Chapter four: Birds of freedom
It was cold in the church underground. Although it was noon she froze. Here no moonlight warmed her skin, no familiar desert was seen. The church had no windows and the only light were four candles burning on the cold stone. North, south, west and east. Every direction. It had to do something with tradition. Or were they symbols of an old religion? Haruka told her but Michiru didn't remember.
She clenched her fists in her lap and shivered slightly. She only wear her wedding dress. It was almost transparent and consisted of white silk. It was covered over and over with diamonds who sparkled in all colours of the rainbow. Silver laces laid around her neck and her ankles and jingled each time she moved a little bit. She wore a veil. A white veil that covered her face. She could see through, but now her look was blurred. The veil wasn't connected to her hairs and she didn't dare to breath because she feared to lose it. It was important to. Some more symbols.
This whole wedding is nothing more than a religious symbol for those people here.
But still she was very nervous.
Haruka is a girl, this wedding isn't real.
But still her heart beat against her chest and her hands got even colder. The pillows she was sitting on were soft, but her back started to hurt. She didn't know how long she already sat there but it seemed to be eternity.
Michiru lowered her head and stared at her arms under the white silk.
It's now over two months that he beat me for the last time.
She was grateful that the bruises and scars disappeared. Some scars remained but you could only see them if you looked closer. Who knew what happened.
Haruka never said that I am ugly.
She smiled a nervous smile and her jewellery jingled as she raised her right hand to correct the veil. It slipped over her face and she felt uncomfortable.
How long will it take until someone, anyone comes down to say that it's over?
Suddenly she wondered if she would see Haruka at all during the whole wedding ceremony.
What did she tell me the last evenings about this whole thing?
Michiru frowned but suddenly her head was empty. Some friendly maids helped her into the dress, although she thought that it was a joke. You could see her underwear right through, although it was a nice underwear she had to admit. It consisted of white velvet and was covered with diamonds, too. It looked extremely expensive and she asked herself for more than one time if it hadn't been more valuable than the sum Haruka paid her father to go away.
My father...
Somewhere over the surface were the guests waiting. Somewhere in the palace.
The maids helped her with her hairs and guided her into the church to let her sit down on the soft pillows. They lightened the candles and went away.
How long is it now that they left me here?
Michiru raised her head as she heard how the door was opened. Somewhere in the dark. She saw four shadows walking through the darkness. Walking? They seemed to float. The sea princess could see how four priests with long black robes walked over to her and froze in motion behind each candle. They stared down at her without seeing her at all.
And now? Will they observe me for another hour? Is that a hobby for them? Maybe they're so bored with their job that they think it's funny to watch a bride on her wedding day.
Michiru clenched her fists until it hurt and swallowed hard. Her back hurt even more and she lowered her head to stare into one candle's flame.
The door was opened again and she expected another priest. Or a maiden. Maybe the doctor to see if she was already frozen in this bloody, cold and dark church. Michiru frowned as she heard familiar steps coming towards the pillows. She raised her head and looked into dark green eyes. Nervous looking eyes. Haruka smiled encouraged as she noticed that Michiru saw her. But her face became very serious again as she walked over to the priests who bowed before her and let her into the cross formed between the burning candles. Michiru sat on her pillows in its middle.
Her blue eyes were hidden behind a white veil but Haruka knew that she was as nervous as she. The whole morning she worked hard on her bandage and it simply didn't fit. It took her eternity to get into her white tuxedo and the turban didn't look right. The whole morning she wandered through her rooms and feared for more than once that she would have to throw up her breakfast.
Now this is our wedding day.
Haruka kneeled down before her bride and automatically took Michiru's icy fists in her hands and opened them. Calming she caressed over the soft skin and looked up into a veiled face.
Everything's alright.
She wanted to say it aloud, but she knew she wasn't allowed to. The priests stepped again behind their candles and started to sing in a low, monotone choir. Every priest had his own melody and it sounded sad. It was sung in Uranus's language but Haruka was too exited to listen to them or even to understand them. She talked to the priests some days before and they decided that the personal oath should be sworn in the moon language. Michiru was a foreigner, she didn't speak Uranus' native language. Not now. Haruka learned her some words but they weren't important for the oath. She learned her some words like baby, dragon or breakfast.
Or coconut.
Haruka smiled tenderly as she remembered how she hold Michiru tight at that afternoon. How she started to tickle her and how the sea princes burst out into a happy laughter.
I like to hear her laugh.
The choir died slowly away and Haruka took the deep breath. She knew the tradition. Suddenly her hands trembled as she raised them. Michiru tried to hold those warm hands back for some seconds. Shortly Haruka squeezed them gently. She knew that this marriage would never been legal by law if anyone would find out about her real gender. But by the gods it would be legal. Just by saying this small oath.
Guess we both know.
Haruka swallowed and took the veil away. Michiru's face was very pale and her eyes grew wide in fear.
Surely she can't remember what happens next.
Haruka smiled encouraged while a priest stepped forward, bowed and gave her a small cloth. It was also white and damp.
Michiru closed her eyes as Haruka raised her hands again and started gently to wash away the Neptune signs drawn on her cheeks and her forehead. Under them the symbol of Uranus appeared. It was a simple gesture that symbolised that the smaller princess would now stop being Neptune's daughter and start being Uranus' wife. That her father wasn't responsible for her anymore. Now her husband was.
"For peace and friendship..." whispered Haruka and her voice sounded strange in her ears. It was extremely quiet but at the same time as loud as a bomb exploding in the dark church. Carefully she washed the symbols away from Michiru's cheeks. She swallowed hard and washed it away from a slightly frowned forehead. Michiru simply sat there and let it all happen.
"... and love." Haruka's voice was shaky with a sudden. Michiru opened her eyes again and watched her with a undefinable look the taller woman had never seen on her face before.
You have to repeat it!
Michiru remembered a bit of all what was going on. She didn't know what the priest did with the candles nor did she understand the prayers they whispered. But she knew that Haruka told her some evenings ago that she simply had to repeat all she said during the ceremony and nothing could go wrong.
Haruka frowned as she gave the damp cloth in Michiru's shaking hands.
Repeat it, you baka. Only three simple words. In the international language. It's not that hard.
But she knew that it was.
"For peace and friendship..." Michiru hesitated for a second, then she repeated the gestures. There was nothing drawn on the taller woman's cheeks or forehead. It was simple another symbol the smaller princess didn't understand.
And love. Just say it! It's not that hard! You know that she only loved her Rumiko and Rumiko is dead now!
Michiru swallowed hard and suddenly tears burned in her blue eyes.
It's not that hard! She's a girl after all, don't you know? You're going to marry a girl! So say this simple word and it's hopefully over. Then you can go back into the nice warm palace and ask for a blanket and a fire in the chimney!
And love. That isn't so hard!
But Michiru knew that it was. Two single words. It were the hardest in her whole life because she knew they would never come true. Surely they would lead a good marriage. For peace and friendship. But never for love.
I can't compare with a ghost.
"... and love..." whispered Michiru and two tears ran over her pale cheeks.
Why is she crying? Does she already regret it? This whole wedding? Being bound to a freak like me?
Haruka frowned and remembered how the smaller princess hold her tight the whole night while she cried and even later when she was exhausted from her sadness and fell into sleep. Michiru was there, covered her freezing body with a soft blanket and simply hold her tight until dawn. When she had to go with the maids to change into her wedding dress.
She's so beautiful.
Some strands of sea green hairs fell over her shoulders. The other hairs were hold back in her neck by a net of white roses. They were imported from the Moon, because it was very hard to let anything grow in the desert.
Haruka raised her hands and wiped those tears away.
Don't cry.
She wanted to say it aloud. To take this freezing body in front of her into her warm arms and take her away from this silly place. From a silly ceremony they only did for a tradition that was very old. Too old.
One of the priests interrupted his silent prayer and cleared his throat. Haruka blinked and knew that she forgot something. Something really important she didn't think about at all.
I have to kiss her.
Tenderly she stroke over wet cheeks, the symbols of Uranus blurred slightly under her soft fingertips.
Now.
She leaned forward and looked into still watery blue eyes which grew wide as Michiru suddenly knew what was going on. But she didn't wince away. She sat there and watched her in silence.
They both closed their eyes as their lips finally met.
... and love...
Michiru didn't care about the ceremony any longer. About traditions or the oath. She wrapped her arms around Haruka's waist and pulled her closer. Then she kissed her wife with all her feelings. Haruka frowned for some seconds before she repeated the kiss.
It lasted for a long time and none of them felt how another white veil was laid over them. To symbolise that they belonged to each other now. Until the end of all times. Until the end of eternity.
The priests spoke their prayers and their voices increased. Again they started to sing but neither Haruka nor Michiru cared about it.
Slowly the kiss ended and they both opened their eyes under the veil again. There was enough light to look right into the other one's sparkling eyes, see the slightly blushed face.
... and love...
Haruka blinked as they both heard the high scream. Of an angry voice they both knew too well. Michiru winced wildly as the veil was put away. She raised her head and saw another priest who carried Hotaru in his bony arms. The little girl only wear a thin dress, just like her wedding dress. And she froze like hell.
The adoption...
Michiru took a deep breathe as she saw into terrified dark eyes. Hotaru's face was redden and she cried even louder. Her small fists were clenched.
"Enough is enough!" whispered Michiru and ignored the traditions, the oath and the silly ceremony. She rose from her sitting position and went over to the surprised priest.
"How can you dare!" she said with an angry voice and put her daughter carefully into her arms. The baby was cold and trembled. "Don't you see that she freezes like hell?" she snapped at the priest and cradled the small girl in her arms tenderly. Little Hotaru recognized the familiar face and stopped to cry. But still she was cold and unsure if she should start to scream again. To get more attention. And maybe a nice warm blanket.
"But the ceremony..." stammered the priest and the prayers died away around her.
"You and your bloody traditions! They aren't worth letting a child freeze. She's just six months old, you baka! Six months! Do you know how dangerous it's for such a small child to get a cold or even a flu?"
"But..."
"No buts. You'll go and get some nice warm clothes for her or otherwise we'll have your nice ceremony upstairs in the nice moons' light!" Michiru's blue eyes shimmered as he tried to take the baby from her. "And don't you dare to touch her again, you so called holy man! Or you'll regret it!"
The priest stepped back by the dangerous quiet voice and looked shortly over to his prince. Unsure what he should do.
"Go and get some warm clothes for the princess. My wife is responsible for princess Hotaru and I have faith in her." Haruka rose and went over to Michiru who tried to warm Hotaru with her naked arms. At that moment Haruka noticed how much the sea princess froze herself.
"You're also cold?" she asked while she led her wife back to the pillows.
"Don't worry, I am old enough to survive it. But Himme-chan's too small. I don't know how to handle an ill child." Michiru took a deep breath. "And I am not so keen to experience it."
The priest returned with a nice warm pyjama and Michiru laid Hotaru carefully down on the soft pillow to change the dress into the warm clothes. She didn't care that it was red and didn't fit at all to her parents' outfits.
Then the priest returned and bound Michiru's right and Hotaru's left hand together by a white ribbon and held his arms over the both of them. Then he said a prayer in the old Uranus language. Michiru recognized which parts she had to repeat and she did it with a loud and determined voice.
Surely she only wants to get upstairs to get Himme-chan back into the warm moons' light.
The small princess was happy now. She ignored the priest and grabbed for sea green strands and the white veil. Michiru smiled loving at her while she declared in a foreign language that she loved this little girl. That she would be her mother – whatever happened. That she would take care for her as long as she was alive.
Haruka watched her the whole time in silence.
She understood those soft words and knew that Michiru meant them. Every single word was spoken from her heart. It was true.
Haruka leaned forward to free Michiru's strand from Hotaru's greedy hands. Shortly Michiru turned her head and looked directly into green eyes which were a shade darker than normal.
Both women smiled tenderly at each other.
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Some people bowed deeply, some slightly as they finally entered the huge, light hall. All windows were opened and the bright sunlight flood the white carpet. Michiru hold Hotaru tight in her arms and smiled happily down at her daughter. The baby smiled back and babbled something her new mother couldn't understand.
Haruka frowned as she saw how her bride shivered although the room was warm. Very warm.
Or am I simply so nervous?
The tall woman took her white cape and hang it carefully around Michiru's shoulders. The smaller princess looked up and smiled thankfully. Thankful that no one could see her underwear anymore – especially not the guests she didn't want to see at all, she only had to invite because of the silly tradition. Thankful that she didn't have to freeze any longer. Thankful that Haruka cared for her.
What happens next?
Curious Michiru looked in the mass. There were a lot of people in the hall and she knew that there were many other people on the big yard of the palace and in the capital of Uranus as well. Almost all people were there to celebrate their prince's wedding.
Michiru saw some persons between all those people and didn't know if she should be happy that they were there. Or if she should be angry and sad. And afraid. They bowed, but only slightly. They had lowered their eyes but Michiru knew that they would never really bow before her: A witch. A robber. A disgrace...
Only two girls didn't bow in the mass. The sea princess grinned as she recognised Minako who waved her hands wildly to get any attention. There stood another girl right beside her. Her blonde hairs almost touched the ground and she wore a long white dress that resembled the moon's fashion. Her blue eyes stared at the bride and suddenly tears shimmered in them.
Who's that?
Michiru frowned. Then she turned again to Haruka who cleared her throat and stepped a little bit forward. The table was already set and it was late in the afternoon. All were hungry and the musicians waited to begin with their music.
Maybe she has to tell them something. About our wedding. Guess she has to thank all them to come. Although it isn't the truth...
Michiru's grin grew wider as she saw how Minako escaped her sister's arms. A thick book fell on the ground as Minako took the skirt of her golden dress and run towards them. Before Haruka could say anything she interrupted the big speech and embraced Michiru and Hotaru tenderly.
"My congratulations, Michiru! You look so wonderful! The perfect bride! And you did your hair just like I told you! I told you that you look perfectly this way. And this nice dress... real silk, isn't it? Must have been expensive! And that nice jewellery! But you should do something with your makeup! The signs don't look that great. Maybe..."
Michiru giggled as Haruka took a deep breath.
"Minako?" she asked politely while the first guests couldn't hold back their laughter. Ami blushed deeply but had to giggle as well while another girl at her side with long brown hairs laughed loudly. Even the blonde with the white dress had to smile under her tears.
"And Hotaru looks soooo cute! She's..." Minako didn't notice what was going on around her. She finally saw the bride – after three hours of sitting or standing around in a hot hall. Okay, it was nice to talk to her parents after several weeks, but she had been so curious about an Uranus' bride and the ceremonies. About the traditions and the rules.
"And your necklace, must've been..."
"Minako?" Haruka stepped between Michiru and the excited senshi of love. "Aren't you hungry?"
The youngest princess of Mercury blinked, then she turned around and looked at the giggling or angry looking guests.
"Oh..." she whispered, then she smiled again. "Don't worry, the servants gave us enough to survive the last hours. So, now tell me, what was all this stuff underground about? Are you really married now? Did we miss the whole show? And..."
Again she was talking and talking. Haruka knew that she had the right to interrupt and even to kick her out, but she would have never used it. Minako was a good friend and she was funny. Michiru smiled while the blonde girl talked and Hotaru grabbed some long strands. Minako only made a face but kept talking.
Like a waterfall...
Haruka shook her head while she turned around and said clearly to the people that she and the princess of Neptune were married now and that the festival could begin. The music started to play and some people took their seat on the huge table while others simply talked to each other. First servants entered the hall carrying plates and delicious smelling food. The first wine was given to the guests and some drunk more than they could bare.
"Michiru, these are my parents." Minako left her place for only a short time and returned with a beautiful woman with long blue hairs and a man with almost white temples. But his hair was still blue, too. They both smiled loving at the excited girl and congratulated Haruka and Michiru to their wedding.
"I wish you a long and lovely marriage, just like my darling and me." Said Minako's father and embraced his wife tenderly. "Hope your child won't be as wild as our Mina-chan."
"Papa!" Minako looked angry but her big grin betrayed her. Her father raised on hand and messed her blonde strands.
"So, this is our little Hotaru?" The queen of Mercury leaned forward and Hotaru let go of blonde strands and grabbed now for blue ones. The woman only laughed happily. "I can remember when you've been so small, Ami-chan." She whispered and stroke carefully over tiny hands.
"When I still used nappies?" Ami didn't look that happy but she smiled as her mother started to tickle her.
"You was a cute child." She said and embraced her. "And you was a cute child, too." She added and took her second daughter and that embrace, too.
"Hey, don't press us to death." Gasped Ami and Minako with one voice and the three laughed happily.
Haruka smiled at them.
Hai, they have a really good family.
Her smile froze.
My family was like this one. We all had been happy. We all loved each other.
Her smile broke as she saw the pale person coming slowly over to them.
Some other never had such a nice family at all...
"Princess Serenity." The tall woman took her turban from her head and bowed before the girl. She was maybe fifteen years old and still tears burned in her eyes.
"You know you shouldn't do that, Haruka. I am simply a girl not an empress." She smiled a loving smile and embraced Haruka for some seconds. "I wish you all the best with your wife." Serenity whispered finally and hold Haruka's hands for some moments in her icy ones. Then she turned towards the bride. "And I wish you all strength in this universe, princess Michiru. Because sometimes you have to be strong to reach your goals. To fulfil your dreams. Or to lead a happy life."
"Arigato, princess Serenity."
Michiru frowned as she saw how the princess trembled.
Is she cold?
Then she saw again tears shimmering in light blue eyes and remembered all those stories Haruka and the Mercury sisters told her the past few weeks. That the queen didn't love her daughter. That she was trapped in a huge, bright, but very lonely palace. That she led a life in loneliness. That she had less friends – except the inner senshi she only saw when her mother allowed it.
"I wish you a lot of love and happiness." Serenity swallowed hard, then she looked in dark eyes. Eyes she got to know during the past years – especially when prince Haruka declared that he wanted to marry. That was now over eight months ago.
She looks like Rumiko.
But Serenity knew that it wasn't the right time nor the right place to say sorry to the prince about the death of his late fiancé.
Now he has a wonderful wife and a careful mother.
Serenity watched how Michiru hold the small baby tighter and knew that the bride loved her new daughter with all her heart.
It's good this way. Rumiko would be happy and it's alike what my mother says, they both need each other. Just one look is enough to know that they belong to each other.
"I am sorry that my mother couldn't come, but she's..."
"It's okay, Serenity. It means a lot for me that you could come." Answered Haruka and pointed over to the table. "Hope you have a lot of hunger, because my cooks worked for over a week just to produce this delicious meal."
"Yeah! Lots of food!" screamed Minako and pulled her mother and her older sister towards the table. Her father followed them laughing.
"A meal? With pizza? Great!" Serenity smiled, then she blushed and looked suddenly like a small child. "Michiru?" she asked and the sea princess looked into curious blue eyes.
"Hai?"
"May I hold her? I am carefully and strong enough. I simply... she's so cute and it's the first time I see her. I heard so much about her in Mina-chan's and Ami-chan's letters and..." she blushed even more.
"Of course." Michiru stepped nearer and Hotaru babbled happily as she saw those blonde strands. A real challenge for her tiny hands. Those strands were even longer than her mommy's ones. "Hold her this way. And mind her head. She doesn't weigh too much, but she's lively. She's now over six months old and she desperately wants to crawl. Guess there'll be a lot of hectic in this palace when she's able to walk."
Serenity giggled and cradled Hotaru carefully in her arms.
"But she'll be worth it."
"Hai, she'll be."
Haruka watched them in silence. The reflected sunlight was shinning through the open windows and covered Michiru in a bright sunlight. Her white clothes shimmered and the jewellery sparkled in all colours of the rainbow. Some strands fell over her shoulders while she leaned closer to Serenity to show her how to hold Hotaru properly.
She loves her. She'll be a good mother.
Haruka swallowed hard.
Will she be a good wife? Will I be a good wife?
"She's so cute..."
"So you finally married him!"
Two men appeared behind the young princess and Serenity hold the baby automatically tighter.
"The earl wasn't fine enough for you, was he?"
Michiru took a deep breath as she looked into her father's angry eyes.
"Hello, Kei."
"Hello, Michiru."
Shortly the two greeted each other. Kaioh Kei was the crown prince of Neptune. After her father's death he would be king one day. Certainly he was the only one who was allowed to come to the wedding. The other brothers surely sit at home in the huge palace and wondered what happened to their sister.
Or they don't wonder...
"And, are you satisfied with her?" The king stepped closer and at the next moment Haruka was by Michiru's side. "Well, don't think that she'll be such a good mother, she never was a good child either. Hope she's at least worth all the money for the bed. But this night you'll know, won't you?"
"Don't you dare to offend my wife!" growled Haruka and clenched automatically her fists. "Better you sit down and be silent."
"Your wife! She's your whore. You bought her. With two thousand ginouses!"
"Shut up!" snapped the tall girl and the turban landed somewhere on the ground. "You don't know what you're talking about! Better you'll leave my palace immediately and go home to Neptune – and never return again!" Haruka shouted but didn't notice that the hall was filled with strange silence at the next moment. All the guests were quiet with a sudden and turned their heads towards the arguing persons.
"She didn't want to marry the earl, that silly brat. She said he killed his first wives, but as I am informed your first fiancée died to give birth to that child there. Strange that you kept her, she's only a girl. She won't take over Uranus' throne after your death. And I don't think that my daughter's strong enough of ever giving you any children. She's a witch and she's not worth..."
There was a sound and silence followed.
Haruka stood there and breathed hard while the king hold his aching chest in disbelieve. It burned and was red.
"Don't you ever dare again to talk about my wife in this way!" Haruka's face was very pale and she knew she would beat him down if he ever tried again to hurt Michiru. She remembered too well all the scars and the bruises she covered with healing cream during the last two months.
"Wife! Don't you say that you love her."
"Hai, I do."
Haruka's voice was very silent, but determined. Michiru raised her head and frowned. But she couldn't see any other feelings in her wife's face than hate and endless rage.
"Don't lie, prince. We all knew what letters you sent to all those girls."
"I didn't send them. That was my prime minister. I only saw your daughter for half an hour and decided to marry her."
"The same way you wanted to marry Rumiko of Saturn? Don't you think it's cheaper to get a woman in another way? I know there's a small moon behind..."
Shut up! Can't you see what for a wonderful person Michiru is? Can't you see how much she suffers for love and friendship? She only wants a little bit of peace and someone who cares a bit about her. She doesn't want money nor fame. All she ever wanted was a family – and you pushed her away! You hurt her more than she could bare! You'll never hurt her again!
Can't you see that she's one of the friendliest persons of this universe?
But Haruka suddenly knew that he couldn't when she saw into his angry eyes. The eyes of a father who denied, who –hated- his daughter all of his life. Who let her suffer for something that wasn't her fault. Instead of being thankful that at least his daughter survived he punished her for being too similar to his dead wife.
"That's enough know. Better you'll go now. I will never want to see you again on my planet, king of Neptune!" Haruka said with a dangerous quiet voice and clapped for three times in her hands. The guards reacted immediately and stood the next moment by the raging king's side.
"You may stay, prince Kei, if you want." With those words Haruka turned around and looked into watery blue eyes. Michiru swallowed hard but she didn't have the time to cry. She was too busy to comfort a silently crying Serenity who hold Hotaru tighter in her arms.
"She's a whore, nothing more, prince Haruka! All she will bring you is bad luck. To you and your bloody daughter. She'll take her away from you, as she took my wife away from me. She will ruin your planet and poison your soul. Your people. All you ever loved! She..."
The door were closed and the voice died away.
"Okay anyone else who wants to say anything nasty? I am right in the mood to kick some more assholes out of my palace if he or she wants!"
Haruka took a deep breath as she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. She turned her head and looked into a pale but smiling face. Slightly Michiru shook her head.
It's nice how she defended me.
Michiru swallowed hard.
But she beat him when he talked nasty things about Rumiko. About her late fiancée. About Rumiko. Not about me...
"It's okay, Ruka. He's gone now." She smiled a brave smile. "But today is our wedding day. It's nothing worth to destroy the whole party – especially it would be very hard for Minako who already holds her knife in her hand and looks greedy at the plates."
The tall woman looked over to the table and smiled understanding. Then she nodded, still feeling the warm hand on her slightly trembling shoulder.
"Okay, this is a day of joy. Let's have a lot of fun and enjoy your meal." She said aloud and looked up. Immediately the music started again to play. The servants woke up from their trances and again food was pulled into the huge hall. The guests started to talk again but still there were some curious looks on the young married couple. Of course they all knew that most of the marriages weren't love marriages in the world of nobility. And they all knew about the letters. It was quite normal to get a wife in that way. Especially when the parents were dead and there was no one else left to arrange a marriage if it wasn't already arranged in the childhood of the prince or princess.
They all knew about it, but they had seen the happy glances of the beautiful bride and how she looked down at her daughter. With so much love in her eyes. Maybe there was really love between the prince and the princess? Of course all of the people wanted to know it.
"You're right. He IS an asshole." Whispered Haruka and watched how Michiru gave Serenity a handkerchief.
She's our future queen.
Haruka swallowed hard.
I wish she hadn't such a mother. Her future will be hard, it would have been better to have a nicer childhood. She has to be strong, because we all need her.
"Everything's alright, Serenity. He's gone."
Especially when they will find out one day that I am a girl. Then I'll need Serenity the much I needed the queen ten years ago. Hopefully she won't leave me alone with my problems.
Haruka couldn't resist and embraced her wife from behind while Serenity walked over to the table with a still babbling Hotaru in her arms. The other girl with long brown hairs, Haruka told Michiru that she was Makoto, the oldest princess of Jupiter, followed her in loyalty. All the inner senshi would have given their life for the fifteen year old girl – and the outer senshi as well, if they would ever had the change to got to know her properly. Setsuna had to guide her portal of time and when Rumiko asked for help, when Michiru asked for help and when Haruka asked for help, the queen didn't react and the princess was still to weak to help.
"Don't worry, Michiru. He will never do you any harm again." Whispered Haruka and squeezed her for some seconds.
"I know." Whispered Michiru and took a deep breath. The warm body next to her felt so good. So damn good. "But I wish there had been another way."
"I know." Haruka let go but took gently her hand. "But this is your wedding day, Michiru. This is supposed to be the most wonderful day in your life. Enjoy it and have fun with the girls. And don't worry, Hotaru's grandparents didn't have the time to come and the queen, she hates me and I hate her. So she's far away on the moon."
"Guess, you're right."
Michiru knew that this would surely be a nice wedding day, but it wouldn't be the perfect she dreamed of when she was a small child.
I should be thankful that I didn't have to marry the rude earl.
But she knew she wasn't. It hurt too much to be a substitute for another girl. A dead girl. A girl she would never be able to compare with.
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"Something to eat! At last!" said Minako as the servant gave her finally her plate. Michiru who's stomach already hurt, too, leaned curiously forward and chewed on her lower lip. She saw the fish laying on Minako's plate and didn't know how to eat it. Sure she knew that it was very seldom on Uranus to eat fish. Only on festivals or national holidays.
And today is such a festival for the desert planet.
But still she was a little bit disappointed to eat the meal she liked less on her wedding day.
"Anything wrong?" asked Haruka and took Hotaru on her lap to fed her. She herself wasn't so hungry.
Strange, the ceremony is over now and I am still so damn nervous!
"No, nothing." Answered Michiru and thanked the servant who bought her her plate. But there was no fish on it. Instead she looked at hot steaming noodles.
"Nani?"
"Real moon noodles. I asked Serenity to bring them with her." Smiled Haruka while she hold the bottle higher so that her greedy daughter could drink better.
So she could remember what I like and what I hate for dinner...
Michiru shook her head while she took her fork in her suddenly trembling hand.
No one ever cared what I wanted to eat and...
The fact that someone listened and actually remembered her words was the greatest gift for her this day – although she had already seen all the wrapped boxes the guests laid silently in one corner of the hall. It was another tradition to unwrap them after the dinner.
"Arigato, Ruka..." whispered Michiru and her voice was shaky.
The taller princess only watched her in silence.
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"Another gift?" Michiru unwrapped the package and took out a small baby pyjama for Hotaru. Makoto's brown shinning eyes looked at her attentionally.
"Arigato, Makoto. It's cute. I believe that Himme-chan will like it."
"Hai, it's very soft and warm told me my mother. She sits over there and I am sure she'll congratulate you later." The princess of Jupiter laughed happily while she watched how Minako blushed deeply as she handled her gift. "That's from Ami and me." She mumbled.
"You mean more from you." Said Ami and blushed even deeper than her younger sister.
"But the books is from you." Teased Minako and giggled while Michiru unwrapped the gift. It was a night shirt that was almost transparent. And there was a book wrapped in that silky shirt. It contained pictures that showed certain doings of people in love... or at least married people.
"Oh..." Michiru's face went pale, then she blushed. Then it brightened up. "So I know what I'll give you for your next birthday."
Haruka who hold a now sleeping Hotaru in her arms only laughed as Ami blushed even more and chased her younger sister around.
"Where's Rei?" she asked after a while and walked over to the soft cradle standing next to the table. Hotaru was used to dragon screams so a little bit of music and talking noise didn't disturb her.
"She's ill." Answered Makoto and sighed deeply.
Rei, the only princess of Mars. She used to be a loud, but lovely person with a temper almost as hot as Haruka's. And she adored Serenity. She was kind of a best friend for the princess. Until last year. When her dead ill mother died. They all knew about the illness and they all expected their death. But shortly after they buried the queen Rei became stranger and stranger. She stopped talking to people and hide herself into her temple. Into her own world where she tried desperately to fight against reality. Her father tried hard to get her out of her dreamworld but he had no success. So she declared that she was ill whenever there was a reason for her to leave the temple.
Rumiko had been right. We're all abandoned children.
Carefully Haruka put Hotaru in her cradle and went again over to Michiru who still sat on the steps next to the throne and looked with disbelieve at all the presents. From friends, but also from total strangers. Things for Hotaru, things for a wife and maybe one day for a becoming mother as a lot of people of Uranus hoped. Things for a prince and a ruler. And so many more things...
It's like birthday and national holiday in once.
Although Michiru knew that she never got as many presents as she got today her whole life.
Haruka was sure that Hotaru was in good hands. Makoto and Serenity already kneeled down next to the cradle while Ami still chased after a giggling Minako.
"Michiru?" The tall woman sat down next to her bride and watched the book with big eyes. "What is that?" she asked as Michiru turned some pages.
"Well... I am not your teacher, but..."
"I mean, it looks as if you can't hold any balance and..."
Michiru shook her head and giggled.
"Guess it's not invented to do it for a long time." Michiru turned the book and frowned. "Or am I holding it the wrong way?"
"Maybe." Haruka laughed. Then she shrugged her shoulders and put the book away. Then she took Michiru's hand and looked deep into shinning blue eyes.
She's such a beautiful bride and she looks so happy.
"Come, I want to show you something." She whispered and helped her up.
"But Himme-chan! The party and the girls. And our guests. I mean..." Michiru was suddenly very unsure. "We can't simply go to..."
"Don't worry. There're enough voluntary aunts to watch over Himme-chan and no one will miss us as long as we're back right in time for the karaoke singing."
"Karaoke?" Michiru frowned. "You have strange traditions, don't you know?"
At that moment Haruka burst out into laughter.
I love it to hear her laugh. It sounds so energetically. So full of life. So happy...
"No, that's no tradition. But it may become one. Minako had that idea and no one can stop her if she has an idea. She took some songs from the moon and the other planets and I guess we're the first ones who have to sing tonight."
Michiru smiled.
"As long as I don't have to dance."
Haruka smiled back while they left the huge hall. The first couples were already dancing and so no one saw them go.
"You didn't hear me sing before. Otherwise you'd beg for a dance."
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Haruka opened the door and entered the huge box. Only two steps later her white tuxedo was dirtied and a small creature put its paws against her waist. A tongue danced over her hands while she laughed and tried to caress behind white ears. Red eyes looked loving up while the exited whimpering increased. Haruka's turban landed in the strew and she laughed even louder.
"You little devil! What did I learn you? Not to jump at your master. And what do you do...? Hai... I love you, too... and now... please... let me live!"
Michiru stared at the white dragon. It was still a baby, but it was taller now. And stronger. And healthier. It looked as if it would become a hundreds of years old.
"He's still alive?" whispered Michiru and a bright smile appeared on her now redden face. She knew that Haruka didn't kill it that night she begged for its life. But Haruka never talked again about it and so Michiru thought that the small dragon didn't survive the following weeks. She thought that Haruka didn't tell her about its death to keep away the sorrow from her soul. A soul that had seen to many deaths in her young life.
"He's a she." Laughed Haruka and showed the dragon baby that there was someone else in the stable. The dragon turned around and two red eyes looked critically at her. But the brown tail begun to shake wildly as it smelt at her hands and recognized the one who was there at its worst hour. Who stroke it and took care for it. The next moment Michiru was laying in the straw with a whimpering, excited dragon on her lap.
"Goddess, she's strong."
"Hai, she is." Haruka freed Michiru from the dragon and helped her up. Shortly she looked directly into deep blue eyes. "She's my wedding present for you. I..." Haruka took a deep breath and lowered her head. "I know that I can't give you so much and I know that it's not the wedding you may dreamed of when you've been younger. But... well... I mean..."
Michiru smiled a sad smile and took Haruka's face in her hands and forced her to look up again.
"It's okay, Ruka. You cared for her and let her live. Just like me. That's more than I ever dreamed of. I was supposed to marry an old, arrogant, rude earl and now I have a family and a best friend. I never had a best friend before in my whole life." The smaller princess raised her hand and automatically stroke through short blonde strands. "Arigato, Ruka. For all what you've done for me. For this nice wedding. For being part of your family."
Haruka only nodded and swallowed hard.
"And for this moment. To see you like this." Added Michiru and took giggling some straw out of Haruka's messy hairs.
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"A present? Out here?" Haruka frowned but still she didn't open her eyes as a small hand leaded her over sandy underground that slowly changed into a stony one. "You know I don't need a present. We've got plenty of them from all those people. From the senshi and from Serenity. There're a lot in the palace still wrapped and I guess it'll take us another week just to open them and to thank the guests."
Michiru didn't respond anything. Her heart beat increased with every step and suddenly she wasn't sure anymore if it had been such a great idea. But she loved it the first time Haruka mentioned it. And after six weeks of hard work she knew it was worth it. At least for her.
To let the desert bloom...
"You may open them now."
It was dusk and slowly the sunlight died away and was replaced by some smaller moons that couldn't reflect enough. Nevertheless Haruka could see the plants around her. The red petals glowing like glow worms in the setting main moons. She heard some beans hum and as she walked through sand she knew that it was the most peaceful place she had ever seen. And at the same time the saddest...
"A rose garden?" she whispered and swallowed hard. That was what her mother always wanted to create, what Rumiko tried to save, what Haruka dreamed of since her childhood ended so suddenly: gardens in the desert sand...
"Ami was so friendly to give me the flowers. The desert is lovely and mystic, but it looks always the same: golden and monotone. Once you said that you liked roses and..." Michiru took a deep breath. "You did so much for me, I wanted to say arigato not only in simple words. I wanted to give you something special..."
You're with me. You accept me the way I am. And you love Himme-chan. Isn't that something special? More special than this wonder within an empty, dead desert?
But Haruka couldn't say it aloud. She simply stood there and stared blank at the red roses still blooming in the fading daylight. Her eyes were a shade darker than normal and automatically she clenched her fists. Wind played with her turban and her white tuxedo but she didn't notice it. Nor did she notice that her look got blurred when two tears ran over her cheeks.
"Ruka...?" Michiru shivered and walked slowly over to the tall woman. "I... I didn't mean to hurt you... I... simply thought that it would be a nice idea and..." as Haruka turned her face Michiru could see the fear in it. The fear of a small child loosing their parents. Again and again in her nightmares. Again and again in the persons she loved.
Dammed! This is your wedding day and you made her cry!
"Ruka?" Carefully she touched the shaking shoulder and looked directly into dark green eyes that grew wider until they focused again on the smaller woman.
"Desert rose..." she whispered and looked again at the red roses around her, smelt the sweet scent they sent into the hot evening air.
"Nani?" Michiru seized the shoulder harder and wiped tenderly away the taller princess' tears from pale cheeks with her other hand.
"That's how my mother used to call me. Her... desert rose..." Haruka took a deep breath, then she smiled a thin smile. "She would have loved you, Michiru. You're as stubborn as her and you've still so many dreams." Shortly Haruka embraced her and hold her desperately tight for a moment. Then she let go again. "Arigato, Michiru. The memories hurt sometimes, but... but it means a lot for me. Just... don't let it die again."
And never leave me like all the other did.
Michiru only nodded.
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Minako whispered excited with Makoto and the musicians and nodded. Then she turned around, grabbed her skirt and ran over to Michiru and Haruka who sat beside Serenity on the steps and talked to her about Hotaru.
"Now it's your turn. You're the stars on this party and so it's your right to begin." She declared and tiny stars sparkled in her blue eyes.
"To begin with what?" asked Haruka and looked very sceptically up in a redden face.
"With the karaoke singing." Answered the senshi of love and giggled excited. "Don't worry, I've chosen a very good song I guess you all know."
"So it isn't our right but our duty." Michiru smiled and stroke loving over fluffy dark hairs. Hotaru only yawned and grabbed for her fingers to hold them tight.
"One day I wanna have such a daughter, too." Whispered Serenity and blushed.
"You will." Answered the sea princess.
"But my mother would never like my future husband." Sighed the girl and her hairs covered her whole back as she moved closer to Michiru. "He's wonderful but she's too stubborn to see it."
"Don't give up, Serenity. If you really love him there's a way."
There's always a way to escape hell.
Michiru only pointed over to Haruka who rose from the steps and looked from the musicians to a still giggling Minako and back. Her green eyes were filled with panic.
"What's up?" Michiru stepped beside her and touched gently her left arm.
"She says we have to sing now."
"Then let's sing!"
"But I... I can't sing."
Michiru giggled and watched how the guests sat down on their chairs to watch the next game the younger princess of Mercury would show them. The last games had been great and all liked it and laughed a lot. Her "Who eats a banana in the shortest time?" and her "Who's the best cook with only a bread and some cheese?" and other games. Especially for the last one Haruka was thankful that she had been in the stables and in the rose garden. It was clear that Makoto won it with applause. But it was clear that Haruka would have won the price of the most uneatable and most burned sandwich although the candidates weren't allowed to use a fire or an oven...
"You don't have to be a great talent in singing. This is karaoke, Ruka." Michiru simply grabbed her hand and pulled her closer towards the stage. The musicians watched them, then they heard again at Minako's exciting words.
"But... Michi-chan..." groaned Haruka and looked very tortured when a micro was pushed in her hands and the music started to play. The guy on the piano was really good and soon they recognized one of the most popular songs of the moon right now. The guests started to hum to the music while the servants walked around more silent to serve some more drinks and food.
Michi-chan...
Michiru swallowed hard and took the micro tighter in her hand. She couldn't remember that anyone called her different than Michiru or princess.
Or witch. Or whore...
It is a nickname only a person would use who really likes me.
Michiru turned shortly towards the taller woman and saw how her cheeks got redder and that her hands suddenly trembled.
"This is a game, Ruka. Enjoy it!" smiled the sea princess and raised the micro to her mouth. Then she started to sing with a clear, high voice.
"Some say love, it is a river
that drowns the tender weed.
Some say love, it is a razor
that leaves your soul to bleed.
Some say love it is a hunger
and endless sakeing need.
I say love, it is a flower
and you it's only seed."
Michiru lowered the micro and glanced over to Haruka who blushed even more. The guy at the piano did a good job and played some more notes until the prince was ready to sing.
Some say love, it is a river...
Haruka looked directly into deep blue eyes that seemed to be a deep, an endless river that flew into a huge ocean. She knew that she could drown in them, but suddenly she wasn't afraid of it any longer. To get lost in that blue eyes, because she knew that there was someone out there to find and to rescue her again.
"Hey, now it's your turn." Whispered Michiru and Haruka swallowed hard. She knew the next words by heart. Everyone who liked music and especially the music from moon knew this song by heart.
She took a deep breath and raised her micro to sing the next lines.
So true lines.
"It's the heart, afraid of breaking,
but never learns to dance.
It's the dream, afraid of waking,
but never takes the chance.
It's the one who won't be taken
who cannot seem to give.
And the soul, afraid of dying,
but never learns to live."
Haruka's voice was very deep, but it fitted to the song. To a song normally sung by a woman. The guy at the piano played again a short melody while Haruka looked pleading at her wife. It was enough to sing this evening and she only wanted to leave this stage and maybe to listen to Minako. She had a perfect voice and everyone who knew her better could listen to it for hours.
It's the heart, afraid of breaking...
Guess we're all afraid of being left alone. By our parents, by our brothers and sisters, by our friends. By our lovers...
Michiru smiled as she raised her micro again to finish the song and to help a deep blushed Haruka from the stage and to give a her a nice drink to calm down her excited nerves.
Maybe a coffee.
The piano guy reacted and again she sung with all her heart.
"When the night has been too lonely
and the road has been too long.
And you think that love is only
for the lucky and the strong.
Just remember in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snows
Lays the seed that with the sun's love in the spring
becomes the rose."
She finished and the guests started to applaud. Minako's eyes sparkled even more and her older sister feared that her face would break by her big grin.
"That was wonderful!" she whispered. Serenity only nodded with a lucky smile on her face.
Shortly Haruka and Michiru exchanged glances.
And you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong...
"Let's bring you out of all people's attention before you're turning into a tomato." Giggled Michiru, put the micros away and took Haruka's still trembling hand.
"I simply can't sing." She said and sighed slightly.
"Oh, it sounded very nice. Although I'd never thought that you'd sing bass."
Haruka made a tortured face and wanted to say something else when Minako embraced them both in a stormy hug.
"You're the perfect couple, don't you know? This song was so nice! Guess you'll win the competition." She said with sparkling eyes and looked around for a new victim.
"Oh no!" Ami shook her head. "Why don't YOU sing instead? I don't know any of this songs."
"But you know every book by heart. Maybe you should say a poem or so." Minako grinned diabolic at her older sister who ran over to her father to hide behind his tall back. The king only laughed.
"Hai, I've always wanted to hear your voice again." Admitted Makoto and showed Michiru the price she won with her sandwich with pride.
"Okay." Minako ran over to the musicians and told them what they should play next.
"And, what are we supposed to hear now?" asked Haruka as she handled her the micro.
"That don't impress me much!" answered Minako and jumped on the stage. There she looked with sparkling eyes at the guests who went silent with a sudden. They all had heard about the younger princess of Mercury and they all heard how great she could sing and that she always gave a perfect show."
"Wild as ever..." Haruka shook her head and sat down next to Michiru at the huge table. She thanked her for the drink and watched to Minako who danced on the stage while singing. Soon the whole hall laughed and yelled with her. Even Serenity who had been very serious the whole evening that simply didn't fit to the young princess, laughed a bit when Minako kicked the second guy in her song in the ass and simply went on.
"She's very talented." Michiru turned her head and looked for some seconds at a smiling Haruka who whispered the words of the well known song and giggled each time Minako did a jump before she sung the refrain.
"Hai..."
Michiru reached for Haruka's free hand and hold it tenderly tight.
... with the sun's love in the spring becomes the rose.
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"On Neptune you have to throw your wedding bunch of flowers and the one who catches it is the next one who's going to marry." Said Michiru while she walked blind through the huge hall. She could hear silent giggles around her. Excited giggles.
"But this is Uranus. And here you have to embrace one of the girls around you." She heard from somewhere Haruka's voice and grinned. She didn't see a thing. The scarf around her head covered her eyes completely and now she turned around and around and tried to catch one of the giggling girls around her. But no one seemed to stay still so she had no chance to catch anyone.
"And how long do I have to do it?" she asked into the darkness that surrounded her and stepped a little bit forward. She giggled and wondered if she'd drunk too much wine and champagne. But she wasn't allowed her whole life and it tasted so good. So sweet.
"Well the record is about two hours." Said somewhere Ami and Minako groaned silently. "Hey, Mina-chan. It's true. I've read it in a book."
"That's what concerned me most, sis."
Two hours!
Michiru rolled her covered eyes and stretched her arms even wider. But she couldn't reach anyone of the girls.
Surely they're all laughing and having fun while I am feeling like blind, old woman!
She giggled again.
Hai, I may look like an old, blind woman but it's fun.
She couldn't remember the last time she had so much fun in her whole life. There had been a lot more games and with every game she felt more and more free. And happy.
The sea princess took another step and stumbled over her wedding dress and fell hard on her knees.
"Ouch!" she cursed and tried to find out where she exactly was in the huge hall. "Guess it's not the perfect dress to chase after someone." Again she giggled and heard steps besides her.
"Everything okay?" asked a well known voice and Michiru rose quickly and embraced her wife. She could imagine to feel breasts under the narrow tuxedo and she smelt the men perfume Haruka always used after taking a shower.
I love that perfume. I love Ruka's scent.
"Gotcha." She said and smiled proudly up to where she suspected Haruka's face to be. The taller woman embraced her in return and giggled as the whole hall burst out into laughter.
"Nice that you've caught me, but I am already married and you should search for one of those girls. You should see their disappointed faces, Michiru." With those words she hold her a little bit tighter and gave her a quick kiss on the cheeks. Michiru blushed at the next moment but before she was able to reply anything Haruka was already gone. Disappeared into the darkness without giving her a chance to catch her again.
Wait! Please go away! Stay by my side!
Michiru swallowed hard. She knew that she would never be brave enough to talk to Haruka honestly.
And why did she kiss you, you baka?
The sea princess sighed slightly as she stepped again through he darkness.
For she I am just a good friend. Maybe kinda small sister just like Ami-chan and Mina-chan. Nothing more. Just a future queen and a wife. Only an illusion in a shimmering cage...
At that moment she felt someone next to her. Without thinking she grabbed that person who winced wildly and screamed surprised.
"There's no escape any longer. You'll be the next bride. Accept it. And we all hope to be invited to the great event." Teased Michiru and took the scarf away from her face to look directly into shinning blue eyes. There was a tender smile on a pale face as princess Serenity looked dreaming into nothing. Into a world only she could see. At someone only she knew.
"Now this scarf is yours. Hope you'll give a great party, because Mina-chan has a lot more ideas in her crazy mind and then I don't want to be the victim." Declared Michiru as the rest of the guests started to yell and to laugh. Just to be happy and to think about the next game the smaller princess of Mercury invented.
Serenity took the scarf and hold it tight. Not realising what really happened.
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Again she froze. She was cold and tired It was past midnight and all she wore was her white underwear. The diamonds sparkled in the dimmed candlelight. Only her open hairs laid on her naked back, but they couldn't warm her at all. The bed behind her was covered with white petals and the whole room smelled of a sweet scent she couldn't define.
Hotaru was already in her child's bed. They did some more singing but then the maids took her away, undressed her and left her alone in the bedroom she knew too well. Every morning a sleepy Haruka laid behind her on the mattress and didn't want to get up.
She's a real late riser.
Michiru swallowed hard. The show went on in the big hall, but this was their wedding night and the people expected them to do other things than just to sit there, watch their daughter and laugh over the next game Minako invented.
It's so cold!
The windows were wide open and she knew that the desert nights could be freezing. But she didn't dare to move to close it. To grab for the blanket. These all were traditions and she wasn't sure if Haruka would be angry if she broke them.
What shall we do now?
Michiru crossed her arms before her chest and could see the goose flesh. She shivered and looked again at her belly and her legs. But she couldn't see any bruises. Nor were the scars visible in the dimmed light.
At that moment the door was opened and Haruka entered the room. She still wore her white tuxedo, but was holding her turban in her hands. She looked tired, too.
We didn't sleep a lot the last night.
Haruka looked up and froze in motion as she saw her bride standing there next to the mattress. She didn't wear a lot.
A lot? She's almost naked!
And now?
Michiru swallowed hard. She never thought about their wedding night. Not after she got to know that Haruka was a girl and that she wouldn't rape like the earl would have done.
She's so beautiful...
Haruka frowned and returned back into reality as she saw how the smaller woman trembled. As she saw the fear and the panic in deep blue eyes.
Determined Haruka crossed the room, closed the windows, grabbed the blanket and covered with it Michiru's trembling body.
"Strange. Now I live on a desert planet and still I am freezing a lot. First at the ceremony and now here..."
"It's another ceremony." Answered Haruka and threw her turban on the ground.
"Nice ceremony. Hope there won't be any priests around and sing anything more. And it's nice that I only have to wear my underwear while you're allowed to keep your tuxedo."
"Don't worry, the priests won't sing this night, as long, as Mina-chan won't force them to do. At least they don't sing that wrong like I do. Still I can't see why they all didn't run away when I had to sing." Haruka giggled slightly. "And believe me, you don't want to see me in such underwear. You wouldn't survive your laughter." Haruka made a face and sat down on the rim of the mattress with a slight sigh.
"Tired?" asked Michiru but kept standing on her place.
"A bit." Haruka looked up and smiled happily. "But Mina-chan's really a show manager. Guess she'll party until the next dawn and maybe even longer if Ami-chan isn't able to stop her."
"They're good friends." Michiru stroke some strands of her blue hair behind her ears, Haruka watched her with fascination.
"Hai, but they couldn't help me ten years ago. They don't have the power to change the rules. Only the queen has it."
"And Serenity."
"Hai." Haruka's voice sounded very tired.
Michiru swallowed hard and hesitated. Then she stepped a little bit closer.
"And what's now supposed to happen? This is our wedding night." she asked with a very quiet voice and took a deep breath.
Haruka lowered her head and sighed again.
"Do you ask me or do you ask the tradition?"
"You."
Haruka nodded and opened the buttons to her narrow shirt. She stripped it and opened her bandage. Michiru stared at small but well formed breasts and stepped automatically back. But Haruka didn't try to attack her. She simply sat there and took a deep breath. Then she reached for her night shirt under one of the pillows and pulled it over her head.
"It's been a fantastic, but long day. The ceremony danced on my nerves and now this party... it was funny." Haruka smiled in memories. "It was the funniest wedding party I've ever seen. Tomorrow we have to thank Minako and the others for making it so wonderful. But first, let's get some sleep. I think we both didn't sleep enough the last night." She said and leaned back on the soft mattress. Again her dark green eyes watched Michiru in silence.
"Hai, the party was great. And Hotaru enjoyed it, too, to get so many attention. From all those nice people. And actually, she was the one who got the most presents." Michiru smiled for some seconds, then her face got serious again while she picked up the bandage and laid it on a pillow next to the mattress. "Is it very hard to live... I mean to bandage them every day?" Now the smaller princess came again nearer and Haruka closed her eyes.
"Sometimes it's annoying when it's extremely hot outside. Or when I do sport. Then I can hardly breath and more than once I almost fainted in the throne hall. But, it's okay. It's better than losing Hotaru – or you..." The last words were very silent, but Michiru hear them. And frowned. And sat down next to Haruka.
"Sleeping sounds fine." The smaller woman looked around but there was no one else in the room than the both of them. "May I sleep here?" she asked and frowned more as Haruka laughed a sad laughter.
"Of course. You're supposed to sleep here. Remember, this is your wedding night. But maybe after one or two months you're allowed to have an own room. A lot of couples have separated bedrooms."
But I don't want to have my own bedroom.
Too well Michiru remembered the few mornings she woke up with a warm body next to her. With a silently snoring Haruka who had wrapped her arms around her waist and held her tight. As if she wanted to protect her from all pains of this world. From all nightmares that could haunt her down. From all fears trapped deep inside her soul.
Michiru yawned and laid down next to the taller woman and opened her eyes again as Haruka cursed and sat up.
"What's wrong?" whispered the smaller princess although she wasn't that tired at all. She was still too excited, but Haruka looked really exhausted. And it was better to let her sleep than to...
To do what?
Michiru shrugged her shoulders. She wasn't sure if she knew the answer.
"Ruka?" gasped Michiru as she saw the sharp knife in her best friend's hand. How she took it shortly to her forearm and cut herself. The cut wasn't very deep, but it was deep enough to bleed a bit. "What are you doing?" she said alarmed and sat upright, too.
"Silly tradition." Murmured the tall princess and dirtied the white blanket with her blood. Shortly she looked at it and nodded. "That's enough. They don't have to think that I slaughtered you."
"They?" Michiru frowned, then she got pale. "You mean they'll look at the blankets tomorrow?"
"Of course they will! It's tradition that we're really married tomorrow." Haruka sighed again and it sounded sad and exhausted. Simply tired of all this stuff. Of all this lies. Of all this damn loneliness.
"A good princess is still a virgin when she's getting married."
Michiru watched how Haruka tried to bandage her cut arm but failed. So she took her handkerchief and helped her best friend.
"And what about a prince?" she asked and tried to be carefully. Haruka only made a face but didn't complain.
"They're allowed to do what they like – as long as they don't produce any sons. That would be different in the future with the thrown." Haruka nodded thankfully as Michiru finished and leaned back again on her now dirtied blanket.
"And you?"
Again that sad laughter.
"Call me a fool but I believed in true love. So I didn't care about this whole stuff."
"You've never been curious?" Michiru frowned. Still she remembered what her father and her oldest brothers talked about when they thought that she wasn't around. That it was good for a man to have more than just one woman and that they should have some experience before they're going to get married.
"Curious? Nah, I've been too busy to be curious. After all..." Haruka turned her head and Michiru looked again into green eyes that were a shade darker than normal. "Who wants someone like me? I mean as long as the girls think that I am a man they thing that I am cute. But they all would ran away when they'd find out about my real gender."
I wouldn't run away.
But at the same time Michiru was sure that she would never be able to love someone who didn't love her in return.
"You –believed- in true love?" The small princess crept under her blanket and started again to freeze.
Those blankets are simply too thin!
"After all you've went through: Do you believe in true love?"
"No..."
Not before I came to this place. To Uranus. To you and Himme-chan.
"Are you freezing?" The candle burned down and as the flame died away. It took the last light with it. Darkness surrounded them and Michiru could hear how Haruka moved under the blanket.
"Never! This is a desert planet. I always try to remember that important point." Teased Michiru and shivered slightly. The next moment she felt two strong arms wrapped around her shoulders and a warm body carefully pressed against her freezing back.
"Silly traditions. It's time to change them that you'll get a real scarf and some gloves to go to bed with." Haruka giggled and leaned her head against the small shoulders. Soft shoulders. Here she felt save and secure. Here she could sleep without waking up in sweat and tears. Without screaming in silence.
"Arigato, Michiru. That you fought so hard with the priests for Himme-chan to get warm clothes. Arigato for the wonderful rose garden. And arigato for simply being there – as a good friend."
Arigato for being the most beautiful bride I could ever imagine.
"Arigato, Ruka. For being a friend, too. For the second chance you gave the dragon baby – and me. And arigato for caring so much for someone like me."
"Hey, you aren't just someone. You're my wife now, the future queen of Uranus and Himme-chan's mother for all times."
"Hai..." Michiru smiled and felt how Haruka slowly relaxed besides her body. How she slowly drifted into a dreamland only she knew.
"Ruka?"
"Hm?" It was nothing more than a sleepy mumble.
"Good night."
"Good night, Michi-chan."
The smaller princess could see Haruka's smile even through the night's darkness.
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"These are really one hundred white birds?" Michiru's eyes grew wide as she looked at all the birds flying excited around in the huge cage made of wood.
"Hai, they should watch over our marriage and our children. To free them is a symbol of letting our souls get free from our childhood and of going into our adult life." Haruka shrugged her shoulders. "On moon those birds are a symbol for peace. As long as we live there should never be a war. Uranus shall be rich, the people happy and we nice and fair ruler."
Michiru nodded and hold Hotaru in her arms tighter. They stood on a balcony. Alone. Only a photographer who took the last day at least one thousand pictures stood behind them. The rest of the guests and the people of Uranus stood in the yard and waited for the birds to fly.
"This is the first tradition I like. To free all those creatures." Smiled the smaller princess and blinked in the raising daylight. It was early in the morning but it was already getting hotter. Uranus was really a desert planet but suddenly she knew that she would be able to love it.
As long I have that lake underground to swim a bit day by day.
"We shall do it together." Haruka reached for the rope and brought it closer to them. Michiru smiled and raised her hand a bit. With the other arm she hold a babbling Hotaru tight who looked excited around with big dark eyes.
"At three." Haruka winced silently as she felt the soft hand on her own one. She couldn't remember the last night she slept so tight. When she had no nightmares. When she woke up and simply felt happy.
"One..."
Shortly they looked each other deep into the eyes.
"... two..."
Both smiled and Michiru's hand hold Haruka's tighter.
"... and three!"
Together they pulled at the rope. The wooden cage opened and one hundred white birds flew high into the cloudless sky that was still covered with a golden and purple shine.
Fly to heaven!
Michiru giggled as Hotaru stretched her arms towards the birds and laughed happily.
"Do you want to catch one, my sweet darling?" whispered Michiru and kissed gently the round cheeks. Hotaru laughed happily and grabbed now for sea green curls. If she wasn't able to catch a bird so she was able to catch her mother.
Again Michiru raised her head and looked after the birds. The people in the yard yelled happily.
"Please, watch over Himme-chan. For her whole life." Whispered Michiru and rocked the still laughing baby gently in her warm arms.
Haruka watched her for some seconds, then she smiled. The next moment she embraced her from behind and hold her tight.
"I am sure they will bring us luck." She said silently and pulled her a little bit closer.
I am happy to be with her. Whatever will happen, it had been the right decision to let her stay. To tell her the truth. To trust her.
Michiru only nodded and smiled.
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