Note: This fanfic is my first ever, so any comments would be appreciated.
Also, the whole story revolves around my fave sm character, Ten'ou Haruka,
and also my second fave character, Kaiou Michiru. Thanks for reading!
Please send any comments to tenouharuka@juno.com.
Sailor Moon: Gone without a Goodbye
~~~ Part One ~~~
Michiru leaned forward and quickly applied some lip gloss to her lips.
Then she fluffed her hair and sat back, waiting expectantly.
Haruka paused outside the dressing room door and straightened her slender
tie. Then she opened the door and walked into the room.
"You were great tonight, Michiru." she said.
Michiru jumped up from her seat and rushed to her friend. "Oh, Haruka!" she
exclaimed, running into her arms.
Haruka looked down at the turquoise head of her friend and smiled. She had
missed Micihru very much during her stay in America the past few weeks and
could tell Michiru had missed her too.
Michiru pulled back and looked up into Haruka's attractive face. Haruka
gazed into Michiru's wide aqua eyes. It felt as if her friend had become
even more beautiful while she was gone. Haruka snapped out of it and looked
at her watch. "Well, we better get going."
Michiru grabbed the tiger lily that Haruka had thrown onto the stage after
Michiru's performance. Then she left the room with her friend. Michiru
chatted about what she had been up to as the two climbed into Haruka's
bright yellow sports car. Haruka grinned at the chatter. It was calming her
nerves a bit. But she was still nervous about the evening ahead of them.
She was taking a big step. She was going to tell Michiru her true feeling
for her.
Michiru stopped talking for a moment and leaned back, just appreciating
their being together again. She looked at her friends face and short golden
hair and bit her lip. "Should I..." she wondered. She shook her head
slightly. "No, too soon yet..."
Haruka pulled the car into a circular driveway of one of the ritziest
restaurants in town. Michiru gasped ind delight as she saw the name of the
restaurant. "Haruka, you have reservations for here??" she asked. Haruka
smile. "Yes." Michiru gaped at her. "I heard that you had to wait for weeks
to get to this place!"
Haruka just grinned and gave her keys to the valet. She walked around the
other side of the car where another valet opened the door for Michiru.
Michiru got out and the valet stared at her, transfixed. Haruka quickly
took her friend by the arm and the valet flushed and stepped back to his
post. Michiru didn't notice however, she was busy smoothing the elegant
black dress she wore.
They stepped into the restaurant and Haruka gave the matre'd her name, and
he quickly lead them to a small table in the back corner of the room, with
an excellent view of the night sky and the lights of the city. They sat
down and Haruka felt very pleased with herself for making reservations so
long ahead of time.
She smiled at Michiru. "Your playing was fantastic tonight Michiru. Better
than ever before. I didn't think the applause would ever stop. The crowd
sure seemed to agree with me."
"It felt so good tonight. My playing, my timing, my violin, everything.
And I was so thrilled at the crowd's response. And I knew you were out
there too, so I tried my very hardest."
Haruka thought back to when Michiru had finished playing and the crowd had
erupted in applause. Bouquets of flowers had even been thrown on stage,
mostly from the boys at their school who had crushes on Michiru. But
Michiru had picked up only one of all the bouquets, a perfect tiger lily
in a seemingly simple arrangement. This, she knew, was from Haruka.
The flashback faded from Haruka's mind as Michiru asked her about the
racing in America. Haruka grinned. "It is fast. Very fast." she replied.
Michiru noticed the sparkle of excitement that came into her friends' blue
eyes as she begin talking about the racing. Michiru was glad Haruka had
gotten to do what she loved while away.
Their dinner that night was excellent, and their conversation continuos
and refreshing after their period away from each other. After the dishes
were cleared, they sat looking out the window and at the city lights.
Michiru sighed contentedly when suddenly the waiter came up and handed a
small black leather book to Haruka. Haruka thanked him in French and
Michiru stared at the book in curiosity. "what is that?" she asked.
Haruka opened the book and took out two tickets. "oh, you mean these?
Just some tickets I requested....Gee I dont even remember what they're for.. "
Haruka read the tickets. "Xavier DeMonclise, one night performance, box
seats..."
Michriu gasped. DeMonclise was the name of a very famous French violinist
that Michiru adored. He had arranged a one night only concert in the area
before returning to his native France and Michiru had failed when she tried
to get tickets.
"Xavier DeMon-..Box seats...How in the world.."
Haruka smiled slyly. "Our team sponsor owns a box at that theater. They
owed me some favors so this is what I asked for."
Michiru felt totally breathless. To think Haruka would do so much for her...
The concert that night was enthralling. The box was private but close to
the stage and Haruka watched Michiru as the violinist played. Michiru's
eyes were wide and slightly teary as she was moved by the beautiful music.
Haruka's heart fluttered as Michiru reached out and clasped her friend's
hand. Haruka felt pleased that she had made these arrangements. It was
worth anything to make Michiru so happy.
The violinist started a new and slower song. Michiru felt like she was in
a dream. This would be the time..she told herself. She turned to Haruka.
Haruka looked away from the stage and down at her. Michiru looked at her
friend's attractive face and pretty eyes as she gathered her courage.
"Haruka.." she said softly.
Haruka moved closer and squeezed her hand. "Michiru.." she said at the
same time. They both laughed and gazed back at each other. "Michiru, I
want to tell you something." Haruka said softly.
Michiru's heart leaped in hope. She nodded and looked deep into Haruka's
eyes. Haruka gazed back at her and then dropped her gaze and Michiru was
amused to see her friend's cheeks turn slightly pink. "I...I care about
you Michiru..you know that. Since we've become friends and in the time
we've been with each other since I've grown so close to you and I've felt
so happy and complete for the first time in my life..."
Michiru smiled. "Go on." she urged Haruka. Haruka looked back up into her
eyes. "Well, Michiru, there's something I haven't told you.....my feelings
for you..are more than just friendly. I..think I might..no, I know I..love
you...not as a friend."
Haruka closed her eyes and leaned back. There. It was over with. Michiru
might be horrified and refuse to speak to her ever again but it was over
with.
Haruka's eyes flew open as she felt a soft kiss on her cheek. She gaped at
Michiru who was smiling sweetly. "Oh, Haruka, I'm so happy." she said.
Haruka blinked. "You..are?"
Michiru nodded and took both of Haruka's hands in hers. "Yes.I've felt that
way about you for several months now, but I didn't have the guts to speak
up. I didn't want to ruin our friendship. But tonight I had planned to
confess to you the way I felt. And now you already gave me an answer, the
one I wanted to hear!"
Haruka just sat there. She had gathered all her courage to tell Michiru
this. Though Haruka was strong and seemed reckless and rude sometimes, she
was a rather sensitive person on the inside and one of her worse fears was
confessing. But she had done it and the results...
Michiru titled her head down to meet Haruka's gaze. "Haruka?" she asked
questioningly.
Haruka looked back at her and leaned forward swiftly. She put her hands on
Michiru's back and kissed her lightly on the lips.
Michiru's whole body tingled at the touch. A spark seemed to fly into her
heart and wake something up. The kiss was light and gentle and loving, but
felt electrifying and somehow familiar.
Haruka pulled away and exhaled. Michiru smiled. They had thought they had
everything once they'd had each other, but now they had even more.
The next few days found the two constantly together. Be it at Michiru's
house, Haruka's apartment, the cafe, wherever, they were sure to be there
as a pair.
Michiru folded her arm in Haruka's and leaned against her as the two
walked through the park on a breezy day. The wind was swirling the fallen
leaves around and made for a perfect backdrop for a stroll. Haruka smiled
down at the head of shining aqua hair and led her friend over to a bench.
Michiru sat down and crossed her legs, carefully smoothing down the hem of
her short yellow dress. Haruka sat next to her and casually slung an arm
around her. It had only been a few days since the feelings had come out,
but it felt as if they had been a couple for years.
Michiru leaned into Haruka and they watched the sunset over the trees and
tall buildings in the background. They sat not talking, just enjoying the
scenery and their togetherness. Haruka couldn't ignore the butterflies in
her stomach though. She had a big race later in the day, and she usually
didn't get nervous by races, but she knew of the fierce new driver from
southern Japan that would be competing here today. She knew that he was
unbeaten in his homeland.
Michiru began speaking about the park and waited for a reply from Haruka.
When she didn't get one she looked up at Haruka's face and noticed the
furrowed brow and the expression in her eyes. Worry flooded Michiru as she
put a hand on Haruka's shoulder. "Haruka?" she asked. "What is wrong? Still
worrying about the race later?"
Haruka broke out of her thoughts and looked down with a sheepish grin.
"Yes, Michiru, I guess I am."
"You've never worried about any other race before. Don't start worrying
about this one just because of that new guy. He may be undefeated, but he's
never raced you. When he does his record will change for sure!"
Haruka laughed at Michiru's confidence and spirited statement. "Well, if
you say so Michiru, then I can beat him."
"I believe in you Haruka. I know you will beat him." Michiru leaned up and
kissed her girlfriend softly. The butterflies in Haruka's stomach quieted
and she turned back to the beautiful sunset.
The stands at the race track that day were pretty full, Haruka thought as
she zipped into her racing suit covered with the sponsors logos. She
glanced at the clock on the wall. She still had plenty of time before she
had to get to the starting line.
She quickly glanced over at Kitashi Seiako, the new racer from the south.
Her team members had forced her to introduce herself to him and she had.
He had been rude and very confident in himself, and Haruka found herself
dispising him already. Suddenly a crystal clear voice called out her name
and she looked up. Michiru was facing from the front row of the stands.
Haruka grinned and walked towards her. "Would you like to come down to the
pit before it starts?"
"Sure!" Michiru replied. She ducked under the bar and stood on the edge of
the platform. Haruka put her hands around her waist and Michiru jumped
lightly to the ground. Then they walked back to where Haruka's team was.
The mechanics smiled and gave Michiru a warm welcome, for she had been at
the track with Haruka many times before. The mechanics left to the
starting line and Michiru turned to Haruka after they left. "How about a
good luck kiss?" she asked slyly. Haruka moved closer and they were just
about to kiss when a voice coughed. "Ahem."
The two girls broke apart and looked at the entrance in surprise. Haruka
groaned inwardly as Seiako stepped towards them. "Well Haruka, aren't you
going to introduce me to your friend?"
Michiru glanced at Haruka in confusion. Haruka glanced at her meaningly
and then said, "Seiako, this is Kaiou Michiru, Michiru, this is Kitashi
Seiako."
Michiru's eyes flickered with recognition as she turned to the guy she now
knew was Haruka's enemy. "Nice to meet you." she said coolly.
Seiako surprised her by grabbing her hand and kissing the palm. Michiru
pulled it abruptly away and Haruka fumed inside. Seiako grinned. "And it's
very, very nice to meet you, Michiru. What's a beautiful girl like you
doing at a race track?"
Michiru frowned. "I happen to like watching the races, thank you."
Seiako laughed. "Oh, I'm sorry. What do you like to do after the races
then?" he asked suggestively.
Haruka stepped closer to him. "What she like to do after the races is spend
time with me." she said possessively.
Seiako blinked and stepped back from Haruka's taller, intimidating form.
"Oh, I see. Too bad." He turned to leave after one last glance at Michiru.
"Well, if you change your mind.." Then he left.
Michiru gaped as he left. "What an attitude that guy has! The complete
nerve!"
Haruka clenched her fists and then pulled Michiru close to her again. She
had to win now. She had to show that Seiako who he was messing with.
Michiru kissed her and wished her luck. Then she hurried away to her seat
in the stands.
Haruka walked over to her car and got in after talking briefly to the team
mechanics. They wished her luck as she strapped herself in. She looked to
her left and saw Seiako glaring at her. She glared back and his expression
changed to one of cocky confidence. Then they pulled their cars up to the
starting line. Haruka had just enough time to look up into the stands.
Michiru's turquoise hair enabled a Haruka to spot her easily. Haruka smiled
and turned her attention back to the track as the preparation flag came
down. She revved the engine and dashed foeard as the checkered flag came
down. Her car accelerated quickly and she took a fast lead over the other
drivers. Out of the corner of her mirror she saw Seiako pulling up, going
very fast. Haruka smirked and pressed down on the pedal harder. She sped
around a sharp turn smoothly and kept an even lead for the next few laps.
Then, suddenly, as she was turning the second to last corner, Seiako's car
suddenly appeared next to her. She gaped in suprise but quickly accelerated.
To her surprise the black car kept matched her pace.
Haruka narrowed her eyes as Seiako's car almost sideswiped her. "What is
he trying to do?? He should learn to race fairly!" she growled.
The crowd in the stands was tense with excitement as they watched the race
before them. Michiru was biting her lip worriedly, but calmed down as she
realized Haruka would pull through. She always did.
Haruka did pull through, a full four seconds ahead of Seiako. The crowd was
cheering like mad as she climbed out of her car and waved. Michiru ran and
jumped into her embrace as Seiako glared at them, and then stepped back
behind the throng of fans rushing forward. An evil smile of anticipation
came over his face as a plan formed in his mind.
~~~ Part Two ~~~
Michiru smiled as she finished playing the last few notes of a song she
was working on.
"Hmm....Just needs a little more work." she said to herself.
She closed her eyes again and put her bow to the strings. The ringing of
the doorbell cut her off just as she was about to start, and she put down
her violin and hurried to the door.
She opened it with a wide smile, anticipating Haruka to be on the doorstep.
The person there was not Haruka, however, but Kitashi Seiako.
Michiru gasped and closed the and swung the door closed partially. "What...
what do you want?"
Seiako grinned. "Konichi wa, Michiru-san. You seem so happy to see me!"
She frowned. "Either tell me what you want or leave!"
He shrugged. "This rudeness must be a trait you picked up from that Haruka,
right? Oh well, I've come to ask a favor."
Michiru narrowed her eyes. "Why would I do you a favor?"
Seiako laughed. "Relax, it's nothing difficult, so dont go getting your
pretty little self mad. I just need you to relay a message to Haruka for me,
since I most certainly would have problems getting her to listen to me."
"What is the message?"
"Tell her I want a re-match. The last race was unfair. Her mechanics foiled
with my car before the start."
Michiru gasped. "Thats not true! It was a fair race! You're just being a
sore loser!"
He shook his head. "Whatever. In any case, I demand a re-match. And if
Haruka's a dedicated racer, she'll agree to it."
Seiako turned from the door and walked down the steps. Then he turned and
looked back at Michiru dissaprovingly. "It's such a shame that you are
involved with Haruka. If you ever change your mind, maybe I'd give you
another chance." With that he climbed into his car and left.
Michiru glared at the retreating vehicle and rushed to the phone.
Haruka laughed and squeezed Michiru's hand reasuringly. "Michiru, dont let
him bother you so!"
Michiru raised her eyebrows. "Me?? As I recall, just the mention of Seiako's
name was enough to get you fuming last week!"
Haruka shrugged. "That was last week. But I realize now that Seiako's just
upset because he knows he will never truly beat me, and he cant deal with
that fact. I shouldnt let him upset me, because I am victor in our battles.
And thats enough for me."
Michiru smiled. "Well this certainly is a change. But are you going to give
him that rematch?"
"Sure, why not? I want to see how many times I have to beat him before his
conceit lowers a few notches."
Michiru laughed. "I dont know if that will ever happen."
Haruka got to her feet and helped Michiru up from the couch. "I feel like
going for a ride. You want to?"
"Sure!"
Haruka and Michiru walked outside towards Haruka's motorcycle that was
parked in Michiru's driveway. Haruka climbed on and waited for Michiru to do
the same.
"Enough talk about that Seiako. Now lets have some fun." Haruka said as she
started the engine.
Michiru smiled and wrapped her arms around her tightly. "Sounds like a good
plan to me!"
With that they took off into the night.
Seiako grinned and hummed to himself as he quickly replaced the cover over
Haruka's race car and walked out of the garage and towards his own area.
He swung his helmet through the air as he went over the plan in his head
once again.
"It's all too simple. And when I win, she'll feel like a fool!' He said
gleefully.
He reached into his pocket and pulled a small metal contraption out. With
a laugh, he tossed into a garbage can and headed to his car.
Haruka slid her gloves on and jumped into the seat of her car. Michiru
stepped back as Haruka pulled to the starting line with one last wave.
Haruka smirked and readjusted her mirror and looked at Seiako's car pulling
in next to her.
Haruka made a show of yawning. "Lets get this done and over with!" she
called. "I have other things on my agenda."
Seiako grinned. "Oh, I bet you do." He then turned his attention back to his
car and smiled as he anticipated what was coming.
Michiru glared at Seiako's black car and sat down on the edge of the outer
wall surrounding the stands.
Haruka slid her helmet on and gunned her engine at the starting line.
Seiako grinned again and waited for the green light.
It came, and the two cars jumped from the start. Haruka was suprised at her
own acceleration. "I must be more pumped by this then I thought!" she
realized.
Haruka had the lead quickly and unsurprisingly. She grinned as she rounded
the second bend.
Seiako was undaunted by his opponents lead. "Soon......" he thought to
himself.
Haruka sped up and rounded the second bend. Three turns later she still had
the lead and Seiako didnt even seem to be making much of an effort to catch
up with her. "What is wrong with him?" she though. "Why is he making this so
easy?"
Seiako was getting annoyed. It should have happened by now. At least two
turns ago, he should have been the one in the lead while leaving a
frustrated Haruka back in the dust. "Why didnt it work yet?" he thought.
"Oh, well, it better happen before that sixth turn.....that one's a killer...."
Michiru smiled as she watched Haruka's sleek yellow car round the bend with
a wealthy lead. She couldnt wait to see the kind of mood Seiako was going to
be in after this race!
Haruka laughed out loud as she realized how fast she was going. "Hmm....I
dont need to put the pedal to the metal so much....he doesnt even have a
chance at catching up now." Still, she was disspointed. It wasnt much of a
challenging race. She sighed and tapped the brakes lightly.
Her car did not slow down. In fact, it accelerated slightly. Haruka frowned
and tapped them harder. Nothing.
Seiako clenched the wheel tighter as Haruka's car approached the sixth curve.
"What in the world is going on?? Why didnt it work yet?? It has to work
before she reaches that turn..if she trys to go around that...." he gasped.
"What have I done?"
Haruka bit her lip and pressed the brakes harder, hard enough so that she
expected a jolting stop from stopping so abrubtly as such a high speed. But
the car made no reaction, and did not slow down a bit. She narrowed her eyes
as she noticed the sharp turn ahead of her. "Why are my brakes not working??
How will I take that turn like this??"
Michiru frowned and leaned forward. Haruka's car seemed to be jerking
slightly from left to right,. not travelling in the smooth, straight paths
that she associated with Haruka's driving. "Something's wrong..." she
thought to herself as she watched anxiously.
Seiaki gasped as Haruka's car flew towards the sixth turn. "She's going to
go around it.....but her brakes....Oh god what have I done?" He thought with
extreme worry as he silently prayed for a miracle.
Haruka cursed and turned the wheel sharply at the sith turn. Her car turned
smoothly but the sudden change in path took her by suprise.
"Shimatta!" She exclaimed as she pushed down on the brake pedal forcefully.
She gasped as once again her car did not slow down and her car rapidly
approached the gray stone wall outlining the track.........
Michiru jumped from her seat as she saw Haruka's car turn sideways and fly
towards the wall.
Seiako screeched on his breaks and threw his helmet off, jumping from his
car as soon as it stopped.
Haruka gave one last frantic turn of the wheel as the gray wall loomed in
her sight.
"Michiru....." was all she could think of before the defening sound of
crunching steel resounded throughout the air.
Michiru was down on the track and running when it happened. She stared in
disbelief as the car crashed into the wall and glass and metal pieces
exploded over the course. She fell to her knees and closed her eyes as a
wrenching and powerful wail overcame her body and pierced the air;
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
~~~ Part Three ~~~
Michiru opened her eyes slowly and blinked at the harsh light that greeted
her.
She sat up stiffly, dissoriented, and looked around the room she was in.
The walls were plain and white, the room was bare, except for the bed she
was in and a chair next to it....and there was a figure slumped in the chair.
Michiru stared at the figure curiously. The young man looked vaguely
familiar, and she tried to place him....
She gaspes, suddenly and sharply. Seiako looked up quickly as she jumped off
the bed and backed away.
"Michiru....." he said softly, and she was alarmed at the pain and tears she
saw in his eyes.
"You.......what are you doing here?! And why am I in this room?!"
Seiako bowed his head. "Michiru...you're in the hospital. Haruka...."
"Haruka." The name echoed in Michiru's head. Her mind filled with rapid
flashbacks of the car, screeching, crashing, bursting into flames that grew
and licked at the air.....
"Oh god." Michiru covered her mouth as her eyes went wide with horror.
Suddenly the door to the room opened and a nurse walked in.
"You're awake!" The elderly woman exclaimed as she smiled at Michiru.
"That is such a relief-"
"Where is she?" Michiru exclaimed. She ran to the nurse and grabbed the
startled woman by the shoulders. "Where is Haruka?!"
The nurse remained silent and Michiru's voice grew desperate. "Tell me where
she is!!!"
The nurse frowned and looked down at a clipboard in her hand. "Ten'ou Haruka
...I'm afraid you can't see her right now, she's not stable yet..."
Michiru felt her eyes well with tears and she choked back a sob. "Please..."
she pleaded.
The nurse sighed and turned towards the door. "Follow me."
She led Michiru through the hallways and had a bried conversation with
another nurse while Michiru waited anxiously. Then the nurse smiled and
headed back to Michiru.
"Good news! She's in ICU now, so you can see her!" The nuse wrote something
on her chart. "You are a family member I assume?"
Michiru bit her lip. "No. But I'm all Haruka has. More than just family."
The woman blinked and then softened. "I see. " She patted Michiru's back and
motioned towards a room that a doctor was just leaving. "Okay.....you may go
in now."
Michiru nodded gratefully and turned but the nurse stopped her.
"I warn you......it's not very good..."
Michiru paled and opened the door slowly, stepping into the room. Her eyes
moved around the room until they fell on a prone body lying in a bed.
Haruka. Her breath caught in her throat as she took in all the beeping and
glowing machines and tubed surrounding the bed and running into Haruka's
body.
Michiru stepped forward and looked down at Haruka. Her right arm was
bandaged in several places. Several layers of gauze were wrapped around her
head. A small line of stitches ran over her right eyebrow. Her left eye was
bruised and a small bandage ran over the bridge of her nose. Several other
spots on her face were patched in white gauze.
"Oh Haruka..." Michiru gasped. She rushed forward and sank to her knees
beside the bed. Her eyes spilled over with tears as she carefully took
Haruka's hand. It was limp and cold.. Michiru squeezed it and cried. "I'm
here, Haruka. I'm here..."
She ran a hand lightly through Haruka's hair, which had once been silky and
dark golden and was now pale yellow and lifeless.Michiru sobbed as her heart
felt ready to collapse.
The door to the room opened and she looked up startled. The nurse and a
doctor walked in. The doctor glanced at her sadly.
"Miss Kaiou?" he asked.
She nodded.
"As you can see, Haruka's condition isn't too promising.....she's in a
coma.."
Michiru closed her eyes.
"But you are just what she needs right now to help bring her out of it."
Michiru stood up, not letting go of Haruka's hand. "What do you mean?"
The doctor looked at the monitors gravely. "During the accident, Haruka
sustained minor bruises, burns, and a few broken bones in her right arm,
but the head trauma is what worries me. There was no brain hemorraghing,
for which we can be very grateful, but a massive blow like the one she
encountered when her head impacted with the ground is enough to prevent her
from coming back to us."
Michiru covered her mouth and turned away from the doctor. He noticed her
shaking silently and pulled a chair up to the bed for her.
"It could have been much worse, Miss Kaiou.Thank God for modern technology.
The car was well equipped with safety features for accidents like this......
but that cant account for the damage done to her body. What Haruka needs
right now is a light to guide her back to us. Something to cling to, to give
her back her strength."
Michiru nodded and wiped her eyes. "I-"
"Just talk to her. Let her know you're here for her."
Michiru looked back into Haruka's silent face. "I will doctor. I wont leave
her side."
Seiako walked nervously down the hallway after returning to the hospital. He
gazed around the corridor that was almost empty and silent. It was late at
night, about ten minutes before visiting hours would be over. He was lucky
to have made it in, past the nurses. He had to pass himself off as Haruka's
brother to get the room number from them.
IC 433. This was it.
He slowly reached out and grasped the doorknob and turned it. He slowly
stuck his head in and looked around.
He saw Haruka, surrounded by monitors and machined. Michiru was next to the
bed, her hands placed over Haruka's, her head on the bed, the turquoise hair
falling over the sides of her face, blocking any view she might have of
Seiako. He could tell by the shaking of her shoulders that she was weeping.
Seiako gulped and stepped away from the room. Poor Michiru....she must have
been there all day, he thought. He sighed and walked briskly away as guilt
overcame him.
The steady drip of the IV was the only sound in the room as Michiru stared
into Haruka's face. Her vision was slightly blurred and she rubbed her eyes
in annoyance. She didnt know what time it was, what day it was, all she knew
was that Haruka was right there, unmoving, untalking.
Michiru held Harukas hand again and cleared her throat.
"Ruka..." she said softly, using a petname she said on rare occasions.
"Ruka it's me......Michiru....I'm right here for you. I've been here for you.
And I'll still be here later on. I wont leave you until you wake up.....and
you're back with me once again."
She smiled shakily. "And you think you're the tough one here eh? Well I can
be just as strong and stubborn as you. It must have rubbed off!"
She laughed shortly but then bowed her head again. "But I dont think I have
the strength to go on without you, Haruka. I love you.....I couldn't live
without you. Please wake up. Please Ruka...."
Michiru blinked back a tear and squeezed Haruka's hand.
Suddenly she felt her hand being squeezed back.
She gasped and looked up. Haruka was motionless. Had she imagined it?
She searched Harukas face desperately and gaped as her lips parted ever so
slightly and she made a groaning noise.
"Oh my G-.....Haruka!" Michiru exclaimed and she leaned forward. "Haruka,
I'm right here! Open your eyes and look at me!"
Haruka lips moved once more but suddenly her head fell to the side and one
of the machines began beeping loudly.
Michiru gasped. "What? whats going on?"
She looked around at the monitors and gasped as they all began making rapid
beeps. Michiru sat stunned as a crew of doctors rushed into the room. "She's
crashing!" They exclaimed.
"Quick! The cart!"
Michiru backed away as they loomed over Haruka and began removing the tubes
and taking out new instruments. She shook her head in disbelief.
"Crashing...." It couldnt be...she had just felt her hand move, and saw her
lips move, and heard her groan...she was waking up. She was going to be fine....
"She's slipping!" Exclaimed one of the nurses. She charged the paddles and
handed them to the doctor.
He held them against Haruka. "Clear!" he yelled.
Michiru felt her head spin as she watched haruka's body racked with the
charge but remain still. The doctor moved to charge her again as Michiru
backed away, mouth frozen open, and left the room admist the buzz of the
machines and the shouts of the doctors.
~~~ Part Four ~~~
The rain pattered down the dim lit street as a solitary figure walked down
it in determined strides. The figure was seemingly oblivious to the rain
which fell heavily onto slumped shoulders and clenched fists. A sudden low
shriek of outrage and pain sounded from the person's mouth as they increased
their pace and continued on into the night.
Seiako leaned against his car and looked out over the ocean waves reflected
by the moonlight. He looked up angrily at the falling droplets and pulled
his jacket tighter around him. With a sigh he kicked a rock with his foot
and watched it fly over the edge of the cliff and down into the waters below.
His mind continued to replay the feelings of tremendous guilt he had over
the accident with Haruka. He would never be able to forget what he had done.
Taking a life at the sake of his petty jealousy....
Seiako slammed his fist against the car in frustration when a sudden
sensation made him whirl around. There was someone approaching him from the
shadows. He immediately got into a defensive stance and clenched his hands
into fists.
The figure stepped into a beam of moonlight, making Seiako blink startledly.
"Mi...Michiru?!" he asked.
Michiru kept walking towards him. He noticed how thoroughly soaked she was
even though she didnt seem to notice. Hey eyes were dark and unrevealing,
her face stripped of all emotions. Seiako walked around the car and
approached her, holding out his jacket apprehensively. "Michiru....take this,
you're soaked....you're going to get sick-"
He jumped in surprise as Michiru smacked the hand holding the coat out to
her away with her fist. "I wont let you." she said.
Seiako cleared his throat nervously. "Um, wont let me what? Michiru are you
all right?"
Michiru continued to advance on him as he backed up in puzzlement. "Get away.."
"What?"
"I can't let you get away with what you did." The look in Michiru's eyes
finally got through to Seiako. He bit his lip. She had to be insane.
"Michiru, now cal-"
"I cant let you. I CANT!"
Michiru held up her pen into the rain and yelled out her henshin phrase.
Seiako's eyes went wide with shock as she transformed into the sailor senshi
Sailor Neptune. Anger settled across her face as she glared at the tense
man before her.
She nodded to herself as she confirmed her plans. Seiako must die. There was
no way in hell that she'd let him live after what he'd done.
"Deeeeeeeeep........Subamerrrgee!"
Seiako blinked and yelled out as a sudden blast racked his body and left him
with a suffocating feeling, like he was drowning underwater. He coughed and
struggled to regain his breath, looking up at Michiru, whose eerily calm
form stood out against the rainy night sky.
"Mi...Michiru...wh-" Seiako's floundering sentence was cut off as another
attack from Michiru hit him full force.
He was down on the ground now, his lungs feeling like they would burst,
taking in mouthfuls of air as fast as he could to rid himself of the
suffocating feeling that wouldn't leave his body.
Seiako looked over his shoulder and down the rocky cliff to the water below.
He gasped as he realized just how close to the edge he was. With a sinking
heart he turned back to Michiru pleadingly.
Michiru's expression was blank and she seemed to be unaware of what was
going on. Her mind was having a struggle within itself. "Why am I doing
this?"
"Haruka."
That one name caused a light of recognition to flash in Michiru's eyes. She
quivered momentarily as she thought of Haruka back at the hospital bed, as
the monitor gave a monotone beep...
Michiru narrowed her eyes and looked down at Seiako once more. Then she held
her arms up and prepared to give the final blow that would push him over the
cliff and give Michiru her revenge.
"Deeeeeeeep..."
Seiako closed his eyes. "I deserve this.." he told himself.
Michiru threw her arms down and trailed off on the first syllable of
submerge as she gasped. Seiako opened his eyes and watched as she sank to
her knees, her eyes wide and desperate.
Seiako blinked. "What is she-"
"Haruka?!"
Michiru's sudden cry startled him. He watched as Michiru's fuku dissolved
back into the dress she had been wearing earlier. Tears streamed down her
cheeks and she clasped her hands tight at her heart and stared despairingly
up at sky. "Haruka....Haruka!" she called again.
Seiako's heart wrenched. She had to be in such pain...
Michiru jumped to her feet and sobbed, then ran from the cliff and away into
the night.
Through the hospital door, a soaked and frantic figure entered. The figure
rushed past the startled workers and headed straight towards the destination
their heart was leading them to. They stopped in front of a door in the ICU
and turned the knob slowly.
There was a bed against one wall, and a blonde-headed girl clad in a drab
robe was sitting up with her arms crossed, arguing with a nurse.
"I said Im fine, all right? Just let me out of this place!"
The nurse remained calm and cheerful as she tried to reason with the
disgruntled patient. "Now deary you only just got out of the serious
condition you were in, we can't rush things now can we? Certainly not...we
have to make sure you are fully recovered bef-"
"I said I'm fine. I dont need a doctor to lo-" The girl broke off her
sentence and the impatient expression on her face changed to one of
momentary shock.
The nurse turned to meet Haruka's gaze, which rested on the figure standing
in the doorway.
"Oh, there you are Miss Kaiou! We were so worried when you ran out of here
like that before! You left right before your friend here made her miraculous
recovery! Now isn't that sim-"
The nurse's words rolled right down Michiru's back as she stared back into
Haruka's face from across the room. Her breath caught in her throat as she
tried to make sense of this dream that was actually reality. "She's ok....
she's here....she's alive..."
The nurse's stern protests were quickly ignored as Haruka pushed back the
blankets and jumped to the floor from the bed. Michiru finally found her
feet able to move as she rushed across the floor as Haruka greeted her in
the middle.
Strong arms surrounded Michiru and held her tight as she shed tears of joy
at last. Haruka pressed her face into the soft aqua-green hair and shut her
eyes.
After a minute of silence and blissful togetherness Michiru looked up at
Haruka, lifting her finger gently to Haruka's face, touching her cheek, her
chin, her lips, everything she thought she'd never be able to touch again.
"I felt something.." she whispered. "I just knew you were alive again....
something inside me awoke and my heart revived..."
Haruka looked deep into her eyes. "Did you honestly think I would leave you?
Did you think I could ever leave my soul behind me like that?"
Michiru exhaled. "No...of course not."
Haruka laughed slightly and leaned her face down to Michiru's. Their
happiness was awakened in both of them as they spiraled into a deep and
tender kiss.
Seiako stood at a distance down the hallway, watching the door he had seen
Michiru enter through after he had followed her to the hospital. A nurse
suddenly left the room with a bright smile and strode quickly to a doctor
who was waiting. Seiako approached the door slowly and looked in.
He saw Michiru sitting on a bed, a wide smile on her face, a hand on her
hair. He blinked as his gaze settled on the owner of the hand. Haruka, alive
and well, was sitting next to Michiru as the two gazed into each other's
eyes and spoke quiet words that he could not hear.
Seiako shut the door and backed away as an enormous weight lifted from his
conscience. With a sigh of grateful amazement he turned and strode down the
corridor to the exit, leaving the two friends to continue their cherished
reunion.
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