Chapter 3
Run To The Hills
"As cheesy as it can get and still part of the worldwide charts: Lovefool by The Cardigans" Announced the radio host with excitement. Hotaru rolled her eyes with playful annoyance as Michiru started singing along while she stood in front of the stove where she prepared the Sunday meal. She swipes her hips and sang into her wooden spoon, trying to animate her daughter to join her silly dancing. Finally, Hotaru jumps from her chair. She couldn't resist the fun, corkiness of the situation. A few minutes later they were interrupted by the giggling of Haruka who stood in the door to the kitchen watching the two fooling around.
"What a view" she said and stepped into the room, hooking her arm around Michirus hips and pulling her in to a lovely kiss. Hotaru made a disgusted noise and got back on the chair she was sitting before. "You are fools" the little Sailor Guardian said and hid her face behind her hands as Haruka and Michiru continuing the kissing in an exaggerated way to annoy their daughter even more.
"In my class, they have no other issue than who kisses who. I don't need this at home too" Hotaru muffled. Michiru got back to the stove to look after the food she was preparing. Haruka placed herself at the table next to Hotaru. "You know, maybe it is better to wait with such things for the right time. When you want to do it, and you find the perfect person." Hotaru cocked her head. "You mean the time will come?" Haruka nodded. Then Michiru turned around with a steaming bowl in her hand, which were covered in heat protecting gloves. "Good to hear this from you, Haruka" she said with a wink and an odd undertone. Suddenly, the racer shrinks in her seat. Red like a tomato, she looked down at the bowl Michiru placed in front of her. The violinist had a sneer on her face. Hotaru was a bit lost.
"Maybe" Haruka started and stopped immediately. An encouraging smack on her arm by her wife brought her voice finally back. "Maybe sometimes you run a bit faster than you should." "Back at the riddles again" said Michiru dryly. "What your Papa wants you to know is that she wasted the opportunity to have me as her first kiss." Hotaru was still lost. "Well…" Haruka poked her soup with her spoon. "Technically, this was our first fight."
"We have no time to fall in love" Michiru said with a little wink. She knew that it was just a matter of time. But Harukas thoughts were elsewhere. "There is something up with this girl and her friends. But I can't make head or tail of it." Michiru walks to her side, putting her hand on the taller girl's shoulder. "I know, Haruka." They have to take action and finding the talismans in time. The creepy, lurking monsters just added to the party. "This girl Usagi was talking to has a very naïve image of true love. Maybe her heart is pure enough for one of the talismans." Haruka agreed with a nod. A stake out should help them to get further information.
This was bad. The daimon hit Haruka hard with a claw and now the blood runs down her arm dripping on the floor. Michiru eyes went cold from anger. One Deep Submerge later the monster was nothing but dust in the wind. "What is with her?" Haruka groaned through her teeth. Michiru ran to the girl who was possessed by the daimon. She was unconscious but her heart was still beating. "She will be fine. But your arm needs treatment" Michiru commanded. In the background sirens could be heard. The ambulance was on its way. They had to get away from the situation. Michiru supported Harukas body. She is strong, Haruka noticed while they hurried into an alleyway.
"My home is not far from here. We can get there in no time and I can fix this." Michiru pointed to the blood stain that got bigger under Harukas yellow shirt. Short after they got to the alley, they had turned back into their civilian form, so they would not rouse any suspicion. "Don't worry. My parents and Tenzin are not at home." Michiru turned on the light of her bedroom and pointed to her bed where Haruka could sit down. "Make yourself at home. I go to the bathroom and look if we have something to clean your wound." She left and Haruka was all by herself. She looked around in the room. It was all tided up, clean and a bit impersonal. Besides the posters of famous classical artist and some 80s metal bands. On the second glance, it was very nerdy. Haruka was a bit amused by the thought that Michiru spends her time here listening to Black Sabbath and doing all her homework. Finally, in one corner, Haruka spotted the violin case. Next to it stood a music stand with some sheets on it. It was a piece of Paganini Michiru was currently practicing. She told her about this. A performance for an opening of something important the racer has forgotten.
"I found some disinfection." Michiru came back into the room with a dark brown bottle and a cotton cloth. Hesitant, she let herself down next to Haruka on the edge of her bed. Like a stranger in her own habitat. "Can I clean the wound for you, or do you want to do it yourself?" Haruka unbuttoned her shirt and dragged her arm out of the sleeve. "This looks aw…ful" Michiru stammered. Seeing Haruka in front of her just wearing a black tank top displaying her toned arm made her nervous. She collected herself with an unnoticeable shake of her head. "You can clean it. I am a bit dizzy" Haruka lied straight to the violinist face. She was tough, but also a teenager full of strange hormones who long for an intimate moment with the cute girl besides her. "Alright. Just hold still."
She soaked the cloth with the intense smelling liquid. This will hurt, Haruka thought. And it was indeed not the best feeling. "Your wound will disappear in the next twenty-four hours. The good part of being a Sailor Guardian." Haruka nodded. Sounds fair considering all the battles they have to fight. But for her first one it was not that bad. She got injured, but for the record: she destroyed the parasite without killing the host.
"But for now I can put a bandage around it. Maybe I can clean this one too. I am a bit experienced by now." She fixated the bandage and looked with a pleased smile at her work. "I see what I can do. Shall I put on some music while you're waiting?" Haruka touched her freshly wrapped up wound. "Why not. What can a genius violinist serve a sophisticated race car champ like me?" Michiru laughed. "Something fast?" Haruka shook her head. "I think after the events of the afternoon, some slow music will do it for me." Michiru raised one eyebrow. "Just to cool down a bit" the racer added. With a thoughtful face, the violinist stood up and walked to the shelf where she stored a CD-player. It was one of those mid 80s productions with a remote control that lies on top of a CD pile. Michiru grabbed a few of them and gave them to Haruka. "Just choose" she said with a shy smile and left the room, focusing on the stain on the shirt.
Harukas' eyes followed the other girl until she has left the room, then they wandered down to the CDs in her hand. It would be a lie when she wasn't curious about Michirus taste in music. The violin told one story, the posters on her wall a complete different. "Bach, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Liszt, Ozzy Osbourne and… well here you are Paganini" Haruka read out the titles to herself. A good start for once, she thought and picked the Iron Maiden 'Number of the Beast' copy. But before she could put it in the player, she heard a key in the door clicking. Someone was coming home, and Haruka felt a lump in her stomach. Her parents must be back. Haruka panicked.
"Michiru! We are back from the store!" an older woman's voice called out. There was a bumping sound and a rustling. Shoes were tossed aside and footsteps came nearer. Haruka gulped down the frog in her throat. Then the leaning door was brushed open and Tenzin stepped inside, freezing as he saw the racer sitting on his sister's bed. "You." This was the only thing he could say at first. Then she heard another pair of footsteps and Michirus mother, more like an older version of the violinist herself, entered. "Oh" she mumbled. Seconds of burning stares passed. Eventually, Michiru stormed back out of the bath into her room.
"Oh, you are back! Well…" Everyone locked at her. She blushed. This was very awkward. Haruka brushed away her state of shock and stood up from the bed. "I am very blessed to meet you. My Name is Tenou Haruka" she introduced herself and bowed down. The features of Michirus mother's face softened. "Nice to meet you too, Haruka." Her mother had the same warm, but a bit aloof smile as her daughter. Suddenly, her smile turned into a concerned look. "Haruka, you are hurt?" she addressed the wound on the racer's upper arm. Struggling to find a fast answer, Haruka put her hand on the bandage. "Getting ripped up by one of the racetrack fences again?" It was Tenzin who unexpected dropped that lie. Michiru and Haruka exchanged a short look. But her mother bought this made up explanation without any further questions. Maybe it was just her being discrete.
"Yes, and my shirt was ruined by this" Haruka added, because she felt strange standing there just in her underwear. Tenzin stepped by her side, grabbing her shoulders. "I can borough you one of mine, Tenou" he said with a little yell in his voice, pushing the racer out of his sister's room. Michiru and her mother just shrugged their shoulders. Tenzins' room was a bit gloomy with drawn curtains. But Haruka had no time to inspect his room in its full display, because suddenly he pushed her against the closed door with a serious glimmer in his eyes. "Tenou! What are your intentions with my baby sister? Explain yourself!" Adrenalin flooded Harukas veins. Her eyes widened. What was she supposed to answer at this question under these circumstances? Would he punch her in the face? Here with Michiru and his mother just talking in the other room?
"I have no cruel intentions with her I…" Tenzin loosened his grip giggling. "Sorry, but your face is hilarious, Tenou." Haruka pinched her eyes together. What was this about? "I was just kidding. I am glad you two finally found a way to get to know each other. I think it's a match" he said, turning around starting to search for a clean shirt in his closet. He found a simple black one, sniffed at it and tossed it to the racer. "We have almost the same size, I think." "Thank you. This is fine." Haruka dragged the shirt over her head and it indeed fitted perfectly.
"So, do you like her?" He can't just let it go, Haruka thought. With a sigh she turned around, putting her hand on the door handle. "She is… interesting" was all the racer could say to that. Tenzin was not satisfied with this. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and tapped impatiently with his foot on the wooden floor. "This is a lot of work" he mumbled under his breath. Haruka turned half around with a questioning impression on her face. "Well, when you think she is interesting you have to learn something more about her interests." Obviously, Haruka thought but bit her tongue not to blurt it out.
"Tomorrow. Three p.m. here at our flat. We go to a special place and this is not an invitation. It is an order, Tenou." The racer let out an uneasy cough. Tenzin grinned. "And do you like to join us this evening for dinner?" He bumped his fist on her shoulder of her injured arm, and she let out a little cry. The next day, it was a sunny Saturday afternoon, a strange patrol strolled through the streets of Japans capital. With a friendly whistle on his lips, Tenzin led his two companions to a special destination only he knew. Haruka tried her best to look casual in the presence of a seemingly ashamed looking Michiru. Hands in pockets, Tenzin marched in front of them, totally clueless about the other's conditions.
"Is something wrong?" Haruka spoke to Michiru quietly, leaning a bit down, so she could hush her voice. Like waking up from a dream, the violinist flinched. "Sorry, what did you say?" Her mind was far away the whole walk. The racer pressed her lips together to a thin line. "Nothing. I was just wondering" she replied instead of repeating her question. She sounded bothered what did not pass Michiru without noticing.
"He said, he had something special in mind for us. But I think I already know what he planned" Michiru whispered to Haruka as they stopped at a red light. The racer put on a puzzled face, which made the violinist chuckle. "It's not like I do not know the exact way to our favorite record store. Besides, we were there almost every Saturday. He took some strange turns to obliterate his track. But I am well aware." Haruka smiled. Tenzin was all about planning out some sort of surprise for the two by making an everyday destination to a secret. But his sister was way too smart for such a boyish behavior.
"Here we are, Tenou. Our little piece of heaven!" Tenzin introduced Haruka to a warped looking little, freestanding shop building. Michiru sighed. "Told you" she said, louder this time, and passed her bedazzled looking brother entering the shop. "I am surprised" Haruka let out honestly, clapping him on the sunken shoulder. Then she followed her Sailor Partner. The dim main room was pinched with random shoots of light, in which it was easy to see dusty particles flying around. Heavy stoner rock echoed through two big black speakers over the counter in the emptiness of the store. No one besides them was there. This was odd, Haruka thought. But Michiru scrolled unperturbed through a display of CDs, and Tenzin made a beeline to the counter. He smashed his hand on a bell. The sharp sound made Haruka cringe. An old man's groan reached the room before the said man, a guy in his fifties, swayed into sight.
"This was unnecessary, Kaiou" the man grumped. His face was hidden behind a bushy beard and long gray hair. He could be described as old hippie, even by the scent of some grass surrounding him. Under his colorful poncho, his bulky figure began to show. A man of culture, Haruka thought, cynical to herself. "I hope you didn't wake me for nothing", the hippie mumbled until his head turned into the direction Haruka and Michiru stand. In the dim light and because of his hidden face, it was not fully clear, but his features seemed to brighten up as he noticed Michiru.
"The genius has returned" he said with pure joy in his voice while he rushed around the counter to the violinist, who greeted the man by taking his hands in her own. "So happy to see you here. It was months ago you were here the last time. Sadly, your first production has not found its way to my store, yet. But when they arrive I put them on my best display" the guy chattered. Michiru smiled politely. "That's alright. We are still in the recording stage. But Tenzin…" She stopped talking as the man cringes. He gestured in an even darker corner of the store. Haruka was not sure, but that must be the place where he stored LPs of the Pretty Guardians and other bands with the same musical background. Haruka let out an amused sound, which attracted the attention of the guy.
"Your face is new." Haruka cleared her throat to introduce herself, but he seemed a bit absent. "Somehow familiar" he mumbled. Now it was Tenzin who stepped into the scene. "Yeah, this is Tenou Haruka. Racetrack talent, model, teenage heart drop. Quite the celebrity around here." He bumped his hand on Harukas shoulder blade. She flinched. It was not the pain in her shoulder that got her, rather than the awkwardness of the situation.
"Never heard of you" the man said dryly. Tenzin let out a gasp, and Haruka was about to say something to downplay the situation. But the man let out a wholehearted laugh. "Well, but I am lucky that my store is still a magnet for Japans celebrities." He slapped Harukas arm and finally introduced himself to her. "They call me the Wizard. The real one." The racer was not sure what she could reply to this cryptic statement. An uncomfortable silence occupied the room. "Not a big Sabbath fan, huh?" Before Haruka could answer, the Wizard waved aside. This subject was done. He trotted back behind his counter and leaned down. "Speaking of music. In a music store. What a coincidence. I have something new for you, little Michiru." Haruka cocked her head at this remark. He was a bit shorter than the violinist, which made it strange calling her this. But they seemed very close for a client customer relationship.
"This one came in yesterday. It made me think of you." Michiru walked over to the counter, looking down at an LP the Wizard laid there. "Just put it on the needle. Your brother and I have some business talk at the back. I hope I can leave you two alone?" Tenzin got to his side, laughing at this concern. "They stay decent", Michirus brother assured to the older man, and they went to the backrooms of the store. "What does he mean?" Haruka stepped at Michirus side, looking down at the record. 'Bloody Kisses' by Type 0 Negative. The cover was a picture of two vampire girls getting engaged into each other. "He thought of you by getting this?" Michiru blushed. "Their sound is rather heavy" she explained picking the record from the counter, taking it to the player right next to it. Haruka suppressed a laugh.
"He knows you very well, isn't he?" Michiru set the LP next to the player on a stand. "He was the first person we met, after we moved here. Tenzin lost me at a playground" Michiru explained while she stopped the playing record and put it back into the sleeve. "And he found me crying in the streets. He scolded my brother after we found him. This was the last time I saw him cry. He bought us some hot cacao and told us everything he knows about bands and music. Then we came here the first time and the rest is history." She turned to Haruka with a slight smile. The Wizard seemed to be an airy figure. But somehow he was like an uncle for the Kaiou siblings. Their parents worked long hours and loneliness was a big issue for Michiru. This was something Haruka found out very fast. An aura of sadness always surrounded the other Sailor Guardian. Or some yearns.
"He is very protective, am I right?" Michiru thought about that statement for a second. "Maybe he is. I am a precious gem for him. The young, talented violinist with so many dreams about a better future." Haruka nodded. "Who should better not hang around with some windy race car driver?" The violinist chuckled. "Now I get it." She put the other LP, that played as they entered the shop, back on the counter. Then she stopped in her tracks with a look Haruka could not read. "But I can soothe him. I don't have time for that." "For what?" "Relationships. I even haven't had a first kiss, yet." The racer facial features turned to a blank stare. It took her time to process this information. In her world, it was strange not having a first kiss with seventeen. Other people do quite more things than kissing at this age.
"What is it" the violinist asked at Harukas surprised reaction. "I… I wonder that you have no admires. Some hidden love? A special someone?" Michiru rolled her eyes. It was not the first time that she was asked this delicate question. "I think you could… with all your creative genius… and-" Michiru shuts her down with a wave of her hand. "Maybe. But I am waiting for the special person and the perfect moment." "How romantic. But in real life it can be such a disappointment. Like my first one. I don't even know who she was." Haruka knew very well who she was and what happened after that. But here was not the time and place for her trauma. "Yes, but maybe there are people that are not that disrespectful about other people's feelings and their own." Anger laid in her words. She tried to push it down, but Haruka heard it in the tremor of her voice. "I am not dis…" A loud bang followed by a hard shaking interrupted the discussion. Record displays tilting over and plaster crumbled from the ceiling.
"What the…" Loud noise came from the backrooms of the store. "Tenzin!" Michiru yelled. She was about to run around the counter, but Haruka hold her back. "We need to transform first." The violinist agreed with a nod. After the transformation, the two ran through the door. With shook, they froze in the hallway. Tenzin laid face down and unconscious on the floor. Neptune clapped her hand over her mouth. She could not move. But on the other side of the hallway lurked a big daimon. It screamed, and the Sailor Guardians had to put their hands over their ears. "Rescue him. I kill it!" Uranus commanded to her partner. She accepted the order with and ran to her brother. "World shaking!" Uranus yelled and with one powerful attack the monster was destroyed. With its disappearance, the Wizard was visible lying on his back on the floor. "Quick! We have to turn back, or they get suspicious." Neptune insisted. Uranus agreed and they transformed into their civilian form.
Tenzin woke up first. He shook his head with a groan. "What happened" he asked looking up into the face of his sister. Michiru put on a serious face. "Maybe you two smoked the wrong things" she replied with a lie. Then they exchanged a look Haruka was not able to interpret. "Right. Better we call an ambulance for the big guy." He pointed to the Wizard, who started to snore. His injuries can't be this bad. After the ambulance came, which transported Tenzin and the Wizard to the nearest hospital, the girls tidied up the store. Michiru collected the records and put them back on the displays, while Haruka dusted the floor.
"Thank you." The sudden sound of Michirus voice let the racer stop sweeping the floor. "Wherefore?" She tried hard to sound casually. But she nearly lost her coolness as Michiru stepped directly in front of her. "I was not able to move back there. Seeing my brother in this condition. The situation was overwhelming. You taking control of it really impressed me." Haruka shrugged her shoulders. "It is our mission." Michiru smiled and got back to the work. "We have done it" Haruka said with a sigh. It was a long day for the both of them. "Then maybe we can enjoy this before we go back home?" Michiru got to the record player, finally putting the LP on the needle. "This album includes the number 1 single…" the rest was an unintelligible mumble. "Alright, we just listen to one song, and then we go" she said out loud, this time turning half around to Haruka who stood there curious about the song she was about to play. After she clicked the play button, a strong baseline percolated through the membrane of the speakers. A deep manly voice spoke some lines and then the song starts with a strong opening line and the band kicked in. Goosebumps appeared all over Harukas arm. This was something different.
"Come here" Michiru said, almost inaudible with the music. Haruka was baffled, but she obliged the order. It was even more stunning as the violinist slung her arms around the racers' waist, pushing their bodies together. She pressed her forehead against the shoulder of the taller girl. For a second, Haruka thought that she heard a quiet sobbing. "Every day the burden gets heavier. But I don't have the time to ponder about all the things I see in the battles. All those people. I knew from the start that someday a loved one gets hurt. But with you by my side, I will be able to push myself over the edge." This confession hit Haruka hard. In her words laid more than truth. Haruka was sure there were emotions the girl in her arms never felt in her life before. Confronted with this, the blond could not find the right response. Her brain was foggy. Also, because of the feeling of Michirus body against hers. "I am so glad that you are by my side." And with those words, the smaller girl got on her toes and kissed Haruka on the cheek.
You never forget your first kiss. Even when it was a soft peck on the cheek meant as a thank-you. Haruka was deep in thought while she watched the water on the stove heating up. They got home late after the fight against this devilish cleaning machine. So Haruka decided to cook some miso soup while Michiru took a shower. After the trouble was over, she had finally the time to process the words her partner said earlier. "We don't have the time to fall in love." The girls at the café were very investigated in such things. Meeting other young people, dating, fall in love. Haruka sighed and listened to the song she had put on as background noise. It was the CD of Type 0 Negative they heard the first time at the record store of the Wizard. The attack did nothing to this obscure man. He is still healthy and weird. A week ago, Haruka bought the record from him. It was no special occasion. But it was a way to cheer her companion up after a long hard month of recording. "I guessed you need a break from classical music" Haruka had said and Michiru flung her arms around the racers' neck, giving her one of a thousand cheek kisses she got already. With a bittersweet smile, Haruka stirred the ingredients of the soup in the pot. Suddenly the sound of some gentle, wet footsteps reached Harukas ear followed by two slender arms enclosing her torso.
"You are in some melancholic mood. I can sense it. What serious thought goes through your head?" The racer knew that it was useless to lie to her. Her psychic abilities were strong around strangers. And she could read Haruka like she was a book.
"I thought about your words earlier. About not falling in love." She turned around, wrapping her arms around the smaller girl. She was only wearing a towel, like every time she stepped out of the shower. It drove Haruka mad. "We talked about this. Can you remember?" The tone in Michirus' voice was sad but certain. "Yes." "So?" "How long can you wait? Because I think I can no longer." Michirus' features softened. "We can no longer torture ourselves" Haruka added. Those words did something to the violinist. There was the sadness again. But then something shifted and Michiru closed the gap between the two by getting on her toes. Her hands wandered from Harukas back to her chest and eventually to her neck in an unnoticed movement to give herself the best foothold. "The last thing I want is to see you in pain" Michiru whispered her lips close to Harukas. They could feel the soft breath of each other on their skin. And with those words, she leaned forward herself into a kiss. Not on the cheek and definitely not on her forehead but on her lips. Haruka felt the longing and overwhelming emotions of Michiru and even herself. They deepened the kiss with every movement of their lips. It took an eternity before they could separate again.
Haruka blushed as she noticed that Michirus towel got lose and the violinist stood in front of her naked. The smaller girl chuckled and put it back into place. "I think the soup is ready" she said casually. Haruka turned back to the stove while the other girl walked to her bedroom, putting on some comfort clothes. After dinner, they snuggled on the couch watching a random movie that was on TV. But nothing was more interesting than caressing the other one's skin underneath the sweaters they wore. "Was it as you expected it to be?" Haruka asked in a low voice. Michiru, who laid half on top the other's body, lifted her head a bit to get a better view of the other's face. "Do you need something for your ego, Tenou?" Haruka snorted. "No, I just want to check if you got the first kiss you always wanted. Maybe it was not very romantic in the kitchen-" Michiru interrupted Harukas with a laugh. "What is so funny?" "Nothing. You're sweet. Can I get another one from you?" Haruka smiled and cupped Michirus chin with the one hand that was not lying on the other girls' waist. This kiss was a bit tender than the first one and lasted even longer. "It is indeed easy." "What do you mean?" "Falling in love with you, Haruka."
"I hate you" Haruka pouted playfully. It was not fair of Michiru making her explain to a twelve-year-old how difficult a first kiss can be. "Or my late revenge, Tenou!" Michiru put on a triumphant grin. She looked cute when she gets her way, Haruka thought, embracing her wife and leaning down for a kiss. One of the thousand kisses that followed after their first one. "She already saw so many disturbing things in her life. I hope finding love will not shatter her." Michiru stroke Harukas' cheek with her fingertips. "There she is. The guardian of the wind, all so protective of her little princess. I love this side of you." Haruka smiled. "And I love you" she said, leaning in to another kiss. "We should visit the record store and the old Wizard again someday…"