Sailor Moon: Sailor Cosmos

Chapter 20: Uranus vs. Hawking

Haruka opened her eyes. It was another day in the hospital for her. She had woken up three days ago and her physical wounds were completely healed, but that was unsatisfying for her. She could barely move her body today, she had been laying in that bed for the whole time she was there only getting up to use the bathroom.

Everything felt numb and sore. She stiffly turned her face a few degrees to the right and left. She continued to struggle in her bed, slightly moving around in aching pain. She made small groans, not from the weakness in her body, but for her weakness in battle. She felt worthless. A tear fell down her cheek and stained her pillow as she looked to her comrades. She was the last to awaken, but the first one today.

She pulled herself up to a sitting position. She had never felt this weak before. Just sitting up was the hardest thing for her. It took the breath out of her. She could feel all of it--her weight. It was as though she was slowly being crushed like her body was condensing, she never knew how heavy she was. She placed her feet on the floor. It was freezing. Her legs started to wobble. She had to get used to standing again. She had to start walking again. Haruka pushed herself off the bed and for a split second, she was standing upright, but her legs were weak and almost sickly. They felt like twigs. Haruka fell to the ground. She struggled to pick herself back up, leaning up against her bed and the stand that her iv drip was attached to. Only one knee up and she couldn't stand it. It was too hard for her.

Haruka knew not to give up, it wasn't an option for her, but the vulnerability she felt was too much for her. Once again she stood using her iv drip as a cane. She slowly took one step after the other, each increasingly more painful than the last. She stopped at the window and looked at the horizon at the rising orange sun. She squeezed the stand in annoyance, even her grip on it was pathetic.

"...Haruka?"

Haruka jumped in surprise, she turned, "Michiru... you're awake."

Michiru had her head wrapped tightly and leaned up against her pillow as her hands rested on her stomach. "What are you doing standing?" She asked weakly, "You should rest."

"Staying in that bed isn't going to help me. I hate it."

"Haruka-san..."

"We need to get serious Michiru-san. Those guys have just been playing around with us and look what's happened! I feel useless."

"Haruka-san don't stay that! We're strong, you're strong!" Michiru sat up. "Why are you talking like this?"

"I'm serious Michiru. I feel like I've accomplished nothing. Our power is already getting weaker every day and they are here! They are here Michiru! They are here weakening this planet," she squeezed the stand harder, trying to strengthen her grip. Her hand was shaking from anger. "Why are we acting so blind? Why are we going at this like we have time? We don't have any...we ran out it when they hit Pluto."

Michiru looked at her unsure of what to say. Haruka was hurting and she couldn't do anything to cheer her up. Michiru knew the seriousness of the situation as well, she didn't know why either. But the real question on her mind was What were they going to do? "Haruka, I understand," she said. "I want to do something too, but... but...," Michiru started to cry. Haruka hugged her.

"Michiru."

"Haruka...," Michiru sniffled. "All those souls that were taken, they can't come back. Haruka, I will always follow you. I will always support you and you're right. We need to get serious, but I won't allow you to do this on your own."

"Thank you, Michiru, but I have to do this on my own."

"No Haruka-san," Haruka backed away as Michiru protested against her decision.