The Meeting...

Michiru sat silently in the passenger seat of the lover's car, as her lover skillfully drove the Italian made vehicle through the streets of Tokyo. It had been six months since the couple had returned from there self imposed exile in America and so far things for them were finally returning back for them. Michiru had begun work on her new CD which was due to come out within a couple months and a couple of the tracks were going to include both her and Haruka. While Haruka on the other hand had returned to competing professionally in a number of track and field events within the city and there were even rumors floating about that she may even make it onto the Japanese Olympic team. But it was only three months ago that the Senshi of the wind, as well as the Senshi of the seas did something that changed both their lives forever.

The two lovers finally tied the knot in a private ceremony in Okinawa, they were now truly bonded by love for life and they now lived together in a small home within the city. But not everything was all sunshine for the newly married couple. Even though Usagi had forgiven them for their questionable actions during the battle with Galaxia, the rest of the inner senshi were still unable, if not unwilling, to forgive the couple. Especially Rei and Makoto, who were most hostile anytime the couple would visit the shrine with Hotaru. Then again the lovers did not expect things to get better over night, they knew that it would be a very long time indeed before the others would accept them back as senshi.

Right now though all those things were at the back of the two lovers' mind, as they made their way to the home of father of the youngest member of the Sailor Senshi team, Souichi Tomoe. It was just an hour ago that the couple received a phone call from the Tomoe-sensei, saying that he had something important to ask them concerning his daughter. Without hesitation, the couple agreed to meet with him and they were now on their was to meet with there former enemy.

As they made their way through the busy streets of Tokyo, the two women could not help but to wonder just why Tomoe-sensei wanted to see them. Maybe he just wanted them to watch over the young child while he went in for his bi-monthly check ups. It would not be the first time they had done this for the single father, the couple were usually the ones Souichi would call on to do this favor for him when he went for his regular check ups with his doctor, and truth be told, the couple enjoyed spending time with the violet eyed senshi. But for some reason, something felt different. As if there was something else telling them that this trip was going to be far different than what they would be expecting.

Within a few minutes, the couple finally pulled in front of the mansion that was the home of Souichi Tomoe and his daughter, Hotaru. Switching off the engine the couple exited the car and made their way towards the front door.

"Your feeling it too?" Haruka asked her wife, noting the odd expression on her face. The aqua haired violinist nodded slowly and replied, "I just don't know what it is causing this. I find it a bit strange for Tomoe-sensei to be calling us on a week day."

"The it must be important if he did." a familiar voice interjected. When the couple came looked to see where it came from, they saw the familiar form of Setsuna walking towards them, dressed in a dark gray business suit with knee length skirt and matching skirt.

"Setsuna?" Michiru gasped in surprised, "What are you doing here?"

"Something told me that I should be here right now." the senshi of time replied cryptically, "and considering that the professor summon the two of you here as well, I think it would be best that I join you."

The other two women just stood there with a perplexed look on their faces, they were about to ask their friend a few more questions when the front door opened and Professor Tomoe himself stood in front of them.

"Ah, Tenoh-san, Kaioh-san and Meioh-san." The kindly professoer greeted the three women, "It is nice to see that all three of you are here already."

"It is a pleasure to see you too, Tomoe-sensei." Michiru replied, as she and the other women bowed in respect. "At risk of sounding a bit hasty, may I ask just why did you call all three of us here?"

"Yes of course." Souichi replied, "Please, lets head inside where we can talk." the three outer senshi agreed to this and all entered his home. The were all lead into the professor's private study and as soon as they found a seat, the professor began to speak.

"First of all, I want to thank all of you for coming when I asked."

"It was no problem, Tomoe sensei." Michiru replied, "But tell me, why have you asked too see us." Souichi's tone became somber as he replied, "It concerns my daughter, Hotaru."

"Hotaru?" the senshi of the wind gasped, "Is there something wrong with her?"

"No no," the professor replied "she is doing fine. And I want to personally thank all three of you for looking after her while I was in the hospital. But it is also for that reason why I have called for you today."

"Really?" Haruka asked, the professor nodded before he replied "Well... I may need you to watch over my daughter once again in the very near future.

At that moment, both Haruka and Michiru began to sense an feeling of sadness and dread coming from the older man, "What do you mean?" Michiru asked with a almost fearful tone in her voice. Souichi just sighed as he leaned heavily on his desk before he replied in a neutral tone,

"I am dying..."