Haruka rolled her eyes at the little blonde's antics, amazed at how quickly the group of younger girls had become a part of her life. Usagi was glaring at Rei as the miko tossed a bag of candy over her head, Makoto catching it easily. Ami rolled her eyes at the torture of the blonde, returning to her studies. Mamoru, a more recent addition to the group, sat on the floor against the wall and discussed the lyrics of a new song with Minako. Earlier, Michiru and Haruka had helped her with the music. Michiru still wouldn't touch her violin, but three months after that night, she was doing better. She let Haruka touch her and kiss her sometimes, no longer shying from Mamoru when he entered the large apartment she shared with Haruka, but she still couldn't let her guard down enough to let Haruka make love to her. The blonde hoped that she would keep improving. Haruka returned to her sketch as an argument broke out between Rei and Usagi, Makoto and Ami adding their own opinions as Minako moved closer. She tried to ignore it as Michiru peeked into the living room, a tray of snacks in her hands. She placed them on the table near the arguing girls and turned to leave as Usagi caught her hand. "Ne, Michiru-san?" "Yes, Usagi-chan?" "Where are all of your picture?" Michiru froze, shocked, and the other girls moved back, amazed that Usagi would ask something like that. Haruka put her paper down and moved forward, reaching out toward her partner. Michiru raised a hand and closed her eyes, regaining her composure. "I haven't drawn anything since we came to Tokyo, Usagi-chan. As for the rest . . . most of them are on display." "And the other ones? The ones you did with Haruka-san? The ones you did of Haruka-san? No one has seen them in a long time." "I put them away," Michiru whispered, moving closer to Haruka. "Maybe you should bring them back out," Rei whispered. "I know that I would like to see them. It's a shame to let talent die." Haruka rested her hand on Michiru's shoulder. "You don't have to . . . if you don't want to, Michiru. It's up to you." "No, Haruka; I want to. Let's go find those paintings." As the couple vanished deeper into their apartment, Minako and Makoto whirled on Usagi. "Why would you ask her something like that? That was insensitive," the idol hissed. "I agree, Usagi-chan. If Michiru-san wanted us to see her paintings, she would have shown them to us." "No, Mako-chan. She wouldn't. She was hurt and she's healing very slowly. She put away her paints because it was her painting that kept her from going with Haruka-san that day. She blames her obsession for what happened." Mamoru shook his head. "You can't know that, Usagi. She never told us what happened the day she was attacked. She won't talk about it." "I didn't have to be told, Mamo-chan," Usagi whispered, closing her eyes as images filled her mind. She never even noticed her sudden use of 'Mamo-chan'. "She was drawing the sea, but it was unfinished. She was dissatisfied with the painting when she left, realizing that she had to go or she would miss seeing Haruka-san win. Haruka-san always won, and Michiru-san liked to be there to congratulate her. She never finished that painting." "How do you know? How could you possibly know?" "I just see things, sometimes, Ami-chan. And I saw this." Michiru and Haruka reentered the room, ending the conversation, and all eyes looked up as Michiru placed a covered canvas on the couch. She pulled the cloth away, sighing. "It's not finished." "The sea looks lonely," Minako whispered. "Maybe . . . maybe you weren't meant to finish it then. Sometimes I can't write and I have to take a break. When I return, I can finish those songs because the time is better." "I don't think I can paint just now . . ." "Then let Haruka-san help you," Minako suggested. "I heard that your joint paintings were breathtaking." Haruka placed the picture she had carried on the floor in front of the couch, braced against the legs of the table. She removed the cover and the girls gasped. Even Mamoru was speechless. It was the first picture she and Michiru collaborated on, the picture of the angel and the mermaid meeting on a rock at the edge of the ocean. Usagi wiped a tear out of her eye and shook her head. "You're work is so beautiful . . . but so sad, too. Their people will never let them be together." Haruka stared at the blonde, shocked. "I never . . . I never thought about that before. You really think this picture is sad?" "Well, I mean it's very beautiful, Haruka-san, and it's so sweet that two people who are so very different can fall in love, and there's a lot of hope, but their people will tear them apart. I don't see a future." Haruka felt tears fill her eyes at Usagi's words, taking a step back. 'I don't see a future.' The words repeated over and over again in her mind, reminding her that she and Michiru might not make it. After all they'd been through, the rape might have been one straw too many. Michiru sensed the direction Haruka's thoughts were wandering and placed a gentle hand on her partner's arm. "I think that they would find a way to show their people that love is stronger than any hatred that kept them apart and they would find a way to be together. Love is that strong. It can get us through the toughest times." She moved backwards, letting Haruka wrap her arms around her waist, resting her smaller hands on her lover's. "No matter what may happen, love will pull us through." She looked around at the group, an idea filling her mind. "I know what's missing from the picture," she whispered, slipping free of her lover's grasp and dashing into the bedroom where her paints were. Michiru set the canvas on an easel, carefully mixing her paints as Haruka arranged the girls and Mamoru against the far wall. She joined them, sitting on the end of the row and leaving a space for Michiru beside her. After a little while—and a few complaints from Usagi—they took a break and had a snack, the artists switching places. As the light outside faded, Haruka and Michiru labored over the painting, finishing it as the girls napped, even Ami too tired to watch anymore. Smiling, the artists brought out a clean canvas and began another picture. "Haruka," Michiru whispered, pausing her hand. They had sketched the basic shape of Mamoru, the five girls, and themselves, but something seemed a little odd to the aqua-haired woman. "There's someone missing." "I know." Haruka took the pencil and added another tall woman, one with long hair and a strange staff in one hand. Michiru then added a small girl beside the woman, her hair short, a scythe in her hand. A few more pencil lines had a mirror in her hand and a sword in Haruka's. Driven by a force and memories they did not understand, the pair painted the group, putting them in strange sailor fuku, tiaras on their heads, a black tuxedo suit and cape on Mamoru, hat on his head and a mask covering his eyes. Two cats sat silently at Usagi's booted feet. Haruka never even complained when Michiru gave her a skirt, sensing that it fit, somehow. Hours later, finally finished, Haruka and Michiru woke their guests and showed them the painting. "That's us," Usagi whispered, holding out her hand but not quite touching. "But . . . we look like super-heroes. "Sailor fuku bishoujo senshi . . . that seems so familiar," Rei whispered, staring at the figure that she had become. She was wearing red, high heels, gloves, a tiara . . . but it just seemed so right. "Ai to seigi no Sailor fuku bishoujo senshi Sailor Moon," Usagi whispered. "Tsukini kawatte, oshiokiyo." She moved into a pose that seemed so very familiar, arms crossed in defense and defiance, feet spread apart. "Sailor Moon." "Tuxedo Kamen," Mamoru murmured thoughtfully. He noticed something wrong, and he opened his mouth to speak, but the women beat him to it, seven voices crying out at once. "The rose! He should be holding a rose!" Michiru took her green paint and slipped a thorn-free stem into Tuxedo Kamen's fingers, red paint giving the flower a gentle bloom. She touched up a few more things, adding a crescent moon to each cat's forehead, before she stepped back. "But who are those two?" "I don't know who the woman is, Mako-chan, though it seems like I should know her. But the girl . . . she's the one in your article, Rei-chan. That girl that died." "Tomoe Hotaru," Rei whispered. "Something is very wrong." Minako shattered the moment with a huge yawn that she tried desperately to stifle, sending Usagi into a fit of giggles. Michiru glanced at the clock as she headed to the bathroom to wash the paint off her hands, Haruka following. Rei pulled Usagi to her feet and headed for the guest bedroom, Makoto, Ami, and Minako just behind them. Mamoru had agreed to sleep on the couch, fixing his bed as the girls went to fix theirs. Makoto helped Ami spread the large futon on the floor, the pair talking quietly as they slipped into their bed clothes. Usagi was singing some sort of song as she changed into her shirt and pajama pants, never noticing Minako staring at Rei. The miko did notice, trying her best to ignore the idol as they finished dressing. Minako rolled out her sleeping bag in the corner, joking about foregoing her idol life to sleep on the floor in someone else's apartment. Usagi jumped into bed, grinning, as Rei shook her head and glanced at Minako. "Usagi, Minako and I need to go talk for a minute. Can you wait for me?" "Mochiron, Rei." Makoto and Ami returned to the living room to help Michiru and Haruka clean up as Rei and Minako headed for the balcony. Usagi stared at the half-open door, wondering if she should go help, but it sounded like the others were doing fine. Besides, she was clumsy and would probably do more harm than good. Sighing in contentment, she curled up and prepared to go to sleep. "Usagi?" "Hai, Mamoru-san?" Usagi sat up as Mamoru sat on the edge of the bed, staring at his hands. "What's wrong?" "When I saw that picture, Usagi, I thought I could see another image. A princess." "I saw a prince," Usagi admitted. "I didn't want to say anything in front of Rei because I think it would have upset her. But I think that prince was my destiny, and I think he was you, Mamoru." She looked up at him, tears in her eyes, carefree demeanor gone. "But it's too late for us. Maybe if we had met sooner than we did or one of us had seen the possibility, but I'm with Rei now, and I do love her. I could never betray her like that." "I know," Mamoru whispered. "I think, in another life, I would have been your prince. But here and now, in real life, I am destined to be alone." "I'm sorry, Mamoru." "It's not your fault," he whispered, cupping her cheek in his large hand. She covered his hand with her smaller one, tears filling her blue eyes. "I think I knew that I liked you from the instant that test fell on my head. But sometimes we ignore Cupid's arrows and we never get a second chance. I was the stupid one. I just wanted . . . just once . . . can I kiss you?" Usagi nodded, closing her eyes as Mamoru's lips brushed hers, a spark of destiny, of true belonging passing between them. She stifled a sob as he pulled away, standing up and leaving her alone. Rolling over, she closed her eyes and dried her tears, unwilling to upset Rei with her despair. Mamoru could have been hers . . . but something went wrong. "How can I love them both?" *~*~*~*~*~*~* "Minako, you're such a good friend, to all of us. You and Usagi are so much alike, and she's needed someone to get into mischief with. The rest of us are too dedicated to our studies and other things for her. You gave up your carefree life to settle in Tokyo, go to school here, and be with us. I'm grateful for that." "It's not only Usagi who keeps me here." Rei sighed and leaned on the balcony railing, staring out at the city lights, night in Tokyo. Michiru could be heard through the open balcony doors, scolding Haruka, Makoto and Ami laughing at the poor blonde. "I know, Minako. I know you think you love me . . ." "I know I love you," Minako hissed, grabbing Rei and spinning her around, trapping her against the railing. Her face was mere inches from the miko, the heat from her body washing over Rei. "Ever since the moment I first saw you in the crowd, I knew that you were my destiny. I sang that song to you, Rei, no one else. You know that, don't you?" "I know. I could tell." "And you're the woman from my dream! Why can't we be together?" "Because my heart is not whole," Rei whispered. "I love Usagi and I have since we met, I think. We had a wonderful relationship. Even Mamoru didn't make her look twice, and I think he really cares for her. He's not part of our group because of me, I know. But she's so loyal to me, and she loves me so very much. No matter what feelings I may have for you, Minako, I loved Usagi first." "What feelings, Rei? What do you feel for me?" Rei turned her head away. "I'm not sure." "Yes you are! Tell me!" "Minako . . ." "Tell me! Do you love me?!" "Yes! Yes, damn it, I love you! But I can't—" She was silenced by Minako's sudden kiss, gasping at the forcefulness of the blonde's attack, relaxing as the other woman's tongue darted into her mouth, experimenting. Rei released her death-grip on the railing and slowly slipped her fingers into Minako's soft hair. So much like Usagi's . . . "No!" Rei jerked away, shame coloring her face, as she clenched her fists. "This isn't right, Minako. Please, go back in there. I won't do this to my girlfriend." "I'm sorry," Minako whispered. Rei turned to her and placed a gentle hand on her cheek. "I'm sorry, too, Minako. I'm sorry that we couldn't meet in a better place and time." "I'll wait for you," Minako whispered. "If you and Usagi-chan ever break up, I'll be there to help you through it." "I know." Rei kissed Minako's forehead and pushed the blonde back into the apartment, staring out across the city one last time. "How can I love them both?" Rei slipped back into the apartment and closed the balcony doors, heading for the guest room without anyone noticing. Ami put the last of her books away, smiling as Makoto reached out a hand and helped her to her feet. Makoto wrapped her arm around Ami's waist and led the smaller girl into the bedroom, the tenderness in such a simple gesture amazing Haruka and Michiru. Haruka smiled as she wrapped her arm around Michiru's waist, slowly heading for their bedroom. "I'm glad you started painting again," Haruka whispered. "Maybe tomorrow we could get your violin out." "Maybe," Michiru agreed. "I think running into Rei-chan and Minako-chan is the best thing that ever happened to us." "I think you're right." *~*~*~*~*~*~* Minako squeezed her eyes shut, facing the wall, as Ami and Makoto slipped under their blanket, curled up in each other's arms. Rei was still in the bathroom getting ready, and Minako knew that Usagi was crying in the bed. In the living room, she could hear Mamoru's restless shuffling. He was having troubles sleeping, too. In the next room, she heard Michiru and Haruka go to bed, just that. They still didn't do anything at night except sleep. Somehow, that seemed wrong. As Minako fell asleep, she dreamed of a very different world where Rei was single when Minako fell in love with her, Usagi was already taken by Mamoru, and they spent their free time wondering about Haruka and Michiru's love life. Rei entered the bedroom as soon as she was sure that Makoto, Ami, and Minako were asleep. She slipped into bed beside Usagi, the drowsy blonde curling into her girlfriend's arms automatically. Her cheeks were wet, and Rei knew that she had been crying. Resting her head on top of Usagi's, Rei closed her eyes and tried to relax. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I'll never do that to you again."
Back to Destiny or Duty Index - Back to Sailor Moon Shoujo-Ai Fanfiction