02/03/05 - I want to say thanks to all of you (apl85, Hunter007, Michiru Kaiou Tenou - I know who you are;), Leena9, Riva van Dyk... everybody!) for your many reviews, I really appreciate all of them.
Here we go with a new chapter... enjoy it and review even more!
Chapter 7: Training at Ojiwa - Part II
It was like dejà-vu: the dawn, the long walk, the lunch boxes, the mountain path, the mist, Haruka's yawn... no, this one was different... much wider and louder.
Michiru looked at her with amusement: "Did you get any sleep last night?"
Haruka kept on watching where she was putting her feet: "I did, but then..."
"Then..?"
"I had a nightmare..."
Again the silence fell upon them, as if they were discussing some sort of forbidden subject... for the two of them, 'nightmare' meant only a thing: visions of death and destruction that weren't mere illusions, but the result of their possible failure... visions that regularly reminded them of their duty.
After a while, Haruka spoke again, trying to sound cheerful: "So... what's today's program?"
"In the morning, we'll do the same training that we did yesterday and after lunch... we'll try something new..." the aqua-haired beauty sounded vague and said nothing more...
"Come on, tell me.."
Michiru thought about it for a minute, then answered "...no." and sped up, leaving Haruka behind.
"Ehi... wait!" yelled the blonde, as she quickened her steps to reach her partner.
The morning training went well... Haruka was fast learning how to control her powers and was very impatient to know more...
At lunch time she rapidly devoured her meal and then waited restlessly for Michiru to finish as well.
The young violinist noticed her partner's eagerness (she was like a child waiting to go to the fairground), but took her time and even more...
When Michiru finally closed her now empty lunch box, Haruka almost jumped on her feet: "So.. what are we going to do now?"
"We have plenty of time and right now we should rest, since we've just eaten..."
"That's not a problem for me!"
"Well, it is for me." replied Michiru -looking- at Haruka.
The tall girl wanted to say something, but kept silent (a wise choice...) and sat again, while Michiru took a book from her bag and started reading.
Almost an hour had passed when Michiru finally looked up from her book.
Her now quiet friend was sitting under a tree, watching some ants diligently marching near her in single file.
Michiru had to smile at that... she couldn't believe that her short-tempered partner could have been so calm... and for so long.
The aqua-haired beauty closed her book with a blow, getting Haruka's full attention: "Ready?"
"Of course I am!" declared the young car racer, leaping on her feet for the second time.
Again they transformed...
"Ok, now..." Neptune looked at her partner with piercing eyes "I want you to show me what you've learned... attack me."
"What?" Uranus was startled if not to say shocked...
"Don't worry and go ahead... do your best, because I will..."
Before Uranus could even think of something to say, Neptune raised her hands: "Deep Submerge!"
A blue energy ball flew right in her direction... there was no way she could avoid it. In fact, she was thrown to the ground... the blast was hard, but not as terrible as she had feared... in a second she was able to get back on her feet with only a little dizziness.
Neptune, however, wasn't going to take it easy... and another energy ball flew towards the unmoving Uranus.
Lucky for the senshi of the wind that her body was much faster than her mind... before she even knew it, she had jumped in the air to avoid the blow.
Her sparring partner didn't waste any time and was ready to hit her from behind with a punch that successfully connected with the target.
Uranus fell back down to the ground, a hand on her aching side as she thought of something to do. Michiru was firm in her position... if Uranus didn't defend herself, she would be defeated.. to say the least...
She then started to run, soon followed by Neptune, who was ready to attack her again... but this time, Uranus was waiting for her...
The senshi of the oceans tried to hit her with a flying kick and almost did... her partner jumped at the last moment: "World Shaking!"
A gold energy ball was thrown towards the surprised Neptune... the girl, however, managed to dodge the blow.
She looked up searching for Uranus... she was even more shocked when she realized that the girl was missing...
"Behind you..." a soft whisper came from her back.
Neptune spun around and the two of them started to fight...
Haruka knew martial arts, so it wasn't very difficult for her to meet face to face Michiru, who also did some martial arts but mostly had a long experience with senshi business.
They went on like that for the whole afternoon. The attacks they used against each other were usually avoided and even when they hit the target, the damage was slight... neither of them wanted to harm the other.
By evening they were much more tired than the day before, nevertheless they talked and joked with each other...
"You know.. that last punch..." Haruka began with a grin.
"You mean the one that you weren't able to dodge..?"
"I mean that -lucky- blow to the stomach..."
"A bit touchy, aren't we?"
Haruka ignored her partner's provocation and continued: "However, it was a good one.. maybe your best blow..."
Michiru's amused smile faded as she realized what the taller girl refused to openly say: "Did I hurt you?"
"Are you kidding? It was nothing..."
They kept on walking in silence, Michiru carefully watching her partner... if she remebered right it was under her ribs, on the left... with a single finger, she touched Haruka in that specific spot, causing the taller girl to jolt in surprise and pain... "And you call that nothing..?"
"It's just a bruise. I'll be fine."
"I know, but..."
"Ehi, I'm not dead... so, don't worry... or should I think that you desperatly want to play nurse to me?"
There again that mischievous grin. In an istant, all of Michiru's worries disappeared.. "Tsk, you can forget it." she replied with a bit of annoyance.
"Oh, no!" moaned Haruka pretending to be desperate.. "Where could I ever find another nurse as beautiful and caring as you are? Please, don't desert me!"
Michiru hastened her steps, paying no attention to the irritating blonde's speech (even though she blushed deeply at the flattering remark).
That night after a good meal, the two girls retired early to their rooms and this time, they quickly fell asleep and rested deeply all night long...
They were both completely worn out, but happy... slowly they were getting more and more used to each other's presence and truly enjoying it...
