"Would you like to go home now?"
"What?" Michiru said, turning to the speaker.
"Would you like to go home now?" Haruka repeated, smiling down at Michiru. It was so endearing, how Michiru could become easily lost in thought. During those moments, her counternance was that of a innocent childs'.
"Yes, I suppose some rest will do us good." Michiru said, smiling mischeviously. Haruka cleared her throat.
Racing along the water's edge was always a thrill, though Haruka enjoyed driving anywhere. Yet, being close to the ocean was something more. The wind swept over and ruffled Haruka's hair, and she revelled in it's sensation. It was a blend of passions. Hers and Michiru's. The sea and the wind, side by side and moving together. A romance of rythm and movement.
Michiru sighed as she watched the coastline move with the rythm of the waves. Michiru had once amused herself with the ideal that she had been a mermaid in her former life. A life linked to the sea. But she knew better. And the reality was more of a fantasy for her. She felt fullfilled and content. Gazing into the majestic golden-orange sunset upon the horizen, Michiru couldn't help but feel a small, but , nagging feeling in the back of her mind. Looking at Haruka, her strong counternance and eyes concentrating on the path ahead, and around them, filled Michiru with strength again. And she smiled to herself.
A warm hand placed itself over Haruka's hand. Haruka glanced at Michiru, noticing an ill-disguised look of worry in her eyes.
"I know," Haruka said simply, and continued to drive.
When the car had parked, Michiru mechanically got out, closed the door, and walked towards the apartment elevator entrance. Ten steps from the car, Michiru turned around to see Haruka still sitting in the driver's seat, her hands still on the steering wheel.
"Daijabou?" Michiru asked, returning to the car's side.
"Daijabou, daijabou." Haruka said, slowly getting out.
In silence, the pair entered the elevator, and in silence, the pair entered their apartment. 'It wasn't a comfortable silence,' Michiru thought to herself, as she took her shoes off. 'Then again, it wasn't an un-comfortable silence' she mused, putting away her light jacket.
Upon closeing the door behind her, Haruka leaned against it. Crossing her arms, with a hand under her chin, Haruka's mind filled with questions. 'What could this mean?' she asked herself. 'Why do I feel this way? Is it... fear?' Haruka rejected the thought as she watched Michiru put her jacket away.
Noticing that Haruka made no move to take her shoes off, Michiru reached to the top shelf of the closet. Pulling out a helmet she handed it silently to Haruka. Haruka looked up slowly, and took it. They both knew each other so well, words weren't needed. The look between them was enough, only telepathy could bring them closer.
Mist swirled everywhere. Colourful gases floated in the air. A figure pushed its way through the mist. The clicking of heels could be heard echoing through space. Suddenly before the figure stood a giant bronze-gold door. It's face was intricately engraved with a series of patterns, possibly even some form of heiroglyphics. A hand reached out to carress the seam between the doors' two large handles. From the myst stepped SailorPluto, and upon inspecting the door further, her eyes narrowed.
Stopping atop a secluded hill, Haruka shut off her bike's motor. Streching, she removed her helmet and set it on the bike handle. Haruka gazed up at the stars. Their brilliant light seemed to rain down upon the Earth on clear nights. With a smirk, Haruka was reminded of Chaos, Galaxia, the SailorAnimates and the Senshi of other systems across the Galaxy. Sometimes it amazed her how many SailorSenshi there could be in existance, which also made her glad she was one of these elite. Distinct and powerful, but not without responsibility. Responsibility of the utmost importance - the salvation and preservation of life. Even if there was a little chaos.
Haruka simply leaned back on her bike and gazed towards the stars.
"Do you want to go home now?"
"What?" Michiru said, turning to the speaker.
"Would you like to go home now?"
"Haruka?" Michiru said aloud, turning around. She couldn't see anything.
"Don't you want to go home?"
"Who are you? Haruka?" Michiru asked to the air.
"Don't you want to go home?" the voice repeated.
"Y-yes" Michiru answered hestitantly, knowing that she would get nowhere questioning the mysterious voice.
"Good. I am happy."
Suddenly, and explosion of light caused Michiru to shield her eyes and take a step backwards. Opening her eyes, though, caused Michiru to gasp in wonder and awe. Before her lay a grand landscape, lush in blue, green and aqua-marine vegetation. Flowers abounded everywhere. Hazy blue clouds made their way across the equally blue sky.
A slight breeze picked up behind her, and Michiru turned to feel it brush past her face, when she was greeted by an - image. Before her stood a magnificent castle. It towered above the highest of vegetation, which Michiru estimated to be about 10 stories high. Its granduer was beyond compare.. shingled roofs sparkled in the midday sunlight, aqua domes opened and closed while cream-coloured banners waved in the wind.
Only then did Michiru notice that she was not quite on solid ground. Solid ground was only a relative term too, since everywhere she looked seemed to be flooded - like a marsh. Michiru found herself floating half-an inch off of a well constructed wooden-type bridge. The moment Michiru realized this, though, her feet touched the wooden planks. Michiru also noticed that her clothes had changed aswell.. no longer wearing her pyjamas, but a silken, elegant and simple, pale pink dress.
"This feels.. familiar.." Michiru said softly to herself, drinking in her surroundings.
"It should be. Welcome home."
"Who are you?" Michiru asked again.
"You will help me return home aswell, will you not?"
"Who are you?" Michiru demanded once more.
"I... I don't remember. All I remember is you."
Michiru sat up straight. Her eyes re-adjusted in the dark, and she found herself in her bed, at home. It was just a dream, or was it? Placing the back of her hand upon her forehead, Michiru surmised that she wasn't feverish, but was perspiring heavily. Turning around in bed, Michiru noticed that Haruka had not yet returned, and the clock read 2:30 in the morning. Sighing, Michiru walked into the master-bathroom to wash her face. Patting her face dry, Michiru looked at her reflection in the mirror. Something was different.. odd about her reflection.
And then Michiru saw that she was wearing a pale pink, silken dress.
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