A/N Sadly so this is the last chapter. Just when I was starting to get reviews too. Problem is this story is not like my other stories. I wrote this a year ago. And it was sitting in my computer just like that. Recently I found it and decided to just put it up. But back then I didn't go into much details so I made it very small. And kept a whole lot of explanations out. And since I needed to create believable OCs I decided not to make it a whole damn romance with Haruka and my OC char Valy. So I just left it here. Well I ended it here. It's sort of like a chapter of Haruka's life that was left unended before and now is being finished so she can move on. Hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. This is probably my favourite work from everything I have wrote so far.

"Why do you think that?" Valy asked, finally opening her eyes.

"We had an argument," Haruka said, half smiling because Valy had guessed right.

"And?" Valy asked.

"It was different then our other…disagreements. Probably the only real argument we've ever had. I couldn't take it so I left. I left a note saying I will be back sooner or later."

"And you came here?"

"Yes," Haruka said, "But I miss her. Sometimes you just can't let go."

"I thought you were sick of that sentence," Valy raised her eyebrows.

"I am, because it matches how I feel perfectly." Haruka smiled.

"I think you should go back." Valy said looking at Michiru's picture.

"I should?" Haruka asked.

"Even if she doesn't love you, at least she is alive. You can see her laugh and smile," Valy said, her voice cracking, "You never really know when you would lose someone. You should always make every moment count."

"I am sorry," Haruka said.

"This isn't about me Haruka," Valy said, "It's about regretting. I don't want you regretting anything, ever."

"I should go back, shouldn't I?" Haruka asked.

"You know you want to," Valy replied. Haruka looked at Valy closely. Her friend had so drastically changed that it scared her. For a second she wished the old Valy was back. But then again the old Valy would have never understood Haruka like this Valy did. What happened that changed her like this? Haruka wondered.

"Whatcha looking at?" Valy asked giving Haruka a half smile.

"Trying to figure out whether I like the new Valy as much as I liked the old one," Haruka shrugged.

"I used to be your shadow…" Valy closed her eyes again as if taking a journey down memory lane.

"Was that so bad?" Haruka wondered out loud.

"It wasn't at that time. But after you left…what's a shadow without it's owner?" Valy smiled lazily, "After you left…well…I was lost…I asked myself who I was and no answer would come to me. I was just a shadow who had been separated from her owner. It hurt. And I knew somehow I had to change. I couldn't stay your shadow forever."

"I just didn't expect you to find you like this," Haruka shook her head and looked away.

"You wanna know what annoys you the most?" Valy whispered.

"Hm?"

"You see Michiru in me, that's what," Valy said tilting her head to one side and meeting Haruka's teal eyes, "You ran away from her only to find someone just like her. Isn't that it, Haruka?"

"I suppose," Haruka just shrugged, "Does it irritate you though?"

"What does?"

"That I see Michiru in you?"

"No," Valy smiled, "Because I see Tina in you." They sat there in comfortable silence pondering eachother's words.

The constant knocking on the door woke Haruka up. She went and opened the door to find Valy standing there with a big suitcase in her hand.

"Valy?"

"I am leaving Haruka."

"Huh?" Haruka asked all groggy, "Where? Why?"

"I am leaving, to never come back again." Valy replied, "I am letting go of the past, of us and of you."

Haruka remembered her conversation with Valy at the airport.

"So you packed everything and returned the key?" she had asked.

"Yes," Valy had replied, "It's hard to let go, but I can't hang on my past forever. My past includes this place, and you, so I have to make sure that I leave this place and never come back again…and never see you again either."

"How can you say that?" Haruka had asked.

"It's hard but I have to do it. I saw you one last time and that makes everything better. To know you are with someone you love and that…that you didn't forget me," Valy had said. This time it was Valy who had turned and waved at Haruka as she walked away from Haruka's life. Haruka had come back and packed everything. She went to the owner of the apartment and gave the key back. She was letting go too. Letting go of Valy and her past. Forever. After saying goodbye to Janie-chan, she went to the airport. She made an important phone call from there before she boarded the plane.

Epilogue

Michiru looked through the crowds for Haruka. She had missed her so much in the three days Haruka had been away. Then suddenly she saw Haruka walking toward her. When they were face-to-face Haruka stared at her but did not move closer.

"Michiru," she started, "I…" but Michiru put her fingers on Haruka's lips.

"Shhh," she said, "It's okay, as long as you promise never to leave me again," And then they hugged promising to never let go.

…Hold a friend's hand through times of trial,

Let her find love through a hug and a smile;

But also know when to let go…

For each and everyone of us must learn to grow…

(Sharon A. Heilbrunn)

A/N The end…hope everyone liked it. R/R one last time. Thanks for reading.