Pandora's Senshi

A Sailor Moon Spin-off Fanfiction

By mew-tsubaki

Note: Ha-HA! This time, I have copyright power over these characters because their MY OWN! (Woo-hoo!) Anyway, I want to give some credit to Naoko Takeuchi-sensei, though, because I used the original names she had planned for the Sailor Moon characters (Sorano Hikaru, Yoruno Miyabi, Chino Mamoru, and Artemis; only Amano is hers- I came up with Kako), and the original scouts (Moon through Saturn) are hers. By the way, I know that the senshi names (Phlegethon, Cocytus, Styx, Acheron, and Lethe) come from rivers in Hades (I read it somewhere) and have nothing to do with Pandora's Box, but read on to discover what they're really about. - Don't forget: READ, REVIEW, AND ENJOY!! P.S.- the Artemis in this fanfic isn't the same as the cat-turned-human Artemis from the original series. She's someone completely different. Also, the other senshi will not be making anymore appearances. It's original from here on out.

NOTE:As of today, 9/23/06, I haven't touched my computer for ten days because I was grounded (even though I was working on chapter eight and this one had been done). Now, I know there are a lot of people who like and love this story, but I did some research and it turns out that it's not Colytus, but actually Cocytus. I'm sorry for any future confusion. Honestly, I had no idea, but she will be known as Sailor Cocytus from now on. Thank you.

Chapter Seven: Sailor Cocytus

Several weeks passed and the girls had been fighting more and more shadow creatures. Miyabi still hadn't discovered what it was she was looking for yet, and it made all of the four senshi nervous. They had no idea what they were getting into, but they did it anyway. Each of them felt that it was what they had to do.

Kako had come to regularly meet Genji at the rooftop at different times of the school day, but never lunch, when she would eat with the girls. She really had taken him up on his offer. But she was a nutcase half of the time. Mamoru, Hikaru, and Miyabi all knew about Sailor Lethe; Genji knew about the real Kako. She dreaded what would happen if the two were to ever meet. Other than that, though, things were going pretty well, especially when it came to Kako and Genji.

Takeyuki's residence in Mamoru's apartment was no problem at all. They were both happy to be back together again. But it was gnawing at Mamoru; she hadn't told her friends! The girl felt that her friends had a right to know since they urged her to go see him, but she wasn't too sure that they'd like the idea of her living with him.

Overall, both Mamoru and Kako were on edge half of the time. Hikaru and Miyabi had no idea what they were hiding, let alone why they would hide something. Miyabi shrugged it off and ignored it, but it got to Hikaru. Things weren't going too well for her either…

"Don't think that just because you found some freaks just like you means that you're safe! You're still an eyesore, Sorano!"

BAM!

Hikaru hit the wall harder than usual. She coughed and realized she had spit up some blood this time. The girl feigned a smile. I'll probably die of internal bleeding before I even make it to college, Hikaru-chan thought. She clenched her fist and slammed it against the wall. Damn it!

The genius girl slowly and painfully made her way to the girls' bathroom nearby and rinsed her mouth with water from the sink. After drying her mouth, she ran ice cold water over her hand to stop it from swelling. Maybe I shouldn't have hit that wall so hard…

"H-Hikaru-chan?" a voice came from behind.

Hikaru turned around to find Miyabi behind her, looking a little frightened. "What can I do for you, Miyabi?"

Miyabi pointed to the sink. "Th-that wasn't blood you were spitting right now, was it?" The girl was shaking all over.

"You'd be best off to just forget you ever saw it, Miyabi," Hikaru stated nonchalantly. She turned the faucet off and dried her hands. Hikaru said nothing more as she passed Miyabi to leave the bathroom, but it left Miyabi frightened even more.

"Tell me," Miyabi began, as she and Kako and Mamoru were waiting for Hikaru, "is Hikaru being bullied?"

Both Kako and Mamoru stopped eating. Their eyes sort of glazed over, trying not to answer Miyabi.

"Please tell me."

Kako sighed. "I don't think it's really our place to say anything, but…yes." She met Miyabi's eyes. "It's been going on for a long time now."

Miyabi felt sick. "Why didn't I know? Have you guys stepped in? Does the faculty know about this?"

Mamoru shook her head. "We stumbled upon it ourselves. Hikaru doesn't want help, though. She doesn't want anyone else to get involved." Mamoru was silent for a moment. "You saw something, didn't you? Is that why you're asking?"

"Of course it is. They flung her into a wall so hard that she was coughing up blood. And a lot of it, too. If something doesn't change, this could get more serious than any of us realized." Miyabi dropped her sandwich down into her lunchbox; she had lost her appetite to eat.

"I'm sure Hikaru will think of something before it gets too serious," Mamoru reassured Miyabi. "She's a genius, anyway."

"Maybe you're right…"

At the door to the roof, Hikaru dropped her lunch. "I…I…" She left it and ran from the roof. I don't know if I truly want help or not!! she screamed in her head. There are so many things that could go wrong if I asked for help or if I didn't!! I don't want to go through this!! I didn't ask for this!! Why can't somebody understand?! Why am I the only one who goes through this?!

Hikaru stopped and breathed. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve. Great, she thought. Without realizing it, she had run off campus. I'm in big trouble now. Hikaru sighed, undid her tie, and took off her jacket. If I'm not careful, the police will stop me if I'm wearing my uniform in the middle of the day. She groped around in her pocket and felt her wallet. Oh, yeah. Cut school and go shopping. Real great.

"Hey, honey, you looking for some fun?"

"I don't like the look in her eyes."

"I don't either, but look at that bod. She's real nice."

Hikaru turned around and saw where the voices were coming from. A gang of guys had trapped some girl against a demolished building's last standing wall. They were swarming around the girl, and fast. I've got to get away from here before they notice me, Hikaru thought. But she felt something deep down inside her tell her to stay. "She's…She's…"

The guys closed even tighter around the female. "You guys grab her, okay?" the leader said to two others.

Two stepped in front of the girl and moved closer to her, leaving her no way to escape. She's…she's just like me, Hikaru forlornly thought. She can't get away. The hazel-haired genius drew her breath in. "Leave her alone."

Both the two men and the leader turned around and stopped in front of Hikaru. "Just who the hell do you think you're talking to, girlie?" the leader asked.

Hikaru formed an angry glare and focused it on the leader. "Apparently, an ugly pig that never gets what he wants."

The leader was livid. "Don't think you can talk to me that way, you bitch! Get her!" He motioned the two brutes at Hikaru, but she came right at them! She ducked under one and tripped him. Once she reached the girl, Hikaru grabbed her hand and dragged her behind her.

"Run!!" Hikaru yelled.

The girl did as she was told, but she seemed hesitant at first. The leader and his two lackeys chased them, but they gave up once Hikaru and the girl had melded into the crowd of people on the busy city street. The girls cut across the road to the side of a shop to finally stop.

"Are you okay?" Hikaru asked her.

The girl looked a little annoyed. "Actually, I was going to fight them off if you hadn't butted in. They took something from me."

Embarrassed, Hikaru turned red. "Well, uh, what did they take from you?"

"My locket. It's a white-gold locket. And I need to get it back." The girl turned on her heel to retrieve her locket, but Hikaru stopped her.

"You wait here. I'll go get it back for you." Hikaru smiled warmly to her and briskly left. She returned in a few minutes, locket in hand. "This is it, right?"

The girl was stunned speechless. "Th-Thank you. I-I-"

"It's nothing," Hikaru told her. "What's so special about it, though?" she asked peering over the girl's shoulder as she grasped it in her hands.

"I'm…not really sure myself. I just know that I've had it ever since I was born. It's probably the only thing in my life that doesn't make sense, though."

"Wow." Hikaru whistled. "It must be nice to be so sure of everything else in your life…"

The girl looked at something in her pocket and glanced back up at Hikaru. "I appreciate you getting this back, um…"

"My name's Sorano Hikaru."

The girl smiled a little. "Thank you, Hikaru. You remind so much of someone, but I can't place who. Anyway, I've got to get going. Thank you!" The girl ran off before Hikaru could ask her her name.

That was so weird, Hikaru thought. I felt like I knew her, too. The genius shrugged it off and looked at her watch. "It's too late to go back to the school," she commented to herself. "I'll just head home."

"I'm home!" Hikaru called into the house. Strangely, Genji didn't appear. "Genji? You here?"

There was a thump upstairs, and frantic scrambling, like someone had been caught off-guard. Suddenly, Genji came running down the stairs, red-faced and the phone in hand. He stopped when he noticed Hikaru had caught him with it. "Uh! I was just, uh- t-talking to someone…!"

"You don't have to freak out just because you were on the phone," Hikaru stated. Then her eyes lit up. "Unless…it was because you were talking to a girl…" She realized she was right when Genji bashfully turned away from her. "Oh my god! You have a girlfriend! What's her name? What's she like? Have I met her before? She isn't one of the girls you consistently hit on, is she?" Hikaru's eyes turned accusingly on him. "It better not be."

Still blushing, Genji shut his eyes and faced her. "Never you mind, you nosy eavesdropper. I have a private life, too, you know. Speaking of, your bag's over there. Mind telling me why you left school during the middle of the day?"

Hikaru froze. "Well… It's a long story. I didn't even know I did it myself. But I ended up saving this girl and her locket from some gang. I was too fast for them." She feigned a smile, but Genji frowned.

"And what would you have done if they had gotten you, too? For a genius, you can be a real idiot sometimes. Guys on the streets are dangerous, Hika-chan."

"Don't call me that. Besides, you're just as dangerous off the street as you are on, mister."

"Hey! I'm not like that!!"

"You know what I mean, Genji. Anyway, I'm tired and I'm going to go take a nap. Make supper and call me down when it's ready, all right? Other than that, don't wake me up for anything else." Hikaru trudged up the stairs to her room and crashed, tired from a day of troubles.

Genji's eyes remained on the stairwell. "She had no right to tease me like that," he mumbled to himself. His face grew hot, though. Could you really call her my girlfriend? Genji smiled. Not that I mind…

Miyabi's face was gray, but her expression was cheerful at lunch the next day. "You guys won't believe it," she began. "I've figured it out."

The other three girls all dropped their lunches, mouths agape. Mamoru was the first to speak. "You mean, you found what you were looking for the past month?"

The dark-haired girl nodded. "But I want to tell you guys later, where no one can stumble on us. We should meet at one of our houses, but it can't be mine. Mamoru, what about you?"

The taupe-haired girl froze. The thought of them getting to her apartment and stumbling upon Takeyuki made her queasy since they still didn't know about the living arrangements. "Uh, actually, not mine, either. Kako?"

Kako shook her head, her pigtails hitting her in the face. "My dad is having an interview at home, so we obviously can't go there." She turned to Hikaru. "What about your house?"

Hikaru shrugged as she stuck a forkful of food into her mouth. "I'm pretty sure Genji will be out on some date with his girlfriend in the afternoon, so we can crash at my place."

Mamoru and Miyabi looked at Hikaru. "You have a brother?!" they said in unison.

Kako tuned out the rest of the conversation. All she had heard was the 'girlfriend' part. Her hands went limp by either side of her bento. He has…a girlfriend? she thought. The whole world seemed to crash around Kako in an instant. Was he just toying with me? Then Kako remembered hearing some rumors about 'Slick Sorano'. She sighed. Of course. He's a womanizer. Kako's dark raspberry eyes dulled. Why did I ever think I was special to him?

"Kako! Kako!!" Hikaru stuck her face in Kako's. "You there?"

The pink-haired shrimp jumped back into reality. "Huh? Oh, yeah! Sure!"

"Then we'll meet at Hikaru's house on Saturday," Miyabi stated. The bell rang and the girls cleaned up, but Kako lagged behind this time.

I think I'll go to class this time, Kako thought to herself. She looked up and realized that the others had already left; she was alone on the roof. Even though she really felt like breaking down and crying, Kako knew she had to get a move on before Genji showed up. But that was the problem. He was already at the door.

Kako's heart nearly stopped. Her eyes met Genji's as he stepped out onto the roof. She bit her lip as she decided. I'll just make my way past him, she told herself. Kako clutched her bento to her chest and strode towards him.

"Hey, Kako-chan," he said, lifting his hand to wave to her. But she passed him. Genji froze. What was that about? She acted like I wasn't even here! Quickly, he turned around and called to her as she reached the bottom of the first flight of steps. "Kako, wait-!!"

"Leave me alone!" she screamed at him. She stopped and seemed to think for a second. "I have to go to class now!" Then she ran on, not saying anything more.

Genji felt the urge to run after her, but he couldn't. His feet were glued to the ground. Even if I had caught her, he thought, I wouldn't be able to console her because I don't know what's bugging her. …DAMN IT!! He felt so torn inside; he wanted to help her, but he didn't want to do or say something wrong and end up hurting her any more. For the first time in his life, Genji felt powerless. All the other girls had been nice one-shot dates, but Kako…Kako was so different. He could talk with her and have fun just being around her, but something made her so difficult to catch. Brow furrowed, Genji crouched on the ground, his face red and heart pounding. She's not different, she's special. That's why. And so, he sat there, wondering when he fell so hard for the pink-haired shrimp, or when he had ever fallen so hard for anyone.

Getting through the whole week while trying to avoid Genji and waiting for Saturday to come was more straining than Kako had realized. But she couldn't bear to face him. It hurt so much that he had kept something like that from her.

The other girls didn't notice anything wrong at all, though. Mamoru was busy thinking of how to tell her friends about their ex-teacher/her boyfriend. Hikaru was lost in thought half of the time, trying to place the girl's face with a name. And Miyabi… Well, Miyabi was a different story.

"If you keep going like this, you may be the best swimmer our school's ever seen in its lifetime."

Miyabi smiled faintly to her coach. "Um, yeah."

The coach smiled back. "I can't believe how focused you are. It's like you're one with the water."

"S-Sure… Uh, I'll go shower now. I'm not feeling too well, coach."

"Will you be all right for the meet tomorrow?"

Miyabi smiled. "Of course." The dark-haired girl disappeared into the locker-room to get changed, but found that she had little energy to do anything at all. She leaned against her locker door and gazed into the mirror. It seems to have a friend, she thought, touching the bruise on her neck Hikaru had noticed a long time ago, but there was another one right next to it now. Miyabi sighed. It's gotten worse…

"Do you mind if I talk to you for a sec?" a voice asked from behind.

The normal form of Sailor Styx whipped around and saw Mamoru behind her. "Oh, Mamoru-! Uh, s-sure."

Mamoru stayed where she was. "Miyabi-chan, something's been bugging me for a little while now," she began. "We're all worried about Hikaru-chan, but…you seemed… I don't know. I guess you seemed a little too worried. Is something wrong?"

"N-no, everything's fine."

"Sure it is." Mamoru brushed her hair back with her hand. "Look, if you ever decide that you want to talk, just let me know. I'm here to listen." She looked Miyabi in the eye. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

Miyabi quivered slightly. "There…is someone I want to talk to," she mumbled to herself.

"What did you say?"

Miyabi shook her head. "Never mind. Don't worry about me; I'm fine, but thanks for worrying." Miyabi turned back to her locker and she heard Mamoru leave. There's only one problem: the one who I want to talk to isn't here anymore.

Finally, Saturday had arrived. Kako got up, showered, and dressed, ready for the meeting. As she came downstairs for breakfast, her father paused making food and displayed a rather annoyed expression on his face.

Kako realized something was wrong. As she sat down at the kitchen table and picked up her fork and knife for the pancakes, she sighed. "Is something the matter, Dad?"

"You tell me," he said. He looked her straight in the eye and frowned. "I've heard you've been cutting classes lately. And quite a lot, too. I know why, Kako."

The girl felt nauseous. Kako's throat went dry and felt like it was lined with sandpaper. "Look, Dad, I-"

He shushed her and hugged her. "You should've told me that you were still upset about Mama's death. If you had, I wouldn't have pushed you into starting the school year with everyone else. I would've asked if you could've started later. I just wish you would let me know what's going on with you. You worry me."

Even in her father's arms, Kako felt so guilty and so alone. She quickly pulled away and dashed to the front door. "I'll- uh, I'll be at a friend's house today," she hastily shouted as she stepped over the threshold. But she didn't go to Hikaru's house.

"I'm sorry to bother you, miss, but- would you like to order something?" The waitress was careful with her words considering the state her customer was in.

The pink-haired shrimp dried her eyes. "I'm sorry. I'll have a milkshake, thank you. To go."

The waitress nodded. "I'll be right back with it and the receipt."

As the waitress left, Kako seeped back into her thoughts. I should be okay since Genji's going to be out. It'll be fine if it's the girls and me. I can handle it. I know I can. The scene with her father came floating back and she sank in her seat. God. Even my own father didn't realize what was really going on with me. Maybe I should drop the face…

The waitress returned with the milkshake and Kako paid her. As the pink-haired shrimp exited the restaurant, milkshake in hand, she made her way to Hikaru's house. Kako downed the rest of the drink and gathered all her courage to ring the doorbell. Whew! Kako thought. That was easy enough.

"Oh, hey, Kako-chan." Genji stood in the doorway while all the blood drained from Kako's face.

Think! Think!! "Uh, the other girls and I were meeting Hikaru today. I-Is she here?" Kako fumbled clumsily.

"She left a little while ago, but she said she'd be back soon." Genji motioned to Kako. "Do you want to come inside and wait here?" he asked.

Kako's heart raced. "I-I guess so…" She felt her face grow hot as Genji closed the door behind her. Wh-Why am I so self-conscious all of a sudden?! She sat down on one of the couches in the living room and exhaled slowly.

Genji went to the fridge in the kitchen and grabbed a soda. "You want something to drink?"

"Uh! S-Sure!!"

The twin watched Kako's body language carefully. Why's she so self-conscious all of a sudden? He shrugged the thought off and tossed her one of Hikaru's Snapples. "Heads up!"

Kako caught the drink and tried twisting the cap off, but her hands were trembling too badly for her to even get a good grip on the bottle. Genji came up behind her and lifted it out of her hands to open it.

"Here," he said, handing it back to her. She took it and drank deeply as he joined her on the couch. "There's something I've been wanting to tell you for a while now, Kako," he started.

Great, Kako thought, now I'm gonna here he has a girlfriend from him. She sighed. "Look, I know what you're going to say. Really, I'm not against it, but, personally, I think…I think I'm a little hurt."

Genji looked at her quizzically. "So you don't-"

"I'm not finished. If this is how things are going to be, then I'm going to stop skipping class. We shouldn't meet secretly any more. I mean, what would people think?"

"Kako, I-"

Kako blathered on. "Look, Genji, you're a nice guy, but you should stop the womanizing act. Your girlfriend won't like it."

"What the hell are you talking about?!" Genji was finally able to meet Kako's eyes, and finally able to get a word in. "What girlfriend?"

"I heard from Hikaru that you had a girlfriend," Kako quickly stated. She shifted her gaze onto the ground. "I just don't think we should meet any more."

Genji rolled his eyes. "I have no girlfriend, Kako." He paused as something hit him. "Why would you care if I had a girlfriend? Aren't we just friends?"

Kako's heart jumped into her throat. He had caught her in a tight spot again!! Red-faced, she answered him. "I-I- Well, you see, I think-"

He edged closer to her. "You think what?" Genji's face was so close to hers, like the time from before when he and Kako had first met on the roof. There was less and less room between them as he filled that gap.

The shrimp felt her body turn to butter as he got closer. She caved. "I think of you all the time…," she mumbled. She hid her face in his chest. Genji had stopped moving closer as he cradled the girl in his arms. "I can't help it," she continued. "I felt so relaxed every time I met you, every time I saw your face." Tears streamed from Kako's eyes as she still avoided Genji's face. "I felt…special to you and I didn't realize what it was that I felt, or that I could be wrong about you and-" But that was all Kako was going to be able to say. At once, Genji crushed his lips on hers, sitting her up a little to meet him. His lips didn't feel alien, though; Kako knew that once his lips touched hers, that everything was right- everything felt right, but the situation called for her to pull away. "What are you doing?!" she cried, even though the answer was painfully clear. "You don't even-"

"I don't even what?!" Genji's eyes pierced hers and she was frightened silent. "You've misunderstood too much and I want to clear it all up," he added quietly, to calm the both of them down. "Hikaru came home a few nights ago when we were talking on the phone…"

"Wait. That was when you hastily said you had to go," Kako interjected.

Genji nodded. "I rushed downstairs to put the phone back on its receiver because I didn't want Hikaru to find out about you and me because of the…situation you're in. She jumped to conclusions, stating that I finally had a girlfriend. Hikaru teased me and eventually left me alone when she went to sleep, but…it got me thinking, 'Could I really call her my girlfriend? Not that I mind, because, after all, I fell under her spell'." He looked Kako squarely in the eye. "I don't want you to feel terrible any more, especially over anything because of me." Genji touched her hair and held it close to his nose so he could sniff her scent. "I want to be the one who is always there to protect you. I…want to be your boyfriend, Kako. You're so different and special and you…you made me fall hard for you. Not that I mind that, of course," he added with a smile. He turned serious once more. "I love you, Kako, and I'm not letting you get away from me."

His hot breath in her ear and on her neck made her crazy. But…the good crazy. You know, the kind of crazy you get with a really cheery, crazy best friend and you're kind of loner who likes the color black. That crazy. Anyway, Kako knew things would be better from now on and would only get better as time passed…and as she stayed with Genji. Slowly, she slipped her arms around his neck and drew him in for another kiss, allowing him to push her down on the couch a little. She looked in his eyes. "I wouldn't even think of trying to get away from you," she said.

Genji smiled. "Good." His kissed her again and again until minutes had passed. And then-

"You know, you coulda told us you were going out," Hikaru said at the door.

Both Kako and Genji sat bolt upright. "Uh," Kako squeaked. "I-"

"Didn't one of the girls call you to tell you we were meeting at the café? I came back to see if you were here, but…" Hikaru whistled at the sight of her brother and Kako. "I didn't quite expect to find this. Anyway, we're going to Mamoru's tomorrow to talk. I hope you don't get side-tracked again, shrimp," Hikaru called down the stairs as she headed up to her room, leaving Genji and Kako alone once again.

Neither Kako nor Genji could think clearly. "I-I should probably get going," Kako commented after a minute of awkward silence.

Genji stood and walked her to the door. He bent down a little and kissed the top of her head. "I'm sorry," he said with a halfhearted smile. "I'll see you at school."

Kako smiled. "I know." She yanked on his shirt collar and drew him down for one more quick smooch on the lips and then she left, much happier than when she had arrived.

Miyabi was walking home as she remembered a time when things weren't so bad for her. I still remember his guitar style, she thought. And those lyrics…

"'Don't call me if you love me. Seeing you is the only way I'll live. You're the only one…my life, I'd give.'"

Miyabi dropped her bag. Her eyes went blank. Those words… In front of her stood another teenager, one she knew all too well. His bleach-blonde hair with its golden streaks were unforgettable, especially with those big, black eyes. He faced her and, smiling, placed his headphones around his neck.

"I promise I won't ever call you 'Sis' again," he said to her.

She nearly had a heart attack as her hands covered her mouth. "Harume!" Suddenly, there was a shriek behind the two of them. Something flew by Miyabi and she landed on her rear. She looked ahead of her and saw this monster of a bird- literally. "What is that?"

"Yabi-chan!!" Harume yelled. He lunged and covered her as the bird dove again.

"Amaranthine Wail!"

Just as the bird was screeching again, it exploded in front of Miyabi and Harume. Miyabi looked at the top of the brick wall and recognized the outfit of the silhouetted figure. The girl stood up straight and stretched her arms. "Damn. Another one goes to pieces." She seemed to realize that Miyabi was staring at her. "What? You've seen others like me. Don't forget to pick up your brooch."

"Who says?!" Miyabi shouted to the girl.

"Sailor Cocytus." And with one quick turn of her high heel, Cocytus was gone.

Sailor Cocytus?! Miyabi echoed in her head. She picked up her brooch and carefully looked it over. Then I was right… Miyabi looked to her right at Harume and crimsoned. "Oh! Uh, I-"

His eyes went straight to her brooch. "A lot's changed about you, Yabi-chan," he said. "You mind telling me how you know her?"

"I don't really!" she stated as he lifted her up. "You see, quite a few things-"

"If you have a brooch that's similar to hers, then you're like her, aren't you?" he asked. Harume realized he was right when she didn't answer. "You've got a lot of explaining to do, Yabi-chan." He picked up his guitar and handed her her bag.

Miyabi took her school bag and furrowed her brow. "So do you, Haru. Like- why are you back here when you don't have a roof over your head?"

"I found my parents." Harume saw Miyabi stiffened a little. "I'm back now, and I won't be leaving any time soon, Miyabi."

The girl was frozen, but with happiness. She couldn't believe it! Then we are-! Miyabi turned around and shoved him against the wall nearby, kissing him, hard. She pulled away and let her head droop. "Let's go somewhere. I…I want to hear it all."

Harume smiled. "Sure."