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[Voice]

[lightthedarkness]

Haruka-san... I-I'm so sorry... Michiru-san is gone. I... I'm guessing I don't need to tell you though... you... you probably knew before I did. [She's rambling, it's that or cry.] I'm so sorry. I... you came and then she's gone and... it's always such a cruel trick of this place.

[heralded]

[ At first there's a moment of silence where Haruka doesn't seem to reply as quickly as usually, but then Usagi should be able to hear Haruka's voice in her head after all. ]

.. Where are you right now? I'll come over.

[lightthedarkness]

By the lake... seemed... like the best place to go.

action;

[heralded]

[ There's no answer.

Mostly since it feels like a waste of time, even though Haruka could technically run and think at the same time. Instead she just hurries over to the lake. It's easy to spot Usagi's form there since it's usually not exactly a busy spot, and so Haruka heads over to where the other girl is. Haruka seems relatively calm, especially considering the circumstances, but the look in her eyes is a little softer than usually. ]

Hey.

Action;

[lightthedarkness]

[She turns to look at Haruka and then back towards the water. In her hands is a boquet, the colors of the roses are not just the color she thinks of for Michiru, but there's a rose for Chibiusa, Setsuna, Rei, Makoto... and Luna. Something from each girl. She even has something small for Kunzite.]

Hey...

[She takes the bright yellow rose petals, Luna's rose, and rips off the whole bud, throwing the petals into the water. Chibiusa's deep pink rose is next to be scattered on the water.]

[heralded]

[ It's so obvious that Usagi isn't okay. And Haruka gets it. She herself can deal with Michiru no longer being in this place. Sure, it's far from ideal to be seperated like this, but she knows she'll eventually return home and reunite with Michiru. The connection between their souls feels too strong for her to even consider any other possibility.

But everyone has said Usagi has been here for such a long time. She must have seen so many people come and go - to not even mention the people she hasn't seen in all this time. Of course it must've been tough on her.

Which means she must be there for Usagi right now. Her own time to miss Michiru can come later.

So Haruka steps up to where the other girl is standing, now giving her a small smile. ]

Those are pretty.

[lightthedarkness]

It's... the safer thing to do.

[She tore up Makoto's soft pink rose.] When Mamoru was taken the first time, I locked myself in my room and just cried until... well, I think I might have fainted from lack of eating.

[She tore up Setsuna's deep red, almost black, rose and threw the petals into the water.]

When Luna was taken... I blew up a part of the forest, leveled it... [She looked out towards the woods.] There's been regrowth there, there are baby trees there now.

It doesn't get any easier, no matter how many times they come and go. But I'm getting better about my reactions.

[heralded]

[ The second reaction is more surprising to hear about than the first - just endlessly crying sounds more like Usagi, even though it's still sad. The destruction a little less. But on the other hand-- Usagi had been here so long, endured so much. Haruka knows what pain and circumstances do to people.

She takes a step over towards the other girl, playing with a strand of Usagi's hair idly before lightly ruffling her hair. ]

Look at you. You've grown up before I could even notice. [ Not that Usagi hasn't had her mature moments even back home, but still. ] You know they'd scold you though if they saw you all sad, right? They would tell you to go have fun with Mamoru-san or something instead of feeling hurt all by yourself.

[lightthedarkness]

[She looks out over the water, watching the petals float further and further away. She leaned closer to Haruka, taking comfort in her warmth and her scent. At the mention of the other girls, her shoulders fall a little as she looks at the roses remaining.]

I know... I know... none of you would want me sad and upset about not having you all here... that I'll see you all again soon... [She felt the pinpricks of tears in her eyes.] But you girls are as much my family as he is. My life only became complete when you all came into it. So my heart... it's not whole when we're not.

[lightthedarkness]

Haruka! Are you ready for your first Flower Festival?

[heralded]

I wasn't aware that it was something I had to prepare for. [ But she sounds amused all the same. She's willing to go along with this. ]

So I guess that means not yet?

[lightthedarkness]

I was crowned Flower Queen at my first Flower Festival, perhaps we can get you nominated for Flower King.

But also... well, I've accidentally started something of a tradition.

[heralded]

.. Flower King?

[ She pauses, then hums. ]

I kind of like the sound of that. [ Don't get too competitive now, Haruka.. Please.. ] But before we get too far into that, you should tell me about this tradition of yours.

[lightthedarkness]

Well, if you rather be Flower Queen?

Oh! Wellll... kinda by accident I've gotten a ton of people to wear kimonos and yukatas?

[heralded]

I mean, either is fine with me. [ If there's anything that's true about Haruka, it's that fact. It's more about the fact there's a title to win at all rather than what the specific title is, let alone how it's gendered. ]

And are you sure that was an accident? [ There's a teasing edge to it. ] I think you can't help but influence people naturally, just because you're you.

[ Just look how weak Haruka is for Usagi, after all. Even in this form. ]

But that sounds nice. I'll have to try and find one for me. I got to look good if I want to win that title, right?

[lightthedarkness]

Great! I'll nominate you for both! I'm not eligible because I won it already. I'll nominate all of you!

Ah... well.. I might have gotten all the girls who were living with me at the time to wear one and it went from there. It has less to do with me being me and more Sora being Sora. He got just as many people to wear one after I convinced him to match me.

And well, I actually already have that figured out, there's a tailor I go to who makes all of mine.

[heralded]

Well, that still means you're the one who started it.

[ Even if the credit technically belongs to someone else, Haruka is still going to give it to Usagi. Because she's very biased and doesn't care to be subtle about that, really. ]

So you're telling me I should go see this tailor, hm?

[lightthedarkness]

Haruka, I'd like to ask you something very important.

[heralded]

[ She's not sure if this ia a serious kind of important or not, but she'll take it as the former just in case, making sure to reply immediately. ]

Of course. What is it?

[lightthedarkness]

Will you be a bridesmaid at my wedding?

[heralded]

[ There's the slightest pause. Out of surprise, mostly, but after a moment it does make enough sense for her to not sound super shocked as she continues on. ]

It seems you and Mamoru-san have made some plans, judging by that question.

[lightthedarkness]

We have! We're finally going to make my birthday here a pleasant one! But it without you there, it just wouldn't be as wonderful as possible!

[heralded]

You know I wouldn't want to miss that for anything in the world.

[ So this place better not be thinking of sending her back home before then, or Haruka sure won't be happy with it! ]

I don't know if I'd look very good in a dress though. But I suppose you have to be the most beautiful one there anyway.

[lightthedarkness]

Whatever you feel most comfortable in, Haruka-san. Perhaps a tux in the color for my bridesmaids? You can wear any kind of dress you want so long as it's the color. [Serenity has seen enough brides and bridesmaids have a meltdown because the kind of dress they wanted for their bridesmaids didn't look good on EVERYONE.]

[heralded]

.. well, we could see during fitting. [ It's not as if she wants to be too picky about this, after all. Serenity deserves to have the wedding of her dreams. Haruka can make some small sacrifices for that. ]

Did you already have a colour in mind?