Today I'm making love with somebody else.
But my heart is forever yours.
My body surrenders, and my soul forgives...
So much loneliness, is driving me insane.

I'd say it's love. I'd swear it's passion.
I'd say how I feel, with so much affection
while thinking of you.
I'll leave my heart behind, to become only a shell.
The truth is I'm a liar; I keep on wondering
if I would ever be able to forget you.
And when, at last, the illusion I made up ends
and the emotion is gone, I'd like to see time fly by.
I don't know who it was, what did I say? I don't know...
And then I understand, you know it's love, after pleasure

You're still inside my heart, and I live in remembrance.
And when desire comes, it's your name I call out.
I know it's not you, but is you the one I love...

(Cuando acaba el placer - So Pa Contrariar)

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4

She was right. He did great.

He sang with his heart; the words leaving his lips in sweet melody, perfectly and subtly accompanied by the soft playing of the band behind him. His blue eyes would shine in the light, and look into her green ones on certain parts, while singing his love songs.

The small audience of the bar loved him, clapping their hands in standing ovation to the small show, as one black haired woman standing near the stage was smiling proudly up at him, and the happy bunch of young, beautiful women around the tall blonde clapped their hands excited, happily.

"Oh my God, Haruka!" Minako exclaimed. "You're so lucky!"

"I wish a guy would sing those songs to me!" Usagi agreed, eyes shining with emotional tears. But then she frowned, slapping the tall black haired, handsome man standing next to her. "Why don't you do stuff like that?" she demanded.

"You really don't want to hear me singing," Mamoru said, nervously scratching the back of his head. "Trust me."

"You do know Seiya is the one writing all the lyrics, right?" Taiki pointed out, while taking a sip from her drink. "So, technically, she's the one saying those words, not Kaito."

The tall blonde woman frowned at that. "I rather not think about it that way..." she joked, shivering just to make her point clear, and then laughing along with everyone else.

"Where's Michiru?" came Hotaru's soft voice, getting everyone's attention with her sudden question. Probably voicing what no one else would dare to.

Even after three years, and even knowing she was now with someone new, they still talked about their aquamarine Senshi fellow in hushed whispers when Haruka was around. And the blonde suspected they probably did the same about her when Michiru was the one around...

Was it always going to be like this?

"I haven't seen her in a while now..." Hotaru trailed off, worriedly.

"You think she missed the show?" Rei asked, frowning. "But she came just to see it!"

Magenta eyes looked into green ones, and Haruka frowned again, this time for real, at the questioning look upon Setsuna's face. Of course, she had already noticed Michiru was not there. It was the first thing she noticed right after she got out of that dressing room!

And not finding her there, she had felt somewhere in between deeply relieved, and sad. Because, somewhere in the very back of her mind, hidden in the darkest corner, she had wanted to see her again. Even if they didn't talk at all. Just, seeing her again.

One more time...

And then the show started, with Kaito singing to her, with his big blue eyes looking into her green ones. And she had never felt so guilty before in her life. What exactly was she doing, thinking of Michiru, with Kaito right in front of her, singing his heart out to her?

But she couldn't help herself. It wasn't the first time, and she was sure it wouldn't be the last. She simply couldn't stop thinking about the aqua woman. She just couldn't. Even after all these years, even knowing it was all over. Even knowing she was condemning herself to nothing but a ghost. And knowing full well she was being extremely unfair to Kaito. She couldn't help it; the haunting memory of deep blue eyes and curly hair that sometimes smelled of the sea, and sometimes smelled of vanilla, her scent, her smiles, her touch, or that small, cinnamon colored, cute little mole right over the valley of her breasts... it would all come to her in the most unexpected moments.

And others not so unexpected...

She figured it was only normal. Michiru had been her first true love. People often say one can simply never forget those. And she didn't want to. She treasured each and every single moment she had spent with the aquamarine violinist.

Her green eyes drifted to the black haired man talking to some reporter, and a soft smile came to her lips.

Maybe she wasn't being completely fair to Kaito, but she did care about him. A lot.

More than she had ever expected. He was funny, and caring, and charming, and loyal. He was a true gentleman with a great sense of humor. And, she had to admit to herself, she actually liked being with him. It was rather...interesting... Granted, the first few times had been awkward. He had have to learn a few tricks, not being that experienced himself. She figured that, considering his home planet had been in war and near devastation for so long, it wasn't such an oddity. And she herself hadn't even been with a man before. So she had to learn a few tricks as well...

Oh, the ironies in her life!

She, Haruka Tenoh, the car racer, the aloof, self declared lesbian, dating a man.

The Outer Senshi, dating an alien man.

Needless to say, all her friends had been surprised out of their minds for a long time over that one. And it had taken quite a while for everyone to get used to it. Even herself. And she still got surprised at it, even considering she had been dating Kaito for ten months now.

"Did you see her?" Setsuna's low voice right next to her got her back from her own mind, and she blinked at her olive skinned friend. "Michiru," Setsuna said, noticing the blonde's confusion. "Did you see her?"

She frowned, shaking her head. "No, I didn't."

Magenta eyes narrowed at her then. "You sure about that?"

She simply rolled her green eyes at her. "I know I haven't seen her in a while," she started to say, "but I'm pretty sure I'd be able to recognize her if I saw her."

"Three years is more than just a while," Setsuna pointed out, with a somewhat knowing, sad smile on her features.

"Did she shave her head, get piercings all over her face, cover her entire body with nasty, bad tasted tattoos, and decide the punk rock look is the best one on her?" Haruka asked, arching an eyebrow. And finding it really hard to picture that one image in her head...

"What? Of course not!" Setsuna exclaimed, frowning.

"Then it's not that hard to recognize her among a crowd," the blonde simply pointed out, in a matter-of-fact tone of voice. "She does have very unique hair, after all."

"But she has to be here," they heard Usagi saying, with a hurtful, worried expression over her pretty face. "I wanted her to be here..."

"We can wait," Mamoru said to her, a comforting arm going around the petite blonde's shoulders; a loving smile coming to his lips. "It doesn't have to be tonight, Usako."

The tall blonde frowned suspiciously at that.

They were planning something. She could even see the insides of that little machine Usagi's brain represented, balance wheel and springs turning around, as two blonde eyebrows came together in thoughtful manner.

"What's up with you?" Haruka asked, going straight to the point.

Blue eyes blinked at her. A nervous, faked innocent smile on her pink lips. "What do you mean?"

"You're up to something," the tall blonde stated, crossing her arms over her chest, and arching one perfect blonde eyebrow when she saw Mamoru smiling nervously as well. "So?"

"Are you keeping a secret from us?" came Rei's questioning voice, making both Usagi and Mamoru turn around to look at the raven Senshi, as she crossed her arms over her chest, tapping her black stiletto, high heeled foot on the floor.

The royal couple exchanged glances, and upon Mamoru's soft smile, Usagi let out a defeated sigh, taking her purse and looking for something.

"Just for the record," she started to say, sending a somewhat apologetic glance towards one tall blonde woman, "I wanted Michiru to be here as well..."

Haruka frowned at that, not really understanding her Princess's words, nor why did she wanted Michiru to be there as well so badly. Until her green eyes caught a glimpse of gold, and a small rock catching the rooms lights in it, before Usagi put the small, delicate item on her ring finger. And before she could even blink in surprise, Minako beat her to it.

"Oh my God!" the blonde squealed in delight, taking Usagi's hand in hers. "Is that a rock I see in there?"

Usagi's cheeks went cutely red, as she nodded her head. "Y-yeah," she murmured.

The tall brunette young woman standing next to Mamoru, having delegated her duties behind the bar for a little while so she could be with her friends, rested her elbow on his shoulder. A playful, teasing, but still happy smile playing on her lips.

"About damn time, Mamoru," she simply said, making him blush and chuckle in embarrassment.

A choking sound made them all turn their heads to a surprised looking Seiya, as she was now cleaning her own chin with the back of her hand, getting off the remains of her drink.

"Holy Rock!" she exclaimed, her voice a little coarse after her little chocking moment. Her blue eyes wide open, a sided, goofy smile playing on her lips. "Is that what I think it is?"

"Congratulations!" Yaten exclaimed, smiling at earthling the Prince and Princess. "And I second Makoto," she added, looking at Mamoru "about damn time!" she exclaimed, rolling her eyes for good measure.

He laughed at her, and soon a happy, excited echo of 'congratulations' was heard among their group, as hugs and smiles were shared.

"Round cut solitaire," Ami said, admiring the ring as well and nodding her head in approval. "Simple and elegant. It's an all time classic."

"Could you not analyze my ring?" Usagi groaned, rolling her eyes. "It's an engagement ring, not a lab rat for you to scrutinize!"

"Wow, Odango's using big words," Rei teased, grabbing Setsuna's arm for support, holding it close to her, and wiping an imaginary tear off her eye. "Our little Princess is all grown up now!"

"I'm with you, Ami," Taiki said, before Usagi could actually say out loud the unladylike retort that was currently burning her tongue. "I mean, look at the band, here. It's perfectly designed to bring out the diamond and..."

"Shut up," Seiya interrupted her, frowning. "Why can't you be normal?"

Taiki frowned back at her. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Normal!" Seiya exclaimed, raising her hands in exasperation. "Just be happy, smile, say it's perfect, drool over it a little!"

"Why would I do that?" the brunette Starlight asked.

Blue eyes rolled at the tall Starlight, and she turned to look at everyone else. "Why do I even bother?" she asked, rhetorically.

"'Cause you have a thing for lost causes," Yaten said, smiling smugly at them, and then groaning when Taiki smacked her on the head. "Ouch! That was uncalled for!"

Another argument begun, with Ami still defending her own, personal way of admiring the ring, Seiya complaining about the brains of the group, Makoto and Minako shaking Ami's shoulders and doing a demonstration on how a proper 'admiration of an engagement ring' should be, and everyone else simply laughing at them.

She laughed along with them, her eyes shining in amusement, when a gentle pull on her hand got her attention. Without words, Usagi gently guided her off, not far enough to catch anyone's attention, but far enough for them to have a little privacy.

"You know I love you, right?" Usagi began, a worried frown upon her pretty face. "You're my friend, and I would never do anything to hurt you, and I understand if this is uncomfortable for you, but I..."

"Kitten," Haruka said, interrupting her. A reassuring smile on her face, as she didn't really need the explanation to understand where Usagi was going with her endless apology. "I understand."

"I really want you to be there," Usagi said. "And I want her there, too..."

"I know."

Usagi hugged her then, stepping on her tiptoes and still barely able to reach the blonde's shoulder. "I just don't want to see you hurt."

"It's ok, Odango," she said, quietly. "You don't have to worry about me."

"But I do!" Usagi exclaimed, breaking the embrace and looking into her green eyes. "I mean, you and Michiru..."

"Broke up years ago," the tall blonde finished for her.

A sad, almost broken expression took over Usagi's features, and Haruka winced inwardly at that. She hated seeing her Princess like this...

"I still think it's wrong..." Usagi murmured, her voice barely a whisper.

But Haruka heard her. Out of everyone else, Usagi and Hotaru were the only ones that truly felt the break up as their own personal sorrow. Hotaru, feeling lost because of their parent's break up. Usagi... Haruka wasn't so sure about that. Maybe it was something her Princess felt, with two of their most powerful guardians breaking their strong, personal bond like that. Or maybe she felt something else, something no one else did.

Whatever it was, Usagi had taken their break up pretty personal, and although she genuinely liked Kaito, and accepted him as Haruka's boyfriend, the tall blonde woman knew Usagi still hoped for the two Outers to find their way back together.

Well, at least one of them did... she surely didn't.

"Stop worrying about it," Haruka said to her. Her trademark, sided smile coming to her lips in a reassuring manner. "You can count me in on that long bride's maids list of yours," she joked. "And I'm pretty sure you can count Michiru in as well. I really don't think she'd miss it for the world. I know I wouldn't!"

A real, honest smile came to Usagi's soft features then, and Haruka returned it. But then a frowned came to her face.

"Just promise no fluffy bride's maid dresses, and I'm in."

.

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Next on Shattered Hearts: "Hiroshima, sweetie, Hiroshima"