Michiru.
Michiru smiled a bit, then said, "I'm here to see a new racer."
"Ah, Ten'ou Haruka, perhaps?"
"Yes, you know he-- um, _him_?" Michiru almost slipped and said 'her', then
realized Haruka might not have revealed her gender to the other racers.
Hayasa raised an eyebrow. "Yes, I know... him. We're good friends, actually,
racing buddies." He leaned forward a bit. "You know more about Haruka than
the others here, I assume. You almost slipped."
"Yes, I know her... she doesn't know me." Michiru inwardly smacked herself.
What was she telling him this for?!
"Ahh, well then, I won't mention this to her..." He then winked at Kirei as he
said, "But I'll just have to mention _this_ cutie I met. Maybe she'll be
jealous that I met a pretty girl and she didn't."
Kirei blushed and giggled.
"Maybe we'll see each other again sometime? Just get Kanpeki-chan to tell
Murasaki-chan... those two are joined at the hip! Murasaki's a good friend of
mine, so she'll pass it on."
"Sure! Thank you!" Kirei waved to him. "Good luck!"
"Thanks, bye."
Kirei sighed softly as he left. "This has to be the best thing that's happened
to me in a long time. Wow, was he ever nice!"
"Yes, he was."
"Such a gentleman, too! Kissing my hand even..."
Michiru smiled. "He's older than you, you know."
"Not by much! Just a couple years."
"Do you like older men?"
"Not too much older, but yes. I don't want some dork whose voice still cracks.
I want him to be more mature, but still fun."
"You have rather specific tastes!"
"Well, don't we all?"
They looked out to the track, where the time trials were starting to wind down.
Some silly advertisement played on the screen. They started showing some pictures
of the regular racers, then mentioned the "first race of Ten'ou Haruka, the
youngest racer out here! Last year of junior high at Goban Yobi-ko. Heading for
his time trial now."
Girls started screaming as they saw Haruka emerge from the garage. Michiru
sat up in her seat.
"Whoa... if I didn't know she was really a girl, _damn_!"
"She does pull it off, I just don't know how... You'd think she was flat and had
no hips, but that's not true... You should see her in her pajamas."
"_Michiru_! I would _not_ enjoy that!... You didn't watch her _undress_, did you?"
"NO!! God, I'm not a pervert, Kirei-chan!"
Kirei breathed a sigh of relief. "Ok, good. Had me worried there a moment..."
They sat back and watched their respective racers get into their cars. Haruka
was the last trial, and after that, the race would begin.
 
 
Haruka breezed through the time trial, taking things leisurely, for her.
She wanted to impress everyone by being a new racer that had some speed
going, but still start far enough back to make things interesting. When she
finished, they told her she'd be starting tenth. She got out of her car to
get a last drink of water and stretch.
Hayasa finished up his time trial fourth, then came over to her. "Haruka-san,
I know you can do better than that! Tenth!"
"Relax," she said. "It wouldn't be any challenge if I started first."
"You're a nut, Haruka-san. You better start first next race."
He stopped as someone came over to tell them to get back into their cars.
Everyone else started revving their engines and getting ready to start.
"Good luck, Hayasa-kun!" Haruka shouted over the roar of engines.
"You too, Haruka-san!" he returned, winking as he gave her a thumbs-up sign.
Haruka slipped into her car, adrenaline already pumping through her veins.
This was it. Her big moment. Suddenly, the helmet she pulled on didn't seem
so constricting, the fire suit so hot and stuffy, her hands in her gloves so
constricting, the fumes so nauseating, her starting place so far back. It all
lead up to the race, the speed, the excitement.
She placed her hands on the wheel, anxious for the start. The sound of the
engine seemed to beg to be put to work. Some people waved to her, and she
waved back. She gripped the wheel. Come on, come on, come on...
Finally, they announced the beginning of the race. The lights came on. Ready,
set...
The light changed, and the cars started moving at once. Haruka quickly pulled
in front of a few cars that were near her, flooring the pedal to shoot ahead.
Despite the shielding and her clothing, she could feel the wind perfectly. She
felt herself move at speeds she could never hope to reach on her own. She
easily turned a corner, noticing out of the corner of her eye that some other
racers had bumped into each other trying the same corner.
Ah, here we go... Hayasa wasn't that far ahead of her now, with only a few
cars between them. She waited for her chance, then pulled in front of the car
just in front of her. This seemed to surprise the man now ahead of her. He
didn't react as he should have, and she pulled in front of him as well. A
long straight-away, this was where she was best. It didn't take much effort
to pull right behind Hayasa. She smirked a bit, enjoying the speed she'd
reached. There was a bend up ahead, and she prepared to turn. The man
behind her was getting in position to try and pass her, and she noted that
as she rounded it. She moved to block him, then noticed Hayasa was far
enough away for her to safely pull in front of him as well.
Two more to go, and she'd be in first...
 
 
Everyone was standing up, screaming. Michiru felt excited for Haruka-- here
she was, the new racer, and she was in third already! Kirei was screaming
to, at Hayasa to regain his position.
"Wow, that new guy's great!" Michiru overheard someone say.
"And he's hot, too!"
Michiru smiled to herself, and went back to watching the race.
 
 
Haruka carefully edged closer to the car in front of her. He was being rather
difficult, and she couldn't get ahead of him quite yet. He was no coward;
others had moved out of the way, fearing a crash, but he just kept going, not
backing down.
He would make a mistake. They always did.
There it was! He tried to pull in front of the first place racer, and had to
fall back a bit when he couldn't get around. Haruka swerved out to the side,
then shot in front of both of them. Her heart was pounding in her ears, and
inside she was screaming in delight. She kept picking up speed, intent on
widening the gap between her and the other racers. A quick glance revealed
the audience on their feet, apparently screaming, from the sight of all the
open mouths.
She completed the first lap with ease. She was intent on keeping her speed,
but knew she'd have to slow for the turns. She checked to see how much
distance she had between her and the others. Good, she could be cautious and
not have to worry about them gaining too much. Heck, she could make a pit
stop or two without losing her position.
It was a breeze to keep ahead of them all throughout all the laps. She lapped
some people. She stopped to change tires and get some more fuel. The other
racers posed no challenge. When she neared the finish line the final time,
Hayasa had pulled into second, and was getting close. She quickly checked
her fuel gauge, then decided to go all-out for the finish. Pressing the pedal
down hard, she shot off full speed for the finish line.
Everything seemed to slow in her mind. She could see it coming. She felt a
brush of wind against her cheek. Pressure pushed against her from the speed.
Fans were screaming, jumping up in the air. The other racers moved farther
and farther behind. There it was, coming closer, closer...
She literally shouted as she crossed it, well ahead of everyone else.
 
 
"HARUKA WON!!" Michiru screamed.
"Hayasa-kun got second!" Kirei added.
They were both shrieking in excitement, then they hugged each other tightly
on impulse.
"I can't believe it!" Michiru said. "She did it!"
"Hush, let's see what happens now."
 
 
Everyone finally slowed to a stop. Haruka leapt from the car, ripping her
helmet from her head as Hayasa and Engi ran over to her.
"You did it!" Engi shouted, slapping her on the back enthusiastically, then
pulling her in for a fatherly hug.
Hayasa gave her a high five and winked. "Beginner's luck," he teased as he
gave her a bear hug.
"Sure it was!" Haruka laughed, throwing her arms up in the air, her head back.
A gust of wind hit her at that moment, blowing her hair from her face. She
closed her eyes, enjoying it. This is what she lived for. The speed, the rush,
just like the wind, closer than any other human could be. She could hear it,
feel it, taste it. And it was happy for her.
Hayasa grabbed her arm and dragged her to collect her trophy and prize money.
Haruka paused a moment to wave and wink to all the screaming girls, then
followed him.
The trophy was beautiful, the amount of money staggering. She couldn't believe
her eyes. She got all this for having the time of her life?
Cameras were snapping pictures left and right, reporters trying to push their
way towards her, video cameras rolling. Haruka caught a glimpse of Sunao's
face, bobbing through the crowd, trying to get through.
"Okaa-san!" she shouted, waving. That got them to let her by. Sunao rushed
over and hugged her tightly, and she seemed close to tears.
"Oh Haruka, that was wonderful. I'm so proud of you!"
"Thank you, okaa-san," she murmured.
This was truly the best thing that had ever happened to her.
 
 
**********
 
 
Michiru sighed gratefully as she stepped into the hot shower. Three weeks
had passed since she saw Haruka race for the first time. She'd raced every
week since, and Michiru made sure to go every time. She always started and
placed first. The media was going nuts about her, plastering her face on
magazines, newspapers, and television stories.
Michiru was having her own share of fame. Her CD was selling fast, and her
performances were selling out. She performed every Saturday night, and
again Sunday afternoon. People asked for her to play on Fridays, but she
declined... after all, she had to watch Haruka race.
The daimon attacks were getting more frequent now, averaging two a week.
Michiru was terrified. They were getting harder to fight, and she knew they'd
just get worse. She needed Uranus's help. She needed it quickly.
Michiru shivered with excitement. Today was the day. Today she would meet
Haruka face to face. Her face burned whenever she thought about it. What a way
to start a new week. She didn't know how she'd make it through the day.
The sea was calm. Thank goodness; she wouldn't have to worry about a daimon
spoiling things. Everything was going to be ok. Everything would be great.
She stepped out of the shower to dress for school. It was going to be ok.
It had to be.
 
 
Haruka woke up screaming again. She stumbled out of bed into the kitchen.
Thank God Sunao wasn't here to question her about it. The visions were more
and more frequent now, not just every few days, but sometimes a few times
a day. It had interfered with the start of a race the other day, but she
managed to recover. She almost collapsed while running in her first track
meet because of a vision, but somehow her body knew to keep moving, just
going with the wind.
The wind... every few days now, she could feel it's uneasiness in the way it
would rustle. She didn't know why she did, or how, but somehow it happened.
She had a track meet today. Maybe she could sort things out then. Running
gave her time to think while letting her enjoy the company of the wind.
Was something going to happen today? The wind was being strange...
 
 
Finally, the school day was over! Michiru rushed to meet Elza and walk with
her to the track for her meet. Elza would be racing Haruka, and would introduce
her afterwards. Elza still remained confident she would win. Michiru knew
otherwise.
She held her sketchbook in hand. Stay calm, Michiru. Just ask her to pose for
a painting. Simple. If you have to, mention the wind... that will get her
attention. She'll realize you aren't just some ordinary girl.
She sighed and sat to wait for the race to end.
 
 
Haruka stretched a lot, as usual, to make sure she didn't injure herself. A lot
of kids were racing today, some she'd raced with before, others were new.
There was a cute girl with red hair racing by her. Haruka vaguely recognized
her as a top racer. Haruka wasn't intimidated. The girl looked over at her,
and said, "Hello there."
"Hi. Haven't raced you before."
"I haven't ran here in awhile. Been busy."
"Well, I always look forward to racing someone that's supposed to be unbeatable.
You do realize I'm going to win?" Haruka questioned as she stood up tall, ending
her stretching.
The vision hit her when she stopped stretching. For some reason, the girl in it
seemed sadder than usual. When she came out of it, the red-head commented to her,
"I've heard you're fast, but I'm not going to lose."
Haruka smirked a bit. "Oh really? Why's that?"
"I'm Elza Grey, and I lose to no one!"
They took up their starting positions. The gun shot rang out, and everyone took
off. Some kids tried to get an early lead, others were saving energy for the end.
Elza wanted an early lead. Maybe she could last the whole race, if she got it.
Haruka took the early lead. She would definitely last the whole race.
Haruka ran effortlessly, as always. Elza was struggling hard, trying to keep up
and get ahead. Haruka didn't give her full effort. A track meet wasn't worth it.
It was easily won without going all out.
Haruka crossed the finish line and slowed to a stop. Elza finished second,
breathing hard, a disappointed look on her face. Haruka didn't bother to stick
around long. People congratulated her as she walked away. She went over to where
the runners kept their bags and things, and pulled her racing clothes on over
her track clothes. What a boring day. She couldn't wait to leave.
She heard footsteps approaching. Two people... hmmm... Who could that be? One
hesitated, the other came forward.
Elza. She smiled and said, "Ten'ou Haruka! I've heard your reputation. You're
really great." She paused briefly, then said, "There's someone I'd like you to
meet. Come on, Michiru!"
Haruka fought to keep her jaw from dropping. She barely noticed Elza saying,
"This is Kaiou Michiru. She is extremely intelligent and a brilliant painter.
She really wants to meet you."
Really wants to meet _me_? This gorgeous girl? ... Lord Almighty, she was the
most beautiful girl Haruka had ever seen. She had incredible deep blue eyes,
soft but inviting; wavy seagreen hair that fell around her shoulders, held
black with a black headband; full lips that looked so soft and sweet; a delicate
chin and high cheekbones; small but elegant hands; a bit taller than average,
slender, well-developed, quite feminine in appearance; wearing the school
uniform, but looking much cuter in it than anyone else did. She was clasping a
sketchbook in front of her, head lowered, having closed her eyes, a blush just
barely flushing her cheeks. Haruka's heart pounded at the sight of her, and she
felt her blood heat up. She was attracted to her immediately. She wanted to get
to know her... she _wanted_ her. When Elza finished speaking, she opened her
eyes and stepped forward.
She spoke, the voice of an angel, so sweet and kind, "You didn't break a sweat.
I think you were holding back. Right?"
"What do you mean?" She could tell?
Michiru tilted her head slightly, a sly grin appearing on her face. "You can hear
the wind rustling, can't you?"
WHAT?! All traces of nonchalance were erased from her face and her eyes shot open.
She stared hard at Michiru, who stared right back, but her gaze was wistful,
taking her in, while Haruka's was one of horror.
What... how... And suddenly, a sharp chill went through her. Oh no, no, it
couldn't be... but gazing at Michiru, hearing what she said... this was the girl
in the vision. The girl begging her to join her mission... to leave her life, to
risk it for some strange cause. To give up all she'd worked for... all she'd
tried to accomplish, to fight, be hurt, and maybe die. To make her life a living
hell all over again, but this time it would be willingly.
Haruka felt like something in her had died. How could fate be so cruel? To give
her a girl she was dying to be with, but place this price on being close to her.
How could she just give up her new life for her?
Fighting back her tears, she tried to sound and look disinterested and cold.
She grabbed her bag up, slinging it over her shoulder. "You're strange," she
said, turning away. "So, want do you want of me?"
She looked over her shoulder to see Michiru as she said in an excited tone,
"Would you be a model for my painting?" Her voice left no doubt as to what she
was feeling for Haruka.
Haruka's heart skipped a beat. No... Even worse, this girl was interested in
her as well. "Pass! I don't like that kind of thing." I don't like that kind
of thing, but I like _you_...
She could sense Michiru's pain, the hopes she'd crush. Her eyes threatened
to brim over with tears as she walked away from Michiru.
God... I hate you. I hate you for doing this to me.
 
 
Michiru's head sagged, and she just stood there trembling, her face unreadable
except for the tears welling in her eyes. She swallowed hard and turned to
Elza.
"Michiru?... Are... Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," Michiru said, her voice carefully controlled. "I-It's just a minor
set-back. She's probably just... just stressed from all that's happening. I'll
talk to her again some other time. I'm fine..."
"Michiru, you look pale--"
"I'm fine," Michiru said again. Her knuckles were turning white from her grip
on her sketchbook. "I'm going home now. I'll see you later."
"If you're sure... I'll see you."
Michiru calmly walked away from the track. Elza watched her leave, then turned
away.
When Michiru was sure no one could see her, she ran. She'd never run so fast in her
life. She'd never felt this hopeless. She'd never felt this much pain.
How could she do this to me?! How could this happen to me?! After all these
months, after all this waiting, all this time... she just gives me the
brush off?!
She cried out as she stumbled and fell. She had run into her backyard, lay
near the lake. She felt the sea share her agony. The waters cried with her.
She screamed, tearing up the grass.
I love her... I love her so much.... and she doesn't care.
She shook all over, racked with sobs. Ki ran outside to see what the commotion
was, followed by the other children.
Ki tried to go to her, but Kirei and Kanpeki got there first. Kanpeki sat her
up, hugging her tightly, and Kirei motioned for Genki to pick her up. She made
Ki step aside as they carried Michiru up to her room.
How can I go on? How can I complete my mission, knowing she doesn't care? How
can it be completed at all, if I don't have my partner?
"Michiru... please... stop crying," Kanpeki pleaded. "Please... you need
to calm down."
Michiru pushed her away, crying out, "Leave me alone! Get away from me!"
"What happened?" Kirei asked softly. "I thought you were meeting Haru--"
"LEAVE ME ALONE!"
Kirei flinched, then bit her lip and left. Genki gave her a hug, then led
Kanpeki out with him, shutting and locking the door.
Michiru lay back in her bed, too weak to move. She closed her eyes and tried
to ignore the pain. She couldn't stop sobbing, and ended up coughing violently.
She couldn't breathe, and she doubled over from the effort. Gasping, coughing
harder, she ran for her bathroom and threw up.
She lay on the floor in there afterwards, not wanting to move. She struggled
to stand and rinsed her mouth out, then went and flopped on her bed again.
"Michiru..." Setsuna. At a time like this.
"What the hell do you want?!" Michiru cried out. "Can't you see that I'm--"
And then Setsuna was there in person, in her fuku, as usual. "Michiru-chan, I
know what happened. Please, don't give up. It's going to be ok."
"How can it be ok?!"
"Just keep trying. It'll be all right. Haruka's not one to rush into things, you
should know that. She terrified right now. She's had the visions everyday now,
and they're started to interfere with her life. She's afraid to accept the
mission."
"Wh... what are you trying to say?"
Pluto smiled sadly, then said quietly, "It's not that she isn't interested in
you. She's afraid of losing her life, the one she's made for herself. She
doesn't want to be a Senshi."
"A-are you sure?"
"Yes." Pluto sat down by her and said, "Michiru, you're my friend, and I'm
going to look out for both you and Haruka. Just give her time. Be her friend.
It may take awhile, but she'll learn to get over her fear and accept things."
"How am I supposed to--"
Pluto chuckled and said, "I have... connections... at your school. I have
arranged for you to switch around your classes so you'll have the same as her.
You won't need to worry about P.E., they'll make an exception in your case."
She winked and said, "They just won't realize it."
Michiru sniffled and said, "You're an interesting person, Setsuna-chan."
Pluto laughed and said, "When you're stuck by yourself for a long time, you
learn to think your way through all sorts of possible situations."
She stood up and smiled sadly. "Well, I've got to leave again. Remember, it's
going to be all right."
"Th-thank you, Setsuna-chan."
"You're welcome, Michiru-chan." Pluto seemed to shimmer as she disappeared.
Michiru hugged her pillow tightly. Could things really work out between her
and Haruka? She was very grateful for Setsuna visiting her and talking to her,
not to mention rearranging her classes. How in the world had she done it?
The doorbell rang. Michiru assumed someone else had gotten it. Shortly after
that, she heard someone coming up the stairs, then knock on her door.
"Michiru-chan? It's me, Elza. Can I come in?"
Michiru got up and smoothed her hair, then unlocked the door. "Um, hi..."
Elza shut the door behind her, and handed over her sketchbook. "I figured you
weren't as fine as you said you were. You've always been too good at hiding how
you feel, especially when you're upset. Tell me the truth, are you all right?"
"I'll live." Michiru sighed sadly.
Elza hugged her, saying quietly, "I know it hurts to have her act like that,
but like you said, she's been going through hard times, right? So she's
probably just afraid of relationships right now."
"Yeah..."
Elza pulled away and said, "My ex-boyfriend... he was so rude to me at first,
but he eventually came around. He treated me like a queen after a few months."
"Ex?"
"He moved to Europe last year," Elza said quietly. "I really miss him... But
enough about me, right?"
Michiru smiled. "Thank you for coming over."
"No problem. We're friends, and friends look out for each other. Come on,
let's go get some ice cream. Nothing like chocolate chip cookie dough to
cheer you up. My treat."
"I think I'll just rest some... I'm fine, really. I'm just really tired."
Elza looked at her with concern. "Are you sure you're ok now? I mean, after
what happened and all?"
"Well I... had a visit, of sorts."
"Huh?"
"Nevermind. Let's just say, I had a talk with someone. I'll be fine. I'll
... I'll try to see you at school tomorrow, but I'm changing my schedule."
"Um, ok. See ya."
"Bye, Elza-chan."
As Elza shut the door behind her, Michiru curled up in a ball on her bed. It'll
be all right, she told herself. It'll work out. Don't start crying again. Things
will be fine.
 
 
Haruka slammed the door of the apartment shut, making a picture fall from its
hook on the wall with the force of it. Sunao tried to talk to her as she
stormed past to go to her room. She slammed that door too, and flopped onto her
bed.
Part of her was numb, unable to accept what had happened. The other part was
screaming bitterly, sobbing hard. She lay their, eyes fixed on the ceiling,
unmoving.
Sunao quietly opened the door and sat down at Haruka's side. "Is something
wrong?"
"I-I'm fine, okaa-san, I..." Haruka left a long pause, continuing to stare
at he ceiling. She closed her eyes and muttered. "I need to get away from
here, from everything."
"Oh?... Well, do you want your own apartment?"
What a way to twist her words... but it would be better than being trapped
here. "Please... I'll pay for it myself. I'll move today, I don't care..."
"I-If that's what you really want. I'll call some places right now."
Sunao got up and left, and Haruka buried her face in her pillow, crying into
it. She tried to convince herself that it wasn't worth crying over; she'd just
met this girl, knew nothing about her... but deep inside, she felt like she
did know her, that somehow this girl was perfect for her, if only...
Why did the mission have to be a part of it? Why did that damned Senshi junk
have to be mixed in? She couldn't accept it, and by refusing that, she refused
Michiru. Why couldn't she just be with Michiru and not deal with the mission?
After half an hour, Sunao came in again. "I found a place for you in the
downtown area. It's about the size of this place, rather nice... a bit pricey,
but you can cover it, right? Closer to the school..."
"Fine. I'll be packing."
Sunao seemed almost hurt, but nodded. Haruka looked at her sadly, then said,
"I'm sorry, okaa-san, I... I just need to be alone. I need to get away from
everyone, even you. I can't let my troubles bother you. You... you really can't
do anything for me now. I'm sorry."