Black Thorns on a White Rose
Chapter Three: A Tender Encounter
By: Ree
Pairing: Kou Seiya/Ten'oh Haruka
Ages: Seiya (24), Haruka (24), Taiki (24), Yaten (24), Usagi (22), Mamoru (25-26), the Inner Senshi (22), Hotaru (20), Setsuna (Unknown, but appears 26), Michiru (24), Kakyuu (25), Chibi-Usa (Newborn babe)
Setting: Kinmoku Planet
Rating: R
Summary: It is the 30th Century Crystal Tokyo. Haruka has been feeling restless lately, and Neo Queen Serenity decides to send her on a diplomatic mission to Kinmoku. It's déjà vu all over again when she sees Seiya again for the first time. However, when Seiya (now a female) learns that her beloved Usagi married Mamoru and is now the Queen of Crystal Tokyo, it's all she can do to go on with her life. Can Haruka bring Seiya out of her misery once and for all? Or is it destined that the two of them will be mortal enemies forever?
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon; I don't want to claim ownership to Takeuchi-sama's noble work. So don't sue me! I don't own anything, I am just a poor student, and you won't get anything.
Haruka remained in her room for a while longer, thinking about what she had done. It ate away at her as she remembered how she had admired Seiya's physique. It was more than just a friendly observation; something had stirred in her chest that made her feel almost light-headed. How can I be thinking these things? Michiru and I are soul mates...aren't we? That thought made its way into her mind and now she couldn't help but wonder if it was truly meant to be. Tracing her chin thoughtfully, Haruka's thoughts traveled to places she'd never wanted to acknowledge before...that plaguing insistence that she and Michiru weren't meant to be. Haruka had never been one for destiny, and even after she had met her aqua-haired partner, that doubt still lingered in her mind. She had completed her mission...didn't she deserve the chance to chase her dreams now more than ever? No, she answered herself with a sigh. Now is the time for me to be concerned with other things. My dreams got pushed to the side, as they always had been, even in our earliest days as Senshi.
"Why is it that my dreams and the dreams of the other Outer Senshi must be sacrificed now that our war has ended and peaceful times are among us? The others are able to chase their dreams because they have to remain on Earth to protect Usagi. Demo...the four Outer Senshi have been sentenced to a life of solitude once more. It isn't fair!" she cried angrily, pounding her knee.
Deciding that she needed a break, she pulled her henshin wand out of the folds of her gown and raised it.
"Uranus Crystal Power, Make-Up!"
The familiar power flowed through Haruka's veins as she transformed once more into the Senshi of Wind, Sailor Uranus. Standing in all of her glory, she opened the window and stood on the sill before leaping out. Flying through the air, feeling the breeze rush past her upturned face, this was what she had truly missed. It brought back the old feelings of being faster than the wind itself, stronger than anything, and the pure undiluted power that coursed through her very being...it was pure bliss. Landing as easily as she had when she was 16, the 24-year-old smirked as she headed for a secluded area towards the back. Removing the Space Sword from its sub-space pocket, she raised the glowing sword to the sky.
"My guardian deity is a planet far up in the sky...the soldier of sky...Sailor Uranus!" she cried.
Raising her sword, she began to practice the fencing and sparring moves she had learned over the years. Deciding one day that she had to learn to be better with her saber, Uranus had taken up fencing lessons and was now putting them to the test. She was so caught up in the thrill of being able to release her steam she barely noticed someone was watching her...a navy-eyed someone who gazed at her with a knowing smile. Seiya turned behind the large shrub and her henshin microphone materialized on her left ear. It's been a long time...let's hope I remember how to do this, Seiya thought with a nod.
"Fighter Star Power, Make-Up!"
The familiar power of the henshin washed over Seiya as she was transformed into Sailor Star Fighter. Her long black leather boots made silent sounds on the soft grass as she approached the other Senshi. Uranus stopped and turned to face the other as a smile started to form on her lips.
"You wish to spar with me?" she asked.
"Why else would I approach you like this?" Star Fighter countered as she put her hands on her hips.
Uranus merely smirked and placed her sword back in its sub-space pocket. Star Fighter lowered herself into an offensive stance and the two of them charged each other. The first blow was landed by Uranus as she sunk her fist into her opponent's stomach, causing the other Senshi to stumble back a little. Growling under her breath, Star Fighter countered as the two of them began to trade blows in the back of the gardens. Peeking around the corner, Taiki and Yaten were watching them in amazement as the two seemed equally matched.
"Those two are fighting each other as though it's life or death. Some things never change," Yaten sighed.
"Still, at least it's just a practice match rather than the two of them really and truly trying to kill each other," Taiki replied and then winced as Uranus kicked Fighter in the head. "I think I spoke too soon."
"Itai...that looked like it hurt," the green-eyed woman added, wincing in sympathy as Fighter tumbled to the ground.
"Do you think we should step in?"
"No, let's let them fight it out for a while. Perhaps they'll end up killing each other on accident."
"Yaten!"
While the two of them kept an eye on Uranus and Fighter, the sparring Senshi were completely oblivious to outside invaders. Black ponytail flying, Fighter whirled around and raised her hand.
"Star Serious Laser!"
Eyes widening, Uranus rolled away and cried out slightly as the attack managed to hit her shoulder. Cringing and holding her injured area, she scowled up at the other woman. Fine, if that's the way you want it, then I'll play rough too. Getting to her feet, she raised the arm that wasn't injured into the air. Gathering her power into the attack, Uranus shouted,
"World Shaking!"
The bright orange orb flew at Fighter and the other Senshi was caught by surprise and went flying into the back wall. Stone crushed and gave way under the contact, and the other Senshi groaned in pain while sliding to the ground. Uranus lowered her arm and started over to the other, holding her shoulder and wincing. Kneeling down in front of Fighter, she gave the other a concerned look. Glancing up, the raven-haired Senshi noticed the look in Uranus' eyes.
"Is that...concern...for me...Uranus?"
"Of course it is. Gomen ne, I could have killed you."
"I thought that's what you wanted."
"No, I don't want that," she said and using her uninjured arm, managed to haul Fighter to her feet.
Stumbling a bit, Fighter crashed into Uranus, knocking them both to the ground. Landing on top of the startled Senshi, navy eyes met teal but this time...there was something different in the expression. Both firm bodies were pressed against each other and Fighter knew that she had only to shift and their breasts would be pushed together. Blushing a bit, she began to get up, stammering her apology, when she tripped again and landed squarely onto Uranus. Both of them now had pale pink tinges in their cheeks as they tried not to notice the other's closeness. Oh God, if she doesn't get off of me...I don't know what I'm going to do, Uranus thought as she tried hard to avoid Fighter's intense gaze. And those eyes...I could almost get lost in them. Mentally shaking herself, Uranus looked up at Fighter curiously.
Why can't I move? What's happening to me? My heart feels warm...Fighter realized as she struggled to come to grips with the situation. Demo...this feels different from that time...she thought as she remembered when she had accidentally landed on top of Usagi at the campground. The feel of Uranus' body was different. It wasn't soft...it was firm and hard under Fighter's abdomen and there was only a thin layer of fabric separating them from being skin-on-skin. She flushed a bit as that thought registered. Where did that come from?
"Fighter...are you...going to get off of me anytime soon?" Uranus spoke, finally breaking the silence.
"Huh? Ah! G-gomen nesai, Uranus," Fighter apologized hurriedly and helped the other to her feet. "I guess I just had a clumsy moment. Are you all right? That shoulder looks bad."
"Not as bad as your stomach," the white-haired Senshi replied and pointed. "Sorry for the attack."
"Eh, don't worry about it. I suppose I shouldn't have used my attack either. Still, we never agreed to not using our attacks, did we?" Fighter countered with a grin forming on her lips.
"No, we didn't. Come on, let's get you inside and cleaned up," Uranus said and de-transformed.
"Right."
Fighter de-transformed as well and allowed Haruka to lead her inside and to her room so she could tend to the wound. It wasn't that large, but it was still something to be concerned about. Seiya chanced a glance at Haruka as she thought about what had happened in the garden. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear that Haruka was blushing, she chuckled at the thought. What was I thinking? Haruka never blushes. It was foolish of me to even think that. Still, she couldn't stop thinking about those long moments when she was pressed against that firm body. For a moment, she seemed so vulnerable. No, what am I thinking? As she pointed Haruka in the direction to her room, Seiya tried to stop the feelings that were forming in her mind. Sitting down carefully on her bed, Seiya waited as Haruka went for medicine.
"This is so strange, Haruka of all people taking care of my injuries," she laughed and winced.
Meanwhile, Taiki and Yaten were staring at the spot where Seiya and Haruka had fallen with wide-eyed looks.
"Did you see...what I saw?" Taiki finally managed to ask.
"I think I saw what you saw...but I'm not sure. If what we saw was Seiya lying on top of Haruka without getting killed, then yes, I saw what you saw," Yaten answered in a shaky voice.
"Do you think we should tell Princess Kakyuu?"
"Iie, she's got enough to worry about."
"How about we just keep this to ourselves. There's no way that will ever happen again, right?"
"Right."
With that, the two women returned to the palace, trying to forget what they had seen as Haruka knelt in front of Seiya and carefully applied the antiseptic to the wound. The scene was tender in its way as both of the women tried to forget that one instant in the gardens. One thing was for sure, neither of them was going to try sparring with the other for a while. As Seiya studied Haruka tending to her wounds with such tender care and precision, she had to wonder if she had gone mad. Oh well, I'll worry about that later, she thought lazily. After all, there's no way that this tender treatment is going to last...is there?
Haruka's teal eyes were concentrating on the wound as she continued to clean it. Her thoughts were swirling as she dabbed tenderly at Seiya's injury. What am I doing? Why do I care so much? Bringing her gaze up to meet the other's, a long silence passed between them. Leaning over, Seiya gazed deep into Haruka's eyes.
"Haruka...I...well..."
"Hai, Seiya?"
Blushing and swallowing, Seiya leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Haruka's cheek.
"Arigato."
Dropping the supplies, completely shell-shocked, Haruka's hand went to her cheek. What the hell was that? Seiya immediately began kicking herself at the stunned look in Haruka's eyes. Why did I do that? she thought as she turned away. The smell of the olive blossoms floated into the room and surrounded them in their fragrance, causing both of them to become light headed once more. It's the blossoms...it's got to be...Haruka tried to tell herself as she tried to get up. Knees giving way, she cursed herself and managed to get to her feet. Seiya looked up at the white-haired woman with a curious look.
"It was nothing," she said curtly and turned on her heel, stalking out of the room.
"Haruka...damnit what the hell am I doing? I am not falling for Haruka. I am not..." Seiya replied and then sighed heavily. "What am I saying? I am...and I can't deny it. What am I going to do? There's still at least three days before she leaves and then I'll have to deal with her then too. I'm just going to have to forget about her."
Nodding, Seiya wrapped the bandages around her torso, bound and determined to forget about her feelings for Haruka. I will not feel for her, I will not.
Wow, one more chapter down! Man, I am on a roll! So, what do you guys think? How long should it be before Haruka and Seiya finally admit that they like each other? Read and review please!
Ree