Title: La Promessa Immortale

Author: Kamel

Pairing: Haruka/Michiru

Word Count: 5,000

Genre: Romance, Drama

Rating: PG-13

Feedback: Please and thank you.

Summary: [AU] London, 1888: To Mamoru, this was all a game; he loved seeing Haruka suffering. Years after playing a losing game, Mamoru finally learns Haruka's weakness: Michiru.

Notes: This is the last chapter I will be able to post for a while. I will be out of the country for the next two months with very limited internet connection, but I will do my best to continue working on this piece while overseas so I do have something to post when I return.

Chapter Three

Wandering around late at night was no longer a bother for her, not when she knew the outcome would result in her being in the arms of the lover she longed for. She could walk this now very familiar path with her eyes closed, she could possibly walk this path in her sleep with all the times she had been over to the shop. Yes, it was necessary to be secretive according to Haruka, it was necessary to tip toe around everyone because their relationship according to Haruka… they, the public, didn't consider it normal in their eyes. The two of them shouldn't be together, but who were they to judge? Who on earth gave them the right to judge and determine who one could fall in love with? They gave Haruka a hard time because she choose the profession of a blacksmith, a profession well suited for any given man in the city; she was constantly given a hard time because she was a woman, but did that really matter if she was good at her job? Would they criticize her the way they do now if she was a man? No, they would praise her for her amazing work. Haruka had the talent to transform blacksmithing into a form of art.

She admired Haruka, admired the courage the woman must have in order to keep her emotions at bay and under control, the ability to keep her temper in check when being harassed by even her own coworkers. Haruka was talented in the dying art – Michiru would say this time and time again, she would defend Haruka and her ability. She truly had a gift with her hands and Michiru was able to vouch for that in more ways than one, of course. A small smile tugged on the corners of her lips, she was a bit embarrassed as to where she allowed her mind to wander, but regardless, it was the truth. Not to mention that her mind was on one track, on Haruka. She wanted so bad to see her once again and their time together (as little as it were) was quickly approaching; Michiru was eager to say the least. She walked past the darken shop; a few candles were lit inside. The business had been closed up for a few hours now. Haruka usually stayed around to clean up or finish up a project – or to wait for Michiru's arrival.

Michiru turned the corner, heading down the alleyway towards the shop's back entrance. The front entrance faced the street, entering through meant risking being seen by curious eyes, but who else was wandering the streets this late at night? They probably wouldn't even give Michiru a second glance if she had gone through the front entrance – they probably would have other business to attend to at this late hour. It was reasoning Haruka would not have nor hear. Luckily Michiru did not mind the back entrance, she didn't mind any entrance if it brought her closer to her Haruka. The door was propped open for her to slide on through to the barely lit backroom.

"Haruka?" she said, quietly at first as her eyes did their best to scan the dark area she had just stepped into. She could probably work her way around the shop in the dark also if she must with all the visits she had paid over the last few months. When she got no answer, she spoke up, calling the name once more, only to be answered with a clank of a tool falling and the shuffling of feet. It took a moment for her eyes to finally adjust to the dull lighting, but she saw the familiar figure heading directly towards her. Regardless to say, her smile grew. She had been waiting for this since their last planned encounter days ago.

"Michiru," the husky voice replied as a pair of delicate, but strong arms wrapped around her slender waist. At last, Michiru felt as if she were back at the home she had been longing for.

"This is ridiculous, Haruka," Michiru murmured back as she shook her head, holding onto the other woman tightly as she rested her forehead against Haruka's. Their eyes met; even in the dark they were able to see each other just as clearly. All this sneaking about, was it really essential? Their time together was limited because of it – only being able to really see each other during the evening hours away from prying eyes. Michiru would give anything to be able to see Haruka in the daylight like any other couple, she wanted to be able to walk down the street with her as lovers. In reality, they did not give each other the time of day during business hours – not even a second glance as tempting as it were.

"No. No it's not," Haruka replied, shaking her head back at the woman in her arms. Her lips lingers lingered, nearly brushing against Michiru's. It was taking every ounce of restraint in her body to keep herself from tasting the lips she had been missing for what honestly felt like an eternity. "You know what will happen… if people find out," she reminded.

"I don't care if they find out," Michiru quickly replied, shaking her head, and she honestly did not. All Michiru wanted was happiness and that is what she had with Haruka – happiness she wanted to flaunt around, not kept secret. She pulled back slightly to better look at the other woman's facial features. "Let them find out, Haruka, because I don't care and they shouldn't either. Frankly, there's a lot more to worry about right now."

Of course there was more to worry about right now, thousands were dying by the week due to a disease with no cure – a disease that had returned time and time again to claim so many. The dead were starting to pile in the street, there was no room for them. Even with the illness claiming so many lives, Haruka did not want to risk Michiru's well being. She was already mistreated by many for the way she kept her appearance – boyish hair and outfits to match, not to mention this job and she was attracted to Michiru. She was supposed to be a woman, the image of a stereotypical woman society had given them – the very image she did not reflect one bit.

Michiru on the other hand… she was accepted. Everyone loved her, a praised musician and artist from a family just as talented. And for some odd reason or another that Haruka could not figure out, she loved the blacksmith who apparently did not know her place in this society. "This is a cruel world, Michiru, and if I can protect you from it… I will," Haruka promised, gently pecking against her soft lips. Her hands trailed up from their resting place on the young woman's hips and trailed up her back, mindful of her long aquamarine hair.

"Protect me from a world that you hide from?" Michiru questioned, her eyebrows rising slightly. It sounded a bit hypocritical to her; Haruka wanted to keep her safe from a world she lived in everyday while Haruka did her damnest to hide from it.

"I don't hide from anyone," Haruka scoffed with a faint smirk when in reality she knew otherwise. She hid who she was to the world, but that did not mean she lived her life in shame. If she had, she would not be in this shop day in and day out. "I am who I am and the world doesn't like it, not a bit. I don't give a damn what they think about me."

"But you give a damn what they think about me?" Michiru then asked, pulling herself closer to Haruka once more. "You're running, you know, hiding."

"I do not hide, not in the sense that you are referring to," Haruka replied, her expression matching that of Michiru's. They were both being a little smudge, trying to show up the other. Michiru was not one to allow herself to be pushed around and, well, neither was Haruka for that matter. "Things are wild right now, Michiru. Nothing really makes sense, when this is all over, I promise… no more running."

"Nothing make sense?" Michiru repeated, now taking a full step back, breaking their embrace that each had been craving for. Her arms folded over her chest as her head lowered as the words repeated again and again in her mind. "Does that mean this does not make sense? Is that why you want to wait? To make sure that this is something that indeed makes sense?" she questioned, her eyebrows furrowing as a frown replaced her smile.

Almost immediately, Haruka shook her head to that assumption; it was so far from the truth. "If there is one thing I am absolutely sure about in this world is the fact that I love you, Michiru, and I want nothing more than to be with you. Forever," she stated clearly, taking the step Michiru had taken back. "Please, just believe me right now. I will show to the world that you and I are meant to be."

Michiru sighed faintly and shook her head in return towards Haruka. "Maybe it should be you sneaking around at night to me, maybe then you'll be just as frustrated," she commented.

Maybe it was a comment that was intended to offend, but Haruka chuckled lightly and smirked. "And risk the governor discovering me fondling around with his daughter? I think he'll have me hanged or something equally cruel," Haruka retorted. Her smirk only grew as she watched the pleasing smile return to her love's facial features. It was impossible for Michiru to stay upset at Haruka for very long; Haruka had her way with words along with other things. "Who's going to find us here? The other blacksmiths would rather drink themselves blind after shop closes, not stick around to clean up," she remarked with another chuckle that was quickly followed by a wince. Her hand flew up to the back of her neck where she felt a small, sharp pinch.

"Are you alright?" Michiru replied, eyebrows furrowing together.

Haruka rubbed her neck gently and then nodded her head in response. "Insect bite, nothing to worry about," she murmured in returned. No, she would not think twice about that bite inflicted upon her by the infected tick; she would not reach the conclusion that her blood had been tainted by the plague in that moment by the bite she should have definitely worried about."You have the world's most annoying critters running around in here," she added, trying to lead Michiru away from the conversation topic they had been on.

"And that makes me feel that much better for sneaking about in here," Michiru remarked, not budging not the track they had been on.

"Has anyone told you that you are quite the stubborn one?" Haruka asked teasingly, resting her forehead against hers.

A smirk tugged on Michiru's thin lips as her aquamarine eyes met those of teal. There was a glint in her eye, a glint Haruka had grown accustomed to over time; Michiru could definitely be wickedly sharp. She was a double-edged sword without a doubt. "Keep it up, Haruka, and you can see how… stubborn… I can be," she replied, her sweet voice teasing the woman in front of her, the woman who pulled her closer. She was back in Haruka's strong arms.

"I think I am more than capable of out stubborning you, my dear," Haruka murmured, as one of her hands ran down Michiru's side, down her waist and to her leg which she aided to lift and wrap around her own. Michiru would have happily obliged to being closer to her love, in a heartbeat. Haruka's hand was back around Michiru's waist as her other trailed down this time, grasping a fistful of the dress she wore before hoisting it up. Soon, it was not just their eyes that just met, but their lips also in a hungry kiss.

XXX

Tonight was not different from any other night – it was still a little warm outside, a little humid, but what do you expect in the middle of the summer season after all? This was their typical weather this time of year – something they had to constantly deal with year in and year out. The only thing not typical was the many sick lining up the streets and they were growing in number. The plague had returned once more to London and there were no rooms available to the sick in the hospital, in doctor offices. Frankly, there were not that many doctors to go around and even when they were around for the patients, they really were not sure what to do to help the disease ridden people.

And even though the night was not out of the ordinary (typical summer night with the occasional body lined up in the street), the situation Michiru found herself in and was about to find herself in was going testing her wits to the highest power.

This trip to see Haruka had not been planned, her lover was not expecting her arrival at the shop tonight, so Michiru could only hope that she was still there working late as she usually did from time to time. She had grave news, news that was ripping away at her heart; her family did not want to stay here in London, they wanted to escape the plague. They wanted to be in a city were the dead did not pile up in the streets, they did not want to live in fear, but where would they go? The plague had been known to travel throughout Europe and without a doubt the one currently causing turmoil would do the same, but that line of reasoning did not settle well with her parents. They were adamant about the move. They would relocate to Paris until things settled down for the most part. They reassured that the move would not be infinite, but Michiru still did not want to leave. She did not want to leave Haruka behind.

But she agreed to the move – because technically, in the eyes of her parents, Michiru had nothing keeping her in London. Her relationship with Haruka was none to no one else but the two of them. Her mother had gushed about her only daughter finding a possible French suitor in Paris and having the perfect wedding. Michiru could only offer a small, forced smile to this idea. In reality, she wanted no one else in the world but her dearest Haruka; she wanted to stay here in London with Haruka, but before she could make any decision to abandon her own family, Michiru had to consult Haruka. She could see her lover growing upset if Michiru had just turned up saying she was staying behind as her family fled. Haruka would not want to be the reason that separate Michiru from her family.

The shop was coming up in the distance; she could make it out from here even in the dim light the street lights had to offer. Almost at once Michiru felt her stomach tie itself into tight knots, making her sick. Her eyebrows furrowed together, forming a worrisome expression that took over her facial features. Maybe it was the distance that separated her from the shop and the poor lighting that was causing her eyes to play tricks on her, but the shop appeared to be boarded up. No, that could not be right – according to Haruka, business had been good and the shop would not be closed up all of a sudden, Haruka would had mentioned something to her about it.

With every step she took closer to the shop, the sicker she grew because realization was sinking in deadly quick. The windows had been boarded up, along with the main entrance and it was the red mark, the red x painted across the door that made her ultimately feel empty instead – it was during that moment of realization where Michiru's secret world, hidden from the public's eye, was destroyed, smashed to pieces and never to be restored again.

That red x might as well have been the angel of death. No. It was the angel of death, without a doubt in the world.

The plague had struck down the shop.

Where was Haruka?

She didn't know when her steadily walking pace turned into a frantic run. Her body nearly collided with the door; she could not stop fast enough. Her tightly clenched fists pounded with all their might against the door, against the splinted wood. Someone was inside. Someone had to be inside – these buildings were not evacuated. The sick were kept inside along with everyone else who had been present at the time of the lock in. Haruka never missed worked, leading her to conclude that the woman was still inside.

"Haruka!" Michiru shouted, her voice echoing in fear, in fright. Her fists continued to pound against the door despite the fact that they were growing red and raw from the abuse.

Her body began to tremble when no answer came. "Haruka!" she repeated, her voice cracking this time. Someone just had to answer, anyone. Haruka had to be alright, she just had to be – there was no other way. She couldn't be sick. Being sick meant receiving a death sentence.

Still no answer.

"Ha-ru-ka!" she annunciated, her fist slammed against the door with every pause as she begged and pleaded for an answer. Tears were streaming from her puffy aquamarine eyes, down her cheeks. This could not be happening. She had seen Haruka just days before – she had been alright, she was healthy. It was someone else in the shop that had been infected and now… so would everyone else in the building, including her Haruka; she was going to lose her Haruka because of some selfish prick's actions.

Why was no one answering? There had to be people inside, someone who could inform her of what was going on – maybe someone would tell her Haruka did not come to the shop today, that she was still at home taking a holiday (after all, the woman was a bit overworked). Yes, that had to be it – Haruka did not come to work today, she was at home, relaxing with her family because Michiru refused to believe that her lover was inside the shop wasting away.

With all the ruckus she had been causing, it was no wonder that a uniformed officer had been able to come up behind Michiru and firmly take her by the wrist before she could cause any more of a disturbance to the neighborhood. At once Michiru felt her heart fly into her throw as she was whirled around, her eyes widened in shock and initial fear once more.

"Madam, I am going to have to ask you to please return home," the man stated, his voice calming. Michiru could not explain it, but his present was making her feel at ease even given the current situation. His peaceful bright blue eyes were offering her warmth, inviting her in. "It is no time for a young woman such as yourself to be wandering the streets at this hour."

Somehow Michiru had willed herself to look away from his stunning features and to her wrist he had been holding; he had a solid grip on her and had he not been a man of law, she would have been terrified by now, but his general presence was telling her otherwise. She could trust this man and she believed every word he was speaking to her. It was dangerous for her to be wandering around the streets of London at night; she shouldn't be here.

"And I would feel more at ease if I were able to escort you back, Madam…?" he asked, lowering her wrist before releasing his grasp.

"Michiru," she replied. "Kaioh."

"Madam Kaioh, I am Officer Chiba," the man introduced, giving her a grim smile. "These are rough times we are facing, Madam Kaioh, and I would not want to see a lovely lady such as yourself get hurt because of foolishness."

His voice was enchanting, welcoming; she could believe every word that he spoke. Everything about him was inviting her in. "I'm sorry, officer, but… my friend," Michiru began, glancing over her shoulder towards the door of the blacksmith shop as a frown tugged on the corners of her lips. "I'm not sure of her well bouts. I want to make sure she is alright," she explained.

The officer followed Michiru's gaze towards the door and bit back a smirk, already well aware of the fact that there were no survivors within the building – something he had seen to personally. When the woman looked back at him, the smirk was immediately replaced with a grim, seldom appearance. "I'm afraid your search has to be postponed until the morning, Madam. It is not safe," he replied. "Now please, shall I walk you back to your home?" he asked once more, offering his hand out to her.

Michiru glanced down at his hand before taking it. "You may," she answered, walking in step with the officer. He had put her in an eerie sense of ease. His grasp this time around her hand had been light – there was no tight lock had there been previously. The officer silently watched her from the corner of his eyes as they walked down the street; he could still sense the fear in her, fear for a loved one that he had probably murdered not even hours ago. The only thing that kept him from sinking his teeth into her own delicate, sweet flesh was the absence of the thirst he had earlier quenched and her name.

The same name that woman had shouted when he left his mark on her; this had the potential to be entertaining – watching the newly turned restrain from attacking the one she loved dearly. Oh yes, entertaining indeed.

XXX

The high pitch scream was still echoing in Haruka's ears as he made a dash over the rooftops throughout the city she had been patrolling for the last few hours during the evening now. The last few days had been unbearably silent, almost peaceful, but she had known better – nothing could be truly peaceful with Mamoru on the loose. Peace did not exist when that man was around, she had quickly learned many years ago. As long as Mamoru was in the area, no one would be safe; he was a ruthless killer and by the sound of things, he had just claimed another innocent victim. The victims were always innocent – no one deserved to meet an end that Mamoru had to offer.

Yes. Yes, he had. Haruka was picking up on the scent of blood, it was pouring from the wound in great amounts – the barbarian! Another life taken for the game he was playing with her; he was working her last nerve and he was well aware of the fact. He also knew that Haruka was nowhere near as powerful to actually do anything about it also. Mamoru had centuries on her, centuries of speed and power; she would not last a moment against him in a fight.

She didn't understand why he was playing this game, why all the way out here in London. It made no sense – he would have received the same reaction from her had he remained and done these actions in Romania, a land where horrific tales of the blood feeding monsters of the night were true and not just a myth as they were outside the boarders. Is that what he was attempting to do? Strike rational fear into the hearts of mortals outside his country?

Possibly no. The humans here have branded him as 'Jack the Ripper,' another man, not a vampire – though still a monster in every sense of the word.

She was getting close. The smell of the blood was growing, burning deep in her throat. It was a temptation she learned long ago to rein over. She would not give in to it, she would not become the same monster he was, and she absolutely refused to.

Haruka came to a halt just above the Hanbury Street, the smell of blood was strong and standing over the edge of the building confirmed her assumptions. The early scream came from a woman, a woman who had been brutally gutted like an animal and her throat ripped apart. Haruka's eyes narrowed at the sight of the killer standing over the victim. Mamoru stood up, sensing her presence no doubt. Their eyes met for a second, his filled with excitement as blood trickled down his chin.

Nothing but a vicious game to him, that's all this was.

Fists formed at Haruka's sides as her teeth grinded together. Damn him. He was toying with her, there was no need to have gutted the poor woman in such a manner, not when the bite along was lethal enough to take her down without a fight. She watched a smirk appeared on his cold pale face. Before she could budge, he was gone in a blur of motion, but she had his scent – she could track him and then what? She was come to that when she had him beneath her hands.

Her train of thought was disrupted, however, but a second scream. Haruka's head automatically jerked towards the sound, concluding that Mamoru had attacked once more, but realization showed her it was another woman discovering the scene of the crime. Haruka took a step back from the edge of the building in an attempt to keep herself hidden, but she did not want to disrupt her own view as well.

"Help!" the woman shouted in frantic. "Someone! Help!" She didn't get close, Haruka did not blame her; it was not a sight that many could stomach.

The woman turned around quickly, probably scanning her surrounding for the help she was attempting to summon. Haruka was not able to ponder about it, the woman's scent had reached her; it was the same sweet scent that had bewitched her days ago on the stormy morning. Haruka immediately grabbed a handful of cloak and covered her nose and mouth which was clenched tightly. This scent, there was something about this scent that called to her, causing her to beg for just one little taste. She planted her feet firmly against the roof, not willing herself to move even an inch; in this moment, she did not trust herself.

The scent was so familiar; she had smelt it before – before that morning, but she could not recall. She would have remembered something like this.

Haruka had not noticed when the uniformed officers had showed up, but they had taken the woman away from the crime scene as more were summoned. Haruka kept still, not wanting to be seen. If she were discovered now, she was affirmative they could attempt to connect her to the murders (even though her name would not appear in their records for centuries, nor would be they capable of capturing her even for that matter). They were questioning the poor girl – right here on the street. You would think they would have the common courteousy to take her inside, actually away from the scene and give her time to collect herself.

"-Madam Kaioh-"

She had not been paying attention to the conversation below but the name had definitely caught it. She had heard that surname before, she could not place where, but she knew deep down that she had and it held a great importance to her. Kaioh. It had to have been from her life in London all those decades ago since in this life now, all she focused on was tracking Mamoru. Kaioh. Think, she was forcing herself to think where the surname had been from. Kaioh.

It hit her all of a sudden.

Everything was flooding back to her, memories that had long been forgotten over time.

Her figure, her body, and the eyes she had fallen for all that time ago. That voice, the smell, her smooth skin.

Michiru.

Haruka lowered her hand, initially lowering the cloak that was poorly shielding her from the overwhelming scent. Her eyes were transfixed on the trembling woman below. The officers were done with her, one of the men was going to escort her home while the others dealt with the scene. She watched as said officer and Madam Kaioh began to walk, putting Haruka at a crossroad; Mamoru's scent was fresh, she would be able to locate him – he was outside the city, but… this woman. It was Michiru. It had to be, but at the same time Haruka knew better. Time had long ago claimed her Michiru, but her eyes were telling her that her Michiru was standing in the street below.

If she allowed Mamoru to go, that ultimately meant another murder, did it not? But… would she be able to find this woman again? Haruka did not doubt her tracking skills, she would definitely be able to track down this woman again, but at the same time Haruka did not want to risk it. Nor did she want to risk another innocent person losing their life. She watched at the officer and the woman walked around the corner, they were heading down the block.

Haruka found herself trailing behind them on rooftop.

To Be Continued