Title: A Knight Without Armor
Author: Wind Water Time & Death
E-mail: OuterGoddesses@yahoo.com
Genre: Alternate Universe/Romance
Rated: R
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon & co. I'm just
borrowing them for a line or 300.
Authors: Please note the "R" rating and the word
"Lemon"... and I don't mean the kind of lemon you
put in your tea. Happy reading. ^_^
A Knight Without Armor
'Faster,' she thought, kicking the horse trying to
make it go faster. 'Come on Gwen, we're almost
there... almost...'
"And Sir Tenou wins another one!" the game master
announced once the crowd stopped cheering.
Haruka pulled Lady Guinevere to a stop and took off
her helmet. "That should teach you to challenge my
Guinevere with that poor thing you have Sir Thomas,"
Haruka teased.
Sir Thomas bowed his head humbly and turned to the
stables.
"Now, who's for some jousting?" Haruka grinned.
None of the courts people knew she was a woman,
which was a good thing. If they knew they'd probably
try to stuff her into one of horrid corsets and
dresses. She shuttered as she remembered when her
mother had tried to "feminize" her long ago...
~@~Years Earlier~@~
"Haruka, come back this instant!" her mother
snapped, yanking the child back onto the stool. "You
will finish the fitting or I'll have the smith come
nail you to the stool."
"But Mother," the ten year old complained. "Today is
the day I take on the steward and squire in..."
"And no more acting like a boy," her mother said
sharply. "You are a lady, it's time you started
acting like one."
Haruka stood still, even when the seamstress would
jab pins through her skin on accident. If there was
anything she hated more, it was wearing dresses...
she'd show them all someday, being a lady got you
nowhere.
Unless you were thrown in a lake, and then it'd
quickly get you to the bottom...
Later that day, Haruka stood in the greeting line
beside her mother and father in a frilly pink dress
and her long blonde piled and curled on top of her
head. She drew her finger across her neck when she
noticed the squire chuckling as he passed.
But, victory was hers, she had slipped a pair of
men's breeches on under her dress along with the
proper hose and shoes. And her mother never knew...
She'd show that squire something funny when the
party was over...
~@~End Flashback~@~
Haruka chuckled as she remember the beating she gave
the older squire after the party like it was
yesterday... Her mother had locked her in her
chamber for a month for doing so.
The knights were beginning to assemble for the
jousting matches.
She caught the eyes of one of the ladies in the VIP
box. The delicate young woman flushed lightly and
looked away. Haruka could not resist, she removed
one of the roses from Lady Guinevere's mane and took
it to the aqua haired beauty.
"A rose for the most beautiful damsel at court,"
Haruka smiled. "But only if she gives me her name."
The aqua-haired beauty smiled as she took the rose.
"Lady Michiru Kaioh," she said softly. Michiru
removed a peice of shimmering greeen silk from the
bosom of her dress and handed it to Haruka. "Soak it
in water before putting it under your helmet."
Haruka gave the girl an odd look before retreating
to the waiting area of the arena. She watched as
several men got knocked off their horses or fainted
from the heat. Unsurely, she soaked the silk in
water then placed in on top of her head before
putting on her helmet. The cool water seemed to
refresh her a great deal...
"Time to play somemore Lady Guinevere," Haruka
laughed, mounting her horse.
Guinevere snorted and stomped her hoof as if to say
that she was ready. Haruka took the jousting rod and
readied it for the competition.
"Sir Haruka Tenou must dismount his opponent if he
wants to win the games for today," the game master
said. "The same goes for his opponent."
Haruka lifted her hand in understanding. She was up
against one of the greatest jousters in the known
world... for once, she was nervous when at her
sport.
The horn blew and the two raced toward eachother.
She gasped in shock when she felt her opponents
jousting rod go through her armor. A sharp spike
peirced her waist and broke off as she fell from her
horse. "Guinevere..." she called. Her faithful mount
nudged her cheek as her mind slipped into darkness.
~@~@~@~
Michiru touched the soft face that lay pale on her
pillow. 'Her entire body is pale... I'm worried,'
she thought, delicately tracing the lines of the dry
lips. She snatched her hand away. What was she
doing?!?!
She wasn't supposed to touch another woman like
that! A soft knock sounded at the door. Michiru
quickly covered "Sir" Tenou with a blanket and ran
to open the door.
"I will tend to his injuries," Michiru assured,
pushing the door closed while pulling in the pail of
water.
Odds were, no one knew that Haruka was a woman, so
Michiru wasn't going to be the one that let them
know. She soaked a cloth in the cold water and
touched it too Haruka's face.
Two small teal slits opened against the pale face.
"Where... is... Guinevere," Haruka managed.
"She in the castle stables Lady Tenou," Michiru
whispered.
"Lady?" Haruka coughed.
"I know you are a woman... but I promise I will tell
no one of this. But I do not wish to lie about what
you are to your face."
"Call me Haruka pretty lady," Haruka smiled weakly.
"I promise I will repay the favor when I am able...
If I am ever able..."
"You will Haruka," Michiru whispered. "I promise,
you will."
The eyes softly closed again and Haruka's breath
steadied as she fell asleep again.
~@~@~@~@~
"I'll kill him, with my own bare hands," Haruka
growled, pacing the room restlessly. She was feeling
a need for speed... the kind she got when riding
Lady Guinevere at a full gallop. But Michiru had
flat our refused to let her out of the room.
"Haruka, please lay back down," Michiru begged,
putting a small hand around Haruka's bare waist.
"You are still weak..."
"Oh, I'm in perfect health my lady, I can assure you
that," Haruka smiled, but still sat on the bed. She
buried her nose in Michiru's soft hair and breathed
in the scent that reminded her of the sea. "How
about I prove it to you."
Michiru jumped up and moved away a good space. She
blushed slightly and turned away. "I had no idea you
were in a bad way Lady Tenou," she said in a low
voice.
"I can't help it," Haruka smiled, trying to make out
the soft curves of Michiru's body under the thin
night rail she was wearing. "I have a reputation
with the ladies though... a very good one at that."
Michiru turned quickly, her eyes wide in surprise.
"How... I mean, What... Then why doesn't anyone know
you're a woman?"
"Who said I had to get undressed to make-love to a
woman?" Haruka grinned. "You are beautiful when you
blush. And do not pretend, I've seen how you look at
me my lady."
Michiru's jaw dropped in shock then she composed
herself. "I... I... I haven't been looking at you."
"You haven't?" Haruka gazed into the bright,
innocent, green eyes and gave a wicked grin.
"I admit it... maybe once or twice..." the young
woman admitted.
Haruka smiled seductively. "Are you curious
darling?" she said in a soft tone, patting the bed
beside her temptingly.
Michiru opened and closed her mouth as she struggled
to find words to say. She mentally kicked herself
for the words that managed to find their way out...
"I'm getting married in a fortnight's time."
Haruka's teal eyes lost their playful shine and she
threw the covers over her head as she flung herself
down on the down mattress.
Michiru's heart leapt into her throat. She hadn't
meant to say something that would hurt Haruka's
feelings... But she had a feeling that she had just
made a big mistake to their budding friendship...
~@~@~@~@~
Haruka softly brushed Lady Guinevere soft coat with
her head laid against her withers. The strong scent
of the horse invaded her nostrils as she shared the
moment with the source of her fame and fortune as
"Sir" Haruka Tenou.
Lady Guinevere had been a gift from her father, at
the age of 13, the day before he had left on a
journey with her mother. Niether of them returned
alive... The Black Death had taken them while they
were in London, England.
Most of the memories of her father were fond... he'd
taught her to ride at age three. Taught her to sword
fight and joust at age six. He let her run amuk and
act like a boy until her heart was content. He also
squired Haruka at age 8 at Tenou Castle. After his
death, Haruka had to work her own way up to
knighthood.
Sadly, though she loved her mother dearly, Haruka
and Mistress Tenou never bonded. And Haruka's only
memories of her mother were ones that involved
spankings with a leather strap and threats of being
nailed to the fitting stool because Haruka had out
right refused to wear dresses as a child. Her last
memory of her mother was the up-turn nose at the
cropped off blond tresses Haruka had began to sport.
"My Lady Guinevere," Haruka whispered, with a smile.
"Run away with me, to a far off land... Where none
except the wind knows of us..."
The horse seemed to nod it's head, neighed, and
snorted at remembering the day they left Tenou.
"You remember the day to," Haruka laughed, patting
the horse's withers. "Alas fair Guinevere, Lady
Michiru says that I am not yet strong enough to
leave... What do you say we prove her wrong?"
Lady Guinevere nudged Haruka's arm with her nose.
Haruka took the sign and hopped up onto Guinevere's
bare back. Guinevere walked the path to the arena.
Both seemed to hold their heads up to the strong
wind that was accompanying the threatening rain
storm.
Haruka's over-sized shirt whipped around her small
frame, threatening to reveal her true gender. But
she didn't care. Better a life without dignity than
one without the woman she loved. She pulled Lady
Guinevere to a stop.
"Love?" Haruka murmured. Did she actually love the
one that had cared for her for the three months she
had been stranded at Kaioh Castle? Haruka laughed
when Guinevere gave a jealous snort. "No offense
Gwen, but Lady Michiru has things you can't give
me..."
Haruka nudged Guinevere's sides to make her start
walking a circle in the arena. Steadily, the two
built their speed until it seemed they were racing
the wind. Woman and horse were as one massive
form... both challenging the wind to a race they
knew they wouldn't win.
"Faster Gwen," Haruka called. Guinevere obediantly
began galloping faster without needing to have her
sides nudged. Haruka closed her eyes and left her
trust to Guinevere to lead them both safely.
Haruka smiled into the wind... it felt like she was
flying. She released her hold on Guinevere's mane
and held her arms out like wings...
"Tenou!"
It happened so fast, that Haruka wasn't really sure
what happened. All she knew was that she woke up in
Michiru's bed with a massive headache. She looked up
at Michiru's worried face and smiled the best she
could.
"Michiru..." She sat up and tried to touch the
tearful face. Her hand passed through the porclein
skin.
"I'm so sorry Haruka," Michiru wailed, flinging
herself onto the bed. "I didn't mean for it to
happen..."
Haruka stood up and turned to the bed. Michiru was
laying across *her* body, sobbing. The face on the
body was pale... deathly pale.
"Haruka... if you come back... I love you Haruka,"
Michiru cried. "Please come back to me..."
Haruka felt her soul being snatched back into her
body. She could feel Michiru laying across her
chest. Taking a struggled breath, she started
coughing. Michiru lifted her head and looked at her
with tear-filled eyes and a faint smile on her pink
lips.
"Why do I always end up in your bed naked?" Haruka
asked slowly.
"I saw you riding and was angry that you hadn't
listened to me..." Michiru sniffed. "So I went out
there to stop you... I must have scared your horse,
because she stopped really fast and you went flying
through the air..." She hugged Haruka tightly. "I
thought you had died..."
"I've survived worse," Haruka lied, trying to make
Michiru feel better. She opened her mouth to say
something else, only to be stopped by Michiru's
mouth on her own.
Haruka held the aqua-haired woman flat against her
body. Michiru was wearing her night rail again,
Haruka could almost feel the soft body through the
thin material between their two bodies. Finally
Michiru sat back up and gazed into Haruka's eyes.
Michiru had a soft smile on her lips as she untied
the ribbon that held the front of her night rail
closed. "Haruka..." she whispered.
Haruka's eyes widened and she sat up. She didn't
need any other encouragement... She pushed the rail
down Michiru's long, but nicely muscled arms until
it pooled around her waist. Her mouth watered as she
gazed over the beautiful form of Michiru's body. Why
did she feel so nervous? She had been with other
women...
Michiru pressed her body against Haruka's and the
two of them shared a kiss filled with love and
desire for eachother. Haruka laid back, pulling
Michiru with her. Michiru's long silky legs framed
Haruka's narrow hips as Haruka's hands slid up
Michiru's soft back.
Michiru's delicate fingers caressed Haruka's
breasts. Haruka rolled and pressed Michiru into the
down filled mattress. She pushed the bottom of
Michiru's night rail up around her waist.
Haruka's mouth trailed across Michiru's jaw, down
her neck, and to her firm, round breasts. Haruka's
tongue darted out to taste the salty skin and to
tease the hardened nipples. "You like that Michiru?"
Haruka asked with a husky voice.
"Yes," Michiru sighed softly.
"You taste like the sea..." Haruka smiled, nuzzling
the soft orbs before kissing her way to Michiru's
navel. She gently nibbled the flesh around the
indention before lightly touching her tongue on the
inside of Michiru's navel.
For a moment, Haruka debated kissing further down.
Instead, she kissed her way back up to Michiru's
soft lips and sealed her mouth to Michiru's as she
gently rubbed her area against Michiru's. A small
sigh escaped Michiru's lips, encouraging Haruka to
move against the other woman again.
The two women clung to eachother tightly and moved
against eachother in heated movements. Somewhere in
the moment, the thin bed sheet somehow wrapped
around their bodies, binding them together firmly.
Michiru screamed out in pleasure and they moved to a
place known only by lovers. Haruka lifted her head
to take a breath and groan in satisfaction, then
kissed Michiru again.
"Michiru!" a shocked voice exclaimed.
The two lovers stopped and looked at the older,
refined woman that had entered the room without
knocking.
Michiru's eyes widened in surprise. "Mother... I I I
can explain..."
The woman scowled and left the chamber, slamming the
door. The two lovers lay there, trying to recover
from their love-making and the shock of being caught
in the act.
Outside, they heard Michiru's mother yell, "Gaurds!
To my daughter's room instantly! That knight from
Tenou Castle has defiled my daughter!"
The two women gazed into eachother's eyes. Haruka
gave Michiru a passionate kiss then quickly got
dressed. "I'll come back for you," Haruka promised,
kissing Michiru's hand.
"Promise?" Michiru asked.
"As long as the wind caresses the sea... I promise
to be only yours my lady," Haruka whispered. The
foot steps of the gaurds could be heard approaching
the door. "I will return."
"Haruka!" Michiru screamed, as Haruka jumped out of
the window. She ran over and looked down, half
afraid of what she would see...
She saw nothing.
~@~@~@~@~
"Now I know why you asked me not to marry you to
Duke Authur," Mistress Kaioh growled.
"Now I can't marry him," Michiru said hopefully.
"I'm not..."
"He could care less if you are still a maiden. How
could you do this to me Michiru? Didn't I teach you
better? And with that womanizing Haruka Tenou..."
She scoffed as she looked at the bed sheets on
Michiru's bed. "Or was he not the first?"
Michiru's eyes took on a dreamy haze as she
breathlessly replied, "Haruka is my one and only...
my soul's partner."
"I'm sure he made all the women believe such
lies..."
"But Haruka loves me!" Michiru cried.
"He does? Did he tell you this everytime he ravished
you... Or even once..."
Michiru searched her memory. "No," she whispered.
"But mother... I beg of you, do not make me marry
that *old* man! Please, I swear, Haruka loves me and
would willingly marry me..."
Mistress Kaioh glared at her daughter. "In three
night's time, you will marry the Duke. Or I will ask
your father to cast you out of family!"
Michiru crumbled to the floor as her mother left the
room. "Haruka!" she cried.
~@~@~@~@~
Haruka turned on Lady Guinevere's bare back as she
thought she heard the wind scream her name. The
light of a candle shined out of Michiru's window.
"Soon my love," she whispered. "I promise you, I
will return soon."
Water from the ocean splashed up and she put her
mount back into a gallop. It wasn't fair, when she
finally felt complete, she had lost her other half.
She needed a plan, something to do in order to have
Michiru... She licked the salty water off her lips
and an idea came to her.
~@~@~@~@~
Michiru sighed heavily as she waited for the priest
to go over the rites to seal her marriage to a man
older than her grandfather. 'Where are you Haruka,
why haven't you returned to me?' she thought.
Her mother had deamed the beach worthy for the
marriage ceremony, since the village didn't have a
big enough church to hold all of her future
husband's family.
"Should anyone object... speak now."
Michiru cast a frantic glance at her mother.
Mistress Kaioh gave her a narrow-eyed glare.
"So, with the power invested in me, in God and this
church, I now pronounce you---"
Everyone turned as the priest's words trailed off.
Michiru smiled as she looked into the shining teal
eyes. Haruka dismounted Guinevere and slowly walked
toward the makeshift alter.
"Gwen," Haruka said softly, pointing to the ground.
The horse knelt down on it's front legs. The white
blouse she wore blew in the wind and hung past her
waist, almost hiding her men's knee breeches.
Michiru had never seen her lover look so
beautiful...
"Gaurds!!!" Mistress Kaioh screamed. "Get him
now!!!"
Haruka smiled and held out her hand. "Michiru," she
said, with a soft look in her eyes.
Michiru quickly got to her feet and ran to Haruka's
arms. "You came back!"
"I'll just wisk this lovely sea nymph away from all
of you now," Haruka grinned. She kissed Michiru,
getting several shocked gasps from the wedding
guests. The two ran to Guinevere. Michiru sat with
both feet on one side of the massive horse. Haruka
whistled and Guinevere climbed to her feet. Haruka
jumped up and straddled Guinevere's back.
"Of course I came back my love," Haruka smiled,
kissing Michiru again. "I love you..."
The gaurds were running from the castle, ready to
arrest Haruka for disrupting the wedding.
Haruka gave the guests a wink as she said, "Ja ne."
She nudged Guinevere's sides and she galloped toward
the only way out of the castle's outer gates... a
narrow opening along the water. The horse bound
through the surf and rounded the wall.
Both women laughed in amusement when the water
sprayed them as they raced along the water's edge,
toward the sunset.
~@~@~@~@~
Ireland, a few weeks later...
"I think it's perfect," Michiru whispered, leaning
against Haruka with a soft sigh.
They were astride on Lady Guinevere, over looking
the ocean from a tall cliff. The wind carried in the
scent of the ocean below up to them.
"I had hoped you would like it," Haruka whispered in
her ear.
Michiru reached back and buried her fingers in
Haruka's hair. "Your hair is starting to get long
darling," she chuckled. "I love this place... I hope
Tenou gives us mnay happy years."
"It will love," Haruka promised. "I promise, it
will."
"Oh, did you hear that strange tale that the
courtier told?" Michiru commented as they started
back to the castle.
"No, please share," Haruka smiled.
"Apparently, a dashing young knight wisked the most
beautiful woman in England away... He had sandy
blond hair and teal eyes..."
"Really?"
"Yes, but instead of him being a well-known jouster,
he made his living by way of the lance..."
"I love sharp objects... Well, except when they are
used illegally in jousting matches..."
Michiru put a finger over Haruka's lips. "They do
not know his real name, so they call him Sir
Lancealot. Because he used the lance... a lot. Duke
Authur got promoted to King status, and the damsel's
name was Guinevere..."
"So I kidnapped the *king's* bride and diappeared
with her now?" Haruka teased. "Though I think Gwen
would love the idea of being upgraded to damsel
status... Wouldn't you Lady Guinevere?"
The horse snorted and shook her head in distaste.
"One think is certain though..." Haruka sighed.
"Hmm?"
"I love you... and you're not a horse."
"I'm flattered," Michiru laughed softly.
"To the castle," Haruka ordered and Guinevere ran
toward the tall stone castle close to the beach.
The End.
____________________________________________
This fic is called "A Knight Without Armor" because:
1. All the things that happen to Haruka out of her
armor.
2. It's said when people fall in love they lose their
"armor" or the wall that separates them from the
world.
I hope you liked it. ^_^
Author: Wind Water Time & Death
E-mail: OuterGoddesses@yahoo.com
Genre: Alternate Universe/Romance
Rated: R
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon & co. I'm just
borrowing them for a line or 300.
Authors: Please note the "R" rating and the word
"Lemon"... and I don't mean the kind of lemon you
put in your tea. Happy reading. ^_^
A Knight Without Armor
'Faster,' she thought, kicking the horse trying to
make it go faster. 'Come on Gwen, we're almost
there... almost...'
"And Sir Tenou wins another one!" the game master
announced once the crowd stopped cheering.
Haruka pulled Lady Guinevere to a stop and took off
her helmet. "That should teach you to challenge my
Guinevere with that poor thing you have Sir Thomas,"
Haruka teased.
Sir Thomas bowed his head humbly and turned to the
stables.
"Now, who's for some jousting?" Haruka grinned.
None of the courts people knew she was a woman,
which was a good thing. If they knew they'd probably
try to stuff her into one of horrid corsets and
dresses. She shuttered as she remembered when her
mother had tried to "feminize" her long ago...
~@~Years Earlier~@~
"Haruka, come back this instant!" her mother
snapped, yanking the child back onto the stool. "You
will finish the fitting or I'll have the smith come
nail you to the stool."
"But Mother," the ten year old complained. "Today is
the day I take on the steward and squire in..."
"And no more acting like a boy," her mother said
sharply. "You are a lady, it's time you started
acting like one."
Haruka stood still, even when the seamstress would
jab pins through her skin on accident. If there was
anything she hated more, it was wearing dresses...
she'd show them all someday, being a lady got you
nowhere.
Unless you were thrown in a lake, and then it'd
quickly get you to the bottom...
Later that day, Haruka stood in the greeting line
beside her mother and father in a frilly pink dress
and her long blonde piled and curled on top of her
head. She drew her finger across her neck when she
noticed the squire chuckling as he passed.
But, victory was hers, she had slipped a pair of
men's breeches on under her dress along with the
proper hose and shoes. And her mother never knew...
She'd show that squire something funny when the
party was over...
~@~End Flashback~@~
Haruka chuckled as she remember the beating she gave
the older squire after the party like it was
yesterday... Her mother had locked her in her
chamber for a month for doing so.
The knights were beginning to assemble for the
jousting matches.
She caught the eyes of one of the ladies in the VIP
box. The delicate young woman flushed lightly and
looked away. Haruka could not resist, she removed
one of the roses from Lady Guinevere's mane and took
it to the aqua haired beauty.
"A rose for the most beautiful damsel at court,"
Haruka smiled. "But only if she gives me her name."
The aqua-haired beauty smiled as she took the rose.
"Lady Michiru Kaioh," she said softly. Michiru
removed a peice of shimmering greeen silk from the
bosom of her dress and handed it to Haruka. "Soak it
in water before putting it under your helmet."
Haruka gave the girl an odd look before retreating
to the waiting area of the arena. She watched as
several men got knocked off their horses or fainted
from the heat. Unsurely, she soaked the silk in
water then placed in on top of her head before
putting on her helmet. The cool water seemed to
refresh her a great deal...
"Time to play somemore Lady Guinevere," Haruka
laughed, mounting her horse.
Guinevere snorted and stomped her hoof as if to say
that she was ready. Haruka took the jousting rod and
readied it for the competition.
"Sir Haruka Tenou must dismount his opponent if he
wants to win the games for today," the game master
said. "The same goes for his opponent."
Haruka lifted her hand in understanding. She was up
against one of the greatest jousters in the known
world... for once, she was nervous when at her
sport.
The horn blew and the two raced toward eachother.
She gasped in shock when she felt her opponents
jousting rod go through her armor. A sharp spike
peirced her waist and broke off as she fell from her
horse. "Guinevere..." she called. Her faithful mount
nudged her cheek as her mind slipped into darkness.
~@~@~@~
Michiru touched the soft face that lay pale on her
pillow. 'Her entire body is pale... I'm worried,'
she thought, delicately tracing the lines of the dry
lips. She snatched her hand away. What was she
doing?!?!
She wasn't supposed to touch another woman like
that! A soft knock sounded at the door. Michiru
quickly covered "Sir" Tenou with a blanket and ran
to open the door.
"I will tend to his injuries," Michiru assured,
pushing the door closed while pulling in the pail of
water.
Odds were, no one knew that Haruka was a woman, so
Michiru wasn't going to be the one that let them
know. She soaked a cloth in the cold water and
touched it too Haruka's face.
Two small teal slits opened against the pale face.
"Where... is... Guinevere," Haruka managed.
"She in the castle stables Lady Tenou," Michiru
whispered.
"Lady?" Haruka coughed.
"I know you are a woman... but I promise I will tell
no one of this. But I do not wish to lie about what
you are to your face."
"Call me Haruka pretty lady," Haruka smiled weakly.
"I promise I will repay the favor when I am able...
If I am ever able..."
"You will Haruka," Michiru whispered. "I promise,
you will."
The eyes softly closed again and Haruka's breath
steadied as she fell asleep again.
~@~@~@~@~
"I'll kill him, with my own bare hands," Haruka
growled, pacing the room restlessly. She was feeling
a need for speed... the kind she got when riding
Lady Guinevere at a full gallop. But Michiru had
flat our refused to let her out of the room.
"Haruka, please lay back down," Michiru begged,
putting a small hand around Haruka's bare waist.
"You are still weak..."
"Oh, I'm in perfect health my lady, I can assure you
that," Haruka smiled, but still sat on the bed. She
buried her nose in Michiru's soft hair and breathed
in the scent that reminded her of the sea. "How
about I prove it to you."
Michiru jumped up and moved away a good space. She
blushed slightly and turned away. "I had no idea you
were in a bad way Lady Tenou," she said in a low
voice.
"I can't help it," Haruka smiled, trying to make out
the soft curves of Michiru's body under the thin
night rail she was wearing. "I have a reputation
with the ladies though... a very good one at that."
Michiru turned quickly, her eyes wide in surprise.
"How... I mean, What... Then why doesn't anyone know
you're a woman?"
"Who said I had to get undressed to make-love to a
woman?" Haruka grinned. "You are beautiful when you
blush. And do not pretend, I've seen how you look at
me my lady."
Michiru's jaw dropped in shock then she composed
herself. "I... I... I haven't been looking at you."
"You haven't?" Haruka gazed into the bright,
innocent, green eyes and gave a wicked grin.
"I admit it... maybe once or twice..." the young
woman admitted.
Haruka smiled seductively. "Are you curious
darling?" she said in a soft tone, patting the bed
beside her temptingly.
Michiru opened and closed her mouth as she struggled
to find words to say. She mentally kicked herself
for the words that managed to find their way out...
"I'm getting married in a fortnight's time."
Haruka's teal eyes lost their playful shine and she
threw the covers over her head as she flung herself
down on the down mattress.
Michiru's heart leapt into her throat. She hadn't
meant to say something that would hurt Haruka's
feelings... But she had a feeling that she had just
made a big mistake to their budding friendship...
~@~@~@~@~
Haruka softly brushed Lady Guinevere soft coat with
her head laid against her withers. The strong scent
of the horse invaded her nostrils as she shared the
moment with the source of her fame and fortune as
"Sir" Haruka Tenou.
Lady Guinevere had been a gift from her father, at
the age of 13, the day before he had left on a
journey with her mother. Niether of them returned
alive... The Black Death had taken them while they
were in London, England.
Most of the memories of her father were fond... he'd
taught her to ride at age three. Taught her to sword
fight and joust at age six. He let her run amuk and
act like a boy until her heart was content. He also
squired Haruka at age 8 at Tenou Castle. After his
death, Haruka had to work her own way up to
knighthood.
Sadly, though she loved her mother dearly, Haruka
and Mistress Tenou never bonded. And Haruka's only
memories of her mother were ones that involved
spankings with a leather strap and threats of being
nailed to the fitting stool because Haruka had out
right refused to wear dresses as a child. Her last
memory of her mother was the up-turn nose at the
cropped off blond tresses Haruka had began to sport.
"My Lady Guinevere," Haruka whispered, with a smile.
"Run away with me, to a far off land... Where none
except the wind knows of us..."
The horse seemed to nod it's head, neighed, and
snorted at remembering the day they left Tenou.
"You remember the day to," Haruka laughed, patting
the horse's withers. "Alas fair Guinevere, Lady
Michiru says that I am not yet strong enough to
leave... What do you say we prove her wrong?"
Lady Guinevere nudged Haruka's arm with her nose.
Haruka took the sign and hopped up onto Guinevere's
bare back. Guinevere walked the path to the arena.
Both seemed to hold their heads up to the strong
wind that was accompanying the threatening rain
storm.
Haruka's over-sized shirt whipped around her small
frame, threatening to reveal her true gender. But
she didn't care. Better a life without dignity than
one without the woman she loved. She pulled Lady
Guinevere to a stop.
"Love?" Haruka murmured. Did she actually love the
one that had cared for her for the three months she
had been stranded at Kaioh Castle? Haruka laughed
when Guinevere gave a jealous snort. "No offense
Gwen, but Lady Michiru has things you can't give
me..."
Haruka nudged Guinevere's sides to make her start
walking a circle in the arena. Steadily, the two
built their speed until it seemed they were racing
the wind. Woman and horse were as one massive
form... both challenging the wind to a race they
knew they wouldn't win.
"Faster Gwen," Haruka called. Guinevere obediantly
began galloping faster without needing to have her
sides nudged. Haruka closed her eyes and left her
trust to Guinevere to lead them both safely.
Haruka smiled into the wind... it felt like she was
flying. She released her hold on Guinevere's mane
and held her arms out like wings...
"Tenou!"
It happened so fast, that Haruka wasn't really sure
what happened. All she knew was that she woke up in
Michiru's bed with a massive headache. She looked up
at Michiru's worried face and smiled the best she
could.
"Michiru..." She sat up and tried to touch the
tearful face. Her hand passed through the porclein
skin.
"I'm so sorry Haruka," Michiru wailed, flinging
herself onto the bed. "I didn't mean for it to
happen..."
Haruka stood up and turned to the bed. Michiru was
laying across *her* body, sobbing. The face on the
body was pale... deathly pale.
"Haruka... if you come back... I love you Haruka,"
Michiru cried. "Please come back to me..."
Haruka felt her soul being snatched back into her
body. She could feel Michiru laying across her
chest. Taking a struggled breath, she started
coughing. Michiru lifted her head and looked at her
with tear-filled eyes and a faint smile on her pink
lips.
"Why do I always end up in your bed naked?" Haruka
asked slowly.
"I saw you riding and was angry that you hadn't
listened to me..." Michiru sniffed. "So I went out
there to stop you... I must have scared your horse,
because she stopped really fast and you went flying
through the air..." She hugged Haruka tightly. "I
thought you had died..."
"I've survived worse," Haruka lied, trying to make
Michiru feel better. She opened her mouth to say
something else, only to be stopped by Michiru's
mouth on her own.
Haruka held the aqua-haired woman flat against her
body. Michiru was wearing her night rail again,
Haruka could almost feel the soft body through the
thin material between their two bodies. Finally
Michiru sat back up and gazed into Haruka's eyes.
Michiru had a soft smile on her lips as she untied
the ribbon that held the front of her night rail
closed. "Haruka..." she whispered.
Haruka's eyes widened and she sat up. She didn't
need any other encouragement... She pushed the rail
down Michiru's long, but nicely muscled arms until
it pooled around her waist. Her mouth watered as she
gazed over the beautiful form of Michiru's body. Why
did she feel so nervous? She had been with other
women...
Michiru pressed her body against Haruka's and the
two of them shared a kiss filled with love and
desire for eachother. Haruka laid back, pulling
Michiru with her. Michiru's long silky legs framed
Haruka's narrow hips as Haruka's hands slid up
Michiru's soft back.
Michiru's delicate fingers caressed Haruka's
breasts. Haruka rolled and pressed Michiru into the
down filled mattress. She pushed the bottom of
Michiru's night rail up around her waist.
Haruka's mouth trailed across Michiru's jaw, down
her neck, and to her firm, round breasts. Haruka's
tongue darted out to taste the salty skin and to
tease the hardened nipples. "You like that Michiru?"
Haruka asked with a husky voice.
"Yes," Michiru sighed softly.
"You taste like the sea..." Haruka smiled, nuzzling
the soft orbs before kissing her way to Michiru's
navel. She gently nibbled the flesh around the
indention before lightly touching her tongue on the
inside of Michiru's navel.
For a moment, Haruka debated kissing further down.
Instead, she kissed her way back up to Michiru's
soft lips and sealed her mouth to Michiru's as she
gently rubbed her area against Michiru's. A small
sigh escaped Michiru's lips, encouraging Haruka to
move against the other woman again.
The two women clung to eachother tightly and moved
against eachother in heated movements. Somewhere in
the moment, the thin bed sheet somehow wrapped
around their bodies, binding them together firmly.
Michiru screamed out in pleasure and they moved to a
place known only by lovers. Haruka lifted her head
to take a breath and groan in satisfaction, then
kissed Michiru again.
"Michiru!" a shocked voice exclaimed.
The two lovers stopped and looked at the older,
refined woman that had entered the room without
knocking.
Michiru's eyes widened in surprise. "Mother... I I I
can explain..."
The woman scowled and left the chamber, slamming the
door. The two lovers lay there, trying to recover
from their love-making and the shock of being caught
in the act.
Outside, they heard Michiru's mother yell, "Gaurds!
To my daughter's room instantly! That knight from
Tenou Castle has defiled my daughter!"
The two women gazed into eachother's eyes. Haruka
gave Michiru a passionate kiss then quickly got
dressed. "I'll come back for you," Haruka promised,
kissing Michiru's hand.
"Promise?" Michiru asked.
"As long as the wind caresses the sea... I promise
to be only yours my lady," Haruka whispered. The
foot steps of the gaurds could be heard approaching
the door. "I will return."
"Haruka!" Michiru screamed, as Haruka jumped out of
the window. She ran over and looked down, half
afraid of what she would see...
She saw nothing.
~@~@~@~@~
"Now I know why you asked me not to marry you to
Duke Authur," Mistress Kaioh growled.
"Now I can't marry him," Michiru said hopefully.
"I'm not..."
"He could care less if you are still a maiden. How
could you do this to me Michiru? Didn't I teach you
better? And with that womanizing Haruka Tenou..."
She scoffed as she looked at the bed sheets on
Michiru's bed. "Or was he not the first?"
Michiru's eyes took on a dreamy haze as she
breathlessly replied, "Haruka is my one and only...
my soul's partner."
"I'm sure he made all the women believe such
lies..."
"But Haruka loves me!" Michiru cried.
"He does? Did he tell you this everytime he ravished
you... Or even once..."
Michiru searched her memory. "No," she whispered.
"But mother... I beg of you, do not make me marry
that *old* man! Please, I swear, Haruka loves me and
would willingly marry me..."
Mistress Kaioh glared at her daughter. "In three
night's time, you will marry the Duke. Or I will ask
your father to cast you out of family!"
Michiru crumbled to the floor as her mother left the
room. "Haruka!" she cried.
~@~@~@~@~
Haruka turned on Lady Guinevere's bare back as she
thought she heard the wind scream her name. The
light of a candle shined out of Michiru's window.
"Soon my love," she whispered. "I promise you, I
will return soon."
Water from the ocean splashed up and she put her
mount back into a gallop. It wasn't fair, when she
finally felt complete, she had lost her other half.
She needed a plan, something to do in order to have
Michiru... She licked the salty water off her lips
and an idea came to her.
~@~@~@~@~
Michiru sighed heavily as she waited for the priest
to go over the rites to seal her marriage to a man
older than her grandfather. 'Where are you Haruka,
why haven't you returned to me?' she thought.
Her mother had deamed the beach worthy for the
marriage ceremony, since the village didn't have a
big enough church to hold all of her future
husband's family.
"Should anyone object... speak now."
Michiru cast a frantic glance at her mother.
Mistress Kaioh gave her a narrow-eyed glare.
"So, with the power invested in me, in God and this
church, I now pronounce you---"
Everyone turned as the priest's words trailed off.
Michiru smiled as she looked into the shining teal
eyes. Haruka dismounted Guinevere and slowly walked
toward the makeshift alter.
"Gwen," Haruka said softly, pointing to the ground.
The horse knelt down on it's front legs. The white
blouse she wore blew in the wind and hung past her
waist, almost hiding her men's knee breeches.
Michiru had never seen her lover look so
beautiful...
"Gaurds!!!" Mistress Kaioh screamed. "Get him
now!!!"
Haruka smiled and held out her hand. "Michiru," she
said, with a soft look in her eyes.
Michiru quickly got to her feet and ran to Haruka's
arms. "You came back!"
"I'll just wisk this lovely sea nymph away from all
of you now," Haruka grinned. She kissed Michiru,
getting several shocked gasps from the wedding
guests. The two ran to Guinevere. Michiru sat with
both feet on one side of the massive horse. Haruka
whistled and Guinevere climbed to her feet. Haruka
jumped up and straddled Guinevere's back.
"Of course I came back my love," Haruka smiled,
kissing Michiru again. "I love you..."
The gaurds were running from the castle, ready to
arrest Haruka for disrupting the wedding.
Haruka gave the guests a wink as she said, "Ja ne."
She nudged Guinevere's sides and she galloped toward
the only way out of the castle's outer gates... a
narrow opening along the water. The horse bound
through the surf and rounded the wall.
Both women laughed in amusement when the water
sprayed them as they raced along the water's edge,
toward the sunset.
~@~@~@~@~
Ireland, a few weeks later...
"I think it's perfect," Michiru whispered, leaning
against Haruka with a soft sigh.
They were astride on Lady Guinevere, over looking
the ocean from a tall cliff. The wind carried in the
scent of the ocean below up to them.
"I had hoped you would like it," Haruka whispered in
her ear.
Michiru reached back and buried her fingers in
Haruka's hair. "Your hair is starting to get long
darling," she chuckled. "I love this place... I hope
Tenou gives us mnay happy years."
"It will love," Haruka promised. "I promise, it
will."
"Oh, did you hear that strange tale that the
courtier told?" Michiru commented as they started
back to the castle.
"No, please share," Haruka smiled.
"Apparently, a dashing young knight wisked the most
beautiful woman in England away... He had sandy
blond hair and teal eyes..."
"Really?"
"Yes, but instead of him being a well-known jouster,
he made his living by way of the lance..."
"I love sharp objects... Well, except when they are
used illegally in jousting matches..."
Michiru put a finger over Haruka's lips. "They do
not know his real name, so they call him Sir
Lancealot. Because he used the lance... a lot. Duke
Authur got promoted to King status, and the damsel's
name was Guinevere..."
"So I kidnapped the *king's* bride and diappeared
with her now?" Haruka teased. "Though I think Gwen
would love the idea of being upgraded to damsel
status... Wouldn't you Lady Guinevere?"
The horse snorted and shook her head in distaste.
"One think is certain though..." Haruka sighed.
"Hmm?"
"I love you... and you're not a horse."
"I'm flattered," Michiru laughed softly.
"To the castle," Haruka ordered and Guinevere ran
toward the tall stone castle close to the beach.
The End.
____________________________________________
This fic is called "A Knight Without Armor" because:
1. All the things that happen to Haruka out of her
armor.
2. It's said when people fall in love they lose their
"armor" or the wall that separates them from the
world.
I hope you liked it. ^_^