"Oouuuchhhhhhhhh!"
Haruka held his red left cheek in disbelief. "What was that for!"
Michiru's left hand was still suspended in mid-air. "Pervert! I was about to take a swim, and you grabbed me!" She exclaimed in horror.
"Gee, how was I suppose to know that! You looked like you're about to take your life from where I was standing." he defended himself. He further rubbed his cheek, enhancing the sparkle of the bracelet he was wearing on the same limb. It seized Michiru's attention.
"You...you!" She shakily pointed at him. She was flabbergasted.
"The hooded hero...the other day...that was you!" Her eyes focused on the bracelet.
Exposed, he slid his left hand toward his head and scratched it. He looked up at the sky. "Well..."
"I'm sorry, if I slapped you." She lowered her head, slightly blushing. Her tone had calmed down, sincerely beseeching for pardon. His face continued to resonant in her mind. He was gorgeous! Her imagination didn't do justice on him. She wanted to stare at him more, but couldn't. She felt so conscious; she blushed even more. She was melting. He would have thought she was still embarrassed over what she did, but in truth, she was acting like a childish school girl! She didn't understand why she was acting this way, but it felt good. Is this true love, infatuation or fatal attraction?
"Sangre! Sangre!"
A group of children came running toward the two. "We've been looking all over for you. The fire dance has begun!" Noticing the other's presence, the youngest asked, "Who is she?" Is she your girlfriend?"
It was now Haruka's turn to blush. Endowed with a handsome face and armed with an irresistible charm, he had always been the center of attention in any gathering or crowd he walked into. He had always been prominent with the female population, and even the male ones to some extent. He had always enjoyed the attention. Yet, he was never known to have formally committed on anyone. How many hearts have been broken or women obsessively and desperately begging for his affection? Finally, he has met his match; this was the first time he felt his knees weakened or his heart beat faster.
Michiru giggled. The children further teased in unison. "Now, now children, let's not be rude to our guest." Haruka brilliantly outmaneuvered the situation. Looking at her with intense and hopeful eyes, he extending his hand and invited her, "Will you join us to celebrate in our festivities?"
"I don't know..." Michiru hesitated. She tilted her head, and seemed to be weighing the situation.
"Please! Please!" the children pleaded. They gathered around and softly tugged her nightgown.
Michiru knew the perils that were ahead once her mission commences. She has never met this Sailor Uranus figure before, and must therefore, expect the worst scenario: she must be in tiptop condition. Nonetheless, she always had a soft spot for children. The delegation is delayed for 6 weeks; there was ample time to train. Furthermore, her trainer did praise her for her outstanding performance. Never has the former seen such amazing progress in such a short span of time despite his years of experience, almost as if becoming a sailor senshi was her destiny. Besides, when would this opportunity arise again? She got her wish after all. Now, he was standing infront of her. Would it be too much to enjoy life's simple pleasures for the last time?
She reached out his hand. "I would love to." Everyone rejoiced. Haruka tightened the clasped and smirked.
Michiru supplanted her nightgown with those Haruka gave her. She never realized that such scruffy clothing could be so comfortable, light and warm. It is as if she was not wearing anything at all.
The people have already gathered around the huge bon fire. People danced at the beating of an enchanted music. There were no uniform movement; everybody was moving according to his/her rhythm yet everyone was in perfect harmony. Initially perplexed, Michiru eventually realized all were moving according to the flow of energy: around them, within them. She could feel it. Energy motion varied depending on the mood, the persona and even age of the participant. The tribe was in a collective trance. At this state, everybody is in euphoria. They were beyond the sensation of the burning coal beneath them. Anyone could join or pull-out without disrupting the sacred dances. He/she could blend in easily. All is one, and one is all.
The Uranians were a highly intuitive people too, though not as sensitive as Neptunians. It was the prime mover in their pursuit for advancement. It was the guiding force in reinventing themselves.
The moment Michiru stepped in the circle, she was engulfed with the experience. It never occurred to her that by surrendering, she could be so free. This was the taste of freedom in its purest form! Without a care in the world, this is who she is. She was smiling, she was laughing, she was in ecstasy.
"Are you glad you came?" Haruka whispered unto Michiru's ear. She turned and saw Haruka. She affirmed seductively. He had discretely approached her from behind. Their auras have obviously been merging and omplimenting. They were twin flames being seranaded by the enchanted music and raw emotions. He was so close to her, he was intoxicated by her scent...her hair...her neck. He could almost taste her. There was no denying it; he wanted her for everything that she is. The moment Haruka put his hands around Michiru's waist, coming to a loose embrace, the circuit was complete. A wave of intense energy enveloped the site; the entire tribe felt it. Passion. Longing. Reunion. Completion. Oneness. "Setsuzoku" has commenced.
Before Haruka realized what was happening, he was already at the ancient arc. And so was Michiru. They have been clandestinely parted in order to be reunited at the pinnacle point, as the sacred dances continued. Haruka was nervous over its implication.
Only once in every century is the "setsuzoku" ritual performed. Nobody directly knew how the couple were chosen. Sages claim that it was guided by the gods themselves. Observing this ritual during "Dokuritsuhan" effectively enhances the direct flow of divine energy to the people; they were highly receptive of heavenly guidance. "Setsuzoku" is not (civil) marriage, but it was definitely more solemn and profound. For in "setsuzoku", soulmates are reunited; relationships are intensified, deepened and more intimate. It was a partnership rarely culminated but done so for a significant endeavor ahead. They were not just romantically compatible, but in every aspect of his/her being--mentally, emotionally and spiritually! The yang has found his yin, and the yin has found her yang.
Haruka struggled with what was happening. How can this be? It is beyond the privilege of a sailor senshi! Why her, not his lost beloved? Is this a mistake? Yet, who is he to question? He cannot deny he had been attracted to her ever since his first set his eyes on her; she strongly reminded of his beloved so much. Perhaps, it was the gods' way of telling him it was time to move on. For how could he be a redeemer when there was too much pain within him? For the thousand of years this ritual has been observed, never has it been denied nor been erred. This was how Caelum and Cielo have been wedded, and from their union sprang a race known today as Uranian.
As Haruka and Michiru stood before the arc, the people gathered into a column of two. Haruka and Michiru were in front, visible to everyone. Facing each other, they bowed their heads in reverence. Their right hands were on their chest, blessing the destined couple.
Haruka faced Michiru and held both of her hands, and looked into her eyes. Michiru didn't understand what this all meant, but in heart she knew it was meant to be.
Haruka thought of his beloved for the last time. 'Forgive me, Michiru.'
Author's notes: The attraction has been undeniably from the very beginning, but friendship needs to be fostered. Friendship should naturally evolve in order for trust to exist; the pacing would slow down in order to yield to this. I already have in mind certain scenes to be injected, yet it's still a long way toward developing a solid and coherence sequence of events. Strange, the concluding chapter is done but what brought it forth is quite challenging than I imagined. Nonetheless, I might start the succeeding chapter soon.