Chapter 5 - Gloom

Michiru spent the two next weeks hiding Marine the private concert she was to give on a boat among wealthy people. Her life was complicated enough. Her girlfriend had already quite some difficulty to cope with the fact Michiru's new school uniform… No need to bother her with Haruka Tenoh. She was feeling that she had to keep Marine away from all what concerned her blonde prey. She was sure that even if there was nothing between them at all, Marina would get jealous. So she kept it a secret when she had to take a whole afternoon to try dresses and when she had to investigate on a way to make Haruka come. She asked around if she was to come. She knew more or less the others musicians that would be there. No one had invited her, and no one was willing to. After a week and a half, Michiru finally had to resolve and send an invitation by herself.

« Michiru… Are you free this week end? I'm not going home so we could spend time together… You're so aloof lately… » asked Marine Friday evening.

« Oh… I'm sorry I just can't… I'm… I'm giving a concert. »

« A concert? But… Why didn't you tell me? »

Michiru sighed. She knew that would come… After all it was Friday, and the concert was on Saturday night.

« I… er… It's a private concert. You can't bring friends. »

« I see… By the way… This outfit doesn't suit you. » said Marine.

Michiru watched herself. She was wearing a nice summer dress. She didn't know why, but after school, she had felt like wearing it. She was more and more tempted by all those girly things such as skirts… It was feeling different, and she wouldn't admit it to anyone, but it was even feeling better.

« What's the problem? »

« I don't know… I just don't like how you act lately… Michiru, last morning I saw you trying my makeup on… »

« And? Does it bother you? »

« It's just that it's not like you. »

« You're getting false ideas. »

« If you say so… »

Michiru was feeling guilty… She hadn't talked about Haruka… The girl probably wouldn't come but still… She was lying to her girlfriend.

Haruka was in her own car, watching the scene. The two girls were in front of the school gate. Obviously they were dating. But something told her that was not meant to be. Those girls didn't look like the perfect match. A little voice in Haruka's heart was wondering whether she was jealous or not… After all it would be normal, Michiru was a real goddess and she had made her understand that she was interested in her. And her eyes had betrayed she wanted more of her than a model… Haruka had a slight smile. She imagined for a short moment how this model thing would end if she was to have it her way... And suddenly the idea of her destiny came back to her mind. No, Michiru was not interested in her that way. It was just she was using her charms to get her to fight by her side. She was holding the invitation… Would she go or not? She still wondered.

The night of the concert arrived too early to Michiru's taste. She was tensed. She walked on the small stage, wondering whether Haruka was there or not. She started to play, smiling very slightly to look comfortable. When she caught sight of Haruka, she felt a kind of relief and her music became even more graceful, strong and confident. Then she closed her eyes to not be too disturbed and look as though she hadn't seen her.

« This girl is Kaioh Michiru. »

« She surely doesn't look like a junior high student. She must be quite popular at school, don't you think? »

« I heard she doesn't make many friends. »

« I wonder why, she looks like a wonderful girl. »

« Yeah… I heard she doesn't like people. »

Haruka was silently listening to those people disturbing the concert. How rude. But also interesting in a way. She knew all too well Michiru was alone because of the mission. And that was one reason why she didn't really want to get into it too. She got up. After all, even if the music was excellent, she had nothing to do there. She got up and left.

Michiru reopened her eyes. She gave a quicker ending to her song and took a short cut to get to Haruka. She couldn't let her go that easily. And something told her where her partner was. She had been feeling her presence a lot lately.

« Do you find it to your liking? » asked Michiru, sitting in the stairs, watching Haruka who was staring at one of her own painting hung up the wall.

« Thank you for coming here tonight. Miss Haruka Tenoh, the famous racer. »

« You seem to know quite a bit about me… This piece, did you paint it? »

Haruka tried to hide how surprised she had been, and how the voice had sounded good to her ears. This warm, brilliant voice that made her heart jump.

« You're rather famous. There are a lot of freakish fans of yours at my school as well. One of them is a girl but she says she still wants to go cruising along the beach in your car. » said Michiru, passing a hand in her hair in a seductive way.

Where was that coming from? She wasn't supposed to make such understatements and… seduce Haruka. But she was doing it anyway. Without even thinking about it.

« The end of the world, huh? I'm surprise to see that a well-to-do girl who can't even kill a bug can draw such a tragic fantasy. » said Haruka with an ironical smile.

« It's not fantasy! I can see that scene clearly! » said Michiru with anger this time. She stood up.

« That's stupid. I am Tenoh Haruka, the first junior racer in Japan. Memories of my previous life or the end of the world have nothing to do with me.» said Haruka, getting angry too. « If someone has to do it, then you can do it. I would like you to stop investigating me like this, though.»

Michiru felt that she couldn't take it any longer… After all this person was just an egocentric, selfish individual. Maybe not worth to be her partner after all.

« Don't say such selfish things like that… I don't want to do it either. I also have a dream… to become violinist. I can't do something stupid like saving the world from destruction. »

Michiru was truly angered now. Haruka didn't know what it meant to her. How hard it was. She hadn't want all that. Not at all. And only a minute ago she had been thinking the only good point in that mission was that Haruka would be there with her.

Haruka turned her back to her and left. Michiru didn't tried to catch up with her this time.

The next days were gloomy, particularly gloomy. The amount of monsters had doubled and she had never been so tired. She wasn't inspired by her girly outfit and dresses anymore. She was even considering cutting her hair, just like Marine wanted her to. Her body was aching from the various fights. Usually it was less painful, but right now she was fighting too much and she hadn't time to recover.

She was thinking a lot about Haruka… And since that night when she had seen Haruka's bad side… She had understood some little things. She had to admit Haruka was attracting. Not only that… She didn't really know anymore what she would have done if from the beginning Haruka had responded to her attempts to get to her. Since Haruka had entered her life, she wasn't finding much interest in her own girlfriend anymore. And now she was thinking about it, it was already the case before her arrival. She was confused about Haruka. Sure, physically she'd do anything with her. But was she falling in love with her? Or was it a mere partnership that she was expecting?

She was thinking about all those things standing in front of a hairdresser shop completely spaced out.

No, love or not, she wouldn't be with Haruka and she knew it. She'd just keep the things as they were and try to be the best girlfriend ever for Marine. She'd agree to all her requests, and her first one was about her haircut. She was about to enter when a husky soothing voice spoke.

« Kaioh Michiru ?… I wouldn't have recognized you… »

« Oh… Miss Tenoh… I was about to… »

« Going for a haircut? »

« Yes. My friend… she keep asking me to cut them short. Well… a bit like yours. »

« Oh… It would be quite a shame, if I can say so. Don't jump to conclusions but you look way better with your hair as it is… And while I'm at it… These trousers and large tee-shirt don't look too good on you. »

« Well… It is… none of your business. » answered Michiru coldly.

« Just a piece of advise… but well… if you want to be these ladies' man, who am I to intervene? »

« I do what I want, and it has nothing to do with you… Let me remember you that it is you who has wanted things to be that way. »

« Exactly. »

Haruka was smiling a bit. Michiru was angry with herself though, because her heart had jumped once more at the sight of the girl. But after the fight they had had last time, she thought it better to not continue on that way.

Haruka was somewhat embarrassed by this situation. She understood perfectly why Michiru was angry with her. And she herself didn't want anything to do with her… But still… She kept crossing her path one way or another… This time she thought she could talk to her… but it wasn't what she had imagined. By getting closer, she had noticed Michiru looked pale and weak, almost sick, and not quite herself. It killed her to see her like that.

When Michiru watched her reflection in the window pane, she saw she was wearing a large sport suit and her hair was hidden under a cap.

« I dress the way I want. That is just my style. And I don't think you can give advice. Why don't you wear this girly uniform yourself, you're a girl, aren't you? » said Michiru with an angry look.

Haruka chose to be patient.

« You get a point. But I was just giving you a piece of advice. And you're nothing like me… You are a mermaid, a princess, a goddess, whatever, but certainly not a tomboy. If I were you, I'd drop this girlfriend who actually need a man but is too proud to admit it. »

« Can you just mind your own business? » answered Michiru, boiling with anger.

« Ok, ok… See you! »

Haruka couldn't believe what had just escaped her mouth. What had happened to her resolve to not get any closer to Michiru Kaioh? She was feeling she had said too much and simply gestured a good bye and walked away, leaving behind a mad but slightly smiling Michiru who was feeling a sudden urge to go home back home…

… And once arrived, she started to feel reckless. She opened her wardrobe and picked a nice dress, untied her hair and sat in one of the comfortable armchairs. She was feeling a bit more at peace.