AN: Thanks to all of you who are reading this story, and to those of you who leave a comment:), you know how much I appreciate it, thank you very, very much!

Chapter VI

Michiru let out a long sigh, and pushed the pile of letters aside. The elegant calligraphy on each of the creamy envelopes would have appealed to others—but to her, it only meant the envelope hid yet another impersonal note. People sent her invitations, commendations and offers of representation in the strangest areas. But they never really wrote to her…

Still, at least they went through the trouble of sending the letters. Michiru shook her head. She wondered why she always thought of what people did not do, instead of appreciating what they did. She always thought they could come closer to her…but never really wished they would.

My world is just fine without complications…

She tore the envelope open with a long-exercised move. Her sapphire eyes lit up as she skimmed the note inside. It was an invitation to play at the yearly gathering of the Chamber Music Society, a small select club of highly-positioned people who occasionally came together to celebrate their common taste for music. Pride fluttered inside her as she imagined herself playing for such an audience. Michiru's eyes darted to the date on the invitation. It was more than two months ahead, but she would need all the time to prepare for such an event.

The old grandfather clock in the living room announced noon, and the girl almost jumped out of her seat. She mentally winced as the doorbell rang a few moments later.

"Good day, Miss Michiru!"

At the back of her mind, she wondered why Chindan had not answered the door as she was supposed to, but did not dwell on it.

"Yashashi-san", she greeted with a nod and a friendly smile.

"Your car is ready. We should go soon, if we are to arrive at the art show in time…"

Michiru reddened slightly. Until moments before, she had entirely forgotten about the opening ceremony she was supposed to attend at a new art gallery.

"I'll take a few more minutes..." she started, then realized the man would have to wait for her anyway. "Or…maybe an hour or so…" she added, cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"Miss Michiru, you need to get there in less than an hour" the driver reminded her in an amused tone of voice. "Of course, if you wish, I can try to fly us over there, but still…"

"It's open all day, Yashashi-san", the girl said good-naturedly, "they won't hold their breaths for me!"

But she did feel bad for keeping him waiting for so long. Unlike herself, Yashashi had a family to go home to, and had probably made plans with them for that Sunday afternoon. Suddenly, a strange idea occurred to her, and an eager smile lit up her entire face.

"Please, excuse me for forgetting…and for making you come all this way! But you don't have to wait for me." Her tone betrayed a degree of enthusiasm as she announced: "I'll just walk there by myself!"

The driver stood no chance whatsoever of changing her mind.

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

An hour or so later…

Michiru picked up her white hat, carefully tied the sapphire ribbon around it, and gave herself one last look in the mirror. She knew she was dressed a bit too elegantly for a walk through the city, and probably not elegantly enough for the opening of an art gallery.

I'm the one who decided to walk there in the first place, so there's not much chance to go back on that…

She picked up the key from a small table near the door, and in doing so frowned slightly. Chindan had apparently left the house for some reason, and Michiru could not remember having been told about it. She didn't really care about all the formalities, but instinct—and her parents—had always told her to respect them. But, it was Sunday afternoon after all, and the woman had all the right to go wherever she wanted.

Michiru locked the house, and walked down the quiet street wearing a content smile. The faint breeze caressed her face, and she enjoyed its chilly brush against her cheek. Happy laughter from a nearby playground reached her, inexplicably boasting her already good mood. The sun shone bright on her, and she felt grateful just to be alive and able to contemplate all the beauty around her.

She huffed slightly as the road became steeper. Almost without realizing it, she had walked quite a distance from her house, and now the street led her upwards. She patiently climbed the stony hill, silently wondering why people had not simply leveled it upon building the road. But the easy climb increased her stamina, and the girl sprinted the rest of the way up. On both sides, the houses looked almost strange, tilted at discreet angles all the way to the top of the hill. Once there, Michiru turned back to watch the city below, and again she felt grateful for the sight that greeted her.

The white buildings seemed to bask in the bright sunlight; every here and there, small parks or playgrounds stood out as patches of green streaked with colorful splashes. In the strong light, the outline of the city stood hazily against the clear blue sky, and in the distance, the calm waters of the ocean shone with each drop.

What a wonderful painting this would—…

The beautiful thought was cut short by a shiver that suddenly ran down her spine. Despite the warm sunrays, Michiru's world seemed to freeze—and under her wide eyes, the picturesque sight turned gruesome as the city crumbled to nothingness.

Darkness arrived first, and with it came the screams of thousands, as they felt their world die. The buildings that had, seconds before, towered proudly were shattered to dust, along with everyone inside, and Michiru gasped in horror as she saw all the people go, as she heard their cries, and the heart-rending cry of an agonizing world.

And suddenly they became quiet.

She stared at the contour of a tidal wave…a silent wave, on the verge of striking.

"You, watch out! Get out of the—"

A loud screech reached her ears, and the sight shattered. Reality spun swiftly from utter darkness to a cacophony of colors so bright it made her dizzy. Michiru covered her face with her trembling hands, and tried to get air into her hurting lungs. Clutching to a nearby streetlamp for support, she became aware of a mild warmth on her bare arms. Sunlight.

Michiru dared lower her hands from her face. A motorcycle slid by her, slightly losing direction before its driver could regain control and dive forward up the road, with an unflattering expletive. Around her, everything looked and sounded normal…everything but the mad pounding of her terror-gripped heart.

She shivered as she looked down to the city, but Tokyo greeted her with the same beautiful sight from earlier.

Had it all been a dream? Had she imagined…the unimaginable…?

Down the road, Michiru saw another motorcycle approaching. That was real. The screeching of the wheels on the hot concrete was real. The cold drops of sweat trickling down her temples were real, too.

The ghastly vision was not.

Maybe the sun had affected her vision…maybe it was heatstroke. Yet, as she stood on the quiet road, light hat partially obscuring her line of sight, the corners of her casual dress fluttering in the soft wind, Michiru felt the sudden urge to run. Run, as fast and as far as she could, away from the memory of Darkness. She would just forget this had ever happened. It didn't—couldn't!—mean anything.

The second motorcycle drove past her, and the girl raised her eyes just as the driver lifted the visor of the helmet.

Tenoh Haruka!

Michiru turned on her heels and fled the scene, the sounds of the late-afternoon motorcycle cruise covering her footsteps.

An hour later, in the safety of her own room, she forced herself to forget the horrifying vision. A sleepless night later, she forced herself to push the image of Haruka Tenoh away from her tormented mind. And as the days passed, she tightened her grip on normality. She tried hard to ignore the intensifying feeling that it was quickly slipping out of her grasp.

AN: Like it? Hate it? Should I go on? Please let me know what you think!

Myosotis

PS: Don't worry, I remember Michiru had been watching Haruka from afar before knowing she was the other senshi;) but thanks for reminding it nonetheless! (I'd say a bit more but then the author's notes would get too long…)