Chapter 10
It took a while for Michiru to explain everything she had to explain to Nathan. She told him about her life before, in high school, when she still lived with Haruka and Setsuna. She told him about the Sailor Senshi, how she was Sailor Neptune, and how in a terrible battle, she and her prince and princess had been the sole survivors. And how her dearest friend, Sailor Uranus, had laid down her life to make sure Neptune was safe. It was this part that was the hardest to tell, Michiru struggled to hold her tears back. But Nathan took her by the shoulders and held her close, massaging her neck.
"It's okay," he whispered. "It's okay to cry." That was when Michiru broke down. She wept deeply, pressing her face into her husband's warm embrace. It was the first time she'd allowed herself to opening mourn her companions, and her body wasn't sure how to deal with it. She thought of what an idiot she must sound like, babbling over this business about senshi and crying like a child about a battle that happened ten years ago. But still... Nathan felt so warm and comforting, it didn't seem so strange. It seemed like something she should have done a long time ago.
When Michiru was calmed down a bit, she finished her story. She told Nathan how Sailor Pluto had appeared to them, telling them how destiny had been set off course. And how the Sailor Senshi were being reborn in new forms. Including Haruka.
"So, you're saying that our daughter is the reborn form of your partner, Uranus?" Nathan asked quietly.
Michiru nodded. "She is. I feel the energy of her planet within her."
To this Nathan, did not respond, which made Michiru a little uneasy. What was he thinking? Was he angry with her? Disappointed? Did he think she was mad? Ideas raced through Michiru's mind, but her husband refuse to let his thoughts show. Not until he whispered softly in her ear,
"Show me... how you become Sailor Neptune."
The transformation pen was still safely stored away in Michiru's drawer. She had not looked at her for such a long time, it almost felt strange to hold it in her hands. Touching it brought back so many memories, of times she tried to forget. But as she had sat their talking to Nathan, something had occurred to her, that told her this was a part of her life she could never, should never forget.
Michiru held the pen to her lips. "Neptune Planet Power," she whispered. At once the pen glowed forth with power, a wave of water embraced her body, changing her. When the water vanished, there stood Michiru, transformed into Neptune.
Nathan's eyes widened at the sight of her. Her beauty was remarkable, she reminded him of a mermaid princess. Slowly he stood up and took her hands, gazing deeply into her blue eyes.
"It's... amazing," he admitted not sure of what else he could possibly say. Neptune shyly diverted her gaze from him.
"I suppose," she said. "But it's a power that's caused me a lot of pain." She laughed a bit and ran her gloved hand through aquamarine hair. "You don't know how many times I've tried to wish it away."
"You shouldn't wish it away, not ever," Nathan said. "Michiru, you have a wonderful gift. You are a protector. I don't even know how many times you might have saved my life and the lives of everyone else on earth before I even met you." He took her hands once again in his. He could feel her power, even through the gloves.
"What would you do..." Neptune asked. "If you found out this power might take me away from you?"
The smile from Nathan's face fell. "What do you mean?" he asked. Neptune proceeded to explain what Pluto had said about the reborn senshi, including Haruka. How in order to set things right, they had to reawaken them and fight Chaos as one. Then together they could go to the future, to Crystal Tokyo.
"But I don't know if you'll be able to come with me," she added quietly.
"Do you... you do want to go there, don't you? To this Crystal Palace?"
"I guess so... I mean..." Neptune stuttered, then held up her hands in frustration. "For a long time, that's all I thought about. It was like a heaven to me, just out of my reach. But after I met you, I started to enjoy life here again."
"What about Haruka?" Nathan asked.
"Haruka?" Neptune inquired. Her mind wandered back to memories of her lost friend. "Oh, Nathan, I do love her. I love her so much. But I'm confused. I don't know if what I'm feeling is love for my daughter or love for my friend. I suppose it's some strange mix of both."
Nathan nodded. "Will you awaken her as Sailor Uranus?" he asked quietly. Neptune lowered her head.
"I don't know," she admitted, then looked back into Nathan's eyes. "It could mean you losing both of us forever. You know that, right?"
"I know," Nathan said. "But I also know that if you don't do it, something terrible might happen. I couldn't forgive myself if it did."
At that point, the tears began to fall from Neptune's eyes once again.
"Why does this stupid power keep taking everything I love away from me?" she asked as the tears made their way down her cheeks. And again, she found herself in Nathan's embrace. She felt a cooling sensation of ocean waves upon her back and her appearance reverted back to that of Michiru Kaiou, his wife. Haruka's mother.
Suddenly there was a tapping sound just outside the room. Michiru bolted upright and turned her head just in time to see a small face backing away from the cracked-open door. Haruka.