November 7, 20xx (10 days before the wedding)

Michiru sat across Zoisite, examining the tabloid writer with an unreadable expression.

He was looking around the room with an unconcealed interest and she could practically see him memorising every exposed detail of her penthouse. While she normally would have never allowed for this invasion of privacy, she found herself occupied by more pressing issues (and truthfully, he'd be hard pressed to find anything of substance in her apartment. She hadn't thought of it as her home for a long while, nor would she do so in the future, if things went her way).

She'd called him here, wanting to speak to him on her own terms, her own terrain. He had no idea what he was in for.

"I've never trusted you and I trust my mother even less. What have you planned?" Michiru spoke firmly, drawing the blond's wandering attention to her.

Zoisite smirked in response, "I have no idea what you're talking about. Why, is there going to be a new story other than the wedding?"

Michiru was in no mood to banter, not when she had wasted months focusing on the wrong solution, and she cut straight to the chase.

"I know men like Kunzite very well. To be specific, I know Kunzite very well. We've circulated in the same social circles and at one point, there was even talk of an engagement between us," Michiru said carelessly, even as her every word hit Zoisite with a painful accuracy.

While Zoisite had managed to contain his alarm at Michiru's mention of his secret lover, the potential engagement was clearly news to him and his eyes flashed with surprise.

She gave a dry, bitter chuckle, "I started dating Mamoru not too soon afterwards. But as the years have passed, Kunzite's sexuality has all but been an open secret."

"Did my mother really blackmail you with your relationship?" Michiru stated, a hint of dark amusement in her voice.

Zoisite bristled, opening his mouth to heatedly rebuke her only for the violinist to wave him off, leisurely leaning back in her seat.

"Oh now, don't get too mad that I know. I mean, you are essentially doing the same thing to me. Not to mention, you made your very career outing those actresses."

Michiru's eyes narrowed at the man who refused to be ashamed at the reminder of his hypocrisy.

"They were going to have to reveal it at some point, I just took the liberty of doing it for them," Zoisite retorted without a hint of remorse.

Michiru's smile became colder if possible and for the first time, Zoisite felt himself become uneasy at the sheer fury rippling beneath her composed demeanour.

"How despicable," Michiru uttered softly, the two words somehow managing to capture the depth of her rage.

Although she wasn't personally acquainted with the two actresses, she still remembered the backlash that had resulted from Zoisite's article. Two of Japan's most desirable actresses, Kotonami Kanae and Kusunoki Kana had quickly fallen in disgrace, effectively shut out from the entertainment industry, and although the outcry had simmered down since then, they had yet to regain their former popularity and status.

"Now Zoisite," Michiru moved on smoothly, containing herself for now, "I won't ask what my mother ordered you to do because it's obvious. If Kunzite gets word that a scandal about himself is going to release, he will do everything in his power to squish it and you. No matter what pretty little nothings he's whispered into your ears, no matter the gifts he's showered you in, he'll throw you away without a second glance the moment you endanger his reputation."

"I'm sure this isn't news to you," Michiru said, not bothering to wait for Zoisite to respond before she continued, "Now I'll tell you what you're going to do."

"The day of the wedding, no matter what happens, you are going to release a pre-approved article that simply states the truth as it is. Nothing more, nothing less," she stated matter of factly before adding on, almost like an afterthought, "And you'll give me all of the photos you took of Mamoru and me."

"And why would I do that?" Zoisite scoffed in disbelief.

"Because," her voice became dangerously steely, "I'll make what Kunzite will do to you look like a mercy. I won't just destroy you, I'll destroy every trace of you. You'll be blacklisted from all the viable news sites in the nation, your blog will be shut down as will be any other sites you try to make. Whether you change your name or try to leave the country, I'll make sure that you won't be successful in whatever you do. You've spent your entire life trying to make a name for yourself and I will personally ensure that no one will know you. No one will remember your name, no one will remember what you do, you will be nothing."

Despite his already fair complexion, Zoisite further paled and shrunk into his seat, for once in his life, unable to find any words.

"You can't do that," the blond finally whispered, his voice weak, and Michiru simply arched her eyebrow in response as if daring him to try her.

"Make sure I have all of the photos in my hand by the end of the day."

Her words were a clear dismissal and Zoisite could only nod, getting up and walking away with heavy steps.

"Oh and I'll give you one piece of advice regarding Kunzite."

Zoisite stopped in his tracks, and even as every bone in his body screamed at him to run away, even as he hated himself for doing it, he turned around.

Once again, her face was unreadable except for a calculating look in her eyes.

"Tell him about my mother's threat. See what he does."

The advice was wholly unexpected and still not trusting himself to speak, Zoisite gave a sharp little nod before turning and fleeing the penthouse. And as he finally escaped Michiru's suffocating presence, he rued the day he'd ever decided to get involved with the fucking Kaiohs.

November 17, 20xx 9:00 (one hour before the wedding)

The car pulled to a stop at the front of the venue and Haruka turned to the woman by her side.

The racer was tense and thrumming with an anxious, uneasy energy, looking like she'd much rather be back on the endless streets that they had driven on the night before.

Despite this, Haruka asked, "Do you want me with you?"

Unlike her lover, Michiru was still, a strange calmness taking over her body. She took in one final breath before facing Haruka with a small smile.

"No. I'll be back soon."

With its tall ceilings, arched walls, and chandeliers, the lobby was the very picture of effortless elegance. It was lavish and yet not ostentatious in a meticulously constructed display of the combined wealth of the Chibas and Kaiohs. Primly dressed employees milled around the sparkling hall, spritzing water onto the elaborate flower arrangements that lined the walls.

Unsurprisingly, her mother was at the center of it all, speaking to a woman who listened attentively while jotting down notes on her clipboard.

Hayami was already in her finery: a regal and embellished gown with a matching jacket that was understated in its elegance as was fitting of her position as the mother of the bride. Although she looked as composed as ever, Michiru could see how her shoulders lost some of their tension upon laying eyes on her.

"Ah Michiru, you're here," Hayami said smoothly, as if it was all part of her plan that her daughter arrive this late. Understanding that her presence was no longer needed, the planner walked away with her new list of corrections.

She took in Michiru's still vividly teal hair with a look of distaste but gripped her daughter's arm tightly, guiding her elsewhere, "Your hair will be fixed by tomorrow's ceremony."

While the media was focused mainly on today's wedding, Michiru and Mamoru's "true" wedding would occur tomorrow in an intimate traditional ceremony that would only be attended by the two families. Her parents would not have had it any other way, with their insistence on tradition and the preservation of their heritage.

Today was nothing more than an elaborate social function held to remind others of the status and power of the two families.

Michiru allowed herself to be led into an expansive dressing suite where another horde of employees awaited her. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the dress displayed prominently in the center of the room, complete with its own set of attendants at its side, and Michiru halted at the entrance to Hayami's annoyance.

Unable to look away from the exquisite anathema, Michiru raised her voice and said tonelessly, "You're all dismissed, thank you."

The staff looked uncertainly at each other at the sudden dismissal and slowly began to step out of the room only for Hayami's glare to stop them in their tracks.

"I'm not marrying him," Michiru said quietly before firmly repeating herself, "I'm not marrying Mamoru."

"Leave us," Hayami ordered immediately and there was no room for disobedience in her voice, the employees hurriedly fleeing.

When at last they were alone, her mother's elegant demeanour faded, revealing the depths of her annoyance at how Michiru was further delaying their schedule. And yet even still, Hayami's voice remained quiet, well aware of the possibility of eavesdroppers.

"I humoured your petulance the past six months but it has gone on long enough."

"I won't," Michiru finally turned and stared directly at her mother, her eyes steely and filled with resolve. And it was this third repetition that made Hayami understand that Michiru would not back down.

"How dare you? Do you know what I've sacrificed to get us this far?" Hayami hissed, anger rippling over her before she composed herself and continued in a more subdued but no less furious manner.

"Your grandparents promised me to your father before I was even born. I found out about the betrothal when I was twenty and I was told to be thankful. They had gotten the most eligible, the most distinguished bachelor in my generation, and I would be set for life regardless of what I wanted. When your father decided he was ready to settle down, I withdrew from university with only months left before I was to earn my degree. I married him without any say in the matter and then, then, I found that the Kaioh family was nearly penniless after generations of weak-minded men and failed investments…"

Hayami's eyes burned with an intensity that spoke of years of repressed resentment in a society that still so often viewed women as subordinate, "I am the reason the Kaioh name did not fall into ruin like so many of the old families have, I am the reason the Kaioh Group is the powerhouse that it is today, and I am the reason you were able to grow in the utmost luxury without want for anything."

"You were given more than I ever had. You chose Mamoru of your own volition and now this is how you choose to repay my generosity? By debasing and ruining the name I've worked tirelessly to uphold? You would be so selfish?!"

Michiru stared at her mother like she was seeing her for the first time. For so long in Michiru's life, her mother had been a cold and controlling figure: a woman who had drawn the lines clearly between mother and daughter and not allowed the violinist any glimpse into her inner feelings. It was as if Hayami let down her societal persona at home only to put another one on.

But while Michiru felt as if she was beginning to understand her mother more, she could not acquit her.

"I wasn't forced to choose Mamoru?" Michiru scoffed, "I was threatened with an engagement to a man I couldn't stand."

Michiru's jaw clenched at the memory of Kunzite but she forced herself to relax.

She spoke calmly, "I painted what you told me to, I played the pieces you told me to, I smiled as you told me to until I woke up one day and realised I was empty after having given everything of myself to uphold our family's name."

"So yes, I'm choosing to be selfish now. I'm running towards what I want and I won't let anything stop me," Michiru declared, buoyed by the future that she wanted more than anything, a future where she lived and created with Haruka without any restrictions.

Without anything more to say, Michiru walked away.

"If you go through with this, I will have no choice but to open an investigation into that person's crash," Hayami warned, her voice dark with intent.

But Michiru did not bother turning around.

"Do that and I will release every single photo Zoisite took of Haruka and me."

Even without looking, Michiru could already see her mother's brain whirring into action, figuring out ways to best minimise the damage that was to come. But she couldn't bring herself to care, not when she was leaving the venue and Haruka's adorably worried face was coming into view.

As Michiru slipped into the car, she answered Haruka's questioning glance with a kiss that she poured all of her feelings into.

And as Haruka started the car and drove onto the highway, Michiru felt as if her heart was fit to burst with a freedom and sense of possibility she'd never let herself experience until now. That she could feel such joy, such life by simply cruising down the highway with Haruka...

"Let's cruise together like this forever."

"Careful, I won't ever let you go if you say things like that."

"Oh my!"

Mamoru walked into the wedding venue with purpose, each of his steps seeming to echo with intent on the gleaming tiles.

Although he did not know where he was going, he did not let that deter him, going from room to room until at last, he found his father in the parlour. His father was fully dressed, sitting relaxedly on an armchair as he sipped aged whiskey.

As the father of the groom, Akihito was to greet every one of the two hundred guests and while he was good at turning on the charm when needed, Mamoru knew his father would much rather skip such trivialities. The whiskey was his own way of preparing to deal with the long lasting pleasantries soon to come.

"Your mother's been looking for you. She won't be pleased you're not dressed," Akihito said in lieu of a greeting as he glanced cursorily at Mamoru's wrinkled button down.

"Where is she?" Mamoru asked.

His father gave a noncommittal grunt, taking another sip from his glass, and although Mamoru had wanted to speak to the both of them at once, he could not wait, could not play this role for a second more.

"I'm not marrying Michiru," Mamoru announced, his hand clenching into a fist at his side.

Akihito seemed unfazed, letting out a single chuckle as he looked out across the ornately decorated room. He was in uncharacteristically high spirits, emanating an air of utmost satisfaction.

"I remember when I married your mother. It wasn't nearly half as elaborate as this," he reminisced before looking back at his son understandingly.

"It's natural to feel that way before getting married. But this is the beginning of a new era for us… And Michiru is good for you. I couldn't have asked for a better woman for you than her."

"She is an amazing woman," Mamoru agreed, "but I cannot marry her."

Akihito's good mood dissipated, a tick appearing in his jaw as he asked slowly, "Is this about that girl again?"

While Mamoru could not deny that Usagi had played a role in his decision, it was so much more than just her. She had been the catalyst to something that had brewed deep within him his entire life and he suddenly found that he was furious that his father would simplify matters so, that he would think so little of him.

""Haven't I done enough for our family?" Mamoru finally burst out.

"I have spent the past 28 years of my life following your every command. I followed in your footsteps, I studied business, and I have spent every waking hour dedicated to seeing your company prosper. I have done everything you told me to do without once complaining. And still you're never pleased, still you ask more of me! When will you be satisfied?" Mamoru's voice rose until he was yelling, unable to hold back as he finally released years of pent up frustration.

In the aftermath of his emotional outburst, he turned quiet, "Is it too much to ask that I decide who I spend the rest of my life with? Must I let our family name dictate even this?"

There was a moment of silence and then-

"YES," Akihito roared, getting up from his seat, "I grew up in a family of poor farmers but I worked my way out. I had nothing to my name but I built my company from the ground up until I was one of the richest men in all of Japan. And yet, even now, there are still those who snub the Chiba name for not being one of them, for not having their illustrious heritage. It matters nothing that I have come this far, that I can bury their companies five times over; they will always think themselves superior simply because of their lineage."

Akihito's eyes bore into Mamoru, "You've felt it yourself. Don't deny it boy."

And Mamoru had. Upon assuming the role of vice chairman, he'd met with various companies and their chairmen. While most everyone spoke the universal language of money, he could not deny that there was a small and yet significant faction of Japanese aristocratic businessmen that was very insular in their dealings. Despite their best efforts, the Chiba Group had been unable to move further in those industries due to the monopoly they held.

Seeing Mamoru's silent acknowledgement, Akihito pressed forward fervently, his eyes blazing with passion, "Marrying Michiru is the solution, how could you be so blind as to not see that? Her family name is the ticket in!"

Mamoru had seldom seen his father so worked up, a brief look into the inner passion that had fueled his rise to the top despite his humble beginnings. And while Mamoru respected all that his father had accomplished, he finally saw past the intimidating bravado, the strong, stoic figure whose approval he had sought for so long.

Behind it all was a man who was still looking in from the outside, wanting desperately to join the exclusive few. He would never be content.

The weight of his father's aura was heavy and smothering even with this realisation but Mamoru would not capitulate. No longer would he cower and bow in subservience to his parents' wishes. No longer would he be a passive bystander in his life in a misguided attempt to be a dutiful son.

"Well, I refuse," Mamoru declared.

Akihito looked at him with a rare expression of shock but Mamoru did not back down. Even if his father threatened him, they both knew that he would never hand his company over to someone outside of the Chiba family. For all that Akihito stressed the importance of hard work, he was perhaps the most staunch believer in the traditional importance of a family's name, in retaining power solely within a family.

A prominent vein bulged on Akihito's forehead but he remained silent as his son walked away.

"Oh, Mamoru, you-" His mother suddenly appeared in the parlour, looking relieved to see him and although he knew she deserved to hear from him as well, Mamoru could not stand to be in this place for a second more. He calmly shook her off and continued on his way out.

Katsumi called out after him in confusion but Mamoru did not look back.

LOVE IS DEAD - Chiba Mamoru and Kaioh Michiru call it quits!

LIARS Chiba Mamoru and Kaioh Mamoru call off SHAM of a wedding!

[BREAKING] Kaioh Michiru and Chiba Mamoru Call Off Wedding

By Zoisite

In a move that is sure to stun everyone who's been following their love story for the past seven years, Kaioh Michiru and Chiba Mamoru have called off their wedding just minutes before the start of the ceremony. The guests, including all of Japan's best known names from haute couture designer Meiou Setsuna to politician Hino Takashi, were left bewildered at the sudden cancellation as they awaited for a wedding that was doomed from the beginning. Insert quote from guest who's willing to throw some shade.

In a joint statement EXCLUSIVELY obtained by me, the two DIRTY LIARS stated:

"While our paths lie elsewhere, we wish nothing but the best for each other."

What an empty statement! Are these the words of a couple who have loved each other for seven years? I think not!

The sudden nature of this announcement can't help but make me wonder if there was some sort of scandal. Was one of them cheating on the other or perhaps, were BOTH of them cheating? Surely only something of that nature would cause them to break up like this!

Or is there something more nefarious afoot? Could it be that their relationship has been an elaborate ruse this entire time to boost each other's reputation and status?

Move over Tsuruga Ren and Mogami Kyouko, because Chiba Mamoru and Kaioh Michiru have revealed themselves to be Japan's best ACTORS.

A/N: I didn't expect to come out with the next chapter this fast but here it is bc I'm procrastinating on research. Next chapter is mostly Usagi/Mamoru centric, dealing with the blowback of the wedding debacle, but H/M still make an appearance.

Thanks so much for the reviews! Your comments on the F1 racing made me so happy because I was really worried about that

Here's a v long list of explanations (basically a chapter in itself lol my bad):

1) To clarify, I realised after writing it that FF doesn't have strike out text but only the last title and the two bolded sentences are what's published. 90% of Zoisite's article is removed by Michiru when he sends her the article for her approval (per their arrangement). He's scared of her yes, but he's also really petty and he really really hates Michiru. Even though he knows most of it won't be published, he feels a bit better for having written it and knowing Michiru will read it.

2) Michiru/Mamoru's statement: They're famous but they're not as in the eye of the public as conventional celebrities are. They both fiercely protect their privacy and even when they were dating, they just appeared at events together. They never talked about each other publicly or etc (although this counterintuitively increased the public's interest in them lol). Michiru connects to her fans through her art/music but she refuses to give any more of herself to them- she firmly believes they don't have a right to her and if she loses fans because of that, then so be it. Hence, the generic one liner because neither of them are willing to be that open with the public.

3) Now you know Michiru's not a dumbass! Of course she wasn't going to let Hayami and Zoisite pull one over her lol. The difference between Michiru's threat and Hayami's threat is that Hayami doesn't like getting her own hands dirty. She said that Kunzite would crush Zoisite, whereas Michiru added onto that and said she'd do it herself (and also let Kunzite crush him). And Michiru really cuts to the core of Zoisite's character in my story, which is that he wants to be known. In the anime, he says he wants to die beautifully, and I've distorted that facet of his personality to be more like he wants to die with his name on everyone's lips to fit his role as a tabloid writer. (Basically, everyone other than H/M/M/U in my story is obsessed with name/legacy/reputation)

4) I know Michiru's actions may seem questionable to some people but Michiru's always been one of the more morally ambiguous and ruthless characters in the anime ("A world without Haruka is hardly worth saving"). She's not going to let anything come between her being happy with Haruka. Also, Zoisite isn't innocent either.

5) I wanted to add some more dimension to the "villains" of this story: Michiru's mother and Mamoru's father. Their motivations don't condone everything they've done but hopefully you can understand them a bit. And on that note, I'd like to reiterate that Michiru isn't completely a "good" character (at least not like Usagi). Yes she is choosing herself (and Haruka) after a lifetime of following her parents' expectations, but also, like it or not, Michiru clearly isn't dissimilar from Hayami (case in point: Michiru's ruthlessness with Zoisite).

6) Mamoru and Michiru have similar struggles in that they've spent their lives living for their families for so long, but they're different characters with different personalities and I hope I've conveyed those small complexities in their confrontation scenes.

6a) Michiru is naturally inclined to some of the expectations held of her bc she likes art and music. She's had perhaps a more "easier" time following those rules and it's in her later years that she grows to resent all the restrictions being placed on her forms of expression. She's also more individualistic/ruthless as a person and once she realises what she wants (freedom and Haruka), she won't let anything stop her from getting what she wants, family legacy be damned.

6b) On the other hand, Mamoru is a bit more passive. As the only son, he grew up with the expectation that he'd take over the family business. He does everything he's told to do even though he has absolutely no interest in business, unlike Michiru whose interests sometimes coincided with what she was expected to do. He's tried to be the perfect son and make his parents proud for so long, but everything he's bottled in comes out exploding in his confrontation scene.

7) To avoid spoilers, I'll let you guys know Zoisite's ending in the A/N of the next chapter.

8) "I'm running toward what I want" is a line in Michiru's scene II poem (I use the eternal sailor moon ssww website). And Michiru/Haruka's last dialogue is an adapted version of what they said at the end of episode 106 (the episode about H/M's past).

9) Isn't it amazing how stories write themselves sometimes? I literally only planned Michiru's confrontations with Zoisite and Hayami and I lowkey found out about Akihito's backstory/motivation as I was writing the scene hahaha (is that obvious? maybe lol)