Haruka finally left her room, after a long time of thinking about what Michiru had said. She expected to find the maids rushing around, but the castle was rather silent. In fact she couldn't find anyone so she headed down to the kitchen and almost scared the life out of the cook.

"Captain, don't ever do that to me again. What are you doing in the kitchen?"

"Searching for…people?"

"Oh, they are all preparing the celebration. On the beach".

"The beach?"

"Yes, we cannot afford fancy balls in the castle now, so the princess opted for a night picnic with fresh food from the sea and what other planet's sent us".

"Well, I feel bad now, because I haven't sent anything".

"Sending that witch back where she belonged will suffice, captain".

"I don't know what to say about that, but…oh well, I shall go to the beach as well".

"Do that and let a poor cook finish his meals".

Uranus walked to the nearby beach, finding Mercury had arrived as well.

"The wind will blow from the North so setting the blankets to the south and having them protected by the trees will give us enough heath and if we…" Mercury explained.

"Oh, just spare me!" Saturn laughed, having enough of the woman's calculations. "It's a picnic, not a physicist convention. Who cares where the wind blows from?"

"If it messes up your hair, you will be annoyed".

"Yes, like I care! Do I look like Venus to you?"

"Hey, beauty is a part of love, so of course my hair has to be in the right position" Venus pouted.

Saturn rolled her eyes amused.

"It will be cold in the evening" Mercury said.

"Mars said she will make sure to have the small fires on the table light all night, so you shouldn't feel any cold".

"Not to insult you, but cold is an issue for you right now" Mercury said to Neptune.

"Yes, but I will…" she turned and faced Haruka. "I will be fine" she smiled. "And if I get crazy again, make Mars hit me with a flame".

"Everybody is helping you…why haven't you said anything? I could have shifted some food, or wool and everything else you would have needed" Uranus said.

"I was too proud to ask, forgive me" Neptune said in a soft tone.

"There is nothing I have to forgive you for. In fact, I only have to thank you" she said as her palm touched Neptune's cheek.

"For?" Neptune asked.

Uranus winked. She saw Pluto approach and walked to her.

"You came at the perfect time. I need your help" Uranus said taking the woman by her hand and leading her back.

"What? I…"

"I need to bring something from my planet. Fast".

"All right, as long as I don't have to be here…"

"What? I…you'll explain me on the way".

They arrived back on Uranus. Pluto waited for the ruler to settle everything and gather the crates and people she wanted to bring back.

"We should be ready to leave soon" the blonde said sitting at the table where Pluto was.

"Good" the woman said absent minded.

"What was that about? You not wanting to be on Neptune? You still despise Michiru?"

"I never did, Haruka. In fact I cherished her very much and she has been a close friend to me. But then the word that she was a witch came out and…Nixie influenced me so badly. She fooled me like the total fool and made a jackass out of me. She made me see images in my scepter that weren't real and when she got Serena's approval to prison her, I was the one to send her there. And it had been hard, Michiru managed hiding somehow. I found her here on your planet; she had just stolen your sword. I didn't know that, I didn't realize it, I just sent her directly on that satellite in that dungeon Nixie had set up so nicely for her. You see…I betrayed Michiru in the worst possible way. I should have known better, talk to her, trust her".

"Michiru will forgive you" Uranus said.

"It's not that, I know she will, I cannot forgive myself. Whenever I see her, I just wish to break in two".

"You were all fooled and I was fooled, afterwards as well. And, damn did Nixie fool me. But that is past and we have to go on, move on, make sure it won't happen again. She is still out there just waiting for us to make a mistake. And if we don't come together again, especially us three together with Saturn, she will win over us again. It's more important right now, more important than your own feelings, forgive me I say this. But Michiru needs you and you know her. You need to keep an eye on her".

"I know…I am trying to do so" Pluto smiled bitter.

"Let's get back or the celebration will start without us".

They were the last to arrive, together with a few crates and other three men. Neptune had changed into a formal dress, which floated in the same colors as the night sea.

"Where did you disappear? She asked. "I was afraid you two left for good".

"No, no…I just brought a little surprise. These three men are musicians and will sing for us. And the crates…well they contain the finest champagne".

"All of them?"

"Yes".

"Are you planning to get us drunk?" she laughed joyfully. She turned to her men and asked them to unload the bottles.

The blankets were arranged next to the trees, small pots of fire giving warmth and light on the low tables sitting in the middle each blanket. Fresh pieces of fish and fruits were served, and the bottles of champagne were set on the tables and poured into the glasses. The rulers of the planets sat all at the same, larger table.

"This is really nice, Neptune" Serena said.

"Well, the ballroom doesn't look as it used to, but the beach will always be the same beauty" Neptune smiled. "The sea has started to calm down and is recovering its natural color. It had turned almost black".

"Nixie had really fooled us…I couldn't believe when Pluto showed me the actual images of how the planet looked. She…I am sorry, Michiru" Serena said.

"She tricked you. She spelled you into believing what she was saying".

"Still…" Serena sighted.

"That is the past. We should rather concentrate on the future and start trusting each other again" she looked at Pluto. "And for that to happen I have something for you. I would say it is a gift, but it doesn't really…well, look like one" Michiru pulled a small box from below the table. She opened it. They all looked inside.

"Perfume?" Pluto asked as she couldn't see the color of the liquid.

"No, my blood, placed in three bottles, one for you, one for Uranus and one for Saturn. It is the only thing that will end Nixie. I give it to you as you are also the most capable of sensing her. Saturn as she senses death, Pluto as she senses changes of time and Uranus as she tried killing Nixie. We are the defenders of this Galaxy and it's our duty to make sure the threat that is beneath it, will be destroyed" she handed the bottles to each one of them. "But enough of this, let's celebrate!".

Uranus made a sign to the men and they started singing. Darien asked Serena to dance with her and Dylan took Venus to dance.

"Thought so" Uranus smirked. "Your brother is in love with Venus" she said to Michiru.

"Yes, has been for a long time. And Nixie could never fool Venus to think he was dead, she just said he had run off and that she had no idea where he was. I don't know what Mina's feelings are right now, after all such a long time passed" Michiru said.

By now everyone was dancing or chatting, Uranus and Neptune had remained alone at the table.

"Will you let him leave the planet?"

"Yes, he is decided to move on Venus no matter what. He wants, at least, to be close to her".

"Well…the freedom some have, when they don't have to think about duty".

"Yes, to do what they like" Neptune took a sip from her drink looking at the two. Venus was smiling.

"What would you be if you wouldn't be the heir of a planet?" Uranus asked.

"I don't know, a violinist probably. Traveling the world. But I cannot think of that, taking care of this planet and the galaxy is all I know. And all I ever wanted to do".

"You have a great sense of duty…But you got lonely. And Nixie is using this against you".

"I was lonely in that ice dungeon. But that night with you…is a memory that holds me from falling into her traps again" she looked into the woman's eyes. "Anyway I…have to talk to Pluto".

"Wait, Michiru don't run from me".

"No, I am not running from you. I just don't want you to feel obliged to…I don't know comfort me. I love you too much to put you through any torment of any kind" she smiled. She stood up and walked to Pluto who was sitting alone at the table of her people.

"May I sit?" Neptune asked.

Pluto nodded.

"How are we dealing with this?"

"I would rather have you scream at me, be annoyed at me. I can't stand the fact that you aren't upset at all. How can I deal with tears when they are not coming, Michiru?"

"If we would just burry the past…"

"I can't do that, past future present are all parts of my life and are always a part of me. At the same time, always".

"Then forgive yourself, for crying out loud. I need my friend and ally back. Please" Michiru stood up.

She turned to face Uranus.

"Would you dance with me?" the blonde asked. She didn't wait for an answer, she grabbed Michiru's hand and led her where the pairs were dancing. She pulled the woman closer, finally feeling Michiru in her arms again.

"You know, you surprised me this morning, you actually left me speechless. This is why I was so silent. Words just didn't form in my mind. I never expected you to be so sincere and…to not ask anything of me".

"I haven't asked you a question so what would you say to me?"

"That you confuse me, that you have changed my way of being and thinking. That, since I have met you, I couldn't even look at another woman, that I have not been interested in touching another. And when I did, because I will be sincere and tell you I tried in order to get you out of my head, I felt nothing. No pleasure, no desire, no lust…nothing. And now…that I am holding you close again, my body is going insane. I can't take my eyes of your lips, I wish to kiss you breathless" she said as her hand, which was resting Michiru's waist, pushed the woman towards her. "I am afraid I might be in love with you, Michiru".

Michiru blinked surprised. But the music stopped and someone hit a glass lightly, with a spoon asking for everyone's attention. Michiru and Uranus turned, but the blonde didn't let go of Michiru's waist.

"May I have your attention for a second?" Dylan said, with red cheeks. "Princess Venus has accepted my marriage proposal".

Everyone clapped after a moment of surprise. But the sea made a terrible noise and a big wave jumped up, fell on the beach and swallowed Venus. Then the sea was calm again. No one was even slightly wet. They froze.

"Nixie…" Pluto whispered.

"No, that was not her! The sea was never her ally" Michiru said turning to the sea. She walked into it as Pluto, Uranus and Saturn ran to her.

"Stay here".

"We won't leave you alone!" Saturn said.

"You can breathe in the sea don't be silly".

Dylan was on his knees on the beach. Michiru looked shortly at him.

"Grab him, he is hand in hand with Nixie" she said to Uranus. And then Michiru dived into the sea.

Dylan looked up confused; Jupiter was in a second next to him, grabbed his arms and held them back. Mars chained him.

"What are you doing have you gone insane?" he yelled. Uranus took her sword out, seized the man's arm and cut his skin on the surface. His blood was red.

"I don't understand…" Pluto said.

"There is no death in him" Saturn said.

"It doesn't matter, you heard her!" Uranus demanded. "We are returning to the castle and you will remain chained until Michiru returns.

Hour passed and the sea was strangely calm. No wave moved and as the sun rose, the sea turned yellow. Uranus was walking in circles, Mars and Jupiter didn't take their eyes of Dylan who was staring at the floor. He was a mess, his eyes were bloodshot red. Saturn was sitting on a chair fixing the man with her eyes. But her eyes, even if still, seemed to search something. She was trying to solve a puzzle in her mind, that didn't fit. Pluto and Amy analyzed the scepter, looking through time. And Serena was desperately looking outside the window for any trace of Michiru. The window was opened, but the air in the room didn't move at all. And then the sea growled, a wave jumping through the window, making Serena back up and almost fall on the floor. As the wave retreated, Neptune appeared on the floor, on one of her knees. She was soaking wet as she stood up.

"Venus is safe, but the sea isn't giving her back yet. It is protecting her".

"In there? In the water?" Mars asked.

"Yes, don't worry for her".

She approached Dylan who was kneeling on the floor.

"Sister…why?" he whispered. "I have always been loyal to you…how can you think I can be hand in hand with Nixie? How can you doubt me and…why did the sea take my lover?"

"You are stronger than you have ever showed. You tricked us all again, and mostly me, hiding in the body of our brother. We couldn't sense you in there and his blood is pure. You haven't used your powers in him. But you in there, Nixie" Neptune said.

Dylan shook his head desperately, crying.

"You mean…he is Nixie?" Uranus asked.

"Yes, her mind is in him. And her soul, that is if she has one. The sea took Venus to protect her".

"No, how can that be possible? Dylan was with us, when Nixie attacked you".

"She tricked us all. She created a mirage so we won't ever suspect Dylan. And I never did" her voice sounded soar.

Michiru sat on a chair and rubbed her forehead.

"Right, that was it! That's why I couldn't feel it" Saturn jumped up. She took the bottle of blood out of her pocket.

"It won't work" Michiru whispered. "Not as long as she is in his body".

Saturn placed a few drops on her fingers and drew a narrow circle around Dylan.

"There you go, she won't be able to leave his body and the chains won't let his body walk away. Now, get some guards I need to talk to you in private".

They moved on a terrace while Dylan remained guarded. He was silent and looked as though he was suffering.

"So, I couldn't feel death and it surprised me. But Nixie never killed Dylan to enter him, she knew I would feel it. So she has trapped his soul somewhere, taking over his body. If we free Dylan's soul, Nixie will have to appear in her form and then she will be killed" Saturn explained.

"This voodoo is starting to get on my nerves" Haruka growled.

"Nixie has only imprisoned Dylan when she became ruler, she didn't kill him, which was a real surprise to me. So she was using his body as back up. As they are brothers, even half-brothers, taking his body over, was very easy to her. But I found Dylan in the dungeon she didn't have any time and power at that given moment to take his soul out and…she must have done it before, probably after she imprisoned me" Michiru made the math. "But where? Where can you hide a soul?"

"Anywhere…" Serena whispered. "We all need some rest, I will ask you to sleep a few hours to clear your minds. Dylan is not going anywhere and Neptune assured us Venus is safe".

They listened to her and went all to their room. Michiru had cleaned and was now walking from one side to the other, in her room. Uranus knocked and entered.

"As I was expecting, you didn't plan to get any sleep" the blonde said taking her jacket off.

"I don't know, I keep thinking. Where could she have hidden her soul? In what? An animal? An object" she said, ignoring the fact that the blonde was undressing. She pulled Michiru towards the bed and sat her there.

"Listen you need to sleep and empty your mind. You will think much clearer after that. So I am here to make you sleep. Unfortunately, I had wished this night would have ended with us not really sleeping" she smirked.

She pulled Michiru into the bed and embraced the woman.

"Maybe in something that belonged to him or…Haruka what am I going in your arms?" she looked up at the blonde.

"This time…you are sleeping. Next time…I have some ideas. Now close your eyes…"

Michiru smirked playfully.

"Close your eyes don't look at me like that or I am going to change my mind and undress you in an instance".

Michiru laughed. She closed her eyes for a second and fell in a deep dream.

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