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Chapter 4
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Nanako stopped in her tracks once they entered Setsuna's apartment through the portal. She could feel him, the draw was more powerful the she had anticipated. She thought it would have weakened
with the passage of so much time, but it became stronger. It took all her will not to turn around and go to him then and there. She missed him so much. She also knew that he must sense her too. * I wonder if he knows who it is. Does he remember anything about me at all? He must feel this as familiar, but is that all? No... Don't think like that. He mustn't know. Not yet. He must never know about their past... EVER. She can not ruin the future set out for him*. A single tear ran down her face.
"Is everything ok?" Pluto, now out of uniform looked at her friend closely. She then noticed the tear. "Nanako, what's wrong? Please, tell me." She was becoming worried about her again.
Clearing her throat, she answered "nothing. It's just that I can sense Nokaru, and I know he can sense me as well." She closed her eyes, and her markings glowed again. "Don't worry, he will not be able to for long". She put up a type of force-field around herself. * This will keep him from detecting me at least. I just hope I can keep it up long enough. I hope my energy holds out until the crystal is reunited with its other.... my other half*. "This
will stop him from detecting me for a while. I just hope it lasts long enough for us to complete what we must do here." Another tear escaped from her eye. This was going to be more difficult then she thought. The pull between them was still very strong, and so the
love between them could still be rekindled, but she knew she must not allow herself to give in to her wants... to give in to the needs of her heart. She would be punished for intervening as it was, so a
future on earth would not be possible. On top of that, she would not be able to live with herself if she caused pain to those she once knew, and those who truly cared for her beloved Nokaru now.
"Will you be able to keep this up? I mean your powers aren't what they used to be. And you only have a limited amount of energy until you reunite with the other piece of the crystal." Setsuna stopped for a moment, trying to put her thoughts into words, and in a way that would not offend Nanako. "It's not just that either. Are you sure you want to remain on earth while we wait for the enemy? It can't be easy for you.... for you to.." This was too awkward for her
to talk about. She didn't want to press things, but Nanako didn't truly think everything out. She was worried that she wouldn't be able to keep up her strength, or even worse to go back on her word. She knew deep down that the later was a very remote possibility, but she still had to bring it to her attention. She could tell that this was very difficult for her, and that she was trying to keep back the tears.
"Yes, I'm quite sure. I'll be fine, and I will not go back on my word. You should know me better than that." She smiled at the shocked look on Setsuna's face when she opened her eyes and allowed
herself to relax, watching the light and markings fade with the lack of concentration on her powers. "Sorry Setsuna. I didn't mean to pry into your mind. It's just that you were basically sending the thoughts my way. I couldn't help but pick them up." She looked
away, feeling a little guilty. She had forgotten when exactly she had picked up this ability. If she concentrated hard enough on someone she had seen in the fountains back in her realm, she could
pick up on their thoughts. She never used this power on Setsuna before, she never wanted to pry into the mind of the only person she ever had as a visitor, the only friend she truly had at the time. "I never used it on you. You must believe me. But when you think about something so totally, and focus towards me, I can't help but pick up on it."
Still a little shocked that her friend had the ability to read minds and never told her, Setsuna missed the hurt in Nanako's voice. "Why haven't you told me you could do that? Is there anything else you are keeping from me? What else don't I know?" She was a little hurt herself. This was basically the only company she
had since assigned to guard the gates of time. She was the only person who she could always visit, being able to keep an eye on the gate and control room from many of the fountains in Nanako's garden. She thought they knew everything about one another after a millennium.
Nanako turned back towards Setsuna, anguish written all over her face. "Setsuna, I'm sorry. I just didn't want you to worry about it. I would never dare endanger the trust we have created between us, so I just suppressed my abilities so that I would be able
to block any thoughts you directed towards me. If you didn't say it out loud before now, I swear I never heard it. It's just that I wasn't thinking, and I can't block out something directly focused at me when I'm also trying to put a field around myself to keep people from sensing my presence all together. It just uses too much energy. I'm sorry." She could see Setsuna settling, and a look of guilt crossing her face.
"I'm the one who should be sorry. I didn't mean to accuse you like that. I know you would not keep something like that away from me for your own gain." She tried to lighten things up with a little laugh. "Just too much going on I guess. My nerves are a
little frazzled." With a little smirk, she asked again, "is there anything else you'd like to tell me?"
Nanako had to smile. All was forgiven once again. "Nope, that is, not until I'm reunited with the other half. Then maybe I'll have some new powers to show you".
The girls looked at each other and couldn't resist laughing at the other. A stupid thing to squabble over at such a time.
"Come on, it's getting late and the mall will close soon. If you want to get some new clothes, we should hurry. I think I have something that will fit you until then." Setsuna walked into her bedroom and open her walk-in closet. She seen the perfect little
black dress for Nanako. They were about the same size, though Nanako was a little taller at 5'8", and had a slightly larger bust. *Of course with those attributes, she should look smashing in this dress*
Setsuna thought to herself with satisfaction. Perhaps she should dress up too, and they could grab something to eat in a restaurant while they were out. Walking back out of the room with the dress, Setsuna passed
it to Nanako. "This should look killer on you! I can't wait to see the look on some of the faces when we go out". Nanako's eyes nearly fell out. This dress was gorgeous. "Are you sure you don't mind me borrowing it?" and added with a slightly confused look on her face "and why would I want to kill people in it?".
Setsuna couldn't help herself. She burst out laughing, doubling over with each new breath she brought in. "Not...*giggle* ...kill people... *giggle*... killer". She caught her breath and
looked up at Nanako, nearly losing her newly found composure. She still didn't get it. "It means you'll look really good in it. Smashing, gorgeous in fact. Now go in the spare room and change into it. It's down the hall, first door on your right. You can stay
there tonight, and as long as you want or until you find yourself a place you like. You know your always welcome to just stay here."
Nanako smiled at Setsuna "no that's ok. I know exactly where I want to stay. There's this beautiful little house next to the park. It overlooks the pond and the rose garden. I believe it's up for rent still. I'll look at it first thing tomorrow." Then she stopped and thought for a second "wait a minute. I thought we were only going to the mall. I didn't think that you had to get dressedup for that."
"Well I was thinking that we could grab a bit to eat at this cute little restaurant not too far from here on the way back. It will be good for you to get out and learn the mannerisms of this time you know. Besides, I'm hungry, and not in the mood to cook." she
added with a little smirk "Besides, it's not everyday you get to visit Earth, so why not dress up for the occasion."
"Well, as long as you're dressing up to, I'd love to wear it. It is gorgeous."
The two girls went off into their own respective rooms to change. Nanako came out first. "Setsuna. Are you ready? I need a pair of shoes to go with this" she said cheerfully. She had examined
herself in the mirror in the bedroom. It looked gorgeous on her. It was a soft silky pitch black material, which hung off her hips, showing the curves of her body off beautifully, and in a very flattering way. The neck line was heart shaped, plunging enough to reveal a bit of cleavage. It was kept up by two small spaghetti straps which crossed one another in the back, which had a plunging back, leaving a lot of her back naked. It was very flattering on her, and comfortable as well. She had found a clip on the dresser in the bedroom, and put half of her hair up, held in place by the little heart-shaped clip. Her curly hair forming large ringlets from the clip, which, along with the rest of her hair, hung the full length of her back. Although it hid the obvious attempt the dress made to show some skin, Nanako loved to leave her hair down, at least part ways anyway. The dress itself came down to just above her ankle. She supposed it went down to the floor when Setsuna wore it, but it still gave off a pleasant and elegant look.
Setsuna came out wearing a similar dress in dark green, which only went down passed her knees. She wore her hair the way she always did, putting half of it in a neat and tidy bun, allowing the other half to hang straight down her back. Her eyes fell upon Nanako and she nearly lost her breath. *She can look so truly beautiful when she tries. Not that she ever remembered a moment when she did not appear breath-taking, but wow she looked good tonight*. "You look
gorgeous. No guy will be able to keep his eyes off you tonight", she said with a smile. *It never hurt to be paid attention to, and perhaps the attention can cheer her up a bit, and take her mind off some of this, if only for a while.* she thought to herself. It
wouldn't hurt her ego either, now that she thought of it.
"I should say the same about you Setsuna." Nanako had forgot how truly beautiful Setsuna was in her own right. It was unfortunate that she had never been able to find true love, and now locked away as she was, her looks would bring no suitor. A little sad, she thought, but then remember that unlike her, Setsuna was permitted to leave her duties from time to time. "You'll have your share of onlookers tonight," she said happily.
Setsuna returned to her room and grabbed a pair of shoes that would go with Nanako's dress. "Here you go. These should fit" And sure enough they did. "Come on now. It's getting late, we have to
go." She grabbed hold of Nanako's arm and dragged her out of the apartment, grabbing her purse and locking the door as she went.
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