It had been three days since that fateful night, and nothing had been the same.  Michiru couldn't seem to forget the incident, and was openly cold toward Haruka.

            Because of both of their schedules, Haruka and Mamoru hadn't spoken since, but Haruka knew that he was still thinking of her.

            For instance, every morning Haruka found a red rose on the seat of her Ferrari, and whenever she went to the Crown to get lunch, she was informed by the waitresses that her bill was being taken care of.

            Due to the hostility back at the beach house, Haruka spent most of her days in the garage down at the racetrack working on her car.  She headed there after school, avoiding Michiru, since the aqua-haired woman had since given Haruka nothing but the silent treatment, and the occasional sorrowful glance.

            But today was Saturday, and Haruka wanted desperately to reconcile with Michiru.  She had gone and bought her girlfriend a yellow rose--"friendship"; she winced at the obviousness--and was heading toward their room, when the telephone rang.

            Since she was closest, Haruka skipped over and answered it.  "Moshi, moshi."  She gave the traditional Japanese greeting.

            "Hey, Haruka!"  Usagi's bright voice sang to her from the other end.

            Haruka froze, her mouth going dry.  *Ohmigod, she knows...*

            "Haruka?"  Usagi asked.  "Haruukaaa..."

            Snapping out of it, she replied; "Sorry, Usagi-chan. What is it?"

            "Oh nothing really." the older Senshi could practically hear her princess grin.  "Just that we're all going to the BEACH, and want to know if you guys wanted to come!"

            Haruka opened her mouth to decline, but realized that she had no right to speak for the rest of them. "Hotaru!"  Haruka called.

            "What?" came the girl's voice.

            "Do you wanna go to the beach with the Inner Senshi?"

            There was a pause.  "Will Chibi Usa be there?" the girl asked.

            Obviously hearing Hotaru's question, Usagi saved Haruka the task of relaying it.  "Tell Hotaru that 'yes, Chibi Usa will be there.'"

            "She'll be there," Haruka called.

            "Great!  I'm in."

            Usagi laughed over the phone, over-hearing again. "We'll be going in ninety minutes, so that'll give her time to get a swim suite..."

            "Wait a minute," Haruka said.  "It's winter time."

            Usagi was shaking her head.  "Heat wave, 'Ruka. Look outside!"

            Haruka peeled back a curtain.  "Ohmigod, you're right...!" she cried.

            "Yep."  Usagi chirped.  "Probably some new evil ...oh well, never mind!  No use wrecking a good day with talk of fighting."

            Haruka laughed lightly.  "Alright, then."

            "Wait," Usagi said, "Will you, Michiru and Setsuna be coming?"

            "Let me check," covering the phone with one hand, Haruka shouted, "Hey!  Who's going to the beach?"

            "Beach?" Came Setsuna's voice.

            "Beach." Haruka affirmed.  "Look outside."

            There was a pause, then a whoop came from the room in which Michiru had been sleeping in.

            "Well?"  Usagi asked.

            "Well?"  Haruka relayed.

            "I'm in!"  Michiru called.

            "Me too."  Setsuna said, coming out of her room. "But we'll need to stop at the store and get some newer swim suites."

            "They're in."  Haruka said.

            "What about you?"  Usagi asked.

            *Always thinking of other people...* "I dunno. I think that I'll just stay behind..."

            "Haruka!"  Usagi cried.  "I forbid it!"

            Haruka laughed.  "Well, since you're my princess, and that's an order...I guess that I've got to go."

            The four Outer Senshi were at the mall, browsing through aisles and aisles of swim suites, which had suddenly become mass produced, as a result of the 'heat wave' that Usagi had mentioned earlier.

            Setsuna had found a swimsuit that she liked: a deep garnet one-piece with crisscrossing straps, and an oval at the side, revealing half of her shapely waist.

            Michiru had chosen a turquoise bikini that left little to the imagination, but still enough as not to appear vulgar or obscene.

            Hotaru had chosen a pretty two-piece with black board shorts, and a deep purple bikini top that tied in the back.

            Haruka, on the other hand...let's just say that hers wasn't the easiest job.  Although she knew that no one who saw her as a man would recognize her as a woman, she still didn't feel very comfortable in swim suites, and almost always managed to cut her legs shaving, no matter how many years she had been at it.

            Picking up a pair of board shorts, she selected a tank top-like bathing suite.  "Hotaru," she called.  "What do you think of this?" Haruka held up the mismatched items.

            Hotaru wrinkled her nose, shaking her head.  The motion sent hair into her face, and she had to brush it away.  Suddenly grinning, she grabbed at the racks.

            "This!" she cried, holding up a blue tankini.  "Wear this one, Haruka-papa."  Several other people turned to stare, and Haruka blushed.

            "No," Michiru said, "She's right, Haruka.  You should wear that one."

            Grateful for any input that Michiru may have after three days of silence, Haruka nodded.  "You know what? I think I will."

            Hotaru squealed, and Setsuna smiled.  Michiru fell in love all over again.

            "Hey, guys!"  Usagi's voice reached them, even from across the parking lot.  Her pink bikini had sparkles on it, and a white flower design in the center.  She was jumping out of a very familiar red sports car (AN: which happened to look suspiciously like a Lamborghini).

            *Oh, God...* Haruka thought.

            "Hey!"  Hotaru called back enthusiastically, waving. Catching sight of Chibi Usa, she grabbed her duffel and jumped out of the Ferrari, racing toward her friend.

            "Hello, guys."  Ami said passively.  She was wearing a very modest one-piece swimsuit with the sign of an anchor on the front, embroidered in light blue.  She was also wearing a matching blue bandana in her hair, and Haruka thought that she could see the corner of a book sticking out from the girl-genius' duffel.

            "Hey, Ami."  Michiru greeted.  Then she grinned, "I've been looking forward to testing my skill against you..."

            Ami blushed, and the two girls walked off together, talking about how to perfect diving techniques.

            "Yo!"  Makoto shouted, walking over with Rei and Minako.  She was wearing green camouflage board shorts, and a matching bikini top.

            "Mako-chan," Rei hissed, "You're so loud!" the fire Senshi was adorned in a red two piece swim suite with boy-shorts, and her hair was down, as usual.

            "Whatever, Rei."

            "Guys." Minako tried to calm, her friends.  She was wearing an orange bikini with yellow flowers on it, trimmed with white (AN: you've all seen them in magazines, people).

            "Hello, Mamoru-san."  Setsuna greeted her future king.  "Hello, Usagi-san."

            "Hey."  Mamoru responded.

            Usagi was all smiles.  "C'mon, you guys!" she cried.  "Let's go SWIM!"

            Haruka was lying about in a sun chair.  Rei, Makoto, Minako and Usagi were splashing each other furiously, while, further out, Ami and Michiru swam in a perfect line, each trying to out due the other.  Glancing to her right, Haruka could see Chibi Usa and Hotaru, building a sand castle.

            "Beautiful day, isn't it?"

            Haruka looked up, then smiled.  "Mamoru."

            Mamoru lowered his voice so that only Haruka could hear him.  "I really wanna kiss you."  He whispered.  His gaze strayed to Haruka's swim suite, then back to her aqua eyes.

            Haruka smiled.  "The feeling is mutual."  She let her gaze linger on his muscular chest, complete with a six-pack, but then dragged it away, knowing that to be too obvious would spell trouble for them both.

            Mamoru smiled back.

            Setsuna frowned from a distance.