Disclaimer: I still don't own the characters. No surprise there.

Flashback

chapter 3

- Slept so long -

''I love you so much Michi. I love you too Ruka. Let's stay like this forever. Let's.'' Clarissa's voice mused as if she was recalling a memory. Michiru just sat on the chair in the corner of the room. She just listened to the blonde goddess' voice. Her eyes were empty, betraying no sign of emotion or feeling. She could hardly feel anything at this point. Only the strange craving feeling in her chest.

Suddenly Clarissa jumped towards her, their faces just a few inches away. Michiru could feel the other's breathing on her face. ''Do you remember that? That's the first night you took Haruka to the beach. The day you promised you'd be together forever. I'm sure you remember.'' Clarissa pulled away again and twirled around the room a couple of times before coming to a stop again. ''I wonder if Haruka remembers.''

''Haruka...'' Michiru whispered. Why did hearing that name break her heart? Why did it sound so familiar?

''You know. She used her henshin wand eight times already and defeated my little army I send after her. Do you know what that means?'' The blonde went on. She smiled happily as she continued her dance. ''One more dance. Just one more time. One, one, one is the loneliest number.'' She sang.

Something snapped inside Michiru causing her to jump up with incredible speed and land on top of Clarissa who fell back to the stone ground. Michiru sat on top of her looking rather annoyed. ''Please. Clarissa. Shut the hell up. I'm having a headache and your bullshit isn't helping much either.''

''I wonder why Haruka fell in love with someone with such a bad behaviour. I see our master took care of all your human feelings you had left.''

Clarissa could feel Michiru's hands around her throat. At first the aqua haired girl didn't put much force in her attack but the moment Clarissa started laughing hysterically she literally tried to choke it out of the goddess.

''ENOUGH!'' Suddenly a voice yelled. Immidiately Clarissa stopped laughing and slowly got up. Michiru stood up, sighing. ''Both of you are behaving like beasts.'' He stepped closer to Michiru, brushing past the blonde girl. He put his cold hand on her cheek. ''If you have a problem with Clarissa I'll gladly kill her for you, my princess.''

Clarissa clenched her fists. Just a little while ago Michiru and Haruka had to be punished for their sins and now Michiru was some high and mightly princess of her master. Why was that girl so special? How she regretted only punishing the senshi of the wind.

Michiru simply shook her head. ''There's no need for that.''

---

Haruka was laying on the ground. The buildings around her had gotten destroyed during her fight with one of those warriors send by Clarissa. She never knew she could feel this much pain. Shew knew she had lost memories which she used to take for granted. Now, all she could remember was Michiru's beautiful face and how she had held her lover in her arms when she was crying. Crying for every memory she lost.

Slowly she put up her shaking hands. Michiru held those hands a long time ago. She didn't remember it but she just knew. Just like she knew Michiru was in danger. ''One more transformation...'' She whispered. How was she going to save Michiru now? If she tried to get closer to Clarissa and had to fight one more warrior it would mean she lost her whole reason for fighting in the first place.

How was she going to help someone she couldn't even remember?

''Hey you.'' A voice sounded. Haruka could hear footsteps next to her head. She looked aside for a while. Red heels betraying who was standing next to her. She gazed back at her hands.

The tomboy could hear the woman move and sit down next to her. ''Tough times.''

''What is it, Setsuna?'' Haruka asked. Her eyes growing colder every minute. ''You aren't here to help. I can tell that much.''

''You aren't doing much either.'' The green haired woman replied. ''But you're wrong. Even though this is your fight with the gods I'll still help. You and Michiru are my friends after all.'' After Michiru told her about Haruka's 'memory loss' she had done some investigating on her own. ''I'm not getting involved with your little war. Michiru is in danger though. I saw your future. It wasn't a happy one. Luckily for you the future changes all the time. Depending on the choices we make.''

''How do you know that telling me this isn't what you did in that very future you saw?''

Setsuna smiled a bit. ''Because I did help you in that particular future. That's why you died. All I can do now is give you some friendly advice. After that I'll walk away. In hope to see you again.''

''How nice.'' Haruka didn't even have to bother to sound sarcastic. ''Advice on how to kill every single one of those gods without turning into sailor Uranus.''

''Write it down Haruka. It's as simple as that. Write down why you are fighting, put the letter in your pocket and hope to reach for it before it's too late.'' The senshi of time spoke. She took Haruka's hands in her own. ''Get up Tenoh. This is not the end. Not yet. It's not like you to give up. You'll have to fight for her.''

''You don't know how it feels Setsuna. To lose everything that makes me what I am today.''

''You'll have to save her Haruka. You can make new memories together. But only if you get yourself together.'' She gently stroke Haruka's hands. ''Please.''

Haruka looked aside, staring right into Setsuna's eyes. ''I'm not as strong as everyone thinks. This one last memory. I want to hold on to it as long as possible. I can't let it go. I can't.''

''You'll have to let go. Eteocles is trying to seduce Michiru.''

Haruka went wide eyed and quickly sat up. She pulled away from Setsuna and placed her hands around Setsuna's shoulders. Tightly squeezing the elder woman. ''Who is Eteocles and what does he want with Michiru? All this to make me suffer?!''

Setsuna flinched in pain. ''Eteocles is what you would call a god. He intends to sleep with Michiru and force her to have his baby. That baby will be his ticket to heaven. When good and evil come together and join it is said you can get....''

''Wait.'' Haruka interrupted. ''Don't care. I thought he already was a god. Why does he want to get to heaven?''

''Did you ever pay attention during history?'' Setsuna sighed, pulling away from Haruka's grip. She could feel her shoulders burn. That would leave a mark. ''Eteocles was the son of another ancient greek. It's said that his father, Oedipus accidentally married his own mother after killing his father. Also by accident. They had four children. Two girls and two boys. One of them was Eteocles. He was born out of sin and will always be punished for it.''

''Well, sucks for him.''

''His mother killed herself after finding out she married her own son.'' Setsuna finished.

''And now he wants to rape Michiru to get to heaven?''

''No. He can't rape her. She has to consent to it.''

''She won't do that. Never. He can promise her anything he wants. Michiru will never cheat on me.'' Haruka hissed. The look in Setsuna's eyes causing her great distress.

Setsuna closed her eyes for a moment and got up. Slowly she dusted herself off. ''Yes she will. Not because he promises her the world and more. But because she'll want to. He turned her into a heartless goddess as well. Not like Clarissa. Different. She lost all her senses of right and wrong. She still remembers you. But not like you remember her. You're just a vague image on the background of her thoughts now. And at some point, you'll be nothing but an empty shadow.''

''Great. Just great. Fine... I'll transform. I'll be damned before that Eteocles gets to heaven. I still haven't given him a piece of my mind yet.'' Haruka also stood up from the ground.

---

''Haruka is coming.'' Clarissa whispered. ''She's angry. That time woman interfered with our punishment and now she's angry. Very, very angry.'' The blonde went on. She was sitting in the corner of the room, her back resting against the stone wall. In front of her sat Michiru. She was staring at Clarissa with her head resting in her hands. ''Very, very angry.''

''You're starting to get annoying again. Who's Haruka?'' Michiru wanted to know. Eteocles had left them alone a couple of hours ago. He said they had to start working together.

''He wants your baby.'' Clarissa mused.

''Haruka?''

The blonde giggled. ''No. Haruka is a female. I mean our master.''

''He can wish away until his body rots. I won't sleep with that man.'' Michiru replied. ''So who's this Haruka-female figure?''

Clarissa closed her eyes. She hated Michiru. But seeing the girl like this pained her as well. For some reason it reminded her of her own long forgotten past. ''Can I tell you a story, Michiru Kaioh?''

''No.'' Came the reply.

''It wasn't a retorical question. Sorry.'' Clarissa whispered.

I could hear someone come up from behind me. I turn around to face a familiar aqua haired girl. I saw her before. In my dreams I believe. She was talking about some messiah and how she needed my help.

''You were holding back weren't you?'' She suddenly says to me. I'd like to think she's just a fan who believes I'm the guy of her dreams. But unfortunately my heart knows better. ''You didn't even break a sweat.'' She finishes.

I smirk. ''What are you talking about?''

''I know all about you Haruka. May I ask you to model for one of my paintings. I'd like to draw you.''

She scares me. That girl actually scares me. Maybe because I know what will happen when I accept and give in. ''Pass.'' I reply and turn away from her. ''I'm not into that sort of thing.'' With that said I walk away. Part of me hoping I'd never see her again. Another part of me screaming to turn around.

''What a lame story.'' Michiru said although she somehow recognized this story from somewhere. ''Is it about you or something?''

Clarissa shook her head. ''It's how you first met Haruka. Officially. It's also the first memory she lost of you.'' She paused for a moment. Judging Michiru's reaction she knew she had hit a soft spot. ''Want to hear another story?''

Michiru hesitated for a moment. ''Yes, please.''

It's already getting dark outside. I'd better head back before the gates close. I turn around to leave the premises. It hadn't been until now I noticed her presence. In front of me stands that scary aqua haired girl again. Maybe I should ask her name. Either that or I'll have to call security on her. ''You again.'' I manage to choke away the lump that has formed in my throat.

''Haruka,'' She whispers my name. ''We need to talk.''

Yes we do indeed. But I won't admit it to her. Last night she saved me from some being she call a 'youma'. She got hurt during the first and I accepted something called a henshin wand. I took her home. Stupid, I know. How I regret doing that now. Should've just left her. No, wait. That's a lie. Anyway, afterwards we slept together. I don't know how it happened.

I always thought it was bullshit when someone used that lame excuse. 'I don't know how it happened. heat of the moment I guess.' But it's true. It does happen. I still don't know her name.

''I wanted to spare you Haruka. I really did. I even tried to fight those things on my own. I didn't want to involve you. But the truth is, I need you. Not only as my partner but...'' I don't even hear the rest. When she says it like that, looking at me with those blue eyes....

How can I deny her?

''Haruka Tenoh. We haven't formally met yet.'' I hold out my hand.

She smiles. God I love her. And then she says those two magic words. ''Michiru Kaioh.'' It fits, you know.

''And that,'' Clarissa smirked. ''Was the second memory she lost.'' The blonde goddess started to get up from the ground. ''That's you, you know. Michiru Kaioh. In case you forgot.''

''Are there more....'stories'?'' Michiru wanted to know. She could feel tears well up in her eyes. If that story really was about her. Why couldn't she remember it?

To Be continued...

Ok, people... I'm officially, highly annoyed. Why when we upload a new story or are looking for a story on let's say 'Haruka and Michiru' we have to look between all those useless names. Half of them aren't even used in stories. Did someone get bored or something?

I mean 'cyprine'. No one writes about whoever that is. Or: Momoko/Melissa, zirconia, etc.

Oh, Eteocles really did exist according to the greek mythology. Stole his story from a book I just bought.

Anyway, Review! In the next chapter I'll reveal the remaining lost memories.