Chapter
Sorry about the long wait. I had lost my prewritten write for this chapter, and I couldn't find it again. Plus I had no idea how to start the thing. Sorry again for the long wait.
Eyes widening as the view before them awed them to silence. The sound of waves crashing against the rocks was a gentle thrumming in their ears, the sweet smell of the night air encasing them in a loving embrace, and the bright forest of flowers and potted trees filling their vision. Tables could be seen hidden among the flora as the Metre'D led them to a very secluded table set for four. Laying the menus upon the table he backed away and waited.
"Anything I can start you with tonight?"
"Um, yes, a bottle of wine. Any suggestions ladies?"
"Columbia Crest please. It's supposed to be excellent this year." Michiru said as she gazed across the table at her date. The rose between them seemed to soften Haruka's sharp angled face.
"As you wish. I shall bring it right away." He stated before bowing and leaving.
"This place is very beautiful. Its quite amazing how the breeze drifts to us and how secluded this booth is. How did you know about this place Haruka-san."
"A secret my dear Kaoih." She said as she led her over to the table and pulled her chair out for her. "For you my cheri."
"Such a charmer." The aqua haired goddess replied with a soft hint of a blush on her cheeks. Looking over the menu that lay in front of her, she waited until everyone was settled in. She sat right next to Ami with both their dates next to each other across from them. Picking what she wanted from the menu, she stared at her date, taking in all her features. How her messy hair looked so natural as it glowed in the soft lights of the candles that burned before them. Her angular face gave off a boyish charm but still held that feminine quality about it. Long lashes seemed to graze her tanned cheeks covering those deep forest green eyes that could pierce your soul. But those same eyes seemed to be hiding something from her.
"So Haruka, what do you do for a living?" she asked politely, hands folded neatly in her lap.
"I'm a race car driver. Well when the season is in. When I'm not doing that I work as a mechanic on custom cars, but that's mostly as a hobby. My crew and I run the tracks and a shop. We build cars for people that love cars, but are mechanically incompetent. We also run a normal mechanic shop to help train new people." She said with a slight blush covering her cheeks.
"Ah, did you always want to be a racer?"
"Yeah. My dad and I used to watch it every time it was on and would critique it and discuss what we would have done instead. I used to run track in high school since that was the closest I could get. But race season is over now."
"Oh! You're the driver that won the championships." She said and then thought a little bit. "The papers said you had a girlfriend."
"We broke up after the race." She said looking down.
Michiru could only watch as Makoto leaned over and whispered into her ear. She watched the tall blonde nod before giving Michiru a soft smile.
"Sorry about that…touchy subject," Haruka said as she smiled at Michiru.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you upset."
"Haruka's ex is a witch. She didn't just break up with Ruka, she took everything from her. House and everything in it, a few cars, and got about a fourth of all her money. Luckily Setsuna got most of her accounts back. That woman used Ruka and nearly broke her."
"Did not!"
"Did to now shut up before I call her. The Ruka we know and love is in there somewhere and we hope to bring her back out."
"I'm sorry Haruka-san, I didn't mean to intrude into your life."
"Its fine. You were probably confused about me having a girlfriend and being here with you."
"Just a little. Do you have any other hobbies other than cars?"
"Well…" A light blush tinted her cheeks as she looked at her plate. "I like playing piano."
"Piano? When did you start playing?" asked the intrigued Michiru.
"When I was about 7. My mom wanted me to grow up to be a well bred lady. But she died when I was 11, and I came out a few years later to my dad. He kept joking about how I could pick girls up with that talent. I was hoping to play professionally when I got too old to race."
"Well, I'd love to hear youp lay sometime. Maybe you could play duet with me?"
"I'd like that too." Haruka said quietly a little embarrassed. Trying to get the topic off of her and to kill the awkward silence that seemed to have fallen, she quickly asked, "What about your family?"
"My dad just died a few years ago, so it's just me and my mom. She was fine when I came out, she said that she wanted to meet my partner when it got more serious." A light blush covered both women's cheeks. "She has only ever approved of Ami of all my girlfriends and she was right about each of the others."
"Do you think I'll pass?" Haruka asked with a smile, not seeing the small smirk that came across on Makoto and Ami's faces.
"I don't know. Maybe," Michiru opened her mouth to say something else when the Maitre'D come with the wine in a bucket of ice. A young looking man followed behind him.
"Your wine, and your waiter for tonight." Setting down the wine, the Maitre'D walked away leaving the young man standing there.
"Hello, my name is Kai and I shall be your waiter for this evening." He had a young boyish look but was very handsome. His hair was short and brown but had a silky shine to it that brought out his deep sky blue eyes. Unlike the Maitre'D, this boy was a native of Japan. That's when his gaze drifted to Michiru and Ami. A small smirk appeared on his lips as he poured them the wine, giving them a week as he undressed them with his eyes. This action was not missed by their dates as they gave a soft growl to him in warning.
"I'll have the fettuccini with a salad," Makoto said as she gave a snarling glare at the waiter.
"I'll have the lasagna with a soup and salad," Ami said as she gave Makoto a kick beneath the table and shifted uncomfortably.
"I'll have the same but no soup just the salad and breadsticks please," MIchiru stated eyes closed as she sat stiff.
"I'll have spaghetti with a chicken salad, no dressing or cheese," Haruka nearly snarled as she gathered the menus and handed them to the boy, "And you will stop staring at our dates before you lose job." A
Paling slightly, Kai nodded and quickly walked away to put their order in.
"Stupid kid thinking he can do that and get away with it," Haruka muttered under her breath and looked out into the surrounding forest area. She was still agitated until she felt a very slender hand grip her own. Startled she looked at it and up at Michiru.
"It's fine Haruka-san. You are my date for tonight and no one else," she said as she held onto the blonds hand. "Do you like to do anything else other than race or play piano?"
"Um…I…I like to go on runs…and I have a…a.." she blushed stuttering no knowing if she should say what she wants to, but Makoto quickly interrupted.
"She has a dog that she treats like her own child. He is exactly like her even down to having her eyes."
"Shut up Makoto!" She growled out before sighing. "Yeah I have a dog too. He wasn't fond of my old girlfriend, but that wasn't what I was going to say Makoto and you know it."
"Do you really want to tell her that so soon?" Ami asked, her voice barely reaching Haruka's ears.
"What is it?" Michiru asked looking at the three of them. "Its like you are all talking in code or something."
"Please just…hear me out before you walk out on this date. " She said. Taking a deep breath, she was just about to explain when her phone began to ring.
"Ignore it," Michiru told her wanting to hear the explanation.
"I have to take it. I'll put it on speaker phone," she said as she pulled her cell out and laid it in the center of the table. Pushing the talk button, she smiled softly. "Hey Hime-chan."
Michiru looked at her in surprise. Giving the other two a curious glance, they each shook their head and pointed to the phone.
"Haruka-papa, Setsuna-mama is picking on me again," said a voice came over the phone sounding small, quiet, and childlike. "Oh yeah, when are you gonna come visit again Haruka-papa? I want to come live with you again." A voice in the background could be heard saying something, but it wasn't clear. "Setsuna-mama said to please come get me soon so she could play hide-and-seek in her room with Kunzite, whatever that means."
"Well, I'll come get you this weekend ok? I just need to find a place to live Hime-chan."
"What happened Haruka-papa?"
"No need to worry Hime, Ami and I are taking care of her." Makoto said.
"Hai Mako. Take care of Haruka-papa, you know she gets into trouble easily."
"Hey! I'm right here still." Haruka said with a pout which caused a giggle to erupt from the phone.
"I gotta go now papa, but we'll talk soon right?" Her voice was filled with hope and love.
"Of course Hime-chan. I'll visit this weekend ok?" Haruka said as she picked the phone up.
"Ok. I love you all. Bye."
"Love you to Hime-chan. Bye bye." All three chorused at once before Haruka shut the phone and placed it back into her pocket. Looking at Michiru, she gave her a sheepish smile. "Sorry about that. I haven't heard from her in a week and I was getting worried."
"You could have said it was your daughter. I would have understood," Michiru said with a smile as she looked at Haruka. "How long have you been her Haruka-papa? Must have been a while if you and her are so attached."
"I adopted her nearly three years ago, but she's been living with Setsuna until I had found a good place for her to live with me. I had one for a year, and I just needed to finalize the papers, but something went wrong. Now I need to find a new place. Normally I stayed with Setsuna, but she lives to far out for me to keep my job." She said scratching her cheek lightly, a deep flush creeping up her neck.
"Who's Setsuna?"
"Oh, she's one of my best friends and sorta like a mother to me. I'm an orphan as is Makoto and she adopted us and took care of us until we could live on our own."
"But you said you had a father."
"Had being the keyword. He died when I was 15 and I had come out only a year before."
"Oh, I'm so sorry."
"Its fine. You didn't know. But you're gonna love Hime-chan, she's such a good girl." Haruka said as she looked down.
"When can I meet her?" MIchiru asked. Looking up she saw Kai coming back with the food.
He quickly set the food in front of them and bowed before leaving, not even giving them a second glance.
"You think he's scared of us now?" Haruka askedwith a smile.
"You're being mean Haruka," Makoto stated, "I'll tell Hime-chan."
"Please don't. You haven't ever seen her mad. It's like that silent glare of hers would destroy you." She said whipping around to look at Makoto, before hissing in pain, laying her head on the brunettes shoulder.
"Haruka are you ok?" Came Makoto's worried voice. "Lean back if you can."
Haruka could feel a hand run across her back trying to encourage her. With a whimper of pain, she slowly leaned back and she felt a hand slide down to try and tug up her shirt. "I'm fine Mako."
"Yeah, but to make sure, Ami can you take Ruka to the bathroom? Please?" Makoto asked as she got up to let the blond out. Grabbing Haruka by the arms, she hauled the girl out of her chair and into a bent over position. Ami slid out as well and wrapped her arms around Haruka's waist to help hold her up.
"I got her Mako. Please be nice to Michiru," she said before the two walked away.
"What just happened?" Michiru asked.
"Pulled muscle probably. She works her body hard and gets cramps and pulled muscles a lot. She never stops to let the muscles relax and she is so nervous about this date with you, all of her muscles have been tightened in fear."
"I thought she felt tense when I took her arm earlier…" The aqua haired woman muttered.
"You're actually the first girl I've seen her with that she has been this nervous to approach and talk to," Makoto stated, "Normally she is very confident nearly borderline cocky. She must like you already." 'Or she is fearing rejection. Damn that Natsumi,' she though.
"But she just met me." Looking down, Michiru blushed.
"She usually follows gut instinct just like any person that has had to fight to survive. Sometimes she doesn't listen to it though, like with her last girlfriend. But shes a good girl. Trust me, she likes you a lot, but you need to tread carefully. She's very sensitive right now."
"Was her last relationship that bad?"
"Yes…I tried to warn her as did Setsuna, but she was just so happy we couldn't just break her heart like that. Her girlfriend was great at first of course, but Setsuna was on edge and she is an excellent judge of character. I hope you're able to help her."
"I'll try. She is very stunning, and that voice of hers makes my stomach get butterflies. Its her eyes though. I feel as if I could stare into them forever. Thank you for this opportunity to meet her Makoto. I hope she is girlfriend material."
"Oh don't worry about that. I can promise you, you've never met someone like her. She will make you feel as if you are riding the wind. If you give her a chance, I can promise you that you will never regret being with her. She can be a pain and will make mistakes that will make you feel as if she's an idiot, but you will feel like a Queen."
"I'll try."
"You'll try what?" a voice asked. Looking over they both saw Haruka leaning against Ami lightly, still somewhat doubled over.
"I'll try to help keep you out of trouble." Michiru teased, glancing over at Makoto to see if it was ok to make that statement. See her raise her fists like she was gonna fight, she guessed what the trouble was. "I hear you used to get into a lot of fights when you were younger."
"Aw man, why would you go and do that Mako? You know I haven't done that in years. I quit fighting a long time ago."
"Yeah..I know." She whispered taking in the double meaning. Getting up, Makoto allowed Haruka to slowly eas back into the seat.
"So what was wrong?" Michiru asked Ami as she slid over to let the other girl sit back in her spot.
"Oh just a pulled muscle."
"You sure that was it?" When Ami nodded, Michiru looked at Haruka. "You need to be more careful ok? And relax before you pull something else."
Haruka was about to answer when Makoto shoved a spoonful of spaghetti in her mouth. Chewing hurriedly, she glared at Makoto as she swallowed and sighed. "I promise I'll be more careful. There's nothing that can hurt me now. Not while I'm with you." She whispered, her eyes shining with a new emotion that was gone for the past few days. Hope.
