Chapter 7: Chocolate Cake

*Seiya*

It was so strange, Seiya hadn't seen or heard from her wife all afternoon. She'd spent most of it with Usagi and that Botan. Nothing had happened that was glaringly suspicious, but she just didn't like her. Her gut told her that Botan was up to something. Once the sun set Seiya decided she would go look for Kiyoko, besides Rei had shown up to take over chaperone duty. That hadn't been officially decided or assigned to Seiya, but her distrust of Botan and Usagi's overly trusting nature made her not want to leave them alone. So she stayed, even though she knew Kiyoko had been close. However, she'd been talking to Botan. So Seiya thought that she'd been investigating something at first.

Something told Seiya she should check their chambers first. So she headed there. When she opened the doors, Seiya realized she wasn't there. But she saw a piece of paper lying on their bad, also unusual. Kiyoko simply never left papers anywhere except on that one table in this room, she was almost obsessive about it. So she walked over and read what was written on it. When she finished Seiya was confused and hurt. Why had she run away? This felt like running away. And what did that comment about her mother mean? Kiyoko had never minded her continued friendship with Usagi before. On the other hand, she knew that Kiyoko often found clarity and comfort in that old kingdom and if it helped with the nightmares…. However, it was difficult to swallow the idea of not going after her. What should she do?

If nothing else, the Senshi in her told her that Usagi and Serenity should know. She'd go to Serenity first, uncertain of whether Botan was still with Usagi. So Seiya started down the hallway, stopping a staff and asking if they knew where she could find the queen. They directed her to the small dining hall. Apparently she and the King were having a private dinner. Seiya hoped she wouldn't be interrupting anything, but this was too important.

When Seiya entered, she was relieved to find the two eating and chatting. Helios' eyes caught Seiya's first. He stood immediately, "What's going on Seiya?"

As Seiya approached, Serenity's gaze fell upon her as well, filled with worry. Seiya knew what she had to say was not going to make her feel better. She decided just to say it, "Kiyoko is gone. She went to the moon."

All of the clear drained from Serenity's face and a voice shouted from behind, "What?" Everyone turned to see Usagi entering the dining hall alone.

*Kiyoko*

Walking toward the three of them were Haruka and Michiru. Kiyoko was taken aback by the fact that they look like two halves of a whole even in this time, they're synchronicity and love for one another obvious. Usagi took her free hand and waved at them, calling out, "Haruka-san! Michiru-san!" Something about the way Usagi addressed them made Kiyoko want to laugh. But she didn't.

She tried to keep as straight a face as possible, actually trying to duck behind them a little. Kiyoko didn't know why the two of them were making her nervous here, they were closest of family in her time. Still, she was nervous but Kiyoko knew that she had to recover herself and keep her power in check around them. They'd always had the most astute sense of power.

When Haruka and Michiru reached the three of them they looked to Usagi first. Haruka smiled at her and teased, "Hey there Koneko-chan!" Kiyoko wondered why on Earth Haruka was calling her mother a kitten. But she didn't say anything.

Michiru smiled and spoke with the same eloquence that Kiyoko had always known, "Hello Usagi and Minako-chan. Who is your friend?" Her eyes turned to Kiyoko, so deep and pooling like the ocean. Michiru had always had those eyes.

Before Minako could get a word in Usagi answered cheerfully, "This is Atsuko-chan! We're going to the café to get some cake!" Minako nodded, perhaps in agreement or perhaps in acceptance that Usagi was hogging the conversation at the moment.

Michiru eyed Kiyoko skeptically. Haruka looked her right in the eyes, those blue eyes threatening to drown Kiyoko. But then she smiled, "Nice to meet you Atsuko-chan. Where has Koneko-chan been hiding such a pretty friend?" The charm in her voice was familiar, yet somehow felt different.

This was when Minako broke into the conversation, "Haruka-san! Michiru-san is right there!" This made Michiru giggle. Kiyoko giggled too, she couldn't help it. She hadn't spent five minutes with her family of the future and already she felt better, not as weighted.

Haruka didn't like away from Kiyoko, her smile mischievous, "I know. May we join you at the café Atsuko-chan? Koneko-chan?" Kiyoko was pretty sure she'd left Minako out of the question as a result of her failed attempt at scolding Haruka.

Usagi looked at Kiyoko, but Kiyoko really didn't know why though. But she gathered that refinement within her. Kiyoko answered, "That would be wonderful, Haruka-san." Haruka flashed another smile before holding her arm out to Michiru. No matter the era and no matter the flirtation or closeness with anyone else, Haruka's heart was always and would always belong to Michiru.

As the five of them walked to the café, Kiyoko wondered something. From everything she'd known, Haruka and Michiru didn't trust outsiders especially when it came to Usagi. Of course, Usagi was still holding onto her arm happily! Michiru glanced back at Kiyoko, Usagi, and Minako and said, "I haven't seen you around here before Atsuko-chan."

It wasn't phrased as a question, but Kiyoko knew that it was and so she answered, keeping her face the mask of composure and elegance, "I just moved here Haruka-san. My aunt asked me to come." It was a play on the facts, but it would do.

They finally reached the café. Haruka held the door for the four of them, actually winking at Kiyoko as she walked past. The five of them sat in a corner booth, Haruka on one end and Kiyoko on the other. Usagi sat next to her with Minako in between her and Michiru. Then the waitress came over everyone ordered drinks and of course Usagi faithfully ordered cake. When the waitress got to Kiyoko she realized that she had no money, or anything else for that matter which was a problem she'd have to deal with if she was here very long, so she simply ordered water and refrained from the cake. Usagi looked at her perplexed. She understood, cake had been Kiyoko's suggestion.

Kiyoko didn't know what to say. Suddenly Haruka looked at the waitress, "One piece of chocolate cake as well please." The waitress blushed as Haruka smiled at her and went off to get their drinks. What was she doing? Haruka had always hated chocolate cake.

Silence settled on the group and Michiru spoke again, "Usagi, Minako-chan, I thought that you two were studying with Ami-chan and the others this afternoon."

Usagi laughed one of her high pitched nervous laughs, Minako accompanying her. Kiyoko remembered her father telling her that her mother was not the best student in school. Wait… her father…. Would she be able to see her father again?

Minako interrupted her thoughts, "We decided to skip it. We were going to play some Sailor V! But then we met Atsuko, who is VERY good at it. She beat Ami-chan's high score!"

Haruka and Michiru exchanged a look and just as it appeared Haruka was about to say something, the waitress brought the drinks and desserts over. Kiyoko sipped at her water as she eyed the cake in front of Usagi, Minako, and Haruka longingly. Usagi and Minako dug right into theirs. Haruka glanced sideways at Michiru and then slid her plate across the table, "Can't let you go hungry, now can we?"

Kiyoko blushed. Haruka had no idea who she was and yet she was still being exceptionally kind to her. She whispered, "Thank you Haruka-san." Delicately she took a bite of the cake and nearly moaned at the taste, only Makoto's cake had tasted better.

Haruka's smile grew bigger and she addressed Kiyoko, "Much better!" Then she glanced at Usagi's already empty plate and laughed, "Koneko-chan, you're finished already?"

Usagi looked at her plainly, "It was really good!" She took a big gulp of her drink. Kiyoko liked being with them like this. But she had to get back and stop Botan.

Michiru looked at her watch and then at Haruka, "I'm sorry, but I have to go. I have rehearsal. Haruka, are you coming or staying?" The two exchanged another glance that seemed to speak volumes. Kiyoko smiled just a little, thinking about how their way with each other looked like telepathy to outsiders.

Haruka answered her, saying, "I think I'm going to stick around a while, but I will walk you out Michi." She slid out of the booth and Michiru followed her, saying goodbye to everyone and walking with Haruka to the door. With her exceptional hearing Kiyoko caught just a couple of snip-its of their hushed conversation. She heard Haruka say something about keeping an eye… Kiyoko suspected it would be on her.

When Haruka came back to the table she sat down and asked, "What are you girls going to do now?" She looked at each one of them.

Minako laughed, "Probably go sit in on the Three Lights rehearsal. Seiya is always bugging Usagi to come watch." She put a hand over her mouth, realizing how what she'd said sounded. Haruka's expression was a bit puzzled and Usagi was blushing.

"It's not like that! We're just friends Haruka-san!" Kiyoko had to restrain herself from laughing for a moment as she thought about Haruka and Seiya's relationship in the future and the remarks made when she first met her!

However, Kiyoko quickly processed things and came to a few conclusions. First, Kiyoko would NOT see her father. He must have been captured by now which she couldn't tell anyone about. Second, if Kiyoko continued tagging along with Usagi and Minako she'd see Seiya. Her heart started to skip a beat, but then reality set in. Not only did this Seiya not know her, but she was in love with her mother. That made her heart sink… Which brought her to her third conclusion, no matter what Kiyoko had to avoid Seiya. She felt the sting of tears threatening her eyes.

Kiyoko stood and spoke with forced calm, "I'm afraid that I have to go. It was nice to meet all of you." She bowed briefly and then started walking briskly toward the doors.

Haruka grasped her wrist and looked up at her seriously, "May I walk with you Atsuko-chan?" Kiyoko pursed her lips, and though she wasn't certain it was the best idea… If she couldn't see Seiya, at least she could spend some time with Haruka! She nodded and Haruka stood, offering Kiyoko her arm with one of her flirty smiles. Kiyoko took it and they walked out of the café and into the bright sun. Haruka spoke in a soft tone, "So tell me more about yourself Atsuko."

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