Genesis, Chapter 1
By Distant Sky King 
Rated R 

All standard disclaimers apply. 

Author's Note: 
This fanfiction is an attempt to tell the story of how Haruka and Michiru 
initially met during the Silver Millennium. Parts of this story may be too 
mature for younger audiences, so if you're under 18 or don't think you can 
handle adult situations, turn back now. 

Chapter 6
	
	Uranus was perched on her windowsill, staring intently out her 
bedroom window.  Her brother had just been in to see her and helped 
her across the room to her window at her stubborn request.  It pained 
her a little to use her body, but it had been a week since her 
accident and she was going crazy staring at her ceiling day after 
day.  The doctor probably would be back soon and lecture her on 
staying completely still until her ribs had had ample time to heal, 
but that was the furthest from her mind.  The scene below her window 
was what engaged her now.
	The Princess of Neptune was painting a very lovely picture of the palace 
gardens.  Uranus recognized her favorite oak even from her distance, and watched 
as the aqua-haired girl carefully applied paint to the canvas with 
loving strokes.  She stood for a moment and regarded her creation, and 
satisfied, set her palette on the grass and chose a rather sharp looking tool 
from her paint-smudged box.  With a flourish she carved her signature into the 
wet paint and nodded to herself.
	Uranus watched the whole scene with a smile.  It warmed her to see her 
friend enjoying her activities and wished direly to be out there with her.  It 
was odd, but ever since her unfortunate accident Uranus had felt herself growing 
closer to Neptune, despite her brain's insistent warnings.  
	Neptune was there when Uranus had finally woken up three days before.  She 
had no idea it was possible for someone to sleep for four days, especially 
herself, but the doctor informed her that it was quite common for the human body 
to shut down like that when stressed.  Four days of sleep, and she still felt 
tired.  Neptune was there the whole time, fussing over her and startling 
whenever she uttered any volume of complaint.  She wasn't really comfortable 
with the girl being at her beck and call, but she was grateful for the time she 
was able to spend with her, albeit very restricted.  Neptune cared for her with 
a diligence even the doctor had remarked over.  He said she should be grateful 
to have such a good friend.  In a way, she was.
	Friendship was strange, Uranus thought wryly.  What she felt for the 
Princess of Neptune was definitely stronger than friendship, and the past few 
days increased it so that it was now bordering on love.  Every touch, every 
smile, every word she said drove her absolutely insane for want of her.  And it 
wasn't just desire--she knew that and could handle it.  It was the strange and 
new phenomenon known as love.
	Why am I falling in love with her?  Uranus asked herself for the fifth 
time that day, bypassing her usual "this isn't right" introspective.  She was 
through with arguing about that aspect of herself.  She now fully accepted the 
fact that she was falling for the aqua-haired beauty from Neptune, and fast.  
She hadn't done anything remarkable but be her friend and care for her in her 
time of need, no matter how much it injured her pride.  But she was gentle, and 
kind.  Her soul seemed to shine with the light of a thousand tiny stars, and 
whenever she smiled she thought the world would sing.  She was beautiful inside 
as well as out and perfect in every way.  Uranus laughed at herself for having 
such poetic thoughts.  Never in her life had she ever waxed poetic, but she 
found it somewhat fitting now.  Being cooped up in her room gave her a lot of 
time to think and come to terms with certain aspects of her life.
	As if she knew Uranus was thinking about her, Neptune looked up to her 
window and waved excitedly when she spotted the blonde watching her.  Uranus 
didn't expect her to notice her watching, and hesitantly put her hand on the 
glass windowpane in silent, surprised response.  Neptune beamed up at her and 
gathered her painting supplies hastily, then disappeared through a doorway.
	Uranus let her hand slide down the glass as her mind began reeling.  
Neptune was on her way up to see her, she was sure of it.  Even though she had 
finally accepted her attraction to the beautiful girl, could she hide it?  Now 
that she was fully aware of her feelings she knew that there would soon be a day 
when her guard would fall and something regrettable would happen.  Then she'd be 
sans a wonderful friend.  Best to keep it to herself.
	As predicted, Neptune came rushing into Uranus's room through the bathroom 
after discarding her painting supplies.  Neptune smiled warmly at the blonde 
resting on the window seat.  She looked much better than she had the previous 
days.  The color was back in her face and the green eyes were bright once more, 
no longer dulled with pain.  Every time she looked at the tomboy guilt and icy 
fear gripped her heart, but after a long apology and conversation when she had 
finally awoke, everything was set to rights.  Haruka didn't hold anything 
against her and assured her that though the accident was strange, it could have 
happened to anyone.  Neptune didn't know whether to believe her or not, but 
seeing her sitting on the window seat reassured her that everything would be 
fine.  Haruka on the window seat.  Window seat.
	"Haruka!" she exclaimed, her blue eyes widening.  "What do you think 
you're doing out of bed?"
	The blonde grinned at her friend rather sheepishly and rested her head 
back against the marble wall.  "I couldn't take staring at the ceiling any 
longer, so I had Orion carry me over this morning."
	Neptune shook her head in exasperation.  "You know the doctor will be 
angry when he finds you here," she warned.
	"I know, I know," Haruka sighed and ran a hand through her short hair.
	The other girl's face softened a bit and she smiled.  "You're impatient," 
she noted, amused.  "I don't think even Queen Serenity's orders could keep you 
caged up for long."
	"I'm afraid not," Uranus chuckled quietly.
	"Do you need anything?"
	She shook her blonde head.  "Thanks, but Orion and the others already 
brought me enough supplies to last me until the next millennium."  She pointed 
toward a chair next to her bed teeming with items. 
	Neptune stepped over to the chair and picked up a rather silly looking 
girly fashion magazine.  "Interesting reading," she commented with a giggle.
	"Venus brought me that," Uranus replied, rolling her green eyes.  "She 
seems to have the strange notion that I'm in the market for a new dress."
	"And these?"  The aqua haired beauty gestured toward a stack of thick 
books.
	"Mercury."
	"And let me guess...the paper wards on the wall are from Mars, the fluffy 
blue pillows from Jupiter, and the piles of food from Princess Serenity?"
	"You got it."
	"Those girls are too much," Neptune said, smiling.  "You should talk to 
them more often.  They really do care about you.  And speaking or Orion, could 
you let him know that I am free next Friday?"
	Uranus's heart dropped into her stomach.  "A second date?" she asked 
quietly.
	Neptune shook her lovely head.  "No, the first.  In light of the current 
situation we thought it best to wait a bit."
	"Oh."
	"Are you sure you're all right?  You look pale all of a sudden."
	Observant.  The blonde nodded quickly.  "What were you painting outside?" 
she asked, effectively changing the subject.  Damn Orion.
	Neptune smiled shyly and placed the fashion magazine back on the chair.  
"I was hoping you didn't notice," she said quietly, a slight flush staining her 
cheeks attractively.  "I was going to wait until it dried before I gave it to 
you."
	Uranus blinked in surprise.  That beautiful painting was a gift...for her?  
Why?
	"I thought that since you can't go outdoors, I'd bring the outdoors to 
you," the other princess answered her unspoken question.
	Uranus blinked again and felt the color rising in her cheeks.  "I don't 
know what to say," she murmured.  The pattern on her blanket suddenly became 
very interesting.
	"Just tell me where to hang it," Neptune breathed.

	"Uri, I have a problem," Orion blurt out as soon as the door closed behind 
him.  He looked about the room wildly.
	"So what's new?" Uranus muttered.  
	"I'm serious, Uri," he said, seating himself on the window seat beside 
her, his back facing her.  His leg immediately started shaking.
	"About what?" Uranus asked flatly, still reading her book.  She knew what 
he was nervous about but didn't really care to talk about it.
	"My date!"
	"Oh.  That."
	"What am I going to do?" he wailed, burying his face in his hands.  "I 
can't go through with this!"
	"Then don't."  She hoped she didn't sound too hopeful.
	"But I can't back out now!  Princess Neptune will hate me!"
	"How do you know she won't hate you after the date?"  As soon as she said 
it Uranus realized that it was the wrong thing to say.  She wanted to take it 
back, but it was too late.  Damn her jealousy.  "Orion," she started, dropping 
her book into her lap.  "I'm sorry.  I didn't mean that.  She won't hate you."
"How can you be so sure?" he asked her quietly.  "What chance do I have 
with a beautiful princess when my own sister won't even give me the time of day 
anymore?"
	Uranus was stunned.  What the hell was going on?  "Orion?"  She placed her 
hand on his shoulder and pulled him around so she could look him in the eyes.
	"I'm sorry," he whispered.  "I didn't mean that."
	"You did."
	He closed his green eyes and nodded slowly.  "You've been spending so much 
time with her lately I've hardly seen you," he told her quietly.  "Believe it or 
not, but you're the only one I can really talk to around here."
	Truth to tell, Uranus hadn't noticed how much time she'd been spending 
with Neptune.  Now that her brother so woefully pointed it out she was ashamed 
she'd ignored him.  She should have seen this coming.  She wrapped her arms 
around him, and despite the throbbing pain in her chest she hugged him in silent 
apology.  
	Orion accepted it, allowing his sister to hold him, something she hadn't 
done since they were children.  "I forgot how nice your hugs were," he murmured 
into her shoulder.
	Uranus chuckled.  "Don't get used to it," she told him jokingly.  "Do you 
feel better?"
	"Not really.  I'm still really nervous."
	"You'll be fine."
	He pulled himself from his sister's embrace and shook his head in 
disagreement.  "It's pretty bad, Uri.  Every time I see her I feel like I'm 
going to throw up."
	"Somehow I don't think that's a reaction girls look for," she told him 
wryly.
	All Orion could do was shake his head again.
	"If you're that nervous, why don't you cancel?  I'm sure she'll 
understand."
	Orion's blonde head shot up and he looked at his sister with wonder in his 
eyes.  "I think I have a better idea," he breathed.
	"Oh no," Uranus replied, holding up her hands.  She recognized the 
mischievous look in his eyes.  "No way.  I'm not going to do it."
	"Come on, Uri!" he begged.
	"No!  It won't work!"
	"How do you know?"
	"This stuff only works on television!"
	"That doesn't mean it can't work!"
	"It's evidence enough for me!"
	"You owe me!"
	Uranus glared at her twin, wishing him a slow, painful death.

	Two hours later Uranus walked stiffly out to the bridge spanning the pond, 
wearing her brother's clothes and cursing the day he was born.  How he thought 
that she could pass as him was beyond her.  Did he think Neptune was stupid?  
Sure, they were twins, but there were subtle differences between them, such as 
breasts, hips, and facial hair, not to mention personalities as different as 
night and day.  Neptune would be able to tell in an instant, which is why Uranus 
decided to turn her brother in as soon as she saw her.  Ungrateful swine.
	Uranus shifted uncomfortably in the white button-down shirt and green suit 
coat she'd donned for the occasion.  After fussing with it for about half an 
hour she and her brother decided that her female attributes were too obvious.  
Her ribs were still wrapped in bandages, which gave Orion the idea to wrap the 
rest of her as well.  It worked, but it was really itchy and hard to breathe.  
To remove the illusion of her hips she left her shirt untucked, but the peach 
fuzz on her brother's face couldn't be replicated.  It didn't really matter 
anyway, because Uranus was going to tell the truth.
	Uranus sighed and ran a nervous hand through her short blonde hair, then 
planted her hands firmly on the railing, overlooking the pond.  Why had she 
agreed to this?  Why did she constantly allow herself to get sucked into her 
brother's lame schemes?  How could she be so stupid?
	"Ara, have you been waiting long?" Neptune's mild voice came from behind.
	Uranus whirled around and met the lovely girl's blue-eyed gaze.  "Uh, no," 
she breathed.  "Not long at all."  Her heart threatened to pound its way up 
through her throat.
	Neptune nodded and narrowed her eyes.  "Are you well?" she asked with 
concern.
	"I'm fine, really," the blonde said a little too quickly.  Okay, no more 
beating around the bush.  Time to tell her.  "Neptune, I--"
	"You don't need to tell me," she cut in quietly, dropping her gaze to the 
wooden bridge below her feet.  "I know all about it."
	Uranus sighed and slumped her shoulders in relief.  "You do?" she asked.
	"Yes.  Venus told me."
	"She did?"  What was going on?
	"I know you two had a past and I'm willing to forget all about it," 
Neptune continued, oblivious to the blonde's horrified expression.  She looked 
up and met Uranus's green-eyed gaze and smiled winningly.
	"No, that's not-"
	"Please believe me, Prince Orion."
	Prince Orion?  Could Neptune really be this naﶥ?  I thought she knew me 
better than this, Uranus thought darkly.  I guess I was wrong.
	"Are you sure you're all right?" Neptune asked again.
	Uranus nodded and smiled slightly.  Extending her arm to the beautiful 
girl she decided that telling her could wait.  She really didn't relish the 
thought of shattering her evening by telling her that Orion was a spineless 
fool.  With any luck she could get through it without revealing her deceiving 
identity.
	Neptune took the offered arm and with a smile led the tall blonde over the 
bridge and to a picnic blanket set up next to the bank of the pond.  A medium-
sized basket was in the center of the blanket, dishes and silverware set up 
beside it.  A tall torch guttered nearby, casting the area with a dim, ruddy 
light.  It was a warm and welcoming sight, and had Uranus been exposed to it 
under other circumstances she may have enjoyed it.
	"What's all this?" she asked, slightly surprised.
	"Princess Jupiter heard about our date and set everything up," Neptune 
replied with a mischievous sparkle in her ocean blue eyes.  "Isn't she 
wonderful?"
	Uranus swallowed a lump that had suddenly risen in her throat.  The whole 
scene reminded her of something she had read about in Minako's fashion magazine.  
The blanket by the pond, the torchlight, the homemade food...it all smelled 
suspiciously of romance.  Orion never told her that this could happen.  She was 
under the impression that this was just supposed to be a kind of meet-and-greet 
get-to-know-you date.  What if everything went well?  Would Neptune be expecting 
a kiss?  She broke into a cold sweat at the thought.  Kissing Neptune would be a 
dream come true, but it would also be the ultimate deception.  She silently 
damned her brother for the second time that night.
	"Aren't you going to sit down?" Neptune asked mildly from her seat on the 
blanket.
	Uranus snapped out of her panic-induced daze and dropped herself rather 
nervously on the blanket across from the smiling princess.  She crossed her legs 
under her and averted her eyes to avoid the other girl's sparkling gaze.
	"Chicken?" Neptune asked, holding out a bowl of fried legs and wings.
	"No, thank you," she muttered.  That's it.  Here goes.  "Neptune, I didn't 
come here for food," she said quietly, keeping her eyes focused on her lap.
	"I know."  Neptune's voice was just as quiet but didn't sound 
disappointed.  Something else was in her voice, and what it was exactly, Uranus 
couldn't tell.  The aqua-haired princess set the bowl of chicken back on the 
blanket and slowly crept over to the furiously blushing Uranus.
	Uranus didn't notice the other girl advance and proceeded to talk into her 
lap.  "I have something really important to tell you," she admitted with a sigh.
	"Mmhm."
	Uranus's head shot up in terror as she suddenly became aware of another 
person's presence beside her.  She felt Neptune's body heat reacting with her 
own as if it were a furnace.  Her green eyes locked with blue and widened as 
they got closer, and closer, and closer...until she felt warm hands on her 
shoulders and even warmer lips pressed to her own.  A thrill of excitement raced 
through her body as Neptune pressed her lithe body against her and slid her 
hands from her shoulders and wrapped them around her neck.  Overtaken by this 
amazing new feeling rushing through her she forgot that it was all a lie and 
kissed the wonderful girl back.  It was sweet, electric, euphoric, and 
transmitted all her pent-up feelings to the other without words.  But soon, it 
had to end.  
	Neptune pulled her lips away slowly and regarded the blonde with a 
smoldering, heavy-lidded gaze.  How a fourteen year old girl could manage such 
a seductive expression was beyond Uranus.  Suddenly and horribly, she remembered 
herself.
	"I'm sorry, Neptune," she croaked.  "I have to go."  She unwound the 
startled girl's arms from around her neck and jumped to her feet and headed 
swiftly for the palace.
	"Wait!" Neptune cried after her, but it was too late.  Uranus had 
disappeared.

	Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck!  What the hell was she 
thinking?  How the hell could she allow herself to get sucked into that 
situation?  She took advantage of one of the few people she actually, truly 
loved, and she felt dirty.  It was wrong, all wrong.  That kiss was meant for 
her brother and she took it without thinking!  Fuck!
	Uranus kicked open her chamber door and slammed it shut behind her.  
Without even pausing to close her curtains, she viciously ripped off her 
clothing and headed for the bathroom.  She felt so dirty.  She needed to cleanse 
her body of the terrible deed she'd committed.
	She turned on the water and threw herself into the shower without even 
giving it time to properly heat.  She placed her hands on the shower wall to 
support herself and leaned into the stream as the chilly water poured down her 
muscled back.  It was cold, but she deserved it.  Dammit, she was a fool.  She 
should never have agreed to such a brainless plot.  Damn her brother for putting 
her up to it and damn her guilty conscience for going along with it.  And most 
of all, damn her for enjoying every sweet moment of it.
	She *had* enjoyed it.  In fact, she wanted more but knew dismally that it 
could never be.  The almost-forgotten joke that God had played on her sprang 
back into her mind and she chuckled ruefully at its memory.  Very funny.  Very, 
very funny.
	Frustrated, soaked, and chilled to the bone Uranus rather violently 
switched off the water and grabbed a towel to dry herself off and perhaps rub 
some warmth back into her body.  Damn him, damn her, damn these fucking human 
emotions!  Damn whatever force made me love her and God fucking damn me for 
letting my guard down!  Well, no more!  She stormed back into her room and threw 
the towel to the floor.  Rummaging through her wardrobe she found a white tank 
top and yanked it over her head, then pulled out a pair of her running shorts.  
Forgetting to wrap her torso and ignoring the dull ache in her chest, she 
grabbed her shoes and made for the door.  She needed to let off some steam.

	Neptune hesitated in front of the heavy wood door that separated Uranus's 
room from the bathroom.  She had to tell her what really happened, but she was 
afraid.  Steeling herself, she rapped her knuckles on the door and waited for a 
response.  When it didn't come she knocked louder, and again and again until she 
realized that she was pounding on the door in a panic.  She stopped when her 
fist began to throb and burn, and flung open the door.
	The yawning darkness of the room before her made her freeze in her tracks.  
She had always been a little afraid of the dark.  She was ashamed of her 
childish fear and had no good reason to support why she should be afraid of it, 
but it made her uneasy nonetheless.  Swallowing the fear that rose in her 
throat, she groped along the wall for a light switch, and upon finding it, 
flipped it on.  The room instantly came alight to reveal a rumpled towel and 
other articles of clothing on the floor, a wide-open wardrobe, and a pair of 
shoes...but no Uranus.  Panic swelled in her again as her intuition told her 
that something was very, very wrong.

	Thoughts and curses flew out of her head as she pounded along the paths of 
the darkened gardens.  Somewhere along the line night had fallen, and while that 
would have normally made her running difficult, Uranus welcomed the challenge.  
She needed something to occupy her mind and help erase all the awful thoughts 
and feelings that possessed her.    
	It was working.  Albeit very slowly, but it was working.  Her anger calmed 
and ebbed until it eventually disappeared, but was soon replaced by depression.  
It was then that she became aware of the terrible pain gripping her chest.  She 
stopped running and fought for air as her breathing became more difficult and 
dropped to her knees, wrapping her arms around her wounded body.  Too soon, she 
told herself, but too late.  The world began to spin.

	An anguished cry startled the sentry from his daydream.  He looked about 
himself frantically and signaled to his partner, who obviously had also heard 
the noise.  After reporting to their superior they brandished their swords and 
dashed off into the night in search of who, or what, made the terrible sound.  
It came again, this time more muffled and followed by others in rapid 
succession.  It sounded like crying.  
	What they found in the garden that night would stay with them forever.  
There, beneath the giant oak, sat a sobbing Princess Neptune with an unconscious 
Princess Uranus cradled gently in her arms, a trail of blood trickling from her 
mouth.



End Note:

And thus we have the long-anticipated Chapter 6.  It's not a very happy part of 
the story and I really didn't set out to make it as depressing as it is...but 
once I got started on this track it was hard to tear myself away.  I may revise 
this because I'm not too happy with it.  Oh well.  That's what happens when you 
don't have enough time to produce quality work.

Send anything to distantskyking@moonkingdom.com.  Word.