(11) When the stars go blind
Michiru knew immediately that something was wrong. Completely wrong. Haruka had used her henshin, she did transform into Sailor Uranus. And she was nowhere to be found. Not in her bed, not in the kitchen, not in the bathroom.
What happened?
The sea beauty threw her white coat over her nightshirt and ran down the staircases of the residential block they were living in. Haruka had been very silent today. They had visited Hotaru again after school, learning that there was no change in the small girl's condition. Afterwards they went to the arcade with Chibiusa. Usagi was still at Rei's temple and Mamoru wanted to go to her without a crying girl in his arms. So Michiru volunteered to baby sit their future princess. She did a lousy job, mainly because Chibiusa did not feel like laughing and joking around at all. So they ended up in a cinema watching a silly cartoon about angels, eating popcorn and trying not to think of poor Hotaru laying lifelessly in her bed. Of course it did not succeed any of them. Haruka had always been near. She bought the tickets, she ordered the popcorn and even lend Chibiusa her gloves as the girl discovered that she left hers in the hospital. However, the blonde did hardly say a word. She had been distant and lost in thoughts. Michiru did not notice it, though, because this mood had been nothing special regarding the circumstances. But now she grew worried.
Something has happened!
Michiru threw open the door and shivered as bitter cold welcomed her. It was almost midnight and the air was several degrees below the freezing point. Her breath hung as a tiny cloud before her mouth and her fingers started to turn stiff while she headed towards the parking space. She did not notice that she was only wearing her slippers; she could have cared less. Twice she slipped and almost fell down, but she did not stop. Determinedly she jumped over a small snow hill and slit over the frozen asphalt.
"No…" Michiru groaned as she saw the empty space where normally Haruka's yellow car was parked.
She's not here.
The sea beauty turned around, but there was no one out here, no one besides her. No Haruka telling her that she only had been out for a drive and that a youma had attacked, but that she could defeat it and that everything was fine.
Somehow Michiru could not believe in the youma attack theory. No, she would have felt its presence, as well. Haruka had transformed for another reason.
But why?
Michiru put her head in her neck and looked up to the sky above. It stopped to snow while they watched the cartoon. But no stars could be seen. There were dark clouds before them, promising more snow, meaning more darkness. The sea beauty took a deep breath and wondered when she had seen the stars sparkle for the last time. Surely before winter started. But maybe even before she took the golden henshin and transformed into Sailor Neptune for the first time.
I'd like to sit and watch the stars all night. Together with Ruka.
Once Michiru considered to go into a observatory instead. Ami made a school project on constellation Orion and she thought about going with the water senshi, dragging Haruka unasked along. However a youma made its appearance and destroyed all her plans. After that she had not thought about it. Not until yet.
Michiru wrapped her arms around her shivering body and squinted as the thick cloud above her parted slightly and revealed a tiny blinking diamond. The sea beauty rubbed her tired eyes and looked closer, but there it was: A little star, winking at her. Michiru's teeth were chattering with cold, but she had to smile nevertheless.
If that would be a shooting star, I'd wish you a fast recovery, Hime-chan.
Michiru closed her eyes and enjoyed the silence around her. Something cold fell on her face, ran down her cheeks and she knew that it had started to snow again. The sea beauty was repugnant to do so, but she opened her eyes again to view the tiny crystals dancing around her. There was no snow storm raging around her this time. No, there was no wind there at all. The flakes were floating weightlessly as if they were the ones in the crystal balls they sold in the arcade – and she was right in the middle of it.
Her smile faltered a little bit as she searched the darkness above which the snowflakes seemed to flee from. The little star was gone.
Michiru turned around as she heard the car engine, expecting her Haruka coming back, cursing over the icy streets and stupid drivers. Hopefully she stepped aside, opening the way to the blonde's parking space. But it was not a yellow sports car finding its way home. It was a silver estate car. Michiru frowned and tried to search her memory where she had seen it before. Sure, she knew it, but where from?
Mamoru opened the door and answered her questions, at least some of them.
He's here?
Where's Ruka?
"Kaioh-kun?" He looked searchingly around and a relieved expression appeared on his tired face as he saw her. "You have to come with me. It's urgent." He did not comment her strange outfit and why she was standing on an empty parking lot in the middle of the night. Maybe he did not even notice.
"What happened? Is Ruka okay?" She climbed into the car and held her stiff hands against the heating.
"We need your powers as Sailor Neptune. Otherwise Usagi-chan won't have enough power to rescue little Hotaru." Mamoru put the key back into the ignition lock and remained still for a moment before he started the car again.
"Little Hotaru?"
Oh no…Michiru fumbled for the strap, but could not hold it. Her fingers were suddenly trembling too much.
"Did she have another heart attack?"
"No." Mamoru obviously could not look at her. Instead he concentrated on the icy road in front of him. It was at that moment that Michiru saw that he was already wearing his black tuxedo. The cape, the mask and the hat were laying on the backseat. "Sailor Uranus tried to kill her tonight."