Chapter Five (Beginning of August)

The hot sun burned down on the dry earth below. The arena was full of people, all yelling at the three persons on the stage. Powerful rhythms filled the air.

Haruka watched the Three Lights for some moments. The race was over now and she won it. Of course. As every race. However, she was not satisfied. Actually she felt lonely. Empty.

The young woman looked down on the trophy she carried in her hand and wondered how this sport could have ever been so important to her.

That had been before I met my Michi-chan.

She had been crazy about this sport. She had wanted to beat every opponent. Every race had been a new chance for her to reach her limits. To be faster as the wind.

That had been before I adopted our sweet princess.

There had been days when she trained from dusk to dawn to get better. Faster. She was the only one in all Japan who could cross her limits without being killed by an accident. She loved it to cross the limit. This used to be the point where she could feel really free. Where she was the wind.

That had been before I decided to carry Michi-chan's child.

Haruka turned away from the stage and walked into the pleasantly cool shadow. It was the hottest summer she had ever experienced. She entered the team's room and put the trophy down on the table in the middle. Then she took her towel out of her bag and stepped slowly into the bathroom.

She knew that she should have been happy about her victory. There were just three more races and she had already won the Grand Prix if she didn't do great mistakes then.

Hai, I should be happy. But I am not...

The young woman stripped her racing suit and watched herself in the great mirror on the wall next to her. Dark green eyes watched her back. They were empty.

It's now over four months...

Four months that Michi-chan went away.

Haruka looked down the woman's belly in the mirror. It was slightly grown. Who knew would see it. And she knew.

Seventeen weeks that I carry her child.

The young woman in the mirror faded and the world begun to spun around. She went on her knees and took her head into her trembling hands. They were ice cold.

The nausea was gone some weeks ago, but the dizzy feeling returned as soon as she did exhausting things like driving a race car and winning a race. Or when she moved suddenly or when she was under great stress.

The child doesn't like me being sad.

Haruka closed her eyes and started breathing again as the feeling vanished.

It is like its mother. Always concerned about me...

The young woman took a deep breath and was finally able to fight back her tears. Last night Michiru had been very concerned about her. Yaten noticed that she was more tired than usual. Weaker. More peaceful. She didn't even argue with Sejya anymore. The young man told Michiru and Haruka had to lie to the young violinist all evening to calm her down. She hated herself for lying to her lover.

Why didn't I just tell her?

Haruka raised her head and looked into the young woman's dark green eyes in the mirror silently. She saw the tears in her eyes and wondered why she didn't find the courage to tell Michiru the truth.

I've never been really afraid.

No, she had never shown any fear. Not during the search for the talismans. Not during the fight with Galactica. Not even during the final battle when they almost lost their lives.

I've never been afraid of anything.

Haruka watched the young woman in the mirror once more. She couldn't recognize herself. The young woman wasn't herself any longer. She was a stranger to her.

Then the image changed and the young car racer saw the young violinist. How she stood upon her stage playing her instrument. Making that wonderful loving music. Her blue eyes were closed and she rocked herself to the rhythm of her music.

Haruka had always been jealous when Michiru did hide herself into her own world created by music. Jealous of the music to take her lover finally away from her.

I've never been afraid of anything.

The picture vanished and Haruka looked at the image of a young woman that used to be herself.

Of anything but loosing my Michi-chan.

Two tears ran down her suddenly pale cheeks.

I wanna a sister! declared the high voice pleading in her head. A thin smile appeared on her face.

I've never been afraid of anything but loosing my Michi-chan and our little princess.

Finally she rose and took her towel again. Then she turned away from the woman in the mirror.

I am stupid.

She scolded herself and brushed her short blond hair while the water ran to heat up the small cabin.

Michiru will believe me. She will believe that this child is hers.

Haruka laid the brush down and froze as the old feeling of panic grew strong inside her body.

And if she doesn't believe me, she would never leave me. Would she?

The young car racer sighed and opened the door to the cabin.

Would she?

At that very moment the door was pushed open and Hashitzou stood in the bathroom. He only wore a towel and stared in disbelieve at the naked woman.

"Gomen..." he stammered and blushed.

"No problem." Haruka took a step into the cabin and closed the door behind herself. Silently she stood under the warm water and closed her eyes. It did happen often that the rest of the team forget that she was a woman. She didn't fell affected by their behaviour. She was used to it. Most people thought that she was a guy. That was normal by the way she wore men clothes and cuts her hair very short.

Most people think I am a guy. Especially when I am together with Michi-chan...

Haruka stroked thoughtful over her grown belly.

And now such a strange woman is having a small child...

Haruka turned the cold water off until the heat hurt on her skin. Steam filled the cabin and the young car racer watched it with empty eyes.

She would never.

Would she?

It was another hot day of this endless hot summer. The weathermen on TV decleared that the summer would not be over until late September. Most people in Japan were happy about it. They went to the swimming pool after work and took care for their gardens. Or they simply played with their children or their friends different kinds sports. Like going by bike or playing tennis. Or playing volleyball.

"That's mine!" Sejya screamed and flew through the air to reach the volleyball. But he was too slow and therefore late. All he got was grass and dirt.

"That was my turn!" argued Tahiki and took the volleyball into his hands. "Don't you ever play with other together? That's a team game. Not a competition for your own." He turned to the other two and rolled his eyes towards the cloudless sky.

"Decide yourself! Do you want to play or do you want to go into the house and do other things?" Tahiki stared angrily at Setsuna who kissed her lover gently.

"Be quieter! Or do you want to wake up little Chibiusa?" replied Yaten and blushed slightly.

"Let's go on!" declared Setsuna and gave her boyfriend a last short kiss, then she returned to her position and watched Sejya challenging. "We will win. That's for sure!"

Sejya grinned at her and took the volleyball out of Tahiki's hands who still complained about their lack of game spirit.

"Keep dreaming." He laughed and threw the ball over the clothesline that was put up between two cherry trees of the huge garden next to Usagi and Mamoru's house.

"The mother milk is very important for a small child." Read Ami and turned the thick book's page. "And it is..." she went on and broke off her reading as she heard the small girl's soft voice who stood next to the bright cradle on the terrace. The cradle was of course covered with cool shadows. Wind moved the white curtains.

"That's a joker. With that card you can beat all the other cards." Told Hotaru the little baby who just laughed happily at the young girl and stretched her tiny arms trustfully toward the future senshi of death.

"They will be the best friends of life." Said Ami and a bright smile appeared on her so often serious face.

"Hai." Admitted Rei who sat down next to her. "And that's very good. Hotaru-chan is a loving soul but Sailor Saturn is a very dark and depressive person. She needs a happy and careless person besides her to manage her destiny."

"Say J-O-C-K-E-R, Chibiusa. Please! That's sooo easy!"

"And she's not very patient." Ami cleaned her glasses thoughtfully.

"And sometimes very wild." Admitted the young priestess and remembered many times when the little girl was in her temple and caused a lot of trouble.

"She's like her parents." The voice of Ami got softer as she turned her head to watch Haruka. The young car racer sat under a cherry tree and played referee. That was not easy with Sejya being in one team and Setsuna being in the other one. But this time Haruka didn't argue with them. She just said the points. A smile was on her lips, but when she felt unobserved she looked lonely. Her fine hands played thoughtlessly with the wide shirt's ends which she was wearing over her blue jeans. Sun glasses did hide her dark green eyes, but Ami felt the loneliness that surrounded the young woman. They all felt it although Haruka seemed to be strong and independent as ever. She never showed that she missed her Michiru. But they all knew that she did. Because they all missed the young violinist, too.

"I am very glad that they adopted little Hotaru-chan. Otherwise she would have never become such a loving, wild and careless child she is now." Said Ami quietly.

"Is that your judgement as a medicine student?" joked Rei but she shivered as she remembered Hotaru being silent and all alone. Being ill and unloved. Being misused by the persons she needed. That had been before Sailor Moon could save her. Usagi saved Sailor Saturn who was ready to sacrifice her life for the rest of the team. For the people on earth. Hotaru got a new life and after Dr. Tomoe's sudden death she got new parents. Parents who loved her with all consequences, taking care of all problems she caused sometimes.

Haruka and Michiru gave their daughter all their strength needed by the little girl to grow up in peace. They would protect Hotaru with their lives.

Rei smiled at the small girl who went on explaining the cards to the tiny baby in the cradle.

The two outer senshi would never ever leave this child alone. Although they had only adopted her she was their daughter. She would be it as long as they lived.

"No, it's my judgement as a living human. As a friend." Declared Ami finally and looked down into the huge book on her lap.

"How philosophical!" The young priestess looked over her friend's shoulder and followed the lines. Soon the clear voice of Ami filled the air again.

"And, how does it feel to be a daddy?" Makoto turned the steaks on the grill and looked up into the bright sky. She liked it to grill on such a hot summer day. It remembered her of her parents.

Maybe they are looking down at me. Now...

"Wonderful." Declared the young man with a happy sigh and stared into the flames.

"With all the crying all night? And the changing of nappies? And the cradling?"

"Trust me, Mako. It's worth it!" A tender smile appeared on the young man's face as he looked over to the terrace where the cradle stood.

"Hai, I guess it is." Laughed the young woman and went to the terrace and counted the dishes. Nothing was missing. Rei and Ami had done their job quite satisfactory.

"Ami? Would you call Usagi and Minako?"

"Hai." Ami handed the book over to Rei who still read it.

"By the way, what are they doing upstairs?"

"They are arguing what Chibiusa should wear for her baptism." Ami giggled.

"That can take days!" Rei turned the page but a wide grin appeared on her face.

"Who are the godmothers?" Makoto looked over to the playing Three Lights. "Or the godfathers?"

"We all decided to be when we made the oath that night in the hospital. The baptism is just for Usagi's parents. You know Ikuko. She loves such ceremonies." Declared Rei and turned another page.

"Yes." Makoto nodded thoughtfully and went back to the grill to take care of their dinner.

"Maybe I'll get a chance to drag them down." Sighed Ami and entered the house.

"Good luck, our shinning hero." Laughed Rei after her and turned another page. Ami just shook her head and disappeared into huge house's shadows.

"O, I forgot the bread." Makoto thought aloud while she controlled the steaks. Mamoru was doing a good job at the grill. That was a good thing, because Usagi wasn't so good in cooking. But she had other talents. She was a loving wife and mother. That was more worth than to be a brilliant cook. The young woman sighed slightly.

"Haruka, would you please take the bread from the sideboard of the kitchen? Rei has forgotten them." She said to the young car racer who leaned against the cherry tree and watched the game.

"Hai." The young woman stood up very slowly.

"And you four, finish your game. It's time for dinner." Makoto looked very determined as the boys started arguing about the victory. She would handle it.

Hell, I am tired!

Haruka entered the nice cool kitchen and took the breadbasket into her cold hands.

It's too hot!

She turned to the door too quickly. The world begun to spun around. Haruka tried to seize on the sideboard but is was too far away. The breadbasket escaped her trembling fingers and fell on the floor. The rolls covered the ground and Haruka went on her knees to collect them. She scolded herself for moving so awkwardly. Her head begun to ache and she knew that it would be very dangerous for her to drive the car when she felt that weak.

I hate this feeling!

Haruka sighed and took two deep breaths.

I should be more careful.

"Haruka? We're waiting for you and..." The voice died won and Haruka bit on her lower lip. She knew what picture she showed to Yaten as she kneeled so on the floor. Quickly she collected the rolls. She didn't look up to see Yaten's surely worried face.

Just keep breathing! That's important!

She took another two deep breaths and scolded herself again for being so careless. It was too hot for doing sports like running through the kitchen. Not in her state of body.

"Is everything okay?" asked Yaten next to her and she could feel his soft hand on her shoulders.

If this was Michi-chan's hand...

But it wasn't.

"Hai." She replied coldly and came hard to her feet. It took all her powers to manage to walk. She held the breadbasket tight in her trembling hands.

"It's simply too hot." She declared and looked into the young man's worried face. Then she turned carefully around and left the kitchen. Yaten stood motionless there and watched the closed door thoughtfully. He shivered as he remembered the cold look in Haruka's green eyes. So empty eyes.

"Too hoot for what?" he whispered after a while.

But no one answered.

"I guess we should leave, as well." Declared Yaten after a glance on his watch. It was past ten o'clock and the others were already gone.

"Hai." Haruka who sat next to him at the huge table reached into her pockets. Without looking up she gave the car keys into the young man's warm hand. Yaten's light green eyes watched the young car racer in surprise, then he nodded.

"I'll get Setsuna and then we go, too." He declared and went out into the garden where his girlfriend helped Mamoru to clean the grill.

"Hai..." Haruka's voice was not more than a whisper.

"It was a very nice day." sighed Usagi happily and held her daughter tighter in her arms. Hotaru followed her like a loyal puppy. All day she didn't leave Chibiusa's side.

"Hai." Haruka took her sun glasses although it was already getting dark.

"Please, would you hold her for some moments? I forgot her tiny jacket." Before the young car racer could react she already held the small bundle of joy in her arms.

"But... I...Usagi..." she stammered and raised her head in surprise. Her startled green eyes looked into shinning blue ones.

"Don't worry. You can handle this." Smiled the future Queen of Crystal Tokyo and disappeared into the building. Haruka watched her with growing panic.

Does she know? But how...

Two tiny hands stretched trustfully out to her big ones and interrupted her thoughts. Haruka looked down into bright pink eyes. Hotaru stood next to her and stroked carefully the baby's fluffy hair.

"I wanna a sister like Chibiusa." Said determinedly the little girl and smiled confidently.

"I don't know..." whispered the young car racer and took those tiny hands into her big ones to hold them carefully tight. She remembered the doctor's question. However, she had never been able to say yes.

No, I am not strong enough. The doctor's answer will change my life forever.

Haruka shook her head a bit. Her life would never be the same. Not after that day in late March. Not after that day where she almost lost her Michi-chan. And it would never be the same after the day in June when de doctor told her that Michi-chan's greatest wish would become true.

If she does believe me...

The cell phone rang and interrupted her sad thoughts.

"Mommy?" asked Hotaru who took the phone from the table. The bright smile on her daughter's face told Haruka that it was indeed her lover. She was in America now. That was a little bit nearer to Japan than Europe, but it was still too far away.

Hotaru's face got a little bit angry as she listened to her Michiru-mama's voice.

"Hai, mommy. I always wash my hands before I eat." She declared annoyed. But she couldn't be really angry with her mommy. She missed her too much to be angry.

The small child listened to her mother for a while and started to tell her about the exiting day. About the party for Chibiusa's birthday in the garden of Usagi's great house. She told Michiru about the cards and that Chibiusa liked them very much.

"I love you, too, mommy." She said very quietly with a sudden and gave the cell phone to Haruka who watched her daughter with a sad look in her eyes. For some moments she hesitated but then she took the offered phone. She tried hard to smile but it didn't work as she heard her lover's familiar voice.

"Guess who's with us." The young car racer looked down at Chibiusa on her lap who laughed happily at Hotaru playing with her tiny hands.

However, Haruka didn't meant Usagi's child.

"That was a really good tracking time." Declared Hashitzou as Haruka left her car. "You have been almost as fast as last year."

"But I am not fast enough to get the pole position." The young woman took off her helmet and held it tightly.

"For the last ten races you didn't reach the pole position, but at the end you did win. I think that's more important." Hashitzou watched Haruka while Hotaru left her place at the empty audience and flew into her father's arms.

"May I invite you two to an ice cream?" He asked and bowed gently. Hotaru laughed at him as always. Happily. Carelessly. She was just like Haruka. And at the same time she was so different.

"No, we've got an important meeting." Said Hotaru and her dark eyes were suddenly very serious.

"You heard my daughter, Hashitzou. But thank you. Maybe the next time." The young woman held the small girl tighter. Then she left the race track slowly.

"It had been a really good tracking time, indeed." Whispered Hashitzou confused. "But it had been one of your worst times when I compare it with the last years." Motionless he stood there in the heat of the burning sun above. With a sudden he was very concerned about the young woman who used to be the world champion for the past three years. Now she still won her races but she had no chance to win the world championship anymore.

But it worried the young man most that Haruka didn't want to win the world championship at all.

"It's as tiny as Chibiusa." Said Hotaru as she looked the black and white picture that appeared on the ultrasound's screen. "That's the baby of my auntie Usagi. She's born two week ago and now she's soooo small. But she will grow, says auntie Usagi." Told the small girl the doctor who smiled at her. It was not the first time that his patient took her little daughter with her. But it was the first time that the small girl was allowed to see her little brother or sister on the monitor.

The doctor watched the young woman who just laid there. As always her eyes where closed when he controlled the baby's health. As always everything was fine. When he asked her about the small girl with the lively eyes and the shoulder long dark hair she just said that she was her adopted daughter.

The small girl called Hotaru was the only person who came with the young woman to their appointments. The doctor had never seen her husband and sometimes he wondered if Hotaru's father even knew that his wife was pregnant.

"Do you want to know if it's a boy or a girl?" He asked this question every time she came. She always kept silent and so he didn't say a word about the baby's gender. This time the young woman just turned her head away. She would not say anything more than necessary.

TenĂ´ Haruka was indeed a strange woman. She didn't want to abort the child. But she never said that she actually wanted it. Yes, she came to all appointments and surely she changed her way of life. But she seemed to be so insensible. So empty...

"I wanna a sister." Said the small girl very loudly and watched the monitor with interest. "Boys are stupid. They don't understand real problems. And they can't properly play cards." The dark eyes were determined. "Michiru-mama always says that boys can't understand girls. And I wanna a sister who understands me!"

Michiru-mama. That was also a strange behaviour of the small girl. She called her mother Haruka-papa. The doctor had never found out who exactly stood behind that name, but he didn't asked the young woman. He knew that she would had never answered him.

A thin smile appeared on the young woman's pale face.

"Princess." She said quietly. "Be nice."

"I am always nice." responded the girl and looked innocently with her big black eyes up to the doctor. "And I wanna have a sister!"

The smile faded and the young woman was as white as the wall behind her.

"What is it, doctor?" asked Haruka and felt how her heart stopped to beat. Automatically she held her breath. Her voice was not more than a whisper.

The old man cleared his throat. Then he smiled confidently at the small girl in front of him.

"Hey, small lady. Congratulations. Your wish will be granted. You will have a little sister."

"Jippieh!" screamed Hotaru and jumped through the hospital room. "It's a girl! It's a girl!" Her happy smile met the heart of the doctor and the old man was sure that he had chosen the right job when he had been young.

He looked over to the young woman who started breathing again. A small smile appeared on her pale face. She opened her eyes and the doctor shivered automatically as he saw the empty expression in them. Suddenly he knew that she hadn't told her husband. That she carried this child all alone. That the small girl who jumped happily through his room still screaming excitedly was the only person who knew about the new life.

How sad.

The doctor removed the scanner from the young woman's belly. It was always sad when the future mothers were alone in their pregnancy. But he didn't have the power to change the way of life.

The young woman was the only one who got this power. But it seemed that she didn't want to use it.

It was late at night when Haruka woke up. She kept silent in her bed and watched the moon that shone through the huge window next to her bed. Then she felt it again. The feeling that woke her up. It was light and if she hadn't been in her bed but in her car at the race track she wouldn't have noticed it. It was not more than a light prickle in her belly, almost like a butterfly.

Haruka swallowed hard. Then she stood up. She was sure that she wouldn't find any sleep during the rest of the night. Not after she had felt the first motions of the child that grew inside of her. Now she could not longer deny that it was there. Deep inside of her. Sleeping. Dreaming. Growing...

Michi-chan's child.

The young car racer took automatically the cell phone from the table and left her room. She went through the long corridors ignoring the large pictures on the walls that once had been made by Michiru.

The sand was warm under her naked feet. The only clothes she wore was a large T-shirt that was her lover's. It covered her belly. But it would grow with every day until...

Haruka closed her eyes as she felt the fresh water playing with her feet. The restless night wind surrounded her softly, dried her tears.

I want to call you up.

Haruka opened her green eyes and looked down at the phone in her cold hands. But she couldn't dial the number.

I want to tell you the truth.

The young car racer raised her head and stared up to the stars that shone above her in the endless sky. She remembered the fragile person down in the bed at the hospital. At that very day in late March.

No, I can't call her home. That would be unfair. She needs this time on her own.

Haruka clenched her fists and sighed.

But I need her, too!

It peeped as Haruka switched off the cell phone. Slowly she walked through the low water listening to the waves rushing. Then she stopped. A long wile she stood motionless in the water and watched the dark horizon. The wide ocean's surface shimmered mysteriously in the bright moonlight. Wind played with her short blonde hair. Haruka wrapped her arms around herself and felt her grown belly under the T-shirt. Suddenly she felt all alone.

Michi-chan, I miss you so much.

Tears burned in her eyes and she simply let them fall. The feeling returned inside her belly but it stopped as suddenly as it started.

Where are you when I need you?

Haruka swallowed, then a thin smile appeared on her sad looking face. She knew that Michiru would return home some day. And even if the young violinist didn't believe her she would accept this child as she had accepted Hotaru.

I believe you.

Haruka raised her head up to the sky again as she heard the soft voice inside her head.

"It's a little girl, Michi-chan." Whispered the young car racer and stroked thoughtfully her belly. Then she turned and went back into the light but empty house.

Haruka knew that she wouldn't find any sleep this night. There were many things to think about. Many questions to discuss.

Haruka knew that she wouldn't find an answer.

Not alone...

"How long will her training last?" Setsuna watched the little girl who held different teddies in her hands. The little face shone with happiness.

"She said that she will be back for dinner." Yaten saw the worried face on his girlfriend's face. "Don't worry, darling. I'll take care of our Himmi-chan. There are no rehearsals today, because Sejya is still arguing with Tahiki about our new song so I decided to leave the stage as long as I could. You can go to your lecture this evening. By the way, what is it about?"

"Greek literature." Setsuna smiled as she saw her lover's confused look.

"If you like it..." Yaten replied and grinned as Setsuna saw a book shop. Without a word she pushed the bags into Yaten's hands and vanished between the books shelves.

"I wanna this one!" declared Hotaru and looked up at him with her big dark eyes. She held up a brown teddy bear with similar dark eyes.

"Don't you think you already have enough teddies?" Yaten thought at the animals which covered the blankets of Hotaru's bed at home.

"But it's not for me." The dark eyes were almost as serious as Sailor Saturn's. "It's for my future sister." With these words the little girl turned around to search after another teddy bear.

Yaten just watched her speechlessly.

The training had been exhausting. She felt tired and even the shower couldn't refresh her. Haruka dried her wet blond hair with her towel and watched her pale face in the mirror. Hotaru was already at bed and slept the innocent dreams of a child. Haruka didn't even know how she should survive another endless, empty, scaring night. She brushed her hair energetically and put on the wide T-shirt she wore instead of her pyjamas. She still dried her hair as she left the bathroom and froze in motion as she saw Yaten sitting on the huge, empty bed she begun to hate during the last months.

The towel fell upon the carpet as the young woman saw the crumbled black and white picture that the young man held in his hands. Yaten's light green eyes were sad as he raised his head.

"Do you always want to do everything on your own? All alone?" he asked quietly and couldn't help to stare on her belly. He could see that it was bigger than normal when she moved quickly toward him.

"Get out!" shouted Haruka and grabbed the picture. "Get out! Now! I don't need any help!"

"Not even from Michiru?"

Haruka looked down at Yaten and her blushed face got pale. The anger disappeared from her green eyes as she turned away to look out to the endless ocean.

"Don't you think that Michiru's got a right to know about the child?"

Haruka didn't react. She kept silent. Immobile she stared out to the steady waves bursting on the beach's rocks.

"It's a girl, isn't it?" asked Yaten and sighed.

"Hai." The voice was not more than a whisper. Haruka folded her arms before her chest.

"And it is as well your child as it is Michiru's."

Haruka didn't react. She just watched the endless ocean and wondered how calm Yaten could say these words she couldn't believe by herself.

Does Yaten believe them?

Her dark green eyes grew wide but she wasn't able to say anything.

"Today Hotaru wanted to buy a teddy bear for her future sister." The young man stood up slowly as the young woman didn't respond anything. "Why didn't you just tell us? Or do you want to be a bloody martyr? Do you want to stay all alone for the rest of your pregnancy? Don't you think that Usagi would help you? And the rest of us, too? Don't you think that Michiru would return immediately?" Yaten sighed as Haruka kept silent. "Hotaru was the only one who knew it. Is it so great to be all alone? With your problems? With your fears? Is it so fantastic to hide all your worries inside yourself so that no one can help you? Don't you trust us anymore that you didn't tell us the truth about your so called flu? Why must you lie to us!" Yaten screamed suddenly because he felt hurt. He always thought that the young car racer was one of his best friends. Yes, it really hurts to get to know that she wasn't.

"Because I didn't know what you would think! How you would react..." Suddenly Haruka spun around and yelled at him. As she used to do when she thought that the Star Lights were a danger for Sailor Moon. "I am not a whore... but... but it's impossible for two women..." she stammered and finally her voice broke.

Yaten sighed and his anger disappeared from one moment to the next one. He stepped nearer to the young car racer who was more than one head taller than him and laid his hand on her shoulder.

"You thought we wouldn't believe you?" he asked and his light green eyes meet her desperate ones. Haruka watched him for a while in silence, then she turned again toward the open window and nodded quietly.

"I can't even believe it by myself. But the doctor must be right..." Haruka ran her trembling hands through her short blonde her and lifted unintentionally the T-shirt so that Yaten could see her grown belly. "That's why I didn't tell you. And Michi-chan..." Haruka sighed and for the first time that Yaten knew her he could see tears burning in her deep eyes. She had always been so strong. So independent. The young man realized that Haruka wasn't. Not really. The young car racer needed her Michiru. Haruka was surely strong enough to defeat the most dangerous youmas, but this child... She wasn't strong enough to handle it all alone.

"The tour isn't over yet." Whispered Haruka and fought back her tears successfully.

"But she'll surely return when..."

"She should return when she thinks it is time. By herself! She shouldn't being influenced by me and my..." Yaten could see that Haruka swallowed hard.

"Are you sure?"

"Hai." Haruka lowered her head and Yaten saw that she wasn't. But he wouldn't call Michiru back. That was the young car racer's task. Not his.

"You really don't believe in yourself, don't you?" The young man took the trembling hand in his warm one. It was ice cold.

"Hai..."

"Then let the rest of us believe in you!"

Haruka looked up in surprise as she heard Yaten's determined voice. The young man smiled confidently at her. Slowly the feeling melt inside of her cold body.

The feeling of being totally alone.

"Congratulations, Haruka." A tender smile appeared on the singer's face.

"Arigato..."

It had been very interesting, but it had lasted longer than she had expected. Setsuna put her heavy bag down on the kitchen table and walked over to the living-room. Her lover sat on the soft couch, his fists clenched. Setsuna could hear the tender noises of the violin. On the TV screen she saw a taped concert of Michiru at Barcelona. The young violinist stood there with her eyes shut. The only thing that seemed to exist for her was the music. Her own world, as Haruka sometimes called it. With a strange tone of voice.

"Hello, sweetheart." greeted Setsuna and saw how Yaten returned from his deep thoughts. He had obviously not listened to the concert at all. "What's wrong?" she asked alarmed.

"Sit down, dear." Yaten covered his face for some moments with his hands. When he looked up again he seemed to be very tired. "I've got to talk to you."