Coming Back to Me
Chapter 5
A child, 3 at most, was skipping happily along the sandy shore of her family's private beach. Dodging the waves as they crept across the land she laughed and bobbed down to pick up a shell. The girl held it in her palm and stared at it, the child-like innocence shining in her eyes. She loved it. The beach. All it's familiar smells and textures. The annoying gulls didn't matter to her, they were all part of this picture that held her in a trance. The sea breeze brushing against her face, the gritty sun-warmed sand beneath her feet, the water which playfully chased her and the freedom she felt while swimming. Her eyes were shut as she held the shell tightly in her little closed fist, and took deeps breaths of the salty air.
A name sung out, floating on the wind as does a paper boat on water before it sinks. The girl woke from her trance and opened her perfect deep blue eyes.
"Michiru....," the voice sang out again.
"Mama," the girl replied, clutching the shell tighter. She turned and ran towards her mother.
"Michiru darling, there's someone here I want you to meet," Michiru's mother said, picking her up and cuddling her.
"Who is it Mama?"
"Someone who will be with you always."
"Michiru. You have GOT to tell me what's wrong. I can't stand it when something's hurting you," Haruka tried to get an answer out of Michiru.
They were siting on the couch together and Haruka was trying to get Michiru to talk to her, but her asking and pleading proved useless and Michiru remained closed up, her head resting on Haruka's shoulder, her eyes shut. Eventually Haruka stopped talking and pulled Michiru into her arms where she cradled her like a baby.
"You know I love you Michiru. I'll always be here for you, no matter what happens," Haruka whispered in her ear and continued to cradle her.
The little girl walked beside her mother, their hands clasped tightly, as they walked back to the house. Every now and then a small voice broke the silence.
"Mama, who is it?"
"Shh honey, it's a secret."
The house sat about 200 metres back from the low cliff which ran down to the shore. It was an immaculate house, no, actually a mansion. The elegant gardens with thousands of flowers, ponds and statues surrounding the house were no match for the beauty it held. On the outside it was constructed from mainly marble but the gorgeous pillars were decorated with jade and gold. The roof seemed to be made from an unearthly, glassy substance and shone like the blue sea, on a clear day. The interior was just as breathtaking as the outside, with floors of marble and carpets of deep blue; with gold and splashes of greens highlighting the corridors, and bedrooms which led out to balconies angled artistically toward the sea.
One of many back doors opened and Michiru skipped inside, her mother close behind.
"Honey, go upstairs and change. Then you can meet our guests," the girl's mother said.
Into the massive foyer and up the curved staircase the little girl entered a world of her own again. To her this house was a lot like the sea. The walls were aqua green and little golden lamps in the shape of seashells clung to the wall. The scent of salt drifted through the open windows and so did the cry of gulls. She entered her room and walked over to her dresser where she put the shell, that she still held tightly, on display for everyone to see.
The talking downstairs soon drew her out of the dreamland she had entered, and her Nanny who she called Kai Kai (her nickname) came to dress her. Then with an urge of excitement and curiosity she hurried downstairs to where her mother was. The room which everyone had gathered in was the Entertainment Room, which Michiru used to practice and perform on her violin. Her relatives would never fail to be astonished that such a young child could learn so fast on an instrument. Of course Michiru was forced into it by her parents but she had such a love for music it didn't matter one bit to her. And so, every summer she would perform an almost flawless piece for her family and friends who came to visit.
In the room stood her father, mother and three guests; a man, woman and a boy about 10 years old.
Her father spoke first, "Michiru this is Yukiro," he said while gesturing toward the boy. "Your mother and I have invited him and his family here to meet you for an important reason.........."