(9) The voices tell you turn around

It was peaceful in the small restaurant. Snow was falling silently outside its small windows, candles illuminated a big Christmas tree in its middle. There was no artificial light, no loud radio music, only quiet instrumental music with an occasional "Ho Ho Ho" in between. The scent of cinnamon and fresh baked cake hung in the air and a friendly smiling waitress with a big Santa Clause on her apron walked around and served her customers friendly. She did not even scold when a clumsy girl almost crashed into the glittering tree, because she oversaw her own scarf and stumbled over its end.

"Can I help you, miss?" She asked instead and helped the girl back on her feet. The blonde blushed deeply and two pigtails bobbed as she bowed deeply.

"Gomen nasai." Shortly she looked around and her eyes brightened up as she saw the two persons sitting at a table in a far away corner. "A hot chocolate would be nice."

"A good decision. Just give me five minutes and you'll get the best chocolate you can find in Tokyo." The waitress smiled and took the girl's jacket to put it away. The girl looked nice, but she did not trust her not to destroy anything while trying to free herself out of her thick winter clothes. She shook her head in amusement and went back into the kitchen, humming along to the Christmas song.

"Gomen, I'm late." Usagi sat down on the empty chair and glanced at the two young women. She did not want to give her detentions at school away and she felt that they had more pressing topics to discuss. Michiru was smiling tiredly at her, stirring continuously in her long cold tea.

"Hi, Usagi-kun. No problem."

Haruka did not greet her back; in fact, she did not even turn her head. Emotionless she stared out of the window. Her glass of tea was empty as was the plate before her, but obviously she did not want to have a second helping.

"Any news from Hotaru?"

"No. None." Usagi shook her head sadly and had suddenly lost all her appetite for her chocolate. But she did not dare to stand up to tell the waitress to cancel her order. "We told Chibiusa-chan today. It was not easy for her."

Both Michiru and Usagi looked into the candle's flame between them and sighed deeply. They both knew that every day the little girl was in coma reduced her chances to wake up again, to recover, at least partially.

"I've asked you to come here, because we wanted to ask you if there's anything you can do. I mean, if there's anything Sailor Moon can do." Michiru was whispering, although they decided for a quite corner in a little restaurant. No one would eavesdrop on them here. However, it was a secret they had to keep, at least from normal humans. Sailor Moon was different, she was a senshi, too, after all; even though Haruka in all probability disagreed.

"Well… Rei-kun said…"

"She's Mistress 9." It was the first time that Haruka said something and Usagi almost jumped from her chair as she heard the cold, distant voice. The blonde was still staring out of the window, ignoring her.

"Nani?"

"Hime-chan's Mistress 9. You know what that means, don't you? Or is all you can do swinging your henshin and looking stupidly?"

"Ruka!" Michiru kicked her best friend softly, but warningly with her feet under the table. She did not need a frightened Usagi, but a brave one telling them the truth. Haruka rolled her eyes but did not formulate all the curses inside her mind.

"Mistress 9?" Of course Usagi, or better, Sailor Moon knew about her. They had fought often enough against the evil's youmas and Rei had seen peril in her fire, coming towards them, being able to destroy the whole world.

"Hai. We've found out last week." Michiru stopped stirring her tea, but she did not drink. She merely watched the little whirls disappear. "It's actually our task to destroy Mistress 9." Michiru confessed and gulped as she saw Usagi's face fall, as she saw the tears shimmering in widened blue eyes.

"Tuck in." The cheerful voice of the waitress startled them both. The young woman did not seem to notice their dark mood. She put the hot chocolate with cream right before Usagi, wiped her hands on her Santa Clause and went back to the other end of the restaurant where another customer was waiting for his coffee.

Michiru and Usagi stared silently at the melting cream which was the moment when Haruka decided that she had enough.

"It's been a mistake to ask her!" she snapped and grabbed her jacket hanging over her chair's backrest. "I would have never told her so much!" She slammed a banknote down on the table and walked away. Michiru covered her face with her burning hands for a moment and shook helplessly her head.

"She's irritated right now. Don't take it personal." She rose and put on her white cloak. "If there's anything just call, okay?" Then she followed her Haruka out in the developing snowstorm. The blonde had already pushed her dark green cap over her hair and clenched her fists while she stalked angrily away. Michiru had to run to catch up with her. The taller woman did not react, did not start to talk to her or even curse, which was the worst part of it, always had been. Michiru was just about to ask her some questions, nevertheless, but then she heard the fast footsteps behind them, heard the desperate voice.

"Matte!"

Haruka tried to ignore Usagi, but the girl overtook them and stopped right in front of them. She spread her arms as if she wanted to hold up the blonde by blocking the entire pavement. Usagi did not wear her jacket and snow glittered in her golden pigtails.

"I'll find a way." She gasped and blinked as the snowfall increased and hard wind blew right into her eyes, watered them. "Somehow I'll find a way to defeat Mistress 9 and to rescue Hotaru. There's a way, I know it, and I'll find it!"

"I don't believe you." Replied Haruka heartlessly and started to go away, but Usagi grabbed her arm and held her back, at least for a moment, because the wind senshi was strong and could free herself easily.

"You don't have to. Give me a week and I'll find a way. Please."

"A week when Hime-chan's suffering? When Mistress 9 is laughing at her and at us? You've had your chance, Sailor Moon. Now it's our task to save this earth." Haruka pulled her cap deeply into her face and continued her way on the slippery underground, burying her fists deep inside her jacket's pockets.

"Don't do anything to hurt her!" cried Usagi and wrapped her cold arms around her freezing body, smiling through her tears at Michiru who offered her her scarf and her own fur cap. "Don't do anything you might regret later!"

Haruka did not hesitate, her steps did not falter. She did not turn around but simply walked away. Soon she disappeared within the snowstorm, leaving a freezing Usagi and a crestfallen Michiru behind.