Disclaimer: I don't own Haruka or Michiru; they belong to the wonderful Takeuchi Naoko. This story, however, is mine.

Chapter 2

"Konnichiwa, Michiru-chan" greeted Ren Akiyama as she allowed the young woman to enter the house in which they both worked.

"Good morning, Akiyama-san. Are you sure it is fine with Goshujin-sama for me to start work this week on a Sunday instead of a Monday?" Michiru asked as she hung up her black hood.

"Hai, another one of the girls was dismissed yesterday and we would be short handed today if you didn't volunteer."

Michiru let out a relieved sigh before walking into the kitchen and tying an apron around her waist. The last thing she needed was to be shooed away by the head maid in her Goshujin-sama's home because she thought she was being a greedy girl trying to get more money. Michiru smiled wryly at her own thoughts that were so far from the truth. If she had enough money not to work ten hours a day, six days a week then she wouldn't be coming to work on her day off. Why would she want to spend more time than necessary in the presence of one old, cranky maid and other young girls who were always whispering cruel comments about her family situation behind her back?

Quietly, Michiru set to work, preparing her Goshujin-sama's breakfast, thinking of her younger sister who was spending her day by herself in their small cottage in the forest.

oVoVoVoVoVo

"Onee-chan, you're home late tonight," Umeko said as she ushered a tired looking Michiru into their cottage.

"Hai, Goshujin-sama held a party tonight so I had to stay back and help. He announced his intention of having a party about two hours prior to the event. Why he failed to mention it earlier I don't know. However, it was not such a bother as Goshujin-sama gave each worker extra money for working longer."

"I understand. Come have some of the green tea I just prepared, it is still warm," Umeko suggested.

"You are too kind Ume-chan. I have been away all morning and afternoon, as well as most of the evening and you are not upset with me; even after I broke my promise," said Michiru as she sat herself down, watching her sister bustle around their home.

"Don't be silly Onee-chan! If you didn't go out and work we would starve to death or perish because of the bitter winters that we face every year," Umeko exclaimed to her sister, smiling tenderly at the older female. "Now drink this tea and then go to bed, you are obviously tired."

Michiru sighed; her sister was acting just like their mother before she died two years ago. Silently, Michiru sipped the warm liquid glancing over at the table by her sister's stool.

"Ume-chan, want is on that piece of parchment?"

"Oh, well it is a note I picked up in town when I went to visit Amaya-chan earlier today. It says that everyone in town must meet in two days at the town square. It was written by one of the noblemen in Kibō; it seems that they have something to tell the people."

"Now off to bed!" Umeko explained using a motherly tone.

"Hai, okaa-san!"

oVoVoVoVoVo

Tenoh Haruka had been a Samurai since the age of eleven. Haruka was the only child of Tenoh Aya, a war hero who had served Japan for forty years of his life before retiring at the age of 52 with an injured arm and shoulder. Haruka who had always admired Aya when he was dressed in his Samurai uniform, and wished to join the Imperial Army, and to follow in her otou-san's footsteps. The only problem that Haruka faced in becoming a Samurai for the Emperor was the fact that only men could join such an important army. Being a female was never an issue for Haruka until the day she decided to become a Samurai. In order to be a Samurai Haruka had to hide her female identity.

Of course her otou-san had agreed to teach her all he knew so she could live her dream. She still remembered the day when she officially became a Samurai and the proud smile that was displayed on her otou-san's face.

Now at the age of sixteen Haruka had never thought that a Samurai of her status would be spending the next three months living in a small town just waiting for anything to happen out of the ordinary. She was a person of action not an observer.

Haruka had heard that the distance between Osaka and Kibō was only four days travelling by horseback. Happy that the journey was one of the shortest trips she had been on, Haruka relaxed in her saddle closing her dark green eyes for a moment. She had never been through this part of Japan before and although she was not a scout she was a very observant person by nature. Enjoying the scenery around her seemed like the perfect way to past the time, compared to talking to the men riding close to her. They were all members of noble families who wanted to have a hero to talk and brag about. She hated people like that, and it seemed that in her division, which was the third, she had been stuck with all of them. Although being with these aristocratic men was not such a loss. It would be much easier hiding her female outlines when the soldiers around her didn't care about what she was doing.

oVoVoVoVoV

By the time night had fallen the soldiers in the Imperial Army had finished setting up their cloth tents and were sitting by numerous fires in small groups chatting and laughing amongst themselves. Haruka, who had strayed away from her division, was now standing at one of the quieter fires enjoying the peace and her own space before having to share a tent with one another soldier. Once finishing her dinner which consisted of rice and some sake, Haruka slipped into one of the many red tents that were scattered through the forest the Army was camping in for the night. After making sure there were no soldiers walking near her tent, Haruka took off her cloth shirt, revealing the binding she used to flatten her chest. She loosened the bandage for a brief moment, allowing herself breath properly, before tightening the cloth and shoving on her night shirt.

Knowing that there was still about an hour before Hiroto ordered everyone into their tents to rest before another long 16 hour ride, Haruka rummaged through her horse's bag trying to find her quill and a piece of parchment. Setting herself on her bed roll, Haruka started to write a letter to her father. The many campfires light allowed her to see what she was writing without needing a candle. The last thing she wanted to do was to set alight her tent as well as the other soldier's. Apart from the soldiers who had come from affluent families, Haruka was one of the only members in the Army that could write more than a couple of quick lines. To be caught while writing a long letter by one of the uneducated soldiers could lead to being harassed or possibly unprotected during battle due to jealousy.

'Imagine if they found out that one of Japan's best soldiers was a female!' Haruka thought as she sealed her letter in an envelope before tucking it away under her small amount of possessions.

A few minutes later Haruka heard the low voices of the soldiers coming closer to the sleeping area. Quickly she slipped into her bed roll as her fellow soldier, Minami Takeshi, entered the tent. Takeshi was a twenty seven in age and had been in the Imperial Army for the last five years of his life. His height, his broad build and his skill as a fighter made him a force to be reckoned with during battle. It was too bad that he had an ugly personality and was one of the greediest men that Haruka had ever met. Takeshi always had to have everything his way and the only person in the Army that could control he so to speak, was Hiroto. However, when the general wasn't looking Takeshi always stole from the new recruit's supplies and bullied smaller soldiers into doing his washing or other chores for him. The only soldiers he didn't pick many fights with were the soldiers that had been in the Imperial Army longer than he had, making them his superiors. Haruka was one of the lucky few. However, Takeshi openly showed his dislike for the blonde soldier whenever he could although he wouldn't be able to anything during the night. Hiroto who knew about Takeshi's mean streak had placed his tent next to Haruka's, effectively stopping Takeshi from taking advantage of her.

"Too tired from the ride Tenoh?" Takeshi asked gruffly as he pulled off his shirt replacing it with a clean one.

Deciding to ignore the rude way he addressed her Haruka replied in an indifferent tone, "I enjoy peace more than listening to your obnoxious laughter."

"Why you little-"

"I wouldn't say or do anything if I were you, Takeshi, considering Hiroto-san is next door," Haruka interrupted before turning over, signalling the end of their short conversation.

Grunting Takeshi nodded his head before slipping into his bed roll beside Haruka's. The two soldiers lay silently in their dimly lit tent for a few moments before the fires outside finally were completely extinguished and their sleeping quarters went dark.

A/N: Chapter 1 review replies-

Nalia-san- I'm glad you liked the first chapter. I hope the second was just as good, if not better. ;)

Faint Fiction- It seems I did do a good job of the first chapter. Also thanks for your encouraging concerning your message.

Glomu17- Hey, I too love reading historical stories. I thought it was about time I wrote a Haruka and Michiru one. Thanks for the positive words.

Petiyaka- Thank-you! The Imperial Army isn't a very violent army; it is more for protecting the Emperor and his family. However, there will be a few corrupted individuals.

Translation/Culture Notes-

Sake: A Japanese rice based beverage believed to originated in the Nara period (710-794).

Goshujin: Means master for example one's owner or employer.

Thanks and feel free to leave a comment, critic or review.