Chapter 18
Kidnapped
The next two weeks, Michiru's life was very active, she hadn't a minute left. She practiced violin much more, and had found a job as an art teacher in Hotaru's school. She had the impression that the past of her current life didn't really happened sometimes. The fights took most of her energy. She remembered it being easier with Haruka besides her, thirty years ago… Sometimes she wanted to give her back the pen, but she loved her too much for that… The last moment they had passed together was always in her mind. She had passed time to search for Haruka, she wanted to talk, to try to convince her again. But everywhere she went, even at their apartment, she couldn't find her, and her other activities didn't let her so much time to search…
Haruka was simply avoiding her, and it wasn't easy at all… Michiru knew perfectly where she usually went… The tracks, the apartment… Her life was now minimized at these two places.
Michiru had met the ones called the inner senshi during the fights. There were five girls younger than Haruka and her or Setsuna. They weren't even in high school, all of them being about fourteen. When she saw them, Michiru couldn't help but think that fate was cruel, young girls like them didn't have to fight for world safety… She felt that too towards her adoptive daughter… But Hotaru wasn't alone, Michiru had discovered with surprise that her best friend at school, Chibiusa Tsukino was sailor chibi moon.
The difference there was between Setsuna and her and the inner senshi made that they had difficulties to fight together. They were only children, Setsuna and her were grown ups, and she didn't know why, but she felt there was a gap between them not because of their age. But a detail still annoyed her, she had asked the inner senshi about it, she wondered who had killed them before… Because this enemy surely was still somewhere… And most likely the one they were fighting… But no one remembered it.
That afternoon, Haruka was busy with her car, she had to repair something in the motor. She was in her garage at the tracks, it had become a second house lately, sometimes she slept in it. But she was always careful, because Michiru passed at least once by day to search for her. So Haruka sent one of her friends to tell Michiru she wasn't there while she hid.
« Haruka, it's stupid, you know that. This girl is in love with you, she comes once per day, and it has been two weeks, look at her, she's totally exhausted. Looks like she doesn't sleep very much. »
« She'll be alright, she'll forget me. And I'll forget her… I forgot her. »
« Liar. Look at you, you don't look better than her. You feed yourself with coffee and car driving. »
« I'm alright. »
« No, you aren't. I told you… All this is stupid, why do you refuse happiness. »
« She's not happiness. »
« OK, so why your eyes shine when you see her, even if you hide from her. Why were you so happy that day you left the garage before asking her to marry? It's obvious for everyone around here. You two were truly happy. Now you seems you're in hell. »
« Stop to talk about it, you don't know anything! We weren't the happy couple we seemed to be.»
« Nothing's perfect. »
« I told you to stop; leave me alone. »
« OK… But you're making the mistake of your life. You are letting go a perfect woman.»
"She's evil. Don't be fooled by her angelic looks."
Her friend leaved her. But a minute after, she heard a voice behind her. She returned, prepared to ague with her friend. But it was not Alicia, behind her stood eight persons, a man dressed in a tux, five gorgeous young girls she didn't know, wearing sailor suits, and… Michiru… no… Sailor Neptune… But another person caught her attention… Sailor Uranus was standing near Neptune…
« So here you are… Isolated Uranus. » said a blonde girl in the middle of all. She was wearing a blue, red and white sailor suit.
« We have heard that a senshi was left alone… and without her pen…Itwon't be difficult...» added another blonde girl, in a white and orange sailor suit.
«What do you mean? Michiru what's happening? And you… Who are you? The only Uranus is me… »
« Shut up. » said Neptune. She approached Haruka in a seductive way… Haruka was paralysed, she didn't see Neptune fist coming. She collapsed.
When Alicia came back in the garage, she didn't find Haruka. Michiru knew something was wrong as she felt a rough blow of wind cross her face as she was waiting for Hotaru to finish school.
« Michiru-mama? Is there something wrong? »
« Hotaru… Haruka is in trouble… She needs me… I must find her. »
« The enemy? »
« Probably… I'll transform and… »
« No, you can't resolve this alone. Wait for Setsuna-mama and the inners… »
« No, the inners are children, they won't be any help. »
« If you say so… But call Setsuna-mama. »
« OK… »
« Michiru… » said a familiar voice behind her.
Michiru didn't need to return to know who it was.
« Miharu… What are you doing here? I thought you said you would never reappear. »
« I lied, but if you want to see your lovely blonde again, you'd rather not contact your friends… and giving me this nice pen of yours. »
« What did you do Haruka? »
« Me? Why would it have to be me? She's still alive, if it is what you want to know... It wasn't very smart to rob her pen… You put her in danger. »
« How do you know that? »
« I know more things than you imagine, Michiru… Or let's say Sailor Neptune. »
« Who are you working for? »
« I'm not silly enough to tell it to you. I don't want you to ruin our plans. It took too much time. But let me tell you what we're searching for… We want your star seeds. »
« Again? You're boss is Galaxia's ghost, isn't it? » said Michiru in a playful tone.
« You'd rather take me serious. Galaxia is an insect compared to us. We're your perfect enemies. You didn't defeat us thirty years ago, you won't do it nowadays. »
« You are… You killed us? It was you? »
« Who else? Michiru… I hate you too much, even for a sister. Call me home if you want to see your blonde… Alive. »
Miharu left.
« Did you understand all what she meant? » asked Hotaru.
« Not really… But now we have a clue. My dear sister work for our enemy… Weird… But not that surprising. »
Michiru was a bit shaken though... She had many questions but they would have to wait.
« You aren't supposed to have a twin, you know? »
« Setsuna told it to me, yes. I wonder if… No let it fall. I have to save Haruka. »
« And how? By giving your own life? »
« If I have to, yes. »
« We must talk about it with the others before. »
« No time! You heard what she said… They'll kill her! »
« We need a plan! Going like this won't work! You don't really know who's the enemy! Theykilled you once...»
Hotaru followed Michiru who jumped into the car. She tried to convince her as she drove Hotaru back home, but without any success.
« I'll go with you! » said finally the girl.
« Surely not. »
Michiru let Hotaru at home and left. She headed for her parents house. When she arrived, she hid behind a bush.
« NEPTUNE PLANET POWER MAKE UP! »
Neptune headed for one side of the house, she climbed to the window of her sister room. She found her patiently waiting.
« I thought you would never come, my dear myself. »
« Bring me to your boss. »
« OK. »
Miharu opened a kind of inter dimensional gate. Michiru looked into it, she saw Haruka tied to a chair. When she caught sight of Michiru she became more agitated.
« So what are you waiting for? » said Miharu.
Michiru ran through the gate, ran to Haruka.
« Michiru! NO! What are you doing here? They'll kill you! »
« Don't worry, I'll save you! »
« NO Michi! Go away, save your life, they are dangerous! Michiru! »
Neptune knocked Michiru on the floor.
