This is a story I got heavily inspired by a book, a song, and Haruka and Michiru. If you read the book before, now read this fic, this will remind you strongly of the book's plot. I will try to update the other story as soon as possible, so sorry for the wait. Just hang in there okay?
Please tell me if whether you want the part 2 I conjured up too!
Disclaimer: I own nothing, not even the idea of time travel. But the mix is mine. It's fanfiction, afterall (",)
Update 1 May 2016: edited the language… shucks I think I didn't even proof read it 8 years ago when this was first posted. It was a wonder how people even stuck to reading it… sigh. For all you old readers out there, I AM SO SORRY.
The way this stranger's eyes bore into her reminded her of somebody she saw when she was a little girl. Who is this stranger? Michiru kept her eyes fixed on a certain blond boy – rather tomboy (she guessed that only she could tell that he's a she… she's an artist after all) – at the night club.
"Cute guy you're staring at, Michiru." Says one of her colleagues from the orchestra.
"Definitely," Said another female.
"Who? Who?" asked another female.
Someone pointed to the direction of the blonde.
"Do you think we can get his attention? I mean he's hot, but so are his friends."
"Yeah, then the whole group will come here."
"Go Michiru!"
Stunned by the sudden mention of her name, Michiru snapped out of her reverie to look into ten... or maybe eight hopeful faces that were hoping she would go up to the blonde to make a move.
"Why me?" Michiru enquired.
"Well, you're the only one the blonde looked when he looked in our direction."
Michiru returned to staring blankly at the blonde, and in a second, they both momentarily fixed their gazes on each other for the second time in the night. Familiarity was an understatement as she looked into the deep green eyes. It was a déjà vu. Why? Who was she?
Michiru smiled to her colleagues and said, "No."
"Oh c'mon Michiru!"
"You're an anti-social! No wonder you're still single! Go out and talk to some guy!"
Michiru gave a smile - a tired smile. It was not like she did not have suitors, rather, nobody had been interesting enough for her to start a serious relationship. Male or female, it didn't matter.
But, according to what her dear friend Setsuna said, she was supposed to find her soulmate in Sailor Uranus.
If they ever found Sailor Uranus at all in the first place. Contrary to what Setsuna strongly believed, Michiru has yet to see a clear vision of Sailor Uranus, be it in her dreams, or the aqua mirror… it did not matter, she had never seen her soulmate.
It irked Michiru every time Setsuna talked about how Michiru and whoever this Haruka person were so loving in the past of the Moon kingdom era and in the future of Crystal Tokyo, and should be in the present. At the same time, Michiru was also fascinated by the stories Setsuna brought of the past and future. Whoever this Haruka person was, she must had been Michiru's centre of attention. It was as if Michiru willingly revolved her past and future life around this person. But… why not in the present? When is she going to meet this Haruka in the present life?
It was not as if Michiru did not search. In fact, she did, like a mad woman to be exact. Michiru practically pounced on every man or woman named Haruka that she came across. Anyone whose nickname, pet name social media account's username, as long as anyone even the slightest association with the word Haruka, was not spared. She got all these people's telephone numbers, called them for a chat, added them on social media accounted, invited them to dinner and even specially made effort to know each of them better. But, none of that came to fruition. None of them were the Haruka that Setsuna talked about, or at least Michiru thought so.
Michiru even started wondering if the stories that Setsuna had told her, formed an impossible mental image in her mind that she used to compare all these "Harukas" that she met to, which obviously none of them could match up to. Perhaps she should consider asking Setsuna to stop talking about it…
Michiru sighed and took a sip of the cocktail in her hand, while absent mindedly nodding to whatever her companions were talking.
She always had mixed feelings about the stories of love and warmth that Setsuna tells her… on one hand, she wanted to hear them. On the other hand, those stories were also stressors in her life… reminding her that her present life was not going as it was supposed to. And she has no idea what to do about it, because she had exhausted almost every means to try to right the supposed inadequacy. What has the actual "Haruka" been doing all these time? Where is the actual "Haruka"?
Before Michiru completely snapped out of her thoughts, she realized she was the only one at the seat, as the rest of her colleagues took to the dance floor for some fun.
She held up her glass levelled with her blue eyes and stared her colleagues through her glass cup, mentally mixing the blend of the disco lights and the shadows grooving to the music in the background. Smiling to herself at the scene she conjured in her mind which she found artistic, she continued her venture into her own world. Slowly, her world seemed to slow down, as an image came to her mind. Her fingers holding the cup twitched involuntarily, itching to hold a pencil or paintbrush and draw the image on her mind.
"I don't really get ignored when I stand next to person, you're the first." A husky, deep yet slightly feminine voice sounded beside her, snapping Michiru instantly out of her daydream.
This put Michiru into an immediate swing of mood, and goodness she is highly irritated suddenly.
Without looking at whoever who talked to her, she set her cup down on the table loudly on purpose, and steadily.
"And what might my attention be of service to you?" In the most polite and seductive tone Michiru can conjure, but obviously sarcastic and annoyed.
Michiru turned and flashed a cold smile at whoever standing beside her, before she held her breathe as she looked into the deep green eyes. That blonde.
The blonde gave a charming smile, with all sense of the word put into the essence of the smile that Michiru saw. Short, wild blonde hair and beautiful features were put together to give a perfect boyish look. Michiru tilted her head a little, and saw that the features also spoke of the beauty of a woman hiding behind the flirty boyish looks. The deep green eyes; Michiru silently swore to herself she had never seen eyes as beautiful as this blonde's.
"Universe to this lady?" the blonde enquired. "Hello?"
Michiru suddenly realised she might have looked like a little school girl gaping at a gorgeous star.
"Y-Yeah?"
The blonde relaxed into a smaller flirting smile. "A 'hello im blah blah' would be nice, you know."
"I take it that you're flirting for a quick ride. I'm not interested." Michiru replied, quickly composing herself and steadying her breathing.
Michiru noted a flash of annoyance across the blonde's eyes, but it disappeared as soon as it came. With the same relaxed small smile, the blonde held Michiru's arm by the elbow lightly, and tug gently to motion Michiru to bend to face the direction of the dance floor.
In a quiet, low voice, Michiru heard "Look I'm not here to get into your pants, I'm not that kind, okay? But I need to humour my sponsors with me at the party here, tonight. Just drop your name and a number, even if it's made up. I'll be most grateful."
Michiru returned in a low voice as well, but slightly amused "Why, to prove that you're a good flirt?"
"No, but to show them I'm not gay."
Now Michiru is highly amused. "I can't say I can trust a woman whom I met less than 5 minutes ago with my number who tells me she's not gay."
Now the blonde is shocked. Letting go of the arm, the blonde stared wide eyed at Michiru.
"How did you know?!"
Michiru, now realising she was in the dominant position in contrast to a minute ago, replied with a straight face hinting of arrogance "I'm an artist, I'm not blind to your features."
The blonde did not look convinced.
"You just admitted it with your outburst didn't you? So I was right."
Now the blonde looked totally floored.
Michiru giggled, realizing she had won this mini battle, and she found the blonde's surprised look really funny.
The blonde now gave an uneasy smile, before softly asking again. "Can you help me?" then look shyly at Michiru in the eye. Oddly, Michiru noticed, even though she just embarrassed the blonde, the blonde was still holding her ground. Most guys would glide away at the first second, once Michiru had flirted with them and subsequently embarrassed them. Other than Mamoru, this was the only other person Michiru had ever known to have such a stance.
Deciding it would not hurt to play a little, "Okay, but I have to make it clear we're only going to start out as friends, and remain friends."
"Why you're attached? So you're just looking for a short thrill?" The blonde asked, turning playful once again.
Michiru laughed as she took out a piece of paper and wrote her cell phone number.
"Here. Shoo now, go show off."
The blonde took the slip, stared at the number as her fingers played with the edges of the slip of paper. It was obvious the blonde did not want to leave, and was stalling time. Michiru giggled at the blonde's actions, and earned a puzzled look from the blonde. Finally after a moment of silence that seemed like a long time, the blonde asked the final question that would result in their parting, for tonight.
"I'll think about really calling you." The blonde said, in all playfulness. Then, her expression turned a little serious. "How should I address you?"
Michiru, not wanting to end this… playful relationship between them.
"Kaioh, is all you get."
"Then Tenoh, is all you get from me."
Michiru giggled, and waved the blonde goodbye as the blonde gave a charming smile and straightened her posture with arrogance like a winner of a small bet, just to show off a little, and walked away to the group of people the blonde was originally from.
Tenoh huh.
Hotaru was bobbing up and down excitedly in front of her as Michiru brought out the dishes that she and Makoto just whipped up in the outers' mansion, to set on the big dining table. They were having the senshi fortnightly gathering as usual. Michiru smiled a loving smile that only her family and close friends could witness. Their fight against the Silence of the world was tough, but there was nothing the senshis could not get through, as long as they believed in each other. Finally, after a year of suffering, Silence was brought to an end with everything going well. Now, two years past the Silence, life was just an enjoyable bliss for Michiru. Although the nagging feeling that she was missing some part of her life was evident for Michiru, she is still contented just to see a happy family sitting round the dining table and enjoying dinner.
"You stupid Usagi stop stealing my fried shrimps!" Rei shouted over the table.
"You're the stupid one not to protect it!" The moon princess, and soon, their future Queen bantered back.
Mamoru turned his attention towards Chibiusa, the daughter of Mamoru and Usagi from the future, who was busy feeding Hotaru like a big sister, to avoid embroiling himself into the imminent food fight between Usagi and Rei.
"Minako here to the rescue!" and gobbled up the fried shrimps remaining on the plate, announcing her entry into the food fight.
Ami looked up from her book as she noticed a blotch of gravy spilled on her page, annoyed and ready for revenge.
Makoto gave a big sisterly sigh, as she watched the food that she prepared with all her heart the whole afternoon, flying across the table like a ping pong ball.
Which left Setsuna and Michiru, the only two not involve in any action.
Michiru, happy to be a bystander, was now quite annoyed by Setsuna's usual lecture again. She hears this every day.
"How I wish Sailor Uranus was here to see all these."
Well, Michiru knew it was not exactly a lecture, but she was nevertheless annoyed endlessly by Setsuna's reminders of the missing Sailor Uranus, whoever she was.
During the mission of ending Silence, both of them searched for Uranus until they were at their wits end, until one day Setsuna finally gave up after time passing. Setsuna refused to tell Michiru what she saw at the time gate during her long stint there that only felt like one week for Michiru, but just simply told Michiru that they should stop looking and concentrate on their mission to stop the Silence. For the period up to the end of the Silence that Hotaru was painfully killed then rebirthed into this world and into the care of Michiru and Setsuna, Setsuna looked so depressed. Michiru knew it had something to do with that Sailor Uranus. After Hotaru came into their lives as their adopted daughter, Setsuna cheered up with the new distraction, but kept talking non-stop to Michiru for the past 2 years about how this Haruka person would have been the greatest 'father' for Hotaru.
Only if Setsuna would outright point who exactly was Haruka aka Sailor Uranus. Michiru knew that Setsuna would know who it was, and exactly where to find her, after the long stint at the time gate. But Setsuna would not do so, for a reason unknown to Michiru. Setsuna would only narrate to her events that happened in the past and future, telling her how this Haruka person was like, how loving they were. Setsuna would discuss about Haruka's habits, likes and dislikes, and how Michiru embraced all of them while Setsuna herself couldn't stand it in the past and future. Setsuna, however, kept tight-lip over how Haruka looked like, Haruka's last name, and all the other information that would give away who Haruka is in the present.
Yet Setsuna talked about Haruka all day. How annoying.
Michiru sighed and kept her attention fixed on her dinner, half listening and smiling to Setsuna's rambling about this Haruka again on some random incident that Setsuna remembers amid all the noise in the dining room, while half closing herself to the rest of the world, thinking about nothing in particular, but escapism into immaterial imagination and thoughts.
'Haruka. Uranus. Haruka. Uranus. Lover. Soulmate. Haruka. Uranus. Lover. Love. Haruka. ' Michiru randomly rolled these string of words off her mind, marveling at how smooth they appear to her as she silently pronounced them in her mouth.
'Haruka. Uranus. Lover. Soulmate. Soul. Soul. Soul. Ou. O. Oh. Tenoh.'
Suddenly her hand stopped moving, as she looked wildly around as a reaction to the disbelief at herself. How, in the world, hell universe, did the name of the blonde she met 3 weeks ago suddenly got strung together with all the thought of Uranus and Haruka? The blonde hadn't even called once!
"Michiru, you listening to me?"
Ah, Setsuna caught her zoning out.
"Of course," And Michiru started a summary of the bits and pieces of information Setsuna was rambling about to satisfy Setsuna.
Not that the blonde ever left Michiru's thoughts after that night 3 weeks ago. As Michiru slipped back into the half-listening-half-in-her-own-world state that she expertly disguised into full listener attention over the years, she felt a tug at her skirt.
Hotaru! Her savior.
"Michiru-mama, dirty clothes" Hotaru pouted, near to tears.
"I'm sorry I tried to prevent this but apparently Hotaru was too quick for me. Before I know it she spilled the whole plate of mash food and gravy on herself." Chibiusa tried to explain, with a guilty look.
"I'm sorry I caught a flying piece of chicken so I didn't look at them." Even Mamoru felt guilty and looked like a little boy confessing a crime. Michiru couldn't control a giggle at this.
Setsuna eyed Mamoru dangerously, as Michiru smiled and carried Hotaru to the bathroom, while whispering soothing words filled with love for Hotaru to keep Hotaru from crying over her spilled mash.
Hotaru is like Michiru's light at the end of the tunnel. The Michiru when she just found her senshi powers, the Michiru when she's trying to kill Hotaru to prevent Silence, were vastly different to the Michiru now, mother of Hotaru. There was no doubt in Michiru that even at the age of 20, she loved Hotaru like how a mother would love a child. Michiru knew, Setsuna felt the same about Hotaru.
Hotaru's big innocent purple eyes looked at her as the tears begin to dry, Michiru's expression softened while cleaning Hotaru up, and clothing Hotaru with a fresh set of clean clothes. Sometimes it still haunted her how she actually tried all ways and means to kill this cute little girl she loved so much, barely 2 years ago. Hotaru didn't deserve what she had to go through two years ago, and Michiru was determined to make it up to Hotaru for the rest of her life. In a way, Hotaru was also the reason Michiru had a reason to save the world and stay alive. If there was no Hotaru, Michiru cannot imagine her life floating around art shows after concerts after exhibitions, earning million after million with no reason to spend them and no one to go home to.
Setsuna once asked her, what would happen after Hotaru grows up and have a life on her own? What would be of Michiru after that? And then would once again remind her of where this Haruka person would come into play.
Michiru sent Hotaru back to the dining room once they had finished cleaning up, as she set the dirtied clothes into the washing machine. Haruka, Haruka, Haruka. How sad is it that her life in the present revolves around somebody she don't even know, and that somebody also might not even know she existed.
Her phone rang. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone, only to spot an unknown number flashing on the screen. Immediately, she knew who it was.
"Hey Kaioh. It's me, Tenoh."
"Took you long enough to call."
"You were waiting?" Tenoh faked a surprised tone.
Oops, she let that slip. Michiru giggled to herself, leaned on the washing machine as she chatted.
"Did you succeed in convincing your sponsors you are a straight man?"
Tenoh chuckled. "They were quite surprise. They thought I was going to fail for sure, especially since it was you."
"How come?"
"Naughty Kaioh. You thought we didn't know you Kaioh Michiru, the Kaioh Michiru who was a child prodigy in violin and now a world renowned violinist, famous for being single yet cool and who shocked the world by announcing to public she adopted a child of no relations. Without a boyfriend."
There was something about the way the blonde pronounced her first name that Michiru liked it.
"You googled me."
Tenoh chuckled again. "You got me."
"What about you?"
"Hm?"
"Who really…are you?"
"Tenoh is Tenoh." The blonde beat around the bush playfully.
"What do you do for a living?"
"Ah, good question. I'm a lot of things."
Michiru sighed at the childishness Tenoh displayed.
"Okay okay, but it's true. I do a lot of different jobs for a living to get by when one is not enough."
"And?"
"You heard me before. Sponsors. I race professionally so I need them to break me into the formula one world."
"But have you?"
"Not so fast, lady. I have to win the GP2 this season first."
"After you go F1 you'll be a famous racer."
"Perfect fit for a famous violinist, isn't it?"
Michiru momentarily toyed with the imagination of walking on the red carpet to some ceremony with the blonde, hand in hand, with all the paparazzi taking pictures as if their jobs depended on the quality of pictures. It suddenly occurred to her that she had allowed the blonde to hold her arm 3 weeks ago, something she never let anybody but the senshis and her family do.
"Hello?"
"Sorry, I zoned out."
Tenoh chuckled. "Were you thinking of walking hand in hand with me down a red carpet as if it was the most natural thing in the world?"
"How..!"
The blonde was now laughing hard over the phone, and Michiru couldn't control it but laughed with the blonde.
"Great I didn't think you were a mind reader as well." Michiru said, laughter still evident in her voice.
"And I bet now you're thinking whether I would invite you to my races as VIP."
"I'll consider." In the most arrogant way Michiru could come up with.
"Look at you acting proud. I haven't even asked!" Tenoh laughed.
"So are you asking or not?" Michiru joked, not expecting an actual answer to the question as she pouted at the phone.
"Hold hold, lady. Okay here goes. Would you like to come to my race Sunday next week? It's only a test drive race so there won't be much of a crowd and publicity like a real race. Then, we can go for dinner afterwards and celebrate my victory."
"You talk as if you're 100 percent winning."
"It's not 100, it's 101."
"You're proud too" Michiru bantered.
"Just to match you."
Michiru laughed. "Okay pretty girl boy."
"Great, come to the Tokyo circuit near the national park around 2. The race starts at 3. Just tell the guard your name, he will let you in and I'll find you after that."
"See you."
"Yeah, good night."
There was silence for a moment.
"C'mon, you hang up." The blonde urged.
"Why?"
"I don't know, it makes me feel better this way."
"Funny. Well, see you." As Michiru pressed the button on her phone to end the call, she noticed Setsuna stood at the doorway of the washing room. Goodness, how long has she been there?
Setsuna said nothing, but the way she looked at Michiru says it all.
Michiru held up her phone. "I…was talking to some person I met at the club 3 weeks ago, while I was out drinking with my colleagues…"
Setsuna maintained her silent look.
Michiru, now pressured by the silence, confessed. "Alright he, or rather she piqued my interest. I didn't think it would be any harm to try something new with a person who interests me."
Setsuna sighed. "I pity Haruka…" and turned to walk away, but Michiru reached out and held her elbow to stop her.
Now Michiru is angry. Talking about this unknown Haruka was already enough, reminding her of the absence and her failure of finding the Sailor Uranus was also bearable. But why does Setsuna expects Michiru to hold onto somebody she doesn't even know?
"Why? I need a life outside of this senshi business!"
Setsuna did not continue the quarrel, but shook her head and continued to walk out of the laundry room, past the kitchen and back to the dining area, brushing Michiru's hands off in the process. However, after a few steps into the kitchen, Setsuna stopped and turned around with a sad look on her face. What she said next, shocked Michiru.
"Go ahead. I'm sure Haruka would have wanted you to have someone else, other than her. The Haruka I know will never stand in the way of your happiness…"
Once again, Michiru was an eight year old child holding her mother's hands while sitting in shock and tears. Her mother's hands were turning cold by the second, and were not providing much comfort to Michiru in lieu of the sight before them.
Five dead bodies splayed around, one of them, bullet-ridden and blood soaked, belonged to the father she loved dearly. Another, belonged to a stranger wearing a hoodie whom came out of nowhere to save her mother and her from joining her father. The other 3 were the rude men who slapped her and made her lose one of her baby teeth. They also held up things she knew now as guns and shot her father. They also shot the stranger. Weirdly, she couldn't cry out loud, she couldn't scream. She could only hug her mother closer and closer, as she listened to her mother sobbed. Then the sounds of a police car siren came.
Michiru woke up from the nightmare haunting her for the past 12 years.
Sunday came too quickly, as Michiru rushed through her original schedule to make time for the blonde's race in the afternoon. With Setsuna at home caring for Hotaru, Michiru could rest easy and meet up with the blonde. The excitement of seeing the blonde again ran through her body and mind all week, and it made her feel like a little girl again.
She knew this feeling all too well.
When she was little, she used to have this excitement before, many times, when a certain stranger always shows up with her favourite candy at her doorstep. She called the stranger "Mentos".
She first met the stranger when she was four, when the stranger showed up in front of her at the playground in front of her house out of thin air, butt naked. She took, or stole, her mother's comfortable clothes for the stranger, and got scolded dearly for it. Mentos visited her regularly in her childhood, even after her father's death. Mentos always seemed to know where to find her. Up until she was ten, the stranger stopped coming.
Not as if Michiru didn't search for this stranger. She did, as much as a teenager could, until she got her senshi powers at fourteen. All the times she spent with Mentos she was so happy, she never asked for the stranger's real name. It was not as though she forgot to ask, or didn't try ways to uncover the stranger's name. Somehow during those times, she had an inkling feeling that everything would disappear the moment she found out the stranger's name.
Mentos brought her out for dinner, told her crazy stuff and played with her. What she loved most was the snippets of what Mentos tells her about the future. She actually believed Mentos was a visitor from future, until at fourteen, Setsuna told her it was impossible. The only one who controls time is her, and Queen Serenity. No more. This angered Michiru for some time since then, at her own childishness, at her own hopeful ideals believing Mentos. The anger made her forget how Mentos looked like.
Her childhood memories aside from Mentos after her father died, were also nothing worth remembering. With the anger at Mentos' supposed deception, she compartmentalized those memories together with her bad memories from when her father died. This resulted in her childhood memories becoming a big, blur, black and white chapter to her life that she chucked somewhere in the sea of her mind, so that they would get lost and yet would not be altered in any way. Remembering them and thinking about them in her adulthood was painful.
On that very Sunday afternoon, she stood in the bight sunny day, all dressed up and ready to see this Tenoh whom she had been waiting for, in front of the guard post at the Tokyo race circuit. Once the clock strikes 2.30pm, Michiru walked to the guard post.
"I'm Kaioh Michiru, I believe a racer by the name of…"
"Tenoh." The blonde chipped in behind her.
"Oh, you. Go on in." the guard nonchalantly said, without even looking up after hearing the blonde's voice.
"Perfect timing," Michiru praised as the blonde led her inside.
Tenoh just chuckled.
Inside was a sight Michiru thought it likened to disaster. The smell of oil was everywhere, everything was dirty and everyone was dirty, except for a shiny red formula one-ish car in the centre of the garage. Tenoh, surprisingly, was clean and looking fresh in her racing suit. Okay, she admitted, Tenoh looked hot too.
"Hey aren't you Tenoh's idol?" one of the mechanics asked.
"I went to your concert before!" another said as the mechanics surrounded her. Surely a pretty girl at their garage wasn't an everyday thing to them.
"Hold on hold on, don't scare her" the blonde pulled the shirts of the mechanics from behind.
"You're a beauty!"
"You sure know how to choose Tenoh."
The blonde chuckled again, which was getting very pleasant in Michiru's ears. Then the though dawned on her.
"You are my fan." Michiru said flatly.
The blonde look embarrassed now, blushed a little that Michiru was sure nobody caught the blush but her.
"Biggest fan ever" one of mechanics piped in.
"Yeah he was so crazy about your songs he hears your violin music all the time"
"Hey I just happened to play that CD on my stereo when you came to my apartment okay?" the blonde defended.
"What about the time I stumped on your CD player few weeks ago playing the same CD again?"
"And the time you begged us to accompany you to her concert!"
Michiru laughed at how hard the blonde is blushing now.
Tenoh turned away and pretended to be busy fiddling with the hard plastic of her car.
True enough, Tenoh won. By a large margin, actually. She looked like she was in her own world in the car, racing like there was nobody else in the track but her against the wind. Michiru is suitably impressed after the race.
When the blonde got out her racing car, she took out her helmet and flashed a white teeth wide smile with a tinge of childishness, like a kid winning her first race and showing it off to her parents with the brightest smile possible that embodies all the happiness she feels. The only difference is that the smile, was only showed to Michiru this time, at Michiru's direction in the stand. There was no one next to Michiru because it was just a test race, so no spectators. Right the next moment, the blonde turned into the other direction and gave a cool look at her competitors and mechanics when they congratulated her, while acting like she didn't care if she won the race or not.
Michiru laughed at that irony.
After the race, Tenoh took her to a dinner at a posh restaurant near downtown Tokyo. Tenoh skillfully whisked Michiru away from the garage and out of the Tokyo circuit shortly after the race had ended to avoid all the questions and staring eyes. Michiru liked the way the blonde carried herself, assertive yet a little shy, cute yet cool, calm yet excited. She felt such a strong curiosity towards Tenoh that she couldn't help bombarding questions at the blonde the whole night, from her interests, her political views to her favourite sweet.
"Hey I've been telling you like my whole personality so what, you can have a personality assessment of me?" the blonde joked over dinner.
"No, I'm just taking precaution so if any time I needed help from you, I could use those information to blackmail you to me."
The blonde wiped her mouth with a cloth and continued "Why don't you tell me more about yourself?"
Michiru paused, seemingly to search through her memory of what to tell Tenoh, and what not to.
"Favourite sweet?" the blonde urged on.
"Mentos" Michiru answered without a pause as her eyes remained fixed on her dinner, deep in thought. Then she suddenly jerked her head up and met the playful green eyes of the blonde. Suddenly a flash of memory came to her, but it was gone the next second as the blonde spoke again.
"Freshmaker. Figures. You don't look like those who brush their teeth after every meal." The blonde teased.
Michiru smiled a genuine smile, then realised a little late that the blonde was teasing her." Hey I have white teeth like you! Maybe whiter."
What was the memory flash? The green eyes, Mentos had green eyes too, she suddenly remembered. But somehow, Michiru could not recall the exact image that flashed past her mind. Unbeknowest to Michiru, she had zoned out once again and stared blankly into Tenoh's face.
Tenoh, feeling a little awkward with Michiru's eyes so fixated on her, reached out her hand and gently flick her index finger on Michiru's forehead. "What were you thinking about? An ex-boyfriend with white teeth that I should worry about?"
Coming back to her senses after feeling the flick, Michiru playfully scowled at the blonde and retorted "No. On the contrary to popular beliefs, I'm actually not that successful in the romance department."
"Why not?" Tenoh stared back at her wide-eye in response to Michiru's confession.
Michiru sighed "It's…" Michiru did not want to say 'complicated' that would just make her sound like a school girl who cannot commit to a relationship… though Michiru then concluded in her thoughts, she was not that far off from a commitment phobe.
At the same time, a waiter walked up and offered "more water for you, miss?" while Tenoh asked "Would you date me?"
Michiru, caught in between questions, but feeling thirsty, answered "Yes, please."
Tenoh burst out into laughter "Sure… hahaha… that was easy… hahaha"
Michiru, realizing her folly, turned bright red while scowling at the mocking face opposite her. "You!... I am… I was…argh!"
Dinner was a fast affair because Michiru was having fun, and it's not before long that she finds herself in Tenoh's car driving along the sea for a short ride, before the blonde took her home. The ride was mostly a continuation of bantering between Tenoh and her, though sometimes they both fall into an oddly comforting silence, as though they had known each all their lives and not just for the day. It was as though Michiru enjoyed the companionship of the blonde by the blonde simply being there.
"Wait wait don't go to my house, drive a few blocks away and stop me there." Michiru suddenly said, which made the blonde halt quite suddenly.
"Why?"
"Don't ask." Michiru said, suddenly dreading to see Setsuna and answering a string of stupid questions if Setsuna were to see the blonde pull over at the mansion.
"No coffee?" the blonde gave a cheeky smile.
"I don't live alone, you know."
"I know, I googled." Tenoh chuckled.
"Google really has everything." Michiru muttered and made a mental note to herself to google her own name one of these days and see what was on the web these days about her, as the blonde got off and opened the door for Michiru to alight, a distance away from where Michiru actually lived. A perfect gentleman.
Michiru giggled as she got off, and the blonde shut the door behind.
"So how was I?" the blonde asked as she leaned against her Ferrari car casually, looking sensual in her white formal shirt, black pants and a black coat over.
"Not bad, I might consider."
"Do I get a second date?" the blonde probed.
Michiru paused a while, then without saying anything, leaned into the blonde and kissed the blonde on the lips. She felt Tenoh's lips stunned momentarily, then moved to caress her lips with hers. The kiss lasted long; each of them unwillingly to break the contact. Then they broke apart, for breath, but the blonde took her lips again, this time with more force, and tasted her lips urgently. Michiru parted her lips for the blonde to dive a tongue inside her mouth. The fiery reaction the blonde evoked in Michiru shocked herself, but she thoroughly enjoyed it. After what seemed like a longtime, the blonde pulled apart first, and stared at Michiru with an unreadable expression.
Michiru gave a reassuring smile, which made the blonde smile back brightly.
"Does that answer your question?" Michiru teased.
The blonde looked too happy to even answer her back as Michiru turned and walked off into the distance, to go back to the outers' mansion for the night.
When Michiru heard the car engine start up and drove away, she slowed down her steps and bounced in each step, like a school girl who thoroughly enjoyed her first date and wanted to let her happiness show. But actually in all sense, this was her first real date that she gave her date a real consideration for a relationship. It made her happy that the blonde wasn't like the rest of the guys whom asked her out before, though Michiru couldn't really pinpointed what made the blonde stood out. The blonde just succeeded in making her want to talk to her more and more. It was then Michiru realised, that she just parted with the blonde for less than 5 minutes and she was already missing the blonde's company.
Remembering the bantering from dinner, Michiru smirked while randomly thinking of nicknames for the blonde, before the question struck her.
She still didn't know the blonde's first name. Or was Tenoh her first name? Then what's her last name?
A flash of shadow then caught her attention. She was being followed. Her smile disappeared while she steadied her steps to pretend she did not notice.
Using her instincts while reaching into her bag for her henshin stick, she quickly ducked around wall by wall, hoping to outsmart her follower and catch a glimpse of who was behind her.
Manuevering herself into a circular route while still advancing closer to the her home, she finally found a corner, snucked in and waited to pounce on her stalker, saving her the trouble of a direct confrontation.
She quietly waited and waited, until the footsteps that sounded like bare feet got clearer and sounded nearer. When the stalker's footsteps got loud enough, she immediately sprung out at instinct's call only to be caught by two cold strong hands, by the shoulders. She struggled against her captive a little and jerked her body downwards in attempt to wrestle her captive to ground. However, her captive reacted to her jerk by letting go of her shoulders. Her captive then circled a left arm across her back to hold her left shoulder, while using a right hand to push her waist so that Michiru is back upright in a steady standing position.
Michiru stood dumbfounded as she stared at the face she just saw ten minutes ago.
"Tenoh!"
"Michiru." The blonde said calmly, as she released her grip on Michiru.
Silently, Michiru was glad for the first time, the blonde called her without honorifics by her first name. And it sounded so pleasant. But it's a little too fast for the blonde to do that isn't it? Michiru mused in her head while she observed the person standing in front of her was wearing different clothes than she was just ten minutes ago.
The blonde noticed it and spoke first.
"I er, changed out of the uncomfortable suit."
Michiru, still suspicious, asked "Why were you following me?"
The blonde scratched her head. Something about the blonde tells Michiru that she looked a little older. But under the cover of the night, Michiru once again, could not pinpoint exactly what it was.
The blonde chuckled, and held out a stick of Mentos mint candy which the blonde hid in her pocket.
"To give you this. And to make sure you get home safely." The blonde said, now appearing visibly more relaxed.
"Where are your shoes?"
"I ran out of the car, forgot them." The blonde answered easily, not before asking a weird question that piqued Michiru's suspicions again. "Today's our first date, no?"
"Yeah." Michiru nodded, but still staring questioningly into the blonde's eyes.
"I guess I impressed you?"
"Shocked me." Michiru now, casting her doubts aside, as she walked side by side with the blonde to home.
"What's your first, or last name?" Michiru asked, now outside the outers' mansion. It's all dark, except for a singular light coming from the hall, Tenoh noticed.
Tenoh chuckled and said with a little arrogance "You'll find out soon enough." And with ease, leaned into Michiru for a goodnight kiss, before she turned and strode away into the darkness. Michiru, feeling a little taken aback by the events, looked at the blonde departing until the blonde disappeared from her sight, before entering the house.
It's been 2 weeks since Michiru and the blonde's first date, and it now bothers Michiru what was Tenoh's first name, or last name. The subsequent times they went out on dates for dinner or the movies, or plain hanging out with each other after work, Michiru never had a chance to ask; the blonde avoided the question with skills likened to a lawyer who can talk their way into convincing others that white is the same as black.
Setsuna, of course, was also evidently bothered by Michiru's behavior in the last 2 weeks, but controlled her questions and reaction. It was almost as if Michiru and Setsuna were in the midst of a cold war in the senshi gathering that evening.
Usagi, the future Queen, always the first to break the ice and mediate things in an unusual way of hers, did so again.
"Are you two angry with each other?" Usagi asked, blue eyes innocently darting from Michiru to Setsuna as she looked so cute with her mouth full of the chocolate cake Michiru baked with Hotaru that afternoon.
Mamoru shyly used a cloth to wipe his girlfriend's cheeks to remove the chocolate stains.
There was a thing about Mamoru and Usagi that made Michiru kind of jealous of the both of them.
Setsuna was the first to speak, but she directed it at Michiru without looking at Michiru at all. "Tell them, and I wanna know the name too."
Michiru sighed, and announced. "I'm dating."
As expected, there were gasps and heaves of breaths all around the dining table, except from little Hotaru, who was busy smashing her chocolate cake slice into a pudding.
"I don't exactly know her name yet, she hasn't told me her full name yet." Michiru continued, now a little intimidated by the attention she had drawn.
Usagi, as innocent as ever, asked the question that Michiru dreaded. "What about Sailor Uranus? Isn't she your soulmate?"
"Well, she is, as we all know, in the future and the past. But now in the present, we don't know if she'll even appear at all."
"What if she did? Later?" Another dreaded question, asked by nobody else but her dear innocent Queen.
"I'll…have to see what happens then."
Then, murmurs of doubts and approval rang around the dining table as Mamoru joked to Hotaru about having a father, which Hotaru stared at him widely with her purple eyes and asked if it was "Haruka-papa". Another dreaded reaction, Michiru thought. She would have lots of clarifying to do later, especially with Hotaru.
Mamoru shook his head, "nope, not her."
That made Hotaru start flailing her arms and legs around instantly. Mamoru, feeling guilty at provoking that reaction, reached down to carry Hotaru but it gave Hotaru the chance to pull on Mamoru's jet black short hair as he tried to calm her down. Michiru was up in the next instant, taking over from Mamoru by pulling Hotaru into her embrace and carrying Hotaru to calm the little child down, while whispering soothing words. Not only did Hotaru not stop, she even wailed in her loudest voice insisting she only wants "Haruka-papa".
"Hotaru!" Michiru exclaimed, a little too loudly. Michiru wondered how often did Setsuna repeat that cursed name in front of Hotaru that Hotaru picked it up.
"Michiru-mama, I see Haruka-papa yesterday!" Hotaru wailed.
That shocked Michiru.
"Where?" Michiru asked, in a quieter voice.
"It's the playground at her school." Setsuna, finally speaking.
"How do you know it's Haruka-papa?" Michiru asked Hotaru, but Setsuna answered.
Hotaru buried her face into her Michiru-mama's shoulders.
"She saw Haruka, I know. She describe her features exactly the way Haruka looks."
"Setsuna, please, tell me how to find this Haruka." Michiru now, pleaded, desperate.
Setsuna kept quiet, stood up from the dining table and walked into her room, closing the door. Setsuna did not come out for the rest of the evening.
The gathering ended on a bad note, with Hotaru feeling desperate to see her papa again, and Michiru feeling helpless as ever to find this Haruka. After putting Hotaru to bed, Michiru phoned the first and last person she wanted to see, Tenoh.
"Hey lovely, what's up so late?" came a sleepy voice at the other end of the line. The husky voice calmed Michiru a little.
"Hey…nothing much. I just wanted to hear your voice." Michiru answered, truthfully.
Tenoh chuckled the laugh that Michiru had come to love in the two short weeks. "How's your gathering?"
Michiru had completely forgotten she had lied to the blonde about going to an old class reunion. "Not very good."
"Classmates turn paparazzi?" Tenoh teased again.
Michiru stayed silent.
"Need me to punish any of them? Name, location, how badly you want them beaten," the blonde teased again.
"How old are you, Tenoh?"
"21, I thought you knew that already?"
"Do you love me?" and Michiru held her breathe.
There was silence on the other end which Michiru felt like forever, before a strong reply came, that sounded serious and nothing like the sleepy playful voice just now. "I love you."
Michiru, happy and relieved finally released her breathe into a sigh.
"What's wrong? Are you okay?" Now the blonde was starting to sound worried.
"Michiru?" the blonde tried again.
Still silent.
"Michiru do you want me to come over now?"
"No no, it's nothing. I love you too."
"Hey it's no trouble at all I can-"
"Really, I just wanted to hear you say that." Michiru reassured.
"Really?" the blonde don't really sound convinced.
"I'll call you tomorrow okay? Go to sleep."
"Alright."
Silence again.
"You hang up." The blonde spoke again.
Michiru smiled, even though she knew the blonde couldn't see it.
"Night." And click, goes the phone. That was all Michiru needed to hear to throw herself into Tenoh's arms. That was Michiru needed to hear to brace herself for the battle of upsetting all her family. That was all Michiru needed to kick Sailor Uranus, and whoever Haruka was aside, when the time comes. All she hoped was Tenoh to stay with her, until the end, despite all Michiru's secrets and shortfalls.
Mentos.
Michiru saw herself as a ten year old again, holding a bar of mentos given to her by Mentos. Mentos held her and swirl her around in the playground. Then Mentos helped her in her homework which her mother refused to even touch.
She remembers lying on the rooftop of her old apartment block that she and her mother moved into after her father died, where her mother spent all her time drinking and singing till she died of alcohol poisoning when Michiru was twelve.
Michiru laid beside Mentos and told the stranger all her problems, all her loneliness. How the kids at school refused to play with her, how reporters keep bugging her about the death of her father up until then, how her mother hates her. How the violin instructor bullies her with his rough teaching, how the pool nearby got demolished and she had to walked a mile for the next public pool to swim at.
Mentos just listened, and sometimes held her hand as she cried while pouring her problems out, or hugged her comforting her. Mentos didn't say much most of the time, just a smile and comforting gesture.
Then Mentos would do the things that Michiru wanted to do but nobody else would with her. They would sneak out of her mother's apartment to play, swim in the sea, eat dinner outside, and even going wild taking her on a ride in a car that Mentos seemingly changed every time she went out with her.
Everyday Mentos showed up was a good day to Michiru, and she prayed to every God up there, whichever that would listen to her, to bless her with a good day.
Michiru woke up startled by the memory, as she remembers crying every night after her mother died, that Mentos abandoned her, she was nobody. Michiru bent over her covers into a sitting position in bed, trying her best to remember how Mentos looked like, the face, the height, the touch. But nothing came to her head. She tried and tried, until she finally cried.
Setsuna had ignored her for two weeks already, and it's starting to get to Michiru about her friend's ignorance. Why couldn't Setsuna understand her?
Dates with Tenoh were getting so frequent that they were meeting almost every day. Tenoh was replacing Hotaru now as Michiru's calming medicine, as Hotaru's frequent talks and squeals of joy of seeing her Haruka-papa now become more apparent. Those little joys that Hotaru shares with her were stressing Michiru out, because one day, Michiru would have to tell Hotaru that she do not know the person Hotaru knew so much about. Michiru also worried how Hotaru would react to seeing Tenoh, as her father figure instead.
Something about Tenoh told Michiru they could and would last a lifetime. Moments like now, for example. The blonde had fallen asleep on Michiru's shoulders at an open air cinema in the blonde's car. Michiru's arms were around the blonde, stroking the soft silky sand coloured hair while watching the movie, and listening to the blonde's steady breathing. She could do this forever, she thought. It just felt so right to be with the blonde. This continued until almost near the end of the movie, she felt the blonde wake up. Tenoh gave such a cute yawn that Michiru couldn't resist kissing her cheeks.
"Hey, ah sorry I fell asleep."
"I'm angry." Michiru pouted jokingly as she crossed her arms in mock anger.
"Ah…I'll make it up to you by showering my full attention to you the whole night."Tenoh said in the sexiest voice she could use.
By Gods, it turned Michiru on.
"Pervert." Michiru, blushing at the suddenly hot feeling.
The blonde laughed and tickled her girlfriend.
"Do you want to meet my daughter?" Michiru asked, head resting on Tenoh's chest. The movie had long ended, but they stayed at the same spot talking, and cuddling now.
"Why not? I've been wanting to." Tenoh replied with ease.
Michiru, surprised, sat right up.
"Really?"
"Yeah, tomorrow?"
Michiru broke into a bright smile.
Michiru, in all anticipation, was holding Hotaru's hands as they walked to the restaurant that Tenoh was supposed to be waiting. Michiru was scared though; Hotaru is somebody whom she was willing to sacrifice everything for as well. Michiru was not sure if things would work out between she and Tenoh, or would Hotaru totally reject Tenoh. Her steps slowed down… and then stopped, as she looked up the night sky. Michiru closed he eyes and took a deep breath to prepare herself for the meeting that would potentially decide how she would live her life; this was it.
Hotaru would be the major deciding factor whether she would continue her relationship with Tenoh. It was only times like this she was quite relieved that she still did not know the blonde's full name. At least, they were not yet totally acquainted, there was still distance.
Michiru wondered when winter will finally come, when she heard a scream. Instantly, Michiru carried Hotaru up in a protective gesture and then hurried to see what's going on. After making her way through crowds of running people, she saw the disturbing sight.
Youma. Again. When they ever stop and leave her in peace.
It was a long time since she last fought, but it was only days ago since she last transformed. Even though relative peace had taken place, the senshis do train still. One never know when days like these will pop out.
Hotaru was Michiru's main concern now, since Hotaru would be all alone if Michiru engaged the youma and be a potential hostage target. Michiru could run and hand Hotaru over to Tenoh, who was waiting just a few streets away, but what if Hotaru refuses to be cared by the blonde? Before Michiru could react and snap out of her thoughts, the youma had already targeted her. 5 fire spits were spouted at her. Untransformed and desperate, the only thing Michiru could do was to cover Hotaru using her body and hoped for the best.
"Dead Scream." A calm voice boomed over Michiru's ears.
"Hurry transform!" shouted Pluto.
Thank God for her.
Michiru immediately whispered her command and clutch her henshin, while not letting Hotaru go. Pluto was toying the youma with her rod, but could only do just that to prevent Neptune from getting hit. Pluto had no chance to launch an attack at the youma. Neptune decided to chance it. She let go of Hotaru's hands for a moment and prepared to launch a deep submerge at the youma, when the youma shot whirls of fireball in circular motion.
Before Neptune could do anything, one of the fireballs was flying head on in Hotaru's direction. Hotaru, eyes tearing already due to being left alone, was rooted to the spot. Neptune tried to make a mad dash for Hotaru, and lunge her whole body while shutting her eyes tightly and making a quick prayer that she would be the one hurt instead of Hotaru.
Neptune landed on the ground flat and hard. Immediately, tears stung her eyes. If she didn't get hit, Hotaru must have. Neptune clenched her hands into fists, as she struggled to get up, fearing the sight before her will crumble her instantly, leaving her no longer having anymore will to live. She opened her eyes, only to see somebody she last expected to see.
"Shhh… shhh…" A calm and warm hand stroked Hotaru's head. Hotaru did not cry, but buried her face into Sailor Uranus' shoulder.
"Papa… Papa…"Hotaru whimpered into Uranus' chest.
Turning around, Uranus flashed an angry look at Pluto, who caught it while still busy distracting the youma. Neptune just stared in wide shock at the person before her. Uranus. Her soulmate destined by the Gods. Her supposedly lover. The Haruka. Unable to move, Neptune just stood there. Their eyes met briefly Uranus turned her attention towards the incoming group of inner senshis and Sailormoon, who were swiftly put into action and finished of the youma Pluto was holding off.
The youma disappeared into the thin air, leaving only shiny dusts behind as remnants. Sailor Mercury and Mars hurried to study the specks left, while the rest just stared at a Hotaru-carrying-Uranus, it was not long before all eyes were on Uranus.
"Pluto." Uranus said through her clenched teeth, eyes glaring at Pluto. Of course she was angry, she told Pluto to protect Michiru and Hotaru so many times that even she gets sick of talking about it. And this time she even had to call Pluto to come to help! Pluto sent an apologetic look to Uranus. The inners just stare at their exchange in shocked silence. Uranus whispered something to Hotaru and put a smiling Hotaru down, and took a quick glance at Neptune, before turning back to walk.
"Haruka!"
Uranus stopped and gave a questioning look at Neptune.
"How…How can I find you?"
Uranus tilted her head.
"What's your full name? Where are you? Why aren't you looking for us?" Neptune's words rang desperation.
Uranus frowned, then her expression softened.
Neptune was crying.
"Why? I'm Kaioh Michiru. I live at Juuban outskirts. I give concert all over the world and every time there is a concert there is definitely a song containing message for you! Find me! Why won't you!"
Uranus remained silent as Pluto go over to Neptune and attempted to close her mouth. Neptune pushed Pluto away and clenched her teeth.
"I have found someone else to love. I have found someone else to share a family with! Aren't you suppose to love me? Aren't you supposed to care for me? Aren't we supposed to be soulmates?!" Neptune shouted in the midst of all the tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Where are you? WHERE WERE YOU?!" it sounded more like a statement of scolding rather than a question.
Uranus bowed her head, and continued walking, while Neptune sobbed in Pluto's arms.
Hotaru went beside Neptune and hugged Neptune.
"Papa says I will see her soon, and she told me to tell you she loves you, even if you don't love her back."
The 21 year old Tenoh Haruka stood by the bush near the restaurant entrance, waiting for Kaioh Michiru and her daughter. Haruka was starting to get worried, where were they? Michiru was not the kind who was adept at being late. But guess who showed up? Her.
"Where are you from?" Haruka asks the Uranus approaching her.
Uranus gave a charming smile, "Guess."
"C'mon don't give me the crap. Today's the day I was supposed to meet Michiru's daughter, but she didn't come."
"Alright, I'm from 8 years later, Mar 31. I'm supposed to be at work."
Haruka smiled at the 29 year old her and asked, "Will she come?"
"No. Not today. I'm not cold, but I'm using up my senshi power. I don't wanna go home dead beat."
"Let's go my home now, and your home 8 years ago."
"Right." As they got into the car and drove to the apartment.
"Tell me about something 8 years from now."
"No."
"Will I find Neptune?"
"…"
"Will I be a famous racer?"
"You already know the answer now."
"What happens to Kaioh Michiru?"
"…"
"Will we still know each other?"
"…"
"Damn it! Tell me something! I love her damn it!" Haruka now angered by her future-self lack of answers.
The 29 year old Haruka just smiled. "Life's like that, kiddo."
"I love her! I don't want to, find a Neptune and be with her just because I was supposed to!"
"…"
"Alright I give up asking you anything."
"…"
"Will I still love her?"
"…"
"Do you still love her?"
Haruka felt her brain twitching and an imminent headache was approaching as she tried to listen to what her younger self was saying.
"Okay okay fine, what's the lottery tomorrow?"
"How am I supposed to remember that?"
Haruka held her head now. "I think I'm going back already."
The younger Haruka just turned away and waved, without even looking at the older one.
"And…yes, I still love her. Today will be a rough day, kiddo." And disappeared, leaving a pile of clothing on the floor of Haruka's apartment. Haruka sighed as she bent down to pick up the leftover clothing.
She made a mental note to concentrate with all her powers the next time she time travels to travel to the future and see for herself, instead of keep going back to the past.
The sight of Uranus still haunts her now. She just cannot seem to get the sight of a silent Uranus out her mind.
Michiru sighed and turned around in bed. Why, of all time, of all days, did Uranus choose to show up and even left those words that haunt her dearly? Why? Tenoh. Michiru bolted right up. What of Tenoh? But Uranus comes and goes as she pleases. Michiru told Uranus her full name, her address. All Uranus needed to do was to come. Why can't Uranus come? Why? Did Uranus also have a life herself, and was unwilling to give it up for the sake of her? Didn't Uranus know Michiru was waiting for her? Hotaru looked so happy to be with Uranus, it pained Michiru to see Hotaru separated from Uranus that time. Why was Uranus doing all this?
All the questions gave Michiru a headache, and it only intensified when her cell phone rang. She looked at the caller id: Tenoh.
"Hello?"
"Hey…It's me."
"I know."
"Are you alright?"
"I'm sorry for today…"
"No, it's okay. I just wanted to know if you're fine."
"Yeah, no, I don't know" Michiru confessed.
"Still not feeling well?"
"Yeah…" How badly Michiru wanted to tell Tenoh that her life was in a mess.
"Want to go to the doctor?"
"No…" But suddenly Michiru regretted that answer. She just pushed away a reason to see the blonde.
Haruka paused for a while and took in the silence. Whatever was the reason that Michiru didn't come today, she didn't like it.
"Michiru."
"Yeah?"
"I'll never leave you if I could." Haruka decided to say.
Michiru was silent. Then Haruka realized Michiru was sobbing.
"Tenoh…I love you. But I can't. My daughter, she needs all my attention. The media and their prying eyes… my friends all object to us… I really can't go on like this. I know you don't pry me much about my past… but the secrets I keep, they must be kept for life… I feel like I'm living a double life… As much as I want to have a normal one with you… " Michiru sobbed.
Haruka stayed silent and feared for the worst.
"You know how important Hotaru is to me, I'm sorry…" Michiru continued sobbing.
Haruka remained silent.
"And I don't even know your first name…"
"…"
"Let's…let's end it."
"Just answer me one thing. Were you happy when you're with me?"
Michiru nodded wildy as she said yes. Tears rolled down her face uncontrollably.
Haruka sighed. "Good. You hang up."
Silence was on the line for a moment, only the soft sound of quiet sobbing could Haruka hear, before a click came that put her on dial tone. Haruka hung up the phone and slouched over her couch. So this is how it ends, she is stuck with this unknown Neptune whom she never met, but mysteriously saved before a lot of times. Why does it have to end this way? Because she is a Sailor senshi? Because she has a problem that nobody could solve? Haruka laughed a bitter laugh as well, as she thought it's probably better. Michiru won't know she time travels and have to deal with it. Some woman she does not love will have to. With that last thought, Haruka disappeared, leaving only the clothes she was wearing on her apartment floor.
On the other side of Tokyo, Michiru laid in her bed, crying with all her might.
Haruka arrived at a place she recognized to be roughly 15 years ago in Tokyo, as usual, butt naked except her henshin. She transforms immediately, and proceeded to steal some clothes and money like she always does for survival. She nicked clothes and money off a drunkard near the old Juuban high school and peeped at the time and date. She was quite right.
To be exact it was the 7th of June 13 years ago, at 7.20pm.
Instantly, Haruka recognizes the time and date. She has arrive at her nightmare again. To watch how her parents die in a freak accident of speeding vehicles isn't something anyone wants to watch over and over. She replays the events in her head again. She, an 8 year old, would be sitting at the living room watching cartoons when her neighbor would knock the door. Then she would find a highly shaken neighbour of hers holding her, telling her they would take care of her in the place of her parents, before breaking the news to an innocent 8 year old Haruka.
At the other side of the street, her parents at around 5 mins from now would be ran over by a lorry that lost control. Haruka chuckled at the number of Harukas she would probably spot at the accident site.
So Haruka sat at the park bench and closed her eyes, waiting for all the events to happen, and nature would just send her out of the nightmare and back home.
If someone could tell Michiru could do something to get Tenoh out of her mind, she would. But the past week was a terrible torture for her. Every day and every moment, not one time did the blonde left her mind. Michiru thought the distance between them would make breaking up easy, but look, how wrong she was.
Setsuna treated Michiru like Queen for the past week though, showering all her attention on Michiru and refusing to leave Michiru alone. Michiru found it weird, especially if they were on bad terms just that day of the fight.
"The youma was investigated to be a solo case, hence nothing to worry." Setsuna chirped happily.
Michiru eyed her doubtfully.
"Oh the store across the street has a discount today and I'm thinking of going to have a look. You wanna come with me?"
Michiru asked the million dollar question. "Why are you so nice all of a sudden?"
Setsuna bowed her head. "I've let Uranus down. I promised her I would protect yours and Hotaru's life when she's not around, and I failed that time. "
Michiru then, intrigued by the mention of interaction between Setsuna and Uranus, asked again "Who is Uranus in real life?"
"…"
"c'mon she told Hotaru she was going to see her again real soon."
"Haruka."
"I know!"
"Is a racer."
That left Michiru wide eyed.
"I don't know what she raced in, or what she does. I only know she is a professional racer."
Racer. Tenoh might know!
As Michiru reached for the phone, she paused after she grabbed it, then sat down staring at the dial pad.
How was she supposed to ask her ex-girlfriend to find her future girlfriend?
"You should get that girl out of your mind ASAP." Setsuna chided, Michiru remained silent.
"You'll only love Haruka, past, future AND present."
"I just broken that, haven't I?" Michiru retorted weakly.
Setsuna shook her head. "Only Haruka."
"Then explain why am I in love with Tenoh. Right at this moment."
Setsuna fell silent.
" I…Setsuna…I…can't just keep waiting around for Uranus... or Haruka to pop out. For all you know I don't even love her you only presume I do in whatever future you saw."
"She definitely loves you"
"She is loving somebody whom she never even met in her real life!"
"What if she can't meet you because of some really serious reason? Like being sick? Or being held up by family? Is it fair to her that you give up waiting for her because you found some girl to crush on?"
"It's not a crush!"
"No matter what, I'll never let you be together with anyone else but Haruka."
"Make me." Michiru coldly replied.
"You want to risk world destruction? You want to risk the survival of man kind? You want to risk Crystal Tokyo?"
"I don't really care."
"Think about Hotaru!"
Michiru fell silent, and put back the phone. But her thoughts never left a certain green eye blonde.
Haruka lost.
For the first time in her life, she actually lost a race. Badly. She was not even 2nd, but 8th on the grid. It's only a test drive race, but then again, she never lost. Why? Haruka laughed a crazy laughter, one that even she herself cannot recognize her own laughter. Michiru leaving her has driven her mad, so mad until she cannot drive the car. What's the point of wind if it does not have a direction to blow to? She laughed again, a hard mad laughter as she exited the race track and out of the place, and sped down the high way. Her head bobbed... and soon, she pulled her car at the side of the road and disappeared.
An aqua haired young girl, about 4 years of age stared wide eye at her. Haruka gave an embarrassed smile at the young girl, whose shock of having a stranger appearing at her back yard out of the blue was further added on by the sheer nakedness of the stranger. Haruka gave an awkward chuckle.
"Hiya…What's your name?"
The girl went even wider eye. Her deep blue eyes lost its shine in bewilderness and fear.
Haruka scratched her head. How was she going to do this? She can't rob a little girl no matter how desperate she was. Neither can she transform, she will scare her.
"Mi-mi-michiru." Came a soft, timid reply.
Haruka looked at the little girl and smiled.
"Can you get me some clothes? I'm cold."
Michiru nodded and ran into the house, only to appear half an hour later with some old worn female clothes in her tiny hands.
Haruka was cold to death, but by goodness was she glad Michiru came back.
One look at the little girl, and Haruka knew who it was when the girl was all grown up.
"You like Mentos, right?" Haruka asked kindly.
The little girl merely nodded.
"I'll bring some over next time I visit."
The little girl's face broke into a smile, then into a frown.
"Who are you?"
Haruka thought for a while, that it's better not to tell the little girl her real name, in case her parents really went to look for the real Haruka somewhere around Tokyo, she would be altering history.
"Mentos"
The little girl giggled, just like how Michiru would do in Haruka's time.
"Are you an alien?"
Haruka chuckled. "No I'm not, I'm a time traveler."
"What's that?"
"Uh-uh, quiz time. Go look up on it, next time I come you tell me the answer I'll give you extra mentos."
Haruka felt her headache intensified, as she heard a cheerful bright "okay!", and disappeared.
Later on, Michiru got scolded dearly for playing with her mother's clothes, and Michiru decided to blame it on Mentos.
Kaioh Michiru gave up. Tenoh was suffocating her. Tenoh was filling her. Tenoh was everywhere. Michiru felt like she couldn't live another day without at least seeing the blonde again, one last time. One last time, she told herself. It has been two weeks since their break up and she needed to see the blonde and memorize her face, and keep it close to heart and not forget it. She regretted once already, she forgot how Mentos looked like. Even though Mentos had been her best friend all her childhood, she actually forgotten. Even now she still kicked herself for forgetting. Picking up the phone, she dialed Tenoh's number by heart.
The phone was answered, but there was a paused before the person spoke.
"Michiru?"
"I want to see you."
"Where are you now?"
"No, don't come here. Meet me at the national park, the fountain, please. Now."
"I'll be right there."
Silence.
Michiru was waiting for Tenoh's usual line of letting her hang up first, but instead, after a while, the line clicked. Michiru instantly regretted that phone call, and wondered to herself if Tenoh had already found a new lover.
Haruka paced about the national park's fountain nervously. Why the sudden Michiru's call? Did something happen? Did Michiru get bullied? Or is Michiru sick? When Michiru finally was in sight, Haruka felt a knot tied in her stomach as she is reminded of the sad fact; they have broken up, Michiru can never be hers. Michiru approached Haruka slowly, but it was Haruka who made the first move. She scooped Michiru up into a tight embrace and kissed Michiru with all her wanting for the past two weeks. Michiru returned the kiss with the same fervor. Her lips parted voluntarily for Haruka's tongue to slip into her, setting them both on fire with their fiery kiss. When they broke apart, Haruka held Michiru tightly as Michiru cling onto Haruka as if for her dear life.
"Let's run away…" whispered Haruka.
"Deal." Michiru whispered back, easing herself inside Haruka's arms and taking in the scent of Haruka.
Unwilling to let go, Haruka kept talking with Michiru in her arms.
"I'll meet you at the train station near your home. Take everything you need, your daughter if you must. I'll handle the rest."
"I have more than enough money for us to live for the next fifty years." Michiru giggled sadly into Haruka's chest.
Haruka laughed.
"So do I."
Michiru thought she had gone mad, sneaking into the house and sneaking here and there packing her bags. Why on earth did she let Tenoh drive her so mad to abandon everything she had known? Hell, she actually agreed to abandon Hotaru! Tenoh, Tenoh, Tenoh. What has she done to her? She lifted her bags onto her shoulder and walked to Hotaru's room. Michiru cannot believe herself, Hotaru, she was leaving Hotaru for Tenoh. She set her bag down and knelt beside Hotaru's bed, and stroked her daughter's head. No matter what happened, she would always love Hotaru. Michiru lifted her hand to feel her daughter's forehead and the sudden realization hit her. Immediately, Michiru made a bolt to the phone and dialed the hospital's emergency number. Then she dialed to Haruka's cell.
"My daughter..." Michiru choked out, in midst of her tears.
Haruka remained silent.
"I cannot…" Michiru cried.
Haruka sighed, yet again.
"Michiru it's alright."
"No it's not! Tenoh my daughter has high fever and I'm just about to leave her. But if I go to her I lose you. I love you, Tenoh. I love you more than anything in the world. I don't even care if the whole world would be in chaos if I defied the Gods, fate, everything in the world that is against us being in love. But I can't just leave my daughter dying here!"
Haruka then remembered Michiru still didn't know her first name. "Which hospital?"
"Huh?"
"I won't leave you, for goodness sake. Trust me! Where?"
"Juuban. It is the nearest."
Haruka could hear sirens at the other end as Michiru shouted for her housemate.
"Hang up, now. I'll be there. Trust me."
"I love you. " Michiru last desperate cry to assure herself.
"I love you too" Haruka replied.
Michiru put down the phone. That was all she needed to keep her going amidst all the chaos of her personal life.
Michiru sat by Hotaru in the children's hospital bed and held Hotaru's hand tightly in hers. Thank goodness it was only high fever that was easily put down. Hotaru had to rest in hospital though, and stay in for check-up. Hotaru had everyone worried, the whole senshi gang was here. Silently keeping their little Sailor Senshi of Death company. Setsuna looked the wildest, and the most shocked, while Michiru simply looked tired.
"Michiru, go get some coffee and breathe some fresh air. We'll be here." Smiled Usagi. Michiru really need to be thankful for her ever-so-kind Queen. Michiru was sure Usagi knew what had been going on in the outers' mansion. Setsuna would've told them to try stop Michiru from doing whatever she was doing to prevent world destruction. Yet Usagi now, even when Michiru looked like the perfect sinner, still didn't hold any grudges against Michiru.
Afterall, Michiru was only human to be selfish.
Michiru bowed her head, and left the room.
"Michiru!" a husky voice snapped Michiru out her self-guilty delusion that was leading her to nowhere but pacing around the hospital lobby.
Michiru's face uncontrollably broke into a small smile as Tenoh took her into her arms.
"How's your daughter?"
"You wanna see her?"
"Yeah, after all she's your daughter. Soon to be mine too." Tenoh teased lightly.
Michiru's tired smile widened, "Come," and pulled the blonde's hand as they walked to the hospital room, only to be stopped dead in front of Hotaru's room with all the senshis outside except Chibiusa who was in Hotaru's room now. Setsuna looked as if she was going to faint as she pointed her tanned finger at Haruka.
"You…you…" Setsuna stammered.
Michiru brushed the blonde behind and stand protectively in front of Haruka. "She's my girlfriend, and she's here to see my daughter," In a serious voice.
"Hey, you must be Sets." Haruka gave her trademark smirk.
Michiru turned wide-eyed, and spun to stare at the blonde.
"I don't remember telling you her name?"
Haruka returned her a questioning look that clearly says 'I-greeted-a-friend,-why?' look.
"How did you know her?"
Haruka shrugged, indicating randomness, but Michiru and Setsuna knew it meant a secret.
Setsuna finally snapped out of her dazed mode.
"Tenoh Haruka! Haruka! Harukaaaa… Oh my goodness, I'm going mad. I'm really going mad." Setsuna said.
Now everyone else is stunned. Haruka, that Haruka?
"Where are you from?" Setsuna asked with finality.
"Here." Replied Haruka, still confused.
There was a moment of silence which made Haruka frown. Who are they? "Can I see Michiru's daughter now?" she finally broke the silence.
Michiru fainted.
Michiru woke up feeling a back ache, but she was on someone's lap obviously. She squinted when her eyes adjusted painfully to the bright lights above her head. She looked up, to see Haruka bent over and looking at her intently.
"Tenoh…" Michiru called out and tried to sit up, to only pushed back to lying position by Haruka.
"You fainted, you need rest."
Michiru closed her eyes and try to recall all the events right up to her fainting. Hotaru having high fever, seeing Tenoh at the hospital the entrance waiting for her, and then…Michiru bolted up right and stared at the blonde.
"Tenoh HARUKA."
"Yeah?" Haruka answered.
"Why did you never tell me?"
"You never asked for my first name."
"Then you're…"
"Hello Neptune in disguise," Haruka smiled, cutting her off.
Michiru cupped her mouth with her hand, and then knock her head lightly, still unable to take in all the shock.
"Why did you never tell me!" Michiru burst, now angered at all the drama that came out of the miscommunication.
Haruka laughed, which made Michiru angrier.
"What does it matter now, as long as I can be with you."
Michiru ignore the blonde. "How's Hotaru-"
"MAMA!" Hotaru pounced on Michiru.
"PAPA!" Hotaru proceeded to give Haruka a big hug. Haruka hugged back.
"Papa, younger." Hotaru took a good long look at Haruka after the embrace.
Michiru ignored the comment.
"That's because you saw the older Haruka-papa." Setsuna piped in.
Michiru, still angry at Haruka was ready to blow at Setsuna.
"She's so young and you took her to time travel?" Michiru asked coldly.
Setsuna look at Haruka, who shook her head and looked away.
"Think whatever you want, Michiru. But the truth is Hotaru had seen Haruka before."
Before Michiru could say another word Haruka pulled Michiru away.
"Michiru." And Haruka felt a slap on her face.
Haruka closed her eyes, and opened them to see a tearing Michiru.
"You…damn it I thought we couldn't be together…." Michiru cried.
Haruka, who felt a sense of overwhelming relief that Neptune was Michiru, hugged Michiru and closed her eyes to relax into the embrace.
Who knows what come next…for Haruka it is definitely not over yet. Haruka just had to wait and see. Telling Michiru about the time travel definitely is one of the top to-do-but-dreading list for Haruka. Telling Michiru all about herself was something inevitable. Things for Haruka come in a circular motion. One things leads to another. It doesn't really have a real beginning somewhere. Meeting Michiru up to knowing she was actually Sailor Neptune was probably the only linear thing Haruka had experienced.
For the next two weeks is probably the most normal thing next to meeting Michiru. Life was a bliss for Haruka. In an overnight, she met her companions of senshis that told her she wasn't alone anymore. Haruka didn't time travel for a fortnight already. Figuring out why she didn't time travel, however, was the last thing on her mind as Michiru's scent filled her mind.
Since now they were open and accepted both their family and friends, not as Haruka had a family to begin with, they decided to take a step into their relationship. Haruka wasn't a virgin, she had slept with a few drunk girls before when she was in depression in her mid teens to stay off suicide, but it intrigued Haruka that Michiru was.
"Haruka.." Michiru moaned into Haruka's mouth as Haruka started exploring her body with her hands after a sensual French kiss. Michiru's body was on fire, and it was evident now Michiru want Haruka. Haruka, although glad now Michiru calls her by her first name meant their distance had closed, was still nervous about making love to Michiru. Michiru is the virgin, not her for crying out loud. Haruka sweated as Michiru removed Haruka's shirt and placed a hand directly on Haruka's heart.
"You're nervous..."Michiru remarked lazily.
Haruka was so afraid she would disappear and ruin the moment. Sex had never been tough for her, why now?
Before Haruka could reply, she disappeared.
That was the first time Haruka time traveled in front of Michiru. That was also how Michiru came to know about it.
Haruka felt herself standing on the cold ground of her apartment, staring at another naked Haruka and a woman in bed. Haruka got some clothes and money, and looked at the clock with date written on it. 4 years ago, 5th of June. No wonder she's in bed with a woman trying to stave off depression of the anniversary of her parents' death, and of course, the burden of the world. At 15 Haruka was already awakened. The burdens of senshi, the death anniversary and the extreme loneliness of being at the boarding school her guardians sent her to study mechanics and train as a race car driver drove her to depression. Maybe hormones was also a factor, Haruka thought lightly to herself as she exited out of the apartment to a warm night of summer in Tokyo. Every summer in the past she hoped it was the last, hoping to time travel somewhere to get killed. But never once she did. Haruka now shudder at the thought of leaving Michiru and the rest behind.
Haruka walked down the all so familiar street and bend into the corner to take a shortcut to reach the main street. She wondered how Michiru is doing now, scared to death by her apparent sudden disappearance. She should've told Michiru sooner, she knows. But it's hard to say it out without sounding like a complete idiot. Plus she doubt if Michiru would remember 'Mentos' from four. Hell, she can't remember anybody but her parents and her neighbours or herself back when she was four.
Haruka walked past a shop window selling a miniature gold plated violin with the date of sculpting dated on it. Haruka thought, maybe this will work. So Haruka bought the figurine and kept the receipt, walked back to the spot near her apartment. She place the figurine and the receipt securely in the plastic bag she was given and tied it, then dug a hole on the spot near the big tree in front of her apartment, and place the bag in it.
Popping back, she landed straight on bed naked beside a seated dressed Michiru on the phone, looking distress at first, but now shocked to the core.
Haruka would give anything to take a photograph of her expression right now, as Haruka laughed.
"Hey." Haruka sat up facing Michiru and smirked, while hands flailing around for a shirt. Michiru, in a sudden gesture, lunge a hug at Haruka.
"Where did you go? How did you do? What happened? I was so scared something happened to you that you just disappeared before me!" Michiru said in one breath, while hugging a still naked Haruka.
Haruka chuckled. "I need to tell you something serious," as Haruka got up and dressed, picking up clothes around her apartment.
"Like?"
Haruka paused for a while. "What's the craziest thing you've heard of?" Haruka asked, taking a sit beside Michiru in on the bed.
Michiru looked thoughtful.
"Mentos"
Haruka looked impressed, but Michiru took her look wrongly.
"No no, not the sweet. Mentos is somebody who told me she time travels. Every time she comes along she brings mentos candy for me. I used to adore her so much, she was the only friend I had in my childhood days. "
"Time travel?" repeated Haruka.
"Yeah, she tells me she's from the future. I used to ask her to divulge information for me, but she is tight lip over what happens in the future, so I used to doubt her. Then she would prove it to me by giving me the numbers for the lottery draw the next day, and I pass it off as numbers that I come up with myself to my parents, who won the lottery. It was so cute."
"Then what happened?"
"The last time I saw her was a day after I graduated from fourth grade. After that she never came anymore. I got so angry at her disappearance I told myself to hate her for abandoning me. Childish, I know. But now I regret it. I don't remember anything about who she is, how she looked like, only that I called her Mentos."
Now's the perfect time.
"What if I told that I time traveled…too?" Haruka added the 'too' as an afterthought, thinking it's best to leave her Mentos memory alone for now.
"What?"
"I understand how Mentos feels, because like her, I jump from time to time involuntarily."
"Again?"
Haruka smiled. At least Michiru didn't treat her like a lunatic and ran off. Then again, she already knew Michiru wouldn't. Not fun.
Haruka pulled Michiru to her feet. "I just went back four years ago 5th of June. I'll prove it to you."
Michiru stare at Haruka dumbfounded as she followed Haruka out of the apartment to the ground floor, standing in front of the large tree.
"I bought you something just now and buried it here, wait let me just get it" Haruka said as she started digging a patch of dirt beside the tree.
It was true. Haruka emerged with a white plastic. Haruka looked so please with herself that she was grinning ear to ear. She shake the bag off the dirt and handed it to Michiru.
"Open it and look at the receipt."
Michiru did as she was told, and saw the exact date Haruka said on the receipt. Michiru took the miniature violin figurine in her hand and toyed with it on her fingers.
"Believe me?"
Michiru just smiled, then looked at Haruka.
"Wow" was the only thing that can come out Michiru's mouth then her expression turned serious all a sudden.
"What would induce you to time travel?"
Haruka shrugged. "I don't know for sure, but when I'm feeling stressed out and nervous, I tend to time travel. But sometimes it's completely random."
"Where do you go? Or when?"
"I don't know too. I always ask for the date the first thing I reach any place and find any form of civilization. Then I would beg, borrow or steal for clothes and money to survive until I time traveled back."
Michiru looked impressed now. But Haruka guessed Michiru hasn't make the association with Mentos and herself.
"No wonder you're always training your body…" Michiru leaned onto Haruka, as she took Haruka's hands.
"Yeah, I need physical strength to run away or prevent myself from getting killed."
"Killed?"
"Once, I ended up in someone's barn and got chased by 3 German Shepherds. If I didn't ran fast enough I would've gotten bitten to death."
"Then-"
"Don't worry, I'll take care." Haruka gave a reassuring smile to Michiru. But Michiru was only half satisfied by that. Only half. Part of her feared something. She didn't know what, but she was fearing something.
Haruka kissed her again, and led her back up the apartment to finish what they've started.
Haruka, Michiru and Setsuna made a pact not to tell Hotaru about her papa's time travel, more of not to scare her than anything else. But Haruka often wonder what was the extent of Hotaru's powers; Michiru told her about the Hotaru before Silence was prevented. If Hotaru could see shadows in mirrors, then could Hotaru see hers when she's in another time, and in danger? Hotaru had just turned 3, and during the last year a lot of things happened. Haruka won the GP2 and entered F1 officially as a Ferrari driver. Michiru could only get more famous in the music industry, and also made it big with her debut art exhibition in the last year. Setsuna found a job as a job as a doctor in the nearby hospital, and the rest of the inners were in the last year of high school, studying hard to get into college. Michiru, over the past year being with Haruka, had already gotten used to Haruka's time travel absences. All's well went well, and Haruka now felt the pressure by the inners and her friends in the motoring world (who thought she was male), as well her guardians who were her neighbours before her parents died, to settle down. Even Michiru looked a little annoyed at Haruka's reluctance to take their relationship to an even further step, although their sex life had been great, too great.
Michiru also got her little red carpet dream. Just two months ago Haruka being a new sensation in the motoring world, was invited along with Michiru to some award presentation. As surreal as it sounds, it felt too good to be true for both of them to walk down the red carpet, hand in hand, amidst all the paparazzi.
Today was the day then, Haruka was going to ask Michiru to marry her, officially. Everything was prepared properly already. Haruka snuck and wrote a piano counterpoint to the Michiru's new solo song titled "Queen" that Michiru wrote for Haruka. Haruka bribed the concert master and organizers to letting her do her proposal. All the senshis were there, even Haruka's guardians were there to watch the concert. And everyone did such a good job hiding it from Michiru. Usagi and Rei had gone through so much trouble to pick out the perfect ring for Michiru, Minako and Makoto to come up with what to say, Ami had been the one to planned the programme. Mamoru dressed Haruka up, and Setsuna kept everybody's mouth shut.
Haruka was so nervous. She knew it. Time travel was inevitable. She only prayed, wished and hope she could at least avoid until she it was over.
Haruka heard the applause of the last song, as Michiru's new solo made its public debut for the first time. Full of love, and full of happiness, were the only words to describe how the song felt like to each and every one of the senshis, especially Haruka. But the applause was also a cue. Before she knew it, she found herself naked and standing in the middle of her elementary school hall in the middle of the night.
Great. Why didn't any of the future Harukas warned her about this.
Haruka trek through the halls, unbeknownst to her that an older Haruka had already took her place.
Michiru stared in shock as the encore item was played. It wasn't as planned, no that was not it. It was the first time she heard Haruka play a piano. Not only playing, but Haruka was like the music itself, playing it so well that it put her orchestra's piano player to embarrassment. The counterpoint was not only beautiful, it was perfectly written. Since when did Haruka know how to write music? She always thought Haruka was a wild sports person who knew little about the arts, and was only interested because of Michiru's passion in it. Michiru could only stay rooted to the ground on stage completely gaping at the sight and sound before her. When the piece finished, Haruka knelt beside her and said the words she long to hear ever since she got together with Haruka.
"Will you marry me?" said Haruka in an oddly calm voice.
Michiru noted that this Haruka had shorter hair than she remembered, and looked a bit more experienced.
But still, Michiru felt like she was in a fairytale, about to faint of joy. The whole hall was silent as all the audience awaited the joining of the most celebrated couple now in the media. A wild racer and a beautiful musician. Most newspapers she saw usually called them the mismatch made in heaven. Michiru's tears flowed freely out as her hand cover her mouth and nodded wildly, also uttering "ah" sounds that sounded like muffled and shivering 'Yes'.
Michiru cried as Haruka slipped the ring onto her finger and then took her into her arms. The whole hall broke into loud applauses and cheers, but Michiru could hear one thing.
"I love you, Kaioh Michiru."
"I love you too, Tenoh Haruka."
27 year old Haruka gave a thumbs up the just returned 22 year old Haruka as they switch clothes, oddly, in front of Michiru.
"I hope you didn't mind" the older Haruka said to Michiru.
Michiru just smiled, eye still red from the crying just now.
Her present Haruka, now fully dressed in formal wear, smiled sheepishly at her, and scratched her head, an action Michiru now find highly adorable. "It's still me" the present Haruka started but was silenced by Michiru's finger, and then a kiss. The older Haruka was gone by the time they broke apart. Amidst all the thoughts and feelings of happiness and eternity, something struck Michiru greatly.
She won't be able to follow Haruka wherever Haruka goes.
-end of part I-
