Disclaimer: I don't own any Sailor Moon characters.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews everyone! Hope you enjoy the update.

Chapter 8: Incubus

Silence had descended upon the Tenou residence. Haruka stepped out into the hall and walked past her parents' bedroom. She peeked through the open door to see if her mother was inside, but the room was empty. The room across her parents' bedroom, where sometimes she'd find her mother folding laundry or sewing, was also empty. There was a noise in the kitchen downstairs and Haruka swiftly made her way down the steps. Before she stepped in front of the entryway to the kitchen, she stopped. She wasn't so sure anymore if she really wanted to say anything to her mother. When she thought about it, there was nothing she could possibly say to make the situation better. She stared at her feet and wondered if it was even worth apologizing for the grief she was causing. The way she saw it, there were things far worse than being a lesbian. At least she wasn't in a gang, running around the streets and getting shot at. At least she wasn't going around sleeping with boys and getting pregnant or acquiring STDs. At least she wasn't doing drugs. The only thing that could be held against her really was her illegal racing, but other than that she was an excellent student, star athlete, and outstanding pianist – all the things her parents wanted her to be. She was just in love, that's all. And the one she fell in love with just happened to be a girl.

A shadow loomed before her and Haruka looked up. Takeo's stare was cold as steel and he just stood there. Haruka took a step back. She had no business with him. As far as she was concerned, she was no longer his daughter. "Where's Okaa-san?" she asked.

Takeo continued staring at her wordlessly.

"Nevermind," Haruka said and turned to go back to the staircase.

As she walked past the picture frames containing family portraits she caught Takeo following her in the reflection. She turned around just in time to see him swing his arm. Haruka immediately ducked and his fist smashed into the picture frames. The glass shattered and rained down around Haruka. Takeo grunted and grabbed his bleeding hand. For a moment, Haruka was paralyzed. Her mind screamed at her to get up and run, but she couldn't move. It wasn't until Takeo recovered from his hand that she snapped out of it. Ignoring the glass cutting the bottom of her feet, Haruka sprinted for the front door. She grabbed the doorknob and pulled, but the door was bolted. Her hand grabbed air in the spot where her keys would normally be hanging.

Fuck!

Takeo came after her again and lunged, but she quickly stepped to the side and ran past him as he fell against the front door. Haruka ran up the stairs to her room and shut the door. Takeo's footsteps pounded heavily after her and he rammed against the door just as Haruka locked it. The door shuddered with every blow of Takeo's fists.

Go out the window!

Haruka had to do something quick to buy her time while she tried to escape out her window. She quickly got behind her drawers and pushed it against the door. Just as she was done setting the barricade, Takeo's fist burst through the door. He grabbed Haruka's shirt and her eyes went wide when she saw the pair of scissors in his other hand. Takeo jabbed ferociously at Haruka with the scissors, tearing through her shirt and missing her flesh by inches. The second time, however, Haruka felt the cold metal pierce her skin. Red liquid seeped out from the wound. She could feel herself going into shock and slowly her vision grew dark.

Help me! Haruka cried. Help… "Me." She opened her eyes as the sound of her own voice woke her. Her hair was matted against her brow in sweat. She quickly scanned her surroundings and breathed a sigh of relief as she recalled where she was. It was just a dream. Haruka sat up in the futon and used her shirt to wipe the sweat off her face. She took a second look at her shirt, half expecting to see a tear or a bloodstain, but there was none. But it felt so real. Next to her, Elsa snored loudly on her bed. The tomboy got up quietly and went to the bathroom. She ran the cold water and splashed her face. It may have been a dream, but it wouldn't surprise her if that's how her father felt about her. She leaned over the sink for a while, waiting for her heart to slow down from the nightmare. Soft footsteps approached her and she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"You okay, Haruka-chan?"

Haruka nodded. "I just had a bad dream. Sorry, I was trying not to wake you."

"Don't worry about it, I'm a light sleeper."

She gave Elsa a doubtful look. "You? A light sleeper? With the way you snore, I'm surprised you don't keep yourself up all night."

"You know, that's what Hiro-kun says too. Oh!" Elsa quickly covered her mouth.

Haruka looked at the other girl in shock. "You naughty little freak!"

"Shh!" Elsa hissed while blushing and trying not to laugh at the same time. "Hey, we haven't gone all the way! We just do… other things."

"Please, spare me the details." Haruka turned off the bathroom light and followed Elsa back to her bedroom. "You're so lucky though," she told her as she settled back under the the blanket.

Elsa lay down on her side and faced Haruka. "What do you mean? My parents would probably freak out too if they knew I had a boyfriend."

"But at least that's normal."

"Haruka-chan, you've got to stop using that word. You're as normal as I am, and it's normal to be in love. I'd worry if it was the other way around and you were just full of hate instead."

"That's a good point." Haruka looked up at the ceiling. "You should've seen my dad. He defined hate."

Elsa was filled with sympathy for Haruka. She could never imagine what it must have felt like to go through half of the things Haruka had been through. "Were you ever close with your dad?"

"Yeah. We used to do a lot of things together when I was younger."

"Then what happened?"

Haruka shrugged. "I don't know. I don't remember any event in particular that might've caused a rift. We just grew distant."

"I see. Well, we got four more hours before we have to get ready for school. Are you going to be okay for the rest of the night? Need a night light or something?" she added light-heartedly. A pillow was flung at her face. "Hey!"

Haruka laughed and said, "Oyasumi, Elsa-chan."

Within minutes Elsa was snoring again, but Haruka still lay wide awake on the futon. It wasn't because Elsa was keeping her up. Contrary to Elsa, she was a heavy sleeper. A stampede of elephants could barge through the room and Haruka wouldn't budge the slightest bit if she was asleep. It wasn't her nightmare either. The incident with her parents was done and over with. It was the thought of not knowing what Shigeko might do next that kept her awake.

Michiru gave Elsa a questioning look.

"Don't ask me," she replied. "That's how I found her when I woke up."

The blonde on the futon was face down in the pillow, tangled up in the blanket, and had one arm resting over her head while the other was twisted behind her. It reminded Michiru of those scary movies where demons possessed people and forced them to contort their bodies into the most impossible positions; it looked very uncomfortable, but it didn't seem to bother Haruka, who continued sleeping soundly. Michiru knelt beside the tomboy and leaned down close to her face. "Ruka?"

There was no response.

She gently nudged Haruka's shoulder. "Ruka, wake up, it's almost—"

"BA!" Haruka cried out and grabbed Michiru's hand.

Michiru shrieked and jumped.

Elsa fell on the floor laughing and Haruka merely kissed Michiru's hand with a grin on her face.

"Ohayou, Beautiful!"

"You guys suck!" Michiru scolded the two.

"It was Haruka's idea!" Elsa grasped her sides and pointed at the grinning blonde.

"Ruka!"

Now Haruka was caught by Elsa's infectious laugh. She began laughing and rolled around on the futon. "I'm sorry, Michi, I couldn't help it!" she barely got out between gusts.

"You're lucky I love you, Tenou Haruka." She helped the giggling tomboy up on her feet.

"What about me?" Elsa piped up.

"What about you?"

"I don't get any love?"

Haruka made a conspicuous cough and opened her mouth to say something.

"Shut it, Haruka-chan! Nevermind, forget I asked."

"What?" Michiru asked. "What is it?"

Haruka smiled knowingly. "Don't ask me, ask the naughty little freak over there."

Michiru's eyebrow went up. "Well Elsa-chan?"

Elsa shot a deadly look at Haruka. "You're lucky you're my best friend, Tenou Haruka!"

"I'm just the luckiest person in the world today then!" Haruka proclaimed. "So I'll leave you to speed Michiru up on things while I go get ready for school." She gave Michiru a firm kiss and merrily made her way to the bathroom.

In the bathroom, Haruka ripped the band-aid near her eye off and threw it in the trash. She leaned over the sink to examine her cut up close in the mirror. The cut was mostly healed with a scar in its place that was partly covered by a scab, so she decided a band-aid was no longer necessary. She undressed herself and examined her body next. The mirror's reflection showed most of the bruises had already faded away and the only reason why Haruka could see slight traces of it was she knew where to look. Otherwise, it was as if they were never there. And they'll never be there again, Haruka assured herself. She quickly showered and stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her body. Elsa went in next while Haruka kneeled in front of her suitcase searching for her clothes. Two soft hands placed themselves on her shoulders and lips brushed the nape of her neck.

"I laid your clothes out for you, Ruka," the sweet voice said.

"Arigatou, Michi." Haruka stood up and saw her uniform lying on the futon she slept on.

"Your bruises are gone," Michiru noted. Her hands moved down the length of Haruka's strong toned arms.

"Hai," she said and turned to face the other girl, whose touch was making a lustful desire rise within her.

"And your cut?"

"It's nothing but a scar." Haruka's hands went to Michiru's waist and she leaned down to kiss her.

Michiru met Haruka's lips and felt herself being pushed back against the wall. "Ruka," she gasped as Haruka's kisses began moving down her neck. She fought every urge to rip the towel off Haruka.

"Hm?"

"Elsa-chan won't be gone long."

"So?" The kisses continued.

"Don't start something you can't finish," she moaned. The lips on her neck spread into a smile.

"That's all part of the fun," came the sultry whisper into her ear before Haruka released her hold on Michiru. She went back to the futon, picked up her clothes, and disappeared behind the shoji screen.

Michiru slumped against the wall. "You're evil."

"But you love me!" Haruka called out from behind the screen.

Michiru let out a defeated sigh. "Hai, I love you."

Rustling sounds could be heard coming from behind the screen as Haruka dressed herself. There was the zipping sound, indicating Haruka was doing her pants, and then the clank of the belt buckle. Following that was the swishing sound coming from Haruka's tie. Moments later Haruka emerged fully dressed in her school uniform. One good thing that came out of being outted to her parents was she didn't have to wear that infernal girl uniform anymore. She left that loathsome attire back at home. What used to be my home, she corrected herself.

It wasn't long before all three girls were set for school. On their way to the bus stop, Haruka gave the other two an account of what exactly happened when she arrived home yesterday. To her, it still seemed a little hard to believe that it had actually happened. They reached the bus stop just as Haruka finished her story and were soon joined by a group of students wearing the Juban High uniform. One of the students, a black-haired boy with a long ponytail, glanced at Haruka then stared at Michiru. Having felt the uncomfortable feeling of someone watching her, Michiru turned around and met the boy's stare. Something about the boy looked familiar, but she couldn't figure out what.

Finally the boy smiled and said, "Ohayou! You don't remember me, do you." He extended his hand to Michiru.

Haruka turned to see who had spoken, but it was Elsa who identified the stranger. "Well, ohayou Kou-san! Ohisashiburi! Where have you been?"

The boy chuckled. "Still a smartass, ne, Grey-san? I've been stuck at Juban. I'm sorry I'm not as talented as the likes of you and Michiru-chan to get into Mugen," he said haughtily.

Michiru remembered now. It was the boy from her elementary school days, the one who persistently asked her to be his girlfriend to no end. His ponytail had grown much over the years, of course, and apparently so had his arrogance. "Ohayou, Seiya-chan," she said as politely as she could and shook his hand.

" '-Chan?' Aw, what happened to -kun? I liked it better that way. It's more endearing, especially coming from you."

Michiru didn't like how he held on to her hand and was quickly reminded why she never liked Seiya. His presumptuous manners disgusted her before and they were still disgusting even now. "We were children. We never had that kind of relationship for it to mean anything else."

"Ah, but it always meant something more to me."

Haruka stepped up then and Michiru leaned close to her. The blonde's face showed immense displeasure, but Seiya seemed not to notice. "I'm sorry, I don't believe we've met," she said. "My name is Tenou Haruka."

"Kou Seiya," the boy replied. "Pleasure to meet you."

Haruka merely stared at Seiya, keeping a watchful eye on him. It wasn't the first time she'd seen boys approach Michiru. After all, Michiru's beauty surpassed all the girls in school. This one, however, gave Haruka a bad feeling. "Come on, Michi. You too, Elsa-chan. It might be better if we just walk. Looks like the bus may get a little too crowded."

" 'Michi?' " Seiya questioned. "Ah, I understand now. Forgive me, Michiru-chan. I was hoping we could pick up where we left off, but it looks like I'm a little too late for that."

Haruka eyed Seiya one last time before leading Michiru and Elsa away.

"Jaa ne!" the boy called to them, but his words fell on deaf ears. Seiya's eyes narrowed as he watched the trio walk away. I'll make you pay, Tenou-san, for stealing Shigeko from me, only to break her heart.

Michiru held Haruka's hand tightly as they walked. The blonde was quiet, but it was a disturbing quiet. She could tell by Haruka's face that questions were racing through her rmind. Her brow seemed permanently furrowed and, though her stare was fixed ahead of them, Haruka's eyes were far more distant. "What are you thinking, Ruka?"

Haruka blinked at the sound of Michiru's voice, as if brought out of a hypnotic trance. Her brow relaxed and she offered the girl a weak smile. "I was just wondering… When I first told Kyoko-chan how I felt about you, she mentioned you were already interested in someone else, some boy. And, well… anou… I can only assume…" She found it difficult to bring herself to say it. It brought back painful memories of that day, memories she'd rather forget. Haruka looked away from Michiru as she tried to dimiss the past from her mind.

Before they took a step further, Michiru turned Haruka to face her. "I was never interested in Seiya-chan."

"So it was someone else."

Elsa chimed in, recognizing the tale Michiru told her when she finally admitted how she felt about Haruka. "Hai, someone else, with blonde hair and green eyes, who could easily be mistaken for a boy!"

Haruka raised her eyebrows as the situation became clear to her. "Oh," she uttered. Her face showed a mixture of relief and a little embarrassment. "I knew that."

"Of course you did, Ruka." Michiru reached up and kissed her beloved. "That's why you're getting jealous for no reason."

"Don't worry, Haruka-chan," said Elsa as the three girls resumed their walk, "Seiya-chan never stood a chance. I remember there was this time when he tried to serenade Michiru-chan during recess, and she poured sand over his head."

Haruka laughed. Her mood was lifted and she felt silly thinking that there was ever anything between Michiru and Seiya, but still, there was the way he looked at her that she didn't like. She looked at the girl beside her and decided not to worry about it so much. Nothing could come between them. Nothing could keep them apart. Not Shigeko, not her parents, nothing. With Michiru by her side, she could face the whole world and not fear a thing.

While Haruka had been busy being confronted by her parents the previous night, Seiya was on his way home from a football training that ran late. He was tired and beat, and the last thing he expected to see was his ex-girlfriend. She had broken up with him five months ago and avoided all contact with him despite all his efforts, but now he saw the pink-haired girl standing outside the entrance to Juban High. "Shigeko!" He ran to her and she burst into tears as he gathered her in his arms. "I knew you'd come back to me. I knew he couldn't love you the way I love you."

"Seiya! I should never have left you!" she said in a heartwrenching cry. "I'm so sorry!"

He tried to calm the girl down and said, "It's okay, you're here with me now." He held the girl closely. "He broke up with you, didn't he? What happened? I swear I'll fuck him up!"

Shigeko had hoped Seiya would react this way. She knew he was already bitter about her leaving him, and now she was going to give him more reason to hate Haruka. Shigeko's tear-streaked face turned up to look at her ex-boyfriend. "There's something I need to tell you."

"What is it?" Seiya began thinking of all the possible things she might say. Is she pregnant? Is it mine? Is it his? Did she get an abortion? Was she cheating on me before she left me?

"I haven't been seeing another boy."

Seiya thought that would be something to be relieved about, but it only caused him more confusion. "So what are you saying? Why did you break up with me then?"

"Because I left you for a girl."

"What?" Seiya couldn't believe what he just heard. It was outrageous. "How the fuck can a girl be better than me?"

Shigeko had Seiya's pride in the palm of her hand now. "Do you still love me, Seiya?" she asked in a hesitant voice.

"Of course, I still love you," he answered her immediately. "I would do anything for you to prove to you I'm the one you should be with."

"Would you still do anything for me?"

"Anything for you, my Shigeko. I want you back."

That was exactly what she needed to hear. She buried her face into Seiya's shirt and cried more tears. Her dark smile went unnoticed. "Make her suffer."

There was an itch on Haruka's nose, and it was becoming more and more unbearable. She dared not move a muscle though while Michiru was painting her. The artist stood concentrating at her easel and was busily making strokes across the canvas as she studied her model. They were the only ones in the art studio, but Haruka still opted not to pose nude. Since a sign was required to be hung outside the door whenever a nude model was in session, it wasn't because she was afraid someone would walk in unexpectedly and see her in the buff. Anyone wishing to enter the studio needed only to knock and then be allowed in, but in Haruka's mind, the interruption would be most unwelcome, especially if she wasn't the only one nude and twisted up in the sheets that were currently draped over her. She smirked unconsciously at the fantasy unfolding in her head.

"What are you smiling about, Ruka?"

"Er, nothing." Haruka shut her eyes and immediately tried to think of something else. Her stomach grumbled. "Are we almost done? I'm hungry. I want to eat you out. No!" She slapped her hand over her mouth. "I want to eat out! Like go out and get something to eat." Her cheeks burned both from her embarrassing slip and from the fantasy that still lingered inside.

"Ruka, don't move!" Michiru said sternly. She looked hard at her subject. "If you're going to skip study hall to be my model, you have to hold still."

"Sorry! So sorry!" Haruka quickly apologized and tried to place her hand in its original posture. She took a deep breath and held herself still again, hoping Michiru didn't catch her Freudian slip.

Michiru looked at Haruka, then at her canvas, then back at Haruka. She sighed and walked over to the modeling platform. "Your hand was like this," she said and she moved Haruka's hand closer to her hip.

"Got it. But while you're here, do you mind scratching my nose real quick?"

Michiru frowned at Haruka. "There's a little dried blood around your nose, Ruka."

"Heh? Anou, maybe it's the heat. The weather's been unusually warm lately, ne?"

Michiru turned and walked towards the door.

"Where are you going, Michi?"

"To get a wet paper towel from the bathroom to clean your nose."

"Oh, okay."

"That doesn't mean you can move," Michiru quickly added before disappearing out the studio.

"Hai, hai," Haruka said. Wait, there's already a sink and paper towels here in the studio. Why does she need to go out to the bathroom? "Michi!" she called towards the open door. There was no reply. She was probably out of hearing range. "Michiru!" she called a little louder. Suddenly Seiya's image surfaced before her eyes. She shut her eyes and thought, No, he goes to Juban High, that's on the other side of town. But panic was already beginning to seize her. Hiro-chan went out of his way to see Elsa-chan before he finally got transferred here. She desperately shook the thought off. Come on, she wouldn't betray my trust. She loves me. Stop being paranoid. Those days are over. She opened her eyes then when she heard the door shut and she saw Michiru holding damp paper towels in her hand. "Anou, don't you have that stuff here?"

"Whoever was in the studio last neglected to replenish the supply closet." Michiru began cleaning Haruka's nose. "Why, what's wrong, Ruka?"

"Ah nothing, just wondering." The itch on her nose was relieved at last.

"Okay, let's do one more pose and we'll be done."

"Oh, are we done with this one? What was the point of having me hold still then?"

Michiru giggled. "Just because I felt like torturing you."

"Funny," Haruka said and stretched her stiff muscles. "So how do you want me now?" Haruka had a second thought on the question, but made a conscious effort not to let it show on her face this time.

Michiru seemed not to notice. She took a step back and thought momentarily. "Lie down."

Haruka lay down on her back.

"Now put your hands above your head."

The blonde complied. She looked up at the fluorescent lights in the ceiling while awaiting further instructions. Classical music that was typically heard coming from the art studios began playing and then Michiru's face appeared above her. She smiled down at her handsome model and reached over for one of Haruka's hands. Haruka noticed the top buttons on Michiru's blouse were unbuttoned and her eyes were drawn to the valley within. She swallowed hard and tried to avert her eyes from the girl's blouse, but her eyes refused to move.

"Ruka, I want your hand here."

Haruka had to blink in order to distinguish what she was fantasizing in her mind and what was actually happening in front of her. Michiru had placed her hand on one of her breasts and her senses were going wild. Her fingertips tingled with the anticipation of being able to touch the smooth skin beneath the blouse material. It was only a few nights ago since she had the pleasure in the backseat of her car, but a lot had happened between then and now and it felt like it was such a far away time.

"Don't move, Ruka," the girl now straddling Haruka warned her. She began loosening Haruka's tie and quickly discarded it to the side. Haruka's shirt was soon unbuttoned and Michiru ran her hands along the toned body before her.

"Michi, what if—"

"I already have the 'Nude model in session' sign posted outside the door." She leaned down and placed her lips on Haruka's collar bone, then slowly made her way up to look Haruka in the eye. "I know that smirk, Ruka. I remember everything from that night on my birthday. And you're not the only one that's hungry."

The glint in Haruka's eyes turned deviant. "I'd just hate to start something we can't finish."

"That's all part of the fun, according to you."

"I just said that to get you hot and bothered." Her charming smirk slowly made its grand appearance on her lips.

"And it worked. Now let's not waste anymore time, shall we?" Michiru drew the sheets over them and one by one, articles of clothing were thrown out from underneath the sheets.

Two forms writhed beneath the cloth and deep tender kisses soon filled the studio. There was an occasional soft cry or a pleasureable moan as they slowly moved into a steady rhythm. All throughout, they whispered each other's name breathlessly and their desires for the other. Wet sounds were shortly followed by a voice rising in euphoria. Had it not been for her lover's lips suppressing the scream, the music playing and the studio's walls may not have been adequate in masking the sounds of their risqué deed.

In the hall, one of the art teachers stopped and looked curiously at the studio currently being used for a nude model session. The music was playing louder than usual and he didn't recall scheduling a session for any of the students. He lifted his knuckles to the door to knock but the door was opened and out stepped his best art student.

"Ara, Kaiou-san!"

"Konnichiwa, Miyazaki-sensei," Michiru greeted respectfully.

"You are in the middle of a session?"

"Hm?" Michiru's expression showed confusion.

"Ah, maybe someone forgot to take down the sign."

"Osoraku, because they forgot to replenish the supply closet as well."

The music inside was turned off and another student stepped out.

"Tenou-san, what a pleasant surprise," said Miyazaki. "Are you planning on trying your hand at art?"

Haruka and Michiru quickly exchanged meaningful glances. "Anou, I was just reviewing for finals. Michiru-chan said the music might help me relax."

"Sou desu ne. Well, carry on. It's almost time for the next class, so I won't keep you any longer."

Haruka and Michiru bid Miyazaki goodbye and left the art wing. With arms linked, they walked through the breezeway and headed down the hall in the direction of Michiru's locker.

"Ruka?"

"Yes, Michi."

"I want you to meet my parents, or my father at least."

Haruka's stride hesitated. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Well he already knows who you are."

"Yes, but he doesn't know that I'm his daughter's lover."

"I think he does, and he just wants me to tell him myself."

Haruka stopped walking and she thought of the dream she had earlier. "Michi, I don't want your parents to hate you."

"Don't you think I've already weighed all the possible outcomes? No matter what happens, I choose you." She gave Haruka a reassuring kiss. "Besides, I wouldn't mind sharing that futon with you at Elsa-chan's."

Haruka's smirk surfaced again.

"Ruka! We just…" She let her sentence trail off. "We wouldn't be able to do anything, so don't even think about it."

"Sure we could. We'll kick Elsa-chan out and send her to Hiro-chan's place. I'm sure they'd find the idea agreeable." Michiru laughed and it brought a grin to Haruka's face. She wrapped her arms around the aqua-haired girl and pulled her close.

"Maa, is there something you want?" the girl asked sensually.

"Have I ever told you I love your laugh?"

Michiru shook her head no.

"Well I do, I love your laugh." Haruka said as she captured Michiru's lips with her own.

The bell rang and soon the halls were filled with students. Haruka and Michiru quickly went the rest of the way to Michiru's locker so she could exchange her books. When Michiru opened her locker, a folded piece of paper fell out. Haruka picked it up, but as she was handing it back to Michiru, she noticed Seiya's name on it. She unfolded the paper and began reading it.

"What is it, Ruka?" Michiru asked.

Haruka's hand gripped the note and her jaw tightened. "I don't know, you tell me. It fell out of your locker." She handed the note to Michiru and let out a shaky breath.

Michiru read the note and her face expressed shock. "Ruka..."

"That letter is addressed to you, from Kou-san. Why do you have that letter?" The morning's events replayed itself in Haruka's mind. "Did he give that to you when you shook his hand?"

"No, he didn't!"

"Then why do you have that?"