Mugen was tall, and intimidating. Usagi didn't know what to think of it. This was where Michiru and Haruka went to school. But Haruka wouldn't be here because…and Usagi doubted Michiru wanted to see her face. ̷B̷e̷c̷a̷u̷s̷e̷ ̷w̷h̷o̷ ̷w̷o̷u̷l̷d̷?̷

"Usagi! Hurry up or you're going to be left behind!" Naru called to her from where the group stood in the hallway, but Usagi was lost in her own thoughts, her own mind, her own insecurities.

She shouldn't be here. She felt unsafe. She didn't know why, but something about this place felt wrong. It felt dangerous even. But here she was, unable to leave. Her mom would lecture her if she left. A good daughter would take this opportunity to learn about schooling in a private school such as this one. But she wasn't a good daughter or a good friend for that matter. If were those things maybe her mom wouldn't be so mad at her all the time, and maybe Haruka would not have gotten hurt protecting her. She was a failure as a friend, a daughter, and Senshi. To think that Usagi had hoped that one day maybe Michiru and Haruka might've seen her as more than a friend too. That would never happen, and it was a joke to think that she thought it once might have.

It was then Usagi heard a painfilled whimper, and looked to her left, seeking the source of the noise. There down the other hallway, Usagi saw a small girl with a petite frame, and dark purple hair. The girl was on her knees, and bent over on the ground she looked to be in pain.

Quickly Usagi ran over to the girl and kneeled down,

"Are you alright?"

The girl glanced at the girl before speaking,

"I'm fine…this is normal. I don't need your pity."

_

Ami stood next to Okasa Naru awkwardly, unsure why the girl insisted on following her around. Yes, it probably had something to do with the fact that Usagi was missing, in a who knows how large private school. But staying together wouldn't help the situation, it would be better if they split up and searched for Usagi. Ami felt rather panicked knowing that the girl, who was the Princess she was supposed to protect, and wore a ultra powerful magical crystal around her neck was missing. Especially now as this school felt wrong. Ami couldn't place her finger on why but Ami wanted to get out of here as soon as possible.

Ami glanced back at Naru, who was peering over her shoulder looking at her curiously. First thing was first she needed to get Naru to go back to the group, so she could transform if need be.

"Miss Naru, why don't you go back to the group and inform the teachers that Usagi is missing? They'll be very worried once they notice." Ami said, plastering a smile on her face, admittedly to hide her annoyance at the situation.

Naru blinked and looked at her,

"Oh…well if you'd think that'd be best I'll go do that! You are our school's very own genius girl after all!" Naru spoke with a smile, and quickly made her way back down the hallway.

Ami let out a sigh of relief, and continued her walk down the hallway reassured by the fact that her pen was right in her pocket. Ami was tense and fully alert. Something wasn't right about this school, and she didn't know what. But that wasn't the focus right now, she needed to find Usagi.

Usagi…

Truthfully, Ami had been overjoyed to see Usagi come to school again after weeks; she had missed her bubbly blonde-haired friend. But that initial feeling had quickly faded, when she had a chance to observe the blonde's depressed manner, and unbridled sadness in her friend's eyes. Ami felt like she failed Usagi, not just as her friend but her soldier, and protector as well. Maybe if she had paid a little more attention that night…then Haruka…Usagi's friend first and foremost wouldn't be in the hospital right now. Maybe then Usagi would still be going to school, and spending time with the two older girls whom she loved on occasion. Love. Ami knew Usagi loved those two, it was clear as day to her. From the way she had looked at them, the way she had danced with Haruka at the ball, the blush that had adored her face when talking to Michiru, and the way she sobbed that night. It wasn't fair why did her friend have to go through so much pain? Both in her original life and in this one. Why did it seem no matter who the Princess fell in love with pain was sure to follow. Fate really was cruel.

"You shouldn't be here." A voice spoke, stern.

Ami looked up to see Michiru, who wore a Mugen Academy uniform standing in front of her, an unreadable expression on her face.

"I'm here on a school trip." Ami spoke softly,

Michiru simply looked at her quietly for a moment, before continuing her way down the hallway.

"Miss Michiru, wait!" Ami yelled without much thought, and Michiru stopped in her tracks,

"What is it?" Michiru spoke not even turning to look at her.

Ami knew she had to try. She had to say something. Say something to fix this, for Usagi's sake.

"Miss Michiru, why are you leaving Usagi alone? Didn't you promise you wouldn't? She hasn't been to school for weeks, ever since that night. Today was the first day I saw her in weeks! But she's so sad! She misses you, and she's blaming herself for what happened!"

Ami stopped but quickly continued,

"Miss Michiru, did you know? Usagi loves you. She loves you and Haruka. It's clear as day! I know you are probably upset right now! But what you're doing is breaking her heart! If you really care about her as you say. Then please…don't abandon her like this!"

Ami stood in the hallway, and it felt like time had stopped, she was waiting for the older girl to say something. Anything.

"Miss Mizuno, please don't speak about situations you know nothing about. What I am doing is for the best. There are people in the world who deserve the princess's love more than Haruka and I." With those words Michiru walked away, quickly disappearing down the hallway.

Ami stood in the hallway alone, and she whispered.

"But how can it be for the best if you're breaking her heart?"

_

Usagi kneeled next to the purple-haired girl worriedly. Despite the girl's words she couldn't just leave her like this! She was in pain! She wanted to help her! She had to help!

"It's not pity! I just can't leave you in pain like this!" Usagi spoke, and saw that the girl looked at her confused.

She needed to help her! She had to help her! She wished to help her with all her heart! Usagi put her hands on the girls back, and it was at that moment the Silver Crystal started to glow.

The Silver Crystal shone brightly, and the small girl slowly stopped shaking, and her breathing turned normal. The girl looked up at her,

"What was that?"

Usagi froze, unsure of what to say. Should she tell the truth? Usagi couldn't see any harm in telling her…

"Oh this? It's the Silver Crystal! It's a very powerful crystal that I must keep safe."

The girl looked at the Crystal around her neck,

"It healed me? How?"

Usagi smiled, nervously,

"Oh! I'm not really sure how! I just wanted to help you! You see, I haven't had the Crystal for very long!"

The girl blinked and slowly smiled at her,

"Oh. Well thank you then. I'm Tomoe Hotaru and you are?"

"Tsukino Usagi! It's nice to meet you!"

Usagi felt nervous giving Hotaru her name. What if they became friends? What if Usagi failed Hotaru too?

Slowly Hotaru stood up, and smiled at Usagi,

"I'm sorry I have to go, but I think it would be nice to see each other again sometime. I live in the laboratory behind the school. Maybe you can come visit some time?" Hotaru looked unsure of herself as she spoke.

"That sounds nice Hotaru!" Usagi smiled, feeling a little about herself because she had been able to help one person.

_

Michiru arrived home after the day and immediately wanted to lock herself away. She thought back to the girl who was Sailor Mercury, and what she had said. The Princess in love with her and Haruka? That couldn't be. Could it? Surely she would have noticed or had she been so blinded by her own love she didn't?

What you're doing is breaking her heart!

Guilt clawed at Michiru's heart, and she wished she could forget those words. That was never her intention, to hurt the Princess. Though she had never expected it to come to this. With Haruka in the hospital it was too dangerous. Mugen was surely looking into the events of that night. Surely they saw it, the light of the Silver Crystal. Right now it was too dangerous to spend any time with her beloved Princess. Michiru wished, she wished with all her heart that she could be by her side. To tell her was okay. To dry her tears. But she couldn't do that. If she wanted the Princess to be safe she had to stay away. Michiru was undeserving of her Princess's love and affection. She didn't deserve to be seen the way her Princess saw her. Michiru fell to her knees, and she cried. She cried from the pain and stress of this whole situation, and from the guilt she felt.

"Oh, Usagi…I'm so sorry! Haruka! What do I do now?"

Michiru sat on her knees, and cried with makeup running down her face. This situation was hopeless. How was she supposed to defeat the Death Busters without Haruka? How were they going to stop Sailor Saturn from incarnating anymore? Michiru's life was in pieces, and although she was a powerful Senshi all she could do was salvage what she could and move on.

But moving now without the ones she held dear being there was so hard.