The first piece finished, and she lowered her instrument, opening her
eyes. Her senses returned, and she was stunned when she was met with
a thunderous applause. She felt a pleasant warmth in her cheeks. They
really liked it? That silly thing that her mom had made her play?
Eventually, she raised the violin for her second piece. A sudden hush
descended upon the crowd. She was excited now, forgetting how nervous
she'd been earlier. She played with great enthusiasm, quicker than
she thought she could. She lost track of how many songs she played,
how many times the audience stood to cheer for her. It was wonderful.
 
 
When it was over, she curtsied deeply, met with loud cheers, and several
flowers thrown on stage. She smiled and waved, and turned to leave the
stage. She felt like she was walking on air.
"Wonderful, simply wonderful!" Ki said as she walked over to kiss her cheek.
"You were fantastic."
"Excellent playing, Michiru," Tadashii told her.
"Thank you, okaa-san, otou-san," she said simply. Ha! She showed them!
Their little show-and-tell daughter was a lot better than they thought. She
didn't need them.
"Kaiou-san, Kaiou-san!" someone shouted, pushing through the throng of
people that had gathered around. A business card was thrust in her face.
"I'm a producer at--" he racked off a bunch of things she didn't care
about, then finally got to the point. "You were amazing out there, and
my company would like to offer you a record deal--"
"She'll take it!" Ki exclaimed immediately.
"You are her mother?"
"Yes!"
He handed her the card. "Call me and we'll work out the details."
"Of course!"
Michiru waved away her parents and walked off towards her dressing room.
Forget them. This wasn't about them anymore. She had performed and loved
it. She was doing this for herself.
She opened the door and jumped a bit in surprise. "Oh, I'm sorry!"
Kanpeki and Murasaki quickly pulled apart from their hug. "I-it's ok,"
Kanpeki stammered. "It's your dressing room, after all."
"How'd it go?" Murasaki asked.
"Great! It was really fun!"
"Oh, um, glad to hear it."
"Sorry I missed it," Kanpeki said, "but I really wasn't up to it after
fighting with our parents."
"That's fine. Well, I need to change..."
"See you in a bit," Kanpeki said, quickly leaving with Murasaki.
Michiru put her violin in her case and laughed for a long time.
 
 
**********
 
 
Michiru followed Haruka every chance she got. She passed by her on the
walk to school, and went out of the way at the end of the day to follow
her home. She felt silly for doing it, but she'd sometimes climb up into
a tree near her window, hiding in the leaves, and look into her room,
watching her for hours. She never had a great deal of homework and it was
always easy for her, so she didn't feel any real need to go home. Her
excuse to her parents was that she was going to a park to study with some
friends. Eventually, she would have to go home, eat dinner, then would
quickly do her homework before rushing to talk to Teinei. If she had
any free time afterwards, she'd swim in the pool and daydream. When she
wasn't doing that, she performed on her violin for her fans or was at the
recording studio. Recently, she'd submitted some paintings to museums, and
those were on display, but she only rarely went for signings.
On weekends, Haruka was in her room almost all the time, sometimes in plain
sight but other times hiding in her closet, so there was no set pattern as
to whether Michiru would get the chance to observe her or not.
When Haruka's parents weren't home, she could occasionally go downstairs, so
Michiru would go hide in the bushes and watch her through the sliding glass door.
Either she wasn't there when it happened or the frequency had gone down, but
Michiru rarely saw Katai hit Haruka, and whenever she stumbled across it,
she'd quickly avert her eyes. Usually, she'd get there after the fact, and
it broke her heart to see Haruka curled up in a ball in her room, trembling
with pain.
She learned a lot about Haruka just from watching her movements, the play
of emotions across her face, and especially her glorious eyes. Michiru
loved her eyes most out of all her physical features; they said so much
about her through the tiniest movements and color shifts. Michiru wished she
could talk to her, let Haruka see her, but she knew that it would be
disastrous to show herself to her too soon.
The strange visions had continued, while she slept and while awake. She
had no idea what they meant, but they terrified her.
After a few months, Michiru got more daring, and started sneaking out at
night to watch Haruka sleep. Her family had a row boat they kept down at
their dock, so she'd go across the lake, pull the boat up at the park,
walk over to the house, and row back when she was too tired to enjoy it
any more. She couldn't explain it, but she could somehow sense what it was
that Haruka dreamt about, even what she thought. It was calming in a way
to watch her lie under her covers and rest from the hell her life had
become. Michiru wished this peaceful bliss could last.
 
 
"Teinei-san! I'm here!"
Michiru shut the door behind her and locked it. Teinei had started leaving
it unlocked so Michiru could just come on in whenever she arrived. Murasaki
was rarely over, she was usually over at the Kaiou's with Kanpeki, and when
she was at home, Kanpeki was usually over.
"I'm in the kitchen; could you come help me?"
Teinei was busily preparing a meal, and was rushing around like she had
very little time to finish. She handed Michiru a bowl before rushing to
the oven. "Mix that up if you would... I have to get this finished."
Michiru looked down at the bowl, partially filled with the beginnings of
a salad. She sat down at the table with it after washing her hands,
grabbing some spoons to toss it with. "What's the rush?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot to tell you..." She closed the oven door and set
the timer, then grabbed a bowl of a dough mixture and started stirring
quickly. "Sunao-chan called a few minutes ago and said she had to go to a
dinner meeting and was sending Haruka over to have dinner and spend some
time with me... she'll be here in half an hour."
"Really?!"
"Yes... hurry up with the salad if you could... it's her favorite... I
have to get everything cleaned up and Murasaki isn't here cuz she's
spending the night at your house with Kanpeki--"
Michiru set the bowl down and grabbed Teinei's arms and tried to get her
to settle down. "Teinei-san! You're just going to wear yourself out if you
keep moving at this pace."
Teinei sighed. "I know, I know, but I want everything to be just right--"
"She'll appreciate it if you do, but you have to realize that everything's
fine as it is. She'll probably be too busy enjoying the fact that she's
not at home to notice whether or not everything's tidy."
Teinei started stirring the dough mix again. "You're probably right... Boy,
you sure do have her figured out, don't you?"
Michiru colored a bit and went back to work on the salad. "Well..."
"I know you do; can't have watched her this long without learning a thing
or two about how she thinks."
Michiru nodded a bit.
"Hey, why don't you stay over, too? See the 'vent' covers up on the walls
near the ceiling? They're really just up in the attic. The ceiling panel
in the guest room opens up and a ladder drops down so you can climb up
into it. You could see and hear everything from up there without anyone
noticing you. I know you don't watch to approach her yet, so why not do
what you always do while she's here?"
"Sure! Thank you, Teinei-san!"
Teinei laughed a bit. "You're welcome... now c'mon, I have to at least
feed her! If we have time after cooking, you can help me straighten up."
Michiru worked hard to help Teinei finish the meal, preparing everything
the best she could. Teinei teased her a bit about her eagerness to make
it perfect, and Michiru just ignored the comments.
While they cooked, Michiru asked, "Teinei-san? I have an... odd question
to ask you."
"Eh? Um, okay."
"You've... you've noticed how Kanpeki-chan and Murasaki-san spend a _lot_
of time together, right?"
"... Right... -san? Oh yes, she's older than you three by a bit more than
a month..."
"I... Well, I have my suspicions... Do you think that... They might be...
you know...?"
"Ask them yourself," Teinei replied immediately, turning away from Michiru.
Michiru was a bit surprised at the answer, but shrugged and went back to
work.
With only a few minutes left till Haruka was due to arrive, they quickly
rearranged the chairs, tossed things that were lying around into the hall
closet, then sat by the window to wait.
"Here comes Sunao-chan's car, you better go ahead and get up there,"
Teinei said.
Michiru nodded, casting one more glance out the window before leaving the
room. She had to struggle with the ceiling panel a bit to get it open,
and stepped back to let the ladder slide out. She climbed up, pulled the
ladder up, and pulled on the string that connected to the panel so she
could close it again. It was so dark up in there... she felt around as
she crawled towards the dim light coming from the covering in the kitchen,
making sure she didn't accidentally break through the ceiling. She then
sat there and waited.
Not long afterwards, the doorbell rang, and she heard what she assumed was
Sunao's voice along with Teinei's. Haruka wasn't saying anything. The door
shut soon after, and then she could hear their footsteps as they walked
into the kitchen. Teinei was talking excitedly, telling Haruka how happy
she was to have her over and how she couldn't wait to talk, and that she
was sorry Murasaki wasn't over to meet her. Haruka mumbled "me too" a few
times but otherwise said very little.
When they entered the kitchen, Michiru pressed her face up against the
vent as much as she comfortably could to get a better look. Since it was
a Saturday, Haruka didn't wear her school uniform; she instead wore loose
pants and a dark colored sweatshirt. Typical of her, Michiru thought sadly
to herself. She never wore anything fitted in public, trying to hide her
figure from everyone, probably to avoid having boys flirt with her. Being
slender and well-developed was a combination that would lead to a lot of
problems with the opposite sex, and Haruka didn't want to be involved with
guys.
Teinei helped Haruka fix a plate before they sat down at her table on
opposite ends, Teinei with her back to Michiru and Haruka facing the vent.
Michiru smirked a bit. Teinei set her up to be sitting there, just so
Michiru could stare at Haruka all she wanted. Thoughtful... Michiru worried
at first that she could be seen, but she remembered Teinei assuring her
she wouldn't.
Haruka still hadn't said anything. She just sat there as if she wasn't
going to eat anything, but Michiru could tell she was very hungry. Teinei
had started eating and looked at Haruka with a puzzled look.
"Excuse me a moment," Haruka said softly, then she bowed her head, her
lips moving in a silent prayer. Ah yes, she attended church after all, she
was supposed to pray before eating. As soon as she finished, she grabbed
her fork and started eating rather quickly. Michiru worried some about
this; Haruka didn't eat much because of her father, so this must seem like
a gift from Heaven to have all this food at once.
"How's school going?" Teinei asked her niece.
"Um, I'm making good grades... don't know how though... That's about all I
can say for it. It's very... well, I hate it."
She had such a wonderful voice! Michiru sighed aloud, then covered her
mouth, hoping she wasn't too audible with it. If she had been, they must
not have noticed. She felt silly... but then again, she thought, it's very
understandable. Haruka's voice was so incredible; very deep but feminine,
somewhat soft but with an almost forceful edge to it, and it made Michiru
shiver with excitement whenever she heard it.
"What about other things... socially and whatnot?"
Wrong question, Michiru groaned inwardly.
Haruka stiffened. "I... I don't have any friends, if that's what you're
asking. Everyone hates me, thinks I'm weird, fears me..."
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked--"
"No, you shouldn't." Haruka stared down at her plate, pushing her salad
around with her fork. Michiru saw her eyes soften slightly; she felt bad
about her comment. "This, um... this is really good... You're a good cook."
Teinei was amused by that. Michiru could imagine her winking to her as she
told Haruka, "Thanks, but I had some help. A, uh, a neighbor helped me."
"Oh, well... it's still good."
"I'll tell her that."
Haruka was very uncomfortable... Teinei didn't know what she could talk
about with her and Haruka was always nervous around other people anyways.
"Oba-san?"
"Yes?"
"I... nevermind, it'll sound too weird."
"It's all right, it probably won't faze me."
"... I have the strangest feeling that someone is watching me."
Michiru could have burst out laughing at that. So Haruka _did_ realize she
was--
"A lot of the time when I'm at home, I get the same feeling. Practically
every day. I swear, there's someone spying on me."
Michiru froze up in surprise.
Teinei fumbled for something to say, seeming very unsure. "Ummm... that's
odd..."
Haruka lightly touched the gold cross she always wore around her neck,
looking down at her hands.
Apparently, Teinei took this as some sort of sign, and commented, "Maybe
you have a guardian angel?"
Haruka looked up sharply at her and said, "It sure doesn't seem like it
most of the time." She fell silent and looked away, but she seemed to be
considering what Teinei said. She ate quietly, seeming to not notice
whatever it was she put in her mouth.
Michiru could feel her heart pound and she wiped her forehead with the
back of her hand. Guardian angel, huh? Teinei's fast thinking might have
kept Haruka from investigating too much into her feeling, but it was still
a lie.
"I'm going to put the dishes away... are you done eating?"
Haruka nodded and got out of her chair. "I... I should leave--"
"No, no, stay! We haven't spent any time together in three years! Why are
you in such a rush to leave?"
Haruka had a scared look on her face as she whispered, "I need to get home
before my father does... He, uh, he doesn't like... coming home to an
empty house..."
Both Michiru and Teinei easily saw through the lie, and Teinei played
innocent. "Oh, well, if you need to get home, I'll give you a ride... just
tell me when."
"Please... I'll come over some other time, if I can..."
"Um, just go on out to the car, I'll be out in a minute."
Haruka nodded weakly and went outside. Teinei looked up at the vent. "You
should probably go home as soon as we've pulled away, all right? Wait a few
minutes."
"All right... thanks for letting me stay over..."
"You're welcome. Sorry that it was so short, but it's better to keep
Haruka out of trouble. Tell Murasaki to remember to be home by noon
tomorrow; she has a piano recital."
"Mm hmm... see you later."
"Bye."
Teinei left, and Michiru carefully got out of the attic and went home.
 
 
Haruka waved Teinei goodbye, waiting to go inside until she'd left. She
was scared, numb all over from terror. Katai was home, she could feel it.
He was watching her from the window. Damnit, why did her mother have to
make her go see Teinei?! If she hadn't, she wouldn't have to face _him_...
She walked up to the front door, afraid to enter. The door swung open, a
deeply frowning Katai standing there. "Come inside. You have some explaining
to do."
Haruka shakily walked in, trying to keep from crying. "I'm sorry, okaa-san
made me go see Teinei-san while she went to that dinner! I would have come
home sooner but--"
The door shut with a loud slam as he led her to the family room. "You
better not have told her anything."
"No! Of course not!"
Katai scowled at her. "Why are you so jumpy?!"
Haruka trembled and avoided meeting his gaze. "I... I..."
"Stupid coward... you better not have made her suspicious..."
"I didn't--"
"I bet you did! Why don't you listen, you're such a fool!"
"But I--"
"I've had enough."
Haruka whimpered and ducked down to avoid the first swing he threw at her.
He growled with anger. "Don't you dare try to get out of this! You're
going to get punished even more if you try to stop me!"
Haruka started sobbing, instinctively raising her arms in defense whenever
he tried to hit her. Teinei said she had a guardian angel watching her?...
yeah, right...
 
 
Michiru went to Haruka's house as soon as she'd checked in at home, and
saw that she wasn't in her room. Climbing out of the tree and into the
bushes, she saw Haruka in the family room, and Katai pummeling her
mercilessly. Michiru could feel all the blood drain from her face and
tears pour down her cheeks. Her fingers twitched spasmodically, wanting to
reach out and stop what was happening, but the risk to Haruka...
Michiru had hidden in the tree again, slipping a few times from the
blurred vision her tears caused. Haruka stumbled into her room after
several minutes, too weak to do anything besides collapse into her bed
and pass out.
Michiru could hear the blood pounding in her ears, her throat go dry. She
had to do something... Haruka could bleed to death if no one helped her...
She heard a car pulling away, and after straining hard to see, saw that
Katai had left the house. Sunao was still at that dinner... that left
Haruka alone, unconscious, unable to stop the bleeding...
Michiru fumbled for the key to the house after slipping down the tree
trunk, sliding open the door before rushing upstairs quickly. She found
Haruka's room with ease, the door being unlocked and therefore not an
obstacle. Michiru stopped when she first entered the room, standing there
for long moments. Haruka looked terribly fragile as she lay there,
hopeless, desperately needing help. Michiru haltingly stepped forward and
lay her hands gently on her shoulders, sliding her up the bed to a better
position that would be more comfortable for her when she regained
consciousness.
She had to look around for a bit to find the bathroom, but once it was
found, she gather up heavy amounts of cotton balls, gauze, hydrogen
peroxide, ointments, a few washcloths, and two large bowls which she
filled with hot water.
She brought them all into Haruka's room, laying some items on the
nightstand and the rest on her bed. She found a large, clean shirt in the
closet, and fought to keep her hands from trembling as she carefully
slipped off Haruka's bloody shirt and jeans. Michiru was horrified by just
how so pale she was from blood loss, her skin seemed almost as white as her
undergarments. She washed all her wounds carefully, dipping in one bowl to
rinse the cloth and the other to wet it with clean water, applying hydrogen
peroxide to all the cuts, then smoothing ointment on them with as much care
as possible, and finally wrapping gauze where it was needed, then slipping
the clean shirt on her.
Michiru pulled the sheets carefully over the tall girl before replacing
all the items she'd taken out, then going back into her room. She gazed
at her wistfully, smoothing her blond hair back from her face, letting
her hand linger on her cheek. She sighed, wiped away her tears, then
whispered, "Please get better... please live, Haruka... I love you..."
She stood there a few more minutes, just looking down at her.
She was very startled when she heard a very weak, choked groan and saw
Haruka's eyelids fluttering open slightly. Michiru quickly backed away as
Haruka, not quite coherent, rested a hand on her forehead and made a
pained, muffled sound. She rushed downstairs and out the door, locking it
behind her, then ran down to the lake, climbing into the row boat,
frantically turning the oars so she could get home.
It didn't take as long as usual for her to climb up to her window. She
was very shocked when she reached to open it and it didn't budge. Why
wouldn't it open... open open open--
She let out a scream when Suteki and Kirei's angry faces appeared in the
window, then it flew open and they grabbed her, dragging her back in.
Suteki slid it shut and pushed her to her bed and Kirei locked the
door. Michiru let out several choked sobs then cried, "What's going on?!
What was that for?!"
"We know what's going on," Suteki hissed. "We have to do something about it."
"W-What do you mean--"
"Michiru," Kirei growled, "we aren't stupid. You've spent more time away
from home in the last few months... ever since that when we were walking to
school and you saw that Ten'ou girl... And now you leave at night, too."