Blast from Haruka's Past

Haruka was drying her hair one morning. She was still trying to wake
the sleep out of her. She heard the doorbell and ran downstairs to
answer it as Michiru stood there smiling.

"Ohayo!" She smiled.

Haruka smiled and let her in the house. They went to the kitchen as
Michiru fixed some tea for them to drink.

"Oh before I forget I found this letter in your mailbox."
Probably fan-mail." She joked handing her the letter.

"Ha Ha!"
Haruka laughed sarcastically then smiled. She sat down
at the kitchen table as Michiru sat next to her.
They read the letter together:

Haruka,
You probably don't remember me but this is a little note to say 'Hi.'
Well, I've been in Japan for a while now so maybe we can talk like old
times. Remember that park? I work at the hair salon down the street
from you, as a hairdresser. Come by some time.
Matta Ne,
Rani Kusanagi
"Who's Rani?" Michiru asked.

"Rani...Rani..." Haruka said to herself. "Oh Rani." She smiled

"Who's that?" Michiru asked.

"I met her in the U.S. where I got my 'driver's license.' She was
doing Tai Chi lessons in the park? She was learning how to use a staff"
Haruka laughed. "She almost killed me with it. I was sitting against a
tree, polishing my helmet. She was swinging her staff and it hit the
tree right above my head."
Rani apologized profusely and Haruka kept smiling at this silly girl
that almost knocked her head off. They were really good friends for
the time Haruka lived in the U.S. Since Haruka had to move back to
Japan their friendship drew apart. She put her past behind her and
almost forgot Rani totally.

"Hey let's go visit her" Haruka suggested.
"Sure tell me about her" Michiru asked.
"She's 20, as you can see she's a little older than we are.
She's very athletic..."

Haruka went on to tell Michiru about Rani as they drove to the salon.
When they arrived, a girl at the desk spoke to them first.

"May I help you?" The girl asked.

"I'm looking for Rani?" Haruka exclaimed.

"Sure, I'll go get her." The girl went to the back as Haruka and
Michiru sat on the chairs and waited.

"When 's the last time you saw her?" Michiru asked.

"About four years ago?" Haruka said.

A few minutes later a pretty girl in medium length black hair came in
scanning the room. She was kind of short just above average height.
She had a braid that went halfway down her back, dark brown eyes,
and a nice smile that went with her mole just under her right eye.
She had brown highlights and thin bangs over her forehead.

"Rani?" Haruka smiled and they hugged each other. Michiru looked at
them and smiled then they drew apart.

"It's been a long time." She smiled.
"Oh meet Michiru" Haruka smiled. Rani and Michiru exchanged smiles and
shook each other's hands.

"Can you join us for dinner tonight? Michiru asked

"I think I can fit that in." Rani smiled then Setsuna came in.

"Hi Setsuna" Rani smiled.

"Hi" she smiled.

"You know Rani?" Haruka and Michiru asked.

"She my stylist." (Now you know where why Setsuna has such great
looking hair. =)
Rani put Setsuna in a chair started combing her long green hair.
They invited Setsuna to come to dinner with Hotaru.

"Oh before I forget my friend wants to meet you too can he come tonight?" Rani asked.

"He?" They all asked.

"Yeah?" Rani smiled looking unsure of herself now.

"Sure okay" Haruka and Michiru said "See you tonight" then left.
Rani went on fixing Setsuna's hair.

"She's nice" Michiru said then Haruka smiled.
Rani and Setsuna were chatting a little then Usagi stops by with the
rest of the senshi. Usagi has this wide-eyed look in the window.
(Yup all five of them)

"I always wanted my hair done." Usagi said.

"You can't afford this place." Rei said.

"Mamo-chan goes here" Usagi said.

"Never mind we have to go" Makoto said getting impatient.

"Come on Usagi" Minako and Ami said. They almost went but Usagi was
glued to the window. Rei grabbed Usagi's ear as they all walked down
the street.

"No...don't...ouch!" Usagi screamed as they walked down the street.
Rani heard the whole thing.

"Weird!' She smiled the Setsuna smiled.
That night Rani met Hotaru. They all got to know each other a little
better.

"What happened to your friend?" Michiru asked looking at her watch.

"He couldn't make it. He had to work late." Rani said.

"That's too bad." Haruka said.

"Oh it's okay he'll meet you guys someday." She smiled.
Hotaru spoke a lot that night. Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna never have
seen her talk so much.

The next morning all the Senshi were walking in the park. Usagi held
Mamoru's arm as everyone else just walked and talked. Along their walk
they saw a girl and a guy doing Tai Chi. They were into their practice
and were really synchronized.

"Okay enough" he smiled.

"Okay sweetie, good concentration." She said. They hugged each other
and kissed each other's cheeks.
The Senshi clapped.
"We have an audience" the guy said smiling and drew away. The girl
turned to them.

"Rani" Haruka said.

"That was Rani?" Michiru asked shocked.

"Hey" Rani said as the Senshi walked up to her and met the rest of them.
The guy was picking up a towel for him and Rani.

"You're really good" they all said.
The guy comes up behind Rani and gives her a towel. He was gorgeous.
The girls couldn't help but smile huge. He was tall but a little
shorter than Mamoru. Short, black, somewhat spiky hair with a few
strands hanging in front.

"Um everyone meet my boyfriend, Philip Nakamura." Rani smiled.

"Hi" he smiled. The Senshi dropped their smiles a little.

"Philip, this is Haruka, my friend I told you about." Rani said.

"Nice to meet you, Rani said you're the best on the track when it
comes to cars." He shook her hand and with that statement Haruka
almost blushed.

"Arigato..." She smiled.

"Hey I'm going to be late for work. Nice meeting you all." Rani said.

"Where do you work?" Usagi asked.

"The hair salon up the street." Rani said "I gotta go, I'm going to be
late, matta ne."

"Nice meeting you" Philip said and left with Rani.
Usagi had this big wild-eyed look in her face.

"I don't like that look in her eye." Minako said