*Every generation *Blames the one before *And all of their frustration *Come beating on your door Silence echoed through the rooms of the mansion. Hotaru, now 14, was out at school, Setsuna off doing... whatever Setsuna did, and Haruka... Michiru bit her lip. Haruka had taken Kaze to see the Senshi, giving Michiru 'rest.' Kaze had been home for three weeks, and Michiru was learning the trials and joys of motherhood. She arched her back, stretching briefly before her aching breasts caused her any more pain. Kaze was not a heavy eater, therefore Michiru's breasts remained heavy with milk most of the day. This was one of those trials, right up there with 2 hour bouts of sleep at night. Haruka was wonderful, a doting parent and courteous partner. Michiru stood, yawned and went to the bathroom. She stood, nude, in front of the large mirror, examining her body. She had changed in the past year. Her breasts had increased by a full cup size, her hips had spread slightly offering more curves to her frame. Her belly, once smooth and concave, now showed the tiniest stretch marks and had its own curve to it. Her eyes were clouded, dark... lack of sleep. Michiru slipped into the hot water of the tub, allowing the water to carry the extra weight of her breasts. The hot water, as well as the weightlessness offered, caused Michiru to let out a loud sigh of relief. Sitting in the hot tub, relaxing away, Michiru thought back over the past ten months. A long span of time. Full of new wonders and old heartaches. *I know that I'm a prisoner *To all my father held so dear *I know that I'm a hostage *To all his hopes and fears *I just wish I could have told him *In the living years Michiru had stood on her parents' doorstep a second time. Three years ago she had come to this house, due to her father's declining health. It was in her father's study she stood for her second confrontation. She had finally told her mother she was involved with a woman. She refused to change her mind and marry Ichiro. Her mother had condemned her, scorching words and ushered her out of the house. She took a deep breath and rang the bell, her heart racing. She wished she had asked Haruka to come with her. She had wanted to, but this was something Michiru had to set right on her own. The door opened, revealing her aging mother. Keiko's eyes widened as she took in the site of her twenty-year-old daughter. "Mama? May I come in?" Michiru was surprised at how small her voice sounded. She felt fourteen again, defying the parents she loved. But, this was a time of joy -- not for rehashing past regrets. Keiko stood still for a moment, then let out her breath. "Come in, Michiru." Michiru entered the entryway, her heels clacking loudly on the marble floors. She knew from her sources that her mother had dismissed all but necessary staff since her father's stroke six months ago. Upstairs she heard the nurse moving around. She knew there was a maid and a cook somewhere. That was it. The house was silent. Her mother motioned her to the sitting room, asking if Michiru wanted some tea. Michiru's stomach, rolling from nervousness and her early pregnancy, declined. They sat in silence for ten or so minutes, each searching for the right words. Michiru cleared her throat. "Mama... I have some important news for you and Papa. I... umm... I am... My partner and I had a ceremony... she and I are committed... umm... I mean..." she looked up at her mother. "I'm pregnant." Keiko blinked once... twice... and then looked down to Michiru's belly. Almost breathlessly, "Pregnant?" Michiru looked up. "Yes. It's due in November. Haruka and I --" Keiko cut off Michiru. "Haruka? Is that her name?" Michiru nodded quickly. "Tenou Haruka." "Does she treat you well?" Michiru looked up into her mother's eyes. Something between them healed then. Her voice shaking, Michiru answered. "Yes. She does." Keiko nodded. "I will speak with your father. I would like for you to bring Haruka here for dinner soon." She stood up, dismissing Michiru. "How does Saturday sound?" Michiru bit her lip, nodding. "Dinner same time as always?" Keiko smiled. "As always." She approached her daughter, looking up at her and then reached out and drew her into a hug. Michiru broke, her tears running down her face. *Crumpled bits of paper *Filled with imperfect thought *Stilted conversations *I'm afraid that's all we've got *You say you just don't see it *He says it's perfect sense *You just can't get agreement *In this present tense *We all talk a different language *Talking in defense "Haruka?" Michiru turned the television off. "I would like to tell you something." Haruka looked up at Michiru and nodded, "Alright." "When I was 14 I defied my parents. I knew about you and I knew I had to find you. I was promised to my father's named heir, I was supposed to marry him when I was sixteen. I refused. There was a rift... and I only lengthened it when I went to my mother three years ago and told her I was with a woman. Then, when we found out we were having a baby... I went to them again." Michiru looked up, taking in a long shuddering breath. "Mother would like to meet you. She would like us to come for dinner this Saturday." Minutes ticked by. Michiru fidgeted slightly, wondering what Haruka was thinking. Just when she thought she would scream, Haruka's lips turned upward in her little smirk. "I would love to meet your parents, Michiru." Relief washed over Michiru's strained features. She smiled broadly, pouncing on Haruka and giggling. "They will love you as much as I do!" Haruka held onto the sea-scented woman tight, closing her eyes and thinking, 'We can only hope.' *** Michiru stood nervously on the front step, chewing her lip. She would glance over at Haruka every few seconds. Her partner was so cool and collected about meeting the parents... Michiru just wished her stomach would unknot itself. Her mother had seemed so enthusiastic, she just worried about her father. His stroke had left him a mumbling, frail man who had all his wits about him. Holding Haruka's hand tight, Michiru tried not to jump when the door opened. "Michiru." Her mother smiled softly. Her eyes looked up to Haruka. "Welcome." She motioned for them to enter the house. *So we open up a quarrel *Between the present and the past *We only sacrifice the future *It's the bitterness that lasts *So don't yield to the fortunes *You sometimes see as fate *It may have a new perspective *On a different day *And if you don't give up *And don't give in *You may just be ok Sitting in her hospital bed, Michiru had hoped the child within her would help mend some of the wounds she had caused. Michiru rested her hands on her belly, feeling the child move. The past week had been so frightening. She had almost lost the baby. But, no. She had arrived for dinner that night and saw he gleam in her silent father's eye. It never left Haruka, he never acknowledged her. He mumbled things Keiko interpreted for them. He wanted to know what Michiru was doing with herself, how she was, was she alright, how had she been? Michiru dutifully answered all of them. She wished now she hadn't. Her mother had not told her father that she was pregnant. So, when Michiru mentioned the upcoming doctor visits and such, her father's face became red. Very red. He sputtered and flapped his arms. Haruka stood as Kieko and Michiru had, walking to take Michiru's hand. Kaioh-san just seemed more enraged. He demanded to leave the presence of the abomination of his flesh. Michiru had been reduced to tears. Keiko came back downstairs an hour later, never looking at her daughter. She suggested Michiru come back, alone, sometime later. Perhaps then he would have calmed down. Until then, she felt they should just go on home. She would call Michiru. Michiru and Haruka had gone home. Thinking back, Michiru smiled remembering how Haruka had tried so hard to console her pregnant lover. Emotions already high from the baby, but for Michiru's family problems to manifest again... Haruka had tried her best. Michiru was thankful for the blonde's love of her. She didn't know what she would do without her. Michiru looked to the clock. Haruka should arrive soon to keep her company. Michiru sighed. Her mother had called a week and a half ago. Haruka and Michiru had just finished putting the nursery together, Michiru had passed her seventh month mark. They were excited. Her mother had called and asked her to come to the house. Alone. Michiru had dressed and gone, excited to know her father wanted to see her again. She left the house broken. Her father had said he had disowned her. He had no child and he had no grandchild. That night she had woke up with blood covering her legs and sheets. Haruka had rushed her to the hospital and they were able to stop the labor. She was to stay in the hospital for another week and a half. The time dragged. When the doctor came in yesterday he had told her the labor was brought on by increased hormone levels from stress. Michiru had to take it easy. *I wasn't there that morning *When my father passed away *I didn't get to tell him *All the things I had to say *I think I caught his spirit *Later that same year *I'm sure I heard his echo *In my baby's new born tears *I just wish I could have told him *In the living years It had been three weeks since she had the baby. Kaze was a sweet child. Michiru blinked. Everyone should be getting back soon. She finished putting on her stockings and slipped on the black shoes. Haruka would just put on her suit, it wouldn't take her long to get ready. She heard the front door open, Setsuna's voice telling Hotaru to change quickly. Kaze shrieked as she was handed from someone to another. Michiru stood and looked at her reflection. She was in all black. Long dress of soft, dark material. It clung to her even more ample bust and hugged at her fuller hips. Motherhood had caused Michiru to gain more curves. Haruka loved them. Michiru wore them like a badge of honor. She had endured much for their daughter. She just hated she could bear no more children. During the cesarean they had to remove her uterus, too much damage. No more children for them. She just hadn't told Haruka that yet. Haruka came up behind her. "Ready, love?" Michiru's eyes filled with tears as she nodded. Her father was being buried today. His ashes were, anyway. Her mother had been kind enough to hold off the funeral until she was well enough to attend. And that was today. Taking Haruka's hand Michiru walked to the hallway. There they met up with Hotaru, Setsuna and Kaze. Setsuna handed Michiru Kaze, dressed in black just like everyone else, and the family of five started down the stairs to the limo waiting outside for them. So much she had wanted to say to him. She had loved her father. Now, at the age of 22 she understood he had only wanted what was best for her. He just never understood her destiny, her loves. But it was too late for him to know all her secrets. Too late for him to know her love or the love of his granddaughter. Too late for her to know him and his life, for them to have been a family. Too late for so many things. Closer they got to the cemetery the heavier Michiru's heart felt. She held Kaze close to her. The cool November wind blowing outside the windows, the overcast sky... she just wanted to snuggle into bed with Kaze and Haruka and close out the world, close out her sadness and loss. The door opened and a hand offered her assistance out of the limo. Michiru took her place on the left side of the burial area, her mother to her left, Haruka to her right, and all the Senshi standing behind her. One more large, cold gust of wind brought the soft fall of rain. *Say it loud, say it clear *You can listen as well as you hear *It's too late when we die *To admit we don't see eye to eye Kaze, who had just turned 3 months old, bounced on her papa's knee. Michiru sat in the large leather chair, holding tightly to her mother's hand. She had come here to support her mother in this time, the reading of her father's will. She knew he had left nothing to her, she had been disowned. Everything would be left to Ichiro (and the pretty thing of a wife who was very pregnant with his fourth child) and a small fund would be left to take care of her mother. Ichiro had been surprised to see Michiru. 22, a mother and a wife, she had been the last person he thought he would see. He was embarrassed when he realized that Haruka was a woman and had made sure his eyes were never on Michiru again. "... and to my daughter, Kaioh Michiru, I leave all my assets. This includes my estates, my stocks and bonds, my shares in..." Michiru felt the tears stream down her face. Her father had left it all to her. Control of the business was Ichiro's, but everything else... was hers. A nice trust for her mother... Her father had loved her. In the end, he saw her happiness. Sobbing into her hands, Michiru just wished he could have seen it in the living years... when the two of them could have appreciated it all. --- End Part Eleven ---