-Italics generally indicate thoughts, but have also been used to add emphasis, indicate a flashback, or indicate a speaker not physically present in the scene. (All of these circumstances will be obvious while reading.)
Disclaimer: With the exceptions of a few OCs, the characters contained herein are the property of Naoko Takeuchi. Monetary profit was neither sought nor gained with the writing of this story.
Ballads
A BSSM Fan Fiction
Prologue: Forever Love
Energy crackled all around. Buildings moaned and crumbled under their own weight. Dark, putrid smoke filled the air. A large globe of energy floated in the air above a massive crater, a crater that had not been there but five minutes ago.
A handful of people stumbled forward from the rubble, most clinging to another for support. Their clothes were torn, their bodies bloodied and battered, and their spirits low. The wind howled around them, viciously tearing at their tattered clothes and spirits.
"Where has the princess gone?" spoke one of the stragglers, her voice barely a whisper above the wind's howls.
The others gave no answer. They could only stare in awe at the globe of energy before them, in front of which their princess was last seen. A car drove up behind them, but nobody acknowledged the masked man who stepped out of it or the pink-haired girl he held in his arms.
"Sailor Mercury."
"Yes?" Mercury answered, spinning around to face the man who had addressed her. Her face was bare save for guilt and worry, as were the faces of all those around her.
"Are there any signs of them?"
Them. Mercury's eyes widened in shock; how could she, or any of the others, have forgotten? Sailor Moon had disappeared trying to rescue Hotaru, whom they discovered to be Sailor Saturn, the senshi of destruction; Hotaru, a young, sickly girl whom Chibiusa had befriended; Hotaru, whom they had all grown to love, though not all of them would admit it.
Mercury glanced at the senshi that referred to themselves as Uranus and Neptune. They had once tried to kill Hotaru, but fortunately Sailor Moon had been able to stop them. Neptune was a nice person, and the younger senshi understood that she had just been trying to fulfill her mission. Uranus, however, was a complete mystery. She refused to work with the others, distancing herself from Neptune even, the woman who was supposed to be her fighting partner. She hardly ever acknowledged them, usually greeting them with no more than a glare. No one knew anything about the mysterious senshi. Neptune had figured out the identities of the inner senshi early on, and, though somewhat hesitant, shared her identity with them. Sensing their apprehension, however, she assured them that she had not shared her discovery with Uranus. For their part, none of them knew who Uranus was. Mercury wondered if they ever would. Perhaps, Pluto-
"Mercury?" spoke Tuxedo Kamen, the future king, shaking her from her thoughts.
"All signs of life disappeared from the scanner when Sailor Moon entered that globe of energy," she answered, recovering her bearing while pointing to the object she spoke of. It seemed to glow brighter just then, as if it somehow understood they were talking about it.
"Is there anything that we can do?" he asked, desperately hoping, begging with unnamed gods, to hear what he was almost certain he would not.
"I'm afraid that at this point, all we can do is to wait."
Upon hearing Mercury's answer, Tuxedo Kamen placed the still sleeping Chibiusa on the ground, draped his cape over her and fell to his knees, his face a scene of disbelief.
Taking this as a sign of his wanting to be alone, Mercury hurried over to where the other senshi were standing. Arriving there she glanced at what the others were watching.
"Look, Mercury. The ball, it's stopped growing," stated Jupiter, her eyes full of both wonder and confusion.
"What could this possibly mean?" asked Mars, worry strewn across her face. "The princess is inside that…thing, so what's happening?"
"I-I don't know. I wish I knew, but-"
"Look!" exclaimed Sailor Venus, standing near the edge of the massive crater. Pointing towards the center of the crater, directly under the ball of energy, she waved her hand excitedly. "There, do you see it? It looks like, like, well, I'm not sure exactly."
"They're shadows." At this, everyone turned to face Pluto, who had just recently joined their group near the crater. "They're the shadows of the two people inside that dimension, of sorts. From the looks of it, one is trying to hold onto the other."
"She's trying to hold onto someone she loves dearly," stated Neptune, from her position next to Pluto. "That shadow on the right is undoubtedly Sailor Moon's."
"Then, the other shadow belongs to-"
"Hotaru!" shouted Sailor Chibimoon, newly awaken from her slumber. Sprinting towards the crater, she nearly fell into it, and would have had it not been for a sturdy arm catching her, breaking her fall. Looking up to see who had saved her, her eyes grew in surprise as she found herself looking into the battle-weary eyes of Sailor Uranus.
"Th-thank you, Sailor Uranus," Chibimoon whispered as she was placed back onto firm ground. Her rescuer's only reply was a simple nod of the head, but she was certain she had seen a small, gentle smile on her savior's face, if only for a small second.
The others stood mystified, confused as to why this woman who usually distanced herself from others was the first (and only) one to move and save Chibimoon from certain injury. Perhaps, they thought, they stood a chance of befriending the seemingly cold-hearted woman.
Neptune always believed in that chance. She knew not why, but she was absolutely sure that Uranus was not, could not have been like this in the past, and desperately tried to befriend the Uranus of the present, the Uranus she had somehow grown to love. She knew in her heart that Sailor Uranus could not possibly be the person she portrayed herself to be. So why, Neptune wondered, would she act the way she did? She obviously felt some amount of care for them, as exhibited by her rescue of Chibimoon, so why would she not open herself up to them, to her? Why would she not let anybody get close?
Neptune was suddenly shaken from her thoughts at the sound of Mercury gasping in surprise.
"Everyone, please step away from the crater!" shouted Mercury, running away from the edge. "Something's happening in there!"
Pluto took one last glance at the shadows and knew something was wrong. As she moved away from the crater, her suspicions were confirmed when one of the shadows disappeared. She knew whose shadow it had been, and it was then she understood that it was not supposed to happen this way, in this timeline.
Suddenly, the ball of energy began to shift, and as quickly as it had appeared, as quickly as Sailor Moon had disappeared into it, it dissipated into nothing. A lone figure floated above the Earth and gently glided to the ground.
"Sailor Moon!" shouted Tuxedo Kamen, running to her side. "Sailor Moon, wake up!"
Upon hearing her name, Sailor Moon's eyes slowly opened, and she struggled to sit up.
"Sailor Moon, thank the gods you're okay!" exclaimed Mars, running to her princess' side.
With their help, Sailor Moon sat up and spotted Chibimoon. With obvious sadness in her voice, she called the youngest senshi over to her and stood. Chibimoon ran over to her, wrapping her in a big hug, and looked up at her with pleading eyes.
"Sailor Moon, where's Hotaru?" she whimpered, on the verge of tears.
Bowing her head, Sailor Moon cast her gaze to the side and fell to her knees in front of the younger girl, crying. Holding Chibimoon more tightly, she was barely able to speak between her sobs.
"I'm so sorry, Chibimoon. I tried my hardest, my absolute best, to save Hotaru, but at the last moment she let go of my hand. She said to tell you 'thank you' and then she simply disappeared. I'm so sorry, Chibimoon. I'm so sorry I could not save her. Please, please forgive me."
Upon hearing this, Chibimoon's eyes widened in disbelief and she, too, fell to her knees, unable to stand any longer, tears threatening to fall from her eyes.
"Give her back," she spoke, softly at first, and then cried out in anger and sadness, to no thing, no person in particular. "Give her back! Give back Hotaru! Give her back! Please! Please…." Breaking into tears, she collapsed the rest of the way into Sailor Moon's waiting arms, her own legs suddenly too weak to support her.
Standing a small distance behind them, Pluto hung her head in sorrow for she had been correct. Hotaru, Sailor Saturn, had not returned.
Neptune remained away from the crowd next to Pluto, and she could sense Uranus' presence a few yards behind her. She watched as the others consoled the two princesses of the present and future; watched as both grieved for a dear friend, one who, according to Pluto, should have been returned to them.
Them. To Neptune, the word had many meanings behind it. There was one meaning, though, that stood above the rest. Them, as in the all of them; they were a family: the princess, the younger senshi, herself, Pluto, Uranus.
Uranus. At the thought of her partner, Neptune turned around to face the lone soldier behind her; one whom she hoped would stay longer, whom she hoped she could finally get to know outside of her visions and their missions. One whom she hoped had realized the lasting connection they shared from their previous lives, and the relationship she hoped they would eventually share. For even though she did not know the mysterious woman outside of combat, through her memories and their interactions Neptune had again fallen in love with the Senshi of Wind.
Uranus stood still with a distant look in her eyes, her arms folded tightly in front of her as the now calmer wind played with her hair.
"Uranus?"
She heard someone approach her, calling her, but her attention was elsewhere. She stood staring at the brilliant purple light before her, floating amidst the others.
Can they not see it? It's right there, so dangerously close to them. Should I attack it? Is it a threat?
Suddenly, the light seemed to notice her attention and quickly moved to her. Taken by surprise, Uranus stepped back, raising her arms to prepare for the fight.
"Two years."
Her eyes widened even more in surprise. Had that… that thing just spoken to her? What had it said to her? Slowly, she approached it. With her arm outstretched she could feel the gentle warmth it emitted.
"Two years."
Again it spoke. Two years? What about two years?
Uranus began to move closer to the light to ask it more questions, to find out what it meant. She opened her mouth to speak when, like the globe of energy before it, it disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.
"Wait!" she yelled, running to the spot where it had been. Did that thing, whatever it was, just giggle?
"Uranus?"
A hand suddenly rested on her shoulder. Startled, she jerked away from the person in front of her, pushing them farther away from her.
"Uranus, are you okay?" asked Neptune, worry expressed clearly in her eyes.
Uranus stared at her in disbelief. Had she not seen it? Had she really not seen it? Had they all really not seen that light? It was right there, right in front of all of them!
"Did you see it?" she mumbled, looking towards the sky expectantly. It had to have been real. There is no way I could have imagined such warmth. "Did you see it?" she repeated more clearly, her voice laced with a hint of impatience.
"Did I see what, exactly?" asked Neptune, approaching Uranus again. Gently she placed her hand on Uranus' arm only for it to be quickly shrugged off, the object of her sympathy again casting her aside. Again the pain of rejection swelled in Neptune's heart. She opened her mouth to speak when Uranus suddenly turned to her, standing in front of her, her height somewhat intimidating the smaller woman. Grasping her roughly by the shoulders, Uranus began to yell at her, angered by her ignorance.
"Did you see it, asin that freakish purple light that was just here? That light that was floating right next to the other senshi, right in front of me! That light that just appeared and disappeared without explanation!"
Look what you're doing. You're hurting her.
Realization struck her and Uranus stepped away from Neptune in fury. Neptune watched her walk away, shocked, unable to believe what had just happened.
What was that I saw in her eyes just now? Neptune wondered.
Anger? Confusion?
Or maybe…
Fear?
Alone in her thoughts, Neptune did not notice the others walking over towards her hurriedly, nor did she realize Uranus' intentions until it was too late.
"I need to go."
The words hit Neptune with more force than any attack of the battle. She's leaving? That meant she would be gone, out of her life forever. I have to stop her. Walking towards Uranus, Neptune made sure not to get too close to the other soldier. I can't let her go. I've already lost Hotaru. I can't lose her, too. Stopping a few feet away from her, Neptune braced herself for the answer she was about to receive.
"Why are you leaving?"
Uranus remained with her back towards her comrade. She had known this question would be asked yet still was not ready to answer. She was barely able to admit to herself why she was leaving, or why she was even there at all.
"Why?"
Uranus clenched her fists at her side. She didn't want this confrontation; she wasn't ready for it. I'll run. I'll run away just like I have every other time. She began to run but was suddenly halted by a tight grip on her arm.
"Answer me!" screamed Neptune, now just mere inches away from her. "Why are you leaving us?"
Uranus looked at her captor and saw the others behind her, their attention now on the argument occurring. She knew she had not been her kindest towards them, or the most understanding, but she could see in their expressions that they were worried for her. Worried for me. I returned that kindness as best I could, but… if they knew the danger of loving me they wouldn't want to be near me. I can't endanger them anymore. I have to go. Uranus tried pulling out of the tight grip but Neptune only held her tighter.
"Why are you going?"
With each question Uranus could feel her composure breaking. Please, let me go.
"Why?" Neptune persisted. She had to know. She couldn't just let her go without getting an answer.
Because it's for your sake that I must do so! "Because I've had enough of this!" Uranus screamed, yanking her arm away from the other woman. "The mission is over! I've no more reason to be here! There's no more reason for me not to live my life the way I want to live it!" You're in danger if I stay with you, especially when… "I'm done!"
A brief silence accompanied by a powerful breeze. Two strong soldiers, neither one willing to back down. The others were only able to stand by and watch, unable to offer any aide, any support. They knew this was something that could only be affected by the actions of the two women in front of them.
"What about us?" Neptune asked, tears forming in her eyes.
Be rude; make her hate you; anything to get away.
"What about us?"
"Us, our relationship! You can't just walk away from it without giving it a chance!"
Be rude. It's for her good. Without looking at the other woman, Uranus barely kept her emotions in place. I have to end this now. I have to be as cold as possible.
"There is no 'us.' There never was… nor will be."
That had done it. Unable to control her tears any longer, Neptune collapsed to the ground, broken. There is no 'us.' There never was… nor will be. The words repeated endlessly in her mind, each time hurting her heart even more. Get a hold of yourself. How could she say that? How could she just up-and-leave, without even thinking about the rest of them? They needed her. She needed her. She had to know. Did Uranus really not know? Did she, could she, not feel that they were meant to be together?
"You can't tell me that you honestly haven't felt it, that you haven't sensed our destiny together!"
Uranus shook her head. It's because of that destiny that I cannot stay. With a gentle smile, a smile that seemed to beg forgiveness, she kneeled before the other woman and set her sword upon the ground. Placing a hand upon the other woman's shoulder, she look straight into Neptune's eyes and spoke for what she intended to be the last time.
"Goodbye, Neptune." With those two words Uranus leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on Neptune's lips. Startled, Neptune could do nothing but watch as the other woman pulled away. That look was there in her eyes again, thought Neptune.
With this, Uranus stood and began running into the shadows. Slowly and hesitant at first, she increased her speed, making it to the parameters of the battlefield. It hurts the most in my own heart.
"Wait, please!" Hearing this plea, Uranus stopped without looking back.
"Please, at least tell me your name, I beg of you!" Neptune shouted through sobs. She stood up right now, though barely, distraught expressed clearly within her posture. "I deserve to know that much!"
Uranus hesitated. Surely it would be okay to disclose only that much. She was still a minor; she was not registered and could not be tracked down, and her life would soon be migratory. The only way Neptune could find her would be to bump into her by pure luck, and with her experiences Uranus did not believe in luck of any kind. Sighing, she decided to leave destiny in Fate's hands, and responded.
"…"
"Wait! I couldn't hear you! The wind-!"
Neptune ceased shouting. It was too late, for on the same gust of wind that stole her answer, the wind senshi had disappeared. Neptune collapsed to the ground one last time sobbing uncontrollably. Unable to go on any further, she clutched the sword to her heart possessively. Pluto was at her side now, doing her best to console the fallen soldier.
"She's gone, Pluto; first Hotaru, and now her. They're gone. My future family is gone. The family I never got to know. Everything I had…gone…"
There was that look in her eyes. That look had definitely been fear, but there had been a hint of something else, too.
Love.
And now, I'll never get to know that love.
"They're both… gone."
...
Beep! Beep! Beep! Click.
"Good morning, Tokyo! This is DJ Hito, and it's now…. Wow! It's still only 6:00a.m., folks! Now, as you may already know, today marks the second anniversary of the day that large crater mysteriously appeared in Tokyo. Luckily, if not miraculously, not a single person was hurt, but-"
Slam.
Michiru hated mornings. "Morning" meant another day spent alone at a school she despised, living a life she despised.
"Not a single person was hurt…" Yeah, right. What about Hotaru? And me, do I count? What about the pain I live with each day?
Two years. Exactly two years ago she had lost what she felt was everything she ever had, everything there was to live for. Sure, she still had Setsuna and the others, but they, the ones who were supposed to be her family, were not there. First, Hotaru had not returned to them. Chibimoon had cried for nearly three weeks after the battle. Then Uranus had left. If there was something, or someone, that Michiru disliked more than mornings, it was Uranus, the woman she now both hated and (though she hate to admit it) still loved.
"Not a single person was hurt." My heart was torn out, thrown on the ground, and stomped on in all of thirty seconds. Somebody was hurt. I was most definitely hurt.
She had left. Michiru had begged her to stay and she had left. Why? Why hadn't she stayed? At that moment, Michiru had vowed to find her, no matter what it might take. After only two years, however, her patience was wearing thin. One thing was certain, though; when she found her, she had better have a damned good reason for leaving.
Sighing, Michiru threw back the covers and stepped out of bed. Now was not the time to be thinking about this. Right now, she had to get ready for school. Stealing a glance at the clock, Michiru sighed again. She had to get ready, and she had to do so very quickly.
After all, it's my last day. Tomorrow she would be transferring schools, to join the others at their school. It was her senior year, and yet she was going to be transferring halfway through the school year.
This way, at least I'll be with friends when I graduate. The emotional burden was starting to take its toll. She'd begun to distance herself from others, sometimes skipping school altogether. During the past few weeks she'd only left her house to go to school or the grocery store. Even her violin was neglected, left standing alone in the corner of her room, the same place it stood for weeks at this same time of the year for the past two years now.
This transfer is for the better.
Students filed in and out of classrooms at the sound of the chimes. The lunch period was beginning and many were meeting up with friends. Michiru sat quietly at her desk, her notebook put aside and replaced with a small lunch.
The classroom was nearly empty, save for a small group of girls in the back. Michiru knew them to be school "news" girls. She'd hear their conversations each day during lunch and today proved to be no exception.
"Hey, did you hear about the potential new guy? He's checking out the school right now to decide whether he wants to enroll here."
"Nagano from Class C said his name is Tenoh. I hear he's a real knockout."
Shaking her head, Michiru sighed inwardly. So, today's topic is favorite topic number one: guys.
"Yeah, he is, he's absolutely gorgeous, but listen to this- he has a kid."
"No way!"
"Yes way!"
Even better: irresponsible guys with kids.
"How old is the kid?"
"It's this adorable little girl. She's so tiny, though, that she can't be more than a couple weeks old, if that. But she's got the cutest eyes. And, you want to know the best part?"
"What is it? Tell me, tell me! You have to share!"
This is ridiculous. The weather today looks nice; I think I'll eat outside. Michiru stood from her desk and was passing through the door of the classroom as the girl in the back finally received her answer.
"He calls her Hime-chan! How cute is that?"
Walking down the hallway, Michiru glanced around, remembering things from the past two years. The classrooms, where she spent hours learning each day; the pool, where she set new records; the auditorium, where…
The auditorium where I played with all my heart for two years, hoping she would hear my cries, that she would come back.
"Excuse me, miss?"
Jumping, Michiru spunaround to face the person who had addressed her. I was so caught up in my memories I didn't even notice someone was here.
Glancing up, she was met with the green eyes of a tall blonde. In the blonde's arms was a small baby, clinging tightly to its guardian, brilliant (though unhappy) purple eyes looking up at her.
Tiny baby, cute eyes… This must be Tenoh-san, but-"
"I apologize, miss, I didn't mean to scare you."
Recovering from her thoughts, Michiru offered a polite bow. She extended her hand to the small crying girl, who quickly took it, and, to the surprise (and relief) of her guardian, stopped crying. "It's alright. May I help you somehow?"
"I was hoping you could show us where the restroom is. This one here needs her diaper changed." Michiru, glancing at the child indicated, noticed that her hair was also now held captive by those small hands.
So that's why you were so unhappy. "Sure. It's just around the corner, the first door on the left."
"Ah, so that's where it's been hiding, ne, Hime-chan?" said the blonde, lifting the now happy baby into the air. "Many thanks, miss-?"
"Kaioh. Kaioh Michiru."
"Ah, the violinist I've heard so much about! Well, it's a pleasure to have met you; the school administration is awfully proud of you. Hopefully I'll see you around again. Maybe I'll catch one of your performances sometime."
Too bad it's my last day.
"Goodbye, Kaioh-san." Haruka turned and left for the bathroom, her back now to Michiru. Had she stayed facing Michiru she would have seen the smaller girl's body stiffen, her eyes go vacant, and her face grow pale, as if remembering something better left forgotten.
"Goodbye, Neptune."
With this, Uranus stood and began running into the shadows. Slowly and hesitant at first, she increased her speed, making it to the parameters of the battlefield.
"Wait, please!" Hearing this plea, Uranus stopped without looking back.
"Please, at least tell me your name, I beg of you!" Neptune shouted through sobs. "I deserve to know that much!"
"Please, your name! What is your name?" Michiru cried, covering her mouth at the realization of her outburst.
Haruka paused, and, after a moment's hesitation, turned back around, a gentle expression on her face. "Tenoh Haruka. My apologies Kaioh-san, for having forgotten to introduce myself; you deserve to know at least that much, I suppose."
Tenoh Haruka. The name is so distant, and yet, so familiar.
"Goodbye, Tenoh-san. It was nice to have met you and Hime-chan." Waving good-bye, Michiru quickly left, tears brought on by memories in the corners of her eyes.
"She was a nice person, wasn't she, Hotaru-chan?" Haruka asked the infant in her arms, smiling as she entered the door Michiru had indicated. It swung shut behind them, the word "WOMEN" emblazoned across the front.
End Prologue: Forever Love
In the coming chapters OCs will be introduced. They are necessary for the overall success of the story. (Let's face it; the Sailor Senshi and friends are not the only people in the world.) I hope that you won't find these OCs too overbearing. Also to come:
SPOILER! (?)
Eventual Ami/Makoto and Minako/Rei. I fell in love with Ami/Makoto through fan fiction (you persuasive writers, you). Minako/Rei is my PGSM OTP. I understand that some people don't like these pairings, though, so now you can't say that I didn't warn you.
Reviews are welcome. (Please be gentle.)