Royal Dance Michiru slowly opened her eyes, looking at the ceiling. She didn't know what it was that woke her up, maybe it was the sun shining on her eyes or maybe it were the footsteps at the door that had woken her up from her dreams, or in this case nightmares of the past."Ah Michiru, I am glad you're awake." She could hear a feminine voice say. It was now that she recalled that warm hand on her cheek earlier, the person calling her name. Quickly Michiru sat up, scanning the room in the hope of seeing Haruka. Instead she was greeted by another blonde. Usagi."I was worried about you when you didn't answer the door, I asked your neighbour for the keys of your house. You were lucky they had one..." Usagi paused when she saw the disappointed look on the other girl's face."Are you okay Michiru?" She asked, sounding worried. All she got was a nod in reply."You had been expecting Haruka, right?" The small blonde then asked. As the words had left her mouth she already regretted them. Before she could even say something else Michiru had bursted into tears again."Oh my god, I am so sorry Michiru, please don't cry." Usagi pleaded, walking over to the girl and hugging her closely. - Earlier that night, Chiba Residence- Usagi sat on the couch, waiting for Mamoru to return home from work. Two days ago, after Galaxia had been freed from chaos Mamoru had proposed to her and ofcourse she had said yes. The scence was perfect, she cried, he was nervous and after getting her reply he got happy and relieved. It was almost too perfect. If you had looked closely you could've seen the empty look in the princess' eyes as he held her. "I am home!" Mamoru's voice came. Imidiately Usagi put up a fake smile and run over to the door to greet her fiancée. "Welcome home Mamoru!" She cheered, holding him as she rested her head on his shoulder, trying to avoid having to kiss him. She hated she had to lie to him like this. But it was for the best. Even Luna had told her she had to continue this mission.'It's not fair, everyone can live their normal lives and I have to stick to our mission even though we're safe...' She thought, completely forgetting that she was still in her fiancée's arms. It was true. All the other senshi had been able to continue their lives as they were before the became senshi. Usagi on the other hand couldn't. She had to prepare herself for Crystal Tokyo. She would become the queen, marry Endymion and have his baby. Chibi-Usa. That was how it was and how it would be. Life after life and day after day. And to be honest, the thought of being stuck to this destiny forever pained her. "Is something wrong?" Mamoru questioned when he noticed the sudden silence of the blonde girl in his arms. When she pulled back her face was filled with tears. Tears she had forbidden herself to cry."Usako are you alright?" The black haired man now asked. He dropped his case and with a concerned look on his face he held the small crying girl. He would never know the reason for her tears. If he found out..."I am...just so happy." Usagi lied."I mean I am getting married to the man I love, we're free now and I can live my life as..." "Don't lie." He interrupted her, pulling back a little to look her into the eyes."I can see the difference between tears of happiness and tears of pain. The tears and the look on your face tell me nothing but pain, hurt and sorrow." Usagi was kind of shocked to hear him say that. No she was shocked to see him know her that well. Would he think the same, feel the same about their mission as she did? Was there someone else out there he truly loved. Someone who wasn't her. Someone who had never known a life filled with youma and sailor senshi. "I don't know why I am crying." Usagi stated, lying once more. This time he seemed to believe her so she decided to continue this lie."I think I am just sad that our mission is over somehow. Everyone is going to continue their lives and well, frankly I am afraid that...that we'll fall apart." Once again she could feel Mamoru pull her closer, holding her in a tight embrace. "Don't worry Usako, they will never let that happen. You girls are too close to just fall apart like that." He whispered. Usagi felt guilty for lying at this point. He was so nice to her but at the same time he was hurting her because of that same reason. After standing there in the hall way for a couple more minutes they pulled away. Usagi took his hand, leading him into the livingroom."I am going to make us something to eat." She said as she released his hand and started heading towards the kitchen. "Usako..." He started. Usagi stopped walking, not daring to turn around. Did he know she had been lying? What would he want to say to her? Deciding to turn around anyway Usagi could see the blakc haired man walk up to her. It was obvious that he was going to kiss her. Usagi just stood there, waiting for his lips to be pressed on hers. Right on que it came. She could feel his lips touch hers for a couple of seconds. She slightly returned it. When he pulled back she smiled again. "I am glad you're home." She lied, placing a small kiss on his cheek before slowly heading towards the kitchen again. Mamoru just stood there, watching his fiancée walk away again. He knew something was bothering her, he just didn't know what it was. When Usagi closed the kitchen door behind her she finally managed to take a deep breath.'I am such a horrible person.' Instead of walking towards the fridge Usagi walked over to the phone that hang on the wall. It was now that she finally noticed that her hands were shaking. She had to talk to someone. Slowly she started dailing the first number that came to her mind. Setsuna's. After a few seconds of waiting Usagi was greeted by Setsuna."Uhm, Hi Setsuna...This is Usagi. I was wondering..." Usagi paused when she heard a tired voice on the back ground ask Setsuna who was calling. "Usagi." Setsuna replied, obviously to the other person that was with her in the room."Ah yes Usagi, what can I do for you?" Setsuna then asked, focussing on the caller again. "I...who's there with you?" Usagi questioned, not bothering to try to talk to Setsuna about the real reason she called. "Ah...No one." The other lied. "Don't lie Setsuna, I heard a voice asking you who called just a few seconds ago." The blonde pressed. After trying hard to realise why the voice had sounded so familair to her she figured out it was Haruka who was in the room with Setsuna. But why? "Haruka..." The guardian of time finally muttered. Her voice was filled with shame. "Is Michiru there as well?" Usagi now asked, getting the drift. "N-no...She isn't." Setsuna stuttered, even though she wasn't facing Usagi she knew that even her own princess was disappointed with her right now. It didn't take a genius to figure out what was really going on. "I see..." Usagi replied, hanging up the phone before the other could even explain herself or say something. Usagi leaned against the wall for a couple of minutes, closing her eyes. Everything was getting so out of hand. This wasn't going how Chibi-Usa had told them it would be. Haruka and Michiru...Could it be that...Was Michiru even aware of the fact that Haruka was with Setsuna? 'Michiru...She must be busy right now. I'd better not bother her.' Usagi thought. She still held the phone in her hands. Her hands weren't shaking anymore, instead of that she had clenched her hands tightly around the phone. After taking another deep breath Usagi decided to call Rei but unconsciously she called another number. The number of a certain aqua haired girl. Still not knowing who she exactly had called Usagi put the phone to her ear, waiting for Rei to pick up. Her heart skipped a beat when she suddenly heard Michiru's voice on the other side of the line. Was Michiru at Rei's place? "Hi, this is...Usagi..." The blonde stammered, feeling her heart race. "Hey Usagi, what can I do for you?" Michiru asked politely. The other's voice sounded so empty, so lonely. "I am sorry to disturb you this late but to be honest Michiru...I need to talk to someone." It was out before she even knew it. No way back now. "It's okay Usagi, but if you don't mind me asking...Why me?" Usagi blushed at that question. How could she explain Michiru that it had all been a tiny misunderstanding and a simple case of dailing the wrong number? "The others won't understand. Rei and Haruka would scold me for this. Makoto and Ami are too busy with...their own problems and Setsuna...I don't want to talk to her." The small blonde finally whispered, keeping her voice down in order for Mamoru not to overhear her. At first Usagi had seen her answer as a lie but after thinking about it she realised that Michiru maybe was the best person to talk with about this. "Ofcourse, I'll get dressed and make some tea for us, will I see you in an hour then?" The other didn't reply to Michiru's question. Did she have a choice anyway? She had already said too much. She just hoped she would have done the right thing by calling the senshi of neptune, even though it happened by accident. "Goodbye then." Michiru's voice came, interrupting her out of her thoughts."I'll see you in an hour or so..." Once again Usagi didn't say anything. Michiru seemed to wait for an answer for a short period of time before hanging up. Just when Usagi was about to put the phone back where it belonged the door to the kitchen opened, revealing Mamoru. "Usako, are you ok, I thought I heard you talking." He stated, looking at Usagi as if he was examining her. "Ah yes, Rei called me. She wanted to discuss something with me." She replied.'The third time today that I lied to him...' "I didn't hear the phone at all." Mamoru said, raising an eyebrow. "I only let it ring once." Usagi said, wondering why he was still here, bothering her.'He's not bothering me, he's just worried about me!' Usagi thought to herself. "Would you mind it if you had to order something tonight Mamo-chan?" Usagi asked, looking at her fiancée."I have to go now, I promised Rei to be there within 30 minutes. I don't know why but she wanted me to hurry." "Ofcourse not, shall I drive you?" He then asked as if he knew she was lying. The look on his face didn't betray the annoyance he was feeling towards the blonde girl but the tone in his voice betrayed him anyway. "No that's ok." The blonde princess replied, staring down at the floor."I wanted to take a late night walk anyway. You know, enjoy the fact I can walk the streets without fearing to be attacked by some creature from hell." "Just because chaos is gone...It doesn't mean that there aren't any creeps on the streets any..." "I know." Usagi interrupted him with a fake smile on her face."Let me order some chinese food for you, or do you prefer pizza?" She then asked, changing the subject. Mamoru ofcourse also noticed the change of subject but decided not to bother anymore. It was obvious that she didn't want to talk about it. "Pizza will do fine." He replied before disappearing into the livingroom again. --- - Present, Michiru's appartment- After Michiru had stopped crying Usagi had disappeared into another room for a couple of minutes before returning again. In her hands she held a tray on which a cup of tea and a small piece of bread with cheese on it lay. Michiru had finally noticed the sun outside. It was already day. "How long have I been asleep?" She asked the blonde in front of her. "I came her last night...You were unconscious." Usagi started as she put the tray down on the small cupbaord next to Michiru's bed."I checked your temperature and it seemed you had a fever. That was around 10pm." Michiru gazed down at the clock radio next to her bed. It was 7am now. "You've stayed with me the whole night?" She asked. Michiru had to admit that she was a bit surprised by that. Usagi just nodded. "I was worried about you. Besides it's my duty to make sure you're ok." The blonde said with a smile on her face. Michiru who had laid down after she finished crying tried to sit up again to drink her tea but the moment she sat up she fell down again, holding her head."Michiru are you ok!?" Usagi yelped, rushing over to her friend's side. "My head hurts. That's all." The aqua haired girl replied, laying down completely. "You're sick Michiru, you should stay put. I'll take care of you..." She was cut off by the other. "NO!.." Michiru yelled."I mean...no you don't have to. After all Mamoru is probably worried about you." "Probably..." Usagi whispered. She stopped staring at the other girl and now focussed on the floor as if it was the most interesting thing on earth. "Did you got into a fight with Mamoru?" Came the question. "No. We're doing fine." Usagi said. Half of it was a lie, the rest was the truth, right? She couldn't bother Michiru with her problems right now anyway. The aqua haired girl stared at the other with a certain look on her face as if she already could tell Usagi was lying or hiding something. "I am glad to hear that. Thinking of it, what was bothering you last night?" Michiru questioned the other girl who still was looking at the ground. "Oh never mind that. I had some doubts about something but not anymore." Usagi said."And don't worry about Mamoru. He knows I am here, I called him a few hours ago after I found you." Michiru just nodded. She knew Usagi was lying but she decided not to ask about it right now. Her headache was increasing as they spoke. "Michiru..." Usagi suddenly asked after another five minutes of silence. "Yes?" Usagi swallowed away the lump that had formed in her throat."Is it ok if...I mean..." "Just ask your question Usagi, it's not like I am going to bite you." "Can I..." Usagi paused for a moment while a blush appeared on her face."Can I sleep with you for a while?" Michiru just smiled and patted on the empty spot next to her. At first she had been surprised with hearing Usagi ask such a thing, simply because she had misunderstood the meaning behind the other's question at first."Thanks..." Usagi added before she slowly lay down next to the aqua haired girl, for once enjoying the fact that someone was laying beside her. To be Continued... Nope Mamoru is not that kind of bastard in this story but to those who asked for it, I will make him suffer anyway. Whaha join the we-hate-Mamoru club.
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