A/N - This is a Seiya POV... please be patient, it's a little OOC, but it's my story so there! Anyway thank you to SilentKing for your amazing review, I hope you got my message and I hope this clears up a few things that people had been asking me. Also, this will end at about ten chapters otherwise it will be painfully long to read (and write :D) so enjoy the last few chapters left and keep reviewing, it really is encouraging me! (RukaMichi, Reusch, all you amazing people!) My laptop ahs been delayed till the 3rd of March, but teh good news is I plan another different fic to start in March. Take care, and thanks for reading!
CHAPTER 6 – THE POOR BOY'S HEART
I knew when I first started Mugen Gakuen that it wouldn't be easy to make new friends. But I had two friends who already attended the high school; Yaten and Taiki, and they swore they'd help me out. On the first day of school, when I entered the cafeteria at lunch, I tried my best to be nice to everyone but I couldn't, because one certain girl took my attention away; she was sitting in a group of six girls and one tall, short haired blonde. But this girl, she was sitting in the middle, pouting over her friend who had stolen her bag of potato chips. She had blonde hair and for some reason the tall, short haired blonde sitting a few seats away kept calling her 'odango'. Then I saw her hair and realised why, I chuckled to myself, 'Bun-head', I thought to myself. But she was cute. Not just cute, but gorgeous, even when acting like a baby, she had a charm about her that I was mesmerized by. I was thrown out of my trance when I felt Taiki's arm around my shoulder and he led me to the group. I smiled nervously as we approached; Yaten spoke up in my place,
"Hey… this is our buddy, Kou Seiya, he just moved here, but he's cool. Be nice," The tall blond looked over at me and smirked before resting 'his' head against an absolutely beautiful aqua-haired girl. The girl with such unique hair looked up at me and smiled,
"Hello, Kou-san, welcome to Mugen… I hope you find our school pleasant." Despite Michiru's formal manner, I could tell she was being sincere. We soon became good friends, and in fact she was the one who broke my heart the day she told me some news from which I would never recover.
"Well?" Seiya almost pounced on his female companion, Michiru smiled sadly at him,
"Sorry, Seiya-kun, but Usagi told me she likes Mamoru… he even asked her to the formal… I couldn't even ask on your behalf because she already said yes." Seiya's face dropped instantly and he sank against the lockers,
"Oh man… I should have known better… Haruka-kun told me she was taken." Seiya put his hands over his head, covering most of his forehead, and Michiru knelt beside him,
"Cheer up, Seiya-kun, I'm sure you can find someone else!" Before Seiya could respond, the sound of a husky voice could be heard above the two,
"Find someone else for what?" Michiru looked up, to be greeted with Haruka's smile. She smiled back and whispered,
"Seiya is looking for a lady to take to the winter formal… but the girl he asked is unavailable," Michiru stood up, slowly followed by Seiya, Haruka ran a hand through 'his' hair,
"I told you Usagi was taken." Seiya frowned at the blonde's arrogance, but before he could say anything Michiru was bringing attention back to the matter at hand,
"Well, Haruka you're not one to talk, you don't have anyone to take either."
"Yet." The blonde interjected. It was at this moment, Seiya got an idea and his eyes began to twinkle,
"Michiru do you have anyone to take you to the dance yet?" Michiru hesitated before she took her eyes off of the blonde and looked at Seiya,
"Not yet." Seiya looked confused at her response,
"What do you mean, not yet?" Michiru glanced to Haruka who was looking at her with curiosity too,
"Well, the person I want to go with hasn't asked me yet." Seiya thought for a moment and he looked over at Haruka, who seemed to be looking away, not really in the conversation. Michiru was looking at the floor, Seiya took a deep breath, and he took Michiru's hand in his, kissing the back of her hand gently, causing the blond tomboy to stiffen at seeing the intimate touch between the two.
"Kaioh-san, would you please do me the honour of accompanying me to the winter dance?" Michiru looked down to Seiya, whose eyes were filled with a little bit of desperation but also sincerity. It seemed as though he really wanted to go with her. Michiru turned her head to Haruka, who had a frown on her face but turned her face away after a second,
"How could I say no, Kou-san?" Michiru smiled politely and as Seiya bowed to Michiru she saw Haruka, who at this point had placed her false smile on her face,
"Well, now this is all done, can we finally go to lunch?" Haruka sounded irritated. Seiya looked over at her,
"Now, all we have to do is find Haruka-kun here a date." The blonde waved her hand,
"Not necessary, Kou-san… I'm not going. I have other things to do." Michiru looked shocked at Haruka, she was sure she had seen Haruka shopping for a suit a week or so ago,
"Ruka, you're not going? But I swear I saw you shopping for a suit the other day." The blonde nearly stuttered but instead she laughed,
"Michi, I don't need a dance as an excuse to buy a suit. Anyway, I'm at the track that night, working till late." Michiru shook her head in disbelief,
"Is nothing more important than your precious racing, Ruka?" Haruka lowered her eyes and looked at Michiru,
"There is one thing." Haruka looked at her watch, and then looked over to Seiya and bowed,
"See you guys later." Haruka walked away, leaving myself and Michiru shocked at the tomboy's behaviour.
It was after that dance, at the winter formal, when I knew that life without Usagi wouldn't be so bad, I was sure that other people lived life without the person they loved deeply and still lived happily, loving someone else, maybe not as much but enough to know what love can feel like. At that dance, Michiru gave all her attention to me, which I thought would be impossible since Haruka wasn't there, but she did and it made me feel special. I was certain that Michiru and Haruka were an item, they were close, I mean at the time everyone… even me… thought Haruka was a guy, and he was a very handsome guy, and Michiru was always with Haruka so it was only natural for everyone to think they were a couple.
It wasn't until a few weeks later, Michiru invited me to her home when we got partnered in history that she told me Haruka was really a woman and I swore to keep it a secret. In fact, she made me swear in front of everyone in our group; Mamoru, Usagi, Yaten, Taiki, everyone, and any promise I made in front of Usagi, I swore to keep regardless, until the day I died. The countless times in the three years me and Michi dated in high school were I was so tempted to tell everyone that their precious Tenoh was in fact a girl was nearly overwhelming but the thought of Usagi feeling betrayed after my promise to her nearly broke my heart… and I could never have Usagi thinking I betrayed her. Never.
I felt bad when I first told Michiru I wanted to take things a step further in our relationship, we had been dating for two years and I need closure I guess. I mean I was eighteen and she was seventeen, and in our relationship I never really pushed it further than kissing because she was younger than me by those two years… that and I thought that if I dared touch more than her lips, Haruka would break my legs and arms. But after I asked Michiru it seems as though the entire school knew… and I was shocked as Haruka didn't even come and speak to me like she did just before our first date, and well, every date after that telling me that if I even dared touch Michiru in a way she disapproved of she could make me disappear and no-one would question it. I knew that Haruka was protective, and not just because she was Michiru's friend, but because she liked Michiru, you know, really liked, the way that lovers do… you had to be an idiot to not know or notice that when Haruka was around Michiru… But, instead of threatening to end my life, Haruka ignored me… and Michiru. I felt bad. I was using Michiru really. To dull a pain in me. To dull the pain of not having Usagi in the way I could have Michiru. And then came Christmas Eve, and Michiru turned up at the love hotel, she had been crying, I could tell but I didn't ask, and I told her we didn't have to do any of this. She ignored and she threw herself at me, kissing me roughly and passionately and she removed all her clothing and told me to shut up and just do it. It. You know, the big it. I was so nervous, but I did and it was amazing… well, for me. I could tell the entire time that Michiru wasn't really with me, her eyes were closed and she kept wincing every time I pushed deep inside of her. We were quiet afterwards, she didn't hold me or hug me, she pretended to be asleep, she thought I didn't know but I did, she waited until I was asleep to cry, I knew she did because when I woke up her eyes were red and swollen.
At school, in our final year, Michiru became attached to me, intent on being with me as much as she could, and I didn't mind, I liked it, at least there was someone who wanted to be with me… even if I wasn't the one she wanted to be with ultimately, it didn't matter because she wasn't the one either, not for me. And so we carried on our relationship, neither of us having the guts to admit our deceit. I always wondered which person it was Michiru always wanted to be with though, I mean the only other guys she hung out with were Mamoru who I painfully reminded myself was deeply in love with Usagi… then there were Taiki and Yaten, my buddies but Michiru clearly had no interest in them. So I wondered… but it became clear as the daylight the evening we went to Usagi's to open our exam results.
Setsuna was there, she was mainly Haruka's 'friend' but most of our group accepted her because we all thought that she and Haruka were lovers… well, most of the group except Michiru, she thought they were lovers but she did not like Setsuna… I put it down to Setsuna being smarter than Michiru but at Usagi's… when she was sitting on my lap, I could see the frown on her face when Setsuna ruffled Haruka's hair. It was the same frown I had whenever I saw Mamoru stroke Usagi's cheek. Fuck. She was in love with Haruka. Haruka was her one and she was Haruka's even if she didn't realise it. When Haruka told us she wasn't going to university I wasn't shocked, but I was shocked when she said she got offered her F1 contract, I was sort of shocked, maybe happy for her, no annoyed, she had outdone me. I hadn't even noticed that Michi had run out of the room until I had seen Haruka rush after a blur of aqua hair. I stood up to follow them but Setsuna came over to me,
"They need to talk Seiya." So I left them. I was shocked when a little while alter I saw Haruka running from the room and outside, and a few minutes after that Michiru emerged from the bathroom, looking around for her clearly, even though she pretended she wasn't. She looked me in the eyes and told me she loved me, and I nearly died inside, so this was the pain she felt when I said it to her and she realised I didn't love her as much as someone else? Man, it feels like shit to feel like this. After a little while, Michiru went outside to get some air, she went outside, I knew to talk to Haruka and I felt a little pain in my heart. It was unfair. She was mine now. I had her first. Haruka had her chance and she blew it. Michiru was as close to happy as I could be. And I couldn't let that be taken away from me too. I had to fight for what was mine. Usagi was Mamoru's and I couldn't have Usagi... so I had to fight for the closest thing to happiness I had… Haruka was a coward and that wasn't my problem, I had the guts to ask Michiru. I decided then, that I had to fight for what was mine. I had to make Michiru mine.
When I decided to go to the door, I looked out and saw that it was raining, I hadn't even noticed, and Michiru and Haruka didn't seem bothered by the weather, Haruka began to run away, I gotta admit I was confused as fuck, but Setsuna saw her running and looked at Michiru and told her to get a cab to theirs as Haruka needed her and would probably get a cold in this weather.
Haruka did get a cold and to be honest, it kinda fucked up my plans, Michiru was at their apartment, intent on keeping by Haruka's side, she wouldn't even leave the apartment except to get Haruka's medicine, she wouldn't even leave to meet me for one hour for coffee. I got pissed off, and I swear you would never see me happier than when I saw Haruka feeling better, I turned up a few days later and she wasn't at the apartment but Michiru was. I went to Michiru's room and we watched a movie in her room and stayed in silence. It was there that I took the ring out of my pocket and proposed. She looked me in the eye and cried, saying 'no'. Said she couldn't marry me, she was too young and wasn't sure of her feelings. We'd been together for three years and I told her that I loved her. I did, no word of a lie. Maybe not as much as Usagi, or as much as Haruka loved her but regardless Michiru was my last link to happiness, and I wasn't about to let that go… even though she said no, we continued to date, Michiru and I.
At Haruka's farewell dinner at the Kaioh's, I was shocked when she arrived, looking better than me, what was the world coming to when a woman looked better than a man in men's clothing?! But regardless, I let her know Michiru was mine.
The dinner was awkward, I know that Hiroshi and Megumi like me but they just think that Michiru should be with someone else. I'll give you one guess who their 'golden boy' is… surprise huh? Michiru ran off at dinner when we were talking to Haruka about her career. I went to run after her but Hiroshi forbade me. I wanted to say fuck it, let me go to her, but they sent Haruka… they must have known how they felt about each other and this must have been Michiru's parents way of a last attempt at getting them together. I wasn't happy about it but when I saw Haruka storm from the house, ignoring everyone and leave, I couldn't help but smile, especially when Michiru tried to run after her crying, I knew… that Michiru would come back to me.
A few weeks after Haruka left, Michiru and I were at dinner together when she looked me in the eyes and said 'yes.' After stammering, she told me that she would marry me. That that was all she wanted right now. I could not have been happier. She was going to be my wife, and then she would be mine for the entire world to know.
And when little Hotaru was born I was so happy, she looked like me, black hair, but she had these amazing purple eyes, and I adored her, even though she didn't really seem to take a liking to me, but she was my flesh and blood and that was all that mattered.
I told Michiru I wanted Usagi to be her godmother and she said that was fine. She wanted Haruka to be her choice… but then Haruka didn't come back. Not after her first year… not again for a long while. Michiru became cold and distant to everyone except Setsuna and Hotaru, but she still made her will so that in the event of her death or ours, Haruka would be Hotaru's parent. Michiru became a bit of a bitch… Even to me, it was all smiles and kisses for our concerts and recordings but behind closed doors, I could tell she didn't want me around. Even my own daughter called me Seiya, not daddy, she never wanted to play toys with me, only her mama, and she didn't like me. My own child did not like me. I didn't really know why except one day, I saw Michiru playing with Hotaru… they were playing with toy race cars… one of them was a 'Haruka Tenoh McLaren'… and I remember how I felt that day, my child loved to watch racing with her mother and I would rather stick pins in my eyes then see the arrogant face of Haruka Tenoh win another race.
The one day I turned on the TV for Hotaru to watch racing, Michiru was stunned as we looked at the screen and saw her… Haruka Tenoh talking to TV Tokyo… about her return to the Japan Grand Prix and her return to her homeland... her dedication to the woman she loves every time she wins a race. Michiru was standing next to me, and I saw her face, she smiled and then she looked away from me, but it was too late, I saw it. Her face told me everything. But then a reporter brought up Mitsuko. It was my turn to grin… but not for long.
If Haruka was coming back, then she would find a way to see her. Somehow, they all would; Hiroshi, Megumi, Setsuna, everyone and if Michiru saw her and they had a chance to speak, it would all crumble down, everything would be taken away from me. My happiness, that I had worked so hard to achieve and maintain, and Haruka could just come along and take it. No fucking way. That blonde had to learn life wasn't fair, sometimes in this world; you cannot have what you desire. It can belong to someone else and you just have to put up with it – that's the way life is. That's the way it was for me, and that's the way it is for everyone really.
She came back, and at first Michiru ignored her return, but then at the dinner, we met Mitsuko and I nearly danced inside! She had this utterly gorgeous model for a girlfriend who was all over her, and I swear I had the world's biggest shit-eating grin… but then I saw it. In that instant, that one glance to Michiru when she wasn't looking. Haruka was still in love with her. Fuck. I could not have this. I found myself surrounded by Mitsuko and Noriko and when I looked Michiru was nowhere to be found… neither was Haruka. I searched the rooms upstairs, and after a few desperate moments, I decided to check out the back. Nothing. I looked out the front window and saw them. Kissing. I could feel the rage within me rising. Michiru was married to me and that didn't seem to matter, not to either of them. The bitches! I went to the door but was stopped by Setsuna, who tried to talk to me but I told her I wasn't in the mood, I opened the door and found the blond standing there, shock written all over her face… I decided to add my fist to that annoying arrogant face.
Michiru scolded me at the hospital while Haruka was being treated by Ami. She told me what an idiot I was. I'm not an idiot, I saw them kissing. I saw it. And now Hotaru adored her, and even called her Haruka-papa, I was going to shout at the child but Michiru told me it was just a phase. Damn you, Haruka, why did you have to take everything I have away from me. It's all I have… and now, I return home to my wife, after Haruka had been there for dinner, at first I wasn't worried, as Hotaru was there, nothing could have happened while Hotaru was in the room, I'm dead sure neither of them was that corrupt, that they would have an affair with a child in the room. It was only when I was putting Hotaru to bed that she told me that she liked Haruka-papa. That he was strong, handsome and that mama seemed to like him when he kissed her. I managed to fake a smile and put Hotaru to bed who annoyingly told me 'Goodnight, Seiya' when she rested her head on the pillow.
I stood outside our bedroom door, not sure how to approach my wife, to ask if it was true, maybe Hotaru had seen it wrong, maybe there was a good explanation, so I calmly enter our bedroom and saw Michiru sitting at her vanity, brushing her hair. So beautiful, my lovely wife, how could I ever doubt her again? At Usagi's, clearly Haruka had forced Michiru to kiss her… Michiru had her morals, she was a married woman with a child, and she was in the public eye. I walked over to her and placed my hand on her shoulder. I felt her shudder and at first I thought it was in arousal… it was only when I leant down to kiss her cheek, I could tell, I could smell it. The unmistakable aroma of Haruka's cologne. Ultraviolet. Everyone knew Haruka wore it… and it was all over Michiru. I couldn't believe it. Michiru was cheating on me.
I had been so loyal and faithful, and here she was… an adulteress. I could have killed her… not really, but I felt like our trust had been broken. I needed to speak to Haruka about this… soon. Her race was in a week… I would see her then. We would definitely talk. As for my wife… well, I'm not even sure I can look at her right now, even though she is smiling at me… she is smiling but inside she is crying, just like me. Crying to be with the one she truly desires and the one she truly loves.