Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.

Author's Note: Haruka is a little out of character... okay, maybe more than a little. Just bear with me.

Chapter III: Haruka's Friend

Rap. Rap.

Tamara nearly fell off her chair when she heard the knock. She just knew this was a bad idea for Haruka to go out and find her friend today. Lately, Haruka had been getting more visitors, probably people sent by the Queen to make sure that everything was all right before Haruka left for Pluto. Tamara just knew it was a bad idea for Haruka to leave. But would Haruka listen to her? NO! She never listened to her. Even after two years of getting caught and getting punished, Haruka never seemed to get the idea. Shaking slightly, the girl tried to imitate the princess's confident and loud voice.

"G-go away, I d-do not want any visitors." Tamara almost laughed out loud at her attempt to imitate the princess but decided that laughing wouldn't be such a good idea in a situation like this.

Who could it be? Tamara wondered as she bit her nails. Princess Haruka doesn't have any lessons today so it can't be any of the teachers.

Then a thought struck the blond haired girl.

Please don't let it be the queen.

Wringing her hands, the princess's maid glanced around warily. There was no place to run and no place to hide. Plus, she had already given away the fact that someone was in the room when she yelled out that she didn't want visitors. This was bad.

What do I do?

Suddenly, the knocking ceased. Tamara held her breath, listening carefully for any sounds. Still shaking slightly, the maid got up from the chair and trudged over to the window.

"Wow, that was a close one," Tamara sighed softly and leaned against the door. Her eyes wandered towards the window where Haruka had left, hoping that the princess would walk back through it and return home. Unfortunately for her, no such think happened. "You have been gone for two whole hours! WHERE ARE YOU!"

Tamara shook her head, ever since Haruka had met this new friend of hers, she seldom came back by the time she promised. All day, the princess would rave about this Yaten person and would disappear to the marketplace whenever she got the chance.

"Haruka, I'm getting tired of waiting. Open the door right now."

The maid's face paled instantly when she recognized who the voice belonged to. With fear written all over her face, Tamara waited for the worse to come.

"Haruka, open the door," Queen Urana demanded, "or else I'll blast my way in!"

"You mean you've never seen gophers before?"asked Yaten, disbelief evident in his voice.

"No," Haruka admitted while prodding one with a blade of grass. "They don't allow them in the palace."

"Must be nice living in the palace. Even if your parents are cooks."

"It's not as great as you think."

The boy gave Haruka a strange look but decided not to comment on anything. He leaned back against a tree trunk and gazed at the bright blue green sky with a self-satisfied smile.

Instead of going to the marketplace today, Haruka and her friend Yaten were outside the city exploring the mysterious forests of the planet Uranus. The princess had to admit that she had never seen anything so spectacular. Towering trees loomed over the two explorers; some even taller than the highest towers of the palace. The animals were also very intriguing. Never had Haruka seen so many different animals, though she had studiedthem with her teachers. She watched with interest as they scurried all around, some even stumbling onto Haruka's lap.

"Careful, or it'll bite your finger off," warned Yaten as he crouched down beside Haruka watching him play with the curious gopher.

"Very funny." Turning away from Yaten, Haruka smiled happily to herself. She could always forget her troubles when she was with Yaten. She enjoyed the excitement of the adventurous activities that they both indulged in, she enjoyed the feel of the freedom that she experienced outside the castle and most of all she enjoyed having a friend to be with. Haruka was very fond of Yaten. She liked his uncaring attitude, his ability to speak his mind, not bothering with half-truths, she liked his boldness, his teasing and how he would be there for her after her latest argument with her mother or just when she was feeling lonely. However, this, Haruka kept inside her behind a mask that Yaten would not be able to penetrate.

Glancing at the sky, Haruka sighed. It was getting late.

"I should get going now," the princess said, getting up from the grassy ground. "My mother will be wondering where I am."

"Alright."

Carving a trail through the tall grass, Yaten led the way home. Birds chirped in the distance as they exited the forest and the wind blew softly, causing the grass to sway back and forth like ocean waves.

"What kind of girls do you like Haruka?"

"Wha- Oh... I-"Stumbling for an answer, Haruka decided it was best to settle for a simple one. "I've never thought much about it."

Yaten laughed, "You probably would like the feminine type."

Haruka managed to maintain a neutral expression. "I don't know. What about you?"

Yaten shrugged looking uncomfortable. "No girl would want me. I'm nothing but a poor pickpocket, stealing from others just to live. I don't have it easy like those rich snobs. Especially those royal snobs living in the palace."

Haruka felt her stomach tighten but continued walking silently behind her friend.

"They keep everything to themselves yet they have too many things for their own good. Money, servants, power! They have things a person like me would never be able to have."

"They don't have everything."

Yaten stopped, causing Haruka to collide into him. He spun around to face Haruka with eyes that showed no emotion.

"I don't see what you mean," he said with narrowed eyes.

"They don't have freedom. They are tied down because of their responsibilities as a ruler."

Yaten laughed bitterly. "Freedom? So what if they don't have freedom? They have everything else! I would give up my freedom to have all that!"

Haruka frowned at Yaten.

"No... Freedom is priceless."

"That's what you say," spat the older boy. "Even if you aren't a prince, you still probably have never had to steal to live. You have probably never had to experience hunger or pain! You don't understand anything."

Yaten stormed away, leaving Haruka standing alone in the field.

"Is freedom really nothing?"

"Listen," Yaten said with difficulty."I... er, I apologize for saying all those things to you."

Haruka had caught up to her friend and they were walking through the crowded marketplace in the city. Many smells floated through the stuffy air, from perfume to spices and fresh baked bread.

"It's okay."

"We'll watch those greedy people rot in the palace of theirs," Yaten laughed cheerfully.

The blond nodded and bit her lip. She didn't dare say anything that would give her away. If Yaten ever found out she was...

"What the-"

Haruka was jolted out of her thoughts as a dozen palace guards surrounded the two, blocking all escape routes. The girl was too shocked to move or say anything. Haruka felt numb all over.

"What do you want?" Yaten demanded.

The commander reached forward and grabbed the princess, twisting her hand behind her back. "Princess, I think you have had enough fun for today," he said coldly.

Haruka stopped struggling and paled slightly. Her mother must have been really mad this time. She had never sent the palace guards to retrieve her. Most of the time, she had waited in Haruka's room for the princess to return. However, this was not the thing that worried Haruka the most. Shaking slightly, the princess turned her head to look at Yaten.

"Princess?" Yaten whispered staring at his friend at disbelief.

Sweet scents of pies and cakes drifted through the zesty autumn air. Music played cheerfully from the side of the palace garden and people from all over the planet Uranus chattered happily together.

Over in a corner, unnoticed, the princess of Uranus lay on the ground sadly gazing at the sky.

"Princess, aren't you joining the party?"

Haruka glanced to the side to find her maid, Tamara, stuffing her face with a monstrous slice of cake. Hiding a grin, the blonde shook her head.

"No, I'm fine here," the blond replied. "Mother didn't need to set this up for me."

"It's a very nice good-bye party," commented the maid as she sat down beside Haruka. "After all, you'll be training on Pluto for a long time. We'll all miss you."

Haruka scanned the crowd, finding her mother chattering with a few nobles. The queen had dressed neatly for the occasion, wearing a shimmering blue cloak and a elegant sapphire necklace that was a present from the king. She didn't need a lot of jewelry or a crown, for she wore power like a cloak on her shoulders.

Even after the King had been killed during a war a few years back, the Queen had remained strong and had worked even harder to please the people of Uranus. However, even with her hard work, the planet Uranus still suffered after the long war and would take even a longer time to recover. Because of this, the possibility of the Queen spending some quality time with Haruka was as likely as the mushrooms on Michiru's dinner plate to pick itself up and walk off the table.

"Do you think mother will miss me? After all the trouble I have caused her?" Haruka asked. Though they were not able to spend as much time together as Haruka would have liked, the princess still loved her mother dearly.

"Of course," Tamara cried sincerely. "She loves you, princess."

"I will miss you too," said Haruka, smiling sadly at Tamara. Then she suddenly brightened up, smirking playfully. "But you'll probably be glad that I am gone so I won't cause any more trouble for you."

"Don't say that!" The maid exclaimed.

Haruka laughed, remembering all the times they had both been punished for one ofher crazy schemes.

"But we were really lucky that her highness didn't murder us last month when she found out that you have been secretly sneaking out of the palace again after all those things she had told you about responsibility duty before you went off to Pluto. "

Haruka bit her lip. They had both got in to a lot of trouble but luckily her mother let it pass, after all, they would not see each other again for a long time to come. The only thing that still bothered her was Yaten.

"So did the princess cause a lot of trouble in the palace? Hmph, sounds like Haruka."

Haruka looked up and her mouth fell open.

"Yaten?"

She hadn't seen him for weeks after the incident outside the palace and had thought that they would never see each other again. Haruka could never forget the expression on her friend's face when the palace guard had addressed her as the princess. Shock. Anger. Betrayal...

"What are you doing here?"

"What? So you don't you want to see me?" He asked and squatting down beside Haruka.

Staring in to Yaten's eyes, the princess remembered the weeks she spent pacing in her room trying to decide what to do. She had been so confused and didn't know whether she should find Yaten to apologize or not. Poor Tamara had been left trailing Haruka around the room, trying to comfort the princess with no success.

"Aren't you anrgy?"

"Well, I was angry at first, but we promised to be friends forever." Yaten smiled and placed an arm around the princess's shoulder while Tamara decided it was best to excuse herself and left.

"You should have told me the truth from the beginning," Yaten said, frowning. "It sure would have saved us from those misunderstandings."

"You hated girls and nobles."

"Well, you're different," laughed Yaten looking closely at Haruka's face. "You know, I could have never guessed you were a girl."

"Are we still friends?" Haruka asked, staring intently into Yaten's eyes. Haruka felt her chest tighten. The answer meant so much to her. She couldn't lose Yaten. The princess held her breath as she waited for him to reply.

Yaten smiled and lightly kissed Haruka on the cheek. "Of course, princess."