-Kakashi-
The sun had set early but it was not time to go yet. He made his way around the big mansion to look for his niece and bumped into one of the many servants that roamed the hallways.
"Oh, good to see you Grace." He addressed one of the maids. "Have you seen…."
"She is on the roof and I am supposed to tell you that you 'should bring your own'. She told me that you would know what she meant." Grace smiled kindly in return.
"Thank you, Grace. You are a life saver." Kakashi grinned before he made his way to the roof.
"Please put on a jacket, sir. It is very cold outside." Grace called after him and he just nodded.
He rushed upstairs and climbed up the last ladder to the roof where Haruka was lying on a blanket, staring up the starry sky. The smell of mint was wafting through the air and as Haruka was taking another drag from her e-pipe.
"So, you are really going to switch up?" He chuckled.
"It is not so bad, though I miss the weight and balance of my real pipe in my hand, so this still needs a lot of getting used to." Haruka replied after she exhaled another minty smelling cloud.
"You could also just quit." Kakashi suggested as he pulled out a pack of cigarettes and was about to light one.
"After you, old man." Haruka chuckled before she passed him her device.
Kakashi chuckled. "Thought I was supposed to bring my own." He smirked.
"I know that Setsuna has gifted you something similar to this last year for Christmas that you carry with you but don't use and you know that none of the people downstairs will appreciate the smell, especially since Belinda is trying to get Sam to quit all together, with us being the 'good' examples." Haruka sighed. "Careful, the dosage might be a bit high." Haruka cautioned him.
Kakashi put his cigarettes away and took a drag from Haruka's e-pipe. The flavour was crisp and the nicotine hit was quick.
Haruka had turned back to watch the sky.
"What's eating you up?" Kakashi asked her as he continued to take another drag.
"I wonder if I am making the right decisions…" Haruka spoke more to herself than to him as she was looking into the sky as if the answer to her questions lay there.
She looked very much like her father in this moment, with the short hair and the thick rimmed glasses, but she spoke like her mother. The consistent second guessing of her decisions that made her rethink and overthink every plan until it was just right to its minute detail.
Outside, Haruka could be as brash and as fast with her thoughts as she could be on her feet, but deep inside she sometimes revealed in her most vulnerable moments that she had one of the most Tomoko like traits of dissecting every situation, thought and action, and to try to assign or find meaning or logic in it.
Haruto on the other hand was the exact opposite to Haruka. Outside he seemed gentler, always sporting that gentle smile, that Kakashi remembered of his sister, easy on his lips, always seeming more thoughtful, but inside he could make the most ruthless decisions without a moment's hesitation. His father's ruthlessness was something that had helped them with many decisions that needed to be made during the years of training.
The exterior of both was deceiving, but the outcome was always the same: a job got done to its perfection. He was confident in that, but he also knew that Haruka didn't need to hear that. While she was physically present, her mind was rushing at the speed of light through the Milky Way, weighing her options and going through all possible scenarios.
Kakashi took another drag as he looked up at the sky with her.
"Not so bad, though I miss the taste of tobacco." Kakashi replied after exhaling.
"Not enough of a carcinogen flavour punch for you?" Kakyuu chimed in as she joined them.
"There was really no need to come. I told you that I would fetch her for you." Kakashi chuckled.
"I am just hiding from Sam as you two are." Kakyuu sighed. "As much as I love her, in her home, she seems a lot more stressed than in Belinda's."
"Can you blame her? Belinda is under control of everything that is going on in London and surroundings but here Sam is in charge of it all when she is present, at least in name." Kakashi defended his old friend.
"Grace is doing a great job in Sam's absence but she just doesn't want Sam to feel as if she is not needed or that she has taken over the family business, so having Sam take some responsibility and making the major decisions is good for her ego. Not her stress levels maybe, but her ego is definitely thriving. Also, I have a feeling that Belinda just wants to remind her wife of how much work she is actually doing while Sam is having her fun in the laboratory." Haruka chuckled.
Kakyuu reached for Haruka's e-pipe and took a long drag.
"Geesh, this is strong." Kakyuu complained as she exhaled.
"For the quick fix you don't want to be taking forever to reach the necessary dosage." Haruka snickered and Kakashi laughed heartily at the annoyed raised eyebrow that Kakyuu was sporting before she took another drag.
"Just so you know, as you doctor, I still advocate for you quitting completely." Kakyuu spoke as she exhaled.
"Uh huh, and as a friend?" Haruka smirked.
"I request you get another flavour so I can get my fix every now and then without feeling like I inhaled a glacier." Kakyuu grinned unapologetic.
"Haruka, are you up there?" Joy's voice from the window that Kakashi had climbed thought to reach his niece.
"I take it everything is ready for us?" Haruka asked as she sat up.
"Yes. Everything is as you asked of me." Joy replied.
"Well, let's get you down there and we do the final equipment check." Kakyuu said as she returned the e-pipe to Haruka.
Haruka got up and folded the blanket that she was lying on while Kakyuu climbed down ahead of them.
Once down, they were greeted by Joy and the guys, especially Seiya was grinning wide since he would be coming along tonight and who was beaming in his new tailored suite.
"So?" Seiya asked with eagerness in his voice and evidently pleased with the result.
Kakashi knew that Haruka knew what he was getting at, but the blonde just smirked.
"So, you still didn't get another haircut with that?" The smirk of the blonde just grew wider.
"Hey, I like my hair just the way it is. Anyone else got a problem with that?" Seiya asked offended and everyone else kept quiet until Joy spoke up.
"I think you look handsome just the way you are." Joy grinned.
"Thank you Joy, at least one person here likes it." Seiya proclaimed with pride until he remembered that Joy was blind.
"Alright Adonis. Let's go. We have a busy night ahead of us." Haruka just laughed as she patted on his shoulder and for a split second an indefinable look of sorrow flashed across their eyes before both had squeezed their eyes shut and just laughed even harder.
Kakashi looked around to the others who were busy walking to the control centre and it seemed that it was only him who had noticed that quick exchange.
-Seiya-
They were in the infamous negotiating meeting prior to the auction where prices and actions were fixed before hand. Everyone was sitting at the big round table, discussing various global issues that were concerning the continental powers that were present and the prices that it would take to 'adjust' any given matter.
Haruka sat alert, listening to everyone's worries and concerns, to Thomas's right while she had Joy to her own right and Seiya right behind her.
Occasionally she made a note or two in the small notebook that was in front of her and some she slid over to Thomas but generally she sat there impassively listening to the concerns that were raised. Thomas made remarks and decisions when there was dispute between two parties and his world was always final in the matter.
As Seiya stood behind Haruka, he had to admit that he was not necessarily dying from his feet, which were slowly starting to hurt from the long standing in his brand-new shoes, but from the boredom he had to endure alongside of all the attendees. Unlike them, he had no vested interest in any of their matters. For that, he was just too insignificant. On the other hand he wondered how Haruka could stand all of this talk about human trafficking, lives lost and about to be lost as well as other unfortunate events that had happened and were about to happen. He knew that Haruka was deeply against all unnecessary loss of human lives, especially the innocent ones. She always argued for that with a passion during any planning session when she was in charge of it, but here, she was almost docile, just with her arctic cold look trained on whomever was talking.
When it was Goldstein's turn to talk after Stone had sat down, to present the conglomerate's plan on how to deal with the possible changes that might be happening across the Atlantic, Haruka finally leaned back, closed her eyes with her hands folded on her abdomen, and moved her shoulders so that those made a cracking sound here and there.
"I am sorry, am I boring you, Tenoh?" Goldstein asked indignant.
"No, go on." Haruka just replied curt as she continued to move her neck that made more loud cracking noises that made some of the attendees flinch slightly.
"…as I have been saying,…" Goldstein continued, but stopped again as Haruka suppressed a yawn that made her jaw pop.
"Seriously Tenoh, don't you have any manners?" Andrew voiced his displeasure irately. "Not only do you not sit here with us but had the audacity to sit next Mr. Smith himself, to his right nonetheless that is reserved for the most important members here and not just any foreign visitor. As well as bringing your lackeys, while none of us has even dared to bring our own security detail into this meeting…."
"I think you do not understand who you are talking to." Bernard interrupted him.
"Indeed." Thomas said gravely as he faced Goldstein with a condescending look that even Queen Victoria could possibly learn from.
"Let the man air his grievance, Bernard, Thomas, he has not said anything untruthful about me, yet." Haruka said calmly without moving an inch or opening her eyes.
"Well do enlighten me, Tenoh, since I seem to be the only one here who doesn't know what is going on." Andrew had gone a little more insecure in his accusative tone.
"Well, for one, these people who are with me, are not just some lackeys. This is Joy, my representative of the head of the overwatch of the conglomerate, the other is Seiya, my figurative left hand and whom I trust with my life. He is here to hold my cane and while that might look to you as a not particularly important task, it is also his and Joy's job here to keep all of you safe from me, because I have a short temper and a low tolerance for bovine excrement. I have given them permission to hold me back if they deem that necessary as I trust their judgement completely. From the moment that I have closed my eyes I have pictured in my inner eye how satisfying it would feel like to get up and to dislocate both of your shoulders, Andrew. How that popping sensation would reverberate in my hands before I would use your head to find out which of these windows that I am facing is the emergency escape and not the bullet proof one. How smashing your skull against each of these panels would make that nice cracking sound until one of them would finally break and I could push your throat down onto the broken glass to cut your jugular and watch you slowly bleed out. As you have seen Seiya fight already, you know his force and he still needs back up to hold me back, not that it matters if I have really lost all patience with someone, but I do have to give you a fighting chance after all, just to be fair. Also, Joy has my word that if she would speak up, that she would have my ear for her concerns, so you all can count yourself lucky that I have not called you out on the blatant disrespect that you have dared to display to Thomas by stating half-truths. Be glad that Thomas is the bigger man here. I would not accept such blatant disrespect." Haruka said in an icy calm tone, eyes still closed.
"How dare you… You wouldn't dare…" Goldstein stammered.
"You are welcome to try me. I need to stretch my legs anyway." Haruka said icily while some in the round started to murmur.
"Just get back onto the topic." Bernard instructed Andrew.
"It is obviously that Tenoh is the one full of disrespect for all of us right now! How could you let it be that a blind woman could be the head of our overwatch?" Andrew addressed Bernard, but before the other man could answer, Haruka spoke up again.
"Justice is blind, too. All she needs to do is make wise and fair judgement calls for me when I am not present because I am occupied with global issues as whole and even if I am present, she is my valued counsel. If anyone were so foolish to wanting to coerce her in any manner that would give them an unfair advantage, they would have to go through your mothers first, don't they, Ms. King?" Haruka addressed Joy who nodded gracefully without adding any more explanation to Haruka's words. Haruka slowly sat up straight, opened her eyes and grinned wide as she watched the colour of the majority on the panel drain of colour.
"I think some of us might have gotten it wrong on how the seating has been allocated." Thomas spoke up. "Ms. Tenoh is not sitting to my right, I am sitting to her left, as she is the mediator and as I have been elected by all of you to be part of the hand, she is the one that makes all the last and final decisions on the global stage on our behalf, while I make the ones that are directly related to this continent."
More colour drained in the faces of the people present.
"Now that we have that out of the way. You all know that if anyone loses a word about Ms. Tenoh's real occupation and purpose of her presence, that they will be executed, along with their entire family, as it is policy since the Cairo incident. The council has no need for an all-out war amongst ourselves again, so anyone who is incapable to fit into the system that has been set up will be eliminated without a trial or a discussion. I understand this to be a fact that you all are aware of as precondition to even be allowed in here." Thomas reminded them all.
They all nodded in silence.
"I think we have reached the attention limit for the day." Thomas announced. "This should be enough for today. Just a reminder before you participate in the auction, today's offers are only the Balkan route, the Mediterranean as well as the Pharmaceuticals from the east. The African prisons as well as the Pharma from South America will not be on offer until tomorrow. Please pick up the correct bidding catalogue from my people and hand them back without fail. Just another reminder, anyone not abiding to the rules will be disqualified from further attendance for a minimum of two generations. Have a nice evening ladies and gentlemen. Good luck with your bids and we will see each other again tomorrow at the same time to discuss further details." Thomas closed the meeting.
-Michiru-
They had arrived early, as Michiru's art was displayed officially for the first time in these circles and she wanted to be present for any potential buyer to ask questions if they had any. At least that is what she justified her early presence with. Even though they were some of the firsts to arrive, the sun had long set by the time they had reached the mansion, that resembled more an old castle and stood impressive in the indirect lighting.
The gallery slowly filled with a very selected and invitation only group of people. Highly ranked military as well as politicians from all around northern Europe started to gather as well as very important people of the business world. The later it got, the higher the degree of importance of the people that arrived rose.
Daniel arrived not that much later than she did.
"Michiru, you look stunning. Of course, you look wonderful, too, Elsa." He greeted them.
"Always such a charmer." Elsa joked.
"You are early, I thought you would be stuck at work for longer." Michiru commented.
"Yea, I wasn't needed after all." Daniel replied.
"Great. So, we will have more of you then." Elsa said smiling, but it hard to tell if she was sarcastic as it would be harder to introduce her to Haruka with him in their presence.
"Have you been enjoying yourself here?" Daniel enquired as they stood in hall a little separate from the rest.
"Yes, it is a very interesting crowd. Many have even approached me and held a genuinely good conversation about the pieces that are displayed tonight." Michiru replied with a gentle smile when she suddenly spotted a familiar presence from the corner of her eye.
Hiroko walked in the hall without any bodyguards, wearing an elegant black dress and looking very relaxed. Their eyes met and a big smile spread across the other woman's face.
"Do you know her?" Elsa whispered her question next to Michiru, but before Michiru could reply Hiroko had crossed the room and was greeting them.
"Ferguson." Hiroko smirked in Daniel's direction.
"Chiba." He replied as little inviting as it was possible but Hiroko ignored him and moved right onto Michiru.
"Congratulations on this great exhibit, Michiru-san." Hiroko said cheerfully.
"Thank you, Hiroko-san" Michiru replied friendly.
"And you must be the infamous Elsa Gray, who has been reporting on Michiru-sans epic comeback so brilliantly and eloquent." Hiroko turned to Elsa who managed to be speechless for a moment.
"Yes indeed." Elsa smiled cheekily in return.
"Excuse my rudeness for not introducing myself first, I am Hiroko Chiba and an avid fan of Kaioh's music, but you have truly opened my eyes to another of her artistic talents." Hiroko winked and Elsa laughed.
They got into a nice flowing small talk with Hiroko amongst them that moderated the conversation with ease, away from all the topics that might land any of them in any hot water.
Michiru had to admit, Hiroko had good social talent and unlike her brother, she could quickly tell in which direction something was going.
They enjoyed frivolous conversation about art and history until Daniel offered to go and get them refills on their champagne glasses that had managed to stay empty for longer than a few minutes.
Just when Elsa was about to pry into Hiroko's connection to the Chiba corp., a stunning middle-aged couple entered the hall that drew all of her attention.
Both women had long hair, but the one with the flowing, auburn waves on the left was wearing a tasteful, long, burgundy dress that hugged her stunning body in the most sensual ways without losing any of its elegance while her companion had her silver blonde hair up in a tidy ponytail and was wearing a matching darker grey suit.
"OH, by all gods…the Kings are here." Elsa whispered highly impressed next to her.
"Who are they?" Michiru asked Elsa earnestly.
"Belinda and Samantha King. THE madam of London and the devil of Dublin. It is rumoured that Belinda is running a very high-end service for the special bedroom tastes, if you catch my drift, that services all kinds of people of rank and file, be it in politics or the underworld, and her wife Samantha is known as the Devil of Dublin because countless people have come to her to sell their soul for a new identity. She is the doctor that can make you disappear in the crowd, in any manner that you see fit, or someone else has seen fit for you. As long someone pays the price, she will do the job. Also, she is rumoured to have conducted human experimentation that would violate a whole host if not all medical ethics codes." Elsa whispered hastily as they watched the couple walk towards their direction.
"Chiba-san, fancy meeting you here." Belinda smiled and hugged Hiroko as they greeted each other like old friends.
"The honour is all mine Mrs King, Dr King." Hiroko greeted back.
"Ah, why are we so formal?" Samantha asked with a big smile as she hugged Hiroko. "Any friends of Haru-kun is our friend, too, right Hiroko-chan?"
"I didn't want to appear rude in front of others. You are after all very special friends of Haruka-kun." Hiroko smiled before she introduced the Kings to Elsa and Michiru.
"Belinda, Sam, this is Elsa Gray, a reporter who has been covering the come back tour of Michiru Kaioh here, who is the true star of this exhibition." Hiroko beamed.
"Ah, so you are the rumoured next Monet or van Gogh that the collectors are all murmuring about." Belinda addressed Michiru.
"I don't think I am anywhere near the old masters." Michiru replied humbly.
"Oh ,don't be shy, I can see that the room is filled with some of the most ardent art collector and critics and they seem to impressed as they come." Belinda commented. "Don't you think so Sam?" Belinda added as she looked loving over to her wife.
"You better take that compliment with grace, Michiru. My wife is used to people agreeing to her views." Samantha jested and earned herself a gentle elbow to the side.
"Would you mind indulging us into a small tour of your pieces if you are not busy?" Belinda took over the conversation again.
Michiru wanted to say that they were waiting for Daniel to come with their drinks, but then decided that the man was taking too long to be just grabbing some drinks. "Not at all, please this way and don't hesitate to ask me any questions if you have any. I am always happy to explain if there is something unclear in my work."
As their small group walked from one painting to the next, Michiru noticed how room was getting restless. The time for the first auction must be close and so the anticipation was rising. When they had made their way almost to the end of her collection, the hall suddenly went completely quiet and Michiru noticed how the buzz that was filling the room almost instantly froze. She turned to the main entrance door to see what managed to quieten the whole room with its presence and in walked Haruka. She looked taller and more serious than Michiru remembered the blonde, her right arm slung tight around the waist of the strawberry blonde woman that Michiru had seen yesterday with her as well while her left hand was holding a cane. The thick, dark rimmed glasses made Haruka look sterner and harder. Seiya followed them close by from behind while Thomas Smith, to Haruka's left, was handed a microphone as soon as he had entered the room.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming tonight to our special charity art auction, due to technical issues in the auction room, the auction will be delayed by about half an hour, so please take your time to inspect the art on offer closer and to enjoy some more champagne. As soon as the problem has been fixed, I will announce the official opening." Thomas announced.
Haruka was scanning the room and Michiru could tell that some people were visibly shaken by her presence.
Suddenly their eyes met and Haruka stared into Michiru's eyes as if in the search for something. Michiru didn't flinch and looked back calmly into the guarded teal eyes that stared her down. She noticed that the cold and hard eyes displayed a moment of confusion and deep pain, but the moment passed so fast, she had to ask herself if that had been truly there or if that was just what she wanted to see. But before she could decide on that, Haruka broke the gaze and turned to her companion, who had gently squeezed the hand that was around her waist with her own and whispered something, that Michiru had no way of knowing, into Haruka's ear. An irresistible cocky, yet melancholic smirk flashed across Haruka's face before she turned her attention back to the room and eventually focused on Thomas who was by now returning the microphone to one of his servants.
They exchanged a few words and then went their separate ways, Thomas walked towards the auction room while Haruka and her companion made their way to Michiru's 'End of the world' painting.
'How befitting' Michiru thought to herself before she turned her attention back to Belinda who asked her a question about the painting technique that she had used on the sunset that Belinda was inspecting.
Michiru replied with all the friendliness that she could muster and so they made the now excruciating way to the second last of her paintings.
Michiru could see from the corner of her eyes how Haruka was almost constantly whispering into the younger woman's ear as they stood in front of the painting. The other woman, caressing Haruka's hand around her waist with her own hand ever so gently throughout the process.
Suddenly Elsa tapped discretely on Michiru's shoulder.
"Don't forget to introduce me to Tenoh, her friend whispered into her ear as the Kings and Hiroko were expertly inspecting Michiru's seashore painting and Michiru just nodded.
And so, they made their way to the last painting as soon as the others were done with praising Michiru, with Haruka still standing right in front of it, like an unmovable rock.
-Setsuna-
She was sitting silently on the other side of the fake painting, that was shielding them from view, as she was watching the happenings in the meeting room.
"Shouldn't you be in there?" Kakashi asked as he was standing behind her, observing how his niece was pushing everyone's button on the other side of the screen.
"Haruka asked me to stay out until the final day when the summary would be presented." Setsuna replied calm while she enjoyed the weight of his firm hand on her shoulder and watched how the atmosphere in the other room went from malicious to vicious to utter terror.
"How nice of her to spare you the direct contact with them for as long as possible." Kakashi chuckled as he caressed her shoulder with his thumb.
Rei was busy monitoring the rest of the building, aiding Minako and Makoto with security while Amy was making meticulous notes of the meeting that she was watching.
Neither of the other women paid them any attention and were entirely focused on their tasks. Setsuna was tempted to pull Kakashi down to her and to kiss him, but she knew that she could not afford such luxury. No matter how much time they had spent apart and how much longing had built up, their duties always came first.
She appreciated that aspect of the man behind her profoundly, that he could put the greater good above himself.
They watched how the room slowly cleared and when only Thomas, Haruka, Joy and Seiya were left in it, Setsuna got up and pushed the painting aside to come out.
"That was rather interesting." Kakashi chuckled as Haruka sported her trademark grin, but which did not reach her eyes.
"It was a good idea to leave you out, at least officially, so far. The head of the agency would not appreciate any bad association or news that would involve your name." Thomas addressed Setsuna and she just nodded. "I will be going ahead to make sure they all get the right catalogues. Please feel free to use the facility as needed in the meantime, but do not take too long. People might get the wrong ideas." Thomas said before he left the room.
They watched him close the door behind him and Haruka started to chuckle.
"Such a stickler to facades." Haruka smirked.
"Be that as it may, this was a risky move. Do you know how much trouble this causes?" Setsuna replied calm.
"I have nothing to worry, after all, I have people who would take a bullet for me if I needed it." Haruka winked at her uncle who just chuckled in response.
"I don't think that will be possible this time." Setsuna replied stern.
"Why would you think that? Did your replacement head of Information and Security services inform you of something that I am not aware of?" Haruka asked rhetorically.
"I believe we are on the same level of knowledge as I have reinstated the ONLY head of Information and Security that has been in charge of the department for the past decade." Setsuna replied evenly.
"Oooh, smooth humble brag there and congratulations on your promotion. I must have been misinformed of the current status of the position." Haruka's smirk only broadened. "I better get going before people start to miss my charming presence." The blonde wrapped her arm around her companion's slender waist and led her out, while Seiya followed in her shadow.
"Does this then technically count as working time?" Kakashi chuckled.
"No, you are still on vacation, but I expect a detailed report on it for my eyes only tonight." Setsuna replied with a raised eyebrow.
"You know, I have an inkling that you just got played." Kakashi mused.
"No shit Sherlock, what would I do without your razor-sharp mind?" Setsuna sighed before she turned to face him, observing the cuts in his face that had not enough time to heal yet. The man that she loved so dearly that no words could reflect the profound loneliness that she had felt in his absence was only grinning at her with the same insolent smile with which he had captured her heart years ago.
She was tempted to reach for the strand of hair that was covering his face but she knew that if she had cameras here, so could many others.
"Well, better the devil you know than the devil you don't." Kakashi mused before they returned to their surveillance room.
"This might need your attention." Rei called out to Setsuna and pointed out to the screen where a black armoured car pulling up at the side entrance of the building.
"This might need your attention a bit more urgent." Ami was pointing at her screen where the inevitable meeting of Haruka and Michiru was brewing up.
This was not good. This was probably too soon. Setsuna straightened the dress that she had put on for this particular emergency if it would arise. She knew that Michiru was with Riko, but Riko was not to be found on any of the screens and they had decided that Haruka and Michiru would not encounter one another, just to avoid that either would be thrown off their current game. The emotions that the two women held for one another were just too obvious for anyone with a keen eye to miss, and even with each of them having a distraction attached to their arms, Setsuna just knew that real chemistry would still come through. She pulled out her phone and quickly typed a message to Riko.
"You stay here and take keep an eye on all of this. Seems I need to get into the actions sooner than expected." Setsuna just instructed Kakashi who nodded understandingly.
-Haruka-
They were walking close behind Thomas when his head butler came towards them with Christine trailing behind him.
Thomas stopped and frowned.
"Sir. The lady has just arrived." Benjamin informed his master.
"Obviously." Thomas responded unfazed nonetheless.
"She wants to talk to you." Christine stated without any embellishments.
"Certainly." Thomas continued his one-word responses.
"Not just you, but separately would be preferred." Christine nodded towards Haruka.
"Do you think we can arrange that as inconspicuous as possible?" Haruka asked Thomas out of courtesy that Christine seemed to lack or simply ignored.
"Of course." Thomas replied. "Benjamin, please help the lady to the library and make all necessary preparations that she might need." He instructed his butler before they went their separate ways.
They entered the art gallery and Thomas announced a delay of the auction to cause an attention diversion while he would meet up with the unexpected visitor.
In the meantime, Haruka let her eyes roam around the room, letting Kakyuu give her a short summery of all the people on which her gaze lingered a bit longer.
"Are you even listening?" Kakyuu's voiced echoed in her head as she moved quickly from one person to the next.
"I am." Haruka confirmed quickly, mumbling as if she were talking to Joy.
"Is Kakyuu not trusting your listening capabilities?" Joy chuckled right next to her as she put her hand over Haruka's and Haruka just grunted to confirm.
Suddenly her gaze landed on a familiar looking aquamarine haired beauty that made her stop in her tracks. Haruka scrambled her mind on why this woman looked so familiar. Somewhere in her mind she knew this woman, yet her conscience could not puzzle together the onslaught of thoughts and feelings that flooded her system. She was captivated by the deep blue eyes, as if she was willingly drowning in the endless sea that was swallowing her up with her demise a certainty.
"… Kaioh, Michiru. Haruka, that is Michiru, Osamu's daughter." Kakyuu's voice called her out of her reverie along with the gentle squeeze of Joy's hand on hers.
"Everything alright Haru?" Joy asked, her concern barely hidden in the calm of her face that she maintained for Haruka's benefit.
"Hmm. Everything is fine. Which painting did you want to see again?" Haruka asked Joy.
"The last one. We had not finish sighting the last one." Joy said with a smile and they both made their way to the big picture of 'The end of the world'.
"You seem distracted Haru." Joy stated.
"It is not that I am distracted. More focused on matters not entirely pertinent to our objective here." Haruka smirked.
"That is called being distracted." Joy giggled.
Soon they stood in front of the big picture and apprehension settled in Haruka's stomach as she looked the picture up and down.
The end of the world in Kaioh, Michiru's mind looked like a big Tsunami that was swallowing up the city. It was dark and almost overbearing, considering that it was bigger than all the other pictures that she had painted, this one was almost daunting in comparison. But such was the end of the world, not to be taken lightly.
"What do you see Haruka?" Joy asked her.
Haruka leaned her head close to Joy so the blind woman could hear the words, that she was about to utter, as clear as possible. Haruka disliked to describe anything that she felt or perceived that couldn't be entirely classified as objective, but she had no choice in this regard in the matter at hand.
"It looks like night. A storm that is raging and a big wave is swallowing up the city. The lights in all the buildings are out like the world has surrendered to its impending doom while the lightning can be guessed to be striking behind the viewer, illuminating the scene momentarily, showing the demise of the silent giants of the city." Haruka eventually described the scene that was presented.
Joy held Haruka's hand tighter and Haruka pulled her closer.
"It feels pretty real. Do you think that that will be the end? Our end?" Joy whispered.
"I would never let such thing happen, not to you, nor anyone else." Haruka whispered reassuringly into Joy's ear when she suddenly felt a familiar force coming closer and tightened her protective grip around Joy.
-Elsa-
They were making their way to the last of Michiru's paintings and she was determined to get into Haruka's circle. The last thing her mentors had investigated, was Sora Industries, and this was the head of the whole company herself. This was it, this was her chance to get close enough to slowly worm herself into system.
But before they had reached the blonde and her companion, a tall, dark green haired woman approached Tenoh.
"Tenoh-san" The woman called out, causing for the blonde to turn around to face her, and in the process spotting the small group approaching them.
"Meioh-san, what a surprise to meet you here." Haruka greeted the other woman nonchalant.
"I could say the same." Came the even response. "I just wanted to remind you that no arrangements have been made in regards to any joint venture projects yet, but I am looking forward for your office to send the appropriate proposals soon." The woman continued.
"Ah, of course. I apologise for the delay. My secretary must have misplaced them, I assumed that he had send it out in time before we would meet. I will make all the necessary arrangements as soon as the night is over. I do hope for is to be on cordial terms." Haruka replied, with no hint of remorse in her voice.
"Excuse me Meioh-san, may I join in for a moment?" Michiru asked with a familiar, yet professional tone that Elsa had not witnessed so far. The familiarity was clear, yet the professional posture and level of dignity that all three women held was indescribable. It seemed that Haruka had grown taller than she had been in her memory while the other woman looked at both of the others with an even yet mentor-like benevolent look. Michiru fitted in perfectly with her poised grace. The air of authority that each of them held made it almost feel like blasphemy to disturb them in any manner.
"Oh, Kaioh-san, of course. Please." Meioh stepped aside to make space for Michiru and them all in turn to join in the conversation.
They all greeted one another politely before Michiru introduced them all to one another, even though it seemed that some of them knew each other more than well.
"… and last but not least, this is my dear friend Elsa Gray." Michiru finished the introduction on her side.
"Gray… ah, we have met before, haven't we?" Haruka mused for a moment.
"We have, but that was years ago." Elsa confirmed.
"I do hope I left a positive lasting impression." Haruka chuckled.
"I have mainly only watched your back from my position." Elsa smirked.
"Oh?" Haruka seemed mildly surprised before she smirked.
"Well, I assure you that now you have a lot better chances of overtaking me." The blonde tapped with her cane onto the marble floor gently. "I am not who I used to be." A rueful smile crossed her lips momentarily that was quickly wiped off her face with a roguish smirk. "You are welcome to have a revenge match if that appeases the fire that I see in your eyes." The look of those teal eyes pierced her hard, even through the thick framed glasses. She felt naked in front of the other woman who looked her up and down like an x-ray machine, looking for her true intent.
The jovial atmosphere from a moment ago had turned into an intensity that was palpable which did not go unnoticed by all the people that were standing in this corner of the gallery.
"Oh, so you raced Haruka back in her school days? How small this world is…" The blonde woman, next to Haruka, suddenly mused with a light giggle and a gentle smile on her lips. "I must apologise on Haru-senpai's behalf, she never really pays attention to her surrounding when she is running, that is why she took so long to remember."
And just like that the air around them had changed again.
"Oh yea. When she gets on track, her mind is completely focused to get through the finish line." Samantha added with a pensive nod.
"Michiru, may I introduce you our daughter, Joy?" Belinda introduced the blonde woman next to Haruka.
"Pleased to meet you, Ms. King." Michiru smiled politely.
"Please, call me Joy. I am sure my mothers have been occupying you most of the night by now. It is a pleasure to meet such a great artist in person. Haruka has been so kind to show me the true beauty of your work." Joy bowed in Michiru's direction, never letting go of Haruka's hand while Haruka did not change her distant facial expression one iota.
"Mrs and Dr King, I apologise for not having seen you earlier." Setsuna addressed the two women to her left.
"No need to apologise. As the new head of Meioh Inc. you must be so busy now." Belinda replied smoothly.
"It is a learning curve, but I am trying my best." Meioh replied modest.
"Setsuna is doing a great job. She just isn't one to boast like me." Haruka added.
"Yes, we all know you are doing a great job senpai." Joy chuckled, but before they could continue the conversation, Daniel had returned, but without the promised drinks.
"Ms. Tenoh, it is all ready for you, if you would just follow me." Daniel interrupted the conversation.
"Ah, I see." Haruka nodded. "Joy, can I leave you to your mothers for the moment?" the blonde asked her companion.
"Of course." Joy replied and let go of Haruka's hand while simultaneously reaching for Belinda's, just then Elsa noticed that Joy was blind. The way she touched her mother's hand and held it was the only indication that she did not see it, but more reached for it out of habit. If that exchanged had not happened, Elsa would have never noticed the other woman's impairment. Joy moved and always looked into the direction of the person who was talking attentively, but when one looked closer, one noticed that her eyes never really focused, despite looking into the right direction.
"If you all excuse me, it seems the auction room is ready. I will see you ladies after the auction. I do hope you all continue to enjoy the evening in my absence." Haruka flashed an easy smile towards them all and added a wink towards Hiroko before she went on her way.
"I better get going as well since I want a good spot in the auction room." Setsuna explained as she turned to Belinda.
"Has something caught your fancy?" Belinda asked in return.
"There is, but I am still on the fence about it." Setsuna said mysteriously.
"Well, the piece that caught my eye is not on the schedule until tomorrow, but it would probably best to get a feel for the room so that I know how much money I have to ready for tomorrow." Belinda chuckled. "Will you be joining us?" She continued to ask Michiru.
"Getting a feel for the room is definitely a good idea to gauge how much my charity will benefit tomorrow." Michiru smiled before they all made their way to the auction room.
-Michiru-
She was sitting between Joy and Elsa as the auction was about to begin.
Elsa had gone unusually quiet after her encounter with Haruka, but that was to be expected. The blonde was in work mode and there was little chance that she would let her guard down.
Thomas got onto the stage.
"Thank you all for your patience. I have the pleasure to introduce to you all our main guest of honour who is attending this event and I am glad to say that this person is going to address you all despite her notorious shyness of the limelight. Let me welcome my dear friend, Haruka Tenoh." Thomas introduced the blonde who stepped out of the shadow to the microphone that Thomas had been using.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen." Haruka greeted them all easily, with her eyes shortly lingering on her before moving onto the rest of the crowd. "I am very happy to be here tonight, amongst good friends and soon to be friends, and to be able to put up a few distinct pieces of my private collection as well as pieces that have been given to me for this very special purpose that is close to my heart. The children's disease research that will be funded with the proceeds of these items, that have been specially marked in your catalogue as well as have been especially marked here on stage so that they are easy to be identified, which will continue the good work of researching and providing preventative medicine as well as targeted treatment of the weakest amongst all of us, the children that cannot afford the care that they need to thrive in this world. I thank you all for reaching into your deep pockets to do your part for the greater good of the present that we shape and for a prosperous future of the generation that is to inherit the world that we leave behind when our time comes." Haruka finished her short speech and returned the spot at the microphone to the auctioneer who would be taking care of the rest while returning to special seats with Thomas.
One art piece after another was being pulled out and the people were starting to bid fiercely, especially the items that had a special Tenoh-sign stuck to them.
Everyone was focused on the skyrocketing sums of money that were offered on them, but just Michiru kept an eye on Haruka.
The blonde was watching the crowd attentively from the side lines before she slipped out in moment where everyone seemed to be focused on a particular remarkable work by Monet.
-Haruka –
She had just slipped out of the auction room and was walking alone to the library where someone was already waiting for her.
"Jade." She called out to the woman that had her back turned to her and looked like as if she was inspecting Thomas's collection.
"I apologise for coming here unannounced." Jade turned around, faced Haruka squarely and stopped for a moment mid-movement.
"I know you would not have come if it weren't urgent." Haruka replied calmly.
"So, the rumours are true…." Jade whispered wistful. "You need to come with me as soon as possible." She continued.
"Why?" Haruka asked blunt. "Wasn't Osamu with you this whole time?"
"This cannot be fixed by any mediator, this needs you." Jade insisted.
"I am a bit busy, if you had not noticed." Haruka replied a bit curter.
"You know I would not be here if there was an alternative." Jade stepped closer and hugged Haruka tight, buried her face into her shoulder and whispered. "My father's dementia is progressing aggressively, but the memories that he retains are still accurate. There is something that he insists on telling your father and no one else and he won't be able to go in peace if he has not shared it with 'him'." She explained in a manner that no one could overhear her.
"Ok, when is the flight?" Haruka gave in.
"Tomorrow morning at dawn. Come alone or the people here will get suspicious." Jade advised her. "I will get you back here in 24 hours."
"Ok." Haruka agreed.
-Michiru-
After she had noticed that Haruka had slipped out, she had excused herself to the bathroom to follow where the blonde was disappearing to, but the mansion was big and it was imperceivably difficult to guess which way Haruka had gone. After a few moments of looking around without arousing suspicion by Thomas's staff she resigned to returning to the gallery, where she found Haruka standing pensively in front of her largest work.
"You are living up to your reputation of avoiding the limelight." Michiru chuckled.
"How can such a beautiful woman have such a terrifying vision?" Haruka mused melancholically.
"Is it really just a vision?" Michiru asked in return.
"It's definitely not mine." Haruka replied cold as she turned towards to Michiru.
Their eyes locked and Michiru stood so close, she only needed to reach out to touch Haruka and to double check that this was real and not just a feverish dream after not having seen the blonde for so long, but before she could do that, Setsuna joined them.
"This is not the time for discussions. You both need to get out of here now, the auction almost over." She instructed both of them.
