A/N- Here it is folks. The sequel to life… cleverly titled 'Living'. Yeah I know… shut up. I'm not good with titles. Moving on. I really don't like this chapter, but I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to start this. I did that thing where I write a chapter from the middle first and then try to figure out how I would get to that point… I have got to stop doing that. Oh well… RukaMichi92… This is for you.

Living Ch 1

Haruka walked around, looking about the place and carefully taking in each and every detail with her teal eyes.

"So what do you think of it?" Asked an overly cheerful woman. Haruka took one last look and nodded her head.

"It's perfect. I'll take it."

"Excellent! Well then let's get the financials out of the way and it's all yours." Once again Haruka nodded her consent and followed the woman.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Ruka, where on Earth have you been? I woke up and you were gone." Michiru sternly asked her blonde lover as she watched her walk through the door.

"I was at the track helping Soichiro-San with one of the cars."

"Well you could have at least left a note. I was worried sick."

"I'm sorry." Haruka said as she wrapped her arms around Michiru's waist. "I'll try to remember to leave a note next time." She leant down and placed a kiss on Michiru's lips.

"Well I guess you're forgiven… this time. So… What are the plans for tonight?" Michiru asked with an expectant voice.

"Well Arian called and asked if I would help her out with a little problem she's having." Michiru frowned at this.

'Did she forget?' Michiru wondered. "Haruka… Do you know what date it is today?"

"Ummm… it's the… 9th of October." Haruka said turning away from the calendar that she had looked at. "Why?" Michiru's heart fell.

"No reason…" Michiru said in a small voice as she turned away and walked down the hall to their room. When she got there Michiru sat on the bed with tears rolling down her cheek. She wiped them away and wondered what had happen that Haruka had forgotten about their anniversary. 'It's been five years. She's never forgotten before… Why now?' She shook her head to try and rid herself of these horrible thoughts. She picked up her violin and started to play a sad melody. She played for what seemed like hours when a knock on the door interrupted her.

"Michi?" Haruka called as she slowly opened the door. "Ummm… I have to get going. I have to go meet Arian now. Are you ok?"

"I'm fine." Michiru replied in a cold voice. Haruka stared at her a few moments longer.

"Alright then… I'll see you later… I love you." Haruka waited for a response, but upon receiving none closed the door and left the apartment.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Well?" Arian asked as Haruka sat down across from her in the little café that they so often frequent.

"Mad as hell."

"I'd be mad at you too. You know you could have just said that you had a surprise. You didn't need to be such a jackass by pretending you forgot about your anniversary."

"I could of… but it's even more of a surprise if I do it this way. Don't worry… Once she sees it… she'll forget about everything else."

"Well we'll just have to see about that, won't we?"

"Yes we will…"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The sun had already begun to set and Michiru lifted her head from the bed to gaze at the clock. It blinked 5:03.

'I guess she really did forget.' Michiru was brought out of her thoughts by a knock at the door. She frowned as she thought about whom that could possibly be. She walked to the door and opened it to reveal a delivery man.

"Kaiou Michiru?" He asked as he looked up from his clipboard.

"Yes."

"Sign here please." Michiru did as she was asked and he handed her a rectangular box. She closed the door and walked into the kitchen putting the box down on the table. She took the envelop that had been taped to the box and opened it. She withdrew a letter and began to read it,

'Put this on and be downstairs at 7pm'

Confused Michiru opened the box and pulled out an elegant red dress. She smiled as she thought of the only person who would do something like this.

'She is so in trouble.' Michiru thought as she walked to the bedroom with a smile plastered on her face.

The clock now read 6:53 and Michiru stood in front of the full length mirror checking her appearance. She had to admit… Haruka had good taste. The dress was strapless and perfectly hugged all of her curves. It fell to the floor and had a slit run up the left side of it. Michiru had put her hair up so that it sat on top of her head and a few strands fell to the side framing her face. She smiled at her reflection and then threw a black shawl over her shoulders, grabbed her black purse and headed downstairs.

Upon walking outside she was greeted by the sight of Haruka standing in front of her car dressed in a classic black tuxedo. Haruka smiled at Michiru and held a bouquet of red roses out to her. Michiru took them and Haruka leaned in for a kiss, but Michiru blocked her with a hand.

"You are not off the hook yet Tenoh Haruka." Haruka only scoffed at this comment.

"Believe me… by the end of the night I will be."

"You know one day that ego of yours will be your undoing… If I weren't so forgiving you would have been dumped ages ago."

"Ah, but you love me too much." Haruka said with a wink as she opened the door of the car for Michiru.

"Hmmm… Perhaps." Haruka smiled as she closed the door and went around the car getting behind the wheel.

Twenty minutes late they arrived at one of Tokyo's most popular restaurants. Haruka pulled up to the front and tossed the keys to the valet as she got out. She offered her arm to Michiru who accepted and they walked into the restaurant. There was a line up, but Haruka just strode by the stationary people, and went up to the hostess.

"I have a reservation for two under the name Tenoh."

"Of course, right this way Tenoh-san." They followed the young woman to a table near the back of the restaurant. "Here you are. Your waiter should be along in a moment."

"Arigatou." Haruka said as the hostess left. She pulled out the chair for Michiru who smiled and sat down. Haruka then went and took her own seat.

"So how long has this been planned?" Haruka looked over the top of her menu at Michiru who was staring intently at her.

"Well the restaurant had to be reserved well in advance so… I guess it started about two months ago."

"You've been planning our anniversary for two months?" Michiru said in a shocked voice. She knew that Haruka liked to surprise her, but she was stunned. She herself had only started thinking about a gift for Haruka a couple weeks ago and now she finds out Haruka has been making elaborate plans for two solid months. "So if you've been planning this for that long how come you made me think that you had forgotten?" Haruka merely shrugged at this.

"I wanted to surprise you."

"Well mission accomplished. I don't think I could have been more surprised. Angry… but surprised."

"Oh just wait…" Haruka muttered under breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing. Would you care to dance?" Haruka said standing up and extending her hand to Michiru. Michiru smiled and accepted Haruka's hand, allowing herself to be pulled over to the small square dance floor, where a string quartet played. They danced for a couple songs until Michiru noticed that the waiter had arrived at their table. They returned to their seats and placed their orders.

After they were done eating they got back into Haruka's golden yellow convertible and started driving. Michiru leaned against Haruka, placing her head on the blonde's shoulder.

"Thank you for a lovely evening Haruka."

"It's not over yet."

"What else do you have planned?" Michiru asked sitting up again and eyeing her lover. Haruka turned to look at her, giving her a smirk before returning her gaze to the road.

"It's a surprise." Michiru gave a mock, exasperated sigh before returning to her previous position against Haruka. About thirty minutes later Haruka's voice broke the comfortable silence they had been driving in. "Close your eyes."

"What?"

"Close your eyes." Michiru sighed, but did as she was asked. A few minutes later she could feel the car slowing down, eventually coming to a complete stop. She heard Haruka exit the car and come over to her side of the car, opening the door.

"Can I open my eyes now?" Michiru asked as she let Haruka guide her from the car.

"Not yet… just a few more steps… ok. Now!" Michiru opened her eyes saw before her an enormous, house. No house didn't quite convey it… it was a mansion. It had beautiful white sidings and columns on the front porch.

"Haruka… Whose house is this?" Haruka smiled and dangled a set of keys in front of Michiru's face.

"It's ours." Michiru couldn't believe her ears.

"Ours? This mansion is ours?"

"Happy Anniversary Michi!" Michiru flung herself into Haruka's arms, almost knocking the blonde over. "Can I take this as an 'I like it'?" Haruka asked looking down at Michiru.

"No. But you can take this as an 'I love it'." Michiru said as she pressed her lips to Haruka's. When they broke apart Haruka was smiling at Michiru.

"You want to take a look around inside?" Michiru nodded and let Haruka lead her inside. It was just as gorgeous, if not more so, inside.

"This place is incredible… But don't you think it's a bit much for the two of us."

"Well it is a little larger then we probably need, but just think of it." Haruka said as she walked behind Michiru and wrapped her arms around her thin waist. "We can have a music room… You can have an art studio… I can have a trophy room." Michiru burst out laughing as she heard this last part.

"Because your ego needs a whole room to itself does it?"

"Well it likes to have room to stretch." Haruka joked. "Come on… let me show you the best part of this place." She took Michiru's hand and led her up the stairs and into what Michiru assumed was the master bedroom. They walked over to a set of French doors and Haruka opened them, beckoning Michiru to join her on the balcony. Michiru did and gasped at the sight before her. The Master bedroom lay at the back of the mansion and overlooked a private beach. At the moment the stars reflected off the glossy surface of the ocean and only disappeared where the waves crashed into the shore.

"Oh Ruka… It's beautiful." Michiru said as she once more embraced Haruka and kissed her. Haruka chuckled.

"I'm glad you like it."

"When can we move?"

"Well the place officially became ours this morning so…"

"Wait. That's why you weren't home? You were out finalizing the purchase of this house." Haruka simply nodded. "Well you were right."

"About what?"

"About you being off the hook by the end of the night. I guess I really can't stay mad at you."

"That's because you love me so much."

"Hmmm… Oh I almost forgot. I got you something, but… well it really doesn't compare to all this." Michiru said as she gestured at the house. She took a small box out of her purse and handed it to Haruka. "Happy Anniversary Ruka." Haruka happily took the box and unwrapped it. Inside was a beautiful gold watch. Haruka picked it up and flipped it over. Inscribed on the back were the words, 'Happy Anniversary, Love Michi!' "I didn't know what to get you."

"I love it Michi… Thank you!" Haruka said as she put it on her wrist. She then took Michiru into her arms and kissed her deeply. When they broke apart Haruka spoke. "Five years. Five wonderful years with you. I don't think life can get any better then this."

A/N Alright so that was Chapter 1… I swear to God it was better in my head. Anyways I hope the rest will be better. So as usual if you guys want me to continue this little tale, please… review! )