Sorry for the huge delay! I started on a new job and been coming home with an overload of information and kinda tired... and I'm starting class again tomorrow. I wanted to finish this one up before summer ended, but... well, that's not gonna happen, is it? But I will try to work on it on my free time, promise!
Anyway! Here's a new chap. Hope you like it!
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All SM characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi, but the OC's and the story belongs to me. Do not steal!
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36
She walked down the long hallways, following the tall, dark green haired woman as she led the way.
Blue eyes wide and opened, curious, she took in her surroundings as she walked, admiring the paintings hanging from the walls, the antique vases decorating corners, the fine carpets, the wooden walls, and the iron crafted lamps hanging from the ceilings. Everything was put in place with such good, impeccable taste, Michiru truly felt as if she was, indeed, walking down the hallways of an exclusive hotel. Though the sounds of happy, childish laughter reaching her ears from the closed doors as they walked reminded her more of a private school than a hotel.
Haruka had explained earlier that no one really lived in the main house anymore. All rooms had been refurbished to serve other purposes, answering to the needs of the community. So now there were recreation rooms, classrooms for the little ones, a large library with working desks for the kids and comfortable sofas for the adults, and then an entire section dedicated to indulge oneself, such as a sauna, a common bathing room, along with several individual ones as well.
Yet, the laughter of the kids, playing as they learned, the rich scent of the flowers on the crystal vases all around. Small touches here and there gave the place a warm, welcoming feeling, as that of a home.
A rather large home.
Turning on a corner, they finally reached a wider though shorter hallway, with a double oak door at the end, with golden cravings forming a beautiful, intricate pattern all around. Her father was standing right in front of the door, hands folded behind his back, patiently waiting; a small, warm smile coming to his young features as the two of them approached him.
"You ready?" he asked, gently cupping her cheek with one hand.
She tilted her head to a side, frowning a little.
She wasn't quite sure of how to answer to that. She wasn't even sure of what she was supposed to do or say at all or what to expect out of this meeting. Or, more accurately, what they expected from her. And she was getting more and more nervous with each passing moment; the fact that Haruka was not there with her only added to her uneasiness.
"Don't worry," her father said softly, catching her nervousness. "They just wish to meet you."
Taking a deep breath, she nodded her head, readying herself as her father opened the door. Placing a gentle, encouraging hand over her shoulder, Setsuna signaled for her to walk in; the tall woman walking right next to her, and her father stepping in behind them.
The room was big and spacious, and resembled a hearing room or one of those assembly rooms from the western middle age. To the right, a line of six chairs against the wall were placed over a dais. Each chair had an exquisite, marvelous carving of an animal on it, right on the top of the high resting back, in what Michiru could guessed was an indication of the breed the one sitting on each chair belonged to; one bear, one condor, one wolf, one horse, and two panthers, consistent to what she had been told before about panthers being higher ranked, although, as she had also been told, all breeds were treated equally.
Two of the chairs were empty; one with the bear craved into it, and one of the panthers. Right across om the first set, an exact replica of the six high chairs occupied the left side, this time, with all the seats occupied. To the back of the room, against the wall, and leaving a large space in the middle, chairs were set in semicircle over a lower dais set up in grades to allowed all those sitting on the chairs a good view of the room.
But none of those smaller chairs were occupied, and only the ten people sitting on the main chairs were in the room Setsuna, her father and herself had just entered. Their young faces were deceitful, for Michiru knew they were surely much older than they seemed, and that youthfulness was betrayed only by the wisdom and the truths and secrets of long lived years concealed in their eyes. And those wise eyes, all ten pairs, turned to look at her as she walked into the room, curiously, and she gulped.
A woman with long jet black hair that cascaded down her back in waves stood up from her seat, stepping down from the dais and walking up to her. Her sparkling blue eyes reflected the gentle smile playing on her lips as an honest, warm look decorated her young, beautiful features.
"You must be Michiru," the woman said, taking both her hands in hers and gently bringing the girl to her, kissing her forehead. "We've heard so much about you, it is an honor to finally meet you. I am Luna," she said, introducing herself as she guided her to the middle of the room. "Let me introduce you to everyone."
Michiru smiled back, albeit nervously, letting the woman guide her towards all the others, all the Elders, as the dark green haired woman named them all, making the introductions and they all looked at her. Some curiously, with warm, small smiles dancing in their lips; others rather skeptically, taking their time to judge by themselves, regardless of what Mamoru or anyone else had previously said to them.
Setsuna had already told her some of the Elders doubted not only the prophecies, but also her. About her really being her father's daughter, considering how other half breeds through the years had barely made it past childhood, and he had kept the secret for eighteen years. And ever since coming clean and speaking the truth, all kinds of theories ad conjectures about her true identity had been said on that very same room, from Michiru being nothing but an impostor, sent by the Bloods to get into the coven and leak information from the inside, to her father having lost his mind, confusing fantasy with reality.
But Michiru now standing there in front of them all sure proved her father's sanity. Her eyes were those of his, and she knew, there were traces of him in her scent.
Another peculiarity about their race. When first born, cubs always had their mother's scent, and as they grew, their scent mixed and changed, creating their own, unique one, but with a clear hint of their parents' always there. Vague, but there to those who knew the parents to pick on it and recognize it.
A tall, white haired man with blue eyes Michiru recognized from her dreams stood up and off his chair. He looked straight into her own blue eyes, frowning, before one white eyebrow went up, questioningly, as he turned to look at her father. "I thought you said she was human."
"She was," her father simply answered, nodding his head.
Two white eyebrows went up then, and Setsuna smiled. "It seems destiny has played its cards in the most curious of ways," she said, enigmatically.
"So it seems," the man agreed, nodding his head as he turned his blue eyes to her again. "I assume you are aware of our… current situation," he said, waving his hand.
"Yes," she mumbled, nodding her head a few times, making her curls jump over her shoulders as she did so.
"Good, good," the white haired man said, frowning lightly and resting his chin on his hand, as he looked at her, studying her. "You're young, and most certainly in need of training…"
"Now, now, Artemis," Setsuna interrupted him, softly tapping his shoulder. "There's no need to rush things upon her. We still have time in our favor."
"Yes, that's right," Luna agree, nodding her head and smiling softly. "A panther has been born and mated," she said, gently placing a hand over Michiru's shoulder as she turned to look at her, smiling softly. "We can talk about war tomorrow. Tonight, we run."
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The moment she walked in, the scent of the smelling salts coming from the bathtub and filling the room invaded her senses, and she blinked a couple of times, readjusting her eyes to the candlelight.
The room smelt nice. That was for sure. And yes, the idea of a nice, relaxing bath wasn't exactly a bad one. It was the whole ceremony around it that was kind of annoying, and when she felt a pair of hands coming in contact with her back, pushing her forward, she groaned.
"Is this really necessary?"
"Yes, it is," came the easy reply, as the tall brunette stepped up, walking around her and standing right in front of the annoyed blonde, crossing her arms over her chest and with a scolding look all over her features that Haruka knew, was nowhere near as serious as the brunette pretended it to be. In fact, Makoto was enjoying this.
A little bit too much for Haruka's liking.
Normally, she didn't have much of an objection against traditions. And some of them were actually fun, like the runs. But she had never really understood the point behind this particular one, no matter how nice smelling.
"Take your clothes off and get in," the brunette ordered, with a set frown upon her face.
"Mako, really, this is…"
"Ah, ah! No buts!" she interrupted, shaking a disapproving finger right at the blonde's face. "Stop being such a pussy!"
"You know, technically," she said, chuckling and shrinking her shoulders, "that's what the dictionary says I am," she pointed out, smugly. "You and I, both."
Dark green eyes rolled at her then, as Makoto smacked her on the forehead.
"Ouch!" she complained, not really in pain, but rather surprised at the movement, and now really annoyed.
"You know what I mean!" Makoto exclaimed. "We all went through this!"
"Yeah, but…"
"Are you refusing?" the brunette asked, arching a questioning eyebrow.
"Of course not!" Haruka exclaimed, actually surprised and outraged at even the suggestion.
"Then get in there!" the other ordered; one hand on her hip as she pointed at the bathtub with the other.
She let out a sigh, shaking her head. "At least let me check on Michiru, first."
"She's being taken care of," Makoto refused. "And you can't see her. You know that!"
"But…"
"Hey! What did I say?" she asked, rhetorically, interrupting her again. "No buts! Now get in before I push you in!"
She rolled her eyes, growling lowly. Seeing no other way around, and considering how annoyingly insistent Makoto was being right now, she did as she was told, walking to one side of the room and taking her shirt off, placing it over the wooden bench against the wall. She then proceeded to unbutton her jean pants, muttering under her breath all the while.
"Did you say something?" the brunette asked, in an overly sweet, all the way mocking tone, as she sat on the edge of the bathtub, testing the water with one hand.
She turned her face around, narrowing her eyes. "You're enjoying this way too much," she accused, growling lowly.
"Maybe," the brunette granted, standing up again and shaking a shoulder. "Why can't I just be happy for you?"
One blonde eyebrow went up at that, incredulous. "You weren't this happy yesterday."
"That's 'cause I wasn't pointed to be your maiden until today."
"This is ridiculous," she muttered, taking her pants off and folding them before placing them next to her shirt.
"Panties off, too," the brunette said, pointing the obvious.
And she smiled, turning back around to look at the tall woman, with a teasing, mocking expression all over her face. "Hey, thanks, but I'm taken, remember?" she joked.
The only answer she got for that one was another smack. This time, in her buttocks. And rather strongly, making her jump up in surprise, blinking at the brunette. Without uttering a word, Makoto simply pointed at the bathtub with one long finger.
"Alright, alright!" she said, raising up her hands in surrender and then proceeding to take her underwear off. "Geez, chill out," she muttered, finally doing as she was told and stepping into the warm, nice smelling water.
Only then the smile came back to Makoto's face, nodding her head in satisfaction. "Good!" she exclaimed. "Now you stay there and relax while I go looking for our robes," she instructed. "And then I'm going to comb your hair."
Haruka just groaned, rolling her eyes before shutting them closed and sinking her blonde head under water.