Chapter 10
Michiru was gazing out her bedroom window and out into the yard. It was raining outside and nothing special had happened all day. Hoshi had gone to work, as so had Taiko and they both would be home that evening, so the luxurious feeling of having to watch over the house all alone, for a fifteen year old was just overwhelming. Michiru was wearing a white blouse with short sleeves and a pair of black pants, while a simple ponytail held her hair back. She sighed and looked at the mirror in her room, ending up with a gentle smile. She looked very much like Hoshi in her clothes, specially the hair. She soon gazed over the room, where several moving boxes had taken up the free space. She was going to leave that very same day, but after her birthday party, which was to be held at home for once and only with the family. Those were Taiko's words that echoed inside of Michiru's head, but the words made her smile.
Michiru looked at her wristwatch and sighed. It was only five past twelve and there was absolutely nothing more to pack away, of which belonged to her. Michiru gazed around in the room for a while, feeling the loneliness growing inside of her chest. She was to leave the only home she had ever had, only to find a new one. She soon looked at her desk, which she had promised to leave for Hoshi and there it was. Her wand, which was almost like staring right into her face and looking right into her. At the same time she felt that she never wanted to use it, knowing it would be the end of her old life and the beginning of her new.
"Past and future combined." She echoed in a low voice, knowing the words by heart already. Hoshi had said the very same words several times before, but hadn't said them as much as she had before. And that gave Michiru a calmer feeling, as she knew happened inside of Hoshi.
Michiru slowly sat down onto the chair by her desk, listening to the lightning hitting some place outside, while she kept her eyes on the wand. The shine from the lightning made the wand shine a bit, but only for a second before it was just as doll as it had been before.
"Sailor Neptune..." Michiru whispered for herself and slowly picked up the wand, looking at it with a studying gaze. "Princess Neptune..." She continued for herself, and at the same time a new lightning struck down. This time the shine didn't fade away from the wand, it only shined more and brighter. The whole room was covered in the marine green-blue shine, and at the same time the symbol of Neptune appeared on Michiru's forehead, to which she only closed her eyes.
"Taiko look out!"
"Hoshi!"
Michiru's eyes suddenly opened wide. The voices were clear as day and screaming from the top of their lungs, but no one was home. Michiru jumped up from the chair, holding onto the wand with a tight grip, feeling that something was badly wrong. "Ginza..." She suddenly whispered and stormed out of the room, down the stairs and into the hallway, where she put on her shoes, before running out into the pouring rain, not minding in taking her jacket. She ran onto the street outside and spotted a cab driving towards her. "Stop!" She screamed while jumping onto the street, making the cab stop. She jumped in and closed the door quickly. "Ginza street, please?" She gasped as she stared at the driver.
"What's the hurry?" The driver asked while looking over the drivers seat. "You could have been killed out there!"
"Sorry, but it's urgent! I have to get to Ginza Street, and fast!" Michiru gasped while pulling her hair back, showing her face to the man.
The man just stared for a while. "Aren't you? Kaioh Michiru? Suteki Hoshi's daughter?"
Michiru nodded while biting her lip a little.
"What's so urgent, Kaioh-san?" The man asked suddenly, seeing that something was wrong with the girl.
"My mother is in danger." She replied.
Hoshi was slammed into the wet ground in a small ally on Ginza Street. She was badly bruised and was bleeding from her mouth. Taiko could only stare at her from where she was standing, and couldn't move. Their attacker wasn't clearly human in anyway, with its red glowing eyes and fangs. The monster picked up Hoshi from the ground, staring right into the woman's eyes, while holding her up by the neck.
"You have a sent of distant energy flowing from you, tiny human?" The monster hissed, while sniffing Hoshi's face. "Why is this?"
"I don't know what the hell you're talking about!" Hoshi gasped while trying to get loose from her attackers claws.
"Could you be one of them, perhaps?" The monster hissed now while its eyes shined up a little more.
"Them?" Hoshi's eyes widened as the stinking breath touched her face. It was like breathing in diesel from a car, but far more toxic.
"Let her go, you freak!" Taiko screamed suddenly as she was running towards Hoshi and the monster, holding her elbow in front of her, which soon slammed into the monsters side. Taiko and the monster flew into a pile of trash bags and cans, while Hoshi slammed into the ground once more, hitting her head badly onto the cold cement. Taiko slowly lifted her head up from the trashes around her, only to look over her shoulder and at Hoshi, who was moving just a bit, but hardly. "Hoshi get up! Get the hell out of here!" Taiko screamed, and before she knew it, she was hanging over the ground being held up by her hair by a strong, clawed hand.
"You dare attack me, human?" The monster grinned at Taiko who was just staring back at it. "I wont show you any mercy... any more..." It hissed, now holding its free hand over Taiko's head, while clearly its claws grew more than ten inches longer, and got sharper.
Taiko's face paled into a screaming white tone. "Crap."
"Stop right there!" A voice suddenly screamed into the ally. "Let the woman go!"
The monster blinked and soon had its gaze elsewhere, trying to find the source of the voice, which was standing some feet away. The voice belonged to a young woman with aqua hair, which ended at her shoulders and was damp from the rain. She was wearing a white body with a dark green mini skirt, with the same colored sailor collar, which was in a bow over her chest. She had white gloves on her hands and dark green high heals. And on her forehead she had a golden tiara with a marine green stone, which was shining slightly. "Who are you?" The monster shouted, but suddenly its eyes turned into a cold blue color.
"I'm..." The young woman gasped under her breath, but suddenly she looked at Hoshi, who had lifted her head up from the ground and was looking straight at her. "I..." The young woman blinked and soon looked at the monster again, now looking more serious and sure. "Invited by a new age, I'm the elegant Sailor Neptune!" She shouted and soon pointed at the monster. "If you wont let go of that woman, I wont show you any mercy..."
The monster soon started laughing, after a while of staring. "You think I'll listen to you?"
"Neptune! Get Hoshi out of here!" Taiko gasped suddenly. "She's more hurt than me!"
"Shut your mouth!" The monster shouted now and let its hand fall, cutting up all the clothes on Taiko's back. "I'll show you hurt!" The monster shouted and soon slammed Taiko into the ground, face first. The air was filled with a pain filled scream and slowly blood started to run down Taiko's back.
Neptune stared for some time before she found the strength to do anything. She suddenly threw her hands in the air. "You asked for it... Deep..."
The monster looked up from Taiko and at Neptune, who was gathering a large ball of water and energy in her hands. "What the-?" Its eyes widened suddenly. "A senshi!"
"Submerge!" Neptune shouted as she threw the bolt at the monster, which was blown away from Taiko and into the brick wall some feet behind. Neptune stood still on the spot gasping for air, not really believing her eyes. I did that? She thought but soon found her thoughts, seeing the demon turning into dust as it fell to the ground. She ran over to Taiko and kneeling down beside her. "Tai-obasan?" She whispered as she carefully turned Taiko around.
Taiko slowly opened her eyes with a moan, giving Neptune a pain filled grin. "I'm fine... little one..." She whispered while trying to look at Hoshi, who was trying her best to get up from the ground. "Help your mother... I'm fine..."
Neptune nodded a little before getting up, and running over to Hoshi. "Are you fine?" Neptune whispered, as she kneeled down by Hoshi and helped her up from the ground, letting the woman lean against her shoulder.
Hoshi was gasping for air while more blood was running out of her mouth. "I think... I broke my arm..." She whispered after a while of trying to catch her breath. "You came..." She whispered suddenly while she looked up at Neptune. "You're here..." She added while a tear ran down her cheek. "I knew you would... Neptune..."
Neptune looked over the woman for some time before she nodded. "I couldn't let you get more hurt... mother..." She whispered back, quickly looking at Taiko who was strangely enough getting up from the ground with out any real problems, except that her clothes were ripped apart and her back was bleeding.
"I'm glad you decided to use the wand..." Hoshi whispered after a while of silence, and gazing at Taiko.
Neptune blinked and looked back at Hoshi. "You should get to a hospital." She whispered carefully. Hoshi nodded a little and was slowly helped up from the ground by both Neptune and Taiko.
"I'll drive her to the hospital..." Taiko replied. "You'll come over later, alright?" She added, looking at Neptune with a gentle smile over her bleeding lips. "If you know how to change back... that is..."
Neptune nodded a little. "I'll just have a look around... there could be more of those... things." She noted and looked at Hoshi. "You'll be alright, mother?" She whispered after a while of gazing at the pale face.
"I'll be just fine..." Hoshi nodded, putting her hand onto Neptune's cheek while looking into the young woman's eyes. "Go... do your duty... Sailor Neptune."
"I'll come by the hospital soon... I promise." Neptune nodded and suddenly she jumped into the air, landing onto the rooftop above from where she ran of light the wind.
"Let's get your butt into the car, and to the hospital." Taiko whispered, while picking up Hoshi into her arms before stumbling of towards the street.
Taiko was sitting beside Hoshi's hospital bed later that evening, gazing at the woman who had two broken ribs, a broken arm and a broken shoulder, but otherwise she was fine. Taiko's cuts had been cleaned up and bandaged, and she was now wearing a hospital shirt and her blue jeans, which had made it trough the sharp claws.
"Whatever that thing was, Neptune took care of it." Taiko whispered while leaning her head into her hands. "She can take on more... I have a gut feeling about it." She added.
Hoshi nodded a little. "She'll be fine... but I hate to see her leave after this night is over. I really do..." She whispered and tilted her head towards the window, seeing the darkening skies and the rain hitting the glass. "I wish I didn't need to say good bye..."
Taiko gazed at the bruised up woman for some time before she sighed, looking out the same window Hoshi was looking. At the same time the door was opened and Michiru stepped in, wearing the same clothes she had before, but now wearing a jacket. Taiko and Hoshi looked her way as she slowly closed the door after herself. "Isn't it the little hero?" Taiko whispered with a soft smile over her face.
Michiru slowly walked over to the bed and slowly sat down by Hoshi, who gently placed a bandaged hand onto her knee. "I'm sorry I didn't appear earlier." She whispered, keeping her eyes on her mother.
"You did well dear..." Hoshi whispered and nodded a little. "I'm alive."
"And we got our selves some kinky clothes!" Taiko cut in, trying to shove the tense air to the side as always. "You want us to have a press conference now, with Neptune?" She added with a slight grin over her face.
Michiru smiled gently and gently placed her hand over Hoshi's. "This is good bye...?" She whispered, not minding in remarking Taiko's bad joke.
Hoshi gazed at the girl, no young woman, sitting beside her and soon nodded with a sigh. "The evening isn't over yet, sweet heart." She noted with a gentle gaze over her face. "It's still your birthday... but there wont be any presents... not right now..."
Michiru nodded. "I'm just glad you're alright." She replied, looking at Hoshi and then at Taiko, before she looked back at Hoshi.
Taiko soon smiled for herself, not thinking on breaking any more jokes. "We found you an apartment anyway... That was the present we have been so mysterious about." She said, now getting Michiru's attention and Hoshi's gentle gaze. "We have been looking at it for sometime and now..." Taiko added, looking at Michiru with a pair of gently shining eyes. "It's yours now."
"Really?" Michiru whispered before she looked at Hoshi, who just nodded as a reply.
"You need somewhere to live, and have your things." Hoshi noted. "But if you find something else... you are free to do what you like with the apartment. See it as a getaway place."
"I can't thank either of you enough..." Michiru whispered back, while getting tears in her eyes.
Hoshi just smiled at her girl. "You have nothing to thank for... I'm glad I got to have you and see you grow up into the young woman you are now, Michiru."
Michiru just gaze at the woman lying in the bed, taking in every word that was said. No more words were needed as the first tear ran down Michiru's cheek, before she lied down beside Hoshi on the bed, letting the woman hold her close while stroking her hair. Taiko just gazed at them, now letting her own tears fall not having the energy to keep them in anymore.
"I love you mother..." Michiru whispered against Hoshi's shoulder after a long time of silence.
Hoshi looked over the girl with tears shining in her eyes. "I love you too sweet heart..." She whispered with a gentle sigh, while she held the girl a bit tighter.
Time passed by slowly, but at the same time the silence made it go faster someway. Michiru had fallen asleep in Hoshi's arms and Taiko had moved to the window, still keeping her eyes on the two. Slowly the door was opened and a young woman walked in, a young woman who had appeared several times before. It was Pluto, wearing the same uniform as always.
"It's time..." Pluto whispered as she closed the door after herself.
Taiko and Hoshi looked at the young woman and at the same time Michiru slowly opened her eyes. "Does she really have to go?" Taiko asked suddenly, jumping down from the windowsill.
Pluto only nodded as an answer before she looked at Michiru.
Michiru looked back at Pluto, but soon looked at Hoshi who was stroking some locks from Michiru's cheek behind her ear. The two just gazed at each other for sometime, before Hoshi nodded a little. Michiru slowly got up from the bed and looked back at Pluto. "I'm ready..." She whispered.
Pluto nodded in response. "The journey will be tuff..."
"I know." Michiru nodded. "But I wont give up, not when I only have begun." She added and looked at Taiko. "Tai-obasan."
Taiko looked at Michiru with slightly widened eyes. "I hate goodbyes... and, and..." She started stuttering but turned silent when Michiru hugged her tightly, leaning her head against the woman's shoulder. Taiko looked over Michiru for a while, feeling that she had become a part of the young woman's life. "I'll miss you kitten." She whispered instead as she hugged Michiru back. "Be a good girl now."
Michiru nodded a little only to let go of Taiko and look right at her. "And you take care of mother." She whispered with a gentle smile, while some tears shined up her eyes once.
"I promise." Taiko nodded with a soft smile over her lips.
Michiru slowly turned to look at Hoshi who was smiling towards her. "I'll come and visit someday..." She whispered as she walked over to the bed once more, carefully wrapping her arms around Hoshi, who hugged her back. "I really hate leaving..." She whispered suddenly, as she dared to hug Hoshi a bit tighter.
"I hate this too darling..." Hoshi whispered back, kissing Michiru on the cheek. The two soon looked at each other for a while and just stared their goodbyes, before Michiru slowly walked over to Pluto.
"Lets leave..." Pluto said in a low voice, but everyone in the room saw that she was touched. She slowly turned to face the door once more, only to open it and walk out.
Michiru gazed one last time over the family she knew and held dear, before she ran out the door. It was over now and both Hoshi and Taiko knew, the first step into the hallway had made Michiru start crying, but they didn't do anything about it. The girl they had known since she was small would make it, and she would be strong and do her duty. And nothing would or could stop her.
Taiko sighed deeply as the door slowly closed by its self and soon she looked at Hoshi, who was crying, but at the same time smiling, while gazing at the ceiling. "This was the way?" She whispered as she slowly sat down onto the bed, letting her gaze end up at the floor.
"It was..." Hoshi replied and slowly placed her hand onto Taiko's hand, which was lying beside her.
The two looked at each other with tears running down their faces, but no words were needed.
Michiru was gazing out her bedroom window and out into the yard. It was raining outside and nothing special had happened all day. Hoshi had gone to work, as so had Taiko and they both would be home that evening, so the luxurious feeling of having to watch over the house all alone, for a fifteen year old was just overwhelming. Michiru was wearing a white blouse with short sleeves and a pair of black pants, while a simple ponytail held her hair back. She sighed and looked at the mirror in her room, ending up with a gentle smile. She looked very much like Hoshi in her clothes, specially the hair. She soon gazed over the room, where several moving boxes had taken up the free space. She was going to leave that very same day, but after her birthday party, which was to be held at home for once and only with the family. Those were Taiko's words that echoed inside of Michiru's head, but the words made her smile.
Michiru looked at her wristwatch and sighed. It was only five past twelve and there was absolutely nothing more to pack away, of which belonged to her. Michiru gazed around in the room for a while, feeling the loneliness growing inside of her chest. She was to leave the only home she had ever had, only to find a new one. She soon looked at her desk, which she had promised to leave for Hoshi and there it was. Her wand, which was almost like staring right into her face and looking right into her. At the same time she felt that she never wanted to use it, knowing it would be the end of her old life and the beginning of her new.
"Past and future combined." She echoed in a low voice, knowing the words by heart already. Hoshi had said the very same words several times before, but hadn't said them as much as she had before. And that gave Michiru a calmer feeling, as she knew happened inside of Hoshi.
Michiru slowly sat down onto the chair by her desk, listening to the lightning hitting some place outside, while she kept her eyes on the wand. The shine from the lightning made the wand shine a bit, but only for a second before it was just as doll as it had been before.
"Sailor Neptune..." Michiru whispered for herself and slowly picked up the wand, looking at it with a studying gaze. "Princess Neptune..." She continued for herself, and at the same time a new lightning struck down. This time the shine didn't fade away from the wand, it only shined more and brighter. The whole room was covered in the marine green-blue shine, and at the same time the symbol of Neptune appeared on Michiru's forehead, to which she only closed her eyes.
"Taiko look out!"
"Hoshi!"
Michiru's eyes suddenly opened wide. The voices were clear as day and screaming from the top of their lungs, but no one was home. Michiru jumped up from the chair, holding onto the wand with a tight grip, feeling that something was badly wrong. "Ginza..." She suddenly whispered and stormed out of the room, down the stairs and into the hallway, where she put on her shoes, before running out into the pouring rain, not minding in taking her jacket. She ran onto the street outside and spotted a cab driving towards her. "Stop!" She screamed while jumping onto the street, making the cab stop. She jumped in and closed the door quickly. "Ginza street, please?" She gasped as she stared at the driver.
"What's the hurry?" The driver asked while looking over the drivers seat. "You could have been killed out there!"
"Sorry, but it's urgent! I have to get to Ginza Street, and fast!" Michiru gasped while pulling her hair back, showing her face to the man.
The man just stared for a while. "Aren't you? Kaioh Michiru? Suteki Hoshi's daughter?"
Michiru nodded while biting her lip a little.
"What's so urgent, Kaioh-san?" The man asked suddenly, seeing that something was wrong with the girl.
"My mother is in danger." She replied.
Hoshi was slammed into the wet ground in a small ally on Ginza Street. She was badly bruised and was bleeding from her mouth. Taiko could only stare at her from where she was standing, and couldn't move. Their attacker wasn't clearly human in anyway, with its red glowing eyes and fangs. The monster picked up Hoshi from the ground, staring right into the woman's eyes, while holding her up by the neck.
"You have a sent of distant energy flowing from you, tiny human?" The monster hissed, while sniffing Hoshi's face. "Why is this?"
"I don't know what the hell you're talking about!" Hoshi gasped while trying to get loose from her attackers claws.
"Could you be one of them, perhaps?" The monster hissed now while its eyes shined up a little more.
"Them?" Hoshi's eyes widened as the stinking breath touched her face. It was like breathing in diesel from a car, but far more toxic.
"Let her go, you freak!" Taiko screamed suddenly as she was running towards Hoshi and the monster, holding her elbow in front of her, which soon slammed into the monsters side. Taiko and the monster flew into a pile of trash bags and cans, while Hoshi slammed into the ground once more, hitting her head badly onto the cold cement. Taiko slowly lifted her head up from the trashes around her, only to look over her shoulder and at Hoshi, who was moving just a bit, but hardly. "Hoshi get up! Get the hell out of here!" Taiko screamed, and before she knew it, she was hanging over the ground being held up by her hair by a strong, clawed hand.
"You dare attack me, human?" The monster grinned at Taiko who was just staring back at it. "I wont show you any mercy... any more..." It hissed, now holding its free hand over Taiko's head, while clearly its claws grew more than ten inches longer, and got sharper.
Taiko's face paled into a screaming white tone. "Crap."
"Stop right there!" A voice suddenly screamed into the ally. "Let the woman go!"
The monster blinked and soon had its gaze elsewhere, trying to find the source of the voice, which was standing some feet away. The voice belonged to a young woman with aqua hair, which ended at her shoulders and was damp from the rain. She was wearing a white body with a dark green mini skirt, with the same colored sailor collar, which was in a bow over her chest. She had white gloves on her hands and dark green high heals. And on her forehead she had a golden tiara with a marine green stone, which was shining slightly. "Who are you?" The monster shouted, but suddenly its eyes turned into a cold blue color.
"I'm..." The young woman gasped under her breath, but suddenly she looked at Hoshi, who had lifted her head up from the ground and was looking straight at her. "I..." The young woman blinked and soon looked at the monster again, now looking more serious and sure. "Invited by a new age, I'm the elegant Sailor Neptune!" She shouted and soon pointed at the monster. "If you wont let go of that woman, I wont show you any mercy..."
The monster soon started laughing, after a while of staring. "You think I'll listen to you?"
"Neptune! Get Hoshi out of here!" Taiko gasped suddenly. "She's more hurt than me!"
"Shut your mouth!" The monster shouted now and let its hand fall, cutting up all the clothes on Taiko's back. "I'll show you hurt!" The monster shouted and soon slammed Taiko into the ground, face first. The air was filled with a pain filled scream and slowly blood started to run down Taiko's back.
Neptune stared for some time before she found the strength to do anything. She suddenly threw her hands in the air. "You asked for it... Deep..."
The monster looked up from Taiko and at Neptune, who was gathering a large ball of water and energy in her hands. "What the-?" Its eyes widened suddenly. "A senshi!"
"Submerge!" Neptune shouted as she threw the bolt at the monster, which was blown away from Taiko and into the brick wall some feet behind. Neptune stood still on the spot gasping for air, not really believing her eyes. I did that? She thought but soon found her thoughts, seeing the demon turning into dust as it fell to the ground. She ran over to Taiko and kneeling down beside her. "Tai-obasan?" She whispered as she carefully turned Taiko around.
Taiko slowly opened her eyes with a moan, giving Neptune a pain filled grin. "I'm fine... little one..." She whispered while trying to look at Hoshi, who was trying her best to get up from the ground. "Help your mother... I'm fine..."
Neptune nodded a little before getting up, and running over to Hoshi. "Are you fine?" Neptune whispered, as she kneeled down by Hoshi and helped her up from the ground, letting the woman lean against her shoulder.
Hoshi was gasping for air while more blood was running out of her mouth. "I think... I broke my arm..." She whispered after a while of trying to catch her breath. "You came..." She whispered suddenly while she looked up at Neptune. "You're here..." She added while a tear ran down her cheek. "I knew you would... Neptune..."
Neptune looked over the woman for some time before she nodded. "I couldn't let you get more hurt... mother..." She whispered back, quickly looking at Taiko who was strangely enough getting up from the ground with out any real problems, except that her clothes were ripped apart and her back was bleeding.
"I'm glad you decided to use the wand..." Hoshi whispered after a while of silence, and gazing at Taiko.
Neptune blinked and looked back at Hoshi. "You should get to a hospital." She whispered carefully. Hoshi nodded a little and was slowly helped up from the ground by both Neptune and Taiko.
"I'll drive her to the hospital..." Taiko replied. "You'll come over later, alright?" She added, looking at Neptune with a gentle smile over her bleeding lips. "If you know how to change back... that is..."
Neptune nodded a little. "I'll just have a look around... there could be more of those... things." She noted and looked at Hoshi. "You'll be alright, mother?" She whispered after a while of gazing at the pale face.
"I'll be just fine..." Hoshi nodded, putting her hand onto Neptune's cheek while looking into the young woman's eyes. "Go... do your duty... Sailor Neptune."
"I'll come by the hospital soon... I promise." Neptune nodded and suddenly she jumped into the air, landing onto the rooftop above from where she ran of light the wind.
"Let's get your butt into the car, and to the hospital." Taiko whispered, while picking up Hoshi into her arms before stumbling of towards the street.
Taiko was sitting beside Hoshi's hospital bed later that evening, gazing at the woman who had two broken ribs, a broken arm and a broken shoulder, but otherwise she was fine. Taiko's cuts had been cleaned up and bandaged, and she was now wearing a hospital shirt and her blue jeans, which had made it trough the sharp claws.
"Whatever that thing was, Neptune took care of it." Taiko whispered while leaning her head into her hands. "She can take on more... I have a gut feeling about it." She added.
Hoshi nodded a little. "She'll be fine... but I hate to see her leave after this night is over. I really do..." She whispered and tilted her head towards the window, seeing the darkening skies and the rain hitting the glass. "I wish I didn't need to say good bye..."
Taiko gazed at the bruised up woman for some time before she sighed, looking out the same window Hoshi was looking. At the same time the door was opened and Michiru stepped in, wearing the same clothes she had before, but now wearing a jacket. Taiko and Hoshi looked her way as she slowly closed the door after herself. "Isn't it the little hero?" Taiko whispered with a soft smile over her face.
Michiru slowly walked over to the bed and slowly sat down by Hoshi, who gently placed a bandaged hand onto her knee. "I'm sorry I didn't appear earlier." She whispered, keeping her eyes on her mother.
"You did well dear..." Hoshi whispered and nodded a little. "I'm alive."
"And we got our selves some kinky clothes!" Taiko cut in, trying to shove the tense air to the side as always. "You want us to have a press conference now, with Neptune?" She added with a slight grin over her face.
Michiru smiled gently and gently placed her hand over Hoshi's. "This is good bye...?" She whispered, not minding in remarking Taiko's bad joke.
Hoshi gazed at the girl, no young woman, sitting beside her and soon nodded with a sigh. "The evening isn't over yet, sweet heart." She noted with a gentle gaze over her face. "It's still your birthday... but there wont be any presents... not right now..."
Michiru nodded. "I'm just glad you're alright." She replied, looking at Hoshi and then at Taiko, before she looked back at Hoshi.
Taiko soon smiled for herself, not thinking on breaking any more jokes. "We found you an apartment anyway... That was the present we have been so mysterious about." She said, now getting Michiru's attention and Hoshi's gentle gaze. "We have been looking at it for sometime and now..." Taiko added, looking at Michiru with a pair of gently shining eyes. "It's yours now."
"Really?" Michiru whispered before she looked at Hoshi, who just nodded as a reply.
"You need somewhere to live, and have your things." Hoshi noted. "But if you find something else... you are free to do what you like with the apartment. See it as a getaway place."
"I can't thank either of you enough..." Michiru whispered back, while getting tears in her eyes.
Hoshi just smiled at her girl. "You have nothing to thank for... I'm glad I got to have you and see you grow up into the young woman you are now, Michiru."
Michiru just gaze at the woman lying in the bed, taking in every word that was said. No more words were needed as the first tear ran down Michiru's cheek, before she lied down beside Hoshi on the bed, letting the woman hold her close while stroking her hair. Taiko just gazed at them, now letting her own tears fall not having the energy to keep them in anymore.
"I love you mother..." Michiru whispered against Hoshi's shoulder after a long time of silence.
Hoshi looked over the girl with tears shining in her eyes. "I love you too sweet heart..." She whispered with a gentle sigh, while she held the girl a bit tighter.
Time passed by slowly, but at the same time the silence made it go faster someway. Michiru had fallen asleep in Hoshi's arms and Taiko had moved to the window, still keeping her eyes on the two. Slowly the door was opened and a young woman walked in, a young woman who had appeared several times before. It was Pluto, wearing the same uniform as always.
"It's time..." Pluto whispered as she closed the door after herself.
Taiko and Hoshi looked at the young woman and at the same time Michiru slowly opened her eyes. "Does she really have to go?" Taiko asked suddenly, jumping down from the windowsill.
Pluto only nodded as an answer before she looked at Michiru.
Michiru looked back at Pluto, but soon looked at Hoshi who was stroking some locks from Michiru's cheek behind her ear. The two just gazed at each other for sometime, before Hoshi nodded a little. Michiru slowly got up from the bed and looked back at Pluto. "I'm ready..." She whispered.
Pluto nodded in response. "The journey will be tuff..."
"I know." Michiru nodded. "But I wont give up, not when I only have begun." She added and looked at Taiko. "Tai-obasan."
Taiko looked at Michiru with slightly widened eyes. "I hate goodbyes... and, and..." She started stuttering but turned silent when Michiru hugged her tightly, leaning her head against the woman's shoulder. Taiko looked over Michiru for a while, feeling that she had become a part of the young woman's life. "I'll miss you kitten." She whispered instead as she hugged Michiru back. "Be a good girl now."
Michiru nodded a little only to let go of Taiko and look right at her. "And you take care of mother." She whispered with a gentle smile, while some tears shined up her eyes once.
"I promise." Taiko nodded with a soft smile over her lips.
Michiru slowly turned to look at Hoshi who was smiling towards her. "I'll come and visit someday..." She whispered as she walked over to the bed once more, carefully wrapping her arms around Hoshi, who hugged her back. "I really hate leaving..." She whispered suddenly, as she dared to hug Hoshi a bit tighter.
"I hate this too darling..." Hoshi whispered back, kissing Michiru on the cheek. The two soon looked at each other for a while and just stared their goodbyes, before Michiru slowly walked over to Pluto.
"Lets leave..." Pluto said in a low voice, but everyone in the room saw that she was touched. She slowly turned to face the door once more, only to open it and walk out.
Michiru gazed one last time over the family she knew and held dear, before she ran out the door. It was over now and both Hoshi and Taiko knew, the first step into the hallway had made Michiru start crying, but they didn't do anything about it. The girl they had known since she was small would make it, and she would be strong and do her duty. And nothing would or could stop her.
Taiko sighed deeply as the door slowly closed by its self and soon she looked at Hoshi, who was crying, but at the same time smiling, while gazing at the ceiling. "This was the way?" She whispered as she slowly sat down onto the bed, letting her gaze end up at the floor.
"It was..." Hoshi replied and slowly placed her hand onto Taiko's hand, which was lying beside her.
The two looked at each other with tears running down their faces, but no words were needed.
