See the answers for the Reviews:
moifah: (1-4) Yep, Haru and Taru are alike, ne? Oh, Kyo calls Hotaru a "What" b/c of Akito. The Prick's notorious for driving people into the loony bin. "Social Butterfly" isn't what came to mind when I reread it. More like "trying to make her seem human" in a way, like giving her an excuse to be distant and shy. And here, I updated.
Taeniaea: Thanks!
mae-E: Read Fruits Basket, then you'll understand why they're against Haru being with Taru. And the answers to your next...2? questions as well. Oh, I forgot to mention, when you have "strange powers" people like you tend to know about you. Hotaru knows about the Hanajima sibs' powers too. And you have to remember Hotaru's kinda the "little sister/daughter" of the Senshi group and that some of the Senshi are pretty famous. But Ayame and Setsuna met online at a Fashion Convention website's chat room. Thy're just friends.
Harpygirl91: You love it? Wow, I'm doing pretty well if you love this fic too!
EternalGoddessSailorMoon: Thanks!
Dressed in a sweet looking dark blue spring polo dress with her hair braided and draped over her shoulder, Hotaru wove her fingers with Haru's as they walked deeper into the carnival. Haru had chosen to wear a black polo shirt with a pair of blue jeans, wearing a smile on his face. She was enjoying his company and being close to his warmth…even if he had never hugged her or held her close.
She enjoyed the feel of his lips on hers and the light in his eyes when he smiled or laughed. Hotaru loved the way his hand held hers and the way he looked at her. He treated her like she was normal, a normal school girl. Haru didn't see her as Sailor Saturn or as Mistress 9 or the Light of Chaos. He saw Hotaru the Girl-not Hotaru, the Earthly Alter Ego of Sailor Saturn.
"Hotaru, this way. I want to win you a prize." Haru gently pulled her over to a booth of milk bottles and baseballs. So the carnival was a little Westernized. It didn't matter. As long as Hotaru got to spend time with Haru, she'd put up with it for his sake. Haru paid the tiny fee and was given 5 small baseballs. Picking up one, Haru tossed it up once, caught it and then threw it at a stack of milk bottles. They tumbled downward with a clatter. He did it again to the other 2 stacks, baffling the booth manager.
"Bravo, m'boy!" The manager congradulated happily. "Pick any prize you want!"
Cats, dogs, costume jewelry, plushies of the senshi and such were on the walls and hanging from the ceiling. Haru looked at Hotaru and then pointed to the floppy black cat that had a pair of purple eyes like his girlfriend. When he got the cat, Haru gave it to Hotaru and kissed her forehead.
"Having fun, Firefly?" Haru asked as they moved on to a different booth.
"I always have fun when I'm with you." Hotaru took his hand in hers, intertwining their fingers together. As they passed a fortune teller's booth, Hotaru felt Haru tense up.
"Well, well, Haru-who's your pretty lady friend?" A chilling voice asked with a mocking tone. A young man who looked similar to Hotaru stood with a red/tan haired man a step behind him.
"This is Hotaru…she's…she's my girlfriend…" The Ox mumbled pulling Hotaru behind him slightly. "She doesn't know anything, Akito. I've kept my mouth shut so leave her be."
Akito's smile was cold and unfeeling when it came to his eyes. That bright smile never reached his eyes. "I would never dream to hurt such a pretty girl."
"You and Kaori Knight." Hotaru muttered into Haru's shoulder. Haru squeezed her hand to keep her quiet. Akito came closer, trying to inspect Hotaru but she knew his true intentions.
"What lovely black hair. Such a pretty shade of the night." Akito reached a hand up to stroke her hair but Haru pulled her to his other side behind his back. "Oh, are you afraid of me, my dear?"
Hotaru pretended to be a frightened girl but her eyes peered over Haru's shoulder with a venomous icy edge. Akito registered a threat and a challenge within Haru's girl. She was far too powerful to be anything else. He'd have to see where this relationship would progress to. In fact, he'd have to invite her to come around to the Main House to get to know her better.
"I'll see you around, Haru. It was nice to meet such a pretty girl." Akito's false smile was bright but Hotaru could read the scheming ripples in his aura. She wasn't stupid. She didn't survive her former comrades by being stupid. No, she survived by being smart, cunning, calculating.
Haru slowly turned as Akito walked passed, keeping his body between the Head and Hotaru, never letting Akito see his back. As soon as he and the other man turned the corner, the Ox turned to his Senshi girlfriend to see if she was all right.
"I'm so sorry." Haru apologized, cupping her face in his hands. "I didn't know he was going to be here. If I had, I would've found us something different to do."
"It's alright, Haru. I have friends who can be just as…interested as he was." Hotaru assured him. She gave him a quick kiss on the lips. "I'm fine, really. I'm not foolish enough to not believe that he isn't a threat but I won't let him take you away from me. You're the best thing in my life."
Haru smiled at her admission, even if it caused her to blush while she said it. He intertwined their fingers together and kissed her lips with a gentle smile. Yeah, Hotaru was his dream girl and he had her heart in his hands.
Akito's up to something, dammit! I'm telling you we need to get a sniper on his ass!