Title: The Taste of Strawberries
Author: Kitty Malfoy
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Mamoru has been cheating on Usagi, and she has a break down. A week later things are looking up...will Haruka seize the opportunity to confess the feelings she has towards her Princess that she is only now realizing herself?
Disclaimer: The characters in this fic belong to Naomi. The plot is mine though.
A/N: This is a Usagi/Haruka shoujo-ai fic. (Haruka and Michiru are just friends/cousins)
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hello?" A female voice questioned.
Usagi held the phone away from her ear as the voice on the other end giggled into the receiver. "Sorry." The voice apologized. "My boyfriend won't hold on."
Dazed, Usagi lowered the pink phone and set it slowly back in its cradle. Her cream colored hand slid shakily off the bunny decorated phone and dropped to her side. The same shaking hand flew to her mouth and tears welled up in her cerulean blue eyes. Through watery eyes the blonde looked down at her Sailor Moon Address Book and at the page it was opened to - C. Mamoru Chiba's name was decorated with hearts and highlighted in pink.
Usagi took another deep breath and picked up the phone. Slowly and deliberately she retyped Mamoru's number into the phone and held it tentatively against her ear.
"Moshi Moshi." The same voice as before answered.
"Is Mamoru there?" Usagi asked quietly.
"Yeah hold on." Indistinct conversation carried on in the background and Usagi found herself lowering the phone before the masculine voice of her boyfriend asked "Hello?".
The calmness that had enveloped Usagi shattered the second she hung up the phone. Waves of pain wracked her petite frame and she fell against her bedroom wall. Tears like raindrops flooded down her heart shaped face and dropped onto her T-shirt.
Anguish turned to rage and she ripped the phone from its jack in the wall and flung it across the room. The dead tone of the phone off the hook was drowned out by a knocking on the door.
"Usagi?"
It was Rei. Rei could hear the sobs of her best friend inside, but try as she might the door remained locked. "Usagi what's wrong?" The fiery Senshi raised her hand to knock again as the door was opened.
Usagi looked like a wreck. Her eyes were already pink and blotchy from crying and her odangos were falling out. Her bottom lip quivered as the tears kept falling. If Usagi had been wearing mascara it would have been running. The normally bright and cheery cerulean eyes were dark and shadowed and mirrored the pain in her heart. Her eyes were so overwhelming that Rei was forced to take a step back. It was all Usagi needed and she slipped past her roommate and ran out of her college apartment.
The crisp spring wind pounded at her tear-stained face and thundered in her ears. It dried the tears but she still felt the ache inside her. Not keeping to any straight path she ducked into traffic dodging cars and ignoring the profanity yelled in her direction.
Her sides screamed in protest by the time she reached Juuban District, her old home. She made it as far as the Crown before her eyes glazed over and she let her legs lead her. She ran straight through a pack of girls not slowing down or even apologizing for knocking one of them over.
**
Hotaru began to fall and the world slowed down. Setsuna and Michiru were both looking at Hotaru, but Haruka was looking at Usagi for it was them that Usagi had run into. Usagi was in mid step in the center of the group her golden hair in streamers behind her. As time seemed to return to normal Haruka turned her head as Usagi ran past keeping her gaze locked on the distraught blonde.
Hotaru hit the ground with an exclamation of protest and the sound of Usagi's shoes slapping against the pavement faded away. Instantly, Haruka was running after her.
Just when Haruka reached out to grab her, Usagi sped up; going at an inhumane speed. Both girls pumped their arms along their sides to gain momentum. With Senshi agility Usagi sprung upward and landed on a rooftop of the nearby building. Haruka decided, after some quick thinking, to remain on the ground as the two raced onwards.
The spring wind tousled Haruka's short sandy-blonde hair and kept it off of her face as she ran. She kept her eyes partially shielded by their lids in an experienced manner to protect from the sharp wind leaving her eyes unhindered to watch where she was going.
The thundering of Usagi's footsteps stopped and Haruka looked up to see the girl leap from the top of the building.
With one leg bent and the other extended straight Usagi streamlined towards the ground. The wind pushed her pigtails up above her head and the waved violently in the open hair until they finally gave and came undone. At the velocity with which she was falling her skirt flew upwards and flapped against her stomach revealing black panties and long slender legs.
She landed in a crouch and sprung forward again when Haruka leapt at the girl and tackled her. The girls tumbled to the ground and rolled into a grove of trees in Juuban Park.
Haruka pulled the girl into her arms, and looked down at the childish face as the glaze left the blue eyes and left her looking morose. "What's wrong Koneko-chan?" Haruka asked brushing blonde bangs away from Usagi's porcelain face.
***
A week had passed since Usagi had called Mamoru's home. Since then she had broken things off with Mamoru for cheating on her.
***
Haruka's POV
***
I paced a bit; watching sheets of water hurl themselves at the window. If the weather cleared up, even a little, I'd drive out of town and ease my mood. The thunder crashed hard, shaking the walls, forcing that idea from my mind.
The water I had set to heat on my stove began to bubble and I made myself a fresh pot, determined to find some relaxation and leisure for myself. As I was about to sit, there was a knock on the door.
I called out, wondering who would come over in such appalling weather, and headed towards the door. It opened with a jerk and an extremely wet and downtrodden looking guest stepped in. She stepped out of her knee-high white boots, but she was soaked through to the bone. She stood in the doorway, clothes, hair and umbrella dripping profusely on the floor and smiled a bit crookedly up at me.
"I don't want to come in any further, 'Ruka-chan, I'll ruin your floor." She wiped ineffectually at her face with a drenched sleeve of denim jacket.
"Koneko-chan," I began a bit awkwardly, "What brings you out in this weather?"
"I'm sorry to barge in on you like this..." she began to speak at the same time as I, then stopped. She laughed a bit nervously, tilting her head ever so slightly. "I came to cheer you up."
"What?!" I stiffened, surprised and confused. A moment went by, and then I realized how rude I was being. "Why don't you come in? And don't worry about the floor..." I ushered her into the living room and grabbing a few towels from the linen closet, handed them to her to towel herself dry.
She took off her denim jacket and laid it on a towel to dry. Beneath it she was wearing a pink sequined halter and an off-the hip white mini with a gold looped belt.
When here hair and face were no longer actively dripping, I asked her to join me in the kitchen for some tea. Usagi held her arms and trying not to shiver, she nodded.
I poured from the new pot and held a cup out to her. She took it with hands that were almost steady and sat heavily. I watcher her, her cheery nature warring with her dismal appearance and laughed out loud.
"This won't do. You'll have to get out of those clothes or you'll catch a cold." She looked at me with a wry smile. "Come with me." I waved her towards my bedroom.
I pulled out one of my dress shirts and a pair of Michiru's pants out of her bedroom. "I'm sorry, the pants will be a little long, but you should be able to make do..." She thanked me profusely and apologized for being so much trouble. I smiled as I left her. "Koneko-chan, you are never any trouble."
In the kitchen, in consideration of Usagi's penchant for snacking, I threw together a tray of cookies and for the second time that night, heated some water.
I heard Usagi enter behind me. I turned and tried not to smile at her appearance and failed. My shirt was long enough on her to be a dress, and the sleeves hung past her hands. She had forgone the pants altogether, leaving her legs childishly bare. She had dried her newly cut hair some more and it hung just past her chest with wisps beginning to curl around her cheeks. If it weren't for the mature body under the clothing, she would have looked like a child. In fact, she did look like a child, her eyes large and bright, looking up at me mournfully. But there was a mocking gleam in them that was not at all childish. Disturbingly, I was not sure which one of us she mocked.
I set the tea and snacks on the table, which made her jump where she stood.
"Oh!" She cried, "I completely forgot!" she turned on her heel and bolted out of the room. She returned in a moment with a pink bunny wrapped parcel. She handed it over to me with a bit of a grimace. "I made some cookies for you, but I think they've gotten wet."
I stared at her, this bundle of enthusiasm, this unbridled energy source, who stood so unselfconsciously in my kitchen. The very air around her seemed charged with life. I shook myself out of my reverie and took the proffered bag.
"Thank you." I managed to say, somewhat belatedly.
She tilted her head and looked at me closely. "Are you feeling well, Haruka- san?"
I didn't answer, but opened the bag and put the slightly soggy cookies on the tray. Without turning to face her, I asked, "What did you mean, when you said that you came to cheer me up?"
She stepped up and put on small hand, covered by the excess sleeve on my arm. Her voice was quiet, but concerned. "I know that all the other Outers are gone, and when that happens you get depressed." I looked at her hand and she let go and covered her mouth, hiding a smile. "And I was on my way back from a club with Rei, when I thought about you, so I decided to come over."
I "hmphed" at the implication that I was predictable and depressed. I knew it was true, but I'd be damned before admitting it. I could hear her giggle and busied myself needlessly with the tea. She sat down at the table and I sat, facing her, watching as she ate. It always amused me to watch her eat, so joyfully, so mannerlessly, just like a child. I caught myself - I was staring at her again. This girl was no child, as her lithe movements, and brilliant eyes attested. I was not aware that I had begun staring again until she caught my eye and pinned it mercilessly. Again, I saw that mocking flash and was immediately chagrined.
Neither of us moved, no words were spoken for a long moment. I moved my mouth to speak, but could not. What the hell was she doing to me? Was she here to practice some new power, some ability to bewitch? I realized that young as she was, she was no longer unaware of herself. Nor was she completely calculating, either. Was this a game to her? What were the rules?
"What are you thinking about 'Ruka-chan?" I shook my head and glanced at the clock. I turned back to my guest who was once again eating cookies and drinking tea. I sipped from my cup and let the bitter liquid calm me. I could hear my breath rasp, as I sought to quiet my pounding heart.
Usagi looked up as the music that had been playing ended. "What were you listening to? It was very depressing."
I'm not sure what happened, but the next thing I knew I was standing in front of Usagi looking down at her. My breath was ragged and husky, "I'm going to do something now, and I don't want to startle you."
My guest tilted her head, as she had a habit of doing and nodded.
In one fluid movement I lowered my head and captured her lips with mine. She tasted so good, and I wanted more but I ended the kiss leaving it sweet and chaste.
I looked down at her and into her blue eyes, so open, so loving, so compassionate. I was so startled that these strange emotions could be directed to me that at first I didn't notice it. Then, I tasted salt and brushed my hand across my cheek; startled to find it wet. She reached up and wiped a tear away from my eye with her little bunny handkerchief. She pressed the cloth into my hands and clasped her hands over mine.
"'Ruka?"
"Yes Princess."
"Do you want to get some ice cream with me?" She asked simply.
I looked down at her in surprise and found myself nodding. She wanted ice cream. She wanted me. She wanted to get ice cream with me. She smiled up at me with her cheeks dimpling. Standing on her tiptoes she kissed my wet cheeks. Usagi started to lower herself but I held her there.
Neither of us moved and no words were spoken for a long time. In that silence I thought about what I was doing and loosened my grip on her arms and finally let go of her. She smiled crookedly and kissed me then her tongue sliding into my mouth and massaging it. We parted and I looked down at her standing in front of me in my large shirt and smiled. She opened her mouth to speak...
"You taste like strawberries..."
*************
R & R!! Love you all!
Kitty Malfoy!
Author: Kitty Malfoy
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Mamoru has been cheating on Usagi, and she has a break down. A week later things are looking up...will Haruka seize the opportunity to confess the feelings she has towards her Princess that she is only now realizing herself?
Disclaimer: The characters in this fic belong to Naomi. The plot is mine though.
A/N: This is a Usagi/Haruka shoujo-ai fic. (Haruka and Michiru are just friends/cousins)
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hello?" A female voice questioned.
Usagi held the phone away from her ear as the voice on the other end giggled into the receiver. "Sorry." The voice apologized. "My boyfriend won't hold on."
Dazed, Usagi lowered the pink phone and set it slowly back in its cradle. Her cream colored hand slid shakily off the bunny decorated phone and dropped to her side. The same shaking hand flew to her mouth and tears welled up in her cerulean blue eyes. Through watery eyes the blonde looked down at her Sailor Moon Address Book and at the page it was opened to - C. Mamoru Chiba's name was decorated with hearts and highlighted in pink.
Usagi took another deep breath and picked up the phone. Slowly and deliberately she retyped Mamoru's number into the phone and held it tentatively against her ear.
"Moshi Moshi." The same voice as before answered.
"Is Mamoru there?" Usagi asked quietly.
"Yeah hold on." Indistinct conversation carried on in the background and Usagi found herself lowering the phone before the masculine voice of her boyfriend asked "Hello?".
The calmness that had enveloped Usagi shattered the second she hung up the phone. Waves of pain wracked her petite frame and she fell against her bedroom wall. Tears like raindrops flooded down her heart shaped face and dropped onto her T-shirt.
Anguish turned to rage and she ripped the phone from its jack in the wall and flung it across the room. The dead tone of the phone off the hook was drowned out by a knocking on the door.
"Usagi?"
It was Rei. Rei could hear the sobs of her best friend inside, but try as she might the door remained locked. "Usagi what's wrong?" The fiery Senshi raised her hand to knock again as the door was opened.
Usagi looked like a wreck. Her eyes were already pink and blotchy from crying and her odangos were falling out. Her bottom lip quivered as the tears kept falling. If Usagi had been wearing mascara it would have been running. The normally bright and cheery cerulean eyes were dark and shadowed and mirrored the pain in her heart. Her eyes were so overwhelming that Rei was forced to take a step back. It was all Usagi needed and she slipped past her roommate and ran out of her college apartment.
The crisp spring wind pounded at her tear-stained face and thundered in her ears. It dried the tears but she still felt the ache inside her. Not keeping to any straight path she ducked into traffic dodging cars and ignoring the profanity yelled in her direction.
Her sides screamed in protest by the time she reached Juuban District, her old home. She made it as far as the Crown before her eyes glazed over and she let her legs lead her. She ran straight through a pack of girls not slowing down or even apologizing for knocking one of them over.
**
Hotaru began to fall and the world slowed down. Setsuna and Michiru were both looking at Hotaru, but Haruka was looking at Usagi for it was them that Usagi had run into. Usagi was in mid step in the center of the group her golden hair in streamers behind her. As time seemed to return to normal Haruka turned her head as Usagi ran past keeping her gaze locked on the distraught blonde.
Hotaru hit the ground with an exclamation of protest and the sound of Usagi's shoes slapping against the pavement faded away. Instantly, Haruka was running after her.
Just when Haruka reached out to grab her, Usagi sped up; going at an inhumane speed. Both girls pumped their arms along their sides to gain momentum. With Senshi agility Usagi sprung upward and landed on a rooftop of the nearby building. Haruka decided, after some quick thinking, to remain on the ground as the two raced onwards.
The spring wind tousled Haruka's short sandy-blonde hair and kept it off of her face as she ran. She kept her eyes partially shielded by their lids in an experienced manner to protect from the sharp wind leaving her eyes unhindered to watch where she was going.
The thundering of Usagi's footsteps stopped and Haruka looked up to see the girl leap from the top of the building.
With one leg bent and the other extended straight Usagi streamlined towards the ground. The wind pushed her pigtails up above her head and the waved violently in the open hair until they finally gave and came undone. At the velocity with which she was falling her skirt flew upwards and flapped against her stomach revealing black panties and long slender legs.
She landed in a crouch and sprung forward again when Haruka leapt at the girl and tackled her. The girls tumbled to the ground and rolled into a grove of trees in Juuban Park.
Haruka pulled the girl into her arms, and looked down at the childish face as the glaze left the blue eyes and left her looking morose. "What's wrong Koneko-chan?" Haruka asked brushing blonde bangs away from Usagi's porcelain face.
***
A week had passed since Usagi had called Mamoru's home. Since then she had broken things off with Mamoru for cheating on her.
***
Haruka's POV
***
I paced a bit; watching sheets of water hurl themselves at the window. If the weather cleared up, even a little, I'd drive out of town and ease my mood. The thunder crashed hard, shaking the walls, forcing that idea from my mind.
The water I had set to heat on my stove began to bubble and I made myself a fresh pot, determined to find some relaxation and leisure for myself. As I was about to sit, there was a knock on the door.
I called out, wondering who would come over in such appalling weather, and headed towards the door. It opened with a jerk and an extremely wet and downtrodden looking guest stepped in. She stepped out of her knee-high white boots, but she was soaked through to the bone. She stood in the doorway, clothes, hair and umbrella dripping profusely on the floor and smiled a bit crookedly up at me.
"I don't want to come in any further, 'Ruka-chan, I'll ruin your floor." She wiped ineffectually at her face with a drenched sleeve of denim jacket.
"Koneko-chan," I began a bit awkwardly, "What brings you out in this weather?"
"I'm sorry to barge in on you like this..." she began to speak at the same time as I, then stopped. She laughed a bit nervously, tilting her head ever so slightly. "I came to cheer you up."
"What?!" I stiffened, surprised and confused. A moment went by, and then I realized how rude I was being. "Why don't you come in? And don't worry about the floor..." I ushered her into the living room and grabbing a few towels from the linen closet, handed them to her to towel herself dry.
She took off her denim jacket and laid it on a towel to dry. Beneath it she was wearing a pink sequined halter and an off-the hip white mini with a gold looped belt.
When here hair and face were no longer actively dripping, I asked her to join me in the kitchen for some tea. Usagi held her arms and trying not to shiver, she nodded.
I poured from the new pot and held a cup out to her. She took it with hands that were almost steady and sat heavily. I watcher her, her cheery nature warring with her dismal appearance and laughed out loud.
"This won't do. You'll have to get out of those clothes or you'll catch a cold." She looked at me with a wry smile. "Come with me." I waved her towards my bedroom.
I pulled out one of my dress shirts and a pair of Michiru's pants out of her bedroom. "I'm sorry, the pants will be a little long, but you should be able to make do..." She thanked me profusely and apologized for being so much trouble. I smiled as I left her. "Koneko-chan, you are never any trouble."
In the kitchen, in consideration of Usagi's penchant for snacking, I threw together a tray of cookies and for the second time that night, heated some water.
I heard Usagi enter behind me. I turned and tried not to smile at her appearance and failed. My shirt was long enough on her to be a dress, and the sleeves hung past her hands. She had forgone the pants altogether, leaving her legs childishly bare. She had dried her newly cut hair some more and it hung just past her chest with wisps beginning to curl around her cheeks. If it weren't for the mature body under the clothing, she would have looked like a child. In fact, she did look like a child, her eyes large and bright, looking up at me mournfully. But there was a mocking gleam in them that was not at all childish. Disturbingly, I was not sure which one of us she mocked.
I set the tea and snacks on the table, which made her jump where she stood.
"Oh!" She cried, "I completely forgot!" she turned on her heel and bolted out of the room. She returned in a moment with a pink bunny wrapped parcel. She handed it over to me with a bit of a grimace. "I made some cookies for you, but I think they've gotten wet."
I stared at her, this bundle of enthusiasm, this unbridled energy source, who stood so unselfconsciously in my kitchen. The very air around her seemed charged with life. I shook myself out of my reverie and took the proffered bag.
"Thank you." I managed to say, somewhat belatedly.
She tilted her head and looked at me closely. "Are you feeling well, Haruka- san?"
I didn't answer, but opened the bag and put the slightly soggy cookies on the tray. Without turning to face her, I asked, "What did you mean, when you said that you came to cheer me up?"
She stepped up and put on small hand, covered by the excess sleeve on my arm. Her voice was quiet, but concerned. "I know that all the other Outers are gone, and when that happens you get depressed." I looked at her hand and she let go and covered her mouth, hiding a smile. "And I was on my way back from a club with Rei, when I thought about you, so I decided to come over."
I "hmphed" at the implication that I was predictable and depressed. I knew it was true, but I'd be damned before admitting it. I could hear her giggle and busied myself needlessly with the tea. She sat down at the table and I sat, facing her, watching as she ate. It always amused me to watch her eat, so joyfully, so mannerlessly, just like a child. I caught myself - I was staring at her again. This girl was no child, as her lithe movements, and brilliant eyes attested. I was not aware that I had begun staring again until she caught my eye and pinned it mercilessly. Again, I saw that mocking flash and was immediately chagrined.
Neither of us moved, no words were spoken for a long moment. I moved my mouth to speak, but could not. What the hell was she doing to me? Was she here to practice some new power, some ability to bewitch? I realized that young as she was, she was no longer unaware of herself. Nor was she completely calculating, either. Was this a game to her? What were the rules?
"What are you thinking about 'Ruka-chan?" I shook my head and glanced at the clock. I turned back to my guest who was once again eating cookies and drinking tea. I sipped from my cup and let the bitter liquid calm me. I could hear my breath rasp, as I sought to quiet my pounding heart.
Usagi looked up as the music that had been playing ended. "What were you listening to? It was very depressing."
I'm not sure what happened, but the next thing I knew I was standing in front of Usagi looking down at her. My breath was ragged and husky, "I'm going to do something now, and I don't want to startle you."
My guest tilted her head, as she had a habit of doing and nodded.
In one fluid movement I lowered my head and captured her lips with mine. She tasted so good, and I wanted more but I ended the kiss leaving it sweet and chaste.
I looked down at her and into her blue eyes, so open, so loving, so compassionate. I was so startled that these strange emotions could be directed to me that at first I didn't notice it. Then, I tasted salt and brushed my hand across my cheek; startled to find it wet. She reached up and wiped a tear away from my eye with her little bunny handkerchief. She pressed the cloth into my hands and clasped her hands over mine.
"'Ruka?"
"Yes Princess."
"Do you want to get some ice cream with me?" She asked simply.
I looked down at her in surprise and found myself nodding. She wanted ice cream. She wanted me. She wanted to get ice cream with me. She smiled up at me with her cheeks dimpling. Standing on her tiptoes she kissed my wet cheeks. Usagi started to lower herself but I held her there.
Neither of us moved and no words were spoken for a long time. In that silence I thought about what I was doing and loosened my grip on her arms and finally let go of her. She smiled crookedly and kissed me then her tongue sliding into my mouth and massaging it. We parted and I looked down at her standing in front of me in my large shirt and smiled. She opened her mouth to speak...
"You taste like strawberries..."
*************
R & R!! Love you all!
Kitty Malfoy!