Disclaimer:
Sailor Moon is the property of Naoko Takeuchi and Kodansha Comics
Fairy Tail is the property of Hiro Mashima and Kodansha Comics
"Talking"
'Thinking'
Flashback
The Dragon and the Senshi Chapter 13
"The little one sure puts up a fight." Sailor Uranus commented, smiling softly as she saw the daimon being purified by Sailor Moon and Sailor Chibi Moon. Neptune nodded in agreement before she noticed something twinkling on the ground. Curiously, she picked it up and noticed that it was the same metal ball that Uranus and she used months ago to give a message to Natsu.
'Why is that here?' The teal haired Senshi thought with surprise. 'Wait, there's something in it.'
It was a message, written by Natsu.
We've been helping each other for some time now. I still have questions, and I want to trust you, but do you trust me? If you do, let's meet in Tokyo Tower at midnight. You can tell Uranus, but I'd rather meet just you tonight.
Natsu
Neptune looked around after she read the message, but she found no sign of the rose haired teen.
'Was he here? How come I didn't sense him?' She thought as she looked back at the message. 'I'd rather meet just you? What are you thinking, Natsu-san?'
"Neptune, is something wrong?" Uranus asked with concern, noticing that her partner was silent.
"It's nothing." The teal haired Senshi answered. Seeing that the blond still looked worried, she added. "I'll tell you later, I promise.
"You mean to tell me that Pinky was there, and we didn't notice him? I had no idea he could be stealthy." Haruka wondered as Michiru and she left the scene.
"That is surprising, I suppose. But that's not the point." The teal haired girl pointed out. "He's gotten agitated, and for a good reason. It's true that we have teamed up on occasion, but these team ups happened by chance. And we haven't shared anything with him yet."
"It's not like he has shared anything with us either." Haruka countered. "Remember when he said that he came here to fight the daimons? What does that even mean? How did he know about that threat?"
"I wonder…" Michiru pondered, her voice trailing off in thought.
"Something on your mind?" The blonde asked.
"Maybe he's on to us." The teal haired girl said. At her partner's inquisitive look, she added. "He may have found our civilian identities. He has been quite perceptive lately, so I wouldn't be surprised if he has an idea."
"Even if he does, that still doesn't explain how he came here." Haruka said. "Or why does he want to talk just to you."
"About that…" Michiru started with uncertainty. "Are you sure you're ok with this? He might ask about our identities, and I trust him enough to tell him that. But, he'll probably figure your identity out as well."
Haruka didn't answer right away. Instead, she kept driving, her eyes on the road ahead. Both girls remained silent for a while, each to her thoughts.
"I might not trust him completely..." Haruka said after a while as she glanced at Michiru. "But I trust you."
"Haruka…" The teal haired girl muttered in response.
It was almost midnight when Natsu arrived at Tokyo Tower. Unsurprisingly, the place was completely devoid of people. The rose haired teen stared at the clear sky as he leaned on a wall while waiting for a certain teal haired Senshi. It wasn't long before he noticed that he wasn't alone.
"How long are you going to keep hiding? You can come out now, Neptune." He said as he turned to the tower's entrance where Neptune appeared from the shadows.
"How perceptive of you, Natsu-san. How could you tell?" The teal haired Senshi curiously asked as she approached the rose haired teen.
"It's your scent. Being close to you reminds me of the ocean." Natsu answered with a smile. "This brings me back to the first time we talked. It was at this tower again, though it was you who called me here that time."
"It's been quite some time since then, hasn't it?" Neptune noted with a soft expression. "A lot has happened."
"That's true. Correct me if I'm wrong though, but I have a feeling this wasn't the first time we actually talked face to face." Natsu stated. The teal haired Senshi looked surprised for a moment before she gave him a wry smile.
"I think we should get somewhere more private before we continue this discussion." She suggested, earning a nod from the rose haired teen.
Natsu stared as Sailor Neptune used a card to gain access to Tokyo Tower.
'So that's how they got inside last time too, huh. But, for Neptune not to deny what I implied, does that mean my hunch is right?' He thought as they walked further inside the building.
"This should be fine." Neptune said to herself when they went up a few floors. The moon, though it was waning, still illuminated the hallway through the windows as the teal haired Senshi turned to face Natsu. He noticed that there was conflict on her face. "I understand that you've been having questions all this time, and I apologise for keeping you in the dark for so long. It's not that we didn't trust you, but…"
"I know." Natsu said as he scratched the back of his head. "I haven't been entirely upfront with you either. So, if that'll help, you can ask whatever you want first."
Neptune contemplated Natsu's words for a while. She was slightly taken aback by his response, but she couldn't help but smile at his thoughtfulness. Haruka's words from earlier crossed her mind at that moment.
"I suppose I would like to know how you found out the daimons' existence. You said something about coming here to fight them, correct? But you didn't seem to know a lot about them." The teal haired Senshi asked.
"Oh, Pluto asked for my help. She said the world's in danger, so I came here." Natsu simply said.
"Ah, Pluto. That actually makes sense." Neptune mused as she closed her eyes, remembering the last time Uranus and she met the Guardian of Time. 'So she did look for someone else when we refused to work with Sailor Moon's group.'
"And, did she tell you anything about what we're facing?" The teal haired Senshi enquired.
"Not really, I rushed head first into the fire." Natsu replied with a shrug. "Wasn't the smartest thing to do, I know."
"About that, how do you even use fire? I haven't seen you transform." Neptune noted.
"That's because I'm a mage. A dragon slayer, to be exact." The rose haired teen clarified.
"But how? And what do you mean, a dragon slayer? There are no dragons on Earth." The teal haired Senshi wondered before realisation struck. "Unless…"
"I'm from a different realm?" Natsu interrupted with a smirk.
"I was going to say from a different planet. But coming from a different realm? I'd probably wouldn't believe it if it wasn't you saying it." Neptune noted. "Does that mean Chibiusa-chan is from a different realm too?"
"You're not entirely wrong about that one." The rose haired teen said. The teal haired Senshi nodded as she grew silent for a moment.
"You were honest with me. I think… I can trust you with my secret." She uttered as she closed her eyes and started glowing, slowly canceling her transformation. Natsu stared in wonder, as the teal haired Senshi's hair were tousled by a breeze while the glowing faded, revealing an all too familiar girl.
"So it is you, Michiru…" The rose haired teen muttered as she opened her eyes and stared at him with a soft expression.
"You don't seem very surprised, Natsu-san. How long did you suspect that I was Sailor Neptune?" Michiru asked with a small smile.
"Ever since you fell off that waterfall, and I jumped to rescue you. I wasn't sure back then, but I had a strong feeling that it was you." Natsu responded while rubbing the back of his head. The teal haired girl noticed that the rose haired teen was slightly flustered.
"I see. So, when you talked about the new Senshi, you already believed that it was me." She noted, earning a nod from Natsu.
"I suppose that means Haruka is Sailor Uranus, right?" He pointed out before he grinned at her. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I can tell that this is important for both of you."
"Natsu-san… thank you." Michiru muttered as she extended her hand toward Natsu. "Whatever comes our way, we will defeat it. Together."
"Yeah." Natsu said, shaking Michiru's hand. "That's a promise."
"You seem to be in a good mood, Natsu." Chibiusa commented while taking a large spoonful from her ice cream. "Did something good happen at the arcade yesterday?"
"Something like that. You still look irritated though." The rose haired teen noted as he leaned back on the chair.
"It's all Usagi's fault! She told me that she'd be back in a moment, and then she disappeared! I bet she's already with Mamo-chan right now!" The pink haired girl exclaimed before she pointed a finger at the older teen. "And you! Why did you go ahead and say that I'm your little sister? Haruka-san and Michiru-san kept asking me things about you while we were going to the tea house. It was awkward."
"That's sort of because of Usagi, you know." Natsu clarified before he raised a finger as if he'd start making points. "But think about it from this perspective. You get to have a cool big bro."
"Hmph, you still have a long way before I start calling you Big Bro." Chibiusa exclaimed, cheeks puffed, as she folded her arms.
"So you will call me Big Bro at some point?" Natsu asked, half amused, half surprised.
"Shut up! That's not what I meant!" Chibiusa shouted with a flustered expression, drawing a couple of looks from some customers. The pink haired girl got even more flustered when she noticed the looks while Natsu lazily drank from his glass.
"Still, I would expect that from Michiru, but even Haruka asked stuff?" The rose haired teen wondered, gaining the younger girl's attention.
"Yup, she wondered how come you never mentioned me before, and she was also curious if I was an idiot like you." Chibiusa said, causing Natsu to slightly twitch.
'I swear, that girl…' He thought, while the younger girl, seemingly oblivious to his reaction, continued talking.
"And Michiru-san was asking me about a Honolulu for some reason. Did you tell her that you're from some island?" She asked, half curious, half confused.
"The girls told me to make a cover story when people ask me where I'm from since I can't reveal that I'm from a different dimension." Natsu answered, causing Chibiusa's jaw to drop on the table.
"What?" She flatly said.
"You're the daughter of two of my friends from the future, and you find my story weird?" Natsu deadpanned.
"So he already suspected that we are the new Senshi? I'm starting to think Pinky only pretends to be an idiot in order to make people not taking him seriously." Haruka said as she put her empty cup on the table.
"You know that Setsuna-san wouldn't ask for someone's aid if she didn't have faith in his abilities." Michiru countered as she got out of the pool.
"Touché." The blonde said as she closed her eyes and leaned back on the armchair. A couple of moments later, she opened her eyes again to see that her partner had changed into a more casual outfit and had taken the opposite armchair, looking in thought.
"Michiru, is something wrong?" Haruka asked with concern.
"I'm not sure." Michiru said, slightly frowning. "We've been through a lot together, haven't we?"
"I guess we did." Haruka answered. "What brought this on?"
"It's just… lately, I've been confused. I can't stop thinking about Natsu-san since that night at the park." The teal haired girl muttered before she looked up at the blonde. "It's not like something happened, we just talked. But, I just can't get him out of my head, and this is unfair to you since my resolve has wavered in the past few weeks and I'm not being the partner you deserve."
Haruka was silent and, for a moment, Michiru feared the worse.
"You have gotten enamoured with him, haven't you?" The blonde noted. The teal haired girl noticed that Haruka was smiling, though it was a sad smile.
"I'm sorry." She said. "I'll understand if you are mad at me."
"I'm not mad at you. Just… next time I see Pinky, I'll kick him in the crotch." Haruka declared with a straight face.
"I'm not sure whether you are joking or not." Michiru wondered, her frown dissipating momentarily.
"I might be." The blonde said before she completely dropped the façade. "I get it, you know. I might tease the guy like hell, but even I can see that he's a good one. I might not like it, but it's true."
She then knelt in front of Michiru and gently held her hand as she added. "I care for you, but I wouldn't want to keep you to myself if you didn't feel the same way."
"Haruka…" The teal haired girl muttered, at a loss of words, as she felt tears welling up in her eyes.
"I'll get over it eventually. Don't worry about me." The blonde said while giving Michiru a comforting squeeze.
"Besides," She added as she smiled again, and this time it wasn't as sad. "We can still be partners, just in the stopping the world from being destroyed part."
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Michiru said, returning the smile as she gave Haruka a comforting hug.
"I wonder why Chibiusa asked me to come pick her up." Natsu said to himself as he walked towards the place where said pink haired girl was learning sculpturing. A few days had passed since he met with Michiru. The rose haired teen felt that he got closer to the teal haired girl that night, and that had calmed the restlessness that had plagued him.
'Huh? Is that Usagi?' He thought as he noticed the younger blonde intently staring at a glass window. Natsu cocked an eyebrow in curiosity when he noticed that it was the same building where Chibiusa told him to come.
"Yo, Usagi. What are you doing?" He asked when he approached her, causing the blonde to shriek and abruptly turn in surprise.
"Natsu! Stop spooking me all the time!" Usagi exclaimed as she tried to catch her breath while checking at the window again.
"When did I… spook you?" Natsu wondered, confused.
"Back at the Lover's Park when you jumped from the tree, and at the day of the races. You really have a knack for appearing out of nowhere, you know." The blonde commented, causing both Natsu to sweatdrop.
"She sure remembers random details." The rose haired teen thought.
"It's not Natsu-san's fault that you are in this position, Usagi. You should mind your surroundings as well." Luna said as she appeared from behind the blonde.
"But, why do I have to be the one to keep an eye on Chibiusa? Everyone ate the apple pie." Usagi said with indignation.
"Keep an eye on Chibiusa? Are you stalking her? And what's that about pie?" Natsu asked, wide eyed from shock.
"I'm not stalking her!" Usagi exclaimed arms akimbo, as she glared at the rose haired teen. "I'm just curious about the kid that Chibiusa made an apple pie for."
"Who?" Natsu said, surprise giving way, again, to simple confusion.
"Apparently, there's a boy called Masanori-kun that Chibiusa-chan likes." Luna explained. "She even made an apple pie for him, but Usagi ate it."
"So that explains the pie thing. I thought everyone ate the pie though." Natsu noted, earning a vivid nod from Usagi.
"See, Luna? Natsu gets it." The blonde said.
"You're still the one who brought the apple pie to us, so you'll have to make up to Chibiusa-chan for that." Luna exasperatedly said.
"I still don't find this fair." Usagi said as she looked at the window again. "Oh look, Michiru-san is here too."
"She is?" Natsu exclaimed as he too looked at the window. Like Usagi said, Michiru was in the room as well, talking to Chibiusa and a brown haired kid who probably was that Masanori. The rose haired teen noticed that, even in that simple light blue spring dress that she wore, Michiru was absolutely dazzling. It took a couple of moments for him to realise that he was staring, and that Usagi was looking at him with a sly smile.
"I see, that's what's going on." Usagi commented. "You like Michiru-san!"
"I do?" Natsu wondered, looking in thought.
"Oh my, he hasn't even realised it yet." The blonde said to Luna, who sweatdropped in response.
'Is Natsu-san really that dense?' The black cat thought. Just then, a fastball came from out of nowhere and struck Natsu in the head, causing him to go through the window due to the force. Usagi and Luna stared in shock, their jaws on the floor, while Chibiusa and the rest of the people that were in the room scattered to avoid the flying Natsu. Meanwhile, Michiru, who had left the room earlier, and Haruka entered the room to see what happened.
"That's Pinky on the floor. Did the enemy strike at him under our nose?" The older blonde wondered while surveying the room.
"No, that's…" Michiru started to say, but was interrupted by a loud voice.
"Oh my god! He went through the window! Did you see that, Mitsunari?" A big man said as he rushed inside the room with another man in tow.
"I see that, Masanori. I told you to stop throwing fastballs left and right, you idiot." The other man deadpanned.
"Masanori?" Chibiusa said in confusion as turned to the brown haired kid next to her.
"Yeah, that's my uncle. He was supposed to come pick me up after practice." the younger Masanori said, rubbing the back of his head with embarrassment. "By the way, is that man your older brother?"
"Something like that." The pink haired girl mumbled.
"I feel like I got hit by a truck." Natsu muttered as he slowly got up while rubbing his head. The rose haired teen noticed that the newcomers were a black haired big man with the face, and matching attire, of a delinquent (he even had regend hair) and a younger looking handsome brunet who wouldn't look out of place in a highly prestigious firm, what with the suit that he was sporting. "What the hell was that about?"
"You'll have to excuse my friend, he's an idiot." The proper looking man said with a straight face, causing the older Masanori to glare at him.
"What was that, you Big Head? Wanna fight?" The bigger man shouted.
"Calm down, Masanori. You're embarrassing yourself." Mitsunari simply said, completely unfazed. The delinquent looking man looked around him and realised where he was.
"I'm sorry, Masanori-chan! I didn't realise that the ball was heading for this place!" He shouted while bowing apologetically to his nephew.
"I don't think I'm the one you should be apologising to, Uncle." The younger Masanori noted, causing the older Masanori to blink for a few moments, then turn to Natsu.
"I'm sorry that I hit you, Pinky-chan!" He yelled.
"Oi, watch it." Natsu muttered, twitching in irritation, while Haruka snickered. However, before he could comment further, he noticed a white car speeding towards them. His eyes widened when he sensed the same malevolence that he felt when Kaorinite was attacking.
"Everyone, look out!" The dragon slayer shouted while grabbing the older Masanori and throwing him to the side, as the car smashed into the window wall that he had come from. To his relief, the rest of the people had heard him and got out of the way.
"Everyone, please calm down. There's no reason to be alarmed." A woman's voice was heard from the megaphone that was set on the car, before a red haired woman got out.
Natsu gritted his teeth as he looked around, noticing how many kids were gathered in the tight room.
"Don't listen to her, she's a dangerous woman!" He shouted, gaining the kids' attention. "Leave this room now!"
His warning had the desirable effect, and the kids started running away. While the crowd dispersed, Natsu looked back, and noticed Michiru and Haruka were still there. The rose haired teen stared at the teal haired girl, who noticed him as well and nodded.
"You just messed with my mission, boy!" The red haired woman growled.
"Sorry to crash your party, but you won't get what you are looking for." Natsu responded with a grin.
"We'll leave with the children, so as to not draw suspicion." Michiru whispered to Haruka. "And we'll appear later."
"A good plan." The blonde said. "But what if the one that this woman is targeting this time has a talisman?"
"We'll worry about it later. Natsu-san drew the enemy's attention so that we can keep our identities secret. Let's leave it to him for now." The teal haired girl countered, earning a nod from the blonde. Meanwhile, Chibiusa was looking around for Masanori.
"Did Masanori-kun get out? I didn't see him." The pink haired girl wondered before her eyes fell on a table that was moving.
"Is this woman crazy?" Mitsunari said as he pushed away the tables that were on top of him while holding the younger Masanori.
"Masanori-kun!" Chibiusa exclaimed as she ran to the boy's side.
"So the boy is still here." The red haired woman said as she took out a white cannon.
"I won't let you hurt him!" Natsu shouted as he punched her out of the room. He then turned to Chibiusa. "She's after your friend. Take these people and leave as well!"
The pink haired girl looked at the boy who seemed unconscious, then nodded.
"Got it." She said as she motioned for Mitsunari and the older Masanori to follow her.
"Damn it, I didn't even get the chance to see if the boy's crystal is a talisman." The red haired woman said as she got into the car and drove away, taking down the rest of the glass wall in the process.
"Well, that was over easier than I expected." Natsu said to himself. "Now, who's going to clean up that mess?"
"In the end, we didn't even have to transform." Haruka said before she chuckled. "I'm almost beginning to think that the worst has already passed."
"If only that were the case." Michiru said, letting out a small sigh. "Their leader is still out there."
"I know that. We can't drop our guard just because the new head hunter seems weaker than the previous one." The blonde noted. "I certainly hope she won't decide to show her strength at Edwards' party. That man is kind enough to be a potential talisman."
"That's why we'll be there, to keep an eye on him." The teal haired girl declared fiercely, before her demeanor relaxed and she turned thoughtful. "Then again, nothing of that nature could happen and we'll be able to relax for one night."
"You could invite Pinky as well. It'll be a good opportunity to sort out your feelings." Haruka suggested. At Michiru's perplexed look, she smiled. "I've told you already, I'll be fine. Don't worry about me."
'It might take a while to get used to this situation.' The teal haired girl thought as she smiled at the blonde. 'This is a dangerous time, but I've been fortunate enough to be surrounded by good people. I have to protect this world, for their sake.'
"You've been awfully silent since you returned home, Natsu-san. Something bothering you?" Rei enquired as she took a seat next to Natsu.
"I realised something today." The rose haired teen said, his eyes in the sky. "You know how you think about someone all the time, wondering if they are alright, wanting to be with them? And when you are with that person, you feel funny, like nothing else matters except seeing that person smile?"
"Is it Michiru-san?" Rei asked. "I've talked with Usagi. She thinks you've fallen hard for her."
"I think, I might have." Natsu admitted, turning to face the raven haired girl. "She's caring, and talented, and funny, and pretty. But most importantly, when I'm with her, I feel like I don't want anything else but to protect her, to make sure that she is happy. I mean, who wouldn't fall for her?"
"Oh boy, you really are entranced by Michiru-san." Rei commented as she rested her chin on her hand. "Must be nice to have someone you like."
"But it doesn't matter." The rose haired teen muttered, causing Rei to look at him with surprise. "You've all said it before, haven't you? She's close with Haruka."
"It's not like you to be pessimistic. Perhaps they are just really good friends." The raven haired girl suggested, trying to lift her friend's spirits.
"Michiru said it herself, they're like life partners. They even live together." Natsu pointed out as leaned back on the wall.
"Technically speaking, we live together as well." Rei countered. "That doesn't mean anything."
"I appreciate what you're doing, Rei. Thanks." Natsu tiredly said while smiling at the raven haired girl. "I think I'll go sleep. Good night."
"Sleep well, Natsu-san." Rei said as the rose haired teen got up and headed inside the shrine. The raven haired girl stared at the door with worry.
"Poor guy. There must be something I can do." She said to herself before she yawned.
"It's too late now. I'll call the girls first thing tomorrow and we'll think of something. We can't let Natsu-san give up on his feelings."
Author's Note: Tough chapter to write, really tough. It's probably the chapter I've completely rewritten the most times so far. Especially that ending. I hope it came out well and not too out-of-nowhere-angsty. So, storywise, I've felt that the pairing between Natsu and Michiru wouldn't go anywhere without resolving the situation between Michiru and Haruka first. Personally, I think that, while Haruka definitely wouldn't be ok with letting Michiru go, she wouldn't force her to still be together if she didn't feel the same way, don't you people think so? Meanwhile, Natsu is finally feeling the feelings. Yay~
Next chapter will feature one of my favourite episodes (Party Time!), so look forward to it. Until next time!