"And, for our community service, I want everyone to write a letter to a soldier," he grinned widely at the orchestra, causing a few of them to groan. "What? It's an easy project!"
"No, Mr. Emerine," a voice from the front row muttered sternly. The rotund man moved to look at the owner of the voice.
"No?" His voice hinted at his disbelief at being told no. The young woman brushed her long aqua hair over her shoulder with a sweeping motion, sitting up straighter. The older man frowned, causing the wrinkles in his forehead to be much more pronounced.
"I don't believe in the army. Or this war. Why should I write to someone I don't know?" Her voice was clear and defiant, causing her fellow members of the high school orchestra to raise their brows.
"You will write a letter, Miss Kaiou, because if you don't…"
~0~
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm not exactly sure why I am doing this, but here it goes. Let's start with the essentials: I am against the military in every way, shape, or form. I also believe this war to be a waste of our countries time. Now, to more pleasant things. My name is Michiru, and I am 17 years old. I play in my high schools orchestra, and I have an audition for Julliard in a month and a half. I don't think I have ever been so nervous in my life. My mom is worried about the cost, however, and she's unsure of how we're going to be able to pull it off if I am accepted. Oh, I play violin by the way. Do you play an instrument? Do they allow instruments in the army? What's your name? Where are you from? What are you doing over there? Why'd you join the military?
I don't expect you to write back, especially after what I said starting out. Stay safe, soldier.
Sincerely,
Michiru Kaiou
~0~
She handed the letter to her teacher the following day, smiling some as she sat down. Against the military as she was, writing to someone she didn't know was kind of exciting and fun. She shook the thoughts away, focusing on the wooden instrument that she had begun to trace her fingers over. A sense of peace slipped over herself, forgetting about letters to strange soldiers, and of bills way past due. It was just her, and the instrument.
A voice jerked her from her reverie and she looked up, meeting her instructors gaze.
"I'll send the letters in a bulk envelope today after school. If they write back, they can write to the return addresses you included," he smiled at them, patting the large envelope. "It'll make their day, I promise you that." With another pat of the envelope, he sat it on the grand piano, picking up his baton. "Now…back to the Blue Ridge Saga!"
-0-
Michiru frowned, another doctor's appointment for her always failing heart. She sighed loudly, her mom turning to her.
"What?" The woman who was Georgia Kaiou; who was wiry, the exact opposite of her beautiful and lusciously built daughter, raised a questioning brow. The young violinist turned, giving her an innocent look.
"Hm?"
"Your sigh sounded like a freight train. What's wrong?" Her voice was stern, yet kind and filled with love. Her eyes were sad; already knowing what was on the younger girls mind.
"I don't see the point in you killing yourself so I can come in here and be told I need another surgery," Michiru's voice was barely above a whisper, and she had turned away from her mother.
"Michiru, you know better! Well pay for the surgery. As long as you can keep alive until they find a donor for your heart, which will be soon." She looked back to the magazine she was reading, signaling their conversation was over. Michiru rolled her sapphire hued eyes and focused on the unopened letter in her hand, which was postmarked from Afghanistan. The envelope was brown around the edges, and when she looked ore thoroughly, she could see the finger prints embedded in the dirt. She tied her hair back with a long red ribbon before opening the response letter. She smiled some when she noticed the letter was written on yellow ledger paper with a blue felt tipped pen, the authors handwriting being the smallest she had ever seen, the letters a mixture between uppercase and lowercase, all printed.
Michiru,
I'm unsure as why you wrote me as well, you made your opinions of the military quite clear. However, I am very glad you took the time to write me. I haven't had a letter in a long while. Now, onto your list of questions; I'm Haruka. That's all you really need to know, because I am that awesome. ;) Just kidding.
I play the piano, by the way. And, yes, the army allows instruments, though, they only have a marching band, which leaves little to no desire for a classical pianist, eh? I am from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to answer another question. Well, okay, I was born in Pittsburgh, but I was a genuine army brat. We lived everywhere and anywhere. It was hard growing up, but fun at the same time. I saw things kids could only dream of seeing. I joined the army because it's all I ever knew, and understood. When I was little I wanted to be the wind, so…I'm a Blackhawk pilot. 127th Blackhawk division. I guess that's what I am doing over here…flying the whirly birds.
I'm hoping you'll write me back. I enjoy writing you.
Staying safe,
Sergeant First Class, Haruka Tenou
-0-
Haruka,
That's a Japanese name, isn't it? My mother is from New York, whereas my dad is from Kyoto. Hence the Kaiou bit. Sadly, though, her passed away when I was little. He had a rare type of heart disease, which was only able to be cured by having a heart transplant. Oh, listen to me babble!
You're a helicopter pilot? I bet that's unbelievable. Someday, you'll have to tell me all about what it's like to fly. I've always wanted to, just, never have.
We're working on a piece called Blue Ridge Saga in orchestra right now. It's originally a concert band piece, but my composer has added the orchestration to it just for us. It's by Swearingen. Personally, I enjoy Bach, but that's my personal preference. Who's your favorite composer?
So, tell me more about you? About what you've seen? How old are you? Where did you spend most of your time growing up?
Stay safe,
Michiru
-0-
Michiru,
My name sure is Japanese. Good eye. My father, during Vietnam, met my mother and well, the rest they say is history. She became a United States citizen in 1985, and I was born in 1986. Yes, you heard right, that makes me the ripe old age of 24. Though, I am one of the youngest Sergeants to ever grace the United States Army.
I'm sorry to hear about your dad. That's a hard thing to go through. My mom is currently battling cancer, so, I'm sure I'll know how you felt, then and now, very soon.
I was always closer to my dad for some reason though. My mom and I never really bonded.
The majority of my childhood was spent at Fort Jackson, South Carolina where my dad was stationed as a drill sergeant for five years. We lived in the soldier's housing, and I spent a lot of time actually doing the drills with the men as they made their way through basic training. Like I said, it's the only thing I ever knew, the Army. I just went into what I know.
What I've seen is no picnic. Well, the past three tours I've had over here. Growing up I saw almost every country in the world, save for South America and most of Africa. But nothing I saw then could prepare me for this. Nothing.
Someday, I'll show you what it's like to fly.
Staying safe,
Haruka
-0-
Haruka,
Wow, it doesn't feel any different to be 18. I made it another year! That in itself is an amazing feat. How have you been? I watch the news almost daily now, almost dreading if I hear any mention of a helicopter getting shot down.
My dad gave me a great gift in my gene's. That lovely heart disease he had is slowly stealing my life away. I had a doctor's appointment today. Without a new heart, I have less than a year to live. It's kind of sad really, in a pathetic sort of way. I never had friends to worry about leaving behind, now I have you. I don't know about you, but you've come to be my friend. Each letter takes months to get to us…but, still…a friend. It's a strange concept for me.
Stay safe, soldier,
Michiru
-0-
Michiru,
If there was anything I could do, I would do it. To be honest, I've never had a friend either, not until you. Thank you for writing to me in the first place, and helping me realize there is more to life than the wind in my hair.
To fly is the most exhilarating thing. You're weightless, like the sky itself has opened up and given you the ability to see past it. To whip through the clouds…I'll show you. Soon.
You'll find a donor. Don't give up hope. Not yet. You have so many years ahead of you.
Safe, always,
Haruka
P.S. I hope you like the bracelet I sent you. I made it myself out of an old pair of camo pants. Haha!
-0-
Michiru looked up at the white ceiling, annoyed with the sound of Jeopardy blaring from her room-mates television. She had a stack of books piled beside her hospital bed waiting to be red, the small pile of dirty notes from half-way across the world beside that. A nurse walked in, checking all of her stats quickly, making small talk.
"Who's the letters from?"
"A friend."
"Who's the friend? Someone you know from high school who joined up?"
"No, actually, just my pen pal," Michiru said with a smile, wearing the ACU camouflage bracelet beside her hospital ID bracelet.
"That's nice of you to write to a soldier. I bet he appreciates it," the young nurse gave her a kind smile before leaving the room, clipboard in tow. Michiru sighed and leaned back against her sheets once more, bored out of her mind. Her mom came into her side of the room a few hours later, the young girl smiling as she helped relieve the boredom that had engulfed her.
"Michiru? Kaiou-san?" The voice made them both look up. Michiru tilted her head slightly to the left, her cardiologist walking in.
"Yes Dr. Johnson?" Her mother questioned softly, standing.
"We've found a heart for your daughter," he smiled at them both. Michiru's face lit up, her mother's paling as she felt her eyes well with tears.
"Seriously! Please tell me this isn't a joke!" She wiped her eyes quickly, looking up at him. He smiled sadly towards Michiru.
"We're completely serious. The heart is coming from the Veterans hospital where a young Sergeant died this morning," he spoke softly. It was Michiru's turn to turn pale, her mind running away with the newfound knowledge, and of course thinking the worst.
" Doctor, may I know the name of my savior?" She didn't look at him, tears sliding freely down her cheeks now.
"She asked to remain anonymous." He turned and left the room, going to prep for surgery. Michiru swallowed the lump in her throat.
"Haruka…"
-0-
The aqua haired woman laid a single rose on the small grave in Arlington on the anniversary of the blonde's death, and her own rebirth. She touched her chest softly, feeling the steady rhythm of her new hearts beat. Haruka's heart.
"Thank you, for teaching me how to fly…"