A Guilty Wind, A Troubled Sea
is a Sailor Moon fanfiction by UH-60 NIGHTSTALKER, where Haruka and Michiru, out of the guilt of the lengths they took to maintain their Fake Defector plan against Sailor Galaxia, leave Japan to for some self-introspection, where they end up in America, where they stay at Haruka's cousin's place.
The story continues in Fire Fly's Guardians where, 6 months after Haruka and Michiru's return from America, the dying Souichi asks the rest of the Outer Senshi to become Hotaru's legal guardian.
This fic is completed as of September 23rd, 2012.
Beware of Spoilers!
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General
- Armor-Piercing Response:
- Rei questions Usagi about how she could forgive Haruka and Michiru, considering what they did to her, to which the Sailor Moon reminds the Miko that she slapped her before, like Haruka did, yet she still forgives her.
- Haruka asks Setsuna, who can see through time, why didnt she tell her and Michiru about Souichi dying and that they will become Hotaru's guardians in the future, to which the Sailor Pluto not only reminds them of their own case of Locked Out of the Loop from their failed Fake Defector plan, but also mentions that she's unsure if they would accept the offer, as she saw timelines where they decline out of guilt from said failed plan, causing the Senshi couple to fall into Stunned Silence.
- It's All My Fault:
- Deconstructed with Haruka and Michiru; They both blame themselves for the other's grief due to their part in the Fake Defector plan. However, this self-pity turns them both into Insecure Love Interest toward one another as they thought the other resents them for it, drastically reducing their communication with one another.
- Hotaru, as she sobbing at Usagi's chest, admits that she believes that she must have done something wrong that makes Haruka and Michiru leave without saying goodbye to her.
- Hotaru, once again, blames herself, this time on her father's death, as she believes that she hastened his death when she asked him to play with her when he should've been resting in the hospital.
A Guilty Wind, A Troubled Sea
- Adaptational Explanation: In canon, Haruka's parents are never mentioned. In this fic, she disowned them after they kicked her out after coming out as a lesbian and never in contact with them ever since.
- Adopted to the House: Alex lets Haruka and Michiru stay at his place during their Journey to Find Oneself.
- Armor-Piercing Question: During a morning jog, Haruka denies Alex's accusation that she's a loner, before he asks if she ever opens up to someone besides himself and Michiru, putting her in a Stunned Silence.
- Bear Hug: Alex gives Haruka one after learning that she's planning to propose to Michiru.
- Blatant Lies:
- By the time they are ready to go home, Alex asks Haruka if she enjoys her time at The Festival of Speed. The bifauxnen looks away and tries to nonchalantly say that it was okay, despite the truck cap souvenir on her head.
- When they are about to return to Japan, Haruka and Michiru encounter Setsuna, who claims that she, too, will be heading back to Japan, just in a different flight than theirs. The couple knows that Sailor Pluto is just making an excuse to see Alex again, who chaperones them to the airport, as they are aware that she can teleport.
- Cathartic Crying: Haruka and Michiru have one as they Cry into Chest of Usagi's after she punishes and forgives them.
- Dirty Coward: The Inner Senshi - besides Usagi - sees Haruka and Michiru's Journey to Find Oneself as cowardly since they left just before they could be judged for their actions of killing Hotaru and Setsuna for their Star Seeds.Makoto: Figures...They ran away from their problems, and they did not even have the guts to face us.
Rei: Would not be the first time they ran. - Dramatic Irony:
- After having a Catapult Nightmare on the plane, Michiru notes how Haruka is still sleeping soundly at the seat next to her, unaware that she seems to flinch and shiver from the same nightmare.
- Haruka and Michiru tell themselves that leaving without saying goodbye to Hotaru is for the best. However, when Usagi visits the Sailor Saturn at her home, she finds that the young Senshi feels upset because of that.
- Drool Deluge: Haruka can't help but let one out from seeing the cars in The Festival of Speed, to Michiru and Alex's amusement.
- Emotionally Tongue-Tied: While Alex and Michiru are making dinner, Haruka really wants to ask Setsuna why she visits them today, but her guilt over killing her keeps making her hesitate.
- Exact Eavesdropping: Haruka and Michiru visit Hikawa Shrine to make amends with the Inner Senshis when they overheard them discussing the things they did during Sailor Galaxia's invasion and how it is unforgivable.
- Foreseeing My Death: As it turns out, Setsuna has foreseen Haruka & Michiru's Fake Defector plan through her ability, but, as the gatekeeper of the Door of Space-time, she is forbidden from changing the future.
- Forgiven, but Not Forgotten: After hearing out Haruka and Michiru after their return to Japan, Usagi decides that they will be punished by being forbidden to ever forget about their past mistakes forever, but is allowed to atone for it and grow to become a better person than their past selves.Usagi: *In stern tone* For the rest of your lives, you shall continue to live with the guilt and shame that you have brought upon yourselves. No matter how much good you do or how much you change yourselves, you shall be forever haunted by your actions of that horrible day. But do not think of this as a punishment, but as a sad reminder of what could happen if you do not place the well-being of the team first instead of the mission. *Smiles as her tone turns softer* But despite your lifelong punishment, I do forgive you for what you did, and I do hope that we could become friends again after this, and maybe one day, we can all put this mess behind us once and for all.
- For Your Own Good: Discussed; Michiru regrets that they didn't say goodbye to Hotaru in person before they left, but Haruka assures her that this is for the best of them all.Haruka: Michi, you saw how happy she was when she went back home. Right now, she needs her family in her life and not us. Maybe one day she would want to see us again, but until then, the best thing we can do is stay out of her life and allow her to heal. We are doing the right thing.
- Full-Name Ultimatum: Michiru asks Haruka if Setsuna is right, that she's blaming herself for their Fake Defector plan. When the blonde motorhead tries to dodge the question, the violinist, using this, asks her to look her in the eyes and be honest with her.
- Guilt-Induced Nightmare:
- During their flight to America, Michiru has a nightmare of Hotaru - turning into her previous adult self's Sailor Saturn - and Sailor Pluto Fading Away, questioning if she really loves them, considering how she and Haruka killed them for their Star Seeds for Galaxia for the sake of their Fake Defector plan, causing her to jolt awake with a cold sweat.
- The night after they arrived in San Diego, Haruka dreamt of slaying monster before facing a shapeshifting monster who turned into a copy of her, who points out that the "monsters" she previously slain is actually Sailor Pluto and Sailor Saturn, before Haruka end up facing a crying Michiru who blames her for causing their family being torn apart - as she's the one who come up with the Fake Defector plan - before she is strangled from behind by living corpses of Hotaru and Setsuna, making her Jolted awake in 3 am with cold sweat.
- Honor Thy Abuser: Despite knowing that her death by Haruka and Michiru's hands will be a good thing in the long run, Setsuna is traumatized by her death. However, after hearing from Usagi that she can feel the couple's remorse and that she is willing to forgive them, she decides that she should too, to the Senshi couple's surprise.
- I Should Have Done This Years Ago: Haruka refers to proposing to Michiru as something long overdue in comparison to how much the teal girl has dedicated her love to her.Michiru had many chances to leave her and start a new life without her, but instead, the violinist had stayed by her side. And now, Haruka is determined to let her lover know that she is the most important thing in her life.
- Improperly Paranoid: After Haruka and Alex return from their shopping trip, Haruka feels that there's someone else in Alex's home before she hears Michiru crying, causing her to kick the front door down in panic, only to find out that it's Setsuna.
- Inner Thoughts, Outsider Puzzlement: Haruka has a flashback on how she ended up appreciating Alex and his parents before he gets her out of her daydreaming.
- Insecure Love Interest: Both Haruka and Michiru become one as they blame themselves for the Fake Defector plan against Sailor Galaxia, the former for being the one who came up with the plan, and the latter for failing to be the voice of reason and just following along instead of trying to talk her out of it.
- Internal Reveal: Michiru learns from Setsuna how Haruka blames herself for coming up with the Fake Defector plan and has internally beaten herself over it, causing her to confront her lover about it.
- Jerkass Realization: Haruka initially believes that her I Work Alone personality is part of her identity as Sailor Uranus, being part of the Silver Millennium's military, and thus never meant to mingle with the Inner Senshi. However, Alex reminds her during their morning jog that, back when she started living with his parents, she refused to engage in small talk, let alone make friends, with her classmates when she switched schools to his, before giving her an Armor-Piercing Question about her lack of close friend, indirectly telling her that she had already been an antisocial recluse before becoming Sailor Uranus.
- Journey to Find Oneself: The fanfic is about Haruka and Michiru deciding to leave Japan for some self-discovery.
- Love at First Sight: It is implied that Alex and Sestuna are attracted to one another when they first meet, based on how awkward they are with one another during the dinner.
- Mistakes Are Not the End of the World: Michiru assures Haruka that she forgives her for her Fake Defector plan, not only because she loves her, but because they can still rectify the fallout of their actions."My love, we all make mistakes. It is just human nature to make them, and no matter how big or small they may be, we must learn not only to deal with them, but we must also ensure that we don't make them again."
- Must Make Amends: After their return, Haruka and Michiru kneel and beg Usagi to give them a chance to atone for their mistake and become better protectors.
- My God, What Have I Done?: As they overhear the Inner Senshi's argument about them, Haruka and Michiru can't help but receive an overwhelming jolt of remorse over the bridges they burnt with them and the fact that they killed Hotaru and Setsuna for their plan against Sailor Galaxia.
- Necessary Fail: Setsuna allows Haruka & Michiru to go through their Fake Defector plan despite foreseeing that it wouldn't work because Sailor Pluto learns that its failure is the necessary Wake-Up Call for the two to have their Character Development and become more friendly with the rest of the Senshi.
- No Sympathy for Grudgeholders: Makoto and Rei are the most vocal against forgiving Haruka and Michiru, believing that they have a Never My Fault attitude and thus would never change after burning the bridges during Sailor Galaxia's attack. This is depicted as a bad thing, as Usagi is willing to forgive Haruka & Michiru despite seeing Setsuna and Hotaru's murder in person and being slapped by Haruka, and that she calls Hotaru more mature than them for already forgiving her "parents" despite what happened to her.
- Oblivious Guilt Slinging: During their morning jog, Haruka explains to Alex that she and Michiru left Japan after a discord with their friends that led to a burned bridge. Her cousin tries to assure her that, unless they killed someone, their mistake can't be that bad, causing her to internally panic before going Sure, Let's Go with That.
- "Open!" Says Me: Haruka kicks down Alex's door after mistaking Setsuna to be an intruder after hearing Michiru's cry from the outside, to Alex's chagrin.
- Original Character: Alexander, also known as Alex, is Haruka's cousin from her mother's side of the family, who is in the Marines.
- Parent with New Paramour: When asked, Alex mentions to Haruka how his father has started dating again. While he was initially concerned about it, he eventually approved the relationship after meeting the paramour in person and seeing how happy his father is with her.
- Rage Breaking Point: Usagi has had enough and calls out Rei and Makoto, who keep whining about Haruka and Michiru not deserving redemption, telling them that not only they seems to be angry at them despite haven't been personally wronged like Usagi does, as she saw them killing Setsuna & Hotaru in person and being slapped by Haruka, it contributes nothing to how the Senshi couple should be punished when they return.
- Related Regardless of Distance: It is said that Haruka is so close to Alex since childhood that he becomes her confidant, being the first person she comes out of the closet to, and helps her out as her parents kick her out after she revealed her sexuality to them.
- Right Through the Wall: Alex returns after driving Setsuna back to her hotel, only to hear Haruka and Michiru "celebrating" their engagement from outside the house, and decides to leave them be and spend the night in the car. He teases them over it the morning after, to their embarrassment.
- Satellite Love Interest: Averted; Haruka and Michiru are separated throughout their time at The Festival of Speed, with the former encountering an older woman named Amara who shares the racer's passion for convertibles and has experience in car restoration, while Michiru meets an elderly man named Flint who owns a business of car body works and is an expert in spray painting, whose work caught her eyes.
- Stalker Without a Crush: Setsuna has been secretly tailing Haruka and Michiru during The Festival of Speed, and is happy to see that they're slowly healing spiritually.
- Staying with Friends: After she got kicked out after coming out as a lesbian to her parents, Haruka stays with Alex's family until she can afford her own place before they return to America.
- This Is Unforgivable!: The Inner Senshis - Bar Usagi - are fed up with Haruka and Michiru's I Did What I Had to Do Aloof Ally-ness, and see them killing Hotaru and Setsuna for the sake of their Fake Defector plan as the last straw.
- Turn the Other Cheek: As it turns out, Hotaru is more than willing to forgive Haruka & Michiru for killing her because they are her "parents", and thus they would never willingly harm her for no good reason in her eyes.
- Wake-Up Call: During their morning jog together, Haruka asks Alex if he ever sacrifices his teammate for the sake of the mission, trying to see what her cousin would do in her place during Sailor Galaxia's invasion. The marine outright denies the notion, stating that there is no such thing as "mission comes first" in the military, that the missions he been through are sucsesful because of having a team that works well together, and that, realistically, no military men likes to have a "Loose Canon" in their team. This drives home into Haruka's head that she needs to stop being an Aloof Ally and become a team player with the rest of the Senshi.
Fire Fly's Guardians
- Commonality Connection: Invoked; Usagi brings Makoto and Mamoru with her when she visits Souichi in the hospital, correctly believing that Makoto, who was orphaned when she was young, and Mamoru, who blames himself for his parents' car accident, could help Hotaru with the emotional turmoil from her father's abrupt demise.
- I Miss Dad: After Souichi's funeral, Hotaru becomes a shut-in for days, before Haruka gently confronts her, telling her that it's okay to miss him.
- Precious Photo: As he settles his remaining affairs, Souichi found a photo of himself with his wife, Keiko, and Hotaru as a baby, reminding him of how happy he was when Hotaru was born, only to remember how the photo was taken 3 months before the lab explosion that killed Keiko. The photo, still, gives Souichi even more determination to ensure that there's no issue left that prevents Hotaru from living happily without him.
- Professor Guinea Pig: Deconstructed; Souichi is dying because he has been constantly exposed to many chemicals over the years, including from the lab explosion.
- Reformed, but Rejected: Even in the last 6 months after their return from the Journey to Find Oneself, the Inner Senshis - bar Usagi - still haven't forgiven Haruka and Michiru for their Fake Defector deed. This has caused Haruka to lose hope that they ever will.
- Take Care of the Kids: Souichi asks Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna to be Hotaru's legal guardian, as he is dying and only has months to live.
- You Are Not Alone: Through telling Hotaru about her experience with her aunt and uncle taking her in after being kicked out by her parents, Haruka consoles the shut-in Sailor by assuring her that the Outer Senshis will take care of her as they promised Souichi, and love her just as much as he does.Haruka: I called my aunt and her husband and told them what had happened. I thought that they would shun me too, and I would be all alone for the rest of my life, but I was wrong.
Hotaru: What happened?
Haruka: My aunt and uncle took me in. *Wiping her tears* They gave me a place to stay, and they took care of me until I was ready to move out on my own. They treated me as if I was one of their own, like I was a part of their family.
Hotaru: They did?
Haruka: Yes hime-chan. It was then I realized that there were people in this world that cared about me and that I was not as alone as I thought I was. Much like you.
Haruka: *gasps* Me?
Haruka: Hotaru, Michiru and I love you very much, and although we are not family by blood, you are still a member of our family. And I am very certain that Usagi and the others think of you as their sister as well. - You See, I'm Dying: The fic begins with Souichi inviting Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna to his place, explaining to them that he's dying from an impending organ failure.