The 10 Year Cycle

Title: Put It All Behind You
Author: Aki
Focus: Hoshii, Shizuka
Rating: PG
Warnings: n/a

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That was the night they had decided to do it. Hoshii thought that if they gave up their senshidom, they could make a clean break. Leave afterwards, escape to somewhere safer, somewhere away from all the monsters, all the fighting.

And of course, Shizuka Maboroshi agreed. After all, she was in love.

So there they were, the cold ocean breeze chilling them, but Shizuka being too nervous to even attempt to get closer to him in hopes of some body heat. He was loosening the chocker around his neck, seeming to have little that hindered him from getting rid of it altogether. Was it bad that she was scared to touch it, knowing that doing so would mean she would have to get rid of it?

It was just a necklace, wasn't it? Just a silly little piece of jewelry she hadn't been without for four years. That's all, right? No matter how many times she told herself this, it always popped into the brunette's head what it was. It was a connection to her past, something that kept her from being a girl with no strength, no power, a piece of jewelry that intertwined her fate with that of all her friends. Giving up that necklace would mean giving up a many-threaded and complex tapestry of life for one that was simple and held few strings. Few attatchments.

But she would have Hoshii.

On the other hand, she was leaving so much behind. Especially... "Nii-chan... onee-san..." The brunette's eyes began to water. This would mean no more waking up and cooking breakfast for Osric and Oroka. No more showing Osric how to beat up Patient Demons and laughing with Oroka whenever he screamed from Pyramid Head showing up. No more laughing her head off just having fun while Osric shook his head and Oroka rolled her eyes.

But she would have Hoshii.

That would make her happy. Her "big bro" and "older sister" would want her to be happy, right? Although, she had run away in the middle of the night, packing her bags and sneaking out while they slept. Shizuka only did that because she was afraid how they would react. After a while, they'd get used to it, right? They'd see she was overjoyed with her new life, and her friends would all be glad at her descision. Right? Of course.

Then why was she so scared?

"You having trouble there, Shizuka?" Hoshii smiled down at her, his neck free of his chocker for once in quite a long time, his actual charm in his closed fist.

"H-huh? N-no, Mr. Hoshii. Not at all." She said, nervously lifting the necklace from around her neck and gathering the chain up in her fist.

"Alright, that's good. Toss on the count of three?" He said with a smile, "Put all of the pain that thing has caused you into this throw. And know that from now on, I'll make sure you'll never have any again."

"Y-yes."

"One..."

Shizuka clutched the necklace tightly in her fist as she started to raise it.

"Two..."

Don't cry. Calm down, it's alright, she told herself.

"Three!"

And the boy and the girl threw as hard as they could, their charms hitting the surface of the water with a splash. The boy laughed, almost hysterically, yelling "Free! Free! Shizuka, we're free!"

She stood there, unsure if it really was freedom she was feeling right then. Is freedom supposed to hurt? Make you feel a little sick? No, she was just excited. Yes, that was it, Shizuka was excited about her future with Hoshii.

After all, she never wanted a complex life. Something simple would suit her much better. Now life would be simple for the senshi... no, she was no longer a senshi. She was Shizuka. The future Shizuka Zekkou.

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Chapter One | Two | Three | Four | Zero

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