Musical Dismay
Chapter 9

Haruka sipped her coffee as she stood in line at the convenience store to pay for me. "Are you sure you don't want a snack or something?" She grabbed the coffee cup from her friend to pay for it at as well. "What are you looking at?" She chuckled at the smaller woman's daze.

"There's some people by your car Ruka..." The violinist grabbed Haruka's sleeve to keep her from storming out the door. "Calm down, they're just looking."

"They're jealous." She turned her attention toward the clerk to pay for the two coffees and a single doughnut for herself. "Here you go." She handed the coffee to her roommate before tightening the scarf around her neck. She took a deep breath as she pulled her keys from her jeans pocket. "Can I scare them away?"

Michiru couldn't help but to laugh as Haruka held her thumb above the panic button on her alarm. "No, don't do that, try to be in the holiday spirit. Just politely ask them to move."

The blonde pouted. "You're no fun Michi." She held the door open for the smaller woman then followed her out and to the passenger side of the car to open it for her.

"Spoiled little rich kid." The two men who were in awe over the car started laughing at Haruka. "Probably never had to work a day in your life huh?"

"Just let it go..." Michiru looked deep into Haruka's teal eyes. "Please, just get in the car and lets go." She could see the clenched jaw of her dearest friend. "I don't need to take you back to the emergency room Ruka."

Haruka shut the door behind Michiru and walked around to the driver's side. "You don't know a thing about my life buddy. Now if you'll excuse me we have some place we need to be."

"Spoiled kid with an attitude...How'd you get a car like this if your daddy didn't buy it for you? Or is this daddy's car?"

"You guys act like you've never seen a Ferrari before." She started to open the door only to have it pushed shut. "I just want to leave. I don't want any trouble."

"Just tell us how you got this car. Kids don't get cars like this unless it's purchased for them."

She could feel her blood begin to boil at the constant questions she was being asked. She knew she didn't have to tell them anything. "I purchased it with my inheritance." She spoke in a hushed, solemn voice. She bit her lip, thankful the men were satisfied with her answer. A sigh left her mouth as she climbed into the vehicle, trying to ignore the laughter that echoed in her ears. "Bastards" was all she said as she started the vehicle and shifted it into gear to leave the store.

"Are you alright?"

"Yea." Came a curt reply.

"What did they say?"

"They called me a spoiled little rich kid. And said this must be daddy's car." Again she bit her lip.

"Well like you said in the store Ruka, they're just jealous is all." She allowed her hand to rest atop the shaking hand of the driver on the gear shift. "It's OK now, they're gone. I'm here for you."

"I know...I tried to keep my calm with them...They just wouldn't let it go."

"Is this your father's car?" Michiru asked softly.

"No, I purchased it when I was 16..." Her voice trailed off as she spoke. "After my parents died in a traffic accident."

"I'm sorry to hear that Ruka." She laced her fingers with Haruka's as she shifted into a higher gear entering the highway. "What were they like?" Her eyes never left the blonde's face. She smiled when she saw it start to relax.

"They were amazing Michi. You would have loved them." She smiled at the thought. "They accepted me for me. They accepted my choices in life, who I dated, what I wanted to do...things like that."

"They accepted that you're gay?" She tilted her head, wanting to learn more of her friend.

"At first they were reluctant. But I was their only child, they changed their mind once they realized they may push me away with their feelings and beliefs." The car's engine rumbled slightly as she shifted it to a lower gear due to the falling snow. "May take us a little bit longer to get there...unless the snow stops falling."

"Mom knows we're coming..."

"Tell me about your mom." She smiled as she glanced at her passenger for only a brief moment before turning her eyes back to the road. "And what about your dad?"

"Dad's around when he wants to be. I rarely speak to him, or of him." Her tone showed how she truly felt about her father. "As you saw he wasn't there when I was in the hospital." The blonde nodded. "Mom...She's got her moments."

"What do you mean?"

"Just that...I was amazed that she invited you to the house. But I won't be shocked if she has the sofa set up for you to sleep on. Considering we have a guest room. I think she's still coming to terms with her only daughter being friends with...a lesbian. Don't get me wrong, she loves you for what you did to help me. But every time we speak she asks if you've made a move on me." A blush rose to her cheeks. "If she knew..." She shook her head, unable to speak the words. "She'd disown me..."

"We'll just make sure she doesn't know then, right?"

"Exactly...So...now I know what you meant by you haven't had a real Christmas in a while. What about your friend Setsuna?"

"Setsuna's like the sister I never had. Whenever we'd get together for a holiday, it would only end up being the two of us. Very rarely did her family make it into town. This year, she flew to see her family. If it wasn't for that, I probably would have spent this holiday at her place."

Michiru could hear the sadness in Haruka's voice. "Hey...tomorrow, how about I show you the shopping district." She smiled. "I need to get a few last minute gifts anyway."

"I'd like that. I'd like to get something for your mother, to thank her for inviting me." The blonde took a bold step and reached her hand across to set it on Michiru's thigh. It wasn't moved for the next three hours.

"Pull off the next exit Ruka. And can you stop at the convenience store, I want a cup of hot chocolate."

"Yea, I'm running dry on my coffee too. It's too cold not to have it."

"Well, you wouldn't be cold if you didn't take your jacket off." Michiru scolded her and reached behind the seat to grab it. "At least put it on when we go into the store this time."

"Fine. It's coming right back off when we get back in the car though."

"And you wonder how you got sick." She opened the door as Haruka put the car in park. "I'll get my own drink this time."

"Yea, yea, yea..." She only smirked as she left the jacket rest on the passenger seat and followed the smaller woman into the store. "Nice and warm in here."

"Yes it...I thought I told you to put your coat on." Michiru frowned and smacked her friend's arm. "You're never going to get better if you don't take care of yourself."

"That's what you're for." She smirked and grabbed her hand before it came in contact with her shoulder for a second time. "Let me get that for you." She grabbed the medium sized Styrofoam container from Michiru and made her way to the hot chocolate machine.

"I thought I told you I'd get my own drink this time." She pressed to Haruka's side, trying to grab the container from her grasp.

"I'm in the holiday spirit. Now go away."

"Maybe I don't want to." She stayed close, though no longer reaching for the cup.

"You shouldn't tease me."

"Oh really?" Michiru couldn't control herself as she pulled Haruka down by the back of her head to kiss her deeply. She had been hesitant in each of their kisses. Not quite sure of how she felt for her roommate yet. Each passing moment she spent in contact with Haruka though, her feelings became stronger and stronger. "We're almost to my house." She whispered as she pulled away from the kiss.

"Then let's get going." The blonde smiled and walked to the counter to pay before leaving. She wanted nothing more than to ask why Michiru had been hanging all over her. Yet she knew if she were to bring it up it would most likely end. She only smiled at the other person that climbed into her vehicle. "From here I need your directions."

Within minutes they were turning into the long gravel driveway that led to Michiru's house.