Summary: Against the backdrop of the city skyline at night, a small drama
unfolds.
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailormoon the series, or its characters.
Skyscraper
I had been watching her for weeks. And by now I knew what every little quirk of her lips meant, every slight blush, even her occasional, arrogant, snorting, chuckle. But whatever confidence she conveyed, inside, I could see. Inside she was seeking something, someplace away from the world that seemed so bleak to her. I couldn't possibly know what hardships she had in her life, but sometimes I can sense them when the charming façade falls away, when she stands alone at her favorite spot. And as unique as she was, her favorite spot was also unconventional. It was at the top of a fifty- story skyscraper.
"I know you're there," said a husky voice, her tall form leaning nonchalantly against the iron railings. The wind tossed her blonde hair, and for a brief moment I wondered if a breeze had whispered the location of my whereabouts into her ears. I stepped away from the shadows to join her side. My knuckles gripped the railing tightly as I looked down; I always had some sense of acrophobia. I preferred the stability of low ground, or deep encompassing sea. When I turned to look at her, I saw that her green eyes were looking not at the world below, but at Tokyo's artificially lighted skyline, and at the dark expanse of night above. And for once, I dared to avert my eyes from the railing or the ground far below, to follow her gaze. The few stars shining in the sky were breathtaking, but I had never stargazed before with someone like her, so close to me. I was beginning to drift in the sweet smell of her cologne when her voice startled me.
"What do you want?" she asked softly. Her voice was laced with distrust, coldness, but also a sense of curiosity. I turned my head to look at her, my hands loosening around the cold railing. A few moments after my blue eyes had met her teal ones, she let out an almost inaudible gasp. She seemed to know me right then. I assumed she's known that I'd been following her for a long time. But then her teal eyes showed me something else: fear.
"Why do you follow me?" she asked this time, more threateningly. Although I didn't know it at the time, Haruka had realized I was the Neptune in her dreams. However, that confession would come nearly a year later. At that point in time, I didn't have the smallest inkling she was my partner.
"I just came to see the stars," I stammered, trying to hide the slight blush on my cheeks. With those words she visibly relaxed. Haruka later said she hadn't understood why she did on that evening, but she supposed it was some sense of deep relief that I hadn't asked her to take the mission; something she knew I would eventually ask her in the deep recesses of her mind. "Oh," she commented softly, this time more gently. And then her green eyes relaxed also. I had the greatest urge to cover my hand over hers. But I didn't do so. "Goodbye, and enjoy the stars." I turned as she walked away. My hand tightened around the iron. "Goodbye, I hope we will meet again," I whispered when she was gone from my view. It was a selfish thing to do, to stalk someone you love from afar, when the fate of the world was counting on me to find Uranus. But as the wind blew, and the stars twinkled that night, I almost didn't care. And I knew I would see her again.
The End
Author's notes: I wrote this piece a while back. I was trying to paint a detailed setting that was very vivid. Did I succeed? Please R&R. All comments are appreciated. Arigatou.
Skyscraper
I had been watching her for weeks. And by now I knew what every little quirk of her lips meant, every slight blush, even her occasional, arrogant, snorting, chuckle. But whatever confidence she conveyed, inside, I could see. Inside she was seeking something, someplace away from the world that seemed so bleak to her. I couldn't possibly know what hardships she had in her life, but sometimes I can sense them when the charming façade falls away, when she stands alone at her favorite spot. And as unique as she was, her favorite spot was also unconventional. It was at the top of a fifty- story skyscraper.
"I know you're there," said a husky voice, her tall form leaning nonchalantly against the iron railings. The wind tossed her blonde hair, and for a brief moment I wondered if a breeze had whispered the location of my whereabouts into her ears. I stepped away from the shadows to join her side. My knuckles gripped the railing tightly as I looked down; I always had some sense of acrophobia. I preferred the stability of low ground, or deep encompassing sea. When I turned to look at her, I saw that her green eyes were looking not at the world below, but at Tokyo's artificially lighted skyline, and at the dark expanse of night above. And for once, I dared to avert my eyes from the railing or the ground far below, to follow her gaze. The few stars shining in the sky were breathtaking, but I had never stargazed before with someone like her, so close to me. I was beginning to drift in the sweet smell of her cologne when her voice startled me.
"What do you want?" she asked softly. Her voice was laced with distrust, coldness, but also a sense of curiosity. I turned my head to look at her, my hands loosening around the cold railing. A few moments after my blue eyes had met her teal ones, she let out an almost inaudible gasp. She seemed to know me right then. I assumed she's known that I'd been following her for a long time. But then her teal eyes showed me something else: fear.
"Why do you follow me?" she asked this time, more threateningly. Although I didn't know it at the time, Haruka had realized I was the Neptune in her dreams. However, that confession would come nearly a year later. At that point in time, I didn't have the smallest inkling she was my partner.
"I just came to see the stars," I stammered, trying to hide the slight blush on my cheeks. With those words she visibly relaxed. Haruka later said she hadn't understood why she did on that evening, but she supposed it was some sense of deep relief that I hadn't asked her to take the mission; something she knew I would eventually ask her in the deep recesses of her mind. "Oh," she commented softly, this time more gently. And then her green eyes relaxed also. I had the greatest urge to cover my hand over hers. But I didn't do so. "Goodbye, and enjoy the stars." I turned as she walked away. My hand tightened around the iron. "Goodbye, I hope we will meet again," I whispered when she was gone from my view. It was a selfish thing to do, to stalk someone you love from afar, when the fate of the world was counting on me to find Uranus. But as the wind blew, and the stars twinkled that night, I almost didn't care. And I knew I would see her again.
The End
Author's notes: I wrote this piece a while back. I was trying to paint a detailed setting that was very vivid. Did I succeed? Please R&R. All comments are appreciated. Arigatou.