Waiting to be Discovered Michiru's eyes opened slowly. Rolling over, snuggling deeper into the warmth of her down comforter, she noted the time. Midnight. She had slept since mid-day after the exhaustion of her first battle as Sailor Neptune, and for the first time in weeks, had slept deeply and had not been plagued by nightmare visions of a silence-ravaged future. An inexplicable smile curled her lips upwards, dimples forming in her cheeks as the ghost of a chuckle left her mouth. Whatever she had dreamt of was vague at best, but a rush of warmth filled her soul with happiness. Vague memories of close friendships and ties to a child they had cared for filtered through her mind and she knew she had dreamt of her past life on the moon. "Haruka." She whispered softly, suddenly melancholy that her partner of old on both the battlefield and in the bedroom was unready, or worse, unwilling to join her, to be by her side. 'But why?' She asked herself. The Haruka of her past had been a dedicated friend, always by her side, and although she hadn't yet learned how they had become lovers, she knew their relationship had eventually become passionate. If she felt the same need for her partner in this life, how could Haruka's feelings for her have changed? Such had been what was implied by the reincarnation of her lover's body language and listless expressions. There were many questions about her past life yet unanswered and Michiru found she wanted instant gratification. Most importantly, she wanted to know why the Haruka of the present, the stoically handsome playboy, or so the tabloids called her, was so different from the Haruka, the witty, sensual, carefree lover of a millennia past. Michiru sighed, her cobalt eyes finally opening, admitting defeat. There would be no falling back asleep once she started thinking of that woman. She hoped that some fresh air might clear her mind. Prone to the chill of the early spring night, Michiru rose, abandoning the warmth of her bed. Wrapping her slim form in a flannel robe, she strode to her apartment's main room and slid open the door to the balcony. The brisk night air caused her to wrap her arms around her chest as she stepped through the threshold. Small puffs of hot breath crystallized in the cool air as her cobalt eyes were drawn to the stars above. The cool temperature and the cloudless, moonless sky amplified the glow of the stars, almost overpowering the neon glow of the Tokyo streets far below her as Michiru's eyes studied the constellations. She had never specifically studied astronomy, but had somehow inherently known much about outer space. She had always assumed her knowledge to be from osmosis through other classes, but now she had to wonder if there wasn't another reason for her intimate understanding of the cosmos. Her breath caught in her throat as she picked out the faint glow of Neptune. Once, it was her home world, her mother planet, and if she squinted, Michiru could imagine that Uranus was there too, in the distance, as if waiting to be discovered... Suddenly, the sounds of the street below her faded and a strange duet between piano and violin reached Michiru's ears. Initially, she wrote it off as a neighbor's radio, yet slowly, the duet grew louder, drawing Michiru's attention, and like an old friend's name that she couldn't quite remember, she cocked her head as she tried to realize why the song sounded so familiar. The aqua haired girl shuddered and the spell cast by the ghostly song was broken. The cold suddenly too much for her to bear, even with her heavy robe, she quickly retreated to the warmth of her apartment. About to throw herself to the mercy of her overstuffed couch, Michiru first eyed her violin in the corner of the room. The strangely familiar tune still playing through her mind, almost as if in a trance, the young woman approached it. Methodically, she opened the hard plastic case and removed her bow. Supple and familiar from years of use, she tightened the fine strands before running the bow's strings through a well worn piece of resin with a practiced stroke. Then, taking the fragile instrument from its bed of blue velvet, she raised the violin to the crook of her neck and with inherent grace, arched her bow to its strings. Unthinkingly, her fingers found the right notes as she recreated a song from memory and her mind began to wander, lost to the music in her head. flashback The sun had set hours ago. Michiru lifted the long teal skirts that billowed around her ankles as she ascended the stone stairs, the weight of the moon heavy on her shoulders. While Hotaru had aged rapidly in the eight months under their care, Setsuna and herself had reached out, looking for clues to an undetermined future to no avail. Nowhere outside their solar system was there any indication of a catastrophe that should have triggered the birth of Sailor Saturn. Nowhere. There was no sign of a danger to come from anywhere outside their territories, yet still, the rapidly aging girl was among them. Unknowingly, Hotaru heralded a terrible demise. Training had been increased in the face of the seemingly nonexistent threat, and each of the outer senshi increasingly found themselves in solo missions patrolling the outer reaches of their solar system. Michiru's mind wandered as she thought of her partner. At that very moment, Uranus was scheduled to be out scouting the area between Pluto and the Kuiper Asteroid Belt, an area of suspicion suggested by those of planet Earth. Michiru frowned as she remembered the strange unease she continued to sense from that blue planet that the Moon orbited and she forced herself to think of Haruka. At least those were happier thoughts. Marginally happier, at least. Of late, between their missions, training, and raising young Hotaru as a family, what little time Michiru and Haruka had to spend together was precious and rare over the last couple months. And finally, when they were together, the tension between them was an impenetrable wall and Michiru didn't know if she could bear it any longer. The senshi of the ocean had reached the point of no return, and she felt that if she didn't confess her feelings for the senshi of the wind, clear her conscious and move on, whether with, or without Haruka, she feared her pent up frustration might defeat her. No longer could she play the push and pull game of suggestive flirting and physical near misses that had ensued in the three long years that they'd been together as friends and partners. Michiru needed an answer, once and for all. She needed to know if Haruka loved her as she loved Haruka. But first, she wanted to consult Setsuna. Only the older, wiser woman would know if it was a good idea to approach Haruka with her questions. After all, Michiru wasn't even sure if senshi were permitted a luxury such as love. Although it was true that Michiru knew Haruka better than anyone else in the entire Moon Kingdom, she needed reassurance to take that first step and she knew that Setsuna would be willing to listen to her concerns. Cresting the rooftop at the top of the steps, Michiru spotted her friend. Setsuna sat in an oversized chair, concentrating diligently on a high powered telescope set before her where the dark of night closed in around the openness of space. Above them, the stars glowed brightly, illuminating the white mountains on the horizon. The Earth hung largely overhead, casting its gentle blue hue across the rooftop. Michiru second guessed disturbing her friend and silently, she turned to leave, suddenly doubting herself. "Michiru, wait." Setsuna's voice pierced the darkness. The aqua haired woman turned to see the senshi of time still engrossed in her telescope. "No really, Setsuna, it's nothing." She urged. The garnet eyed woman pulled her face away from the lens, blinking in the solar glow of the night. "Nothing?" She asked cryptically, her voice laced with the suggestion that she knew why her friend had come to her. Michiru sighed in defeat and Setsuna patted the seat next to her lightly, a welcoming smile on her face. The senshi of the sea took the proffered chair, her legs pressed tightly together and her hands clasped in her lap. "Anything interesting in the sky tonight?" She asked lamely. Setsuna cocked an eyebrow. Avoidance and a loss of words was not Michiru's style. As her garnet eyes studied the mountains on the horizon, she understood what her friend was so desperately searching for. "Yes. I think you should do it." The tall woman spoke with certainty as her knowing garnet eyes warmed even the darkness of the night that closed in around them. "Do what?" Michiru asked slowly, brows furrowed. Used to being the intuitive one, she was always thrown off when her friend, the Guardian of Time, knew what was on her mind. "Confess to Haruka." Setsuna clarified plainly, as though the thought were an every day occurrence or at the very least, something that should have been done long ago. A smile graced her enigmatic face as she laid a supportive hand on her friend's shoulder. "I think you should do it. You love her, don't you?" Michiru's jaw hung open slackly and a sudden blush tinged her cheeks. Then, a serious, heart-felt dedication rippled through her and a drawn expression chiseled tight lines on her face. "I do. So much that I would die for her, Setsuna." Setsuna shivered despite herself as the intensity of Michiru's emotions caught her off guard and the stoic guardian of the time gate found she couldn't meet Michiru's eyes. With an expertise born from centuries of controlling her power to see the future, she pushed away the images that her friend's words had brought her. Images that proved Michiru's dedication to be frighteningly true. Once content that she would not break taboo and tell her friend what she had seen, Setsuna filled the silence and continued. "You're worried that senshi aren't allowed to love." The sapphire haired woman said plainly. Michiru nodded shyly and Setsuna continued. "But don't forget that each of the inner senshi, including the Princess herself has a suitor from the planet Earth." She noted, watching Michiru's thoughtful eyes considering her point. "But what of love between two senshi?" Michiru asked haltingly, her frightened voice barely more than a whisper. Setsuna smiled, trying ease her friend's concerns. "Queen Serenity would not deny that which makes you happy. She is too compassionate for that. If she thought the feelings that you and Haruka share were a danger to her kingdom, she would have disbanded the outer senshi the day you two first laid eyes on each other." "Feelings we... share?" Michiru repeated slowly, a shocked expression on her pale features. Setsuna smacked her lips in mock frustration. "Please. The only ones who don't know that the two of you are in love with each other are Haruka and yourself!" The guardian of time laughed lightly at Michiru's wide, cobalt eyes. "Kaioh Michiru, for one so intuitive, I'm surprised at you. How could you not know that Haruka would return your affections?" Michiru's mouth hung open, quietly stuttering with excitement and shock. She knew not how to respond to the revelation Setsuna had granted her. Suddenly, a slow, sad melody crafted by ivory piano keys filled the silence of the quiet rooftop and Setsuna's eyes closed as she sighed softly, indulging in the music. "She's here, you know." Setsuna finally said softly. "Who?" Michiru asked, confused. "Haruka. She's returned from her mission." Setsuna clarified, still lost to the crying melody that carried on the wind. "But she wasn't due to return for two days time!" Michiru exclaimed, finally regaining her voice. "Apparently something drew her back here." The garnet eyed woman said suggestively with a small roll of her eyes at Michiru's naivety. Smiling, she stood and took Michiru's hands in her own, helping her to rise. Michiru threw her arms around her friend's neck, hugging her quickly in thanks. Wordlessly, the aqua haired woman hurried from the rooftop. Finally understanding that the sad song that had captivated the very air she breathed belonged to Haruka herself, she used the crisp, clear notes of the piano to lead her to her love. ---------- Her music reflected her mood, slow and melancholic as the crisp notes echoed off the low roof above her in the alcove of the quiet outer senshi wing of the palace. A garden surrounded the open air atmosphere, the green, creeping vines lending to Haruka's sadness as a shimmering pool of water cast its reflections across the ceiling above her head. As her fingers danced over the keys, Haruka reminisced about her recent mission. In the vastness of space, searching for a seemingly nonexistent enemy, she had never felt so lonely. It had been only two weeks time, but not one fraction of that time was spent without thinking of her partner. In her solitude, Haruka found that she could no longer set aside the depths of her feelings for Michiru. It was years ago that she had decided that what she felt for Michiru was love, but now, the senshi of the wind was certain that she could no longer hide her feelings from her partner. As their constant flirting intensified, she could no longer trust herself not to act out on her desires for the senshi of the ocean, she could no longer rein herself in through the temptation of Michiru's gentle caresses and sensual closeness. Now that she had returned from her mission two days early, Haruka found that she was afraid to even see Michiru at all. So, she found solace in the piano. Her fingers hadn't touched the keys in more years than she could remember and she was quite sure that the object of her affection would never find her there. For the time being, Haruka felt safe. Safe from ending her friendship with Michiru, from ruining what they shared all because she could no longer contain her emotions for her partner. All because she felt differently for Michiru than Michiru felt for her. No longer could Haruka provide only friendship for her partner. Although her fingers never hesitated, the blonde woman's heart skipped a beat painfully inside her chest as another instrument matched hopeful harmony to her melancholic melody. The sound of a stringed instrument wailed sadly in tune to her ivory keys as the two instruments weaved an impromptu duet. For long moments, the instruments spoke for their composers, creating a tale of friendship, of hardship, of longing... of something more. Finally, the sad song Haruka had slowly weaved, an apology to the one she believed she'd hurt with her honest emotions, turned into a passionate, restless confession of an emotion wholly different. The duet culminated into a brilliant crescendo, the intensity of the chords and strings filling the night itself in its wake. The echo of the instruments' aftermath continued for long moments as the two composers finally looked up from their respective instruments and two pairs of eyes full of torrential emotions met each other in a stormy, needy gaze. Haruka was the first to break eye contact with her partner and she practically growled as she stared down at her hands numbly. "What are you doing here?" She barked, recoiling at the harsh sound of her own voice. "I could ask you the same thing." Michiru said levelly, gracefully setting her violin down on the black surface of the piano. She refused to allow Haruka's frustration to get the better of her. She knew that her partner was apt to overreact when troubled and she tried not to take it personally. Haruka's mouth snapped shut as she pointedly ignored the smaller woman, forcing herself to keep her eyes from Michiru's beauty. The senshi of the ocean always found a way to neutralize her brashness. They would have been perfect for each other. Abruptly, the tall woman rose from the piano bench, the wooden legs screaming across the stone floor, causing both of them to wince. "There was nothing out there, so I came back." Haruka finally answered. "I've yet to debrief the authorities on my mission, I still have work to do." With that, the blonde woman bowed slightly in an effort to distance herself from her partner and walked forward, bracing herself as she made to walk past Michiru, her gaze cast to the side to avoid eye contact. Yet Michiru slid to the side, blocking Haruka's path and the taller girl walked right into her, the senshi of the wind's normally lightening fast reflexes seemingly dulled. The aqua haired woman reached up gently, silently, and with her hands, cupped the sides of the blonde's face to force her partner to look into her eyes. As her body pressed against the other woman's tall form, she was instantly distressed by the turmoil she found in Haruka's hazel eyes. "Haruka, your eyes... what's affecting you so deeply? What are you so scared of?" Michiru asked quietly, her concern for her partner dominating her. Somehow she felt she knew the answer to her own question. Haruka's jaw clicked shut, the closeness of her partner overwhelming her senses. The silence of their surroundings was deafening and she battled her own body to not respond to Michiru's touch. When suddenly, she felt Michiru's soft lips on her own in a gentle kiss, she felt hot tears well in her eyes. Slowly, the aqua haired woman pulled away, her eyes opening slowly as she observed her partner's stiff posture. She couldn't tell if the moisture in Haruka's eyes were tears or simply an illusion created by the reflection of the pool by their feet. Her breath caught in her throat as she panicked. Had she read Haruka wrong? Had she misinterpreted the song they had composed? What had she done? The tension between them was long past snapping when finally, Haruka repeated Michiru's gesture. Strong arms wrapped around a slim waist, pulling her partner closer to her body as her lips crashed down onto Michiru's in a desperate, searching kiss. The senshi of the ocean was bombarded with emotion from the tall woman. As their lips met and their tongues danced, tears came to Michiru's eyes as she sensed the depth of Haruka's feelings for her. Her long fingers caressed Haruka's shoulders and twined in her short, sandy hair as she tried to use both her body and her mind to ease her partner, to assure her, to convince her that this was right, that this was what they both wanted. And that was all they needed. There were no empty words between them, no questions left unanswered that their simple actions hadn't already answered. They knew now, their feelings for each other really were the same. Slowly, as the initial desperate act slowed and finally stopped, the two women broke for air, each panting slightly in breathlessness, their pounding heartbeats filling their ears. Finally, Haruka's hazel eyes met Michiru's cobalt ones, no longer in avoidance. The blue glow of the Earth above painted their skin as the senshi of the wind broke into quiet chuckling, her normal carefree, happy personality having returned. Michiru breathed a sigh of relief but cocked her head in question, never loosening her grip on her partner. "Maa, what's so funny?" She asked with raised eyebrows, finding Haruka's laugh contagious. "That we didn't do this three years ago!" Haruka replied lightheartedly, once again leaning downwards to catch Michiru's lips with her own. Michiru hungrily returned her partner's kiss, but then suddenly pulled away, eyeing Haruka with a righteous pout of mock irritation. "I thought you had a debrief to attend?" She accused. "Oh no, that can wait. After all, I'm not supposed to be back for another two days." Haruka said slyly as she stole another kiss from her partner, her lips trailing sideways to capture the corner of Michiru's mouth, the crook of her tempting neck and down to the smooth skin of her collarbone. Michiru giggled and tore herself from Haruka's grasp, the curls of her aqua hair bouncing as they framed her face. Wordlessly, she took her partner by her hand and led them both back to their rooms, leaving their instruments to wait for their return. /flashback Michiru blinked, her bow still pulling at the heart felt sound of the last note of the impromptu love song. Hot tears collected behind her cobalt eyes as the memory of the wordless confession of love she had shared with Haruka replayed through her mind. Now she knew. She knew how she and Haruka had confessed their love. A blush crept up her cheeks as she remembered her very first vision of her past life that had come to her days ago. Haruka and herself running down the halls of the Moon Palace, hand in hand, mouth to mouth, and the events that ended in her own bed. She was now able to connect, full circle, her first memory to her latest. Unable to stifle the arousal she felt, Michiru set her violin and bow down on the coffee table gently before standing and striding back to the balcony. The cold air rushed her as she returned to the nightscape above her and she loosened her robe slightly to allow the colder temperature to cool her hot skin. Thousands of possibilities rushed through Michiru's mind. Finally equipped with the knowledge she had previously desired, to understand how she and Haruka had confessed their love, now she didn't know what to do with it. It didn't change the fact that the Haruka of her time had somehow inexplicably changed. Still, riding high on the emotions associated with her confession to her partner of the past, she yearned to again pursue the Tenoh Haruka of the present. "I don't know... when she'll awaken. She's not ready now, and I fear that any attempts to make her try may only push her father away. She may never realize her destiny, Michiru." Sailor Pluto's voice repeated in Michiru's head, her cryptic warning haunted her. 'Why? What happened to Haruka in her past life to turn her away from her destiny in this one?' Michiru asked herself, her mood darkening. 'Surely it couldn't have been simply the millennia that had passed us by, for I'm not that different than I was in my last life. And somehow, it seems deeper than anything that could have happened in our short lives in this time, I can feel it. Could what changed her be something that happened in the past that I haven't yet remembered?' A frown settled on her face as she realized her latest memories had turned up only even more unanswered questions. Her eyes returned to the constellations above and again she found Neptune, but this time, she surely saw Uranus, faint as she was, glowing next to her planet, and slowly the frown that had gripped her features melted into an expression of determination as she remembered her response to Pluto. "I'll find a way to help Haruka. I'll find a way to make it work." And she had meant what she said when she had sworn her allegiance to Pluto. "I'll find you first." And she still held herself to the promise she had issued Haruka ages ago. She had told her lover then, that if Haruka couldn't find her in their next life, that she'd find Haruka first. And Michiru planned to do so, for she knew now, that she had a duty to Haruka that transcended their senshi destiny. Determined, Michiru swore to figure out whatever it was that had changed Haruka so drastically, even if it meant discarding Pluto's advice and confronting Haruka on her own. ---------- Preview, Chapter 6: "Listen, Michiru, Haruka hasn't been as receptive to all the memories and emotions you've experienced. You have to understand that if she sees you right now, she'll feel only fear and anger." Setsuna explained calmly. Michiru's quiet voice threatened to break. "But why Setsuna? What about me scares her?" Setsuna sighed, her eyes garnet eyes trailing to the horizon. "You haven't remembered all of your memories of your past life yet, have you, Michiru? " "All of them?" Michiru asked slowly, suddenly realizing that the beautiful harmony that had been her previous existence would have had to come to an end eventually. Setsuna nodded sadly. "Have you seen the end of the Silver Millennium through your eyes?" Michiru gasped as the memories flooded her. ... On the white horizon of the Moonscape approached Earth's Queen Beryl, her four generals and a mass of humans, their eyes glazed and unthinking as they charged forward, slaughtering all in their path. But behind them all hung a hideous creature of death and destruction, its shadowed silhouette reaching out with clawed fingers and sharp teeth, an unnamed terror of monumental power. This hellish figure was alive, a Medusa of enormous proportion, a menacing creature that threatened to set the sky itself on fire. And it came from the Earth. The Moon Kingdom, the Silver Millennium, their Queen and Princess, their very lives... all they had ever known was under attack.
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