XXV. Easy to Forget, Hard to Forgive

¤•°… •°¤...¤•°… •°¤...¤•°… •°¤

A/N: Hey guys :D Sorry for the long wait :S It took me a little longer to write this, and then Binky was sick! She feels better though, so she finally sent me the edited chapter this morning (: I'm busy working and soon I'll be even more because I'm back to school :S I'll probably take longer to update, but I can't forget this story or any of you who are anxiously waiting for a new chapter. I appreciate the people who take the time to review and leave their opinions: kaila09100, Ali, Alexxis, Fanficnis, FCrS, Vernos, Passerby, Volchise, Beta, Neptune's Lover, Alex, PurpleIzzy, LitaDelacour , Vientocortante, petiyaka, Lylian, IceFantom, jade-MEST, FaintFiction… You guys are awesome! Sorry, I can't leave a proper reply this time, but I'll make more time next chapter to answer doubts and comments ;P Everyone out there, enjoy this chapter and as always let me know what you think :P

Disclaimer: I do NOT own any of the characters from Sailor Moon (Haruka Tenoh & Michiru Kaioh) everybody else in the story is mine. All rights to their respective original owners. I'm sorry, if I'm misusing them.

"I see I was wrong about you Michiru. Don't you ever think before doing stupid things like this?" Amaya fumed, obviously displeased about her daughter's actions.

Michiru couldn't do anything but stare at her mother. She knew she was right. Last night, all she wanted was to disappear; to not see Haruka and provoke another argument.

"I'm sorry Mother. I didn't plan on imposing or…"

Amaya rolled her eyes, her daughter didn't understand. "Michiru, I'm really not angry because you're here, but something could have happened to you or the children on your way here." The Neptunian Queen sighed tiredly. "What happened?"

The aquamarine looked away. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Michiru."

"Haruka arrived last night."

The older aquanette's eyes doubled in size. "And?" She asked expectantly.

Michiru shook her head, disappointed. "We had a fight," She drew out a tired sigh. "She's so unfair."

"What do you mean?" Amaya asked, not understanding.

"She came into my room last night and we were okay until we started talking about…Adoki." Michiru once again shook her head, stressed by the situation, "I told her the babies were hers and that I only love her, but she asked me if I ever had anything to do with him and…"

"Michiru, you didn't lie to me right?" Amaya doubted for a second before realizing her words, "I mean, the children are the vivid image of Haruka."

The aquamarine looked straight into her mother's eyes, but she had to look away a second time.

"Mother, the babies are hers, but…"

"Michiru, you couldn't have!" Amaya narrowed her chocolate eyes, "You cheated on Haruka?"

The other woman nodded and lowered her gaze.

"Oh God," Amaya gasped. "How could you do that?! I raised you better than that Michiru."

"It was only a kiss!" Michiru yelled defensively yet anguished, "Well... maybe two or three," She confessed as her face turned a bright red. She was ashamed of her actions, "Nothing compared to what she has done with my sister."

Amaya massaged her temple; she was getting a headache. "We are not getting into that right now Michiru." Amaya warned. The topic of 'Marina' always ended in an argument, "So, you told her?"

Michiru nodded. "Yes, and then we argued and she just left. I couldn't stand the situation and left too."

The Queen shook her head. "You're really dumb, my daughter. You shouldn't have told her that."

"She needed to know because it was something that kept us apart." Michiru debated. They needed to tell each other how they felt if they wanted to be happy again. "If she didn't know then she would have kept questioning herself about what happened between Adoki and me during his stay in Uranus, and she wouldn't trust me like before."

Hearing it from that point of view, it made sense. Amaya nodded in understanding.

"You and everybody can stay here the time you need to." Amaya grinned, "Now I'll get to see my grandchildren more often."

Michiru returned the gesture and smiled back at her mother. "Speaking of them, I think it's time for their nursing." The violinist stood up and walked toward the staircase, "Are you coming?" She pointed upstairs to where her room with her children was.

"No, thank you. I need to think through things clearly." Amaya spoke softly and calmly sipped her tea, "I'll go upstairs in a bit. I want to see them."

The younger woman nodded and headed upstairs, leaving her mother in deep thinking in the living room.

•°¤...¤•°… •

Haruka opened her eyes lazily, her hands automatically going to the sides of her head. The pounding headache, consequence of the liquor from the night before, was awful and made her wake up earlier than usual. The blonde hung her legs over the end of the bed and got up slowly, trying her best to stabilize her steps. After a much needed shower, the Uranian felt slightly better and moved toward the other side of the house. She knew she had messed up big time and it was urgent for her to talk to the aqua haired woman.

"Good morning Haruka-sama." Souke greeted nervously, he almost dropped the broom in his hands when he saw his blonde master. The night before, he had helped his other Queen and friends leave the house. The old man gulped and continued sweeping the floor.

"Good morning Souke." The blonde ruler noticed the strange behavior of the old man, but decided to ignore it. "Souke please let my wife know that I want to talk to her, and tell someone to bring a black mug of coffee to me in the study."

Haruka didn't wait for a response as she started walking towards the patio. The servant dropped the broom.

"She left." He mumbled loud enough for the blonde to hear.

"Excuse me?"

The short haired woman stopped and looked at the man with narrowing eyes.

"T-Tenoh-sama and company…left last night." Souke confessed picking up his broom.

She blinked twice before processing the important piece of information.

"What?! Last night? What was she thinking? Doesn't she know how dangerous is to travel during the night." Haruka pulled out some of her short locks in exasperation, cursing under her breath, "Why didn't you tell me anything last night?"

Swallowing hard and playing with the broom's handle, Souke only looked down at the floor. "She told me not to tell you anything and…"

Haruka looked at the man expectantly; after all he had worked for her for years. He should have told her something.

"Really Souke? You should have known better. What if something happened to her or my…err…the children?"

"I'm sorry Haruka-sama." Souke mumbled; he looked up at the blonde, "but I sent them with Hiroshi. He is a right-hand man; he also told me he took them to the palace."

The blonde let out a breath of relief. At least they were safe at the palace.

"Okay. Saddle a horse for me and next time inform me of everything that goes on in my house, okay?"

"Hai." Nodding and moving quickly to the back of the house, Souke disappeared.

•°¤...¤•°… •

Humiliated and fuming Marina had left her lover's beach house. Michiru had finally stood up to her, only thinking about that embarrassing episode that made her blood boil. Why must she always lose against her sister? She couldn't stand the fact that her sister was still strong and standing, even after she had taken everything from her. It was always about Michiru. For as long as she had memory, it was always about the favorite princess. Michiru had their parent's attention, and even Nao's, at all times. She hated with a burning passion to be second in everything they competed for or simply in anything they did. While she struggled to be the best flautist and musician, her sister had a natural endowment to play the violin. Every time her sister played that damn instrument her soul rejoiced, but when the show was over and her sister took all the cheers and roses, she felt miserable. Why? Just why, couldn't her sister or parents see how frustrated she was. How her heart broke every time a guest came and her parents only praised her sister's abilities and not hers. She wasn't a natural talent, but she thought she deserved better because she at least tried. Countless were the suitors her sister attracted at such young age, yet none paid her any attention. She wasn't ugly and she knew it, but she also knew her sister was far prettier than herself. Marina had decided back then that she would not be like her sister. She let her blue, straight hair pass her shoulders, unlike her sister that had it curly and longer. She started wearing make-up and fancy, elaborated dresses to gain some of the attention she felt her sister stole from her. She also was a Kaioh, and if Michiru could succeed then she could also.

"I'm not backing off at this point." Marina whispered to herself, wiping off salty tears, "You're not better than me, Michiru."

The young Neptunian princess opted to stay at a tavern in the city after her sister kicked her out of the beach house. She knew she could have gone to the palace, to her old bedroom, but she also knew she would have to face her mother and she wasn't in the mood that day.

Deciding it was time to uncover her mask and confront her mother, Marina went to her old home. Every step she took, she remembered the times she heard her mother praised her sister, asking her to be more like her darling. She entered the guest room and the encouraging words from her father towards his grand treasure and favorite princess echoed through the old hall. 'Michiru will be a great Queen one day' 'I'm so proud of my Michiru.'

"Stupid nonsense." Marina bitterly muttered.

"Who's there?"

The blunette immediately took her hand to her chest; she had forgotten her mother was very perceptive.

"Hello Mother," Her soothing voice greeted.

Mimicking her younger daughter's action, Amaya stood up, taking in the sight of the blunette.

"It's been a long time Mother. Didn't you miss me?"

"Marina," Amaya barely whispered. Promptly the Neptunian Queen snapped out from her stupor launching towards her baby.

"Ah uh." Marina evaded the effusive welcome. "I'm not here for hugs or tea Amaya."

Amaya froze in her place. What had her daughter called her?

"Marina, what's wrong?" The Queen asked warily, "I've missed you."

"Haha haha," Fits of laugher erupted from the younger Kaioh, "Yeah right. You missed me?" Marina glared at her mother, "Or you just felt alone because father is gone."

Sadness filled her eyes at the mention of her dead husband, but that wasn't the reason she had missed her daughter. Yes, Amaya had felt alone without her husband, but she missed her daughter because she loved her.

"No Mar-chan I really missed you…" Amaya shook her head. The woman in front of her wasn't her daughter. "I don't understand. Why are you being so cold?"

Marina eyed her mother from head to toe, "And you still ask? I'm tired of this game Amaya." She walked toward the other woman slowly, "I'm here because I want to tell you all I think of you, your almighty Queen."

A puzzled Queen looked at her without understanding. That cold woman definitely wasn't her baby daughter.

"What do you mean Mar-chan?" Amaya asked taking a step back, "And don't call me that, I'm your Mother."

"My Mother?" Marina snorted. "Yes, you might be a mother, but not to me Amaya."

"Marina, what are you saying?!"

"I'm just saying what it is my Queen," The blunette said mockingly as she started to pace her old home. "I came to tell you the terrible job you did as a mother for me."

Feeling worse than being slapped, Amaya countered. "Marina I've tried my best to be the best mother for you and Michiru…"

"Michiru, Michiru. It's always been Michiru!" Marina replied annoyed and angered. "That's where you failed. You have always preferred Michiru. You are a mother to her, not to me."

Amaya felt her heart drop. "That's not true," The queen took a series of steps until reaching the back of her youngster. She reached out toward the blunette but didn't touch her, "I've always loved you both. I love Michiru as much as I love you Marina."

"Lies! Lies, it's always been Michiru." Marina refuted, turning around looking at a distraught Amaya, "You chose her over me all the damn time. 'Marina you should practice your flute harder to become like your sister'" Seeing that her mother didn't say anything the blunette preceded, "Your grades need to improve. Michiru obtained perfect scores, she's very smart."

"I was just trying to push you further because I knew you could be as successful as your sister."

"When would you learn to act and behave like a princess Marina? Don't you see how Michiru does it? She doesn't need anyone to tell her anything." Marina continued imitating her mother's reprimanding tone.

Sighing, the Queen muttered, "I just wanted you to follow a good example. I never meant to…"

"When would stop being a problem Marina?" The blunette now imitated her dead father's voice. Her chocolate brown eyes tearing up, "Can't you be a little like your sister?"

The words from her daughter were like stabs to her heart. Why didn't she notice her daughter had suffered so much because of those differences her husband and she made between their only two daughters. Two guilty tears rolled down her face.

"Of course I can't be like my sister, Mother." Marina said between clenched teeth, "I could never be anything like her because I'm better than her!"

"No, no Marina. Michiru and you are not better than each other." Amaya said between sobs, "I love you girls the same." She shook her head lightly, "We, because your father loved you the same. I'm sorry you've been feeling like this all this time, but we never meant to hurt you."

Marina wiped off her tears roughly. Crying was a sign of weakness she couldn't show.

"It's too late now my Queen. I just wanted to confirm what my sister probably already told you," Marina chuckled. "I'm Haruka's lover."

"What's going on here?" A third voice interrupted.

•°¤...¤•°… •

The trip to the Neptunian palace was faster riding a horse than going on a carriage. Haruka still couldn't believe the irresponsible action from the aquamarine. She could have exposed her children, Sango, Nao and herself just because they couldn't solve their problems. The blonde hurried her pace as she finally reached the city and the Neptunian palace. She took a deep breath and left her horse with a guard as she entered the place she thought she wouldn't step foot inafter the King's tragedy. Haruka was determined to finish with the absurd arguments and fights. She had the whole night to think before she lost notion of time and drinks. She needed a better explanation of the aqua haired woman's actions, and more importantly, she needed to know if the twins were really hers. A small smile graced her face as she remembered the warmth she felt when she held the two small bundles. The doubt was killing her; she needed to know if they were hers because if they were, she wanted to be with them. She wanted to be that parent or father figure that would support and love them any time and forever.

She walked without invitation inside the palace. It felt like she hadn't been there for years, but the last memory she held was an unpleasant one. Haruka walked silently, trying to calm down her nervousness. She didn't want to start another fight or hurt further the only person she truly loved. The blonde finally reached her destination; the double doors to the room were slightly open. Haruka could clearly hear voices coming out of the room. She knew eavesdropping was against any education she received, then again she couldn't help herself when she obviously recognized the voice of three women she knew very well. She leaned toward the door and blinked, confused, looking at Marina standing in the middle of the room with her mother and Michiru descending the stairs. Her hand held the cold door knob as she immediately wanted to know what the blunette was doing there when she had told her that she would go to Pluto and Saturn. She was about to push the door open when she heard her.

Amaya looked at her elder daughter with sad eyes.

"Perfect timing sis." Marina greeted, rolling her eyes. "We just began to talk about how I stole the love of your life."

"Marina." Michiru greeted confused. She looked at her mother and saw the immense pain the older woman was going through.

"The one and only," Marina sneered. "I'm glad you've joined our little party. The Kaioh's women needed a time together."

"Marina, please stop all of this." Amaya begged looking between her two daughters. "I've told you I'm very sorry. I don't know what else to say."

"I don't want your pity Amaya." Marina sent a cold glare toward her mother, "I just want Michiru to know that I won. You left me everything served on a silver platter Sis. Thank you."

The aquamarine looked at her sister with a blank expression. She only shook her head disappointed.

"C'mon Michiru. Are you not asking how Haruka is doing?" Marina asked teasingly. "She's fierce in bed, you know. Not really my type, but…" She laughed maniacally, "Of course you know! After all that's how you got pregnant. Haruka is really an idiot," Marina shook her head amused as if she had heard a joke. "A cute but sexy idiot. Does that make sense?" she momentarily wondered before shrugging it off, "She sent you to hell without giving you a chance to defend yourself. Uh ah, bad move from our fool blondie."

Michiru quickly changed her expression to one of anger. Her relationship with the parent of her children going downhill was something, but to let her sister mock her still wife was something else.

"If you don't love her, then why Marina?" Michiru asked angered and hurt.

"I already told you Michi-chan." She replied with a well-practiced smile upon her lips. "I needed Haruka to destroy you and I didn't need to do anything." Marina looked at her amusingly then tilted her head, "Oh no, now I remember I did have to do some dirty stuff. For example, not giving her your message that day at Father's funeral." She smiled an evil smile, "You should have seen her face." The blunette pouted mockingly, "Poor fool, she thought you didn't want anything to do with her and that was my chance to show her I really wanted to be with her."

Her blue eyes darkened with what she thought she would never feel in her life, hatred. She felt her blood boil listening to her sister talk like that. Not wanting to hear anything else and giving up to her wild side Michiru let rationality and scruples aside.

"How could you?!" Michiru advanced towards Marina, her hands made into fists. "You know I needed her then Marina." Michiru launched towards her younger sister slapping her hard on the face and pulling her long hair to the side. "How could you have done that?!"

Amaya stood stunned, reacting a second later; she had to separate them.

"Michiru, Marina." The Queen called desperate. "Please, stop, stop!"

Meanwhile Marina futilely tried to shrug her sister off from her. The blunette stumbled against a table and fell, pulling her sister down with her. Michiru was angrily blinded; she straddled her sister while Marina fought back, restraining her from hitting her any more by taking hold of her wrists.

"Is this all you got Michi-chan?" Marina asked between breaths, pushing her sister to the side. "I'll personally take care that Haruka will never recognize your brats as hers." She threatened mockingly.

The aquanette glared at her sister. "Don't you ever call my children like that," She said with a low menacing tone and once again launched against Marina.

Shocked. She was shocked. She was petrified with the sudden load of information; so much so that she couldn't do anything when it started. Haruka watched and heard with horror, guilt and shame the words from the younger Kaioh. She was only a toy for Marina, a piece of chess on her revenge against her sister. She mentally cursed at her stupidity and finally pushed the door open. Michiru and Marina jumped exhausted and startled. Brown eyes widened in horror at the sight of an infuriated Haruka entering the palace.

"H-Haru, what are you doing here?"

Haruka eyed the women on the floor and promptly helped Michiru to her feet. Marina stayed on the floor, waiting for the blonde to help her too.

"Thank you," Michiru mumbled, taking a step back and siding next to her mother.

The blonde could only shoot a cold glance down at the blunette.

"That's none of your business, but I'm glad I came."

Marina swallowed hard as she got up with difficultly. Her dress was ripped from the top and she had a small scratch on her right cheek.

"I-I can explain Haru." The blunette raised an accusing finger pointing toward her mother and sister, "They provoked me Haruka. I didn't want to."

Haruka shook her head, rubbing the back of her palm against her forehead.

"Please stop your cheap act Marina. I heard everything."

Holding her dress with one hand, Marina walked toward the blonde. "No, no Haruka you heard wrong." She looked at the blonde with pleading eyes, "T-this is a trap! They set me up Haru." Marina looked at Michiru and her anger increased, "Michiru only wants to separate us."

Restraining herself from laughing, Haruka took the other woman by her shoulder pressing her long fingers firmly into her flesh.

"So I assume the 'Haruka is an idiot and fool' was also a lie?" Haruka sneered. She couldn't help it any longer. She didn't know if she just wanted to laugh everything off or hit herself for actually being an idiot and a fool.

Marina looked helplessly. She was trapped between her lies and falseness.

"You're right Marina. I've been an idiot and fool for letting you into my life…" Haruka said in a distraught voice. She turned around and looked at Michiru, her eyes showing all the sorrow and guilt she felt for not trusting her wife. Yes, Michiru and she had broken up not because of Marina, but she didn't let the aquanette explain and talk to her at the moment. Haruka opted to shelter her deception and pain against Michiru taking Marina, the sister of the woman she loved, as a lover. She was more than an idiot, she was a monster. "For not listening to my heart. For letting go the only woman I have ever loved andalways will." Her teal eyes looked at Michiru apologizing, "I'm sorry."

Looking between her sister and lover Marina stepped in the blonde's direction.

"You can't forgive her! She betrayed you with Adoki! Don't you remember?!" Marina yelled exalted. She wouldn't let her happiness fall apart. "The babies aren't yours Haruka. Those brats are…"

'Slap.'

"I think I heard Michiru asked you not to call them like that." Haruka replied intimidatingly. "It's game over Marina. I heard what you did, and there's nothing you can do or say to change the image I now have of you."

Marina took her hand to the stinging cheek. She nodded, her lips curving into a smile.

"You're wrong my dear. This is far from an end yet." Marina looked at her petrified mother and a confused Michiru. "This isn't over yet Michi-chan. There is a lot of stuff you still need to know," the blunette laughed hysterically, "Enjoy your pathetic life now that you can because I'll never let you be happy. You have destroyed my happiness twice and if I can't be happy neither will you."

Michiru observed how her sister disappeared behind the double doors. She heaved a sigh and looked at the blonde.

"Michiru, I… I'm really sorry. I want to..."

"Please don't Haruka."

"Daughter." Amaya voiced simply gaining the attention of the other two women. "Please let her talk. We've been through too much already. Don't let your sister win."

"Mother I…" Michiru followed her mother with a sad gaze. Amaya didn't want to say anything else as she just started walking toward her study.

Clearing her throat after an awkward silence Haruka regained composure.

"Michiru I think we should talk." The blonde pleaded with shining eyes. "I really want to apologize for last night and…clarify everything too."

"We have hurt each other deeply Haruka. I can't do this anymore." The aquanette looked down at her shoes; she couldn't let her mix feelings take over her again. "We really messed up."

"But we deserve a second chance." Haruka retorted determined.

Her midnight blue orbs looked directly at her. Haruka knew it wouldn't be an easy task to recover their relationship; it would never be the same anymore. They both had changed a lot those few months they were apart. The jealousy, anger, deception and betrayal were only a few of the factors that might have not finished their love, but destroyed their trustfulness to each other.

"Please Michiru, listen to me…"

"No Haruka. Let me start first," Michiru cut off the blonde sitting on a big chair and motioning the blonde to sit too. "I shouldn't have hid from you the fact that Adoki stayed in the palace disguised as the strategist."

Haruka nodded without saying anything. This was a moment to talk and she would let the aquanette explain and defend this time.

"Like I told you last night, I was scared that he could do something to you or you to him." Michiru half smiled not really amused at the situation. "I thought that I could prevent a tragedy by convincing Adoki to leave before you could find out, but in the end I couldn't prevent anything."

"Why didn't you just tell me?" Haruka inquired sadly, "I'm not a monster Michiru. If you could have talked to me like you're doing right now, I could have done something to prevent all of this." Haruka paused looking at her wife. "You didn't trust me enough right?"

Michiru lowered her gaze. Her nanny had told her many times to tell the blonde about Adoki too, but she never listened.

"I don't know why I didn't say anything Haruka, but I trusted and loved you with all my being."

Haruka stood up and walked closer to the aquanette. She kneeled before her; damn, if she had to kneel down and lose the rest of her dignity and beg to recover the woman she loved and her family, she would. The blonde took both hands from the younger woman and squeezed them lightly.

"Michiru, let's forget about this bitter episode from our lives. We can start over."

Michiru looked at the blonde while shaking her head. She tried to release the grip of the blonde, but the Uranian wouldn't let go.

"Haruka, we can't afford to fail again. This time it's not only about us." Michiru looked up at the staircase, "We need to think about our children."

Feeling like the worse person in the world, the blonde almost let go of the Neptunian, but hearing about her children made her recover her strength.

"That's why I want us to try again Michiru." Haruka looked perturbed, "I know I'm an idiot for not trusting you and neglecting my role as their parent. Please forgive me Michiru, let me amend my errors." Haruka's eyes watered. She knew she had not only hurt Michiru, but those innocent babies too. "I know I shouldn't deserve to be with them. I failed to recognize them, but I love them Michiru." The blonde felt a warm, salty drop freely run down her cheek. "I tried to play hard because I was blind and even after the damn doubt overwhelmed me, I still wanted them because they were part of you."

Michiru couldn't control herself any longer and she also started crying. She had cried days and nights waiting for that moment. The moment where she could explain her side of the story, the moment where she could clarify that she was innocent and had never cheated on her wife.

"Haruka…I-I."

"Michiru please forgive me." Haruka let her tears freely run over her handsome face, "I-I also wanted to let you know that you are the only woman I love and my soul needs to be in peace. Don't take me out of your life, let's give us another chance."

"Haruka…I-I don't know what to do or say."

"Don't say anything. Let's just start all over." Haruka replied flashing a faint smile.

"I think we would need time, but we could try." Michiru hesitantly said, giving her a subtle smile. "About Adoki…"

"Let's forget about him and Marina. We need to focus on ourselves, in our family right now."

"But Marina said she won't ever let us be happy."

Haruka frowned. She should have known better. Marina only wanted to hurt her sister and she wouldn't allow that.

"I'm not letting anyone else try to separate us again Michiru," Haruka pulled the hands of the violinist under her lips. She kissed them lightly and lovingly. "This time it'll be different."

Michiru threw herself at the blonde. They had been through a rough road, but their love was more powerful that the envy and lies from her sister.

"I missed you so much Haruka." She mumbled against the blonde's neck.

The blonde hugged the smaller woman tighter.

"I can't live without you Michi."

The aquanette looked Haruka in the eyes; those eyes that showed their remorse but also an immense love. Her blue orbs descended until they landed on those rosy, thin lips of the blonde. Michiru slowly closed her eyes and leaned toward the love of her life. Haruka met the lips of her wife in a passionate kiss.

TO BE CONTINUED…

So… I guess nobody expected Michi to beat the crap out of her sister. Did ya'll? Well, I've always think of Michiru as the classy lady that could hurt mostly with cold words or no words at all, but I couldn't help it. I had to add that scene, it was necessary to calm down crazy Marina :S Hmm what do you think Michi should do? Forgive Ruka just like that or make it a little harder for the blonde? If you think the blonde deserve to suffer let me know and I'll see what I can do ;) Again, please forgive me for not answering y'all reviews, I'll do it next time (: