Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon or any of the characters in it. I do own the plot of this story and the original characters featured in it.
Blind
She ran her hands through her now short blonde hair. Her green eyes stared at herself in the mirror as she tried to make her army uniform look impeccable. She groaned as she tried to put on another medal on her jacket but failed to do so. So, she turned around and called out to one of her maids to help her out. Her mother smiled at her. She was so proud of what she had become. The once small little girl grew up to be a strong woman. Scratch that, she had become a strong, beautiful and intelligent warrior princess. She grew to be just as tall as her father. "I look weird!" She said, as she looked at herself once again. "I don't know. You tell me, mother. Do I look good?" She turned around and extended her arms to her mother.
"You look wonderful, Haruka! I don't know why you want to put another medal on your jacket." She moved over to her daughter and took the medal away from her daughter and placed it on her jewelry box. "So, is this the look you want to go for you 21st birthday?"
"Neh, I guess." She said as she turned around to the mirror as she fixed, for the 100th time, the neck of her jacket and blouse.
"You look handsome!" The queen said. Haruka just chuckled and started to take the jacket off and handed it to one of the maids. "Oh, and Haruka? Don't you think it's time you look for someone to marry to? I mean, we need to do some kind of alliance with some inner our outer planet of this solar system" Her mother spoke as she saw her daughter take off her uniform pants and threw them casually to the maid.
"Mother, the outer planet's Princesses aren't really my type. Saturn is merely a teenager; Pluto is way older than me and Neptune is deserted and the Princess of that planet was never found" She said with a hint of sadness in her voice. "And the inners just kind of bother me." She whispered as she sat down on her large bed and started to dress up in some comfortable clothing.
"Fine, just to let you know I invited all of the Princesses so you better behave!" The queen said as she walked out of the room.
Haruka chuckled as she put on her boots and stood up as she patted her sides. "I always behave." She smirked as she saw herself in the mirror once again. She heard a knock on the door and called out to whomever it was to come in. A small scrawny guard came in with his head bowed down to the tall blonde before he spoke.
"It is time for your sword sparring, princess."
"Fine then. Tell them I will be there in a couple of minutes." She said as she looked at the guard from her mirror.
"Yes, Princess" The guard bowed his head once again and left the room. Haruka walked over to the side of her bed and took her sword before she turned to run out of her chamber.
All the guards bowed down to her as she walked down the hall as a sign of respect. She had gained the love of the entire planet by being a fair ruler with her mother. She protected her planet just like her father would've done if he were still alive. She walked out of the castles ground and smiled at a small group of both men and women that were holding on to sparring swords. She bowed to them as a way of greeting. "Well. Let's get it started!"
"So, here will be the orchestra of violins and over here will have the drinks." The queen moved to another corner of the huge living room as she pointed at the maids where she wanted everything placed. "I want this birthday to be by far the most perfect birthday to ever be celebrated in this planet! My daughter! Our future queen will finally turn twenty-one. And that means, I will have to give Haruka her father's space sword. Oh! I'm so excited!" The queen said as she clapped her hands together. She smiled as she turned around to look at the fancy room. It looked wonderful and she just couldn't wait for tomorrow to finally be here. "Not to mention, Haruka will choose a planet to make an alliance!"
She was interrupted when a guard walked to her and bowed his head. "Setsuna Meioh of Pluto is here."
"Oh, let her in!" She patted the guard on the shoulder and he nodded and walked away. Soon after, a tall tanned woman walked. She was holding unto a much taller staff that had the form of an oversized key.
She smiled at the queen and bowed her head. "I see the arrangements are going well!" She spoke as she looked around. "You really outdid yourself, my queen. I've never seen this place so alive. Last time I saw it like this was at your wedding with the disappeared king. By the way, where is your daughter?"
"Oh, she must be training, as always." The queen looked at the woman over and let out a mischievous smirk. "So, Setsuna, tell me, haven't you ever though about making an alliance with Haruka?"
Setsuna blinked various time and looked at the queen with a strange face. "I see your daughter like a sister; my lady, and I bet she looks at me the same way. Besides, I'm way to old for her."
"True. Oh, Setsuna, I don't know what to do! After that Princess from Neptune disappeared it has been hard to find another girl for Haruka. It seems like she really was meant to be with her. She doesn't like anyone else! Not even the moon princess, even though, she already made an alliance with planet Earth.
Setsuna twitched softly. As the Princess of the under world and also the guardian of the time gate, she knew a couple of things that most people didn't knew. "I'm sure your daughter will find a good person to settle down with" Saying this, she bowed to the Queen of Uranus and left the ballroom.
"Can't you do anything right? Damn girl, can't even take an order! Michiru! Go back to the kitchen at once!"
An aqua blue hair ran to the back door and entered the kitchen of an old tavern. She leaned against a wall and sighed loudly as she held on to one of her order books. "I hate being a waitress!" She closed her eyes and tried to catch her breath until she saw the chef. He handed her a trail full with food. She groaned, took it and ran back to the chaos that was the tavern/restaurant. She walked over to a table full of men. Clearly they looked like they worked in the Uranus Castle. Their clothing indicated it all but their faces looked more like drunken fools than guards that were supposed to protect the Planet. "Here is your order, gentlemen" She said as she started to place the plates of food in front of them.
"I wanted my steak with no onions, girl!" One of them screamed and handed her the plate with annoyance.
"I'm terribly sorry about that, sir. I will get you a steak with no onion." Michiru was trying her best not to slam the plate on the man's head. She kept her voice as sweet and happy as possible but she was reaching her limit. She took the plate and was about to walk away but stopped when she felt someone was touching her bottom. She turned around and saw the men that were sitting on the table began to laugh at her. She got a bit red out of anger yet she shrugged it off and walked back to the kitchen. She moved to the chef and slammed the plate beside him. "He said no onions!"
"You didn't take the order correctly!"
"Yes, of course, it's always my fault, inst it?"
"Yes! You are the waitress!"
The tavern door was open once again. This time a tall woman, with a cape that was covering her body, walked in and sat at a corner and leaned back against her chair as she waited for someone to take her order. Both the chef and Michiru peeked from the kitchen to see who it was but shrugged it off. "Here!" He gave her a plate with the stake just like the guard ordered and pushed her out of the kitchen.
Michiru wanted to scream and throw the plate at the guard when she saw how he was staring at her. She let out a low growled and slammed the plate on the table."A medium rare steak with no onions! Enjoy!"
"Waitress."
Michiru heard the new customer call out to her. She looked over at the tall mysterious woman and nodded at her. "In a moment ma'am" Saying this, she took out her small notebook and pen and started to walk over to her but was stopped by another drunken guard.
He had grabbed unto her elbow firmly and by the way he was looking at her, Michiru knew he hand no intensions of letting her go soon. "How bout you serve your planet by helping us relieve some tensions, darling?" The guard spoke. His breath smelled like pure alcohol and it made Michiru close her eyes, look away and make a gag noise.
"Please let me go, sir. I have a job to attend!"
"Oh, but don't worry. Your boss will understand." He pulled her closer to his chest and chuckled when he saw small that Michiru was trying to free herself from his grasp.
"Listen young man I am very, very hungry and you are making it difficult for this girl to take my order. Therefore my food will be delivered late." The mysterious woman spoke all of the sudden. She was standing beside Michiru and the guard. She could notice how both of them jumped when they finally noticed her in the scene. "Now please let her go. I'm sure you don't want to get hurt."
"Hah! What can you do to me? I'm a guard of the Uranus castle!"
"Hmm, true, but…" The woman moved away slightly and took off her hood as she revealed herself to them. "I am the Princess of Planet Pluto. I'm Setsuna Meioh and right now I am a higher rank than you. Let go of the girl or you will be arrested."
The guard gasped and let go of Michiru and bowed low at the beautiful and tall princess. "Forgive me for acting so foolish, my lady."
"Nah, its okay. I'm sure Haruka Teno'u will find a fair way to punish you. Have a good day!" Setsuna looked over at Michiru, smiled sweetly and grabbed hold of her elbow and walked out of the tavern with her. "What is your name, girl?" She spoke in a soft calming tone as she looked down at Michiru.
Her hair was tied up in a high ponytail and she was wearing a dirty uniform and her face was covered with some black stains. Maybe it was from all the cleaning she had been doing. "Michiru Kaiou." She spoke as she looked at the floor now. She was taught by her adoptive father to never look at any high class person in the eyes.
"Michiru, huh?
"Hai."
"Why are you working in such dirty place? Your father was a good friend of the King of Uranus. How bout if I find you a good and steady job over there?"
Michiru's eyes light up as she looked up at the taller and older woman. "You can do that?" Then quickly she remember her father's words and went back to stare at the floor.
Setsuna chuckled and placed her hand under her chin and raised her face a bit. "Yes, I can do that. They probably put you as a maid but I'm sure that is a lot better than being a dirty waitress in a pig hole."
"Anything is better than working there, ma'am. I don't know how to thank you. But, why are you helping me all of the sudden?"
"I like to get in trouble with Queens from other planets" Setsuna said as she smiled warmly. "Beside I'm sure you will like the princess"
"Oh! The princess! As in, she is going to see me and talk to me?"
"Yes, but, only if you are lucky."
"I always wanted to meet her."
"I guess this is your lucky day then, Michiru."
Haruka opened her chamber door and walked in as she unbuttoned her white blouse and got ready to take a long and warm bath. Yes, that's just what her body needed right now. She looked at her old maid and sighed as she took her blouse off and stood in her black slacks and boots. Her chest was covered up by some kind of strong and durable gauze that she used to protect her chest when she practiced fencing with her colleague. Thing is, she used it always as a way to make herself look more masculine and slimmer. "Nana, come over here." She spoke with her usual soft yet commanding voice. The old woman nodded and walked over to her in a soft pace. "Go and prepare my bath, please." She whispered now that the old woman was right beside her. She turned around and gave her back to the old woman. The old woman knew what she wanted when she did that, so she moved her wrinkly old hands to Haruka's back and undid the gauze as she made it easier for Haruka to take it off. After doing that, she bowed to the princess and left the chamber. Haruka sighed loudly as she took of the rest of her clothing. Finally she was standing completely naked. She took her white robe and sat on her huge bed as she rubbed and waited for her bath. "Tomorrow is going to be crazy." She said in anticipation. She closed her eyes and spread her arms before she leaned back on her bed. "I just hope nothing goes wrong or I will be hearing mother's babbling for a whole year."
The old maid walked back in and placed her hands on her lap as she bowed to the princess. "Your bath is ready, my lady."
"Hai. Thank you, Nana"
"No need to thank me." Saying this, she walked out of the chamber.
Haruka stood up and opened a door that lead to her bathroom. She looked inside and exhaled happily when she saw the huge bathtub full of warm and perfumed water. She took her robe off and slipped in as she let the warm water sooth her aching muscles. She closed her eyes and rested her head on the edge of the tub. Her arms were resting beside her at the edges. She took a deep breath and let the smell of the water calm her completely as she tried to also relax her mind. She was going to need it for tomorrow.
"So, I thought that maybe, since her father was a loyal guard to your husband, she could work here as a maid. You know, she could help you or Haruka around the castle. She is pretty strong and since she is young I bet Haruka would like to take her in after Nana dies. I'm sorry but, I don't see much of a future in that old woman."
"Your words are harsh, Setsuna. Poor Nana even took care of my mother."
"My point is clear then. She is old." Setsuna kept her hand on Michiru's shoulder as she spoke. Michiru on the other hand, kept her eyes on the floor as she heard the queen of Uranus and the Princess of Pluto talk.
"Fine, I will take her in but not as Haruka's maid. She is going to clean the castle around with the others until I find something better. Besides, we need the extra help now that Haruka's 21st birthday is coming up. So, you are welcome here, Kaiou-san."
"Thank you, my queen."
Setsuna smiled when she was able to make the queen take care of Michiru.
End chapter One
