****
The wind is billowing hard on the waters. Nobody is there, nobody
around to watch over a car parked on the road. To watch a shadow
carefully seated amidst the rocks, the waters and the sand. Nobody
came to the beach that day because of the predicted storminess of the
weather. Most were sure that a hard whip of the wind against the sea
would cause severe loss. But, obviously, not for the owner of the shadow.
A white rose could be made out in the darkness, thrown out in the sand,
cut to fit the hole in a man's tux. The white rose, stained with red spots...
Rain was beginning to pour down. The top of the car was up, but the
owner really doesn't seem to care if he gets wet or not. The headlights
of the car were turned down to as not to attract much attention, only to
provide a small amount of light to the darkened beach. As the rain beats
faster and harder, the shadow stood up and took small steps.
Not toward the car. Not toward the sea. But along the shoreline.
Feeling the mixture of water and sand at his feet. Fists were clenched tightly,
but he couldn't bring it down. It was looks like stuck like that forever.
Stuck by some indefinite force of hate or anger. Or because of love?
The weather is coming down hard. Hard against the world. The figure,
slowly sank down in his its knees, right before a wave crashed in on the shore.
The body of water crashed on the figure and the body surrendered.
The storm lasted the whole night. Just before dawn, it stopped. On the
beach, there lay on the sand a body. Moving very slightly. Apparently not
wanting to rise and face the rising sun. Wishing to curse the wave for not
making a wish come true. As much as the figure wanted, he knew in the
back on his mind that he couldn't stay there. An hour or so, people will
be passing by the seaside again and he shouldn't be seen there. It took all
his determination to stand up and go to the car. Start the engine and leave
the place. Though he knew that sooner or later he will return and finish what she started.
****
Ding! Dong!
"Just a minute," Michiru said leaving her stack of things laying across the
living room she was packing for storage. "Ara, it's you Kedono-san. What
brings you here?" She said to the tall, dark-haired guy in blue long-sleeved
polo shirt and khaki pants who was leaning against the pole of her porch,
holding flowers, mostly tulips, with one hand while the other is in his pockets,
facing the road.
"Good morning, Kaioh-san," he said turning around with a smile. "Here,
these are for you." Handling Michiru the flowers.
"Arigato, but what are these for?"
"Well, aren't you going to take the flowers first?"
"Gomen. Please come in, Kedono-san."
"As much as I'd like to, Kaioh-san. I can't. I just dropped by to congratulate
you for a great performance last night. You really are an artist. Gomen that I
didn't make it on time for your performance. But my daughter was there and
she liked it, too. So, as a fan and friend, rather than a sponsor of the concert,
I wish you all the blessings. Congratulations again, Kaioh-san." Kedono shook
hands and bowed as he was leaving the front steps. Retiring to his car, he
waved to Michiru. Then, drove off.
"Arigato, Kedono-san. But it wasn't a real performance. I didn't feel anything
for that silly piece. Well, if you think it's great, then, let it be... oh, well."
Michiru closed the door behind her, and thought of the vase that was lying
on the floor, one of those to be stuck in the closet for years. Her mind
decided already and she arranged the flowers. "This would do."
****
"Where the hell is Tenoh-san?!" Ken shouted at the crew working before
him. He was the manager of Haruka's team and the blonde racer didn't
usually miss two sessions of practice racing in purpose. It was already
Wednesday and nobody has seen the famous racer, even her shadow.
"This is Tenoh's residence. I'm not here right now to pick up the phone.
If you'd like to leave a message, please do so after the beep. Arigato." That
damned canned message again! Where is Haruka? "Sir Ken, she's not home.
The answering machine keeps going on whenever I call."
"Fine. Then let's get started even if she's not here. I don't want to spoil this
day. Okay, team, Let's get on the track!" It was the first time in the week
that the sun is really up. The past two days they went on with practice
was cloudy but it didn't rain. Still, the ground is a little wet because of the
little showers they have before dawn.
"I wonder what happened to Haruka... I hope she's fine." Yuki sighed
and went to Haruka's car waiting in the garage for its owner.
"Hey, Yuki!"
"What the... Kenjii, don't startle me like that!" She winced at the sight
of another mechanic walking toward her. Small for his age, but good in
cars. Having a good, brown colored hair and even skin tone. Wearing
again a smirk on his face.
"You seem off to the clouds, Yuki,"
"It's none of your business!"
"Okay, okay! You've made your point clear... But remember, I'll be here"
Kenjii went to the other side of the track to check on the cars' condition
as they pass through the curve.
"That dumb ass!" Yuki made her way to a seat near the wall of the garage.
Resting her head on her hand, she began to slip off reality again.
"Minako-chan, do you think we'll find her here?" Usagi asked the other girl who's
humming.
"Mmhmm. You know that Haruka-san always hang out at the race track.
She must be here. Or we'll have to go to her house after all." Minako said.
They were approaching the entrance to the race track and noticed that the
yellow car that Haruka usually drives is not there. Usagi sent a gaze to
Minako. "Well, we could still ask the crew..." And off they went to the
garage containing all the race cars of the drivers.
****
'I have to go. They really should be searching for me now. And here I am,
stuck with a stupid, flu! It couldn't get any better, ne? Geez… Why the hell
is the bathroom door so far?!' Haruka tripped on one of her clothes lying
around as always, and landed on her face. Grouching, she slowly stood up.
Her whole body is still weak and is reeling to get some rest, which the tall
Blonde never actually gave. She never wanted to get ill. Dizziness was coming
once again in her head for the nth time. She knows that blackness awaits her
if she closes her eyes, and she continued her journey toward the door.
Nevertheless, the tired body gave up, surrendering. And she fell limp on the
floor with nobody to care for her around.
"Oh, shit! I'm really late now!" Haruka woke up and hurried to get dressed.
She knew that she needs rest but she really didn't bother. She wanted to drive,
to feel free. Hoping that her illness would soon go away once she revved her
engine and drove off. Careful not to trip again, she made her way to the bathroom
and took some medicine from the cabinet. 'Just in case,' she thought. 'I wouldn't
want to faint in front of them.'
In about ten minutes, Haruka stood outside her apartment, deciding if she'll take
her car or not. Finally, decided to take her own car, she set off. Feeling the wind
accompany her on her trip. And the cold air brought by the rains.
Parking inside and quickly changing into her fire suit, Haruka jogged to the track.
Ignoring the rebellion of her body.
"Yuki!" Haruka said in a husky low voice which was quite faltering. She never felt
this weak before but she needed to be practicing since the race is soon to start.
She wanted to go to the young mechanic, without knowing why, but Ken already saw her.
"Haruka...! Where have you been? Be ready, ok? I'll meet you outside." Her boss said
and disappeared outside the door of the garage. The sun outside was surely shining
brightly and she couldn't see much of the track except for two or three cars. Her
eyes were burning, not because of tears. And her body wants to collapse. But her mind
was still fighting the urge to get some sleep and do nothing.
"Are you alright, Tenoh-san?" A sweet voice called upon her as she slowly sat down on one of the benches nearby. She turned and saw the young mechanic standing over her shoulder. A hand placed carefully upon her right one.She saw the worry in the face but was too immersed in pain to think about it. But she felt the cold seep through her skin.
"Hai." Haruka looked up at her friends' eye. Careful not to show that she's suffering. But her cold sweat betrayed her.
"You know, with brows like that, one could tell something's wrong, am I right?" Yuki bent down and looked directly at the young racer's face, examining every inch of her face. Looking for something else than fear. Than a wall sheltering the heart. Looking for some weakness that the champion does not want to show, to anyone. "Haruka, why don't you take a rest. I'm sure the boss will understand. It's not like you're gone forever. Just take some rest until you're well again."
The blonde just looked at the person who was now sitting next to her, hands still placed over hers. Confused. But understanding. Yet doesn't want to give in. She stood up and tried to recover her stature, covering up the weakness she knew she feels inside. "Arigato, Yuki. But I wouldn't want to miss the practice today." Then she jogged off to the track as her friend silently shook her head in disapproval.
"Oh no… HARUKA!"
****
A week had gone by since she collapsed at the race track. Even before reaching her car. She couldn't remember everything that happened. Just that she had been weak to let her body get its way. To let it prevail over her mind.
A week in the hospital, geez… That's what I needed? What a waste of time. I surely am glad I could get outta here tomorrow. The blonde mused while watching the scenery of nature outside her window. She was isolated in a room. Didn't know how she got there and how things are arranged exactly the way she wanted it, while staying in the hospital, not that she really liked the idea of spending time in the building. Only one name comes in her mind as she stares at the room she was assigned. Light blue in color, not the usual white rooms hospitals usually have. Sometimes, she wonders if it were really a hospital. But after an accident a few days ago, when a nurse came down to check on her, she noticed little blood stains in her dress. Guess it really is the damn hospital. She always hated the building since her childhood. For reasons that she only shared with Michiru. Her… Michiru……
Knock! A silent tap on the door. It was audible enough to be heard. No noise is inhibiting the room. No cheers. No laughter. No music. Just sadness and loneliness. I'm sure it's just one of the nurses or… A boy about ten years old opened the door slightly and peeked inside. Haruka was astonished to see the young lad but kept still. Not showing the surprise and making herself more comfortable. The boy bowed and introduced himself. And politely asked for an autograph. They wouldn't let me rest, ne? Even if I'm laid on the hospital bed, I still get to sign papers, Haruka thought. But smiled at the boy and signed the piece of paper he held in his little hands, bowed and left the room.
Knock! Another one. Why couldn't they just go?
"Haruka?" The door was suddenly open without the notice of the blonde. Yuki was standing beside the frame of the door. Ready to go out if the blonde wants her to, but also ready to stay and resist the order. She knew from watching the racer that she always get what she wants. And nothing would prevent her from achieving her dreams. Only one person have been able to control the vigorous racer. That is, the aqua-haired beauty she passed by when she first entered the track. Who was sitting beside the other team members, with sparkle in her eyes while watching the race of the famous racer, Haruka Tenoh.
"Hai?" The low voice of the patient brought the blue-haired girl back from reverie. Haruka was quite amazed with herself when she saw the young woman come in instead of the nurse. "What's wrong? You look like you've seen some ghost."
"Nani?" Quite confused, Yuki smiled and took the seat beside the bed. "I was just thinking. Nothing else. You seem okay today, Tenoh-san."
"Use my first name, ok? It's much better to hear than that. Besides, I call you by your name." Haruka smiled at her visitor and looked outside the window. The birds were playing by the huge tree. It was autumn already and the wind's getting colder. Just another week and the racer would be told that she had recovered completely. Giving her permission to get out of the place. And return to the track.
Yuki followed Haruka's gaze and wondered why she's so intense. She had been with Haruka before. At the track and at the concert. But she couldn't place what is she feeling right now. But letting herself relax.
"Haruka!" Usagi exclaimed as she entered the room. In a moment, the princess was at the blonde's bed side. Holding the still frail hand of the racer, tightly. Haruka winced slightly but let the princess hold on to her hand. One by one, the inners filled the small room. And voices soon filled the usually silent room.
"Baka! Let her go!"
"Rei!"
"Haruka, try these. I made them in the morning."
"And Usagi here wants to eat them all up."
"But they're just sooooo delicious!"
"How are you, Haruka?" Minako asked through the high voices that surrounds them. The priestess and the princess was arguing again and Makoto was busy keeping them away from the food she's taking out from the basket they carried. Ami, who was watching them from the corner, was the first to notice the girl who was standing beside the window, apparently shocked from the scene that is taking place.
Hesitating for a moment, but finally found that it is impossible for the others to notice the other person in the room, Ami walked towards Yuki."Ami Mizuno." She introduced herself.
"… Yuki Nakou." The girl standing beside the window replied and gave a weak smile. Nodding, Ami began to introduce the others, without them noticing the other blue-haired person in the room. Haruka was busy talking with Minako who seem to take time in conversing with the young racer, after being beaten in the arcade for a thousand times.
"So you are one of Haruka's team mate?" inquired Ami. The other girls were still occupied with something, though Usagi and Rei were not fighting anymore, but laughing. Yuki looked confused but smiled as she saw Haruka duck as a hanky flew over the bed. "Oh, don't worry. We're always like this. They're always running around, while I'm the serious one." With the last sentence, all heads turned towards Ami, who looked under investigation in the eyes of the girls who are surrounding them.
"Oh, sure you are!" Makoto suddenly grabbed Ami by the waist and tickled the young soon-to-be doctor. The other three soon joined in and Haruka was left on the bed, chuckling at the sight. When the laughter subsided, all of them introduced themselves one by one.
"Are they…?"
"Hai, they are all my friends." Haruka answered before Yuki said anything more. "Don't worry, they're good friends." Like you… Arigato, Yuki, for looking after me. Haruka looked at her friend with meaningful eyes but didn't say a word. Yuki just nodded silently and watched how the girls cheered Haruka up.
Tons of laughter was evolving inside the room. Time to time they were telling Haruka stories about the senshis, but of course they didn't talk about their alter-ego. They all agreed that they shouldn't talk about it with someone whom they had just met, or they haven't known. They simply couldn't give away that kind of information.
"So you're the mechanic of the team, Yuki. It must be nice working with those cars. I simply adore them!"
"Usagi! You can't just call her that. It's impolite, you know."
"Oh, it's okay, Rei. It's really nice to work with those guys and repair the cars. And be of a muse among them… well, not exactly." Yuki turned to look at Haruka who stopped eating a piece of cake Makoto baked, and looked back to see the smile in Yuki's face and hear the others giggle.
"I'm not a muse!" Haruka grumbled through her full mouth. If Michiru was here, she would not let this pass…
"Sure, you're not. You're the only girl in the team of men racers!" Yuki said, eyes sparkling. She suddenly felt welcome around the girls. And isn't too shy anymore. Haruka tried to get out of bed but her body didn't obey. She just sat there, pouting.
Geez, she's cute when she pouts… Yuki thought, almost on the verge on saying it aloud. The other senshi's were watching, thoughtful ideas forming in their minds.
****
^_^ So that's about it! For now, that is… It's hard to think when you have three stories in your mind, you know. Hope I finish it, well… We'll see about that