Authors notes:

Wow if I knew it would be this popular I would have probably planned a decent plot, well I'll just try to keep it light, I have a decency to run wild with detail.(too late XD)Edit: 'kay the whole school year wasn't right, and since this is in Japan, I revamped the 'first chapter' and made it more accurate. Please go, re read it! Gomen Nasai o.o;
EditEdit: (Neptune's Tears' ghost writer, a.k.a. Ruka takes the keyboard) I had a lot of fun editing this. You don't get to see all of her silly mistakes…like her comma happiness and her relentless army of dots: '…' Not to mention the sentences that just cut off. XD :gets the whip out and cracks it: Back to work, Michi! Mwahaha!

Translations (because its always nice to know what you're reading)
Itai -Ouch!
Hidoi -Harsh
Matte -Wait
Sou ka -How so
Sou da -I see
Honto -Really, honestly, truthfully (can be used as a question.)
Masaka -Expression of disbelief

And again with the shameless plug: Hey, if you are curious, I drew the art cover for this story! go to the 'homepage' listed on my profile, it's posted in my gallery on sheezy art!

---------------

The engagement:

The day seemed never to end for Haruka and she was a lot more agitated then any other time that whole year. What in the world was Michiru thinking? Maybe her intent was harmless enough, but Haruka could see the danger for miles. True, no one said anything, but they didn't need to; Haruka felt their eyes boring into her all day long. She heard the whispers, she felt the silence in the teachers lounge when she walked in.

Boy was Michiru going to get it. What was worse, Michiru knew something no one else did. She was a woman, and the Haruka Tenou everyone else knew was a man. How could she possibly be so selfish to put her in this position! Things like this never turn out well. If there were anything between them, it was now non existent. Haruka strode down the hall toward the art room. She was too furious now.

Some of the teachers she passed by mouthed to each other, 'lovers quarrel' and Haruka clenched her jaw. She rapped once on the door and then opened it, letting herself in.

"Kaiou san, I don't know what-" Haruka stopped noticing the room was empty save for an older woman whom she knew as one of the school janitors. They looked up from emptying the trash can to grin at Haruka.

"'Ey love, you know, for you I'd be anyone you want. Hee hee."

Haruka blanched and let herself out. Argh! What was with this crazy school? Haruka walked out and bumped right into her boss, the principal, and nearly wet herself.

"P..Principal Muzori. Is there something you needed?" Haruka was sweating bullets.

Oh no, had he heard? Was she going to be canned? Is that what Happened to Michiru?

Haruka glanced in the room again, to be sure, but Michiru's things were still up on the wall. She relaxed a little, deciding to practice a skill she would soon have to master; knowing how to control her emotions. It was a must if she ever wanted to race cars, because losing your cool in a race could mean your life.

Which brings us back to this job, she only needed it until her career took off and she needed till at least the end of the year to get things squared away with her sponsors and agents. That is if she could conceal her identity a little longer. Yeah her parents were rich, but they wouldn't share the money until she proved herself responsible. Being the only child wasn't as easy as everyone thought it was.

"Tenou kun. No nothing, I was actually looking for Kaiou san…" Hauka's eyes widened just a bit. "I've been hearing..."

'oh this is it!'

"….so much about the scenery she's been doing for the spring play, I just had to look for myself! .. Tenou, you should go home and rest, you're looking a bit green around the gills." The principal patted her on the back before strolling off.

"If you happen to see our Art teacher please give her my regards, will you?"

Haruka nodded dumbly, finally remembering to breathe. She loosened her tie as she pulled open the doors, the sunshine burning her eyes. Seeing the gleaming bike waiting for her where she had parked it that morning, made her feel a little better. It was a bit much for the gym teachers salary, but it had been so worth it. By now she didn't care if she got stares pulling into the parking lot from the older business suits and scrabble playing sensei. It was seeing the wide eyed grins from the students she liked best. They thought it was neat, and she thought it was awesome, so that's all that mattered.

As the bike roared into life, she clicked the buckle on her helmet and flipped the visor down, thinking about the last things the principal said to her.

'Oh don't worry, I'll give her plenty of regards.'

She also thought about one of the first trips she had taken on this bike, just one year ago. It made her all the more sad and angry.

Michiru played dirty leaving early like that, avoiding Haruka and the situation. Maybe it was an easy out at the time, but Haruka's future was at stake. She didn't think she could forgive her friend for this so easily.

She would go home eventually to stew over it more, but right now the open highway with its high speeds was calling to her and she needed time to think.

-----

Ring….Ring…Ring…. Click.

"This is Tenou. Leave a message."

Click. Beep…

Michiru looked at the phone amused, Haruka was so social as usual. She sighed and hung up, vowing to try again later. She didn't mean to leave the school like a fugitive in such a hurry but she forgot she had a rehearsal after her last class and she would have been in so much trouble if she missed it.

Sometimes she felt like she was living multiple lives.

She glanced down at her hand. The ring glittered as if under its own enchantment. Now, she really was living a multiple life. To tell everyone now that it was a fib, would be like trying to get out of a spiders web. Why were people so interested in other peoples' business? She should have known from the first day working at that school, with those people, what to expect.

Caught in a heavy traffic jam, Michiru put the gear into park and let her foot off the brake. She rummaged around in her purse and found a small box of Pocky. After knowing Haruka, her sweet tooth had broadened quite a bit. She glanced around her knowing better, but it would be a while yet before she could get home and the salad she had for lunch wasn't sticking with her. Michiru ignored her swimming coach's voice in her head, and opened the shiny silver pouch. Munching on a chocolaty stick, Michiru allowed herself a replay of the past year.

Enter Michiru flash Back mode:

-----------

It had been a bright clear day. The lingering crispness of winter was giving way for the warmth sunshine of early spring, the leaves giving way to tiny little pink blossoms. It was a week before the new semester started, and there was an orientation meeting for the teachers briefing them about the new year. Some of the new teachers hadn't even seen her class rooms yet and thought that was a wonderful idea. But unfortunately there was one new teacher in particular who was late.

Kaiou Michiru walked briskly through Juban Elementary's soccer field. She had no idea where the main building was or that there had been more parking on the west side of the building facing the trees. And so being new, she had to park in the boondocks all the way out near the sports field. Now she was going to be late on her first day, her tights had a run, and her shoes were getting caked with dew and newly cut grass. She was lugging a portfolio with her no less, having decided that even though her violin was like her baby, this was one trip it couldn't follow. She fretted as she trudged through the grass, about the temperature fluctuations and how it was dangerous to leave her violin in her trunk, but she couldn't go back now. She'd have to go out during lunch, and maybe she could find a better spot by then too.

She felt as odd as Mary Poppins, only not as cheerful. With how she was dropping in out of no where, strange and different, only Mary at least had a floating umbrella. Michiru had only her two legs, and she felt more agile in the water then on land anyway.

There was one person, crazy as herself to be out there in that field that morning.

Stretching after a run -since she would be there in the future waiting for class in the mornings anyway- Tenou Haruka stopped mid stretch to watch. Her mouth twitched into a smile. What where they doing? Standing, Haruka crossed her arms watching like an eagle high above spying on something much smaller and more interesting then herself. A woman. She squinted seeing the troublesome portfolio which was dangerously flapping in the strong spring wind. She was feeling social that morning, and deciding to go investigate the matter further.

Always one to play the chivalrous knight, Haruka ran just as smoothly as if she had been in flight, and arrived within seconds at the Maiden in distress' side instantly. Michiru looked up in time to see a handsome stranger, a very athletic stranger, run to her side. She stopped surprised.

"You look like you could use a hand." Haruka offered to carry something, so Michiru smiled and let her take the troublesome portfolio.

"Yes! I'm late for the orientation meeting, I'm the new Art teacher...I had to park all the way out there and…" Haruka smiled nodding and slung the heavy portfolio over her shoulder, cocking her head to listen to the out of breath art teacher ramble.

"Oh I'm sorry. I'm Kaiou Michiru by the way...It's so lucky for me you were passing by." She felt quite hopeless, without even mentioning the fact that she had no idea where the art room would be.

Haruka grinned a bit, loving how this girl let her be charming and accepted the sweet piece of Kaiou Michiru's special humble pie, and decided to ham it up.

"Oh it wasn't a problem, really! I just thought I'd lend a hand. After all, I'm going to the same place as you. I'll show you the way, Kaiou-san."

Michiru smiled and looked so relieved she could have kissed this person. She couldn't help but peek at them out of the corner of her eye. By now she developed a sense which let her figure out gender, after all she had been out since high school and this was always the fun part for her.

However, Haruka was a skilled player too and knew how to play both the dance of illusion and cat and mouse. Obviously, they had to deal with this many times and waited for it. So at every glance, Michiru was met with theirs, which she found really flustering. Finally she gave up, feeling a bit like a caught child. After that, they walked quietly to the school, Haruka grinning the whole time. Finally as they were outside the door, the mysterious player introduced their self the American way by offering their hand to her.

"Tenou Haruka. I'm the gym teacher, it was a pleasure to meet you, Kaiou-san." Michiru smiled and shook their hand. Ah ha!

Michiru was allowed a glimmer, one calculated slip from Haruka. It was very hard to tell, but she figured out she was female, but Haruka acted like a creature of both. She seemed not woman or man but simply a substance, a presence; like the wind was a presence. Like how elements could have characteristics of both genders. Michiru liked this person already very much, and they already had something in common, at least preference wise.

"It was nice meeting you. I'm sure well be seeing a lot of each other, working in the same place and everything." At least Michiru hoped.

"Might be right, Kaiousan… But one thing.." Haruka smiled a little leaning against the door way. "Could you make sure to call me 'Tenou-kun'... no one here knows and it would make things loads easier."

She understood. It would make things tricky if parents and the staff found out since Haruka was to them more or less a cross dresser or any number of worse things they associated with bi-gendered people.

"I promise. I know how difficult it becomes." Michiru took the portfolio back.

"Good.. Well the assembly room is where the meeting is. Don't worry if your late, it's a bunch of hot air anyway." Haruka smirked opening the door for her.

"Aren't you going?" Michiru asked surprised and kind of disappointed they couldn't sit together.

"Nah! I'm just the gym teacher, they don't take what I do seriously anyway. Don't get your hopes up either, art isn't much higher on their agenda then physical education." Haruka stated matter of fact like.

Michiru looked shocked. "You're kidding! That's horrible!" She vowed to change that.

"Yeah… But it pays the bills you know? This is my second year and if it wasn't for the great kids I would have probably quit by now." Haruka patted Michiru's back before turning to walk off. "Keep that in mind, or you'll never make it."

This wasn't very encouraging news to hear on her first day, and she hoped Tenou-kun was just exaggerating. Michiru squared her shoulders and walked in trying to navigate along the half finished walls. There seemed to be quite a bit of work to do before the school was ready. She hoped it wasn't this drab during the school year; she decided to have a lot of colorful projects to help with that.

Finally she picked along the huge school, hallway by hallway following the drone of a mans voice until found the auditorium Haruka spoke of.

"And so, I hope we all manage to have a productive and successful school year…"

Michiru found and took a seat in the back, slipping in seemingly unnoticed. She got a handkerchief out of her pocket and tried to get the caked grass off her shoes, vowing to wear sneakers in the morning if parking kept up like that. She wasn't aware she had an audience…

"Excuse me Miss, do you need help with something?" Apparently her walking in caused the whole assembly to freeze. Michiru felt twenty shades of red. "Are you lost?"

Was he crazy? Did she look lost? She looked around realizing she was the youngest by far in the room and stood trying to hold her own.

"Excuse me, I am the new Art teacher, Kaiou Michiru." There was a lot of murmuring going on and she felt the whole rooms eyes turn to her, and the handkerchief covered in grass stains. She put her hands behind her back letting it fall onto the chair and away from their eyes. What was with everyone?

"Is that the new teacher! She looks like she's hardly out of high school!" Michiru narrowed her eyes looking down.

"Is Muzori losing it or what?" The other answered the first.

"….-probably only hired for her looks.."

Michiru shot them both a glare that could kill, and they looked innocently at her, folding their hands and looking at there old wrinkly feet.

"Well, Welcome to Juban Elementary, Kaiou-san. Come up here and say a few words, introduce yourself." Principal Muzori said starting a round of bored but polite clapping. Michiru wished she could have died right there on the spot, she didn't feel this nervous even on a stage performing. She smiled a little shyly and walked up to the front, aware of her wet heels, run tights, windblown hair, and-

"This should be rich…"

Michiru cleared her throat and put on her best poker face.

"Konnichiwa…" Her voice cut through the murmuring like a clear bell.

"I am Kaiou Michiru. I am a student majoring in music composition as well as working toward a bachelors degree in painting and fine art."

"Working toward? She's not certified!"

Michiru wavered a bit on the spot, trying not to show that she overheard. She was certified, there was nothing wrong with what she had to offer the school! How could they say that!

"I hope we will all have a successful year working together. Arigato Gozaimasu."

She bowed looking toward the principal. " Osakini shitsurei shimasu."

She didn't even bother to look at them all again, and went off the stage snatching her portfolio and walking briskly from the room. Feeble applause followed at her wake.

Michiru tried not to cry. Why should she let them affect her? She worked with children before and knew this was what she loved to do, why should she let them tarnish that? Her fingers brushed some art work still hanging from last semester, fingers retracing tentative brush strokes. She peered into dark display cases, youthful ambitions and hopes stared right back. Maybe that's why she liked working with kids, because adults were like empty shells. Children had so much to offer, and it was so crucial to let their ambitions and talents bloom because life as an adult parches you dry. She liked the hope they had; it gave her hope.

She didn't even know where she was going, but found herself exploring the school again. The empty halls echoed softly with her footsteps. Coolers clicked on and off on their own, like the schools pulse even though there was hardly anything alive in it. She reached the library first, knowing this because of the telltale smell of musty books that hit her nose. She was probably one of the few people who liked that smell. Michiru smiled walking over to the shelves and touching the titles fondly remembering her own childhood. When she wasn't busy being in swimming or lessons, she loved to read. Her fingers paused on a set of yearbooks dating quite far back. She plucked one at random from the shelf. It was dated two years before she graduated from grade school. She thumbed through the pages scanning the names for anyone she might have known or heard off. Even though she wasn't familiar with the town, because of concerts she still managed to get around.

"Tenou, Haruka." Michiru's brows raised as she smirked feeling as though she stumbled upon a secret. Much to her disappointment the picture was blank. Michiru frowned rechecking the name and scanned the book for anymore appearances. She read a caption:

"Tenou Haruka and fellow classmate Heitchi Nubosaki pose as they compete in the school's annual sports rally."

Two blonde haired boys grinned back at her with victory signs and sun burn dusting their cheeks. Upon closer inspection she noticed the pierced ears and small locket on the throat on the kid to the left and could tell them both apart. She flipped back to the empty spot where the graduation picture should have been.

"Mystery." She replaced the book deciding to move on. She continued down the hallway in front of her reading the wall plagues above the doors to direct herself. She paused in front of two double doors hearing the repetitious thumping of a basket ball.

"Gym."

Michiru let herself in not surprised at who she found there in the middle of a slam dunk.

"Whoosh! That's right…You are so pwned!" Haruka caught the ball and allowed herself a small victory.

Michiru coughed politely.

Haruka froze and turned holding the ball at her side. "You again! Well did you survive? I don't see any tears, so I guess it went well."

"Barely.." Michiru said without enthusiasm. "I understand now why you never went."

"Oh believe me, I had my share when I came." Haruka bounced the ball a few times before bouncing it to Michiru.

"Humiliated." She sighed catching it.

"Yeah they wouldn't stop gaga-ing over me." Haruka muttered darkly making a gesture for Michiru to pass it back. She was like an eager puppy wanting to play.

Michiru complied bouncing it to her looking amused. "Sou ka?"

Haruka blushed deciding to dodge the question and tossed the ball toward the hoop over Michiru's head. It bounced off the rim and sailed by Michiru who reached out and caught it smirking. "Fresh meat; is that it?"

Haruka grabbed for the ball and Michiru snatched away, as quick as a fish in water. She was enjoying the blondes blushing.

"Id rather not talk about it…"

All of those older women acting like Haruka was the latest guy on the block scarred her for life.

"Sou da..." Michiru hummed smiling a little bouncing the ball away from Haruka's hand and tossed it toward the hoop herself. It looped the rim and slid effortlessly into the net with a satisfying 'swoosh'.

"Now, lets see, what was it you said again?" Michiru grinned at Haruka's amazement catching the ball as it bounced to her. "Oh that's right…Pwned!"

Haruka glared and snatched the ball from her. "Hidoi..."

She tossed the ball back into the storage room and jogged up to Michiru again who was walking to the door now. "Matte!… I never said it was a competition!"

Michiru smirked a little. "Oh sure, now that you've lost to a woman in heels."

Haruka gave her a look to kill but her eyes were glittering, she liked playing these games with Michiru.

"Ah, Tenou-kun and Kaiou-san, I see you've met already." The principal stood outside as they emerged from the gym.

"Principal Muzori…" Haruka bowed a bit. Michiru hoped they wouldn't get into trouble for cutting the assembly.

"Tenou-kun, where were you this morning? All of the staff asked for your presence! I think they even held your seat for you…" Haruka made a sort of painful whimper like noise from the back of her throat. Michiru smiled knowingly.

"No, no need to explain. I see you were showing Kaiou-san around the school. That's very generous of you! Be expecting a raise Tenou. " He bowed to them both.

"One last thing, could you help Kaiou-san find the art room? Arigato." He smiled encouragingly to Michiru before strolling off done for the day. Ah the life of a principal.

"Suck up." Michiru joked poking Haruka's ribs, who jumped as if violated.

"Hush." Haruka shoved her hands in her pockets and began to stroll down the rest of the hall. Now it was Michiru's turn to run after her.

"So, why is it so bare and dim in this school? Don't they believe in color, or windows, or joy?" Michiru asked dryly.

"Joy? Color? What are those?" Haruka replied dryly back and turned the door knob to a darkened room all the way at the end of the hall near the entrance.

She flipped on the light. Now, Michiru made that noise of pain as she saw the room.

"Masaka…"

The room looked like it had been out of use for most of the school year. Tables were covered in cloths and dust, cabinet doors hung by hinges, and Art supplies were still in cases on the floor, un opened. The only thing that seemed new and undamaged was the chalk board which was littered with graffiti, doodles and slang.

Haruka whistled lowly.

"...Now you know why they hold these teacher meetings. It gives time to coop and repair." Haruka inched toward the door. "Well, I'll just let myself out so you can work…"

"Tenou-kun…" Michiru's voice was soft and pleading. Haruka shivered as it ran across her skin and down her spin. No way. She wasn't going to…Michiru's bright pleading eyes met her own as she stood in front of her. Just say no. Just say...

"There's no way I can do this by myself!" The teal haired woman grabbed her hands. "Onegai.. Help. "

"Absolutely…." Haruka meant to say, 'not' at the end of that but it died in her throat. Damn this girl. Michiru clapped once happily, settling it. "Alright!.. Arigato."

"Yeah yeah.. Do you know where the janitor closet it? Were going to need a lot of stuff."

She shook her head. "..Nope."

Haruka sighed, darn her chivalry. It was going to be a long day.

--------

By the end of the day -sore, tired and dirty- the two were sitting crossed legged on a gleaming hard wood table, eating dinner out of take out boxes and drinking canned soda purchased out of the vending machines.

The cabinets had been repaired, cleaned and stocked. The sinks were lined with bottles of paint, ink, paint palettes and cups of brushes varying in all sizes and materials. The drying racks were assembled and waiting, and the tote bins were stocked full with crayons, scissors, colored paper and glue.

"I cant believe…" Michiru began dazed and happy.

"We did it all…" Haruka finished sore and grumpy.

"You know out of everyone here, you've been the…the most… kind.." Michiru sniffed finally letting out all of the stuff she had endured that day.

"I can't begin to thank you enough…"

"Hey, don't mention it…Aww.. Come on, cheer up." Haruka shook Michiru's shoulder gently, not really knowing what to do in a situation like this.

"It'll get better. Don't let those hags bring you down."

Michiru nodded into her soda can sniffling. "I know, you're right."

Haruka stretched out her legs satisfied when Michiru had stopped sniffling and leaned back on her elbows feeling full.

"Like I said, the kids will make a big difference. You'll see."

Michiru hoped she was right and looked at the chalk board, her eyes sparkling with renewed hope. "Go on, I know you want to." Haruka said softly smiling. "Feel privileged, gym teachers don't get one of those, you know." She stretched, laying back with her arms folded behind her head.

Opening a new box of chalk, Michiru selected a flawless pearly white stick. There was something about school supplies; her own, brand new. Something refreshing about them…a new sketch book, notebooks, or pens. She supposed she was odd in that way, but it made her feel excited. As though it allowed for all these new and wonderful possibilities; all the things she could do or create.

The chalk made a smooth swishing and tapping as she scrolled kanji across the newly cleaned board.

'Kaiou Michiru. Room #104. ART'

A moment later, she put the chalk down in its medal holder and smiled wiping the dust free from her hands. "You know, a coat of paint wouldn't hurt as well.."

Haruka looked over with one open eye and made a tsk noise.

"Come on! Our salary's aren't that much." She illustrated this with a wave of her hand. "We did enough today; just plaster the art work everywhere. You wanted posters didn't you? Go crazy." Michiru smiled a little and crossed her arms.

"For once, you actually make sense, Tenou." Smirking she picked up her now empty portfolio, glad she had sufficient space for everything that had been inside it. Haruka meanwhile yawned, gathering their trash.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean! I'm insulted, Kaiou-san. I demand desert on you tonight."

"On me?" Michiru hid a smirk and pretended to adjust something on the chalk board.

Haruka coughed. She didn't mean for it to come out that way, but the idea was pleasing..

"Yeah, you pay! And since you seem to be so abundant with money and energy, I know a great Italian eatery; they have wonderful coffee and cannoli's." She grabbed her jacket glad the owner knew her well since she was only in her track garb and they were both kind of filthy.

Michiru was still pondering the concept of a 'cannoli' as they made to leave the room. Her family had been strictly Japanese all her life, so she never had much of any other ethnicity. She wondered if Haruka traveled a lot, and if that's how she seemed to know so much about other places. She'd have to ask later.

"On second thought, were both tired and filthy. Lets make it breakfast." Haruka got the door for Michiru and turned out the light, cannoil's were delicious any time of the day, she reasoned.

"Alright. I'm not exactly sure what I'm getting myself into, but you have a deal."

As they left the school, Michiru then remembered something kind of important.

"Oh no! My car.. it's still parked out in the middle of no where." She did not fancy the idea of groping her way through a wet dark field to find the parking lot either.

"Not a problem! I'll take you to it." Haruka winked and strolled over to her shiny new toy. Finding her keys through all the junk in her pockets, she unlocked the compartment on the side of the bike, retrieving a second helmet. Michiru blanched. "No way…"

Haruka grinned and tossed her a helmet. "Its safe. I promise."

Michiru lingered, shifting her weight from one foot to another holding the gleaming blue green helmet in her hands.

"Honto?" She questioned looking worried.

"Hai. Cross my heart, hope to die, all of that stuff. Now, come on." She buckled her helmet while straddling the bike and turned the key, revving the engine to life. Michiru sighed slipping the helmet over her head, making sure it was buckled tightly before folding the portfolio into the compartment, closing it and sliding almost awkwardly on to the cool medaled bike. Her knees found and dug into Haruka's side's as she was a little nervous. She wasn't planning on being on that bike for long. Of course, Haruka had an ace up her sleeve.

"Alright! Lets go for a quick ride!" Michiru barely had enough time to grab onto Haruka's waist before the bike zoomed off with a jolting force of speed and wind.

"Ahh! Haruka! No!" Michiru clung to her so tightly that Haruka had to adjust her clinging hands in between turning. She looked back at her, calling out over the roaring wind and passing cars. She looked insanely happy.

"Relax! I do this as a side job, you know? Just hold on…Itai! Not that tight!"

Michiru breathed deeply a couple of times and tucked her face into Haruka's strong back. She was too tense to notice until later, the light hint of men's soap which lingered still on Haruka's clothes and how it mixed delicately with the smell of her skin and curiously, motor oil.

"Im going to kill you!" Michiru screeched as they zoomed off into the night, along hairpin turns and wooded country roads.

Around nine pm they decided on coffee and cannoli's after all, hungry and awake. Michiru's hands shook a little as she lifted the cup to her mouth.

"Awren't dese 'ummie?" Haruka asked, around a bite full. It ended up being on the house, since Haruka had brought a 'lady friend' ('coworker' they both supplied) with her.

Michiru blinked staring off into space, still scared for life.

"Yeah.. delicious."

Haruka chewed, swallowing.

"Don't worry, once your pulse slows down a bit, you'll be alright."

Perhaps Michiru wasn't ready for her special route. Hell, she only took her because she favored her. It was a high honor to be taken through her route, she normally went alone. Haruka nearly pouted; no one understood the delicate and complicated mating dance of the Ruka.

Michiru broke off a piece of her cannoli shell fidgeting and delaying her over whelming desire to admit, it had been fun. Just a little.

She pushed her coffee away, not really able to drink it without a lot of cream anyway.

"Look... It wasn't too.. bad."

"Alright! My goal is complete then." Haruka happily scalded her mouth gulping the last sips of her coffee. Michiru couldn't help but smile as she watched her.

"You must take a lot of girl's through there. Is that your equivalent to a moonlit over look of the city?" Haruka pushed the last cannoli Michiru's way, offering it. She smiled shaking her head and pushed it back to her. "It's a little too sweet for my taste." Haruka shrugged and picked it up, admiring the little shavings of chocolate and pistachio scattered across the cheese filling, delaying her response. She wiped the bit of sugary powder off her fingers, Tossing down the cloth napkin. Michiru watched her hands transfixed as if in thought.

"Its special. And your nice; nothing more or less." Haruka ate the pastry like desert in three bites and allowed a necessary moment for chewing.

"But if you say please, I might take you out again sometime." She winked standing. Michiru smiled a little and stood too.

The rest of the evening had ended much more calmer then it began with the ride home. Haruka went noticeably more slow, and Michiru in turn didn't strangle her to death.

They stood beside Michiru's car at last, it was almost eleven at night.

"Well, I guess I wont be seeing you till the new school year then." Michiru was a little sad about that, but it would just be awkward to date a coworker. Maybe after her career took off.. Haruka seemed to have been saying the same thing in her eyes as well.

"Yeah.. But it was nice meeting you. I had a great time, Kaiou-san."

"Me too, Tenou-kun."

"See you soon." Haruka turned walking back to the bike and started the engine again. Through her visor she watched Michiru get into the car and close the door. It was better this way, she told herself. Buckling her helmet, she roared the engine into life one last time that night, and went home.

Michiru watched her pull off in the rear view mirror before leaning forward slowly to start the car.

'What a day!' She couldn't help but feel happy though.

End Michiru flash back mode:

With a sharp horn blaze, Michiru changed gears and went forward again blushing embarrassed. She hated when she day dreamed like that when she drove.

Sighing, she wished herself and Haruka were on good terms again. It was ironic that the words she said to Haruka that night in her moment of horror, were almost the same as the ones Haruka said to her today, when she pretended to kiss her.

She missed her already.

----------------

Authors notes:

wow that took long enough XD Couldn't help I was distracted. Haruka ended up being more flirtatious then I wanted her to be, course she's so restless from being in the angst-y cage that I've kept her in for the passed months for "Latte's'

Hope you liked it, MORE TO COME! Yes I'm not done! Not till you see, 'la fin' okay? Stay tuned. I have more funnies to do.

Ace of base equals love :huggles cd: