(A/N) - I have a confession, this story was actually intially as the start of a different story, and it just grew enough that it seemed to thrive on it's own. I personally hate when I'm reading and get left on a cliff hanger. If you're like me and need finished stories, then I have an warning inserted below. If you stop there, then its a happy self contained story. If you choose to go on (and I hope you do) then you will get what the next story is rolling into. I should have the prologue (which is just a longer version of this epilogue) and first chapter soon. I just dont wnt to be yelled at for ending that's not really an ending. You all have given me too much encouragement to do you dirty like that
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Sitting in her studio surrounded by a few panels compiling the ending of the third volume of her manga, she glances up at the clock. She didn't realize how long she had been sketching this evening. She smiled at how much had changed in such a short time. She used to literally draw all night into the early morning hours, completing multiple chapters at a time. Now, she eagerly allocates those hours to another.
Around her, there is only silence. Peeking at the clock again, she anticipated hearing the familiar sounds of the faint ring of the elevator followed by the condo door unlocking. The not-so-subtle clatter of keys on the table as they miss the designated bin. The sound of shuffling footsteps echoing in the entry hall and movements to take off her shoes. Soft pads across the tile floor, and if she was fortunate, the scoot of a wooden bench as the perpetrator takes her seat at the piano.
Once Michiru had the racer within her grasp and the privilege to call her hers, she had no desire to let her go. Neither desired to be apart for long at all, even as Haruka started her new job heading the launch of Setsuna's own clothing line. Both disliked Haruka leaving to go home for any reasons. After one partially spontaneous lovemaking in which the blonde had to leave for a shower, Michiru decided to offer Haruka space at her place.
Michiru understood the need to be free from her previous restraints but did not comprehend the trip the racer made to the small beach cottage on the far outskirts of town until she found a place she liked. Even with her racing skills, it was too far and too long for her taste. The end result was both essentially living together for a few weeks, but the welcoming sound of the blonde returning home, to her, was some of the most magical sounds.
The chime alert on her phone caught her attention, and she glanced down at the text.
/Michiru - what the fuck?/
Her breath caught in her throat as the attached image began to load. Greeting her like a fever dream was a pair of teal eyes. Well, the whole picture was graphite in color as a pencil sketch, but she knew it well. The eyes in that sketch were a beautifully piercing teal in real life. Where did she find this... she panicked as she recognized the illustration of the blonde in that v-neck top. The one that was relentless upon her lonesome imagination during the time the blonde was so very distant. Persisting until it compelled her to get it down on paper, so it no longer lived rent-free in her mind. The one she desperately got rid of, including it as part of her inspiration art auction so the warm teal eyes would no longer watch her as she moved through her home.
She thought of ignoring the message and pretending she didn't see it. It wasn't done in the style she published. It was possible that if she said nothing, then the blonde would consider that it was fan art, and then it would be hope beyond hope that Haruka doesn't bring it up again.
Trying to focus back on her work and failing miserably, she eventually heard the keys turning in the lock. She held her breath at the familiar sounds she enjoyed, cautiously moving from her studio towards the sitting room when the padding footsteps stopped.
Entering the sitting room, she glanced around and did not see a sight of the blonde. Nearly a moment, she thought the sounds of Haruka returning home were her imagination, but the miserable sketch caught her attention from the dining room table. How the hell did it get here or all places? She took a few tentative steps towards it, examining it as she picked it up off the table, confirming it to be hers. Haruka appeared from the kitchen carrying a glass of water, and Michiru moved the illustration behind her back.
"Welcome home, Haruka... how was your day?" She asked as casually as possible. Haruka eyed her carefully as she sipped from the glass.
"It was good; I had an interesting afternoon though," the smirk evident on her face as she gracefully set the glass down.
"That's nice... I'm... I'm a mess right now, so I am going to jump into the shower."
"You look perfect to me..." the blonde dotingly responded, the smirk growing on her face as she took a step towards Michiru.
"I... have ink and... eraser shavings from the drawings... They can be hard to see, but I can feel them on my skin... I wouldn't want to get them on you...they can be quite itchy," taking a tentative step back towards the bedroom. Haruka lifts a skeptical eyebrow at the artist in what could only be seen as a challenging manner.
Michiru spun on her heels and took off running towards the bedroom, convinced she had a chance to close herself inside the room and dispose of the wretched sketch. To what end? Haruka sent a picture... I'd have to get her phone as well. Her focus on the evidence she left behind gave Haruka the edge, and of course, Haruka was the better runner.
As she pivoted inside the room, Haruka's arms wrapped her waist, rolling them to the ground with Michiru landing on her back and the blonde positioning herself on top of the artist. She yelped but managed to keep the sketch above her head and away from the blonde.
"No, no, no, no.." she tried to wiggle out from under the blonde who just sat back on the artist's stomach, amused at the feeble attempt.
"What exactly are you up to, mermaid?" The husky voice chuckled out.
"Just trying to get to the shower..."
"Mhm, and were you planning on showering with this paper?"
"It looks dirty," she half attempted an explanation. Haruka just shook her head as she snatched the paper from Michiru, standing to her full height.
"Hey!" The artist shouted as she stood on her toes to try to reach the paper in the blonde's outstretched arms.
"Woah, what's wrong? It's not like it's yours... although the likeness is uncanny. I think the artist who did it was thinking long and hard about..." She didn't get to finish that thought as Michiru found the bench of her vanity, using the stool to boost herself onto the blonde's back, clinging like a monkey reaching for a banana. She got a hold of the edge of the paper, but suddenly they both heard a loud ripping sound. The pair paused the struggle as the fell to the ground, looking at a piece of the article left in each of their hands.
"Ha! It's ruined!" The artist triumphantly cried as she jumped to her feet. Caching sight of Haruka still on her knees on the floor, she stopped in her tracks. The blonde rejectingly stared at the piece still in her hand. Michiru's excitement drained as she reached for her, "Haruka..."
"You ripped it," the blonde cut her off. "You actually ripped it."
"Well... I..."
"You didn't have to do that... I liked it; it was adorable."
"That's not the word I would use," kneeling in an attempt to console the blonde. "I'm sorry. I can sketch you a new one... much better one..."
"So," Haruka sniffed, her head still aghast at the piece of paper in her hand. "Does that mean you admit you drew it?"
"I..." Michiru started but quickly noticed Haruka's shoulders shaking even though her head was still down. "Was that an act just now?" Her tone turned cold at the accusation.
Haruka was still shaking, but once she looked up at the artist, Michiru could see the grin on her lips. "So... is that how you see me?" Michiru blinked, eyes widening. Haruka took the chance to snake her arm around the artist's waist, pulling her onto her lap. "Now Michiru, there is no reason to be so concerned," her husky voice whispering into her mermaid's ear. "You know I would have done anything for you, especially if it means I get to see you smile."
A shiver goes up to her spine at the words, followed by the chaste kiss on her neck. "You should have just asked to sketch me..."
"You did promise me the opportunity..." Michiru chuckled as she turned to face her girlfriend. "And you never break a promise. But would you have worn what I asked?" Haruka kissed her lips softly, brushing them together tenderly.
"I guess we'll never know," she softly replied.
Haruka's head swiftly popped up at that moment, her teal eyes narrowing and the smirk on her face back to being mischievous. "Besides, it was quite the sight for the fans who were at the shop to see their favorite magnaka's sketches on display. I think one did a double take when they saw myself beside it," her tone casual as she stood, offering a hand to help Michiru rise.
"So what is in store next for Neptune?" She asked out of the blue as the artist reached her feet.
"Eh? what do you mean?"
"Well, from what I read in the online forums, fans are gripped in the way that Neptune defends her home. They were drawn into the drama stirred up when Uranus came to fight by her side..." smirking mischievously, flamboyantly lowering into a magician's bow before the artist. "Based on your source material, the balance has been restored. So is volume four just going to be happy ever after?" She said with a smirk as she pulled the smaller woman closer.
"There is a whole world out there; how can you be my sole inspiration?" She teased in return as the blonde raised an eyebrow challengingly.
"I may not be the only inspiration, but I may change how you interact with the world," lovingly placing a kiss on top of her head.
Michiru contemplated for a moment. "You're right, Haruka. Uranus essentially brought the outside to Neptune. They have focused on the battle there and emerged with a victory. Maybe the enemy had just started to invade the outer parts of the solar system, and they will need to seek out more warriors like them."
"Where would they find them... on Earth?" The timber voice laced with sarcasm echoed in the room.
"Ara, I don't think Earth has a good enough defense system to be headquartered there," a heartily giggle rumbling in her throat at the idea. She glanced at the full moon just outside the window. "Maybe the moon?" Michiru pondered aloud. Haruka chuckled as she left the room.
"Good luck selling that idea to Sato," she called out as she made her way down the hallway.
(*don't say I didn't warn you*)
Michiru simply shook her head, needing to give the idea more time to mull over in her head. She made her way to the bathroom, beginning to fill the tub. The water always helped her relax and focus. A good soak is what she needed after wrestling the blonde and to focus on where her story goes from here.
Lowering herself into the water, she drifted into her own world... into Neptune's world. The familiar blues and greens swirled around her as she examined her homeworld. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught some shadows gathered on the edge of the ocean. She had not ventured to the edge where the sea seemed to be actually meeting the sky in all of her dreams. The figures floating on the horizon came into slightly better focus. Not enough to discern any details, but she could easily count seven figures clad in fuku like Neptune's, varying quite widely in height. Maybe Haruka is correct, and the next step is to find others like her on her home planet and not something crazy like the moon.
The tallest of the figures seemingly moved forward as they all continued to float on the horizon. The only one of the figures coming into view, Michiru could easily make out the dark-colored skirt and the red bow on her chest. Similar to Neptune's battle attire but a different color scheme. She watched the figure until she was struck with the deep garnet stare she knew so well. Green hair blew in the sudden breeze, beckoning Neptune closer.
Coming face to face with the green haired warrior, Michiru did not doubt in her mind that she found herself face to face with Setsuna. "Neptune, the time has come. We need you... and we need Uranus," she said as she gestured with her tall staff to the shadows that were still just out of reach. She raised the staff, bringing it swiftly down onto the top of the water, resulting in a shocking clank noise, "It is time for you to awaken..."
Michiru shot up out of the tub, her breath struggling to catch up with her. Her eyes wide at the strange vision she had, so unlike any other inspirations she had before. She raised from the bath, wrapping a towel around her figure as she wiped the steam off the mirror. A teal glow greeted her back in the mirror with a symbol she quickly recognized shining on her forehead.