More than team-mates?!

So this took a while but rather than to start a long list of excuses I'm just gonna give my best to be better with the next chapter, O.K?

And no, Sailor Moon doesn't belong to me.

Hope you enjoy and please review.

Update: Updated March 2025 as a part of the 18th birthday *edition*.

CHAPTER 3: Hope

Sure enough they managed to get to school just in time to. Michiru's perfect attendance had often enough been threatened by their duties as soldiers but this time it didn't prove to be the best idea to rush their breakfast. It was one of those boring Japanese lesson's which was even worse than their teacher, who much to Haruka's disadvantage was a male teacher. Even Michiru who usually liked all subjects agreed that this teacher was especially fond in choosing the least interesting topics. So green eyes wondered off to a certain aqua haired vixen, only to find her starring at the previously bored blonde sitting next to her. It was a rare opportunity that Haruka had to take advantage off, since usually she was the one getting caught. Now it was finally her time to take revenge for all that teasing.

"Are you still hungry?"

"Pardon?"

"Well you were eating me up with your eyes so I thought I might had some leftover chocolate spilled on my shirt, or something like that.", she said as if it was the most common thing on earth.

"Oh! No, I was just…"

"I see, sorry, well thank you I wouldn't have noticed that my shirt is buttoned improperly. I'm gonna fix that."

Very slowly Haruka started to open up the first button of her shirt that of course was buttoned perfectly, never taking her deep blue eyes of the other girl as Michiru started blushing heavily.

"Is that what you were thinking about?", she said while opening up yet another button enabling Michiru to get a glance on her chest. Unfortunately Michiru wasn't the only one noticing the free view on the blonde's perfect smooth skin.

"Mr. Tenou, I do not think that Ms. Kaiou needs a private biology lesson since she unlike you always pays attention to the lesson!"

And so it happened that a famous racer found herself outside the classroom. Fine, she thought, that was more than worth it. It was Neptune's's fault anyway; she started it by starring at me! I just had to pick on her!

At first these tender looks the other girl gave her had scared her. It was different than anybody else looked at her. She was used to admiration, sometimes even lust from her numerous "fans". She could handle those, but Michiru's just overwhelmed her, going somewhat deeper. It was like she could see right through her but they were still saying I love you just the way you are. But now she had begun hiding this expression and Haruka started to wonder when Michiru's attitude to wards her had changed. Sure the fact that their destiny was to fight and that their life meant nothing compared to the importance of their duty was one reason. They had to be prepared to sacrifice their and other people's life for the greater good, so getting emotionally attached to one another was dangerous.

That was why Haruka woke up alone after their first night together.

It was hard to deal with the knowledge that the loved one may be dead tomorrow but on the other hand as their lives could be short Haruka thought it was wrong to spend them in denial of one's feelings. Michiru had known about the difficulties of a senshi's life when she'd confessed to Haruka.

So when did she change her mind?

Haruka remembered the first time they met at one of her track races. Elza had introduced them, and Haruka immediately knowing who that shy girl was, had pushed her away afraid of the things to come. She had seen that girl appearing in her dreams urging her to accept her duty as a senshi. She had shown her the cold shoulder because she was afraid that that girl could bring up all the emotions she tried to bury under her cool behaviour.

She had always run away, hiding her inner feelings. Reflecting on everything, it was clear that Haruka had never actually shown that her actions on Michiru were more than her usual flirting or simply sex-driven. Blame the slight problem with confessing and expressing feelings the otherwise rather tough tomboy had.

They had never spoken about their sweet little encounters, well except the last and second time when they parted right after sleeping together, stating that this must never happen again, feeling ashamed and betrayed by destiny.

The answer seemed clear - she needed to tell Michiru. Neptune had done it so why shouldn't she able? Probably because confessing was creepy and more horrible than big hairy spiders for other people.

The bell rang and a rather amused aqua haired vixen came out to continue taking revenge for Haruka's bugging, allowing the later to lay of that problem till later that day.

At home Haruka wasn't that lucky, even while trying to get her mind of the task ahead she found a love advice article in one of her racing magazines. Great just what I need, a kinky article telling me how real love works and how to win a girls heart from some psychiatrist that has probably never seen a girl naked- well at least I've got the seducing part worked out…

So out of boredom the racer was flipping trough the rose decorated pages reading pink underlined headlines like- SAY I LOVE YOU -Three small words that mean the world.

What the f?!

The magazine also advised always to treat a girl like a princess- well Haruka certainly didn't need any education in manners. The other tips weren't of great help either since Haruka was almost sure that Michiru would rather call the doctor if she would decide to buy her a big pink fluffy teddy-bear or write love letters with little red hearts drawn on them, than to break out in tears of joy.

Since the article didn't say anything about two stubborn soldiers that loved each other but denied their feeling and Haruka couldn't' see herself on a white horse accompanied by white doves and playing prince charming with blonde curls- the matter still proved difficult.

She didn't usually think before doing something so she just automatically picked up the phone and dialed Michiru's number who was still trying to find sleep. The aqua haired girl starred at her alarm clock that was next to her bed, - which she was sitting on, holding on to a pillow- and showing that it was 3:28 a.m. She too, was thinking about their feelings and how much longer she could handle them. She knew that she loved the blonde flirt but why did she never tell her that she felt the same? She always felt at ease in Haruka's company but on the other hand always had a guilty conscience because she feared that it would affect the way they fought against the world's end.

She picked up the phone that nobody besides her team-mate would call that late. She loved those moments they shared talking to each other on the phone since it was easier to say what one really meant without having to look the other one in the eyes. Things just slipped out much easier and had a much more casual attitude then saying them straight to the face. Things could be laid of as jokes whereas in person it was most likely to sense that their flirting was not just a joke. She had got to known the tough tomboy more intimate during those nights when they talked just so they wouldn't have to sleep and face the nightmares showing the silence that was approaching. Otherwise Michiru would have probably never known that she had dressed her little dog in doll clothing when she had still been a little girl or that she … well that is a different story. It were those little things she was proud to know about the other girl that was rather uptight with personal stuff.

"Hi, there."

"It's me Michiru."

"I know."

It would have been the most awkward situation but since the aqua-haired girl was fully occupied hindering the butterflies in her stomach to make her fly, none of them was thinking about that.

"Why don't we meet up for lunch tomorrow? We could skip chemistry and I'll take you out."

"….O.K…", Michiru never skipped school and usually got rather angry at the tomboy for that kind of suggestions but this time she felt like this was important. She didn't know why but she answered automatically without thinking about possible consequences. It just felt right.

Haruka on the other side had been prepared to fight for that dinner and, now surprised about Michiru's actions, didn't know what to say.

"..."

"Then, ehem, I guess see you tomorrow.", a grin forced itself on Michirus lips as she hung up the phone.

By some grace morning dawned soon enough but needles to say the remaining hours and especially the grammar lessons at school dragged on forever. Not even the Youmas had the grace to show up and distract the two until it was time for lunch.

Eventually even the worst sports class ever was over and the two soldier managed to get out ouf school. Who in their right mind would expect Haruka to feel well enough for classes after being forced to "run" in a speed that allowed her to remain in the teachers sight…. Torture! The ever so perfect Ms. Kaiou was entrusted to look after the "sick" Mr. Tenou, so around two thirty the the two of them walked into a nice family-run restaurant.

Michiru noticed the looks the waiters were giving them and obviously they looked like a couple since Haruka took her hand, which she allowed without protesting, holding on to her till they sat down. The chef seemed to know the racer and greeted her complimenting on the beautiful girlfriend she was lucky to have.

Unlike before Haruka didn't correct him, carefully observing Michiru's reaction.

"Michiru?"

"Hmmmn?"

"You always wanted to draw me, why?"

"Well, ehem... you ..." How much could she say without admitting too much? "Have you looked at yourself?", she blushed casting her eyes down-ward.

"Then why did you never do it?"

"You made it very clear that you didn't wanted to.", she said, hurt in her voice her mind going back to that day on the race track when Elza introduced them.

"I'm free on Thursday, I could come over."

"You really don't need to do that", she softly said searching the reason for Harukas change of mind in her eyes.

"I'd like to, maybe I'll find out why you are that passionate about it. If all fails, I'm just gonna enjoy myself teasing you the whole afternoon.", she said with a wolfish grin never breaking the other girls stare. Hope gleaming.