"There is nothing hotter than the flame of whiskey down your body…" Uranus said. "Well, maybe there is, but we'll get to that later" the blonde smirked.

Michiru smiled amused. She watched Uranus pour the liquid in the glasses.

"I have no appetite what so ever to take a sip. Even this glass of wine is tasteless to me, even if your innkeeper swears it's the best".

"Don't compare me wine to whiskey" Uranus said dipping her finger in the amber beverage. "Just let me try".

She slowly stroked Michiru's lips with her finger, following the perfect shape, enjoying the smoothness. It occurred to her that she was biting her lip and that she was actually craving to bite the lips in front of her. Michiru looked into her eyes and Uranus lost herself in the blue, like she had lost herself in the image of Neptune's sea, once long a time when she had visited the planet.

Slowly, Michiru sucked on her lower lip. She closed her eyes and tried sensing the hotness in her mouth. But it was in vein. She grabbed the glass and poured it down her throat under the amused eyes of Uranus.

"No" she said. "It didn't work".

She turned her head suddenly and looked at a man playing a violin. Other two companied him on flutes and trumpets. Michiru's eyes went black.

"Worse part is that I cannot hear the music…I cannot feel it anymore" she whispered. "And it used to be such a big part of me…"

"Right, come on" Uranus stood up, offering her hand to the woman. "You have the honor to dance with the best".

"No, really…I"

"I insist" Uranus smiled and it was a sincere smile.

Michiru sighted and stood up, placing her hand in Uranus' palm. The blonde woman took her by her waist and pulled her closer. But even if Michiru's body fitted so well in her arms, she felt the woman was stiff.

"Relax and look into my eyes" Uranus said and Michiru looked up.

They moved a little, danced a little.

"Please, stop" Michiru said. "It's in vein, I cannot feel it".

"I am sorry, I didn't want to force you" Uranus said sitting back with her.

"No, you didn't. I actually appreciate it, that you tried. But I do wonder why".

"Well…for a reason or another you intrigue me and moreover your relation with Mercury intrigues me. She is a very cerebral woman and I cherish her opinion. But I never expected her to be…so fond of you".

"Mercury is a special friend for mine. It can only make me content that she still feels the same, even after…you know what I mean" she smiled somehow bitter.

"History is pretty clear on what happened, isn't it?"

"I don't know what history wrote, captain, I was locked in that icy dungeon in the period it was written. But I can imagine".

"So contradict me".

"Why would I? It's your way of seeing things I am not taking any liberty of chancing that. But tell me…how is my sister?"

"To be frank I haven't seen her since the last ball in the Moon Kingdom. Judging to what I saw I would say great. Wasn't Neptune always a very rich kingdom?"

"Yes, it was. Have you ever visited Neptune?"

"I did, once when I was young. And I found its beauty…breathtaking" she said staring at Michiru. So about my sword…"

"You know the power of the sword increases if it's used together with the Deep Aqua Mirror. I mean if the ruler of Neptune uses it. The two are connected to the other, as, it's said, the two rulers of Neptune and Uranus should be. Did Nixie start using the mirror?"

"She hasn't said anything about it…"

"I see…" Michiru rubbed her lips. "Anyway, we can leave tomorrow in the morning and I will unlock your sword. But I suggest you come along alone. It's…as there was a curse on me, which unfortunately is still present, it's also on everything important to me. I can unlock it, but it will be a strange experience for you and anyone else who comes along. You can handle it, I don't know about you men".

"And I should trust you on this? What if you try killing me?"

"Near your sword? It would shatter me in seconds even if it is locked. Besides…I never wanted to kill you" she said taking a long pause and looking Uranus in her eyes. "Anyway, it's getting late, I need some rest in a proper bed" she stood up.

"I will take you to your room" the blonde said also standing up.

They exited in the dark night.

"The air here is as cool as in my land, but not as humid" Michiru said.

"Don't worry, Mercury has prepared your room and I am sure she made sure it would be humid enough".

"Yes, she did. The two of you seem to get very well along".

"She is a trusty person to me and a good friend, I could always count on".

"She is…" Michiru stopped in front of her room. Good night, Captain" she said and turned, but Uranus grabbed her wrist stopping her.

"I haven't figured you out yet and I don't like that. But I will be sincere: I am taking every possible defense before you".

"You should. After all I am the witch who tried draining the people of Neptune of their lives in order to take over the control of the universe. I would also take all my defenses in front of such a person" she said and the trace of sorrow appeared again on her face.

"Your skin isn't cold anymore…"

"Maybe I am starting to be human again. Good night, Uranus" she said pulling her hand away.

"Night" the blonde said cold and left.

Uranus hadn't slept too well that night. There was torment in her and it appeared to her with the face of Michiru. Many unanswered questions clouded her mind and a feeling that something wasn't right crawled inside of her. She blamed herself for not letting her mind rest as, today, on the highest mountain of Uranus, in the deepest snow, her senses seemed faded. She followed Michiru until they reached a platform covered in ice.

"Here it is. I will have to summon ice and water to release it. But, as I said, because of the curse this will be hard. Especially for you. I will ask you to wait behind that rock, close your eyes and cover your ears. And whatever you do don't speak and don't react to any image you will see. Only when the storm will be over trust your eyes again" Michiru said pulling the hood of her white cloak up.

Uranus looked long at her and nodded. Her guts told her to trust the woman and even if she wasn't truly sure if her guts were right she hid behind the rock. She closed her eyes and covered her ears, feeling the storm rise on her skin, hearing, even if far away, the growl of ice and wind.

"It's alright now" she heard in her ear, feeling a cold touch on her wrist".

Uranus opened her eyes surprised, seeing Michiru in front of her.

"It's over, it won't harm you" the woman whispered through the windy snowflakes. She approached Uranus, aiming for her lips, but the blonde pulled back.

"Your lips are red again…".

"So?"

"Leave me, you're just an illusion" Uranus said cold and closed her eyes again. The touch on her wrist disappeared.

Sometime, she couldn't tell how much time after; she felt the storm had stopped. She opened her eyes and lowered her hands.

"Haruka…" she heard a whisper. She left the hideout and found Michiru on the platform, on her knees, holding herself to the Space Sword. She was paler than the snow, breathing slowly. Uranus rushed to her.

"What happened?" the blonde asked helping the woman to stand.

"I got it out, but the curse was stronger than I have expected it to be. But, here it is" she said handing the sword to Uranus.

The blonde took it in her hand, feeling for the first time its power running through her veins.

"Strong, isn't it? Use it wisely" Michiru whispered.

"Let's take you back" Uranus said helping the woman up her horse.

By the time they got back, Michiru started gaining her powers again.

"You should rest" Uranus said.

"I am fine, I will walk a little through the garden" the woman replied.

"Uranus" Mercury appeared. "I need to talk to you, now", she said her eyes strong.

The blonde nodded looking back at Michiru.

"I will be fine" the blue haired beauty smiled.

Uranus nodded and left wondering why she cared so much of the woman's state. She entered the military room of the castle finding Pluto there.

"We have a problem" the woman said. "There is a threat I detected and it's not coming from the outside. It's already in our solar system".

"How could they pass without you sensing them?"

"That's the problem, I am afraid they never passed me. I am afraid it formed here in our system. And…" Pluto approached the window looking down at Michiru. "We need to go to Neptune and ask Nixie to join us. But we have to take her with us".

Uranus looked outside the window her eyes falling also on Michiru. The woman was patting the horse, stroking its head and speaking to it".

"Isn't that your horse…the wild one which no one could approach?" Mercury asked.

"He senses people…this is why he doesn't let anyone approach him…" Uranus said, thinking.

"Looks like he senses something…else" Mercury smiled.

Uranus' eyes froze on the beautiful woman.

Author's note: Michiru seems to be full of secrets and also calles Uranus by her personal name...