Michiru and Haruka walked slowly into the throne room where Usagi and Serenity were poring over some pieces of paper.
"Konnichiwa, odango." Haruka's lips turned up in what might have been called a smile if the look around her eyes hadn't been so dead. Michiru's arm was around Haruka's waist, but she seemed to be holding onto her in a desperate search for strength rather than out of any feelings of love. Both queen and princess looked up from their deliberations with identical looks of startlement.
"Haruka, Michiru! Ohayo!" Usagi was almost jumping up and down with excitement. "I haven't seen you in over a year! Why are you here?"
Haruka looked down at Michiru and their eyes met as they exchanged a sad communication. They pulled closer together in silence, as if gathering energy for what was coming. Usagi halted her eager advance at the looks on their faces. "No...not you too..." She turned away with a cry and looked at her mother, who watched Haruka and Michiru with sad understanding.
Michiru spoke in her expressive voice. "I'm afraid so, little princess." Her lips stretched tight. "We've held on longer than most. We depended on each other for strength and support, and for a while, we held...but we're both tired." She sighed. "I can't even play music anymore. No matter how complicated, how famous or well-loved, I find it all to be exactly the same." She held out her hands before her, callused from years of playing the violin, and spread her fingers. "Without music, why go on?" Her hands were shaking convulsively. "Why get up in the morning?"
Serenity walked quickly up to her and grasped her hands tightly. "Michiru...you can still find joy, ne? What about Haruka?" Michiru looked down and would not meet her eyes.
Haruka looked down in silence for a few minutes, then took a deep breath. "I think--" she tilted her head, "I think we still love each other, in a way." She sighed and slumped down, making herself look almost as short as Serenity. "We're too tired, too...old."
Usagi laughed, pain making it rough and too loud. "You're not old! You look like you're only a few years older than me! You'll be fine, minna!" She looked up at Haruka. "You'll be fine, you'll see. You just need a little rest. A little time to feel better."
Michiru and Haruka both closed their eyes, and their talismans suddenly appeared in their hands. They went down to one knee and handed them to Serenity. "You'll need these, your Majesty, you or your daughter. We couldn't leave you without them, or we wouldn't have bothered you with--" Michiru paused. "--our problem."
Haruka summoned a painful imitation of a smile as she slowly reached up to ruffle Usagi's hair. "You're as hopeful as your mother, Chibi Odango, but time is the one thing we don't need." She turned to Michiru, put her hand gently on the well known face, and the oddity of a tear sliding down it. "I haven't regretted a thing, Michiru. I do still love you."
"Shut up. Why do you always think you have to put things into words?" Michiru stretched her neck up a little and gave Haruka a deep kiss. Usagi turned away, embarrassed to be witnessing such an intense, private moment, but Serenity watched as carefully as if it were a sacrament. As their lips finally began to part they became translucent. Michiru rested her head on Haruka's shoulder and slowly faded away. Haruka struggled to hold on a little longer, a brief flare of life returning to her eyes.
"Sayonara, Odango...I can finally feel...the...wind..." Her eyes closed, she hugged her almost non-existent arms around herself and raised her head. Her hair blew back in a breeze only she could feel, then she disappeared.