Today Haruka was a bit out of character. Blame it on those raging hormones of hers; they get the better of you occasionally.

Haruka stood at the lookout blinking back tears, trying to fight the memories that were threatening to engulf her. Kitsumo. Why do I have to remember? Tears ran freely down her cheeks as she remembered that that terrible night. Darkness, pain, loss. She sobbed, reliving the nightmarish scenes over and over. A car plunging towards the ocean, watching helplessly, lost, alone. Dropping to her knees, shoulders heaving, she could not banish the images that tormented her.

Michiru grabbed the car keys "You've really made a mess of things Father." She ran out the door, slamming it behind her.
She sped off into the darkness, not really knowing where to go, trusting to intuition. Old wounds have been ripped afresh by her father's snide comments. She knew that the seed of pain was the same as the day it was sown. Grief is a heavy burden and she carries it on her own, of course she got upset. She headed towards the lookout, in her heart, knowing that she would be there.
She rounded the last bend and saw Haruka, sitting on the ground, shoulders shaking in anguish.
She pulled up on the side of the road, switched off the engine and got out of the car. She held the stricken girl close, rocking her in her arms until the crying had subsided, petering out into quiet hiccoughs.
"I-I'm s-sorry. I shouldn't h-have left s-so ab-bruptly." Haruka stuttered slightly. "I shouldn't g- get upset anymore. It's in the p-past."
Michiru hugged her. "I'm sorry; my father's not being himself." She helped her up. "Let's go home."

Haruka woke to excruciating pains in her lower stomach. She curled up into a ball and let out a small whimper, catching Michiru's attention. "I'll go get you something."
Michiru got up and walked out the door, rummaging through the medicine cupboard she found a bottle of Midol. Taking two out, she took them to Haruka with a glass of water.
"Arigato, Michiru." She swallowed them and gulped down the water. She stayed still until the cramps lessened, dulled by the strong painkillers.
"We're going to the beach today, you'll have to transform. I bought you some Speedos the other day so you don't have to worry about what to wear."
"Fun, I look forward to it. Do your parents swim?" Haruka sat up, stretched and got out of bed.
"Father doesn't but mother does." Michiru sighed. "He used to, before his illness."
Haruka went into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Michiru sat on the bed, pondering her father's change in behaviour. The cause was obvious; doctors had told him that he had on the inside of four years to live. She wondered how her mother would cope after he died. She selected a swimsuit from the wardrobe and started packing things to take to the beach.

Haruka stepped out of the bathroom wearing a white shirt and tight jeans.
"Haruka, would you rub some sun cream into my back please." Michiru lifted her hair. Haruka sat down and massaged cream into her smooth, fair skin, feeling knotted, tense shoulder muscles. "Why are you so tense?"
"I guess I've been stressed about things lately."
Haruka worked her hands into the tense muscles, feeling the knots loosen under her touch. "Don't worry, it'll be over soon." Haruka was counting the hours left until they'd have the house to themselves. Three more days, just three.

Michiru dragged Haruka by the arm through the waves until they were waist deep in the warm water, she dived down and pulled Haruka's legs from under her swimming away as she fell forward. She was coughing and spluttering as she got up. She swam after Michiru, who was taking advantage of her head start. Haruka tried to keep up with the senshi of the ocean but in her element, she was unbeatable. Michiru stopped after about fifty metres, letting Haruka catch up. She hugged her tightly, looking up at her with puppy eyes. Haruka knew this was her way out of a dunking. "Damn Michiru, why do I let you get away with it?"
"Because you're a big softie on the inside." Michiru nuzzled her neck. Leaving butterfly kisses along her jaw line she moved swiftly, grabbing Haruka's bathers, pulling them down, laughing as she swam off to a safe distance. "You're lucky I'm in a reasonably good mood today." Haruka growled as she hitched up her Speedos.

Michiru's mother watched them, smiling at their antics. Yes, they were made for each other all right. She glanced over at her husband, who was reading the newspaper under the beach umbrella. She gazed up at the sky, noticing the dark clouds gathering on the horizon. She sat down next to Izawa and began reading over his shoulder.
A cry shattered the peace; a rip at the side of the beach had caught a small child in its pull. Michiru swam through to the child, aware of the powerful force threatening to pull her under. She held the tiny girl carefully in one arm and swam across to the edge of the current. Haruka took the girl from her and swam towards the shore.

The wind was picking up; Haruka saw black clouds roll with amazing speed towards them, a freak storm. She handed the child to her frantic mother and looked for Michiru. She should have made it back by now. She looked around and saw aqua hair disappear underneath the waves "MICHIRU!" She swam with all her might through the now eight metre waves.

Michiru curled up into a ball, letting the sucking wave roll her under until she brushed the sand. Digging her hands and feet into the sand, she waited until it had passed over her, pushing up to the surface.
As her head broke the surface she saw Haruka racing towards her. Haruka reached her just before they both were caught in the pull of a huge wave that was beginning to crest.

Haruka shielded her with her body as the wave crashed down over them, trying to fight the blackness prickling the sides of her vision. It won pulling her down, down, down…

She awoke to voices,