A/N: Hello to everyone! Step by step, chapter by chapter we're going to the end of the story. To all those people who take their time to leave the nice reviews (recently it's been petiyaka, Reader458 and Angel of Serenity88), thank you very much – I love and appreciate your attention!

And… Unlove You, are you alright? I guess I was spoiled by your constant reviews ;)) It's ok if you don't want to write them anymore, I'm just worried about you :) Hope you are fine and just too busy with your merry holidays ;)

Okay, on to the chapter, one of the last ones. And a very short one.

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon. Naoko Takeuchi does ;)

* Another Dream About Us *

Chapter 9

The morning came bright and lovely.

Usagi smiled contently and stretched slightly before opening her eyes and greeting her recent lover.

The lover that wasn't there.

The princess was very surprised when she saw no one beside her. All of a sudden the bed seemed cold and lonely, without Haruka in it. Where did the wind senshi go so early? Sitting up straight in the bed, Usagi frantically looked around searching for a glimpse of the sandy locks that felt so silky and soft under her fingers last night.

To her great surprise, she found the tomboy sleeping peacefully on the couch, obviously clad with her nightwear and covered with a blanket. As to herself, she was still naked. Usagi's cheeks flushed at the memories about how her panties were removed and thrown somewhere. She would have to find them later.

But how and when did Haruka manage to sneak out of the bed? And the most important question was WHY she did it. Usagi was sure she held the sandy blonde tight in her arms when falling asleep. The same as Haruka did.

Or… did they? What did really happen? The absence of the clothes actually couldn't prove anything.

Usagi remembered numberless times when in the mornings she happened to find herself lying in her bed completely naked after her sensual wet dreams. Maybe Haruka was right about her wild nature; Usagi never really paid much attention at it. Till last night.

An awful suspicion crept into the princess's mind and she furiously shook her head, denying the very idea of a probable happening. No way was it just another erotic dream about her and Haruka! Not again! Please… this time it felt so real! It couldn't be… just a dream, not this time! Could it?

There had to be another explanation! Like… umm, maybe the wind senshi preferred sleeping alone so that she wouldn't have to fight for the bed space or the cover. 'Yeah, that's a brilliant guess. That's the exact reason why people would buy one of such king-sized double beds like this one…!' Usagi's inner voice sounded as rude as usual, not making her feel any better.

Okay, there still could be something else. Maybe, just maybe some parts of that weird night were real while the others happened to be only the pieces of a sensual dream about her and Haruka making out. The question though was…what parts exactly were the real ones?

Well, judging from where she was Usagi could tell with confidence that Haruka at least saved her and brought her to her own apartment after the battle. And her bruises looked almost healed up thanks to the special senshi power of recovery (and probably Haruka's treating). Too bad it wasn't the answer Usagi was looking for.

Not really knowing what to do, the young princess decided to take a shower first. If she was about to face the unwelcome reality then she would face it fresh and clean.

Passing by the motionless Haruka Usagi didn't notice that the pair of the teal eyes had been watching her attentively from under the half-closed eyelashes till the moment she shut the door to the bathroom. Nor did she notice the way they saddened as she did so; a bitter smile played on the tomboy's lips as she covered her head with the blanket and heaved a groan.

The long hot shower did wonders. The golden-haired princess felt much better. Alright, she admitted, it didn't really matter why Haruka ended up sleeping on the couch. Maybe Usagi was just too disturbing to sleep beside. The princess giggled at the thought that she could have accidentally knocked or smacked the tough wind senshi in her sleep and made the latter capitulate by moving to the couch.

Usagi decided to not get upset over the situation before she would get at the roots of the things.

All she needed to do was just to wait till Haruka awoke from her sleep and… well, simply ask her. Alright, maybe it would be a bit harder than 'simply' to do because in the morning light the things looked… quite different. But anyway, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Usagi smiled cheerfully to her reflection in the mirror, found her clean clothes in the dryer and hugged them gratefully before putting them on. 'Haruka-chan is so caring…' The girl thought with a tender smile, wanting nothing more that to run and hug her lover.

Still smiling wide, she walked out of the bathroom and was greeted by the empty bedroom. Both bed and the couch were made neatly. Nothing reminded of her staying in this room, and no Haruka within a view. Again.

Usagi's smile faded, a bad presentiment squeezed her heart, and she involuntarily pressed her hand to her chest.

Deliberately making her way downstairs, the princess headed to the kitchen because she heard the noises coming out from there. Approaching closer, the girl heard the wonderful music. The violin. The latest album of Michiru. The one she went to promote throughout Japan recently.

Leaning on the doorframe, Usagi watched Haruka humming the tune while cooking something. The tune composed by the one whom she obviously loved. Another unreachable in her perfection woman.

The princess didn't need to ask Haruka about last night. Not anymore. The morning events were more than convincing.

Usagi took a deep breath and forced a polite smile, in spite of the feeling that her heart was breaking into pieces. Why? She couldn't find the answer. But it hurt.

Haruka turned around to bring some utensils to the table and saw Usagi stand silently at the door. The wind senshi smiled invitingly.

"Good morning, Koneko. How are you feeling? You look much better." Getting no reply, Haruka shrugged with an uncertain smile and gestured towards the table; she hoped that would inspire the younger girl in any case. "Are you hungry? I made some breakfast. I'm not much of a cook, of course, but I hope it's still edible."

Not a kiss. Not a single hint about the last night. Nothing reminded of the loving, passionate Haruka Usagi got to know last night. As if all it had never had place. And what if it really had not? Was it possible that the most wonderful night she had was just a fruit of her spoiled imagination?

Usagi cocked her head and inquisitively observed the sandy blonde who seemed to be surprised by her attention.

"Hey, what is that?" Haruka teased with an unsure smile. "You look like you're suspecting me to eat all of your cookies which I certainly didn't. What's wrong?"

Usagi's heart sank down. She faked a smile and averted her eyes, hiding her disappointment and despair. So all that wasn't real… that beautiful and voluptuous night was just another wild dream of hers?

"Nothing. I'm fine. I just thought that… never mind. I'm… you know, Haruka-ch… san", she stumbled upon the honorific suffix she had to use because they became distant again, "breakfast is always a great idea and it looks very good… Only I am… suddenly not so hungry. I'd better be going before my family goes crazy about where I spent the night."

"Okay, that's it, tell me", the tomboy came closer and put her arms onto the girl's shoulders, catching the saddened look of the blue eyes, "Koneko whom I know would never reject any food. Tell me what's wrong with you. Maybe I would be able to help. Trust me, princess."

Hearing the words from the last night but with an absolutely wrong tone was too much to bear for Usagi. Her lower lip began shaking and her eyes quickly filled with tears.

She turned away and, burying her face in her palms, shook her head, unable to hold back the tears. The strong warm arms of Haruka encircled her body from behind, making a cozy soothing hug.

"I am sorry", the princess sniffled, "it's so stupid. You would laugh at me because I… I saw a wonderful dream… about you! And I thought it was real… but obviously it wasn't. And here I wake up and… you are so distant, so polite and formal… totally opposite to what you were like in my dream. And I know I shouldn't but I'm feeling hurt… I am sorry, Haruka-san, I'm so sorry. It's very stupid of me, so stupid…"

The words faded quickly but the princess still couldn't repress the tears, streaming down her cheeks endlessly.

Sobbing hard, she didn't realize at once that she had been picked up and carried to the sofa. Usagi found herself sitting on Haruka's lap, and the soft hands of the wind senshi stroked her back fondly.

"Forgive me, Koneko." Usagi heard her tender whisper and looked up in surprise.

"Why?" She asked, tears still flowing down her cheeks.

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