Okay, I know people are reading this, I can see it on the hit counter, but very few people are reviewing, like two. Until I get some more reviews, this WILL BE the last chapter of this story I put up.

As usual, the characters of Sailor Moon belong to Naoko Takeuchi.

!WARNING! There's a sensitive scene in this chapter between Michiru and a bandit.

Michiru calmly sat brushing her hair. Two days had passed since the blonde samurai had left and the geisha could not stop thinking about him. Shortly after his departure, news had come to the okiya that the daimyo Akira had died in his sleep.

"Hurry up Michiru!" the woman snapped.

"Hai Mother," she said and quickly pulled her aqua hair up. She swiftly put on her make-up and placed a wig over her aqua hair. Satisfied that it wouldn't fall off, she rose to her feet and with the help of her dresser, changed into her black and silver kimono. She glided down the steps and slipped into her shoes. She accepted her umbrella from one of the servants and headed outside.

She joined the throng of numerous other geisha who were also on their way to pay their respects to the dead daimyo. She arrived at the temple near the outskirts of town with the others and silently stood as the funeral took place.

After what seemed like hours, the ceremony was done and geisha, samurai, and others began drifting away. Michiru found it strange that so many people had come. The daimyo had been cruel and greedy. Many of the denizens in Gion and the surrounding area had loathed him and she knew that many would be drinking sake in thanks that he was dead. The geisha also found it odd that the daimyo had died when the blonde samurai had appeared ever so briefly.

She sighed and mentally shrugged it off. It was not her concern. She slowly began making her way back to the okiya when several strong arms grabbed her and hauled her into an alley. A hand clamped itself over her mouth and she instinctively bit down. The owner of the hand yelped in pain as blood fell from his wounded hand. Before Michiru could fight back anymore, she was struck from behind in the head. She saw the wig falling to the ground just as darkness rushed in to claim her.

- - - -

"Mother!" a servant cried, running into the okiya.

"Kei, what is it?" the old woman asked.

"We went out to search for Michiru-san as you asked but all we could find was her wig," Kei said breathlessly, carefully holding up the object.

"Go and fetch the authorities Kei. Now!" The servant girl nodded and ran back outside, pausing only long enough to slip her shoes back on. The old woman sat down, worry in her eyes. "May the spirits watch over Michiru…" she whispered. Several figures crept closer to the old woman who did not notice.

- - - -

Michiru slowly opened her eyes, her head throbbing in pain. She immediately noticed her hands were bound above her head, tied to a tree. She did her best to keep from panicking. She lifted her head and saw several burly men laughing and drinking around a campfire. She realized that it was not only dusk, but also her elegant kimono had been ripped away, leaving only her thin kimono to cover her body.

"She's up," one of the men noticed with a smirk.

The biggest of the men rose to his feet and wiped his mouth, grease smearing on his face from his food. "Time to show her a grand old time," he smirked. Fear flooded Michiru's body as she tried to shrink away from him. He knelt down, his knees on either side of her stomach. He grinned lustfully at her. "Try not to scream too much in pleasure," he chuckled. "My friends want some company too."

Tears spilled from Michiru's eyes as he reached down to push the clothing away. He leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. She twisted her head away, glaring at him with hate-filled eyes. He laughed a little then grabbed her hair, forcing a small cry of pain from her throat.

"If you stay still and cooperate, I might just make this quick," he whispered. She closed her eyes and resisted the urge to throw up as he licked her cheek.

- - - -

Haruka sighed as she bit into a roll. She had stayed in the area so as not to draw suspicion on her samurai identity after the death of the daimyo. Her orders had been to make it look natural. So far she had succeeded. She was about to climb back up in the saddle when a soft cry of pain met her ears. Her teal eyes narrowed and she ran silently towards the source of the cry. She skidded to a halt when she saw several thugs sitting around a campfire. One was bent over a bound figure. The blonde saw a flash of sea green hair and her eyes hardened.

She ducked behind the tree and pulled off the samurai clothes, the ninja garb underneath. She pulled some branches over the clothes and silently stalked towards the fire after she had secured her mask on. She watched as one of the men walked towards her to relieve himself. She hid in the shadows and he stumbled past her. She moved out of the shadows and grabbed his head. She easily snapped his neck and pulled him into the shadows. She moved back towards the fire, slipping a smoke bomb into her hand.

She stopped six feet away and hurled the bomb near the fire. It exploded, engulfing the area in smoke. The ninja rushed in and quickly dispatched the other thugs. The one who had been on the bound girl rose to his feet and stomped towards the ninja. Haruka slipped several shuriken into her hand and hurled them at the man. They struck him in the throat and he fell to the ground.

She hurried over to the geisha and cut the ropes on her wrists. The aqua haired woman had her eyes shut tight and was trembling. Haruka briefly wished the thugs were alive so she could kill them again. She carefully picked up the geisha and returned to her black stallion. She left briefly to retrieve her samurai clothes and put them back on.

The blonde ran back to the horse and gently brushed the hair from the geisha's face. "It's okay. You're safe," she said softly.

Michiru opened her eyes and looked up in the familiar face of the blonde samurai. "You…" she whispered, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

Haruka smiled and nodded. "I'm glad you're all right."

"Those men…they…they tried…" Michiru whispered.

"They can't hurt you anymore," Haruka said.

"Mother must be so worried about me…"

Haruka bowed her head. "I hate to tell you this after what you've just been through, but your okiya was burnt down by a group of bandits. No one survived."

Tears spilled from her eyes. "The…they're all…all dead?" she whispered faintly.

"Gomen na sai," Haruka whispered.

"I…I have nothing…I'm alone…" Michiru whispered.

"I'm here," Haruka said. Michiru looked up at the blonde and saw compassion in the green eyes. "I know you don't know me, but you're welcome to travel with me for as long as you wish."

Michiru smiled in thanks. "Domo arigatou gozaimasu!" she exclaimed, bowing.

"Tenno Haruka."

"Kaioh Michiru."

Haruka rose to her feet and pulled out a spare set of hakama pants and a gi top. "I know its not what you're use to wearing, but its warmer than what you have on," she said, setting the clothes down.

"Arigatou," Michiru said again. Haruka rose to her feet and walked a few feet away, her back to Michiru. The aqua haired woman quickly changed, but found she didn't realize how to tie the ties properly. "Ano…"

Haruka smiled and walked over to Michiru. She gently fixed the outfit and stepped back. "There," she said.

Michiru smiled. "I don't know how to repay your kindness."

"Kindness costs nothing," Haruka said. "We should probably go. The dead bandits might draw predators." Michiru nodded in agreement. She began walking when Haruka stopped her. "Up on the horse. I don't mind…" she began when a twig snapped nearby. She whirled around, the katana nearly leaping in her hand. "Stay behind me!"

Several dark shapes appeared out of the shadows and Haruka's eyes narrowed. The ninja moved in, one of them throwing a smoke bomb on the ground. Haruka smiled and moved through the smoke, easily killing the ninja. She missed one and it slashed her across the back. She grunted in pain and whirled around, hurling a shuriken at the ninja. It struck him in the eye and fell to the ground, dead. She barely heard more rustling and she ran back to Michiru. She shoved the geisha onto the horse and leapt up behind her.

Michiru felt the blonde's arms wrap around her. One grabbed the reins of the horse and the other held her protectively. Haruka kicked the horse and they sprang into a gallop. Haruka felt her back burn in pain with each jolt from the horse but she ignored it. She urged the horse to go faster.

Michiru didn't know how long they had been riding. She looked on the horizon and saw the sun slowly beginning to rise. Haruka reined in the tired horse as they approached a decent size home. They trotted up and the horse stopped.

"Is this your home?" Michiru asked softly.

"Yes," Haruka whispered. She went to dismount but her vision blurred and she collapsed to the ground.

"Tenno-san!" Michiru cried and slid off the saddle. She knelt next to the injured ninja and saw the blood stain on the back of the shirt. "Kami-sama," she whispered. She grunted softly as she picked the blonde up. She slowly stumbled to the house and went inside. She carefully set the blonde down on the floor and ran back out to the horse. She retrieved thin kimono she had been wearing hours before. She noticed a well and pail and ran over to it. She filled the bucket and hurried back inside.

Michiru knelt down next to the blonde and carefully began removing the jacket. She ripped apart the cotton kimono and dipped a strip into the water. She gently began wiping off the dried blood and saw that the cut extended under one of the blonde's arms. She carefully laid out a large part of the kimono and rolled the blonde over. She stared in shock at the blonde.

Haruka weakly opened her eyes and saw the look on Michiru's face. She went to sit up but Michiru held her down. "You need to rest," the woman ordered. "Explanations can come later." The blonde nodded, too weak from blood loss to do anything but lie there.

Michiru finished cleaning the wound and looked around for something suitable to bandage it with. "Left…saddlebag…" Haruka whispered. Michiru frowned but hurried out to the horse. She grabbed the saddlebag and returned to the ninja's side. She opened the bag and pulled out a decent size kit of medical supplies. Hiding her shock, she grabbed a roll of bandages. She pulled the blonde up into a sitting position and slowly began to wrap the inch thick white cloth around the other woman's chest.

Haruka winced slightly as Michiru tied the bandage. She lifted her head and saw concern in the soft sea blue eyes. "Is there somewhere where you can rest in here?" Michiru inquired softly.

Haruka nodded and slowly rose to her feet. She grabbed the plain white jacket and pulled it on but did not tie it. Michiru rose to her feet and supported the blonde. Together they walked down the hall and into a decent sized room. Haruka walked to a wall and slid down as Michiru began searching for a futon. Haruka sat in the corner, her legs drawn up to her chest. She gripped her shinobigatana tightly and closed her eyes, slowly drifting asleep.

"I can't find…" Michiru began, turning to the blonde. She stopped when she saw that Haruka was already asleep. The geisha couldn't help but smile at how peaceful the blonde looked while sleeping. She looked around the room once more and saw a closet door opened slightly.

She walked over to it and slid it open, revealing a thick futon mattress. Hoping Haruka wouldn't mind, Michiru pulled the bedding out and laid it on the floor. She was stunned at how unused the mattress was. She shrugged it off, knowing there was much about the blonde she would probably never know. Michiru stifled a yawn and silently apologized to Haruka for using the bedding. She laid down on the futon and quickly fell asleep, not realizing just how exhausted she really was.

- - - -

Haruka slowly opened her eyes, hearing a soft whimper nearby. She looked in the middle of the room and saw Michiru was tossing and turning on the futon. The blonde had never once slept on the futon; she only kept it as a safety precaution should a traveler come by and not grow suspicious of the blonde's lack of bedding.

The ninja winced as she rose to her feet. Her back was stiff from the wound but she felt a little better after some sleep. She silently walked over to the sleeping geisha and knelt down. The sleeping woman's face was twisted in fear as she tossed and turned.

Haruka gently placed her hand on Michiru's head and the latter began to calm down in her sleep. "Do not fear Kaioh-san. I swear I will protect you," Haruka whispered. She watched as the aqua haired geisha settled down into a peaceful sleep. The blonde smiled faintly and gently brushed a lock of sea green hair out of the woman's face. She retrieved a blanket from the closet and carefully placed it over the geisha to keep the morning chill away.

She was puzzled as to why she felt so protective of Michiru, she barely knew the geisha. All the blonde ninja did know was that she had strong feelings for Michiru. She shook herself and sat down near the window. She crossed her arms over her chest, the shinobigatana still in her hand, and drifted back to sleep.

- - - -

Michiru slowly opened her eyes, confused as to where she was. She couldn't hear the normal sounds of the okiya in the morning that usually greeted her. She looked around the strange room and the events of the previous day came crashing back. She looked down and noticed that a soft blanket had been draped over her during her sleep. She looked at the corner Haruka had fallen asleep in but the blonde was not there.

Michiru looked to the window and saw the blonde sitting there as she slept. Everything about the blonde's sleeping posture reminded Michiru of a predator waiting to strike. The blonde's head lifted and teal eyes met sea blue.

"Did you sleep all right?" Haruka asked.

"Yes. I didn't mean to use your bedding, I just…" Michiru began.

"It's okay," Haruka quickly said. "I hardly use the stuff." She rose to her feet and carefully rolled out her shoulders, wincing slightly.

"How's your wound?" Michiru asked.

"Better. I've always been a bit of a fast healer." Michiru nodded and quickly rolled up the futon, returning it to its closet. "How about some breakfast?" Haruka suggested with a soft smile. Michiru nodded and the pair walked out to the main room. Haruka told Michiru where the rice and other food supplies were. As the geisha went to get the food, Haruka pulled away a few panels of the floor and revealed a small fire pit. She retrieved some dried wood and started a small but hot fire. She then proceeded to set up a small tripod with a pot for cooking the rice, vegetables, and meat.

After the meal was done cooking and in a bowl for each woman, they began to eat. "Why do you dress as a man Tenno-san?" Michiru asked.

Haruka swallowed a small glob of rice and stared into the bowl of food. "I am a fighter, and women are not permitted to fight in this culture," she answered.

"But if you're ever found out, the men will kill you," Michiru said.

"Everyone dies Kaioh-san," Haruka countered. "But I am doing something that gives my life meaning and purpose. If I do die, then I know I can die with my head held high and my honor intact."

"What about your family?"

Haruka looked down to avoid showing Michiru the sorrow in her eyes. "They died when I was a child. Killed by a warlord."

"Gomen na sai! I didn't…" Michiru began but fell silent as the blonde fighter shook her head.

"It's all right. I was barely old enough to remember them when they were killed." She finished her food and set the bowl and hashi to the side. "Most people who knew me growing up thought I was training to avenge their deaths, especially since I took the guise of a man," she said.

"You mean, you haven't avenged them yet?"

Haruka smiled but it held little humor. "I tried." She carefully pushed the jacket and bandages down, revealing a faded scar on the left side of her chest. "A shuriken struck me before I could kill the warlord as he slept. I was only ten at the time."

"Kami-sama!"

Haruka shrugged and replaced the bandages and jacket. "Whoever threw the shuriken killed the warlord. I was told to stop playing pretend war and was left for dead." The blonde stopped, mentally scolding herself for revealing that much of her past.

"I'm glad you didn't die," Michiru said. "Then I never would have been saved by you." Haruka saw the honesty in the geisha's eyes and nodded. "So what lord do you serve?" she asked after a moment.

"The lord far to the north," Haruka answered.

"I've never been anywhere except Gion," Michiru said softly.

"It can be cold and harsh in the north," Haruka murmured softly, almost to herself. "But has its own beauty in the winter, when the snow has just fallen like a soft blanket over the earth. Everything looks clean and pure, like there has never been wars or hunger in the land…"

Michiru stared at the blonde, amazed by what she had just heard. "You sound like a poet," she said.

Haruka gave a small laugh and shook her head. "I've done much in my life…not all of it I'm necessarily proud of, but duty and honor required me to do it." She absently poked the fire with a stick. "I think when a person sees as much death as I have, they begin to realize the importance of harmony and value peace."

Michiru stared at the warrior, her heart thudding in her chest. What is this feeling? Why am I so drawn to this woman? Do I envy the life she has? No…that's not it…I care about her…but…she's a woman… the geisha thought, tying to sort out the strong emotions in her heart.

Guide to Japanese words:

Hai: Yes

Gomen na sai: I'm very sorry

Domo arigatou gozaimasu: Formal way of saying thank you

Ano: Um, uh, etc.

Hashi: Chopsticks

Well if you want more you're going to have to review to get it. Reviews make me feel like my work is appreciated and I have been looking stuff up for this story to ensure that I get (hopefully all) facts right, so that's been eating up time as well. And all non-flame reviews are welcomed. Unsigned or signed.