Haruka kept her eyes closed, inhaling.  It was still early in the morning.  Memories of the previous night returned to her.  Mamoru's shoulder would become infected if not treated soon, but they were both too tired to chance looking for more people, especially since those very people could turn out to be spiders.

            "Haruka."

            Hearing her name, Haruka opened up her eyes, yawning. Finding herself covered with Mamoru's coat, she blushed, and then sat up.  Tuxedo Kamen was crouched a few feet away.

            "Ma...Tuxedo Kamen!"  Haruka gasped.  "But...how?"

            "Look at yourself."

            Looking down, Haruka realized that she was Sailor Uranus.  Not only that, but they weren't in the forest anymore.  They were in the wooded area overlooking Tokyo, where the original fight had been with Diablere.

            "What do you think this means?"  Tuxedo Kamen asked.

            Sailor Uranus shrugged.  "How should I know?"

            "Maybe they fought him and won?"

            "That just may be."  De-transforming, Haruka stood up and brushed leaves from her clothes.  Mamoru came up from behind her.

            "Let's go home."

            Grinning, Haruka tapped Mamoru on his good shoulder. "Race ya!" she cried, and took off running toward the city.

            "Hey!  No fair!"  Mamoru cried, giving chase.

            The two ran a few yards, Haruka always in the lead.  As the forest ended, the hill sloped sharply downward, and beyond that, the city lay before them.  Haruka stopped, panting.  She had been laughing the entire way, and was now out of breath.

            "We're home."  Mamoru breathed in awe.  The two grinned at each other.  "We're home!"  Mamoru threw his arms around Haruka, hugging her; but she remained in his arms longer than two in a passing hug should have.

            Mamoru squeezed her tighter, aware of her every curve and muscle.  He wasn't even realizing what he was doing, it all felt so natural; and if he did, this author has a feeling that he wouldn't have been able to stop himself.

            Haruka looked up into Mamoru's face, and their eyes met.  Her breath caught in her throat, much like that day by the stream when she had nursed his wounded shoulder.  Without even realizing what she was doing, Haruka closed her eyes and titled her face toward him, her lips parting slightly.

            Mamoru responded instantly, kissing her gently, and holding her equally so.

            More experienced in a sense, Haruka pressed herself against his hard frame, and opened her mouth to let his tongue in.  As their kiss became more intense, Haruka seemed to realize for the first time exactly what it was that they were doing.  Jerking away, she began backing up.

            "Oh no..." she whispered.

            "Haruka," Mamoru took a step forward, "Please..."

            "Oh no, oh no, oh no..." she seemed incapable of any other words.  Gasping for breath, Haruka turned and ran.

            *What am I going to do?*  Haruka asked herself as she ran.  *He is--and is destined to be--Usagi's! ...And Michiru's mine.  That's how it's always been.*  More time had passed than she thought possible, and now she was running through the shopping district in Tokyo, too absorbed in her thoughts to appreciate the surroundings that she had so missed in the last months.  *God, why did it all have to change?  I wish I could just go back...*

            "Haruka-papa!"

            Whirling at her name, Haruka saw her adoptive daughter, Hotaru, come running for her.  "Haruka-papa!" the girl cried, launching herself into the older woman's arms.

            "Hey, Hime-chan!"  Haruka cried, hugging her daughter closely.  She paused a moment, so as not to cheapen the sentiment, and then asked, "Where's Michiru?"

            "Over there."  Hotaru pointed toward a shoe store.  Taking Haruka's hand in hers, the two began to walk over to the store as Hotaru talked.  "Michiru-mama just returned to Tokyo last week--I stayed here with Ami-chan—and today Ami said that because of some computer calculations that she worked out, you and Chiba-san should be back today."  Grinning, she said, "And I guess she was right... but where's Chiba-san?"

            "Oh, he's around here somewhere," Haruka answered, her ease belying the frantic thumping of her heart when Hotaru mentioned his name.  That someone might find out what had happened tormented Haruka as they neared the store.

            "...Michiru-mama wanted to go shopping for your birthday," Hotaru continued brightly, oblivious to her papa's inner turmoil.

            "My birthday?"  Haruka asked, jumping back into the conversation.  Doing some quick math, she smiled.  "You're right, Hime-chan.  It is my birthday.  My nineteenth birthday."

            "Happy birthday."  Hotaru cried belatedly.

            Haruka smiled.  They had now reached the small shopping district, and the large shoe store.  "We had better find Michiru," Haruka reasoned, "Before she notices that you're missing and gets worried."

            Hotaru nodded easily, trusting her papa implicitly.  "C'mon, Haruka-papa."  Taking hold of Haruka's hand, the small girl lead her "papa" into the store, in search of her "mama".