Author's Notes: First, the usual...I do not now nor have I ever owned any character or part of the Sailor Moon universe. Much to my chagrin. This story is written with the intent to enhance fandom, not to defame or desecrate anything created by Takeuchi-san. Again, please remember that this rating is there for a reason. I like the freedom that comes with being able to write them as they are here, adults, so there will be language and thoughts that are commensurate with the slightly higher rating.

So, here we are, chapter 2. I realize it may not be a long wait for some of you, but I still apologize. I had intended to be able to update once a week, but I also promised myself I'd keep working ahead on it and I had some real life changes that kept me from the internet as well as from my story. Again, please read and review. It is always heartwarming to an author to know her work is well-loved.

-imjce- Thank you for the review! Yes, well, it's been a while so I think any reviews I got years ago may not count. You got the first one here anyway ^_^. Yeah, I feel bad for Saturn. She always seems to draw the short straw, as it were. I also thought it was horrible what the Outers had to do. So I thought someone should write it as they might feel it. LOL Actually, the use of "kun" was deliberate. It's also used by professors to students of both genders, as well as by older students to refer to younger students as a more respectful option than "chan." Mamoru uses it himself to refer to Michiru and Haruka when talking to Chibi-Usa in the anime. Don't be too hard on Michiru. I hope I don't write her to where she deserves that epitaph. Yeah, Haruka and Minako get...more interesting...I should probably have warned people that I grew up on soap operas so I like complications. ^_^

"And the race has gone to a rookie! The upset has created a stir and several racers have argued that it could not be Tenoh-san's first race, that he had trained and raced overseas."

Michiru entered the living room, looking over her shoulder briefly as her attention was drawn by the flashing lights of cameras aimed at someone who wasn't quite on screen. She turned to her friend turned flat mate briefly before heading to the kitchenette to make tea. "What are you watching?"

The blue haired woman sitting sideways on the beige corduroy couch and hunched over a book looked up, a glassy look in her eyes behind her glasses that she was currently taking off to rub her eyes. "Hmm?"

"The television. It looks like a car race."

The apartment was cozy. Compared to Tokyo standards, it might have almost been considered roomy, particularly for two single girls. Two bedrooms, one bathroom, a great room that doubled as living room and dining room and a small kitchenette. Michiru had moved in just the day before. The essentials had been unpacked: violin, music, make-up, her hand mirror and a few changes of clothes. Living out of a box was preferable to missing her morning practice. It wasn't that she didn't like pretty things, but in an odd contradiction to her outward appearance, Michiru's room could almost be accused of being Spartan.

While relatively sparse, the furniture in the apartment was welcoming and the few paintings on the wall were by local artists. Neither woman was stranger to comfort, both coming from well to do families. Michiru's moving in had eased Ami's mother's fears and yesterday had only proven that the older woman had been hoping for it all along when she moved in only to find the bedroom she would be occupying already furnished to her liking.

Ami blinked and turned her head, "Oh, so it is. I had the news on earlier before I started studying."

Michiru chuckled and came out armed with two steaming cups of tea. Offering it to the younger girl, she shook her head. "You and your books are like me with my violin. When I get started, almost nothing can interrupt me." She glanced over, distracted by the noise as the interviewers started hounding the winner.

"Tenoh-san! Congratulations! There are reports you raced professionally in Europe before today. Is that true?"

"Not professionally, no. I did some training, but I've never been in a professional race before today." The contralto was melodic, full of confidence and yet not offensively arrogant. The lilting of the woman's voice contrasted with the masculine speech patterns to Michiru's ear.

"We understand you're dating an actress. Is that true?"

The blond in the fire suit chuckled despite the probing question. "I don't understand what my relationship has to do with racing."

Michiru sat staring at the television. The tea forgotten in her lap, she watched and listened to the woman answering questions. The wind played with the blond's locks in a way that fascinated her. Or maybe it was the self-assured smirk. Or perhaps the fact that they had just outed a professional racer on television after her first win. Or any number of other possibilities. Her head began to swim, trapped in a one-sided exchange with a set of green eyes.

"I'm sorry, I should turn it off," Ami offered.

"What? Oh? Sorry, no, it's fine." Michiru angled herself so she would have to turn to face the television.

"I hadn't thought you followed racing."

"I don't. Tenoh-san is fascinating, is all. They just asked her if she was a lesbian." At Ami's blank look, Michiru put up a hand defensively. "What? They asked her about her relationship with an actress."

"I don't think they know she's a woman." The rest didn't need to be said. Ami hadn't realized Tenoh-san was a woman either. "Is that why you aren't performing?"

Michiru nearly spit the tea she was sipping out and put the cup down with shaking hands. "Pardon?"

"How long have we known each other? Is Tenoh-san the type you would go for?"

In all the years they'd known each other, Michiru hadn't really dated. A few scattered hidden rendezvous could hardly be counted as a love life. Though perhaps that had been its own alert to the intelligent woman before her. When she accepted an escort to an event, she had always been gracious but there had never been any misconception so far as she could prevent. Yet, in all those years, the two friends had never really discussed sexual preferences. It never seemed to come up and Michiru would have been happy to keep it that way. In some places, being what she was might not be quite as big a challenge. In Japan, there were obligations, especially when one came from reputable families. Now she realized that her best friend had known for some time but had given her time to open up. A pit erupted in her stomach. Ami had known, hadn't cared, and Michiru had never trusted her.

Aqua hair bobbed as she nodded, blushing starkly against her pale skin. "I think Tenoh-san is the type many people would go for. Gay or straight." Her voice had taken on a distant quality as the blond continued to pose for her public. Hearing the interviewers through the muffled haze, she could tell now that Tenoh-san encouraged the confusion regarding her gender.

"Well, I think it doesn't matter who you love." Her friend's words brought her out of her reverie, causing Michiru to blush more.

"Thank you. I wish more people thought as you did." For her part, she hoped she would find love just once before having to cave to the pressures of finding a man she could tolerate enough to have children with.

Ami shook her head, "They'll come around. But I do think it's a shame if that's why you gave up a performance career."

"No, not because of that." Michiru answered, distractedly glancing at the television, relieved when the blond was no longer plastered all over it. Tenoh Haruka. Michiru wasn't a fan of racing, but if she wasn't careful, she could easily become a fan of Tenoh. Forcing herself back into the present, she smiled sadly and picked up her tea. "No. I don't know how to describe it. I know there's something I need to do, and Tokyo is where I need to do it. That's as much as I can say."

As they sat, Michiru sighed, sipping her tea. "So, tell me something exciting."

Ami laughed, a sound Michiru was sure she didn't truly let escape her lips properly all that often. "Exciting? I just studied through a three hour race and didn't even realize it was on. I'm not exactly the person to look to for excitement."

"Nonsense. You just live more deeply than most." The gentle chiding was received as it was meant and Ami smiled.

"No, really. I'm in university as a pre-med student. There's nothing to tell."

"Nothing?" A teal eyebrow went up followed by a blush by the younger girl.

"Well I might need to be out of the house early for practice three days a week." The response was so quiet, Michiru might have thought she imagined it if her friend hadn't shrunk further into herself.

The tea quickly made its way to the table as Michiru practically launched herself at Ami, hugging the girl tightly. "You made the team! Congratulations!" Not that there had been much doubt. Ami was a talented swimmer and had been the star of Juuban's swim team after Michiru left. "I'm so proud of you! Look at shy little Ami-chan; you've grown so much. I'm happy for you!"

Ami laughed nervously, returning the hug awkwardly. "Michiru-san, it's just a swim team."

"It is not just a swim team." She held Ami by the shoulders, her smile broad. "It is an olympic quality swim team at one of the most prestigious universities in all of Japan and I will not let you go down-playing your achievements. I've fought that with you for too long."

The younger woman relented and nodded. "It felt really good to make the team." She looked up, the blush gone and a smile to equal Michiru's spread across her face. "Thank you. You never believed I was just grades."

Michiru laughed, "You are all grades as I am all violin. They are things we achieve, things we do; they are not what we are. And you, Ami-chan, are a sneak. When were you going to tell me?"

"It hadn't come up?" Both girls laughed at the awkward and faltering defense. They might help each other branch out, but in the end, they both kept too many things close to the vest. Michiru couldn't fault her friend, her best friend, she amended. She kept her own secrets.

After they finished their tea, Michiru sighed, "I need to get back to practicing. There are a few measures I had almost worked out and I want to see if I can push through them now." As she spoke, her eyes flicked once more to the television before she forced them away. This was not good. Not for her career and most certainly not in her desire to find whatever or whoever she was supposed to be searching for. An obsession with a car racer was a bad idea. They liked everything fast. Including their women.

Two hours later, Michiru set her violin down and sat down to her computer, cleaning up the composition that had just flowed from her. Usually when she played into her pick-up just playing whatever her mind came up with there were a few nuggets of gold among the dirt. However, this particular piece seemed nearly complete. There had been a few patches she wasn't happy with. Still, as she played the piece back via the speakers, even the synthesizer fabricated violin couldn't take her away from the ocean scene in her head.

##

"I thought you were practicing?"

"I was." Blond hair shifted as blue eyes remained focused on the screen.

Haruka stepped into the room, her long strides taking her easily to just behind Minako. "This doesn't sound like practicing."

Blue eyes shot daggers at her before whipping back around, fingers flying quickly to the mouse, pausing the video. "I said I was practicing. I took a break. You're worse than Toshiko-san." Haruka only arched a somewhat amused eyebrow at being compared to Minako's vocal coach. Once apparently satisfied the music wouldn't restart on its own, Minako turned to face her girlfriend. The normally happily energetic woman was currently all narrow angles and hard edges.

She knew she should back down. Knew that nothing good could come out of her mouth. She also knew there was no stopping herself. "Yes, well, I'm part of why Toshiko-san doesn't have to be as hard on you. Do you think talent comes naturally? Do you think I don't spend hours every day working on simulators? If you'd spend half the time practicing that you do watching videos online—" She stopped herself then and ran both hands through her hair, turning away, pacing slightly. If she was lucky, Minako would burst into tears.

She wasn't lucky.

"Just because all you have is your driving doesn't mean the rest of us don't appreciate something outside our own little world now and then. For your information." Haruka winced as each word was pronounced deliberately. "I had been practicing for three hours before a friend of mine sent me a text telling me to check this woman out. Apparently musicians are changing the industry. Not that you would know or care."

Measured breaths and white knuckles in her hair were the only things keeping Haruka from storming out of her own apartment. She needed to calm. Her mind was spinning out of control and all she wanted to do was run. Not away from Minako. Necessarily. Nor to anything in particular. Just run.

"I have always cared about your success. I had come in to harass you. I haven't been home to hear your exercises, I was at the gym and meetings with my new sponsor before that." Her voice was flat, the best she could do. The only homage she could pay to the emotional investment she'd continually tried to put into this relationship.

The soft hum of the fan filled the room for long seconds. Pride warred with reason which had oddly taken up position as champion to romance. Haruka remained rooted to her spot, muscles taut and ready to sprint. When soft hands touched her arms, she jolted, opening her eyes and looking down into concerned blue.

"I'm sorry."

Haruka was relieved not to have to say it first. Her muscles started to relax, easing her arms down to wrap around the smaller frame of the younger woman.

"I did practice, but I'd felt guilty. I didn't want to disappoint you."

She chuckled low. "How on earth would you disappoint me?" The words were soft, gently breathed into hair that smelled faintly of strawberries.

"I'm not as dedicated as you are. I always wanted to be a pop idol, but the theater was the path I could reach. It was the only way offered to me, and sometimes I feel like I can't give it my entire heart."

Haruka smoothed the long blonde tresses before pushing the girl away enough to look into her eyes. "Don't ever think I'll be disappointed in you for that. Give it everything you can, but if you want to be a pop idol," her voice trailed off and she chuckled again, shaking her head. "Then show me how this violinist is changing things. Since I'm fairly certain you can't become a pop idol with classical music."

The pep talk had the desired effect. Blue eyes twinkled and Minako bodily spun Haruka around and positioned her in front of the screen before restarting the video from the beginning. She may hate crying women, but handling them was almost as natural as handling a car. Haruka dropped the analogy before she could think about why she'd had that much practice with the former.

"Ok, so here's what she's done."

In an attempt to prove her point, Minako had started the video leaving Haruka struggling to pay attention to the logistical details her girlfriend was spouting while watching the violinist. Aqua hair bounced almost as much as the bow on the strings as the woman's fingers danced across her instrument. She took a breath and closed her eyes, hoping to not lose track of her surroundings, trying to focus on Minako's voice.

Donation websites. Music videos. No agents. Internet sensation.

The success was marginal until Minako touched her arm again and pointed to the screen, forcing Haruka's eyes to follow where she didn't really want to. Her eyes were drawn to the fingers, aided by her oblivious girlfriend. The dance made by the limber digits left impressions and images in Haruka's mind that were decidedly pornographic.

"See? She's really playing. Some of the videos out there, apparently the sound is pre-recorded, but not her. And see." The video was scrolled off-screen as Minako showed her the volume of comments left. Some were lewd but far more were encouraging. The girl certainly had her admirers.

"That's really neat," Haruka managed, coughing slightly to cover the almost squeak in her voice. "So she just puts her music out there and people send her donations to keep playing?"

"Yep! I mean, I don't think it pays as much as if you have an agent and everything, but isn't that cool?"

Turning away from the screen, Haruka looked down at her girlfriend. "It is. So, would that interfere with your current obligations?" She stepped between Minako and the computer, not to prevent the shorter woman from watching it so much as to prevent her from wanting to look. The violinist had been the perfect combination of feminine wiles and class. It was something, judging by the small selection of comments she'd read, that had screamed sex object to more than one member of the opposite sex. At least she wasn't the only one, though comparing herself to a teen-aged boy with hormone issues wasn't precisely something Haruka wanted to do terribly often.

"I don't think so. I was kind of hoping you'd be willing to go through my contract again with me?"

Haruka nodded, pulling the shorter blonde close again, finding comfort in the smallness of her waist, a weapon against the loneliness she suddenly felt. "Of course. We'll go over it and if there's a loophole or three, we'll find them." She tilted Minako's head up and kissed her, closing her eyes and willing her mind to stop racing.