"Why live life from dream to dream
And dread the day when dreaming ends?"
~"One Day I'll Fly Away"
//Act IV, Scene I: On the Beach//
~*~Thirty-one years ago, Honolulu, pre-Black Moon Riots~*~
If the illusion fits, wear it.
For the first time in thirty years, Haruka was having a spectacular day. Michiru had woken up early, they ordered room service, and had a delightful breakfast in bed. Fresh melon and strawberries, warm cinnamon muffins, and the best damn coffee this side of paradise. And then, with a wink and a giggle, Michiru had dragged Haruka out into the early morning sun so they could properly peruse the boardwalk.
Along with the drooling and light sleeping, Haruka had forgotten about Michiru's penchant for shopping.
After six stores, Michiru not only found a properly boyish swimming suit for Haruka, but a rather risqué aqua-colored two-piece with a matching sarong for herself. She also scrounged up two pairs of black-wire sunglasses with opaque lenses, a bundle of hair ties, and a sinfully adorable mermaid plushie, which she had given to Haruka as thanks for sneaking over.
As much as a boardwalk whore as Michiru could be, she was dying for the beach. So after a quick stop in yet another store for matching blue fluffy towels, sunscreen, and coconut oil, Michiru had lugged Haruka to the shore line, spread out the towels, shoved the sunscreen into Haruka's hand, and demanded service.
Haruka had loved every moment of it. And she naturally loved having Michiru rub the goop into her own skin as well.
Properly lathered, Michiru sprang for the water, Haruka right on her heels.
Insanity had henceforth ensued.
The Senshi of the Ocean actually ~in~ the ocean was a scary sight to behold.
After an hour and a half of water going up her nose, thanks to being repeatably dragged under the waves, Haruka finally managed to convince Michiru for a break.
And so now here they were.
Michiru had replaced her sunscreen coating with the coconut oil and was stretched out on her towel, sunning happily. And even though Haruka couldn't see Michiru's eyes through her sunglasses, she had a sneaking suspicion that she was sleeping. After all, she was slightly drooling.
Haruka idly fingered the aquamarine tresses of her mermaid plushie. A wonderful day thus far, save for one minor detail: she felt like she was being watched.
Granted, there had to be several hundred people on the beach by now, and Haruka had spotted several of the young men variety lustfully eyeing Michiru, but still…
She shook the feeling off. Maybe she was simply feeling an admirer gazing lustfully upon her. Doubtful, considering the glorious water goddess napping beside her, but there were always possibilities...
Or maybe Serenity had found her.
Haruka's eyes narrowed at the thought. Pluto had promised her twenty-four hours. She promised! Could Serenity even be so cruel?
No. It couldn't be Serenity. Serenity wouldn't know the first place to look for her. After all, if the Queen couldn't keep track of the ginzuishou, how could she find a stray Senshi?
"Haruka?" Michiru murmured drowsily as she managed to roll over so she could properly tan her back, "I think it's time for lunch."
Haruka's stomach agreed with her.
"Bring me something?" Michiru asked sweetly.
"You're not supposed to eat on the beach," Haruka reminded her coyly.
"I'm a Sailor Senshi…they don't like it, they can have a Deep Submerge to the ass."
"Alright, alright, I'll bring her majesty something to eat," Haruka set down her plushie, and started to brush sand from her legs, "Do you want anything in particular?"
"I want a gyro."
Haruka raised an eyebrow, "A new swimming suit and an acre of sand, and you want the world's gooiest sandwich?" she asked incredulously, "You're mad."
"I'm HUNGRY," Michiru insisted, "Trying to drown you is hard work."
Haruka shook her head wryly and stood, "Do they even SELL gyros in Honolulu?"
Michiru shrugged, "You're a Sailor Senshi. If they don't, World Shake someone until they do."
Haruka bit back a comment about how she no longer had a henshin. In this time period-when she was supposed to be dealing with a rampaging goat herder in Wisconsin-she did still have a henshin.
"I think that constitutes an abuse of powers."
"When it comes to food, no it doesn't." Michiru lowered her sunglasses just enough to throw Haruka a wink, "I want lots of goop, too."
"Lots of goop," Haruka confirmed, "I'll see what I can do."
And with that, she was off on her quest to find a Greek food on a Hawaiian island.
The wind rustled and Haruka froze halfway to the boardwalk. Dammit, someone WAS watching her!
And it didn't feel like a lustful stare, either.
Haruka narrowed her eyes and her fist closed on the Key dangling from the delicate chain on her neck. Could this be a pre-emptive strike of the Black Moon? Michiru had never said---
Of course that was in the original time line. Michiru probably had never spent her assignment time on the beach, longing for gyros the first time around. Haruka ground her teeth in exasperation. How did Pluto keep up with this crap?
But that didn't change the fact that yes, someone was still watching.
Haruka slid her sunglasses down her nose and scanned the beach. Save for the moronic teenagers, the wailing children, and the people who most definitely should NOT be squeezing themselves into spandex suits, she could spot nothing out of the ordinary…
Waitaminute.
About thirty or so paces from where Michiru was sunning, there was an abandoned plush green towel. And the owner of that towel, a rather statuesque brunette with a bouncy ponytail, was striding purposely over to where Haruka was standing.
Kino Makoto.
And odds are, it probably wasn't this time's Kino Makoto.
"Fuck," was all Haruka could think to say as Makoto approached. Pluto had obviously been apprehended and now Serenity had sent good old Sailor Jupiter back to keep deranged old Haruka from screwing up the timeline.
"Haruka-san," Makoto greeted with a cordial nod of her head.
"Kino-san," Haruka returned the nod.
"The Queen wishes to have a word with you."
Those words killed the hope that maybe this was the past's…present?...Makoto. Again, fuck.
"Does she now?" Haruka murmured and pushed her sunglasses back up. Makoto's eyes narrowed slightly and Haruka smirked. There was just something about trying to intimidate someone when you couldn't see their eyes, "Tell her I'm busy."
Makoto latched onto Haruka's upper arm with an iron grip. Haruka refused to wince at the bruises she could already feel forming, "The Queen wants to see you NOW."
"I don't care."
"Are you mad??" Makoto exploded, doing her best to keep her voice at a decent level, "Do you have ANY idea just what the hell you are doing?!"
"Looking for a Greek vendor in Hawaii?"
Haruka could see that Makoto was just itching to slap her, "What is wrong with you?! What makes you think that you can just waltz back in time and damn the future?!"
"Because I HAVE no future!" Haruka spat vehemently and yanked her arm from Makoto's hold, "Do you know what it's like, Kino-san, to wake up every day knowing that the only person you loved is dead because of another's blatant stupidity?? Do you know what it's like to be hollow? To be ALONE? Dammit, Kino-san, do you have any idea what it's like to love and LOSE?"
"YES!" Makoto nearly screamed, "Yes, Haruka, I understand completely! You and your goddamned martyr complex! Do you think you're the only one who has lost someone beloved?! But you don't see me pleading with Setsuna-san to take me back! You don't see me being so fucking selfish and I loved him just as much as you loved her!"
Haruka actually had to take a step back at that.
Makoto was the essence of fury. Her eyes were narrowed, but shining with frustrated tears, and her fists were clenched so tightly, that several droplets of blood had fallen to the sand.
"He was killed by a riot protesting Usagi's rise to power," Makoto continued coldly, "Someone bludgeoned him to death with a two by four, Haruka-san. A fucking two by four. The only reason they connected him with the Queen was they had seen him with me," a single tear slipped down her cheek, but she paid it no mind, "He was killed because of me. Do you have any idea how that feels, Haruka-san?" she choked back the sob threatening to escape, "Do you have any idea?"
"I'm...I'm....I didn't...I'm sorry," Haruka finished lamely. All the giddiness and happiness and cheeriness and completedness she had felt from this morning left her in a sudden wave.
Makoto was right. She was being selfish. She was mad. She was in the wrong. She had taken advantage of Pluto to have something that wasn't hers. She should have refused, but no. She was weak.
And what did she have for it?
Nothing. She couldn't save Michiru. She had obviously hurt Makoto. She had probably gotten Pluto killed.
It was time to go home.
"Can I say goodbye?" Haruka whispered, defeated.
Makoto swallowed once and nodded her head, "I'll wait."
Haruka wordlessly turned and made her way back to Michiru.
And dread the day when dreaming ends?"
~"One Day I'll Fly Away"
//Act IV, Scene I: On the Beach//
~*~Thirty-one years ago, Honolulu, pre-Black Moon Riots~*~
If the illusion fits, wear it.
For the first time in thirty years, Haruka was having a spectacular day. Michiru had woken up early, they ordered room service, and had a delightful breakfast in bed. Fresh melon and strawberries, warm cinnamon muffins, and the best damn coffee this side of paradise. And then, with a wink and a giggle, Michiru had dragged Haruka out into the early morning sun so they could properly peruse the boardwalk.
Along with the drooling and light sleeping, Haruka had forgotten about Michiru's penchant for shopping.
After six stores, Michiru not only found a properly boyish swimming suit for Haruka, but a rather risqué aqua-colored two-piece with a matching sarong for herself. She also scrounged up two pairs of black-wire sunglasses with opaque lenses, a bundle of hair ties, and a sinfully adorable mermaid plushie, which she had given to Haruka as thanks for sneaking over.
As much as a boardwalk whore as Michiru could be, she was dying for the beach. So after a quick stop in yet another store for matching blue fluffy towels, sunscreen, and coconut oil, Michiru had lugged Haruka to the shore line, spread out the towels, shoved the sunscreen into Haruka's hand, and demanded service.
Haruka had loved every moment of it. And she naturally loved having Michiru rub the goop into her own skin as well.
Properly lathered, Michiru sprang for the water, Haruka right on her heels.
Insanity had henceforth ensued.
The Senshi of the Ocean actually ~in~ the ocean was a scary sight to behold.
After an hour and a half of water going up her nose, thanks to being repeatably dragged under the waves, Haruka finally managed to convince Michiru for a break.
And so now here they were.
Michiru had replaced her sunscreen coating with the coconut oil and was stretched out on her towel, sunning happily. And even though Haruka couldn't see Michiru's eyes through her sunglasses, she had a sneaking suspicion that she was sleeping. After all, she was slightly drooling.
Haruka idly fingered the aquamarine tresses of her mermaid plushie. A wonderful day thus far, save for one minor detail: she felt like she was being watched.
Granted, there had to be several hundred people on the beach by now, and Haruka had spotted several of the young men variety lustfully eyeing Michiru, but still…
She shook the feeling off. Maybe she was simply feeling an admirer gazing lustfully upon her. Doubtful, considering the glorious water goddess napping beside her, but there were always possibilities...
Or maybe Serenity had found her.
Haruka's eyes narrowed at the thought. Pluto had promised her twenty-four hours. She promised! Could Serenity even be so cruel?
No. It couldn't be Serenity. Serenity wouldn't know the first place to look for her. After all, if the Queen couldn't keep track of the ginzuishou, how could she find a stray Senshi?
"Haruka?" Michiru murmured drowsily as she managed to roll over so she could properly tan her back, "I think it's time for lunch."
Haruka's stomach agreed with her.
"Bring me something?" Michiru asked sweetly.
"You're not supposed to eat on the beach," Haruka reminded her coyly.
"I'm a Sailor Senshi…they don't like it, they can have a Deep Submerge to the ass."
"Alright, alright, I'll bring her majesty something to eat," Haruka set down her plushie, and started to brush sand from her legs, "Do you want anything in particular?"
"I want a gyro."
Haruka raised an eyebrow, "A new swimming suit and an acre of sand, and you want the world's gooiest sandwich?" she asked incredulously, "You're mad."
"I'm HUNGRY," Michiru insisted, "Trying to drown you is hard work."
Haruka shook her head wryly and stood, "Do they even SELL gyros in Honolulu?"
Michiru shrugged, "You're a Sailor Senshi. If they don't, World Shake someone until they do."
Haruka bit back a comment about how she no longer had a henshin. In this time period-when she was supposed to be dealing with a rampaging goat herder in Wisconsin-she did still have a henshin.
"I think that constitutes an abuse of powers."
"When it comes to food, no it doesn't." Michiru lowered her sunglasses just enough to throw Haruka a wink, "I want lots of goop, too."
"Lots of goop," Haruka confirmed, "I'll see what I can do."
And with that, she was off on her quest to find a Greek food on a Hawaiian island.
The wind rustled and Haruka froze halfway to the boardwalk. Dammit, someone WAS watching her!
And it didn't feel like a lustful stare, either.
Haruka narrowed her eyes and her fist closed on the Key dangling from the delicate chain on her neck. Could this be a pre-emptive strike of the Black Moon? Michiru had never said---
Of course that was in the original time line. Michiru probably had never spent her assignment time on the beach, longing for gyros the first time around. Haruka ground her teeth in exasperation. How did Pluto keep up with this crap?
But that didn't change the fact that yes, someone was still watching.
Haruka slid her sunglasses down her nose and scanned the beach. Save for the moronic teenagers, the wailing children, and the people who most definitely should NOT be squeezing themselves into spandex suits, she could spot nothing out of the ordinary…
Waitaminute.
About thirty or so paces from where Michiru was sunning, there was an abandoned plush green towel. And the owner of that towel, a rather statuesque brunette with a bouncy ponytail, was striding purposely over to where Haruka was standing.
Kino Makoto.
And odds are, it probably wasn't this time's Kino Makoto.
"Fuck," was all Haruka could think to say as Makoto approached. Pluto had obviously been apprehended and now Serenity had sent good old Sailor Jupiter back to keep deranged old Haruka from screwing up the timeline.
"Haruka-san," Makoto greeted with a cordial nod of her head.
"Kino-san," Haruka returned the nod.
"The Queen wishes to have a word with you."
Those words killed the hope that maybe this was the past's…present?...Makoto. Again, fuck.
"Does she now?" Haruka murmured and pushed her sunglasses back up. Makoto's eyes narrowed slightly and Haruka smirked. There was just something about trying to intimidate someone when you couldn't see their eyes, "Tell her I'm busy."
Makoto latched onto Haruka's upper arm with an iron grip. Haruka refused to wince at the bruises she could already feel forming, "The Queen wants to see you NOW."
"I don't care."
"Are you mad??" Makoto exploded, doing her best to keep her voice at a decent level, "Do you have ANY idea just what the hell you are doing?!"
"Looking for a Greek vendor in Hawaii?"
Haruka could see that Makoto was just itching to slap her, "What is wrong with you?! What makes you think that you can just waltz back in time and damn the future?!"
"Because I HAVE no future!" Haruka spat vehemently and yanked her arm from Makoto's hold, "Do you know what it's like, Kino-san, to wake up every day knowing that the only person you loved is dead because of another's blatant stupidity?? Do you know what it's like to be hollow? To be ALONE? Dammit, Kino-san, do you have any idea what it's like to love and LOSE?"
"YES!" Makoto nearly screamed, "Yes, Haruka, I understand completely! You and your goddamned martyr complex! Do you think you're the only one who has lost someone beloved?! But you don't see me pleading with Setsuna-san to take me back! You don't see me being so fucking selfish and I loved him just as much as you loved her!"
Haruka actually had to take a step back at that.
Makoto was the essence of fury. Her eyes were narrowed, but shining with frustrated tears, and her fists were clenched so tightly, that several droplets of blood had fallen to the sand.
"He was killed by a riot protesting Usagi's rise to power," Makoto continued coldly, "Someone bludgeoned him to death with a two by four, Haruka-san. A fucking two by four. The only reason they connected him with the Queen was they had seen him with me," a single tear slipped down her cheek, but she paid it no mind, "He was killed because of me. Do you have any idea how that feels, Haruka-san?" she choked back the sob threatening to escape, "Do you have any idea?"
"I'm...I'm....I didn't...I'm sorry," Haruka finished lamely. All the giddiness and happiness and cheeriness and completedness she had felt from this morning left her in a sudden wave.
Makoto was right. She was being selfish. She was mad. She was in the wrong. She had taken advantage of Pluto to have something that wasn't hers. She should have refused, but no. She was weak.
And what did she have for it?
Nothing. She couldn't save Michiru. She had obviously hurt Makoto. She had probably gotten Pluto killed.
It was time to go home.
"Can I say goodbye?" Haruka whispered, defeated.
Makoto swallowed once and nodded her head, "I'll wait."
Haruka wordlessly turned and made her way back to Michiru.
