****
A yellow convertible with its' top up was parked along the road near
the shoreline. The engine is off and only the whispers of the wind can
be heard and it brushes itself against the land. And the sea. A figure is
standing beside the rocks. Leaning against the biggest of them. Letting the
wind play with her short hair. She doesn't mind though. She's the wind,
she had always known that. Her eyes play between the sand, sea and the
horizon, where the sky and sea meets. Silent words are spoken through
her eyes. Her empty eyes. Gazing toward the dark sky, covered with
clouds, she murmured wishes, hoping that they'll come true. And fill the
space in her heart again. Bring back life to her.
The wind is blowing much stronger now as she started to walk slowly
right where the waves touch the sand. In her thoughts, it was a bright
day. No storm, no mission, no destruction. They don't mind those things
when the day is beautiful. They all had their fun, especially them. Everything
that they do together was fun indeed. And in a way, satisfying. Now, all
she could do is to remember. For there is none. It's not going to be like
the way it was before. . . before the other left. . . before she screwed up. . .
Sitting down on the wet sand, she placed her head between her knees
and stared. Looking at everything around her, but seeing nothing. Only
the darkness. As tears start to form in her dark teal eyes. . .
'. . . Seeing her today. . . she still looks beautiful. The way she dressed.
It still looked perfect. She seems to be getting on with her life now. Not
like me. . . How could I? She's still my life but she's. . . not here. . . Never
again going to be here. . . Michiru!' The wall she's maintaining collapsed
and tears started to flow continuously, wetting her shirt more than ever.
The sea breeze was bringing in another rain, she can feel that. But nothing
could seem to make her stand up from where she sat. "Michiru!!!" was
her heart cry. Nobody heard the desperate feelings of the racer. . . nobody
except the wind and the sea.
'Shimatta! You never cared if I'm dead worried about you, Haruka! You
didn't even bother to call! What's the use of your phone if you never use it!
Damn! I'm fucking tired of staying up all night, thinking of all the possibilities
that might happen to you. . . Goddamn, Haruka. . .You're always into your
race career! What about us?! Or you don't mind at all as long as I'm here.
As long as I'm here at this stupid apartment! Fine! Don't speak! You never
do! You never cared, anyway!'
'Michiru?'
'I'm leaving, Haruka. . . It's for the best. I can't take this anymore..'
'MICHIRU!.... don't...'
Rain was pouring heavily as her tears. She was now drenched with water.
She knew that she should be at the track the next day but doesn't want
to leave the solitary place. Time passed. Cars passing along didn't care
at all about the empty lone car near the beach. No one did. No one did
seem to care when the car disappeared just before the cracking of dawn.
Toward the busying city streets.
****
"It's raining again?!" Minako startled the group. They agreed to meet at
the parlor shop that afternoon. And the rain came in from time to time
since last night.
"What do you think?" Makoto said, looking outside the window just to
see the cars and the people hurrying by.
"Nani?"
"You know, there'll be a concert tomorrow. I think Michiru-san will play
there."
"Isn't that on Saturday, Mako-san?" Usagi looked up and saw the smirk
on Rei's face. "Nani?"
"Tomorrow's Saturday, baka!" Rei laughed at Usagi.
"Oh, I forgot!" Usagi said making a face.
"So we'll all go." Minako silently said.
"Hai. But what about the tickets?" Ami asked.
"Yeah. Let's go check. If there's no ticket available, maybe we could
ask Michiru-san for some." Usagi suggested.
"Hope she gives us tickets," Minako said still looking down.
"Ara, Minako-san. Don't worry. We'll find a way to bring those two
back together. I know it's your duty as the love senshi, but we're all
friends. Don't worry too much. We're on this together." Makoto gave a
pleading smile that made the blonde laugh.
"I'm sure it will! With me on working on the background!" The change
of mood shifted the atmosphere into a lively one as they searched here
and there for the last remaining tickets for the charity concert.
****
"Come on, Tenoh-san. It'll be great! Besides, it's for charity." Someone
in work clothes was speaking to Haruka. Blue hair was tied up in a
pony tail. One hand resting on the car next to her and the other holding
a dirty rag that looked like submerged into oil.
"Gomen, Yuki. But. . ." the racer tried to protest.
"Please. . . ? You'll have a great time, I promise. You need to relax,
you know. I think you've been bothered by problems nowadays.
Please, Tenoh-san?"
"Hey, Tenoh-san! Give the girl a chance!" One of the track racers
said as he passed by. Haruka gave him a cold gaze.
"Yuki. . ." Haruka started. ' hmmm… concert… charity… it sure
do sound like Michiru…
"Nani?"
"Uh, nothing. Okay, I'll go. But nothing personal, remember!"
"That's fine. I already have tickets so don't you bother searching
for them anymore. The concert's tomorrow at seven in the evening.
Theater, so I guess it's formal. I'll just meet you outside,okay? I'll
be going. I've got to check the other cars, you know."
"I'll be there," Haruka said watching the girl look at one car after
another. 'She's cute. . . Haruka! Stop this! Why? Don't get too
much related. Don't break your wall again. You'll get hurt. You
know that. Yeah, I know that. I'm just musing. . .'
****
"Here we are. Gomen, Tenoh-san. But these are the only nice
seats that I could get." Yuki said to the tall blonde who's right behind
her. They have met outside the theater only minutes before the show
starts. The one with blue hair had on a nice black evening gown that
was from by draping. Simple, really. But elegant enough. The racer,
on the other hand, wore the usual black tuxedo she had worn for several
times during times when she watches the sea-green haired woman
play. Together, they look a lovely couple. Well, for most of the audience
that is. The guards recognized Haruka on their way inside and made a
lopsided smile when they noticed that she's not alone, the way they are
accustomed seeing her on her way to Michiru. Haruka noticed them
but didn't turn a glare and just continued following the mechanic to
their seats.
"It's okay, Yuki. I like it, really," was all she could answer. Without
looking straight at the stage, Haruka sat back, almost slouching in her
seat. Yuki noticed this and tried to straighten up the racer, but she was
stubborn, as always. Ignoring her companion, Haruka's gaze was fixed
on the side of the stage where she could clearly see a black grand piano.
Vacant. The concert started and all that filled the air was the soft music
from the violin. Haruka closed her eyes and began to settle deeper into
her seat, trying to evade the world where she had been, together with her.
"They should have had someone play the piano in harmony with the
violin. . ." Haruka said startling Yuki when she broke the silence. A hand
came down to rest on her own, pressing slightly on her skin.
"Maybe they couldn't find another who could play in such melody with
her. She plays so beautifully, you know. I can feel her emotions. It seems
the music draws me to her world of peace and serenity."
'Hai. That's what she always do. Creep into her own world. Leaving me
alone. . . Over and over again. But I didn't bother. As long as she always
comes back.' Thoughts suddenly streamed into her mind, forcing her to
leave. Yuki was astonished to see her go without even saying anything.
But the young mechanic sensed something, something wrong. So she
decided to follow and found Haruka leaning on the walls outside the theater.
Her hands buried in her pockets. Her eyes staring forward but seeing nothing.
Just the darkness of the night outside.
"What's wrong Tenoh-san?" A voice, a soft warm voice called over her.
That voice reminded her of Michiru, even the night reminded her of her lover.
Her former lover. She felt a hand reaching for her shoulder and winced when
she felt the coldness of those hands. The cold, brought her back to reality.
"Nothing, Yuki. I just wanted to have fresh air. It's getting stuffed in there."
She lied. Of course, she lied. She couldn't tell the other woman who the artist
was. And why she really wanted to go out. To escape the pain that everything
in there brings.
The other woman felt satisfied and leaned also at the wall behind Haruka.
She sighed. "The music in there is really enchanting. I wish I could hear more
of those. It's refreshing to hear them."
"Would you like to go inside? Maybe we could retrieve our seats." Haruka
finally said after a long moment of silence. Yuki nodded. Taking the mechanic
by the arm, they walked back into the theater and noticed that the concert
was nearing its' finale. "I didn't notice that it would be over so soon. Gomen,
Yuki. You missed most of the part because of me."
"Don't worry. I'm sure they'll have another concert. I just can't wait to be
there again." Yuki smiled and took her seat once more. This time, Haruka
was sitting up straight, though her eyes were clearly not focused on anything.
"That was nice. Thanks, Tenoh-san, for accompanying me here. I really
had a great time." The concert was finally over and two shadows were
walking down the sidewalk towards the parking.
"Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it. You bought the tickets anyway!" Haruka
said with a grin, though her eyes were not completely looking at her surroundings.
"Arigatou, Nako-san. It's been a pleasure being with you tonight."
"Do-itashimashite, Tenoh-san. . ." The shorter girl looked up at the stars
wishfully. "I wish it's always like this. . ."
"Nani?"
"Nothing, Tenoh-san. I just wished every night would be this happy,
this relaxing."
"Oro.."
"You look cute when you look confused!"
"Hey, I'm not confused!"
"Well, it sure do look like."
"I'm just tired." I guess.
"So, get some rest. I'll see you on the track on Monday! Ja ne!"
****
'...is that really Haruka? I thought... baka! I wished she would come
and then, when she did, I don't want to believe it! . . . but, who was that
she's with? Surely, she doesn't look like one of the race team. Haruka is
the only girl racer, as far as I know.'
"Michiru-san?"
"Hai?" was the reply from behind the door of the dressing room.
"It's Minako. Can we come in?"
"The door's open." Slowly, the door opened and in entered five girls, all
matured-looking in their outfits. They looked around at the amazement of the
dressing room, its color, its spaciousness. After a minute of wonder, all eyes
focused on the person sitting on the chair facing the wide mirror, with her
hands clutching her violin case that lies in front of her.
"Are you okay, Michiru-san? You look tired." Usagi was the first to speak
up when she approached the girl.
"Usagi-chan, I think she needs to be alone." Rei looked over her friends'
shoulder and nodded to Usagi who already wears her sympathetic look.
"Come, Usagi-chan. Let's go." Makoto said arriving at the door, tempting
to open it.
". . . Don't go. It's okay that you're here. . I'm fine." All five girls looked at
each other once hearing the melancholic voice of the violin player. Their
glances finally concluded that they should stay. And after a minute or two,
the room was filled with indefinable laughter.
"You really did play great, Michiru-san! I love the last piece." Usagi went
on and on talking. No one can seem to stop her that Michiru could only
hold back her laughter.
"Arigatou, all of you, for coming. I didn't expect that you'd all be here!
Well, except for Himme-chan and Setsuna. They're out of town, but promised
to make it to the last of the series." Michuru ended with a sigh.
"You mean, Haruka was here?!" All eyes turned toward Minako who was
trying to control her excitement.
"Hai. . . I did see her."
"Great! So did you two talk?"
"Eh..."
"Minako-san. . ." Makoto interrupted and fired an icy glare to Minako,
who understood and quited down. Silence was once again in throne. But
this time, the sea senshi is not alone... but with her friends.
"Gomen, Michiru-san..." Minako finally said.
"It's okay. I really wished I could talk to her. But I didn't have the chance
to. She's already gone when I left the stage." Michiru lowered her head
so no one could see the tears forming in her eyes, though that is not
needed, because it is already dark in the room. Once again, the five inner
senshi casted a sad look on their friend, whose sobs can now be heard.
Looking in such a despair they didn't know what to do.
"Hush, Michiru-san... It's gonna be alright... Everything's gonna be
alright. We're here. We'll help you... Wouldn't we, guys?" Rei said,
hugging the crying one. Giving the comfort she know she could give, if
only for that time, knowing that they couldn't do anything, yet still giving
their friend their word. Knowing that Haruka was the only one who could
mend all the wounds that Michiru feels now and carries everyday.
****
ah, well… I actually have done a huge part of the story. Almost to the middle.
Hehe! I'm just cutting it into pieces so you won't experience any errors when reading them (they said the file shouldn't be over 300 kb).