Haruka Ten'ou stood before the bathroom mirror adjusting her white tie around the collar of her royal blue, long sleeve shirt. The now twenty-five year old woman smoothed over the front of her black dress pants turning toward the bed. Her bluish-gray cat, Wind-Chaser gave her an intrigued look from her spot a top the bed, one small gray ear turning to the side as she regarded her master. Haruka grinned at the cat as she approached the closet door and the white vest still hanging there. Slipping the well-fit white vest on and buttoning it she began to search for a suit jacket, finally coming away with a black one.
"Do I pass the Wind-chan inspection?" The blonde asked as she faced the bed. Wind jumped from the bed and walked in a slow circle around the tall women, she came to a stop in front of her and sat. After a moment more Wind turned and jumped back onto the bed, seemingly intend on taking a nap. Haruka gently scratched behind one small ear as she laughed. "I'll take that as a yes, Wind-chan."
Turning, her teal eyes swept across the top of her closet until they landed upon a case covered in fine black leather. With a smile Haruka picked it up carefully and placed it in a large, rectangular, white gift box, which sat atop her bed. After insuring that there was plenty of packing "peanuts" around the case she placed the lid on the box. Haruka picked up a red ribbon and tied it around the box, top to bottom, to keep the lid on. She gave it one more critical look, judging in her mind if it was the right gift, before giving in to the fact that there was no real time left. She picked the box up and left her room, saying a quick good night to Wind as she walked toward the front door.
Once at the door Haruka set the box down for a moment as she donned her black trench coat and dress shoes. Carefully she picked the box back up and walked out, locking the door on her way out. A quick elevator ride brought her to the garage and her car's parking spot was actually fairly near the elevator door. She placed the white box on the hood while she unlocked the driver's door, and then gently placed it in the back seat. Finally she climbed into the convertible and turned the key. Pulling smoothly out of the parking spot and leaving the parking structure the tall blonde was on her way.
Inside her own house Michiru finished showering and grumbled slightly to Triton about how messy painting could be. The German Shepard watched his mistress, as she seemed to float around the room picking out things she was going to wear. Finally she was dressed in a white evening gown with a black drape across her arms and shoulders as she sat before a mirror. She put on light make-up as Triton watched with bored eyes. His fuzzy face almost seemed to say 'Sometimes I don't understand humans' as he watched the whole process. When Michiru stood up though even Triton seemed to take notice of how nice she looked, he cocked his head in seeming query about why she had dressed up so well for tonight.
Down stairs a doorbell was heard and Michiru glanced at the clock, seven on the dot. As she looked back she noticed Triton was gone, and had no doubt that the friendly dog was waiting by the door. She turned out the light as she stepped out of the bedroom. She walked quietly down the stairs and over to the door, near which Triton sat with a watchful look. Michiru slowly opened the door and there stood Haruka with another bouquet of roses, these ones yellow. With a smile she took the roses from her friend and allowed her in. Michiru disappeared into the kitchen for a moment, carefully adding the six yellow roses to the six white roses, which waited in a large vase from this morning.
"Don't worry Triton-san, I promise to keep her safe for you." Haruka said, bowing to the dog, almost as if he was Michiru's father, before they stepped out the door. Michiru locked the large oak door before walking with Haruka toward the yellow convertible. Haruka held the door for her, gently closing it once she was in and walking to her own door. Haruka started the car and began to drive again into the greater Tokyo area. She glanced now and then toward her shorter companion. Finally Haruka broke the silence. "You look beautiful, Michiru."
"Thank you, Haruka." Michiru smiled at the tall blonde and seemed to take in her attire as well. The black, blue and white seemed to be a bit of contrast when mixed together as they were. After a long moment she looked back toward the window as she spoke again. "You look quite hansom yourself."
It was relatively silent for the rest of the trip toward the restaurant. They pulled up in front of an upper class Italian restaurant and Haruka again opened Michiru's door for her. Michiru smiled and took the arm that was offered to her as they walked into the restaurant. A man stood at the entrance behind a small desk, he looked up from his leather bound reservation book before asking for their party name. They were quickly seated at a small candle lit table near of all things a dance floor.
As one looked around the restaurant it seemed to give off a family atmosphere yet still seemed capable of holding large numbers of guests. The dinning area was lit by dim electric bulbs, which were designed to resemble candle flames along the walls, and a candle hidden away behind red glass sat flickering in the center of each table. Above the dance floor hung a crystalline chandler with the same flame like bulbs. The dance floor it self was a highly polished brown wooden floor, its space enough to accommodate easily twenty couples dancing. On the far side of the dance floor sat a string quartet playing softly as the candlelight flickered. Each table was covered with three table clothes, which didn't quiet line up so as to show the different colors, the bottom was red, followed by green and finally a white one was laid on each table.
Once seated a waiter approached them and gave them menus, sighting the nights specials for them before taking their drink order. Haruka ordered a bottle of red wine and the waiter was off. Not too many people crowded the restaurant, leaving a pleasant not quiet empty but far from crowded feeling. Both women looked over their menus, quietly discussing the different foods until the waiter returned. Haruka looked to Michiru, receiving a slight nod before answering the young waiter.
"We'll each have a garden salad with Italian dressing. Also we'd like an order of Fettuccini Alfredo and a plate of Lasagna." Haruka spoke confidently to the young man who bowed after he finished pouring their wine. He set the bottle down gently and bowed again.
"Thank you sir. I'll have your salads in a few moments." The young man walked off. Haruka only grinned at the mistake about her gender, she'd decided long ago she didn't care if people thought she was male. Haruka looked over at the dance floor, clearly remembering the café and smiled. Standing she offered her hand to Michiru who took it with out a word.
The two glided out onto the currently empty dance floor and Haruka led them in confident circles to the quite instrumental music. After a moment a few people paused in eating to watch the two women dance, impressed by how well they seemed to glide across the wooden floor together.
"You were waiting for a new reason to get me to dance, weren't you?" Michiru teased her tall friend with a playful expression. She looked up into two bright teal eyes as they expertly swept about the floor, neither having to put much thought into the act.
"How could I ever resist the chance to have such a beautiful young woman in my arms?" Haruka teased back with her most charming smile. The two locked eyes and both had no wish to look away, feeling as if they could fall into the other's eyes.
"You should be careful Haruka. If you keep being so charming I might start to think you are serious." Michiru spoke quietly, the teasing tone having left her voice this time.
"What would you do if I said I were, dear princess?" Haruka's eyes were playful as she asked this question, though she did sometimes wonder about the answer. For a few moments they danced in silence as the question hung in the air.
"I would say I should surrender now, I think it might be impossible to fight that Ten'ou charm." Michiru's own smile became playful again as they noticed the waiter had not only brought their salads but the rest of their food as well. Both were slightly surprised that they had lost track of the time completely.
"Well, I believe your birthday meal awaits. Shall we?" Haruka brought them slowly to a halt and again offered her arm to escort Michiru back to the table. Michiru took the offered arm, admitting silently that she enjoying Haruka's 'Prince Charming' act a lot.
It wasn't long before the two finished both their wine and their food and found themselves back on the dance floor. Though now a few other couples also occupied the floor they were given a large amount of space as most of the other couples slowed to watch the two. Many tables exchanged whispered conversations about the hansom young "man" and his lovely date. Most assumed the two were married, sighting how well they danced together, as if they were meant for each other. It was late in the evening when Haruka again led Michiru off the dance floor and paid the bill. The two women walked out to her car and Haruka again held the door for the aqua haired beauty.
Haruka drove silently along the dark nighttime streets toward the coastline. They spoke lightly as they drove through Tokyo, laughing now and then at a funny memory one or the other would bring up. Finally Haruka pulled the car into a parking spot near the beach, lowering the convertible top as she did so. She held the door for Michiru, who decided to abandon her shoes in the car, and picked up the white box. Haruka grinned, though a bit nervously, as she held the box toward Michiru who gave a curious look at it.
"Haruka! This is too expensive!" Michiru commented once she had lifted the case from the box and opened it. Carefully she lifted out delicately crafted glass violin. Carefully craved into the sides were small intricate dolphin and wave designs. Michiru looked up at Haruka who only grinned before placing it back in its case. After making sure the expensive gift was safe Michiru threw her arms around the blonde in an excited hug. "Thank you, Haruka."
"Your welcome Michiru. I wasn't sure if you'd like it or not." Haruka admitted, gently hugging the shorter woman before releasing her. She looked down and caught an unexpectedly impulsive smile on the violinists face. With out a word Michiru lifted the fragile violin and its bow from the case. She walked slowly to the edge of the waves, the tall blonde following quietly behind her. Lightly Michiru placed the violin upon her shoulder, taking a few moments to tune it. After she was satisfied she began to play a hauntingly mystical tune, which seemed to blend seamlessly with the gentle sounds of the seawater splashing across the shore. Haruka stood mesmerized as she listened to the nearly magical tune, listening to the lovely tune and watching the angelic figure that played the music so in tune with the sea that stood before them.
Hours later Haruka's convertible pulled up the drive in front of Michiru's large home. The blonde held the car door for the shorter woman who now wore Haruka's trench coat about her slim shoulders. She walked her quietly to the door of the house and waited as Michiru unlocked the door. The violinist paused as she turned back to her taller friend.
"Haruka." The blonde looked into her eyes, waiting for whatever Michiru wanted to say. The shorter didn't say anything though. Michiru gently set down the violin case, stepping forward a bit and placing both hands on her taller friend's shoulders. Though Haruka looked a bit surprised she didn't pull back as Michiru leaned up to kiss her gently. After a moment Haruka wrapped her arms around Michiru's waist and returned the kiss. Michiru slid her arms up to lock behind Haruka's neck, feeling her knees go a bit weak as the blonde responded. Both women were surprised, even having exchanged a few quick kisses around nine months ago, by the pure warmth and feeling, which came through this kiss.
Finally they parted, both a bit breathless as they looked into each other's eyes. Michiru smiled again as she leaned toward Haruka's ear to speak in a whisper. Her breath tickled the blonde's hair, making her shiver as Michiru spoke.
"Thank you, Haruka. I had a wonderful time tonight." Michiru gently kissed the blondes cheek as she backed away and entered her home. She gave a small wave. "Good night."
"Good night, Michiru." Haruka returned as she came out of her mild shock. The door slowly closed and the blonde walked back to her car. She sat behind the steering wheel and looked up at the sky with a goofy grin for a time before turning the key. Yes, it was definitely a wonderful night.
Author's Note:
Okay, incase anyone was wondering or guessing, the colors of the roses were meant to have a meaning. The white roses stand for purity, and the yellow roses stand for friendship. To be honest I could swear yellow stood for something else, but the resource I used this time said friendship and that's the meaning I wanted.
Also, thank you Kitsune-of-death, for helping me out with this chapter. No I haven't been using a beta for this story, still trying to improve my own skills, but Kitsune has been very helpful with research and advice. I have probably driven her up a wall asking what color rose means what and if the colors of Haruka's outfit were right. She is also responsible for answering my random question, at past 1am, of "Can you play a glass violin?" so I owe her a vast amount of thanks. She tends to end up being my version of a research department. B-) Thank you, Kitsune.
Please forgive me if I misspelled the Italian foods, I am part Italian but I am an American born and raised. Sadly I haven't gotten to know the Italian side of my family very well. The tablecloth colors were the colors of the Italian flag last time I checked, and I notice they seem to be the colors I always see when I eat in an Italian place. That ramble aside, if I misspelled a food (or accidentally created a none existent one) please let me know.
Thank you to Moon-Daisuke and Kaiba-queen. I fixed the errors you both pointed out and am very grateful you took the time to tell me. Oh, and "cline" was meant to be "ceiling" I was just completely off that day and made a mistake with the spell check.
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and read so far. I do feel greatly encouraged by all of the great feed back you have so kindly been giving me. Thank you also for being so patient about chapter updates. This is a horrible time of year for me, (I love fourth of July, don't get me wrong) and tends to leave me feeling a bit depressed. Thank you again.