"Well, if I'm only going to have my toys for another two weeks, we might as well enjoy them, right?" The blonde raises a cocky eyebrow at Michiru. The two women are riding in Haruka's convertible, having finally earned their full release from the New York Hospital to return to the West Coast. Michiru's back is recovering nicely, and Haruka's injuries are no longer bothering her.
The smaller girl nods and laughs, displaying a good sense of humour. What she doesn't let show is how much she truly appreciates Haruka's gesture to compensate for the damage that had been done. With such an important part of Haruka's identity coming from her success and role at her company, Michiru could sense that Yamada's betrayal and its fallout was affecting the blonde more than she was letting on. Reaching over to squeeze Haruka's knee, the aqua woman smiles in silent gratitude and looks back out at the winding coastline.
Reaching the Island cottage at record speed, Haruka parks the car, then helps her companion with her bags. As they enter the front door, Haruka merely tosses everything onto the ground, then grabs the aqua beauty's hand and tugs her toward the bedroom. "Don't worry," the tall woman says, "I won't take advantage of you in your current state. Let's just relax and talk."
Settling into the comfortable bed, Haruka pulls Michiru close, then finally asks the question that's been burning on her mind since the incident at the hotel: "How did you learn to shoot a gun like that!"
"You know you haven't thanked me yet for saving your butt," the aqua girl admonishes.
"I'm eternally grateful that you saved my life," Haruka solemnly states. "But seriously, where the hell did you learn to shoot like that?"
Grinning, Michiru slowly lets the secret out. "Well, surely you've realized by now that I'm an intelligence agent. Also known as a spy. So I've had considerable training in a number of different areas. In fact, I could have flown your helicopter if I wasn't otherwise indisposed."
Haruka's eyes widen with excitement. "Wow...so do you have any cool gadgets?"
"Really? That's what you're focusing on?"
"Sorry, darling. What I meant was, how long have you been a spy for?"
"About three years now, I guess. I was recruited during one of my tours. Hence the 'early retirement' from my musical career."
"But what about being a reporter?"
"Just a cover story, Haruka. I don't have any journalism background. And my superiors arranged for the position with The Vancouver Post - the people at the paper have no idea what I really do."
"Oh, wow. No wonder your online profile was so lame." Haruka grimaces in exaggerated pain as she feels a pillow wallop her head. "And was it a difficult decision to join your agency? Interpol? FBI? CIA? CSIS? MI-6?"
Laughing, Michiru plants a kiss on Haruka's mouth to shut the blonde up. "Not telling. But yes, it was a very difficult decision. I wasn't yet at the pinnacle of my musical career. I still hadn't broken into the European concert circuit, and I felt like I had a lot more to offer the world in terms of my playing. But this kind of opportunity to save lives and stop evil forces in the world just doesn't present itself that often. So I made the choice I had to, and here I am."
Haruka's big eyes reveal a whole new level of admiration, and she continues to pepper her companion with questions until the aqua woman has had enough and distracts the blonde in much funner ways.