Haruka walked inside the beach house.  All was quiet, and the main floor was cast with an eerie glow, due to the open drapes.  Guessing that Michiru was still asleep, Haruka took a deep breath.  Walking to "their" room, she peered in.  Michiru was lying on their bed, her sides rising and falling rhythmically.

            Haruka walked in and knelt beside the bed, at eye level with the girl who used to constitute her world.  Michiru's cheeks were stained with tears, and her eyes were puffy.  Her hair was disheveled.  In her hand was one of Hotaru's stuffed toys--a plush Sailor Uranus.

            The scene was heartbreaking.  Slowly, Haruka reached to wipe away the tears that littered Michiru's pretty face.

            "Leave her."

            Haruka spun around.  "Oh," she said.  "Setsuna. I didn't notice you."

            Setsuna gave no immediate reply, instead beckoned to Haruka with a crook of her finger, leading the wind Senshi out onto the deck.  The cool morning breeze blew their hair about, and Haruka wrapped her arms about her shoulders.  When she glanced over, Setsuna was looking at her.

            "She cried herself to sleep."  Setsuna stated; her voice sounding eerie in the near-silence that early morning had mastered.

            Haruka looked away.  "I'm sorry."  She said at last, thinking of nothing better to say to her old friend.

            Setsuna looked away now, her gaze resting somewhere in the splashing and billowing waves.  "You must leave, Haruka."

            "What!"  Haruka cried.  "You've sided with her already?"

            "I haven't 'sided' with anyone, Haruka."  Setsuna still did not meet Haruka's eyes. "Regardless--you hurt her deeply."  Now she met Haruka's gaze.  "She gave you everything, you understand."

            "I still love her!"  Haruka protested.

            Setsuna's garnet eyes bored into Haruka's.  "No," she said at last.  "You must leave."

            "But what about Hotaru?"  Haruka inquired.  "What are you going to tell her?  That I had to leave on a business trip?" she finished bitterly.

            "No."  Setsuna replied.  "She and I both heard your little exchange of words last night.  She has questions, Haruka.  Questions only you can answer."

            "I'm not so sure of that, Setsuna."  Haruka murmured.

            "Neither am I."

            Haruka stared, the Time Senshi's reply surprising her.  The two women stared out at the sea for a few minutes before Haruka spoke again.

            "Does she hate me?"

            Setsuna looked at Haruka.  Her face was emotionless, but her eyes told that she couldn't believe the stupidity of Haruka's words.  "She could never hate you, Haruka." Setsuna said, turning her gaze back to the waves.

            There was another extended silence, and then Haruka asked, "Do *you* hate me, Setsuna?"

            Setsuna smiled.  "No, damn it.  Sometimes I almost wish that I could."

            "Like last night."  Haruka guessed.

            Setsuna nodded.

            Haruka blinked back tears, her decision made.  "I love you, Setsuna."  She whispered, throwing her arms around her friend.

            Setsuna smiled pleasantly.  "And I love you, too, Haruka."  She patted her on the back.  Then, "Someday you'll tell me?"

            Haruka nodded.  "Someday.  But for now, how about you help me pack?"  

            Haruka had managed to pack most of her stuff without waking anyone.  It was when she was in her personal garage that the small arms closed around her waist.

            "I love you, Haruka-papa."  Hotaru's voice was like music to Haruka's ears.

            "I love you too, Hime-chan."

            Haruka could feel Hotaru's tears soak through the back of her shirt, and she pulled Hotaru so that the girl was facing her.

            "Hey," Haruka whispered, kneeling down to eye level and wiping away the girl's tears.  "What's the matter?"

            "Take me with you," Hotaru cried, hugging Haruka. "Please, please, take me with you!" more tears followed her request.

            "I'm so sorry, Hotaru," Haruka said, meaning every word of it.  "But you must stay here and take care of Michiru for me."

            "I knew..." Hotaru sobbed.  "I knew that you still loved her."

            Haruka nodded mutely.  "I still love her."

            "Then tell her!" childlike hope flared in the girl's eyes.  "Tell her, Haruka-papa!  Then everything can be okay again."

            Haruka hugged the girl close to her.  "Hime-chan, if it were that easy, I would."  She whispered in the girl's ear.  "But when you get older, problems don't get smaller or easier to handle, they just grow with you."

            "But," Hotaru sniffed, "But you've gotten into fights before!"

            "I know, Hime-chan, I know."  Haruka could feel tears welling in her eyes, but she willed them away, not wanting to frighten Hotaru anymore than was necessary. "This one will just take more time to work out, though."

            "But where will you live?"  Hotaru asked.  "Where will you keep your cars?" she make a grand gesture that swept to indicate Haruka's Ferrari, Lambhorgini, and Prowler.  "And your bike?"

            Haruka smiled.  "They're my promise to you, Hotaru."

            "What?"

            "As long as they're here, you know that I'll be coming back."

            Hotaru threw her arms around Haruka.  "Call me."

            Haruka smiled.  "Most definitely."  

            By the time that Haruka reached Mamoru's apartment, she was feeling broken and empty.  She knocked once on his door, then leaned against the wall, her head and heart throbbing in tune with her pulse.

            "Haruka?"

            She looked up.  "Usagi!" she jumped slightly, then relaxed.  *She's still his girlfriend, play it cool...*

            "Usako?" Mamoru called.

            "It's Haruka!"  Usagi called back.  Opening up the door wider, she ushered Haruka in.

            "Hey, 'Ruka."  Mamoru spurted out the nickname before he could stop himself.

            Haruka smiled.  "Hey."

            Usagi was looking at Haruka very closely. "Haruka-chan," she started, putting an arm around the girl's shoulder, "What's the matter?"

            "Nothing's the matter," Haruka lied.  "Michiru and I just had a little fi...*disagreement,* and we both thought that it would be better if we took a break from 'us', so I," Haruka lowered her voice to a near whisper, "...Moved out."

            Usagi gasped.  "Oh, poor Haruka!" she threw her arms around the older Senshi, hugging her tightly.  "Where will you stay?"

            "She can stay here."  Mamoru said nonchalantly.

            Usagi gasped again.  "What a wonderful idea!  You guys must have gotten to be real good friends while you were gone..."

            Haruka blushed, and Mamoru looked away.  Usagi, not noticing this, continued to chatter away about what fun it would be to see more of Haruka, and how nice it would be for Mamoru to have company.