When Winds and Tides Harmonize
Haruka's POV:
“I hate you.”
What a charming way to greet someone in the morning. Rather than say that, a small groan came out, as I tried to open my eyes. The resulting upliftance of a certain rather comforting weight woke me completely. My eyes adjusted to the filtered sunlight just barely in time to see my Michi beginning to walk away. I scrambled to my feet as hastily as I could.
“Wait- Michi!”
Shuddering horribly, she paused to shout back, “Don't call me that!” before continuing onto wherever it was that she was planning on going.
Me being who I am, I easily caught up to her, gripping her wrist and whirling her around. “Come on, Michi, don't be like this. I'm all for a routine morning walk, but aren't you going to at least tell me what's gotten you all snippy again?”
The way she glared at me then, eyes blazing, a redness still around them as a result of crying, I felt my breath come up short. In my sight, she was never moreso beautiful, if but only she wasn't angry at me.
“I hate you.” She stated it simply, and then, as an afterthought, added, “I don't think I could hate you even more right now than if you and I both tried.”
I inwardly grinned, a small spout within me desiring to defy her, just to prove her wrong; she saw it, I suppose, and wrenched back around, preparing to begin walking once more.
“Leave me alone.”
But I only took her back into my arms, as I had the night before, putting forth all my effort to calm her down, and to have my Michi returned to me. “Don't say that, love,” she flinched at that, and I realized I had yet to tell her that I'd loved her, though I knew it well enough inside me. I amended it in my next phrase, “Ah, I'm mixing dreams with reality again. See, I told you in my dreams that I loved you- I love you in reality too, don't you know- and you said you loved me back. So what is it that makes you hate me now, so much unalike my dream Michi?”
I think she had an inclination to growl at me then, but her self restraint is greater than that, and she merely started walking. At least, she tried to, but I held her back. “Let me go.”
“Tell me.”
She remained silent for a while longer, and then relented, apparently believing that I would let her go if she talked. “You leave me for nine years, and then after the first day we remain in each other's company, you expect all the holes to be filled? You are different from when I remember you last, but at the same time, you are no different. I hate that. You are the source of that hatred, and therefore, I hate you. Now let me go.”
I wanted to laugh at her last request, but I managed to pull back the urge. “You don't think after all that I'm just going to let you go, now do you? I've always cared about you, Michi. No one knows me better than you do. To some extent, I don't think anyone else can tolerate the real you more than I can. Maybe I'm a little different- you are too- but we were kids when we last saw each other. Of course I'd like to get to know you again, and you me.”
“Will you return to the Kingdom with me?”
I hesitated, as I had no previous inclination to do so before thus. “I won't go back to the Kingdom. Not to stay.”
“Why not?” She seemed to genuinely wish for me to agree, but at the same time, she also wanted to be privy to my reasons.
I hugged her closer to me; her anger seemed to have all but disappeared with our short walk, as she had no objections now. “I... there's nothing there for me, Michi. Sure, I'm supposed to be the Queen's protector, but the Queen doesn't need me there to foul up and hit her while aiming for the enemy.”
Her voice softened, and I imagine her eyes did too, at that moment. “That was just once, Haruka. She forgave you, and she wasn't hurt too badly either.”
The self-loathing from long ago rose to the surface. “Once is enough, when it comes to life and death matters! I.. I won't risk it again. At least here, out at sea, I don't have to worry about restraining myself.”
“Haruka...” There was a fairly lengthy silence, before she tried to speak again. “It doesn't-”
At that moment, I put a hand over her mouth, and glanced around warily. There was something close... something dangerous... I whirled the both of us to face it, and found myself looking at the hugest snake I had ever seen. I couldn't see the majority of its body, but from the bulk of its frame, resembling that of tree trunks, I guessed it wasn't your common garden snake- or even cobra.
I knew Michi was trying very hard not to scream, though we both knew that all snakes were deaf, but I think she was also just too numb from surprise to get her vocal cords working.
Bending low, keeping my eyes on the snake, I whispered, “Want me to kill it? I know how you hate snakes, Michi.”
To which she whimpered, “Can you kill it?”
I smiled at that, but as I straightened, I patted her shoulder in an attempt to show support. “Don't worry; I'll take care of it. Start towards where we were heading before and I'll catch up in a few.”
If it hadn't meant averting her gaze from the possibly flesh eating snake, I'm sure Michi would have turned to stare at me. Her voice proved it well enough. “You want me to run away...? And without you?”
“Yup,” I stepped in front of her, slowly summoning my saber (the special talisman one) to my grip. “Unless you want to be close of enough to smell the stench of it when I cut it up, you'd better get going. Just walk slowly, and when I charge, you can run full sprint.”
“Ruka... I can't.”
The snake was wondering if we'd be good enough to eat, I'm sure, else it wouldn't be waiting so long. Its tongue continued to flicker midst its data gathering, even as I whispered back, “What's wrong? Got stuck in a mud puddle? 'Course you can.”
“I'm not going to let you make me a hypocrite, Haruka.”
How would that...? Oh, right... My mind flew back to the night before. It was only to get some firewood and dinner, but she'd asked real quiet for me not to leave her... if she ran off now...“Don't think of it like that. Hey, I stayed when you asked me to stay, so just think of it as returning the favor if you escape when I ask for you to escape. All right? Come on, the snake's getting edgy, I can tell.”
She was quiet for a long time, but then I heard her take a step back. And another. The snake noticed, too. Like any proud predator, the snake was not about to just let a prey escape from right under its nose, especially not one so much slower, surely, and one that smelled so delectable.
As it lashed out, I ran towards it, using my wind to push me forward, and the backlash to push Michi farther away. “RUN!”
Michi's never been one to be frozen in fear. At least, not for very long. She ran. To assure myself that she'd escape safely, I set my sights on beheading this monstrosity. At just the right moment, I made a diagonal jump. Normally, the fact that my target was rushing towards me at the same, give or take a little, speed, wouldn't matter. As it was... I failed to watch out for the tongue, and it grabbed me from the air. Wriggling as I was, arms tied to my sides, I wasn't in any position to whack off my bonds, unfortunate as that is.
Ah... how depressing- I tell Michi that I'll take care of it- let her run- and then five seconds later I'm about to be snake food. How lame. Ah well. I thought, as the snake got ready to chomp me in pieces- or swallow me whole. At least she got away, thinking I died a hero or somethin'...
It wasn't until the snake had closed its maw with me inside that I came to a panic-inducing revelation: If I don't stop this snake... who's to say Michi won't be joining me in here?
The thought sent a surge of power in me, and, avoiding the venomous fangs, I transformed into my Senshi fuku, and set about letting loose a personal favorite at the thing's throat. “World Shaking!” It was an afterthought... painstakingly late, that made me realize how destructive that attack would be in such enclosed quarters...
Wherever she was, Michi had to have heard the explosion, as I did what I set out to do- obliterate the head. The only thing was... had it not been for my Senshi endurance, I would have been toasted along with the snake. As such... I instantly lost consciousness, most likely having infinite bruises, abrasions, open wounds, and... and so on...
Michiru's POV:
Haruka...! The explosion still echoed in my mind, even as I turned on my heel and headed back the way I had come. We'd promised, I know, long ago, to not worry about the other, so long as one was alive to continue protecting the Crown, but...
I stopped at the edge of the clearing. The tears that had dried the night before due to Haruka's comforting returned with a vengeance at the sight of her marred, limp body. Choking back at sob, I reserved further judgment after checking the status of the area. The snake was dead, no doubt there- the remains of its head nearly made me wish I hadn't returned at all- and Haruka...
I rushed to her side, and carefully checked her pulse. It was there. Beating strongly. I let a soft sigh of relief escape my lips as I looked her over more extensively. The stench and the blood, I'm almost certain was all due to the snake, but, as I ran my fingers lightly down her arms, feeling the cuts that were clotted... surely in danger of being infected... I began to worry all over again. What if she got poisonous venom into her system? What if... what if it... it...
Roughly, I shook my head and focused my mind on finding the nearest source of water. The closest is... the lagoon my mirror showed me before...? I wonder if that'll be enough... I looked back at Haruka. Can I carry her? Should I be moving her in this condition? Will she-
I stopped my thoughts again, trying to concentrate on what I'd remembered from the health lessons taken during my youth in the Kingdom. There are too many cuts to be sure of which one might sport fatal poison... if any do at all... and it's also been a while since the explosion, so if she's still alive now, it might be probable that moving her won't aggravate her wounds even further... I consulted my mirror, as well as concentrating on where the other Senshi signatures were. The results surprised me, even as unguarded as I was at that moment.
Makoto and Ami are at the lagoon... or at least, they're very close to it. And there are many life forms collected at the beach but why...? And then it hit me. Or rather, the ocean current whispered it to me. We have our ticket out of here.
Strength renewed, I carefully went about putting Haruka in a sitting position, and then from there, deciding the best transportation would be carrying her on my back. The resulting attempts to get her settled there proved to be taxing all on its own, but by zenith time, I had succeeded in starting off.
The distance, I estimated, was about a kilometer- not far at all. Though... with her on my back... Somehow, my mind stretched the distance to twenty (kilometers). I really shouldn't have... I really should have been on guard for any other large predators... but with Haruka so near... my mind started to wander rather easily.
Flashback
“Miss Kaiou! We're having a new arrival today- another Senshi, or so they say. We must hurry to prepare you for greeting her!”
I wanted to roll my eyes at my attendant, but being in front of the mirror, she would have seen me, and then scolded me for doing such unladylike things.
How dumb. I'm six years old. What's wrong with acting a little unladylike now and then?
“Mm... Miss Kaiou, which one do you want to wear today?” The nurse held up a sea green dress and a white one. “Just pointing is fine, you know. Which one?”
Ever since I set foot in the Palace, I haven't said a word. I hated my parents for forcing me out of the House of Ocean, out of their lives. They didn't even tell me why. I was supposed to protect the Queen? I'm so much younger than her! She can take care of herself.
I pointed to the green dress. Somehow, white just wasn't in my plans today.
Before I knew it, I was nudged out the door, primped and proper-like, as I've heard the maids whisper. Geez... all this trouble for another rugrat? Why bother? I was told there are seven other senshi, and I've only seen Pluto-san. So this would make the third. Wow. What's so great about that? If you'd won third place in a contest, in my House, you'd be a disgrace.
Therefore, it was with great annoyance that I stopped at the top of the stairwell, and looked down to the parlor. There was a soldier... most likely a guard, but his garb was not of regular Palace militia. The newcomer's...?
Asking for something while being resolute to not speak is tough, but I did it fairly well in my opinion. I wanted to ask what he was standing there for, but I remained silent as I walked down the steps.
He saw me coming. He seemed to sense that I was at least someone of higher rank than himself, for he bowed until I'd reached the end of the staircase. Then, “Ah, Miss, I'm sorry to trouble you, but I'm afraid I've lost sight of my charge. She's a rather mischievous child, and the wind helping her run away isn't of much help to me. Mightn't you know where she is?”
I stared at him. Shifting his weight from one foot to the other, he continued to fidget restlessly. A grown man asking a child for directions to his charge? How... pitiful.
“Ah she's to be the Senshi of Wind, you know, Uranus.” The man bobbed his head up and down rather nervously. “Sandy blonde hair... should be around your age I suppose. Ah... I really shouldn't be asking this of you...”
By then, I was ignoring him. I looked down the hall, unfocusing on my surroundings, in order to pinpoint what would be a new, but noticeable, aura. It was a recent trick that Pluto-san taught me, and it was as of yet still fairly ineffective.
But this time...
A flash of gold blinked in my mind's eye.
Now where...?
I caught the glimpse again as I slowly turned my head.
West?
For reassurance, I concentrated a little harder, and I pinpointed the signature, and then I saw an image of a table decked with food...
I snapped my eyes open, and headed for the kitchens. I didn't bother beckoning him to follow. I would meet her and get it over with. This really was such a bore- why must I be the one to greet them? Just because Pluto-san is already grown up and the Queen's advisor...
He paused, looked both ways, and then nervously scuttled after me. Bumbling dummy.
Up and down the halls we went, the kitchens being actually rather far from the parlor. At every junction, I would stop and concentrate again, making sure she hadn't moved. Not even when we had reached the kitchen doors, had she moved even a foot. She was eating to her heart's content after all.
I looked around and the cook saw me almost instantly. She exclaimed her surprise and pleasure at seeing me, asking what she could do for me. I only shook my head, and headed to the banquet table that had all the finished dishes that were to be for today's luncheon... and a few already made dishes for tonight's reception. I studied the table, gazing at the random spaces that I found, before deciding to use my senses to pick up where she was.
Now that she was nearby, the fleeting sensation was a lot more solid, and as I had recent practice, I succeeded in pinpointing her easily.
Walking over to the place where the aura was strongest, I took a deep breath, and raised the table cloth.
There she was.
I almost grinned, at the way her eyes darkened with fear, wide with surprise. There was an incriminating plate of spaghetti next to her.
The dummy escort came up behind me. “Miss Tenoh! There you are! What... Really, now, a future lady such as yourself... what a disastrous first impression this will make...!”
She continued to stare at me, with those unnerving blue eyes, even as the man helped her out, and the chef hurriedly wiped her mouth with a warm towel.
Finally, she asked, not moving even when the man beckoned her to, “Who are you?”
I sniffed haughtily and turned away, already starting towards the door. A ruffian. A barbarian. This was to be my teammate? Oh what horror I could foresee her unleashing on our balls and banquets!
Just as I was about to leave, my hand already on the door, she called out, “HEY! How rude! Tell me who you are!”
I said nothing as I continued through the door, but as I waited, I was rewarded in hearing the chef murmur, “Oh, Miss, don't you fret over Miss Kaiou. She hasn't spoken a word to anyone ever since coming to the Palace.”
There was a long silence, and I wondered what it was that made me stay where I was. I had better things to do than hang around here, waiting to be caught... didn't I?
“Kaiou... What's her first name? And what house is she from?”
I heard the older man scold her lightly, “Miss! Asking such things... here of all places! Ah, I apologize for my charge's rudeness. Come, you're sure to see her again later, at the banquet if nowhere else. Now we must get you settled in. Come along!”
Footsteps. They were coming. I wanted to move. I really tried. But... there was a spark then, then that I knew... I barely managed to step far enough away so as to not be hit by the door.
I heard her voice again, crystalline clear. “You're still here...? Ah, perfect then.” I turned to regard her. “I just remembered, when you want to know someone's name, it's only proper to say your own name first, right? So...” She stuck out a hand, giving me a cheeky grin. “The name's Haruka. Haruka Tenoh. I'm from the House of Gale.”
I stared at her... and she only grinned back. She didn't mind leaving her House. Or at least, she didn't let that hinder her. To steal from the kitchens on the first day...
It came out before I could stop it. An exhale... a small smile... I managed to cover my giggle with my hand. It was over soon after it began however, and I turned halfway to leave.
The smile was still on my face as I murmured, “Michiru Kaiou. Future Lady Neptune.”
End Flashback
Ah... our first meeting... I hadn't spent even one minute in her presence, before she completely undid my two, three months of silence. By the end of the day, we were virtually inseparable.
“Mi- michiru-san? Is that you?”
I looked up suddenly, and realized that I had reached the embankment, and Ami was now rushing towards me.
“Oh my, what happened to Haruka-san? Ooh... come on, there's a medical tent nearby. How far did you carry her? Are you hurt? Wha-”
I couldn't help but smile at her, shaking my head again. “I'm unharmed. We were confronted with a giant snake, and Haruka fought it. I... I wasn't in a position to see what happened, but the snake was killed.”
She watched me for a little while longer, before nodding and waving over Makoto. With her help, we made short work of transporting Haruka the last leg of the trip. While she was being attended to, Ami and Makoto filled me in a little of the situation I had come across.
Apparently, one of the crew members had been flung ashore with a portable communications radio, and with Ami's help, put it back into working order. They'd sent an SOS signal out, and it would just so happen that Captain Aino's ship, returning from the port city, picked up the call and were on their way. And so, they all decided to head for the largest lagoon, and now, all but the Princess, Rei, Setsuna, and Minako were accounted for.
Of course, to the Senshi, these were the most important people of all.
“Should we go back out to search for them?”
Ami shook her head. “I have them tracked on my computer. It seems that they're heading for that hill in the center of the island. When they get there, we'll make a smoke signal, and from there, at the very least, Rei will know to head there.”
“What if... they're in trouble?” They were taking this a little too casually for my liking.
Makoto seemed to sense this and smiled. “No, they're all fine. Ami's computer also keeps track of their health and status, so even if they do run into trouble, we'll know.”
Eventually, I simply sighed and shook my head. Just as I was about to leave, Haruka woke up.
“Michi...?”
Her voice startled me, even as we were gathered around her in the medical tent. I placed my hand over one of hers, and she weakly grasped it. “I'm here. How are you feeling?”
There was a soft laugh that became a cough, before she whispered, “Bah... I think I know why you hate snakes so much now...”
I smiled back at her. “Rest up. We have our ship to get out of here- we're just waiting for it to dock, and for the rest of the Senshi.”
“The rest...” It was then that her eyes flickered over to Makoto and Ami. “Ah, how goes it, guys?”
Ami softly reprimanded, “Save your energy and rest, Haruka-san. With these kinds of wounds, a regular human wouldn't have survived at all.”
Haruka smiled wanly. “Good thing I'm not 'regular', then huh?”
She closed her eyes briefly, and her visitors were almost certain she'd fallen asleep, when her eyes snapped open again. Haruka turned to regard me. “Michi...! The... sea! Come with me... and we'll sail the seas together! With my affinity with wind, we can avoid most storms and speed won't be a problem. And... and with you and the sea... we wouldn't have to worry much about wayward currents... or whirlpools... perfect days at sea, Michi! Will you...?”
My thumb lightly traced over the back of her hand as I responded, “And what would we do, Ruka? I'll never become a pirate, even for you.”
Haruka's eyes became downcast, but then Ami exclaimed, “Oh, that's right! Well, I'm not about to wholeheartedly agree with Michiru-san's involvement, but I did hear there was a space open in the Royal Navy. Captain Bernough recently retired, and they're looking for someone capable enough to take his place.”
While the idea was immediately appealing, I kept my gaze on Haruka. She stared at me back. “Well, Ruka? Do you want to still?”
She grinned. “So long as I don't have to wear dresses to formal occasions, and I don't have to be at the Kingdom for long periods... I have no objections.”
I sighed again with mock resignation. “Well then, unless your penmanship has gotten any better since I last saw you- and I'll gander it's only gotten worse- I suppose I'll have to accompany you to write out the reports as well.”
Haruka grinned wider. “If I could move, I'd seal the deal with a kiss. But right now... augh... I probably stink something horrible too, so it's better if we wait on that one.”
A soft giggle rose from my throat as I nodded. “Yes. We can talk later. Now sleep.”
“Yes, Michi...” With that, Haruka trailed off, into a world where she could dream of sailing the ocean blue with her one and only love.
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