A/N: As I promised, I'm updating. We start now a short while before the teaser of the previous chapter. I thank all of you who have reviewed and I promise that your questions will be answered in future chapters (sorry no definate answers yet). Here is another chapter for you all to enjoy... this one is significantly longer for your reading pleasure. Any comments or suggestions are welcome, and as a reminder, I am simply a poor college student and own nothing...not even the voices in my head...

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A hand lazily slid its way out from under black comforter, landing harshly on top of an annoyingly loud alarm. After a few moments of blindly searching, strong fingers find the off button. Another hand emerged from beneath the blankets, and the two exposed appendages began a sort of stretch. A lump quickly began to rise toward the top of the comforter, causing the comforter to fall flat, revealing the torso of a rather sleepy person. Haruka yawned; not opening her eyes, and ran her fingers through her short, messy goldenrod locks. She twisted her head this way and that, awarded with grossly loud pops and cracks, before flopping back down onto her pillows. "Stupid morning" she groaned to no one in particular before rolling toward the edge of the bed.

She rolled her feet out of bed and padded her way across the room into an adjoining bathroom. She turned the shower on and stuck a hand in under the liquid spray to test the temperature. Already clad with nothing other than the attire in which she was born, she stepped into the shower. Finally opening her eyes for the first time that morning she directed the streams of water through her hair and down her front. After applying some hair and body wash in a pool in her palm, she began working a lather starting in her hair. Hands traced every defined muscle and every soft curve, leaving bubbles in their wake. She stepped back under the water and enjoyed the feeling as the hot liquid beat down on her tired body. With a cringe she reached toward the faucet and turned the knob to cold. Almost instantly ice began pelting her body and she jumped tensing all her muscles and losing her ability to breathe. Regaining composure, she willed herself to stand in place and made sure all the soap was rinsed off her body. Satisfied that she was properly cleaned and awake, she turned off the shower and grabbed for the towel just outside the curtain.

After brushing her teeth she flashed herself a million dollar smile in the mirror. She grabbed some hair gel and spread it between her palms before running her fingers through her damp hair. With a practiced movement, she quickly styled her hair into spikes. Next, she opened the medicine cabinet to pull out a wide, rolled bandage. She wrapped that tightly around her chest, effectively binding the small mounds that proved her gender to the untrained eye. Dropping her towel to the floor, she walked back into her bedroom where she began to dress.

She tilted her head sideways as she observed the end result of today's choices; a dark blue jacket over a mostly buttoned white shirt with matching dark blue pants. She hated wearing the school uniform, and even worse hated the skirt which the teachers demanded she wear. She picked up the tie that was supposed to be around her neck and with a scowl threw it across the room. With a nod of approval, she made her way out of her apartment, grabbing a brown messenger bag and the keys to her bike on the way.

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Class was always boring, and she was glad to be out. 'Only another year' she told herself. Loaded down with books and homework, she reveled in the fact that it was indeed Friday and could go out and play tonight. But one could not play without money so alas she must work. She secured her belongings onto her blue racing bike and sped off in the direction of town. She pulled into the garage of a repair shop, and secured her bike in the back corner before walking into the office.

"You're late…again!" A big man said gruffly from behind the desk. Haruka merely looked over her shoulder at the man, noting that he was ready to blow up by the way his face was turning darker shades of pink behind a quivering mustache that looked like some sort of agitated animal. "I'm sorry Kenjo, but the teachers kept me late again, something about my appearance being a disruption to the class." She smiled, "it's not like it's my fault girls can't stop staring at me." Kenjo let out a giant "hmpf" and turned his head in respect as the teenager pulled on a jumpsuit over her clothing. "If you weren't such a good mechanic you would be out on the streets, you know that. I don't know why I put up with you. You're like a daughter to me but this work study thing is nothing but trouble on my end. I need a reliable mechanic around here and I can't hire someone else if I'm giving all the hours to you. When are you going to be out of school so I can have your expertise in here full-time?" Haruka sauntered over to her boss and gave him a gentle hug from behind, "You put up with me, old man, because I'm the best around, and you know it. I'll get the work done and stay late if I have to. Now cut me some slack and let me get to work." She made her way out of the office and back into the garage. As an afterthought she poked her head back into the office and added "And stop calling me a girl, old man, if the guys around here catch wind, they'll try to eat me alive."

A few hours and several cars later Haruka was called back into the office. "Time to go home kid, can't go working your entire life away." Haruka simply nodded and went to wash up and go home.

The ride home was short, with the sun beginning to set and the cool night air rushing through the spikes of her hair. After a bit of thinking, she decided that tonight was a perfect night to go out. She left her school things in a heap on the floor and began stripping before she hit the bathroom. After taking another short shower, she found herself in front of her closet with a very female dilemma. She didn't want to dress up but a t-shirt and jeans was too casual. After a bit of thought, she found herself in front of the mirror wearing loose-fitting dark blue jeans, which hung low around her waist and a green silk shirt to match her eyes, left unbuttoned to reveal a black tank top. The whole ensemble showed off her toned body, but managed to cover the few feminine curves that remained on her body. With a bit of cologne and a silver chain around her neck, she determined herself ready. She reached into her top drawer and pulled out a leather wallet, checked how much cash was in it and glanced at her fake ID, and then shoved the entire thing into her back pocket. With the addition of keys and her cell phone, she was out the door and on her way to her usual destination.

The club was moderately busy when she arrived. People were occupying every room of every floor, but Haruka wasn't very interested in any of them. She made her way over to the nearest bar area and ordered a tall beer. "So who's it going to be tonight, Haru?" The bartender asked, handing her the beer. "I don't know yet Ryo, anyone look good tonight?" She looked the man in the eyes. He was a tall, toned, tan man, with dark eyes and short, dark, spiky hair. "Dude you're trying too hard with your hairstyle" she took a sip of the foamy head of her beer "you look like a cockatoo." Indeed, his hair was fanned back in such a way to resemble the feathers on the back of a bird's head. "You know what dude, shut up. We'll see who goes home with someone tonight." Haruka looked at him with a mischievous glint in her eyes "If that's a challenge, then you're on, my friend." And with that she threw some bills on the counter and left to go scope out the night's prey.

She wasn't having much success at finding anyone in particular that night. She slumped herself down into a bar stool 'maybe I'm just not in the mood tonight.' She started sipping at a fresh beer, staring at the way the bubbles climbed the glass, when suddenly something slumped itself across the bar and ordered a shot of tequila. Haruka looked over in time to see a girl with long black hair downing the shot like it were her last bit of oxygen before being drowned. She caught a flash of her eyes; crystal blue and overflowing with tears. Haruka touched a hand gently to the back of the girl's chair, "Are you alright?" The girl looked at Haruka like she were scum, "You're just like all the others, thinking a damsel in distress is so easy, that just by showing me some kindness and playing cool is gonna win you a night in my sheets. You don't know me! Just leave me alone!" Haruka jumped back obviously distraught from the sudden outburst. She muttered a simple sorry and went back to staring at her beer. 'Tonight is definitely not my night.'

A few minutes later, a rough voice began growling on the other side of the new girl. Haruka looked up to see an overweight, burly man, with two cronies hanging slightly behind him. The man began yelling at the sobbing girl, something about her not following the rules and he should never take her back. Haruka simply laughed at the man in her head, 'Some balls he has thinking anyone would want to sleep with him.' She was getting ready to begin another round of the club when a slap brought her attention back to the man. He was now holding the girl by her hair and preparing to hit her again! Haruka didn't think, before anyone in the place knew what was going on, Haruka had the man in a headlock. She whispered gently into the man's ear "I think you'd be best to let that girl go and leave this place." "Who do you think you are, you little pansy?" The man yelled, struggling against his captor, the stench of alcohol heavy on his breath. He signaled to his two buddies to jump the person on his back but Haruka caught the obvious sign. Before anyone could blink she had elbowed the two other men in the face, knocking them to the ground, and had the big man back in a headlock. "Are you sure you don't want to head home for the night?" Haruka asked the man. Security arrived moments later, and thanked Haruka for her assistance once again. In response, she simply brushed the wrinkles out of her clothes and sat back in front of her beer.

"Thank you" a small mutter emanated from the girl next to her. Haruka turned slightly, acknowledging her. "Don't mention it," she sipped her beer, "I can't stand to see men taking advantage of someone just because they're big, stupid lumps." Haruka downed the last of her glass and placed it on the counter. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll take my leave." She got up and gave the girl a small bow and turned to walk away. "Wait" the girl played with her fingers, "at the very least allow me to buy you a refill…as a…a thank you." Haruka smiled at the girl and looked at her with caring eyes, "There really is no need, but you could let me know the name of the girl I rescued." "Mia, my name's Mia." "Well then Mia," Haruka bowed in front of her, holding out her hand "may I have the honour of a dance." Mia smiled and graciously accepted.

After a few more hours of dancing, drinking, and small talk Mia announced that it was time for her to go home. "Would you like a ride?" Haruka offered, "I have my bike outside, and I can see you safely to your house. I would feel terrible if your boyfriend decided to start something again." Mia blushed and suddenly found her feet the most interesting thing in the world. "He's not my boyfriend anymore, but it would make me feel better if I had someone to escort me."

Mia instructed the way to her house, with simple squeezes in Haruka's sides from the back of the bike. When the ride ended, Mia was reluctant to let go of the gorgeous blonde in front of her. "Could you…umm…check the house and make sure it's ok? I don't…remember… if I gave him a key." Haruka simply smiled and did as requested. After a quick search through the modest house, she reported back to Mia in the living room, "Everything seems to be alright." She leaned in to give Mia a gentle kiss on the cheek goodbye but Mia grabbed her head and took her kiss square on the lips. Haruka smiled into the kiss, and chanced to deepen it. Mia was more than eager to let Haruka's tongue into her mouth and only pulled the blonde closer to her. The two of them fell back onto the couch and Haruka began to run her hand down Mia's side. She broke the kiss and began running kisses across Mia's face and to her ear. "Your ex didn't treat you very well did he?" Mia simply shook her head and arched back, encouraging the kisses trailing down her neck. With a skilled hand, Haruka undid the smaller girl's blouse, continuing the trail of kisses across her collarbone. Mia pulled Haruka's attention back to her lips, and let her hands explore Haruka's toned stomach, and up to her chest. Haruka's heart stopped as Mia stopped in her tracks. Mia lifted up Haruka's tank top and ran her hand over the bandages covering the blonde's chest.

"Wha….what are these for?" She asked Haruka with demanding eyes. Haruka held Mia's hand gently and whispered in her ear, "They're to keep my stitches clean; I was in an accident not too long ago. A piece of glass went straight into my chest. I was lucky it didn't hit any organs." Mia looked at her with confusion in her eyes, her mind was racing with different thoughts, "If you're so injured, why did you fight today?" Haruka ran a gentle finger down the side of Mia's face, "Because I can't stand to see girls get hit, and I don't know what's best for my own good. I'd give my life for any cause, as long as it's worthy." Mia's eyes filled with such compassion and joy to be in the arms of such a kind and caring person. She kissed Haruka full on the lips and hugged her close. Haruka was mentally praising herself for scoring such brownie points when suddenly she noticed Mia looking a little green. She pulled back for a second, "Are you okay Mia?"

Mia looked like her world was spinning and she began to jump off the couch and run out of the room. Haruka followed cautiously and heard the tell-tale signs that her date for the evening had far to much to drink. She warily walked into the bathroom and, holding back a retch, held back the girl's hair as she emptied the last of the contents of her stomach into the toilet. Mia looked up to Haruka with apologetic eyes, "I don't hold my alcohol well." Haruka forced a smile, "Let's get you to bed then" and helped up the small girl, trying to usher her to her bedroom. Mia paused for a second, and heaved again, apparently she still had a bit in her stomach, and it ended up on Haruka's shoes. Haruka cringed and carried Mia to bed. By the time Haruka placed her down and tucked her in, Mia was already sound asleep. Haruka took that opportunity to excuse herself and took off to her bike again. She stared at her shoes, "Women…nothing but trouble." She muttered to herself, and then raced home to scrub herself with all the hot water and soap in the world, and throw out her shoes.

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A/N: Okay, first true chapter down. I know I set up Haruka to be a bit of a jerk, but please don't flame me! I mean it to be this way and she will come around with...certain influences from a certain cough cough person. She's supposed to be a player that needs to be tamed. Believe me I love Haruka as a character, she won't be like this forever. Just bear with me. If you really don't like it that badly you can stop reading.