A/N – So sorry for the short chapter. I'm really, really tired. If I keep on going right now…the grammar will die and I'll be asleep on the keys. No more watching sailor moon and Jesus Christ Super Star till five A.M.

Thanks again for the reviews!

Chapter Nine

I've never been an extrovert, but I'm still breathing.
Someone tried to do me ache (it's what I'm afraid of)
With hindsight, I was more than blind, lost without a clue.
Thought I was getting carat gold, and what I got was you.
Stuck inside the circumstances, lonely at the top.
I've always been an introvert

36 Degrees – Placebo

Michiru was determined. Haruka was being as stubborn as she was and this wasn't going to go anywhere if they were both caught in that vicious circle of unwillingness. For this to work, Michiru knew, she had to accept the fact that she was a Sailor Senshi and that her destiny had been determined long before she was even born.

She was sitting on the steps of a flight of stairs in her school, it was well after the bell but Michiru had no where else to go. Her violin case lay beside her, she gazed longingly at it. Remembering the previous night once again she tried to smile, to see light of her situation. Haruka had hit a nerve, Haruka had brought up things Michiru wanted to put away, and Haruka seemed not to like Michiru very much at all.

Grabbing the violin case, Michiru got up. She hoisted her book bag over her shoulder. Today she would take the long way home to clear up her thoughts.

'Maybe I'll just jump off a bridge or something…' she thought to herself.

The day was warm and sunny, a slight breeze made the heat bearable. Michiru was well on her way home when she heard another scream. It came from a garage down the street.

'Great…' Michiru grimaced, trying to find a spot where she could hide to transform.

Her desperate search seemed in vain, everything was out in the open. Hopefully no one was at the garage except for the victim. Michiru ran towards it, a serious look on her face. Already she was getting tired of fighting youma.

When the aqua haired girl reached the garage she stopped in astonishment. Haruka was lying on the floor, a monster loomed over her. It looked almost like the worm creature she had fought, except this thing was much bigger. Michiru put down her violin case and bag, unsure of what to do.

Suddenly, in front of Haruka, a white light appeared similar to the one that had appeared before her. A pen dissolved from the light before the sandy haired woman. The monster was stunned, Haruka's hand was moving towards the item before her.

Michiru began to panic, this was never what Haruka wanted, and Haruka should have the choice to battle. Haruka wanted to become a race car driver, Haruka had dreams she needed to fulfill. Michiru was beyond that, she could never turn her back now.

"Don't grab that Haruka! If you grab that, your life will never be normal ever again!" Michiru shouted.

The white light vanished and Haruka turned around. The pen clattered to the ground. Michiru's eyes were cold, her face held an expression of immense displeasure. She raised a hand into the air.

"Neptune Planet Power, MAKE UP!"

Haruka gaped in awe at Michiru's sudden transformation into the Sailor Senshi of the sea. Sailor Neptune wasted no time with any explanations. She dove at the monster, dodging an oncoming attack. Haruka got up, startled by the fight that was going on in front of her. She watched Sailor Neptune intently, watched her move swiftly around the monster. Haruka didn't know whether she should take the opportunity to run away or stay and help if the aqua haired girl got hurt.

The monster fell back, stunned by Neptune's attack. She raised a hand in the air, determined to finish this.

"Wait! Stop! It's really a human! He works here, I saw him change right before me!" Haruka cried.

Neptune gave the girl a cold stare, her arms still raised above her head.

"If I don't, there will be more victims." She said.

"So, you're not going to choose your methods of fighting?"

"Yes, that's right; I'm not going to choose. What other choice do I have?"

The creature suddenly recovered and lunged for Haruka. A frightened look appeared on Neptune's face and totally forgetting about her own safety she dived in front of Haruka. She pushed the blond to the ground, using her own body as a shield. A pain sliced through Neptune's left arm as the creature went past the two.

Neptune jumped off of Haruka and raised her arms into the air.

"Deep SUBMERGE!" The Senshi cried.

The attack hit the monster dead on. The youma screamed in pain. It's worm like body thrashing on the ground. It then lit on fire and dissolved away into the form of a boy. Neptune collapsed on the ground, she felt faint and her arm was bleeding quite badly.

Haruka ran over to the Sailor Senshi. A pained expression was on the young blonde's face as she knelt down to hold Neptune. Neptune stared at the fallen boy and gritted her teeth. The tender arms of Haruka held her still. Neptune found the gesture comforting.

"I might have killed him. Damn it, next time I'll kill them. It's not right, but I never chose this to be my destiny." She gazed up at Haruka.

"Why did you protect me? If you had hurt your hand you would never be able to play the violin again."

"I need to tell you something important. I saw you before I knew you were the other senshi. I watched you run at school. When I had one of my dreams I felt a warm presence and with that I was willing to accept my destiny. When I saw you again I felt that same feeling. It made me happy to know that you were that person." Neptune turned her away from Haruka, "I really do want to ride with you to the sea in your car."

Haruka looked over at the pen on the ground and held the girl in her arms tight. She reached over and picked up the pen. Sailor Neptune transformed back into Michiru, Haruka stunned by it.

"We need to get you someplace safe." Haruka said.

Michiru looked up tearfully, her right hand had moved to clutching her left arm.

"We just need to stop the bleeding." Michiru said.

Haruka gently began to raise Michiru's injured body. Michiru closed her eyes, wincing at the pain in her arm.

"Can you stand up?" Haruka asked.

"Yeah, it's just my arm that got hurt. I'll be able to stand with a little help."

Haruka eased Michiru to her feet, placing an arm tightly around the girl's waist. The feel made Michiru smile, in all of her life she had never been touched as kindly as this. They walked out from the garage.

"My bag and violin…" Michiru stammered.

"It won't be a problem. I'll grab them as soon as I get you to my car. You can rest then." Haruka said, helping Michiru walk.

Haruka led Michiru to her car and opened the door. Carefully resting Michiru in the passenger side of the car Haruka then ran back towards the spot where her bag and violin were. Michiru closed her eyes, the pain from her arm subsiding.

Haruka jumped into the driver's side of the convertible, placing Michiru's things into the backseat. Michiru opened one eye. The blonde placed a key into the ignition and turned it. The car purred to life.

"Where do we go from here?" Michiru said wearily.

"Was that a metaphorical question?"

"I don't know. Where are we driving to? That's a good start. I'll think of the rest later."

"You shouldn't be alone right now in your condition. I have some medical supplies at my house." Haruka said, her foot pressed against the gas pedal.

Michiru didn't say anything, she had begun to fall into a sleep. Her head began to slump towards her shoulders. Her right hand felt sticky from the blood that still flowed from her wound.

"Kaioh, are you alright?" Haruka asked.

"Hmmm…?" Michiru mumbled.

"Stay awake. We're almost at my house."

"Mmmhmmm." Michiru nodded.

The car pulled up into an apartment complex. Haruka lived alone, just like Michiru. The apartments were a fair size with large front balconies. Each had an entrance on the outside and stairs leading up to them.

Haruka stopped the car and pulled the key from the ignition. She opened her door and ran to the passenger's side. She lifted the half asleep Michiru up to her feet and managed to get her out of the car.

"Keep awake, we're going to be climbing some stairs." warned Haruka.

"Yeah…okay." Michiru muttered.

Walking up the stairs proved to be a challenge. Michiru kept on tripping while Haruka was forced to help support her weight. Michiru almost collapsed completely at the door while Haruka was fishing for her key.

"You're not making this any easier…" the blonde grumbled while opening the door.

"Be quiet…I can't think straight. Maybe it's…from shock…?" Michiru breathed as she was led to a couch.

"I'm going to get your things then I'll be right back. Hold on for me, please." Haruka said softly.

"Mhmm..." Michiru replied, curling up on the couch.

Michiru was only bleeding a little now but she still felt weak. The pain was lingering in her arm, the cut felt deep. Michiru hoped that it wouldn't get infected. The front door shut. Haruka made her way to the washroom and came back to the living quickly. In her hands was a first aid kit and a few bandages.

"Straighten out." Haruka ordered while opening up some alcohol swabs.

Michiru uncurled herself and let Haruka take her arm. Haruka observed the wound then began to clean it with the swab. Michiru hissed in pain and tears welled in her eyes. Haruka finished disinfecting the cuts. Michiru was trying hard not to burst into tears. Haruka began to dress the wound, Michiru blacked out.

TBC…