The Unceasing Path

Ch 24 : 與敵同行

Walking With the Enemy - wherein the distant past catches up with Haruka

Ami bowed politely as Michiru took her umbrella and placed it on the drying rack by the door.

"Thank you Michiru-san. Please thank Haruka for me as well? I appreciate the ride here."

"Nonsense. it's raining. I'm not about to let you walk here in this weather. These summer storms can turn quite suddenly. Really, we are the ones who owe you a favour. I know Hotaru's a teenager and all, but I'd still feel better knowing that she's not alone tonight. Her fever's mostly gone, though she still has a runny nose and is coughing some. I'd cancel the concert but..."

"But I'm sure it's nothing to worry about." Ami interjected. "Just a common cold. Everyone gets one from time to time."

"Especially if they spend all day gallivanting about the amusement park." Michiru muttered darkly. "I told her to bring a light jacket for the air conditioned parts..."

Ami flushed, fully aware that as a responsible adult, she should have reminded Hotaru about her coat. Unfortunately, she hadn't noticed that it was cold either - not that cold temperatures alone was responsible for the transmission of nasopharyngitis. That was just an old wives tale and -

Ami stopped her train of thought abruptly. Could Michiru read minds? Even after all these years, she still wasn't sure if Michiru was actually psychic, or if she was "merely" superhumanly gifted with the ability to read body language and social cues. Either way Michiru would probably not take kind to being referred to as an "old wife". Ami cleared her throat quickly before realizing how bad that looked in context. She flicked her eyes about, searching desperately for a distraction.

Oh!

Wow!

Ami gasped in wonder.

There was a painting she'd never seen before hanging in the studio. It was a cityscape, bathed in the warm oranges and cool blues of a new day. The arrow straight verticals of man-made buildings reached up towards the openness of the sky. There was tension in the image, yet Ami didn't feel that it was stressful. It was more of a tremor. A vibration. A sense of energy, of life and limitless opportunities permeated the piece. Ami drifted towards to the painting, drawn in by all the details that became visible as she got closer.

"Did you know, that Hong Kong has become one of my favourite cities in the world?"

"It's beautiful Michiru-san. It's so...alive." Ami resisted the urge to reach out and touch the painting, right where the sea met the sky. "This is very different from your other works. I don't think I've seen you do a cityscape before."

"It is isn't it? To be honest, I've never considered this piece a cityscape. This one is more personal. It's more a fond memory for me. A bit of a look through rose coloured glasses. Or orange as the case may be."

Ami nodded as the connection Michiru had to Hong Kong dawned on her.

"You and Haruka got engaged there yes?"

"Yes, that's correct! And speaking of, Haruka's asked me to speak with you on her behalf. A request if we might."

"Oh really? Odd, She didn't say anything on the car ride here. Is everything alright?"

"Wonderful my dear. Nothing to worry about. It's a small thing really. Haruka, that silly goose of a human being, is just too embarrassed to ask you outright. You see, she's very upset that she and I aren't together in your story. "

Oh no...

"I- I didn't realize you had heard the story too?

Michiru raised an eyebrow in a way that only Michiru could. "We're not so above it all as you seem to think Ami-chan. Haruka would never admit to it, but she does so like her happy endings. As for myself, well, I'd never dream to intrude on another artists' space, but since Haruka insisted I speak with you, well, here we are."

"I'll... uh... I'll see what I can do."

"Wonderful!" Outside, the beeps of a car horn sounded in rapid succession. Michiru ignored it blithely as she gave Ami a quick hug. "I'm glad we had this chat. Hotaru-chan will be happy to hear it too. She's rather into the whole guns and gangsters genre right now." The delicate purse of the lips spoke without words regarding Michiru's opinion on that matter. "She bought a new video game that she was excited to show you – after she's done her homework for the night of course. Anyways!" Michiru gave Ami a quick peck on the cheek. First one, then the other. "You two have fun tonight. Help yourself to anything in the fridge. We'll be home around midnight, depending on encores. Bonne nuit!"

[1:30am, behind Sheung Shui Water Treatment Facility]

The seas are stormy. Meet me where we used to be. Where the tracks go ever on and water flows clear. 1:30am. Come alone. I need my cousin.

Damn. Haruka looked around. "Meet me in the empty lot near the railway tracks where we used to make out behind the old water treatment plant". Michiru could have just said that like a normal person, but nooo, she was Michiru. Haruka sighed. Michiru sure picked a cheery meeting spot. Nothing around here but concrete blocks and patches of dead grass. Some shitty graffiti tags indicated that local teens likely used this place as a hang out, but this time of night, it was deserted. To her left, the Sheung Yue river flowed black and lazy into the night. To her right, the railway tracks waited silently for daybreak. If she looked up, she could see the 24/7 spotlights shining at the friendly neighbourhood correctional facility. The huge, industrial sized water pipes were somewhat interesting, but Haruka was in no mood to appreciate the finer points of civil engineering.

"I need my cousin."

Haruka had spent a long time staring at that sentence. In her line of work, mysterious messages from unknown numbers were 99.99% of the time, a trap; but this one, if it were a trap, was too perfect. Only Michiru knew about this parking lot. Only Michiru would call her cousin. If it were a trap, then Haruka was willing to be caught. It was the first time that Michiru had deigned to call her in years, and yet, like an idiot, she had come running.

Haruka sighed again.

Cousin.

That old nickname – a stupid incident from a stupid vacation she had taken with Michiru once upon a time. A joke from some stupid off-the-highway podunk diner between Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. Haruka had gotten flustered and told the nosy waitress that they were just cousins. Michiru didn't take that well, and proceeded to spend the rest of the meal flirting and touching Haruka in a way that was distinctly not appropriate for cousins.

The look on the waitress's face had been priceless.

Haruka smiled to herself. Cousins did not hold hands like that. Overall, that vacation was one of her fondest memories. What she wouldn't give to leave Hong Kong and all of this bullshit behind. The heavy price of Triad life weighed on her heart. She had buried enough friends for one lifetime - not like they had enough pieces left of Makoto left to bury anyways; the medical examiner never released the body. Haruka felt the familiar gnaw of guilt in her stomach. Mako was a good egg and deserved better than what happened. That car bomb had caught them all off guard.

Aw shit. This wasn't helping. Haruka ruthlessly clamped down on her train of thought. It was all in the past.

Nostalgia: she needed that like she needed a hole in the head.

Haruka knew she should be sharp and focused. This could be a trap. Hell, this was probably a trap. She was a triad leader at war with the Yuet To Tong for crying out loud! Here shew as waiting all alone in an deserted field in the middle of the night because her ex-girlfriend from the Yuet To Tong texted her. Hell, she didn't even tell anyone where she was going. This was an ambush waiting to happen.

This was stupid, and yet here she was. She could never say no to Michiru. That would never change.

The appearance of the actual Michiru shook Haruka out of her pointless self recrimination. Her heart jumped. Michiru was as beautiful as she was in her dreams.

"I'm here!" Haruka waved, then stopped quickly when she caught herself. She leaned against her car with what she hoped was casual grace. With any luck, Michiru didn't see her acting like some little kid trying to get their crush's attention on a playground just now. "Jesus fuck," Haruka cursed, trying to regain some of her sense of cool. "You picked a quiet spot to meet. I've lived in Hong Kong all my life, but I don't think I've ever been this far north."

"Haruka." The way Michiru said her name was venom and spice. It took every bit of Haruka's pride to not fall to her knees and beg for forgiveness right then and there. "Did you call me here just to lie to me? You and I both know we've been here before. What do you want?"

Haruka cocked her head to the side coolly. "What do I want? You're the one who called me out here to the middle of nowhere. I came."

"Is this another one of your games? I didn't call you. You called me."

Haruka narrowed her eyes. Things weren't adding up. Something was fishy about all this.

A sudden rustle from the trees, the snap of a broken branch, caused both her and Michiru to spin around. Haruka's hands flew towards the gun in her belt. Beside her, she could see Michiru doing the same. Haruka couldn't help but feel right as Michiru stepped closer and covered her flank.

"It's not her fault. It's mine." A ghost stepped out into the light. "I'm sorry for the subterfuge. This was the only way I could get to you both."

Mizuno Ami. Of course. Haruka should have figured this out earlier.

Mizuno was supposed to be dead, but no such luck. She was here, one hand up in surrender, the other remained bound to her chest in a sling. Haruka straightened her aim, pointing straight at Mizuno's head. To her great relief, Michiru did the same beside her.

Haruka didn't know why, but now wasn't the time for questions.

"Hands in the air!" Haruka flicked her gun at the arm in the sling when only one hand went up. "Both of them"

Mizuno narrowed her eyes, but followed her instructions. She pulled her arm out slowly then raised it in the air. There was no hiding the way she winced in pain.

Good.

Mizuno couldn't lift the arm fully. It wasn't a trick then. The dog was actually injured. Haruka couldn't help her lack of empathy. Every run in she's had with Mizuno over hte years ended in violence. The weaker her enemy was, the better.

"I'm not armed. You can check if you like."

Haruka shot another look over at Michiru. Michiru still had her gun pointing straight at Mizuno. Haruka didn't really know what to make of that, but she couldn't deny feeling a little satisfied that she wasn't the only one confused as fuck. She nodded at Michiru, and in a show of faith, lowered her gun and walked over to where the other Yuet To Tong was standing. Haruka did a quick pat down, checking the usual places. Hip, waist, sides, back, legs, ankles. Mizuno didn't lie. She was unarmed.

"Satisfied?" Mizuno ground the word out through clenched teeth. "We need to talk."

"Don't listen to her. Not a word. She's a cop. Check for a wire."

Mizuno stood still as Haruka gave her a more thorough pat down. She gave the all clear to Michiru once she was satisfied that Mizuno was clean.

Michiru didn't answer. She kept her gun trained at Mizuno. "Is it true Ami? Are you a cop?" Haruka had never seen Michiru so angry. It was a terrifying sight. "ANSWER ME!" Mizuno still didn't say anything. Michiru cocked her gun meaningfully. Haruka stayed back, sensing that this was not the time to interfere. "All this time, you've been a rat. Since the very first day we met? You disgust me."

"I was trying to protect you."

"To protect me? You LET me follow you into the Yuet To Tong to protect me? You used me as part of your cover didn't you? That's cold."

"I'm sorry Michiru. It was a mistake! I never meant for you to get involved."

A look twitched across Michiru's face. Even after all this time. Haruka still knew Michiru well enough to know that it was a look of pure disdain.

"Bitch. Minako died trying to avenge you."

"I know. I'm sorry... I'm so sorry." Mizuno's hands dropped to her sides in defeat. Haruka tensed, seeing Mizuno move without permission, but the girl didn't seem like a threat anymore. She seemed like a different person altogether. "It's my fault."

"I should kill you right now. You've betrayed us."

"I won't stop you."

Michiru raised the gun again. Haruka looked on impassively. She saw how Michiru's hands were shaking ever-so-slightly. She saw how Mizuno stood there, eyes closed and calm as a fucking monk in the moonlight.

No. If Mizuno died right now, only one person would suffer, and Haruka would not stand for that.

"Michiru. Wait." Haruka reached out and placed a hand on Michiru's shoulder. "Don't listen to her. That's just what she wants. You're not a killer. She's not worth it."

It was a tense moment before Michiru relaxed. The gun remained pointed at Mizuno however.

"You're right Haruka. She isn't worth it. Enough with the melodrama then. Why did you call us here? Be honest, for once in your life."

"I need information, and I – I need to make things right." For the first time in all their run ins with each other, Haruka saw that Mizuno was scared. "I have to make things right." She repeated desperately. "Things are about to happen, and I can't have you involved. Get out of town. Run. In my pocket, I have money. I am going to reach for it now ok?" At Haruka's nod, Mizuno slowly reached into her jacket and pulled out a thick manila envelope. "Passports, bank accounts. Everything you need to start a new life somewhere else. It's all yours. Take it and run."

"Bullshit." At Michiru's nod, Haruka walked over and took the envelope carefully. She didn't take her eyes off Mizuno for one second but she could feel the weight of the envelope in her hand. It was full of something. Mizuno wasn't lying - probably. Haruka didn't dare to hope. "Michiru I understand, but why would did you call me here? To save my life? We're not friends. We've never done each other any favours. What's your game?"

"I told you. I need to make things right. I owe you more than you know Haruka. Besides," Mizuno gave a rueful chuckle. "Did you really think I could talk Michiru into leaving without you? She loves you. You love her. Don't make the same mistakes I've made. Live your life."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Haruka stole another glance at Michiru and was surprised to see a faint blush on her cheeks. "Michiru? What is she talking about? Do you still..."

"Yes, you bloody idiot. She's telling the truth."

"Michiru. I swear, I didn't mean to abandon you."

"I don't want to hear it. Is this really the appropriate time for this?"

"Yes it is! I can't wait another second!" Haruka spoke quickly, before she lost her nerve. "I thought the cops would come after me. It should have been me they arrested, not you. I've wanted to tell you that for years now, but I was too proud to just call and apologize. I thought you'd moved on. I didn't think you wanted to hear from me anyways. I'm so sorry."

"Oh." Michiru said simply. "You should have just called."

"I love you Michiru." Haruka couldn't stop talking even if she tried. The words spilled out now that the dam had broken. "I still do. I always have. I always will."

Suddenly Michiru was in her arms again, and they were kissing. The years fell away and all was right with the world. Nothing but nothing was ever going to keep her apart from this woman ever again.

"Ahem"

Haruka crashed back to earth. In the midst of the happiest moment of her life, she had forgotten that Mizuno was still there.

"Sorry to interrupt, but..." For the first time all evening, and in all the time Haruka had ever known her, a flicker of fear crossed Mizuno's face. Haruka blinked hard, unsure of what she was seeing, or of how to react, but the moment had passed. The familiar presence of Mad Dog Mizuno stood before her once again, gruff and cocksure as ever. "I need information. What the fuck's going on? How did things get this bad? It's chaos out there. All the gangs are fighting, but no one seems to know why."

Michiru turned with a withering glare.

"It was you. You died. We thought the Hung Fa Boys killed you and captured Minako. Minako escaped, but by then it was too late. Luna had to do something-"

"-so she had someone whack my boss" Haruka finished the story. "According to the police, that someone was you."

"For what it's worth, I didn't do it. I'm not innocent, but Artemis Katze did not die by my hand. I swear it."

"Yeah, for what that's worth." Haruka spat on the ground to indicate what she thought of that idea. "Give me one good reason to believe a word you say. How do you even know that name?"

"Does it matter anymore? Does anything? Michiru, I need to confirm. Luna never ordered a hit on the Hung Fa Boy's Dragonhead did she?"

"No. She didn't. We are not killers."

Michiru underscored her words with such spite that Haruka winced even though it wasn't directed at her. "Wait, wait! Let me get this straight." A thought suddenly occured to her. "If it wasn't the Yuet To Tong, who the fuck was it?" Haruka frowned. The implications were unsettling.

"You don't need to know." Mizuno interrupted. "I know who did it., or at least I know who had the most to gain form Artemis Katze's death. As long as I'm alive, he's a dead man walking."

"Fuck you, we need to know!" Michiru snapped. "This whole war started for nothing! A lot of good people are dead now! Luna's dead! Setsuna and Usagi are in hiding! I'm here trying to hold it all together, but there's nothing left! Everything's fallen apart! The Yuet To Tong are finished, and it all tracks back to you! Where the hell have you been anyways? And what do you think you're doing with your vigilante stunts?"

"I got shot the night of the diamond deal. I've been in hiding ever since. I can't say where or with whom but -"

Michiru gasped. "Hotaru!? Now you've gotten Hotaru involved? Coward! You should have died instead. You know how hard she worked to get out the triad game? Stay away from her!"

"I didn't mean to. I'm sorry. It was an accident. It wasn't supposed to be like this! None of this was supposed to happen!" Mizuno's voice started to take on a hysterical edge. Haruka stepped back, not liking where this conversation was heading. She looked up into the night sky, watching the clouds drift about overhead. Yuet To Tong business was none of her business. Whatever Michiru was upset about seemed personal and -

Ugh...wha?

Haruka stumbled, the ground wobbled out beneath her feet. She smacked down ass first on the gravel road. It should have hurt, but the pain didn't really register.

The fuck?

Did everything go white just now?

She called out to Michiru and panicked when she realized that there was no way Michiru could hear her over that incessant ringing noise. The panic doubled as Haruka realized that she couldn't hear herself either and that the ringing was inside her ears.

Something happened just now and - SHIT!

It was an ambush. It had to be.

Was it cops? SWAT team? Fucking Mizuno! Played her for a fool. Was all that talk about wanting to make things right just lies to keep them here? Haruka tried to stand to no avail. She was going to kill that blue haired freak, but more importantly, where was Michiru?

"Oi! Tenoh-san! Daijoubu? Gomen, gomen! Did not see you until too late!"

"Hah...Wha happened?" Haruka narrowed her eyes, trying to identify on the man who was suddenly helping her up. He was familiar looking. One of the Yakuza guys who'd come over with Diana. Oba...Ozawa... something? "Uh...Oda-san right?" Using Japanese honorifics didn't feel natural, but this was a thing that was happening now.

"Hai, hai." The man bowed quickly. "I am very sorry. I did not know Diana-sama send you after Mad Dog as well! If I know, then I coordinate better. A thousand apologies." He bowed again in apology.

"Uh, yeah. It's ok." Haruka shook her head trying to clear the confusion. She regretted it immediately. It took everything she had to not throw up on the other man's shoes. "What hit us?"

"Stun grenade!" Oda pulled out a small ceramic orb from his pocket with great pride. "My own recipe! You like? I have many. How did it feel? I am very curious. Tell me everything."

"It uhhhh...sucks. It really sucks." Haruka backed away slowly. The man's sudden intensity was creeping her out. Good thing she didn't need to think very hard to answer his question. She was still reeling from the blast but at least the ringing was starting to fade. Lucky she was looking up at the time. What was going on before...? OH!

"Where's Mich-" Haruka caught herself before she said Michiru's name. "Where's Mizuno?"

Oda pointed to the left. If he had noticed her near-sli up, then he must have attributed it to the after effects of his grenade. Now that the bright spots flashing in her eyes were starting to fade, Haruka could see a figure lying face down in the grass a few meters away.

"Look it that! She's out cold!" Oda rubbed his hands together gleefully. "Excellent! Will be much easier!"

Haruka wasn't paying attention though. She kept looking until she found Michiru. Michiru was lying still on top of a concrete block by the water pipes. The blast must have knocked her unconscious as well. She began to stagger over to check on the love of her life when she realized that she couldn't. The best thing she could do, for Michiru's sake, was to leave her.

Again.

Curse the fates, but if the Yakuza were to get a hold of her... No. Haruka couldn't let that happen.

"What about the ah... the other one?"

"Later, later. Mizuno first. Help please? I have car ready to go. We get her in trunk before wakes up. Or else, pow pow." Oda mimed a punching action.

Haruka understood well enough. She realized with a sinking heart that she had no choice. To get the Yakuza out of here, she had to pretend that Michiru wasn't a factor. That she wasn't relevant. With her every instinct telling her to go the other way, Haruka staggered over to where Mizuno was lying instead. She slung one arm under Mizuno's shoulder, and together with Oda, dragged the unconscious woman towards Oda's waiting vehicle.

"Can't wait to bring back. Diana-sama will be very happy." Oda prattled on. "She was most insistent that we capture her father's killer before the big party. Will you be going to the party Tenoh-san? Of course you will. Everyone will be there."

Haruka shuddered, thinking of what would happen they delivered Mizuno to the new Boss. It was an odd thing to notice, but up close, Mizuno was smaller than she expected. It had been no trouble at all picking her up and shoving her into the trunk of the car.

"Tie her up." Haruka said sharply. She was in no mood for small talk. "Let's get moving before she wakes up. Don't want to make this more complicated than it needs to be."

"Good call. All business I see. Excellent. I see why you were top lieutenant in Hong Kong back in the day." Oda barked out a few words in Japanese to his driver. A young man popped out of the driver's seat with a pair of handcuffs. He clapped them onto the still unconscious Mizuno's wrists, and after exchanging a few words with Oda that Haruka didn't understand, he jumped back into the car and sped off into the night.

Haruka watched the receding taillights in confusion.

"The heck? Were you planning to walk back into the city?"

"Oh no no no. Of course not. I drove another car here. I don't like riding when we have body in the trunk – dead or alive. No way. Not for me. Risky." Oda shuddered "I can catch ride with you ok?"

"Oh, yeah. That makes sense." Haruka said neutrally. "Shall we get going then?"

"Yes. Yes. One moment. Diana-sama said 'no witnesses'." Oda whipped another grenade out of his bag and held it up proudly. "Look at this! Very special. My favourite. FIRE IN THE HOOOOOLE!" Before Haruka could react, Oda lobbed the ceramic grenade into the air. It shattered against the metal water pipe Michiru was lying under. Flames exploded out on impact and immediately caught in the dry grass. Oda stared into the fire, clearly mesmerized by the flickering red orange and yellow. "Cool huh? Little bit molotov cocktail, little bit hand grenade. The beauty is in the accelerant. I think I name after myself."

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!"

Haruka didn't think. She didn't need to. Even in her dazed state, it was easy to sucker punch Oda in the back of the head and knock him out. There was no time for hesitation. Michiru lay on a concrete form, surrounded by a wall of fire. She had to get to there before it was too late. Haruka pushed that traitorous thought aside. It couldn't be too late. No way. She just got Michiru back. It wasn't too late. They were going to get out of here and leave this stinking town and live their lives together.

Only if she could get to Michiru in time.

Haruka ran faster than she'd ever run before. The wall of fire separating them was nothing. She launched herself up in a desperate leap. There was nothing graceful in the way she landed on top of the concrete block, but it was no matter. She was there. She was with Michiru.

She knelt by Michiru's side, feeling her wrist for a pulse or any other sign of life.

"Michiru! Michiru! Come on. Wake up. Don't leave me here!"

Relief hit with overwhelming force when she saw that Michiru was breathing. She bent over, and completely out gratitude, kissed Michiru on the lips. Michiru stirred at the touch, but otherwise, didn't respond.

The smoke was getting worse. Haruka could feel herself getting light headed from breathing it in. The heat of the flames was getting unbearable. They had to get out of here fast. Haruka looked about desperately for an escape route. Taking the same way back was not an option. The flames had spread, and even if they hadn't, Haruka wasn't sure she could replicate that jump while carrying Michiru with her.

The only way out was up. The water pipe above was a bridge to safety - if she could climb onto it and if she could run along the round surface to safety without falling into the flames below.

There was no "if." It was do or die.

Haruka gathered Michiru in her arms, then grasping the rung of a nearby access ladder, began to climb. It was a short climb, only several steps up, but it was brutal. Whatever the fuck Oda had used in the grenade had splashed all over the ladder. The heat of the flames had baked the metal rungs through and through. Haruka had beat the fires out with her coat before starting her climb, but every move she made was still torture.

No matter.

Michiru needed her. Haruka ignored everything but that one singular thought. She focused on the present. Hand over hand, one foot in front of the other. Only the climb mattered. She wasn't sure if the smell of roasting flesh was just her own imagination, but she ignored it just the same. With the life she'd led, the things she's done, maybe she deserved to burn, but not Michiru. Never Michiru.

With strength and endurance that she didn't know she possessed, Haruka pulled them both up onto the water pipe. From there, it was a straight run to her car, and then to freedom. Off in the distance, the sound of sirens was growing louder. Someone must have seen the fire and called it in. Haruka knew she didn't have time to rest.

After the agony that was the burning ladder, the rest was easy. Soon enough, Haruka found herself in her car, speeding away from the scene with Michiru riding shotgun. She drove on auto pilot, not really sure where she was going, but sure that she never wanted to stop.

Michiru was with her.

Belatedly, it occurred to Haruka that they should probably go to a hospital. Michiru was still unconscious and now that the adrenaline was wearing off, her hands were starting to hurt like hell. Her mind raced, going from one ridiculous story to another. Trying to come up with a plausible, non criminal explanation for their injuries was a helpful distraction from the pins and needles in her palms.

Haruka swore. They had nearly driven off the side of the road just now because she was having trouble holding the steering wheel. She clenched her jaw, trying to hold the car steady when suddenly, another hand covered her own and helped stabilize the wheel. Haruka's heartbeat shot up again.

Michiru!

Haruka looked over in wonder. Michiru was there, looking back at her. All the things on Haruka's mind - the pain, her lies, the past, her apologies, the future - all that went out the window. There was only Michiru, and the road ahead.

"Haruka! What happened? Your hands..." Michiru took over the wheel completely. Haruka was glad to let her do so."Does it hurt?"

"Not anymore. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Just a bit of a headache. What happened? Last thing I remember, I was yelling at Ami and-" Michiru gasped. "Was there an explosion?"

"Yeah. There was an explosion. And a fire. Someone threw a grenade at us. The Yakuza got Mizuno and..." Haruka trailed off, not really sure of what to say next. "You wanna get out of here?" she blurted out. That about covered everything she wanted in life at this point.

Despite the amount of trouble they were both in, Haruka couldn't resist the giant grin that spread across her face when Michiru gave her a simple "yes".

A.N.

Ko-san, if you are reading this, that "FIRE IN THE HOOOOOLE!" is for you. I mean, I hope you aren't reading this because that means my IRL co-workers have found my fanfiction, and I would probably die of embarrassment if anyone from work ever read this.

Also: phew! Sorry for the long chapter. There was alot of material and dialogue to get through here (5000 words yo!). Apologies again for the rough edit job too, because y'know...5000 words.

Happy reading to all my Haruka and Michiru fans out there. This one is for you! I've been getting some requests for a Haruka and Michiru spinoff of this AU and yeah. I am definitely into that! Maybe one day, but not this day. I've got a few other writing projects on the go, but I do hope to come back to this project in due time. If someone wants to adopt the project off me, I'd be more than happy to share.

The scene of Michiru, asleep and surrounded by a wall of flame, being awoken with a kiss from Haruka who had just leapt through said wall of flame, was a scene I knew that Ami wanted to write since I started this fic. It's a pretty straight forward adaptation of the story of Brynhildr and Sigurd. Gotta love the classics.

Oooh, shoot. I almost forgot. For the story of Haruka and Michiru's engagement, feel free to check out my other story "Haruka and Michiru: One Night in Hong Kong". Y'all know me. I self plug.

Cheers,

-Drift.

brycelozier: re: the timeline *puts on +5 Hat of Pedantry* There was one instance in "The Long Walk to Mugen" where Ami thinks of song lyrics to a song that wasn't released yet and in the Spring chapter of 5 Years and a Day, Ami comments that it was a Thursday, where if you actually check the calendar, it should have been a Tuesday ...so, you know, nothing game breaking ;).

Up Next:

Ch 25 - 叛逃 - Traitor's Run - wherein the time has come to stand and fight, or to turn tail and run.