Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot. I don't own Sailormoon, Kiyokawa Village (I nicked the name off Google map LOL), Azerbaijan is a lovely place especially in summer, as well as the dubious accounts in Singapore, (no such sort of stuff happening there as far as I know, all made up fiction by me) neither do I own the name 'Mentos' (I bloody love that sweet!). The stories about the political conflicts are made up too, though I believe I got the essence of the explanations right. Feel free to tell me if something is wrong! The whole story is fictitious and I'm not getting any money for it. Any relevance to actual living persons or events is entirely coincidental.

A/N: w00ts my quick update…but my week is hectic, so are my work that are piling up like nobody's business…one thing about university life is that your professors is that they assume you're only taking one subject, and your friends would assume you have a lot of time for extra activities, and your club members would assume you have lot of time to do work for them lol. Okay I'm gonna stop ranting,

Enjoy this chapter! Please R&R if you can, and whoever wherever you are. So I know you're reading it and what you think of it. And all those who reviewed the last time, I love you guys!


The news flash was his nightmare.

Seiya held his cell phone a little away from his ear as he tried his best to concentrate whatever the news anchor was saying. It was pitch black in the apartment in the middle of Osaka at one of the rich districts except for the television and Seiya's cell phone, where the sun has almost completely set and the whole sky is a shade of dark blue.

At his ear, Taiki was yelling on the phone about the failure of Yaten to secure the drugs to get the funding they needed that they would have to resort to robbing a bank.

At his earshot, the news was all about the various footages the reporters had shot over the debris that the gunfight had took place. Not to say, blood was evident all over the debris, meaning someone was injured. If not, killed.

All Seiya wanted to hear if Yaten was alright.

"SEIYA! Are you listening to me?!" Taiki bellowed though the phone.

Seiya merely grunted in response as he heard 'It is one of the worse firefight in the recent history of Japan, with many injured and civilians involved in the firefight…'

Still, no Yaten.

"We have just lost 30million US dollars! Don't you have any reaction towards it?! I'm already at Azerbaijan locating the hidden man for nuclear nukes!!" Taiki bellowed through the phone, which displayed a number foreign to Seiya.

Seiya kept silent as his eyes fixated on the television.

"Yaten is a useless fool; how could he…BAH!" And Seiya heard a loud crash of things at the other line. Seiya suppose Taiki is taking out is frustrations on random stuff around where he is.

"I have a useless little brother!" Taiki shouted in the phone.

Seiya frowned at that, as the news finally showed something promising of Yaten's news.

'One of the leaders of the group's militant unit, Kou Yaten, is identified by the police to have been under capture, though they did not sate under what state was he captured in.'

Seiya sighed, if the police say captured, at the very least, Yaten is alive.

"I want you to either raise funds again, or recover the goods to! I will try on my part too. But I will deal with the nukes guy, you just concentrate on that! I will call you again about a few days later to discuss in detail .Now go out of your hiding and do some damage control!"

Seiya grunted again to his older brother, as his older brother slammed the phone down on him, hard.

The slap sound made his ear hurt a little.

But all Seiya could think of now was his little brother's well being.


"You know the procedures, Michiru, now let's get on with the answers," Setsuna said as she turned a table lamp to shine on Michiru, as if Michiru was a criminal.

Seldom was Michiru in the position of being interrogated.

"What happened?" Setsuna softened her tone at her subordinate at the opposite end of the interrogation table in the dark room.

Michiru sighed as she recounted the events of the afternoon that led up to her visit to the Cinnamon Coffee and Meeting House. She gave it chronologically, like how a police, or herself rather, would have liked the events to be, and in much detail. Since technically she was there in the position of Mentos Inc employee, aka, spy, she should've reported the situation first before taking any action. Her top priority was to transmit information…not fighting.

But her minds keep flashing back to the instant about 1 hour ago, before their long car ride back to the police station headquarters to take statement down.

Ethan chuckled lightly. "You know, Michiru-san, when I first knew Haruka, it was a scene like this."

Michiru, hearing the mention of Haruka, looked to the direction where Ethan made a rectangle with his both hands, seemingly to capture a picture like a camera does with his hands.

"Rubble, destruction, blood, and a little crying girl."

Girl?

"Her blonde hair was flowing so much; I thought she was an angel. Borne out of the rubble and destruction. I told my adoptive father to look at her, and I guess he saw what I saw."

"Wait wait wait, her? Girl?"

Ethan looked at Michiru with an 'are you dumb or what?' look.

"Haruka is a girl? Don't joke-"

Ethan whipped out his wallet and pulled out an old childhood group photo.

Michiru felt her heart stopped at seeing it.

There in the black and white photo were four people. Well not exactly black and white, since overtime the photo faded to a nice shade of old yellow and brown. Two adults, one female and one male, dressed in what one may call, explorer's clothes, while the little boy at the right of them was dressed in simple t-shirt and shorts. The little girl at the right of them had a still face, and even though she looks clean, the robe or a cloak she was wearing was visibly ragged. They seem to be in a place in the sandy rocky mountains with little or no vegetation, or a laid back area of the world.

"That girl is Haruka?!" Michiru asked incredulously again, which now seem more like a rhetorical question than a genuine one.

Ethan had to chuckle at that reaction of Michiru. This is not the first time he had seen such reaction already. Makoto gave him the same reaction too. God knows how many girls had this reaction when they realize their handsome perfect gentleman is a woman.

"Then why-"

"Michiru! Ah, Yano-san, you're here too!" Minako's energetic voice sounded far away from them that got louder as Minako got closer."Saves me the trouble of looking; it's time to go back to the station, we have already found the rest of the people including Tenoh Haruka." Minako smiled innocently at the two of them.

Michiru could only return a blank stare at the mention of Haruka and Ethan took advantage of this and slipped the photo out of Michiru's hand into his grasp again.

About ten minutes later, Michiru, still in her dazed state, sat in the police car with Minako to ride back to the headquarters, while Minako will drop off at the hospital first. Their driver was just the border patrol from the outskirts, who offered the services of the ride. "Minako-chan...what do you think of Tenoh Haruka?" and with that, Michiru observed her friend's face.

Minako's face instantly delighted at the sound of Haruka's name. "Cool, smart, polite, though not very talkative. But he can be friendly if I initiated a conversation. And oh, he looks super handsome, like, mouth watering kind! His eyes are such a nice brilliant green and he looks just nice! Not too built, but not too frail. At the athletic built! I thought we both have a thing for guys like this? And you like this kind of first impression too! But of course I know you're lesbian and all and it doesn't bother me one bit because you still rock but-"

"What if I tell you Tenoh Haruka is a woman?"

Silence ensued for a while as Minako suddenly sunk into deep thought as her face went blank. The shock must have needed a little time to process. If Minako, who just met Haruka, have such a reaction, what kind of reaction should she, who worked ad quarreled and talked to her for about a week already, is supposed to have?

Suddenly, a bright smile bloom across Minako's face.

"Oh my goodness Michiru! YOU FOUND YOUR TARGET!"

What? Suddenly Michiru realizes Haruka is a girl and it opened the possibility of being able to be with her? What the hell? Haruka was a disgusting fool with lots of secrets! She can never forget how much trouble and distress Haruka given her just only a week ago too! She still remember-

Oh…oh no wonder Michiru found Haruka in the female toilet last Monday. And she must have been chasing Kou Yaten last Monday too…silver haired man.

"That's all Michiru. We've got some reasons to celebrate and some reasons not to. Now we've caught one of the Kingdom members, but not the men connected to the drug dealings in Mentos Inc. itself. Plus, two other Kingdom leaders remain, and their entire sub-leader lackeys. But good job, go to work as usual tomorrow. But have a small break first, I guess." Setsuna said, as she closed her file which was the case on the Mentos Inc.

"How's Hino Rei?" Michiru suddenly interjected, mind thinking about the firefight just now, not that her mind was on Rei.

But rather, the blonde with superbly military skills.

"Oh she's in a shock and was admitted into hospital, but she's alright, with no injuries. Probably stuck in hospital for a day or two though."

"Okay," Michiru responded in reflex, though her mind has already wandered.

"I'm worried about that CEO of Mentos Inc. though…why is he allowed to see such a classified criminal like Kou Yaten? No, why did Mamoru allow him to?"

Michiru leaned her chin on the right hand as she thought about what Setsuna said. Well, he was the boss of Mentos Inc., maybe he had to clarify about the drug dealings? Or…he did say rubble, destruction and blood when he talked about finding Haruka-

He is linked to the Kingdom?

Michiru must have been making a weird expression at that time as Setsuna looked at her with a weird stare. But…Ethan, the nice friendly guy, linked with the bloodlust Kingdom? And Haruka?


Ethan stared as Yaten, wrapped in bandages and the hospital gown, just kept his mouth shut and looked at the ceiling.

"Don't pretend you don't know who I am," Ethan reiterated, though tiredly.

The silence in the hospital room, except for the beeping of the machines attached to Yaten, was stifling. Ethan had even got Mamoru to ask the guards to leave them alone, and wait outside the room. Of course, that came in the price of him swearing an oath not to hurt the man in front of him on sight.

"You know full well Taiki isn't going to include saving you in his plan; that man has no heart like his father," Ethan stated as a matter-of-factly.

Yaten kept his stare and silence.

"I can help you. All the police information about you and your brothers are jumbled and mixed up. They think you're a 24 year old man in fact you're barely 20. They think Seiya has silver hair and green eyes as well. They do not know how Taiki even looks like. As long you don't talk, they won't know, and I'll save you. Of course, I have no wish to save the rest."

Yaten now shifted his gaze from the white ceiling to a blank cold stare at Ethan. It didn't scare Ethan at all…but it made Ethan pity the boy in front of him. Just like Haruka…only 13 years too late.

"You know what your brothers want, right?" Ethan softened his voice.

Yaten open his mouth and gasped a breathless "Seiya".

Ethan stared at the boy with a frown. Yaten tried again saying a breathless "Seiya".

Ethan frowned even more as Yaten, coughing and swinging his head around, as if either to get a better position or to torture himself. Ethan brought himself forward, leaning near to Yaten's mouth. Yaten then whispered loudly, phlegm and pain evident in his voice. "Save…Seiya…"

Ethan stood back straight up. "No."

Yaten, now wheezing and in an eminent seizure. "Seiya…" he kept repeating in his gasps.

"I'll never forget what he did 15 years ago that orphaned me."

The red light on top of Seiya's bed began to flash and there was a distinct beeping sound as Ethan watched Yaten let the seizure overcome him. About a few seconds later, doctors and nurses rushed into the room and closed the curtains surrounding Yaten's bed while Yaten was squirming around frantically and gasping for his life. Ethan just stood there and watched.

"Please Sir, leave." One of the nurses now tapped on his shoulder, bringing his attention to her.

Ethan nodded then left the hospital room, closing the door behind him softly, like a perfect gentleman. Nodding to the guard as he walked away from the door, Ethan made his way to be beside a sleeping Minako on the corridor chairs, as she awaits her turn to see Yaten, which probably would never come. At least, not tonight. Deciding on waking her to take her home, like how a gentleman is expected to, Ethan shook Minako lightly.

"Nugh…uh?" Minako looked up to find Ethan's friendly dirty blues eyes on her.

Ethan smiled, like what is expected. "No Yaten tonight for you; he's in need of rest and a bit of treatment," opting to leave out the reason why.

"Oh…oh my goodness I fell asleep…" And Minako gave a huge yawn, which was cute, but not as cute as Ethan once spotted Michiru yawning. Michiru's yawn was much more natural and something likened to a release of stress, while Minako's was just plainly natural.

"I'll take you home, Aino-san," Ethan said, lightly.

"Eh?"

Ethan just gave a light chuckle as a response to Minako's cluelessness.

As they stood up, it suddenly struck Minako, "Why can you see Yaten, Yano-san?"

Ethan shrugged as they started walking down the corridor, "I know Chiba-san way before this, and I'm Mentos Inc. CEO…guess I have some connections?" Opting to lie again.

Minako giggled at the 'CEO'. "You're like every girl's dream…okay, not Michiru's, but like every other girls' one. Being friendly, handsome and competent, and probably rich too," Minako winked at Ethan. "Oh you know Michiru's preference right?"

Ethan smiled and nodded politely.

"Well she hardly tells people because she finds no need to, or she doesn't trust them. She told me she told you that like, on the 1st day she met you. She must have trusted you a lot. And if Michiru trusted you, I do too!" Minako exclaimed happily like an innocent child.

"And to think she really thought you were a janitor!"

Sometimes, Ethan thought most people's outlook of the world is very simple. He tried to simplify things in his life too…but it only led to one thought.

Revenge.

And it was funny, how Minako trusted a liar like him.

Ethan started laughing uncontrollably.

Minako, seemingly to take it as Ethan was laughing at her joke of him being a janitor, laughed with him as well.

That poor girl.


'Kingdom – A terrorist group focused on the restoration of absolute monarchist rule, with the inclination towards enlightened absolutist ideology. The group's formation was based on late 1950s during the end of America's occupancy in Japan, leading to the reinstatement of the Emperor's power. There was a leadership struggle then that was not made known to the public, which led to Kingdom, whose founder claimed to be one of the sons of the previous emperor's that did not claim his first bride from the acceptable source. Hence, he was made illegitimate, but nevertheless, the eldest and disputably, the heir. The present monarch refused to recognize him, and hence Kingdom was formed as an opposing force against the current Japan's monarchy. Kingdom was non-hostile and quiet during its first few decades. But over the years, especially after the bubble formation of the Japanese property, the Japanese public, especially the mass lower income group of people became disillusioned with the Japanese government, turned to Kingdom for support as Kingdom started its hostility against the Japanese government to step down. After bubble burst in the 1980s, Kingdom evolved to become one of the most dangerous terrorist groups in Japan as they turned to violence to get Japanese government to reinstate absolute monarchy, and abolish themselves from government. Various attacks like the hijacking and bombing of the Japan airline flights, as well as the infamous hijacking collaboration with the Japanese Blood Army, a Japan wide terrorist organization, took place I various parts of the world. It is rumoured for Kingdom to have links with international terrorist and crime organizations such as the Hitmen association for assassins based in America and the drugs Ring Lords in South East Asia, as well as the Rebellists with nuclear weapons capability in Russia.'

Michiru blinked as she pause her reading to try take in all the information presented to her on the file se borrowed from Setsuna on Mentos Inc.

'Kingdom is currently headed by the sons of the founder the violent era of Kingdom, Kou Junpei. Information about the current Kingdom is sparse and unknown due to the added shroud of secrecy of them. With the-'

And Michiru's reading was interrupted by the sound of Makoto in the distance.

"Haruka-san! Since you're injured I can drive you home? Or I can take care of you too; you can stay at my house for the night…" Michiru immediately felt irritated.

It is odd, for Michiru to be irritated by Makoto. To think Makoto was the concentration of Michiru's respect before she began her Mentos Inc. work. Makoto is head over heels over Haruka…everyone who is in the vicinity of Makoto talking to Haruka can see and feel and hear it. And Haruka…yes, that woman.

Michiru closed the file she was reading to listen intently on Makoto's and Haruka's conversation.

"No need, Kino-san…I am quite fine," Haruka's usual curt reply.

"But I can cook some soup for you! I mean, the last time I was still working at Mentos Inc. both you and Ethan-san liked my soup-"

"It is late, I'm sure you want to rest too?"

"No! It's quite alright to be spending time to take care of you-"

"Makoto! Come here for a second!" Michiru heard Setsuna's shout from a distance directed at Makoto.

There was a bit of silence, before Makoto said meekly, "excuse me, Haruka-san, but wait for me!"

And Michiru heard footsteps walked away, before there was an audible sigh of relief from Haruka.

Heh, she wants to relax? Michiru haven't got Haruka back for leaving her without a word, the lunchtime anger, and the fact that she was a woman.

Michiru walked towards the source of the sigh as she passed by her table in Mentos Inc. and put the file of Mentos down on her table. Walking a bit more, and then turning into the right corner pass the opened door and into the white lit corridor of the police headquarters, she found Tenoh Haruka, leaning against the dark green door of another interrogation room at the opposite end of the one Michiru was in.

Michiru walked up to Haruka and purred "Ha, ru, ka" on all purpose and evil intent.

Haruka immediately snapped her head to look at the direction of Michiru, but found herself closer than she expected to Michiru.

"Michiru?"

Michiru placed one hand flat on door Haruka was leaning at and leaned close to Haruka, but holding her breath. Though Haruka didn't look any perturbed by Michiru's seductive pose. "Do you like keeping secrets so much, Haruka?"

Haruka gave her a blank look at Michiru's purposefully half lid seductive eyes as her shadow casts over Michiru's face. "Not really."

Michiru, not wanting to drop it, tiptoed and leaned her face up dangerously close towards Haruka's face. But suddenly, Michiru wished this wasn't just a taunt. She breathed in a scent of Haruka close up, which smelt so nice she can just get used to it. "Why didn't you tell me you were a woman?"

Haruka smirked unexpectedly. "I didn't?"

Michiru grunted and as soon as she grunted, suddenly a warm pair of lips was found on her lips. Michiru body warmth suddenly burst out and she felt hot all over.

What is this?!

But before Michiru could register that was a kiss, Haruka pulled away, leaving Michiru shocked and dazed, now no longer on her toes but flatly standing straight on the ground, hands to her side.

"I heard Ethan say once you were into girls, so that should prove it to you," Haruka said nonchalantly as she pushed herself off the door.

Michiru said nothing in response as she stared in wide shock at Haruka.

Haruka begin to walk away, and when Michiru heard the first footstep, that was when she snapped out of her reverie. "Stop right there Tenoh Haruka!" Michiru went angrily at Haruka.

Haruka halted and turned around to give Michiru a questioningly look. But in a swift action, Michiru held Haruka by her white shirt collar that looked dirty and faintly blood stained.

"I can't believe I didn't realize you were a girl. I mean, c'mon! I was in my high school's at club for goodness sake! And the brightest one of them all! I was in the school orchestra! Surely I can tell the difference between a female's voice and a male's voice! And you! I cannot tell the difference of you! And you kissed me! Do you have any damn bloody idea it was my first kiss in ages! I haven't kissed any one since I came out of high school into police academy and I was preparing it to be special and you ruined it! You bastard! No, bitch! Bah! You inhumane!"

Michiru gave Haruka a head butt comically and released her hold on Haruka's collar in all frustrations that landed sorely on Haruka's nose. That made Haruka flinched a little, then covered her nose to protect it further.

"What? You can't blame me for your stupidity. I never said I was male before-"

"Then what's with the flat chest?!" Michiru angrily shook her left fist and pointed with her right on Haruka's chest.

"It means I have less fat unlike you," Haruka taunted back, which sound nose blocked. Well actually, she really is blocking her nose with her hand covering it.

"So you're saying I'm fat because I have bigger breasts than you!?" Michiru was livid, this Haruka was so unreasonable.

"How do I know I have never even seen it or felt it," Haruka replied rebelliously.

Michiru, in a fit of anger, tore Haruka's hand from covering her reddish nose and held Haruka's hand with her own right hand by the wrist and place it on her left breast with her left hand covering Haruka's hand. She squeezed Haruka's hand which inevitably squeezed her breast.

"What the hell are you doing Kaioh?!" Haruka was bewildered.

"Does this feel fat to you!? Does it?!" Michiru taunted slyly, squeezing and un-squeezing Haruka's hand.

A loud sound of someone clearing his throat sounded beside them. Michiru and Haruka both froze and turned their heads to the source of the sound.

"Erm, take it to the bedroom?" Mamoru raised his eyebrows and smiled.


"You know, someone should teach you never to call Kaioh Michiru fat," Setsuna sighed as she applied some cooling cream onto Haruka's reddened nose from the impact of Michiru's head butt.

"How was I to know," mumbled Haruka.

"Calling someone fat is quite insulting even if it's true, Tenoh-san," Setsuna lightly chided her.

Haruka tilted her head in question and deep thought, as she tried to processed what Setsuna was saying. What Enya had told her was that calling someone something they wasn't was an insult, but not a fact. If it was a fact, it was correct. Michiru was indeed fatter than her with bigger breasts; she sees no reason to lie.

"My adoptive mother told me truth was always right...better than lies," Haruka said, with an innocent look that Setsuna had to smile at, despite her doubts over this person seated in front of her.

"You know, if we had met earlier and in some different situation, I would've considered you cute."

"Is this situation not good?" Haruka now a little puzzled.

"No, this is good. Just a random thought that passed through me," Setsuna commented, suddenly questioning her own motives for saying anything at all just now.

"Okay, you're good to go now," Setsuna paste a plaster over Haruka's nose to cover the reddish mark that both of them was sure would turn into a blue black mark soon.

"You're a queer one, though. Others would have complained their hearts out with the pain they have to endure as I applied the cream and stuck the plaster. It's like you don't feel pain," Setsuna commented again.

Haruka shrugged as she bowed in gratitude to Setsuna and walked out of Setsuna's office, only to be met with a Michiru who walked out of Chiba Mamoru's office with a glum look on her face at the same time. Haruka's brilliant green eyes met with Michiru's deep blue ones and locked as Haruka struggled to find something to say…or rather apologise. Michiru's eyes were just tired and blank.

"I…uh…" Haruka hesitated.

For the first time in her life, Haruka felt difficulty in talking.

"I'll take you home," Haruka said, avoiding the subject of fault completely.

Michiru nodded as she slowly blinked. Haruka pointed the way to her car and Michiru just walked toward the direction silently, like a zombie. Haruka followed behind closely, and tugged Michiru's arm lightly whenever Michiru seemed to be floating off to the wrong direction like a lost ghost. Finally, Haruka managed to get Michiru into her BMW Z4 Roadster.

Sitting at the driver's seat after getting around the car and into it, Haruka let both of them basked in a few moments of silence as Michiru sighed and closed her eyes.

"I'm so tired…Haruka…" Michiru whined softly, leaning her head against the seat.

Opting to stay silent so Michiru could have a peace of mind, Haruka started the car and drove out of the car park of the police headquarters and onto the streets while Michiru slept soundly, finally, after a horridly hectic and long day with rollercoaster of events. Haruka didn't even bothered to turn on the stereo for music…but not that Michiru's steady breathing was unpleasant. It was comfortable; Michiru slept while Haruka bought her home. It felt natural to Haruka suddenly. As if she, at some point in time, had a duty to that and only fulfilled it now.

But Haruka's thoughts then came to halt.

Home? Michiru's home? Where is it?

Looking at the sleeping soundly aqua haired woman beside her, who suddenly had a small smile on her face and snuggling into the seat, it was impossible to find any answer to that question.

Left with either putting Michiru at the orphanage with Enya or her own apartment, Haruka opted for her own apartment. After all, the kids at the orphanage will no doubt wake the girl beside her. Looking at the time indicated on her stereo which was on sleep mode, it was nearly ten at night already. Guess her apartment was the best choice.

And with that, Haruka sped up her car and drove to her apartment.


In Osaka, suddenly every news channel and programme of the latest news about the gunfight that took place in earlier that night had changed their reporting to latest news. Seiya with his black hair overgrown and wearing simply a white t-shirt and black jeans, stood in front of the glass panel of an electronics store displaying all of their new products in the line of televisions, playing the same news channel.

'An e-mail has been received by the Osaka prefecture police headquarters about a threat to hijack and cut off the whole internet network of Osaka by noon tomorrow. The person, demanding a sum of US 30 million dollars, which was equivalent to the total amount of loss if that were to happen and not recover for a week, had threatened to carry out his plan if the money was electronically transferred to an unknown Singapore based account. Officials have already taken moves to track down the source of the e-mail as well as the owner of the bank account. Sources say it might likely be linked with Kingdom, as the same amount of money was reportedly loss in their drug bust this afternoon. More news about that later…'

Seiya chuckled. That's the beauty of technology. No one knows what you're doing, everything is connected, it's impossible to block. Seiya can almost foresee the whole intellectual intelligence unit of Osaka going into frenzy to prevent the hacking from taking place. Terribly futile work, in Seiya's opinion.

He continued walking down the night streets of Osaka, trying to relax himself from doing something stupid like taking a gun and storming the police quarters in Tokyo to release his brother.

All he has to do now is waiting for the Osaka prefecture government to respond as his sub leaders would direct Yaten's underlings to Osaka here. And the 30 million dollars would be his in no time.

It's only a matter of time.

Seiya scratched his head and felt his overgrown hair that has been jutting out of his ponytail.

First, a haircut.


Haruka silently parked her car and hauled Michiru from her seat to her arms in bridal style. Michiru was heavier than Haruka had expected though, and Haruka had to use her upper body weight and strength to support Michiru on her. Slowly making her steps out of the brightly lit car park, Haruka used her foot to open doors and managed to bend down, stick out her little finger to press the button for the lift.

This was when Michiru suddenly snuggled into Haruka, making Haruka's knees suddenly go a little weak.

Haruka didn't know to like or hate that action form Michiru. But silently, Haruka stepped into the lift and pressed the floor of her apartment. The door close and immediately, strong silence filled the air except for the steady breathing of Michiru that Haruka had begun to get used to.

The lift then rang its bell and indicated they have reached. Haruka walked to her apartment then balanced Michiru on her body and her injured hand as her good hand fling the keys to unlock the apartment door. Using her feet to open it and close it. She brought Michiru to her guest room where she was going to put Michiru down on the bed.

As she bent and got Michiru down onto the bed, Haruka released her hold but Michiru, who snuggled up early to Haruka, did not.

Feeling odd, Haruka tried to gently pull away Michiru's hands without waking her up. But Michiru's hands were firmly locked around Haruka's neck.

"I want my mama…" Michiru mumbled in her sleep…or what Haruka can make out to be.

Guess everyone has their own family stories. Haruka's childhood was a blur, but she remembered being happy.

Karma is accurate too; do something good, and something good will happen to you.

Haruka, putting a pillow in between their bodies, lay down beside Michiru.


Michiru woke up with a start.

She sat up straight immediately below the soft backing.

What time was it?

Then it registered to her that her surrounding was not familiar. White and clean washed walls in a simple room with a bed and a cupboard. She looked down and saw her bed sheets were clean white in colour, yet the material was in the middle between cotton and silky; warm yet smooth. This was definitely not her room, which was cluttered with her paintings on the wall, childhood photos as well as music scores all over her tables and her vanity table sitting at the far right corner of her room. This room was simple but livable. So…guest like.

Where was she?

Frankly, all she remembers is going into Mamoru's room last night and getting additional orders to watch for Kingdom's movement in relation to Mentos' odd outflow of funds. And to, for some unknown reason, disclose the information to Ethan. Michiru was so tired halfway while Mamoru was explaining some things that she kind of slept mentally. Did it take her all the way here? Who brought her here?

Worst, did she do anything…odd?

Peeling the white blanket off her, she hesitated and look at the ground a while. It was clean parquet, but her feet weren't bare, too. Her shoes were still on. She got down the bed and stepped onto the floor, and walked out of the room, noticing her belonging were all on the glass table of the simply designed dining room. The whole apartment was brightly lit and airy with the windows all opened and curtains all drawn up. Furniture was sparse but necessary, and all in plain colours like white, wood, glass, suiting the white washed walls of the apartment. A nicely placed television on the light wooden television stand and a white sofa, and a phone just beside the television on the stand in the living room that was adjoined.

Juggling the thought to search through the master's bedroom against the morality of it, Michiru then spotted a not beside her belongings on the table.

'Half day off…or a full day, if you don't wake up in time. The spare keys are hung on the wall beside the door, and you know my number. Cash in drawer in your guestroom's cupboard, food in the kitchen, take anything you want. Lock the door when you leave and return me the keys. Otherwise, have a good day. – Haruka'

Considerate, was the first thought in Michiru's mind.

Looking around, Michiru saw a few photographs displayed at the display racks that acted as the divider between the kitchen and the dining room. Looking at the clock, Michiru was well late or the first half of the work day. It was already ten thirty in the morning. And the photographs were al pictures of Haruka and a big group of kids, or else they are photographs of a little cute black haired girl, or else, pictures of Haruka with a man and a woman she recognized instantly. Enya from the orphanage. And Ethan did say Haruka was adopted, didn't he? So…Haruka is an orphan from a war torn state? Come to think of it, Haruka has such intense green eyes that are hardly found in Japan.

Michiru picked up her cell phone from the table as she walked back to the glass table. Dialing Haruka's number from the cell phone number, she put her cell phone to her ear.

"Hello?"

"Haruka, I've woken up" Michiru giggled, suddenly feeling like a girlfriend reporting to her lover of her daily activities happily, as she walk back to looking at the photos on display.

"Ah…coming to work?" Typical of Haruka to ask that, though Haruka's voice did sound tired.

"Tuesday blues, but yes, I am. Though, can I rampage some of your shirts?" Michiru, remembering Haruka had a nice scent from before; wouldn't be too bad to take a shower and change into her shirt.

"Okay, lunch?"

"Lunch," Michiru agreed, remembering the photo and what Ethan said of Haruka's past.

Silence ensued for a while, as both of them are unwilling to hang up the phone, before Michiru broke the silence in about 5 seconds. "Haruka…tell me something about your past."

"Hmm? Why?"

"I mean, you now my past, and I barely even know anything about you, other than what I see every day," Michiru probed

"Don't get too attached to me, policewoman, and I'm working. I'll tell you the details later?"

"Aww that busy without me?" Michiru teased.

"No, but Hino Rei is staring at me oddly from outside my room with your stack of work on top of her own," Haruka chuckled her deep husky one, which Michiru suddenly liked it all over again. "I think I got to help her out."

"She's alright? I thought she was in such a daze yesterday."

"I don't know, I haven't talked to her since I came in. I only know she has so much work she's buried," Haruka chuckled again.

"Oh…but don't change the subject, Tenoh. Where are you from? You're not local are you?"

"I'm half Japanese, half Russian, local thing," Haruka teased back.

"You look more girly when you're young… I saw your photos on display," Michiru teased again.

"I'm adopted, Michiru, if that bothers you," Haruka said with a little regret, but in her typical no emotion fashion.

"Like I care…but can I ask why?"

"What do I get in exchange? " Haruka asked back

"Not fair, Tenoh-tomboy, you already know my past."

"I do…but not voluntarily. I didn't know because I looked for it, but I was presented it with it…need I remember you how?"

Michiru thought for a while as she let the conversation hang in mid air while she heard the audible breathing from Haruka. "I'll cook lunch for you today, if you let me use your kitchen."

"Borsch soup?"

Michiru thought a while. "Borsch then."

Haruka gave another nice chuckle as Michiru heard Haruka's office desk phone rang. "Lunch then, Michiru."

Without waiting for Michiru to say a farewell, Haruka just hung up the phone like this without another word. Typical Haruka fashion, typical terrorist fashion, typical boss fashion. Not that Michiru really knew who Haruka was behind her Mentos façade, which was evident that she, like Michiru, is not in Mentos Inc. simply for a living or a job. But sure Haruka was interesting. Irritatingly interesting that it bugs the life out of Michiru that for the first time, she is compelled be so nosey into people's affairs.

Shaking her head, Michiru went to the guest room in search of the money Haruka put in the cupboard's drawer.


A/N: So yeah, have a good week ahead! Oh, and Happy Deepavali to all those who celebrate it out there.