Michiru Kaioh Michiru@tellmeimcute.com
Rating: PG
http://smcollection.www.50Megs.com/index.html

Hello everyone! I am back again with the next part. I hope everyone is
enjoying this as much as I enjoy writting it! Any comments, suggestions,
flames, rants, are always welcome. Though the last 2 will be given the
respect they deserve. (read: they will be used for virtual kitty-litter.)


Standard disclaimers apply. I do not own any rights to Sailor Moon or
any of the characters therein. I am merely borrowing them for a little
while. Now, on to the story!

Windswept Waters
Part 2: The Tie That Binds


A few months later, as Rian was heading down the stairs towards
the kitchen to try to get a little snack from the cooks, she heard a
commotion at the front door. She couldn't quite make it out so she
crept closer and peered through the banister. The butler was standing
in the entryway with one of the footmen. The footman was hanging onto
someone who was yelling up at the butler and struggling to get away.
"I am NOT a thief! I didn't steal anything, where could I HIDE
anything in what I'm wearing? I just wanted to see what the garden
looked like." Neither man was buying the story, Rian wasn't sure
she would have either but it didn't really concern her so she could
just watch and see what happened. They were going to turn the stranger
over to her mother she thought. That obviously frightened the person.
"Please, you can't do that! I need to..." the stranger's voice
suddenly sounded desperate. "I need to talk to Michiru!" The butler
and footman stiffened. The footman shook the person slightly, demanding
to know where they had heard that name, but Rian was already flying
down the stairs two at a time. She arrived breathless and finally
saw just who it was demanding to see her. Their eyes locked briefly.
The other girl looked scared. An expressian Rian would bet seldom
crossed her face.
She took a deep breath and walked forward. "What is going on here?"
The servants quickly bowed, keeping a tight hold on Haruka, though
she hadn't attempted to flee. "We caught a thief Lady Rian. She
demanded to speak with you, but of course you could not know anyone
of her status." The butler's lip nearly curled as he glanced at
Haruka.
"You are mistaken." Rian's voice was cold, she did not know why
Haruka was here, but there must be something wrong. At the least,
she could get her safely out of her house. "I know this girl, she
was invited to see my...Garden was it not?" She tried to suppress
a giggle as the other girl nodded quickly. "Release her. I will
handle things from here. You have done QUITE enough already."
Their faces turned red and they withdrew. Only then did Rian
allow the giggle to escape.
"That was fun! I rarely get to use that tone on anyone. But
why are you here? Wait, let's go to my room, we won't be disturbed
there and you can hide out from mama." She led the way up the stairs,
Haruka following rapidly after her. They went up 2 flights, and
turned right. Rian passed the first 4 doors they came to, listing
them for Haruka's benefit before coming to her own.
"Parlor; the Red Room; the Gold room; Music room; my room."
As she opened the door and motioned Haruka in, the other girl took a
quick look around. Her eyes went wide. The room was absolutely HUGE.
She saw two doorways, one to the left and one to the right. In the
center of the room was a pair of comfortable chairs, a low table,
two settees, and a large fireplace. There was a pretty green rug
on the floor. Rian pointed to the left. "That's my bedroom, and
the other doorway leads to my personal servant's room. Please,
sit." She curled up in one of the chairs and waited to be told
why her guest was there.
Haruka perched on the very edge of the other chair, hands
gripping each other in her lap. "I...Don't know what to say. I mean.
Erm well." She coughed into her fist. "I'm not really sure why
I'm here either."
Rian hid a grin. "Why don't you start at the beginning then?"
Haruka took a deep breath and began. As she got deeper into
her story she relaxed slightly, as though a great weight was
being lifted from her just by talking about it.
"Well, my father died when I was eight, and I never knew
who my mother was. He raised me best he could but he couldn't
hold a job. He made jewelery, but no one would buy it from him.
They all wanted it from the fancy merchants and didn't really
care about a nobody like him. When he died I had to take care
of myself. I was too young to get a job, and no one would take
me as an apprentice. So I had to steal. I don't really like
stealing but I'm good at it." she paused there and glanced up,
a lock of dirty hair falling in her eyes. "I didn't steal anything
from you. Honest! I really did just want to look at the house. I've
never been near anything as pretty..." At Rian's nod, she continued.
"Anyhow, I was able to stay alive for a few years that way. But then
a few weeks ago it all changed. There are more cops around and I
still can't find any work. But then I remembered you and...." She
shrugged.
"You thought I would help you?" Rian chewed her lip, Haruka
only shruged miserably. "I can't give you money, or a job really.
The only thing I could do would be to hire you myeself..." She
trailed off thoughtfully. Haruka looked up a little wary.
"The only thing I could hire you for without needing permission
would be...." she turned bright red. Rian was pretty sure that
Haruka would NOT like what she was going to say. She wasn't
sure if SHE liked it either. After all, the reason the job wasn't
already filled was she'd rather do it herself. But she was being
selfish. The girl obviously needed the job, maybe if she tailored
it somewhat, they both could live with it....
"What?" Rian didn't look up from studying the carpet. "Personal
body servant."