Disclaimer: I do not own Haruka and Michiru's characters, they belong to Naoko Takeuchi. All other characters and this story belong to me.
Note: This is rated "M" for a reason. If you have issues with coarse language, girl on girl action and substance abuse references, do not indulge yourself in this.
Chapter 4
Second Chances
Michiru has been avoiding her mother for the better part of the week now. She did not want to share any of the experiences she had on Saturday, nor did she want to talk about what her mother did during her midnight outings. She needed time to patch up her pride before facing the woman. Since avoiding someone in the same house, no matter the size, could be complicated, Michiru found that being in her mother's presence with Hideo around served her purpose perfectly - Eiko would never bring up the subject of the date in front of her husband.
It was Wednesday night and Michiru ventured into the living room after spending most of her day practicing for her next concert. Eiko was curled up on the couch reading one of her magazines, while Hideo was watching the news. Michiru walked to her favorite spot on the sofa and made herself comfortable. Nothing seemed to have drastically changed in the world, at least according to the news network, so Michiru was thinking of retreating back to the confines of her room when a story caught her attention.
"The Wing of Night brought itself to the attention of metropolitan police by hosting weekly races. The patrols around the city will be increased on the weekends to ensure public safety and successful capture of those responsible for the illegal activity. Reports of any suspicious activity are welcomed to the following number: 37…"
Michiru stopped listening to the number she had no intention of ever dialing. Instead, she turned towards the other couch and saw her mother stare at the screen, the magazine in her lap forgotten. Hideo got up and excused himself, missing the absentminded nods from both women.
"Was that who I think it was?" Michiru was referring to the bullet gray car that was barely noticeable in one of the images shown as the reporter delivered the news. A red car almost hid it from the view as the two sped next to each other, only the front portion of Ferrari was visible as the car gained speed over the Lamborghini. Michiru may have been oblivious to what the car was when she rode in it, but she did her research since then. Now she knew that the car was one of four hundred ever produced and cost a fortune. What were the chances of two bullet gray Ferraris cruising the streets of Tokyo? Whatever they were, Michiru doubted that this was a different car, which led her to the conclusion that she had a date with the car's driver last week.
"I'm sorry sweetie?" Eiko came out of her thoughts.
"What does Haruka do, mother?" Michiru narrowed her eyes at the fidgeting blonde.
"I believe he mentioned being a financial consultant," Eiko recovered quickly.
"Do all financial consultants drive Ferraris that are shown on the news racing illegally?"
Eiko swallowed hard. "Why don't you ask him, sweetie?"
"Because I'm asking you, you're right here," Michiru replied evenly.
Eiko got up. "If you want to know what he does, I can arrange for you to meet him again over the weekend. I'm not telling you anything." She left the room without waiting for a reply.
Michiru stared at the spot where her mother was just a moment ago in stunned silence. Did she want to meet him again? 'When Hell freezes over.'
x x x
"You made the news."
Haruka looked up as Hiro walked into the shop. "No, the Wing made the news." She returned to looking through some maps in her lap.
"Your car was on national television, Haruka, you need to change your ride."
Haruka looked back up at the young man and shook her head. "There is no way you can tell that it was my car. That it was a gray Enzo may be, but that's not enough to connect it to me."
"It's not hard to trace the registration records back to you," Hiro insisted.
Haruka threw the maps on the counter as she pushed her chair out. "How long do you think I've been doing this for?"
Hiro tried to remember what he knew on the subject. "How old are you?"
"What the hell does that have to do with anything?"
"I was trying to get a hint." Hiro leaned on the counter opposite Haruka's chair.
"I've been doing this for eight years, Hiro, I know what the hell I'm doing."
Hiro sighed. "So what are you, twenty-nine?" After not getting any response he made another guess. "Twenty-eight?" Still nothing. "Twenty-five?" Not a movement. "You can't be younger than twenty-five, you wouldn't have had a license."
"Since when do you need a license to break the law?" Haruka forced.
Hiro shrugged. "It was a wild guess. So how old are you?"
"Haven't you mother told you that it's inappropriate to ask a woman her age?" Haruka finally lightened up.
"Yes, she also told me that it was inappropriate to hit a girl, but if I ever get in a fight with you, I'm using all I've got."
Haruka laughed out loud. "Well, don't get on my nerves then."
"Fine!" Hiro held both of his hands up in surrender before growing serious again. "Should we cancel tomorrow's outing?"
"No." Her own expression grew serious. "The wheels have been put in motion, we do not back down. We stay alert."
Hiro looked in the cold gray eyes and decided not to argue.
x x x
"Mother."
Eiko jumped at the sound of her daughter's voice, flipping her phone shut.
"What are you doing?" Michiru squinted her eyes at the guilty-looking woman who was standing in the darkness of the library.
"Nothing."
"Do you always do nothing in the middle of a dark library?"
"Michi, do you have a point? I'm kinda busy doing nothing."
Michiru's suspicion grew even more obvious as she held herself back from another retort. "I want you to call Haruka."
"Come again?" Eiko was taken aback. She didn't expect her daughter to relent this fast. It's only been a day.
"I want you to call Haruka and arrange for another meeting," Michiru continued, closing the door behind herself tightly, effectively eliminating any light in the large room.
"Okay." Eiko knew Michiru could not see her triumphant face, so she didn't bother hiding it.
"There is one condition," Michiru continued.
"I thought you came to me for a favor," Eiko replied before regretting her words, lest they scare Michiru away. "What is the condition?"
"I want to see what he does. I want him to take me with him wherever he is going tomorrow, I'm sure he already has plans."
Eiko considered this and wondered what she would have to do to convince the blonde to agree. Friday was a race night. "I can't promise you anything, but I'll try."
Eiko could swear she heard a snort in response and for the first time wanted to be able to see Michiru's face. "What?"
"Not so powerful as you pretend to be, are you, mother?" Michiru opened the door and left, not waiting for Eiko's response.
Eiko gulped her response down and wondered if she just ignited a cable connected to a dynamite and how long it would take to blow in her face. On the other hand, what was done was done. She opened her phone again and dialed the number.
"Tenoh."
"Hey sexy."
"Uh huh. It hasn't been a week and you start with a compliment. I already don't like whatever it is you're going to ask me."
Eiko forced a laugh while wondering how she could manipulate the shrewd blonde. Maybe using the head on approach was best. "How do you feel about another date?"
"I had to get virtually raped in a dark hallway to wash away the goodness off of me last time."
Now Eiko laughed wholeheartedly. "You will not have to be good this time."
"How so?"
"She wants to see what you do. She saw you on the news."
"She recognized my car on the news?" Haruka's voice failed to hide the shock.
"I never said she was stupid. I said she was boring."
"And full of surprises," Haruka mumbled.
Eiko quietly waited for a response.
"Favor for a favor."
Eiko sighed in relief before the full meaning of the words reached her and she furrowed her brow. "What would you like me to do?"
"Well, since I have to entertain my date, you have to entertain me. I want you to participate in the race."
Eiko considered the offer for a moment. It wasn't as safe as last time she did it, nor was it of her own accord. Last time there were no restrictions on participants and her and another driver were allowed to drive without any racing experience, but that was because the race was on the country roads. The worst that happened was the other car spinning out of control and ending up in a ditch. She had no idea of the circumstances of this race, not to mention the increased patrols. Then again, what did she have to lose? 'Everything.' As always, the thought excited her and Eiko found her mouth moving before her brain even processed what she was saying. "Is it safe?"
"It's never safe." That much was true. "It's not any worse than last week."
"Fine."
"Come to my garage at five, Hiro will give you instructions. I'll pick Michiru up at ten. We start at midnight."
x x x
Michiru looked at her watch again and wondered why she was doing what she was doing. Again. She was going out because she was curious. She was bored most of the time because things came easy to her. She excelled at everything she did and she had everything she wanted. Her life was utterly and completely boring. As humiliating her experience last Saturday was, she actually had fun. She was out of her element and it bothered her, but it also presented a challenge of overcoming something. A challenge she has not had in a very long time, so she grabbed on to it with both of her hands and decided to set all reason aside and meet Haruka again.
Her eyes searched the room for the digital clock in hope that her hand one was broken, but the time was the same: 10:42. She wished her mother was there so that she could take some of her annoyance out, but the woman disappeared in the early afternoon and ignored Michiru's calls. Michiru stifled another sigh as the doorbell finally rang. She jumped up and almost ran to the door, catching herself in time and proceeding the rest of the way in a dignified manner, worthy of a descendant of an old aristocratic line. She opened the door and smiled at the blonde at the top of the stairs, hiding her annoyance.
"Hi," Haruka greeted easily.
"Hello."
"Are you ready?"
'Only for the past hour.' Michiru kept her fake smile in place. "Yes, I am."
Haruka nodded and gestured towards the car in a welcoming motion. Michiru looked different from the last time, perhaps she took a hint from what she saw at the club. Tonight she was dressed in tight black pants, high heels and a flowing light blue top that exposed her shoulders. It was nowhere near the look most women sported where she was heading, but it still made her look incredibly sexy. Which, naturally, did not escape Haruka. "You look beautiful."
Michiru tuck a strand of hair that fell in her face behind the ear as she smiled at the compliment. "Thank you."
"You should let your hair breathe, it will make you look even better."
Michiru stared at the dark eyes for a moment, trying to figure out if it was meant as a compliment, before smiling and sliding gracefully in the passenger seat. What was wrong with her hair? Yes, it was pulled in a tight bun, but it wasn't like it wasn't breathing. It was only slightly stretching her face to the sides. Haruka walked around the car and chuckled at Michiru's reaction. She found herself enjoying those moments. They were… not boring.
"So will you let me know where we are going or is it a secret?" Michiru stared straight ahead, knowing that that was the best way to deal with her date's speedy driving.
Haruka threw her a quick glance before returning her eyes to the road. "Outskirts of Tokyo."
"Anywhere in the vicinity of the salsa club?"
Haruka chuckled. "No, not that Red Light District."
"What?" Michiru spun around.
"There is still time to change your mind and go home if you feel uncomfortable."
"That depends on what we will be doing in the Red Light District," Michiru forced in a strained voice.
Haruka laughed. "I don't know what you want to do there, but I'm not intending to stand next to a pole." Technically she was intending to stand on the side of the road. "We're watching a race."
"So it was you, wasn't it?" Michiru felt her coolness come back.
"Hmm?"
"On the news, that was you, wasn't it?"
Haruka gave her another quick glance. "What will you do with that knowledge?"
"It will satisfy my curiosity," Michiru answered honestly.
"Okay. Yes, that was me."
Michiru nodded, not surprised at the confession in the slightest. "So that's what you really do then? You race?"
"Uh huh."
"See, this is so much better than avoiding a clear answer."
Haruka chuckled. "A clear answer is not always something you can give. What do you do?"
"I'm a violinist."
"Really?" Haruka was surprised that the woman actually did something. In the end, rich people did not really have to work.
"Yes. I have a number of albums out, you may have heard me play."
"I seriously doubt that."
"You don't like classical music?" Though, Michiru already knew the answer to that.
"Not particularly."
"What do you like then?" Michiru was finding this ride a lot more pleasant than the previous ones.
"Something that can overpower the sound of my engine." Haruka shrugged. "Drum and base primarily."
"I don't think I've ever heard that."
"You'll get a chance if you stick around for the afterparty."
"I don't think I will have a choice." Michiru answered. She was dependent on Haruka, since she had no way of getting back on her own.
"You always have a choice," Haruka replied confidently.
x x x
Michiru watched as Haruka parked the car diagonally on the side of the street, at the end of a row of colorful vehicles. They both got out, Michiru not waiting for the blonde to open the door and allowing her curiosity to be satisfied at the sight beyond the small glass. She was astounded by the amount of people. They were everywhere, their outfits as colorful as the cars they were gathered around. A large screen on the side of a truck drew Michiru's attention. She saw at least a dozen of cars parked in a checkered pattern, obviously waiting for the beginning of the race. Michiru looked around and located the finish line spray-painted on the pavement a hundred feet away from where she was standing.
"Impressive," Michiru said as Haruka stood next to her.
"We aim to please." Haruka grabbed Michiru's hand and pulled her towards the finish line. "Come on, we're running late."
'I wonder whose fault that is.' Michiru hurried to keep up with the blonde's pace in her heels. They came to a small booth where laptops were set on a desk next to police radios and other paraphernalia. A young man with spiky red hair and large noise-canceling headphones on his head was twirling in a chair behind the desk.
"Maedo!"
Michiru jumped slightly as Haruka yelled next to her. The twirling man noticed their presence as he turned, he threw a walkie talkie he was holding to Haruka and lowered his headphones to his neck. "You're late!"
"Tell me something I don't already know," Haruka grumbled back, raising the walkie she caught with her right hand and bringing it up to her face. "Where are we at, Fujita?"
"Waiting on your word."
Haruka freed the hand that was still holding Michiru's and looked at the watch. It was ten to midnight.
"Go ahead on schedule."
"Maedo Hiro."
Michiru turned around to the man with spiky hair. "Kaioh Michiru."
"Nice to meet you." Hiro gave her an openly appraising look, making Michiru uncomfortable.
"Is this your natural hair color?" She blurted out, trying to find something to stop him from staring. His fire engine red hair happened to be the first thing that popped into her mind.
"Uh…" Hiro tried to recover quickly. "Is yours?" He looked at her sea-green hair skeptically.
"Of course not, it's a statement," Michiru replied proudly.
"Right. So is mine." Hiro averted his eyes to the large screen where a girl wearing tight shorts and strapless top was standing on the start line, holding a flag in each of her lowered hands.
"We have ten more minutes before they start," Haruka explained. "You want something to drink?"
Michiru shook her head, remembering what happened last time she indulged. She watched people around her move, absolutely sure that she could do this for hours and not get bored. Despite her collected front, Michiru felt a rush of excitement as the minute leg neared the top of the hour and she saw people on the screen move out of the way of the cars. The woman at the start line brought her hands up and everything seemed to still until the flags reached the ground along with the girl and cars soared ahead, tires screeching.
"Tenoh, watch your boy Maedo or watch the screens. We've had enough of his fuck ups."
Michiru turned her head in the direction of the yelling person, but could not tell who it was. She saw Haruka get inside the booth and slap Hiro on the back of his head. The embarrassed man and a woman who was making herself comfortable in his lap a minute ago moved out of the way. Michiru walked over and stood beside Haruka, next to the man that was scratching the back of his neck, embarrassment still clearly written in his features. "Why aren't you racing?"
Haruka looked up at Michiru before returning her eyes to the numerous screens. "This is a 'pimp your ride' race, it's mostly about the modifications on the cars. I don't do those."
"Why?"
"I don't need to modify my car to win."
"How come we follow the race on the screen?" Michiru waved at the large screen on the side of the truck.
"Traffic cams, live cams installed throughout the city and posts with mobile cams."
Michiru took a moment to process the information, watching the angles of the race change on the screen every few seconds. At least that mystery was solved. "And these?" She gestured to the screens in front of Haruka.
"Those dots on top of the map are police cruisers in the area." Haruka nodded at the rest of the screens. "These are live cams around the perimeter of where we are."
"Wow. I always thought that racing was disorganized."
Haruka chuckled. "A lot of sweat goes into making that perception."
"Is that what you consult on?"
Haruka looked at the ocean blues and remembered Eiko's words the night before. Yes, Michiru definitely wasn't stupid, in fact, she was extremely observant and smart. "I consult on many things." She checked the screens again. "You may want to step outside, they are about to come into view."
Michiru did so and watched as the first set of headlights appeared at the other end of the street, followed by numerous other ones. She felt Haruka stand next to her, but didn't ask why the blonde's presence was no longer required at the booth. She watched as the first car jolted and sped up significantly, distancing itself from the followers.
"Too early."
Michiru looked at Haruka in question, but figured she wouldn't get an answer at that moment as the blonde was engulfed in watching the cars near. Michiru turned back and saw another car go through the same process, eventually speeding past the first car that started to slow down. The crowd cheered as the silver and blue patterned car flew through the finish line and came to a stop some ways out. The rest of the cars followed. They stopped in a random pattern, and people surrounded them as soon as the last one stood still.
Michiru watched on the big screen as the door of the winner's car opened and a red stiletto boot appeared, followed by the rest of the body clad in a white mini-dress. She turned sharply, unsuccessfully trying to see through the crowd. "Was that?"
"Your mother?" Haruka turned to the stunned woman, grinning. "Yes, yes it was."
Michiru didn't wait another second before grabbing Haruka's arm and dragging her down towards the front of the cars. They made their way through the throng of people and soon found themselves facing the gloating blonde. Michiru disconnected herself from one blonde and got in the face of the other. "What do you think you're doing?"
Eiko smiled brightly before putting a hand on Michiru's cheek. "Not here, sweetie."
Michiru caught her mother's wrist and removed the hand from her face. "Don't sweetie me," she hissed through her teeth. "Are you out of your god damn mind?"
"Michiru, you are out of line," Eiko's said without any amusement.
"Really? Because I think that you are. What if you get caught? Have you lost all sense?" Michiru's voice was nowhere alike her masked cool front.
"Michiru, this is not the time or the place. You can feel free to be the parent at home, we are in public," Eiko tried to reason evenly.
"I don't give a shit, mother, this is not the same public where I have to pretend to be someone I'm not." Michiru's brain only started to register the meaning of her words after she spat them out.
"Well, then you know how I feel." Eiko stepped away from her daughter and faced Haruka instead. "How did you like that?"
Haruka watched the fight closely, finding yet another side to Michiru. So apparently Michiru was not all prim and proper and could tell exactly what she thought in your face."You learn fast. I like." She extended her right hand towards Hiro, who put money in her open palm before turning around and distributing the rest of the winnings.
"You bet on me?" Eiko asked, appalled at the idea of having been used.
"I have to make money for a living, you know," Haruka smirked.
"How much did you make?"
Haruka's smirk returned. "That's privileged and confidential." She threw a glance at Michiru from underneath her lashes before continuing. "Now excuse me, I have a date to go back to."
Michiru was still fuming by the car, watching her mother talk to Haruka. She couldn't believe how irresponsible her mother was. It pissed her off. She felt a hand slide around her shoulders. Air tickled her ear as Haruka whispered: "Relax, she's fine, you're fine. Now we go and party. Unless you want me to take you home."
Michiru shook her head. She didn't want to go home and, surprisingly, she didn't want the blonde to move the hand away. It was very comforting.
"C'mon people, we're moving out." It was the same voice as from before and now Michiru found its owner. It was a black-haired man with black eyes and a goatee. He was wearing black jeans, black v-neck and a black leather jacket. If Michiru was ever asked to describe him, she would say that he looked like a demon. She watched the man get in a red car, which only furthered her description of him. Others followed. It seemed like everything was disassembled and taken away within minutes, and a column of cars started down the street. Michiru felt Haruka, whose hand was still around her shoulders, turn her gently in the direction of the car. "Let's go?"
Michiru nodded, picking up her pace and stifling a sigh as the warm hand left her.
"Go with Hiro." Haruka nodded at Eiko, who didn't object.
x x x
The column pulled in an empty parking structure, effectively filling at least a couple of levels. People got out of cars and headed towards a nearby club, bringing it to life. Michiru happened to exit the car at the same time as a passenger in the car next to Enzo. She smiled at the young girl, who returned the smile.
"I'm Chiyo. Friends call me Chi." The girl winked a green eye at Michiru.
"Michiru. It's nice to meet you." Michiru almost jumped as the girl looped her hand around Michiru's elbow and propelled her to move forward, away from the cars and her date. Michiru raised her own hand in acceptance and they made their way towards wherever it was they were going. The girl was wearing platformed shoes with high heels, which she navigated in so easily that Michiru had to fight to keep up with her. Her long black hair was let loose, falling almost to the jean mini-skirt that was covering her hips. Her white tank top was covered with large jewelry that hung off her neck.
"You must be new here."
Michiru shook off her observations of the girl and responded. "Yes, I am."
The girl giggled. "Don't worry about it, coming here with Haruka automatically grants you acceptance."
"Oh? How so?"
"I rule the world," Haruka replied, sliding a hand around Michiru's waist. "Hey Chi." She looked at the black-haired girl across Michiru.
"Hey lover." Chi winked smugly at Haruka, who shot her a warning glance.
Haruka smiled at Michiru's asking glance, daring her to voice the question, which, naturally, Michiru never did. Haruka sighed internally at the coincidence. Yes, Chi was very, very friendly, but why would she have to be in the car next to theirs? Although Haruka may not have minded that coincidence if she was alone - it would have saved her time looking for someone. Chi was not bad last Saturday. Then again, Chi could spill that Haruka was a woman… not that it was Haruka's idea to hide the fact in a first place, but she somehow wanted to know how Michiru would react to some girl on girl action first. Something she should be able to tell tonight.
"What do you girls want to drink?" Haruka asked as the three entered the club.
"I'll have sex on the beach," Chi murmured absentmindedly.
Michiru cocked an eyebrow. "I'll have the same."
Haruka smirked. "Like the name, Michiru?" She could bet her night's winnings that Michiru had no idea what she was talking about.
Michiru blushed slightly. "Something I haven't tried before."
"Admirable."
Michiru looked into dark eyes that looked gray in the lighting, or absence thereof. "What, the courage to try something new?"
"No, the ability to finally be honest."
Michiru winced internally as Haruka disappeared.
"Dance with me, Michiru," Chi murmured in the same absent-minded voice.
"Huh?" Michiru faced the younger girl. How could she dance to that booming music?
Chi moved both of her hands to Michiru's waist and turned her towards the dance floor where few people were already moving to the tune. "C'mon, let's have some fun."
x x x
"You left her to the vultures?"
Haruka turned at the sound of Eiko's voice. "You wanted her to have fun and not be boring, that's exactly what she's doing." They both looked at Michiru's attempts to dance in the same fashion as other people on the floor. "Just watch her, she learns very quickly."
Eiko looked strangely at Haruka. "I know, she's my daughter."
"You need to tell her I'm a woman." Haruka looked back at the platinum blonde.
"Why?"
"Because someone else will and she'll be mad at you."
Eiko chuckled. "How considerate of you. Don't worry, I face Michiru's wrath on a regular basis."
"I noticed." They looked at each other for a moment, sharing complete understanding without any words. "I better go give her some sex." Haruka waited for Eiko's priceless reaction. "On the beach." She raised one of the glasses in defense.
"Ha ha," Eiko replied carefully.
Haruka started to walk away before halting and turning slightly. "Eiko, you brought Michiru where she doesn't belong. If she makes herself comfortable or starts to enjoy it here, no one is gonna stand in her way, we'll take her in. We're not nice people and we will corrupt your little princess. That I can guarantee you. You should consider that before ever asking me for anything again."