Akira: Not really back for long, but I feel really bad about leaving unfinished fics around like that. AND, saying that it's been a long time is a great understatement I'd say. Well, I'm trying my best to have a fulfilling school life, translate some manga, and hope that my exam results won't blow up in my face with 'F's. Guess that's enough babbling, and let's get things going.

Note: There is some sort of a time skip thingy going on in this chapter. Please pay attention to it~ It may not seem relevant now, but it will be in the future.

Chapter 7: Uncertainty

"Michiru-san, I'm off to grab a bite, is there anything that you want?"

"No I'm fine, thank you."

"Hey, this isn't fair, what happened to your best friend who's this close to dying here?" Seiya whined, putting a tiny space in between his fingers to place emphasis on his point.

"From what I see, you're doing just fine," the young Tenou rolled his eyes at the guitarist and disappeared from the studio without another word.

As soon as the racer was away, the young man quickly sensed the opportunity to question the aqua haired violinist.

"So how do you find him, Michiru-san?"

"I'm not sure if I get what you mean, Seiya-kun," smiled the violinist politely as she proceeded to apply a little rosin to her bow.

The singer grinned at the sight of her smile and asked slyly, "What I'm trying to say is, how do you find Tenou Haruka as a friend and is there a chance of you developing into something more than just friends?"

"I think he is a very good friend who is willing to help his friends out no matter the situation, as for your second question, yes, I'm sure we will be more than just friends."

The guitarist beamed at her last comment, only to be let down by her next.

"Good friends, perhaps."

"Aw Michiru-san, that's hardly fair play."

Her lips slowly curved into a smile as she applauded herself for cleverly avoiding the question. The answer to that second question was something that she herself hadn't even thought of. She was fairly sure that the racer was attracted to her, but kept a safe distance away from her out of respect for her. She did after all, tell the blond boy that she wasn't interested in men. Yet there was this strange connection she felt between them. There was just something about the racer that she couldn't put her finger on that kept her intrigued whenever she was with him.

"What's hardly fair play?"

The door to the studio opened and the racer let himself in promptly, placing himself onto the piano bench, eying the other occupants of the room suspiciously.

Seiya smirked evilly and replied before Michiru could say anything.

"That's for us to know, and for you to find out."

"Right, whatever," Haruka rolled his eyes for the second time of the day as they continued with the practice.


The Tenou heir smiled with his eyes closed as he faced the sea with his arms spread out wide and took a long, deep breath; feeling cooling breeze of the sea run through his messy blond locks and his feet slowly sinking into the sand underneath.

"This feels awesome, Michiru-san, especially after being cooped up in that tiny little studio for hours. I haven't felt so relaxed for a while now."

A smile formed on the violinist's lips as she repeated the racer's actions from an arm's length away beside the racer.

"I second that, Haruka-kun. This feels really good after a long practice. It's so cooling and relaxing here."

The racer let out the long breath he took in and turned his head towards his soon to be ex fiancée before inquiring, "So what was it that Kou and you were talking about while I was gone?"

"Nothing, actually. It was just a casual chat," the violinist smiled.

The young Tenou frowned; something tells him that whatever they were talking about concerned him. Definitely. However, to push the violinist into telling him whatever had gone on back there while he was gone was not something he would want to do.

"So, how did it go with your parents? Have you…" He paused, not sure whether he should continue with the line of conversation or not, but pushed on anyway. "… Talked to them?" He looked up. The stars in the sky shone and twinkled, the moonlit beach filled with nothing but silence and the sound of the waves hitting the shore periodically. Perhaps that wasn't a good time to be talking about the engagement after all, even if it bothered the both of them. Perhaps, it was the time to just enjoy the scenery, the breeze, and each others' company.

The violinist slowly sat herself upon the sandy grounds and hugged her knees close to her chest.

"No… I'm afraid not." She replied quietly, her ocean blue orbs staring into the dark, blue sea, unfathomable. "I…" she hesitated for a brief moment, and thought hard about what to say to the blond teen standing beside her.

"I just haven't got the chance to talk to them properly yet."

"I see…"

"Well, you'll get your chance soon."

"I hope so."

"I tried talking to my father. It doesn't seem like he's going to change his mind any time soon. I'll talk him around for sure, don't worry about it."

"Okay."

Then, there was that awkward silence which plagued them many nights before. The young heirs simply sat there for the next hour, wondering what was to come after everything.

Will they still talk the way they did in the past few weeks?

Will they even see each other again?

Those thoughts haunted the two, prompting both of them to wonder if they were making the right choice after all. It was all so contradictory. They were confused, their senses were blinded and worse of all, they became completely oblivious to what was really going on.

And thus, the rest of the night was spent in silence.


"Hime-chan, how did the date with Haruka-kun go?" her mother beamed, hope shone evidently in her eyes as Michiru gingerly shut the door behind her. She sighed. It wasn't as if she didn't enjoy the young blonde's company, but having her mother bug her about it every time she came home in his car was just a little too… excessive.

"It was not a date, Okaa-san. It was a concert rehearsal, together with Seiya-kun no less."

"Well, there is always a chance for something to develop, no? Hime-chan, give him a chance. I can tell that he likes you." Her mother assured, holding Michiru's hands in her slightly wrinkled ones.

The aqua haired teen retracted her hands.

"Okaa-san, we've been through this many times. There is nothing between us. If there's ever a chance for anything to develop, it's friendship. Nothing more, and certainly nothing less."

Friendship?

Was what she had for the Tenou heir merely friendship?

She wasn't even sure of how she felt, or what she really wanted anymore.

Whatever.

She could care less. She was getting tired of it all. The conversation was going nowhere, she knew. Any more talking would leave a sour aftertaste. That was for sure. The older Kaiou woman nodded, apparently having the same thoughts, and bade her daughter good night with a kiss upon the violinist's forehead.

"Good night, Hime-chan. I really do wish that you'd think it over though. Your father and I, we…"

"Good night, Okaa-san."

With that, she ascended the stairs and entered her room.

Yukiko sighed at the bottom of the stairs. She loved her daughter. She wished for her to be happy. She wished for her to be taken care of, should her husband and her leave the world one day. The Tenous would surely be able to do so.


The young violinist walked to her bed and fell face down onto the pillows upon reaching it. She gripped the pillow tight. The concert was just up ahead. There shouldn't be any room for distractions, none at all.


"Kou! How do I look?"

"Don't worry bud, you look great. Thirty minutes to show time, buddy. Suck it up!" The guitarist clapped his best friend on the back. "I gotta go for my make-up session. See you later!"

The blond racer stared at his reflection in the mirror. His wild blond hair was gelled and combed neatly. The ocean colored bow tie fit perfectly under the wing-tip collar. The tailcoat was a perfect fit too. He looked magnificent. Everyone who was present could attest to that.

He swallowed.

It had been a long time since he last performed onstage. When was the last time he did?

High school?

Junior High?

He couldn't recall at all.

'Hope I don't screw their concert up.' He prayed silently.

Too engrossed in his thoughts, he didn't even notice the aqua haired girl approach until he felt a pair of hands on his shoulders.

"Oh, Michiru-san! How long have you been here?" He turned in his seat. He hoped he didn't sound nervous to his soon-to-be ex-fiancée. The two had grown close in the past couple of months. The line of friendship had never been breached though, save for occasional flirting.

"Oh, a couple of minutes give or take. Is the great racer Tenou Haruka feeling nervous?" The aqua haired beauty teased, her luscious pink lips curving into a mischievous smile. It was something she learned from being around the men for almost three months. She bent downwards, her hands never leaving his shoulders, and she stared at their reflection through the mirror. His cummerbund matched the color of her eyes, as did his bow tie. And her gown? It was teal green. They were picture perfect, one might say.

He felt a little squeeze on his tensed shoulders.

"Relax, Haruka-kun." She whispered in his ears before straightening up.

He swallowed again.

'Think nothing of it. It's just a gesture to help me relax.'

Self persuasion didn't seem to work somehow. He could feel the blood pumping in his ears. Nothing she seemed to be saying to him registered. The defenses of Tenou Haruka's systems came crumbling down within seconds. Logic didn't matter anymore. In one swift motion, he grabbed her hands with his sweaty ones, prompting for her to stop the massage. His mind was screaming for control of his body, yet his body didn't obey.

He looked into the mirror. Hard. His intense gaze sent shivers down the violinist's spine. Teal green met ocean blue. Nothing was said, but everything was understood. Desire was evident in the racer's eyes, the violinist could tell.

They had to stop now. His mind screamed.

Before he falls deeper.

Before things get more complicated than they already were.


"Please, hang on, Kaede! What will the kids and I do without you?" The man held on to the freezing hands of his wife, on the verge of tears.

"It's okay, Toshi, don't cry. You're scaring them. Look, they're crying already." The woman smiled, her breath weakening by the second. Said babies bawled loudly, as if they knew what was going on in that ward. The pain in the man's eyes said everything. They told his wife how much he loved her. How much he wanted her to stay with him. As much as he knew how it wasn't possible, he still held on to the hope desperately. He brought her freezing hands to his lips and kissed them. Shutting his eyes tight, he let the tears fall freely down his eyes. That night, he prayed hard.


"Hey bud, we're ready to roll in five!" The dark haired man chirped happily as he entered the room. And within a fraction of the second, his smile curved into a sly grin.

The blond pianist retracted his hands quickly, as did the violinist.

"Uh, right, we're coming." Haruka managed to cough out.

"I have to pick my violin up from my dressing room. See you later."

The racer nodded meekly. His hands were still sweaty, he noticed.

Immediately after the violinist was out of earshot, the dark haired guitarist wasted no time in head locking his best friend.

"Spill the beans, what was going on back there?"

"Nothing!"

"Oh really? I know for sure that I saw something."

"Cut the bull, you saw nothing. We didn't even start!"

"Hoho… So there was something you were about to start, eh?" His grin grew wider.

"I swear there was nothing, dude."

"Alright, alright. I believe you. There was nothing. I get it." The tall man rolled his eyes and started walking off.

"Oh, but I know that horny look when I see it!" He laughed loudly and began to ran, lest his best friend put him into a head lock this time.

"You are so going to get it when this is over, Kou!"

End of Chapter

Akira: This chapter is considerably shorter than the rest. Please forgive me, it's been long after all. I'm sorry for all the delay.