New chapter! Sorry it took some time but I was wrestling with a few ideas I've been having. Anyways, here you go. Hope you all like it.

I don't own the rights to Sailor Moon or anything related to it.



Hotaru weakly opened her eyes, her body exhausted. She sat up and looked around. She was in a hospital room and Setsuna was watching over her, her eyes sad. The worst fear leapt into Hotaru's mind. "Is...is Chibi Usa...?"

Setsuna shook her head. "She's alive. Barely. You kept her alive long enough for Ami."

Hotaru sagged in relief. She hadn't failed her friend. "Where is she?"

"Isolation. Ami wants to make sure she's healed before anyone sees her. The King and Queen are fraught with worry and relief." The Time Guardian smiled proudly. "You did well."

"No I didn't."

"Hotaru?"

"We fought and she left. That's why she got first. Its my fault."

"No it isn't," a new voice said. Both looked up to see Neo Queen Serenity walking through the door. "Fighting is a part of relationships. But you ran to her when you sensed her in trouble, right?" Seeing the nod, the queen smiled. "And you kept her alive. You saved my daughter Hotaru. I owe you more than my life."

Hotaru flushed and shook her head, mumbling it was nothing. Setsuna smiled some. "Rest Hotaru. You pushed yourself more than you should have." Rising to her feet, she gently tugged her queen out of the room so Hotaru could rest.

"Is she still blaming herself?" Michiru asked, cups of tea in a drink caddy. The two other women took the cups and sat down.

"Not so much anymore," Setsuna returned, blowing on her tea.

"I was so worried that something happened between them," Serenity said after a sip. "Chibi Usa was so upset..." She looked to the teal haired Outer. "Thank you for telling me about what happened. Chibi Usa swears the kiss meant nothing. While she loves Helios, she is not in love with him."

Michiru nodded. "I had a feeling but Hotaru's a grown woman no matter how much she looks like a teen still and I didn't want to overstep my bounds."

"And she's your daughter. That feeling doesn't go away." Serenity looked over across the hall at the intensive care room Chibi Usa was in. "We need to find out what that thing was that attacked Chibi Usa..."

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Sage stretched out in the meadow, absently watching as Haruka sat perched on a rock in her wolf form. He had never seen a pure white wolf before. At least not one who was a werewolf. Licking his muzzle, he rested his head back down and thought about the years he had come to know Haruka. They had first encountered her after the vicious attack by that creature. When his father Luc had come upon her, he had believed her dead and had just taken a bite of her abdomen when she had coughed in pain. It had startled him and he quickly fled to the shadows. His father had told him of how he watched Haruka fade between life and death. The blonde's lover had come and cried with rescue workers soon following.

That was when Luc had noticed the shattered Space Sword. When he saw Michiru grieve, he knew who the blonde was and who the teal haired woman probably was. Going to the funeral confirmed it. Later that evening, the pack, specifically Luc, had been startled when they felt a new member. The only new wolf candidate was Haruka but she had been declared dead. But in a world of supernatural creatures, being dead and staying dead were two different things. So the pack went to the gravesite and watched in macabre fascination as Haruka clawed her way out of the ground. And then when she had tried to henshin to fight them off (they had been in wolf form after all), they knew she was theirs. Sage had tried to befriend her, to get her trust and see that they were in search of justice but she was stubborn. So his father had resorted to black magicks after centuries of persuasion and attempts at breaking her.

Sage hated lying to her though. She had only started to trust him before his father did this. And he wanted to tell her of who she really was but it was forbidden and the Alpha's word was law. Still, he could be her friend. And hopefully she would see that they weren't monsters if she remembered. His father was certain it would never happen but he remembered the tales of love between Uranus and Neptune. He was envious of that love but knew most women would either run from him if they were human and found out what he was or the werewolf women would be too weak or petty to be a worthy mate. Part of him wondered if Haruka would choose him but it seemed it was not to be.

As he rose to his feet to start heading back, he blinked and tilted his head. He felt a new connection. Faint and free. Leaving Haruka, he rushed off to follow it. It wasn't long until he reached the city. Skulking in the shadows so most would think him a large dog or a wolf-dog, he crept closer to the source. It was a hospital. Shifting into human form in an alley, he slipped in through a service entrance and borrowed a pair of SCRUBS and shoes. He crept through the halls, the feeling of a new but weak wolf clear.

He halted and looked down when he noticed the Senshi sitting around the room of the new scent. Grabbing a mask he slipped into the room subtlely and looked down at the bed. His eyes widened. It was the princess. An innocent. He couldn't let his father corrupt her too. So he made a choice. The teen was still unclaimed. He could claim her secretly for now and deal with his father when the time came. But he would keep her safe. The sins of one's parents didn't transfer. Placing a hand on her head, he closed his eyes and slowly drew her into a bond with him. Not a mating bond. But now he was an Alpha in his own right even though he was still submissive to his father.

Pulling back he panted some and looked at the young woman. She seemed healthier already now that she could draw on his strength to heal. Hearing someone coming, he slipped to the window and dove out, easily landing on his feet. He hurried back, shedding the clothes before reaching the forest and letting his wolf form emerge again. He soon found Haruka and she had only moved enough to lay down. Though when he approached she leapt up and wagged her tail. Mentally he smiled but he needed to rest. So he laid down and closed his eyes, ignoring the growl of protest from his friend.

Haruka pouted some as Sage laid down to sleep. But he was the only one she actually liked and trusted. So annoyed as she was with him, she laid down near him and looked around. She would keep him safe. Not because he was the Alpha's son but because he was her only friend right now. Maybe she would go into the city one day soon and make a new friend.

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Chibi Usa tiredly opened her eyes. She felt exhausted yet restless at the same time. And she hated it but didn't know what else she could do. So she pushed herself up into a sitting position and looked around. The first thing she saw was Hotaru curled up in a chair. The pink haired girl felt a surge of emotion as she noted the tear stained face and the sorrow and regret that rolled off of the other woman. "Taru?"

The ebony haired girl's head whipped up and she looked at Chibi Usa, eyes widening in relief as fresh tears sprang to her eyes. "You're awake!" she gasped before closing the distance and hugging her gently. Chibi Usa flushed but returned the hug. "I thought you were dead...you were so still..."

"I'm alive," came the murmured response. "And I think its because of you?" Seeing the nod of confirmation, Chibi Usa smiled and hugged her again, this time tighter. "Thank you Taru..."

"You'd do the same for me."

Chibi Usa flushed some. "I can't heal like you..."

"Maybe not exactly like me but you still heal." Hotaru smiled and gently pushed Hotaru down. "You need to sleep still Usa. I'll be here when you wake up." Seeing the nod, Hotaru watched as Chibi Usa curled back up to sleep. Hotaru smiled and rested her head on the bed, closing her eyes as her hand snaked out to grab her girlfriend's. Chibi Usa would be okay. A few weeks had passed since the attack and she was almost healed. Ami was stumped as to how but Hotaru figured it was because she had pushed herself so hard. It was the only thing that made sense.

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Haruka walked through the city, amazed at the sight. It was beautiful but Haruka missed the green of the trees. But she couldn't remember ever being in a city like this. And the smells. She smiled as she walked through the streets, amazed at how oblivious people were to what she really was. These people were soft, complacent. Stopping at a crosswalk, she glanced around. She spotted something green and smiled before slipping over to it when the light changed. It was a park she realized. She smiled more and slid the flip flops off of her feet. She smiled more, loving the feel of the grass under her feet.

"Haruka?"

The voice caught her off guard and she spun around only to come face to face with a teal haired woman. The blonde inhaled and could tell the woman was hopeful in spite of a heavy sadness that lurked under her seemingly calm exterior. She tilted her head to the side, regarding the stranger. The werewolf couldn't explain it but...she felt drawn to this woman. "Who are you?" she asked. What she really wanted to ask was how she knew the blonde's name when as far as she knew, only the pack knew her name.

The girl's face fell slightly but she smiled still. "Kaioh Michiru."

Something about the name tickled at Haruka's mind but she still couldn't place it. "Should I know you?"

"You don't remember?"

"Not a Kaioh Michiru. I mean, there's a lot about my past I can't remember so don't feel bad if I should know you." Why she was trusting this stranger so much she didn't know. Just that something in her, the wolf maybe, told her that she could trust Michiru.

Michiru nodded some. "Don't worry about it. You just look like someone I kno...knew."

"You called me by my name though..."

"Coincidence maybe."

"Maybe but now I feel bad that your hopes got raised I'm not who you expected. Could I take you out for some coffee or something sometime?" Seeing the woman's face light up, the sorrow all but vanish, made her wolf purr more or less in happiness.

"I'd like that. Does now work for you?"

"Now's good." Holding her hand out to Michiru, Haruka smiled.

Michiru slowly took her hand, her heart thudding rapidly in her chest. Haruka or not, Michiru felt drawn to this woman. Even though something about her was setting off her sixth sense. She didn't care though. The two walked in comfortable silence down the street. Michiru made herself conscious though of not doing anything that might spook this woman. Like leaning against her as she would with Haruka. Or talk about her latest concert. Months had passed since her Haruka's last visit and something told her something had happened that prevented her from being able to see her. Perhaps it was this and the memory loss was a side effect.

Whatever the reason, she didn't care. Her heart was telling her that this was her Haruka no matter what her sixth sense said. As she was about to close her eyes and rest against Haruka, they were at the cafe and she flushed slightly. A glance up showed that Haruka was amused by her and she flushed more. The blonde then chuckled and she lifted her chin. "You can buy your own tea."

Haruka blinked then scrambled. "I'm sorry, I just...I've never felt this way around anyone before."

"Felt like what?" She tried to be teasing but she was hopeful and couldn't hide it in her voice.

"I don't know...its hard to explain."

Michiru nodded and ordered tea. Haruka was ordering right after and handed the cashier some money before Michiru could bring her wallet out. The blonde flashed a coy grin and Michiru shook her head some. The werewolf chuckled and soon they each had their tea. Haruka moved them over to sit down at a nearby table and studied the woman before her. She was strong. Haruka could tell that right away. And the graceful way she carried herself told the blonde she was a fighter as well. But a closer look showed her that this woman was haunted by something. Something bad.

"So...where are you from?" Michiru asked.

Haruka shrugged. "Here and there really. I can't remember exactly where I'm from but I think it might be Europe." She sipped her tea and gave a faint smile. "I'm not that worried about remembering. If I do I do. If I don't...well I just have to make memories."

Michiru nodded some. "Still, it must be hard not to know about your past and your family."

The blonde shrugged. "They never looked for me as far as I know. Doesn't matter though."

"How can you say that so easily?"

"They wouldn't approve I'm sure of the life I have now." She shrugged and was about to say more when she heard the call of her Alpha. Knowing she couldn't just bolt, she glanced down at her watch. "I need to head out...could we meet again sometime?"

Michiru felt herself smile. "I'd like that. Maybe Wednesday night?"

"Afternoon? I've got something important going on that night." Important as in the full moon and the Change was all but impossible to stop unless you were a very powerful werewolf. Every wolf Haruka knew changed.

"Afternoon then."

Haruka smiled. "How about we meet at the zoo?" Michiru agreed and Haruka smiled. She rose to her feet and slipped out of the cafe. Once she was out of sight of Michiru, she broke into an easy lope she could maintain in her human form and would get her to the estate she and the pack were staying at. It didn't take long to reach and she saw she was one of the first there aside from the Alpha and his second. Sage was there of course and he smiled slightly to Haruka. She returned the smile but something was amiss. Luc looked pissed. Thankfully the rest of the pack appeared and he spoke.

"Our revenge will have to wait," he said. There were murmurs of surprise but they quelled quickly. "Something new has come into our territory. Yes, this city is now ours and something threatens it." He took in a breath. "On a patrol of the city last night I caught the scent of death and blood. Few things in the humans' world can make those scents."

"Why is it our concern?" a newer wolf asked timidly.

"Because Lucy, our duty is to protect and save innocents even though we are monsters. My father and his brother and sister wolves made an oath to always protect the innocent and those in need of protection. I will not abandon that duty just to slake our thirst for justice."

Haruka looked at Luc but didn't meet his eyes. "You want us to patrol the city?" Hearing his affirmation, she nodded. "What exactly are we sniffing for and how do we stop it?"

Luc felt a smile tug at his face at Haruka's no nonsense tone. "Vampires. They're as real as us and perhaps deadlier. With us its easier to see what we are. Vampires, they seduce and kill." Making sure his pack understood that, he told them how to kill a vampire. Sunlight was no good, their sight was just hampered by the excess light. Religious symbols rarely worked unless a priest or priestess had blessed the object. The best sure fire way to kill a vampire was to rip its head off. "Go hunt in pairs at least. I don't want to lose any of you."

Knowing that they were dismissed, the wolves started to break up in pairs but Luc stopped Haruka. She looked at him quizzically, never fully meeting his eyes. "Something wrong Luc?"

"Keep my son safe?"

She looked up into his eyes in startlement before quickly dropping them. "Of course...he's like a brother to me."

Luc smiled faintly. "In a manner he is. He is related to me by blood and I am the one who inadvertantly changed you. Both of you are connected through me." He lifted her face gently. "He is a good man and a good wolf but he can be...soft at times." Haruka knew he was trying to put the compassion his son felt towards things in a polite way but it was hard. She understood though.

"I'll watch his back." Nodding, Luc let her go and she sauntered over to Sage and the two headed into the city, deciding to hunt in the daytime as humans and night by wolf. Haruka knew this hunt could last for weeks but Luc was adamant it seemed about keeping innocents safe. And Haruka fully agreed with her Alpha. But for now, it was setting back out in the city with idle conversation with her friend.

"So what did you do today?"

"Nothing special," she said, a faint smile forming on her face when she thought of Michiru.

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Hotaru was worried about Chibi Usa. She was getting more and more restless of being cooped up to heal. The thing was though, she didn't need to be healed anymore. She was physically fine but Ami wanted to make sure mentally she was as well. And with her access to the Ginzuishou, Hotaru knew it was a wise thing. But she still worried and fretted for her girlfriend. At least they were back in the palace. But the pacing of the other girl was making Hotaru dizzy.

"Can't you sit down? Read?"

"I can't Hotaru. I feel too...energized. I want to do something and books are just...not holding my interest." She smiled sheepishly. "Strange I know but I just feel..." She shrugged.

Hotaru grinned some. "Well if you're that restless I know of a way to hopefully exhaust you..." She was a bit taken about at how...animalistic yet passionate Chibi Usa's eyes became. And possessive. But the Senshi of Rebirth wasn't afraid. Not even when Chibi Usa bounded over to her and all but ripped their clothes off. Chibi Usa was wild and free, and Hotaru was able to keep up. But afterwards, her body trembled in sheer exhaustion and she curled up against Chibi Usa, wiping at her neck.

Chibi Usa watched her lover fall asleep or pass out. She couldn't tell which. But a sense that Hotaru was hers made her smile softly. She still felt restless but as she watched the older woman sleep, she felt calmer. She flushed some when she saw the bite mark at the crook of Hotaru's shoulder and neck. She didn't remember doing that but maybe it had been to keep from screaming. She just hoped Hotaru wasn't too hurt by it.

She knew something had changed within her. What though, she didn't know. Just that it had. It scared and excited her and she could swear she could feel another's presence in her mind. Not invading, just a warm comfort. Or maybe she was just running on adrenaline still from the attack. She still didn't know what had attacked her. Chibi Usa just prayed and hoped it hadn't harmed anyone else. Closing her eyes, she snuggled against Chibi Usa and decided to attempt to sleep.

A few hours later, Hotaru tiredly stirred, knowing it was near dinner time. She looked at Chibi Usa and smiled as she watched her sleep. She rolled out her shoulders and winced in pain. Her entire body was sore and she flushed at the memory of the things she and Chibi Usa had done. Rubbing her neck, she blinked when she felt the bite but flushed brighter. She would need to hide that until it healed. No need to broadcast to the world she had a lover. Settling back against Chibi Usa, she smiled as an arm snaked around her waist. A feeling of peace and belonging washed over her and she cuddled closer.

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Sage blinked slightly as he felt something shift in his mind. The girl he had claimed as a packmate, his and his alone, had found a mate. Sage didn't know much about how the mental connection worked. No werewolf he knew did. But they all knew who was who's mate. If the mate was a wolf at least. Which meant that the girl had found a human lover. It slightly discouraged him. She had been pretty and he thought that maybe getting to know her he could fall for her and court her to be his mate. Alas, it was not to be. But so long as she was happy, he wouldn't mind.

"Staring off into space while hunting isn't wise whelp," Haruka teased, bringing him out of his reverie.

"Sorry. Interesting scent..."

"Of garbage? Please. You're up to something. I know it and you know it. Up to you to tell me, either way I don't care. But if you ever need help..."

He smiled. "I know...and...I might need your help Tuesday or Wednesday."

"Wednesay afternoon I'm busy."

He looked at her, knowing he could order her. He was of higher rank but he did respect her even though female wolves were suppose to be lower than the males. At least in his father's pack. "Do you promise to keep a secret?"

"You know I have to tell the truth to anyone higher than me in the pack, including your father."

"...what if you could belong to a different pack?"

She looked at him quizzically. "Your father's pack is the only one in the Crystal Tokyo area..."

He shook his head. "Not anymore...I..."

"What?" Gently she placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I found a girl the other day in the hospital. She'd been Changed...but belonged to no pack." He glanced up at Haruka. "So...I made a pack bond with her."

"...behind your father's back?"

Sage started pacing, a sign he was nervous. "I didn't mean to but...just something told me she shouldn't be around so much bloodshed that we're to do. I wanted to keep her safe...pure." He shrugged. "As much as possible anyways."

"And now you're asking me to join your pack. Won't your father know?"

He shook his head. "You'll be in my pack but as I answer to him still, you'd still be slightly connected to him but not directly." He leaned against a wall. "Until I tell my father I'm an Alpha, I'm still bound to follow him but now I have a choice. So can you."

Haruka nodded. She trusted Sage. She only really followed Luc because he was Alpha. She didn't always agree with his methods... "Alright."

Sage smiled, relief sweeping through him. He moved over to her and placed a hand over her heart. "This might hurt. Magic was done to you at some point in your life and I don't know how it will react to shifting into a new pack." At her nod, he began.

Haruka winced slightly at the pain but it was just a small thrumming pain that lasted for a moment before she felt her connection slip from father to son. She could still feel Luc but it wasn't as strong as it was for Sage. She smiled some. "Don't think I'm going to be all smiles and 'yes sirs' now whelp," she said in a teasing voice.

Sage laughed. "I'd die of shock if you did." He looked at her. "But you are my second now you know."

"I thought women weren't allowed that."

Sage shrugged. "I'm not my father. Besides, you're an excellent fighter and a good friend. I know you can handle yourself." The two smiled and began walking again.

"So...this thing on Wednesday. I take it it has to do with the other packmember?"

He nodded as they turned a corner into the old district of Juuban. "Wednesday's her first full moon. I'd like to get a chance to talk with her before then, explain it all so she doesn't have a total freak out and hurt those she loves or worse, they hurt her."

"Where does she live?"

"You're not going to like it." She arched a brow that said Try me. "The palace. Its the princess..."

Her face grew very serious. "As in the princess your father wanted dead?" He nodded and she cursed some.

"I don't always agree with my father Haruka. She was an innocent he attacked for his own vendetta. So she's related to the ones that betrayed us. That doesn't make her guilty of the same crime."

"I'm not disagreeing with you. But if your father finds out she's still alive and a wolf to boot, he's going to try and claim her. Maybe even as his mate."

Sage shook his head. "My father hasn't had a mate since my mother. He doesn't like forcing people if there's another way. But the one thing he'll never make an exception on for that is mating. It has to be voluntary."

Haruka sighed and nodded. "Fine. But this means we'll probably have to sneak into the palace." The pair stopped at a memorial for the fallen Senshi Uranus. Haruka looked at it and her eyes slowly became unfocused.

"Haruka?" The blonde didn't hear her friend. Instead she saw and felt flashed from a fight. A brutal fight. She winced with each hit then suddenly doubled over in pain, clutching her abdomen. "Haruka!" Sage knelt down as Haruka held her head. "Are you okay?"

"Stupid question."

He chuckled. "Guess so." He helped her up. "Will you be okay?"

"I think so. What is this place?"

"A memorial. Before the Freeze there was some enemy that came here. Before it could cause too much death and destruction, one of the Sailor Senshi, Uranus, fought him."

"Who won?"

"Uranus so the reports said but she gave her life for it." He walked forward and placed his hand on the marker. "I've always felt guilty that we weren't here to help. That if we had been, maybe things could have been different."

"Can't blame yourself Sage. You guys can't be everywhere at once." He nodded and they started walking again. They came to the outer walls of the palace and the two werewolves looked at it. "So...we're probably going to have to bust in there."

"Yep."

"The royal palace."

"That's the one."

"Which is not just protected by guards but also the seven Sailor Senshi."

"More or less."

"Just the two of us."

"Just us."

"For the princess."

"Mhmm."

"Because she's a werewolf."

"Exactly."

"You're insane."

"What took you so long to figure that out?"

Haruka broke into a smile and shook her head. "Alright genius boy, what do we do?"

"Scope out the lay of the grounds out here, look for a way in. Then get in, shift, sniff her out and talk to her."

"Piece of cake." They grinned at each other and began looking for a way into the grounds of the palace. "Can't you just call her?"

"I'd rather not freak her out like that."

"Fair enough." The two wolves circled the palace, each making notes of places that they could slip inside through. The easiest place seemed to be the eastern side. The blonde glanced at her new Alpha. "So...should we sneak in tonight, try to talk to her?"

He nodded. "That might be wise. Give her time to adjust to the information. But if she doesn't believe us we need to be ready to be at her side at the full moon. I can subdue her so she doesn't go on a rampage but being in the palace will make that difficult. Haruka nodded in agreement.


So, was it good? Good enough to review? No flame reviews please.