The Outer Senshi Series Story 4 "Reflections in the Mirror" Part 1: "The Goddess of the Sea" Jackie Chiang Quick Copyright notes: This is a fanfic based on Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon, an anime/manga created by Takeuchi Naoko. Characters belong to her and all others associated with rights [Toei, Bandai, Kodansha, etc], but the storyline, ideas, and any other characters are created by me. 1997 - Jackie Chiang The girl with the wavy aqua colored hair stood, playing her violin on the beach. Her eyes closed, she played by memory, concentrating on nothing but the art she weaved with her music. The soft, salty breeze breathed by, playfully moving her hair around her face, hoping to distract her from her actions. Her feet were still in the warm sand, the warm waves lapping at her feet, striding towards shore, but drawn back by the magnetic pull of the ocean. Her long white summer dress wrapped itself around her legs. The music continued, reaching anyone who would listen. They wondered who had the depth to play such wondrous sounds... Perhaps a sea nymph, who could cast spells on men with her enchanted music...? Or a siren who lured folk to her with her loveliness...? Wavering, she slowed down, the spell binding song coming to an end. When she had finished, her violin in her hand fell to her side, her face turned defiantly towards the sea, the wind twisting her hair. Her bangs fluttered to the side, revealing her eyes, strong, but with a soft moisture there not caused by the salt which she had grown accustomed to... "What am I missing?" she whispered softly, almost pleadingly. "Why do I feel so... alone?" The wind blew sadly, depressively acknowledging that it had no answer to give... Blackness. She heard something behind her... Whirling around, she barely opened her mouth to scream as an overwhelming force hit her, surrounded her, slowly killed her. "Michiru-chan," her mother admonished as she walked into the dining area. "Were you on the beach again at this hour? It's so early." "I like it in the mornings," Michiru replied. "It's so quiet, so peaceful. I can play my music there." She sat down at the long, elegant table in her usual spot, the farthest away from her parents. Her mother sat to the right of her father at the other end, who was eating his water rice [rice soup]. "I know, dear," her mother said. "But I really think you shouldn't make a habit of it. I'm afraid that someone will come upon you there." "Mother," Michiru said patiently, as the butler set down her soup in front of her, "no one lives close enough to us to accidentally stumble across there." "You never know, Michiru-chan," her mother remarked, eating a delicate French pastry. Michiru inwardly sighed. Her mother was classically beautiful. She had thin narrow green eyes and long, straight turquoise hair. Gentle, elegant, and proud, she carried herself in the manner that exuded the wealth and power she knew she had. Michiru's father was a tall, distinguished gentleman, born into wealth. He had dark, wavy blue hair and blue eyes, and he was kind, considerate, but tough in business. Michiru had inherited her mother's lovely beauty, elegance, and pride, and her father's shrewd intelligence and kindness. Sweet and quiet on the exterior, she was gently defiant on the inside. Michiru hated losing, so she drove herself to succeed at anything she did, which included school, her violin playing, her painting, and her swimming. She never enjoyed admitting her mistakes, and so she hardly ever made them. Calm and placidity described her on the outside, but inwardly she had a temper that could be provoked. However, her control over herself was fine tuned, so she could reply with scathingly polite, well placed, inconspicuous insults, which were far worse than any yelling or screaming. Michiru was brilliantly gifted at painting and the violin, her true passions. Many of her art works were in museums or on display in art galleries, and she often performed in concerts, always solo. In short, the fifteen-year-old girl was a self-controlled, perfectionist genius, the essence of perfection itself. Or so everyone thought. "Michiru-chan," her father said, looking up. "Your mother and I will be attending a dinner party tonight, hosted by Dr. Mizuno." "But she lives in Juuban," Michiru said, surprised. "That's so far away!" "Nonsense, Michiru," her father said cheerfully. "It's only an hour or so away. We'll be back late, probably around three in the morning tomorrow." "Hai," his daughter said. "You don't mind, do you, dear?" her mother inquired. "Of course not," Michiru answered automatically. "I'll probably just practice the violin, paint, or swim in the pool." "That's good," her mother said, evidently relieved. She sipped her tea, holding the cup like a perfect European lady, her delicate, long fingers lightly closed around the handle, her pinkie slightly tilted into the air. That was the problem, Michiru reflected inwardly. Her parents were never around... Of course they loved her, perhaps overly so, but the fact was that they were always busy. Her father was an important businessman, involved in world wide deals. Her mother played the flute exceptionally well, and she often performed in charity benefits; at other times, she would slave for hours over her artwork, which she cherished. Music and art had been passed down to her daughter... a family tradition in the blood... "By the way, Hansei called," her mother said, casually. Michiru, startled, dropped her spoon with a clatter on to the floor. "Gomen nasai," she said softly, reaching down to pick it up. "Is something wrong?" her father asked, looking at her. "No," Michiru answered, not looking at them. "I was just surprised that he would call me, that's all." He knows that I detest him, she thought privately. "Why?" her mother said, pushing her green hair away from her face. "He's a perfectly nice boy, Michiru-chan. I'd love to have him over." "That's all right, Mother," Michiru said shortly. "I'll think about it." Her mother shook her head, sighing with exasperation. "Really, dear, it's abominable the way you never date any boys." "Mother!" Michiru's face burned, shocked that her mother would say such a thing to her face. "I'm just... not interested in any boy, that's all." "Leave her alone, Mother," Michiru's father said. "She's too caught up with her work and her activities, isn't that right, Michiru-chan?" "Hai, Papa," she said, thankful for his intervention. "I was just thinking..." her mother pursed her lips together in an annoyed frown, shaking her head. "Oh, well. I'm sorry, Michiru-chan. You're popular in school, you're beautiful, you're brilliant... that's enough for me." "Arigato, Mother," Michiru murmured, bitterly tasting the irony in her mother's critical apology. "Michi-chan," Seijitsu said over the phone, "you're not busy tonight, are you?" "No," Michiru said softly. Such a silly question. Seijitsu knew that she preferred to stay at home alone, practicing her violin or swimming or finishing up her latest painting... when she wasn't always at an elegant party, or at a swimming meet, or showing off her latest masterpiece. So it really wasn't such a silly question after all... "Good," her friend answered. "I'm taking you to the race track... Tenoh Haruka is going to be there, and I know he's going to win again!" "I don't know..." she answered doubtfully. "I'm not very fond of that sort of thing..." "Michi-chan, you'll like it, I promise. Trust me, you've never seen anything like it before." "Well... all right." She hung up the phone, walking out towards the beach. The sand was still warm from the setting sun, and the waves were soothingly cool. Sitting down on the sand, she hardly noticed her white dress becoming slightly dirty as she pulled her legs together in a cross legged style. This was where she truly felt at peace... with the sea. Seijitsu was her closest friend... well, as close as she could be. For some odd reason, Michiru never felt fully in tune with the girl. Seijitsu could never fully understand what Michiru wanted to say, what she couldn't say, not to her... It left a vague, helpless part in her feeling abandoned and alone. It wasn't as if she wasn't friendly. She was polite and sweet to everyone, and everyone liked her, despite her perfection. She had many friends that admired her and wanted to be like her... So how could she be so lonely? "I'm... not complete," she said softly to herself. "There's a part of me that's missing, that's just beyond my reach... What is it?" The wind brushed by her face, soothingly, and though not satisfied with her problems, she felt content. "The wind..." she murmured. "It takes care of me, like the sea..." Watching the sun set with faint, glowing colors, she laid back in the sand, her hair softly framing her face, lying peacefully alone. The pain struck, harder, more memorably than before. It lasted longer, but was performed with quicker precision. She fell to her knees, aware of only the pain that echoed throughout her, and a soft murmur that called to her as she closed her eyes, accepting death. "Here we are, Michi-chan," Seijitsu said eagerly. She grabbed Michiru's arm excitedly, and the other smiled with faint amusement. Michiru had changed, putting on a loose, blue summer dress, a gold necklace, and white sandals. Her hair was tied up loosely with a blue ribbon. Seijitsu, with black hair that was in a ponytail and agitated green eyes, stood leaning on Michiru with a yellow top and white shorts. She looked around quickly, taking in everything. They stood in the stands in the front row. The bright track lights were on, illuminating the darkness, making it appear to be day. All around the girls were all sorts of people: sporty, male, female, tall, short, skinny, heavy, studious, young, old, in the stands, that was about 6 feet above the ground where the drivers and mechanics ran by. "I'd thought you'd been here before?" Michiru remarked, watching her friend with a mixture of laughter and seriousness. "Oh, I have!" the girl answered. "I'm just looking for Tenoh-san. I'd just die if I could meet him once!" The blue haired girl shrugged. "Is he well known?" she said idly, not too interested anyway. Several people next to them stared at her as if she had grown three heads. "Is he _well-known_?" one blond girl finally said, aghast. "Miss, he's only _the_ best racer in all of Tokyo!" "Tenoh-san is the perfect athlete," a man, probably her brother or boyfriend, added. "I heard he plays all sports and he always wins first in all of them!" "Ara, really?" Michiru said politely, somewhat interested, but more from boredom than anything else. She knew she should have stayed at home and done something constructive... "It's starting!" Seijitsu squealed suddenly, pulling Michiru down to sit on the bench, then jumping immediately up when Tenoh Haruka's name was called. "Ara, Seijitsu-chan," Michiru murmured, but the other didn't hear her. The famous driver walked out, and all of the crowd surged up, screaming his name. Several girls were leaning over the guardrail as he passed by it, yelling at throwing him their phone numbers. Michiru was shocked, not at the girls' lack of self-control but at the feeling she had received when Haruka had walked by... The announcer's voice was loud, excited, and thrilling. "In car number 1 is Tenoh Haruka!" Here, screaming continued. "In car number 2 is" Michiru could not hear the name, or would not, all of her attention focused on the driver of car number 1. She stared at him, her heart pounding. The driver was so familiar... It was as if they had met before, in another life time... Once the race started, no one sat down. Everyone was wildly cheering or screaming or doing something, and the favor seemed to be with Tenoh. His yellow car was agile and fast, and he controlled it with a skill that one is born with and perfected to the best of one's ability... He won easily, and Michiru felt sorely disappointed when it was over. It was as if she had been with Tenoh in his car, riding with him... In fact, she could almost feel the speed, the danger... Which was all so ridiculous... She didn't even know the driver. Tenoh got out of his car, surrounded by reporters and overly supportive fans. He made a sign, and all activity around him suddenly stopped. The crowd was unusually silent as he pulled off his helmet... and Michiru found herself looking into a pair of intense green eyes. Tenoh seemed to fix his gaze directly on her, and Michiru stared back, and suddenly a realization hit her. "But that's a girl..." Michiru found herself saying in the awed silence of the spectators. She was immediately horrified, realizing that she had interrupted the smooth balance of nothingness. Everyone who heard, which was about _everyone_, stared at her in wide-eyed, contemptuous amazement. "Are you blind?" one man finally said rudely. "Anyone can see that Tenoh-san is a guy... It's pretty obvious, don't you think?" "Michi-chan," Seijitsu said, tugging on her arm. "Let's go." Michiru was only too glad to comply. But there was an undeniable... pull towards Haruka that Michiru felt. It was an odd feeling, something she had never felt towards anyone before. Like an attraction... She stood confidently poised, the picture of calm serenity and grace. Inside she was a nervous wreck. She didn't know why; she usually always was at ease with concerts. Probably because tonight she had felt that something was going to happen...? Before, she had gone out to the sea again, her one true friend and companion. It had been violent, waves crashing, sky dark, her feelings in a jumble of tangles... It had offered her no answer... Disappointed, she walked to the theater instead of taking a taxi. Walking gave her time to think, as she did. Presently, she grew aware of someone watching her... It was unnerving, the feeling of having one stare at you, without your knowledge... She turned around, but saw no one in the empty street. Puzzled, she faced forward again and continued on her way. Carrying her violin case in both hands, she knew that someone _was_ watching her... A step from behind her. She stopped. She glanced behind her, finding a lovely woman with long green hair standing there, in the light of a streetlamp. "Hello, Michiru-san," the woman said, smiling. Well dressed, calm, beautiful, polite... "Do I know you?" Michiru asked in wonder, for she felt as if she must. "We met a... long time ago," the other murmured, choosing her words carefully. "Gomen," Michiru said, blushing slightly, "but I don't recall your name." "It's all right... I expected as much," she answered. "I am Meioh Setsuna." Setsuna held out her hand, which Michiru shook. Shock raced through Michiru's body suddenly, leaving her feeling dizzy. She put her hand to her head, unaware that a bright sign had lit her forehead a moment ago. When she regained her composure, she looked up, and saw that no one was there. "Meioh... Setsuna..." She moved her arm carefully over the strings, the bow persuading the loveliest sounds from them. Her eyes were closed, and she was in her own world, where nothing could hurt her, only her music would surround her. Music had always been her escape from the pressures of life. Painting and swimming were alternative outlets, but this was the best. Music was beautiful, music was relaxing, music was her. When she finished, she reluctantly pulled herself away from her wondrous world, back into reality, where she smiled at the audience as it clapped enthusiastically. For as long as she could remember, she had always had the special gift to bring people around her with her, into her world, though for only the few brief minutes she played. They knew it, unconsciencely, and they relished the invitation, and when they had to leave, they felt remorseful. So their appreciation was honest, and she nodded politely, gracefully, with an arrogant modesty. For the shortest moment, she could understand those in the audience, read them, for their guard was down, and they were open, vulnerable. A distinct advantage, her mother had told her breezily, to be able to read people. She took the opportunity to look around, study the people. Some she knew from previous concerts, some she didn't. All wealthy, all prominent upper class citizens from various parts of Tokyo. Each was different, interesting, fascinating. Each had their own lives to return to, severed from her own, back into themselves. What a wonderful musician... A lovely girl... Very talented... I wonder if she'll play at the Taki's party next week...? Very poignant music... Michiru's eyes froze on someone at the very back of the room, a person who was leaning back in his chair, casually watching her with equal interest. Not a he, a she. Michiru's eyes narrowed. Tenoh Haruka. The racer smiled vaguely at her, seeming to read her thoughts. Tenoh-san was different, she could sense it. A music lover, to be sure, but not one to be taken in fully, only warily. Tenoh-san took a sip of her drink , then allowed her eyes to drift away disinterestedly. The girl on stage paused. Then the spell was over, the crowd awoke from its dream. Michiru bowed, then walked off the stage. Moving along the dark corridor, she smiled at the others who congratulated her on her excellent performance, then walked faster, an urgency in her chest. She kept walking until she was alone. She stopped, hearing nothing, then saw a door at the end of the hallway and exited onto the balcony. It was empty, everyone inside watching the rest of the performers. The balcony overlooked the sea, and Michiru felt better. She sometimes felt this way after a recital. A sudden, overwhelming pain inside of her, it screamed to be let out, only soothed by the sea air. It usually only happened when her mother was watching her. Her mother was always highly critical of her. Loving, yes, but too much so in a way. Michiru always held her breath, waiting for her mother's approving nod or disappointed avoidance of gaze. Her mother was so harsh with her talents, music, painting, swimming... But she was her harshest critic, of course. She felt herself calming down. Tilting her head, she looked up at the stars and the full white moon. It was so wonderful, so beautiful, so peaceful. She sometimes thought that had she not been connected with the sea, she would have been in tune with the seeming harmony of the universe. She was a Pisces, guardian planet Neptune. Ironic, that... Neptune, she knew from mythology, was the Roman god of the sea. Her parents, being the mythology lovers they were, had thought it quaint to name her Michiru, which meant "to rise", as in tides, as well as "mature" and "full", in accordance to her family name, "Sea king". It made sense... She felt that her true place was among the sea. "Beautiful, isn't it?" a voice remarked from at her side. She quickly stood up, her head turning towards the sound. "Good evening," she said formally to Tenoh Haruka. Haruka gave her a sidelong look, studying her for a moment. Michiru felt embarrassed, also a bit angry. She could have at least _answered_ her. The other turned to look at the sky again. "It's such a clear night... You can see all the stars right now... Usually the smog from Tokyo drifts to cover the sky so you can't see anything." Michiru said nothing. "You look nice," Haruka said suddenly, eyes sharp. "How do you manage it?" She blinked, looking down at herself. Just a tastefully elegant white dress, with a blue sash across it. She had an aquamarine necklace on, and a blue ribbon to hold her hair up in a ponytail type of style. "How do I look nice?" she asked cautiously. "I've never seen someone take simplicity and make it look better than something rich or better than the expensive clothes." "This cost 50,000 yen," Michiru said, smiling in faint amusement. "Rather expensive, actually..." Haruka shrugged. "It's still simple looking, and I'd have no idea why you'd buy it for 50,000 yen. It still looks good on you." "Thank you," Michiru said, somewhat confused. "You look nice too." Haruka really did. She wore a black tuxedo, and while black obviously wasn't her best color, she looked good in it, nevertheless. Her blond bangs hung from her forehead, occasionally tousled by the breeze. Her green eyes were sharp and clear. She smiled, not nicely, but not rude or mean. Rather mildly mocking. "What's a nice girl like you doing being the best violinist I've ever heard?" Michiru should have felt angry, she knew it. Haruka was in a minor way patronizing her... But she did it with such casualness, such a charming smile as to not affect anger. And in a way, she felt flattered... "The usual," Michiru answered, laughing, though it was somewhat forced. "Impressing everyone, receiving applause, et cetera..." "Like a dream," Haruka said helpfully. "That's what your music was like... A dream world was what you were creating." Michiru stopped laughing. No one had ever said that before about her music, no one had understood what it really was with such stunning clarity. "How... did you know?" "When you play, you become relaxed, you look fully with the music, as if you were it personified," Haruka mused aloud. She stared at Michiru thought- fully. The other started to feel suffocated all of a sudden. She felt too exposed to this stranger who knew so much about her already. Reaching up, she moved to untie her hair. Haruka's hand on her wrist stopped her. "Leave it, Kaioh-san. It's very pretty." Michiru flushed. "Why do I feel as if I know you from before? I hadn't even seen or heard about you until that day at the track." The racer didn't answer for a minute. "Supposedly, in astrology, Uranus and Neptune are related... Your guardian planet is Neptune, right? Mine is Uranus..." The violinist saw that while it was a vague answer, it was far more appropriate than any other one Haruka could have given. They were silent, standing there, watching the waves and the stars. Michiru was startled as Haruka suddenly put her arm around her, drawing her close, protectively. The embrace was warm, she felt at ease in it. "Shh," Haruka hissed. "Someone's watching us..." "Quite right, Tenoh Haruka-san." That voice, Michiru vaguely recognized it. Meioh Setsuna appeared from the shadows of the other side of the balcony. "Meioh Setsuna-san?" "You know her, Michiru?" Haruka said, surprised, dropping all hints of formalness. "I met her this afternoon..." Setsuna smiled. "I'm glad you're both together again, Haruka, Michiru. It's going to be very helpful." "Helpful?" Haruka demanded. She was perversely irritated. "What do you mean?" Setsuna gave them both direct stares, about to speak. "I-" Voices calling Haruka... Setsuna stopped, eyes narrowing. Michiru saw a few men coming out onto the balcony. Friends of hers, perhaps. She turned to look back at Setsuna, but discovered that the woman had disappeared without a trace. Michiru remembered where she was. She pulled away from Haruka, who seemed embarrassed as well. "Arigato, Tenoh-san, for talking with me," she said politely, her voice becoming cool and distant. "I hope to see you again in the near future." Haruka's eyes widened. "Kaioh-san," she said as Michiru was leaving through the door. Michiru didn't answer, just left. Her heart was pounding, her head spinning. The encounter with Setsuna hadn't disturbed her nearly as much as the one with Haruka. Why had she been so... intimate with a stranger? She screamed. The pain ripped through her body. Something slashed downwards, like claws... She fell to her knees, her mind on her wounds. God, wake up, make me wake up from this dream, this horrible dream, it's so damn real, _please_. She looked up, the figure was standing above her, about to kill her, she knew it. Suddenly a bright light shone, and a stick appeared in front of her. The light blinded the figure, and her hand went for the stick, reaching, reaching... "Take it, Michiru..." She awoke. A dream... It really _was_ just a dream... But... She looked at her hands. In her left one was a stick... from her dream? She dropped it onto the covers of her bed, and it fell, then disappeared. What had she done? It was gone... Maybe she was hallucinating, yet it had felt so real in her hand. She groaned suddenly, grabbing her left arm. It hurt, right where she had been slashed in the nightmare... The nightmare that had been haunting her for the past month... The same one, over and over again, becoming more vividly alive each time... "You received a call today, Michiru," her mother said as the maid poured some tea for her. "From some boy..." "Oh," Michiru answered, not interested. "Some Tenoh Haruka." Michiru caught herself from showing any reaction. "Really? When?" "Just last night while you were out with your friend. He wanted you to meet him someplace tonight." Her mother looked surprised. "Is he your boyfriend, Michiru-chan?" She turned faintly scarlet. "Ara, no, of course not. S-He's just a friend." It wouldn't do for her mother to find out Haruka was a girl. "Well, _I_ told him you'd call him back, but he said no, very polite, just that you should go to the park and see him at about 5." "Arigato, Mother," Michiru said. She poked her food on her plate. She was not very hungry right then. "May I be excused?" Her father looked up from his newspaper, noting her full plate. "Michiru-chan, you haven't touched your food. Aren't you hungry?" "Not really," Michiru admitted. "I'm going to Tokyo today; if I'm hungry I'll just buy something." Her parents nodded, not questioning her plans. She was responsible, she knew what she was doing. "Very well, just don't forget your meeting tonight." Her mother could be extremely persistent. "I won't, mother," Michiru said. She could be very stubborn herself. "I'll be back later tonight. Good-bye, Father, Mother." Standing up, she left her chair, immediately leaving the house through the front door, not wasting any time. Entering the garage, she got into her white car, European, and started for the city. She drove a lot to the city. She always hated using the chauffeur; everyone always stared at her like she was different. The sky was clear today, the sun, warm and bright. Her window was open, so she could feel the breeze blow through it. A lovely day... Yet she still felt uneasy. Why does Haruka want to see me? She asked herself, wrestling with the question in her mind. It's not as if we have anything in common... Except for what Meioh Setsuna was saying, about us being together would be helpful... She reflected minorly on that she really had never met the woman before, though the woman seemed to think otherwise. She drifted back to the main point ahead of her- seeing Haruka. From what she could recall, Haruka's main characteristic was a smug arrogance. Apt, she supposed, since Haruka really was a very talented woman. Woman, not man, she reminded herself. And a very attractive woman. In some way, the girl was a cross between pretty and handsome; Michiru could see both at the same time. Another reason to be so self-confident. The car slowed down at a light, but Michiru hardly noticed. Haruka was... not exactly serious, but playful was not the word to describe her. Intense, perhaps. That was a better word. Intensity was in her every move, in every word she spoke, in every look she gave. Dedicated to her sports... As Michiru was dedicated to her painting and violin... The car moved on, and gradually the main city came into view; thoughts of Haruka slipped behind mental curtains, shutting out temporarily the question she refused to ask herself. Do _I_ want to see _her_? She was in a smaller section of Tokyo... Juuban, a very quiet, quaint area of the city, but the stores and restaurants were surprisingly good. She found an empty space and parked her car there. Getting out, she ignored the rush of people who ran to get a good look at her car, including elementary schoolers, other junior high students, and high school students. She ducked away in time, narrowly avoiding the expected onslaught of curious questions about the car. It had happened so many times before on so many of her different cars that she was now an expert on all sorts of cars... A quaint hobby, useful maybe later on in her life. Michiru pushed her hair behind her ears and began looking with delight at all the stores. Shopping and collecting cosmetics were two of her favorite non-artistic activities. She was feminine to the core, though she would never act insipid, obsequious, or frail. She simply enjoyed being a girl, wearing stylish, feminine clothes and acting with the certain arrogantly sweet air she possessed. She walked down the sidewalk, peering in to every store, looking in from the windows. Sliding her hand on the glass, she paused in front of a cafe as she saw a girl with an unusual hair style, in blond odango, grabbing food with another little girl, with pink rabbit shaped odango. They were arguing, making a scene, and she couldn't help but laugh. Just then a tall, handsome man with black hair appeared, and both girls latched on to him possessively, while their friends all looked chagrined. Odd... Looking at them, Michiru's smile slowly faded as she stared thoughtfully through the pane of glass. She felt as if she knew them, from before. There was something wonderfully inviting about the whole scene. They were all very close; they had some friendship deeper than the term 'friends' implied... And that blond girl, and the man. Watching them, she knew that had something special between each other... A deep bond, love maybe. Well, obviously love... Do you want that someday, Michiru? To be loved like that girl is? Do you think you'll ever find someone who will care for you like he does for her? She pulled herself away from the window, moving on, before she was noticed and wondered about. Just be like everyone else, just another person in the crowd. Is that what she really wanted from life? To be normal? She entered a clothing store. Looking through clothes, she pulled out a sea green dress, one that matched her hair. Going to a mirror, she held it in front of her, twisting this way and that, getting the feel for how it looked on her. Do you want to be normal? Do you want to stop being gifted, special? Why would you want to just be a nobody? Because then I wouldn't feel so alone! I wouldn't have these dreams every night of something I can feel, but can't see. I wouldn't be so confused... I wouldn't be so tired of being who I am. The dress... Undeniably lovely, with a unique style, yet simplistic. Like me, she thought to herself. Exactly like me. She looked up at the sales clerk waiting patiently for her to assist. "I'll take it," she said, smiling. "Michiru..." "Uranus!" she shrieked. "No!" "Michiru!" An answering scream, then silence. I can't see! Where is she? Her frantic thoughts shifting and tumbling. I have to help her! The waves... large tsunamis crashing into the city... The sky a turbulent black... A black force destroying everything, everyone, heading towards her, slowly, surely. "Uranus!" She cried again. Movement behind her. She whirled around, seeing the black mass shift into a figure, a girl cloaked in a black flowing robe, holding a sickle in her hand. Sneering, the girl slashed downwards with the sickle, ripping into her arm. She fell screaming to her knees, and as the vision of cold purple eyes entered her mind, she saw the blade flash in the air and felt the cold metal enter her. It was odd. The visions had never come to her while she was awake... And this one was different... Strangely different, in the sense that she could see everything, and this had taken place sometime after the other ones... She blinked, continuing walking as if nothing had happened. Uranus... Who was that...? Why did she feel such passionate attachment and fear for that person? Had Uranus died? And was she responsible for that death? She glanced at her watch, an expensive gold one that fit around her slender wrist. About ten minutes to five. She had better head over to the park. Crossing the road, she glanced quickly to avoid cars heading towards her, and hurried on to the park. As she neared it, she could hear music playing and people laughing. She could see them milling around the trees, realizing that this was the week that there was a carnival there. She had gone there when she was little, with her father and mother. When she had turned thirteen, she had stopped going, though she was not exactly sure why. Probably since that was the year when her father's major business deal went through, and when her mother was invited to tour Europe with her flute... Regardless, she felt a sort of quickening inside of her. Carnivals were to be fun, right? She badly needed to feel free... But she had to meet Haruka. Immediately, she felt annoyed with herself, slowing her pace down. Resentment filled her, though unwarranted. Why should some arrogant girl stop her from enjoying herself for the first time in a long while? She thought for a moment, then defiantly pushed her bangs out of her face and thought rebelliously, Screw Haruka. Her blue eyes widened in a delighted childishness as she looked around. Booths were set up everywhere, along with tents and tables and food carts. She really did feel free, free from all the pressures of her life, free from her worries about her visions, free from every single thing that mattered in her life. Free to be herself. She wandered around, looking here, playing a game there, always, always watching everyone around her. People were fascinating to watch. Her eyes always found happy people. Families, together, laughing; young couples whispering and hanging on to each other; friends giggling at each other. It was nearing eight when she saw the House of Mirrors. A maze made of mirrors; when she was younger, she had always ran through it, valiantly trying to find her way out but never succeeding. She had always had to call to her parents to find her, which they did; they had led her out, soothing her frustrated and frightened tears. She entered the maze, slowly walking around. She was startled as she saw someone, but felt ridiculous, irritated even, at her reaction. This is a house of _mirrors_, Michiru, she told herself as she saw it was her reflection. You're supposed to see yourself. Trailing her fingers along the glass, she moved along, looking to find an exit, only seeing herself. It was unnerving. One hardly ever saw oneself, except in a mirror... And now she could see herself all the time. Her thoughts shifted abruptly back to her vision, for no apparent reason. Mirrors...? Uranus... That girl with the sickle... Who was that girl too? She had such evil, cold eyes that mocked as she had sliced through Michiru, slowly and neatly. She shuddered at the memory of the pain. "Michiru." Michiru looked up, seeing a woman in the reflection of the mirror. She turned around. "Meioh Setsuna-san." Setsuna smiled. "Michiru, please listen to me... I was hoping that Haruka would be with you..." "I don't know where she is," Michiru said, almost childishly, as if she was being scolded. "I'm sorry to hear that," Setsuna said, ignoring Michiru's tone. "It would have been better had the two of you been together." "What would have been better?" Michiru asked, eyes narrowing. "Look, I don't even know who you are... What do you want from me?" The green haired woman smiled, slightly. "Michiru, and you were always the calm, sensitive one..." Michiru was silent. She felt guilty, once again angry at herself for acting so rudely. "Gomen, Setsuna-san... I'm not usually so... immature," she said softly, carefully. "Anyone else would have reacted to your visions in a much worse way, I assure you," Setsuna remarked quietly. "Visions... How did you know?" Her voice was puzzled, but not shocked. "Take a look around you, Michiru," Setsuna said, indicating with her arms. "What do you see?" Still confused, Michiru did so, seeing nothing but mirrors. She glanced at Setsuna warily. "I don't see anything but myself, in the mirrors. Simply reflections." "Reflections... They tell you who you are, Michiru," Setsuna murmured. "You are the girl in the mirror, and she is you... Take another look." Feeling extremely impatient, she turned around, then gasped in shock. The mirror showed her... Yet in a different dress. The girl was staring back at her with the same expression. The reflection had on a strange attire, a sea-green skirt, collar, choker, and shoes. On her forehead she had a tiara, and she wore a white body suit with two blue bows, one in front, one in back. The reflection did everything that Michiru did... "That's... me..." she whispered, and as she touched the mirror, the image dissolved back into her normal self. She turned around again, seeing no one there. Setsuna... Where had she gone? A sharp blade, slicing downwards, a faint light glinting off the metal. "Uranus!" She screamed as it cut into the girl. "Neptune... Michiru..." the girl whispered, reaching out to her, before succumbing to the other side. "Uranus!" She ran forwards, but the figure landed in front of her. Flashing purple eyes, large, luminous, deadly. She could see the perfect calmness in those eyes, the perfectly evil smile on her lips, the perfectly executed slash... "Michiru! Michiru!" Someone was shaking her. She moaned, putting her hand to her head... She felt so dizzy. The vision had suddenly become so vibrant... And she was called Neptune? She opened her eyes, startled to see Haruka holding her, looking down at her with relief. "Tenoh-san," she said softly. "What are you doing here?" Haruka helped her to sit up, making her realize that she had fainted. _Fainted_. God, she had never fainted in her life. "I was looking for you," Haruka said. She grinned. "It wasn't very easy, considering the flood of people here... For some reason, after a while, I decided to come here, just for the hell of it, I guess." "Did you see Meioh Setsuna here?" Michiru asked. Haruka's eyes narrowed. "She was here? I'm not surprised... That woman is everywhere... But, no, I didn't see her." Michiru got to her feet. "Thank you for helping me, Tenoh-san. But I really didn't want to see you." The blond smiled slightly. "Then why did you come here in the first place?" She flushed, knowing Haruka saw through her bluff. "I would like to know why you wanted to meet me." Haruka shrugged, touching one of the mirrors, eyes connecting with Michiru's through the reflection. "I wanted to get to know you better, that's all," she said shortly. "I thought we could be friends." Michiru arched an eyebrow, suddenly sardonically amused. "You hardly know me, but you wish to be friends already?" "I know you a lot better than you think, Michiru," Haruka said. "And you know more about me than you're letting on." "I don't know what you're talking about," Michiru said, avoiding the other's gaze, voice clipped. "I'd rather not see you again, if you don't mind." "Why?" Haruka was mildly angry. "I haven't done anything, to my knowledge, to provoke you to say such a thing." "You make me uncomfortable," Michiru answered, not bothering to make up a story. Her eyes swerved back to the mirror to stare into Haruka's green ones. "I don't trust you either." Haruka was silent. Michiru watched her without moving. "You've had visions?" Haruka said suddenly, turning around. Her eyes were narrowed. Michiru remained unmoving, standing straight. "What a silly thing to say. I don't see things; I'm not crazy." "Neither am I," Haruka retorted. "What does being crazy have to do anything? Let me tell you something... _I've_ had visions, visions where I've seen the world ending, where I've seen things happening that no one can possibly imagine if they weren't true, _felt_ myself being killed... You can't feel pain in dreams..." She stood right in front of Michiru, grabbing the girl's arms. "I know you've seen the same." "Let me go." Her head was down, and she was violently trying to keep herself from losing her self control. "Haven't you?" Haruka asked, ignoring the command. It hurts, she's hurting me. So what if I have, so what if we have the same dreams all the time? Why should I have to admit anything to her? What the hell does she want me to say to her? Tell her that I'm scared of what I see? Scared that I'll never be normal? Scared that if something happens, I'll be responsible? "Let me _go_!" Michiru snapped. She shot out her leg, forcefully tripping Haruka's leg, so that the girl fell down, losing her grip on the other. "Tenoh Haruka," she said softly, staring down at her. "I don't want to ever see you again. Just leave things where they are at, and if you _ever_ touch me like that again, I swear I'll make you wish you'd never met me." She left, somehow managing to find her way out of the mirror maze. When she was outside again, the sky was dark, and the carnival had closed down. That was strange, usually it lived well into the next morning... There was a sharp, cold wind, and she suddenly wished she had a jacket. Glancing at her watch, she saw that it was almost eleven. Had she spent three hours in there? Shivering, she started to walk out of the park, to find her car. She thought how odd it really was that no one was around. The park was larger than she had first thought, the House of Mirrors farther inwards than she remembered. Walking quickly, she became frantic as she walked for ten minutes without still reaching the exit. The wind blew the trees, and dark shadows surrounded her. The moon was full, and its silvery light provided small compensation for the darkness of the world. Calm down, Michiru, she told herself. God, you're so paranoid, so excitable today... Just think, try to remember the way out of this place, and you'll get there. It's just a _park_. She tried taking her own advice. She stopped, taking a deep breath, visualizing where she was. It had a somewhat soothing effect on her. She hated being in the dark alone. It always reminded her of floating in coldness, wrapped in its icy grip. The dark brought back childhood fears that her vivid imagination had conjured up for the explicit purpose of scaring herself. Usually she could always ignore her involuntary fears; she was sensible, she could deal with them. But lately, her fears were the fears in her dreams... Of that beautifully cold girl with her sharp blade of death... She found her way out of the park, thankfully. The city was oddly silent as well... What was the matter with her? Why was she feeling so strange? She walked down the street; the streetlights were all out. Why? It was if someone had planned this all out, planned this to happen to her... "Michiru." She stopped, knowing who it was. "Setsuna... What is going on?" She turned around. Setsuna had a calm look on her face. "Do you feel this coldness, Michiru? This absence of life? Does it scare you?" "Yes..." Her response was soft. "It feels like I'm the only one alive... Or that I'm dead." "This is what will happen to every single thing, Michiru," Setsuna whispered, the wind blowing her hair. "Life as you know it will cease to exist..." "What are you talking about?" "The Silence... The one from your dreams... It's a very dangerous threat, very real," Setsuna explained. "The girl you see... That is the one who shall bring the Silence to this world... The Dark Messiah." "How do you know this?" Michiru asked, confused, and something along with a quiet fear was inside of her... A sense of responsibility... for what? "When you looked at yourself in the mirror, you saw someone else, did you not?" Setsuna said. "She looked like me," Michiru answered. "But she was strong, very powerful, very beautiful in a sense. She seemed like she had a purpose..." "Just as you are, just as you do," the other said. "I know you very well, Michiru. All the troubles you feel are because of this ultimate feeling of duty. You have to prevent the Silence, the end of the world." "How am I to do that?" "That girl in the mirror... She was you. That is who has been locked inside of you for many years, trapped in your reflection if you will... She is the one who is to find the three Talismans, with her partner, to stop this world from its inevitable death." "Partner? Talismans?" Michiru whispered. "You will know, in due time, Michiru," Setsuna said gently, smiling. "This is all very confusing... But you will understand very soon..." "I... I suppose so," Michiru said, confused. She looked at the ground for a moment, thinking. "You said this... mission is the root of all my problems..." "It is." Setsuna gave her a sharp glance. "Because of who you are, you can't accept yourself. Michiru, you must accept who you are before you can move on." "You don't understand," Michiru said dully, looking away. Just as I thought you wouldn't... "I do, far better than you think... Your loneliness... I have been lonely for centuries, Michiru..." The girl was shocked. "You... are lonely too?" "Yes." She smiled, a soft bitter one. "But unlike myself, your loneliness will fade away. You will find what you're looking for." "I haven't yet." "What about Haruka?" Michiru was stunned at the question. "What about her?" "Do you feel lonely with her?" "I..." She was very confused all of a sudden. She never had felt lonely with Haruka... She had felt as if she was whole... "Sailor Neptune." "Someone... called me that, in my dream," Michiru murmured. "That is who you are, the name of the other part of you from the mirror." Setsuna held out her hand and something dropped into it. She pressed it into Michiru's hand. "What is this?" She took it, feeling warmth radiating out from it. "This is a henshin stick," Setsuna said. "You must use it to become Sailor Neptune, the one who can end this senseless destruction before it happens." "And if I don't?" It was not a defiant question, merely one to reinstate her knowing acceptance of what Setsuna had said. "Then everything you saw, everything you felt in those dreams will come true..." She turned to leave. "Like that other girl in the vision. Your destiny is to be fulfilled; you have no other path." "Setsuna?" Michiru's question was urgent. "Yes?" "Who are you?" Setsuna smiled. "I am what you are... A warrior, a protector of this world... We will meet again." The woman walked away, then vanished. Michiru watched the spot where she had gone, feeling an unbelievable awe, wonderment... She looked at the stick, recognizing it as one she had seen before. "Is she right?" she whispered, touching the stick, her fingers gliding over it. "Is this my destiny?" The stick vibrated slightly, and Michiru closed her eyes, feeling a warmth encompass her. She opened her eyes, then with a shock found herself in a different place, a place simply a soft sea-green. She herself was nude, but it was comforting, almost free. "Kaioh Michiru," a voice whispered. "Who is it?" Michiru asked, turning around, seeing no one. A figure materialized in front of her, a small one, floating above her hands. "You're- you're me," Michiru said. "I am," the girl smiled. She wore a long, sea green dress, and she bore a mark on her forehead, the sign of Neptune. "I'm your inner spirit." "My... inner spirit?" "Michiru, please follow me." The tiny girl floated ahead, Michiru following her. "You are Sailor Neptune... But in order to become her, you must understand your past, and be able to live with yourself and your future." The spirit seemed calm. Michiru looked down. "My past?" "In your past, you were Sailor Neptune, protector of the Silver Millennium, the alliance of the planets around the moon," the spirit said, smiling. "Your duty was to protect the moon kingdom from outer attacks, along with Sailor Pluto and Sailor Uranus." The spirit stopped, floating towards Michiru's forehead, gently pressing the skin with her hands. The Neptune sign flared when she lifted her hands off. "I... I remember," Michiru whispered to herself. "Uranus, how are you doing?" She smiled down at the blond in the bed. "Pretty ok, that last attack kind of hurt." Uranus smiled weakly. "Stupid," she whispered, leaning down to kiss her on the forehead. "Didn't I tell you to get out of the way?" "Neptune..." "I said I'd protect you. When I say that, I mean it. Next time don't do something so dumb again, or I won't forgive you." She smiled again, though she was near tears. "This is the last time we'll be like this together," Uranus whispered, holding her tightly as they danced. "The princess's 16th birthday is the last important event before we have to take our official duties..." "Uranus..." You feel so warm, please don't let me go. "Queen Serenity," she said, bowing down. "Neptune. Uranus. Pluto." The Queen was grim. "You realize that Beryl and Metallia on Earth intend to attack soon." "Hai, Serenity-sama," Uranus said. "We will leave our duties and try to prevent them from attacking." "No!" Serenity said, sharply. "Your duties are important... Do not try anything until it is absolutely necessary." "Queen Serenity," Pluto said gently, "it may be too late by then." "I'm well aware of that, Pluto. But if something else should happen, I'd never forgive myself from taking you from your posts. Just please keep alert." "Yes, Queen Serenity," they answered. She screamed in pain. She could hear the others screaming too. "Pluto! Uranus!" she shrieked. "Neptune!" Uranus yelled. Then she screamed again, her voice dying out. "URANUS!" A blast of energy struck her, and she could feel no more. "Mother, please." The plea was quietly desperate. "Michiru-chan... I'm sorry, we can't make it to your concert." "But..." "I'll make it up to you, I promise." "Supposedly, in astrology, Uranus and Neptune are related... Your guardian planet is Neptune, right? Mine is Uranus..." Haruka... was Sailor Uranus?! Michiru looked up with a start. The spirit nodded. "Tenoh Haruka is Sailor Uranus, your partner." "That's why she's so familiar..." Michiru whispered. "Your entire loneliness is because you and her are meant to be together. Please, realize this... And accept yourself and her. The future of the world depends on you two." Michiru closed her eyes. When she opened them, she saw that she was standing alone, on the street in the darkness. She opened her hand, staring at the stick. I am Sailor Neptune, guardian of the planet of the abyss and seas, Neptune... She drove home, slowly, thinking about what Setsuna and her spirit had said. As she drove past the sea, her eyes caught someone standing on the cliff, near the road, watching the sea. She slowed the car down, stopping it near the person. "Hello, are you lost?" she inquired, the window rolled down. The person didn't turn around, still watching the sea. "Do you need a ride home?" Michiru tried again. "No, I'm all right, Michiru," the person said. "Haruka?" Haruka turned her head slightly, smiling with a vagueness at her. Michiru looked down at the wheel, not knowing what to say. She knew now how Haruka was related to her, but she hadn't expected to meet her so soon after the discovery. What was she supposed to say? "You should really look at this," Haruka said, staring at the waves again. "You'd like it. It's really beautiful." Obediently, Michiru stopped the engine, getting out of the car. She slowly walked to Haruka's side, eyes widening as she saw what held the other's attention so. "It's wonderful," Michiru breathed. The ocean was a dark blue, waves crashing against the rocks below, the moonlight casting a white look to the sea. "It reminds me of you," Haruka said, not looking at her. Michiru glanced sharply at the other's face, which was serious. "You remind me of a lot of things," Michiru said quietly, turning her head away again. Haruka laughed softly. "That's a typical response, Neptune." "You... know?" "Yeah... I guess you do too." "I remember everything from before. We were close, weren't we?" "I'd say more than close," Haruka said, amused. "Do... you still feel the same way?" Michiru was annoyed with herself. Damn, why couldn't she just _say_ what she knew she wanted to tell Haruka? She was surprised when Haruka kissed her on the cheek. She stared at the girl, unsure of what to say, embarrassed by her loss of words. Haruka looked faintly red, coughing. "I do feel the same... But you might not... I guess that was dumb to do... Why am I so damn _nervous_." Michiru laughed, a genuine, unmocking one. Haruka smiled in spite of herself, at herself. "That answered my question," Haruka murmured, putting her arm around the other. "I'm glad I met you again, Michiru." Michiru smiled, feeling warm against Haruka. "I'm glad I met _you_ again," she whispered. The loneliness inside of her was drying up, disappearing. Whatever she had to do for the world could wait. Right then she was content to be with Haruka, safe with the knowledge that whatever she had in the future, it would be with the other, together.