It was a surprise for Michiru to find out that Uranus hadn't left the second day. She knocked at her door and entered as the blonde was eating her breakfast.

"I think I can call everyone here, earlier than I had planner" she said after a brief salute. "All this control and suspicions hold me from my work".

"Do as you please" Uranus replied cold.

"You have seen the town yourself…and maybe you will want to take a few trips to other towns".

"Yes. Still that doesn't mean anything".

"Sorry?"

"It doesn't mean that with one visit to your land, we will stop observing you. Especially I. Your planet is closest to mine and another happening like this will harm me".

"It wasn't my fault to begin with…"

"I don't care whose fault it was…Neptune" she growled. "I just care of the damage, on this planet, mine and the whole solar system. I have trusted people enough in the past and reached the conclusion that control is better than trust".

"I have done nothing to this planet than good. I was a good ruler and my people were happy. I have been a perfect guardian for the mirror, not to mention that I have guarder your sword as well. I stole it only to protect it and you from Nixie. And you can't know how much effort that meant for me".

"I never said you did otherwise. But this doesn't change anything. Still, you must confess that you have fooled me" the blonde said calm taking a sip from her tea.

"I have fooled you?" Michiru arched surprised.

"Yes, you have played a roll. And you did it perfectly. You, unable to feel, in distress, letting me show you back to the real world. Then taking care of me and healing me, never leaving my side, until I was better. Then you disappear and when I visit this planet, you pull away from me, playing the victim, accusing me that I think of you as I did of Nixie".

"I never accused you of anything, to start with. And don't play the innocent on me. You didn't have second thoughts of jumping right into bed with me, the minute you had an opening. Not very smart for someone who suspected me I was a witch. And what gives you the right to think I will always be at your service, the second you get lustful?"

Uranus stood up and approached the woman.

"Does it bother you that I had Nixie and then I had you?" she smeared.

"And another big bunch of women".

"Yes, I did. So?" she lifted Michiru's head with her fingers. "You weren't exactly the virgin when I laid my hands on you".

"I really don't care who you have slept with. But don't get angry on me when I deny your approach, you have no right".

"I don't like games, Michiru. So if you decided to try and boil me, it won't work. I will lose my interest in you immediately. Besides, to answer a question you never said, but I know you think…I don't trust you. And I will have my eyes on you".

"As you wish" her eyes turned cold and she walked to the door. "Just don't get in my way. You are a guest here so act as one!"

She slammed the door after her and walked out of the castle as fast as she could.

"Nature has started growing back" Dylan said to Uranus as he walked with the woman outside town. "Our trees blossom again and the rivers are almost clean. We still have to filter water, but, fortunately diseases have started to fade".

"And that only because Nixie is gone?"

"Her influence was big. She basically sucked life of everything around her".

"Do you suspect where she might be?"

"No…no one does".

"So how do I find her?"

"Why would you want to find her?"

"I have unsettled things with her. Besides I don't want to live with a constant threat. She fooled us once and I am afraid she will try a second time".

"She certainly will".

Haruka sighted and sat down on a rock.

"What is your relation to Michiru?"

"A very close one. Why?"

"And what was your relation to Nixie? Why couldn't she stand you?"

"It was also a close one. But she couldn't stand anything close to Michiru. Like princess Mercury. And she had her bad tooth for Saturn as well, even if the princess didn't show feelings of friendship to any of the other rulers. She hated Pluto in the past, but since the woman helped her lock Michiru in that dungeon, she had changed her behaving".

"That's how Saturn is. She doesn't grow bonds, she is different. You have been close to both? Are you in love with Michiru?"

Dylan smiled and looked down at Haruka.

"I love her very much. But not as you suspect. Michiru has been always kind to me, even if I was the son of a maid. I was a mistake made by my father, a weakness. He had an adventure with my mother and I was the result".

"So? Not all children are born out of marriages".

"Yes, just that my father was this very important man, called the king" the man laughed shortly.

Uranus blinked a few times.

"So you are their half-brother?"

"Yes. After Nixie I am the next in line for the throne".

"Do you have powers over the sea?"

"More than Nixie ever had, and nothing compared to what Michiru will ever have".

"So basically if something happens to Michiru you are the next prince".

"Nothing will happen to her. But, unfortunately yes. I still dream of leaving this planet one day".

"Don't you like it here?"

"Oh, I do and I will miss it very much. Just that…" he stared blank.

"Just that?"

My heart belongs somewhere else. I think we have talked enough about me" he smiled at Uranus.

"Are you a…"

"Witch?" Dylan laughed. "No. Michiru's mother had that in her, not her father. It is a woman thing".

"How did Michiru heal me?"

"With her witch powers".

"She swore to me that she never used them".

"Well…in a way she never did in another way she did. She only used them to heal you. It was an unselfish act…more or less".

"I swear upon planet you talk in riddles".

"Because she used them only to get the harm of another witcthout of you, it didn't turn her into a witch. It was an unselfish act because she tried saving a ruler, an important figure for this galaxy. It was a selfish act because she also did it out of love. And that could have turned her into a witch".

"So basically you are telling me she was under constant threat of becoming what she always feared?"

"Yes. Why don't you ask Mi…princess Venus more about this? She can explain it to you better than I can".

"You knew she could have turned into a witch?"

"Yes".

"And you have done nothing to stop her?"

"No".

"Why? You would have lost your ruler. You would have become prince".

"I would have denied and tried finding another person".

"You speak like rulers are found at the marketplace, right next to the eggs and tomatoes".

"I couldn't stop her".

"Why?"

"As I said. Talk to Venus. I cannot explain you this…it is to intimate for Michiru and I cannot upset her. She has sent the invitations today, for the ball tomorrow. The princess should arrive soon. Until then, would you like to visit the hospital? Michiru is probably there.

She was indeed. But the hospital wasn't exactly a normal hospital. Next to the mail building, big tents were spread, the hospital itself being too small for all the people that needed medicine.

"And you call this an improve?" Haruka asked looking around.

"Before this everyone was sick and there were double the tents you see. Besides…many died before, now they are almost healed. Let's go in".

They entered one of the tents that held children. To Uranus' big surprise, the children were loud, jumping and playing around.

"You see? They feel much better. They receive clean water and good food. The towns on the other side of the planet sent us resources. Pluto also sent a lot of food".

"Pluto?"

"Yes" the man smiled.

"What are you doing here?" Michiru's voice came from behind. They turned to face her cold eyes. "The captain is still recovering, she shouldn't be in a hospital!"

"It's just the children's wing and…" Dylan said.

"It doesn't matter! Her body isn't that strong yet".

"My body is perfect, but thank you for your worry" Haruka puffed.

"Playing the brave won't help you here. Out now!" she said pulling Uranus after her.

She led the woman to a chair outside and set her there. She inspected Haruka's face and eyes.

"Now you're a doctor?" the blonde joked enjoying the touched on her face.

"No, but I know you inside out. I mean…your body. I mean…" she sighted. "I know how you react to illness".

"And you think I could get sick so fast?"

"After all you have been through, yes".

"I think she is fine" Dylan grinned.

"I don't need your opinion on this!" she pointed her finger at him. "I will get a doctor just to make sure" Michiru added walking away.

"We should listen to her, she can be a little tyrant" Dylan laughed.

Michiru returned with a doctor, whose face was covered by a big, white moustache.

"Let's see…" he said also inspecting Haruka, but this time it didn't feel so good. He made her stuck her tongue out, widened her eyes, hit her knee lightly, looked at her scalp, messing up her hair (which made Michiru want to hide a smirk) and then nodded. "Perfectly fine, milady, the captain has healed completely, some crazy children won't infect her. Speaking of which, please do read them a story tonight, you are the only one who can send them to bed. Good bye!" he turned on his heels, leaving.

"You read stories to children?" Uranus looked amused at Michiru.

"Dylan, take Uranus back to the castle. She is only in my way here" Michiru said leaving.

"What did you do? Yesterday she was melting just for looking at you, now she can't stand your sight?" the man asked as the two walked out of the hospital.

"Michiru's games tire me" Uranus replied rather cold.

Dylan had work to do, so Haruka went for a walk in the evening. Her curiosity was still at the hospital, in the children's wing. She entered silently, finding Michiru indeed reading to the little brats. They were all listening with interest, none making a move. Soon, Haruka found herself stuck in the story, Michiru was indeed talented in telling one.

"Miss princess" one of the children interrupted her. "There is a pretty lady spying on you".

"That is not a pretty lady that is a pretty mister" another child stepped in.

Michiru turned, but Haruka had sneaked out, not waiting for the children to decide if she was a pretty lady or a pretty mister.

"Where?" she heard Michiru say.

"He was just behind you".

"She was just behind you" the other child corrected the first one.

"Was she blonde? Tall? In a military uniform? With a sword?"

"Yes!"

"That, children, is a friend of our planet…and a weakness I don't know how to deal with" Michiru sighted.

Uranus had heard her, but decided to return to the castle.

Haruka didn't even know if she should be or not surprised when she found Venus in her room.

"Did Dylan send you? I thought you would arrive tomorrow".

"I was in the mood of coming sooner. And no, he didn't. I don't need him to sense what's going on here and the fact that you need answers".

"I don't need anything, Mina" Uranus sat in front of her. "I found out that Michiru endangered herself and her planet by trying to save me. I don't think that was a wise thing to do".

"It was the only way to save you. And we all agreed. Of course we all found out by that that she was madly in love with you, but…"

"That she was what?" Uranus blinked.

"Dylan already told you. You…really you didn't catch the most important part of the information? The only danger in saving you, for her, was because of the fact that she was in love with you. Which on the one hand is considered a selfish act to us witch powers. But, on the other hand, this also gave her more strength and she succeeded".

"You are such a romantic".

"No, you are just lucky" Saturn voice came out of a dark corner.

"Do you always have to sit in dark corners, unnoticed and step in whenever you feel like?"

"It makes it more dramatic like this" she took a step forward. You are lucky because a person with those powers fell in love with you and decided to do anything she could to save you. Yes, she endangered her planet, but that is also one of the reasons she traveled back and forward: to make sure that, no matter what happens to her, she will leave behind a healthy planet. So she isn't that stupid as you think".

"I never said she was stupid just…a fool for doing what she did".

"Yes, it must feel so very bad to be loved like that" Saturn rolled her eyes. "I wonder what you ever did to deserve it, you never were interested in love to begin with".

"And so is Michiru. An uninterested as I am".

"True. You, four, are rather loners, don't think love is a need" Venus stepped in. "And I said it before I don't agree with it. Anyway, because Michiru always placed her duty first, she pulled away from you. She didn't want to pour her love down your throat. That is why she is acting rather cold. And like you, I don't think she has an actual idea what love is".

"Isn't that the perfect situation for you? You are loved, but the one who loves you, pulls away, doesn't oblige you to anything with her love" Saturn said.

"So I should be grateful that she endangered herself for me? Is this what you call putting duty first?" Uranus asked.

"If you would have died, Nixie would have won over us. Neptune's planet was almost dying, with Uranus gone, the Outer Galaxy would have had only two princess left to defend it. I think she did exactly the opposite: she put in balance what was more important: you or her. Neptune or Uranus. And, for the given time, you and Uranus were more important. Luckily, she managed bringing her planet back to what is was once. And she did so, besides healing you" Venus stood up. "I think you knew all this, but you just looked at the situation from the wrong point of view".

"Lucky you. Your friends always clear up your mind" Saturn grinned.

The two women left the room.

"Where is Neptune?" Uranus asked at the dinner table.

"She hasn't returned yet. Please excuse her" Dylan addressed the three rulers.

"What made you come earlier?" Uranus asked Saturn and Venus.

"But what made you come earlier?" Saturn returned the question.

"I wanted to see how everything evolved. I was about to leave tomorrow, but Neptune said she will hold the celebration sooner. Although I am not sure that this planet can afford a celebration".

"So you basically came to check upon on her. You still don't trust her".

"I lost my capacity in trusting some time ago".

"The last drop being added by Nixie, right?" Venus asked.

"You do her wrong if you can't trust her" Dylan stepped in.

"You are from the same family so your words are irrelevant…with all due respect" Uranus replied to the man. "And don't you tell me about trust: you never trusted anyone, Saturn".

The woman shrugged.

"It's not that I don't trust anybody, it's just that I put in balance every decision twice. I am not the princess of love, trust is not my domain".

"What is that supposed to mean? That I am a fool?" Venus pouted.

"No, that you have a bigger faith in the good of people. I don't".

"But you definitely take decisions fast" Uranus said.

"Yes, I do, when they can be based upon what I know. Death and life".

"I still can't understand why you never said anything about Nixie".

"She did a good job hiding it from me: the death part in her. But when she faced Michiru she couldn't act that well anymore. It was obvious for me" she said taking a sip from her wine.

Saturn was the youngest of all, but had taken over the throne much earlier than Uranus. The planet of Uranus had always been one of the few planets where ruling wasn't passed by blood line. Basically one of the few planets where royal blood didn't exist, which was a relief to her as she didn't have to think about blood heirs.

Meanwhile Neptune had fallen asleep beside the children in the hospital. Her book was resting on her lap and all of the children were also wondering in the dream world. But Neptune woke up as she felt a shiver going down her spine and an immediate lack of air.

Uranus jumped on her feet.

"What?" Venus asked.

"I don't know…there is something, lack of air. I…"

"You feel Nixie" Saturn also stood up.

"My sister…" Dylan said rushing out, followed by the others.

Neptune was staring into the darkness, her eyes trying to see something. She had left the tent, fearing the children's health and had managed to walk farther, were the pine forest was starting.

"You are too weakened to try and fight me" she whispered in the cold air. "You rushed coming back, sister".

But the night remained silent, only the temperature dropped drastically. Slowly, the dark of the night was taken over by white, white as snow. Michiru felt the cold of her dungeon invading her veins, her vision was blinding by the sparkles of snow.

"Show yourself" she shouted out.

"You will be defeated by your own fears, sister" the wind seemed to growl. "And it's so lonely in the cold…so lonely".

"Face me, Nixie!"

"Make me! You should be able to see me, witch! But you are too weak, your mind is too weak and denies all that power it was gifted…you are not worthy of our blood!"

"You don't have any blood left…mine is still warming my body".

Suddenly the air became humid and a warming light embraced Michiru. She felt Venus' powers surrounding her and air filled her lungs again. Nixie's presence disappeared instantly, but Michiru's vision was still blurred.

"She is gone" she heard Saturn' voice and felt her brother's arm helping her up.

"You have to wash your eyes in the sea" Dylan said, helping her walk through the small pine forest to the beach. She sensed the salty air of the sea and felt it on her feet and dress. Dylan let her go and Neptune walked into the waters, fully dressed.

"She escaped again" Uranus said through her teeth.

"It was merely an attempt" Venus said. "She is still weak".

"Weak or not, this is not over! And…if not by sword, by what in Uranus' name can she be defeated with".

"Blood" Dylan said.

"Blood? What is this masochist game?"

"Michiru's blood as it is still pure. This is why Nixie is trying to terminate her and she knows she can only, by taking her minds. Because she is the only who can truly kill her" Dylan explained.

Michiru came out of the water, wet from head to toe. Her lips were blue and her skin pale.

"I am sorry" she whispered.

"For?" Dylan asked.

"I let her mess with my mind…I…" she said shivering.

Uranus took her jacket off and placed it on Michiru's shoulders to the woman's surprise.

"You need to get warm" she said.

"It's only in your mind" Dylan added taking his sister by her shoulders and leading her back to the castle.

"Are you coming?" Saturn asked Uranus.

"In a minute…"

She remained behind looking at the calm sea stroking the shores. The feeling she had had at dinner was definitely gone, Nixie wasn't around anymore. But the blonde had to remain alone with the sea. She recalled that time she came to Neptune as a youngster. And the sea was as beautiful now as it had been in the past. Moreover it recalled her of someone. She sat down on the sand and sighted. The night sky seemed to fade in with the sea, the stars were mirroring in the water, creating a light glow. And the sky was yet again so fulfilled resting over the sea…

Michiru had changed her clothes and sat in front of the fire in her room. She was drinking a cup of tea, staring blank.

"I thought I was stronger than this. All those years in that dungeon, I managed keeping somehow sane, even with the curse on me and now with one sudden drop of temperature and an icy image I lose myself completely" she whispered.

"You weren't expecting it. When you got imprisoned you knew exactly what was coming ahead of you. Even then she was trying to make you go mad, make you use your witch powers so you would lose the capacity of killing her" Saturn said.

"I have to be more careful".

Uranus entered the room and walked directly to Neptune.

"So, after all, by saving me you endangered the only person who could end Nixie: you. Not to mention that all your arguments were invalid" she turned to Saturn and Venus.

"Uranus, do me a favor and open the drawer under my bed" Neptune said without looking at the woman.

"What drawer?"

"There is a small drawer on the right. Lift the sheets".

She did as told and found the drawer. Inside of it were three small bottles with blood.

"My blood. You see I was playing safe. Now, is there anything else you are trying to blame me of? Why are you so…against me?" she looked into the blondes eyes. "I need to rest, my mind is spinning".

"Yes" Venus stood up, taking Uranus by her arm.

The captain looked down long at Michiru and walked out.

They all left the room as Michiru remained there still staring at the fire. Her eyes wondered to Uranus' military jacket and she had to smile. There was warmth in her, even if it had been given to her temporary. But, it was there to stay.

It was a long night for Haruka. She sat by the window and looked at the ocean from there. She stood up several times in order to go to Michiru's room, but she changed her mind as she touched the doorknob. Her desire was only tossing in her, but she decided to take it step by step.

Michiru came into the woman's room that next night, to return the jacket to her. But Uranus was still sleeping, as she had found rest at a very late hour at the night. Neptune placed the jacket on a chair and was about to leave the room, when Uranus opened her eyes.

"Michiru" she whispered lazy.

"I came to return you the jacket. Not kill you in your sleep" she joked.

"You couldn't if you tried, I sense you".

"Oh, you spent many nights sleeping like a baby not sensing me".

"I was in some kind of coma, not sleeping, remember?" the woman supported her head on the back of the bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Better. I came to myself".

"What scared you so much?"

"The cold, the dungeon, the memories" she looked down at her hands. "Loneliness" she whispered. "It's hard to not see another face than your own for that long".

"And what held you from losing it completely?"

"I am not that weak and she is not that strong and…" she stopped.

Uranus smiled.

"Remember that night you spent with me?"

Michiru looked up, fearing that Uranus had gotten to read her thoughts.

"It wasn't just another night for me as you think or…as I might have made you think. You…I felt you so intense like…like no other woman".

"Why are you telling me this now?"

"Because…I think I need to learn to trust in you. I want to".

"I cannot help you with that, I already gave you everything I have" she said walking to the door. She stopped and turned around. "I know it might seem like I am acting crazy. But I fell in love with you, Haruka, long time ago. And, continuing sleeping with you would only increase that feeling. And I don't want to start asking anything of you, I don't want to roughen this situation. Believe me, it's hard to keep away from you, this is why I might act cold. Please, try to understand me".

"Michiru, I…" Uranus sighted. She couldn't find her words; she was stunned by how sincere the woman had been.

Michiru nodded and smiled.

"You don't have to say anything. About the blood: there are three bottles, one for you, one for Saturn and one for Pluto. Our planets used to be very close and have always defended the Inner Galaxy. You only need to place a single drop on your sword, and on Saturn and Pluto's scepter and, using your powers on Nixie, should end her for good. I will hand you the bottles tonight. I have to go and prepare everything".

Uranus nodded and Neptune left the room. She took a deep breath and felt her hands slightly shivering. But she was relieved and at calm.

Yes, I know, loooong chapter. But at least it got the truth out of Michiru!