This is a songfic about Haruka & Michiru (like I'd write about anybody else). It's set to "Without You" from RENT. (And, it's written in third person! Whoa!)

Without you

The ground thaws

The rain falls

1 The grass grows.

How she hated spring now. Everything new reminded Haruka of something old. It had been a year since she buried Michiru.

Without you

The seeds root

The flowers bloom

2 The children play.

Haruka couldn't believe she had gone a year without her. How she survived, was obviously not in her hands this past year. 365 of the worst days she'd ever lived.Alone.

The stars gleam

The poets dream

The eagles fly

3 Without you.

The year has been torture for Haruka. Everything reminded her of her lost Sea Goddess. Even the stars seemed to spell her name, and Pisces glared down at her, as if to blame her. She barely slept, and hadn't written anything in that year.

The Earth turns

The Sun burns

But I die

Without you.

She couldn't fight as well with the new Neptune. Her attacks seemed weaker, as did she. Although the Queen did let her choose her new partner; nothing was the way it was before.

Without you

The breeze warms

The girls smiles

4 The cloud moves.

The wind no longer was a comfort to Haruka, and her sky another endless void. Her tragedy had made her vulnerable, and she found herself warmer than she had ever been-but it was a mask, and a poorly made one.

Without you

The tides change

The boys run

The oceans crash.

Haruka hadn't been to the ocean in the past year; she had no idea how she would react. Today would be different. The crashing of the waves was calling her name.

The crowds roar

The days soar

The babies cry

5 Without you.

Hotaru had gone off to be with Pluto for awhile. Perhaps that was best. In her state of mind, Haruka would not be the best parental candidate. She loved Hotaru dearly, but this was more than her heart could handle.

The moon glows

The river flows

But I die

Without you.

Although her world seemed frozen in time, everything around Haruka still moved. The moon shone half-full above the cemetery, when she realized she had been there almost all day. Cars whizzed by in numbers, but here, there was no time.

The world revives

Colors renew

But I know blue

Only blue

Lonely blue

Within me blue

Without you.

Haruka drove to the cliff where she and Michiru spent a lot of time. just being together. She didn't hesitate in going to the exact spot, and looking into the vast navy blue below her. For once, the darkness was comforting.

Without you

The hand gropes

The ear hears

6 The pulse beats.

In the same suit she wore to Michiru's funeral, Haruka stood on the ledge, and felt around in her pocket for her henshin pen. Pulling it out, she examined it thoroughly, her heartbeat ramming in her head, the waves below echoing in her ears.

Without you

The eyes gaze

The legs walk

The lungs breathe.

Haruka walked back to her car, got in, and stared at the picture of her lover that she kept taped to the dashboard. Closing her eyes, she could see Michiru, knee-deep in the ocean, a flowery sundress fluttering in the breeze. Haruka closed her eyes, and slammed her head on the steering wheel.

The mind churns

The heart yearns

The tears dry

Without you.

A sobbed escaped Haruka, surprising her. She hadn't had the capacity to cry since that day a year ago. She was always too weak to cry, but the urge overwhelmed her today.

Life goes on

But I'm gone

'Cause I die

Without you.

She got out of her car, and returned to the ledge. She felt the pieces of her already broken heart get smashed into even finer bits. She looked to the stars again, and felt the piercing stare of Pisces stab her soul.

Without you.

Pulling her henshin stick back out of her pocket, she weighed it carefully in her hand, before throwing it into the waves.

Without you.

She inched toward the edge, and closed her eyes. The wind picked up, caressing the Sky Senshi, urging her to be happy again.

Without you.

Giving herself up to the wind, she dropped into its grasp, before falling into Neptune's arms.