Ch. 4 true love

I do not own, nor am I affiliated with anything mentioned in the following story. I have only spun this tale mostly for my own enjoyment and certainly not for one red cent.

Haruka stood on her private balcony with a cup of coffee in her hand and that almost ever-present frown on her face. She watched the sunrise and shook her head. Michiru would be leaving this afternoon for more training sessions with her father. She wasn't sure how long she would be gone for. Haruka herself had a long list of meetings, first the finance director, then the head of security, lunch with her father and after that a meeting with Mercury and she had to send a note to Setsu and try to find out anything that would be of help that Setsu could tell her. She also had a video conference with Serenity and Mamoru this morning that she was not looking forward too. The queen required monthly updates from all of the scouts on the status of their individual kingdoms. Michiru would be in on this call and brief the queen on her kingdom as well. Haruka went back into the bedroom, a light breeze stirring the curtains on the windows. Michiru always insisted on having the windows open, it was always the first thing she did. Haruka poured her a cup of coffee with cream and sugar the way she liked and set it on the table on her side of the bed. Michiru stirred and cracked an eye at Haruka who smiled briefly. Michiru reached up and touched her lovers' cheek, smiling warmly. Haruka leaned down and kissed her awake.

"Good morning beautiful." She stated. Michiru reached for the coffee and took a sip.

"Good morning Ruka." She yawned smiling. "I wish I didn't have to go back to Neptune so soon. We have only had three days together. It's not enough." Michiru pouted sipping her coffee. Haruka smiled and nodded.

"I miss you every moment you're gone. One moment with you is not nearly enough. One lifetime, that is not enough. I could easily spend eternity in your arms and never look back." The blonde-haired woman whispered in a husky tone. Michiru knew she meant it and it touched her heart. "I think of you when I'm not thinking of Aiko. I am amazed between thoughts of your eyes, her smile, your kisses, her laughter, your intoxicating, salty-breezy scent, and her innocent, fresh scent that I have time to think on how to properly run this kingdom." Haruka murmured in a sultry tone that rubbed Michiru's insides. Those aquamarine eyes sparkled and Michiru drew Haruka back into bed and told her without words all of her favorite parts. It was much later in the morning when the two finally pulled themselves out of bed. It was not much of their own choice but the inter-planet note phone on Haruka's desk was signaling a call and the women both pulled on robes and rushed to answer it.

"Hello?" They both said at once, reaching it at the same time. Usagi and Mamoru appeared on the screen.

"Hello Haruka, Michiru." They greeted them, Mamoru looking amused and Usagi bewildered.

"What is going on over there?" Usagi asked as Mamaru blushed and looked away while Usagi regarded him as if he had lost his mind.

"You don't really want a play by play on this one Usagi." Haruka stated in an equally amused tone. Michiru simply smiled to herself and winked at Mamaru.

"Of course I do. This is not normal behavior. The two of you have been spending an absurd amount of time together. I hope you are not thinking about leaving the alliance. I understand Ami was over a few days ago. I want to know what you are up to Haruka, especially if it concerns the alliance." Usagi demanded haughtily. Haruka was silent regarding her own thoughts. She looked at Michiru who took her hand and nodded.

"Everyone is going to know before long any way Ruka. You may as well tell Usa-chan now." Haruka nodded and kissed Michiru's' hand. A gesture not lost on Usagi. Mamaru was quiet. He had known something was up between the two women for a while now but he wasn't sure exactly what. However it was obvious to all that their relationship had changed. They had always been close but they had lacked the romantic undertones that were heavily present now.

"Usagi I was raped last summer, if that tragedy wasn't enough I became pregnant as a result of the attack. I begged Setsu-Chan to help me hide the entire thing. I have never felt more embarrassed or useless. However, I have realized that hiding this was the wrong course of action to have taken. All of these events resulted in the engagement of Michiru and myself. It was the best and indeed the only course of action. I can no more picture life without Michi by my side than I can go on pretending nothing happened. The scum-sucking, power hungry Prince Yuri is behind this, he is trying to stage a take-over, I would bet my life on it. He is the one you should be worried about Usa, not me." Haruka was silent and withdrawn. Michiru could feel it. She worried over it and squeezed Haruka's hand to show her support.

"Congratulations on finding happiness. I do believe that out of tragedy, good can be borne." Mamoru stated, giving Usagi time to recover. You could have knocked her over with a feather from the looks of her. "I also believe you about Yuri. That brat has been giving me all kinds of problems on earth lately. I think you are quite right about watching him Haruka. I will see what I can do about surveillance. We really should all get together and discuss this further. I think it could turn out to be quite important." Mamoru suggested. Usagi nodded her agreement, having recovered herself.

"I am sorry to hear of your troubles Haruka-Chan. I wish you had felt able to come to me with this sooner. I am thrilled that you have found happiness with Michiru-san and I agree with Mamo-Chan that we should have a meeting. I will I-note you a time and secure location later." Usagi stated with a smile.

They briefed her on the state of their affairs and hung up. Haruka drew Michiru into a tight embrace as Usagi and Mamaru blinked off the screen of the phone. Michiru kissed Haruka's neck and returned the embrace tightly. They wandered into the bath then and as Haruka tore herself away from Michiru to meet with the financial director she couldn't help but wonder at how drastically different her life had turned out from the dreams of childhood. This was not at all close the way she had expected things to go, growing up. She had to admit though, she could not ask for a better soul mate than Michiru. It was a long meeting with much more to go over than just trying to find funding for her security project. Haruka had to admit that things in her kingdom were tight. She had to find out why their crops were not growing and what was behind the fall in sales of their high-powered engines. It was going to be a long day. She left the business wing and headed to her father's den for lunch with him and Michiru.

She crossing one of the hallways that ran along the outside of the palace when there was a flash of dark energy and suddenly Prince Yuri was standing in front of her with an evil smirk on his face. Haruka stopped dead in her tracks and regarded him with pursed lips, one hand holding her henshin tightly behind her back. "What is it you think you are going to accomplish? Do you really think I am still the naïve, defenseless girl you attacked last summer? Do you honestly think, that you are going to get away with whatever it is that you are plotting?" Haruka asked him coyly. Yuri tried for intimidation and when that was not working, he advanced on her menacingly. Haruka did a kizami zuki punch followed by mawashi geri (roundhouse kick) knocking Yuri to his rump on the palace floor. He looked utterly amazed. He got to his feet and took one-step back. Haruka regarded him with her chin raised and feet planted in heiko dachi (natural stance) waiting for his next move.
"This won't be the last you've heard of me Haruka. I will be back; you can take that to the bank. This kingdom, this entire alliance will be mine. You could have been my queen but you have made your choice to be my enemy and I will crush you along with all the rest of them. Remember this. You will be sorry." Yuri fumed and vanished in a blink of negative energy. Haruka took a deep breath and just as she took a step forward, Michiru rounded the corner with two security guards' in tow. Michiru drew Haruka into a hug and asked what had happened. Haruka breathed in the scent of Michiru's hair and could not get Aiko's face out of her mind's sight.

"Yuri was just here. He seems to have acquired some sort of teleporting ability and who knows what else. He made a move towards me and I kicked him to the ground. He was furious, he told me that I would regret my decision and he blinked out." Michiru nodded and waved the guards away to resume their duties. Haruka and Michiru walked hand in hand to the den for lunch where they had a detailed discussion about this latest turn of events.

Gareth I-noted the moon kingdom and received a note from Usagi that Michiru and Haruka were to attend a top-secret meeting at the main palace tomorrow afternoon. It also stated that they were welcome to arrive that night; it might well prove to be a bit safer. Michiru and Haruka agreed that it might be in their best interest to stay with Usa and Mamo-Chan for the night. It would give them a chance to go over some things in detail that had been on both of Haruka and Michiru's minds. The girls bid Gareth a goodnight and headed for their room to pack an overnight bag; they each cleared their schedules for the next two day and then immediately teleported directly to the moon palace. Usagi greeted them warmly and showed them to their room, which was adjacent to her own private quarters. Usagi assured them that there would be absolutely no way for Yuri to teleport into the moon palace. It was protected by the silver crystals energy. The four friends took diner in Usa's private chambers and talked well into the night, in no fear of being over heard for Usagi had placed a sound barrier around the room they were in for safety.