Of love and Fate
souna no miko
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and all original characters mentioned in this story is owned by the great Takeuchi Naoko. There is no way I would claim them as my own. The song/s that will be used as part of the story are not mine either, they are owned by their respective writers and singers. The song 'Vulnerable' was written, sung and owned by Secondhand Serenade and its recording outfit.
Chapter 20
Vulnerable
"Ohayou Michiru." Haruka greeted as he sat up sleepily from their bed. When no one replied, Haruka glanced on the space beside him only to find it smooth and empty.
'Where the hell is she this time?'
After changing from his pajamas Haruka walks down the stairs hoping to find Michiru in the kitchen happily preparing his breakfast but when he got there he just saw Setsuna drinking her morning coffee and Haruko slumped over the counter, snoring lightly.
"Goodmorning Haruka." Setsuna greeted.
"G'morning." Haruka replied as he eyed the sleeping figure of Haruko.
Haruka proceeded to go to the coffee maker to get his morning dose of caffeine and as he did he turned to Setsuna and asked,
"Ne Okasan-eko, Michiru-mama doko wa?"
Setsuna raised an eyebrow and replied,
"She didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"Hmm….I wonder what she's up to." Setsuna thought out loud.
"Why, where did she go?"
Setsuna's gaze returned to Haruka before she answered,
"She went to the studio with Seiya this morning; he picked her up at 6:30am."
Haruka's eyes grew big as he shouted,
"WHAT?! WHY?!"
Haruko was awaken from her slumber and fell from the chair.
"Itai itai itai!!!!" Haruko screamed as she nursed her sore behind.
"What were you screaming about Haruka??" Haruko asked as she tried to sit back on the chair.
"Do you know anything about his Haruko?!" Haruka demanded.
"Know anything about what?"
"Don't you play innocent with me Haruko. What's Seiya up to with Michi?
"Shira nai! (I don't know!)"
"Haruko I'm warning you…"
"I said I don't know. Why is it always my fault these past few days?! Why is it never YOUR fault even if everybody knows it is?!"
Haruko's hand quickly flew to her mouth as Haruka and Setsuna's eyes grew big in shock.
"G-gomen." Haruko said as she looked away from her brother.
Haruka placed his cup on the counter, grabbed his car keys and left the house.
"We could never be the same as before could we Setsuna-chan?"
"As long as he knows you're Persephone and you know he is Alexis I think you'd never be able to go back to the way things are between the both of you but I'm sure he's trying to adjust. It's just that, Haruka never likes being vulnerable to other people, except Michiru that is."
"Yeah, he only let his self free when he's with Michiru."
Haruko looked outside the window and watched as her brother drove out of the garage.
"Michiru!" Haruka blared through the receiver.
"What?"
"Don't put the phone down on me again. Now where the hell are you?"
"I'm with Seiya."
"Yeah I got that from Okasan-neko(1), but why?"
"I told you, we're finishing a song for their concert."
"Where are you?"
"At the studio."
"I'm staring at the Music Repertoire studio right now and I don't see you here or that guy, where are you?"
"What are you being so worried about? I'm with Seiya and I'll be safe with him. We're in another studio."
"Where?"
"I gotta go Haruka see you later at home, ja ne."
"Chotto Matte yo Michiru! (Wait a minute Michiru!) Don't you dare put the pho—"
Michiru let out a sigh of relief after pressing the end button.
"I think you should turn that off for a while if you don't want him bothering you like that. That's the third time he called today and the third time you did that to him." Seiya suggested.
"He'd go crazy if he won't be able to contact me." Michiru replied as she rubbed her fingers through the bridge of her nose.
"I'm surprised he's still not tearing the whole city down looking for you, not that I would be if he actually did that. Man, Haruka is one scary dude." Seiya said as he handed a can of orange juice to Michiru which she accepted.
"You should've known him back in the Silver Crystal Millenium."
"Hmm…"
"What?"
"Now that I think about it I haven't really gotten to know Alexis that much, none of us actually did."
"Well that's because he never spoke to anyone before, except after his memories of Persephone were erased."
"Well I'm sure he was a doll."
"Not actually. After his memories of Persephone were erased he became even more annoying. He became colder towards people and more hot headed than ever. He also became strictly by the book ever since. It's like a part of him was missing, a human part of him."
"But when we met him in this time, now that I remember of course, he seems to be like the Alexis we know, tough and a bit by the book but not lacking what you call 'the human part'." Seiya commented.
"That's because he was with me. We both lost our memories of Persephone and we both fell in love with each other. But you know what? Now that I think about it even when we were already together something was missing from him but I couldn't put my finger on it, now I know what was missing."
"And what is it?"
"The feeling of first true love."
"Sou ka." Seiya replied as he took a sip from his can of juice.
Michiru looked at Seiya who was staring at god knows what and smiled,
"You know I kind of felt the same way."
Seiya turned to face Michiru with a confused look on his face,
"Huh?"
Michiru stared at her can of juice while toying with its rim with her index finger.
"Now that I remember everything about Persephone I realized that there was something missing from me too, even though I'm almost always with him who is suppose to be the love of my life."
"I see." Seiya replied absentmindedly as he stared at his own can.
"Seiya do you remem—…"
Seiya quickly stood up, cleaned the dirt off of his pants and said,
"We should get going. I don't think Haruka's gonna let you off his sight after this day so we really should finish arranging and recording the song today. Saa Ikimasshou"
"Wakatta(3).(I understand.)" Michiru sighed as she watched the back of Seiya retreat into the mixing room.
It was already 2pm when Haruka returned. When he came in Haruko was sitting on the sofa reading a book.
"Okairinasai" Haruko greeted.
Haruka didn't try to look at Haruko but he could feel the weight of her waiting gaze,
"Tadaima" Haruka mumbled soflty.
"Have you eaten your lu—"
"I'll be in my room resting."
"Oh okay but would you like to have some foo—"
"No."
Haruka went straight to his room and after locking the door he let out a heavy sigh. Imagine his surprise when he turned around and saw a tray of food set on top of his table. Beside it was a note which he picked up and read,
Oniichan,
It's already past 12 noon, I hope you already had your lunch. If
not then you can have this…if you want to eat it that is. It's not much but I cooked a lot so I figured you might want some. If you don't want it then leave it outside your door, I'll pick it up as soon as I hear your door shut. Oniichan, I was foolish to even think that you and Alexis are still one and the same, of course you're my brother now and that will never change. The Persephone in me could bear to lose Alexis but I as Haruko could never bear to lose you Oniichan. I miss you Ruka.
Haru
Pain shot through Haruka's heart as he read through the phrases "you're my brother" and "The Persephone in me could bear to lose Alexis."
Haruka sat on top of the bed with Haruko's note in his hand. He couldn't recognize much less comprehend the feeling he's feeling right now. He didn't know if he was mad, relieved or in pain. He didn't even know what he wanted to do. It feels like he wanted to break something, Yaten's face for instance, but most of all he had the urge to just cry. Haruka just sat there quietly clutching his chest with his right hand and the note with the other.
Two weeks have passed and Michiru kept on leaving before Haruka wakes up. Everyday Haruka went nuts looking for Michiru and everyday Haruka evaded Haruko even more.
On the day before the Three Lights' concert Michiru came home at around 5:30pm and she asked Haruka if they could go for a ride down at the beach. Glad that Michiru seems to be talking to him again Haruka was nothing else but happy to oblige.
"I'm glad you decided to go out with me tonight I was getting worried that Seiya's gonna take you away me." Haruka said as they both walked by the shore.
"Are you really afraid that he'll take me away?"
"Of course! I mean, you talked to him during the wee hours of the night about god-knows-what and you've been with him everyday for the past two weeks in god-knows-where! If you're doing this to make me jealous well then you've succeeded."
Michiru abruptly stopped walking making Haruka stop two steps ahead of her.
"Doushita no Michi? (What's the matter Michi?)"
Michiru simply stared at the setting sun as the ocean breeze blew towards them making her hair and dress flutter.
"Michi?"
Michiru smiled as she tried to clear her face of her hair with her hand.
"Yamero Haruka. Yamero kudesai.(Stop it Haruka. Please stop it.)"
"Nani yo yamero? (Stop what?)"
Michiru looks at Haruka seriously and replies,
"Stop projecting your fear of losing Haruko to me. We both know we've lost each other the day we both remembered the existence of Persephone."
"I'm not projecting Michiru."
"Yes you are. I heard you the other night, you asked Draco not to take her away from you and here you are now telling me that you don't want Seiya to take me away from you. That's projecting Haruka, remember?"
Haruka was not able to answer. Michiru held Haruka's face with her free hand and rubbed her thumb on his cheek,
"I'm glad that you chose me, that you loved me but I know you know who your heart truly loves and desires now that it remembers her. Don't be foolish enough to let her go or else you'll regret losing her again."
"Michiru what are you saying? She's—"
"…your sister. I know. Everybody knows because you have never let anybody forget about it. You always bring it up whenever you're being cornered to say the truth about what you feel. Haruka, it's okay to look and feel vulnerable at times, it only goes to show how human you really are. Stop projecting, stop pretending, stop lying and stop running away from the truth. Be vulnerable Haruka and let her know what you truly feel. You may not be fit for each other in this lifetime but at least if you could fix whatever it is between the two of you then you'd be able to pick up from where you last left off in your next life."
Haruka stared at Michiru long and hard before asking,
"Are you…are you breaking up with me?"
Michiru released Haruka's face and turned to the sea.
"Why, are you going to go emo on me?" Michiru replied with a giggle. She looked at Haruka again and said,
"Haruka I know you know who my heart truly loves and desires now that it remembers him. I want to be with him Haruka. I want to be happy with him and I know that he's hesitating to take me back because you still own me. Free me Haruka as I am freeing you right now."
Michiru approached Haruka and hugged him.
"I loved you my beautiful prince. You'll always have a space in my heart."
Finally, Michiru kisses him for the last time before leaving.
The next day everyone met outside the stadium where the Three Lights' concert is going to take place.
"Hi, Thanks for coming. My brother didn't stop annoying me until I promised that I'd make sure you'd all be here." Calliope said once everybody was gathered.
"How could we not come? Seiya practically begged us to come." Makoto replied with a laugh.
Calliope looked at Haruka who was looking bored and uninterested. He didn't want to be there but Michiru asked him to come to the concert and he couldn't say no.
"Wait, where's Michiru?" Usagi asked.
Haruka's eyes suddenly grew big, he looked away form Usagi's inquisitive eyes and replied with a shrug."
Calliope watched Haruka's every action and deduced what had happened so she answered on his behalf,
"She's backstage. She has a number with the Three Lights. She's been working on a song with Seiya these past few days."
"Ah souka."
"So shall we?" Calliope asked.
"Alright, let's go!" Minako exclaimed excitedly.
They all entered the stadium and went to the front row beyond the fence and the security, they're friends so of course they get VIP treatment.
Once the lights opened the fans began to scream, imagine the noise they made when Seiya, Taiki and Draco finally appeared on stage. After five songs the Three Lights left the stage and for a brief moment everything was dark. A spotlight appeared at the center of the stage revealing a chair and a mic stand. Seiya appeared at the side of the stage and walked towards it holding an acoustic guitar. He sat on the chair before greeting his many fans.
"Ogenki desu ka minna-san? (How are you everyone?)"
"Genki desu! (We're fine!)" the fans roared.
"Tonight I have a very special guest. She was with us last year during one of our concerts. She is a gifted musician and she created the melody of the new song you are about to hear and we both made the lyrics, it was a collaboration between two unlikely people. Everyone, give it up for Miss Kaioh Michiru!"
Michiru came out from the side of the stage as a spotlight followed her to the center. She was wearing a light teal colored dress with white accents and held a microphone in one hand.
"Konbanwa minna-san! (Goodevening everyone!)" Michiru greeted.
"We hope that you would like this song because it means so much to us." Seiya started.
"It is a song meant for two of our dearest friends. After finishing the song both Seiya and I thought that it's something that they could sing to each other."
"They should sing to each other." Seiya corrected.
Michiru looked at Seiya and laughed,
"Yes indeed. Both are hard-headed people and the lyrics we created are meant for them and they should sing it to each other."
"So without further ado, we bring you a Kaioh-Seiya song, Vulnerable." Seiya said as he looked at Haruko.
"We hope you'd listen to the lyrics and understand it." Michiru added as she stared into Haruka's eyes.
Seiya began to strum the strings of the guitar and as the melody of the song filled the stadium he began to sing the first stanza with Michiru singing the second voice.
Share with me the blankets that you're wrapped in
Because it's old outside, (It's cold outside) it's cold outside
Share with me the secrets that you kept in
Because it's cold inside, (It's cold inside) it's cold inside
Your slow shaking fingertips show
That you're scared like me so
Let's pretend we're alone
And I know you may be scared
And I know we're unprepared
But I don't care
While singing the stanza both Michiru and Seiya kept their eyes locked with each other or with the crowd but as soon as Michiru began singing the chorus of the song they both shifted their gaze to Haruka and Haruko respectively to try and give them their message.
Tell me, tell me what makes you think that you are invincible
I can see it in your eyes that you're so sure
Please don't tell me that I'm the only one that's vulnerable
Impossible
It was planned that as Michiru would continue singing through the second stanza she would continue looking at Haruka but Michiru quickly looked at Seiya as she sang,
I was born to tell you I love you
Isn't that a song already? (isn't that a song already?)
I get a 'B' in originality
And it's true I can't go on without you
Your smile makes me see clearer (your smile makes me see clearer)
If you can only see in the mirror (what I see)
Seiya broke their captive gaze and continued their duet prompting Michiru to look at Haruka again as planned.
And your slow shaking fingertips show
That you're scared like me so
Let's pretend we're alone
And I know you may be scared
And I know we're unprepared
But I don't care
Tell me, tell me what makes you think that you are invincible
I can see it in your eyes that you're so sure
Please don't tell me that I'm the only one that's vulnerable
Impossible
Haruka immediately got the message of the song and made a mental note to kill Seiya and hurt Michiru for making such a song. He tried to escape Michiru's gaze but ends up looking at Haruko's direction. He quickly turned to his other side and kept his eyes locked in that direction.
Slow down girl you're not going anywhere
Just wait around and see
Maybe I'm much more
You never know what lies ahead
I promise I can be anyone,
I can be anything
Just because you were hurt doesn't mean you shouldn't bleed
I can be anyone, anything
I promise I can be what you need
(I can be what you need)
Like Haruka, Haruko quickly caught on. She wanted to throw a shoe at Seiya but decided against it. She realized they were just trying to help her. She took a chance looking at Haruka but saw that he was looking away from her and from the stage. She caught a glimpse of his trembling fist and realized that he was getting mad.
'He's hopeless…he'll never let his guard down.' Haruko thought to herself.
Tell me, tell me what makes you think that you are invincible
(you're lying in the outside)
(I can be what you need)
I can see in your eyes that you're so sure
(Don't tell me that I'm the only one)
please don't tell me that I'm the only one that's vulnerable
impossible
Michiru and Seiya looked at each other as the crowd goes wild. Michiru bows to Seiya in gratitude and then proceeds to bow at the audience as well.
After the concert Draco stood by his car as he waited for Seiya. When Seiya finally came out with Michiru by his side Draco punched him which caused the other idol to fall on the ground.
"How could you do that Seiya?! How could you betray me like that?!"
Seiya spat out the blood in his mouth and replied,
"I'm just trying to help them out, both of them. Since when have you become so selfish Draco?!"
"Selfish?! I'm not selfish, I'm protecting her!"
"Well I'm protecting her too you dumb ass!"
Draco laughed and said,
"Protecting her? By doing that you're causing her pain, how is that protecting her??"
"What if it doesn't? What if it works Draco? What if Haruka finally comes to his senses and fix whatever rift he and Haruko has? What if it saves her from pain? Will you still react this way or will you stop it? Persephone never loved you the way you wanted her to and Haruko's the same. Don't blame us for trying." Michiru said after helping Seiya up.
"They may not be allowed to be together in this lifetime but who knows? Maybe it was fate that brought them together as siblings so they'll be able to mend whatever was broken in the past, to settle what was not settled so that in their next life they'll be allowed to be together without any other problems? Haven't you thought of that Draco? Haven't you thought of the possibility that Persephone would finally find happiness in her third life after going through this one? Think about it Draco." Michiru added.
Draco didn't know what to say. He didn't want to accept everything that Michiru had just said. He didn't want to lose Persephone to Alexis again.
Draco started the engine of his car and drove off into the night not stopping for anything.
Tsuzuku...