To Ten Million Fireflies

[Momo]

It was a moment or two before she could stop the tears and sniffed a bit as she leaned into him. "Sorry..."She murmured.

[Fox]

"It's alright, because you're okay now. Right?" He questioned. He stoked her hair comfortingly, as a lover may do.

[Momo]

She sniffed again and shifted. "Not all the way, but i'm not going to cry again if that's what you really wanted to know." She told him.

[Fox]

He smiled to himself. "Good, no more tears from you." He said, almost jokingly, as he continued to stroke her hair.

[Momo]

She smiled and little and leaned back against him, closing her eyes. "Thanks..." She told him.

[Fox]

He smiled lightly, continuing to stroke her hair.

{[~SKIP~]}

Hotaru awoke from his bed, the clocks all reading one fourty-eight am. He lifted himself from the bed and opened the door leading into the hall way. A carefully placed one foot into the hall, the floorboards squeaking badly as if they were against him. "Shh.." He whispered to himself. "I'll be back before sunrise." He took another step into the hall.

[Momo]

Maria started awake at the sound of the floor boards squeaking. That wasn't just normal house sounds either, someone was walking around. She yawned quietly and got up slowly, sliding on some slipper like shoes before heading out. She peeked out into the hall, catching sight of Hotaru's backm before following him down the hall quietly.

[Fox]

Hotaru carefully turned the knob on the front door, opening it and exiting the house. It wasn't long before he reached the sacred tree. The first thing he did was speed up, stopping at the tree to embrace it. Thousands of fireflies flutter about, gathering around him as if to hug him. He softly whispered to them, as if he was really speaking to them.

[Momo]

She stayed back in the cover of the forest trees, watching quietly. It was beautiful, all those fireflies...but it was strange to see him talking to them like they were friends. Though she'd done that many times when she'd come here to leave Emily flowers. The thought of Emily sent a pang through her heart and she bit her lip. This tree had meant so much to Emily, she'd died here, she was even buried out here. Maria shouldn't have come here, she should have stayed home, safe in her bed. She couldn't stop watching, even as a few tears leaked passed her eyes and were quickly swiped away by her hand.

[Fox]

Hotaru sat on the ground, leaning against the tree. "Emily.." He closed his eyes lightly. He raised one hand and placed it over his heart. "Emily, why were you so hurt?" He opened his eyes, watching the fireflies do spirals and loopy loops. He stood, and turned towards where Maria was.

[Momo]

Maria was still leaning against the tree, her back to the fireflies and Hotaru. "Emily...I miss you..." she whispered, closing her eyes and sliding to sitting. "Why'd you have to leave?" She mumbled, staring off into the trees ahead of her.

[Fox]

He took a few steps towards her before kneeling behind her and wrapping his arms around her. "Please don't cry.."

[Momo]

She jumped a little, not realizing that he'd seen her. She pressed her hands over her eyes and leaned back against him. "I miss her so much..." She mumbled.

[Fox]

He winced a little, her sorrow effecting him. "It's alright.. She never completely left."

[Momo]

"But she's still gone!" She sniffled, biting her lip. "She was my bestfriend...why'd she have to leave?" She said.