SORRY! I'm really sorry this part took so long (especially to Mantaray). I got kind of a little writer's block and it was month-end timing, my job was crazily busy. This is the fourth part. And no, this is not the last part cos i decided to split the last part up.
Please tell me what you think of this part! I love reviews!
Again, I'm sorry for the late update! Thanks for sticking with me! I want to thank everyone who reviewed, because you guys give me great motivation, without your reviews it'll be super hard for me to continue on. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the blending of the Sailormoon and time travel. The song mentioned here is "Somewhere Only We Know" by Keane.
"But why do you love me?" Michiru asked innocently, as she lay on her back on the grass in her backyard.
Haruka looked thoughtful for a while as she stared down at the little Michiru in front of her. She can't possibly tell 7 year old Michiru all of those things the Michiru she knows in the present wants to hear.
"Because you're cute," Haruka decided to say.
Michiru frowned and made a face at Haruka, "what if I grow up to become not cute?"
Haruka chuckled and sat beside Michiru, "you won't, trust me."
"How do you know? You've seen me in the future?" Michiru now sat up and looked at Haruka with eager blue eyes.
Haruka crossed her arms and smirked, "Top secret."
"Not fair!" Little Michiru slapped on Haruka's hand as hard as she could, which made Haruka laughed and tickled her, rolling her around the grass.
Neptune remained motionless even as Pluto tapped her from behind.
"Haruka, Mentos," Neptune whispered, seemingly to no one.
Pluto sighed.
Outside at the back yard, Pluto could hear Haruka and the little Michiru having fun teasing each other while playing word games fit for a 7 year old. Pluto knows it wouldn't be strange for Haruka to spot her; she is the Time Guardian after all. But what if Haruka spots Neptune?
Pluto put a hand on Neptune's shoulder and the hand stayed there. After a few seconds, Neptune suddenly whirled around, knocking Pluto's hands off.
"You knew this all the long didn't you?"
Pluto stayed silent.
"Even when I didn't even know Haruka yet, even when Sailor Uranus hasn't appeared once in front of us…"
Pluto was still silent.
"Why?!" Michiru demanded.
"I'm ordered not to say anything."
Michiru put her hands up in disbelief and sat at the dining table in the kitchen, away from the door to the backyard.
"And then I go on, rambling about how Sailor Uranus or Haruka, has never been in my life before I met her in the present but you knew and you chose not to tell me."
"Neptune, I am from your time two years ago. I don't know what will happen in the future; I only listen to the orders the Queen gave."
Neptune rested her head against her palms, with her elbows on the table.
Pluto, in her defense, continued "I've been trying to ask the reason why the Queen doesn't want me to help you find Uranus too!"
Neptune shook her head. "Then why am I here?"
Pluto, now sulked softly, "because the Queen ordered me to bring you here."
"The Queen, the Queen, the Queen. Why everything has to do with the Queen?"
"I can't defy her, can I?"
"She's still our good old Usagi at our time!"
"But I time travel like Haruka does and I see the real Queen sometimes who orders me around!"
Silence ensued as the two stared at each other fiercely, but Neptune was the first to shift away and started laughing a little. Which made Pluto laughed along as well.
"We're fighting like kids, aren't we?" Neptune said calmly now.
Pluto nodded. "This is your wish, isn't it?"
"I just wished to follow Haruka once in her time travelling, I never knew it would actually come true."
"Serenity must have heard it."
"She's like some divine power in the future."
"No, just a ruler of Crystal Tokyo. But for us, I guess she is."
"I don't remember having a headache like how Haruka does when she time travels."
"I took you in your sleep; you are technically, dreaming now."
"Oh."
"I LOVE YOU MENTOS! BYE BYE!" the little Michiru's scream burst into the kitchen, followed by a pair of little footsteps.
Little Michiru stared wide eyed at Neptune and Pluto in the kitchen.
"I remember that," Michiru said, amused.
Little Michiru started to scream, and in reflex, Pluto waved her staff once and they were gone.
The smell of Haruka's shampoo mixed with hers wafted into her nostrils. The feeling of a silk bed was comforting. Once again, Michiru heard the soft snores Haruka produces in deep tired sleep. Michiru opened her eyes to find her wife snuggled up beside her in bed, and she, in her nightgown on her bed, not in her sailor fuku anymore watching herself as a child playing with Haruka.
She turned her head to watch Haruka's calm sleeping face. Haruka, the love of all her life. Haruka takes so many identities in her life. Haruka her best friend, Haruka her lover, Haruka her wife, Haruka the other mother of her child, Haruka the time traveler, Haruka the genius racer, Haruka the genius pianist, Haruka the missing Sailor Uranus, Haruka the unknown Tenoh in the past. Now, Haruka, her childhood best friend, Mentos.
How ironic. She still remember clearly the times during and after their Senshi battle to end Silence she constantly laments to herself how this Haruka that Setsuna keeps talking about is never in her life. When she started dating the blonde sleeping beside her, she even hated Sailor Uranus, or AKA Haruka briefly, for being somebody invisible but a strong barrier blocking Michiru's path way. Setsuna was the one who kept reminding her that this somebody she has never met in the present was actually her past and future lover. And now she realizes, Haruka in the present, was actually all along in her entire life.
Queen Serenity didn't want them to meet, why? Setsuna had built an image of a benevolent Queen Serenity who wants nothing but the best for all her friends, her senshis, her family. Even the Usagi Michiru now knows further exemplified the image. So, why does Queen Serenity not wanting her to meet Haruka sound so much like an evil witch trying to separate two deeply passionate lovers apart.
Haruka is Mentos. Haruka obviously knew the little girl she's playing with is Michiru, why didn't Haruka tell her? Michiru now stare at Haruka's face, hoping for the eye lids to flutter and reveal the green eyes underneath, assuring Michiru what she saw in her dream was true. Her whole life revolves around this very person she love so much, from young till now, and she hoped, forever on. Smiling, Michiru gave Haruka a peck on the lips.
"Hmmm?" Haruka's voice was so cute.
"I love you," Michiru whispered.
Haruka gave a lazy sleepy smile, but one full of contentment. "I love you too…" as she trailed back into sleep.
Michiru gathered Haruka into a comfortable embrace and stroke Haruka's messy blonde hairs. She couldn't sleep, not after the excitement and realization that Haruka is Mentos. Happiness flowed through her, and she wanted so much to just shake Haruka awake and tell her she knows. But Queen Serenity was bothering her. Why such a decision?
It was not even 7 in the morning when Haruka woke up to an empty bed. Now Haruka, tussled hair but in jogging pants and sweater stood in front of a closed studio door in her house, with Michiru evidently busy inside.
Haruka scratched her head .It is not rare for Michiru to go missing suddenly in the night to her studio when a sudden inspiration hit her, but usually Michiru would open the door if she knocked.
Haruka knocked again, "Michiru?"
No answer, only the sound of shifting of boxes and shuffling of papers.
"I'm going for a run, I'll be back about an hour or two."
Still no answer.
Pausing for a while, Haruka wanted to knock again, just to make sure Michiru is alright inside. But before she could, the door swung right open.
"I found it!" Michiru, panting.
Haruka gave a puzzled look, before being pulled into the studio by Michiru.
Standing in the middle of a thoroughly messed studio, as if a whirlwind passed by, Haruka gaped.
"What…happened?"
Michiru let go of her and picked up a piece of drawing in the middle of the mess and handed to Haruka.
"Happy belated birthday present"
Haruka looked at the drawing. It's the view of Michiru's childhood house backyard, drawn so long ago the paper already turned yellow, but the drawing, entirely sketched in pencil that looked a little kiddy but still very good, was still intact. She saw this drawing few years ago, when she time travelled.
"Thanks…but why-"
The realization hit her.
"You know?!"
Michiru giggled.
"How?" Haruka scratched her head in disbelief.
Michiru circled her arms around Haruka and pulled her close.
"Does it matter?"
Haruka shook her head weakly, but her eyes shifted away to stare far off.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Haruka chuckled, still not looking at Michiru's deep blue eyes on her. "I thought I best leave your childhood alone."
"You think I wouldn't be happy to know my wife is my childhood hero?"
"No, but rather, I thought you wouldn't like it if you knew I knew all about you."
Michiru looked puzzled.
"I respect your privacy about those stuff you don't want to talk about, but seems like I violated them."
Michiru sighed. Haruka was right. There were things like her father's death, her mother' death, the abuse she suffered after her father died, the bullying at school when she's in elementary school, even her love and hate for Mentos whom she thought abandoned her after she finished fourth grade. She never told Haruka any of those, and Haruka kindly only asked once, no more. Michiru always thought Haruka didn't care for her past, just like how Michiru doesn't care for Haruka's past, even though Michiru would still force bits of information out on Haruka before meeting her. Michiru thought Haruka was brilliant; not knowing her past, but knowing how to avoid talking about everything that is sensitive to her past. But now, Michiru realizes, Haruka knew all along.
"I didn't think you would want to hear that your wife has a highly problematic childhood. Besides, I keep telling myself sometimes Mentos might be my own imaginations."
Haruka leaned her chin against Michiru's forehead.
"Mentos, Haruka, Haruka, Mentos. No wonder you two have the same eyes."
Haruka chuckled.
"Am I forgiven?"
"I was never angry with at you."
"Then tell me how you know?"
Michiru pulled back from the embrace and flashed a mischievous smile.
"I time travel too, a little differently."
"Tenoh Haruka crosses the finish line on pole postion! Oh how we missed this sensation the last season!!" the television blared as Hotaru, Setsuna, Michiru (feeding Enya) sat around watching it.
Hotaru was more interested in being fascinated by 3 month old Enya, while Michiru's eyes were flickering from the TV to her baby daughter. Setsuna half slept through the race, occasionally mumbling a "Haruka better win or I'll kick her ass."
"Setsuna, Haruka already won," Michiru repeated for her friend.
"Hmm? She won?! After not sleeping last night?" Setsuna now sat upright and stared at the television.
Michiru laughed.
"She is one hell of an energy ball," Setsuna rubbed her dark circles tired eyes.
"What did you guys talk about for the whole night?"
"Hmm? Enya, you and Hotaru.She made me tell her everything that happened the past two weeks, which I told her can be summed up in one word: Nothing," Setsuna yawned and said.
Enya started to move around, indicating she's already had her fill of her mother's milk for lunch.
Hotaru held out a finger near Enya's hands and her tiny hands grabbed onto Hotaru's finger.
"Mama, mama! Enya is holding me!" Hotaru excitedly squealed.
Michiru smiled and put an arm around around Hotaru, drawing her 7 year old daughter into an embrace.
"The second crosses the line, half a minute after Tenoh Haruka is his team mate, Yano Ethan! This young man improved so much over the last season!"
"Isn't that the pretty boy who was performing along Haruka last year?" Setsuna mused aloud.
Michiru's ears twitched. "Pretty boy?"
"That Yano Ethan," Setsuna pointed to the television.
"Ho ho, my friend, for the first time, has shown interest in somebody."
"What are you talking about? I'm just saying he looks nice!"
Hotaru, of all people, spoke up. "Setsuna-mama never called anyone pretty other than the senshis."
"Ho ho."
Setsuna blushed a light shade of pink, but before she could respond the house phone rang, in perfect sync with the television showing Haruka using her cell phone. Michiru pressed the speaker button on.
"Hello?"
"Haruka-"
"Papa!!"
"Hey hey, I won," Delight, evident in her voice.
"Obviously, blondie. Or I would've did anything to get your head for losing after you kept me awake last night," Setsuna cut in, bitterly.
Haruka laughed over the phone.
"Haruka, you can pay Setsuna back in one way" Michiru chirped.
"Eh?"
"Michiru! Don't you-"
Michiru picked up the receiver and switched the speaker off.
"Setsuna is kind of into cute boys, like your partner in the racing team."
Setsuna went wide eyed and made a grab for the receiver, but Michiru dodged and held a innocent cute and awake Enya in front of her and close to her like a shield. Setsuna crumbled at the sight of Enya, but continued to send vicious glares at Michiru.
"Bring him over for dinner for our dear friend."
Setsuna's red eyes turn dark red and slits. Michiru ignored her and laughed.
"Okay, see you soon," and Michiru hung up the receiver and looked in mischief at Setsuna.
"Saturday night."
Setsuna's vicious glares turn into death glares, which she maintained until now, three days later,at both Haruka and Michiru. It's a Saturday night at a posh restaurant in Tokyo, where the ambience is just right for a gathering, or rather, a double date.
Haruka gave her a hard nudge across a narrow space as Michiru and Ethan were engage in light conversation across the same narrow space. Oddly, they were sitting in two different tables, with a couple like dining for Setsuna and Ethan, while Michiru and Haruka looked like young parents bringing their kids out for dinner on a weekend night. Hotaru sat between Michiru and Haruka (who were opposite each other) on one side, while Enya laid sleeping in the pram on the other.
Setsuna glared at Haruka, who was grinning like a fool.
"Meioh-san?" Ethan now called, which snapped Setsuna's head and expression to stare at light blue eyes that looked shallow and deep at the same time.
Setsuna gave an awkward chuckle and slight blush at being caught like a little kid glaring at her naughty best friends.
Ethan smiled again, "I haven't formally introduced myself. I'm Yano Ethan." And he held out his hand.
Setsuna shook that outstretched hand. "Meioh Setsuna, it's a pleasure." That boy is sure cute.
"I hear Michiru-san say you are a doctor by profession?"
Something about Ethan calling Michiru by her first name stir an unknown suspicion in her. "Yes, I'm a doctor specializing in neurology surgery and research at Juuban district hospital."
Ethan smiled again and glance very briefly at a Michiru laughing over Haruka's joke, " whoa, you're such a reputable doctor at such a young age?"
Setsuna laughed and sighed, "I'm not all that young."
The waiter interrupted their conversation to take their orders, which Setsuna noticed Ethan glanced at Michiru several times. Ethan picked a simple fish and chips dish, while Setsuna ordered chicken stew. Beside her table, Setsuna sighed happily and embarrassingly at the scene Hotaru, Haruka and Michiru created, bickering over what each of them should eat. Finally, they all settled for a seafood platter mixture plus a plate of salad and Michiru's favourite, sashimi (special order Haruka placed with the chef).
This time, Setsuna caught Ethan staring at Michiru for long. "Yano-san?"
No response.
"Yano-san? " a little louder this time.
"S-sorry?"
Setsuna smiled. "Michiru's a beauty isn't she?"
Ethan blushed beet red, "No! I mean yes! Oh man. What am I doing, I'm sorry, forgive me."
Setsuna's smile turn a little sadder. This always happens. "Well I don't blame you, you're not the first."
"No no, I mean, you're beautiful too, believe me."
"Thank you," Setsuna returned, a little unenthusiastically.
A while of awkward silence evolved, before Ethan stood up. "Uh…gents."
Setsuna nodded without looking at him, as he walked away from the table, but not to the washrooms. Haruka bent over while Michiru leaned closer to her over the narrow walkway separating the two tables.
"I heard that," Haruka, amused.
Michiru giggled, "Aren't you honoured?"
Haruka smirked, "Too bad he's not gay or he'll be crushing over me."
Setsuna faked vomit action, "I will kill you two after this."
"Setsuna-mama you don't like Yano-san?" Hotau asked with big eyes.
Setsuna shook her head, then nodded it, then shook it again, "I don't know. He's giving me a little creeps, but he's nice."
"Incoming."
And they all returned to their normal positions as Haruka sounded the warning.
"Meioh-san, forgive me," and Ethan held out a bunch of wild flowers wrapped in a newspaper that looked hand-picked instead being bought from the nearby florist, panting like a dog.
Haruka closed her mouth with her hand and broke into silent giggle while Michiru was wide eyed. Hotaru laughed happily. Setsuna, for the first time in her life, was actually touched by a guy other than her dear future King. She took the flowers and stared at it.
"Yano-san I-"
Ethan smiled and held up his hand, "It's okay, thank me by enjoying your dinner with me."
Setsuna smiled one of the rare cheesy smiles Haruka and Michiru hardly saw, but only for a short while, because Tenoh Enya chose the perfect (or perfectly horrible) time to cry, breaking the moment, turning all the adults' attention towards her, and an overly concerned Hotaru.
Yano Ethan sure left a lasting impression on Michiru, and it was only the second time she ever met him in person.
Haruka cannot exactly put it to words, but staring at a baby Enya 3-months-old and recalling how she will look like when she's fifteen is fascinating, even though Enya's deep baby blue eyes remind herof something faraway she can't exactly point on. Enya made baby grunts as Haruka scooped her little blonde baby out of the crib and held her up high against the light. It was night time, and everyone was asleep but her. Not that she didn't want to sleep, but she couldn't, for some reason unknown to her.
Setsuna was so happy after came home that she was whistling, for the first time Haruka ever heard.
Haruka smiled as her daughter looked at her innocently with her big blue eyes filled with innocence.
"Enya. Tenoh Enya. Yaya!"
Enya reached out her tiny small hands to grab Haruka, but all she found was air. Haruka laughed and brought her baby close to her, stroking the baby's back. Now Enya's fists clutch onto her Papa's night shirt tightly with a force that makes Haruka proud; she's a strong baby.
Michiru was so tired after they came home she went straight to bed after breast feeding Enya, which leaves Haruka to tuck in Hotaru while Setsuna disappeared happily into her basement library, and to look after an adorable Enya. Haruka, till now, couldn't believe it's her own child with Michiru whenever she sits down and stares at her child for prolonged periods. It's times like this she would let reality consume her as she time travels in her own mind replaying all the events in her life that eventually lead up to this bliss she feels now.
Haruka shifted her cradling position to stretch a little and immediately, Enya didn't like it and show it by crying.
"Sh-shit, oops, no, no, I'm sorry…" Haruka whispered to her baby as she shifted Enya back to the original position and stroke her back.
Enya just kept crying.
Haruka continued carrying her for a little while more, but Enya didn't stop.
For the past 26 years of her life, Haruka never felt that helpless before.
Haruka was frantic, she looked around and carried a crying Enya out to the balcony where the air is more cooling and cradle her there for a while. The wind played with her hair and the baby's, caressing both their skins.
Enya still cried.
Goodness, Haruka was sweating even in the cool.
She walked out of the balcony and down the stairs where Michiru's large studio was, and where the piano and various musical instruments were. Holding Enya with one hand balancing against her chest, Haruka opened and closed the studio room door, flipped the lights and sat in front of the piano.
Using one hand, Haruka played and sang softly.
"I walked across an empty land,
I knew the pathway like the back of my hand.
I felt the earth beneath my feet,
Sat by the river and it made me complete.
Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on.
So tell me when you're gonna let me in,
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin.
I came across a fallen tree,
I felt the branches; are they looking at me?
Is this the place we used to love?
Is this the place that I've been dreaming of?"
Enya stopped crying and stare at her Papa. Haruka smiled but quickly continued as she saw Enya's face from calm turn into a frown threatening to cry.
"Oh simple thing where have you gone?
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on
So tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin
So if you have a minute why don't we go
Talk about it somewhere only we know?
This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go
Somewhere only we know?"
Enya started to smile and her tiny hands flail around, as if moving to the music Haruka created. Hruka smiled and continued her feat.
"Oh simple thing where have you gone?
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on
So tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin
So if you have a minute why don't we go
Talk about it somewhere only we know?
This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go
So why don't we go
This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go
Somewhere only we know?"
Enya was laughing by the time Haruka finished her song and now Haruka held her up happily laughing along with her daughter. Enya's eyes were thin lines and her face full of happiness at her Papa's song.
"You finally stopped crying my little devil," Haruka teased and heaved a huge sigh of relief, even though Enya does not understand.
Enya's eyes looked over Haruka and she laughed again.
"I've never heard that song before," Michiru stated in a matter-of-factly leaning against the doorframe of her studio.
Haruka didn't bother to turn back to respond, but motioned for Michiru to join her in the piano seat, which Michiru complied. Putting her now free arm around Michiru and pulling Michiru into her embrace with Enya hugged closely on the other side, Haruka smiled.
"I love you two with all my life's worth."
It is a weird feeling, standing at the edge of a huge crowd after committing a crime of robbing some drunkard of their clothes and money and staring at an Orchestra giving an open air performance in broad daylight. She scanned through the boards, and found the date. 30 years from where was from, staring at Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. Haruka smiled and blended into the crowd enjoying the fee music in her ears as the Orchestra started their pieces.
They played beautifully as she expected, with the duet of male violinist standing out in the crowd and the female cellist blending in together perfectly, like they're lovers. They probably are, with the way they play with all their feelings put together to produce a beautiful melody. Haruka was mesmerized, but something was familiar about the two. Their music brought Haruka a smile, as it reminds her of how Michiru and her were. She could do a duet with Michiru too, and tour around playing such beautiful music, and the whole world would feel the love they had for each other. They could do a duet of a lullaby for Enya, and also a song dedicated to their Senshi family. Hell, they could have their own duet concert!
She felt her shirt tugged and she looked around, then down to see a little girl she instantly recognizes.
"It's Grandma and Grandpa's performance together," the little girl chirped happily
Haruka's green eyes instantly widens and darkens.
"Tenoh Enya," Haruka whispered hoarsely in shock.
Enya, or the little blonde girl with shoulder length hair and deep blue eyes that looked just exactly like Michiru's, giggled the giggle that sounded perfectly like Michiru's.
"Papa where are you from?"
"I'm 26, you?"
"I'm 9. You look the same as yourself in my time."
Haruka held Enya by the shoulders and steadied them to look seriously into Enya's eyes.
"You time travel?!"
That was loud. Some people turned around to look at them.
"You don't know yet?"
"You're a baby where I come from for goodness sake!"
Enya smiled, "I wanna see how I look like when I'm a baby too."
Haruka shook her head and frowned as she let go of her grip on Enya's shoulders. "Does your mother know? How is she?"
"Mama knows, but because I can control certain aspects of time travelling thanks to Setsuna-obasan."
Obasan sounded horribly funny in Haruka's ears. But serious things first.
"Like what?"
"Sometimes I can time travel to places and times I want, sometimes I can time travel voluntarily. Like today, I time travel here on my own after seeing an old advertisement Mama keeps in the storeroom on Grandma and Grandpa's concert. But other times, like when I'm stressed out or scared, then I'll time travel like you, not knowing when and where."
"How do you get your clothes?"
Enya smiled a cheeky smile, "Setsuna-obasan says it's a secret between me and her."
Haruka crossed her arms. Enya time travels! How is Michiru going to react when she finds out this. But at the very least, Enya is safe, all the way till she's fifteen at least.
"Papa, look at Grandma and Grandpa! I came here specially to hear them!" Enya pointed at the duet tiptoeing to her best efforts.
That explains the familiarity.
The shock of Enya time travelling made Haruka bolt upright as she arrived back into her present time naked in the garden sitting on a hot grass on a hot summer's day.
"Haruka?" Michiru called from the house, looking out of the kitchen window to the back yard.
Haruka held her breath as she silently and calmly searched for her clothes, put them on, and made straight for the kitchen, where Michiru was preparing lunch and she, doing some gardening when she time travelled. Michiru was still cooking with Hotaru now helping her enthusiastically, while Haruka searched around the house until she found Setsuna playing with an awakened Enya on the sofa in the living room.
Haruka looked over Setsuna's shoulders and breathed out her breath.
Setsuna turned to face Haruka and frowned. "Why are you sighing?"
Haruka looked around and checked for Michiru's movements, and sat beside Setsuna.
"Look, Sets, do me a favour, the biggest favour I can ever ask from you."
Setsuna eyed Haruka doubtfully. "I haven't got my revenge for setting me up with Yano Ethan 2 weeks ago on you."
"It worked out well, didn't it?"
"Well-" Setsuna paused. "We've been talking, you know, texting and calling each other, though we haven't met."
Haruka smiled, but only a smile, not her usual arrogant smirk, which made Setsuna frowned even more.
"What's up with you?"
"Sets, promise me you'll do me the favour."
"I need to know what is it first, if I can do it or not."
Haruka sighed. "You know I time travel , right?"
Setsuna nodded.
"Well, I just did it again. I went back 30 years only to watch a concert with 9 year old Enya beside e telling me the two soloists are Michiru' parents."
Setsuna froze her movments seemingly in deep thought for a while, and defrosted and shook her head. "Repeat."
"Sets my daughter time travels like me!" Haruka hissed as she spots Michiru bringing out a dish from the kitchen onto the dining table, not far from where they are.
"So she's like you, yeah?"
"She says you will help her, something to do with teaching her how to control time travelling and letting her bring her clothes or what clothes with her."
"Really?" Setsuna didn't sound convinced.
Haruka nodded profusely.
"I afraid I don't, not now."
"You will," Haruka asserted firmly.
Setsuna looked doubtful again.
"Look, you can start by studying me."
"Haruka, I can't just out the blue-"
"You're a neurosurgeon, and the time gate's guardian and you have a hospital with an underground lab to do anything. Who else is more fitting to help Enya than you?"
"You have never-"
"If there's a chance to help my daughter have a better time in her travels than mine I would give anything, please, Sets."
There was no joke in Haruka's voice, only the tone of firmness and pleading. They stared at each other in silence for a few seconds, before Setsuna reluctantly nodded.
"I'll do what I can."
"It'll hurt a little, but you wanted this," Setsuna's voice loomed over Haruka's consciousness.
Haruka grunted in reply, as Setsuna injected a needle and drew out a syringe of blood from her. The white lights of the familiar underground lab at Juuban hospital, where Dr Lua conducts all her experiments and gave Haruka and Michiru their miracle, was somewhat hypnotizing, after Haruka stared at it for long. Setsuna 'borrowed' the lab, or so she says, which Haruka believed she just snucked the keys out of Dr Lua's lockers one of the days before. Setsuna'a bright white coat wasn't doing Haruka any good either, in concentrating to staying awake.
"I'm going to use electricity to induce you to time travel by making you stressed out, then I'm going to record down your brain activity. This is our first time so it might not work. You have to bear with me, and the pain."
Haruka closed her eyes and waited for the pain.
Michiru was at home with Enya and Hotaru, thinking the both of them went out for a movie and some shopping together. She would probably jump at knowing what they were doing, and faint if she hears Enya time travelling like Haruka does in the future. Haruka couldn't allow that; she would never, over her dead body, allow herself to let Enya suffer like how she did.
The pain came, and the jolt came from Haruka's hands right up to her arms, crawling to her neck and finally, her brain that gave her an instant flash of headache and a spell of throbbing head. Few seconds later, to Setsuna's delight (Haruka heard her squeal in success), she time travelled.
Haruka opened her eyes and waited for the pain again.
Only this time, it is a different kind of pain; the pain of separation from her family through time, the pain of bright sunlight hitting her eyes like arrows when she closed them and was adjusted to the darkeness moments ago, and the pain of finding where is she and robbing some drunkard again, unless she transformed to fight off anything. But the smell of moon flowers, and fresh scent of grass was familiar. She looked around her surroundings. A big fountain, in the middle of a field with little but significant grand decorations to symbolize and present the majestic and holiness of the place she was in.
"Tenoh Haruka, isn't it?" a gentle voice sounded behind her.
Haruka whirled around to find herself face to face, for the second time, with Queen Serenity.
"Uranus, from the present time," Serenity greeted in the usual gentle voice she has.
Haruka held her breath as she looked at Queen Serenity. Beautiful, is an understatement. Usagi, no Serenity, looked like a complete angel in her white dress, completed with perfect complexion and big light blue eyes that held experience, while retaining a little innocence in them. Her blonde were longer than Haruka remembered and what Haruka sees in Usagi, and they looked like they were dancing in the wind.
"Uranus, I called you here from your time travel for a reason."
Haruka stared into the light blue eyes, but frowned a little at the tone of her Queen's voice.
"You are a time traveler because our ancestors who reincarnated us from the Silver Millenium altered your genes mistakenly."
"I know that," Haruka's short reply.
"I know you've had a rough time dealing with this problem of time travelling."
Haruka thought for a while, before nodding once.
"Not only you, but others as well around you, I'm sure you know-"
"Michiru doesn't deserve this."
"I'm glad you got what I mean," and the Queen smiled.
Haruka frowned deeper, "no Queen, I haven't."
The Queen walked past Haruka in silence to the fountain nearby and bent to scoop a handful of water, letting it slip past her hand and fall back into the fountain; displacing it and replacing it.
"The time gate has a reason for its existence," Serenity played with the water again.
Haruka stayed silent as her gaze followed her Queen's hand.
"It helps us change things that happened in the past that would affect the future."
Haruka was now disturbed by the Queen's continued playing of the fountain water. With a swift movement, Serenity now scooped some water up with her hands still and poured them on the ground.
"Time is like water, it flows and takes shape that would become our future. To change it, the only way we have is to change the shape of the container which contains the water. Likewise, to change the future, we have to change some things that would disrupt the flow of time, but getting to the desired future we want."
"What do you want me to do?" Haruka asked, obvious to her what Serenity is requesting for would not be good. She replayed her memories through her head now, of the past 2 years of her life if anything was bizarre. Probably the most bizarre of all was the Queen's instructions not to find Neptune, and the future her passing her notes of what attack at which direction and what place and when to throw them to help the fellow senshis she's not supposed to meet under the Queen's wishes. Then this must be-
"I know you feel no necessity for my actions, but you will know in the future why I ask of you to change the past, prevent yourself from meeting Michiru."
Maybe this was it, that led to her bizarre fight against Silence alone. Haruka nodded.
Serenity sighed, "You said it yourself, Michiru-san doesn't deserve this…"
"What will happen to her?"
Serenity smiled sad smile, "You will see, soon enough."
Before Haruka knew it, the white lighting of the underground basement lab was blinding her, as she tried to sit up and shake her head off her strange encounter with the Queen.
"Where did you go? Are you feeling okay?" Setsuna concerned voice sounded.
Haruka tried to look up, but the white bright lights were making her head throb so hard that she couldn't see properly. Only Setsuna's dark silhouette was visible to her against the bright white lights.
"Haruka?" her name, called out.
"Haruka?" Again.
Haruka tried to blink profusely, but her vision blurred and darkened further.
"Haruka!" What's wrong?
She could see nothing now. She felt a hand tugging her arm.
"Haruka? Haruka!" Why is her name being repeatedly called?
"Haruka…" Michiru?
"I cannot live without you…please…" Michiru!
Her vision lightened to see a sunset beach she recognizes as the one near her home, with Michiru standing at the edge of the water in a white dress back facing her.
Michiru was sobbing before it evolved into anguish cries towards the sea.
Haruka felt sand beneath her feet as her senses regained one by one slowly. She could hear the sound of the waves crashing onto the beach now as she stood there waiting for recovery. She looked at her hands, which were surprisingly gloved, and then at her feet. She was wearing boots. Now she scanned through her body, she was Uranus!
"I want to follow you…"
Michiru's voice snapped Uranus's attention towards her.
Somewhere in Michiru's direction, a cell phone rang, loud and disturbing.
Michiru sighed, and took out the cell phone. She stared at the display for a while, before throwing it hard towards the sea.
Uranus remained motionless, as though she was frozen involuntarily, no matter how much she wanted to go forward and embrace Michiru.
Michiru turned around and Uranus finally saw Michiru face to face.
"Michiru!!" Haruka bolted right up, but felt her whole body covered in sweat.
"Haruka! Are you alright?!" Setsuna rushed to her side.
"Where is Michiru? Where?!"
"Haruka?"
"Michiru…phone phone, yes the phone," Haruka got up unsteadily and swayed around while Setsuna struggled to steady her and pull her back to the bed.
"Where are you going!"
"Where the hell is my phone?" Haruka whispered as she uses all her might overpowering Setsuna's tug and reached around looking for her cell phone.
"Haruka! Don't!" As Haruka fling her arm around feeling for her phone, knocking off numerous test tubes and things onto the floor from the tables around.
Setsuna stepped in and blocked Haruka's path as Haruka collapses onto her in her weak state but Haruka felt a phone in Setsuna's coat pocket, which she made a grab for it and dragged Setsuna down onto the floor onto her as she held onto the phone.
Instantly, Haruka dialed Michiru's number and put the phone to he ears.
"Hello Setsuna!"
"Michiru?"
"Haruka?" Michiru sounded surprised.
"Where are you…"
"At home, why are you using Setsuna's phone?" Haruka could hear Hotaru laughing and Enya baby grunts of happiness in the background.
Haruka chuckled weakly and lightly into the phone.
"Haruka?"
"Nothing…I love you..."
"I love you too. Are you okay? You sound exhausted."
Haruka chuckled again into the phone. "I'm fine, I'll come home soon."
"Okay, drive carefully."
Silence.
"I know, I hang up."
And click, when the phone to dial tone.
Setsuna eyed her doubtful in her sitting position beside Haruka, in the middle of a mess of broken glass and apparatus and documents sprawled all over the underground laboratory floor.
"Can I have my phone back?" Setsuna irritated, said.
Haruka handed the phone over, and Setsuna got up to stare at the mess and at Haruka, now sitting on the floor but looking like she's a thousand miles away in her own world.
"What's wrong, Haruka?"
Haruka said nothing.
"You have to tell me what the cause of this…mess is." Setsuna tried to bite back her sarcarsm but Haruka did act horribly childish after she woken up from her fainting spell, which annoyed her.
Haruka sighed and buried her head in her knees. "I saw Michiru in my dream…or time travel… I don't know…"
"And?"
Haruka gulped. "Attempting suicide by cutting her wrist…"
Michiru understood why Usagi is crying beside her now, but she is helpless to console her future Queen. Like always, senshi lives are always un-normal, prior to what outsiders who don't know they are sailor senshis might think, and might say when an abnormality is discovered.
Enya and Chibiusa laid side by side on Michiru and Haruka's bed, both rolling and playing around the bed protected by pillows and bolsters Michiru and Usagi stacked along the edges to prevent them from falling off. They were about the same size, and they were both curious about each other. 5 month old Enya rolled onto her stomach and stared at Chibiusa with her big blue eyes, and Chibiusa repeated the action and stared at Enya. Normal mothers would have laughed at their children doing that, but not for Usagi, whose Chibiusa was already almost a year and half old, but an infant, not a toddler.
"What did the doctor say?" Michiru asked, putting a comforting arm around Usagi's back.
"He said…Chibiusa…might have brain damage that caused her growth to halt…" Usagi sniffed and said at the same time.
Michiru sighed. It going to take a lot of things before they finally see the Chibiusa who time travelled by the time gate to the preset to train.
Outside, Haruka and Setsuna could do nothing as Mamoru also cried, but silently, and Haruka thought, quite manly.
"Hey Mamoru, you saw Chibiusa from the future she will be fine."
"But I never remembered Small Lady having any-" Haruka put a hand and covered Setsuna's mouth to stop her from talking.
"Late bloomers are very common," Haruka tried a smile as she struggled physically with Setsuna.
Setsuna's hand slapped Haruka's hard.
Mamoru gave a slight smile and calm down, but tears started rolling after that. Haruka sighed, Setsuna sighed, Michiru sighed, as their afternoon was spent trying to console the two parents who are desperately worried about the future princess of Crystal Tokyo.
"Yaya! Enya!" Haruka used a goofy smile to humor Enya, as Enya gave a baby laugh Haruka and Michiru loved to hear so much.
Michiru smiled as she stole a glance at the two sitting around the table in the kitchen as she prepared dinner for the both of them. Setsuna was out working, while Hotaru was in the living room drawing on a drawing block for her art homework.
"Yaya! Yaya. Yaya. " Haruka repeated, mouthing the words in full as she held Enya in the air up and down, giving Enya something like a mini roller coaster effect. Enya liked it, and laughed happily with her Papa.
Michiru put the eggs onto the plate and brought the last dish out onto the dining table, as Hotaru ran and followed her into the kitchen.
"Michiru-mama! Michiru-mama! See this!"
Michiru glanced at the drawing and was stumped. Hotaru was a genius with her family portrait! It was so well drawn for an 8 year old, or rather, it could easily pass off as something Michiru had drawn for her art exihibits. Michiru took the drawing and showed it to Haruka as she seated beside Haruka around the table and Hotaru climbed on the chair and kneeled on the chair as she leaned her elbows on her table, eager to see her parents' reaction.
"Wow. Hotaru you sure this is not a photograph?" Haruka teased.
"I drew it!" Hotaru asserted, but happy with Haruka's reaction.
"I love it!" Haruka say as she flipped Enya to a sitting position on her lap to let the baby see the picture too.
Michiru smiled as she saw Enya glanced through the family portrait that looked like a close up photograph and Hotaru, Setsuna, Haruka, Enya and her in an embrace.
"Yaya."
Michiru and Haruka went wide eyed. Hotaru laughed even more happily as Enya touched her own face n the portrait.
"Yaya."
Michiru used her apron in an un-elegant fashion and rubbed both her ears.
Enya flailed her hands around as she laughed and repeated. "Yaya!"
Haruka looked at Michiru, who looked back at Haruka and both of them broke out wide smiles.
"Yes, Yaya! Yaya!" Haruka looked at Michiru playfully and held Enya high up and laughed happily as Michiru wanted to take Enya and embrace her as well. It evolved into a mock fight over Enya, which left both of them laughing their hearts out.
"Enya knows her own nickname!" Hotaru exclaimed, a little belatedly.
Michiru and Haruka laughed again, along with Enya.
Later that night, after they tucked both Enya and Hotaru to bed, Haruka pulled Michiru out on to the balcony and embraced her wife. Michiru leaned into Haruka's body and Haruka rested her chin on Michiru's head, as the night sea breeze and the sounds of waves accompanied their comfort.
"We both lost the bet, Enya called her now name first instead of Mama or Dada," Michiru sighed happily.
Haruka chuckled, and faked a depress tone. "I really wanted that cookie you promised to bake me if you lost."
"And I really wanted the dinner you promised to cook me if you lost."
Michiru pulled away a little to look at Haruka in the dim lighting they had in the balcony. "We could do something else to make us both happy."
Haruka smirked.
Michiru gave a sudden loud yelp as Haruka scoops her up in her arms, catching Michiru totally by surprise then kissing her deeply on the mouth.
"Of course," Haruka replied when they broke apart for air, as she made their way to the bedroom.
It's been one year since Setsuna and her attempts to study her time travel genes and devised a way to help Enya potentially control time travelling, but nothing seemed to be working as they tried and tried. Haruka used all methods Setsuna suggested, from concentrating hard on a time to even staring at a photo of a specific event in a specific time. But nothing worked for Haruka. She concentrated hard once on the image of Michiru's childhood back yard but ended up walking around in the streets of New York when Setsuna used electricity to induce her to time travel, now when she stared hard at the picture of Hotaru's 3rd birthday celebrations she ended up in Michiru's apartment rooftop when Michiru is 9.
"Mentos, hear this piece I composed!"
Haruka smiled at 9 year old Michiru as she started to play her violin on some melody Haruka recognizes to be part of a song called 'Before Sunset' in Michiru's own CDs. Also, the only part Haruka though it sounded…horribly depressing, but then the last part of it lifts the depressing mood up, a little.
"It's a little depressing…" Haruka commented after Michiru finished the piece.
"I know, but I use to remember my father by…"
"So depressing?" Haruka raised an eye brow.
Michiru smiled at Haruka. "Well, it expresses how I feel about his death…"
"What about the last part?"
"It's to thank somebody, a stranger."
Haruka now raised both eye brows. "Who?"
Michiru smiled a little sad smile. "Somebody who saved us and sacrificed his or her life. I don't know who, because even the hospital couldn't identify the body, and nobody reported anybody like the person missing."
"What happened?"
"I haven't told you before?"
Haruka shook her head, as Michiru scratched her head.
"Some stranger saved me and my mother, but died along with my father along before taking down the three robbers."
"Oh." And there was a moment of silence.
Michiru never mentioned what had happened during the robbery that led to her father's death, and the knowledge of having an extra person inside saving them unnerved Haruka a little.
"Mentos?"
"Hmm?"
"Am I cursed?"
Haruka gave a smile, "A stranger did a good thing by saving you. You should treasure life."
"But I caused my father and this savior to die…even my mother calls mean accursed child…"
"Come here," Haruka motioned Michiru to approached her until Michiru is within Haruka's reach before Haruka pulled the 9 year old into a comforting hug.
"But you're the best thing that ever happened to me." Haruka whispered into 9 year old Michiru's ear.
Haruka felt herself warped back into the present and opened her eyes to look skeptically at Setsuna.
"I went to the time when Michiru's 9."
"Oh, so you failed."
"WE, failed." Haruka turned to the side of the bed where Setsuna was standing beside and sat up.
Setsuna sighed and sat down beside Haruka on the bed in the underground lab.
"I'm sorry, but I really can't find anything linking to your time travelling habits."
Haruka sighed, "It's okay, but you will."
"It's encouraging to know I will succeed in a few years."
Haruka smirked a little. "We should go research first with data we have, before Michiru starts suspecting we two are having an extra maritial affair with our late night outings."
Setsuna slaps Haruka playfully on the back hard.
A few days ago, Michiru was casually repairing her make up in the female washroom when her orchestra colleague, also a new mother and around her age, walked in.
"Tenoh-san, didn't expect to see you here, " her colleague greeted.
Michiru stopped to give polite smile and bow.
"I'm envious of you, we're both about the same age and you look as if you're still 20 only after becoming a mother! But look at me, my wrinkles are showing."
Michiru smiled, but what her colleague said was really true.
Like now, Michiru observe in senshi gathering at her house for dinner, everyone looked the same as she had met them almost ten years ago. Sure, they grew a little more mature looking, but pretty much stay there, suck in the middle of maturity and innocence. Even Usagi.
"So how is Chibisusa?" Rei asked over the dinner table.
Usagi glanced at the crib where Enya and Chibiusa were put in it together to play together. "The doctors couldn't find anything wrong with her, and even did a MRI on her."
Mamoru sighed, as the rest of the senshis stopped their eating, even Hotaru.
"I don't know what to do…" Usagi was threatening to cry again.
"But but but, we did see Chibiusa fine didn't we?" Ami tried to talk some assurance into Usagi.
"My poor Chibiusa…" Usagi's tears threatened to drop as her eyes watered up.
"Ahh Usagi-chan! Chibiusa will be fine! Maybe she's a very late bloomer!" Makoto tried.
"Yes yes! Besides, Crystal Tokyo is not here yet!" Minako added on.
Haruka and Setsuna sighed, but Michiru of all people, spoke the most logical explanation. "Actually, I think Chibiusa's time slowed down, or maybe paused."
Everyone's attention turned towards Michiru.
"Don't you notice? Everyone around us ages but us. I'm 26 and I don't have a single wrinkle yet, which I find quite unusual, though I'm not complaining."
Setsuna nodded.
"Maybe Crystal Tokyo is coming, hence we're waiting for it so our time is paused thanks to oursenshi powers."
Setsuna nodded in approval.
"Maybe Chibiusa is not growing up, because we all know ten years ago, Chibiusa from the future said she grew up in Crystal Tokyo. "
Usagi's tears dried and Mamoru looked pleasantly surprise.
"But how do we know it's coming, or it came?" Minako asked.
"You all will know naturally, the flow of events will eventually lead up to Crystal Tokyo soon. " Setsuna now added.
Everyone nodded in approval except Michiru.
"Which brings me to a question, how old are you Setsuna?"
Haruka burst out laughing as Setsuna eyes widened and leaned backwards.
"You saw it that time, didn't you?"
It?
"Uranus, you will agree with me, won't you?"
Haruka opened her eyes to find herself standing in the middle of the Crystal Tokyo palace garden, the same spot last year in which she remembered Queen Serenity and her disturbing encounter.
"You saw Michiru attempting to commit suicide, didn't you?"
So it wasn't a bad dream like Setsuna explained.
"I take it as a yes if you're recalling."
"Why?" Haruka asked, even though she already knew.
"Because of you…" Serenity sadly said.
"It's not like I want to die," Haruka looked away.
Serenity responded in a sad chuckle. She went to fountain and scooped water up and down again.
"I have a way to prevent all these tragedy."
Haruka snapped her attention at Serenity's back view.
"Pluto and I can change the past and create a future that Michiru doesn't have to commit suicide over…and I won't have so many things to do to cover up all the misery that our ancestor's mistakes casued."
"What?"
"I mean Enya and Hotaru…they suffer too. But they requested I not tell you any of it."
"Where are they??" Haruka was frantic.
"Uranus, you would do anything not to let the both of three suffer, right?"
"Of course!"
"Don't meet Michiru. Don't find Neptune."
Haruka stared at Serenity is disbelief.
"It's not permanent thing, but we can solve your time travelling problem when Setsuna and close the time gates completely and seal it. Then you'll find Michiru and live. None of the misery will happen."
"Not meeting Michiru?"
"Yes, alter the history. Convince you in the past not to look for Michiru and don't give any information on her whereabouts or her identity."
Haruka recalled the days when she was young and all the notes that she received to be where, stay hidden and throw attacks at which direction. So, they had come from Serenity.
"After we seal the time gates it would impossible for you to time travel, so the you in the past would be able to live a normal life as a senshi."
"Why hasn't it succeeded?"
"You live in a cycle, and it's not ended yet." Serenity gave a sad smile, "It seems like something happened in the future between me and you that led you to pass wrong information to me, that resulted to you in the past meeting Michiru even before we could begin operations to seal the gates."
Haruka frowned.
"I'm determined to prevent that, please help me, Uranus. We can break the cycle you are used to. You can."
Anything to avoid the nightmare she saw one year ago, anything to prevent Enya and Hotaru from suffering. Haruka felt like a liability whose screwed up genes caused so much trouble to clear up. Serenity's method is probably the only way she could redeem herself and possibly, change the past and the future, even though Haruka would give anything not to change what she has now. Serenity is, afterall, her Queen.
"Yes, my Queen."
Haruka watched her one and half year old baby slept after she popped back to reality from her stint of time travelling. It was late at night and the whole house was asleep. All Haruka could think of was Serenity's haunting words, that all she loved and treasured would suffer. Michiru would commit suicide. It was not a dream, it was a time travel reality.
Haruka had 9 years left, being 27 now.
"Dada…Mama…" Enya muttered as Haruka put a hand to stroke her daughter's hair in the dark, stirring her a little.
9 years looked like a lot for Haruka at first, if she could get through this and die happily after settling all she needed to settle. But now, it looked like 9 years would past in a flash and soon, she find herself in heaven face to face with a bloodied angel called Michiru who cut herself because her wife left her alone in the world.
It was stressful, really stressful. She has to leave all these when she dies, and what is worst that all she leaves will die with her, either physically or emotionally. At least, she now knew, Michiru would.
Her head ached.
Her had stopped stroking her daughter's hair and clutched her head.
Next minute, all that was left in Enya's room was Haruka's clothes.
18 year old Haruka sighed as she saw another note left on her apartment door. It stated the exact timing and date, and where she should be in order to join in the battle to prevent Silence.
She plucked the note out and kept it in her wallet, and slammed her fist against the door.
Why, why won't they let her find Sailor Neptune? Why did she herself refuse to divulge any information? Why does the future her not even let her see Sailor Neptune, or any other of the Senshis except this Sailor Pluto Haruka knew was Setsuna?
It irritated her greatly. Questions.
Sailor Neptune is her soulmate. If she never found her soulmate, means she would be alone forever. Why?
Instead of opening the door to enter her home to rest after a tiring day at school and later on the race track, Haruka took off her uniform blazer and left it at her doorstep, threw her school bag down and left to go to a bar to get drunk and escape for reality, for yet another night.
27 year old Haruka laughed as she snuggled Michiru in bed.
"nmhh? Haruka…I want to sleep…" Michiru whined and tried to pull up the covers.
Haruka tickle Michiru and rolled on top of her.
Michiru lazily opened an eye to look at Haruka, who was naked on top of her.
"I performed my proposal piece just now,"Haruka smirked.
Michiru laughed and dragged Haruka back onto bed with her.
Enya stood up, and fell down again.
Haruka frowned as she helped her daughter stand up again. Michiru keep going "woohoo! Yippie!" every time Enya tried to take a step.
"I thought they are suppose to know how to walk by one years old?" Haruka frowned as she helped her daughter up again and pushed her gently to take a step.
"Come yaya, come! Yes yaya come to Mama!" Michiru seemingly ignored Haruka's question.
"Mama! Come!" Enya squealed happily and laughed the baby laugh Haruka loved so much.
In her third try for the day, Enya finally succeeded in running to Michiru, and fall down on Michiru's lap.
"That's my baby!" Michiru laughed and held Enya up.
Haruka smiled. 9 more years. She's going to love every bit of the nine years she's left, and change history, so Michiru won't have to suffer
"Who do you like more, Mama or Papa?" Michiru teased Enya.
"Mama and Dada!"
Haruka laughed.
"Michiru-mama! Haruka-papa!"
"Hotaru? So fast back from school?" Haruka asked her 8 year old daughter.
"Look!" and Hotaru proudly held up her report card.
Michiru took a glance of it and widened her eyes. Haruka repeated the action.
"Perfect score?" Michiru shook her head in disbelief.
Haruka laughed. Another milestone. "Ice cream dinner!" Haruka exclaimed and patted Hotaru's head.
9 years suddenly seem so short, if she's going to leave all of these, and leave them all with no memory or whatsoever all these happened. Haruka will be the only one left with these memories after she lterd history and time. Haruka would be dead by then. And Haruka laughs.
Setsuna reached out to grab Haruka by the arm and pulled her into the basement library.
"Why do you want to stop my studying of you?"
Haruka smiled slightly and shook her head.
"I have done so much for the past one year and you're telling me now you want to stop? What about Enya?"
"It won't be necessary anymore, after history is changed."
Setsuna was taken abacked, "You met Serenity?"
"Lots of times."
"Since when?"
"The first time you studied me."
Setsuna slapped her head hard with her own hand, "And you're going to follow it."
Haruka nodded, and smirked. "I keep telling the past you to take care of Neptune, or Michiru so much."
"Yes I hear you say that so many times I get sick of hearing it. So it's you now. Good, I'm going to have my revenge."
Haruka laughed as Setsuna's arms reach out to pinch her lightly.
"You sure have a violent tendency, no wonder Yano shies away from you."
Setsuna sighed, "He hasn't called me since one year ago okay."
"You two fought?"
"No, it kind of was boring for both of us. We had nothing in common."
"I'll ask him over for dinner some time so you can meet him again."
Setsuna sent Haruka a death glare.
Haruka laughed again, but then there was a moment of silence.
"So when you succeed, I will forget all about the time travelling you?"
"…"
"Haruka, you said it was worth it."
"It is. Anything in exchange for the happiness of Michiru, Enya and Hotaru."
"Enya will probably not exist, you know."
"Better than letting her suffer after I-I…nothing."
"You what?" Setsuna is suspicious.
"Do you know why the Queen wants me to alter history?"
Setsuna shook her head.
Haruka chuckled sadly. "It's better you not know."
29 year old Haruka held a 3 year old Enya's hand as they walked in the middle of a crowded exhibition hall exhibiting works of arts; from sculptures to paintings to clay models, all done by Michiru in the past three years since Enya was born. Michiru took an extended break from her global music career, only giving concerts in places near her home, while indulging herself in art and taking care of her family. This exhibit is the result of Michiru's 3 years of hard work in art, and it makes Haruka proud just looking at them.
"Isn't that Tenoh Haruka?"
"His daughter is so cute!"
Haruka flashed a bright smile at the crowd where she heard the whispers from as Enya tugged her hand. Haruka knelt down when Enya waved her hand up and down, indicating her dislike for the suffocation of air. Haruka laughed and carried her daughter up now, as she walked around looking at the paintings that she already seen before.
There was a section filled of portraits of Enya, though, in which Haruka was scanning through now, before a jolt of head ache hit. Quickly, Haruka flipped her cell phone and called Setsuna. But before she could dial, she spotted Michiru from the corner of her eye and quickly proceeded there.
"Michiru, hold onto her for a while." And Haruka was gone.
Luckily for the 28 year old Michiru, nobody noticed or think anything was out of sorts about the pile of clothing she picked up and tugged Enya around.
Luckily for 20 year old Neptune, Uranus was there in the nick of the time to save her from the youma spitting fire at her and Hotaru.
29 year old Uranus cradled little Hotaru that Haruka recognizes to be barely three years old.
"Shhh..shhh…"
"Papa…" Hotaru sobbed into her chest.
Uranus sent a glare at Pluto, who returned an apologetic look. Turning her attention back to Hotaru, Uranus whispered soothing words to Hotaru. But what really cheered Hotaru up was a simple "I love you and your Michiru-mama, even if you don't love me back."
"Haruka!" Uranus stopped at her tracks and spunned around, after turning to leave when she put Hotaru down.
Did Neptune already knew who she was? Uranus decided it was best not to open her mouth and give her a blank look.
"Whats your full name? Where are you? Why aren't you looking for us?" Neptune's words rang desperation.
Uranus frowned. It seems like Neptune or Michiru, still didn't know who was she, and probably haven't found Tenoh Haruka. She didn't know the date, only that her senses tell her there was danger that she had no time to find the Haruka of the time she was in. Or, did her alter history thing worked? Neptune, or rather Michiru, was tearing. Uranus gaze at her softened, feeling a little pain in the heart at seeing Neptune sad.
"Why?? I'm Kaioh Michiru. I live at Juuban outskirts. I give concert all over the world and every time ther is a concert there is definitely a song containing message for you! Find me! Why won't you!"
Uranus remained silent as Pluto go over to Neptune and attempted to close her mouth. Neptune pushed Pluto away and clenched her teeth.
"I have found someone else to love. I have found someone else to share family with! Aren't you suppose to love me? Aren't you supposed to care for me? Aren't we supposed to be soulmates?!" Neptune shouted in the midst of all the tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Where are you??WHERE WERE YOU?!" it sounded more like a statement of scolding rather than a question.
Uranus bowed her head, and continued walking, while Neptune sobbed in Pluto's arms.
So, this was no altered history. But it wasn't good t see as well. If she didn't guess wrongly, she bent into the corner to the restaurant. True enough, she saw herself. That was 8 years ago for her.
Haruka warped back into the present and opened her eyes to find herself once again, sitting on the toilet bowls of one of the cubicles in the male public toilet of Michiru's art exhibition. It got her thinking. Wouldn't Michiru be miserable like her, if they didn't meet? Haruka remembered herself a teenager, being fed up with the whole world and most of all, her own loneliness in facing a battle to save the earth's destruction alone. Everything was told to her via notes or future Haruka visits. Where to fight, when to fight, when Silence was over. Now she was the future Haruka who did all those to herself in the past. If she was lonely and miserable then, Michiru definitely would be too.
Which was worst? A lonely Michiru depressed and angry at the world for depriving her of her soul mate, or a suicidal Michiru losing the ability to live after losing Haruka?
It was a nice Saturday afternoon, Michiru thought, as she pulled out her brush to paint the scene she saw outside at her back yard. Haruka, Hotaru and Enya playing tag happily like three little kids. Michiru laughed at their childishness, but with all the love illuminating from the scene, she couldn't help but want to capture the scene by her own hand. She stared at them for a little while longer, before lifting her pencil and going over the canvas in front her.
Her mind was a peaceful bliss, when Enya's squeal and Hotaru's loud exclamation "ENYA?!" interrupted her chain of thoughts.
She opened the window to look out onto the back yard.
Haruka and Hotaru were motionless, but Enya squealed when she saw her mother and pointed a stranger that look so familiar to Michiru.
"Look, mama, Big Enya!"
Michiru rubbed her eyes and blinked again.
Big Enya!
The bigger size Enya gave a wave to Michiru, and turned her attention to a wide eyed 10 year old Hotaru. "Hotaru-oneesan, Papa."
Haruka, seemingly snapped out of her daze when she heard "Papa", asked "How old are you?"
Enya crossed her hands did an eleven handsign and repeated, "eleven!"
"Look Mama, 11 year old Enya!" the three year old Enya exclaimed in excitement.
Michiru quickly exited out of the studio as Haruka smiled at the 11 year old Enya and pulled her close, whispered into her ear "Don't tell your mama I died" and pulled apart as quickly as possible, that Michiru spotted nothing of their exchange.
11 year old Enya looked a little sadly at her Papa, but smiled brightly to Michiru, who was still in shock at seeing her future daughter.
"Enya, 11?"
Enya nodded.
Michiru eyed Haruka, who scratched her head and looked away.
"Am I seeing things?" Hotaru asked. In the course of their lives, Haruka and Michiru had completely forgotten that Hotaru doesn't know of time travelling habits.
But 11 year old Enya's sister did."I'm a time traveler, like Papa." Enya said, simply.
Haruka slapped her own forehead while Michiru bit her lip lightly.
"Time traveler?"
11 year old Enya giggled, which Michiru was astonished how it sounded like her own.
"You will know soon. Papa, I want ice cream!"
3 year old Enya, fascinated, put up her hand and shouted "Me too!"
10 year old Hotaru didn't respond, but remained staring 11 year old Enya.
Haruka sighed and smiled at the same time. "Let's talk over ice cream."
11 year old Enya, 3 year old Enya and 10 year old Hotaru were strapped at the back of their family car as Haruka and Michiru sat in the front in silence. All the commotion in the car only came from one person splitted into two, Enya.
"Big Enya! How you come here?"
11 year old Enya smiled and repeated, "I time travelled, Enya."
"What's that?"
"You'll learn from Setsuna-obasan soon enough."
Michiru couldn't hold back a chuckle, while Haruka, hearing Michiru laugh, laughed too.
"You knew." Michiru now broke the silence between the two of them.
Haruka nodded.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I thought I wanted to ask Setsuna for help first, before telling you and giving you a shock."
"Papa didn't want Mama to worry," 11 year old Enya chipped in from the back.
"How'd you know?" Michiru turned around and face her future daughter.
"Papa tells me to keep my stints a secret that every time she catches me time travelling."
"You never change, do you? Not telling me things."
Haruka remained silent, sensing Michiru's a little angry now.
"Big Enya gone!" 3 year old Enya exclaimed.
"Michiru-mama, Haruka-papa, she disappeared before my eye!" Hotaru joined in.
Michiru and Haruka both sighed in unison.
Michiru couldn't help but keep a tight watch on her 3 going 4 years old daughter, anytime might be Enya's first time. She didn't have a chance to ask the eleven year old Enya she met a few months ago at all.
"Has Chibiusa grown a little over the past week?" Makoto asked as she played with a toddler Chibiusa, who looked a third of her own real age. Chibiusa had recently grown to the size of a one year old and started walking. Usagi and Mamoru had given up on modern medicine and come to accept the Crystal Tokyo explanation ever since they heard it from Michiru almost three years ago.
"She walks very fast!" Usagi boasted as she carried her seemingly one year old only but actually 5 years old daughter out of the crib and put on her lap.
Enya plopped herself beside Usagi and Chibiusa and tried to talk to Chibiusa, who only says "Chibi!" as a response to everything she hears, and "Mama" and "Papa".
"Chibi!" Chibiusa exclaimed happily as little Enya made monkey faces at her.
The inner senshis all crowded around Usagi and Chibiusa and laughed along, while the outer senshis and Mamoru sat in the kitchen in deep discussion about the coming of Crystal Tokyo.
"I can feel it approaching," Setsuna said.
"Your sensors might have spoiled already since you're so old."
"Haruka, don't be so mean."
"See! Michiru agrees with me!"
Michiru and Setsuna rolled their eyes.
Mamoru laughed, while Hotaru continued their discussion. "The Crystal Tokyo will only be formed after a big bang had occurred."
"How do you know that, Hotaru?" Mamoru was intrigued.
"The palace is created out of moonstone rocks, and it is because of the big bang crisis that people believed in Queen Serenity and King Endymion being the ruler of the planet. I don't know how, I just know it."
"Big bang eh?" Mamoru seemed in deep thought. Though Crystal Tokyo coming was good news, but the events that lead up to it didn't sound so good.
"We have to be prepared for whatever that comes our way before Crystal Tokyo comes," Setsuna said, and everyone nodded in agreement.
"How's your progress in altering the past, Uranus?" Serenity asked a Sailor Uranus who was yawning and smiling.
"I'm doing great, passing on notes and all preventing my past self from getting any information of the Sailor Neptune then."
"I know it's hard on you for the past two years. And if I could I would've never have asked-"
"It's okay, my Queen. I know you asked me to do such a thing for the best of all of us, which I agreed."
Queen Serenity smiled.
They have a hope to change history now, a huge hope for Uranus to break out of the circular life. A huge hope, that Serenity doesn't need to do what she know she did in her future to clean up the mess. A huge hope, that Michiru of the present would be the same Michiru of Crystal Tokyo. And Haruka, as well. No deaths to remember and forget, no children to cry at the loss of loving parents.
Haruka thought so too.
"So now I'll send you out on your time travelling?"
Uranus nodded and bowed, as Serenity waved her wand to return her to her present time or anytime, that Serenity called her from.
Haruka felt warm grass at her feet and opened her eyes to scan the surroundings. She noticed arrived at Michiru's childhood backyard. Coming 30 years old and numerous times of coming to Michiru's past, it's no wonder Haruka instantly recognizes where she is. As usual, Haruka would throw small stones at Michiru's room window to get her attention, which Michiru would bring some clothes for her when she needed them and they would spend some time together.
So Haruka, as per usual, tried to get some clothes by breaking into little Michiru's neighbour's backyard and get some clothes that were hung out to dry. She grabbed a underwear that surprisingly fit, a long track pants and a t-shirt, plus a big brown overcoat that should keep her more than enough cover. Repeating what she does usually, she picked up a few small stones and positioned herself to throw the stones at Michiru's window. Not too gentle that wouldn't make a sound, but not too hard to break Michiru's window.
Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted of all people, herself, behind the bushes in the entrance leading to Michiru's house. She didn't throw the stones yet, and tried to go to the Haruka behind the bushes. But before Haruka could make a move, she heard a woman scream and sounds of crashing glass and porcelain.
"You bastard!"
"You were not good enough you idiot!" A man's voice, defiant.
" You have no idea how important winning that competition is to me. And you, you were friends with one of the judges, right?" Another different voice from the first two.
Haruka could hear a punch landed on somebody's jaws hard.
"Face it, losers!" the defiant voice again.
"Shut up, cheater." Again, a different voice.
Realization hit her. This must be the day Michiru's father died. Three assailants, and her father.
"Let me go! My daughter! Don't you touch my- ouch!" the woman whom this voice belonged to was slapped hard.
"You and your cheating husband will die together, along with your oh so poor cute little cheater's daughter." The first voice sounded.
"Hey, we'll go take their valuables."
"No! You will not!" the defiant man again.
"Shut up asshole OUCH!" the first voice shouted in pain.
"What's wrong?" the third man asked.
"That fker bit my leg!"
"I'll bite all of you to death for hurting my family!" the defiant man shouted.
One gunshot rang out.
30 year old Haruka saw herself, from somewhere in the future, ran out of the bushes and into the house.
Haruka was bewildered. Now everything adds up. Everything flows in her mind now. 30 year old Haruka slumped down onto the fence nearby but stood upright as she heard footsteps approaching her and she turned to see herself, she remembered, 7 years ago. Haruka pulled off her overcoat and threw it to the approaching 23 year old naked Haruka.
"Take it, turn around and stay there until you disappear."
The younger one complied, but turned to give her a questioning look.
"Trust yourself" and haruka closed her eyes.
"Where are you from?"
"…"
"Why are you so depressed?"
The other Haruka sighed. "I'm 30."
"What about the depressing part?"
"You wouldn't want to know until you're 30."
"Why?"
"I didn't know I was that irritating 7 years ago." Haruka looked at her younger self in the eye.
The eye brows of the younger her furrowed, which Haruka could tell she's annoyed.
"It's better you not know now, you will know it later, anyway."
Haruka slumped onto the grass, as she heard her younger self admit.
"I want to be home."
Haruka smiled sadly, "Me too." And in her mind, Haruka added, an 'always and forever'.
Now all she's done to alter her past has to be altered back so that Haruka of the past can and will find Kaioh Michiru. Three robbers, Michiru, Michiru's mother and father and the stranger that saved Michiru and her mother, Tenoh Haruka of the future.
--end of part 4--
A/N : MANCHESTER UNITED GO GO GO! x)