Chapter 20

A shadow in her glance

In the house, Michiru did not notice that every member of the sailor senshis was there. She just entered the hall and ran through the stairs. Once in her room she threw herself on the bed, crying. Then she saw the frame on the bedside table; they looked so happy in that previous life… But now Haruka wished her death! Did she really deserve this? Truly she really didn't know why she had been so weird with Haruka… She was feeling as if another power has took control of her mind, and for a long time. In fact she hadn't been totally herself since Haruka and her had began to date. It was a very strange feeling… it was as if they had been two different persons in her body, one who argued with Haruka, one who made love to her, who apologized when the other herself had done something wrong, who accepted to marry… « Silly! You just try to deny your errors and your own stupidity! Everyone have this impression at times. You are evil… Just evil for have done her such things… »

« Haruka… It's not easy to ask you this but… As all the spares room are occupied tonight… Could you sleep with Michiru? » asked Setsuna at the end of the evening. Haruka had been telling all the information she had gathered about the enemy. Setsuna had preferred to keep everyone home because it was safer. None of them should stay alone. It was dangerous for several reasons, the first being what happened to Haruka, the second being that any of the clone could switch place with its original anytime.

« I won't! I'd rather sleep in my car. Besides I don't think she would be glad about it. She didn't even come for dinner. »

Hotaru came to them. She had been comforting Michiru.

« Haruka-pap… No I don't think you deserve this name anymore… even the enemy might not be as cruel as you are! How dared you tell Michiru-mama such things! You love her! »

« Hotaru… Don't… You shouldn't involve in adults business. It's between your mother and me. »

« You're stupid and stubborn. You've always been stubborn but never did you hurt her this much. You always said she was more precious to you than the world itself. »

« Hotaru… This person the Michiru we used to know… »

« She is! Did you take the time to look in her eyes lately? Did you talk with her? No, I guess you are too proud, as usual. »

« Hotaru! Do not talk to your father like this! » interrupted Setsuna.

« I can't bear to see her cry, Setsuna-mama. Haruka is not my Haruka-papa; she must be her evil clone! »

Everyone turned to look at Haruka with suspicion. Haruka suddenly realized through her child's eyes how cruel, inhuman she had been… She could see disgust in her eyes… Yes she was right… their enemy wouldn't have act differently.

« I'm not a clone, I swear. I am just as Hotaru said I was… Stupid, stubborn, cruel… And I'd rather say that I am the cruellest person in the world. Good night. »

Haruka got up and left the mansion. She jumped in her car. She needed some air.

Hotaru regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth. However, she could not bear to see her Michiru-mama cried. Yes, she was young, she could not really understand grown-up's business, but her mother the kindest person she knew, and seeing her cry was simply heart breaking. What made her angry the most was that she knew they were in love, and that this suffering was useless. Never before, she had seen her Haruka-papa so hard on someone except an enemy. What Michiru had done to deserve this treatment? Her mother had talked her about « mistreating her lover's feeling, playing with her and hurting her. » but for Hotaru, there was no way the woman she had in front of her could do such a thing. The thought of this shadow disappearing from her glance was driving her mad. She was sure there was a link but Setsuna had told her she might have imagined it.

Haruka had come back to her apartment where she had tried to sleep without real success. In the morning she had come to the tracks to train and finish the repairing on her engine. But nothing succeeded in catching her attention and she did all wrong. At night, she took her car and drove without purpose. And arrived to the beach without really thinking of it. She loved this place, she had the impression to see Michiru dancing in the waves. Michiru… « Did I really went too far? Sure… I can't stand anyone to hurt her, but I was the one who hit the hardest… » Haruka couldn't erase from her mind Michiru's desperate face when she had last seen her face. The vision of all the others senshis looking at her with suspicion haunted her too. She had lost everybody's trust. Hotaru was right. Her clone couldn't have done worse, and this behaviour was unlike her. Yes she was stubborn, but in thousands of years, never she would have hurt Michiru. The sea was agitated tonight. Haruka knew it reflected her lover's state of mind. Suddenly Michiru leaned on the car next to her. No, it was not Michiru, it was Miharu. It was so obvious, she still wondered how she could have been fooled. Michiru had a special aura, a soul that played a melody which fitted the music of her own soul. An harmony. Miharu was just empty of any music. Her aura was cold and dark. It was easy to see. Maybe it was just because before her love for Michiru had been different. Since they awakened as senshi, she had rediscovered everything around her with the knowledge of millenniums. Her love had just strengthened without her noticing. It strengthened with every passing life.

When Haruka saw the girl next to her. She suddenly remembered she was the clone she longed to kill.

« Good evening, Haruka. »

Haruka punched the girl with all her strength. Miharu felt on the floor, holding her soon-to-be bruised cheek. Her mouth was bleeding. Haruka hoped she had broken some teeth. But apparently not… After all this monster was also a senshi.

« I went to talk… But since you insist… Well no. I have no time for your little games. We need to discuss.» said Miharu.

« What I intend to do to you don't require any word… »

« Are you interested in knowing what made your girlfriend acting like a bitch? » said Miharu

« What? »

Maybe Haruka would wait a minute before killing her after all…

« Do you know what my powers are? »

« Since you are Michiru's clone I expect they are related to sea… And there is the mirror too… »

« Yes I have the same attack as hers… But I'm not just a clone like sailor moon and the others… I was made in emergency thirty years ago because they were two senshi left after the clones final attack. Do you guess who it was? »

« Michiru and me. »

« Yes. You were amazing. You took strength from each other. You lived just to save the other. The attacks fell on you but your love was stronger. There was no clone for you at the beginning of the invasion. Because our creator thought there were only five senshi and Tuxedo. So Uranus and I were created, but at the end. Because first the master thought that sailor moon and the others were strong enough to handle you. I think that's why sailor moon let you leave. She was pissed when you said that the two of you could beat us, because it could have happened without our intervention. It seems your pride and stupidity helped you avoid the death she reserved you, Haruka. Now she wants a fight with you all, and at your highest level of strength. »

« What does this has to do with Michiru? »

« I'm coming to it. So Sailor Moon asked me to help you make up with my dear myself. I'm not very enthusiast but… I will tell you the whole truth. »

« How can I be sure it's not a lie? You're so good at it. »

« You'll decide… So the only difference between Michiru and me is that I don't use my talisman the same way. I uses it to control people. I slid a little of my own soul in them. That's the real reason why you've been fooled. And more… don't you find strange that a little miss perfect as her, kind, calm and wise and infinitely, ridiculously in love with you for ages could just slap you or stop trusting you at every little thing? I was the one behind your little couple troubles. »

« You mean… Each moment I passed with Michiru you were here controlling her? »

« No… I'm far too busy. I just took over her when I felt there was a fire to start… She was herself most of time. Just with a little piece of me darkening her soul, till that awful moment when she recovered her memories and the power of her planet totally invaded her. »

« She is free of you now? » asked Haruka.

The revelations were slowly making their way. And guilt too. She was harassing Michiru for something she wasn't responsible. Miharu smiled at her. She swore to herself she would be the one killing her.

« Yes she is. So… How do you fell now? You killed your innocent and beloved Michi… You murdered the one person for you… Sounds interesting…»

« Killed? »

Suddenly Haruka felt a sharp pain in her heart. Something had happened to Michiru, she knew it. She jumped in her car and drove to the mansion. When she arrived about fifteen minutes later, everyone seemed to be asleep in the house. She ran upstairs in the room she knew Michiru had to be. When she entered she saw Michiru sitting on the bed, her back turned to the door. She had a box of pills in her hand.

« If you want to see me dead, Haruka… Then I should be… since we can't even get along as friends, since you don't even want me to breathe the same air as you… A life without you isn't worth living… »

Suddenly she felt a weight on the bed, then strong arms embrace her body. Someone kissed away her tears. She felt a warmth invade her at once. She turned to look at Haruka.

« No, Michi. I won't let you leave this world, I won' t let you leave me. If you die I'll die too. I'm sorry Michiru. I regret those words. I didn't mean them back then, I swear. Will you forgive me? Even if I may not deserve it? »

Michiru looked at her lover in disbelief… Maybe her surprise hid the bright light Haruka had brought to her soul, because seeing no reaction from her, she let go of her and was about to got up. Michiru, seeing the movement caught her by behind and embraced her tightly, tears ran on her face. But there were cries of relief, the ones you have when you escape a critical situation, when you know you are safe. Haruka returned to face her and caressed her cheeks, drying the tears.

« Everything's going to be all right… I promise. »

She placed a small kiss on her lips. Michiru's sobs calmed and she gave it back. Her sobs ceased completely.

« Never leave me again. » said Michiru.

« I will never. We belong to each other. I'm nothing without you by my side. We must play our little music together. If we play it alone it won't be as beautiful. »

« I like this image. »

« Here is the promise that we'll always play it together… Do you still want it? »

Haruka had pulled of the chain she wore and handed the ring to Michiru. The turquoise haired girl smiled. She nodded and let Haruka pass the ring on her finger. Then she leaned a small kiss on her lover's lips, Haruka gave it back, making it a little longer. When she parted, Michiru caught her lips again in a passionate kiss. Haruka deepened it. Both were feeling desire taking control of them. Michiru made Haruka roll under her. She sat on her, her legs as on a horse and looked at her while blocking her arms by holding her wrists on the bed.

« Michiru… Are you sure you want to…» said Haruka, pleased but also taken aback by Michiru's reaction. A minute before she had been ready to commit suicide. But she didn't see to be in shock any longer. Haruka's love had just made the suffering of the previous weeks fade away like snow under the sun.

« Haruka, I promise to not treat you as I did before. I just don't know why I did it in the first place, because your more precious to me than the world itself, we have several lifetimes on our account but I can't live one without you. I promise I'll never hurt you again, love. »

« It's okay, honey… it was not your fault… »

« I'm sure this is what I want… Haruka you are all what I want. »

« I love you Michi. »

« I love you Ruka. »

Michiru let go of her wrists and leaned a kiss on Haruka's lips. Haruka's now free hands firmly embraced her lover's body… then Michiru unbuttoned her lover's shirt and belt without noticing she was already almost naked herself. Haruka made her roll under her kissing her more fiercely and more passionately. Her hands rubbed Michiru's thighs with desire. One of Michiru's hand wandered in her sandy blonde hair and the other rubbed her lover's back... Then her hand moved around her body to reach her firm breasts… She caressed them then began to kiss them…. Her hand left the top of Haruka to caress a lower part. Haruka let out a slight moan as she kissed her lover's neck. Her own hand quit Michiru's thighs to massage the girl's genitals. She moaned with pleasure as she felt the able fingers of her lover caressing her clitoris then penetrate her vagina. She stopped rubbing Haruka's sex as Haruka moved and parted Michiru's legs. She began to kiss her sex then her tongue penetrate her. It did not take much time before Michiru began to scream with pleasure. But she interrupted her.

« It is not very fair for you… » said Michiru with an evil smile. She grabbed her lover's body and made her roll under her. She turned her back to Haruka and began to introduce her tongue… Haruka grabbed her thighs and did the same.

Next morning when she awoke, Michiru could feel Haruka's body still near her, her arms were surrounding her and she could feel her hot breathe in her neck; she couldn't believe she had been crying the last night, that they had spent weeks fighting. All this seemed to have never occurred.

« Morning love… » whispered Haruka in her ear.

« Morning… »

Michiru returned and grabbed her lover's hot body. She leaned a kiss on her sweet lips.

« Where are we? » asked Haruka.

« On the balcony. »

« I hope you didn't get hurt when we fell from the bed. »

« Did I look in pain? »

« You screamed… I'm pretty sure it was screams of pleasure but… »

« I felt nothing. »

« Huh? »

« Nothing bad. But you have a big bruise on your shoulder. »

« Not from tonight… It's those silly clones. »

« They hurt you? »

« Did you see any injury on my body? You inspected every inch of my skin so… »

« It was dark… and I remember that your mouth didn't spared any place.»

« I'm not injured… And the scent of your body drives me mad, you know it! »

« That's why I kept putting perfume on your clothes before… And in the apartment, I hoped you would react, but it did not made you return to me… »

« It was you! I thought I was maddening! Your scent haunted me! I thought it was my imagination… »

Michiru laughed.

They got up a few minutes later. Haruka took an old pyjama of hers in the dressing and they got downstairs. Everyone was having breakfast.

« Seems that those two made up… » said Minako before they entered the kitchen. No one had seen them.

« You heard them too? » asked Rei.

« Don't say… I couldn't sleep. » said Makoto.

Amy blushed.

« I'm sure Ruka and Michi weren't the real reason… you two were sharing a room, didn't you? » said Usagi.

This time Makoto blushed, not daring to look at her blue-haired friend.

« You thought we didn't notice? » asked Minako.

« Well… We hoped you didn't… » began Amy.

Everyone laughed and Haruka and Michiru took advantage of it to step in with innocent looks on their faces.

« Wow I never saw so much people for breakfast in this room! » said Michiru.

« Maybe we should use the living room… » said Haruka hoping to escape commentaries.

« No… There is still place here… » said Rei in a playful tone.

« So you two made up. » began Minako.

« You could have been more discreet… » said Usagi.

« Hey! There's children around! » said Michiru, covering Hotaru's ears.

Everyone laughed. Hotaru took her mother's hand and saw the ring on it.

« Is it your engagement ring? Does it mean you are still going to marry? »

« We're definitely engaged, no one will break this again, I'll marry her come what may! » said Haruka as she passed her arms around Michiru's waist.

« You're my Haruka-papa, no doubt! » said Hotaru as she got up and kissed her father's cheek.

The same afternoon, Haruka and Michiru left together. They went to the apartment to take Haruka's belongings. They would move in the mansion.