Chapter Four: Speaking with Father

Haruka was trying her best to look sad and upset, Michiru had her arm around her, as if to comfort the mourning widow, but Haruka was truly contemplating how much longer she could sit still in the front row as the man in front droned on and on about her deceased husband. It was a small funeral, only his family, Michiru, Haruka and her parents. Her mother sitting beside her holding her hand and her father on the other side sitting stiffly. She was playing her dutiful widow part the best she could, because after this she was planning on speaking with her father. The baby kicked hard, Haruka jumped and pulled her hand out of her mother's so she could apply pressure to her side. Her mother looked over at her and she moved her hand back into her mother's. Michiru on her other side was weakening as well, she was turning paler as the man spoke on. 'Honestly, do you see how many people showed up for his funeral, he was not a good man.' Haruka thought savagely, but to her great relief she heard the man end and the coffin was lowered. She stood up, but teetered some, her mother stood up alongside of her grabbing her arm to help support her, then walked forward both cast their rose on top of the coffin. The other guest then walked by and pitched their roses into the whole and gave Haruka their condolences. Haruka bowed her head as she received each person in turn, her mother supporting her and aiding her to play her part. Michiru moved through the line and then off to wait for her lover, the on coming talk with Haruka's father would not be well received with Michiru's presences. They had been over the plan again and again, this was their chance to escape the world they had been brought up in and live their lives the way they alway wanted. Haruka's father closed the line and the end of the funeral. Everyone departed in their own direction. Haruka's father placed his large arm around his daughter and walked her towards the car, her mother on the other side. Haruka eased herself into the limo followed by her mother and her father. They were not leaving, but now was the time for conversation, Michiru crossed her fingers and willed her lunch to stay down while she waited in her nearby car.
"Haruka," her father started, "I know this is not an easy time for you right now, but have you thought about your future at all? A widow, so young and a child on the way. Will you move in with your mother or I again and allow us to take care of you?" Haruka mustered her courage and reminded herself to choose her words carefully.
"Father, I feel there is really nothing left for me gain by staying here." She inhaled and moved her hand from her mother's to her belly, where her baby was kicking. "I have fulfilled my duties to our house and suffered at the hands of an unkind man." Her father looked sharply at her,
"That man is dead and you are now speaking ill of him?" Haruka bit her lip, she had to stop his temper going in that direction or nothing would be accomplished.
"Daddy," That little word alway did the trick, she saw his eyes change. "I would say those words even if he was not dead. Seven weeks ago I left him after I was beaten." She pulled from her purse some photos which her father took, his face turned pale and he pushed them away. "Daddy, I have paid my dues to this family, I have sacrificed my happiness for the last five years and now I carry an heir for our family line. If anything I have to rejoice about it is I am going to give you a grandson." Her father beamed and she pulled out the ultrasound pictures to show him. He took them from her and smiled, but did not return them. "All I am asking, is a chance to make a fresh start towards my own happiness, a place I can raise my son away from the shadow of his father and a place where I myself will be out of the limelight your reputation has shed over me. I want a chance to make my own path and follow my own destiny, not the one you have picked out." She paused as her father looked between the photos of his grandson and his daughter.
"I will allow you to keep your trust, and start one for your son. If your mother is willing to give up her vacation home in Tokyo I believe that would be as good a place as any for you to start anew, but hear me, my child, do not squander your wealth, and keep in mind that your son will be heir first and foremost to my fortune. For as far as the news goes, we are finished, you leave here today on your own." Haruka nodded, she understood she was being released from her duties to her family, but it could not appear as if her father was allowing such things to happen, politics, it was always about politics. "I do however want to see my grandson, so no withholding that from your aging parents." Haruka nodded and threw her arms around her father's neck. She was crying as she kissed him on the cheek and he patted her on the back, her baby jumped again and she moved to bring her father's hand towards her belly. The baby kicked for him and he smiled. "Go in peace my child, live your own life!" Haruka nodded and kissed her beloved father on the cheek. Her mother moved forward and kissed him on the lips.
"You are a good man, truly you have a big heart." She smiled as Haruka made to open the door and step out of the limo, her mother following her. They shut the door and the limo drove off. Michiru brought the car up to where the two women were standing and they both got in. Haruka was starting to feel weak, that conversation and the tension leading up to it had taken its toll on her.
"So what happened?" Michiru asked as she moved to hold Haruka's hand. Haruka squeezed her hand as she leaned her head back against the seat, closed her eyes and breathed slowly.
"I need a snack, and soon." Haruka muttered, feeling her blood sugar crashing around her. Michiru nodded and moved to leave the cemetery, but before she pulled out Haruka's mother pulled out a small piece of chocolate and a bag of snack mix and passed it up front to Haruka who took it quickly. "Now Michiru, if you are going to take my baby and her son to Tokyo, you need to prepare for situations like this." Haruka was so relieved for the boost, she didn't say anything as Michiru's face lit up.
"Really? When can we leave?"
"Really, mom is giving us the vacation home in Tokyo that she won in the divorce settlement and father is quietly financing everything we need through my trust." Haruka grinned and looked at the beautiful woman sitting next to her. Michiru was smiling, she couldn't believe it, she was returning to Tokyo, to start a new stage in life with the woman she loved, finally free of the pressure she had lived under for so long.

Four days after burying her husband and her past Haruka sat on a plane next to the woman she had longed to be with for so long. The house and apartment had been sold almost instantly, and with her the money she had in savings they had paid a team of movers to pack up everything the two women owned and move it to Tokyo. Haruka moved in her seat, she was looking for some comfort and trying her best not to wake Michiru who was sleeping peacefully next to her. The woman who had been watching the couple looked shocked as Haruka's jacket had moved enough that her belly appeared properly for the first time. Haruka laughed to herself, 'even pregnant she was being mistaken for a man.' She tried to move again for some comfort, but it was pointless, her back was killing her. She moved to reach into her bag and pulled out her headphones, then ensuring Michiru was asleep as she pulled out a candy bar and started opening it slowly, but before she could get it to her mouth, the gentle and elegant hand with sapphire polish covering the nails reached up and redirected it to her own lips. Haruka looked at the goddess who was quietly opening her eyes and slipping the candy bar from Haruka's hand into hers. She snuggled her head closer onto Haruka's shoulder as she took another bite of the candy bar.
"Your blood sugar was high this morning and I know you didn't touch your insulin." It was a soft and gentle rebuke, but it was enough. Haruka sighed heavily, Michiru took the rest of the candy bar and repackaged it, then moved to reach for her bag where she slipped the bar back into her bag and pulled out some water. She offered it to Haruka who took it willingly and knowingly taking the hint. She closed the water bottle and handed it back to Michiru. "You can have it, I have another in here." Haruka nodded and stuck it in the seat pocket in front of her.
"Drinking that will only make me have to pee." Michiru nodded as she buried her head back in her shoulder.
"It will also help with your sugar, and I plan on keeping you around for a long time." Haruka nodded. "Seriously Haruka," Michiru opened her eyes and looked up at her, her voice still quiet and peaceful. "You did not have much to live for the last five years, I know that is why you have let your health get out of hand. But now, now you have much more than either of us could ever have imagined, you need to take care of yourself, the way I know you know how." Haruka took deep breath, the rebuke had been a powerful one, and presented in a way Haruka was not accustomed to. Haruka nodded;
"I will try, but I am going to need some help getting back on track." It had been a effective rebuke, much more effective than if she had told her off straight forward. Michiru moved to reach for Haruka's hand.
"I know, that is why I am here." She pushed herself up and to the horror of the lady sitting across the aisle from them, they kissed.

Haruka laid in bed, finally allowed to relax after a very trying airline journey. She took a deep breath as she felt her body trying to adapt to the demands of her lifestyle, she was feeling weak, tired and her whole body was swollen. Michiru walked out of the shower drying her hair with a towel, she looked at the beautiful pregnant woman sprawled out on the bed, she wanted so badly to stay in the house and do nothing more than be with her love, but she knew that things needed to be done and that by sleeping now, in the early morning they would never reset their time clocks. She walked over and ran one finger up the blonde's leg. It sent shivers up Haruka's spine, but all she did was pull her knees closer to her and move to her side.
"Are you wearing that?" Michiru smiled as she looked down.
"To bed... yes." Michiru shook her head. "No Michiru, I don't want to get up and go out. I am tired and weak, besides I just don't feel well." Michiru nodded, hearing the pleading in her lover's voice, but she could not give in.
"You have to get up and get dressed. Your mother made us both doctor's appointments for today, then I have some plans and we really should stock the kitchen if we plan on eating." Haruka looked up at Michiru, the bags under her eyes were telling Michiru that this was torture.
"Michiru, I just don't have the energy, I'm not trying to get out of anything, I just don't think I can function." Michiru frowned at Haruka, she was being open about her health, but Michiru knew this was the best time to take her to the doctor. She moved to find her bag and reached inside of it pulling out the rest of the candy bar. This was an evil move, dirty and underhanded, but she knew what needed to be done. Michiru held it up in front of Haruka. Haruka reached up and took it from the aqua goddess, she completely understood that she was getting it because she had to keep moving, she was being blackmailed. Haruka finished her candy bar and pushed herself up into a sitting position, then slowly of her feet. She walked over to her bag and pulled out some shorts and then changed her shirt. Turning she saw Michiru was dressed in a beautiful powder blue sun dress and looking as if she were going to dinner with a prince. Haruka looked down at her clothes, but she could care less, she just wanted to be comfortable. Michiru grinned as she picked up her purse and Haruka grabbed her backpack, they were off.