Chapter Twenty-One: Cute and Misunderstood
Part of Michiru couldn't believe what she had done. Getting upset by Haruka's words did not justify having to strike her but the woman's accusations had cut her deep. It was then she comprehended the depth of devastation Hikari's actions had wrought on Haruka. The pain of it still lingered in the tall woman, the emotions buried. If she understood Haruka, and she was beginning to, the blonde had a tendency of keeping her emotions hidden. She understood, but it didn't hurt any less for Haruka to think she was the same. Her hand stung where it had connected with the blonde's face and she could not hold back the urge she felt after seeing Haruka again for so long.
Her arms wrapped around the woman's neck and she brought their lips together. Her desire for the tall woman having lain dormant since Haruka had removed herself from the student's life was back in full force. Being in Haruka's presence re-ignited the flame and every inch of her body just wanted Haruka's against hers. Hope grew that the tall woman felt the same the moment she began to return Michiru's kiss. The student felt strong arms wrap around her and pull her closer and she was pressed against the length of Haruka's body. But their clothing was in the way.
The blonde's tongue was doing a clever dance with her own and Michiru moaned as Haruka took control. The only thing she could focus on was the blonde; the feel of Haruka's lips, the soft patch of exposed skin around her neck, the smell of her; a clean fresh scent of the wind as it swept in from the ocean and rushed through the countryside. Michiru was breathless as the woman continued her assault, her lips rough with need yet soft. When they finally broke apart, Michiru panted for air along with Haruka. Her entire body felt overheated. She wanted to face it, to run towards the flame, bask in it as she was wrapped in Haruka's arms and be catapulted into dizzying heights that would make her feel she would never recover from it. Only Haruka could do that to her.
She rested her head on Haruka's chest. Her lips touched one of the dark buttons of the blonde's shirt. Haruka's heat was tantalizing and comforting against the cool October air. "Haruka, take me home."
-x-x-x-
They took pauses in between kisses to strip. From the moment Haruka pulled the door closed behind them, they couldn't keep their hands off each other. Michiru's lips were plump and red, though her lipstick had long worn away. At the bottom of the stairs Haruka's boots lay haphazardly. A few steps up the discarded blazer lay crumpled and covering two stairs. Halfway up, Michiru's dark dress fell with Haruka's shirt; a few buttons missing in their hasty undressing. The only thing on Haruka's mind was feeling Michiru's skin against her own. At the top of the stairs Haruka's sports bra met the frothy, lacy bra of the artist's.
Michiru's touch was urgent as she grabbed the sides of Haruka's face and kissed the blonde. Lips parted easily, tongues dueled fiercely and still she felt she couldn't get enough. The weight of this desire crushed her so completely and there was nothing she could do to fight it. The only way out was to give in, to crumble under the pressure and let it consume her. Michiru's soft hands grabbed and caressed her everywhere, but Haruka felt it most on her naked shoulders, chest, belly and back. She was pushed against the wall of the hallway and there was a noise as something hit the floor but she couldn't concentrate, not when Michiru was kissing her everywhere.
Her knees went weak when the woman began to lavish attention on her breasts but the artist showed no sign of stopping. Her calloused hands landed on Michiru's shoulders, they glided up the graceful column of her neck before plunging into Michiru's wavy silken locks. She moaned out loud, unable to stop herself. Her cries were husky and she had trouble recognizing they came from her own throat. Grabbing hold of Michiru's shoulders she flipped their positions. Michiru's back was against the wall, her hips pushing towards Haruka's. Leaning down, Haruka captured the artist's lips with her own. This kiss was no less intense than the others. In between their bodies Michiru's hands were busy unzipping Haruka's dark jeans.
Her own hands glided down to Michiru's waist, then hips, her fingers slipping past the thin band of the woman's underwear. All she felt was heat and lace and then wetness as her long fingers found Michiru's hidden entrance. Michiru jerked, gasping into her mouth as Haruka slipped her fingers inside. Not to be outdone Michiru slipped her own hand inside the tall woman's underwear and soon they were both gasping loudly as they pushed each other towards the abyss of pleasure which awaited them.
Sometime after they finally made it to Michiru's bed where another round of lovemaking consumed them. And some time after that, when their heartbeats settled again Haruka began her story. That was when Michiru found out she only knew half the tale.
"As far as first loves went, at the time I didn't think mine was too bad. In books and movies, first love was this really unrealistic forever after or a very painful stage. In real life you don't end up with your first love. And if you did, it was a damn near miracle. Then again, I was only sixteen. I wasn't big on romance to begin with. I'm not bragging but I was always surrounded by girls in school. They all knew I liked girls but I didn't like any of them. They became simpering idiots around me. I suppose it's not a nice thing to say but when you can't even have a proper conversation because someone was too tongue-tied...well let's just say it didn't endear me to sad part was, even the upperclassmen acted the same."
"From the beginning Hikari was different. She was two years younger than I was. She didn't turn into a mess every time she saw me. Her sharp wit was never absent. Maybe it was because Hikari was confident. If she wanted something she was bound to get it. I fought the feelings at first; I had reservations about being with someone who was completely out of my league. Hikari came from a wealthy family while I did not. It just wasn't something I could simply overcome. Idealistic, Hikari argued why did we have to look at social status if we just wanted to be together. But I already knew money made a big difference in society. Either you had it or you didn't. Either you belonged, or you didn't. But Hikari wore away my differing opinion. She swore as long as I stayed with her we could make it work."
"Eventually I got tired of resisting Hikari. She just wanted to be together. I just wanted to be together. And through perseverance, Hikari won. When I didn't have to work Hikari took me horseback riding. We had picnics together, hidden in the maze of the gardens behind the Nakamura home. One time Hikari had convinced me to go for a joyride in one of Mr. Nakamura's sports car. I refused of course but Hikari cajoled, begged and pleaded until she got her way. I reluctantly seated myself in the passenger seat. I made her promise it was only going to be a one-time thing. I had hoped with my influence she would calm down. But I was young and stupid and that was my own ego talking."
"I was excited to be with Hikari everyday. Sometimes Hikari's cousin, Nagi came to visit and the three of us would spend time together. Nagi was shyer than the outspoken Hikari. She didn't share the sharp wit of her cousin but she was a sweet girl in her own way. But even though they were the same age, I always thought it was funny how Hikari anwered for Nagi sometimes. As if she couldn't rely on her to say the right thing. But I never thought about it too much. I was just stupidly happy to be earning money and I even had a girlfriend too. Life was good."
"I knew soon my summer break would come to an end and I might not be able to see Hikari for a while. After work I picked some of her favourite flowers and went looking for her. I looked every where until the gazebo was the last place left. I could see her pale hair fluttering in the breeze prettily from far away. But when I got closer I realized she wasn't alone. They hadn't seen me when I got closer I could hear the conversation."
It was Nagi and Hikari. Nagi was worried about how I would react once I learned that Hikari had a fiance. To say I was shocked was an understatement. And I was appalled at Hikari's response. All she said was, "What does it matter?"
"My eyes blurred and it was only when I swiped my hand across my face I realized it was tears. The stems of the flowers had been broken because I clutched them too tightly. I felt as if I couldn't breathe and I backed away quietly and left. I went home, holding back my tears and anger. What did I expect? That things would be magically different? Hikari's words didn't mean anything anymore. Words are cheap."
"I only had a week left to work for the Nakamuras. I decided I would just avoid her until my time was up. I succeeded for two days by staying away from all the areas that were hidden. But it burned inside me. She would have her excitement with me and then carry on with her fiance when the time came. I was nothing to her. When I couldn't take it anymore I confronted her about the conversation I overheard."
"Hikari laughed at me. She called me naive. Said, "So what if I have a fiance? We can still be together too. Daddy has a mistress and Mother stays with him anyway.""
"It repulsed me. Maybe I was naive, but that's not the kind of life I planned to live. It didn't matter who tried to convince me otherwise. I broke up with her there and then. Told her I wanted nothing to do with her."
"The next day when I went to work with mom Mrs. Nakamura was waiting for us. If it wasn't insulting enough for Hikari to treat me like I was nothing. Mrs. Nakamura accused mom of stealing her jewelry that amounted to thousands. We were escorted to the front gate. Mom hadn't said a word the entire time. I recalled Nagi's silent face and Hikari's smirk as her mother talked down to us. I lost it then. I kept rocking the gate until the butler came back out. He told us to go away, we were being a nuisance."
"I saw red. I wanted to release everything I held inside of me and I lashed out at him. I don't even remember what happened. But this time the police came and escorted us to the station. Mom was questioned about the jewelry she allegedly stole. Eventually they sent her home. I would have been sent away if it wasn't for this one policeman. He spoke to the butler and the Nakamuras and they dismissed the charges. Both of them."
"But mom couldn't find work after that. I started working part time after school but soon after mom got so sick she could barely move. She was taken to the hospital and for a long time it was just me and my little sister at home. I quit school right after that. Bills had begun to pile up like dead leaves and my dad was useless."
"There was only me. Hotaru was too young to work. And I was the one that caused it all anyway. If Hikari hadn't tried to get back at me mom would still have her job."
Haruka fell silent. She never thought she would have spoken so much. When she walked out of the gallery she had been prepared to say goodbye to Michiru forever. Except she couldn't. If her sixteen year old self had thought she couldn't resist Hikari then what would she have called what she currently felt for Michiru?
Her voice was hoarse from talking so much. But there was one question she had to ask,"I'm really bad news, Michiru. Why do you want to be with me?"
Michiru who had remained silent throughout her entire tale, but not without emotion. Once more her eyes glinted with moisture. Michiru's warm hand caressed the very cheek she had slapped earlier that night. "I don't think you're bad news at all. I think you're really cute. And misunderstood."
Haruka's blonde brows went skyward, "Cute? Misunderstood?"
"Mhmm," Michiru replied as her head found a comfortable spot on Haruka's shoulder, "cute. But also a bit stupid. Now hold me; we can talk about other things later."
"Wait, what about your opening?" Haruka asked, amazed at Michiru's capacity to accept whatever was thrown her way.
"The gallery will handle that, it doesn't matter if I'm there or not."
"Okay," the word was an exhalation as she let her head fall back into the pillow. She was suddenly exhausted. She felt as if she had been dragging a mountain all this time and now she had put it down to take a break she did not want to pick it back up. It was liberating in a sense. But she didn't think about it too much. The warmth from Michiru's body comforted her. The easy breathing of the woman became a rhythm that soon lulled her to sleep.
To be continued.
A/N: Finally, Haruka's past has come to light. That should answer some of the questions that have been thrown my way throughout the entire story. ;) Is it cliched? Perhaps it is a bit but it will have to do,this has been part of the driving plot all along.
On a side note, did anyone else, besides me think that a naked Haruka except for unbuttoned jeans totally hot?