...Just like she had been before Hotaru had run out.
Lowering her head sadly, Hotaru was looking quite like a kicked puppy.
Makoto grumbled as she walked out of the kitchen. “Jesus H. Christ! I was sure I set the oven at a lower temperature...” She sighed. The tall, pony-tailed brunette blinked as she saw Hotaru’s downcast look. Wincing, the Senshi of Plants and Lightning smirked lightly. “You know, Hotaru, looking like that could get you some ice-cream very easily.”
Hearing that caused Hotaru to grin a moment, before looking up at Makoto with the damned best use of the ‘sad puppy eyes’ technique.
Makoto mentally cringed and held up her hands, waving them back and forth rapidly. “Hey! No fair! You’re cheating, Hotaru!” Hopefully, this would get the girl’s spirit up some.
The violet-haired wolfgirl upped the water-works, her eyes shimmering with sadness as her ears flattened back against her skull...
...An image all but betrayed by the happily wagging tail behind her.
“ACK!” Makoto leaned back a little to far, before falling onto her back. Letting out a whoosh of air, she mock-glared at the youngest Senshi, barring Chibi-Usa that was. “That’s low, Hotaru.” She then smiled and picked herself off the floor. “So, you want to talk about something?”
Nodding her head slowly, Hotaru let out a whimper. “Haruka-papa...” She softly mumbled.
Makoto sighed. She had a feeling that it had something to do with the racer. Not that she harbored any ill-feelings towards the blonde, but she was a hot-head at times. “What about her?” Makoto asked, before looking Hotaru over. “Let me guess, she didn’t like what happened, did she?”
Hotaru slowly nodded her head to the Senshi of Jupiter’s question. “Neither did Michiru-mama...”
Makoto nodded. Even though she had heard the whole story, something about seeing Hotaru the way she was now was really bothering her. “What about Setsuna? You didn’t tell me how she reacted,” She said, before walking over to the couch and offering Hotaru a seat.
“That was the weird part...” Hotaru told the older Senshi. “She didn’t mind at all... In fact, she was the one to help me get away from Haruka-papa and Michiru-mama long enough to get Spliced.”
Makoto blinked. “Weird.” As she thought about it, it started to make some sense. The Senshi of Time never got the others involved with something, unless it threatened to destroy all they worked for, or if it threatened Earth itself. She then shrugged. “You want to spend the night over here or something?” Makoto asked. Her place was large, and she didn't have anyone else living there. A roommate would be a nice change of pace for her.
“May I?” Hotaru asked, her eyes shining with hope. Again, her tail wagged happily behind her.
Makoto smiled and nodded. “Yeah. I don’t see why not.” Besides, school was out for the break, so there was no need for either of them to worry about getting up early tomorrow.
“Oh, Thank you, Makoto-san! THANK YOU!” Hotaru cried out happily as she lunged towards the older, much taller senshi; hugging her around the waist. Surprising Makoto and herself, she began to murr.
Makoto blinked as she returned the hug. Well, that was different. “Say, Hotaru... What’s it like?”
“What’s what like?” Hotaru said as she looked up at Makoto; her arms still wrapped around the taller girl's waist.
“You know... Getting spliced.” It seemed to be great, but she was wondering what any of the negative side-effects were.
“Oh,” Hotaru said as she let go of Makoto’s waist finally. “Well, it was a little painful when the change first happened...” Hotaru admitted. “I was a little frightened.” She soon began to smile, even if it was only a little bit, “But once the initial changes start, everything feels... Strange, as you continue to change.” She then smiled a little. “But you feel really, REALLY good once it’s done.”
“Really?” Makoto asked, with some obvious interest. “What’s it feel like though? Like you’re in a hot-water bubble bath? Or is it like when your foot falls asleep?” Though, Makoto had to admit, it was nice seeing Hotaru act so perky.
Hotaru pursed her lips, which looked really cute on a wolf muzzle. “Well, when it first starts... It feels like getting a regular shot from a doctor... But then it feels a little painful at first, like someone is pulling on you, trying to stretch you... Then it feels like your whole body went to sleep, not just your foot. When the change is finished, feeling comes back at a general pace until you're back to your new self again...” Hotaru smiled. “And it feels really, really good too!”
“I bet,” Makoto said, blinking. That didn’t sound too bad. And looking at Hotaru, she certainly didn't see too many bad effects, in fact... “Say, Hotaru?”
“Yeah, Makoto?” The attentive wolf-girl answered.
The Senshi of Jupiter smiled. She was fairly attentive to details, unless it came to cute or good-looking guys. “I noticed that you weren’t exhausted when you were at the door. Did the splicing help you out?” It was no secret that Hotaru had poor health. “If it can help Hotaru’s health out when it was that poor...” She let the thought hanging in her mind.
Nodding her head rapidly, Hotaru answered, “Yes! It was the reason I went and got spliced!” The little wolfgirl of Saturn explained. “I felt soooo good after I was Spliced. I could run, I could jump, I could do everything other kids could.” She murred. “Hey, I even came all the way from Haruka-papa and Michiru-mama’s to here without stop...” And then Hotaru frowned. “Please don’t tell them I’m here,” She quickly added. She knew if her guardians knew where she was, they’d be down to get her and force her to get changed back ASAP.
Makoto shook her head. “Hey, don’t worry about that. I won’t tell.” Heck, if everything was as good as Hotaru was making it out... Why not check it out? It might be interesting. She smiled. “Your secret’s safe with me, Hotaru.”
The Wolf Fur of Saturn let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you again, Kino-san,” She thanked respectably.
“Hey, just call me Makoto. We’re friends, right?” She said, smiling.
“Smiling wider, and showing off a muzzle full of sharp teeth, Hotaru practically barked out, “Thank you, Makoto!”
Makoto chuckled. Wow! Who knew saying something like that could make Hotaru’s day? “You’re welcome.”
“What bait?”
“The Scooby Snacks!”
“I don’t know what Else to say, except these Scooby Snacks are pretty darn good.”
“Oh, not you too, Setsuna!”
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(Posted Wed, 01 Sep 2004 23:43)
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