Part IX: The Festival of Love
Haruka sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes. She had been lacking enough sleep as of late since she and Michiru had to practice. The duo rehearsed after the rest of the town folks were done. Michiru wanted it to be a surprise – Even to her parents. Haruka, on her behalf, just wanted to make Michiru happy. It was enough.
"Oi Haruka! Get up. Michiru-San is already downstairs waiting for you!"
Haruka heard Yaten scream on the other side of her bedroom door. She yawned and slowly got out of bed. She went straight to the bathroom and began to splash water in her face. Letting out a breath, Haruka stared at her own reflection. She saw her blonde hair tousled in all directions possible. She gazed at her green eyes, wondering how Kaioh Michiru could want a person like her.
"Didn't know you look good out of bed…" A voice from behind her spoke, startling her momentary daze.
Turning, she saw Michiru standing by the door way.
"I…" Haruka began to say but was halted with the smaller girl's finger on her lips.
She watched as Michiru stared lovingly at her, the fingers gently caressing her lips then her cheek. Michiru moved closer to her and leaned up for a kiss.
"Ohayo…" Michiru pulled away slightly.
She looked up to Haruka with a smile on her face.
"Ohayo…" Haruka replied and placed her arms around Michiru's waist pulling their bodies closer.
The two stood there for a while - Smiling, feeling their hearts beating.
"Are you ready for tonight?" Michiru spoke pulling out of Haruka's embrace.
She handed Haruka her towel and leaned against the door frame.
"Hai… I hope they would like it…"
"I'm sure they would…" Michiru walked towards the blonde and took the towel from her hands.
She wiped away the droplets of water on the blonde's face with a smile. Michiru loved the feeling of having to take care of Haruka. It was making her heart soar each and every time.
Haruka stared right back at Michiru with a smile on her face. At times like this, the blonde felt that it was like she was married to Michiru - Like she would have been the luckiest guy in the world. Well, in case she did become a guy. She held Michiru's soft hands a kissed her lover's palms. She earned a smile and was also rewarded with another loving kiss.
Way to wake up in the morning.
----
"Hajime! You better have a good reason of bringing your mother and me out here. Because New York isn't just a province in Japan!" Michiru's grandfather yelled as his feet finally reached the living room floor.
Michiru's father came rushing from the room they were preparing upstairs and almost stumbled. It earned him a soft giggle from his own mother – An arched brow from his father.
"Was the flight pleasant?" Kaioh Hajime frantically took a bow in front of his parents.
"Quite, I suppose. Now, what urgency is there that you have to drag your mother and me?" Michiru's grandfather asked in a stern voice that would make Hajime's sound like a puppy.
"Your granddaughter is seeing someone."
"Michiru finally found a guy she likes. What's wrong about that?" Michiru's grandmother asked but earned a glare from her husband.
She shrugged her shoulders and proceeded to the kitchen.
"Who is he?" A curious tone was set of by the elder Kaioh.
"Tenou Haruka. He's the son of our neighbor. He seems to be quite polite. But I need you to assess if he's right for our Michiru."
Michiru's grandfather took a seat and started to think quietly. Hajime took a seat too and rubbed his hands nervously.
"Does he work?"
"Hai. Michiru says he owns the Tenou Estates back in Tokyo. He's a casual racer too."
"That Tenou Haruka? He seems to be a carefree person… How does he treat Michiru?"
"Anou…" Hajime started to speak but Fei decided to butt in.
"He takes time to be with Michiru. But he doesn't spend too much time with her to the point that they don't leave each other's sight. He doesn't force Michiru into certain things and they're happy just being together."
"Kaioh Fei… Did I ask for your opinion?" His grandfather glared at him making him turn around.
"He seemed perfect. We want you to make sure he is."
"Hai. By the way… WHERE is Michiru?"
"Anou…" Hajime just ran his hand through his hair.
----
Holding hands, Haruka and Michiru walked towards next door. They stopped in the middle and held each other.
"I'll see you later?" Michiru asked looking up to the blonde.
"Hai… I'll miss you till then…" Haruka replied leaning down to give the smaller girl a quick kiss.
"Ruka…" Michiru was about to say something but a stern voice interrupted her.
"KAIOH MICHIRU!"
The two turned to where the voice was. They saw an old woman elegantly dressed in her kimono.
Michiru's lips curved into a smile and gently pulled away from Haruka. She ran towards her grandmother and hugged her.
"Big girl aren't we? Is he the reason why we're here?" Michiru's grandmother whispered making her blush.
Haruka walked over and politely greeted the elder Kaioh.
"Ohayo. I'm Tenou Haruka." Haruka spoke bowing down in all respect.
"Ohayo. Tenou-Kun?"
"Hai?"
"Would you be joining us for breakfast?"
"Anou…" Haruka wanted to reply no but didn't really want to make Michiru's grandmother upset just in case.
"He has to prepare for the event. But he'll be with us tonight." Michiru answered for her and looked at her with a nervous smile.
"Is that so? Ja ne Tenou-Kun." Michiru's grandmother said with a smile.
"Ja." Haruka smiled and waved before turning around.
The two Kaioh's watched as Haruka walked away.
"You choose well ne Michi-Chan?" Michiru's grandmother grinned and gave her a playful tap on the shoulder.
Michiru could only blush and smile at the comment.
----
Evening came and the main event was about to commence. Everybody wore the best kimono they had available. The lights made the small town shine like a bright star. Aino Minako, the town's resident singer, performed a song number with the three lights as the opening number.
While the first performers sang, Michiru peeked from backstage and saw Chiba Mamoru with her friend Usagi. She frowned when she saw his brother tagging along as well. She didn't really know how Haruka is when it comes to competition or jealousy – Though there was really nothing to be jealous about.
Suddenly she felt a hand slipping in taking hers. She turned and saw Haruka dressed attractively in a kimono.
"Ready?" Haruka asked leaning in to kiss Michiru's cheek.
Michiru felt the blonde's lips linger and smiled.
"Hai. More than I'll ever be."
From the audience row, the Kaioh family gathered and waited with anticipation. It would be the last performance Michiru would give for the town before leaving for New York. It would take a couple more years before Michiru would be able to do it again.
"Where is the boy? I haven't seen him." Michiru's grandfather shot his son a questioning look.
Hajime could only shrug and look around. He saw Mamoru's brother, Kouji and sighed.
"Kouji-Kun is here."
The elder Kaioh turned and saw the man and gazed back into the stage.
"I think it's perfect." He then said before taking his wife's arm.
Chiba Kouji, brother to Chiba Mamoru, the man who was supposed to be Michiru's fiancé till Michiru declined. The man is as tall and as dashing as Haruka. But he isn't Haruka. A plan formed into the elder Kaioh's head making him grin.
"Father… It's Michiru's turn." Fei whispered as he heard the announcer call Michiru up the stage.
As the curtains went up, the whole family was surprised. There stood the young Kaioh Michiru, beside her was a piano where Tenou Haruka was about to play.
There were gasps from the audience as the two began to play in unison.
The notes came flying like love letters in the air. The piano and the violin were played so magnificently that the audience was silenced in amazement.
The piece.
The piece wasn't the original piece Michiru was rehearsing. Hajime assessed. Those two cannot make a perfect musical piece in two days.
"Impossible…" He mumbled as he stared at the duo on stage.
Dumbstruck, Michiru's grandfather watched as her granddaughter played like she and the violin were one. The duo played like a perfect pair – Like they have known each other for years.
"Impossible"
From backstage, Seiya watched his friend. It was a while now since Haruka played for such event or even just an audience. He would hear his friend play but only locked in her room. She would never play for anybody else.
Except now.
Michiru had her eyes closed and thought of Haruka as she played. As she opened her eyes, she saw Haruka seriously playing the piece they have co-written. It was perfect. She smiled and prepared herself for the ending. With one last note, Tenou Haruka and Kaioh Michiru's performance gained a standing ovation. The crowd was proud to have such talents.
They knew their parents are proud of them.
Even Haruka's.
----
Haruka and Michiru sat on the sand while the town folks set up the fireworks display. In minutes the sky was blazing with lights. The two shared an embrace as they let time slip by. Haruka's arm wrapped around Michiru's waist, it allowed the smaller girl to lean against her.
Using her free hand Haruka took Michiru's hand and gently kissed her knuckle.
"Ruka…" Michiru whispered as she watched her lover kiss the side of her hand.
She could feel every part of her tingle – Her heart was beating faster.
"Aishiteru…" Haruka gazed up to meet Michiru's loving stare.
A smile crept in Michiru's lips. She caressed Haruka's cheek and leaned closer to rest her forehead against the blonde's.
"Aishiteru…"
They leaned in and let their lips meet in a passionate kiss. Michiru could feel Haruka deepening the kiss and there was no way she would complain. She wanted this too. To her surprise Haruka gently pulled back. She felt the blonde's hand on her cheek, then her fingers on her lips.
"I don't want is to rush anything…" Haruka whispered as she placed kisses on Michiru's cheek.
Michiru sighed and could only hold Haruka tighter. She felt her need but she knew they were giving in to their hormones it things escalated. She took a deep breath and held Haruka tighter. Taking it step by step would ensure their willingness. No need to hurry.
"Aishiteru…" Michiru whispered as she buried her head on Haruka's chest.
"Aishiteru…" Haruka held her chin and forced her to look up.
Their lips met once more. Neither noticed that the town's fireworks display has just ended.
