"Your fans are just a tad obsessive," Michiru said.
"Just a tad," Haruka remarked, grinning at her. "Ha ha, 'What's his kiss
like?' Michiru?"
Michiru laughed and winked at her. "Quite good, actually." She bent to kiss
Haruka, but stopped when the elevator doors started sliding open. She
coughed slightly and stepped back to let the new passenger on. The young
girl got on the elevator without saying a word to them. Michiru looked at
her quizzically, but the girl kept her eyes fixed on the elevator doors.
Haruka looked around the elevator, eyeing the typical safety information
that was posted and some school notices. A brief article caught her eye.
It was about the man who owned and had established the school, a noticed
genetic engineer named Tomoe Souichi. He was also a professor at the
school. Haruka felt a sense of unease when she read over the article.
For some reason, a nagging sensation grew in her mind when she saw the
article.
"Michiru, look at this," she said quietly. "It's about the founder and
owner of the school, Tomoe Souichi."
Michiru seemed to involuntarily flinch at the name, and the girl let
out a tiny gasp that she tried to muffle. Haruka looked at her with
some confusion.
"Is something wrong, miss?"
Now that she was paying attention, the girl seemed sickly. She looked
small for her age, very thin, with pale skin and black hair. Her purple
eyes seemed lifeless. She avoided Haruka's gaze and kept silent. The
elevator stopped on another floor and she quickly got off.
"Odd," Michiru said softly, turning her attention to the article. "It
has a brief mention of an accident that he and his daughter miraculously
survived, but there's no other information about it. And his wife died
several years ago in a fire."
"Very unfortunate..."
"Wait a moment. Look at this picture of his daughter... She looks just
like that girl that just left."
"Think it's the same girl?"
"I think so... that would explain why she reacted to the mention of
the professor's name..."
"Michiru, I have a very bad feeling, and I don't know why."
"I do, too. Maybe this Tomoe has something to do with the attacks?"
"A mad scientist?" Haruka joked. "Maybe we're just too jumpy about
all this."
"You're probably right," Michiru said with a light laugh. They reached
their floor finally and got off to walk to their classroom. They weren't
too surprised when their female classmates tried to block their way.
"Haruka-san, we heard from downstairs that you are coming to our school
now! We are VERY glad to have you, but we aren't letting you in until we
get answers," one of them said in a forceful tone. "As your loyal fans,
we need to know what this girl means to you!"
"But your delusions of love will end if I tell you," Haruka said with a
wink.
"We deserve to know! Michiru-san, is he your boyfriend?!"
"No," Michiru said, eyes twinkling in amusement. After all, it was the
truth.
The girls started screaming and hugging each other. "We still have a
chance, we still have a chance!"
Haruka just laughed and winked at them. "Well, there's an awful lot of
you... I don't know how I'd ever pick one of you--"
"Pick me! Pick me!" they all screamed.
Michiru sighed with exasperation. Haruka chuckled at her reaction and
waved to the girls. "We all have class to go to! Come on, we can talk
about this later..."
They rushed to obey Haruka's suggestion, falling over each other as
they tried to get to their seats.
"You shouldn't encourage them," Michiru whispered in Haruka's ear.
"Weren't you the one telling me how annoying they were...?"
Haruka coughed a bit and acted innocent. "Well, yes... but that was
before you... now it's actually amusing!"
Michiru sighed again and grabbed her hand to drag her into the
classroom. "We'll talk more about this later... the bell's about to
ring."
"Alright, alright..."
"Good morning class. We have two new students today, Ten'ou Haruka
and Kaiou Michiru..."
 
 
Michiru fidgeted as she stood still for the tyourei. Her classmates
still were drooling all over Haruka, even as they tried to act like
they cared about the principal's speech. Michiru sighed irritably and
tried to act like she didn't care at all. Haruka was smirking slightly
and looked like she was holding back a laugh. When their teacher
finally led them back to the classroom, Michiru pushed her way to
stand by Haruka.
"You really shouldn't encourage them," she murmured to Haruka.
"Jealous, Michiru?" Haruka said with a wink.
Michiru sniffled and shook her head. "I don't want to see all
those poor girls have their hearts crushed when they realize
you're just flirting with them."
"Who said I'm just flirting?" Haruka laughed.
Michiru fixed her gaze on Haruka, and Haruka politely coughed.
"That is... I, um..."
"Just be careful," Michiru said sweetly.
"HARUKA-SANNNNNNNNNN!!!" the crowd of girls screamed when they
realized they were being ignored.
The teacher whirled around and the crowd cowered. "I won't
tolerate any more outbursts like that. The next one to yell
out like that is cleaning the toilets after school. On ALL the
floors."
Michiru latched onto Haruka's arm with a smirk. Haruka sighed
and let Michiru drag her into the classroom.
 
 
**********
 
 
Haruka finally stopped rapping her fingertips on the desk when
Michiru gave her a sideways glance that clearly said "enough."
Haruka chuckled quietly and looked out the window, scowling at
the sight of the dark crystal formation still towering in the
air. She wished she knew what exactly it was, and how to get
rid of it. She noticed Michiru look out the window also. The
other students didn't seem to notice it, or if they did, they
were acting like it wasn't there.
When it was time for lunch, Haruka motioned Michiru to stay
behind. Michiru nodded in understanding. They stood by the
window together, looking at the crystal. "Do you think it's
the same people making the daimon?" Haruka asked in a low
voice.
"It doesn't feel the same," Michiru said softly. "If they are
made by these people... the Deathbusters... they must be using
some different energy."
"That wouldn't make sense. It must be someone else." Haruka said.
"Have you heard on the news about those Inner Senshi? There's
been strange attacks going on for months... people losing their
energy. This must be the people that caused it."
"That would make sense," Michiru said with a nod. "I wish we knew
if it was important or not. I want to get rid of that thing,"
Michiru said, shivering.
"I know, but we can't risk ourselves on that. It isn't our duty to
stop big crystals," Haruka said with a small smile.
"No, it's to find three special heart crystals," Michiru said sadly.
Haruka wrapped her arm around Michiru's shoulders and pulled her
close. "We'll find them. It's just going to take a little time."
"I hope so," Michiru hugged her. "We never wanted this."
"You'd have to be crazy to want this responsibility," Haruka
chuckled. "C'mon, let's go get something to eat." Haruka gave
her a tiny peck on the cheek and led her out of the room.
 
 
"Kaiou Michiru and Ten'ou Haruka?"
Michiru looked up from her meal to see a lovely girl standing
in front of her seat. She had straight white hair falling to
her shoulders and ice blue eyes. She smiled at Michiru and
sat down.
"Welcome to Mugen Gakuen. I'm Yuri Viluy, the top student here,
and one of the science teachers. I just wanted to get you two
acquainted with our school."
Haruka raised an eyebrow. "Science teacher?"
Viluy smiled at her. "Yes, the students that excel and demonstrate
leadership abilities are given the opportunity to teach their
peers. I'm sure you'll find our school offers students to chance
to develop to their full potential. I understand you both
received very high marks at your previous school. I've asked
your teacher permission to show you around the school during your
next class."
Haruka didn't look interested but Michiru said sweetly, "That
would be wonderful. If you'd excuse us while we finish lunch--"
Viluy bowed and walked away.
"Why did you agree--"
"Setsuna-san warned us there's something going on here. This will
give us the chance to look around the school without arousing
suspicion."
Haruka sighed and smiled at her, "I should have realized, hmmm?"
She returned to eating.
Michiru suddenly dropped her fork and stood up. "There's an attack,"
she mumbled, starting to hurry out of the cafeteria. Haruka quickly
threw away their things and rushed to follow her. Michiru was moving
a lot faster than she would have expected. Haruka felt a disturbing
sensation on the back of her neck. There was something very wrong.
Michiru dashed outside into the alleyways nearby. Haruka follow her
and quickly transformed with her. Neptune took off again, Uranus in
pursuit. They could hear someone screaming in the parking lot, and
leapt onto and over cars to get there as soon as they could.
Neptune slid to a halt, Uranus nearly crashing into her. "Oh... oh
no..." Neptune whispered. The heart crystal flew from the victim's
chest.
It was Cindy Grey.
"World Shaking!" Uranus shouted as Neptune dove for the crystal.
Neptune held the heart crystal with trembling hands, examining it
carefully. Uranus punched and kicked the daimon as Neptune turned
it over in her hands. It was so bright, so full of life... she
felt her throat tighten. It couldn't be Cindy, not Cindy... she
couldn't have the Talisman...
"Well?" Uranus shouted between dodging and attacking.
"I... I..." Neptune started hard at it. This was Elza's sister.
She was holding her life between a pair of white gloves. Sweet
Cindy... it couldn't be her. It had to be someone they didn't
know, that they wouldn't care about...
Uranus grunted as the daimon's attack connected with her. She
was thrown back against a car window, sending glass shards
scattering. Neptune jumped in surprise and let the crystal slip
a little. Her lips tightened in determination. She looked down
at the crystal, not letting thoughts of friends and grief cloud
her judgement.
It wasn't a Talisman.
She practically shoved the heart crystal back into Cindy, then
attacked the daimon. It let out its final scream then died.
Neptune shakily propped Uranus up, whispering, "It wasn't a
Talisman... it wasn't a..."
Uranus gripped her shoulders. "Shhh, it's alright. I saw you
give it back..."
"You're bleeding--"
"I've had much worse," Uranus said, her face paling. "This is
nothing." She carefully stood up, twisting her head to examine
her back. "Ughhh... glass... this will take awhile to clean up."
Neptune bit her lower lip, looking down at Cindy. Cindy was
stirring a bit and regaining color. "We should go..."
Uranus took Neptune's hand in hers and kissed her cheek. Neptune
choked back her tears and carefully hugged Uranus. "I was so
scared it would be her. I thought I could handle if anyone had a
Talisman, but someone we know...?"
"We have to do it. For the sake of the world." Uranus drew away
from her. "You're supposed to be the mature one," she said with a
soft smile.
Neptune sniffled and nudged her in the side. "I didn't think I'd
face a friend having their heart crystal taken. I don't know what
I'd have done if she'd had a Talisman."
"Hopefully we won't have to worry about that. I'm sure it's nobody
we know or care about."
"I hope so." Neptune made Uranus turn around, and then gasped in
surprise. "The glass shards... they're... gone?"
Uranus raised an eyebrow. "How can that be?"
"I'm not sure..." Neptune stared at the cuts, lightly scabbing over.
"Maybe we heal a lot faster as Senshi..."
"That'll be handy," Uranus remarked. "We should hurry up and head back
to the building. It'll be suspicious if we're missing on the first day.
Cindy will be fine."
They detransformed and started to walk back to the building. Haruka
stopped Michiru and grabbed her hand. "Michiru, you can't hesistate
like that again, alright?"
Michiru's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh?"
"Well, you're the one so serious about this--" Haruka winked, "so I
think maybe you should follow your own advice, hmmmm?"
"I..." Michiru sighed and blushed. "You're right. I guess I was just
a little shocked to see Cindy's heart crystal. It's scary... to hold
a friend's life in your hands..."
Haruka pressed herself to Michiru and kissed her deeply. "Funny, you've
held mine in your hands before... you're very good at it..."
Michiru giggled and pulled Haruka to her. "Well, I guess you're right...
after all..." she gave her a peck on the lips, "you have my heart, and I
have yours."
"We should get to--" Haruka trailed off as Michiru pulled her into an
alleyway and kissed her passionately.
"There's a few minutes left," Michiru whispered. "Please... if we're
going to have to fight even during school... We aren't going to have
a lot of time together."
Haruka gazed into her eyes, then smiled and kissed her again. "I love
you, Michiru."
"I love you, Haruka."
Haruka started to dip her face towards Michiru's neck, then noticed a
faraway look on Michiru's face.
"After school... Hikawa Jinja..."
"You can sense something is going to happen later?" Haruka's eyes
widened in shock.
Michiru shook her head to clear it. "That was... strange... I've never
had anything like that before..."
"It must be important that we go there," she said, gripping Michiru's
hand. "Do you think..."
"The other Senshi." Michiru's eyes glazed. "They will be... we have to
go there..."
Worriedly, Haruka supported Michiru. "Why would they be there? They
can't handle a daimon, from what I've seen on the news reports..."
"We'll just have to see for ourselves," Michiru said weakly, leaning
against Haruka. "Let's go back inside. We've been gone too long already.
I'm sure Viluy is wondering why we didn't show up for the tour yet."
"Michiru... I have a very bad feeling about her. She has something to
do with whatever is going on at this school."
"Do you think... maybe this school is the center for these daimons?"
"Maybe... perhaps Viluy like that red-head woman--"
"With the obnoxious display of cleavage?" Michiru said with a sniff.
"Ah... that is..." Haruka started to lead Michiru back into the school.
"You know you're the only one I'm interested in, hmmmm?"
"You haven't even seen it yet," Michiru said with a smirk.
"We can fix that later," Haruka commented distractedly as they entered
the building.
Viluy was standing there, waiting for them. "Ah, I see you're back.
What kept you?"
"Nothing," Michiru said lightly. "Just getting some fresh air. Are
you ready to give the tour?"
"Of course." Viluy turned and gestured with her arm to the entire
building. Her white hair seemed to shine with her cold smile. Haruka
tightened her arm around Michiru's shoulders. "Welcome to Mugen
Gakuen, the school for only the best students. We have a state of the
art facility that will develop all students to their full potential.
Only those with the strongest minds and the purest hearts will be
accepted into our exclusive school..."
 
 
The wind and the sea are forever joined, living as one for all time.
Without one, the other can't exist. They meet as one at the horizon.
They made it past their pain and began their lives together, to be
inseperable for all eternity.
 
 
 
********************
*The End... for now*
********************
 
 
I would die for you
I would kill for you
I will steal for you
I'd do time for you
I will wait for you
I'd make room for you
I'd sink ships for you
To be close to you
To be part of you
'Cause I believe in you
I believe in you
I would die for you
--From the song "#1 Crush" by Garbage