Disclaimer: I own nothing in this story but the idea and the title.

"How dare he say he loves me? He tried to kill me, and most of Tokyo, and he betrayed me, and he betrayed Endymion, and he served Beryl! Oh, I could just kill him! Why are we trusting them?!?"

Haruka winced as Rei's voice rose quickly in octaves. The younger girl made it very clear just how much she resented the unexpected return of the Shitennou, and had been doing so for most of the walk from Mamoru's apartment. While she agreed with the enraged priestess, the almost shrieking nature of Rei's complaints were beginning to grate against her nerves.

"You are so lucky, Haruka!"

Jerking her head around, the Outer Senshi regarded the Inner with surprise. "Nani?"

"You have Michiru, who loved you and remembered you even after death," Rei said in a pouting voice. "You two are the perfect couple. You're partners and best friends and soul mates, all wrapped into one."

Haruka frowned, looking away. She had not spoken more than a handful of words to her partner since the night when Michiru coldly pushed her away. She now understood that her lover's actions were not her own, but it was hard to forget her own pain.

"Usagi, too. Her Prince died to defend her, and came back searching for her. But look at us! Our men died to destroy what we loved, and returned to us only to try it all again!" Her purple eyes blazed with rage. "I will never forgive him!"

Putting her arm around Rei's shoulders, Haruka gave her a sisterly squeeze. "Come on, cheer up. Maybe this new enemy will eat them for us."

Rei laughed, though without much humor. "We couldn't be so lucky."

Silently, Haruka agreed. The past few days had proven their luck to be getting steadily worse. She wondered what new surprises this enemy had in store for them.

"Haruka?" Rei suddenly seemed very thoughtful. "What do you think It is?"

"Evil," Haruka responded simply.

Rei sighed. "I guess. It's just… after everything Usagi has told us about that place It escaped from, it makes me wonder what I would do to get free."

"Maybe It had a good reason to escape, but It shouldn't have brought that evil into our world! And think about what Mamoru said It did to that man!"

"I know. I guess I just hate the thought of a place so-"

Her words stopped sharply, as did her feet. Haruka also froze, hearing exactly what Rei felt.

"It's near," Rei whispered.

The wind hissed past Haruka's ears with foul murmurs. It snarled and sneered, leading her several steps further down the road. The source of this horror waited close, so close.

"There."

Haruka pointed before she realized her arm was moving. Both she and Rei followed her indicating finger to the mouth of an alley. They did not need to speak, moving carefully together towards the sounds and icy feeling of evil.

At the corner of one building, Haruka paused, holding out an arm to keep Rei back. The younger girl abided, choosing instead to stand on tiptoe and peer worriedly over her companion's shoulder. The pair kept the building mostly between themselves and the danger as they leaned around to peer into the alley. Their eyes widened as they saw…

"Nothing!"

Haruka's shoulders slumped in confusion. She heard the terrible voices clearer than ever, calling to her, hissing at her, but she saw no source for them. Baffled, she turned to Rei, who shook her head.

"I don't see anything, either, but it has to be there! I can feel it!"

"I know, but there's nothing- THERE!"

Something moved in the unnaturally deep shadows, recoiling from the shout. The briefest glimpse of long black hair fueled Haruka in her lunge. She flew forward, despite Rei's shout of, "NO!" directly into the dark.

Suddenly, she found her feet no longer touching the ground. A crushing giant's hand swept her up, squeezing her with merciless force until the air exploded from her lungs. Her bones made a terrible cracking noise. Against her will she rushed headfirst towards the whispers, hearing them change to triumphant laughter. Her skull contracted, her eyes felt ready to burst, her heart froze with the impossible cold. Her vision darkened until all she saw was Michiru's sea bright eyes.

I'm so sorry, love.

"AKU RYO TAI SAN!!"

Haruka felt herself floating, no, falling. The release from pressure felt so wonderful she did not even notice her forehead connecting with the asphalt. She lay still, enjoying the freedom of her body as it sprawled weakly on the floor of the alley.

"HARUKA!"

Blessedly warm hands pulled at her as a sweet, worried voice called her name. She had no strength to move, and so quietly submitted when those warm fingers caught her under her arms and began to pull. The gravel scraped at her skin, a welcome stinging next to the crushing force. Heat flickered over her arms, her face, her neck, her body, and at last her legs as she was dragged to safety.

"Haruka! Open your eyes! Please, Haruka! At least breathe!"

Oh, yes. I forgot.

Her lips opened listlessly, and she tried to work her lungs. It took to much effort, though, so she stopped.

"Haruka, please! Oh, Michiru, don't hate me!"

MICHIRU!

Haruka's eyes flew open just as a pair of lips touched hers. Before she knew what Rei meant to do, she felt air forced into her lungs. In response, she exploded into a hacking cough.

"Are you alright?" Rei demanded. "Oh, I thought you were dead!"

Haruka lay back on the pavement, taking in big, whooping breaths. She tried to swallow, and found herself coughing so hard her back arched off the ground. Rei put two restraining hands on her shoulders until she finally gasped herself into silence.

"Never mind," Rei whispered. "Don't talk. I'll call the girls. We should be able to take a better look at it now, because I put a seal… Hey! It's gone!"

Struggling onto her elbows, Haruka turned to squint into the alley, following Rei's horrified look. Where a thin scrap of paper should have bound the evil, she saw nothing.

"I don't believe this!" Rei shrieked in righteous anger. "My seal!"

"C-" cough "calm d-down!" Haruka told her. "Just… call the other… girls."

The young priestess let out a low growl, but reached for her communicator. Just as her fingers touched it, they heard a low murmur of voices. Still somewhat hidden by the corner of the building, they flattened themselves close to the pavement and listened.

"…just can't believe it! With a razor?!?"

"Yeah. I talked to one of the police officers, and they said it was a hell of a mess. There was blood all over the bedroom, on the bed, the floor, the window…"

"Wow. What is this world coming to, that such a bright young woman would do that to herself? It makes me so sad!"

"I guess."

The door to one of the buildings opened, and a man and a woman hurried down the steps. They did not glance toward Haruka and Rei even once, just turned the opposite direction and went on their way. The two Sailor Soldiers exchanged a heavy look.

"The source of all this evil, right next to an apartment building!" Rei whispered in horror.

"We have to do something, and fast!" Haruka said hoarsely. "Call the others."

A/N: Can you guess what it is? (giggle)