Chapter Seven (Beginning of September)
"Arigatou… I mean, thank you." Michiru put carefully her violin into the instrument case and took the big envelope from the courier. The young boy bowed for the tip and left her hotel room.
The young woman smiled as she read the address. It was from Japan. From her home. From the Sailor Team.
From my Ruka...
Michiru already wore her blue evening dress. Her concert was to start in about half an hour. The young violinist opened the envelope and took out many letters and a lot of pictures. One fell down to the ground.
"What are they..." Michiru laughed as she saw her little princess with a brown mouth and a great ice cream in her tiny hands. There were other pictures, as well: Of Setsuna and Yaten kissing each other tenderly. Of Sejya sinking into the water until only his upper part of the body remained outside the water. His face showed how cold the water was, at least for him. Ami swam around him like a fish and grinned wickedly at him while Tahiki used his chance to splash the boy group's lead singer.
Michiru's smile faded as she saw the future Queen of Crystal Tokyo with her little daughter in her arms. She looked so happy.
I will never be so happy.
Michiru sat down on her huge, empty bed and touched her belly. The scars didn't hurt anymore. But her soul did. Time by time. But she could live with that pain. There were only ten concerts left. In about three weeks her tour would be over and she would return home. Yes, the pain would never stop at all. But she had her Ruka and her small princess. She was not alone. Never!
Ruka, I miss you.
Tears ran down her cheeks as she saw a picture of her beloved car racer who held Hotaru into the air. The small girl laughed at her papa down in the water of the swimming pool.
The cell phone rang and broke her sad thoughts. Michiru wiped away her tears and took the phone into her trembling hands while she put the pictures away.
"Moshimoshi?" She had expected her lover to call her up, but it was Yaten.
"Moshimoshi, Michiru." He said and his voice was nervous. For the first moment Michiru was alarmed that something could have happened to Haruka but the singer of the Three Lights calmed her down.
"Did anything happen?"
"No, nothing happened. I just wanted to talk to you, Michiru." There was a short pause, then Yaten continued. "Come home, Michiru. Five months are enough to moan. Haruka needs you and your daughter as well."
Michiru discovered the photo that laid on her hotel room's soft carpet. She reached for it and picked it up.
"Don't worry, Yaten. I have only ten more concerts. In about three weeks I will return."
"You've never missed a concert before, haven't you?" asked Yaten and his voice was suddenly very sad. Michiru frowned. Was the young man concerned about Haruka? Why?
"Iie, but..."
"Well, three weeks are okay. But after this time you'll come back. Promise me."
"What's wrong, Yaten? Why are you calling me up?" asked Michiru again alarmed but Yaten didn't answer her questions.
"Just promise that you'll come back as soon as possible."
"I promise." sighed the young violinist and played thoughtfully with the photo in her hands.
"Arigato. Bye, Michiru. And don't tell Haruka that I called you up. She would kill me."
"Hai, bye..." The phone went silent and so was Michiru.
What the hell is going on?
During the last five months Yaten had never said a word that she should come home and now this strange call. What did this mean? Was Haruka in hospital? Or did anything happen to Hotaru and no one was brave enough to tell her?
Why...
Michiru knew the reason when she turned the photo and stared in disbelieve at her lover laying on the blanket, obviously sleeping.
Suddenly she knew why Haruka changed her style of racing the car. She knew why Sailor Uranus wore another uniform. A wider one. She knew why Haruka always sounded so sad when she talked about little Chibiusa although she tried to hide her desperate feelings.
Because she didn't talk about the future Princess of Crystal Tokyo.
"What have you done?" Michiru whispered and closed her eyes. The picture escaped her trembling hands and tears ran down her pale cheeks.
That's why I will misuse my powers to make your greatest dream come true so that you will never get the idea to escape from life and the ones who love you. Who need you.
The young violinist opened her eyes again as she heard the words she had heard almost every night in her nightmares. However, she had never expected them to be real. She just thought that there were part of a dream that would never come true for her.
Michiru looked around the hotel room, saw the great empty bed and the violin that was put next to her in its case.
"What have I done?" she asked quietly and started to sob. She ran away and left her lover all alone. She didn't even bother how Haruka would feel. All alone in Japan. Yes, the Sailor Team was there for her but even they couldn't help her with the situation she had to handle now. On her own.
I was so selfish!
Michiru wiped away the tears and stood up. Determinedly she closed her violin's case and took her cell phone again in her trembling hands.
"Tonight the concert won't take place." She said to her confused manager and nodded wildly although he couldn't see her. "And the other nine concerts, too. Cancel them all. Hai, all! I have to go home. Immediately! Why? Because that's where I belong!" Michiru interrupted her manager and dialled another number.
"Hello, here's Kaioh Michiru. I need the earliest possible fly to Japan, Tokyo."
I had been so blind!
The plane started to roll and to take off into the sky. It felt like the start five months ago. And at the same time it was completely different. Michiru stared out of the window and watched the world under her becoming smaller and smaller. The houses looked like toys until they vanished between the clouds.
The young violinist held her violin tighter. She took it with her. The rest of her suitcases were still in her hotel room. They weren't important.
The plane flew higher and higher into the endless sky. Michiru leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. She didn't tell anyone that she would return. Today was Haruka's final race and she didn't want to cause any trouble. More chaos than she had already caused during the past months. She had been away for so long. It didn't matter if it took another hour to get home by bus.
Suddenly Michiru heard these simple words again. Lost words from an almost forgotten dream. In her nightmares she had always been forced to refuse her future Queen's gift. Now she knew that this gift had not been wasted.
Lost words from an almost forgotten dream told her that the gift had been finally accepted that night. Created. Received.
I'll carry it.
The audience cheered at the winners. The sun shone from the cloudless sky and the entire world shimmered in a golden light. Haruka held up her trophy with a wide grin on her face.
She was the winner. She was the champion of the Grand Prix of Japan. She had shown them all that she was the best car racer of Japan. Maybe of the world, as well.
But I am not happy.
She smiled in the cameras as the flashes flew through the air. Her smile would be on all newspaper the coming days. But her green eyes were still empty. Some guy called Shinji reached the second placwe and Hashitzou stood lucky smiling on place three next to her on the victory rostrum.
He will be a good successor. He has the power to beat them all. The power I used to had...
Haruka watched the open bottles of champagne attentively. She didn't want to get wet. The wide race suit covered her swollen belly very well but a wet one would show the world that she was indeed a women, carrying a child. The newspaper would show it to Michiru in America...
She opened her bottle and splashed the other two winners, but got out of their ways skilfully. To her surprise Hashitzou didn't even try to wet her as he used to do it when he won his first races.
Maybe the Sailor Team told him too.
After the presentation ceremony Haruka left the stage still holding her trophy tightly in her hands. Now the Three Lights appeared on stage to give the debut of their newest song. As the first chord filled the air Haruka couldn't help but smile as she recognized Yaten's song.
So he won at last.
The young car racer was happy for him. Because it was a very tender love song that showed all his feelings for Setsuna. Haruka went slowly toward the Sailor Team. They all stared up to the stage in happy anticipation. Hotaru stood next to Chibiusa's small pram between Usagi and Mamoru. The rest yelled as the Three Lights appeared on stage. The rest except Setsuna. She just stood there watching her boyfriend with such a strong love in her eyes Haruka had never expected Setsuna would ever feel.
I am happy for them.
She spun around as she heard the familiar voice beginning to sing. But it was not Sejya, the lead singer. Instead of the dark haired young man a smaller man stood there. His silver hair shimmered in the bright sun's light. Haruka blinked as she recognized Yaten who sang his song in a high and clear voice.
As he sang his love song only for the woman he loved.
So they finally decided Yaten to sing his song. Sejya's not ready for such a song, but the fans will believe the Three Light's youngest member.
Haruka listened to the song and sighed as it finished. She wanted her love to Michiru to be forever. She wanted her Michi-chan to be with her all her life. But she didn't know how to say it. How Michiru would react. After she would know about the little girl who would be part of their little family coming January.
At least we will be able to have our own grandchildren.
The Three Lights changed their position and Sejya sung another song. A well known song and soon the audience accompanied the lead singer.
Haruka turned around to go over to the Sailor Team and froze in motion as she saw the smaller shadow at the entrance beside her. She didn't know how long the young woman had stood there and observed her but she only noticed her at that very moment. The young car racer stared at the blue evening dress in disbelieve. At the long sea green hair. Into deep blue eyes.
Slowly Haruka went over to the person. She felt like being in trance as she stopped next to the young woman still believing that this was just nice dream and she would wake up the next moment.
It's still too hot. Even for autumn.
Then she felt these soft arms being wrapped around her neck. Felt these tender lips upon her own.
Ruka.
Haruka closed her eyes and held her little senshi tighter while she returned the kiss with all her love. With all the desperate feelings she survived the last months. With all her need.
Michi-chan.
Michiru pulled her car racer a bit closer and felt the swollen belly pressed against her slim one. And she felt something else. Like a prickle upon her skin.
Haruka's eyes flew open and she wanted to escape but Michiru held her lover tighter and interrupted any word the blonde might have said with another sweet but deep kiss. The young violinist pressed her lover against the entrance's wall and they both disappeared into the shadows. The trophy made a loud noise at it hit the ground. Michiru released Haruka partly from her arms, but did not interrupt the kiss as she opened one button of Haruka's race suit. The young car racer started to fight but for the very first time Michiru knew her Haruka she was stronger than the senshi of the wind. She won. Michiru could feel how Haruka gave up and simply returned the kiss. As long as she kissed she didn't have to answer unpleasant question, for which she had no logical answer.
The hand crept carefully under the race suit and touched swollen belly's the skin softly. Now Michiru could feel the strange prickle upon her finger tips. She looked up into Haruka green eyes and saw real fear in them. For the first time she saw that her lover was afraid. Yes, she had known that Haruka had her own fears to fight, but the young woman had never shown them to her so openly.
Then Michiru broke off the kiss but not the touch. Another ticklish feeling on her own skin made her smile slightly. It was like being kicked by a small person...
"Then it's true." Whispered Michiru and saw the tears in Haruka's eyes.
"Probably that's her way to say hello to you." Replied the young car racer very quietly and bit her lower lip as Michiru started to stroke her belly's skin gently.
"Her way? It's a girl?"
"Hai..." Haruka turned her head away and Michiru could hear her silent sobs.
"Why didn't you tell me?" She took her lover's hot face between her hands and forced Haruka to look straight into her blue eyes. They were also full of tears. "Why didn't you tell me that we would have a daughter?" Haruka didn't answer. She just stared into Michiru's smiling face and wondered why she hadn't already slapped her. Michiru searched Haruka's face but couldn't find an answer. All she found was fear.
My strong Ruka is afraid.
Michiru blinked. Then she tiptoed and kissed away the tears that rolled down Haruka's cheeks, meeting no resistance.
She's afraid of me..
"Didn't you tell me because you thought I would be angry?"
Haruka's green eyes widened and Michiru knew that she had been right. The young car racer tried to fight for a last time, but she couldn't escape. Michiru was stronger. Or Haruka was simply weaker. More tired. Tired of her own nightmares.
"Hai..." she said and her voice broke.
Michiru gave her a light kiss on so soft but trembling lips and now tears were running down her own cheeks, as well.
"Oh I am very angry!" she said and could see how her lover paling. A resigned expression filled her green eyes, then they went empty.
"I am very angry with you that I missed our child's first five months." A tender smile appeared on Michiru's wet face. "I hope for you that you didn't already buy all clothes and the other baby stuff for our daughter. Because that's part of my tasks as becoming mother, isn't it?"
Haruka raised her head in surprise. But before she could reply anything Michiru had already pulled her closer and gave her another passionate kiss.
It took a long time until it was broken. And it took another long time until they left the shadow to go over to the rest of the Sailor Team.
"Do you believe me?"
Four simple words. Spoken by a calm voice. Externally calm.
Michiru closed the door quietly and watched her lover for a while. Haruka sat on the huge bed's edge and stared at the endless ocean. The balcony door was wide open. The moon's bright light shone through it and illuminated the white carpet. Soft wind played with long curtains and with the young woman's short blond hair. The wave's calming rushes could be heard. They were near.
Do you believe me?
Four simple words. But Michiru was sure that they meant everything to her car racer.
The senshi of the ocean sat down on the warm bed next to her lover and embraced her tenderly. Haruka winced but she didn't turn away from her touch.
Finally the Sailor Team was gone. It was about twelve o'clock late at night and Hotaru had already slept for the last three hours in her Michiru-mama's arms who finally returned from her long tour. They talked about her concerts and the Chibiusa's birth. They talked about all important things.
But they didn't talk about the new life that would be born in winter.
"I am not a traitor" Whispered Haruka quietly and lowered her head. Her blond hair covered her face with deep shadows so that Michiru wasn't able to see the expression on it.
"I didn't cheat on you." Michiru could feel how her lover's body begun to tremble. "You were my only lover." Haruka sighed silently and the young violinist could see two tears running down her cheeks. "Please believe me." The broken voice was not more than a whisper.
"Of course I believe you, darling." Michiru held her lover tighter and rocked her gently. "You said in this crazy dream that you would carry it. I always thought that it had been a dream that would never come true. But know I realize it really did." Michiru opened Haruka's shirt button by button. She felt how the young car racer held her breath as she touched the swollen belly's soft skin.
Haruka closed her eyes as she felt the tender hands upon her skin. Stroking her gently. Her and the tiny life that grew inside of her.
"Then you had this dream, too?" she asked and shivered as Michiru covered her neck with sweet kisses.
"It was not a dream."
"That Usagi misused her powers and Sailor Pluto's henshin?"
"Hai..." Michiru turned her lover around and pushed her into big bed's soft pillows. Finally the bed wasn't empty any longer.
"Usagi said that you would commit..." Haruka green eyes looked sadly at her lover leaning over her. Sadly. Desperately. Lost. Michiru swallowed hard and interrupted the cruel words with a short but deep kiss.
"I will never, I promise." A tender smile appeared on her face and she stroked the swollen belly again. "I will never ever return in my own world leaving you behind." She gave Haruka another sweet kiss. "Leaving my family behind." Then her expression got serious on her suddenly pale face.
"Promise me that you won't do such silly things if anything happens to me." Thoughtfully she caressed her lover's wrists.
"Nothing will ever happen to you." Declared the young car racer and pulled her Michi-chan closer to herself. The young violinist sighed silently, then she started kissing her lover again. She knew that this was a promise she couldn't demand from Haruka, because it was a promise she couldn't even demand from herself.
"I missed you like crazy..." whispered the young car racer and stroked sea green hair she loved that much to touch. "For the next months I won't let you go."
"Neither our daughters." Michiru laughed happily and Haruka remembered that the last time she saw her lover that lucky had been before the operation.
"So you've recovered." She said and opened Michiru's blue evening dress to kiss her.
"Hai..." Michiru smiled tenderly and looked directly into Haruka's green eyes that watched her a rather dizzy look. Then she blushed. Thoughtfully she stroked the swollen skin, then her hand left the belly and went a little bit lower under the new short jeans the young woman bought some weeks ago. They were wide and adjustable.
Haruka green eyes grew wide as she felt the soft touches upon her skin. Then she closed her eyes and her breathing became faster.
"I want you." Whispered Michiru and could feel how the young car racer froze. "Don't worry about the child. It's okay for me to see you this way." Haruka relaxed and searched Michiru's swollen lips. She gave her a long and gentle kiss.
"I want to love you." The young violinist could see how her lover winced as she touched her again.
"You already do..." laughed Haruka quietly and felt suddenly free.
Hai, I am only really free with my Michi-chan by my side.
Haruka took Michiru hot face into her trembling hands and kissed her passionately. This kiss lasted longer than the one before. It lasted for the rest of the night.
I missed you, Michi-chan.
I love you, Ruka.
