I'm not dead and I bring a nice update!! I apologize for the delay in updates but I hit a brick wall that seems to be crumbling now! And this story took a turn I wasn't expecting. Shan't say more but I hope it pleases. Reviews will help with the inspiration which I need as my job is third shift and very physical so I sleep most of the day.

Alrighty, I'll shut up so all can read.

Disclaimer: Not mine sadly.


Michiru curled up in her bed feeling betrayed. Serenity had requested, more accurately demanded, that Michiru take some personal time. She was fine. She knew what and who she had seen that day at the memorial. Haruka had been returned to her. "Why won't they believe me?" she sighed. With nothing to do in the palace and not really wanting to be around the others, Michiru rose and left, heading into town. She wore simple clothes so that no one would recognize her. She wasn't in the mood to be sociable.

Passing by a dress shop, she paused and stared at a oceanic dress. Her slender fingers touched the glass.

"You would look beautiful in that Michi..." a voice murmured in her ear.

She spun around and blinked, staring but no one was there. She turned back to the window, hoping the voice of her dead lover would return but it never did. Maybe I am losing my mind finally... she thought. Rubbing her eyes, she turned and took a few steps forward when she saw her. "Haruka..." The blonde smiled and beckoned Michiru to follow. The Sea Senshi started hurrying forward, shoving past people. The closer she got to Haruka the further the blonde got from her. "Haruka, wait!!" she begged.

The blonde merely smiled and kept going. Finally Michiru stumbled through and blinked. It was the site of where Haruka had died. Michiru shivered as it started to rain. Why did she bring me here... I hate this place... she thought, holding the tears back. Haruka wasn't anywhere to be seen.

She sank down to the ground and hugged herself, tears flowing freely. What did the gods want from her? They had taken her soul and heart already. Did they want to drive her mad as well? She didn't know how much more mental stress she could take before snapping. Wiping her eyes, she crawled to the spot where Haruka had died and curled up. She shivered as the sun went down. The winter months were coming but Michiru didn't care. Closing her eyes, she hummed softly before sleep came and took her away.

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Serenity knocked on Michiru's door for the tenth time that day, getting worried. No one had seen Michiru the whole day and the queen was worried that her friend had left. Duty had been the only thing tying Michiru to them still and they had taken that away.

"Majesty?"

She looked over as she saw Hotaru. The youngest Outer had taken Haruka's death hard as well but she perservered, knowing it was what Haruka would have wanted. Not only that, but when Chibi Usa had been born, the Senshi of Rebirth had smiled for the first time in years. And now it was quite clear to the blonde queen where her daughter's heart lay. It had given Hotaru something else to live for, for which Serenity was grateful.

"Hotaru."

"What's wrong?"

"No one's seen Michiru all day...I'm worried I did the wrong thing by making her take time off..."

Hotaru shook her head. "You didn't. Michiru-mama needs to find something else aside from duty and her love for Haruka-papa to live for."

"And what if she can't? Hotaru...they were soulmates... Haruka's death..." She looked down. It had killed a part of Michiru. By some grace of the gods, or maybe just their cruelty, Michiru clung to life. But just barely. "What if she..."

"Stop it!" Hotaru snapped, startling them both. "Michiru-mama's not that selfish. She'll come around." They looked out of a nearby window as snow started to fall. She has to...

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A figure stood over the form of Michiru, snow already covering the Senshi of the Sea's form. The figure pulled the long black duster off and gently with a slender hand, brushed the snow from Michiru's form before laying the jacket over her. Carefully Michiru was picked up and carried back to the palace. The figure ignored the couples and families on the street as they laughed and played in the snow. The mysterious figure didn't even flinch as Michiru curled up closer in their arms. Arriving at the palace, the figure leapt up and soared into the air, easily making it to Michiru's high balcony. Pushing the doors in, they went inside. Gently Michiru was placed on the bed. She whimpered and curled up at the loss of contact from the figure. The savior sat down and gently stroked the aqua tresses. Slowly the figure bent down and lightly kissed Michiru's forehead.

The violinist weakly opened her eyes a few hours later. She looked around her room but she alone. She blinked in confusion at how she had gotten back. More so when she saw the long duster. Pulling the jacket up, she studied it for a moment. She didn't recognize it. Deciding to see if there were any drugs or anything on it, she carefully sniffed it. Her eyes widened and her heart began thudding loudly. It smelt like Haruka's favorite cologne.

"Haruka?"

Her voice was quiet, hopeful. But she received no answer. Shivering at a sudden gust of cold air, she saw her balcony doors were opened. Getting up, she was about to close them when she saw how much snow was falling. She stepped outside and watched as the white flakes covered the ground, blanketing the city. Shivering, she pulled the duster on. She felt warm suddenly, like Haruka was holding her in her arms. Tears spilt down her face as she clutched the duster in her hands. She stiffened suddenly when she felt an arm around her shoulders. She looked to her right and her breath caught in her throat.

Warm teal eyes looked down at her, a soft smile on the beautiful face. The cold wind blew the short blonde locks around. Shakily, Michiru reached up and pressed a hand against the cheek, eyes widening more as it hit resistance.

"Haruka..."

"What happened to me wasn't your fault Michiru. I don't blame you at all so please, stop blaming yourself."

Tears spilled down Michiru's face and she buried her head against Haruka's chest. "You're dead...I saw them bury you..."

"Death's just a minor setback for Senshi Michi," came the murmured reply.

The smaller woman looked up, hope shining in her eyes. "You're alive then? Back?" Her face fell when she saw the shaking head.

"Not yet." Softly, Haruka caressed Michiru's cheek.

"Then how... I can touch you...feel your warmth..."

"Temporary thing. This body'll fade in a few minutes and you won't be able to see me."

"Then why? Is it to keep tormenting me with what I lost!?" She shoved herself away from Haruka and walked to the railing.

Haruka grabbed her arm and spun her around, glaring at her. "You think this is any easier on me!? I've been watching over you ever since that thing's sword gutted me! I watched you from that night on, wishing and praying that I could touch you, to make you realize that it wasn't your fault! Dying is a part of what we're destined to do Michiru! Even if we weren't Senshi we would still die!"

Michiru turned her head away, fresh tears spilling down her face. "So what, you don't care that you left me alone?"

"Left you alone? For the love of the gods Michiru! You have friends and a daughter who love you and are worried sick about you! I've been watching them lose sleep over you! Worrying that maybe this is the day that you end your life! You think that's easy to see? To not be able to do anything about it?" The blonde forced Michiru to look at her, teal eyes burning into the oceanic ones of her lover. "It took every ounce of determination to come to you last month on the anniversary of my death. I could barely move afterwards."

"And tonight?"

Haruka let her hand caress Michiru's. "I didn't want the others to lose another friend...death doesn't suit you."

"It doesn't suit you either Ruka..."

Haruka looked at the horizon and knew her time was almost up. She looked back at Michiru and kissed her passionately. The Sea Senshi returned the kiss desperately, clinging to the blonde. When air was needed, the two pulled back just enough to breathe. "I have to go..."

"Don't... I need you..."

Haruka felt a tear slide down her face. "Michi, I'm always with you." She placed a hand over her lover's heart. "Everytime the wind blows..." She kissed Michiru's forehead. She could feel herself starting to fade. "Remember Michiru, my death wasn't your fault."

Michiru closed her eyes and nodded, clinging to the blonde as tightly as she could. Her arms suddenly gave way and she opened her eyes. Haruka was gone. Fresh tears caused her vision to swim but she realized she still had the duster. A small smile formed on her face and she clung to the garment, smiling more as she inhaled the scent of the cologne and the traces of the wind that seemed to constantly cling to her lover.

Opening her eyes, she looked out over the newly blanketed Crystal Tokyo. The clouds were dissipating and the sun was just creeping over the horizon. The snow began to sparkle, making the city even more breathtaking. Michiru smiled and watched the sun come up, promising herself that she would hold on until Haruka or she found a way for the blonde to be returned to them.

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Haruka lifted her head weakly, sweat and blood covering her face and body. Her clothes were little better than tatters, barely held together. She cried out in pain as a spiked boot connected with her midsection. Defiantly, she lifted her head and spat at the owner of the boot. The owner, a large, burly man of six feet, smirked and kicked her again. He knelt down and hauled her to her feet, the chains holding her legs and arms clanking together.

"Bitch seems to have gotten the hang of astral projection," he chuckled darkly. He grinned, showing off brilliant white teeth.

"Damien, enough," a cold, suave voice ordered.

The burly man, Damien, dropped Haruka without a care. "But she could have warned them Luc..."

"No she couldn't have. The bond she has to us prevents that since I ordered it so." The man named Luc stepped into view. He wore black boots, black pants, and a loose black shirt. His eyes were dark brown and cold but they held a strong power there.

"Its still dangerous for her to be here," Damien insisted. "She could find a way around..."

"That, my friend, is impossible. We stole her corpse, revived her with the dark magicks, and turned her into one of us."

"But you said she would have a mate among us and she doesn't!"

"A minor set back. But she still belongs to us." Luc smirked, pulling Haruka to her knees. "Isn't that right?" Haruka spat blood at him which earned a vicious back hand from Luc. She fell to her side but pushed herself back up. "I said isn't that right?"

Haruka submissively lowered her head. "Yes...master..."

I hope it was good! Like I said, this story's taking a twist that I didn't foresee but I hope everyone likes it.

Now comes the time when all good readers hit the review button to tell me what they think. Chapters might take time to write between work and looking for additonal part time jobs but I plan to keep writing so rest assured in that. Now review please and thanks!