You quietly slip out of bed around 3am, hoping not to wake Michiru. She is an extremely light sleeper when it is least convenient for her to be so. Such as now when you wanted to sit and think for a while.

Padding softly out to the kitchen, you pour yourself a glass of milk from the carton in the fridge. The frothy liquid isn't sitting well in your stomach. You set the half-full glass on the table before walking out to the sitting room. A plush chair offers your body physical comfort, but nothing by the way of mental comfort.

'I love her,' you think to yourself. 'I love her more than myself. I don't want her to be hurt, and I certainly don't want her to die.' Gooseflesh covers your arms at the very thought of being without Michiru.

'I won't live without her,' you tell yourself firmly.

Gentle hands are placed upon your shoulders. You jump at the sudden intrusion. Michiru releases her grasp on your shoulders to come around to the front of the chair. You quickly scoot aside enough to allow her room to sit besides you.

Even in the darkened room you can see the slight smile on her lips at this gesture. She sits besides you, then leans her head against your shoulder. You wrap your arms around her, supporting her weight against your body.

"You've been thinking about this for a while." She states it as a fact, not a question.

"Perceptive as usual," you nuzzle you face against her soft sea-green hair. "I don't want to be without you."

"I don't think I've ever seen you like this," she admits.

"I'm not a cold person..." you point out, slightly hurt that she didn't think you were capable of such caring.

"That's not what I meant," her eyes met yours. "I don't think I've ever seen you back down from a challenge."

"This isn't a challenge I wish to take up. Too much is at stake. I'm not a fool, you know."

She hugs you tightly. "I know you aren't."

The room is silent for several long moments. You begin to think Michiru has fallen asleep when her soft voice wakes you from the half-sleep you were falling into.

"Where should we go, Haruka?"



Stay in Tokyo Area or
Go to the US