Chapter 1*
By: grey tears
~
Step, Step and I�m done. Father had taught me how to dance once. The movement of my feet are a caressing circle, he told me, similar to that of a heart. Yet, at the same time, distinctly lonely.
Step, step and I�m done. His soft laugh, his soft eyes, still embedded in my mind. I move my feet, I move my body.
For I know, if I stop, the world stops with me.
Step, step and I�m done.
~
There was a rather illusionist ideal in this reigning era. If one dreamed of something, one achieved this. Nobody believed it, and so what point did it better to serve than to laugh at?
And laugh the people most certainly did. For they saw no hope in this world, no point in praying before one slept. No point in absent-mindedly wishing for luck.
For luck was not needed. Not in the world that didn�t believe in it.
For while, faith was one thing, friendship was another. And love was most certainly out of the question.
Pacts by demons were strictly formed for power, nothing more and nothing less. If they achieved that ambition, a succession was formed.
If failure was brought upon them, they perished, as would any lost soul that walked the dry soils of this land.
~
At the age of 16, Tomoe Hotaru was a silent girl; melancholic and adorable in her own haunting way. Her eyes reflected the image of a flower gone still. A picture frozen in time. A girl locked away.
And beautiful, as the rumors put it. The silent angel was a well-known ballerina in the human world, and a great awaited guest in the demon world.
There were many to lust for her, but never love.
Because there was no love in this world. Not in the world that didn�t believe in it.
~
�Beautiful performance as always Tomoe-san!�
�Arigato Gozimasu,� came the soft reply.
She turned away and breathed a deep sigh of relief. Another performance done and over with, another free day.
�Ho-tar-u-CHAN!�
The high-pitched voice brought a soft smile to her face. �Ohayo, Chibi-usa-chan.�
�Oh-ay-o! How was your performance?!�
�It went fairly well, and how are things with you? Are Usagi-san and Mamoru-san getting well together?�
�Mou! They�re fine and dealt with.�
A deliberate pause.
��D-demo, I haven�t seen you in the longest time Hotaru-chan!�
A giggle. �Yes, 24 hours is a long time, is it not?�
The smaller girl blushed to her roots as she giggled comprehensibly. �Sorry, I hadn�t meant to disturb you.�
�Eh?! No! Not at all. What made you think that?� A small laugh.
�I don�t know. Hotaru-chan, are you feeling well?�
This time it was the black-haired girl�s turn to stare. �Why shouldn�t I be?�
�Is�um, your pa�ano�Haruka-san doing better? Are, you doing well now?
�Hai, Haruka-papa and Michiru-mama are both well.�
�And Plu?�*
�Hai, Setsuna-san is well also. Why the sudden questions, Chibi-usa-chan?�
�Eh?! A-Ano�.no reason. You have just been seeming down for the past few days, thought I�d cheer you up!�
�Arigato. I appreciate it very much.�
More laughter
�I knew you would silly!�
She smiled her delusional smile, and nodded as the words poured through one ear and out the other.
She loved her friend, really she did. But perhaps Usagi-san had given her cheery friend one too many of her traits?
If it weren�t the eating habits, it was the school habits.
Her eyes widened.
�Honto! And then Mamo-chan said!�
�---Chibi-Usa-chan.�
��Eh? Hai..?�
�What day is it?�
�Eh..? Ano�.Wednesday. Why?�
�Do you not have school today,� she asked more out of confusion than sternness.
��.a-ano! Gisha-kun, told me we didn�t and I was worried about you, and and�.�
There was a long pause as Hotaru�s hair down casted her eyes.
�I see.�
Another long-beat pause.
�Anniversary. The anniversary is today, ne?�
Chibi-usa stood with guilt-stricken eyes and replied �Hai.�
A sad smile played upon her lips. She understood now. It was the anniversary today. The anniversary of sorrow. The anniversary of Re-birth.
The Anniversary of Death, itself.
Precisely two years ago, her father had died this very day.
In her hands, and by her hands.
�Step�Step��
Without paying much more notice to the pink-haired girl in front of her, she began to sway.
�Eh? Hotaru-chan? Daijobu?!�
Her feet started to move in a caressing circle.
�Hotaru-chan, what�s wrong?�
�Faster, she whispered, faster.
And she spun. With her arms outstretched, neck lain back and her eyes closed; she spun until she could not see.
Until the colors became a blur. Until, she collapsed.
�Step, Step,� she breathed out,
�And I�m done.�
~
Disclaimer: I claim no-such rights to either characters/shows. I simply entertain myself my quenching my ever-thirsting muse.
For those of you that have never seen the Japanese version:
-Chibi-usa: Rini
-Usagi: Serena
-Mamoru: Darien�[? Lemme recall my memory]
-Setsuna: I have absolutely no idea what her dub name is [I think Trista?]
-Haruka Tenou: [Michelle or Amara. >< One or the other.] Hotaru refers to her as Haruka-papa, because of Haruka�s undeclared marital status with Michiru.
-Michiru Kaho � [Michelle or Amara] Hotaru refers to her as Michiru-mama.
*- Plu�Chibi-usa�s nickname for Pluto [hence, Setsuna]
About: Yes, the pairing is, Hotaru/Hiei. Hiei will come in the next chapter, hopefully. I want this story to focus more on Hotaru though. But don� worry, I shall introduce the Fire-Koorime soon enough. ^_^; I hope to have Chapter two out in the near future�?