Notes: Episode 156: "Don't Lose Your Dreams! The Truth-Reflecting Mirror". Or, "The one with the starving artist guy in the park".

Episode 156

It was Michiru's idea, and that was probably the part that surprised Chibi-Usa the most. Maybe it shouldn't have. Usagi certainly didn't think it should have, but what did Usagi know?

Chibi-Usa was trying, she really was, but it was tough when your first and strongest memory of someone was of them trying to kill your best friend. It was like Rei-chan kept saying, first impressions were always the strongest. She'd glare at Usagi after that. It only made the point to Chibi-Usa about how impressions could change, and that's what she was hoping for. She didn't like being so upset with them, she really didn't.

Then she remembered how Puu wasn't here anymore either, and it was back to square one.

Maybe Michiru sensed some of that. None of them really knew what kind of powers Michiru had or what her mirror showed.

Or maybe she just wants to get to know you better?

There went that voice of reason again. It always sounded like Hotaru.

That wasn't helping. But then, neither was being grumpy about it.

Michiru's brush made small, light crunching noises as it she dabbed it against the canvas. She hadn't said much since they sat down, which only highlighted for Chibi-Usa how uncertain she felt. Should she talk? Was Michiru waiting for her to say something? Or maybe real artists didn't say a word? Chibi-Usa tried to remember if she normally spoke when she was drawing or painting and couldn't remember.

"How are you doing, Chibi-Usa-chan?"

Michiru's question jolted her back into focus. "Fine!" she exclaimed, suddenly very aware that she'd barely touched her own picture.

If Michiru had noticed that as well (and she probably had, Chibi-Usa grumbled to herself), she didn't mention it. Her eyes were trained on her own work and her expression was unerringly pleasant. "Not having any trouble with our subject, then?"

There was a snort from the couch. Chibi-Usa couldn't help but laugh, which caused Michiru to laugh too. It sounded like wind chimes, Chibi-Usa thought, and for the first time since Michiru had approached her, she felt herself relax.

"Hey, Michiru-san?" Chibi-Usa let her brush glide over the canvas wherever it felt like gliding. "Why are we doing this?"

"Shouldn't we?" Michiru asked in return. A ghost of a smile played on her lips.

Michiru's lack of directness only made Chibi-Usa press harder. "Sure, sure, but why?"

"I heard about your lovely drawing of Usagi-chan," Michiru said, changing out her wide brush for a finer one. "I thought we could learn from each other."

Chibi-Usa couldn't have said what answer she was expecting, but it wasn't that. "Oh," was all she could say for a long moment, then she added, "Are we?"

"Oh yes, I think so."

Nodding, Chibi-Usa turned back to her painting. Slowly, it was coming to life.

What a life it was.

"And why is Haruka-san doing this?" Chibi-Usa asked.

On the couch, Haruka narrowed her eyes in mock danger. She adjusted her sparkly party hat sitting at an angle on her head and smoothed out the frilly apron she was wearing over her usual favourite suit. "Never mind why I'm doing this, Chibi-chan," she cautioned.

"Yes," Michiru agreed brightly as she dabbed more paint on the canvas. "She won't do it again though, will she?"

When the pictures were finished, Chibi-Usa felt she HAD learned a few things, and she didn't even try to hide her pleasure when Michiru complimented her on a perfect likeness of Haruka's scowl.

SuperS episodes, you give me so little. Back to Haruka and Michiru it is.