2064

"Well? You tell me what you know, girl." He was pacing his office, the blinds still shut tight. He had offered a cup of coffee to Haruka, his own sitting untouched beside his laptop.

"I told you everything I know, Akihiko. And I mean everything. I don't know who kills her or even when. We do know, or...you know that it is within the next three weeks." She sat down in the stiff, straight backed chair he had in his office for guests, sipping her coffee (which he had put far too much sugar into), her eyes following him around the room.

"Oh that's right... I'm in charge in the future. Great. Wonderful. And the Resistance is losing, of course. Of course it is, how could it not be without her?" He had begun to talk to himself, the realization that his future self had sent someone to meddle with the timeline not sitting well with him.

"What I don't...understand...is why is a 16 year old girl so important to the resistance? Why is she so necessary that I was sent back in time to save her?" Her gray eyes followed him. He turned to her, gripping the edge of his desk as if he was pondering how to explain.

"I...never explained this to you? At all?"

"Apparently not." She laughed softly at his dumbfounded expression.

"Michiru... is very special. Michiru is very perceptive, she can see visions...glimpses of what is to come. She can...it's almost as if she can see a person's true motives in that first meeting. Besides her gifts...she's incredibly brave and very noble. She's priceless." He pushed himself away from the desk, beginning to pace again.

"Got a thing for her, Akihiko? I know I've never heard the mature you speak of a woman in such a way." The blonde grinned at him, which earned her a scowl.

"No. She's my daughter."

-0-

She was 8, running through the halls of her mothers apartment building. She was met with the yells of her baby sitter, but she continued to run away, hearing her mothers voice from near the stairs. Her mother smiled at her, her eyes a bright green against the black and white that everything else was in. She laughed as she gave her a hug, a flash of aqua catching her eye. She turned, met with a bright yellow toy car. The voice that she heard was young and filled with life and hope.

"Your mommy said you like Ferrari's. I hope you like it." The voice caused her to smile, and she went to look up, a scream filling her ears.

Haruka woke with a start as she heard the scream coming from the hallway, and she jumped out of her cot, pulling on her leather jacket, and her boots. The source of the scream, she found, was Michiru. Akihiko was holding her close, calming her down. The blonde looked to the young woman, who's eyes were wide and red, tears sliding down her cheeks. She wore a gray tank top and a pair of old gym shorts.

"Michiru, what did you see? Tell us..." Akihiko's voice was soft and warm. He cared, Haruka noticed, first and foremost on getting her calmed down enough to talk to him. She finally stopped crying, her breath still coming in rapid gasps.

"I need air...I have to get some air... " She pulled away from him, moving towards the door. Akihiko made a motion as if he was going to stop her, then he paused, turning to the blonde.

"Michiru...if you're going to go outside...at least take Haruka with you. It'll make me feel better."

"Akihiko...I'll be fine. I do not need a babysitter." She sniffled once more, not turning around. She hugged her slender arms as she stepped into the chilly tunnel, shutting the door behind her.

"Akihiko...she doesn't want to be bothered..." Haruka began, the man holding up a hand to stop her from speaking again.

"No." He lowered his voice as the crowd began to disperse, the excitement gone.

"What do you mean by no?"

"You don't know when she's murdered...I want you with her all the time..." He murmured to her, a few stragglers watching the pair.

"I...Fine."

"I sent you for a reason. I just haven't figured out why I sent you. I guess I'm not wise enough yet."

"It's the lack of gray hair." She smirked at him. He rolled his eyes.

"Get out there."

"Yes sir, yes sir." She turned away from him, heading for the back door that Michiru had just vanished out of. The tunnel air was still stale, but not as smothering as the Phoenix headquarters. Michiru was sitting against the wall, her knees against her chest, and shivering. Haruka moved to her, sliding her leather jacket over her shoulders, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt under that. Michiru began to shrug the jacket off, the blonde putting a hand on her knee.

"Don't. It's cold. Just humor me, please."

"I don't need a babysitter. Akihiko is just being paranoid." She turned her face away, her eyes still puffy and red.

"He...mentioned you were his daughter...why don't you call him dad." It was a simple question, but the blonde couldn't help but feel like she was prying. Michiru must have thought so to, because she was silent for a few moments before answering.

"I didn't know him until last summer. When the Fox party closed down the schools and began to reorganize the government. My mom was a teacher, and was killed in the riots. Dad...well...my step-dad...he signed on to be an Agent right after. I ran away to find the resistance...and I found Akihiko. He knew exactly who I was. Apparently, mom had been sending him pictures of me to update him since I was born. But he's still not my dad."

"But...your dad is an Agent now. I'd be happy to have found a man like Akihiko." Haruka watched Michirus face not change expressions as she spoke once again.

"But...Akihiko was never there. Do I agree with Dad's decision? No. But I also can't forget him for it. He raised me from the time I was two years old. One mistake doesn't change that. What about you? What's your story?"

"Oh..typical. Mom dies, didn't know the dad. Boring stuff." She tried to lighten the mood.

"Maybe you'll tell me more someday. I'd like to hear the unabridged version." She flashed Haruka a smile, her eyes still guarded but she attempted to lighten the mood. The blonde watched her, unable to believe this 16-year-old beauty was interested in her life.

"Maybe...it's boring though." She returned her smile. "But deal... someday I'll tell you the full story."

"Deal. I...I'm gonna go back in...you coming?" She pulled off Haruka's jacket and handed it to her as she stood up, obviously feeling much better.

"Nah...I'll be in in a few minutes." She took the jacket, sitting it on her lap.

"Well...thank you. I'll see you in the morning?"

"Yeah...I'll be here. Good night." She smiled as Michiru vanished back inside of the Phoenix stronghold. With another smile, softer than the first, the blonde pulled out a battered leather journal from a pocket in her jacket, and began to write.

A/N: Very boring filler chapter. Some new information. But the plot moved forward a little. I mean...Haruka has been assigned as Michiru's bodyguard, right? Right? Right!

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