Hey again, peeps. :) Sorry it took so long to update. I just went through a really bad break-up with someone I loved more than anything in the world. But eh. That's life, right:)

This chapter has some violence in it, and some strong language. Nothing too graphic, but still violent. So if that sort of stuff is scary, I reccommend not continuing. Even though the violence in this chapter is not as bad as the last chapter, haha.

So, Takeuchi said she'd get back to me about the rights to Sailor Moon. I'm still waiting to hear from her, so I figured while I wait I could write. This is what happened. Enjoy!

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Haruka's eyes slitted open. The first thing she saw was a bright light shining down on her. She shuddered slightly as she regained contact of her senses, and the pain in her shoulder reached her, though it was not as intense as she remembered. She felt pressure on her hand and by her side, and she struggled to lift her head. She felt slightly dizzy, and as her eyes began to focus she realized where she was.

She was in the hospital wing of the palace on the Moon. How did she get here?

She couldn't remember anything past being stabbed in the shoulder. But realization hit her suddenly.

Kayle… he was dead.

She felt a dull ache in her heart at this memory and she looked down at her hand.

Michiru was asleep, her head resting on the edge of Haruka's bed, her hand clutching the blonde's uninjured one gently. Haruka smiled slightly, but remembered the delay Neptune had made, causing her to reach Kayle a moment too late.

She gently extracted her hand from the aqua-haired girl's grip, and this slight movement woke Michiru up. The artist smiled sleepily up at the blonde for a moment, but then her eyes narrowed and her smile faded.

"I'm glad you're awake," she said coldly. "After you scared us all half to death!"

Haruka winced at her angry tone. "I did what I needed to do."

"And what did it prove, Haruka?" Michiru demanded. "You got severely injured, and it didn't save Kayle."

The last remark angered the blonde. "I could've saved Kayle if you hadn't stopped me," Haruka accused.

Michiru's eyes narrowed even further. "I tried to stop you from endangering the mission," she said icily. "Kayle had his orders, we had ours. Nowhere did they say for you to foolishly risk your life."

Haruka exploded. "You expect me to watch people I love die?!"

"If it is our mission, then we have to! Remember what Guru said!"

"And what of you? You could have left ME to die!"

"You're my partner, Haruka!"

"What difference does that make?" She snapped. "Kayle was MY partner!"

Michiru felt as if she'd been slapped. "You endangered the mission," she said quietly. "I only did what I thought was best." She stood up to leave. "I'm sorry."

"Next time, don't do my thinking for me," Haruka called coldly, and Michiru exited the small hospital room, unwilling for Haruka to see the tears that fell from her blue eyes.

Days passed and Haruka did not receive another visit from Michiru. That troubled her slightly, but she was much too stubborn to allow it to bother her, or to try and make amends. The inner senshi frequented her hospital room, especially Usagi, and even the mysterious Pluto paid her a visit, with the young Hotaru.

Her short therapy to regain motor movement in her shoulder was painful, but she dealt with it. Within a few days, she was mostly healed thanks to her senshi powers, and the Mercurian doctor allowed her to take leave from the hospital.

Haruka was more than glad to be back to her old quarters, and back to her solitude. She was not bothered by the inner senshi, but she found she needed a lot of alone time to deal with her thoughts, and her emotions.

With Kayle gone, Tachi remained behind to rule in his absence. Haruka placed all her trust in him. Her Jou, whose numbers once reached twenty-five, were now down to seventeen, and the remaining other forces were less than half. Tachi had his work cut out for him in rebuilding her planet, but she knew he could do it. Truthfully, she was not sure she could handle being on Uranus after Kayle's death.

She returned to her home planet once within the following week, for Kayle's funeral. It was a grand funeral, like Kayle would have wanted. The sky opened up its blessing on the procession, but it only succeeded in deepening Haruka's mood. Her people had never seen her cry, not even at her own parents' funeral, but as she stood in the cold rain and watched Kayle's body being carried away to the alter for burning, she could not withhold her tears.

Tachi laid a comforting hand on her uninjured shoulder. "I know you're taking this hard," he said quietly. Haruka remained silent. "I know what you're feeling. But you have to remember your duty."

Haruka turned to Tachi with an angry glare, and pulled her shoulder from his grasp. "What would you know about how I'm feeling, Tachi?" she nearly choked. "What would anybody know?" With that, she turned and walked towards the funeral procession.

"If you won't listen to me, Haruka, then listen to Kayle. Remember his words," Tachi called after her. "Please…"

Haruka raised her hand, calling for silence, shook her head, and continued on her way.

Back on the moon, Haruka withdrew into herself more and more. The inner senshi began to worry, but never found the opportunity to approach Haruka on the subject. They confronted Michiru, in hopes that the aqua-haired beauty could help, but she was just as much at a loss as they were, perhaps more. Even contacting Tachi for advice proved fruitless. He had explained to them about Haruka's character and just how important Kayle was to her, but it did not ease their worry.

Finally, Tachi offered to return to the moon for a few days until Haruka snapped out of her funk.

Haruka was running, something she did a lot since Kayle's death. It was one of the few activities that helped her clear her head and her heart, but today, for some reason, it neither cleared her mind nor comforted her. The wind was strong, coming in gusts and whipping her hair about as her feet hit the ground with each stride.

It began to rain, the icy drops pelting her as she ran as fast as she could. She was not cold, despite the freezing temperatures outside.

"It's my fault," she repeated over and over in her mind. "I wasn't fast enough." She pushed herself past her limit and a strong gust blew past her face. "I wish I was the wind…" Her thoughts flew back to that final moment and she saw Kayle being stabbed over and over. The guilt overwhelmed her, haunted her. She ran faster.

Finally, exhausted, she keeled over, her breath coming in ragged gasps and pants, her shoulder aching from her stab wound, which was still not completely healed. She couldn't do this.

"Kayle… I'm sorry…"

"Haruka!"

The blonde looked up, still gasping for air, and saw Tachi approaching her, despite the bitter rain coming down in torrents. "What are you doing here?" she demanded. "You should be on Uranus tying up problems."

"I am tying up problems- the main one being you," Tachi replied matter-of-factly, hugging his huge raincoat closer.

Haruka glared. "Oh?"

"Your friends are worried about you," Tachi continued. "You can't keep living like this, Haruka."

Haruka stood up straight, her composure returning. "And who are you to tell me how to live, Tachi?"

"A friend. I was once your advisor, remember? And I advise against you pining away over Kayle's death. It won't bring him back."

"I know that," Haruka snapped angrily.

"Instead, you should focus your energy on something more productive, like rebuilding the planet he loved."

"You don't understand," Haruka said quietly.

"What don't I understand, Haruka?"

Haruka shook her head. "It's nothing." She turned away.

"Consider my words, Haruka."

"They're considered," she said, and with that, she began to run again.

"Stop running, Haruka, and face this."

That night, Haruka dressed herself in normal clothes and went into town. Dark brown, leather, calf-high boots with dark brown, soft pants and a light brown tunic with a hood were the clothes that she found in the palace stables, and despite the snow that had fallen outside, she did not bring a heavy jacket. She expertly snuck out of the palace and into a commoner's tavern in town, if only to escape from her life for a little while.

The half-lit room and warmth calmed her. The musty smell of old wood combined with the aroma of liquor helped her to relax. Many hours and drinks later, she was more than a little drunk, but not anywhere near quitting. She slammed some more money on the bar and asked for another round.

She turned slightly when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Haruka, it's time to go…"

Haruka smiled slightly at the sound of Tachi's voice. "Ah, Tachi… sit down and have a drink. Don't be so stiff…"

"I don't think so, Haruka. I think you've had enough."

Haruka laughed and nodded. "I guess you're right. But man, for someone who's always prodding me to have fun, you sure are the party crasher…" She paused suddenly. "You know, yesterday was my birthday."

Tachi sighed. "Happy birthday."

Haruka shook her head as if to clear it. "Some birthday…"

She stood up from her stool, surprisingly graceful considering the amount of liquor she'd had. Haruka had always held her alcohol well on Uranus, and their stuff was much stronger than the pansy Moon Kingdom booze. She began to follow Tachi out of the bar.

"Stop it, Jyal! I don't want to!" A feminine voice exclaimed pleadingly.

"Come on, sweetie… I promise you'll like it…" A deep, masculine voice goaded.

Haruka stopped when she overheard this exchange and turned towards the corner where a big, black-haired man was forcing his way on top of a light orange-haired girl. She was trying to push him off of her and her expression made it clear that she did not like this brute, but his sheer weight and size were obviously too much for her to resist.

Haruka watched this scene for a moment, and felt her own anger beginning to rise. Whether it was because she felt sorry for the orange-haired girl, or because it reminded her of her own problems with Michiru, she wasn't sure, it was probably a little of both. The liquor in her system seemed to urge her on, and she stepped towards the guy who had managed to pull the orange-haired girl into an unwilling kiss.

"Hey, asshole!"

The black-haired guy pulled back from the girl and turned. "What the fuck?"

Haruka stood over him, glaring. "I think the lady asked you to stop. I suggest you back off," she said coolly.

The black-haired guy, half angry, half amused, laughed. "And who the fuck are you, to tell me what to do?" The guy was obviously drunk, and slurring his words badly.

"I believe I'm the one who just told you to back off," Haruka repeated.

The black-haired man blinked, and his face began to turn red. "Fuck you!" He stood up quickly and aimed a clumsy punch in her direction, which she easily avoided.

"I don't want to fight a man with such an extensive vocabulary," Haruka said calmly. "But don't push it- if you continue," her eyes narrowed angrily and her tone turned deadly, "I will kick your sorry ass."

The black-haired man laughed again and stepped away from his table and the orange-haired girl, who cowered in her seat, unsure of the whole situation. Haruka felt sorry for her as she eyed her opponent, who was moving into a fighting stance, carefully. He was an easy win.

The people in the bar backed away, giving them a sort-of circle to fight in, and two more guys, slightly smaller but just as burly as the black-haired guy, stepped forward. One of them was in a red shirt, and the other was brandishing a small dagger.

Haruka nearly laughed with amusement. Even with the two extra fighters, Haruka was sure of her easy win. The guy with the dagger advanced on her and swung the blade wildly. Haruka evaded his crazy arcs, and he continued to try and cut her. Finally, he stabbed at her, and she narrowly avoided being sliced. Her eyes began to ice over with anger. Were these guys so bent on fighting her?

The dagger guy stabbed at her again, and this time, she grabbed his forearm with her right hand, and pushed her palm hard into his elbow, breaking his arm at the joint. He cried out in pain and she sent him sprawling into a table, which broke under his weight and shattered, along with the glasses of beer, onto the floor.

This was what she needed.

She barely heard Tachi calling her from somewhere in the crowd, but he was no fighter- he knew better than to get involved. Besides, she needed him to run Uranus. Better he stay out of it.

The guy in the red shirt tried to throw a punch at her, and she glared at him. They sparred for a minute or two, bare-knuckled fighting. He did not manage to land a single blow on Haruka, and instead, got her elbow in his diaphragm. He lost his breath and before he could keel over, she had grabbed him and thrown him over her shoulder and into the bar cabinet, which exploded instantly into shards of broken glass and splashes of various liquors. The guy fell to the floor, groaning, and the cabinet fell on top of him. The crowd was teeming with average civilians who were watching in wide-eyed wonder. Many of them were urging the fight on, chanting and cheering and throwing empty bottles into the cleared circle in drunken excitement.

Ignoring the murmuring crowd, Haruka turned once again to the original guy with the black hair. "Alone once again… will you reconsider?"

The black-haired man clenched his fists angrily, gritting his teeth. He pulled out a dagger of his own and charged her, and Haruka, unprepared for the sudden attack, could not avoid the blade giving her a cut above her eyebrow.

"YOU FOOL!" she shouted angrily, dropping to her knee and pulling a Uranian military knife out of her boot in one fluid motion. She sprang forward, almost cat-like, and cut the guy's Achilles heel.

In a spurt of blood and a chorus of screams, the guy fell to the floor, his weight instantly unsupported by his severed tendon. Haruka, her fist cocked with the knife still clutched in her hand, began to advance on him, but Tachi dashed forward, locked his arms around her, and pulled her back.

"NO, Haruka. Enough," he said angrily. "This isn't like you."

The crowd dispersed, several people rushing forward to assist the injured man, who was now crying and screaming even louder.

"You fucking fucker!" he cried, tears streaming down his flushed face. "You mother fucking fucker!! Aaagh…!!"

Haruka shrugged Tachi's grip off her shoulders and she stood up straight, glaring down at the wailing, writhing guy somewhat emotionlessly. His blood was covering the floor. People were staring at her, the bartender on the phone for emergency medical assistance.

She gingerly reached up and wiped some blood that had spurted from his wound off the side of her chin.

Tachi had moved to fix the situation- after all, it was what he was good at: damage control and repair. He initiated a conversation with the bartender once he finished his emergency call, and Haruka only caught parts of the conversation. It seemed to her that Tachi was offering to pay for the damage.

Haruka shook her head and began to exit the bar, when her arm was caught gently. She turned and came face to face with the orange-haired girl she had saved. The girl gazed deep into her teal eyes, making her uncomfortable, and smiled. "I don't know how I could ever thank you…" she began softly, and Haruka noticed that she had a slight Venutian accent.

Haruka returned her smile, somewhat bitterly, and replied, "No need." She glanced back at the guy, still wailing and writhing. "Be careful."

The orange-haired girl nodded sadly, and Haruka exited the tavern without a backward glance, disappearing into the snowy night.

She made her way back to the palace with little difficulty. The adrenaline that was pumping in her from her brawl at the tavern made her thoughts fly in her head, and by the time she reached her quarters, she had a pounding headache. Quietly and carefully, she opened the door to her room and slipped inside to the comforting darkness. She closed the door behind her and breathed a sigh of relief.

"So."

Haruka nearly jumped a foot in the air as Michiru's angry voice entered her surprised ears.

She turned. "Gods, Michiru!" she breathed. The aqua-haired Princess of Neptune was sitting on her bed, her arms crossed and her eyes narrowed angrily.

"Surprised to see me?"

Haruka sighed, defeated. "At this hour… obviously. What are you doing here?"

Michiru stood up and moved a little closer. "Do you have any idea what time it is?" At Haruka's blank stare, Michiru continued. "It is nearly 4am. You do know our powers are connected, right?"

"Of course, but--"

"So your emotional turmoil has been affecting me as well. I've been in a continued state of distress for the past week, and why don't you add to that the fact that you're out until all hours of the night beating the crap out of people, and drinking, judging by the reeking stench of your clothes."

Haruka began to get angry. "And who said I had to answer to you, Michiru?" She asked furiously. "When I agreed to senshi duty I wasn't aware that I was signing a contract that stated that I had to worry about your problems, so why should you worry about mine?"

"Well perhaps, though it is quite a far fetch for your character, Haruka, you might think about being a little more considerate to those close to you, especially your partner," Michiru snapped. "Knowing our powers are linked to one another, you should have thought of the consequences of your actions. Our powers being linked is a safety mechanism because we are a team. We have to be able to know when the other is in danger. Would you change that?"

"You're one to talk of consideration, Michiru," the blonde said in a low tone, her anger barely contained. "You know I've just lost someone close to me."

Michiru glared. "And do you think he would be proud of you, now? Do you think Kayle would be happy, knowing you're drinking yourself into a stupor at some tavern?" Michiru shook her head. "Open your eyes, Haruka! The rest of us are still alive!"

Haruka felt as if she'd been slapped, but she knew Michiru was right. Her hands balled into fists and she felt like she could punch her partner. The alcohol in her system only fueled her rage and blurred her thoughts. Her head was still pounding and the arguing wasn't helping it.

Michiru caught sight of Haruka's balled fists and laughed bitterly. "Still want to fight? Want to hit me? You're hopeless." She shook her head and began to turn away, tears lining her eyes. "I thought you would snap out of it, eventually, Haruka. But you're only sinking further. I can't bring you back, and I don't know what to do. Maybe all of Kayle's teachings were useless to you, after all."

Haruka felt like Michiru had crossed some line. Without warning she moved to hit Michiru with her fist, knowing in the back of her mind that Michiru's reflexes were faster than hers, and more so especially, since she, herself, was in no state to be fighting a senshi, especially one who was her equal.

Sensing the sudden attack, Michiru nimbly avoided being hit with Haruka's fist, which instead hit the doorframe and stunned her momentarily. Michiru countered with a sweep to Haruka's legs, which left her landing sprawled on her back on the floor.

"So," Michiru started, all trace of tears and emotion gone from her eyes. "This is how you want it. Fine."

Within seconds her aqua henshin stick was in her hand and Haruka rolled into a crouch a few feet away, summoning her navy henshin stick as well.

Just as both were about to transform, there came an urgent knock at the door. Their eyes met and they shared an unspoken truce. Duty came first. Michiru, who was closer to the door, answered it, beholding a slightly disheveled Queen of the Moon.

"Queen Serenity?" Michiru asked, quite appalled.

"Michiru," The Queen stated, equally surprised to see her in Haruka's room. "Haruka," she acknowledged carefully, catching her eyes from across the room. She wisely decided not to question Haruka's stable attire. She spied the henshin sticks in each of their hands and raised an eyebrow. "I see you have sensed the danger?"

"Danger?" Haruka questioned dumbly, her blood rushing from the incident with Michiru, but still under the effects of the booze, and her headache.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I felt… something," Michiru covered. "I came to alert Haruka, and we were about to investigate. I wasn't sure what it was, however…"

The Queen sighed tiredly. She truly looked worn- her eyes had dark circles under them, indicating her lack of sleep over the stress of the coming events. Her silver eyes held a severe look of distraught, and her clothes, normally kept in perfect order, looked slightly tousled, the silver strands of her hair quite messy.

"I'm afraid there's been an all-out assault by the Dark Kingdom on one of Saturn's outermost moons," she said wearily.

"We're on it immediately, Your Highness."

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Ooo, intense. Another battle? Hm... ;)

As always, I print out everyone's reviews and keep them under my pillow, and kiss them three times each night before I go to sleep.

Wow. Totally kidding. ;)

See ya next time. :D