AN: Thank you so much guys for the wonderful comments! I'm really enjoying just writing this story because it's kind of relaxed for me. I'm just going at a comfortable pace and hoping you guys won't have to wait too long for an update (as you all know, Life's busy). Well, without further ado, here's chapter two ) (I didn't mean to rhyme. Blergh.)
Disclaimer: I do not own Bishoujo Sailor Moon or any of its characters except for Kazuki who I made up randomly on the spot. The original manga rightfully belongs to Takeuchi Naoko.
by Enchanted Ice Star
This was my sanctuary. A place where I felt most at home. The cool water around me embraced my body as I kicked gently through the water. My hair fanned out in ripples as I pushed forwards, onwards, forgetting, releasing, simply living. I desired so deeply then to stay amongst the clear liquid surrounding me. I wished that I could breathe in water, live in water, be part of its eternal serenity. But I couldn't.
I rose to the surface reluctantly as my lungs screamed for air. I broke the calm surface and let myself float lazily on my back, the ceiling a daunting grey above me. The school's swimming pool was empty now except for myself, and I wondered what was keeping Ami. Perhaps she needed to study for something, but no matter, I would enjoy the pool alone.
"Beautiful."
I immediately kicked back and started treading water, looking around me for the sudden unwelcomed intrusion. When I could not find anyone, the same voice chuckled and said, "Up here."
I looked up towards the diving board and saw Tenou Haruka there, standing there carelessly in all his uniform glory. I frowned slightly, kicking backwards through the still water while wondering out loud, "Aren't you afraid of falling in?"
"Me?" He seemed amused as he shrugged. "I trust my own balance."
His confidence was slightly intimidating, but praiseworthy nevertheless. I dove underneath the surface and made my way swiftly towards the ladder, somewhat annoyed that someone had broken my daily swim. As I made my way out of the pool, Haruka had somehow managed to get down from the diving board and was now handing me a towel. I took it slowly. "You're fast," I could not help but comment.
"I have to be," he answered.
I wrapped the towel around my waist after drying off my hair and gave him an inquisitive look in the eye. Someone like Tenou Haruka would not be hanging about at the school's swimming pool, even I knew that. I decided then and there that his purpose here had something to do with myself, and I was suddenly slightly frustrated that I did not know what he wanted.
"What do you want?" I asked bluntly.
He seemed appalled but was quick to regain his senses. He chuckled again, that light, husky chuckle that didn't quite seem right for a male, but I dismissed it, more concerned about his answer than anything else. He stuffed his hands into his pant pockets and replied, "I just feel indebted to you because you saved my life."
I raised one delicate eyebrow as a droplet of water from my hair dropped onto my toes. I was somewhat dubious to the truth behind his answer, but he quickly continued on, "Really, I wouldn't bother nor intrude on anyone else's life if I did not feel like I owed them something. It's a weird psychological thing of mine."
"Oh?" I pondered his words carefully and smiled, though the smile did not reach my eyes. "So you want to do me a favour so you won't feel guilty? So technically, your actions are entirely based on self interest."
"Er," he seemed like a deer caught in headlights as he blinked back at me then. I almost found it cute, his surprised expression, but only almost. I was abruptly caught in the sudden realization that this dashing young man before me wasn't as, though I hated to use this word, perfect as I thought he was. But then again, I had knew from the start by his overly confident demeanor and love of female attention that he was probably somewhat conceited.
"You can't really say that," he finally managed, his gaze no longer dancing with pleasure but serious now. "You hardly know me."
"Yet I feel like I do," I answered in a rush, and nearly turned a bright red at my own words. It was the bare truth though. This young man that I hardly knew seemed to hit a chord somewhere within me. I felt like I knew him. Someway or the other. Perhaps it was because I really did save his life that I felt connected, but there was something there that wasn't tangible. "If you get what I mean," I added softly.
"Strange, but I kind of do," he confessed awkwardly. "But whatever you think, I just want to make it up to you. Simple as that."
Still, I was somewhat reluctant to believe that his intentions were as simple as that. Once again he seemed like he knew of the thoughts speeding across my mind, because he laughed then with a shake of his head. "Why do you worry so much? Life isn't that complicated, you know."
My eyes narrowed automatically. "You're a strange one to say that. What, with all those mysterious people trying to kill you. I would say my life is much simpler compared to yours."
He fell silent again, as if I had caught him once more. I felt a little bit guilty for making him fall into his own traps, so I offered a smile and placed a hand on my hip. "Fine, I believe you. But you don't have to do anything for me. I only did what was right, that's all."
I really wanted him to just leave it at that. He seemed to think over my words before he ran a hand through his hair almost as if he were nervous. Then, he tilted his head and gave me a sheepish look. "Okay, well, I'll just be honest here. I just want to take you out for dinner."
I was immediately worried. Sure, Tenou Haruka was a very wonderful being to look at, but to be around? I instantly saw my mother in my head, shaking her head and telling me not to make close association with uncanny beings, as she liked to call them. I did not like to admit that I was what people called 'daddy's little girl', because I strived for the little freedom and independence that I could have, but I knew my parents would not approve of me being around a young man like Tenou-kun.
He grunted and frowned. "What now?"
"You really could have just gotten straight to the point," I said slowly and decided to mask the growing uncertainty within myself. "After all, who could resist such an offer from such a dashing handsome fellow as yourself?"
He seemed somewhat bewildered by my straightforward flirting and I knew again that I had gained the dominant position within this strange silly verbal game we were playing against each other. His teal eyes held a sudden confused look in them. "So was that a yes?"
I bit my lip as if in deep thought, but really, I had my plan of attack already ready. "I'll have to think about it," I said steadily and gave him a killer fake but believable smile. "Besides, I don't know you that well. I don't go out with strangers." At least that wasn't a lie. I didn't like to go out with people I hardly knew. Besides, it would make my parents flip.
"What?" His eyes widened and I swore his mouth nearly formed a perfect 'O' shape. I simply continued smiling, pleased by my own flawless way of turning a guy down before I spun around on my heels to head off towards the change rooms.
"Is there something else you're not saying?"
His next words hit me rather shockingly. I stopped in my tracks, unraveling my towel to drape over one arm. I did not dare turn around to face him again, scared that my emotions would finally betray me. Why was he able to catch my deepest emotions? How did he know...that there was any possibility that I wasn't telling him the entire truth? I bit my lip, somewhat afraid.
"I don't see what you could mean," I forced my voice to be light.
I could not see his face, but I could guess his expression. Most likely he probably thought he was on to something. "Really now? Because I think little Michiru-chan is scared of the big, bad, me."
"Scared?" I nearly hissed and finally looked over my shoulder, brushing strands of wet aqua hair away from my eyes.
"Well, I guess I wouldn't be what you call your usual company," he stated casually.
"I'm glad you realize that," I decided to be honest. At least, a bit. "So, now that you know that I don't prefer company like yours, then we can both go our own ways. Good day."
"I'm sure it's not that you don't prefer it," he quickly cut in. "I think you're just not allowing yourself to live a little. You know, it's okay to have some fun."
I frowned deeply. "I'm living fine, and I do have fun."
"Then let me drive you home."
"No."
"See?" He smirked, and I wished he wouldn't look so enrapturing when he did so.
"It's not that I'm scared or anything of that sort," I muttered, frustrated that this near stranger could faze me in any way. "I'm simply walking home. I don't need a ride back. Thank you for the offer," I added, suppressing my urge to hiss it out.
He shrugged with an aloofness about him that seemed to make all his mesmerizing actions look effortless. "I can walk you home then."
"What?" I nearly gaped at him, but decided that was unladylike.
"Well?" He started towards me. "I'll wait by the pool doors for you after you finish changing." He walked on ahead. I stared after him then, wondering what on earth possessed him to have such an attitude, such confidence that I would allow him to walk me home.
"Did I even say you could?" I found myself asking in disbelief.
He stopped and turned to look at me, his eyes dancing brightly. "Come on Kaioh Michiru, live a little."
I could only walk numbly as the sun started setting, still quite unbelieving that Tenou Haruka was walking the same steps as I and only a few metres away. It wasn't just the simple fact that he was walking by me- it was the strange idea that I had allowed him to. One could call me a spoiled girl. I had been brought up from a ridiculously rich family, and with that, I always got what I wanted.
But Haruka here did not seem to follow along those guidelines.
I started listing off all the possible horrific events that could happen due to the situation I had gotten myself into. My parents would be awfully upset, that was, if they were home at all. Second of all, I could not get over my own obstacles of actually allowing myself around such company. It wasn't what my parents called 'safe' company. But yet at the same time, it was thrilling to my heart to know that I was around what my parents deemed 'dangerous' company. It was childish, the sudden flare of rebellion towards my parents growing within me, but it was what Haruka had said earlier.
I was allowing myself to just...live. If only a little.
I smiled inwardly. My parents would definitely flip if they saw who I was walking with. They had always engraved into my mind the people I was to surround myself with. Intelligent, talented, well-off, mannered...the list went on. But Haruka here was different. He was different than Kazuki, or Ami, or the silly men that my parents threw in front of me. Haruka was like the wind. Wild and free.
Was I envious?
I did not know.
"What are you thinking about?"
"The wind," I answered carefully.
"Oh?" He smiled slightly then. "You like the wind?"
"The wind and the sea," I finished, feeling suddenly light-hearted and almost giddy. "They're both really...pretty," I concluded awkwardly. I had wanted to say 'free', but having experienced Haruka's earlier psychic abilities to read my mind, I decided against it. He would probably see right through my coated words and unravel all my worst feelings. I didn't want that. Strange, that I would feel obligated to uphold my persona of perfection even though it was awfully bothersome.
He nodded beside me, his brilliant blonde hair blowing gently in the breeze. He was such a different person compared to me. Yet, I felt absolutely wonderful walking in his wake, blending into his shadow. It was frightening to me, to say the least, that I could accept such company. My grip tightened around my violin case as my thoughts pounded.
"Want me to say something really cliché to counter that?"
I looked at him in question. He smiled, almost as if he were embarrassed before he winked, "You're really pretty."
I blushed and looked away. He really had the nerve! Flirting so blatantly that I nearly lost all composure. I coughed nervously, placing a thoughtful finger underneath my chin. "Are you always so straight-forward in expressing your...point of view?"
"Sure," he shrugged. "Why not?"
I fell silent.
"I'm just joking," he smirked. "Only to cute girls."
I knew, being a girl, that I should have been somewhat defendant and annoyed that Tenou Haruka was categorizing girls, but I was surprisingly amused instead. We paused by the sidewalk, overlooking the harbour before us when I was suddenly struck with inspiration. The wind and the sea. So different, yet if you closed your eyes and listened, their sound was wonderfully harmonious.
Without really thinking, I had taken out my violin from its cushioned resting place and positioned it in the nook of my neck. I closed my eyes, yet I felt quite in tune to my surroundings. I could nearly feel the leaves from the nearby trees shuffling with the wind, the water below us trickling by, and most of all, I felt Haruka's presence just a breath away. He didn't seem the least bit shocked by my sudden desire to play, he simply stood quite still by my side, waiting intently.
I glided my bow gracefully on the strings- listening, imagining, escaping. Wind; wild, free, obscure. Water; clear, lucid, soothing. A dance, a ballad. Everything else was an ephemera. Nothing else mattered but what I wanted to recreate in music. My world.
I finally felt satisfied. Then, I stopped, pulling the last string and listening to the soft echo of it disappear off into the distance. I opened my eyes slowly, as if coming out of a deep sleep. Haruka shuffled beside me, leaning over to rest his elbows on the railing. "I don't know what to say," he stated. "Beautiful? No, that's just another cheap word I use to get girls," he laughed airily and turned to look at me with soft teal eyes.
I suddenly felt just as he said I was- beautiful . Underneath his gaze, it made you feel just like that. I never knew someone could hold such tenderness in their eyes, but here I was, subject to that soft warmth. "What was that piece?"
I tilted my head thoughtfully. "I'm not sure," I said truthfully. "It was...a wind song."
He shook his head, "But the wind didn't sound alone."
I blinked, "Hm?"
"It was complete. It had a companion," he went on. "Wind...water song? Wind-water song! How about that?"
I giggled despite myself, unable to hold it in. "That's an awfully gruesome name for a song," I held my violin gently, almost as if cradling a child. "I think it'll just be a nameless song for now."
"Fine," he pouted slightly. "I kind of think my name for it suits quite well."
"Oh?" I smiled and was about to retort when the breeze picked up, the leaves swirled around us, and the water below wailed. I instantly felt alert as I looked around, but immediately felt Haruka force himself in front of me.
"Oh, look who we've just happened to stumble upon," a gruff, scratchy voice taunted mockingly.
"Tenou Haruka," another voice sneered.
My heartbeat quickened as I felt the railing behind me press roughly against my back. I winced slightly, taking in a waft of musky sweet smelling cologne from Haruka. I quickly shook my head, what was I thinking? It was no time to think about smelling things. There were three men, all wearing helmets and goggles with gloved hands. Definitely racing gear. But what were they doing here? And why were they creeping up on us?
"...Tenou-kun?" I asked uncertainly.
He looked briefly over his shoulder and sent me a look that seemed to tell me to be quiet. I obliged, but the frantic fear gripping my insides did not go away. My hands instinctively tightened around bow and violin, my knuckles turning a ghastly white as Haruka stood up tall and bold.
"What do you three want?" He asked, his voice unwavering.
The third, dressed in red, smirked and jabbed a finger towards us. "You out of next week's competition."
"In your dreams," Haruka snapped back.
The other frowned, a horribly ugly expression dominating his features. "You dare shout back? You should know how beaten up you were yesterday."
"So it was you guys?" Haruka frowned.
"Ch, just people from our gang." The last member of the group stepped forward and grabbed Haruka by the shoulders, nearly pulling him into the air. I gasped audibly and the three immediately snapped their gazes towards me.
"Oh? Who's the pretty one hiding behind this bastard?" The man dressed in navy blue nearly flung Tenou-kun into a nearby lamppost but Haruka was fast on his feet and managed to gain his balance. I glanced at him quickly but was immediately pulled forward by the navy blue man. I bit my lip and stepped on his foot out of sheer instinct. He grunted.
"Feisty one, aren't we?"
"Leave her out of this!" Haruka yelled dangerously.
I saw the man dressed in red advancing towards Haruka from his back and immediately cried out, "Behind you!"
Thankfully he spun around in time and sent a forceful punch right in the man's abdomen. I winced merely from watching as the red man stumbled back and onto the concrete. I watched in amazement as Haruka quickly dealt with the third man who was sent over the railing and plummeted into the water. The navy blue man glared fiercely from behind his goggles and grabbed at my arm again.
"I said don't touch her!" Haruka yelled again, his voice strangely powerful and awe worthy.
"Fine," the navy blue man shrugged almost daintily and pushed me into Haruka, sending the both of us clumsily to the sidewalk. I flinched and quickly rolled over and onto my knees as Haruka got up immediately. He leant me a hand and pulled me up, shooting me a worried glance. "You okay?"
"Yes," I managed breathlessly yet nearly screamed when I saw the man dressed in navy come rushing towards Haruka and sent him to the ground again. The two of them were now struggling on the ground, sending kicks and punches at each other in a tangle of limbs.
I did not know what to do. I could not simply watch as blood splattered across the sidewalk. I suddenly longed desperately for the peace I felt in the swimming pool. Or to simply drown in my own song of the wind and the sea. But I could not do that now, not when Haruka was struggling a few metres away.
"Go Michiru! Now!" He managed to scream at me.
I found myself shaking my head, and just as they rolled over again and Haruka was on the bottom and the horrid navy sweater man was on top, I did the only thing dainty, little Michiru could do.
I swung with all my might and shut my eyes as I brought my beloved violin crashing down upon the horrible man's head. I heard it cracking, I heard it breaking, I heard the man falling, I heard him bleeding, I heard Haruka gasp. I let go of the bow in my other hand, feeling it hit the cold concrete and rolling away. I suddenly felt like a piece of me was gone, and I knew it was silly to feel this way.
It was only a violin.
Only a violin.
And so much more to me.
"Michiru!" Haruka's voice sounded distant, kind of muffled and faraway. I felt him grab me by the shoulders and I reluctantly opened my eyes to meet his shocked teal orbs. I smiled, a feeble smile, and tilted my head gently. "I did what I had to do."
"Your violin," he murmured, looking down at the broken mess surrounding the fallen man. The man that I had hit. The man that I had brought down. I suddenly gasped, afraid, shocked beyond imagination that I had physically hurt someone. I stepped back mechanically, pulling away from Haruka's grasp. He must've thought I was shocked at the sight of my violin, but it wasn't only that.
I had hurt someone.
"Michiru..." he began hesitantly.
My eyes were wide. I did not know why. I was frightened, and yet I was exhilarated all at the same time. Haruka seemed somewhat lost in what to do as he bent down and picked up the neck of my violin. "Maybe I can fix it."
"What about him?" I could not help but ask, my voice slightly shrill as I stared at the fallen man, his head oozing blood.
Haruka only then seemed to notice the state the man was in and frowned. "It's not like they didn't leave me to bleed to death."
His voice was so cold then, so indifferent towards the wounded man. It was so...alien. A voice I did not recognize as the Tenou Haruka I had briefly gotten to known. The Haruka I knew had sweet flowery words ready to spill for any girl, but here he was, almost heartless as he glared at the navy shirted man. My hands were shaking.
"Look Michiru, I think...I think you were right," he finally begun slowly, his eyes somewhat downcast. "I shouldn't walk with you. I shouldn't be beside you."
I did not know what to say. Part of me screamed out that I needed him to walk with me, needed him to be my breath of life. I had been so...lifeless before he had stepped in. Shown me that I could step out of whatever was bounding me back. But part of me agreed whole-heartedly. I had to get away from Tenou Haruka before he completely stormed through my life like a sudden whirlwind.
Not really aware of what I was doing once again, I spun on my heels and started running the rest of the way home.
The butler answered my frantic doorbell rings. He seemed somewhat surprised that I was not calmly waiting at the door and was even more surprised when I ran past him and up the spiraling carpeted stairs to my room. I did not even ask if my parents were home. They rarely were. When I swung open the door to my room, I had a sudden desire to grab for my violin.
But then, I suddenly remembered that I had used it as a weapon.
I nearly wanted to laugh at the irony of it. What was happening to me? I was suppose to be composed, ladylike, well-mannered. Not some wild woman swinging her violin around onto people's heads. But we were in danger, I thought ruefully. I had to.
I sat on my neatly made bed, dumbstruck until someone opened my door. Without knocking.
I immediately glared towards whoever the intruder was, but was shocked to find my mother there, her gaze unreadable as she stepped in and shut the door quietly behind her. Mother. She was also the optimum of perfection. She had the same aqua coloured hair as me, currently wrapped up in a flawless bun. She was dressed in an all white business suit, probably from some ridiculously expensive brand like Chanel. Then again, didn't I myself own ridiculously expensive designer clothing?
I wasn't proud of it though.
"Michiru," my mother greeted, her voice sounding hard.
I looked up and tried reading her expression. I was always good at interpreting, but strangely, I could never read my mother of all people. She knew how to hide her expressions well, and her words were always laced with some sort of hidden goal behind them. Now, she had seated herself beside me on my queen-sized bed and ran a hand through my smooth, silken locks.
"Where were you after school? I sent the driver to pick you up to inform you that your papa and mama are back."
"I...I was at the swimming pool," I answered softly.
She smiled slightly and placed her hands over mine. Her hands were smooth, like satin, her fingers manicured and shining. Like mine. I looked at her. "How did you get home, honey?" Her voice was melodious too, and her skin unmarred by any wrinkles. She was forty-five too.
"I walked," I answered curtly, wondering where this was getting to.
My mother sighed slightly, her painted lips growing thin as she shook her head. "You do not need to lie to me Michiru. You are my daughter."
"Right," I did not know what else to say. "I walked."
"With?" She prodded.
I bit my lip. "Does it matter?"
She seemed somewhat startled and stood up from her position beside me. She seemed to be in deep thought before she turned to look at me almost as if she were frightened. "Michiru, you know you shouldn't be around people like that."
"People like what?" My voice rose slightly as I stood along with my mother, taller than her by half a head.
"People like Tenou Haruka!" My mother nearly screamed as she sucked in a shaky breath.
My eyes widened in utter anger. "Have you been following me?"
"Of course not! I don't have time to do that," my mother mumbled. "Your driver informed me. He saw you exiting Mugen with him and decided to drive back and inform me."
"He...he what?" I suddenly felt like a child. A child being scolded for eating candy before dinner, or something just as irrelevant.
"We didn't know who he was," my mother continued tersely. "But then the police station called."
Once again I felt like fainting. Was I going to be arrested? For hurting someone? But that man had advanced on us! It wasn't our fault. It was self-defense. All these thoughts were rampaging around until my mother's voice cut in again.
"They said that they needed you as a witness to something that happened last night. Something concerning this Tenou Haruka. Your driver then realized that the man you supposedly saved last night was the same man you were walking home with today," my mother said all this very fast, as if she were delivering some sort of a speech to her employees. "You'll be going to the station at seven tonight."
"Oh," I was somewhat relieved. In fact, that was an understatement. I was very relieved.
"Michiru," my mother looked at me, hard, her gaze holding something that I feared. Disappointment. "Please do not get yourself involved with people like Tenou. They aren't up to any good. I mean, to be involved with gang fights of all things! You saved this Tenou-kun once, but people like him don't have an end with this type of activity. He'll only get killed another time."
"Mother!" I was shocked at her heartless words. "You don't know him!"
"See!" She nearly pointed a finger at me. "You are already standing up for him! And you barely know him! Michiru! Look at yourself," she spun me around to face the full length mirror across from us. I took a forced breath. "You are my daughter. My one and only daughter. My beautiful, beloved daughter. I don't want you ruining your future by mingling with the likes of him."
Her words made such perfect sense that I nearly nodded right away. But...but I remembered his soft teal eyes, staring at me, watching me, observing me. I remembered his wonderful presence, his desire for me to live. I was conflicted.
Mother stood for everything I knew. Everything I held close and important to me. My future. My bright, golden future that I would definitely have because I was the daughter of two extremely successful businessmen. Because it was my destiny to become something great. But Haruka. Haruka stood for my dreams, my fantasies. Perhaps not my golden future, but what I yearned for. The freedom, the real taste of life.
"Michiru?" My mother whispered tentatively. "After you go to the station tonight, please, just let it be that. I know that deep down, you know it isn't right. Your brief interlude on Tenou Haruka's life was by accident. You merely have to sort things out, and then leave. You are my daughter. I only want the best for you."
She was very right. I did not want to admit it, but everything had been some sort of an accident. If I hadn't stumbled upon Haruka when he was getting beaten, I would not be conflicted as I was now. I would be set on the straight path ahead of me. The straight path to become a world known violinist. An infamous painter too. An infamous being all around.
I would not have realized that...maybe I could step out of this. He had shown me that I could be human. Perhaps he did not realize the depth of his impact on me, but his mere presence screamed 'Life!' and I wanted it. I wanted the life he sparked, the freedom he possessed.
But it was all an accident. My life was perfect. It did not need to be changed. Why did I want to change anything? I was suddenly doubtful. Something was wrong with me.
My mother only wanted the best for me. She was my real light of hope. She would show me the way to live, to become successful, to become the perfect person I was set out to be.
She was combing out my hair again, a gentle hand on my shoulder as she whispered.
"You only deserve the best."
AN: Michi's quite confused isn't she? Heh. Hope it wasn't too boring for you guys ;) Things will pick up. Sort of. Anyhoo, once again reviews are appreciated!