Haruka and Setsuna waited for Hotaru in front of her college. They was supposed to pick up the girl and drive into the mountains, were Serena organized Christmas. It was the first time the blonde was in Japan for Christmas in years and the plan sounded good for her. She pulled up the collar of her jacket and rubbed her hands as snowflakes fell silently on the ground. She made space for Hotaru's baggage looking forward at the winter sports she would definitely try up the mountain.
"Haruka!" Hotaru waved from a distance, pulling a big trunk after her. The raven haired girl jumped in her arms and embraced the blonde long. "I am so glad you decided to join, finally we spend Christmas together again."
"I wouldn't have missed it for nothing in the world" Haruka said picking up the baggage and placing it in the trunk of her sports car.
"Yeah, sure, you said so every passing year" Setsuna laughed.
"It wasn't that I didn't want to come, but there was always something getting in the way. And last year I missed it because of the storm. Now, get in, we have a long way and I can't wait to see some proper snow".
"I can't wait to sit in front of a chimney and drink big amounts of hot beverages! This winter is too cold to begin with" Setsuna said as she fastened her seatbelt.
Haruka drove off and soon they left the town.
"How is college, Hotaru?" Haruka asked.
"Best experience ever. Finally I get to go to school and feel and act normal. It took me some years and some lives to get here so I am enjoying every part of it".
"You will finish in two years, so have you thought what's next?"
"Before that, I would like to study abroad".
"Setsune told me. Where?"
"Maybe England. Michiru said she will help me sign in".
Haruka remained silent for a moment, like she would always do, when she would hear the woman's name, read about her or see her on the news. She couldn't help the flow of emotions that rose into her, every time Michiru was mentioned. She believed, for years, that it would go away. She believed that she would forget about her feelings and only cherish her as her friend.
They talked on the phones, sometimes for hours. Michiru was the first she would call for anything. They would see each other maybe twice a year. And follow each other through the media. Which sometimes was painful. And always…Haruka would ask herself if everything would have been different had she have had the guts to speak her mind in the past. But they had been so young then…
"Is she coming?" Haruka asked.
"I don't think so" Setsuna looked outside the window. "I talked with her today and she said she is stuck in Paris with the Christmas Concert of the Royal Philharmonic."
"Yes, Michiru is another who always missed the Christmas Party. Bunny will be sad. She always puts all the effort in it" Hotaru said.
"We got the chance to live our lives, something we had given up in the past. We always thought we will have to protect this planet and forget about ourselves. I guess we are lucky it wasn't so…" Haruka said with a bitter smile. "But somehow…we were happy" she whispered.
"I definitely wasn't happy" Hotaru laughed. "Besides that time I spent growing up with the three of you. That was the best".
Setsuna smiled, looking at Haruka.
"Something is missing, isn't it?"
"I think someone is missing" the blonde sighted.
The night had fallen when the three finally reached the cottage in the mountains. Bunny jumped up at each one, hugging them with happy tears, amusing them as always.
Haruka placed her luggage on the floor of her room and looked at the big bed. She was the only one getting a single room, the others shared it with their boyfriends, or with each other. She placed some clothes in the closet, changed and went downstairs.
Only Bunny, Darien, Amy and Rei had arrived that night. Bunny had insisted to cook for them and the evening had been filled with laughter and cheers.
The next morning, Haruka was the first to wake up. The mountain was waiting for her and she glanced up into the cold ray of sun. Perfect weather for sports.
She gained in speed as she was snowboarding down the mountain, emptying her mind, feeling herself in the windy air. It was perfect and by noon she started feeling hungry. She was about to take a left down the mountain and stop for the morning. But, another person cut her way, Haruka not being able to stop. She fell over the ski runner. The two rolled for a few meters and finally stopped in a bunch of snow. Haruka growled, trying to count her intact bones.
"Are you ok?" she said as she stood up, pulling the other woman after her.
"I think so. I am sorry, I lost focus for a second".
"But are you fine?" Haruka rubbed her neck.
"Yes, yes. Are you ok?" the woman said taking her shades off.
She looked friendly and pretty at Haruka. The blonde smirked a little. Not half bad.
"Nothing's broken so yes".
"I am so sorry! Really! I cut your way".
"It's fine".
"Let me make it up to you!"
"Of course you'll make it up for me, did you think you would get away so easily?" Haruka winked.
"I am Rose" the woman smiled.
"Aren't roses summer flowers?" Haruka asked as she whipped some snow of the woman's cheek. She looked up at Haruka, through warm brown eyes, her reddish lips smiling somehow shyly.
"Some live even through winter".
"Some even ski and knock other down".
"Hey, you knocked me down! Ok, maybe I was in your way and you couldn't stop, but you fell for me. I mean over me!" she blushed a little.
"Wouldn't be too hard" Haruka winked again.
"Wait a second I know who you are and I am your biggest fan!"
"I am glad to hear that".
"Let me buy you lunch".
"I would love to, but my friends are going to kill me if I don't show up" Haruka said picturing Serena suffering her heart out. "I'll tell you what. You will let me buy you a drink tonight in the nice restaurant down the hill".
"Deal. I will wait for you at 9" Rose said picking her skis up.
"It's a date" Haruka smiled. She bowed her head slightly and went on with her way, realizing she was already late.
"Finally Haruka, you're late" Bunny said as the woman entered the restaurant opening her jacket.
"And…it looks like I am not the only one?" she said as Bunny was sitting alone.
"Well, everybody decided for something else. Setsuna, Hotaru and Amy are visiting a museum, and really now who puts a museum in a sky resort and Rei is flirting with some guy. Darien is sleeping in, which is actually a surprise even for me".
"Well, I am glad I didn't decide to hang up on you as well" she said sitting down.
"You look cheerful. Much more cheerful than you did last night".
"I had a good time on the mountain" she said taking the menu in her hands.
The two ordered.
"Why isn't Michiru coming?"
"I didn't get to speak to her the last days. Sestuna said something about a concert".
"It sounds like the two of you broke up and…that would be horrible" Buny looked with wet eyes at the woman.
"What?" Haruka asked surprised.
"You make such a perfect couple".
"As friends, colleagues, soldiers maybe even parents, but we have never been a romantic couple. Serena…did you think Michiru and I are a romatic couple?"
"Of course I did, everybody did. The way the two of you talked to each other, looked at each other, fought together, it was…you mean Michiru and you have never been a couple?"
"We haven't even shared a kiss. No, we are just friends".
"That's the biggest nonsense I have ever heard" Serena laughed hard.
"We cherish and respect each other very much. That's it".
Serena blinked and put a serious face on.
"You're not joking…"
"No" Haruka said trying to hide the bitter in her voice. "Anyway…"
"Don't change the subject".
"Bunny, how can you be so naïve? I mean you…read the press, Michiru had her dates, I had mine, we…have different lives".
"I believed it was only gossip".
"Come on, Bunny" Haruka puffed.
Bunny shrugged.
"But you are in love with her" she looked up at Haruka.
The woman sighted.
"No, I am not. There is nothing between us".
"Swear it to me!"
Haruka arched.
"Do you want to make sure that I am free? After all we are eating alone, you are questioning me about my love life. Aren't things with Daren going that well?" she teased, knowing Bunny would stop her questioning.
"Haruka! Might I remind you that I have children with him?"
"Future children, Bunny" Haruka laughed.
"Future, or not, we are a happy couple so stop flirting with me!"
"Then you stop questioning me about Michiru!".
"Fine" she said growled. But something passed her mind, making her cheerful again.
"You're on your way?" Setsuna asked as she exited the museum to answer her phone.
"Yes, the concert was yesterday and I got a last flight. I am in Tokyo now, will rent a car and arrive in a few hours. I want to surprise Bunny" Michiru replied.
"Wait until Hotaru hears about it. The four of us again".
"Four? Is Haruka…"
"Yes, she is here".
"She…told me she wouldn't come".
"Also change of plans".
"Right…are there any rooms left for me?"
"Haruka's room. The two of you like sleeping together right?" Setsuna grinned, knowing very well the feelings of her friend.
"Very funny. Well, I'll be there around evening".
"Have a safe trip".
When Michiru arrived, only Darien was in the cottage, enjoying a book alone.
"Michiru, I didn't know you were coming" he said looking surprised at her.
"I wanted to surprise Bunny".
"Well, you definitely succeeded" he said helping her with her baggage. "You'll have to share the room with Haruka".
"That's fine. Where are the others?"
"Out in town, having fun. They will return soon, it's getting dark".
Michiru thanked Darien and started unpacking. She stopped as she saw that it had started snowing and approached the window. She enjoyed the view of the snowflakes for a while and then her eyes stopped on the people walking by. And she saw her, she recognized her immediately, even in her ski costume. Michiru smiled, but as she watched her talk to another woman, squeeze her hand, place a kiss on her cheek she frowned. Haruka had split up with her girlfriend months ago. So who was this other woman? She returned to her clothes as she saw Haruka enter the house and heard the woman up the stairs.
The blonde opened the door and entered. She froze.
"Michiru?"
"Surprise" the beautiful woman smiled.
"Yes, this is a fantastic surprise" Haruka said embracing Michiru, forgetting all about the rest. "I haven't seen you in months" she whispered into the woman's ear as her hands clasped the thin waist, enjoying the curves in her arms. She felt Michiru's fingers through her short hair, and the woman's warm cheek on her cold skin.
"I missed you" Michiru whispered back.
"You should have told me you are coming, I could have picked you up and…"
"I didn't even know you were coming. Last time we talked you said you won't make it".
"Yes, I think I forgot to tell you my plan changed. But I am glad we are both here. And Hotaru and Setsuna…"
"Michiru nodded unable to take her eyes of the blonde woman. Haruka was still holding her waist and she wished she could remain like that for ever. But the door got slammed to the wall, a very sentimental Bunny entering.
"Michiru! She screamed pushing Haruka away and embracing the woman. "This is the best surprise ever! The others…they are also coming, we are a team again!"
"Oh, Bunny" Michiru laughed.
"Come on, you have to help me decorate the tree. And you…I want you down as well" she addressed Haruka.
"Yes, ma'am, I'll shower and be down in a second".
"Do so" Bunny said pulling Michiru out.
Darien was preparing tea as Bunny brought the boxes of decorations.
"I was about to call you and make you come whatever it would take" Bunny said as she handed a box to Michiru.
"Why so?"
"Because…well I think Haruka is in love with you".
Michiru put the globes down and looked at her.
"I know she denies it, but I am sure of it. And I am sure you are as well in love with her. And it's Christmas and one thousand years later I think it's time for the two of you to finally face it".
"Bunny…"
"I have a good feeling about this!"
"Well, tell it to Miss Sporty she was flirting with outside there" Michiru said annoyed surprising even herself.
"Aha! So, you are in love with her".
"Even if I am…it's…"
"Look, I think Haruka lost hope about the two of you. But I can see it on her…and I have always seen and believed the two of you loved each other. The way you acted together…".
"It's a bound we share, but…I am afraid that's all".
"Come on, Michiru you are cerebral woman!".
"Yes, and that is why it's hard for me to believe that Haruka can feel…" she stopped thinking.
The hands on her waist, Haruka pressing her body against hers, no one ever hugged her like that. It was much too intimate for a friendship.
"You know what…?" Michiru smirked as she saw Haruka come down. "Let the flirting games begin" she whispered to Bunny.
Thank you for reading the first chapter. And, as a little teaser for the next: Michiru will start twisting Haruka's mind in every possible way.