(A/N - there is a jump of about five days here. The previous chapters covered about two weeks in time that they got so close, then throw in almost a week of missing each other, mix it up and bake at 360* and this is what you get)
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"I still can't imagine you in a place like this," he muttered more to himself than to his friend as he walked around the brightly painted walls of the ocean cottage. "It looks like you used the leftover decor from the Golden Girls," a smirk on his face as he caught the dagger eye look of the tall blonde.
"And what would be wrong with that? Maybe I'm embracing my inner Blanche," gesturing to the updates that she had made to the cottage in the few days since making it her primary residence. "Isn't it amazing how I can feel so bad and yet look so good?" Placing her hand upon her head in a dramatic fashion, speaking the line with the same flair. Teal eyes emanating how she was trying so hard to cover the deeply etched pain with jokes.
"Is this how you choose to forget Michiru rather than try to fix anything? By ignoring her and playing house?" The severe tone was evident in his voice, seeing right past her act. Haruka just returned to her usual calm, confident smile.
"Oi! I can't help it sometimes! I'm like a fucking game of Mario Cart; once you catch up, I start throwing another thing at you, like the little fucking bananas to see if you can deal with it," her smile widening at his apparent confusion of her words. Given a light chuckle, as she decided to reassure him. "Relax, I am not ignoring her..."
"Doesn't look that way from where I'm standing," he cut her off. "Whatever, I am only here to drop this off," handing a small package to her. She narrowed her eyes at him but took the object from his hands. "It was left at the office today, so whoever sent it is clueless about your departure." She simply nodded, her attention on the carefully wrapped item in her hands as Seiya wordlessly took his leave.
Curiosity growing in waves, she moved to the small sitting area, placing the package on the table in front of her. Carefully untying the knot that held the fabric secure, exposing the chromatically colored book hiding within. "If you ever had doubts, some inspirational reading. I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you," She silently read aloud as she picked up the small note on top of the book. "Cryptic... I guess the sender enjoys brevity..." she mumbled as she set the card aside. She glanced at the cover, the color and design on the front instantly reminding her of her mermaid.
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She can feel herself swaying with the waves that she was currently submerged in. Her head was above the surface, barley. But she felt on edge, for any moment a wave could force her back down under the surface once again.
She feels a pair of delicate hands scoop under her arms, helping keep air flowing into her lungs. She looked around, usually in these dreams, she had wings, so why can't she fly? "I'll keep you safe," she heard singsonged from the beautiful voice attached to the arms that supported her. "We're right in the middle of heaven and hell. This world was made for us," her ocean guardian confessed, maintaining the assist behind her.
"Hell doesn't suit you, mermaid," she calmly responded as she continued to fight to keep the wetness that was covering her face in order to see her protector. The waves around her calmed slightly, and she was finally able to see the features of the mermaid. "I swear I won't do the shit I did before. I was scared to stay and scared to walk away," effortless spilled from her as she stared in ocean blue eyes.
"You finally know where you are heading? The goal that you must race to meet?" The mermaid questioned. Before she could answer, she felt the mermaid's hold slip at as a powerful wave was over them both. She flailed her limbs to both keep herself treading water and swim back to the mermaid.
She woke as she fell from the sofa, her arms wildly moving through the air. Landing with a thud on the hardwood, she felt the pain shoot through her body. Rubbing her backside as she climbed off the floor, the open book caught her attention. Is that what drove my strange dream... she pondered, picking up the book once again. She flipped through the pages she remembered well from the night before. As she read the story that was mysteriously delivered to her, the emotions from her dream exploded through her, the wetness returned to her face. Her sorrow mirrored the explicitly clear feelings of the book's protagonist upon her partner's departure. What seemed to start as a curiosity whether she would see the mysterious blonde in the story, growing into longing, lingering sadness at every good bye, the pain of her heart being twisted. All these feeling amplified every time she battled with the blonde only to have it deflated once they disappeared again. Without explanation. But Neptune still came back, greeting the blonde with joy even if she knew there was only pain to come. She understood why someone would gift this to her, but was at a loss as to whom. Who would've known that this story seemed written for her, mirroring the pain she felt in her heart? Releasing a heavy sigh, she was about to put the book down as she saw the second note stuck to the last page. "If you don't like this ending, you need to make your own."
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The exhibition hall hastily filled, and her showcase could be called a success, bringing a satisfied smile on her lips. Like any artist, there was the small voice of doubt in the back of her mind that not enough people would be interested in her art. She was quickly proven wrong by the number of fans who recognized the work from Neptune's cover and those who were generally interested—presenting an unexpected catch that more fans of her manga were there to meet her rather than see the art. It was a problem she did not experience in her first exhibition but embraced the manga's popularity. She had discussions with Sato and Setsuna previously, getting their thoughts having more publicity when they released the third volume.
"Sato-sama, this has been a perfect night. I must provide a gift at our next meeting for the hard work put into this evening. I have met so many new fans, and I am not sure where you found all of them," bowing in gratitude to her manager as he handed her a glass. The auction for the charity items was set to begin soon. In actuality, this was first opportunity to talk with Sato in all of the excitement, she had just stepped off the stage after giving a few words of her sincere appreciated for those who attended the evening that cause a few tears of gratitude to flow, receiving applause from those in the room.
"Gomen, Kaioh-san. However, I do not deserve as much praise as you give me. RedWing had already taken care of much of the details, and I suspect they did much advertising for the night. That may be the reason behind many of the manga fans attending this evening as well." Michiru graced him with a smile of appreciation nonetheless. Her mind was moving a mile a minute at his words. She had not heard from Haruka in a week. She had just found out from Minako that Haruka was no longer directing the campaign. As she surmised that it was not clear what happened, she was clearly concerned and asked Michiru if she knew if Haruka actually just disappeared. Her dismay grew when she reached out to the raven haired assistant, only to have Seiya casually comment they were both overwhelmed and Haruka likely just took a short vacation, slipping her blonde mind to mention it to the artist. His attempts at reassuring her that Haruka probably did not want to concern her before her art exhibition helped slightly. The absence of a definitive answer and the aggravation clear in his voice did nothing to relieve her distress. It took everything she had left to make it through the evening without losing her mind wondering, the chance she would show up tonight helping carry her through.
Turning her attention to the front of the room where artwork was displayed, she focused on the auction. It was the painting she had finished a few days ago depicting what she knew was the lake, and the waterfall that reminder her of the racer, was displayed.
"I see you finally settled on a title..." Setsuna whispered into her ear from behind. Michiru released a subtle giggle. "Well, it was your suggestion, after all," turning over her shoulder to meet the garnet eyes behind her. Both women's attention turned to the front as the bids were reaching the highest of the evening.
"Sold... Sky Kingdom Oasis sold to bidder 127," the auctioneer called out as Michiru stretched out her neck to see who it was. When she caught a glimpse of the round man with very little hair holding the flag for the auction, she relaxed a little.
"Not whom you were expecting," echoed from behind her. She didn't have to turn around to feel the knowing garnet stare focused on the back of her head.
"Only making a mental note who provide my thanks to after this for their generous donation," she coldly noted as she turned her attention to the next item on the stage.
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Sticking to the edge of the room, she watched the auction with great interest. She still hadn't determined why she was there at all. She gave a representative her selections from the catalog and her cap for each item. The confidence that she would win each one was easy, as the cap should be more than generous. She was clear why she was in the shadows, though. Tonight was Michiru's night, and nothing was going to take that away from her mermaid. She knew how these types of events worked, and no matter whom was intended for the spotlight, some businessmen were only there to gladhand the sponsor. Add in the minor technicality that she wasn't employed by the sponsoring company any longer, and she became highly motivated to avoid any awkward conversations.
The auction drew closed, and the teal haired artist returns to the stage, thanking all those who had made a bid and offered to meet any who managed to acquire items. She reveled in the idea to have an audience with the mermaid, but she dismissed it quickly. Tonight was Michiru's night. She looked up, suddenly feeling a piercing stare on her, and caught the mermaid eyeing her from the stage. Glancing towards the proxy she hired, he was looking at her curiously as well. Old man must be wondering why I paid him if I was planning on attending. Why should he care? Baka let the mermaid right to me. She sighed, winking towards the mermaid and nodding towards the patio area, silently signaling she will wait there until the mermaid fulfills her duties. Michiru nodded in ascent but did not alter the icy stare. She slowly walked out to the patio and took a seat towards the corner, where she was less likely to draw any attention. Since she got caught, she knew she had to say something to the mermaid.
A short while later, Michiru entered onto the patio. Much of the crowd had cleared out after the auction wrapped up and the open bar closed, leaving nowhere for the blonde to hide.
"Michiru," she started as she stood to greet the approaching artist, sincerely pausing because the sight took her breath away. "I hope the evening was to your liking," cringing internally as soon as the words came out.
"Thank you, Tenoh-san, for all that you had arranged for this event. I am led to believe that you carried a lot of the evening's success." Michiru bowed in thanks, a little too formal for her preference.
"Gomen, Michiru. I did not mean to be so distant from you." Baka, say it. You had to disappear for a short while, but your love never went away. You just had to learn how to define it. How hard is that to just spit out? Regurgitate the words in your mind if you need to!
"I understand, Haruka. I just... just wish you would let me in some time..."
"Michiru... I never stopped caring. I just... had to..."
"Just because you say it that way doesn't mean I believe you," Michiru hissed back. Haruka paused at the words but lowered her head in defeat. The artist was right, she wasn't quite ready to answer Michiur's challenge. The syllables died in her throat as she looked at the artist. She has never seen discord like this on the harmonic face of the beauty before her. Even now, she was avoiding looking at her. Even though it was faint, Haruka could see the agony that flashed across in the ocean blue eyes. It broke her to know that she put it there in the first place.
She could feel the cocky smile she usually wore fading from her lips. The look she was giving her was much darker than the annoying glare she would usually receive, causing her heart to almost shut down.
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Michiru saw something strange in the teal eyes. Pain overshadowed by insecurity, something she didn't think the blonde was capable of feeling.
"Haruka, what's wrong?" Gently taking the hands of the blonde in hers, emploring her to look at her.
"Nothing."
"Harrruuukkka," Michiru growled. "Are you mad at me?"
"No."
"Then what's wrong? You have been avoiding me for three days," she nearly pleaded.
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Haruka could feel her hands curl up into fists alongside her. She hated this feeling, and she hated knowing that her mermaid was feeling this way because of her. Just because of her problems, ones she didn't wish existed, in turn, were causing the mermaid so much pain. Her body started to tremble, her hands tapering at the fabric of her pants in unease. "I'm sorry."
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Michiru grew worried as the blonde's shoulders began to bounce up and down. She felt her anger melt away and replaced with concern. Before she knew she found herself on her tiptoes, raising a hand to the blonde's cheek. "Why have you been avoiding me?"
"I...I was scared."
"Why?"
"I was scared that you would go further away from me. That I couldn't make you happy."
"That doesn't explain the disappearing act."
"I would do anything to keep you happy, Michiru, so I did what I could."
"You ran my exhibit from the shadows, didn't you?"
"You deserve the spotlight more than anything. I... I just wanted to make sure you had the perfect night..."
"Did the thought cross your mind that I would want you here to make it a perfect night?" The teasing light was returning to the softness of her voice. She beheld the shocked look on the blonde's face, the way her eyes went wide, and her mouth moved into a circle shape, causing the artist to giggle. "Well, let me know when you figure it out," releasing the hold she had on the taller woman. "Thank you again. Good night Haruka." Leaving the still flummoxed blonde on the patio as she turned and walked through the doors.
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Hearing the door slam closed behind her, she braced herself for what was coming. Instead of a berating lecture, she saw a bottle in her periphial vision held out to her as the raven haired man took a seat beside her. They sat in silence, periodically taking a sip from the bottles each held as they stared out at the ocean.
"So did you suddenly find a passion for watching the water, or does this have something to do with a specific teal hair artist that you screwed things up with even though I told you not to..." Seiya broke the silence. She glanced at him for a moment before returning her gaze to the water.
"Considering this is my childhood home and I have always enjoyed the ocean from this very spot for a long as I can remember, I'll say the former. Your name isn't Google, stop acting like you know everything," smirking at her clever answer. Soon her face took on a frown, "but... a certain mermaid may have something to do with it." Placing the bottle down beside her, she turned her head towards her friend. "I tried to tell her last night... but she told me she didn't believe me."
"Can you blame her?" He growled. "You started confidently and all hot and heavy, and then you chickened out."
"I didn't chicken out," she hissed, recoiling at his words. Taking a more confident stance, shifting her body to face him head-on now. "I just realized there would be no one but her for me. Once in my life, I wanted to do it right." She looked down, realizing he was right, she had got into her own head before. She put her problems before her feelings for Michiru.
Hearing a low growl escape her friend, she glanced up to see what color commentary she would receive this time. She froze as Seiya grabbed her chin in a swift movement, bringing his lips to her and placing a chaste kiss on hers. As she moved to back away, his touch was gone. He was standing now a few paces from her, and she watched him with confusion, both as to what just happened and how he got so far away so quick that she couldn't punch him.
"If you want to keep your promise that she'll be the last to kiss your lips, you'll have to find a way to get her to kiss you again." Teal eyes simply narrowed at him as a triumphant smirk came to his features.
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Climbing inside the car, he glanced back towards the detached beach house. Checking the review mirror as he backed out of the driveway, he caught a glimpse of ocean blue eyes reflecting at him. Shocked, he stopped the car, spinning around in his seat. Peeking into the backseat and finding nothing, he relaxed slightly. He had seen this look before, Michiru cast him the same look as she left the patio, and Haruka, behind. The depths concealed within when she met his eye. Coming back into the gala hall, the artist seemed keenly aware that he was watching the brief interaction between the racer and the artist from the sidelines. She made a beeline right towards him as soon as she entered. She paused for a moment in front of him, the handful of words leaving her lips. Why can't she just love me? So softly and so plangently spoken, she didn't wait for the answer because she knew he didn't have it.
That was enough to ignite the anger him. Maybe he pushed it further than he should have, but he had to do something to steer the blonde in the right direction before they lost everything beyond hope. Too much was riding on this for the blonde to be stubborn now.
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After a very restless night followed by another day of press interviews, she found herself again at the same bar with the same fruit martini in front of her. She had anticipated a single appointment but suddenly multiple were lined up. Follow-up from the previous interviews regarding the pieces included in the auction. She had done her best to keep her composure then, but she absolutely did not want to explain to anyone where she found her muse for her work. Not when her muse was so far out of reach. She was releasing a deep breath, enjoying her moment of silence, when a familiar voice pulled her from her silent celebration.
"Another one, hmm?" Haruka murmured, eyeing the sight in front of her.
"Please, don't tell me you're here to join my club..."
"Club?" She chuckled. "I see; you're still going on where we left off. Alright, I was wrong. How does that sound?"
"Unconvincing."
"Are you not drunk enough for my charm?"
"Are you seriously going to keep this up?"
Haruka chuckles again. "What? I'm just quietly enjoying my drink," she added while she grinned knowingly. Michiru just rolled her eyes while she returned to her drink. The blonde sat there, humming to herself with a smile plastered on her face.
She then turns to Michiru, her smile growing more prominent. "Hey, this is my kind of beat," she exclaimed.
"Eh?"
"I said this is my kind of beat," she repeated, head bobbing and gesturing to the music that was playing in a room adjacent to the bar.
"I'm drinking a martini. Isn't that intended to be an invitation?" Michiru suddenly suggested, earning a surprised look on the blonde's face. Haruka rebounded quickly, the smile returned to her face.
"Do you want to dance?" She asked, offering her hand. Michiru shyly accepted the hand, her mind drifting to the last dance they shared and how this new beat could affect their movements. Haruka guided her onto the relatively undefined dance floor. At first, keeping pace with the rhythm and playfully twirling the artist on the floor before pulling her close as the beat seemingly slowed it's pace.
"This is why I love this song," the timber in her voice lower than expected as she spoke for only Michiru to hear. "The energetic opening makes this unexpectedly serene chorus just feel like the glimpse of a perfect moment before life picks up again." Taking the smaller woman into a two-hand hold as the beat picked up again. She pulled the artist closer to her, "but if you listen carefully, you can follow the same rhythm through the whole piece."
Michiru looked up to meet the teal eyes, unsure if Haruka talked about the music any longer. As she moved to look away, Haruka gently took her chin between her thumb and forefinger, keeping Michiru's gaze on her.
"When you love something, you sparkle. I am not sure if you've ever noticed it, but I thrive on it. You love the ocean. You love music. You love your art. I can see the sparkle. "
"Haruka, did you not see my art?" Michiru took a deep breath, wondering if Haruka saw the beauty in the designs that she did. The blonde wore her trademark crooked smile.
"I couldn't help but notice in your manga that maybe, art reflected life. That maybe I could be your muse," she teased
"Haruka, you are not my muse... instead, you gave it life. For a while, I felt like I was in the ocean, where I couldn't hear anything. It's so dark. But you... you have shown me the sky." She no longer listened to the music playing anymore, and it could have stopped for all she cared. At that moment, she only listened to the heartbeat of the blonde before her.
"Michiru, you may be the ocean incarnate, but your heart is my sky. The moments I am there, I am free."
Haruka blinked in surprise for a moment when the artist's lips claimed her own. No longer the tentative, cautious kisses from before, but full of passion. She gently pulls away from the racer, briefly concerned she would lose control on the floor. Haruka meets her with a warm smile. "Sometimes, you get lucky and find a soul dancing to the same beat as yours."
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Haruka cautiously enters the lobby of Michiru's apartment building, feeling the stare of the doorman on her the entire way. Her concern was softened with Michiru's relentless hold on her hand as she moved her to the elevator.
Haruka had offered to take the artist home and felt compelled not to leave the teal haired woman side. Finding herself lingering as they said their goodnights. Next thing, Michiru is inviting her up to enjoy some tea before calling it a night. The racer's long strides took too long, leading to Michiru pulling her to the elevator and up to her apartment door.
"Have... have you been rich this whole time?" Haruka muttered as she entered the smaller woman's apartment. Michiru paused in her steps, noticing the blonde still stood in the entry hall. She pulled her into the first of the sitting rooms, ignoring the racer's question since the square footage would likely speak for itself. Taking advantage of the blonde's proximity, she raised her tiptoes to meet her soft lips with her own.
Haruka kisses her gently, carefully, trying not to overwhelm her with the emotions raging inside of her. But as she parted her lips to deepen the kiss, meeting in small tentative movements. Feeling the artist's arms snake around her neck, pulling her down and closer, intoxicating her further. Haruka moved her lips down the artist's throat as she entangles her fingers into the short blonde locks. She gently tugged her head back, and meeting her with the intense stare of ocean blue eyes.
"Don't say it," Haruka spurted out as words began to form on Michiru's lips.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want to hear it."
"Why not?"
"Because I am greedy, and if you say it... just once... I will want to hear it forever," she whispered as she placed a finger upon her lips as if to silence her.
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Michiru just kissed the finger upon her lips, for now, her eyes slightly conveying the words upon her lips. Teal eyes glowed with understanding, a smile upon the lips of the blonde as she leaned in and placed butterfly kissed upon her neck. A smile was coming to her lips. This time, it's not just Michiru, reaching out, waiting, always waiting for Haruka. She had a fervent hold onto Michiru, mouth quick and desperate against her, actually wanting this, for the first time actually showing it, and Michiru can't help but let out a small whimper.
Haruka scooped her from her feet, moving her to the sofa as she continued her attack on Michiru's neck. As colors, shapes, and beauty move around us, I look at you as the warrior you radiate. Watching you move around the room, I sit there realizing my reality is better than my dreams. The words formed in her mind, almost as if they were not her own. She quickly disregarded that thought as she returned the passionate embrace from the blonde.
I feel you so close to me, and I realize that I do not want to make love. I want to hold my soul against yours and watch love make us.