Note on Planet Names: Ten'ousei=Uranus; Kaiousei=Neptune; Meiousei=Pluto; Dosei=Saturn; Kasei=Mars; Suisei=Mercury; Mokusei=Jupiter; Kinsei=Venus ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Michiru hummed to herself, playing with her whittling knife and the piece of wood in her hand. She was making a new instrument to imitate the siren call of the sea and call for her soulmate. She didn't know if it would work, but she knew that something must. She was so very lonely. Michiru, Princess of Kaiousei, wandered over to her window and looked out at the city she would one day rule. Just below the castle, hidden from all but the tallest towers in the palace by an outcropping of blue-white rocks, a tall man appeared, something in his hand and a sword on his hip. He seemed surprised to be on Triton, and he faded into the shadows before Michiru could identify him. Shrugging, Michiru returned to her instrument, taking the bow in her hand. Drawing it across the strings, the young princess sighed at the soft, clear notes that filled her room. She composed a short, mournful melody, letting the song spread through the castle, out the window she left open to admit the sea breeze, and into the town, calling. *~*~*~*~*~*~* Haruka looked up, entranced by the music coming from the castle. It was obviously a stringed instrument, as was the one she created, but it sounded like the sound was created by a bow rather than hammers on strings. She had never heard anything so beautiful. Unknowingly, the young Senshi turned her steps toward the palace, seeking the owner of the instrument. The music stopped abruptly, and Haruka cried out in regret. Sighing, depressed by the loss of the melody, Haruka wandered back into the heart of the city. She heard a series of angry shouts and followed the sound to its source. The warrior stumbled upon a group of peasant men circling a young woman in a long blue robe, demanding money and reaching out to touch her. Incensed, Haruka drew the Space Sword. "Leave her alone," she growled, startling the group. The leader chuckled and drew his own sword—obviously stolen from someone else. "Walk away now and no one will get hurt," the man growled, his voice roughened by a life on the streets. "You will leave her alone or you will lose the hand you so eagerly touch her with." The gang leader moved first, but Haruka was far faster than the commoner and had seen him shift his weight in preparation for the attack. She swung, barely cutting his arm, and he dropped the sword. "Leave," she repeated. The gang members had not planned on an opponent who could fight better than their leader, and they were quick to vacate the area. Haruka watched as her sword absorbed the tiny spot of blood then she sheathed it and turned to the woman. "Are you okay?" The woman removed her hood, and Haruka started at the intensity of her deep blue eyes. "Princess Kaiou Michiru," she whispered. "Why are you out of the palace without an escort?" "I was looking for you," she replied, her soft voice light with restrained humor. The attack had not dampened her spirits, and she was happy to find the traveler. "Why?" "I saw you appear while I was finishing my instrument. I don't think anyone else in the palace noticed your sudden appearance." "Instrument? That was your music I heard? It stopped before I reached the source." Michiru smiled; her wish had come true. If this man had been drawn to her song then he must be her soulmate. The princess bowed to the blonde man, smiling at the surprise on his face. "Thank you, good sir, for coming to my aid. It was kind of you." "I did what anyone would have done," Haruka replied, uncomfortable now that the danger had passed. "It was kind of you," Michiru repeated. "I do not believe that I know your name." "Urakaze Haruka," the Senshi introduced, assuming the mantle of the duke's son again. It had worked rather well with the princesses of Kasei, Kinsei, Mokusei, and Suisei; only the Moon Princess had seen through the deception. "Haruka-kun, would you like to visit my castle and meet my mother? I'm sure she will gladly receive you in thanks for rescuing me." "I would like that, yes, princess." "Call me Michiru, Haruka-kun. Come, let us go." *~*~*~*~*~*~* Haruka slipped up the stairs, silently, hidden in the shadows, following the music. The princess of Kaiousei was playing her instrument, calling with her heart, and Haruka felt a touch of destiny when she heard it. She looked into the room and her heart turned over at the sight of the slender princess sitting on her window seat, playing, eyes closed. "Come in, Haruka-kun." The Uranian princess jumped at the invitation, shocked that the Neptunian princess had sensed her presence. "You'll find that there is little you can hide from the princess destined to wield the Aqua Mirror. Come in, my friend." Haruka entered the room warily, taking the seat that Michiru indicated. "I heard your song, and it seemed to be calling me." "I know. You were drawn to it days ago when we first met. You needn't hide from me." Haruka touched Michiru's arm and smiled. "It's very beautiful; I imagine many people are called by your melody." "Only you, Haruka-kun, as it should be. Would you like to go on an outing with me in the morning?" Michiru lowered her instrument and looked at the taller Senshi, one slim eyebrow raised in a question. "S-sure. Michiru-san, why are you being so kind to me? I have nothing to offer and you aren't likely to require my services again." "I have my reasons, Urakaze Haruka. I don't know what you mean, that you don't have anything to teach me; Minako-chan sent me a communication earlier this week telling me about you and your visit to Rei-chan's castle. Apparently, you also visited Ami-chan and Mako-chan at Io Castle. You taught them fighting skills and ‘lessons on life', apparently." "I am finished with that, princess. I have nothing left to teach." "What did you learn on the Moon that so disillusioned you?" Haruka looked up sharply. "You know about the moon? How?" "Your ‘koneko-chan' also called me." Haruka smiled at the nickname she had given the young princess. "She needed a little help with her confidence, but the queen stubbornly refuses to train young Serenity in the art of combat. I fear for her life, Michiru-san." Michiru placed a small, warm hand on Haruka's arm and smiled at the taller fighter. "I do not believe that you have nothing left to teach. Haruka-kun, you must have a reason for your journey, and I know that you are still searching for something." "I don't think I remember what that is." "Then I will help you rediscover your purpose." *~*~*~*~*~*~* Haruka watched Michiru eat, amazed at her manners. Even as a princess of Ten'ousei, Haruka had never been expected to be polite at the table. Her father never seemed to see her. But Princess Michiru took small bites, ate with delicate care, and seemed to fear even the slightest breach of protocol. Her white gloves resembled those worn by Sailor Jupiter, and Haruka knew that she yearned for her Sailor Senshi duties. Haruka found herself slowing down and being more careful with her food as she watched Michiru eat. "Where do you come from, Haruka-kun?" "I'm a member of the Kingdom of Ten'ousei and the only child of a powerful man. My mother died birthing me, and I still sometimes hear her voice calling to me on the winds. What about you, Michiru-san?" "My father died in a battle of some sort when I was a tiny baby, and I m told that Meiou Setsuna lost her brothers and mother in the same conflict. My mother has always been sad and she visits Uranus a lot, though I don't know why. She has been Sailor Neptune for a very long time, but the Aqua Mirror no longer responds to her power. She has taken that to mean that I am to become Sailor Neptune, and she plans to pass the henshin stick to me on my birthday, which is coming quickly. She also searches desperately for a duke or the son of a duke for me to wed by my birthday, though I have rejected them all." "Where is she now? I should have met her, as long as I've been in the castle." "She is on Miranda, as far as I can tell. She left while I was in the city looking for you." Haruka nodded, knowing why Kaiou Shousha was visiting her kingdom. She went to see Ten'ou Kazeko's grave. Michiru, who was sitting very close to Haruka, suddenly leaned over and rested her head on the taller woman's shoulder. She closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of destiny that washed over her, and her mind took her to dreams of her wedding with the wielder of the sword that had saved her life. Haruka wrapped her arm around the princess's waist and let her sleep.
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