A/N – Ugh, sorry for the short chapter of death. This is what happens when you have a writer's block. I'm also trying to speed some moments in time up a little so it won't be all "Haruka and Michiru go to school, they learn stuff, then they talk about the world ending, they fight youma, they go back to school and learn more stuff" etc…

This is Insanekitty's "CHAPTER OF SPEEDING UP TIME". Hooray.

Oh, and great thanks for the reviews. They make me happy, my love goes out!

Chapter Ten:

I'm so lost I'm barely here,

I wish I could explain myself,

The words escape from me,

It's too late to save me,

You're too late…you're too late.

Stockholm Syndrome – Blink 182

"Christ!" Michiru sat up suddenly.

Her arm hurt and the pain had awoken her from a deep sleep. At first she thought that she was safe at home but a quick inspection of her surroundings proved her wrong. The apartment was fairly large, large enough that two people could live there. The walls were mostly blank, only a few pictures dressed them.

The room didn't have a lot to it. There was the couch, a coffee table and a T.V with a VCR machine. Behind her was the entrance way to the kitchen and a bedroom. The washroom was down a short hallway beside what Michiru guessed was a guest room.

Her arm was dressed with a bandage and a little bit of blood stained her school uniform. All of her energy was back, and with it came a gigantic appetite. She remembered what had happened the other day, the monster, Haruka, the car ride. The car ride was just a groggy haze to her but she knew that she did it.

Haruka walked out from the bedroom. She was dressed in silky purple pajama's that seemed to give her an even more tom boyish appearance. The blonde looked troubled.

"I'm awake." Michiru said.

"As if it wasn't obvious." Haruka replied.

Michiru noticed that the transformation pen was in the other girl's hand. It was very similar to Michiru's. The symbol of Uranus was engraved on it. Michiru reached into her dress pocket and took out hers.

"Haruka, we have a huge responsibility on our shoulders. We have a mission; we need to stop that silence." Michiru began to stand up from the couch.

Haruka just stared at her, watching her every movement like a hawk watching it's prey. The aqua haired girl began to walk around the couch to the blonde. Michiru reached out a hand and touched the other girl's shoulder. The warmth was there.

"Thank you for yesterday. You took me in, thank you." Michiru whispered.

"Thank you for rescuing me…" Haruka said.

Michiru traced a line down Haruka's arm with her fingers. When she reached Haruka's hand she stopped. Her delicate touch made Haruka quiver under her stone faced composure.

"Do you know what we need to do to stop this approaching silence?" Haruka asked, carefully moving her hand away.

"No, not yet. But I suppose it will come to us in a vision." Michiru spoke.

Haruka turned around and walked into the kitchen. Michiru found it difficult to hold a conversation with the other girl. She wondered if the intimacy she had just tried on Haruka scared her. Michiru put on a serious look.

"You can't run away from it. You had a choice, now deal with it Haruka." The violinist said; an angry tone in her voice.

"I know. But it's hard to adjust." Haruka explained.

"I understand. But this is more important than our hopes and dreams. This is the entire future of the planet. As Sailor Senshi it is our duty to protect it, at whatever cost."

"To sacrifice our lives and the lives of others?"

"If it means that the common good has been fulfilled. One life sacrificed compared to the many saved."

"Is that what helps you sleep at night, telling yourself these things?" Haruka asked.

"Yes, it does help me sleep. Not because they are lies but because they are truths. Whenever I have that vision, the vision of the Silence, I feel terror and remorse as I watch those innocent people get killed. I've come to realize that I have the power to stop that."

Haruka went back to working in the kitchen.

It had taken some time to get Haruka to soften up to Michiru. Michiru was ever persistent in her ways. She continually bugged Haruka, usually never leaving the blond at peace. When Haruka tried to escape to the comfort of her home Michiru would always find something to do with her. Haruka would become tired and eventually gave in to Michiru's nagging and talks.

Michiru's career as a violinist slowly began to boom. After her performance on the cruise ship she had been called many times to perform at other special gatherings. Her painting had also taken quite some notice and soon she found herself painting more and selling just as much. Rent was no longer a huge factor; she had more than enough money to support herself.

"Too bad this won't last for long." She had told Haruka.

It wasn't before long another vision came to them. Michiru woke up in a sweat in her apartment. She gripped her covers, her porcelain skin dripping covered in tiny goose bumps. She found herself breathing heavily, dazed.

She reached for her cordless phone and dialed Haruka's number. She knew that she would be waking the other girl from her sleep but this was important.

"H-hello…?" A weary voice came from the other end.

"Haruka, this is important! Don't hang up!" Michiru squeaked.

"Michiru? Goddammit girl! Do you know what time it is?" Haruka growled groggily.

"I know what time it is Haruka, but this is very important."

"Alright, but there will be hell to pay if it isn't."

"I had a vision again."

"Yeah, I know you get them all the time. So do I."

"But this one was different."

"Hmmm?"

"It was the same Silence, people were dying, destruction and chaos every where. Then I saw this light and this woman appeared. I couldn't see what she looked like but I felt this immense power coming from her. The Messiah. There were three objects that glowed around her and this grail of some sort." Michiru caught her breath and slowed down. She hoped Haruka was awake enough to have caught all that.

"Then this means…" the voice on the other end whispered.

"I think we have a new mission." Michiru answered.

"Hey, Michiru, do you want me to come over?" Haruka asked.

"Why would you do that?"

"I don't know, maybe we could talk about this for awhile. I want to make sure you're okay." Haruka said.

"Are you awake enough to drive?"

"What is this, 'questions only'? I'm always awake enough to drive. Now, do you want me over or not?"

"Yes."

"Alright, I'll just find your address and I'll be over in about half an hour. Don't fall asleep."

"I'll leave the door unlocked just in case." Michiru said, smiling.

"I'll see you. Good night."

"Good night Haruka."

TBC…