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The blond mechanic had been quiet during their walk to her apartment. She wondered about how Michiru was familiar with her living environment. Haruka decided to ask her later.

Even using an umbrella, they both still got wet. Haruka's shirt was worse since she was keeping the umbrella to shield the violinist from the pour.

"Wait a minute," Haruka searched the key in her back pocket. She was so preoccupied that she didn't notice the violinist standing nervously in front of the door. Once the door was open, the aqua haired girl didn't move from her position.

"Come in,"

"Is it okay?" Michiru looked away to the old wooden frame door. Now the violinist was fidgeting with her feet. Haruka smiled, knowing what was bothering Michiru. Haruka guessed that Michiru had never visited a man's apartment before, especially by herself. Haruka felt like an idiot for forgetting something so crucial for a young girl.

Haruka didn't know what to do and now they were both fell to awkward silence.

"... Of course it's okay." Haruka finally replied doubting her own voice. The blond observed the young girl's appearance before her. There were drops of water dripping from her wavy aqua hair. "But! If you feel uncomfortable... let me grab towel or something for you before you catch a cold." Haruka spun around into her house.

"WAIT!" The sudden shout made Haruka halt. She looked back to Michiru who had stopped fidgeting. "*Excuse my rudeness..." Saying that, the violinist stepped inside and took off her shoes. She arranged the shoes by the door properly before continuing to walk inside.

Haruka watched the scene with amazement. She had invited a very high-class young lady inside her crappy apartment. "You know, no need so formal. It's just you and me here..." Haruka said it before realizing how her words actually sounded like. The young violinist immediately lowered her head, her hand covering part of her face. "I- I mean... it's just my apartment. Just think it as your home," The blond thought her present choice of words was better. It wasn't.

"Anyway, just sit wherever you like. Drinks in refrigerator and I'll grab something to dry your hair and your clothes." Haruka said before opening the only door that connected her bedroom. "I won't be long!" Haruka said and closed the door, leaving Michiru alone in her living room.

.

Michiru needed few minutes to recover from multiple surprise attacks to her heart. She hadn't expected to go inside Haruka's apartment. She hadn't planned it. Yes, she had been dreaming about it, but when the dream suddenly came true, Michiru was in shock. She had barely reacted before Haruka put down the invitation and she had barely been keeping her cool.

The stopper broke when Haruka had said those words.

She had grown up in a sheltered environment. She was well educated about everything related to relationships between men and women. Actually her mother never stopped explaining about the matter to her since she was 10. Her mother was a very prudish person and unfortunately so literal at the same time. However when she was explaining things to Michiru, she didn't show a single blush at all. Michiru recalled the days when she had been forced to listen and learn about relationships between men and women. As a young lady, she wasn't permitted to interact too intimately with boys. Boys in Michiru's age were mostly very rude or suffering what her mother had called a 'pervert period'. In addition there were rules in dating someone. Her parents had given her the complete written rules in form of 324-paged book. Michiru didn't like it but she had to read it and she'd remembered that inside those rules, there was this one important rule about not accepting invitation to come inside a man's house. However, seeing Haruka with the soaked clothes, and tired blue eyes standing nervously in front of her… that feeling resurfaced. The same feeling when she had thought about buying a chocolate bar in convenience store. A feeling to rebel. But was different from the chocolate – she didn't feel any remorse in doing the action.

Michiru was done thinking to herself. She was in Haruka's apartment now. She could get a closer look into Haruka's daily life while the blond spent the time inside the house. Michiru saw there were many racing posters on Haruka's wall. Racing cars, motorbikes, and two champion cups decorated the shelf. The living room, although Michiru thought it was too small compared her own living room, was an exact description to definite a mess. There were boxes of cold pizzas littering the table and various magazines piling the stained couch. Michiru flinched at the sight. She knew that boys were gross, but Haruka wasn't ordinary guy. Haruka was Michiru's prince. Her prince shouldn't be living in such a dirty place.

Michiru shook her head, "Well, I guess nobody's perfect," she muttered. Haruka definitely disliked cleaning up, but the blond was still Michiru's dreamy prince.

The violinist then wandered to another part of the apartment. She encountered a small kitchen and a short passage to what looked like a toilet. The aqua haired girl cringed again at the sight on the kitchen. The sink was full of dirty dishes that the violinist guessed were a few days old at the least. She opened the refrigerator and discovered nothing but cans of coffee and bottles of water. Michiru's eyes went wide. She was imagining how those dirty dishes and piles of garbage in the living room would do harm to Haruka. There could be… God knows! How many bacteria littering Haruka's living quarters. In addition, there were not enough food supplies inside the refrigerator. The mechanic could get sick from a virus or hunger in winter days. It wasn't same like instant meals that could clog arteries... this was more terrifying. Haruka could drop dead very soon if this continued.

Michiru freaked out at the thought. She then rolled up her uniform sleeves and started with the dirty dishes. She was an heiress of Kaioh corporation, but she had been practicing to become a perfect wife from a very early age. Doing dishes, cleaning up, and cooking were a few of the specialties she had gained from the seven years of training.

.

It took so much effort for Haruka to find 2 clean towels. She had forgotten to do her laundry this week too. The pile of dirty clothes had been thrown mostly under the bed and some of them even scattered somewhere around her apartment. The blond was starting to regret her invitation to Michiru. An heiress could never able to sit on her stained couches. Then she remembered she hadn't thrown the pizza boxes away. Before more remorse came in, Haruka quickly exited her room with towels in hand.

The door slammed behind her. Haruka had heard voice came from the kitchen, so she went there.

The scene in the kitchen made Haruka drop her towel.

"... What are you doing?" The mechanic asked with one hand covering her eyes. "It's so shiny!"

Michiru turned around. She put the last glass into the only cabinet on the kitchen. She was now facing Haruka with a smile decorating her pretty face.

"Washing dishes? I hope it's okay…" The last sentence came out after few seconds. Haruka caught the violinist's worries.

"What? I'm sure you didn't only wash dishes... did you?"

Michiru's expression turned like she was being caught red handed, "I... I did some cleaning too..."

Haruka observed her kitchen. The small space in her apartment had changed completely. She even felt like she wasn't in her apartment anymore. It was too clean! Even the area on top of the counters, every edge, and even the refrigerator were shining brightly.

Haruka stepped back, full of amazement and fear. "Are you sure... you are a violinist? I mean... if you cleaned this messy kitchen and turned it into a sterile room..."

"I'm sorry!" The aqua haired girl bowed her upper body to 90 degrees. "I... I am sorry... I shouldn't have done that... I mean I didn't intend to be nosy in my first experience inside your apartment. I-I am just worried that you are going to be dead anytime soon!"

Haruka's jaw dropped, "What?! Me?! Dead?!" She pointed to herself, her face pale. "Who said I will be dead soon? Are you a shinigami?"

Michiru blinked, she glanced up and stared at Haruka with innocent eyes. "But... Haruka... based on the level of sanitation of your kitchen, this place is full of bacteria that could kill pack of elephants. You should pay attention to the hygiene more, especially in the kitchen. There could be all kinds of bacteria, viruses, or fungus..."

"Okay, STOP." Haruka cut in before Michiru went any further. She felt embarrassed, humiliated by the situation. She shouldn't have a guest, an heiress, an ojou-sama cleaning up her apartment and giving her lecture in sanitation.

Mchiru was still bowing down, thinking Haruka was mad at her. The blond sighed deeply. She walked closer to Michiru and kneeled down.

"It's okay... I won't be dead anytime soon." Haruka said softly. She placed the towel on Michiru's wet hair. "Technically yes... there are so many species of bacteria here... but none of them would dare to kill me." Haruka pushed down on Michiru's shoulder slowly so the violinist would sit in front of her. Their eyes were now on the same level and Haruka continued drying Michiru's hair with the towel.

"There isn't enough..." Michiru whispered. She was still avoiding Haruka's blue eyes on her.

"Enough what?"

"Food... in your fridge."

"I eat pizza or ramen..."

"Those will clog your arteries."

"Really?" Haruka chuckled. "I've been eating them for almost 4 years now. I think it's okay."

But then Haruka noticed how Michiru's green eyes turned darker.

"Okay, maybe they could clog my arteries and kill me," Haruka gave up. She was retreating her hands, leaving the towel rested on Michiru's head when the aqua haired violinist threw herself on to Haruka.

There were sobs and Haruka could feel wetness on her shoulder where Michiru was hanging on.

"Haruka..."

The blond didn't answer. She waited until the heavy sobs subsided and listened as Michiru continued.

"I miss you."

Haruka closed her eyes. Her hands were now supporting both of their weight. If she let go, they would collapse on the floor.

"Let's move to the living room," Carefully, Haruka lifted Michiru up and led her to the only couch in the apartment. The room was still messy and Haruka needed to kick away several magazines and a box of pizza to make a room for both of them on the couch. When they settled down, Haruka got a clear view of Michiru's face. Her cheeks were wet and it hit the blond that the violinist wasn't wearing any make-up on her pretty face. Even so, she was still exceptionally beautiful.

"Are you okay?" Haruka asked. She stayed close in case her shoulder was needed again. But Michiru remained firm in her sitting spot while her eyes were paying attention to the wall behind Haruka.

Haruka waved her hand around in front of Michiru's vision to get her attention.

"Why, Haruka?"

"Why... what?"

"I have this feeling... I think you already knew what I'm about to say... No... I'm sure you already knew my feelings. But you keep avoiding me. Deflecting." Michiru said. Her tone was sharp and those green orbs weren't staring at Haruka innocently anymore. There was sadness, anger, and disappointment – the kind of emotions when someone was hurting. Badly.

"..." Haruka was lost for a moment. She was indeed avoiding Michiru's confession while searching a time to telling the truth to the violinist.

"Haruka, I lov-"

"I AM NOT YOUR PRINCE! Damn it..." The blond stood up abruptly from the couch. "So... don't say that... don't say that you have that kind of feeling for me. Because... it's not real," Haruka admitted.

Michiru's eyes widened.

"What? I don't underst-" Michiru's sentence was cut midway when her green eyes spotted something on the couch. The thing had been covered when Haruka had been sitting there a moment ago.

A black sport bra.

Haruka was confused. She followed the direction Michiru's gaze. And then her face turned paler. She had forgotten all her laundry and that thing she had left there carelessly last night after dinner.

The mechanic immediately thought how this would save time explaining the situation to Michiru now.

Michiru's hand reached it first with a trembling hand. She inspected the bra like she was holding something unbelievable.

The green eyes then met blue ones. The green ones were full of shock, accusation and betrayal.

Haruka waited, waited for Michiru's anger or wails, although she expected neither from the girl before her. A little bit inside her wished for the girl's acceptance.

"Haruka..."

The blond gulped.

"You... you have a girlfriend?"

Haruka had been ready for a train wreck but totally unprepared for another thing coming.

"Eh?" The only reaction Haruka had managed.

"Here I am... have been keeping this feeling for seven years since we met. I've been thinking of you, waiting for our encounter one more time... and I just realized that you knew... you knew what I feel and you think I am a fool..." There were no sobs but tears were falling down like the heavy pour outside the window from Michiru's eyes. "I am a fool..." Michiru whispered to herself. "You have a girlfriend already!" Now Michiru showed a bitter smile.

"... I don't. I don't have a girlfriend." Haruka recovered.

"You are a MAN! And this is woman's underwear. What's a woman's underwear is doing in your apartment?"

"It's MINE!" Haruka quickly replied.

Now Michiru was only looking at her. The look of betrayal was gone, replaced with blank look.

"Haruka, I've seen a second grade kid lie better," Michiru crossed her arms, pouting. "If you wanted to lie you should've come up with a better scheme like this is your mother's or sister's so I would've believed it!"

Before the blond knew it, Michiru had rushed to the front door. The trail of tears flew away as she left in hurry.

Haruka fell speechless. Why did she feel obliged to try hard to explain that she didn't have a girlfriend? Was it okay to let Michiru leave like that? It would be the same in the end. The violinist would leave Haruka alone... But that wasn't what she wanted. Haruka didn't want to Michiru leave like that without knowing the truth.

"Michiru! Wait... it's raining outside!" The blond followed her out and chased her outside the apartment. Haruka didn't notice a black car waiting to pick up a certain violinist. When the driver saw his master was coming down crying, he had forgotten words related about friendly compromise.

After escorting his master back to the car, the driver who was wearing the same color suit as the car stepped forward, positioning himself between Haruka and the car.

"I'm afraid this is as far you can go."

Haruka observed the old man in front of her. He was obviously a personal chauffeur from Kaioh household. The blond shook her head... the old man usually appeared easy to persuade.

"It's just a minute...There is something I need to tell her!"

There was a slight push from the driver and Haruka fell into the puddle of dirty water on the street. Haruka had been wrong – this old man wasn't anything near easy.

"You have done a terrible crime young man. Here I thought you were different with rest of the assholes in this country since my ojou-sama is so infatuated with you. Turns out... you made her cry." His heavy voice described much displeasure together with his expression.

"What?!" It wasn't the first time for Haruka to be called an asshole but her position and situation didn't let her to do any counter attack. It only made things worse.

So, when Haruka watched the black car as accelerated and left the alley of her apartment, the blond could only pick up the pieces of what was left of her dignity. She had chased Michiru down and confronted the scary driver. She had done that... There was still a misunderstanding that needed to be solved and it appeared that misunderstanding had turned into something more... confusing. And another thing...

Michiru had taken Haruka's favorite bra with her.

.

AN: There is one (*) symbols. It explains how Japanese would say that word when they are visiting other's house. In Japanese it's said Ojamashimasu - Translate in literal meaning is 'I will disturb your house,' but in english would be 'Excuse my rudeness'.

kaila09100 - thank you. I hope you can wait for the next to come out too. I'm glad you like it :D

HarukaCSW - Aww... thank you. Don't melt too much! What do you think about their interaction in Haruka's apartment this time?

TwinDoomsday - Yeah, I just realized recently that this is the old way to respond reviewers ;) And this time, Michiru's reaction kinda unexpected, huh?

Guest - I double that!

Starlightfan800 - I give you more! Who doesn't love those cute two together?

Jay - *breakdancing. Oh, you floored me, literally!

fortunelestion - I knew right? I love their bromance! I cant answer that question yet, unfortunately :) yea, harumichi is only my reason why I've been stalking the anime version. By the way, I won't make Haruka a jerk.

A jiangshi - Oh my Gosh... no, don't be my fan... I am a total geek! (kidding, welcome to my circle geek club)

Lin - of course haruka remember her! Michiru is too hard to miss, right? I mean, that girl has aqua colored hair!

Keeper Aki - Yea, since in here Haruka was older than Michiru, she had instinct to protect the girl. Actually, that wasn't the only reason, right? Well... that... not yet.