Chapter 14: Escape

Two days, and no escape attempts or suspicious behavior, later Katashi entered the room.

"We have finished negotiations and signed the deal. The two of you will be transported via helicopter to the military base about forty miles out to sea from here. The helicopter will be here in fifteen minutes." He stated shortly, looking at the two teens' faces to gauge their reactions.

Haruka was scowling at him, no surprise, but he saw a sense of defeat in her strangely colored eyes. Nodding in satisfaction, Katashi turned his gaze at Michiru. Her face reflected fear and defeat. Nodding one final time, the older man left the room, once again leaving Haruka and Michiru in solely the presence of the five guards that watched them constantly.

:Well?: Haruka thought at her soulmate.

:I think we should escape on the ride over there. They'll be alert for attempts here and while they're loading us. And it'll be virtually impossible to break away from the base without one of us getting seriously injured. How we manage to escape will be up to you. You're better at forming a workable plan on the spot than me.: Michiru sent back.

:And you're better at planning in advance, Michi.: Haruka sent with a small smile that she hid from the guards. A few minutes later both women were escorted to the restroom and back in preparation for the flight. Soon after that both women heard the unmistakable sound of a helicopter approaching. They heard it land on the building's helicopter pad just as Rin came through the door.

"Time to leave, 'ladies'." She said coldly as the guards aimed their guns at the two teens. The older woman then came forward and unlocked first Michiru then Haruka. Backing up she spoke again. "Let's go."

By now the guards knew better than to try and pick up Michiru. Haruka tended to get very angry and step between her soulmate and the guards with a rather intimidating growl and stare. So they allowed Haruka to scoop Michiru into her arms without a fuss. The guards ringed the soulmates and Rin led the way out of the patio.

Both women had their best masks on. To anyone who looked into their eyes or at their face would see only fear, anger and defeat. Nobody would see conspiracy or hope in either teen's eyes. Haruka let her wings and shoulder sag ever so slightly as she paced bare foot down the carpeted hallway. Michiru just buried her face in Haruka's chest and let her shoulders and tail sag.

Both blinked in the early morning sunlight as they emerged from the building onto the helicopter pad. There they saw Katashi talking with a man that was obviously the pilot. Other than the pilot there were two others, one that looked to be a copilot and one seemed to be a guard.

Takuma was there as well just climbing out of the cargo area. Seeing the two teens he grinned and motioned for Rin to bring them over. She did so nodding her head politely to the biologist before leaving to join her husband.

"Now then, I've had them installing special travelling arrangement for the two of you. As well as installing a device that prevents you from using your powers. Including your healing powers. So I suggest you two don't act up in any way." He smirked and steeped out of the way.

The guards escorted the two inside the cargo area, where there was a wall mounted seat with a harness style seat belt over it at one end, and at the other end there was a similar setup, except that there was an open compartment sunk into the wall where a human's back would rest. 

Haruka and Michiru didn't over look the presence of a spray bottle filled with water, clearly meant for Michiru.

"Put her on the seat over there, Tenoh." Takuma had followed the group inside the large cargo hold. Haruka frowned sullenly, but slowly obeyed the man's order. After Michiru was sitting on the seat, Haruka started to back away, but Michiru suddenly shot her hands up to grip either side of Haruka's head.

Guns were quickly raised and cocked, but Michiru merely pulled Haruka's lips down to meet her own in a fiery desperate kiss. Haruka returned full force, wrapping her arms around Michiru's upper torso as Michiru's encircled Haruka's neck. Haruka was tempted to use her wings to block the other's view of them, but didn't, knowing that the guards would interpret that as a sign of rebellion.

The two soulmates were lost in each other and their kiss until large hands grabbed Haruka's shoulders and yanked her away from Michiru.

"Okay, enough with the mushy stuff." Takuma drawled as he continued to pull Haruka away from Michiru. Their outstretched fingers brushed each other's until a guard batted them away and secured the harness across Michiru's front, locking it via a small padlock.

Takuma came around to Haruka's front and continued to push her back, since she was in a daze from the kiss. Or so it seemed to everyone but Michiru, who knew that it was all a very good act. Haruka kept her eyes locked on Michiru's until she felt the seat edge touch the back of her knees. Takuma then pushed her down so she was sitting on the seat. Then Haruka turned her gaze to Takuma and her immediate surroundings.

"Put your wings back into the cavity, Tenoh and arrange them in a comfortable manner for you. One that you can keep for about an hour roughly." Takuma ordered, taking his hands from Haruka's shoulders finally. Haruka scowled but did so, tucking her wings into the cavity and opened her wings halfway. She couldn't open them completely; the cavity was too small for that.

A guard took Takuma's place while the biologist went over to a wall panel. The guard made sure that Haruka didn't move while Takuma press a short series of buttons. The hidden panels covering the cavity then started to close, meeting behind the middle of Haruka's back. The two panels fit together had a hole just the right shape and size to fit around the base of Haruka's wings comfortably. Haruka heard two mechanic clicks sound, obviously locking the two plates together.

They placed no locking harness around her. Instead Haruka found that she had arms rest to either side of her that she could grip to balance herself.

"Clever isn't it?" Takuma asked and then turned to the military guard that was to stay in the cargo hold with the two teens. "The spray bottle is for Kaioh if her tail starts to dry out. I'm not sure how fast that can happen, though." He continued. Turning to Michiru he spoke again. "Just tell the gentleman if you need you tail sprayed Kaioh." He said brusquely.

:Perfect!: Haruka mindsent to Michiru, both careful to keep their expressions sullen and hopeless.

:I'll get him distracted by spraying my tail…:

:And I'll turn human, sneak up on him and knock him out!: Haruka finished for Michiru. The guards then trooped out of the cargo hold, Takuma nodded mockingly once to each teen then followed. The soldier stood with one hand on a safety strap and one hand on his holstered gun.



The cargo door was pulled shut, leaving the three in darkness for a second before lights flicker to life. Both teens heard the blades and engine start up and the helicopter lift into the air. Haruka involuntarily clutched her armrests while Michiru clutched the sides of her seat.

:Okay, it official. I don't like flying in manmade objects.: Haruka sent to Michiru.

:Neither do I.: Michiru responded as they waited for the helicopter to finish rising and start moving forward.

The trip was very quiet and boring. The guard never relaxed however.

:Okay, I can sense the ocean below us.:

:And it's been about twenty minutes. Time for action Michi.:

:Got it. The panels will lock the light right?:

:Yeah and I'll covertly raise my hand to cover my symbol.:

:All right. Here I go.: Michiru sent and leaned forward slightly. The guard looked at her, but Michiru's attention was on her tail, which she was rubbing and scratching like it itched.

"What's your problem?" the guard asked.

"My tail's dry and itching. Would you hand the spray bottle to me?"

"No but I'll spray you. So you don't try to throw it at me when you're done." The guard responded and caught Michiru's quickly hidden disappointment. Her grinned and aimed the spray bottle at her tail, which did look rather dry.

As Michiru moved her tail to get the water she need it most and continued to keep the guard preoccupied, Haruka concentrated. She felt her symbol warm beneath her palm and her bones become heavier. She then felt her wings melt into her back and froze the transformation, keeping her link to her powers.

Quietly she slipped off the seat and crept closer to the guard's exposed back. Remembering a little trick that Hiroshi had taught her. She swiftly used her fingers to jab several key pressure points in the man's neck, instantly rendering him unconscious. Hooking her hands under his armpits, she lowered his limp body down to the ground gently as to not make a sound.

Haruka looked up to find that Michiru was in the process of transforming. Like Haruka, Michiru froze that transformation halfway through, so she kept the link to her powers. Haruka snagged the key from the guard's waist and unlocked her soulmate. Michiru climbed off the seat, blushing slightly at her lack of dress. Both knelt on the floor by the latch to the cargo door. Haruka went over the plan with Michiru.

Michiru nodded then looked down at the clouds below them and gulped. She climbed into her soulmate's arms and reverted as Haruka copied her.

:Just bury your face in my shoulder when I jump. And whatever happens, don't scream.:

:Got it. I love you.:

:I love you, Michi.: Haruka replied and jumped out of the helicopter, keeping her wings tucked tight to her body and Michiru secure in her arms. She felt Michiru tremble and her arms spasm around her neck and heard Michiru's small whimper of fear as she dove sharply down to the ocean head first.

With her first eyelids covering her eyes, Haruka clearly saw the ocean as they broke through the cloud cover. Carefully Haruka extended her wings slowing their descent and leveling out. She looked above her to check for the helicopter and found it in the form of a rapidly shrinking dot in the sky above her. After dropping a couple hundred feet more Haruka mindspoke to Michiru.

:Get ready Michi I'm dropping you in a minute. Get ready.: She warned the girl in her arms.



:Okay.: she replied and unwound her arms from Haruka neck and turning to face down towards the ocean instead of to Haruka's chest.

:Three, two, one, go!: Haruka released Michiru, allowing her to fall to the deep waters below. As soon as her soulmate left her arms Haruka turned invisible. Looking up to make sure the helicopter wasn't coming back, Haruka went into a circle flying pattern. Waiting for Michiru's mindsend.

Michiru felt Haruka's arms release her and her body start dropping. Michiru opened her eyes and twisted in midair, going into a dive position. She hit the water, hardly making a splash. As she felt the cold water envelope her, Michiru nudged her power, becoming invisible. Slowing down, Michiru swam back near the surface.

:Ruka! I'm ready to go!: she sent.

Haruka hadn't been lazing around while Michiru had oriented herself. She had risen high enough to look over the surrounding area and used her keen sense of sight to figure out the way. To her right, she distantly saw the cliffs that her house was build on.

:Ruka! I'm ready to go!: Haruka heard in her mind.

:Alright I've figured out the way to go. I'm going to show which way to go.:

:How?:

:Like this.: Haruka replied and sent a blue tinted swirl of air down into the water where she guessed Michiru was. She made the wind (now bubbles) form an arrow in the water, pointing in the right direction.

:Got it. Let's go!: Michiru sent and both took off, travelling at their top speeds, which were almost the speed of sound.

It took them about twenty minutes to reach their destination. Both had wandered off course or had been slightly off course once or twice, and once they reached the cliffs the two women had to slow down to find the house (or in Michiru's case the cave that led to the tunnel.)

They met inside the house. With not much conversation they gathered their belongings and prepared to leave. Michiru had long since moved everything she wished to keep from her house to Haruka's so she didn't need to go to her house.

They loaded everything into Hiroshi's SUV. Hiroshi had taught Haruka to drive it, even though Haruka had stated that she'd never be able to use the skills. She was glad now that Hiroshi had insisted upon her learning anyway. Haruka sighed about the piano, but didn't try to bring it.

"We can buy another piano once we find a new home." Michiru said understandingly. Haruka nodded. Both had been steadily draining their bank accounts and transferring it to other banks under a different identity.

"Yeah. But I'm going to have to be very careful about driving. I don't have a license and the tags are expired on the SUV. We're going to have to get a new car and licenses once we get where we're going."

"And get rid of the SUV. Your parents could track us if they think to check the house and realize the SUV if gone." Both nodded and finished loading the last of their belongings. Both remained silence as they locked up and shut off lights. They climbed in the car and started driving away.

"Wait Haruka. I have an idea." Michiru said as Haruka stopped the car.



"What?"

"Use your wind powers to warp the air around the license so people won't know exactly what the number is and the expiration date." Haruka smiled warmly at Michiru for her cleverness and nodded. A moment later Haruka spoke.

"Okay, go check the plate. See if that's good enough." Michiru nodded and got out.

:Perfect.:

:Alright, get back in here, please.: Michiru response was to slip into her seat and buckle back up. Haruka then drove off, neither teen looking back once.

HB here: Alright I'm on spring break now and I'm at my aunt's house right now, visiting. And obviously I've lost my writer's block (for now). Hope you like the chapter.

Guess what? I may be going to Japan for three weeks this summer! I'm so excited! And I now have three stripes in karate. My next test will be for my green belt! Yay!

I actually got this chapter done Easter Sunday evening but I didn't have access to the internet so I had to wait until now.

I just finished watching my latest anime, Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne, on YouTube. All 44 episodes. It's pretty good. And because I'm silly, I've thought of a fanfic for KKJ too. I'll eventually put the plot up on my profile along with my other fanfic plots.

Can't think of anything else right now.

Ja ne!

Honest Beauty