Disclaimers:
I do not own the song "Drifting" by Sarah McLachlan nor "Stars" by Tatu. I'm just borrowing them.

Authors notes:
My head is like alphabet soup...all the words are all rattling around in there. Must take a break.. ;-;
Sorry for dropping such a huge plot bomb in part one… It seemed right, although I cried writing it.. Did we all guess who the mysterious woman with the green hair was? Surprised? Me too, but I think it fits. You'll see more why later.. at least you will unless I forget what I'm doing. But hopefully if I pull it off, then it will be the possibility of sequel material Hey I had everyone's best interests at heart n.n

Anyway, I'm not sure if some of the revealing things are in this one or the next one.. Regardless I think you all will like it & I want to know what you all think :heart:
Warning: some language in this chappy, but nothing you haven't seen before. Oo
Edit: Don't know if I'll ever finish this:Michiru glares at her: shut up you, your life is perfect. ; oh maybe it'll cheer me up….Yosh?

Ps. Ningyo and Keshou both mean mermaid, but Ningyo are the more violent ones, that eat human flesh I believe, and Keshou are the helpful mermaids, although both are mischievous and tempting.
And as always any references to time and places are altered for this story for the most part.

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Give it time and sip slowly : Part II

They spent the early morning on the beach, and Michiru ate way too much but Haruka didn't seem to mind. It had been nearly noon when Michiru had the blanket and began to shake it out. Luckily the wind wasn't as bad as usual because this was the hardest part when the wind blew.

"Ready to go in already?" Haruka asked smiling, her arms crossed and head cocked as she watched from somewhere beside her. Michiru turned to give her a side glance.
"You look almost disappointed." Michiru teased. "If I didn't know any better, Id say you really did like company; deep down." Haruka blushed a little and shrugged.
"It beats fighting with the water all day long, by myself." Haruka said softly staring out into the sea.

It was now Michiru's turn to look surprised. "What do you mean?" She stood beside Haruka the wind beginning to lift at her hair and make it float.
"I don't know... It just.. seems to know something I don't. And that bothers me."

Michiru stepped closer to the surf, the water came in and rolled over the sand consuming everything in its path, threateningly close. Haruka reached out and took her hand, wind rustling between them and blowing Michiru's hair around her face. Her hand was the only link to the shoreline, Michiru had felt so compelled to continue out.

"Don't get too close, this tide has a horrible under toe. I don't want to be accused as murder as well, Michiru." Haruka was teasing but the look in her eyes made Michiru giggle.
"You know, back where I came from, I was called a mermaid." Haruka raised her brows.
"Eh, is that so? Where is home anyway?" Michiru turned and smiled.
"My home is and will forever be the ocean, Haruka. That's all that matters." She eased out of Haruka's grasp and knelt, plucking a perfectly smooth shell out of the surf as it tumbled listlessly in the foamy current. Haruka was suddenly reminded of some lyrics she heard a while ago. It seemed so perfect, and so sad.

"Somewhere, there's people who love you.
And they're ready for you to come home.
Please come home."

"Here, you should keep this." Michiru winked at her mysteriously. "You might need it someday."

Haruka reached out and touched it, risking the chance to brush Michiru's palm with her fingertips. "Sou ka?"

"Mermaids. Ever since I was a little girl, I believed that when you toss a clam shell into the water, it is a secret prayer like a summoning." Michiru's eyes were somewhere else, somewhere happy. Haruka closed her hand around Michiru's the shell in between, and raised another hand to push a stray curl behind her ear.

"I'll keep that in mind, Ningyo." And their eyes met. Michiru blushed and smiled nodding.

By her choice of nickname, Michiru wondered if Haruka realized what she just let slip out about her feelings toward her; As though Haruka didn't fully trust her yet. Well perhaps Michiru took it too literally. No one had called her by that nickname for a long time.

"Well, I wanted to take a shower...If that's alright ?" Michiru said her heart fluttering so quickly in her chest. Haruka nodded. "You should find plenty of supplies in the bathroom, I got boat loads of bath stuff."
Michiru smiled, "I'll be right out." Her figure made its retreat back into the beach house. Haruka tried to look away but couldn't until finally she disappeared behind the screen door. Haruka looked down at the perfect little clam shell in her palm, no bigger then an inch.

"Ningyo or Keshou? You are a mystery, Michiru." Haruka wished that all too familiar fluttering in her heart, that deep dull aching would ease. She glanced at her watch, the wind musing her hair and flipping the ends of her shirt across her back teasing her. She had at least ten minutes, a quick run would clear her head.

"Okay, you're on!" The wind rushed against her back once accepting, then against her, threatening. Haruka squinted, as she knelt as if at a track meet. "Sate!"

Haruka tore off down the beach, and the wind accepting defeat, joined her. The only noise in her ears was the rushing gusts.

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Michiru took her time despite herself. She explored the room that Haruka always locked herself up in at night. She touched her pillow case, she picked up her fallen shirts and laid them into a neat pile. She found the tiny bottle of cologne and pressed it to her cheek, unable to keep herself from smiling as its scent reached her nose. Finally she decided to get back on track and went into the bathroom that had caused so much commotion just… only one night ago? It seemed a longer then that, but she did learn something from the experience and locked the door this time. Michiru figured out how to turn on the water -a little apprehensively- as the pipes creaked and made pretty horrific noises at first.
As the water heated she looked through the bag of things Haruka brought for bathing. All of the manly stuff had been picked out which suited Michiru just fine. Along with eye shadow Michiru had an uncanny habit of collecting nice smelling things, mostly body sprays and shampoos. She did not resist temptation now. Armed with about two different types of shampoo or body gel, she decided not to decide about one in particular and got into the shower.

About twenty minutes later, Michiru emerged and began to pat her body dry with one of the fluffy towels she found in the closet. Letting it around her shoulders so it could be a guard against her wet hair, she looked for something to replace the winter clothes Haruka had dressed her in. She didn't think of this possibility until now, putting on her under garments again. But she had already kept Haruka waiting so long, she had to find something. Peeking through the drawers and closets Michiru found what she had instinctively been searching for. It was as white as a pearl, and flared out just below the knees. Michiru slipped on the sundress, as new as the day it was bought perhaps only worn a few times. Her heart beat quickly as she felt a sort of excited guilt putting on and looking through someone else's things. Hopefully Haruka wouldn't mind as it was just laying there anyway. She slid it up along her hips and over her chest, finally securing the straps with a small bow behind her neck. It hugged her frame in all the right places, Michiru was pleased. She dug out some white sandals, although while on the beach shed likely go barefoot. Then Michiru did something with her drippy hair and twisted it into a loose roll along her head, securing it with a mother of pearl clasp she found in a cherry wood box on the dresser.

Now that she had the essentials, she should leave. But all the glittering rhinestones and pearls tempted her from the open jewelry box. Michiru slowly slid out a strand of creamy colored pearls, it ending with its tiny gold antique clasp. In the middle there was an aquamarine diamond shaped stone as big as her thumbnail. She couldn't help but be in awe over it and clasped it around her neck admiringly. It hung at the side of her throat, the gem just inside the tiny hallow of where her shoulder met her neck.

It looked very classy.

At last, plucking out matching pearl earrings that dangled perfectly in her ears, she flew down the stairs holding her shoes. She never felt so pretty or mature and knew shed never be able to afford such fine jewelry, so that she should enjoy it.
Before she went back out, she found her purse which she had luckily with her that night. Digging out lip gloss and eye shadow, she put on just enough not wanting to look like she was trying too hard, and yet so she didn't look too much like death wormed over.

Replacing her things, Michiru put on her best smile and crept out the kitchens back door again. She walked back out slowly, letting each footstep sink into the sun warmed sand only to find no Haruka waiting for her. Looking up and down the beach, Michiru deflated slightly, feeling sorry she went to such trouble to begin with. Her eyes turned seaward. Lifting the hem of her skirt, Michiru let the surf kiss her ankles. She was picturing in her mind's eye how she must look and imagined she were older successful woman. And this was her home, and in this dress she was a beautiful mystery, a rarity on earth.
The wind tugged free a few small curling wisps and caressed her face as she closed her eyes and stretched her hands toward the warming sun like a water plant in a shallow corral cove. She imagined she was there, not human but part of a bigger whole; an existence without existence. She was aware of how the wind blew the soft sheer folds around her legs, billowing and twirling like the wind was dancing with her. And that she was a tiny dancer, tip toeing through the surf, hoping from one foamy swirl to another. Suddenly she felt strong arms slid around her shoulders from behind, and hold her, like the desperate grip of hands on a kite string. The wind died down, the dance was over or perhaps the conductor intervened their self. Opening her eyes, Michiru stared into Haruka's face too surprised to be embarrassed. Haruka thought Michiru was too beautiful to doubt her actions and so her strong arms stayed.

Michiru seemed almost an illusion just then as if she would have disappeared if Haruka had not touched her.

"I didn't mean to stop you, but you looked so unearthly; so beautiful… I just had to touch you to make sure you were real." Haruka smiled a little, letting her arms loosen and slide away although her body was burning in that troublesome way again.
"You…really thought so?…"
"I know so." Haruka offered her arm for Michiru. "I went for a run along the beach, and lost track of time. I hope I didn't keep you waiting for long."

Michiru blushed a little recovering. "No, I was actually afraid you got sick of waiting on me… I hope you don't mind.." She gestured to the dress a little sheepishly.

"No, it looks perfect on you. It was just as I had imagined it.." Haruka thought of her version and didn't mean to say that out loud. Before Michiru could question she gestured toward the shoreline which glittered in the afternoon sun.
"There's something I want to show you; will you walk with me?" Michiru looped her arm through Haruka's and squeezed it smiling. "Sure. Id love to."

They began at a slow pace. Haruka pointed out all the places she visited as a child, all the stories that went with them. Michiru was particular interested in a tiny cave hidden among the sand dunes. The house was a mere speck on the horizon now.

"I used to play here when I was little." Haruka admitted. "I would never be it because my cousins could never find me here."

Michiru peered inside, much to small to get any closer but she could see the white scrolls and doodles from pebbles and shells against the walls.

"I used to go exploring too, on my beach." Michiru smiled a little almost sadly. Haruka plucked something out of the rolling surf and held it up for inspection. It was a sea glass bottle, tiny in her palm and probably only three inches high. She laid it on a flat rock to collect on the way back.
"I think the ocean is an untold story, always changing, always presenting itself different for new reasons."
"That's very poetic." Michiru smiled picking her way over the flat sun warmed rocks like stepping stones.
"It's true. No matter how many times I walk down here, its always different. I think the sea is showing off for you, Michiru." Haruka smiled giving her a sidelong glance offering her hand as Michiru stepped down into the sand again.

"Well, I told you Haruka. I'm part Mermaid."

They walked a little while longer enjoying the silence of shared company; pointing out things along the way. Like how the tiny clams would dig back into the sand as the tide relentlessly washed them free. Finally there was in the distance a chorus of cheerful music and a large glowing and glittering ring against the sky blue horizon. As it turned, it twinkled to Michiru and Haruka. Laughter could almost be heard over the crashing waves, where the sand melted into a board walk. Condos and food stands spotted the shore line ahead for miles.

"As much of a pain this festival is, it's… almost pretty you know?" Michiru looked surprised; The carnival from a distance did look beautiful. Balloons released from careless children climbed higher into the sky, as the rides made their turns and spins with twinkling lights and chiming noises.
"Would you like to go? Its been ages since I've been to a carnival.." Haruka almost looked carefree again. Michiru smiled and nodded. "I guess it wouldn't hurt. I'm so surprised anyone even found the festival here, its so far out."

They walked closer, the music becoming more louder and clearer.

"Well as you know, this year it was sponsored by the city. I think it was a ploy to promote the development."
Some of the crowd was on the beaches ahead swimming, the children chasing each other.
"Because this used to be run by people in the Alley for years and years. And people from this town from when it was first established in the early twenties."
Michiru nodded a little, and hoped this place remained untouched for years and years to come, but that seemed unlikely.
"It must be a tradition that this town holds dear then."

The design of the place was old fashioned and charming. It made Michiru feel like she almost stepped back in time. Music was provided by amplified pipe organs. Screaming and laughing was at its peak now as they stood in line, and roller coasters whooshed by over head. Haruka pointed out some of the older rides that had been there since the park opened; wooden roller coasters, haunted houses that by now were more of a jest for the older kids as the tricks and props seemed way too outdated to be scary. The smell of funnel cakes and popcorn was in the wind, mixed with the smell of the ocean, some how it was comforting. After having bought their tickets, they walked with the crowd into everyone broke off in separate locations.

"Well, do you want to just walk around till something sounds interesting?" Michiru nodded her eyes fixated on the huge Ferris wheel. Haruka smiled and leaned in to tell her quietly that the Ferris wheel is better experienced during the sun set, because the view is breath taking. They kept walking eyeing all the games, promoted with jests and challenges.
"Step up, step right up!" A man in a clown costume bellowed promoting a water gun game. "Shoot the clowns, win a prize!" Haruka only looked mildly interested.
"Step up Sir, try your luck, just one token to try!" They did have ten tokens between them. Haruka pocketed eight of the tokens to use later at the Ferris wheel before handing the obnoxious clown her ninth token. "Alright! Folks we have a challenger!" Haruka ducked her head a little smiling embarrassed and caught Michiru's eye, who knew she loved the attention. She then took her place behind the large red counter grabbing a water gun as a crown watched.
"Alright sir, just aim when you see the clowns. Best of three tries, and five complete hits gives your lucky lady a prize!" Haruka didn't much like the sponsor, their greasy face makeup smelt funny, and his clothes reeked like cigarette smoke. But she tried to concentrate anyway.

"GO!"

Clown faces popped up then, first to her right, then left; She shot with uncanny accuracy. After all she was champion at fast reflexes and video games. The crowd 'ooohed' and 'ahhhed.' The clown was frustrated because the game didn't seem challenging enough, and rightly so. Three rounds, fifteen direct shots and lots of prizes later, Haruka and Michiru sat on a bench. The after noon sun blasted heat against the backs of their heads, but with less bite as before, it would be sunset soon. They sipped iced lemonade slush's and shared popcorn, giving away all but one orange stripped stuffed cat to passing children. They had also gotten extra tokens, and a ticket for a free fortune telling reading. Haruka didn't know if shed bother using the fortune telling ticket, but she did have a plan for the tokens.

"After this, do you want to go to the arcade?" Michiru smiled sipping her drink. "Sure, I wonder if they have air hockey.. I'm a pro."
"Oh is that right?" Haruka teased letting a handful of popcorn into her mouth. "How about a challenge, Miss Kaiou? Loser buys iced tea later. How about it?"
"You're on!" Michiru smirked looking over at the fish bowl game. "That's what you should have." Haruka's brows quirked. "Nani?"
"A fish, silly, to keep you company!" She laughed. Haruka tossed popcorn at her. "I have enough problems with the one I have now." And looked at Michiru teasing back.

Michiru tossed popcorn back smirking. "Well, it looks like fun anyway, can I play?"

They finished their snacks and walked over. Haruka held Michiru's drink as she paid two tokens and received seven rings.
"Just throw the rings and for every ring that circles the mouth of the cider jugs, you win a gold fish." It was harder then it looked, the rings kept pinging off the sides of the bottle. Disappointed Michiru took back her drink. "Ah well," She sighed.
"I probably shouldn't have fish anyway, I can barely feed and clothe myself, you know?" Haruka was unfortunately, serious.
"Come on, lets go hit the arcade. We still have twenty minutes or so before sunset."

The arcade was crowded and games were pinning and chiming in all directions. They both made their way to the air hockey tables. Haruka did the honors and two mallets fell into their slots on either side, readying the game.
"Alright, do you want me to start off easy Michi-" But the girl already knocked the puck to Haruka's side. Haruka had only a second and knocked the puck away from her goal space, shooting it back to Michiru. This lasted for a long moment, until Michiru scored at last. "Yes!"
"Hey no fair, I wasn't paying attention!" Haruka protested, retrieving the puck and smacking it back.
"Who's fault is that!" Michiru laughed.

Haruka decided it was time to really let her have it and a moment later, she scored. This went on back and forth till they were tied, but in the end…

"I won!" Michiru smirked happily. "You owe me an iced tea, Tenou."
"Yeah, yeah easy shot." They walked out together and looked up at the blinking and twinkling Ferris wheel again. It was just sunset, still bright enough to see plainly, but the sky was a breath taking blaze of gold and red.
"No better time then now; Let's go Michiru." Giving the tender the rest of their tokens, plus the ones in her pocket, they were set up to stay on for the next three turns. No one really gave count anyway.

Climbing up the stairs, Haruka and Michiru stood and waited for a chair to sweep up behind them and scoop them into it as they sat. It rose higher and higher. The ground soon melted away, and most of the noise leaving only the ever present churning of the surf and the cry of gulls nearby. The sun climbed down the sky; a hunk of orange wax melting into florescent hot puddles that seeped out for miles and miles, making up the ocean waters. Wind teased them both, shaking the car gently, and lifting Michiru's smaller ringlets and curls about her cheeks.

"It's beautiful…"
"I know… I wanted you to see this.. Its one of my fondest memories."

Michiru leaned a little against Haruka's strong shoulder, feeling the shirts material against her cheek. They must have watched for only a minute but it felt like forever, and finally the wheel finished its cycle.
The second time, when they again felt like they were on top of the city and the only two people to exist, Haruka looked over at the beauty beside her. She let herself notice how the wind made Michiru's hair float around her face as if she were in water. The sun set colored her skin a red gold hue, and made her eyes sparkle.
Michiru turned toward Haruka feeling her eyes, and met them with her own. She recalled just then a song lyric which echoed in her mind momentarily like a question, for everyone like her; for everyone like Lady Anigusta.

Are we in love?
Do we deserve,
To bear the shame of this whole world?

Haruka's eyes seemed to answer her, but with what reply she couldn't be sure.
The rest of the lyrics continued through her mind.

And like the night we camouflage,
Denial.

Haruka's smile turned a bit tender, her eyes seemed to glisten somehow touched from a moment Michiru knew they were sharing but unsure just what exactly it meant. Leaning in, Haruka touched Michiru's hand. She was so close that Michiru could smell her cologne on her skin.

Are we in love?
Now for the first time in my life,
I'm flying.

Haruka lightly brushed her lips against Michiru's cheek.

She had wanted to kiss her, longed to kiss her…

But she couldn't.

Michiru's heart fluttered at the touch, but her lips ached. She wished Haruka had kissed her. She fought with herself, mind over heart, all the reasons why she should kiss her and all the reasons that it made sense not to.
Finally, Michiru turned her face so that Haruka's lips touched her own, so briefly and softly it felt like butterfly wings.
It was polite; it was asking. It was a pressing question that would linger between them for the rest of the night.

We're they?

Could they?

The Ferris wheel rode around twice more before the dazed Haruka and Michiru reluctantly stepped off. Regardless of the startling new questions, or maybe because of the moment that caused them, it had been magic captured in time.

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The day was winding closed and Michiru never brought up what she had wanted to say to Haruka.

"Anou… Do you think we could sit somewhere and talk?"
Haruka wondered why she suddenly seemed so tense but nodded.

"Do you like salt water taffy?" Haruka asked almost randomly.
"You can't have a serious discussion at the beach without it." Michiru smiled and obliged. The first conversation with Lady Anigusta seemed so far away since then. She vowed she needed to repay her kindness and have another tea session with the old woman. She was like the grandmother she never had, never really knowing her own grand parents.

Finally they both were sitting down just outside of the carnival on a large smooth flat rock, a small box of salt water taffy between them. Haruka picked out three of the orange cream ones and then gave Michiru the okay to begin. Michiru picked up a chocolate cream piece and began to play with the cellophane edges of its wrapper.

"Well.. The reason I had been listening that night to your conversation...was because someone you used to know, someone who I know very well too, asked about you."
Haruka nearly choked.

"Your name caught my attention right away because it was the name she told me of…" Michiru watched her face wondering if something happened between them that would cause her to shy away from the older woman.
"Lady Anigusta…She was your old piano teacher… Wasn't she?"

Haruka looked out over the ocean, holding in a long sigh. Michiru thought the woman would never breath again. She played with the taffy wrapper until the edges became tattered between her fingers.

"Hai… She was. She never liked Morgan and so once we got together, I drifted apart from her and this place." Haruka remembered the long piano rehearsals in the woman's musty living room. Pages of throaty deep piano cords that climbed out the window and stretched out for what seemed like miles and crashed like the shoreline in vibrating crescendos.
"She was the best instructor I ever had." They were shooting off fireworks now as the sun sank lower and lower into the sky.
"She told me to tell you...that she thinks about you often...and that…" Haruka watched her fingers play with the frayed edges, and took the candy unwrapping it and eating it herself. Michiru didn't seem to notice but she was looking at Haruka now her face intent on relaying this message. "And that…She hopes you make the right decision."

Haruka chewed for another moment before letting out her sigh finally, feeling some weird tensing in her chest. Perhaps it was some sort of grief that all this time she had been avoiding all those close to her, who cared about her, and now it might be too late.

"Its not too late," Michiru pressed somehow knowing, "she thinks about you all the time. She can't stop bragging about you."
"I know…It's just. I don't know why Morgan hated her so much. She would always tell me things about her when we were dating. I'm not sure what's what anymore."
"Regardless of that now, she's just a lonely old woman wanting company and to share a few smiles. You should go to see her." Haruka lifted her shoulders like a cat who's fur stood a bit on end from being irritated.

She knew Michiru was right, that sooner or later she would have to stop running from all those scars in the past.
"Yeah I know…" Haruka finally admitted. "I'll go to see her when I'm in town."

Michiru frowned a little trying to remember everything she was told.

"Perhaps Morgan disliked her because…Lady Anigusta had been her mothers lover."

This time Haruka choked.
"N..Nani?" She coughed looking at Michiru. "Come on now, you're serious?"

"Yes, she told me herself. That you had been engaged with her ex lover's daughter." Haruka looked half humiliated and half bewildered.
"Now you see why I had to listen… She told me to look out for your name."
"Can't anyone have any privacy in this town?" Haruka muttered but she looked more like she was trying to figure out why this information was so significant and why she had left it for Michiru to tell her. Perhaps Anigusta had known this would happen all along.
"Maybe she wanted you to know, to be warned before it was too late." Michiru suggested hoping Haruka would get angry.
"Well, that would explain a lot actually. I just can't believe it." Now that it was out in the open, Haruka felt something unknot deep in her chest. She actually felt a little better about the situation with her ex fiancé.

Its always easier to heal when you write someone off as insane.

"So Anigusta seems up to her old tricks as ever I see. And how did you come to know her?" Michiru finally took a taffy and had been chewing on it.
"Well, she's my landlady.. Actually, she owns the building but her niece takes care of the business part of it; also my manager at the café…a very mysterious woman."
"Ah I see.. You know, if I remember correctly, her niece sometimes would peek out at me during rehearsals." Haruka smiled a bit at the memory. "She seemed a few years older, but her personality was always so serious. I remember she had the darkest eyes like…garnet."
"That's her. I hardly ever see her; sometimes it seems like she's watching me though.."
"So then how did you and Anigusta meet?"
"Her music." Michiru said simply, her eyes casting out over the churning mass of water, becoming a fiery navy blue in the darkening sky. "Have you ever heard it?"
"Yes...Once. She scolded me for ease dropping on an old woman's love sick woes."

Michiru smiled a little and patted Haruka's arm in mock sympathy.

She figured she was only allowed to listen because the woman in her age needed someone to finally, and since Michiru had reminded Anigusta so much of herself..
Michiru looked at the stuffed cat in her lap suddenly remembering Monsieur and his wise bright jade eyes. So much a familiar of the distant woman sitting beside her.

"Did you leave yours behind when you moved?" Haruka asked gently, placing the lid on the box. It was getting dark, and she knew they should held back because it was dangerous walking the beaches at night with the rocks and whatever else had been washed up on shore. Michiru took the signal, standing and brushing sand off the dress.
"Iie.. My parents were allergic…but there's a tomcat at the alley who I love so much. His name is Monsieur." Haruka looked blank for a moment, and then grinned her eyes lighting up.

"Monsieur!.. You mean a really fluffy orange cat? You're joking?" Michiru was so surprised she merely shook her head.

"Monsieur was mine...My parents wouldn't let me keep him.. I had to give him up and Anigusta said she would watch over him." Haruka pretended some sand got into her eye and was rubbing at her face, but Michiru knew better.
"Yeah.. I found him one day; a tiny fluff ball. Anigusta named him, I didn't much like it but...Wow. I cant believe it. I didn't think she would have kept her promise all this time!"

Haruka finally got the 'sand' out of her eyes and looked at Michiru.

"I haven't seen him in years…" She said mostly to herself quietly.
"Well he's like the town mayor in the Alley, everyone knows and loves him. He shares my bed every night too; the fluff ball indeed."

Michiru was surprised but highly pleased. It seemed to make sense somehow. Monsieur was so much like Haruka after all and picturing the reunion was almost too cute to bare in her mind.

They stood there a moment thinking and remembering. Then Haruka suddenly remembered the time and where they were.

"Come on, the suns setting. We should head back…Oh yeah I forgot, the iced tea."
They walked up the stairs and spotted one last stand still open.
"I'll get us some for the walk…I'll be right back." Haruka walked up the boardwalk a little way and got into line. Michiru looked back towards the water one last time, vowing never to forget this day. Meanwhile, in her distraction, a group of boys who had been standing in the shadows nearby slinked over towards her. The harsh shadows of the dying sun mixed with ride lights until a street lamp finally showed their features.

Michiru didn't notice them, until she felt a sharp pain in her upper arm as she was grabbed. She tried to yell but one of their hands caught her mouth.

No one was around to help.

"Well, well… Look who it is boys. The first lady, all dressed up in her best. My, don't you look important." His breath smelt sweet, unnaturally sweet and his voice was thick from being drunk. Obviously he had vodka in his system.

It was no other then the captain of her high school's football team, Motoki Yukio.
She wanted to scream but couldn't.

"What're you doing with that guy Michiru? You think he's a prince or something?"
He sneered.
Another guy, Yukio's best friend who she recognized as Hiaun, grabbed her around the waist and pinned her backs back so she couldn't get away. She couldn't breathe from Yukio's hand on her mouth.

Michiru bit down on his fingers that had held her voice in, trying to ignore the need to throw up. Where was Haruka? Did they do anything to her? Why wasn't she back yet?

"You stupid bitch!" Yukio swore shaking his bleeding fingers and kicking sand at her. Sand gritted between her teeth, it was the most horrible feeling. Michiru spat trying to get it out of her mouth, some still crunched though. It was the most horrible feeling, and it gave her goose bumps. They were all laughing at all.
"I'll get the police, Yukio! You cant treat me like this!" Michiru yelled, clenching her fists. Although the possibility was this was a bluff and they knew it; no one would hear hear her this late. "I told you before, I don't like you; I HATE you. Leave me alone!"

He had pure hatred in his eyes.

"You've made a laughing stock 'outta me for the last time, Miss Frost Queen." Michiru glared at him, that was what they called her in junior high.
"You're going to wish you stayed with mommy and daddy." And he raised his hand to slap her.
"No! Stop! Let me go!" Michiru struggled against the hands which held her, and touched her. She wanted to be sick, but the will to get away from them made her blood boil, and her heart beat pound in her ears. Her blood rushed in her veins like the surf in a current. If only she had power. If only.. If only that bright bluish light wouldn't glare in her eyes like that.. Maybe then she could do something…

If the boys hadn't have been so wasted to notice that eerie aura, the situation might have been in Michiru's favor. She could have spooked them at least.

A tall figure from behind grabbed Yukio's hand at the last second, and turned it so that his arm was pinned to his back from behind. Haruka had arrived and just in the nick of time. She kept him pinned, nearly breaking his arm with her threatening grip. Hearing Michiru struggle, she threw the cup she had been holding at the guy holding her. Iced tea with lemon splashed right into his face. He let go of Michiru, and wiped at his eyes swearing.

"God dammit! That stings!"

Michiru struggled free and ran to a few paces behind Haruka, breathing hard. She wiped damp sand off her face and spit again.

"Go ahead Michiru, I'll catch up with you." Michiru went to shake her head, looking worried. "Don't worry about me, these boys and I met before." She caught Yukio's other arm as he brought it up to punch her and put it too behind his back. His friends backed off not wanting to take her, but they still gripped their fists and yelled things at her.

"Go get cleaned up; wait for me, okay?"

Michiru nodded and ran off in the opposite direction near the heart of the small beach front town. Where all the food stands stood now like empty shells for the night and the center stage was broad and lonely for the guest singers and bands who played there.

Once she was safely out of sight, Haruka let the kid fall onto the ground. She began to undo the buttons at her wrist and roll up her sleeves. No one, and she meant no one, crossed Haruka Tenou twice. She felt that same rush as with sports or racing. Though she didn't like the brutality of fighting much, she did like the rush of adrenaline, the commands she could ask of her body and how it responded with lightening quick timing. She felt she had due cause now, so she wanted to enjoy it. She liked sparring, she was competitive by nature. Wind whipped through her hair and lashed her clothes around her body, collecting with the force of the waves right behind her. She breathed in air, feeling energized, her muscles on edge. She yearned to fight. Had the boys not been drunk they would have wondered what that gold aura was that shimmered around her body.

Yukio breathed heavily, shaking with anger. He was too drunk to get up right away but while he was attempting, one of the boys from the sidelines rushed in and tried to punch Haruka. She turned and stepped back catching his punch and returned one of her own right to his solar plexus. He doubled over from the wind knocked out of him and staggered back to where the others were standing, less confident than before and looking around nervously. Yukio, on his feet again, curses and gets up. He rushes Haruka and punches her in the eye just as she was turning around. She staggers just a moment before regaining herself and punching him back in the face. A nasty noise and blood on her knuckles confirmed that she had gotten him good. Haruka grimaced a bit grabbing some napkins and trying too wipe it off, hating the blood on her hands. That was one thing she did not like about fighting, the blood.

The blood she always had to shed.

Beaten and humiliated, the boys ran off.

-------------------------------------------------------

Michiru wondered if anyone would try to follow her. She prayed not. The food stands were closed by now, which was why no one came running when the fight had broke out. And if Haruka hadn't have come... Michiru didn't want to think what would have happened.

In the center of the boardwalk, behind the wooden stage there were bathrooms. She ducked inside the women's bathroom, and stood at the sink panting. She was so angry as she brought trembling handfuls of water to her mouth, rinsing it many times. She used her fingers and worked the sand out of her hair, and rinsed her face. She noticed a small cut on her cheek, where a tiny shard must have been kicked up with the sand before. She gripped the sides of the sink, fighting the urge to scream.

Why did anyone have permission to treat people that way?

She felt so weak and such a burden to Haruka. If only she could be stronger, she would have been able to handle it. How dare they do that to her, how dare they stalk her, and barge into her life. How dare they touch her and humiliate her. She felt heat radiating from her body from these emotions. As if her very blood churned and bubbled like a massive rush of current; Like a tsunami rising higher and higher…

Her pulse -for there was no other explanation- sounded like water rushing in her ears, a humming, roaring noise. She tasted salt in her mouth, and told herself it was tears. Her body trembled, as if holding back some sort of power, wanting to spring up like a geyser. Thoughts and words flew through her mind, longed to be spoken, if she could manage to speak them coherently in her angry power. She assumed it was a type of chant that was formed in her angry state of mind. But if only she knew it was a type of key which would unlock everything.
Regardless, these feelings were always so surprising to her, so new, yet so strangely and shockingly familiar. Michiru forced herself to get a grip, afraid of it and pushed the feelings away; pushed that desire away. She glanced at herself in the mirror, her jaw clenched as she fought herself and for an instant there seemed to be again, a bright warm glow of teal somewhere around her forehead. It was so bright she thought she was going to black out. It began to glow brighter and surrounded her body.

So bright.

It burned her eyes.

And yet.. It felt so warm and...

The door slammed against the bathroom wall, startling her out of the trance. The glow was gone in the instant it took to appear. Michiru blinked, swaying on the spot.

"Michiru!" Haruka was at her side, catching her as she tried to regain balance. "Daijoubu ka?"

The current she had felt within subsided, leaving only her hammering pulse and a fierce dull ache where the light had shown… Or where she thought it had shown. She only did that one other time, when she was very little. She thought it had been a dream.
Either way, she didn't like it when she came so close to loosing control, whatever that would mean.

Michiru blinked multiple times.

"Hai… I must...Ara…I don't know.." She sighed, closing her eyes.
Haruka hugged her a bit scowling. "Those stupid bastards friends of yours?"

Michiru raised her brow stupidly. She never heard Haruka talk like that in front of her, and she was shaking as if so pumped up from her anger or the fight. Michiru stood better on her own now, but remained in Haruka's arms. She pulled back a bit to look at her and gasped.

"HARUKA! Your eye is all purple! What did they do to you?"

Michiru bunched a thick wad of paper towels together putting them under ice cold sink water before pressing it gingerly against Haruka's bruised eye. Haruka however was grinning, more on her good side then the other cause it kinda hurt to move her face too much.

"Eh, he got his. I don't think he really has a picture perfect face to go with that charming disposition anymore."

Michiru's eyes widened.
"Well thank goodness he isn't underage or you could go to jail! His father, Tehuchi, is a very powerful man, Haruka. He could have you locked up so fast-"

"Tehuchi?" Haruka laughed. "Motoki Tehuchi?"
"H..Hai." Michiru wondered what was so funny. She re-wet the paper towels and this time blotted Haruka's forehead.
"He is the brother of one of my sponsors! His son is Yukio, right?" Haruka had been too distracted during the fight to pay attention to the scum's name.

Michiru looked a bit doubtful but listened although by her expression, she looked as though Haruka had scrambled her head when she was hit. But she looked more interested now when Haruka offered the right name.

"Hai.. How did you know?" Michiru soaked the towel again and must have thought Haruka was more sane by returning them to her eye again. Water began to make the dress shirt collar soaked and the material cling to her neck. Haruka held the towels in place for a while before tossing them in the trash remembering something suddenly.
"Yeah. My sponsor mentions his brother all the time. He always says how much of a jerk his nephew is and how if it were his own son, he would have beat some sense into him long ago." Haruka leaned against the sink gingerly touching her eye, in between swatting Michiru's hand away as she fussed over her.
"Apparently the kid steals from him when his brother visits along with cleaning out his liquor supply. He's a good for nothing just like his father. In fact, they're always fighting because his brother refuses to believe that his son would ever do anything like that. Last I talked to him, he was setting camera's around, to catch the little punk in the act."

Haruka normally didn't like gossip, or boasting, but she was enjoying all the attention. And Michiru was the perfect femme for it as well. Finally, Michiru knew of Haruka's chivalry to her honor. She grinned at Michiru in such a way that the fussing girl felt her knees begin to turn to jelly again.

"Come on, Hero. We have to get back and put something on that eye of yours." Michiru offered to loop Haruka's arm around her shoulder, but Haruka feeling as high as bird right then, scooped up Michiru bride style and carried her out.
"Haruka!.. Oh fine!" Michiru laughed a little. She liked seeing Haruka so carefree and happy for once.

It probably felt good to fight with someone other then yourself sometimes.

The sun was barely a sliver above the water now, almost completely melted. The last brilliant rays of golden blue, and cherry pinks were scattered like ribbons across the twilight of navy blue. Stars began to speckle like tiny diamonds on a backdrop of plush dark blue velour, so that by the time they had returned, the moon and the boardwalk lamps had been their only guide for most of the way back.

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Authors notes:

GOMEN! I had commissions last month for Sailor Moon brooches, for all the seasons, and I played around with that on eBay for a week or so..and 20 brooches sold later and a lot of supplies over the place, I've been writing bits and pieces. Oo;

If anyone is interested in seeing my work, curious or otherwise, check out the page:

www . Cosplaypropsetc . live journal . Com (without the spaces though)

More to come! Much more! God will I ever stop dragging my feet XD gomen!

Ps. I threw the kiss in there for all of you. Lol. More to come, I promise!