Konnichiwa minna-chan! I am here to inform you that this chapter is going to be a flashback chapter. Due to a review I got, I realized that I left you all in the dark by leaving a lot of details out. Thanks to the person who reviewed, I'm sure you know who you are, and I'm also sure that your questions will be answered in this chapter.

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Hotau was thinking about how she'd some to live with the briefs. She recalled it clearly. She looked in her black flame mirror and smiled, thinking of the flames that she'd put on Trunks.

*Flashback*

Hotaru had just put of the flames that she had accidentally let loose in the purple haired boy. He suddenly had a new respect for her. The aqua haired woman oddly felt bad for the girl, and hoped that maybe she could befriend her. She hoped that in befriending her, she wouldn't get burnt in the process. She walked over to the girl, who backed up a step. "Don't worry, I'm only here to help you. Watashi wa Briefs Bulma," she said to the girl. The girl nodded, and Bulma hoped that it was a good sign for her to be nodding, then the girl spoke. "Watashi wa Tomoe Hotaru, deso. Nice to meet you." Hotaru said to the odd woman, Bulma. Bulma smiled and thought, 'At least she has manners.' Hotaru picked this up, of course, but didn't let on.

Hotaru started to walk away, then realized she didn't have anywhere to stay. "Um, Hotaru?" the aqua haired woman called to her. Hotaru spun. She decided not ot violate the strangers privacy for a second time. "Nani?" she questioned the stranger. Bulma took a deep breath, and Vegeta got a sudden look of panic on his face. "Do you have anywhere to stay?" she asked Hotaru. "ONNA!!!!" Vegeta shouted at Bulma. "Just what the HELL are you doing?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!"he shouted. "Obviously you don't need my presence in your household. I'll be on my way." Hotaru said. Vegeta smirked. Bulma wouldn't push it, but Trunks did. "Wait, you have power. I can help to train you, and I am perfectly sure that you're welcome at our home!" he argued. Vegeta growled. Hotaru spun back again to face Trunks. She couldn't believe that the baka who had been making fun of her was now helping her. She decided to accept, just to find out his weakness then pay him back royally. 'I'll put on a shy front, until I see fit.' Hotaru decided. "Ok, I'll come with you…" she said, suddenly shy, and she flew home in Trunk's safe arms.

*End Flashback*

Then, she remembered Bulma asking her, "So, how did you come to like Trunks?" Hotaru also remembered her answer. She thought back to when she first discovered that her need for revenge was because she was attracted to him.

*End Flashback*

AS Hotaru flew home in Trunk's strong arms, she grew steadily more red. Even though she blamed it on the altitude, she knew that she thought Trunks was a bit cute. She smiled, and he said, "What are you smiling for?" he was kind of angry that he'd gotten stuck carrying her.

*Flashback in Flashback*

"Since you had to stick up for the stupid onna, and your mother can't fly, you can fly her home!" Vegeta said angrily, and Trunks agreed, only because he didn't want to cross his father any more. xX Hotaru hadn't heard this conversation Xx

*End Flashback in Flashback*

"Nothing," Hotaru replied, hopes doused. Somehow, Trunks seemed to notice he'd hurt her feelings. He could sort of tell by her authority, that she didn't get to smile very much. "Sorry," he grumbled under his breath, thinking that she wouldn't be able to hear him. "Arigatou goziamazu for apologizing," she said listlessly, the light and fire in her eyes, totally disappeared. Astonished, he talked no more.

**2 Days later**

"Do you need anything?" the young man at her door asked. "N-no, arigatou, anyways." Hotaru blushed. Trunks left the door way. About 2 seconds later, "Are you sure that you don't need anything?" Hotaru blushed again. "Yes I'm sure," she turned from him as he left. 'He's so cute, and pure, and he's also nice. Yet, he's got an off aura, one that seems like something tragic happened in his life, or something's amiss. I wonder if I can help him…..' she thought.

**That night**

"Trunks, may I speak with you?" Surprised, Trunks agrees. "Yes?" he asked, he was slightly nervous. He felt as though he needed to impress this girl, and when she's training, he felt as though when she was fighting, he needed to protect her. Was that why he was nervous? "Did something bad happen to you in your past? Something highly upsetting?" she asked. He nodded. She decided not to pry orally, and just to seek her answer mentally. She thought for a moment, it appeared to him, but she was really trying to break his mental barriers. It proved to be impossible. It couldn't be done, so she asked orally. "What happened?" He was taken aback. He was actually waiting for her to walk away. "My parents were killed. They were murdered by the androids." He proceeded to tell her the whole story about the androids, and how he came from the future. Hotaru nodded, and said, "I'm sorry to hear that." Trunks knew that something had happened to her too. Not as sensitive as she seemed to be, he asked what had happened to her? Not wishing to share this just yet, she said, "One day, you may find out. I do not wish to speak of it. I'm sorry to be a burden." Trunks was just about to say that she wasn't any trouble at all, when he saw midnight colored sparkles, and no Hotaru. As they faded wasy, he thought, 'She's very mysterious, and a bit mature for her age. But then, I don't know her age. She looks to be around, 14, but she is extremely deceiving. She's also very powerful, and yet I still get the feeling that need to protect her. Is this a crush? I never get crushes! This is just a bit ridiculous. I need to stop thinking so much…'

**1 month later**

'She's gotten much stronger, and I can sense a new emotion radiating from her. I just can't put my finger on it. I sense a new emotion in m son, also, but I can tell his emotions, they're the same as mine. He's in love with somebody. He's not radiating there emotions towards anybody, though, so I can't tell who it is. Literally, and emotionally. I should go tell the onna that she needs to get a fighting gi…' Vegeta observed. Bulma walked just then, however, interrupting his train of thought. "Honey, the party is coming soon, who is going to go with Trunks?!" she panicked. A little light bulb went off in Vegeta's head. "The onna can be his girl for the party. I think her name is Hotaru." Bulma's eyes grew wide, but she knew when Vegeta got a hunch, he was not to be crossed. "You tell her then, because I'm not going to." Bulma said. "Fine."

"Onna, you are going to be Trucks's escort for the party that's coming up." Hotaru looked up at him in shock, then emotionlessly, "No, I will not. Find somebody else." Vegeta smirked. "Then find somebody else to continue your training." Hotaru, who had become attached and accostmed to the way Vegeta trained, said, "Fine, I'll be the baka's 'girl' for the party, but only for the party! That includes dancing and holding hands, ONLY!" Hotaru set he limits. "I'll make sure he knows." Vegeta smirked.

**Back to the present**

'So there I have it. I'm stuck going to the party with the many I used ot love, but when I returned to normal. I became incapable of love. I guess technically I still love him, but I am unable to show there emotions until somebody releases me from the depths of my very own soul! Everything is so complicated, I just wish that Trunks would find out how to release me! I don't even know if he loves me! This is ridiculous! I need help!!! Where in tarnation is Setsuna-sama when you need her?!' Hotaru swore to herself. Just then Michiru entered the room.

"I just figured it out! He had to release you, right?" Michiru asked. 'A lot of help you are,' Hotaru thought, "Yes, he does, but he doesn't know how. And I can't ell him unless he guesses correctly." Michiru grinned widely, then whispered something I n Hotaru's ear. Hotaru's eyes grew wide, and Michiru said, "There's no law that says somebody other than you who knows how can't tell your one true love how to release you… So what do you say?" Hotaru smiled slightly, which was all her curse could allow her to do. Michiru realized this, but left the room anyway. She was off to explain everything to Trunks, who would probably need to do this at the party. Hotaru, however, crawled into a ball on her bed to think some more.

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Kinnichiwa again minna. How'd you like this chapter? I enjoyed writing it, so I hope you enjoyed reading it. Onegai R&R so I know what to write. TTYL

Krysta-chan