"Have a seat," Dr. Tomoe said as they walked inside. Michiru nervously complied. She knew how much this man despised her, and she really couldn't blame him. Wasn't she, after all, one of those who tried to kill his daughter? And after she was saved, didn't she take her away from him? Having gone through parenthood herself now, however awkward it was having Haruka as her daughter, Michiru could sense the heartbreak. She would sooner die than have her daughter taken away from her. She could understand how Dr. Tomoe, Suichiro, felt the same.
"How long have you been married to your husband?" he asked. Michiru was a bit taken back.
"Why does that matter?"
"I just want to know."
Michiru sighed. Why did she have a suspicious feeling she knew where Dr. Tomoe was going with all this? "Seven years," she answered him. "And before you ask the question, yes, I love him very much."
"I see," said Dr. Tomoe in a tone that made Michiru feel like she was being questioned as a murder suspect. "So what are you going to do when you go to Crystal Tokyo?"
Interesting, Michiru observed. So he did know about Crystal Tokyo. Michiru couldn't exactly say she expected it, but she wasn't shocked either. In any case, her emotions did not change. "Setsuna told you, I suppose?" she asked.
"You didn't answer my question."
Michiru sighed angrily. "No, Dr. Tomoe, I don't know what I'm going to do when I get Crystal Tokyo," she said sternly, her eyes locked on the ground. "I have no guarantee that my daughter, my husband, my friends, or myself will make it out of this battle alive. But I know I have been given a duty, just as Hotaru has, to protect this planet with my life. That is my destiny."
Dr. Tomoe seemed a bit taken back by Michiru's sudden display of emotion. She was actually surprised at herself, but hoped she hadn't ruined the opportunity. "I did love Hotaru, you know," she said quietly. "I didn't mean for her to get hurt. Believe me, no one wanted for her to be raised like a normal girl more than I did. But that's not what happened."
There was a long pause. Too long, in Michiru's opinion. She was just waiting for Dr. Tomoe to lecture her on how she knew nothing, how Hotaru could never know happiness as long as she was in her life.
"I want you to do something for me," he said quietly.
"What's that?" Michiru asked, though she had a sense it was probably something to the effect of, get out of my house and don't let me catch sight of you again.
"I want you to tell her," he said quietly. "Tell her about me, every night before she goes to sleep. Don't let her forget me."
"You mean..." Michiru asked in shock. Dr. Tomoe nodded.
"If there is a way for me to come with her, please find it. But if there is not, then I am trusting my daughter's future to you." With that, he handed the small girl into Michiru's arms. The aqua-haired woman held the precious infant close to her.
"We will all be together someday," she whispered.
Nathan's eyes widened in shock when he saw Michiru walk out of the house with Hotaru in hand. Haruka anxiously wheeled up to get a better look.
"Is Hotaru coming with us?" she asked, peering up into her mother's arms.
"Yes," said Michiru, nodding. "But you have to promise you will help take care of her." Haruka nodded, promising she would do so. They had all the senshi now. But there was still the matter of actually finding and fighting Chaos. Michiru wished she knew where to start, although she had a feeling that Setsuna had a lot of the answers.
After they arrived home, Michiru made an immediate call to Usagi and Setsuna. In order to fight, the time guardian explained, they needed to gather all the senshi in the same place. Seemed simple enough. At first, Michiru wasn't sure quite what to do about the four inner senshi, but then Usagi got the idea to organize a slumber party at Michiru's home; it was big enough anyway. And Chibiusa being the social princess that she was proved herself very useful in getting everyone to make plans. All would take place tomorrow night.
"So... how do we know Chaos will even show up tomorrow?" Nathan asked Setsuna as the group of them sat down that evening to meet one final time. He had to admit, this whole thing was making her rather nervous, especially since Setsuna had a certain way of keeping things in very vague terms. Some things never changed, Michiru supposed.
"It is fate," Setsuna replied. "And it is Chaos' only chance to defend herself. The strength of our power gathered in one place will call her here. That is all I can say for now."
"I don't suppose fate filled you in on what happens afterwards?" Michiru asked, mostly in jest, but somehow hoping for a true answer.
"You mean, whether or not we win?" Setsuna asked. "That is beyond what
I can see. It is something we must determine ourselves."