Chapter 7: Why?
.:x:.
"Michi-chan, sweetheart, are you alright?" asked Setsuna as she heard her sister waking up. She had received an urgent call at work and upon hearing what happened to her sister she immediately took off. There, she met Hatake Tenou, who told her in detail the condition of the young aqua haired girl. Saying that she was surprised to see this man looking a lot like Haruka was an understatement. She couldn't help herself but to think that he was probably the reason why her little sister fainted.
"Onee-san?" Michiru murmured, trying to see where she was, upon seeing her own room, she raised an eyebrow and frowned slightly. "What happened?"
Setsuna smiled and gently caressed Michiru's forehead. "You fainted, dear." She then waited for her sister reaction but only received a surprised look. "You went with Rei-chan to Tenou Corp for your internship. You met the CEO and then fainted. Does that ring a bell?" Asked softly Setsuna.
Michiru's face showed Setsuna a sequence of emotions. It was easy to see that the aqua haired girl remembered something as she nodded in understanding. However, as soon as she did that another emotion came across her soft features. Sadness. From the look of the young girl, Setsuna knew that it had to do with the tall blonde man she met there, Hatake Tenou.
"Michi-chan…" Started Setsuna.
"I know what you will say Onee-san… but I'm sure it was Haruka-san." Cut the young woman still lying on her bed.
Setsuna kept hidden her astonishment, she really didn't understand her sister. It was something to long for a friendship, especially when you're new in a big city, but to cry over a stranger you barely know, to faint because of the resemblance and now to accuse a man of being a woman, it was something that she couldn't grasp. She knew Michiru was a very emotional girl but this whole Haruka's affair was beyond rational emotion. Her aqua haired sister got a glimpse of the beautiful blonde woman and now couldn't stop herself from craving for more. It was as if the smaller girl was addicted to a drug called Haruka.
Setsuna gently rubbed her temples as if to sooth her upcoming headache. She didn't like to see Michiru sad but she didn't like it either to see her becoming so obsess to a level of instability. With all the love and understanding of an older sister, she couldn't stay silent and watched the downfall of her dear sister. She slowly glanced at Michiru, who was watching her skeptically, and left a long sigh escaped her lips. She tried to speak her mind out but was cut before anything came out.
"You don't believe me…" Michiru whispered. "You probably think I lost my mind, or that I'm crazy chasing someone I barely know." She then finished.
"…" The tall woman sat silently. She didn't know what to say now. It was obvious that Michiru wouldn't easily back away and thus kept on pursuing the blonde woman no matter what she can say.
"I know it seems crazy, Onee-san. But you have to believe me… when I say it was Haruka-san." Michiru said softly as she took her sister's hand in hers. "I never lied to you." She then added.
Setsuna looked at their clasped hands and then at Michiru's deep blue eyes. "I know…" She finally said. "But I saw Tenou-san myself and I have to say that even if they do harbored a resemblance, he was not Haruka-san."
"Which one did you see?" asked Michiru.
"Which one?" Asked back Setsuna perplexed. "What do you mean?"
"If I recall correctly, Hatake Tenou is the CEO of Tenou Corp and probably the one you met." Explained Michiru as she looked up at the ceiling. "Then he said he has a brother that will help him look after the trainees. A moment later, said brother came into his office and was introduced as Haruka Tenou, his brother." As she finished her sentence, Michiru glanced back at her sister.
Stunned, not knowing what to say again, Setsuna looked at her sister tenderly and gently caressed Michiru's soft aqua hair. "You sure are stubborn." Smiled Setsuna.
"Thanks to who?" Michiru smiled back.
Setusna smiled. "You must be hungry, I will go prepare something. I will call you once I'm done. Just try to relax and rest." Setsuna stood up and kissed her sister's forehead before she left.
Once Setsuna was out of sight, Michiru turned to her right and looked outside through her windows. "The question is why?" She whispered to herself, an image of a tall blonde smiling lingering in her mind.
.:x:.
"What's wrong Aya-chan?" Asked a concerned Minako. Since they have been out of Tenou Corp, her friend seemed to be immersed in her thought, frowning from time to time. "Aya-chan?" Repeated Minako, this time tugging at her friend's sleeve.
"Huh?" Ayashi stopped walking and looked at Minako questioningly.
"Don't Huh me! You've been lost in your thought since we left Ruka-kun. Plus you kept on frowning… I don't know what's wrong with you, but if there's anything on your mind and you want to share… I'm here, and I'm a good listener!" Said Minako smiling.
"Hm… so you didn't notice." Ayashi said and resumed her walk.
"Oi! Aya-chan, wait… what should I have noticed?" Asked Minako curious.
"Haruka-san knows Michiru-san…" Stated Ayashi still looking straight ahead. "And well, we can only assume Michiru-san and Haruka-san knows each other…" She then added.
Minako nodded and then glanced back at her friend beside her. "Really?"
"I'm not sure, but seeing Haruka-san's reaction after the incident… just prove something. My best guess would be that they knew each other before Haruka-san's new appearance." She answered still thinking over the whole scene in her mind. "The question is …"
"… How well did they know each other?" Finished Minako, thoughtful.
The two blondes then silently strode back to their agency studio, where a very long meeting was waiting them.
.:x:.
"I don't understand you Haru…" Stated Hatake with a sigh. "You said yourself that you would be more than happy to help me with the trainees. Now you want to back away." Hatake looked at his sister. It was clear from Haruaka's expression that there was something bothering her. "May I ask you why?"
Haruka looked up to face her twin and met two reflecting green eyes. "I…" Haruka didn't really know what excuses she could gave her brother, and lying wasn't either an option since she never lied to her relatives. 'Maybe I should start…' She then thought but soon shook the idea out of her mind. "I know her." She finally answered and then looked away.
"Before you changed your appearance?" Asked the blonde man, but soon realized why it was difficult for his sister to work with them. "Of course before… that's why you are requesting not to be in charge of them. Am I right?"
Haruka only nodded. She wasn't sure why she was feeling scared of being in the aqua haired girl presence again, but the feeling was there. After all, they both didn't know each other well, only spent one day together. However, something was still bothering her and she couldn't pint point what it was, which bothered her even more.
"Was it Kaiou-san?" Questioned the other blonde.
"Huh?" Haruka was taken out of her thought at her brother's voice.
"Which one do you know? Kaiou-san or Hino-san?" Repeated Hatake, smiling. He knew his sister was deep in thought.
"Oh…Hm I don't know her first name but her name is Michiru." Simply stated Haruka.
"I see, so it's Kaiou-san… How did you two meet? And how long did you two know each other?" Hatake asked leaning on his desk, curious.
"We met in the train… and for only one day."
Upon hearing Haruka's answer, Hatake just stared at her sister with wide eyes. 'Unbelievable… she can't be serious?' He knew Haruka was the social type and very friendly. Indeed when she came back to Japan to attend High school she was one of the most popular students because she was outgoing and easy to get to know. So it was no surprised to him that she made a friend while traveling, but what surprised him was that Haruka was really affected by this short-term friendship. 'I'm sure it was even less than one day!'
"Haru, I understand your position, but do you think she recognized you?" Asked the brother.
"I'm not sure and I prefer not to be recognized." Answered simply Haruka.
"Well better not indeed… but what if she asked?"
"We'll tell her that she must have met our cousin Haruka Pearson… the Top Model from US." Haruka answered defeated. She really didn't like to lie but she decided to let everything in the past behind and it was definitive, even if it was hurting. 'Why is it hurting though?' She then thought sadly.
"Okay might work. To be sure though, I will be in charge of Kaiou-san instead and you Hino-san. I will make sure we won't run into each other too often, but you will have to talk to her from time to time so she won't be suspicious. Are you okay with this arrangement Haru?"
"I think I have no other choice." Replied Haruka as she stood up and stretched her body. "Thanks, Take." She then said while leaving the office.
"You're welcome Haru." Whispered Hatake. He then silently watched his sister opening and disappearing behind the large door. "You're very welcome…" He leant back to his chair and sighed. 'Why I'm feeling like something bad is gonna happen?'
AN: First, I'm glad people still read my fic and enjoy it. I was afraid the hiatus would have killed my fic… thankfully that is not the case. Then, I'm really grateful to those who dropped me a review (Special thanks to petiyaka, glowie, jade-MEST, MiSTrGosH, bahamut's king, Chloe, EisWulf and Ale) which showed me that you guys still like the story and are looking forward to updates! So what do you think of this one?