AN: Thank you for reading and special thanks of course to those who leave a review—they always make me smile!

Well…here we are, the last chapter of this story. Also, you should know I went back and edited chapter IX to fit in some new facts that simply refused to go into this one! So if you feel there's anything left unanswered, that's where you should look. Enjoy!

Chapter X

The veil hung heavily over the massive painting frame.

"It's the event of the week, everyone's been talking about it!"

Its dark corners pointed downwards like an ominous flag in defeat.

"People came from all over the country for this exhibition!"

A faint draft carried in the room through the open door, causing the cover to flutter slightly...

"Some of Japan's most promising artists will be here tonight!"

…but it stuck to the large painting it hid, as though refusing to reveal it to the world.

"Hey, Michiru! Are you excited?"

Standing to the side of the covered painting, a petite aqua-haired girl turned to the direction of the voice. A small smile graced her features, as she laid her eyes on the speaker.

"Elsa! I didn't think you'd make it today…"

The tan-skinned athlete winked.

"Are you kidding? And miss the uncovering of this mysterious painting that you wouldn't even let me peek at?" She frowned and shook her head. "Honestly, Michiru, I've never been so curious about an artwork in my entire life! I can't wait to see it!"

Her friend lowered her eyes for a split-second, and Elsa thought she had seen a hint of sadness in them. But when Michiru raised them again, her gaze was clear and discreetly guarded.

"It won't be long now, I guess. The organizers will start uncovering the paintings in a couple of minutes…"

"So…" Elsa considered speaking her mind for a moment, then thought better of it. "Are you excited? This is possibly the greatest cultural event of the season…it must be every artist's dream to have at least one work on display here…!"

Seemingly lost in thought, Michiru ran a finger along the dusty cover over her painting.

"I did feel very elated when they asked me to participate…" she said in a soft tone.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The silence became uncomfortable…and suddenly…

"What's wrong with you, Michiru?"

The smaller girl kept her expression carefully neutral, yet it was obvious the question had not surprised her.

"Everything's just as it should be," she answered calmly.

"That can't be true, you've been acting so…so…"

Elsa struggled to find a word, but failed. In truth, she knew something was amiss but could not put her finger on it. On the surface, her friend seemed unchanged, yet beyond the appearances, she could feel something different.

"I don't know, I just feel that this isn't you."

For a second, a smile filled with bitter irony curled Michiru's lips, but it was gone just as quickly. She gave the fraise-haired girl a friendly look.

"Don't worry, Elsa…but thank you."

The athlete opened her mouth to argue some more, but a loud voice covered hers.

"This way, this way, we have to get them all uncovered before they allow people in, come on, come on—ah, what are you two doing here!" One of the men in charge with the exhibition entered the room, gesturing nervously at two subordinates. "Oh, Miss Kaioh, right, if you'll just go down to the entrance hall where the rest of the artists are and—and who are you? How did you get in here? Visitors aren't allowed ye—no! Careful with that, it goes in the corner, hasn't anyone read the instructions I left for you people…"

Barking orders, the organizer moved away from the two girls, and they left the spacious room, abandoning their previous discussion.

Minutes later, dozens of visitors poured into the gallery, filling the rooms and corridors, whispering comments or questions.

"Well…let's go see your painting shall we?" Elsa had decided to give up questioning for the moment. "I want to be the first to offer you my praise on it!"

"That's a lot of confidence," Michiru quipped. "Maybe you won't like it!"

She had meant for the words to come across as teasing, but they came out rather sharp and nervous.

"Nonsense, I'd bet my next race on—"

Her words froze in midair as she entered the room that hosted Michiru's painting.

The scene clearly dominated the entire room, conferring it an ominous air of silent doom. Beneath a gloomy dark sky, a tidal wave towered over a crumbling city. A sinister atmosphere emanated from the painting, and people gathered around it watched in awe the dusk of a dying world.

Elsa swallowed hard. She could feel Michiru's eyes on her, curious, challenging, defensive, fearful all at once.

"This is…intense, Michiru." She had to make an effort to take her eyes off the mesmerizing amalgam of dark colors. "It's beautiful," she admitted openly, "majestic and beautiful…"

The artist simply smiled in what appeared to be modest acknowledgement. In truth, there was much more to it…for Michiru, the painting was an urge to go forward, and a cry of regret at the same time. It was the creation of her many tortured nights, but also the work of her newly purposeful days. It was instinct and intent brought together in a silent warning to the ignorant world. And beyond it all…was an unvoiced call.

"Where are you…"

"Hm? I'm right here," Elsa replied and the aqua-haired girl realized she had spoken out loud. "Should we head back, the other artists seem to be gathering in the hall again…?"

Michiru nodded, and they walked back in silence, looking at the other paintings in the exhibition as they passed by the numerous frames.

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

One by one, the artists left the entrance hall to mingle and discuss their works, and Elsa and Michiru found themselves alone once more.

"Listen…"

But the taller girl noticed her friend was too wrapped up in her own thoughts to hear her.

Michiru had her eyes fixed on a small painting on the opposite wall. It represented a patch of sand and sea, on a grim, cloudy day. There were no people in the picture, no movement whatsoever, and the colors had a cold, gray quality to them. Yet, to her, it spoke not of dourness and rain.

"The Sky…"

Almost unconsciously, she ran a hand over the glass protecting the painting. From behind the massive grey clouds, a single sunray broke through. Michiru's finger traced it all the way down to the stormy ocean waves.

Elsa watched with a small, puzzled frown. When Michiru finally became aware of her friend's stare upon her, she turned on the other a gaze more cheerful and brighter than Elsa had seen in many days.

"It's called 'Hope'," the petite said quietly.

The fraise-haired track runner nodded, not in understanding but in acceptance, and she followed Michiru out the front doors of the gallery, into the windy spring afternoon.

The End

AN: This is the last author's note you have to take from me (well for this story at least), now there's some good news, eh:-P Thank you very, very much for staying with the story until the end! I hope you enjoyed it! Please feel free (or rather, feel encouraged!) to leave a comment!

Myosotis

PS: This story was never really meant to deal with how Michiru found out about Haruka…as the summary states, it's about Michiru's awakening as Sailor Neptune. Still… "the end" is tentative, and might be reconsidered:) And again…your opinions are always welcome!