Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon or any of the characters in the series. I do own the plot of the story and the original characters that are featured in it.
Blind
"The queen has return!" Guards yelled down the hall. Michiru jump slightly and her grip on Haruka's hand grew tighter as she looked behind her. The guards that were standing at the central hall bowed down low as Haruka passed pass them. She was wearing her dark blue uniform suit while Michiru was just wearing a simple lilac colored dress. "The Queen is here." A guard yelled once again. Haruka frowned angrily at that when she felt that Michiru was a bit nervous.
"Stop the yelling." Her hand moved over to her Space Sword in a menacing way as she stopped in front of the yelling guard. "I've gone to trips before and when I come back they don't yell it out like its something important. So hush!" The guard nodded rapidly and bowed his head.
"My queen, finally, you are here!" Haruka frowned deeply and turned in the direction of Sasuke's voice. A pat on her shoulder made her twitch slightly but she remained still. "My lady! I…"
"I need to have a long talk with you!"
"But, my lady! Your days of finding a mate have come to an end! You won't believe whom I found! Take my shoulder I'll lead you to her."
"Her?" Haruka tilted her head.
"Mate?" Michiru squeezed her hand. "Haruka, be careful."
She turned to Michiru and nodded. "Just stay close to me, okay?" Haruka was taken to the throne room by the general of her army. Michiru followed her close behind with her arms upon her lap as she looked at the floor the whole time. Haruka flinched. She stopped walking suddenly. This caused Sasuke to look at her with a concern look. Haruka rubbed her nose. A familiar smell had invaded the throne room still she couldn't really remember where she had smelled that scent before.
"My lady!" Sasuke talked but not to Haruka but at a tall woman who was standing in the middle of the throne room. Her brown curly haired bounced when she turned around to look at the middle aged man. Her strange colored blue eyes gave out a shine as she saw the tall blonde woman standing confident and strong. "This is Queen Haruka Teno'u of Uranus." Sasuke moved to the side as the woman moved to stand in front of Haruka.
Haruka shuddered as she felt a woman's breath on her face. Her hands twitched when, all of the sudden, she felt a small hand touching it. It wasn't Michiru's she could tell by the texture of it. "My queen…" The woman spoke as she took her hand and kissed the back of it. "My name is Akiri Tsukuoka of Neptune."
Haruka coughed and moved away from the woman. Her fist came in contact with her chest as she tried to take in some air. Michiru eyes went wide and she shook her head side to side. No way. Michiru's eyes watered and she had to look at the floor so Sasuke wouldn't notice.
Her coughing came to a halt when she felt those same hands touch her cheeks as hey made her face the woman in front of her. "I know we have a lot to talk about. I know you might not even believe me but I've been searching for you all of my life, my love and I finally found you."
Haruka opened her yellow eyes. This made the woman smile. "You are the princess of…"
"Queen. I'm the Queen of Neptune."
Haruka seem like she was at the edge of a heart attack. "What? How? I thought." She turned to face Michiru. Her face was confused, hurt and angry. Not at Michiru though, she could never be angry with her. "Tsukuoka-san…"
The young looking woman smiled as she nodded at Sasuke. The middle-aged man moved away from the sobbing aqua haired girl to stand beside the so-called queen of Neptune. He handed her a big envelope and quickly moved away as he bowed to her. "I got the paper signed by my parents and yours. The will and contract of the alliance we are supposed to make. This proves I am the real thing and not some faker trying to steal what belongs to you, love." Akiri moved and touched Haruka's face again. "I know you must be shocked. All those years your army searched for me and finally you did." She smiled and softly brushed her lips with the trembling blonde's. Haruka gasped and moved away quickly. "Oh? The Queen of Uranus is a shy woman. I understand. Please, forgive my forwardness."
Haruka shook her head. This is not happening. What about Michiru? Wasn't she? Haruka moved her hands to her head and scratched herself in a desperate manner as she tried to swallow in all the information that was just bombed to her. According to this woman, she is the queen of Neptune. She got the papers; she got the documentation but what about the power? Yes! Of course. Neptune is able to control the sea and the water! Of course! "Sasuke, please take Michiru's belongings to my chamber."
Sasuke's eyes flied to the tall blonde queen. He coughed a bit and moved his shoulder uncomfortable by what he was about to say. "I… I moved your maid's belonging to her old chamber, since your fiancé asked me to move her stuff to yours."
Haruka frowned. "What? How dare you?"
"Never mind, please. I better leave you highnesses to speak alone." Michiru said with her voice raspy with tears.
"Michiru…" Haruka whispered ready to just hold the smaller girl. Michiru saw that Haruka took a step towards her and she quickly took a step back.
"No, my lady. I will go to my chamber." She bowed and turned around quickly and left the throne room.
"You are going to let her speak to you in that way?" Akiri asked as she looked the blonde who was facing the throne room exit. "Teno'u-san?"
Haruka sighed loudly. "Let her be." The queen moved her hand to her eyes and rubbed them. She felt trapped, desperate and just wanted to run away from it all, but if she did who would take her of her people? "Sasuke, can you leave us alone, please?"
"Of course! I will be outside if you need me." He bowed to both the women and left the throne room to them alone.
Her back was facing Akiri. Her eyes were open, as she seems to be staring the floor under her. Her mind was racing with thoughts about her future. Was this woman really the queen of Neptune? Her mate? "Please, sit down. Lets talk." Haruka said as she started to walk towards the two big thrones where her parents used to sit. Her hands carefully touched the seat to the right and sat down with a sigh. "Start explaining to me what actually happened?"
She felt a hand touch her left one. Her eyes closed once again Haruka felt as though she was about to die. "After the storm nineteen years ago, I was taken care of one of your father's guards. A group of your father's army took care of me. Thinking that I might be in danger if they knew I was still alive, well, they kept me away from you all these years but now I'm here with you."
"Why didn't they say anything? I would've sent everyone to take care of you and to protect you. I would've even gone where you were just to defend you." Haruka shook her head. "I don't believe it." Haruka was about to stand up from her chair but something held her back. Akiri's hand gripped Haruka's strong arm.
"I have the papers and I can control the water."
Haruka frowned deeply. "What?" Her yellows eyes opened up and moved to face the strange woman. She shook her head. "You can't."
Akiri smirked as she stared at Haruka's yellow eyes. "I can prove it to you." Haruka closed her eyes and moved her hands to rub her face as she sighed almost in a sob. She didn't want this woman. She just didn't want her! She wanted Michiru. "You know what happens to the one who doesn't want to follow the will of her ancestors. It was written way before we were born, love."
"I know." Haruka groaned and stood from her seat.
"You are in love with that girl, aren't you?" Akiri frowned.
"I'm tired and I would like rest for a while." Bowing, she started to walk away from Akiri when all of the sudden she felt a couple of arms wrapping around her neck.
"You didn't answer me so I will take that as a yes. I guess I will have to work harder in making you forget about her, hmm?" She chuckled and brushed her lips on the back of Haruka's neck. "Let me follow you to your chambers and give you a nice massage. After all, we got to start knowing each other if we are going to get married soon."
She sat down on her small bed she stared at all her suitcase in front of her. Michiru sighed and rubbed her watery eyes as she let the tears run freely down her cheeks. "No." She whispered as she leaned on her side and finally fell on her bed. "No." She closed her blue eyes as she tried to hold back the river of tears that just kept on coming out of her eyes. She punched the mattress under her and cursed a couple of times. Finally she thought she found that person that was going to love her forever and just like that she lost it to some contract and to some will. "Haruka."
"You swim pretty well! At least you haven't drowned yet!" The queen laughed.
"Ha ha! Funny! I can swim pretty well, thank you! I can swim better than you, that is for sure." Michiru smiled and swam over to the tall blonde as the echo of the water bounced inside the poolroom. "Let's race!"
"I might smash my head with the pool walls! I can't see, remember?"
"I'll hold your hand if you want to."
Haruka laughed and leaned her head back as she brushed some strands of blonde hair away from her face using the water. "Then it won't be a race, right? We would be equally matched but if you want me to hold your hand I will… Forever"
"Forever. She said forever." Michiru sighed as she leaned on her back as she now stared at the ceiling. "Haruka…" She closed her eyes and sobbed. "Damn it, look at me! I'm crying and it's all because of you!" The aqua haired girl growled as she grabbed her bed sheets and hid underneath them.
Small hands removed an army jacket from broad shoulders then moved to unbutton a white blouse.
Haruka stood in the middle of the room emotionless. So that was it? She had no choice? Where was Setsuna when she needed her? A hand pulled her towards the bed. Haruka just followed like she was on autopilot. She then was pushed making her loose her balance and falling on her bed. She groaned but was cut off by some strange lips. She didn't know this woman! She didn't know her! Yet, she was giving herself just like that. All this reminded her of someone and only someone. Michiru.
Akiri pulled away and looked down at the blonde as she smiled. She looks just like her father… Just like her dear father. Chuckling and smiling afterwards, she leaned forward to kiss Haruka once again her as her hands massaged the blonde's shoulders. She heard a growled and then felt a painful grip on her arms that pulled her to lie under the Queen of the wind planet. "And I thought I was forward."
"I'm sorry. I really was serious when I said I was tired. Please, let me rest." Her eyes were open as she somehow stared right into Akiri's blue eyes. She sent a shiver down her spine… and Akiri liked it. She was close enough to feel the blonde's breath on her face. "I'm sorry." Haruka said as she turned to lie on her bed as she gave Akiri her back.
"No, I'm sorry." She whispered into Haruka's ear as she rapped her arms around her from behind. "Have a good rest…" When she said that, she turned around, closed her eyes and went to sleep.
Her eyes hurt more than anything. It was hell! What had happen? Did her eyes actually exploded or something? The only thing Haruka knew at that moment is that someone was sitting beside her, someone that had a nice soft sea smell. Ah the sea… how she loved that place. She groaned a bit and took a deep breath. The person sitting beside her was a girl. She was sure of that.
"What's your name, girl?" Haruka heard a gasp. How stupid of her! She scared the poor girl. "I know you are sitting beside me, girl. What is your name?"
Silence… that's all she heard. All of the sudden she heard a voice that someone gave her all of her strength back; a voice of an angel. "Michiru Kaiou, Princess."
Michiru. What a beautiful name. Haruka took in another deep breath and relaxed a bit as the pain in her eyes almost forgotten. "Hmm. Michiru. Help me sit up" A soft hand took in her big ones and another touched her back. Whoever this person was she already felt some kind of attraction towards her. She hasn't even seen her! How stupid of her!
Haruka opened her eyes. She didn't felt someone beside her. She didn't smell anyone in her chamber but herself. That was good. She was alone. Sighing, she stood up and button up her shirt. "I'm hungry." She growled and stood up as she walked slowly around her room. Without Michiru, she surely needed her blind stick. She groaned and walked to the door and got. She moved down the hall while her hand touches the wall as she made sure not to bump into anyone. She wondered though, where was Michiru? Has she eaten anything? Was she all right? She growled.
"Morning, my queen! You really did sleep a lot!"
"Sasuke? Have you seen Michiru?" Haruka asked. She did not searched for the man's location as she made her way to the dinning room. "What time is it?"
"It's a quarter pass noon…""What?" Haruka turned behind her to face the silver haired man. She could've sworn she heard Michiru's voice. Of course. Haruka was always asking her for the time It was only normal that she heard her voice answering her back, right?
"I said it's almost noon .Like I said you did sleep a lot." Blue eyes looked at yellow ones. He chuckled. "Why? Do you need your maid? I think your fiancé can help you around."
"I don't need you to tell me what I need or don't! Where is Akiri?"
"In the dinning room. She was about to have lunch."
Haruka nodded. "Good." She moved her hand and gave him the signal to leave. "Go, I won't need you around for a while." She turned and moved her way towards the dinning room but a strong scent of sea hit her nose and she stopped. "Michiru?" She called for her.
"Michiru isn't here but I am! Sit with me, Haruka-san lets eat." Akiri's voice interrupted Haruka's thoughts. Where was Michiru? She wanted to feel her beside her. "Haruka-san?"
"Coming." Haruka said as she walked over to the dinning table. She sat at the head of it. Food was placed in front of her and she felt some eyes on her. She knew damn well who it was. She groaned and started to eat silently.
"So, what are you planning to do today?"
"Swim. I need to work out. Swimming is a complete work out." Haruka without racing her face to Akiri.
"Of course. You just work out and I will make sure to get everything ready for the wedding."
"Wedding? What ever happen to get to know each other?"
"We can do that after." Akiri chuckled as she stood up and bowed. "Now, if you excuse me."
Haruka nodded and bowed her head. "You are excused." Silence consumed the room. Haruka ate in silence as she wondered once again where Michiru was. She sighed and leaned back on her chair.
"Do you want me to remove some plates, my queen?" A maid asked.
"Yes, please, listen. I want you to send a letter to planet Pluto. I want Setsuna to come here! I also want you to look for Michiru. Tell her I will wait for her in the poolroom."
"Of course."
"I don't want Sasuke or Akiri to know about this. Please." Haruka begged to a maid; a normal kitchen maid.
"I had sworn loyalty to your father therefore, I will not fail you."
"Thank you."
End Chapter Eight
