Title: Rekindled Passions
Chapter Four
Author: KissThis
Disclaimer: Once again, I don't own anything...except the plot, of course.
Summary: AU. Even after Usagi left her two years ago Haruka is still passionately in love with her. Will their relationship be rekindled when Usagi returns to Tokyo as a famous model?
A/N: I know, I know. That last chapter was really short, but I'll try and make up for it. I have the entire chapter planned out in my head, and now I just have to try and get it into writing.
****
Usagi's head pounded and she silently berated herself for forgetting her headache medicine at home. Rei Hino, a singer working her way to fame, offered Usagi another milkshake and grazed her slender fingers across the back of Usagi's hand. Usagi politely declined. Even if her personal life wasn't in shambles she wouldn't have accepted the milkshake because, frankly, Setsuna and her girlfriend Minako Aino were making her stomach roll.
The witty, vivacious blonde model and the passive and collected fashion designer were complete opposites in personality, but perfect for each other in every way. They just fit together.
Yuck! As their tongues are so accurately demonstrating...
Usagi had to fit down a gag as one of her closest friends was straddled in the booth.
Her head was really starting to throb and ache - so much that she found it hard to understand the conversation going on around her. It was beginning to get unbearably hot making her palms sweat. The pain in her temples kept her from forming coherent thoughts and mild claustrophobia arose with people pressing in on all sides of her.
Jumping up she jostled the table and threatened to slosh the group's drinks. She fervently wished that her panicky state wasn't terribly obvious. "My head aches...I need some fresh air."
Setsuna pulled away from Minako and her garnet eyes fixed on Usagi's trembling back as the blonde stumbled out of the large booth. Minako noticed Usagi's state as well, and slid off of her girlfriend's lap. "I have some painkillers, Usa."
The blonde waved it off, "No it's fine. Really. I just need some...air. I'm gonna take a walk."
"I'll come with you!" Rei insisted standing up.
Usagi pressed a hand to her temple. This was becoming too long of a getaway. The pounding thrummed into her arm and reverberated throughout her body. Between vibrations she could feel the sweat beading on her forehead beneath the pads of her fingertips.
"No...stay. It's raining..."
"Then why-?" Rei started, but Usagi was already pushing out the door and into the pouring rain.
*****
She was instantly soaked. Her jeans were darkened to black and clung stiffly to her legs as she walked down the empty streets. A clock shop here, a Café there. Shivering she crossed her arms over her chest, but the wetness of her sweatshirt made the motion futile. She brushed her golden hair turned honey from her eyes only to have the harsh wind and spraying rain plaster it back across her forehead.
Lightening flashed in the distance, but she paid it no heed until its accompanying thunder followed unusually loud and made her jump. The throbbing in her head ebbed and disappeared and the weather enveloped her in its icy cloak while washing away the sweat upon her skin.
And as the raindrops ran down her face...she cried.
She missed Haruka so much it made her physically ache. When she left Tokyo two years ago without a word, she had thought it for the best for both. But her well-intentioned actions had caused deep scars and emotional rifts. She buried her face in her hands.
Hindsight is always 20/20...
She wanted to apologize with every fiber in her body, but she didn't want to until she could completely convince Haruka of her actions. Of course she was a fool. The only thing that resulted in waiting so long was a greater chance that she would never be forgiven of her sins against her lover.
She felt herself filled with shadow and misdeeds. It suffocated her even now; walking within the elements. Usagi dejectedly kicked a pebble across the pavement and it clattered off the sidewalk and into the street with a plop.
A plop?
Taking a small step forward, she peered into the street and the standing water upon it. It looked almost ankle deep and was rising quickly and dangerously close to the curb of the sidewalk upon which she stood. She stepped back even as the water swelled up and over the side lapping at her feet.
It's only been raining for an hour. Where is all this water coming from?
The sickening grating sound of stone on stone, like nails on a chalkboard, made Usagi cringe. Even as she looked to the outskirts of Tokyo realization hit her so hard she thought she would pass out. The Tokyo dam was breaking.
A twenty-foot long crack lanced across its stony side gradually growing in height and width. The unusually loud thunder she'd heard only moments before had been lightening sticking the dam wall.
Blinking rapidly to clear the rain from her eyes she couldn't even scream as the dam finally gave out. Judging by the speed of the rushing dam-water, downtown Tokyo only had a few precious moments before it was completely submerged. The water along the sidewalk was already ankle-deep making it difficult to run across the cement.
Her shoes became caught in a dip in the pavement and she fell forward and into the street. The blood seeping from the scrapes on her palms dissolved into the churning water becoming thin and smoky wisps of crimson. Only the roar of the oncoming flood in her ears stirred her into action.
Usagi had to struggle to stand up against the current of water tugging at her legs and scrambled back onto the sidewalk. Sirens rose up in the distance. Flood warnings. Reaching the edge of the store district she waded through the knee-deep water to the closest shop with only one thought registering in her mind: she had to get inside before the dam flood reached her.
*****
"Haruka, listen." Michiru touched her cousin's hand pulling the blonde out of her reverie. Haruka set down her steaming cup of tea and strained her ears on a faint sound in the distance.
"Flood warnings..." Haruka murmured.
Michiru nodded, "I wasn't sure or not - I mean it's barely been raining for an hour. Not hardly long enough."
Haruka turned in the booth to face the window and pulled apart the drapes that had previously been closed. Lightening flashed highlighting the rolling waves that were even now rising to the bottom of the window. "M-Michiru."
"What is it?" Michiru froze and her oval eyes widened until the waves lapping outside the window could be seen reflected in her turquoise depths. "Oh, Kami!"
Other customers at the small café had turned to face the now open window and were starting to panic. One of them demanded the owner tell them what was going on.
"Lightening hit the Tokyo dam and cracked it. We can't let anyone leave until the flood waters have been drained." The owner relayed.
Haruka turned back to the window as something began to rise from the water and stumble to the café. At first she took it as some stray animal caught outside. But when the creature pulled itself from the water and onto the flooded sidewalk it was painfully obvious the creature was a person. It was Usagi.
Haruka launched herself at the window, "Usagi!" she screamed banging her fists on the window glass. Lightening illuminated the sky and Usagi looked up at Haruka's form pounding desperately on the café window. She stood up to the glass and Haruka stopped her angry frustrations to look at Usagi with sea green eyes shining through unshed tears. More lightening broke through, shattering the dark night sky with a bolt of light so close that Usagi could feel the electricity. The hairs on her neck stood as she reached up and pressed her shivering palm against the glass. Haruka's own hand crept up and flattened across Usagi's hand through the glass.
Something Haruka couldn't not see or hear made Usagi turn her head in surprise. Deep, ocean eyes widened in fear and frustration. Before they turned back to her, Haruka saw the glimmer of hope in Usagi's eyes fade and die as the inevitability o fit all washed over he like the waist high water that was quickly turning her submerged legs to blocks of ice.
"Open the doors!" Haruka shrieked, her heart ripping to pieces inside of her as she watched Usagi cling to the cold glass. As she stared at her with wide and haunting eyes.
"I can't do that. It'll flood the entire building!" The owner sputtered.
Haruka grabbed the owner's collar and shook the small man violently. "We can't leave her out there!" Her voice cracked, "She'll die."
Desperation filled her and she threw the man to the side before jumping to the door. Panicking customers, fearing for their own lives leapt upon the wild woman and pulled her back to her booth and the window. With men restraining her on either side Haruka was forced to watch in painful horror as the rushing flood raced nearer.
"Usagi!" Haruka cried, struggling uselessly against the hands that held her.
The small hands that pressed against the glass were tinted blue from the cold and shook slightly. Usagi's eyes darted to the side against and when her eyes met Haruka's again her face was lined with fear.
"Haruka!" She screamed hoping her voice would carry through the glass and over the thunder in the background. Her voice was laced with a mixture of fear and hysteria. "HARUKA, I'M SORRY!"
The giant waved crashed down upon her and she was ripped away.
****
I done a bad thing. *smacks her hand*
Don't worry thoughI think I can fix it!
Review me!
KissThis