Chapter one: The unknown bride
The room was light.
She squinted and told herself to go one step after another. Her body still hurt and her headache was driving her crazy. She didn't sleep the last night and almost the whole day. It was late in the afternoon now and her stomach groaned slightly. But she didn't know if she should throw up her last dinner or if she was hungry. Her thoughts spun around in her mind until nothing remained at all. Only one thought: Go straight to the throne.
The room was hot.
Her dress was too thick for this planet. She came from a sea planet, this one was covered with desert. Enough moons reflected the far away sunlight and made the atmosphere like an oven. Sweat ran down her back but she'd rather die than opening any bottoms of her narrow dress. The people living on this planet wore light, changeable clothes. And turbans and veils against the burning sun. She didn't wear such clothes. Her sea green hairs laid open on her shoulders, covered her back and gave her an extra dose of hot air.
The room was crowded.
There were a lots of people staring at her if she was a wonder. They stood right and left to her while she tried to go straight to the still empty throne.
"Who's that?" She heard several voices whisper besides her.
"Princess Michiru of Neptune."
"Oh, then she got such a letter, too?"
"Certainly she wants to get a rich husband."
"I hope she thought about the child."
"Hai, most of the other so called noble ladies didn't like our small princess."
"But she's beautiful."
"Hah! Beauty isn't the only thing that counts."
"You're right. We need a mother for our princess, a kind queen and wife giving our future king strong sons."
"By the way, how many tried it before her?"
"Twenty-nine."
"And they all failed?"
"Hai, he didn't like any of them."
"So she's number thirty."
"Hai..."
Michiru didn't listen any longer. She simply walked over the soft carpet and wondered how long this room was. Wasn't there any ends? Or did she have to walk for the rest of her life? But suddenly she didn't care about it any longer. Panic was filling her thoughts and she took a deep breath.
I am already number thirty.
She swallowed hard and fought hard against her dizzy feelings.
He didn't like anyone of all those women. So he won't like me, too. Maybe he isn't even interested in women? You know he's still mourning over his late fiancée.
Of course Michiru knew about the tragic destiny of Haruka, prince of Uranus. His parents died when he was ten and it was now over four months that his fiancée, the mother of his daughter, died. Of course she knew about the small girl. But that was okay for her. She would do anything so that she wasn't forced to marry the earl of Pluto. And as long as the little girl didn't bite her she would be a good mother, nursemaid or whatever he wanted her to be. How to change nappies, how to feet a child and how to wash it, she could learn it. As she learned so many things in her life a normal princess normally didn't know.
And if he expects any children? Strong sons?
She thought a lot about this strange letter, but she didn't think of all details. Suddenly she felt how she blushed. She wasn't prepared to be a real wife now. Nor was she prepared to be a real mother.
If I'll ever get pregnant...
Slowly she raised her head but the throne was still empty and the people whispering around her. Her deep blue eyes looked into different curious faces and finally caught the look of dark green eyes. A young man leaned against a column pillar. He wore a white, comfortable suit as the most men did on Uranus. Some blonde strands covered his ears that weren't covered by his white turban.
Maybe another servant.
There were so many people in this room that she couldn't define who was servant, who was nobility and who was simply a guard.
Nice to let them bring their children with them.
Indeed there were some children running excited through the room although some mothers shouted angry at them. They only laughed and continued their game. Even the young man at the column pillar carried a small child in his arms. It wore a white pyjama so she couldn't define its gender. Maybe a little boy, maybe a little girl.
It looks cute.
Suddenly she swallowed hard and tears burned in her eyes.
I wish my father would have ever hold me so tight...
The small baby smiled in its dreams and it looked as if it was really loved. As if it knew this fact and that's why it felt safe and secure in her father's strong arms.
The young man frowned but she already lowered her head as she reached the huge pillow. Hard she fell down on her knees and took another deep breath. Suddenly she knew why they all wore bright coloured clothes. Because every dark colour could kill one in that hot sunlight.
And I baka am wearing a dark blue evening dress!
She cursed herself but at that moment the citizens were very silent with a sudden and went on their knees, too. Michiru raised her head and looked in disbelieve at a huge man coming from behind towards the throne. He was about two or maybe even three heads taller than her and how it seemed he could almost be her own father. How old was he? Maybe forty. Maybe even older.
And he has a new born daughter?
She had heard that his late fiancée had been only nineteen years old.
But they all say that it was true love. So how...
Silently she had hoped for a younger prince. His face was full of scares and suddenly she was frightened of him. His hands were so big and who could guarantee her that he wouldn't beat her?
He can't be worse than my father.
She swallowed hard and watched how he sat down and looked silently down at her.
And he can't definitively be worse than that earl!
"It is my pleasure to welcome you on Uranus, princess Michiru of Neptune. Why are you here?"
Why are you here? Where were those nice, senseless sentences kings were normally talking about? Even her father did that. Conversation...
Michiru swallowed hard and her smile froze on her suddenly pale face.
Her head was empty right at the moment and she simply didn't know what to reply. She had hoped to speak with the prince under four eyes. She had been ready to beg for her life. But not in front of all those people. Then she would have lost at the instant. Because kings don't want queens the whole nation knows that they're weak and were able to cry and even to beg.
"I came, because you sent me this letter." She reached inside her handbag and held up a crumbled paper in trembling hands.
"It says that you're still searching for a wife."
"I sent thirty letters to thirty different women."
Then the people had been right.
Michiru swallowed hard and looked up at the man. But suddenly he didn't look at her any longer. He looked over in completely another direction.
Am I so boring?
Michiru sighed deeply. Maybe it had been a stupid idea to come to Uranus and to beg to become the wife of a stranger. Of a man who obviously didn't want a wife at all. Not after the youngest princess of Saturn died while giving birth to his child.
But it had been my only chance...
"Prince, I..."
"How old are you, princess Michiru?" he asked but still didn't look back at her.
"Eighteen moon summers now." She answered and coughed. Suddenly she shivered although she was still sweating. Her arms hurt like hell under her narrow sleeves and her stomach was getting wilder with every second.
"And you think you'll be able to raise a small child? You know about our little princess, don't you?"
"Hai, prince. But..."
"Do you know anything about little children."
"Well..." she sighed deeply and lowered her hand. The sheet fell somewhere on the soft carpet. She knew when she lost a fight. "No." She admitted finally. "But I am able to learn all this stuff."
"Do you know how to change nappies? How to care for our princess when she's ill? Do you know anything about education?"
"No..."
"You don't look old enough to give birth to strong sons. You are born on a sea planet, this here is a desert planet. You won't feel right here. And you know nothing about children. So, why do you think I need you as my future wife?"
Suddenly she remembered a pale face behind thick blankets. A sweaty hand reaching for her one. Holding it tight after no one else wanted to hold it. To help. To comfort. To be simply there. Her brother had been very ill. Chained to his bed until his death. He had been only two years older than her but he had been her best friend.
Until that dark night only five years ago...
"'Cause I know how to love her." She whispered and sighed deeply. Hai, if that small child would be only a little bit like her brother she would be able to love it - with all consequences.
Please, don't send me back!
But she knew that there was no way back. The prince made his point clear. He didn't need her.
"Okay, Tumari, that's enough. I guess we tortured her enough." Suddenly a low voice spoke between the still kneeling people and Michiru turned her head. In disbelieve she stared at the young man who left his place by the column pillar and came over to the throne. The man Michiru thought was the prince went on his knees before the young man and said something on the native language of Uranus. Every planet had its own native language. And every citizen of each planet could speak the Moon language by heart. Because it was the language that connected all people within the Silver Millennium. Everyone grew up with both languages.
"Are you the prince?" stammered Michiru and frowned.
"Guess." Haruka smiled friendly at the still kneeling princess and pointed over to the strong giant. "He's my respectable dragon's breeder." She reached her free hand towards Michiru and helped her up.
Her hand is so icy. And her face so pale. Isn't she feeling good?
Haruka looked sceptically at the long evening dress. The youngest princess of Neptune was a real beauty. And the dress fitted perfectly to her slim body. To her long sea green hairs that fell like cascades down her back. But it was certainly not the right clothes for Uranus.
Better I'll get anything lighter for her.
Haruka frowned and hesitated as she looked into sad blue eyes. So desperate shinning ones. It was the first time that she was concerned about anyone coming to her palace because of that silly letter. More than one princess ran away because she didn't like how Tumari treated her. Or she ran away because she hated the hot planet after the first three minutes. Or she didn't like it to wait for the prince. Or she was afraid of the idea being a mother for a small child. Or she was annoyed of that child.
But she didn't run away. She answered all questions honestly.
Haruka swallowed hard as she saw suddenly tears shinning in deep blue eyes.
She was the first who talked of love instead of gold...
"May I invite myself? I am Haruka, Prince of Uranus. And this small child is my daughter, princess Hotaru." She declared and cradled the baby softly in her arms.
"Hotaru? That means Little glow worm ." Whispered Michiru and raised automatically her hand and touched the tiny head covered with fluffy dark hairs.
Haruka blinked.
"Okay, everyone out. Now! I want to talk to princess Michiru on my own!" she declared with a loud, determined voice. The people came to their feet, bowed and quickly left the huge room. Even the guards left, but Haruka knew that they would stand outside the closed doors. Waiting for her command.
"You came here because of that silly letter?" asked Haruka after she took a deep breathe and was sure that all doors were closed and they were really on their own.
"Hai. I... I want to become your wife." Whispered Michiru and still stared at an innocent sleeping child's face. She wasn't strong enough to raise her head and to look again into dark green eyes.
"Why?" Haruka cradled her daughter while she went over to the huge window from where she could oversee the city's walls. Right behind the city the endless desert which covered Uranus' surface began.
"Why do you want to marry me? I am a total stranger. I have a small daughter and my planet is the opposite of your water paradise. You don't know me. How will you know that I am a good husband for you? That I am the right one for you? Maybe it's a fault and you'll fall in love within the next couple of years or even months? Believe me, princess, money's not everything."
And I am a girl.
But Haruka wouldn't tell a foreign princess. She wouldn't tell anyone to bring her life and the future of Hotaru in danger.
Michiru swallowed hard as she heard so determined spoken words. So true words. Words that explained all her deep fears.
"Cause it's my only way to survive." Michiru took a deep breath and watched the silhouette of a young man against the bright sunlight. "My father wants me to marry the earl of Pluto by the end of this month. And I don't wanna be the wife of this rude man."
"And who guarantees you that I am nicer than him?"
"Don't you know what happened to his late wives? The first one died together with her daughter during the birth and he wasn't even around. He didn't mourn, because it had only been a baby girl. His second wife couldn't give him any children so he beat her until she died..." Michiru sobbed quietly and her shoulders trembled.
"My future wife died during Hotaru's birth, too."
Michiru nodded thoughtfully.
"But you love your daughter. That's the difference. You know what love is and so you aren't able to hurt or to kill someone who belongs to your palace. I've seen it in your servants faces. They adore your, but they don't fear you. Like my servants fear and hate my father..." She shook her head and her curls fell over her shoulders. The sun shone through the wide windows, was caught in sea green hairs.
She's beautiful.
Haruka frowned and turned towards the desert view again.
"Is that what you expect? Love?"
Michiru answered with a shaky, desperate laughter that made Haruka's heart hurt. She knew that laughter too well. It hold her often enough back from becoming insane. It was the kind of black humour that let her stand up every day when the sun rose.
"No. What I expect is life. I wanna live, prince. I don't wanna end up as a killed wife of that earl because he took me too rudely. I know that someone like me isn't allowed to expect love. But... well... I would be grateful for security and maybe a little bit faith and friendship. Not more. I just wanna live in peace. I am fed up with all that fear. Don't worry, I cared for my ill brother the half of my life and I am sure I'll be a good mother for your princess if you'd give me a chance."
"I am not a joke for silly, spoiled brats who don't want to get married!" answered Haruka with an angry voice but still Michiru couldn't see her face. "And what if I want another wife? What if you aren't the picture of a mother I had in mind?"
"Then you can marry another woman. I know your laws and that you are allowed..."
"Shut up! Do you know how silly you sound!" Haruka turned around and her dark green eyes sparkled angry at her. Michiru stepped automatically back and suddenly some tears ran down her cheeks.
"Please, prince. You're my last chance! Please..."
"You can't mean it, princess. How will you know that I won't be a tyrant? That I won't hurt you? That I won't beat and rape you whenever you don't want to be together with me? That I simply ignore you as my wife?"
Please, understand, princess. I can't marry you. I am a girl and it's worse to be trapped in a lie than in that rude world outside. And I don't love you. I could never marry anyone I don't love. And who doesn't love me in return. It's alike what Rumiko ever said, there's no one out there who would ever love such a freak like me.
Haruka swallowed hard and walked slowly over to the smaller princess. Her whole body trembled and some tears ran down pale cheeks.
Please, don't cry.
Indeed princess Michiru was the first one who really begged. Who cried when she declared that she didn't want her. The few women she could talk seriously to were convinced that she was a rude tyrant just after some minutes and they went away and left her in peace.
"It can't be worse than the last eighteen years. And it can't be worse than a marriage with the earl..." sobbed Michiru and shook her head.
Haruka wanted to say something as the door was pushed open and a young guard came into the room. He blushed deeply because he knew it was unkind to interrupt his prince, but he knew that he had an important task to do.
"There're important news, prince." He said and bowed.
Haruka sighed slightly.
"Politics?" she asked and looked again at a still trembling Michiru.
"Politics, indeed, prince."
"Okay, I am coming."
Carefully Haruka gave her daughter into Michiru's warm arms and was gone within the next moment.
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"So what's so important?" Haruka looked straight into a face that blushed even more.
"It was the king of Neptune, princess Michiru's father. He was very concerned about his daughter and he asked for permission to enter Uranus. He only wants his daughter in security. He said she simply ran away and he doesn't know why."
She ran away. So she's a spoiled brat.
"Okay, he has my permission."
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The girl slept deep and tight in her warm embracement. She was full and satisfied. Although she was already four months old she was still very tiny. Slowly Michiru went on her knees and laid the baby carefully on a huge pillow which laid overall in the palace. Maybe they were used instead of chairs. This pillow was very soft and the baby only munched as if she was used to them.
She's so small.
Carefully Michiru took those tiny hands in her icy ones and counted the tiny fingers. It were ten wonderful, perfect fingers.
He loves this child.
Michiru didn't know if she should laugh or cry.
He obviously loves this child although her mother died during the dangerous birth...
Slowly she lowered her head and couldn't fight back her tears any longer. Now they were running down her cheeks. Openly. She didn't care about them any longer. It was over, her last life line was cut and now she was left alone on a dark, endless sea. Trapped in a golden cage she wouldn't be able to escape until she died a long and suffering death.
"Hope he'll always loves you, small princess." She whispered and winced as she head suddenly determined steps behind her.
"Why shall I ever hate her?"
Michiru looked up and swallowed hard. Suddenly the prince's face was so strict. So serious. So cold.
"'Cause my father hates me. My mother died during my birth and he says it's all my fault." Answered Michiru and took a deep breath. The hot temperature was killing her and without thinking she stroke some strands of her sea green hairs behind her ears.
They said he's concerned about you, you liar!
"I don't believe..." Haruka's voice died away as she saw blue shadows on pale skin. She went on her knees besides the smaller princess and carefully stroke away all the strands. Michiru winced but didn't turn away. Her deep blue eyes looked up at the tall man. Frightened. Uncertain what the prince did. How he would react about her ugly body.
Haruka gasped for breath as she saw the bruises which covered the neck. And surely even more parts of that shaking body in front of her.
"I know I should have told you that my body's ugly. It's covered with scars, but..."
Baka! Do you really think I am looking for a Miss Universe? Do you really think I am so superficial?
But you wanted her to think about you as a tyrant!
"Hush.." whispered Haruka and cursed herself silently. She had seen that the young woman reeled slightly. That she was hot under that dress which was perfect on Neptune, but completely wrong on Uranus. Very carefully she opened some buttons of that dress and felt that the cloth was too heavy and too thick. Slowly she opened the shirt and gasped again for breath. There were more wounds and scars. One side of the bra was bloody and Haruka knew that all she would do today was to bring that princess to her doctor. The discussion could wait. Until tomorrow or whenever she was recovered again.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she whispered and raised her head. But Michiru looked determined away. Her pale cheeks were slightly blushed and again tears shimmered in her deep blue eyes.
"Why should I bother you? I didn't want to be chosen only by sympathy. Although I guess it's the last chance that's left for me."
Certainly he thinks now that I am the ugliest woman in this universe.
Haruka shook her head and swallowed hard.
It must hurt so much. And I baka had to shout at her!
"It was him, wasn't it?" she asked quietly and frowned.
Concerned? Did the guard really say that he sounded concerned?
Michiru only nodded. She opened her mouth to reply anything as the door was pushed open and a tall man in a dark blue tuxedo stepped into the room. His dark eyes sparkled while he ran a steady hand through his short sea green hairs. His look was angry.
"What the hell do you think you do, you witch!" he shouted and grabbed Michiru's hand and pulled her on her feet. Michiru's eyes grew wide, but she couldn't react. All she could do was to hold together her dress to cover her hurting body. Hard he slapped her right into the face and she whimpered tortured. "You know that the earl only wants a virgin! You can't simply go wherever you want and to..."
"Excuse me!"
Haruka freed Michiru with a quick motion and stepped protectively between the trembling young woman and her raging father.
"Excuse me, please, but you're talking to my fiancée! In my palace! On my planet! You should mind your words before you speak, king of Neptune!" Haruka clenched her fists. She didn't know what got her to such a crazy decision. But as she heard the silent sobs behind her she knew that she would throw him out if it was necessary. Right by herself. With a big kick in his ass!
"Fiancée?"
"Hai, I just asked your daughter to become my wife."
"She won't bring you any luck, prince Haruka. She's useless and all she causes is trouble. And she won't bring you any dowry."
"I don't need any dowry. Uranus is rich enough to support her, too. Besides some other million people!"
Dark eyes looked angry into determined green eyes.
"The earl pays me a nice sum for her."
Haruka heard how Michiru gasped behind her for breathe and cursed the tall man in front of her silently. But still she needed his permission. So were the traditions. Still.
"I'll pay you two thousand ginouses!" she declared with a low voice and saw how dark eyes suddenly sparkled. Heard how Michiru sobbed even louder.
It must be humiliating for her being sold just like dragons! Or worse, cattle!
But Haruka knew that there was no other way. And that she wouldn't let him go with that trembling young woman. With that obviously hurt princess.
"Two thousand?" Now dark eyes shone with greed.
"Hai, two thousand."
The king smiled suddenly satisfied and Haruka had to fight hard with herself not to beat right into his ugly face. To destroy his rude smile forever.
Haruka raised her hands and clapped three times. The next moment another door was opened and some guards appeared next to the throne.
"Give him two thousand ginouses and show him the way out." Declared Haruka without letting her look off the king. She didn't want that he did anything wrong within the last seconds.
"Two thousand..." the king laughed a rude, cruel laughter and Haruka saw how Michiru clapped her hands over her ears. Her whole body trembled as she went on her knees besides a still sleeping Hotaru. The little girl was used to dragon's screams. So an angry tyrant couldn't wake her up so easily.
"She isn't worth it, you baka of a prince. She won't ever..."
Haruka gave her guards a short wink and they pulled the now laughing king with them. Quickly the door was closed and again they were left alone.
"Asshole!" swore Haruka silently. Then she turned around and looked at a still sobbing princess.
I wish there had been another way.
Slowly she went down besides the trembling woman again. Carefully she took her into her strong arms and hold her tight as she wanted to escape.
"Two thousand ginouses!" gasped Michiru between two sobs and shook her head in disbelieve. "That's too much!"
Haruka bit on her lower lip and her green eyes got a shape darker than normal.
"It had been too less..." she whispered and knew that she would kill Michiru's father the next time she met him again.
Suddenly Michiru raised her head and Haruka looked into big blue eyes full of panic.
"You bought me..." she said so quietly the taller woman almost missed her words. Almost.
"For the first and the last time, I didn't buy you. I rescued you, nothing more."
"But two thousand..."
"It's not that much. I'll sell a good educated dragon, that's it."
I'll never tell her that it takes about twenty years to raise such a good dragon. And that we only have five of them to make sure that our herd will survive the following centuries.
"Dragons?" whispered Michiru after a long while and coughed. Her body trembled even more and Haruka could feel how the smaller woman froze.
"Hai, Uranus's the planet of deserts and dragons."
The former princess of Neptune looked straight into green eyes and more tears were running down her cheeks.
"And now?" she asked very quietly.
Now I've got to tell you that you're going to marry a girl. That we'll never have our own children. That you'll have to do your whole life without love.
But she kept silent. Instead she clapped again in her hands and several guards and servants appeared again in the room.
"First we'll take you to the doctor."
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"Guard?"
The young man blushed again and bowed deep before her.
"Please, make the next time sure, that our guests are really concerned. Concerned and not ready to kill!"
The young man blushed even more but when he wanted to reply anything his prince was already gone.
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"And how does she feel now?"
"Besides that she's totally confused and afraid?"
Haruka sighed deeply as she saw into her doctor's concerned dark eyes.
"What else should I have done? Tell me! Her father comes in and beats her right in front of my eyes! I simply couldn't let him take her home again. To that silly husband she has to marry by the end of this month!"
"For her body it had been the right decision. Not a minute too late. Her whole body is covered with similar bruises, wounds and old scars. I..."
"Her whole body?" gasped Haruka and her stomach started to hurt.
"Hai. Her father did a cruel good job. Over more than just one or two years." The doctor walked over to his desk and looked into a thick book without really seeing it. "I gave her some healing cream for her bruises and bandaged her chest. One of her rips is damaged and I guess every turn must be real torture for her." The doctor looked out through the window. The sun was setting and the whole desert looked like a huge sea of flames. Normally he liked to watch the sunset. Normally. But today wasn't normal.
"I know why you did it, Haruka. But are you really sure?"
Haruka took a deep breath and looked down at her clenched fists.
"Maybe. She's simply lost in this cruel world outside. She needs a place where she can stay. Safe and secure. Just like Hotaru and me."
"Like Rumiko?"
Haruka lowered her head and sighed deeply.
"Guess."
It was nothing more than a silent whisper.
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Three full moons shone through the opened window. It was still pleasant warm outside. But soon it would turn into a bitter cold until dawn.
Silently Haruka closed the window and went over to the bed. It was a normal Uranus bed and it consisted of nothing more than a soft mattress and a lot of pillows different colours, sizes and shapes. A small figure laid between all those pillows. The light blanket laid somewhere besides the mattress and the young woman had curled herself up in a ball. Her body shivered slightly, but she didn't open her eyes. Her sleep was too deep to be disturbed only by a little bit cold.
Haruka went on her knees and carefully covered princess Michiru's freezing body with the blanket. She hesitated but couldn't resist her feelings. Slowly she raised her hand and stroke through sea green strands.
Hope it's been the right decision. For all of us.
Slightly she sighed and went over to her own rooms. A thin smile appeared on her face as she heard the high, fast, regular breath of her daughter in her own bed.
I love you.
She bowed over the small girl and kissed gently the tiny forehead.
I don't know if it's the right decision. But it was the only possible one I could make at that moment.
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"Gomen?"
Slowly the voice dropped through her lazy thoughts. Through her sleepy mind. Through the dream that had filled her world just some seconds ago. Now it disappeared into nothing without leaving any trace behind.
"Prince?"
Very, very slowly she opened her eyes and had to yawn. The sun shone right into her face and she blinked. First there were only shadows. Moving shadows.
"Prince Haruka?"
She knew that voice. From somewhere. Only for a short time.
Princess Michiru!
At the next moment Haruka was awake and sat upright in her bed. Nervously she held the thin blanket before her body. She wore a long robe as night shirt - as all men at Uranus did. It was white and very, very wide. So that no one could see her female outlines and that she could breathe freely - at least the few hours she slept at night.
You could tell her.
Haruka risked to raise on hand and to rub her tired eyes.
Right now.
But again she didn't find the right words.
Damned! Why is it so hard? She's going to be my wife!
Sleepy she looked up into deep blue eyes and wondered how late it was. Normally she got up by sunrise. Because Hotaru needed her breakfast and new nappies. And the little girl declared her with her angry screams when she was hungry or wet. Or simply bored. It was the greatest pleasure for the small girl to get with her daddy into the huge, warm bed early in the morning to sleep some more time in those strong, warm arms.
Himme-chan!
"I need your help, prince." Declared Michiru and blushed. Now her face wasn't so pale any longer. Her eyes sparkled and a thin smile laid on soft looking lips.
"Nani?" Haruka still didn't look as if she would leave her bed. Instead she hold her blanket even tighter.
Strange, he looks cute when he's still sleepy.
Michiru swallowed hard as she remembered that it would be normal for her to see him like this when she was finally his wife.
It was the first time that she saw him without his turban and she liked the messy blonde hairs. Suddenly she had the desire to ran her hands through the short strands but she hold herself back. What would the prince think about such a crazy behaviour?
"Hotaru started to scream about an hour ago and I did my best in changing the nappies. But still I didn't find out how exactly it works. Hotaru looks fine. She beat me with her toy dragon and laughed. Oh, she's really a cute child, prince Haruka! And such a nice one. She..."
"She beat you with her toy dragon?" Haruka looked at her with now a doggy expression on her still tired face. "And you liked that?"
"She looked so cute when she wanted to eat her right fist."
Haruka frowned.
"You're talking about my daughter? About Himme-chan? About the girl who drives everyone crazy until she's clean and full? Who screams until she gets me out of the bed early in the morning although I am real late riser? You speak about our little blackmailer?"
"Hai."
As Haruka burst out into laughter Michiru looked puzzled. Then her smile grew wider. She liked the sound of a laughter. There were little folds around the prince's mouth and he looked almost...
Almost cute, admit it!
"Guess you don't know what you did yesterday. 'cause I am not any better than Himme-chan."
"What? You prefer to eat your fist? Shall I change your nappies, too?" Suddenly Michiru's smile broke. "Don't worry. I know what I've done yesterday. Hope you know it, too."
At one moment Haruka blushed deeply. The next one she was pale.
"Just gimme two seconds to get dressed. Then I'll help you." She said and searched for her clothes. She put them down somewhere when she went to bed last night. It took her some more hours until she was able to sleep. There were so many things to think about. So many questions she couldn't find any answer.
"Okay." Michiru rose from the bed and left the room.
After Haruka bandaged her chest and dressed herself in men clothes she followed the young princess. Michiru sat next to a huge group of pillows. In the middle was a small glass table with good smelling breakfast. Haruka's stomach growled as she saw the black coffee and the thin bread typical for Uranus.
"To fed her was easily. She's so greedy!" Michiru put the empty bottle aside and hold the baby up to let it make its burp. "But the nappy. I can't help myself, but it looks all wrong."
Haruka looked at her daughter and smiled as she took her onto her lap to correct the white cloth herself.
"Oh, don't blame yourself, princess. It's better than my first try ever had. With the time you'll get used to it. And Himme-chan will surely tell you if anything's wrong with her."
"Himme-chan?" Michiru shook her head as one servant appeared and wanted to give her coffee.
"Hai, that's my nickname for her." Haruka frowned. "Don't you like coffee?"
"No. I'd prefer milk. Coffee's so bitter. And it's not healthy."
"Well..." Haruka winked shortly and the servant disappeared. He returned after some seconds and shortly after Michiru's cup was filled with a white fluid.
"It's only dragon milk, but it tastes. At least Himme-chan likes it." Carefully Haruka laid her daughter into the cradle and turned again towards the sea princess. She noticed that Michiru wore again her long evening dress and knew that she would start to sweat within the next hour.
"And what do you like to eat?" asked Haruka after she drank some coffee and felt how her body was slowly, very slowly awakening.
I am a real late riser! Without Hotaru I would sleep until the sun sets again.
"Noodles." Declared Michiru and blushed deeply. "I know it sounds kinda strange. I am a girl from Neptune, but I don't like fishes. I simply can't touch them. They always seem to be so wet and so..." Michiru shivered, then she giggled. It was the most beautiful sound Haruka had heard during the past twenty four hours. "I could die for Earth's food, but this dragon milk tastes also very good. Tastes like the Earth milk with a lot of honey."
Haruka nodded and reached over for the butter.
"So you're a mermaid but don't like to eat your creatures."
"Hai, you could say so. Is that bad?"
"No." Laughed the taller woman back and started to play with her knife and the butter. As always the butter seemed to win the fight and some spots fell down on the soft carpet. "Don't worry, we can't have a lot of fishes on Uranus. It's simply too dry for those poor creatures..." she pointed over to the wide opened windows. "We only eat fish when we have a great celebration or the national holiday. On the other days you won't have to see it on your plate."
He can't be so mean. He looks so friendly when he's laughing. And he's so kind to me. Maybe it had been the right decision after all. Always chose the stony way if the other one is an abyss.
"What's that?" Michiru looked critically into a small pot and smelled at the yellow fluid.
"It grows into the leaves of a special plant. Don't ask me after the name, I am not so keen on cooking. But it tastes good. It's sweet and Hotaru loves it to have a little bit of it in her milk."
Sweet?
Sceptically Michiru took it on her flat bread. It looked like white bread but it tasted different. Different but good. The young princess couldn't remember the last time she had a proper breakfast. When she didn't have to eat her meals alone in a small kitchen because her father didn't want her at his table. When she had the last time enough to get full. When she had the last time something sweet.
It all tastes strange. But it tastes. Better than everything I had at home.
"Tell me something about you." Haruka ate her own bread and rolled her eyes as some more spots covered the carpet.
It's simply to early in the morning.
But she knew that this wasn't the reason for her nervousness. Normally she ate all alone. Only for some, just a few months Rumiko had joined her. Until she felt weaker with every day her belly grew bigger and stayed at her bed for the whole day. After that day now four months ago she was used to a babbling or sleeping baby by her side while she made her bread and looked out of the window. Wondering what the new day would bring. If she would be able to hide her female body any longer behind her wide suits. If there would be any more trouble with the other planets, especially Saturn and the Moon. Whenever she woke up and got a message from the rulers there she knew that it was going to be a really, really bad day.
"Something about me?" Michiru blinked and reached again for the small pot. It obviously seemed to taste her. A small smile laid on her face and her cheeks were redden.
"Hai. Whatever you want to tell me. We're going to be married, so I want to know you a little bit better before we stand in front of the priests."
"Oh." Suddenly the smile disappeared and the spoon rested in the yellow fluid. "There's nothing special to be told about me. I am the youngest daughter of Neptune. I have four..." she sighed deeply and put the pot back on the glass table. "... three brothers and one older sister. They're all, well, princes and a princess. Nice and strong. Not like me. And... guess my oldest brother will be a great ruler one day. He's different from my father. He never beat me, but he was punished whenever he wanted to be nice to me." She swallowed hard. "But I guess that's not so interesting, prince. I am simply the smallest princess of Neptune and the last one who isn't married yet. And I like pets. Back home I had my own dolphin." Suddenly she smiled again. In memories. "It was a cute, little dolphin and he loved me deeply. I loved it to dive with him. I knew he would never hurt me and whenever I needed breath he seemed to feel it and returned with me to the surface."
Haruka listened to her and again her stomach started to ache. The princess was telling her everything in the past. As if it was a long time ago. About her fourth brother, about the dolphin. About the crown prince.
You know why she's again wearing that thick dress. Just to hide her scars and bruises.
"You –had- a dolphin?" she asked after a while and gave the servant a wink to get new coffee. Still she was feeling very tired and needed her potion of power.
But it had been nice to be waken up by her. Admit it!
"Hai. He was dead one morning when I awoke. They all told me that it was an accident and that not all animals survived the hard life in the sea." Michiru swallowed hard and raised her head. Tears were shimmering in deep blue eyes.
"Here on Uranus you can have a dragon if you like. They're really nice. Huge but cute as Rumiko always told them." Said Haruka while she fought again with her food. Again it didn't obey and had obviously fun to play with her. And with the carpet.
"Rumiko? Was she your late fiancée?" asked Michiru and Haruka let go of her bread. It landed upside down on the soft carpet but the taller woman didn't care about it.
"Hai..." whispered Haruka and sighed slightly. Suddenly her face was pale and her stomach hurt even more. Automatically she looked over to her daughter and took the turban from her head. Suddenly she was sweating. And freezing at the same time.
He looks so sad with a sudden. So all alone...
"Gomen. I didn't want to upset you." Michiru observed her spoon and didn't have any appetite now.
"No, it's okay, princess. It's okay." Said Haruka and took a deep breath. Then she clapped into her hands and another servant appeared.
"He's our dressmaker. Better you'll go with him and get some proper clothes. This blue dress is really nice, but it doesn't fit to our climate here on Uranus."
Michiru nodded in agreement and smiled thankful, because she was already hot under the thick velvet.
"Hope you'll get used to Uranus, princess. We have a lot of deserts, wonderful dragons and a lot of sand. But we don't have any big sea or ocean."
Michiru lowered her head to stare again into the yellow fluid.
"But you don't have any tyrants."
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"Princess?"
Without knocking Haruka entered the rooms that where connected with her own private ones. Just like the tradition wanted it. The king and the queen didn't have to love each other. They didn't have to share one bed. But at least they should share the same palace wing.
Michiru's blue eyes grew wide and she turned quickly away to cover her naked upper part of her body with her thin blouse. It existed of silk and was almost transparent. The colour was a light blue and she liked it. First she had felt a little bit embarrassed by walking around in such strange clothes, but as she saw that a lot of women did in the palace she felt better. After all she didn't sweat so much any longer. Her long sea green hairs were hold together in her neck by a silk scarf. She got a lot of those scarves. People seemed to like them. And she wore more than one skirt. Because they were all made of the same silk, too and only five or six could prevent that anyone could see more than the etiquette allowed. They all were very light and let enough air through.
"Gomen, prince. I didn't hear you come."
She blushed deeply and lowered her head. She saw the long golden necklace shimmering in the evening's sunlight and wondered again if she was worth such valuable jewellery. The dressmaker gave it to her and said that it fitted perfectly to her. The blue jewel looked like her deep eyes he declared and she didn't dare to contradict him.
"I didn't knock, so don't worry."
Damned, two seconds too late!
Haruka frowned but didn't know where that thought came from. She groaned as the princess went down on her knees before her.
"Let this silly stuff, princess Michiru. I hate all this formal etiquette and I don't want a wife who digs in the dirt before me. How shall I talk to you when you're so small?" she tried to tease and reached for an icy hand to help her up. At that moment she saw the pot in the smaller one's right hand and smelt the scent of herbs. Healing herbs.
She does what the doctor told her.
Haruka frowned and went over to the bed and sat down between all those pillows.
But surely she can't reach her back. And there her skin is surely sore, too.
"Come over here and sit down. I've got to talk to you." She pointed at the place next to her and saw how the princess swallowed. But then she obeyed and sat down.
"I talked with my prime minister and with some other political guys here and they say that the wedding has to wait for two more months. It's tradition that I have to wait for six months after Rumiko died before I am allowed again to marry. Strange traditions but still I have to follow them. I can't change them as long as I am not official the king."
Michiru nodded and clenched her fists around the pot. She lowered her head and some strands of her sea green hairs fell into her face.
"Gomen." She whispered very quietly.
"Nani?" Haruka frowned and leaned a little bit forward to understand her better.
Her hairs smell so good.
"Gomen, prince Haruka. I didn't want to rush into your life and replace your late fiancée. I didn't want to remember you of what you lost and simply say: Here I am. Take me. I am your new future wife." Michiru took a deep breath but Haruka didn't interrupt her. "Certainly her death hurt you a lot and I didn't want to... to... steal her... I..."
"It's okay." The taller woman reached for the cream pot and put Michiru's long hairs over her shoulder. "Rumiko is dead. But Hotaru's alive. She needs a mother. And after all I've got to know about you, you simply need a place to stay. You treat Hotaru loving as I could see today and you're a kind person, Michiru. So don't worry."
You can't steal anything that never belonged to me.
"Strip your blouse." Haruka said and looked for some seconds into big blue eyes. Startled blue eyes. Frightened blue eyes. "I only want to help you. Or are you able to reach your back?"
"Oh... no..." Slowly Michiru laid her blouse aside and lowered her head. She closed her eyes as she felt a soft hand carefully caressing over her bruises, wounds and scars. She smelt the scent of herbs and although it hurt it was the gentlest touch she ever experienced.
No one has ever been worried about me.
Michiru bit on her lower lip as she felt again the pain flashing through her body. The wounds still needed some days or even weeks to heal again and her rip made every breath to a torture. But she would've never turned away from those hands. From a touch so light and softly.
No one ever cared for me.
"Don't worry about the wedding, Michiru. I'll never hurt you." It sounded like a promise. Michiru had heard a lot of promises in her life. Almost all had been broken and the ones being hold hadn't been good promises at all. But suddenly she wanted to believe that low voice. For the last time.
"There's something else I've got to tell you."
Haruka took a deep breathe and her hand rested between small shoulders. She knew one day she had to tell the princess the truth. So why didn't she just tell her right now? That the former princess of Neptune was going to marry a girl. A girl who had to be a boy to rule Uranus. To protect her people. To let Hotaru grow up in peace and love.
That she's going to spend the rest of her life with a total freak.
"There's something..."
With a dyke.
"Hai?" Michiru didn't open her eyes but frowned as she heard concern in the low voice behind her.
"I..."
With a lesbian.
"I..."
Haruka took a deep breathe and suddenly knew that she couldn't tell the smaller woman. Not now. Not this way. She simply didn't find the right words.
Do you want her to die because of the shock she gets when she sees you in your wedding night?
Haruka didn't know an answer. She looked down at her hand on the small back full of scars and bruises and swallowed hard.
"Hotaru will be our only child." She whispered and swallowed again. Then she reached into the pot and started to caress the back again although the sore skin was already covered with healing cream. "We won't have any other children. 'Cause..."
'Cause I am a girl.
"'Cause..."
Michiru shook her head and Haruka frowned as she heard a relieved sigh.
"Good. I mean, that's not good. I'd like to have an own child one day. But Himme-chan's cute and... it's strange. I only know her for only one day and she still conquered my heart. Guess I already love that small devil." Michiru smiled a sad smile but still her eyes were closed. For some moments she enjoyed the soft hands on her back before she carried on. "The doctors aren't sure if I'll ever be able to have an own child. After I had an accident when I was a small girl."
"An accident?" But by the shaky quiet voice she knew that she hadn't to ask.
"My father beat me into my stomach. It had been my seventh birthday and he was dead drunk. He almost killed me..." Michiru took a deep breath and wondered why she told the prince so much about her past. A stranger who only kept her because of sympathy and because he needed a mother for a cute baby. But somehow it felt right to tell him all this stuff. Some of her nightmares. He listened.
No one ever listened to what I have to tell.
"My period is very irregular and weak. The docs aren't sure if I'd ever get pregnant and if I would if I'd ever be able to give birth to it. My whole body's not strong enough."
Just like Rumiko's...
Haruka shivered as she thought at an always pale, always for breath gasping princess. Her best friend. Her only friend besides Jimmy. Rumiko had have a weak heart, from the beginning of her life. The doctors told her that she would be able to become a hundred years old – if she took care of her body.
If she took care.
But Rumiko had no time to take care of anything after her parents got to know about Jimmy. After the princess recognized that she was pregnant. After Jimmy died. After there was no hope left.
"I knew I should have told you before my father crushed in and shouted around angrily, but... but I feared you wouldn't want me. After... after all those people whispered yesterday. That you were looking for a wife who could give you strong sons... and..."
How should anyone don't want you?
At the same second Haruka knew that there were enough rude people outside.
Her parents never wanted Rumiko and they only want Himme-chan because of their bloody pride. They would never love her. The same they would never accept me as her father – even if I was.
"I've got Himme-chan. I don't want any more children."
But what do you want then?
Haruka sighed and put the cream away. Then she reached for the blanket and wrapped it around Michiru's body.
"Are you feeling better now?"
Michiru took the ends of the blanket into her hands and nodded. Although her back hurt a lot she knew that this pain would go away. Slowly but finally.
"Hai."
Shortly Haruka embraced the trembling princess from behind. Her unknown bride. The woman with whom she would share her life. With whom she would raise Hotaru. Who hopefully wouldn't hate her after she'd found out about her real gender.
Michiru was a young princess who was as lonely as Haruka. As lost. As abandoned.
Maybe it's destiny that she came here yesterday. That I saved her life. Who knows what awaits us in the future.
"Don't worry, Michiru. I only want my people to live in peace and my daughter to be happy. As long as you'll never hurt Himme-chan, you're safe here. And welcomed. Your father can't come to Uranus without my permission."
With those words she let go of the warm body and corrected her turban.
I'll tell her later.
"Prince?"
When is later for you? In two months? Or in a year?
"Don't call me this way. Then I feel like an old granddad. Call me Haruka."
Michiru smiled shyly and wrapped the blanket closer around her body.
"Okay. Haruka?"
His words sound so honestly. Is it right? Am I safe now? At last?
The taller woman raised her eyebrows as she turned back near the door. She wanted to go over to her daughter to tell her a fairy tale her own mother once told her when she had been small. Happy. Loved.
"Arigato."
Haruka only nodded and looked at the smaller woman on the mattress. She didn't know what to reply. As always. She never found the right words in the right moment. So she left it and kept silent.
Maybe one day I'll be able to tell her the truth.
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