Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN Haruka or Michiru or Sailor Moon! I don't own Cloud either. They are copyright their respective owners! YES I did borrow the arcade scene from episode 92. Don't go off and sue me, I was lazy with ideas for the beginning, I didn't realize I'd like the story so much. I DO own Saro and Quetzal, they are my own original characters, Cerise is my best friends. Comments are appreciated, flames are not. This is a ROMANCE/DRAMA, if you don't like it, don't read it! Enjoy! ~Saro

Looks Can Be Deceiving

The sun was rising high in the sky, casting shadows across the landscape, several streams of its orange glow seeped through the close curtains of an apartment bedroom, tickling the cheek of a sleeping form. The figure grunted and pulled the covers over its head to where only a pair of wolf-ears was sticking out of the top. "Five more minutes…" the lump of covers muttered sleepily. "Saro! Saro wake up!" someone on the other side of the door yelled. With a deep sigh, the covers were thrown off onto the floor and a wolf-girl sat up, yawning and rubbing her eyes sleepily. "Must you yell like that, Quetzal?" muttered the still half-asleep wolf-girl. "Yes, I have to yell! I've been calling your name for the past hour! You're supposed to meet Cerise at the arcade in fifteen minutes!" the one called Quetzal shouted back. "Arcade? Oh no!" Saro yelped, diving out of the bed and skidding into the bathroom.

The wolf girl leapt into the shower quickly, scrubbing herself and her hair down and washing, she stepped out of the shower, wrapped in a towel and began putting make-up on and styling her hair at the same time. She decided to curl her long black hair with purple tips, grabbing the hot curling iron she set about putting large ringlets into her thick mane of hair. The wolf girl scrubbed her teeth furiously and put her piercings in, mainly her tongue ring, which was the only one she took out every night. Saro put on the usual make up, foundation, eyeliner, eye shadow and a soft, purple lip-stick. She spritzed herself with her trade-mark, Moon Crazy perfume and ran into her room, digging into her closet for something to wear. "Hurry Saro!" Quetzal yelled again. "I am!" Saro snapped, pulling on a pair of purple and green shorts and a matching tube-top. Glancing quickly in the mirror, she opened the bedroom door and glared down at the small, periwinkle colored cat sitting and grooming a paw. "There, done. How do I look?" she asked. The cat raised his head and smiled, he had a small, pink colored mohawk, "Lovely, now move your butt!" he shoved her ankle with a paw. Saro ruffled the cat's ears and hurried out the door, down the steps and onto the streets of Tennessee where she lived.

Cerise drummed her fingers on the table at the arcade, glancing at her watch for the hundredth time. "Where in the world is she?" she growled, her long, red, puffy mongoose tail swishing in annoyance. Saro hurried into the arcade and over to Cerise, "I am so sorry…Quetzal didn't wake me up in time…" she panted; she had run the entire way to the arcade which was four blocks away. Cerise raised an eyebrow, but then smiled and hugged the wolf girl tightly, "You're just a lazy-butt." She giggled. Saro blushed out of embarrassment and rubbed the back of her head, "Yeah, I guess that's true. Any way, wanna play some games?" Saro asked with a grin. Cerise laughed, "No, I thought we'd go to the moon!"

The pair cashed some money into playing tokens and ran about the arcade, showing off their skills. The friends had been coming to the arcade for a long as they could remember it was a tradition they intended to continue to carry out. Saro laughed as she aimed her gun at the zombies on the screen, "YES!" she crowed as her high score flashed on the screen. Cerise ran up to her, nibbling on a giant cookie, "Did ya win?" she asked with a mouthful of cookie. Saro grinned; "Yep!" she twirled the gun, blowing invisible smoke from the muzzle. Cerise giggled and broke off a piece of the cookie, offering it to the wolf girl. She took it gratefully, gnawing on it, "Thanks!" "Mmhm!" Cerise said. The pair played a few more games til they both ended up with only a couple of coins left a piece, "Well…wanna do a racing game or something?" Saro asked; her tail wagging. "Sounds good to me!" Cerise grinned. The pair sat down and began one of their favorite racing games.

The doors to the arcade opened and a figure stepped in, short cropped blonde hair and intense blue/gray eyes glanced around the arcade, settling on the two half-human girls playing the racing game. A smile spread across the figure's face as they walked over to the pair, watching them quietly with mild interest. "Passed ya again, Saro!" Cerise yelled triumphantly. "WHAT? Aw, man…" Saro pouted as she was lapped for the second time. Cerise giggled as she crossed the finish line, her tail puffing out in victory, "Aw, don't look so glum, Saro! You did put up a pretty good race! But you know this game is my specialty!" the mongoose girl said, patting her friend on the back. Saro's ears drooped, "If you say so, I just wish I had someone to teach me…" she muttered. "Want some nachos?" Cerise asked, her short-attention span kicking in. "That sounds great!" Saro grinned, her ears perking a bit. "Kay! Stay put!" the mongoose girl said, scurrying off to the concession stand. Once Cerise was out of ear shot, Saro's wolf ears drooped again and she frowned, "I really don't like losing…I'd love to win, just once…" "I'll race ya…" a voice said. "Huh?" Saro looked up, her large, violet colored eyes blinking. A handsome young man was standing in front of her now, smiling warmly, he was dressed in a dark blue suit, "I saw you racing your friend, maybe I can give you some pointers." The voice was deep, but had an odd tone to it, almost feminine. Saro's eyes widened, he was very handsome, "Ah…um…o-okay.." she stammered as the young man sat down in the other car-seat.

Saro gripped the steering wheel, determination in her amethyst colored eyes, "Ready? I'll even give you a head-start…" the young man said with a smile. Saro sniffed, "I don't need a head-start." She muttered unhappily. The young man chuckled, "I insist…" he said. Saro growled but pressed down on the gas, she was speeding a long the track, the mysterious boy simply sat there with his arms crossed. "Hey! I thought you were going to race me, not sit there like a lump!" Saro grumbled. "3…2…1…" he muttered and stomped down on the gas, his car speeding up to over 100mph. "Wh-what? He's fast…" Saro thought, gritting her fangs and keeping her eyes on the road. Suddenly, the young man's green-car shot past her, lapping her. "WHAT?" Saro howled. He smiled and lapped her a second time, "No!" Saro howled again as her car spun out of control and crashed. The young man chuckled, "You really are terrible…" "And you're a butt-face! You're supposed to help me! Not beat me into the dirt! You're a jerk!" she snapped, tears welling in her eyes. "H-hey, don't cry…oh geez, I'm really sorry…" he said, pulling out a handkerchief and offering it to her. Saro took it reluctantly, wiping the tears from her face, "Look, I'm sorry, I just…got caught up in the game…I didn't mean to make you cry…" he said, looking genuinely apologetic. Saro sniffled and looked at him, nodding, "It's…alright…I know I stink…" she muttered. He put a hand on her shoulder, "Nah, you just need more practice…" The wolf-girl glanced up, he had such a nice smile. "Thanks." She said, smiling a bit. "There you go, a smile suits your pretty face…" he said. "Hey!" Cerise's voice called out. "Huh? Oh Cerise!" Saro said, turning around. "I go off to get you nachos and here you are flirting with some dude!" she said jokingly. The young man stood up, "Well, I suppose I'd better go, I have someone waiting on me…" he said. "Wait! What's your name?" Saro asked. He smiled that warm smile again, "Its Haruka, Haruka Tenoh, see you later princess." He said and walked off. Saro sighed, staring after him dreamily, Cerise smacked her on the ear, "Hello! Earth to Saro!" Saro yelped at the sudden smack, "Wh-what? Oh…sorry…" she looked down at her paws. "You're so weird…he probably has a girlfriend, a guy that good looking can't possible be single…" Cerise said, munching on the cheese-covered nachos she held. "Yeah…but you can't say anything! You have someone!" Saro said with an annoyed look. Cerise smiled, "Chill out, Saro. You'll find your prince! Come on, we'd better get home, it looks like rain!" Saro nodded, she felt upset, Cerise was lucky to have her boyfriend, Cloud, Saro thought she'd never find anyone.