4) New Year

BEFORE

She was standing by the balcony doors, admiring the snowy night. A forgotten, ignored drink someone had given to her in one hand, the other resting against the ice cold glass window. She could hear all the happy chatter going on around her, but she couldn't care less. This kind of parties just wasn't her thing...

She had only agreed to come here, to at least pretend to be half normal. They both had agreed on it. Some normalcy could do them good. They had started working together, as a team, less than four months ago, and the fights and their mission was starting get tiring for them both. So, yes, some normalcy was more than welcome.

But this was ridiculous. There were some stupid, boring, loud girls trying to get her attention, obviously mistaking her for a guy, wanting a midnight kiss for the New Year. The worst part was, Michiru was not only nowhere near to be found, even if she was, she couldn't exactly say they were together, knowing her 'fan club' would want a demonstration kiss at midnight...

She let out a sigh. One can only dream... she shook her head, trying to get herself rid of those confusing thoughts that kept invading her mind...

Michiru was discreetly trying to get away from the supposedly charming guy that was currently trying to woo her. Probably to get a midnight kiss out of her, and then forget all about her in the next thirty minutes...

She searched the room with her eyes, and when she spotted one blonde head, right next to the balcony doors, she smiled. Excusing herself, saying her partner was waiting for her -which was probably right, judging by the blonde's face-, and completely aware of the double meaning that one sentence had over her obviously shocked suitor, she made her way toward her friend.

The countdown began at that moment, and she wished her words could be true. She wished the tall blonde girl to be more than just her Senshi partner. Granted, they were very close friends now. But she somehow wanted more...

She smiled at herself. She was being like those girls dancing around Haruka. Wanting a midnight kiss from the blonde...

7, 6, 5, 4...

She stopped right next to the Senshi of the Wind, her own blue eyes searching the snowy night.

3, 2, 1...

Blue eyes still on the night sky, she took the blonde's hands in hers. And when she felt her looking down on her, she looked up, smiling.

Happy New Year!

They smiled at each other, and Michiru got on her tiptoes, softly kissing the blonde's warm cheek. It wasn't exactly was she hoped for, but it was something... And she had to admit, the light blush now decorating Haruka's cheeks was simply priceless.

The blonde squeezed Michiru's hand lightly, smiling upon her own embarrassment. She kissed her forehead then, wishing her own lips could go a little lower on the aqua girl's face... But a kiss was a kiss. And it was enough. Anything else would be... wrong. In so many different ways, Haruka didn't even want to think about it. They were friends. And they had a mission to fulfill.

Anything else was unimportant. And impossible...

AFTER

Some lame joke was said, and everyone around in the small hallway started laughing. Obviously thanks to all the alcohol in their systems. And green eyes simply rolled at them.

What was it with young people and their tendency to drown themselves in alcohol, these days? And everyone was being so happy and jumpy, and just annoying, she wanted to get out of there. She had wanted to use the little ladies' room, and now she found herself trapped on that little hallway, with a bunch of her classmates that simply wouldn't let her through...

When some guy, who had obviously had one too many drinks, stumbled onto her and then started flirting with her, hiccuping all the way, Michiru rolled her eyes, not really bothering with saying anything back to the drunk guy. She wondered, for the nth time that night, why exactly was she there. She was so not in the Season spirit...

Not with everything that was going on. The end was coming. She could feel it. The last battle was close, and the outcome depended on them. But they had both agreed on coming to the school New Year's Eve party, knowing there were too many enemies among their classmates to ignore. But this party seemed awfully normal. And she was not only bored, but alone. And she had been hoping for a midnight kiss! So where was her tall blonde girl?

And when the countdown finally began, she let out a sigh, somewhat disappointed. She knew it was silly and childish, really, but she couldn't help it... She walked out on the balcony, blue eyes gazing up at the starry night. It truly was a beautiful night...

4, 3, 2, 1...

A hand taking hers and making her spin around surprised her, making her squeal.

Happy New Year!

Lips took hers then, and when a soft, sweet tongue invaded her mouth, she relaxed into the strong embrace, recognizing the person without even looking, and eagerly returning the deep kiss. She knew those lips. She knew those kisses, and that sweet tongue caressing her own.

Her cold hands wondering trough short, soft blonde hair, they break off the kiss. Their noses brushing against each other tenderly, the aquamarine haired girl giggled happily when a soft, sweet kiss was gifted to the tip of her nose.

The blonde girl smiled down at her girlfriend, their foreheads resting together, as they simply stood there, holding each other close, on that first night of the new year.

They didn't know what tomorrow may bring. The future was uncertain. But she finally got her midnight kiss form the aqua goddess. And they were together. And, right now, nothing else mattered, but them.

Happy New Year, everyone! ;P