Tag: harumichi

~ sittingoverheredreaming ~ Leave a comment

Her hands had killed. Her hands had torn people apart, had wrecked worlds and lives and friendships. Her hands were tainted. Her hands were brutish, calloused, rough as sandpaper and tough as nails.

And yet the nurse placed the softest thing in the world in them. Haruka almost told her not to, that she would surely break it, that it should be left in Michiru’s arms, she was softer, she knew more, Haruka had read so much, taken classes, but Michiru always knew more–

But then her hand, Haruka’s rough, powerful hand, moved instinctively under the baby’s head. She cradled her close, this softest girl, and nothing else mattered. Her daughter needed softness, and so she was soft. Her daughter needed gentleness, and so she was gentle.

Her daughter needed goodness, and so even Haruka could be good. Haruka would be anything this little girl needed.

Michiru gave her an exhausted smile from the bed. “The two of you are beautiful.”

Haruka smiled back, the sight of her wife blurring through the tears. She sat next to her, still nestling the baby against her chest. “I thought I wouldn’t know how to do this.”

Michiru leaned over and kissed her elbow, the only thing in her reach. “You are perfect for this, love.”

Haruka looked from her to the baby, their baby, and for the first time in her life, believed it could be true. She could be perfect, or at least good. Who she was, who she had been and what she had done, was only dust in the wind. Nothing would keep her from doing right by her daughter. Her family.

Her hands would build, heal, fix. Her hands would check baths and bottles and make shadow puppets on the walls when the power went out. Her hands would hold her baby’s head and then her hand and hopefully always her heart.

Haruka’s hands were what she chose to do with them, and from that moment forward, she would always choose care.

~ sittingoverheredreaming ~ Leave a comment

sittingoverheredreaming:

HaruMichi Beauty and the Beast Masterpost

When Haruka’s truck breaks down in the middle of nowhere, she comes upon a mansion and intends to ask for help. What she finds inside is something she could never expect. 
Final word count:  ~23K

Read on AO3, or use the links below. Please comment if you enjoy it, and if you really enjoy it, consider buying me a coffee. 

Part one In which Haruka gets lost

Part two Michiru, the monster

Part three In which Haruka decides to try

Part four The investigation begins (Minako)

Part five Michiru, the garden and the mirror

Part six In which Haruka makes mistakes and discoveries

Part seven The witch’s house (Minako)

Part eight Michiru, truth and fear

Part nine Family History (Minako)

Part Ten In Which Haruka reaches out

Part Eleven Michiru, blooms

Part Twelve In which Haruka plans a ball

Part Thirteen Michiru, a dance

Part Fourteen Rescue Mission (Minako)

Part Fifteen Michiru, two shots

Part Sixteen In Which Haruka Runs into the Fire

Part Seventeen Michiru, broken

Part Eighteen In Which Our Story Finds Its End

~ sittingoverheredreaming ~ Leave a comment

How much do you want to bet Haruka’s feelings of unworthiness re: Michiru outweigh her survival instincts re: advice from Minako, so she always asks Minako for ideas on how to impress Michiru on her budget, and always earnestly listens to Minako’s ideas 

  • First answer is always that sex is free. (Haruka just rolls her eyes)
  • Cook her a lobster, buddy, rich people love lobster and the super market has them cheap (Minako actually feels bad when, a few hours later, Haruka calls her crying from the kitchen floor because it’s alive, Mina, how do people do this? They cancel the date and drive to the sea to release it)
  • Do the 80′s movie thing with the boom box (this is the story of how Haruka got the police called on her by Michiru’s snooty neighbors)
  • Okay, what are two things people love? Wine, and cheese. Ergo, rich people must love fondue (Michiru did actually enjoy Haruka’s attempt, to Minako’s great displeasure, but mostly because there was left over wine, however cheap it was)
  • Just like, give her a massage or something (Haruka actually uses this to her advantage, and gets Minako to “show her some techniques” ie. give her a free shoulder rub. She forgets to offer one to Michiru later)
  • etc, etc

And Haruka never, ever learns, because she loves them both too much

~ sittingoverheredreaming ~ Leave a comment

ANOTHER CONCEPT: all non-finale arc episodes of either S or Supers end with alternating shorts done in simpler animation than the rest of the show: Miss Michiru’s Finishing School and Tennoh’s Teachings for Tough Girls. The first is played straight the entire time, with the inners fawning over Michiru and trying to do various ~proper lady~ things (usual gag is Usagi and/or Mina failing, but occasionally it’s Rei or Ami for a twist), and the later devolves into them proving they’re already tougher than Haruka. Mina brings in puppy pictures one day just to make her cry. She and Usagi are reduced to tears the rest of the short.

Eventually Haruka and Michiru start attending each other’s classes. The inners realize Michiru should have been teaching both the entire time.

~ sittingoverheredreaming ~ Leave a comment

CONCEPT: 

An Alternate S/SuperS/Original Stars movie wherein the Inners notice Michiru is looking tired and seems busier than usual. So they go to Haruka and Haruka is distraught and clueless, so they team up because Something Must be Wrong. And then most of the movie is hijinks as they try to do nice things for Michiru and also INVESTIGATE, and they do find several Youma but defeating them does nothing to improve the situation. 

And then finally towards the end they run into Setsuna and tell her the problem, she says she knows just what to do.

So they go over to Michiru’s house and huddle behind Setsuna as she rings the bell.

And then she just asks Michiru what is wrong because they are all worried about her.

Michiru laughs in the most lady like way while still conveying oh my god these idiots and explains that her brother is getting married on very short notice and she’s been drawn into the planning despite not wanting to go. But since everyone has been so concerned maybe they could be her plus… seven?

And the movie ends with everyone having a blast and being complete disasters on the dance floor at a Very Important Kaioh Event. Also Haruka and Michiru dance together and kiss, the end.

~ sittingoverheredreaming ~ Leave a comment

And we’ve come to Chapter 13 of HaruMichi BatB! I hope you enjoy it, writing it was, dare I say it, a ball. (Masterpost link)

______

This had been easy, once upon a time. Michiru had dressed effortlessly, descended into a crowd of hundreds, and found those nights on the whole boring. But tonight, it had taken great labor by her and Makoto and Usagi to find something she could wear, and she trembled to think of standing before one person. She couldn’t do this, she was too–

If you believe the worst of yourself, you’ll show the worst of yourself.

She took a deep breath. She would try, for Haruka. She had to try. Makoto had done brilliantly with the dress, ripping out seams and sewing it anew so the skirt wrapped closer to her body and did not get pulled by the movement of her tail. She’d padded the cap sleeves, to make Michiru’s shoulders less severe, and twined her hair around her head with streaks of gold thread. There was nothing to be done about the claws, or the tail.

She did not look pretty. Michiru stared into the mirror. She did, however, look better than she ever had in this form. Perhaps that might be enough for Haruka to not rescind her offer of a dance.

Mako took her hand and led her to the ballroom, just as she had countless times before.

“You went to her,” Michiru whispered, knowing Makoto would understand the question.

“She did not know what to wear.”

A lie by omission, Michiru was sure, but she forced a smile anyway. “She would look handsome in anything.”

Makoto gave a small huff of a chuckle. “Haruka would be as hard to convince on that as you would be.” She sighed. “She seems…” But then she shook her head, and for once Michiru could not read her.

The first long-traveling notes of music made her way to her. The slow rise of the violin wove fear into her bones.

“This is a mistake.”

“No, my lady, I will carry you in there if I have to.”

“The last ball I attended…” I publically humiliated a man and set the board for my own defeat.

“This is nothing like that,” Mako said. “Nothing you say will convince me to let you turn around.”

“Who is who’s lady, Makoto?”

Makoto stopped. “You are lucky, Michiru, that neither Usagi or I have the same cruel streak as you.” She again became more solid, and tightened her grip. “I believe we are long past our notions of servitude and nobility. We have cared for you long past what was ever expected of us.”

Michiru looked down. “I apologize. If… If I manage to break the curse, you are free to go.”

“I don’t want to abandon you, I just want to be your friend. Your equal.”

Michiru looked at her, wondering for the first time if that had been her wish all these years, from when she first came to the house as a young girl, rather than some attempt for social climbing. “Your friendship is not a gift I am worthy of,” she said carefully, “but I will accept it gladly.”

Makoto smiled, pulled her had and gave her a twirl. “You can still dance,” she said, less stern now.

“Well, I haven’t lost everything.”

She laughed. “Let’s get you to the ball, Michiru.”

The music grew louder, and then they came to the doors. Makoto raised Michiru’s clawed hand to her mouth and kissed it with ghost-feather lips. “Good luck, my lady. My friend.”

Michiru took a deep breath, and then pushed inside.

Makoto had brought her to the balcony entrance. She slid over to the banister. Haruka stood near the foot of the stairs, miming a dance she clearly did not know. Michiru’s breath caught. Haruka was dressed like the military men of Michiru’s day, though she lacked the severity and bravado. She was a painting, a dream, a sculpting of all a woman should be, handsome and good and brave. Michiru would be content to watch her forever.

She turned in her dance and noticed Michiru. She immediately dropped her arms.

Neither of them moved. Neither of them spoke. Music tangled around them, pulling the tension tighter and tighter. Someone had to do something. Someone had to be brave.

Haruka had been brave enough. Michiru dared make a start for the staircase.

Haruka followed her with her eyes. Despite the feel of her body conforming to the shape of every stair, Michiru did not feel ugly or monstrous. She felt as though this were any other time she had entered a ball, except now she entered it for someone. She descended, the music rose, and it was all for Haruka. Nothing else mattered.

Haruka’s cheeks were pink when she reached the bottom. “You, um. You look nice.”

“You don’t have to say that,” Michiru said. She drew her arms around herself. “We don’t have to do this at all.”

“I wanted to thank you for the flowers.”

“And you have.”

Haruka bit her lip. “I also wanna dance with you, even though I don’t know how.”

Why? But she could not bare to ask. She wanted things Haruka could not give her, that it would be unfair to ask. But she wanted, deep as the sea.

So she curtsied as best she could, and offered her hand. Haruka looked alarmed. Fear rose in Michiru’s throat, of course Haruka would not take her hand, of course Haruka had not thought through dancing enough to realize it meant touching, how could she ever choose to touch such an abhorrent creature.

But then Haruka did a wobbly cursy of her own, looking up to Michiru in askance.

Michiru almost wanted to laugh. “If you’re leading, you bow rather than curtsy.”

“Oh…” Haruka righted herself. “Makoto said to follow you.”

“I see.” Michiru had never in her long life danced the lead, though she knew the steps well enough. “Then, yes, you curtsy, keep your feet steady… good.” With all the courage she could find in her small heart, Michiru bowed and accepted her hand.

“The follow sets the distance between dancers,” Michiru said. Haruka’s eyes met hers, and she stepped in very close.

“Where do I put my other hand?” Michiru could feel the tickle of her breath.

“Here.” She guided her to her shoulder. “And may I…?” She hovered her own hand above the small of Haruka’s back.

“Yeah, go ahead.”

Michiru trembled. No woman had let her be so close since the change. Others had had the idea to woo her into submission, to tame the monster with love so as to make their escape, but none had been able to follow through on letting something so horrible touch them. But Haruka did not pull away. She did not flinch as Michiru’s claws pressed into the fine weave of her jacket. She did not take her smooth warm hand from Michiru’s rough and clammy counterpart.

She smiled instead. “You have to promise not to laugh at me, okay?”

Michiru would not dream of it. She was hardly superb herself, lacking feet. The music swelled, and she concentrated on swaying her body to approximate steps. Haruka stumbled along, working just as hard, it seemed, to not look at her feet.

“You are doing very well.”

“Really? I think I’m not.”

“You said you did not attend your balls, did you not? Having no experience, you must be a natural.”

Haruka snorted. “Now you’re being too nice.”

“No one could ever be too nice to you.”

The song slowed to its end, the echos of musicians long gone caught their breath before launching into another— something softer, more romantic.

“Are you sure this is alright?”

“It was my idea.”

“Yes, but…” Michiru loosened her grip. “I don’t think you thought through that you’d have to touch me.”

“I’m not that stupid,” Haruka said, a laugh on the edge of her voice. “And you’re not nearly as scary as you think you are, once the surprise wears off.”

“Scary or not, I’m… You ought to dance with a woman. A real one.”

“And I am.” Haruka pulled her a little closer. She moved her hand down to Michiru’s back, and Michiru felt her take the lead instinctively. Haruka knew no real steps, but they glided along to the rhythm as naturally as they might wade through the soft tides of the sea.

She was in Haruka’s hands now, fully, rawly. Truly, deeply. She could be lifted or she could be crushed. Michiru had nothing left to guard herself. Her shell was cracked, broken open, no words, no scales nor claws, could keep Haruka from finding her cold little heart and doing what she would with it.

Michiru looked into Haruka’s eyes, her beautiful, life-giving eyes, and tried to find the catch, tried to find the fear or the abhorrence that would prove this all a farce. She saw only kindness, and, if she dared let herself believe, affection.

Michiru wanted to believe. Michiru wanted to nurture whatever might have grown in Haruka’s heart into something bigger. Something that could make her smile every day.

With only a moment’s hesitation, she slid her body down, letting her dress drag against the floor until she was the height she’d been as a human, and then rested her head against Haruka’s chest. It did not matter that her hair would leave grease marks on the jacket, that Haruka could pull away at any moment and break her. For once in her life, Michiru wanted to be as small and vulnerable.

Haruka stopped dancing. Michiru braced herself for the harsh storm of rejection.

Instead, she felt Haruka wrap her arms tight around her. Michiru could not help but wince as her chin rested on the top of her head.

“It’s nice to hold you.”

“That can’t be true.”

“It is, Michiru, and one day you’ll believe me.”

Michiru swallowed hard. “Are you imagining me as you saw in the mirror? Can you bear to touch me because you can invision me with the curse broken?”

Haruka pulled away just enough to look at her. “No, I see you.”

“I do not understand.”

“Michi, I think…” She withdrew one hand to scratch nervously at the back of her head. “I mean, I know. I know I like—“

Michiru wanted. She wanted so badly, and yet fear dragged sharp as her own claws through her belly. “No.”

“No?”

“You can’t, I’m not… Why would you?”

“Because you’re a person!” Haruka gripped her shoulders. “And I like being around you, and when you try to do nice things, you make me really happy.”

“I’ve done far more cruel things than kind ones.”

“And I forgive you.” She stepped close again. “I’m not saying… I can’t promise anything, not yet. I’m trying to be reasonable for once in my life.  But I like you.”

Michiru let herself be held. She let herself be small. “I’ve felt affection for you from the night you arrived. You’re…” She swallowed the fear. “You’re something extraordinary.”

“So are you.” Haruka traced small circles against Michiru’s sleeves. “It’s kind of amazing someone like you would like someone like me.”

“Haruka, I’m a monster.”

“Yeah but like, a classy one.”

Michiru laughed, and then tears stung at her eyes. She looked down to hide them. Haruka had not tried to deny what she was. Perhaps Haruka did see her. Perhaps things she wanted were not the most impossible ideas.

“Michi… would it be okay if… Um, could I try…”

Michiru looked up, unwilling to make a guess at what Haruka might ask, though her heart pounded ahead of her at a sprinter’s pace. The music had grown ever softer, it caressed them like a soft blanket, wrapping them close.

Haruka bit her lip and cast her eyes lower on MIchiru’s face. They couldn’t… and yet…

And then, from out of the room and down the hall, a bang against the front door cut through the song.

“Hello? Haruka?”

“That’s Mina!” Haruka said, her face lighting up as she pulled away. “Oh, I can’t wait for you to meet her.” She ran to the door.

Michiru stared after her. She ought to have known by now, that reality would have to crash in. There were no fairy tales for monsters like her.

if you’re still taking requests, 11 for Haruka/Michiru?

~ sittingoverheredreaming ~ Leave a comment

I hope you see this since it’s so late, anon, I’m sorry!

11) Their favorite family traditions

This is an interesting one. For the most part, neither of them brings a lot of traditions into the relationship. They build new ones as they build their family.

Haruka’s favorite is probably staying up the night before their daughter’s birthday, to remember all the fear she had when Michiru went into labor, and how lucky she is to be on the other side of it and have all she does. Michiru doesn’t even know she does it for years, she sits so quietly for once in her life, only moving to walk between their bedroom and their daughters. (As she gets older, Haruka sits outside the bedroom door. She doesn’t want to be weird about it, but she needs to be close.)

Haruka also loves the tradition of throwing back a red bull the next morning (butch habits die hard) and calling out of work. She can’t work on her daughter’s birthday! (She also calls her daughter out of school for as long as she can get away with it, which goes right up to about middle school.)

Michiru has a harder time connecting ritual to feelings. The Kaiohs are, on the whole, cold in their polished veneer, so she is drawn to spontaneity over tradition when it comes to family.

Except, I think, the one tradition Haruka brings with her.

“Are we going to tell the kid there’s a Santa Claus?” Haruka asked, rubbing Michiru’s feet as the snow came down outside. They had not put up a tree, but Haruka had insisted on stringing up lights and holly. Just because we don’t like holidays doesn’t mean the baby won’t, she’d said, placing a kiss above Michiru’s belly button.

“I should think not.” Michiru stretched, unable to find a comfortable position. “I don’t agree with my parents on much, but I think they were right to think Santa Claus is a gawdy and materialistic concept.”

Haruka laughed. “And god forbid anyone think the family at the top of the Forbes list is materialistic.” Michiru threw a pillow at her. She caught it. “I didn’t grow up with Santa Claus either. My mom always said Santa was too busy for kids like me, but if I wrote down one wish and was real good, an elf might come grant it.” She leaned back. “I always figured I just hadn’t been good enough, but I wished for impossible things.”

“Are you going to write a wish this year?”

“I might.” Haruka resumed her foot rub. “Things like that are hard to let go of, you know?”

Late that night, after Haruka had fallen asleep, Michiru went back out to the living room. Haruka no longer got up every time she did, on Michiru’s insistence that one of them, at least, should get sleep before the baby came. She found where Haruka had left her written wish tucked under one of their wedding photos on the mantle.

I wish to have a beautiful, romantic Christmas with my wife.

Michiru smiled and chose to think it was pregnancy hormones that brought tears to her eyes. She stepped outside with her phone.

“Yes, Rei, I know it’s late, I need your help. No, no, the baby’s not coming. I just need a tree. A Christmas tree. Yes I know it’s Christmas Eve. Are you going to make a pregnant woman wander the cold streets alone? Yes, see you soon.”

They spent most of the night decorating. The weariness weighed on Michiru like a second pregnancy, but her heart was light. In the morning, Haruka padded out and stopped short. “What is this?”

“I wanted to show you you’ve been more than good enough.” Michiru said, using all her strength to get up from her chair. “I wanted to make your wish come true.”

“Oh Michi,” Haruka scooped her up in her arms. “It was always going to come true, so long as you were here. I’ve learned how to wish since I was a kid.”

“I would move heaven and earth for you, love.” She held her tight. “I’m going to make your wish come true every year, and our baby’s too.”

“Good luck on that one. We’ll have so many ponies.”

“We can afford a few ponies.”

“I thought we didn’t want our kid to be materialistic?”

“This is different. We can grant one wish.” She teared up again. “I never want either of you to feel like you aren’t good enough. I don’t care what it takes.”

What it took, it would turn out, was a lot of creativity to meet a child’s whimsical desires, but Michiru kept her promise every year.

Love me harumichi (all the FLUFF)

~ sittingoverheredreaming ~ Leave a comment

Fluff, huh? 😉 

Edit: I MEANT TO QUEUE THIS SO IT’S NOT UP WITH THE DAWN, BUT IT TURNS OUT HITTING ENTER ON TAGS WILL PUBLISH AN ASK. WHOOPS.
______

A hundred eyes watched her. Claws. Fangs. Their voices combining to an unrecognizable din. Louder and louder. Were they calling out to her or screaming in fear? Michiru should not have come. Her own fear tore at her, rough as all their claws. She should go, run–

“What can I help you with today?”a woman asked. She wore a big smile and an apron with the shelter logo on it.

Michiru fought to compose herself. “My wife and I have been talking about getting a cat. I would like to surprise her, but I’ve never…”

“Adopted a cat?”

“Had any sort of pet at all.” Michiru pressed her lips together. “I worry this might be a mistake.”

The worker nodded. “If you’re not ready, that’s okay. But why don’t we look at a few cats I’d recommend for first time owners, and discuss possible problems.” She grabbed a clipboard and led Michiru closer to the cages. “Now, do you own or rent your home?”

“I own it.”

“That’s good, we get a lot of animals coming back because of rental policies.” She checked something off. “What is your yearly income?”

“It is a bit gauche to discuss, is it not?”

The woman’s face went stern. “We like to ensure that you can cover vet bills. All our cats have had initial visits, shots, and are spayed or neutered, but it’s important to take them twice a year for check ups.”

“I see.” Michiru paused. “You have not asked my name.”

“I was getting there. Name and address are…” She paused, perhaps realizing Michiru bore a familiar face. “What is your name?”

“Michiru Kaioh.”

“Michiru Kai… oh.” She scribbled quickly. “Income won’t be an issue then, will it?” She set her clipboard aside. “Why don’t we move on? For you I’d recommend a cat between two and five, mild mannered and well trained. Are you more interested in long or short haired?”

“Either is fine.”

The woman showed her several cats, all with inane names like Mittens or Socks or, she swore upon her name, Kitty. They were all fine, perhaps too playful for Michiru’s taste, but that would please Haruka. She’d always wanted a cat, she’d said, ever since she was a little girl. Michiru could imagine tiny Haruka sitting alone in her room on bad nights, feeling things would be better if she only had a little friend. Michiru wanted to give her one now.

Yet she hesitated. These were creatures with raw and open needs, who would come into her home and claw up her curtains. And all she could think of was that they were fine.

The woman chattered away as she led Michiru to, she promised, better cats. One caught Michiru’s eye that she didn’t point out. It had long hair, brown peppered with grey, cut short and missing in a few places. It barely turned towards her as she looked, blue eyes pearlescent and unseeing.

“What about this one?”

The woman looked alarmed. “Oh, she’s a difficult one, older and very antisocial. She was found in the woods, we don’t know–”

“What risk is there of disease?”

“We’ve tested, and she’s clean, but–”

“I would like to hold her.”

The woman looked as though she might roll her eyes, but thought better of it. She opened the cage door.

Michiru reached in slowly. The cat gave a little start at her touch, but then turned its head to sniff her. “Hello,” Michiru said, refusing to do any infantile voices but feeling the drive to speak anyway. “I would like to meet you.”

The cat’s tail twitched as though to say Of course you would, but why should I meet you?

Michiru reached further and stroked its head between its ears, and when it stuck out its chin she moved down to it. It began to purr. She carefully scooped it into her arms.

“You’re a natural, it seems.”

“We just understand each other.” Two wild things, hurt by the world, waiting for something worthwhile to come along. Michiru had gotten hers in Haruka, and maybe this cat could get hers in…

Michiru was surprised to think of herself, rather than Haruka. “I would like to take her.”

*****

The sat at home together, Michiru on the couch and the cat on her lap. She had not yet thought of a name. Mittens and Socks and even Kitty did not seem so absurd now that the task was up to her.

She heard Haruka come in. “I’m in the living room,” she called. “With sort of a surprise.”

“I like surprises,” Haruka called back. Her feet pounded against the hardwood as she approached.

“The problem, love, is I went to get something for you and wound up with something for me.” She turned her head to look at Haruka. “Though I need you help naming her.”

Haruka laughed. “You got us a cat? Oh Michi–”

“I got me a cat. You just get to enjoy her company sometimes.”

The cat turned her head away from Haruka and twitched her tail. We’ll see about that.

Haruka sat down. The cat turned away again. Haruka laughed. “She’s particular, isn’t she?”

“She’ll come around, maybe.” Michiru petted along her back. The cat butted into her hand with her head. “She likes me, though.”

“You’re lucky.” Haruka kissed her cheek. “She reminds me of you, with me.”

Michiru chuckled. “I’m not sure that’s a compliment.”

Haruka shrugged. “We should name her Neptune.”

“We can’t name her after me.”

“Why not? Usagi named her human daughter after herself. And no one but the other senshi would know.”

“Yes, and it’s a good thing our closest friends aren’t fellow senshi.”

“Hey, she likes it, don’t you, Neptune.”

To Michiru’s great annoyance, the cat meowed. “Traitor,” she said.

“Welcome to the family, Neptune.” Haruka looped an arm around Michiru. Neptune began to purr. “I hope you like it here.”

I know this is late, but if you’re still taking prompts. “Get me” Michiru and Minako. Thanks!

~ sittingoverheredreaming ~ Leave a comment

Leave a “Get Me” in my ask, and I will write a drabble about a character saving another.

This is about 1300 words, I’m sorry it’s taken so long to get to!

_________

There was something quaint about bars at midday. Nightlife had always been more Mina’s speed, but the way the late morning sun hit her beer and made it look like gold glittering piss felt right. Life was a tall glass of piss, no matter how the sun shone or the birds chirped. No matter what you did.

The bartender handed her another drink as she drained hers down to the foam. They had an understanding, now. He didn’t ask questions, she tipped well and caused no trouble, he’d call her a cab at 4:30. Simple. Routine. She could live the whole rest of her life this way, aside from  eventually running out of money.

The bell over the door rang. Minako added an additional caveat of finding a new bar.

Michiru had her purse in the crook of her elbow, hands gloved, long black coat belted like she’d just come from a 50’s film rendition of a funeral. She played the part of the widow well. Her low heels made small, elegant taps against the sticky wood floor.

“Did you have me followed?”

“Oh please.” She wiped a barstool with a handkerchief before sitting down. “You are not at your stealthiest right now.”

“Can’t imagine why.”

The bartender approached, and Michiru slid over a handful of large bills. “A water, please, and some privacy.”

He took the money and stuck to his policy of asking no questions.

“You don’t need to be here,” Minako said. “I’m not even getting drunk.”

“Mm.”

“I just want to be away from all of it. You of all people, I’d think, would understand.”

“I have had my losses, yes, but I cannot pretend they are the same as yours.”

Minako snorted. “Yeah, guess you never really loved her, huh?”

Their eyes met. Minako hoped for a slap, or maybe for Michiru to pull a knife on her, anything. All these years later, she understood all the fights Haruka had picked.

But Michiru merely adjusted her purse strap. “I’ll assume you mean our princess. That much is true.”

“Maybe if you had–”

“I might have died too? You’re not that lucky.”

“Lucky is the last word I’d use.” Minako took a long drink. “I thought you’d fall apart. I really thought you’d, I don’t know, run away to Europe and get so wine-drunk you forget she’s gone.”

“And I thought you’d bury it all under party drugs and fruity drinks.”

“I do seem the type.” She rotated her glass between her hands. “That’s the kicker, though, isn’t it? I can’t do that. As long as there’s a Serenity, the thing inside me won’t let me. And it’s not even Venus. It’s whatever anchor was sown into her soul, and neither of us can unchain ourselves from it.”

“I do not often think of my lot in life as a blessing,” Michiru said. “But I will take every misfortune over the loyalty clause of the inner guard.”

“Yeah, thanks.” Minako leaned back, hooking her foot under the bar top to keep from tipping. “I loved her for more than that, you know.”

“I do.”

“The crystal should have brought her back. It should have brought them all back.”

“The crystal has never been kind. That, I’ll give credit, all came from Usagi.”

“And look where it got her!” Mina let herself fall, let her shoulder hit the floor hard and her hair mix in with the stickiness and peanut shells. “All the talk of loving us, and she let Haruka and Rei and Ami die for nothing because she thought she could just talk it out. And now she’d dead, and the crystal pulled this bullshit.”

For awhile, it had seemed like their choices and triumphs and failures would matter. Their future could dissolve in an instant. Chibiusa had faded out of reality once. But when it came down to it, the crystal had picked a shortcut to its heir. It cared only that it had a Serenity, not which one. Mina pounded her fist on the floor. “Nothing means anything.”

“Perhaps you are suited for Small Lady’s guard, acting so much like a child.”

“Perhaps you’re suited for a life of loneliness, cold as you are.”

“Perhaps I am.” She rose. “I merely came to deliver a letter. I will leave it here.”

She stepped on Mina’s hair as she exited. Mina could not tell if it was on purpose. The bell over the door jingled again. Mina sat up, wincing at how her clothes clung to the floor. It had felt so good to let go, though. She wanted to let go so badly.

She eyed the envelope on the table. Michiru had left it facedown, but Minako knew who it came from based on the tape over the seal.

She turned it over. For Mina, if Michiru lives, but Rei and Usagi don’t

“Oh, buddy.” Tears stung her eyes as she began to read.

You always say I should think things through more, so I tried really hard, I hope you’re proud of me. I wanted to prepare for the possible outcomes, and you’ll probably find things I didn’t think of–

“None of us would ever think of this.”

–but hopefully I do alright. And don’t go looking through the rest of the letters! Not right away, at least. I put that in Michiru’s letter, too, so make sure she doesn’t. I know you don’t like each other, but that’s why I have to write. I want you two to try for each other. I don’t want to think too highly of myself, but I think I mean a lot to both of you–

“You mean the world, Haruka.”

So if I’m gone, you both might hurt. And I know you’re not gonna take loss well, as a soldier or a friend.

“And I’m sure you’d take it great.”

But whatever happened, it wasn’t your fault. You know I’m a dumbass, I probably broke your plan and charged in.

“You did.”

And if I know Rei, she tried to hard to save Usagi, and Usagi couldn’t be saved. We’re all predictable, I think, besides you. I never made a letter for if you didn’t make it. You’re too smart. If you went, I think the world would end.

But it hasn’t and you haven’t, so I’m passing a mission on to you. You gotta try, for Michiru. I love you both more than anything, and you’ve lost a lot. I wish more than anything I could always be there for you, but well. Like I said. Predictable. I don’t have Michiru’s visions, but I see how likely it is you’ll have to get one of these letters one day. So I’m asking you and Michiru to be there, in my place. You don’t have to be friends, really. Just annoy each other into keeping going.

You’re about to say, ‘Imagine if I asked that of you and Rei?’

Mina smiled through tears. She had been.

I have, and I think a few houses would get burnt down, but we’d find a way for you. So you’ll find a way for me. And for Rei, and for Usagi. We love you. I love you. You’ve done a lot for me, you’ve always known when I needed a kick in the ass, or a good brownie, and I want to return the favor. You’re too good to let this destroy you.

“You’re the one who’s too good, buddy.”

Also, a selfish request— sometime, not too soon, but sometime, wingman for Michiru, so she finds someone new. But make sure it’s not Seiya. Anyone else is okay.

I love you, and I’m sorry I didn’t listen to whatever order you gave. I’ll always be your dumb best friend.

Yours,

Haruka

“You’re such an asshole. You no I can’t say no if you pull this shit.” She carefully folded the letter and held it against her chest. She kept it there all the long walk to the house Haruka and Michiru had shared.

Michiru looked suspicious, but not surprised, when she answered the door.

“Haruka’s letter said you had to give me a thousand bucks.”

“Is that so?” Michiru crossed her arms. “My letter said ten thousand.”

Their eyes met again, wet and raw. Michiru stepped aside and gestured for Minako to come in. It didn’t change anything, except for all the ways it did.

~ sittingoverheredreaming ~ Leave a comment

HaruMichi BatB Part 12! Finished just in time to get it up before work, as always here is a Masterpost link

___________

Haruka did her best to be reasonable. Flowers were a single gesture. Flowers did not make Michiru any different, they did not mean she had changed.

And yet Haruka felt that they meant exactly that. She could not imagine the Michiru who had been cursed, the MIchiru Usagi had described, working in the garden for anyone. She rolled back onto her bed and rested the flowers on her chest. She’d always wanted to get flowers from a girl. She’d always wanted to be wooed. But she loved too fast and too hard most of the time, and trying to play coy got her nothing at all.

The scent of the roses wafted over her like a blanket. How strange to be pursued. How nice. It hardly mattered that Michiru was cursed. A woman of her class, thinking Haruka was something special? Haruka laughed at herself. She was an absolute sucker. One bouquet, and she was over the moon.

She traced the petals with her fingers, blushing at the supple soft feel of them. What would it feel like, to touch Michiru’s cheek like this? Would she be rough against Haruka’s hand? Would it matter?

Haruka felt a tug and and ache and she sat up quickly. She was not… it wasn’t like that. But one good gesture deserved another, surely. She should plan something. Something just as big as Michiru digging around in the dirt. She thought of their garden walk, and the things they talked about.

If Michiru could step down for Haruka, perhaps Haruka could step up for her.

She placed the flowers gently on her pillow and stood. She would need help, for something big.

“Usagi?” She called down the hall.

“You like the flowers, don’t you?”

Haruka turned to see Usagi’s shadow bouncing like an excited child. “Yeah, was that your idea?”

“No,” Usagi said, “I would not have thought it was a suggestion my lady would take well.”

The notion that it was all Michiru made Haruka smile.

“She hasn’t been like this before.”

“I want to do something for her in return. But I can’t do it alone.” Haruka took a deep breath. “I want to show her I can do something on her level. I want… I mean, it won’t be the same without people. But, when she was human, she had balls here, right?”

Usagi stopped bouncing. Somehow, that made her excitement even clearer. “You want to throw a ball?”

“It won’t be much, I’ve never even been to a dance, and you don’t have to know how to dance for those these days, but I thought it could still be…”

Color seeped in around Usagi’s edges. “Romantic?”

“Maybe, yeah.”

“Oh Haruka!” Usagi hugged her with such force that her translucent arms went halfway through Haruka’s stomach and gave her shivers. “This is more than I ever dreamed of.”

“It’s nothing. She’s just… nice, when she tries. So I want to be nice back.”

Usagi snorted. “This is more than nice, Haruka.” She pulled away. “The house should be able to make music, functions like that stayed even without people to carry them out.”

“I’ll need you to convince her to come.”

“That may be hard. But I’ll do it. When—“

“Tonight.” She didn’t want to lose her nerve. “Before dinner.”

“I have to get going, then.” She took a step, then launched into another hug. “Thank you, Haruka.” She glided off down the hall, humming.

_____

Haruka regretted the idea as soon as she faced the wardrobe. She’d never been good at dressing up. And she couldn’t even dance. She was going to launch Michiru right back to superiority, she would see that Haruka certainly was not worth anything. The wardrobe showed her a variety of menswear styles, some from Michiru’s era, some from the present, and Haruka felt absurd even looking at them. She could hardly even think of actually wearing anything she saw.

“The navy would look sharp.”

Haruka jumped. Mako leaned against the doorway.

“Does it help to know she’s agonizing over if she can wear anything?”

Haruka hadn’t thought of it. “I’m sorry.”

Mako stood straight, intimidating even while incorporeal. “If you’re playing a game—“

“I’m not.”

“If you’re playing a game, you have to play it a little longer. Michiru is really falling for you.”

Haruka turned and pretended to look through the clothes. She did not think she could hide that the thought made her happy. “I don’t—“

“Here.” Mako came up behind her and grabbed a navy jacket with princely silver buttons. “You’ll make her heart jump.”

Haruka looked at Mako, wishing she had more details to read her expression from. “I’m confused.”

Mako sighed. “I love Michiru, I don’t want to see her hurt.” She cocked her head. “I’m in half a mind to threaten you. But I’m also tired.” She pressed her hands together, and then through one another. “I want you to do what you will, so we might move on.”

“Usagi said if she like me, that itself might be enough.”

“She knows more than I give her credit for.” She sat on the edge of Haruka’s bed. “It was hardest on her. Even compared to Michiru. She had a baby. We should have denounced our lady and saved ourselves.” She faced Haruka, face stern in what few features she had. “I want you to go, if you get the chance. Don’t make our mistake.”

Haruka hesitated. Her mind told her Mako was right. Her heart protested. But she had to try and be reasonable. “I promise.”

“Thank you.” She looked at the wardrobe. “You have no idea what you’re doing, do you?”

“Not a clue.” Haruka laughed at herself. “I’m kind of hoping the idea is charming enough that it won’t matter.”

“Let Michiru lead. And don’t look at your feet.” Mako put a hand on Haruka’s shoulder. “You’re going to do good.”

Haruka smiled, but she had a foreboding sense that they had different ideas of what good meant.