Coming Back to Me
Chapter 6
It was midday, the sun beat down and the sky was a clear blue. Having given up on finding the source of Michiru's distress Haruka tried her best to cheer her up. Seeing that it was such a wonderful day the two went out in Haruka's car. The rush of the wind against the convertible's windscreen helped fill the uncomfortable silence and the force of it through Haruka's hair brushed away her concerns. The beaming yellow car sped up a little. It was like a brilliant light gracing the land with it's presence as it sliced along the black, shiny road. The ripples glowed yellow as the car slowed down beside a lake. Haruka would have liked to take her to the ocean, but the fantastic weather reeled in the fishermen, families and tourists. It was a time that she would rather they spend alone.
The lake shimmered like an exquisite jewel held up to the light. Around the edges grew tall reeds which swayed in the breeze and rustled against one another. Darting around the roots families of ducks wandered in the still water. There was a park of the greenest grass that surrounded the lake. It was upon one of the many benches that Haruka led Michiru to sit.
"It's a great day to be out here, don't you agree my love?" Haruka tested to see whether Michiru wanted to talk now. The bench was near the edge of the lake and as Haruka finished her question a pair of baby ducklings scuttled past their feet. Michiru's eyes lit up and she squeezed Haruka's hand.
"Oh Haruka look! Aren't they just so cute? We should have brought some bread with us."
Relief ran through Haruka's heart. She gathered Michiru had collected herself together again, for she was not someone to childishly sulk about matters which could be fixed. "We'll bring some next time honey, I forgot that they'd be here," Haruka paused and considered asking a question related to this mornings event. "Are you feeling better now?" she said and studied her partners eyes for the unspoken response.
Michiru turned to her and smiled, her eyes shining with joy, "Of course," she said with full honesty in her voice as well as her eyes. "Thank you for breakfast. It was delicious darling," she whispered in Haruka's ear and kissed her lips delicately.
"I'm glad you feel better. I was really worried--"
RING RING...........RING RING
They both jumped a mile in the air which scared all the ducks to death. It took Haruka a moment to piece the puzzle together before she fished her mobile out of her jacket pocket.
"Hello," Haruka blurted trying to sound relaxed.
"HARUKA - PAPA," a delighted voice said.
"Hotaru-chan? How are you?" a surprised Haruka replied
"Good. Setsuna - mama said she'd take me to your house.....but you weren't home," the little girl said putting on a sad voice at the end.
"Well we're just going back now, OK Hime-chan."
"WE ARE? What do you mean Haruka-papa?"
Michiru motioned for the phone and Haruka held it against her face. "Hotaru I've missed you SO much."
"MICHIRU - MAMA. It's you, isn't it?"
"Of course it is sweetheart."
"Oh Michiru-mama I missed you so much too. Haruka-papa has been so lonely without you," Hotaru said in an excited voice, and then proceeded to tell Michiru all the things that had happened in the past year.
Eventually Haruka managed to take back the phone, and Hotaru let Setsuna talk.
"Setsuna-san. I haven't gotten a chance to talk to you in ages. I suppose you heard, Michiru's back."
"Haruka-san. Yes, I'm so glad for you," Setsuna replied in a weary voice.
"Working late again," Haruka scolded.
"Yes....well there have been some strange occurrences lately in the area and I've tried to investigate while juggling my work load."
"Strange occurrences? Like what?" Haruka inquired.
"Well, for instance, people have been disappearing off the streets, from their homes and work. It's not happening often but it's starting to worry everyone around here, and no bodies have been found either. I don't feel right having Hotaru here, i have too much on my mind and she'd be safer with you two."
"I understand. Michiru and I can come and get her if it would be more suitable for you."
"No. It's fine I'll be passing through the area, I have some work to do," said Setsuna.
"OK...................Setsuna, do you think it's a yoma?"
"It could be, even though Chaos has been defeated there are sometimes new creations of evil. Fortunately all of them so far have been too weak and died off, but it's possible that a stronger force may have been born. I'll be looking into it and if I find anything I'll be sure to contact you."
"Right,"replied Haruka, "Well Michiru and I better head home. I'll see you there."
"OK. Bye."
"Bye," Haruka replied, Setsuna's words still fresh in her mind. Youma. No-one had used their henshin stick in two years, although Haruka's was still safely stored away.
"Haruka," Michiru leapt up from her seat and bent down to place a kiss on Haruka's forehead, "Lets go honey, oh i can't wait to see Hotaru."
"Of course," Haruka smiled and deposited the phone back into her jacket pocket.
"...........Yukiro is to be your future husband."
Michiru eyed the boy in front of her. There was an eerie feel about him. Yukiro was almost twice the height of little Michiru. He had very pale skin and cloudy blue-green eyes. His light purple hair seemed to shine silver in the light and highlighted his drained out looking face. He managed a smile at her when he noticed that she was watching him. His straining mouth muscles revealed a thicket of crooked teeth. From that moment Michiru was petrified of him and whipped her eyes away quickly to look at her father, the pain on her face trying to send him a message.
Michiru's father looked into her eyes, "Honey, Yukiro's parents are old friends of ours. We hope that your engagement will strengthen the bond between our families. Yukiro will make a lovely husband, and he's heir to quite a fortune." His words did not comfort the little girl as she stood there, helpless against a world which was being built around her. "Why don't you go and show Yukiro your room sweetheart," Michiru's father said gently, trying to usher them out of the room.
The little girl obliged, leaving the room with Yukiro close behind. As soon as she was out of sight Michiru ran as fast as her little legs would carry her. She sprinted up the stairs and into her room. Pausing to catch her breath she debated whether or not to close and lock the door. After a moments thought she decided that she wouldn't for the sake of not getting in trouble with her father.
Like a small frightened animal she sat on the ground with her knees tucked under her chin and cried. This is not right, she told herself, I don't like it. Michiru buried her face in her hands and let out loud sobs. Even at her age she knew what marriage meant, she knew why you got married and she knew that this Yukiro was not someone she loved or even liked. Her body rejected the idea of being betrothed to him, her eyes let out all the pain and confusion she didn't have the words to express.
A shadow suddenly fell across the room, although poor little Michiru wouldn't have noticed with her head in her hands. The floor creaked and someone.....something grabbed her. Hands with long sharp claws wrapped around her waist; squeezing, suffocating her. A foul smelling breath rasped in her ear as she was lifted off the ground. Michiru's eyes bulged in fear. She opened her mouth to scream, to call for her parents...her nanny....anyone, but nothing came out. Not even a squeak.