When Haruka woke up the next morning, Michiru had already gotten up.  Smelling pancakes, Haruka rolled sluggishly out if bed, wincing at the pain that this simple endeavor caused.

            Pulling on her silken navy robe, Haruka shoved her bare feat into some slippers, and then headed out of her room, and into the kitchen.

            "Morning, sleepyhead!"  Hotaru called.

            "Morning, Hime-chan."  Haruka greeted.

            Setsuna laughed lightly at Haruka's newfound nickname.  "It's ten fifteen, Haruka," She said good-naturedly.  "You must have been tired last night."

            Although she knew what Setsuna was hinting at, Haruka couldn't help but grin, despite the fact that nothing had happened when Michiru had returned.

            "Morning!"  Michiru came in through the back door, toweling her hair dry.  "I got the newspaper."  She tossed it to Haruka, who got out the sports section and the funnies, which the blonde shared with Hotaru every day.

            Seeing what her papa had, Hotaru scampered over and sat on Haruka's lap.  Haruka bit her lip against the pain, but nonetheless opened the funnies section, and began to read aloud.

            She was half way through when Hotaru interrupted. "It's sure a nice day," Hotaru said in a suspicious voice.  "And we're not doing anything..."

            Michiru smiled, "What are you insinuating?" she asked playfully.

            Hotaru grinned.  "Well you see, there's this new movie that just started showing at the mall..."

            "What's it rated?"  Setsuna asked.

            Hotaru mumbled something underneath her breath.

            "You'll have to speak up."

            "PG13."

            "Hotaru..."

            "Please!"  Hotaru cried.  "I'm eleven years old-- that's old enough if you have a guardian with you."

            "What's it rated PG13 for?"  Michiru asked.

            "Some violence."  Hotaru replied.

            "Oh, sweety.  I don't know..."

            "Please!"  Hotaru whined.  "It's not like I've never been exposed to violence--I'm the Senshi of Destruction." As she said her title, Hotaru puffed out her chest, posing like a soldier.

            "She has a point."  Setsuna sighed.

            "Please..." Hotaru repeated.  She turned her soulful eyes on Haruka.  "Please, Haruka-papa?"

            Haruka's heart melted.  "C'mon, Michi...I think that she's old enough."

            "You would side with her."  Michiru pouted, pretending to be offended.

            "Well...?"  Hotaru pressed.

            Michiru and Setsuna looked at each other.  Hotaru could tell that they were talking with their eyes.  Finally turning back to Hotaru, Setsuna spoke.

            "It's alright with us."

            They had been in the watching the movie for fifteen minutes when the violence began.  First three characters were gutted, and then one was skinned.  Hotaru watched, eyes wide and lips parted in fascination.

            Haruka used that time to think over her problems with Mamoru.  *Perhaps we should just stay away from each other,* she considered, although just the idea hurt. *I mean,* she continued on that line of thought,* What if I get pregnant again?* Just the thought of her baby brought tears to Haruka's eyes, but she willed them back.  She had learned to want the baby, but knew that it would be better for everyone if she and Mamoru did not have children.

            Suddenly, the girl in the movie started screaming. Haruka glanced at the screen in time to see that she had lost her baby, due to some curse that the monster had put on her.  That was just too much, too soon.

            "Excuse me," Haruka whispered.  She got up and hurried out of the crowded movie theatre, through the mall, and into the parking lot.  Finding her Ferrari, Haruka sat in it, head resting on the wheel.

            "Oh, God," Haruka croaked, tears obscuring her vision.  "My baby, my baby..." she started to cry, sobbing into the steering wheel.

            She had staid like that for another fifteen minutes, sobbing gently, when she felt someone stroking her hair.  The person drew her closer, holding her gently.

            "My baby," Haruka whispered, and the person hushedher.

            After another fifteen minutes passed, and Haruka looked up to identify her comforter.  Setsuna looked down at her with what seemed to be sorrow.  Now Haruka closed her eyes.  "Oh no..."

            Setsuna nodded.  "Oh no." her voice was soft, but convicting.  She had heard Haruka long before she had comforted her; that was for sure.  "Tell me."

            Blinking back tears, Haruka sat up, and launched into her tale.  When she was finished, Setsuna was just staring at her.

            "Haruka," Setsuna started gently, "How do you know that he's the better choice?  What's the difference between your love for him and your love for Michiru?"

            Haruka smiled slightly.  "When I'm with Michiru, I feel warm inside, like I just want to get outside and go places with her; see new things, find new experiences ...but when I'm with Mamoru, I feel as though I've constantly got shivers up my spine.  I can't breathe, but I don't miss it.  All there is him, and I could stay in one place with him forever, and never run out of new things.  Time ceases to matter.  All that matters is being with him, and the pain of being away from him is almost the same as that of being with him...but never being able to really *be* with him.  Because everyone else is ready to judge--without even considering that these past months have been the best of my life.

            "Being with Michiru is like being forever in a dream.  Being with Mamoru is waking up and realizing that you like reality better."

            Setsuna looked at Haruka long and hard.  "You know that what you're doing is wrong, though.  You're leading both Usagi-san and Michiru on, and endangering the future of the Universe."

            "I know," Haruka whispered, "But couldn't he just impregnate Usagi-san, then leave her?" although she knew the cruelty of her words, Haruka couldn't stop herself from asking that question.

            Setsuna also noticed the choice of words, and winced.  "You know that that wouldn't be right, Haruka."

            Haruka nodded sadly.  "I know."  Now she sighed. "God, I wish I could hate her..."

            Setsuna smiled, nodding.  "I wish I could hate him."

            "Why?"

            "Because," Setsuna laughed lightly, "He's like Dracula; no one can resist him.  I mean, can you name one villain that hasn't been completely taken by him? Then there's you, Usagi-san and me..."

            Haruka gasped. "You too, Setsuna?"

            Setsuna smiled.  "King Endymion," she said dreamily, and Haruka laughed.

            "You're right, Setsuna-chan.  You're right."

            Setsuna shrugged.  "Aren't I always?"

            Haruka grinned devilishly.  "Not by far."

            "Ouch."  Setsuna laughed.

            There was a silence, then, "I'm sorry about your baby."  Setsuna's garnet eyes had a wistful, clouded look to them.  "I would have loved having her around."

            Haruka nodded.  "Kamikaze."

            "Huh?"

            "Divine wind."  Haruka swallowed.  "That's what we finally decided on."

            "I'm so sorry," Setsuna hugged her friend.

            Haruka nodded.  "So are we."

Chapter 24