Haruka sat in her seat on the plane; alone.
The race was today, and Mamoru couldn't make it there until the day
after. She only had an hour left to
go, but it was sure to be one boring hour.
Suddenly, Haruka felt a light fluttering in her stomach,
like butterflies or goldfish...or like the wind blowing leaves on a cold day.
It was her baby, and it was kicking.
Haruka's face split in a grin, and she gently placed a hand
on her stomach, which was just starting to show signs of the pregnancy, but
still not enough that Michiru would notice or question.
*Probably just assumes that I'm getting fat.* Haruka batted
the thought away, not wanting thoughts of the friction between Michiru and
herself to ruin this monumental moment--a true milestone in her pregnancy.
Never before had the baby seemed so real to Haruka. Over a
month ago, Haruka had known and accepted that she was going to be a mother--she
smiled at the idea, which at the time had seemed ludicrous, but now seemed
welcoming ...but now, actually feeling the small life growing inside of her...
She couldn't help but fall in love with her unborn child.
"My baby..." Haruka whispered, her eyes blurring
with tears. "No," she
amended, "*Our* baby."
When she reached her hotel, Haruka had exactly three hours to prepare
herself for the upcoming race. Her car had been specially shipped on the plane
with her, and was now being escorted to the racetrack.
After showering, Haruka was picked up in a limousine
--which she hated, for the simple reason oof not being able to drive--and brought
to the racetrack, where she would go through the familiar customs of checking
and re-checking her car, making sure that everything was running smoothly, then
suiting up.
Wearing a blonde wig and glasses, Michiru was waiting in
the stands--waiting, that is, for Haruka to expose herself and her girlfriend.
So far, Michiru had to admit Haruka had done nothing incriminating.
The cars were announced, and Michiru had to suppress the
urge to wave at her beloved, therefore identifying herself.
Leaning forward in the stands, Michiru vowed to enjoy the race.
Rushing into her hotel room, Haruka collapsed on the bed.
*Another win...* she was not unused to winning races, but this was had
been especially tiring. *Probably
due to the fact that I'm four months pregnant.*
Haruka smiled at the thought. She
had always liked children, and now not only would she have only of her own, but
it was by the man that she loved.
Plopping down on the bed, Haruka picked up the phone and
dialed the number to the beach house that she shared with the other three Outer
Senshi. After three rings, the
phone was answered.
"Moshi, moshi."
Hotaru greeted cheerily.
"Hey, Hime-chan."
Haruka said, trying not to let her tiredness show in her voice.
"How've you guys been doing?"
"Fine." Hotaru
covered the phone with her hand. "It's Haruka-papa!" she screamed,
obviously to Setsuna. Taking her hand off the speaker, she asked, "Did you
win?"
"Yep." Haruka
replied, trying to sound modest.
"I knew it...!"
Hotaru squealed.
Haruka laughed lightly.
"Look," she said, "I'd love to talk, Hotaru, but I'm
calling long-distance on a hotel phone, so could I talk please talk to Michiru?"
There was a pause. "She's
not here." Hotaru replied.
"Oh?" Haruka
asked.
"Here's Setsuna-mama," Hotaru said, a little too
hurriedly. After a minute or two,
and several muffled voices, Setsuna picked up the phone.
"Hey, Haruka."
She greeted. "Hotaru-chan said that you won?"
Haruka nodded, even though Setsuna couldn't see her.
"I won."
"That's great!"
Setsuna laughed lightly. "So
when do you think that you'll be coming back?"
"A week or so."
Haruka answered. "I've got a few conference meetings, and some reporters
are gonna be coming to interview me in a few hours. Then I wanna go shopping and get you guys something..."
"Aw, Haruka," Setsuna smiled.
"You don't have you do that."
"No," Haruka admitted, taking the interruption in
stride. "I don't.
But I want to."
The two talked for a moment longer, before Haruka brought
up Michiru again: "So," Haruka said nonchalantly.
"Where's Michi?"
There was a pause, much like when Haruka had inquired to
Hotaru about the aqua-haired woman. "She's
not here right now." Setsuna
answered.
"Where'd she go?"
Haruka asked. "Did she take her cell?"
Setsuna shrugged, even though she knew that Haruka had no
way of guessing her motions. "I really don't know, 'Ruka." There was a pause. "I've
gotta go, though. Make dinner and all..."
"Alright." Haruka
conceded, too tired to read into anything.
"I'll call for Michiru some time tomorrow. Tell her I love
her." The last part was
habitual, and Haruka gave it no more thought than she did her cowlicks.
"Ja ne." Setsuna
said.
Haruka nodded. "Ja."
That night, after all of her interviews and speeches, Haruka retired to
her hotel room, and sprawled across her bed, exhausted.
*Mamoru will be arriving tomorrow.*
Haruka comforted herself with the thought.
Mamoru had decided to drive, and would make it there sometime around six
the next morning. He would then get
a hotel, and Haruka would call his cell around eight, to make their plans for
the day.
Smiling, Haruka drifted off to sleep.