Disclaimer: None of the Sailor Moon characters belong to me.

Hey everyone. Sometime I just wonder about Haruka and why is she like the way she is. I always liked to think that she is not originally from Tokyo. It makes more sense that she is from a small town. Somewhere where she has a past.

I am trying to put in a different character in here that Haruka trusts. A character that can claim that she knows Haruka better than Haruka knows herself other than Michiru. Many fan fictions about Haruka usually give a big part to Michiru. Not that I have anything against Michiru. It's just that I like to think that more people are important to Haruka other than Michiru. She cannot possibly have met Michiru at birth or somewhat.

When she first meets Michiru I thought she seemed a bit lost. This is not about Haruka's past yet it is. It just shows that Haruka decides to go back because she is having problems with Michiru. And she meets people she used to know and love.

Hope you like the story. Just so you know this story is not about Haruka and Michiru not being together. It's just about Haruka herself and those who love and know her. That's all. Since Haruka is my fave char :P

Yueh Miko

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Prologue

14-year old Haruka was standing with another girl at the airport. She had a duffle bag in one of her hands. The girl standing next to her had short-cropped strawberry blond hair and gray eyes. The girl was wearing the same type of clothes as Haruka, a lose shirt and blue straight jeans. A tear went down her cheek.

"I can't believe you are leaving," she said.

"I will write," Haruka said.

"Take care, ok?" she said.

"Sure," Haruka replied, "Can't I have a hug before I leave?"

"No!" the girl said but then she hugged Haruka.

"I'll miss you a lot!" she said.

"Me too." Haruka said. Then an announcement came on.

"Last call for flight 887 to Tokyo. All passengers, please board the plane now." Haruka threw the duffle bag over her shoulder and walked away.

"Bye!" the girl called. Haruka turned her face and gave her a short wave. The girl looked at the key in her hand.

"I'll never forget you, Haruka. You were my best friend

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Chapter 1

Haruka walked through the streets of the town she knew so well. She had never intended to come back here, but here she was. Nothing had changed in the four years she was away. The old playground was still closed, a sign saying private property up on the gate. The paper clung to the railing as if it was snow. The ground had a soda can here and there. Haruka walked down further. A building rose up, looking squat. The flowerbeds around it had roses in it. Old woman still keeps the building good. Haruka thought. She walked further down and saw her car. She hopped in and drove toward the school. The houses around were old. Dark was settling in like a fog. There was TV glaring blue in some of the windows. The wind whistled as it blew, it's message somewhere lost. She stopped in front of the school. All the lights were dark, except the tennis court. You can hear the rhythmic sound of the ball swishing back and forth.

Haruka walked toward the court and saw two figures playing. Three other figures were off at the side, standing, waiting, for the end of the game. Haruka recognized the coach instantly. The tired woman looked tired still. Her hair was back in a ponytail, but few of the strands found their way to her face. There were three girls and one boy. A boy and a girl were playing against each other, their eyes concentrating on the ball. The boy threw it and the girl returned it, threw it and returned it, threw it and returned it. A steady rhythm, neither player ready to give in, neither player ready to take the chance. Then a shrill noise went through the air.

"Ok guys!" the coach said, blowing her whistle one more time, "That's enough. Good job." The players stopped and wiped their foreheads. They took water bottles and took down several gulps. They walked toward the exit. The two girls went to the girl's locker room. The girl who was playing earlier stood and talked to the coach. They couldn't see Haruka since they were too far away. The girl talked and talked. Haruka knew she would. She did the same years ago, why should she change now.

Haruka waited tolerantly. The two girls came out of the locker room, but that girl still talked. Finally she stopped and headed toward the locker room. Haruka followed. The girl was oblivious to Haruka.

"Janie-chan," Haruka said to her back and she turned around.

"Haruka-chan!" she screamed as she saw Haruka, "I don't believe this!" she threw her arms around Haruka and her brown hair swished into Haruka's eyes.

"Janie-chan, you're all sweaty," Haruka said, smiling.

"Oh, I am so sorry," she moved away, "I need a shower." She got into the shower room. The locker room was brightly lit. Haruka went to her old locker and traced her finger over the number. Then she looked at the corner where in neat writing it said "Valy + Haruka = friends 4ever." Oh, those days were so carefree. Haruka thought. Then Janie interrupted her thoughts.

"So tell me," she called from the shower, "You still want to go all race car driving?"

"No," Haruka said, "Some dreams stay dreams. But I see you still want to be in pro-tennis."

"Yeah," Janie laughed, "Sometimes you just can't let go." With one sentence, she pierced Haruka's heart, cutting it like a knife cuts butter, slicing through slowly. * Just can't let go… * her words echoed in Haruka's mind. Janie came out of the shower, her hair hanging in little tangles around her head.

"Oh, Haruka-chan!" she said, "You won't believe it but Valy-chan came here three days ago."

"Oh," Haruka felt her eyes go wide, "Where is she?"

"Well…um…you see…" Janie muttered. Haruka stared into her green eyes.

"What?"

"She is…uh…really depressed." Janie replied, "You'll find her probably at the bar."

"The bar?" Haruka exclaimed, "I have to go see…"

"Wait," Janie called, "She looks different now."

"What?"

"Her hair, she grew it and has it in two braids on either side of her head. And she must be wearing a dress, not tomboyish clothes. She talks different and walks like a girl. You should see her, she can't even run anymore!" Haruka stared at her in disbelief.

"You are kidding, right?" Haruka asked.

"We all change, Haruka-chan, in one way or the other."

"Thanks Janie-chan," Haruka said walking out, "I gotta go!" She walked out and got in her car. Can't even run anymore? Haruka wondered, How much did you change, Valy? Is that why you stopped writing to me? She drove toward the bar. She had never gone there but still knew where it was. Now that she was 18, she was allowed to go in. When she walked in she saw that almost the whole town over 18 was in there. The place was called "Dancing Shadows" but everyone called it the bar. It had a pool table, a dancing floor, and a nice band, live. It was too showy for the small town, but it was the life of the town. The reason it was called the bar was because they served alcohol in there. The changing lights created an eerie effect. She looked around for Valy, but it was hard to spot her in the crowd.

"Oh, Valy, where are you?" Haruka muttered. She looked at the bartender, decided to ask her. Since this was a small town the bartender should know the regulars and the new people.

"Is there a new girl, about 18 years old, here?" she asked.

"Sure, honey," the bartender replied, "a gal about 18 or 19 has bin comin here for three days. Should be round here somewhere."

"Can you tell me where she is?" The bartender gave Haruka an annoyed look and then looked around.

"There honey," she pointed with a nod of her head, "On the left corner with the tall man." Haruka turned and saw Valy. She was still the same, yet so different. She was talking to a tall guy. She had on a silky dress, her hair in braids. She was giggling. Oh hell, she never giggled… Haruka thought. She walked toward Valy. Haruka could hear her voice now.

"…Call me Valy-chan, ok?" she was saying to the man.

"Valy?" Haruka said to her. She spun around and her gray eyes focused sharply on Haruka.

"Do I know you?"

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Hope you all liked it ^^ R/R please.