Earth's Eclipse cpt 3

The summer passed quickly for the three. Usagi, much to Essence's dismay, had decided to keep the name Bunny. Even though she kept almost everything of her past hidden from her new American comrades, they soon became close friends. Marcus was ever patient with her in her studies, diligently working with her each day to teach her English. She became a fast learner after a while, seeming to adapt to him as if they had known each other all their lives. Bunny in return for his help taught him some Japanese that had been overlooked in his formal classes. Slowly, her mind began to leave behind Tokyo. To leave behind the girl she had been there, to leave behind the man who had broke her heart.

Summer vacation had been a little longer than usual, the city deciding to wait out the blackouts until they let school commence again. As it was, Bunny had been living with Marcus for about three months now, and spoke almost fluent English. It was a week until school started when she and him, along with Essence, had decided to go out and do some clothes shopping.

"I have no idea why I came along," Marcus groaned as he sat on a chair outside of a dressing room in a trendy clothing store.

"Because, if Bunny doesn’t know the English word for something you can help her out with it," Essence shouted from her dressing room.

"Yeah, besides, I want your opinion on clothes. I need to know what American girls wear," Bunny chimed in from her own room.

Marcus groaned again. "If you take Essence away from the funky clothes she could probably tell you better than me-" He stopped talking and let out a whistle as Essence strolled out of the dressing room.

She wore a black, see-through body hugging shirt that had a tight tank top in the color white pulled over top of it. The word 'kissable' was scrolled across the top in dark red glitter. She had on a black skirt made out heavy fabric that had a see-through layer on top that had safety pins attached to it in various designs of crosses and words. She didn't have on any pantyhose due to she had left the house in jeans, but she still looked nice with her legs showing. "What do you think?" She asked him.

"That's a lot of safety pins," He said after a minute.

She spun around. "You think it's too much? Is it not my style?" She sounded concerned as she turned this way and that in a mirror.

Marcus simply looked at her, secretly dumbfounded as usual, by her appearance. She was a beautiful girl, she had been the whole time he had known her, and yet she never had a boyfriend. He asked her before why she hung out with him instead of having a boyfriend. She had looked at him like he was deranged. She had told them she felt like something was in store for her, and she knew that one day the right guy would come along and win her heart. Sighing quietly to himself as she walked back into the dressing room, he thought of how he sometimes pined to be that guy who could win her heart at night. He had longed to tell her of his feelings more than once, but he knew she would only laugh at him if he ever even hinted at it. They had been friends for too long. Besides, Essence was 16 and a half, and he was only a few months past his 15th birthday. He knew when she did flirt it was always with older guys. Those kinds of thoughts used to depress him, but ever since a certain brunette had shown up in his life, his silent admiration for her had eased a little.

"I don’t think this is really my style," Bunny interrupted his musings as she came out of the dressing room. It took all of Marcus' strength not to have his jaw drop to the floor. She had on a dress that made him think of heaven. It had no sleeves, save for the straps that rested on her shoulders. The top of it was done in a crinkly see-through fabric that hugged across the breasts and was layered by a solid fabric underneath. It had an empire waistline that hugged right underneath her chest with a piece of ribbon that wrapped around to the back where it was tied into an elegant bow. Little gold O's rested on the ribbon accenting the waistline. The skirt had a solid layer underneath like the top, but was finished off with a fine layer of sheen fabric that flowed freely and twirled around her as she moved. The dress stopped about mid-thigh, giving him ample viewing of her legs.

"It looks perfect on you!" Essence said happily as she came out of the dressing room, the clothes she had chosen to purchase slung over one of her arms. She clapped her hands together in delight as Bunny did an uncertain twirl in front of her.

Bunny frowned. "I'm not so sure. Marcus?" She looked at him, questioning him with her eyes.

"You look gorgeous," He replied, mesmerized by the green color of her eyes. He had learned over the summer that they changed shades depending upon her mood. When she was irritated, they appeared a dark jade. When she was happy they almost appeared the color of baby grass in the morning sun. At the moment they appeared a color he had never noticed before, as if the color blue was mixing into them somehow.

"Well, um, thank you," She said quietly. He focused on her whole face as she spoke, and he realized there was a pink tinge to her cheeks.

"You're blushing," He said to her softly in Japanese. He knew Essence would not understand what he had said, which was why he had switched languages.

She turned a deeper stain of crimson at his words. Becoming frazzled, she ran off back into the dressing room, unsure what to say. When she came back out in her normal clothes, Essence was standing in front of her.

"What did he say to you?" She asked Bunny.

She craned her head around Essence to find Marcus looking around the other side of the store. "He really didn't say anything," She replied.

"Are you sure? I'll kick his butt for you, if you want me to," She answered, half sarcastically.

"No thanks," Bunny laughed with a smile. In a lot of ways, Essence reminded her of her old friends.

"Okay, fine. So, are you getting the dress?"

She looked at her puzzled. "Where would I wear it to?"

"One of the clubs."

"Don't I have to be 18 and have an ID?"

Essence scoffed at her. "Please. Where I hang out, ideas are not an issue. In the Underground, no one cares about age. It's about the music and the fun. And the thrill of maybe getting caught."

"Caught?" Bunny looked at her uncertainly.

"Yeah. Most of them are considered illegal, because we like to hold them in abandoned spots, or ones that aren't really supposed to be as full as we make them. But they are always fun and cops hardly bust us."

"I'm not so sure..."

"Oh come on," Essence prodded her towards the register with the dress. "You have to check out the party scene at least once. Even Marcus has gone once. Besides, I will pay for the dress."

"But-" Bunny started frantically.

"No buts!" Essence said firmly. "I'm going to pick out some accessories real quick then I'll be back to pay for this," She said to the cashier. "You," She pointed to Bunny. "Go grab Marcus. We have some serious shopping to do to get you street worthy. Not to mention presentable enough for Marcus," She rolled her eyes as she walked off to the accessories display.

Bunny wondered what in the world clothing would look like the Essence liked and Marcus approved of. She sometimes wondered how the two were best friends. They were such complete opposites. Bunny smiled, happy to know both of them despite how different they all were. She was the youngest out of the three at fourteen and a half, but they treated her as an equal. Essence gossiped and hung out with her, doing girl things. They even went out to lunch once a week in her Sebring convertible. Bunny did not really understand the raver/rebel streak she had going on, but she knew underneath all that was a very sensitive, creative and intelligent girl. Marcus was always there to help her on her studies. He had been able to teach her things teachers had failed at after years of trying. He was sweet and kind and always willing to go the extra mile to make sure she understood something. His help over the summer had done so well when she had went to take the placement test, she had been placed in the same grade as him for school, one grade higher than she had been at home. Outside of their teacher student relationship he was funny and smart, teaching her how to blend into American culture and helping her not to forget her old home at the same time. Sometimes at night when she laid bed and thought about things, she would get a goofy smile on her face whenever her thoughts turned to him. She knew what that feeling meant from her first crush on Motoki. Even though Bunny was weak willed on some things, she was very firm in this area. Affection was meant to be kept secret. She had been too shy when she had felt something resembling love towards Motoki, and after that was when Mamoru came into the picture...

Had she ever really had a choice with Mamoru? Her destiny seemed to have just led her to that point. She was sure she had loved him... but why did she always feel like something was missing when she was with him? Could there have really been another path for her? One that hadn't revealed itself? That feeling only grew stronger the longer she stayed in California.

"Are you getting the dress?" Marcus asked, walking up behind her. She jumped slightly startled, and he smiled clumsily. "I didn't mean to sneak up on you," He apologized as he shoved his hands in his pockets.

Bunny laughed quietly at his shyness. He was cute when he was uncertain. "Yes. Essence is paying for it. She wants me to wear it out to a club with her one night."

Marcus looked a little apprehensive when the words came out of her mouth. "You're going to go clubbing?"

"Well, I..." She fidgeted nervously with the hem of the t-shirt she had on. "I would feel better if you came along with me," She said quietly in Japanese.

He looked down at her for a moment, surprise registering on his face. "You want me to come along?" He replied in the same language.

"Of course Marcus. You're my-" She blushed slightly despite the fact that she fought it. "You're my friend. Probably the closest one I have here."

"Well, I wou-"

"God, I hate when you two do that," Essence interrupted as she walked up to the two with her bags. "It makes me feel left out." They both looked up at her, appearing embarrassed and their faces both holding the signs of blushes. "Um, you know, on second thought I think I am glad I don't know what you are talking about this time," She said. She turned her attention towards Bunny. "Did you tell Marcus?"

"Yes. And I asked him to come along," Bunny replied. "I'm just waiting for an answer."

Marcus squirmed under being the object of both their attentions as they waited for him to talk. "I guess I will go along," He said after a moment.

"Cool," Essence said happily. "This will be so much fun. I say we go tonight after we get done shopping."

Bunny shook her head in agreement. "Better now than later."

The building that had been chosen as the party spot for the night was an abandoned warehouse that was a favorite of the Underground kids. They had hijacked electricity from nearby buildings and soon enough, the place had been alive with activity. Dance music blared in the large room; black lights giving a texture to the people that danced and cheered in the area. The people surrounding Marcus wore a kaleidoscope of colors and sported an array of glittery and glowing jewelry. He didn't mind the clothes or the music, what made him nervous was the stuff underage people were doing around him. Illegal stuff. Not to mention cops had a fondness for busting up these kinds of parties if they could. He was sure his father would have his hide if he ever found out he was here.

The only reason he had come was because he didn't want to leave Essence and Bunny alone. Well, he thought to himself. Essence is a big girl, but Bunny... He didn't know why but he had an overwhelming desire to keep her near. To watch over her. It was as if it was just second nature for him to want to be near her. He had let Essence and Bunny wander off on their own, declining Essence's offer to go meet her other friends. Now he wished he had gone. He was kind of getting bored standing here by himself. Suddenly someone came up from behind and grabbed his hands, pulling them behind his back. "Hey! What the-"

"Got him!" A female voice called out.

Still unsure what was going on, he tried to twist out of her hold. He startled backwards slightly as another girl from the crowd jumped out in front of him and sprayed his hair with a can of hair spray. "Gotcha!" She said she ran off with the girl who had held him captive into the dancing crowd, both giggling insanely.

"What the-" He repeated as he reached a hand up to his hair. He pulled his hand down to find traces of silver on his fingertips. "Great," He muttered. Essence seemed to appear out of nowhere from the crowd and launched herself forward, hugging him. "You're behind this, aren't you?" He asked her in an irritated tone.

She shrugged, smiling up at him. "Oh come on Marc. You needed something to make you fit in better. Besides, you look good," She said in a sweet tone as he grimaced at her. Her hair was a rainbow of spray-painted colors and she had on a t-shirt that said 'tease' on it that glowed in the dark.

"Where's Bunny?" He asked as he realized she was not standing beside them.

"Over there, getting her groove on," Essence replied, pointing.

Marcus' gaze followed to where she was pointing to rest upon a vision. There Bunny stood, moving her body to the rhythm of the music that was coursing through everyone's veins. She had on the dress that Essence bought her, plus a pair of white-feathered wings and a glitter tattoo on her arm that said 'angel'. Her face was adorned with silver, which sparkled in the black lights when she moved. With her eyes closed she swayed in a fluid motion, her hands moving around her in hypnotizing waves as the light from glow sticks in her hands lit up the sky surrounding her. The dress, the grace with which she moved, the expression on her face... He knew he had never seen Bunny dance before, but it still felt familiar somehow. Like he watched something similar.

Bunny opened her eyes as the beat change, the new song requiring a new pace. When she looked around for Essence she found her standing near Marcus. Something in her mind clicked, made her freeze for a moment, as she saw him looking at her. Somehow his hair had got spray painted silver. The color looked familiar on him, as if it would appear normal if it were natural. She wasn't sure how, but seeing him looking at her like that... it was almost like deja vu. She caught his gaze and a second passed between them that felt like an eternity. An electrical current of un-describable emotions passed through her, then fled, leaving her with a tingling after-effect. Unsure of what had just happened, she looked away and started to dance again.

Essence had seen the moment pass between the two, though she was unsure what she had witnessed. As Bunny turned away she grabbed Marcus, tugging him towards the bar area, whining for a coke. She tried to block out the scene as a small ache formed in her chest.

Someone else had observed the scene too. A woman leaned up against a wall, dressed similar to the other party guests to blend in. She watched the silver painted boy and the redhead through her own, red-hued locks. A smile curled across her face as she felt the energy pulsing around her. "Lord Diamond will be pleased," Garnet whispered to herself. So much energy for the Negamoon.

Later that night, after the party, Marcus fell into bed and slept. He dreamt of a golden hair princess dancing joyfully with other girls, of her smiling at him with a warmth he had never known before.

Bunny dreamt of a prince with hair that was dull silver, whose gaze was an intense wave of desire and whose kiss sat her soul on fire.

And Essence... dreamt of them both, and felt her heart shatter when she did.