Disclaimer: Same old thing, I don't own Sailor Moon, never did, never will.

A/N: This is the second chapter, and things start to explain themselves a little more. Reviews would be appreciated. Thanks!

~Beautiful-chan

Chapter Two: Her Imperfections

The arcade was almost deserted, the few people that had been brave enough to dare the heat for the afternoon sat slouched in the dimmed booths, sipping ice water or spooning melted ice cream into their mouths. The games beeped occasionally and the jukebox breathed out a jazzy melody.

At a table in the corner, sat Haruka, writing in a notebook furiously, her brow wrinkled. Strands of her sandy blonde hair fell into her intent eyes, her fingers clenching the ball point pen in a death grip as she tried to write a letter.

The hanging light over her head was making her sweat, a little bead rolled off her nose and splattered on the paper. Frustrated, Haruka dropped the pen and ripped the page out of her notebook, crumpling it up between her hands and throwing it across the table. With a groan, she sat back in the booth.

Haruka rubbed her eyes and cupped her chin with her strong hand, staring out the window thoughtfully. She needed to figure out how to tell her how she felt. It was hard. Telling someone you love them always is. Haruka shook her head. This wasn't working. Maybe she should just forget about confessing her feelings at all; it wasn't worth the chance of rejection.

But no, she wanted to tell her. She needed to tell her. Haruka closed her eyes, wincing as she remembered an important detail. No, she wouldn't tell her, not yet, not now.

Haruka opened her green eyes and stared out the window blankly.

Usagi walked down the scorched sidewalks slowly, watching her shadow jump and disappear as she passed beneath trees and by the shops lining the street. No one was out walking, save a few devoted joggers who were plodding along slowly, bottle of water in hand.

Usagi passed by the arcade windows without looking in. Intent in her thoughts, she didn't see Haruka's body stiffen as she spotted Usagi walking past.

A flash of white and gold caught Haruka's eye and she focused on a beautiful girl walking past in a whimsical white dress and an over-sized floppy sunhat with a loose white bow. Usagi didn't see her, of which Haruka was glad. Usagi looked gorgeous, with her hair loose and flowing about her like a curtain of woven sunshine.

Knots tightened in Haruka's stomach when she realized what direction Usagi was headed in. Mamoru's apartment building was just around the corner.

Mamoru…baka, Haruka thought angrily. The bastard was playing games with Usako, it was plain to see. He didn't call Usako anymore, didn't have time to spend with her, was an asshole whenever he was around Usagi and treated her like shit. If it had been Haruka's decision, he would have been out of the picture long before. Maybe now Usako would realize that he was not the man for her, and that she needed someone else.

Maybe…

Haruka sighed and shook her head, telling herself to forget it. Michiru was long gone, having gone to Europe to try to make it further in the music world.

Haruka winced at the memory:

Flashback:

Michiru opened the door of their apartment and closed the door quietly behind her. Haruka was sitting on the window sill, gazing silently at the ocean that stretched as far as she could see.

"So, you get to go." Haruka said, her voice rough. The sun was setting on the water, making it shimmer and dance with light. It was beautiful. In silence she waited for Michiru to answer her, hoping that the answer she gave would not hurt.

"Yes, Ruka. I do get to go and it's making my dream of playing with the best come true. Do you understand that…can you understand that?" Michiru asked in her quiet way, tentatively coming across the room to stand a few feet behind Haruka. It was impossible to tell her thoughts, Haruka's face was blank as she stared at the sun setting but when Michiru spoke again, she saw her wince slightly before the emotion was gone.

"Come with me, Ruka, we can start over in France. You love it there, you can race and I can play and we can be normal. It is not our duty to stay here any longer." She pleaded softly.

Haruka closed her eyes slowly and when she opened them she said the words that broke Michiru's heart and her own. "Michiru, I can't come with you. I won't come with you."

Michiru took a step back, her heart hurting. No tears came to her eyes but pain etched itself across her face and shone in her blue eyes.

"You love her, don't you, Ruka." It was not a question, but the statement of an obvious fact. "You would stay here in this…this…"Michiru searched for a word, "this hell, for her? She does not love you, Haruka. She has him to love and you know that she would never willingly leave and forsake him for you." Her voice broke and she stopped speaking.

Haruka didn't flinch at her words, just stared impassively out the window. The sun illuminated her masculine features and staring at her, Michiru realized that Haruka did not care whether or not her love would be returned. She would stay and protect and love her until the day came when she died.

Pain stabbed at Michiru and jealousy, but she pushed them away, determined to leave with dignity.

"I'm leaving as soon as I pack my things. The plane leaves the airport at ten o'clock."

"I'll give you a ride to the airport." Haruka said softly.

Michiru shook her head, "No, I already called a cab." She walked back to the bedroom and began to pack her clothes and belongings into one brown suitcase. It didn't take long, she didn't have much. Michiru lovingly placed her violin in its case and pulled on her traveling coat and gloves. She walked silently to the door, suitcase and violin case in hand and slipped on her shoes. She opened the door and was about to leave without saying goodbye when she paused and looked back.

Haruka hadn't moved from her spot on the window seat, Michiru could only see her strong, beautiful profile and her heart was breaking slowly within her.

"Ruka?" She asked, holding the door open with her free hand.

Haruka turned her head and looked at Michiru. Her face was expressionless but her green eyes shone with sadness.

"Ruka, what makes you love her so much?" Michiru forced herself to ask. She needed to know why.

Haruka hesitated, looked away, then looked back at Michiru, "Her imperfections." She said softly.

Michiru stood still for a moment and then nodded. "Goodbye, Haruka. You know where I will be if anything ever changes."

Haruka shook her head, "Nothing will. Goodbye." She didn't watch her first love and closest friend walk out the door and close it behind her silently. The pain she felt in her heart, she still kept hid. She turned her head and stared out at the now darkening ocean, and as she watched the sunlight completely disappear, a single tear rolled down her cheek.

End Flashback

Haruka shook herself out of her painful thoughts and stood up, stretching her arms above her head. Looking at her watch, she decided she should probably head home and get dinner started; Hotaru was coming over for dinner tonight.

 She gathered up her notebook and pen, and then picked up her multiple wads of paper, tossing them carelessly into the garbage outside the arcade. She didn't notice when the last one bounced off the rim and landed on the sidewalk.