"Shimatta! I've stayed out too late!" Haruka exclaimed, looking at her watch. The digital numbers read 1:40am. 'If Michiru wakes up, and I'm still away, she'll be upset!', Haruka thought to herself, as she dusted off her bottom from sitting on the grassy hill. With a sigh, she spared one last glace at the star-littered sky. It was truely beautiful, awe-inspiring, and powerful. And she was one of them.
Haruka then stood beside her bike, and in picking up her helmet was seized with most incredible headache. Then the headache seemed to spread, first to her heart... and then to her limbs, as Haruka fell to one knee gasping, and leaning onto her bike for support. Only this headache, and now bodyache had a different feel.... it was agonizing, as if a part of yourself was being ripped out. Looming over Haruka, a shadow appeared, blocking out the star-lit night.
"Can you feel it?" came the whisper-like voice.
Haruka swore, an effort which left her panting and gasping as well as increasing the aches and pains of the mysterious attack. The short silence which followed was filled with the amusement of the mysterious shadow.
"Good. You can feel. Feel the pain, feel hate, feel anger. Ah, but what's this? You are feeling the need for something. It is not only for your life, but for something else... What could it be? Whatever it is, feel it all and more - for soon you shall feel nothing, Tenoh Haruka. No, SailorUranus.", and the whisper, just like the shadow, vanished.
With the shadow's disappearance, the pain was lifted, and Haruka gasped with releif, laying sprawled on the grass. Sweat fell on her face, and a chill ran down her spine. She pounded the ground with impotent fists. She didn't know who it was, but it knew who she was.
With a determined effort, Haruka got to her feet, leaning heavily on her bike. Without a seconds thought, she was already speeding back to Michiru, under the twinkling stars.
Michiru was shocked. She touched her reflection, then touched the pale pink dress which she wore, feeling its' flawless, smooth and silken texture between her fingers. In an instant, Michiru had thrown the gown to the floor and was now wearing a bathrobe. Bending down, Michiru picked up the mysterious gown, and despite the warm terri-cloth bathrobe, shivered. Walking back to the bedroom, she lay the gown on the bed. Pacing the foot of the bed, Michiru studied the gown and recalled her dream for answers.
A click of the heel broke Michiru's concentration. Peering out the bedroom door, Michiru could see someone had entered. It was Haruka.
"Haruka! Where were you?" Michiru asked.
"I was out.. thinking. But listen, something happened.." Haruka began.
"Well, something happened to me too..." Michiru began.
"You too? Alright, this is no coincidence to have happened to the both of us - twice. Tell me what happened, but tell me while I take a shower." Haruka said, walking towards the bathroom.
"Can I help?" Michiru asked, sounding a little mischevious. Haruka looked back at her with a patient smile.
"You seem to have the most sporadic timings" Haruka teased, while shucking off clothing in the bathroom. "But I don't think now is the time."
"Ahhh... don't think." Michiru said, picking up the clothing and putting them in the laundry basket. "Besides, two is better than one - no matter what it is..." she added suggestively.
[ ....and with the foolery that ensued, Haruka finished her shower in a mere 20 minutes.... ^^;;;]
In the bedroom, both Michiru and Haruka now studied the pale pink gown. After Michiru had relayed her dream to Haruka, both had been silent. Haruka then told Michiru of her experience a top the hill.
"We should tell..." Michiru began.
"Serenity-sama?" Haruka asked. "I don't want to trouble her, especially if this is just what the Outer Senshi must deal with."
"But it is our duty to inform the Queen, and it isn't Selenity anymore, but Serenity." Michiru said.
"Odango Atama... doesn't need to know, yet.." Haruka said.
"But.."
"In any case, we should definitely talk to Setsuna..." Haruka's voice trailed off as both she and Michiru felt the air pressure of the room change, indicating the emerging presence of another person... or thing. Haruka then turned, in the position to punch out the intruder when she hit a metal rod. Or more likely, a staff.
"Ahh.. Gomen and konbannwa Michiru, Haruka. Sorry to have interrupted, but I have news." Setsuna said, now standing in the bedroom, firmly holding her Time Staff which had deflected Haruka's punch.
* general facefault of Michiru and Haruka *
"Well... I have been to the Gate of Time, and everything seemed find." Setsuna started. "Only, it didn't feel right. Whoever used the Gate is not unfamiliar to it, but has not used it recently."
"So someone HAS used the Gate?" Michiru asked.
"Yes... only, it isn't an unknown entity to the Gate. Otherwise, there would have been more signs, possibly holes. But there were none. The only conclusion I can make is that whoever has used it is also familiar with it. Yet the only enitities familiar with that Gate are Sol's Senshi, and none other!" Setsuna said, quietly fustrated. She then noticed the pale pink gown which lay on the bed. "Oh, why that's a lovely gown, is it new?" Setsuna asked, pointing to the gown on the bed.
Michiru and Haruka then took their turns telling Setsuna of their experiences - which were immediately linked to the earlier occurance.
"This is not good, not good at all." Setsuna commented, shaking her head sadly. It seemed that the restful days of the Outer Senshi were coming to an end. "Well, if we are still in disagreement of informing Serenity-sama, we must at least inform Endymion-sama." Setsuna concluded, looking Haruka and Michiru in the eye.
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