I'm not a fanfic writer...but let me try this time. :)

This is a Haruka/Michiru fic. It's shoujo-ai. And hmmm...I don't own SailorMoon.

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BLUE MOON

Haruka fell to the sandy ground and spit out blood that formed around her mouth after the ferocious dragon launched at her with yet another attack. She had retaliated by delivering a wide slash around its body, but it wasn't deep enough to be fatal. By the time she looked back up, the dragon was already out of her sight, hiding from the thick sandstorm that covered them, ready to attack at any minute, from any direction. She carefully turned around, squinting her eyes and searching for any hint of movement, gripping her dulled sword tighter with her right hand.

It was a cheap sword, which was all she can afford. After a long journey to search for the dragon and slaying wild beasts that stood in the way, the worn-out sword looked barely useable. It was a dark shade of red---from the dried-out blood of all the creatures she has slain. The hilt was already loose, and it felt like it could unattach itself from the blade at any minute. Still, it was the only sword she had. It was a sword that she has saved up for with her meager income of raising white dragons.

She had to kill this dragon. She just had to. This was the dragon that has been terrorizing the capital for months. A fierce, untameable, red dragon that has killed dozens---no, hundreds of innocent lives. The dragon was fierce, that even the nation's army cower at its sheer strength. So fierce, in fact, that the king has offered a bounty of 50,000 gold coins and any wish granted for whoever can slay it.

And she needed that money. Her family, or what's left of it---her sickly mother and her little sister Hotaru, can barely survive off Haruka's small income. Ever since her father died, Haruka was all they could depend on. She worked on the dragon stables, which was a man's job---a job women were forbidden to do. So she wore men's clothes, successfully passing off as a man. She had no choice, taming white dragons was the only thing she knew how to do and was good at. With a reward of 50,000 gold coins, it will be enough for her and her family to live a comfortable life forever. She can have any wish granted. She would finally be able to take her mother to the hospital, and even after she gets healed she would never have to work again. Little Hotaru can have a great childhood. And Haruka can finally make her father proud.

Hundreds of men gathered arms and pursued the red dragon with similar aspirations. But after seven days and miles upon miles of nonstop chasing, only Haruka, with her flimsy, rusty sword, was left. She was tired. She can barely stand---she barely ate during the past few days, but she knew she had to keep going. The dragon was already wounded. It wouldn't be long before she finally comes home the victor.

She gained more and more visibility around her as the dust started to settle. She cautiously walked forward, looking left and right, wary and alert. After a few more seconds, she found the dragon, lying on the ground, unable to move from the wound Haruka inflicted earlier. With one final burst of energy, Haruka stabbed at the dragon's heart. An almost deafening cry of pain could be heard as the once ferocious dragon finally breathed its last breath. But almost in the blink of an eye, Haruka could swear she saw another man right beside the dragon. But she was so exhausted, she wasn't even sure if it was just a dream or not...

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"Kaioh-sama, your father wanted me to inform you that he is already waiting at the throne room."

An aqua-haired young woman turned around and acknowledged the guard standing by her bedroom door.

"Okay, I am coming there soon, Hiro." With that, the guard bowed and left.

The young lady in the huge, aristocratic room took one last look in the mirror. She was wearing a long, flowing velvet dress, accented with a simple gold bracelet and a necklace with a small ring hanging from it. Even without make-up or maids to help her get ready, she looked as perfect as can be.

Today was a joyous occasion. Word has spread that the white dragon that has killed hundreds of her people has finally been slain by just a single man. This man, in a few moments, was about to have an audience with the king and his only daughter where he will be presented with his reward. Princess Michiru Kaioh was all dressed and ready to formally thank the man who has singlehandedly saved her country.

Her father was already there when she arrived at the throne room. With her mother long gone, she, as the only child, is the one who seats next to her father in formal engagements such as this. As she got comfortable in her seat, her father looked into her direction and gave a subtle smile to acknowledge her presence.

The throne room in the palace of Neptune took pride in being simple yet elegant. Unlike throne rooms in other planets, gold and other sparkling decorations were kept to a minimum, and yet, it still delivered the same sense of might and grandeur. The Kaiohs always believed in humility and simplicity---two traits that almost sound as if it were in stark contrast with the fact that they were of royalty. But they both knew that being of royalty was a job, not a lifestyle. King Akihito Kaioh only wears his crown in the throne room or only when it was absolutely needed, and the same goes for his daughter and her tiara. Both of them knew that their main job is to serve their country, and not to just idly live a life of luxury.

When everything was ready, the king gave a slight nod to the guards, who proceeded to the doors opposite them. These two huge doors that reached all the way up to the throne room's ceiling started to open. Because it was so big, it took time and quite a bit of manpower to move. This room is, after all, the most important part of the castle. When it was finally fully opened, it revealed a tall man with a slightly muscular physique, with a big tattered leather bag slung on his right shoulder. He was wearing rider's boots---the telltale sign of a dragon-tamer, and a silver chain mail covering his white, sandy shirt. His sword hung loosely on his waist.

Behind him, a few feet away, was someone that was probably his servant. He was of a lean build but smaller than that of the man before him, with short tousled hair dirtied with countless grains of sand. He was also wearing rider's boots, but his were dirty and worn-out---the kind that most other people would have already thrown away. He looked tired and hungry, and was trying his best, but ultimately failing, to stand up straight.

As they both went inside, the King and the princess stood up to welcome them. They stopped a few feet away from the King, maintaining a distance of respect, and kneeled. The King motioned for them to stand up again, and with a strong, low voice that echoed throughout the room, the King finally spoke.

"What is your name, oh valiant one?"

The man, with a very serious face, looked straight into the King's eyes and replied.

"I am Ryunosuke Akutagawa of Kiyobashi."

His dark hair was covering part of his eyes, yet his sense of confidence cannot be mistaken. But he dared not make any unnecessary movements, like brushing away the hair in his eyes, in front of royalty. Instead, he lifted his palm to the direction of the man behind him.

"This is my servant, Haruka Tenoh. He has helped me on my journey here." The blonde gave a small bow, making sure to avoid eye contact. Although the King of Neptune didn't mind either way, it was common courtesy in all the planets for servants not to make eye contact with their masters.

Without so much as a pause, he took out the bag slung from his shoulder and dropped it on the space between he and the king.

"I offer you the head of the ferocious red dragon who has killed hundreds of our countrymen's lives."

The king gave a hearty laugh opposite the very serious face before him and nodded in awe at the sight. Yes, the dragon is really dead, and his head is right at his feet. His people can now sleep in peace, and he will not have to worry anymore about this once untameable beast.

"As promised, I will have my men deliver fifty thousand gold coins to your house right away."

Ryuunosuke gave a slight bow to acknowledge the King's kindness.

"Pardon my straightforwardness, King Kaioh, but I believe you have promised another reward on top of the fifty thousand gold coins."

"Ahhh yes. I almost forgot." The King nodded. "I have also promised that anyone who slays the dragon will have anything their heart desires. Now tell me boy, what is it you want for a reward?"

With this, Ryunosuke kneels down, but continues to look up at the King's eyes.

"My King, there is no other greater desire in my heart than to marry your lovely daughter."

The King was visibly shocked. All the guards and servants around the throne room were also quite shocked, partly because of the dragon slayer's audacious request, and partly because they have never seen the King with that kind of honestly stunned expression on his face.

The King gave a deep and audible sigh, as if to calm himself down, and took a few steps back to sit on his throne. This kind of request was not something to take lightly of, and this was not something he could decide on so easily and so suddenly. He had always assumed that the slayer of the dragon would ask for something material or something that would give him a high honor, like maybe a gold-encrusted sword from the King's private collection, or maybe even a high-ranking position at his dragon cavalry unit. He was prepared to give the slayer rewards like those, but he clearly never expected this. He never even expected anything remotely close to what this man is asking right now. This man kneeling before him is asking him not only to give up his daughter and devote her life to him, but he is also effectively asking, as the future Queen's husband, to be next in line for the throne. King Akihito Kaioh sighed again, and in his mind scolded himself for not thinking things through when he offered this kind of reward. He was so desperate to get rid of the dragon, he thought he could pay any price for it. He never thought that his beloved daughter would be part of the bargain.

Princess Michiru, with eyes still wide open, was even more stunned than his father, if that was possible. As a princess, she was taught to maintain as much composure as she could despite any circumstance, but right now, no matter how much she tried to keep her emotions in, her startled eyes easily gave her away. Marriage?! She knew it was unavoidable for princesses such as her, but she never thought it would come so soon. She simply wasn't ready for this! And with a man he knows nothing of!

In the midst of all these thoughts, Ryunosuke, still kneeling, spoke again.

"With all due respect, King Kaioh, your daughter is at a marriageable age, and I believe I have proved to you, and to this country, my power and my valiance in killing the dragon that even your whole army could not slay."

Still seated, King Kaioh nodded in defeat. He knows, that as royalty, he could not back down on his promise, but he also knows, more as a father than as a King, that he cannot compomise his daughter's well-being.

"Ryunosuke Akutagawa, as you know, a decision as important as this is not something for me to decide alone. This decision will affect not just my daughter, but everyone in this country, and you know full well that I cannot take this matter lightly. Therefore I ask you to give my daughter time to make a decision. I am giving you six months to prove yourself worthy of her and this country. During that period, I will consider you engaged. If after six months, my daughter deems you worthy, you will be married and become his prince. But, if after six months, you do not prove yourself to be worthy, I will not hesitate to cancel the engagement."

"May I ask, King Kaioh, how I can prove myself worthy enough of your daughter?"

"You shall live in this palace for six months. I am giving you and my daughter time to get to know each other. I trust her judgement."

In just the seconds he was given, King Kaioh thought of this as the only sensible solution. There is a lot on the line in this decision, a lot more that Ryunosuke has probably even had the time to think of. He couldn't flat out refuse his request. As King, he needs to set an example to the people of his country that he is a man of his word. On top of that, if word spreads that he is a person who cannot fulfill his own promises, he will lose the trust and the confidence of his allied countries. But at the same time, he cannot just make a snap decision when in comes to the future of his only daughter. A marriage is for life, and he wants his daughter to get to know this man. Surely, he is a brave enough warrior to be King, and he also seems very respectable...but what about his character? What kind of a person is he? What is his background? Is he wise enough to be an heir to the throne? There are still a lot of unanswered questions that he will leave for Michiru to discover.

Michiru, on the other hand, just nodded. She, quite surprisingly, found herself agreeing with her father's resolution. She was a realistic enough young lady. Although she never really wanted to marry so soon, she knows that as royalty, much like her father, she does not have the luxury to marry for love. She does, however, have the right to find out if this person suitable enough to be the future King---for the sake of her people. Love is just a luxury, a selfish emotion, that people of royalty just have to do without. Princesses have to marry the man most suited to rule the country, even if he is not the man they love.

"If that is what it takes, Princess Michiru, then I will gladly accept your father's offer. I am confident I can prove myself worthy of your company."

With both parties accepting the agreement, the meeting ended, just like that. In an instant, Michiru's life took a 360-degree turn. Maids started preparing the guest room nearest her's, announcements were made to the maids, the citizens of the country, and to allied kingdoms informing everyone of their recent engagement. Citizens of the kingdom lauded and cheered the decision---for them, there was no better man for the princess than the valiant warrior who can singlehandedly kill an untameable dragon. Maids of the palace started gossiping and children started playing warriors and dragons. Ryunosuke was a local hero.

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Author's Notes:

-This is my very first fanfic…ever. So I would love to hear what you think, especially if you think I should continue with this or not. I don't mind bluntness. If it sucks, just tell me. I already have a pretty good outline of the story to continue this, but if people think it's crap, I wouldn't bother.

- Please do not kill me for borrowing names from real Japanese personalities. (if you don't recognize them, then good. :P) I'm sorry but I suck at making up names...

- I use "he" for Haruka because at this point in the story Michiru doesn't know yet that she's a girl. :P Don't worry, when the right time comes, i'll change it to "she".