Crimson Kiss

Disclaimer: I do not own sailor moon or any of the characters; all credit goes to Naoko Takeuchi, creator of Sailor Moon.

Dedicated to my one and only best friend, Kaleda

Chapter Two: Angel of the Sea

Three days left and Haruka found herself sitting on a bench outside of the school, watching the track runners sprint their laps. They were going slow compared to what Haruka was used to running and it was all she could do not to jump the fence and start running along side them. Her eyes darted to the large old-fashioned clock that rested at the top of the school, on one of the smaller towers. She wouldn't have the time anyways; Haruka Tenoh had a race to finish.

Walking towards the parking lot, she found herself treading across the grass and approaching the motorcycle that belonged to her. Gold and a dark navy blue, the bike stood out against the entire parking lot as the only motorcycle there. She still hadn't been able to locate Michiru Kaioh, though Setsuna said the records labeled the artist as a resident of this town. Maybe she was new? Or perhaps she went to a different school all together? Haruka hadn't paid attention in class today so she wasn't sure.

Resting a hand on her motorcycle, she reached for the helmet only to be stopped by a pretty voice.

"Pardon me, but you dropped something,"

Like the soft waves of the sea, the voice danced in Haruka's ears, making her turn instantly to gaze at its source. Standing in front of her was another student, a girl. She had aqua hair that framed her oval face and reminded Haruka of the sea. Deep blue eyes peered into her soul. In the woman's hands rested a small pen, the symbol on it unknown to Haruka. She eyed the thing, wondering what notion the beautiful girl had that it was hers. Smiling, she let go of the helmet and turned completely around.

"Nope gomen, wrong person. Though I think I have been blessed to have such an angel talk to me," Haruka said her voice smooth as the wind itself. She gazed into the eyes of the beautiful girl that she had just addressed. A smile crept across the angel's face and Haruka felt a shiver rise up her spine. She really was a beautiful woman. Laughter, like the waves of the sea itself, arose from the beautiful girl's lips.

"Aren't you sauve!" she laughed, "I know this is yours because it fell from your pocket just a minute ago."

Haruka, confused that such a thing would be in her possession, sighed. It would be no use arguing with the delicate girl over it. She wouldn't take no for an answer it would seem. Something in Haruka compelled her to reach out and take the artifact but she thought better of it and slapped the notion away almost instantaneously.

"Nope. It's not mine. Gomen angel but I've got a race to win," she smiled and turned back to her bike, though her eyes were reluctant to let go of the beautiful figure that had addressed her. The race tracks weren't far away anyways but Haruka wanted to get there early to tune up her bike. It was always a smart idea to make sure things were okay before starting a race. Haruka wasn't a fool.

"But your race doesn't start for another hour," she protested, though her voice was still sweet.

"How do you know that?"

Haruka whirled around, shocked that the woman had known. Then again maybe she was one of the girls from her school that had taken to becoming a fan girl of Harukas. Everyone wanted to ride in Haruka's car, on the passenger's side whispering sweet nothings to the tom girl. Despite her being a girl, she looked a bit too masculine to not attract the same sex. Haruka supposed that this girl was no different. Nothing more than a bold groupie who wanted to ride in Haruka's car. She sighed.

"Everyone knows that, its common knowledge," the angel laughed lightly.

Feeling a little annoyed now, she wondered why this girl had approached her. Did she actually want to give her something back or had she just taken the first thing off of her shelf and decided to pose it off as Haruka's? Either way the blonde decided that it couldn't hurt to keep up her suave image. Sighing, she turned back away from her bike again and held out her hand. Bold was good in a girl, fan girl or not.

"Alright, I'll take your gift, but next time you don't have to make up silly excuses," she grinned.

Brushing a hand through her aqua hair, the girl smiled and placed the pen in Haruka's hand. A soft breeze tossed the angel's hair playfully, making her beauty seem even more unreal. Haruka tucked the pen into her pocket and decided that asking the girl's name was a good idea.

"If you insist...though it IS yours..." she smiled and watched Haruka put the pen away.

"Of course you know I'm Haruka, but I have yet to hear your name," Haruka inquired forgetting about her dark history for a moment.

"Michiru Kaioh."

- - -

Wind batted at her face as she drove, her mind spinning circles. The finish line was within her view and Haruka pressed the peddle of the bike down hard so that she bolted ahead of the other champions. In a moment too swift to mention she broke the line and clicked her brakes. The crowd went wild, the fan girls that Haruka had spoken of earlier, were there and admiring her prowess in motocross. Grinning, Haruka gave them a smile and wheeled off to her assigned work area.

"Michiru Kaioh?"
"I am an artist...Would you be a model for my painting?"
"Pass! I don't like that kind of thing...will you be at the race tonight?"
"Hai. I always go to your races."

Their conversation seemed to be ebbed into Haruka's mind; she couldn't stop reciting it to herself. Michiru Kaioh, an artist, the focus of the very same vampiress who had torn her life apart. Haruka couldn't help but feel angry with the world. How could such an angel be fated to suffer? Any notions that she had off blowing of Setsuna's wishes were instantly crumpled like a paper rose. Haruka was pretty sure that she would protect the graceful beauty from anything. She found her eyes searching the crowd for Michiru.

Standing still and smiling among the rest of the crowd was the graceful figure. She was wearing a plain blue dress with a gray over coat and stylish blue heels. Haruka couldn't help but notice how out of place she looked compared to the rest of the casually dressed fans. Some of the school girls hadn't even bothered to change out of their school uniform, not that Haruka could blame them. Adorned in her racing suit, she smiled and ducked into the area set for her to take care of her dirt bike.

"Your last race...you didn't break a sweat. I think you were holding back. Right?"
"What do you mean?"
"You can hear the wind rustling, can't you?"
"You're strange. What does the wind have to do with this?"

Quiet filled the room as Haruka tucked her bike on the far wall and checked things over. Finding things satisfactory, she opened the door to the room and stepped out. With the quick turn of a key Haruka locked her bike and equipment in. They were safe there from everyone and she remembered the time that those guys had tried to break in. Some people were just bad sports about everything. Tucking her keys in her pocket, she made her way towards her car but paused. Seeing the graceful figure walking down the outer side walk in those dreadful high heels was enough to make anyone call out.

"Oi! Michiru-san!" she yelled across the parking lot.

Having heard Haruka's call, the silent girl turned her attentions towards the racer. Her smile was worth more than anything Haruka owned. Running to meet her, Haruka found herself smack dab in front of Michiru. Grinning, she wasn't even out of breath from the long jog. Michiru looked happily at Haruka.

"Genius racer Haruka Tenoh remains victorious again!" She laughed.

"Of course." Haruka grinned while remembering their last conversation. Did Michiru see that she had been holding back again? It would seem that the girl knew Haruka better than she knew herself. Strangely, she felt quite at home with Michiru and her thoughts of the vampire bite that scarred her lower neck didn't seem to be there anymore.

"Going to have a party? Or have you tired of parties after your numerous victories?" Michiru questioned.

"Party? Me? At my apartment? You're lucky to find the floor in that place," She joked.

The two laughed together for a moment and shared the incredible comfort of the moment. Haruka wondered if Michiru was really being this nice because she just wanted to talk or if she had some ulterior motive to become Haruka's friend for the fame. The racer didn't think that this was the case. Michiru was very different from the rest of Haruka's groupies.

"Have fun at your party tonight," Michiru laughed with a wave despite Haruka's contradiction of her even having at party. She began to walk away with a smile on her lips. For once in her life time Haruka didn't want the company of the girl to leave. Feeling a little bit unlike herself, she continued to walk after the girl.

"Wait!" She called after. Michiru turned.

"Hai?" Her voice was like water, refreshingly so.

"Are you walking home?" Haruka inquired, feeling a little bit out of place. Michiru nodded.

"Hai. I can't drive yet." Michiru spoke.

A moment of silence passed between them as Haruka decided what to do. She wanted to talk with Michiru more, to watch over her and make sure that the delicate beauty got home on time and alright. But to invite the girl to ride with her was promising further conversation and Haruka wasn't sure she could keep up her calm cool persona with the beautiful artist sitting but a couple of inches away from herself. But the words slipped out anyways.

"Would you like a ride home?" She waited patiently for an answer.

"My house is quite a ways away, you sure you want to drive that far?" Her voice asked, concern lining her words.

"For you? Yes."

- - -

It was dark when Haruka pulled into Michiru's drive way. She cut the engine and listened softly for the sounds of footsteps. Besides her Michiru was quiet, obviously tired from the walk to the race tracks. Haruka counted that it took nearly a half an hour to get to Michiru's house by driving. She wondered how Michiru walked home in time. Hearing nothing, she opened her door and walked around to get Michiru's door and opened it for her instantly.

"You shouldn't walk this far so late at night, it's not safe." Haruka insisted, "Your house is way too far away from the tracks."

Haruka offered her hand to help Michiru up and the graceful woman took it. She looked tired but her beauty never seemed to fade, making her glow brighter than even the brightest of stars. Haruka helped her down and then shut her car door. Michiru gave Haruka a smile.

"Arigato. I don't mind walking so long as I get to see you." At this Haruka frowned.

"How can you walk in those heels? I'd die, that must hurt walking all that way..." She fussed. Michiru smiled at Haruka's concern to her well being. Maybe it was much more of a comfort than Haruka thought.

"It's a small price to pay." Her words echoed in Haruka's mind.

That wasn't good enough for Haruka and she sighed. For some reason she felt protective over this angel, more so than she ever would want to be over anyone. But now that she had spoken with Michiru, it didn't seem like there was any turning back. Haruka didn't notice that she was swiftly falling in love with the blue haired beauty.

"Next time just call me and I'll give you a ride. I don't want you to walk that far in those death traps again," Haruka grinned, pulling out a pen and scribbling down her number on a piece of paper though she was sure Michiru had her number already. She smiled and handed the paper to Michiru.

"You're so kind..." her words faded slightly, drifting off into the night's air.

Without a pause, Michiru leaned closer to Haruka, pressing her soft lips against Haruka's. Instantly Haruka felt the shiver run down her spine. It was as though fate itself had brought them together. She couldn't help but feel a connection to the graceful figure in front of her. Michiru pulled away and Haruka could see the beginnings of an apology brimming on her lips.

Before the aqua-haired angel could speak, Haruka draped her arms around the maiden in a more than friendly hug.

"I won't let anyone or anything hurt you ever again," Haruka spoke, resting her chin on Michiru's hair.

"Arigato" Michiru responded, wrapping her arms around Haruka.

Note from Cira/ Tenoh Haruka:
I would never have thought that this would be such a hit!
Anyways. I want to thank my readers (WolfBlaze, petiyaka, Silas C., LitaDelacour, and Ten'Ousai) for your comments and any of my new readers as well! Your comments keep me writing!
I like the direction where this is going. I know I didn't tie in the vampire stuff that much but I can assure you that the next chapter will tie the two love birds into the plot of vampires.
Bwhaahaha! x.x I'm okay really.
Tune in for the next chapter!
Arigato!!