Michiru stood in the art room looking out the window at to courtyard of her school. She thought back to her first day, three years ago. Back then she had been so terrified, yet excited and optimistic. That felt so long ago now. Back before she was Sailor Neptune, before her music career started, even before she started living on her own. She had just been a shy, scared little girl hoping to make friends, a goal she had failed pretty miserably at for the year before Elsa transferred. She had had acquaintances, and later fans, but only one actual friend.

Now her time at this school was done. Graduation had just ended. Entrance exams were taken, both Michiru and Haruka had gotten into Mugen. This would be the last time Michiru would look over this courtyard.

The door burst open. "Sorry I'm late." Elsa said, clearly out of breath. "Some underclassmen ambushed me in the hallway. They wanted something to remember me by. I gave them my uniform just to get rid of them. Seriously, it was like a highway robbery!"

Michiru couldn't help but laugh. "It's your own fault for being so popular."

"Come on, you're way more popular than I am. I swear I saw some kids writing good-bye notes on your desk." Elsa crossed over to stand by Michiru at the window.

"I was exalted, there's a difference. People wanted to gawk at me, never be my friend. You were everybody's friend." Michiru meant it as a complement, though she noted her words made Elsa look embarrassed so she changed the subject. "It's the last day I'll get to wear this uniform." She mused, looking through some drawers. "That's kind of a sad thought. I like it."

"Blue always has looked good on you." Elsa agreed. "But in four months you'll get a new uniform."

"I suppose that's true..." She shifted through another stack of canvasses and frowned.

"What are you looking for?" Elsa asked.

"A painting I did...I think someone must have taken it."

"WHAT!?" Elsa shouted, instantly outraged. "Who would steal from you?! What little, thieving..."

"There's no use getting worked up." Michiru sighed, "It was small, so it could fit in someone's backpack. Whoever took it is probably gone home by now. Yelling won't change it."

"Still..." Elsa said, clearly still angry on Michiru's behalf. "I'm sorry people have to be so greedy."

"I wouldn't be upset if it was just any painting, but it was a gift." explained Michiru. "For you."

"For me?"

"It was a picture of us together, I wanted you to have it to remember me by."

Elsa looked confused. "Remember you by? We're only going to different schools. It's not like we won't still hang out all the time."

Michiru found it hard to look her friend in the face, but forced herself to do it. "We won't, though. This will probably be the last time we'll ever see each other."

"Don't say that! We'll still..."

"No. We won't."

Elsa stopped. They stared at each other. Elsa looked hurt and confused. Michiru had to remind herself she had to stay strong. Part of her still wanted to cry, but she didn't. This was what was best.

"Can I at least ask why?" Elsa asked. She didn't cry either. There was no bitterness or betrayal in her words. She seemed to understand. She had for a while now. She wasn't stupid. While she couldn't possibly know the full depth of it, she seemed to acknowledge this wasn't what Michiru wanted. There was something deeper going on that she couldn't be involved with.

"I'd rather you didn't." Michiru replied, turning away to look out the window again, "You're my best friend. I really don't want to have to lie to you."

There was silence once more. Elsa joined Michiru at the window. After a moment she smiled, though it was obviously forced, her eyes were still full of pain. "This doesn't mean you get out of giving me a present." She said, trying to lighten the mood. "Why don't you give me something else?"

Michiru smiled back, "You can have my watch." She suggested. "Maybe then you'll get to some of your classes on time next year."

Elsa shook her head. "That's way too expensive."

"I don't have anything else." Michiru said. "Other than some pencils and handkerchiefs..."

Elsa seemed to think for a moment before saying. "What about your scarf?"

"That's not enough..." protested Michiru. "And you have one just like it..."

"The highway robbers took my uniform, remember?" Elsa joked. "Besides, it's different, it's yours. And in a few years, when you're watching the Olympic and you see me wearing it as my token, you'll know I haven't forgotten you."

"Alright..." Michiru said, untying the scarf from the front of her uniform. She handed it to Elsa. "I'll still be cheering you on, you know."

"I know." Elsa put her hand on Michiru's shoulder. Then nodded to the window. "But I think this is goodbye, your ride is here."

Michiru turned to look. Haruka's canary yellow convertible was easy to spot even at the distance, it's owner leaning against it as a crowd gathered.

"I told her not to come..." Michiru muttered, fully aware that her girlfriend had foregone her own goodbyes just so Michiru wouldn't have to walk home alone.

"She's like a knight coming to rescue the princess." Elsa joked.

"She is a knight." Michiru replied, "A golden knight from a silver kingdom...I wish you two could have met under different circumstances...I just know you would have been friends."

"I wish so too..." Elsa said. "You really love her, don't you?"

Michiru nodded. "Don't laugh, but that first time I saw her I fell in love with her. And over time, that just deepened..."

Elsa didn't laugh, they stared out the window together. "I know you two are involved in something dangerous." Elsa said, "And I respect that you can't tell me about it. But just so you know, if you ever need anything, anything at all, I'll be there. For both of you."

"Thank you." Michiru said. She gave Elsa a hug. "Good luck, I'm sure you'll succeed in all of your dreams."

"Goodbye, Michiru."

"Goodbye, Elsa."

Author's Note: The End. I hope you all have enjoyed reading this as much as I've enjoyed writing it, thank you for all the support and comments I have gotten. I hope you'll keep an eye out for my next story whenever I post it. I'm definitely not done with the Sailor Moon fandom, particularly the outer senshi family, so if you liked this story keep an eye on my page ^-^