Fighting For You Love
Chapter 25. Vivaldi. Part 1
There is a world where my heart feels at home.
It is the world of your wistful eyes, Haruka…
x * x * x
The bright flood of light pierced the dark hall, broke through and crushed down upon the stage, painting it with shining whiteness.
For a moment the quartet standing on the stage looked surreal. Like an ephemeral, bodiless creature stood she – graceful, beautiful, gleaming. Thick aqua-colored curls embraced her shoulders, blue eyes sparkling brightly in agitation. The violinist smiled into the darkness of the hall, faultlessly sensing the presence of her most precious, most loved person. Haruka held her breath – Michiru was looking straight at her.
Leaning forward a bit, the sandy blonde bowed her head slightly, her eyes never leaving a proud figure on the stage.
'I am with you, dear. You are excellent.'
A brief instant – right before the beautiful violinist lifts her bow for the first time – separated Haruka from the moment when this girl standing in the flood of light would stop being her Michiru and turn into the famous musician, Kaioh-san.
It came to the blonde's mind that both on the stage and at her easel Michiru always seems a bit distant, unfamiliar, unreachable. Haruka wanted to win this girl over once and for all, but every time her lover slipped away like a mermaid. Maybe it was the reason why their relationship stayed strong through all these years – they did not get bored of each other. Being independent and self-sufficient, each of them used to have her own world and her own mission, and their bond completed and enriched their personalities.
…
In the meanwhile Michiru exchanged glances with the rest of the quartet, nodded and raised her bow. Silence befell the concert hall.
And the music picked up swiftly.
The corners of Haruka's lips stirred in a tiny smile. What a beautiful sight Michiru presented while playing the violin! Music was her life, and with her eyes shut and her lips smiling faintly, the girl created it, led it through herself into the world, wove it out of thin air.
Her music found its way to people's hearts, stirred up old feelings – one by one, the memories revived and flowed – old and recent. Evoked by the melody, obedient to its rhythm and ornament, some came joyful, some – not…
"Spring". Allegro
Haruka thought unwittingly that Vivaldi's music fitted her lover just fine. The "Spring" – agile, bright, lively – was exactly like Michiru when she is captivated by inspiration or is playful as a little girl, during their spare time.
The wind senshi thought of times when they drove to the sea and ran along the barren shore wildly, roaring with laughter and raising myriads of sparkling drops. She remembered how quietly, almost freezing in the air, semitransparent pink petals of a sakura, growing beside an abandoned temple, waltzed and descended onto her lover's closed eyelids. Michiru's skin shimmered as a pearl in the dim moonlight, and it felt like no one but the two of them existed in that silent world…
She remembered the times when they went to the mountains to stargaze. Haruka would often wake up in the middle of the night to check if Michiru was covered properly; and she would lie awake for a long while, tenderly watching the refined features of her sleeping lover. And her fingers would tremble when she touched that perfect face of her precious one…
But it had gone now. That sacred tremble now belongs to another, and the blue of another's eyes makes her heart skip a beat.
Who could have thought things would take this turn, when the joyous frolic princess had joined them?
Odango Atama… That was definitely the least proper person who Vivaldi's music would fit to. It would be a marvel had that little girl had the slightest idea of the great Italian composer.
On a whim Haruka recalled how agitated that little one was when she caught a glimpse of a bunny from the car window on their way to the seaside cottage for the first time. So far it was from now, so innocent and sweet… She still remembered that radiant smile clearly.
Even now Usagi had no idea that she would have been kissed all over, had Haruka controlled herself a wee bit worse.
The sandy blonde smiled involuntarily in the darkness. The smile was gentle but it could not drive away longing from the bright emerald eyes.
So much changed during past weeks…
A high pitched trill sounded like a sudden thunder. It startled Haruka.
Just like a short while ago…
~ * ~ Flashback ~ *~
"Haruka!" A slightly noticed tinge of panic lacing Michiru's voice yanked the blonde racer out of her reverie.
Her reflexes, polished through years, made all work – the brakes screeched and the car stopped abruptly.
It was no good. No good at all. It was not the first time lately that she, sinking deep in her thoughts about Usagi and forgetting of time and surroundings, barely avoided a collision with a car ahead.
She would not care much if she was alone. But today there was Michiru sitting beside her; Haruka promised to give her dear a lift to her rehearsal before the grand concert.
"I'm sorry." The sandy blonde muttered, casting a sidelong glance at her lover. The latter sat silent, her hear hung down and her hands clenched tightly. Her sadness was almost palpable.
'For just a bit of time – when it is me beside you – cannot you stop thinking of her? Is it really so hard, Haruka…?'
"Should I rather take a taxi from here?" A calm even voice resounded in the car.
"I am sorry, Michiru. Please, stay. I will be more careful from now on."
A faint smile touched the violinist's lips. For a strange reason the wind senshi thought of a single match's light in a vast dark room – that smile, just the same, it was not capable of driving away heavy gloom.
"Well, now I can understand how you win, Haruka", Michiru turned away to the window, tucking a curly lock behind her ear. Her smile melted, passing its wistfulness to her blue eyes. "You soar up in the sky, the perfect match for the wind – who can stand against you…"
No answer followed.
Why, was there anything she could say?
…
Lately Tenoh Haruka won in a way that would seem effortless.
It did not matter who her rivals were or how hard they fought, on the racing track the blonde prodigy left all those known professionals behind with ease.
Newspapers went all out, eulogizing her victories and making guesses of a reason for such a swift breakthrough in her already breathtaking career. But no one knew her secret.
No one could even come close to it.
Odango Atama…
…
Usagi and she quarreled, and the stubborn senshi made the most of her car to vent her fury.
Her smaller lover did not return her calls, and burning jealousy pushed the racer forward.
They got to spend some time together, and wings of happiness carried Haruka to the finishing line.
Sometimes it was anger or rage to give her power, sometimes it was love to inspire her, but regardless of causes, time after time the sandy blonde came first.
Tabloids bawled around, calling her "charmingly reckless", "admirably self-confident", "devilishly talented", "unwarrantably risky"… But the true reason would have stunned anyone with its simplicity – Haruka was nothing but dependent.
Obsessed with the golden-haired girl. Bewitched by the one who was not a match for her neither in age, nor height or intelligence (it must be confessed). But, darn it, none of that ever mattered! She was special. And it was only for her, because of her, in sake of her that lately Haruka won every time.
Her beautiful star. Her lucky charm. Her little princess.
~ * End of flashback * ~
"Summer". Presto, tempo impetuoso d'estate
The bow flittered above strings, now barely touching them, now stinging them with brief sharp bites – Michiru confided her feelings to the violin.
August. The storm. Ruthless heavy drops falling upon the greedy dried-up ground. Flares of lightning and deafening peals of thunder – louder, stronger, sharper! The raving element matched Michiru's mood perfectly. Today musicians' playing was excellent like never before – the gorgeous palette of summer storm's shades – rich, vivid and bright – presented itself in its glory through ideally taken notes. The stage, the spectators, the concert hall, even time – everything disappeared, sank in oblivion, giving in to the onslaught of fierce music.
Something indomitable, rebellious, long-pent-up rose inside Michiru and broke through, subduing her bow and fingers. And all of a sudden the unfamiliar, bottomless depth of the long-known piece gaped before the girl.
It was not a usual summer storm – not only a caprice of merciless element – it was the true tempest of emotions. Blind, uncontrollable power, threatening to grind into dust anything that would stand in its way.
The violinist's body responded to this restlessness – it tensed, strained as a string, shuddered slightly – in awe and ecstasy.
She had always, with all in her, loved the stormy ocean…
There was only one pair of eyes where the equally uncontrollable element lived and raged. They were changeable, bright, expressive, and she had always derived her strength from Haruka's eyes.
But now her lover remained in the darkness, behind the edge of the blinding light. No chance to see her. No chance to reach her.
Alone.
An alarming ripple disturbed the smooth surface of her soul.
Why, she was completely alone now.
…
Strings moaned and vibrated, mirroring Michiru's heart cry and tremble. For a while, she had known, realized, felt that she was losing her Haruka – that always distant yet endlessly close soul – and the violin screamed itself in sobs instead of her.
As if she heard that silent cry, in the holding breath darkness of the hall a sandy blonde girl started, looked intently in the violinist's face – attentively, searchingly. Michiru shut her eyes. But there was no chance to hide, to conceal herself from the exposing floodlights – Haruka noticed two transparent drops glisten underneath her long lashes. Dark-sandy eyebrows knitted anxiously.
As Michiru was conveying the beauty and majesty of the immortal symphony, her own heart was yearning to leave her breast in inescapable longing and reach that only one who was the most precious person in the whole world for her. Yearning and breaking apart.
The storm rushed further. The vivifying rain poured down on the aching soul, bringing relief to it. The violin cried, cursed, whispered, and then revived, rising up from ashes. The same – dying and then reviving anew – was happening with Michiru's soul, her love, her passion and her inspiration.
Through iridescent haze of tears an image stood in Michiru's mind's eye: two blonde heads, leaning close to each other, and in front of them, the newborn ruddy sun was rising. An idyllic morning for lovers.
An idyll she was not a part of.
~ * ~ Flashback ~ *~
The sky had only begun to lighten up in the east; the clouds' edges, smoky-grey before, were turning pink, and little by little, bright and powerful, the joyful azure spread all across the airy endlessness.
Haruka walked out of the house and shivered slightly – the air in the mornings now bit her skin. Filling her lungs with cool freshness, the girl stood on her tiptoes and stretched her body up delightfully; then she spread her arms aside as if greeting the rising sun. Her throat clenched, her breath was taken away in pure rapture at the sight of the dawning daybreak.
Beautiful. What a beautiful morning was born!
The best time for jogging. As if for real, Haruka felt her strong resilient muscles obey her mental orders, and tight jets of the cold air stroke her short hair; she could almost hear the wind's whistling in her ears, and anticipation of intoxicating delight sent shivers down her spine.
Quick, she needs to wake up Odango Atama before this coolness, this freshness, this energy disappear! That cutie would miss everything; but this morning promised to be dazzlingly sunny and joyful.
Was it a mere coincidence or not, but such remarkable days would often fall exactly on those times when Koneko stayed at their house.
Something bright flickered not far away from the house, and the sandy blonde became alerted. Taking a closer look, she chuckled and noiselessly strolled to the silhouette looming amidst the verdure, guessing in passing what awoke the known sleepyhead so early.
Like daybreak incarnate there was a young girl standing in the grass – her bare feet all soaked in dew, her golden hair tangled, her slim body clad in Haruka's shirt that was thrice larger her size. Cozy, huggable, gentle – her sweet kitten.
With her mouth opened slightly like a child would do, the golden blonde was gazing in the dawning sky with admiration.
Haruka, with her breath held, was gazing at her.
Her heart banged in her chest. Hot. Painful. Sweet.
'You are enchanting. Koneko, can you… be only mine? Can you… stay?'
Sensing her presence – or maybe catching the mental call full of longing – Usagi started, turned around abruptly and, seeing the wind senshi, blossomed with a smile.
"Good morning, Haruka-chan."
The sandy blonde gave a short nod. She walked closer and slowly, carefully took away thick disheveled locks from the princess's shoulders, smoothed flyaway hair on the crown of her head, and grinned at herself mentally – since when did she need an excuse to touch her lovely girl?
Answering to the surprised blue look, she teased mockingly, "You look like you've been making love all night long. All in mess."
Usagi blushed slightly and nudged the chuckling blonde.
"Baka. I just… slept too… restlessly. I think."
"You're wearing my shirt."
The golden blonde's cheek darkened a bit more and her thin fingers began fiddling with a sleek cuff.
"Yes, I…" After a short silence, she admitted, "I like wearing your clothes, Haruka. Somehow your shirts feel the most comfortable."
Haruka smiled and, shoving her hands in her trousers' pockets habitually, shrugged her shoulders almost unnoticeably.
"I see. Keep it then."
The smile she got in return was full of gratitude and it became the best reward for her impulse of generosity.
Silence. Blazing sky. A lover's closeness.
In this magical morning even tiny details were perceived especially sharply.
"Aren't you cold yet?" The clear low voice broke the lingering silence. Teal eyes did not leave the sight of clouds gilt with first rays of the sun.
It was as if her words woke up Usagi. Before Haruka asked that, the princess did not even think of cold. But now… She shivered and embraced herself with her arms, trying to keep the remains of warmth in her thin white shirt.
She heard a low breathy chuckle, and her body was entwined, enwrapped, warmed up by the strong arms she used to deem precious long ago by now. Like a hot playful wind, Haruka's breath touched her ear.
"Is it better, like this?"
Her chin settled down cozily on the princess's shoulder, her smooth cheek pressing closer to the girl's ear. Warm… Haruka was so warm.
Usagi nodded, feeling hot blood rush to her cheeks and then spread all over her body, heating up every tiny cell of it and filling it with pleasant contentment.
'Couldn't be better…'
"Much better", she breathed out almost inaudibly and covered the blonde's hands with her palms. "Thank you, Haruka-chan."
The girl wanted to turn her head and cast a furtive glance at her savior, but a gentle kiss let her know that her intentions were discovered.
Haruka's lips teasingly outlined the golden blonde's auricle, and this caress sent shivers of delight down the princess's body. She shuddered, but the wind senshi decided that she was still cold and embraced the girl tighter, enveloping her small frame with tenderness.
Usagi threw her head back slightly and pressed her cheek to Haruka's tighter. Her happiness was getting almost unbearable.
The sun rose above the Earth, flooding the world with generous stream of vivifying light, but neither Haruka nor Usagi noticed it. The warmth of their fingers entwined, their bodies snuggled and their cheeks flaming with blush was closer and it was more important and more precious than the heat of the celestial body.
…
The first sunbeam peered into the seaside cottage, ran over the light semitransparent curtains, flickered in the wet track on a cheek of the girl standing behind them and rushed ahead merrily – to fill with sunlight the spacious kitchen where the utensils would clink and delicious smell would waft around shortly.
Michiru stepped back from the window and wiped her cheek stealthily. Soon two hungry blondes would come inside, and she would have to smile.
~ * End of flashback * ~
…
The storm calmed down, and Michiru lowered her bow. She blinked away unbidden tears, stood straighter and smiled at the audience. A moment to breathe before the next part of the concert begins. But people in the hall, unable to contain their impulse, all as one rose up from their seats and burst out with thunderous eager applause. Guest musicians – the worldwide-known virtuosos, standing on one stage with who was of itself a great honor for Michiru – smiled at her and almost invisibly touched their instruments with their bows, expressing their silent recognition and approval towards a remarkable talent of this young girl.
And only one person remained in her seat amidst this rejoicing crowd.
Paralyzed by the abrupt revelation that came down upon her through Michiru's music, Haruka sat stone-still; but in her widely opened eyes countless emotions piled up, changing one another as in a whirl. The storm of blue and green. The heart of tempest.
~ x ~ * * * ~ x ~
A/N: Thank you all who still wait and read this story! I appreciate your attention and your patience very much! I will not say much, I am eager to go finish the second part of "Four Seasons", the first of which was mentioned in this chapter. So, I better sit and work on it before my drama-mode is off, right? :)
On to the reviews and thanks! ;))
petiyaka – Hello my dear friend! You are always incredibly fast to read my updates, thank you so much for that! And your reviews are so elegant and emotional, I adore them :) You are so perceptive, didn't I tell you this before? Indeed, their happiness is frail. It's built on lies and hiding, so its age is short unless the girls come out in the light. Hmm, did you really feel dark cloud above them? Wow, you are so keen… Michiru might be a saint, true, but as of now she is quite a suffering saint. I feel obliged to give her some happiness, you know :) This is a strange feeling. But you are right, Haruka's feelings for Usagi are not that simple. Maybe it isn't love, the real love of itself but it is definitely something just as mighty and powerful. To be honest, I wanted to see Haruka bend and grow weaker under her feelings… however OOC it may look. Maybe I am just addicted to the drama but I prefer thinking it is a natural way to progress in such relationship :) You are right, my dear friend, it won't be so simple for those three even if Haruka and Usagi break up, Michiru has too deep feelings for both the girls. But I think that girl should think more of her own happiness :) She is too understanding. And as for Rei… (for a moment here I was like "Huh? Rei? What that one had to do with my story?" but then I remembered she was in the last chapter :)) I liked your guesses very much, you amused me greatly :) But I think I added her into this story mostly for Usagi. I guess she would need a shoulder to cry on when everyone seems to want something from her. Rei cares about Usagi very much, you're spot on here! And just like you, I think that she would not rush and do anything to make Usagi suffer. She might hit that girl herself but not to cross her up. I'm so glad you think about Rei this way! The best way among those you offered was N.2 indeed. It would be only natural if Rei did that :) But N.3 made me laugh hard :) I imagined Haruka and Rei bark at each other and try to keep Usagi to themselves :) Your imagination is great! You offered a nice idea of Rei going to Michiru and telling her, and you even thought of the consequences, wow! Way to become a great writer! :)) Thank you very much for your kindness and for your continuous support through all these… my, years! *shocked* I cannot thank you enough. I hope you will like this chapter as well, even though I admit that my style changed (probably), and I can't say if it was for the better :) At least, I am happy to know you've been enjoying it till now. Take care, my dear!
usagiharuka – Hello! It is so nice to hear from you! Thank you for keeping reading this story, it really makes me happy :) Ohh it's great that you liked that rain scene! I enjoyed writing it too, it came to my mind so vivid and in colors, I could see it :) Hehe, I guess the current part of the story suits your taste well then? I mean, there is so much about just Haruka and Usagi ;)) And yes, I should admit that I used to think the same way as you, about Usagi and Mamoru, that they got along awfully before they knew about their destiny which was to be together and save the world :) By the way, I liked your choice of the songs for Usagi :) I should yet listen to JLo's song but Overprotective, indeed, suits Usagi's situation just fine! It is like everyone tells her how to live, poor girl. But she's got great responsibility on her shoulder and always have had whether she likes it or not. In this story it is the same, she still has to make decisions and take responsibility for them. But the prize is good too – Haruka! :) She's worth every effort I think :) I am truly happy you take my story so close to your heart and sympathize with the girls deeply, thank you very much for your attention! It was great to hear from you :) I hope you will like this chapter as well :) Oh and Rei hasn't done anything bad yet ;)) Don't be so harsh on her, she is there for Usagi's sake (at least, for now :)) Take care!
seiusa-chan – Hello, my dear! First of all, thank you for your messages and your cheering and encouraging! Your support made me think about writing, but you know it already :) Just… again and again, thank you! Well, let's reply to your review :) Yes, it was fluff, I promised it, didn't I? Hmm, I did not think it will surprise you but… well, I guess after all those times when the girls tried to come closer and hesitated and suffered it was fast and unexpected indeed :) But rest in peace, drama is alive, and you will see it soon. I think :) I just wanted to give our girls a bit of happy time together before things begin changing :) I found it cute how you wrote that you would have no idea what to do if you were in their place. I hope you will never be in such a situation, dear. It's very hard. Even for Michiru, known for her endless patience and understanding, it's hard, what to say about us, mere mortals ;) Time will reveal everything, and everyone will get their share of knowledge but the question is what they will do with it. That is yet to see ;)) And I am sorry to make Michiru go through it, believe me… but I don't see another way for her now. As for Rei's appearance… hehe, surprise, surprise :)) But as I wrote already, I decided to throw Rei into the story for poor Usagi, before the girl eats herself and goes crazy because of the guilty feeling :) But it may change, though, you know… Maybe Rei will do something else :) As for your question in P.S., I think we all will see it in the end, if Haruka will choose Usagi over Michiru or not. Although, I think that even now it becomes more and more clear, no? ;) And your own story… even if you say it's bad and it was written long ago… I still like it, you know. I found it sweet and cute :) but if you will rewrite it, I will gladly read its new version as well :) Well, I hope you will like this chapter. And I wish you all the best :) See you!
starryice18 – Hello! As you may see, there are going to be more chapters, I did not finish this story with the previous one :) There is too much to happen yet before I will be able to write "The end" and change the status of the story to "Complete" :)) But I hope you at least enjoy reading it. Well, Usagi is still with both Michiru and Haruka. Technically. Oh and with Mamoru :) But if you mean that you wanted to stay them this way till the end… hmm, I should think about it :) You will see how the story ends, someday for sure :) Thank you for reading and reviewing it! Best regards.