, refreshing after an overwhelming session in parliament.
"Yellow or pink, milady?" a maid asked with a perky smile as she held up two cotton dresses.
Hotaru smiled at the colours, both in a crème with coloured accents and both cotton instead of the tight silk, and wanted to cry because something was actually going right this day. Her maids understood that although purple was her favourite colour, sometimes Hotaru needed others.
"Yellow," she replied, and gladly lifted her arms and let the knee-length dress fall over her hips.
"Nervous?" another maid asked, drawing a few strands of Hotaru's hair to the side and clipping them in place with a yellow topaz barrette.
"Does she seem nervous?" Hotaru enquired.
Her maids stepped back and gave her a stumped look. One could not read a planetary queen if she did not want to be read.
"I see," Hotaru said, slipping on cotton-yellow flats. "Yes, I am nervous. It seems that lately everyone is stepping on broken glass around me."
The maids nodded and one commented, "You haven't been looking well, your majesty. Do you feel ill?"
Information about Hotaru's sickly body during her childhood had concerned many of the Saturnians for years, but after that battle with Pharaoh 90, Hotaru had not been as ill. With a shake of her head to relieve her maids of their worry, Hotaru patted down her dress and made for the Lantern Room.
"She is only concerned for you, your majesty," the maids were sure to reassure her. "Be patient."
Hotaru nodded and stepped into the Lantern Room, a space filled with Hotaru's beloved lamp collection. The many shelves and tables were decorated, sometimes sparsely but mostly lavishly, with the most precious and antique of lamps in varying colours. At night, sometimes Hotaru liked to close the curtains and turn them all on and read.
She paused when she saw Setsuna-mama, dressed in a wine-coloured blouse that brought out the red in her eyes and a black pencil skirt that accented the length of her legs, sitting on one of the Victorian couches. Smiling, Hotaru took a seat beside her as her maids placed the iced green tea and small fruit tarts on the coffee table.
"Good afternoon, Hotaru," Setsuna-mama hummed, a glitter to her eyes. "Politics ran a little longer, did it?"
Hotaru bowed her head, ashamed for keeping her waiting. "Yes, unfortunately."
She poured the tea into a delicate china cup and dropped an ice cube in it before handing it over to her Setsuna-mama, who received it gently and took a sip. Procuring one for herself, Hotaru dismissed the maids and waited for Setsuna-mama to drop the pleasantries.
"Hotaru," the Time senshi sighed, setting her tea down. "I think… we need to talk."
Hotaru had expected a little bit more of small talk, but she was relieved to get the point. She, too, set her tea down, clasped her hands together in her lap, and faced Setsuna-mama obediently.
"First of all, I apologize for not seeking your blessing before committing to your father," Setsuna-mama said. Hotaru let her continue. "And secondly, I did not mean to… avoid you."
Hotaru smiled and then reached to take a hold of Setsuna-mama's hand. "Mama," she began, and Setsuna-mama softened. Really, sometimes Hotaru believed her mamas and papas may have spoiled her. "I really don't know how many times I have to repeat this, but I'm fine with you two being together."
Setsuna-mama frowned, obviously not believing her.
Frustrated, Hotaru huffed and she could feel indignation scrawl all over her face. "Why don't any of you believe me?"
Setsuna-mama shook her head and tried to complacent her. "How can we believe you when you seem so withdrawn lately? For more than a year now?"
Setsuna-mama drew her hands from Hotaru and blinked rapidly, trying to find answers. Even the senshi of Time and Space could not know everything. Even Death and Life could be elusive for her.
Hotaru leaned back and didn't know how to reply. She wished things were not so complicated now that their family had separated to deal with politics and internal intrigues. She wished she could be Setsuna-mama and perhaps turn back Time when all Hotaru had needed to worry about was a tummy ache or bad bed hair. Things were much more simpler then.
"I wish we could return to the days when we weren't so troubled," Hotaru murmured, eyes cast down upon her fidgeting hands. "Things were simpler then. We never did… tread so lightly around each other before. We just… Haruka-papa just stomped right in and asked what was wrong and fixed the piping spickety span!"
They shared a smile at the memory.
"I don't know," Hotaru confessed. "I don't know why I feel so… out of sorts…"
She looked to the window and at the butterflies fluttering about the stargazer lilies outside.
"I sometimes feel… so apart from everyone else," she admitted quietly.
"Hotaru…" Setsuna-mama murmured sympathetically.
Hotaru withdrew her gaze from the window and played with a tassel hanging off the nearest lamp. Wistfully, she whispered, "We used to be so close… but now… our family… We're so distant."
"Oh, Hotaru," Setsuna-mama said, drawing the girl-queen into her arms. "Don't think that. We're right here."
Hotaru closed her eyes and let herself feel like that little girl again, that girl she wanted to be so very badly. She could see so vividly, even to this day, that small-bricked house with that bush right at the edge of their property, with that paved driveway Haruka-papa always parked his car at before stepping out with a bagful of groceries, with Michiru-mama beside him and that purse Hotaru had always thought was so fancy, with Setsuna-mama and her welcoming them home at the door.
She wanted that simplicity again. She wanted that safety again. She wanted that love again.
Tears fell from her eyes and Hotaru trembled. She didn't know what to say. She couldn't very well demand for her mamas and papa to live with her. She couldn't very well have them abandon their palaces and become common citizens. She couldn't very well be that little girl again; no matter how much she craved for that happiness once more.
"I-I'm sorry," she stumbled, placing her head against Setsuna-mama's neck. "I kn-know we can't go back, b-but! But I wish… I wish that we c-could."
Setsuna-mama's hold over Hotaru tightened and she, too, felt tears fall from her eyes. "My dear, dear Hotaru. There's nothing to be sorry over when you're right!" She brushed her palm against Hotaru's hair and sighed. "Because of duty, we had to separate and see to our kingdoms. Because of duty, we had to watch the fall of Neo Crystal Tokyo under the Dark Moon Kingdom. Because of duty, we remain secluded in our palaces to foresee ministers and finances and internal affairs…"
They fell into silence then, Hotaru sniffling and Setsuna-mama drawing aside Hotaru's hair to meet her in the eye.
"We never had much time to ourselves have we?" Pluto enquired.
Hotaru shook her head feebly.
"When we see each other," Setsuna-mama continued, "we're always with the others too, aren't we?"
Hotaru nodded.
"And it must have been such a trying time for you," Setsuna-mama realized with a frown. "You didn't even have the time to grow up before becoming a queen."
Hotaru lowered her gaze and recognized that Setsuna-mama was speaking the truth. She had been but a teenager – she was still a teenager – when she first had that amethyst crown placed upon her head. No wonder she had felt so out of place and alone.
She rubbed her forehead awkwardly, the tears had now stopped, and Setsuna-mama smiled and gently moved Hotaru's hand aside to kiss her head.
"I'm sorry, Hotaru," Setsuna-mama apologized. "I – we – didn't mean to leave you."
Hotaru shook her head stubbornly. "You didn't leave me. I honestly felt like I was ready for a crown and sceptre… Just… a part of me desires for that family again, for us to be together and not talk about politics or trade or anything. I just want us to – just – be."
Setsuna-mama hugged her again and nodded against her cheek. "Then we should allot a day each week to get together and – just – be."
Hotaru withdrew from her embrace and smiled. "I think I'd like that."
Setsuna-mama returned her smile, relieved that something had been decided, and sighed exuberantly. The tension between them was now over and done with, and finally they could return from whence they had left off years ago. Years ago before they had to move out of their house and into separate palaces. Years ago when their family had met every day and not once a month, if rarely. For Hotaru, it all felt like a breath of fresh air.
A knock came from the door and both Hotaru and Setsuna-mama made to wipe the traces of tears on their faces and laughed to see that they were both struggling over the endeavour. It had been a long time since they've had a heart-to-heart.
"Yes?" Hotaru enquired the door.
One of her maids came in with a bow. "Your majesty, his majesty the Dowager King Souichi has returned. He waits for yours and her majesty Queen Setsuna's presences in the foyer."
Hotaru turned to Setsuna-mama and saw that she, too, found her papa's calling to be most peculiar. Usually papa would come to see Hotaru at once after his lectures, but to formally call for her?
"Then we shall go straight away," Setsuna-mama said, thinking the worse.
A feeling of trepidation passed through Hotaru and she noted that if she were an elderly, her heart couldn't possibly take the sudden rollercoaster of emotions she was suddenly a passenger of. Standing, she took Setsuna-mama's offered elbow and they strode swiftly to the foyer.
But really, once they arrived, Hotaru wished that she hadn't hurried, for standing by papa was his teaching assistant, Iapetus, named after one of Saturn's moons. At a side-glance, she saw Setsuna-mama eyeing her carefully, if not a bit warningly. Despite having been apart for so long, Setsuna-mama was still her mama, and her mamas knew her better than even her papas. Thus, Setsuna-mama must have known that Hotaru wanted to ditch Iapetus at once, but a queen never "ditched" a boy. A queen dismissed a boy.
"Your majesty!" Iapetus bowed impeccably, his face holding a hue of pink.
Hotaru curtsied politely and looked to her father for answers, but all he did was beam at her and tilted his head suggestively towards the young scientist.
As the Queen of Saturn, Hotaru had seen her share of suitors, but it seemed her suitors had not seen how young she was in body or how old she was in mind. They could not see how uninterested she was over the matter of male companionship. She was fortunate that ministers had yet to push her for any sort of rendezvous with a man, thus for her papa to even… play matchmaker…
Hotaru withheld an irritated exhale and masked her annoyance with a smile for Iapetus. Truthfully, she desired, someday, for a companion, but she was not ready. She had so many duties to her own people, to the people of the Milky Way, to her queen and king, that Hotaru could not possibly spare any of her duties for a man.
But of course they did not know; Setsuna-mama and papa did not know. The others were luckier than Saturn. They had enough to give to another. But Saturn – Hotaru – had nothing left to give. The others could share themselves to their queen and to their companions, but Hotaru was already sharing herself to their queen and to their princess. She could not divide herself into three; she could not spare another piece for a companion. If the other senshi couldn't, then why must they have her do the same? Could they not see that she couldn't?
Setsuna-mama must have noticed her withdrawing into herself again for she suggested, "Why don't you two take a walk and have a moment away from the palace?"
Hotaru was horrified with the idea, but did not show it.
"Yes, yes," papa agreed readily enough. "It's hot today, but the beach is just the perfect place for this weather."
If papa and Setsuna-mama had wanted time alone, Hotaru would have gladly given them that, but for them to scheme against her?
"Your majesty?" Iapetus called softly.
Hotaru faced him then and saw that he wanted to take up on Setsuna-mama and papa's suggestion, but only if her majesty the Queen herself allowed of course. And honestly, Hotaru could not refuse him. He had been so kind to her and her papa from the moment that they met, that she wouldn't want to deprive him of this walk.
"That would be lovely," she resigned diplomatically.
A maid was quick to hand her a sunhat to match her dress, and Hotaru had suspicions that, perhaps, her maids were in on the joke as well. Putting on her hat and taking the elbow Iapetus offered, Hotaru strolled out of the door with a mind to end this… charade. She did not want to hurt papa's feelings by rejecting his obvious choice for her, but Hotaru had other things to concern herself with. Her ministers were very assertive about applying new taxes on-
"Your majesty?" Iapetus enquired cautiously.
Hotaru blinked and found herself on the beach. She hadn't been paying attention and it seemed like Iapetus had just asked her a question. Her only reprieve over this outing was that they were the only two on the beach, if one did not include her most trusted maids and the elite Saturnian Sentinels some distances away.
"I apologize," she recovered. "I was caught up on the stroll. Did you say something?"
Iapetus blushed when she met him in the eye and quickly faced her. "Your majesty, you are… very bright and brilliant." Hotaru nodded patiently. "And I know there are other men better suited than I." Hotaru tensed. He couldn't possibly- "But I believe, I know, that I am honest in my feelings for you." Of course, Hotaru grasped, of course he would do this now. "I only hope that…" He faltered. "That you would allow me to court you."
He was impeccable in manner, Hotaru would give him that, but he was untimely given the fact that she was young and had little of anything she could share with him. She knew, of course, that he was from a noble family, but as a scientist, she did not know how well his grasp on politics was. More importantly, Hotaru thought, she did not think she could learn to love him, as bitter and cold as that was, it was true.
The breeze brushed the sand across the beach and pushed the ocean onto their feet, but Hotaru did not move. Instead, she took a moment to digest his words and him, and caught a flicker of iridescent light from the sun. She blinked at the sudden beam and-
Hotaru gasped. "Peruru…"
Iapetus stepped back, confused.
"Y-Your majesty," Peruru stumbled with an awkward bow.
Iapetus turned to see the man – fairy – descend to the ground behind him and Hotaru was not the only one confused as to why he was present. Honestly, for a moment there, Hotaru had thought Peruru was an angel who had come to save her from this awkward conversation with an untried suitor.
With his glistening wings and airy attire, Peruru did seem a bit otherworldly, even something heavenly. His enchanted white clothing, translucent and light, played off the glow in his hair, and the round trinkets – the earrings – gave a certain shine to his eyes. Hotaru noticed how the ocean swept over his bare ankles and the vapours clung to the thin curve of his neck, emphasized by his strange wispy neck adornment.
But what remained most prominent in Hotaru's mind was: What was he doing here?
Composing herself, for she had seen stranger things in her life, Hotaru decided to introduce the two. "Iapetus, this is my friend, Peruru. Peruru, this is my father's teaching assistant, Iapetus."
It had been subtle, but Hotaru had no doubt that Iapetus would notice the way she distanced herself from him by referring to him as her "father's teaching assistant" when Peruru was her "friend." As a quiet and slight queen, Hotaru had long learnt to play on relationships delicately.
"H-Hello," Peruru greeted uncomfortably with a frown.
"Hello," Iapetus returned stiffly.
Hotaru didn't want to put Peruru in an uncomfortable position, but she had no intention of continuing her conversation with Iapetus when another was present. Thus, ever the ambassador, she gave Iapetus a small smile and said, "I apologize, Iapetus, but can we continue this stroll later? I have not seen Peruru for months."
That was true. She had not lied. Ever since that rainy day in the gardens, after that… kiss, Peruru had returned from whence he came and Hotaru had not seen him since. Although it would be strange to speak to Peruru now, it was better to break Iapetus' heart somewhere more private.
Iapetus fumbled. "Of course, your majesty. I will return some other day."
"Thank you," Hotaru said, a clear dismissal that sent him bowing before walking off towards Titan Castle, no doubt to pay his respects to her papa.
Finally, when Hotaru was alone with Peruru, she regarded him carefully, her smile still forced.
"I-I," Peruru began consciously. "I interrupted something… important."
Hotaru directed her eyes out into the ocean and held a hand to her hat when a particular strong gust of wind passed by. Smiling ruefully, she nodded and answered, "It was important to him, but not so much to me. You had heard everything, I suspect?"
The tell-tale blush on his cheeks was enough of an answer, but as an honest man, he nodded. "I-I'm sorry."
Hotaru dropped her hand from her hat and frowned in a perplexed manner. "Whatever for?"
"For listening," Peruru replied.
Hotaru shrugged good-naturedly. "It's fine. You had postponed his rejection, something he is most likely grateful for."
Peruru blinked owlishly and his breath fluttered when he asked, "Y-You don't love him?"
She was taken aback twice now by him and she shook her head. "No."
He exhaled, almost relieved, which only puzzled Hotaru even farther.
"If I may ask," she said formally, "why are you here?"
At this, he shifted awkwardly and could not meet her in the eyes. "I-I…"
Seeing as he was not going to continue, Hotaru smiled and began to walk leisurely along the beachfront, passing by him in the process. At first he was startled, but soon followed after her, their feet making tracks in the sand and hair tossing in the wind. Several times Hotaru craned her neck up to the sky and closed her eyes to let the sun bleed through.
"H-Hotaru," Peruru called softly.
She lowered her chin and opened her eyes to see him staring at her in such a way that it made her toes curl and something warm spill into her stomach. Her throat suddenly felt try, but she supposed it had something to do with the heat of the sun.
"Yes?" she enquired.
He inhaled and his shoulders bunched; his wings beating briskly. "I… I wanted to apologize for… the garden!"
Much to her amusement, he closed his eyes hard and tensed in a way that foretold of his fear of her anger. But instead of the slap he was probably prepared for, Hotaru laughed! How strange it was that he was here, now, after so many months! How strange it was for him to apologize for a kiss that she had allowed!
She opened her eyes and wiped the happy tears with her fingers to see him thoroughly stunned.
How strange it was for him to be here when she had just begun to forget, begun to resolve herself of never having what everyone else had…
Smiling, with teeth and everything, Hotaru assured him joyfully, "It's all right, Peruru. I had let you kiss me; you didn't force yourself on me."
Peruru shivered, not out of fear, but of something else. But what that "something" was, Hotaru didn't know, nor did she have the time to decipher it when a sudden hard gust of wind took hold of her hat and pulled it into the air.
"Oh!" Hotaru exclaimed, not so much as upset as revelling in the joy of such a simple surprise.
And just as much as a surprise, rainbow wings fluttered and a fairy ascended into the air – a fine hand plucked her hat from the tendrils of the wind and brought it back to earth, back to her.
Peruru, never breaking eye-contact with her, floated down onto the beach and softly placed her hat back onto her head. Then, not lifting his hands from the sunhat, he asked, like a dream, "Will you also let me kiss you now?"
Heat rushed to her face and her heart beat in a whole other plane. For a moment, with his warmth paralleled to that of the sun and his eyes went deep like the ocean, he seemed so broad and tall that Hotaru felt like a minor star being pulled into his gravitational field.
"Why don't you find out?" she breathed.
She didn't know where those words had come from, and later she would believe that it had not been from her mouth at all, but for now, she didn't think, but watched his face take up her vision and feel his lips on hers, warm, soft, eager and sincere.
And she closed her eyes and let him pull her in.
- - -
the point