i keep on running toward the fire

And if you feel like night is falling
I wanna be the one you're calling

Hers was a good wish, and one he wished he'd thought of. Like his, it was fairly vague, but he thought that perhaps it had at least something to do with him - he hoped so, anyway. As she reached for his hand, he laced his fingers with hers, pulling her a little closer so that he could wrap an arm around her shoulders and press a kiss to the top of her head. It was a surprisingly intimate gesture, and for a moment, George felt uncharacteristically shy and uncertain.

But the moment passed quickly as the light of the setting sun flared, sinking beyond the horizon at last. His eyes, though, were on Hotaru rather than the beauty of the sunset. She really was beautiful, and he really was lucky. Even if this was all the time that he was granted with her, he could look back on it and smile.

The rest of the night passed quickly as they sat on the quilt by the Miana Pool, trading questions and kisses, slowly learning one another. It was, in George's book, one of the best nights of his life, and he could only hope for more like it when he visited Hotaru in Halo.

-FIN-

'Cause I believe that you could lead the way

George