Lost With You (part 7 of 9)

- APART FROM YOU -

WARNING!: I never told you I was going to make it easy for you readers... so... in this chapter Jade features and you now know he's not a tender-hearted guy, so... some not-too-gentle lines by him - he's a gross, rude lag, after all. But nothing you're not going to hear from your TV every single day.

The hall was busy, people leaving and coming. Every sort of people. Most of them on business trips, he was sure of that. Briefcases and suits were everywhere, even some celebrities judging by the commotion of bawling girls and camera flashlights. He walked around for a moment then decided to sit down at a café table. He felt some kind of exhaustion but he was perfectly conscious it couldn't be just physical: he had had his eight-hours-long sleep, and his job at the arcade his parents owned wasn't such a hard work. He used to spend his time behind the counter or in the back fixing computers or every sort of device. But he did feel very tired... tired of traveling around, tired of worrying, tired of preparing himself to every sort of bad news every time the phone rang or the postman stopped by their house.

He slumped down on the white chair and exhaled a sigh, then he looked around just to distract himself from his brooding attitude. His attention was immediately got by an enthusiastic comment about the biggest ice-cream he had ever seen by a nearby table where an American couple was sitting. He soon turned still smiling at the blonde girl's behavior. At another table on his right was a beautiful tanned woman in her thirties with a lilac elegant suit and a laptop opened in front of her. She seemed very engrossed in her work, her eyes didn't blink and rarely she lifted her head looking around as to search for someone.

Furuhata stared at her, 'They're all the same... they travel cause of their job, they work while they're traveling and they'll work when they'll arrive. They all work so much to afford the house-of their-dreams where the family-of-their-dreams would live and where they can't enjoy the life-of-their-dreams cause they're too busy working to afford all of that...' He thought bitterly, then he thought of himself, he sure wasn't like them, he liked his job but he wasn't a workaholic... 'But again I'm always traveling around the world... and it sure isn't for fun.' He thought about all the airports he had seen in his quite short life so far. 'I should stop running every time... but I promised...' He looked away when the tanned woman's garnet eyes pierced through him intensely.

He then leaned back in the white chair sighing, there was still time to wait before his flight, he tried to wait patiently the way he always did... but his hand on its own will crept into his pocket and pulled out a creased sheet of paper, he unfolded the sheet and again – for what... the hundredth time? - before him was the nervous black handwriting, it wasn't the first letter like that he received... '...but this time... it's different...' He traced the dried stains with his fingers, obviously caused by salty drops fallen on the paper as it was written, '...or not?'

"We can't leave the beach! How the Hell can they spot us if we're not on the beach?" Seiya's heated reply aroused many comments in the small group. They were all gathered to decide what to do after the news Haruka had given them about the spring she had found in the forest. She had told them about the caves too and now some of them wanted to move there to have shelter and water at will without the long walk.

"But there we could get refuge from the rain, too. Ami and Umino say the raining season has just begun... we all witnessed it yesterday." Darien reasoned. Some comments of agreement spread through the small community though not all of them had the same opinion.

"I have plenty of shelter here, so do whatever you want, I don't care." Jade said, then he turned his back to them and made his way to his quite comfy spot. Lita shot a deadly glare at his back and grunted something about him having 'hoarded up everything that wasn't a corpse!'.

They all looked at him for a moment then there was a general shrugging and they went back to their discussion. It was hard to find a common decision and after a quite long consultation they were in stalemate. A larger group agreed about moving to the caves, but some of them were resolved to stay at the beach with the hope to be seen by a passing ship sooner or later.

"I have no intention to become cannon fodder for that... that... thing in the forest!" And with that Yaten left the group, his decision clear.

"Well... actually..." Dr. Mizuno intervened, "when we made the autopsy the evidence is that the poor girl was attacked at the beach, she had sand under her nails." This new information was greeted differently, some were shocked, others angry for the omitted detail and others were quite fatalist.

"If we have to be devoured by that thing... at least we can have some chance to be spotted..." Lita concluded and she stepped aside to make clear she had taken her decision.

Looking at her worried, Mina said, "We should stay together..."

"Yeah... we should." Serena agreed quite worried too, Darien squeezed her shoulders with his arm.

Haruka looked at all of that like it was some kind of show... she felt like they were far from her. It was difficult for her to concentrate on the discussion, her head throbbed really painfully and her sight was blurry. She remained silent without participating until she was asked directly about her intentions. Mina's voice reached her as if muffled and she wasn't able to reply immediately.

"Haruka?" it was the second time the younger girl called for her... or was it the third?

"Haruka-san, are you all right?" This time the soft voice rang clearly in her ears and the gentle touch of that hand on her arm was scorching. Haruka winced and that took Michiru by surprise.

"I..." The car-racer spoke finally out of her dazed state, "I'll move to the caves, it's the better thing to do, water is too important."

Then it was clear: the little community was split in two parties. Taiki had obviously decided to remain at the beach with Yaten, it hadn't been much of a hard decision for him; Molly had been long uncertain cause of the possibility the doctor could move, but finally she had agreed about Ami or her mother visiting her almost daily and of course Umino had decided to stay... well... wherever she wanted to stay; Lita had decided mainly to be able to keep an eye on Jade despite what she had just said; Furuhata too had chosen to stay saying that moving to the hinterland was like giving up all hope to be rescued, and while saying that he had looked at Haruka significantly; last of them Seiya had decided to remain with his brothers wanting to renew some kind of relationship with them. Of course almost all of them had justified their decision with different excuses from the real ones, but for everyone it was clear sincerity wasn't something valuable in that situation. They were, after all, a bunch of strangers.

Darien, Serena and Mina had agreed immediately to remain together, then they had decided it was more reasonable to be where the water was; for the doctor and her daughter it had been an almost inescapable choice, it was almost impossible to do their job without available water; Rei's, Grandpa's and Yuiichiro's consultation had been longer cause the girl had had to translate their conversation but in the end the old man had suggested them to move to be able to have food and water and a shelter cause those were the important things right off; Setsuna had been quite annoyed by the fact she had been asked before Haruka or Michiru, she knew she wanted to be where they were at least for Hotaru's sake, but a rapid exchange of glances with the tall blonde made her decide it was safer for Hotaru to be where the doctor was and of course Haruka wanted to be with them, if they had decided to stay she would have decided so in the end too, but that she never said out loud.

They were split in two and in the middle stood Michiru. She realized she hadn't decided and now all eyes were on her. Of course she was used to have the attention drawn to her and were not all the eyes to make her uncomfortable. 'And now? I have to decide...' she thought looking from one line-up to the other and soon she found herself looking from Seiya's expecting eyes, to Haruka's cold ones. She sure wanted to stay with Hotaru and, despite what she was trying to convince herself of, she would have liked to stay with Haruka too. On the other hand she looked at Seiya and the hope in his eyes, he was in a very difficult situation and Michiru was the only one still close to him. She now knew what his feelings for her were and she also knew that she could have chosen to move and in the end he would have followed her turning the situation ideal for her... but that would have been selfish on her part, wouldn't it?

'Then don't move...' Her inner voice told her, '...or maybe you really want to go with... her?' Michiru knew her conscience didn't intend just Hotaru but tried to ignore it.

"Michiru-chan?" Seiya prompted her in an intimate way in Japanese like it was something between the two of them only. She looked once again to Haruka, she could tell something was bothering the taller woman cause she was stiff and her eyes were cold like she was on the defensive. Michiru had already figured out the blonde didn't like to show her feelings and that coldness could hide so many things... but right then her own heart was so mixed up that she could have used some clear signal her presence was welcome... and the only clear signal she was seeing at that right moment was the hope in Seiya's eyes. He was what she needed right then, wasn't he?

Seiya's face fell when the aqua-haired beauty walked from him and towards the car-racer, but he remained silent clenching his fists... oh how he hated that woman!

"Can I talk with you?" Michiru said when she was right in front of Haruka, her look serious and her voice pain-filled.

"Of course..." Haruka replied slightly confused.

I know it's been a while... a long while. I know I should ask you how is it going there? And Mama and Papa? I know I should ask you about some kind of a girlfriend cause it's time for you to settle down with a good girl, you deserve that...

...but I'm not going to ask you that... I know it could look like I don't care, but it's not the case, it's just that... well... it's just that I'm afraid of the answers cause I think I already know them.

Yes... I already know Mom cries often and she often talks about me, and I know Papa stays silent when it happens but he clenches his teeth and frowns with that painful look in his eyes, the same he always had when I was caught in some kind of trouble... I'd like to hear you have finally found a good girl but I'm afraid you'll tell me you haven't one, and it scares me cause I'll think it's because you're too busy worrying about your hopelessly-loser-of-a-sister, the one that calls for you in tears and makes you jump and run to her wherever in the world she is... even in the middle of a romantic date. I know this sound lame and stupid but you know... maybe I am... lame and stupid.

Well, like always I wrote down tons of shit... I don't want you to feel sorry for me but like you can see I can't help but be selfish... sometimes I think the only thing preventing me from feeling completely self-concentrated is my love for you. Yes, dear brother, you know you are the only pure thing in my life, the only thing I can look at and feel like I'm something worth living.

I remember once, when we were just kids I was lost in the wood and I was crying helplessly when you found me and with a smile you said to me:"Why are you crying Una-chan? Don't tell me you've thought I abandoned you... You know I can't be without you onee-chan... I'll always find you and bring you back with me, never doubt that." We were just 8 or 9 but you were already so mature...

Fu-chan, now it's cause of that promise I'm writing to you... I know I called for you so many times I can't remember the exact number... and I know I have no rights but... Wet stain I feel like I'm going to get lost Wet stain My life is slipping away through my finger and I can't get an hold of it. Wet stain I'm loosing my path and I don't know if you can bring me back this time...

Wet stainWell... I waWet stainnted to be sure you knew I love you with all my heart and soul and that you've always been with me, all the time... and that you will always be.

Wet stain

Yours

Unazuki

Meanwhile Michiru had drawn Haruka aside from the others, the blonde seemed a little confused and Michiru could tell she was a little nervous too. The aqua-haired woman sighed deeply and looked up into Haruka's teal eyes for a while. She had never let go of the blonde's hand and then took the other one into hers as well. Haruka's surprise and confusion was clear cause she looked dumfounded down at their joined extremities.

"I..." Michiru couldn't talk resolutely like she had planned to, Haruka's look affected her in ways she was afraid to acknowledge. Her hands were so cold she was almost trembling while Haruka's were hot and it seemed to her they were burning where she was holding them. She looked down too and it seemed weird for her to see her fingers holding those hands so much larger than hers and not the other way round.

Haruka had already figured out Michiru wasn't about to tell her anything good, she couldn't admit it to herself immediately but she was afraid she was about to stay at the beach. That thought was greeted in her mind by a painful throb of her head. She was already cold and Michiru's icy hands' touch gave her a shiver she couldn't stifle.

That unintentional move broke the spell and they were out of that dazed state, or at least Michiru was. She sighed again and tried to speak, this time her voice didn't fail her anymore.

"I want to ask you a favor..." She said looking the blonde again in the eyes, now the previous coldness had disappeared to be replaced by a twirling mix of emotion unusually showing off clearly. She sensed it wasn't a good thing, though she had often complained inwardly for the blonde's reserve that made her unreadable most of the times, but now she could tell something was wrong... but what?

"What?" Michiru was ripped out of her thoughts by Haruka's voice. "What's this favor you need?"

"Oh... sure... well, I wanted to ask you to bring Hotaru here at the beach every time you have the chance and I'll promise to come to the cave and visit her whe-..."

"You can't stay here!" Haruka's voice raised as she cut the violinist off.

"Please Haruka-san... I think Furuhata-kun and Seiya-kun are right... What chance we have to be spotted if we move from the beach?" She told her calmly though the blonde seemed anything but calm.

"It's nonsense!" She pulled her hands free from Michiru's and clenched her fists as her voice raised even more.

"Haruka-san I made my decision... I know Hotaru is safer with the doctor and... and you at her side so I'm unworried, but I have to stay-..." She was again cut off by the blonde's hoarse voice.

"They won't come! No one will ever come!" Haruka said with such fervor that she was panting now.

"How can you be so sure? They're searching for us right now and-..."

"Cause they're searching in the wrong place!" Haruka was almost yelling, but fortunately they were far enough from the others to be just seen but not overheard.

"Why the Hell would they searching in the wrong place and why do you know such a thing?" Michiru too was starting to be worked up by that conversation, she sensed it was leading them nowhere good.

Haruka was irrationally angry, she knew her voice was raising every passing minute and that they could end up being overheard by the others, at the same time all that conversation was coming to her like from a distance, sound and images distant and quite blurry, even Michiru who was not more than a meter away seemed so small and far she couldn't have been able to touch her with her arm stretched out.

Those considerations took a moment and the delay of an answer was getting on Michiru's nerve. "Are you going to give me an answer or have you decided on your own this conversation's over?" Michiru looked at the blonde and saw the blank look in her eyes like she had spaced out.

Haruka's head throbbed painfully and she couldn't think lucidly, she shook it a couple of times trying to gain back some clearness of mind, but it only made things worse cause the beach and Michiru started spinning.

Michiru saw the blonde shaking her head and then stumbling slightly, she noticed she was also trembling, frowning Michiru leaned forward trying to reassure the other but Haruka moved back.

Everything in Haruka's head cried for her to follow the violinist's unintentional advice and end the conversation there and then, but before she could think about it she found the words slipping out of her lips.

"Cause the pilot said it to us... we were thousands miles out of path when we crashed! That's why! No one knows where we are..." This time Michiru didn't noticed the feverish look in Haruka's teal eyes, she was busy processing that information.

The silence that followed was heavy, Haruka had regained enough lucidity to realize what she had done and instinctively looked down in shame, all the heat leaving her spirit and body too, she shivered in coldness.

"I can't believe it, Haruka... you did it again." The incredulous look turned into a disappointed and hurt one. "You promised not to lie to me anymore..."

The ocean-blue eyes before her watered rapidly and soon big tears were running down that beautiful face, but not once Michiru looked away from Haruka, no sob broke their eye-contact, no sound, no move. Haruka was completely petrified not able to shift a muscle, she knew she had done something terrible, she knew it had been her to bring tears to those eyes... Right now she knew lots of things but she couldn't remember how to speak... she wanted to explain Michiru why she had kept that information from her, but she found out she couldn't.

Michiru too was motionless, the cold expression in her eyes didn't match the rage swirling inside her like a whirlpool and threatening to erupt outside. But she couldn't allow such a thing... she was Kaioh Michiru, she was a lady and she didn't want to make a scene more than what they had already done... she felt like she had already given Haruka too much power on her, the power of affecting her feelings so much... and it had been a terrible mistake.

So, with a very lady-like swirl, Michiru turned her back to the taller woman and walked away to the beach her wet cheeks shimmering in the morning sun. Just then Seiya, having watched the scene from afar with the others, was marching there and when he got a glimpse of Michiru crying he soon rushed at Haruka.

The car-racer didn't acknowledged him at first still dumfounded by the recent discussion and its consequences, when Seiya shook her with a strong hold on her shirt collar pain rushed through her body starting from her head and then she focused her look on him. She covered his hands with her owns and twisted his wrists until he let go of her with a yelp of pain then she shoved him off and he stumbled back a couple of meters.

"What have you done to her?!" He yelled and was about to dash at her again when two strong arms held him in place

"Seiya! Seiya are you crazy?! Stop it!" It was Taiki who had preceded the others drawn by commotion and curiosity.

"Let go of me, damnit!" The younger man struggled and managed to free himself from his brother's hold and again he was face to face with the tall blonde. Meanwhile the others had run there and Darien, Yuiichiro and Yaten wanted to intervene but they were too slow and Seiya was again at Haruka's collar, this time with one hand high in the air ready to punch her right in the face.

"I knew you were nothing good!" He hissed and blew his strike, Haruka ducked just out of instinct, the rush of adrenaline suddenly clearing her blurred mind. "What have you done to her?!" He repeated.

"It's none of your business!" She replied, her rage rising like a storm inside.

"It is so my business! It's my Michi-chan you're talking about, you bastard!"

At this point Haruka exploded, the anger she felt inside was something familiar and at the same time completely new. She didn't like him, he was arrogant and annoying and it was easy to feel like beating him up until that smug expression on his face was completely gone, this was what she would have done usually. But her rage couldn't be just cause of him... No, she was furious... and she was furious with herself. That was the main part of her rage: she had hurt Michiru... again. Though what had triggered her reaction had been his words... '...my Michi-chan...'. That words had cut so deeply in her soul that she had been breathless for a moment. That words had brought pain deep inside, a pang she couldn't tolerate... and so her fist raised behind her head and she readied a major blow channeling in it all her mixed emotions.

For the shortest moment everyone held their breath waiting for the blow to collide with the dark-haired man's face. They were unconsciously aware that would have been bad... really bad. But the punch never came.

Her hand remained there trembling slightly in the effort of restraining all her force. Her eyes full of rage had moved from the dark-haired man in front of her to the figure behind his back several meters away... and she had seen ocean-blue eyes and the sorrow in them. It would have felt good to vent some of her anger, but not at the cost of hurting Michiru more, and sure beating up Seiya would have done just that. Then after some moments she relaxed, lowered her clenched fist and let go of the pop-singer's shirt, she did that never breaking eye-contact with Michiru.

The small audience gave a sigh of relief at the gesture, no one spoke but they all relaxed visibly. It sure wasn't a nice show to watch two of them resort to violence to solve a quarrel. It could be a sign their community's precarious equilibrium was shattering under the weight of the situation... after all it could have already happened cause they were about to part in two groups... and unity could have been their greater strength. But suddenly their momentary relaxation was shaken by a dull noise.

THWACK!

"Haruka-papa!" Hotaru yelled running to the blonde that now was bent in pain, her hand on her face.

"Seiya!" Taiki soon grabbed his brother by an arm and pulled him away from the blonde.

"Haruka-papa!" The little girl was soon beside the blonde and turned to glare at Seiya in a perfect imitation of an adult's menacing glare with her little black brows furrowed and her purple eyes sparkling dangerously.

Both Seiya and Taiki were struck by that expression, then Taiki turned to his brother whose fury had subsided when he had realized what he had done.

"Well... you deserved that, Seiya-kun..." He said referring to the kid's look, "Wow, I'm sure she'll be pretty scary when she'll be a grown-up." He concluded with a pleased smirk. "Anyway, I won't ask you to apologize cause I know you're not going to, but please make us - all of us - a favor and get gone before she decides to return your 'courtesy'." Taiki prompted his brother.

Haruka recomposed herself and when she straightened up Hotaru gasped seeing the copious amount of blood trickling from her nose. The blonde cleaned one hand on her pants and ruffled Hotaru's head in a reassuring gesture.

"I'm fine, Hime-chan. Look, it doesn't even hurt." She said smiling down at the little girl.

The others took their previously held breaths and Ami was the first reacting quickly going to Haruka. As the blue-haired girl checked to see if her nose was broken Haruka never broke eye-contact with the figure in the distance who had a very sad look and was unmoving. Then she looked down at Hotaru smiling again and then she turned glaring to Seiya, her eyes swirling with rage, but she didn't move.

"Mmm... let's just hope she doesn't beat him back..." Mina considered.

"Well he sure would deserve that!" Exclaimed Lita who was beside her.

"She won't do anything like that..." A male voice said from behind them. They turned to see Jade.

"Oh let's listen to the smart-ass... why are you so sure?" Lita snarled at him. But Jade didn't answer, he just looked in the distance and smiled knowingly. The tall brunette looked at him doubtful then turned again to the small group, Mina on the contrary followed Jade's look and saw Michiru with a very sad look in her eyes, then she looked back to the main group and saw Haruka looking at Michiru too.

"Mmm..." She mumbled thinking about that fact.

"What it is it, Mina? You have that look..." Usagi asked her from her other side, a curious look in her light-blue eyes.

"What look?" Inquired Lita now curious too.

"The look she always has when something concerning someone happens." Usagi concluded, but Lita remained quite confused by her answer.

"Oh, please don't listen to her." Mina said to Lita, then she continued, "Anyway... she won't beat him back, believe me." She said, a knowing smirk creeping out on her lips.

"Please! Look what telling things had brought to me!" She scoffed pointing at her swollen and bruised nose.

"Don't fuss or it will start bleeding again!" Setsuna couldn't stifle a laugh at Haruka's snort. She was rearranging more safely the haemostatic plugs in her nostrils and at the older woman remark she cast her a deadly glare.

"If you wouldn't have kept things from her in the first place-..."

"Oh Setsuna-san, spare me!" Haruka snapped, her head throbbing again. She massaged her temples and closed her eyes.

"Are you sure you haven't had a head concussion?" Setsuna's half joked, but glanced down at the blonde worried.

"It's not like that baka's punch was much of a threat, it's just my stupid head that won't stop throbbing..." She murmured.

"If you say so..." Setsuna conceded not too convinced.

"Haruka-papa, we're ready to go!" Hotaru said walking towards them with a tiny rucksack on her shoulder more to not make her feel useless cause it was nearly empty.

An hour had passed since the fight and the 'cave-group' had prepared to leave. Comments and suppositions had been made about Haruka's and Michiru's quarrel and about Seiya's intrusion but all of them had been wise enough not to mention it in the blonde's nearness. Hotaru had spent most of that time with Michiru before the group's departure, while Seiya had been kept wisely aside by Taiki - the commotion and edgy situation had got the two brothers closer.

Now they were ready to leave the beach and walk towards the new adventure, a weird feeling had spread among them in the last hours, they were strangers for one another and they had been together for less than a week but they had started to get accustomed to each other's company and that parting felt really uncomfortable. But then was late for second thoughts, so rucksacks shouldered the larger group of survivors was ready to go: Haruka led the way, behind her were Hotaru and Setsuna, then Dr. Mizuno and Ami followed by Mina, Serena and Darien, the last group consisted of Rei, Yuiichiro and Rei's grandfather who brought up the rear of the small line.

Furuhata watched the group entering the forest from afar, some doom-laden feeling made his stomach clench. 'It's not like we're not going to meet again. They'll be just a half an hour walk away...' But the uneasiness inside him didn't vanish.

"I don't know yet." She answered curtly, her green eyes were glistening with unshed tears.

"What's happened, Una-chan? Why are you packing?" He insisted panicking slightly.

"I can't stay here one more minute!" She exclaimed vehemently.

"You argued with them again, didn't you?" He had figured it out when he had passed the living room where her mother and father were quarreling, though they had hushed their tone when they had spotted him at the entrance leaving his shoes and putting his slippers on, he hadn't paid attention to it at first, cause it wasn't unusual in their family, especially when Unazuki was involved. She had a lively spirit and a strong inclination for getting in troubles. She was one of those persons who can't stay away from those kind of things, sure it was always for good reasons or out of generosity but the fact was that she was always in some kind of mess. And that was something his tranquil and plain parents couldn't understand. This was the mainly reason they were always fighting, his sister couldn't stay still and cold and his parents couldn't help but care and worry and trying to protect her. He had always been the one balancing the two parts, he had always interceded with his parents for her and had always tried to keep her out of trouble whenever he could. He had tried to have equilibrium for both of them, after all she was his sister... no, she was more... she was his twin sister, they were two part of the same person.

"I won't argue anymore... I won't be a bother for them anymore, Fu-chan." She said fastening up her bag. She shouldered it and looked at him with her green eyes and soon he saw big tears run down her smooth cheeks.

"Oh come on, Una-chan, what are you doing? You can't leave!" He said stopping her with a forced embrace. She didn't struggled, instead she sunk into his arms and leaned against his chest, soon he heard suffocated sobs coming from her and warm wetness through his shirt.

Furuhata held her for a long time until her sobs subsided then he lifted her chin with his hand and wiped her stained cheeks sweetly. They looked at each other for a minute, since they had been kids they hadn't needed too much words to understand what the other was feeling, it was like they could read right into each other's heart.

"We'll solve it out..." He whispered her smiling softly. "I'll make it better, let me help."

"Oh Fu-chan... you're too good for me... but... I can't stay here, I feel like I'm suffocating..." She looked at him intensely, "...you see... they won't understand, they want me to be different from what I am... and I can't."

He listened to her in silence, his hope to make her stay thinning by the minutes. "Hey, parents never understand offspring, you know that." He tried to reason.

"Yeah... and offspring never stays home forever..." She said bitterly. At her words he stifled, it seemed like nothing could make her change her mind. He let go of her and looked again in her green eyes to search for a little chance of keeping her there with them... with him. But he couldn't find any, just resolve and sadness.

"They want me to live my life emotionless... but I'm going to die this way... I'm going to die inside. You understand Fu-chan, doesn't you?"

And of course he understood, everything in Unazuki's life was emotionally huge: every thing that happened to her, every cause she decided to embrace, every person she decided to love... or to hate. Every single moment she had to feel something and it always had to be something strong. When she was happy she was jubilant... and when she was sad... she was totally heart-broken, shattered. Everything less than that it was like to be dead for her. So he couldn't lie to her...

"I know... I know."

"Then... you have to help me." The new resolve on her face made him shiver. Nonetheless he nodded and she continued. "You have to drive me to the airport... No no, please... let me finish. I won't say goodbye to them we'll sneak out unseen and then you can say them I run away."

It was a crazy plan, their parents would have known he was involved... he was always involved... but Furuhata wasn't afraid of being blamed, it was something he was used to and it was right cause he was responsible for her... what scared him was to part from his sister, it was the thought of knowing she was somewhere away from him, alone, maybe scared and he wasn't there to help her.

As reading his mind she touched his shoulder and smiled reassuringly at him. "Hey bro', you have to be brave, if you're not brave how can I be?" She said and this time it was her turn to wipe tears from his cheeks.

"But... Una-chan you know you've always been the brave one, not me..." She smiled at him, cupped his cheek and kissed it.

"I love you, Fu-chan, I don't know what could I do without you." Then she took her sack and motioned him to go downstairs while she escaped from the window.

An hour later they were at the airport, Unazuki had a ticket to Sidney – Australia - in her hand and Furuhata felt like his life was about to change forever.

"Well... it's time..."

"Una-chan promise me you'll write." He gasped, choking back tears.

"Fu-chan... You'll be always with me, you know that... and if you ever get lost I'll find you and the same if I get lost... and you know that is more likely... me loosing my path and you bringing me back." She smiled but she too had tears running down her face.

In that right moment she wanted to forget everything but the music, she wanted to forget the island, the dead people, she wanted to forget the fear and the pain, truths and lies. Soon the soothing effect of the music relaxed her tense nerves and the notes begun to come smoothly from her skillful fingers.

And so an hour passed until she felt her fingers numb for exertion and her heart lighter. It had been so hard not being able to play for so many days, she couldn't remember a single day without playing her violin since she was five. She needed it like she needed to breathe.

When Michiru finally stopped she felt regenerated and ready to face the world with brand new energy. She lowered the violin and the bow and looked around to check if Seiya was in the nearness. The young pop-star had been a pain lately, he had asked – no, ordered – her to tell what had happened with Haruka. Of course Michiru hadn't told him, it was something between her and the blonde and sure it was none of Seiya's business. She also hadn't liked his attitude, the commanding tone like it was his right to know and affect her life the way he wanted. But most of all she was mad cause of the intercourse between him and Haruka, and though Haruka had hurt her, Michiru was really upset with Seiya too... he had hit Haruka and that was something unforgivable. And the hard part was that Michiru herself had been the cause of that... she couldn't help but feel responsible. She didn't like to feel accountable for someone else's behavior and she didn't like to feel guilty, that was the main reason she had been so detached during the past years: she had a lot of responsibilities towards her music, her career, her audience and her family, she didn't want responsibilities towards people too. It was already taxing to be 'perfect' for the world and her parents without other persons having expectation of other kind.

'Besides she passed the test and he didn't...' her inner voice said. She hated violence, it was something rude and absurd and never made things better... no way. Michiru had seen Haruka restraining herself from hitting Seiya earlier that morning, and she had really appreciated it, that was the reason she had been shocked when she had seen Seiya punching her with all his force. She was absolutely sure it had been her look to keep Haruka back and now she felt like she had punched the blonde herself.

She realized she had started again to think about those things as soon as she had stopped playing, that annoyed her and she forced herself to concentrate on her instrument. The polished wooden surface was shining but she decided to treat it like she always did before replacing the violin in its case. It was then that she realized she had no more wax nor chamois leather.

"Shimatta!" She hissed, looking down at the empty small can.

"My my, swearing does not suit you, Michiru-chan!" A male voice came as a figure shadowed the morning sun. When she looked up at him Seiya smiled brightly, but she didn't reciprocate. Instead she hurried to close her violin's case and stood from her sitting position, ignoring completely the black-haired man.

"C'mon Michi-chan, I was just kidding." He said in a exasperated tone, "What happened, did your violin get damaged? Of course! It takes someone who knows musical instruments to take care of such a delicate item and she sure isn't one."

Michiru didn't comment, she didn't even look at him instead she walked away at a quick pace. But Seiya sure wasn't one to give up easily, the aqua-haired woman did know that and soon sighed resignedly when she saw him at her side again. They walked in silence for a while, he had at least the decency of keep quite, but Michiru knew he would have had another go any minute and she felt she couldn't tolerate it.

"Listen to me Seiya-kun, you know me, right?" He nodded, with a sparkle of hope in his dark eyes, "And you know how it is when I'm upset... Well, now I'm very very upset. So I don't want you to talk about me or my violin and I can't tolerate you hinting at other people," she stressed the last words and cast him a glare as to say 'we both know who and why',"right now I would really appreciate if you would leave me alone." His face fell miserably, he had tried to lighten up the mood but he knew before starting that Michiru wasn't the kind of person to fall for it.

Seiya nodded disconsolate, his shoulder slumped, his look downcast, he had the perfect hangdog look, but Michiru wasn't moved by that, and walking away she clarify something.

"And don't make a fool out of yourself: if it wasn't for her I wouldn't be able to play my violin at all." Said that she walked away, searching for Lita.

"Hi Lita-san," Michiru greeted her.

"Oh, Michiru, hey!" The tall brunette greeted back with a big smile. "I heard you playing, it was wonderful, you're very good!" She exclaimed bluntly. Michiru sweatdropped but thanked her for the compliment.

"Lita-san, I wanted to ask you something..." The aqua-haired woman began, her interlocutor noticed the serious tone and soon turned to face her and give her all her attention. "...You said once that Jade has every kind of item at his place, is that true?" The brunette nodded, a confused look in her eyes, then realization dawned in her mind and she protested heatedly.

"He's dangerous Michiru! You shouldn't have anything to do with him, he's trouble!" Lita's firmness didn't move Michiru's resolve. The aqua-haired woman thanked the brunette and turned walking away quickly.

"Michiru!" Lita called her, the violinist turned questioningly, "He'll want something from you!"

'Doesn't everyone?' Michiru thought to herself turning again and walking towards Jade's spot.

'I think these days are getting onto me...' She felt exhausted and she looked forward to when they would arrive and she will be able to rest.

During the eventless journey the tension decreased and at the end some relaxed conversations spread throughout the group. Mina, Serena, Rei and Ami soon seemed to get along very well and for them the journey turned almost in a joyous trip. Rei's grandfather, Yuiichiro and Darien were talking about more manly subjects... even too manly were thinking two embarrassed Yuiichiro and Darien when the old man kept making comments about female prettiness. At the front of the group Setsuna and Kimiko Mizuno were kept in a more serious conversation about their situation and what had happened since the crash-down. Haruka led with Hotaru's tiny hand tightly gripped in her burning hot, large one.

Finally they reached the cave, soon everyone looked around in awe for the beautiful spot with the little waterfall and the clear pool, Grandpa wanted to explore the nearness of the forest to check for everything useful. Mina and Serena immediately engaged in a quarrel about who should have a certain spot.

"It's too large for just you, Mina! It would fit perfectly for me and my Darien, though!"

"Oh just cause I have no boyfriend... here," she stressed the last word looking around to see if everyone was listening, "I have to settle in a cramped space! No way!"

"C'mon girls, there's plenty of space for everyone." Said the embarrassed Darien trying to pacify the little 'territorial war'.

Way more quiet was Rei's and Yuiichiro's choice even if Rei scolded the young man a couple of times. Ami and her mother instead were given the more comfortable and larger space cause they would have to accommodate the patients.

Setsuna, Haruka and Hotaru settled down quietly, the morning sun illuminating the widest part of the den and only deeper it was still dark, the spacious clearing on the front of the cave let the sun reach them but not vertically. They laid their pallets and their scanty belongings and then went to the doctor to help with the 'hospital' arrangements.

Haruka and Yuiichiro were making a steady stretcher with some coats, ropes and sturdy wooden sticks when Rei's grandfather returned from his little exploration and offered Haruka to accompany him placing a couple of traps.

"Thank you Grandpa-san... but I think I'll stay... I have to help the doctor here." She refused the invitation. Soon Setsuna and the doctor shot her a surprised look and exchanged a worried one. Actually right then Haruka didn't have the strength to even stand and hoped the excuse of helping the doctor wasn't too suspicious.

Michiru didn't answer and remained impassible though inside he gave her the shivers both for being creeping and knowing. She stood there at the entrance of his tent for a minute in silence, he continued to read regardless.

"I need something..." She said not knowing what else to say.

He smirked behind the book and then lowered it and looked her in the eyes, amusement in his cold eyes. "Well... you're in the right place, then."

His demeanor was more and more disturbing, but Michiru long ago had learned to maintain a cold appearance whenever she was threatened or scared and now she felt both ways. "I need a piece of chamois leather..." In that right moment Michiru was thinking if it had been such a good idea to come to him, after all it was only a violin... but just thinking about the salty air and the moisten and the sand in the breeze grazing its polished and ancient surface sent a quiver down her spine. That instrument had been with her since she was a child. It was a very precious item, it was almost three-hundreds-year-old, an Italian master lutist made it in Cremona and it had a very high value... but most of all for Michiru herself it was priceless. It was a heirloom, and when she had wanted to play an instrument her parents wanted to buy her another one cause that was too precious to let it be touched by a child, but she had promised to be careful and she had always considered that promise valid even though more than twenty years had passed.

'If I won't be able to take care properly of it I won't use it...' But that mere thought was painful, now that she had it back she couldn't lose the chance of playing it.

"Mmh... and what makes you think I have a piece of chamois leather, sugar?" His use of those rude nicknames was getting to her nerves and she stiffened. He noticed it, figured out why and obviously didn't miss the opportunity of letting her notice he knew. "Oh yeah... you're a lady... but I'm sure you like it rough every now and then, don't ya?" He expected to see a disgusted or shocked look on her face but it never happened and he smirked admitting inside she was tougher than he had thought... yeah... he liked her more and more.

"So? Do you have it? Or am I wasting my time with you?" She said straightforwardly.

"Mmh... the lady is all business and no fun... too bad. Well, I happen to have a piece of chamois leather, but the real question is: what have you to give me in exchange?" His iron gray eyes piercing through her, his handsome manly features seemed made out of pure cold stone.

"What do you want?" She asked back, not wanting to expose herself more than she's been already doing.

He laughed briefly, "Well... there's something I'd want but I'm sure it's beyond dispute." He looked at her greedily and lustfully and smiled a knowing smile to which she didn't react though inside she was petrified. "But maybe... something way less compromising..." He straightened up in his seat, "...the price you have to pay in every fairy tale." His eyes sparkled when he saw recognition in her look. He stood and rummaged in one of his suitcases and took out a neatly folded piece of chamois leather, then he walked to her, a cruel smile on his lips. "So? Are you going to give me a little kiss for this neat and soft piece of leather?" His voice suddenly sugary and insinuating.

Michiru's first thought was that it was disgusting, he was a handsome man but the entire situation was disgusting and he was just horrible, besides the meaning of that was humiliating. On the other hand she wanted that piece of leather and...

'Think about what Seiya would do if he knew... think what she would do...' Her inner voice was trying to make her see some sense, but the result was just the contrary. Michiru suddenly thought that gesture would have hurt back badly the two persons that had recently hurt her instead.

'Well, Seiya without a doubt cause I know how he feels about me... but Haruka... she sure isn't... No! I'm being presuming... though she sure seems... and Mina talked like she knew Haruka is... gay. But even if she's gay that doesn't mean she'd be... attracted to me...' The aqua-haired beauty was lost in her inner monologue and was brought back to reality by Jade's voice.

"So?" Michiru looked at him and then knew... The first word coming to her mind at the sight of him was 'dangerous'... he was that, he was dangerous. And even if Haruka surely wasn't attracted to her, Michiru had noticed how protective and thoughtful the blonde was... 'Yes, she sure wouldn't like such thing.' The compulsive desire of hurting those two made her decide, more than the need of the piece of leather.

So the violinist stepped closer to the taller long-haired man, cupped his nape and brought her lips to his. As the dry male-lips touched hers and his rough, not shaved face scratched her cheek she wasn't thinking of how hurt Seiya and Haruka would have been... right then she could just remember how soft and smooth an other cheek had been when she had kissed it only yesterday, how good had felt that soaked, shivering body against hers and how that fast heart-beat had resembled music.

When he had made his bid, Jade hadn't thought she would have accepted, he had just intended to be provoking so it took him by surprise when she came closer and without saying anything she kissed him, but soon the kiss ended and he was looking right in icy ocean-blue eyes. The long-haired man lent her the piece of leather and when she had taken it he looked her straight in the eyes and smirked.

"Next time, for the wood-polish, I hope you'll put more spirit in it... or at least more tongue!" He laughed rudely and Michiru had to stifle a sob as she walked away with the chamois leather grasped tightly in her hand.

He chuckled remembering that time when she had been escorted away by the Security when she had tried to reach the dressing rooms to get an autograph and then she had waited – with him tagged along, of course – until the singer had left the concert and had her autograph in spite of the Security... and then she had given the hard-won autograph to her best-friend cause she had been ill and couldn't make it to the concert.

'That's my Una-chan...'

The chuckling had got Yaten's attention who was looking at the blond man questioningly. When Furuhata realized his thoughts were manifest on his face he blushed and returned to his work, after all he was quite in a hurry cause he wanted the antennas to be placed before the late afternoon rain.

He wanted to amplify the signal to be able not only to receive other's transmission but also to send an S.O.S. He hadn't been discouraged by his previous failures, that was his main good quality: perseverance. In that he and his twin sister were the same, they weren't two to give in when they believed in something deeply. Perseverance was what had made him keep going around the world whenever Unazuki had been in need for help; perseverance was what had made her achieve her targets even when everything and everyone kept telling her it was a hopeless case. But perseverance was what the last Unazuki's letter lacked... in that letter she seemed to have surrendered... and he knew that meant she was in one of her 'depressed' phases... a bad one. 'Please wait for me Una-chan...' He plead in his head.

Despite those thoughts his hands never stopped and soon three identical items laid on his makeshift table. Beside each of them laid a thin firecracker he had found in the plane wrack. Now he needed only two trustworthy persons. He never looked at the silver-haired guy sat a couple of steps from him, he was still engrossed in his whistling, and the blond knew he wasn't too keen to go into the forest, instead Furuhata walked resolutely where the pregnant girl and the bespectacled young man sat talking.

Attendance obtained Furuhata made his way to his next destination. It was a short walk and soon he could hear the sad notes, the melody was one of deep sorrow and heavy mood. The strain went on with slow dark tones and the young technician couldn't help but stop at a distance and listen to the violin sonata. He couldn't even breathe fearing about breaking that seemingly mystical concentration. He liked music but that was the first time it was able to move his heart in such a powerful way. Then he thought it was the musician more than the music itself to affect him. The honesty she put in those notes was the amazing thing, it sounded like she really felt what she was playing, that she really felt sad - and angry, when the rhythm increased - that she was truly full of such feelings that she had to let them out. Hers looked like a cathartic playing by which she could lighten her soul from all the painful feelings. Actually Furuhata didn't know exactly what was on Michiru's heart, but he knew what was in his own.

Right then the void he felt when he thought about his sister seemed to enlarge and it felt like he was physically deprived. It burnt like hell inside, like a piece of his body had been torn apart from him brutally. And maybe it had been really that way.

"C'mon bro'... admit it! Admit you had fun!" She laughed looking at him with sparkling eyes.

"No way! We were almost arrested! Wait a minute, Una-chan, you actually has been arrested!" He exclaimed but the amusement didn't disappeared from his voice.

"Oh... but you took me out... as always." She grinned.

"Well... cause I promised the police you wouldn't do that again!" He had also paid for the damage of the wall she and her 'friends' had soiled with their slogans. And then there had been the breaking and entering of that company-building against which they were protesting, the one who was polluting the bay. That was her new cause to defend even with not so legal means. But nonetheless when she had called him from prison he had taken the first flight and had taken her out of jail. And then he had even helped them.

"Oh well... you promised them cause... you know... I can't swear I won't do it again next time..." She said that with a smile but he knew she was saying it seriously.

"Ok, but next time don't even think about calling me, Una-chan! Cause I have no intention of end up in jail for you!" He too smiled and he too was very serious, but this time she didn't believe him cause no matter how big trouble she was in... he was always coming to her rescue.

"It seems like we can't be apart for more than some months." She laughed at her thought but how true it was!

"Yeah..." He agreed pensively. They remained in silence for a while, the light was fading and in a dozen of minutes it would have been dark. In the dim light she looked at him, his skin was paler than hers cause she was tanned by the islands sun. Her eyes lingered on the paler mark on his left upper arm. She had one identical on her right upper arm.

When he realized she was staring at him he got her attention. "What?"

"Do you remember what those scars are?" She gestured to his arm and then hers, he smiled then turned to her and answered.

"Of course, we got'em falling down by a carousel when we were very little kids..." Unazuki shook her head resignedly and smiled.

"That's what mom and dad told you... but the truth is..." She looked at him intently, he stared her out. He knew exactly what she was about to say, they had had that conversation about a thousand times and it had a very special meaning for the two of them. "That is where they cut us apart cause it's clear we were born joined together."

As always she smiled broadly and as always he laughed out loud and gave her his reasonable answer.

"Oh Una-chan, we were not Siamese twins!" That was an old joke but whenever they talked about that it was like reasserting their bond was something transcending mere blood ties.

"Look Yuiichi-chan I really don't need you to stick up onto me this way!" She hadn't even tried to keep her tone low. Yuiichiro looked down and remained silent as usual, ready to get his lecture, seeing that familiar attitude got to Rei who sighed exasperated. Right then her grandfather was entering the cave.

"Hey Grandpa's back, go to him..." Yuiichiro looked up almost surprised, "...and please don't bother coming back to me for at least a couple of hours." And with that she turned and was back to her job. Yuiichiro did just like he was told and walked towards the entry of the cave where the old man was talking with Darien, the doctor and Setsuna.

As he was passing by them Mina and Serena couldn't kept from looking at him frowning, but he seemed not to realize or just not to care.

"What's up with the 'bitchiness'?" Mina looked at Rei. "I can't even get if he's her boyfriend or what else... she's always so rude to him..."

"Yeah... and he is always so kind and sweet. I couldn't treat my Darien like that, I love him too much!" Serena exclaimed a little too loud.

"Yeah... and that also cause he'd break up with you in a minute..." At that Serena's eyes watered and Mina rolled her eyes exasperated. Not wanting to look to her cry-baby best-friend, Mina turned towards the bigger group not giving her the chance of bursting out in tears.

Beside the five who were standing and talking were Ami and Hotaru who were reading out of the same book and Ami seemed to explain things to the little girl. In front of them Haruka was looking into space with an absent look in her dark-rimmed teal eyes. Mina didn't realized she was staring until Serena peeped up from behind her to look what her friend was staring at.

"Aha! You're looking at her again... have you a crush on her, Mina?!?!" The pigtailed girl asked with a ridiculous knowing expression on her face.

"Don't be silly Serena..." But Mina didn't shifted her look from the oblivious car-racer. Serena follow it and stopped briefly to look at her too.

"Well... when I thought she was a boy... well... I have to admit she's quite handsome..." Mina nodded but didn't answered. "Though she looks... sad, doesn't she?"

"Yeah..."

"Do you think it's about what's happened this morning?" Serena was sincerely concerned.

"Mmmh... definitely." Mina answered firmly, she was always interested in others' love-lives and often she had played Cupid, maybe cause hers wasn't too lucky, maybe cause she always acted nonchalant but intimately she was a romantic that hadn't been able to forget her first love who had fallen in love with her old best-friend back when she had spent a couple of years in England as a teenager.

This time she was sure to be the only one thinking about Haruka's and Michiru's affair as a love one, she suspected even the two persons involved weren't too aware of that. Mina, not being prejudiced, could see Haruka's behavior and even if maybe it was just a game of her own mind Mina couldn't think the racer's attachment to the aqua-haired musician being something due just to the critical situation.

'Maybe you want to see romance everywhere, Mina.' She thought to herself.

And Michiru too was deeply sensitive when it came to Haruka, though always kind and polite the young violinist seemed also detached but when the little child or the car-racer were involved she seemed to put an unusual spirit in it. And then there had been that morning's events. In Mina's mind Michiru's sad and hurt look was vivid, like vivid was the memory of Haruka's and Michiru's exchange of looks that had led to Seiya's blow.

"Mina? Mina! Do you think...? I mean we saw them embracing yesterday, but Michiru... well she doesn't look... I mean..." Serena seemed embarrassed, but curious about her best-friend's opinion.

"Oh Serena... she doesn't look what?!? Gay!?! You don't have to look gay to be gay... besides you'll be surprised about how many persons who 'doesn't look gay' are indeed gay." Mina wasn't irritated by her friend's thickness, she knew Serena since kinder-garden and she knew Serena was naive but not obtuse nor prejudiced.

The pigtailed girl stared at Haruka for a minute then she turned to Mina with a bright smile, her patented 'Serena's optimistic smile'. "Well, after all it's just about love, doesn't it Mina? I think they should at least talk with each other... I feel so bad every time I fight with Darien... I can't stand it!"

Mina smiled to her friend. That was Serena, the girl always quick to think the best about people and situations, in the end Serena was capable of seeing good in everything and everyone and that was one of the biggest qualities her beloved ones loved most about her. And sure Mina wasn't an exception. "You're right, Serena, but I don't think it's as easy as it is for you and Darien... There can be things... and people in the way..." Mina contemplated the possibility to talk to Haruka, but she soon put aside that thought considering probably Michiru was the more reasonable of the two. Sure Mina didn't think that was none of her business... when it came to such things she had always felt like it was her duty to arrange things for people in love... some kind of mission. She had done that for most of her friends, even for Serena and Darien.

"You know what, Mina? It's a big deal... for Michiru, I mean..." The seriousness in Serena's voice got Mina's attention and she looked at her best-friend who was frowning expecting an unlikely brilliant suggestion, "...I mean Seiya and Haruka... they are both very handsome and charming, it's hard to decide!" Serena exclaimed and after a moment she and Mina burst out in laughter getting everyone's attention but Haruka's who had her eyes closed and her head reclined on her knees.

"Stop thanking me Furuhata-kun, I'm doing it for my own sake too." She assured him kindly, they were leaned against the same big trunk watching the waves rustling against the shore.

"They have to find us. They have to." He murmured oblivious of voicing out his inner thoughts, Michiru didn't comment letting him unburden himself from his fears. "I can't stay here..." The blond's voice became clearer and the musician figured he was now talking with her, maybe looking for some kind of comfort, "Someone has to find us cause right now she's lost and I have to go and find her. I promised and she needs me."

Michiru surprised looked at him, he had never talked about someone waiting for him at home. On the other hand they had had just a couple of conversations and mostly about practical matters. "Someone will come, Furuhata-kun... and it'll be thanks to you." Michiru said and was soon in front of him with her kindest smile on her graceful face. The blond man was captured by that gentle gesture and smiled back. Michiru then noticed his green eyes were moistening and then she found herself doing something she had rarely done in her life. She pulled him in a sisterly embrace and made him cry on her shoulder. After the first moment of surprise he let himself go and soon quiet sobs shook his larger frame.

Michiru was a caring person, but her life had been poor in relations, her childhood and adolescence had been taken by violin and painting lessons and obviously school, her early youth had passed between rehearsal for her concerts and recordings, then art exhibitions and college, and so friendships had been sacrificed for the sake of her career, of course a couple of boyfriends had been approved by her parents but she had had so little interest in them she could barely remember their names although she had shared with them years and even intimate moments. So it felt strange to comfort someone she barely knew.

Furuhata felt all his tension melt and he cried in the embrace of a beautiful almost stranger, but just then he sure wasn't thinking about all the envious men around the world if they could see that scene.

But it was just a couple-of-minutes-thing, soon he recomposed himself. He straightened and fumbled in his back pocket taking out his wallet for Michiru's surprise. Then he slipped out a creased picture and lent it to her with trembling hands. Michiru took it and looked at it curious.

"Isn't she beautiful?"

The aqua-haired woman at first thought about a girlfriend but soon she noticed the incredible resemblance between the smiling green-eyed girl in the picture and the young man in front of her. The same warm smile, delicate features and freckled nose, just their hair color was different, she had mahogany shoulder-length hair up in a ponytail instead of his golden blond. It was a picture of both of them, they were smiling like she had never seen Furuhata smile before.

'Well, it's obvious, what the Hell would he smile for here?' She thought, annoyed with herself for such a 'normal' thought. But she had the feeling he hadn't smiled that way for way more than four days. In that picture he looked like he was confident and... fulfilled. In their current situation he seemed just... lost.

"Is she your sister?" The aqua-haired girl inquired.

"Hai. My onee-chan, Unazuki." He had a dreamy expression and Michiru couldn't help but chuckle briefly. Incredibly enough he soon blushed and mimicked her with a quite but sincere laugh. "Ok, I know, I've got it bad. I'm one of those brothers... the kind who thinks his sister is the most beautiful and brilliant and generous woman in the world." He smiled at Michiru broadly and she thought that was a smile very similar to the one in the picture.

"Don't worry, everyone has their family complex, besides she actually is beautiful and she has a bright smile too." She concluded kindly and at that very moment a panting Umino was approaching them, obviously in a hurry.

"Sorry, sorry I'm late!" He managed to say between heavy breaths.

"Ok, now..." Furuhata was immediately in business-mode and begun giving instructions about their tasks. "Don't go too far deep in the forest we don't need that but be sure not to be on the beach we don't want wind, salt and sun to ruin them." He pointed to the two items on the makeshift desk. "Walk for at least half an hour with a good pace, maybe forty-five minutes it's better. When you think the place is clear enough but with a little shelter you have to secure the antenna to something and then you have to shot the rockets so I can turn on the transmitter with an enhanced signal without wasting the battery with hopeless attempts. Now, Umino-kun you will be the first, Michiru-san you will shot when you see his signal. Obviously Umino-kun you have to wait until you think Michiru-san has done. Is it clear?" He asked serious. The two nodded and soon they were on their way, Umino eastward and Michiru westward.

They were a dozen of meters away when Furuhata was seized by a sudden worry. "Please be careful! Don't take any unnecessary risk, if you see or hear something suspicious run back!" He yelled. A vicious guilty feeling sneaking around his heart thinking how much he had been wrapped up in his own issues lately and the sense of how dangerous their task was struck him with force but it was already late they were far and most of all he had already brought up their hopes...

"Huh?" Haruka lifted her head with a groan of protest.

"Hey, you do look like shit. I'm gonna call Mizuno-san, maybe she..." The older woman said but was interrupted.

"No! No need to bother her, I'm fine. In fact I'm going to stretch my legs a little." She replied hoping to dismiss the discussion and be out of that situation soon, but when she gathered her little energy to stand up the cave begun spinning, she was hit by a pang of nausea and her knees shook violently.

Setsuna saw the taller girl stumbling and promptly caught her firmly by an arm with surprising strength.

"I don't think fainting can go under the definition of 'fine'." The sarcastic remark couldn't hide Setsuna's worries.

"I didn't fain-..." Haruka wanted to reply but suddenly all went black.

"Haruka!" Setsuna cried out trying to catch the blonde before she could hit the ground and hurt herself. Her cry had got the others' attention and suddenly Haruka's weight was lifted from her hands. Darien and Yuiichiro laid the car-racer on the ground as the doctor instructed.

"She's burning hot." Setsuna said and doctor Mizuno nodded.

"Yes, very high fever. Ami, we should have some paracetamol." Without even a reply of assent the blue-haired girl was off rummaging in the medications bag.

The group was all gathered around the laying blonde. No one dared to pronounce the question they all had in mind. They just stood there with concern but also dread in their eyes. Doctor Mizuno obviously knew what they were thinking, she had considered the idea herself just for a minute, after all it was part of her job to think those kind of things... and it was her job to give answers.

"Setsuna-san, you've been with her a lot, haven't you?" After the tanned woman nodded the doctor continued, "Ok, let's have a little talk." She said and motioned the other to follow her to where Ami was collecting medications. The others remained in silence for a while staring at the seemingly sleeping Haruka.

The first to move was Rei, the miko kneeled down beside the feverish racer and closed her eyes seeking concentration. Mina too snapped out of her dazed state and made up her mind quickly, with resolve on her face she walked to the cave entrance.

"Mina where are you going?" Serena asked unreasonably worried about her friend.

"I can't stay here doing nothing!" Mina explained, "I'll go get Michiru."

"Are you sure it's a good idea?" Unusually wisely Serena tried to made her friend think it up.

"Yeah, I'm more than sure." She replied winking at Serena trying to reassure her, and it was true, she was damn sure Michiru needed to know even though maybe she didn't want to.

The only comment by Serena was a light smile then Mina was out in the forest with a quick pace. The pigtailed girl turned and saw the blonde feverish racer shaking violently so she too made up her mind, went to her pallet and pick a blanket up, but when she was about to cover the trembling woman a soft hand stopped her. The blonde looked up in surprise and confusion seeing Ami shaking her head no and smiling somewhat sympathetic.

"But... she's cold!" Was the weak protest, "She's shaking..."

"I know... but she has to hold up, we have to reduce her fever." The kind tone convinced Serena but she couldn't help but speak her mind up as she folded the blanket in her lap.

"It looks cruel..."

"Hai..." Was the murmured – and for the American girl, incomprehensible – Ami's comment.

Still in a secluded spot the other Mizuno was questioning Setsuna who was unknowingly confirming the doctor's suspects. As the tanned woman talked to the pondering physician she had the uncomfortable feeling of being observed.

Sadly even kind-hearted and thoughtful adults sometimes forget about those who can use their help, but she had been raised properly and she had been taught not to interrupt adults that were talking, especially about serious matters, so she stood there still and silent like a good girl. And that was what Setsuna saw when she couldn't resist and had to brush off the annoying sensation of being observed: Hotaru standing unmoving with big watering eyes full of fear and a slightly trembling lower lip.

"Hime-chan, come here!" The always composed woman kneeled down offering her arms for a motherly hug and soon she had a sobbing little bundle in her lap. "Don't cry honey..." It was the only thing she could manage to say caressing the black-haired head.

"Well, I think it's time to make things clear..." Doctor Mizuno said kindly, she had an extremely brief briefing with her daughter for about a minute then she cleared her throat and got the attention of the whole group.

"I'm pretty sure it's nothing infective." At that first sentence a general held up breathe was taken and fear left room for concern and a slight guilty feeling for being so selfish. "We think it was some kind of physical breakdown due of circumstances and exhaustion and... well... behavior," she added with a meaningful look to Setsuna, "Maybe if she had spoke up earlier things wouldn't have gone this far... Anyways..." She kneeled beside Haruka and took the pills her daughter had prepared and with some water made the unconscious racer swallow them up. "The fever is very high, we'll try to reduce it, let's hope it'll work..." The use of terms like 'try' and 'hope' wasn't comforting especially when pronounced by a doctor and Kimiko Mizuno knew that. "Well she sure isn't the most collaborative of patients but at least she's unconscious!" She joked eliciting a shocked look by her daughter and a light knowing smile by Setsuna.

And in fact he jumped when an uncomfortably cheerful Seiya approached him from behind and patted his shoulder.

"Whoa! You do can use a little relax, Furuhata-kun!" The pop-singer exclaimed with an amused smile. At first the blond looked at the other man confused about his cheerfulness, then when the annoying feeling it had something about the infamous happenings of that very morning crept in his mind Furuhata dismissed the thought not wanting to bother himself more than he already had cause of his own turmoil.

"Oh, it's you."

"Yes, the one and only." He said smiling broadly, he couldn't help but being cheerful, although Michiru seemed pretty upset he was confident that with the annoying car-racer out of the picture – at least physically away – he would have been able to win the violinist's attention and then even her heart. Why he subconsciously thought that woman could be some sort of opponent in his gaining Michiru's heart was something he did not want to think about.

After a moment Seiya started a light conversation and soon the two young men were chatting amiably. That was interrupted only ten minutes later when a panting and obviously distressed Mina run to them looking for Michiru.

That declaration and the consequent reply by Furuhata got all Seiya's attention so he inquired the blonde girl directly.

"Why are you looking for her?" He was suspicious about all that hurry.

"It's Haruka, she's sick. She fainted and now is unconscious." She explained for Furuhata's horror and Seiya's perplexity. When Mina saw the pop-singer's expression she added the little she knew about the situation, "The doc said she has a very high fever." Then, addressing to Furuhata she added "I thought Michiru wanted to know it."

The blond nodded, "Yeah I think it too. Well she left half an hour ago, with a good pace she can be reached in less than that." He concluded reasonably.

"What direction?" The girl soon asked, but as the technician was about to answer Seiya exclaimed.

"I'll go tell her." The other two were surprised by his concern about the person he had fought and punched only few hours earlier, so he smiled to reassure them, "You're exhausted cause of the run, I can get to Michiru sooner." His reason made sense and soon he left after being instructed about Michiru's whereabouts.

Furuhata and Mina remained in silence for a minute then he spoke without looking at her.

"Is it bad?"

"I don't know really, I left out of an impulse. I could only think about what happened this morning." She shrugged, "Maybe I'm just being silly... but... well... Haruka looked so... lost after that. I don't know... it just seemed to be the right thing to do."

Those words made Furuhata think about the tormented melody he had heard Michiru playing just a short while before. "I think it's not silly." Was his laconic comment.

Most of all Michiru couldn't free herself from the creeping feeling of rough lips on hers. She had tried hard to ban that from her troubled mind but nothing had worked. She had tried to justify telling herself she had hurt Haruka and Seiya with that but she couldn't stop thinking she was the one who was hurt the most. And it was then, in the solitude of the forest, that a tear finally made its way down her cheek almost unnoticed at first.

'Who am I trying to fool?' She thought bitterly. She felt humiliated and the worst part was that she had been the one humiliating herself. It wasn't Jade's fault – he hadn't forced her after all. It wasn't Seiya's fault, sure he had acted incredibly wrong that morning but he had tons of excuses for his behavior such as being in a life-treating situation, or the fact he was in very bad terms with his brothers and he also had the excuse of being in love – or at least attracted - to her, in the end he even had the justification of being just himself always in need to play protagonist and be the star of the show, that was the only way he knew of living his life.

And though she had tried to convince herself that way... it wasn't Haruka's fault. The blonde had lied to her – twice – that was true, but Michiru wasn't shallow, she knew perfectly why Haruka had lied, why the least thing to do was depriving the small group of survivors of its meager amount of hopes. Maybe she would have bothered tell Haruka being the situation reversed but that that wasn't the point. All of them had made their own choices and Michiru wasn't an exception... the fact was she had made the wrong one.

The one single tear had turned into an actual stream and soon she had to stop her walk unable to see her own path. She leaned against a tree and found herself sobbing. All the humiliation, fear, despair and anger she felt were running down her cheeks along with her tears. In that right moment she just wanted one thing, she longed... to be held, comforted, reassured, to be told all was going to be OK. And her mind started playing tricks on her, giving her the real impression of two warm arms circling her, a quite soft chest against her cheek and a warm deep voice telling her words of reassurance... and a fast heart-beat under her ear. Michiru wasn't an unaware person either... she knew what – who – she longed for... she just couldn't explain why.

That elicited a new sob, all that situation was crazy. She wasn't used to all that emotional distress, she had spent most of her adult life trying to shut feelings away. She was too gifted to waste time and energy with such things and she considered herself lucky being kind of 'cold', cause she had never found too hard not to get too attached to people, not even the bunch of boyfriends she had dated during the years. Of course she couldn't afford 'not to feel' cause she was an artist and feelings were part of her job, but she was able to let herself feel just for her art. Being the clever woman she was she was aware of her being able to feel and that when she let herself feel she was a better person, that when she let people and things to touch her deep inside then she was truly herself but then... more important things would get in the way and she had given up eventually.

Lately she was finding harder and harder not to be touched by the horrible situation she was living and even harder not to be touched by the people around her.

She had let herself 'feel' for Hotaru in a surprisingly 'motherly' way, she felt responsible for the little girl but that had been easy, no harm from that kid. What she was feeling for Haruka was a total different matter... It scared her so much she had tried not to think about it but Seiya kept reminding her with his jealous behavior, his stupid need of challenging the car-racer over Michiru... but he had no need to, had he? Whatever Haruka was to her it shouldn't be comparable with her friendship with Seiya, should it? Then again...

Why...? Why she had had to act the way she did in order to hurt Haruka? Why was she so upset about the blonde lying to her? Why did she care so much? Why couldn't she be her old self, kind but detached?

Michiru become aware of the rough tree scratching her back every time she sobbed and then she remembered the reason she was making her way through the thick wood, she looked at the rucksack by her feet and recomposed herself. She had a mission to accomplish and she couldn't let some personal matters getting in the way. If there was one single thing she had learnt during her life that was discipline...

She was now replacing a fresh wet cloth on the blonde's forehead but the feverish woman kept turning and tossing making that simple act almost impossible. It had been an hour now since Haruka's deep sleep had become a troubled delirious state of unconsciousness, she had even opened her eyes a couple of times but it was clear she wasn't seeing anything real, only what was going on in her mind, what her fever was making her see and live.

'And it looks like it is nothing pleasant...' The young blue haired girl thought bitterly as Haruka murmured something incomprehensible clearly upset and scared. As Ami managed to place the fresh cloth on her patient's forehead she turned and the cloth was tossed on the ground for the umpteenth time.

The groan of frustration caught Kimiko's attention, she turned towards her daughter and watched as she picked the cloth up and tried again to place it on Haruka's rebel head.

"We should strap her down, it'd be much easier you know?" She joked as she was at her daughter's side. The younger woman looked up at her with what were helpless eyes then she gave up, and tossed the cloth back in the half coconut shell they were using as a pot.

Kimiko then circled Ami's shoulders with her arm and hold her for a minute, she knew what was in her daughter's mind and heart right now, she had already been there at the beginning of her own career, when you have still to learn that doctors can't fix everything and that luck and faith are a big part of such a job.

The only one who seemed apparently dealing well with the situation was Setsuna, the tall mysterious woman had been reading through the unbelievable huge amounts of notes Souichi Tomoe had had in his suitcase, she had asked someone to take care of Hotaru and then she had sit in a corner, it had been hours ago and she hasn't got up once yet. What the other hadn't noticed were the worried looks she periodically tossed towards the pallets near the doctor's corner. There had been a time when she used to know things, when nothing was new or mysterious to her, back then she had known what was about to happen right now while they were lost on a strange island... but those times had gone and she now could only remember with great frustration that she had known, too bad she couldn't remember what.

"A little... What can i do for you?" The pink clothed nurse answered with a smile.

"I'm here for my sister, they told me she's here! Her name's Furuhata Unazuki." He told her.

The middle aged woman typed on her computer and gave him a room number, unfortunately he run off before she could explain he couldn't see his sister.

He had to find out himself when a sturdy security man blocked him before he could trespass the Mental Health wing doors of the French hospital he had reached as soon as he had been able to book a flight seat to Paris. And that had been right after the weird intercontinental phone call he had received from a French doctor.

When he managed to explain himself he was sent to a doctor who explained him all about the situation.

"Your sister has been brought in, three days ago after she attempted to commit suicide. We stopped the bleeding and now she's doing fine and she'll be able to get out in less than a week." Furuhata looked at the young dark haired doctor with a cold expression, she was shocked, completely shocked. How could his Una-chan doing something like that? How?

"I can understand this can be shocking for you but i should ask you a couple of question monsieur Motoki..." Furuhata could only nod, his mind still clouded by the fact he was in a hospital thousand of miles away from home and he wasn't able to see his sister.

"Does your sister has been diagnosed any manic-depressive disorder? Or maybe you know if there is a reason she should have attempted suicide?"

'Of course not! My Una-chan loves life, she lives every day like it's the last one. She's not depressed, she always try to look out for ups in life... and she's not euphoric... she's just enthusiastic. How can you even say something like that?' This was what he thought... but none of these words left his mouth. He kept looking at the white dressed doctor not really seeing him, he was just thinking about his sister, his beloved Unazuki.

"Monsieur Motoki...?" the doctor tried to regain his attention and then Furuhata shook his head. He shook it and that was his answer to the doctor's questions: No.

"I see..." The doctor said and then motioned the blond man to follow him along the corridor, and Furuhata followed like a robot, without words, without changing the dazzled expression on his face only thinking why... why he hadn't spoken out loud what he had thought about Unazuki... why he hadn't been able to convince even his own self that his sister couldn't do such a thing.

"OK, I'm done resting. I'll go back to the caves to see if i can help with Haruka... I'll wait for Michiru there. Let's hope Seiya can get to her quickly." Her words seemed to pass unnoticed by the Japanese young man. Mina got up from her seat on the sand. "I just can't stay still waiting for things to happen, it's not my style!" Mina added winking to a very focused Furuhata, too bad he seemed to be focused on something that wasn't her. "I'm saying I'm gonna go!" She added louder and this time she obtained a little bow of the blond's head. She shrugged and walked away.

Furuhata had barely noticed her leaving, his look still concentrated on the green line of the far forest, his mind... thousand of miles away.

She was engrossed in her task when she noticed a noise behind her. The whooshing of leaves produced by something that didn't care much of passing unnoticed. Something big... too big to be a rat or something like that.

'OK, maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all...' She thought now totally aware of the impending danger.

The noise was closer and closer and she started to panic, not knowing what to do she turn around and picked up a branch from the ground and hid behind a large tree trunk ready to deliver a blow.

'Who am I trying to fool...? There's no way I can challenge anything this way.' Sweatdrops were running down her neck and the grip on the branch tightened as the noise came closer. She could even begin to see the bushes being moved off the way by the approaching thing. And then panic took her over and she dropped the branch and turned around to run away. That same moment the thing reached her.

"Finally! I was losing hope to ever find you, Michi-chan!"

It took her a few seconds to acknowledge the words and realize their speaker, then she turn around and confronted him with burning eyes.

"For Kami's sake Seiya-kun! What were you thinking sneaking up on people like that!? You almost gave me an heart attack..." She said then she started to calm down.

"I'm sorry Michiru-chan, i didn't intend to scare you."

"It's OK, I'm sorry for the outburst." She sweetened her voice, almost glad someone was with her at last, like she had just realized how dangerous it had been on her part to come there through the forest alone. She kept searching for the right spot comforted by his presence, not just for some sense of safety but cause it prevented her to sink back into her thoughts.

Ten minutes later she found it, a little clearing with a single snag in the middle of it. With her mind off that matter she decided to question Seiya about his presence there. Though she had been glad at first now the disturbing feeling of being stalked and somehow pressed was back full force.

"What are you doing here Seiya-san?" her voice ice-cold.

"Mina sent me to..." At this point her expression turned from hard to curious, Mina was supposed to be at the cave settling things down, what was she doing at the beach and what she needed Seiya to be with her for?

The dark-haired singer had thought about what to tell Michiru all the journey through the forest... well, actually he had been deciding whether tell her or not. He didn't want Michiru to run to the blonde, he didn't want her to even think about the racer. Why Michiru was so close to that stranger he couldn't figured, he had seen her crying earlier that day after having talked with the tall woman. He had never seen Michiru crying, usually it seemed like nothing could ever touch her, not good things nor bad ones and then that same morning he had seen the shimmering tear running down her cheek and after the initial shock he had found himself grabbing Haruka's shirt's collar and blowing his fist. He didn't like to remember that episode cause a shudder kept running down his spine every time he did. He couldn't deny to himself the idea that someone other than him was able to affect Michiru in ways he had never seen her affected before. He was starting to think that was the real reason he had hit the racer for. Jealousy.

"To what?" Michiru prompted him to continue.

"To... help you." He saw her disapproving look and added, "I mean... we've all seen it's not safe to be in the forest alone." He felt horrible lying to her but he couldn't let the arrogant bitch spoil his chances with Michiru, he just couldn't.

"And you volunteered to be with me, didn't you?" The forest indeed gave her the creep and she was sure she would never forget the bloody scene they found on the front part of the plane, but the idea of being always under his attentive and suffocating watch infuriated her.

"You had to take your chance, uh? I managed to elude you for a couple of hours and you couldn't bear it, could you?"

He didn't like the direction that conversation was taking, she sounded furious, her tone kept hardly low while she continued.

"I'm sure there was no other person up to do it and you had to, am i right Seiya-kun? Cause that would be the only reason for you to be here... unless you're gone suddenly deaf or dumb and don't know the meaning of 'leave me alone' anymore!"

"I see... you rather have someone else here." He was getting mad too. Why, why was she slipping away from him more and more every time they talked?

"Maybe you're right Seiya-kun!" She said that to hurt him ad from the look on his handsome face she had succeeded.

"Of course, everyone's company is better than mine though I'm the one who know you better and care for you! Yeah, you'd be way happier if that arrogant bitch was here instead of me! Maybe we could see if she can make you cry some more, what about that Michiru?" He had raised his voice, no longer restraining himself. "Too bad she can't be here, she's passed out on the doc's pallet. Got what she deserved!" He regretted those word the right moment they left his lips, and not just for having told Michiru the truth and spoiled his plan but cause the way he did it, admitting to himself the harsh remark was uncalled-for.

Michiru took a minute to process the information then she questioned him further, "What do you mean? What happened?" All her composure was gone and again Seiya had to observe that new Michiru: the caring, worried and pained woman, showing all her feelings on her porcelain face.

"I don't know all the details, all I know is that Mina-san came to the beach telling she had passed out and the doc was taking care of her." He answered sincerely.

The young violinist seemed thinking about that for some more seconds then, made up her mind she took Furuhata's device out of the backpack and handed it to him.

"You try and secure it to a tree and then you have to wait a rocket signal from East and then you have to shoot too." She explained handing him the device first then the rockets gun. Then she just turned to walk away.

"Michiru-chan!" Seiya called her. "You have to hurry, Mina said the doc was quite worried." He said, "Don't worry about these, I've got it." He added gesturing with the two items in his hands.

Michiru didn't comment, she only run off through the forest.

He walked closer, his shoes' squeaking sound deafening in that unreal silence, but she didn't seemed to notice. Furuhata was finally behind her and only when he circled her thin shoulders with his arm a little shiver made clear she was a live person.

"Hey, onee-chan." His voice was uncertain, having the disturbing sensation he could have broken her just with the sound of his words. She looked that fragile at the moment. Instead that very sound seemed rip her off her catatonic state and with a very slow movement she turned and looked up at him. Furuhata had to restrain himself from gasping when he saw her gaunt face and those black rings under her dull green eyes.

He was speechless so he took that dear face in his hands and leaned to place a soft kiss on her forehead then he encircled her in an embrace able to express all the words that was failing him at the time. At first she had remained rigid in his arms but he nonetheless held her and after a long while he could feel her frame relaxing slowly. Then she moved her own arms from around her legs to him, it was then that he could see the white bandaging around her wrists and then a treacherous tear fell from his eye, fortunately she couldn't see his face being hers buried in his chest.

He kept wondering how things had gone that far, how she had been able to do such a thing. He was telling himself that wasn't the girl he had known all his life, that wasn't his sister. But deep inside he knew... he knew she had always been like that, all her excesses the good ones and the bad ones. All those huge feelings, great loves and greatest disappointments, the big enthusiasms and equally bad failures had been always been inside her, they were part of her.

'You've always had a big heart... maybe too big to carry it in this life.' He thought holding her tightly and as she could hear his thoughts she cuddled up against his chest even more like a scared child.

"You'll go back home now, Fu-chan." Her voice sounded so serene he was dumbfounded for a moment, like all had been just a horrible nightmare. He looked down at her and saw a little reassuring smile on her thin lips, but then her pale face brought him back to reality.

"You can go, I'll be fine now that you've been here." The smile had now reached her eyes and a little life seemed to make its way back there. Furuhata tried to protest but she gestured him to go and he knew she had made up her mind and knew better that disobey. So he smiled at her to make her see he had understood. When he was about to exit the small room she made her last request though it was spoken out as a statement.

"You won't tell Mom and Dad." He clenched his fists but didn't turn around nor he protested and while he walked down the hallway with tears running now freely down his cheeks he knew he would have done exactly as she asked.

He waited and waited but nothing happened. He waited till the sun completed its way to the western hills and it was impossible for him to look that way without going blind.

"Michiru-san..." He then whispered terrified.

The smell of fresh-cooked meat and the soft chatting gave the idea of daily routine but the atmosphere was a little too heavy. Everyone seemed afraid of raising their voice to a clearly audible tone. Michiru didn't waste time and without a word headed to the doctor who was having her scarce dinner with her daughter. The two of them looked up at the same time and without need of speaking out loud the older woman got up and escorted Michiru behind a makeshift screen they had set with some towels.

"Hey..." Setsuna's voice came unexpected cause Michiru hadn't noticed the woman sat a couple of feet away. She seemed captivated by the wretched form laying in front of her: Haruka laid on her back, half covered by a blanket and despite the little fire crackling not far away and the natural heat she was shivering, her breaths were shallow and labored, and every now and then she seemed to murmur unintelligible words. Her fists held the blanket in a mortal grip, her knuckles white and the muscles on her forearms stiff; her face was a similar picture of tension, the jaw clenched, the eyes shut tightly and her brows furrowed like she was engaged in some kind of effort.

As the wet cloth on Haruka's forehead fell, Michiru kneeled down and replaced it after having refreshened it.

"What happened?" She asked never averting her look from the increasingly irrequieted blonde.

"Doctor thinks she's pushed herself too hard."

Setsuna said while Michiru tried to brush the blond rebelling locks off the damp forehead. Her delicate fingers felt even cooler against the feverish skin.

"And what do you think?" She asked turning to look straight into the garnet eyes.

Setsuna wasn't surprised by the significant look of the violinist's eyes, she suspected Michiru had sensed some sort of connection among the three of them – better said the four of them, Hotaru not to be excluded.

"I think the doctor's right and... I know for sure she..." and indicated Haruka, "hasn't got more than a couple of hour of sleep since the crashdown, and who knows about before that." She paused then continued, "Things had been hard for all of us lately. But she's strong, she can make it." She concluded reassuringly.

Michiru looked down again, Haruka was wiggling and the cloth had fallen once again. The young musician patiently replaced it but the blonde kept moving and it fell again. The car-racer was now tossing back and forth, her legs and arms trembling violently, she even mumbled something unintelligible more and more agitated.

When Michiru picked up the cloth once again Setsuna exclaimed, "It's futile until she's calmed down." But Michiru didn't give up, instead she leant down and caressed Haruka's cheek with her cold hand.

"Shh... It's ok, it's ok. Easy... shh..." She kept soothing the blonde and in a couple of minutes the trembling subsided. "That's my girl... here..." Michiru whispered to the blonde's ear while placing the fresh cloth on her forehead unaware of the soft smile on Setsuna's lips.

After a while the older woman stood up telling she was going to check on Hotaru. The aqua-haired girl remained at Haruka's bedside, and when the feverish racer tensed up again she took one of the larger hands in her own and caressed it, she could still see the bruises on the knuckles but beside that the skin seemed soft and delicate and somehow that little detail warmed Michiru's heart. Like she had noticed for the first time how fragile and feminine Haruka was, how vulnerable she seemed in that state. Despite the straight nose and the strong line of her chin which gave her a noble appearance, without the charm of her teal eyes Haruka looked like a...

'...a sleeping child.' Michiru thought. 'You make someone want to protect you, like you need that!' She thought with a smile. 'Maybe you just need to be protected from your own self.' She considered remembering the doctor's diagnosis.

Delicate violinist's fingers made their way again to the blonde's now calm features and lingered on the swelled nose, and Michiru found herself suddenly remembering that very morning's events. And remembering how she had felt about the blonde and Seiya, but mostly about Haruka and she was suddenly aware that she hadn't been able to banish the thought of her from her mind for more than few minutes.

'I don't know why I let you hurt me this way, why I allow you to affect me so much. I wish I knew...'

"What have you done to me?" She whispered for no one to hear, not even the now peacefully sleeping Haruka.

He sat up and turn around and here it was, shattered in a million pieces.

"Son of a bitch!" He hissed standing up. He masseged his sore nape and collected the racksack then he looked worried at the impending darkness from east and realized he had to rush back to the beach as soon as possible, but during the whole journey he couldn't keep himself from wondering what or... who could have done that to him.

End of Chapter 7.

Author's note: I hope Michiru's behavior wasn't too much out of character though I tried to give reasons for her to act as she did.