Makoto chuckled rather nervously. “Hi, Setsuna,” She said in greeting. “Long time no see...”
“Please,” Setsuna told the Senshi of Jupiter currently in her human guise. “You just saw me three days ago. And you’ve gone months with me absent.”
“Yeah, I have,” Makoto admitted, a sweat-drop forming on the back of her head.
Standing there as she looked at the table, Setsuna gently said, “Hotaru, you can get up now.”
“No wanna,” Came the reply from beneath the table.
“Why?” Setsuna asked, standing there. She was going to be patient with the girl as best she could. After what happened at the house, she knew that the little girl was going to be feeling even more insecure than usual.
The little wolf-girl’s head peeked up from beneath the table. “Promise not to tell Haruka-papa or Michiru-mama you saw me?”
Nodding her head, the green-haired woman said, “I promise.”
Her head a little above the table, Hotaru looked up at the older Senshi nervously, studying her. The woman seemed to be making no sudden movements, so the little Wolf Fur got up and sat back down on her side of the booth. “Thank you, Setsuna Mama.”
Smiling a little, Setsuna told the violet-haired wolf, “You’re welcome.”
“So, Setsuna,” Makoto spoke up, breaking into the conversation. “Care to explain what brings you here?”
“Kino-san,” Setsuna started seriously as she turned to look at Makoto. “When have I ever explained myself?”
“...Good point...” Makoto answered with a grumble. She still looked at the older Senshi seriously. “Can you answer one question?”
“Depends on the question,” Setsuna answered back.
“Why did you help Hotaru get Spliced?” Makoto asked. “I mean, was it just because this would help Hotaru, or...” Makoto paused to choose her words carefully. “Or do you have something greater planned with this?”
“...” Setsuna was silent for a long moment.
“Setsuna-mama?” Hotaru asked as well.
After a minute of no response, the green-haired Senshi finally sat down. “May I sit down?”
“Of course,” Makoto said as she moved down in the booth to make room on her side.
“No thank you,” Setsuna said. “Hotaru, please get out of the booth.”
“...Setsuna-mama?” Hotaru said hesitantly.
“Please,” Setsuna said. “I’d prefer the window seat.”
Nodding her head tentatively, the wolf-girl did as commanded and got out of the booth. Setsuna then got in and slid down, allowing for Hotaru to get back into the booth as well.
Makoto leaned forward, placing her elbows on the table, her chin resting on her hands. “Setsuna?”
“Yes?” The elder Senshi asked, as she idly picked up a menu. Opening it, her eyes traced across the list on entrees.
“You didn’t answer my question,” Makoto said seriously.
“Yes,” Setsuna said slowly.
“Yes?” Makoto repeated. “Yes to this was all done for Hotaru’s sake, or that you have bigger plans.”
“Yes...” Setsuna said once more.
“Yes to what, Setsuna-mama?” Hotaru asked excitedly. Truth be told, she was also very curious as to why the rather lone Senshi would do all this to help her.
“Yes, I do think I’ll go with a cup of decaf coffee,” Setsuna said. She ignored as the silverware on the table clattered as the two younger Senshi face-faulted.
“Setsuna-mamaaaa...” Hotaru whined, all more effectively now that she was a cute little wolf-girl. Looking up at her mother figure, her eyes shone with such sadness that one couldn’t help but feel pity...
...All but Setsuna that is.
“The ‘Sad Puppy-Eyes’ technique doesn’t work on me, little lady,” Setsuna said before looking back through the menu. “Hmm... They serve cappuccino here too... I wonder how good their machine is...”
“Setsuna,” Makoto spoke up. “Stop evading the damn question and tell us already!” She snapped, and soon found herself cringing as the older woman glared at her. “I mean, that is, if you’re ready now.”
Nodding her head, Setsuna closed the menu and placed it down on the table. “To answer your question, I didn’t help Hotaru get Spliced for some ‘greater purpose’,” She told Makoto.
“You didn’t?” Makoto asked.
“No,” Setsuna said. Turning to look at her charge, she said, “I did this so Hotaru could finally live life as a normal girl...” After a moment, she added, “Or as normal as a girl with fur could.”
“Uh, Setsuna,” Makoto started to say. “No offense to you Hotaru, you look rather cute as you are now,” She quickly said so Hotaru wouldn’t be hurt by what she was about to say. “But tell me, just how is getting Spliced going to help Hotaru live normally?”
“You’ve seen the answers already,” Setsuna said. “Numerous times, I’m willing to bet. So why bother now?”
Makoto nodded. It was true. She had seen the improvements in Hotaru. One would have to be blind not to notice how much more energy the girl had; the obvious happiness on her face. “That can’t be all to it though,” Makoto said.
“And why can’t it be?” Setsuna asked.
“Setsuna,” Makoto said. “Everything you’ve done has always had an ulterior motive. So what is it this time?”
“Well...” Setsuna said slowly. The green-tressed woman steepled her fingers together and leaned forward. “None of your business.”
Makoto pouted. “Setsuna.”
“Please,” The older woman said. “If you think Hotaru and her cute lupine looks can’t phase me, what makes you think a human pout is going to do any better?”
The brown-haired girl frowned. “You love hiding secrets, don’t you?”
“It’s my calling in life,” Setsuna said. She placed her hand on top of Hotaru’s head and pushed her down below the table. “Duck.”
“Eep!” Hotaru yelped as she was sent under the table once more.
“What are you doing?” Makoto asked as she saw Setsuna left her menu once more; burying her face into it.
“Look out the window,” Setsuna said, her nose still buried in the menu. “Oh look, they have tatter-tots with soy sauce. That should be an interesting blend.”
“What?” Makoto asked in confusion. Not getting another answer from the green-haired woman, the Senshi of Thunder and Lightning looked out the window...
And saw as Michiru and Haruka passed by the window of the café once more. The two were heading away from Makoto’s side of the table; not noticing her. And they certainly didn’t stop when they saw a woman sitting there reading a menu.
Looking the woman in her red eyes as she lowered her menu, Makoto asked, “How the hell do you do that?”
“It’s a gift,” The Senshi of Time answered.
“You’re right. You can clean my desk out of my boyfriend’s articles. Bastard dumped me for a Vixen.”
Read the comments on this episode
See other episodes by Red Priest of the 17th Order
(Posted Mon, 11 Oct 2004 21:48)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.