Finally got a new chapter up! This one is a little long(not just because of this bolded blurb), and I apologise if the events do not flow as smoothly as they should. It was hard to fit this whole "episode" into one chapter, and I found it hard to keep my thoughts consistent upon more than one sitting(I may go back in and add a small, unimportant scene or two between dialogues to keep it practical). I hope the transitions from perspectives and events don't confuse. It was done as necessary(and as desired) - I hope you find the shift enjoyable.
On a more excited, manic note, this is the first appearance of the Outers since the story's genesis! SQUEAL. As you read, you may be able to notice how much I have come to adore them... especially Michiru. With that said, I admit I became a little character-happy with our favourite greenette, seeing as she is my second favourite senshi(Usagi being my first, of course), and I cannot tell you how much I love the interaction(s) between Michiru and Rei... which, I fondly based off of episode 171, if you're wondering.
In any case, I notice I am rambling. Please do not let me distract you further. Read for your enjoyment, and review to satisfy my curiosity. I always love hearing from you guys, and I really appreciate your support! x
So, here they were. At the Cafe Crown.
The three inner senshi, along with the senshi of time, all shared a booth table. Ami and Makoto made up one seat, while Minako and Setsuna sat side-by-side in the one opposite. Adjacent from them, naturally, was Haruka and Michiru who shared a two-chair table and sat across from each other. Now, the only two missing were Usagi and Rei.
But… that was how it was supposed to be.
For now, at least.
They hadn't ordered, nor had Unazuki-san even attended to them yet. Actually, they had just freshly arrived. But, it was obvious that they were all waiting for something other than food service.
"So," Haruka finally interjected, breaking whatever indifferent atmosphere lingered among them. She draped one arm across the shelf of her seat lazily while the other idly fiddled with a coin on the table. Her navy eyes looked up at the ceiling, clad in the usual male Mugen Gakugen attire. The sandy-blonde senshi's voice was husk and careless as she spoke. "Could you remind me why we're here again?"
Michiru shot her lover a strict look from across the table in reaction to such a rude remark. "Haruka!" she hissed barely above a whisper, her face spilling that of motherly and spousely discipline. Why was she reacting so cruel? They had only just got here, and it was not as if they had any plans that evening. It was simply irrational and quite uncharacteristic, the greenette thought, for Haruka to even address the matter in such a way. It concerned their princess, afterall… that should have been reason enough to care.
However, when the sky senshi didn't notice or even hint to acknowledge the greenette's change in facial expression, the sea senshi decided to lightly laugh her lover's comment off and flash a small grin to the surrounding senshi. "Sorry," she spoke softly as she always had, still carrying a flow of elegance and smoothness in her tone. "Haruka has been irritable and restless as of late. What she means is-"
"How does this concern Michiru, Setsuna, Hotaru, and I?" Haruka edgily interrupted once more. Sure, it was about the princess… but, as long as she wasn't in any danger, she did not see why they had to be here. They weren't exactly in Bunny's little circle of friends, and this wasn't a 'life or death' situation. The way she saw it, she could have been having alone-time with Michiru right about now.
Michiru blinked, taken aback by the abruptness of her girlfriend. She must have had other plans the greenette had been unaware of before they were called here.
Makoto was the one to respond just as boldly, albeit calmer. "We want you to help us get Rei and Usagi back on track."
"They haven't spoken to us, much less each other, for three days. We've tried to get them to make up or to talk to them, but they are both too stubborn to listen." Ami added, glancing up from her textbook. "I don't think either of them are studying either."
"And, neither of them have been the same since Rei and I found Usagi at Mamouru's!" Minako explained. She shielded a hand beside her mouth and spoke to the Outers in whisper of a secret. "I think Usagi and Mamouru made out for the first time, and almost did it!"
The outers stared at Minako for a moment.
Setsuna maturely tried to stifle a laugh. Good thing Hotaru-chan was still at school… she didn't need to be hearing such things.
"That's so adorable…" Michiru reminisced. "I remember the first time Haruka and I did that." A sweet grin hid her sly teasing.
Haruka's eyes grew wide as her flippant composure seemed to dissipate. She turned to her love with a blush scattered across her cheeks and gasped in embarrassment. "M-Michiru!"
Ami flustered furiously and attempted to hide herself in the pages of her book.
Makoto sweat-dropped and began to twitch slightly. After a moment, she spoke. "M-Minako-chan! You don't tell people that… That's business that stays between Mamouru and Usagi-chan."
"What? I whispered to them in secret!" Minako blinked, defending herself innocently. She was just relaying details to the complicated problem before them. How was that bad?
"Nevermind…" Makoto sighed with a shake of her head.
"So, you want us to help reunite Hino Rei-san and Tsukino Usagi-san?" Setsuna asked inquisitively, staring at the three girls in question and returning everyone to the task.
They all nodded.
"But, why?" Michiru wondered with insight. "Don't you think they'll eventually settle their differences on their own?"
The three inner senshi exchanged thoughtful glances. After a moment, the answer was clear and they replied in unison. "No."
"They've been upset with each other before… and it's never been this long." Ami said, finally cooled down to normal from the previous occurrence. "Usually, they apologise and are back to their normal selves by now."
"We think… we think…" started Makoto, unsure about announcing their group's little secret. She looked to Minako for help.
"We think they like each other and are just too scared to admit it." The senshi of love finished for her.
"And, it seems like the… circumstance… with Usagi and Mamouru didn't help them, either. Actually, by the looks of it, it pushed them even further away. It's even affecting their capability of functioning and... their health." Ami pointed out in concern.
"So… what do you think we should do?" Minako asked with hopeful eyes.
A variety of thoughts passed through the three outer senshi, however their returned stoic, dutiful expressions prevented any faces from being interpreted or read. Something telepathic and anxious seemed to preoccupy all three of them. Silence filled the room a moment before, finally, someone spoke up.
"Well, if it's affecting Bunny's well-being…" Haruka considered tensely after a moment, her hand rubbing her chin. "We should probably cooperate with you."
"And… for the sake of your team as a whole." Setsuna added in her enigmatic, yet logical way. "There are new threats approaching that you must be ready for… I'm sure you have faced one already."
The inner senshi regarded the senshi of time in shock and wonder, taken aback by what she had just said. What a coincidence.
"Rei and Usagi encountered a powerful youma the other day…" Ami mused.
"How did you… How did you know that?" Minako asked dubiously, as her blue eyes searched the older woman's dark face.
"Because we fought one today." Michiru replied, stealing everyone's gazes. Her features were strong and focused. Precognition, a sense of prediction and vibration, flashed through her aquamarine eyes. "Even now, I sense the seas are beginning to rise…"
"And… there's much more to come." Setsuna closed her eyes, somewhat knowing of the future, and somewhat knowing of Time's ticking terrors. Decision. Death. The Sun. The Blackness. The Void. She could only see so much in the realm of space and time before she was cut off, before her link was dismembered and scattered into alternate points across the fabric of reality. That's when she allowed her garnets to appear again, to peer into the present in which she now resided.
There was a moment of silence. A moment of tension. Of wonder. Of worry.
Then, suddenly, Haruka stood up. Her navy orbs fell on the entrance to the store. "I'm going to talk to Usagi."
Just outside the glass window panes stood The Rabbit, gazing blankly at a game poster. In her high school uniform as always. Blonde odangoed hair-style as always. Only… her expression was not as happy, not as radiant, as it always was. Her cerulean blue eyes seem vacant, sad. She seemed frail, possibly weak. Certainly exhausted, and certainly not herself.
This abrupt action and daring declaration threw everyone off-guard for a slight second and they all turned to glance in the direction Haruka was facing. When they all regained their usage of words and reactions, it was Michiru who grabbed the masculine woman's wrist as the sky senshi began to step forward. "Maybe you should wait," she offered cautiously.
"It's okay, Michiru," Haruka answered reassuringly, flashing her girlfriend a small grin. "I just need to talk to her."
Michiru hesitated, knowing that such things – given the right words being said - could change the outcome of everything. Knowing that their agreed assistance in helping reunite Hino Rei and Tsukino Usagi could possibly swerve-ball the entire future of Crystal Tokyo if interpreted wrong. Of course, she held no qualms about the two deciding to become a couple… if they ever did. She thought they were a lovely match, even. However, if the two did ever decide to date, it could possibly leave the future hanging in the balance.
But, finally, she made her decision. She released her grip on her girlfriend and sent an encouraging nod, trusting the sky senshi to know what she was doing.
Then, Haruka was going outside, strolling over to her 'koneko-chan'. To the one who had gave her a choice. To the one who had given her hope. To the one who had put life above all else. To the Messiah.
And, she was determined to help her, now that she knew. She was determined to return the favour, and to try her best to set Bunny on the right track again.
-x-
"Yo,"
Usagi jumped and released a small gasp of surprise before turning around to notice the greeting had come from Haruka. "Oh… h-hi," She said awkwardly, her eyes sliding to the side slightly. She hadn't expected to run into the sky senshi… especially since the Outers had been content with doing their own thing and distancing themselves for a while.
The sandy-blonde woman leaned closer to The Rabbit, choosing to lean on the one arm that pressed against the display glass coolly while the other remained pinned to her pants pocket. Her expression was relaxed, her tone simultaneously mischievous and curious. "Whatcha up to, Koneko-chan?"
Usagi grinned nervously. For some reason, Haruka always made her feel anxious. Why is she always so close to me? It didn't particularly bother the blonde… the closeness. More often than not, it distracted her. It took her a moment to reply. "I… I was just thinking of going into the arcade and playing some games…" she looked over and pointed the poster of an arcade game she had been fixated upon only a few moments before.
Haruka feigned surprise. "Really?" she questioned in mock interest. "I was thinking about beating my racing score." She smirked in the collaboration of a new idea. "Would you care to join me?"
Bb-bmmp. Her heartbeat. She could hear it. She could feel a sweat-drop slide down the side of head, and a small tickle of blush dab her cheeks as her answer sounded more confident than she felt. "Sure."
"Come on, then!" exclaimed the sky senshi, grabbing the Rabbit's arm and dragging her into the arcade. Even through such small conversation, she could tell something was preoccupying the odangoed girl. Bothering her. Perhaps, if they played a few games, she'd feel comfortable enough to tell her about things going on between her and Hino Rei.
And… if not… Haruka had no qualms about bringing up the issue, either. She intended to tell the Rabbit what needed to be said. To warn her, if no one else would.
- x -
A moment later, Rei squared around the corner and stepped into the Crown Café, barely missing her odangoed friend and the masculine-like outer go into the game centre next door. She stopped short upon entrance, her amethysts scanning the tables and booths in wonder of her friends, who seemed to no longer be here. The possibility of eating by herself was seeming more likely by the minute, and she half-way wondered where the rest of her group could be.
Then, she caught eye of a waving hand, and was suddenly taken by surprise after noticing who it belonged to. Kaioh Michiru-san?
Sure enough, Michiru sat in a table, with her perfect seaweed-like locks, elegant smile, and pristine posture. It was just her. No Haruka. No Outers. And… even no Usagi – who held such admiration for the artist, Rei would not have been surprised if she had been here, too.
So, did that mean something had happened?
No.
Rei quickly shook off the thoughts and regained her composure, and walked over to table. She convinced herself that it was just common circumstance. That nothing bad had happened and no one was in trouble. But… of course… that still didn't explain why her and Michiru were the only ones here. Aside from, of course, a few scattered civilians she wasn't as familiar with.
Where were her friends?
Michiru smiled politely, gesturing for the ravenette to sit down. "Hello, Hino-san. It's nice to see you."
Rei gave a small smile and took a seat across from the sea senshi. "Hi." Any other time, she would have been the instigator of conversation. However, Michiru had an effect on her… like a teacher did on a student. She wanted to impress her, yet, at the same time, felt appalled and outmatched by her remarkable capabilities and royal mannerisms.
"Are you doing well?"
"Yes, of course!" Rei lied, faking a smile with a dismissive wave of her hand and looking a fool. "Why do you ask?"
The greenette sat her arms up and neatly hooked her fingers together in order to rest her chin atop. Her sweet smile and deep gaze toward the senshi of fire was a sign that she hadn't believed a word she had said.
Rei should have known. Her outside act might could trick the public and outsiders, perhaps… but, never someone as highly intuitive as Michiru. She attempted to reform to a more refined disposition, not wanting to seem so silly now.
"A few little birdies told me that you and Usagi were at odds with another."
A small droplet of perspiration slipped down the side of Rei's head as her expression suddenly became a mixture of disbelief and annoyance. She raised an eyebrow, suspicious and nearly fully aware of whom the culprit… or, rather, culprits… were. "And, where are these…'little birdies'?"
Michiru snickered slightly. "Your friends left a few minutes before you came in." She answered with humoured poise.
Rei narrowed her eyes. "Huh." What friends they are. If they told Michiru about her and Usagi's situation, there was no telling who else knew about it. It wasn't even their business to tell anyway! Much less plan for Michiru to talk to her about her 'problems'. Her so-called 'friends' had set her up to come for a therapy session. Not to hang out, it seemed.
The sea senshi laughed, supposedly from seeing the miko's expression. "And, you can't get too mad at your friends," She advised motherly, "They're just worried about you."
Rei shifted her gaze to the side, feeling a shade of pink scatter across her cheeks. "I know." She both hated and admired how Michiru could understand just what she was thinking without batting an eye.
"Besides, I think they're right."
Rei glanced over at Michiru for a mere moment in new interest. "Yeah?" she wondered curiously, "About what?"
"About you and Usagi." She answered simply. "You two should make up."
Her amethysts widened, then glimpsed down. A small tinge of dark purple sadness outlined her irises. She hesitated to admit the next words… even to herself. "I… I don't know if that's a good idea. I was pretty unfair to her. I said… a lot of things that I… shouldn't have."
Aquamarine eyes shone understandably. "You know… Haruka and I have gotten into a few unsettling quarrels before. Especially when we were just learning to accept each other… Oh, Ruka would get so angry at me… she'd storm out and drive away on her motorcycle!" The greenette laughed at the memory and waited a moment before returning to her more important train of thought. "But… soon, we realized that we didn't want to lose the closeness we had with one another, and we always hated how the arguments made us feel." Michiru explained, now looking out the glass windows of the building in reflection.
Rei stared at the woman, both piqued and entertained by her share of the past. She couldn't imagine the two ever arguing or even being a disagreement with one another. They cooperated so perfect together, and she couldn't help but ask. "What did you do? How did you… fix it?"
"We put aside our differences and learned to sacrifice something for another. Sometimes, one of us would put our pride on the line and be the first to apologise. Other times, one of us would follow the others' lead, do what they wanted, even if we didn't necessarily agree with it. And, if there was an issue that bothered us… we began to talk it out and settle things among calm disputes instead of allowing our actions or worries act first." She turned back to Rei with a glimmer in her eyes. A soft smile.
The miko absorbed what she had said, took it all in. She understood what Michiru was telling her… that, if she truly felt guilty, she should apologise first and talk it out with Usagi to know how she felt, too. She couldn't just rely on assumptions alone. She would only truly know when she confronted Usagi face-to-face about things, and would have to swallow her own fretful emotions about doing so to do it.
After a moment, Rei smiled and nodded in respectful gratitude. A small blush formed upon her face upon the reintroduction of nerves. "Th-Thank you, Michiru-san."
The sea senshi was unphased, returning a broad smile and a pair of delighted jades. "Of course."
With that, Rei stood up and scooted her chair in, then bowed in departure. "I enjoyed the chat. It… really helped." She turned and began walking back toward the clear double door. Her palm pressed against the glass to exit.
"Oh, and Rei-san?" Michiru's voice rang from her seat in an added note.
The ravenette halted in her leave and turned to glance back at the sea senshi one last time, with her feet in mid-stride and hand pushing one door half-way. Her expression was a question in itself. "Yeah?"
"Don't worry. I think you two will have a relationship just like me and Haruka someday." The greenette's words were genuine and her eyes just as encouraging, yet her smile, although sweet, was somewhat cunning and coy. As if, lying below her words, hid a subtle air of teasing.
The miko blinked a few times, flashing back to when her and Michiru had been fighting Queen Nehelenia. Michiru had been talking about her and Usagi then, too, and had said something strikingly similar…
'You two must be close, like me and Haruka.'
Rei flushed all the same at either allusion, her response obviously a delayed one. She looked down, embarrassed by her own heated reaction. After a moment or two of standing there, a stuttered "M-Maybe…" was all she could think to say.
And, without another second to lose, she waved 'good-bye' to the mature woman and forced herself out the door and down the street before she could humiliate herself further.
- x -
Fingers gripped the steering wheel. A fluid yank to the right. Then, the left. Around the curve. Around lanes of cars. One baby-doll shoe firm on the acceleration pedal. Two baby-blue eyes firmly glued to the screen.
But, not all the determination in the world could possibly win against Haruka Tenoh.
The familiar sports car lapped her.
Once.
Twice.
Three times in one minute.
What?! It still shocked her every time. How could her opponent possibly speed around the track so fast? They had only just started a few minutes ago, and she was still on her first lap.
She tried to maneuver through the other vehicles faster. To press the acceleration pedal harder.
But, too soon, Usagi's chosen racecar was spinning. Spiraling off the track. And, out of control.
GAME OVER.
"Awwaah! Not again!" The odangoed girl whined, slumping in her seat. It was the tenth time in a row the sky senshi had beaten her in the arcade game. Usagi would have offered to play others – ones she knew she was better at, like Sailor V – but she knew all too well that the arcade racing was the only machine game the woman beside her would ever play.
"Don't worry, Odango," Haruka smirked, her arms folding behind her head as she leniently relaxed back in her chair. "You'll be able to beat me one day."
Usagi sighed and looked down. "I hope so…" She always tried so hard to beat Haruka at these games, but she was always outmatched, inexperienced, and lacking… when it came to a competition with the sandy-blonde. The only one who could possibly counter Haruka in such perfection would be Michiru… but, to Usagi's knowledge, she hardly ever came into the arcade unless she came for Haruka. Michiru seemed too lady-like and mature for games like these, anyways.
"Odango, I have something to ask you." The sky senshi declared bluntly, focused forward.
Usagi straightened and turned in her seat to face the woman, her legs dangling off the side. The woman who seemed confident and a touch too thoughtful.
The Rabbit watched her with wide, wondering eyes for a moment, intrigued by what could be running behind the sky senshi's navy irises. "What is it?"
Haruka's next words were calm. Smooth. To the point. "How do you feel about Hino Rei-san?"
Usagi suddenly froze. Her mind stopped working. All former thoughts were replaced by shock. It took her more than a moment to regain herself, and when she finally did, she felt like her cheeks might suffer from sunburn… even though her and Haruka-san were inside. She blinked a couple of times. "Wh-Wh-What do you mean?"
"Is she just a friend, Usagi?"
Usagi regarded this question cautiously. "Rei-chan is…" She bit her lip. What was Rei to her, exactly? Of course, she was her friend. Rei-chan was her best friend. Her very best friend. Sure, they were always arguing, but she was always there for Usagi. Her and Rei trusted one another, even when they couldn't necessarily confide in anyone else. And, Rei understood her better than anyone else. But… then…
She felt butterflies around the miko sometimes. She sometimes became extremely nervous for… what seemed like no reason at all. And, then there was their connection – that unfathomable, warm, insatiable, bewildering connection that made them so close. An unspoken, unsafe, unthinkable feeling that clouded around her when they were alone together… one that she certainly couldn't deny any longer… and one that she never had had around Mamo-chan. And, the flashbacks, of course, didn't make things any easier.
The blonde drew a blank. She didn't know how to answer. Because, the truth was… Rei was her friend, but… to Usagi… in reality… she was actually much more than that.
Then, a new idea arose to mind, a question of her own. Her flustered face cooled. Her astonishment subsided. "Wait…" Her expression became curious, inquisitive. Slightly suspicious. "Why are you asking me that, Haruka-chan?" Could it be… maybe… that she was jealous? But… why… if she had Michiru-san?… And, why would she ask about Rei-chan, specifically, in the first place…?
Haruka snickered, a sly smile painting her mannish features. She shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly, as if her spoken pondering had been just a passing thought. "It's okay if you like her, Odango," She began in a warning tone, "Just don't act on it."
"Why not?" The question rebelliously slipped between her lips before she had a chance to yank it back.
Cold, indigo eyes slid to the side to glance at Usagi. "I mean it, Odango." The smile vanished just as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by a thin line of seriousness and duty. "You could mess up your future."
"How?"
"Just take my word for it," Haruka evaded.
Usagi clenched her hands into fists and hopped off of her 'racecar' seat. Her big, wide, blue eyes, however, were pleading and unwavering. "Haruka-chan," Usagi begged, bringing one fist to her chest. "Please tell me what you mean."
The sky senshi's indigo orbs cut across the room, looking away again as she remained in denial. "I can't."
"But, why? Why are you being so secretive?" The blonde demanded.
"Michiru, Setsuna, and me… we've seen some of the future. We've been there. And, you have, too. Crystal Tokyo… you and Mamouru… Chibi-Usagi… it's all destined to happen."
Usagi stared, still not getting it. "I know that… but… what does that have to do with Rei-chan?"
There was a pause.
Haruka sighed, raking a hand through her sandy, tumbleweed curls. "Look, I don't care whether you and that Rei Hino girl get together or not." She stated boldly. Then, closing her eyes in a bit of a chuckle and grin she added, "To be honest, I actually think you guys would be really cute."
"R-Really?" After her surprised response, Usagi's face turned all shades of red, and she attempted to defend herself for the sake of... pride and self-worth… maybe even for the sake of' 'love and justice', too. "H-Hey! That's not-"
Too bad Haruka hadn't finished and didn't have time for silly excuses right now. Her solemn expression returned.
"But, it's too risky. If we let you take that chance and part from the Prince, you two may never hook back up or have Chibiusa in the future… and that would create a paradox for the rest of us."
Usagi tilted her head to one side, a confused, cat-like expression adorning her features as she tried to comprehend the closing context of what Haruka had said.
"'Pair… of… ducks'?"
Haruka shook her head and laughed. She could never quite be as serious as she wanted to with Usagi. What a shame. "No... No, silly." She tried clarifying. " Para-dox. It's when something that's not supposed to happen… happens anyway."
"Oooh," Usagi nodded understandably. Now, it was time to try and wrap her head around all of this. "So… you, Michiru-san, and Setsuna-san don't want me to tell Rei how I feel because you're afraid I'll mess up the future?"
Haruka bobbed her head once in confirmation.
"But… how did you know I liked her like that?"
"Oh, that's easy." Haruka turned to Usagi, finally twisting around in her seat enough to jump down and stand in front of the blonde. She smiled playfully… flirtingly, and swiftly tugged on one of The Rabbit's odangoed ponytails. "Because I know everything."
"Eh?!" Usagi cried, stunned she would even tell such a fib. "You do not!" She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.
Haruka raised up her hands in surrender, amused. "Okay, okay. You got me…" The sky sensi began walking out toward the Game Crown doors to leave. She stashed her hands into her pants pockets and stopped, however, before stepping outside, glancing behind her shoulder to give Usagi a stern look. "But, seriously, Odango… Remember what I said."
The blonde's face fell into consideration. She nodded a hesitant "Okay," despite disagreeing with what the sky senshi had told her. Despite the whole topic concerning her and irritating her to no end. Despite every fibre in her body telling her to fight for her chance to be with Rei or somehow prove the sky senshi wrong.
But, that was just it. She couldn't. No matter how much she wanted to. It just... wouldn't be right to Mamouru. Not to mention Rei probably not having the same feelings...
"But.." Haruka said in the addition of another thought. "Don't let what I said keep you from being friends. You really should apologise to her."
Usagi stared at the sandy-blonde with round, astonished eyes. At least, it was nice to think that she still wanted her and Rei-chan to be friends. To not be completely distant. Somehow, the words gave her hope. Somehow, the words gave her a new confidence.
She nodded. "I-I'll try." She promised with a genuine grin.
Then, the blonde waved goodbye and thanked Haruka for playing the arcade racing game with her. It really had been quite fun... until... well... Haruka-chan's direct and strange inquiry...
"Anything to please the princess." Haruka winked. She was sure that Setsuna had long left to pick Hotaru-chan up from school, and that Michiru was finished talking to the shrine maiden and ready to meet her outside. Plus, she had said what she had needed to... so her work here was done. "Farewell, dear Odango."
And, with a sweeping bow, just like that, Haruka was gone.
Gone with the wind.
