Disclaimer: Chibi-Usa, Hotaru, and other characters of SailorMoon legally belong to Naoko Takeuchi, Toei Animation, and Cloverway. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ You've Got A Friend by Sailor Aphrodite/Rami ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hotaru strolled down the concrete steps of the Mugen school. She blinked at the hot sun above. She walked onto the pavement, the soft breeze blowing through her black hair and plaid skirt. She made a turn for her house, when suddenly a group of kids ran past her in the opposite direction. "Let's go to the playground!" one of them cried. The others cheered and giggled. Hotaru stared at them, interested. 'I wish I had friends like those,' she thought. Then after a moment's thought, she decided to follow them. "Wait for me!" she called out, as she tried to catch up. The children stopped at the sound of the familiar classmate. They all turned and stared silently as she ran up the sidewalk. "I want to play too!" Hotaru's weak heart began to beat much faster, and she began to gasp for breath. 'Oh no, not again,' Her hand reached for her chest, but she didn't stop running. Unfortunately, she didn't notice that small crack in the pavement, and she tripped and fell. Her briefcase flew out of her hand and into the bushes. "Wait, please..." she said between huffs. The students just stared. "Should we help her?" murmured a red-haired girl to the others. "No way!" replied another. "Did you see what she did to Tommy last week?!" "She spassed-out on him! He had to go to the hospital!" said one of the boys. Hotaru gazed up at them from her position on the ground. Her eyes began to sting. 'What are they talking about...? I didn't hurt anybody!' ~*When you're down and troubled*~ "Then she went up to him and her hand started to glow! She's an alien or something!" "Why should we play with her? That little freak." "Yeah!" the red-haired girl stamped her foot angrily at Hotaru. "Anyway, it serves you right for falling!" The children scowled in agreement, and ran off, leaving the small girl behind. She watched sadly as the others ran through the grass and have fun. She looked down at her scraped hands. Tears rolled down her cheeks and dotted the concrete. 'Why is everyone so mean to me? So what if I'm different? That's no reason to be nasty.' ~*And you need a helping hand*~ ~*And nothing, nothing is going right*~ Slowly, Hotaru stood up, and brushed the dirt off of her school uniform. She picked up her briefcase and stared up at the sky. Closing her eyes, she wished more than anything that someone would someday come up to her and ask, 'Hey, Hotaru, wanna play?' ~*Close your eyes and think of me*~ ~*And soon I will be there*~ ~*To brighten up even your darkest night*~ "Hey, Hotaru!" The firefly turned around. There stood a familiar 7-year-old with fluffy pink hair, in a blue uniform, waving to her. "Hi! I'd knew I'd find you here! Ya wanna play?" ~*You just call out my name,*~ ~*And you know wherever I am*~ ~*I'll come running to see you again*~ Hotaru stared at Chibi-Usa strangely, wondering if her wish had suddenly come true. Then she smiled. "Okay. We can go to my house." Chibi-Usa clapped. "That's great! Mamoru just taught me this new card game, and I can show you if ya want!" Hotaru giggled. She had always admired Chibi-Usa's everlasting cheerfulness. Ever since she met her in the park, Chibi-Usa had added some sunlight into Hotaru's gloomy life. She began to forget all about those other kids; Chibi-Usa was more important to her now. The two girls continued to laugh and talk, as they walked down the street to Hotaru's house. ~*Winter, spring, summer or fall,*~ ~*All you have to do is call*~ ~*And I'll be there, yes I will*~ ~*You've got a friend*~ Later that week, there was a huge thunderstorm. And since Hotaru's father was too busy to come and pick her up from school, Hotaru had to walk home with nothing but an umbrella. She trudged down the wet sidewalk holding onto the rod, hoping that the wind wouldn't blow the umbrella inside out. ~*If the sky up above you*~ ~*Should turn dark and full of clouds*~ ~*And that old north wind should begin to blow*~ Hotaru shut the front door behind her, glad to be out of that horrible storm. She leaned on the doorknob as she began to have another asthma attack. A woman with long red hair appeared in the hallway. "Hotaru, are you all right? Here, let me take your jacket--" The small girl pushed her away. "I'm fine, Kaori! I can take care of myself!" Hotaru grabbed her books and headed to her bedroom. Kaorinite scowled. "Well, I was just trying to help, you ungrateful brat! I just can't comprehend why your father spoils you so much! Why, if I were your mother--" "YOU'RE NOT MY MOTHER!" Hotaru screamed before slamming the door and locking it. She didn't know why she was so mean to Kaori, maybe because there was just something about the woman that Hotaru didn't like. Besides, Hotaru didn't want anybody replacing her mom, who had passed away some time ago. ~*Keep your head together..*~ Hotaru went over to the bed and lied down, hoping that her attack would stop. 'What is happening to my body? I can hardly breathe. I need someone to help me...someone who cares...' ~*And call my name out loud*~ ~*Soon you will hear me,*~ ~*Soon you'll hear me knocking on your door*~ 10 minutes later Hotaru heard a familiar voice: "Is Hotaru home?" Like a flash, Hotaru jumped out of bed dispite her condition. She ran out into the hall before Kaorinite could turn Chibi-Usa away. "I'm here! Come on in, Chibi-Usa-chan!" Hotaru breathed. Chibi-Usa grinned as she slipped off her muddy boots and ran past Kaori, her Luna-P ball floating after her. Kaorinite frowned. "Hotaru, you know you're not well enough to play right now." "I'm FINE, Kaori!" she shouted at Dr.Tomoe's assistant. Then she turned to the pink-haired princess. "Come on, we can talk in the den." "Oh, I can't stay long, I got a dentist's appointment in a little while. I hate the dentist!" She stuck out her tongue. "So do I. Last time I went to the dentist I hated it." Hotaru did the same. Chibi-Usa giggled in that oh-so familiar fashion and handed her a piece of paper. "We're having a picnic next Saturday and I want you to come. Here are the directions to the park, so maybe your Dad can drive you..." She then casted a nervous glance at Kaorinite. "Or maybe she can drive you..." "Oh, that's okay. My Daddy is off on Saturdays, so he'll be able to drive me." Hotaru replied as she read the invitation. "Hooray! I just can't wait 'til Saturday, we're gonna have so much fun!" Chibi-usa threw her arms around Hotaru's waist. Hota-chan looked down the girl, alittle surprised. But after a moment's thought, she hugged her back. "Well, I gotta go deal with the tooth-monster, so I'll see you later! Come on, Luna-P!" The girl grabbed her toy and ran outside onto front lawn. Hotaru went to her bedroom window and watched as Usa-chan skipped home, also noticing that the rain had suddenly stopped. A small smile appeared on the firefly's face. 'Chibi-Usa...why do you care about me so much? You have better future than I will ever have. I don't even know why you like me. But, whatever the reason is, I hope we stay friends forever. I can't wait to see your bright face again.' ~*You just call out my name*~ ~*And you know wherever I am*~ ~*I'll come running to see you again*~ ~*Winter, spring, summer or fall*~ ~*All you have to do is call*~ ~*And I'll be there*~ ~*Yes I will...*~ ~*You've got a friend*~ ~*Ain't it good to know that you've got a friend?*~ The weather the next day was much nicer. Well, for some people. Hotaru's asthma attacks just wouldn't stop, because they were becoming more frequent by the day. Hotaru just happened to be suffering one on the way home from school when she suddenly collapsed. Hotaru clutched onto her shirt in agony. 'Please stop... please let me breathe...' "So this is the demon-girl I've heard so much about?" Hota-chan looked up startled, only to meet the faces of two seventh graders. One of the girls snickered. "Don't worry, Hotaru, we'll help you." When she spotted Hotaru's metal pencil case lying on the ground, she stepped on it, crushing the metal and breaking whatever pencils that were inside. ~*And people can be so cold*~ Hotaru clamped her eyes shut, trying not to cry. Her body was killing her physically and emotionally at the same time. She couldn't bear it. 'Please...just let this be a nightmare... let me wake up...' The girls laughed evilly at the younger girl's pain until one of them said, "Let's go check out what the boys are doing." And finally they left Hotaru, suffering on the pavement. ~*They'll hurt you, and desert you*~ ~*And they'll take your soul if you let them...*~ Tears streamed down the girl's cheeks. She wanted to die, right there and then. Everything was going wrong, and there seemed to be no hope. Dying would stop the endless pain and suffering. Hotaru couldn't think of one person who would miss her..... ...until the moment she showed up. "Oh my gosh, Hotaru!" Chibi-Usa ran over to her friend, concerned. "Hotaru, are you okay?" "Yes...*huff* I'm okay...just tired, that's all..." She continued to breathe for all her life's worth. "Hotaru, why are you crying?" When Chibi-Usa recieved no answer, she helped by putting Hotaru's books and supplies back in her bag. Then she supported her legs in order to stand up. "There's a place not too faraway from here where can rest. Do you think you can make it?" The raven-haired girl nodded, unable to speak. Slowly and carefully, Chibi-Usa carried Hota-chan's bookbag and helped her walk, her arm holding onto hers. Finally they reached a playground, where they stayed away from the other kids. Soon Hotaru was able to breathe normally again. But the emotional pain didn't stop, for she just kept crying. Chibi-Usa was very worried now. She kneeled on the grass and put her hands on Hotaru's shoulders. "Please tell me what's the matter." "Chibi-Usa, what's wrong with me?" she sniffled. "Why am I so different?" The future princess was confused. "Whaddya mean?" "People are so mean to me...they say I'm wierd and that I'm a freak... and sometimes...I think they're right..." "No!" Chibi-Usa shouted so loud that Hotaru looked up. "Don't you dare say that! There's nothing wrong with you! People are just plain nasty! Don't you ever let them get to you like that! 'Cause they're wrong!" ~*Oh but don't you let them.*~ Hotaru stared at Usa, shocked at the hint of anger in her friend's voice. She didn't mean to make her mad. "I'm...I'm sorry." Chibi-Usa smiled. "Don't be. I just don't like it when my best friend is convinced that something is wrong with her when it's certainly not true." She flopped back down on the soft grass. "Let's forget about them and relax. Look, I see a dinosaur-shaped cloud." Hota-chan looked up at the sky. "It does look like a dinosaur. And there's a car-shaped cloud next to it." She pointed upward, her sadness drifting away like a cloud. "Do you think the car is trying to run over the dinosaur?" "If so, the car is going to lose." The two girls laughed, and continued to play "Spot-the-Cloud". An hour passed, and by that time the other children had gone home, leaving the two destined Sailor Scouts by themselves. As the sun began to set, the pink-haired girl glanced over at her best buddy. "Hotaru?" She glanced back. "Yeah?" "I'm very glad we're friends." Hotaru's eyes shimmered with compassion. "Me too." Chibi-Usa reached out her hand to her. "Friends forever?" She replied by taking ahold of Usa's hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "Friends forever." ~*You just call out my name*~ ~*And you know wherever I am*~ ~*I'll come running to see you again*~ ~*Winter, spring, summer or fall*~ ~*All you have to do is call*~ ~*And I'll be there*~ ~*'Cause you've got a friend*~ The girls continued to lie there in quiet thought. After awhile Hotaru sat up. "It's getting dark. We should go home, Chibi--" But when she looked at Chibi-Usa, the small girl was fast asleep. Afraid to wake her up, Hotaru decided to carry her home. She reached down to pick her up, and when she did, Hotaru was able to lift her with ease. 'She's so light...' she thought in awe. 'It's like she doesn't even weigh anything. Hopefully, I won't have any attacks carrying her.' And Hotaru didn't. She was able to carry the weightless princess to her house without any trouble at all. Hotaru softly knocked on the Tsukinos' door, only to realize that someone left the door unlocked. She quietly carried the girl up to her room, trying not to wake anybody up. "There," Hotaru breathed as she gently layed Chibi-Usa down on her bed and covering her with the blanket. Hotaru stared at Chibi-Usa's sleeping form for a moment. She looked so innocent, so sweet and pure. It was difficult to believe that this child would do anything to harm her best friend. 'Thank you, Chibi-Usa. A moment ago I thought I was all alone in the world, but now I know that I was wrong. You mean the world to me. I love you, Chibi-Usa.' Surrendering to this new feeling that was overwhelming her, Hotaru leaned over and gently kissed Chibi-Usa on the cheek. It was something Hotaru had never done in her entire life, and probably wouldn't do again anytime soon. But she didn't care. By that time, the young firefly was close to tears. 'Friends forever. I promise.' Then Hotaru left the quiet residence, and walked home, knowing that there was at least one person in the world that cared about her. And that was all she needed to know. ~*Ain't it good to know*~ ~*You've got a friend*~ ~*Yes it's good to know*~ ~*You've got a friend*~ ~*I'm so glad I've got a friend in you*~ ~*And I know you're glad*~ ~*You've got a friend in me...*~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~