Family Affairs

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The Lust Chronicles

Chapter Ten: Afraid of the water, Mr. Helmet Man?

" Haruka… " Michiru started as she opened the door to the blonde's room. She felt awkward, uneasy and uncertain as to what she should say. When she glanced up, hoping to look him in the eye, he was in fact laying on his bed staring at the ceiling. He didn't move or speak; he was entirely motionless. " What you saw wasn't… it wasn't what you think. " Michiru questioned herself on that statement. What did she mean is wasn't what he thought? It was clear what had been going on but she didn't mean for him to see it. She wasn't even entirely sure that she meant for it to happen to begin with. " What I mean is, I'm sorry. You're so important to me. I know you're probably thinking that I'm disgusting because I like girls or just disgusted that you had to see that… but if it makes anything any better, I didn't mean for this to happen, not like this. " Michiru bit her lip, nervous at the reaction she would receive. There was a silence between them; it was more acceptable because of the situation, but the silence made Michiru tense nonetheless.

" Come. " Haruka neither looked at her or seemed to care that she was nervous. Instead he demanded that he lay next to her on the bed, not coldly but not warmly. His tone was simply monotonous. It had no flavor, happiness, sadness or distress; indeed it did not display any sort of emotion related to those. It was hard for Michiru to tell what he was thinking for he was never in a state such this. " Come, Michiru. " The blonde placed a hand where she was supposed to lie and continued to stare at the ceiling.

Michiru nodded. She quietly made her way to his bed and comfortably situated herself a couple inches from him. " I like your bed. It's very soft and warm. "

" I like it too. " Haruka replied; his tone still held no emotion in it. After a couple of moments he heaved a heavy sigh.

" I don't mean to dwell on the topic, but, what are you thinking about? "

" About… the beach, my motorcycle, the mountains, the wind, the ocean. All the places I want to be, but can't. " Haruka for some reason avoided looking at her. He seemed more at ease with the idea of staring at absolutely nothing.

" Are you angry? "

" Should I be? " Haruka smiled weakly. " No, I am not. I'm simply, this. "

" This? "

" I can't really explain it, to be honest, that's why I called it 'this.'"

" Are you disgusted with me? " Michiru asked, almost trembling at the thought of Haruka rejecting her.

" Never. "

The aqua haired girl was relieved but confused. " Then what are you? You're not mad, you're not disgusted, what are you? "

" Disappointed, I think is the word. " Haruka paused. " I think that, of all things, you would've told me the truth. I believe that's what I'm most disappointed about. I feel like I've been left out. I mean, I figured that you watching Makoto from afar wasn't a normal sort of thing, but I was hoping you would've told me in a less direct way. "

" So you're disappointed because I lied? You're not mad, angry, disgusted, surprised? " Michiru expected to at least be hated for quite some time. She didn't expect for him to react as if he were somehow void of emotions because she lied. And while they did have a very important discussion about trusting each other, she still figured that the other factors regarding the situation would be more significant than the one regarding her dishonesty. Any way she looked at it, she still felt guilty. She underestimated how much she could trust Haruka and now she was suffering the consequences.

Haruka shifted. Now she was lying. The person whom, she claimed, had all of her trust, now held very little of it. She desired to release the whole truth, to tell Michiru how she felt, but if she did, she risked losing Michiru as a friend. Not only that, the way the night was going, it seemed as if Michiru already made her decision, whether she was aware it was a decision or not. Michiru clearly and obviously loved Makoto. That was her decision. Whatever rift that was created between them this year was most likely a product of what happened last year, as Usagi had mentioned a while back.

" Haruka? "

" Yes? "

" I'm sorry for lying to you. Would you care to know the truth? "

" It's not necessary, I know the truth as well as I would possibly want to know it. " Haruka let out one last sigh before she closed her eyes. Tonight was something she would love to sleep on, even if it didn't change the situation. She hoped it would but her hoping was useless. She'd never been so disappointed in her life for so many reasons. She wanted to continue rambling in her mind but she felt Michiru sneak her head on to her shoulder. Haruka simply laid there, a victim of Michiru's actions. It was absolute torture having the smaller girl so close, but at the same time, it was comforting. She didn't lose time in embracing what felt like a hug. Wrapping both of her arms around the smaller girl, she cradled her gently. Michiru didn't move and neither did she. All was perfect in the world of Haruka. Well, at least for the rest of tonight it was.

" Haruka. "

" Hey Michiru. " The blonde dragged her feet across the floor, challenging gravity with every step. She wasn't tired, she was exhausted. She spent all of last night studying for a math test, which she did absolutely fantastic on. Now all she had to do was celebrate the weekend by sleeping.

" You look like shi-- " Michiru clapped her hand over Seiya's mouth as he smirked with pleasure. " I mean, what's in the bag? "

" Oh yeah, the bag. " Haruka glanced down at the brown bag she had been holding, no, clenching since she left her class. " It's for you, Michiru. You left early today without lunch, so I figured you might want something to eat. " The blonde handed the bag over with more effort than she wanted to expend.

Michiru smiled widely at the idea of someone making her lunch. No one had done that since her mother stopped staying at home. And when that was, she couldn't remember. " Thanks, Ruka. " The aqua-haired girl whispered to the tall blonde as she watched him take a seat next to her. " What's in it? "

" Well… " Haruka placed a hand behind his head, a bit nervous at his creation. " I meant for it to be a peanut butter and jelly sandwich but I don't think that's how it came out. But, I did put some of your favorite chips in there, and a lemonade, because that's what you told me you liked. "

Michiru felt like she had tears in her eyes. She had to look away momentarily due to a flood of emotions that seemingly took her off guard. She couldn't believe that he remembered that's what her favorite chips and drink were. She told him that months ago, when they first met - but even then, she said it under her breath. " No really, thanks. "

" 'Welcome. " All was going well, especially given that Seiya was extra playful at lunch, until Makoto showed up. Haruka began to feel worse than she already started out being.

" Michiru! I have some good news. Minako is holding a beach party at her house. Only a few people are invited, did you want to come? " The brunette was almost pleading her to go.

" I don't think I should. I promised Haruka we would rent movies tonight. "

Makoto silently cursed the blonde. " How about both of you coming? "

" Sorry, Seiya was invited to the movies too. " Michiru replied, almost with pleasure.

" Then Seiya can come too. Why don't all three of you come? " Makoto asked with persistence and a very irritated tone.

" You got yourself a deal. We'll see you there. " Michiru winked at Makoto who walked away with a sense of pride and a feeling of success.

" Michiru, I wasn't going to rent movies with you tonight. Where'd you get that crazy idea? " Seiya questioned, not so much concerned with the answer.

" Didn't mean to use you as bait but I thought you might want to come. Are you going to come Haruka? " Michiru nudged Haruka softly who suddenly came out of a daze. " Are you? "

Haruka sighed inwardly, placing her head on Michiru's shoulder. Michiru returned the favor and rested her head on Haruka's. " I'm sort of tired. "

" I know, you don't have to come if you don't want. I just thought, since you liked Minako, this would be a good opportunity for you to act on your feelings. " Michiru said softly, half asking the question out of curiosity and half out of confirmation. She wanted to know if Haruka truly liked Minako as he said very little about her lately. A part of her didn't want him to even look at Minako but she knew she was going a bit over board in thinking such things.

' Oh yeah. Minako. I've been so busy lately, I completely forgot about her. I bet she's angry that I've been blowing her off. ' " That would probably be a good idea. I've been meaning to get a hold of her for the past week but my test in math has been stressing me out, I guess I just spaced out. She's a very nice girl, I hope I haven't hurt her in anyway. " Haruka heaved a relieving sigh as she closed her eyes. The blonde had no other choice. If Michiru couldn't be told her true feelings, then she would just have to move on. She had a strong feeling that it would be difficult to forget the feelings she'd been developing, but it wouldn't do her any good to be thinking of Michiru when Michiru would be thinking of Makoto. That was something she wasn't prepared to handle. But Minako, Minako gave her a fighting chance, and she wasn't like all the other girls. " If it means that I can act on Minako, then that means I'll go. "

Michiru nodded and bit her lip as she realized that Haruka liked Minako and Minako only.

" You have a really nice place, Minako. " Haruka mentioned as she was receiving the tour of the beach house. " And you really can't beat having the ocean as your backyard. " The blonde peered out the back window to see the waves smoothly sweeping across the sand and receding. Haruka felt her hand being taken and turned to find Michiru. Instead, she found a beaming Minako who lead her to the kitchen.

" There is tons of food in here guys! " Minako shouted to the others. Usagi came running in about to dig in when she noticed Minako had been holding Haruka's hand and, Haruka didn't seem to mind. " Usagi, what's wrong, you don't like the food? "

Michiru, Makoto, Rei, Seiya and Ami casually made their way into the kitchen, surprised to see that Usagi hadn't started eating just yet.

" The food?! No way! The food looks yummy, I was just wondering something. " Usagi let whatever she was thinking of slip and started to scarf down every particle of food in her sight.

" Hey… Haruka… " Usagi stuffed a muffin into her mouth and attempted to continue to speak. " … I didn't…know… that you… liked… Minako. " Haruka stared at her wildly as if she had been a dear caught in headlights. Everyone decided not to move as they felt the awkwardness of the question linger in the air. " That's… why … mm this… is good… I mean… that's … why … you guys… are holding … hands, right? " Usagi gulped down the last bite and placed a hand on her hip for emphasis.

Minako glanced around ferociously as everyone zoomed in on the two. She'd never felt so embarrassed in her life. It wasn't a secret that she liked Haruka, everyone knew that much, but for them to be placed in the center of attention over a question, was a bit too much. Haruka lifted their hands, squeezing it to reassure Minako that everything would be fine. " Usagi, Usagi. I'm surprised you've just figured this out. You see, Minako and I have been dating for quite some time. But, we've been keeping it to ourselves to avoid any trouble that other people might have with us. However, I'm glad that you know because Minako and I have decided to get married. "

Makoto choked on a grape that she had so delightfully placed in her mouth. Michiru giggled softly at Haruka's lie and watched as all the others in the room dropped their jaw. Haruka then took off with Minako, out the back door, and ran across the fine sand all the way until the water threatened to soak their shoes. The two of them laughed as Minako tried to catch her breath.

" I definitely didn't see that coming. " Minako said, breathing rather heavy.

" Neither did I. I sort of make things up as I go along. " Haruka grinned at her mischief. She had always had a way of telling the best lies in the world. They simply just came from her mouth unexpectedly but she never once was disappointed with any lie that her mind created. All of them were rather amusing.

" Did you see this coming? " Minako leaned in and placed a kiss on Haruka's cheek. She winked at Haruka and began to jog away. " I should get back to them. I promise I will be out in a bit! "

Haruka was all knowing but she didn't predict that would happen for at least a few more dates. Turned out she was more irresistible than she thought. She laughed inwardly at her comment, not believing that for one moment, her charm was responsible for that kiss.

" I saw that. Aren't you the sly devil? " Michiru walked past Haruka and straight into the ocean. She let the water get to be just under the skirt she had been wearing before she stopped. " Afraid of the water, Mr. Helmet Man? "

The blonde wanted to smile but refused to do so. She felt tempted to hold the girl before her, to hug her tightly. It was all there before her: the sun setting slowly on the horizon, the ocean smoothly moving around her as if she were a part of the water, the skirt that clung to her frame because the wind demanded it to, her hair being carried by the wind ever so sweetly, and her expression was more peaceful than she could have imagined. She could've sworn that Michiru was a walking, living, breathing angel. But she was sure Michiru would laugh if she told her that. Wouldn't she?

" I take it you're afraid. " Michiru continued when no response was given. " I guess we all have our inner demons. " '… and my inner demon is slowly starting to reveal itself… ' Michiru thought as the tall blonde came to mind.

" I'm not afraid. " Haruka whispered into her ear, stepping behind the girl quietly. " I'm never afraid, Ms. Kaioh. "

Michiru felt her heartbeat jump as she felt Haruka's breath on her neck. She wanted so bad to act on impulse but what that impulse was, she didn't know. She felt this desire build inside of her, intensifying by Haruka's presence. He was but inches from her neck and she didn't dare move away. She had to do something before she let this intense feeling take over. Quickly she splashed Haruka, in hopes that he would widen the distance between them. He did as she wanted but she was soon surprised when she found herself under water, with strong arms around her shoulders.

" Haruka?! " The aqua-haired girl felt the cold water touch every part of her body and quivered incessantly as she waited for the blonde to surface. She heard the water drip off his body behind her and she decided it was time. Time for revenge. Michiru responded by turning and tackling the blonde, pushing him back underwater. She felt his hands grab hold of her waist and drag her with him. When she resurfaced she was laughing more than she ever had in a long time.

" Who's afraid now, Michiru? " Haruka grinned.

Michiru's expression went serious as a thought traced her mind. " Both of us. "

Haruka's smile faded as he looked confused by the statement and by her sudden change of behavior. The blonde watched the smaller girl head back to the house, holding her arms to build warmth. What did she mean by that? Both of us were afraid? Was she talking about the water fight… or something else?