Author's Notes: Standard Disclaimers apply as always. I do not now, nor have I ever owned Haruka, Michiru or any part of the universe they belong in.
Thank you again for all the lovely reviews! I'm hoping to diligently work on the story and get it finished before too terribly long. Also, remember that italics indicate text messages. I know things have gotten rough for our lovely couple, and I wish I could say things are going to get easier/better soon, but that would be a lie. However, I can promise it will be worth the ride. :D
We need to talk.
Michiru stared at the text screen, frowning. She hadn't responded. It had been two hours. "Childish."
It's important. -N
Closing her phone, she sighed and picked up her tea. Staring out the window, she tried to ignore the din of conversations around her. The half reflections in the glass aided her desire to escape to her own world. It had been almost a week already. A week of complete isolation. Even Setsuna had cancelled Hotaru's lesson, claiming the girl was sick. Michiru didn't want to know if the woman was lying, but figured she was. Her diversion to the cafe had been an attempt to not obsess over it.
Perhaps she'd been the childish one, leaving as she had, then not contacting the others after her vision, but they'd all needed time, and she had desperately wanted to have some direction before alarming the other two. Every morning and evening she'd stared into the mirror, trying to understand what part of the vision she was missing. Each morning the vision seemed more complete, another detail cementing itself into place. She could almost see the park where the two were meeting. She could see two pens, but there might have been more. This morning, bleary eyed and frustrated, she finally noticed something that would force her hand; Usagi's left hand was bare. Not only had she lost at least two of the Guardian Senshi, but her engagement as well. She could no longer lick her wounds. There were no more excuses. She had to warn Uranus and Pluto, not that it would change things, but it was courtesy, a selfish desire to alleviate her guilt over the apparent double fault.
"Kaioh-san?" The deep voice startled her and her eyes flashed, her hair whipping around as she turned to face the owner of the voice. Long silver hair framed a face that was both amused and probing. She kept from grimacing outwardly at the timing. Uranus was stubborn but from what she had seen, Haruka didn't temper that, in fact, she might have made it worse. Well, nothing to do but charge ahead and apologize later.
"Hello, Maeda-san. How are you?" Her blue eyes took in his appearance. They were both more casually dressed today, though she noted that for both of them casual was more a state of mind than an actual difference in attire. She wore a pale pink skirt with an ivory blouse while he was in khakis and a short-sleeved linen button down. He was also holding a hot drink. With the cafe as busy as it was, Michiru didn't have to look to confirm there were few places to sit. She motioned opposite her. "Please, join me?"
Katashi bowed briefly before sitting down. "Thank you. I hadn't expected to see you here today."
"Oh? And why is that?"
"I had thought you would be teaching."
Michiru's lips thinned before she shrugged. "I had a cancellation this afternoon so I thought I'd get some tea. And yourself? I would have thought the music industry would keep you busy."
"Who says I'm not working now?" His smile was anything but warm though she thought she might have seen the hint of respect in his eyes.
She laughed, shaking her teal waves as she did so. "I though you knew? I have turned down several offers from big labels. Why would I accept an offer from yours?"
"I don't believe I said it was music business, though," he paused and raised his glass to her in mock salute, "I'll remember the warning."
Carefully manicured hands slowly spun the cup around as she worked up a blush. "Oh. Yet, I thought after how the date ended..."
She felt his finger under her chin and her head shot up, eyes wide.
"Something you should know about me, Kaioh-san, I don't back down from a challenge. Ever." Silver-blue eyes glinted in a warning Michiru couldn't ignore but also couldn't heed. She had made herself irresistible, which had been what she wanted, to a degree. Though now, without Uranus there to watch her back, she began to wonder if she'd taken off more than she could handle.
The image of her princess crying rose unbidden in her mind. Resolve hardened within her. She was Sailor Neptune, soldier of the Outer Solar System, she would protect her princess at any cost, including her honor.
"Well, then," she smiled brightly, leaning away just slightly while taking his hand delicately in her own,"What did you have in mind?" Her plan had been to talk to Haruka before accepting another date with Endymion's general. Apparently, she wasn't going to get the time to do that.
"Perhaps a proper dinner this time?" He sounded amused, the timber of his voice sending an unpleasant tingle down Michiru's spine. So long as he didn't know she was Sailor Neptune, she had the upper hand. Which of course, meant she had to imagine he did while pretending he didn't. She pictured Uranus rubbing her temples in response to the logic. The image made her smile, a reaction she used to her advantage.
"That would be lovely."
"I'll pick you up at eight tomorrow evening? And perhaps you can tell me more about yourself."
There it was. The taunt relaxed Michiru. It was always easier to know where she stood, what was going on, and to have him admit it was a research date for him as well made the whole affair easier on her conscience. "There are many things I'm sure we could both share. "
"I look forward to it."
"As do I. I wish I could stay now, but I do have clients and I'm certain you don't have long before your next student."
Michiru glanced at the clock on her phone and nodded. Hotaru was usually her last student of the day, but the illusion allowed for her to save face and escape a longer conversation. "Until next time?"
He bowed, retracted his hand and stood up. "Until then, Kaioh-san."
Katashi had barely turned around when her phone vibrated against the table. The knot in her stomach tightened. A text. She waited for him to leave the cafe entirely before reading it.
You could have just said. -U
Michiru imagined shoving Haruka's phone down her throat for a moment before allowing her fingers to begin responding.
I did. We need to talk. New developments. Where can we meet?
You made your bed.
Blue eyes widened noticeably at the response. Was Uranus actually refusing to meet with her? She collapsed against the back of the chair for a moment in an unusual outward display of shock, staring blankly at the screen. She sat back up, pretending for the benefit of the others in the cafe that everything was fine, but it wasn't. Her heart wasn't beating, and yet the world refused to stop. This was not how this conversation was supposed to go.
I told you N would always answer your call.
I never promised the same.
Her hands shook as she responded. Quivering lips were caught between teeth.
We're a team.
You left.
##
Haruka tossed the phone to the seat next to her. Hands gripped the steering wheel, but no amount of white-knuckling would keep them from shaking. "Neptune," she whispered.
She heard her phone go off but refused to look at the screen. She knew it would be Michiru and she wasn't ready for the confrontation. It was why she hadn't contacted her partner for a week. Part of her felt guilty over it. There were things she should have shared with Neptune and yet, as every day passed where she hadn't spoken up, she became more reluctant to do so. It had started out of righteous anger but now she wasn't sure what it was. All she knew was that Neptune had always been there but now she wasn't sure where her partner was. It was small comfort that Neptune was likely feeling her absence in the same way.
Picking up her phone, she flipped past the text and dialed quickly. The voice on the other end of he phone brought a bright smile to her face.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Hime-chan."
"Haruka-papa! Are you coming over?"
"No, I can't come over just yet. Can I speak to Setsuna-mama?"
She heard the girl call for her now surrogate mother before returning to the call, "Are you ok?"
The question didn't startle her as it had the morning Setsuna had taken a much aged Hotaru to the track. After that, there was no returning the now teen Saturn to her mother. She still felt guilty about leading the woman to believe the five year-old had run off, but not bad enough to attempt the alternative. "I'm fine. I promise. Thank you." She leaned her head against the headrest as she waited for Setsuna to take the call. Her hand on the wheel didn't relent its death grip.
"Haruka-san. Everything all right?"
"Yeah, I think so. Neptune said she needs to talk."
"Did you want us to come with?"
Green eyes opened, startled, and stared into the sky. Come with? Setsuna assumed Haruka was going to meet up with Michiru. She clenched her jaw. Asking Setsuna to handle it would sound pathetic, and Haruka hated sounding pathetic. She blinked, wishing there were clouds in the sky to stare at while she ignored the question.
"Haruka-san, do you want Hotaru and I to go with you?"
The exact nature of the request caught up to her.
"Wait, Hotaru? No, I haven't told Neptune about her." She really hated that her voice shook. It showed weakness. Worse, it showed her feelings for Neptune. Thankfully, the older soldier had been very understanding, or if she hadn't been, she covered it well.
"You haven't..."
She sighed, "No. I haven't spoken to her since that night."
Haruka pulled the phone away, staring at it. "She hung up on me?" Putting the phone to her ear did nothing as the screen had confirmed what the click had stated. She stared at the screen until it went dark. Setsuna had hung up on her. There was no question in her mind that it was not a dropped call. The thought of calling the older woman back was tempting, but she wasn't in the mood to be hung up on again.
It took another five minutes before she looked at the phone.
It's about the princess.
Cursing fluently, Haruka slammed the door on her car, looking for a place to transform. The text she had sent in return had been rude, but she didn't care. It had been a low blow on Neptune's part and the other soldier knew it, she was sure.
Sailor Uranus headed toward the roof of Michiru's building, unsure if she would end the day with a partner or if the Outer Soldier team would be shy one member.
