Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Among Stars ❯ Chapter 2

Chapter 2

 

The cloudy skies had covered most of the stars by the time Haruka arrived back at her apartment. As soon as she walked in the doorway, she threw off Seiya's jacket. He had some nerve, she thought, to get her all mixed up in this. The only thing she was thankful for was that Michiru was away for a tour and wouldn't return home for another two weeks. Hopefully, that would be more than enough time to find the Starlight's princess. Otherwise, she would never been able to hold her head up in her own home ever again.

 

Haruka brushed her teeth and got into bed, but the leather outfit wasn't exactly conducive to sleeping in. After several attempts to get into a comfortable position, Haruka gave up. She sat up and looked at herself in the mirror. A girl she barely recognized stared back at her.

 

"Well, what's the difference if I transform back now or not?" she asked aloud. "Taiki's probably paranoid anyway." With that, she closed her eyes and touch the winged brooch on her chest. A warm light surrounded her, changing her body back to its normal form. Or so she thought.

 

Haruka glanced back up at the mirror. She felt uncomfortable, something was not right. At first she worried that maybe Taiki had been right about her body not being able to handle the change in power, but one good look at herself got rid of that theory right away.

 

"SEIYA KOU!!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.

 

* * * * *

 

The next day at school began not that different from any other. The Three Lights strode down the hallway, not at all anxious to open their lockers and read the piles of love letters, while Haruka Tenou walked towards them from across the hall, dressed in her usual school uniform.

 

Seiya felt his skin go white when she rounded the corner. She did, of course, have every right to be mad at them, considering how they deceived her. He just hoped the school crowds were enough to keep her from murdering them right now.

 

"Hello Seiya," she said calmly. "I have something to discuss with you." Her voice was a bit different, and the shape of her face had changed slightly, but other than that, her attire did an excellent job of hiding the obvious.

 

"Oh sure," said Seiya, glancing at the passing students to reassure himself there would be no bloodshed. At that moment, however the bell rang, and the crowds quickly dissipated. In less than ten seconds, they were all alone, and now Seiya was scared. Haruka took a tight grip on his collar and hoisted him up against the wall. Yaten and Taiki's eyes widened, but they did not move to help him.

 

"So, what's up?" Seiya said, coolly as he could for being pinned to the wall. "How'd you sleep last night?"

 

"Not at all, actually," Haruka replied, tightening her grip. Her voice suddenly became much softer and much more dangerous. "You get this spell reversed before the end of the day, and I'll consider letting you breathe tomorrow morning."

"It can't be reversed," Taiki cut in. Haruka glared at him.

 

"What did you say?" she asked.

 

"It can't be reversed," Taiki repeated. "Not by us, anyway. Only our princess can undo the spell. Until our mission is complete, and she is back with us, you're stuck as you are."

 

Haruka dropped Seiya onto the ground.

 

"You knew this when you started?" she asked.

 

"Yes," said Taiki. "And I'm sorry we lied to you, but there was no other way. If we told you what the side effects of the transfer would be, you would never have agreed to it."

 

"This is hardly what I would call a side effect," said Haruka. "How do I explain it to Usagi, or anyone else in school for that matter?"

 

"You could say you had surgery," Seiya suggested. Haruka resisted the temptation to bash him over the head with a blunt object.

 

"I'm working on an alternative-memory program," Taiki said. "It should change everyone's memories of you to think you were always a man."

 

"Like they didn't anyway," Yaten said, giggling to himself. Haruka tightened her fist.

 

"I'm glad you all find this so amusing," she muttered, almost tearfully. The second bell rang, the signal for the students to make sure they were in class. For a moment, Seiya felt himself reaching out to Haruka, a feeling of guilt buried deeply in his heart. Perhaps they really had pushed her too far this time. But there was no going back, not until Princess Kakyu was back safe and sound. That was what was important, Seiya reminded himself. Haruka's discomfort would simply have to be forgotten.

 

All during class, Haruka kept fidgeting around. First she crossed her legs one way, then the other, then she leaned on the desk, then sat up again. All the while she kept meticulously drumming on her paper. She had no idea how to act. The most obvious answer was inconspicuously, but that was hardly possible given her position. All it would take was just one slip, one little thing to make it obvious that she was no longer female, and so ended every bit of dignity she had.

 

"Even worse..." she thought to herself. "What will the girls say?" They would probably be the first to figure it out. Of course, she could explain to them why everything had happened, but then again she wasn't sure which was more embarrassing - inexplicably changing genders or admitting to helping Seiya.

 

"Hey there!" someone said, tapping Haruka on the shoulder. She almost jumped a mile, even after realizing the voice was only Ami's.

 

"Oh hey there," she said, whipping her brow. "What's up?"

 

"Um, nothing," Ami replied, more than a little confused at Haruka's extreme tension. "We're just having a meeting this afternoon and was wondering if you could come."

 

Haruka rubbed her forehead. "I really don't feel well, so if it's alright, I'll skip it," she said. Ami didn't look satisfied with that reply.

 

"He said it's important you be there," she said quietly. Haruka glared up.

 

"He?" she questioned. "You'd had better be referring to Mamoru."

 

"Actually," said Ami, turning a bit red. "I was referring to Seiya."

 

Haruka gritted her teeth, musing over a mental image of the most painful way to murder this man who never ceased to make her miserable. "Where are we meeting?" she muttered. Ami's face seemed to brighten up.

 

"At the ice cream parlor at four o' clock," she said cheerfully. "We'll see you there, okay?"

 

"Okay," Haruka managed to reply, and Ami was gone. At least someone had accomplished her mission for the day. Since when did the Starlights call senshi meetings anyway?