Chapter 11
I Do Anything For Love
The night of the summer ball was mild and warm. Everyone had a good time between dancing, drinking, and eating some light, fresh foods. An unfamiliar sight of peace for a soldier. It could be dangerous when you let your attention slip. Haruka stood at the edge of the dance floor, feeling an itch in her hand, and let it wander to her transformation stick in the pocket of her beige chinos. She always had it by her side. Was she too overcautious? Her eyes wandered through the room and stopped by a pair of dancers. Setsuna and Tenzin claimed the dance floor every time they had the chance to share a waltz. The racer was happy for them. Maybe the Sailor Guardian of Time and foremost loneliness found someone she could enjoy her time on earth with. Just for a little while. "Papa-Haruka?" Hotaru dragged on the rolled up sleeve of her parent's white linen shirt. "Oh, what is it? You look distressed." The girl grimaced. "This room is full of people I don't know. But they say they know me. Some aunts and uncles who want to talk to me." Haruka smirked. "How horrendous!" Hotaru groaned. She hated it when Haruka made fun of her. It was quite stressful for her in this room of strangers. They had all so many emotions, and she could feel them all at once. It was overwhelming. But Haruka knew it. She always knew what was going on around her.
"Shall we go outside on the balcony? Maybe we find your mum." "Which one?" Haruka laughed. "We should start with the one who is not dancing in her own little world with your uncle." Hotaru looked over to the dance floor. She started to grin. "Finally!" Haruka laid her hand on the back of her daughter. "Let's find your mother." They walked past the crowd of guests. Somewhere Haruka's parents were talking to someone she doesn't recognize. Maybe a business partner. As the man turned around, it was a photographer the racer could indeed remember. She smiled and waved before she and Hotaru continued their walk to the balcony. And there she stood at the balustrade, showing them her beautiful back in a silvery wide cutout dress. The moonlight illuminated the scene perfectly and Haruka felt a warming sensation in her heart. Michiru sensed their presence and as she moved the racer could see that she hold her mirror in her hand. The sad smile on her wife's face alarmed every fiber of her body.
Haruka couldn't catch the right words as she looked into Michiru's melancholic eyes. Something changed in the air between them as the violinist started to play with the taller girl's hand. There was this gentleness that paired up with the sadness of someone who knew that there could be no tomorrow. She wanted to cherish this particular moment with every sense she had. "I love your hands." The words were spoken softly in the stillness of the room. They worked as an anchor for Haruka. The words and the feeling of Michiru's hand in hers. She wanted to pull her closer for a kiss. Just holding her for an eternity, until they had to go. Was there enough time to make the most of this potentially final moment? The violinist slid closer, as if she had heard her thoughts. "I am afraid to ask." "Ask me anything." Michiru smiled, squeezing her girlfriend's hand a bit tighter. "Can I feel it… touching me?" Haruka was not sure what she was talking about. "Touching you?" Shyly, Michiru's eyes wandered from Haruka's face to their hands, "Can I show you what I mean?" Michiru released her entangled fingers to entwine the wrist of her counterpart. "Show me", Haruka whispered, as she finally had a clue what the shorter girl's intentions were. Carefully, Michiru dragged the hand to her chest, letting her girlfriend feel her heartbeat. Underneath her fingertips, she could also feel the movement of every breath that filled her body. She had touched her before, but now the purpose changed. And everything felt new to her. Familiar and unknown.
Michiru let Haruka's hand glide further to her breast. "Here, for a start. But there is too much between us." The racer was about to close the gap, but the violinist stood up, letting the other's hand go. The disappointment was clearly written on Haruka's face. That made Michiru giggle. "Follow me." She reached out her hand and the blond took it in her own, walking behind her in the direction of Michiru's bedroom. At the doorway, Haruka paused for a moment. "Are you sure?" The shorter girl turned around, clasping her arms around the other's body. "Yes. I want to feel your beautiful hands on every inch of me." Haruka took a deep breath. She was ready but nervous. Then she leaned down into a deepening kiss with the girl she was so madly in love with. The taste of Michiru in her mouth. The touch of her fingers that started to unbutton her shirt. The light groan of lust as Haruka pulled her closer. The sweet smell of her skin. And finally the view of her naked body as they parted, and she got out of her bathing suit.
Slowly, Michiru walked backwards to her bed, letting herself down on the duvet as her legs touched the edge of it. Haruka lost no time taking off her tie and getting out of her shirt. "Come to me", the violinist whispered. The taller girl stepped closer. As she stopped in front of the bed, skilled fingers started to open her trousers, while Haruka took off her tank top. After pushing down the blonds pants, Michiru started to kiss the skin atop of the boxer briefs. Goosebumps appeared on Haruka's arms as she felt the sensation of the soft lips. With every kiss, the violinist gained more confidence. Finally, her tongue slipped out of her mouth, so she could taste her love. That was enough for Haruka to make her knees weak. "I can't stand your teasing, Michiru." She leaned down, starting the kissing again, while she carefully pushed back the other so they both got on the mattress. Michiru pressed her body on Haruka's as she caressed the racer's back. Thoughtfully, the blond let wander her hands down the violinists' bare skin. She complied with Michiru's request of touching every inch of her. They shared languorous kisses before Haruka found the courage to let her fingertips go down to the other girl's hips. They stopped the kissing and looked each other in the hooded eyes. "Can I?" "Yes, please. I can no longer hold it back." With a smile, Haruka leaned into another kiss while her hand slipped between Michiru's legs, causing her to gasp. The violinist hands trembled, and she had to adjust them by grabbing the bedsheet. Carefully, Haruka started to stroke the sensitive area of the other girl's body. After this first rush of emotions, the shorter girl found her countenance to slide her hand into Haruka's briefs. As their movements synchronized, they could tell that they become more than a union. Surely that was an exaggeration, but the overwhelming sensation of the moment filled with all the love they had for each other made that an understatement.
"You felt so good inside of me", whispered Michiru, snuggling her head against Haruka's breasts. The racer looked down through her half closed eyelids. She wanted to enclose this moment forever in her memory. Framing the view of her love laying in her arms. But she also knew that the time was running out. The moment couldn't last forever. They had to warn the others and fulfill their destiny.
Michiru pawed nervously with her feet. "Do you really believe they would store the drugs here after the police busted them?" Haruka ignored her question while she was busy looking through a cellar window of the Jigoku. A bad feeling brought her here. The next evening would be the great reopening of the club, and she was afraid that hordes of kids could get in contact with the drugs, causing an epidemic spread of monsters through Tokyo. "You know what happened at the Mugen Academy." Haruka looked up to her partner. "When there should be something strange here, I will sense it." Maybe Michiru was right. However, the racer's bad feeling was not tranquilized. "I know." She stood up, noticing that Michiru was shivering at this cold March evening. Next month was their first day at the Mugen Academy. Both of them were nervous. Hopefully, they were on the right path with their mission. And they could avert the end of the world.
Haruka took Michiru in her arms. "You're freezing." The violinist snuggled closer into the leather jacket of the taller girl. The smell of her perfume always had a calming effect on her. "I'm fine. Maybe we should go." Haruka agreed. They could observe the club the next day when more people were here. The bad feeling stayed, but Michiru had convinced the racer to go back to her car. But as they arrived at the Mustang, another car drove on the parking lot. It didn't come to a hold next to them, but stopped right in front of the door. "What the…" But Haruka paused her sentence as she saw that Shota got out of the car. He walked straight up to the door of the Jigoku and disappeared behind the door. "… fuck?" Haruka finished her words while she locked eyes with a confused Michiru. "We should follow him", said the racer, and they sneaked behind him into the club. It was dark, besides some gloomy light that came from the concert area. As they tiptoed nearer to the entrance, they could hear voices. Angry voices that argued with another. One of them was Shota. He was very upset about something Haruka could not quite understand. But the other voice was a surprise for both of them. "Tenzin", whispered Michiru, clasping her hand on her mouth. But they were too far away that the two men could hear them. Truly, they could have to stand direct beside them and the wranglers wouldn't notice them.
"You are an idiot. Do you really think I would take this shit? Are you insane?" Those were Tenzin's words. He started to roll out a cable. Shota must have disturbed him while he built up the stage for the next day. "Yes, the waiter said he bought the stuff from your drummer." Tenzin made a derogatory sound. "You saw what it did to the boy. The drug turns good-hearted people into literally monsters." "And it helps troubled minds to calm down." Tenzin looked up from his work. "You think, you are a bad person?" Shota stepped nearer. His face showed them that he was in pain. "I am no good." The musician fumbled with the cable in his hands. "But you are to me." A bitter laugh escaped Shota's mouth. Haruka frowned. What were they talking about? She looked down at Michiru, who looked troubled herself. But it seemed as if she knew something more. Meanwhile, the two men had closed the space between them. Shota reached out his hand, touching carefully Tenzin's upper arm. The gesture was very intimate. Did they become friends after the ball? Haruka had many questions in her head. But the musician couldn't look the other man in the eye. He turned away his head, but then he laid his own hand on Shota's. "I talked to my father. He sent me away without saying anything. So I came here. I have enough. Please let us have some fun, as always." Tenzin stretched his body and took the other's hand away from his arm. "No." Shota's face turned red in anger. "So? Just no?" "Go away, Shota." "You are leaving me as well?" Tenzin's facial features filled with ire. "Go and fuck yourself!" His voice trembled. That was enough for Shota. A slap hit Tenzin in the face. He foundered backwards. "Asshole. Here! Look at my pure heart!" Shota dragged a little bag with pink powder from his jacket and opened it. His finger got something from the substance, which he inhaled with his nose. It just took seconds, and he turned into a daimon.
"Watch out!" Uranus jumped into the scene, pushing away a paralyzed Tenzin. They fell to the floor while Neptune attacked the worm. Her eyes glowed in anger. "Shota!" Tenzin's shout couldn't reach the monster, which reared up as Uranus blew a "World Shaking" at it. Stumbling backwards, Tenzin searched for a hold of the microphone stand as suddenly lightning stroke from it. The stand transformed into a creature which looked like a guy from an 80s hair metal band. "What is this?" Uranus yelled as she turned around to face the new monster. Neptune finally destroyed the daimon form of Shota, who laid unconscious on the floor. She checked his vital forms before her attention went to the other monster. It attacked Uranus, who had a hard time fighting against it. She could land some punches, but a hit in her guts brought her to her knees. "Uranus!" Neptune jumped to her partner's side, helping her back up. "You cannot stop me", laughed the monster, and it showed them a star shaped tattoo on its chest. A bolt of lightning came out of the tattoo, which struck Tenzin. Neptune and Uranus stood there, agape, while a shining crystal appeared out of Tenzin's heart. "I will bring this to Kaorinite. Goodbye, losers!" "Don't you dare," said Neptune through gritted teeth. She followed the monster to get Tenzin's heart back. Meanwhile, Uranus kneeled down at the musician's side, who struggled to stay awake.
"Hey, Haruka", he greeted her with a smile, but grimaced under the pain. Uranus was in shock and her face gave it away. "This was not a hard one." Uranus held the hand of the dying man. He coughed. "I was there as Michiru transformed for the first time." His eyes went to the ceiling as he remembered the day. "She rescued us from one of those monsters. It attacked us on our way home. A girl from this Mugen Academy. Poor thing. She stayed three weeks in the hospital. Michiru visited her almost every day. She was so afraid of killing someone." He grimaced again in pain. Uranus knew that there was no much time left. Neptune had to hurry. "Listen, race car champ." Uranus looked down at Tenzin whose expression was very serious this time. "Don't ever… break her… heart." The strength to speak left him. "I would never do this." The man nodded and closed his eyes for some seconds. As he reopened them, he found some more clear words for the Sailor Guardian. "You thought I sell the drugs?" Uranus gulped. "You must know, I helped her. I knew the underground. But I would never take drugs again. Learned my lesson. Years ago. Michiru can tell you…" Suddenly Neptune was back with Tenzins heart in her hands and some tears in her eyes. It was not too late. She put the heart back in his chest and he recovered in no time. Neptune sobbed as she took her brother in her arms. "I am fine, sis." Uranus felt ashamed. It was indeed an obvious suspicion. Luckily, he was not involved in the plans of their enemies.
While Neptune helped her brother up again, Uranus carried her cousin out of the Jigoku. She was strong enough to lift a grown man. Outside the club, they got back to Haruka's car, and they helped the two injured men on the backseat. "We will be right back." They ran around a corner to transform back into their civilian form. It was too risky to change by the car. A witness could be nearby. But before they could do this, the hair metal monster reappeared behind them. "You tricked me!" A hard attack hit the Sailor Guardians simultaneously. "It is too strong", Uranus said through the pain. They stood on weak knees as the monster started a new impact. Before it could hit them, they found the strength to jump aside. But they landed hard. "How can we kill it?" Neptune looked roughed up as she stabilized herself on her hands. "We have to combine our attacks. Let's go!" With their last power, they concentrated on the final strike against the monster. And it helped. They gave everything they got. Enfeebled, they fell on their knees. But as they looked at each other, they were relived. "This was the worst. Another one and this is our end." They transformed back and leaned against the wall of the building. The floor was cold and wet, but this didn't matter for them at this moment. "Haruka." "Yes." "Can we make a promise?" The racer turned around. Michiru had bruises in her face and looked exhausted. "When one of us dies…" She had trouble to finish the sentence. Haruka took her hand in hers. "When one of us dies, the other one must continue the mission. No matter what. We can not get our feelings in the way, or we get both killed." A tear ran down her cheek. This plan was the worst. But Haruka knew that at least one had to survive to rescue the world. "Alright. Never turn around. Get the talismans. Finish the mission." For some moments, they sat in total silence. "Haruka?" "Yes." "Please, don't think this is easy for me. You are too important for me." "I know."
Michiru took a deep breath. "And how do I look." Haruka snorted. The violinist stood in front of the mirror for quite a decade. "You look perfect. I think the green goes good with your hair." The racer stepped to the shorter girls' side. The mirror showed them in their new red and green school uniforms of the Mugen Academy. Michiru's eyes observed Haruka's reflection critically. "Wait a minute." The violinist turned to the taller girl, correcting her tie. When she was pleased with it, she brushed away some imaginary dust from the collar. "Are you ready?" A soft smile appeared on Haruka's face. She took Michiru's hands in hers and leaned down to place a kiss on her cheek. "Always."
"Don't you dare ever do this again!" "Haruka, you're crushing me." The mumbled voice of Michiru could be hardly heard out of the fabric of Harukas blazer. After they came home, the racer stopped her girlfriend in her tracks, forcing her into a tight embrace. But the violinist leaned happily into it. She was tired, and facing her own end made her hungry. "We should get some take away." Her voice was still muffled from the embrace. She felt a chuckle that could be a sign of the taller girl was crying or laughing. As she looked up, she saw that both was the case. With a warm smile, she brushed away a tear from the blonds cheek. "Hey." Haruka buried her face in Michiru's shoulder and hair. The sobbing broke the shorter girl's heart. She comforted her as good as she could. "We are here. I am here. Everything is fine." She caressed Harukas back. Showing her emotions was always hard. But now she was able to let loose.
"Come here." Michiru took her by the hand and dragged her to the couch. "Sit down. I will run you a bath. Then you feel better." Haruka nodded and took a tissue out of her pocket. The violinist made everything ready for her girlfriend and while she was in the bath, she ordered some sushi. After her bath, Haruka slipped in some comfortable clothes while Michiru took a shower. As the food arrived, they sat down in front of the TV watching some 80s flick about some women, who wanted to kill their boss. But after they ate, Haruka's attention went to Michiru, who cuddled with her back against the blonds stomach. "Michiru?" The girl turned her head around. "You sound so serious. This is a comedy." Haruka narrowed her eyes. "I don't want to talk about the movie." Now Michiru moved her full body around, so they could face each other. "Maybe, I don't want to talk at all, but…" She should have thought about her words before she started to speak. "I understand." Michiru closed the gap between them for a passionated kiss. "Let us take this to bed. You know, I didn't have the chance to play my special tape for, you know, special occasions." Haruka's words confused Michiru. "A special tape?" The racer laughed and turned off the TV with the remote. "Some Tracy Chapman, Petty Smith and Gin Blossoms to get into the… mood?" Michiru grinned. "Tell me more." They stood up from the couch, leaving a trace of clothes behind on their way to Harukas bedroom.
Michiru's eyes glistened from the tears in it. Haruka and Hotaru shared a short look. "Your mirror showed you something, am I right?" The violinist pressed the talisman closer to her body. "A strange force entered our solar system. Maybe our peace is over." Hotaru wrapped her arms around Michiru's waist to comfort her. The violinist patted the hair of her daughter. "Everything will be alright." Then Setsuna and Tenzin entered the balcony. They sensed immediately that something was wrong. "Well, when someone wants to disturb our happily ever after, then they should buckle up." Setsuna's words made Michiru smile. "Yes, they messed with the wrong family", added Haruka. "They have to fear our combined forces, or we silence them forever." Hotaru was determined. Her soul was too old for a thirteen-year-old. But her family would keep an eye on her mental health. It was their destiny to stay side by side in every battle. Come whatever may. "And I will make you your sandwiches." Everyone turned around to Tenzin. He shrugged. "You have to eat. Great soldiers of the outer solar system!" Michiru slapped him on the chest before she grabbed him into a tight embrace. "You idiot. I love you." "I love you too, sis."