p a r t f i v e

"Did you miss me? It's been too long."

A gorgeous woman with long, golden hair that extended down into a deep blood red was sitting at table fourteen. She was wearing a deep purple dress that was long with thin straps and a high split. She smiled to Michiru and then sipped the wine she had ordered while waiting for her.

Would she say anything about what I'm wearing when I bust her at that snob kennel? A smirk curled Haruka's lips as she drove with incredible speed towards the suburbs of the big city. She was actually glad Seven Green was located in the suburbs.

Eventually, Haruka arrived to Seven Green's main parking lot . . . and departed to the lot across the street when she learned that only valet parkers used the closer lot. What a rip-off. When she got out of her car, she happened to see Michiru's there. The same smirk of earlier crossed her lips before she gave a straight face and gentle sigh. It was time.

Haruka walked through the parking lot, across the street, through the closer parking lot, and up the host within three minutes. As she was about to pass him by, she flashed him a false smile.

"Um , sir . . ."

"Hm?" She really didn't want to go into that.

"Do you have a reservation?"

"I don't need one. . . I'll be out in a minute."

"B-But . . ."

"I'll be out in a minute. If you get in my way, I will make sure that this dump never sees another day of profit." Slam. The door to Room A, the one she just happened to choose, was shut harshly. The host was left to his own thoughts as well as his guestbook.

"G - Ga . . ."

"—lly. Gally." said the really pretty woman before Michiru. "Please sit down. We probably don't have that long for dinner. I took the liberty of ordering a simple merlot for you."

Michiru was speechless. Why would Galaxia come back after turning back to the good side, to meet with her? She was sure that she had business in her own galaxy. This baffled her, but being who she was, she'd oblige the other party always. "Why are you in this part of the universe? I'm sure you're very busy in your sector . . ."

"Everyone takes time off. I just wanted to visit. How is she?"

"She's . . . she's well." Michiru smiled and then took a sip of mertlot. It must have been a really upscale, 'high brand,' because it was incredibly robust. Eventually, they would keep talking and even laugh a few times at a few instances. The whole time, Galaxia, or 'Gally,' kept a pleasant face. Michiru thought of this as a nice visit, and that the woman before her was incredibly sweet. They were into their meal and a very amusing conversation when they heard a slam along with a scream or two.

"Stay away from her!" screamed Haruka, looking directly towards Michiru and Gally, while holding the hug oaken door open. Her eyes were not daring now; they were blazing. Obviously, she was oblivious to the one hundred-and-something people staring at her, silent.

Gally smiled and raised her voice to where Haruka could hear. She stood and stared Haruka down while she spoke. "Well, well, a pleasant surprise, Haruka."

"Not as pleasant as the feeling that I'll get when I've kicked your ass, providing you don't stay away."

"But she wants me here, don't you, Michiru?"

"I . . . I . . ." Michiru couldn't speak.

"What — what the hell? Let me go!" said Haruka, when a security officer grabbed her. She wrenched herself from the man's grasp and even fell to the floor, scraping her hands. Being contained again and eventually dragged out, she screamed one last thing at the two women: "You will not win! I will take her back from you. Goddamnit, I will!"

Michiru's eyes had watered as she sat there, staring at Haruka. After she was taken away, her dark blue hues looked to Gally. "Oh, my God . . . I . . . I have to go after her."

"No . . . leave her be. The last thing you want is an argument, right, Michiru?" Gally's face showed concern now. "How about we just sit and talk a little ways from here? Catch up more?"

Michiru wasn't one to deny another of a simple request, and Gally was right . . . she didn't need another argument. She looked down, forcing back the tears she felt form, and then looked up with a straight face. ". . . all . . . all right."

"Good." Gally smiled and hailed a waiter in order to get the check. She paid for it in cash, and then they stood to leave.

Taiki was headed out to meet his brothers and a couple of other friends, when he looked upon Seven Green. Maybe he'd stop in on his friend Takeru, who worked there. At the last minute, he pulled into the parking lot across the street and made his way to the front door, only to find Haruka being thrown out.

"What . . . what in the name of . . ."

A scream broke out from the building.