Hello, hello, hello to everyone! This is my first Sailor Moon, and I always knew that it would be a story about the lovely Haruka and Michiru. It's a a little vignette from Michiru's point of view, and I tried to make it as accurate as possible, so please be patient with me. This has been a nice little vacation from my Marimite fic, for which I have been having horrible writer's block as of late. Ugh. I hate that. Anyway, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of it, unfortunately.
Feedback, please? Any comments or criticisms are always welcome!
Thanks!
-WaterGhost
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It's raining today, but I don't mind. I love the water. Always have. I wish I could be by the ocean right now, but listening to the rain is nice, too.
Today I'm alone in the house; Hotaru has gone to school and then to a sleepover at a friend's house, and Setsuna is God only knows where. I think she said that she'll be back Thursday, but with Setsuna, one can only guess. Haruka is working on her car, but she'll be back tonight, in time for dinner.
I smile at the thought of Haruka coming through the door, face dotted with grease, a broad smile decorating her beautiful face as she calls out my name.
I have already practiced my violin; it rests on its stand in the corner beside my music and the piano. Haruka doesn't play the piano nearly as much as I do the violin. She probably wouldn't play it at all if I wasn't here to encourage it, or to set up the occasional duet, but she really is very good. I tell her that as often as I can, but she pretends to be modest. It makes me laugh.
I have gotten out my paints and my easel, but I don't think I will paint today. Not that I can't find something to paint, that's never the problem, but the mood just hasn't struck me today. I should paint another portrait of Hotaru perhaps, soon, because it has been awhile and the girl has grown. Or maybe Setsuna will allow me to paint her, but she hasn't allowed me to so far, so I hold no hope. I tease the enigmatic woman in private about it, but she's surprisingly shy. A previous portrait drying by doorframe is my latest one of my love. I painted a small portrait of her yesterday when she fell asleep on the couch, rays of sunlight streaming through the windows to show off the golden highlights in her sandy blonde hair. She had given me a light scolding on the 'consent of the subject' but it is all in good fun, as she then complimented me on the quality of it, reaching out to touch my check with cool fingers, a tender smile covering her beautiful face.
She really is beautiful.
She refuses to notice that, though, preferring to shower me with an unending barrage of compliments instead. In public, she adopts that slightly macho, very sexy attitude of quiet power and confidence that I have come to know so well. Even around the girls, our most trusted friends, she brushes off their many praises (Minako still watches her, much to my amusement). She's mastered the art of being cocky but humble (and a shameless flirt at that), but I know her too well. I know her insecurities.
In private, I tell her that she's beautiful. When we make love, I whisper it in her ear, between restrained gasps and breathless I love yous. She whispers it back to me, in that trusting, unprotected tone that only I can hear.
With every passing day, I know that we were fated to be together. Every morning, when we wake with our bodies entwined, I know that I never want to sleep next to another person again. With everything that we've been through, as Uranus and Neptune, as well as Haruka and Michiru, I couldn't imagine things being any different than they are now. I had lost her so many times already. There was no way we would be parted now.
Even in death.
I sit at the kitchen table, flipping through an art book that Haruka had bought me for my birthday. Despite the fact that we had different hobbies, we still managed to find interest in the other's. Haruka lovea to take me for rides in her car, and she lets me paint her when I asked to. At first she seemed to have some reservations about the idea, but eventually she gave in, and now the activity is commonplace. Our room is strewn with various small sketches and paintings I made of her, in various moods and activities. I flip through the sub section on Vincent van Gogh, stopping at the full-page reproduction of his work 'The Starry Night'. It's a work I can always admire, even if it's just a reprint. Someday, I'd like to see the real thing, but that can wait. Tonight, I'd like to listen to the rain.
The cool air has crept in around me, and raises goosebumps on my arms. I shiver, and bring my arms up to wrap them around me.
Leaving the book open, I rise from the table to heat a pot of water for some tea. The rain seems to have intensified now, the droplets making small pitter patter noises on the windows. I stand at the window for a moment, watch the drops runs down the window with my arms folded.
The silence that envelops me is broken by the loudness of the doorbell. I jump slightly, but straighten out my skirt and proceed to the front door with the cool, calm demeanor that I'm known for.
Who would be visiting now? I couldn't recall any messages from any of the Inner Senshi, and Hotaru and Setsuna would never ring the bell before coming in. I open the door with some anticipation.
"Minako!"
"Hi, Michiru! I'm so sorry for the intrusion, but can I come in?" I can see raindrops running off her umbrella, both of her shoulders spotted dark from their wetness.
"Come in," I say quickly, pulling her in. "You'll catch cold without a jacket."
Minako closes her umbrella slowly and sets it by the door to avoid getting water on the carpet. She seems a little distracted today, more so than I'm used to seeing her. It's harder to tell her moods than some of the other girls, she's a little more withdrawn than they are (especially Usagi). But today, her shoulders are sagging slightly; her eyes seem to sparkle a little less.
"I'm sorry," she says softly, looking up at me, "for dropping by so unexpectedly."
"It's quite all right," I say. I take her by the shoulders and maneuver her to the couch, sitting her down. "Would you like some tea? I just made some."
She nods gratefully and gives me a little smile. "Thanks, I'd love some."
Thankfully, the tea is already done, and still steaming hot. I add a little sugar to hers, to take the edge off the bitterness. I like my tea strong. Haruka teases me about it from time to time, in only the way she can, but she still drinks the tea nonetheless. I pick up the two cups, and return to Minako.
"I added a little sugar, I hope that's okay with you," I tell her as I set the cups on the living room table.
"It's fine, thanks," Minako picks up the cup immediately and gulps a few mouthfuls of tea. I sip mine a little more slowly, trying to read the expression on her face.
"So," I begin politely, "how are you, Minako?"
She shrugs, fiddles with the teacup. "I'm fine. I was walking home from a friend's house and it started raining. Your house was nearby, and I thought it would be nice to see you guys." She looks around her. "Haruka's not home, is she?"
"No," I reply with a smile. "She's working on her car today. And Hotaru and Setsuna are out. Haruka should be home in an hour or two, though, if you want to stick around."
"Oh," is all she replies.
"How are the others?" I continue my polite conversation seamlessly, but something else lies underneath our small talk.
"Fine. We all managed to get together last week, even though we're all so busy." She takes another gulp of her tea.
"What's wrong?" I ask, keeping my voice soft and gentle so as not to intimidate the poor girl.
She shrugs. "I guess I'm just in a bad mood today. No one's around. Usagi's spending the day with Mamoru, Rei is busy at the shrine, Makoto has a cooking class, and Ami's taking extra classes. And I visited a friend from school, but I didn't want to stay. I feel…I feel….", her voice drops, "lonely."
"Lonely?"
"Yeah." I suddenly realize that Minako has had a similar conversation with Haruka before. About a boy, I think, but I don't remember the incident that well. Too much has happened since then.
Because Haruka and I, and the others, we will always be soldiers. It had been a problem before, even painful, when I discovered how much I loved Haruka. We were both scared of it, because at any given time, we could lose one another, which would have been worse than death. But as time went on, and Haruka and I got closer, I knew it couldn't be avoided. A world without Haruka was one that wasn't worth saving. Serenity knows this, now, and so do the others.
"Lonely how?"
Minako raises and lowers one arm in a half-hearted shrug. "I don't know. Just generally, I suppose."
But it's not that. I can sense it.
"Is this about love?" I ask. She continues to fiddle with the teacup. I keep my hands still.
She looks up quickly, seeming a little surprised at the question. I'm not sure why love came into my mind, but Minako is still a teenage girl, after all. It's normal for her to get lonely, or want companionship. She sighs.
"Maybe. Kind of. I'm Venus, the Senshi of Love, I can sense it all around me; but Minako can't even seem to find a steady boyfriend." She looks like she wants to cry, but instead ducks her head and sets the teacup down on the table silently.
"I can always sense your love. Neptune and Uranus. You and Haruka. It's always there, I can always feel it. It's really beautiful."
I smile, my heart fluttering at the memory of my love.
Watching my reaction, she sighs, seemingly in frustration. "I guess we all kind of want that love. The kind that transcends everything, even time."
When we first met the Inners, I was surprised at their acceptance of Haruka and me. In the past, we had both had bitter experiences with friends and loved ones reacting negatively to the news of our love. They were really a great group of girls, even if a little immature at times. I cared for them all.
She changes the subject suddenly, and we make small talk as we finish our tea. I feel a deep sympathy for the girl. Usagi, even in knowledge of her future role, still acted like the child she was. It was Minako, then, who had stepped up to pilot the Inner Senshi in their battles and struggles, Minako who bore the weight and responsibility, retained a strong and confident demeanor for the others to follow. The Outers had always been more of a loose alliance centered around Haruka and myself, but the younger, less mature Inners relied on Minako for leadership.
Eventually, I rise and gather the teacups.
"Do you want to help me start dinner? Haruka will be home soon." She looks up at me gratefully, nods, and we head into the kitchen silently.
I put on a pot of water to boil, and get out chicken and vegetables for the night's meal. It will be a simple affair tonight, as I need to go the store tomorrow for many of the items that we are low on. Hotaru needs popsicles, I remember, because her teeth have been hurting and the frozen desert seems to soothe them slightly. I have rather taken to playing the mother figure towards the young girl. Setsuna and I delight in watching Hotaru ride on Haruka's back, in the game so affectionately called "Haruka-papa horsey time". And despite her protests, I know that Haruka loves it too.
I turn my attention back to the blonde Inner Senshi, who has valiantly offered her services to cut the vegetables for me. She furrows her brow as she tries to chop the mushrooms into even pieces. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea giving her the knife.
"I think we should switch," I say with a short laugh, and Minako blushes, holding out the knife silently.
I chop in silences for a few moments, and Minako stirs the boiling rice pot in lazy, distracted circles of the spoon.
"Who do you think Venus would fall in love with?" I ask suddenly as I begin to slice the chicken for the dinner.
"Venus?" She looks up at me briefly, with a confused look, then opens her mouth in silent recognition. "Oh. Probably one of the other Senshi, I'm assuming."
"Why do you think that?" I ask patiently, trying to catch her eye again.
"Maybe because we've been through so much together. It just seems natural. Someone like Mars, maybe."
"And what about Minako? Does she love Rei?" I ask, picking up another mushroom.
"I do love Rei, but I'm not sure how. She is a really good friend and everything, but things can get complicated. I don't want complicated." Rei is a complicated girl. Sometimes mysterious, enigmatic, sometimes even withdrawn, but always feisty and spirited.
"It always seemed easiest to date a boy. But boys my age are too immature or get bored with me pretty quickly. I haven't really found one that I would want to date." The spoon keeps moving in a lazy circular motion in the pot.
"And the others?"
The spoon pauses for a moment, then resumes it's lazy circles. "Well, I never thought about it. We all love the Princess, of course, but not in that way. And Ami and Mokoto are such good friends to me. We're all such good friends. And not only as the Inner Senshi, but we genuinely like to be around each other. Maybe our planet connections helped, but still, they're the only ones I can trust."
I chuckle slightly, set down my knife. I walk over to the younger blonde girl, and wrap an arm around her shoulders. I imagine Haruka might have done the same thing.
"It seems to me," I tell her softly, "that you have plenty of love right there."
I feel Minako's body jerk slightly, as if a sudden bolt of lightening had hit her. She stops stirring the rice. For a few moments I watch her closely, studying her face. She is lost in deep thought.
"Maybe," she breathes, "maybe, you could be right."
"Are you going to be okay, Minako?" I ask worriedly, after a few silent minutes.
She looks up at me, with a wide, and warm smile. "Yes. I will be okay."
"Do you want to stay for dinner?" I ask, waving a hand at the cooking food, but Minako shakes her head.
"No, I'll let you and Haruka enjoy it in peace." I try to protest, but Minako insists. She looks outside.
"The rain has stopped. It's time for me to go home, I guess." Although I protest that she can stay as long as she wants, that Haruka will be glad to see her, she shakes her head and looks at my violin next to the piano.
"I'll let you and Haruka be alone tonight."
She turns and looks me dead in the eyes. "You and Haruka, you really have something special."
I smile. "I know." I do know. Not even for a moment do I take our love for granted.
I follow her to the door, watch her as she puts on her shoes, and reaches out to grab her umbrella.
"I hope my advice was as good as Haruka's", I tease the younger girl lightly, pinching her nose ever so slightly. It's not like me to tease anyone but Haruka, but I want to break the mood for Minako's sake.
She blushes again, a deep scarlet red this time. Still a girl, despite everything.
"Thanks, Michiru." She wraps her arms around me for a warm hug.
"It's not a problem, Minako. You're welcome in our house at anytime."
Minako twists the door handle slowly and steps outside, looking up at the sky. It looks like it might rain again soon, and then, as if in response to my stray thought, the skies give a slight rumble.
"You'd better hurry," I urge softly, and Minako pops up the umbrella once again. She flashes me the victory sign as she bounds down the porch steps, the confident stride replenished in her thin legs. I smile. Minako will be okay.
"Give Haruka my best!" she calls back at me as she dashes down the street. I wave once more, then retreat back into the house.
The house is empty once again, so I head back to the kitchen to tend the dinner. It's almost done, and I glance at the clock. Haruka should be home any minute, and I set the table in anticipation. I almost set four places, but stop myself short when I realize that Setsuna and Hotaru won't be joining us.
We have made our own little family, the Outer Senshi. Haruka and I respect, even care for, Setsuna as our colleague, and even a kind of sister. Sisters in arms. And Hotaru, despite her jaded and tortured past, (and infinitely terrifying power) was still a child. I had really come to develop maternal feelings for the young girl, but that didn't really surprise me. We all wanted to protect her, Haruka, Setsuna, and I, and somehow along the way had really fallen for the girl. She deserved another chance, but her fate, her powers, were different from ours.
The chicken and vegetables are done, and so is the rice. I combine them in the pot, and put on the lid to keep the mixture warm, and set it on the kitchen table.
I hear the front door open and close, and pause to smile, but continue to set the table in silence. After the soft sound of familiar footsteps and the closeness of a beloved presence, I feel two thin, strong arms wrap around my waist and a face bury into my hair.
"Hello, Haruka."
I feel her smile against my hair. "You look beautiful today, Michiru."
I smile myself, but keep my cool voice. "You're such a flirt."
I turn to meet her gaze, the one that makes my knees weak every time I see it. I lift up my head, then sniff her.
"You smell very bad." I tell her, wrinkling my nose for extra effect.
She laughs. "Okay. I'll shower, then we'll eat." She looks around the room. "It's too quiet in here. Where are Hotaru and Setsuna?"
"Hotaru is at a friend's tonight, and Setsuna is," I let my voice trail off, "well, being Setsuna. She'll be back later this week." Haruka nods and smiles in understanding.
"All alone tonight, then," she raises an eyebrow at me suggestively.
"You'd better believe it," I tell her with my most lecherous grin, an action that not surprisingly makes my lover's eyes dance with excitement. I lean up to catch her lips in a short, tender kiss, then disengage before it becomes more passionate. She leans forward as I pull my face back, trying to engage my lips once again, but I place a finger on her lips with the sweetest grin I can. She gives me a pout while she disengages our embrace.
I laugh and give her butt a little swat as she strides towards the bathroom. "You'll get another when you're clean, I promise."
I watch Haruka disappear into our room, then turn my attention back to finishing setting up the dinner. I can still feel the intoxicating sensation of her lips on mine. The sensation was the same as when we had first kissed.
I remember that day perfectly, but the details weren't as important as the feelings. I remember her lips descending towards mine in slow motion. When they finally met in a soft, loving kiss, I remember thinking vaguely that the stars seemed to move. But any thinking was soon silenced by Haruka's soft lips, and I was lost in her. From the first moment our lips met, I knew that I never wanted to kiss any lips but hers again.
Her shower takes only a few minutes, and soonshe emerges in a tank top and shorts, hair still damp.
"Bed clothes already?" I tease her gently.
"Just ready for later," she rumbles in that low, sexy voice of hers. I find myself already getting excited. But that can wait until later.
We sit down and begin eating dinner in silence. She compliments me on the food, which I take in stride. We talk about our days, and the week ahead. She has a race on Wednesday, and I've already cleared my day so that I can be there for her. I have a concert Saturday night, and I have to reserve a ticket so that Haruka can be there for me. We have attained, due to our talents, a minor degree of fame. Haruka doesn't mind the attention when it comes to racing, but I don't want to be famous. I just want to make music. I keep out of the public spotlight as much as possible, and Haruka triesto for my sake.
"Minako came by today," I tell her as we finish eating, "to see you".
She looks up from the last bits of food in her bowl. "Why?"
I shrug. "She's just having some teenage blues. She wanted some company."
"Ah," she raises her teacup carefully and takes a sip. "What did you two talk about?"
I stand up and begin to clear away the dishes. "We made small talk for awhile, then I told her that she had her friends, and the rest would take care of itself." I reach out a hand to receive Haruka's cleared bowl.
Haruka hands me the bowl with a broad smile. "My wise Michiru. Do you think she'll be okay?"
"Yes, I do. We all need a little encouragement sometimes."
I remember how much encouragement it had taken for Haruka to embrace her fate as a soldier. I was already deeply in love with her by then, and half of me had wanted to let her go to avoid putting her in danger, but it couldn't be like that. We were too in love to let each other go, and stood side by side to face the Darkness. We were still alive, though, and together. Every embrace, every breath, every kiss, reminds me of that.
We do the dishes together, a ritual that we haven't gotten the chance to do in awhile. I realize how busy we've been in the past few weeks, how this alone time had become quite a commodity for the both of us. When the dishes are washed, dried, and put back, we walk hand in hand into the living room. She stops short.
"You didn't paint anything today."
I shake my head. "Nope."
"Any reason?"
"Not really." I let go of her hand and pick up the now dry portrait of Haruka that has been sitting by the door. "Have you seen this one, yet?"
She scrutinizes it for a moment, then a wide smile breaks over her face. "Yes, I do remember. Who's that sexy model in it?"
I laugh and swat her arm with my free hand. It's good to hear her tease, to joke. For so long, we only had serious faces, worried about worried the princess, worried about the world, about each other. Haruka had always refused to verbalize her fears and anxieties, kept it bottled up inside until her pain was too much to bear. It always tore my heart apart, watching her troubled face. I wanted to hold her head to my chest and tell her that it would all be okay, even though I wasn't always sure it was going to be.
I set down the painting and walk over to Haruka slowly, press my body into hers and wrap my arms around her lithe body.
Her voice is deep and husky as she asks, "I'm clean now, where's my kiss, darling?"
I raise my head obediently and fuseour lips in a deep, passionate kiss, filled with promises of things yet to come.
When we part, we are both breathless, our eyes are clouded with the beginnings of the strong desire we share. In a sudden motion, I feel my feet leave the ground as Haruka picks me up in a fluid motion. Here, in her strong arms, I've never felt safer. Our foreheads lean together until the soft skin touches. Haruka's eyes are full of love, desire. She's so beautiful.
"I love you, Michiru," she whispers to me. The words come easily now, but they didn't used to. But none of that matters now.
"I love you too," I whisper back, and close the distance between our lips.
She will carry me into our bedroom, and we will make love like we have done so many times before, and will do so many times again. And despite our familiarity with each other's bodies, the feelings, the sensations, the passion, will always be fresh and new.
Minako was absolutely right. We are lucky, Haruka and I. Now, we can share each other's pain, hold each other up when we falter, protect each other when we feel weak. I love every part of her, soul and body, and she loves every part of me.
I used to believe this kind of love didn't exist. I thought that it was wishful thinking, or maybe only for those who weren't delt the fate of a soldier. Haruka and Michiru. Uranus and Neptune. We are one and the same.
We are warriors, yes. But we are also lovers. And come pain, hardship, and even death, I will love her, and she will love me.
Forever.
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Yay! Done! I struggled for a while over which of the other girls I would also add in the story, and Minako seemed to be the most suitable choice considering her title and powers. I hope she didn't seem to out of character. I also had to add a little tidbit concerning a possible Minako and Rei pairing , because I've always found the possibility of the couple quite fascinating .
Thanks for reading!
-WaterGhost