"First Kiss: Haruka and Michiru" by Desslok
-------------------------------
[Author's Note: This may or may not be the first in a
series....]
-------
Haruka waited until Michiru went into the bathroom and then
stepped out onto the balcony. Though they always stayed in the
finest hotels, all the penthouse suites blurred together now. So
much time on the road, hunting, searching, even as they steadily
made their way closer and closer to Tokyo. There was no doubt in
Haruka's mind now that that was the epicenter of whatever was
happening. This was probably the only thing on her mind about
which she felt no doubt.
As the tall blonde leaned out over the balcony, watching the
lights glittering below, a cool breeze brushed against her pale
skin. Normally, she adored the wind, but this night she shivered
and pulled her arms in close to her sides. Talking had never
been her strong suit. She liked to think of herself as a woman
of action, not words. Words confused things. Words could
deceive or distract. Action simply was.
Again, the breeze blew, more insistent this time. Again, Haruka
drew herself in, struggling to avoid the chill in the air.
Running, racing, it was all the same, attempts to seize the wind,
to be the wind. Ever since she was small...
"To run like the wind..." she whispered to the empty night.
"But are you running towards something, or away," a quiet voice
responded. Haruka became suddenly aware of the presence at her
side. She must have been distracted indeed to fail to notice the
sounds of Michiru's approach or her scent on the air.
Haruka continued to stare out into the night. The breeze came
again, stinging her eyes and bringing tears to them. Towards or
away? Nothing she had ever considered. Michiru waited
patiently.
"There is nothing at the end of the road that we travel," Haruka
finally said quietly. "We fight the inevitable doom and likely
can only prevent it with our own lives. You taught me that."
She folded her arms under her chest and hunched down over the
railing.
Michiru sighed sadly, regret flickering unseen in her eyes. "Our
duty is stern and unforgiving, but that does not mean that there
can't be hope. There must always be hope for the future, or else
we have lost before we have truly begun."
Slowly, Haruka turned to face Michiru. She stood in casual
clothes, yet still exuded a refined dignity that Haruka
continually marveled over. Michiru returned her gaze with an
open, expectant look and a soft, wan smile. Though they had not
been fighting together very long, it seemed as though they had
never been anywhere else but side by side. Haruka felt something
twisting inside as she gazed into those placid eyes. No, not
placid. Haruka now discerned a spark there that she had never
let herself see. Her stomach churned once again.
"What do you hope for, Michiru-san?" Haruka asked finally.
Reaching forward carefully, Michiru ran her fingers into Haruka's
short blonde hair. Her eyes captured Haruka's and would not
release them. The spark flared into a bonfire that made Haruka
break out in a sweat.
Michiru took a step closer and whispered, "Toward, not away.
Never again away."
Words ceased. Michiru gently, tugged Haruka's head down. Her
lips felt warm on cool skin, even as Haruka lifted her arms and
wrapped them around Michiru's waist.
Once again, the breeze came, bringing a gentle tingle to exposed
skin, before going on its way...toward Tokyo and the future.
-------------------------------
[Author's Note: This may or may not be the first in a
series....]
-------
Haruka waited until Michiru went into the bathroom and then
stepped out onto the balcony. Though they always stayed in the
finest hotels, all the penthouse suites blurred together now. So
much time on the road, hunting, searching, even as they steadily
made their way closer and closer to Tokyo. There was no doubt in
Haruka's mind now that that was the epicenter of whatever was
happening. This was probably the only thing on her mind about
which she felt no doubt.
As the tall blonde leaned out over the balcony, watching the
lights glittering below, a cool breeze brushed against her pale
skin. Normally, she adored the wind, but this night she shivered
and pulled her arms in close to her sides. Talking had never
been her strong suit. She liked to think of herself as a woman
of action, not words. Words confused things. Words could
deceive or distract. Action simply was.
Again, the breeze blew, more insistent this time. Again, Haruka
drew herself in, struggling to avoid the chill in the air.
Running, racing, it was all the same, attempts to seize the wind,
to be the wind. Ever since she was small...
"To run like the wind..." she whispered to the empty night.
"But are you running towards something, or away," a quiet voice
responded. Haruka became suddenly aware of the presence at her
side. She must have been distracted indeed to fail to notice the
sounds of Michiru's approach or her scent on the air.
Haruka continued to stare out into the night. The breeze came
again, stinging her eyes and bringing tears to them. Towards or
away? Nothing she had ever considered. Michiru waited
patiently.
"There is nothing at the end of the road that we travel," Haruka
finally said quietly. "We fight the inevitable doom and likely
can only prevent it with our own lives. You taught me that."
She folded her arms under her chest and hunched down over the
railing.
Michiru sighed sadly, regret flickering unseen in her eyes. "Our
duty is stern and unforgiving, but that does not mean that there
can't be hope. There must always be hope for the future, or else
we have lost before we have truly begun."
Slowly, Haruka turned to face Michiru. She stood in casual
clothes, yet still exuded a refined dignity that Haruka
continually marveled over. Michiru returned her gaze with an
open, expectant look and a soft, wan smile. Though they had not
been fighting together very long, it seemed as though they had
never been anywhere else but side by side. Haruka felt something
twisting inside as she gazed into those placid eyes. No, not
placid. Haruka now discerned a spark there that she had never
let herself see. Her stomach churned once again.
"What do you hope for, Michiru-san?" Haruka asked finally.
Reaching forward carefully, Michiru ran her fingers into Haruka's
short blonde hair. Her eyes captured Haruka's and would not
release them. The spark flared into a bonfire that made Haruka
break out in a sweat.
Michiru took a step closer and whispered, "Toward, not away.
Never again away."
Words ceased. Michiru gently, tugged Haruka's head down. Her
lips felt warm on cool skin, even as Haruka lifted her arms and
wrapped them around Michiru's waist.
Once again, the breeze came, bringing a gentle tingle to exposed
skin, before going on its way...toward Tokyo and the future.
