A Senshi Turns Traitor

She lay on the beach, staring up at the moon. The hated moon. The moon which had started all of this.

Blood ran down her face, dribbling into her left ear before dripping off the lobe to stain the sand. She felt the coarse grains against the back of her neck. Sea water soaked her short hair, causing some of the sand to clump together in the follicles. She was going to have to shower later.

Her jaw was tightly clenched in barely controlled rage. Her face stung. Hated tears were forming in her eyes. She didn't want the tears. Not now. Not while there was work to be done.

–

They came for them in the middle of the night. They had just finished making love, and had settled into each others arms when the bedroom door exploded in a swath of flame. At the same time, two of them had crashed through the bedroom's balcony door. Haruka and Michiru sat up as Jupiter and Mercury stood up amid the shattered glass, and Mars and Venus strode through the hole in the wall where the door once stood.

Haruka tensed up, ready to spring, while Michiru looked at the other Senshi with her usual expression of detachment and vague contempt.

"You could have called," she said quietly, wrapping the bedsheet around herself.

"You know why we're here," Mercury replied, in her usual expressionless monotone.

"Let's just kill them now and save Usagi the trouble," Jupiter snorted. "They know what's coming, we know what's coming. Why drag it out?"

"Because Usagi wants to see them," Venus said. She drew the serrated hunting knife from the sheath strapped to her thigh. "And while I think it would be a lot more fun to skin them both alive and make them into a decorative throw rug for the tower game room, you know Usagi gets what Usagi wants. Isn't that right, Rei-chan?"

The scarred Senshi didn't take her one-eyed gaze off the two in the bed. She nodded slowly.

Haruka's arm shot out, reaching for the transformation wand sitting on the nightstand. Jupiter leaped into the air and impacted knees first into the small of Haruka's back. Both crashed into the nightstand, the transformation wand flying into the air. There was a flash of light and Venus snagged the wand with her chain, pulling back into her hand.

"Damn you," Harkua snarled. She thrust an elbow back, driving it into Jupiter's midsection. Usagi's enforcer let out a cry of pain, giving Haruka the chance to push back and force Jupiter off of her. Both got to their feet. Haruka's fists were clenched and she glared with unconcealed hatred at Jupiter.

Jupiter smiled evilly. Her own fists clenched and sparks of electricity danced across her knuckles. "I'm ready anytime you are."

Haruka let fly with a punch that Jupiter easily blocked with one arm. Haruka followed that up with another fist to the solar plexus. Unlike the initial meeting between the two of them, however, Jupiter was ready, grabbed Haruka by the wrist, spun, and hurled the older woman over her head and out onto the balcony. Haruka let out a gasp as the wind was knocked out of her by the impact. Jupiter jumped into the air over the bed, but soon found herself crashing to the floor, as Michiru grabbed her by the ankle and yanked with all her might.

"Has anyone ever told you how rude you are, Makoto?" Michiru said, as Jupiter got to her feet. Michiru moved to get out of the bed, but again, a flash of light, and she felt her airway being constricted. She looked and saw Venus's deranged grin at the other end of the chain. She struggled to pull the chain from Venus's grip, but Venus merely yanked harder, tightening the noose.

"I think we've had enough fun for now, don't you?" Venus giggled. "Ami, Mako, get the butch. I've got her highness."

"Get your filthy hands off her!" Haruka roared, charging back into the room, heedless of the broken glass on the floor which sliced her feet. Jupiter moved to intercept, but Mercury got to her first. She calmly put out a hand.

"Ice Castle," she said quietly.

A freezing blast of air burst from her hand and forced Haruka into the air and against the wall. Ice formed around her body, the cold penetrating her naked skin. The ice grew, stopping just below her chin. Haruka fought to keep her teeth from chattering as the cold overwhelmed her.

Venus never took her gaze off Michiru. "Your call, your highness. Are you going to come with us quietly, or does Ami freeze your favorite pet to death right here?"

"She'll die of exposure in approximately 15.8 seconds," Mercury added, ever the scientist.

Michiru glared, even as she felt her lungs begin to give out. She looked over and saw Haruka. Saw her teeth chatter. Saw her lips turning blue. Saw her fighting with her every effort to free herself.

Michiru cursed her weakness. She let go of the chain and closed her eyes. Venus's grin widened and she let go of the chain, allowing Michiru to breathe again. She took a deep breath and looked at her lover.

"Haruka, enough."

Haruka's eyes widened. "Y-you c-can't be-"

"They have us. They have no qualms about killing us. The princess may not like it if they do, but they will be justified in doing so."

"M-Michi-"

Michiru glared. "I said enough! We have lost."

Michiru bowed her head, taking the slightest moment to shoot Haruka a glance.

Not now. Later.

Haruka's eyes widened briefly, but she soon recovered. She let her head sag. "All right, f-fine, dammit!"

Mercury dropped her hand, and Jupiter reared back and punched the ice. It shattered instantly, causing Haruka to fall to the floor. Mercury and Jupiter grabbed an arm each and hauled Haruka to her feet. Venus made the chain vanish and picked up Michiru's transformation wand, holding it in the same hand as Haruka's.

"Get dressed," she said, her grin turning almost satanic. "Usagi's waiting for you."

–

She rolled onto her side, feeling her ribs shift in ways she was certain they weren't supposed to

move. She grit her teeth as she fought to keep from crying out. She exhaled loudly through her teeth as she rolled onto her front and placed her hands flat on the ground. The pain exploded in her sides as she pushed herself into a sitting position.

She leaned back on her arms, and gazed up at the sky while tried to get her breathing under control. The moon still hung there. Fat and bloated and dominating the sky, blotting out the stars.

It has no RIGHT.

She forced herself to her feet, throwing one arm out for balance as her vision swam and a wave of dizziness and nausea hit her. When it passed, she began slowly trudging down the beach. She had no idea where she was going. She supposed she should look for a hospital, but that would lead to questions, which would lead to the police, which would lead right back to-

It just sits up there. Like it has the right to do so. To lord over all of us here on this rock.

Her lips curled up into a snarl and she forced herself to keep moving forward. She would find somewhere to hide, determine the extent of the damage, and then...

...then the moon would pay for the crime it had committed against her.

–

Usagi, in her Sailor Moon form as always, shifted her position on her throne as the group entered. Jupiter and Mars held Haruka and Michiru, respectively. Mercury took her usual position to the side of the throne, while Venus stepped forward.

"Got 'em for you," she said cheerfully. "Got these too." She tossed the Neptune and Uranus wands across the way. Usagi caught them effortlessly as she rose to her feet. She looked at the wands and smiled. Her cold, wonderful smile.

"I can always count on you, Minako," she said. She looked up and shot Haruka and Michiru a smile that held no mirth. "Unlike some people I could name."

Jupiter and Mars brought their captives forward and forced them to their knees in front of the Moon Princess. Their hands had been bound behind them with flexible plastic restraints of Mercury's design. They had been tested, redesigned and re-tested until even Jupiter was unable to break them. More than sufficient to keep the untransformed lovers from doing much with their hands.

Usagi reached out and cupped Haruka's chin in her hand. Though her eyes never left the older woman, she spoke to Michiru.

"Did you really think I wouldn't find out, Michiru?" she asked, her voice soft and icy. "This one, I could guess would screw up eventually." She lightly slapped Haruka's cheek. Haruka snarled and tried to get to her feet. Jupiter put a hand on her shoulder and forced her back to her knees, holding her in place. Usagi got up and looked down at Michiru.

"But I would have expected you to be more... Ami? What's the word I'm looking for?"

"Loyal," Mercury said, her voice flat as ever.

Usagi smiled again. "Loyal, yes."

She walked around Michiru, Mars stepping back so as not to impede her princess's progress. Usagi put out and hand and let her fingers drag through Michiru's hair. Haruka snarled and tried to get up, but Jupiter channeled a shock into her, causing Haruka to let out a grunt of pain before falling back to her knees.

Michiru remained motionless, refusing to give Usagi the satisfaction of seeing her reaction to anything she was doing. Usagi's fingers slid out of her hair and she leaned over, whispering into her ear.

"Ami belongs to me. Rei belongs to me. Mako belongs to me. Minako belongs to me. And both of you belong to me."

Michiru let out an involuntary grunt as Usagi grabbed her chin and painfully pulled her head back. Michiru's jaw tightened as Usagi's upside-down face entered her vision. The smile was gone, leaving only the cold cruelty that existed under the surface.

"Mine," she hissed. "Not hers. Not yours. MINE."

Usagi's grip clenched around Michiru's throat and began squeezing. Michiru bit the inside of her lip and glared at her princess. Her fists clenched and began straining at the restraints. Her legs tensed, ready to spring her into action.

She didn't get the chance.

–

She staggered, but grit her teeth and forced herself to stay upright. Her ribs screamed again and she put a hand over them. After a moment the pain faded to a dull ache. She looked up and spotted a small brick building by the sidewalk further down the beach.

A rest room.

She took a deep breath and stepped forward. It took her far longer than she liked, her vision swimming, pain and exhaustion radiating through every part of her body, but she eventually staggered into the ladies room, wincing as the fluorescent lighting hit her. She looked around, scanning for anyone else who might have been in the room.

Mercifully, the room was empty. She let out a sigh of relief and staggered to the sink. She turned on the water and began cleaning her hands. She looked up in the mirror and froze.

A large scar ran diagonally across her face, starting from the corner of her right eye, across the bridge of her nose and down to her lower left jaw. Dried blood and sand stuck to the lower part of her face. Bruises and small cuts were scattered across the rest of her face. She stared at her reflection for a while, taking in all the damage.

She blinked and turned on the sink. She scrubbed her face clean of the blood and dirt and watched the pink water and particles swirl down the drain. She took a deep breath and turned to the paper towel dispenser.

Which was empty.

She sighed and looked back in the mirror. Her clothes were just as disheveled as she was. She slighed and pulled her blouse out of her waistband, intending to use the bottom as a towel. She paused as she heard a series of metallic clinks on the tile floor. She looked down and her expression hardened.

The transformation wands lay on the floor, mocking her.

–

Haruka thrust her head back, connecting solidly with Jupiter's nose. Before Usagi's enforcer could react, Haruka rolled back, letting out a scream of pain as she got her arms up and around her feet. She pushed herself sideways, colliding with Usagi. The Moon Princess let out a cry as she fell to the ground. The Neptune and Uranus wands went flying.

Michiru got to her feet and quickly glanced around. Haruka had gotten to her feet and was kicking at Jupiter, trying to keep her from getting up. Mercury and Mars were helping Usagi back to her feet.

Where's Venus?

Golden light flashed in the corner of her eye. Without thinking, Michiru whirled in front of Haruka. She felt a sudden change in the weight behind her adjusted for the change and slid to a stop in front of Haruka.

Venus grinned. "Smooth moves, your highness."

She tossed the Love-Me Chain again. Michiru spun on the ball of her foot and raised her hands as high as she could. The chain hit the restraints and severed them. As soon as she felt her wrists part, Michiru dropped to the ground.

"Kill them both!" Usagi cried. Mercury and Mars let her go and cut loose with their powers. Michiru rolled and Haruka leaped away from Jupiter. The fire and ice struck the lightning senshi, causing her to fly across the room and crash into the far wall. Haruka grabbed Michiru's arm and yanked her upright. Mercury and Mars advanced, fire and ice sparking from their fingertips.

"MOON TIARA SCYTHE!"

A flash of yellow and Michiru's vision whirled as Haruka shoved her to the side. Haruka let out a cry as Usagi's tiara sliced across her chest. The spinning disc of light whirled upward as Haruka fell to the floor. Michiru stared down in horror at her lover.

Blood spread rapidly across Haruka's shirt and ran from the corners of her mouth. She reached up with her bound hands. Michiru dropped to her knees and took them.

"Michi..." Haruka gasped, more blood coming out of her mouth.

"Shhh, Haruka," Michiru said. "Don't speak."

Haruka shook her head. "Last... chance."

Michiru's expression hardened. "It is not. You will not die. I won't allow it."

Haruka's smirk – warm, confident and utterly heartmelting – returned. "...'kay."

She coughed again and a large gout of blood flooded from between her lips. Haruka's eyes rolled back in her head. She shuddered once and was still.

Michiru's eyes narrowed. Her eyebrows came together. She got to her feet and whirled to face her hated former allies. Usagi was smiling again and pointed upward.

Michiru refused to give her the satisfaction of looking. Then another flash of yellow as Usagi's tiara whirled back toward it's mistress, and then a searing pain across her face. Michiru grit her teeth and let out a growl as she fell to the floor.

"Awww, her highness fell down," Venus's mocking voice came from behind her.

Michiru forced her eyes open. She placed her hands on the ground, preparing to push herself up. As she prepared to push, her eyes widened. The Uranus and Neptune wands were only a few feet away, beyond Haruka's body. Beyond that, the picture window that looked out on the bay. She heard the other senshi's footsteps behind her.

"What shall we do with her?" came Mercury's monotone.

"I'm done playing with them," Usagi replied. "Kill her, then dump their bodies in the street. Let everyone see what happens to those who dare to defy me."

Michiru could hear the sneer on Venus's face. "Light her up, ladies."

Michiru pushed off into a run. She ignored the scream of anger behind her. She dashed across the floor, snatching up the transformation wands. She felt heat and cold behind her and she dodged and weaved, operating purely on instinct and muscle memory. The smell of burning ozone hit her nostrils and a flash of light played in her peripheral vision. More angry shouts followed, but the window was directly ahead. She leaped forward brining her head down and using her arms to protect her face. Glass shattered and she felt shards embed themselves in her her arms, legs, and face.

Then, wind rushing past her ears as she fell from the top of the Crystal Tower. She forced her eyes open and watched as she saw the waters of the bay rushing toward her. She closed her eyes and clenched the wands in her hand. She poured all her will into the Neptune wand, hoping it would trigger some of her latent power.

If you ever cared for me. If you ever loved me. Save me.

She hit the water. It was like hitting a slab of concrete. She swore she heard bones shatter as pain radiated through her body. There was the briefest moment of resistance, then she sank into the waters of the bay. Her vision began to darken as she sank deeper and deeper. The sea had forsaken her.

–

But she had lived. She had lived and was in this tiny beach restroom, far from her luxury apartment in the center of the district. Her hair, once long and luxurious, hacked off at an ugly diagonal. A corresponding diagonal wound across her face. Her clothes, the height of Paris couture, waterlogged and shredded from her impact with the window and then the bay. She had lost her shoes.

Her breathing was shallow and came rapidly. She closed her eyes and forced herself to calm down. She was Michiru Kaioh. No matter what had happened to her. No matter what the world told her. No matter what the petulant Moon whined and screamed at her, she was, forever and always, Michiru Kaioh.

And Michiru Kaioh always paid in kind.

She grabbed the transformation wands from the floor. She stared at the Uranus wand. Justice demanded it. The universe demanded it. Haruka would demand it.

But she was Michiru Kaioh. And Michiru Kaioh would do this her way. Silent. Subtle. Stealthy.

The Moon would only learn of her survival on the day Michiru cut her throat.

She pocketed the Uranus wand. The Moon held no claim on it anymore. She would keep it safe. She glared at the Neptune wand. She would have preferred to do this on her own, without any trace of the curse that had taken everything from her. However, her injuries needed to be healed quickly and, no matter how much she hated it, that was one thing that Sailor Neptune could do that Michiru Kaioh couldn't.

And in the event the Moon's assassins decided to hunt her down, she would need every advantage she could get. Swallowing her disgust she raised the wand as high as she could, ignoring her screaming ribs.

"NEPTUNE ECLIPSE POWER, MAKE UP!"

She felt the magic coursing through her, suffusing her cells. She felt her bones straighten and knit. Her pain vanished, starting from her feet and rushing up her body. She began to feel a tingling in her face and she frowned.

No. That stays.

She concentrated her willpower, fighting against the magic which tried to repair her face. The transformation completed, leaving her in the black fuku, and sea green skirt, collar, and shoes of Sailor Neptune. The dark blue bow in the front was held in place by a heart-shaped clasp with a large crack down the center.

Michiru looked at herself in the mirror and nodded in satisfaction at the healed, but still highly visible, scar running diagonally across her face. She flexed her fingers and her limbs, testing her mobility. Satisfied, she turned and stalked out of the restroom. She looked up at the bloated, hated Moon. She would bide her time. She would watch from the shadows. As soon as the opportunity presented itself, she would feel the Moon's blood gush over her hands.

Afterward, she and Haruka would be reunited.

The Moon may have ruled the sky, but the Earth was dominated by the sea. And the sea always took what it was owed.