Michiru stared out of the large bay window, sipping her tea, and wondered where Haruka was, and if she was alright. Due to various calculative stressors, the blonde had snapped, nearly yelling at her, before storming out of the house. An errant tear fell down her cheek. She hated feeling so distant from her love, but she didn't know what to do, how to act. The past few days Haruka hadn't seemed herself at all, and although Michiru knew why she was so upset, it didn't make the shift in the tomboy's personality any easier to withstand.

Haruka had sent her a brief text about an hour ago, saying that even if they were to break up, that she'd still be friends with the aqua haired woman. That did nothing to aid the growing ache in her heart. She didn't want to be only friends with Haruka, she wanted to be with her the way that she had been for a little over three months now.

She had felt as though she'd broken through some kind of barrier when Haruka had shyly asked her if she'd like to try a relationship. She'd been elated the first time the blonde had reciprocated the sentiments of love that Michiru felt. Her heart had taken a tumble when "I love you," left the nervous lips of Haruka.

The tears steadily grew as she continued to review their most recent conversations. Haruka had seemed nearly aloof, and very, very different.

"I tried to warn you that I'm not a very emotional person. The way I've been up until now isn't how I am normally at all," Michiru recalled the blonde's words.

Her grip on the tea cup increased. It hadn't been that long, so why did it hurt so damn much? It was amazing how much impact one person could have over your life. She slowly released the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding in.

They say if you can love someone enough to let them go, that they may come back, and if they do, then it was meant to be. But would she be strong enough to surrender if Ruka asked it of her? That, she didn't know the answer to; for when it came to Haruka, her typically reserved, controlled, graceful nature seemed to slip through the cracks like the wind itself.

The tea was now cold, as Michiru rose from the window, attempting to dry her eyes, and opened her violin case, new notes and lyrics coming quickly to her thoughts.

Phantom Lover

My heart lies burning again
as my thoughts turn to you.
The other part to my whole,
leaving me empty and aching.

The wind caresses my skin
reminding me of you.
The two of you share so much,
breathtaking when present, devoid otherwise.

Ardor cools as I remember,
that the ache I feel is likely to remain
despite how I wish it weren't so.
Why do you have to be so damn far from me?

"I love you," speaks volumes,
but is it enough?
I am left to wonder when it seems
as though you're gently pulling away.

Is that all you're destined to be?
The phantom lover, always on my mind?
My heart bleeds a little for you,
hoping that I'm wrong.

Fresh tears pricked at her control as she then sat to write it down for Haruka whenever she returned. Michiru steadied herself. She couldn't depend on anyone, even her lover, her partner, her soulmate, all the time.

Neptune's Mask