"Let's go on holidays!" "What?" Haruka who said on the couch and listened to the news on TV rose her head and looked at Michiru in surprise. The senshi of the wide ocean sat down next to her and put the opened atlas down at her lap. "We've never been on holidays and at the moment there's such a nice weather. It's nice warm and dry." A confident smile appeared on Michiru's face. "And at the moment it doesn't look like our enemies will find a new victim. Why don't we just use this short time of peace?" The young car racer switched off the TV and put the remote control on the table. Then she stared at the atlas down on her knees. A part of Japan was surrounded by a big red line. "Holidays in the mountains?" she asked quietly as she read the names of the nearer cities within the red line. "Why not? We can use our bikes and spend the nights in a tend. One or two weeks will do wonder." The blue eyes of the young violinist shone enthusiastically. Haruka watched her in silence. It was about a week that the last youma tried to get the heart crystal of the old man at his party. They didn't talk about it afterwards. They just kept on with their lives. Haruka hat some training with her race car and Michiru took part at several small concert in Tokyo. Everything was how it had been before the incident at the party. But somehow it was different. "You aren't kidding, are you?" asked the young car racer but she also liked the idea to get out of this city and get into nature. To leave all those problems behind. To forget their mission. Just for some days. But these days would be enough to regain new strength. New hope. "No..." Doubt covered the enthusiasm in Michiru's face. She didn't even think about any refusal of the taller senshi. She just thought that Haruka would like her idea as much as she did. Maybe it was a silly idea. "But if you don't want to go on holidays... Well, I can understand that your training is more important... and the youmas... and the talismans..." Nothing is more important to me than you. "No, Michi-chan. I like this idea. When do we start?" Haruka smiled confident and was happy as the sad expression disappeared from the face of the smaller woman. "Arigato, Ruka!" Before the young car racer could react Michiru had already wrapped her arms around her waist and squeezed her gently. "Hey, don't strangle me!" gasped Haruka and blushed against her will. "You would have deserved it!" mocked Michiru and looked up into two green eyes. She laid half over the young car racer on the soft couch. It's a good feeling to have her by my side. The young violinist rose her hand and touched thoughtlessly Haruka's short blonde hair and stroke it gentle. It's alike if she's male or female. The senshi of the wind just stared at her and automatically wrapped her arms around her slim body. Then she winced. Michiru pulled herself back at that very moment and blushed slightly. "Everything okay, Ruka? What about your back?" The whole last week she didn't ask again about the wounds. Not that she didn't remember them. She just didn't dare to break the silence that seemed to surrounded Haruka. And her, too. "I am alright, Michi-chan. Don't worry. I am strong enough to carry rucksack. With lemonade, chocolate, crisps and waffles." "Baahh..." Michiru made a face and Haruka had to grin. "Hey, that's my way to make proper holidays." "Well, I've survived worse. But I will take a torch, a pocket knife, a sleeping bag and some medicine with me." Declared the young violinist and went over to the kitchen and opened the fridge. "And some rolls." She said after she observed the contents of it. "So I'll have the funny things and you the serious ones." Haruka sat down on the round table in the middle of the kitchen and ran a steady hand through her short blonde hair. "I hope they aren't too heavy for you." "Hey, you actually forgot how heavy lemonade and chocolate can be." Mocked Michiru and spun around. A happy smile laid on her face Haruka loved so much. You smile too less, Michi-chan. "And you forgot how strong I am!" Haruka made a sulky face which always made Michiru laugh. So it did this time. "My strong super hero." She joked and laughed a little bit more. Haruka watched her with a honest smile on her face. The sun shone through the open kitchen window and wind played with the sea green hairs. She looks like an angel. "I thought that we could leave tomorrow early in the morning." "Early in the morning?" Haruka mad a desperate face and tried to yawn. "You'll survive it. I am sure." Michiru opened the fridge again and took out some bowls. "I'll make the food and you repair my bike. That's a deal, isn't it?" "What, you didn't repair your wheel? You had this accident five months ago!" Haruka jumped off the table and observed the contents of the bowls. "Well, I have you to repair my bike, haven't I? O, Ruka! Don't pinch a bit! Otherwise you'd have to starve the next days." "Not with you by my side." Haruka blushed again as Michiru rose her head at her ill-considered declaration. She took a deep breathe and turned toward the door. "I'll repair your wheel." She said and left the kitchen. Michiru watched her for some seconds than she took a knife and started to make their food for the next days. "Hai..." she whispered but a confident smile laid on her now redden face. Step by step. *** "Good morning, Ruka!" Haruka turned away from the exiting voice and pulled her blanket over her head. "It's too early." She mumbled tired and shut her eyes as someone opened her curtains and let the bright sunlight into the twilight of the room. "Get up! We're going on holidays!" declared Michiru aloud and jumped into the bed. She grabbed the blanket and pulled it away energetically. "Michiru!" At the next moment Haruka sat upright and fetched the cloth back. She covered her nakedness. The last day had been very hot and after she finished her shower she just went into bed without pulling over her white shirt. So she didn't sweat so much. When I had known that Michiru would wake me up I would have never... "So you're awake at last. Get up, my little late riser. Breakfast's ready and I don't want to leave after seven o'clock." She's so beautiful... "Seven o'clock?" whispered Haruka and yawned. "How late is it?" "It's already six." Declared Michiru and smiled as she saw the shocked expression in Haruka's face. She ran friendly a steady hand through the wild blonde hairs and went back to the door. "Six o'clock?" asked the young car racer and yawned again. "Hai." Michiru left the room of her best friend and went over to the kitchen. "You're nuts!" yelled Haruka after her and laid back down on her bed. She yawned again but she smiled as she pulled away the blanket to dress up. *** The world rushed by fast. Tokyo, other cities, suburban areas, meadows, rice fields, trees, rivers and some small lakes passed by with a high speed. Just the sun seemed to stay in the endless cloudless sky. Michiru sat silently near the window and watched her home Country. They took the train in Tokyo to get to the mountains. The big city was about two hundred miles far away from the place they wanted to spend their holidays. They decided to take this fast means of transport, because the route towards the mountains leaded through different big cities and Michiru wanted to see nature not glass, concrete and honking cars. The train drove through a long black tunnel. Michiru squinted as they returned to the surface and the bright light of the powerful sun dazzled. The young violinist felt the head that leaned against her shoulder and looked down at the sleeping Haruka by her side. A smile appeared on Michiru's face as she watched her car racer sleeping. It's been too early for her. Thoughtful she rose her left hand and stroke gently through the short blonde hair. It felt like velvet. Michiru loved this feeling. Haruka opened her eyes a little chasm for some seconds. Dreamy she looked in the young violinist's face and smiled tired. Her warm hand took the stroking of Michiru and hold it tight. "Just two minutes more." Whispered Haruka then she settled back into sleep. She's so cute. Michiru squeezed gently the hand then she returned towards the window and watched the world out there. She was happy. It was the first time since she had been ten years old that she went on holidays. On real holidays not on tour. For the first time she wasn't alone. She went on holidays together with her Ruka! The door to their compartment opened and a woman about the forties entered. "May I sit down?" Michiru observed her for some seconds. Maybe she is indeed forty, she dresses and makes up like a twenty old teenager. "Hai." The woman sat down and corrected the order of her black skirt and her white blouse. Surely a business woman. Michiru watched the world for a while while the woman studied a big newspaper. "Are you going on holidays?" asked the woman finally after she had observed quietly the two rucksack and the couple in front of her. "Hai. Went want to spend some days up in the mountains." Replied Michiru politely but didn't turn her head. "How romantic! When I was young my husband and I used to do such crazy holidays too. Now he's too ill for such adventures. Now we make our holidays in Europe." "Interesting." But honestly Michiru just wanted the woman to shut up. She had an idea for a new song and needed her peace to make up her mind for the new melody inside her head. For a while they just sat there in silence. "Where are you from?" "Tokyo." Michiru tried not to roll her eyes. It was very hard not to show her boredom. "A nice city. And far away." The young violinist could feel how the woman looked from Haruka's sleeping face into her. "Your boyfriend seems to be very tired." "Haruka's a late riser." "But today he didn't sleep until midday. That's romantic." Dreamed the young woman and looked up to the ceiling. "Young love is always so romantic. When I was your age I believed that I could change the world. That I could move mountains together with my boyfriend. Now he's my husband and we didn't move anything. But we're happy together and that's all what's count, isn't it?" Michiru looked down at Haruka and a her eyes shone sadly. It must be fantastic to grow old with the one you love. "Hai..." she whispered. Where will be my Ruka when I am forty? Michiru leaned her head against Haruka's and closed her eyes. Will I ever become so old or will I die because of a youma? The woman seemed to say anything more but she was interrupted by the announcement of the locomotive personal. Michiru opened her eyes and ignored her sad thoughts. Now they went on holidays and for these few days there won't be any youmas. No talismans and no missions would disturb their peace. "Ruka." Whispered the young violinist and squeezed gently her warm hand. She feels so good! "What..." mumbled the young car racer and Michiru saw that Haruka didn't want to open her eyes and end her sleep. "Get up, Ruka. The train arrives our goal in about five minutes and we have to fetch our bikes." "Then fetch them and give me these five minutes more..." Haruka's voice was still full of sleep and slightly she yawned. "Sometimes you're terrible." Whispered Michiru but she smiled as she leaned forward and gave her young car racer a light kiss an her cheeks. Haruka's eyes flew open and she stared at her young violinist in confusion. Then she blushed slightly. "Awake at last?" joked the young woman and stood up. I hope she didn't hear my heart beat. Michiru went over to the rucksacks and took it into her trembling hands. "C'mon, Ruka. I don't want to miss the station!" "Hai..." whispered Haruka and stretched herself to dispel her tiredness and calm down her suddenly exited body. For some seconds you could see the young car racer's female outlines though the wide yellow shirt she wore over her short blue jeans. Michiru saw the confused look of the business woman that changed fast into something worse. First she looked at Haruka and then at Michiru. >Don't look at me this way!< The young violinist heard again the calm voice of her car racer in her head. Michiru took the second rucksack in her left hand and seized with her right on Haruka's. Then she left the compartment without any words. Suddenly she could understand Haruka's strange behaviour. But she would never accept it. "Everything fine?" asked Haruka as she took her bike. She had seen the sad expression on the face of the smaller senshi and wondered why Michiru should be sad. They went on holidays. That was no reason to moan. "Hai." The young violinist turned her head and smiled happily. When the train arrived the station they left. Michiru didn't look back to see the woman who watched them both in silence. With an estimate look in her dark eyes. *** The bright sun shone from the endless sky above. A small river flew near the sandy way they drove along. Huge trees covered the way with shadows and cows stood on green meadows and ate their grass. Michiru rose her head and looked up to the mountains that came nearer and nearer. Soon they would surrounded them. Maybe we can climb on such a high peak. It must be a great feeling to be on top of the world... She sighed happily and closed her eyes for some seconds to enjoy the wind that played with her long sea green hair. Haruka turned her head and smiled slightly as she saw the luck in the smaller senshi's face. She looks so beautiful. Like an angel... Haruka sighed and concentrated on the way under the wheels of her mountain bike. She wanted to tell Michiru about her feelings. But she didn't dare to. What if she wouldn't understand her? If she would laugh at her. What if I loses my one and only friend? The reached a fork and Haruka took the right way without looking on the map she carried in her rucksack. "Why did you chose for this direction?" asked Michiru as she reached her after some seconds. Haruka war very fast. Sometimes too fast for the young violinist. But she waited when she recognized it. "Because it leads to a mountain lake, my little mermaid." "Great. I am already sweaty." They arrived the station four hours ago and since these four hours they drove towards the mountains. Michiru would have never admitted it but she was indeed a little bit tired. Well, I am not as well trained as Ruka. "A bath will be fantastic." "The water's surely very cold." Wondered Haruka because she knew her Michiru. The young violinist always froze. Even in the hottest summer. But if she was in her wet element it was always perfect. Michiru never complaint about the temperature of the water. "You don't have to join me." Laughed Michiru and screamed quietly as her bike jumped over a stone she didn't see. But she could react and didn't fall off the bike. "Are you okay?" Haruka stopped her bike next to her and looked concerned at the smaller senshi. "Don't worry." Michiru laughed and speeded up. "The last one is a lazy chicken!" she declared while she reached the next bound. "Cheater!" Haruka followed her. She had to laugh too. An hour later they arrived the small lake. It was surrounded by old trees and if you looked up to the sky you could see the top of a huge mountain that seemed to be near. But you would have to walk for some more hours to reach it. "How peaceful." Declared Michiru as she laid down her bike and stepped towards the lake until she stood with her feet in the cool water. "Nothing can be heard. No noises of the big city, no arguments of angry people. No screams of victims. No mad laughter of some youmas." Michiru opened her arms wide and closed her eyes. She felt the water on her skin and heard the rushes of the leaves. Haruka who covered a shadow place near the lake with a blanket looked up and watched her young violinist silently. "Michi-chan..." The desire to go to her and hold her in her arms was almost irresistible. Haruka clenched her fists and stepped automatically back. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to go on holidays with her... "Hai?" Michiru spun around and ran to her. Haruka smiled and the tomboy expression returned on her face. "I am hungry." Declared the young car racer and sat down on the blanket. "Well, maybe I can help you." Michiru kneeled down next to her and observed the contents of her rucksack. "Here are some sandwiches with salad and a sausage and an apple. You've got the lemonade." She said finally. Her blue eyes shone lucky as she gave the food into Haruka's suddenly ice cold hands. "Aren't you hungry?" asked the young car racer while she unwrapped the sandwiches. "Hai, but first I wanna swim." Michiru pulled her t-shirt she wore over her head and threw it on the blanket. Haruka coughed because and her sandwich seemed to be very dry with a sudden. Then she realized that the young violinist wore a swimsuit under the short blue skirt. With a splash she ran into the cool wet. The water spray through the air and shimmered in the bright sunlight. Michiru stood in the middle of the fountain and laughed happily as Haruka put up her arms protectively as Michiru tried to splash her. The young car racer put down her sun glasses and watched her silently for a while. I love you so much! The water calmed down and Michiru started to swim silently through the small lake. Haruka sighed and laid back on the carpet after she had eaten up her sandwich. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the peace that suddenly surrounded them. Rare peace. She laid there for a long while. Then she felt suddenly some cold wet trop upon her yellow shirt and made a face. As she opened her eyes she could see the laughing face of the smaller senshi that was surrounded by sea green wet hairs. By so cold hairs. "Iiih!" Haruka sat upright in the next moment. "The water's really cold!" she declared loudly. "But refreshing. C'mon, Ruka. Just five minutes. They'll do wonder, believe me." Michiru came nearer and Haruka watched her with horror in her deep green eyes. "No! That's certainly too cold!" The young car racer screamed as Michiru touched her right leg with her icy hands. "You're impossible!" "I know." A wicked grin appeared on Michiru's face as she grabbed Haruka's arm and tried to guide her towards the lake. "No!" said Haruka again and wanted to go back to the blanket. "Hey, I don't wanna a skunk in my tend." Declared Michiru and already stood with one food in the cool water. "Just one tend?" asked Haruka surprised and the young violinist used the moment of hesitation and pulled the young car racer with her into the lake. "Michiru!" gasped Haruka as she returned to the surface. "Do you wanna kill me?!" She tried to get out of the water but Michiru was faster. Haruka could be as fast as the wind in her car, on her motorbike or in her race, but in the water the senshi of the ocean was unbeaten. Quickly she wrapped her arms around Haruka's waist from behind and hold her back. "Leaving so soon?" she mocked and giggled as Haruka turned around and tried to pull her head under the surface. But Michiru was again too fast. She evaded and instead of the young violinist the young car racer dove into the cool water. Gasping for breathe Haruka came back towards the surface. Michiru used the moments when the young car racer searched for her and tickled her from behind. Haruka burst out into laughter and tried to defend herself but Michiru was stronger in her element. "Are you ticklish, my sweet Ruka?" asked Michiru joking and didn't stop. "Michi, please..." laughed Haruka helplessly. With a sudden Michiru stopped her punishment and wrapped her arms again around Haruka's waist and held her tight. She leaned her head against her shoulder and closed her eyes. "I like it when you laugh." Declared the senshi of the wide ocean quietly. "You laugh too less." For a while she just held her tight. Haruka sighed slightly but she didn't dare to break the silence. Motionless they stood there in the cool water. "Are you cold?" asked Michiru after a while when she recognized the shaking that went through Haruka's body. "No, this water's just too hot!" answered Haruka ironically and turned towards the smaller senshi. Automatically Michiru rose her arms and took Haruka face in her hands. The blonde hairs were wet and the young car racer looked wilder than normal. The yellow shirt was wet all over and Michiru could see Haruka's breasts. Deeply the young violinist looked up into dreamy green eyes. She's a real woman. Michiru smiled and begun to stroke the pale cheeks of the taller car racer. But it's okay for me... Then she saw the blue lips and the shaking that continued through the body of her friend. "Let's get out before you freeze to death." Declared Michiru and swam towards the rim of the small lake. "How canny!" mocked Haruka and followed her. Hell, I am cold! Haruka climbed out of the water and went over to the blanket. And at the same time I am so hot! "Here..." Michiru gave her a big towel and watched her with her shinning blue eyes. "Are you angry about me?" "No..." Haruka had to laugh at Michiru's pleading expression. Then she started to dry her hair. "But sometimes you're so overwhelming." "I hope so." Michiru laid into the bright sun to dry her swimsuit and bit into a green apple she liked so much. "Shall we stay here for the night?" she asked and looked up to the sky. They spend the whole afternoon at the lake and now the sun slowly set. "Why not? It's a nice place." Haruka swallowed as she thought that they just had one tent. Why did she just brought one tent? The young car racer searched her rucksack for some warm clothes and considered how to change without Michiru seeing it. Without herself blushing. Well, we're both woman. It's okay for her to share it. It would be another thing if I was really a man. Haruka looked over to Michiru and sighed slightly. She still remembered the feeling of two arms being wrapped around her waist. The feeling of a small body pressed against her own It's nothing special to her. Is it? "You set up the tent." Said Michiru tired and squinted in the bright sun which lost it's power with every minutes. In about an hour it would be dark night, because dawn was faster up in the mountains than at the sea. "And what about you?" Haruka changed quickly her yellow shirt into a black one. Michiru turned her head and watched her in silence. A smile laid on her face. "I will start praying that it won't break down in the middle of the night." Michiru screamed as Haruka suddenly stood over her and tickled her. "Gomen..." she laughed happily and opened her arms with an acquiescently gesture. "I know I have deserved..." Michiru's voice died away as she saw the strange expression in Haruka's face. The young car racer stopped tickling her and her warm hands rested motionless on her hips. I like this feeling. Being by her side. Deep green eyes shone seriously as Haruka leaned forward. Michiru watched her silently and her smile faded slightly. She wanted to say something. Anything. But her voice didn't belong to her anymore. So she just looked into these eyes she loved so much and hoped. What am I doing? Haruka stopped two inches away from Michiru's face. She could feel her warm breathe upon her skin. "Better I'll set up the tent." The young car racer turned away and stood up in a sudden. Then she took her rucksack and pulled out the green cloth. Michiru closed her eyes and wondered why tears burned behind her lashes. Why am I disappointed? Silence fell upon the lake. None of them dared to break it. *** It was dark night. Stars shone above in an endless sky. The sun was gone and with her the hot of the summer. Haruka sat near the campfire. A long black pullover warmed her. Quietly she looked into the flames and wondered why she felt so sad. She was on holidays. With Michiru! But instead of being happy she just felt empty. And alone. The young violinist went into the tent some hours ago. But Haruka couldn't sleep. She just sat there and watched the night in the mountains. She listened to the rushes of the trees around and the screams of the night animals that haunted now. She tried hard to ignore the words of the rude man. After another hour Haruka sighed slightly and gave up. It was about one o'clock in the night and she didn't want to fall asleep on her bike the next morning. Better I'll go to bed. She erased the fire and moved quietly into the tent. Michiru laid in her sleeping bag and slept deep and tight. Sometimes I envy her... Haruka climbed into her sleeping bag and turned towards the wall of the tent. With an angry expression on her face she shut her eyes. But she knew that it would take another long time until she would be able to sleep. An restless sleep full of frightening nightmares. Michiru opened her eyes and watched the back of the taller senshi for some seconds. Then she stared again at the ceiling of the green tent. I am so cold! The sleeping bag could hardly warm her. But she didn't dare to ask Haruka for... What for? Holding me tight? Giving me some warmth? Excluding all my fears? Michiru closed her eyes but she couldn't fight back the tears that were burning behind her lashes. Silently they fall down her pale cheeks. She didn't make any sound. No sob escaped her shaking lips. One thing she learned after the sudden death of her parents. She couldn't fight back her tears, but when she was quietly no one mentioned that she cried. No one could look at her with wrong pity. It was already dawn when she finally settled into a light dreamless sleep. *** Michiru oppressed a yawn and stared tired in her soup plate. It was her lunch and it was still hot. But she actually didn't have hunger. Nor appetite. The young violinist rose her head and looked around at the terrace of a small restaurant. It looked like an old farmhouse in the middle of a green valley. Maybe it used to be a farmhouse but now it was a hostel for hungry tourists and hiker. Michiru stared again in her soup and the nausea increased inside her stomach. It was a hot summer day and she knew that she was the only one who wore a thick pullover. The sun shone without mercy down at the earth. But at the same time Michiru was very cold. "Hey, small one. Are you here all alone?" asked a male voice and a young man sat down on the chair next to her. Curious he looked at her and Michiru sighed slightly. "The mountains can be very dangerous for such a beautiful woman like you." "Don't worry, super hero. I've got my own protector." Replied the young violinist and pointed over to Haruka who balanced her cola while she tried to put the change back into the pockets of her short jeans. When Michiru woke up in the morning Haruka had already left the tent and made breakfast. They talked about different things and slowly they got so familiar they had been the last day. They packed the tent and carried on with their tour. Haruka was as funny as ever and Michiru tried to be as happy as she had been yesterday. But at the same time something changed. We didn't talk about the last evening. "Oh... well..." The young man seemed to be disappointed as he watched the young car racer coming towards the table. "Then I wish you a nice day, young lady. Goodbye." He said quietly and went away. "Bye..." whispered Michiru and stared back at her lunch. Haruka observed the young man who talked to her young violinist. Finally he stood up and came to her direction. He didn't stopped as they passed by but the young woman believed to hear some sad words: "You lucky one." Then the man was gone. Haruka turned her head but she couldn't see him anymore. So she took place at her chair and ate her dinner. After a while when her hunger was more bearable she recognized that Michiru didn't eat anything. "Do you want to hypnotise your soup?" she asked mocking and trunk half of her cola. "It just doesn't taste." Declared Michiru but didn't look up. "Do you want anything else?" "No." Silence evolved between them. Haruka finished her meal and watched quietly two small girls who played at the playground with a huge ball. "Who was the young man you were talking to?" asked the young car racer after a while and made a face as one of the girls stumbled and fell hard on the grassy ground. Immediately it started to cry. Michiru put the spun into the soup and shivered slightly as the wind played with her long sea green hair. Are you jealous, Ruka? But she didn't dare to say it aloud. "Nothing important." She replied instead and stood up. "Let's go." Haruka watched her young violinist walking over to the bikes and taking her rucksack. "Hai..." she whispered and followed her. *** The whole day they drove through the mountains. They went up to different viewpoints and climbed over some rocks to have a better look over the valley. Michiru took several photos and after a while they forgot that they had been angry about each other. It was such a wonderful day and nature did it's best to make it fantastic. Slowly the day ended and the sun started to set. "Hey, this is a nice place, isn't it?" asked Michiru and shivered again. She was still very cold and she could hardly drive her bike. She reached the edge of her powers. But she didn't dare to talk to the young car racer. She didn't want to look weak beside the strong senshi of the wind. "Ruka?" Michiru coughed and the world begun to spun around. Her head ached more with every minute and her whole body started to tremble. "Just until the next valley. Please. It's still bright enough, don't you think?" could Michiru hear the exited voice of the taller senshi. She rose her head and the dizziness increased. She could see Haruka far away at the next bend. "Hai..." she whispered. Then she lost the control over her bike. She didn't see the rock that laid across the way. Her trembling hands couldn't hold the handlebars any longer. Michiru wanted to scream but she wasn't able to. She just fell down on the stony ground. Pain went through her right leg and somewhere next to her she could hear how her bike crashed down on the stone. "Shit..." she coughed again and wanted to stand up. But her rucksack was too heavy with a sudden. So she closed her burning eyes and waited for some moments. Surely she would be able to stand up when the pain disappeared a little bit. When the dizziness would have gone. She could hear the noises of another bike and hoped that no one would drive over her. It was already twilight and she didn't wore bright clothes. "Michi-chan?" A concerned voice next to hear let her open her eyes. She looked into two green ones that were very concerned. "What happened?" Haruka tried to help her up but she couldn't load her right leg. The whole world spun around and the thought that her head was going to explode. "Michi!" yelled Haruka and held the young woman tight as she seemed to faint. "Everything's fine. Just one moment rest..." whispered the senshi of the wide ocean and coughed again. She leaned her head against Haruka's shoulder and closed again her burning eyes. "I am just so tired..." admitted the smaller woman and shivered obviously. Haruka helped her out of the rucksack and it landed somewhere on the rocky ground. Carefully she took the face of the young violinist in her hands and could feel the heat under the skin. "You've got fever." She declared with a strange tone in her voice. Cautiously she sat Michiru on the stone and stroke the sweaty hairs out of the hot forehead. "Why didn't you tell me that you're feeling ill?" asked Haruka quietly and started to stroke the red cheeks of the young violinist. Michiru opened her eyes as she felt that those strong hands trembled. "I don't... don't want to be.. too... too weak..." she stammered and rose her head towards the suddenly pale face of Haruka. Green eyes looked for some moments deep into two feverish shimmering ones. "You're never weak, Michi-chan. You're the strongest woman I know." She declared calm. Then she went back to her bike and studied the map in the twilight. "We passed a hotel some miles ago. I guess they'll have a doctor and a warm bath for you." Haruka sighed slightly then she returned to the sitting woman. "Can you walk?" she asked and looked doubtfully at the bloody knee. "Hai..." Michiru came hard on her feet and stumbled along the stony way. "Gomen..." Haruka took the two rucksacks and the two bikes. Quietly she went by Michiru's side and scold herself how she could be so blind. She didn't eat anything the whole day! "You don't have to apologise. Even strong women are weak time by time." She said after a while they just walked slowly towards the valley they left half an hour before. Why didn't she just tell me? Don't she trust me anymore? "Believe me, I know what I am talking about." Michiru looked up from the stony underground and nodded understanding. *** "But..." "The doctor told you that you need some rest. And I won't let you stay the night in our tent where you would freeze. The ground is too hard for you knee and I don't wanna be responsible for you getting a real flu!" Michiru gave up. Haruka wanted to stay the night in the hotel and so she couldn't say anything against it. Ruka can be so stubborn! She coughed and shivered again. The doctor bandaged her knee and it would be okay the next day. If she took her medicine and slept well they could carry on with their tour the next day. Or the day after tomorrow. The young violinist stumbled slightly as she followed the young car racer towards the reception. "Are any rooms free?" asked Haruka a young woman who smiled friendly at her. Michiru rolled her eyes and coughed again. Please, don't flirt now! Haruka returned the smile but as Michiru looked closer she could see that the green eyes were empty. Somehow insensible... "Of course. We don't have holidays and it's in the middle of the week. What do you want?" The young woman looked in her computer and gave in some dates. "A double room for one or two nights." Declared the young car racer and swallowed. "Room number twenty. It's over there. Just use the lift." The young woman gave the keys in Haruka's hands and the smile grew wider. Ugly teeth! Michiru coughed again and wondered why she didn't like the young woman. Maybe I am just too tired. "I hope you'll enjoy your stay in our hotel." Haruka just nodded and turned towards Michiru. Now the green eyes weren't empty. Suddenly they were full of concern and other feelings the young violinist couldn't define. "Let's go and bring you to bed." Haruka took carefully Michiru's hand and guided her towards the lift. Silently they reached the first storey and entered their room. It was a great room with a huge bed in the middle. A table and three chairs stood next to a big window. A small door leaded towards a comfortable bathroom. "The last time I felt so ill was on the funeral of my parents." Whispered Michiru and sat down on the soft mattress. She covered her burning face with her icy hands. "Do you want to take a shower?" asked Haruka while she observed the small bathroom. "Do you want anything else? Something to eat or...?" "Just my medicine..." mumbled Michiru but the idea of a nice warm water pouring down her skin was tempting. "Maybe a shower would be fine." Slowly she stripped her pullover and stood up. Her legs trembled and could hardly hold her weak body. Then she stripped her shoes, her socks and her t-shirt. Then she entered the bathroom in underwear. Haruka who already turned on the shower and controlled the temperature blushed as she saw her. "Do you think you're able to take a shower?" asked the senshi of the wind concerned. "I don't want you to slip on the wet ground." "You can join me if you like." Said Michiru in a quiet voice and coughed again. Again the whole world seemed to spin around but she ignored the feeling. She stripped her underwear and stepped under the warm water. Michiru closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of being in her element. The dizziness increased and she coughed again and again until tears were running down her still wet cheeks. She searched for hold at the wall but all she could find were cold flagstones. She winced as the pain went through her right leg as her trembling body gave up. Slowly she went on her knees and had to cough again. The water fell down on her and suddenly she couldn't breathe anymore. The water seemed to surround her and she feared to drown. "Michi-chan!" She could hear the concern in Haruka's voice. The waterfall of the shower stopped immediately. A soft towel was wrapped around her trembling body and strong arms helped her up. Michiru rose her head and looked into a pale face. Nothing remembered of the always joking tomboy. Now Haruka's face was pale and her green eyes full of concern and... Love? "You're driving me crazy." She declared but her voice broke. "Not more than you are." Replied Michiru and coughed again. Haruka looked at her for some seconds and seemed to say something. Then she decided to be silent. Quietly she dried the smaller senshi and covered her nakedness with another soft towel. Carefully she carried the young violinist to the bed and sat her down on the soft mattress. "Did you bring any night dress with you or do you want a simple t-shirt?" asked Haruka while Michiru leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. Her face was redden from the fever and her body still trembled. "A dress. In my rucksack..." whispered the young violinist and coughed again. It sounded really ill. I can't remember the last time I had been really ill. Well, at least the doctor had declared that she just had a little cold and not a dangerous flu. She didn't want to break up their holidays. She didn't want their free days to end like this. "You call this a night dress?" Haruka stared at disbelieve at the light blue negligée. "How would you call it?" asked Michiru and her voice was a little bit angry as she grabbed the thin cloth and pulled it over her trembling body. Tempting... Haruka swallowed hard and turned away to study the medicine the doctor gave them. "Uncomfortable." She said instead aloud. Michiru just coughed again. "Well, you don't have to wear it, do you?" she said and sighed loudly. Then she took the medicine and crept under the soft blanket. Haruka switched off the light and went over to the bathroom. "Sleep tight, Michi-chan." She whispered in the darkness and quietly closed the door. "Sure..." Michiru coughed again and looked at the ceiling of the hotel room. Tears were burning in her feverish shinning eyes and her headache seemed to explode her head. The world still spun around and she felt so weak and helpless she had never felt before. So totally alone. The young violinist heard the noises of the shower. It seemed to last an eternity until Haruka left the bathroom. Were will she sleep? Michiru didn't dare to hope that they would share this huge bed. The young violinist closed her burning eyes and shivered again. Her legs were ice cold and even the soft blanket couldn't warm her. She heard how Haruka crossed the room and took something out or into her rucksack. Her sleeping bag? "Michi-chan?" she heard suddenly the calm voice somewhere far away. "Hai?" answered the young woman and coughed again. The roundabout she seemed to sit in increased it's speed and she wondered why she didn't fell out of it. "Are you cold?" "Hai..." Some tears fell down Michiru's cheek and she shivered again. She felt how Haruka crept under the blanket and took her into her strong arms. The body of the young car racer was so wonderful warm! Michiru pulled herself a little bit closer and leaned her head against Haruka's shoulder. She could feel the breasts under the shirt Haruka misused as night dress. Slowly the young car racer put her legs between Michiru's and warmed them. She feels so soft. "Better now?" asked Haruka with a strange tone in her voice Michiru had never heard before. Carefully the senshi of the wind wiped away the tears from the burning face of the smaller woman. "Hai." Answered Michiru and coughed again. The roundabout was still turning around, but the cold left slowly her body. "Gomen, Michi-chan. I didn't mention that you were feeling ill." Automatically Haruka begun to stroke the velvet sea green hairs. Michiru looked up for some seconds. But she couldn't see Haruka's face in the darkness. So she shut her eyes and enjoyed the feeling. "Why didn't you tell me last night that you were freezing?" asked the young car racer. Her hand left the hairs and slipped under the thin night dress. Tender she caressed the soft skin of Michiru's back. "One sleeping bag is too narrow for two, isn't it?" Michiru yawned and felt how the medicine did it's job. Slightly she settled into sleep. "Hai... but..." Haruka sighed oppressed and leaned her head against the one of the smaller senshi. For a long while she didn't say anything. She just listened to the regular breathes of Michiru and thought about the last two years. How this smaller woman changed her whole life. "Michi-chan?" Michiru heard the shaky voice. She wanted to reply anything but she was too tired to mumble or even to open her eyes. It was so warm and comfortable with her Ruka by her side. Sleep had almost caught her. Michiru felt how Haruka moved slightly. But she didn't leave. Maybe she's looking for a better position. At the next moment Michiru felt soft warm lips upon her own. It was a tender touch. The light kiss lasted for a few seconds. Then Haruka laid back on her pillow and her arms squeezed gently the smaller senshi. "Night, love." She whispered with a quiet sob in her voice. She won't be my future but at least I'll have this kiss to remember. Even if she doesn't remember it... Michiru wanted to reply that she liked that kiss. That she wanted another one. But she was too tired. She heard the silent sobs of the taller senshi and felt the strong heart beat next to her ear. Everything will be fine. Michiru settled into a deep and peaceful sleep. Now that I know that you love me, Ruka. A smile appeared on her face while she started to dream. A wonderful dream of a wonderful future she would be able to experience.
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