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Echoes of the Past
Chapter 3
Haruka woke and looked at the clock. "Damn" she hissed, realizing that she had little more than half an hour to get to school. She jumped out of bed and ran herself quickly through the shower before throwing on her uniform and racing into the kitchen. As expected, Suniko was there, toast in hand. "I figured you'd be a little tired, so I let you rest. Here, you can eat this in the car."
"Where's Michiru?" Haruka asked, taking the toast and moving to grab her books.
"Oh, she left earlier. She said she had to practice."
"But how is she getting to school? It's over two miles and the buses don't run this early."
"Oh," Suniko said as if this hadn't occurred to her, "I don't know"
Haruka sighed. If Michiru was going to just ignore her, then she deserved to walk to school.
Twenty minutes later Haruka ran into their first period class. Michiru was already there, sitting primly in her usual spot. She completely ignored Haruka's presence as the blonde took her seat next to her. Fine, Haruka thought, if that's the way she's going to be then so be it. Just as the teacher was about to begin class, Suniko came in panting. She sat down behind the two and gave Haruka a slight kick for leaving her behind. Haruka turned her head and flashed the girl a smile before turning back to the lesson.
Suniko walked outside and scanned the lawn for Haruka. They were supposed to meet here for lunch, but Haruka was nowhere to be seen. She must not be out of class yet, Suniko thought. While she was waiting, a familiar group of girls came up beside her. "Well, well, well, if it isn't little Suniko Toi. I never thought you'd have the nerve to show your face around here again, especially after what you did to Haruka." Suniko took a deep breath and turned to the girl. "That's not your concern Mitsu."
"Oh but I think it is. And what's this I hear about you living with him?"
Suniko tried to control her anger, but remained silent.
"Haruka may not see what you're up to Toi, but I certainly do." She moved closer, leaning in until her face was inches from Suniko's. "And I'm not about to let you get away with it." Before the two girls could hit each other (as each was about to), Haruka came up and put a protective arm around Suniko, effectively marking her territory. Mitsu backed up. "What are you girls talking about?" Haruka asked innocently, with a threatening gaze thrown at Mitsu. She knew full well what was going on. "Nothing" Mitsu said through gritted teeth. She then turned and addressed her group "Come on." They all followed her back inside, some stealing threatening glares at Suniko as they left. Suniko turned around to face the taller girl whose arm still encircled her. "Thanks" she said, leaning up to kiss Haruka. Haruka smiled. "No problem."
Across the lawn, Michiru and her friend Nara had finished their lunches and were strolling idly through the gardens at the edge of the school. Nara had been rambling on for the past ten minutes about her physics class. She had a crush on the teacher and today he had asked her to help him with a demonstration, which Nara of course took to mean that he liked her back. Suddenly Nara noticed that her usually bubbly, talkative friend hadn't said a word. She stopped walking and looked over at Michiru, but she saw only the aqua-marine hair that was falling over her face. She was staring at the ground as she walked. "Michiru," Nara said, "are you all right?" Michiru looked up at Nara and tried to smile, but she saw Haruka and Suniko eating lunch in the distance. Haruka leaned over and kissed the girl and Michiru's gaze returned to the ground in front of her. Nara noticed that she had seen something and turned. "Ah, it's Haruka." Michiru looked at her friend, surprised. She had never told Nara or anyone for that matter about her feelings for Haruka. But her blush gave her away. "Michiru, you can't think I didn't know? It's so obvious! Well, that and every girl in school has a crush on him." Nara smiled. Michiru avoided her gaze. Nara grabbed her friend's shoulders in an attempt to get Michiru to face her. "Michi, why don't you just tell Haruka how you feel?"
Michiru smiled ironically at her friend. "Are you kidding? Haruka Tenoh? Sh...he's the biggest flirt in school! He probably doesn't even know the meaning of the term "serious relationship"" Nara looked concerned for her friend, but she knew Michiru was right. She turned to look again at the new couple eating their lunch. "Wait," she said. Michiru looked at her inquisitively. "What?"
"Haruka and Suniko dated for a year. Doesn't that count as a serious relationship?"
Michiru considered this. If Suniko had truly hurt Haruka by leaving her, then they had to be in a serious relationship right? But then the image of them kissing on the couch crept into her mind and she went numb. "Yes, and that seems to be the only serious relationship Haruka wants." With that, she turned and walked quickly away, leaving Nara running to catch up.
Haruka and Suniko arrived at the track ten minutes later than usual. They had waited for Michiru, but she hadn't come, so Haruka had decided to leave without her. The whole way there Suniko questioned her about Michiru's lack of appearance, but Haruka refused to answer any of her questions. By the time they got to the track Suniko was furious. "What happened Haruka?" She yelled. She really couldn't see why the two were mad at each other and she had some terrible feeling that it had to do with her, but she couldn't see how. "I told you, it's nothing Suni." Haruka stopped the car and got out. Suniko waited in the car for a minute, fuming, before climbing out herself.
"You're late." Judiko greeted Haruka nonchalantly. But when no one else got out of the car, he was puzzled. "Where's Michiru?"
"She's not coming." Haruka said with a warning tone. Judiko knew not to ask any more questions, but at that moment Suniko climbed out of the car and Judiko almost fell over. "Suni?" He breathed, furious. Suniko smiled uncomfortably. She really hadn't expected to see him. "Hi Jude."
"What the hell are you doing here?" He hissed.
"She's with me." Haruka replied with the same warning tone. This time Judiko couldn't stop himself. "With you? Are you kidding?" He half-laughed, half-yelled at her. Suniko quietly excused herself to go start her homework in the stands. Haruka began walking towards the garage with Judiko close at her heels. "No Judi, I'm not kidding."
"Are you crazy? Haruka she betrayed you! She betrayed all of us! Why the hell would you let her back in your life when she did such a thing, she's..." Haruka stopped and turned to the man, interrupting him with her outburst. "SHE WAS RAPED!" Judiko stopped. His expression changed. "What?"
"She was raped Judi. Tristan raped her. She showed up at my house in tears. She flew here because she had nowhere else to go. What was I supposed to do, turn her away?"
Judiko couldn't believe what he was hearing. Haruka turned and kept walking towards the garage. Judiko followed. "Look Haruka, I feel sorry for her, but still. She was terrible to you."
"Judi please, just give her another chance. She's not the girl we knew, she's different now." Judiko frowned. He wasn't sure whether he should trust Suniko again. "Judiko. Please." Haruka said. He sighed. "Fine. But if she does anything to you, I swear I'll kill her." Haruka grinned. "Good." She climbed into her car and raced out onto the track.