Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon. I do own the plot of this story and the original characters featured in it.
Rough Interlude
The silence in the room was suffocating her. Michiru didn't want to face her mother right now but she needed someone to talk to. Sadly, her mother was the closest thing to a friend she had right now that Haruka was gone.
Her mother was sitting beside her. Her hand was rubbing her daughter's arm in a comforting manner. Michiru shook her head. "I let her go." She said not believing her own words. "I was standing right in front of her and I let her go."
"Would she have let you go?" Tsuko asked leaning on her sofa and crossing her legs. "I bet she would've let you go. And I don't know her that well."
Michiru sighed and leaned on her knees as she rubbed her temples. She still was angry with herself. "I'm sorry mother but I love Haruka with everything that I am. I just can't stand being away from her."
"You sound like me when I spoke about your father." Tsuko sadly smiled. "Every time he had to go on tour I always stayed here and waited for him and it hurt when I wasn't able to be with him." She rubbed her daughter's back. "Look at me now, Michiru. I am here sitting in the same place I was sitting when he was out on his tours. Haruka is different, Michiru. She will be back."
Michiru looked at her mother and groaned before she rested her head on her lap. "Oh mother. How could you stand it? She has only be gone for some hours and I'm already missing her."
"I couldn't stand it, sweetie. I couldn't. But you are stronger than me. You will pull through. And next thing you know you will be living the life with the person you love."
"Mother?"
"Yes, Michi?"
"Are you starting to accept Haruka?"
Her mother tensed up and ran her fingers through her daughter's hair as she tried to act natural. "Y-yes. I am. I've seen the smile she puts on your face. I've seen how she looks at you with those eyes that promise to love you forever. That's what I wanted from your life partner. Someone that will love you and make you smile forever."
Michiru smiled and patted her mother's knee. "Thank you, mother."
Yes. America was different from Japan. Very different. Haruka kept her glasses on as she sat down on the floor with her bags around her. She looked at her watch and frowned when she noticed it was set to display Japan's time. She was so disorientated that right now she didn't even know what day was it. She frowned and crossed her arms over her chest as she waited for her manager to come pick her up. She entertained herself by watching numerous tourists walking out of the airport hugging their families. She sighed and closed her eyes before she started to scratch her scalp. She was already starting to miss Michiru.
"Teno'u Haruka?"
She raised her gaze up. She slightly jumped when she noticed the tall woman that stood in front of her. "Speaking." Haruka said as she stood up herself. She was still taller than this woman just by a couple of inches.
"I'm Meioh Setsuna. Your manager." She said as she took her glasses off and looked at Haruka up and down. "They say I was going to meet with a pretty blonde but this is kind of a twist. I thought I was dealing with Barbie."
Haruka frowned. "Well you got the Barbie but she kind of stole Ken's clothing."
Setsuna smiled deeply and moved a strand of emerald hair away from her face. "I like your attitude."
"Well I don't like yours that much."
"You are stuck with me for the time being. Can I help you with your bags? My car is parked right over there I can take you to your hotel."
"What kind of a manager are you?" Haruka asked as she grabbed the heavier bags and handed Setsuna the smaller ones.
"I can manage a singer up to a car racer, a porn star, a basketball player, you name it I can do it."
"My, aren't you awesome?"
"I got you a two million dollar contract. Yes, I am awesome." Setsuna said as she opened the trunk of her car and stuck inside some of the bags. "Put yours in the back seat." She said as she walked to the driver's side.
Haruka got in the other side of the car and sighed. "So. What do you have planned for me, Meioh-san?"
"Fame, fortune." She started her car and looked at Haruka. "By the looks of it you can also have any women that you want."
"I don't want any, thank you."
"You are straight? You don't look straight." Setsuna said as she drove out of the airport.
"No… I have a girl friend back in Japan."
"Ah! I see I see." Setsuna nodded. "And she let you come here to America?"
Haruka nodded softly before she looked out the window.
"Okay, I get it, I will shut up now."
"She let me go so I can be what I want to be. I would have probably let her go wherever she wants to go in order to fulfill her dreams."
Setsuna raised her eyebrow. "Huh?"
"She wants to be a worldwide known violinist"
"I see. Well! I hope she likes to have a famous car racer as her girlfriend."
Haruka blinked and looked at Setsuna for a moment. "I just came to America. How can I be famous already?"
Setsuna grinned. "This is where I work my magic, Haruka-san" She suddenly stopped her car and got out of it.
"Where are you going?" Haruka asked still inside the car.
"Get out! We are going to your first photo shoot." Setsuna stood in front of the building as she waited for Haruka. "If you don't hurry up, your magazine spread won't be finished in time."
"Magazine spread?!"
Setsuna jumped when she saw Haruka so close to her. "Yeah magazine spread. You look like you haven't showered."
"Well you see I just came from Japan in a twelve hour flight!" Haruka growled at the tanned woman.
"Dirty is good. Girls like that. Men find it fascinating." Setsuna pulled Haruka inside the building. Inside, the receptionist smiled and welcomed the tanned woman. Haruka blinked and saw the many blondes wink at her. She growled at that but nonetheless she winked back. Setsuna noticed this. She raised her eyebrow and looked at the blonde before pushing her in a room. "Get naked."
"What!?"
"Get naked. You know! Take your clothes off. Put your birth day suit on." Setsuna placed her hands on her hips as she waited.
"No."
"Yes."
"No!"
"Yes!"
"I don't wanna!"
Setsuna frowned and walked over to Haruka. "Either you get naked or I get the air headed receptionist to peel the clothes off of you."
With a grunt Haruka started to unbutton her shirt. She turned her back away from Setsuna as she did so.
A short man walked inside the room and placed a camera in front of Haruka. "Peel it all and later we will give you your clothing."
Haruka stared at the man. She looked at Setsuna and flipped her the bird as she started to button her shirt.
"What are you doing you dumb blonde?!"
"I am not getting naked in front of a man!"
"He is gay! Get naked."
"Yeah, your stuff won't get me excited." The photographer said. A couple of girls walked in and looked at Haruka.
"Comfortable? There are more women then men. Now hurry up already! I need to get you to your working place!"
Haruka rolled her eyes and removed her shirt. She threw it away and saw one of the photographer assistants grab it. She blinked at that and pulled her pants off as she threw it to another girl.
"Bring the helmet!" The photographer yelled to one of his assistants. The girl yelped and ran out of the room.
"Helmet?! That is it!? That's what I'm going to wear!?"
Setsuna nodded. "Yes, but not on your head."
Haruka stared at Setsuna for a moment not believing what was going on. "You do know I got a pair of breast just like you." Haruka scratched her arm a bit as she stood in the middle of the photo shoot in her undergarment.
"Trust me, Haruka-san I know what I am doing."
"You better!"
The assistant walked in holding the helmet. She handed it to the photographer and looked at Haruka for a moment. "Damn, she is cut! She should pose for Playboy, Miss Meioh!"
"Hush! No Playboy! She is a racer not a whore." Setsuna said as she walked to the photographer. She grabbed the helmet from his hand and threw it to Haruka. She helmet had the colors of Haruka's sponsors. This made Haruka think that her manager had everything planned out.
Haruka caught the helmet. "I don't think this is going to work." Haruka said as she took a look at it.
"Yeah, Becky, bring the jacket." Setsuna said to the blonde young girl before she turned to Haruka. "Take off that thing that is wrapping your chest."
"No!"
"There are three women here and a gay man. Believe me we won't get turned on! Take your gauze off!" Setsuna was starting to get irritated. "Ah thank you Becky." She grabbed the jacket, which had the same colors as the helmet, and walked over to the now half naked Haruka. "Put it on."
Haruka snatched the jacket from Setsuna's hand and put it on.
"Sexy!"
Haruka looked at the photographer and then at Setsuna. "You said he was gay!"
"You turned him straight. Good for you, Haruka-san."
Haruka groaned and covered her crotch with the helmet. "I still think if I move a lot my breasts might pop out."
"Yes, I kind of noticed that to. Stephanie! Bring the adhesive tape!"
"Oh now you are going to put adhesive tape on my boobs?" Haruka asked annoyed.
"You want them to pop out?"
"No…"
"Then shut up and stop whining." She grabbed the tape from the girl and looked at Haruka. "Since you are so discrete, you will put it on yourself. Make sure you don't have a nipple slip. Those can make you famous but infamous at the same time." Setsuna walked away from her and stood beside the gay photographer.
Haruka turned around and grabbed the helmet with her knees. She mumbled something about being sexually exploited but she did it nonetheless. "Ready…" She said as she turned around covering her crotch with the helmet again.
"Think of your girlfriend Haruka-san." Setsuna suddenly said.
"What?"
"This is supposed to be a shoot to get you attention. You are a beautiful woman. You are appealing to both men and women so use that. Think of your girlfriend. What do you do to seduce her? The looks you give her. The way you move your body. Flex those arms and abdomen. Use what you have."
Haruka blinked for a moment and looked down at the floor.
"Is that how you seduce her!? Damn, Haruka-san, you are a crappy lover."
"Shut up, Setsuna-san, I'm thinking." She raised her eyes to the photographer who was ready to take a picture any second now. The two assistants, Becky and Stephanie were staring at her and ready to move when either the photographer or Setsuna gave them the order.
Haruka thought of Michiru for a moment and closed her eyes. "Fine. I'm ready. Shoot away…"
"Boy bands are out, Kou-san. They've been out since that N'sync dude said he was gay. We cannot be looking for more of those. We need something fresh. Pop, ballads, classical music, rock bands, hip-hop, that's what's in."
"No hip-hop or rap, please." He scratched the back of his neck as he studied the paper in his hand. "It's hard to look for new musicians. They are all the same." Seiya rose his eyes up to the man that was talking to him. "I've been looking for new stars but with no luck."
"Keep looking, Kou-san. I'm sure you will be able to find one." His fellow manager said as he began to put numerous paper-works away.
"A friend of mine called me. She has this daughter named Kaiou Michiru. She says she is a wonderful violinist. Do you think that she will sell? Violin alone?"
"I don't think so."
"I didn't think so either. What to do? I mean I could hear her and see if she is good maybe I will integrate her with a new band or something." Seiya sighed and scratched his head again.
"Don't stress yourself so much, Kou-san. Worry about yourself and your pregnant wife. After all that baby stuff is put aside then hit this business with everything you got, okay?"
Seiya was about to answer when his cell phone went out. He looked down at his pants and took it out before answering it. "Kou Seiya, speaking." His eyes went wide and he abruptly stood up from his seat. "What hospital? I will be right there!" He flipped his cell phone off and gathered his things
"Kou-san! What happen?"
"My wife started to go into labor in her job and she was rushed to the local hospital."
The photo shoot was hell on earth for Haruka. She had never been so exposed in her entire life. Save for the moment she actually told Michiru for the first time how much she loved her. But other than that she just felt violated. Some of the poses were way too erotic and by the looks of it she had turn the photographer straight and his assistants into lesbians. Setsuna just said that she had "the mojo" whatever that was. She wanted to rest. She wanted to sleep. She wanted to call Michiru. She didn't all her when she got to America since Setsuna already had plans for her the moment she stepped out of the plane.
After the shooting, Haruka asked and pleaded to Setsuna to let her take the day off. Setsuna said "no" and now they were ridding on Setsuna's car. Haruka was resting her head on the window while Setsuna kept talking about the good opportunities she was willing to give to the Haruka.
"The shooting went well. We could use at least half of the pictures. It will be an awesome spread on Sports Illustrated." Setsuna said.
"Uh huh." Haruka was way to tire to answer. Every time she closed her eyes she thought she wouldn't ever open them again.
Setsuna was about to say something else but she saw Haruka with her eyes closed. "Haruka-san?" She blinked when she was answered with a snore. She smiled softly and shrugged. She made a turn to the right and leaned back on her seat. "Fine. I will give you the rest of the day off." Setsuna smiled as she stopped her car. "Haruka-san. Haruka-san, wake up. We are here."
"Setsuna-san. I want to rest." Haruka mumbled.
"I know. That's why we are here." She got out of the car and walked away.
Haruka opened one eye and looked out of the door. She stared at a huge golden building with doors made out of crystals. "Where am I?"
"Her luggage is in the trunk of the car and the back seats." Setsuna said as she gave a butler a twenty-dollar bill. "Haruka-san, get out of that car." She placed her hands on her hips.
The blonde groaned and stepped out of the car and looked up at the building once again.
"This is will be your house for the time being. I will get you a hotel/apartment complex. I mind you; this is a five star hotel, Haruka-san." Setsuna said as she grabbed the blonde by her elbow and pulled her inside. "Your butler will take your stuff to the luxury suit."
"Who pays for all this?" Haruka asked as she looked at the people around her.
"Your sponsors." Setsuna answered as she talked to the receptionist of the hotel. She nodded and grabbed the keys. "Let's go!"
When they got inside the room, Haruka almost choked with her own air. The room was basically three times her old apartment. It had everything. Large living room space, kitchen, two rooms and two and a half bathroom "It's like a house."
"Bingo. Well. Haruka-san, I hope you get some rest. Tomorrow I will pick you up around seven in the morning. You better have breakfast and a nice shower, okay?" Setsuna said as she looked at the surprised blonde.
"I will take that as a "yes". Have a good day." She said and left the room.
Haruka walked to the master bedroom and sat down on the huge bed. She looked at the watch and saw it was only four in the afternoon. She sighed and rubbed her face before she lay down. She grabbed the phone and placed it over her stomach. She quickly dialed a number and held her breath as she heard it ring.
On the other end of the line she heard a soft moan and a sleepy Moshi moshi. Haruka's heart skipped a beat. She licked her lips and opened her mouth to talk but nothing came out. She then closed it and tried to remember how to talk again. "Michiru…"
Michiru sat up on her bed and held the phone close to her ear. "Haruka?"
Haruka nodded even though Michiru couldn't actually see her. "Hai, Michiru. It's me, Haruka. I'm sorry that I didn't call you sooner, Michiru. I stepped out of the plane and they dragged me off to a photo shoot… Were you sleeping?"
Michiru moved a strand of aqua hair away from her ear and smiled. Haruka's voice sounded just as sleepy as hers. "Yes. It's six in the morning here."
"I'm sorry! I will try to call you in a more decent time."
"Call me whenever you feel like it. I don't mind being woken up by you. So tell me about that photo shoot."
"Way too sexual." Haruka said as she closed her eyes. She enjoyed her girlfriend's voice so much.
"Sounds like you then." Michiru said as she let out a soft giggle.
"My manager sure knows what she is doing. Tomorrow I will finally go to my workplace. She was going to take me today but I fell asleep in her car."
"You should rest then Haruka. You can call me tomorrow if you want."
"I just wanted to call you and let you know I am alright."
"Love you, Haruka."
"I love you too, Michiru. Bye, bye." She hung the phone and sighed for a moment as she lay there staring at the ceiling. She turned around and grabbed a pillow and hugged it tightly. Yep. She was going to need a much bigger pillow to use in replacement for Michiru's body.
End Chapter Three
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