Chapter 2: Meeting with the blonde of the moon
The next, Michiru found herself babysitting two little girls. Usagi had been the one to bring Chibiusa. At first, Michiru got a striking feeling at seeing both of them. Something familiar but confusing. A warmth, and a wave of… love. Michiru had watched her with attention since Haruka had been flirting with her. She seemed to be younger than both of them. They were now 22 year old and Usagi probably was no more than twenty. In fact she looked pretty young. She was very smiling but annoying to Michiru. She was so clumsy, ungracious… And so childish. The ten minutes she had been there, she had kept arguing with her little sister. Little Chibiusa was the same age as Hotaru. Michiru wondered how old was their mother. She must have had Usagi very early and Chibiusa very late, there was a great gap between the two girls. But Michiru suddenly realised that it was what people must be thinking about her. She was 22 and her daughter 4, if she really had giver birth to her, she should have done it by the age of nineteen and been pregnant at eighteen… She had never imagined she'd be a mother so early. But fate had its own ways.
Michiru sighed as she cleaned the kitchen. Usagi had found to break a tea cup and dropped sugar everywhere. But she smiled as she heard her daughter laughing. Hotaru had really never got friends. She had been a lonely child. Haruka and Michiru had tried to make her more sociable by bringing her to places with other children, but she simply never made friends. Now she was in school it seemed better. Chibiusa seemed to be a nice little girl.
« Come girls! I made pancakes! » called Michiru from the kitchen. The two girls came running.
« So are you two having fun? »
« Yes! » said Hotaru.
« Wow Michiru-san, your pancakes are so much better than my mom's… »
« Thanks… But your mother's must be really good too… »
« My dad cooks better than her! »
« Who is your dad? »
« Chiba Mamoru. »
« The famous researcher? »
« Yes… But he's in the USA for his work. Mom says he'll be gone for a year. But he's coming back for Christmas. »
« Chiba Mamoru is a pretty young man… Your mother and him must have a great difference of age… And he's surely not Usagi-san's father… »
« No… He's not… But my mother is only five year-old youn… »
« By the way Chibiusa-chan… Is your mother picking you or is it your sister? » asked Michiru, unwillingly cutting the little girl.
« I have no sister. »
« What? Usagi-san isn't your sister? »
« No… She's my mother. »
« Oh sorry… »
Michiru was surprised… After all Usagi was probably older than she thought.
« Usagi-san's not your sister? » asked Hotaru, surprised too.
« No. But many people think she is because we both live at my grandmother's house. Dad is never there so mom preferred to stay at her mother's house. She feels more secure. And I'm glad she did… Her cooking is awful, she'd have poisoned me. »
« It must be tough. If my Haruka-papa went away like this I'd be very sad.» said Hotaru.
Michiru thought to herself that Hotaru would be sad soon. The three past years Haruka had arranged herself to have her races not too far from them. But now Hotaru was a bit older she'd probably think more to her career. Michiru already felt the situation would complicate soon. She had her career as a violinist, Haruka had her career as a racer… But they had child to care about, things were different. They were young and both wanted to care about their careers. They already had that discussion. Michiru missed the big stages of their one-year tour. Haruka missed the international tracks she had the right according to her level of skill to compete on. Michiru knew that as she was the « mother » she would be the one to sacrifice. Besides that, she didn't want Haruka to give up her dreams.
« Tadaima! » said Haruka as she came in the kitchen.
« Haruka-papa! »
Hotaru jumped in Haruka's arms. Michiru watched the scene with delight. She'd like their life to be always like this. She wanted everyone to be home, gathered.
« I arrived on time! There's pancakes! » said Haruka.
« I… Haruka… Could you watch over the kids for a little while? »
« Of course. »
Haruka suddenly noticed trouble on her beloved face. The sort of trouble she had seen a lot lately. Something was bothering Michiru for sure.
Michiru went to the music room and took her violin. She played a short relaxing melody. There were the dreams, there was Haruka, their daughter… She had so many worries… Haruka would probably accept one of the propositions she was made to race in the USA one day or another. Would Michiru just go to live with her mother just like Usagi? Of course not… She'd handle the situation perfectly. She was not alone with Setsuna. But it would be tough for Hotaru… And Michiru, though she loved her daughter, didn't want to be just a mother. She still wanted to be an artist. But if Haruka left, Hotaru would need her more, and she wouldn't have time for her career at all. And the dreams… She hadn't tell it to anyone… But they were apocalyptic. It worried her.
She closed her eyes… Another vision came to her spirit as she played… A vision of a blonde princess. She must have been a princess, she was so graceful in her long white dress.
Sailor Neptune please awake for I , the princess of the moon need you…
Michiru suddenly opened her eyes. She was sure she seen this girl for real, but where?
She suddenly felt two arms around her shoulders and a kiss laid in her neck.
« What's going on Michi? »
« Haruka… »
« I know there something wrong, and it's going on for weeks. Will you tell me? » said Haruka as she moved to face Michiru, kneeling beside her.
« Haruka… You left the girls alone… »
« They are watching TV. Please tell me. »
« I'm not worried. »
« You know I won't believe that. »
« Well… I… my visions keep haunting me. »
« It's not only that, is it? »
« I… I'm also worried… about you. »
« Me? »
« Have you received another proposition? »
« I did… But I'm not going to accept. »
« You should. Think about you career. »
« I can only think about you. I don't want to leave you behind. »
« Haruka… »
« We're young. We've got so much time. Hotaru is only four. We should wait before dedicating to our careers. She needs her parents. In ten years she'll be fed with us and we'll still be 32. So no problem! »
« Haruka… »
« I think we shouldn't think too much. Going to USA or giving big concerts is no such big deal. Think about it. In two or three other years, Hotaru will be more mature. If we have to be absent for let's say two weeks, or even a month she'll understand. And she sees Setsuna as a second mother. Setsuna will be glad to care about her if we need to go. »
« But Haruka, the propositions you're made are great. Who knows if you will be proposed such contract in a few years? »
« I don't really care. The race is important. But I'm not after glory and celebrity. I care about my career for sure, but being national is ok for me. »
« Well I… You must be right. »
« I am. So why are those visions of yours worrying you so much? »
« You don't trust them. »
« I do! I must admit I trust them a bit. I trust you, and they are part of you so… »
« If I tell you what's in my mind lately you'll think I'm mad. »
« Tell. »
« Apocalypse, and today, a blonde princess calling me Sailor Neptune. »
« Indeed… it's weird. »
Haruka now look really worried. She suddenly raised her eyes and looked into Michiru's.
« Will you believe if I tell you… I made a similar dream? »
« What? »
« I'm not having visions as you do, but I make weird nightmares. There is apocalypse too… And… A blonde princess calls me. But she calls me Sailor Uranus. »
« Something's weird. »
« Yes… »
« We should ask Setsuna about that. »
« Setsuna? »
« I have the impression it's the right thing to do… »
« Ok… We're talking to her tonight then. »
Suddenly they heard the doorbell ringing. When they got down they saw it was Usagi, coming for Chibiusa.
« I hope this silly little brat didn't cause you too much troubles, Kaioh-san. »
« No, she was pretty nice. »
Michiru was watching Usagi with attention… She realised that she was the princess of her vision. Haruka didn't seem surprised.
« Next Wednesday Hotaru-chan can come along. » said Usagi.
« She's gonna be glad. » answered Haruka.
They said goodbye to Usagi and Chibiusa. When Haruka closed the door, Michiru suddenly exploded.
« Did you see that??? »
« Yes, I knew it for long. »
« She is the princess… »
« Yes. I wonder if she made the dream too, or if we're just crazy. But two persons crazy at the same time… You must admit it is weird. »
The phone suddenly rang. Michiru took the call.
« Michiru-chan? You won't believe it! We've arranged a mega concert! You'll be playing with the Three Lights!!! »
« Akio-san? »
« Please tell me you accept!!! »
Michiru held the phone farther from her ear. Her manager was shouting.
« Wait, wait… When would it be, and how long time will it take to me? »
« Michiru-chan you can't be seriously thinking about such details!!! The concert will be here in Tokyo, and you'll be playing with the Three Lights!!! The Three Lights, do you realize? And you'll also be playing with a few others great artists!!! It's a charity concert! You'll love it! »
« Well… I have to discuss with my family… »
« Please answer me quickly! This is the chance of your life!!! »
Michiru stopped the conversation for her manager's enthusiasm would soon give her a headache.
« You should accept, Michi. »
« But… Such concerts are short. But the rehearsals take weeks. I'll be overbooked for at least two or three weeks. »
« We can survive you know. If you let me come to your dress room during breaks there won't be any problem… » said Haruka with a playful smile.
« But Hotaru… »
« Hotaru's got me, and she got Setsuna. And she's spending a lot of time at school. And if we really are in trouble I'm sure Usagi-san will accept to pick her at school or baby sit her for an hour or two after school. »
« If you say so… »
« Go for it. »
« Why not… »
« Just don't forget me. »
Michiru smiled and passed her arms around Haruka's neck.
« How could I ever forget you? »
« Who knows… »
Michiru kissed Haruka passionately.
« I'll be home every night and be sure I'll get you a pass for you to come when you'll have free time. »
« Be sure to give us a great concert. »
One week later, the rehearsal had began and Michiru was very taken. Hotaru was taking it alright. She got nearer to her friend Chibiusa and of her mother. Haruka was spending most of her free time in Michiru's dress room.
A woman, tall and of athletic appearance stopped in front of a giant poster of Michiru along with the Three Lights and other idols. It was past midnight. She was wearing sport clothes, her hair was short and her face emaciated. She seemed strong, but not healthy. She seemed nervous, as though she was missing her drugs. There was a flame of craziness in her eyes.
« I finally found you… » A crazy smile appeared on her face as she took the poster from the wall.