Chapter 23

Confusion

« But where are those two? Don't tell me they are doing it right now? It's not the moment! » shouted Rei in the living room.

« That is a possibility… They left about two hours ago. We should be getting ready for the fight now. » added Minako.

« Hey everyone! Sorry we were… Hum… gardening. » said Haruka.

Her short hair was a mess. Michiru was on her side, an arm passed around her waist. They looked incredibly calm.

« Yes… Gardening. It's something Haruka and I do when we are stressed. You know… Caring the roses, the lilies and all… » added Michiru. She had taken the time to fix her hair, but she was wearing another dress: Haruka had torn the other.

« Yes, that's obvious. » said Usagi.

« You're wearing a nice dress Michiru. » said Makoto.

« The other… Was stained. »

« And Haruka, your hair look much better. » said Rei.

« There's an awful wind outside. » said Haruka, passing a hand in her hair.

« So now that Michiru and Haruka had their little warm-up party, maybe we could transform and head for the enemy's Headquarters? » asked Ami.

Everyone looked at her in surprise. It wasn't like her to tease people. Chibiusa and Hotaru came from outside.

« Hey there back! » said Hotaru.

« Now we go and defeat those awful clones! » added Chibiusa.

« Alright! I want everyone in front of the Kaioh mansion in one hour at least! »

Everyone exited the room and went to the place by different means. When Haruka parked her car near the mansion. Michiru saw that the expression on her lover's face had changed. It was hard and pitiless. She didn't scare this expression. She just didn't like the situations that went with it. Last time she had seen Haruka this exact expression it was thirty years ago, before the fight that killed them all, and before that, when the outers had decided to fight Galaxia by themselves. That time, the two of them had ended by killing Pluto and Saturn and finally they had been defeated.

« Haruka… Hold me, one last time. »

« Michiru… We won't die this time. »

« But if… »

« No buts. Come here. »

Haruka brought Michiru into a tight and a little desperate embrace.

« I love you Michiru. Even if we die… I'll always find you in the next life. »

« This time… we might not have this chance. These persons knows how killing us… and definitely. »

« They won't. I won't let anyone touch you. »

« Oh Haruka… I'm so scared. I love you so much. The idea of dying is not that awful, I only wonder if we would be together even in death. I love you so much. »

« So everything will be alright. If we love each other, there's no way we can be separated. I'll always find a way to find you wherever you are. »

Haruka leaned a long and loving kiss on Michiru's lips. Both wanted this moment to last forever. But they were in a hurry, they had a fight waiting for them. A fight that could be the last one. Michiru led Haruka to the front gate. The others were all there.

« Moon Eternal! MAKE UP! »

« Mercury star power! MAKE UP! »

« Mars star power! MAKE UP! »

« Jupiter star power! MAKE UP! »

« Venus star power! MAKE UP! »

« Chibi Moon cosmic power! MAKE UP! »

« Uranus planet power! MAKE UP! »

« Neptune planet power! MAKE UP! »

« Pluto planet power! MAKE UP! »

« Saturn Planet Power! MAKE UP! »

All the senshi were transformed.

« If everyone's ready we can go. » said Sailor Moon.

No one objected. Mercury froze the alarms of the house, Jupiter opened the door in her way. The house was silent.

« With all the noise you just made it's incredible that they didn't notice us. » said Mars.

« They probably can't, they don't live in the house itself, there is parallel dimension. You can enter it from Miharu's bedroom. The thing that worries me is more that I wonder where are my parents. » said Neptune.

« Hum… Setsuna? » asked Haruka.

They were at the back of the group of senshi, and Haruka was speaking low enough not to be heard.

« Yes? »

« I think I owe you apologize… The way I acted this yesterday was immature. I let my jealousy take over me and I think I hurt your feelings. Michiru told me what you said to her… »

« So you know you don't have to worry anymore. I know how you must have felt. But remember I'll never do anything against you. And as I said thirty years, it's long… everything changes. »

« It's not that… I mean… I'm sorry, I think we overreacted, now and thirty years ago. You are our best friend. We shouldn't have reacted that bad. Ordinary friends are understanding and all… »

« Don't worry… I think that as Michiru said, you two need some time alone because you passed through much things lately. You'd better stay in your apartment for a while. Your relation is still a bit fragile, it's obvious, besides, you have to clear your two pasts. Because you must feel it's mixed. Being in the old house will only bring you memories and confuse you more. You can't take your old life where it stopped, you two died. The other senshi changed totally of life between the previous and the current, but Michiru and you for a strange reason had approximately the same. »

« You may be right, but it's heartbreaking to leave you and Hotaru. I'm sure Michiru feels the same. »

« It might be temporary. You need time, look at what you two have done so far? Since you awakened as senshi, you broke, you stopped your studies, you said awful things to each other… »

« And we hurt you. »

« This… Is a result of the confusion you have between the two lives. Haruka, when you entered this room, I'm sure you thought it was yesterday you learned my feelings for Michiru. »

« That's… that's right. »

« So end of the discussion. Don't feel guilty. You need time and that is all. I'm not hurt. I knew all this would happen. If I let it happen, it's that it's necessary. Once we defeat the enemy, Michiru and you will go back to your apartment and get married. You'll take a lot of time to think about everything, to put everything in order in this silly head of yours, then we'll move on to a new life. We don't have to live together, this was before. Now you'll have to turn to the future. Look at the inners, they perfectly drew the line, their relations changed… Mako finally understood her feelings towards Ami and Rei seems to appreciate Minako more than before… They changed their hobbies, their way of life… Usagi is more responsible and even has a chance to go to university. »

« What? Koneko-chan has good grades? I didn't expect that… » said Haruka louder and with a slight laugh. Everyone turned to look at them.

« Haruka-san! What do you understate? » asked an angry sailor Moon.

Tuxedo had to hold her back as the other tried to make them calm down, they had to be discreet.

« Miharu's room is here. » said Michiru as she opened the door. She found was she was searching. A big dark hole linked to the other dimension stood in the centre of the room.

« So what's next? Do we just jump in and attack all that moves as in Uranus's initial plan? » asked Mars with irony.

« We must enter this. We have no other choice. » answered Sailor Moon.

« But it's like jumping in the wolf's jaw, isn't it? » asked Mercury.

« Do you think we have another choice? » asked Haruka.

« Not really… So… At three? » asked Sailor Moon.

Everyone nodded with anxiousness.

« One… Two… Three! »

Everyone jumped into the large hole.

Haruka looked around her and saw no one, the place was dark.

« Neptune? Neptune! »

There was no sign of Neptune around, she was alone. How could it be? They had all jumped together…

Mercury got her little computer out, it was weird… She was alone with Jupiter, no trace of the others, nowhere…

« Maybe if we walked a bit, we could find the others… » she began.

« In this darkness? It's not very wise… We could fall on the clones without even knowing it. »

« That's what Pluto said earlier, now we've got a problem… How will we know if they are our friends or our foes… »

« There is no way… There are perfect, I don't think you can identify them. »

Mars found herself alone with Venus, Setsuna alone, Tuxedo with Sailor Moon and Sailor Chibi Moon with Sailor Saturn. Neptune with Uranus.

« We must find the others! » said Neptune.

« Don't even think of it! We might meet the clones and get attacked. At least… We're together. »

Uranus took Neptune by the waist and leaned a kiss on her neck.

« Haruka… stop this… We're on mission. That isn't the moment. »

« But there's no enemy… See… No one's there. Maybe they moved out… And you're so sexy in this outfit… »

« Haruka… I said no. It's not because I told you earlier that you had a sex in place of your brain that you must take it seriously. »

Neptune pulled Uranus away.

« Our mission is our priority right now. I thought you were more responsible! »

« Some minutes of pleasure never killed anyone, don't you think? »

Uranus pinned Neptune up to the wall.

« Tuxedo! What are you doing? »

« Sailor Moon… Don't tell me you didn't think of it? You, me, the darkness… »

« Of course I thought of it. » giggled sailor Moon. « But we're on a mission remember? »

« Mars… What would you say if I… »

Mars returned to look at Venus. She was looking at her with desire in her eyes and slightly caressed her body in a provocative manner…

« Venus… Don't tell me your thinking to… »

« Do I need to be more obvious? »

Venus kissed Mars fully on the lips.

« Venus… Don't get me wrong… If you knew how much I wanted you to do this… But I don't think it is… The right moment… »

« Saturn… Where are we? »

« I don't know… I'm sure we all jumped together… I was holding Pluto's hand! »

« I'm sure it's not a coincidence! It's the enemy who separated us! »

« Who else? Maybe they thought we would be weaker apart. »

« At least we're still together. »

« Do you think we have clones too? »

« No… Well… I hope we don't. Hey… Maybe we do… Sailor Chibi Moon… Are you really… Yourself? »

« Of course I am… And you? »

« Yes… »

« Let's check it… Who's the love of my life? »

« Difficult to say… You always tell the whole world it's Mamoru… But he's your father. I'd say Pegasus, because you told me he gave you your first kiss. »

Sailor Chibi Moon blushed.

« Well… your turn then. »

« You didn't say whether I was right or wrong… »

« And I won't. »

« So… What's my father name? »

« Which one? Haruka or this mad man who turned you into a kind of witch? »

« Ok… I guess you are Sailor Chibi Moon. »

« Chibi Moon? Saturn? I've found you! »

Suddenly Setsuna appeared behind them. The two little girls questioned her a bit then concluded she was the right Setsuna. At the same time, Neptune had some problems with Uranus.

« Haruka… Stop it now! I said no! »

Neptune tried to free herself, but Uranus was strong and she held her wrists tightly and blocked her on the wall.

« Come on… You won't regret it. »

« Haruka, you're hurting me! »

Suddenly Neptune saw the cold light in Uranus's eyes. She understood… The clone had taken Uranus's place… But when? And how come she didn't understood it earlier? Now she entirely understood how Haruka had felt when she had been with Miharu. The error was still possible, even with all the love of the world.

Suddenly, the darkness disappeared. Uranus looked around her, surprised. There were couples everywhere. Venus was blocked under a very hot Mars, Tuxedo was in the arms of a very seductive Sailor Moon. Jupiter was trying to pull apart from a too nice and loving Mercury… And Neptune was pinned up to a wall with a Uranus kissing her fiercely. She clenched her fists, ready to fight, anger and jealousy running in her veins.

« So what do you think of my little plan? Sounds better than yours… » said Neptune behind her.

« Miharu… »

« Don't get me wrong… You are attractive but I knew you wouldn't fall in the same trap twice, even if you are the worse sex-addict ever. »

Everyone had stopped. Uranus had let go of Neptune, as well as all the clones had let go of the senshis. Everyone gathered. But no one was ready to fight the clones anymore.

« Tuxedo! How dared you? She… She's not me! »

« She forced me! I couldn't do anything… I didn't realise it wasn't you! And you were with him too! »

« Mako! You betrayed me! How could you? »

« Ami you know I would never… And don't tell me anything about betraying cause you were with her too! »

Mars and Venus just glanced at each other with coldness. They didn't dare to reproach anything to each other because they weren't officially dating, but they didn't thought less.

Uranus looked at Neptune who had fallen on the ground, massaging her wrists. She didn't dare to approach her. Neptune finally got to her feet and simply jumped into her lover's arms.

« Haruka… I'm so sorry… All that I said to you before… I didn't imagine it was so easy to be caught in such a trap… »

« At least you tried to resist. At least… You didn't seem to enjoy this that much, did you? »

« Of course not, she was hurting me. And… And I had noticed she wasn't you. You aren't that irresponsible! »

« I'm sure you had a doubt. »

« No! well… for a second maybe… »

« Sorry honey but I guess we'll discuss all this later. Just be sure I trust you. But now we have some asses to kick! »

« Really? So it will be just the two of you because the others don't seem very enthusiast! » said Miharu right in front of them, her army gathered beside her.

Uranus and Neptune sweat dropped as they saw their friends fighting, the worse probably were Tuxedo and Sailor Moon.

« See Michiru, everyone can't be awesome and understanding couple as we are. » said Uranus with a slight smile.

« Hey everyone! We're on mission, you'll continue your lover's quarrels later! » yelled Michiru.

Everyone suddenly looked at her, regaining some seriousness.

« We'll settle this later! »

« I'll make you pay for this! »

« Don't expect roses! »

« You sleep on the couch tonight! »

Pluto, Saturn and Chibi Moon appeared by their side.

« Everyone do as planned, we stick to the initial plan! » said Sailor Moon.

Uranus suddenly attacked Miharu, and everyone attacked their clones. The fight was fierce. After having argued with their beloved the senshi all were motivated even if this was their lover's face they attacked. But the clones were tough, and had a plan too. Suddenly they all switched places quickly, they redid it several times and pulled everyone in darkness again, then to light. Now, no one knew if the person they faced was an ally or a foe.

« DEEP… »

« Michi! Don't! »

« Haruka? Is that you? »

« Silly! Don't believe her! I'm right here! »

And everyone was in this situation.

« WORLD SHAKING! »

Neptune (the right one) fell unconscious under the clone attack.

« How dared you! » yelled Uranus. « WORLD SHAKING! »

Her fire ball missed the target. Miharu laughed then joined her mate Uranus.

« Sparkling wide pressure! »

Mercury didn't know wanted to fight back, but there was a risk the girl in front was her Jupiter thinking she was a clone. So did the others.

« I must clear this mess! » said Sailor Moon as she tried to avoid Tuxedo's attack roses.

« Starlight honeymoon therapy kiss! »

She had thought her attack would make disappear the enemies, but it didn't. She suddenly felt knocked to the ground by Tuxedo. She looked around her, as he hit her. Uranus was trying to avoid combined attacks by Uranus and Neptune, the right Neptune awoke and joined Uranus, but she was still weak. All the others senshi were unconscious, or worse, maybe dead. Chibiusa had fallen too. Only Pluto and Saturn were left to face the inner's clones and her own clone. She felt so weak…

« Penetrating the darkness at night… »

« The air of freedom gets through… »

« We are the three sacred shooting stars…

Usagi suddenly felt hope invading her… She knew those voices… From thirty years ago…

« Sailor Star Fighter! »

« Sailor Star Maker! »

« Sailor Star Healer! »

« Sailor Star Lights! Stage on! »

Uranus heard them too. « No… Please… Everyone but not them! This time we're doomed… ». Yes everyone remembered them. And even thirty years later they hadn't aged. But what were they doing here at such a time?

AN: Hehe unexpected, isn't it? Well… Sorry for the late update but I was blocked with this story. I think the next chapter will be the last… Or the one before the last. I hope you'll enjoy this chapter and thanks to those who reviewed the story for so long.