Happy Birthday to you!~~

Michiru watched as Setsuna leaned over her birthday cake and blew out the candle. As she liked to call them, the girls clapped and cheered for Setsuna while the now older woman straightened her back and moved her emerald hair away from her face. She looks radiant, not an age of forty… or thirty? Michiru shrugged. How old was Setsuna anyway?

Michiru tried to clap her hand while holding her fourth glass of wine. Tried being the keyword here. Not only was one of her hands busy, but her mind was also buzzy already, and she found that the simple act of clapping her hands was… difficult.

"Cake!"

Michiru arched an eyebrow and shifted in her seat as Usagi almost pushed Setsuna out of the way. There was nothing scary about that except she was holding a knife, and she had declared that he was the one that should cut the cake for everyone. Michiru chuckled. Usagi and a knife, what could go wrong?

Thankfully, Ami decided it was best if she did the cutting and that Usagi could help by handing out the plates. That was an easy task; anyone could do it, right? In less than a second, the first piece of cake was on the floor, and Usagi was preparing her lungs to let out that obnoxious cry. Michiru took a deep breath, rubbed her temples, and exhaled. She … she was too drunk for this.

When MIchiru opened her eyes again, she saw her. All the ever-charming, all the ever-loving. The girl that always came to mind when she sat in the silence of her apartment. The girl that has been terrorizing her dreams ever since she met her…

Of course, Setsuna was going to invite Haruka to her Birthday…

Haruka had grabbed the second plate with the second piece of cake and took it from Usagi's hand. The blonde's smile was wide, apologetic, and… extremely sweet. Michiru tilted her head to the side and stared as Haruka pulled Usagi aside and told her she would be the one handing out the cakes.

Michiru frowned at that and narrowed her eyes on Usagi. She noticed the crimson blush upon her cheeks, she heard her mumbled words, and she realized...Usagi was drunk out of her mind. What was happening? Everyone was here to celebrate Setsuna's Birthday, not to get drunk. Then again, it was a Friday. Everyone here is a young adult fed up with adult life. Drinking was allowed…

Michiru looked at her now empty cup of wine, placed it on the coffee table in front of her, and sighed. Quietly, she watched a sober Mamoru grab Usagi's forearm and ushered her to sit on his lap. Wow, that was intimate. Michiru wished she could sit on someone's lap.

Michiru's blue eyes went back to Haruka. She narrowed her eyes again, and she wondered if it was because it was hard to see or because she wanted to take in everything. Haruka… looked adorable. Then again, she always looked adorable with her boyish clothing, Vans, and loose graphic tees. Her hair was messy, and somehow, that bothered Michiru. Didn't the blonde own a freaking comb back at her apartment? Did she even own a mirror? She looked at her again and decided that the ripped jeans were a little too much and that Haruka needed to buy jeans without so many holes. Didn't she notice that she was showing way too much skin on her thigh area? Not like she minded; she had hoped this was a pool party. Michiru tilted her head. How would Haruka look with a two-piece bathing suit? Would she even wear that? Or will she wear boyshorts and a tank top? Michiru pursed her lips, analyzing her small dilemma before deciding that it didn't matter what the blonde wore; she would appreciate it from afar.

Michiru grunted, her gaze moving to her now, miraculously full wine glass. She canted her head to the side and saw Makoto moving away with the wine bottle. Ah, there was the explanation. Michiru grabbed the glass again and leaned back on the sofa before bringing the wine to her lips, her eyes still fixated on Haruka.

And that's when green eyes are locked with blue ones.

Michiru gulped down hard as she felt Haruka's gaze switched to her own. Suddenly she felt very, very self-conscious about herself. Was she dressed too casually? Shouldn't she have worn that little black dress? Of course not; she was going to a close friend's birthday party, not to a freaking restaurant. Her button-down white blouse and shorts were alright, right? After dipping her eyes down her blouse, she lifted her eyes to find Haruka still looking at her. Haruka had an intense stare, intimidating even, but for some reason, today, she felt as if Haruka was looking at her very soul, and that made her nervous. She saw the blonde's lips move as she moved closer to her, but to be honest, Michiru wasn't paying much attention to what was coming out of her mouth, but the way her lips parted and tongue flicked as she spoke.

She sighed, leaned closer until she was at arm's length with the car racer, and then it dawned on her.

"Are you listening to me?"

Michiru blinked and shook her head.

Haruka chuckled deeply and said, "I asked, is this enough cake for you?" She moved her hand, offering Michiru a plate.

Michiru dipped her eyes lower to look at the proffered cake. It was way too much cake, but she wasn't going to complain or reject whatever advances Haruka was going to do to her tonight, not after she had been drooling over her for more than a year, not when the blonde was the first thing she thought about when waking up and the last thing she imagined when going to sleep. Not when she felt butterflies in her stomach when she saw her face on the news whenever they talked about her upcoming races…

They met through Setsuna. It was one of those nights she wanted to hang out with all her friends, and Haruka was there. Michiru didn't pay her much attention since Haruka seemed to be focused on flirting with Usagi and the rest of the girls.

"That's fine, thank you." Michiru grabbed the plate and leaned back once again. One hand held the plate, the other the wine, and she wasn't going to let go of the wine… but she wanted to eat the cake. By the excited hoots from the girls around her, the vanilla and chocolate cake was delicious. Decisions… Decisions…

After pondering what to do, the spot next to her dipped as someone sat down.

"Looks like you are dealing with a handful, let me help." Haruka said and took the wine glass from Michiru's hand and lazily rested her arm right behind Michiru. "Better?"

Of course! But Michiru wasn't going to say that. She nodded, grabbed her fork, and began to poke around the cake. She first tasted the vanilla and then finally the chocolate. The sweetness mixed with the bitterness of the wine wasn't a hot taste, but she could endure a couple of bites before giving Haruka the rest. She shouldn't eat sweets, though. Sugar and alcohol weren't good friends.

"We were lucky Rei lent us her place to celebrate." Haruka started, swishing the wine inside the glass.

"Yes, lucky," Michiru mumbled before taking another bite.

"How have you been? I heard you were working on a new album."

Michiru swallowed before nodding. "Yes. Comes out in two months. Available to download in every major music streaming platform."

Haruka chuckled. "Was that an impromptu ad?"

Michiru snorted. "Yes, it was. Are you going to download it?"

"Probably." Haruka teased, moving Michiru's glass of wine to her face and taking one long gulp.

"That was mine."

"Was," Haruka rectified, placing the empty glass on the coffee table again.

"You should get me another one." Michiru's speech was slurred, and she just noticed the more she talked.

"I think you've had enough."

Michiru frowned and turned to face Haruka, her eyes glassy. "Excuse you?"

"What?"

"You shouldn't tell me when I've had enough or not. I've had a stressful month with the entire album thing, I deserve to unwind."

"Who's driving you home after this?"

Michiru snorted in the most unlady-like way she could manage. "I am fine."

"Sure you are."

"Don't patronize me."

"I am not. I am being sarcastic, Michiru."

Not saying anything else, Michiru stood up, a bit shaky, and walked past Makoto, grabbed the bottle of wine from her hands, and walked outside. She didn't notice the worried gaze of her friends in the living room as she slid the door open.

She made it past the wooden deck, down the stairs, and over to a large oak tree embellished with dozens of charm papers. Each one of them had a prayer written on it. She didn't read them, though. She could guess that they were all asking for something.

Michiru never prayed; she never asked any deity for favors. Maybe when she was younger, her parents taught her a couple of prayers for protection, but that was it. As she grew up, she detached herself from all of that, but seeing those prayers attached to a tree, an old, ancient tree probably, she wondered how many of them were praying for someone sick to heal, for fortune to come their way, for love…

Michiru felt a distinctive sting in her eyes. She turned away and brought the bottle to her lips, and drank generously.

Suddenly, the bottle was yanked from her hands, and before she could snarl her disapproval, Haruka stood before her. The blond replaced the cork in the bottle and shook her head at Michiru. "That's enough. If I am not mistaken this will be your second bottle."

"What do you know?"

"I've been watching you. You've been drinking a lot and-"

"I saw you drink a couple of beers before Setsuna arrived, don't try to play saint with me."

Haruka's jaw slacked. "Well, yes, but I-"

"What do you care if I drink or not? Really? We are both adults, besides we barely know each other to be butting into each other's life."

"You are drunk, I am trying to sober you up. Why are you so bitchy all of the fucking sudden?"

"Because how many time do I have to look at you with hungry eyes before you notice that I want you, you dumb blonde!" Michiru blurted, stopped moving, and then covered her mouth. Crap… As much as Michiru wanted to look at Haruka's reaction, she turned her back away from her and exhaled shakily.

Haruk took a step back and arched both eyebrows in surprise.

Michiru closed her eyes and hissed. "I didn't say that out loud, please, tell me I didnt."

"You did." Haruka pressed her chin to her chest, trying to get a better look at the cringing Michiru.

"Can you please leave?"

Haruka shook her head and moved to stand beside Michiru, facing the prayer tree. "No. I think I will stay with you for a while."

Michiru sighed and massaged the bridge of her nose. She shouldn't have said that not when her brain was a mush of images and feelings and words and even music. "Haruka I-"

"You might not remember much tomorrow so you better listen up, Michiru."

Michiru stopped moving altogether and raised her gaze to the tall blonde. "What?"

"I didn't know you were into girls."

The violinist scoffed and threw her arms around dramatically. "I've undressed you twice tonight."

"Have you?" Haruka looked down at herself. "I don't know, I am wearing clothes."

"In my head!"

Haruka threw her head back and laughed.

"I- I mean it. I've been holding my breath ever since I first saw you that night. Hoping and praying that you noticed me or at least liked me." She shook her head. "Hoping you saw something in me."

"I see you. I see you now, I saw you that night."

"Do you? I can't articulate."

"You've said enough…"

Michiru nodded at Haruka's words; maybe the wine made it difficult for her to see what was going on.

"Michiru?"

"Yes?"

"I want to kiss you so bad right now… But I know you are drunk and I don't want you to regret it the next day, let alone forget our first kiss."

Michiru felt a liquid heat pool in her stomach and rose to her cheeks. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other as she stared at the tree. She wasn't much for praying, but right now, she prayed to eat the saltiest, fattest burger just so she could sober up so that she could enjoy her very first kiss with that delicious blonde.

The violinist crossed her arms under her chest and let out a soft feminine groan. "Let's sober up." She shrugged. "It is still early, I guess we can run off somewhere. I bet Setsuna wouldn't mind."

Haruka grinned. "Why do you think she introduced us in the first place?"

Michiru opened her eyes wide in sudden realization. "That sneaky little…"

Haruka hushed her, moved closer, and grabbed her arm. "I'll drive. What do you want?"

"You."

"As in to eat, Michiru."

"You."

Haruka's eye darkened with lust, and Mcihriu noticed right away. She grinned in all her stupefied drunkenness and moved to wrap her arms around the tall blonde's neck. She fisted the blonde hair on the back of Haruka's head and pulled her down for a clumsy first kiss.