Disclaimers:
All Sailor moon characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi, not me. Nope not even in my bedroom..
So, dun sue me, kthanxbai!

Authors Notes:
Randomly decided to write tonight, don't know how far Ill get, but...I lonely and writing makes me feel… not lonely?
Had a Morgan-ish moment today involving an ex of mine, so.. perhaps 'Mor-zilla' will return? Nah, it wasn't major but I'm alittle..weirded. And but no, I had been plotting it all from the beginning, don't worry XD;

Keep reading, there will be a rainbow at the end...

UPDATE: holy crap, I'm so awful, its been months since I worked on this XD; GOMEN.

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After taste

Haruka had carried Michiru along the shoreline until it became so dark that she could no longer safely see by the light of the moon alone.

The sky was beautiful, with lingering clouds that threatened rain but full of hopeful promise from miles of twinkling stars as big as diamonds. But as the last few yards of silvery sand lay before them and the beach house loamed over head like an empty shell, the sky had been deceiving. It ripped apart like parchment and let loose thick wet drops of rain; held back like lover's tears. They pattered down like a rhythm of night time confessions, just as the two women slipped through the back door, and into the tiny kitchen.

"Woo.. Nearly missed that, huh?"

Haruka muttered, rubbing the rain's dampness from her shoulders. Michiru was glad that her hair was up, hating the feeling of it wet against her bare skin, and checked herself over. She didn't know why she did so; she didn't mind if her clothes were wet.

"Yeah nearly.. So strange. It had been a beautiful clear night."

Michiru remarked hugging her damp arms and waiting for Haruka to turn on the lights. She didn't know quite where the switch was, but groping for it in the dark didn't seem tempting.

Haruka went to flick on the kitchen lights but stopped looking out into the main room; Something, no someone, had caught her eye. It made her feel strange; hair pricked up along her neck. Shaking her head, she flicked on the light and rummaged in the frig for a moment before pulling out a carton of juice. Pouring herself some she glanced over her shoulder to Michiru who was eyeing the frig as if thinking about something. Haruka took this for want, and asked if shed like something to drink as well.

Michiru went ahead helping herself and looked in the top and lower parts before finding what she had been thinking about. To Haruka's surprise Michiru then took the carton from Haruka and put it away for her. Handing the blond her glass, she gently guided her - juice and all- to sit onto the counter top. Haruka did so and Michiru was rewarded with a slight blush. Her stomach did a slight flop of unexpected joy.

"Michiru?" Haruka began a little surprised.

"Here; Put this on your eye.."

Haruka raised a brow and winced. Still, the surprise couldn't be kept from her face as her house guest pressed a dripping steak to her swelling face. Haruka flinched a little as the meat was cold and very much raw...

"It'll help. I'm not sure how, but I read about it once."

"Michiru.. this was to be our dinner." Haruka joked, but she was serious too. She paid good money for it. "Now, it is against my eye… And it is wet and cold."

Michiru smirked a little throwing the plastic foam container away and washed her hands, having no sympathy.

"Dinner or no; it'll help the swelling.."

"I don't find this very attractive. Do you?"

"And having an eye sore on your face -pun intended- is?"

"Touché."

"Besides, who's the fool who decided to throw punches?"

Michiru asked getting herself a glass of water before leaning her elbows against the counter beside Haruka.

"He tried to punch me; if you remember. Besides, the jerk deserved it. They were looking for you at the café earlier.. I thought they would do something if I didn't."

She bit back the part about saving Michiru's honor; feeling like some wannabe knight in shining armor. "Besides, no one should be allowed to get away with that. Stupid punks. If it were me I would press charges-"

"I would just as well like to hope they will leave and never come back." Michiru sighed.

A moment passed of each sipping their own drink and Haruka adjusting the slow wet decent of the raw cow slab which slid miserably down her cheek, before she decided to do something.

She took the meat off and threw it with a flop into the sink and before Michiru had time to protest she held up her hands for the right to speak.

"I'll be fine; I'll take something for it.. But now I need a bath."

Haruka shrugged almost apologetically to Michiru's confusion but her eyes were smiling.

She washed her hands and her face, not enjoying that close encounter at all. Although he face felt a tad bit better, she still touched it as gingerly as possible. It hurt like hell, but it was worth it. She glanced at herself in the window and seemed far away for a moment as if she was reminiscing about something.

Michiru frowned and hid her scowl in her water glass. It wasn't her place to nag, but really the least Haruka could do was to listen to advice; Although being defended like that to those guys was really sweet. And what exactly was Haruka thinking about? Did this stormy night remind her of the past...the past that Michiru never belonged to?

Michiru frowned more trying to fight away the flush of heat pricking at the corners of her eyes, until Haruka turned and smiled.

"Join me."

Michiru nearly choked and swallowed blushing.

She could barely choke out: "N..Nani?"

Haruka grinned this time, taking Michiru's glass and sitting it down. She found her hands and gently tugged them.

"Come on.."

Michiru fought the urge to let her heart creep further up her throat and let Haruka pull her.

Her feet seemed to been weightless.

Haruka lead her upstairs, not bothering with the hall lights. Along the way, the walls seemed strange and glowed from the rare occurrence of the moon out with the storm clouds.

It was a summer rain, sweet and pure. The damp smell of the earth and the leaves crept through the open windows in windy gusts. Michiru liked how it banished away the dank musty air of before. However, she couldn't comprehend all of this now. Her heart was hammering too fast; her world threatened to spin out of control.

Haruka was so hard to understand.. They passed the trick closet door which led to the bathroom and entered the master bedroom. But they passed that bathroom door too.

Michiru looked puzzled and tried to take back her hand, but Haruka only smiled to her.

"So, will you join me?"

She pushed back the large billowy curtains which had been covering a set of wall length windows. But as Michiru observed, these windows were actually a set of French modeled balcony doors and the night reflected expectantly back at them. Rain fell like a waterfall down the panes.

It looked other worldly.

Michiru was dumbstruck but nodded. It didn't make sense, but then love hardly ever did make sense. The body is guided by impulses and electric signals. It takes but an instant to react, and a lifetime to comprehend.

Haruka opened the balcony doors, and the wind handled the rest, claiming the doors and swinging them wide open. Haruka looked like a wild entity that had somehow awakened Michiru in her sleep and lured her out into the night; As if she had been equipped with strong wings like a bird and would take Michiru away from the world forever; like Peter pan with Wendy.

Michiru watched Haruka, clothes and hair blowing in the rainy wind; waiting as if wanting this fantasy.

Perhaps it had been so, in a pervious time. In a previous life; When they had been lovers and the sky wasn't the only one with nightly confessions. Somehow it seemed perfect.

Michiru stepped out into the wild night.

Miles of sand dunes and boardwalk stretched out in the distance melting far off into the horizon, but for now the world was all velvet and storm. It was like the soft essence of kittens and the reality of jungle claws.

At first it was a sort of dance; a bit awkward in the beginning as Michiru had never been led before. Haruka seemed a pro and waltzed her across the wooden panels. Her hands, in contrast to the rain, was hot and guiding on Michiru's hip and wrist. From the rain, it felt like only tissue paper separated Haruka's touch, and her skin. Somewhere lost in the clashing of thunder, was a tiny moan from the back of Michiru's throat. Her hair felt heavy, making her head lean back a bit. As if in response, Haruka's hands found the intricate knots and combs, and released it. Michiru leaned her head back more, the rain pounded her hair in flat curls against her back, and smaller wisps clung to her cheeks and face in ringlets. Haruka fought very hard with herself, suddenly longing so badly to brush her lips against Michiru's neck, and suck the rain from her soaked skin.

It was all too much.

The rain was surprisingly warm now. And even though it was so thick that it was hard to see, Haruka's jade eyes found and held Michiru's own. Michiru, dazed and breathless in her arms, searched them in return. She wondered if the person Haruka was seeing, was herself or another. Haruka smiled to her easing the last of the barrette's out of her hair and pushed the strands in her face back against her neck. The dress at this point was ridiculously see through, and Michiru pushed closer into Haruka's chest, for modesty's sake; Or so she reasoned.

Haruka stopped the dance and simply held her, but with what feelings in her heart, Michiru did not know. She could just make out Haruka's pulse under the thin layer of her shirt.

They stood there for a long time in the warm rain and finally when it had begun to slow, Haruka pulled back a little and looked again into Michiru's eyes.

"Do you think I am hopeless?" She asked her, the flat tone of her whisper made Michiru shiver a bit. She thought perhaps she was hearing things, as she could barely hear it over the sea and rain.

"No... I don't. I never did." Michiru smiled touching Haruka's cheek.

"Keshou..." Haruka sighed against the top of her hair lightly, knowing it was time to let go.

Or else...

The phone was ringing. Sharp and loud. Nonstop and persistent.

Haruka pulled back a little and made her way inside to answer, almost relieved for an excuse to get away from the searing touch and sweet skin. Michiru watched her go, feeling a bit of numbness creep over her. She had the feeling that this moment was as rare and beautiful as a once in a life time event; The tiniest glimpse of a shooting star. And now.. Michiru walked into the dark room again shivering, and groped for the towel she had used earlier left slung over the rack, just inside the doorway of the bathroom.

And now...

She crept closer, feeling like a spy for real this time but unable to help herself. What was she hearing? Haruka flustered... Haruka's lowly tone of anger mixed with an underlying pain... Haruka apologizing. Michiru tried to breathe, she tried to move, she tried to think but it was all spinning.

Morgan..

"I'ts alright, I understand... Ten minutes, tops; Hold on, Ill be right there."

Haruka's voice with a hint of urgency; A bit of breathless hesitation, or anticipation. What she heard.. made Michiru wanted to scream.

"I'm sorry. I have to go... Car broke down; there was no one else.."

"What about her boyfriend.. Can't you see she's just toying with you." Michiru began, unable to hold back the look of obvious betrayal.

In the back of her mind she wondered, should she feel betrayed? What the hell was that out there anyway; God, did she even know herself?

"Look, she needs help. You just said I wasn't a fool; so trust me."

"You're right. You weren't one; until now!"

"Listen, things are complicated. I've been with her for years. Its not as easy as you think!"

Haruka was starting to get angry now. Without thinking about it she flung off her soaked shirt for a dry one and changed her shoes. Michiru watched unable to stop her tears now. This was all spinning out of control. How could Haruka not see what was happening?

And furthermore more, why couldn't Michiru stop the angry words that took form now towards Haruka. She knew it wouldn't help, but her pain cried out for vengeance.

"What's not easy? Huh? Is that it then, am I done now; May I go?" Michiru yelled. Haruka stood, pain and anger flaring in her eyes.

"I need some time.." Haruka began, trying to walk past Michiru.

"Time? Don't tell me.."

"I need some damn time, okay?!"

Michiru stood there a second, before tightening her jaw and smacking Haruka across the cheek. She let out a sob, and recoiled her hand.

Now she had done it. She was no better then Morgan. Suddenly, she hated herself; no she loathed herself.

Michiru gasped and looked up at Haruka whose eyes were closed disdainfully. Without another word Haruka silently left and slammed the door, ratting the old frame and knocking a tiny bit of sheet rock out of the ceiling.

The dark closed in on Michiru like a thick fog. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't think. Her stomach twisted when she heard the sound of tires peel outside and then the silence.

Michiru crumpled to her knees sobbing. Why couldn't she hold back this pain that felt like it would consume her very being. They were so close.. Was earlier just a dream? Or was Haruka pretending she was someone else the entire time? Michiru took a long moment to cry and collect herself.

Obviously Haruka was still in love with Morgan.

Michiru laid the combs back in their velvet lining.

Obviously, Haruka liked the game of cat and mouse.

She laid out the pearls and the earrings and closed their velvet lined drawer.

Obviously, Michiru was a damn fool.

She flung off the dress and left it on the bed before gathering her clothes from before and tugging them back on. She found her worn out work sneakers, and her purse and touched the doorknob to leave.

Should she go? Maybe she had blown it all out of proportion.. Maybe..

Michiru gritted her teeth and opened the door, forcing herself outside and slammed it behind her. She needed to leave. She needed to be gone before Haruka returned.

Michiru had no idea where she was going, but any direction was better then the last one. She'd show Haruka; she didn't need her love.. No, her pain!

Running down the path, her footsteps were lost to the churning water.

The house was lonely and silent once more.

--

A faint translucent figure standing on the last floor, looked out after the fleeing form and touched their hand to the glass before fading away; almost sadly...

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-To be continued-

Authors notes: Just wanted to post something. I cut this in half, so Ill be working on the next bit tonight as well. Don't worry! Stick with me.