Author's Notes: I haven't abandoned this story! I promise! I won't even begin to go into what's happened in my life recently, particularly since it's not really of any specific note other than chaos. Also, I had to make sure I didn't need to change things (i.e. I had to continue writing it and know I was getting where I wanted to go) before posting as we're hitting some major action!
As usual, I don't own the universe or the characters. The plot, however, is my own devising.
Also, texting is denoted by italics. Thank you and please enjoy!
By the next morning, Michiru was numb. After so many years of learning how to control her emotions, she had become a master at it. She hadn't really expected Uranus to tell her she'd been forgiven, but it would have been nice. More than nice. It would have healed something in her soul to know she was once again fully part of the team. She shook it off. Perhaps it was best she was no longer part of the team. It would make it easier for them to deny knowledge of what she was going to do. Of course, right now, she wasn't sure what she was going to do. First, she had to see her roommate without losing control. Ami would ask how things went, and she would have to be honest, as much as she could.
"Usagi-chan, it's all right. Calm down."
Michiru blinked, pulling away from the door and stepping toward the living room. She didn't hear Usagi's voice or tears, but Ami's concern was palpable. She paused as she saw that indeed, the blue-haired woman was alone in the living room. Careful not to interrupt the conversation, Michiru waved her hand just enough to catch the light and her roommate's attention. Ami nodded and waved at her, smiling weakly before frowning at Michiru's face.
"Usagi-chan, I'll come over. Then just come here." Michiru nodded her assent at Ami's questioning glance. "I'll pay the taxi. Please?"
The conversation continued as Michiru headed off to get some coffee. She knew Ami would convince the blonde to come over. There was no doubt in Michiru's mind of that. She needed to keep her emotions under control. Aware of her own identity or not, there could be no chance of the princess discovering how much she was hurting. There were many ways she was willing to manipulate the princess, but not like that and certainly not when she was hurting so badly. She would not take advantage of the princess's pain.
She felt Ami step up behind her, disrupting her before she could focus on what could have caused the bubbly blonde to break down that way. "Coffee?"
"Yes, please." Ami pulled out a couple of mugs. "I'm sorry. She's just so upset."
Michiru shook her head, "You did the right thing. What's going on?" Her chest tightened at the very uncomfortable expression that formed on Ami's face. "Ami-chan?"
"They broke up."
Even having seen it didn't prevent the shock. Michiru leaned her weight against the counter, bracing herself with both hands. She shook her head slowly, completely disbelieving that she hadn't managed to prevent her vision. How much more would she be unable to prevent? "No," she breathed.
Ami nodded sadly. "Last night. Things had been getting worse over the past week. She said he's been having dreams of someone else. He calls out her name in his sleep."
She turned to face her roommate, trying to read answers to questions she didn't dare ask about how much Ami knew about other factors that might be involved. "I don't understand. They were so happy. It probably meant nothing." She paused in her defense of the prince at Ami's frown.
"He's been missing her phone calls, and he won't tell her what he's been doing. She thinks he's cheating on her. She accused him of it. He told her if she didn't trust him, they couldn't have a relationship."
Michiru bowed her head, turning back to finish setting the coffee maker on. "How is she taking it?" The question was rhetorical. Usagi couldn't be doing well if Ami was offering to pay for a cab.
"She didn't sleep much. Apparently she couldn't even think well enough to reach out last night."
"Poor thing." She frowned as Ami collapsed into a chair. Taking a slight calculated risk, Michiru put her hand on Ami's shoulder. "I know you'd do anything for her." The startled look on Ami's face confirmed Michiru's suspicions. Mercury was awake. She smiled gently, "She's one of your oldest and closest friends, Ami-chan. We'd all do that for each other." The younger woman's tension visibly eased, apparently buying Michiru's excuse.
"You're right."
Michiru chuckled slightly. "Now, why don't you make some cookies? I'm sure she would appreciate that and it'll distract you."
Coffee and cookies later, the doorbell rang and Ami escorted a still sobbing Usagi into the kitchen. Michiru set a mug in front of her before pouring a second cup of coffee for both she and Ami. "Should I leave the two of you?"
"No, Michiru-san, please."
The words alone would have stopped her but the hand on her arm was much more effective. She froze mid-step, backing up and into a chair. "Of course." She looked over apologetically at Ami who just shrugged but seemed uncomfortable at her presence. Still, the blue-haired woman never countered Usagi's request.
"Usagi-chan, are you sure you're OK?" Ami's question was as foolish now as Michiru's was earlier. Yet the aqua-haired woman couldn't fault the formality.
Blonde hair fell in a veil as Usagi shook her head, "I'm trying, Ami-chan, I am, but it hurts so much."
"I know. Do you really believe he was cheating on you?"
Usagi shrugged, shoulder shaking. Her hands didn't budge from her face. "He won't tell me where he's been. He won't explain who Beryl is. All he says is he doesn't love her, but he talks about her in his dreams."
Michiru frowned. It was the only outward expression she could allow herself. Mamoru's behavior was downright alarming. If Beryl had been awake, had been a factor, shouldn't she have seen the woman in her mirror? None of the generals seemed affected by her, so why was Mamoru? How? She squeezed Usagi's hand, smiling warmly at the younger girl who offered a weak smile in return.
"Thank you, Michiru-san."
She shook her head, "It's nothing." Her mind tried to think of who might have the answers she needed. She needed someone close to Mamoru, someone who he trusted. She nearly laughed out loud when the answer struck her. As it was, a small chuckle did escape. She shook her head at the shocked expressions of her companions. "Usagi-chan, I may have an answer, but it's going to take a phone call and perhaps some time, all right?"
Usagi nodded but Ami looked skeptical. She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. Michiru got the distinct impression she was being warned not to lie to the blonde.
"Meioh Setsuna-san. The one who organized Usagi-chan's party?"
"What about her?" Usagi mumbled around a cookie.
Ami's eyes narrowed even more. "We can't just ask her."
"You may not. After the party, she and I, I wouldn't say we are close, but close enough I could talk to her I think." It was a delicate dance and one Michiru hated making, but Setsuna was or had been Mamoru's best friend. Even if she didn't have the answer, she might be able to find it out.
Now Usagi's blue eyes shined through her tears, cookie nearly forgotten in her hands at least for the moment. "You'd do that for me?" Michiru nodded then had to brace herself as Usagi launched at her, enveloping her in a tight hug. "Thank you!"
It took several moments to extract herself from the blonde's uncannily strong embrace. "Usagi-chan," she chuckled, "If you don't let me go, I can't make that phone call." Released, she headed back to her room. Before she could close the door, Ami was there blocking it.
"Don't lie to her, Michiru-san."
She wanted to sigh loudly. Of course, through the rest of this, the Guardian Senshi were sleeping. Now, when their interference was extremely inconvenient, they were waking up. The expression of confusion was strained and she was pretty certain by the way Ami crossed her arms that she'd actually also managed to purse her lips and appear frustrated. "I'm not. I came in here to make that call. I just felt it better if I didn't make it right in front of her."
"And if you find out he's been cheating on her?"
"He hasn't."
"You don't know that."
"Fine, I don't know that. If he's been cheating on her, I'll support her in making sure his reputation never recovers, but obviously the communication between them has broken down completely."
Ami looked uncomfortable, but shrugged. "She deserve better than to be treated like this."
"On that, we both agree." Calling Setsuna with Ami standing there would make things especially difficult. While she was relatively certain Ami knew of her past life, it was possible she was mistaken. Either way, it would open Michiru up to a line of questioning that was an unnecessary distraction. Michiru frowned gently, "We shouldn't leave her alone for long. I'll let you know as soon as I have an answer."
Ami looked less than thrilled to leave Michiru to her own devices, but she couldn't argue with the logic. The blonde was rarely upset and to get this upset was a level of distress Michiru had honestly not thought her capable of. "All right."
Michiru was on the phone before Ami was out of sight. Best not to appear to be hiding something.
"Hello, Setsuna-san? It's Michiru. I'm sorry to bother you, but I have a question for you."
Ami looked over her shoulder once more before disappearing from Michiru's line of sight completely.
"What kind of question?" Michiru could tell that the other woman was skeptical. She didn't blame her.
"It's about Chiba-san." She opted to use mundane names on the off chance either of the other two in the apartment overheard. "Usagi-chan thinks he's been cheating on her. He swears he wasn't, but apparently he keeps mentioning a Beryl in his dreams."
"Michiru-san, is there a reason you're talking like a fool?"
"They've broken up and she's come over. Ami-chan is with her now."
"Broken up?" Michiru could hear the panic in Setsuna's voice that she couldn't allow in her own.
"Mhmm, I'm sure you can understand why I'd ask you about this. I know he's your friend, and I'm sorry to ask this, but do you have any information that might be helpful?"
The sigh on the other end of the phone told Michiru everything she needed to know even before the woman started talking. "In this, Neptune, you are very likely our best chance at that information. He hasn't confided in me about that, and if he's waking up, he could very well sense something about me and not talk to me at all."
Michiru closed her eyes and nodded though she knew the other woman couldn't see it. "Then I know the next step."
"Be careful. And Neptune, Uranus deserves to hear this from you."
Michiru refused to properly vocalize assent to the opinion. Uranus probably did deserve to hear it from her, but that didn't mean Uranus would listen to her long enough to hear it. Either way, it left her needing to attempt to contact her partner as well as determine how best to handle getting information back to them. She sighed and stared at the phone having ended the call despite not precisely establishing a consensus regarding the path of action.
Usagi was curled up on the couch but her eyes were open. Ami was reading in the chair. She set the text down as Michiru came into view. The whole scene was surreally mundane. Michiru had offered to head out under the guise that Setsuna was going to talk to Mamoru and the two of them were going to meet up to share information. Ami had promised not to leave Usagi's side. It was only after that that Usagi had finally calmed enough to agree to move to the bedroom to sleep. Michiru took one last glance at the pair and slipped out the door.
Michiru sighed as she saw a lit billboard for Super Formula racing. She needed to warn Haruka. The fact that she was apparently not forgiven did nothing to change her duty. She didn't break stride as her fingers glided over the phone.
Usagi and Mamoru broke up. She needs extra protection. Kunzite warned me when we first met that if she hurt him, he would hunt her down. I'm hoping to head him off, distract him and give you and P time to get to her.
She's at my apartment with Ami-chan. Marginal confirmation as to whether Ami-chan has awoken as Mercury just yet.
She'd gotten half-way through the last text when a response came through.
Where is she?
The next response was faster yet.
We'll take care of the Princess.
Michiru leaned against the wall of the park, resting her head against it as she looked up at the sky. The moon could be seen between the buildings. She took it as a blessing and texted Haruka once more before calling Katashi.