A/N: So, lot's of references to various things in this chapter. References include: Assassins Creed, Legend of Zelda, and Macbeth. Did I steal the one scene from Macbeth? Almost. Also, I am sorry that there isn't much Haruka in this chapter, this will help clear some plot holes, and other key points to this messed up plot. And away we go! Enjoy. :D
Disclaimer: I wish I could say I owned them…But, alas, I have no such luck. Though Reisho is mine! All mine!
His eyes widened as Michiru approached the door, word already spreading through the castle like wildfire about their queen declaring war on Jupiter. Reisho knew, however, that Jupiter was a powerful planet, with one of the strongest militaries in the solar system, second to Uranus alone. He stood quickly and bowed as the aqua haired woman walked up to him, her eyes ablaze with irritation, anger, and indignation.
"Guard this door Reisho. No one but me comes in or out, and I am not to be disturbed unless it is for one fucking hell of a good reason. Like my cosmetic collection is on fucking fire. Got it!?" she spat at him, her voice low and dangerous, filled with venom. He shuddered, having quite the nasty feeling as to who was going to be on the receiving end of her anger. He nodded, and bowed, the queen disappearing into the room, the heavy door shutting behind her, the lock clicking. Reisho sat back down on the tiny stool he had been given. He ran his fingers through his medium length black hair several times before standing up, beginning to pace the small corridor.
Standing in at a little over six feet tall, his hair was as black as the darkest night in the Uranian desert, his eyes also black. He looked down at the teal armor he now wore, a generals insignia upon his shoulders. The man finally ended his pacing and sat back down on the stool, leaning his head back against the wall, closing his eyes. He stayed like that for a little while, falling asleep as the minutes ticked by.
"Reisho, come here," the young blonde soldier called from across an alleyway. The dark haired man blinked and followed her, having a sneaky feeling she was up to no good. They were both dressed in the standard Uranian army patrol gear: gold chain mail under a navy blue tunic with black breeches, highly polished black boots, a quiver of arrows that rested on their right hip, and their sword on their left hip. They both sported a highly polished golden shield and a beautifully carved long bow on their backs. The blonde turned to him with a grin when he followed her, and she began to climb The Needle, the tallest building in all of Miranda. Reisho sighed, following her up carefully. He reached the top a little ways after his general, finding himself winded from the climb.
"Haruka, what are you trying to do? Kill me?!" he gasped as he carefully found his way over to her, finding the princess perched precariously on a small wooden plank that looked out over the city. "Haruka! Get off of that thing! It could break!" she looked at him with a smirk playing her lips.
"You worry to much, besides, I do most of my patrols from this spot. You can see everything for miles from up here…" she closed her eyes as the wind ruffled her short blonde hair. Reisho shook his head.
"You're crazy, but I think that is why I respect you most. But…why on earth did you want me to follow you clear up here?" he finished inching his way around the small ledge. The tomboy didn't avert her gaze from what appeared to be a small parade making its way through the main street of Miranda, the blonde frowned.
"See the parade, Reisho?"
"Sure…what's that have anything to do with why I am being forced to heights that would make Endymion himself cringe?" he laughed softly, trying to hide his nervousness.
"That's Queen Michiru, from Neptune," her voice was quiet. Her friend looked at her for a long while before answering, his confusion apparent in his voice.
"So?"
"I just have a bad feeling…A feeling that she's here for more than just a friendly visit," her eyes flickered over the city, the Uranian sun beating down on the people of the city mercilessly. The dark haired man shifted uncomfortably, looking at her again.
"Haruka…What else could she be here for?" Had the blonde been looking at him, she could have seen the betrayal in his eyes. Queen Michiru had approached him weeks before, promising him the title of head general if he presented her with the information she requested, which he had done without hesitation. The blonde didn't turn however, and missed the uncertainty in her supposed friends voice.
"I don't know Reish…but it's not something I want to look back on and regret. I'm going to tell my father she's here…" she stood up quickly.
"No! No, it's nothing. Trust me. She's just here on a visit. Hey, maybe she's here to negotiate making you Queen of Uranus and Neptune, eh?" he smiled. The blonde soldier laughed quietly, nodding in agreement.
"Maybe I was over reacting?"
"Of course you were, Haruka. After all, she's just a woman," he smiled what he hoped was an encouraging smile at her.
"I heard that she's part siren, and can tempt you into doing things you wouldn't normally do. I also heard this odd rumor, that if her voice doesn't suck you in, her eyes will, and you'll be her slave!"
"Do you really believe such childish stories, general? I mean, seriously!" They both chuckled as they began to climb down from the tower. As they reached the ground, screams could be heard.
Reisho awoke with a start, frowning as his last memory of a Uranian soldier filled his dreams once again, the last day he had seen Haruka. Yes, he knew his general was still alive, and knew it well; it being her screams that had woke him from his slumber. He sighed, looking to the ceiling as he heard a whip crack, a shriek of pain, and another voice yelling in agitation. He had been right to assume that Michiru would take all of her frustration out on Haruka, but it had never been this bad to date. The blonde was yelling for the abuse to stop, and the low, lusty, inaudible voice from Michiru was the direct inclination that it wouldn't be over soon. He closed his eyes tightly and tried to fall back asleep, though the screams and occasional moan of pleasure kept him from anything, and he was forced to listen for nearly two hours until it stopped, the Neptunian queen emerging.
Her hair was a sweaty matted mess, and she was wearing a tunic that was big on her, the navy blue stitching at the collar and the sleeves being the tell tale sign that it belonged to the blonde woman she was holding hostage. She walked passed Reisho without a word, towards the gardens, the dark circles under her eyes apparent, even as she walked away from him. He sighed as she walked away, fearing her, yet finding himself feeling sorry for her at the same time, and deep down, the need to protect her.
She walked along the garden path, hugging the white tunic close, occasionally smelling the sweet scent that was Haruka. She smiled to herself, the feel of the Uranian fabric against her nipples that had perked when she had stepped into the cool night air. She walked past the large koi fountain, a statue of a winged woman holding hands with a mermaid who was perched on a rock. She glanced over her shoulder as she ventured to the outskirts of her garden, the dense forest of Neptune looming before her. She smiled as she jogged into the underbrush, allowing her instinct as well as the bright moonlight to guide her through the trees.
She stopped jogging once she saw their fire in the distance, and she approached cautiously. She walked into the camp and cleared her throat as the four harpies were babbling amongst each other. A second after she had cleared her throat, they all turned to look at her, their noses replaced by beaks, their eyes a dull red color. Michiru bowed low, exposing the back of her neck as a sign of respect and trusting to the four murderous beasts. They clicked their beaks, and she rose once more. The harpy closest to her moved to stand in front of her.
"Why have you come here, Queen Neptune?" her voice was like nails on the chalkboard, grating on the nerves. It took all of Michiru's self control not to cringe, instead, she smiled.
"Just to talk, of course. Is that…forbidden now days?" she smiled sweetly at them, batting her eyelashes. A second harpy came to stand beside the first.
"Don't lie, we know you've come to ask yet more questions of us. Go on! As away," her voice was higher pitched still, a trickle of blood running down her beak. The queen sighed.
"You told me I would be Queen of Neptune and Uranus, and I was. I want to know…When will the princess of Uranus love me?" Her voice was soft as she muttered the last bit. The final two harpies came to stand beside their sisters, the four of them looking to each other. The fourth harpy in line spoke up.
"We can not predict when the fall princess of the wind planet will return your love, but, you know, you must–" her grating voice was cut off as Michiru interjected.
"I know! I know! 'Unless the warrior princess from the wind planet falls in love with you, your plan will fail.' That's why I am asking: When will she fall in love with me?!" she was irritated, angry, and depressed. If Haruka's love was what she needed to defeat the moon kingdom, then she would obtain the blonde's love. Though, she needed the "warrior princess" to fall in love with her soon, as her troops would be moving to Jupiter soon. And if her plan was going to succeed, she needed to defeat Jupiter quickly. The four sisters looked to each other.
"Queen Michiru, in order for the senshi power of the golden lovers to work, she not only has to love you, but you also have to love her, unconditionally," the third harpy spoke, it having the most normal voice of the four. Michiru's eyes narrowed.
"Are you saying I am incapable of loving her!?" her voice rose in pitch as she grew angrier. First, they tell her that Haruka has to love her, now, she is informed that she has to be in love with the blonde as well! She groaned inwardly.
"That is not at all what we said, Queen Michiru. What I said was that you have to love her as well as her loving you for the ancient power you seek to work. You must love each other to the point that nothing else matters, but each other. You must regain the love your previous selves once held, before hate and greed corrupted your heart," they all looked at her. Michiru grit her teeth, and nodded.
"Very well. That is a hindrance to my timeline, thank you so much for adding more work for me to do on such a tight schedule!" she barked at them, causing the four bird creatures to jump. The first one spoke again.
"We can not tell you how long it will take the wind planet's chosen one to love you, but, we will leave you with a small bit of advice: 'it is easier to draw flies in with sugar rather than vinegar'" her voice rang through the nights as a loud crack sounded, the four of them gone in a puff of smoke.
The Neptunian queen let her head fall backwards as she screamed in frustration to the moon above.
