Disclaimer: I do not own Sailormoon.

Warnings: Shoujo-ai.

Vocabulary: Same as previous chapters.

Notes: I want to thank all those who left reviews, although for some reason, I can't read most of them. I hope you enjoy this chapter. I think I have at least one more left in me : )

The last scene is inspired by a SailormoonS episode, though I forget which one.

A Quiet Scene III

The colorful skirts of fall and the white elegance of winter had long left the stage when spring came in, dancing daintily in her frocks of green. The third act was up, and that meant a change in scenery. The youmas were moving along with the seasons, and that meant the senshi that hunted them had to travel too. Haruka wondered if Tokyo would be nice.

"Haruka!"

"Coming Michiru!"

"Really, did you have to pack this?!" On the floor of their apartment, Michiru held up a very worn pair of jeans.

"It's still good!"

Michiru looked at her partner with one raised eyebrow as she demonstrated the falsity of Haruka's statement by poking one of her fingers through a hole in the fabric. She then proceeded to point out the many other tears. Haruka sweat-dropped when Michiru promptly threw the article of clothing into the trash.

"Well…it's not anymore!" Michiru smiled. She went over to another box and began to pack some of their more delicate china. She couldn't see Haruka, but she could still hear Haruka's voice and her footsteps. 

"I suppose."

"Haruka, get away from the trashcan and help me with the glasses."

Haruka hand twitched above the wastebasket's lid. How did Michiru know? She sighed.

"Oh, alright."

"Hmm…Tokyo. I always wanted to go visit Tokyo Tower. We'll go together some time, right Haruka?" Michiru polished a cup with a white cloth and stowed it away.

"Of course. Tokyo will be interesting. I've heard that there are a lot of official bike races sponsored there, and plenty of art galleries and concert halls."

"There will be plenty of youmas, too."

"Everything we've learned so far is pointing to Tokyo. The youmas we've allowed to escape have been flocking toward the city's direction after gaining the energy of their victims. It is most likely the stronghold of the Death Busters."

"After nearly two years, it finally seems to be coming to an end," Michiru closed her eyes.

"Michiru, things will get much more serious from now on. About the promise we made - "

"Yes it will! So lets have some fun before we go!" Michiru smiled and flung open the windows letting in the spring sunshine. She couldn't face her partner.

"Michiru."

Silence, and then a soft, sad voice.

"I know Haruka. If something should happen to one of us, the other will go on and retrieve the talismans. It is our duty, and anyway, I made you promise first. I wouldn't forget," Michiru chuckled bitterly. Haruka stared at the floor.

"I'm sorry."

"What for?"

"Just for bringing it up. I know we'll have a great time in Tokyo."

"Of course you would, Tenoh Haruka-san! There's a huge population of girls over there that haven't yet experienced your charming flirtations," Michiru turned from the window with a teasing smirk. Both girls smiled at each other, trying to dissipate the shadow that destiny had cast on them since they day they had awakened as Neptune and Uranus.

"Well, I'm not the one getting flowers sent to her every other week by some secret admirer."

"Why Haruka, are you jealous?"

"Me? Of course not. That's absolutely absurd!" Haruka snorted.

"Well, they might buy me gifts, but I only buy gifts for you. That reminds me, you never opened your birthday present!"

"I'm so sorry, Michiru! I forgot, with things being so busy and everything."

"It's okay, I forgive you. It didn't help that you were laid up for three weeks after spraining your hip from that pig-youma in the park either. My gift couldn't possibly have come in handy at that time, since you could barely move. "

"Don't remind me. I still have nightmares! You'd think that such a dangerous monster would at least have the decency to look scary or something. But now I'm really curious about that gift."

"Since your health is perfectly fine again, I guess its time to show you this," Michiru rummaged through one of the moving boxes before pulling out a familiar velvet blue box. She snapped the case open. It was totally empty except for a small paper receipt.

"Um, Michiru, I think you've been swindled."

"No silly, I've paid for the exclusive use of a private pool for the last three months."

"Huh?"

"Tenoh Haruka, I'm going to teach you how to swim!"

"No way, Michiru! No way!"

"Come on!" Michiru pushed Haruka toward the pool. It had already taken more than an hour to get Haruka into a bathing suit. Underneath the rough exterior, Haruka was a modest girl who hated to wear anything revealing like skirts, much less a bikini. She had managed to grab a large towel to wrap around her shoulders before Michiru had dragged her out of the locker room.  

"No!"

"Really Haruka, of all possible things, being hydrophobic?! You need to learn to swim."

"No I don't."

"Look, I think it's adorable how you like to lounge around the sides of the pool, or how you take naps on the diving board while I swim, but the truth remains, you've never gotten into the water! Now take off that towel; the only ones here are the two of us!"

"But Michiru!"

Michiru yanked off the towel and pushed Haruka into the pool. Haruka floundered, looking completely betrayed.

"H-How could you Michiru!" The blond cried before her head sank below the water.

"Haruka. That's the shallow end of the pool. Just get up!"

A drenched figure arose shakily from the liquid depths, and spit some water out of the side of her mouth. Haruka looked sheepishly at her partner. Michiru rolled her eyes and walked toward the wet girl.

"First things first, you have to learn how to float."

A second cry of betrayal arose when a green-haired senshi decided to knock her partner onto her back.

"Relax, Haruka!"

Only panicked gurgles answered her.

Two figures in beach chairs relaxed as they gazed up at the glass ceiling. The sky was very blue, and very calming after a hard day of water sports. Michiru sighed; Haruka had managed to float, but even dogpaddling was still beyond her. Haruka looked over at Michiru and drank in the rare sight of a well-contented sea senshi with absolutely nothing worrying on her mind. They were very close to the last battle, very close to seeing the Dark Messiah. The one called Sailor Saturn. Pluto had warned them. These lazy days would not last.

"Michiru."

Michiru leaned further back. She tilted her head so that it rested on one of Haruka's arms which were draped over the back of her chair. Silently, the wind senshi had risen from her own chair to stand behind her partner. Michiru hummed a little and shifted against the arm. The green hairs tickled Haruka's arm in a comforting way. Michiru felt warm and safe. She felt herself beginning to drift into a world where the seagulls flew high above the shore.

"Where are you going Michiru-san?"

One of the birds called. Calling her away from the land. Calling her to the sea.

"Where are you drifting off to, my Michiru?"

Michiru raced with the bird as it took flight, the wind lifting it to dizzying heights. She ran into the ocean, intent on following it. Michiru did not realize she had reached the sea before she felt the wetness on her feet. For some unfathomable reason, she did not sink; instead she floated above the liquid surface. As the bird turned in its flight, Michiru mirrored its movements in her run. The water lapped at her heels trying to follow her. Michiru opened her eyes and suddenly, the reality of teal eyes and wet strands of gold were before her.

"No, not me, I am wondering where you are going to, sweet wind. What places will you blow to?" Michiru answered.

"Only to you, only to you."

"Haruka."

"Don't leave me behind Michiru, into your own world. Because, even though you've tried to teach me" Haruka's arms wrapped around Michiru's shoulders as she looked gently into blue eyes, "I can't swim after you."

"Then fly, Haruka," Michiru leaned up to wipe away the loneliness in Haruka's smile with one of her own; she often daydreamed, and Haruka always felt as if Michiru abandoned her during those times. They were so close now that they could feel each other's breaths.

"Fly."

The two met like the sea and sky does on the distant horizon – and all was right again with the world.

To Be Continued…

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