Author's Notes: Oh goodness! an update less than a full week down the road? Yes indeed! I'm so excited for this chapter, I just couldn't make you all wait any longer. I hope you enjoy this one as much as you've enjoyed the story so far. It's shaping up to be a very interesting ride for our lovely couple. I feel bad for them. Of course, I suppose if I truly felt bad for them, I'd let them get together quickly, but well, I guess I'm not THAT nice. ^_^ Please enjoy the ride!
Thank you all for the wonderful reviews! I love that I'm able to create questions and that even better! I have answers for all of them! I guess it means I'm doing a pretty good job of closing plot holes!
Standard disclaimers apply. I do not now nor have I ever owned anything in association with Sailor Moon. She, her world and her comrades (and enemies) are owned by Naoko Takeuchi, Toei, Bandai, and whoever else actually has the right to make money off of them. I just have the right to enjoy myself fully. ^_^
It had been a good day, she tried to remind herself. First, she'd woken up without any of those pesky nightmares that plagued her too frequently these days. They'd gotten less, but irritating and disturbing were generous descriptions of how they affected her. Then, despite starting off second, she'd won the race. After that, it had been a series of parties. First had been her crew, then sponsors and finally her fans. The last had been the most raucous, though the first had been her favorite. Haruka enjoyed her fans, and knew that without them, her sponsors wouldn't be as generous, but maintaining her public persona was becoming more difficult by the day. She wondered how long it would take the party goers to realize she wasn't there anymore.
The headache had started a half-hour ago. Give or take. Looking at the clock hadn't exactly been a priority at the time. At first, she'd blamed the alcohol, exchanging some rum-based drink a fan had recommended for plain water. She still didn't get any relief. The pain was becoming blinding, so she headed to the balcony for fresh air. She barely cleared the doorway when the door, aided by a gust of wind, closed behind her and Haruka felt the world beneath her shake. Grabbing the railing, she realized the world wasn't shifting. She was.
The headache was replaced by nausea as she stared at her gloved hand. Leaping off the balcony, Sailor Uranus landed on the rooftop where she promptly collapsed to her knees. Heart racing and breath coming in short pants, the Senshi fought for control over the body that was feeling the effects of its planetary protector for the first time.
The desire to run welled up inside her and Haruka wondered distantly if it was to or from something. The question was answered nearly instantly. To. To her princess. With a knowledge born of the magic that made her who and what she was, Sailor Uranus knew that the princess's Silver Crystal had called to her. That she had been granted a second chance to prevent the destruction of everything she held dear. Closing her eyes, she called upon her Talisman, smiling as the sword materialized in her hand. Part of her, the part that had lived for an entire life without magic, wanted to open her eyes to confirm the sword was there, that all of it was real, the bows, the skirt, the sword. The larger part, the soldier, cut off the curiosity, insisting there would be time enough later to gawk.
"Talisman, lead me to her. I ask you to guide me." The whisper echoed on the wind as she held her sword before her, eyes closed as she determined the direction to go.
The streets of Tokyo were a maze below her, winding and oblivious to the uniformed soldier, gleaming sword in hand as she bounded onward. Each step pulsated energy through her, giving her strength as she embraced her birthright. Within minutes, she was far from the club she was supposed to be partying in. This was no high rise area. These were homes. Proper homes. A glint in the moonlight had her direction change slightly. Neptune. Of course Neptune was there first. Uranus was faster, but Neptune would have heeded the call first. She landed next to the other soldier smoothly, barely getting a nod of acknowledgment openly, but the other woman shifted slightly when she appeared, their bodies automatically filling spaces left by the other.
Uranus opened her mouth to speak when Neptune's gloved finger rested on her lips. Startled green met blue as Neptune shook her head. She held out her mirror, shielding it from the world with their bodies. The reflection wavered, shimmered, then reformed as a man with long white hair and wearing light gray military garb with a black cape and a sword at his side. Uranus gripped her own more tightly. Celebrations forgotten, Uranus watched the man in the mirror as he hid in the bushes. He moved toward the house in the reflection and Uranus looked down, eyes scanning the house next to where she and Neptune had perched for the intruder. The house was right, but there weren't any bushes on the side near them. She motioned quietly to the other side and her partner nodded.
Splitting up, Uranus remained above, looking for the man she presumed was Kunzite. The style of dress had been etched into her memory a lifetime ago despite only seeing it briefly before: the Earth Kingdom. The man from the reflection was at least part of the reason the Silver Millennium fell. She grinned darkly, hoping only that she could get him away from innocents before her Space Sword drew blood.
Neptune had gone below. Uranus knew, though Neptune hadn't been able to tell her, that the other soldier would be trying to find out why the princess had called to them. Had it simply been the presence of the Earth general? Or had they been called to the house for a different purpose? A different threat?
Uranus focused on the man below. He was currently creeping toward a window, too interested in whatever was beyond the glass to notice the world around him; his crouch became more pronounced and he stopped glancing off to his side. Without waiting to understand the impulse, Uranus leapt from the building, landing behind him with a soft thud. There wasn't a chance to wait for Neptune or even to figure out the source of the knowledge. She had to move him away from the window. Now.
He spun on his heel, his chest nearly pressing against her sword. She smirked and shrugged almost sheepishly at the tip of his sword in her side. He was fast, far faster than she'd expected. Of course, if she hadn't needed him alive, it still wouldn't have been fast enough. Ice blue eyes stared at her, he was really tall, she realized, to look down on her when she wore heels. He arched an eyebrow, darting his eyes to the street. Uranus wanted to laugh. He wanted to take this elsewhere? She was all too happy about that. Shaking her head, she indicated the rooftop next to the house he was standing in front of. The silent conversation continued as he indicated their swords and she nodded, moving hers away just slightly and stepping away from his before he retracted his and leapt to the agreed upon roof.
While she wanted to look in the window to find what he'd been looking for, she couldn't let on that she wasn't alone. If she kept him occupied, Neptune might be able to find the princess and keep her safe. At least Neptune wasn't on the other end of the man's sword.
"I know your uniform, servant of the Moon Kingdom."
A blond eyebrow went up. "That makes two of us, general of the Earth." She didn't ease her grip on her sword, noting he hadn't either.
"Kunzite, Commander of the Middle Eastern division. I am the head of Prince Endymion's personal guard."
One thing about introductions, Uranus decided, was that they definitely allowed confirmation of suspicions. Though politeness dictated that she return the honor. Of course, she was still at an advantage. He might know her loyalty, but enemies who had heard her name didn't tend to live long enough to spread rumors. "Protected by the planet of the skies, I am the soldier of flight, Sailor Uranus." His training wasn't complete enough to prevent his surprise from showing, she noted briefly. Good. She always preferred having the advantage in a fight.
"You are trespassing. This is Endymion's land and those who have sworn loyalty to the Moon Kingdom are not allowed." The venom in his words was laced with something that Uranus couldn't quite pick out and she wished she had Neptune's ability to understand subtleties. Still, his answer left her with clear understanding of his views on the princess. He wasn't simply repeating rhetoric. He meant his words from the heart.
She smirked darkly. "Evict me then, if you can. This is my home now and I will not leave so long as I have reason to be here."
Their swords raised to each other before clashing loudly in the night. The blond soldier wanted to use her magic to destroy him, but until she could be certain Neptune had found the princess, she couldn't risk escalating the fight and having stray attacks find her charge. She channeled her frustration into her sword, taking pleasure in each backward step she forced her opponent to make.
"You are a worthy opponent, so why do you kneel to a weak and selfish ruler who cares nothing for the happiness of her subjects?"
Uranus faltered slightly, her step a little too short as she nearly stumbled. Her determination to destroy him increased at the barb even as she was distracted by it. If he didn't know who she was, how could he have known anything about her oaths? Worse, if he wasn't referring to her, what was it then? Regaining her footing, but not the upper hand, she grimaced. "You know nothing of the princess. She loves all of us."
He smirked at her, chuckling. The noise grated on her nerves. "A bit touchy there?" They clashed swords louder now, faster as Uranus gave into her anger. He had made it personal. Private. Twinkling sapphire eyes danced in her mind as her blade slashed blindly. She had to end this. End him. Now.
##
It had only taken Neptune a moment to find an open window on the second floor. Back into the trees, she balanced on a tree branch and peered inside. She might have felt the guilt she knew she should feel, but as the princess had called to them, not even common courtesy could keep her from her duty. The two figures in the bed were curled close. Blonde tresses fanned out in a tangled mess. The male figure had draped his arm protectively over the smaller woman, pulling her close. Neptune shook her head slightly, smiling at the look of bliss on her princess's face. The two seemed happy and while she should be relieved, it only made her more uneasy. She'd been trying for weeks to access her abilities with no success and now, unbidden, she was there, Sailor Neptune, perched in a tree. Something had to awaken her.
Blue eyes stared back at her and Sailor Neptune nearly fell from her branch. Despite her precarious position, she knelt, bowing her head as the eyes remained open but the rest of the body shimmered in the dim light. She could feel the eyes boring into her, just as her mother's used to and for the first time, she wondered if Serenity would become her mother.
"Princess," she breathed, knowing full well that the girl could hear her.
"Why do I know you?" the voice was soft, warm and wholly unlike her mother's cool refined light.
The teal haired soldier looked up, startled. The question was expected; the princess shouldn't remember her. It was the tone of voice that startled her. Inquisitive, not accusatory. The blue eyes staring at her from just beyond the window now were just as commanding as those of her predecessor. With the princess standing in the window, her regalia billowing around her, there was no ability to see past to determine if the mundane Usagi's fiancé was awake and watching. Not knowing bothered her but not enough to bring it to Serenity's attention. Bowing her head once more, she spoke quietly. "I am Sailor Neptune, your highness. We met once, long ago, in another life and when you were much younger. I do not expect you to remember."
"Why are you here?"
"You called. We are here because you needed us." The admission she wasn't alone had left her lips before she could stop it. She wasn't sure if it had been her oath or merely the lack of desire to lie to the younger woman. The fact she had to question confused her further. Instead of focusing on that question, she looked up at her princess's face, waiting for the reaction she knew would come.
"Us?"
"Sailor Uranus and myself." As close as they were now to each other, Neptune could see in the light the reflection of dried tears on her princess's cheeks. "Princess," she reached out before retracting her hand. "What happened? What's wrong?" As much as she would have liked it to be, it wasn't her place to comfort. Her place was to defend at all cost and the tears her princess had shed tonight, that were still there after transforming into the Princess of the Moon herself, must have been the cause of her own transformation. The knowledge engraved itself on her heart as solidly as her mirror had.
"Nothing is wrong." The petite blonde was shaking her head. "I'm happy."
"You were crying."
Delicate fingers touched a blushed cheek as blue eyes opened slightly. The blush brightened as the younger girl turned slightly, both pale hands against the brightening cheeks as she glanced behind her. Neptune felt her own cheeks warm as she realized what had happened in the room.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, princess. Please-" her apology froze as she heard the clashing of swords and watched as Serenity's gaze left her to track the fight that Neptune had known Uranus was aching for. "Princess?"
The older woman watched, tense for battle as her princess stared blankly. The sounds of swords stopped. Aqua hair whipped around her as she spun, looking for where the fight had been and how it had ended. She frowned as the world remained silent. Uranus would have returned by now. She was certain of it. The thought that the Earth general could have defeated Uranus, though was impossible. Not in magic and certainly not in sword play.
She shivered, feeling the princess's power radiate past her, closing her eyes and bowing her head once more. When it passed, the moonlight seemed less. The blue eyes she had been looking at were gone, and the form of Usagi was again sleeping in her fiancé's arms. She stared at the two sleeping figures for another moment. The positions were perfect, as if the princess had never risen from the bed.
A figure joined her on the branch, shaking her from her reverie. Turning, she knew it was Uranus before she saw her. Opening her mouth, she stopped as the other woman shook her head and held out her hand. Neptune nodded and followed Uranus's lead.
##
The choice to meet at Setsuna's had been one of necessity. Ami was a late night studier and a light sleeper, which eliminated Michiru's apartment twice over. Despite the fact that they'd broken up, Minako still lived with Haruka, and while the vocalist was a heavy sleeper, she came with Artemis who was a complication all his own. Setsuna's apartment was in the delta district also, a coincidence none of the three believed in. However, of the three, she was the only one who lived alone, despite the fact her second bedroom was fully furnished. If she had been surprised at the phone call, or the fact that Haruka and Michiru had arrived together, she didn't show it. Instead, she simply opened the door further, nodded and invited them in.
"Would you care for some tea?"
"Yes, we would. Thank you." Michiru answered for them both, receiving a raised eyebrow from Haruka. She shrugged and followed the taller green haired woman into the dinette area where she already had tea waiting to be served.
"That was pretty close timing," Haruka commented dryly.
Setsuna chuckled. "Yes, well, I didn't expect you to waste any time after what happened tonight."
"What exactly did happen tonight?"
Michiru bowed slightly as Setsuna set her mug before her. "Mamoru-san took Usagi-chan's virginity tonight." Before she'd finished answering the blonde's question, she grabbed the woman's wrist. Blue eyes burned into green as she shook her head.
"You didn't tell me," Haruka growled.
"Because you would have done exactly what you want to do now, but I wouldn't have been able to stop you. She's the princess, but she's also Usagi." Michiru pleaded with her partner.
"That doesn't change anything."
Michiru chuckled gently at the protectiveness Haruka displayed toward the younger girl.
"It changes a great deal." Setsuna's soft voice carried from the kitchen where she'd gone to retrieve her own tea. The younger women remained quiet as she returned to the table. "She is engaged to Mamoru-san. The rules are different here. For her and for us." Garnet eyes met green then blue.
The three women drank their tea quietly. They'd discussed previously what it meant that they'd returned and more, that they'd recovered their memories. However, without their abilities, all of them had agreed that modifications of duties were necessary. Now that they had their powers back, how much of their previous life would they go back to? Haruka managed half of her tea before she shook her head. "So, if the princess and Endymion are engaged, then why is his guard treating us like enemies?"
Two cups of tea moved to the table. Michiru joined Haruka in turning to their dark-skinned companion.
Setsuna shrugged. "I'm not really sure. He's not acting as if he's under Metallia's influence, so it seems to be something else. Michiru-san?"
The aqua-haired girl shook her head, "I haven't gotten anything. Not regarding any enemies." She turned from Setsuna to Haruka. "What happened when you stopped fighting him? I saw the princess's eyes glaze over. Then silence."
"The princess," Haruka said. Her voice was distant as she focused on some point in front of her tea. "She appeared. Told me, told us," she shook her head at the correction, "That we weren't supposed to fight each other. That we were friends. He looked ready to not care, but I guess he reconsidered. Mumbled something about another time and took off." Green eyes flashed against blue before settling back to her tea. "He tried to crack my loyalty. Told me she doesn't love us, doesn't care for us to be happy."
Michiru sighed, gripping her mug tighter, fingers twitching slightly. "He doesn't know her."
"Neither do we. We were never allowed to."
"That's not entirely true. We were allowed to watch her. We know her heart," Setsuna offered, turning her mug slowly in a display of nerves.
"And if she becomes her mother?"
Two shades of green hair moved as the other two bowed their heads. It was practically treason, just to ask the question, but was it treason if the regent betrayed you first? The final moments of the Silver Millennium played out in three heads at once. It was Michiru who spoke first.
"We don't let her." She raised her head to meet two sets of startled eyes. "We swore ourselves to the princess. Others may be able to break faith, but we can't. It isn't in our nature." She looked dow, the image of her princess's cold eyes burned into her soul warring with the warmth and caring of her voice.
"What do you mean, we don't let her?"
Michiru looked up at Setsuna, surprised that she had been the one to ask. Still, even expecting the question, she wasn't quite prepared with an answer. The thought had been formed suddenly, a random possible answer to the dilemma of being exiled to the fringes of the kingdom again. A kingdom that didn't even currently exist. Taking a sip of her tea, she closed her eyes. Would it be worse than treason? She wasn't sure any longer. She wasn't even sure if treason was possible with the kingdom a past life so far back that only a few remembered it.
"The world here has already done some of it. She wasn't raised to exclude people. She befriends any who approach her. So we do just that. We make sure that when she wakes up, she won't want to send us away." Setting her cup down, the aqua-haired woman waited for the outburst she knew would come. Though she wondered which of them would start.
"Michiru!"
She raised her head to meet green startled eyes. The moment she caught Haruka's, her gaze jumped to Setsuna to gauge her reaction to the lack of honorific, seeing shock there as well before she focused on the blonde again. Haruka's green eyes made her want to cringe. The accusation in them only took a moment before it left her lips. "You're talking about manipulating our princess!"
Michiru nodded, fighting the urge to curl up. "I've given up too much to her to leave her, but I don't want to spend the rest of my existence serving her mother's shadow. Not if I can prevent it."
"It isn't our place." Setsuna's calm voice did nothing to soothe the fire building within the smaller woman. "We are not her companions, Michiru-san. We're distant guardians."
Blue eyes flashed as she stood up, the only way she would ever be taller than her two companions. "You said it yourself. The rules are different here. Otherwise you wouldn't be knowingly babysitting Saturn."
Garnet eyes opened wide and Michiru watched as they flashed between herself and Haruka. She didn't bother looking to see Haruka's shock. It had been so painfully obvious: the young violinist, the way Setsuna moved around her, the fact that the older woman had done nothing apparently random save taking care of the small girl and tonight, the children's books lying around a single woman's apartment. In truth, she had hoped the taller woman would have denied it. She didn't want to think of the ramifications of that.
"How long have you known?"
Michiru heard Haruka gasp and the chair she was sitting on shift beneath her. Still, she refused to look at her, keeping her gaze locked on the green-haired woman before her. "I began to wonder what had happened to her when I woke. I knew she looked far too familiar the moment you brought her for lessons, but I had convinced myself, even after I woke, that that was impossible. You wouldn't have done that. Then, nothing seemed to make sense, including the children's books around a single woman's apartment. A woman who never does anything without intention. A woman who always measures cost, just as Haruka and I do. So no, I didn't keep information from you, Haruka," she turned to the blonde, not bothering to hide the intimacy of her feelings toward the woman any longer. "I only had it firmly confirmed a moment ago."
Tears burned in her eyes as she fought to keep them back. "I won't betray the princess, but I won't follow old rules just to have my previous life repeated for me." She gazed at Haruka once more, unable to keep the love she had from showing. "I can't give up any more than I already have. If I do, I'll have nothing left. I'm sorry if it makes you think less of me." Bowing, she stepped away. "I'll make my own way home. Thank you for the tea, Setsuna-san. Haruka-san, Neptune will always answer Uranus's call, but I think it best if we don't see each other outside of duty."
Turning, she hurried to the door, too numb to notice anything but that they didn't physically try to stop her.