Chapter 10

Will you still love me tomorrow?

What is the most sensitive question in a relationship? Michiru was always convinced it was: Do you remember? Do you remember how we first met? The little details when someone laid their eyes on someone else for the first time. The sensation of the first touch. The first kiss. The first time showing their love for each other through physical touch. Making love while just having the other person on their mind. Michiru stopped what she was doing to observe Haruka who unpacked her bag. She held every piece of clothing up and checked it for wrinkles. Botan had to bring her an iron later. And those were the moments full of innocence she loved the most. Just being in the presence of her beloved wife and feeling the peace. The battles were not over, but for an instant it was calm. Slowly, she walked over to Haruka and wrapped her arms around her waist. "Hey", the taller woman said softly. "Hey." They stood there for some moments, just savor the embrace. "Do you remember our first night in this room?" "And how ungainly we rehearsed our dance?" Michiru giggled. "We can unpack later." She took the shirt from Haruka's hand and placed it on the table near the window. On a sunny day like this, they could see over the ocean until the horizon broke the view. Grabbing Haruka by her hands, she dragged her to the bed. "The door is locked?" "Yes." The violinist started to unbutton Haruka's shirt while she kissed her neck. So many moments became a great treasure for them.


You are a Sailor Guardian. Protector of the innocent and poor. You came in this world to rescue it from all the evil. And… you are a student who has to do homework and learn for your exams. Haruka groaned. Math books, modern Japanese, something about astronomy. Michiru stood next to her, reading something about lyric. How dull. But the violinist was way better in every subject than her. Besides everything about mechanical engineering and physics. That was the expertise of the racer. Scanning the shelf quickly, she found a book about it. But as she stretched out her hand to grab it, she reminded herself to get a book about algebra. Math. This was okay. Suddenly, Minako stumbled into the bookshop. The way she walked straight up to a shelf showed everyone that she had a purpose. Haruka nudged Michiru in the side. "Look." The violinist leaned forward. "Oh, hello Minako." She greeted the young girl who had now a book in her hand. "How to get a pure heart?" Haruka mumbled. With a short look to her partner, they knew that something was going on with the girl. But what was it? They should find this out quickly.


Haruka pulled up the sleeves of her knitted khaki cardigan. A single pearl of sweat appeared on her forehead. Of all dance teachers in the world, Michiru was the drill instructor. "After a few steps, you are sloppy. You are an athlete. Get yourself together, Tenou!" The racer groaned. "Yes ma'am!" They got back into their positions and started the dance again. Haruka was fixated on her feet. It was hard for her. When she was at a concert, she could mosh her guts out. Dancing to music was on another page. "Look me in the eyes, Haruka. When you're glued to your feet, you stumble." A hollow laughter escaped her mouth. "Do you think this is easier for me?" Michiru stopped. "Not the best time for jokes." Haruka's words hurt her a bit. In the last two weeks, she worked hard with the racer. And she got better, but her concentration span was short. The taller girl took a deep breath. Then her eyes wandered to Michiru's. Blue like the ocean with a radiating glow. Was she a lighthouse or a siren? "Are you ready?" "Yes." But before they could start again, a knock ended their session. They parted and Haruka called out for the visitor. It was Botan. "Miss Kaiou, Sir Tenou senior wants to talk to you." Haruka and Michiru shared a serious look. What does that mean? Haruka was confused. And then her heart was filled with panic. What if Sota was about to send her home?

"You don't have to go." A small smile appeared on Michiru's lips. "It's alright, I will be back soon." Haruka's heart dropped as she closed the door behind her friend. She could not trust him. And sending Michiru away because he wants no disturbance at the ball was in his cards. But it took Michiru not too long talking to her uncle. How weird. And the face Michiru made as she returned was confusing as well. "This was strange. Your uncle can be… sweet. He praised my abilities as a violinist, and he made me an offer. Or an order to be concrete." Haruka's eye twitched. The violinist came closer. "But I have some bad news for you." Haruka groaned. No doubt that her uncle had some kind of evil plan to disturb her ball. "One of the musicians for tonight dropped out due to food poisoning. And now I will replace him." The racer sat down on her bed. "Great. So you and I can't dance, I guess." Michiru shook her head. "Would be a bit difficult to play the violin and watching your steps simultaneously." A little laugh escaped Haruka's mouth. But she was angry. This was not a coincidence. Maybe Sota poisoned the musician himself. Would suit him. "So, what shall we do?" Michiru sighed. The racer knew her well enough, that this was the face she made, when she had an idea. But not a good one. She stepped from one foot to another, but could not say what was on her mind. Haruka rose her eyebrows. "What is it?" A sheepish smile appeared on her face. "I be right back." She stepped out of the door and left a confused Haruka behind.

After a few minutes, she reappeared, dragging Tenzin behind her. "Here. You can dance with my brother." Haruka and Tenzin were equally disturbed at this image. "But… Michiru, you know that I only dance the steps for the male part." Michiru nodded and nudged her brother in the side. He made a grim face. "Alright." He took a deep breath. "Would you dance with me?" Haruka squeezed her eyes together. "You are not listening. I…" Tenzin interrupted her with a wave of his hand. "Yes, yes. I heard you. But I swing both ways. When you know what I mean." It took Haruka a few minutes to get it. But then she blushed. "Oh!" Michiru stepped in. "Tenzin is a strong partner. It will be fine." She gave Haruka a kiss on the cheek and went to the door. "Now I go practicing with the others. See you tonight!" The two waited until the violinist was out of earshot. "You are not happy with that, aren't you?" Haruka made a snidely sound. "No. My uncle knew it." Tenzin made a compassionated face. "I see. But we can practice a bit if you want. Or go for a walk or…" A knock disrupted the conversation. Of all persons Shota stuck his head in. "Good morning! Tenzin, you asked for me?" Haruka grimaced. With an apologetic smile, Tenzin shrugged. "Yes, oh sorry I forgot. Yes, yes. I want to talk to you. Just a second." Then he turned back to the racer. "Just a quick talk about business stuff. I think he could help me with something. It's a secret." He winked. With a heavy sight, Haruka dismissed Tenzin. Maybe it was better when she was alone for a while. Sorting her head out and getting used to the thought of wearing a dress tonight.

It was not uncomfortable, and it looked not as bad as she thought. But it was not herself. She sat in front of the mirror of her mother's dressing room after she had done the blonds' makeup for her. "I don't feel like myself, mum." Zelda touched the hand of Haruka. Her hurtful face affected the racer. But her mother was not sad because of her daughter disliking her outfit. It was the sadness of a mother who knew that her child does something that was harmful for their heart. "I know, Ruka. But you are strong. It will be fine and after the first dance you can change your outfit, if you want." A compromise. But not a good one. An hour later, Haruka waited with the other guest, friends and business partners of her family, in the great hall of the mansion. It had wide windows, chandeliers and a dance floor. Tables with food and drinks stood on the sides. Waitresses walked through the crowd serving drinks and canapés. Haruka made a straight face while her view wandered around. Michiru and Tenzin were nowhere to be found. How strange. The musicians started to take their place near a piano. But where was the violinist?

With a big whiskey tumbler, Sota showed up next to Haruka. "Clever decision." He said and pointed to the dress with his glass. "Listen, Haruka. You are the face of our company. The people love you and your successes in every sport. Don't be a fool and throw this away because you want to piss me off." The racer snorted. "I am just who I am." Sota made an angry face. "Being a freak doesn't bring you to the top. You are not a man. Don't ever forget that!" Haruka's face turned red. Rage filled her heart. She was about to storm out of the ballroom, but her uncle grabbed her by the arm. "You better stay. Or some of my contacts in the music industry will destroy two dreams at ones." Haruka stopped. This was not an empty thread. Michiru's and Tenzin's careers could end, just with one stupid step of her. He had her in his hands. And that made her heart ache. He has the power. Always. She felt like a little helpless child. "Now it's time." He snapped with his fingers and the light got dimmed. But Michiru and Tenzin were nowhere to be seen. Did he send them away? But then the door to the ballroom opened up and two elegant dressed people walked in. One in a black tuxedo with an aquamarine ponytail and the other in a black dress with a slit on very high heels. The buzz cut gave away that the person in the dress was Tenzin. Haruka's jaw hinged down. They looked stunning in this attire. Holding their heads up high, they walked in, bowed down in front of the crowed and parted. Michiru took her place by the other musicians, and they started to play a slow waltz. Nobody in the room moved. Everyone was spellbound by the two newcomers.

"Good evening, Haruka." May I have the first dance?" A wide grin appeared on Haruka's face, She could feel the burning look from her uncle in her neck. "Of course." They got into their position and shared a last glance with Michiru, who smiled at them with half-closed eyes. "Who had the idea for this?" Tenzin smiled as they turned. "Well, after Michiru told me how your uncle could be, I took the opportunity for this stunning dress. I never found an occasion to wear it. Until now." Haruka nodded. "And I borrowed my sister my suit. We have almost the same size. Almost." Now they laughed, while the racer hardly tried not to step on the boy's toes in those 4-inch high heels. As the song changed its tempo, the other guests were allowed to join the dance floor. Haruka and Tenzin parted and under the noise of the moment, the racer mouthed a "thank you" to the grinning musician. After an hour, Michiru and the other musicians had a short break and a piano player jumped in to tide over. "How was your dance?" Haruka got two Champaign glasses from a tray and handed one to the violinist.

"Just for the toast. They have nonalcoholic punch over there." "Thank you." Haruka blushed as Michiru scanned her outfit with her eyes. But before she could make a comment about it, Tenzin joined them. "The waiter with the long brown hair looked slightly disturbed as he saw me. Is the dress too much?" Haruka and Michiru shook their heads. Tenzin shrugged and got a wine-glass. In silence, they watched the other groups talk and enjoy their night. Some looked quite friendly over to the three kids. Sota was fuming with his tumbler in his hand. Haruka thought that he would break it, when he didn't cool down. But there was no time to think about him. Suddenly, the floor started shaking, and a loud noise came from the area where the kitchen was located. Haruka and Michiru shared a short look and nod. There was something going on and a second later a daimon bashed through the door into the ballroom. The screaming started immediately. The guest ran around in panic while the worm crashed into the tables. A chandelier fell down and nearly hurt someone. "Let's go!" Haruka and Michiru hid into a bathroom nearby and transformed.

"Uranus, the daimon is too close to the people. We could hurt somebody!" Neptune threw a glass at the worm, so it noticed them. Uranus ran around to grab a tablecloth that was long enough, so she could use it as a rope to catch it. "Neptune! Here!" She threw the other end of the cloth to her partner, and they encircled the monster. But the worm was fast. It took them a while to get it. Uranus tried to climb the back of the monster to ride it, but in an inattentive moment, the cloth loosened, and a claw got free. It hit Neptune in the side. This was everything Uranus could see from her position. "Neptune!" "Deep Submerge", came as an answer, and the Sailor Guardian jumped at the last minute from the worm, which was destroyed. Down on the floor laid a waiter with long brown hair. That made Uranus suspicious. She thought about the comment from Tenzin earlier. But there was no time to think about it. Neptune looked terrible. She bled from a wound at her side. They had to get out of this mess. "Hey!" Uranus looked up. Sota came over to them. That was the last thing they needed. And Neptune was not fit enough to run away faster. Suddenly, Tenzin stepped in, throwing a tablet on the floor and causing the heavy man to fall down. "Get out" the young man shouted, and they didn't think twice. Uranus helped Neptune up and dragged her out of the room. In the chaos of the moment, they ran away into a servant hallway and got back to the upper part of the mansion. As they entered Haruka's room, Uranus transformed back. She ripped her dress apart to stop the blood from Neptune's injuries. "Press this hard to your side. I get some bandages." Neptune grimaced and turned back into her civilian form. With one hand she pressed the soaking cloth to her side, and with the other she started to unbutton the white shirt she was wearing. Tenzin would kill her. This was his only good tuxedo. But she would buy him a new one when she got out alive.

Haruka kneeled next to Michiru, who was visibly in pain. Fortunately, she packed a first-aid kit in her bag. She knew that something could happen. And the bad thing is, she knew it because Tenzin was there with them. A bad feeling grew in her gut after they went to Michiru's hometown. Since then, the feeling has never left her. Was he a part of all of this? Did he sell the drugs to the pure-hearted people who turned into monsters? And maybe the Jigoku was a part of this as well. But now was not the right time to speak about her thoughts. Her friend was badly injured and needed all of her attention. The wound was not deep, but nonetheless, it bled heavily. "Can you stay conscious?" Michiru's hooded eyes wandered to Haruka. "I hope so" she whispered. A small smile appeared on her face. Haruka could not look up. Her eyes were glued to the wound she cleaned and wrapped neatly. "Can you promise me this?" The violinist laughed quietly. "I am sorry." "For what?" "That I ruined your dress." Now it was Haruka who smiled. "It is no loss, I think." Then her eyes turned dark. "But what shall we do, when one of us die in battle?" It was a question no one wanted to ask. But they could not dance around this subject forever. Michiru reached out her hand and touched Haruka's cheek. "You know that we have…" Loud noises interrupted their conversation. The unsettled guests went back to their rooms. The party was obviously over. "Tenzin will look after me sooner or later." Haruka nodded and lifting Michiru up in her arms. The violinist made a surprised face. "It is not the first time, princess", the racer joked lightheartedly. She carried the injured girl back into her room through the hidden door in the wall. No one would see them. After Haruka helped her also into her pajamas and laid her into the bed, no one would even see that she was injured. In a few hours, her wounds would be nothing but a bad memory.

Before Haruka turned back around and went to her own room, Michiru touched her hand, causing her to stop in her tracks. "Are you coming back later?" Her voice sounded fearful, as if she was afraid the racer would never return to her. "I clean myself up, and when Tenzin leaves, I will come back. I think I could not sleep without you after this incident tonight." Michiru looked satisfied with this answer. Then an awaited knock, followed by Tenzin's voice, could be heard behind the door. Haruka hurried out of the room. Through the wall, she could hear the muffled voices of the siblings talking to each other. But it was not right to listen. So she cleaned herself up and got into her pajamas. An hour later, she sneaked back into the dark room with the other girl. She felt slightly like an intruder and was about to turn back around. "Come here", she heard Michiru say, half asleep. Sheepishly she walked to her bed, laying down beside the petite girl who seemed even more vulnerable in this moment. A difficult situation for Haruka. She wanted to take her in her arms, but Michiru was nearly awake. So she laid next to her staring at the ceiling. "Haruka?" Slowly, the violinist let her hand wander to the other girl's shoulder. "Yes?" "Can you take me in your arms, again?" A heavy stone fell from Haruka's heart. She slid nearer and Michiru nestled in her side. "Good night, princess." The racer groaned at this remark. And she could feel the smile on the violinist face, even in the dark.


That was it. Every secret identity was revealed in the blink of an eye. Haruka got back from school. She stored her bag next to Michiru's in the hallway and brought her lunchbox into the kitchen. On the counter laid a note. "I am at the swimming pool. Be right back." Haruka sighed. Heavy rain pattered against the window. She had a strange feeling in her heart. This was something else that time. It was not only the lurking silence. It was a knowing. A knowing that they could finally find the destination of their mission. Haruka walked out of their flat and back to the elevator. Nobody was at the pool. No one but a relaxing young woman on a deck chair with a shell in her hand. She looked like nothing could ever bother her. For Haruka that was the sign that her feeling was right after all.


Haruka covered her eyes from the bright sun. A seagull landed next to her on the beach. "Look, Papa-Haruka. A Seagull!" Hotaru looked in awe at the bird, which walked some inches on the sand until it flew away again. "I can get us a kite. Then we can race the seagulls next time you are here." Sota lifted the girl up, who cheered happily. It was still a strange sight for the racer, seeing her uncle beeing nice and sweet around her daughter. "Be careful, Sota. Hotaru is not eight anymore!" Michiru admonished the older man half-hearted. Secretly, she loved the way the two played together. She never saw the man gleefully like he was when Hotaru was around. But at first they were afraid he could abandon their daughter because it was not his own blood. And of course, they thought their marriage could be problematic for him, too. At least their fear was unfounded. Something has changed. Maybe it was the way they worked together as a family. Or the girl touched a soft spot in the cold heart of the man. He changed completely. And at least his own son had finally the courage to come out to his father. It was not easy. Not at all. But after he brought his boyfriend back home, who was a very nice and intelligent man, he saw the love and happiness in his son's eyes. Sota excepted him like he was his own flesh and blood. "The old man got soft in his age" Michiru said while stepping up at Haruka's side. "Yes. Still strange for me. Can we trust this peace?" The violinist giggled. "Shall I ask my mirror." Haruka enclosed her wife in her arms. "No, I can sense it by myself." She kissed the smaller woman on her head. They needed the break from all the battles they fought. The future can bring other times for the former soldiers. They should treasure every moment.