[mirage]
                                                     seen by Ducky



   mirage (mi räzh') n. an optical illusion, caused by the 
   refraction of light, in which a distant object appears  
   nearby 



       (She felt like things were slowing down.)

                                   ('Are you okay?')

           (Concerned.  But she saw something else in his eyes.)

                                         (It chilled her.)

                  ('Just tired.')

                      (Trying to be nonchalant.)

  
(Wondering what exactly she had gotten herself into.)



                                    [act 02: transitions // begin]



He looked so fragile.

Haruka lingered at the doorway, watching him.  Watching her.  It 
hurt to see them like this.  

So very fragile.

She sighed.  Spoke quietly

  'How is she?'

She winced as he started, tore his eyes away from Usagi to look up
at her.  She saw Mamoru in his eyes.  Saw the pain, the anguish, 
the waning hope.  A fire stirred within her.  

     This isn't fair.

Haruka moved to sit at the chair beside him.  They watched in 
silence.

  'You should get some sleep.'

He looked like hell.  

  'I can't.'

She could hear it in his voice, could hear the 

  'I don't want to wake up ... and find her gone.'

shattering of his soul.

She closed her eyes against the sound.

So fragile.

     I can't watch them slip away.  

Emerald eyes opened, dark with resolve.  The fire was raging now.  

  'We're going to get her back.'

Mamoru turned to her.  Heard something in her voice.  A note of 
finality, of decision.  A promise.  Saw in her eyes a strength 
that he could not help but respond to.

And felt something change.

They sat, silent.

     I'm going to hold you to that, Haruka.

She nodded.

     I know.

He nodded.  Looked away.  Continued watching.  

A little less fragile.

  'We've got trouble.'

They were getting tired.

The daemon seemed to know this.  It laughed and let loose another 
set of deadly blades.  For the past half-hour they had been 
dodging its seemingly endless supply of blades, unable to get 
close enough to attack.  

They were covered in cuts and bruises, armed only with second-hand 
weapons that Haruka had kept from her 'younger years'.  Haruka 
herself was noticeably absent so they were left waiting. 

And Makoto was tired of waiting. 

It was turning, focusing on Minako and Rei.  She would only have a 
couple of seconds.

     Now.

She ran.  Headed straight for the daemon.  

Michiru saw her.  Sensed something wrong.  

Eyes opened in the back of its head.  Saw Makoto.  Pinned her with 
its stare.

     Shit.

Then she was hitting the ground.  Pain screaming through her body.
Ami was yelling at her to get up.  

She couldn't.

Michiru was suddenly there.  She grabbed her and jumped.  The 
ground exploded where they were.

But they didn't see the second arm.  It swung down and caught them 
both in midair, knocking them hard to the ground. They were still 
for too long of a moment.

Michiru heard it laugh again. Sensed the blades.  Knew that 
neither she nor Makoto could get out of the way in time.  

     No.

A blur crossed her vision. 

The blades gone.

     Haruka.

She was already rolling to her feet, turning, arm cocked back.  
The blades in her hand.  

She let them fly.  Nailed him in the eyes.

It dissolved into nothing. Leaving them alone. A stunned silence 
fell.

A moan brought Michiru's attention back to Makoto.  The daemon had 
spun around when it saw her, slamming its arm right into her head.   
A bruise was already beginning to form.

Footsteps made her look up. The other girls gathered around, 
needing the closeness.  Michiru saw Haruka standing apart from 
them.  She detached herself to go to her.  But stopped short.

  'Your hand ...'

Blood was dripping down her fingertips.  Haruka glanced down at 
it.  Shrugged.  

  'I've had worse.'

Michiru looked at her.  Hesitated. 

She reached out and took her hand within her own.  Pulled out a 
handkerchief from her pocket and wrapped the wound as neatly as 
she could.  Not saying anything.  

Finished, she drew back.  They regarded each other in silence.  
Feeling something.   

  'Thanks.'

Michiru just smiled.
 
  'No.  You're not coming.'

Makoto all but growled.  She was being held captive in her own 
bed. She waved a bandaged arm around.

  'Look - I'm fine, you guys.'

Ami sighed.  

  'It's not safe for you to go out with an injury like this.  Head
   wounds are dangerous.'

Makoto scowled.

  'I feel fine.'

  'That's because you're laying down.'

  'You want me to prove it to you?!'

She started to get up, only to be pushed back down.  Gently, but 
firmly.  She looked up.  Startled to see Haruka standing over her.  
Her eyes unusually gentle.

  'You should listen to her, Makoto.  You might make it worse.'

Haruka felt Michiru's eyes on her.  Knew that she was remembering
the same incident. 

     16 again.

Makoto sighed.  Loudly.

  'Fine.'

Ami shook her head at the grumbling.  Glanced at Haruka.

     Thanks.

Haruka let a smile touch her lips.

     No problem.

They were going to leave soon.  Ami had found that there had been 
several other cases similar to Usagi's.  No other information had 
been given.  

So they were going to find the rest.

She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes.  Was out in an 
instant.

A warmth at her shoulder brought her out of her slight doze.

Michiru looked at her.  Concerned.

  'Why don't you stay here with Makoto?'

Haruka rubbed her eyes.  She hadn't slept at all last night.  Had 
driven to Michiru's.  Then driven back.  Dropped Michiru off with 
the girls.  Went to the hospital.  Raced to the fight.  

She was completely exhausted.  But -

  'There's work to be done.'

Michiru had to keep from rolling her eyes.

     Some things don't change.

Then felt a slight pang at the thought.  Knowing just how much had 
changed.

Haruka saw the shadows forming in her eyes.

  'Hey.'

Michiru blinked.  

  'Hm?'

Haruka shifted.

  'You okay?'

Hating the awkwardness.

Blue eyes cleared as she smiled.

  'I'm okay.'

Then an eyebrow quirked.

  'You, however, are not.'

  'I'm fine, Michiru.'

Michiru just looked at her.  Knowing.

And for a moment, they were 16 again.

Haruka let out a breath.

  'All right.'

     Some things don't change.



                                      [act 02: transitions // end]

     



Ducky
28 May 2003 - 19 June 2003