The respective rulers of Uranus and Neptune create a treaty by betrothing their children. Little did they know that fate would throw them a curve-ball. Set in the Silver Millennium. Haruka x Michiru. Read and review, please.

Disclaimer: Yet again, I do not own Haruka, Michiru, or Sailor Moon. I wouldn't be broke if I did. .

Dedication: To Haruka's Knight for her soundboard services as well as her input. You're my muse Ruka..

Chapter 1:Decisions and Death

The King of Uranus mentally sighed as he and his wife entered the Neptunian court. However he smiled as he shook hands with Neptune's king, slightly surprised to see his normally reserved wife rush to greet her long-time friend with the enthusiasm of a giddy school girl. The queens laughed as their protruding stomachs prevented them from being able to embrace. They linked arms and walked about the palace, leaving their husbands to converse.

The kings awkwardly debated over strategy and politics, gradually becoming more at ease with one another over a few glasses of red wine. They had reverted back to intrigue and war by the time their wives had returned from the walk around the grounds, but at least were somewhat more comfortable around each other. Smiling, the queens turned to their husbands saying there was a subject they wanted to discuss.

Kasumi, the ever-outspoken Uranian queen spoke first," Megami and I wish our children to marry once they come of age so that we may designate a contract of peace between Uranus and Neptune."

The kings, stunned into silence as they listened to the proposal, slowly realized their wives were dead set on this taking place, therefore, they again tipped back a glass of wine, and finally agreed. Kasumi and Megami were ecstatic and began talking about when the other was due to deliver, and of baby names.

Yukiro of Uranus internally chastised himself for allowing his persuasive wife to convince him to come, but masked his displeasure by jesting that his wife would be the bearer of the boy, quickly instigating a well-mannered dispute with Daisuke of Neptune.

As the evening drew to an end, and the guests settled in for the night, Yukiro mentioned to his wife the hope that they would have a boy, lest he lose to Daisuke. Kasumi laughed and lightly smacked her husband's arm.

"Come now Yukiro, it doesn't matter what gender our child will be, whether it is a girl or a boy, we'll love it just the same, and raise it well. Though it would be nice to give Daisuke a pain in the side," she said jokingly. "Can we go to sleep now?" she asked. He sighed, acknowledging that she was right, then kissed her, and fell into a dreamless sleep.

They awoke the next day, bade their goodbyes to the Neptunians with promises to meet again soon to go over the specifics of the betrothal agreement and the politics associated with arranged marriages. It was a pleasant journey back for the couple, and the whole of Uranus was present to welcome the returning royalty.

The next few months went by without incident as the time grew nearer for Kasumi to deliver. Uranus' kingdom was in an uproar of excitement, curious about the arrival of the soon to be prince or princess. All was well until Yukiro had to leave for business to the outer edge of the realm. While he was attempting to conduct his meeting there, he received word to hurry back to the palace. Kasumi had been brutally attacked, it was not expected she would survive much longer.

In utter panic, Yukiro tore across the countryside as fast as his horse would carry him, pausing neither for food, nor drink, nor rest as he could sense his beloved's spirit fading. He nearly destroyed the portcullis as he ran to her side. Kasumi was in a bad way, she was already unconscious, and the nurses had performed an emergency delivery in order to possibly save the child. He clung to her hand, pressing it to his heart, praying to the gods for her recovery, though he knew how bleak the prospect was.

Life is often cruel, and the same was true then as is now. Kasumi was roused from her catatonic state only long enough to mutter one word," Haruka," she gasped weakly, as she breathed her last. It was a dark day in the Uranian kingdom when Yukiro forced himself into composure as he made a brief speech to the subjects regarding the events that had transpired. He told them of the queen's murder and that the naming ceremony of the baby would be postponed until a thorough royal investigation had been made regarding the queen's death. He would not rest until her killer was found, tried, and executed. Yukiro asked for his subjects' assistance to capture the responsible party, reminded them of their duties and made his retreat to the royal chambers to see the child gained at so great a cost.

He hated himself for wishing that their places had been exchanged. Kasumi would have not wanted him to resent the child, no matter how faintly. Yukiro immediately discarded such thoughts, instead thinking of the infant as the piece of his wife he still had, and that he should treat it as such. He sought out the nurses, now eager to see the new life brought into the world.

Kasumi had given him a daughter. He laughed at the irony of the situation, prepared to admit defeat to Daisuke, though that trip would have to wait until the conclusion of the inquisition, which could be a month at least, and perhaps the other king would have forgotten about the wager.

Yukiro located the nurses who were extremely relieved to see him, as the infant had refused to stop screaming its tiny head off the entire time he had given his speech. Once he took the baby girl into his arms, however, she stopped crying, and looked at him intelligently. He was overcome by the riptide of emotion that flooded through him as he held his new daughter. Any resentment he might have retained, dissipated, to be completely replaced with immense love.

"So Kasumi wants you to be Haruka? Then Haruka so shall you be named," Yukiro said as he held his daughter. "Distant sky king," he muttered, mulling it over," interesting choice indeed. What did you know that I didn't Kasumi?" he asked of no one in particular, walking around the nursery with the infant lying against his well-muscled shoulder.