A/N I have pulled a lot of inspiration from different sources; the idea of Haruka stepping up to be a singer is from Sera Myu. The handshake from the last chapter was from Myu as well. Sorry I didn't point it out. (If you haven't seen her perform and you're a Haruka fan, you're missing out). I pulled pieces from the anime and then, of course, some of the sprinklings of the cat and mouse game that Haruka and Usagi played in the Infinity Arc
~*~*~
"Of all the nerve to crash our performance like that!" Yaten grumbled as she tapped on her keyboard. The four of them were trying desperately to practice. The music and focusing on something else would ease their minds and create some semblance of normality in their lives. Yet their minds kept trailing to the previous night for one reason.
"Do you think the Shadow Galactic knows we're looking for Princess Kakyuu? Is that why they showed up at the concert?" Haruka broke the silence, unable to ignore the question any longer. Was Iron Mouse there for them or the other senshi? Seiya's long sigh severed as she thought of the matter, the only response as she strummed on her guitar.
"It does not appear so, Iron Mouse was after the other senshi," Taiki corrected as she plugged in her electronic tuner.
"The senshi of this planet are lucky we decided to save them," Yaten dismissed the Senshi of Earth. Her wicked smile turned to the chestnut haired woman. "Taiki, you have perfect pitch hearing. Why would you ever use that contraption?"
"Understanding how to function without your natural ability is a skill within itself," Taiki flatly rebutted. "Saving those senshi helps keep the spotlight off of us a little bit longer. After that, it was only a matter before the Shadow Galactic comes for their Star Seeds."
"Wouldn't it be wise to try to work with them?" Seiya's question drew all three pairs of eyes at her. The turmoil flowed within Haruka, never considering working with the Senshi of this planet, but they may only answer the answers she sought.
"If Kakyuu came to this planet looking for the Moon Princess, then the senshi would be the bunch to know where to find them. Hell, maybe Kakyuu is hiding with her already," the blonde added, surprising the raven haired leader that she was on his side. "I don't know about you, but I sure as hell wouldn't tell someone unless I knew they were on my side." Taiki paused her ministrations as if she was considering the proposition. Haruka knew that if she appealed to the practical side, the rest would follow in line. Finding Kakyuu wasn't her only motivation for wanting to talk to the senshi of this planet. This was the first they had revealed themselves since the Starlights had arrived. Maybe they knew something about the Silver Millennium, a story or something passed down just with them.
"Team up with them? You're joking, right?" Yaten snorted, her face twisting into an insulted frown. "They threw everything they had at Iron Mouse, and it did nothing!' She concluded with her hands in the air to emphasize how little their attacks did to stop the solider of Galaxia.
"I think our dear Haruka here has an anterior motive for wanting to go back there," Seiya teased, a single black defiant eyebrow raising as if she was challenging the blonde to deny her accusation. Haruka swallowed hard at the insults that would follow, but they were nothing Fighter hadn't questioned her on many times before. And she prevailed over all of them, and this one would not be different.
"I saw the way you looked at the violinist," Seiya's smile grew wolffish.
"So what? I can appreciate a great figure just as well as the next one," Haruka countered, her hand resting on her hip as she stood over Seiya.
"There's something off about her," Seiya continued, ignoring the silent challenge from the pianist. A thousand thoughts burst into Haruka's mind for why Michiru Kaioh was perfect, but Seiya was way ahead of her. "Something isn't right. She's too perfect."
"That's impossible," Haruka sneered as her arms crossed her chest.
"Oh, relax, Windy. She's way out of your league. Plus, her energy is different." Seiya shrugged as Haruka turned red at the distasteful nickname. "She's likely an alien," putting a finger to her mouth as she pondered. "Or one of those sexy people in a sundress that murders you just for walking on the grass!"
"You have watched way too much late night crime dramas," Yaten rolled her eyes before laying back on the couch. Then, raising her eye mask to her face, signaling she decided she was bored with the conversation.
"All the more reason for us to stay away from her," Seiya smirked, relaxing her arms behind her head as her elbows spread wide.
"I'm going down to the gym," Haruka growled in disgust. "Something tells me now is not the time to slack on training." She paused, teal eyes landing on the raven haired singer. "I can use a sparring partner, that is, if you're not too rusty already," her challenging smile got to Seiya instantly as she put her guitar in the case with a huff.
"You're going to regret that."
~*~*~
"Who exactly was that!" The question escaped the Fire Senshi before the others could even take a seat. Luna had called them all to the shrine to discuss the appearance of the new senshi. The small cat only stared at Rei, effectively silencing the temperamental girl from derailing the whole meeting.
"Thank you Rei," the cat smiled as the miko took her seat. "Yet you are correct, we need to determine who all these new sailor soldiers are and if they are enemies or allies to the Moon Kingdom."
"I, for one, think the small one was an enemy!" Minako huffed as she folded her arms.
"You're just upset she aimed at you first," Makoto smiled as she ticked the exposed skin of the blonde's arms until she pushed her away.
"Could it be the missing sailor senshi?" Ami pondered, typing a few measurements into her computer.
"We all have sensed Sailor Uranus' power multiple times, suggesting she's still alive," Luna pondered aloud. "Rather than sealing Uranus' power as Queen Serenity had longed assumed."
"The mousy girl was rather short to be Uranus," Michiru mumbled under her breath.
"We encountered at least one new enemy today. But what of the other four? Could they be enemies as well?" Minako's question eclipsed the aquanaut's snide remark.
"They did help us," Makoto added.
"Then they must be allies!" Usagi cheered. "They did save us !"
"They also did not want to be seen. As soon as I tried to get a look, they disappeared," Setsuna added. "Michiru, has the mirror divulged anything of these new guardians?"
"It tells me something new is on the horizon, but I cannot tell if it is an ally or an enemy."
"A new horizon is a good thing," Hotaru smiled as all the older woman turned to look at her with question marks above their heads. "We will get our Solider of Flight back!" She cheered, clasping her hands together over her chest.
"Have you seen it in a vision?"
"No, but it's obvious, isn't it?"
"What makes you say that?" Michiru smiled at her adoptive daughter.
"Because the horizon is where the sea meets the sky! "
The rest of the meeting was a blur for the Soldier of the Seas. Her mind was a wash of the chance to meet her destined partner, one she had seen in many dreams and a glimpse at a few critical times.
The first recent memory was the moment Sailor Saturn awakened. Pluto thought it impossible that Uranus had not been reborn into this world. She explained that Queen Serenity had believed Uranus' power was sealed away long before the Silver Millennium, having Sailor Pluto take up the mantel in addition to the time gate. Pluto had peered into many of the time streams to know where to be to prevent the danger she was meant to avoid but was surprised when they were beckoned to the Moon Palace to summon the Senshi of Silence. At that moment, they both saw the blonde warrior of the wind and her sword in hand as they brought the destruction of the Moon Kingdom.
When they awakened in this life and regained their memories of Silver Millennium, Michiru could only assume that Uranus was reborn just as the rest of them had been. She searched endlessly for her partner, never giving hope until she was staring at the end directly before her with only Sailor Pluto by her side.
Pluto admitted to gazing to the heavens when they were battling Mistress 9, so desperately needing Super Sailor Moon, wondering if another would appear to help. Finally, a bright golden light seemed to answer her call, and the Senshi of the Wind and her talisman in hand arrived. She was silently pledging her energy and her talisman to answer the call. Sailor Saturn awakened, repelling Mistress 9 and removing the intruders from the Earth. The three watched as Saturn sacrificed herself before they heard a baby's cries echo over the scorned ground. When Neptune jumped to investigate the infant, the mysterious soldier was gone. Neptune had long given up finding her partner before this moment, devoting herself to working with the inner soldiers. Yet the glimpse she had that night reignited a near-dead hope within her. Michiru and Setsuna had discussed it many times as they raised baby Hotaru, nurturing the little girl as best they could, knowing something was missing.
The last appearance was in Elysian; as Sailor Moon called upon their power, the Senshi of the Deep Sea quietly held her breath. Finally, her wish was answered as the tall blonde appeared beside her. She was able to study her features carefully, both enthralled with them and determined that if that face existed on this Earth, she would find it. As they took their princess forms, the moment she had as Eternal Sailor Moon powered up, she spent committing to her memory the lithe warrior's body.
Michiru played many concerts worldwide as she took the summer after that from school. She was searching for the face burned in her memory. With Hotaru's astute observation, was this time she would finally find her partner?
~*~*~
Michiru paused her steps as she exited the shrine, jousting the bags she carried as she was about to call Hotaru to join her at the car. The shadow hung solemnly on the edge of the engawa, her face illuminated by the moon as she gazed skywards.
"Hello Usagi, I thought you had left with the others?" The young blonde overlooked the greeting and only hummed as she continued to examine the moon. Then, Michiru gently kneeled near the young woman, shifting slightly to make room as she noticed her presence.
"What has your mind so occupied?"
"I don't understand why we can't work together," Usagi sighed. "I also don't understand why they would help us, and Uranus wouldn't? Do you think she is angry with us, and that is why she does not battle with us?" The young girl clasped her hands over her mouth, the realization she may have offended the one person destined to be closest to Sailor Uranus.
"I cannot be certain, but when I think of my partner, I do not feel hate in her heart."
"You can sense her?"
"We were destined to have a bond, and nothing can break that red string of fate. It may be far away and faint, but it is there. I can feel a pang of sadness in her, so I can only guess she does not fight with us not because she doesn't want to, but because she cannot."
"Hmmm, I guess you would know best," the odango blonde smiled. "Do you still think she will find her way to us?"
"I hope so. We are all destined to be together, and I believe she will find a way back. The wheel of fortune will turn, but it will work as intended. Look at Mamoru, he journeyed far, but he will be back." Michiru couldn't help but notice the wince of pain on the girl's face. "What is that look for?"
"Oh, Mamoru is busy at his college, so I do not get to speak with him much. I just miss him, I guess," the young girl lied.
"You are so brave to be strong, but it is alright to say that you are sad without him and you miss him," the aqua haired woman smiled. The sounds of tiny feet running through the shrine alerted her that her daughter was finally ready to leave. "If you need anything, Usagi, you know you can ask any of us."
The blonde gave a grateful smile as she nodded, waving goodbye to the family of Outer Soliders as she returned to her moon gazing. How can she tell any of them she hadn't heard from Mamoru since he left? That day was so odd. She didn't even remember seeing him get on the plane or how she got back to Juban that day. The money she had for a bus was still in her pocket when she awoke at home. Michiru was right, she just simply missed him, and everything would be fine.
~*~*~
Taiki sighed as she relaxed on the sofa, casually turning the book's page. Pleased with her team members' silence, she caught up with her studies to prepare for the first day of school. The sound of footsteps on the stairs stirred curiosity as she lowered her book for a better view of the door. Seiya and Haruka had retired to the gym when Yaten turned in for her daily nap, and Taiki couldn't resist musing about why they were gone so long. Long ago, she had given up the worry of either mortally wounding the other. As it stands, they would be bored without their so-called nemesis. Their rivalry survived based solely on the fact it drove each of them to be better. However, this time they had been gone longer than she thought possible, enough for her to finish three textbooks, and she couldn't wait to see the result.
"Are you sure you don't want ice for that?" Seiya snarled as the blonde entered first. The tall woman growled as she made her way straight toward the bedrooms. Just as she passed the brunette, she saw the dry blood around her mouth. Taiki dropped her book as she watched the silent blonde, unable to contemplate the injury before she saw the raven haired singer. Seiya closed the door, winking at Taiki with her good eye. The other was swollen and was starting to bruise. Seiya relaxed on the sofa without a word, the brunette quietly eyeing her from the side.
Just as Taiki was about to give in and ask what transpired between the two, Haruka returned. Blood washed from her face, giving Taiki a clear view of the split on her lip where the injury had occurred. The blonde joined them after collecting some ice for herself, holding a cloth to her mouth. Purple eyes shifted from side to side, the silence engulfing them.
"Here," Haruka broke the mood as she tossed a bag of frozen vegetables at the raven haired woman, smiling as she quickly caught them. Navy blue eyes blinked at the act of kindness from the blonde before her smile turned wicked behind the cool cloth. "We don't need to scare all students on our first day."
Even Taiki blinked at the words, free from malice and venom.
"On second thought, that would leave more for me if they suspended you on the first day for being a menace," the blonde teased as she playfully reached for the bag. There it is, Taiki chuckled to herself as Haruka practically crawled over her to reach Seiya. Taiki sighed as she finally retired the book in her hands. "Besides, now I have plump, kissable lips thanks to your bad aim. They won't even remember the name Seiya Kou," she smiled as she swung her arms continually to reach the bag as Seiya jerked it out of her grasp.
"There is no damage that could dim the shine of my star," Seiya confidently retorted had she shrugged her head to the side as if she was considering something. "Although, I could understand how that would be a foreign concept to you." She added, narrowing her eye at the blonde.
"I think you're confusing shine with stench. You're right, though. Nothing can detract from how much you reek of defeat."
"You have never tasted anything but defeat at my hand!"
"Seiya no-Baka, that bruise taking up half of your face begged to differ," Haruka crossed her arms over her chest, resting back into the chair wearing a challenging smile for Seiya to argue otherwise. Taiki needed to distract them before they begun fighting for real.
"Why don't the two of you settle it with an Earth completion?" The brunette suggested, both siblings only glancing at her curiously. "In a school on this planet, they have clubs where the student completes many activities," Taiki explained with an exasperating tone. "On the first days of school, students can apply to be in the clubs, and they only accept those passionate about the activity."
"What kind of activities?"
"Well, the brochure from the school listed student council, baking, gardening, running, football…."
"They have sports clubs?" Seiya leaned forward, clearly interested.
"Do they have martial arts," Haruka asked as she tilted her head in consideration.
"I believe so. The list is right here," Taiki started but was unable to finish as the singer snatched the paper.
"Alright, Tenoh, If you think you're so invincible, I challenge you!" She called as she tossed the paper towards the blonde. Teal and purple eyes watched as it defectively floated towards the floor. Taiki chucked as Seiya turned red, clearly not achieving the desired effect of issuing a critical challenge.
"What of the winner, the one asked to join the most clubs?" Haruka flatly asked, her teal eyes flickering from the falling paper back to the standing woman.
"The winner will introduce themself as the leader of the Four Lights in this week's interview," Seiya declared, her voice lowering an octave as she extended her hand to confirm the challenge.
"You're on," Haruka growled, rising and slapping her hand roughly with hers.
"This may be the first time I looked forward to the first day of school being over quickly," Taiki smiled as she picked up her book.
