Hello everyone I'm back. Sorry if you missed me I didn't intend to be away for so long!! I always intended to continue this story as I love Haruka and Michiru to bits. However UNI started and that was hectic and then just when I finally had some holidays to work on my story IANTO DIED!! :( :( :(. I don't know if any of you watch Torchwood but I have never been so upset by the death of a character EVER!! I loved Ianto and most of all I loved him with Jack and I was so depressed for weeks that I had to write something for them and bring them back together. For any of you who have been reading both take heart Fallen angel is finished and just waiting to be typed on to my computer. I have an exam coming up in a few weeks and some assignments to finish but then UNI is done for the year and I can write for a while YAY!!! Anyway here we go lots of descriptive stuff in this chapter and some more Adrienne annoying. Kisses and hugs and please review if you you want me to keep writing this story. If you've lost interest after all this time I understand and I won't bother writing it anymore.
Kayla
****This chapter is dedicated to my Mina, who's had a very hard, upsetting week and who I seem to be upsetting quite a bit lately without trying. Honey I love youand I'm sorry please don't be mad with me :( I'm not trying to upset you we just seem to misunderstand each other and optus suck!!!! You know they do. Anyway this update is entirely for you, I'll be seeing you soon.***
Chapter 2 Getting to know the new school and some new people
Haruka's first official day in classes dawned bright and sunny. She rose early, made sure she had everything she needed, ironed her clothes, showered and dressed. With all of this done she stepped up to the bathroom basin and looked at herself in the mirror. The only thing she had left to do was to style her long, sandy blonde hair.
Her hair was always a sore point for her. There was once a time when she was made to cut it off all the time and had never been allowed to grow it as it made her look feminine and that wasn't allowed. As soon as she'd escaped that oppression she'd grown her hair as long as she could, just because she could and she hadn't allowed it to be more than trimmed since. As a result it had gotten rather long and consequently had started to annoy her.
So she'd cut it again nice and short; but unfortunately it had reminded her too much of her past and… him. So she'd grown it back again, and after years of not cutting it, it had once again grown rather long and was starting to annoy her.
She sighed. She wanted to keep it; it reminded her of her sister and her own defiance. At the same time however, she knew that it was probably time she moved on and stopped letting 'him' have control over her.
Shaking her head in annoyance at her indecision she quickly ran a brush through the long, blonde tresses and very soon had it all pulled back in a high ponytail.
She checked her reflection one last time and headed downstairs to breakfast. She had far too much to worry about already today; there was no need to add more.
She reached the dining room and looked around, deciding where she wanted to sit. It was still rather quiet since breakfast wasn't for another half an hour so she had plenty of tables to choose from. Selecting a table in front of one of the windows she sat down and turned her attention to the gardens outside. They really were pretty just like it had said in the brochure. She was seeing how many flowers she could recognise from her mother's garden back home when she heard footsteps approaching her table. She looked up when she heard a friendly.
"Good morning, Haruka."
She looked up to find Naru and Makoto approaching the table with two other girls in tow. They were both Naru's height and both carried a heavy looking text book under one arm.
The first had long, dark blue hair all pulled back in a braid save for her fringe, pale skin and kind sapphire coloured eyes. She was wearing the school's knee length, black, pleated skirt, a long sleeved, white, button up shirt, the black button up vest, the short, red tie, fine framed glasses and comfortable shoes.
The second girl had long, dark purple, hair that waved about half way down and was all tied back save for a thick, straight fringe, porcelain skin and innocent, violet coloured eyes. She was dressed in the school's black dress which had thick straps attached to the front of the dress via large, black buttons, two strips of fabric just below the bust, - that appeared to have no function other than to add decoration - which attached to the front also with large, black buttons. It had a slightly rounded neckline that sat just above the top of the bust, it was tailored in at the waist and the skirt length sat halfway down the calf and had a few pleats at either side to allow movement.
Beneath this she wore a short sleeved, red, button-up shirt, the short black tie, opaque, red leggings and black, flat soled boots that ended at the knee. Both girls smiled shyly at her and she smiled back in greeting.
The first girl struck Haruka as friendly but nothing more. The second girl however provoked a much stronger response in her. One look in her large violet eyes and Haruka felt the overwhelming urge to wrap the girl up in her arms and protect her from the world. The pull she felt toward the small girl was almost as strong at the pull she felt toward Michiru but different. She didn't know what it meant but it felt warm.
"Miss Haruka," Makoto motioned toward either of the girls in turn. "This is Miss Muzino Ami and Miss Tomoe Hotaru."
Both girls bowed as was Japanese custom and greeted her shyly.
Haruka stood up and held out her hand. "I'm sorry I'm only Japanese by birth not by upbringing. I'm Haruka."
Both girls smiled at her and held their hands out in response.
After she'd shaken both hands and they'd all been properly introduced Haruka invited them all to join her. They all agreed and took a seat around the table.
"So," Haruka began, "I thought I'd be the only insane person down here this early, what lovely occurrence causes the rest of you to join me?"
Naru smiled. "Makoto and I are always up early for out morning jog, which all of you are more than welcome to join us on in the future if you wish. As for Ami and Hotaru they're both in an accelerated medical program and their first class starts an hour before the rest of us so they have to be up and ready early."
"Almost everyone else in the school doesn't start getting ready until later since there's plenty of time between breakfast and classes," Makoto added
Haruka nodded. "That's certainly true I guess," she agreed.
"So, what brings you out here so early?" Naru asked.
"I wanted to get breakfast before all the good food gets taken," Haruka replied. "And I thought I'd take a walk around the school grounds and get a bit of an idea where my classes are before I have to find them later."
Ami nodded. "That's a sound strategy, Miss Haruka," she complimented.
"Why thank you, Miss Ami I'm glad I'm not alone in my school of thought, and just plain Haruka will suit me fine"
Ami's eyes grew wide for a moment but she nodded in agreement.
"So, accelerated medical program hey?" Haruka asked. "You two must be little geniuses."
Ami and Hotaru blushed scarlet and looked down at the table.
Makoto and Naru laughed quietly. "They are indeed," Makoto replied. "Both of them are ranked number one or two in Japan in almost every subject they take."
Haruka raised her eyebrows in surprise. "That's amazing," she complimented. "What are you studying to be?"
Ami, who by now was the colour of a lobster looked up from the table and replied. "I'm studying to be a neural surgeon and Hotaru wants to be an obstetrician."
Haruka smiled. "That's great guys, I'm sure you'll both make wonderful doctors."
Both girls looked up at her still rather embarrassed by all the praise and said a quiet thank you.
"That's not all though," Naru added. "Ami is also a champion figure skater and Hotaru is ranked 3rd in Japan in gymnastics"
Haruka's eyes opened wider. "My god!" She exclaimed. "How do you two find time to breathe?"
Just then, the doors to the kitchen opened and a group of people carrying large metal trays emerged. They headed for the warming area and Makoto turned he attention to Haruka.
"Food! Let's go get a plate."
Haruka nodded and together the group headed over to secure their breakfast.
It didn't take them long to make their selections and very soon they were back at the table happily eating.
Haruka was enjoying a conversation with Hotaru about which apparatus was her favourite when the doors to the dining room opened and three more figures walked in. She didn't pay them any mind until Makoto tapped her arm and motioned with her head in their direction.
The ever elegant Miss Kaioh stood in between Adrienne and another girl Haruka didn't recognise. She was about to ask who it was when Makoto said.
"That's Courtney, Miss Kaioh's other shadow."
Haruka's eyes narrowed as she took in the stance of Michiru's two attachments. Both of them were standing far to close to the young head girl for Haruka's liking and acting as if they were the only people in Michiru's world. Haruka despised them both.
The new girl Courtney was also what many people would consider pretty. She wasn't as stick thin as Adrienne; she had a bit more muscle to her. She was tall, with long legs, long, straight red/brown hair that was artfully pulled back from her face and deep brown eyes.
Both of them were dressed in the school's short, red and black tartan skirt, the long, red tie and six inch, black stilettos. The only difference between them was that the stick wore a short sleeved, white, button up shirt and the other girl's had ¾ length sleeves.
They were probably trying to look sexy but all Haruka could think was how tacky they looked with so much makeup caked on their faces and how badly they needed to do up another button or two.
Michiru on the other hand was the epitome of class and elegance. She was dressed in a short sleeved, red, button up shirt, a black vest that was vey similar in style to the school dress with the buttons on the sleeves and the tabs just beneath the bust, the short, black tie and a black pencil skirt that ended just below her knees. She wore heels that tied up around her ankles and were a much more sensible height than the other two and her lovely aqua tresses were pulled back at the top half in two twists with the rest left to flow freely down her back.
She was absolutely perfect, and Haruka wanted her even more than she had the day before.
"God damn," she said under her breath.
"Pretty isn't she?" Hotaru asked quietly.
"So far beyond it, it's insane," Haruka replied.
"If only she wasn't permanently attached to the two banshees."
Haruka turned to look at Hotaru. "Does anyone around here like those two?" she asked.
"I don't think so," the young, violet eyed girl replied. "I don't even think Michiru likes them, she's just too nice to tell them to go away."
Haruka turned back to look at the object of her affection just in time to see another woman walk in to the cafeteria and over to Michiru.
She had long, dark green hair, half pulled back in a bun, tanned skin and deep garnet eyes. She was a little taller than Michiru, and was dressed in a very similar manor to the young head girl save for a slightly shorter skirt and the school blazer.
A strange feeling buzzed through Haruka's head at the sight of her but she ignored it,
The woman smiled at Michiru and greeted her in a friendly manor before turning a less than friendly stare on to her two hip attachments.
"Are you two going to go about your business or stand here all day looking like idiots?" Haruka heard her ask.
Haruka laughed quietly, she liked this woman, whoever she was.
"That's Meioh Setsuna." She turned her attention to Ami. "She's a senior here studying law and fashion design. She's Michiru's best friend and loves the other two about as much as everyone else around here."
Haruka chuckled. "That seems to be a common theme in this place. Glad I'm not alone."
The two shadows said a polite goodbye to Michiru and bowed respectfully to Setsuna as school protocol dictated before departing the dining area.
Haruka didn't miss the glare they threw at Setsuna behind Michiru's back.
"Michiru honey, I love you but what are you thinking?" She heard Setsuna ask.
"They're just trying to be helpful." She heard Michiru reply.
"Do you want their help?" Setsuna asked.
"Well, no, not really but-
"Then they should leave you alone." Setsuna interrupted her. "For crying out loud Michiru everybody hates them."
"And so I should just give up on them?" Michiru protested.
"Some people can't be saved Michiru, no matter how much you might want to."
"I'm the head girl, Setsuna," Michiru replied quietly. "I have to try."
"You didn't want to be head girl, remember." Setsuna argued.
"Well I am, regardless, and as long as I am I may as well do something worthy of my title don't you think?"
Setsuna sighed. "Michiru, when are you going to start living your life for you and not everyone else?" She asked
"When nobody else needs me anymore," Michiru replied. She squeezed Setsuna's arm gently. "Thank you for your concern, dear friend, but I'm okay honestly. Now come on, let's get some breakfast." Michiru turned and headed over to the warming area.
Setsuna looked down and shook her head in a defeated gesture before heading over to join her.
Haruka looked at Naru and Makoto. "I guess she didn't want to be head girl after all," she said quietly.
After breakfast Hotaru and Ami headed off to their first class while Naru and Makoto showed Haruka around the campus. Eventually the warning bell rang for the first class of the day and Makoto and Naru dropped Haruka off at her class before heading to their own.
Haruka made her way over to the teacher's desk and handed over the information the office staff had given her the previous day.
The teacher read over it all and smiled up at her. "Hello, Miss Haruka, welcome to class." She greeted her with a smile. "If you'd like to stay up here with me while the others get settled, I'll introduce you to the class and find where I should seat you."
Haruka looked down at her and cringed. "Do you have to introduce me?" She asked. "Can't I just meet people on my own later? I already have friends I don't need anymore."
The teacher gave her a mildly scolding look. "Now, Miss Haruka I like everyone in my classes to know each other." She stood up and walked around to the front of her desk to address the class.
Haruka hung her head and sighed. Great, another introduction. She really hated these, it just gave everyone else in the group a chance to stare at her.
"Class, we have a new student joining us today," the teacher announced, standing aside so the class could see her. "Ladies, this is Miss Haruka. Everybody say hello."
Haruka sighed and looked at the floor as the class all called out their hellos. When they were done she looked up and gave them a wave.
"Now, Miss Haruka, where should we sit you?" the teacher continued.
Haruka had her attention on her rather than the class so she didn't notice when a hand came up near the middle of the room. She didn't however miss the voice that accompanied the hand; she'd recognise that voice anywhere.
"If you wouldn't mind, Miss Grafton, I met Miss Haruka yesterday and would be delighted to help her adjust to our class."
Haruka turned slowly to look at the young head girl who was smiling sweetly up at the teacher.
The teacher turned to look at Haruka. "Well, Miss Haruka this is your lucky day. The head girl wants to help you, that's not an offer you get every day."
Haruka was sure of that.
"All right then, Miss Michiru, I'll leave Miss Haruka in your hands."
Haruka would be more than happy to have Michiru's hands anywhere near her.
"All right, Adrienne, looks like you have to move." She heard the teacher announce.
Startled, Haruka looked up to see a very disgruntled Adrienne getting up from beside Michiru and moving to a seat in the back of the classroom.
Haruka fought against the grin that threatened to form at the thought of having annoyed the tree branch.
She made her way down the isle and smiled in greeting at the lovely head girl.
"Hello, Miss Kaioh, how are you this morning?" she asked.
"I'm very well, Miss Haruka and how are you?"
"I'm absolutely wonderful thank you, and it's just Haruka please."
"As you wish," The lovely lady replied motioning to the now empty seat beside her.
Haruka slid into the seat and opened her book.
As the teacher started the lesson Michiru leant over and whispered to her.
"Michiru will suit me just fine too, Haruka, as long as you don't mind keeping it between us. Being the head girl doesn't often afford me the luxury to do as I please, but I figure as a kindred spirit you might understand my feelings and grant me this little favour."
Haruka smiled. "Anything you like, Michiru," She replied quietly, earning her a small smile from the lovely head girl. They sat back to listen to the teacher and Haruka's heart soared. Maybe she might have a chance of getting to know the object of her affection after all.
At the end of the lesson they collected their books and headed for the door. Haruka could feel Adrienne's angry glare on her back as she turned to Michiru and asked where she was headed next. When the lovely woman told her that their next lesson was together also Haruka couldn't help the smile that emerged at the thought of how good her fortunes were that day.
"Michiru, we have maths next don't we?"
Haruka's happy thoughts were interrupted by Adrienne moving to stand on the other side of the head girl and looking up at her like a lost little puppy. All Haruka could think of was what kind of sound Adrienne's head might make if she slammed it into the nearest wall.
"Yes, Adrienne we do. It seems Miss Haruka also has math with us now so we'll be able to show her where to go."
Haruka was sure she knew exactly where Adrienne would like to tell her to go right at that moment, but the blonde stick simply smiled up at Michiru and replied with. "How lovely, we can all go together then."
Haruka sighed internally. Oh well, at least Michiru was going to be there.
--
Math went incredibly slowly, but eventually it was over and the three girls were walking out in to the hall way once more.
"Where are you headed now, Miss Haruka?" Adrienne asked sweetly.
"Biology over in C block," Haruka replied just as pleasantly. She saw a flash of annoyance in Adrienne's eyes before Michiru's said.
"Oh so am I. We have another class together, isn't that lovely?" She asked, smiling sweetly at Haruka.
Haruka felt her heart melt as she replied. "Yes it certainly is."
"Well, Adrienne, I guess we'll part ways here. I'll see you at lunch time." Michiru dismissed the other girl pleasantly, and while Haruka could tell Adrienne wanted to argue, Michiru didn't give her the chance. She turned and headed toward their biology class and Haruka followed close behind.
It took every ounce of strength she had not to turn around and poke her tongue out at Adrienne in a very child like fashion.
They walked in silence for a few moments before Michiru spoke again. "I've had biology class by myself for the last year so it'll be nice to have someone to talk to now."
Haruka's heart skipped a beat as the lovely head girl turned and gave her a warm, friendly smile.
"How do you like the school, Haruka?" she asked.
"It's great," she managed to reply. "I've met some really nice people."
"Naru and Makoto are lovely aren't they?" Michiru asked.
"They certainly are. I also met Muzino Ami and Tomoe Hotaru this morning at breakfast, they're lovely too."
Michiru's eyebrows rose. "You met Hotaru and Ami did you?" She asked. "Hotaru and my best friend Setsuna are cousins, and yes, she certainly is lovely. Of course Miss Ami is too. Have you met anyone else?" she asked.
"Just you and Adrienne." Haruka replied, just managing to keep Adrienne's name from sounding like a growl.
Michiru nodded. "Wait until you meet the rest of the group; they're a rather interesting bunch."
Haruka was puzzled. "What do you mean?" She asked.
"You'll see at lunch." Michiru replied as they reached their biology class. Michiru lead them inside and they sat together in one of the middle rows.
They chatted quietly until the teacher arrived and the lesson got under way. It passed a lot quicker than math had, -probably due to the fact that Adrienne wasn't around- and soon they were heading over to the lunch area. When they arrived in the cafeteria Haruka finally began to understand what Michiru had meant.
The table in the centre of the cafeteria was taken up with a rather large group of people. She recognised Ami and Hotaru sitting together with Setsuna on one side of Hotaru and Naru and Makoto sitting on the other side of Ami, but there were also a few others she didn't recognise.
With a comforting smile Michiru lead Haruka over to stand at the end of the table with her and quietly called for silence. As soon as all eyes were on Michiru she began to speak.
"Everyone, this is Miss Haruka, but she prefers just Haruka. She's new here and while she's met a few of you I'd like her to meet the rest. So, starting at this end. This is "Meioh Setsuna." She motioned to the woman Haruka had seen her with that morning. "You already know Hotaru, Ami, Makoto and Naru. Next to Naru is Hino Rei." She motioned to a young woman with long purple/black hair slashed with red, and eyes almost the same deep purple as her hair. She was dressed in the school's black pants, red, short sleeved shirt, the black vest like Michiru's, and the short black tie. Her hair was braided down her back save for a straight fringe across the front.
"On to the other side of the table now, down the end is Tuskino Minako." A young girl with mid length, blonde hair slashed through with slices of red and orange and bright blue eyes smiled at her from the end of the table. Her hair was all out and perfectly straight with a side swept fringe. She was wearing the school's short, black, pleated skirt, the white shirt with the ¾ length sleeves, the long red tie, black, knee high socks and the black blazer.
"Next to her is her twin sister, Tuskino Usagi." She motioned to a young blonde with her hair pulled back into two unusual looking pigtails save for a thick fringe that sat just above her eyebrows and framed her face at the edges and bright blue eyes. She was wearing the short, pleated, red skirt with ¾ black, opaque tights underneath, the short sleeved white shirt, the black vest like Michiru's and the short red tie.
"You've already met Adrienne" she motioned to the girl just arrived and taken up position at the opposite end of the table from the twins. "And sitting next to her is Courtney." Haruka recognised Michiru's other hip attachment from this morning.
"Everybody say hello." Michiru instructed and the entire table immediately called out greetings.
Haruka said a polite hello back before Michiru lead her over to the food. They chose what they wanted to eat before heading back over to the table. Michiru sat next to Courtney while Haruka slid in next to Usagi.
The young blonde grinned at her as she sat down and finished chewing the mouthful she was working on before swallowing and holding out her hand to Haruka. "It's nice to meet you." She said kindly.
Haruka shook her hand. "Nice to meet you too, Miss Usagi."
Usagi made an odd noise and replied with. "Usagi, please. People calling me Miss Usagi all the time makes me feel old."
Haruka chuckled. "I hear you there, Usagi."
As soon as Usagi let go of Haruka's hand Minako leant across her sister and held her hand out to Haruka also. She shook Minako's hand and then Rei's and smiled over at Makoto and Naru.
"How were your first classes?" Naru asked.
"Good, they were all with Michiru." She replied quietly enough that the head girl, who was involved in a conversation with Setsuna at that moment, wouldn't hear.
Naru and Makoto grinned at her; the others were oblivious as to what they were on about.
Haruka started on her food and suddenly a curious thought occurred to her. Naru and Makoto had been so nervous around Michiru the previous day, and yet here they were, sitting with her at lunch. That was a little odd, well, at least Haruka thought so.
As she ate she watched the goings on around her and finally it all made sense. Michiru was friends with Setsuna who was related to Hotaru and therefore spent a lot of her time with her. Hotaru and Ami were friends with Makoto and Naru, Naru was friends with Rei and Rei was friends with the twins. So as much as they all hung around in the same group at lunch and they all got along all right, once they were away from lunch time that probably changed, a lot.
Intrigued, Haruka watched the conversations going on around her. The next few years with these girls was definitely going to be interesting. She looked over at Michiru then and a smile spread across her face. Interesting and very pleasant.
---
End of chapter 2. What do we think should I keep writing?? Let me know.
Kayla