When Haruka ate breakfast with her family the following day, she realized she was still wearing the borrowed clothing. Now she was obliged to see Michiru again. For a moment this sentiment made her feel happy-then dread. What was she thinking? She had been acting so strangely since the beginning of this camping trip. And she couldn't figure out why. Perhaps it was Erick's fault- maybe he had ruined her mind. Maybe she was like one of those girls who got fed up of men and decided females were preferred... did she just think that?

Haruka turned different shades of red again, catching her parent's eyes.

"Haruka, where did you get those clothes?" her mother inquired thoughtfully. This didn't help Haruka to regain control of her thoughts. She almost wanted to stand up and scream: "OKAY! I WAS SLEEPING WITH A GIRL IN THE WILDERNESS!". But ofcourse that was completely absurd.

"A friend lent them to me. I actually have to bring them back before we leave." she said calmly. It was difficult to remain so calm but she did it.

"Alright then, finish packing and go as soon as possible we want to avoid any traffic." her mother said, somewhat convinced that her daughter was okay. Unbeknownst to the overwhelmed Haruka, others had noticed her odd behaviour as well.

Haruka walked in her usual clothes towards Michiru's cabin. She slightly blushed. She wanted to see that cabin again, it was simply gorgeous. She was holding the clothes at her side. She was wearing a mini skirt shorter than ever before and a matching tube top. She had overdone her make-up too. It was as if she was trying to overcomopensate being appealing to men. Because it was men she liked. Yes. Michiru was just a friend. These were the thoughts going through Haruka's mind as a twig snapped beneath her high heels.

"Haruka..." said a voice from nearby. Haruka mentally nodded. Yes, just like that. A man's voice- that was what she was really after! ... Wait. Haruka glanced over at that point. She recognised that voice. It was Erick, looking somewhat sad and regretful.

"Erick what a surprise!" she said coldly. He approached her, and laid a hand on her shoulder.

"You don't understand," he said, seeming honest. Haruka felt her inner mind caving in for a moment. "Please, come to my camp site so I can explain everything." Haruka hesitated.

"I was actually-" she tried to explain that she was going to see Michiru but was cut off by his eyes. She sighed. "Fine." She was feeling grumpy suddenly. She had wanted to see Michiru- no, she wasn't thinking like that anymore. She tried to concentrate on the words coming from Erick's lips but she couldn't. It was too bad, because it took her a moment to realize that he was on top of her in the grass looking triumphant. She raised an eyebrow. This was really going to set her back some time. What if Michiru was gone? -wait a second. What was Erick doing? She tried to push him off her, but he was stronger.

"Don't struggle, it'll be better this way." he said into her ear. A cold feeling struck Haruka then. Was he... was he mad!

"Let me go!" she cried angrily. He was holding her hands at her sides, and she didn't like it. She wanted to leave. She wanted to run far away. As he stared at her with those eyes she feared, she did what came to mind- she screamed at the top of her lungs. Birds overhead flew, and thunder filled the sky. The sky was screaming too, Haruka thought quietly.

"No one out here can hear you, so scream if you want." he said, laughing. He sat upright, and at this view he looked more frightening than anything Haruka had ever seen. She closed her eyes tightly, and suddenly heard the sound of Erick falling back and weight was off her. At that same moment it began to rain. Gentle rain... Haruka felt tears streaming from her eyes when she opened them. And there, she saw Michiru standing beside her.

"Of all the low and dirty things, Erick... " she said darkly. Erick had been tossed aside and stood unhurt.

"Mich, get out of here. This has nothing to do with you." he responded. For a moment the look on his face was one of simple warning and no threat. Perhaps he couldn't hurt Michiru. He approached Haruka again, but Mich stood in front of her.

"Stay away Erick." she said, and there was a power of conviction in her voice. Her aqua eyes were narrowed and the rain began to fall harder.

"You know what they did, Mich. How can you side with her!" he yelled. Haruka sat up, confused. What?

"Because Erick- Haruka is my friend. And she has no fault in this!" Michiru stated.

"You're wrong! She's related to that man! The man who... the man who killed my mother!" he said, pain and hatred in his eyes. Haruka's eyes widened, and the thunder crashed above them.

"What?" she said, feeling like someone out of the circle.

"What do you know about your father, Haruka?" he said, looking at her. Haruka began to get angry.

"What the hell are you talking about!" she said. He laughed darkly to himself.

"You foolish girl. You had no idea, did you? You had no idea what he was doing!" Erick said, seeming more off his rocker every moment that passed. Haruka was silent. She wanted to know what he was talking about. "Three years before you were born, your father had a beautiful young secretary. He was engaged to your mother at the time. After having some interesting experiences with this secretary, she told him she was pregnant. Ofcourse, a high paid and engaged office man couldn't have that.

He paid her money. Every week. Every week until she died. She began to ask for too much money. And then, he had his associates take care of her. Leaving me, a six year old orphan being paid just like she was. Do you know why I could afford to get you all those nice things, Haruka?" .

"Stop!" Haruka said, covering her ears. But he kept speaking.

"All that money was from your father. But there's a secret- a secret that your father didn't know. I'm not his son. My mother was also engaged. But when her fiancee found out she was pregnant, he didn't want her anymore. He thought I wasn't his son. My mother had no one else to go to. So she lied. Even now... " Erick took a cheque from his back pocket. Haruka recognized the stamp. It was the stamp her father used to certify they were cheques written by him alone. Haruka couldn't believe it, her father wouldn't do that. He wouldn't!

"Then... do whatever you want with me." she said, her eyes becoming dull. Haruka felt that everything she knew was gone in that moment. She knew nothing more than a heavy guilt.

"That's more like it. Now you know. Now you will understand the pain your father caused with his dirty money. That money twisted her. She forgot about me a lot. It was all about the money after that. She became someone who lived for greed alone. " Erick walked to Haruka and grabbed her arm. It hurt. He wasn't gentle anymore. He wasn't kind. But it appeared, that neither was her father.

"Let her go Erick. This is wrong. " Michiru said, her long hair laying flat across her face from the heavy rain fall. Erick shook his head, and bared his teeth like a wild animal.

"Unless you're willing to take her place... "he said examining her. In these clothes, she looked like a girl. Michiru gritted her teeth. Thunder struck just then, making Michiru just a silhouette as she punched him with all the strength she had. He found himself on the wet grass looking up at the two girls. Michiru glared at him in the most hateful way he had ever seen on her gentle face. Michiru then took Haruka's hand, and lead her away from Erick who was simply thinking over what had just happened.

Haruka barely noticed when they were out of the rain and in Michiru's cabin minutes later. Michiru was drying Haruka off with a towel, when it all clicked in. She looked at Michiru, the tears brimming.

"Michiru!" she cried, as if reaching out for some life line. Michiru seemed surprised, but took Haruka into her arms. She wanted to stop the pain she had seen in Haruka's eyes. Michiru drew back gently and placed a small kiss on Haruka's forehead in a motherly way, making Haruka break into more tears.

(A/N)

This chapter brought to you by "Dont Speak" by No Doubt. Music is truly the best when writing.

MarliCat2007- I hope you had a good holiday, I know I did!

Leo Sky- hugs poor wrapping creature.

Tigonookami- enough love in this chappie? If not , you can imagine where this is leading... Bwahahahaha!

bored- thank you!

tomboi- thanks for reminding me. Normally I wouldn't have had time to write this but I've got a cold and I can't do much without feeling sick. Meh. Being sick is no fun.

Edited: November 13, 2008