Time had slowed almost to a complete stop within the apartment that Usagi had once shared with Mamoru. She knew she should feel shame for her actions, or at least regret, but she only felt happy. That true, solid kind of happy that left her smiling without meaning to smile. Haruka had agreed to stay – how could she feel regret or shame? She loved all her warriors, but Haruka had something else, some sort of delicate ferocity that lured Usagi to her.

Arms wrapped around her from behind, and Usagi smiles as she tilted her head to allow Haruka to kiss her neck.

"Haruka, if you do that then we'll never get anything cooked for dinner." Haruka grumbled good-naturedly against her neck, eliciting a small sound from Usagi that was somehow both a giggle and a groan. Suddenly Usagi was stumbling as Haruka's arms abruptly left her, and she turned to see Haruka backing up with her hands up in surrender and a guilty look in her eyes.

"Sorry, Usagi. I'll go… Something." Excuses would have been meaningless anyway, but it frustrated the taller girl that she lacked the brainpower to concoct one. The hurt look in Usagi's gorgeous blue eyes rendered her unable to think at all.

"Haruka, I'm not so breakable that you can't kiss me. I'm not letting you go! Don't forget, you said you'd stay until I ask you to leave." There was an afterimage of a childish pout over the serious words.

"I just thought… I mean I didn't think. I wanted to touch you, that was all."

"Did I ask you to stop?" Haruka lowered her gaze as Usagi's ferocious glare burned into her. Miserably, she shook her head. "Then don't stop! I wanted you to touch me, did I do something that suggested otherwise?" Another dejected head-shake. "Then why did you stop? And don't even think about lying to me."

"…I shouldn't be touching you, Usagi. I shouldn't even be here." Usagi's loud exhale made Haruka finally look up and meet her gaze.

"Didn't we settle this? I want you to stay, Haruka. I want you to touch me. Sooner or later, I hope you'll find me attractive enough to make love to me." Blue eyes widened as the taller girl stumbled back a step, then averted her blushing gaze. Returning the long chopsticks to their rest, Usagi turned the burner down so their food wouldn't overcook. Regarding Haruka sternly, she tried to read the older woman's thoughts. "You don't want to have sex?"

"Ah… Argh, um it's uh…" Haruka stumbled over her words even as she backed up into the living room. Her face was so red it was almost adorable. Almost. Usagi's eyebrows lowered, surely she hadn't been wrong all this time. She had thought for sure that Haruka and Michiru had been doing it. No, she knew they had. There was no mistake about that, so why was she so hesitant and flustered now?

Oh! Surely she doesn't think that I haven't?

Closing the distance between them, despite that Haruka continued to reverse into the living room, Usagi drew their lips together. Any tenderness and gentleness that had been in their earlier kisses was gone. Now it was the ardent need that predominated. Wrapping her arms up around the neck of the taller woman, Usagi forced her tongue into Haruka's mouth. She didn't stop her aggressive kiss even as they toppled over backwards and Haruka grunted as they hit the floor. Placing her legs between Haruka's, Usagi pushed them apart with her knees and reached down. When her fingers reached beneath Haruka's miniskirt and rubbed the length of her underwear, she could feel the dampness there without a doubt. She grinned, taking advantage of her position when Haruka tried to push her back. Instead of allowing the older woman to roll her off, she trapped that arm at the wrist with her free hand, moving her mouth away from Haruka's and shifting to lavish attention on her neck instead. Haruka had gasped wetly as their lips had parted, now she groaned as she felt hickies being drawn down her neck on first one side, then the other. Usagi's fingers – Kami, those fingers! – had continued their rubbing motion over the length of Haruka's most sensitive parts. Usagi sealed their lips together again as she pulled the underwear aside with her thumb and rubbed now skin to skin. Haruka's groan was lost in their kiss, but Usagi smiled against her. Finally realising she had one hand free, Haruka reached up and grabbed Usagi's upper arm tightly, with a mind to shoving her off. But this was too good to stop. Was Usagi trying to prove she wasn't pure? Wasn't a virgin, perhaps? She gasped as she felt a slender finger enter her, breaking the kiss as her head moved reflectively to the side.

"U-Usagi!" She whined, holding the girl in place and not sure whether to push her away or pull her closer. They shouldn't be doing this..! Usagi was too delicate, too pure. How could she be doing –

"Oh Kami!" Haruka's head snapped back, her hand releasing Usagi's arm and instead winding into those freed tresses. "Please, don't stop!" Usagi satisfied herself with kissing Haruka's neck, marking her territory with a whole series of hickies that dipped as far below her collar as she could reach. She inserted her second finger into her lover even as she continued circling her thumb over her clitoris. With the hand that was holding onto Haruka's wrist she moved it up to her chest, placing it to her breast.

"Please, Haruka. Please, touch me too." This was whispered against Haruka's ear, the hot breath making her bite her lip. She gasped despite herself as she gently squeezed Usagi's soft breast. Usagi's answering groan was followed by the insertion of another finger. Haruka automatically hitched one leg up, bending at the knee to give Usagi better access. Usagi's hand left her wrist to stroke down Haruka's side, then lift the shirt to allow her access to her toned stomach. Wasting no time, Usagi lowered herself while lifting the shirt to expose a deep blue bra. It was a front-fastener, thank god, so it took her no time at all to free Haruka's breasts and seal her wet lips around an already firm nipple.

Haruka was lost in the sea of sensations Usagi was giving her. What they were doing was nothing new, obviously she had done all this with Michiru many times. But this was different. As she felt Usagi's fingers on one nipple and her tongue on the other she couldn't help the shiver that went up her spine. Despite the desperate aggression that had led them to this position, now all of Usagi's touches were gentle and loving. Haruka tried desperately to hold on to herself as her mind wandered further and further from her control. Even reciprocation was difficult with her thoughts both focussed solely on this beautiful young woman and also lost to the wind.

Usagi lowered herself further, chuckling against the wonderfully toned abs that quivered under her lips. She'd had no idea Haruka would be so sensitive, nor such a caring lover. Even though she was clearly being completely overwhelmed, she was still trying to run her hands through her hair and over her body, still trying to bestow wonderfully soft touches and loving caresses. She had a spear of hatred for Michiru, for hurting this pure, tender soul.

A sharp round of knocks on the door bought them both to a startled stop. Haruka tried to sit upright but Usagi would not budge. Another round of pounding and Haruka took Usagi's upper arms in her hands and leveraged her backwards.

"Usagi! At least see who it is!" Haruka admonished, and Usagi only kissed her neck and pressed her thumb hard against her clitoris. Haruka gasped, buckling back to her elbows with a low groan.

"I don't care who they are or what they want. What I want is right here."

"Usagi!" Minako's voice made Usagi sit upright, part in worry and part in frustration. Haruka took the moment to slip her legs out from underneath the shorter girl and shuffle away a little. Usagi regretfully let her do it. She looked at her damp fingers with a grin in Haruka's direction and moved to the kitchen.

"Answer the door then, I need to wash up." Haruka sighed in relief, getting to her feet even as the door was pounded yet again. As she moved she felt the heat between her legs and signed in frustration. That had been getting good, and stopping midway tended to make her grumpy.

"What?" She growled as she wrenched open the door, surprised to find it restrained only part-way by the chain. Since when did Usagi think about things like that? Ignoring Minako's surprised expression, Haruka shut the door and slid the chain off, then pulled it open much more successfully.

"It's probably good you're here, Haruka." Despite her words, there was curiosity in her eyes. "We have a problem." And with that she let herself in and closed the door behind her. Haruka sighed as she strolled in, looking around for Usagi. The object of her search was just emerging from the kitchen, wiping her hands on the apron that was still tied around her waist.

"Minako-chan? What brings" She was cut off partway as Minako lunged towards her and grabbed her wrist. Surprised but completely trusting, Usagi didn't even think to flinch. Haruka on the other hand reflexively leapt forward only to pull herself up short. This was Minako, there was no chance she was going to harm Usagi! With her wrist in hand, Minako popped open Usagi's communicator and looked quizzically at the black screen.

"I've been trying to reach you! I was worried something terrible had happened. I can't reach any of the others either. I guess the system is down for some reason. Artemis is out at the arcade, is Luna there too? We should go and ask them, it's bad not to be able to get in touch in an emergency." Minako didn't miss the regretful smile that Usagi and Haruka shared. She knew Haruka and Michiru had their problems, but why was she here of all places?

"Let's go then, just let me turn off the stove and grab my coat." As Usagi turned away, Minako levelled an enquiring raised eyebrow in Haruka's direction. Pretending not to notice the silent question, Haruka grabbed her jacket from the back of the sofa and pulled her keys from her pocket.

"I'll drive." She said as Usagi caught up and pulled the door shut behind her. As she locked it, she threw Haruka a key. Haruka shrugged when Minako glared at her and led the way down the stairs to the garage.


By the time they arrived at the base under crown's arcade, Minako had flustered herself into a mess. Why was Haruka in Usagi's apartment? Why had Usagi given her the spare key? Why had it taken them so long to open the door? Why had Haruka been flushed, those few moments Minako had glimpsed her before she'd released the chain?

Frustrated by the situation and by her own lack of willingness to ask either outright, Minako levelled her glare to Artemis.

"Why aren't they working?" She shouted, grabbing him by the scruff and shaking him a little "These are important you know, im-por-tant!" Artemis wriggled free and leapt back beside Luna, who was pawing at the console with a troubled expression.

"We don't know why they aren't working. Everything is as it should be on this end." Artemis answered, then slinked behind Luna as Minako made another grab for his scruff.

"Well hurry and fix them! Did they run out of battery or something?" Minako fumed, but turned her glare to the floor at the confused look Usagi was giving her. She should calm down, there was no need to worry. Usagi obviously knew Crystal Tokyo depended on her and Mamoru. She certainly loved Chibiusa too much to risk never giving birth to her. Nodding to herself, Minako tried to shed the worry that had plagued her since she'd tried to call Usagi and seen only an empty black screen.

"We don't really know what to do to fix them, Minako. If we did, they'd be working already. We'll need more time to work on it. Leave them here with us. Until then, you've all got cell phones right?"

"Of course we have cell phones! How old do you think we are?" And she slammed her communicator down, then stalked upstairs to go relieve some anger on her favourite Sailor V game.

"Goodness, what's the matter with Mina today?" Luna asked, looking to Usagi for an answer. Usagi only looked at Haruka and grinned a little.

"Beats me! Let's go home then, Haruka." With a nod, Haruka accepted Usagi's arm in hers and left the cats with their heads together over their computer.

Maybe it was just her being edgy after their abortive love-making, or after Minako's prickliness, but now she was having a bad feeling. That gut-wrenching instinct only intensified as they stepped outside Crown's and into the wind. It had seemed so warm and enticing back in Usagi's apartment, but now it was blustering down the street and tousling their hair, pushing at their clothes and skin with a bitter cold edge to it. Usagi pushed her hair from her face, looking up into the gloomy sky.

"That's weird, it was such a nice day not long ago." Haruka only nodded in response, and pulled her arm from Usagi's to place it protectively around the slender shoulders instead. Usagi blushed, a happy smile on her lips at the sweet gesture. Haruka turned her gaze from Usagi and to the sky with a grimace. There was bad energy on the wind. Something bad was coming, or was already here. Was that was their communicators weren't working?

"We are being informed that all around Tokyo there are power outages and loss of cell services." The loud voice of the giant TV nearby sounded over the deep rumble just emerging from the clouds. "We are advising people to stay inside where possible, and to take extra precautions if going out. As yet we have no information regarding when power or coverage will be restored," And then the power cut out, and all around them homes and businesses went dark. The grey clouds above them finally began dropping their burden of rain, and Haruka shrugged off her jacket to place it over Usagi's head. Peeking out from under the leather jacket, Usagi looked up to Haruka with a question in her eyes.

"Something's wrong, Usagi. Get back inside with Minako and see if you can reach the others. It's better if we stay as much of a group as we can right now."

"What about you?" Usagi resisted the gentle push Haruka gave her in the direction of the doors.

"I'm going to the car to grab my cell. I'll see if I can reach Michiru or Setsuna." With a nod, Haruka pulled the automatic doors open herself and then pushed them closed again behind Usagi. Then she stepped immediately into a run towards the nearest car park. Why had she left her cell in the car today of all days? She flipped open her communicator and stared at the black screen for a moment. Skidding to a halt, she closed the communicator and turned straight around, heading back to Crown's instead. The communicators had stopped working before anything else. Whatever was happening, it was happening to make sure they all stayed separated. Right now, the most important thing was that she stayed with Usagi.


Forcing the stiff automatic doors shut behind her, Haruka only realised how wet she was when her hair dripped water onto her outstretched hand. She shook it off, then flicked her head to get rid of some of the water. It was darker than she thought it would be in here, and the sky outside wasn't so much grey anymore as it was black. It looked like night had come early. Inside, there were flashlight beams waving in the darkness.

"Any luck, Haruka-san?" Minako and Usagi had seen her come in and rushed to her side.

"I came back before I got to the car. I think it's better if we aren't separated right now." Emboldened by the darkness, she reached out and grabbed Usagi's hand. Usagi squeezed back, stepping subtly closer.

"You're right. When the other's figure out something's going on they'll probably try here eventually. Let's wait for a while before we decide what to do." Haruka and Usagi nodded in agreement.

"Haruka-san, you must be soaked! We're giving out drinks on the house while all the power is out, want a hot tea?" Motoki's voice called from somewhere in the darkness.

"Coffee would be great, please." Haruka called back, gripping Usagi's hand tighter as they made their way away from the relative light by the doors and into the true darkness towards the seating area of the store.

"Haruka, you should put your jacket back on, it'll keep you warmer." Usagi's concerned voice made her smile, and as the warm hands placed her jacket around her shoulders she sighed. As long as Usagi was safe, the rest could wait.

The arcade broke into gasps as it was lit by an abrupt lightning strike. The resulting crash of thunder came so quickly and so loudly that it was like a physical blow. Outside car alarms started sounding. Haruka put her arm around Usagi's shoulders again, pulling her to her chest and glaring at the rain outside from over her head. She gripped her transformation wand inside a hidden pocket on the lining of her skirt. What kind of evil was out in the storm? There was nothing natural about that thunder and lightning. Was it, too, just a tactic to stop them from finding and getting to each other? She knew that Michiru and Setsuna would have sensed the danger just as she had. Possibly even Rei, too. It was unfortunate that Ami wasn't there. She had the best chance of finding out what was going on with the technology and the communicators. At least then they wouldn't be quite so vulnerable. Not that she couldn't defend Usagi alone. But to give Usagi the best chance, it was better to have all of them there.

"Oi, there's water here!" A stranger's voice called from the back, and Haruka turned her eyes away from the rainy street. While she couldn't see much in the darkness, there was the distinct glitter of water from the back of the room.

"Usagi, get up on the table." Without waiting for an answer, Haruka grabbed Usagi around the waist and lifted her easily onto the table beside them. Just as she did so she heard Minako clamber onto the bench beside it.

"My apologies. Usually the water doesn't come in no matter how hard the rain, we have a sloped back alley that drains water away. Excuse me while I go and check on it." Motoki's calm voice reached them through the darkness, and Haruka watched his silhouette disappear into the darkness of the back room. She had a bad feeling about this. His feet hadn't splashed as he'd left. Where had the water come from if not the back?

The atmosphere in the arcade suddenly tensed, and then sort of flexed around them. Haruka grimaced as she reached for her henshin wand.

"Time to transform, Usagi, Minako-san." Haruka warned, gripping her wand as people started dropping to the floor around them.

"Venus Crystal Make Up!"

"Moon Eternal Make Up!"

"Uranus Crystal Make Up!"

Completing their transformations, Haruka turned her attention to the glistening floor. It was definitely rising. It was now up to her ankles. Should she get onto the bench too? No. This way they'd know what it did, and Usagi would still have Sailor Venus nearby in case something happened.

As it reached her knees she shivered despite herself. It wasn't so much water as it was thick slime. It clung to her like oil, and as she tried to move she felt like she was immersed in liquid that was slowly freezing around her.

"Uranus!" Sailor Venus had finally noticed the odd substance's hold on her comrade. Haruka held out a hand to physically stop her jumping down into the goo.

"No. Stay with the Princess." As if reacting to those words, the substance suddenly swirled around them. It reared up like a wave, turning between the three of them as if deciding on its victim. Haruka grit her teeth. Clearly it reacted to the word Princess. It must be here for something to do with Serenity. She pulled back and then thrust forward, overbalancing but in the process managing to put a solid punch through the odd wave. It stopped hovering and crashed down over her head. She felt like she was submerged in Neptune's ocean, only it was much colder here, and her eyes wouldn't open. It was so silent, too. Had she been killed right off? No, it was too cold to be death, and she knew she wouldn't be able to think to herself if she were dead. Opening her mouth turned out to be a bad idea, as the strange sludge eagerly entered her throat and filled her lungs. Had she been able to breathe through the treacle-like substance she might have coughed, but the reflex created only a hitch in her diaphragm and changed nothing.

Sharp pain pierced the silent bubble, and her arm crunched unpleasantly as she was ripped from the liquid and thrown into open air. She was hacking the goop from her lungs before she even landed on the dry floor. Her left arm was a fiery mass of pain, but all she could think was how good it felt to be able to breathe again!

"Sailor Moon! Move!" That got her up from the floor. She leapt towards the voice before taking in the scene before her, tackling Sailor Moon from the little table and into the bushes meant to give booths privacy from each other. Behind them there was a cut-off scream from Sailor Venus. Still gasping for breath, Uranus looked down into the large blue eyes of Sailor Moon and nodded once. She nodded back, her eyes watery but firm.

Uranus leapt off her in one smooth motion, summoning her attack from the air as she went. Behind her Sailor Moon powered up her own attack.

"World Shaking!" Her attack collided with the mass of liquid, at the same time the arcade doors were blasted open by a charge of lightning. Suddenly the battle seemed more in their favour – the other inner senshi had finally arrived.