A/N: The formatting on Tumblr looked 10 times better and I'm disappointed I can't showcase that here! It's more of the use of spacing on a lot of those single lines but oh well! Hopefully the intent comes across. -Cricket

In truth, she doesn't know where to look. Her eyes settle for the dying sun, leaving them in the growing darkness of the living room. There were too many words floating between them like particles in a frozen space, only seen by the thousands if one were to stare long enough. It makes Haruka's throat close painfully. Makes her feet continue their slow pace back and forth from the window and to the kitchen. It's any wonder how there isn't a worn path there just from the hour (it's only been that long?) she's been walking.

Haruka couldn't leave. But she just couldn't stay in one place either.

The fact that Michiru was still there gave her more peace of mind that she could admit. If the darkness became too thick, green eyes could just flash back at the couch and stare at near motionless form occupying a seat. Her chest would rise and fall, her finger or even her foot would tap at times, and the tea cup in her delicate hands would just sit there unused. When the darkness became too thick, Haruka would remember the voice inside her mind becoming reality and shaking her to her core.

❝ Haruka ❞ it had cried when she ran from her nightmares.

And ❝ Haruka! ❞ it had screamed when another round of bullets aimed true.

And Haruka continued to pace.

—I wish you would look at me, Michiru had said.

How, she wanted to cry back, when I've been so blind to you?

It did make still her feet at the halfway point, facing the kitchen and away from the very same perch that her and Michiru shared before leaving for their Mission. It had been a full day since then and some hours since Michiru had unlocked the door and walked in, probably determined to have this conversation and get it over with. But what could Haruka say to that? How could she respond to what Michiru had displayed back there? Michiru had probably gone down there knowing that she would die protecting Haruka. Had she known even then, back when Haruka picked up that lip rod?

Just how many times had she said for them to move on without one another? That the Mission was too damn important for them to pay attention to any feelings they held?

❝ I don't care. I don't care anymore. ❞

Green eyes sought out and glared fiercely into Michiru's before finally exiting the road she walked alone. She couldn't take anymore caution or allusions to just what the two of them felt and finally did what Haruka had been denying herself to do for almost two days now. Haruka's hands went for the sides of Michiru's face, bringing their faces together impossibly close with only the tips of their noses and the skin of their foreheads as the final distance.

I wish you would understand what I want from you.

I wish you would never leave without me.

I wish you would stay by my side.

❝ Dammit Michiru…kiss me. ❞

I wish you would...