-Palace-

Sailor Mercury stared at the computer screen, grabbed the retractable pen with her right hand, while kept pushing its end button, on and off, on and off. It was a habit she developed since high school. Every time she sank into deep thought, she would tapping it. The beats helped her to concentrate.

The computer screen shown a surveillance footage at the immigration of Naruta airport. It focused at a woman with sandy blonde hair. Mercury ran some program, a square box placed around the woman faces, an index point out the result.

93% Match.

She closed her eyes, used the free hand to rub on her forehead, and took a deep breath. Then she clicked on the mouse. The screen changed. Now it shown a passport copy.

Amara Taylor

The passport seemed authentic. The initial ran was clear. Then she dug deeper. The owner, Amara Taylor, was dead two years ago. It was not something new. Identity thief stole a dead woman identity, but that was not Mercury cared about. She studied this case for another reason.

She clicked on the mouse. Screen switched to another surveillance footage, at claim luggage area, featuring the same woman. However, the woman was not alone. A boy with raven black hair was standing next to her, helped her to put the luggage on trolley.

Then, she clicked on another surveillance video. This one showed them leaving the airport. She clicked pause, when both of their head stayed up and faced the camera. She ran the program, an index pointed out the result.

100% Match.

But the boy caught her attention. Despite the difference in hair color, the little boy resembled the blonde woman. She typed on the keyboard, caused the screen changed. It shown another passport copy.

Yuki Taylor

This passport is authentic. It passed all her test, yet nothing could escaped her eyes. That kid changed his surname right before he came to Japan. Her eyes went wide, twice its normal size, when she noticed his original name.

Yuki Tenoh

"Honey rose tea and blueberry muffin." Jupiter said while enter the office.

Mercury switched off the screen as a reflection and stood up. Her heat skipped a beat, liked a deer getting caught.

"Roes tea helps on stress release, blueberry is good for eyes sight. Perfect combination for tea snack." She said while walked towards Mercury. "Oh dear, you look pale. It's me, old Makoto, not a ghost." She chuckled, joking on the matter.

'I saw a ghost from the past.' She thought. "What are u doing?"

"Ami, what happen? You seems off today. It's Tuesday. We always have tea break together."

"Sorry I forget." Mercury sighed. 'Should I tell her?' She bit on her bottom lip.

"You should rest. You look tried." Jupiter poured tea from tea pot into the cup.

"I am sorry. I cannot do this today." Mercury stopped her.

"What?"

"I am so sorry. I will make up to you later." She said while dragged Jupiter out of the room.

"Ami, what's up?" But the small woman did not reply, Mercury push her away, and closed the door right in front of her face. She sighed. "Stupid Ami." She mumbled, then walked away.

SXH HXS

Mercury closed the door, resting on it. "I have to do this alone." She whispered, and stepped back to the desk. She opened the top drawer, emptied it. Then she took the drawer out, only to review the secret compartment beneath its bottom . Carefully she opened the compartment and took out the folder hidden in it.

The folder contain two were both surveillance footage taken in a lift, dated ten years ago. She looked at the photos, observed them. The first picture viewed on the same sandy blonde hair woman, who looked younger, who looked terrible. Her forearms were covered with scratches and bruise, a black eyes on her right, her shirt was torn apart. All indicated she was beaten brutally.

The second picture was taken six hours before the first one, with the same blonde women. She looked decent, at least fine. However, she was not alone. A young man stood next to her. He was Chiba Mamoru.

This was the last image of her missing friend. Ten years, she hided it for ten years, never shown to anyone.

'May be it means nothing.'

'May be it means everting'

SXH HXS

"Tenoh?"

Haruka froze. 'It must be my bad day.' She never thought she would meet 'him' again, especially him, Seiya Kou.

Before she could react, Seiya had taken off her cap, leaned near and studied her face once more. "It's really you. Where have you been all those years?" He yelled in excitement and hugged her. "I better tell the others now." He took out his communicator and wanted to call the others. However it was slapped away and fell on the floor.

"Don't." She slapped his hand. "Pretend you have never seen me or else I will totally kick your butt." She threatened him and hoped he would just do what she said.

However, Seiya had his own mind. He grabbed her shoulders immediately, shaking on it and asked. "What are you thinking, Tenoh? They worry about you. You should go and see Michiru. She feels so guilty, about making you leave."

"It's none of your business." She snapped back immediately. "And why should I care about your girl's friend feelings." She pushed off his hands and turned around. However, Seiya grabbed her wrist instead and pulling her back; preventing her from running away. "Let me go or I'll kick your ass!"

"Damn, you don't understand." He paused for a second. "Gomen nasai, I was young and… we broke up shortly afterward. She regretted. Even though she had dated few people afterwards, we all know she still thinking about you. Just go and meet her Onegai."

"I said it's none of your business." She shouted. "I won't and I can't meet them." She tried to push away his hand, but he was squeezing her wrist really tight.

"Why?" he asked.

She ignored his question and only wanted to leave as soon as possible. She was not ready to face her old friends. May be she had already explored her arrival, still they did not know her current name. There was still a chance they wouldn't catch her, if she escaped now. She sensed that Seiya wouldn't let go this easily, as a result she kicked his stomach and hoped he would release it because of pain.

"I won't let go." He held her wrist even harder. He knew if he let go now, the stubborn woman may never showed up again.

"Fuck off now. Didn't you hear what I said?" She kicked him and punched his face by her free hand.

Indeed, their disagreement had already caused the security guards attention. They came and help Seiya. Even in her best years, it would be difficult for her to face against five well trained muscular man alone. Now she was ten years out of battle. After a short fight, they tackled Haruka and pushed her onto the floor.

"Kou-sama, Daijoubu?"

"Hai." Indeed, he was far from fine. His eye was starting to bruise. His feet had been stepped on more than once and his stomach hurt so badly. 'Just like the old days.' He smirked. Ignoring the sores covered his body; he went and searched for his communicator.

He bent down and was going to grab his communicator. However he stopped when he heard the wind Senshi said something.

"Don't." She chewed her bottom lip. "Onegai." 'It must be my bad day. I never thought I would beg him. I should have run on the second I saw him.'

He was shocked. His eyes went wide; twice it normal size. 'Did she just beg?' "I won't if you'll talk to me. Guards would you be kind enough to help me arranging a meeting room; where I and my DEAR guest Tenoh-san will have a serious chat."

SXH HXS

-Same time: In Palace-

'Ruka, where have you been? It's more than ten years already.' Neptune glanced out from the window and sunk into her thought.

SXH HXS

Flashback:

'Does she really have to flirt with those girls?' Michiru frowned. It was an after party of the 'Kaioh Michiru X Three Lights join concert'. The blonde said she would go for a drink. Not a surprise, it was end up attracting a crowd of girls instead. 'Don't you dare to touch my Ruka!' She cursed as she saw a girl 'brave' enough to place her hand on Haruka's shoulder. Of course being elegant Michiru she wouldn't shout or yell at them. She had an image to maintain after all.

Michiru sighed. Indeed, she knew her jealousy meant nothing. Haruka loved her deadly and wouldn't cheat on her. It was only some stupid flirt. Haruka had this hobby since they meet; long before they started dating.

"It isn't fair, Tenoh-san is popular." Seiya walked near Michiru and said while his head was facing Haruka.

"I don't see the reason why you're jealous; considering the size of your personal fans club." Michiru replied while still facing Haruka, not bothering to look at Seiya.

"No, that wasn't what I meant."

"Nani?" Michiru was surprised.

Seiya smirked. "It's you. Why can't you flirt with your admirers, while she enjoying flirts exchanged from fans?"

"I can." Michiru replied firmly. 'Can I?' However, she doubted inside her heart. Haruka would easily lose her temper when someone/anyone neared her. She couldn't remember the last time she had a conversation with her male fan which didn't end by a punch from the blonde.

"Sure. I guess you have a better way to spend you free time. Don't get me wrong, I know you like your fans. But I bet you would rather spend time with the one you're in love with. Tenoh never realizes just how lucky she is. If it was me, I wouldn't bother to catching attention from others. I would reserve my attention to you and only you."

Michiru's eyes went wide. "What do you mean?"

"I will wait for you at Crown tomorrow noon." Seiya said. Then he turned around and stepped away.

"Wait. I won't go."

"You don't have to, if you don't want. But I'll wait." He smiled at her before leaving.

SXH HXS

"I saw you talking with that thing earlier. What did he want?" Haruka asked. She drove her and Michiru back home after the party.

"A date." This answer would only cause trouble, but Michiru did it on purpose. She was still unhappy about the blonde; about her and her flirting during the party.

"Nani." Haruka stopped the car suddenly and cause them fell forward. "I won't let you go and I'll teach him a lesson later."

"What's wrong with you? You can enjoy your admirers and why can't I?" Michiru shouted.

"He isn't admiring you. He only wants to get under your panties." Haruka snapped back immediately.

"That's enough. Seriously you're overacting." She crossed her arms in front of her chest and tilted her head sideway. "Just keep driving; I want to be back as soon as possible." She ordered.

End of Flashback.

Neptune sighed, reclined on her chair and closed her eyes. "Why am I so stupid?" It was how she and Seiya started. About a month later, she finally had a proper separation with the blonde. Actually she never hated Seiya for seducing her, not at all. It was her who broke up with him. The vocal was being nice to the very end.

She didn't love Seiya and she knew it from the beginning. But she was tired. Ladies would shown up everyday competed with her, for the position of Haruka's girlfriend. Not that she would loose. Haruka would not cheat on her. They could only do little tricks, leaving lipstick on the shirt, or dropped one of the earrings in the car.

However, while Haruka was enjoying her life, Michiru had to wash lipstick off the shirt, or deleting sexy photo sent to Haruka's phone, or tried to sterilised the cheap perfume smell in their car. But when it was her turn to enjoy her life, it would only end violently. Things was very exhausting. Then one day, she took the easy way out. She escaped to Seiya.

Later, 'too late' later, she realized it was a stupid idea. Nothing was important when it compared to the loneliness after the separation. Too late, it was too late when she finally grasped her true feelings. The blonde had already vanished and yet no trace of her after ten years.

She tried to get going with her life and dated few people, still none of them could compare to the blonde. "Where have you been? Are you still angering at me?"

SXH HXS

-In the other side of the city-

"You should try the coffee." Seiya brought Haruka to the meeting room and offered her coffee. He took the sit opposite Haruka and observed her in silence. Somethings never change. For instance, she still kept her hair short, dressing herself as a man. The spark in her eyes which he hated so much, was still there. And much to his dislike, she was still taller than him.

Yet something has changed, he could not quite put his finger on it. Perhaps it was because she looked older. They both looked older. Time did not spared on them. Or perhaps she looked more feminine than before. But Tenoh Haruka and feminine should not be put together in a same sentence. Uranus could, with her boots and mini skirt, but not Haruka. At least not the Haruka he knew.

"Don't forget your promise." Haruka said. Her voice brought him back to reality. She didn't drink the coffee and only wanted to finish it as soon as possible.

"What's your problem? Don't you know they're worried about you? Everyone is missing you; even me." The last past was said not any louder than a whispered. Luckily the blonde didn't hear it, he quickly continued. "In the palace, there is a room for you, Michiru decorated it herself. Everyone can see her longing for you. It has been ten years already. Even though you don't love her now, you could still…."

"I did not leave because of Michiru." She was annoyed, interrupted him with a calm voice. 'At least, it was not only because of her.'

Seiya was confused. There were no other reason he saw which could have made the blonde disappeared. He didn't trust her. "Then why did you vanish."

"It's-it's" Suddenly the flashback of her rape attacked her. 'Baka. Why do you make me think about that?' "It's none of your business." She used all her strength to speak that sentence. Tears were forming in her eyes, but she wouldn't let then fall; no, not in front of him. She tilted her head, stared at the table, to avoid Seiya's gazed.

Seiya noticed her hesitation. 'What ever happened to her, it musts be harsh. I shouldn't push it.' A rush of guilt ran though his body, when he saw the blonde had lost the spark in her eyes. It was the second time he saw the vulnerable side of the Wind Senshi. The first time happened when he had stolen her mermaid. 'Quickly, Seiya you need to change the topic.' "Ano… Why did you come here, in the first place?"

Haruka raised an eye blow, she didn't aware he would ask this. "I came for the job interview for the pian… Forget it, it was a stupid idea. Are you done? I need to go and don't forget your promise."

Suddenly a light bulb glowed next to Seiya's head. An idea popped in his mind. "You came for the pianist job. Okay you have it."

"Nani?"

"Your heard me. You have the job of pianist. And as long as you work for it, I won't tell anyone your whereabouts."

"Are you threatening me?" Haruka asked.

A\N: As far as I know, the Sailor team is also Royal (they are princess of their own planet) and live in the palace during crystal Tokyo. Correct me if I'm wrong, coz I don't really understand the future part in the serious. Anyway, in this fanfic, they all live together in the palace and the Sailor team is also title as Royal. The Mercury bit, I add during the second edition. Hope you enjoy.