16/04/05 - After Chapter 13 things should be ok between H&M, ne?
Well, I don't know... destiny is always unpredictable...
The end of this fic is getting closer: I've changed, deleted and added a lot of things lately (again, thanks to Saun for her never-ending patience)... but now, I'm finally working on chapter 18... the last chapter.
harukaze: For the 'Michiru's-dad-liking-Haruka' thing... no comment.
hunter007: About the author doing something... no comment.
viximon: As regards the official confession... no comment.
Well, I can't tell you what's going to happen and spoil things now, can I?
So keep on reading and let me know what you think, please : )
Last but not least (I've been talking an awful lot lately, ne?): a special thanks for all those persons who keep on reviewing Destined Souls, chapter after chapter (I said nothing before, but I noticed it nevertheless).
Chapter 14: Sayonara, Michiru...
When she arrived in front of the big mansion she had once called home, Michiru took the time to really look at it.
It was the last day she would spend with her parents before they left again the morning for a meeting with an American customer... and it was the day the young violinist had decided to make things clear to her parents... at least, in part.
She was in love with Haruka and now that she knew that the taller girl felt the same for her, she didn't want her father to try to get in the way with Fukuma or anyone else... her relationship with the blonde was still too new to be put to the test like that. And that's why she wanted to talk with him... alone.
With a determined look she moved to the front door and rang the bell. When the door swung silently open, the aqua-haired girl was met by the dark eyes of her mother: "Hello, dear. Please, come in."
She brightly smiled at the older woman and stepped inside.
"We'll have to wait a little longer for dinner... we didn't expect you so early..." Kasumi spoke again in an apologetic tone, to which Michiru replied lightly shaking her head: "Don't worry, I can wait. Besides I wanted to have a talk with you and father tonight."
Her mother frowned a bit: "It sounds like something very important..."
"It is."
They sat in the living room: Michiru in an arm-chair, her parents on the couch... the first one to speak washer father: "Ne, Michiru.. did you enjoy yourself at the Ikomi's party?"
"Yes.. I did." at least until she had been able to dance with her partner, the aqua-haired beauty thought.
"You know, we have been friends with them for a very long time... they are wonderful people..."
Michiru listened to her father speak, but she already knew where he wanted to lead the conversation...
"Fukuma-chan is no exception."
There again, that spoiled boy...
"I know you're still too young to think about such things, but trust me when I say that he will make a great husband for you..."
"Father.." the girl spoke a bit louder than usual, just to make sure the man would be listening to her as she continued: "I know you really believe what you just said..." it was much harder for her to believe it could actually happens (the fat boy.. a great husband... her husband...), "But as I've already told you more than once, I don't like him and I don't care what-"
Yoshiro didn't even let her finish. He was hardly able to hide his annoyance as he spoke: "This is all about that Tenoh, isn't it?"
"Yes, I'm in love with.. him."
"Tsk, 'in love'... this is nothing more than a passing fancy... don't you think that he is probably just toying with you?"
"Yoshiro!" his wife exclaimed with a shocked espression due to her husband's harsh words. The man, however, kept on looking intently at his daughter as he replied: "Michiru is old enough to understand certain things... I don't want to see her suffer because of this Tenoh person!"
"Haruka is not toying with me..."
"How can you be so sure? He seemed pretty friendly with Fukuma's cousin at the party... not only that - he is famous and probably has many young female fans ready to do -anything- for him..."
The more Yoshiro spoke, the quieter Michiru got... but when the man attentively looked into his daughter's eyes, he realized that his words hadn't even touched the girl... she hadn't changed her mind at all.
That's what made him feel even angrier.. "You'll regret it when he leaves you because he's grown tired of you and he's found another girl to show off on the front pages of the newspapers... famous men always behave like that and since he is one..."
"No, she's not!"
Silence. After those few words, Michiru felt a cold chill run down her spine... it was done. She couldn't deny what she had just said, she couldn't step back... besides her parents had to know it anyway, sooner or later.
That's why she didn't lower her gaze as her parents looked at her with almost pleading eyes, desperately asking her to correct herself, to say that the 'she' was just a mistake... but Michiru did not.
The shocked expression of her father slowly changed into cold indifference. He had just made his decision: "There's nothing more to talk about."
"Please, listen to me-!" before Michiru could say anything more, the older man had risen and left the room to go shut himself in his study.
With a sad look, the young violinist focused her attention on her mother, who was still staring after her husband, clearly refusing to look at her child...
But Michiru didn't complain. She had known that when they found out the truth about her 'sexual orientation', they would react like this.
She closed her eyes, that burned suppressed tears, and tried to convince herself it was okay this way.
Without saying a word, she moved towards the door, then...
"Michiru!"
It was her mother, her always calm, controlled mother, who was now on the verge of crying...
The young girl did her best to look cheerful: "Don't worry, I'll be fine."
She waited a bit longer, just in case her mother could find the power to say something.. anything... but the older woman didn't.
With a respectful bow and a softly said "Good night", Michiru left her childhood home forever.
When she arrived at the huge skyscraper she lived in, it was almost 10 p.m., the time students had to be in their lodging... the time she was supposed to be back.
She had eaten nothing at all for dinner, she'd just kept on wandering the Tokyo streets, thinking... and now that she was back, she just wanted to go to sleep.
Silently Michiru opened the door and found that the house was dark and silent... except for a slight noise coming from the living room.
As she entered, she realized that the TV was still on, while the figure curled up on the couch was decidedly off. Haruka had probably fallen asleep while waiting for her.
A gentle smile formed on the soft lips of the aqua-haired beauty as she passed her hand through the sandy blond hair of her friend: "Wake up, sleepyhead..."
The taller girl murmured something, then she slowly opened her drowsy eyes and focused on the girl standing next to her. When she finally recognized Michiru, the young car racer smiled: "Ehi.. how was your evening?"
A shadow appeared in those deep blue eyes, but before Haruka could notice, it was already gone... "Fine, just fine."
"Good." the taller girl replied with a yawn, as she sat up.
"I'm tired... we'd better go to bed.. the both of us.. before you collapse to the floor." Michiru joked as she moved towards her room: "Good night."
"Good night." Haruka said softly before doing as she was told.
Later that night, the tall blonde was awakened by a mysterious sound.. no, music... violin music... coming from Michiru's room.
It was a sad, heart-breaking melody she had never heard before from the talented musician and that's what made her wonder: what (or who) could have aroused such wrenching emotions in Michiru?
Was there something the young violinist hadn't told her? Something she didn't want to tell her?
With those questions hanging heavy in her heart, Haruka just lay on her bed, hands under her head, her eyes cast on the ceiling, listening to the endless, painful cry of the violin...
