-Riko-
She walked through a dark and narrow path that was rarely ever used. The layers of dust were proof that no one had been here since its last use and she tightened her breathing mask and opened the vent to the air tank before she opened the airlock to pass through it. The tunnel in which she was walking now cleaner and wider, but by no means more spacious, even for a small person as herself.
Once she reached the other side and passed through the next airlock Yuuko was already waiting for her with Haruka by her side.
All three women nodded curtly before Riko passed Haruka a file which the blonde read silently.
"You did an amazing job there Yuuko." Riko smirked in Yuuko's direction, once she had removed the mask, and the other women beamed with pride as Riko inspected the blonde closer.
"So, it was him…he pulled the trigger…" Haruka asked her as she passed the file onto Yuuko who started to frown deeply as she read its contents.
"It was double and triple checked. What do you want to do Haruka? No one would fault you for taking matters into your own hands at this point. At least not with him" Riko replied calmly.
"What about…" Haruka started, the turmoil in her eyes clearly visible.
"We had our share of retribution in the last decades. This is for you to find solace in." Riko interrupted the blonde.
"If you don't want to, I am happy to do it for you." Yuuko stepped in eager.
Haruka stayed silent and kneaded her lower lip for a moment while Yuuko returned the file to Riko.
"No, there is no need for you to dirty your hands…I know just the right person for the task." Haruka replied resolute. "Riko sensei, please inform the relevant clans as planned. This is a matter for a higher authority than myself. I want this to serve a higher purpose than my itch for revenge."
Riko and Yuuko exchanged knowing looks before Riko addressed Haruka again.
"There is one more thing, I promised Michiru to keep her in the loop and I think it is best for her to see you as you are right now, so that there are no surprises on the night of the concert for her." Riko said carefully as she watched every ever so minute reaction in the tall blonde, but besides the storm of emotions in her eyes, Haruka stood calm.
"When do you want us to meet beforehand?" Haruka asked back emotionless.
"Preferably any time soon now." Riko suggested and Haruka just nodded.
-Yumi-
Yumi was surprised that Katashi had asked her to accompany him to the concert safety preparations and so had instructed Noriko to stay at the tea house to be looking out for whatever Katashi was planning to do there in her absence but she was still feeling unease as she entered the car with him. Shinobu sat in the front and they drove in utter silence as they watched the scenery pass them by.
The weather was getting colder by the hour and the wind that greeted them at the concert hall seemed restless and icy. Just as they exited, another car stopped right behind them and Haruka exited with Minako by her side. The face was stern and the easy smile never reached the eyes that were colder than the wind that howled around them behind the thick rimmed glasses. They all exchanged silent nods and bows before they hurriedly entered to escape the cold and Katashi immediately addressed the tall blonde.
"If you would follow me, Tenoh-san, I will walk you around all the facilities to show you how the preparations are progressing." Katashi said pleasantly while Haruka only nodded silently and they all started to walk behind her husband as he showed them around the various hallways and rooms that were part of the party that was planned after the concert.
She watched Haruka walking tall behind Katashi, eyes ever so observant, head held ever so high. Only Katashi's voice and the evenly spaced clicking of the walking stick cut the silence that surrounded them.
"…And this is the upper balcony on which you and your guests will be seated. I need to ask you to stay quiet when you enter, as last preparations and rehearsals are still being conducted. The acoustics are very good in there and noise can travel very far." Katashi reminded them before he opened the door and they walked through the door onto the highest balcony to look down onto the stage.
On it was only Michiru who was playing her solo and Yumi watched how Haruka walked right up to the balustrade of the balcony and looked straight down, as if pulled by a siren call.
Suddenly the violin play stopped and Yumi pulled Haruka back into the shade of the balcony when she noticed that Michiru was scanning them with her eyes.
"Let me introduce you to Kaioh-san after I have shown you the rest of the security measures." Katashi offered with a smile that Yumi didn't know how to read on him and Haruka indicated with a silent nod to proceed.
Katashi and Haruka were now walking side by side with Minako and Yumi right behind them. Only Shinobu blended into the background, but Yumi knew that the small girl would be right by her side the moment she motioned for her.
They walked into the backstage area and Katashi asked them to wait in one of the changing rooms while he would take care of the changes that Haruka had requested. He assured them before he left that he'd call them as soon as the rehearsal was over for them to have a chance to talk to the orchestra.
"Minako, will you give us five?" Haruka addressed the other blonde in the room who merely nodded before she disappeared on the other side of the door.
Now it was just Haruka and her who were standing alone in the room empty room, but both knew that they could get interrupted any moment.
"How has business been, Myamoto-san?" Haruka asked her in a tone so distant and unfamiliar, that it almost broke Yumi's heart.
"It has been busy, Tenoh-san, thank you for asking. How has yours faired?" Yumi asked calmly in return.
"Busy, too." Haruka smirked before she took off her glasses and looked Yumi deep into the eyes that Yumi forgot how to speak. The eyes were so vulnerable as if they were that of a lost child, the pain so vast and the plea for forgiveness etched so deeply in them that Yumi couldn't help herself but to cup Haruka's handsome face.
"You've gotten scruffy." Yumi finally found her voice.
"It'll only get worse." Haruka just chuckled.
"I take it that that's part of the plan?" Yumi sighed.
"Indeed…I trust you to…" but before Haruka could continue, they heard how the door was opened and Yumi quickly withdrew her hand.
Minako slid in quietly.
"It's done." Was all that the other blonde said and Haruka slid her glasses back on and nodded in acknowledgement.
Only moments later Katashi returned and led them to the stage.
Haruka saluted the orchestra in the military fashion and conductor walked up eagerly towards them.
"It has been ages that I have seen you Tenoh. Here I thought you had abandoned us." The conductor grinned widely.
"What can I say, Nitou, life has been busy. I am expecting great things from you." The blonde laughed jovially as both hugged.
"We will not disappoint you." Ito replied confidently.
"I count on you." Haruka nodded benevolently before turning back to Katashi.
"Tenoh-san, may I introduce you, Kaioh, Michiru. She is the soloist." Katashi introduced the violinist to Haruka.
"Tenoh, Haruto, nice to meet you." Haruka introduced herself without missing a beat and both politely bowed towards each other.
"I have heard good things about you and am looking forward to your concert. Is everything to your liking?" the blonde asked the violinist in a friendly tone.
"Everything has exceeded my expectations." Michiru replied politely.
Yumi watched how distant both were standing towards each other and neither made a move to get any closer.
"Very well then. If you need anything else, please do not hesitate to contact Aino-san directly to get whatever you need sorted out. I do not want to be known as a bad sponsor. We don't want keep you any longer." The blonde concluded their encounter and indicated for Katashi to lead the way out.
-Haruka-
She walked through the ever rising snow on the roof top, feeling the cold enveloping her as the snow crunched below her feet.
It had been snowing all day and the white snow was piling up on the streets and buildings like a fluffy blanket that wanted to put the city to sleep to get some rest, or so it looked like to Haruka as she stood at the balustrade overlooking her surroundings.
The sun was setting, colouring it in a deep red that was reflected by the snow reminding Haruka of a raging fire.
Just three more days until the day of the concert, just three more days till it would show if all her preparations were enough, she thought to herself when the wind suddenly picked up a familiar scent.
"Kaki, it's cold out here." Haruka chided playfully as she turned around and faced her closest friend.
"Oh, no shit Sherlock, I would have never realised that without your failsafe deductions." Kakyuu replied as she threw her a beanie that Haruka put on with a chuckle.
"Elementary, my dear Watson." Haruka smirked while Kakyuu pulled her coat closer and her scarf over her nose.
"I read your plan." Kakyuu stated slowly as she walked up next to Haruka and settled next to her to overlook the dark city.
"And?" Haruka asked as she observed the deep frown that had settled on Kakyuu's forehead.
"I know I can't stop you, but at least…take Taiki with you. Just for my peace of mind that you have someone watches your back." Kakyuu replied.
"You know I can't. It is his task to take care of my peace of mind first and foremost so that I can take care of the rest. I'll be surrounded by all the best security that the world has to offer, that should do." Haruka said steadfast before hugging Kakyuu tight to reassure her.
"And who will keep you safe from yourself?" Kayuu mumbled into her shoulder.
-Taiki-
He walked into training room where Haruka was concentrating on fighting the latest generation of combat robots while Yuuko was supervising.
"Again!" Yuuko called out and Haruka returned into offense position.
A fast and furious hand to hand combat broke out that Taiki had a hard time following with his eyes.
Yuuko adjusted the robots speed and offense mode continuously on the tablet in her hands while Haruka seemed to match it with ease.
"Don't play with your prey!" Yuuko instructed as she maxed out all the setting.
One blow with Haruka's fist against the chest and the robot was pushed several metres back against the wall behind it and fell limp.
"Not bad kid. Go take five while I see what needs fixing." Yuuko waved with a water bottle for the blonde to get off the training floor.
Haruka took the bottle and walked to Taiki who had stayed close to the door as not to distract the blonde during her training.
"How is everything coming along?" Haruka asked before she started drinking.
"Everything is ready. We can proceed as planned." Taiki informed her and Haruka nodded satisfied as she closed the bottle again .
"Good. Go and rest. There are only two more days until the concert and everyone should get adequate time to acclimatise." Haruka instructed him.
"Understood." Taiki replied before leaving the training room and bumping into Kakyuu, who was carrying a tray of tea towards the training room.
"Let me help you." Taiki offered and Kakyuu passed him the tray gratefully before adjusting the tablet that she was carrying under her arm and they walked back into the training room together where Haruka and Yuuko were discussing the analysis of the fight.
"Kaki back me up." Haruka called upon Kakyuu the moment the doctor stepped into training room.
"Haruka, for the millionth time, I cannot back you up when your requests are medically unsound." Kakyuu just sighed.
"Face it baby bear, you have no power here." Yuuko just grinned sardonically before sending Haruka back onto the training floor.
-Mamoru-
It was the day of Christmas eve and they were on the way to Christmas concert.
His sister seemed unusually quiet and even Usagi's usually bubbly nature was muted beyond recognition as they entered the limousine with Chibiusa and Seiya to drive to the concert. By the time they arrived at the concert hall, his parents, his grandfather and the Edelstein's were already waiting at the entrance to be security checked before they would be led to their seats.
The place was full and the number of hidden weapons that was taken off of some visitors was a mere hint of what kind of people were attending this concert.
The security force of the Myamoto clan had their emblems visibly embraided on their uniforms and left no space for discussions in regarding the security measures, putting everyone who attended at ease who was worried that a rival might make use of this moment of unguardedness.
He watched how his father and grandfather were greeting several other men jovially, who also stood in live to be checked and he could only conclude that they were 'business partners' of some sort.
Two attending came towards them after they had passed the security check and one led his grandfather away to a specially reserved seat for the elderly while the rest were taken care of by the other attending.
As they were led to their seat by a smaller attending, Mamoru couldn't help but feel like being led into the Circus Maximus, the old Roman Stadium that was used to entertain the masses.
Sitting in the centre of the concert hall with a great view of the stage, he looked around and noticed that the balconies were already full while the main hall was still getting fuller. The people who were up there sat in the shadows and he could not make out anyone's face, but he did feel watched, making him wonder if this was not more like the Colosseum and worry who would be the actual show. That when he walked through the security gate, if he was a spectator or a gladiator. He looked at his parents for any signs of worry, but his dad only exuded the usual confidence in whose shadow his uncle always appeared meagre and insignificant.
Before he could ponder this matter further, the lights dimmed and the stage lit up, revealing a dozen large Taikos that drowned out his nervous heartbeat with their powerful rhythm.
