My second chance started with a question

by bymak

The now famous racer Haruka Tenoh finds herself in the middle of a park when at the other side she sees her, the now also famous painter & violin soloist Michiru Kaioh. The racer approaches to the woman that she used to know as the trophy wife of her 1st boss. In the mist of her sadness the violinist embraces her & ask a question with 1 painful answer that can change their future

11. I would walk 500 miles

OMG! OMG! OMG! They kissed!

And she ran!

I know! I almost killed Michiru myself! *gasp* So I couldn't stop there, or maybe Michiru could have suffered from a slow death!

Enjoy!

M.

(Btw.. that the review email scares the crap out of me, doesn't mean that I don't like reviews :3 So you are welcome to give me small heart attacks, especially if you are going to be as sweet as you currently are :D )

Chapter 11 - I would walk 500 miles

I still remember that night almost 6 months ago, when for a second I was bold enough to move forward and caress those soft lips with mine. I still remember how she brushed mine back, and how she deepened the kiss, how I deepened the kiss…

I felt a part of me I've never felt before, my heart raced and everything felt right, my body molded with hers, I pressed myself against her chest and she willingly held me tighter. I felt like a Princess out of a fairytale, sitting on her tower being kissed by her one and only.

I remember thinking

'Oh my God, I'm kissing her!'

And then… my past hit me like a bag full of bricks. My heart gave a pull and I remembered that every time I've felt something was right, I ended worse than before. And once that single thought registered my mind, it unleashed a horde of memories and pain and fears. I had to break the kiss before I could relate such a sweet memory with my darker ones.

I knew back then she was different, that she wasn't Kenta. She wasn't trying to conquest me to make the buying nicer or the years to come smoother. I knew she wasn't like my parents, who gave me everything and end up selling me to keep their social status.

I knew she wasn't like that one best friend I once confessed I felt attracted to a girl more than to the guy who was trying to be my high school sweetheart and that in turn confessed it to the girl and to my parents and I had ended up dating the guy for a whole year just to quiet the rumors, and to hide the truth.

I knew back then she wasn't the girl that led me to lie to myself, and somehow I knew she would be the one pushing me to be my truest me. I also knew back then as I still know now, that I could trust her not only my most inner secrets but my life… and my heart.

But that night, I needed reassurance, not from her, but from me. I needed to get a grip on myself and figure out what was that thing that I was feeling and what that kiss meant for me.

I needed to stop lying to myself.

Today, almost six months after that kiss, I still can feel on my lips the tingly sensation her lips brought to mine, those butterflies that invaded my stomach and that light smell of roses the wind blew towards us.

I inhale deeply knowing without a shadow of a doubt that if it weren't for her, I wouldn't be here right now, I would not dare to follow my dreams if she wasn't there to show me how dreams can come true, no matter how complicated life was.

"Miss Kaioh?" someone calls and get me out of my reverie, I look at the image in the mirror and smile slightly when I see my fingers are pressed softly against my tingly lips.

"Come in," I say, over my shoulder, recognizing the profound voice of the event organizer Mike Young.

"Madame Kaioh," he says from somewhere behind a huge arrangement of roses as he makes space in one of the tables set in my dressing room and smiles brightly, I raise an eyebrow as response since I've asked him to call me MIchiru at least a dozen times. He pauses, sighs and clear his throat.

"Michiru... you have 15 to get ready, and this came for you," Mike says pointing to the bouquet. "Whoever sends you this, really likes you," he says somewhat awed. "Well, likes you and has expensive taste, this arrangement has to cost an eye and a liver," I chuckle, I know perfectly to whom those belong.

"It seems I was too far behind, this one isn't quite the eye catcher like that one!" says Sonya, his assistant coming in with a second arrangement of flowers. It's smaller than the other one but it makes me smile brightly when I see it.

"My, my, please tell me you aren't picking the poor guy over millionaire," Mike says pointing to the two bouquets, and I chuckle.

"Actually, poor guy has more money than the millionaire," I say, "It's just, he knows me better than him," I said pointing to each arrangement.

"Huh. Interesting," Sonya says… "Will we meet either one?"

"You've met him before," I shrug pointing to the humongous arrangement of roses, "those come from my husband."

"And poor guy?"

"I haven't seen or talked to him in a long while now, six months to be precise."

"Is the tour keeping you away from him?" Sonya asks dreamily

"Sonya! Michiru's married!" Mike reprimands her, Sonya just smiled unaffectedly

"But, have you seen her husband? He could be her grandparent! It's almost like believing that the playboy girls actually do something with Hefner," she huffs, "So… is this tour separating you of your ... ehm… special friend?" I laugh at her curiosity

"Well, my friend travels a lot that's what's keeping me from contact him, but it's nothing like you are imagining, it's only a friendship…" I say, knowing that for labels, even that is a stretch of the current reality. Now, as for feelings, it was a whole other matter, at least on my side but I can't tell that to two perfectly unknown people.

"You know, I wasn't even able to tell him about this world tour before the press went wild with it" I confess, slowly diverging the conversation towards other businesses.

"Really?"

"Yeah, this whole deal came out of the left field to me"

"When Mina told us you were looking for a world tour, I couldn't believe it. I talked to your previous agent and he said that it was impossible for you to leave your country, Luv." Mike said.

"Hum," It's all I can get to them as an answer since my former manager knew pretty well I wanted to do a world tour and that I was willing to work with other orchestras if I wasn't able to sell a full concert as soloist.

"Then five months ago, she called me and told me you were looking for a tour. I was ecstatic."

"Mike, we should leave her be now, she has 6, and we are interrupting, Michiru," Sonya says checking her watch, "Sorry, Michiru."

"Yes, yes.. of course…Break a leg Michiru" he smiled.

Once they both left, I grab the card on the huge arrangement and take it out of the envelope.

"Michiru,

Please do another good concert. We don't want critics crushing your name and mine along with yours.

Kenta"

Always the romantic one, I roll my eyes. I wonder what the person writing the message would have thought about this one. I sigh and go to the second smaller one.

I have to smile at it.

It's straightforward and elegant and contains both her favorite flowers and mine; I smile remembering that conversation so long ago about our mutual dislike for being presented with red roses.

The arrangement sits on a square plate, the base is covered with white roses and baby's breath, then there's a second row of her favorite gerberas, the red ones mixed with red tulips and then, above that my favorite white orchids.

The card was hidden, and I had to gasp when I saw it was handwritten. That was a first, she had sent me flowers to each of the previous 50 concerts, just like Kenta... but this was the first time the card was handwritten.

"Dreams can come true, and my true is that I would walk 500 miles to get to you. H"

Before I can dwell too much, there's a knock on my door stating that my time was done. I put my hair behind my ear and I fix the diamond pin that has it half out of my face, checking once more that my dress is not messed up and with a deep breath I take my violin and walk out the door.

Seven months ago, I would have laughed if someone told me that I would be playing for a full house at the Sydney opera house with an instrument which needed security of its own for its modicum prize of 15 millions of dollars and that was a Christmas gift from Mr. Edwards. I presumed such feature took a lot of convincing from Haruka but George never told and I never dare to ask him.

But here I was, about to stand on the Sydney's Opera stage for the first time, the thrill ran through my body as I took a deep breath. But the tingly sensation of it wouldn't let me alone. My whole body seemed wired. Probably because I dreamed of playing here before.

However, once the audience sat quietly and I knew I had all their eyes over me, and as I closed my eyes and started to drift on my music, the tingly sensation became clear and I smiled. I knew it couldn't be, she was somewhere in the world preparing herself to take yet another championship cup. She couldn't be in Sydney listening to a concert of someone who she hasn't spoken since she ran away from her after having kissed her. Could she?

I played the first set of songs and smiled greatly when the time to take the break was finally there. And as the Sydney Orchestra takes the stage with a variety of classical themes, I took the time to search for Mike frantically.

"Mike! I was searching for you everywhere" I say somewhat out of breath.

"Is there something wrong?"

"No… I .. do you know if there's an F1 race here?" I frown

"In Sydney? Sorry, Luv but Sidney never had F1 races" he shrugs, "Oh did I happen to mention that there's a slight change of plans for the closing?"

"N...no?"

"Oh, sorry. It was something that came really at the last second, but I couldn't tell no."

"What is it?"

"Well, my boss ordered me to change the final for a duet with a pianist. He didn't tell me who, though, I bet is the redhead who came asking about Sonya and sheets." I was somewhat alarmed at the change of plans. Usually, you don't go making changes at the last second, nor you play without practicing with the person who will be accompanying you, or at least without practicing the song.

"Did they ask for a song?" I ask worrying my lower lip.

"Oh yeah... I know I wrote it somewhere" he says palming his body. "Oh here it is… Beethoven's Piano and Violin Sonata in F Op.24…"

"Spring?" I complete

"Yeah, exactly! See, nothing to worry about I bet you know it completely"

"I.. I haven't played that sonata in over 6 months… I don't know if I can do this, without practicing with my accompaniment it could be a mess"

"Oh… OOOh… I'm going to get Sonya and try to find your pianist and the sheets. Maybe you can't air practicing or something. No worries, luv.. Everything will be okay," He says but he is at least 3 shades whiter, if that's possible on a tanned person and almost runs away.

I sigh now somewhat preoccupied with the issue at hand, but then I heard the orchestra playing the Swan Lake and I know that's my cue to get ready to go back. Once they finish is time for me to play again, then after 5 songs of my own, there's a 15 minutes break then another round of classical with me as the principal violin and that was supposedly the end… and now we added that end.

'There's no time to worry about it now' I think trying to convince myself as I walk towards my dressing room to pick my violin,

'I've played that song out of memory before and without practicing' I think, as I start to walk towards the stage.

'But you played with Haruka back then,' my mind supplies as I stand in the marked place. And then the spotlight is on and thankfully as soon as the light shines over me, the only thing I remember is the tingly sensation over my body and all the pressure of the concert and all the fear of such a sudden change.

I relax knowing that everything would be ok.

Once I finish, I walk out of the stage to the now loud backstage, people from the orchestra is mingling enjoying the camaraderie, loudly talking and exchanging experiences.

I walk towards the table which holds some coffee, pastries, and things to munch. I grab a cup of coffee and take a sit on the first chair I see available.

Sonya finds me not long after and handles me a copy of the sheets for the end music with an apologetic smile. I try to concentrate myself on the dark notes in the sheet but my mind keeps drifting to the noise and the smells and not long after I'm remembering that day at George Edwards party.

I'm brought back from my reverie with the 5 minutes left announce, and that's when I notice I haven't took a deep look at the sheet and in time to hear a conversation about me

"Yeah, apparently Madame Kaioh is an F1 fan... or something."

"Why do you say so?"

"I heard her asking if there was a Sydney F1 championship to that Mike guy"

"But if she asked about a Champ Here.. she doesn't know the first thing about it"

"Yeah, I know! I wish Sydney held an F1 race.. can you imagine?" I shook my head and then with a sigh I walk towards my dressing room. I might as well use the silence inside to read the sheets and don't mess up the end.

The door is ajar, so I just hit it with my hip and keep reading the notes I'm supposed to play not looking inside only turning around to find the lights.

"Sydney doesn't have an F1 championship" a deep voice says, I gasp. "The race is in Melbourne"

And then I turn and my butterflies go wild and my smile gets huge, and I blush and laugh and my heart beats faster ... because after six long months of not having the courage to pick the phone and call her. After six long months of trying to forget her and failing. After six long months of knowing my truth…

I'm in front of Haruka Tenoh herself.

She smiles at me and my world comes undone. I run to her and without even thinking about it or about her current look or about the fact that I should be reading those damn sheets and panicking about a changed end.

I kiss her.

And she kisses me back.

Someone knocks at my door to let me know there's only one minute left and then we separate panting a little. Both our lipsticks are a mess, she fixes mine with her thumb and caresses my face with her other hand.

"I've missed you… so much," she whispers… "that I've would have come walking if I didn't find a car to bring me here"

I dumbly smile and nod, the tears contained in my eyes probably were enough answer for her. Since when I try to speak, she only puts her finger on my lips.

"Explanations for later. Let's go make some music"

And then I notice her looks…

She has this copper and curly long hair with a nice up do that will cover her face once she is playing the piano, and she is wearing a very feminine suit that leaves not much to the imagination. She raises an eyebrow

And then we walk to take our positions on the stage. As soon as the last notes of the supposedly last music sounded. The stage went black except for the spotlight where I was standing, and then a second spotlight came on and pointed at Haruka, we start to play and for sure the only thing I know, the only one I feel with me, is her playing like she was part of the song.

At some point I look at her, her wig covering half of her face, giving her a chance to wink at me, before continuing to look at the sheets in front of her, and once again I'm surprised by the rightness of the feeling that comes with having her by my side.

We finished playing, and we both bowed from our current positions, but when the curtains are about to drop, and I'm signaled to take the middle of the stage, she isn't there anymore.

I bow a couple of times, and then I go back, now in search of Haruka. But I can't find her anywhere. Despair invades me, and then, Sonya comes to me and gives me a small note.

"I'll meet you at your hotel later. I know you have some fans to take care of first."
"Is she gone?" I ask Sonya, and she nods yes. I feel somewhat down, but I have not the time to dwell since soon I'm being pushed by Mike to go outside and meet some of the people who came to the concert.

After almost an hour of greeting people and being praised, when I'm about to pass out of the need to see her and explain myself… Mike comes with one last person, and it's done. I am free to walk to the back and get in the car which will take me to my hotel.

When I start to recognize the place, the butterflies in my stomach get unleashed and I feel giddy and dubious, so confident and so weak at the same time. And with those feelings in tow, I get down to the Hotel, the front desk manager greets me warmly and walks to me

"Madame Kaioh, there's someone waiting for you at the Restaurant. She asked for a quiet corner. I've never confirmed your presence but she never questioned nor doubted of your stay in here."

"Yes, thank you. I was supposed to meet her here," I say with a smile and then he just nods and lets me be.

I walk through the glass doors of the Restaurant, and I gulp, the maître already ushering me to where she is. I find myself somehow walking or floating to her table. As soon as she sees me, she stands. She looks exactly the same as she was earlier, complete with light touches of makeup.

"You came," she says.

"Yes… I.." I try, but she renders me speechless with her dreamy face.

"You came…" she whispers quietly.

"You are here," I say in the same tone.

"Let's eat to see if I can start to believe you are for real"

We order and she keeps looking at me and smiling and whispering 'you came' not quite believing it. We don't bother to make small talk nor break the dinner with the heavy discussion that we ought to have at some point.

We just ignore both and content ourselves with exchanging glances and silly giggles. And when we finish, we both stand and she comes with me to the elevators. She tries to say something, but she only opens and closes her mouth without nothing coming out. The ding startles both of us, and with a nod of my head I ask her to join me. Her smile widens impossibly and she steps in with me.

We walk to my room in this stated of unbelieving awe and dubious fear of what might happen and then the door is right there, and we both go in.

I leave my purse in a chair, and she does the same. And we just stare at each other. I smile and walk towards the balcony, and she follows, the smell of the sea and the warm wind surround us, while we are illuminated only by the moonlight. She looks like a goddess.

"I'm sorry, Haruka," I said, and her face crumbles. She nods and turns around clenching her jaw, and starts to walk fisting and un-fisting her hands.

"I understand, Michiru. I won't bother you anymore" she murmurs

"Wait! It's not like that…" I say but she doesn't turn around. She stops walking but her hands remain in tight fists. "Please, look at me Ruka," I plead and she turns around.

Her face is one I never want to see again, her eyes held tears I don't want to see her unshed at least not for the reason she is keeping them there, her eyes are an obscure color showing how tormented she really was.

"I'm sorry, Ruka, for being a coward." I sigh. She braces herself. "I told you about my experiences in life... how I, how I always ended up worse for wear than at the beginning."

She nods, not saying anything ... she doesn't change her stance. I bit my lower lip, it's my time to be strong. The only thing I can do to make her strong again is being strong enough to be broken in front of her.

"When I kissed you…it felt so perfect that I felt like a Princess, wanted and adored. Then I remembered I once felt that way with him.. with Kenta. And it brought back memories I thought I had long ago buried. But buried and dealt with are two different things I figured later." I felt quiet for a while gathering the strength to tell her more. She didn't move, her tears never fell but the tightness of her fist never faltered either.

"Kissing you, felt perfect… and those memories were far from the perfection I felt then. I didn't want it to stain such a perfect memory with the blackness of undealt ones. I didn't want to remember kissing you with memories of Kenta and my family, and I didn't want it associated with memories of treason… so I had to let you go."

"Then a day passed and Ami got to my door and gave me your letter…" and I couldn't contain my tears any longer. "No one ever had done what you did for me, Ruka. No one ever told me it was my decision. No one ever gave me the reigns of my life before. And I felt overwhelmed and precious, and I knew I didn't deserve you right then. I still don't, Ruka. You gave me a choice but I'm still attached to a man who won't let me go…"

"And that. That shames me more than I could ever believe, because is a real proof of my failure as a person. How could I contact you and tell you anything to return to me, while I couldn't be a person by myself?" I cry, like I've never cried before.. and when I finish asking I can't see no more because of the tears. But I feel her embracing me, I feel her taking each of the tears which marred her suit without any judgment and she caress my hair and holds me together.

"Will you forgive me?" I mumble against her chest, and she laughs, brightly, vividly.

"I have nothing to forgive, Michi… you came…. I can't quite believe it yet, but you came back to me," she whispers in my hair. And then we both laughs like sillies, after a while she tries to say goodbye to me but I ask her to stay... we don't do much. We just hold each other in the dark.

"I would walk 500 miles for you, Michi," she whispers to me while I drift to sleep, perfectly snuggled against her, and somehow it occurs to me that we are like sea and sky. Perfectly aligned.

She chuckles and drops a faint kiss on my forehead.

"Yes, Madame Sea, we are perfectly aligned," I thought I heard her say… but that could have been just a figment of a dream.

When the first rays of the sun get to my face… I wake up to an empty room. A white orchid entwined with a red gerbera which weren't there before are the only signs that last night wasn't a dream, even if it felt like one.