Usagi woke up slowly, opening her eyes, briefly confused about her surroundings before she remembered the events of yesterday and last night. Mamo-chan, Usagi winced slightly at the sting the memory brought before she pushed it away. She was determined to forget about Mamoru and move on with her life.
This much made up in her mind, Usagi started to move to get up, but found she couldn't because of a heavy arm draped around her waist. Usagi tilted her head back.
Haruka was sleeping heavily, still propped up against the wall behind her, her head resting on her shoulder. Occasionally, her black eye lashes would flutter on her smooth white cheeks. A small smile quirked at the edge of her mouth and Usagi was startled at the way her heart skipped to watch Haruka sleeping. Whisks of sandy blonde hair had fallen into her eyes as she slept and Usagi reached up, her fingers trembling slightly as she brushed them out of Haruka's eyes.
Haruka stirred and opened her eyes leisurely, squinting at the sunlight filtering through the bedroom. Her green eyes were dark with sleep and they seemed to darken even more to find Usagi lying half way on top of her.
Usagi's heartbeat quickened in a way she couldn't understand as she watched Haruka take her in, studying her face solemnly, then meeting her eyes.
"Morning, Haruka-chan." Usagi said quietly, tucking a strand of her golden hair behind an ear.
Haruka nodded, "Morning." She abruptly got up, and straightened out her shirt and pants. Her short hair was tousled and sticking up at odd angles in the back, and she had a line across her cheek from the seam in her shirt.
Usagi didn't understand the reason for her companion's abrupt mood, and frowned. "Is there something the matter, Haruka-chan?" She asked, watching intently as Haruka grabbed a different pair of socks and yanked them on.
"No, why?" Haruka asked, not looking up. Her voice was husky and deep, as usual but there was some added strain to it.
Usagi got up, and walked over, sinking down in front of Haruka slowly. When Haruka still didn't look at her, Usagi gently reached up and took her chin in her hand, turning her head until Haruka met her eyes. "Tell me what you wish, Haruka-chan." She demanded quietly, her cerulean blue eyes sparkling keenly.
Haruka found that she couldn't look away, she was drowning in a sea of blue and an agonizing feeling was eating away her heart. She couldn't do this. Usagi would turn away and never look back as she walked out the door forever. If she didn't tell her how she felt, at least she would still have Usagi around once in a while as a friend.
Usagi could see the confusion and emotions chasing themselves across Haruka's face and flashing violently in her eyes. Then, Haruka closed her eyes slowly and when she opened them again, the confliction was gone, only to be replaced by a cool façade. Usagi's heart fell when she knew that Haruka would not tell what she had been about to say last night.
"Haruka-chan?" She asked when Haruka didn't say anything.
"Hai." Haruka stood up and walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
Quickly, she turned on the water and began splashing her face, trying to wash away any kind of emotion. God, this was going to be harder than she thought. Waking up to Usagi like that had made her feel content for the first time in years. She couldn't keep this up. It was getting harder to fight the feelings she felt whenever Usagi was there. It didn't even matter if she was gone; Haruka still thought about her and anxiously waited the moment when she would see her again.
Haruka turned off the water, smiling wryly at herself in the mirror. If Michiru was here right now, she would laugh gently and tease Haruka for turning soft over some young girl who had no idea what was going on inside Haruka's head.
She sighed and opened the door, padding softly out of the bathroom. Usagi wasn't in the bedroom. The bed was still unmade and Haruka stopped to look at it for a second, remembering the curve of Usagi's breast against her arm last night as she fell to sleep. She shivered and walked out into the living room, noticing that the sliding glass door was open and the curtains were billowing outward with a salty, warm breeze.
Haruka paused in the doorway, watching Usagi silently.
Usagi was leaning against the railing for support, staring out at the ocean, her face full of awe. The morning sun was peeking over the roof of the building, a shaft of sunlight fell onto Usagi's face, illuminating her golden hair and making her eyes dance and sparkle like the ocean.
"It's beautiful, non?" Haruka murmured, moving to stand beside Usagi at the rail.
Usagi turned and looked at Haruka, warmth flowing through her. "Hai…it's lovely." She paused then took a breath, willing herself to ask, "Ruka-chan? Why were you so nice to me last night?"
Haruka shrugged, not taking her eyes off of the sea gull wheeling lightly in the morning sky. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"You are always so…"Usagi searched for the word, "Serious. You never seem to take an interest in anyone."
Haruka winced slightly, "Is that how I seem?" She asked, her voice not betraying anything.
"Sometimes…not all the time…not last night." Usagi sighed and looked at the water. "You didn't have to take me to your house and treat me so good," She mumbled after a moment of silence, feeling like she was somewhat of a burden.
"I was nice to you because there was no one else there to take care of you, Usagi," Haruka said quietly, turning to look at Usagi, her eyes somber, "I didn't have to take you home, I know but I did because I wanted to protect you." She looked away, "It hurt to see you cry like that…you should never be sad."
Usagi smiled, "Everyone gets their hearts broken once in a while and they live and move on. I'll get over it."
Haruka was silent again, her expression closed. Impulsively, Usagi took her hand, holding it tightly, "Ruka, I don't understand why you are so solemn this morning. You barely are talking to me and there is something the matter but you won't tell me what it is."
Haruka turned to look at her again, her eyes still shuttered, "Usagi, you wouldn't understand." Then she turned away and went back into the bedroom and began making the bed.
Usagi followed her, "I wouldn't understand what, Ruka?" She stepped in between Haruka and the bed, grabbing the pillow from Haruka's hand. "Why won't you take a chance and tell me whatever it is that is bothering you. How do you know I wouldn't understand?"
Haruka's eyes darkened dangerously, "You want me to take a chance?" She asked, her voice quiet and intense.
Suddenly, Usagi found herself in wrapped in Haruka's strong arms She could feel Haruka's warm breath on her lips when Haruka brushed her lips slowly against Usagi's. The touch sent bolts of liquid lightening through Usagi and she gasped slightly. Then suddenly, the light contact was gone and Haruka was standing with her hands clenched at her sides, breathing heavily, her eyes dark with the same emotion Usagi had seen in Mamoru's only last night.
"I took a chance on you." Haruka said, her voice low, "Do you think you understand, Usagi?" She asked, her voice laced with pain and longing. Usagi caught a glimpse of that pain in the taller girl's eyes before she stalked out of the room and into the kitchen.
Usagi sank down onto the edge of the bed, stunned. She could still feel Haruka's warm lips on her own and the liquid feeling that it ignited through her body. Her hands were shaking. Gods, she hadn't known she would react this way. It hadn't been a bad feeling, the brief kiss but it left her wanting more and aching inside for something only Haruka could fulfill.
What did this mean? Did Haruka want her? Did she want Haruka in that way? Or was it something more. Gods…she didn't know. All she knew was that she felt something for Haruka that had always been there, buried inside of her, waiting for the moment when it could be released. Now it was out and burning inside of Usagi with a vengeance.
She could hear Haruka in the kitchen, slamming cupboard doors and setting things down hard on the tile counter tops. Her anger and confusion made Usagi ache and she stood up, walking to stand at the kitchen door.
Some cupboard doors were askew and a couple of pots were sitting out on the counter. Haruka was still now, leaning against the counter, one hand cradling her face. Her shoulders were shaking slightly.
"Ruka?" Usagi whispered, wrapping her arms around the blonde's waist, and resting her head on Haruka's chest. "Ruka, I think I'm falling in love with you." That was not what she had been about so say but as soon as she said it, Usagi realized it was true, in her heart and soul.
Haruka froze, her face blank with surprise. "You what?"
Usagi looked up, her face earnest, "I don't understand it either but I feel something for you that I've never felt before. I want to be the one that makes you smile and makes life worth living. I want to be with you and I don't understand it but its how I feel and I would never try to change that." Usagi's face was flushed red and she looked away. All that had come out of no where. "If you don't feel the same way, then at least I told you."
Haruka shook her head slowly, the amazement slowly wearing off, "Usako, I…I don't know what to say…what about Mamoru?"
Usagi made a face, "What about him? I thought I was in love with him but I think that I was only in love with the idea of loving him. He was never truly there. You are. You always have been. You were always there when I needed to talk and you have always treated me like you cared for me."
Haruka shook her head slowly, "Are you sure you are feeling this way…maybe it's only rebound or something." Her voice was harsh as she said this, fearing that maybe this was too good to be true.
Usagi leaned up and brushed her lips across Haruka's, "I'm falling in love with you whether you agree to it or not…although it would be somewhat easier if you were supportive." She grinned impishly when Haruka looked at her blankly, "Oh, lighten up, Ruka. You are always so serious."
Then Haruka closed her eyes and when she opened them again, they were flooded with happiness. "Usako, you are truly—,"
"Wonderful, sexy, amazing, beautiful, the woman-of-your-dreams?" Usagi supplied, cocking her head.
"All of those things and more." Haruka smiled and swept Usagi up, running with her to the bedroom, then dropping her on the bed and falling onto the mattress next to her.