Author's notes: Yes, I'm still here! Here is the next installment. I will be updating the next couple on a weekly basis (for real this time!) given the linked nature of the chapters, so hopefully I'll be able to write myself into my happy ahead of published by a few chapters place. Anyways, as usual, I don't own the characters or the world. I wish I did. .

If asked, she had agreed to the party as a favor to her best friend.

Michiru sipped her water slowly, trying to determine if taking pain medication would be helpful. They never seemed to do anything for her headaches these days. Not the kind she'd been having daily now. Each one with a new revelation, a new piece of a life that someone else had lived. Memories with people she hadn't met. The worst had been after the race a few weeks ago. Michiru had gone with Ami as promised to the race. After the first hour, she had started watching exclusively the car she knew encased the blonde racer. After two, she had begun to fancy she had felt when the racer was going to pass someone, avoid a sudden obstacle, even calculate the risks of the final push for the win before taking second place. When they'd made it back to the apartment, Michiru had claimed the fumes had bothered her. The lie would eventually catch up to her, but if she was lucky, that day would be far off. That afternoon in the dark of her room, she had no protection from the images that followed. There would never be protection from that any longer. Missing pieces of herself, Michiru could no longer deny that whatever previous life she had lived would no longer remain dormant.

If asked, she hadn't been avoiding Setsuna for the past hour.

She liked her post in the corner, drinking water and hoping no one would notice her. The longer she could stand quietly, the more she just watch, and the less opportunity she had to be confronted herself. The party itself was in the kaikan at Hikawa Jinja. Rei, the miko, had hosted it as a favor to Mamoru. The two were apparently old friends though, Michiru noted, not as close as Mamoru and Setsuna.

The garnet eyed woman was currently chatting comfortably with Mamoru who had Usagi on his arm pretending she knew what the other two were talking about. Michiru chuckled, Ami had said Usagi's attention span was less than spectacular. She raised a slight eyebrow as Usagi's attention went elsewhere. The girl's jaw dropped and Michiru turned to the door as the conversation died out.

If asked, Michiru would staunchly deny having any reaction at all to the arrival of two proper celebrities at the party.

It took the length of a breath to recognize the masculine figure with a bouncing woman on her arm. It took not even that long to realize that the pair had less of a reason to be here than she did. Green eyes scanned the room and narrowed, settling on Setsuna. So, she wasn't the only one to realize that. Michiru turned toward Setsuna, away from the blond in the cream jacket and pale blue shirt.

Setsuna was smiling. They were practically strangers, but Michiru knew that look. Setsuna had set the whole thing up. Michiru narrowed her own eyes, waiting for Setsuna to turn to her. When she did, the challenge sent a jolt through Michiru. The woman was daring them to call her on it. Without looking at the blonde, Michiru knew the challenge had been offered to both, refusing to allow Michiru the last vestiges of denial regarding the blonde's inclusion in the past life she was still trying to forget. Call her on it, the look demanded. Call her on it and reveal that Setsuna wasn't the only one aware of their past lives. Call her on it and admit it, not only to herself but to someone else.

Setting her jaw, Michiru made her way to Setsuna slowly. There was no reason for haste, particularly when conversation had resumed. She smiled, masking her anger well. "Were these the two remaining guests? I was wondering when you wanted me to play."

"You're going to play?!"

Michiru felt a body crash into her, turning to face the bouncing blonde who had walked in on the arm of...Tenoh-san. She pushed the tall blond from her focus as she looked over at the girl. Without heels, they were almost of a height with each other. She shook her head. "It isn't much. My friend Ami-chan asked if I would play. It is a personal favor."

"I am a big fan of yours!" The girl turned behind her. "Haruka! Look who's here!"

Michiru couldn't keep the frown from her face at the address. Not that she had expected anything else, but hearing the confirmation tugged on something inside her she hadn't wanted to acknowledge. Yes, it was better if Tenoh-san was the reincarnation of her Uranus. No, not hers. Never hers.

Swear it.

The words echoed through her mind and she was unable to keep from wincing briefly before smiling and greeting the pair. "Kaioh Michiru. It is a pleasure. Please, treat me well."

"Aino Minako!" the shorter blonde offered. Michiru didn't try to prevent the smile from forming at the exuberance. "And this is my-"

"Tenoh Haruka. Please, treat me accordingly." The bow was deliberate. Low, measured, but it was the eyes that caught hers as Haruka stood up that startled her the most. Recognition.

"It is a pleasure, Tenoh-san, Aino-san. I hope I do not disappoint you. I had not planned anything impressive."

Haruka took the opportunity glare at Setsuna. "Meioh-san, a word please?" She hadn't realized the importance of the third celebrity until she saw the aqua-haired girl from across the room. Wouldn't have cared had she been able to ignore her, been able to continue to convince herself that the whole thing was a dream fabricated by a dry spell. But the woman in the white eyelet sundress had worn the same perfume that Haruka had smelled in her car three weeks prior. The scent that had encouraged her to make a daring pass, ending the race second instead of third. She barely kept the pleasant facade up for the sake of her girlfriend and the woman she had promised herself she would never stand next to. Even now, actively forcing herself not to look at the siren didn't help. She could feel the other woman, smell her. The entirety of the woman's presence invaded her senses and she needed away from her immediately.

"Of course, Tenoh-san." She turned to the others, bowing briefly to each. "If you'll excuse us."

The kitchen to the kaikan was spacious allowing Haruka to begin pacing before narrowing her eyes at the other woman. "Explain." Now that they were in stocking feet, she could see that they really were almost the same height.

"It's a birthday party."

"Don't start that. You did this. You invited all of these people deliberately."

"Well of course I did. They all have a reason to make the birthday girl happy."

"That isn't what I'm talking about and you know it." she ground out.

"Then what am I talking about?" The woman was infuriating. She wasn't denying it but it would be up to Haruka to name the insanity. Up to Haruka to admit that Setsuna had created the guest list with the intention of throwing Ne-Kaioh-san and her together. She had to think of her as Kaioh-san. Down the other way lay madness.

"I'm done with your blackmail, Meioh-san. I'm over it. I showed up. When I walk out of this kitchen, Minako and I are leaving." She turned and made all of two strides toward the door before being frozen in her tracks by the soft taunting words of the other woman.

"Why the rush? Unless you're avoiding someone. After all, I thought you had told me you'd never met Kaioh-san."

Haruka clenched her fists tightly. One breath. Two. Three. She turned slowly back, taking one step toward the other woman. "What is it you want me to say? I don't play that game. I've never liked it and I don't appreciate you pulling it on me now." Her words were hushed growls reminiscent of a large cat stalking its prey.

Setsuna never budged. "No, you have never liked it, but that is irrelevant."

"Then what is relevant?" She would not be bullied by this woman. Oh, she knew who the woman was. That much was now clear, and only because she'd been so blatant about it. The woman had wanted to get caught. She wanted to anger Uranus enough that Haruka would lose control over the past life within her.

"I do hate to interrupt, but your girlfriend is beginning to wonder where you've run off to. I told her it was likely track business given Meioh-san's disappearance as well."

Haruka spun around, eyes flashing in annoyance followed by pain. This was hell. Susanoo had come to call her to the underworld as penance for wielding his sword. That was it. That was the only explanation.

"How did you?"

"Sneak up on you?" The lilt was intoxicating. Haruka only nodded. "I could offer any number of answers, though I believe the simplest is the best. I didn't want to be followed."

The petite woman turned to stare past Haruka and she realized that Michiru had been manipulated as much as she had. She felt bad for the woman, worse for herself. The tall woman behind her remained quiet leaving Haruka to feel she was in some sort of experiment.

"Meioh-san, I believe your guests may revolt soon. There was some noise about cake and presents. You might want to stop Tsukino-san before she ruins your well-orchestrated plans."

As much as she had wanted to avoid being in this situation, it was nice to see someone else handling Setsuna. The aqua-haired woman stepped away from the door allowing Setsuna to rush past her. She was smiling gracefully but Haruka saw the glint in her eyes. Michiru had mentioned the cake. Michiru had deliberately interrupted the confrontation with Setsuna and staged one of her own.

Not wishing to have a second awkward conversation, Haruka stepped toward the door before being stopped by a gentle hand on her arm. She managed to keep her reaction to a twitch, which she was sure the other woman had felt.

"Tenoh-san. Aino-san had mentioned wanting to break into the independent music business. Please, take my card." She held out a small business card with both hands. "Should you ever need to discuss business with me."

Haruka brushed her off. "Give one to Minako."

"I have. This one is for you."

Crap.

Haruka took the card, reading it out of habit and slipped it into her business card case quickly before taking one of her own out. After the jolt she felt when their fingers brushed in the first exchange, she was none too keen to repeat the process. Holding the card as delicately as propriety would allow, she was grateful when Michiru took it without repeating the jolt. "Please accept mine in return."

The pair slipped back into the crowd without being noticed. Haruka made her way to her girlfriend, knowing full well she would end things soon. She saw Michiru move to a different corner and pick up her violin. The birthday girl, Usagi, was sitting in the middle of her friends and tearing into presents. Her fiancé was looking on indulgently. Setsuna was in a corner, safe from Haruka's glares. Minako was enthralled. Her eyes had practically glazed over as she absorbed the feel of the room. There was no point in trying to escape. It would only cause more of a rift, and no matter what else they tried or pretended to be, she and Minako were friends. She just hoped they would still be that after tonight.